Hi ladies
Im missing lots of post this week due to my work schedule i have a super busy week ahead but wanted to jump in and say hi!
welcome to all the new posters, and congratulations to all the losers
I wanted to also thank the people who mentioned my wt loss. due to the fact i havent changed my ticker since i first began posting(3/05) my actual wt was higher when i started re-claiming my health a few months ago. since i feel totally accepted and comfortable here, i will share the fact that i actually weighed 248 when i restarted and now am weighing 216. so technically i havent officially lost 100 lbs, (unless you count all the times i have lost, lol) but i truly appreciate the kudos i am doing good mentally with this life style change and i really feel like if i can "break" 200 i will be able to go all the way!! i have found so much support, advice and love from this group you will never know how much it means to me
i hope everyone has a great weekend, and hopefully i can post something too. i really need to change my ticker, lol. thanks for listening to me ramble

Hey everyone-

PATTI-That is so funny about you wanting throwing your scales out the door. I really had DH put them in a high place so I couldn't reach it until next week. Hopefully we both will see a loss soon!

DJCJRUN-Sorry to hear you are sick. I hope you get well real soon.

TARRA- I am so glad you joined our group.

SANDY-YAY on losing 3 pounds!

ANNIE-Thanks hun! Good luck at your WI let us know how it went.

KAREN-I am sorry to hear about your husband. I hope everything turns out ok.

KYMBERLY-Glad to see you post. Even though its not exactly 100 pounds lost you still have done awesome! And you can break that 200!

PEGGY-Glad you are feeling better. WTG on the 6500 steps!

As for me I am worn out! We unpacked most of our stuff yesterday.We literally didn't stop for almost 12 hours. And we still have a ton of stuff to do. I know I probably burned off a ton of calories yesterday! I for sure feel the burn in my legs and stomach today! I have been being good on not pulling anything. That is all I need is to hurt my back or something. Well ladies I hope you all have a great Saturday!

Good Morning everyone! Just want to say Hi! before everyone else is up to bother me. We just got some new furniture delivered~couch, loveseat,and diningroom set (thanx Uncle Sam!) and wouldn't you know it...one of my chairs is cracked!! Isn't that always the way!!!
The mall by my house is having a Business Expo today and since my daughter's Dance Studio is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, she gets to perform there. I love to watch her group...they are pretty amazing. And of course you know there is going to be some shopping afterward because she is 12 and what 12 y/o can be in the mall and not shop!

Karen:I am glad your hubby is fine...it must have been so scarey! And that is so typical of any company no matter how long you have been working there!!

Tarra: I am a newbie too and I hope you can find what you need here! I did Optifast a million years ago and it was not for me, I got really sick. I hope you have better luck! Maybe Medifast is a better program.


Lisa:I am sorry you don't feel well. It is so difficult to follow something that makes you feel sick.

I hope everyone else has a great OP day!
Donna

Michelle-I use Nosalt. It is potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride. The extra potassium can actually help your BP as long as you aren’t on nitro. Then it can actually go down too much. I practically make everything from scratch just because of the amount of sodium packaged foods have.

Nancy-I’ve needed bifocals the last two eye exams. I refused after the first time, I was too young for bifocals after all. The second time I was willing, but it was right before I left for Canada, and they couldn’t get the lenses in time. I actually use those little folding reading glasses over my regular glasses. I know it looks ridiculous, but I can’t get glasses here until I get my permanent residency and I can’t leave the country until then to go back home to get the prescription filled. I wouldn’t look so silly if I could use them without my regular glasses, but one eye is 500/20 and the other is 300/20, so they weird me out. How do people fit bifocals on those new extra small glasses anyway?

Emily-I’ve never understood why we feel the need to half kill our medical professionals in training them. I will say a prayer for your feet.

Tarra-Welcome. I hope you find what you need here. I understand what it feels like to lose lots of weight and still have a huge mountain to climb. Hang in there.

Julie-I didn’t have as much trouble with the whole “swim suit” thing most people do. I figure I can’t die of embarrassment. Besides water aerobics is filled with the elderly, infirm, and flabby. The hard bodies stay in the gym where they can look at themselves in the mirrors. People can only see me for the 10 feet from where I hang my beach towel until I get waist deep anyway. Someone looks at me sideways, and I will invite them to kiss my very wide back side. The biggest problem I have is shaving. My skin is pretty loose in places, and a regular razor practically flays me. I started using a man’s beard trimmer. The little clipper doesn’t get perfectly close, but at least I don’t feel like I’ve had a close encounter with Hannibal Lector.

Annie-I’m still waiting for our first real argument. We’ve actually tried to find something to argue about just to get to do the whole “makeup” thing. He’s a teddy bear, and I’m unflappable, so that makes for few arguments. His mother drives us nuts, but we agree on how nutty she makes us so we don’t even fight about that. He was a bachelor long enough that any cooking I put in front of him is eaten like a man on death row. After cleaning up after two active teenage boys, he’d have to come in covered in horse manure and rub it on the walls to make a mess big enough to upset me. The closest thing to a fight happened when he made a doctor’s appointment for me, but didn’t tell me until we got there. I just kissed him on the check and told him that I was going next door for a diet coke, and left him to clean up the mess with the nurse. He never did that again. I can’t wait until I am able to bike as long as you are able to. I’m thinking about wearing boots next time to hold the bottom of my feet rigid on the pedals to keep my feet from arching and getting irritated.

Karen-If my husband fell off a ladder (although I can’t imagine him going up one except in a library maybe) I’d hope someone would call me. Maybe you should get him a dog tag with your name and number on it in case he gets hurt again.

Brenda-I used to raise bassets. I had to leave my last one in Florida. I didn’t think he’d survive the 8 hours on two different planes, and the winters here. He was adopted by a family with little leaguers and a big yard. He has continued his life of going to the ball park everyday, and being spoiled beyond belief. We live in a condo, and even if there is enough room, they don’t allow pets here. He’s the thing I miss most.

Lisa-would they let you chew gum to get rid of the taste in your mouth? If you can’t keep it down that is going to be a problem. When I did a liquid diet, I couldn’t get the stuff to mix well, so I started using a blender and ice cubes. Get it cold enough, and it’s harder to taste. Plus the ice would count as a few oz. of water.

Kymberly-with the yo-yo dieting that I have undergone in my life, I also had trouble deciding which weight to count as starting point. I finally decided that the highest weight made the most sense.

Peggy-getting a new toy sounds like just the thing to improve your spirits. Now as long as it goes together easy. Remember tab A goes into slot B.

Michelle-go easy on yourself. My biggest back injury came from a move. It wasn’t the weight of the box involved, but the fact that by the time I got to it, I was so tired, and muscle weary that I didn’t lift it right, and went right to the floor. I didn’t get up again for 8 years.

Donna-New Furniture. AHHHHH. You just stimulated the shopping gene on my X chromosome.

I am off to do my situps. I’m not really sore from yesterday, but my muscles are definitely letting me know they are still around. My old stand by of doing flutter kicks on the bed on my stomach actually made my feet quit hurting yesterday. PF is harder first thing in the morning, so I’m going to see if that will help them today too. If so, I’ll have to start every day that way, no matter how silly I look.

Torister: Have fun with your new bike!

Kymberly: Hey, you still lost it so that is awesome.

Michelle: Don't over do it trying to put everything away in one shot. Hugs.

Donna: Enjoy watching your daughter dance. Bummer that one of your chairs was broken. They will replace it of coarse?

Catherine: My DH and I don't argue much. We get along usually so well. We used to argue lots and lots when he was drinking. We totally grew up together. I had just turned 19 and he was about to turn 21. He was quite the partier and I wasn't. So that was a wrench in the program for about 8 years. lol. Once he became a Christian, the very same day he quit drinking and has never drank alcohol again. We have lots of fun together. The same sick immature sense of humor. lol. Something that makes us argue is my younger sister who lived with us for 3 years with her 4 kids and wants to come back now because her hubby is not working nor finding work. She can work but refuses to. I don't want her to move back in with us but, my DH is afraid she will try and I will give in. Some how, because of me I know it always comes around to his mother and how much of a #$%^ she is. UGH. She is coming to visit in May with her new hubby. I will put on my good wife attitude and try to be a nice loving Christian. She is a definate challenge for me. lol.

Okay all for my weigh in today after doing so many hours this past week of exercise and staying perfectly op on my diet is a big whomping 1 pound gone. I am trying not to be frustrated but, boy oh boy is it hard. I can praise God that at least I didn't gain weight again. Most of the women there told me to quit exercising so hard because I am toning my body which is building muscles. Now, my question is won't my weight catchu up to my lost inches some time? Any help would be appreciated.

hugs and blessings to you all,
Annie

Thank you all for your kind words about my DH. He is coming along and is expected to make an almost complete recovery, we all know how back injuries can be.

As for me, it seems I am having such a hard time resisting the scale. It's really weird. I'm afraid the numbers will go up and I will get frustrated and give up, I think? I know how frustrated I got in the past. Especially when I thought I was doing everything right and nothing showed on the scale or it was a GAIN, heaven forbid! I know, you're probably saying..."Don't get on the scale", right? Easier said than done. I wish it was that simple. Maybe I will just tell myself, what's the worse that can happen? A gain? It can always be much worse, right? I could quit all together! I don't want to do that. It's amazing how I can go from being on such a high from my 6 pound loss, to that stupid scared feeling again. UGH!! I'll be o.k., though. I just have to take my time and work it out. I'm sure it will get easier and easier? Maybe?

Annie, Congrats on the 1 pound A loss is a loss. As for exercising too hard? That sounds kind of silly for them to say that? Sounds like they are a little envious of you? Muscle burns calories even while you're sleeping, so isn't having more muscle a good thing? Just keep up the good work and it will all show itself soon.

Donna, enjoy your Daughters performance. It must be so wonderful and make you very proud of her!

Michelle Sounds like you are really working extra hard with the unpacking! Be sure not to go too crazy and overdo!

LISA Geez, that just totally sucks about the icky tasting meals. Does the place itself have any suggestions for when this happens? I'm sure you are not the only one to experience this? Maybe they can hep you out. I wish I could, but I don't know what to say. Maybe do a search on the internet for suggestions other people have tried? Did they warn you about headaches? Panic attack!? Not in four years! That doesn't sound right. I'm glad you have a home based support system. It sounds like your DH & DS are trying to help you cope. If there is anything I can do for you, I'm here, as we all are. Hang in there kiddo. And watch that water intake. Too much water can actually kill a person. Just be careful with that, please.

hey ladies! thanks for the welcome back. im even going to weigh in today... *ack*

the good thing about the new boy is that hes totally athletic. which i used to be, but he's always up for an adventure. we have camping trips and other excursions planned for this summer. its hard for him tho because he had knee surgery in december and is in a brace right now.

ok just popping in to say hello. off to do the gazelle then off to weigh in... *ack*

i have got to get back on track.

Hi All! Today was a day mixed with emotion. I got up this morning, again with a headache, and then drank my Cocoa and cried. Actually, looking back, that's kind of comical! Anyway, I slept for awhile and then left to get a manicure and a pedicure. It helped to get out of the house and helped me clear my mind. I gulped down another drink which was difficult - but it's nourishment, right? I also bought some mouthwash and I've decided to keep one bottle at home and one at work so that I can use it after every drink. IT HELPS!

Catherine - I don't think I can chew gum, but the mouthwash is gonna work. Crushing ice in the drink is a GREAT idea. I'm gonna try that tonight and see how it works.

Karen - Thanks for the encouragement. I go for my next meeting next Thursday and I am DEFINITELY going to discuss this with them. I think they have some mixed fruit that you can mix with the drinks, so I am gonna get some of that. Headaches are common during the first week because it is such a huge shock on your body. I was thinking today about what I have done over the past 2.5 days:

1. Eliminated caffeine
2. Eliminated diet cokes
3. Eliminated all hard foods
4. Reduced my calorie intake to about 1/4 of what it was

That's enough to shock anyone I guess. I'm just going to keep the faith and keep moving forward. Good news is that I'm not really hungry . . . never would have imagined that.

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement. 3FC has been a tremendous help to me.

Take care everyone!

Lisa

Annie-I had a nephew that I kept taking in. He also didn’t want to work, plus had a drug problem. I understand how frustrating it can be. I am a proponent of tough love and making people deal with consequences. I’m sorry that your sister is causing conflict. I hope it resolves itself. As for mother in laws, I’ll take yours if you take mine.

Karen-I do the same thing with the scale. If I have a loss, I’m high and excited and in a great mood. If I have a gain, it just shreds me. Right now I am taking a break from the scale to try to put some perspective on it. I don’t want to trade a food obsession for a scale obsession.

Lisa-eliminating caffeine and diet cokes can definitely cause headaches too, so you may be getting double whammied.

so i just got back from my Weigh in and im

DOWN 3.8!!!

i am so excited. i am capable of doing this. i cant believe that i really lost that, but im gonna take it!!

Hi guys
Just dropping in to catch up. Hubby and I had a busy day. I went to water kickboxing this morning which wasnt great. I didnt feel like I was being pushed hard enough.... afterwards I just went and did some laps. Felt great to be in the pool again though! Than we walked for about 20 min around the new track that opened in our wellness centre. Really nice spot.

So after that we had lunch and went to my lil nephews hockey game. They lost... BADLY! *L* had some dinner and well, thats about it! Soaked in the tub and relaxed.

One thing that I am starting to notice is that I FEEL thinner. Some things are getting easier to do. I havent soaked in the tub in about 4 years. I didnt fit well enough. I have SO much more energy. I have been chasing hubby around the house like a woman in need for 4 days now. He is SO happy to be going back to work tomorrow so he can get some rest

Other than that, I too am lost without my scale.... I literally have been walking around the house trying to figure out what I am missing. I didnt realize it until Michelle mentioned hers. I gave mine to hubby yesterday to hold on to for 1 month.... I will still weigh in at Simply for Life on Fridays but not the 2-3 times a day at home

Off to read more of my YOU on a DIET book. Interesting stuff! and than off to bed... I am exhausted!! Thank goodness all I have to do tomorrow is laundry and a baby shower...

Luan~ Yeah for you!!!!! That was a wonderful surprise!!!

Brenda

Brenda ~
it looks like things are going well for you too! WOW congrats on having lost almost 100 lbs. thats quite the accomplishment!!

Hey everyone-

Just a quick post. We are finally finished unpacking. I really didn't do to much today because I just feel horrible! I wish I had never even taken those blood pressure pills. I literally seem to have every single side effect. I know most people do not but I really have had a horrible time. It even has affected my lungs so now I am wheezing. I will go to the ER if it does not stop. Other than that I am seeing a primary Dr. next week. Just a bit of advice if your Dr. tells you to start a blood pressure medicine I would do a little bit of research first or ask seriously about side effects! I wish I would have. Other than that we had a good night. Oh and DH and I talked seriously about buying a gazelle.

CATHERINE-I hear ya about the salt being in everything. I have actually been writing down everything I eat and I am still getting 2500 plus a day. Which isn't bad. But I am sure I was getting around 7000 plus when I was just eating fast food and junk.

ANNIE-YAY you lost a pound! That is great hun! I am not sure about the whole exercise/muscle thing.

KAREN-Glad to hear your DH is ok! Karen I totally understand about wanting to hop on the scale all of the time. I seriously had to get DH to hide it!

LISA-sounds like your new plan is going well. That is really good you aren't having a hard time with feeling hungry.

LUAN-WTG on losing 3.8!

BRENDA-Sounds like you are doing great with the losses and NSVs. Pretty soon you will be at 100 pounds lost! And yes I know what you mean about hiding the scale. I seriously will drive myself insane weighing many times a day! Its addicting!

Well girls hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Brenda -- I hadn't realized you were so close to being down 100 pounds!! Let us know when we can celebrate for you!!!!