Hey, ladies. Is it cool if I post here too? I am on a few other threads but they are pretty well established and I would love to get on one where I don't feel lost.

Since December is almost over, are you going to challenge yourself for January too?

Have you guys ever written down reasons why you want to lose weight? I have done it a couple of times and it really motivates me when I need it to go back and read it. I will give you a big one for me...I hate seeing people that I haven't seen in a long time becasue I always wonder if they are thinking about my weight. I leave them swearing that the next time they see me I am going to be thinner, and I'm not. I also record weight-loss shows on my DVR. When I need to get up and workout and don't feel like it, I watch one of them and it does the trick. Have you taken before pics? You can take them every 30 days or so. Who wants 2 pictures of themselves looking the exact same way after 30 days? One last suggestion which I'm sure you're aware of, but writing down your food and figuring out the calories REALLY helps. It sucks to write down your calories when you went over.

Well, I hope I didn't step on anyone's toes.

My goal is to lose 8#s by the end of January.

-Mel.

Welcome Mel! Sure you're more then welcome to join in, the more the merrier! And you are close to me in wt and ht !
I do track my calories and exercise and try to figure out the calorie difference at the end of the day. I have also taken measurements and pics. You are right they do motivate you. That is how I lost 20lbs before I got preggers. My biggest problem is trying to juggle. House, kids, hubby...you know life, lol. Trying to fit in exercise is really hard. And sometimes it is easier for me to grab a sandwich and such. BUT I do have my hubby on board with me now so things should be easier when I cook.
Here's to all of us ladies and the new US in the new year! We just got to be supportive of each other and stick to it!

Josie, what other threads do you post on? There’s so many I get lost. I forgot that I posted on here. J

I know about the house, hubby and kids for sure! I have 4 daughters aged 1-18. All of my kids school at home (the oldest in online college.)

I am counting calories and working out. The usual. I have, in the past, got the amount of calories that I am supposed to be eating from ivillage. According to them I should be eating 2300. If I deduct 500 to lose weight, that would put me at 1800. I have been staying at 1800 for a week and a half and haven’t lost a pound even though I have been working out. I think I need to drop down to 1550. I also made my oldest hide my scale until the end of Jan. I am such a compulsive weigher.

I got pregnant twice after I had lost a chunk of weight. I finally got my tubes done!!! That should be it for me.

Since we are about the same height and weight, how many calories are you aiming for?

I hope we can help each other out. It would be really nice to stay connected with someone who is in this to get r done once and for all.

-Mel.

Mel, I posted on one other thread but wasn't into it. I mainly post here and surf the others when I have time....My kids are all boys 6, 2 1/2 and 7 mths, so I do what I can when I can, lol. I also have had my tubes tied, so this is all for me!

I aim for about 1500 cals. It seems to work better for me that way. Trial and error on the weightloss before showed me that. But as you know everyone is different. Sometimes I eat all day and never come close to it, but I also try to watch my carbs. Which I am starting to faithfully do now. I TRY not to eat bread but once a day if I have to. I think that I am gonna SB for 2 wks to help with my fluid problem that I seem to have. Of course it never is easy. I am a weekly weigher, when I SB I end up on them everyday it seems. So I try to refrain myself to once a week and how my clothes fit.

I am here for anyone, we all need someone to be supportive. Glad that you joined the band wagon!

I haven't ever done any of the structured diet programs. Is SB a carb/fat/protein percentage thing? Right now I'm not worrying so much about what I eat as how many calories I eat. The problem with my diet before wasn't that I ate bad, it was that I would have days where I ate maybe 500 calories and then days where I would eat 2500. I am really excited about the 1500 calories thing. I wish I had my scale to see if it is working before I put a whole month into it.

We want to move to VA. It's not where God wants us right now, so we're here in AZ. I love it there though. I haven't been there during the summer which I hear is really humid.

OK, well I need to go to the groccery store. Hope you are having a great day!

The south beach diet is in 3 phases. I really like it though the first 2 weeks is the hardest. It does let you have carbs and such but it is the good ones. You know whole grain and such, things that are healthy for you to begin with. I did it before I got pregnant, then counted my calories after the first 2wks which I think you should do anyways. I think that Weebleswobbles is doing the SB diet exclusively and she could tell you more or you can look it up on here too.

And here in VA it is COLD, 19 degrees today and colder now tonight....I don't even want to go outside. Wish I had warmer weather, lol, or atleast some sunshine to melt this snow on the ground that has been here for almost 2 weeks now.

Have a good week everyone! I am cheering for us all!!!!

Hey Mel you might want to check out *I am looking for a buddy*, I subscribed to them and joined their group too, they are new. It is a daily group to help out, which sometimes we just need.

Thanks, Josie! I signed up for the Biggest Loser challenge. I got paired up with someone. Keep posting here too ok?

yeah still post here if ya want to Mel. I joined a Biggest Loser group too last night, wonder if it is the same one?! right now I think that we are the only 2 posting here. Hope the others come back soon!

You know what? I think we can quit this one now. I posted that before I read the other thread. It looks like a pretty good one. I just want to get in with some people who are going to do more than just talk about/wish about losing weight. Been there, done that, ready to move on. (Not to in ANY WAY imply that I am talking about this thread. That is a general statement. I don't want to offend anyone.)