[jhawk76]

Hi LT - welcome - I have only been on the site for a couple of weeks but the ladies here are great. The threads are fun and extremely helpful. Welcome and good luck!

[RunningToSmile]

Jenn, you look amazing and should be proud of your weight loss!! Have you ever wondered if your goal weight is too low?

Mollz, stay strong, you are going to get through this tough patch and come out smiling on the other end! I think that you should up your cals, and give yourself more credit for all that you're doing to help yourself get healthy. Do you think that some of these mood issues may be a depression related to your grandfather's recent death? Sometimes it takes some time for that to happen....for the finality of things to set in......take care....

MP, sorry that the leg is still acting up. Can you swim, or do you need to have the leg covered yet in the water, for infectious reasons? I will keep prayers coming for you recovery.....

Everyone else, I'm rooting for you to keep going with your weight loss journey!! I am not expecting too much at the scale--had a big family party and a wedding this weekend, am getting my period any day, and feel so bloated and gross after having drinks this weekend (only three), drinking pop, eating some corn chips. I did track everything that I ate, though, and worked out tonight at 1930, after supper. Even though it was a quick 25 minute walk, it helped. I have been gulping water all day to help flush things through.

Best wishes for a strong start to the week tomorrow, and strength to make good choices with food and exercise!

R

[Mollz]

Sorry guys, it was just a few low days. It's TOM, which is really weird, since I just finished my last one the week before. Just woke up with it yesterday. I'm totally caught up on my pills, so it shouldn't be happening. Hmmmm. Thanks for being so concerned. You guys rock. The weight's been going down down down since Friday- nearly a pound, the most I've lost in the last 12 weeks.

MP: I tried that calculator. Holy cow, it says 1770 calories a day!! Extreme loss is 1390.

Bedroom's almost done. Another coat on the wardrobe and the window frame and YAY! time to start decorating with pictures, throws, pillows, etc and make my bedroom my little sanctuary. I think I'm going to kepe going and do the crown moulding and the baseboards in the hallway. DH is crap with the trim work.

[Violin Jenn]

Originally Posted by RunningToSmile

Jenn, you look amazing and should be proud of your weight loss!! Have you ever wondered if your goal weight is too low?

Thank you soo much! I have thought about that. I decided on my goal weight of 160 this way. I originally wanted 150lbs, went to my endochronoloist/medibolic specialist for my diabetes and asked her(figuring who better to ask). She said for my hight 170lbs would be a good weight for me. Being stubborn that I am, I split the difference and landed at 160lbs. Though at this point, I'll reevaluate at 165 or so. I just want the cute skirts in my closest to fit again with no muffin top. 165 just may do it.

[AFChick]

Originally Posted by Violin Jenn

I thought I'd do this in a separate post. Below are some of the only pix in existance that are as close as I'm gonna get to a "before" pix.

The pix with Mickey Mouse is the closest I have to me at my highest weight, the other is from senior year in HS(I've always been heavy). When I look at these, yeah I am extremely proud of how far I've come and confident that I can reach my goal. I hate that these pix exist and that people who know me now may see them, but without them I wouldn't be the strong non-judgemental person I am today.

You've definitely come a long way...you look GREAT and you should should be very proud!

[Jldsgirl]

Mollz: I think you got my TOM for me... mine's still a no show, am now 9 days late, lol

[Violin Jenn]

Hi Ladies!

Hope you all are having a better week than I am. I haven't worked out since Monday due to illnes. I've had fevers come out of nowhere, dizziness, headache, congestion, naucousness, no appitite. Called my doctor and spoke over the phone and until I can get in there, she said plenty of fluids, stay in A/C, don't over exert myself. So maybe it'll give me a good number.

Hope you're handling the heat better than me.

[MisfitRycher]

YUCK Jenn! Get better soon! It's been pretty nice here when it isn't raining and scaring the crap out of the dogs in the neighborhood... But thank heaven for my AC!!!

I've had what we call an enlightenment of sorts since my last post... There are some foods that I no longer want.

Potato chips
Chocolate anything (GASP SHOCK SURPRISE!)
Bread
Anything OD'ed with sugar

The bread part makes me want to cry... Because I love having toast and/or poached eggs on toast. But, honestly, it sticks in my mouth and makes me feel like I'm choking.

Example...

I bought an Angus bacon cheeseburger from the 7-11 just up the road for lunch one day... Brought it home... Warmed it up... Added ketchup and a dash of salt... And promptly threw half of it away in favor of a bowl of green grapes!

My only "cheat food", if you will, is Oreo ice cream. And it takes me a month to eat a 1L container. Less if my son helps me eat it! I've scaled way back on the soda and adore my powdered sweet tea in a 32oz water bottle.

Huge mental change for someone who never thought she'd ever change the way she ate! Have a great weekend everybody!

[mortonpixie]

Rycher - Wow! You are REALLY making this more than a diet! It's a lifestyle change!

Jenn - goodness, girl! I hope you are feeling better soon!

Mollz - I'm glad your feeling more positive. The bedroom looks FAB! Yeah - I figured that's what you'd get on that calculator...food for thought anyway.

Still same old same here. I'm back to running 3 days a week and increased my mileage this week. Next week I'll add back my weights. My foot and ankle are still SO swollen. I just stuff it in a shoe and beat it on the pavement till it says "uncle."

I have been decluttering our basement this week. Our *nearly* 12yo DS would love to have some space of his own (currently shares a room with his 8yo sister) I need to get rid of some things anyhow - so maybe I can make a nice little place for him down there.

I've given away my nursing supplies (breast pump, etc) and my maternity clothes. Some part of me is a little sad - but there is another (bigger!) part that is happy to move on from this stage of my life. I'm still reluctant to give away the baby clothes... My husband got rid of all his 2XL Tall shirts and his 44x32 pants. Glad someone could use them. Freecycle.com is awesome!

Dunno what to make for supper...thinking of making everyone a PB&J with some apples and calling it "good!"

[Violin Jenn]

Rycher-Congrats on embracing the lifestyle change! I have a list of things that I just can't eat anymore either! Frosting, chips of any kind, anything fried, donuts, cakes, candy bars. Feels good to say goodbye to those things! Fruit cures my sweet tooth!

Pixie-Glad to hear your back on your feet and able to get back to normal! Congrats to giving away to maternity clothes. Sad yes, but it's forward towards all the exciting new things that life has in store for you and your
family.

Good news to report! After a few rounds with a generic Tylenol-like product from the work first aid cabinet, the fever has broken, my apitite is back and while I feel run down I feel sooooo much better! Tomorrrow I'm still going to skip the workout and get some rest, but I'll get back into it Saturday. Kettlebell here I come! YAY! I can now eat something besides crakers and toast! Hopefully all those carbs will not undo me on the scale.

Advice needed though ladies. Here's my dilema. So a bit ago I actually had a Myspace page. The other day, I got an email from a guy who is looking to meet some new people in the area. He likes to workout, into MMA, has 3 1/2 semesters of college done with one semester left to go. He's in the Army and wants to chat or meet up with me when he comes home for leave. Should I respond to his email? Now that I have the perm job, I want to get back into doing social things and join a few Meetup.com groups a couple women's groups and there is one near me called Santuary for Singles(which sounds fun), giving singles a safe place to meet and maybe give online dating another try in the new year. So on one had he sounds normal and it would be nice to have someone to talk to about working out and such, but it is a bit dangerous, though I'd have the same fears with online dating a guy from a Meetup group. It'd be nothing more than a friend as he's 26, 10years younger than me.

There is this other guy too. A recruiter that about 1 1/2 years ago asked me to meet him for drinks. My schedule was crazy, his was calm. So he then disappeared for a year and this past May started emailing me again. We made plans to meet for happy hour to catch-up. That didn't happen, his dog injured himself and he had to home after work to check on him. So we've been emailing discussing pets. BUT I don't know what is up with him. I don't think he has a gf or is married, I'm curious as to what would happen if we did meet for a social setting like happy hour. I believe that people enter out lives for a reason. This however is making me nuts! He's there, not there then poof he's emailing me out of the blue about a year later. He's a huge animal lover like me, optimistic and I could just talk to him about anything. And. He's. Just. So. Cute. I keep the emails light and casual. I know that he's busy trying to get a business off the ground so I understand if I don't hear from him for blocks of time. But the plan is to keep in touch.

Soo...advice?

