Support Groups - "Every-Day" 21-Day Challenge -- Here's to new habits!

Okay, everyone, as is the tradition, I start a new thread when I personally start a new challenge.

Below is a short explanation of how this challenge works so all you newcomers can take a look and decide if you're game or not! I hope you are! Hop aboard and enjoy the ride. We've got a great bunch of supportive people, so I hope you'll give us a try. A lot of people try for a while and then disappear.. I hope some of you will keep trying. There is NO shame in starting over. Remember, it's not over till you give up. And our motto around here is:

NEVER GIVE UP!!...Just start OVER!!

EXPLANATION AND RULES:

It works like this: you decide you'll do something for 21 days straight, every single day, so keep it doable. Then you count ....one through 21.....and if you flub it, you MUST go back to zero and start over again. Everyone will be on different days. You can start anytime. At the beginning of the challenge you declare what level it is -- Level 1, 2, or 3. Level 1 means you feel it's a relatively easy challenge for you and means you only give yourself ONE pause day (see explanation of pause days below). Level 2 would give you two pause days and so on...
And taking NO pause days is what I'm going to call "aceing a challenge," as in "I'm aiming on aceing this one!" Yowzah!! :cb:

With a pause day you pause in your counting and continue the next day with the number you left off with. Pause days are NOT substitutes for days, i.e. Day 12 -- Day 13 -- Pause Day -- Day 14..... I suggest taking a pause day late in the game (better to go back to Day 1 early on) if you need a break or screw up when you're well into the challenge, meaning, when you're on Day 15 or something like that.

In any case, the trick is to keep going. The momentum builds and it's great incentive to stick to your guns, cause if you don't.........back to START you go. :( And the really great thing about this challenge is that you are forming new habits that will wipe out the old! AND, you get to do it with a great bunch of really supportive people to whom you are accountable! :grouphug:

THREAD GUIDELINES:

In the interest of maintaining structure, a sense of solidarity and facilitating support I ask anyone who wishes to join this thread to please strive to follow the following guidelines while participating in this challenge and in posting.

1. Although this is a fabulous support group, the focus is to be on your CHALLENGE/S and/or other people's challenge/s AND weight loss, whether your challenge is about it or not. Please keep the challenge a priority, although we welcome chattiness! :lol: This means tell us what day you're on when you post and it's a good idea to make regular mention of just what your challenge is. This an action-based thread. Our members are ON a challenge, RESTARTING a challenge, or just in between and looking to start up again REAL SOON. ;) We also welcome posts from admirers, encouragers, and old friends!

2. Please refrain from posting food logs or recipes, except where you are really looking for help and advice on your eating. If journaling is your challenge, please keep the journaling off the thread and in a notebook or blog and just tell us if you've done what you set out to do. We have ALL types of dieters here, low-carb, high-carb, low-fat, high-fat, vegetarians, meat-lovers...please use simple mentions if you have something you want to share and then links and/or private messages to do so.

3. Please do NOT go into glowing accounts of any slipups, food indulgences or binges, what we here call "food porn." Simple mentions are fine, but use of smilies :censored: :tape: etc. as substitutes where possible is encouraged.

4. Please keep this a nonsecular thread. Of course, passing references to your beliefs, a bit of introduction about your beliefs, brief faith-related words of encouragement are fine. :angel:

5. Please show support, support, support! This is key. :grouphug: You can waffle on about yourself but please, at least occasionally,come up and look around at others and what they are doing and MENTION it with words of encouragement and/or praise or sympathy. We understand "busy," poor computer connections, and bouts of self-pity and life problems where the focus turns to "me" and dealing with those problems, but these should be temporary, not a habit! ('cept in the computer case.)

In conclusion, let me say, the above are just that, GUIDELINES. Please realize that these guidelines have been added in an attempt to keep this a supportive and beneficial thread, at the LEAST, to those who need it MOST, those for whom weight loss is the hardest and, more often than not, the most crucial as well as for those who still, perhaps despite great success, know all too well that the road they walk will always be a slippery one. :^:

The guidelines are also meant to cultivate an atmosphere of consideration and concern for ALL, not individually, but AS A GROUP.

Well, all's said. Please join us!! :wave:

NOTICE: Hi there everyone! I just wanted to make a note that I've noticed some challenges lately that incorporate rest days or days off. Just so newcomers don't get confused, I ask everyone to re-read or read (in case you haven't) the first post of the thread. The whole idea of the challenge is to do something EVERYDAY, thus the name.

So, please, and it's just for rules and structure sake, but please make your challenges along these lines. Remember, you can always schedule in "a pause day" if you make it Level 3, so it's really the same thing, just doesn't allow for any other pause days on top of that...Okay?

THANKS!

Heh people! Sometimes when the weight, the weight loss battle -- life! -- are getting you down and down on yourself, or when you're feeling overwhelmed or powerless, or when you feel like you just don't have "what it takes" -- I thought this might be a good thing to read, for ALL of us to read. We too often forget about everything that is RIGHT with us as we're focusing on what is "wrong." Just thought I'd share. . . :sunny:

* * * * *

DECLARATION OF SELF-ESTEEM
(author unknown)


I am me.

In all the world, there is no one else exactly like me. There are persons who have some parts like me, but no one adds up exactly like me. Therefore, everything that comes out of me is authentically mine because I alone chose it.

I own everything about me - my body, including everything it does; my mind, including all its thoughts and ideas; my eyes, including the images of all they behold; my feelings, whatever they may be - anger, joy, frustration, love, disappointment, excitement; my mouth, and all the words that come out of it, polite, sweet or rough, correct or incorrect; my voice, loud or soft; and all my actions, whether they be to others or to myself.

I own my fantasies, my dreams, my hopes, my fears.

I own all my triumphs and successes, all my failures and mistakes.

Because I own all of me, I can become intimately acquainted with me. By so doing I can love me and be friendly with me in all my parts. I can then make it possible for all of me to work in my best interests.

I know there are aspects about myself that puzzle me, and other aspects that I do not know. But as long as I am friendly and loving to myself, I can courageously and hopefully look for the solutions to the puzzles and for ways to find out more about me.

However I look and sound, whatever I say and do, and whatever I think and feel at a given moment in time is me. This is authentic and represents where I am at that moment in time.

When I review later how I looked and sounded, what I said and did, and how I thought and felt, some parts may turn out to be unfitting. I can discard that which is unfitting, and keep that which proved fitting, and invent something new for that which discarded.

I can see, hear, feel, think, say, and do. I have the tools to survive, to be close to others, to be productive, and to make sense and order out of the world of people and things outside of me.

I own me, and therefore I can engineer me.

I am me and I am okay.

I´d like to get in on this, too! Starting today!

1)drink 4 L water daily
2)immediately freeze extra portions of dinner, instead of leaving it out when we´re eating
3)nothing but fruits or veggies after 7 p.m.
4)get in 30 minutes of activity daily

I think that it´s doable? I guess it´s a level 1?

--Katherine

Hi there

I'd like to join your challenge
My challenge is 21 binge free (BF) days. For me this is a maximum level challenge ie level 3 but i'm not sure i can jump straight in at level 3???
i have managed 5 binge free days per week and at one stage i went 11 BF days soooooooooooooo I will need to lift my game.

I'll start tmrw which is a monday which will be good

Looking forward to meeting everyone else;)

Hi there all. Hope you found your way over to the new thread. I just started it on a whim...and because I fell hard off the wagon again yesterday and continued wallowing in self-pity today and then just thought...I MUST get this fat off. It's so disgusting and I have no clothes anymore. I must stop eating so much!!! That's it! Period! It's the bottom line. I simply eat way too much.

So, I'm starting anew tomorrow, not with the same challenge, but I will be using a lot of what I learned over my over two weeks of successful days on that. I know, I know, I should finish a challenge, but I am in a crisis state now and just feeling I HAVE to limit calories, like it or not, I really don't have any choice.

So, starting tomorrow (Monday) I will be pulling out my old plan, which was a base of 1,500 calories/day with extra calories allotted for exercise. Boy, now that makes me exercise!

Oh, please, oh please wish me luck. I will really need support with this one!

********************

ktgk -- Welcome aboard! :welcome: Your challenge sounds great. Is this just one challenge or are you going to split them up? Are you allowing yourself any pause days?

girlie -- Yeah, tell me about good intentions....sigh, sigh, self-flagellate...pull hair....you have great excuses, not here! Good luck when you lift off! :goodluck:

marble -- Excellent cardio! And clairvoyance as well! Wow! :eek: Yeah, shedding layers is something I need to do too. Where does it come from?!?!?! I hope you're feeling better, by the way. Is the stomach bug gone?

jolly -- How did the reception go? Are you starting over or were you able to stick with your challenge? I'm hoping whichever it was, you enjoyed yourself! :yes:

CB -- Awful quiet again from you. Hope you're ok. Yes, screwed-up schedules really play havoc with us. It's my lament as well. I just feel so deprived and harried and then I reach for the food. Hope you can get a handle on things.

Sushi -- Hi there! Thanks for the support. Yeah, I flubbed it again. But I am back for more! Hope to see you back soon too! :sunny:

Caro -- :listen: Are you still hanging in there? Let's hear from you! :dance:

Apple -- How about you? Any progress?

curly -- We miss you! :kickcan:

sweet pea -- Welcome!! :welcome3: Glad to have you with us. Sure, you can jump in with any level, those are just there to help you. The original 21-day challenge had no pause days, but I made this new element to make things easier to get started. It can get pretty discouraging having to keep restarting. Also, the everyday structure can be hard to find something to fit to it, so level 3 allows for a scheduled rest day in a way. Anyhow, hope to hear lots from you! Just coming off two days of what I would consider bingeing myself...I am NOT happy and I am trying to put the brakes on myself. Let's do this together! :hug:

Everyone else, please come in and post! :wave:

It´s one challenge--I chose easy things that I think I can do everyday and don´t usually have too much trouble with--but sometimes I fall short. I want to be very consequent about next 21 days.
The new part I added was freezing leftovers BEFORE dinner--I hope that that will help me (and my husband) to lay off the extra portions.
I won´t allow myself a pause day, because I want to make habits that stick. I´ll be a good girl and start over at day 1 if I slip up, hehe.

--Katherine

Ok, kt, you have it your way! the hard way, it looks like! :lol3: And it looks like you're doing something very right!! Congrats on the over 20 pounds lost! :bravo:

thanks for the welcome redballoon. wow i just looked at your ticker kt... you've done really well.

i'm not aiming to be superslim. i just want to be slim enough to fit standard clothing sizes instead of having to go to big girls shops and to have some energy. i have a "barrier" at 80kg that i do not seem to be able to get under. i suspect i have crept up quite a bit above that recently so i will way myself tmrw. my other goal is to be in control of my eating instead of food controlling me - hence the BF days

NOTICE: Hi there everyone! I just wanted to make a note that I've noticed some challenges lately that incorporate rest days or days off. Just so newcomers don't get confused, I ask everyone to re-read or read (in case you haven't) the first post of the thread. The whole idea of the challenge is to do something EVERYDAY, thus the name.

So, please, and it's just for rules and structure sake, but please make your challenges along these lines. Remember, you can always schedule in "a pause day" if you make it Level 3, so it's really the same thing, just doesn't allow for any other pause days on top of that...Okay?

THANKS!

Oh well~ I'm guilty! But somehow the pause days have a negative psychologcal effect on me; according to my experience the challenge seems to be doomed as soon as I take my very first pause day, so I thought that I'd be successful if I take my normal rest/cheat day.:?: But I guess, one have to play by the rules~ :(

Ok, girlie, how about I incorporate that term into the rules...saying take a pause day or schedule in a rest/cheat day? Would that help? :)

That sounds good to me. Thanks Red for taking into consideration that I'm, you know~:crazy:

You know, girlie, I just realized that that means you still will have to do an extra three days at the end, like the start of another week, otherwise, it's not the same as a pause day, which it is, in effect, if not in name. In other words, the idea is to have 21 stellar days and you would only be doing 18! Is that OK, can you deal with that, you nut!? ;) I am awaiting your input, before the gavel falls :judge: ....heh, do I need a license for this or to pass the bar? :( ...passing bars is, like, really hard for me, you know...

:rofl:

awwww i didn't realise that was what the amendment means. you're saying instead of tacking on the "paused" days you just count them as completed days???? hmmmm i have to think about that

meanwhile i better hop into bed because it's stormy here and nothing on tv and i want to aimlessly eat (already done plenty of that today)

sweet pea, I think you posted that before you read my last message, right? Yes, you caught me in a brain blip..then I realized my error...thus I am querying girlie...or maybe I still wasn't clear...I am saying to her, nicely, she MUST tack on extra days if she wants to think of her day off each week as a cheat day. It's totally a psychological thing....I try to be accommodating here, sweet..there are a lot of borderline types on this thread! :lol3:

Anybody checking us out for the first time out there, fear not! Come join us! :wave:

Sure, I'll take 3 more days. The challenge is for 21 days, so be it. On the other hand, maybe you shouldn't change anything on my account. We don't want to confuse our new members. The idea is to get more to join us, not drive them away.

Ok, girlie, maybe you're right. You have special permission, ok! :yes: If anyone else needs it, they can ask and if there are enough people eventually I may change it. I just want everyone to count along up to 21, however they get there, that's why I'm such a stickler for this. Thanks for being a sweetie! :angel:

Ok. Found the new thread very easy. By the way, I think you are ALL a little :dizzy: . . . Which is why I fit in :rofl:

Seriously though, WELCOME to Sweet Pea and Katherine. Katherine, I think the freezing leftovers before dinner is an AWESOME idea. I have finally gotten to that point, where I portion out and put away meals I make before hand, so I don't overeat as well. It is a very good thing.

Red - thank you very much for the declaration. I am going to have to copy and reprint that. Maybe hang it up somewhere. That is just what I needed. And good luck with your new challenge. I know you can do it.

I had an INCREDIBLE time at the wedding last night. So much fun. Unfortunately, I also made some poor food and drink choices, which led to a bout of acid reflux that I haven't had in months, so . . .

Today is a brand new day. Day 1 for the following challenges. All are a level 3 (again, as goal is moderation).

1. Do core/ab work daily.
2. No soda.
3. Follow menu - keeping calories under 2000.
4. No chocolate - except Slimfast and the remaining low fat granola bars I want to use up. (from here out, "the bad food now none as :censored:")

I can and will do this. I will succeed. Because life is good, and I deserve it.

Have a wonderful day everyone, and will check in later. Red, by the way, thanks for the calorie burn - I laughed my :tape: off at your "passing bars" comment.
:wave:

You´re from Wisconsin jollygirl??? That´d explain why being :dizzy: means you fit right in...................




(I´m originally from Wausau)

Oh yeah...and thank you all for making me feel good about the weight I´ve lost so far! I don´t get out much and the people I see don´t even notice (read: husband).

--Katherine

You're making my head spin!:dizzy: :dizzy: :dizzy:

Day# 5? PAWS!, (unless you count my exercise of Jumping to Conclusions)!:devil:

yes, RB, the stomach bug seems to have left my body (like Elvis?...:D )...now if i could just remove my mind from the garbage disposal all would be well....:?:

see you all tomorrow with a better attitude, i'm in a funk.........:(

Good morning all! Monday here. I feel awful, congested, bloated. My face looks like my name... :stress: All from that junk I shoveled in yesterday. I don't know what got into me...well, yes, I do..pms...still, I could have stopped it! :mad: Anyhow, anyhow, it's done, it's past, I am cracking the whip today even though I feel like finding a cave and sitting in it far from the madding crowd.

You know, it's ridiculous, the rat-race, having to deal with co-workers, bosses, taxes, bill collectors....damn! I hate it! All I want is to be like all the pampered little princesses I see everywhere, who don't have a worry in their little heads except what's for dinner...hubbie or boyfriend or daddy take care of everything....yeah, that would be the life...yeah, right! (said with utmost sarcasm and disdain). Well, it's my choice and I'm making it. Gonna howl at the moon!

********************

marble -- Hope you're feeling better. The funk is all around! Get your head out of the sink (or wherever you have that garbage disposal), will ya?!

kt -- Husbands are as bad as my coworkers, from the sound of it. To be honest, I wish more people would say something when I start to pack on the pounds as well. Then maybe I wouldn't go maxing out my stretch jeans like I do!

jolly -- Glad you like the declaration and thanks for the words of encouragement. I am really sliding badly this past week and I can't be caving in to excuses. What's the sense if it's just down and up, down and up every month. I want to get the fat off! Good luck on your challenges too! We are starting off on the same day. I am not making the crunches a part, at least not for now. I plan on doing them anyhow but if I see myself slacking, I will make them a challenge as well. It really makes a huge difference I have found. You keep yours up!

sweet pea -- You with us again? Hope the storm passed without incident. Did you get to bed without the aimless eating? I hope so!
We're on the same time zone more or less so I'll be looking for you when all the others are off snoozing. Getting cold down there yet?

morning everyone

red i hear you about being a pampered princess. actually i want to be oprah ;) with a team of people to make me look beautiful and a personal trainer and chef. yummmmmy

i still feel a bit blah from yday too. i was full last night but i was drooling over the thought of the bread and butter pudding in my freezer so i got one out and nuked it. what was i thinking? actually it was quite good but today's tum is feeling bad. thing is i get all these sweet things on my mind and then i obsess over them until i eat them. people say just have a small serving but i'm not good with small servings i find it's safer for me to go without until the cravings pass

i have weighed myself this morning for the start of this challenge but already my enthusiasm is fading. last night i promised myself i would log every mouthful that passed my lips. this morning i'm already making bargains with myself and wondering if it would matter if i sneaked in a sweet treat and started food recording tmrw. bad bad girl!

kt - you might be lucky noone notices your weight. every man and his dog seems to see very pound that goes on and off me. it makes me want to be invisible and hide until i reach my goal weight. then it would be like one of those extreme makeover shows and this beautiful slim butterfly will emerge!

red - someone on a similar time zone would be fantastic. being so far ahead of everyone else means that there's usually noone here when i post!

good luck to everyone else

day 1 has started here without bingeing BUT i am spending far too much time thinking about food ...

i just checked time zones - i'm 9 hours ahead of tokyo so not that close :D

No, sweet pea, Newzie is only three hours ahead of Tokyo, at least Christchurch and Wellington. Check it out here:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/full.html
Are there possibly any islands that are WAY east of the mainland? No, right?
As for putting it off till tomorrow...don't!!! Have your sweet treat if you must, just write it down, or is that going against your challenge? You have to bite the bullet! Better sooner than later! I am going to do it today. I am! I am! :strong: Strength to you! Try to eat some good food, like fruits and vegetables. I find you just can't eat both. That's why once you start with the junk it's like a train rolling down the tracks! No stopping that! Derail with some celery sticks!

hmmmm ok you're right on the time difference. the timezone site i went to said 9 hours but it does get confusing going to an american site to check stuff. i may have thought i had put in NZ and tokyo and put something else in. it tends to go to default settings. well that's good we will be around together at the same times. i work from home so i'm here a lot anyway :)

ummmm my BF day is a major major struggle. i am borderline already. being a binger i just fit more and more in. so i have the chocolate AND i have the fruit too. i had my sweet treat, then lunch (healthy), then 2 sweet treats, then an apple. feeling like giving up but will try and find some strength to resist as this is doing me no good at all. however i am at danger time now. nearly 4pm and afternoons and evenings are a challenge.

so sorry to spoil your theory but i have no trouble eating both!!! altho i would have to choke the celery sticks down UGH :lol: i am full to bursting and thinking about more food so i definitely need to do something else

i'm going to walk to the shops and get another library book. it's pouring with rain but not to worry. being outside might just be what i need. then i can come back and have a lovely hot bath hmmmmm

red are your weights in kg? i don't see many others who weigh in metric.
how are you going on your day 1???

Hi sweet pea, you know, even as I was writing that about eating good food I was thinking, well, it wouldn't stop me if I was bent on eating the junk, which I often am! :lol3: So, don't worry. It was just a hope-filled theory, nothing I would have put any money on! Yes, my weights are in metric just because that is what I've used for like the past 30 years, being here and in Germany before that. I could do the conversions, but I figure, what the heck. My scale is in kilos so it's easy for me and actually means more now. Also, the number's not as high in kilos! Yes, getting out and moving around often helps. I kind of like rain, actually, if it's not too cold. Well, good luck and I hope you get through the day. Go to bed early if you have to. Try to just say, food is not an option after a certain hour....let's see if I can do better. I just finished a yam, so that was healthy. So far, so good, and the workout and walking this morning means I'm still in the game! Thanks for asking. :wave:

aren't yams really small? the ones we have here wouldn't get close to being called a meal. i guess i have seen big ones but still...

me i'm not a fan of rain. i know the gardeners always say we need it but me i like clear sunny days.

i went for a walk. went to the library and got some books and another ahem treat. the rain just got heavier so i might have a fire tonight. that will be nice. willbe interesting to see how the puppy reacts. she's never seen a fire before!

Hmmm, looks like it's just you and me sweet pea! :lol: No, yams are huge here, but still, it was just a snack.. ;) Now, I'm having a salad with brown rice on top. Good for me! It's so warm here today, must be around 20C. Funny the difference Down Under! Hope your pup is cool with the fire. I hope you take it easy on those "treats." Just what are you treating yourself for doing.... :?: :rofl:

Heh, others! Where are you?! :listen:

ummm treats are just generally for being me i guess!!! not the world's best excuse i admit

your salad does sound good. do you do all your own cooking? i have some trevally that i have to eat. now if it was in battered i'd love it but for some reason it's not as appealing now as it was when i bought it. i have been checking the net for recipes. no inspiration so far

yup. we should rename this the sweetpea and redballoon thread ;)

Ok, I am new and I am in. I need your help and support and i will do the same for you. Accountability is what I need right now and that is what I like about your group....I get the concept but I am still fuzzy on the levels...what constitutes a level one two or three. For my first 21 day challenge I am going with 1) 120 oz of h2o a day
2) 30-45 min of cardio a day
3) and small portions
This a level 1?
I have a ton of weight to loose....As is said on another comment somewhere I feel like I am lost somewhere inside myself and I am screaming to get out...I also read a comment somewhere that said nothing tastes as good as thin feels or something like that. I hope this will help me when I am week. Thanks for letting join in and I hope to learn you all soon so I can encourage you all well.

Hi princess! :welcome3: Welcome to our thread. Yes, we'll help you out. Just come in and post as often as you can, or when you feel the need, and that INCLUDES the bad times! :yes: The levels are just something you decide for yourself. I implemented the concept as a way to make the challenge more palatable (pun intended! :lol: ) to people. If what you're doing feels very hard to you and that you may slip up sometimes over the next 21 days, then give yourself "pause days." That way, if you have a slipup one day, you just start counting from where you left off, not from Day 1 again. You decide if you think you may need just one day, or three (the max.) It's just a psychological help in some ways as well. A lot of people don't feel committed unless they have NO pause days, others probably feel that having to restart would discourage them too much, so they prefer to take a pause day. Well, good luck! :goodluck: Also, are you going to do three challenges at the same time, or everything all together? The latter means, if you miss one of your goals, even if you were ok on the other two, you'll have to take a pause day or start over. If you do them separate you may be on different days for different challenges. I know it's a bit confusing. Look back at some of the old threads and you'll get the idea if you'll not clear on things.

:bubbles:

hi princess and welcome to our challenge

i'm going to change mine ;) it was waaaaaaaaaay too ambitious. so instead i am going to set a goal to journal daily so i can get to the bottom of my emotional eating. i'm going to do a 7 day BF challenge in another thread. i think 7 days will be plenty big enough goal for me at this stage...

Just signing up for the new thread. :)

I'm wrapping up Day 2 of a new challenge (very structured eating plan, basically a weekly menu with 3 meals/day, no sweets/treats or anything). I decided for that because I felt that my eating was going downhill.

I'll do an exercise challenge as well, as soon as I decide whether it'll be to run every day, or to run every other day and do some other exercise on the other days.

Hope everyone is doing great, gotta run!

sushi. congrats glad your challenge is going well

New here! Hoping a challenge will help me out, along with having to be accountable to someone other than myself. I did really well losing the first 50 pounds, the next 30 I have really fought for and looking at the next 30 feels really hard for some reason.

Anyways, I have a few things I should change in my new lifestyle but I'm just going for 2 right now. Little at a time!

1. Drink more water! I'm really bad about this one. Level 3
2. No donuts. I work in a donut shop :devil: 5 days a week and am usually good about only eating a donut hole or a broken piece of a donut a couple times a week and every couple of weeks I'll let myself have a whole one but I know it's still too much! Level 3

Hope you are all doing well with your own challenges!

Joyce

Good morning all, and welcome to our newest posters. JOyce, you should feel very proud of hte work you have done so far. You are off to an awesome start! Keep building on what you have done.

I am now an official member of the "all soda is evil" club. I gained 4 pounds this week. Now, while I had 2 days of bad eating, I also had 2 days where I did double workouts. It should have balanced out to at least a stay the same, and no way to a FOUR POUND GAIN :fr: But I was drinking soda every day, even if it was diet. No good. Hopefully all will improve once I am drinking more water again.


Sweet Pea - what is a "BF challenge" :?: I am confused and intrigued. "Boy Free?" "Balance Forward?" "Beat France?" "Buy Ford?" Let me know if I get close.

Everyone else - have a super day, and I will check in later. :wave:

Jollygirl--I think BF is "binge free" right?????.....................and maybe the 4 lbs came from something other than food--like auntie flo??? I always get between 5-8 lbs extra during that time and a couple days before...

Hope everybody is doing well!

I´m only on my second day, but yesterday went well and for today, I´ve already gotten 2 L down (2 to go) and I´ve exercised today...I´m not making dinner tonight, so I won´t be challenged there (salad!!!)...and yesterday, I think I did a good job on limiting my portions--despite my husband grilling out and making my favorite...

--Katherine

"all soda is evil"? I think I'm one of the few that just don't LIKE soda....once ior twice a week I might have 1/2 can of diet ginger-ale...but mostly it is to settle my ever-growing stomach lurchings....(its the stress...makes me nauseated)....but i don't think I could look a diet coke in the face without remembering how SICK I was last week!

welcome Princess (and if I missed anyone else). If i can do it, YOU can do it!

Day #5.....AM workout, 25 mins. of cardio and wts.....planning to hit the gym after work to put in some more cardio time.

RB....uh how long would it take me to get from NJ to Tokyo to your house to clean out your fridge and cupboards?.....LISTEN TO ME.....as I tell Carla, I am the voice of conscious...(like the ghost of Christmas future)...and I am the voice of LARGER PANTS SIZES TO COME :devil: :devil: .....if you keep using PMS as an excuse to eat junk!:jeno: :burger: :cheese: :hungry: :mcd: :rofl: :rofl: :goodscale

I wonder what CARLA is eating this week????

Hi!

I am new here and would like to join your 21 day challenge. I think I understand your rules. I set a goal (in my case to journal my food everyday). If I skip a day, I can either "pause" the challenge and pick up where I left off adding the days paused to the end or I can start over. The purpose of the challenge is to build new and healthy habits. I have been journaling for over a week now and so I consider this a low-level challenge. Would that make it a level 1 or 3?

Anyway looking forward to joining you all. :wave:

Good Morning! I`m still hangin' in there, Red. Busy weekend that`s all. I think I`m on Day 8 today (will backtrack to make sure), been very good with my eating and the exercise is slowly improving as well. ;) Just my emotional ups and downs, but I`m working on that. Broke down and called the Doc today, I`m tired of feeling angry and sad for no damn reason (PMS was last week!). Could be why I`m doing so well with eating, I`m the type who doesn`t eat when I feel blue, when I feel hurt by others I do, but not this kinda depression... The weekend alcohol consumption isn`t helping (dehydration maybe? although I`m doing great with water now). Maybe it`s the weather, very dark and gloomy lately. Bleh...

I found a way to combat the Soprano munchies....I did my upper body weights and some crunches and stretching while the boys were on. It felt great... and I just bought a few sexy tank tops for summer so these flabby arms need help starting NOW. I only wear the sleveless styles with "a cover up" and I`m just done with that! :mad: I want so badly to get on the machine and I`m ready to start challenge #2 today....at least 20 minutes a day on the elliptical. I`m trying to target my 2 big prob areas, flabby arms and belly, but as I`ve learned spot training goes hand in hand with cardio. The results are a combo of both. And I know my mental well being always improves with cardio .

princess- welcome! I hope we can all help you, and I`m sure you`ll help us as well! Don`t look at it as a ton of weight to lose, go for ten pounds or any kind of small goal that seems less scary. ;) I started losing around 230 and it was a lot to think of how much I had to lose. I see the pic, and it horrifies me. I cant even bring myself to post before and "getting there" pics. I was lost inside that body, screaming to get out is right! I hope to see you here and glad to have you aboard! Red is the heart of this operation ,and the first one I came to for a kick in the butt so I DON`T turn into that person I never want to be ever again. One week back with my girl (and of course the inspiration of everyone here!) and I tell ya, they`re contagious!!!

Jolly- You sound lots better :) You CAN do this, girl!! I just smiled (and it`s taking a lot to make me smile lately) to see those words. I`m glad you had a nice time at the wedding. I should join the evil soda group! lol I`m doing better, more water so thats a start. But still too much soda, and I think I`m making up for it by counting those calories and eating less. OH so bad, I know. Do you watch your sodium? Thats a biggie for me, a high sodium day and the scale goes in the upsetting direction.

Weclome to Stephanie, any other newbies I missed! Nice to see so many challengers.

Have a great start to the week Ladies. Lets kick :censored:

Caro, don't forget those "kitchen-counter push-ups" for your tri-ceps & chest. (a bit harder than wall-push-ups).

loved last night's episode, Arty hasn't sown that much backbone in a long time, and you know where that rabbit meat came from....what's that thing on Christopher's eyebrow?

ok ladies...here go...thanks for all of the welcomes...I cant wait till I learn you all better so I can be an encourager too.

I am going to try all three...it may be too much but we will see. Journaling is great too. I use to do that alot. I will do that too but not as a goal...I have enough to focus on...

here we go day one...i will let you know tonight how it goes... good luck ladies and stay focused.

Hey all. Just a real quick vent, here before I get back to work. I was doing so well, with the THOUGHTFUL eating. Really paying attention to how I felt physically, before eating. Now, after last week, I seem to be tossing that all out the window. I am not paying attention to hunger vs emotions. I just want to toss stuff in. And, I have no energy, so want to eat more. And I don't want to go see my pony. . .

all right. Enough of this. Everyone else, do better than me. That's an order :drill:

Jolly, stand still while I smack you.....:rollpin: :dust:

RB, I read through your vent....about * Princesses*....now i *assure* you that a Princess has her own set of issues....:devil: there is an extreme amount of pressure that you don't realize....there is an image to maintain......:D let me explain; :corn: you can't go out if your nails aren't done, (people will gossip):gossip: If you don't have your hair colored, your roots show, you are "letting yourself go",people expect a very high standard for your looks!:stir:

and then there is the fact that once hubby is out of the picture...(because you had a damn good lawyer and got everything:devil: ) you have the PRESSURE of finding a replacement!:fr: and start all over again.....it's exhausting!:faint: to try to maintain the Princess image and you still have to pay taxes and find good domestic help.....:devil:
(some Princesses actually do work for a living....like me)

Sweet Pea - what is a "BF challenge" :?: I am confused and intrigued. "Boy Free?" "Balance Forward?" "Beat France?" "Buy Ford?" Let me know if I get close.


Jolly~ I think it means Beef Fat.:lol: :lol: :rofl: :rofl:
Seriously, I hope you start to feel better again, you've been doing so good. Just look at what you've achieved so far. We all have to deal with some setbacks every now and then, that is inevitable~ we try to go forward. You can do it.



RB....uh how long would it take me to get from NJ to Tokyo to your house to clean out your fridge and cupboards?.....LISTEN TO ME.....as I tell Carla, I am the voice of conscious...(like the ghost of Christmas future)...and I am the voice of LARGER PANTS SIZES TO COME :devil: :devil: .....if you keep using PMS as an excuse to eat junk!:jeno: :burger: :cheese: :hungry: :mcd: :rofl: :rofl: :goodscale


Marble~ That was hilarious:lol: :lol: :rofl: :rofl: Like Jolly used to say~ I just burned a lot of calories laughing...

:welcome: to all the newbies~ I'm not so good at remembering names and I don't want to miss anyone, so welcome to everybody. we're so glad you've joined us.

Good night everyone.http://bffc.net/icons2/sleepy.gif

Hi all, I just wanted to punch in.....
Hi to the new folks!
Hi Jolly! I was away for a few days so I'm sorry I wasn't around for the :kickbutt: AND the:hug: I hope you are feeling better. Sounds like you are right back at it!:high:
Hi Carla, good to hear from you!
Marble, you're a riot!!
Red, I STILL can't believe how much you sound like me sometimes....
As for my 5 pound challenge, I lost 2, I think mainly from dehydration. And now my scale is down, no battery. Off to Target tomorrow.....My ticker, by the way, is wrong, I started my bet with DH at 160....
My challenges? Well, I keep forgetting I'm not suppose to eat chocolate, so I'm on day 1 still, the exercise challenge is moving along fine but Im not sure of what day I'm on. I think 4 or 5....

Hello all! Great to see so many posts. I was wondering if sweet pea and I were just going to have to start cracking jokes or something...you know, keep the lurkers entertained! :lol: Well, I've got about 14 mins. before I gotta run, so won't post now. Will talk later and welcome all the newbies. Stephanie, of course you can join!! :welcome: djstorey, welcome aboard to you too! :welcome3: marble, do you want to fly first class or business?! "voice of larger pants sizes to come!!" Too funny!!! :lol3: But sorry, princesses get NO sympathy in my book! :nono: jolly, come on kiddo, just calm down, deep breaths, you're bound to have some bad days..just let them slide pass. Don't beat yourself up for having them. Your horse will wait for you. Okay, gotta fly! Out to see MY mare! Bye! :wave:

HEy all. Real quick post before bed. Thanks all for the good vibes, and welcome to any newbies, and all the returning lurkers, I missed. So good to hear from everyone.

Day 2 - ab work and no soda, challenges met. And . . . well, yeah. Day 2 - ab work and no soda challenges were met :o

Tomorrow I am going to :dancer: (OK. I use that for "kick butt") I did get out and ride. I did get my sister over to go for a long walk with me and the dogs. I did get news that my landlord is kicking out the party boys upstairs (So, that isn't really weight loss related, but boy does it reduce my stress, if I don't have to wake up to people doing gross bodily functions off the balcony:p) But I have to admit I did exceed my calories by 50%. Not cool. But, as you all remind me, tomorrow is another day.

Everyone, have a great day/evening/morning - wherever you are. I am off to sleep. See you in about 8 hours :wave:

howdy everyone....Keep the jokes coming...i love to laugh... and you guys tell some good ones...However, I feel the need to clarify...Although I agree with all of the princess comments...they are in no reflection of me any my name...lol...Dont make me get my tiara out and do the elbow elobow wrist wrist wave...lol.

Today was day one for me and I was successful. now I am going to pee all night since it is the first time in a long time I have had all my water. lol.

Dont give up jolly. Like RB said there is going to be those days...and there is tomorrow anew. later ladies...

wow this thread has GROWN over the last 24 hours i can't believe it

BF - binge free!!! a major problem area for me, and i stumbled and fell on the first day. argggggh

hello to everyone else. wow what a big group we have now. i am off to try and find something for dessert that doesn't blow my diet

i've forgotten who was doing the thoughtful eating but that sounds like a good plan

i did journalling last night and want to do it again so

journalling - 1 day success
BF - errrrrrr zero :(

Day three is today........

Did okay the last two days, but I overate on the day before yesterday for dinner and at lunch yesterday.......I feel hungry........because I´ve been trying to compensate by eating more salad and veggies and staying away from the other things in the fridge.

I´ve done a great job at getting the water down--which is proven by the fact that I´m in the bathroom every two hours.......

I didn´t cook last night (my husband made shrimp and rice--and I can´t stand seafood--and I try to lay off rice anyway) and just had a salad, so I didn´t need to freeze anything.

I got in my activity yesterday. I stretched and did floor exercises. I need to go out for a walk today, though, and maybe spend some time on my stepper.

The 7 p.m. rule still holds, but it was very hard last night. I made a whole wheat "cake" a few days ago...and there was one piece left...and everytime I went into the kitchen, I felt like it was staring me down.............I think I´m going to have to stop baking for a while. I ate a bowl full of nuked frozen veggies and after that an orange to keep me away from the cake...

I hope everyone is doing a great job! Take care!

--Katherine

Ok time to buckle down again and get tuff! my new challenge will be to post & track

1. water
2. carbs
3. calories
4. exercise

time to kick the chub monsters a$$

Thanks for the welcomes! Sounds like a good group of people here. Can't wait to get to know you all better :wave:.

Well, day one was good, no donuts or even donut holes at work yesterday and I drank enough water to keep me running to the bathroom every couple of hours! I think I drank about 70 oz. I kept really good track until my kids came home, then they walk by my filled water cup and help themselves. Before they got home though I had already had about 60 oz so I know I'm good.

Today, I already have my water filled and have been drinking. Donuts went well this morning too, (already off work). I actually brought home a couple of donuts for the kids and put them in the trunk of my car so I wouldn't be tempted! When the kids got up I made them go get them and boy, did I want a bite, but I really didn't want to report that I blew it already to all of you :o so I resisted.

Everyone enjoy their day and keep up the good work.

Joyce

Good morning, Ladies. Hope all is well with everyone.

On Day 9 with my "eating well" challenge. Was not able to do day 1 for my elliptical challenge but I`m trying again today. I need that cardio!!!

Quick post, I have lots do to today, see Princesses have it tough too!! LMAO :beach:


Lots of luck and well wishes to you all. ;)

Good morning all. Real quick post - but I had to check in with you all. It helps.

I did not get to the gym this morning. I am still feeling really tired, and blah. I am not sure why. I need to do some journaling, to figure out why I took this misstep in my eating. I just can't come up with why I am feeling like this. One day at a time. I do have my bags packed - 1 to go workout tonight after work, and a 2nd ready and in the car for tomorrow morning's workout.

everyone, have a good day. Keep up the hard work on your challenges.

BF = Binge Free? I was hoping for something more. Bowling Finals? Beer Financing? Bawdy Fling?

Hi y'all!

First day went well with journaling my food and exercise. I should add to my journal "water consumed" too. I am using the WW Flex plan and I am a Lifetime member but I gained back 33lb of the 68 I had lost 4 years ago. I could kick myself for letting things go like that. But there you have it. My trouble is maintaining and keeping myself honest. I can do it for short periods of time (6 months or so), but as soon as I hit a plateau I start getting frustrated. The last time I hit a plateau (June 2005) I was weighing 173. I followed my plan until August and then I said, "What the heck!" Then I regained all that I had lost, about 17 lbs. :(

So now back to square one. I have done this so many times. I'm thinking one day I will make it to my goal and then maintain it, right? :cool:

One strategy that I am using is making myself small goals from week to week and month to month. That way as I am achieving something I can congratulate myself instead of kicking myself for flubbing things. :)


Thanks for the warm welcome.

Hi ladies... rats...today is not proving to me as sucessfull for me. I had a spat with some emotional eating and it won. :( I am not sure why I let that happen and I need to in order to change the behavior. UGH. Well, I see a lot of great work from you guys...that is awesome and great ...

Djs - awsome job on resisting the donuts...wayto go.

Steph...i understand about starting over and over....I seem to do it all the time...I make greats strides and then gain it back plus some...I thought I was 230 but now I have to reset my tracker because I weighed yesterday and it was 245. OMG and UGH. But we are here and not giving up.

Jolly, is it hard keeping up with two bags....maybe that would help me stay on trach with my gym!

Well ladies, i must get back to work...

End of Day 3!

Yay! I did better today than the first two days! I just need to drink another glass of water before I sleep and I´ll have fulfilled my goals for the day!

Keep trying everyone!!!

--Katherine

Good morning all. Wednesday morning here. No time to post again and there wasn't last night. So, it's either get out to the gym now before work or post and I'm afraid it's gonna be the gym! ;) Just want to say a big congrats :bravo: to all of you who have notched a successful day. I am going to give myself liftoff and call yesterday a wrap on Day 1. I had some things I couldn't figure the calories on too accurately but overall I'd say it was a good day. I know it was because I was hungry quite a few times during the day and went to bed on a pretty empty stomach, which is better than I can say more often than not recently. Oh, and princess, no, of course it's not just the name and if you're working at all you're not a princess unless the "work" is just for something to do. It's kind of a Japanese thing, you have to see it to believe it! :stress:

Ok, breakfast and then go! Ciao tutti! :wave:

Bad eating day today... I`ll take this as a pause day and start Day 9 again tomorrow. I`ve been doing so well with eating but today I dont know what happened. Actually I know exactly what happened. :mad: Ghost from the past....
I`m still carrying around so much hurt I find it hard to keep bettering myself, I should just punish myself...I start thinking I`ll just eat since it`ll take all that pain away. Why try to be more attractive when I can just hide in that 240 pound body I hid in for so long? Sometimes that just feels like a safe place to be. I hate these thoughts.

Not giving up. I just wish I`d learn to let the actions of others not push me to food, self pity.

There will be bad days, I can only hope tomorrow will be better. I`m going to try like **** and I`m going to start now, drink my water and no more food
(its 6pm now) and maybe I can save this day. Not my challenge, definetely a pause there, but I`m not turning a poor dinner into a full night of binging. Who knows I might get on the machine, I might feel a lot better if I do that. I`m already feeling a little better just by coming here.

As Red would say "Never Give up" ;)

Hey all, and welcome. Congrats to all who had successful challenge days.

Princess - yes, having two bags helps. If I think I might be tempted to skip my morning workout, I try to get my bag all packed and in the car the night before. 9.5 times out of 10, the fact that I would still have to get dressed, go to my detached garage, to get my bag to get ready for work is enough to get me off the couch and to the gym. Little things.

Caro - I totally feel like I wrote your post. I too feel "safe" in my old patterns, and hide behind the fat. For me, I have realized that I am a perfectionist, so it is easier to blame certain problems and issues on society's (men's) problem with people overweight. Instead of my shyness and fear of getting out there. I am trying to journal more regularly, to help me work through that, and not succumb to the emotional eating.

I have to say that this set of challenges is not off to a very good start. Day 1 - follow menu and no :censored:, and day 3 - no soda, challenges all met. I had to take a pause day on the abs. Since I skipped the gym this morning, I went after work, which ran late. I wanted to get home to take care of dogs, so I decided to do abs at home. By the time I finished dinner, and all the phone calls, I am still too full (just from normal dinner - I was BF today) to do abs without, well, you know. This is not a good start.

Speaking of stressful things and emotional eating . .. I love my mum, but - does anyone else think it is weird that the mother of a 35 year old wants to meet her friends?????It just seems so weird to me. And I know part of it is my own issues with my age, and some of the milestones I just haven't accomplished in my life, but sometimes I feel like she still thinks I am 12 and not able to manage my own life since I don't have my own family to care for. Most of that is my own projecting, but I just want to scream.

Thanks for allowing the vent. Have a good night all :wave:

Hi ladies...
OMG...Jolly, now I think your post was about me...Thanks for the tips on the bags...I am going to try it...tonight...

I too have had a rough start but not giving up...It has to be wrong to have a pause day on day two...but i guess it is as I try to learn this sytem. And the mom thing. My mom is the best there is but, there is a but, I am 32 without my own family and I too feel like my family thinks I cant manage my own life. Granted there have been past issues that give cause for alarm but in my opinion there so many more positive things that should outweigh and concerns for not managing my life. My mom is also overweight from being a toothpick a until she was 35-40 so she tries to be an encourager but sometimes I do not let her and get frustrated with her for interjecting at all. That is my fault not hers. (she still calls almost everynight to make sure I am home safe and locked up in my house - Dad tries to give space but they both say until I find someone who will worry about me that way...they want to make sure I am safe) ahhh.

Jolly and caro...it is so much easier to stay hidding...I do it too. I am an active person but sometimes I hermit when I get depressed or in moods...it is easier. It is safe...but we are not happy wen we do it just safe from ridicule and not facing the music. I have been trying to think of my pay off (according to Dr phil) why dont I want it bad enough to get off the couch or not eat this or that...why.. I am still struggling to find when did hiding in my fat hermitville life become what is safe and comforatable and acceptable...when...it did not use to be. I had a bad day but a good night. I felt better after forcing myself to exercise. So yes, that heps.

It may sound like a cliche but it is helping me to know I am not the only one with these feelings. I can release some twisted guilt for feeling inadequate and a lone. So we will make it...we have too that is why we are here...

Ok I have went on and on and I hope there are not any english majors here because I have violated every sentence rule there is....lol...

RB - thanks - and I thought my tiara joke was funny. lol.

take care ladies. the weights gonna go.

hi all

i'll come back later and read everything!!

ok i'm back. is it just me or is it really hard to keep up with all the pasts? i find it hard flicking back and forth between the different pages to see what everyone has been doing :)

my day so far has been fine food wise but i am finding it hard not to binge. i have done journalling (2days) and am binge free so far today, i am exhausted and have to work hard not to use that as an excuse to binge!

marble - you are HILARIOUS. boy i could read you all day LOL

kt - well done. it's a process so if you're going forward it's all good. perfection is not the goal

oh darn someone arrived be back to finish!

Hey people. I am just so busy these days. Just got in from work but have a story to do and I don't even have the tape transcribed yet..it's been so long I don't even remember what the guy said...:stress: Work was tough today but ok, the new president was there to see what we all do and that gave us a lot of opportunities to diss the management. :lol: I was good with eating and plan on staying that way, but won't call it a wrap till the following morning (or right before I hit the hay). Got to the gym this morning (after the 50-min walk, which is a great warmup) did weights and jogged 3K and did the crunches. Hurrah!

No time to comment but looking over the posts, just want to say, princess, you don't have to take a pause day. You can start over. I would, if it was early on still, but that's totally up to you. Just keep aiming for success. One challenge I did, I started it (in name) and then couldn't notch two days in a row for about three weeks! Caro knows me..Never Give Up!!...and Caro, I know how the hurt makes you want to eat. I did it for years very badly and still do it to calm down, even when good things happen...but recently I'm learning to sit still with the feelings, whatever they may be and listen to them, feel them, no matter how much they hurt, have a good cry (strange phrase that as it doesn't feel good) but just not eat, try to not make it an option. jolly, i think moms just want to be a part of their children's life as long as they can. It may be unpleasant and annoying but I would just humor her, otherwise you'll have bigger problems! ;) Everyone else, power to you...sorry I haven't been able to post long. And the next few days are looking hellish. Please wish me luck.

sweet pea, princess, marble, curly, ktgk, carla, Stephanie, djstorey, Apple, girlie, Sushi, tia, JCT, a big hello to you all!!! :wave: Keep at it! :strong:

REal quick good morning all. Princess - no, it is NOT cliched. People here do understand. We may all have different "issues" and reasons why we are overweight, or triggers, or whatever - but everyone here understands what food is to us. A lot of people don't get it, and think it is just about willpower or that we are lazy, or whatever. . .

I know Red. I should have just said something like, well when we get the chance. It isn't that I don't want her to meet them, it just seems weird at my age to make a special trip to trot them by her. She has also had the same request to meet my boss. Again, just makes me feel twelve. . . .

Anyway, off to the gym. I am still feeling really tired, and cold all the time. i don't know what is wrong. Hopefully will find my energy somewhere. Have a great day all :wave:

hi everyone

so far i have managed not to binge but like red i will wait until the day is over before i make that claim!

i am going through a big transition at the mo. i am selling my house and trying to decide where to live. the stuff about your mum got me thinking jolly. my mother is a big issue in my life. she leans on me heavily and i am trying to find a way to cut the ties. i am trying to decide where to live and how to spend my life. all big stuff. i am trying to just take it one day at a time but it's a challenge. esp with food. the one day at a time with food doesn't work with me because i say oh it's only one day won't matter if i eat that, i'll just do better tmrw (and don't)

i am going to go journal now.

red tell me more about sitting with your feelings? i find if i sit there with my feelings i get maudlin and out of control. i find i have to consciously shut them off or i stay awake all night thinking about them and wake wretched after not much sleep. hence the journalling! i am hoping to knock the emotional eating on the head by getting my emotions out of me before they take me over

journalling - day 3 achieved (very very soon!)
binge free - i think i may have 1 day under my belt but i will confirm this tmrw morning

princess - it's not just about pay offs altho that is certainly 1 reason people eat or stay fat. it's also about pleasure and pain.

for example, the Pain of being fat may be less than the pain of rejection or the pain of dealing with uncomfortable problems or feelings

also the short term pleasure of eating may outweigh the long term pain of being overweight

then there is the pleasure in staying the same is greater than the pain involved in changing

etc etc etc!

to win you have to make the pain of staying the same far greater than the pain involved in changing. so you get yourself in the position where you believe NOT changing is bad and see change and better habits as the only solution. like looking at the risk of diabetes, heart disease, not being able to play with pets, children, friends, not feeling comfortable dating or having a lover. then you say all those things are much much worse than changing your lifestyle, eating and exercising. am i making sense here?

i promise i will read everyone's posts tmrw :D

jolly - good on you for going to the gym, but take care. it's not good to overdo if you are coming down with a cold or something nasty

Ok, the cat came home and I was able to whisk her off to the vet, but had to wait 30 mins. Still, she's in for her monthly shot of painkillers. Two of my four have what is supposedly incurable gum disease and have to get painkillers. So, I didn't get any work done yet! and then I see more posts...

********************

jolly -- thanks for talking to princess. I just glanced through the posts and didn't see that part till you spotted it. Thanks. It always helps when someone can be there for you. As for your mother, weird or not, it just is. She's probably lonely. I doubt it's anything about her seeing you as a 12-year-old. But I feel your pain... ;)

princess -- Jolly said it well. You come in and say anything. We DO understand, some better than others depending on the situation. And other people, though they may seem all fine and dandy now, and may well be, have been through similar things in the past and can relate very, very well to what you're going through. I would try to let your mother down very gently, maybe sit down and really talk to her like she is the child and can't be upset and ask her to try giving you more space and be specific, like, please don't call every day. Just make it every other day, or send email! And, there's nothing wrong with having your own space, which may be what your "being a hermit" is. Don't fret. So what? So, you want to be alone for awhile. And I agree with sweet pea, that it's not always about payoffs....I am NOT a Dr. Phil fan, sorry....there are so many other reasons, and the last thing people need is to feel guilty about the way they are...you go back and read that Declaration of Self Esteem, will ya? :hug: Things happen to us over the years. We find ways of coping. I'd say eating is not the worst of them.. there is far, far worse. But, instead of wondering about why you're doing something, I would just say, what CAN you do to feel better out with others or just being more however you want to be. Exercise is always good! :yes: As for English majors....well, I'm an editor/proofreader/writer...so if I say you can do whatever you please, and I DO, you have nothing to fear. This is not a writing contest. It's about expressing yourself and being heard, so please keep it up, with or without capitalization, punctuation or correct grammar!

sweet pea -- Well, yes, I'm glad you asked, because my "sitting" and your "sitting" could be the same or they could be very different. So, let me think if I can figure just what my sitting involves. I ride horses and a lot of working with them (it's dressage) is about feeling, feeling, feeling just what they are doing, their back and legs through your own body and their mouths through your hands. It's about feeling and then acting on them to change their movement to better movement. It's like a dancer where you're teaching the person to dance by dancing with them....okay, now don't worry if you didn't understand that..just bear with me....anyhow, the correlation here with eating/bingeing/emotions is that in order to listen to the horse you can't let things get to you. If you can angry and it's reflected in what you do to the horse, beat on it, kick it, yank its mouth around, you are going to hit its panic buttons and you'll get no where good. But of course, a difficult horse, or untrained horse (like mine) is going to push all your buttons. You have to learn control and it's not easy....Okay, I see this in my eating life..that I have to remain calm, have to keep a cool head or things will get out of hand, the equivalent of the kicking, yanking is of course the bingeing, the excessive drinking, the shoveling junk food in your mouth.

So, when I say "sitting" with your feelings, it's learning to kind of distance yourself from your feelings enough so you don't get wrapped up in them, but to get close enough to them so you recognize them, and then you think what you can do to make the situation better, keep it under control and then some. You become like an observer even though you're in the midst of it. You become like a psychologist has to be with a patient, involved but not wrapped up. If he/she gets wrapped up, he/she can't truly help.

Case in point: the other night I'm out drinking with some coworkers. The one guy was extremely argumentative, always has been, but worse these days. Really bullshit stuff too, like he was raging but thinking he was making good sense. Although I was thinking, what the heck am I doing here listening to this ranting?!...I was too entrenched in my seat to just get up and leave..finally I did, but only because they were leaving too. Now, the thing is that normally this would have set me onto a feeding frenzy, making the pain, the anger, the whatever go away. Instead I just sat back and thought about how ridiculous the whole situation was and that I just won't go there again, put myself into that situation. So, I was taking control, not feeling it was my fault for his behavior...I did say some stupid things, but what the heck!...

So, I think the thing is that though you may sit WITH the feelings, you don't cuddle with them. You put them down on the couch and you hear them out. It's like sitting with someone, a friend, who is in a lot of pain. You wouldn't start wailing with her, would you, you'd try to keep your cool (though that may mean shedding some tears too), you'd talk to her, tell her you know it hurts etc. etc.

You'd just say, damn, that's tough, I wish I could take away your pain, or let me know if there's anything I can do, and maybe you'd go for a quiet walk together or just sit there quietly, read together, listen to nice quiet music...but you most probably wouldn't say...but I don't think you'd say..."heh, do you want to eat an entire bag of cookies?" or "what do you say we stuff donuts in our faces?" or "how about we just eat an entire gallon of Haagen Dazs each" (sorry for the food porn, people) would you??? :nono: No way! You wouldn't suggest that to a dear friend, but you'd do it to yourself...well, maybe not you personally, but I have been known to do those things..."heh, do you think there's anything good in the garbage can....I think I threw out some leftovers before...."

I don't know, but can you understand what I'm trying to say?...I'm sorry, I'm really so tired and must get to bed. My work is going to have to wait. Well, hope that helped a bit. If not, let me have another go at it sometime, ok? Take care, k? :hug:

Hello everyone.

Wrapping up Day 4 with my eating plan. it's been going good the past two days, but tomorrow will be tougher. It's steak day again. Yuck.

And I think I've notched Day 4 on an exercise challenge as well (alternating running and stationary bike). I'm a bit hesitant to mention it because I'm not sure I'm going to continue, and I'd hate another failed challenge.

Job search is not going good, and that's making me feel crap. I have $105 and not a penny more. I finally heard back from my agency, but no good news. They're basically saying that I can forget getting any job through them in the next few months. Which sucks.

Well, day 2 went well, dranks lots of water and no donuts, however, blew it this morning :mad: . I've got to learn to control that emotional eating! I made an appt to get my hair done almost 2 weeks ago for the first time in a year and woke up all excited this morning because today was the day! Anyways, got to the coffee pot and found a note from my husband who comes home after I go to bed saying that he had to get up early to do a job (has a side business). Of course, he was my babysitter! I had just reminded him about my appt before he left for work yesterday and he immediately forgot and scheduled someone in. I'm happy he got the job, we need the money, but I sure was looking forward to the treat of having my hair done again. Anyways, feeling sorry for myself, I had half a small donut. Won't kill me on calories for the day, but here is my first pause day. Maybe I'll get lucky and will get a new appt sooner than 2 weeks this time.

Red balloon- I like what you said about "sitting" with your feelings. Never thought of it that way before but it makes sense and is something that I try to do, although sometimes I get wrapped up in those feelings and it can be sooo hard to unwrap! Anyways, good job on the walking, jogging and weights :cp: !

Ktgk- good job for the day :) . It seems that everyday you have a good one, it makes you want to have another and it makes it a little easier to let go of the bad days!

Stephanie- Instead of thinking about being back to square one, think about all you have learned about yourself over time. Kind of like that commercial about quitting smoking, don't know if you've seen it, but it basically says to not consider yourself a failure for the times you've tried to quit and didn't, consider it practicing to succeed. Everytime I've tried to lose weight, I've learned something new about myself which I can then try to put into practice to be more successfull next time. This time around for me, I feel that I have soooo much more knowledge than I did the last time so my chances for success are increased!

Princess- you definitely are NOT alone in those feelings. We've probably all shared alot of those bad feelings at one time or another. It's great you can put those feelings out there and talk about them. It really helps to get them out in the open. And hey, don't worry about the pause. I bet everyone has them, I'm on one today and besides, you're not giving up! You're still here and being accountable. That's a good thing.

Well, baby is up, so I'm off to start the day. Hope everyone has a good one!

Joyce

Wow, tons of good stuff here and I need to re-read everything again whenI have time.. But I did want to send out a big thank you to everyone...and a big support back to you for our challenge here and the home/work challenges we are all facing right now. I will be back later...thanks...l

Feeeeeeeelings, nothing more than feeeeelings....trying to forget mmmmyyy FEEELINGS of...............(insert word herelove, fat, food, french fries,ice cream, sour cream_______________)....

If misery loves company, count me in....I feel quite poopy myself (even if I AM a princess!)...and RB how could you ask? it's always first class for me...(in my dreams) or I can ride in the belly of the plane with the pets and luggage.

Although my head seems to be permanently lodged in the garbage disposal, I have accomplished so much on a day off from work....

And maybe someone can help me with a solution for a terrible problem...I have very deep colored green carpet...that has terrible stains from the poor dog's last days...sorry to be graphic, but it was body fluids, blood, stomach acid...I can't remove them, I've tried every commercial cleaner...I'm not shampooing yet because I thought hot solution might set it permanently (blood is cold water treatable)...I've gone through 2 cans of Spot-shot which usually does the trick.....any ideas would be appreciated.

Sushi, I hope you find something today and de-stress too. good luck!

Hey!:)

You all are wonderful to be around. It's so good to share my feelings with y'all because you all understand most of where I'm coming from and give good advice. I have successfully completed 2 days of journaling.

djstorey - thanks for the encouragement. It's true that I have learned a lot from all of the start-overs. I have really made exercise a part of my daily life over the last 4 years. I am on my way (62%) to reaching the gold medal in the Presidential Fitness Challenge and hope to reach it by my one year anniversary of starting the challenge in August. It's just the eating part that is so hard to nail down. I would love to be one of those people who only ate when they were hungry, but I eat at various times based on my feelings (and we know as women how much those can change throughout a day even!). You made me smile when you said that you missed your hair appt - the only one you have scheduled in a year. You sound like me. I may get my hair cut twice a year, if I can afford it. Sorry you missed your appt.:(

Princess - hang in there with the emotional eating. I think Red is right when she speaks of acknowledging your feelings. Last night I was re-reading an old Prevention Mag and a writer was talking about that same thing. What are we trying to prevent from feeling by our overeating? Right after dinner each night I eat 1 cup of sherbet. It is my treat to myself and I reserve calories/points for it, but last night it did not satisfy me so I ate a lime freeze bar too. After I read that article it got me to thinking, "why did I eat that in addition to my sherbet?" And it hit me that my son had a little more work to do and needed my assistance with part of it. Usually after my sherbet dessert, I go upstairs to read and relax before bedtime. But with the additional chore, I felt the need for a little more sugar to reach the end of my day. I needed the additional energy (or thought I did ;)). Anyhow, maybe after embarking on an emotional eating junket, you should give yourself time to figure out what is at the root of it. Then before you know it, you'll be working on figuring out what the problem is before you overeat. :) Hang in there!

Red, congratulations on your success. :carrot: You are a thoughtful person and helpful in your suggestions. You seem to have a handle on your emotions and an interesting way of sorting through them.

Jolly - congratulations on your success too. With regards to your mom, sometimes it is hard to get your folks to see you as a grown-up. I am close to my Mom and still she will get on my nerves. I think it's the nature of Moms to see us as their perfect creations and when something mars that image, they feel a need to correct it. Case in point, I will still get the occasional pimple. I hate it, but whenever I see my Mom with one, she always feels a need to point it out. She'll say, "what's wrong with your face?" or "what's that on your face?" (Duh, it's a pimple, Mom!) :dizzy: She's not being mean, she's just thinking "what's happened to my beautiful creation? Let me try and fix it." Be patient with her, because I don't think she's doing it to be mean or overly critical.

Sushi, it sounds like things are going well for you. Sorry about the job search, but things will turn around soon.

Hugs to the rest of you: Katherine, Sweetpea and Caro! :hug:

God bless you all and keep moving towards your goal!

I hope everyone is doing well!

Day 4 for me

I didn´t choose my food out too well, but at least I didn´t overeat. I´ve got about 1/2 L water to go for the day... I´m going to stretch and do some floor exercises after I´m done here, but other than that I´ve covered activity, too...

I hope I choose better foods tomorrow.

--Katherine

Thursday morning here. Early. Gotta leave soon. Just wanted to say that I notched Day 2 yesterday and I am now striking out on Day 3. dj, Steph, thanks! Talk to you later people. Though when I get home today I have a ton of work that absolutely MUST get done. Deadline crunch. :stress:

Gotta fly! :wave:

day 1

water- good
carbs=23
calories=1166
exercise= 1 hr circuit training

HEy all. Not much to report here, except I AM THE NEWLY CROWNED QUEEN OF THE RESTARTS!!

I just feel like I have taken 10 steps backwards in my thinking. I don't know why. My trainer says if my body is saying it is tired, I should listen to it. Maybe I should take tomorrow off from the gym - I haven't in about 2 weeks. Who knows:?: I think I will just go to bed now, and be done with it.

I am restarting all of my challenges tomorrow. I only blew two today, but I just want a clean slate, if you know what I mean. I need to commit to it. I know I deserve it.

Everyone, have a great night. I will talk more tomorrow. :wave:

oh my giddy aunt you guys sure can talk. it's going to take me half an hour to read everything and reply. i'm going to try and do each as i read it as i forget what everyone else has said if i wait until the end!!!

i'm only part way through the day and eating has been hard. i'm out of food so i've been improvising and not well. i feel full but i'm conscious it's 340pm and i haven't had lunch and that's not safe. i am very very tired and that is another danger for me. the final is i have to go grocery shopping. oh and it is pouring with rain and thunder :(

i am in a catch 22 with the exhaustion. i know i have to make changes. go to bed at a decent hour, exercise, eat well, sort out emotional crap but i get so tired and emotional that i don't manage any sustained effort. also because i don't believe in my heart of hearts that it will change anything. i have been depressed for nearly 10 yrs. it started when i was 30 and i turn 40 soon. some years i have no happy days. other years i might have half a dozen happy days in the whole year. i fight very hard to stay only slightly depressed and not mega depressed so then i just figure with the food i'll take my pleasure where i find it. and food does give me pleasure. not always there are many times i eat because the food is there or because i am bored or want distraction.

doing this 21 day challenge is something i need to do to break the cycle. truthfully i really just want to be rescued :) so i keep looking for shortcuts. if i had a place to put the dogs i think i would go to a fat farm for a couple of weeks and just hve them feed water and exercise me as they would make sure i don't have any bad food. i did do a week last year where i ate mega healthy and i did feel better. i had a tv interview and i lost over half a stone in about 10 days - sort of like those tv shows biggest loser etc - by eating very healthy food. all whole foods nothing artificial or processed. but as soon as the interview was over i started chowing down again. i was disappointed as i felt duped. the interview didn't screen (or at least not to my knowledge) so i don't even know how i looked!!!

~~~~~~

red. first of all that sounds like a lot of work for you with your cat. how much pain is your cat in? second i saw that you do writing - i write books. altho that's sort of past tense as i have been a lazy slug and done sweet all in the last couple of years. i have to stop pushing myself on the writing as my health has to come first but i do get guilty about not doing stuff. i'm achievement oriented and i don't count weight as an achievement. i have to change my mind about that but it's a slooooooow journey.

actually i like dr phil. i think he has a lot of good stuff. he's smarmy as all get out and he has a lot of stuff in his past i don't respect. but he does have some good ideas. none of it is original. i have a psych degree and it's all basic psych but he does get thru to people so that's all for the good.

i get what you're saying about sitting with the feelings not wallowing in them. cuddling them - that's an interesting concept. when i do my journal i often say to myself what would i advise myself if i was coaching them? it helps me a lot in getting perspective on stuff. i just forget to do it so it's good to get a reminder :cb:

~~~~~~~~~~~

jolly awww now i'm sorry you feel so bad but i honestly think a break would be a good thing for you. if you saw my last post i was a bit worried about you then, you were feeling cold and miserable so maybe you could try a hot bath or even some sort of exercise where you can be warm. like dancing or something??? i'm not sure. a sauna or a spa might be good. and jolly no matter what you see on tv it is not recommended to be working out every day. my mother was a body builder and i grew up with lots of trainers and a day rest each week is recommended. even if the rest is a walk your body and mind need the break. i hope you take it. it sounds like you have a positive attitude

~~~~~~~~~~~

sushi - good going on the challenge 4 days yahooo. i'm not up to speed with the job hunting but it sounds like it might be time to approach another agency. maybe you could get someone to check out your cv and see if it can be improved? i really hope you find a job soon. it's no fun being without $$$ :hug:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

djs darn that would be annoying. i'd have grabbed some food too. i think you showed great restraint stopping at 1/2 a donut. it's all progress and that's the name of the game.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

oops i got a phone call so i posted this quick. i loathe it when i write a novel and then i lose it and have to start fresh :D

but i have GOOD news. i have someone seriously interested in the house and they don't need to sell they are ready to buy and only need to arrange finance

~~~~~~~~

princess. yup we all have those frustrations with eating and wondering why it isn't a whole lot easier. but the thing is food is necessary. it's not like alcohol you can go without alcohol or smokes. food you need and it's always there. you have to have some food in your house so temptation is always close

~~~~~~~~~~

curly, ktg & red. well done for getting another day under the belt

~~~~~~~~~

stephanie - sounds like you're on the right track well done

~~~~~~~~

marble you make me laugh :lol: what is your carpet made of? a lot of companies will dye carpet. if you think you'd like a dark colour then you can get it died a dark brown or grey or even a darker green and that may take care of the stains. smells are harder to get rid of but hopefully the cleaning sorted that out:? personally with my pets i much prefer wooden floors as i loathe cleaning all the fur and crap out of carpets. esp now it's winter

Jolly, your trainer is right, days off are important too. 2 weeks of working out is pretty stressful for your body and of course that effects you mentally too!!! Maybe if you you would really like to exercise EVERY day, do some thing real low key, like taking a walk every few days or so. And HEY!!! Back away from my Restart Crown !!! Its mine Mine MINE!!!!:queen:
Day 2 no chocolate, Day 6 exercise......
Marble, have you tried searching around the internet? Sometimes a good solution turns up. Thats how I learned how to remove silly putty.....However, I've never had much luck with dog stuff...I've thrown out 2 area rugs and replaced one room of wall-to-wall....

hi there

well i tried that sitting with my feelings and just ended up having a big blubber about feeling lonely and unloved and wanting a man :cry: not sure if i feel better or not???

i'm cooking dinner now. it's a late one because i was so disorganised and because i thought the chap buying the house was coming tonight. i hope i feel better soon. i will get stuck into my journal soon

apple - well done on your goals, i would NEVER take on a no chocolate goal. that would just be ridiculous!!! (for moi)

sweet pea...I think you misunderstood...I said "don't cuddle them!" :lol:

Hi all. I'm in deadline **** here and an upsetting phone call and upsetting email have totally knocked me off balance. I feel too sick to eat much of anything, but should. Two stories must be done by tonight and I am dead-tired. I need divine intervention! :stress: Sorry, peops, but bear with me while I try to get through this.

********************

sweet pea -- Come on, I have cries like that all the time, just don't eat too much! Yeah, I know, easier said than done. But, you gotta deal with what you have and from the sounds of it, we're in the same boat. :( Be strong!

jolly -- I think we have some competition for that crown! I'm barely getting by today and if I had time to add it all up, probably am over my calorie limit. Let's just not binge or do anything too stupid, ok? I think you're in for a little rest. If your challenge is exercise you can just include some stretching or something.

curly -- :cp: I was wondering where you were. Good to see you! :yes:

kt -- :bravo: Congrats on Day 4!

Steph -- How is your Day 3 going? And kudos for two days notched! :sunny:

marb -- Sorry, no help for the carpet. I hope you're feeling better today. Today is hellish for me and I'm just escaping here because I'm in a panic....but must get back to work. Hope you get that head out of the disposal soon. And, oh, the business suggestion was just in case you felt like slumming. First-class, no prob, I'll have the tickets to you toute suite!

Ok, no more time. dj, Sushi, princess, anyone else! Good luck! :goodluck:

hi red

are you a journo? good luck with deadline. you'll make it!

thanks for the support. stuff is getting to me right now. the stress of moving and not knowing where i will move to yada yada

i made a huge dinner and then gave the leftovers to the doggies. they're happy ;)

marble... try club soda or 5% hydrogen peroxide be care ful with the peroxide tho it could bleach the color try it in a hidden spot first

Hi everyone

Day 5 done with eating plan. Tomorrow coffee is back on the breakfast menu, can't wait. :)
No exercise for me today though, other than a walk with the dog. I must have slept in some funny position - my neck and upper back between shoulder blades feel stiff, sore and achy. I've had trouble moving all day. I did get a nice massage and applied a heat pack, and it feels better, so I'm hoping tomorrow I'll be fine. :)

Good going, Sushi! :cp:

sweet pea -- Yeah, I work at a newspaper. I am just too upset by the call and the talk, all about my huge debts. But, I made a sandwich and feel a little better. I actually have some more hours to do the one story and the other is a small thing I could whip out very quickly. Thanks for the faith in me! I hope you feel better soon. :hug: AND, that was excellent work with the dinner and the leftovers. You are your dogs' hero!

yup my dogs love me BIG time, and they burn it all off. well the little one does!

And I thought you were saying you felt unloved! Heh, canine love counts too, you know! :yes:

i know it does but they're all girls!!!

Grrrr. Computer just ate my post. Good morning all.

Sweet Pea and Red - your last volley of posts reminds me of a joke about a genie in a bottle, an old woman, and her cat . . .

Sweet Pea - Tired is a big challenge for me too. It makes it so hard for me to make healthy choices. And, sorry, but I have to ask - are you getting help for the depression? NOBODY deserves to settle for "only slightly depressed." At least not without a fight!

Apple - Thanks, but I am not sure I wanna give the crown back :p

Red - go ahead and cry, we all need it once in awhile. Besides, there are so many shoulders here to choose from, none of us will even get very wet :D

Sushi - congrats on Day 5.

So, my turn to whine. I decided to get to bed early last night, only to discover that my darling dog had decided to wet in a VERY INAPPROPRIATE PLACE :o After stripping the bed, starting the laundry, remaking the bed, etc, it was no longer very early. Then, since I decided she was sleeping in her crate, the little princess let everyone know SHE WAS NOT HAPPY. All night long. Then, had to put everything away this morning. So, did not make it to the gym. Did a long dog walk, and my ab work, and hope to do a yoga tape tonight after my riding lesson. But between lack of sleep, and allergy meds, I just hope to keep on track today.

Here's to a great first of 21 awesome on track days! I am going to keep out the no :censored: challenge. At this point, I am not craving tons of it, and if I do, it would be a pause day for the follow menu challenge anyway. I don't want to feel bad pausing on Saturday, enjoying my friends birthday in moderation. So, unless it starts becoming an issue again, I will trust that I can enjoy special things in moderation, without having to challenge it. So my three challenges will be:

1. No soda.
2. Do ab work daily (class or home)
3. Follow menu - keeping under 2000 cals.

Have a good day all. :wave:

I`m restarting I guess. I havent binged or even had a snack at night, water is going down and I got rid of the Coke and down to a couple Diet`s a day...not moving the scale though, I`m even up 2 pounds . I dont know why I should restart, it`s the voice inside me telling me I`m not worth it. Like I should just give up before I have the chance to fail.

I see my Doc today for this depression/anxiety stuff. I feel like crying before I even have my morning coffee, I just feel so sad inside. My friends and family make light of it...because after all I guess I am a princess., I stay home while my husband works 2-3 weeks away, when he is home he cooks and cleans and has no problem with me going out with friends and having a life outside the home. My married friends are envious I get so much "alone time" and get spoiled when he is here. I get to stay home and raise my kids, I have this new house and should be happy.
I hear compliments all the time with the weight I`ve already lost, I hear how pretty I am and it embarrasses me or just ticks me off. Doesnt make me feel good, makes me want to hide...or scream. All they see is the clothes or the makeup or the hair or the nails, all I spend way too much money on and shouldn`t. Just to make myself pretty on the outside cause I`m so damn empty inside.

I`m not giving up. I`m not turning to food this time, I`m going through the "not eating" depression (for now...that could change at any time) but the one part of my mind functioning normally knows I can put the weight back on and that won`t make anything better, just worse.

I just needed to vent. I have to reread a couple pages and I`ll try to get back to you all later. Hope everyone is doing well. Gotta get ready for the Doctors. ;)

Wish I had time to read everyone's posts but this morning is crazy crazy :dizzy: ! Good news is when I rescheduled my hair appt., the girl had just had a cancelation so off I go this morning. FINALLY! Hoping the new hair helps me to see myself in a better light. I still see that heavier person in mirror and I"m hoping she goes away soon!

Water was good yesterday, the donuts gave me a pause yesterday but today I resisted :carrot: !

I'll catch up with you all later today or tomorrow. My son has a track meet this afternoon so this whole day is pretty much shot.

Have a good one everybody! :)

Joyce

Caro: u have to start over becuz...... look how many "good" days u have had...

we didnt get all these bad habits in a few weeks we cant expect to change them in a few days either!...


GET BACK TO WORK!!!! (smile) the weight will go in time just be patient... take 1 day at a time... and it will leave one day!!! just dont give up!:hug:

OK ladies...it may be a little OCD but I just saved all of the posts so I an go back and catch up with everyone...Work is so busy right now as it seems with you all as well. But unil I can catch up i wanted to share i have lost 5 pounds. I know it is just from the jump start...all of the water and ruffage i have been eating lol...but not the less it is encourageing to seeeeeeee...

ok more to come later. keep it up ladies...

Good day / afternoon, Ladies!

3 days completed and doing okay with my easy challenge. I'm being honest (for once :D ).

Caro30, you sound lonely to me. Are you okay? It's hard when others envy your lifestyle. It's like they won't give you room to be frustrated/unhappy or to complain. I'm guessing you feel boxed in. Sorry to hear things are hard for you. I would be missing my husband if he were gone for 2 to 3 weeks at a time. (And we don't even get along that well! :o ) Things never stay the same though and maybe you could talk to your husband about how you feel? Glad to hear you are seeing a doctor soon. You'll get through this.
God bless!

Sweetpea, I can't imagine going through a whole year without joy. There are times I'm depressed, but for the most part those times are temporary. It sounds rough. On the bright side, you can share your thoughts with us and we can give you some moral support. :hug: :goodvibes

Sushi - you are doing a fantastic job. :bravo:

Red - Day 3 went well. You sound busy and I appreciate your asking. It's a large group to keep up with. :) Sorry to hear about the problems. It sounds rough! :sorry: I will send prayers your way.

KT - how are you doing?

Joyce - hoorah on getting the hair done. I know what you mean about still seeing the heavier person. Without a mirror I think I'm this really hot chick, and when I see myself in one, I think, "Whoa! What was I thinking? :dizzy: "
But one day I know that it will all catch up and my imagination and my appearance will match.

Curly - sounds like it is going well for you.

Jolly - sorry about the dog accident. I would probably have been hitting the powdered donuts if that had happened to me. I think that the only thing that contends with my desire to eat is my desire to sleep. ;)

Princess - hope you are okay!

Apple - you are doing terrifically well. Congrats! :encore:

Good luck to everyone! Talk to you tomorrow (or sooner if I can get away.)

day 2

water- good
carbs 37
calories- 1260
exercise 1 hr circuit training

Hey all. I am sorry I only have time for a quickie. Tonight, I AM getting to bed early. (I locked the dog out of the bedroom, so I don't have to worry about any "surprises").

Day 1 - follow menu, no soda, and ab work challenges all met. I feel like I am finally making my way back to the thoughtful eating. I only ate today when I was hungry. This is good, as there was a lot of stuff going on that could have sent me to the doughnuts, as Stephanie says :lol: Still struggling, but at least making progress. I did not do my yoga tape tonight. I decided that the long dog walk, ab work, and horse ride would be enough for me today. Back to circuit class tomorrow.

I just want to send a HUGE :grouphug: out to all of you. I hear your struggles. Self worth, self esteem, depression, emotional eating - all of it. Just remember. . . oh heck, just reread Red's self esteem proclamation. That says it all better than I could. You all deserve the very best. The world may not give it to you, so you have to fight for it for yourselves. Never settle for less.

Good night all :wave: I hope tomorrow brings brighter days.

hey all

first for some good news ... i have a conditional sale on the property and i will know in 3 weeks if it is going to go ahead so i can take down the for sale signs and rest

i also saw my doc this morning and we have altered the meds. she is putting me back on an old antidepressant. i stopped because i had nightmares every night for years when i took it. the pills don't stop the depression (for me) but i cope better so that will be good, maybe ?) thanks jolly, stephanie, red and others for your support

not sure what i will have for dinner. a celebration is called for, hmmmm thinking thinking

Day 6 on eating done, and I'm happy to say that my exercise challenge is still running - Day 5 done today. Actually, the challenge is to run one day and to suffer on the stationary bike the next, but today I did both! :cheer:

Well, one last busy day for me so I have to be quick, hopefully by this afternoon things will calm down and I can take a breather!

Did good on my challenges. Yesterday no donuts and lots of water, today no donuts! You know, having to admit when I blow it really makes me think twice before grabbing that donut and is reminding me to fill my water glass! I hope I can keep that going.

For those of you who did well :bravo: ! For those struggling, hang in there :hug: . I really will catch up with you soon.

Joyce

Real quick good morning all.

Congrats, Sweet Pea, on the :crossed: sale, and on the hopefully helpful med changes. I hope all goes well. As for nightmares? I had one last night were I was trying to avoid canabalistic serial killers (yes, plural - kind of a Texas Chainsaw Massacre kind of thing), and body invading aliens. There was a little ole grandpa eating a tenderloin sandwich - and it was the "other white meat" if you know what I mean. Freud would have a field day with me :rofl:
But I think you should celebrate with a totally awesome salad and a glass of healthy red wine :D

By the way, I had to avoid the "celebration" thinking last night as well. We had gotten annual raises, which I knew I would see on this check, but it turned out to be more than I expected. I almost had a celebration dinner as well, but decided I would rather have a celebration saddle that fits my horse so he doesn't hurt his back and we can finally show. Man, that would be hard to fit on a Hallmark card, wouldn't it?

Congrats DJ and Sushi on making your challenges. Everyone else, keep it up, and have a great day:wave:

Hi everybody:

My head seems to be permanently stuck in the garbage disposal...perhaps CARLA will pull it out..or pour a bottle of olive oil on my head.

I'm going to try to draw the stain out with club soda and some salt...I don't dare do the peroxide on a deep green carpet...it's going to come up soon anyway and I'm going with the pergo flooring. (since the dog is gone).

I threw my leftovers in the trash today...(no dog to eat them and the cats only like boiled shrimp or cold-cuts...but Wylie Coyote will drink coffee)

I have to change my exercise challenge...it's still basically the same deal, but I'm counting the time on a weekly basis and looking to improve and grow each week. So I'm doing something each day...(just not enough, grrrrr)

Last week I logged in 2 hours and 24 mins. of hard cardio....this week (with one gym session and a day to go)...I've logged in 2 hours and 35 mins. My goal is to get to 4 to six hours of cardio a week...I stopped counting the strength training, but my orthopaedist is impressed with my recovery and range of motion.

My appetite has pretty much disappeared (due to the fact that my head is broken)...but i am forcing myself to eat enough to keep from losing muscle. Nothing appeals to my finicky taste-buds lastely. (probably a good thing)

hi all
yes jolly the celebratory dinner is a big big temptation. i had a couple of sweet things but i had a steak and salad too so it wasn't too bad. i ate a bit much but it wasn't a binge so i'm happy with the result

i've now done 5 days journalling and 3 days BF :D

djs well done on resisting donuts

Well, I've finally had time for a breather and a quick catch up! Been a busy couple of days but I'm done with everything and can enjoy the weekend now :D .

I've had a pretty good day although I gave into a craving that I've been fighting for 3 days now. For some reason, I've wanted a cheeseburger sooooo bad! I hardly ever eat them, in fact, I have not had one since we went on vacation last summer but the craving wouldn't go away, so I did it. Just had to. Oh well, I'll be good for dinner, probably a lean cuisine or something. I also put in a little extra time working out so hopefully I burned a good portion of those 700 calories. Can't believe I ate almost 1/2 my calories in just one meal! :o The worst part I guess is that I've been seeing that 191 and even 190 bouncing around on my scale. It's kinda like a magic trick you know, now you see it, now you don't! Hopefully lunch didn't make those numbers pull a Houdini on me.

Princess - :bravo: on the 5 pounds! Even if it is from the jump start it makes you feel soooo much better to see things get going. Keep it up! You can do it!

Stephanie - good going on your challenge, easy or not :cp:. I'm sure you're right about the imagination and actual appearance agreeing with each other someday. I can't wait for that day to come!

Jolly - good work trading the celebration dinner for a celebration saddle. Just think, dinner would have been over in 20 minutes, the saddle, you'll enjoy for some time to come!

Sweet Pea - sure hope the sale's a go for you. Hey, my mother went through 3 or 4 different meds before she found one that didn't have bad side effects for her and that actually helped her. Keep bothering that doc of yours until you find the right one for you if your current one doesn't help. I guess they affect people differently.

marbleflys - Sounds like you're doing good on the exercise, keep it up! Good luck with that carpet, but if it doesn't work, I'm glad you have the Pergo to look forward to. We're doing the same soon ourselves.

curlylocks & sushi - good job

Sorry if I've missed anyone. I was going to keep going back but my 2 year old has different ideas at the moment!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone :wave: !

Joyce

Hello everyone. I'm still trying to get through this tough time. Story is NOT done, not even started! But the entire page is laid out and I will, I will, get this done. I hope. I have to. :^: Day 4 is done on the challenge. Today is Day 5. I must try to keep my head about me. You all hang in there. I will try to too.

:kickcan:

day 3

water- good
carbs=39
calories= 1089
exercise= 45 min circuit training

Hey everyone...Things are moving and a shakin here...Never a dull moment...Work has been stressfull, my boss is being a real booger...But somehow I hae managed to keep tues night - friday night under controll and doing great on my challege. Wed I started over on day 1 so today is day 3 and I have had my water, excerise and calories in check. Nice feeling...somehow i have not had the cravings to cheat since tues so I hope this will last. I will weigh Monday to mark my weekly loss.

RED...hang in there...I am proud of you for your determination and face to face battle with this project you are on...You will succeed. I have comments for everyone else but my nephew just arrived. He is staying with me tonight so more to come later. Stay postive everyone and look to us for support when you are discourages. We are here for you.

i've lost 2 lb so i am trying to be sensible and not put it straight back on (which is what i usually do). i see the weight loss and think oh i can relax and then ooops that wasn't a good idea LOL

my headache is back but i will book in again for bowen. it cleared it temporarily so i think if i go back it may just get it right long term. it's great i can just walk there. it's about 0.5km so it's easy peasy. no mucking around getting the car out of the gate or parking. i love being able to walk places. something i will keep in mind when choosing the next place

i have 2 places locally to go look at and then next week or the week after i will go down to auckland and look there as well. i need more money to buy in auckland but it has more to offer so it will be worth it if i find the right place.

i have dancing scheduled today. i will put on music and dance in the lounge ;) i am also going out for a drink tonight to celebrate the house sale

~~~~~~~
red - well done on your challenges. the story will happen!
hope your horse had a great birthday, extra carrots???
~~~~~~~~
djs - thanks for your support. i have been on several different pills ummm at least 8 types, but that's ok. i;m getting there. i now know 8 pills that don't work LOL

Day 6

I´ve lost 1 lb. since Day 1! Yay!

I´m still doing alright. I´ve made better food choices the last two days and I´m sticking to my rules...so far.

I´m going to go out for a long walk with my daughter this morning, I think, and that´ll cover my activity for the day.

I´m also going to make a veggie frittata, and I´ll put in more egg whites as a substitute for less egg yolk.......(see if my husband notices the difference....)

Otherwise, water is going good....and freezing is going good. I made green beans with lamb and tomato over rice last night and the left-overs are nicely packed away in the freezer......kind of nice to know that in a pinch, I have something to feed guests, hehe.

I hope that everybody is doing a great job!

--Katherine

Good morning all. Well, the Restart Demon struck again. (See, I am no longer claiming a crown. That is NOT what I want to be the queen of). I am going to restart tomorrow, as I have friends coming over today. We are going out, and I will make healthy choices, but I will have no way of knowing exact calories. So, start tomorrow.

I was feeling pretty frustrated about the whole thing. And ill from what I ate. But I was able to do some serious journaling, which helped me get to the bottom of things. So, here's to better days.

I read a great quote in one of my magazines - "Chocolate isn't fattening. Self criticism is." I liked that.

Here's to better days for all of us. :wave:

Just a note to say, the story is done!!! Hurrah! Pause on challenge though. I wasn't keeping track and though I may not have been way over I don't want to clear it. Ok, it's late here and I have to be up in a few hours to take the train down to Kyoto for a big race....:stress: Ciao a presto! :wave:

Congrats, Red, great to hear you got the story done. :)
And I wouldn't worry about the pause day. What's important is to be able to prioritise right, and I think that this is what you did. Way to go and good luck. :) :hug: :goodvibes:

I'm on Day 8 of my eating plan challenge, and on Day 7 of my exercise challenge, with the exercise being a wrap already. I woke up early, got up at 7:30 am (on a Sunday!) and went for a run. :)

Cheers to everyone, must run!

hi everyone
journaling is going well and i am on day 7. binge free is much much trickier! i am tempted today and having to use a lot of self control

i saw a house today that i like but an offer is going in today or tmrw so if i am interested i have to act quickly. i'm finding that stressful as i am having difficulty deciding where i want to live. whether to stay in this town or move back to auckland.

i had mcd for lunch and i am feeling off balance and off target. i will have to try to get back on track with a healthy dinner.

red - glad your story is finished. what sort of race are you going to?

sushi and katherine - well done on your goals

jolly - good luck with the restart

Okay. I'm starting a new challenge. Squats. I know I've lost some weight. I can see it, around my belly for example. But my thighs seem to prove the opposite. Squats. Squats. Squats. More squats.
I should be able to start tonight, and if not, then tomorrow morning. :)

Jolly: we may be tied for the restart crown... :lol:

Way to go Red!!!!

How is everyone doing this weekend???

yesterday was day 4 for me....

everything went well, water, carbs,calories.... went trail walking for @ 3 hours so burned up a bunch of calories...

Hello all. Thanks for the congrats. I'm just in from the race (horses, sweet pea) and another story done. It was a great race and the trip to and from Kyoto didn't even seem that long, though it's over 3 hours traveling each way. Must get to bed. I'd say I can clear today because I didn't eat much at all and got a lot of walking in at the track, even went back to the stables before and after the race. Got to nuzzle the muzzle of the champion.... :cloud9: and that's not just any champion, that's Japan's triple crown winner last year. What a sweetheart. Ok, gals, into bed it is for me. Cats are happy now that they've some chow in 'em... Hope I can get a little rest before gearing up for the next onslaught... :wave:

She's Baaaaccck

Hi all,
Thought I would just drop in quickly to say that I will be back doing the crunches challenge for the next 21 days. Starting tomorrow as today is taken up with travelling. I may not be back to report frequently as am off to Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory and they have only satellite communications. Can't use my phone, but will have the computer at work although it seems they will be working me from dawn to dusk. Communication may be sporadic for the next week.

Saturday 7th, I'll be back in Brisbane and then fly to Wollongong on Monday or Tuesday. Not sure of the final travel yet.

Anyway, it is good to be back. Can't say I am overly motivated, however I have not been exercising since moving to the hills of the 'Gong and I REALLY NEED TO GET BACK TO IT> The scales are not kind.

Gotta go. Hello to all.

Hey everyone.

Not much to report here. Sushi, I may have to join you on the squat challenge (hmm, somehow that sounds funny). After trying all sorts of things, we just can't get a Western saddle that fits my boy. So, back to hunt we go. I need to build thigh strength for posting, and improve my core strength for balance. And still get him ready to play with others and show this year :fr: What am I doing!!!!

Anyway. congrats to everyone. I will try to get back posting better. Have a good evening. :wave:

hi all

i've done 7 days journalling - all good! the bingeing has been kept at bay but i am still having trouble with food choices

i bought a house today and now i am excited and want to eat eat eat!!!

red - were you the jocker, owner, trainer??? or spectator...
good luck to everyone else on their challenges

Hi everyone ! :)

I am slowely reading thorugh all the posts, including the first one a couple of times, but was wondering if I could join you all?!

jump right in vanessa :welcome3: to our happy group

Sweet pea, congrats on the new house! :)

Jolly, I'd love to do the squats challenge together! I actually haven't started mine yet, too tired yesterday and today I'll probably run out of time.

Shad, good luck with crunches. :)

Newbies, wellcome. :)

I think this will be a busy week for me... I got in touch with another agency, and I'm going for an initial interview there on Wednesday. And lots of errands to run, and I want to do Yoga at home and hopefully turn my days into productive ones instead of half-lazy ones...
Day 9 on eating plan and Day 8 on exercise are done. :)

Congrats, Sweet Pea on buying a house. Where did you decide to go?

Sushi, we will have to talk about starting squats. I am meeting with the personal trainer next week, to have her set up some core exercises I can do nightly while watching tv. I really need to increase my balance and lower body strenght and stability for the smaller saddle and posting trots.

Welcome, Vanessa.

Well, it is Monday here. Weigh in went well this morning. So did workout. I feel better about how my eating is going as well. The better mindset is back.

Anyway, off to work. Oh yeah, day one on all three challenges was met yesterday. Here's to a great day - for all of us :wave:

Happy May Day everyone! I am back, after a hiatus in which I put back on a few pounds. My ticker is finally telling the truth. But as today is the 1st, and a Monday, I felt that was enough harmonic convergence for me to try to really get back into being healthy.

I am done in NY, and am back home - so that will help as well.

Here are my intended challenges:
1. Limit my calories to 1500 or less each day (level 2)
2. Exercise (cardio or yoga) at least 30 minutes every day (level 2)
3. No alcohol (level 3)

I haven't really read through the back posts, but I hope everyone is doing well. I'm still sort of in a very depressed cycle, but am hoping warmer weather and eating healthy will help pull me out. I am looking forward to participating on the boards again.

welcome vanessa and welcom back to a couple of you that were away for a bit. Congrats on your house Sweet pea. that is awesome...I trust everyone survivied the weekend and it we are off an running on a new week. Stay stong and I will post more later.

Well, saturday I met both my challenges but sunday I blew it on the water. I think my weekday routine flys out the window on weekends which makes things harder! It was probably around 5 on sunday when I realized that I'd only had about half the water that I should have. If I had tried to make up for it, I would have spent half my night in the bathroom! Since I now have a pause day for each challenge, today will be day 6.

Hope you all had a good weekend. Welcome to the new people and welcome back to others.

Joyce

So, today would be day 2 for me!

My challenges are:

1. stay within my calorie range
2. no alcohol
3. take my pills

Tthanks for the welcomes everyone. I am hoping that by doing this challenge and having the accountability to you all that I will be able to get this done!

hi everyone. i bought a house in the country in whangarei where i currently live!!! but it's a bit of a leap of faith. the buyer for this house still hasn't signed the agreement. when i spoke to him yday he said it was all go and that he was heading to the lawyer in the afternoon to talk to him about it. gaaaah first time buyers are such nervous nellies. and the thing is that i am selling privately which means that it's harder to chase up with the buyer. if i had an agent they could sit with him and nag him. i may have to do that anyway. i'll give it until midday today and if i haven't heard i will phone him.

i had a bad day eating yday. not a full on binge but i was nervous and couldn't settle and kept picking at things. i definitely overindulged but i'm okay today and back on plan (not that i really have a plan LOL)

i have phoned a couple of people about ballroom and latin dancing classes and hoping to get back into that this thursday and sunday. i need the exercise!

vanessa - you're off to a great start

djs - i had to cut back on my water because it was so hard to sleep. my doc said i was giving my kidneys too much work to do

princess - well done on staying on track

sushi - good luck at the agency. what sort of work are you looking for

fish - hello nice to meet you

jolly - glad you're feeling positive and making progress

I'm calling Day 6 clear here. Today is the begin of Day 7! Let her rip!

********************

sweet pea -- Good going on the house! :cb: Too bad you had a bad day eating. Tell me what day of your challenge you're on. Are you restarting? Just what is your challenge, by the way. I can't keep track so please be sure to keep focused on it for us with a mention and where you are on it, moving along, pausing or restarting. Now, looking back further in the posts, it looks like your challenge is journaling, right? So, are you on about Day 8 now? Looking good! As for the race, as I said, I'm press, so I was there as a reporter, thus access to the stables. But, being a horse nut, I have a special interest in wishing the horses good luck and wanting to get close to them. I'd rather be back at the stables then up in the stands with the bettors and dreary faces of the other reporters.

ny -- Yes, of course you can join. I'm glad you've read the initial post. Welcome aboard! :welcome: So, are those three things all ONE challenge? or are you breaking them into three separate ones. How many pause days are you going to give yourself? Best of luck!

dj -- Excellent work on the challenges Saturday. Sunday was a shame. Perhaps you should hang signs around reminding you to drink water.

princess -- How are you doing?

Fish -- :wave: Hello! Good to see you back. Join the depressed, or at least the beaten down (that means me). Let's hope that "harmonic convergence" :?: works to your advantage! :lol: Those extra pounds should come off soon enough. Good for you for getting serious again.

jolly -- I'm glad you are still going strong. Major kudos for a successful liftoff. Keep that baby flying! :flow1:

Sushi -- You are moving along well, aren't you? Kind of a stealther there. You're nearly halfway!

Shad -- Glad to see you back! Crunches, oh yeah, I've been forgetting about them. Not good! I may have to make it a challenge. It's so easy to forget, but so easy to do too (that's for me now, not you). Good luck! Those Aussie names really get me....Groote, Wollongong..the hills of Gong..too funny! Scales are never kind, Shad, you know that. Good for you for talking back though!

curly -- Where are you? Awful quiet these days? You must be around Day 6 or so, right? Is everything going well?

kt -- Where are you these days? Hopefully, you're doing well and congratulations on that pound loss! :sunny:

Stephanie, marble, Caro, where are you? :listen: You'll have to excuse my recent sparse appearances. Things are not good with me and it's rough coming in here and sounding chipper when I am majorily stressed and as the Allman Bros. would say, "feel like I've been tied to the whipping post." :stress:

Let's all keep at it though and get the upper hand where we can!

Hey all. Day 2 - all 3 challenges met.

Fish - welcome back. Sweet Pea - good luck with your buyer. Everyone else - keep up the good work!!!

Not much else to report here. Had a good ride with the pony. Was able to do more trotting, which is good. So here's to well deserved great days for all of us:wave:

Hey Red :wave: we must have posted at the same time. I am sorry things are so stressful for you. Come vent if you need to. We all have "cheese with whine" sort of days. We are here for you. I hope it gets better :crossed:

ok first the good news. the buyer is signing this afternoon and i will go pick up the contract and take it to the lawyer

now my challenges:
journalling - i have done 7 days + 1 pause day (in all the hassle of running around yday i FORGOT tsk tsk
binge free - i have done 6 days

red - sorry you're feeling stressed. send me a pm if you'd like someone to talk to!

jolly - cheese and whine hehe what a cool concept. i like it

jolly -- Hi there! I see you're gone already though. Was going to call you over to the chat room. By the way, do any of you out there use the chat room? I have before, there's some Aussies who talk at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays (now Fridays). Oh, but wait that's my 8 p.m.....anyhow. So, jolly, I'm glad to hear you had a good ride. That's a headache not being able to find a good saddle. Is your horse high-withered or what, very wide? If you weren't riding Western I would suggest one of these treeless saddles that are supposed to be great for hard-to-fit horses. Hope you find something soon. Do you ever ride English? I rode yesterday...I do dressage...am having a heck of a time getting the sitting trot real nice, and my horse is hard to get it on because she is so smooth-gaited, you can sit without keeping the hips soft but then she's being blocked, and since she already doesn't want to move, it just makes things all the harder. Anyhow, core muscle work does wonders for riding. Doing those crunches I really noticed a difference and now that I've been slacking I feel it! Ouch! As for the stress, yeah, it's all work and money related. I need to get a lawyer and let him deal with it. I can't take it. I am too affected by things and because a lot of my work involves writing, it really screws things up. It is constantly on my mind, worrying me. I sooo much want to have things worked out. God, the card companies are pushers! I hate the *******s! :mad:

Day 10 on eating plan and Day 9 on exercise are a wrap. AND did actually start the squats challenge today, as in DID THEM, so that's Day 1 in the bag. Right now I'm doing three sets of 15 squats, and the intention is to increase with time.

I'm really tired. I had to drive my boyfriend's mom to work so that we could have the car, and nearly fell asleep on my way back even though it was after 9 am. We didn't end up using the car because I was feeling so tired... but did have to go pick her up, and that took over an hour because of various misfortunes. Did I mention I was tired...?
Great on the exercise though. It was my running day, I did 18 minutes, then walked some and, surprisingly, did another 22 minutes. And I borrowed my boyfriend's father's Yoga DVD and worked through it. Tomorrow will be a bit difficult, I need to go to the city for an interview. So I'll either need to get up early and do the stationary bike, or do it in the evening...

I'm too tired to read through the thread, sorry... too tired to focus on the words. I should catch up in the next couple days though... so bear with me and good luck to everyone. :)

Good morning all! I finished day one of each of my challenges, I will try to keep it up:D
Here are my intended challenges:
1. Limit my calories to 1500 or less each day (level 2) - day 1 at 1184
2. Exercise (cardio or yoga) at least 30 minutes every day (level 2) - day 1 at 47 minutes of yoga
3. No alcohol (level 3) - day 1 at no booze

I had a horrible night's sleep last night. I couldn't fall asleep until around 2 a.m., then I woke up around 3:30 from a nightmare, then my dogs decided to bark at some outside noise at 5 and 6 a.m. Grr. Hopefully I will get some sleep tonight.

Sweet pea - good luck with the new house. I am glad you finally got in touch with your buyer.

Red - sorry to hear you have been so stressed. I agree that I would rather spend time with the beautiful horses (even though I'm sort of afraid of them) than with the bettors.

Jolly - thanks for the welcome back - it seems as if you are doing pretty good!

Sushi - I hope you are able to get some sleep tonight as well. It is dangerous to drive when you are so tired. be safe!

Hello! It's great to hear from Shad! And Fish Woman! Missed you guys and I am looking forward to hearing from you on a regular basis again!
I lost my bet with DH.:mad: TOM arrived yesterday and it was then I realized even if I had been close the scale would have taken a turn for the worse. I'm really getting sick of making goals for myself and then not meeting them. It's really starting to piss me off!!!!
Speaking of goals....I did take a pause day on exercise so I'm on day 9 I think...as for chocolate, I keep forgetting that I'm not supposed to be eating it. I'm not eating big HUNKS of it or anything, but a little nibble of something and OOPS! I know I didn't have any yesterday so I'll say today is day 2......
Last month I "won" a month's membership to Butterfly Life (similar to Curves)in a silent aution fundraiser for my son's preschool. So now that DH will be home for a while I am going to start going. Maybe that will get things started. It's hot here and none of my warm-weather pants fit.

I have been feeling crummy about my laziness about EVERYTHING in my life. I am beginning to realize that I have become an incredibly LAZY person. Must STOP. I was thinking this post would become a whiney complaining mess, but I am going to keep positive and move forward. While the scale, of course, moves backward.

Well, day 6 went well with both water and donuts. Today is day 7 and I met the donut challenge again, but it was a tough one! I don't know why but I was so hungry this morning! Luckily I had a 65 calorie granola bar in my car so I managed to ignore the donuts. The best news for me is that the scale, after being stuck at 192 for over 2 weeks now, has finally moved in the right direction. I think I might not have been eating enough since I started doing Tae Bo most days of the week. It seems to burn more calories than I had expected. Guess I'll have to start watching my deficits rather than just counting my calories.

Sweet pea - so glad the whole house thing is going well! Sounds like your challenges are too. Good job!

Sushi & Fish - try to get some sleep!

Red - sure hope you get your troubles worked out. Sounds so stressful. Get that lawyer to help you and take a deep breath

Jolly & Vanessa - good job on your challenges yesterday!

Hope you all have a great day.

Joyce

Oh well........I´ll be back to day one tomorrow...

I was sick today and I started everything off badly. Didn´t eat breakfast until about noon, which means that all of my meals were pushed back and I ate after 7 p.m..........and I didn´t exercise, because other than getting up now and then to take care of my daughter, I spent most of the day in bed.............I got in about 3.5 liters of water, but I didn´t get in 4 liters.......yeah...anywho.....there are a whole lot of excuses there, but the good thing is that I can start over.

On the upside, I lost another pound...which could just be water, because I´m sick. My measurements are better, too, except my thighs...they just don´t seem to be getting any smaller....I´ve lost a ton off my waist and hips and bust, but my legs and my arms just seem to resist shedding anything and have been that way for about a month now.

So anyway, I still want to be positive. I´ll restart tomorrow with day one. My goals are the same: 4 L water daily, 30 minutes activity daily, freezing leftovers before dinner even begins, and nothing but fruit and veggies after 7 p.m.

I did pretty good for a week and I think that getting out and walking more has helped me move past my plateau......if I don´t hit too many more plateaus, I hope to reach my goal by Fall...It seems like every five pounds now is harder than the last, which is why I keep my goals small these days......

I hope that everybody did better than I did today! I´m sure that if we just keep working at it, we´ll eventually make our goals into habits that will last and help us achieve our desired results!

--Katherine

Hi ladies...sorry I have been absent...I went and got sick and work has been kicking my booty. My boss had been a real pice of work lately and today was not pretty..there is good and bad to the story...bad...after our last conversation turn bad...i turned to food. The good was I turned to huge salad...So, yes, i still still turned my emtions to food but atleast it was a healthy one...I have been sick so the excerise will start all over on day one tomorrow. The calories and water intake have been good but only by default since I have been sick. So, I will start them at day one too just to be fair...well I am sorry i have not responded to your imputs yet...i will...i promise...i have to get to bed and i wanted to post my status. i will catch up on you ladies tomorrow...stay strong....

Hiya everybody.
I'm on day 2 of the challenge - trucking along. Don'[t know whether I mentioned it or not but I am working on Groote Eylandt at the top of Australia and not far from Papua New Guinea and the equator. It's nice and warm.

There was a notice on the board today to miss the beach (which is fenced off anyway) because there is a 4 metre crocodile patrolling the beach. No one will get me near the beach now.

We can get a drink after our meal at a place called the ARC (the rest of the island is dry). Can't spell the name of the town so will spare you the difficulties. Walked home with the other contractors in the dark and we saw a lovely owl sitting on a pole. I got a photo. Haven't had much time to look at anything much yet. Got in late, got sorted out with accommodation, went to the mess for dinner and went to bed - stuffed. It took 10 hours to get here by plane.

Tonight I hope to go on a long walk to see what is around the joint. Funny little township - and we are not allowed into the reserves unless we have a pass - but it is definitely not tropical paradise island like Tahiti or Fiji. Although some of the folks here just love it.

Time to get on with it. I'm training in and learning about the Real Estate module today.

Well, I didn't end up getting much sleep last night again... very tired today, extremely tired after I got home from the agency interview (went well, I just hope they'll have a job offer for me FAST!). I nearly fell asleep, but then remembered about the challenges... and did 45 minutes on the stationary bike while reading a Bond book. So that's Day 10 on exercise.

And just when I loaded our thread, I realized I had forgotten to do the squats, so I got up, and just did them. So that's Day 2 on that. And Day 11 on the food plan, and gosh, how I can't wait to be done with it... very very limiting. I don't know whether I'll go for 3 whole weeks and or stop at 2 weeks and finish off the challenge with a different meal plan, which I'll prepare for myself based on the foods I like and want. And no, it won't be a cheat, I did think of this option when starting. :) I'll see in a few day's time, I guess.
I recently discovered that fruit supply in Australia is very different to what I'm used to... I'm used to getting nearly any fruit I want at nearly any time of the year. It might cost more, but it'll be there. And if not, then there will be plenty others. In Aus it turns out to be very seasonal... no peaches or nectarines anymore. Bananas in very short supply and at an insane price with Larry having wiped out 80% of the crops. And they're saying that grapes will be gone from the stores very very soon. There is tons of apples, but I'm not a fan. So I'd like to eat what fruit I can while it's there (while applying portion control) and on this eating plan, I can't. There is some fruit, but not much, and only on some days.

Alright, that'll be it for tonight. :) Nice to see our old regulars - Shad, FishWoman... :) Good luck to everyone who needs to re-start, you can do it!

hi everyone
i have completely lost track of what day it is and what i'm doing :dizzy: i will have to go back and see what day i am on for the journalling. i think i have done day 9 + i had 1 pause day.

my eating has been crappy the last couple of days and i am feeling it. very tired. and like fish i am having trouble sleeping. nightmares and broken sleep. not much fun.

i like the comments people have been making about keeping positive. i will do that too and write properly tmrw when i'm a bit more awake. nite all

Hey all. Real quick post today. Sorry. Was having computer issues last night (people WILL INSIST on sending me huge emails that jam up my system.)

Anyway. I had to take a pause on the soda yesterday. I went to my first bicycle club meeting, and it was at a bar. I figured overall, one 12oz diet soda would be better than a drink. The funny thing was, the bar started having folk music, and I had a hard time not giggling - I was waiting to hear Phoebe start singing "smelly cat." :rofl: I crack myself up. Other challenges went well.

Have a good day all. I will post more tonight.

Here are my challenges:
1. Limit my calories to 1500 or less each day (level 2) - day 2 at 1363
2. Exercise (cardio or yoga) at least 30 minutes every day (level 2) - day 2 at 30 minutes on elliptical
3. No alcohol (level 3) - day 2 at no booze

I got more sleep last night, but was still tired this morning. I had to attend a congressional hearing on investor protection this morning (have to give a presentation of the testimony and Q&A at our next 40 Act meeting) - that did not help to make me less tired!

Apple - congratulations on winning the month-long membership, you should have fun with that.

Shad - I'm guessing that a place named Groot Eylandt was originally owned by the Dutch? The weather sounds great, but definitely stay away from the crocodiles!

I hope everyone is having a good day today!

I finally have a few spare minutes! Day 7 went well, no donuts, drank lots of water! :D

I have a new challenge that I am trying out and have started it today. I figure 21 days should give me a good idea how well it is working for me. I keep running into times when the scale just won't move, yes, I know it's normal to stall out sometimes, but lately it happens way too often :( . The stall usually ends when I bump up my calories a little. Guess I have a bad habit of letting things go too far! I wouldn't call these stalls a plateau since they only last a couple of weeks but I know I should be doing better than I am. My challenge therefore is to keep my calorie deficits in line. I'm going to try to keep the deficit no lower than 500 and no higher than 1000 for each day. The 500 calorie deficit should only happen for me on one day of the weekend since I always take one day off from working out. The 1000 should keep me from losing more than I should and hopefully keep me from stalling out every couple of weeks.

Anyways, I might have to tweak fitday a little to get things totally in line with my weight loss but I'm hoping this will help me to keep my calories within a better range.

Hope you are all having a good day and doing well on challenges!

Joyce

Forgot to say my challenge is a level 2!

Hey all. Sorry not more time to post. Things have been crazy!

I am going to count all three challenges as met for today. Question mark is due to a work meeting luncheon. Couldn't count calories for certain, but due to the amount I ate, I will say I passed.

Hope everyone hada good day. See you later :wave:

Hi all. No time to post again these days, but I wanted to come in to say I am still on my challenge, must be day 9 now I'm on. Yes, that's right.

Wishing all you who've fallen off track the guts to pull yourself back on, and yes, that's what's it's about most of the time, real pull yourself up by the bootstraps kind of stuff! :stress:

Offering my congratulations to all who have stayed on their challenge! :bravo: Keep up this great effort! :cb:

Later, all, I hope I'll be able to make some time for everyone! :wave:

So that's Day 11 on exercise, Day 12 on food and Day 3 on squats all done.

And why do I feel like yet another challenge...? Maybe I think of increasing the difficulty of the squat challenge instead... ;)

I´ve done great today! I don´t need to make dinner so there´s nothing to freeze...water´s okay...it´s 6:30 and I´m just about done for the day...may have a glass of milk yet...other than that, things are good...

I´m kind of confused...It´s ironic that I hadn´t checked this in the past, but my husband´s scale (in kg) tells me that I weigh less than my own scale (in pounds)...............I did the conversion and on my scale, I´m 137...and according to my husband´s I´m 134 (60.9 kg)...I´m going to go by my scale, but seeing that I might weigh less made my day today, hehe...

--Katherine

Hello everyone.

KT - I get that too. Every scale is different. There are two scales at the gym - the one I use for my tracking in the ladies locker room, and the one upstairs they use for the contest I am in. The upstairs one weighs less than downstairs. Floor surface makes a difference too.

Well, day 5 on the ab and menu challenges, and day 4 on the soda. I have to say it was a near miss on the menu. I was by the good restaurants for lunch. Saved there, then didn't actually get to eat lunch until hours later. I could have easily binged, but did not. It was a good day.

Congrats Sushi and Red for doing well. Everyone - hope to hear more later. :wave:

Good morning all. Friday here, the start of my Day 10. Yes, I'm moving right along on the challenge, not seeing any progress on the scale, but I do feel tighter and there doesn't seem to be as much overhang around the top of my jeans... :barf: I also feel like when I put my hands on my hips I am starting to feel the muscle around my abs...uh...wishful thinking perhaps.... :( .... but I'm working on it.

I am starting to think...heh, it's about time!!!...that maybe what I should be doing is stop exercising to eat. This will be fine when I have the Desired Body but for now what's the point. I eat, I wear it off, I eat, I wear it off and the fat stores aren't touched...oh yeah, maybe for a couple days, but then it's, eat too much, not exercise enough and we're back to the old excess...

I'm also thinking that I just have to change my mindset. Start feeling less indulgent, less "I deserve this" and turn to food. I've got to get stricter with myself and this is reflected in ALL areas of my life. Ok, ok, so maybe I'll turn into a mean b!tch but I kinda doubt it...some would say I'm already there.... ;)

So, it's Day 10 and I plan on doing things a little differently today. It's starting with the fact that I can't have my regular morning oatmeal, 'cause I'm all out.. :(

********************

ktgk -- Glad to hear you're doing well. I wouldn't let the stupid scales confuse you. None of the home scales are really all that accurate, so you can't compare them. Just use it as a gauge to show up or down and approximate weight. After all, it's not the number that is important, not when we're talking a couple kilos at least. I just got on my scale and it showed heavier than I was when I had less muscle but my clothes were tighter. You've got to gauge by size and the look you want. Muscle is heavier, takes up less space, but does make you look much, much bigger when you can see it, even partially disguised under clothes. There's a way you move that says a lot. I guess you have to decide on the look and feel you want. Ok, just a little tangent there....just saw jolly's post now, after writing that...ditto way she says, specially about floor surface..in any case, never put too much account by scales! :nono:

Sushi -- You're really moving along well. :bravo: With two of your challenges, exercise and squats, it looks like you could change intensity, duration, all sorts of things, I would tweak your challenge so you wouldn't have to add another one...but then, that's all up to you.

jolly -- Yeah, tell me about "crazy!" I am glad to hear you are still ok on the challenges, or were at last post. Good luck! -- just saw your latest post....way to go!!

dj -- Congrats on your challenges met. I hear you on the new challenge, though it sounds quite complicated. Food intake is easy enough..cough, cough....to calculate, but you must remember that it's the balance of your calorie expenditure as well that counts. If you're allowing yourself too much leeway on the top side, I'd be careful..that could easily account for a plateau, if not a gain! You don't have that much to lose either and it gets harder the less fat you have. In any case, best of luck...calorie counting is such a pain...I try to do it more by hunger and just allowing myself to feel the hunger comfortably instead of never feeling it or immediately thinking I have to eat a wagonload to appease every little pang! :lol:

Fish -- Hi there! Sounds good on your challenges. :yes: Keep it up!

sweet pea -- Hope you're back on track..or at least know where you are... ;) And I hope you can get some good sleep.

Well, I'm out of time...Shad, princess, Apple, ny, curly, all others, best of luck to you! Hope to hear from you real soon! :yes:

Day 5 is done.
I'm back in the land of instant communications but I'm dead tired. You'll hear from me tomorrow.

Congrats to those doing well. Lets just keep on pushing it uphill for the rest of us.

Hi everyone. Not much action around here these days...or is that just me :^: Well, I had a great day today as far as eating and exercise went. Even pushed myself to cycle to the gym after riding and jogged a fast 3K and did the crunches. The gym was closing early tonight and I was sore from yesterday's workout, so I didn't do any weight training. I did go harder on the crunches though, held them longer and did some with my legs off the ground. So, if I don't pig out between now and bedtime..which should be soon...I'll be okay, so I'm calling it a wrap! Whoopee!! :cb:

********************

Shad -- Good to see you and glad to hear you're back in the land of instant communication. And sticking to your challenge as well! Excellent work! :yes: Hope to hear more from you. Just where were you again...off in the Outback?

princess -- Hi kiddo! :wave: How are you feeling? I hope you're better now. Sorry work and your boss have been such shite. What a great save to turn to food but make it something healthy. Certainly nothing wrong with that! There aren't many things you can turn to that make you feel better and a lot of the things either cost money or can't be done on short order. If you're turning to salads I'd say you're ahead of the game! Keep it up! Hope to hear from you soon! :yes:

ny -- How are you doing? Haven't seen you since your Day 2, about three days ago. Were you able to stay on your challenges? If not, don't fret, just start over. We have so many restarters, that's part of it. There's no shame in restarting! :nono: But, maybe you're still ok. Hope to hear from you soon! :sunny:

Apple -- Are you still with us? Haven't seen you in a while....I hope things are ok.... :hug:

curly -- Where are you these days? Don't you love us anymore? :cry: I hope you're ok, postings are rather sparse... Come back, Shane!!

marble, girlie, Caro, mez, carla, anyone I missed, please come back! Give us a shout! I'm all ears! :listen:

Well, busy once again but just want to say that days 8 & 9 both went well. Met the donut and water challenge. I need to adjust something in my new challenge though so I'll just start over with it. I'm sticking with the 500 calorie minimum deficit but I need to raise the max to 1200. I want my averages to come in around 7000 calories per week on my deficit. I also found that yesterday I had an 1150 deficit by the end of the day and wasn't hungry after dinner at any time. The day before I had a 990 deficit which is cutting it really close. I'm just trying to keep my averages for the week within a decent range. I sometimes over-do it with watching my calories and then trying to exercise off what I do eat so I'm just really hoping this will help.

Anyways, hope all are doing well with their challenges. I'll have to catch up on posts later today or tomorrow.

Red - I'm really just hoping to keep myself eating enough for what I'm burning and I definitely plan on keeping it as simple as possible. And I feel for you about being out of your oatmeal! :hug: I hate it when I run out of my favorites!

Joyce :)

Hello all, just a quick look in to say all is well. No challenges at present, still on my break from full 3fc participation, still a nasty lurker... at least until my sense of humour resurfaces.
Tomorrow I'll sleep in my own bed for the first time in 15 days - what joy! And the cats come home Sunday morning. My fingers are crossed that Zen won't have started chewing off his fur again during my absence...
:wave: and :hug: to you all.

I woke up this morning to one of my cats looming over me from the nightstand, he was quite "vulture-like" at 5AM......the morning got worse, I HAD COFFEEPOT PROBLEMS.....(i have one of those pressure-pots with the pods, and it seems to be CLOGGED, WATTA MESS!!!) the tea just didn't cut it!!!

Hi red, I'm here, just busy from work and chewing my fur off in Carla's absence.

I'm working out daily, but i don't remember what day i'm on....but i'm working out daily....

hi to everyone, bblater.

dj, carla, marble, hello! :wave: Just on my way out the door here. Saturday, Day 11, work day, which always is an open invitation to sloth and overeating. Wish me luck! :sunny:

Hi all :wave: I am here briefly anyway.

I had to take a pause on following the menu. It was stupid really. PMS, and stressing over things I don't need to stress about. Sometimes, I look too far ahead and worry about the big picture more than I should, instead of just taking one step at a time. I took the dogs for an extra walk to make up some of it. Ah well, this too shall pass.

Take care all, and keep up the good fight. I will probably not be on too much the next two days, and then not again until Tuesday night. i will be gone at a conference. I have already hooked up with a friend, to get workouts in with her while we are there. Will check in then :wave:

hello everyone

i have done 12 days journalling + 1 rest day
the binge free challenge is a bust - am giving that a rest for now

been busy with stuff to do with the house, reviewing a chapter for a book and other stuff.still having some trouble with sleep but otherwise ok

mable - well done on daily workouts

djstorey - you're doing good resisting the donuts

red - day 10 way to go :cb:

kt sushi and shad and everyone else - well done on your challenges

Wrapping up Day 14 on food, Day 13 on exercise and Day 5 on squats here... well, it's all done, actually, even though it's only 5:30 pm.

I did increase the toughness of the squat challenge, and today I did 1000 skips on my new skipping rope, maybe that's a start of a new challenge. We'll see. :)
And I decided I'm not going to follow the current meal plan for another week. It's a 2 week program, and I'm finishing it today, I was just going to repeat week 1. But instead, I prepared a menu for the whole week based on the plan but incorporating things which I actually like and want to eat. So the last bit of my challenge will be to stick with that, and eat only that in only the specified amounts. No treats, snacks, whatever.

I'm also thinking of is applying the 21-day challenge format to a project... nothing to do with exercise or eating or weight loss, just a life matter, something I need to complete and something that has seen little work but lots of procrastination. Maybe a 21-day challenge would lead me to do some work every day, and the whole thing would get moving. I probably wouldn't manage to complete 21 days, but that wouldn't be so bad, as 21 days won't be enough to finish... hmm... I shall think about that... or maybe I shouldn't think (and potentially talk myself out of it), but simply do it... :p :devil:

I am going to try this...

Why cant i get my ticker to appear here :(

Hi all. I'm going to go to bed. Just too tired after a long day at the office. I'm clearing Day 11. Even made my lunch and brought it in today. Not much exercise possible today but I needed a rest day anyhow.

********************

dj -- I'm glad to hear that 8 and 9 went well. I thought you said you were not seeing a loss. That's why I was wondering about your calculations and thinking you should adjust them. Do you think you're burning off fat even if the scales are not showing a change?

carla -- Good to hear from you. How can you be a lurker? I can never lurk unless the posts are really boring....uh-oh! now I get it.... :mad:

marble -- I hear you on the scary cat. I know how waking to something staring at you can be quite startling! :eek: Did you get that coffee pot fixed? Always have the paper filters and holder for those emergencies! :yes:

jolly -- Thanks for stopping in. Sorry to hear things have been rough. PMS is hellish at times, isn't it? That's great that you're thinking of getting workouts in while on a conference. Good luck there and try to enjoy yourself. Good thoughts on the taking one step at a time and not looking too far ahead. That always depresses me as well and sends me on a pity binge.

sweet pea -- :bravo: Excellent on the journaling. Too bad on the bingeing. Why don't you change that challenge instead of dropping it. Say you are not going to binge on certain foods or something. It may help in the long run.

Sushi -- :cp: Congrats on three challenges met!! I have done nonfood challenges. If it relates to your eating habits go ahead with it. What doesn't relate really, eh?! ;)

bikerchick -- So, are you joining us? I hope so! :welcome: Are you in Pennsylvania? That's where I'm from. Hope to hear from you soon! :yes:

Evening all,
Day 6 is done with a full weights workout at the gym plus the crunches and 10 minutes on the treadmill. It's amazing how I can do this at home, but when I am away, I procrastinate like blazes. How silly am I? No don't answer that. I know the answer, I just don't want to hear you lot say it!! Bit like the old saying about keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool rather than opening it and removing all doubt!!!!

So I have come back from Groote Eylandt. It was discovered by the Dutch before even Abel Tasman came down under. They never settled it. No one ever settled it apart from the Aborigines.
I was working at the Manganese mine. It is an interesting place to visit in that there is two vastly different cultures living there and respecting the rules and everyones space. Because the Aborigines live more or less as they did a thousand years or so ago, the vegetation and wildlife is almost original. The only imports so far are the Galahs - a grey and pink parrot which got let loose and bred some years back. Both the locals and the company are fighting to keep the canetoads out since there is a thriving population of native frogs on the island - some of which have been wiped out on the mainland.
It's an interesting place in that there is a great sense of community there, the townfolk are social and sociable. There is no alcohol on the island except for the ARC and the Golf Club. You have to have a permit to keep alcolhol in the house and you can not supply to others. You have to have a permit to go anywhere except the town and the mine. I don't know that I could live there even though the wages and conditions are great. If one could stay for a few years, they should be set up for life financially. However, I think I would need to get off every so often or go troppo (as they say round here). There is a golf club and a gun club. There is a swimming pool, tennis, netball, afl, soccer and cricket. They have live music and dancing at the club from time to time. You can go to the Recreation club. There is a shopping arcade but it is exceedingly limited. Only about 4 shops in it. There is a supermarket, but as everything comes in by barge once a week, by the end of the week the fresh stuff is looking a little tired. For all that, there is little sickness, not a huge amount of obesity and they seem to live well.

Gotta get going. Another busy day of working in the yard and house tomorrow before I fly back to Wollongong for another week. I'm home again next weekend and since it is Mothers Day next Sunday, the DS2 is cooking lunch. Nice one - wonder what we are going to eat.

Well, day 10 was good! No, donuts and lots of water. Day one on my deficit was good too. Had a deficit of 1060, so I'm in the range. Now that the weekend is here I'll have to really watch my water though. My weekday habits don't hold up so well in that area.

Red - Good job on day 11! :)
I wasn't seeing a loss for a while. I've been fighting for the losses lately but I finally got off the 192. I had actually seen the 191 a couple of times and even a 190.5 once and would jump right back to 192. I refuse to count a loss until it holds for 24 hours or so.

Anyways, the reason I'm doing this challenge is because I went back and looked at the history in my fitday, trying to see when I started struggling so much and found that it started shortly after I started doing Tae Bo regularly. Tae Bo burns a lot more calories than my stepping or aerobics so my deficits were getting really high. I also walk whenever I can now that the weather is better so I'm really burning more than normal. I'm guessing my problem might be coming from building more muscle from Tae Bo and possibly also from eating too little with the extra calorie burn. I'm just going to do this deficit thing for the 21 days and see what happens and go from there.

Shad - Your life sounds so interesting! Busy, but interesting. Congrats on your day 6!

Sushi & Marble - sounds like you're doing really well with working out! Keep it up!

Sweet Pea - sorry about the binge part but good job on the journaling!

Jolly - I feel for you on the PMS thing. I'm there too right now and it's always a struggle.

Everyone I missed for now good luck on your challenges. I have got to get myself moving so I can get my errands done before the 2 year olds nap!

Joyce

Oki doki! Day 3!

I`m doing pretty good--despite eating an entire bar of ritter sport chocolate today, I still stayed within my calorie limit (mostly due to the fact that I was out shopping instead of at home looking in the fridge......)...

I´ve got a liter to go for the day. Dinner was small and didn´t need to be frozen--there´s just enough left over for my husband when he gets home tonight from work.

Gained weight--about three pounds overnight--probably due to AF, though, so I´m not panicking. It will most likely go away within three or four days.

I´m still fed up, though. Not with myself, rather with my husband.

He´s always complaining about how he needs to lose weight and frankly, I don´t think I´d mind it either...although I can´t complain too much, because he put up with me when I was pregnant and weighed 183......and he didn´t even say one thing about me being big back then (other than my baby belly, hehe)...

Anywho...I´m getting sneaky...I´m trying to get him to switch to whole grain breads, which is tough, but hopefully possible. Like I said, I´ve started freezing leftovers. I´m controlling his portions in the kitchen, before serving, etc.....

I still have some struggles, though....like how do I get him to lay off the sunflower seeds that he eats millions of in the night. I know it could be worse, but he literally eats cups upon cups of them! He´ll go through a huge bag in just a couple days! I think I´ll suggest to him that he not eat after 9 or 10 p.m.?

And how do I get him to drink more water? I´m thinking that getting him a fancy water bottle might motivate him a little?

I´ve almost completely cut out butter and use olive oil most of the time...I may go out of my way to find cooking spray (there has to be spray somewhere in Germany! Kaufhof´s grocery section maybe?)...

I´m also trying to come up with ways to get him out of the apartment to go walking a little more often--maybe it´ll be easier now that summer weather has arrived?

How do I get him to watch what he eats more so that I don´t have to hear him curse his belly?????????????????????

--Katherine

Hey all. DAy 7-ab work, and day 6 - no soda and follow menu. Challenges met.

Rough day today though. About once a quarter, I have a PMS that is really moody. This appears to be one of them. I was having riding problems, and just barely got through it without it turning into a huge mess. Sigh.

I am committed to eating healthy and working out regularly while I am gone. Luckily there is a gym at the place we are going to. I am packing stuff for breakfast. Only one dinner. I just hope the lunch's aren't too bad.

Anyway. Hello to everyone. I promise to post more to all of you when I get back. :wave:

hi all

i'm catching up on sleep at the mo. just seem to be sleeping a lot. still i think i needed it so that's good. i'm quite demotivated at the mo. i'm meant to go to dance this afternoon to see if he has found me a ballroom dance partner. i'm meant to be there in an hour but i'm really blah can't be bothered. someone slap me please!

BBL!

Now, I'm pretty sure I posted here yesterday night, and now it's not here...

ETA, indeed I have and it's on the previous page, so all good. :) Might as well add that squats and exercise are done for the day (that's day 6 and 14 respectively), and that I'm enjoying my self-planned-based-on-what-I-want-and-like-to-eat food.

:goodvibes:

you did - at the top of the page

Day 7 done

A full cardio workout this morning and the crunches as well. Now to keep it up when I get down to NSW tonight.

I can, I can, I can, I can, I can. I know I can. I just have to!!!!

I'd like to start this challenge!

I tend to graze on leftovers, so I will make this 21 days of no after meal nibbling. I'll set it as Level One. This challenge will end on the twenty seventh for me... But I hope to make it a habit.

"welcome3" teatree

i went to ballroom and it was a bust. they don't have any spare men as partners for the advanced class. i was so disappointed i wanted to cry i wanted to binge i wanted to get drunk. actually i did cry :c guess i'm a bit of a baby. but i was so disappointed. i have been trying for nearly 3 yrs to find a partner so i can learn. in the end i booked private lessons. still won't have a partner but at least i can improve and get some exercise.

ok my whinge is over now...

off to walk the dogs now and then i'll come back and try not to overeat!

Aww, that's really too bad that you didn't get a partner, sweetpea. I like your username, by the way.

Today, I finished my dinner and peeked at the pan it was cooked in. My hand inched over to grab a leftover noodle (it looked so sad by itself!) but then I mentally slapped myself and firmly told myself no. Instead I was productive and cleaned up the dishes. So, Day One was successful.

well done teatree. i'm still thinking about what to have for dinner. i bought a whole lot of different things but not sure which i'd like best lol

Ok, day 11 on donuts and water and I did good. Day 2 on my calorie deficit I sqeaked by with an 1180 deficit. Cutting it close but I kept it under 1200! Of course today being Sunday, I don't do my workouts so my deficit will end up being rather low but I'm going to push for that minimun of a 500 calorie deficit. We'll see what happens.

Hope everyone is doing well with their challenges!

Welcome teatree! :) Glad to have you join us.

Sorry sweet pea about not finding a partner yet! :hug: Hope your private lessons go well and I'm sure something will work out soon on finding a partner!

Well, off to make my husband his high calorie Sunday breakfast that he insists on once a week! Oh well, I usually enjoy a small portion.

Joyce

Hi, all. I think I'm going to ok Day 12. I had a bit of the brew, a bit too much, but in light of the fact that I barely ate, I'm going to clear it. It wasn't the healthiest of days, but being at the track I got in quite a lot of walking. My challenge isn't about eating well, though I am very attuned to that and that comes as second nature most of the time. It's about reducing calories and, for now, if that means sometimes being unhealthy about it, then so be it...for now...I seem to have lost some fat. Scale was down yesterday. Clothes are definitely looser. Now to just keep this up. I tend to start getting scared of something, I don't know what. I should just try to get back into clothes I still have from 20 years ago when I was smaller. Nothing scary about that...or was there? Maybe I have come to identify my present weight and size with the present me in terms of everything but the physical me and see a return to a smaller size as somehow being a return to a different, less experienced, more naive me. Silly, but yes, that could be the stickler. Small, but a powerhouse. That's what I need to realize I can be. At just over 5 feet, it can be hard. :^:

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dj -- Glad to hear you notched another successful day on both challenges! :cp:

teatree -- Welcome to the thread! :welcome3: What a save with the noodle! Wow! Sad-looking and all as it was, mentally slapping yourself! Yowzah! :cb: Keep up the good work! :sunny:

sweet pea -- Oh come now! Why the upset? Not finding a partner was merely because there weren't any, right? It wasn't about rejection or anything, was it? A simple matter of numbers. At least you booked private lessons...that showed you were thinking productively. As for the partner, can't you dance with a woman? Or how about trying to recruit your own partner, put an ad in the paper or in the school? Or find another school perhaps. So, how is your challenge? Did you journal? No bingeing I hope. No getting drunk except in celebration! :nono:

Shad -- Thanks for the description of this place. Sounds very interesting, like a place I would like to hole up in and escape from the rest of the world, which is really, really what I want to do these days. :stress: Excellent work on your Day 7. Good luck in NSW! :goodluck:

Sushi -- Way to go! Power to you! :bravo:

jolly -- You hang in there! Best of luck while you're away. You can do it! :yes:

kt -- Did you clear Day 3? I hope so. I would just sit your husband down and discuss health and weight goals. He has to want to change. Yes, the sunflower seeds are deadly. Sooo high in calories, but at least they are healthy. You have to remember that a lot of the changes you mentioned would not probably bring about a weight loss, but they would be healthier. Remember to focus on yourself. If he sees you eating well and even enjoying it...try!...it may motivate him to do something himself or get his competitive nature going. You can't "get" anyone to do something, not in the long run. When you start looking hot, and maybe you do already at 137 lbs!, then he might start getting nervous about the competition. ;) Where are you in Germany? I used to live in Munich.

Thanks for the welcome, redballoon and Joyce. Redballoon, I like how colorful your posts are! :)

Today, I had to fight off the urge to much on cheese and crackers. I'll make them my lunch tomorrow or someother day, so I won't feel deprived.

I've decided to add somethig else. Not food related at all, but I'd like to have 21 knuckle-cracking free days. Level Three, I think, as it's such an involuntary habit for me now.

red - the thing is i have been looking for a ballroom dance partner for more than 2 years. the teachers both got my hopes up and led me to think they had a partner for me. but i went thursday... no partner. got all gussied up on sunday... same thing no partner. dancing is my passion and not having a partner IS a major. ballroom dancing on my own isn't an option. and believe me i have tried everything. i've advertised. i've asked everyone i know. i've bugged the teachers endlessly. it makes me question whether i've made the right decision to stay in this town. if i went to auckland it would be a lot easier to find a partner

i did binge so that was a bust. i managed to avoid the demon drink so at least that was a plus! i didn't journal before going to bed but at 130am i was still restless so i got up and did my journaling. guess that counts even if it was a couple of hours into today LOL. i've lost count of how many days i've journaled. i will have to go back thru my book and count them!

red - what you say about your weight makes sense. if your body changes then your life might change too so it's understandable that there are psychological aspects to weight loss

Hi everyone...sorry I have not been online this weeka. My week last week was one of the worst at work and when I can home I just crashed. I have been trying to catch up on you all and we have some new ones too. I am glad to hear that you all are well. Even with your challenges from work, pms etc...you all are still here. Well, tomorrow will be Monday morning here and I am starting over at day one. However, I have been very good. Just not 100% true to the challenge. I have excersised most everday, had most of my water every day and have eaten well. I have not cheated on the bad foods. too exhausted to try LOL. one day I almost did and I was so proud of myself because I actually said not, i want to loose the weigt mroe than I was this. yeah. So, that is good. I feel like I have lost some but PMS symtoms are now here so I am sure the scales will not reflect it but I will weigh in the am. Please keep my and my job situation in your prayers. It is a bad situation. I do have another job to go too. I am just waiting on the start date so I can not give notice just yet. I should get to start in July. If I had the proper amount in savings I would just quit until the new one opens...but I dont. I will survice...I will win the war even if I loose a few battles. lol take care ladies and I will talk to you all soon.

Ok well I hit post before I proofed that and there is a zillion typos...sorry. lol

may I join you gals? it looks fun here :)

Hi Veggielover...ok course you can join us. Welcome. Red can explain the rules better but go back and read the first pages to see how we do the challenge...pick your challenge and post away with us. Welcome....

Okee dokee- I guess I'll start mine at level 1 (no rush to compete with you guys!) I'm going to 1) not have any cookies (because NOT having any is easier than having just one!) and 2) have at least 50% of my daily recommended grams of fiber !! Hopefully this works out okay- I mean this isnt terribly hard but cookies are VERY tempting and I often forget about my fiber...

Hi veggie! You're very welcome to join! :yes: Actually, Level 1 is the hardest as that means you're only giving yourself one pause day. I think you want to start at Level 3.

princess -- good to see you! I'll read your post later as I'm at work now. But, you know you can hit the edit button and go back in and change things to your post. Later! :wave:

Hi all--I hope you all are doing great!!!!!

Red--I´m in Bonn--I don´t think I would survive Bayern! Bonn is bad enough! I can hardly wait to move back home! Yeah, I know my husband needs to want it for himself, but sometimes I get fed up listening to him complain about his weight...he complains about his gut at least thrice a day...when I´m in a bad mood, I just want to yell at him and ask him why he doesn´t do anything about it then!!!!!!!???????????? I try to help him concentrate on health, because it´s more important to me that he´s healthy...He doesn´t need to look like a male model, but I don´t want to end up like both of my grandmothers and be a widow for over 30 years either.........

Anywho, I´m still going strong--got to lay off the chocolate my husband got as a gift--but at least the effects of AF are almost gone. I was 138 today, so 2/3 lbs are already gone after only 2 days...I hope I´ll be back to normal tomorrow or the day after.

I´ve been trying to get out more, because the weather is beautiful lately! I want to take my daughter on more walks in some nearby fields...

Oki doki...I guess that´s all.....for now.............

--Katherine

Day 7 on squats done (what, I've only been doing this for a week? :eek: ). And Day 15 on both exercise and eating plan done.

I ended up taking a pause day on my eating plan yesterday. I nibbled on quite a few grapes outside my meal times, and even though it was not a treat or anything sweet, or anything that this challenge doesn't allow onto my plate for that matter, I decided that I would be cheating if I made yesterday count. :no: It was a snack after all. So pause day it was, but I'm proud to say that the grapes were the only extra/off plan food I had, and that I didn't give myself the freedom to enjoy whatever and anything just because it was a pause day. :yes:

Today I've been craving all sorts of :censored: things all day long, and towards the evening the cravings concentrated on one specific item. I was near to giving in and stopping at the supermarket on my way to yoga, but I found a better solution: a special day is coming up later this month, I'll have that as part of the celebrations!

One thing I'll need to do is to change my menu for this week a bit, to have really light breakfasts on my running days. Right now it's the other way around, the light breakfast falls on days when I'm not running! Everything stays the same but the order changes, and hopefully that'll avert another awful stitch. I won't let another stitch destroy another great run, just as happened this morning!

Ok, I'm off... zzzz... ZZZzzzzz...

Hi everybody! :wave: Just wrapping up the day here trying to get a tape transcribed. Two more stories due now!

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Sushi -- :lol: I hear you on the "what!? only a week?!?!" Well, as for your pause day, that's really strict! :eek: Wow! But, good for you for sticking to your plan! Congrats on the days notched! Stitches suck, don't they? I find that if I keep running but press my side where it hurts it often goes away after a while, either that or stop, start, stop, start helps. Someone on TV said that if you do sidebends as you're running it helps as it sends more blood to that area. Not real sidebends but bringing your arm over your head and bending to the side as you keep moving...or not.

kt -- Bonn, ok. What can't you take about Bavaria? I loved it there, though the dialect was tough in the beginning. The scenery, the food, the BREW! :eek: it was great. I hope you can take Germany a bit longer. Where are you from originally? As long as your husband is complaining about his state, then that's great. I still think the role model will be good for him. Or maybe he won't mind some structure if you set it up and force it on him. :lol3:

veggie -- hi there. Just reading your post and first of all I'm wondering, what are you doing on a weight-loss site at 110 lbs, size 0-1!?!?!? Are you maintaining? Did you lose weight before? Not that you aren't welcome to join us in any case. I'm just curious. I hope you're not anorexic! I can't imagine being 110 lbs! :dunno: But, heh, good luck! ;) And, heh, what's with the $10 a week! I wish I could do that. Wow, what are you going to eat?

princess -- Glad to see you again. Don't take me wrong, by the way, about the editing thing. You don't have to fix anything if you don't want to. I was just saying there was the capability to do it on the site if you wanted. So, things are tough for you, eh? I'm sorry to hear that. Yes, for me, as well. Let's just hang in there and hope things will get better. It's not far off for you now as you have that other job lined up. In any case, I hope it all goes well. :hug:

sweet pea -- How's it going? I hope well. Like I said on IM, just make the best of what you've been dealt for now. You'll be the stronger for it! :strong: And strength means more opportunities will open for you. :yes:

tea -- How are you? And thank you for liking my colorful posts! :) Knuckle-cracking? Oh, gross! God, I hate that. :rofl: Don't mind me. Ok, I guess. The challenges are supposed to be somewhat weight loss or healthy related but we'll allow the stretch! :lol3:

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veggie -- hi there. Just reading your post and first of all I'm wondering, what are you doing on a weight-loss site at 110 lbs, size 0-1!?!?!? Are you maintaining? Did you lose weight before? Not that you aren't welcome to join us in any case. I'm just curious. I hope you're not anorexic! I can't imagine being 110 lbs! :dunno: But, heh, good luck! ;) And, heh, what's with the $10 a week! I wish I could do that. Wow, what are you going to eat?



HAHAHAHA!!!ANOREXIC??? NO WAY!!! I have NO INTENTION OF LOSING ANY MORE WEIGHT (I lost 10 lbs from 120 "accidentally" after I first joined 3FC. I decided not to stuff myself past full til it hurts! And I LOST WEIGHT just by doing that!) because I'm perfectly happy with my size, before I lost the 10 lbs, after I lost it (really, I didn't see it too be bad, but I had BAD eating habits!):D
But I still need to learn to give up depending on snacks ("cookies calling my name!") So I must learn the right way to snacking! :lol: I guess I can start at level 1 because I dont want any pause days! I need to stop eating 10 cookies in a sitting RIGHT NOW!! :carrot: Hopefully this will help me lol!!!

YOU DO NOT WANT THE $10 / week budget!!! It's my budget for the summer because my rent and utilities are SOOO high, I need to decrease my spending on my food! I only have $10 to spend each week for food, so I'm going to have a LOT of oatmeal! (hey! it adds to my daily fiber!!!) I plan to have oatmeal AT LEAST for breakfast everyday because oatmeal is like $3 per bucket!!!! I hope I can get cheap veggies (veggies are never on sale where I'm at!) and have a good 2000 calorie meal. It just seems impossible though with $10 /week!!!

actually you know what, red? NOw that you brought up the topic...(teehee!)
I get a lot of emails from young girls here on 3FC (they never post, they just PM you and stuff) asking me for my high, weight and "how to get skinny" techniques. NO one take this personally but- I ABSOLUTELY HATE IT WHEN THEY DO THAT!!! I want younger women to appreciate their bodies, especially for those that are in their teens, and it P*SSES ME OFF when they want to go from a size 3 to a size 0. (I have never been large because in my family, our bones are very very small and even when I ate a lot I was small!) I hate it when girls who are already thin and healthy want to be EVEN THINNER! But yet I still get those crazy emails. One girl decided to CHANGE her goal weight just because she wanted MY WEIGHT. I said "are you crazy? Youre already thin!" but I dont know- I guess if they ate around 2000 calories and did it in a healthy way I wouldn't mind but I bet once their bodies stop losing weight because its no longer healthy, they'll forget their health and be a bit desperate.... I just wished the younger generation would see this, but you see, my generation of the 90s obviously didn't set a good example!

Why is it that when you're tired you want to eat? I know it's common, I've read lots of posts with others complaining about the same thing, but it's still so frustrating! Yes, I'm tired, :yawn: and yes, I wanted to eat so I blew it and tore an old fashioned donut in half this morning at work and ate it. Pause day 2 today on donuts. Good news is that yesterday I met all 3 challenges. Day 12 good on water and donuts. Day 3 on my deficit was 754 which isn't bad considering I don't work out usually on Sundays.

Welcome veggielover! Glad to hear you're trying to eat right! Whether you need to lose or not, eating right is the best thing you can do for yourself!

Princess - glad to see you're back, but sorry to hear you're having a rough time right now. :hug: Hope that good things are coming soon!

Red - you sound soooo busy!

Congrats to all who are doing well on their challenges! For those struggling :dust: I think I need some of that too!

Have a good day! :wave:

Joyce

Hey Red--The scenery in Bavaria is about the only thing I like about it.....the accent, while strange, doesn´t phase me......but the people, the food, the brew as you say. All of that just doesn´t make for the kind of atmosphere that I want to raise my daughter in.

It´s hard to describe Germany without offending people...but the people here are the least tolerant that I have ever had the misfortune to meet in my life...if you´re a minority of Germany, you had better "integrate" fast--and that means speaking perfect German without an accent, wearing less clothing than you would think proper, giving up your religion for atheism or agnosticism, and forgetting your culture the minute you walk out your front door. Germany is great................as long as you´re German.......

As a person of German descent, I liked Germany at first. I speak fluent German and I loved traveling around and seeing what there was to see. Especially when I was here just as a visitor...and then as a student, it was still okay..........but after living here for a couple years, it´s starting to drive me nuts. The hypocrisy of the German government. The widespread intolerance. Ugh.

Thank God there are only a few months left until I move home--I hope...

--Katherine

so I blew it and tore an old fashioned donut in half this morning at work and ate it.

lol joyce occasionally i get the urge to have a krispy kreme but I tell myself that 80 cents for something that cant possibly fill me up isnt worth it!

I repaired the pod-holder for my fancy coffee-pot...seems like a little coffee grind caused the entire fall-out...............it was enough to work ME into the froth that belongs on top of my coffee.........

I've stopped chewing my fur off for the moment, I can control my own behavior!

hope everyone is doing well, I was rewarded for my 3hrs. & 45 mins. of hard cardio last week, the scale has moved another lb.

Yesterday was hard but the crunches finally got done. I'm on day 8. These 14 hour days are taking their toll.

I will be back to chat.

Hi Red! I havent left you again....just getting my issues in order. The doc put me on wellbutrin, I have been losing weight like crazy (a side effect from the drug)but I still feel a little icky.
I`m really trying to feel better, they said a couple weeks before I notice a difference, but I`m starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel already. Little by little everyday.

I hope in just a couple days I`ll be starting another challenge. I could think of so many I need! But I will be back, just trying to get over a lot of emotional blows. Time to take care of myself though, I`m learning that lately. ;)

Hope everyone is doing well! Lots of luck to you all. I`ll see ya real soon!

YAY!!! I had about 95% of the daily recommended fiber today!!!!

tea -- How are you? And thank you for liking my colorful posts! :) Knuckle-cracking? Oh, gross! God, I hate that. :rofl: Don't mind me. Ok, I guess. The challenges are supposed to be somewhat weight loss or healthy related but we'll allow the stretch! :lol3:

Thanks for the exception. :) It grosses me out when I hear other people cracking their knuckles too. So I'll quitting my habit in an effort to make sure others won't be disgusted by it.

This challenge has provided motivation for me to not snack on the extra cube of tofu for dinner... or the slice of orange... or for even the broccoli. I passed up a lot of leftovers and once again tried to be efficent by putting them away.

Veggielover (Love your name! I love veggies too!), what's your height? Congrats on the daily fiber. Was that from all of your oatmeal on this reduced budget of yours?

Hi all. Working on what...Day 14 here...so far so good. Gotta keep the CAN DO attitude!

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tea -- crack, crack! :nono: No, right? You are successfully moving along on your challenge! :yes: Excellent on the non-snacking. By the way, Japanese and me now too are always cracking their necks. Some look really bizarre in the trains. You'd think they needed an exorcism or something! :rofl: Speaking of trains, I helped out a foreign couple today. They looked lost in just what is like one of the busiest stations in Japan and I guided them to the correct train. My good samaritan act for the day!

veggie -- You skinny little thing! :lol: Yes, I totally hear you on the budding anorexics. I am surrounded by them here. Good for you for setting those silly twits straight when they come to you for advice! On the budget thing...it's so funny...well, actually, not...that you are saving money with oatmeal. I pay dearly for it here and love it and now I'm out and trying not to order it again because it's just too costly (I get steel-cut slow-cooking stuff). I really wish I could find it as cheaply as you do! Heh, is there something you covet from Japan that is costly there. We could swap!

Caro -- Mia cara! :wave: thought you'd given up on us! What's wellbutrin? antidep? Good side effect at least, eh? Sorry to hear about those emotional blows. Wow, tell me in a PM or something. Can you get IM? We could chat. Well, hope to hear from you soon. :hug:

Shad -- 14-hour days! :stress: You poor thing! Good for you for doing those crunches though...that reminds me.... :^: Hang in there! :strong:

marb -- pod-holder, fallout, chewing fur? :?: sounds bizarre, like something from a sci-fi movie, oh wait, that's what living in Tokyo is like! :lol3: I hope you get things worked out there, marb. And, what's this, I assume that pound moving on the scale was in the desired direction?! :bravo:

kt -- Ouch on the Germans. I hear you though. Yes, it can be a very trying country to live in. I, like you, am German descent, have a very German name and speak fluent Deutsch, so things were just dandy...people just thought I was a bit odd....oh, was that just in Germany!??! :rofl: In any case, I hope you can maybe learn to at least pretend to enjoy it...I am in another land of intolerance...but really, I think it's kind of universal when you scratch the surface. But yes, Germany is more in your face about it ...I remember it well...it's why I find Japan relatively easy to put up with. Tip....drinking large quantities of Weissbier and not thinking deeply really, really helps!

dj -- Way to go on the challenges! You are rocking! Yes, I'm busy and here I am replying to everyone as further distraction from my work! :^:

Another day in the bag, but I'm not too sure how it'll be from now on... I got a call at 11 am today about a temp job which started at 1 pm... So I probably won't be around much for a week or two. The good thing is that I spent 1h20min on the stationary bike and did the squats this morning, so that's another day done. Now I need to figure out how I'm going to do it tomorrow... 7:30 am train, 9-5 work, train, back at 6:30 pm...

Hi everyone! Hope all is well.

Yesterday I already reported that I ate a half a donut so pause day there so it's day 13 today. Water was good though so day 14 today, and my deficit, not sure what happened other than I was busy so I blew it. Ended up with a deficit of 1397. Back to day 4 on that!

Good news for me was that the scale is still moving! Got a 190 this morning so either my "plateau" broke on its own or this eating a little more calories is working. That makes 2 pounds gone now. Yay! Whatever it is, I don't care, as long as it keeps going! I still refuse to record the 190 yet though, I just want to know it's going to hold. If I still get a 190 tomorrow morning, I'll accept it.

Anyways, hope you all are doing well with your challenges. Got to run. Catch up later.

Joyce

Quick Post before I am off to work. I fell of the wagon in a big way. I got caught up with work and an event i was giving, but I got back on Sunday and so this is day 3 of my challenge. I decided to pick one challenge and stick to it. So excercise at least 10 min every day. Will post more later.:carrot:

I was able to get a lot fo fiber from broccoli (my fav!!!), apples, whole wheat bread, (well I had a regular plan flour bagel, and it had like1/2 the amount of fiber) and oatmeal!!! I thought it was going to be uterrly impossible, but apprently those apples really helped! (however,they Were $3.00 for the bag... not quite sure how this is going to affect me in the future... ) BUT i was soooooooooo happy about this!!! wow I dont think I ever got so much fiber in my life! (and i was aiming for only 50%!)

(ps- those werent the only foods I ate! I just wrote down the fiber count yesterday!)

Redballon, are you Japanese?? Or simply in Japan?

Hey all. Back from my conference. While I worked out like a demon (I have 4 blisters to prove it), lack of sleep, too much good (not good for you) food, and too much . . . . uhm, "socializing" - I am restarting my challenges tomorrow. I am sure there will be heck to pay when I weigh in. And since tomorrow is circuit class - retribution will be swift and painful. Ah well. I had a good time, but am glad to be home. Will be off to bed as soon as I get one more load of laundry done. (how could i have that much laundry with only being gone two days :fr:???)

So. Enough about that. I will read more tomorrrow. Hello to everyone. Welcome to the new voices. And have a great evening :wave:

teatree -- no, not Japanese. American, but been here for over 20 years. Hail from Pittsburgh! You obviously weren't with us during the Super Bowl! :lol3:

Hey ladies...Thank you all for the words of encouragement. I hanging in there. I think I am working for the devil right now but it will get better. So, anyway...I am starting over on day one today and I did well. I will go excerise here in a bit and then my goals are complete for day one. Yippe..

Thanks again Red and Djs. Continued strenght and success to all and I will comment more later. thanks ladies... (oh and red...thanks for the editing tip...sometime the most obvious things escape us...lol...

Hey peops, did you all know about this dude walking across the States. We just got a story in on it because he completed his walk and I thought it was interesting. His Web site is thefatmanwalking.com
Check it out! :wave:

Morning all. Just a real quick report. I weighed in this morning and stayed the same. Pretty good, considering all the damage I did while I was gone.

So - not much else to report. Except still overtired and cranky, so I want to eat. Even though I am so tired, I feel nauseous. Wow, this sounds soooo negative. Sorry. I will try hard to find a perky gene somewhere before I post again.

:cb: :cheer: :cb: :dance: U rah rah Go Team Go! :cb: :cheer: :cb: :dance:

HA_HA RB..........obviously they do not have the much lusted after Senseo coffee pot in Japan.......it brews one perfect foamy cup at a time, you have to buy these special pods to use the pot....

sorry I'm MIA, but work and real life is busy(I'm organizing all those men who are chasing me)...AHEM, I'm down more lbs since last week. When I'm done pinching myself I'll see if it was a dream and change my tracker. I am wearing a 6th skirt from my closet that hasn't seen my hips since 2003 and my bodyfat is down too!

hi to everyone else and congrats on your progress too!

and real life is busy(I'm organizing all those men who are chasing me).


Man, I wish I could say that...

Just a quick one today, it's been crazy and it's not over yet. Tomorrow will be a repeat so... I might not be back on until the next day.

Day 13 on donuts - good
Day 14 on water - good
Day 4 on deficit - 1108 so it's good too

Jolly - sorry you're tired and cranky, but good job on holding your weight!

Marbleflys - congrats on the weight!

Princess - glad to see you back! Hang in there!

Hope the rest of you are doing great! Gotta run!!!!

Joyce

Good morning everyone. I am going to have to take a pause day yesterday. So redoing Day 15 today. Too much snacking from things people at work had brought back from their travels. And then, some high-calorie foods with the malt after work.... :( Oh well, I did get to the gym and have put on muscle, which means I burn more just sitting around.

I am going to be sooo busy in the coming days. Big races every weekend, need to fly up to the north island of Hokkaido to check out a farm for a story for a U.S. mag, then got four Hong Kong horses coming in for a race in June and got a call to cover their track work in the mornings every day in the week prior to that races. That means, jogging around trying to get comments from stable staff, then heading up to the press seats and whipping out a report to send off to H.K. :stress: Oh well, it's good training, as I'm thinking of starting up my own racing Web site.....after ticking off the new prez the other day, I think I am back in her good graces (thanks to me laying it on thick!) ....will see how that goes...and got an interview with the prez of the company that makes those sudoku puzzles. Ah, will I get time to ride the horse, the reason for my debts and having to run around? I plan on it! :yes:

I brought my lunch to work yesterday, major accomplishment. Reduced price vegetables cooked up into a spaghetti sauce over whole-wheat noodles. Yum! Today, the same over brown rice. It really, really holds you. I have learned this and eat that first even though I may not be really feeling hunger pangs. Ok, all, good luck and hang in there!

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dj -- :cp: A big hand for you for sticking to the challenges despite the craziness of it all! :dancer: And congratulations on seeing the scale move! :bravo:

marble -- Yeah, never heard of that coffee pot. Maybe it's here but don't know. I use paper filters over the pot with the filter holder, pour the hot water myself. Don't know if they have them there but they have all sorts of neat little holders to make one cup. I cannot understand how people can drink instant!? :barf: I suppose though that you get a taste for it and just don't think of it as "coffee." Now, I know that's not what you're doing. I'm just babbling here. Wow on those skirts! What are you doing that is making the weight come off? Just not eating so much? More exercising? What has motivated you? All those men chasing you? Power to you, girl! :spin:

jolly -- Welcome back! Oh, no,overtired, cranky, tired and nauseous....perky gene...sorry, I have to laugh! :lol3: Like you said though, you weighed in the same, good considering the damage! Crank up, rev that engine and you'll be cruisin along in no time! :sunny:

princess -- Hope things ease off at work. Good for you for starting again and not giving up! :bravo:

veggie -- Ooh, broccoli...your fav?!?! Wow! :lol: Sounds like a very healthy diet! Excellent work!

Obsidian -- Welcome back! Try, try again. You can do it!!

Sushi -- Good luck on the work and I hope you can still stick to your challenge. Hope to hear from you again soon! :dance:

Hi all. Day one - do core work, no soda, follow menu challenges all met.

Congrats on the loss Marble. Red, Ihear you on the finding time to see the horse thing. I mean to go last night, but didn't really get home in time. Tonight i was going to sneak out of work early, and that didn't happen. So tomorrow or bust! Good luck. And with the race interviews. I can't wait to watch the Preakness next weekend. Of course we have the Triple Crown buzz going on. We shall see.

Everyone else - howdy :wave: I am off to bed. I hope. See you tomorrow.

Good going, jolly! Hope you get to see your horse. Does someone let him out when you can't go or exercise him? Yes, the Amercian triple crown is so, bang, bang, bang, fast and furious. Here, it's modeled after the U.K. so spans the summer wrapping up with the equivalent of the St. Leger's. Wonder if Barbaro will take the Preakness. Six-and-a-half length win in the Derby. Wow! :eek:

I probably won't be around for a while. I'm not going to be home much for the next 2 weeks and when I am I have to buckle down and pack and do my mother's accounts (yawn).

Catch you all in a couple of weeks. I'll be back!!!

Good morning all. Cool rainy morning here. Makes it hard to want to get up and go to the gym. Keep thinking how nice an hour nap on the couch would be . . . . But, final weigh in for my contest is Saturday. I need to work out. So off I go.

Hey Red. Yeah, my horse is outside during the day, so he exercises himself. Goofy boy. I don't get too hyped about the triple crown until the end of the final race. You get so much overload on the NEXT GREAT SUPERHORSE - I wait. Too many have come close and failed.

Sweet Pea - hope to see you back soon, and that all goes well with accounts.

Have a great day all. :wave:

Day 5 of challenge met. Good luck to everyone on their challenges.:carrot:

:(

Okay guys, looks like I'm back to day 1 (not only did I not get enough fiber, I got wayyyyyy too much protein) I think I have like 40% of my daily value of fiber... Oh well, today will change. I did have some cereal just now.

I went out yesterday night to eat.... grrrr I had a BANANAS FOSTER dessert. MAN it was HUGE but I managed to eat all the ice cream. It was literally SOAKED in the bananas foster syrup. God I'm STILL recovering from it- apparenlty it made me so full, I dont even feel like eating today! (okay, it wasnt even JUST the dessert- but it was a GIANT hamgurger and one whole FRIED onion. It wasn't cool.. :( )

wow people race horses here? I didnt know we had some equestrian fanatics!!! I wish I could ride a horse...

Hi everyone. Way behind here with a story. I am clearing Day whatever it was yesterday, 15 I think. Really having trouble writing. Too many worries, not enough time. Ticked that I can't get to the gym today..idiots at work, the usual shite....sigh..wish me luck, PLEASE!!!

********************

Veggie, please watch the "food porn" as mentioned in the thread guidelines. No going on about your indulgent slipups... :nono: if that's what it was..no idea what bananas foster is...but don't explain it to me here! You can PM away to your heart's content. ;)

How did you manage to stay on your budget with such indulgences? Someone picking up the tab? :lol3:

Good luck starting again...we're not riding race horses here...just yeah, have horses and watch the races. I write about 'em. Do you like racing?

Obsidian -- Congrats on Day 5! :bravo:


jolly -- ok, glad to hear your horse gets out. Hope you got to the gym. How'd it go?

sweet -- See you soon! :wave:

Just managed to get in here for a minute. Had to take a pause day (one and only) because of the aeroplanes last Wednesday. I think today is day nine. I should go back and check it out. I will later.

Back later hopefully to bore the living daylights out of you all

Shad -- Hello there! Pause day because of aeroplanes? Hmmm....sounds interesting. Tell us about it soon! :dancer:

Hi all.

Shad - yeah, why aeroplanes and pauses?? Sounds kind of like when a staff called in that he wasn't coming to work because the wind was blowing too hard . . .

Red - GOOD LUCK! I really hope things get better soon. I did make it to the gym this morning, and it went fine. Did the elliptical trainer, and my feet didn't bleed today. I did not make it to the barn tonight due to work going late again. Plus, the weather was crap. I also ate horribly today - meetings all day with "treats" that I shouldn't have "treated" myself with. I also was worrying about crap I shouldn't have, which made me more likely to eat. . . . Not good.

Obsidian, glad you had a good day. Veggie, hope you have a better day.

Everyone else - where are you :?: Hope to hear from y'all soon. Have a good evening.

Thanks jolly! One story down, one to go! Off to the office now...yeah, where are you all hiding? :listen: Come out and post! :sunny:

Red, here I am, answering to your call! :)

I'm going to have to persevere through two major obstacles looming in my nearby future. I'm going to have to sit through two family dinners and have to resist from overeating and munching on the leftovers while in the kitchen.

As for knuckle-cracking (even the words are gross now!) I'm currently successful. Today, instead of knuckle-cracking, I took the time to correct my slouching posture!

Jolly, don't give in to emotional eating!! C'mon, let's be strong together!

Hi all! Getting through another day here. Was close but I did well enough, no brew and brought my lunch. Gotta watch the sugar though... :( Even if the calories are okay, it's not good for me!

********************

teatree -- Hi there! Thank you for answering my call! :dizzy: I would suggest making plans for those dinners....rehearsing them in your mind. Set up special treats for getting through your plans. Get someone else if possible to put away the leftovers. I find that if I plan something I can easily stick to the plan. If I don't plan, basically anything goes! Great on the knuckle-cracking. Yes, posture exercises. How about some yoga stretch that takes your arms behind you or over your hand and back. I think a lot of knuckle-cracking is a desire to realize tension in the body but it's the wrong tension and it just becomes a habit. I mean, sometimes fingers do crack on their own, but it's just too gross when I see people pulling at their joints....arrgghh.

jolly -- ditto tea...good luck on holding off on those "treats" and letting yourself in for something better...the feeling of feeling GOOD about yourself for one! :yes:

Well, the good news is that I haven't blown my challenges (yet). Or at least not entirely. I just don't have any pause day lefts. Might have one for squats, but I'm not too sure.

The new job is alright, though very repetitive. It's good to know that I'll get some money soon... only it won't last longer than 2 weeks.

I haven't done any exercise since I last posted, and over the last 2 days, my eating was way too out of control in the evenings to be even remotely on plan. However, I did jump on the stationary bike and pushed for 40 minutes instead of just lazing on the bed (both activities would involve finishing the book I was reading, so I'm glad that I picked the more productive one!). So that's whichever-day-it-is-on-my-exercise-challenge complete. I'm going to go running tomorrow, looking forward to it. Will do the squats in a moment... And I'll see if I have a chance of completing my food plan challenge, or whether I need to restart that one.

Cheers everyone! :)

Feeling like a stuffed pig today. :( My first major non stop eating day in over a month. I ate everything in site yesterday. And today, of course TOM has arrived (and so has the moon at its fullest) So I put the scale downstairs in the "scary" part of the basement for at least a few days. I know I`m up a good 5 or more pounds, but if I see it, I`ll cry. I`m just back on the wagon today, one bad day does not make a failure. ;)

Red- yes wellbutrin is for depression. I had to stop ALL drinking, so I`m on that wagon too... but it`s for the best. I realized I was binge drinking on the weekends lately, thats just not good. And I cant drink at all on these meds. The bouncer at the club insisted on it. LOL :dizzy:

I dont know how to explain what`s going on with me. I`m learning a lot about codependency, starting Al-anon meetings next week. I`ve enabled the men in my life. My brother and my ex, thoses are the 2 emotional triggers for me right now. I`ve lost the control and the need they both had to be "babied" by me. I really, really need Alanon. ;) I`m working through it all though. Trying to.

So, what I have to do is focus on me again. I`m bored. So I`ve registered for community college this fall (youngest will be 4 and in preschool so works out good). I`m a little scared but I want to do this, have wanted to for years. My whole life, even my childhood, has been taking care of others and doing NOTHING for myself.

I have 21 pounds to get to my goal weight. I`m not going to eat myself "better" like I did last time the ex-factor hit me. And I will start exercising if it kills me. I know it makes me feel better all around, physically and emotionally. Not today, let me get through TOM. :D
*pills must be starting to work, I had no idea it was coming, no psycho PMS this month!

Anyway, I`ll start a water challenge today....I`ve been doing good but could do better. 100oz of water each day(level1) Wish me luck on Day 1!

Hope everyone is doing well, I gotta read some of the latest posts and I`ll be back later. No going out for me this weekend. :^: I dont know what to do with myself!!! Have a great weekend, everyone.

hope you're all doing better than I am! :(

Ok, I'm back! Had a couple of really busy days but it's over now until Mother's day.

My challenges were not great these past couple of days.

Donuts on wed - good, day 14
Water on wed - good, day 15
deficit on wed - bad, 1269, over by 69 calories, back to day 4

Donuts thurs - good, day 15
water thurs - bad, back to day 15
deficit - really bad, 1412, over by 212! back to day 4 again today

I'll have to count my pause days, not sure where I'm at. I might be starting over on one or more.

I'll catch up later with all of you. My little one is awake and wanting out of bed!

Caro - Sorry for all your troubles!

Veggie - Hang in there!

Red - good luck! Hope your worries are lessening!

Joyce

day 6 of my excercise challenge met.

Hey everyone I was kinda of wiped out from work out yesterday. I did two WATP videos as a test and barely made it into work. I took it back down to 1 today, but I think I will try it again next week.

VeggieLover-sometimes Sh*t happens. I have restarted my challenge more than a few times, and I think it is just as important to fail and get back up and keep at it as it is to finish...when you're ready. So good luck with the restart.

I forget who it was, but whoever is worried about the big meals wit the family...I would say moderation is the key and take each moment as it comes. Rather than let the whole idea of the dinner overwhelm you think about what you are putting on your place one dish at a time and really think about it. As for the snacking afterwards is it possible to stay away from the food, or allow your self healty snacking, like on veggies versus something bad for you? Anyway, hope this helps.

I know we all want to be healthy and smaller...blah blah blah...but one of my reasons for doing this is I am going to jamaica in july with my sweetie to Hedonism (clothing optional resort) and I want to wear daisy dukes. We are going with a group of big people so I am not worried about my rolls, but I would love it I could get rid a little of the dimples in my thighs, but we'll see. anyway. Good luck with your challenges and as I don't usually post on the weekend. Have a good weekend :carrot:

Greetings All!

Yet again, the prodigal fat girl returns, red faced and pudgy, to the 21 day challenge world - Final exams are over and I'm getting ready to start my new summer job in a couple of weeks. I have to get down to 209 by the end of June in order to continue my health insurance. My fallback plan is to get 30 days of short term coverage from another company and get real insurance when school starts back if I don't make my goal by the end of June. I am setting myself two challenges and they are as follows:

Water challenge: 80 oz. of water/day, level 3
Exercise challenge: at least 20 min of some type of exercise every day, level 3.

I am making both of these challenges level 3 even though I have done the water one before, as I feel like what I really need right now is to get some success under my belt so I can get out of this rut, rather than setting myself up for defeat with something super difficult.

Keep on Truckin!
Erin :carrot:

I forget who it was, but whoever is worried about the big meals wit the family...I would say moderation is the key and take each moment as it comes. Rather than let the whole idea of the dinner overwhelm you think about what you are putting on your place one dish at a time and really think about it. As for the snacking afterwards is it possible to stay away from the food, or allow your self healty snacking, like on veggies versus something bad for you? Anyway, hope this helps.

That's me.

I'm trying to write out my plan right now. Moderation, yes. I will think of that a lot tomorrow and the day after. All I need to do is get through this weekend! I will take the time to eat, blaming it on a lack of appetite, whatever, but I will slowly eat in an effort to not overeat... Thank you for your advice- it does help and I'll be using it! :) Good luck to you!

Hello, Erin! I don't think I've met you on the boards before... I like your username, though.

Afternoon everyone, greetings from Groote Eylandt.

I blew the crunches challenge yesterday because I just could not get to fit them in at all and I had the pause day on Wednesday which was aeroplane day.

So this morning I started again.
Challenge 1 Level 1
10 x 20 abs and crunches. Day 1 complete.
Challenge 2 Level 2
No refined sugar. On Day 1
Challenge 3 - level 1
At least 20 minutes walking per day at a brisk pace.

And I should go see if I can get into the gym. I really am missing that.

I've found an internet connection in the communal lounge just down the path from my new pad.!!!!~ Yippee. You will get to hear from me more often now. I shifted from the room I had because I really did not like it and asked to be moved.

My new pad is great - it's a whole house. Three bedrooms. I have to share with another trainer for the week - he's coming up tomorrow night. I've snaffled the room with the en-suite and he can use the big bathroom and house loo. I have my own. I've bought in some goodies from the shops this morning so I can now have some healthy snacks. Morning and afternoon teas for training purposes can not be called healthy! Sugar laden muffins and scones with jam and cream!!!

There was a Mothers Day market on the island this morning, some native stuff, a lot of handmade necklaces and earrings etc and a fair amount of junk as well. I bought myself a jigsaw puzzle ( it looks like a Thomas Kincaid painting) to do on my nights and days off and a soft green bead necklace and earrings. Don't know whether I will keep them for me or give them away yet. Also got some Mothers day orchids which are gracing the dining room table as we speak. I've spoken to a great many different people here now. Some love being here. There are actually quite a number of New Zealanders who have made their home here. Then there are those who can't wait to get off. There can be quite a lot of tension between the indigenous population and the incomers. Mostly it seems to be that the indigenous bellieve that the police treat the whites better than them. Truth is that when the locals get drunk or drugged they are a real problem. Because of the alcohol laws there is little drunkeness, but what there is becomes quite obvious.
I went shopping today too. The grocery store is well stocked - although there was little meat today since the barge did not bring all it was supposed to. The veges were mostly root vege as they last longer. I bought some avocado, dragon fruit, danish sausage, biscuits and a bit of cheese, (along with some insect repellent. I'm being eaten alive.) I thought that I could use these for snacks - sort of antipasto stuff. I hope it will take away the craving for ice cream that I have - and am now not allowed because of the challenge.
I also bought some sandals. I'm having a bit of trouble with feet. They get hot and sweaty and I do not want the tinea developing again after all the trouble I had to get rid of it last time. They have become quite painful with the wearing of the heavy boots as well. The stores may not be many round here, but they have an awful lot of stock in them. The prices are not as bad as one might think either.

Well I best go answer another couple of emails and get out of here. I'll be back tomorrow if possible.

Veggie!! Caro! You okay??! Worried about you. Come out and fight or at least tell us about it.... :^:

I'll be back to talk to ya'al real soon! :wave:

Hi Red, I`m doing okay... on day 2 water challenge. I am feeling sooo yucky, cramps and bloated.... but I`m pushing the water. Haven`t been making wise food choices so I have to at least stick to something, for now it`s the water. Maybe this challenge I can actually stick to. ;)

Good outlook, Caro! It has more value than you may think. Doing SOMETHING usually leads to doing other things, other things that you know you should be doing. Just don't give up and more importantly perhaps, DON'T belittle your efforts, no matter how small and insignificant (but NOT!) they may seem at the time. OK?! :sunny:

Well, it's going on 5 a.m. Gotta eat my oatmeal (bought some gross kind) and get out of here! :yes:

Hi to everyone else. It may be a bit before I can get back to you all! Hi Shad, tea, chai, Obsidian, dj, veggie, Sushi, everyone else!! :wave:

:sumo:

Hey all. Sort of lurking here. Off my challenges until I get my head back on straight. Really having problems with the eating. Not full blown :censored: binging, but heading back down that path. I am getting that feeling that I am "entitled" to eat whatever I want, and if I can't, it is deprivation. Now, I know this is crap, as I have been measuring my portions, and am not in any way deprived! Yet, I found myself standing at the counter, digging into the definitely not portioned out bag of baked chips (sorry for the food porn). I know it could be worse, however, I don't want to go down that road.

I had a long talk with my trainer this morning. I had warned her I was worried about this before. She is going to try and work something out with pairing me up with someone else she trains for accountability. I will get through this. I must.

On a much more positive note, final weigh in for my contest at the gym was today. Over the past 6 weeks I lost 15 pounds, 8 inches, and 4% body weight. Woo hoo. I went shopping with a friend today, and fit quite nicely into some smaller sizes. that definitely feels good, and helps me get my mindset where it belongs. I am also debating . . . I was going to by myself a nice leather jacket for reaching goal weiight. There is a nice one on clearance for 75% off. It is a bit snug, so will need to lose weight to wear it comfortably. Do I buy it now? (If I wait until I reach goal, the winter price will be much higher). And if so, in the size that just fits now, or the size I hope to be at goal weight? Or, do I just be good, and wait until next year . . . For only $55, I really want to get it now!

Enough. Have a good night all. I will try to get off lurker status, and back on track soon. Take care, and keep up the good work.

Jolly!!! What are you doing "sort of lurking"?!?!?!? Get your butt in here and keep us posted regularly....even if I don't... ;)

Off to the track now. Just got back from riding my Heidi... :love: Ah, heaven :cloud9:

Later gators! :wave:

I will be starting my own challenge on Monday, May 15, 2006. I actually have about three separate things that I would like to form into habits. So here goes...

1. Work out for at least 30-45 minutes daily
2. Drink at least 4 bottles of water daily (to meet recommended 64 oz.)
3. Take multivitamin
4. NO FAST FOOD!!
5. Blog/Journal

I will try everything in my power to stick to it!! As far as weight loss is concerned, I have fallen OFF the wagon more than I have been ON the wagon. I hope that I can get it together and get this weight off. It's about time!!

Welcome, Redefinition! :) What level are you setting your challenges to?

Red, I haven't had the best of days- it was the last of finals and I'm also helping a friend move out at the same time. (as a result) I couldn't go back to my apartment where all the nutritious items were. I did resfrain fom eating cookies but I failed to get enough fiber for the past few days. :( I set my level at 1 and I intend to do that because setting it at 3 would allow rest days which would probably keep a bad habit running! SO I'm back at day 1......... I know, its bad isnt it?

Oh darn it! I just used up my Pause day! Pause meal, as I think of it. I just nibbled on a piece of lettuce absently mindedly after lunch, and then realized that it was a leftover from the meal! Well, if I can keep on track from now on...

Veggie, congrats on the no cookie eating! That's definitely a plus.

Ok, just a quick one to catch me up.

Donuts Fri - good day 16
Water Fri - good, day 15
Deficit Fri - good 972, day 4 (I believe)

Donuts Sat - good day 17
Water Sat - good day 16
Deficit Sat - good 913, day 5

Today, being Mother's Day, we went out to eat and I was good by having the salad bar, but I did add a few things that I normally wouldn't! Oh well, we only go out a few times a year, so I refuse to feel bad. Anyways, I have not counted calories and have no idea how many calories were in those extras that I ate. I decided to just not count today. I will consider it pause day on the deficit, therefore I am going to just start over. I'm pretty sure today did me in on my pause days for this challenge!

Hope all you moms had a good day and hope those who are not moms did too!

Talk at you Monday.

Hey all. Sorry for the lurking. Just hard to come on when I feel like I am floundering so badly mentally. I decided to restart my challenges tomorrow, but take a step back on following the menu. It seems like the mental issues started when I set a limit on the calories, even though I had been meeting that limit before it was part of the challenge. I will back up, then move forward. And see what my trainer has in mind tomorrow. . . .

So, starting tomorrow, my 3 challenges will be:
1) NO soda - level 3
2) Follow menu, and count calories - level 3
3) Do core work daily-level 1

Have a good night all :wave:

Hi everyone! Happy Mothers day to all the moms on the list. I finished day 1 of the water challenge, though the exercise challenge eludes me still. I am off to bed now, though, and planning to catch up on all the posts and try again for the exercise tomorrow.

Keep on Truckin!
Erin :carrot:

Good morning everyone, congrats to everyone who kept up with their challenges and everyone who had the courage to get back on the horse to start over again.

Anyway, Day 9 and doing ok. As an unofficial challenge going to try again work on building up my no carbs.

I was watching LL Cool J in an interview ( a rapper) talking about his career and how he dealt with some of the low points (he been around for aout 20 years which is ancient in rap world) and he said sometimes you have to have a party for yourself, get out a cupcake (or something healthy lol) stick a candle in it and celebrate yourself, pat yourself on your back. So I guess I am saying when you do something good, (i e. I manages to refran from a second piece of lasgana this weekend) pat yourself on the back.

Ok, off the soap box, everyone have a good day...:carrot:

Happy Monday, everyone. :)

Starting over fresh today with my water challenge. Here we go again, Day 1 . I had a bad weekend, the depression seems to be getting better little by little though.
This weather does not help. I forgot what the sun looks like. I`ve never seen so much rain in my life. Luckily my roof and basement have made it through. Everyone is just cranky and depressed and tired of it already....I think my cat is even depressed.

I hope you`re all doing well, and if not, join me in re-starting today. ;)

Good morning all. I am slowly making my way back to the land of mindful eating. Slow but sure. . . I did meet my personal challenge for where I wanted to be at the end of the gym contest. I was going to buy a new outfit, but consider the new jeans I got count for that. I am setting my new goal as reaching 215 by June 19th (5 weeks). I will get a facial if I make that one.

Caro - I hear you on the depressing weather. A friend of mine is going to Florida, and I asked her to bring the sunshine back with her! I am restarting with you today. Here's to us!!

Obsidian, I like what you said. Soapbox away! I know I have to watch the tendency to get focused on how far I have to go, instead of celebrating how far I have come. I know I am trying to keep my goals small, and celebrate often, but it is hard. Keep on keeping on!

Everyone else, have a great day! :wave: