[mahtha]

Good morning everyone

I didn't make the best food choices last night because I was starving when I got home, but was was still within calorie range for the day. I did get in a walk but did not drink all my water.

I finished taking in the clothes I think I can salvage and have to say it feels really good to have more properly-fitting clothes. It's amazing how differently I feel not wearing baggy cover-up clothing all the time. On that subject: I do have a bunch of things I'm not talented enough to alter. Does anyone in the group wear a size 18 pants and/or XL/1X top? (I'm 5'7" and pear shaped) PM me and we can discuss shipping some stuff to get you through this part of your journey.

I hope everyone has a great, OP day!

[sluggerbean]

Good morning everyone!!

Last week I did meet my goal of stringing together 4 on plan days in a row! Plus for the first time this month, I had a Monday where I was on plan, drank all my water, and exercised! So this week I am trying for 5 on plan days in a row. As I was on plan on Sunday (which is my planned rest day), I am now going for day 3 of 5 in a row!!

Have a great on plan Tuesday!!

[calluna]

Way to go, Mahta and Slugger!

I had a GREAT time with my mom coming to visit last week. Thankfully there was no "damage" and I even showed a small loss last week. I am on plan with workouts and back to my regular eating habits. That's the worst for me - it is SO easy to wander off track when there is a break in routine.

[Matilda08]

Hello everyone and Happy Tuesday!!

Im making my way back to 217 wi today at 224.5

[Judy Lynn]

Hi ladies! (and gents if we have any)

I have had a real roller coaster the last couple of weeks. After Week One being back OP I showed a 4 pound gain! I was so depressed I had a big pity party and threw in the towel. Must have been hormones because it is gone now and I am back on track. Oh the joys of peri-menopause.

Congrats to all of you that are doing so well. We have done this before, and we can do it again!

[gailr42]

Yep, Judy Lynn, we can do it again! Maybe we could try to make this the last "again".

I quit smoking "again" in 1994. I think I got it this time. I read somewhere that it takes many people four tries before they actually quit for good. Maybe dieting is similar. Perhaps it may take four or more tries to get it right.

I have been eating the right things, but I think maybe too much. I ate almost 1500 calories yesterday, and I think maintenance for me is right about 1500 because I am so short and small [when I'm not fat]. I am trying for 1200, but by bed time I am starving.

[patchworkpenguin]

I think I'm getting a summer cold, Yuck. I'm snuffly and just plain tired.

My checkup was fine but Hubby was told he needs to go see a specialist about potential bone loss! Not great news for him.

[guacamole]

Feel better, Patch! I wish I knew where my motivation went off to, because I can't seem to find it. I am technically within my calorie range today, but didn't eat well - if you know what I mean. Lots of carbs and heavy foods. I did do better with my sugar intake, so that's something. Was going to bike with my husband, but he said it was supposed to rain, so we didn't. Of course, it didn't rain, and I got no exercise today. Feeling a bit down and like I will never achieve my goal. It's like I can see myself posting here how I got down to 150 and let myself get back up to 200lbs in 6 months or something. I haven't stepped on the scale in a few days because I am scared to.

Hope you are all doing better than me!

[LoseToAll]

I was doing great and was so proud then yesterday I had my husband bring home Costco pesto turkey sandwiches I was only going to eat half and lost control and ate the whole thing. It was not so bad I only had 1450 calories rather than the 1200 I have been shooting for. I have a goal of 3 lbs by the end of the month. I am working to make my goal. I have never made a goal like this before. In my mind if I don't make a goal I do not fail. Right? I think I may make it. Cheer me on. Have a great rest of the day. Funky

[Justwant2Bhealthy]

PATCH ~ thanks, this week is going better too! I hope that you start to feel better and that cold disappears as well ...

Glad to see so many of you still fighting the good fight -- hanging in there, and pulling some rabbits out of your hats to stay on plan for as many days as you can.

Just did stuff around home lately. We had nice cool temps today, but it is supposed to get a bit tomorrow (I'll be hybernating indoors I'm sure), then cooler again. It's nice to have these days of reprieve in between. Had cold salad plate for lunch today; then fish for dinner with salad/veggies, etc.

Have a wonderful OP Wednesday, everyone ...

[mahtha]

Good morning everyone

Rosebud, we finally got some cool weather here this morning too. It's glorious not be be sweating while blow drying !

Funky, You may not have stopped at half a sandwich, but is 1450 better than you'd have done before? Then it's a WIN! And no, you don't fail if you don't reach your target by a certain date. I've found I have very little control over when my body lets go. I lost .5 pound last month OP all the time. I've lost 4 pounds this week doing exactly the same thing. Go figure... Just keep on keeping on and you'll get there.

Guac, I have days like that for sure! I had pasta twice this week becuase it was there and I was too lazy to make something else. Both times I stayed within my calorie range, but I felt sluggish afterward. I have to remind myself that there are gonna be a lot of these days if I'm going to do this long term so I need to keep it in check but not stress over it unless it becomes a longer term pattern.

Patch, I hope the cold is short-lived and you're feeling better quickly. I haven't heard of bone density loss in men before. I thought that was primarily a women's issue. See what I learn hanging out here with all you smart chicks!

Gail, I hope you're able to find the right balance of foods to keep you satisfied quickly. There's nothing that derails you faster than feeling deprived/hungry every night.

Judy Lynn, Isn't peri-menopause grand? I was feeling all out of sorts for a few months, my periods were all wacky and my doctor told me I was too young to blame it on that. It turns out I wasn't, at 49 I'm done! I hope you breeze through this quickly.

Matilda, Congrats on the loss! You're sure moving along

Calluna, How wonderful you had a great visit with your mom and stayed on track! I find the social/family party time really hard so WOO HOO to you - that's a REALLY big accomplishment!

Sluggerbean, Congrats on all those OP days! It's all about stringing a couple of good ones together to keep the motivation up, huh? You go girl, you've SO got this down!

I'm down 4 pounds this week which is amazing after .5 pounds the previous 30 days. This will remind me to just keep plugging, even when it looks pointless. In 2 pounds I'll be halfway there. I go on vacation the week after next and it's always a bit of a food fest. I'm trying really hard to plan well and pack a lot of good snacks. I can have a great time without backsliding.

I hope everyone has a great,OP day!

[calluna]

Good morning! It is a GORGEOUS day, so if the weather can manage to hold for 8 hours (you'd be amazed how fast it changes here) I will have a grand bike ride after work.

Guac, I haven't any words of wisdom, so here is a and the hope that today looks a little brighter than yesterday.

Mahtha, THANK YOU. I was terribly proud of myself for last week's success!

[howie6267]

Good morning all! I have been 2 days of eating healthy and keeping track and I already am feeling so much better. I sure hope I can make this stick. I so want to get to 245 by next June. I don't know if that will be possible. It used to be possible but every year I get older and it slows down a little. I'm 45 now so we will see how it starts to come off. I used to be able to average 3lbs a week.

[guacamole]

Still fighting the fight today. Got my bike ride in, but still am eating too many carbs for the pounds to come off. Glad to see that so many of you are motivated and sticking to your plans - it helps to motivate me!

[patchworkpenguin]

Hopefully the bone loss isn't as bad as it sounds. We are talking about taking calcium, also. {I drink a lot of milk but Hubby doesn't like it without choc syrup!}

I'm feeling better today but not back to normal. But I am feeling well enough to go out to lunch with parents tomorrow and to Knit Night afterwards!

Guac, good to see you back!

Howie, welcome, glad to have you join us. Great avatar!