Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 01-25-2004, 11:04 AM   #1  
Turtle Buddy
Thread Starter
 
Lin S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: California
Posts: 1,023

Default Turtle Club #118

Hi, Turtles,

Here's the fable that started it all:

The Hare and the Tortoise

A hare met a tortoise one day and made fun of him for the slow and clumsy way in which he walked.

The tortoise laughed and said, "I will run a race with you any time that you choose."

"Very well," replied the hare, "we will start at once."

The tortoise immediately set off in his slow and steady way without waiting a moment or looking back. The hare, on the other hand, treated the matter as a joke and decided to take a little nap before starting, for she thought that it would be an easy matter to overtake her rival.

The tortoise plodded on, and meanwhile the hare overslept herself, with the result that she arrived at the winning-post only to see that the tortoise had got in before her.

Moral: Slow and steady wins the race.

This comes from a book handed down from my grandmother to my mother to me. The book is so old it doesn't have a copyright date or an author/editor's credit.

That fable has been the motivation for us turtles for several years. Someone on the ancient WW forum mentioned the fable and I discovered it was very motivational for me. I talked about it in posts and other people said that the tortoise philosophy worked for them, too. So, I started a thread for us turtle types.

We've been reflecting on what the turtle philosophy means as we start our second hundred posts. The turtle philosophy was a difficult one for people to accept. People want the weight off--NOW!! But reality is that it took time to put it on and it will take time to take it off. People want it to be easy to take off the weight. But reality is that it's not easy. You can have a program that's easy to follow, but following it steadily--that's hard. People don't want to exercise much, if at all. But reality is that our bodies were designed to move. So, we're setting realistic goals that take the weight off at a healthy pace. We're setting goals that will keep us moving steadily toward the healthy weight we want to be. And we're just plain moving. We're setting realistic exercise goals that will move our bodies the way they were meant to be moved.

We've also noticed that our turtle philosophy has affected the rest of our lives. I've started writing fiction again. I realize that I can finish a novel, or two, or ten. All I have to do is to set realistic daily goals, work steadily toward achieving them, and they will build up into finished books. Turtle Power at work in my everyday life.

Anyone who wants to join us in steadily moving toward all of our goals is welcome. I've met some wonderful people on this thread. I hope to meet many more. I know the battle with our weight is a difficult one. Having such supportive people come and post regularly keeps it from getting overwhelming. I hope to see many more people join us as we move forward on our journey.

Let's Get Moving!!
Lin S is offline  
Old 01-25-2004, 11:09 AM   #2  
Turtle Buddy
Thread Starter
 
Lin S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: California
Posts: 1,023

Default

Hi, Turtles,

YAY, Lauren! You're exercising again!

I weighed myself this morning. I've kept off 11 of the pounds I lost when I started flex points. That makes me happy. I'm journaling these days. That always helps me get back on track. So, we'll see how it goes this week.

How's everyone else doing? Exercising? I hope so.
Lin S is offline  
Old 01-26-2004, 11:18 AM   #3  
Turtle Extraordinaire
 
LaurenH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 560

Default

Lin, you deserve a GIANT CHEER for keeping off those 11 pounds! Way to go! And another big cheer for weighing yourself and journaling in spite of all that's going on. That's real progress.

Thanks for the exercise kudos. I really do feel much better when I exercise regularly. It especially helps with stress. And I lose better, too. I exercised four times this past week and lost 2.5 pounds. I'm now just a half pound above where I was when I got back from Italy, and 9 pounds down from my highest at the beginning of this month.

This has shown me a few lessons:
1. If you gain weight, turn it around quickly in order to get it off quickly. I rarely lose 9 pounds in 3.5 weeks; I'm sure that this time it's because I didn't let the weight hang around for long.

2. Move. Exercise. Without it, I just don't lose weight well. With it, I do much better.

3. When I stop overeating, I have to expect stress and crazy thinking to kick in. It's increasingly obvious to me now that I eat to stabilize my moods and my thinking. I'm probably one of those people that doesn't produce enough of whatever that anti-stress hormone is. So I eat to medicate that lack. When I stop overeating, WHAM. My stress levels go way up, and my thinking can get obsessive and disordered. So a huge key to my success in this battle is going to be finding healthy, non-food-related ways to cope with that. And to learn to live with a certain higher level of stress in my life.

I'm really enjoying starting my weight-watching week on Mondays. Weekends are my high-point time (and Thursdays, my day off), and by then I'll know how many flex points I have left to play with. I prefer that to eating all my flex points at the beginning of my week and then panicking about staying within points the rest of the week.

How's everyone else doing?

Onward and downward,

Lauren
274/191.5/189
LaurenH is offline  
Old 01-26-2004, 01:39 PM   #4  
Turtle Buddy
Thread Starter
 
Lin S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: California
Posts: 1,023

Default

Hi, Turtles,

Thanks for the cheer, Lauren.

on the weight loss!

I like your tips for what works for you. I think they can be helpful to all of us. I start my week on Sunday and I try to keep enough flex points for my dh's weekend brunches. They're not super high point, just more food than I usually eat for breakfast.

I'm taking a break and drinking my smoothie. I'm doing OP breakfasts this week. And it's going fine. One day is fine for me, these days. I'm taking your advice, Lauren. One day at a time. I need to put my smoothie in my journal. I'm counting the points for the OP meals and just writing down the food for the rest. My goal for those meals is to make sure I eat enough fruits, veggies, and dairy. I usually do fine with protein, carbs, and fats.

I hope you all are doing fine and that you're moving.
Lin S is offline  
Old 01-26-2004, 03:32 PM   #5  
Junior Member
 
Eponin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 4

Default Exercising

Well, I didn't get my usual exercise in today. Instead of walking, I shoveled snow. Heavy snow. With a crust of ice on the top. But hey, its exercise!

As of last week, I was down 7.2 pounds from when I re-started WW, so, not too bad for me. I'm steadily losing a little over a pound a week, which is pretty good for me.

Hope everyone else is having a good day!

Eponin
Eponin is offline  
Old 01-26-2004, 04:09 PM   #6  
Chick
 
Itryharder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 4,237

Height: 5'4"

Default

Hi Turtles,
A big welcome to Eponin. I hope you enjoy posting here. There's always lots of support and good advice. Case in point, Lauren's tips on being OP and the factor of food improving moods--lack of food causing stress. I'm sure we've all felt that. So welcome Eponin and for doing so well on your WW's program. About a pound a week is what is happening to me and that's fine!

Lin,
You leave me speechless! Hooray on keeping off your 11# that have happened since Flexpoints. I knew you were successful with this program and I am so happy for you that you hopped on the scale, made yourself accountable, and have a plan for being OP that you are implementing. Hooray!! You have had some tough calls lately and it makes me feel wonderful that you are able to deal with this so well. Here's a just for the heck of it!

Lauren,
It is wonderful that you're almost back to the weight around Italy. Tackling the weight gain immediately is the way to go. It looks like I've knocked off my Christmas weight too and I'm at the point I wanted to be at on December 31st. Glad you are finding ways to get your exercise in.

Choosewell and Bandit2, How are you guys doing? And Swannie--how are you?

This cold snap should just go away, but not so far here in NY. Headed to NYC yesterday to see Little Shop of HOrrors. It was so very funny and the performers were excellent. Amazing and fun! My kind of show. My dh and I had a wonderful time all day.
This morning I had a nice surprise. I stepped on my scale and it finally read 209#. That was the weight I wanted and aimed for for New Year's Eve and it didn't quite work out. But here I am, through discouragement at the scale, etc. finally reaching this short term goal just 4 weeks later. I am so pleased.
I picked up a cold over the weekend, but I got back on the treadmill today because I figured any exercise at any speed would be better than nothing.
I find not eating what I want and binging is very hard right now with the weather and snow all around me. I'm from southern NY and our winters are usually not as early or as snowy as this one has been. I know I can't complain because so many places are so much harsher, but it does trigger an eating urge in me. However, I bought some foods that are good for me and I'm going to make a cole slaw (bizarre, I know) and maybe a soup that will fill me in.

In the meantime, let's all keep on eating healthy and exercising as much as we can.
Hey! Is that like eat less, move more? What a concept. Take care and chime in.

Love,
Judy
234/213.6/thinner
official WI tomorrow!
:wink:
Itryharder is offline  
Old 01-27-2004, 11:03 AM   #7  
Chick
 
Itryharder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 4,237

Height: 5'4"

Default

Hi Turtles,
Went to a morning WW's WI because I have another appointment for tonight.
I am in virgin WW's territory! Today I was 212.4# down 1.2# and on my way to my first 10% difference!

Onward and Downward for us all!
Love,
Judy
Itryharder is offline  
Old 01-27-2004, 12:16 PM   #8  
Senior Member
 
bandit2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: ontario, canada
Posts: 2,358

S/C/G: 220/197/160

Height: 5'-3"

Default

Hi everyone & a special welcome to Eponin!

Had my w/i last night - was down another 1# (thought that was pretty good considering I had Chinese food on Sat & it usually puts me up 2#). So, all the exercise must have helped. Went to curves again last night.

Hope everyone is doing well & following programme and is keeping safe considering the weather. Actually shovelling the snow has been kind of fun for the most part, but I hate the worrying about driving.

My goal for this week is to go to curves 3x or do my tape if I miss a night, drink all my water & journal my food & activity points.

Good luck, everyone.
bandit2 is offline  
Old 01-27-2004, 01:29 PM   #9  
Turtle Extraordinaire
 
LaurenH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 560

Default

Judy, VIRGIN FAT TERRITORY!!!! That is SO WONDERFUL!!! You've worked so hard for this, and I am SO HAPPY for you!!

Sorry if I went a little overboard there. I was just so happy for you, Judy. I am SO looking forward to getting into virgin fat territory again, and it's very heartening to see you actually accomplish it. It can be done!

Bandit, congrats on your pound down, too. The snow and ice really is lots of fun, isn't it? I'm probably alone in thinking that it's beautiful, but I really do love to see it flocking the trees. I have a beautiful drive into work each day on country roads, so I get to see nature in all its glory. It was like driving on soap this morning but I didn't mind. At least it's above 0 degrees again!

Eponin, losing over a pound a week is fantastic. Good for you!

I did my workout again this a.m. It really is sanity-providing for me when I'm stressed out. Yesterday I didn't quite hit my points; one of those unusual days. I take days like that whenever I can get them becauses they're so rare. And I make up for them on other days!

Onward and downward,

Lauren
LaurenH is offline  
Old 01-28-2004, 04:23 PM   #10  
Senior Member
 
bandit2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: ontario, canada
Posts: 2,358

S/C/G: 220/197/160

Height: 5'-3"

Default

Hi everyone:

Glad you all sound like you are doing well. Tomorrow I go to Niagara Falls for 3 nights so I probably won't be able to talk to any of you until Mon. There is a group of 14 people going & it should be fun. I will try & behave myself (the drinks usually do me in) and I am going to get some walks & swims in for my exercise. We have a few things planned to do but will probably spend quite abit of the time in the Casino (I love the slots).

So hope everyone has a great week & weekend and talk to you soon.

Bye for now.
bandit2 is offline  
Old 01-29-2004, 09:00 AM   #11  
Turtle Buddy
Thread Starter
 
Lin S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: California
Posts: 1,023

Default

Hi, Turtles,

1 pound a week is great, Eponin. for you!

Virgin fat territory! , Judy!!

Another pound for you, Bandit. Have fun at the falls!

You've all got great plans and goals. And you're meeting them. That's super!

I'm doing so-so. I'm making a point to eat the produce. I'm getting in my supplements. I'm getting in some dairy products. But I'm not managing to journal regularly or count any points regularly. I'm doing what I can, one day at a time. It's really hard because I don't know from one day to the next what's going on in my life, so I can't plan anything.

I'm doing OK with my writing. I'm not doing as much as I'd planned, but I'm doing enough to make progress. I guess progress in everything has to be my goal.

I talked to my mom yesterday. She's OK and being much better about the whole thing. We're going to San Jose today and my dh will have to go back tomorrow. My son's friend needs to go to San Francisco and he needs a ride to Fremont to catch the BART train. Anyway, we're hanging in there.

I've decided that my first priority is my supplements and water. I need to do what I can to make PMS as easy as possible. That means that I need to do the exercise, too. I'm going to also focus on eating balanced meals. Just eating fruits, veggies, and getting in the dairy helps reduce my calories. I'm going to journal when I remember to do it. It's hard because this much heavy-duty stress makes it hard to think beyond what you're doing right now. The biggest reason I'm not journaling or counting points is that I simply forget. So, one day, one meal, one thing at a time. I'll get through this.

I'm going to do some research for my book while we're in San Jose today. That will be fun. I'll get some walking in, too. I hope the weather is good. I don't think it's supposed to rain, so it will be fine.

