[SoMuchFattitude]

NJ - thanks!! And yeah, I have found that if I keep my running seperate from my weight loss and run/exercise to run/exercise instead of doing it to lose weight I do MUCH better with it.

Woohoo on running a mile without stopping!! Isn't it a great feeling to hit that goal? Losing weight is an emotional roller coaster. Congrats on 50lbs! That's a huge accomplishment. They say that the social/community aspect of weight loss contributes to higher loss and success rates. I agree. It helps having a whole forum of cheerleaders!

[Jb1975]

Originally Posted by CakeGirl75

Hi, Jb1975....hope your kids are better soon! I started the C25K a few months ago, but sadly stopped after about 5 or 6 weeks. I am planning to start from the beginning again though....do you have any tips that helped you get to the end of it? Congrats on your goals and I wouldn't be too disappointed about being a bit behind for your Valentines goal, being a mom especially when the kids are not feeling well can take a lot of time and energy. I am sure you will be back on track in no time!

The only advice I know to give is just do it when you feel like it and do it just the same when you don't. There were times when I would have on my jogging clothes and I'd be putting on my shoes and, if I had allowed myself, I could have talked myself out of doing it. It was, as I stated before, a God thing that I stuck with it. I am not good with exercise and never have been. You will have to find your own motivation and cling to it with everything you've got!

I also agree with the advice to keep your running and weight loss separate! I did NOT see the results that I was hoping for when I started. I did not measure and that COULD have made me things differently. But, I can jog for 30 minutes now and 3 minutes almost killed me when I started! It's great for my heart and my lungs so if it doesn't do anything for my weight, it still benefits me.


Now, after all of that.....I am up to the weight that I was at a month ago!!!! I am so bloated and miserable! Today or tomorrow will be the last day of TOM and I continue to gain even after it is over. It's usually at least 4-5 days after TOM leaves before I start seeing a decent number on the scales. UGH!! Goodbye dream of being anywhere close to my Valentine goal!

Still hoping to get rid of the bloat and be down to 213 by Spring Break!!!

[scout83]

I'm struggling big time with the scale. I'm slowly creeping up, up, up, and I know it's from mindless eating on the run. I told myself I'd get back in a routine this week, but I haven't. I'm not managing my stress, I'm simply getting through each day (eating too much...). So I'm about to marry myself to a routine. If it means the same lunch every day for a week, so be it. I think it also may mean going to bed earlier so I can wake up earlier and have time for myself in the morning. It's possible, and I can do it.

Ok, this has been my own little pep talk. Back to your regularly scheduled programming

[CakeGirl75]

Thanks Jb...hope to be up to 30 minutes myself soon!

[Laura78]

Morning ladies. Well, I'm sad this week because despite the fact that I didn't stray all week with my calories and I exercised, I didn't lose anything It stinks, but it is what it is and hopefully this week goes better. I'm contemplating getting a new scale because mine is really annoying me only going in .5 intervals!

scout - I'm sorry you've been struggling to get back into a rhythm.....I know all too well how hard that can be especially while dealing with a lot of stress. It's a good plan to repeat meals, even use frozen meals for now until you get back into the swing of things.

Jill - Sorry you're not where you wanted to be for Valentine's Day. It's such a struggle, isn't it? I guess the advice for all of us to keep going.....eventually it will all come off. My downfall has always been I have a couple bad weeks and then I feel sorry for myself. We'll get there!

Norma - WOW WOW WOW - 5 pounds!!!! So incredible, what an accomplishment. And 50 lbs total - so inspirational!! Congrats

CakeGirl75 - Hello! Are you turning 40 this year? I ask because I'm in the midst of planning a party for my hubby who was born in 75.

Rana/Danielle - How did your weeks go? Is the scale being nicer to you?

[NjPants]

This has been a rough week. My teeth have been giving me major problems to the point where I can't chew anything. It will be a few weeks before I can get into a dentist. I feel like I am starving! Yesterday, I finally made some soups so that I can at least eat a bit. After having to make tomato soup from fresh tomatoes, I will never go back to canned. I guess on the upside, I haven't gained any weight. I am worried that when I can eat properly again my body will jut hold on to it.

I have only managed one run this week as well. Best not to expend even more energy when you can't properly fuel your body as it is. I think...

