:carrot: Wee oooh!!! :carrot:

I am so ready for the December Challenge :snowglo: --- especially after going on a TOTAL tear throughout Thanksgiving, plus, plus, plus. :( I had gone down about 3 pounds but allowed some sadness due to no family visits during the holidays to get me down. . . just for a few hours . . . this is progress.

Calorie Counting has to be a lifestyle change for me. Sugar and flours (even 100% whole wheat) just set off too many urges to overeat. The sugar/carbs have a marked, negative effect on my moods and generally feeling of well-being.

This challenge will be a good launching pad. Rather than set a goal weight number, I'm going to set goals to:

1) Get to bed earlier.
2) Eliminate late-night snacking.
3) Exercise and/or walk daily - 1/2 hour to start; 6 days/week
4) Drink more water.
5) Document food intake "plan" (This is KEY for me. Having a plan of what I'll eat always produces better results).

It is so encouraging to come here and read what everyone has shared - Thanks all!!! It's motivating and reminds me of what is possible and that I'm not alone in these efforts.

Looking forward to a more energized and healthier way of living.
:wave:
Jean

Two days on plan so far... I'm taking it one day at a time as I seem to go off the rails when I plan too far ahead. I'll take it one meal at a time if I have to! Made a really tasty taco salad for dinner, with ground turkey breast, salsa for dressing, and a measured ounce of cheese and an ounce of tortilla chips crushed up on top of a mound of lettuce and veggies. It was so good and so satisfying with the crunch of the chips. And making it spicy made it really tasty. I just wish it wasn't so cold here - salad seems so counter-intuitive when it's only 40 degrees or so at 6pm!

Had 1350 calories today & lost more weight. The water is coming off faster this time. I think the power walking I'm doing everyday is really helping! yahoo!

sandcar Yeah they said it could be between 1-3 weeks - way to be vague! I hate the waiting. It has me up and down and all over the place. Thank you for the prayers.

"Let's get ready to Zuuuuuuuuuuumbaaa!". I have Zumba in 45 mins. My instructor doesn't say that haha, but I always think about it from the television ads. I am not ready to Zumba, I am exhausted - today has been the busiest work day I have had in a while - so many people shopping for Christmas presents and wanting them giftwrapped - at least I enjoy wrapping things!!
Getting my hair done tomorrow, just a trim and fresh colour, but I enjoy the whole salon experience. Better get my exercise done before I go! Social activities beckon later in the week but I'm trying to decide if I should steer clear - the alcohol that always comes out is not good for me.
Doing well with calories so far this week!

I'm down .8 pounds from when I got my scale 9 days ago. From when I started working my butt off, doing 4500 calories of workouts per week, counting my calories, sticking within my guidelines.

I can feel my body changing, my stomach is losing fat and my legs are getting more muscular but I still wish the scale would reflect that.

I know: "my body is not a math equation, muscle takes up less room than fat but weighs more, give it time, keep doing what you are doing, the scale is not the only marker, have you taken measurements? You're doing great. Blah blah blah."

I want the scale to drop darn it. I shall not weigh myself for 4 days, because this is how i start to make myself crazy. :dizzy:

I meant to say, I'm down .8 pounds!!! :carrot:

Good Morning! blurrrrrrrrrrrrrrr It's cold this morning in east texas. But its not going to stop me from going to the pool. Thank God for warm heated pools. I know exactly what your talking about seagirl. I'm like you watch those calories, kickbutt working out, and you may lose or you still gain. I felt I did good over the thanksgivings by not over eating and well I did lose, only 3/4 of a lb. I was hoping for for a bigger lost. But everyone tells me its muscle. So hopefully one of these days I will see a big lost. Just an idea how it went sofar this year, I lost a total weight lost of 67 and then gained 39 lbsmy net overhaul is 28 lbs so far.My challenge is on for Dec. I hope to lose 12 lbs by Dec 31 hopefully that will give me a 40 lb lost. Please Lord help me and all my dear friends with this same journey to lose those unwanted lbs and teach us to eat healthy and excercise to living healthly. Have a very good day will check back in later. :wave::dust::elf::snowfight

good morning ladies,

So I gained weight. I'm not 131.2....WTF! I'm going to be honest...I want to lose the weight but i'm so freakin tired of dieting and counting calories...i've done it for years and now i'm just drained! I'm trying to get motivated, and I'm depressed and feel fat and not happy. I'm so depressed. I miss being at a happy 118. Oh and speaking of me being drained and tired of doing this crap....for you women, who are married, working (even not working), have children and still manage to lose weight and keep your life in order...............................I GIVE YOU ALL THE FREAKIN CREDIT AND LOVE IN THE WORLD!!!!! I'm struggling now and I don't have half the worries and stress you guys have and yet you wake up every day, exercise, count calories and own up to it all. I just want to say congrats to all of you and you diserve all the happiness and success in the world!

Good Morning, fellow Christmas-Challengers!

It looks like I've gotten back to my pre-Thanksgiving weight. Today the scale read 125.4, which I'm totally ok with. I had hoped to get below 125 by tomorrow, but in light of all the eating I did and missing a day or two of exercise, I'm alright with this number.

Took last night off from the gym to food shop and prep all my healthy stuff for the week, put up Christmas decorations, run errands, organize/tidy up, etc. Now I have a clean slate for the week.

