hello, Thanks for the warm welcome!

I am exercising, everything is going good, just a bit sore, i been doing cardio for about an hour each day! I rested yesterday.
I know I can do this!!! How is everyone else doing?

I was completely off plan this weekend...but it's a new week. :) And I'm ready to go this week. I am determined that I am going to make it through this week successfully. No binges!! I think, I can...I think I can....

Mulizza...Do keep forcing the water down and it will become habit. It just takes time. :) Good job with hanging in there though. How's the Food mover stuff going?

Dolphingirl, Glad to hear that things continue to go well for you. GOOD JOB!! Hang in there....and you are right, you can do this! I'm impressed with the hour of cardio a day...that's no easy feat!! Keep it up!!


Betty

The Food Mover is working great....it is really helpful in being concious of what I eat (I think that's the MAIN point of it...plus watching calorie intake) , and the good thing is I don't have to count calories...not my thing. I've been using Richard's Blast Off workout tape, it's fun. The other one (Groovin in the House) is too hard to keep up with....I will probably be getting additional workout tapes for a variety. So far so good!!

hey everyone! i keep forgetting to post on here! I am super busy at work. I am going to try to post as often as possible though.

I am still doing well w/exercise. last week i did 5 cardio/3 weights. last night i went again for weighs & 1 hour of cardio. tonight i will just do cardio. i'll aim for about 45 minutes.

tomorrow night I am starting a class at a local college. it is only one night a week (wed!) from 6-9. this will be an adjustment. i haven't been in school for 2.5 years! i guess this will be different, it is just one class, and i hope it is interesting. It is a for a Certificate in Professional HR Mgmt. My company is paying for it ($895) so I couldn't really pass it up. I am really interested in HR, and I think this will add to my resume. It just hope there is not too much homework!!!!!! hehehehehe!

betty, i didn't do too well w/food this weekend either. we made fried chicken breast tenders w/hot sauce on saturday (w/french fries) and ribs on sunday. not very healthy eating. but it is a new week, so I am still trying my best!

ttyl

Jenn

I'm new, does anyone mind if I join in?

My goals:

Cardio 3X a week, Pilates 3X a week (alternate days)
Snack more on vaggies and fruits between meals and less on chocolate.
Eat more veggies and fruits...

Seems like small goals I know, but I guess I have to start somewhere. My sister in law and I are working out together so that does help...

Jenn, That is wonderful news about how the Cardio and the Weights went last week. And it sounds like you have a great attitude about putting the past eating behind you and focusing on this week. Good job!

So how did the class go? It sounds exciting, especially since it's something you are wanting to do and your company is paying for it.

Lady Nai, WELCOME!!! And yes you definitely can join. Simple goals are good b/c those are the ones that we stick with the most. :) So good job!! And working together with your SIL is a great idea too!!

Things here are going well...I hit the gym again tonight and did about 45 minutes of cardio. I started with the weights yesterday and will do those again tomorrow and Friday.

Thus far, I've managed to keep my eating on program this week yay!! I'm also trying not to eat after 8 PM. Not always easy...but I've managed it today and yesterday. YES!! I know I will do it tomorrow b/c I will eat at church and I will try to have a healthy snack before hand so that I don't over eat there.

Well...no other majorly big news here. Monique, Mulizza, Dolphingirl, Sweetchick and FM and Tanya how are things going for y'all this week?

Betty

Hi everyone!

Well I finally got back into exercise.. it was very difficult (has it really been that long since I did it on a regular basis? guess so). I also am doing a self-defense class which starts tomorrow. Then working out thursday and saturday. I have a feeling I will be sore tomorrow, but thats ok :)

I want to get below 150 by Feb. 14th.

Betty.. sounds like you are doing well!! Keep up the good work!

Jenn, I found that taking a class when I was older was much easier.. maybe you will too :)

Monique, congrats on staying on plan!!

-Tanya

Welcome to LadyNai!

Hi Everyone!

I am new here. I have been lurking for a couple of weeks and have finally decided to be brave and join in already! I started trying to lose weight off and on towards the end of last year but didn't really get serious until December. I was doing okay but then all of the holiday parties hit and I went on a vacation which really killed me. It was always, "Well I HAVE to try this city's speciality" or even, "I wonder if McDonald's tastes the same in China..." Combine this with the fact that I hardly exercised made me gain all the weight I previously lost plus some.

Anyway it is January and I really want to get back on track like everyone else. I am pretty good with exercising but am very bad with food and sweets. I tend to eat out a lot with my roommate and boyfriend. I hope it is not too late but I'd like to join the challenge for this month. My goals are:

- Journal! This seems to be helpful for people but I am very bad at doing this. How do you guys calculate meals that are consumed in restaurants?
- Stick to 1200-1500 calories for at least 5 days a week
- Lose the excess weight I gained while on vacation (4 lbs)

I want to start easy so I can feel like I have achieved some success, no matter how small by the end of the month.

Good luck to everyone and hope to hear from you all!

Thanks for the warm welcomes!!!

I spent a chunk of yesterday evening before bedtime slicing up broccoli and cauliflower and making a small fruit salad so they are there to serve up frequently...

Lunches, I eat at work, I'm a CNA at a nursing home -- today it's ham and beans. A bit heavy on the carbs typically, but overall good, healthy, nourishing food. (I do like more protein and fewer carbs. I need to go back on the Zone and just don't want to...)

*shrugs*

Thanks for the support girls! Tabby (SIL) MADE me do the cardio yesterday. Today is Revenge of Pilates.

LOL

hey everyone. it sounds like everyone is on track! Keep it up!

i seem to have come down w/a cold. grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! i hate being sick (who doesn't?). on top of that i have to start my HR class tonight, it just hit me at the wrong time. but alas i will persevere & go to the class & continue to exercise!

last night i did about 50 min of cardio (step class). i did "okay" with food-not spectacular but not horrible either. today i am really hungry, i seem to get really hungry when i am sick!

lacia, you sound a lot like me! i am pretty good w/exercising but fall apart when it comes to food. my bf does not care about dieting & exercise & tends to eat whatever he wants & not gain weight. he doesn't eat breakfast & sometimes not a lunch and then eats a big dinner. BUT, he doesn't snack a lot or crave sweets & snacks like I do. we tend to eat a lot of take out food but we are trying to cut back because we want to buy a house.
also when i get together w/ a girlfriend (not very often because we live two hours apart) we tend to gorge ourselves on food, getting fast food & going out to restaurants because "it's the only time we get together". I eat A LOT when I am bored and stressed. This is a habit I am sincerely trying to break in 2003. as far as journaling food from restaurants, a lot of nationally known restaurants have their nutrition information on their websites. another good source is dottisweightlosszone.com (might be dotti w/an "e"). she has a lot of restaurant info. AND another place i got a lot of good info is a book i bought called "Calorie King's Guide to Fat, Carbs & calories" or any other similar book you can buy at any bookstore. The one I have has regular food info & also ethnic foods, and restaurant info.


Betty, thanks for the exercise encouragement. I hope I can keep it up!


better go, cya later!

Well I am trying to lose weight before my wedding (in August), so to start i want to:
1. Start drinking more water each day
2. Get up and do SOMETHING each day...doesn't have to be big.
3. Stay away from the candy bowl at work.

167/165/130

Ashley

Thanks Jenn and Monique for the welcomes and restaurant advice. I will try those ideas out.

I generally seem to do okay when I am by myself but both my roommate and boyfriend are super-fit, super-thin people who can eat whatever they want and not gain any weight.

I did okay today with the exercise and got in about 1 hour of cardio and weights but eating was another story. There is just too much tempting junk food around the house!!! Oh well, tomorrow is another day...

Grr...I have been way too busy lately! And then the one day I do manage to get on-line (I think it was Tuesday?), my computer kicked me off in mid-post!

So, unfortunately, I am going to try and keep this short.

Last week wasn't so great food-wise (sounds like that was something we all struggled with) but this week is better. Actually, I also struggled with water and I know that the two go hand-in-hand.

But exercise has been great - even getting a little more in than planned every week.

The scale hasn't been moving too much, but that's OK. I am really feeling good about my weightloss. Every day I get a compliment, or I find a way my life has improved. It's like I've lost the weight that was really holding me back physically/socially/etc. Does that make any sense? These last 10 or so pounds will just be icing on the cake!

I wish I could reply to everyone, but there is simply no time! Hello to all the new posters, keep up the good work everyone, and try to stay WARM! We don't have very good heating at the house, I have a suspicious feeling that has to do with how hungry I have been. My body is working extra to not freeze!

Take Care!

Good morning ladies :)

Well I woke up to about 2-3 inches of snow and its still coming down. I am one of the rare people who loves the snow (at least then the cold weather seems to have some purpose).

Last night I had my self-defense class. I had fun punching pads :) Tonight I hope to get to the gym, but we shall see (might take the bus to avoid the snow).

FM: Great job on the exercise! I know that for me.. I try to focus more on exercise then what I eat. It seems to all work out in the end.

sunshine: Congrats on your engagement! Let us know how the wedding planning goes :)

Jenn - I hope you feel better!

Monique - I hope this self defense class is fun. My co-worker is an instructur and has been hounding me to take it. I've taken some martial arts (only a year) and I lift weights.. so being aggressive isnt too hard for me. Plus I have a brother! I hope it will teach me something new though.

Ok.. back to work!

-Tanya

Welcome Lacia and welcome Sun1Shine1....it's great to have you with us. And it sounds like you have both set some great goals!!

Tonic...it's so good to see you around!! And how cool about the snow! I also love the snow. We rarely get it down here in GA...so when we do, I feel like a child. I'm always excited about a snow day. We are actually supposed to get some snow this evening...but only time will tell. It sounds like your work out went really well yesterday!! Great job!! Becareful getting out in the snow this evening if you do...taking the bus definitely sounds like a good idea if you decide to go out. Thanks for the encouragement on how I am doing as well.

Monique....Good for you on staying off the scale since mid-December! I know that's no easy feat! And you are doing the right things I'm sure. I actually find myself repeating many of the things I've heard you say before. For instance before I went to church for Wednesday night dinner, I was thinking, plan ahead...plan ahead.... :)

FM--Gee...can I relate to the being busy. But I am so glad to hear thing are going well...and you are right, you've come so far and whether the scale moves more or not...so long as you keep up the healthy habits...that is truly what is important.

Jenn--I'm so sorry to hear that you have gotten a cold! Those always stink!! And that's rotten that your class starts right after you got this cold! Hang in there!!

What is the old saying about feed a cold, starve a fever. It does take more calories to get well...so as you've told us in the past...don't focus on the food or exercise while you are recovering....just rest and get better!!

Lacia, These ladies gave you some great advice about how to handle things when you do have to eat out...but I don't eat out often myself. It's much easier (I think) to plan ahead (gee where did I get that ;-) ) And decide what you are going to eat ahead of time so that you stay on plan with your eating. But if you are going out...try to think ahead even then and decide what you might eat or at least what you "won't" eat before you get there...so that you don't get as off plan when you are eating out. Also as far as the junk food etc...goes. Either chunk it...or allow yourself a special treat once a week or something like that. One of the ways I've been staying off the junk food lately is that I'm not eating after 8PM. I can maintain my willpower until evening and since I'm not eating at all after 8 it's not hard to stay away from the junk food then either.

Lady Nai!! Good job on the cardio!! It sounds like you SIL and you are keeping each other moving with that. And I do the lunches in at work too. I work for a computer company...but I eat through lunch here because I coach a debate class later in the day.

I have to share one more really weird but cool thing with y'all. I was all excited about this new exercise machine I tried at the gym...it's a Lifetime Fitness walker. Anyway...I was telling Kevin all about in an email (his deployment was extended not sure if I've mentioned that) anyway...he wrote back that he knew *exactly* what machine I was talking about because he used the exact same machine on the ship! How cool is that?!?! Anyway...just kind of strange but really cool.

Anyway...my plans for the day are to go back to the gym and use this really cool machine this evening. Yay!! And thus far I'm on plan all week this week for water, exercise, weights and calories!!! Yay!!

Have a wonderful day and talk to you all soon,
Betty