Sept-Thank you for your kinds words. Also what an inspiration you are! I loved what you said about work and how people only see you as the overweight person sitting behind the desk not everything you do physically. I have barely had time to read all the posts here and I was sitting here trying to keep my mind on other things so I started reading posts and yours was the first one I came to about the luncheon at work. I don't know why it hit me like it did...perhaps I get some looks when I talk about going for a walk, when I lift something that people think I can't, or when I talk about how I miss hiking back home in the canyon.

Sydnehat-Congrats on the 4#s specially after a family loss...I know first hand that isn't easy to keep to your weight loss journey. I am glad you put down how you felt about seeing family in your current physical state. Makes me glad I am not alone in that struggle...sometimes it feels like I am the only one that feels that way. I know I am not but sometimes my head messes with me. Thank you for sharing :D

Sheila-sorry you are having insomnia. I hope it passes quickly and sleep comes for a visit :D I can't wait until my ticker says 41 lbs down...or 14 more to go. Either is going to be great. I love seeing those tickers!

oh forgot..brain is scattered lately. Thank you Sydnehat for your kinds words as well. I am hoping everything bad is done as well. I won't be sad to see Aug 2012 to leave. Sad thing is it tricked me into thinking it was going to be a GREAT month..my daughter started her SR year of HS and I won an art contest at our art gallery in the photography portion..I beat out many well known photographers in the area so I was so happy...and my dad was so proud..who knew 4 days later Aug would show me what it really had in store for me. OH well..it is over..grieve for my father and onto better things. I have researched all the group classes I can take at the gym. Water aerobics every day...Zumba...pilates...I am glad we joined the gym at the end of July because this will help me not fall into a depression.

I am glad you are all here. I was thinking about this forum and realizing, today, that one of the main reasons I have failed in the past is because I did not have a support system. People who get it and people who are in the same boat as me. Sometimes I feel like I have a very narrow mind and think I am the only person in the world who has stuggled for so long with my weight. I know now, after being here, that I am not alone.

The other part I was thinking about was I knew for years that I needed to put diet and excercise and willpower all together at once. They are not mutually exlusive but in some times in my life I thought they were. To see all of you and hear your stories and mostly to know that you all get that too is such a relief.

You are all insiprations to me too. When I see Sheila or Sum or Guac talking about their workouts I feel inpired to share in the excitement of a trail run, a bike run, a walk and all of them. Not only does the excercise make me feel better, as far as my body goes, but it also makes my mind more clear. Sometimes I do find myself getting a tiny bit discouraged at how slow this is all going but I know I can always come here and read about someone elses struggle or disappointment or achievement and it feels like it puts me right back on track.

You ladies are all wonderful! Thanks for being here!

I'm headed to the gym for more water aerobics. I different teacher and a different class. It was a great workout yesterday. When I get back I am going to take my dogs for a walk....I don't know if I will just do around the neighborhood or go to our Greenway. The dogs love them both. Then when my daughter gets home from school I know she will want to go to the gym to walk on the treadmill. She's lost almost 25 lbs since the beginning of July just walking atn elliptical along with eating better. She has a medical condition and the meds have finally sent her hormones straight and the weight is just coming off for her. I am so proud of her. She maybe has 20 more pounds...I told her to get there and see if she feels she needs to lose more. Focus on how she feels rather than what the scale says. One doctor said at this weight last time she needed to lose 50 lbs, he was going on her height not what she actually looked like. Everyone says she would be a skeleton if she lost 50 more pounds. Anyway...she doesn't have as much time to work out with her homework and school and tonight is one night she has time to go to the gym. I know it seems like a lot in one day but I can walk forever...I had to slow down for my husband when we went for a 6.9 mile walk one day, the mister retired military man still working a very labor intensive job that he is ;). I could have kept going too.

Well off to get my swimsuit on...off to the gym! I can already feel it.. :D

I have really missed everyone here! I am still knee deep in....kids!! The high schoolers have gone back on Monday, but the rest are still home until Thursday. We will be going to the zoo soon. I am running out of ideas to keep them busy! I got in a 6 mile bike ride this morning - the first in what seems like a long time! Man, I felt out of shape! Huffing and puffing like it was my first ride. It's amazing how quickly I can lose the conditioning I have built up. I hope I get it back just as quickly. I bit the bullet and stepped on the scale today. 152lbs. I actually thought I would be close to 160, so it wasn't as bad as I thought. Once everyone is back in school, I need to get serious again. I don't want to give up on my goals just because I derailed for a few weeks. I've gotten back on the horse again after a brief break and I know I can do it again! Time to hit the RESUME button!

Good luck today, everyone!!

Just seeing if my ticker shows up. I went to water aerobics had a blast and then stayed in the water for about 45 more min doing moves from both the classes I have went to this week.

