I've had such a hard week. I just can't seem to get back on track no matter how hard I try. I do fine in the morning, and then just go to pieces by night time. I'm starting to wonder if I have Seasonal Affective Disorder. This is my first full winter here, and the half winter I was here last year was a very mild one in comparison. It's so cold right now, it's 20 below zero. I got out yesterday, and took the bus one hour, one way to go pick up a computer card for my husband's computer. It was $40 off, and I 'd have taken a bus to **** and back for that good of a deal. I got lost trying to find the return stop, and walked quite a way. I did tell myself that two years ago, I couldn't have even walked to the stop at the end of our block, so I have made improvements. I just can't seem to get fired up anymore. I guess if I have to start over every day for the rest of my life, then that is just the way it is going to have to be.

Now for part two of my clipping on Baby-stepping. This one is on Exercise.

#1 - Go Walkies. Grab the kids and hit the pavement for a fun trip in any weather. In winter, walk all the way to the toboggan hill.

#2 - Park 'n' walk. Park further away from the office and walk 10 minutes each way. Or take a quick turn around the block after lunch.

#3 - Start stairing. If you have a few minutes, walk up and down a flight of stairs a few times. Try it a few times a week and slowly increase the number of trips or the speed. Watch your endurance and thigh muscles improve.

#4 - Cut a rug. That's right, turn on the tunes, roll up the carpet and have a family dance party. Little kids love this and the fun is infectious.

#5 - Do double duty. Next time you are flaked out in front of the tube, think about trying a few sit-ups, leg lifts or push-ups. By the end of a season of Grey's Anatomy, you'll see real progress.

I just picked up a copy of the Canadian version of GNC's health magazine, and it has lots of good articles. Next time you guys get the 10 things you should do before starting a diet. I'm anxious to see how many things I missed.

Zelma: Thanks. I hope they like me as much as they think they will at the job. lol. I hope you have fun on your new exerciser. So sorry about the small gain. Maybe it is the stress. In the book I'm reading it talks a lot about stress and the effects of it on your body concerning weight gain. Sounds like you are going to have a wonderful school year with wonderful students. I hope you get to go to the zoo soon too. I love animals too.

Catherine: Hugs. I don't have any words of wisdom for you just to keep on doing what you can to unstall yourself. I think for me I just got a click in my head when my back was so bad because of the weight I'm carrying around that I couldn't even walk. I couldn't even go to my brother's funeral in November. That really hurt my heart. It just broke it. I think that just sunk in about what I'm doing to my body. I've always known but nothing like good old fashioned "in your face" moments to remind you af the fact. Maybe you can look over your journals of when you first started your journey and get a new outlook again. Big hugs and I hope you can get motivated soon!

Well, I feel kind of bad with my good friends hurting to say that I did good on WW today. I know you would want me to though. I can finally say I am under 500 pounds. I will be fixing my tracker acordingly in a bit. I lost 9.4 pounds. Yea. Exercise, drinking all my water and journaling every tiny or big thing that goes into my mouth has helped me so much. Along with all the love and support I have been getting here.

Blessings to you all,
Annie

Hey everyone-

Hope you all are having a good weekend. Just moving stuff still and cleaning non stop!

ZELMA~Good to see you post! DH started work Thursday but he does not work shift work anymore! And trees are wonderful!:lol: Sorry you have had a gain but sounds like you are getting back in gear and will lose those pounds in no time!:cheer2: Sounds like you are having a good school year so far. Have fun at the zoo! I love the zoo!:)

CATHERINE~I am sorry you are having a hard week hun.:hug: I wanted to say something about the seasonal depression. I went through a whole winter in Barrow, Ak. And I was already a little depressed in general but I found the bad winter to just make the depression that much worse. It felt hard to be positive and upbeat because of the cold and darkness. Just sharing how I felt. It was such a culture shock being from Louisiana and being at the top in Arctic in -55 weather. Hope you feel better soon.:hug:

ANNIE~Hun you are doing so awesome! Congrats on the loss! WTG!:cheer2:


Alright well I am off to go make chicken ceaser salad. YUM!:)

Annie, o my gosh, what an inspiration you are hun!! That is such great news and despite your setback last week u have ploughed on and got under the 500!! That is great :) Well done you!!

Catherine, sorry u are in a funk, was wondering is there anything for you u can do that might turn things around? A while back i started with a new facial skin routine and that seemed to end up having really positive results for me - in fact I am going to take my own advice here and get some nice cleanser and moisturiser and give myself a little lift!! Sometimes doing something with nothing at all to do with food or exercise can help lift my mood.

No exercise for me today, been busy at work studying and saw my lovely parents for a while. I am going to the gym first thing tomorrow tho with hubby and then when I get back home showered etc I am going to crack on with exercising!!

Gonna try and burn some calories in a fun way with my lovely husband later!! And have decided for valentines to get some big red heart shaped helium balloons, maybe 3 for when he gets in from work........

Em x

Catherine -- I'm nowhere near as north as you, but the cold we have here seems to be mucking things up for me too. Esp in the evenings! I also just find it harder to want to go anywhere and know I'm not moving as much as I have in the past. I'm exercising, but am also sitting a lot!

This is not easy. I guess we can't stay in that "zone" forever. But I sure am NOT going back to where I was before. I will struggle sometimes, but I won't give up.

Annie - :congrat: on the awesome loss this week. I know you were really disappointed last week but your perserverance certainly paid off this week! :hug:

Sharon - Happy Belated Birthday! :hb: :balloons:



I am feeling so jealous of all of you with honeys to celebrate Valentine's Day with. I hope you all enjoy every bit of it. :) I will enjoy it vicariously through you. ;)

I think I probably did at least OK on my calculus test. There were a few problems that I think may have tripped me up. So we'll just see how this prof feels about partial credit. ;)

Annie -- I missed your post. Congrats on that weight loss! you'll have ups and downs, but just keep plugging away!!
:woohoo:

Oh Annie! :woo: :bravo: :woohoo: :carrot: I'm so happy for you having such a nice loss!

Catherine, I'm so sorry you are having a rough time this winter, but I think it's probably to be expected. After all, how many winters have you spent in sunny Florida? Now you have
-20 degrees and wind and snow and dark! It has to be quite a shock to the system! Hang in there! :hug:

Guys I did 30 minutes on the elliptical today on a hill program! I though I'd DIE! But I feel SO GOOD now! :strong: It's so cool for me to have this feeling...I've just never enjoyed exercise before. Still can't say I like it while I'm actually doing it - but I sure enjoy the high after! :D

Hope you all have a super-duper weekend!

Annie I Am So Happy For You! Way To Go! In Answer To Your Earlier Question I Do Not Have Access To A Pool Sad To Say.

Hey there girlies!
Just popping in to catch up before I fall too far behind. Seminar was awesome and I joined Simply for Life. I am on the cleansing phase and will tell you guys about it later... for now I just can say....

WAY TO GO ANNIE!!! :cheer:

I'll be back later... got a turkey in the oven and a veg chilli on the stove. Preparing meals for the week and I have a friend coming over later... Talk to you later on...

Brenda :wave:

Hiya ladies, well , didn't make it to the gym this morning, BUT have worked hard on my essay and have made some good progress, so am really pleased with that. We are running short of money for the gym today - its five pounds a go, so we are just going to go for a walk instead, its free ;) So will do a 40+ minute walk at least!

Have eaten really well today too, which I find really hard to do when I am studying so that is good news :)

Hope u are all having a great day ;)

Annie, Congrats on now getting the job!!! I am so very happy for you. Remember, you have the skills, so you'll do well!!!
:woohooo: on your loss!!! You must feel wonderful!
:carrot:

Nancy, Just a little note, I had to fly to Utah when I was at my highest weight. About 350. I asked for a seat belt extender and that was it. The fit was snug, but I fit. I LOVE to fly! It's the perfect time for a wonderful nap at least while you're over the water. I lived on Oahu for four years back in the late 70's and early 80's. If I could afford to move back there I would in a heart beat. It's expensive, but beautiful. And only rarely can you not go to the beach. :beach: I love the ocean. I hope you go. Maybe you could get a night flight and sleep the 5-6 hours you're over the water. Maybe you could get an evening or morning flight and get to see the sun set or rise over the horizon. It's a beautiful, beautiful sight. Maybe you'll get to go when the moon is full and see it glisten on the ocean on the night flight. I SO envy you!!!! Wait til you go for a walk in a family neighborhood and SMELL FLOWERING TREES!!! I gotta tell ya, you gotta take this trip, even if it's just for me to hear your stories of where I long to live.
:rofl:

Mechelle, I'm so glad you're back state side. Does it feel closed in since it's not barren like Alaska? I'll bet it feels good to be back in here. I don't have the inner strength to live somewhere like Alaska.......Hawaii, yes, Alaska, no way! :no: You were very brave in my opinion to live there. If you're that brave, I know you can make your weight loss goals!!


Zelma, I'm sorry to hear you're head and scales are messing with you. I do however, completely understand. Keep focused on your improved blood work, how fit you are etc. I must say, your students are so lucky to have you.:book2:
My dd loves her teacher and so do I. Teachers have probably the most important job of any profession. You get to shape the future. Everyday, you have an impact on a child's life. I love how much you care about your students. I just love how they tell the new students how you like things done. Positive peer pressure is a wonderful thing. And, it sounds like your students love you as much as you love them.


Wyllen, You're right, it is depressing to know we will always struggle with our weight.

:swim: :strong: BUT, when I had my gym membership I learned that those sskinny, fit and shapely little (young) girls who are there with me, are having the same struggle. They exercise for fitness and to keep themselves at a healthy weight too. I used to just envy them, until I saw the working out just as hard and focused as me. (gotta find that focus again.) I hope that give you a little comfort. That even those skinny, fit and hapely young girls are working hard just like us. :wl: :lifter: :ebike:


Catherine, I am exactly like you. Every morning starts out great. By the evening, I've blown it in one way or an other. Yes, if we have to start over every single :censored:
day, then so be it. At least we're getting part of the day healthy. Isn't that an improvement from the past? It is for me. No more McDonald's for breakfast or donuts for breakfast. I've even cut back on my fav Starbucks coffee drinks. :coffee: I'm saving them for goals. (no wonder I haven't had one in a while) I feel I'm in good company with you. And, you should be very, very proud of yourself for being able to walk and walk outside in the cold even, to get that part for our dh's computer. I feel that's a major NSV! Let's see if we can't make Monday a success day all day, together! I'll send you my email address so you can email me during the day if you need to. :hug:
I love the 10 baby steps you share. Keep 'em coming.


Lilion, WAY TO GO on that cursed ellipitcal. You are amazing and so strong to be on that cursed machine.


Valerie, have a wonderful time with the girls and horses.


Ammi, I haven't been neglecting you, honest! Just no time this past week. Hope you have warmed up from that dreadful walk.:eek: :fr: We might get a good snow storm Monday and Tuesday. I hope so!


I know our weather isn't as cold and snowy as you in Canada, Alaska etc. But we're expecting some "bad" weather for the midwest. I just can't wait! :dancer: We haven't had a good snow and wind since 1999. I hope they close schools, jobs etc.


Gotta go for now my friends. Hang tough everyone.
:hug:
Sandy

Hey there girls~
Sorry I didn’t get back here last night. I found a site online that allowed me to watch video feed of scrap booking so needless to say, I got caught up in the moments. :)

So today is the first day on SFL. I’m hungry. I botched breakfast and micro’d my egg whites. Note: they shrink in the microwave. They were the size of fluffy coins. So even after I added my peppers and onion tops it was a pretty pathetic meal to the visual fat chicks eye. :lol: I also was allowed 1 ½ kiwi fruit. THANK HEAVENS as I was starving. ;)

So about an hour later, I’m back to starving. Its ok though cause I had my apple for my snack a little while later and was ok till lunch.

Finally lunch time. I had a big ole salad full of veggies and about 4oz of chicken on it. YUM!

Snack this afternoon is SF jello and then dinner will be Veggie Chilli that I made yesterday. Bedtime snack (yes it is allowed on this plan) is strawberries and tea. OK, I may get through day 1 :lol:

SO the SFL program is all about nutrition, education, fitness and lifestyle.

They had my attention right from the front page. I talked to the manager last week and had my free consultation on Friday. I met with a dietition who explained lots of stuff to me. She explained how the food plan works. Also, she had me list all sorts of things that I do not LIKE to eat, things that I really LIKE to eat and explain my fitness level etc to her. Well, I left for work and when I got home, I had a nice email from her with my meal plans for the week attached, also a printable grocery list for me to take to my local supermarket. I was sort of leary about the grocery list as I know that some foods are hugely expensive. BUT it was mostly things I had already in the house, since I had just gone and did my normal shopping the day before. It only cost me an extra 27.00 to pick up the things that were not on my list. NOT BAD!

I go on Fridays to get weighed in so I think I am going to change my WI day to that. When I weighed on Friday morning I was at 336 which was impressive since for 2 weeks I had been weighing higher than that. Some days all the way up to 345. So for the next 6 months I am going to NOT WI daily at home. I am only going to WI at the centre and will reward myself when I lose 5 lbs per week. When I started weighing food today, yeah, I may have a few weeks at 5lbs or more before my body adjusts :lol: There was a difference in portion size :)

So I have renewed strength and hope. That itself is worth everything to me. I am going to leave now and jump on the treadmill. I havent been as vigorous with my exercise this month as I had the last month but as of this morning that will change :)

Thanks for listening to me ramble!
Brenda :wave: