November Chat!
 

:) I thought I would start out the monthly chat with a look at where I was last year at this time.

I was 205lbs, which was down 39lbs from where I had started. I was worried about the holiday season, but determined to pull through it without ruining my new lifestyle. My mother and father were both in intensive care during the month of November last year. At only 54 and 58 years old that was very unexpected. What they went through last year was part of the reason I managed to stick to my plan. Even though I was highly stressed with the illness and the holidays I did not want to put my daughter through what I was going through. The only way to do that in my eyes, was to become healthier.

So here I am, this year I am training for a 1/2 marathon in memory of my dad (he passed in January), I am 158lbs, down 86lbs from where I started.

Good luck, girls. Let's make this a great month! :carrot:

Okay, well I am just going to keep posting all by myself! :p So there!

I have a book called The Thin Books by Jeane Eddy Westin, it is Daily Strategies & Meditations for Fat-Free, Guilt-Free, Binge-Free Living. I thought I would share today's entry.

November 2nd - Junk Thinking

Most overweight people feel they aren't worth the effort it takes to lose weight. That's why their diets often fail and they regain any weight they've lost. Then they push away others' affection, thinking, "If people love me, they must be losers." This destroys their self-image and possibility for success.

Take the self-hate out of weight loss. You are learning that your feelings are only a starting point. They must be foiled by commitment to action. Only time and plain hard work bring about change.

Use your action skills to put more self-asteem into your self-image. If others love you, they must be winners.

Today, realize that rejecting others because you thought yourself unworthy was junk thinking.

Today's Action Plan: I will remember that I am worthy of good things. I will use my action skills today.

I'm here, Melissa! :wave:

I had a great day yesterday. Got on the treadmill for the first time since I developed Bronchitis (I've still got it, btw), and I managed to run for 5 minutes straight!! :hat: It made me feel great... I'd only planned on trying for a minute, but I was able to keep going until my lungs collapsed. :D

Melissa - your posting from the "Junk Thinking" is very interesting. I know that I am guilty of rejecting others because I am unhappy with my own self-image. It drives my husband nuts, and unfortunately, when I am in that mind-set, there is nothing he can say to me that I will take positively. I tell him horrible things like, he is only intimate with me because he wants sex, not because he is attracted to me, or that he is flat out lying to me when he says I look good. Part of this is because he has always dated tall, thin women, and when we first met I was short (well, i'm still short :) ) and 170 pounds. I am convinced that had I not been 135 when we started dating, he would never have gone out with me, and that I am somehow cheating our marriage by being heavier now than when we were married. So, I definitely need to think about my attitude toward myself.

Ellis - way to go on the treadmill! Hopefully by tomorrow I will join you all back on the exercise thread.

Hi, all. Melissa, "junk thinking" is something I've battled all my life. But it just doesn't go away. It's the old "I wouldn't join any club that would have me syndrome." Unfortunately, there's a lot of condemnation in the media, etc. of fat people so it gets reinforced constantly.
Ellis - sorry about the bronchitis. I used to get it like that too. Haven't had it for a few years (knock wood!). Be careful with exercising wile you have it though, it could aggravate your condition.
I'm doing okay. I'm down another 4 lbs this week, despite having cheated a little over the weekend. I'm going to have to watch that. It's so easy to sabotage myself.

Hi ladies,

I'm not really sure if I do "junk thinking". I don't feel like I have a low self esteem. When I start binging I feel like I'm just on autopilot. Since I'm in school, I tend to binge eat more because I feel like I "deserve" to eat junk food because I'm so disciplined with doing my homework. I look at it like my reward for being a good student. I'm working on changing my mindset about looking at food as a reward. OH and I'm so proud to say that I haven't had one single piece of my daughter's Halloween candy. I think this is a first!

I'm glad you guys liked that post. I really feel the big difference this time with my weight loss is looking at why I became obese. I'm not just changing my eating, I am changing my life.

I'm off work today for the circus! :carrot: We are taking my 3 year old.

I weighed in today at 157, which matches my lowest weight ever. I was really hoping for 156 because I wanted to be lower than my lowest weight ever, but I'll take it. After my anniversary and traveling to visit my sister a loss is great, whatever it is.

Have a great weekend all!

Wazzu - good going on the halloween candy. One little step at a time. Binges are like speeding trains. It's awfully hard to get off them.
Melissa - hope you are your 3-year old enjoyed the circus. The scale will move lower soon. You've been working hard.
I haven't really changed my attitude enough yet. I still want to cheat and did this weekend. Saturday night I ate some cheese, salmon, asparagus and wine. Not really awful but not on my program. Then I gave myself a bad night by getting overcaffienated during the day. Couldn't sleep.
Sunday I went to a long running show (comedy review) that was a preview of what Prince Charles and Camilla were seeing later. Then stood for 31/2 hours just to catch a glimpse of them! I did, very briefly. :carrot: Unfortunately the location was just around the corner from my favorite pasta restaurant and ...yes, I succumbed. Although instead of ordering the dinner with the cream sauce and sausage, I ordered the healthy chicken and ended up eating the chicken and vegs and leaving most of the pasta. So I guess some of the lifestyle change has rubbed off. I'm tired today because my bad neighbor came home at 3:30 a.m. and banged around. Grr. So when I'm extra tired I want to eat but I have to weigh in tomorrow night so I'll have to stay on the straight and narrow and hope that I haven't gained anything. It's getting more difficult for me to stay on the program - not because I'm always hungry, which I'm not, but for emotional reasons. It's the time of year, too.
Hope everyone is having a good week.

Rosetta, I hear ya about it being that time of year. I'm getting extremely nervous for the holidays because the food is soooo yummy and my family constantly tells me, "Oh eat eat eat...a little of this won't hurt you." There seems to be sooo much pressure to eat A LOT at family gatherings. If you say no they feel insulted... :(

I think what you did at the restaurant by leaving the pasta was great. I think that so much of the key to weight loss is portion control. If you are in a situation where your choices are limited than even if you have just a little bit of the food, it won't kill your diet. I think you did great!

I found myself wanting to turn to food tonight, I was diagnosed with OCD(Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) this past Summer and I think I need to increase my medication a bit because I can feel the symptoms coming back just slightly. Food is one of the things that helps soothe me a little when I start getting really anxious. I held my ground and told myself not to turn to food but instead to write out whatever is bothering me. I told myself to find another comfort besides food. Well, I'm gettin' tired. Gonna go for now.

Keep up the good work everyone! :D

Wazzu - thanks for the good words. However, I really didn't do that well because I'm supposed to be on a fast and not eating anything but the prescribed supplements. I paid the price by not losing anything this week. :( But at least I didn't gain.
Sorry about the OCD. It must be difficult to manage. But you're doing well with writing it down instead of turning to food. Food is soothing in lots of instances, which is what gets us into trouble. Maybe you could try exercising to work off some of that nervous energy.
Melissa, Ellis, where are you?

Rosetta,

Exercising does help and I make it a point to do some form of exercise at least 3 times per week but it doesn't quite eliminate it completely so I tend to still look for comfort. I'm going to talk to my doctor today about increasing my dosage, so I should start feeling 100% again real soon.

I didn't realize that you were fasting when you ate the pasta -- oops :p Ya know, at least you didn't gain anything, that's what I always say! I've never done a fast before. For some reason, I'm not sure I could go that long without food, I'd probably get real grumpy. Do you drink liquids or how exactly does your fast work?

I Can SOOOOO Relate!
 

[QUOTE=FishWoman]Melissa - your posting from the "Junk Thinking" is very interesting. I know that I am guilty of rejecting others because I am unhappy with my own self-image. It drives my husband nuts, and unfortunately, when I am in that mind-set, there is nothing he can say to me that I will take positively. I tell him horrible things like, he is only intimate with me because he wants sex, not because he is attracted to me, or that he is flat out lying to me when he says I look good. Part of this is because he has always dated tall, thin women, and when we first met I was short (well, i'm still short :) ) and 170 pounds. I am convinced that had I not been 135 when we started dating, he would never have gone out with me, and that I am somehow cheating our marriage by being heavier now than when we were married. So, I definitely need to think about my attitude toward myself.




FishWoman, I felt like I just wrote this myself! I have the same issue as you...I met my husband at a gym when I was 19 years old and weighed 132lbs (I'm 5ft 3in)...we both worked out ALOT back then! I'm 38 now and weigh a whopping 238.5lbs!!! I think to myself, how can he still want to be intimate with me? Is he really that desperate to have sex? Why is he lying to me, telling me I'm sexy? GIVE ME A BREAK! When I say these things to him, it makes him crazy...he feels that by him telling/showing me how much he loves me, that all these bad images I have of myself should just go away. I love him for trying to make me feel better and for showing me that he loves me regardless of my weight...but it still doesn't change how I feel about myself.

The question I need to have answered is, although I do love myself, as I would never let anyone else harm me or do me wrong, why is it that I allow myself to do me wrong? Hopefully I will find the answer in this long journey ahead of me.

Good luck to you all!!!

Fran

Hi, Cappy. Welcome to the thread. It's hard to accept ourselves sometimes but we have to learn to. Maybe you could start by just taking whatever nice things your hubby says to you at face value and act like you are entitled to be told those things. Then just go on with your weight loss plans as part of your new positive attitude about yourself. Keep posting.

Wazzu - I'm on a medically supervised fast which calls for 500 cals. a day of special supplements -- mostly shakes, some soups and scrambled egg product (mostly egg whites). I cheat a little by using milk and sugar in my tea and eating one small apple a day. I've lost 50 lbs since August 10. I go to the clinic for a weigh-in and see a doctor then go to an hour meeting with a behaviorist who lectures us on weight loss topics and staying on the fast. I've gone off of it a couple of times. Lately my commitment has weakened because I'm extra tired and well -- it's Fall. I',m rarely hungry on this fast but I always want to eat -- because I'm tired and because I want to emotionally.
I hope you are able to get your medication adjusted and find another way to soothe your nerves. Are you artistic? Are there any crafts you would enjoy to keep you busy?

Melissa that is a good year your really made some headway! :) I hope to be saying the same myself this time next year!

Girls, I'm sorry I haven't been around. :( I've been so terribly busy this week, and I've gained five pounds and am right out of control. :cry:
I'm hoping to be able to pull myself together next week.
Sending hugs to all of you... :grouphug:

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. :goodvibes

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. :p

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! :carrot:

Have a great weekend all!

Ellis - Sorry you're struggling. Hope you can get back here regularly soon. :goodvibes
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.

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. :)

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!

Wazzu - yep - just let go of that bad weekend and get back on track. That's all junk food under the bridge. :D
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. :carrot: 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.

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??

ups. :welcome: 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.

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!

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

Hi, Melissa. You seem to have stuck to your new habits pretty well. Leaving something on the plate is really hard to do. So, :cp:
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!

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?

Great job getting back on plan Wazzu! :carrot:

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! :hug:

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.

Hope your all having a good weekend! :)

Official weigh in yesterday lost 3lbs!!!

Hope everyone had a good holiday. Things went very smoothly at my mom's this year. Weigh in is this Saturday, hopefully no damage has been done! :)

:o :o :o Umm, hi. I went a little crazy this weekend. I hate when I do that. I also skipped the gym this morning. I am probably a little afraid of the scale. It wasn't as out of control as I have been in the past, but when I am eating so fast I start to hiccup I know that isn't good.

I will be back on track this week. Regular weeks are no problem. I can't decide if I am too hard on myself and should just expect to have issues on the non structured times or if I should be harder on myself and stay on top of things even when they can't be all planned out.

I get scared that all this weight I have lost will just appear back like magic after a weekend like this. :dizzy:

Thanks to all of you for knowing what I am talking about and making me feel a little less crazy. :hug:

Melissa~you will start feeling better after you are on your normal schedule. Remember to drink lots of water and get moving soon. I went nuts on Friday, but I feel a little better today. Enjoy your Monday!! :dizzy:

Hi there!

Melissa, I have no idea if this is true or not, but I have a friend who teaches classes at my gym, and he told me on Wednesday that it takes 3 days for the body to convert sugar to fat, so that if you slip up one day but do cardio the next three days you can pre-emptively burn off the fat. Like I said, he may have completely made that up, but it made me feel better while I was eating pie and cookies on Thursday. Friday was a little shaky, but by Saturday I was right back on track and I think I managed to not put any weight on this weekend. My weigh-in is tomorrow, so I will know for sure then.

I don't think you need to be hard on your self during unstructured times, but definitely be aware. I told myself in advance that Thursday was a free day, but I was still concious of what I was doing and eating. Down times are dangerous for me, as well, because I feel hungry even if I am just bored. So while I don't need to be extra strict, I do need to be vigilant.

Melissa,

I know how you feel. The holidays always feel out of control, but I don't think you did as much damage as you think you did. And even if you did, it isn't too late to get back on track. I managed to lose 1 measly pound over Thanksgiving...better than gaining I suppose. :)

Melissa, big hugs... :hug: The fat's not going to come back, sweetie. You are AWESOME with your running and working out and eating well... there's no WAY it's coming back. :grouphug:

Congratulations to all of you losing girls!! :hat: I'm actually "with you", but I'm not posting my loss yet. I've lost 5, and kept it off for a week... but I'm superstitious, so I'm not telling anyone... :lol:

Melissa - I know exactly what you're talking about. I had four days of no structure to deal with. I did okay for three days, then couldn't stand it anymore so I finally broke down. Okay, wine, a tuna sandwich and popcorn is no biggee except when you're supposed to be fasting it's a mortal sin. Now I feel guilty and fear the weigh-in tomorrow night. But I'm back on the wagon today and safe in the knowledge that I didn't put the whole 60 lbs. back on Once you get back into your routine you'll be fine. You've been doing so well and a little deviation won't hurt in the long run.
Ellis - congratulations on the 5 lbs!
Fishwoman - if your friends 3-day theory is right I'm going to put on the weight just in time for my weigh-in. :yikes:

Rosetta, it's going to be okay... you've got the right attitude, hon. :hug: You're back on track, so if the scale is up a little tomorrow, don't be upset. You're going to fine!

Oh man,

I slipped up today! I had fast food for lunch and pizza tonight. I ate way too much....tomorrow is a new day thank goodness. :o

I'm with you, WazzuGirl. :rolleyes: Let's get back on track today!! :cheer: