300+ and Ready to Try Again Weekly Thread (#1094)
 

WELCOME!!

We are a group of individuals who weigh or have weighed 300+, or near there. This group was formed to provide a place for others like us to find support and hope. We are aware of the distinct problems that come with weighing over 300 lbs.

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We have found this thread to be more than just a support group... we have found it to become a home. We invite you to join us.



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Hello ladies - well just to report I lost 0.25 of a pound!! lol WAHOO!! After a week of vigorous exercise etc! So was dissapointed but also had eaten a salty meal yesterday so we shall see how it goes by next week. I am not weighing again now, am packing scales away so no temptation to hop on them. Really enjoying the exercise I am doing but do find it hard to cut down on food cos I like just being relaxed about eating....

anyhoo....

Must get on with this essay I am doing (yawn!)

Good morning ladies, and no I haven’t been to the doctor yet. It’s a provincial holiday today, so doctor isn’t in. Today is the day that my husband’s Order of Canada is supposed to be released to the press. If he brings anymore reporters into this house, I’m going to short sheet his half of the bed. He’s 6’5”, so that would actually be quite funny. He once gave me two hours notice before bringing in national CBC (Canadian CNN) cameras into our living room. They stayed for 3 hours. I literally had to insist that they leave. It was the reporters last day before holiday, and I think he was avoiding the office for fear they’d assign him something else to do. I had my apron on, and went into the living room and in my best Scarlet O’Hara voice told them that they were interfering with my house work and to skedaddle. It was the middle of summer, actually quite hot here what with global warming and all, and it’s not like we have air conditioning in our igloo, so those lights were really heating the house up. Himself is pacing and nervous and excited all at the same time. I’m keeping my rhino tranq gun handy incase he gets too worked up.

I found a great little article in Check Up magazine. It got my attention because it started with an intro of, “STAGGERING… For me there is no other word to describe the overwhelming failure rate of people endeavoring to shed pounds. For many, it has been a repeated journey of frustration and feelings of guilt, with an often irreparable blow to the self-esteem. It doesn’t have to be this way. This is where I used to break into a well-intentioned ‘how-to’ lecture about the virtues of regular exercise, and reasonably reducing empty calories whilst eating vegetables, whole grains, fruits, beans, seeds, and nuts, and drinking plenty of water. I have since learned that although that information is important, it is infinitely more important to teach people how to mindfully act on the information given. Carrying out healthy behaviours is dependant on adopting and maintaining the right mindset.” I thought this guy really gets it, so I’m going to be posting from his article this week on An INSIDE-OUT approach to Health and Fat Loss, by Mike Howard.

First is Inside-Out vs. Outside-In thinking. When “we focus exclusively on outcomes; we place a great deal of importance on aesthetics; we are overly reliant on outside means to accomplish goals; and we are influenced largely by standards set by people other than ourselves. ‘Outside-In’ thinking uses extrinsic motivation as the driving force behind actions….driven by outcomes – weight loss would be a good example of an extrinsic reward. While this ‘dangling carrot’ approach may work in the short-term, it will almost assuredly fail people in the long run, as evidenced by the high drop-out rates….joy and innate passion for the process are lost, and consequently, so are opportunities to grow as individuals. ‘Inside-Out’ thinking, by comparison takes a deeper, more internally-based approach that allows us to tap into our most profound emotions and core values. Intrinsic motivation entails doing something for its own sake – for the enjoyment you derive from it. ‘Inside-Out’ thinkers tend to view life through a different set of goggles. They see life not as a function of their circumstances, but rather as a function of how they deal with the circumstances they are dealt. Adopting and cultivating ‘inside-out’ thinking patterns takes time, effort and persistence; and involves finding your inner athlete, discovering ‘flow’, reframing success, and merging healthy habits into all aspects of your life.” Tomorrow we will discuss, “Finding Your Inner Athlete.”

Thanks for posting that Catherine! :)

HAPPY MONDAY!!!!!!!

Emily.... a quarter pound is still a move in the right direction! And I know what you mean about putting the scales away. I put them infront of the TV because I tend to snack while watching the TV, but I tend to hop on them all the time, and the fluctuations in weight make me crazy! I have planned on weighing on Monday AM only, so I will see if I can control myself!

Catherine....I like what you said about "mindfully acting"...I plow through this new way of eating sometimes with out thinking being mindful of my actions, thoughts, and deeds.....thanks for the post!

I survived opening weekend of my play....and it was a great success! Lots of parties, lots of food, but I stayed on track! We have one more weekend of this play and then I go into rehearsals for another. I was just asked to direct yet another, so I will be crazy busy! No time to eat! DH isn't a theater person, so he accepts it, but resents it, a little stressful, but it has been my passion since I was a teenager, so it was part of the package when he married me (as was his poker games when I married him!), so with my DH, 2 kids, part time job, and the small business I own (I make cheesecakes!!!) I am going to have a busy year! Who has time to eat????!!!!LOL!!!!!

I am going to a dinner party tonight and she is making pasta. I sure hope there is salad! I don't eat carbs, I don't want to be rude, so here's hoping for a successful night!

Have a great week all!

Jane

Just did another hour in the gym!! it was tiring but I feel happy its another day done, and also I finished one of my essays so thats good news - happy monday to y'all

howdy all, hope you all are OP and happy.

Just thought I'd quickly post that I'm doing the 20lb down by Easter challenge in the Chicks on a Challenge forum, in case anyone else was interested. That leaves us with 46 days (i think) to do that, and I know we can all do it!!! :carrot:

Is anyone giving anything up for lent? I think I'm giving up cheese :(

BTW its excellent to hear about everyone's progress, keep up the excellent work everyone. :cb:

*slinks in* so i have been TOTALLY MIA. for that i am sorry. my computer crashed and i have been waiting for my new one to arrive. i have not been to weigh in. i havent been doing much of anything.

*sigh* so i think im gonna get a gazelle and cancel my gym membership, any thoughts?

chimichanga-I'm not giving up something for Lent, I'm adding something. I'm going to use the bike everyday even if only for 10 minutes. By the end of Lent, I will be ready for the Tour de France.

Hey Girl!! I'm sorry i didn't reply to your last personal, been insanely busy and also not knowing what else to say..... anyway... sorry homie. :hug:
HAHA you are a funny girl. Maybe we can do the tour de france together??! That is a great lent idea, maybe I should add 10min on the bike everyday too!! Still have a day to think about it / pike out of doing it :rofl:

princess puffy pants- glad ur back! :) I personally would not recommend doing that, as the gym provides like a huge range of different body motions (that you should alternate between) rather that the gazelle which pretty much only goes a certain way, eh. Also I get bored pretty fast on one piece of equipment, but if you can do it, hey go for it. :D

Emily: Way to go on all the exercise! Congrats on loosing .25. Way better than gaining .25! Good job.

Catherine: I can't wait to see what you will put about finding your inner athlete. I kind of feel like I am refinding the part of me that enjoys moving my body and being athletic. Have fun with the biking you will be adding. When I started it back on December 4th I could only do 5 minutes so I am all for starting slow and building up. It has really helped me to not dispise my bike riding.

Jane: Glad the play was a success along with your eating during it. Way to go. Have fun with the next one too.

Chimichonga: When I was growing up I was Catholic and when my mom used to ask us what we are giving up for lent I always thought I should give up veggies. Sigh, I wasn't allowed to give up veggies. lol. I am not Catholic now but still a Christian. What a wonderful thing to do once again, giving something up for lent. I may just pray about it and see if there is something that the Lord moves on my heart to give up.

Luan: Soooo happy to see you back. I think any exercise you will do is what you should do. If you aren't using your gym membership why waste the money. Put it towards something that you will do! JMO. lol. Glad to see you sweetie.

Blessings all,
Annie

Hey all! I know I've been scarce this weekend. I was busy buying, rearranging my house to fit and assembling my new Bowflex! I'm very happy to announce that it is in one piece, with none left over, and ready to use. In fact, it saw a bit of use last night, but I think the assembly was part of the work-out! :lol: It took DH and myself about 2 - 2 1/2 hours to get it together. Then we played on it a bit. I think I'm going to really like it.

Luan, good to see you! The secret to home exercise equipment is to use it. IF you use it, not a bad idea. We paid $43.00 per month for the Y for years and almost never went. When we did go we had to stand around waiting for the treadmills, waiting for the ellipticals, waiting for the weight machines. We bought the elliptical and it sat unused for several months, until I finally buckled down and started using it. Now I use it six days a week and actually wish I'd bought a higher-quality/more expensive one. That's also why we bought the Bowflex. I need to add strength-training and after a lot of research decided it was what we needed. It was expensive. We could go to the gym for 18 months for the price of the stupid thing...but if we actually USE it, we think it's money well spent. I know some people just don't work out at home. They watch TV or have a hundred other distractions and for them going to the gym is best. A Gazelle is way less expensive than what we bought, so the investment isn't so much of a risk. But it's going to boil down to whether you use it just the same.

Sorry for no more replies ladies! I'm at work and got nothing office-related done over the weekend so I better skedaddle! :wave:

Hi Lilion,

Glad you got your bowflex and it is all put together. Tell me how you like it. I really want one. I am going to have to do some serious re-arranging in my house lol. I want to add strength training too.

Everyone have a great day.
Blessings,
Annie

Part Two of Mike Howard’s “An INSIDE-OUT Approach to Health and Fat Loss” from Check Up magazine.

“Finding Your Inner Athlete. As human beings, we are hard-wired for physical activity. Despite how far removed you may feel from this truth, it is fundamental to understand that moving regularly brings you closer to who you are meant to be….Exercise vision is both seeing yourself as an exerciser, and knowing how you want exercise to make you feel….if you don’t have a strong vision of the self you want to be, your behaviour will not change….Increased Awareness + Clarity of how you want to feel = More frequent exercise….Using Imagery to Tap into Your ‘Inner Athlete’
1. First thing in the Morning: Think about the possibilities for movement and healthy eating. Mentally plan when, where and how you are going to accomplish this. Think about how good it will fell when you get to do it.
2. During Exercise: Connect a sense of joy to the activity. Think about how your abilities are developing, and picture the stress melting away with the sweat. Observe your environment – what aspects of it invoke positive emotions.
3. After Exercise: Reflect on the session and bask in the feeling of accomplishment. What went well? How did it feel? Did you reach your goal? How can you improve upon your experience in the next session?
4. Before Bed: A time for reflection and preparation. Observe (without judgment) how your day went. If you didn’t fulfill your daily activity goal – it’s okay. Think about what you can do the next day to follow through with your plan. Prepare your mind for the following day and think of the world of opportunities that awaits you.”

Tomorrow will be on achieving flow in your exercise habits.

Good for you Lance....err Catherine!! ;)

Good for you Ammi! You are back OP and that is the most important thing. Can't change the past, so don't waste your energy worrying about it when you can be planning an excellent future!! :hug:

Hi Ammi, glad u are feeling better now and completely understand how scary it is realising that to put on weight again would be so easy its really horrible, I remember a few years back I lost 60 pounds and putting it back on and realising that I could slip back was so horrendous as I was really thinking that I had it sorted and my problems were behind me. At least u are now more aware than ever of how easy it is to gain and that therefore u have to maintain your good work! Good luck with this week and I hope it goes really well for you....

I am feeling pumped up tonite with the urge and will to lose weight, eat better and keep it coming off...I am enjoying exercising and want to make this happen. I have decided to start counting cals again as for a while I have been following paul mkennas advice which is great but I have maintained not lost and feel it is just too gentle for me!! My metabolism has def been affected by going thro menopause at 32 and I just feel without keeping calories down it won't come off. Think I will go for 1,900 which is quite generous and see what happens this week.

I know the road ahead will be hard BUT I am up for it, I want it and I am prepared to do what it takes to get myself reconnected with my healthy body which I deserve and want.

Good luck to all of us on this journey to ourselves and all the hard work which we need to plough through....

hi Ammi glad to see you back. when do we get to see pictures of you in Voodoos jeans and tops?

Torister - well said! I shouldn't worry about the past. I can learn from it, but not focus on it. I have a wonderful future ahead of me, one where I will have total freedom to do what I want, all the things that my size have stopped me from doing in the past (like fitting on fair rides). So yes, I should, and will focus on my future :hug:

Em - I think the one good thing about how you maintained on Paul's plan is that you know you can fall back on that when you are at goal and ready to maintain your loss. Good for you for giving it a go, and now that you have decided to count calories again I wish you well and hope the FFM will pay you regular visits :yes:

Thanks for your comments on my falling off the wagon but getting back on it yesterday. That's what I love so much about this place, people like you are here and you know just how it feels to lose weight, or struggle with losing weight, or like recently with me, feeling scared at how easily you can fall back into old habits.

Patti - I have to give the jeans and tops a quick iron because they got creased with delivery, but once I have done that I will put them on again and get Daren to take pics. I will post them as long as Sharon promises not to post pics of herself in the same clothes, I know she will have looked much nicer in them than I do. I wish I was tall :rofl:

How is your leg these days. I forgot to congratulate you on your lb loss the other day when you had a sneaky peak, so :congrat: I am really happy for you :hug:

Lilion - how are you doing with being OP since I last wrote to you. Any closer to getting to the 100.....I hope so :crossed:

Take care all and bye for now,

Hugs,

Ammi :grouphug:

Ammi i will look forward to seeing those pictures! my leg is doing better thank you...

Hi Everyone,
Hope all of you are well. I'm ok. I weighed in yesterday and lost 1 more pound. That means that even though I gained over Christmas, I've lost everything I gained then +. It also means I, for the first time in my adult life, I haven't gained any weight over the winter. I'm pretty excited about that......
actually the excitement has diminished, cuz of lots of crap going on with my step daughter, and grown up kids. (all different issues)
Ammi, Even though you gained a little over Christmas, you too have had a loss over the winter. We're both lighter than we were last fall!
Sorry no more personals, but I gotta get on the Gazelle. Maybe that'll cheer me up.
But, I can tell ya this, I am so sick of teen age lies and
meanness from one adult kid to the other, I can't hardly stand it.
Tomorrow MUST be better.

Patti - glad that your leg is OK, do you think it's the special DVD of exercises that you bought that has really helped?

Sandy - KIDS :mad: they really can bring you down can't they. You know where I am if you need to get it all off your chest!

On a lighter note :bravo: on your weight loss, try to keep that happy feeling, it's far more productive than feeling down :hug: You are right about my weight loss too, I have lost over the winter, not as much as I could have, but I am going to try to get things moving now :yes:

Take care all and goodnight, I am off to bed now.

Hugs,

Ammi :grouphug:

no Ammi i think my wrap helped more than anything... if i forget to put it on my leg will eventually go back to hurting but not near as bad as it ws.i am able to do my treadmill now thank goodness!

Ammi-I know exactly what you are talking about. I scared myself silly when I realized I was fast approaching 400 again. I think now and then it’s good to have a big slip that scares you than to just have a slow slide like I did the last year. At least you recognized your old self. That means your new self is really different. It is so important for all of us to remember that we have to be like Mad-Eye says, “Constant Vigilance.”

Lillion-Another couple of years, and you’ll be able to bring in people to train in your personal gymnasium. I think it was a great accomplishment just putting the thing together. I remember trying to bring a weight bench in from the car once. I couldn’t pick up the box, and had to open it and carry in each weight one at a time.

Sandy-Wow, not gaining weight over the winter. That’s huge. I wish I could say the same. After raising two, I am convinced that the teenage years are God’s gift to us to make the empty nest process easier. After dealing with all the drama, I was sooo ready for them to graduate and fly.

Hello ladies
OP today which is amazing considering my lack of will power dust of late :lol: my hands even feel like jelly right now from all the lifting I did today GEEZ my PT went hard on me. I don't think I can afford the $75 a week for one hour of training from now on, i just did this one-off promo thing which was good for what it was. Anywayz talk to y'all later and sorry if I missed anyone in personals today but love and willpower you all!!! :moo:

Ammi! Good to see you back in action girl, Going on roller coaster rides is a big thing for me too... :) I can totally relate. One day we'll get there!!! We must have been psychically connected last week, exactly the same thing happened to me and it just gets you down so much aye. Well, back on the horse for both of us! :lol:

Emilymay- keep the urge goin as long as possible! That's always when we're best to ourselves... stay motivated girl!

Annie - Yeah its a great tradition, makes us grateful for everything we have.. well it does to me anywho. I think the key is to give up something you have frequently that you love, not veggies!! :rofl: but not something you can't live without.... good luck, let me know what you decide and we can b*tch about it together :lol:

Lillion- me jealous!!! what the heck is a bowflex? Sounds good and tough!!

Catherine: I loved your informative post today. Thank you so much for taking the time to post it. I feel really good about #2 on the list. I have noticed that looking myself in the mirror and saying good job or well done is something I look forward to.

Ammi: The important thing is that you are back on track again. You said it girl. You will do just fine. Every day is a new day!

Sandy: Yipee on another -1 for you. Way to go. So sorry that your children and step children aren't getting along. That stinks. Take your anger out on your Gazelle and ride like the wind.

I had a great op day today. I made the WW zero point soup that is in their book and I must say I wasn't expecting it to be very good but, it was very good. Lots of veggies and filling. Hope you are all doing well and being good op girls.
Blessings,
Annie

Ammi -- I too, realize just how easily I could let it all slip and go back to bad habits. I think it would take a while to get all my bad eating habits back, but I know I could go back to not exercising. It still takes all my will some days to get me to exercise, and the food slips are just too easy as well...

I am convinced I will need to be vigilant forever to keep this weight off.

Well I've been reading everyone's posts but not felt like posting myself. It looks like I'm GAINING instead of losing, mood swings, hot flushes, vile! BUT I'm starting South Beach AGAIN & trying to get a 'positive' frame of mind.
Ammi, I'm sorry you had a bad week-end, but you put the brakes on & got back OP & exercising. I know it must have scared you but you are in control & a SMALL glitch is nothing compared to the amount of weight you've lost. As for being lighter than me, sob! I told you years of wearing too tight (2- sizes at least!! lol) jeans 'compressed' my fat bottom & thighs, though it's not something I'd reccommend! If I don't get my botty in gear you'll be sending me clothes, though it would be nice, I think Steve would kill me after having to buy loads of smaller clothes! I kNOW you can do it!!!xxxxxx
Sandy, sorry the 'kids' are being pains, it's amazing what joy they can bring, yet the upsets, sleepless nights, shouting/fights & general trouble they can cause often make me wonder whether it's better to get a couple of dogs or cats & not bother having kids at all! They all have good points & bad points but being a step-parent to a resentful adult/teen must be near impossible. You didn't get that initial 'bond' when they were small & the other 'mum' can often add fuel to an already 'hot' problem. Hugsxxxxx Hope things improve soon.
Valerie, I hope you are ok, busy rather than sad, AND how's your 'man', not hubby, Gabe? Did you get Cody (right name?) to canter yet or is he too old to be bothered?xxxxxxx
Xena, thanks for quoting me, I ought to take action on my words instead of spouting them!!!lol. I hope studying is going well, YOU are doing great, remember you might be a bit 'rusty', this was your FIRST test things could well improve & you get steady A's!!!!xxxxxxx
Lilion, Bowflex, does it use a bow as resistance, instead of weights? I expect it is a form of weights/strength machine? I hope you get lots of use from it & of course, enjoy it!xxxxxx
Nancy, sorry the B&B woman was not very nice to you. I hope you get an apartment soon, or get your bf sorted, whichever makes you happy.xxxxx
Emily, ANY LOSS IS GOOD!!! Though I think watching your calories is a good idea, Paul MacKenna is great BUT his programes seem to be aimed at people who need to lose 2-3 stone, we need a slightly different approach. I have his weight loss hynosis dvd & must start using it again, it did work. I stopped because of depression & you're not supposed to use it then, BUt as Ammi said it certainly helps you sleep at night, though with your busy life you probably don't need it! Can I ask if your memory was affected when you went through your op & menopause? Mine is so bad, I look at my BA & wonder how I got it!!!!xxxxxxx
Annie, you are doing so well, I really must get on my bike, Ammi keeps mentioning it, but there's no room downstairs... any excuse, lol. I hope you 'beat' hubby on your 'virtual' race, how many miles have you done now?
Catherine, great on ADDING for Lent, rather than giving something up. Tour De France? Hhhmmmm I would struggle to get around the Arc De Triumphe lolxxxxxxx
Well I hope everyone else is well Wezi, how ru & the 'bump'? Keep it up everyone, you really help me keep on without giving up.xxxxx
xxxsharon

Hello All,

Well it's a beautiful sunny day, it's amazing how a bit of sunshine can make the day seem so much nicer. Mind you, having said that, I didn't sleep well last night, so after breakfast this morning I went back to bed. So a lot of the lovely sunshine had to be hidden by my curtains :rofl: But I am awake now, catching up on posts, and I will be going to exercise as soon as I am done here.

I made THE phone call this morning, the one to the gym to make appts for mine and Daren's induction. We have appts for 9 am tomorrow! Talk about taking the bull by the horns. So we'll have the inductions and that means we can start using the gym any time we want after that :woohoo: No excuses now!! I am pretty excited about it all.

Patti - it's a shame that the DVD wasn't the reason your leg has improved, you could have written to them to become a living testament of the wonders of that particular kind of exercise :lol: Still it's great that the wrap has done the job for you and that you are able to exercise on your treadmill again now. How are you doing with the Wii, can you put more effort into the games now that your knee has improved?

Catherine - yes in a way I am glad that I got that scare, but I wasn't strong enough to get on the scales to see what damage I had done. I knew after a bottle of wine and a Chinese meal that it wouldn't be wise to weigh. I just hope that by Monday any damage I had done will be reversed and I will at least still weigh what I did pre pig out.

How are you doing these days, are you managing to get through the whole day now on track? I guess one good thing about only falling down in the evening with what you eat is that at least you haven't spent the whole day eating for the sake of it. So even if you are only staying strong in the day, that's still an accomplishment :yes:

Chimi - is Luna Park still going in Sydney? What about Australia's Wonderland? You should get a pic of one or two of the coasters there, put it on your fridge and let that be an incentive for those times when there must be a hole in the will power dust bag :D I really want to go to a theme park with Daren to celebrate his 40th in November, I am determined I will be able to fit any ride I want to go on by then. It's a great incentive!!

Annie - I am a bit naughty when it comes to that WW Zero point soup. If it's the same recipe I have where there's lots of tomatoes and no potatoes well I get rid of the former and add the latter :rofl: I also add parsnips which have to be counted too, and sometimes I'll add meat. So it doesn't stay Zero points for long. Oh well it's still low in points and very filling. Daren and the kids are getting fed up of it now though, so I shall be making some just for me until the weather gets warmer :yes:

Look at you, just about hitting your exercise goal already. WOW you are doing so great :cp: You are definitely an inspiration.

Heather - sometimes it does get a bit overwhelming when you realise that you really do have to watch what you eat for the rest of your life. But if the rewards are being healthy and having the freedom that being slim brings then it is definitely worth it. I figure I'll be like I was at Christmas. Choosing times when I know I want to not watch what I eat, and being committed to losing whatever I gain ASAP. Hopefully that way I don't end up resentful of dieting forever, and I won't end up putting back on all the weight I have lost :yes:

Sharon - I am saying it here and I am saying it loudly....I REFUSE to ever send you my 'big' clothes :dizzy: Not because I'm a :moo: but because I am determined that you are going to keep losing weight and you are always going to remain smaller than me! You have faith in my ability to keep going, and I have the same faith in YOU. It's great you are starting SB again, I really hope you see the same great results you were seeing before :yes:

As for that exercise bike of yours, are you sure you can't move something from downstairs so you can make room to put the bike down there? Maybe you can get a Gazelle so that you can fold it away like I do when it's not in use. That's the main reason I bought the thing, it's the only piece of equipment that I could find that would fit in my living room and then store away.

Ok time for a quick email or two before I go to exercise. Take care all and I'll be back later.

Hugs,

Ammi :grouphug:

Went to the gym this morning! Never managed to go in the am before so am really chuffed with myself!! yay!! And haven't weighed since Monday!! lol so am pleased with that so far.

Sharon - memory has been a real issue with the menopause, as has sleeplessness, hot flushes, weight gain and a bit of depression thrown in for fun!! NOT!! But I feel I am getting more adjusted to my lower hormone level and at least no more pain as my period pain was horrendous!! And of course no more worry about birth control, so there are plusses!! Hope its not your time, but am here and understand what u are going thro if u end up being early menopausal...

Everyone - have a good day ;)

Ammi - lovely to have u around again - hugz

Ammi i am putting way too much effort in to the WII lol!

