[chick_in_the_hat]

Spin class was pretty fun - well the time went really fast and my heart rate stayed between 75 -80% for the whole thing...whew....I think I might keep it as a once or twice a week thing.

ledom...you may have noticed the 13 pounds has pretty much been there for quite a while. But if I'm going to have to eat this way for the rest of my life it's hard to get too upset about it. Chin up, girl...try to enjoy the fun parts, like kayaking and fitting into new smaller clothes.

I did change my ticker on the thought that it was for a new attititude where I'm not so complacent looking at all the pounds lost long ago. I'm thinking now I need to focus on these last few.

[ledom]

I hear you on the new attitude. Keeping spirits renewed is an ongoing thing. I hear you on the thing about something you have to keep up for a life time. On the other hand, I just want to be there now and dealing with the new problem of maintaining. But will try to be mature and enjoy the "process". In the spirit of fitting into smaller clothes. I have decided a clothes buying moratorium is in effect. As a recreational shopper I have ENOUGH, at least until it cools down and it would sure be nice to be buying winter clothes in a 12! I have promised myself the reward of new western boots when I hit 189. Now that is a motivator cause I have been thinking I want some for over a year now and within 5 or so pounds I could have them. Sooner rather than later if I can get myself focused.

Twinkle and Angel, how are you doing?

[TwinkleGirl]

Hi Girls!
I planned on having a kick butt week, but life got in the way. I ended up being way busier than i had expected and i ended up missing a few workouts because of an injury and no time. And the only workout i did was walking on my treadmill, so i gat a nice surprise when i jumped on the scale and saw i had lost another 2.2 pounds. I kind of feel like i have cheated in some way, because while i worked hard of my food, i didn't really work out that much.

Chick- Nice to hear about the spin class. I will try one one day, i just don't feel 'ready' yet. But good on you for making it through, i hear spin classes are TOUGH!

Angel- Welcome back!

Ledom- I get like that sometimes too, when i just feel 'over' this whole thing. It happens a lot when i see really thin people eating crap. I know that they're not healthy, but it just makes me feel bad. And knowing that if i want to keep up the results i'll have to keep going like this forever is a little scary, and overwhelming. But i'm loving the results, and if i have to eat carefully and workout reguarly to keep it up, i'll just have to suck it up and do it! And boots will help a lot.... isn't that what shoes are for? To make us feel good ?!?

[ledom]

Go TwinikleGirl - you are doing grrrrreaaaattttt!!!! Just look at that ticker!! Aren't you proud!?! And the thing is, you didn't cheat. You did the work - that silly old scale just has a mind of it's own and when it's good and ready it gives you the reward for all the accumulation of workouts, good eating days, water drunk, etc. You earned it and don't think otherwise cause the scale doesn't give you anything you haven't worked for!

[chick_in_the_hat]

WooHoo Twinklegirl!! 40 pounds GONE!!! I think the eating right part is even more important than the working out part...too bad I'm better at the working out part.

ledom - I reread my last post and it sounds kinda harsh...I'm sorry! You can vent whenever you need to!! New boots are a nice motivator. You are so close!

Hey Angel-eyes!!

[ledom]

Oh no Chick - I didn't feel that at all. I love your comments. I love our little thread here. I get so much out of it.

[TwinkleGirl]

Ok, so this post doesn't really have anything to do with weight loss, but i'm so freakin excited that i have to share with everyone! As part of my studies in counselling i have to do 2 lots of 200 hours of volunteer work, and i just finished my first one yesterday and they offered me a casual job! Yay! It's at a school for mainly boys with behavioural problems, and if someone is sick or at a conference or something, i go in and work. I know this post may seem silly to everyone else, but this is my first job in the 'industry' that i want to work in. Thus my excitment!

Ok, back onto weight loss. Somtimes i think i focus too much on the weight i still have to lose. I remember back when i weighed 220 pounds and i would think 'If i could just lose 10 pounds' or 'If i could just lose 15 pounds' i'd be happy with that. Sometimes i'm so focused on where i'm going, that i forget where i've come from. Because of your posts ledom and chick, it gave me a moment to think back to where i have come from. So thank you, it's really nice to be reminded of how far i've come.

[angel-eyes]

Hi girls.....I've been lurking since coming off of holidays. I sure have been struggling, one big major carb fest after another. I really have to get my head straight and think about my goals and where I want to be with my weight and health. I went for a mammogram just before I went on holidays and received a message (via my machine) when we got back saying they found something and I had to have more intensive tests. Thankfully I had these done a few days ago and everything is fine but it really did a head number on me and my stress was off the charts!!! I really REALLY need to get focused!!!!

[ledom]

twinkle and angel. Hugs to both of you. Twinkle, that is great about the job. It sounds like a real foot in the door.

Angel, the same medical scare happened to me at the beginning of the summer as well as a slump after vacation. I am glad you are okay. You'll get your focus back. Just remember one day at a time.

[chick_in_the_hat]

ledom - I get a lot of support and inspiration from this thread, too.

Twinklegirl - there's nuthin silly about getting to work at something you find challenging and interesting!! That's quite exciting, actually. Enjoy!

Angel-eyes - so glad your wake-up call was a false alarm! That stuff can be so scary when you are waiting for the outcome of tests. I have a very active imagination and tend to freak myself out.

I missed my workout yesterday...I'm gonna double up today and tomorrow as I have time this weekend. I'm thinking I'll do 1/2 an hour weight training and then a full hour of cardio each day. It was nice having a little break from weight training - but I feel like I'm ready to jump back in now.

[ledom]

Hey Ladies-

How's it going? I just finished week 2. Pretty effective starting from the beginning when you have had a 5 week hiatus. It feels good. I feel strong. Just want to lose more fat - but feeling very buff now as it were. I am back at work and seem to be keeping everything together so far. I have noticed that my squats are getting really deep and my hamstrings are showing some good definition these days. Have discovered a new muscle in the back of my upper arm. Not the tricep. I need to look at an illustration but it is this nice small muscle between tricep and back shoulder muscle. What are you all noticing these days?

The man called last night. Great talk. OK, so here is the deal. This is unrequited love on my part. AND, he lives 2000 miles away. It isn't going to work like I'd have it in my daydreams. He will always be my best friend, but I am starting to think about finding something closer to home. At 52 I am letting my friends know I am ready to meet some nice men to hang out with. Wish me luck.

[angel-eyes]

wooohoooo go ledom go!!! That is fantastic about your lunges and new muscle!!! uh...I have no new muscles.... but I have discovered that I have a candida yeast infection!!! nice huh?...serves me right for eating all the wrong foods and my stress induced sugar fest. I'm on day one of trying to get back on track, and walk the walk. whatever that saying is!!! good luck to you on the meeting and greeting circuit. How are the repairs/renovations going?

chick.....how was your workout? I'm heading back into Jillian's book, going to get re-focused and RIPPED!!!!

twinkle.....how are you doing GF?

Thanks for standing by me girls.....I needed you guys to bring me around and like usual.....YOU WERE THERE FOR ME!!! I'm heading to the gym in a bit, and its thanks to you.

[chick_in_the_hat]

angel-eyes - bummer on the yeast infection! Drink tons of water! Is it cranberry juice, too? But you are headed for the gym anyways...You go, girl!

ledom - best friends are hard to come by...sorry it wasn't quite as much as you were hoping for. You'll find that special someone! Especially with the confidence losing all that weight is giving you.
It's funny you asked what are we noticing...last night I noticed that my left tricep is smaller than my right. Which is weird because I'm left handed...you'd think it would be the other way around.

Today was front day - I tried to work the left side a little more. Then I did spin class again...this time I got a bike with a gel seat. Woo Hoo Good stuff! I needed something new to change things up. I'm eating better, too..let's see if clean diet and exercise is how it's done? Isn't the jury still out on that?

Twinklegirl - howzit going down under?

[TwinkleGirl]

Hi Girls!
angel- i agree with chick, the infection is a bummer, and i've heard cranberry juice is good for infections, too. Hope it clears up soon.

ledom- You get out there and shake your thing! You'll find a special someone soon! You're too great for any man to pass up!

chick- i'm still waiting to lose a little more weight before doing a spin class. Ok, i'll admit it too scared! Whenever i go just for a normal bike ride, my thighs last about 5 minutes before they start getting sore, so i don't think my legs are made riding. I'll have to wait and see. I'm too scared that i'll get to the class and it will be filled with size 6 models and i'll be the big fat girl at the back that can't do it!

Had a little victory over the weekend. I decided i'd had enough of looking like a slob in clothes that don't fit, so i bought a new pair of jeans. i tried of a size 16 (american size 14) and they were just a little loose. So i figured 'hey, i might as well try a 14 (size 12 american) they won't fit, but i should try.' And they freaking fit me! That was a big thing for me, because over here size 14 is like the 'average' womens size, so it was very exciting for me!
I have to admit, my stomach (which is my big problem area) isn't really toning up yet. I'm adding extra sit-ups every day even though i know i can't spot reduce, i have to do something because summer is coming and i want to wear a bikini this year!

[ledom]

Thanks for your encouragement girls. I don't know that I will be that successful. It is so scary, but I do know I need to move on. I am ready to give it a shot.

angel-eyes sorry to hear about the YI - sounds like you are taking care of it though. The house repairs are coming along. We are down to ALMOST the end, the structure is back, they did a beautiful job on it. But can I tell you how sick I am of having construction people at my house every day!

I think that muscle I was looking at is the upper tri-cep. I bought a new Oxygen yesterday and there was a picture that made me think that was it. I need to get out the Arnold book though. Anyway, this new issue looks pretty good though I haven't spent a LOT of time with it yet. It reminded me I need to prepare more fish for here at home.

Twinklegirl - I have never done a spin class, but somehow I think you might be more ready than you think you are. After all, you wear size 14's!!!!!! That is fabulous news.

I think I have finally gotten back into the groove w/ eating and exercise. I hate when I fall out of it and I love when I am in it and losing.