Good Morning All!!

Seemyfeet ~ I also was diagnosed with RA and Lupus about 3 years ago. My rheumatologist put me on Plaquenil, which I was on until January of this year when I just stopped taking it. I feel better than I have since I started taking it. My advice is to do your research. I talked to my PCP in January and explained I was going to stop taking it because after 2 years I really felt like the medicine had more side effects then benefits. We talked and I told her that I would like to try all conservative measures i.e.. losing weight, changing my eating habits etc. She actually agreed that it was a good plan. To just make lifestyle changes and see how my labs looked after I had sustained these changes and just to overall see if I felt better as well. RA can kill your energy levels but I think the medicine does as well. In any case, thats just my two cents. Its still a work in progress. Like Jaqui, I just throw back a few ibuprofen when I get a flare and just deal. I don't have more flareups without the meds either, soooo..dunno. Good luck though.

turtle ~ That scale is just moving for you. Thats great!

noggs ~ I can relate. I beat myself up sometimes but we just have to reiterate to ourselves the small strides we make daily. It only takes one raindrop to raise the sea. We will get there. You will get there. Try to focus on the positive. You are doing an amazing job. You should be very proud.

Jendestiny ~ Thats great. Thanks for sharing. Have fun at the gym tomorrow.

As for me, I am a bit behind this morning. I was absorbed in playing around with a few different designs for our save-the-dates. Anyways, scale is not budging. Stuck at 240 again this morning. I took a few Motrin this morning and that seems to be helping with the bloat. So perhaps ye ol' scale will actually move tomorrow. Have a great day everyone.

SW: 242
GW: 232

05/01: 242
05/02: 243
05/03: 242
05/04: 242
05/05: 242
05/06: 242
05/07: 240
05/08: 239
05/09: 238
05/10: 238
05/11: 240
05/12: 240

May goal: work through 1st part of The Diet Trap Solution

Foundation Strategies I'm practicing daily (adding one every 3 or 4 days):
1. Read my list of advantages of losing weight
2. Eat slowly while seated
3. Give myself credit during the day
4. Read my response cards (tips, tricks, and talk-backs to sabotaging thoughts)
5. Weigh Daily (see below)

May 10: 84.95kgs
11: 85.05kgs
12: 85.5

Noggs, just keep focusing on the positive and how amazing you're going to feel when you get to where you want to be! You're doing great so far! Here's a quote that is motivating me each day: "A year from now, what will I wish I had done today?" -- Unknown Author
JenDestiny, lol! You sure know how to tell a story! I could just see it! Fantastic job on the workout! And Happy Belated Birthday!
Noname, woohoo on the big jump back down! Keep going!
Synderella, keep at it! Looking good!
Dear Delphi's scale, you need to start moving in the right direction, because she's doing great! :
Hiya Joy! Looking good!

5/1: 220
5/2: 220
5/3: 220 Started anew
5/4: 218
5/5: 217.5
5/6: 218 TOM
5/7: 216
5/8: 216
5/9: 216 Cheat day
5/10: 215
5/11: 215.5
5/12: 214.5

So I decided to change my overall weight loss goal and mini-goals! I'm feeling really good about it! I figure when I meet this new goal (a 50-lb loss), I'm going to try to maintain it for a while, and if I then want to go lower, I'll set a new goal and start over from there. I'm hoping this will bust up my 6-month slump that I get into. Plus, I may just want to stay in the 170's. I kind of liked it there, but I felt guilty because I wasn't going lower, into the "normal weight" range. But no matter what my plans are or what my reality ends up being, I MUST NOT leave 3fc, because no telling how high my weight will go if I do!

Yay, bonus! In changing my mini-goals from 4 in number to 3, I was able to add my favorite quote in my signature!

Another lb down!

5/1: 220
5/2: 220
5/3: 220 Started anew
5/4: 218
5/5: 217.5
5/6: 218 TOM
5/7: 216
5/8: 216
5/9: 216 Cheat day
5/10: 215
5/11: 215.5
5/12: 214.5
5/13: 213.5

SW: 177.4
GW: 175 (-2.4)

5/1: 177.4
5/2: 177.4
5/3: No weigh in
5/4: 182.6
5/5: 179.8
5/6: 179.6
5/7: 179
5/8: 177.4
5/9: No weigh in
5/10: 178.6
5/11: 181
5/12: 178.2
5/13: 179.6

"Sick day" yesterday (aka girls day at the beach!) resulted in some splurging. Totally worth it! It will come right back down.

Happy Hump Day!!!

Jacqui ~ That sounds great. And congrats on the steady losses. You go girl!!! I hear ya on not leaving 3FC though. Perhaps, when maintenance comes around the challenges can be just to maintain your weight. I think I'll join ya there. You are doing an amazing job and I think focusing on your goals and what you REALLY want as far as your goals...is the best option. Do what is most comfortable. You know what will work and I think it is challenging yourself to set that goal for maintenance as well.

NNS ~ Good for you. Those days are always worth it and NEEDED. I think we all forget that we are not just supposed to live our lives but ENJOY them as well. I hope you guys had an amazing time.

As for me, Darth Scale is back down to 238 but still no loss. You know, I feel a big whoosh coming though. I have less than 7 weeks until vacation and I am going to push myself a little harder than usual. I wanted this to be a gradual process but I think it will be okay to go full steam ahead in preparation for vacation. Then once I am back home, I can get back to a comfortable pace with my weight loss. I'm also just a little worried about vacation as well. We get a rental on the beach in OBX and we pack the house with family, so meals are unpredictable and a lot of eating out. I plan on just being really active to try to offset whatever may be thrown my way. Well, I gotta get to work. You ladies have a wonderful day and don't forget your smiles.

SW: 242
GW: 232

05/01: 242
05/02: 243
05/03: 242
05/04: 242
05/05: 242
05/06: 242
05/07: 240
05/08: 239
05/09: 238
05/10: 238
05/11: 240
05/12: 240
05/13: 238

May goal: work through 1st part of The Diet Trap Solution

Foundation Strategies I'm practicing daily (adding one every 3 or 4 days):
1. Read my list of advantages of losing weight
2. Eat slowly while seated
3. Give myself credit during the day
4. Read my response cards (tips, tricks, and talk-backs to sabotaging thoughts)
5. Weigh Daily (see below)

May 10: 84.95kgs
11: 85.05kgs
12: 85.5
13: 85.75

Been sick with a cold most of the week. My appetite was fine, but still felt rotten. Hope the weight stays around 150 for next week.

SW: 153
5/06: 150
5/13: 151.5
GW: 149

Eating has been quite bad...ate a lot of salty stuff, incl. a huge amount of lox and pickles. Everything is so swollen right now... I did not want to see the bloat weight. I will try to clean today and tomorrow, drink lots of water and step on scale on Friday.

SW 150.8
GW 146.8

5/01: 150.8
5/02: 150.8
5/03: 150.4
5/04: 150.8
5/05: No weigh in
5/06: 153.0 TOM; ugh
5/10: 153.2
5/11: 151.6
5/12: No weigh in
5/13: No weigh in

Sum, I hear ya! I ate too many salted nuts today. Ugh!
Pollifax, I hope you feel better tomorrow!
Delphi, just do your best on vacation. You might surprise yourself! If you do splurge, just get back on plan when you get back. Don't let it derail you!
NNS, way to get back on plan!

Jacqui_D!! I have missed you! 3FC is the best, every time I leave I gain, so I'm not leaving either, of course I can gain here, too, but it definitely helps me get back on track quicker, so good to see you again, I have a few more pages to get caught up on, we've had some nice weather finally.

GardenerJoy you really have me interested in reading the book, I'll have to look for it, sounds great, thanks for sharing.

Sum38 I totally understand the sodium overload. Whenever I drink soup from certain restaurants, my protein and calorie count is decent, and my sodium intake is off the wall. It's just a speed-bump! You'll make it.

I've been yo-yoing up and down all month. Finally back at 179.8 where I started the month, but it will be a fight to meet my goal this month.

I intend to try anyway!

May goal 5.2 pounds

5/1-175.1
5/2-176.7
5/3-176.5
5/4-176.3
5/5-176.2
5/6-175.2
5/7-174.7
5/8-176.0 weekly WI
5/9-175.6
5/10-175.8
5/11-177.3
5/12-176.8
5/13-175.4

Best to all

5/31-169.9