Oh my goodness! You ladies are hard to keep up with! I'll try...
Shadie - So good to see you popping in, especially with so much on your hands. I can't imagine the challange of dealing with all your girls while their mom is still playing with their heads. Kudos to your boys, too. It must be hard for them. All of you must be dealing with a lot of stress right now. I'm so glad to hear CW is supportive of you and I hope you get a lot more help soon with relocation, etc. Bless you for helping the girls, and Bless them as well!
BrandNewMe - Good to see you, too! Congrats on the nice ceremony and best wishes for your future together. My own dad is 75 next month and in pretty good health, but I worry constantly about the day I lose him. He has been a rock for me all my life and I love him so dearly. We never know when loved ones will leave us, so I'm glad you took care to have him walk you down the eisle.
Ammi - Good Grief, girl! It's awful that you've been so sick for so long! I hope you're much better soon. Tell your sweetie to keep that soup coming!
Jilly - just up that 1/2 pound is nothing! I'm proud of you for facing the scale, and glad you're back on the right road. Hang in there thru the holiday - didn't you say you have 2 wks until next WI? You can do it!!!
Julee - "Lost an Olson twin" - you crack me up!!! A huge congrats on that loss! You're truly an inspiration!!!
Vicki - It's so hard when Low-Carbing and you get off track! Today is your restart, and I know that you'll do great. If you beat the sugar/startch & white food demons once, you can do it again, today! I hope you slip some exercize in there, too. Here... here's your kick in the keister!
TEAHONEY! Hello and I've been traipsing about lately and haven't been here to say WHOOP! WHOOP! CONGRATS on losing aNOTHer 2 pounds! Cool on your starting exercize, too. I just started Curves, and LOVE it! Makes me feel like I have commitment to fulfill to someone other than myself.
Brenda - There's one for you too - as requested. I take it that something horrible happened, a flood? in your basement. Sounds like a real chore to clean up - but mine would be too, and we didn't have a flood.
Dogpal - I'm SOOOO jealous of your new furniture. I'm desparate for a new mattress - this old one is killing me, and having just spent 4 blissful nights on other beds, pain free, I know it's that old mattress. I'd kill for a recliner, too. Our livingroom furniture is an issue with my DH. A beloved friend of his (whom I detest with a firey passion) gave it to him and he wants to keep it. It's ugly and uncomfortable and I hate it. Must be nice to have a hubby who doesn't want to have WW3 over the furniture. If I wasn't spending $$ like water on Christmas lately, the mattress would be gone already, but that livingroom junk may be cause for divorce.
Angelia - Glad to have you here! We talk about everything if you haven't already guessed. Just jump right in, and don't feel that you need to answer every post. I do it when I have time, but sometimes I barely have time to catch up and say "Hi." PLEASE do be careful with exercizing too much or too hard at first. Just walking is one of the best things in the world for you. I'm hoping to start doing some walk-a-thons next year, and that gives me something to shoot for. Planning meals and snacks ahead as you mentioned is an excellent idea! I always keep boiled chicken or "leftovers" handy for high-protein, low-carb choices. Cool, too, that you know what to do with an anti-social scale! Even if you did it by accident, I'm sure we've all wanted to smach our scales on occasion.
Oh, groooooan! ANDREA! How could you bring up cookie dough?!?! That sounds so good right now (wrap, don't bake, valerie - wrap, don't bake!) Now, you too - BACK! AWAY! from the Cookie Dough!!! and have a good, On Plan day!!
Wyllenn - Whoop! WHOOP!! on your good eating, On Plan day!! It feels so good to know you've done well in spite of temptation. Now, go jump on that treadmill - you've still got time to make that TM exercize goal!!
VooDoo Sharon, I think we all know how it feels when the stress eating gets to you. Glad you're back OP !!!!
Catherine - As always, you are my hero. CONGRATS on almost drowning!!! You've faced more than I face now and been SO successful! And you have courage that I still don't have to go swimming. I'm doing other things for my health, but as much as I'd love to, I just can't bring myself to get into a swimsuit yet. I use the excuse that I don't have one, but you don't see me shopping for one either...
Mom2Five - Whoop! WHOOP!!! on down 5.8 for the week!! Tremendous loss! You must really be kicking it. Keep up the great work! The holidays don't help, but YOU lady are on a mission!!!
Hi Mazarin!! Hello everyone! ALtogether now, on the count of three, let's all BACK... AWAY... from the COOOKIES!!!
Some other things my WW leader has suggested when eating in restarants...
1) When going to a take-out location, call your order in beforehand, that way when you get there, you are handed a bag and you no longer have to deal with looking at the menu and being tempted.
2) Many sit-down establishments have their menus online...look ahead and do your research...or call in advance and inquire about what they can do.
3) Order first. That way you don't have to listen to what everyone else orders and you can eliminate more temptation.
4) Order lunch-size portions or from the appetizer menu
5) Drink lots of water
6) If you are unsure what will be available fot you at a new restaurant, eat something at your own home before you go, then you will start to fill up and will not be as inclined to eat as much
This is a tough time for all of us...Thanksgiving is just around the corner, Chistmas (and Hanukkah) are 4 weeks later and the time in between is full of parties and food. We need to remember to take things one day at a time and to NOT write of the entire month just because of all the temptation. Control is a choice!!!
And to put a slighty different spin on something that as put in a recent post...Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels.
I think I have bronchitis...or a virus..I can never remember what the color of phlegm indicates...but my throat is raw and it's all in my chest...rotten time to get sick.
Just popping in. I'm back from my business trip and ended up not going to the Cheesecake Factory after all, everyone went out drinking instead, but I'm not up for social drinking (I probably should go, just drinking isn't my thing) so I went back to the hotel. First night was... well, the chicken sandwich I was expecting to be grilled, and I didn't realize it came with half a pound of fries. Second night was better, I went down and used the treadmill and then had a grilled chicken salad with extra chicken. Kinda bland, but fine for my mood.
Now I'm back, and I went grocery shopping while hungry this afternoon, because I had nothing to eat in the house. Well, nothing I felt like eating. $97 later, I have enough food to feed an army! Most of the expense is in convenience food. If I don't buy veggies prechopped, and fruit prechopped, I won't eat that. I know that. Since I can afford it right now, I decided to make veggies and fruits and other snacks as convenient as chips and cookies. I also spend extra for individual serving nuts, popcorn, cheese, etc., for portion control. I'm horrid at portion control.
I'm trying salmon fillets tonight. I'll fire them up later on my George Foreman grill, and see how it works out. For some reason I have it in my head that salmon is fishy. I think it's a fatty fish, but I think it's supposed to be 'good fat' and 'good cholesterol', or some such. I got mine marinaded in some sort of brown sugar bourbon marinade. Probably steam some veggies with it, and brown rice, and I have enough fruit to feed an army for dessert...
Wyllenn-don’t spit up coffee. I haven’t had coffee since 1988. My boss had a stroke at his desk, and I was first one there. I had to do mouth to mouth, and he had been drinking coffee, and he sort of spit up some if you know what I mean. Haven’t been able to touch the stuff since. He’s fine the last I heard, so I guess it was worth it. You know God has to be an Irishman with a twisted sense of humor to put me in a position to save a boss that was embezzling our paychecks.
Mom-yes, I have had several plateaus from ****. They are infuriating. I much prefer this. If I mess up, I expect to not lose or even gain. When you work hard and toe the line, and don’t lose weight, one time for 5 months, it can be heart breaking. I try to use these better times as “memory days.” Those things to look back on when things aren’t going so well to remind me that things will be better.
Angelia-You can ask me anything. I answer PM’s all the time too. Besides the fact that I am long winded and love to hear the sound of my own voice so to speak, I firmly believe the alcoholics have it right when they say in order to keep it, you have to give it away. It’s one of the reasons I didn’t go over to the over-40 thread. I may be over the hill compared to a bunch of you ladies, but I felt like I was needed more over here. I know that it is rare to be able to lose as much weight as I have without pills or surgery. I decided someone had to do it to show it could be done, and it might as well be me. Helping you ladies out helps me out more.