[jhawk76]

OMG - I am so ready for the heat to go away. Is it fall yet??? I am supposed to participate in a 5k on Saturday and I fear that I will melt. I was outside chatting with a friend after a meeting yesterday and it took all I had in me not to get sick - nearly vomited. That would have been bad...kind of funny...but bad.

Jenn - have you tried to reschedule that happy hour?

[Jldsgirl]

Jenn: my only advice is this: Meet only in public, make sure someone knows where u are and who ur with, and schedule a phone call to check in so they know u are ok. Until you get to know someone, this is the best thing to do. Good luck. there really are some great guys online

Hawk: I'm ready for fall too. I hate days like today where u start sweating as soon as you step outside.. blah, lol. GL w/ the 5K, make sure you stay well hydrated and watch out for sign of heatstroke.

Pixie: glad you were able to up your mileage this week. Have you been back to the dr recently? It sounds kinda strange that you are still so swollen hope you are all better soon

Rycher: You have definitely turned this journey into a lifestyle change! I dont think I could ever stop wanting chocolate or bread. Glad to see that it is possible.

I still dont know what is going on w/ me. My monthly gift is still a no show and I am on day 43 of what is normally a 30-33 day cycle. Took another pregnancy test yesterday and it was negative.. I just dunno whats wrong. I am so tired all day long, its everything I can do to muscle through my workouts in the morning. Wed I slept til 11am, and I've had to lie down for a nap around 4:30 almost every afternoon (both sleeping in and taking naps are VERY rare happenings for me). I guess if i dont get my period by Monday, I'm going to try to get into the dr to see what the hold up is...(sorry if TMI)

Anways, I hope you all are having a wonderful day. I have to get off here and try to get ready for my yard sale tomorrow. Have a great weekend ladies and try to stay cool!

[Violin Jenn]

Amanda-Thanks for the advice! Those are some of things I was thinking about should I do meet someone online and we want to meet. I did email the 26 year old soldier, I get friend-like vibes from his emails. So maybe a new friend.

It's Saturday! And whatever bug I had this week seems to be completely gone! I feel sooo goood! I got on the scale and to my relief, despite all the toast and crakers I maintained! So now I can get back to the healthy eating I like and get back to working out. For today, I've got JM 30DS with the dvd that came with my Kettlebell. Once I finish the kettlebell dvd, I'll see how I feel as to what level of 30DS I do.

I hope everyone is surviving the heat! Today, the Philly area is expecting 100 degrees with heat index of 105-115!!!

[RunningToSmile]

Hi All,

So, the perfect way to top off an 8 hour drive home from North Dakota for a horrible family reunion for my husband's family? Not one, but two vomiting children, throwing up in the car all over backpacks, DVD players, Nintendo DS game sets, between leather seats, in my hands, etc etc. All while we careen down the freeway at 70 mph and my husband tries to find an exit, stat. I'd like to thank the friendly Holiday gas Station at a random exit in the Twin Cities for letting me unknowingly use buckets of windshield wiper fluid and paper towels to hose things down enough to get home. Brand spanking new Mercury Mariner christened appropriately? Check! Ready to stay home for a long, long time? Check!!!!!

P.S. Ate horribly all three days, and feel yucky and bloated. Going to get back into things tomorrow....

Renee

[Jldsgirl]

Renee: I'm so sorry you had a bad weekend. Hope your kids are feeling better.

Jenn: hope things work out for you online Glad you are feeling better also

My weekend was pretty uneventful. I had a yard sale saturday (made enough to buy groceries for the week, lol), went to my in laws sunday for dinner. TOM is still no where to be found, but i do feel kinda crampy today, so i'm hoping its going be here today or tomorrow. If it doesnt show by wednesday, I'm going to go to the dr and make them do a beta HCG to rule out pregnancy. I'm really getting worried b/c I am NEVER this late.
I made it to the gym this morning. I did 40 minutes on the elliptical. Then I had them check my body fat %, and sadly, I am 43.3% Fat, LOL. But I have a starting point now besides my weight, that is measurable. Plus having to have the really good looking trainers run my % for me is good encouragement to make sure its actually going down, LOL.

I have to get this house cleaned up before the fatigue sets in for the day and I fall asleep (so sick of that, lol). I hope you all have a wonderful day!!