Valerie - :hug: It is so good to see you back. You have such a way with words and such a fantastic sense of humor. I am sorry that you are struggling, but the last thing you should be worried about is whether or not you write personals when you come here. It isn’t selfish to do what you need to do. The most important thing is that you get the support you need and we will all be here for you! I like Meta’s suggestion of trying to focus on one meal. I know you have sugar addiction issues and that if you start with the carbs then you have a really hard time stopping, but could you try some small changes so that it doesn’t feel too overwhelming?

Thanks everyone for you kind words about my stomach trouble. It did seem to pass by yesterday morning. Deb was probably right that it was the sushi. I just don’t want to admit it because it tasted so good it is hard to believe there was something not right about it. The yoga teacher at my gym talked me into taking her gentle stretching class today. It is at 5:15 so I have to leave work earlier than normal. Plus I don’t know how she is going to take me jumping on the elliptical afterwards – assuming I still have the energy. My ex invited me for dinner tonight but I don’t think I will go. I don’t think I mentioned it but he invited me last week and I went, but we didn’t eat til 10:30pm. I wasn’t a happy camper. Also I am still trying to recover from all those meals out last week and I would love a quiet evening at home.

Metachick, I am incorporating a lot of intuitive eating concepts into my plan. I have been working with them for a number of years. I have read all of Geneen Roth's books and gone to a couple of her seminars. I've also read some of Overcoming Overeating materials. Some of it really works, while other parts of the suggested practices have never worked for me. This time, I'm using what I learned as a result of practicing and my experience, and substituting other practices that seem to help me more in particular areas. Time will tell--I'm still early in the process this go round, but so far so good, and I feel great with my custom-built plan.

I know that for me, there is a delicate balance between structure, restriction, and intuitive freedom. It has never worked long-term to greatly restrict myself or get too structured, yet if there is not enough structure I also falter. I have also never succeeded in berating myself or fear-mongering myself into submission. I don't do the mastery over food thing--I have observed too many naturally in balance people, and none of them see their relationship with food that way. They nourish themselves and indulge in treats, according to their body's true desires and their enjoyment of food.

Its all so different for everyone. I think the key is to really be open to experimentation and finding the set of conditions, food choices, and inner development that strikes the right balance, instead of trying to force oneself into a specific plan because it works for someone else.

Stacey-- When I first tried the elliptical I think I lasted a minute. I really had to work up to it. Now it's easy! But it's not at the beginning! do yourself a favor and log your time on it, and watch it increase!!! (and then log those minutes in the exercise thread! :D)

Valerie -- :hug: sweetie, be as "selfish" as you like. Think of it this way, you posting YOUR struggles probably helps someone else through theirs, so, you are not, in fact, being selfish after all!!! We miss you when you aren't here!

Speaking of which, Ammi, hope you're okay! I know you're posting on the the exercise thread, and we look forward to having you back here!

Where's NightKatt? And Kayley? Did Crock disappear? Jillybean, where are you????? I'm sure there are more MIAs I forgot too! Just give us a :wave: and let us know you're alive!

Good evening everyone!

Battleax and/or Meta - could you explain intuitive eating a bit more? If I understand it, you eat wht you desire or what you crave within your caloric range for the day? That's probably way more simplified than it really is. I have seen a lot of people use it as part of their tag lines and I've been curious.

Catherine - sorry I got your major wrong...I understand now! I still think the red leather pumps would be fabulous!

Wyllenn - thanks for the info on the coolatta! Crisis averted, thank goodness!

Nancy - Glad the staomch issue has moved along for you and that you are feeling better.

Donna - That is a crazy storm you had - holy cow! Good thing you were able to make it back to pick up your DD. I know the 'tude I get from mine if things aren't just exactly so!! LOL!

Valerie - Hang in there. You really are an inspiration to others here so use some of that energy on yourself!

Stacey - Some older women passed me on the track the other day so your story about the gym made me laugh. I look at it this way - at least we are out there and are trying to make the necessary changes to improve our lives!

Debbie - Glad things have calmed down a bit for you. Fingers crossed it stays calm.

Brenda - Hope you enjoyed your day "off" and that you didn't spend all of it cleaning or running to the bathroom!

Misti - Hope you had a another good weather day. Mid 60's isn't too bad considering what it had been so I hope you are enjoying it!

Until tomorrow....

Cris

In true intuitive eating, there is no caloric range. The main concept is to clue into your body's signals of hunger and listen to them. Stop fighting your body and its cravings, stop distracting yourself while you're eating, and you will come to your natural weight. There are no bad foods per se. Eat when you feel physical hunger, and eat what your body wants, and stop when your body sends the full signal. The idea is that when you start, you'll probably want cookies, etc., but after a while, the more you listen and experiment, the more your body will want healthy foods, too. Some days you'll eat a lot, some days not. Some days salads, some days burgers.

When you want to eat, you need to determine if its true physical hunger, "mouth hunger" (you have a taste for something, but are not hungry, like when you pass a bakery and it all looks/smells fabulous) or emotional hunger.

You legalize food and eating, and eventually, the charge associated with certain foods or quantities will dissipate. Sometimes the more you fight something the more space it takes up in your life...literally and figuratively.

One of the parts of intuitive eating that sometimes gets misinterpreted is eating what you want. Essentially, you need to figure out what your *body* wants and not necessarily what your emotions want. Therefore you may say you want cookies, but if you dig a little deeper you may realize that you don't want cookies, you want something else that will make your body feel good. But it's technically ok to eat cookies or any other food. Sometimes a little sugar or fat is what the body wants.

Geneen Roth is one of the early advocates of intuitive eating. Here are her guidelines (from memory and not her exact words):

1. Eat in full view of others (or intention of full view) --in other words, no hiding
2. Eat with no distractions, such as tv, computer, meetings
3. Sit down at the table properly, and enjoy your food
4. Eat what your body wants
5. Stop when you are full

I've had soooo many "Day One's" that I feel rather foolish posting it. But here it is. Day One. So far so good... well, except for the raging mood swings, cravings, irritability mixed with frequent shadows of panic...

BUT, I've had countless victories: Every time I pass that fresh loaf of wheat bread on the counter, that's a victory. Of course, "With so many victories, what's one little cheat?" I find myself thinking. Today, that one little cheat would be failure (especially because who am I fooling - it would lead to half the loaf vanishing.) It would make today just like every other day that I gave up what I wanted most for what I wanted at the moment. It would make tomorrow's struggle harder. It would be less of a cheat, and more of a recurring nightmare.

So, every slice is still in the bag. I'm sending it with DH when he leaves on the truck tomorrow. And as soon as I catch up with the Old Hens, I'm going to bed - the farthest room in the house away from the dreaded loaf... and the Ben & Jerry's, and the kettle corn, and...

THANK YOU LADIES! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. It's warm here, and I know you will take me with you down this road to success and better health. You have before, and I while I'm clinging to hope just now, I know you'll have me marching along in step if I just commit to it and let you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Yay! Finally got a minute to myself to sit and catch up on all I have missed! :^: Sorry if some of these are a little belated...

Thanks again everyone for your encouragement when I wasn’t doing so hot. Since my last post I’m doing MUCH better with my eating and exercise… this whole concept of exercise goal for the month (something I’d never done before) is doing wonders for me! I find myself pushing just a bit harder each time I exercise so that I can add more minutes towards my July goal.

I’ve decided to take a BIG step (for me at least): take a break from the scale for a bit, at least until Monday. I’m always looking for immediate results on the scale (ie if it doesn’t go down one day due to working out, holding water, whatever, I freak out). This is just not realistic and not constructive. So I’m staying away until Monday… and hopefully I won’t see a gain, as I’m spending the weekend away!! :o

Annie: :congrat: :yay: :woohoo: Congrats on meeting your 2nd 10% goal!!!!! That is so awesome. And so close to 100 pounds… think about how heavy that is!! I can’t even bench-press NEARLY that much. That’s such a major accomplishment (even with one pound to go, haha). You are truly an inspiration. Congrats again!!!

Brenda: A deep-fried Mars bar?!?!?! :eek: WHERE CAN I FIND THIS DELICIOUS DESSERT--- ahem, I mean, sounds lovely. Lol, I’ve had a deep-fried Twinkie before, and I’m a big fan. I think that things like that are okay as long as you have them rarely, and it sounds like you know how to treat yourself once and a while without losing control.

Xena: Eeek, sorry you had a tough time with those sweets. I do WW as well, so I know it’s the worst when you have a breakdown right before your WI. But at least it’ll motivate you for next week! Hang in there! :hug:

BattleAx: Congrats on your victory over that hill!!! Haha. I know what you mean though, about how quickly the results of exercise will show in your endurance, etc. After only a few days at the gym, I’m increasing the intensity of my workouts and am amazed that I can take on so much, and I’m glad you’re having the same success!! As for advice on avoiding scale obsession, however, I am the WRONG person to ask. The digital readout on my bathroom scale determines my mood for the rest of the day, every single morning!!

Debbie: Good choice with the fruit over the fatty peanut butter!!!! :yay: I’m a sucker for pb and j myself. Or just peanut butter by the spoonful, lol.

Cris: :congrat: on that victory at Dunkin Donuts!!! Donuts are my greatest downfall so I KNOW how hard it is to resist the powdery goodness. And coolatas are PACKED with sugar. I don’t know calories because I count WW points but I think a medium strawberry coolata (the one I like best) is about 16 points… that’s like ¾ of the day’s allotted calories!!! It’s a good thing you stayed away from them!

That's all I have time for right now... this forum sure moves fast!! I don't check for 2 days and I fall WAY behind. But I hope everyone who is struggling gets back OP and everyone who is succeeding continues their healthy lifestyle!!

Day three....I won't count forever, I promise
 

But I don't know when I will stop counting. Three days, yahoo!! I tried the Fiber One bars today, YUM!! We are having friends over tomorrow for steak, corn, green beans, and *gasp* chocolate cake. We are going to get a really small one (it's my friend's birthday). But it is going to be tasty, so I will be using my flex points for the week. We are in the middle of a home remodel, so the scale is no where to be found. Perhaps that's good news.

Random posting...sorry.

You all rock!!!

Real....

Valerie, you're welcome, and THANK YOU for posting!!! :D

Hi, just a quickie, Ammi is ok I talk to her on MSN quite a bit. I'm struggling, my jeans are getting tight, oops! BUT good news the redundancies at hubby's place are only affecting management & office staff & overtime is coming up so I can go back on liquids very soon.
Valerie, xxxxxHUGSxxxx I know how you feel, its so scary that it seems to be out of control, we have to do what drinkers do, one day or even one HOUR at a time.xxxxxx
Misti, hope that groin heals up fast, it sounds SO painful.xxxxxx
Everyone else xxxxhugsxxxx no time (& memory is useless so I'd confuse who said what, sorry) but hugs anyway. Nancy thanks for asking, things are a bit better but I'm not being 'intimate' with him, not for a month as I'm still too upset about what he said.xxxxxx
bye & stay healthy & OP.
xxxsharon

Good morning, ladies :wave:

Just popping in to thank you for your kind words and encouragement. It has definitely helped me this week. I been OP for the most part, although I still haven't incorporated exercise back in. I don't even want to think how exhausted I'd be if I had kids to work into the mix, too!

Oh, I meant to share a little story that happened to me a couple weeks ago. I was walking around the lake, my usual spot, when a woman sitting on a bench with her grandchild stopped me and asked how many times I walked around. I said usually 6, sometimes less, depending on the heat. She started saying how much she admired me - she used that word, and said it two or three times. My first thought was 'why? because I'm so fat you're amazed I'm moving?' but I just smiled and kept going. Perhaps that wasn't her reason for saying so, but that's how it felt to me!

OK, I've been up for an hour now, and still haven't taken my shower. I'm off to get ready for another work day - I can't wait for the weekend to get here! Although work is getting a bit less stressful, thank god.

Sorry I don't have the time for personals right now, but I hope you all have a great OP day!

Hiya Sharon! :wave: Glad to see you posting and glad to hear things will be improving as far as your hubby's OT goes. Tell Ammi "hello" from me next time you are chatting with her. I miss seeing both of you posting here on a regular basis, but then, I haven't been too regular at posting lately either. Anyway, hang in there and take care. :hug:

Just a quickie story about a walk in the zoo with my friend....


My size 2, 5ft nothing girlfriend, her 8yr old nephew (of boundless energy) and I went to the Ashboro zoo (in NC). Her nephew had that energy that kids have and asked endless questions about the animals and habitat, etc while he rushed from one exhibit to the next. When I couldn't answer a question, we would find one of the many volunteers who would enthusiastically answer them. By mid-day, I noticed my friend lagging behind a little bit. Finally she blurted out that she couldn't walk another step and needed to rest. I sat down with her while nephew got some snacks and drinks. She told me how much she admired how I could keep up with him. This was at a time of my highest weight (somewhere around 350). Coming from her, I know her remark was purely about physical fitness and not size related.

As we talked about it, her comment was that "it's just as stereotypical to think all thin people are physically fit as to think all heavy people aren't".

That incident comes to mind when I get comments from folks about how they admire my exercising. They are thinking of their own failings, not mine.

I hope some of that made sense!!

Luv,
Ratkity

Good morning, everybody! I've been trying to get ready for my trip to Missouri so not posting so much. Yeeks I have to leave home at 3:15 tomorrow morning but then I am always an early bird and the early flight gets me in at a nice time tomorrow, especially since I have a 100 mile drive when I get there! I will have sporadic and intermittent Internet connect while I am there so may be scarce for a week or so... depends on how the connection is working (way out in the country).

Blessings to all
Sue