Nolife-I told myself that if anyone looked at me sideways in my swim suit, I’d hitch up the back of my suit and tell them to kiss my big wide white @@@. That would be very easy to do too because it now droops in the back. They call me droopy drawers. More seriously, I’ve had two different women come up to me after class and tell me that the only reason they are in the class is because of me. They saw me in my suit through the observation windows which are right by the coke/candy machines. (Don’t start me on my opinion of the YMCA having candy machines). They figured that if I could stand the embarrassment, so could they. I’ve also talked two women from the regular class to stay for the deep water class. I told them that if and old fat lady could take the class, so could they. I felt bad later when I found out that neither of them swim, and the deep water is really for swimmers. They both strapped on the buoyancy belts and dog paddle if nothing else. One signed up for the adult swim class that started two weeks ago. When we overcome our fears, we never know who we are going to touch and give courage to.
Rabid-I also spend extra money for things portioned out. I needed to not have to spend much time in the kitchen at first. The kitchen was not my friend. I am a great cook, and really enjoy cooking, too much so. Just think of it as investing in your future. Lose weight, live longer, make more money, and it will pay for itself in the long run. The reason after 4 years that I still weigh and measure everything I eat is my portion distortion can attack at any moment. It lurks in the cupboards. It lives in the fridge when you shut the door and the light goes out.
I had a nice talk with my fiance. He wanted to know if it would be okay, after I get to move to Edmonton, for him to go to water aerobics with me. He's a pretty big guy, but I have never said anything about him losing weight, and he has said that he hopes I continue to lose weight for my health, but would still love me if I never lost another ounce. I tell myself he wants to go just in case other guys make eyes at me in my swim suit. Right, I can delude myself about just about anything. I remember telling the doctor that I couldn't figure out why I was gaining weight because I just didn't eat that much. Everyone eats 8 hamburgers, right? He is a keeper. I'm actually looking forward to showing off in the pool in front of him. How twisted is that? He has rented the Roman fantasy suite for our honeymoon. It has some kind of hot tub and columns. Oh dear.
Catherine -- Your story is VERY inspiring. In fact, I started posting at the 300+ group because somehow I had stumbled upon one of your posts, and it sounded like you had an interesting story. So I went back and read a number of your other posts. I stumbled upon one where you were talking about how you really had to readjust to grocery shopping as you lost weight -- because you were no longer in a wheel chair and "eye level" was in a completely different location! At that moment I realized 1) just how much your life has changed 2) exactly where I had been headed before I started to lose weight. Thank you for sharing your journey here.
I think giving it away also makes it "stick" more. One day I might tell Ammi not to worry about going off plan but to get back on it. Turns out, the next day I might need my own advice.
And I hope I NEVER have that kind of awful coffee experience. Talk about taste aversion! I hope he at least thanked you!
And YAY for you for finding a man to love who you are!!!!!! I have one of those too, and they are great!
So, tonight I had an unplanned meal... Hubby and I went to the house of one of his coworkers to play cards. We know the man and his wife a little, but not well. The wife used to own a cake shop, and is a great baker, so I was a little concerned, but tried to be prepared. We were to arrive at 6, but didn't know if there was dinner. Just in case, I had a small bit of food around 4:30 and packed a snack just in case I got hungry. But, there WAS dinner! I think I did okay, despite the complete lack of planning and lack of knowledge of the menu beforehand!
First, I skipped the corn muffin. Then, I had a salad, no dressing, veggies only. The main course actually looked pretty healthy. It was a kind of chicken/hominy stew. White chicken, lots of veggies, over rice. The meals were served in individual dishes, so I had no control over portion size. I ate most, but not all, of it. Later in the evening, there were great baked goods. I had a piece of a walnut cranberry something or other, but didn't eat all the walnuts, and skipped the whipped cream, as well as the pumpkin pie (that was hard). I also had a chocolate chip cookie -- her cookies have ROCKED in the past. This one was good, but not outstanding.
On the one hand, it was more calories than I had planned to have, and I kind of wish I hadn't had the cookie. But on the other hand, I did SO MUCH better than I would have in the past, AND didn't feel deprived. There were only 8 of us total, and I don't know any of them well, and didn't want to call attention to myself by not eating. That's absolutely an excuse. Had I really not wanted the food or the dessert, I would have found a way. Overall, I am pleased about how it went. I'm starting to think I can do this long term.
