A hare met a tortoise one day and made fun of him for the slow and clumsy way in which he walked.
The tortoise laughed and said, "I will run a race with you any time that you choose."
"Very well," replied the hare, "we will start at once."
The tortoise immediately set off in his slow and steady way without waiting a moment or looking back. The hare, on the other hand, treated the matter as a joke and decided to take a little nap before starting, for she thought that it would be an easy matter to overtake her rival.
The tortoise plodded on, and meanwhile the hare overslept herself, with the result that she arrived at the winning-post only to see that the tortoise had got in before her.
Moral: Slow and steady wins the race.
This comes from a book handed down from my grandmother to my mother to me. The book is so old it doesn't have a copyright date or an author/editor's credit.
That fable has been the motivation for us turtles for several years. Someone on the ancient WW forum mentioned the fable and I discovered it was very motivational for me. I talked about it in posts and other people said that the tortoise philosophy worked for them, too. So, I started a thread for us turtle types.
We've been reflecting on what the turtle philosophy means as we start our second hundred posts. The turtle philosophy was a difficult one for people to accept. People want the weight off--NOW!! But reality is that it took time to put it on and it will take time to take it off. People want it to be easy to take off the weight. But reality is that it's not easy. You can have a program that's easy to follow, but following it steadily--that's hard. People don't want to exercise much, if at all. But reality is that our bodies were designed to move. So, we're setting realistic goals that take the weight off at a healthy pace. We're setting goals that will keep us moving steadily toward the healthy weight we want to be. And we're just plain moving. We're setting realistic exercise goals that will move our bodies the way they were meant to be moved.
We've also noticed that our turtle philosophy has affected the rest of our lives. I've started writing fiction again. I realize that I can finish a novel, or two, or ten. All I have to do is to set realistic daily goals, work steadily toward achieving them, and they will build up into finished books. Turtle Power at work in my everyday life.
Anyone who wants to join us in steadily moving toward all of our goals is welcome. I've met some wonderful people on this thread. I hope to meet many more. I know the battle with our weight is a difficult one. Having such supportive people come and post regularly keeps it from getting overwhelming. I hope to see many more people join us as we move forward on our journey.
Good luck, Lauren, with surviving your houseguests with your weight loss program intact. Have fun! Enjoy your company. That's the most important thing.
My brother goes in for surgery sometime today. They're removing the tumor. They can't do a biopsy because of it's location, apparently. We won't really know anything until after the surgery. I'll keep you posted.
Thanks for the great advice, Swan. And congrats on the compliments.
Gotta go. We're in the thick of moving preparations. We're moving in two weeks.
Hi Turtles,
I'm back from visiting grandkids with dh. We had a great time. dil is same and won't change, but you'd be proud of me that I'm working around her and enjoying the kids.
Also, my ds seems to be happy and that's what counts the most.
With you all, here's some quickie hugs
Lin,
your plate is so full you must feel like it will cave in at times. I hope your db is fine.
Good luck with your moving. You're in my prayers.
Lauren,
Hey, maybe this houseguest will be a good influence. I hope so. Love your mug about worry--so many of the things I have worried about in my life never happened and the things I didn't know were coming were pretty tough. Just gotta be strong to get through life and worry doesn't help.
Bandit2,
You're amazing to give such a large party. I hope you all had a great time. Your daughter is lucky.
n 2 a swan,
Glad you got compliments from the nice neighbors. Right now I'd be mighty pleased if someone called me svelte! Good for you and it was great hearing from you.
We survived the after prom party! It really went well & everyone had a great time.
We had about 250 kids altogether and I was really impressed they were so good.
My dd bf's band played and another band did a few songs as well. The kids loved that.
We had tons of food - but they probably would have eaten more. We had everyone check in with 1 of the adults & knew everyone's name & gave them arm-bands so we could tell if they had seen her. We had a bon-fire going the whole time & overall it was a 12 hour party. We had alot of parents dropping off & picking up & lots of great comments from them about how everything was so organized & supervised. Throughout the night so many of the kids came up to us & thanked us for having "such an awesome party" - so overall it was a great success and dd was thrilled with everything.
Sounds like everyone is doing well, so keep up the good work & I will talk to you soon.
I didn't stay OP very well over the weekend, so time for me to get back on track - but I don't feel liked I gained anything back - doing w/i on Thurs so I will see then.
Bandit2,
Wow! What an adventure. Glad your dd and all had such a great time. Tough weekend for food control. That's why I love the Flexpoints.
I'm back in control and hope to stay that way. My meds are fooling around with my weight, but if I don't stay OP I don't have a chance! Have gone to WW's both the past Wednesdays even though I didn't want to and I did learn how important it is for me to be there. I feel better somehow and I got the encouragement by listening to others to get back on a better track.
Eating this weekend will be tricky because it's my dd's birthday and she's got very specific menu requests. Then Saturday we're having a barbecue. I'm in charge of food and I'll have plenty of WW friendly items. Gotta watch the ones that aren't friendly!
Good luck to all and have a great weekend.
Love,
Judy
Down 2# at w/i this week - so I was very pleased with that considering my "party treats". Judy - glad you are back in control & good luck with the birthday. My bf mother is coming down Sat & it is her birthday as well. We are taking her out to dinner so I will have to plan ahead.
Lin, How is your brother? I hope things are progressing well.
Bandit, what a party! Shame you didn't invite us.
Lauren, hope you're enjoying your houseguest.
Judy, how was your daughter's birthday?
I was watching a show on VH1 recently entitled 'From Flab to Fab.' It featured women who want the body of a celebrity. They are given personal trainers and food regimens and stylists (no plastic surgery) for 90 days and then they are unveiled. I decided to do my own version although I have no celebrity in mind. I will be happy to get my body back to where it was. I plan to commit myself to 90 days of focus on my health. I have probably never lasted that long, particularly since I have been caregiving. I am on day 3 and so far so good. Does anyone care to join me with your own goals for 90 days? I would love company and someone to keep me accountable.
Hi Turtles,
Bandit2,
You are really swinging! Weigh to go. That's so fabulous to lose weight during such a challenging time. Yay!!
Lin,
Wanted to tell you I used your soy sauce based 0 point recipe to marinate chicken tenders in--then grilled them on skewers in the house. Delicious and very successful.
Thanks for sharing that recipe so long ago. This was the first time I made it and it was yummy.
Good luck with your packing and writing.
Lauren,
I got the book you recommended at my public library. The one about Shanghai. I intend to read it this week. Thanks for an interesting recommend. Hope you're doing well with your houseguests.
Swan,
a 90 day plan sounds good. I'll join you for support and my own health.
My goals will be to:
stay OP
exercise
get life in perspective
Good luck to us all--
Have a great wrap up to the weekend.
Love,
Judy
I'm sooooooo happy that you're joining me! Hurray for you! Check in often and let me know how you are doing.
I am on day 5. I have a chart made for the 90 days, the last day is August 18th. I have exercised 4 out of 5 days (treadmill and upper body sculpting classes at the gym at 6:15 a.m., then at home I have done The Firm and Kathy Smith workouts.) I even jogged a little during that treadmill class, a particular feat for me since I gave up running at age 13 because of my DD breasts. I toughed at out for only a minute or two or intermittent jogging at 5.1 mph. Any faster and I'd have a black eye!
My main goal is to make healthier choices. If I would normally have another helping of something, I choose not to indulge. I even made a cake on day 2 for my mom (she asked). I have had cake, but instead of taking nibbles all day, I have just had a small slice with some milk for dessert. I am also taking better care of my skin.
We'll see what happens in the 90 days. I have not weighed myself, but I probably will after the 90 days. I have to be careful not to become obsessed with the scale, constantly jumping on it affects my mood. I am probably somewhere in the 190's now so I hope to be, with conservative expectations, around 183 by August 18th.
Okay n 2 a swan,
I am on this! I have a lovely salad for lunch. I'll be visiting my friend who broke her leg. I try and spend Tuesday afternoons with her. Enforced dieting because she's trying very hard not to gain weight while she can't walk, etc.
Good luck to us all. Had a great party over the weekend. People liked the healthy salads I prepared. Lin--the grilled marinated chicken tenders were fabulous--thanks for the recipe.
Hi, everyone. Sorry for the extended absence there. I was too busy with houseguests and such -- and no, she wasn't a good influence!! To put it mildly! Ah well. I certainly can't blame her for all the eating I did. The scales showed me a shocking number this morning (up five pounds in a week) -- boy, I hope a lot of that is water. But it shook me into signing back up for Weight Watchers again, so I'm returning this week.
I did enjoy seeing my friend again; she's very dear. So that was good.
I've definitely been much more stressed out, mostly due to DH's upcoming lawsuit. He's handling it much better than I am. Malpractice lititagion in our area has reached record highs, though health care is better than ever. Go figure. We blame the economy. Everybody figures, hey, he's got malpractice insurance, nobody suffers if we go to court and get a bunch of money. Wrong. He suffers -- he's probably going to have to give up doing surgery because of the malpractice premiums. And we all suffer, too, as more doctors leave litigious areas; those that remain avoid treating patient conditions that might lead to litigation; and health care costs soar.
If there truly were any malpractice in this case, it would be one thing. But there just isn't, and it makes me angry that our legal system doesn't just allow but even encourages people to take each other to court over nothing.
OK, I need to get off my soapbox. But that's where I am right now. We'll know more after DH meets with the judge tomorrow; this week will decide if the case goes to trial.
Swan, great to see you posting again. I LOVE your 90-day idea. I think this is exactly what I need to get going again. I'm in!
Judy, glad to hear you sounding so chipper.
Bandit, wow, what a party! Sounds like it was great.
Lin, how is your brother? I've been thinking about you.
Lauren - Sorry to learn about DH's legal troubles. It's a shame that some lawyers pervert the legal system by pursuing cases of dubious merit. My dad used to complain about malpractice premiums and it is even more ridiculous now. As a daughter of a mother who required emergency brain surgery, I shudder to think that these services may not exist for greater numbers of people. I live in Illinois and many doctors have moved to Wisconsin. God help us all!
On a happier note, I am happy to hear that you've joined my 90 project.
I awoke too late for the treadmill class this morning. I didn't feel like exercising, but I made myself do Kathy Smith's 20 minute lower body workout with weights. Prior to the 90 days project, I would have skipped exercising. Tomorrow, I plan to try a new class for myself, something with 'Smart Bells.' Don't ask since I don't yet know. If I am still alive afterwards, I'll post what happened.
Been busy lately switching trailers over - new one delivered Mon so had to empty other one (what a job that was). Last night we had no power at house for 3 hours.
So it was burgers for supper & they were good but not very point friendly for me.
Tonight we are going to Casino Rama to see Reba - bf likes country so I got tickets for part of his upcoming birthday present. Looking forward to tonight.
Havent' been doing great with my eating this week - abit stressed over end of school stuff, new trailer stuff, work stuff etc. But today is a new day so I will try & behave.
Hope everyone is doing great & keep up the good work. Bye for now.
Turtle Club #129
Have fun! Enjoy your company. That's the most important thing. 
Happy Birthday to your bf's mother. Have fun taking her out. 
