Goodmorning ladies! Boy do I have a lot of catching up to do- and I was just on last night!! Nothing new to report for myself- staying OP- although after that loss I'm feeling even more motivated-might workout today even though I hadn't planned on it.

Angie-Thank you- yes I am dancing about my weight loss--I feel more confident about my nutrisystem meals working! About the measuring tape- you really do need to measure- I procrastanated on it a bit, just because it's depressing to know that my hips/butt are 61 1/2 inches- but I can't help think how great I will feel to measure later and see 60 inches-which without knowing where I started would be equally depressing. If you need someplace to start- get some yarn and mark with a different color marker where each body part is, and write somewhere which color is which. at the least you can see that for progress, or when you do get a tape measure you can measure the yarn for actuall start measurements! don't let it pass too long- it will be a huge encouragment to you when the scale doesn't obey. What a great NSV about your pants starting to get loose on the legs!!! Looks like you've already lost some inches there-keep it up!!

Melissa- I still can't get over all the inches you've lost in just 3 months! I know it's tough to see the scale not responding the same way- but I really do think it's just a natural response of the body. Think about the girls you hear stuggling after having lost 15 pounds and only have 5 to go and how long its taking them. For some reason our bodies adapt and slow down. That being said maybe it would be good to switch it up a bit and go back to your original plan- just for a couple weeks- to see what happens. Maybe if you start keeping your body guessing, 2 weeks less excercise, 2 weeks more- the weight will start falling. I've also heard to that taking a day or two and going Off plan- not ridiculously- but enough to make your body think you are no longer dieting-will give it enough of a shock that when you start up again, it's like you just started and the pounds start dropping. Of course- i'm no nutristionist- but maybe those ideas would help.
I'm sure you can't wait to see your family in christmas- It's so hard not seeing family- but just think- they won't even recognize you! That's what I like to think about- my family is Jehovah's Wittness, and I'm not so they've disowned me, and I think about loosing a ton of weight and then knocking on their door, just to see their face!! Anyway- I'm sure it will make the waiting worth while to see their expressions!
What a bummer about your laptop. I had a DELL and the power supply broke twice!! when that happens you have to replace the mother board, which i did the first time $280- second time I said I HATE DELL and sold it for $250! And then your alarm clock- seriously what are we going to do about electronics- they are like men- can't live with them, can't live without them. Good luck with you electronics!

Kate- Of course- 300+ doesn't mean you actually have to be at 300- this is a great site for everyone. :welcome3: sounds like you've got a great hubby- although I have to agree it is annoying how little men gain as they stuff an entire large pizza (am i making this too personal? :LOL:) Anyway- he sounds wonderful- and he is not lying- if he's says your beautiful you are- just b/c someone is big doesn' mean they aren't beautiful-my fiance tells me I'm beautiful all the time, and I'm much bigger than you! and look at the pics of all the ladies on here- never seen such a beautiful radiant bunch of women- and we're all overweight!! Believe it when he says it- you have to believe in yourself and in your beauty to make a journey like this one!! :) Welcome again! Can't wait to applaud you on your way!! :welcome3:

Michelle- :wel3fc:I know you were here before me, but since your starting back up I say you still deserve a proper newbie welcome! We've all been there- I started and stopped a million times- and I'm praying that I don't do it again- seeing as I've only been OP for 17 days so far! It sounds like you've got a good plan to start with getting rid of sodas- I did that once without doing anything else and lost 20 pounds! plus- it helped Jill get out of pre-diabetes-good luck with it- those caffine drugs can be hard to beat :lol:! What a brillant Idea to measure in your house a lap, and know how many times is a mile. That way you'll never have an excuse to not walk, like weather, etc. and sounds like you've got a great hubby too!

Sidetracking for one momment- as I read these posts it sounds like I hear what hubby, boyfriend, fiance is doing/did etc to help us- I think our wonderful men really deserve a round of applause for hos supportive they are to all of us :cp: :cp: :cp:

Sorry- back on track- as far as lean cusines- I know someone at work who has done really well with them- the main thing to watch is that they have a lot of sodium- so don't add salt to your other foods- and heavy on the water intake! Good luck- oh and I've always wanted to go to alaska- you'll have to post some pics!

Jill- :bravo: down to 284!! It sounds like your plan is really working!! and can I say that dinner sounded great- I'll have to try that once I've graduated from my nurtisystem meals!

Misti- You've had such wonderful NSV's!! First the bras (which I really don't feel the cup pain, but i feel the strap- I'm a 46c) and then the pants!!! You must be glowing! I know that the FFM hasn't been visiting the scale for you- but she's been working in other ways it seems!
I was the one asking about swimming ideas- my gym has the weights and noodles, etc- what exactly do you do with them? Just bicep curls, etc? I would love know more!

Nelie- I love what you said about your jeans- its so true, jeans are my best indicator of how i"m doing, because they never give, so if they are getting tighter, I'm gaining, if they are getting looser, i'm loosing- They should adverstise them that way :lol:

Toofatforu-keep your head up- it's okay to have a bad time- we all do. Just realize it for what it was- a minor setback, nothing more- and then pick up the pieces and move forward- without looking back! :cheer: YOU CAN DO IT ! :cheer:

Sabrosainda- thanks for all the ideas for water aerobics- I never thought of doing most those things in the pool. Question, what is washing machine?? I know it's probably a stupid question, but i don't have an idea...
As far as waking up late and what to eat- I've always wondered the same thing, but my rule of thumb has always been, eat the meal that it's time for when I wake up, and if i start to get hungry again, start backtracking meals eating only half of what i normally would have, and being sure to stop by 8/9p. I don't know if that's a good idea or not, but it's what i do...

Well- I think it's time for me to shut up--everyone have a beautiful day- oh and AMMI- You must be in london as you are never off the threads this long- hope you are having a fabulous time and we miss you!

Hi everybody! Happy Saturday! :D

Everyone is doing really great, yay to us!!

I'm down a couple of pounds since my official weigh in day Thursday so I'm really happy about that. The last 2 weeks have been slooower than usual for me. I keep pluggin away, it's gotta come off sometime.

Misti
Awesome news on the smaller bra and pants!! Doesn't that feel great, huh?
I have some old clothes that are in smaller sizes but I think I'm just going to donate them. They are really old and I want to make new memories and rewards as I go with new clothes. I'll keep some of course to wear as I go but most of my clothes are reeeeally too old.

Melissa - how long have you been waiting for pounds to drop? I think it's normal that your weight stands still now and then but I agree that perhaps you could juggle up your plan. Maybe you could do what someone suggested, do less exercise one week, do more the next. Anything is worth a try. Try it for a month, and chart the results you get.

Yes agreed everyone, i need to go find a measuring tape. I do have a metal tape measure, I guess I could use that?

Also WELCOME to the new people here!! the more the merrier as they say! :hug:

~ Angie

Hi,

Glad to see you and one week is not too bad, you jump right back in there!!

I see your ticker is at 299. Congratulations you are doing really well, just get right back on the horse! :hug:

~ Angie

thanks everyone i will get right back on track .. i have just been so sick with headaches and stiff necks and no enegy at all lately. i hope to do will again and get back to my yogurt snacks and lean cusines. i wish i knew why i sometimes sabotage myself .

Trainers...
 

Hey Everyone,

Wow, I thought I was going to be able to keep up, but this place really does move fast. The positive attitudes and motivation is awesome here!

Question: does anyone here have a personal trainer or meet with a trainer? It was suggested to me yesterday by someone who works at the gym I go to. She recommended doing free weights with the weight machines and to get a trainer for this. Anyone have any thoughts? I hate the idea of a trainer, I don't do well with other people when it comes to discussing my weight and hearing them try to be "nice". Just one of the many hang-ups I have...

I wish our bodies were not so complicated. Eat fewer calories, exercise more, lose weight.

To end on a happy note: It's SATURDAY! I hope everyone is enjoying whatever they are doing today! :comp:

Hi Everyone... Just an update on all the tests I have had done...

I got an official diagnosis of PCOS (PolyCycstic Overian Syndrome) this week. Basically that means my hormones are all out of balance. Very low progesterone, borderline low estrogen, high testosterone, high insulin, high TSH. Because of all the imbalance and the insulin being too high (insulin resistance) my body has just not been co-operating.

Because of the PCOS I have to follow a lower carb diet, which I am trying very hard to get used to. I have decided to have my acupuncturist help me with supplements etc instead of taking any prescription meds at first, and if there is not improvement then consider taking the drugs that the doctor said were available (Metformin.)

It is kind of nice to have a reason for my body fighting every weight loss effort, but overwhelming too. I am just glad that we found a reason for my fatigue etc. instead of being told that it is all just in my head. Hopefully once things start balancing out I can get to a healthier weight.

Welcome to all the newbies and hi to all the oldbies! I will try to catch up on the old posts when I can, I have just been really preoccupied with researching this PCOS thing.

Claire

thank you so much for the welcome :hug: its much appreciated.

i'm not doing much of anything for exercise right now, we do go on family bike rides and we have a pool but thats about it, we are about to close the pool for the winter and we have thunderstorms for the next week, so ...... not sure what i can do.

i think i'll end up joining curves, but money is really tight for us right now, by our own choice, we had $25,000 in debt, between my new minivan, and credit cards, so last dec we put ourselves on a stict budget, and so far so good we've cleared $18,000 of it and we should be debt free by feb, well we will still have the mortgage, but who doesn't lol.

so that should work out good, by feb i'll have hopefully lost 30-40lb and will be feeling a whole lot more confident to walk into a gym.

kate

i have a question, this may be graphic and put you off your food (yey !! i need that) ok how do i describe this, my tummy just seems to have dropped, before it was sticking out, but now it just hangs, has this happened to anyone else ?

kate

Hey there Michelle .. welcome back to the boards and Im sure with all the support on here that you will be able to get to where you want to be ... regardless of the weight ... just HEALTHY!

As for your above question ... On programs like Jenny Craig there are a lot of packaged meals on there and I was doing that for about a month ... but the price was a bit steep so I have decided to work it out on my own now .. I know how many kj/cal each of the meals had so I go from that ... but my dinners I like to have those ready made meals (like Lean Cuisine), just make sure you compare the kj/cal of other similar ones as well .. I have found a few that have lower kj than the weight watchers ones!! I do love home cooked meals .. but its nice to just be able to shove something in the micro and you know exactly how many kj youre eating so you can get your servings worked out for when you eat home cooking ...

But the first step is definitely the sodas and "bad" foods .. just remember ... if you have eaten that sort of food for a long time you may get headaches etc as a result of your body not getting them anymore ... you could do prep work on weekends for the upcoming week to make things easier ... like snacks .. some people get those nuts mixes or something and they "treat" themselves to like a 1/4c a day ... I treat myself to a snack box which I make up on the weekends .. it has 6 little pieces of chocolate, 2 sugar free boiled sweets, and a lollipop lol ... After 7 days I still have 3 of them left! But then I was naughty yesterday and had a few more than I should of of my chocolate digestive biscuits so I didnt have a treat box last night rofl ...

But just take small steps .. and youre right about moving .. some women on here dance too! Its a fun way to get exercise in your day .. just dancing round the house ... get your heart rate up a little ... but dont overdo or you will find yourself having to spend a few days recovering from what you overdid and then miss out on any exercise. Just remember not to use others as a measuring stick for your success .. not all of them are scale victories.

Hi everyone else ... welcome in more new members and welcome back some of the other members that havent been on the boards for a while :)

Melissa dont get down .. maybe a change of routine will help you? I know you walk a LOT ... but maybe if you focused on some other exercise it could get other muscles moving, your leg muscles must be pretty good by now I would think and if they are the main ones you are using then they might want a break ... but hun please dont give up .. you are really doing fantastic and are such an exercise inspiration to me (and Im sure to others).

Sabro - I have done that a few times .. and I rarely get the snacks in my daily plan in .. naughty me I know lol .. but I just cant eat that much food in one day .. I know it seems weird that a person my size doesnt eat much .. but I think most of my weight gain wasnt for overeating .. just eating the wrong thing. I dont think having a one meal day every now and then is a bad thing tho ... just so long as the meal you end up having isnt a high cal or heavy one as it wont burn off as much at the end of the day.


Misti - GREAT news on your clothing!!! Doesnt that just beat a scale any day!? :carrot: :carrot: :carrot:

Claire - Its like a good and bad news really isnt it?? Great that you have a result, sorry that its not something simpler .. but good luck on whichever course you choose.

Kinney - would love a personal trainer and a personal chef . but unfortunately Im not Oprah so will just have to work it out for myself rofl ... but its a great thing to have if you can get one (personal trainer I mean) ... When I have the gumption to go to a gym chances are I will ask for one because I want to make sure Im doing everything right for the results I want .. Good Luck!

