Good morning, girls!
It's the weekend!!

Melissa, I'm so glad your daughter is feeling better.
Isn't it wonderful when people comment on your weight loss, and the fact that you're looking good!? We all need affirmation at times.
I love what you said about eating things just because they're good for us. I've been eating a lot of carbs this week, because I'm feeling "weak" from being sick. Yesterday I thought, "Maybe bread isn't enough. Maybe I should eat a vegetable today." I didn't, but you've made me think about what I'm putting into my body... it NEEDS fruits and veg! Thanks for the reminder, hon.
Happy Anniversary, Melissa!!!

Tam, congratulations on the weight loss! I'm so glad you're feeling supported here, hon.
Have you tried Vietnamese food? I don't know if you have any V. restaurants in your area, but the food is REALLY good, and it's much healthier than the "North American Chinese food". Lots of fresh veggies without deeping frying, and noodles and rice, too!

Rosetta, I'm finally on the mend... thanks, hon. I actually started getting worse on Monday, and saw my doctor this week. I'm on major drugs now, and the cough is definitely starting to clear up! PHEW!!!
It seems as though every time I start (or am ready to start) a new "diet" or exercise program, I get some darned cough/cold.
My dear, you are SO close to goal!! I'm so very happy for you, hon.

This weekend... I've got major stuff to do around the house, and I'm contemplating getting on the treadmill for a wee bit.
A friend of ours gave us some venison (ugh), and DH is going to cook it tomorrow. I don't think I can stomach it.
Is anyone here a vegetarian? We were for about a year, and every now and then I think I might go back to it...

I received a gorgeous plantinum anniversary band from the hubby to commemorate 10 years together. We went to the city, had dinner at Gibson's (Brian Urlacher sat behind me!), saw Wicked (Wonderful!) and spent the night at a hotel. It was a great anniversay. He loved his compass and GPS system, from me, we used both last night.

I ate some wonderful last night and this morning. But what sticks with me most is that I knew when I got home I would be drinking a ton of wate rto flush out the alcohol and would have something healthy for dinner. In the past, this could be the start of a huge binge that would last for days or more. Once I was "off plan" I was OFF and couldn't get back on. Hubby and I were discussing the fact that we both weigh less than we did when we got married 10 years ago and are probably in better shape too! Not a lot of people can say that.

I actually can't wait to get up and go to the gym in the morning.

Melissa - Happy Anniversary. Sounds like you had a wonderful time. And you got home feeling good about yourself! It's important for us to learn that we can treat ourselves once in awhile without turning it into a binge.
Ellis - glad you're finally making some progress on the creeping crud. I, too, turn to carbs when I'm feeling poorly or tired. In fact, that's what I did last weekend. I'm always tired because I have sleep problems and never get enough restful sleep (plus I have a bad neighbor). Saturday, a friend came over and I had some brandy (2 glasses) and cheese (Laughing Cow) in the evening before my usual dinner. Woke up at 3, dehydrated, queasy and with my blood pressure way up. What stupidity! Sunday, I was extra tired but I had to go downtown so I treated myself to a turkey sandwich for lunch. Then I had popcorn at the movie. Okay, it wasn't all that bad and I paid for my indiscretion with the brandy. But when I weighed on Saturday I had been down another 2 lbs. - only 8 lbs from my initial goal! So why did I sabotage myself?

Do you guys mind if I join in on your chat? This is one of the few forums I feel the most comfortable at because I know you guys understand how bad it feels to fall off the bandwagon and have to get back on. So I'm on my way again. I've tossed around the idea of joining OA but I'm not too sure about it because they believe in abstinence and I just have this feeling that I will become resentful and angry, which will cause me to binge out of rebellion.

Lately, I have been trying to figure out what triggers me to fall off the weight loss train and I'm not sure. Part of my problem is I don't like cooking. I've tried to convince myself I like it but I don't so I've stopped trying to do that. I know that when I was down to a good weight in mid-August, I was a size 9/10. I was happy with that and I felt good. I remember conciously thinking to myself, "Ok..I can have a few snacks, I've worked my tail off!" But THEN, I can't stop! I will literally step on the scale every day and if I'm not gaining it back, I'll just keep eating. But I give myself a limit, if my weight gets to XYZ, I'll need to diet. I can't let my weight get above that. It's just ugly ya know...does anyone else do this?

Ok...I just needed to vent...thanks for listenin'

Oh, of course you can join us, girl!!
I hear ya re: cooking. I don't mind doing it when I can cook something wickedly delicious ie high cal/high fat. I'm good at those kind of meals.
It's when I have to cook healthy meals for my family, and no one likes them... !!!
One thing I HAVE to do is have good healthy snacks in the house. If I don't, I'm off to the corner store to pick up heart-attack food.
I can relate to what you said about there being a "maximum" weight before you diet. You're smart to stay on top of it. I used to do that, but somehow I lost control. Mostly due to depression.

Melissa, I'm so glad you had a good anniversary!

Rosetta... why did you sabotage yourself... If we only knew the answer to that one, hon.
I've continued to do the same thing all week. We've got to find something else to take the place of those carbs when we have cravings. (can we, like, inject ourselves with serotonin or something?)
Hang in there, hon. We're not giving up...
btw, are we the only two NOT exercising right now?!

I've got a meeting here tonight, which forced me to clean my darned stainless steel appliances. I don't recommend them if you've got kids. Why they can't use the handle of the refridgerator instead of splaying their hands across the front of it...

Well, the weigh-in last night was ok. I held on to the 2-lb loss I had through Saturday, which probably would have been more if I hadn't strayed. Oh, well, back on the wagon. I learned something very interesting at class last night. Another reason for drinking water: Your body has to burn more calories to heat it up. So, ladies, keep chugging.

Yes, Ellis, I guess you and I are the non-exercisers in the group. I weigh so much that I can lose weight without it. However, I am finding it easier to move around now that I've lost enough weight so I might start doing some walking. (love these pumpkins)

I'd like to join in here too. I've been around 3FC for a couple of years, but I'm definately in need of a group that can support me with my ED recovery... which isn't going too great right now! My life is so much better when I'm in control, and I need to get back there. Today, my goals are to exercise and be in control of my food.

Hi, I hope you don't mind me joining as well! I think I'll need the support because even though I feel extremely motivated right now, I know in the past I am always getting on & off the wagon and if I get off for a breather, I don't want to feel judged and by reading all the previous posts, it's so obvious you girls don't judge!
Anyways, I will get caught up here and keep reading more of your posts *hugs*

Jen and Kelli, welcome! Jump right in with the rest of us...

Rosetta, good for you for maintaining!
So, are you drinking ice-cold water now?

I just posted something on another thread (for you, Kelli, but really for me. )
that I think may give me a motivational boost today.
In fact, I think I'll call my sister and see if she's home, and if so, I'll walk over to visit my beautiful little nephew, and then pick up some healthy foods on the way home...

I hope everyone is well!!

Jen and Kelli. I look forward to your posts.

Ellis - the funny thing is I don't really like ice cold water and I drink less of it at work because our bottled water is chilled. However, I mix my supplements with that water and seem to drink them all right and I drink chilled diet pepsi. I hope you had a good day with your sis and nephew and that you eat healthy all weekend. I'm really stressed today. Had a busy morning at work, then found an error in a schedule I'd made and had to re-do it. When when I finally got around to having my first shake of the day, I was interrupted by an obnoxious telemarketer who wouldn't take no for an answer so I had to hang up on him. The jerk called back twice!
Have a great weekend -- and stay away from the Halloween candy!

Speaking of Halloween candy...I'm not even buying any this year. My daughter will be with her dad this year and my boyfriend and I are going out to a movie.

I was curious about something...do you guys allow yourself a cheat day or a cheat meal? Or how exactly do you keep yourself from binging...avoiding junk altogether?

My dear, every day is a cheat day!
Actually, there was one thing I did a few years ago. I switched from eating a big bag of chips a day to a small one, and lost 20 pounds over the summer. I was still getting my "fix", but it was a better fit.

Rosetta, I'm sorry about your stressful day, hon. I can't believe that telemarketer!!!! That's appalling!!!
I once hung up on one, and when he called back, I didn't answer. He left me a message on my machine: "Thank you very "effing" much." I actually felt badly for him.
That's a LOVELY welcome sign, btw!!

I had a lovely time with my sister and nephew yesterday. He's so beautiful. He smiles a lot now, and laughs. (he's about three months)

So, I bought a bunch of healthy foods yesterday, but somehow had a few slip-ups, and managed to gain another two pounds. CURSES!!!
Today I'm using my medicated puffer with a vengence, am going to get some exercise in, and will eat my veggies.

I don't think I could do a cheat meal/day or anything - I'm not there yet - It'd turn into a cheat weekend or week...

I do have a cheat meal. on Saturday I go out with my husband and have whatever meal I want "within reason" It works for me because I look forward to it all week. I still log it on fitday but if I go over 1600 calories on Saturday it's OK.

Wazzu, I was trying a cheat day and that didn't work out well for me at all. It became more of a binge day. What I ended up doing was increasing my calories from 1200/1300 to 1500/1700 on Fridays and Saturdays. Having limits really works better for me.

I am back from New Hampshire and my visit with my sister. Phew! That was a busy 4 1/2 days. I ate pretty well, not perfect and I wasn't able to log into Fitday. We'll see how I fared when I weigh in at the gym tomorrow.

I did get in my 8 mile run which is my longest to date. It was a beautiful fall New England morning and was wonderful, even if my legs are still a little sore 2 days later.