As for me things are going very well and I feel like I've had some strange kind of breakthough finally! After 3 years of counting calories in and calories out and agonizing over them I am finally giving it up. I know what the right thing to do is and could quote to you the calories in almost anything...so I'm not keeping track anymore! My plan is just to listen to my body and eat what I know is good for me and avoid what I know is bad for me... Sounds silly I know...but not counting calories forces me to consider my choices more carefully as opposed to just the numbers associated with them. I've been at it for about three days now and I feel great! It's a whole new kind of freedom! I don't know if this will work for me forever...but whatever I was dong wasn't working either...so what have I got to lose...

In a less dramatic fashion...today is my day off and I plan on getting a lot done. I have to do all my grocery shopping for the week and as I am going to be cooking a lot it is going to be quite a chore! I'm also planning on trying to knock out a good portion of my chirstmas list today as well...and of course I'll go to the gym at some point too. If I get everything I need to get done by tonight I'll head over to my sister's house for our weekly TBL ritual. Hope you are all doing well and I didn't overwhelm you with my craziness.

Good morning, it doesn't look like it is raining today (first time in over a week) - so that must be a good sign. I'm kind of craving to go to the ocean today but I shouldn't push it. All I am going to do is just do some yoga and try and work a bit (I stayed home today, but I really have to go in tomorrow). I'm not feeling too bad today, a bit numb, dizzy, sweaty and poofy but if I take some advil it helps a bit. I think this is kind of what detox is like....yikes.

Thanks for the comment on the top, I really like it. If I am still not comfortable with my arms, I will buy a little shrug to wear over it. I am going to try it on every 2nd Friday after I get my measurements done by my trainer.

I wonder if my 'special investigator' snuck up on AJ last night...now everytime she sees a cricket she is going to think of me...and there are a lot of those pretty little creatures down in AZ this time of year...I'm joking by the way - they are so creepy - I thought one was chasing me when I was there a few years ago. It was about the nice of a fringing hot dog...ahhh!

Simple - no I don't have my own stuff snowshoeing stuff - but I am excited about it. It's something to look forward to in a few weeks I hope. I just want to do some recreational exercise outdoors. Since this is my last winter in Vancouver, I want to take advantage of it. Winters in Edmonton are very cold, lots of snow and I'm three hours from the mountains (this I will definitely miss - but a place is what you make it I suppose). I think your new plan sounds great...eventually I hope we all find that. It's so exhausting all the time, so when we train our bodies to stop binging and eat healthy most of the time, I am hoping it will repel the steps to put on weight. Good luck with this, I hope it goes well and I can get there someday too!

Lindy - you've been at it for a long time, maybe it's good to take a bit of a break as long as that means not eating poor food choices more than good ones. You will eventually get to the point where you want to lose more. Just keep an eye on your behavior and relationship with food and start enjoying your hard work that you have done to get to this point!

Dance - hope your run went well...I hear you about the weights I feel that way about cardio lol - our bodies almost know what they prefer don't they? Although I can do cardio if it's in a class where I have to keep up - or if I am watching a good TV show. God help me when I move back to Edmonton and they don't have TV's on the cardio equipment there - I'm going to have to buy one of those big IPODS so I can watch stuff on there :) And the eating out thing...is so hard. I hate it because I usually feel self conscious about it. I will have to learn how to do this - eventually - I can't be a hermit forever!

Popcorn, sounds like a good workout - and I can relate on the rain...I hate feeling wet and cold all the time - if I was living here longer I would invest in some rain gear.

Alyssa - glad to hear about the spa day - I've never been big on this before but we all deserve to reward and treat our bodies nicely after what we do to them :) And congrats on the loss - god I hope to pull some numbers like that soon or at the very least see changes in my measurements. You are doing so awesome though good for you!!!

Mygrits - I feel less alien today, but still kind of 'displaced' lol. Hope you had a good day at work today!!! Glad to hear that you are listening to your body and not pushing it too much. I really had to watch myself at the gym yesterday...sometimes I am like a bat out of **** and then I get injured or too sore. I am sore as heck from the weekend, but I am not sure if it's from that or just getting this crap out of my system.