Well Im on my way in a min to go and get my new lambs! Yes .. getting 2 rofl ... thought one would be too lonely ... now I just have to think of names ...

Last night I was naughty ... instead of having 2 digestives (which I allowed myself as a treat) I finished off the packet (which was 8!!!!) ... incredibly enough .. this morning when I got on the scales I was down just over a pound!! Go figure!! Still got TOM visiting too!! So maybe my new non-Jenny Craig plan is actually doing something good!

Have a great OP day all .. and a nice rest of weekend. If you go off plan dont regret it .. learn, own and move on .. tomorrow will be another day ..if you arent feeling well I wish you wellbeing and quick recovery .... Huggies!

Hello All,

Well time has just got away from me, I have been busy planning my London itinerary, including which tube trains to get to which tourist attraction. I have also done washing and ironing, and tomorrow I just need to get things packed. Oh to be a kid again and have mum do all the organising for me :lol:

Anyway I don't have time to do personal replies to everybody, sorry, but here's a few.....

Kate - hi and :wel3fc: Glad you 'bit the bullet' and joined in. I can't say I have noticed my tummy dropping, but my boobs certainly have. They always went south anyway because of their size, but now they are so saggy as well. It's great to lose weight but not so great when everything starts to sag!

Michelle - hello and :welcome2: back. I remember you from before. I hope you had a wonderful birthday. There's certainly no better time to re-committ to a diet than on your birthday. I bet this time next year you will be at least 100 lbs down :cp:

Misti - brilliant NSV with the bra and the pants :cheer:

Nelie - That's great that jeans have helped you be inspired to diet. In a way it's the same for me. I have size 28 jeans and I know I look gross in them. I look forward to fitting into the size 20 jeans Sharon sent me, that's when I will think I look good in them!!

Missy - sorry that you have stalled with your weight loss. I really have no idea why it's slowing down, you work so hard at your exercise and stick so well to your diet. Don't give up, I am sure the FFM will be visiting you really soon.

Kimberly - nope I am not in London yet, going on Monday. I have just been busy with getting organised.

Fantastic weight loss, well done :cheer: :cp: :carrot:

A gazelle Rider by the way is this http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...lleElite24.jpg the guy on it is Tony Little who's idea the riders are.

Angie - :cheer: on the 2 lbs down. You are doing great.

Kinney - yep these threads fly by, it doesn't take long to fall behind :lol: Glad it hasn't put you off posting though.

Claire - sorry about the PCOS, but it's good news in a sense because like you said, you at least know why you have been having such a hard time losing the weight :hug:

Katt - is it my fault, did I make you fancy eating some digestives? 8 isn't all that bad, better than how many chocolate digestives I ate!! Well done on still losing the lb :cp:

Have you got your lambs, I hope you post some pics of them, they must be adorable :D

As for the bra, if you do decide you want to try to buy one online, you can always get it sent to me, I would be happy to post it on to you!

Sharon - 2 stone gone :cp: :cp: :cheer: :cheer: :dance: :dance: you did it, well done. I bet you went to your mum's on a real high :cp:

Heather - no Annie didn't get the house I posted photos of before. She has got another one which doesn't have as much land, but she loves it :D

Erica - I love the photo of you and your hubby. It's great. Have you done any walking in front of the TV yet?

Brenda - :cheer: :cheer: well done on getting the job. That's brilliant news. And how fantastic that you will be getting 50% off your clothes when you start there :dance:

Jamila - hello and :welcome: sorry it's taken ages to say hi.

Ok I really have to go now, I am so tired. So to everybody I missed, I am sorry. Take care all and I will try to post tomorrow. I am sure I will get a chance. I will defo post on Monday morning to report on my WI. Am not expecting a loss after the bad couple of days I have had. But will still let you know how I do.

Hugs,

Ammi :grouphug:

Hi everybody!

Whew what a busy day! Several nice NSVs too which is always nice, especially since no scale victories lately!

Toofatforu... WOW you are in TwoTown! :woo: Welcome and yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!! And glad you came back and "fessed up" before you got too far off track! Welcome back to the wagon!!! :hug:

Sabrosaindia, yay another water fan. :lol: What is washing machine? Since our apartment pool will be closing soon (I've been told they may stay open until mid-Sept depending on weather) I have been checking out some options and YAY I found a really nice indoor/outdoor pool where I can go for $25 for 10 visits. I called and the guy said I could use my water weights and stuff in the lap lanes as long as they were not too busy, etc. AND they open at 7 AM on Saturday, lap lanes for 45 minutes; and then water aerobics at 7:45... so I could do both. Also tried a different tank type top with my shorts and I am sure it will be okay for swimwear!
Here is one of the NSVs... when I said that to the guy he questioned if I would be too tired to do the water aerobics after laps... I said I have been doing 90 mins of strenuous water aerobics and he said "I'm impressed." WOW that was nice to have someone like that impressed with my exercise stamina!! (A couple other people at our pool have told me that also.)

I haven't done any deep water ones yet as our pool is only 4 feet deep but I am looking forward to adding the deep water ones.

As for meals.. I tend to be very careful to eat on a regular basis to keep my metabolism cranked and because I think it is healthier... however, I don't think lazing around for a day and breaking the pattern once in a while is anything to get bent out of shape about as long as you don't make it a habit. :)
Kimpossible, so glad you are dancing about the weight loss... and LOL that dancing should shake off another pound or two!!! You go!! And I agree... I didn't measure until I had lost about 25 pounds and I regret it now. :)

And I do all KINDS of things with the weights and noodle. One of my favorites is take the weight up over my head backwards, jump up with it and do back bends... really pulls the stomach muscles. Also hold them in front of me, jump up and go down in a "sitting" position with legs out in front, and as the weights hit the water, pull them down and bring yourself back up. Also, I hold both weights out in front of me parallel to my body (hard to explain but end to end |---||---| etc. and put my hands on them... jump up and flip my head over them and as they push down kick my legs back up behind me. Also just hold the weights out in each hand at arms' length to balance me and kick and kick with my legs. I even put a noodle under my armpits and stick the hand weights under my knees and do backward bounces and also just pump my legs up and down in the water. TONS more... we can start a thread if you want.

Michelle, I see you are in Alaska. I didn't give you a proper :welcome: I just had my first wonderful trip to Alaska in May... wow... I came on a cruise and it was the most spectacular vacation ever!!! Loved it!!!
Melissa, the weight stalls can be really frustrating... I'm there again too. Some say to cut back on exercise but I take the opposite approach... I do even more as I figure it has to be doing something and I can be a real "bulldog" and determined to get this weight off if I have to beat it off LOL. But we are all different and I can't really advise you what to do since I am in the same situation and obviously don't know how to counteract it. But hang in there and don't get discouraged. It HAS to be making a difference in your body.


Jill, yay for you on the good weight loss! Way to go!

Nelie yah you have the right idea about jeans... can't get by with that with stretch pants. :rofl:

Angie, congrats on the weight loss -- yay for you! AND I agree with you completely about getting rid of your old clothes! My situation is the opposite... my small ones are mostly brand new stuff and/or very nice yard sale stuff or what people have given me and I have never been able to wear... so my smaller stuff is "new" (or at least to me) stuff. :)

Kinney, regarding the personal trainer... you probably don't want to hear this but yes I do think it is important at first; otherwise you can be using the machines in ways that do exactly the opposite of what you want them to do. But after you get started and learn how to do them, I personally don't see the need; however, if they are available it is good to let them give you advice as you go along to make sure you continue on the right track. OTOH if you don't have the $$$ to invest just go do it!! :)

Claire, sorry about the PCOS. I hope you can get used to the new adjustments this means you need to make!

Kate, let me encourage you that if you can't afford expensive stuff like gyms, just do what you can! I started out just walking and walking... now I have been using our outdoor pool all summer and fortunately we have a fitness center I can use this winter. But just get out and ride a bike, walk or whatever you can do!!! Focus on the positives!!

Oh and Kate... as to the stomach dropping... interesting, as I talked to my doctor about this just last week. I have noticed the top part tightening up and building muscle and all the flab dropping. She said it is normal and it is the tissue left from losing weight. I asked if it will go away and she said "it remains to be seen." So I am just going to do my best to keep working away at it!

Ammi... hope you have a great trip to London! I am sure you said... but when are you going?
To everybody I have missed, hope you have a great Sunday too! I do read all your posts but can't do personals very often; just decided to sit down here this evening and do it!

Have some great NSVs from today to share but that will be in another post!