They seem to be feeling better today, but then I haven't tried eating so I guess I'll find out soon enough. I am going out with a group of friends to a Singles masquerade in Paris tomorrow. I'm not even going to attempt counting calories this weekend if I can get anything eaten! And apparently there will be tequila! I'm posting this to remind myself when the scales are up on Monday that I chose to go off course for the weekend.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

[nickilaughs]

Originally Posted by NjPants

This has been a rough week. My teeth have been giving me major problems to the point where I can't chew anything. It will be a few weeks before I can get into a dentist. I feel like I am starving! Yesterday, I finally made some soups so that I can at least eat a bit. After having to make tomato soup from fresh tomatoes, I will never go back to canned. I guess on the upside, I haven't gained any weight. I am worried that when I can eat properly again my body will jut hold on to it.

I have only managed one run this week as well. Best not to expend even more energy when you can't properly fuel your body as it is. I think...

They seem to be feeling better today, but then I haven't tried eating so I guess I'll find out soon enough. I am going out with a group of friends to a Singles masquerade in Paris tomorrow. I'm not even going to attempt counting calories this weekend if I can get anything eaten! And apparently there will be tequila! I'm posting this to remind myself when the scales are up on Monday that I chose to go off course for the weekend.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

That sounds like so much fun!
If you can't enjoy life with a little tequila is it truly living? If I know I'm going to be bd I try to b good the rest of the time. What about Greek yogurt with honey? Bananas are soft? Hummus. Just throwing different things out there. I hope your teeth get fixed soon!

[CakeGirl75]

Laura78, no I am actually turning 35...again.

Seems lately no matter how great I do all day I get crazy munchies in the later hours of the evening. Need to find a way to put a stop to it!

[scout83]

Thank you, Laura78. I actually hadn't considered frozen meals, but that's an idea. Maybe I'll pick a few up at the store today as a placeholder for this week.

I have a much better outlook today even though the scale still isn't going down. I think the big difference is I was active Thursday-- I can still feel it a bit in my legs, and I'm still getting the psychological benefits. I have to travel at the end of the week for a whirlwind 36 hours and I know I'll be travelling again at the end of March as well. So, outside those times, I'm going to settle into the routine I know serves me so well. Let the scale fall or not fall accordingly.

It's going to be a busy day, but I already have carrot juice and a sandwich ready in the fridge so that's a small victory. Have a great weekend.

[Rana]

SoMuchFattitude -- Yes, I guess the silver lining is that I am still trying to battle it, instead of giving up and just throwing myself into a vat of butter. Congratulations on the weight loss -- and I agree with you, a 0.4 loss is much better than nothing or gaining it! And as an athlete myself (or I used to be one, as I haven't ridden in a while) I totally understand enjoying the running and the pace and having that be as amazing or more amazing than a loss.

Scout -- Thank you for the note on being thoughtful. I think that I do need to think things to death and overanalyze them before I know what actions to take. I hope that I can find the "magic" again to get this weight off and continue to onto my goal... I hope the scale has moved this weekend. I'm sorry it's not, I completely understand. But have hope that even if it stays the same, it's better than gaining.

JB1975 -- sorry that your knee has been hurting. I hope it's better by now. And even if you didn't hit your Valentine goal, you're at least less than you were a few months ago, right?!

CakeGirl1975 - Welcome!

NJPants -- I also turn into myself, but this past week and the other week have been purely because I've been traveling and it's hard to get to 3FatChicks when I'm on the road. And yes, I am trying to not just stay within myself, because I know I do better when I have support from others, in my life or online, and I want to be held accountable by you guys too!

Oh, and congratulations on the 50 lb loss so far. That's amazing! You will have an amazing year -- you're living in France and lost 50 lbs. That just makes it a great year so far!

Good luck on the teeth, too. I'm sorry you're in pain, but I hope you had a great weekend at the masquerade party.


Laura78 -- don't feel bad about not losing! It happens. The fact that you're still at the same weight is a win (trust me, like I was saying to SMF, it's a win to stay the same... I've gone up this past week).



My update for the week...

I was traveling, completely off plan (but still counting my calories) and what a surprise, when I eat too much, I gain weight. I had gone into "intuitively" eating food because that's what my doctor wanted me to do, but the reality is that I simply eat too much when I am eating like that. My body does send the signal for hunger when it's not getting the same calories it was getting before. So, hello, weight maintenance or weight gain!

With the IR that I have, I don't think I can eat intuitively, because some of that hunger can be because I eat too many carbs/sugars in a meal or a snack. I need the tracking ability to watch and understand if the hunger is coming from too many carbs or genuine hunger. At the end of the day, they feel the same -- my head hurts, my stomach growls, and I get hangry.

I am also a little bit more settled and by tracking, I'm already eating less, because I see the numbers pile up. Today I have a birthday celebration and I've already planned on what I will drink and eat (water at dinner, celebratory wine later) and remind myself this is not MY birthday, so it's not my place to indulge.

I also am better prepared for the coming week ahead when my plan is to be ontrack for the 5 days coming up with work. I was going to get a food delivery service that my BF claims all the women in his work swear by, but I missed the deadline. So, maybe another time. I will cook this afternoon and possibly tomorrow to make sure I have frozen meals to take to work or eat at night after the gym...

And this is a freaking novel, but it's because I am motivated because the scale just keeps going up. Yikes. I need to make this work.

[scout83]

Rana

and remind myself this is not MY birthday, so it's not my place to indulge.

Yes!! I relate to that so much and am going to use it in the future. I use so many different excuses to indulge. Kudos to you for recognizing a challenge and meeting it.

I'm still hanging on. Not losing weight but still here so that's something. I know my stress and level of busy are the main contributing factors to my struggle this month. I spent last night doing some work that's been hanging over my head like a black cloud. I declined an invite tonight so I can organize and feel at peace in my space. I would like to find some sense of equilibrium before I travel this weekend. That means doing housework, taking care of things that need to be done, and eating well. I can do that. Not always fun but worth it. Have a great week everyone.

[Laura78]

Good Morning everyone! We just had a lovely long weekend. I am so super busy - I have my son's bday and my husband's 40th bday party to work on and plan. My time is running low now and I'm getting a bit stressed about it all!

I went ahead and researched scales and have now bought a new one off of Amazon and I hope it comes soon! My scale was really driving me crazy.....every time I get on and off it sways 0.5-1lb and I end up taking the weight that shows up more often. Also, it only counts in .5 increments so it gets frustrating to see no change day to day - some days a girl has to know she has lost 0.2 (or gained 0.2!). So I'm looking forward to that coming.

I have really been struggling with exercising motivation. We are going through this intense arctic-like weather and it is always dark and I think that is part of the problem!!

scout - It sounds like you are working on calming your spirit - it's sooo hard to forget to take care of yourself when you're going through a season of stress and intense busyness! Where are you traveling?

Rayna - It definitely looks like you need to track calories to stay on track. I have been hemming and hawing myself about trying to make this a "true" lifestyle change and just try to wing it. But then I think maybe this is my lifestyle change...that I should track calories for the rest of my life. Painful, but true. I love reading maintenance threads (because let's face it, my issue has never been losing persay but keeping it off for the long haul!!) - and a lot of them track calories during the week and then eat whatever on the weekends. I think I can live with that.

Norma - How are you feeling?

[SoMuchFattitude]

Is there a banging my head on the wall emoji?

I'm SO frustrated. I gain .6lbs at my weigh in and the scale is slowly creeping up, ounce by ounce. I've basically plateaued. I'd be fine if I understood it, but I don't. My eating is perfectly on plan. I weigh and measure everything and I'm earning between 40 and 50 activity points a week. I'm eating all my APs and some of my weeklies.

So frustrating.

I know, I know, just keep on and something will give...eventually.

[scout83]

Laura78 This weekend is beautiful and exotic...Cleveland, Ohio I hope the new scale is a good one, accuracy makes such a difference.

SoMuchFattitude Hang in there!

I'm doing OK today. My house is still a mess but I'm otherwise productive. And eating well. I made a veggie yellow curry for dinner last night and will have that for lunch today. Dinner tonight, not sure. Maybe just a quick wrap. Have a good one.

[NjPants]

Good evening everyone. It seems several of us are having scale issues. I think mine is due to not being able to eat for many days. My body has gone into survival mode. I haven't gained anything, but it's not moving.

I am feeling better. My teeth aren't great and will probably continue hurting until I can get into a dentist, but I'm back eating solid foods mostly. No nuts for protein, and I'm off most grains as they further irritate the infection.

I did make it out for the masquerade for a bit. It was too frantic with singles trying to get intimate with strangers for the night so I ended up at a quieter venue with some wonderful friends. One of the guys had been living here for four years now. He is also from the states and has lost an insane amount of weight while here. Over 100 pounds his first year. That can't be a coincidence.