Well I am going to have breakfast, some turkey bacon, veggie omelette and a piece of whole wheat toast. I really want to go for a swim but I'm not trusting that I won't drown and since it's a lap pool, I will look pretty bad with a lifejacket on lol. So I will go to yoga and I really hope that will help :):dizzy:

Hope everyone has a great day :)

Stacy- you are too funny. Thanks for the words of wisdom, I agree. Good luck getting through the rest of the day and have fun with Yoga, I seriously need to get my butt out there to do that. :)

Simple- I am SO there with you. I think thats why I am where Im at, I am just soooo tired of counting and like you, I pretty much can tell you how much calories are roughly in everything, that includes fast food items. Do you ever sit there and think how scary this is? I do...Im sitting here saying, OMG...I have to look up everything I digest where some people can just eat freely. Is this how my life will always be? Im sure if I just ate all good foods all the time, that wouldnt be an issue but the reality is, I need some of those goody - yummy indulgences on a more that regular basis, which thus far has worked for me.

Anyway---going to lunch, Ill ttyl.

I woke up really late. I ate a great breakfast of egg whites and turkey bacon. I feel good today. Better than I have in a long time. I have to push a lot of water today because of my extra ick yesterday.

Staccie- I loved the oo'ey goo'ey disgusting little spy. And he is keeping me in line! I am always watching my back now =)

Lindy- Sorry Jillian! I am really trying today. I felt SO bad. And! You were sleeping so I didn't text. And I didn't want to hear how bad it was. I have this today. I am going to nail it this week!

I am on my phone again, and I forgot to take notes as I was reading so I can't remember who said what. Staccie you asked me at one point how I posted from my phone...i have a palm centro and I just go on the 3FC website and there is a text box to type in at the bottom of each thread.

whoever asked me about my thyroid...i had tests done a while back and that dr said I have hypothyroid. she referred me to another dr to deal with it...so that is where I am going tomorrow. I have been putting it off for sooo long. I will prob have to get retested so I won't go on the meds anytime soon.

mygrits...you asked how I was doing with the candy bowl...well let's just say me and the candy bowl were best friends today. I had about 6 smarties and 4 baby tootsie rolls. not too much damage since I ate all the snickers yesterday. I did have a major win at lunch today though. I had to go to the grocerystore to get dog food and crystal light...and the grocery store is right next to all the places I would normally go for lunch...evry single option was going through my head from evry restaraunt. I even almost pulled in the drivethrough for steak n shake. but I conquered it. Lol I almost stopped at the gas station for eggnog too lol (pammys fault). I didn't stop anywhere and had some crackers when I got back to work. I actually had two factors that swayed me not to go. my diet and my budget. we are trying SOOOOO hard to stick to our budget for food because that is usually where we break it. we have said NO eating out. plus we only have 60 left for the month, so it doesn't allow for any going out. but mygrits...what you said about a few minutes of the taste not being worth the lbs....that really hit me and kept my mind off food for a while.

I will try to login from an actual computer tonight and respond to the rest of you.

oh I almost forgot. burgandy...i am so sorry you are going through that pain. My dad has chronic kidney stones...and I know what kind of pain he goes through when one is about to pass. from a logistical standpoint

phone put a limit on my length...

I would imagine it would be even more painful for a male, so be glad, for once, that you are a female.

hope everyone is having a great day. I

Tiff- I can always tell when staccie posts form her BB because there are a few strange words. Like nice instead of size =) Good job with the candy. I guess that eating it all then not refilling it is a technique :D

Lindy- What do you do in the evenings??

Rayne- You have kidney stones? OMG I am so sorry. I know it is worse for women and according to my dad... he would rather have a baby. lol. Do you have pain meds?

Staccie- Nightmares?? Feeling good or better still? Thank you again for all of your luvin!!

I upped my cal amount. I was eating more like 1200 and I upped it to 1500. That gives me more wiggle room. Esp the days that I work out. It feels good to feel good again. Thank you all!!!! You guys are awesome. :kiss:

aj - :dance: So glad you're feeling good - that calls for some happy dancing! :dance:

tifftiff - wow, look you being all disciplined! WTG!!! Crackers don't sound like much of a lunch though - are you still doing the lemonade approach or are you back on regular food?

lindy and simple - I haven't been logging on the dailyplate religiously for a few weeks but I think I need that extra pressure of seeing what it all adds up to - I'm impressed that you girls are so structured in your approach that you can do without it! My heroes :)

I'm super dizzy and disoriented today...:( this sucks the big one. I'm trying to stay positive!

Yeah for AJ - my retainer for Mr. PI Cricket is still on but he has picked up some other clients so you should be safe if you are good :)

Tiff - yeah for you!! Celebrate the big wins and they will become so exciting that the little wayward sidetracking ones will become less and less of an issue :)

I hope Rayne is doing ok...kidney stones are so horrible!

Well I am going to lay down...it's the only time I feel comfortable. God, I have to go back to work tomorrow - I cannot take any more time off. If I sit still I should be ok. I bet I have 500 emails waiting for me - eck.

Hi Ladies,

I'm in extreme pain, so only have time to post a quickie. I maintained this week (didn't weigh in on Sunday). I went to the doc today and once again, I majorly pulled a muscle, plus I have some type of cold/infection so now I am on 4 different medications and pretty much bedridden for the next few days. I have to get better by Saturday...it's Madeline's birthday party and I have over 40 family and friends coming.

Glad everyone is doing well and losing. I'm staying in sofa city for a few days.

Vicky!- I am so so so sorry!!! Thats awful. I hope you can really rest this week.

Staccie- Thanks for calling off the hounds. I was really watching my back!! I am so sorry you are still down. I hope that soon you will just have a memory of the horribleness!

Dance- you haven't been around much. Miss your loving input! How are you? Thanks for the Dance =)

Lindy- Thanks again for the support. You rock my world!

hey girlies. I know i've been MIA lately. Sorry.. Been having a busy vacation! haha. Spent the majority of yesteday at the hospital. My brother in law's wife was in labor. My nephew is sooooo cute! 9lbs 13oz and a ton of hair. Aw... I want one soo bad now. I can't wait. I bought the lap top for my hubby. So we'll be able to web cam and I'll get to see him more. YES! I'm leaving thursday morning and will be back sunday night. I can't wait to see him... though we can't do anything but talk. ugh! And he has to have someone supervise us at all times. I feel like i'm going to visit him in prison. This is nuts. But.. can't wait to sight see in baltimore and dc. that'll be fun.

I'll catch up more later.. and I will definitely weigh in when i get back on sunday night.. that should be interesting. haha


Maddiesmom- I'm so sorry to hear that. I hope you start feeling better.

Just checking in before I take a bath and relax in bed. I did really well with food today and even came in about 200 calories under. I didn't exercise today because Tuesdays are usually my rest days (because I have class Tuesday nights, but didn't tonight). I've decided to pamper myself and actually shave my legs. *gasp!* lol I hate shaving. Oh well. My husband will think it's a special occasion! lol Just kidding.

Maddiesmom...I'm really sorry you are in so much pain! I'll be sending some good, unpainful vibes your way!

Staccie....LOVE LOVE LOVE Mr. PI Cricket!!! lol That's hilarious!

AJ...Glad you felt good today!

Popcorn...I'm checking my schedule. My life is pretty hectic, but I could possibly do Saturdays. Since it's so crappy outside and only going to get worse, where would you suggest walking?

Everyone...have a good night!!! *yawn* bath and teatime! Maybe catch me some First 48 on TLC! :D

Well my last post for the day...going back to work tomorrow and it's a long 12hour day. I feel ok - I went to the gym and actually felt better. I was laying here and I was pissed off and thought to **** with it. I just feel kind of disoriented - but not as dizzy. Concentrating is tough though. I find that I am spelling differently and my thought processes are a bit slow. Strange. I really hope I don't any permanent neurological damage :(

I have cravings for something bad every day so tonight I just bought some dark chocolate. I put the bag under the shirt I am trying to fit into a month from today so I am so not going to touch it. A few bites a day - if it keeps me from gorging on 500 calories on something else I am ok with that.

I also went and bought some long overdue stuff for my skin - I wear Clinique and it's not cheap and holy man that saleslady was laughing all the way to the bank. But I was smart and researched it before I went so I knew exactly what I wanted - but not so much the price. What we do for beauty - ahhh!But she was really good. Between coming off the meds and working out often, my skin is really taking a beating and it's important to me that it looks and stays healthy.

Alyssa - shaving legs - yeah that is something I should do. Thanks for the reminder. They are a few days overdue. And even though I don't have a significant other, you just never know - I wouldn't want to get into an accident and have hairy legs or hairy something else :)

Vicky - get better - you are having quite a few muscle injuries...wonder why? Regardless - hope you get better soon!!!

AJ - you had a good day I take it - woo hah for you!!!

Well I have to open my work email...oh god :( I probably won't be able to check in until tomorrow night - I will have withdrawal!!! But I will try to post from my phone if I can. Tomorrow is my rest day from the gym and Friday is my first session with the trainer...I am excited. I just hope I am feeling less alien...

Night everyone

S

I'm so confused. Does anyone else weigh themselves in the morning? I've noticed that I actually weigh more in the morning than I do at night. Huh.

Anyway, gotta get ready for work. I'll check in later. Have a good day all!