Good Morning All!!

I just have to say we are just all the greatest..hehe!:D

It is going to be at least 75 degrees here today and I am hoping that I can get outside at some point. The weather certainly plays a role in how motivated I am. In the winter here it gets dark at 3:30p and doesn't get light in the am. till 6:30a....so got to take advantage of this while it lasts.

Just a question for all walker/runners..I really want to give it a try but have zero luck when it comes to comfy sneakers...anybody find a great pair of sneakers? I know it depends on your foot and all that jazz but I just wondered if there is a type that is better suited to a heavier runner....any thoughts? I must say that I just bought one of those enell bras and woohoo those girls don't move a bit. The bra is very expensive but I only use it to exercise...it is so worth it!

I hope everyone has a great day!!! Be back after work! :cool:

Morning everyone!

As promised, I'm back for personals.

Ann - Hope you had a better day yesterday! You are doing so great with your consistent weight loss ... very inspiring!

Melissa - I am so amazed that with your incredibly hectic schedule you can still find so much time for us. Thank you so much! :hug: Hope your studying is going great!

Love - WTG on your good eating and workouts! Keep it up girl!!

Amber - I am so curious about what caused you to gain weight ... if you are willing to share with us!

Lindsey and Shelby - you big LOSERS you ;)


Karen - I would strongly suggest going to a specialty running store and getting your foot measured, etc. so you can get the right shoes for your body. At our local store I bring in my old shoes and they check for pronation/supination (which way your foot rolls when you run), wear patterns, etc. and they help me decide what level of stability and cushioning I need. Sometimes the shoes are a bit more expensive there but it is SO worth it ... the right shoes can make a world of difference!! Let us know what you come up with! I have New Balance 857s because my toebox is so wide that I poked a hole in my Asics LOL!

:wave: to Danielle, Charity, Tanya, Sara and anyone else I missed, hope you have a fab Tuesday!

Well I am off to the big city to play for some voice lessons today, but I got up early and got some yoga in :yoga: so I feel all stretched out and peaceful. Another run tomorrow before the big 2-miler (Amber, don't laugh too hard) on Friday. My weight loss is a bit slow right now ... TOM you know ... but I'm happy to be making progress in other areas.
Talk to you soon!
cheers
Erika

Good Morning Red Team!!!! Way to go on Week 2, we may not have won but we still did a GREAT job!! I have a feeling next week we are going to blow them out of the water, especially if we all meet our personal goals this week!! We can do it!! Just keep making those healthy choices!!!

Karen...I found some really good shoes in Saucony (pronounced sock uh knee) great shoes, very comfy and light. I would suggest visiting an athletic shoe store. We have one here that has a treadmill that you can walk/run on with the shoes to see how they feel. I need to get myself one of those enell bras, i've heard they are amazing. Perhaps for my next reward! I hope you get to enjoy the sunshine today!!

Erika....I MAKE time for you guys, thats how I hold myself accountable. I figure I'm worth it!! Way to go on getting in that workout this morning!!! TOM really slows everything down doesnt he? Just push through, keep making those great decisions and it'll all work out in the end!!!

We seem to be missing a couple of faces...please pop in and say hello!! We want to hear how things are going!

Melissa, I love the encouragement, but I just wanted to say that I didn't lose, I actually gained. Maybe you meant someone else?

At any rate, I am ok. I am really struggling with my eating, so that will be my goal for this week. I will have to think of a reward and post on the other thread.

Not much time now, but I will post more later.

Have a great day everyone!

LOL...Charity you are so right...I meant Amber was a big ol loser!! Sorry about that.

However, you still deserve congrats on that amazing run!! I'm thinking i've got too much stuff jumbled around in my head this week! LOL!!

Morning all,
Just a quick post before i begin my day. Congrats to everyone on their losses, or if you maintained that's good as well. At least it isn't a gain.

Here's my menu for the day:
B-Fiber One and Kasi Go Lean with 1/2 cup milk
S-Veggies (Broccoli, sugar snap peas, carrots, hummus)
L-Boca burger w/Salad
S-Yogurt w/peaches
D-Leftover lasagna (which I must say turned out pretty good. Even my DS who eats no veggies ate it)

Off to do my exercise. I think it's the 4 mile watp which takes about an hour to do. I'll be back later for personals.
Love

Excellent plan for the day Love! and a 4 mile WATP!! You are amazing!!! I'm so glad the lasagne turned out! I'd love for you to share the recipe if you've got a spare minute or two. I dunno if my family would eat it but I could try right?

:D Thanks!

Karen: I'm going to echo what every one else here has said. A specialty running store is the way to go. They'll look at your feet, evaluate your gait, foot placement etc, and they will help you find a shoe that works with you. It's a little more expensive but totally worth it. Pains in the feet are NOT fun. Plus, once you find the make/model of a shoe that works for you, next time you need a new pair, you can shop around for a better bargain.

Ok, so as promised my confessions of a weekend (It's pretty bad...)

As a 'starving' 20-something, I figured my race was a good an excuse as any to con my parents into buying me dinner. They had a gift certificate to an Italian restaurant, so that's where they decided to take me. It wouldn't have been my first choice, as I can't control myself around a bread basket, but beggars can't be choosers!
I meet them there, having decided that I would indulge a little in the bread basket, and pick what I wanted to eat from the menu, but only eat half, and 'force' the other half on my boyfriend to take home with him.

Well, this was not to be. Dad asked what we wanted for appetizers. I said I didn't want any. That didn't stop dad. He ordered the fried calamari. My favorite. I've gotten pretty good at not ordering or buying bad for me things, but I have yet to master the art of not eating it when it's in front of me. Between the appetizer, the bread basket, the salad and half of my dinner. I was stuffed. I don't like that feeling anymore, so I was feeling pretty gross. That's when dad started talking about dessert. "Dad, I don't want any. If you want some, that's fine, get it. But really, I don't want any."
Then he started talking about some amazing Italian dessert he'd had once but he couldn't remember what it was called. What he described was obviously tiramisu. I told him that's what it was and that I didn't particularly like it, but he should get it for himself if he wanted because I was stuffed. And didn't want any.

Well, the waitress came and dad made her go through the list of desserts. My eyes must have lit up a little when she was describing the super awesome chocolate mousse cake thing, because Dad says "I think we found the winner" and he orders it. I'm like dad, seriously, I don't want any.
He just yells after the waitress. "And please bring a lot of spoons!"
He says I just ran 13 miles, so I should eat dessert. ugh. Of course I eat it, cause a) it's chocolate, b) it's there, and c) because my dad was just trying to show he was proud of me.
My dad is a big time food pusher!!!

I'm sorry this is so long... BUT THERE'S MORE!

So I go to my BF's house. Stuffed and fairly uncomfortable... and of course, decide to have a few drinks! Why?! I don't know! Maybe because all my friends got to have fun and drink saturday night and I went to bed early? Anyway, three drinks later I'm feeling it. (Yes, even on a full stomach, I don't drink very much these days...) and I don't know HOW the idea of McDonald's came up, but 15 minutes later I'm half way through a quarter pounder thinking... I don't really want/ need this.... I, of course eat it anyway.

Needless to say, I felt pretty gross on Monday. I'm sure it'll affect my weigh in. All that salt and grease and fat and general grossness.

I'm a little disappointed. I always get to this weight (my all time low) and do something dumb to set myself back. Not much I can do, but keep going. It's just going to take a little longer to get to 170 now.

Hi everyone,

Hope your day is starting out well. It is going to be hot here today! I believe we had a record-breaking day yesterday and the fog has already burned off, so it should be similar today. The heat helped me drink my water and also curbed my appetite, so staying on plan was a breeze yesterday. I just got back from my walk, and if it isn't too hot I will do a couple of hills on campus today for a break today.

Congratulations to all of our losers this week (never thought I'd say that) and to everyone for just making it through another week. It's amazing how the days are adding up.

Karen--I'm not a runner, but I do a lot of walking and I would ditto the suggestions for going to a specialty store to get fitted. I myself really like New Balance shoes, they work well for my duck-like wide feet.

Karen and Melissa--I've heard those enell bras are fantastic. I'm jiggling around in my sports bras right now even with the back strap hooked on the smallest setting. I've been reduced to wearing a sport bra with a racerback shirt that has a built-in shelf-bra, plus a t-shirt, in an attempt to keep everything in place. And I'm not even running, just walking, but I still get some major bounce going. Gravity is not my friend anyway and I it feels I've lost most of my weight through my chest and back! I think I am going to have to spring for a couple new ones very soon.

Love--WTG on the 4 mile WATP!

Erika--hope you have great voice lessons. Your commitment to yoga and running is very inspiring to me!

Charity--I will be sending positive thoughts your way for your eating challenges.

Okay, I'm off to pack my food for the day. Have a great day!

Whew...Amber, feel better? Let me just say that I have been there so many times I cant count em all!! But the good news is this, that day cannot derail your entire week. You were in celebration mode....totally deserving! Yes, you could have made better choices, but you didnt. But can you go back and change it? NOPE!! What you can do is pick up and move on! You've come so far, look at your running 13 miles in one day! Dont discount all the hard work you've done so far. I think you are going to be surprised that you didnt ruin everything for the week. It was just one day. You are going to get to 170 before you know it! I'm sorry your dad is a pusher and I wish I had some words of wisdom there. Its all about choices, and if you do decide to indulge with him...moderation and portion control. This is life, and we've gotta live it. Sometimes life calls for pigout days. They happen to all of us but you can and will over come!!! You are doing so great!!! Keep up the good work!! Stay strong and stay in control and I KNOW you'll reach all your goals!

~melissa

Hi Ann...Way to go on that walk!!! I hope you get your break in today too!! Have a fantastic day and dont overheat!!

Speaking of bras....is anyone else this way? I have a 12 year old who needs and wears bras. I take her bra shopping and shes got a whole drawer full of pretty, really nice bras all different colors and styles. All in really good condition, they all fit her perfectly.

Then we have my bras, which are cheap, uncomfortable, old, most of em have holes or the elastic is all stretched out. My sports bras are the 2 for $10 wally world junk. Just ugly! Its not a wonder gravity is taking over!!!!

I did one time splurge and buy myself a $30 bra (although I'm sure it was on sale) but even that one is getting worn out. Now why do we treat everyone else so good, make sure they have the best of the best and we make due till things literally fall apart or go without? I think its high time we start treating ourselves better!!!

Can anyone tell I'm not in study mode? LOL!!

~melissa

Amber~I just watched a program on successful weight loss, and one thing that resonated with me was the fact that successful losers never let a bad meal or day derail their weight loss plan. They pick up the next day or meal as if nothing had happened.

Melissa, I am with you about not buying nice things for ourselves! I tell myself I will get nice things after I lose the weight, why waste money on it now? Meanwhile, years have gone by with just "making do". So we should get nice things as a reward now! Maybe not a whole new closet full, but one for every 5 or 10 pounds lost.....

Everyone else, have a great on plan day!

Ladies -- I've learned my lesson about the whole "wait until I'm thin to buy myself something nice" idea. I'll share my embarassing story so that you may run out and buy yourself something nice --

My jeans come from Walmart (about $10 each) because I "don't want to buy anymore fat jeans" -- My last pair was very old and probably the only pair of jeans I had that fit. So, I was bowling with my kid's, bent over to tie Nicholas' shoe and WHAM the whole backside of my old, worn out jeans exploded -- I had to run across the street to a store and buy some more (with my coat covering my butt)!!

So, I've decided I deserve clothes that fit, are comfortable and in style. No more waiting to be thin -- I'll get there eventually and until then, I deserve to look nice!!!

Wow Amber, I think I could have written your post! I have been doing this for a couple of weeks now (on and off) and it has really slowed my weight loss. I just can't seem to find the motivation to get back on track. I will be doing well for a couple of days, and then undo it all with a meal or two! I think part of my problem is that I am just a little sick of doing this! I have been doing ww for over a year and I am a little tired of it. I know it is a lifestyle change, but the problem is that I really, really like food. I used to "splurge" once a week and that was fine, I lost lots of weight still because I was eathing healthy foods the rest of the time. But now I just want to splurge! I need to find my happy medium again!


Funny story Shelby! I too am reluctant to buy new clothes that I only plan to wear a short time. I try to find things on sale when I can. Also, I had a lot of my family give me gift certificates for Christmas/Birthday, etc. I use these to buy clothes when I need new sizes. Then, I feel like I am getting to buy new stuff and celebrate, but I am not spending the money :) It is the best of both worlds!

Oh, and bras, that is another horror story all together! I am still nursing dd, and for a long time I wore these stretched out bras w/o underwires (b/c too hard to nurse with them). DH hated them, said I might as well not wear a bra for all the good they did :) At any rate, I am now starting to wear more of my pre-pregnancy bras since dd is getting closer to being weaned. I need some new bras, but I don't want to buy any now b/c my size will change as soon as I am finished nursing dd. It is pretty frustrating since I only have one bra that fits well! I would love to have nice bras, but it just seems hard to find comfortable bras the bigger you are! When I was a little smaller, I could find lots that fit well and were comfy! One more reason to lose weight I suppose!

Love, great menu! Congrats for having your day all planned out! I think I will try this starting tomorrow for the rest of the week. Maybe it will help keep me on track. Thanks for the inspiration!

Ann, WTG on your walk! Maybe I will get DH to go on a walk with me here in a few minutes. I am really in a rut today, perhaps it will help!