I'm back in Montana with Internet access! It really wasn't bad at all going without but I am happy to be able to catch up everywhere. I had a wonderful meeting with our Annie (Dogpal) and got to visit for a good while. She is a lovely and caring person and I hope to see her again sometime. I had fun quilting and toy making. Shopping was fun too! My husband will be happy to see me this evening, he doesn't have to cook dinner tonight.

Phew what a day!
 

Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone had a great day and is one day closer to their goals as the day ends.

Today was my first day back in the gym and I had to take the moment to pat myself on the back for going. I did 45 minutes on the treadmill at a good pace. I plan to focus on cardio this week and add weights next week.

My biggest concern is keeping up with consistency and learning enough about foods and recipes so that all of my hard work in the gym doesn't end up going to some take out restaurant. I'm searching the site for recipes so that I can cook fresh meals at home. This is the way I want to go. Any suggestions or favorites are welcome!

How do you ladies manage the meals?

Mi Mi;)

I tend to be a compulsive planner. I'll make stews, chili, meat sauce and separate them into single and/or double portions. I add potato and/or pasta when I reheat them. I freeze (marked) uncooked meats and even a couple of sauces (curry, tomato/wine) for some favourite meals. Oh, and I also keep meat for stir-fry dinners and some uncooked (yet mixed) meatloaf 'packets' that I will cook in glass dishes.

Oh, the compulsive part is that I keep a list of what's in the freezer, and never go to bed without planning the next day. :)

Annie - Enjoy Pants Parade! :-) And, yes, I'd TOTALLY join y'all for a 3FC get-together!

I watched TBL yesterday. Anyone else really peeved by their product placement? I mean, yeah, water is healthy for you and most of the country drinks watered filtered one way or another but once they start telling you what brand of gum to buy... ::shakes head::: I don't think so! :-/

I am thrilled with my Barry's Bootcamp order. It arrived yesterday - inflatable dirigible and all. LOL The package I bought includes 2 different strengths of resistance bands with handles plus 3 DVD's chock full of strength-training exercises. I watched one last night and some of them look super tough but they also have a gal doing a highly-modified version that I think I can handle. I will watch the entire upper-body dvd tomorrow as I bike.

I am thrilled to get November started. Currently I'm doing 5 days of cardio, 1 day off, 5 days on. I'm switching that in November to 6 days workout, 1 off. I'm alternating 40-minute bike rides (up 30 from earlier this month) with 20 minutes of WATP (switching to 2-mile for better workout). To this I'm adding the strength-training 6 days a week - 3 upper body, 3 lower body. November is going to be a great month!!! :-0)

I am incredibly stressed these days and I cannot connect with what my body wants to eat. It's hard cuz I walk around for 1/2 hour with "i'm hungry, what do I want to eat?" running through my head in one continuous loop until I remember that I need to sit down, close my eyes, and really get fully into my body and the answer will come. It feels like a set-back since intuitive eating is now mostly...well, intuitive! So, I'm being patient with myself and mostly choosing healthy food when I cannot connect with myself. Still, the whole thing is aggravating! Ugh.

I had an official weigh-in on monday and I just remembered an hour ago that I didn't weight myself. I will do so in tomorrow morning and update my ticker.

Oh, and yesterday I wrote what is possibly the BEST speech I've ever written. I have to go memorize it now cuz I'm delivering it tomorrow night. I am going to try to memorize and sew so that I can have my dress finished by tomorrow night.

Cheers everyone!

Well I think you should share some of your compulsiveness with me! I am sure that has helped you be very successful in your efforts and journey! Wow, in that moment, I felt so unorganized. LOL! Serves me right, I needed a kick in the butt! If I planned my meals, it would probably help me with making sure that my last meal happens before 8pm and not after.

Do you have recipes that you recommend? I'm looking at your numbers and your doing fantastic!

Mi Mi

Your workout???
 

Anne, what workout type are you doing? I read your blog and I saw a lot of abbreviations but I'm not sure what your talking about...sorry. Can you tell me about it?

Thank You,


Mi Mi

Not alot going on with me..gums are healing slowly so eating is still not back on track. I did great yesterday and then hubby wanted polish sausage with peppers and onions for dinner ..so i ate to much..I wont be buying that again anytime soon!!!
Exercise is good for a change...pushups are going good and i am not sore today after doing them yesterday...on tuesday i could barely lift my arms when i first got up. Its fun just seeing how many i can do. I am also back to jumping on the minitramp. Now if i will just keep the exercise up!!!
Frost got the rest of the garden so I may try and pull up whats left out there today. Its so sad to see it all end...but we ate so many veggies this year..I cant wait to plan a better garden for next year..we are doing leaf lettuce and radishes in the early spring.
So i have a friend who is putting her christmas tree up this weekend...I just want to scream!!! I am so not ready for the holidays!!!!!!!!

I've been trying to collect my favourites here:

http://realcdn-recipes.blogspot.com/

However, there are lots of recipes all over the board here. Take a look up at the top of this forum: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34754

(Also, all over 3FC there are a lot of recipes.)

I admit I usually do a low-carb kind of dinner. I'm not following a low-carb plan, but, usually cut the starch out of my meals at least half my evenings. Last night we had pork souvlaki (skewers done on the bbq) with a big side of frozen bean/carrot mix. If you're cooking for others then you could have added potatoes and/or rice for them.

You're probably looking at my strength training workout. I do that 3 times a week and light cardio (walking) usually twice a week. Here are a couple of lines:

3: Supine Hip Extension - 6, 4, 3, 2
4: One-arm Dumbbell Incline Bench Press - 45e/6, 45e/4, 47.5e/3, 50e/2
5: Bent-over Row - 135t/6, 135t/4, 135t/3, 140t/2

The 3rd line are simple repetitions. I did 6, then 4, then 3, then 2 Supine Hip Extensions.

The 4th line I did 45-lbs (e) each of the One-arm Dumbbell Incline Bench Press for 6 repetitions, then 4, then I increased the weight and did three. Then I increased the weight and did 2.

The 5th line was using a Barbell and the t means total weight. So I did 135-lbs for 6 reps, 4 reps, 3 reps, then I did 140-lbs for 2 reps.

This is not something I would suggest for beginners. In fact, even after 8 months I'm still not sure I would recommend it for people with a lot to lose. It's a hard workout. I started off with a book called the New Rules of Lifting for Women and have moved on to a system called Power Training. I found that I really enjoy lifting heavier weights. I think no matter what you do for exercise it's important to find something you enjoy. Even on the hard days I find it very satisfying.

Debi - sorry about your dental problems. My personal opinion on Christmas stuff is that it doesn't belong up until after December 1st. However, I'm sure after Halloween is over here there will be a few people sneaking their stuff up. Since our Thanksgiving is already past it's really our next holiday.

Good Morning all,

Julia: Maybe reading old forum things that you wrote to see what changes you have made and maybe rethink going back to them. Perhaps look at any journaling you have done or before and after pics. Hugs and good luck.

Catherine: Please don't overdo things. Take it easy once in a while.

Debbie: I hope you got some rest! Have you heard anything from Michael's yet? Sometimes it takes larger companies a while to get going on the hiring process.

Fire: Hi

Purpleorc: I think your 4 more pounds goal is wonderful. Good luck hun.

Bernice: I hope the remainder of your move goes well. I will have to go search for those pictures.

Cyn: Sorry you were treated with such disrespect! I would report her to the Dr.

Catwuv: Woo hoo on another -3 pounds!

Debi: I hope your mouth starts feeling better very soon. Careful not to get your blood pressure up too much when you work out so it makes your mouth more sore.

2Ctherealme: Welcome. I see that your name is Mi Mi and we have another Mimi here. So, maybe I will call you Mi Mi 2. lol. I'm happy you are here with us and I am looking forward to you sharing our journey as well as us sharing yours. Congrats on walking so long on the treadmill and making it to the gym.

Bunny: Welcome back! Sorry you have to go again soon. Hugs.

Toni: Glad you got back home safely. It was so lovely to meet you and get to see you in person. Glad that you had such a great time on your quilting retreat!

Mimi: The pants parade was very funny. The best part of the night was seeing all of the before pictures of the people I hadn't seen before. It is amazing how much they have changed and also how they all seem to have gotten younger with the weight loss. lol. I'm glad that things are seeming good for you right now. Have fun giving the wonderful speach you wrote.

Today is my DH's 44 birthday!! He stayed home from work today and is still sleeping at 9:23 a.m. lol. I already went to work and came home and did the Gazelle for 30 minutes. I am going to go jump on the bike for another 30 at least. I am watching Tuesday's Biggest Looser that I have tivoed.

I hope you all have a wonderful op, water drinking day.

Blessings,
Annie

RealCdn, great post. I was looking around your blog yesterday and had similar questions. I have that book, New Rules of Lifting for Women, but I'm doing a modified beginners version of Ken Hutchins Super Slow. Mainly because it's what my honey is recommending I do. After I workout I tell him what I'm doing and he tells me when I should up my weights. I'm amazed at how strong my legs are. But I guess they'd have to be to carry my weight around.

2CtheREALme, I plan what I'm doing for the week when I go to the grocery store. Not necessarily by day,m just what I'm doing for the week in general. Whole Foods has some super yummy frozen fish that is individually wrapped, with like two pieces per package. The night before I figure out what I'm going to make the next day and ask my honey if he wants it also. That way I know how much to make. Two nights a week he has Tai Chi and isn't home, so I generally make a salad and a piece of fish.

I like RealCdn's method of freezing stuff in serving sizes and will be trying that.

Planning really is the key. If you know how many calories/fat/protein/carbs you need to have for dinner it will make choosing what to have for lunch and breakfast so much easier to stay on target. You can make room for a small rare treat if you plan it in as well. ;)

The night before I get my fish, chicken, buffalo or turkey out of the freezer for the next night. Then I make sure I have plenty of fruit and veggies to have for the day as well as something easy I can make for breakfast. Plus something for a healthy snack like fruit or carrot sticks or some kind of quick lean protein. Granted I haven't been following this as well lately. (stupid travel!)

Once you get into a routine it will become second nature and soooooo much easier. It's great when it's all planned out because it takes the pressure off you to make sure you are eating just so. You only have to plan that once a day and you're good to go. :D

Here's a blog I love for healthy interesting recipes: 101 Cookbooks. I need to find some more. I'll be looking at Anne's recipe blog as well.

Hiya Dogpile! Great Workout going on's today! W00t! I hope you have a super fabulous day with your Hubby on his special day. :D

Yay! another 1.20 lbs down for a total of 8.9 lbs lost.

I was thinking last night that I would be thrilled with a 50 lb loss in 1 year. After all, I'm not dieting and don't plan to so I naturally expect my body to slowly set itself to my "normal body weight" (whatever that will be) as I continue recovering from binge eating and increasing the types and duration of my workouts. A loss of 9 lbs in 2 months is keeping me right on track!

OK, off to working out I go.... :-) I am tickled pink!

Have a great day everyone! Don't forget the water.

Hello my Peeps!

I know I don't live way north like some of you chickies do, but it's in the 30's here at night and it's c.c..cold for me! I pulled out the electric blanket last night and had a velcro psycho kitty all night long. It was hard to get out of bed this morning.

Debi, I hope your gums are healing faster and faster. I hate mouth pain!!

Anne, you are an inspiration for weight lifting!

Hugs to all my sweet peeps!

Luv,
Ratkity

BAD DAY!!! I got upset over a few different issues and ate...I cried alot and still dont feel any better and eating only made me feel sick!!!! I mean i ate ...and to much of it..a greasy grilled cheese sandwich with chips and that stupid nuttybar that has been calling my name all week. TO top it all off I realised TOM is a week late already...no wonder i feel so bloated and yucky..and that was before pigging out on food!!! Going to bed and praying tommorow will be a better day!!!!!!Cant fix how i ate today but i can make sure i dont do it again!!!!!!

Annie, Hope your hubby had a great birthday!
dgramie, Tomorrow is another day, now is another chance.
Ratkitty, It has been cold here at night also, in the 30's. I like fall and spring the best but am looking forward to a winter of snuggling with my quilt and cat.
Nuevavida, Great job on the additional pounds lost!
Bunny, thanks for the recipe link!

Tomorrow is my weigh in and I am kind of afraid to go for the first time in a long while. The retreat was tons of fun but I did let myself indulge and found myself out of control at times. I didn't gorge but I did eat things I don't usually eat anymore and the amounts weren't little tastes. Lesson learned, Don't sit near the snack table!

Quick Check In
 

Hello fellow chickadee's! I have to do a quick check in because I need to finish up some homework.

First thing I want to say is not to beat yourself up! There will be great days, good days, not so good days, and bad days. But guess what, it's just one day and tomorrow you can start a new. No one is perfect, and we will make mistakes and bad judgement through this journey; however, the one thing we can do is learn from it.

Dgramie: You had a bad day, okay. Acknowledge it, and then let it go. Try not to hold onto it. You've had one bad day but how many good days have you had? Try not to be so hard on yourself. Your still going to make and achieve your goals! Don't let the negative thoughts be your focus.

Anne: Girl, I can't wait to see all your new muscles! That's some serious lifting going on right there! I'm going to see this personal trainer and get a weight regime from him and start there. But, I do want you to know that tonight I cut up lettuce and placed them in containers by servings so when I felt hungry or wanted to eat my lettuce was already prepared. I sauteed chicken breast and put them in containers by servings so I could grab them quickly and put them on a salad, or eat as a protein filler. And this weekend, I plan to buy more foods that I can do that with, prepare them, and freeze them or fridge them; to plan my meals during the week. In doing just that little bit today, I was able to eat my dinner before 8pm!!:carrot: I was so excited! That was a first for me. I hope to keep it up. Thanks for the encouragement Anne.

I didn't make it to the gym today because it took me 4 hours to vote! I was pretty upset about not making it to the gym, but, I will be there in the morning I won't beat myself up because I did some good things today as well. I am slowly making small changes that will lead to bigger changes and results.

I hope everyone will have a blessed and safe night. :hug: