On June 1, I joined WeightWatchers Online.

I am a technology worker. I work entirely from home and sit at a desk for long hours. After which I like to sit and watch TV or play video games. I realized 2 years ago that this lifestyle and long term health do not go hand in hand. With this knowledge we purchased a Lifestyles Elliptical machine, and I began working out.

For 2 years I’ve used the elliptical machine 4 days a week. When I first started I could barely workout at 0 intensity for 20 minutes, not even making it to 2 miles in that time. After a year I was up to 40 minutes, intensity level 10 and over 4 miles, using the various pre-programmed routines. Shortly after Christmas 2008, I was up to 5 miles in 40 minutes, same intensity and same routines. However, in the 2 years my weight remained unchanged between 235 and 242.

My wife is a lifetime WeightWatchers member, and has been for 6 years. We do eat on the healthy side, but my lack of weight loss had me confused. I decided it was time for me to join. At the very least when I wasn’t losing weight they’d have nutritionists and trainers to tell me what I was doing wrong.

The first week I lost almost 6 pounds. It appears that portion control was the #1 problem.

Now almost 4 months later, I’ve lost 35 pounds. I am still losing, and feeling great.

I’ve been using the elliptical machine in our basement for the last two years, 4 days a week pretty consistently.

When I first started I could barely last 20 minutes, and even then it was a low intensity and I didn’t travel too far. Before injuring my back, I was able to do 5 miles in 40 minutes with an intensity level of 10, or 6 miles in 45 minutes same intensity.

With my back feeling much better (once I’ve loosened up), I attempted another 5 miles in 40 minutes again. What was different this time is I set the elliptical for an interval workout. 1 minute no intensity where I’d travel at 10mph, and the next minute level 10, trying to stay around 5mph.

Wow what a workout! After 20 minutes I wasn’t able to maintain the 5mph at intensity level 10 and had to be satisfied with over 3.5mph.