Feb Daily Accountability-This is NOT a New Years Resolution It's a Lifestyle Change

[jomatho]

Gaining, it's taken FOREVER! No, I'm kidding. I started "unofficially" on Dec. 1

Dec. 1 to Dec 24 I lost 6-7 pounds, just adding exercise, eating less
Dec 24 to Jan 10 I lost 4-5 pounds, just eating less
Jan 10 to Feb 2 I lost 8 pounds, "officiallly started", counting calories, strict exercise and joining 3FC

Funny thing is, since I started being strict (Jan 10), the weight was coming off much slower than in Dec, and I was like WTH? But I kept at it and now it is coming off at a good constant rate. I had to find the balance of exercise and calories my body wants. I think I was eating too little and exercising too hard.

So the short answer to your question is it has taken me 2 months. I just had to point out, I wasn't as committed in the beginning as I am now This site has been the answer I was looking for all my adult life. I have always had all the tools and know-how, I just didn't have the daily inspiration and support this site has given me. I am unstoppable at this point.
Glad to be on this journey with you!

[jomatho]

Eurydice, sounds like a frustrating situation. I am not sure how to help you. If you can afford it, get the salads and healthier options and cut something else out of the budget, pops, drinks, water? There's got to be a way. Or maybe make sure you get to the grocery store at least once or twice a month, buy things that are nonperishable that you can bring with you to supplement some healthy cafeteria sides? Just do the best you can

[GainingWeightInLa]

jomatho AWESOME! I'm inspired now! I'm soooo close to my very first goal that I set for myself (on my ticker) I can taste it!!

I have to share what I had for lunch. It was incredible! I took two slices of Sara Lee light wheat bread (90 calories for 2 slices), put a little Promise FF buttery spread on each slice (on the outside), 2 slices of 2% American cheese slices in the middle to make a sandwich. I sprinkled the outside (buttered part) with garlic powder and lite salt. I put it in my toaster oven until the bread was toasted and the cheese was melted. IT WAS TO DIE FOR!!! 190 calories! The down side.....I could eat 5 of them! lol It was almost like garlic cheesy bread from a pizza place! It's a new favorite!

Another bad thing....I've had most of my calories already today. I think I have 380 left for the entire rest of the day. I've been bored at home and have eaten really well for both breakfast AND lunch. I was starving this morning......kinda felt a bad day coming....it's not a total waste yet though. Hoping I can go over by not a lot.

Hope everyone else is having a GREAT day!

[cincimini]

Evening ladies!
Finally getting time to do some personals...

shells - I totally get the "claustrophobic" feeling of being crowded in a small space...especially if kids are involved .

jomatho - Congrats on your success! You are doing great.

helen - I can relate. I too get a bit stressed when my M/W/F gym routine gets out of whack. I know myself and my (almost) complete lack of discipline, so it's super easy for me to just stop going. So far, I've always made myself go back within a few days though...

Vixsin - Great job on the gym!!

MzJuicy - Sounds like you've got just the thing to motivate you for the gym... at least that good will come out of that ... idiot

Diana, Pint and all the others - HI!

Sorry for all of you suffering from snow storms and power outs. That sucks.

Anyway, having a good week at work (finally manage to move my big project along a bit!) and had a good workout at the gym (40mins cardio plus weights). So that's been good. Weighed in at -1lb for a grand total of 246.4 .
Food intake was for today:
B - 2 slices of crisp bread with cream cheese and jam (getting tired of it but always too lazy to do anything else )
S - Latte
L - Spaghetti with veggies; apple and a bite-sized candy bar
S - Latte (seriously getting addicted to caffeine)
D - Rice and red pepper stir-fry with 1 tbsp of peanut satay

Now just hanging out, trying to get another job app out and watching the drama in Egypt unfold. Keeping my fingers crossed it all ends well...

PS: Just wanted to give a big shout out to the Moby songs on my ipod "gym" playlist. Wouldn't be able to survive cardio without them!

[stacygee]

DebbieOBX- somehow I missed the post about your husband... went back and found it. I am sorry. I'll pray for a succesfful surgery and quick recovery. You keep doing good too!

DianaLA: Your cheese sandwich sounds delightful...good thing I am trying to give up cheese for the month!

Helen73: My gym was closed too. I did however get a workout at my moms house. She is 3 miles down the road but had electricity. So I walked her treadmill and rode her bike about 40 minutes and did some planks.

Shells: I know about that confinement. For so many years I wanted a bigger house... now I wish I could go back to the small one! This big house sucks money straight out of our wallet and is practically impossible to get it clean all at one time. But when my husband works at home it is good b/c his "office" is in a detached guest house.