Julee - Restaurant and takeout food especially is something I struggle with! I go on business trips 1-2 times a month, and that involves eating banquet lunches, and eating out. Usually I eat in for dinner, so it's a struggle to find something healthy to have delivered. Most often I go to Pittsburgh, where the salads come with french fries on them! I kid you not.
Anyway, today's been good so far, I was restless all night and nearly got up at 5 am (after going to bed at 1 am), I was having trouble getting back to sleep. But I made it, and slept until after 9! That's amazing for me, I can't remember the last time I slept in so late. Had a leisurely breakfast, watched some TV, and just got back from a 1-hour hike.
Boy, does hiking remind me how out of shape I am! It was a hilly trail (in my defense, heh) but plenty of people were out running it! And I was huffing up the hills. About midway through I encountered a mid-40s father and son, lost, and they were going back to the same parking lot I was, so we walked back together. The father was out of shape and overweight too, he commented on that in regards to himself, and chatted a bit about how it was hard getting into the swing of exercise when you have a busy career, before moving on to other things. I enjoyed the solitude of the first part of the walk, but it was nice having someone of a similar fitness (or lack thereof) level to chat with for the second half. And his 5-year-old son was cute (and in better shape than both of us!).
Thank you Julee: "Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels." I'll try to make that my thought for the day... er, month! Hope you're feeling better - rotten of Ammi to send it to you.
Rabid - Hope you enjoyed the Salmon. It IS very good for you! I'm not really crazy about it, but I eat it when I have the chance... if someone else is cooking I definately agree - extra $$ spent on portion control is an investment in your health. It's especially handy for on the truck. ...And French Fries on Salad??!? That's almost as disgusting as poor Catherine's coffee aversion story! It's definately hard to eat on the road!! I only have about 8 more days at home. I better not blow the time I have again!
Catherine - I probably won't have another opportunity to get in the water until next summer, but when I do, it will be you who gives me the push. Thanks so much for your openness and inspiration! ...Sounds like your honeymoon is going to be a wild time I vaguely remember those days.
Wellynn - Sounds like you had a fun evening, enjoyed and apprediated what was special and a treat, and didn't just lose control and throw it all away. You SO totally CAN do this long term!!!
Off to find myself a nice walk, either at the track or in the woods with my horse... hmmm, tough choice - NOT! See ya later!
Sunday morning I spent 4 hours at the hospital, I slipped on the ICE right outside the front door, thought I'd broke my shoulder or top of my arm. Thankfully it's just bruised and really swollen.... just got to rest up now in a sling!
Okay I am not exercising this week, no gym no lifting heavy stuff! I officially have an "Upper Arm Injury" lol
Rabid -- sounds like a great day!! I wonder how much better you'll be feeling if you try that same hike a year from now.
Valerie -- Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm wondering whether thin people have to think so much about food when they go out to eat.. or is it 2nd nature for them?
Alison -- Glad to hear you're okay -- at least relatively speaking. After falling on my tailbone this summer I am a little nervous about slipping on ice this winter!
I don't know about the rest of you, but some days I have a tiny inkling of what it might feel like to be a thinner me. This morning I put on an outfit that looked good on me -- it was very empowering. Of course, that feeling is kind of balanced out by the other (more frequent) times when I realize how fat I still am!
A huge congrats on that loss! You're truly an inspiration!!!
here's your kick in the keister!
I've been traipsing about lately and haven't been here to say WHOOP! WHOOP! CONGRATS on losing aNOTHer 2 pounds! Cool on your starting exercize, too. I just started Curves, and LOVE it! Makes me feel like I have commitment to fulfill to someone other than myself.
That sounds so good right now (wrap, don't bake, valerie - wrap, don't bake!) Now, you too - BACK! AWAY! from the Cookie Dough!!! and have a good, On Plan day!!
I think I did okay, despite the complete lack of planning and lack of knowledge of the menu beforehand!
I definately agree - extra $$ spent on portion control is an investment in your health. It's especially handy for on the truck. ...And French Fries on Salad??!? 
That's almost as disgusting as poor Catherine's coffee aversion story! It's definately hard to eat on the road!! I only have about 8 more days at home. I better not blow the time I have again!
...Sounds like your honeymoon is going to be a wild time 
I vaguely remember those days.
