Hello All! :wave:

I'm baaccckkkkkkk! Sorry I was MIA for the past month......just had some things to sort out. My great lack of success at weight loss was beginning to gnaw at me....:(...even my patient DH commented on my 'negative attitude'. So, I just needed some time away......chucked the diet program, did some reading (and 3FC lurking!) and finally came to the conclusion that the number on the scale is not inversely proportional to my worth as a person. Yeah.

So....now I feel ready to try again. My past failures still haunt me....but if you don't play the game, you can't win. I feel this is so possible this time...:crossed:...and thank heavens I have my chickie support group!

Goals? Hmmm.....this will have to be a back to basics month for me.
1. Start exercising...:cb:....will begin at 15 minutes per day and increase to 30....maybe 45 by months end.

2. No candy! :nono: This is a trigger for me....once I have a piece of candy, the whole program starts to slide. I wish I could say 'no sugar', but maybe that will come in a later challenge.

3. No snacking after dinner! I have always been able to stay OP all day and then end up sabotaging the program by snacking in the evening! :rollpin:

I know this doesn't sound very earth-shattering, but if I am able to accomplish these small things, I know it will be a foundation for a healthy lifestyle.

It is getting late, so I will save comments until another day. Wow! It sure feels good to be here again! :)

Happy Friday!!!

I've got a busy day. Hair appointment first thing, and then I'm teaching a glass class to some 4Hers. I think it'll be a fun day and I'm in an energetic mood!! My walk this morning was beautiful. I love it when its on the cooler side so early. Its so much more comfortable to be out.

MrsRD-Glad you're back. I think your goals seem right on track. If you can stick to that, you'll definetly be on the right track. Good luck.

tye-Good job on the exercise and eating. Its so hard when you have to go drive thru, but sometimes you have to compromise.

medic-I like the small plate idea. It seems so skimpy when you put a true portion size on a regular plate. On a smaller plate it just looks bigger. Trick our mental self into thinking its big.

Have a great one.

Morning chicks!

Brandy: It’s been nice and cool in the morning here too, and only around 80 for the past few days. I’m loving it! I’ve even got the windows in my new office open! Have fun with the 4Hers! And congrats on the 5K! That’s amazing!

MsRD: Welcome back! I missed you! I wondered where you’d gotten yourself off to! I understand where you’re coming from though. Some times you just feel like nothing ever does any good, so why bother even trying? Heck, I feel like that about 3 days per week! :lol: But you came back, and you are trying, and that really is the point, isn’t it? Your goals look great! They don’t have to be earth-shattering, they just need to be an improvement.

Robin: :welcome3: Your goals look great! You’ve incorporated diet, water, and exercise—all your bases! Best of luck to you!

Tye: You did a great job yesterday! Avoiding seconds is a big deal for me too. Even if I’m full I always feel like I could go back for more. And we’re not really banning Wendy’s, because you’re right, they do have some healthy options. (Though do you know there’s something like 500 calories in one of their chicken Caesar salads? Yeah, fast food salads are a bit outrageous.) My thing is, fast food makes me a bit nauseas and drains me of energy, and Wendy’s is the closest one to my office, so if I go out for lunch, that’s usually where I end up. Not only that, but I really don’t need to be spending the money on junk food right now. But you’re right—smaller meals = portion control!

Diana: Congratulations on the loss, and the 5 days in a row OP! You’re doing a great job! As for the sod… well, there’s nothing we can do about the weather, but at least you’re trying to see the positive side of the situation.

Jennifer: It never ends, does it? I hope thing clear up (and dry up) for you soon!

OK, well, I think it’s obvious that my internet is hooked up by now. Yay! It took all morning yesterday because they had their cable wired wrong or something. But I did have work to do, so I didn’t really have time to be bored. I was busy all day yesterday, and today looks like more of the same. I think they actually expect me to do work or something crazy like that. Eesh. Ah, well, at least it’s Friday.

Oh, and on a completely random note, just because I’m excited and have to share, I got my wedding invitations and so forth on Wednesday. They’re perfect! I’m very excited, and can’t wait to actually start stuffing envelopes and sending them out.

Diet-wise, yesterday was another good day. Calories came in at 1235, water was… wow, I just added it up… 144 oz (but I had a bit of alcohol, so that counteracts about half of that right there), exercise was only the 20 minutes on the bike I got in before work. Last night I started chatting with some friends and lost track of time. By the time I looked at the clock it was 10:30, so I just went to bed.

And I didn’t get up to exercise this morning, because I’m just plain beat. I do plan to workout this evening though, so it’ll be ok. I also have my follow-up doctor’s appointment this morning so she can see how well all the drugs she gave me last time are working. Just for the record, the anti-perspirant is working great (Kel, it’s call Drysol in case you were still wondering), even though it itches a little when I put it on; the skin cream isn’t doing much of anything, so I’m hoping she can give me something that actually works this time; and the other drug… well, it’s still too soon to tell. I mean, it was a preventative measure, and I haven’t gotten sick, so I guess that’s good, but I probably wouldn’t have gotten sick in this time period anyway, so who knows? Other things to go over: sleeping habits, diet, exercise, moodiness. I’ve got all of these things tracked for her to go over.