Hello Everyone!

I slept a full 8 hours last night!!! :)

....but was really in a "blah" mood all day today - had a call with Asia this evening, and it was hanging over my head that the day would be a really long one....

....however, between US work ending at 5 and Asia work starting at 7, I came home, changed into my workout gear and went to the trail - ran 2.4 miles in 24 minutes - 10 minute mile again!! :) Amazing how much energy I got from the accomplishment - turned my whole day around. ;)

I wore my old SIZE 4 pants to work today!!! and they weren't plastered on or uncomfortable (uh - they were definitely "stretch" pants...lol) !! WOO HOO!!! In April I was a size 14 - - amazing that I've come this far.....it motivates me to NEVER go back to my old habits!! It's amazing how everything is connected to everything - I feel so much more confident and energetic now. :)

5K on September 8th - - I drove it today - - - one really big hill, but also a lot of down hill....I'm so nervous!! But will be excited to be "officially clocked" and have something "official" to celebrate!!! I know I can do it - - it will be hard though - a 5K is 3.1 miles - and at the end of my 2.4 mile run tonight I was dying - - it was all I could do to get back to the bridge (my "finish line") - - it's funny - I have this "ritual" I run from a bridge to a picnic table 1.2 miles away - - and I "fist pound" (kinda like a "high five") both the bridge and the picnic table when I get to them - - did it the first time, and it's stuck - - people probably think I'm a nut .... lol .... but I don't care --- what am I going to "fist pound" when I'm half way thru the 5K? .... maybe I'll "air pound"....LOL... gotta figure that one out - - now it's like a good luck thing...

....still on mushy food - had soy yogurt for breakfast, then my crustless mushy veggie "pizza" for lunch and dinner - had some "sea snax" this evening after my run to melt in my mouth - - (roasted and seasoned seaweed sheets) - - okay - that sounds disgusting - but honestly....as the package says, they are "strangely addictive"!!!! Like potato chips! I'm NOT KIDDING!!! LOL and only 15 calories!!! too funny - never thought I would in a million years say "I've just finished a 2.4 mile run - I'm famished...need some roasted seaweed sheets".... LOL....wow.

....on the really decadent side though, I also DID enjoy some Chardonnay....but I "earned" it. :)

Time for bed - overall, a good fitness day - don't know what the scale is going to say tomorrow - I'm still on these antibiotics after my gum surgery - - hopefully they feel better in the morning.

Tomorrow's plan - soy yogurt for breakfast, vegan butternut squash soup for lunch and dinner...hmmm...probably lentil stew from Sunday....can't wait to have my salads back!!!!!! I know I need to take a day off from running, but I'm really nervous about this 5K - and Thursday the kids and I fly to Florida to see my Mom - so I'm planning on taking Thursday off....

.....okay - similar to my motivation for vacation in June which when over just plummeted...I'm worried about keeping up the momentum after this 5K is over!!! .... guess I just need to keep finding small "goals"....I'll cross that bridge when it comes...

Hope everyone is having a great week!

-S

Yay Sheila! Size 4 PANTS!!!! Thats AMAZING:)

I am 28 pounds away from my first mini goal by sept 29th. I lost 14 in July, 9 so far in August. Hum... 28 is not looking so hot but I will be CLOSE!

YAY!! Sheila for finally getting some sleep too :D I know it is hard when you are sleeping. I have heard of he sea snax and thought about trying something like that.

Good luck with the rest of your training for the 5k. You will do great!

I went to water aerobics this morning. I was going to stay longer but some friends of mine wanted to go to a German deli for an early lunch. I am falling in love with water aerobics. Here I thought my time on the treadmill which is usually an hour, I do the manual setting but I bump up and down the incline to see how far I can go at higher inclines, I increase the speed to a jog sometimes as well I thought that was giving a good workout. I hadn't been sore once on the treadmill. Water aerobics..yeah. I have Tummy muscles and leg muscles.

Onmiwei - awesome about the water aerobics! I've never tried it, but have always wanted to - I hear it's a fantastic workout!!

Sept - 28 pounds may seem like a lot to you, but if you lost 14 pounds in July alone, you can DO IT!!!.... one pound at a time!!!!!! Just think about a 10 pound sack of potatoes - you shed one and a half of those that you don't have to carry around anymore!!! Keep going!!! :)

Kids and I leave today for Florida, so I won't be checking in until next week - I'm really excited - they have an exercise room at the RV park we are staying so I'm going to do 5K a day :) Today is my day off - - will go to work, then come home, change and head to the airport - we won't get to my Mom's until 1am (long evening), but it will be fun.

I ran the trail again last night - consistent 10 minute miles....:)

and FINALLY my gums are feeling better - it must have been something I ate wrong - yesterday I stuck to only liquids and REALLY soft foods - protein shakes, yogurt, and for dinner - a can of fat free refried beans (uh - yep - straight out of the can...LOL) but no pain this morning. :) Thank goodness because I really want to feel good so I can enjoy the visit with Mom! :) They also have a pool in the park - So outside of the treadmill, I'll hopefully get a second workout everyday swimming! Onmiwei, I'm going to try to do some water aerobics - - "cross country skiing" and reverse crunches in the water!

Well - time to get ready for work - early meetings this morning. I hope everyone has a FANTASTIC holiday weekend!!!!

Trying to get back on track today. The kids went back to school and the house seems so quiet! It's been a very busy summer. I rode 10.5 miles on my bike today with no huffing and puffing! We might join a local gym since my son uses it all the time and we pay a fee every time he goes. It would be much cheaper to get a family membership for all of us (as long as we use it!). I don't like gyms, but two things are prompting me - one is that I really want to get into strength training and don't have room for weights or resistance equipment at home. The other is that as much as I like exercising outdoors, the winter is coming and I am going to have to find alternatives for my cardio exercising on bad weather days. I'll still be on the trails as long as they aren't covered in ice and deep snow!

I am reading everyone's posts and I hope to get back into the swing of individual responses as I have more time!

Good luck today, everyone!

Hello Michelle! WELCOME!!! Glad to have you on the chat!!!

Guac - way to go on the bike ride!!!!! I'm with you on preferring the outdoors - (still have to put my elliptical together in my exercise room for the winter)

i am officially DONE with work for the holiday weekend!!! :carrot:

Kids will be here around 5:15-5:30 and we'll head to the airport - again, long night not arriving at my Mom's until 1am - I'm going to find a good book to read on the planes....

Today is my "day off" from exercise and I'm already feeling "blah"! Guess that's a good thing?? I know my body needs to rest once in awhile - tomorrow I'll be on the treadmill in the RV park in Florida! Then I'm sure swimming...it will be nice to be away from home for the weekend...when I'm here I always end up feeling like I need to do something (laundry, dishes, etc..)....this way I have nothing to do but RELAX!

Need to figure out the food plan though - this mushy diet is almost over (with my gums feeling SOOO much better today!)....but I'm going to stay on it over the weekend - just in case. So I'm packing my powdered protein drink and need to go to the grocery store tomorrow morning once we are there to buy "supplies"....

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

NSV's and Accountability
 

Hi Michelle - Glad you joined us!!!

Its 1030 on Thursday night and I am sitting here pouring over posts. I think some of the ones I have read lately are really off track and some really off color... hahaah I need to see if I am looking at the 20 somethings chat!

Anyway I posted somewhere else today that I made some non scale victories this month

1. This morning I fit into a new size in my pants. I mean they actually fit well and the butt was not sagging (my old ones were and lord knows we can't have that)

2. I made a commitment to myself that I would work out 27 out of 31 days in August. Well I did 26 days but get this... 7 of those days I did work out 2x per day!

Ha! That just goes to show having goals (even small ones) written out... or if your committed to yourself or someone else it puts that little extra drive in you. I was thinking today that the last time I did any substantial weight loss was about 10 years ago. I went to this clinic every day and got on a scale and let the nurses talk to me about portion control and how those corn chips should not have been in my food journal :). But you know what i managed a great deal of loss in a short period of time and it was all because I was accountable to myself everyday and to the people who were supporting me. That is kind of how I feel here. Accountable to you all. I am realizing how important the accountability is and how serious I am taking it. Of course just like every person out there I want to say F it some days. :0 Sorry if I offend.... but I do. I want to go out to my old eating stomping grounds and have beers (oh sweet baby jesus how I miss beers more than anything) or wings, or freaken queso... darn I want queso. But I am not doing those things. I actually stop now and think before I let those feelings turn into fruition. Part of that process is writing it down here so i again I am so thankful to have found this place... a place full of kindred spirits... a place of accountability!

Sept - I hear everything you are saying! It is all about choices now at this point right? I mean, our friends and families will love us fat or thin right? So it is all on us. Our personal choice everyday to do whatever it takes everyday to achieve this goal we have set for ourselves. Accountability is big for me too. I see now how much this is already helping me stay on the "straight and narrow" along to my goal. We can do it!!:dancer:

Michelle - WELCOME! :carrot:

Guac - Glad to have you back. Your wisdom and kind words have been missed :)

I weigh in tomorrow morning. I am hoping to be @ 273 in order to stay on track for my timeline/goals. I found several treadmills on craigslist that seem like a good deal but I need my DH to help pick up and he is hard to tie down and get help with anything on during football season.:mad: I may just join a gym instead. Not sure...