Josephine - awesome post, I love the pics, you really look great now! =)

Hi Bluesers,

We arrived home from Florida late last night. I've been running errands all day and just now have a chance to catch up.

It was awesome to see my girls again and bring them home. My home feels back to normal again and I love it!

The weekend was stressful. Before I left for Florida, a close relative asked to sit down and talk with me and Hubby when we got to Florida. I was nervous about the meeting for several days prior and the meeting was quite confrontational and emotional. I turned to the food again to help with the stress. When I got on the scales this morning, I had gained another 1.6 pounds. I've asked for a vacation freebie for this week. I'm trying to get my head back on track again. I sat down with a Weight Watchers cookbook and planned menus for the week and went grocery shopping today. I'm not quitting. Eventually, I'll get control of myself and my emotions and beat this food addiction.

Awesome Awesome post! You are amazing and totally inspire me.

Also, your profile in the Hat pic looks like Laurali(sp) from the Gilmore Girls. :)

So sorry you are struggling gf. I am right there with ya, but don't give up. We can do this. :) We have done it! We just gotta dust ourselves off and do it some more. :hug:

Rhonda, you could have told the person that you could not discuss the matter because it made you want cookies.

I ran 2.7 tonight, and felt great, unlike yesterday's fiasco. I think I will make it to three by the end of the week, no problem. Unfortunately, I have a horrible chafing blisters on the inside of my leg, which I never have had before. Suck. Using my blow money for this month on some compression shorts. Fun for all.

Push Ups tomorrow!

Bedford Indiana, going cave-ing for our mini-vacation, can't wait. 5 hour drive. Ever been there? Any closer ones?

Rhonda - Good for you I am glad that talk is over and hopefully something came of it.

Welcome back Rhonda! I'm sorry the trip was so stressful, but I'm glad to hear you are home with the girls and jumping right back onto your plan! Way to go!

Tawnya, I hope your daughter is ok, I'm sure it is stressful havng a child go through a surgery! We'll all be sending her positive thoughts.

Chelle -- CONGRATS on the 3 pounds lost, whoo hoo! That is awesome! All that lack of appetite paid off!

Anna -- way to go on the run! Are you going to get a skirt to go with those compression shorties? :)

MJ -- way to get into the gym, sweat is good for you!

Hurray, Rhonda's back! :wave:

Hurray, Jo is hot! :whoo:

Hurray, Anna ran! :exercise:

Hurray, Chelle had a great loss! :goodscale

Hurray, vix is going caveing! :coffee2: (okay, so pretend it's a cave, not a cup :p )

Hurray, mj5 went to the gym! :lifter:

I'm feeling very optimistic today, can you tell :p I'm also down to 290 on my scale as of this morning (since TOM is finally backing off)...280s, here I come! :goodvibes

I'm leaving work at lunch time today to work from hom this afternoon because we are having our microwave repaired--yes, the BRAND NEW over-the-range microwave we just had installed like a month ago :rolleyes: The turntable try only turns when it feels like it. Luckily, it's under warranty. Repair people will be at our house between 2-5pm.

Hurray, Jill is saying goodbye to the 290s!!! :congrat:

I'm loving Jaime's new avatar -- you changed that just recently, right? Or am I in a time warp and I just missed it? Anyway, I love that photo!

Closer what?

Two words come to mind---god, why? DH is from here (was there yesterday, as a matter of fact), and I can tell you it is redneck ****.
1)Pack you own food. You won't find anything healthy there. No kidding. Even the groceries are pretty sparse on healthy foods. If you travel up to Bloomington, you will find some of the most lucious, healthy restaurants in the world. I lived there for 4 years and did not get to eat everywhere that I wanted to.
2) Try to act stupid. They are more likely to accept their own kind.
3) if you hear Dueling Banjos...RUN

Where are you staying?


It is not sweat, it is your fat cells crying...

I WANT the skirt. I just went over our budget, and things are really good so far this month. Will tests for his orange belt soon, and I need to see if that is this pay period or next. I have a pair of tights that I can use for now, but it is getting so blasted hot. I may go cheap and not get the Bonita and see if Target has a C9 (which I hate) equivalent. I just think it is weird that after wearing these shorts for two years, NOW I get a rash???

Let me tell you about my run this morning:
You know that running is going well when 1 mile is *easy*.

7:30 is too late to start. It was already wicked humid. I almost did not go since I went so late last night. But then I remembered how hard I had worked to form the habit, and I was not going to let that get away. Rain and holidays already have pulled me off the early morning work out, so I need to make sure I stay on it this week. I made myself get up and was glad I did.

TMI WARNING: I was running and a little after mile one I got that special feeling. You know the one...is it a fart or a turd? Do I keep running? Walk it off? Take the risk? It is the worst part of running for me and always has been. I get into a good run, and my metabolism ramps up to purge mode. There is going to be gas released during a run, but no one wants to drop a nugget a mile and a half from home. I stopped, breathed and the feeling subsided, but never quite went away.

TMI OVER: I only planned to do 2, but did 2.3. After last night's 2.7, I think I will try three again tomorrow morning. I only have done three one time when I did not take a little break in between. Fingers crossed!

Off to do the push ups. Gah.

Good Morning! It's going to be another hot one today (even hotter and more humid that yesterday)! I may shorten my trip to the gym, BUT I AM going!!!!

Rhonda--Sorry to hear the trip was so stressful, but glad that you are home w/ your girls and have a plan!

Anna--Great run!

Jill--Yea!!!!


Right now I am making myself eat some breakfast. It had become such a good habit, that I stopped thinking about it, and well...somewhere along the way I stopped doing it every day. So, I am having some yogurt right now. It's a start!

When I take my break later I am going to check out the Farmers Market to see what yummy produce I can find to go w/ dinner.

Ok, I'm off to fill up my water bottle!

Josephine - thanks! I changed it yesterday, it was taken just last week at a pub in Ottawa during my vacation :) My old one was from 3ish years ago, time for an update!

Anna - I know that feeling. I can usually safely assume I'm not about to drop something though. DH thinks it's so bizarre I start running and suddenly I've got a little putt-putt-putt going on behind me. Glad to hear someone else knows the joy....

Jill - Glad to see you back and on track! Goodbye 290's indeed! :D

back on track
 

Girlygirlsebas: :goodvibes: You have the right attitude to get back on track after your visit - I know you will do it.

I am fighting grabbing the negative foods right now too - I didn't win last night but today I will start once more.

chafing - put vaseline/ petroleum jelly are the sensitive areas before running - it helps reduce the chafing even with the right clothes

Linda

Throw them out. right now. Don't give yourself the option to eat them. Put them in the trash, tie up the bag, take it to the garage and don't let them back in. Sing a little bit of "You don't own me" while you do it.

I will try the vaseline. thanks

Tawnya - My DS had eye surgery for last November. He cried for about 15 minutes when he first came to. He was down right ornery that he still had the IV port taped to his hand. As soon as they got that off he calmed right down. DH, on the other hand, almost fainted when he saw DS and ran from the room and left me in there to deal with the crying.

I hope they are prompt.

Good for you for getting out there again.
I thought the TMI happened to all of us, lol.

Note to self - Do the push up challenge when you get home from the gym instead of waiting until the next morning when you are way to sore. OUCH!

Hi everyone! I'm glad to see all the optimism on the thread this morning, and I'm super happy to report that I broke 125 this morning (124.8!)

I've been thinking a lot about this since in the past 8-9 years I've dieted my way down to 132-135ish easily enough, but found it impossible to lose anyhting past that. This time each pound has seemed easier than the previous one (with a few frustrations of course). I think the reason is that in the past I've focused on restricting and what I am not allowed to eat. Now I am focusing on the positive aspects of eating healthfully-- planning good things to eat instead of struggling not to eat other things. Of course there are foods that I am not "allowed" to eat, but I've just framed the issue differently in my head.

Does that make any sense at all?

LOL. If you saw that pic of me on my blog after a run you might have noticed a full size bandanna tied around my wrist? Yeah, that's an emergency supply that could come in handy out there in the bushes should things get... uh...out of hand. I'm always worried about that, though have never had a real scare.

But you know the old saying: never shake the hand of a runner wearing only one sock.

Congratulations!! You must be so excited! I think so much of this battle is mental and coming up with "new ways to frame things in our heads" so that we find what works for us individually! Great job!

One of the neighborhoods I run in has enough construction that there are port-a-potties if I get desperate. I have used them to pee, but that is all.

I have figured out why I am stalled. At the root of it all, I am happy with my body right now. I would like to lose some more, but complacency rules.

Tyler-you are nothing what I thought you looked like....you are even prettier. I am so glad I can put a face to the name. I love the pics and it is a major inspiration to me. Wow!!! I really have to get my butt in gear. I've been stuck at 193 for I think 3 weeks now. Uuuuhhh....I hate it. I want to see the 180's really soon. I'm about halfway to goal, I know I can do it.

Ladies - those of us that do not run outdoors, are now fully reminded of another reason why we don't :lol:

I love the fact that my bathroom is just 6 steps away from my exercise room

Bah. What's life without some risk, eh? ;)

A lot of my friends ran cross country in high school, and they always said that the really fast girls (like the state champions) would frequently have accidents during races and not even notice. At the time I thought this was the most horrible thing ever!

With all this talk of pooping and running I have to share my friend's story. None of you know here so I think it's ok to share. :D

A few months ago when we still had plenty of snow she was at the turnaround point on her 8K run when she was overcome by the "urge". Being 4K from home she tried to ignore it but soon couldn't. She went down in the ditch (she's out in the country) and did her business. She didn't have anything with her to wipe with so she had to use the only thing she could find...a snowbank! :eek:

Who on here is doing the C25K program (either real "running" or a modified version on the elliptical, like me)?

I would love to know where people are with the program and how they like it and if it is working for them.

So, since I asked, I will start off - I am doing a modified version of it as I can't do impact running and I am on the Elliptical. I modified the schedule for longer runs since I lack the impact (not to mention that the earlier weeks didn't get me to 3.1 miles). I am doing W8D4 as of this morning, which involves 2 20 minute runs, 2 5 minute jogs, and 2 5 minute walks for 60 minutes.

I love it. I think it has really helped me to accomplish "running". I realize I am not really running, but this is as close to the real thing as I am going to get with my knees and I think it has boosted my self-confidence regarding working out. I love the fact that I did over 4.9 miles this morning and burned something like 900 calories (I really want a HRM for a more accurate view).

Running is one of those things that I think of as truely athletic - so COOL!

All you runners...wow. Just wow. I am a firm believer that there is no need for me to run unless I'm being chased.

And even then, it depends on who's doing the chasing :o ;)

blue team rocks
 

[SIZE="4"Way to go Blue Team
Week 10 results are in!

congrat's to our biggest loser, TylerD!

running is not something I do - so I am in awe of anyone doing it, maintaining to do it -

also I look at the handy chart - chellez it 's awesome and thank you for creating it
:bravo:grouphug:Blue Team winning on an american holiday week and other big time visits WOW![/SIZE]:flow1:

Linda

stevia question
 

Hi TylerD,
noticed in your menu that you have stevia mentioned quite a bit - what is this?
Linda

By the way, I believe there is an error in the weekly results computation, so please hold all congratulations until this week's REAL biggest loser is announced! :)

A all-natural sweetener that I use (instead of Splenda)... http://www.sweetleaf.com/

I have a half of a packet in my coffee on most mornings.

Anna's Blah Blah Blah about vegetarianism (for Rhonda)
 

I am not currently a veg, though I have been. I eat local meat that has been raised with love and slaughtered with respect. I have a chicken in the oven as I type this whom I probably identified by name at one point. I support vegetarianism in all it's advantages, and I honestly have not found a disadvantage. I am not going to talk about vegan lifestyle because I have ZERO experience with it. True vegheads, please jump in.

First, this article is brilliant, but definitely has an angle:
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/2007/...tarter_kit.pdf

One of the main concerns people have (which was driven by the meat industry) is "enough" protein. Seriously? How many people know how much is needed to be healthy?
http://www.mypyramid.gov/tips_resour...ian_diets.html

Dairy and eggs will get you to your protein goals. A piece of whole grain bread has 5g; 1 oz of cheese has 6. One grilled cheese sandwich (I like two kinds of cheese) will get you to 22 g. It also gets you half way to your 4/day dairy goal for a teen girl.

One egg has 17 g.

And that does not even get me started on beans, which also are great for fiber:
http://www.annecollins.com/protein_d...tein-beans.htm

The environmental impact of vegetarianism is why I started to get interested in it:
http://www.vegsource.com/articles/boyan_environment.htm
http://www.meatrix.com/

I will not let my kids eat factory farmed meat. I honestly believe it is evil and against God's will for animals to be treated like that. I looked at my innocent children, who carry bugs outside rather than kill them, and I could not make them an accomplice to those crimes. I still wrestle with the dairy issue, but right now, I simply cannot afford local milk. As a result, we drink primarly soy and some almond.

What I have found to be an issue for younger vegetarians is that they cut out meat, but they don't actually eat vegetables. They live on grains and dairy and call it healthy. But it's not.

If I had a kiddo who wanted to try vegetarianism, I would put some of the onus on them, but I would be incredibly supportive. How could I not support something I believe in, even if I don't practice it? I would have my kids formulate a plan for their eating and give me a list of what they needed when I made the grocery list. I would look it over and say, "I don't see any fruit on here" or "You can't have rice every meal. Come up with some other grains." I would insist on whole wheat pastas, breads and cereals. Since I am buying, there is no choice.

Since I am sure your family is having a vegetable and a grain at every meal, she would just eat the same thing without the meat. As a result of her suggestions, the whole family would get the chance to eat some new veggies, grains and veg/grain combos.

you didn't say which DD this was, but I think if you had a veg cookbook in the house, either could help meal plan and maybe even cook. (And what a great start for her own life that would be!)

I think you have a chance to go back to her and say, "You know, I said no kind of abruptly, but I have done my homework, and if you are still interested, we can work on this together." Your daughter sounds super cool!

Aww geez! I forgot nuts. Crazy, yummy horrible-trigger-food-for-Anna nuts! Protein, calcium, fiber! Not quite the miracle that lentils are, but close.

I look at the cost of almond butter and about flip out. Then I realize it is the same as one steak, and I get at least 10 meals out of it!

Congratulations, blue team!

:lol: there is... I used your week 11 weight instead of week 10.

No fear. You were still the biggest loser and we still won.

:woohoo: Congrats Team BLUE! :cp:

And a hearty Congrats to Tyler Durden too! You are looking supremely FANTASTIC and have very inspiring, thought provoking things to say too! HUGE :bravo:

Yeah blue team!