OMG I am so nervous! I am going to look at another apartment today at 4pm. This one looks really cute from the pics online, is only 1 mile from my office and is in my price range. The thing is, that it is March 1 occupancy so I would have to move faster than I had planned. It would also be tough getting out of my current situation without causing my BF too much trouble, as he will have to start looking. Well, I will just have to wait and see how it is before crossing too many bridges in my mind. I have yet to tell him that I am definitely breaking it off with him. I kept trying to find the right time over the weekend and it never seemed like a good time. Of course there never is a good time for this sort of thing, so I will just need to make the time. Perhaps tonight. If not, then it will be with the counselor tomorrow. I am visiting my parents over the weekend, which I am looking forward to. It will also be good to give my BF some space after breaking the news.

I finally completely broke things off with the woman at the B&B. She called me twice and emailed me like 4 times during the workday yesterday with problems she was having. I finally decided that I just couldn’t continue being responsible for her problems and told her that last night. I have a full time job and I can’t drop what I am doing to help her out whenever she needs. She obviously needs someone who can give her a lot more support than I can. She was pretty upset about it, but she got on ok long before I got there and she will be able to continue on without me. I am sure she can find someone else to help her.

As of yesterday I have joined the ranks of the Gazelle girls! I ordered one online yesterday and I will try to start using it every day in the morning. I kept thinking about it and wanted to wait until I knew what was going to happen with my living situation, and then I decided to change my perspective and think that I would need to make sure my new apartment could accommodate what I need to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. I have got to get back to exercising more regularly! Not working at the B&B will help a lot, but mainly I have let myself get lazy about it.

Hey everyone! Just a quick pop-in!

Catherine I LOL at the thought of me bringing in the bowflex myself! My DH and a hand-truck were key! Besides, the thing only weighs about 220 lbs total. Not too bad.

It never occured to me that Bowflex may be an American thing. Anyone interested can look at www. bowflex. com (without the spaces of course) and you'll see what we got. We got the Blaze.

I've got to run! Everyone have a good day!

Nancy - Good Luck with the apartment. That is exciting. I understand about the break up too. You need to put yourself first and do what is right for you and it sounds like you are in that frame of mind. Good Luck!

Hey everyone-

I am so sick! I can't even get in to see the ENT about my ear until mid march! So I am going to try to go to the urgent care tonight. I really don't want to go to the ER but if the pain gets worse I will for sure! I think also I am getting a cold so of course that just makes my ear pain worse.

I have been doing HORRIBLE with food. I have gotten into that mode of I am sick and just eat whatever. Well DH and I sat down and we both want to get back on track. Since moving back from Barrow its almost like a culture shock. Fast food is available on every corner!

Ok well I am off to get some heat on my ear and take some cold medicine. Maybe I can just pass out and get some rest.

Sorry I can't catch up on personals. But I hope all of you see great NSVS and Losses! Take care and have a good rest of the week!:hug:

Today is on Achieving Flow in your workout routines. “Flow may be described as a positive psychological state that occurs when one is intently absorbed in an activity – whether due to concerted practice or one’s inherent curiosity. ‘Flow’ develops by bringing awareness into your actions, setting doable goals and providing clear feedback without judgment. When in ‘flow’, there is a total concentration on and intrinsic motivation for the task at hand. One has a sense of ease, serenity and timelessness when one ’flows’ with an activity. The ability to achieve flow in exercise requires choosing activities that are ideal for your skill level. If the activity is too easy, you will become bored and, therefore, unmotivated to continue. Conversely, if the activity is too hard, you may be prone to frustration and subsequent drop-out. By keeping the difficulty of the activity at a level that just stretches your ability and skills, you are likely to look forward to undertaking the challenge.” This is from Check Up magazine, written by Mike Howard.

Ammi-I don’t blame you for not hopping on the scales. There are times that I truly believe that it does more harm than good. None of us have got the strongest self esteem to begin with, and need no excuse to beat ourselves up any more than normal. You’ll know when you are ready to deal with the “one-eyed monster.” I’m doing a lot better. Even on days that I have a lot of trouble I’m not going above 3000, most days I’m right around 2000-2100. I’m content with that. Until I can get back in the pool, I’m content to hang in there. The arthritis in my spine and knee just won’t let me do some of the exercises that everyone else can. I can only really get a good work out in the water without hurting myself.

Nancy-maybe a quick move in date will be like pulling the bandaid off quickly. We purchased this condo and had a closing date in less than 3 weeks. We didn’t even get all the paperwork finished in time, and were technically “tenants” until the lawyers got everything done. It made moving from a bad situation a lot easier because we had no time to sit and dwell on it. (For those who don’t know, my husband’s house was in his sister’s name because she is a realtor and told him to let her handle everything. When we got married she basically forced us out, and he had to walk away from his down payment and equity, about $60,000.)

Lillion-You have a husband that moves things, wow. Mine was upfront with the fact that his domain was intellectual, and that “everyday tasks escaped” him. He owned not one single tool. He stored books in the stove. His dad is a medieval literature scholar, so I don’t think he spent much time with a hammer in his hand either. I will say this he does like to watch when I fix something and is willing to learn. Picking up heavy things might break his brain though.

Michelle-this may sound like throwing a water balloon at a tank, but try chewing some gum that uses xylitol as one of the sweeteners. Most of the Trident sugar-free and some of the Dentine have it. In Norway they did a study on giving kids xylitol gum, and the rate of ear infection and the need for tube surgery in the study group was a fraction of ususal. It is made from birch trees in Finland, and has natural anti-bacterial qualities. I suffered for years with ear problems. I had my right sinus crushed by a line-drive when I was 13, so it doesn’t drain good and has lots of places for bacteria to hide, and have suffered with sinus/ear infections regularly ever since. Once I had it so bad it progressed to Labyrinthitis, and I had to be taken out by ambulance because I literally could not figure out which way was up. Since I’ve been chewing the gum everyday, I have not had a single ear or sinus infection, and that has been over 5 years now. Health food stores actually sell it in a spray form just for the sinus.

CATHERINE~Thanks so much for the advice. I am going to look into the gum. I had a horrible time with tubes when I was younger. I think I have always had drainage problems with both of my ears. And I think I am getting a cold and the pressure is just making an already ear infection worse! Thanks again for telling me about the gum.:)

Em - good for you for going to the gym early this morning. How early is early? My induction tomorrow is at 9 am and already I am dreading getting up early enough to get there :rofl: I am such a night owl. But I will try to have an early night tonight!

Patti - :lol: too much effort into the Wii, is that working out your fingers, or really going for it with the boxing? It was boxing you bought wasn't it. My memory is like a sieve, sorry :crazy:

Nancy - so the decision has been made, I am sure that that in itself is a relief to you. I think that your BF at least subconciously will be expecting the news, so it won't be a big shock to him. The apartment sounds ideal, and like Catherine said, maybe having to move quickly will be a help rather than a hinderance. Good luck with it all :hug:

:woohoo: another Gazelle Girl, welcome to the club. How many of us is it now, I am losing count. I hope you will really enjoy using yours, it really makes exercising fun :yes:

Lilion - thanks for the link for the bow flex. I've never seen one so as soon as I am done here I will go check out that site. Hope you are doing well :)

Michelle - I am sorry that you are feeling so unwell, it's ridiculous that you can't get a normal appt at the docs until MARCH. If you do end up having to go to the ER I hope you won't have too long a wait. Feel better soon :hug:

Catherine - that's great that even on your 'bad' days you aren't really going OTT. I bet you are really looking forward to getting back in the pool. I had a bit of a brain wave with regard to me going swimming over here. I haven't been able to go to any indoor pool because we aren't allowed to wear shorts and t-shirts. Well I could do it without the t-shirt, but no way would I go swimming without shorts. It's not because of being fat, it's because of the huge scars down both my thighs. I am very paranoid about them. I tried on my hubby's swimming shorts, the type that go to the knee, and they just about fit me. Then it dawned on me that if men can wear those shorts, then why can't I. I am sure no swimming pool manager would have a leg to stand on if they tried to tell me I couldn't swim wearing them and a swimming costume together! When I can get some to fit I am definitely going to give swimming a go again, maybe even aquasize :yes:

Ok well I better go now, want to check out a few web sites and then it's an early night for me. I shall be back tomorrow to let you all know how it went in the gym :D

Hugs,

Ammi :grouphug:

Ammi i have a sports game that came with the WII but my husband got me Zelda for the WII and i gave my nephew my gamecube version and that is what i am playing... LIKE Caliegh i like using the sword lol!