Lose It With Lamb, Week 3

Sharecare fitness expert Wendy Batts, my trainer, is trying to help me strengthen my core — something that, until recently, I didn’t even know I had. It’s ironic that it’s called a “core” because when I was heavy, I was definitely apple-shaped!

My overflowing belly has always been at the center of my weight problem (both literally and figuratively) — and, it turns out, is the last place on my body that I’m genetically programmed to lose weight. It figures.

Finally, though, after shedding about 40 pounds, I started to lose BOB, aka my Big Old Belly. I now call him my LOB (Little Old Belly), but I’ve begun to notice that he (along with the rest of my core) isn’t very strong. Wendy’s solution for this includes moves like planks, bridges, and ball crunches. This week, she had me doing push-ups on the floor.

These exercises are challenging for me on two levels. Physically, I’ve had 60-plus extra pounds in the way for so long that until recently, just tying my shoes was a workout. Bending over to pick something up required an assistant, and trying to stand after sitting in a too-soft chair was an embarrassment. It’s been hard to strengthen a body part that was so well insulated for so long! But I trust Wendy.

The other level is an emotional one. I’ll admit it: I’m nervous that I won’t be able to do everything Wendy asks me to do. My wife, Jody, is the one I turn to for help on this. She reminds me (often) that change is hard, but that I can do it. She also helps me remember how far I’ve come, pointing out all the things I can easily do now — tying my shoes, sure, but so much more — that I couldn’t before.

So how did I do with those push-ups? Check out my Week 3 workout below to see for yourself, then go ahead and try the whole routine!

Despite all the exercise I’ve been doing, my weekly weight loss was pretty modest (less than 1 pound). It may have had something to do with the many food-centered social obligations Jody and I had this week. Still, I didn’t gain, and that’s something!

How did you do? Let’s keep losing together!

What fitness challenges are you facing, and how are you handling them? Please share your experiences and solutions with me in the comment section below, or visit my profile page to friend me and post a message. Remember, I need your help to keep losing!

Join the largest health conversation in 140 characters or less! Tweet what you want to talk about to @SharecareNow and let’s start chatting!

File under: Lose It

Contributor

Michael Lamb

I am a 55-year-old male who started off my journey at 5' 11" and 300 pounds. I won Doctor Oz's Transformation Nation Million Dollar Contest by losing 48 pounds to bring attention to my wife's (Jody's) potential need for a kidney. Jody has Chronic Kidney Disease, Stage 3 caused by Lupus Nephritis. Jody was only diagnosed two years ago, and she was already at Stage 3 so we don't know how fast her kidneys are failing. (Was it a quick decline or have her kidneys been slowly failing over the past two decades?) Through a combination of diet (Weight Watchers) and exercise (membership at two fitness clubs) I have been losing 1-2 pounds each week. I have done this while managing to teach Architecture, Design, and Drafting at a career academy, care for my elderly parents, keep my three children on "the straight and narrow", and move 50 miles to spare my wife the agony of our daily teaching commute. I have since lost another 17 pounds but still have 35 more to go. Help me reach my 100 pound weight loss goal . . . I need all the support I can muster.

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Comments

  1. Wendy Trunz

    Hi Mike,
    Thanks, again, for your courage in making these videos to share with all of us. Many of the moves I am doing in my classes at the gym, but I love the way you and Wendy break them down to show us the correct way of doing each of them. I learned a lot in this latest video. Burpees are still the hardest thing for me to do, but I’m working on getting better at them, and when we have to do lots of push ups in a class, I drop my knees and do “girl push ups”, I keep working toward the being able to do a lot of “guy push ups”.
    Keep up the great work, and keep remembering where we came from and what we couldn’t do before. Modify each new exercise until you work up to being able to do the next move….we can do it, and we will do it!!!! It may take a little time, but I know that since beginning this Transformation Nation challenge, my body continues to accomplish one goal at a time, and each time it does….I make another goal. I keep a “wish list” in the back of my Weight Watchers binder of goals and moves I dream to accomplish….and I continue to check one by one off! What an amazing gift!
    So, know that I am in this with you, working hard, and looking forward to the 75 pound goal, which is my next goal, along with you. (I reached 70.4 last Saturday).
    Keep sharing all of the great things you are learning with all of us, I love the videos. Many thanks, Wendy Trunz

    July 8th, 2012, 1:34 pm
  2. HOPE

    Would you advise excersing in the swimming pool?

    July 17th, 2012, 6:03 pm
  3. Gayle Johnson

    Enjoyed your video.
    I am 63 yrs old & have weighed way too much for last 10 yrs (at least) Have gained & lost many pounds over the years–so my metabolism was shot!
    I recently learned about a diet called Maximized Living thru my chiropractor & last year I loss 30 lbs but gained back about 15. This year, in June, I started back on it (having continued some of it on a regular basis)but now, strictly & have so far lost 12 lbs. On Thurs, I started on a weight loss program with Dr. and am taking the B-12 shots & HCG???. I think I have lost a couple more pounds with that so far. The diet is good–no bread, no sugar–eat good carbs–but I THINK THE MAIN THING WORKING FOR ME IS I AM SWIMMING & WALKING EVERY DAY. The Dr. advised to walk or exercise an additional 30 min per day at least. So, I am good to go… back to the weight I was in Oct–and still highly motivated to lose more. My goal is 50 pounds!

    July 17th, 2012, 7:02 pm
  4. cikeithia Sellers

    What execerise can i do with lower back pain?

    July 17th, 2012, 8:44 pm
  5. Paula N. Pierce

    I just found this site. Have 50lbs to lose. Only started having a weight prop. after menapose. I have been taking the things I love sugar, mayo & others out of y diet and seeing no weight lose. Went from sitting on y butt to being on my feet for 8 hrs a day. Finding it hard to do much working out after work, hurts to much. Do swim on weekends. Any ideas that will help jump start some loss, as I am at a loss. Thanks…

    July 17th, 2012, 9:42 pm
  6. REZA IRANI

    KEEP IT UP …………..YOU WILL SUCCEED

    July 17th, 2012, 11:29 pm
  7. Donna H

    I had total knee replcement in left knee. The pain did not go away so they done another surgery and put a button in the left knee. So I cannot get down on this knee because it could fracture it . So what excercise can I do to get rid off belly fat,

    July 18th, 2012, 9:11 am
  8. Tululah

    Mike , your aren;t alone. I had that same experience. After 6 wks my weight went up! HUH!
    As a former finess trainer, keep in mind:
    1) muscle weighs more then fat. Chances are you are developing your muscles. They are soooo tired and out of shape so treat them gently but firmly. lol
    2) Muscles need food and well, good old BOB is their grocery store
    3) If you remember muscle weighs more then fat, and you will plateau, ( your body is having a good time at its new weight so don’t rush it.)

    Just keep moving> Use good body ergonomics when bending and stretching. This engages muscles to have to stretch, always keepin flexible. Keep em oiled like a favorite baseball mitt! Stretch! even if you dont work out, do 30 mins of stretching. Muscles are like people, unless prodded or bribed they won;t move.

    Think Lifelong good health and tht helps you work smarter not faster. I carry 30 lbs of groceries twice aweek and walk to and from the bus. You think I want walk miles? ha! I count that as my exercise. Park your car in the most faraway spot and walk to and from store. When shopping, body by Jake used to say, dont take a cart, carrry the items or leave the cart and walk back and forth to it. Denise Austin says 80% good with permission for 20% junk. Foods: read labels. If you cannot spell or pronounce,do not put in body. Watch for high glucose corn syrup -ick . and watch for hydolyzed yeast protein – this is anew version of msg.Yeast protein is good for the food.

    Most of all thank you for being a real ‘guy’ and letting us see how you transform from couch spouse to bubbly hubby. Lucky wife!

    July 18th, 2012, 5:35 pm
  9. angela

    your continuing sucess on getting healthier has really given me motivation to get on the ball myself. however, i cannot afford a gym or expert training. im a stay at home mom, so is there any advice you could share on losing a little weight and firming the belly bulge that i could do right at home? also, congradulations on your success, of getting healthy and fit.

    July 19th, 2012, 12:45 am

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