Pam I forgot you asked, but Body pump and Body Flow are two of the classes designed by Les Mills. Body Flow is a combination of Tai Chi, Yoga, and Pilates.

It not only relaxed me, but was a good way to burn a few calories. The thought is that the other classes help burn calories and build muscles, but body flow helped you increase your flexibility, stamia, and helped to lengthen/stretch muscles.

Morning Guys!

Thanks pixicat. Like FDR said the only thing to fear is fear itself. Should not let that hold us back. :)

Niki way to go! About to leave us already. ;)

I was very happy to see the scale say 244.8 this morning. :D Finally back to my ticker weight.

Sue I bet the sore muscle water retention took some extra with it.

Hey Mara! Body flow sounds good, I would like to try that!

Congrats on getting to your ticker weight!

How do y'all get them by the way? I have one on another forum but I can't seem to add it to this one!

niki you can add it to your signature but you have to have 20 posts and be a member for 20 days first.

mara yay for ticker weight!

So i have been doing ok, but I did succumb to my stress-induced bakery craving, I had 3 sugar cookies last night :( not too horrible but it screwed up my low carb thing and made me feel soooo crappy. I am hoping that the memory of crappiness helps me not do it again.

Well SHOOT and GRRR... No ticker changes yet.... GO EVERYONE!! I am rooting for you!.. I am now doing 3 mile walks at night with a friend that is trying to lose 50 lbs by June first as a wealthy friend of his promised to BankRoll a concert tour for him if he does lose. So he is pumped and its nice that he has a goal to work for (Tho I do hope he learns it is for himself too!).. But he is the last good friend I have and I am so happy to spend time with him walking and getting healthier and lighter together! (He has been very depressed) The walking "extra" will help me too.. as it will burn more calories and hopefully GET ME OUTTA THE 240's!! LOLOLOL. I am at 245.4 this morning BOOOOOOOOO but that is okay... a whoosh will happen in 2 weeks.. but geee.. I would like to have at least 1 or 2 lbs off by Christmas! Please SANTA???!!!!! LOL

Niki.. oh you are so close to getting to the next Thread! WWEEE Keep the door open for us when you get there! :)

Mara.. I am so glad you are back down :) YAY!

Pixikat... Those darn cookies are just a response to stress and your little voice urge from times past. Cravings like that will subside over time (you know that already).. Its just hard when you are stressed studying for finals and trying to change your life at the same time! You are still a GREAT roll model!! :)

Smiley. Hope you are hanging in there and getting close to exiting and going to the lower thread too!

PAM.. I hope your tree is JUST GORGEOUS!... I too have had an artificial tree for years... but.... I burn a tree smelling candle alot and I grab some branch cuttings from the tree stands (free) and intersperce them in the tree and lay them around the bottom... you do get the REAL smell that way too!

HUGS to ALL! and Happy HUMP DAY!... Closer to Friday!! WOOHOOOO

Well shoot. I had too much sodium yesterday I think. I am up a little 245.2. But that will hopefully be gone tomorrow and then some. lol

Niki there is a sticky thread somewhere about the tickers, but if I remember you have to wait so many days and have so many posts before the ticker option becomes available.

Pixicat I'm sorry you are having such a stressful time.

Sue I need to get walking again. The cold just makes it so hard to get going. Hopefully we will all be moving soon. :)

Good day everyone :coffee:

I was watching the national news last night and of the 48 continental states in the U.S., 42 have snow cover and 6 do not, with GA and FL being two of them! Well, we may not have snow cover but the temperatures dropped from a chilly high 60s on Friday and dropped 20 degrees everyday since then. Right now, it is the upper 30s and that is very cold for this time of year here. :brr:

I did get the tree up but we want to add some more lights. We priced them and they have really gone up but we found some cheaper ones at Big Lots so we are going to get one string. This tree has ones strung throughout the branches but we feel they were kind of "skimpy". I have had this tree for 10 years and although we prefer live (yes, the smell) but not this year. I have these icicles that are green that are pine-smelling. I bought them about 5 years ago and they give off a pine scent as well. It is very convincing.

Well, I am afraid my weight is all over the map. I too had some cookies on Sunday and then pizza on Monday so my "good work" from before got undone. I can't say why. I have no good reason. I have decided though that until a much further date (maybe months for all I know) I am not going to have pizza or hot dogs. Both are relatively cheap and quick to fix when we are busy (as we have been in the past couple of days) but then all of my hard work from before gets unraveled and that's 'no good'.:(

I hate to say this but I have been stuck way too long in the 240s (since June) and I just plain have to quit allowing things interfere with the good progress that I was seeing last spring. I managed to work out yesterday but I am finding that this really cold weather makes me restless and yet I hate going out in it. Since we are moving in 2014 (just don't know when), I gave our notice to our community garden that we won't be renewing. We have until Friday to clean it up and turn it over. I have snow peas and brussel sprouts that I will "harvest".

I am sad about that because we have been a part of this for three year-round seasons and I have learned so much from the workshops they have as well as the community spirit but we are moving to another county and so we would no longer qualify. I am especially proud that our extras goes to our local food pantry as well. Not many food banks can boast of having organic fresh produce to give to those people they serve. I put up my gardening tools yesterday and swept up our porch for winter. I have a little bird who loves to sit atop a grapevine star wreath I have on my baker's rack. I felt like my little friend was watching me sweep.

At this point, I am just praying that I will break 240s for the New Year's. This month is just plain going so fast. Nikitanix, a Major Congrats :woohoo: for making 239 lbs. As much as I would hate to see you go, I still want you to join the 230s thread when you are ready to go.:wave: That is what progress is all about....when you feel ready to fly the coop, fly.:angel: As for setting up a ticker. On the upper left side on the 3FC forum page (where it gives a directory of all of the different threads to read or join) there is a tab "User CP". Click on that then Click on the tab that says Edit Signature. That page will bring up a "how to" on creating a ticker. You can also go directly to the website www.tickerfactory.com and their coding is compatible with 3FCs. Once you have created it then you C/P it to fit in your signature blank page. You can add as many as you want. Good luck!

mara: That body flow class sounds right up my alley. I do all three but separately. I have a lot of dvds that I have gotten over the years. Sometimes, I wonder if I have too many choices to choose from but yoga is recommended for arthritis and, yes, it does make a difference. The stretches involved in both Pilates and yoga lengthen the muscles that support the joints. I also follow a regimen devised by a physical therapist and I have been doing that faithfully since March and what a difference it makes. Keep with the Pilates. It will come. I promise you. I can do things that I never thought I would ever be able to do.

pixiekat: I had one of my favorite "store bought" cookies: chocolate fudge mint wafers. The whole package has 15 cookies and I think it equals 1500 calories alone but I have never tasted any cookie that is as good. I have them about once every two or three months. At least, this time I ate them slowly so I could enjoy every bite. I have decided that I am going to buy one package for Christmas this year and that is it for baked goods for me. I love mixed nuts too so that might be my one other "indulgence".

sue: Good Luck on the walking with your friend. Sometimes, we do need some kind of incentive to keep us going. That is really nice of you to offer your support and you will get in shape to boot. It is a Win-Win situation!

Well, I'd better get busy on getting ready to go grocery shopping. I have a list of things that we are out of and things that I think we can afford to get. Anyone else do this kind of shopping? Oh, well, at least, we can get some of the things on my list. At least, we haven't resorted to using corn cobs yet! ;):rofl: Now, that is the kind of problems I want to avoid.

Take care all, Pam :comp:

Thanks pixikat, Pam and Mara for tips with the ticker, I’m not quite at 20 days yet so I have to have a little patience but when I make it I can use your helpful advice, thank you so much!

Hey Sue, that’s great you have a walking buddy, the extra exercise and the time you’ll spend with him will be a real help for both of you and it sounds like fun too. I certainly will keep the door open in the next thread, you’ll all be there soon enough!! I’m counting on it!

Pam, that’s real sad about you leaving your garden and little birdy behind, what will your new place be like? I will miss your nice long posts with lots of colorful characters when I go, and yours too Sue! I kind of feel it’s very soon to be leaving this thread, I think my losses will slow though and I’ll be knocking around the 230s for a while. Well, I don’t want to lose weight too quickly so I may play around with my calorie allowance. The appetite suppressing effects have lessened a lot since the start and I find myself hungry a lot more than the first days so I don’t know if 1200 is enough, or if I should eat more fiber and protein as I’ve heard they’re filling. I’m drinking a lot more water now but it does make me a little cold so I think I’ll try out some mandarin green tea I saw at the store the other day as that doesn’t sound like it goes too well with cookies…I hope!!

Morning!

Pam I am sorry about your garden and your bird friend too. :(

Niki I think playing around with your calorie goal is a good idea. Everyone is different. I am not expert, but from reading things here on 3FC everyone says don't start off too low because then you will have no where to go as you lose weight and need to drop your calorie intake.

I am back down today, 244.0. :) Hoping to see 243ish tomorrow. Ready for the next decade!!!

Good sunny day :sunny:everyone!:coffee:

This is the first really bright and sunny day we have had in almost an entire week but from what I hear it is not going to last long. This coming weekend, when I want to attend a Christmas concert about 25 miles from here, it is both supposed to be cold again as well raining the entire weekend.:rain: I am so bummed. :(. It is so hard to get in and out of cars, buildings, etc. when it is pouring down. :tantrum: without getting wet and/or stepping into a puddle. I got sick last year in this same kind of weather and I was sick for the entire month of December and part of January. That sucked:mad:

Niki: Don't hang around here on account of me. :coffee2: You deserve to move on and be where you can get some good vibes :goodvibes and support in the next leg of your weight loss journey :goodscale:

I can only blame myself for not being there soon myself. :nono::rollpin: However, I have cleared the deck of some of the "offenders" that I know that I "should have" removed from my food plan long before now but didn't. I am still holding out hope that I will break 240s by New Year's Eve. My strategy includes no holiday baking this year, no summer sausages (which I so love) and just having a simple meal and "maybe" one glass of champagne for New Year's Eve :xcheer: So, you may not see me "over yonder" this month but, if I have anything to do with it (which I hope that I do), I will be starting out 2014 in the 230s! :newyear:

I also agree with mara that it probably is not the wisest choice to start out so low since you really have no where to go from there. I used to belong to another paid site three years ago and I was given a food plan including a calorie range that was between 1800-2100 calories per day until I lost 25 lbs then it went down to 1500-1800 calories per day. Then, I belonged to another free site for six months this past year and I joined a "Diabetes Weight Loss" challenge run by their site team. Their approach was similar but they also took into account my activity level so I actually have three different calorie ranges depending on what kind of activity that I do that day: 1530-1880 cals. on non-aerobic days, 1781-2031 cals. on days I do my strength work outs with free weights, 2032-2382 cals for days I do 30 minutes of cardio (more calories if I extend that to 60 minutes).

I realize that sounds shocking to a lot of people who routinely are on a "semi-starvation" diet but this is based on metabolic physiology and it was created by registered dieticians. It allows me to lose 2 lbs a week. As I have been told, the more I work out, the more I can eat. Not that I necessarily want to but it does mean that my extra calories are fueling my workouts. They are not laying dormant on my body and turning back to fat. However, I must emphasize it is based on working out at least 4-5x a week with cardio being especially "key" in losing weight. If I decide to not work out then I need to follow the lower calories or I will stay the same.

As I said, it has been a crazy and stressful past 7 1/2 months. I have struggled to make sure that we can afford to eat healthy in spite of some tough financial choices that I have had to make. If I want to continue to lose weight, working out is absolutely paramount. I can not fudge on this as when I was heavier when just less calories was enough to see the numbers on the scales go down. I suspect that as I get closer to my end goal weight, it will actually be "harder" because you have to run a much tighter ship than when you can stop eating junk food and that will be enough.

I have been sloppy in the past couple of months or I would have been in the 230s by now. I accept my own part in that. I also am determined to get back to the level of fitness and sticking to my food plan that I was doing last spring when I really was seeing those numbers go down every week.

mara Glad to hear that things are going down for you as well. Keep up the good work, GF. You can do this too!:goodluck:

Well, we had a very busy day yesterday doing a lot of running around in heavy traffic. I hope to get cracking on some things around here later this afternoon. I just took my NSAIDS so I can make myself "sore" all over again. :D :lol:

Take care Pam :comp:

Hey guys!!! Today I have been very productive. Fall cleaning so to speak. About mid-semester I get bogged down with school and cleaning goes mostly out the window. So since I am out of class and had the day off work I have been cleaning the apartment, putting up a canvas print I ordered, and hanging a shelving unit. Hopefully I am burning a fair amount of calories while I go.

Morning! I got to work and we had no power. :(

On a good note I was 242.8 this morning! I hope it is not a trick and continues to go down. :D

Hope everyone else is having a good day.

Good day all :coffee:

Mara great job on getting those numbers to go down. Not much farther to go for you! :woohoo:

Pixiekat: I too have been doing a lot more cleaning and rearranging of furniture these past few days. I have had to up my NSAIDS because "all of me" hurt :lol: but again it feels so good to clear the path for "Santa".:hohoho:

Of all of us, I may be the "last one standing" here in this thread and since it seems like it is not a 10 lbs. decade that is heavily populated, I may be posting to myself for myself. :?: Well, I accept full responsibility for my inability to stay on track. It is not so much overeating as making poor food choices that either stall my weight or cause me to regain because of the high sodium. I have since decided to cease eating those "offenders" and now I am working on getting things back to where they were "not that long ago". So, I changed my ticker again this morning. I hated to because I have been changing it more backwards than forwards and I know that is a "red flag" for me.

On a more positive note, I have had a couple of really good days with my food plan so I will keep doing what I know works and look forward to the future. I will see you all in the 230s thread in January. I just don't know when in January. :snow4:

Take care Pam :comp:

Think Believe Act
 

I guess, I am either the first to post today or everyone is out shopping. I just wanted to say that I had a couple of really good days and I quickly changed my ticker down. :D

Late yesterday I turned over my garden plot to the next "tenant". I left my strawberry plants. They were nearly buried by the falling leaves so I covered them up so they will be ready for late spring in 2014 as a 'surprise' for the next person who toils my soil. I had also added 10 lbs of organic soil and mixed in some organic nitrogen meal so the soil is ready to grow some great veggies.:carrot::broc:

I journaled awhile yesterday and then shared it with my DH about why I think that I am stuck. It dawned on me that for the longest time (about 10 years between 1983-1993 I was this weight) and then my weight started to climb up in the late 1990s to 260s with my highest weight being just over 300 lbs in 2009. I have been obese for so long that, quite honestly, I don't know of anything else but once I got to this weight range, it was the one that I felt the most comfortable in. Plus, I was so thrilled to get down to the 240s again after 30 years of being "somewhere else", that I think I "forgot" I can set my sights even higher (or lower in the case of weight loss). I don't have to "settle" for this interim weight, no matter how comfortable it feels.

I started this past year wanting to lose weight but deep down inside I didn't believe that I could. I felt that other people could but not me. Then, when I started to lose weight again, I couldn't believe that it was happening. Well, I am at the same place again where it is hard to believe that I can make this happen and continue to lose weight and break the 240s, for starters, but even move beyond that.

However, I have a food plan that works. I like to work out even with my physical limitations. Both combined together are a winning combination. I have seen what kind of results I can get when I work both consistently. Now, I just need to do the "footwork" and let my body respond to my efforts.

Think. Believe. Act.

Take care, Pam :comp:

Hey Everyone,

I know it's been several weeks since I've been on. Time flies by. I kept working hard at loosing weight, even when Thanksgiving hit. I've cut back on going to the gym a bit because of the limited hours as winter break approaches my university. I wanted to enjoy some food during the holidays but way less than I had before and I'm having it in moderation. I was thinking okay if I can maintain what I have lost for the holidays and keep trying to loose after January that will be great... but the last few days I've been going down to 241... which is great but I think it's from stress I've been under at work (my boss even made me cry today). Taking it one day at a time.

Keep up the good work Pamtaga! I've stalled a bit in the 240s myself but I'm taking it one day at a time, one choice at a time. I too got excited because I haven't been this small in several years so I can relate.

Good day everyone and anyone who decides to read and/or 'stop by'. Glad to have 'y'all'. :coffee:

:welcome2: peachesncream. Yes, I do remember you, how could I not with such a cute username as that? ;) Thanks for checking in at a very busy time of the year for you. I am sorry to hear that your boss made you cry. I have some bad memories myself of certain bosses. They can make working a real bummer at times. :(

So, it sounds like you are both working and going to school. That is a lot to have on your plate right now. Is there an end in sight for the schooling? I can only imagine how difficult it would be to eat healthy on most school campuses. I never ate nachos and cheese until I went to college and they became my favorite between class snack. :fr: :lol:

Glad to hear that you are so close to breaking through the 240s. :carrot: I am sorry though that stress seems to be playing a big role in that.

How long is your winter break then? A month? Will you be staying there or going home for the holidays?:xcheer: My plan for the holidays in terms of eating is to allow myself two of my favorite foods but only a single serving per day between Christmas Day and New Year's Day. I will make sure that I only buy enough to last so there are no leftovers for January.

I have been having a couple of good days in a row, which I am happy about. Yesterday, my DH brought home some leftovers from one of his Christmas parties that he goes to (his organization so I wasn't invited---no spouses are). I ate it slowly and mindfully, one of my new Beck Diet Skills that I am practicing. I ate one single serving of dark chocolate later as well; which is four mini squares.

Today has been good so far. I want to finish decorating my Christmas tree. :tree:My back has been sore the past couple of days so I have been sitting on this but I want to put the ornaments on tonight and then I will be ready in terms of decorating for the holidays. I have an artificial tree so it will stay up to epiphany; January 5th--the 12th day of Christmas.

Again, thanks for dropping in and telling us how you are doing on your end.

Take care, Pam :comp:

Very good for you Pam! :)

Peaches.. you are doing your best and that is what matters and I am so sorry your boss was so mean that you cried. I am so sorry... Brighter days ahead!

I am not posting any weighings until after Christmas.. I was so off plan starting Saturday (YIKES office dinner... all you could drink and REAL Italian food... We sat at the table for 5 hours!! talking drinking and eating.. it was so much fun.. but oh the Cannolli's ahhhhhh Tiramasu! ahhhhhhh bread, oil sauce Well you understand and of course I had leftovers and leftovers from dinner last night and cookies and crumb cake that was sent to me.. YIKES!... sooooo after Christmas is when I will post a weight again.. Otherwise I will try and be good and stay away from Sugar, bread, potatos UGH! :)

Happy Monday all!

Morning Guys!

Pam I am trying to eat slower and enjoy my food. Instead of wolfing it down. How is your back feeling?

Peachesandcream I think trying to maintain during the holidays is a good idea. I too am sorry your boss made you cry. I hate that. It makes me feel like I am giving them too much power over me.

Sue I would not have been able to resist. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water and stomach growl. lol

I am up a little from Friday, 243.8. Indulged in a few Christmas cookies. :)

Hey everyone! This is my final post in this thread...I've just read through all the last posts that I've missed and I loved hearing all your updates, I hope the next group down is as fun!

Thanks for your advice Mara, I did actually up my calorie limit over the weekend - I had the girls round for food yesterday and needed the extra room for sure as we all cooked way too much but I ate less than usual, practiced either eating or talking - never both at the same time for once!! and sent all the skinnier ones home with leftovers - man was I sad to see that seasoned chicken leave!! So I kinda expected to not lose too much today although I went to the gym 5 times last week, including Friday night (!) but I was ecstatic to see I'm down to 236.2!!

So, it's not goodbye but see you later, I'll be in the next thread waiting for y'all, so hurry down now!!

Oh, and I got a fancy new ticker too!!

Good morning and day everyone: :wave:

Nikitanix: I am not sure if you will read this since you are probably now safe and secure in the 230s thread but we are so happy for you to see you "move on down" :bravo: Yes, look for me sometime in January. I am being extra diligent. I am just trying to focus on the non-food aspects of all of the holiday blur:gift2::rudolph::hohoho: that is swirling around me. That is my "from here until New Year's Day" plan. Keep the blinders on so I don't see all of those :mcd::m::jeno::cookie::chef: :lol: I think you get the picture by now.
:D

P.S. Don't you love the ticker choices? I have a hard time deciding what I want. I am always changing mine.

Mara: yes, I am too practicing eating slowly and mindfully. I am allowing myself 1 single serving of dark chocolate per day but NO MORE! :chockiss: I caught myself last night really wanting another single serving but I stood my ground and fought off the desire to have more. :ziplip: Great Job on the ticker going down...down is down in my book:book2:, no matter how much or how little. :mag:

My back is really being tested. I had a "project" left over from last Christmas that I decided now was a good time to tackle it. I have collected a ton of ornaments and decorations over decades and I just wanted to thin them out so since I was decorating the tree, I have brought a plastic bin, sat it between my legs and gone through it while watching Christmas programs on t.v. Of course, this also involves doing a lot of lifting and carrying so my back was really smarting by Sunday morning. I took more meds and then slept until noon. I want to make sure than when we do move in 2014, I am packing no more than I want to take with me.

sue(wannaskip): Your Italian meal sounded super! As a person who is married to someone who doesn't particularly like Italian food, if I have it at all it is spaghetti and sauce made at home. It would have been very tough for me not to fight down the crowd for some of those goodies. :hun: I know me. :D

I totally understand about wanting to just wait things out. However, I hope that you do check in once in awhile during the next couple of weeks. They will fly by as they always do. I can easily regain 10 lbs during the holidays. In fact, that has been as much of a tradition as me buying a fruit cake and eating it all by myself, since it seems like I am the only one who likes it. This year, I just don't want to keep flipping back and forth since I did plenty of that already this past fall. I have decided to start a "new tradition" and that means only a few choice goodies and that is all!:nono::lol:

Well, I have more of the "same old same" today so I will check in tomorrow. My ticker went down 0.2 lbs but I am going to wait and change it again when it is a little more. I am always hopeful. ;)

Take care all, Pam :comp:

Way to go niki!!! Hope to see you soon in the next decade.

Pam I don't blame you for wanting to thin out why you can before moving. Less stress for moving day. I hope your back is better though.

I am down to 242.2 this morning. But the Christmas food gauntlet has been thrown down. lol here is hoping not too much damage is done.

Good day everyone :coffee:

Mara, glad to see that your scales are showing you all of the hard work that you are doing. I made the mistake of using canned green beans along with fully cooked (but 500 mg sodium) steak strips along with some rice and today the scales are up. I don't usually buy canned vegetables but there was a "sale" on them ...:( I think I am really going to have to rethink sodium for the new year or I am going to be playing this two step "forever". I just don't remember sodium being such a "big deal" for me last year but this past fall it has been. What gives? It has gotten me just perplexed.:?: Anyone have any suggestions or tips that they are using?

I really worked hard yesterday afternoon and by the time evening came I was more than ready to watch some Christmas programs on t.v. I actually even went to bed earlier too. I did have to take an extra dosage of NSAIDS for my back but I will admit seeing how much I had accomplished sort of made it worthwhile.

My eye caught a mini challenge that someone started in the 100 lbs. sub-forum so I joined it and added another ticker to my signature page. I did the numbers and I think it is a realistic goal that this woman proposes so I jumped on board. Losing "24-30 lbs by April 21st, which is Easter Monday." That is her wedding anniversary but it is still a good mid-range mini goal to work towards.

Well, after a couple more cups of coffee I am will be back at it.

Hope everyone has a great day, Pam :comp:

Hey guys! Sorry I have been MIA the past few days, I had a take home final and a 4 hr block of psycho-educational testing to try to get accommodations for the GMAT, and work has been crazy because it is the end of the semester so everyone is trying to get holds removed, tickets paid, new bus passes etc.

Sue Wow that italian dinner sounds AMAZING I am sure I would have cracked too!

pam Sorting and thinning your christmas decorations sounds like sort of a fun process. the different decorations reminding you of past christmases and whatnot. I hope that you feel better soon!

mara you can do it!!!!

nikki CONGRATS! I hope to see you in the 230s thread soon

Hey Pam! I loved canned veggies too. I really love sauerkraut (way too much salt though)! Good luck

I'm a graduate student- I took classes my first year and now do research and teach classes. I don't have an clear end in sight so to speak, but I'm in my 3rd year into a PhD program, so I'm getting there. My boss can be very rough and make me cry but he's an expert in my specific field so I want to stick with him anyway. I'm trying to put on a tough skin. I have from Christmas Eve through the New Year off. Maybe I'll walk my parents dogs and use their elliptical while I'm home.

Good idea with having one serving of food that you want everyday. I also like like Mara's idea of savoring it slowly. I split a single 'serving' bag of SunChips with my OH and really savoring it got the craving out of my system while still sticking with my calorie budget.

CONGRATS Nicki!

I know what you mean Wanna- I can sit at the table with friends for a few hours of great fun and for me the snacky food bowl needs to be away from me or I will eat it all.

Best wishes to you Pixicat! I remember my crazy undergrad days.

Weighed in today at 241 again. I ate way too much when I went out with coworkers to lunch the other day but then I had to trek 2.5 miles in 13 degree F weather to get to work (missed my bus by two minutes). I really needed the exercise though.

Pam.... Oh the salt is a killer. I have noticed a big change on my journey this time too. I had not noticed the water retention as much in the past. Maybe there is something in the air... but whatever it is... at least we know its the salt! I drink lemon water to help flush the extra water out (squeeze a lemon in cold water)... Your project of sorting thru ornaments is such a good idea. I have enough to decorate 4 trees (Themes too ) and alot of my (and I bet your) ornaments are pass downs from older relatives. They (ornaments) bring back such memories! You are doing so good on your journey and you (we all) will get thru the holidays and out the other side with happy memories!

MARA.. you are doing so gosh darn well! WOW! I see you in the New Year in another thread happily waiting for us! (Well Peaches willl be there with you!!!!)

PIXIKAT.. wow.. you are busy. I hope your final (test) is the final one you have tio take this semester! Are you still walking alot? Its gotten warmer there now right?

Peaches... Just think of your boss in his underwear! I know he might be a smart man (intelligence wise).. but he should also learn tact... (My boss needs to too!) We will be missing you here in a few days if not today! You are so close to the 230's :)

I hope all are well today! All of my leftovers are now GONE... so back on the stick again! Good thing as I weighed in at 249.8.... Couldn't have made it any closer could I?! LOL

I am up a tiny bit today, 242.4, but it might be more with all the festivities. I am trying to me mindful of what I put on my plate though.

Hope you all have a good day.

peaches What are you studying? I hopefully will be graduating at the end of next fall so I am starting to consider applications and the gmat and fitting in the calc prereq that my current degree doesn't require. I am hoping to stay here at UTD but I have another couple schools I will be applying to as well.

Sue Yup that was my last test for the semester, now I am just waiting for grades! I work this week, than I am completely off for 2 weeks. I haven't been walking much, I fell out of the habit early in the semester when I went to the doctor for a check up and get referred to the cardiologist. it took 6 wks to get in with them and I was told not to stress myself until they knew what was going on. When I got the all clear it was cold in the mornings and it was midterms.... etc etc etc. All really just excuses I know lol. I did go to the gym yesterday and I am planning to use the break to get back in the habit of going to the gym or walking if the weather is warm enough for my cold hating tastes lol

mara just do the best you can, it is a difficult month for all of us.

Today I am the same as yesterday but I am also sore from the gym so I hope that means I will see a new low soon! I have a catered lunch at work today, I ordered something that is OP for me, I will just need to avoid whatever desserts they have at hand and I will be ok. *fingers crossed*

One Week Until Christmas!
 

Hey everyone! :coffee:

:snowfight Glad to see so many of you today. :D peaches n pixiekat, I sure do remember my college days and how this time of year means all of the rushing to tie up loose ends before winter break. I used to do a lot of walking in those days and since I went to college where it is sub-zero weather :brr: I remember barely showing my eyes between my hat and scarf wrapped around my lower face. :lol:I do miss actively learning like you do in school. I still try to watch the History Channel and other similar ones so I can learn something new when I can. I just think that keeps a person "interested" in the world around them but I can guarantee you will never read as much as you do in college and I think that is a shame because I love books so much.:book2:

mara I am with you on not only getting through the next two weeks without gaining any more weight but also possibly losing weight. I opened the 100 lbs Club sub-forum the other day and a new topic caught my eye. Another person created a challenge of losing 24-30 lbs by Easter 2014. It just might end up being one more thread to post to but it also might be an added incentive for me to kick things into high gear.:kickbutt:

I have another e-mail support group that I have belonged to in the past couple of years and I will be rejoining them on January 1st. These are a group of women who used to belong to a paid weight loss site but decided once they got all they could get from that site decided to form a group on their own. I lead a couple of short term "challenges" and the leader is really great. If anyone is interested in joining just PM me.

Speaking of which, would anyone here be interested in joining any kind of short term challenge for either weight loss or exercising or both? I will say that I had never done any specific challenges before last year and I really found that when I followed the challenge's rules on a daily basis I really did lose more weight since I was so focused on doing the 'right thing' day in and day out. I have an excel spreadsheet that has the format of a "boot camp" challenge that we used in another group I was in last year on another site. Let me know how you feel and if you are interested. We wouldn't start though until January 6th. Each short term challenge runs 8 weeks and then whomever loses the most weight is "deemed" the "winner".

sue(wannaskip): Well, you are still technically in the 240s so whether you just squeaked by or not:mouse: you are one of us.

We got another great deal on a fresh turkey last night so that is what we are going to have on Christmas Eve. My DH sings in the Midnight Mass so we will be going to that after we have eaten. I am still sticking to my guns and only allowing myself two favorite food items to eat one single serving at a time per day between Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

I had to laugh. I made the switch to dark chocolate about 18 months ago and now I actually prefer it but on occasion I do have milk chocolate. The interesting thing is milk chocolate actually has more sugar in it so for me it sets up a craving. I have been allowing myself one single serving of dark chocolate for the past couple of weeks. It has been working. My DH was shopping and said they were out of dark chocolate and would I consider milk chocolate "this time". :sssh: I wasn't thinking so I said "Yes":chockiss:. I don't know if this helped but I put it in the refrigerator (ours runs really cold) and it was so hard I had to nibble little tiny pieces off of a small chunk I broke off but "it worked!" :goodvibes

The scales hasn't budged so all I can say is that I passed on my usual evening popcorn and I am hoping I can change my ticker tomorrow.:crossed:

Peaches it looks like you are the closest to breaking free into the 230s with Mara on your heels....and pixiekat is next in line with me in the middle of the pack and sue is our caboose. We make up one rockin' train.....:coach:

Take care all, Pam :comp:

Hi ladies!!

I'm movin' in!

I'm excited to be here. :) Happy holidays everyone!

I'll probably post a bit more some other time, just thought I'd say hello first!

:welcome2: Walrus! GLAD to have you join us on your journey downward! :) We have a GREAT Group here! You will fit right on in (I read the other thread too and hope to see a few more coming on in!)

Well.. now I feel like I belong better here... 248.6... so have some cushion!.. but I am now BOUND and DETERMINED to get back down to that 245 and then LOWER! 243 by 1/1 I am hoping!... Back on track and the sugary things and bready things are now NOT the ruler of me!!! :D (Fighting that little voice!)

walrus welcome!!!

sue see it is flushing right off!

pam if you live near a community college you can always take a class a semester or something just for fun. Take whatever strikes your fancy. If I suddenly won the lottery and never had to work I would totally do this once I finished my Bachelors. I would take time between semesters to travel and take pictures and learn new hobbies but I would definitely take random classes when at home.

So I bounced up a little again, I hope it is because I started working out again and my muscles are sore. I learned yesterday that if the office is having a party maybe I should bake a small atkins friendly dessert and take for myself and the other girl that is supposed to be on atkins too, we both gave in to the desserts. I didn't to horrible but even the couple bite I did have had some sort of effect on my insulin and I am supposed to be avoiding that. Thankfully it hasn't set off any cravings at least.

Welcome Walrus!

Sue great job on keeping active. I am slacking since it got cold. Need to be brave and do it anyways. lol

Pixi I am sure the sore muscles are causing the slight move up. And I am amazed at your will power. A couple bites would have been a whole piece for me. lol

Pam it sounds like you have a plan of action, so that is awesome. I am getting to were I like dark chocolate a lot. 72% is as about as dark as I can eat right now.

I am up. I am sure it is sodium from the two Christmas parties yesterday.

:welcome: walrus of Anchorage, Alaska! :snowglo: How much snow do y'all have up that way? I used to live in MN so I am used to sub-zero and lots of snow which it sounds like all of you "up North" are getting in spades this year.:snow4:

Glad you could join us all and meet you on your way "down" the scale ladder.
Are you far enough north where you have daylight hours until 11 p.m.?

sue(wannaskip): Great Job on flushing out that extra pound that was hanging around. The main river that goes through Atlanta here is the Chatahootchee so I always say, " Better in the Chatahootchee than on me" :D

I hear you about dodging all of the carbs and sweets with this week coming up. Great Job in keeping active. Mine is more about going through a lot of stuff so although I am moving my upper body my lower body is doing a lot of sitting. :lol: I am finding it hard to even think about moving my body let alone doing something sweaty. :kickcan:This time of year when it is so cold :shocksn: (and yes, we are getting the wide temp swings that the rest of the country is getting) I just want to snuggle under the covers.. a lot!

pixiekat: thanks for the ideas about taking some classes. The area that I am moving to has some smaller colleges that I might check out. I would like to learn French again (I took it in high school) and I would love to learn a musical instrument.

So, are you following the Atkins food plan closely? I wanted to just try one of their food items so I went on their web site but you have to join in order to try them and I just didn't want that level of financial commitment so I didn't but I would have liked to have tried them anyway. I just placed an order from Diet Direct.com. I have ordered once before and they were always sending me catalogs even though, as far as I know, I never requested one from them. I ordered some multi-vitamins last time and I was really impressed with the quality of the vitamins. I have taken vitamins "forever" and it just seems like between me working on losing weight (less calories) and getting older the ones that I used to take just don't seem to 'do it' for me. The ones from Diet Direct are geared towards WLS patients (even though I never have had that so I was kind of confused why and how I got their catalog originally) but they are just excellent! I could tell within a few days that I had a lot more energy.

mara Sorry to hear that you are struggling with a cold. I have resumed taking Emergen-C again every day. I swear by it. I don't take the flu shot because 1) the cost 2) I sometimes have quite a reaction to some of them. I had two upper respiratory infections last December back to back. I did manage to come around on Christmas Eve but then early January it returned. Blah!

Hope you will be feeling well. Well, the "good news" about the Christmas parties :xcheer: is that most of them are over with. We got a last minute e-vite to go to a friend's house this coming Sunday afternoon for "light hor' doeuvres" and wine but, again the crazy weather, it is supposed to be 68 on Saturday and then tornadic weather on Sunday with lightning and the whole shish bang so I am not sure what we will do. I really don't feel like partying if the lights go out. Basements are a rare thing in these parts so it means just watching the family dog house do a "fly by" when the winds kick up. :lol:

Well, we are going to do our grocery shopping for next week. I am going to get some diet hot chocolate that I saw the last time but forgot to get as well as some fat free popcorn. I may not lose any weight next week but I hope that I also won't re-gain any either. This is a tough time of the year for us all so be "gentle" with yourself. We only have 8 days left and then we can all get down to some serious business come early January.

Take care all, Pam: comp:

Pam - I am really liking Atkins but I am following the 2002 book when it was still dr Atkins writing it. the people he sold it to are just out to make $$$ and don't seem to follow his original stuff at all. They often say alot of stuff is ok for induction that aren't. For most people that is likely fine, but for more sensitive people it won't put them into ketosis. So far I have only had 2 of the frozen dinners which i picked up from the local grocery store, it was ok but things I could make in bulk and freeze myself. Really the premise for the diet is do 2 wks at 20 net carbs with only certain veggies allowed at 1 cup and leafy greens at 2 cups per day, non carb foods eat til you aren't hungry, limited dairy to a serving or two a day. then after 2 weeks you add in 5g of carbs a week until you stall than you back down by 10 grams. you can stay at induction longer though if you want.

personally I eyeball the veggie servings and likely eat a small amount more, I have 2-4 servings of dairy, but I am still keeping myself at 20-25 grams of carb on days I manage not to slip and have a couple bites of something I'm not supposed to have.

in terms of the vitamins I am just taking the same multi vitamins I have always taken. I should add some fish oil or something but I haven't yet. nextime I replace my regular vitamins i probably will add them in

I believe PIXIKAT! Yep.. the water is wooshing out! :) woohoo.. have 2.5 more to go by Christmas and I am going to do my darndest to make it happen! Did you get your test results? :) I also like your idea of taking a class to learn something you like just because! To stay young you need to stimulate your mind and why not strengthen it learning something new! Its been awhile since I took a class... You put the bug into me too (glad you posted that message to Pam!)

I too do Atkins Pam, and have learned over the years, if I stick with it... I can live with it. I do eat too much cheese tho.. That is my bane and I need to skip that in at least 1 of my meals LOL and I do not eat enough veggies (HATE THEM!) but I take fiber tablets and about 14 vitamins a day (B's, E, CoQ10, Omega 3, Fiber, D3, Calcium (like I need that with all the cheese I eat lol), Glucosomine-Chondroitin, extra A for my eyes, Cinnamon and some formula for Cholesterol lowering... I RATTLE all morning LOLOLOL But I know they are good for me and the excess flushes out (B's). I do like eating Atkins way and avoid the Bars. but in a pinch I do have the shakes in the fridge in case I don't have time to grap something (Good for road trips and boredom hunger!)

Its Friday and I hope you all have a terrific day!... WOW only 4 days to shop and 4 more days of FRENZY to watch! :)

The scale is being a meanie today. I hope it will be more favorable after all these Christmas/Holiday get togethers are over. Restraining myself from jumping ship completely, but I have definitley dipped my toe (or leg) in the ocean of food goodies. lol

I hope everyone is having a a great day! Weekend just around the corner.

Howdy all,
I hope you don't mind me joining you for a few days. I've goofed up so bad lately I started not to come back to 3fc at all, but here I am.:o

Thanks for the funny image of my boss in his underwear Wanna.

Pixicat I'm studying biochemistry- more specifically protein engineering to make environmentally friendly catalysts for chemical reactions. Best of luck to you in your applications.

Welcome Walrus! Glad to see you here.

I also need to pick some low cal popcorn and other nice stuff to help Pamtaga. My other half picked up a bag of corn chips because they were on sale :dizzy: I had some but then had him put the bag in a secret location for himself. I need smaller packaged items (I hate how much more expensive they are) because otherwise I have been known to eat the whole bag or container...

Best of luck to you Mara. That's exactly how I feel right now. Toe in an ocean of food.

I'm still at 141 and I feel like I'm stuck there because I keep indulging in food with it being the holidays (not that it's any excuse though). I'm trying to picture how good it will feel to be smaller and that helps motivate me.

Only Believe welcome back! The past is the past and what's done is done we can't backup in time, but we can always move forward. Best wishes to you in your journey.

And a mini-vent- my coworker (bosses girlfriend) continues to feel the need to get into a commentary of what I'm eating- "Oh, you ate ALL of that" or "Do you just go to the gym EVERYDAY?" and it makes me so mad. I feel like I can't say anything back to her because well she's my bosses girlfriend. She's so small- almost underweight (but I would never dream of criticizing someone for having a naturally smaller body type). Trying to just let it go and use it as fuel to my fire for loosing weight...

Happy Friday everyone!

Happy Friday!!!!!

I keep teetering between this thread and the 250s thread since I am bouncing between the same 5lbs!! I really need to buckle down and get focused. Mara, like you I have almost jumped ship but I am restraining myself!

Peaches that is downright RUDE of her! Admittedly I am confrontational by nature :blush: and would say something to make her uncomfortable about her stupid comments. I have said stuff like "Well, I didn't get this belly from sharing!" I am amazed by what people think is appropriate to say.

See sue, I told you! And you should totally take a class! Once you know tell us what you are taking and how you like it :)

mara I think most of us have been flirting with the ocean of goodies lol

onlybeleive WELCOME BACK!!!! I've missed you :( i fell off and then you fell off, but we are both back now lol

peaches wow that would get soo annoying, but I am like you and I would likely just get silently irritated and never say anything. I avoid confrontation if I can. That sounds like a very interesting topic! I am bad with math and science though so I stick with the easier stuff :)

justa you can do it!!!!!

So today is the last day of work before 2 weeks off, yay!!! I predict the 2 wks will go either very good for my diet as I am not being tempted by treats at work and school etc, or very bad because I tend to boredom eat. I have things I plan to do so I hope I can avoid the latter.