[aphil]

Yeah, and my husband's birthday is August 7th...maybe I will hit one of those dates.

[1dayatatime]

My apologies for coming across as harsh as it appears you took it as so and that was not my intention. I'm just very passionate about the ideas and plan that the Calorie Queens have offered. And truthfully, it's not really a "plan" - it offeres a 28 day menu but the menu is more there to show what you can eat and lose weight. That loosing weight and being the healthy person you want to be is not just brussel sprouts and pea pods. It's fruits, veggies, proteins, good fats, and the occassional treat, etc.

You both are very well respected members (and staff) and I fear that your answers to the question might steer someone struggling with 1200 calorie dieting away from the Calorie Queens ideas. I hope that makes sense.

Aphil, my oldest daughter was born August 3rd - it made for an extremely hot summer! I'm in the South with mega humidity so I hope you have a bit cooler than I did.

[srmb60]

Oh no Carrie! Not at all. I can't tell you how much I believe in Calorie Counting!
What I want to steer people away from is black and white! I really really think that everybody just needs a boost with where to start and that from there it's trial and error. Which is what Calorie Queens says, yes?

[1dayatatime]

Exactly. They suggest you use the x12 for a bit. Track what you eat and see how things go from there and adjust accordingly if necessary. I just would dread the thought of CQ becoming associated solely with that formula. For me, I took away something I have to say to myself daily because it addresses the area I struggled the most and that's....
"It is highly unlikely that any food available today will not still be available tomorrow. It is not necessary or recommended to try to eat every piece of candy or all of the cookies today. They'll make more.

I say it every time I go to the store, every time I go to the fridge, and every time I hold a cookie in my hand. For some reason, just reading someone else knows that feeling of fearing having to do without cookies, etc and experiences the result of that fear made the difference for me.

[KimberlyinMN]

Good job Carrie on explaining the Calorie Queens' way of life! What's funny is that I was thinking of posting something similar and thankfully I read the rest of the posts!

I've fallen off the wagon a little although my weight hasn't changed much other than not go UP.

I've started listening to the weight loss hypnosis CD again and I'm getting my focus back again.

I also joined the local fitness center and get there three times a week.

Kimberly

[1dayatatime]

Good deal going to the fitness center. I've jumped into the weight thing now and every week I'm checking out a new book from the library to learn more about how my muscle work. This week it's "The Body Sculpting Bible For Women".

Glad you're still around - at least that way your reminded even if mentally you aren't focused. And I think everyone would agree that unless you are mentally prepared to face your food issues head on and work daily to change for a better you the whole process will be in vain.

[channning102]

Originally Posted by aphil

1800 is not what EVERY 150 woman needs to get to 150, or to maintain a weight of 150. What generalized statements like that do not put into consideration-is that "Mary" may be a waitress who works on her feet for 8 hours a day running around like a chicken with her head cut off, and "Sally" may have a job at a computer-where she pretty much sits for that same 8 hours. If they were the same age, same metabolism, etc.-then Mary is still going to use more calories each day than Sally-because her lifestyle is more active. Therefore, she would be able to maintain 150 pounds eating more than Sally.

Let's say "Jill" is 22 years old, and has never had children. Now here comes "Jane" who is 50 years old, and has had 4 children. Most likely, Jill will have a much easier time losing weight than Jane will-due to her age and the fact that her body has never had the changes done to it from having children.

Now let's take "Carrie" who works out 45 minutes a day...and her twin sister "Connie". Connie doesn't exercise. Carrie is going to be able to lose weight eating more, and also maintain that loss eating more calories than her sister will, because she is burning more of them off each day-plus because of that, she also has more muscle mass and lower body fat.

I guess what I am saying-is that calorie levels are not one size fits all. The same numbers don't work for everyone as far as maintenance and losing weight. There are too many factors-metabolism, age, having had children or not, genetics, your lifestyle in general, your exercise and the intensity of that exercise, WHAT is in the calories that you are eating-was your last 100 calories a banana, or junky diet pudding?, and so on, and so forth.

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I have been thinking about getting this book. Thanks for the info.