Okay, you know it is soooo inspiring and motivating to read the plethora (LOVE that word!) of success stories on this site. However, I've read them all. Every word. Twice. And my motivation is starting to decrease. So here's what would help me: New Success Stories. LOTS of them. TONS of them. Stories you've personally experienced. Stories you've heard others have experienced. No matter how seemingly insignificant it may seem. If they seem too small, then embellish. As a matter of fact...it would even help me if the stories were made up. Anyone up to the task??

EllieMae,
I agree that we need to hear MORE Success Stories!

As we receive new emails and "progress reports" from customers, I write back and ask for permission to share these comments in the weekly newsletter. Then every month or so I add these same accounts to the website.

We love to receive new updates and hear about new triumphs (big or little ones).... so please DO write and share your Oxycise! progress.

(But don't make it up, please!!)

PS: For those who are reading this and have progress reports to share, please send them to me (julie@oxycise.com )

It would be helpful if you include a permission statement in your email (so I don't have to bug you for it!)

Please indicate how you would like your name to appear (Full name? First name only?) and whether you wish to include your city or state.

Also let us know whether it's OK to share your comments in the "Success Stories" as well as the OxyChat newsletter.

It is also helpful to have your phone number and/or address (for Jill's records only).

THANKS!!!

I was telling this to a friend (um, you, Ellie Mae ) and she said I have the beginning of a success story so, I'll post it here.

Something to chew on ...

I just found my old fitness journal from 2 years ago. At that time, I had lost about 35 pounds (all of which I eventually gained back and then some) by doing a pretty radical diet, doing aerobics 5 days a week and 3 days a week of strength training.

According to the measurements I kept in that journal, my waist measurement now, after 8 weeks of Oing (and eating somewhat sensibly) is the same as it was when I was 30 pounds lighter and doing the diet/traditional exercise. My other measurements (bust, hips, etc.) now are the equivalent of when I was 15 - 20 pounds lighter at that time.

Interesting, huh?

Thanks, EmBe. That's EXACTLY what I'm looking for. Just the fact that you kept a fitness journal is encouraging to me. And even more so that you could find it after a few years! THAT is motivating to me!

I had hoped that your story would get the ball rolling, but it's been a few days and my motivation from your post wore off yesterday. So....

Years ago, back when the world was wonderful, I used to run 3-4 miles a day, every day. It wasn't something that was typical for me. But I had lost over 100# and had increased energy and discovered I actually liked the way my body felt when I was running. Well, not WHILE I was running...but after I was done. And it seemed to be the only thing that kept the weight off and still allowed me to cheat every once in a while.

Then I became fatigued. And I mean fatigued. I'd come home from work every day and force myself to stay up until 7:00 before I went to bed. Every morning when I woke up, my first thought was: What do I have going on tonight...and what time can I go to bed? Naturally over time, the running (and all exercise) dwindled to nothing. And naturally, I gained the weight back. Well, not all of it. But a good portion.

Also, about the same time (I don't remember which came first), I ended up with this mysterious knee pain. Not joint pain, but muscle pain in my quads (the muscle that extends the knee). Nothing helped. Nothing. To this day I don't know if the fatigue and the pain are related.

But I found oxycise. My energy level skyrocketed. The pain in my quads...all but gone. I have an occasional morning where it shows up, but it's gone by the end of the day. I can't help but think the increased oxygen helped release whatever toxins were in my body. I'm even considering doing a half marathon! Oh...and those lumpy saddlebags I had that even running couldn't get rid of? Gone!

Also, last fall I was in an accident and needed surgery to put my bones back together. I o'd my whole recovery time and my doc said she'd never seen bones heal so fast! Gotta be the oxy!

Okay...anybody else?



P.S. How do you guys get the little avatars by your names? EmBe tried to tell me, but I can't find them.

Well, EllieMae, looks like it's just you and me here. Thank goodness I enjoy your company.

I've got one for you. I knew my hubby had done O! a few times, but he told me yesterday that he'd been Oing quite a bit on the sly for the last couple weeks. Yesterday morning, he put on a suit coat he hasn't been able to fit into for quite a while. Not only did it fit, but there was room to spare!

Oh, but may I say as an addendum to that last post, it simply is not fair that I struggle and strain and research for years to learn about the healthiest foods and best exercise, and my husband sits on the couch in front of the television and benefits from all my hard work. Not to mention that in 2 weeks he's probably seen as much weight loss as I've seen in 10! Sheesh. Men. Gotta love 'em.

Sneaky! I always knew he was sneaky! Men and their faster metabolisms! No Fair! You better start feeding him all sorts of fattening stuff so you can out O him!

By the way, EllieMae...

Uh, honey, remember, Julie wants us to tell the *truth* here. As I recall you didn't even know about Oxycise when you had your first surgery. You only started Oing like, what, 2 weeks ago? You're still in pain and you're tired all the time. LOL. You're evil. You're just trying to amuse yourself and take your mind off all your pain and weariness aren't ya?

Be a good girl now, and fess up.

Okay you storytellers....I'll add my two bits.
I found some notes I had written about how I was feeling in August of 2002, and I was so miserable and sore. I could hardly sleep because of the pain in my hip. I could hardly get around to do the normal housework I needed to do. I bought my book on Oxycise, and read it. Tried to learn the breathing and the positions that didn't aggrivate my hip, but didn't change my calorie intake, and didn't keep Oing very faithfully...and didn't lose anything. In January of 2003, Reader's Digest started printing articles about their new eating plan called "Change One". I read about it, and thought I could do it. So, I started on Jan. 17, and the first week I started losing, so I kept on. After 1 year I'd lost 68 pounds and 34 inches. I have maintained that for 3 months, and these are some of the improvements I've seen:
Knees hardly ever hurt now
Pain in hip is much better
Thighs NEVER rub when I walk!
Flabby chin is gone
Flexibility is so improved...my family comments on that all the time!
My tummy is actually starting to firm up!
I went from size 18-20 to size 12-14, which was my goal size.(Actually a comfortable 14 was my goal.) I'm 5'10".
I'm still trying to strengthen my legs and tighten and firm up thighs and hips, but I see some improvement there.
I may have left out something important, but these are the things that come to mind right now.
Hope this helps.

Susanna

Okay, now we're getting somewhere! Susanna...is Oxycise the only exercise you do?

And EmBe, the story is the truth as I hope it to actually be one day. I'm just thinking very positively.

By the way, Susanna...I cannot imagine a day when my thunder thighs will not rub together. Maybe I'll have to include that in my Eventually True story!

When I started, Oxycise was the only exercise I could do. Since shedding all those pounds though, I have become much more active. I take lots of walks with my kids and have even been brave enough to try their trampoline!!! That was simply way beyond me before O. I guess though, that you would say officially that Oxycise is the only exercise I do. I use 5 pound dumbbells when I can, and only do one workout 5 or 6 times per week.
Susanna

Hello EllieMae

I truthfully have not lost that much just because I am still struggling with finding a routine.Eventually I hope to have better results than my mom

Now my mother who I bought the easy does it series for.She has lost about 40 pound in about 6 months . This is the only form of exercise we've found that she can do. I know she is much happier and her doctors are too.She is still Oing hoping to tighten and firm up skin.

As for the avatar if you go to the spot that says My Space then click on your profile then edit after that you should just have to scroll down to it and pick your picture.Hope it helps.I know I like seeing my purple guy.

Lisa

I'm right there with ya, Lisa. Once I get a routine, I think I'll be okay. As long as I don't get out of it for any reason. Ever. But of course, first I have to find it. Mornings used to be best, but don't seem to be now. O'g relaxes me, so evening theoretically would be best. Except I'm so not in the mode then. Sigh. I'm not being very motivating, am I? It's really like any other exercise program...ya gotta do it for it to work.

Okay, now let's see if my avatar showed up.

YAY! It worked! Thanks, Lisa.

Susanna, the more I learn about what you've accomplished the more inspired I am!

Lisa, lol, a little competition is a healthy thing!

EllieMae, ah, I see. The power of positive thinking. In tht case, since beginning Oing, I no longer look like a fat hobbit, I now look like Cate Blanchett.

Thank you, EmBe. I forgot to mention that two of my friends have been inspired by the results I've had. They both ordered O, and one has lost 16 pounds in 1 1/2 months doing O and Weight Watchers. She's a diabetic, and I understand that makes it a little harder to lose sometimes. The other gal was pretty trim anyway, but just wanted to take off a few pounds. She hasn't seen much for results, but by her admission, she doesn't make good food choices sometimes. I have given my first book away in hopes of helping another friend. My oldest son does O while he's working, especially when he's driving a truck or tractor by the hour and not getting enough physical exercise. He loves O!

Susanna

Here's my current motivational story--similar to EmBe's. Over the last several weeks I have been perplexed because I have been gaining, not losing. I have not let up on Oxycising, and tried to be careful about eating most of the time. I feared measuring, so I haven't in a long time. Today I decided to face the truth and measure. I looked back over my records and to my surprise, My measurements are exactly the same as when I weighed 7 lbs less! I had increased my O! sessions to prepare for my volcano climb, plus other vigorous exercises. Then after the climb I went up 2 more lbs. It's muscle mass! I guess my fat has not decreased lately, but I have gained muscle. Whoooo Hoooo!

So from this I learned the importance of keeping records. As Jill says, "Keep the score, Know the score,...."

Instead of discouraged , I am more excited than ever! KOB!

Jennifer