Menu for today:
Breakfast: 2 c. coffee w/FF hazelnut creamer, Fiber One Honey Clusters cereal (they’re surprisingly yummy!) w/skim milk, lean ham
Snack: Banana
Lunch: 2 sl. ww toast, tomato, LF mozzarella, cherries
Snack: LF yogurt
Dinner: TBD

OK, I’ve got a meeting to go to, then work, work, work! Have a wonderful day and weekend, chickies!
~Elisha

Alright - I promise I will take time to read and reply to everyone later today (in a rush right now), but wanted to post my results from yesterday -

1. Didn't quite make water goal (about 8 oz. short)
2. Still having alot of Fibro. pain, so did light yoga/stretching for 30 min.
3. 1106 calories.

Happy Friday!

My feet hit the floor at 5:30am ....off to work to a busy and ultimately unproductive day. Then, a fast food dinner (not as bad as it sounds, though I haven't added the calories up for the day yet), then off to visit MOm. It was such a perfect summer day that I took her out in the courtyard at her assisted living home. She insisted she could walk herself (with a walker) and was quite tuckered when she finally got back to her easy chair.....but she said she really enjoyed it, so that made it worthwhile. Then, off to the grocery store and then home.....unpacked groceries and then DS stopped by to borrow some tools for a project he is into. Can I sit down now? :faint:

Elisha.....TY for setting up this challenge! :thanks: It is just what I need to get kick started again!

Robin....You have some great goals there, chickie! :) And I know you can do them too!

TYE......Welcome! You are doing great and congrats for making a good choice at Wendys! Personally, I don't mind Wendys.....but at Arbys....hmmm.....can't seem to get thru the drive-thru without saying 'cherry turnover please' :tape:

Brandy....That was one awesome performance in the 5K there, chicklet! :encore: I cannot even imagine attempting such a feat.......maybe someday when there is less of me to haul around!

DewCan....Down two pounds! :D Your success inspires me!

Jennifer.....((Poor dear!)) Hope things are drying out in the kitchen.....what an awful mess that must have been! :hug: I think that rainbow was meant just for you too!

Lauren.....Good luck on cutting back on the diet soda. I did that a while back and it was much easier than I had imagined! Prior to that, I would have liked diet coke to come out of the faucet here! :lol: I can make it Monday-Friday without a diet coke now, but the weekends still need a little tweaking!

I feel like I have had a successful day......food not too bad, ate no candy (though the Reeses did beckon me at the grocery checkout....I held firm) and there has been no snacking tonight either (though I am holding onto the puter keyboard with both hands to avoid temptations). Now, all I have to do is find that WATP CD......:dancer:

Have a beautiful weekend all! :sunny:

Brandy, I got a kick out of picturing you on and after the ride, very funny :lol: Great job on the 5k :encore: that is just amazing. And super that your time was that much faster than you expected!!! :D Hair appointment sounds like fun, and what's your glass class? Sounds interesting, tell me about it.

Tye, Elisha has problems with Wendy's. That's what's with the BAN :lol: The kids meals are much better than the full iszed ones, WTG.

Robin, you're going to be hanging out in the washroom :rain: :lol: with all the water. Soooo true that it sounds easy to follow the goals but why haven't we done it then till this point? Obviously it's a struggle or we wouldn't be here. That hit home with me, thanks. Oh and :welcome:

MsRD, welcome back, you were missed. It was getting quiet around here. Your goals might not sound earth shattering to you, but they would shatter my world. What,NO evening snack :lol: I always have my 1 point fudgsicle in the evening. WOW, you got up at 5:30? That is just crazy!!!!! Fantastic with not giving into the temptations.

Elisha, how is the moodiness going? When is your appointment?

Lauren, what is Fibro. pain? Good job with your goals!

Well, I had 44 points yesterday and am allowed 24, so I guess I had 20 of my flexpoints for the week. I try not to use them at all, so I'm not sure if I succeeded or not. I tracked!!! But used the points I'd rather not use....so not sure... Busy day today, and have a wedding to go to on top of it all, I really don't enjoy weddings...don't know why...Maybe that's why I had only immediate family at our wedding. Not even all of DH's came. Much less stress that way. You'll have to try it Elisha, ;)

Have a great day, Diana

Okay - doing alright yesterday and today - still struggling a little with the water goal, but coming pretty close. Calories are right on track and I have been exercising to the best of my ability (pain levels slowly improving). Only one diet soda a day until today - I cracked when my mom picked me up one from Sonic without asking (I'd already had one already).

Elisha – sounds like you are doing well! Congrats – I could have never left those m&m’s!

Diana – way to look on the bright side of things! I’m sure the time will fly by. Fibro = Fibromyalgia. It’s a chronic syndrome that basically means I’m tired and hurt most of the time. The latest research suggests it’s caused by chemical imbalances (sort of like clinical depression) and so I take anti-depressants for it.

Brandy – not much to tell – I’m 22 and teach Theatre Arts at an intermediate school. I gained weight after I got married and started cooking all the time and then really got overweight due to a medicine I was on for my fibromyalgia. – Sounds like you are doing great btw – I’m especially impressed by your exercise goals.

Tye – I agree, the support here is awesome.

MsRD – We all need a break every once and a while. It sounds like you are doing a great job now, though! Welcome back!

Jennifer – hope things are going better for you!

Medic – good luck getting started!

:dust:

-Lauren

Morning, chicklettes. Today is the last day that I have to listen to the blowers and dehumidifiers in the house. When I get home, they may already be gone, which will be a wonderful thing. It'll be the first night in a week that I can fall asleep and possibly sleep through the night. The poor cats have been shell-shocked, and we're all a little zombified. But things are drying up, and now it is just a matter of having the builder come, and deal with the cleanup, and then repair. I'm trying to be positive about this, and believe that this will be problem free. :lol3: Yeah, ok, I'm delusional from the fans. :)

This weekend was a mixed bag- Saturday we built my desk, and I got "my room" (the den) partially set up. The computer is hooked up, by my wireless router is not working. Could be an Adelphia thing, could be a bigger issue. I tried my dialup, and found out my old PCI / Ethernet card is blown. I need to pick up a new one- so for under 20.00, I'll be able to at least crawl online to check in. Whatever works, right? Food was good on Saturday, since we were busy and otherwise occupied. PMS hit late in the day, and Sunday was a craving-filled day. Mostly carbs and bread cravings. I did have a small bowl of ice cream. We picked at things, and did some small snacks, but nothing positive.

Plan for the day:
Breakfast-
1 zone bar
2 cups earl gray tea w/ ff vanilla creamer & splenda
(the soda machine here wasn't taking dollars!!!)
18oz water

Lunch-
Chickarina soup
1 diced fruit cup, drained,
more water
(maybe the soda machine will take change, if I can get someone to break a dollar)

Dinner- depends on when the water mitigation guy collects his stuff.

Comments from Friday, when I got busy & hadn't been able to get in here to update:

Elisha- good job on the M&M Control. Hope you are liking that office! :) Hope things went well with the Dr. and she was able to answer all your questions. When do we get to see the wedding invitation? ;)

Diana- Thank you for the rainbow you sent me! :) And you are sooo close to your first goal- you're kicking butt. The sod delay is a good thing- if the grass is just sitting there, getting the roots soaking wet, they'll start to rot & your grass will die. And you can work on your planters- good deal there. You'd also have liked our wedding- we had a total of 9 people there, including the two of us! LOL

Brandy- I have to make lemonade with all these lemons, otherwise I'd be overrun! Kick butt with your 5K- you soooo rock!

Tye- at Wendy's, another good choice is the grilled chicken sandwich, and a small salad. You can throw out the bun & put the chicken into the salad. Or, I just have the sandwich.

Robin- Welcome! My mom does the small dish thing- she uses her prettiest salad plate for lunch and dinner- and it makes her feel like even though she's dieting, she can enjoy her meal.

MsRD- I missed you! :hug: I'm so glad you are back! And small steps all add up- soon we'll be back on track, moving full steam ahead. What a day- I was tired just reading about it. You sure earned a break- I hope you took time to just sit & relax after your Saturday.

Lauren- You'll get the water eventually- the first few weeks are always the hardest, when you feel like you have to pee every 45 minutes, and that if you drink another drop, you'll just explode! :) I have an hour commute, and I have to stop with the water by 2:30pm, so that when I leave, I hit the ladies' room by 3:45 at the latest, leave by 4pm, and then don't have to worry about finding a tall bush on the turnpike to squat behind :)

Hope everyone is having a good Monday!

i would love to join if there is room for one more
this is my first post as i am a total newbie :D

my three goals are
1) 2 litres of water everday
2) no snacking after 7:00pm (brooke is a night owl so after matthew and rachel have gone to bed i hit the cupboards for company...not pretty)
3) 4 half hour walks every week
i have really let myself go so i will start slowly and crank it up slowly :D

Welcome, Wendy! Of course, there is always room for a new chickie! :) Your goals look good, and attainable. Glad to have you with us, and welcome to 3FC, as well! :)

thanks jennifer
i hope to do well and a few more goals on the next challange (there will be a next one right??)
well i am goingt o go figure out how to add a ticker
thanks again for the welcome

I promise to go back and read all the posts.. just wanted to say hello to everyone and say Happy Monday.. and CRANK IT UP!!
only down 1 pound this week but a loss is a loss.. had a horrible Friday.. (sons birthday).. but i'm bound and determined to be POP this week!!! i'm still keeping up with the excercise though!! i feel good... okay.. i feel better at least..
i'll be back to read....

where'd my ticker go???

grrr.. does anyone know why i cannot see anyones tickers??? my html is off.. does that make a difference.. and if so, how do i get it turned back on..

okay.. i feel silly now.. it just showed up.. <nevermind>