[sherpamelissa]

Ellis, I know you can do it girl. Pull out of your funk and get on track. You know you will feel so much better when you do.

Rosetta, I know you are struggling too with getting fully back on track with your fast. Try little challenges with yourself. If you make it one full day get a new nailpolish or lipstick or some fresh flowers. If you make it a whole week get a manicure/pedicure or something nice for yourself. That is how I did it when I first started out. If I was on-plan and/or exercised I got a bonus. After awhile it felt so good I didn't have to bribe myself. When I get off track I do things like that to pull myself back in.

Thanks for the complement Mazarin. It has been an incredible year or so since I re-focused myself last August. I can't even believe it is me looking back in the mirror sometimes.

I ran 7 miles this morning and burned 639 calories! Woo! I topped that off with a weigh in at 156! That is my lowest recorded weight in my memory. I am sure I was less in jr. high or something, but not that I can remember. My next goal is 149. I want to move that little thingy on the scale to 100 instead of 150!

Have a great weekend all!

[sapphire9]

Ellis - Sorry you're struggling. Hope you can get back here regularly soon.
Melissa - good work on the exercise. The way you're going you're going to get to 149 very soon. Thanks for the advice. I do try to reward myself. I'm especially stressed at work lately because we're in pre-trial mode so I want to revert to my old habits - reduce stress by eating. And it's the time of year too. But I'm determined to make it through this weekend without cheating so I can have a good weigh-in on Tuesday. I'm so close to my Phase I goal. Besides, my group leader is returning from a trip next week and he's going to kick my butt for cheating. Have a great weekend, all.

[WazzuGirl]

Oh man, this isn't good. I went away for the weekend with the intention of eating decent. I even brought some healthy food but was so tempted by all the junk food that I caved...bad!! Thank Goodness my weigh in was on Friday, but I'm not expecting to lose anything this week. OH well, just gonna hop right back on.

[sherpamelissa]

Exactly Wazzu! I think the big difference for me this time is that if I eat a bunch of crap that doesn't mean it is ALL OVER and I will now gain all the weight back. I just jump right back in where I was and keep going from there.

I am in Atlanta now, I'll be here through Tuesday evening. I packed by lunch/dinner for the airplane and did a great job sticking to the plan. I am meeting a co-worker at 5am for a workout. I do have *two* dinners scheduled tomorrow. I will just do my best. Have a great week girls!

[sapphire9]

Wazzu - yep - just let go of that bad weekend and get back on track. That's all junk food under the bridge.
Melissa - TWO dinners! Yikes. I'm sure you'll pick your way through them carefully. A 5 a.m. workout - you go, girl! You have great motivation. Keep it going.
Well, I weighed in Saturday and I finally hit my initial goal - have lost 54 lbs. That was enough to keep me on track on the weekend. Hope I lose another lb by tomorrow night.
I'm going to start walking now. I've lost enough weight to do so. But I'm sooo lazy.

[upswife]

Hi all. I am pretty new here, I have been looking around for quite some time, but this is my first post. I have been battling with my weight all my life, but it has been so hard. I am at the same weight I was this time last year and my schedule has gone upside down. I am having a really hard time finding the time to exercise. Between the three kids and a part-time job it has been difficult but hubby has always stepped in to help. He recently took a new position at his job and the hours have been really strange, plus when he is home he is really tired and or sleeping.

I am at a loss as to what to do. I recently got off a binge of eating what I wanted when I wanted, and ate really well but I still managed to stay the same weight. I am confident that I can do this, but it is discouraging that in 18 mos I only lost 12#. Any suggestions on quick exercise??

[sapphire9]

ups. ONLY 12 lbs!? I'd say that was pretty good. It's clear you're really trying to fit weight loss into your lifestyle. It's hard to plan a program when you have other people's schedules to work around, but it's possible. You might start counting calories to see how much you're taking in and reduce it a little. There are websites like Calorie King and Fitday that can help with this. As for exercise, you might try some videos that you can do for 15 or 20 minutes while the kids are playing or napping or have hubby watch the kids for a half hour while you walk around the block. Check out some of the exercise threads at 3fc and find out what others are doing. And keep posting here. We're all struggling to deal with the food demons.

[sherpamelissa]

I am back home now. I was not perfect on my trip, but no days over 2000 calories, so hopefully I won't gain. I ended up with sesame chicken for dinner #1 and chicken/spinach ravioli for the second one. I had leftovers at both places. In the past I would have eaten everything at both places, plus more. I will catch up with everyone tomorrow.

Wecome ups!

[upswife]

Thank you for the warm welcome! My day started out pretty badly yesterday, but in the end it all worked out. All I can say is I really can't wait until our seccond car is out of the sho, hopefully only 2 more days! I did pretty good yeaterday got a little exercise in and kept my calories under 2000. I have to run see you all later

[sapphire9]

Hi, Melissa. You seem to have stuck to your new habits pretty well. Leaving something on the plate is really hard to do. So,
ups - great that you were able to get in the exercise. Once you make it a habit you will find time for it.
I lost 6 lbs. at weigh-in last night. Feel good about it. When I lose weight it keeps me motivated to continue. Last night we got handouts for the calorie count in a typical Thanksgiving dinner, including snacks and drinks: 7500 to 10000 calories!

[WazzuGirl]

Hi everyone,

I'm glad I jumped back on after that yucky weekend. I can't believe I gained like 4 pounds! I didn't think that was humanly possible. Weigh in is tomorrow and I weighed myself today. I've lost 5 pounds since Sunday. I have been soooo strict with my diet this week -- had to make up for the disaster. For some reason I can't help it, even though weigh in is once a week, I still weigh myself every morning. Do any of you do this or do you just try to stay away from the scale?

[sherpamelissa]

Great job getting back on plan Wazzu!

I weigh myself everyday. I know a lot of sources say it isn't a good idea. In Thin for Life, which is a book about lots of people that maintained for years - they say to weigh everyday. It keeps your mind on track. I know it helps me.

Sigh... so, I am back up to 160 for my weigh in today. It is to be expected. I weighed myself last Friday after running 7 miles so I had lost a lot of water as sweat. I hate to see it though. I know I am retaining water from traveling because my feet hurt and my rings are tight. It will be gone soon. It is weird though, my body cycles through like 5lb differences in a day. I have a doctor appt today because my deltoid/shoulder area is really acting up after running. I am hoping they will give me steroids to take for a week and I can do the eliptical and bike riding so I don't mess with my shoulder.

Have a great weekend everyone!

[sapphire9]

Hi. Wazzu - you're doing great despite the slip. WTG in losing those 5 lbs.
I weigh in 3 times a week. At home on Saturday mornings, then again on Tuesday morning. Then I have the official weigh-in at the clinic on Tuesday evening. There's always a 7-8 lb difference between home and clinic. Anyway I lost 6 lbs. as of Tuesday. The timing of the weighins help keep me from cheating on the weekends which is my worst time.
Have a good weekend.

[Mazarin]

Hope your all having a good weekend!

[upswife]

Official weigh in yesterday lost 3lbs!!!