I would keep myself from listening when as a child my parents told me I was fat. My whole life I thought I was fat, but looking back in pictures, I really wasn't. Maybe a little bit chubby, but not FAT. Nothing that wouldn't have been outgrown, had I not had a complex. My promise to my future children is that I will NEVER tell them that they are fat, and I will NEVER limit their food, because all that does is make them hide it, and gorge on it later. Instead I will teach them to eat healthy foods & excersize. I will teach them by example.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?

I would tell myself that I am WORTH something.

Donna

Advice? Hmmmmm...

slow down......life is not a race, it is a journey!

study harder......education is soooo important

listen.....you learn so much more with your mouth shut

practice random acts of kindness

I wish I hadn't thought I was fat when I was 15/16 and weighed between 119 and 126lbs! I also really really wish I'd had better dress sense then!

Question of the Day
 

What's the single best piece of dieting advice you would give to any new dieter?

I would tell them to relish the first few weeks, when the weight drops really fast, but DON"T get discouraged when it starts to slow down.

What's the single best piece of dieting advice you would give to any new dieter?

I would echo Samantha's advice that you will get discouraged but not to give up. This is not a easy task and it takes a lot of work and determination. But it isn't un-reachable. It can be achieved! :cp: :cp: :bravo: ;)

Advice I would give myself: Persevere!

Advice I would give to a new dieter: Persevere!

Count calories. All of them!

Journal
 

Journal. And lean on friends and family for support, but also stand alone.

And I'm pouting. I can't get those ticker tapes to work for me! And I even found one that's a turtle. :(

Question of the Day
 

What is your favorite physical activity and why?

What is your favorite physical activity and why?

I love to walk on the beach because I happen to be a beach lover and just being by the ocean seems to energize me.

Fave is hiking, definitely. I love to get out in the mountains, away from all the roads and stupid people around with their giant SUV's (to fight the mall parking lot, of course), and just up in the trees with the wildlife. I love to be able to breathe and get a constant workout just by existing out there.

Second to hiking would most definitely be indoor floor hockey, because I love being able to get that aggression out without actually beating someone up. :D

Question of the Day
 

What do you hope to gain by losing weight?

Self-esteem.

.
 

Peace. Freedom from this "prison" of a body. Peace. Yes, peace.

Health.........perhaps avoiding some of the diabetes, heart disease, cancers that seem to run in my family. And the good news is that exercise and even small weight losses can positively impact your overall health......reminds me to celebrate even the "baby steps"

Noah Whyle? A modeling career?

I plan to gain sex appeal. I mean, I want to be able to be the one the guys turn there heads to see again. I know it is supposed to be on the inside but I would love to just feel sexy again and it helps to know that others view you that way too.

Also self esteem. And passing that on to my daughter.

Favorite Physical Activity: I love to walk/hike...outdoors in particular. The beach is a favorite place although I don't do that often enough, but just to be outdoors comuning with nature and hangin with my girl is enough for me!

Hope to gain from losing weight: I'm with Gab on this one. I want to feel beautiful on the outside! I WANT to be noticed by men, not just for my wonderful personality ;) , but for my body, darn it! But that's not the only thing! I also want to gain more self confidence (and already have) about who I am as a person and about what I am capable of doing. This may be about proving to myself that I am capable of doing anything...and this, so far, has been the hardest thing I have ever done (or not done) in my life! It's about perseverance and self will and control and all those things I thought I never could do in my life! It's about pushing the limits further when I thought I couldn't push any further! Knowledge is powerful and I have already gained a ton of that, so imagine how smart I will be in another year! :)

Question of the Day
 

How many times a day do you remind yourself that you're on a diet?

Hey chicks!

Ok, so I post these questions every weekday, and I hopefully make you think a little bit about what you're doing and why. Fabulous.
But here's the thing: I'm running out of questions. My mind isn't at it's most creative first thing in the morning, and I've already used all of my really good questions. So if there's anything you can think to ask--something you've been dying to know, something you've been asking yourself, anything--please PM me some questions and I'll see that they get posted.

Thanks everyone!
~Elisha

I remind myself that I am on a diet constantly, but I think that is only because it has not become habit yet. I really think that once this becomes habit, and not just something I am doing, I won't think about it as much.

How many times a day do you remind yourself that you're on a diet?

How many times do I eat?? :shrug: That's how many times I remind myself I'm on a diet! LOL

Lol! Dlzbth, I agree only I'd add every time I think about eating too. I just wish half the time my bad side didn't reply "so what!?"

How many times a day do you remind yourself that you're on a diet?

I think I am constantly thinking about my body and more accurately my dislike for my body so it is a constant reminder that I need to change my life and create a healthier lifestyle (sounds so much better than diet!!!

I agree, Kelly! I hate the word diet - just thinking about it makes me want ice cream!

Question of the Day
 

How long are you able to go without being physically hungry?

Julie, thanks for the great questions!

I tend to do better when I eat every 2.5 hours or so....smaller meals. It's frustrating for me...sometimes I feel like I am hungry all the time!! So, I then ask myself: Have I eaten enough protein?? Have I had my water??

When I'm hungry I usually have something to drink and wait a while. If it doesn't go away I'll eat some fruit or a bran bar. I cannot let myself get too hungry or I'll make bad choices.

Question of the Day
 

What are your physical symptoms of hunger?

Yesterdays: How long are you able to go without being physically hungry?
5-6 hours, since I am eating more sensible meals. After that, I start feeling hungry, even after drinking water to "fill up."

Today: What are your physical symptoms of hunger?
Oooh, good question. Sometimes I think my head tricks me into having physical symptoms. First there's the slightly empty feel of the stomach. Then the growl/grumble when it knows that it really is empty & the water sloshing is just not going to cut it. Then, there's the slightly light headed feeling- that's my last cue to eat something. Go much past that & then there's the headache & nausea where you don't want to eat after that, but it's a lose/lose.

Great questions! Elisha, I will PM you a couple as soon as I get some time today.

Question of the Day
 

What things do you do to "focus" or to "not focus" on food/exercise/staying healthy?

I'm a couple of questions of the day behind. :sorry: ;)

What things do you do to "focus" or to "not focus" on food/exercise/staying healthy?

I think that my focus would be on how I was in the past. Much more energetic and active and could take on just about anything life handed me. I try not to focus on what is not realistic though. I can not be like I was in my twenties but I sure can try to feel that way again! ;)

Donna

What things do you do to "focus" or to "not focus" on food/exercise/staying healthy?

Plan, plan, plan, and plan some more. Check in here when I can. I have to focus, because when I don't focus, I blow things all to crap & then put the weight right back on. And it helps to have mini goals, and little rewards along the way. And marvel about the things that are easier, and the NSVs along the way.

Unfortunately
 

Unfortunately, I focus on the near impossible task ahead of me. And that's usually what dims my hopes of succeeding. This time I'm trying "baby steps." Maybe, instead of looking at the mountain, I'll try focusing on the little paths that make up that trek. ;)

(((((((((Mary))))))))))).........Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is what I need to do!

As for me, planning a strict menu is an invitation for failure every time. I have to plan in a way that leaves me with a "stocked" kitchen with a lot of choices for meals and snacking....and I DO have to keep the Brita pitcher filled. But, I MUST plan a workout, or that won't happen, especially in my crazy, hectic houselhold!!!

Oh, Donna..........to look like I did in my 20's.....size 4....sheesh!!!! Sometimes I get discouraged with that "image" though....I think "What have I DONE???????", but, I'm working on being more realistic. I have had 3 kids and I am MUCH OLDER - LOL!!!

I'm with Jennifer on this one, I find that I plan all the time. Most of the time I follow through if I have it written down. Don't know if its a memory problem or a selective memory problem :). I find I must journal everyday. I must check in here everyday. This lifestyle change is almost an obsession with me. Hopefully before too long it will just be a good habit. OMG ... I almost forgot how important the water is.... and the exercise.... and a supportive husband.

I focus on where I want to be in the future and where I was in the past. From there I plan what I need to do to get to my next goal (right now I am working on being able to run at a speed of 5.5, doing 50 situps nonstop, and doing 35 pushups. I planned it out Monday night and have stuck to it since. It is a 10 week plan and if I make every workout then I should be able to do it. I don't plan what I eat since it never turns out to be what I want that day so I just go with what comes at that time. But planning workouts ahead of schedule has helped me in the past.

Daily Question
 

Are there any foods you do not allow yourself to eat (trigger foods)?