Looking forward to hearing from some friends!

Jomatho: I believe all the weight loss slows down after the initial weight loss... but you are doing great!

Eurydice: I hope everything gets better for you soon! You are not alone!

[LindseyLou]

Helen – I think it sounds like you did excellent exercising (snow blowing & shoveling)!! I wouldn’t stress!

Shells – Awww, I’m sorry you were crying, but glad to hear that he made a promise to you!!! “I am a bit of a control freak. Living in clutter and mess stresses me out to no end. I am pretty creative, but I'm running out of ideas.” THIS is SO me!!!!! I swear I go behind my husband when he gets home and straighten up his shoes, pick up his clothes…I’m silly like that. After he takes a shower he always leaves the shower curtain open and it drives me crazy! When he makes the bed he just throws the pillows on top...I of course, straighten them up so it looks pretty. You’re NOT alone!!
“As for my mom, she's paying for school out of pocket and is stretched pretty thin. She's had such a rough life with my dad, bless her, that I try to make things as easy for her as possible. A few years ago, my dad went to prison. He was a police officer, so of course there was a huge media frenzy over it. My family was devastated. They've all moved away from this town, except for us. I want to, but dh has a good job here, so it's hard for him to leave that. Right after my dad went to jail, my very best friend in the world died of a sudden brain aneurysm. She was 29 and had five children. To say that I went into a four year depression would be an understatement. That's where the whole weight gain happened. My father destroyed my family. I was so miserable, I wouldn't even move off the couch.

I'm finally in a much better place, but I think things out of my control stress me out, because of my history. And why I secretly hate living here. And, like I said with my mom, I feel that I need to protect her above all. She's finally happy and it's so nice to see that.” I’m so sorry hun! I seriously wish I could hug you through the computer! They need to figure out a way to do that!

Eury – Awww! I think you’re doing great hun! The fact that any of us can resist food, even the slightest bit or limit the amount is amazing! Just always compare yourself to your old self. Look how far you’ve come! I always wonder what the old me would do, then I feel better even if I did go over on calories. “things like salads cost a lot more than their cheese-on-cheese pasta yuckiness” I NEVER understand this! It kind of makes me mad honestly.

[shellsbrood]

Eurydice--I definitely understand where you're coming from.

Lindsey--Omgoodness...that whole shower curtain thing is me too!! I keep closing it and he keeps leaving it open!

So, I took my frustrations out on digging us out of the storm. I took some pictures and I'll have to upload them to show y'all. It's crazy how much snow we got! I shoveled for 3 hours (spark people told me I burned over 1700 calories...yeah, right!) and had to shovel snow off our roof. It was to my knees already and we didn't want it caving in our roof.

It's funny how perspective can change so quickly. My too small house suddenly looked so much bigger when I had to shovel the snow off of it.

[Diana3271]

Originally Posted by shellsbrood

It's funny how perspective can change so quickly. My too small house suddenly looked so much bigger when I had to shovel the snow off of it.

I just came here to read some posts. That is SO true! I wish I could do something to help. I wish I could send some and warm temperatures to melt that mess for you.

[LindseyLou]

Originally Posted by shellsbrood

Lindsey--Omgoodness...that whole shower curtain thing is me too!! I keep closing it and he keeps leaving it open!

So, I took my frustrations out on digging us out of the storm. I took some pictures and I'll have to upload them to show y'all. It's crazy how much snow we got! I shoveled for 3 hours (spark people told me I burned over 1700 calories...yeah, right!) and had to shovel snow off our roof. It was to my knees already and we didn't want it caving in our roof.

It's funny how perspective can change so quickly. My too small house suddenly looked so much bigger when I had to shovel the snow off of it.

That drives me nuts! Shut the darn curtain when you're done! That and when he doesn't shut a closet or cabinet door. I always wonder if his momma taught him to put things back as he found them?

That's great you got that workout in shoveling!! Upload pics! I bet the house does look bigger with the snow shoveled!

[Larry H]

Walked 1 mile today, weather threatening thunderstorm so I cut it short at 1 mile.

Had tuna sandwich for lunch with water pack tuna, 1/2 tbsp of Miracle Whip Light and I put it on whole wheat sugar free bread 50 cal per slice. added 3 small dill pickles 5 cal each. Drank Coffee black and no sweetner.

Dinner was chicken breast done with the George Foreman grill. Came out great and it sure cooks fast. 80 cal worth of Betty Crocker Creamy Butter Mashed Potatoes veg was 7 brussel sprouts. Drank water.

