Hi team,

Gosh, its hard to believe its Friday already. But I'm not complaining!!

This week, I've been trying to get into a different mode - back to cardio exercise. I made it to the fitness center twice and then last night was horseback riding. The riding included lots of trotting and relearning how to post. My legs felt like jello so I figure that was a pretty good workout for both the horse and me! I think I was just as happy to take a long walk as he was before we finished.

I've also been paying attention to drinking water this week. I do fairly well at work but its at home when I forget.

Reda - That is an awesome NSV! I love it when DH says things like "you're looking so much better now". :lol: He means it in the right way but it opens the door wide open for him to put his foot in his mouth. The encouragement is great!

Manick - I feel for you with the allergies. I am allergic to certain types of trees, weeds, and grass and dust. I did shots for years which did help. Now I just take claritan in the morning, flonase, muscinex to open the sinues, and if necessary zyrtec in the evenings. I also have food allergies but I found the food restrictions (like corn products) too hard. Its amazing (and annoying) the reactions that allergies can cause. I hate the fatigue and listlessness that I get. But I still live in the country and love being outside amongst the trees, weeds and grass. Good luck with your situation.

Tara - Great about the compliments. I'm finding the clothes NSV's so much more satisfying than seeing changes on the scale. I too have been digging out clothes that I used to wear but grew out of a couple of years ago - its almost like getting a new wardrobe! And best of all, I can wear them and then be able to get rid of them making room for new smaller clothes in the future! Great job on the elliptical.

Is there an exercise challenge for this weekend?

I better get busy. :wave: to all!

Hello!
Today I'll start counting calories, again,, Have done it before but there were weeks since I did that.. I haven't done it because I've been loosing anyway, but now I've been stalled at 138-139 for 2 weeks, So I'll have to check over my food intake,,

Terri - For the challenge this week we'll do crunches on Saturday..
Any suggestion for the next weeks anyone??
I also wonder if we shall count in the nine days of August in our challenge,, So we keep on going until the end,, what do you all think?

Happy Friday!
 

Morning team. Short post for me this morning.

My goal this week was to stay OP with food/calories. Managed it. I am going to add exercise back in next week (I fell off that wagon 2 months ago). Down a couple lbs+ for my weigh in. A decent week overall!

Leaving for Havasu tonight - inaugural run on the new boat - used but new to us. Weather there is supposed to be isolated T-storms all weekend so I am praying I don't get stuck in the house with the refrigerator for two days:p

Hope you all have a great weekend and keep up the good work on all the NSV's, frozen grape eating, and exercise. I'll check back in on Monday!

Kris

TOTAL FRUSTRATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't get it! I am moving along great for 2 weeks, then BAM! Nothing. I haven't gotten to the gym much, so I cut calories a bit to make up for it, drink lots of water, keep walking at lunch, even extended my walk a little to help. What do I get for my efforts? I wake up with swollen fingers and a 1 lb gain! I just don't get it! I don't know what to do! I have been at this for 7 months and I still don't understand. When I lose weight it is a freak thing. As much as I exercise and with the way I eat, the weight should be melting off! I am just sooooo frustrated today! It's really hard to do really good and not see the right results. I don't know how many calories I should be eating. Sometimes I lose when I am at 2100ish, sometimes I lose when I am at 1800ish. There is no rhyme or reason to it! I have looked at the calculators that are online, they all suggest around 2100 to 2300, but that seems like a lot. I just don't know what to do. To top it all off, my sister joined weight watchers 3 weeks ago and has lost 10.5 lbs in 3 weeks, eating 2000 calories a day, plus using all 1750 calories of her flex allowance! I have lost 21 in 7 months! She eats 100 calorie packs and weight watchers snacks and walks a few days a week. I walk 35 mins 5 times a week, plus do 45 mins on the treadmill 2-4 times a week. When I went walking with her, she couldn't even keep up. I just don't see how this can be! These are the days when I feel like I might as well just stop. I mean I can gain weight sitting on my ***, eating what I want. Why should I work so damn hard???
:(

Anyway, I gotta go...Be back later or Monday, if things get too crazy.

TTYL--
Misty

Crunches it is. How about inner/outer thigh work like leg lifts - either standing or laying? Or tricep lifts with handweights?

Misty - take a breath. Unfortunately, and it sucks hard, that for some people the weight will never just melt off and for others, they just stop doing one thing and the pounds fly off. You just have to focus on the good things that you're doing for your body with the calorie control and the exercise.

I found this in my desk drawer at work. I've had it for years but it is so right on even for weight loss.

Don't Quit by Edgar Guest

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As every one of us sometimes learns.
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint of the clouds of doub,
And when you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst, you must not quit!

Don't give up! This is for the long haul and you can do it and you will see results.

:sunny:Good MORNING Team:sunny:

My knees are back to normal (thank God) so I guess I WILL be doing the Shred again tomorrow! I will go a bit easier on the lunges and squats. Today I am outside for a walk! :carrot:

Blue-eyed....ARRRGH...I FEEL for you too! That is sooooo frustrating! You ARE making fitness gains it sounds like...and at some point your sister's progress might come to a screeching halt. As you know the first few weeks of a big dietary change often have the body dumping lots of water weight and that initial whoosh, etc. However, people who've never tried to lose weight before sometimes do have what seems to be a metabolic advantage I've noticed. You just have to work harder. I just have to work harder so I feel your pain! Hang in there!! You'll have the nutritional knowledge to share with your sister eventually! Have you visited the calorie counters area here at 3FC and done some reading there? Might be encouraging....
As for the calorie levels, you just have to experiment and see what works for you. Some people who calorie count change it up thru the week to get results (4 days of lower cal, 1 day higher cal...etc, actually some weight watchers do that too, the "wendie plan") Are you writing down everything so that you have an accurate picture?


chiquita good for you! You ARE worth it! :carrot:

Terri good job on the exercise!! My whole sinus rinse post got munched in the crash, but that helps me alot with the breathing and to clear my head from stuffiness. Sinus Rinse

Nixmom hurray for OP!

:wave:Team It's FRIDAY :D

By the way Misty, the one lb does NOT sound like a gain, sounds like water to me...keep on keeping on and it will pass! Next week you could have your own whoosh!! (The body is weird, why it holds water, maybe your muscles need repair, maybe you had salt, maybe its hormones, maybe a little tired....etc)

Hmm...4 hours later and my comment is still the last one here...everyone is busy today!

I am at work but bored. I think I am going walking tonight with DH however! Last night he brought me a huge bunch of roses...I think this is his way of encouraging me. It worked! :D

I want to remind everyone don't forget to post your weight sometime before Monday night! More reminders to come, but if you're going to be busy this weekend....:dizzy:.....maybe get it on there now.

Crazy busy. Rain most of the day and kids in the house and hubby home from work today! AGH ahh stressful! He was in a mood. Gone now for a few hours so I can get caught up some what on connecting with my internet pals!

Nixmom - have a great weekend! :carrot:

Misty - I agree about the water weight. You are doing great!:D

Terri - Thanks for the poem I really needed that today!:hug:

Manick - Sorry we werent around more today to help you thro your bordom!;):hug:

Have a great night everyone! Off to the market in the morning as well as WI

First of all, it sounds like water retention to me, and that just happens sometimes, more often to some people. Are you tracking your measurements? that would give you a more accurate measure of your results...the scale might be up but measurements will reassure progress.

Second, have you gone to the doctor and ruled out other issues that might interfere, like a thyroid issue or something? A doctor could also tell you the right amount of calories so you're not guessing. If there is an issue causing you to lose slower, wouldn't it be better to know what it is and not feel so frustrated?

Third, remember that you are improving your health and increasing longevity...you are strengthening your heart and making your body strong to stand up for your family and take care of yourself...it is worth it, even if you don't lose another single pound, so remember the other reasons to be doing this.

I do suggest making sure there's another issue going on, sounds like there might be if you have been consistent and on plan that long and aren't losing...a check with the doc wouldn't hurt and could really help :hug: hang in there, and vent away, that's why we're here.

God Morning Team!
Today is Crunchtime!! I love to do them :)
From today I'll have a friend visiting me for 5 weeks, And she loves to cook and clean!!.. I only hope she cooks healty.
It's only four weeks left of this challenge.. My goal is to lose at least 1 pound each of the four remaining weigh ins. Then I'm almost at my goal. Hopefully I'll reach 128 by the end of September, By then I'm going back to Sweden. To see my 4 thin sisters ..

Hapy Saturday Ladies. Hope you all have an enjoyable weekend planned. Not much going on around here. Cleaning the house and doing my dad's laundry, going to his house later this morning then coming home to clean up the boat so we can go out in it tomorrow. I am so looking forward to that. It is always so relaxing to me. I'll throw a pork roast in the slow cooker so we can have something decent to eat when we get back with little effort and the day will be perfect. Tonight we have a fish fry for my work that I am not looking forward to. But I will survive (kind of like that Gloria Gaynor song).

Anyway, just wanted to hop on here and check in real quick. Everyone keep up the good work. I am so very proud of each and every one of us for not giving up this fight!!!

Misty I agree it is probably just water weight but as everyone else has said you are probably losing inches and gaining a healthier life style and strenght. I have noticed since starting strenght that my loss is really slowing but we will see after this week. Hope your weekend is going good and just keep your chin up it is all worth it:hug:

Manick thanks for reminding me about WI I will go edit my post right now.

Theresia sounds exciting going to Sweden and you will be thin just like your sisters so no worries there. Crunch time already I better get some in this morning because usually don't have time later in the day.

Terri much needed poem thanks

Well it is pretty quiet online today but everyone is getting so much busier in life including myself and at some point we all need to take a breath and slow down just a little but for me that is such a challenge because I always think I need to be doing something or be on the go......
My son raced last night got spun out no damage to car though, but he had to go to back of line but came back and got 6th so another night done with one more to come this weekend.

I will try to log back on later when crunches are down otherwise probably won't be till tomorrow HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

Laurie sounds like you really do have a busy weekend as well, as you are hanging out at fish fry just be thinking oh tomorrow relaxation on boat.....sounds so fun and relaxing ENJOY!!!