300+ Club - 300+ And Getting Fit after 40 #278

This group is for those dealing with the challenges of being fit when you have a significant amount of weight to lose which becomes harder after age 40. If you're an old or new friend and not over 40 and feel this is the place to post, jump right in

Hi everyone! I'm making this a monthly thread, at least for now. Hope you're all doing well.

I saw a skunk by the compost pile this morning. Luckily, the dogs didn't!!

Ate bad for the most part over the weekend. ITs nice to know today is a new day and I can start fresh. I will do better today.

Heather_ we have a skunk issue in our town.

Heather - monthly sounds great - for now! I sure hope we can get more active.

Carol -- We lost a lot of our regulars and the positive thread seems to have attracted a lot of people. I was wondering whether to ditch the weekly threads ... or merge them... I thought I'd try this...

I read another thread that has also dropped considerably during the summer. My commitment is always "HIT IT HARD" the day after Labor Day - I'm doing "OK" now but will really push. I'm hoping others join me and the de-lurking begins.

These weekly threads have been down all year -- but especially this summer. I hope you're right!!

Things are gearing up here. School doesn't start for a couple of weeks, but I'm on campus just about every day...

Im here and I need this thread. It has really helped me !! ITs kinda like my lifeline at times....

Ok, ladies I realize I'm not yet forty I'm closing in at 37, but I have a question and to be honest you ladies are the only ones I feel comfortable enough to ask.
My girlfriends are suggesting that maybe I'm starting early menopause. Before the doctors learned the dangers of staying on Depro-Preva ( a lovely little birth control shot you have to take every three months) for a long time, I was on it for ten years straight. So for this to be a posibility is not out of the question. My TOM is pretty much all over the place, sometimes nothing for 3 months and then you'd think Niagara Falls came calling.
Now I realize you ladies are probably too young for this subject, by your photos I'd say all three of you are in your very early 40's but maybe you'd know from older friends or your older sisters....is it normal to break out in a sweat for no reason whatsoever? One minute I'm fine and the next you'd think I ran the Boston Marathon. Also, what's with the insomnia?? Seriously.
I'm hoping I get the answer I'm normal, though to be fair the jury is still out on that one.

Faith -- I don't think it's normal to break into a sweat -- are you thinking it's a hot flash? Could be... (I'm not there yet...) How long do the flashes last?

All I can say is that you might want to talk to your doc! :hug:

I thought maybe it could be, they have no rhyme or reason. The depro really screwed me up, it sent my hormones into overdrive. I've been off it for about five years but at one point I had to go and make sure I didn't have cervical cancer, they were afraid it did that much damage. The way it was explained to me, I had become an estrogen making machine and the extra weight I was carrying wasn't helping any, I never stopped producing estrogen, ever. I was ovulating like a women in her early twenties. I could literally feel my ovaries ovulating, ok I realize that might be TMI, sorry. I was told that most likely I would enter menopause early, much earlier than most women and the doc has said he believes I'm dealing with perimenopause-yeah for me right?
What is a hot flash like? ****...no literally. For about 15 minutes you feel like you could burst into flames and then it just ends.

Faith - get to the doctor - a simple blood test can diagnose peri-menopause. I'm not a good one to ask - I am 52 and never had a single sympton - not a hot flash - no missed/heavy periods - nada. I was 45 I think - they had said being childless it would be earlier.

Hey - please keep posting with us - we need you!

Yes, Faith, please feel free to stay!

hi everyone. just wondering if any one has any real success with pilates as i have started doing it daily and dont see much results yet. its soo hard starting off high impact work outs just now as i am horrendously unfit so pilated seemed to be the ideal starter work out for me.thanks

You don't have to ask me twice Heather. You, Carol and Deb-this is a slice of heaven.

Ok Carol-after I read your post I put a call into my doctor, he's an awesome guy, called me back before he left for the night, Tuesday he's at the office till after nine. On my last physical I did have blood work done, it does show I'm at the beginning stages of menopause. Yeah for me so now I guess I have to take it all in stride. He said to me..."you've got some hot flashes...want your monthly TOM back instead. **** no I answered. I only had 6 TOM last year and this year so far 4, I don't miss those. He said it's a miracle I didn't get cancer as a side effect from 10 years of constant depo so I guess I can suck up the hot flashes and insomnia. At least I don't have night sweats, at least not yet anyway. My girlfriend said the first time she had one, she thought she'd wet the bed. Plus Pablo and I are done having kids, he volunteered for the big snip about 8 years back so if I did get pregnant I'd have a lot of explaining to do. I'm so jealous though, not one symptom, man you truly are amazing, I always knew it. I just about fell out of my chair when you said you were 52...I thought you were in your mid 40's.

Did you three uncover the fountain of youth or something? Heather looks like she's barely a day over 39 and Deb-don't get me started, I thought she was 35.

I think that maybe you might reconsider inviting me to this thread. I'm a talker, I love conversation, it saddens me to think it's dying off with my kids generation. The world loses so much with texting...you can't get the beauty of sarcasm in a text message.

As for me, September is a month of challenges. My third quarterly weigh in happens on the 15th, my goal is 252, we'll see if I make it. It's not for lack of trying I'll tell you that. I think I've fallen in love with exercising, wow that really makes me sound insane doesn't it? I started toying with the idea of becoming a dietician or aerobics/yoga instructor after my youngest graduates in the spring of 2012, we'll see. I have to do something that incorporates this new life into a daily plan. Right now I'm just focusing on getting my first 100 pounds off but it's nice to have that idea rolling around in the back of my head.

My girls apply for college tomorrow, they are going for early admission to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Brittany wants to be a first or second grade teacher and April wants to be a district attorney. Long term they are looking to transfer to Vanderbilt, but I'll be happy when we get past stage one and they get accepted into UT Chat. Everyone keeps telling me they are a shoe in but until I get that letter, I'll take nothing for granted. They'd be the first to go to college from both mine and Pablo's family. It's exciting and nerve-racking all at the same time. Seems like yesterday I brought April home and the past 3 years with Brittany have just flown by.

Heather-we're sitting at a hair over 24K on the exercise thread for August, I'll take it. I can't wait till we top 216K though.

That's it for now ladies...if you change your mind about having me here, just let me know. I won't take it personally. Life's too short for that.

All my best,
Faith

Faith Faith Faith - you've put a smile on my face! So glad you are here. Hope you will be a regular with us. I love your energy - it is contagious - I for one need that! Interesting reading your thoughts after the kids are out of school - I have a friend who this week started classes to become a dietary physiologist - he has lost about 165 lbs and also needs to incorporate into his daily life. He is my very first trainer and a dear friend.

Faith -- It's great to have you here!!!

I'm glad your doc was able to clear up the mystery... good luck getting through menopause. I'm 44 and haven't started having any issues yet.

Are April and Brittany twins? You sound so excited for them, but measured, too. Good mix.

I can't believe it's September! Classes start on the 13th and I know I'll be ready, but the transition is always tough. I love teaching, but I also love the freedom of my summers! I'm trying to finish up my last "summer project" at work today. Next week is already taken up with lots of meetings, and an overnight retreat...

My garden isn't done yet. I picked 100 cherry tomatoes from a single plant yesterday! That's 20% of its total yield this summer!

Heather-yes and no....April was brought into the world through me being in hours of pain and agony, Brittany we adopted about 4 years ago. They are only 3 weeks apart in age, with April being born in October, Brittany in November of the same year. So technically they aren't twins but to everyone who has met us after we adopted Brittany, they think they are and the girls don't tell them any different unless they ask. They look so much alike it's almost scary, both have long brown hair and dark brown eyes. April looks like me, poor child and Brittany looks like a straight mix of me and my husband, oh wait, poor child for her too.

They're hoping to go to college together, we're a pretty tight knit family, that's just how we roll and I think it would be good for them both. April has a pretty good head on her shoulders and finally after four years, Brittany's starting to come along. She had a lot of baggage when she first got here. Her egg donor (that's how I refer to her bio mom) was a drug addicted prostitute who lost custody of Brittany because she abused her. Then she went to go live with her aunt, that went well till Brittany became a teen and starting having issues and then her aunt dumped her into the system when Brittany started self-mutilating..she was a cutter. From there she went to a juvenille center because they didn't have room for her anywhere else, lovely right? From there into foster care...don't even get me started on the foster care system..what a pile of crap that is. They placed Brittany with a couple who was way too young to have a teenager, they were in their early 20's, Brittany at the time was 13. The foster mother had her model her underwear..very creepy people. And then after having to fight for her for almost a year..finally she came home to us.

The day we were in court, all the kids came with us but they wouldn't let them in, they had to wait outside. Everyone did the talking but Pablo and I..the judge, the lawyers, the social workers. It was quite possibly the most nerve racking 20 minutes of my life and the next thing we know the judge smacks her gavel down. I'm dumbfounded because I'm not exactly even sure what happened. So I ask her, "does this mean I can take my daughter home now?" Yes..that was all it took, I hadn't cried the entire year we were in battle, but man the tears just flowed then, I couldn't stop them. I had the lawyers crying, the social workers crying and then the judge starting crying. I'll never forget, she said to Pablo and I, "I've been on this bench for almost 10 years, I can count on one hand how many people in this courtroom have been happy to get the children they were taking custody of. You're the first couple who ever cried because they were happy to be getting a child from here. I hope Brittany knows how lucky she is." My husband answered back, "No your honor, we're the lucky ones." April had met Brittany in middle school when she was in foster care and they hit it off right from the beginning. The first time I met her, I came home that night and told Pablo, "if not one wants her when her year is up in foster care, I do" He looked at me and said, "Ok, what do we do?" Sometimes he is just so amazing that husband of mine, I guess that's to balance out all those times he drives me nuts and he does, man he does.

It's all about people, you can have a million things but if you haven't touched another human life, what's the point? What have you really got, just stuff I guess. That's why I love this place, it's all about the people.

Heather-you teach...OMG that is so freaking awesome!!! What do you teach? Where do you teach? How long have you been teaching? You shouldn't have told me that, I'm probably going to be asking you a million questions now. I just can't get over that...teaching is such an awesome profession. Talk about touching people lives. To be able to change their outlook and affect their future by giving them knowledge, WOW. WOW, I'm excited and speechless, I'm in awe, total awe.

Carol-if I remember right, didn't you teach one of your water exercise classes? What did you think of the experience? Would you do it again? I'm curious to know your thoughts on the subject, if you don't mind of course.

Ok ladies I'm off to bed. Good day of exercise for me, will start the morning with some yoga, oh that's always good.

All my best,
Love
Faith

Faith - I enjoy teaching the water classes but don't feel like it gets my workout in enough - which is what I really want.

What a jewel you are - and your entire family. The world is a better place.

Faith -- That's a great story about your daughters!!!!

I teach psychology (but NOT the clinical, or what I call the "couch" stuff). I am a social/cultural psychologist. I teach at a small college and love it. I've been here 10 years. I teach courses such as: Introduction to Psychology, Social psychology, cultural psychology, research design... and at a small school, I also get to teach outside psychology, so I've taught Study Abroad classes, too, for example.

FAith_ I am so glad you are here with us!! I am 46 and have started having TOM issues as well. He comes earlier and earlier and is really heavy most months. Mom went thru quite a few years of it before hers just stopped. Im just praying I can survive going thru it without surgery.

I havent been here much the past few days ...been chasing my granddaughter22 months old. I wonder how many exercise minutes I should count for the 36 hours I have her. I sure wish I had just a tiny bit of her energy.

Does anyone have exciting weekend plans? My plans include painting my dinningroom. I also want to work in my yard some and get my flowerbeds ready for fall.

Heather- we called it quits on our garden all except the bellpeppers. We have been too hot and dry for months.
Our weather is suppost to be awesome this weekend.

Im going to try and eat ok all weekend...but am hitting it hard again on tuesday.

The cooler weather is so nice - summer seems to have flown by. We are talking about going back to Alaska in June - hard to even think about with winter coming soon. Excited for DH to see some of the wondrous sites I saw on my trip. Plan to be able to hike each and every summit I choose to. I was able to do that on this trip but they were easy choices.

That being said - I have to get back on the exercise wagon! My normal routine will be back in full operation on Wednesday - not waiting til then - the pups will love walks this weekend.

Big plans for the weekend anyone?

I am enjoying the cool weather. I plan to head out to the garden shortly. Need to prune/cut back... and thin my lettuce and spinach that I planted recently!

I feel back on the exercise track, but need to do better for food. No big plans this weekend for me...

Just popped in to let you know I'm still here, I'll post later tonight and catch up

I'm reminding myself (and everyone else) that we're keeping this thread for a month -- no need to start a new one!

I have a session with my trainer this morning. Then more housecleaning, and more cooking of tomatoes. Time to make sauce!

Heather - what a great day for you today! I miss my gardening days and canning salsa on Labor Day - it was a tradition!

I may be the old lady here. I'm 56 and somehow my weight has crept up to over 300. I seem to do well for about two weeks and then blow it. I can't move, but I would like to. My life consists of sleeping, coming downstairs, staying on the couch most of the day (sometimes I get out to a movie with my dh, or lunch with girlfriends), climbing the steps and going back to bed. It's so depressing. Walking hurts my knees and my back. I liked when I did physical therapy in a pool, but honestly, I can't walk through the facility to get to the pool, much less change clothes and shower before getting in the pool and then shower before I leave. I'm so embarrassed to try walking in my neighborhood. I want to get better and I'm really depressed thinking I may not be able to get better.

I'm married to a good guy who pretty much takes care of me. We have a daughter but she lives about 1500 miles away with her own family.

I really hope I can get into the swing of things with this group.

astara- age doesnt matter here!! WELCOME!!!

Heather- I know how much work goes into tomatoes. It sure is nice to reap the rewards later. Its such a sense of accomplishment!

carol- hi and hope your enjoying your day

faith- hi

Im so ready to get back into the swing of things tomorrow. Im going to start my day with a walk. I will have to go early because i get kidos by 6:45. I think I need the time alone to clear my head!
I am going to go back to writing down each bite of food that goes into my mouth. I had completly gotten away from that. I also will record all my water. I have been slacking on it also. Im looking forward to a fresh start.

Been painting the dinning room this weekend but ran out of paint. I will finish the woodwork and then finish it next weekend. I am going to LOVE it when its finished.

Guess I will be cleaning and then grocery shopping after I paint today. My cabinets are bare.

Good morning ladies!! I hope everyone's Labor Day holiday was good.

Astara-baby when I first started exercising, I needed a nap after walking for 12 minutes and I hardly ever went to the upstairs of my apartment ever. But now, I'll hop up the stairs no sweat. It takes time and it takes regularity. Ever think about getting a Wii? Before I was secure enough to get outside and in front of the neighborhood, my son bought one. I started out small, maybe 15 minutes of bowling as I recall. Now I'm doing gold's gym and fitness coach, it's worked good for me because I was inside and could do it on my time.

Carol-you made your own salsa, that's so cool. Was it the spicy kind? Good lord my husband makes his and your eyes just about burn out if you step in the kitchen for 5 seconds, it's insanity. He spent last weekend jarring jalapeno peppers, he eats them with just about anything..eggs, pizza, you name it, he either puts hot sauce on it or has a side of peppers with it. A few years back when I saw the commercial for Tabasco sauce where the insect exploded trying to bite someone who had eaten Tabasco sauce, I just about fell over laughing.. did they meet my husband before they made that commercial?

Heather-you have a personal trainer, how do you like it? I've never had one so I'm not quite sure how it works. I don't understand why some trainers yell at people and degrade them, really is that supposed to help?

Deb-are you an interior decorator? You seem so bold and brave always taking on new decorating projects, I admire that.

As for me, I spent the holiday putting the house on a weight loss plan. I spent 10+ hours on Saturday going through our bedroom and downsizing. 15 bags of garbage...would someone like to explain to me why I keep so much crap? It was ridiculous. I got into the living room last night and the office today, wasn't as bad, 7 bags of junk. I'm afraid to get in the closet under the stairs...I may find Jimmy Hoffa there, I just can't be sure.
The girls applied for college last week, keep your fingers crossed. Hopefully we should know something by the end of next month at the latest. I'm excited and scared..if they don't get in, we have to execute the back up plan. If they do get in, we have to figure out how to pay for it. $17,500 a year, per girl. I may have to sell a kidney.
Need to get re-focused on my exercise, finally got some yoga and stuff into today but I'm feeling it. My body does not like when I go for days and days with no yoga.

Take care.
All my best,
Love Faith

Astara - welcome! Look forward to getting to know you - keep posting!

Faith - we made several kinds of salsa - never ended up the same even if we intended it to. Everything was fresh from the garden - the largest summer we did 144 quarts!

Heather - when do classes start?

Deb - I'm ready to start getting back outside too! The mosquitos are really loving me.

OK - red letter day for me - DAY 1. Today also marks my 3 year anniversary of taking care of me. The last year has been maintenance more or less for me. My brain and body seem to be in tune with each other and ready to move on down. Back to the gym tomorrow!

A good friend passed away suddenly this morning. She had been through successful ovarian cancer surgery last Monday and sent home on Friday. Complications developed and she died in surgery this morning. She was probably over 400 lbs. which certainly didn't make it easier. She was here last Sunday and so encouraged by my success - she was ready to give taking care of herself a go.

I'm reminded of my signature - I choose success.

carol- sorry for your loss and your so right we have to choose success!

faith- lol you crack me up...I had not painted my livingroom or dinning room in 10yrs. It was way past time!!!! Kitchen will get the next facelift.

heather_ how are you?

Food wasnt great yesterday but not as bad as the past few days.

hi everyone! Good to see you all posting!

Carol -- So sorry to hear about your friend! How scary!

I went to Wisconsin on a faculty retreat yesterday. It was quite pretty! Got in a great walk! Classes start next Monday -- I'll be ready for 'em!

Somebody needs to remind me how good this feels when I waiver. Two days POP and back in the gym - awesome day!

Heather - sounds like a great day.

Hi Ladies! :wave:

Another one of my quickie stop ins to say howdy to my friends! :hug: Life is the usual craziness around here. I feel like I never sit and get more than a couple minutes to myself. :dizzy: Guess that's what happens with a hubby, 2 kids, a fulltime job and gym schedule.

2 weeks from Saturday I'm riding in the MS City to Shore ride. I'm so nervous. 75 miles!!! Yikes! I've still been having hip trouble and am currently seeing a chiropractor 2x a week. I'm just praying I am able to finish the ride!

Well, speaking of crazy a certain lil 5 year old is fighting bed.

Catch you lovely ladies soon! :high:

Hi ladies, I'm back.

Astara and Faith, good to meet you.

It's been a long, rough summer, spent almost entirely in hospitals or nursing homes with Mom (she bounced back and forth). She died peacefully two weeks ago.

I lost all control over eating by July. I won't even make you all cringe by describing what and how I was eating. At least I occasionally had the impulse to eat something healthy, which I would attribute to my time here.

But I've definitely gained weight back and gotten out of any good habits i had developed.

I've been back at school just for a week (classes started a few days before the funeral, which was in Ohio) and completely buried under work. I've been putting in 12-14 hours a day and I'm still not caught up. But I know it's time to get back on track with eating.

A friend brought me a fab layered fruit salad. Oy, I still haven't written thank you notes.

Well, anyway, I just wanted to stop in and say hello. Over the weekend I'm going to work on attitude adjustment and grocery shopping, and Monday I'll make a new start with eating.

Angela - I'm so sorry for your loss.

Oh, Angela, my sincere condolences about your mom. I am so glad to see you back here... Please keep us posted as you settle into normality.

Yesterday I hosted our dept party. Great to have the house clean! But I have to get my eating under control. I don't need to eat cake.

Worked through today - food great. Didn't get to the gym. Right now still fighting with food - it's not winning! I need to remind myself that I have to get going in the morning or I end up taking all day to do nothing.

Barb - great to see you too!

I had my precious grandchildren 4 days this week and 2 overnights. I now understand the meaning of loving them and sending them home.Im wiped out!
Eating was not POP!! Not horrible but still a struggle. Scales are up even more. Today will include a walk and grocery shopping. Started today off with a yogurt and fruit for breakfast. GOt to focus!!!

Got to the gym this morning, but am baking an apple pie to take to a dinner tonight. I have missed baking over the past 5 years, but I think I need to moderate it a little bit...

Heather - baking is like gardening for me - very therapeutic. Much more dangerous than gardening though - sampling isn't an option.

Had a great POP day yesterday - walked to my water class - came out and DH and the pups were there to walk me home. This is a major breakthru - DH taking a walk! So I started the day with 90 minutes of exercise - food was great too - everything weighed and recorded. Today I have a few challenges ahead of me - my goal is not to take the first bite off plan. Plan to report back that is what actually happened.

I still didnt make it a POP day yesterday but I did get healthy food in the house. I have a plan now i just have to make it happen!!!

Thanks, everyone, for the good thoughts.

Heather, I know what you mean about department parties. Ours isn't until this coming Saturday, and it's always a potluck, but in our department that practically translates into Illinois Iron Chef. I'm planning to make a ricotta/almond cake--not great, but lower carb than a regular cake with frosting.

Right now I'm just working on getting back to eating real food, instead of fast food and snack food. By the end of the summer, I was living on McDonalds, donuts, and string cheese.

Back to grading. I'm still 2 weeks behind :(

More soon~~

Angela

I did it! Stayed POP - every bite recorded. Things really smelled good - choose cheese, veggie and sliced turkey.

First day of classes tomorrow! I think I found something appropriate to wear, even with my small weight gain since last year.

Hello Ladies,

I'm sorry I've been MIA the last few days so first I need to catch up.

Angela-I'm so sorry for your loss, you are in my thoughts and meditations. Oh...I love string cheese but I swore off donuts except on the few free days I have for the year, I gave myself 5. I turn into Homer Simpson when I get around donuts...they are just so good. I saw this show last week where this bakery made voo-doo donuts, they're glazed voodoo doll shaped donuts with strawberry/raspberry filling and then they stick a pretzel in it. I thought that was just hysterical. Don't even get me started on McDonalds-I used to have a love/hate relationship with their cheeseburgers but then I found their salads which are quite good actually, but I try to stay away from Mickey D's all together, the fries for me are just too tempting. Ricotta in a cake? That's interesting.

Deb-good job on getting good food in the house, I think that's half the battle. If it's not in the house, I don't miss. If it is in the house, I think I can hear it calling to me, seriously.

Carol-the dh went for a walk, wow. I haven't been able to get Pablo to get into the pool for the last 6 years, let alone go for a walk. I wish he'd get back into karate, he loved it but since we've moved here to Tennessee, we just don't have the time. Maybe after the girls are off to college I can get him back into it. I hope so anyway. Way to stay on plan this weekend, sometimes I think the weekends are twice as hard as the weekdays.

heather-I hope your first day goes well, it must be so exciting. Did you make the apple pie?

As for me, it's just more of the same. I had to work all weekend but that's ok, I should have the whole week off. I need to catch up on my exercise, did something stupid the other day. Two sessions of gold's gym in one day-not smart, so not smart. Felt good after I was done, getting out of bed the next morning however was not so pleasant. My neck and shoulders were killing me, did some yoga Sat and it felt a million times better but that's something I won't be doing again. My next WI is Wednesday, we'll see how it goes. I'm not sweating it too much.

Take care
All my best,
Love
Faith

Today is my day...I dont want to go back to where I was and the scales sure move faster up than down. I have a gain of almost 20lbs. Im sure alot of it is water weight.I will move my ticker after a week of eating right.

Faith -- I did make the apple pie! I took it to my friend's house for dinner, had a slice there and left the rest!

Angela - :hug: I'm so sorry for your loss.

Peeking in to say :wave: hi to everyone.

:)

Hi all,

Long time no "see". Life has been ridiculously out of control since January (at least). I have been traveling ~1 week per month, some months more, some slightly less. In theory I am going to the Netherlands within the next few weeks, going to Rhode Island (again) beginning of October and going to Japan late October/early November. I average ~65 to 70 hours per week at work. I have had plantar fasciitis since January, and am now doing physical therapy for it (last attempt prior to getting a cortizone shot). Time, will and foot have not been good for exercise. And stress and travel have been bad for food. So....I am not going to say what I weigh until I get more comofortable with things going in the right direction. Right now, they are not going in the right direction though.

But....I have made my menu for tomorrow, and I will do what I can to try to get 30 minutes of some type of exercise tomorrow. Walking, which was my favorite, is mostly out due the fasciitis, too much pain after the fact.

How are you all? Carol, Heather, Deb, Barb, Angela, it's nice to see some faces I recognize.

Heather, please don't close this thread, I actually like when there are less folks on, it's easier to keep up.

That is where I am. Sadly not where I was, but hopefully soon to not be here either.

Angie

I ended up having a wild and crazy day yesterday with 5 kids. My grandchildren were here along with the 3 kids I keep. I was wiped out at dinner time and had pizza....way too much pizza. Today is a new day and I will eat according to my menu.

Angie - you've been on my mind so much - thanks for coming back. I have found some weight I thought was lost too. Fall is my time. You can do this - you are a machine! Please stop in more often.

Good to see some old friends (though not that old!) checking in!

First day of classes was tiring, but good. Today I have a 3 hour lab class.
This morning I have to go to the dentist because a dog ate my retainer! I need a new one!

Ok, Heather, after I got up off the floor :lol:, I have to know...the dog ate your retainer? Really? Are you a teacher saying, "The dog ate it"....omg this was the greatest way to start my morning. You have to elaborate..this is just too much.

Faith -- Well, here's what happened. A week or so ago I went downstairs on Saturday without taking out my retainer. I placed it on a paper towel on the kitchen table. That night I couldn't find it. Searched through the trash and compost twice... nothing!

The next morning, there it was, sitting on a blanket we keep out for the dogs. I can only guess it got knocked to the floor at some point during the day and one of the dogs thought it was a toy that smelled like me. It was cracked in several places and a small piece of it had fallen off...

So, that's the story!

Im here for a morning checkin...hopefully life is calming down starting today.
Scales are now back up to 235...i dont like it

I made it through almost unscathed from a 10 hour meeting today - breakfast and lunch were perfect choices - should have put a piece of gum in my mouth for mid-afternoon munchies instead of the trail mix. Ended up within calorie range. Still working on the exercise side of this - doesn't help my trainer has been sick - maybe I should be accountable to myself.

I came in a bit high on calories yesterday but still better than the past weeks.
Exercise was an hour with the weedeater and I can feel it today.
We are having some beautiful weather and Im taking the kids to the playground.
Got all my water in yesterday...

Good Morning Ladies,

Barb-I'm so glad to see you, I was wondering what happened. I haven't seen you on the exercise thread for the last two months so I was starting to get worried but it's good to know you're alright.

Deb-I love your new profile pic! Sounds like you're getting back on track and you'll have those pounds off again in no time, running around with the kids at the playground is sure to help that. To have that much energy and be that carefree, kids are great.

Heather-thank you so much for sharing the retainer story. If it's true that laughing burns calories, your story helped push me right over the edge. Sometimes you can't help but wonder, what goes through a dog's mind? We have a mutt named Mandrake and she is addicted to butter. The best part is that when she happens to get a hold of a butter wrapper, she's licking her chops for hours and all I can think of is...really?

Carol-a ten hour meeting...on what? I have to hand it to you, I don't think I could make it through that without starting at some point to spin around in my chair like a five year old. At least it was trail mix and not cheetos, so that's a plus. Sorry about your trainer, hope they'll be up and running soon. It's hard when you get into a rhythm and then it gets thrown off.

As for myself, yesterday's weigh in went well at least for me anyway. Found out my daughter has been drowning in the Coca-cola at work so that explains why she hasn't been moving the scales. Seriously we figured out between Friday and Sunday, she drinks the equivalent of about 16 cans of Coke. Doing this every weekend, I'm just happy she hasn't gained weight. My son was great, he hops on the computer and finds out what that translated over to in McDonald's food-it was insane, calorie wise it was close to 5 Big Macs. And so we're done with that, She'll be taking a powerade to work instead and when she finishes that, it's water till she gets home. I kept wondering what was wrong, and now I know and so does she. Still haven't heard back from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga about the girls, I hope we find out by the end of the month, the stress has been tearing up my sleep.

Well that's it for now.
Take care
All my best
Faith

dogs. Came home to both poop AND puke!! Poor boys!

Heather - did they get in to something making them sick? Hope they're better quickly.

Faith - computer conversion meeting - today was only 5 hours. Blueberry muffin today - but straightened my act out and finishing today POP instead of pitching it out the window.

Gotta get my exercise groove on!

Carol -- I think they're both fine. The pooping was (I think) the younger dog just not being able to hold it any more (though it doesn't fit with his normal cycle)... and as for the puke, well, dogs just do that...

Faith- I changed my profile picture to remind me how much I want this weight off before my new grandbaby arrives in early march.
heather- glad your dogs are ok.
carol- way to go with not letting one choice ruin your day.

I am doing ok with eating right. Still not back to 100% POP but I will be!! I am also debating getting my faithful minitramp out and using it during our new season of tv shows. Its my key to losing and I know it!! I can be POP but if I dont exercise I dont lose!!

Halfway through my weekend - POP plus exercise! Dinner with friends tonight - have reviewed the menu and advised DH what to order for me (yes - he does the gentleman thing and always orders for me). I'm always amazed at DH - he came home yesterday with his head shaved - one of his life friends is in a battle for his life - he said it seemed such a small way to support him. He surprised me even more when I came out of my water class there he and the pups were to walk me home. Nice that after all these years he can still amaze me!

Carol -- A DH who can surprise after all these years -- wonderful!!

I had to buy some pants today. I am mourning being back in plus sizes...

Heather-it's only temporary baby, that's it. Don't sweat it too much!

Deb-a mini-tramp. I'd be afraid I'd kill myself, I'm not the most graceful person on the planet. You are so bold, I dig that totally.

Carol-My hub orders for me to, I think it's sweet and old school. I don't know about yours but when my hub started shaving his head last year, it actually makes him look younger. Way to stay POP and have your exercise too.

As for me, yesterday was a bit of a struggle, I only got a small walk in for exercise, food was good though. I had phone drama. I love my younger brother in law but his life is like a soap opera and because him and I are so close, when we're on the phone there goes two hours of my day, at least. He's very oblivious when it comes to emotions so we have to go step by step to work through it all. Of course, it would help if he was already divorced from wife number two,,you know before he started dating wife number 3, but what're you gonna do? He is who he is, he's the kind women want to "fix" so that always adds to the issue.

Take care
all my best
Faith

heather_ I noticed my dress pants are getting snug.
faith- I hate drama and we tend to have too much of it lately!! I avoid it at all cost!! LOL
carol- Your hubby sounds so sweet and caring!

I did ok yesterday but still ate too much. Scales did go down some for the week but need to go down alot!!

Today is my day and I will make it POP.
Im looking forward to a new season of tv shows starting tonight. Minitramp is ready.

Debbie - you can do it - day 1 is the hardest! Cant wait to hear about it.

OKay, scales are moving in the right direction... today's food is planned out... good!

Today's plan executed perfectly - so good to be back at the gym. Need to get a few more calories in before bed!

Deb - how'd it go?

Heather - mine is going the right direction too - can't wait to see a new low!

Faith - how are you?

I did it!! I was able to have a POP day.
I also came to the realization that I cant go back. I think I have been trying to get back to my lowest weight...I have to first face where the scales are now. Now I am working toward my goal not my old lowest weight. Make any sense to anyone???
I also face the reality that Im out of shape as far as exercise goes. Time to get with it!!

Had another great day yesterday and so far so good today. I cant wait for cooler weather..we hit 98 yesterday. Next week appears to be in the upper 70 and lower 80s. I will be walking daily.
Where is everyone????

Too early in for the scale to be stuck - but it is - already frustrated with it - trying not to let it get to me - the hard work will pay off. DH and the pups greeted me when I came out of the gym tonight again - loving it. Start one on ones with my trainer again on Friday - looking forward to it.

Way to go Carol on getting back to your exercise.
I am still lacking in that dept. I do plan to make up for lost time when it cools down starting today.
Planning a weekend of healthy eating. Whos with me?? I know weekends are a challenge for all of us.

Debbie - I'm with you - no eating out for me this weekend! DH is out of town tomorrow - gives me time to get some projects addressed. Sunday will be planned before grocery shopping tomorrow. Weekends are definitely a struggle for me.

Well I blew my own challenge. Hubby ordered pizza last night and I ate too much. Im going to work my tail off this week and try and have a good solid week of pop days and exercise. I want to be out of the 30s.

Back to one on ones with my trainer - I opened up with her and let her know how absolutely disgusted I am with myself - finding some lost pounds, not staying focused to move on with this journey, etc. She challenged me - 3 miles everyday. I accepted the challenge - I am also considering just weighing with her the first Friday of each month. Not sure I can do that one.

Today - 3 miles on the treadmill and then an hour of water class.

Sorry to hear about struggles. I've had a good day with 2 hours of exercise... but may have eaten too much.

Just checked in to see how my old friends are doing these days.

Heather and Carol, looking at your stats I have to say..ok, you are struggling at times with staying on plan, but look where you were before. Heather you are still almost 100 lbs down and carol you are still way down too. Now take a look at me, no don't! LOL! I am still bounching around near that 300 mark. Up and down, up and down. Got tired of posting my failures so I just keep quiet. Lost down to 290 and holding there. I would love to have your stats! Now get busy and make mama proud!:hug: I can cheer for all of you to do what I don't have the will power to do for myself, how sad is that?

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. Ta, Ruth

Ruth - I miss you! Please stop by more often - keep cheering! Can't wait to see you check in on us again and see much more positive news!

Hugs to you!

I agree with Carol completly Ruth. We miss you!

I had an ok day yesterday. It was cool for a nice change and I spent alot of the day in the recliner covered up just napping. I think I needed a rest day. Food was ok...not perfect but not bad either.
I will have over 2 hours by myself today...and I plan to go for a long walk. Meals are planned and will be followed. I didnt buy anything unhealthy at the grocery store and refused to let hubby sneak it in the house.LOL

Hi Ladies!! :wave:

Me popping in again. I know I don't do it often enough and I know how much I need your support and want to be here for all of you. Life is just non-stop crazy. I'll keep doing my best to get in here.

I do want to share some big news....most of you know I started biking about 18 months ago. A goal I set for myself last summer was to ride the MS Bike City to Shore event which goes from Cherry Hill, NJ to Ocean City, NJ. Well, it was this Saturday. It was quite possibly the hardest thing I have ever done in my life and the most incredible experience. I rode 79 miles!!! When I crossed that finish line I was bawling!!! I couldn't believe I did it We were slow, it took 7 hours of ride time. There was one point around 50 miles that I wasn't sure I'd make it so we took a long break and got some cold packs to cool me down. My biking partner could have easily gone must faster, but she refused to leave me and encouraged me every moment of the day! It was awesome!!

Yesterday I swore I would never do it again. Today I'm thinking of what I need to do to train harder and be in better shape next year. :D

Next goal...the bridesmaid dress I have to fit into on Jan 1!!! Need to refocus on my weight LOSS not maintaining/gaining!! :dizzy:

Will do better to catch up....for now I'm off to see what the kiddos are up to!

:hug:Barb

Barb -- How AWESOME!!!!

I'm tromping along....

Had a great day yesterday and determined to make today great also. Im having company overnight due to a funeral of a friend,who just happens to be my sisterinlaw uncle. Im cooking some for them but already have my plan in place. I can and will make it a POP day!
Got to get moving and get some housework done. Found my missing pedometer and wearing it.

Three weeks POP completed today - YES! I also have done my 3 mile walk everyday since my trainer challenged me - today was to be rest day but it was so nice out I leashed up the pups and off we went.

Barb - great to see you!

So good to have a few minutes to pop in and catch up.
I've been working like a dog, apparently for October most of my exercise will consist of cleaning, I have 15 apartments to clean in 30 days, Yeah for me.
The girls both got accepted at U of T at Chattanooga so we're so excited.

Eating has been ok, not as good as I would want and exercise will be cleaning considering how much work I'll have this next month.

Sounds like we're all struggling a bit but at least we're pushing on and not going backward, that's a victory in and of itself.

Miss you all very, very much and hopefully I'll be back to checking in daily.

All my best
Love
Faith

Sounds like we're all struggling a bit but at least we're pushing on and not going backward, that's a victory in and of itself.


So so true!

Glad to hear Carol's rockin' it!

Heather - I've really like the monthly thread - September was good to me in so many ways - wait I think I was good to me in September.

Carol -- Yes, that's the way to think of it!! :)

I'll start the new threads tomorrow!!

I like the monthly thread also. I am doing GREAT!! and I feel so much better!!! IM watching my carb intake and writing down every bite. Im also trying to track my protien intake. I noticed the few weeks before when I tried that it worked great.
STill not getting as much exercise as I need to be. I will be getting lots on the weekend. The huge yardsale is this weekend and Im not sure how many miles we are going but last year my feet were killing me from walking from one end of town to the other.

stop - Go To October's Thread