Good morning losers!

I had a good start but had a bad weekend...although I did a Zumba class on Saturday morning, it was my birthday and DBF took me out for dinner. On Sunday I took my daughter out for lunch as it was her last day of Christmas break before returning to college. Tried to make good choices but the portions are always too big. After deciding to not eat anything for the rest of the day, my son brings Chinese food home around 8pm, which at that point I couldn't resist. The bad thing about Chinese is the carb-y rice and all the sodium. I was drinking water all night and refuse to weight myself this morning!

I did workout for 40 min this morning before work and will try to walk outside a couple of miles during work.

It's ironic how easily weight goes on and how tough it is to make it go away. <sigh>.

have a great day all!

Andi

Hello,

I am under strict orders by my doctor to cut back on sugar and fat and to excercise and to loose at least 20 pounds before April 4th which is when my next doctor's appointment is, I am prediabetic, have high cholestrol. I am on medication for the cholestrol. My biggest problem amoung others is I hate to excercise. I am hoping that you ladies can inspire me to excercise, cut back on sugar and fats and loose those 20 pounds before April. I have a treadmill and stepper collecting dust upstairs in a spare bedroom, all I need now is motivation. Thank you.

Happy Belated Birthday Webwoman Andi!!! Don't be too hard on yourself. It sounds like you had a good birthday. You had a fun Zumba class that morning which sped up your metabolism just in time for lunch. Spending time with family is always important and food always seems to be a part of it too. Sounds like you tried to make good choices, which is great! Ok, so you broke down on the Chinese food your son brought home....I would have too by then. But, it sounds like you are back on track exercising again, so perhaps your weight will not be as badly offset as you think. I guess you will find out soon. Keep those legs a moving!!

Hi Bluet, it is fantastic that you have decided to join this group. We look forward to supporting you on this effort, and getting to hear about your experiences as well. Sometimes it takes strict orders for us to really get serious and motivated about improving our lifestyle. Health concerns are indeed serious matters.

Cutting back on sugar is hard at first. No soda is key. I always go through withdrawals for a few days when cutting back sugar, but then it gets easier as the days pass. Just not having it around works best for me rather than downsizing. Yes I do still have days where I give in if it is around, but I am trying to learn not to over indulge, i.e. not eat the whole container, which I am definitely good/bad at doing.

Exercise is extremely important too, but it can be fun. For instance, walking around a shopping mall, going to a museum, walking through the zoo, swimming, or Zumba (like Webwoman Andi is doing). Treadmill and stepper can be fun if you have some music playing. You don't have to overwork yourself on them. Just get on them and go. Or what about listening to a books on audio. If you could put a TV in the room too it may help.

Do you like to dance? Put on some good music and dance while you do housework. Or just forget the housework and dance! I can remember as a kid, when I was alone in the house, I would turn on some music and practice dancing in the bedroom. It was fun! Did you ever do that? If you did, why stop? What type of music do you like?

I have been trying to incorporate exercise into all aspects of my life now. When I ride the bus to work, I do leg lifts, just holding one leg up in place for a count of 20, and then the other. Not to high, I don't want to look strange. But just enough so I can feel the weight after a bit. Also I try to take the stairs when available. I take the long route to the bathroom if I can hold it. I park the car just a bit further away from the store. All of these help burn up just a few more calories, and now they are becoming more habit forming. It makes me feel good to hear someone say, hey wait, I'll join you on the stairs today. Maybe I can influence just a few others to try something different too.

Well I hope I have given you at least one idea to try. Different things work for different people. Let me know what you try. I would love to hear what you think about it.

Way to go Kris! I have not lost any more, but I had a busy weekend that involved going to 2 different restaurants and I knew that even watching my choices I would gain. I usually avoid restaurants for that reason! I'm back on track now and will have a very low-carb day.

How are you doing Corinna?

I have been trying, I started Friday the 4th eating three meals a day with protein and a good carb, moving around more and sitting less and avoiding the snack and a glass of wine in the evening in front of the TV. So it is a start. Thank you Corina T. for all the good suggestions, I am feeling motivated this morning and took down all the outside Christmas decorations ( what a relief). We had one more Christmas event planned with company, but then decide to make it a Super Bowl get together instead.

Well I am going to jump right in here if it's OK and I hope you'll let me be part of this thread because I am aiming to lose 20 pounds (at least) within the next three months...so, by April 1st. I think it's doable and so does my doctor.

I started last Wednesday, January 2nd, and am already down 3 lbs. Not following any specific diet but simply returning to healthy eating minus the snacking unless it happens to be a piece of fruit or some carrot sticks.

In my case the weight crept on after I quit smoking (18 months ago) and wasn't helped when I had to cut out my swimming workouts after I fractured my elbow this past September.

Once my pool has reopened next week (closed now for annual maintenance), I can start swimming again as my elbow is all healed. Other than swimming three times a week, I get the rest of my exercise walking the dog or going up and down the stairs in my three story house! I probably should turn those stairs into a mini gym! Hmmmm might try that tonight.

I hate my tummy and need to work on flattening it. I knew I was packing on the pounds when I started to develop these pillows of fat in my lower abdomen/upper pelvic area. I am hoping they will disappear as my weight decreases.

What I find is that I am more likely to eat properly and with proper portions if I sit down to eat at the table. And I allow myself to only consume food in the kitchen (don't have a dining room). I have to be as harsh with myself as I was when I gave up smoking!

Welcome Oceanside from Canada! Welcome to the group. I think you and Bluet have common deadlines for 20 lbs. She is shooting for April 4th.

Sounds like you are motivated and have a good plan for exercise. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm here with others. I hope we can motivate you too when needed.

Ah the tummy..... I also share the big tummy. That is where most of my fat sticks out. I need to get back doing situps to help that out. I use to have the flattest tummy, and I quit doing situps about 2 years ago, and now I have the biggest one I ever had in my life. I think that is one of the last areas for fat to disappear though. It is for me anyway. Ok, you have motivated me to do at least 5 situps before bed tonight and then try to continue onward from there. Can you match my five per night?

Bluet-good for you for skipping the wine and snack. Sounds like you are making some good decisions.

Hi Webwoman Andi, thanks for asking. I have been pretty good so far. Over a couple of days since 1JAN, I did eat a couple pieces of chocolate, and had an ice cream bar plus 1/2, but it was controlled this time. Usually I eat the whole box. I also did a lot of exercise around those days, so my appetite was up a bit. I am not trying to make excuses. Just trying to explain my weakness. However, my exercise routine has been going pretty good, and my diet as well otherwise. Since 1JAN, I have lost 5 lbs. Yeah! I just hope it is not water weight. We will see in time.

Hey Kris, how are you doing? I hope you are sticking in there. Have you been tackling that treadmill or perhaps walking around New Orleans? Did you try the revised fruit smoothie yet?

Good Morning,

Well so far so good, sticking with my meal plan, haven't jumped on that treadmill yet, but hope to tell all of you tomorrow that I got some treadmill time in. No weight loss yet ;c), but have not given up. Hope everyone has a good day.

Thanks for your welcome Corinna from down under and I accept the challenge! FIVE (count them!) tummy flatteners it is tonight before bed and 5 more when I get up in the morning. LOL...you'll be doing your night ones as I am doing my morning ones...such is the time difference. I don't do sit ups but instead a series of partial ones which focus all the energy on tightening the tummy muscles. I follow these with leg holds (raising legs about 10 cm from floor and holding them to a count of 10 at an angle repeating as necessary).

It's weird about these "fat cushions" as I have never had them in the abdominal area before. They are decreasing but I know it's going to take work to get rid of them. And they appear as a roll of fat when my clothes are clingy or tight.

And Bluet I am glad to read you're still on your meal plan. Think of us telling you to stick with it if you ever feel like sneaking in something you shouldn't be eating! Corinna challenged me to start doing tummy flatteners tonight so I am going to challenge you to get on the treadmill...just for 5 minutes!

I am so glad that Buck Brand navel oranges are in full season. They make a delicious afternoon snack (and dessert!) and are so good I would have one instead of a chocolate bar! And my supermarket has them on sale too. Going to stock up on three big bags full tonight and store them in my fridge until needed.

Hey Oceanside, that's great. I did my five situps (while you were doing your tummy flatteners) and I did five bent knee push ups. I like the idea of leg holds. I do them sitting up on my way to work, but not from the floor. I will have to add the floor leg holds to my evening schedule too. So I will have 3 exercises for each evening. Thanks for the idea and for taking me up on the challenge. So don't quit on me now.

Hi Bluet. Keep up the good work sticking to your meal plan. Oh did I hear something. I did. I hear your treadmill calling your name...and singing to you:
Pounds away,
pounds away,
let me take those pounds away,
not tomorrow, try today,
I will walk these pounds away.
So, what are you waiting for? Go for it, and watch those scale numbers change. Go Bluet!!!

Well this is depressing...kind of...especially since I am doing everything right. And I even added tummy flatteners! No sneaking chocolate or whipping up baked goods in the dark of night.

I appear to have regained THREE pounds!! Still under my start weight but really!

A colleague who lost quite a bit of weight last year and is in our age range told me that it would also be an idea to take measurements so that I can also use those as a way of determining weight loss. She said that my body might be reconfiguring. Is that possible? I can see that happening later but 10days in?

Corinna...I was so perplexed by the weight gain this a.m. that I forgot the morning tummy flatteners. So you are ahead of me! Going to add 5 more leg lifts this evening....those were a bit of a killer last night!

And I do believe I heard a treadmill in the distance and somebody singing..."walking pounds away" or something like that? Maybe I dreamt it. Bluet...you know anything about that?

Corrina T and Oceanside, thank you for all the cheering, you guys rock!! I did get on the treadmill for fifteen mins. tonight. I knew I had better not show up here tonight and did not do some treadmill time. Next you two will have me doing leg lifts, and tummy tucks (sigh). I have lost two pounds since the fourth of Jan. I hope it is not just water weight, but then alas that is what it usually is in the beginning.

So Corinna and Oceanside, we are going to do this aren't we!!! Lose that weight and keep it off forever.

Corinna I love your little poem, I have put it to music and it is driving me crazy in my head. Till tomorrow. ;c)

Hey Oceanside, don't be too upset. I got to thinking about those three pounds and it may be due to your body reconfiguring (like you colleague suggested) for muscle mass/tone. I don't know how much you exercised before the start of the year, but it sounds like it may not have been that much since you fractured your elbow in September. So when you start developing more muscle, you gain a bit of weight. Muscle ways more than fat. I know that may not be what you want to hear, but it actually is a good thing. You may have lost some weight, but it is over shadowed by the muscle tone you gained. So that may have been the reason. I think keeping body measurements may help you see some of the areas that you lose inches too, even if the weight doesn't change for a while. Remember you are a caterpillar being transformed into the beautiful butterfly. When the bulge disappears, you will have a new slender beautiful figure.

I did keep with the Oceanside challenge and did 10 situps/10 pushups and 10 leg holds. This is my goal for a week, and then I will see if I continue or increase.

Bluet-15 minutes of treadmill time, that is wonderful!!! I think you will find that those pounds will stay off as long as you continue with the treadmill and good dieting. Are you sure you don't want to join in on the challenge of leg lifts and tummy tucks? You can just start off with just a few. You can join and it will make it a threesome group challenge! It sounds like fun! But only if you can squeeze it in your schedule. I find the best time is in between T.V. shows during commercials to do mine. Makes the time go by faster.

Glad you liked the poem. I just thought of something quick that would go to a walking beat. Just sorta to entice you to get going.

Ladies we are going to do this, I know we can. See that sweat, it's our fat crying. Good food in will build a beautiful body with no room for excess jiggles. Keep the momentum going!!

Well Ladies, it's the weekend. I did a long walk today and it was nice. I was busy doing bills this evening, and then when I went to login to 3fatchicks.com, I realized I had not done my pushups/situps/tummy tucks. So I quickly took care of that before doing anything else.

Today I went to the grocery store and actually bought only healthy food. I just avoided looking at all the sweets. I kept my mind focused on hummus and celery. It is what I was hungry for which is quite a surprise. Anyway, I made it in and out without all the junk food. So that is quite a success for me.

So now I am off to bed to get an early start in the morning. I wish you all a great day. Keep going strong!