Total so far today 1003 cals. Will have a low cal snack about 100 cal this
evening.

Yea! Scale shows another pound loss.

Larry,
-------------
Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You, too? Thought I was the only one."
-- C. S. Lewis

[Sum38]

Doing well Larry!

[Belly Buster]

Getting a late start on posts today...wow there are a lot!

Today we were REALLY lazy (feeling guilty after reading all the exercise and house purging that the rest of you did!) slept in and just sort of putzed all morning. Finally did get the laundry sorted and a few loads done and a couple other chores. Don't know how I missed out on the whole child labor thing... but they did help daddy with the snow shoveling so it wasn't all a bust.
Food wise:
oatmeal with raisins and sugar free jam
hummus and veggies

dinner was all screwy... I forgot to take out the chicken that I had planned for today and so it wasn't really thawed and of course it wasn't ready when the rest of dinner (and the diners) were... so we just had left overs and an assortment of things. I had cottage cheese, broccoli, and sweet potato fries.

Have a few points left so either I'll enjoy a glass of wine, or have one of the oatmeal cookies the husband made.

Diana~Isn't it a great feeling to see that you can start wearing things that you only admired before! You do look great and should be showing off your new shapely figure. Time to start enjoying shopping!

Larry~I had a George F. and LOVED it! I agree the cleaning was a pain. Mine died after many years of use so I am in the market for a new one and plan to buy the one with the removable plates. Made chicken, burgers, dogs, steaks. My oldest daughter loved to use it to make paninis. I like it because you don't need a lot of oil or butter. I do have a questions for you though... how many calories are you aiming for and how did you come to that number. I am looking at your weight and I am wondering if you shouldn't be taking on a few more calaries.

Shells~adding my support to your situation too. I remember how frustrating it was being in a small house. My kids were itty bitties then so not only did we have all the toys, but the baby seats and swings etc. Be in control of what you can. Maybe start looking at houses and getting some potentials to show DH. Maybe he is worried that you can't afford anything right now. There are lots of great deals around my neck of the woods and I am sure that is the case everywhere. Mom isn't the only one who deserves a new start. You have had a tough time of it too, and you also deserve an opportunity to have a new and happier life!!

Debbie~prayers for you and your DH. Hang in there!!

Eurydice~Sounds like an exciting time for you starting classes. Can you plan your menu the day before and make up your meals? On days I know that I won't have time to think or plan or even make good choices...if I put together my food items and menu (cut up the veggies, do all the cooking I can) and if necessary pack a lunch... I do so much better. Not only do I eat, which is a problem for me.... I don't eat then when I do I am so hungry I binge, but I eat whatever I can find and normally it isn't healthy! Good luck transitioning into your new routine!!

Well, I hear the dear one having to much fun while they are suppose to be getting ready for school and bed. Need to go and be the mean mommy! Everyone have a fabulous night!

[LLBoldAsLove87]

Hey guys!

Got my wisdom teeth out today - OUCHY - but I have some amazing friends so I've had company pretty much all day, and they're all coming back in a bit to have a movie night :-)

So far today I've had:

Applesauce - 50 cals
Protein Shake w/blueberries - 200 cals
Tasti Dlite - 200 cals
Cottage Cheese w/splenda and cinnamon... 90 cals NEVER done the sweet cottage cheese thing and I LOVE it, this will definitely be a breakfast staple from now on!

Pretty full at the moment so my calories for the day will probably end up being pretty low. I have some stuff to make a berries/banna smoothie later if I'm up for it... but I'm pretty tired of sweet stuff. :-(

[LindseyLou]

Larry - You're on fire!!

Belly - Sounds like you did well today!

LLBold - Ouch! On a different note...that cottage cheese w/splenda and cinnamon sounds good. Might have to try that!

[shellsbrood]

Thank you all for your kind replies. I really do think we will be getting out of here soon. Dh talked to me a bit and said he's ready and just as frustrated. He's just been so busy with work, he hasn't been able to communicate that as well. He now needs the laptop to continue working, so I'm adding my pictures quickly, before it gets snatched away again.

If you can see our neighbor in red all the way over there, he's working on shoveling out of a wall of snow. Seriously, it was almost to his shoulders.



Our garage half buried:



There are steps under there somewhere:



This is my son's sled. If you notice, right next to the sled is some brown showing which is our deck. The snow bank is level with our deck now (which is normally higher than I am).



Crazy stuff!

Oh, and a quick check in too! Calories today: 1,299