Plan for today: 4-5 mile run and weight training.

Two more shifts at work, and then a nice long weekend with friends.


Have a great day everyone :)

-FPSJ

Mmmm, I hear you. It really is frustrating when you feel like you're doing the work and not seeing results.

There really is something to be said for not using the word "diet" and instead trying to find a new way to live each day that allows you to be at the weight you want-- something sustainable.

Maybe take a moment to reassess your plan.
How many calories are you eating each day? If the numbers are wearing on you, maybe consider the approach of eating large volume veggies, salads, fruit, etc. Instead of eating calorie dense foods, maybe try just shifting your intake to primarily veggies and fruits (with a small amount of whole grain and lean protein) and avoid processed stuff and heavy carbs/fats.

Exercise?
Think about what's holding you back. Is it too cold out? Are you tired? Do you need more sleep? Are your workouts boring?


For me, I cannot live with the idea of "calorie counting" forever. Instead, I am perceiving this as a way to re-train myself to eat intuitively, with foods that are lower in calories and good for my insides.
Counting calories is my way of re-teaching my brain to stop when it's full, and to break the habit of mindless snacking.

Sending you positive thoughts, and hoping you can find some peace and a fresh outlook. We are all worth this-- hang in there!! :hug:

Good Tuesday morning everyone!

I, too, get sick of the constant dieting and watching calories/portions. I started doing it when I was 15, so that's 33 years of torture. :D But, what else is there to do? I don't trust myself well enough to go by my hunger...at least not at this stage of my life. Maybe it'll happen in the future.

Well, today is my birday (I'm 48 years young...:p), and my honey is taking me to The Cheesecake Factory tonight. Believe it or not, I lost a pound and a half when I ate there last time when I was doing low carb. I had their delicious Cobb salad and a slice of their low-carb cheesecake (out of this world). I think I will go that route tonight and hope for the best. lol

Have a great day everyone! ☺

Oh honey I am RIGHT there with you; I feel like my body is fighting me every step of the way, like it likes to fat and unhealthy. All I can do is really give it a go and try my best to stay on plan in December (and every month after that of course) I am tired of counting calories and weight loss already but that's what I have to do in order to get to the maintenance phase, so darn-it, that's what I am going to do! We're in this together!

JD :hug: - You know I have mad love for you and I so understand and relate. I do have a husband, toddler, full time job and counting calories. I'm just doing what I gotta do. Some days are better than others and you chalk them up to the "GAME"! I started after you and some days I want to just have a day off but it takes me longer to get back in the game. So thanks for the love but know the battle is REAL!! I started much bigger than you so I have to work harder-longer. I manage my meals throughout the day and have a regular dinner with the family, I just eat a little more than my 2yr old. So don't sweat it...you can get it done. Yesterday may suck, the whole week may suck but Saturday may be AWESOME. That's how I look at it.
Sandcar - :bday2you:

I have been drinking lots of water the last couple days. I had 148 ounces yesterday and should be at 144 by the end of today. I worked out this morning and yesterday for 30 minutes and burned off 300 calories. I worked out at lunch for 30 minutes on the eliptical at the highest level of tension and burned 600 yesterday and today I worked out 20 minutes and burned 552 calories and I have been starving all afternoon...both days. I increased my calorie intake because yesterday I was famished. So I tried to be smart but the food didn't last me long. I have eaten 1440 calories so far and am thinking what will happen when it's dinner time. Maybe when I'm doing these twice a day workouts I need to have about 1800 calories.

On a good note I feel like I have flushed all the salt out of my body. :carrot:

Bobbolink We're just keeping track ourselves I think, and coming here to keep accountable (at least that's how I see it?)

I'm officially at my half way to goal point now. Exactly 70kg / 154.3 pounds which means I've lost 15kg / 33 pounds since July 19 this year. I think that's ok. I think it could be better, but I'm glad it's been mostly steady and I've still been able to live my life and enjoy some meals/days that wouldn't necessarily be considered "diet" food. That's why I love calorie counting!!

I'm getting my hair done, and I am SO ready for 3 hours of doing nothing and having my hair cut and coloured and styled.

I'm craving pizza, haven't had it in ages so I might have to give in.

Trying to get some Christmas shopping done, people are so hard to buy for! I have no idea what to get my dad, but I want to get him something special - he's been through a lot this year and gone from being close to dying to being probably healthier than I am!

jdonato- don't give up, you've come too far. I know how you feel, I've been feeling the same way for at least 6 mo. But as soon as that scale starts rising, it proves to me that I can't do without counting or exercise. My internet was out for 3 days & I gained 6 lbs., so holding yourself accountable is the best thing to do. Just remember how happy you were at 118lbs.

Lost all the Thanksgiving weight. I'm happy now, I thought it would be much harder. Calories were 1275, I'm feeling a pig out day is coming soon, and I don't like it!

Well, FINALLY back on plan! That sugar really messses with me, I guess it's best to just stay away all together. Was going to exercise tonight but I really need to study some accounting as it's getting close to finals. Does anyone here do yoga? if so, how do you like it?

Sandcar, happy birthday!!

jdonato, don't give up. you will be so happy you didn't and few days from now. I think we all have days like that, it's just a little bump in the road.