Hi MaryShady -- good for you for making good food choices at the inservice. How is your hip doing? Still hurting or getting better? That can be painful -- and you have so much to do to get ready for your the grad party -- this is such a busy time of year. Mary, I started on Atkins the end of February. I did induction, but did start to have berries before the two weeks were over. I then went to the bookstore and got this book called Fat to Skinny. It is basically induction with berries. The guy who wrote the book has a website and he and his wife are chefs and they have some good recipes also. They are very friendly and helpful. I had a good initial weight loss -- WOOSH that was good, but then was yo-yoing up and down and was just struggling so much that a week ago decided to still watch the carbs but add back Whole Wheat bread and added popcorn. Well the popcorn has to go, because I'm really overdoing it. I'm having no difficulty with bread though. I eat those Orowheat Thin Buns, and don't crave more or find myself just eating bread when I shouldn't.
Shanhat -- zumba is fun, but hard at my size -- I took a couple classes with skinny fit girlfriends, and Zumba kicked my butt. I had to really pace myself to make it through the class without my friends having to call an ambulance!!!
MELLLLLLLLLLL! A TWO MINUTE PLANNNNNNNNNNNNK??? OH MY GOSH!!
You are my hero -- definitely. I don't think I can do a plank....too much weight on important joints? I need to figure out some core exercises I can do at this weight though.....Any suggestions? Mel, you asked about struggling with the I want it all now syndrome. I've not had that struggle, but I do think we are very hard on ourselves sometimes, and it stresses us. I think that is a thought provoking question.....something for us to think about. I know I am guilty of wanting a 'quick fix' and it's frustrating that there isn't one....it takes time, and patience with one's self, and a lot of hard work. And while you've had success and good progress, there is a desire to be at goal? Is that what you mean? I'd like to hear more about it.
BetteK -- I like what you said about weeds -- that makes a lot of sense -- I need to consider I don't have to have a WEEDLESS garden to get the job done. I like what you said about your mother's garden. Hope you get your rain. BetteK -- maybe losing weight is like a garden, and I shouldn't expect to do it perfectly either....hmmmmm (is this a parable??) lol
ABOUT WEIGH-IN EVERYONE -- Sounds like everyone is getting on track with getting a weigh-in early and then adapting it before Sunday if you have more loss.....that's a good plan.
ABOUT EXERCISE EVERYONE -- Sounds like everyone has a plan for exercise, and sounds like I need to get a plan (now that wedding is over). I'm needing 3 things:
1. Info about core exercises I can start at this weight -- and work UP to the plan that our fearless leader does so well. Until I can do that plan though, what kind of core exercise would be good for starters at this weight? Right now my idea of a core exercise is holding my tummy in???
I have done crunches, but think I need to find something more.
2. Thinking about some type of dancer exercise thing I could do in the living room along -- maybe even zumba but at my speed without people watching.
3. Has anyone here worked with kettle bells -- that looks interesting...they look like they would cause core exercise.
Well it's late and time for me to sleep -- a friend worked for me tonight so I could be at the wedding, but it's back to work on Sun, Mon, Tues nights, but I'll try to get in quick like to post.
So, let's drink water, eat well -- I will not have popcorn until next Thursday night and ixnay on the ice cream also -- AND, let's all have a good weigh-in and on to next week!
So, here's to Weigh In Sunday -- GOOOOOOOOOOOOO RED TEAM!!
Here's to us!
Oh my.....You know that pic is really bugging me, but I think I need to take more pics of myself so I know what I look like. I get the mental image in my head of a woman who is about 5'3" and weighs about 200 pounds....but I am about 74 pounds above that!!! So maybe I need a picture to remind myself why I'm doing this. Being as wide as I am tall -- I CANNOT overlook the fact that it is imperative that I lose weight -- to live a full life -- not a life wanting to hide and be in the background -- AND, I want to live that full life HEALTHIER, STRONGER, BETTER. 