Keep moving, everyone.
Lin S is offline  
Old 01-29-2004, 02:28 PM   #12  
Chick
 
Itryharder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 4,237

Height: 5'4"

Default

Bandit2,
Good for you and that one pound weight loss! Curves is certainly helping you, isn't it?
Lauren,
Thanks so much for the cheers. Here I go again, slipping off program and eating foods I know will do me in. I just got off the treadmill and I know that will help knock off the little I gained. Plus, salt played a part in this, too. Hopefully I can get everything back in order and loss a tiny bit more this week to firmly entrench myself in new WW territory!--Thanks so much for the kudos. It means a lot to me.
Eponin,
Great that you lost weight!
Lin,
Please don't be hard on yourself. You've kept us going so many times. I think having a plan (and you do) and working it is the most important thing you can do now. We're all pulling for you and you and your dh are in my prayers.
Choosewell,
where are you? I miss your witty lines and reminders.
Take care and do well everybody. I for one have had enough of this snow. Just had another 14inches yesterday. I shoveled a little (just enough to get to my newspaper)
but I know I've got cabin fever and it's playing havoc with my resolve.
Here's to sunshiny days!
Love,
Judy
234/212.4/thinner
Itryharder is offline  
Old 01-30-2004, 07:56 AM   #13  
Turtle Extraordinaire
 
LaurenH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 560

Default

Lin, hang in there. One day at a time. Upping the produce and dairy sounds like a good idea. One thing I've found when I'm highly stressed is that I need to take care of myself that much more. The healthy eating, the workouts, they become critical in preserving my health when I'm spazzed. Do whatever you need to do. We'll keep praying.

Judy, good for you posting here immediately after you overeat! That's wonderful; that's a sign that you're serious about continuing to lose weight. And a big way to go for getting right back on that treadmill! You can do this.

Bandit, hope your trip to Niagara Falls is fun.

Choosewell, how are you doing?

Swannie, sure miss seeing you.

I'm doing fine. Five days into my week, and I've only used about 5 flex points. I find that on the days I exercise, I tend to eat less. I'm guessing it's in part because the exercise helps with stress. And I've worked out each day this week.

Judy, I hear you about the snow and cold. But it isn't going away anytime soon. And won't it be great when spring rolls around and you can fit into nice spring clothes? And look great in them? Focusing on the payoff is helping me stay focused on losing weight during the iron grip of winter. I have a bunch of clothes I could wear at my lowest on WW (179), and I'm excited about getting back into them this summer. There's one shirt in particular that I keep picturing. It helps!

Onward and downward,

Lauren
LaurenH is offline  
Old 01-30-2004, 10:06 AM   #14  
Chick
 
Itryharder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 4,237

Height: 5'4"

Default

Hi Turtles,
Lauren, thanks for the pep talk. You're right about the snow not going away any time soon. At least our roads are clear. Thanks for helping me clear my head. When I overeat, it affects everything including my attitude! I get down and depressed and certainly that's not what is wanted right now. I've got something to look forward to.
Am celebrating my grandson's first birthday this weekend. Have food planned and snacks for the tough times. He's such a cutie. His bigger sister is 2 1/2 years old and she said, "Hi Grandma," on the telephone for the first time. So cute!
So, I'm back on track and thinking positive.

Lin,
I'm sending : to you that you will be able to climb this mountain and take care of yourself in the meantime. Keep writing. That's your strength and you'll gather strength from it as you immerse yourself into the writing.

Bandit2,
Have a great weekend at the falls. I didn't know there was a casino there. Swimming in nice, warm pool water sounds heavenly right about now.

Lauren,
5 days into your week and you only used 5 flexpoints? That's fabulous because I know your target points are lower than mine by quite a bit. You're doing great. This catching ourselves before we go too far into the deep end is a great technique. Glad you're back to exercising because it is really working for you.

Gotta run,
Love and : to all,
Judy
234/212.4/thinner
Itryharder is offline  
Old 01-30-2004, 12:40 PM   #15  
~Insane Java Turtle~
 
Hotcupojava's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: ~Almost Heaven~ West Virginia
Posts: 614

Default Didn't I join this thread already???

I'm the turtle girl from West Virginia, I'm doing WW at home. Hmmm, now I'm confused, I really thought I subscribed to this before. Well, I hope it's okay if I pop in and read. I don't usually post. But hello to everyone.
Hotcupojava is offline  
Closed Thread

Related Topics
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Turtle Club #36 Lin S WW Clubs and Groups 31 10-10-2001 02:39 PM


Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:37 AM.


We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.