good morning ladies
well back from my weigh in. down 2.5 this week. I will take it as its TOM and I did go out to eat. Tomorrow is the concert and we are going VIP so we have all the food and beer we can muster. I am going to have to be a weight loss OP ANGEL next week!

Annie – You are so close to the 3’s! It is so exciting! That is a great reward. Massages are awesome. I can imagine that your body would need a lot of rest with all the activity you are getting.

Peggy – I have never had a pedicure either (or a manicure for that matter), but that has a lot to do with the fact that I have a weird aversion to emery boards. They irk me in the same way that other people feel about nails down chalk boards.

Battle – It sounds like you did GREAT with your dinner. I too don’t believe in restricting myself so much that I can’t participate in fun activities. Heck – the whole reason I am losing weight is to be able to participate as much as possible in whatever I choose to do. Soup is notoriously high in sodium so your gain was very probably from water retention.

Debbie – Massages are great! It is a bit hard to take your clothes off, but most places will let you stay clothed if you feel uncomfortable. The only problem with them is that they are expensive and addictive!

Misti – My late night temptation is reading. I will get into a book and all of a sudden realize it is 2am. It is so hard to get up for work the next day!

Brenda – Congrats on another loss! You are rocking! I am sure you will have a fabulous time tomorrow.


Annie asked me about the yoga class – OMG I haven’t been so sore in a long time!! Who would have thought holding a few poses would cause that? But now that I like feeling sore I think I might go back for more. Plus I am very flexible and can do things that people much thinner than me can’t, so that is a bit of an ego boost. The only problem is that the classes are really early for me – 5:15pm, which means I have to leave work a lot earlier than normal. With how busy it has been and will continue to be, I am not sure I can do that. She also does a class at 7:15am, but that is an advanced class and I am not much of a morning person. I will still think about it.

Tonight I am going to my ex’s for dinner and then we are going to see the Harry Potter movie. I am not sure what time UPS will deliver my book tomorrow (I can’t wait!) so I figure I will try to go out and hit the gym in the morning. I still have a lot of house stuff to do, so I will try to read a chapter, do a task, and repeat.

Are any of you watching Shaq’s Big Challenge? It is interesting and at the same time heartbreaking. I see myself so much in those kids, especially James. I really dislike the way the trainer treats them. He does exactly what he shouldn’t do – turn exercise into a punishment. They should get someone who does sessions more the way Shaq does. They should be having fun while exercising and finding what they love to do. I was really happy when they did wrestling with James because all of a sudden it changed for him. I wish I had found that thing as a kid, but for me it stayed in the realm of punishment and I always hated exercise. Thank goodness I have discovered now that I actually like it.

Brenda: Congrats on -2.5 more. Have fun at the concert

Nancy: I hope you like the Harry Potter movie. I am really flexible too but Yoga kicks my butt. lol. Good for you for being able to do it and wanting to do it.

I slept in biiiig time. It is 9:50 a.m. and I late getting my stuff done.Hope you all have a great day filled with lots of water and exercise.

Blessings,
Annie

Donna, yaaaay on moving your ticker. Ticker moving is FUN! :)

Annie, it's not going to be a biggie when you're officially in the 3's, it's going to be bigger than a biggie! It's going to be a super, super, super biggie! (See, we can pile up the supers TOO!). Wait, maybe it will be a hugie! Whatever it will be it's going to be very exciting. Bet it's already happened, and now we have to wait until Monday to find out. Hmmmpf. :)

Peggy - You are going to LOOOOOVE your pedicure. They are awesome, awesome, awesome. It's almost an hour of wonderful personal service and human touch and pampering. And your toes end up looking really great for a long time. Enjoy! I have never had a massage, and I guess that will be one of my rewards in the future when I feel better about my body.

TekFan - you asked about Intuitive Eating. BattleAx gave a great, comprehensive answer that echos most of my perceptions as well. There are a few different flavours of the approach out there, and I have based my work with it on the ideas of a woman named Sheryl Canter who runs a website called Normal Eating. I have also read a couple of the Geneen Roth books that have been referenced.

Sheryl Canter believes that Roth's work and opinions are solid, but that her approach offers a great deal of insight into compulsive eating without offering a clear and concise plan to put an end to it. Canter is not a fan of the Overcoming Overeating approach at all, calling thier use of 'legalizing' food a 'dangerous idea' that just encourages a lot of eating without doing enough to remove the compulsion. I have only skimmed the Overcoming Overeating website, so don't have any personal experience with their plan.

In intuitive eating, all signals about when to start and stop eating originate internally rather than externally. That means waiting for clear hunger cues to begin eating, and stopping when you have reached satiation. It means no caloric ranges, no measuring cups, no number of meals per day written in stone, no food pyramid police. Mostly, it means no lingering, persistent thoughts of food banging in your head like woodpeckers because your authentic food needs and desires are satisfied in real time.

I have decided not to deprive myself of anything as long as I am physically hungry. Some struggle for a long time with continuing to divide food into morally 'good' and 'bad' categories and aren't able to do this guilt free for some time. To me, all food is equal in the sense that every choice I might make is an equally valid one and I am entitled to eat exactly what I want at any given time to feed body AND soul. The other day I felt like some Chocolate Extreme Blizzard from DQ after dinner. I bought one, had about 7 bites off the top and gave the rest to my son. Had he not been there, I would have frozen the rest and enjoyed bits of it 3 or 4 more times over the following days. It's amazing how little of something satisfies you when you don't have to shovel it down in it's entirety because it's all going away when you start you diet tomorrow, or the next day. When I have pizza on occassion I have one slice, because and only because that is the amount that brings me to satiation when I have it with salad.

Food is not all nutritionally equal of course, and eating intuitively does not mean never choosing based on value for your body. In fact, that has developed naturally and effortlessly for me. My eating has evolved over the last five months, and I am sure it will continue to evolve over time. I expect I will continue to seek out and enjoy whole, natural foods more and more often as time goes on. I enjoy and seek out desserts usually, though not always anymore, and suspect I always will. I love trying new things, and things I thought I wouldn't like especially. Natural almond butter comes to mind - I love it! I don't like regular sweet peanut butter as much anymore at all.

It's all such a simple concept, but so hard to capture the essence of it concisely at the same time. It has been so empowering, so freeing, and brought so much peace with it because I never would have believed in a million years that I was somebody who could trust the whispers of her inner body wisdom to regulate food intake. Never ever, not ever, in a million years, ever. But I'm doing it, and it's working. I was born capable of doing this, and though I got lost with food very early in childhood, I'm still capable.

There is a Hershey's Kiss on my monitor stand. It got there because a sweet co-worker came over and gave it to me for an afternoon treat from the candy bowl a few weeks ago. I wasn't hungry, so I didn't eat it. I can have a Hershey's Kiss whenever I want one, I just haven't yet. I move it around like my other desk refuse when I need the space it occupies only because I am too indifferent to it do anything else, like put it back in bowl or throw it out. *I* am INDIFFERENT to a Hershey's Kiss. I can't tell you how much that means to me.

I'm sorry this was so long. It's just been such an epiphany for me that I can get carried away!

Annie-It is said that this younger generation is the first one in history where our life expectancy is going to be less than their parents. The rates of diabetes and high blood pressure and cholesterol in the pre-teen set is just scary. I was always overweight, but still played every sport I could, and ate a diet while heavy in red meat had a lot of vegetables even if they were covered in sauce or cheese. We ate very few prepared foods. Now, kid’s diets are so bad, and the only part of their bodies that seem to get exercise is their thumbs. If they do play sports, it ultra-competitive and usually more for the parents than the kids. I am firmly of a mind that I have been part of the problem for most of my adult life, if I’m not part of the solution by being a good role model. I will not be part of that 75%. I come from a long line of very hard working people, and feeling like I am a parasite on the community is not something that I am going to do with the rest of my life. Wow, where did that soap box come from?

Debbie-Yes, the ancient Mayan long calendar lists the last day as December 22, 2012. What a bummer, right before Christmas. I’d better do my shopping early that year.

Nancy-We don’t get Shaq’s show here, but I’ve heard good things about it. I agree with you that with kids you have to make exercise fun, and find something they like. Making exercise punishment is as bad as making food a reward.

I’m going to get to work like a good little school girl now. I should be mowing the lawn, but it is too hot. I also have to work a football game tonight, so I’m saving the lawn until tomorrow. When it’s this hot the grass probably needs the break too.

Meta – It is so interesting how differently things can be interpreted. I checked out the Normal Eating website and the write up on Overcoming Overeating. I used the legalizing process in OO and found it to be very different than what was described. So much so that I really need to go back and read OO again to check! Maybe it is different for different people and different eating dynamics, but so much of my eating compulsion came from things being off limits. I found that once I gave myself permission to eat whatever I wanted whenever I wanted as long as I was physically hungry for it that the compulsion died away and so many foods that I thought I couldn’t control no longer even appealed to me. I never took that stage in OO as an eat-whatever-you-want binge. I remember that it did say to go out and buy all your favorite things, but to make sure if you ate them to eat them because you were hungry.

I think the biggest healing part of that for me was learning that I could actually trust myself around food. I used to think that I would eat anything and everything given the opportunity if I didn’t tightly control myself, and learning that this wasn’t the case was so incredibly huge for me. I was finally able to trust myself. So, maybe the OO way isn’t for everyone but I did want to add that it really helped me.

Nancy - Those WW recipe cards were funny. Well, her commentary on them is what was REALLY funny. I love people who have that wicked, witty sort of sense of humor. Anyway, I think I remember seeing those before after I read the book the the candyboots woman wrote. As for waiting for your HP book, I just checked Amazon and mine is already at UPS in Mesquite ready for delivery to me tomorrow. I can't wait! I hope to get it read this weekend before everyone starts talking about the ending and spoiling it for me. I'll be anxious to hear what you think about the last book.

Annie - Not far from the 3's now! You are doing great and I can't wait to see you achieve that milestone! I know what you mean about recognizing moving into the 3's since it is something you struggled with. That is how I feel about my 25 pound mark. For some reason for the past couple of years when I get close to 25 (and I have been as close as 24.8!) I lose my grip and totally sabotage myself.

And speaking of sabotage, I weighed in at WW on Wed. for the first time in about a month. I have gained back 9 pounds. Sheesh! Oh well, I am trying my best to be back on track now. I see so many of you have success and I want that for myself. But it's not just going to come to me, I have to work for it!

In other, non-weight-related, news I got registered for my MBA classes. They start on 8/20 and I will be going to class on Monday and Tuesday nights. My goal is to get class out of the way early in the week and do my work in the evenings the rest of the week and hopefully keep my weekends fairly free of too much schoolwork. I am probably in complete denial about how much work this is going to be. :lol: Anyway, my Mon night class is going to be Financial and Managerial Accounting. Since I have a bachelor's in Accounting and am and accountant by trade, I should be pretty OK in this one. The Tuesday night class is Organizational Behavior which I hope is interesting. It sounds interesting anyway.

OK, I am off to fix myself a late (but light) dinner. I haven't eaten yet and my tummy is getting queasy because of it. Take care everyone. :hug:

Nancy - I totally forgot to mention how hilarious those recipie cards and commentary were. I was literally crying by the time I got to 'Snacks on Sticks'. I love it when that happens to me, so thanks for that! I'm seriously considering picking up her 'I'm Not the New Me' book. It really looks interesting.

Thanks also for your take on Overcoming Overeating. From the two perpectives that I've checked out (Canter and Roth) I get the sense that these methods are derived mostly from personal journeys rather than clinical study. That makes them no less valid, but it probably means that there is value in checking out all the available resources and cherry picking what works for your unique circumstance. To that end, I discovered my local library has a copy of 'Overcoming Overeating' so I've reserved it online and I'll probably be able to pick it up Monday.

Xena- Right this minute, my son is at a Harry Potter launch party at our local Chapters with my mom the semi retired English teacher. There are games and movies and wizards and witches and such, and at precisely 12:01 am he will be able to buy the new book. He's excited to be part of it all. I'm glad because he's a reluctant reader and I keep trying to find things that might engage him. Maybe this will be it! Enjoy your read tomorrow...the reading's likely to get a lot drier on about 8/20! :)

I think Nancy said she pre-ordered the HP book as well? If so, enjoy your read too Nancy!

I'm down another pound today, even though yesterday was a little bumpy with my eating plan. The temp uptick in my weight yesterday was just that. Today I am noticing a small difference in my upper body and neck. The small shift has eased the choking-on-my-own-fat feeling in my throat.

Last night I went to a play at an outdoor theater. I couldn't fit into the seat and it was painful. I felt all kinds of shame and grossness, and couldn't understand because I didn't think I was any bigger this year than last, when I fit (a little uncomfortably) fully into the seat. I tried several seats in other sections and I fit!! So it must have been that area or that seat in particular. I was miserably uncomfortable sitting with my group and left early.

I am *SO SICK* of worrying about this stuff! I was thinking last night how incredibly hard my life is as a fat person, and how ready I am to live free from this worry, shame, and discomfort. Eating less is also hard, but not this hard. Now. I'm ready.

Tomorrow is my trip back East to visit the family. Ordinarily it turns into an eating fest with me gobbling up all the foods I can't get here: hoagies, cheesesteaks, pizza (there is plenty of pizza, but it's not the same), donuts from a certain shop, authentic Jewish deli. This time I am not even thinking so much about all of that. I may have a hoagie or steak, but don't feel the same need to stuff it all in or feel a loss of the opportunity.

I am still very nervous about flying and all the seat/seatbelt challenges, but I will deal.

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Meta: I am going to check out Canter. I'm not familiar with her work. Thanks for the info

Xena: Good going on your trip back to OP land. You can do it!

I completed my MBA while working f/t, trying to deal with a marriage and home life, ad keeping up with my school work. I started it at age 39. It was incredibly difficult to get it all done, but now I am very proud of my accomplishment. Good luck!

Nancy: I tried the OO approach and bought tons of my previously "bad" goodies to have in the house, just as they recommended. I don't know, this never worked for me. I'd wait until hungry, but there are some foods I have not been able to stop eating once I start. There are a handful of foods it is best not for me to have in the house. Interestingly, the charge when thinking about them is gone, but my ability to stop is not. I dunno....I'll eat them when out, or buy limited quantities and be ok. Must be me.

Catherine: I agree it is scary the way this generation of kids is growing up. Super-processed fatty and sugary foods, and very little physical activity. I grew up eating few processed foods, although I could have done without the canned vegetables boiled for an hour : ) . I don't understand when society started thinking that kid food = highly processed versions of mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, burgers, etc. When did these items become kid foods, and something people think they should be giving their kids regularly? We rarely ate any of that, and were expected to eat the regular food that was put on the table.

Annie: I hope you had a good OP day today, too.

Brenda: You go, girl! Congrats on your 2.5# loss.

Hope I didn't miss anyone. I wish all of you great success in staying OP and putting one foot in front of the other towards your goals today and for the coming days while I am away.

I know how you feel I was up at Gaint center in PA 2 years ago for Nemo on ice. We were seated nearly all the way at the top. The seat were real narrow and after intermission we when back to our seats I went to sit downand my jeans caught and the seat of my jean split wide open and half way down my left leg. the show lets out a good 5 to 10,000 people all round. I'm trying to usher my GF at the time and her 6 y/o son who wants to buy everything in sight out to the car all the while holding my one hand behinde my back with a program trying to hide my butt. An all my GF could do is laugh at me.

An Hi all :D

My evening has been ****. I skipped the barn to take care of a friend's dog, and decided to bring her home with me so she wouldn't have to spend every minute alone. CHAOS! I know it would take her a little while to settle down, but she never stopped panting, pacing, slobbering for more than 15 seconds. Did I mention she's an 11 month old great dane, and one of the biggest danes I've ever seen, especially for a female? Thankfully, at least she comes when she's called, and IS housebroken. But good grief! I had to kennel my other dogs just because the play was out of hand. When 20 pound doxie meets monster dane, things can get dangerous.

Oh well, after 6 hours of more aggrivation than I could believe, I just took her home. Now I'll have to get up early to drive over there and let her out, but at least it means I'll be able to sleep. She was really putting the TABLE in irritable.:mad::mad::mad:

Anyway, not a perfect day, but a respectable one. And if I hadn't had such stress over the last 6 hours, I probably would have done better. Note to self: Let the dog out. Put her back in. Leave her alone. Avoid undue stress.

BTW, For the last 24 hours I've had trouble with 3FC locking up on me every time. It was probably just my 'puter, but anyway it seems to have fixed itself.

It's still July, right? Hopefully I'll start practicing tomorrow for August's Aerobic & All that exercise List. Just one minute. If I do just one minute, I will have officially started. Once I'm started, I'm on my way. chug, chug, chug... :wl::running: chug, chug, chug...

Count me in as another waiting on Harry Potter to be delivered tomorrow from Amazon! I want to try to finish it before I get spoiled, too!

Tonight, hubby and I walked Downtown where they are having an enormous Harry Potter party (the Party that Shall not be Named). I like being able to walk the 1 1/2 miles each way. We've lived here for 5 years, but last year was the first time we were fit enough to do it.

Valerie, I hope you get some rest. Good luck on ramping up your exercise program.

Wyllenn, congrats! Isn't it great to be able to do things you couldn't do before! You must be proud.

Battle - I think we really started screwing up our kids when we turned over their school cafeterias to McDonald's and Pizza Hut. Whoever thought that was a good idea.

I am all done in but my socks as my mom would have said. 5 1/2 hours working in a very hot kitchen, down 3 people, and we only had one working oven, and the stadium set a new attendance record. I hurt in places that I didn't even know were still attached to my body. Himself had to leave early because he got so tired that his eyes glazed over and he thought he saw spiderman. That's 3 games in the last week, and now we are off for two weeks. I am not even going to get out of bed tomorrow. I am going to officially be on strike.

I will post more tomorrow (well, later today) but I just wanted to pop in and say I just got back from a local bookstore with my copy of HP! :carrot: I want to reread the prior one first though, since I've forgotten so much of it. And we saw the movie earlier tonight - awesome!

Now I've been up for 21 hours, so I'm off to bed. :dizzy: