Thanksgiving Challenge Weekly chat Oct 16-22
 

How is everyone? I am doing pretty good! I am a little bummed because I havent gotten to work out in almost a week. Today we are taking my 1 year old son to HOOTERS for his birthday. (courtesy of his Daddy) I would prefer not to go and I am trying to convince DH to take him to RED ROBIN. It is more of a kid atmosphere. He (meaning DH) just wants the attention. It doesn't bother me, it is just an hour and a half drive to get there.

This week is a short one and it is going to be busy, but I am going to get a workout! I can't believe that last week I had only half the workouts that I am used to. I really want to reach my Thanksgiving goal, but 12 pounds seems like way too much. Oh well I will get there someday.

GOOD MORNING!:wave:

I HAVEN'T POSTED ALL WEEEK AND THAT WAS A GOAL OF MINE.:mad: WELL IT STARTED LAST MONDAY WITH MY HUBBY COMING HOME FROM WORK SICK. BY THAT NIGHT MY TODDLER AND I WERE COUCH RIDDEN WATCHING DISNEY MOVIES AND FEELING SICKY ICKY. BY TUES MORNING ALL THREE OF US WERE FULL BLOWN SICK. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS IT FELT LIKE THE WORST COLD I HAVE EVER HAD.IT TOOK ALMOST A WEEK AND WE ARE ALL BETTER:angel:
I DIDN'T DO FITDAY ALL WEEK AND I DIDN'T WATCH WHAT I ATE. I MOSTLY ATE CARBS AND AND DIDN'T MONITOR ANYTHING.:s: :nono: TODAY I START MY TOM AND I FEEL EXTRA BLOATED FROM THE WEEK OF CARBS AND NO GYM OR ACTIVITY. SO WHAT TO DO, I WEIGH MY BLOATED SELF.:stress: :stress: :stress: 161 ......... THERE IS NO WAY I GAINED 6 POUNDS IN A WEEK AND THREE DAYS.:devil: I AM HOPING IT'S A MIXTURE OF TOM AND WATER WEIGHT FROM MY WEEK OF HIGH SALT AND CARBS.
HAS THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ANYONE???:?: :?: :?: :?: :?:
NO GYM TODAY. BECAUSE I HAVE TO GET MY HUBBY PACKED UP FOR A BIG WORK TRIP AND THAT WILL TAKE ALL DAY SINCE I DIDN'T DO LAUNDRY LAST WEEK:o :o
JCATRON- YOU HAVE 12 UNTIL THANKSGIVING AND I HAVE 12-15 DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH OF MY SCALE WEIGHT IS STAYING.:( SO WE HAVE TO LOSE 1.5-2 POUNDS A WEEK UNTIL THANKSGIVING. WE CAN DO IT. IT WILL JUST TAKE HARD WORK FOR THE REST OF THE TIME. IT WOULDN'T BE CALLED A CHALLENGE FOR NOTHING:carrot: :carrot: HOOTERS! THAT IS TO FUNNY. LET ME GUESS THAT RED ROBBIN IS EVEN CLOSER TO YOU. I THINK IT'S MEN BECAUSE MY HUBBY WENT TO TAKE OUR CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY AND THERE IS EVERY RESTRAUNT YOU CAN THINK OF AROUND. WHERE DOES HE WIND UP? OH YEAH HOOTERS! HE DOESN'T EVEN EAT THAT KIND OF FOOD AND HE WENT THERE. WHO GOES TO HOOTERS FOR A SALAD?:T I COULDN'T HELP BUT LAUGH AT HIM.

OK THIS WEEK I AM BACK ON TRACK AND GOING BACK TO THE FAT SMASH DETOX TO GET BACK TO NORMAL. I JUST FEEL ICKY. I HATE TOM AND ANYHTING WITH BAD CARBS, THIS WEEK:D

Hooters??? :rolleyes: ... it's your son's birthday, not your hubby's!

If you don't want to go - then don't. I learned a long time ago that sucking it up and doing things I downright don't want to do makes me and everyone around me miserable... and being miserable makes me feel awful about myself, which, as we all know, is NOT conducive to looking/feeling our best. Maybe it could be a daddy/son night, and you can have a mommy/son night for his birthday soon thereafter?

Sorry for the unsolicited advice... :headache: I really shouldn't do that... but I know what that kind of frustration feels like and it burns me a little.

Anyway, HELLO and Happy Monday to everybody! I'm feeling a little under-the weather, actually... I cooked salmon last night for dinner and I think maybe I got a bad piece because my insides turned to liquid during the night... I woke up with horrible cramps and had to sprint to the bathroom. Yuck. I guess the upshot to that is that I have NO desire whatsoever to snack today!

Breakfast: Slim-Fast canned drink thing - horrible, but easy to drink during hectic commute

Lunch - being eaten as I type this: Lean Cuisine Chicken w/Peanut Sauce - REALLY good, by the way. Lean Cuisines have come a long way! I hope it doesn't upset my tummy...

Dinner will be: Baked teriyaki/sesame chicken w/steamed snow peas and whole grain rice (made by yours truly).

And tonight is a gym night - and I will square off with the scale again... it looms in the corner of the locker room, beckoning to me: "Suuuuuuuuuz, come step on meeeeeee!" and I will do my best to resist. Weighing in only on Fridays seems to be working pretty well for me.

Of course, I can only do the gym tonight provided my stomach settles down. I don't want to have to stop my workout every five minutes to trot to the bathroom!

One thing I'm finding I have trouble with is water... as in drinking enough of it. I mean, I drink it, but I'm pretty sure I'm not getting enough... Do you all have that problem, too? How do you deal with it?

Flabbychic: welcome back! I am sorry you had a rough week. And ontop of the sickies you had to deal with a weight gain on the scale? I am sure it is just water weight. It should come off quickly with extra water.

RowdyBliss: Thanks for the advice. The main reason I didn't want to go is becauseit is an hour and a half drive. I've been there before and the food was okay and the service was good. As for the water I try to drink 80-100 oz a day but lately I am lucky if I get 64.

Okay I did give in and have a chicken sandwich...but my daughter ate my onion rings. And I only had water. Then I went to starbucks and had a nonfat no flavor latte. I am going to workout after dinner then go on a walk with my buds! I did walk a mile and a half at the mall!

Happy Monday!
 

I haven't stepped on the scale since last Thursday or Friday, but my stomach feels a bit flatter and the pants I'm wearing right now are baggy. Wish I could wear these every day; most of my other pants are too snug and I refuse to buy any in a larger size.

Hope everyone had a good weekend! I was in Vegas for a family thing and it was more fun than I expected (I am not a big Vegas fan and only go when there is some other reason). I did OK with eating and tried to fill up on veggies as much as possible. Exercise is another story. I'm really out of shape from four months of no exercise, so this weekend I didn't want to do anything (but we walked a lot). Oh well, back to it this week. :dizzy:

jcatron243: Good job on giving your onion rings to your daughter! And don't get discouraged regarding your goal. Twelve pounds is a lot, but you will get there. Keep up with the healthy eating and the exercise, it WILL make a difference!

flabbychic: Hope you're feeling better. Don't worry about the six pounds; it is likely water weight from TOM and high-sodium food. Once you get back on track with eating, it will likely disappear. I always "gain" 3-4 pounds following dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant and lose them almost quickly if I drink sufficient water the next day.

RowdyBliss: Ooo, hope your stomach is feeling better. Regarding water, from what I've read on this site over the past year it seems that no one gets the "optimal" amount. And it's hard if you don't want to be running to the bathroom all day ... I have a large glass at work; I think it holds about 24 ounces. I try to fill it two or three times a day. Plus I make sure to drink 16 ounces in the morning before work. I taper off in the evening so I can sleep without getting up to pee at night. Some days are better than others.

Water: Take Your Weight And Divide By Two And Thats How Many Ounces Your Body Needs In A Day.

Example: Weight 160 Divide By 2 = 80 Ounces
I Got That From My Dr Long Ago. Hope That Helps!
I Myself Drink At Least 100 Ounces A Day And Nothing Over 110 Because You Will Deplete Your Natural Sodium Water Ratio Of Your Body.

I Am Doing Good Today And Am Going To Join My Hubby At His Work Trip. They Have A Great Zoo There I Can Take My Toddler So That Should Be Fun And I Will Be Back On Thurs. I Will Start Back Onthe Detox Fri And Until Then Just Cont Cxalories And Try To Be Aware Of My Eating. I Am Not Getting On The Scale Until Nov 1. The Water Weight Plus Some Should Hopefully Be Gone:) I Hate Tom! I Know The 6 Pounds Isn't " For Real" But That Was Awful To See. So I [packed The Scale Away And I Will Wiegh Nov And That Gives Me 3.5 Weeks Until Thanksgiving. I Have To Bust My Hump If I Want To Make My Final Goal By X-mas. Roughly 2 Pounds A Week!

Hope Everyone Is Doing Well!

How Is Everyone On There Goal? How Much More?

I love going to the Zoo!!! I wanted to go yesterday but the weather was only so so.

I found out yesterday that 5 of the 9 kids at my sons b-day party were sick yesterday. I guess it is a really bad bad cold. The 5 spend lots of time together. So today I am babysitting one of them, my nephew, I hate to do it, but my sister called in sick yesterday and has only been working at this job for 2 weeks. She is a single mother and I am the only one available. Time to break out the Purell (okay okay its already out I am a purell junkie) And the lysol.

As for my diet I skipped the walk last night, I had both kids asleep and got to watch tv alone with my hubby. It was nice.

Today I am going to spend at least 60 minutes working out! 20 treadmil 20 bike 20 strength training!

Flabbychick- I have heard that about water myself. I have also heard that you need to drink 64 oz + 8 oz for every 25 pounds over weight you are. So for me 64 + 8 = 72 oz per day

I did my measurements today and my butt and my belly are the same size!!! my belly has been an inch bigger than my but since I started taking measurements!!

Discipline, thy name is RowdyBliss
 

Okay, so my stomach woes did not subside last night, forcing me to skip my Monday workout (I go Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) - and so, to make up for it, I got up this morning at 6:00 a.m (yes, that's A.M., as in still dark outside!!!) to go hit the elliptical machine and get in 30 minutes of that and about 20 minutes of weights. Yee haw! I'm proud, but I'm soooo tired... :yawn:

I have to be extra good today because tonight is my brother-in-law's birthday and the entire clan is going to Houlihan's for dinner to celebrate. Luckily, they have an Asian salad there that is very good and probably not as bad for me as some of their other entrees, so I will opt for that. Breakfast was a Slim-Fast; lunch was also a Slim-Fast. Not my favorite way to diet - boring!!! - but desperate days call for desperate calorie-counting measures! Snack this afternoon will be some popcorn.

Thanks to everyone for their water answers... I think that according to those figures, I'm probably only drinking about three-quarters of what I should be drinking. I hear people all the time talking about how water is an important factor in weight loss, and since I'm doing pretty well with everything else (with occasional off-days), I figure I could improve my chances of weight loss even more if I stick to my water - and make sure a bathroom is close by!

Hey everyone!

flabbychic: The zoo sounds fun! And lots of walking, too! Good idea to put away the scale for a couple of weeks and focus on eating and exercise.

jcatron243: Congrats on the shrinking belly!

RowdyBliss: Good job on getting to the the gym early in the morning!

Today was a pretty good food day except for a small slice of pie. Ate lots of veggies and other good things, though, so don't feel too bad about that. Weighed myself tonight and my weight hasn't changed but the scale says my bodyfat has dropped 2% from last week. That could explain why my belly seems like it's not sticking out quite so much. Haven't worked up the nerve to measure myself yet, so don't know for sure.

Tomorrow is strength-training day and am really looking forward to it. As far as achieving the goals I set for myself this month, I think I'm doing OK. My eating still needs some work but it's better than before. And I still look for any excuse to skip cardio, but at least I'm moving some.

Hope everyone has a great Wednesday!

Got weighed in yesterday and out of the 17 pounds i wanted to lose, I've lost 5 pounds. Just having a real blah day though. I got up early to go for a walk and it just wasn't happening, my legs and knees were really bothering me so I turned around after walking, practically crawling for only 10 mins. I really think this exercise thing is harder then the food thing. I wonder if I would be better off at a gym. But I'm so big what are they going to do with me? Does it even pay? Do they even know what to do with someone my size? And everyone's so skinny.

fed up: Do you have a Curves around? It is a mix of strength and cardio the circut takes about 25 minutes then you stretch at the end. I like it because I don't have to stare at all the skinny butts at the gym. (I only went for my free week) I also have exercise equipment in my house for the same reason. I don't like it when people watch me workout.

5 pounds is great! When I am sore I spend some time on the floor stretching!

Yesterday I worked my butt off! Today It is housework and exercise when I can fit it in. But I hope to get in the same amount as yesterday 105 min! My eating was pretty good yesterday, and I am finally getting a good schedule, eating wise, that my body likes.

Tomorrow is going to be rough becuase I have to take my kids to the doctor for checkups in the morning, So I am sure I will have a latte instead of my protein shake, I also think that I will be going to Wendy's for lunch. At least I can get some decent things health wise. I am going to their website today and plan my lunch for tomorrow. We have to go to the mall to get my husbands phone fixed so that will be a good chance to get some walking in. Otherwise I doubt I will get in any other type of workout tomorrow.

Au contraire, dear friend - at my gym, there are people there of all ages and ALL sizes.

I am a lot like you - exercise for me was a real chore. It's not that I hate exercise itself; I took karate a few years back and LOVED the rigorous, regular physical exercise but I had to quit because my instructor - a third-degree blackbelt - gave me a concussion :dizzy: (totally accidental!). After that, I tried working out on my own, but I hated running (because I could barely run!) and other things like power-walking and stuff like that were so incredibly boring to me.

I finally decided that I owed it to myself to join a gym and at least try it - and I absolutely love it. I didn't think I would, but I do... and I think it's because I've psyched myself up for it. I treat it a little bit like going to a spa - it's ME time, time to work on ME and make MYSELF feel good. It's an hour of my day that I get to spend being totally self-centered and focused only on feeling my best. Honestly, doesn't that sound great, just having that "you time?"

I had to start out slowly because I was very out-of-shape... I remember on my first session there, I only did about 5 minutes on the elliptical cross-trainer machine and I thought I would DIE! I was huffing and puffing so badly, and my poor muscles hurt. But if you keep at it... add one minute to your cardio each time you go... and vary it (I like to alternate between stationary bike and elliptical)... it gets easier, and better, and you can push yourself more as you get stronger.

And don't forget to reward yourself. When I'm done with my workout and I completed my micro-goal for the day - for example, doing ALL minutes of my cardio without stopping - I reward myself by having a good session in the gym's steam room, hot tub or sauna and patting myself on the back. If I don't complete my goal, I don't beat myself up - but I skip the sauna and make a new resolution to do better next time. It works!

So yes - I think it pays off. The weight loss has been slow but steady... but more importantly, I feel like a million bucks since I started a month ago. And I know it's only going to get better.

I'm not going to tell you it's easy, because some days it isn't. Hauling my big butt out of bed and out to the gym yesterday morning was like torture... but it felt good later because I felt proud for not missing a gym day and keeping my promise to myself.

Exercise is such an important factor to the weight loss equation; I think that if you're considering the gym, you should at least give it a try. If you want a workout buddy, I'd be more than happy to volunteer! We can help keep each other on track...

Sorry this got to be such a long post, but exercise is something I've become so passionate and excited about now that I've FINALLY figured out how to not only make it a habit, but make it something I honestly LIKE!

Motivation Idea!
 

Hello, lovely ladies!!

(I think we're all ladies here, right? Do we have any guys in the Thanksgiving Challenge? If so, I apologize!)

Everyone here is doing so well... and it feels great to have a gang of folks to report to every day. Woo-hoo for us!

Great day yesterday, food-wise. I stuck to my eating plan, mostly - although I did have the tiniest dish of creme-brulee for dessert last night. Thank goodness Houlihan's has "mini desserts" rather than those impossibly big desserts most restaurants have! It was really just a taste of the stuff - and since I did so well during the rest of the day, I decided that a little bit wouldn't kill me.

Today:
Breakfast - Slim Fast
Lunch - Lean Cuisine Roasted Potatos with Broccoli and Cheese Sauce
Dinner - I bought basa fillets for broiling tonight, along with steamed snow peas and probably egg noodles (I will have just a small portion - DH will eat the rest!)

It is also a GYM NIGHT! Yeehaw! My plan today is 30 minutes on the elliptical and another 20 on the bike. This is an increase from my previous 25 on the elliptical/15 on the bike - wish me luck!

*~*~*~*~*~*

Something else I wanted to share with everyone... I heard this on t.v. a few weeks back and it honestly has changed my entire perspective on things. I think it was on the Today Show... there was a lady on there talking about achieving goals, and I think they were specifically talking about going back to school. She said (and I paraphrase):

Instead of focusing on the things you are giving up on the road to your goal, think about the things you'll be getting as a result of achieving your goal.

It sounds so simple... but it never occurred to me before, and it really resonated with me. I - the Queen of Junk Food - have spent years and years trying to figure out the psychology of leading a disciplined, healthy lifestyle, and this really seems to click! "Keep your eyes on the prize!"

I challenge you - only if you want to - to post 5 things here that YOU will be getting as a result of achieving your goals, both short-term and long-term.

My Five:
1) I will be getting size 8 jeans.
2) I will be getting a tan in a bikini next summer.
3) I will be getting better roles in theatre productions.
4) I will be getting better health.
5) I will be getting a body that will allow me to take dance lessons again.

If I keep focusing on those things... the old lifestyle I'm giving up doesn't seem as difficult to leave behind...

What five things will YOU focus on? I'm anxious to see everyone's answers/inspirations!

What will I be getting?
1. Healthy! Lower cholesterol, reducing my chances for diabetes. . .
2. Smaller jeans!!! :) I hope when I am at my maintaining stage I will be atleast in a size 7/8
3. Not feeling like the biggest person in the room.
4. Clothes from my sisters closet!
5. shhhhh, better sex :) don't tell anyone.

Miss Bliss, I LOVE your last two posts!!! The one about the gym could have SO been written by me! I would have NEVER thought I would like going to the gym, but now I just CRAVE it! I sweat like a piggy and can't talk while I work it but at the end of the whole thing, I just jump off my machine and practically JUMP around and do a little woot woot, why doesn't anyone else just get so happy at the end of their workout? I feel like a nut grinning so big and skipping out of there like that. But it feels SO GREAT! If you'd have told me I'd be saying these things a year ago, forget it! Just give yourselves the time and you'll be there too. So BTW I think I jump started the weight loss by increasing my cardio before and after my weight lifting....Used to be 20 min elliptical on level 4 cross train aerobics, now its 35 min on level 5, then the weights, I've upped the weights and upped the reps, then the abs, again upping the weights and the reps, then the cross trainer, used to be 10-15 min cross train aerobics, level 4, now up to 20-25 min level 5! Going backwards on those elliptical/cross trainer is TOUGH but feels so good.

Food wise, doing really well, I am in a soup place right now, making my own chili, minestrone, veggie soups, etc. I like to make big pots of soup and having leftovers for like a week of lunches, etc. Tonight I'm making my favorite: take your favorite frozen bagged veggies (I like the zucchini/squash/red onion mix) pour chicken stock over the veggies and cook til veggies tender (I'll add some shredded carrots and celery or whatever looks good in the fridge) then add a can or two of tomato/jalepeno mix, and a can or two of FF cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup, heat through and at the end add 16-20 oz light velveeta cheese....so warm and comforting! I also found a recipe for a potato bomb, one microwave baked potato, 1/2 cup FF refried beans with 1 oz light velveeta melted in with salsa on top....the soup and potato are so filling and comforting! Not too bad on calories/fat either. And an easy lunch or light dinner.

OK let me think over the 5 top things I'd like to concentrate on....

1. Looking HOT in a size 10-12 (for now) I'm feeling pretty HOT in my 14-16s right now but still!
2. Not using my inhalers as much, increased endurance, strength, health
3. Wearing a two piece swimsuit next year (blatantly ripped off from bliss's list)
4. Shopping at "skinny girl" stores
5. Playing hard with my kids, maybe even being the MILF of the group! LOL Wouldn't you love to overhear one of the kids friends saying "oh your mom is so pretty!" ??

Maybe I'll tweak the list after some thought.

Oh on the water thing....I know I drink ALOT, I have that water cooler in my kitchen and always have a full (1-liter)bottle at my side, sip at it all day, and take my 3 liter bottle to work and finish it over the 12 hr shift. I like that formula taking your weight divide by two but WOW thats alot of water for us 200 lb + chicks.

Well I'll check more later...you know what? I really admire you gals who can respond to each person's posts individually and by name, do have to take notes before your posts so you can remember who said what or do you just remember? Like I remember details of all your stories but I often get each name mixed up! LOL that should be my goal....to respond to the posts with each person's name and make it personal. Am I being silly or what?

Thanks for the soup recipie, Michelle. I LOVE SOUP!!!

I thought about doing cardio-strength-cardio, but since my workouts are at home and I can only do it when Tommy is sleeping, I pretty much take what I can get. Although the kids left me alone today so I got in 20 minutes on my stationary bike! As soon as the man takes a nap I will do pilates, then I hope to get on my treadmill for 20 minutes. If I have time then I will get my weights in.

Rowdy Bliss and everyone else that spoke about the gym - you have certainly given me something to ponder and I will be thinking it over for the next few days. I'm just really scared that I will be useless in a gym, but I'm getting really close to wanting to give it a try, after all it will get me closer to
my 5 things

Okay here goes:

1) I will be getting better clothes and shoes because the clothes and shoes I have now, I hate. Look out cause I'm gonna shop like crazy.
2) I will be getting better health and the chance to be more active and doing things with my kids, my husband and my friends.
3) I will be getting normal - I really don't feel normal now, I feel like a circus freak.
4) I will be getting a chance to be a fantastic grandmother to my as of yet unborn grandchildren - I wanna be here for them.
5) I will be getting more confidence and hopefully that will make all aspects of my life better.

Happy Friday!! My weigh-in day!
 

Can I just say how proud I am of you all? Here we are, all at different stages of our journey... and as long as we keep helping each other along like this, little by little and inch by inch... we WILL get there, short-term AND long term!

:grouphug:

jcatron243: Yeah... better sex! It didn't even really occur to me, but you're absolutely right... and I think I shall make that my #6 thing to focus on... powerful motivator! ;)

NurseMichelle: Skinny-girl stores! I remember a time in my life, a long time ago, when I used to shop in the 5-7-9 shop (I don't know if those are even still around anymore). Sigh... memories... :D AND IT SHALL BE OURS AGAIN!!! Also: glad to see I'm not alone in my gym addiction. I never thought to do cardio-weights-cardio; maybe I'll give that a try!

"fed"up: I know how you're feeling. I was SO self-conscious walking into that gym, especially when I realized just how out-of-shape I was and nearly passed out after only 5 minutes of cardio. I always am scared to try new things because I'm so very afraid of failing... discouragement... But you know what? Every person that walks through that door in the gym is at a different level; all of them had to begin somewhere. And things really have gotten better - I have seen such an improvement, not only in my physical endurance but also how I feel when I know that I simply made the decision to make that effort. The first time I did ten minutes on a cardio machine without stopping, I felt like I'd just won the Nobel prize or something! It might not be as huge of an effort as, say, the 75-year-old ex-Marine that comes in and runs circles around me, but hey! I conquer my challenges at my OWN level, not other people's! You will conquer your own challenges at your own level, too; just start small, don't be too hard on yourself at first, and remember that even just walking through the door to the gym is something you should be very, VERY proud of. :hug: You have excellent, honorable and admirable things you want to achieve - and you WILL achieve them.

OKAY - today's weigh-in update.....

179 pounds!! I'm no longer in the 180's! 1-pound loss. Not much, but a loss is a loss! I'm beginning to wonder if I'll be able to make it to my Thanksgiving goal of 165 after all - if I really bust my butt, I probably can, but I want to make sure I'm healthy about it, you know?

I had to go to the gym this morning again because I have a show tonight, but it was a little easier for me today than it was on Tuesday. (NOT a morning person!! :coffee: ) Also - I met a gaggle of 4 ladies in the locker room. I have no idea how they met, and they are about as different from each other as could possibly be but seem to really like each other - and they have pick-up racquetball games every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning. I saw one lady (a breast cancer survivor, WOOT for her!) with her racquet and noted how it seemed like a lot of fun and that I'd love to try it one day... and they said they'd love to teach me and have me join their little group! Now HOW COOL is that?? Of course, it would mean more mornings at the gym (ugh mornings!), but it would also mean that I'd get a new kind of exercise with what seems to be some really nice ladies. I'm meeting them tomorrow morning for my first lesson!

A good start to a good day.

Happy Friday to you wonderful ladies! Let's make it a good one!

Happy Friday back at you RowdyBliss! and to everyone else too! Congrats on the 1 pound loss!!! It was nice to see my scale move to 169!
We have 4 weeks and 6 days left in our Thanksgiving challenge. my goal is 158 and believe me I am trying to get there, but in reality since I am only losing a pound a week right now I will probably be at 164 or 165. It just seems that so much has come up in the last 2-3 weeks that has made it impossible for me to work out like I want. I am still getting in a little bit of workouts, but instead of my 65-100 minutes I am barely getting in 40. Don't get me wrong, I am glad for the 40 and I know it is helping me, but I love my workouts. It is Time for mommy! But it still revolves around my kids, and the baby's nap time.
I was trying to explain to my husband that this isn't a diet, I plan on watching my calories for the rest of my life, 1 pound a week is great. (I don't want it to take me 44 more weeks to get to my ultimate goal of 125, but If it does it does.)

Then I have days like yesterday that seem like it will be impossible for me to even get to 158. I walked through the mall as my workout, it was raining here, it was a slower pace walk, but I did walk for 2 hours. I didn't get home in time to cook my dinner so I ended up eating at work (I work and a family owned hamburger restraunt, with nothing healthy on the menu). But since I didn't get in enough protein/fiber/water I was so hungry all night. I tried to give myself a break, I have been doing great, but I had to go get milk for the baby after work and I ended up getting a candy bar, IT WAS SOO GOOD! but it was gone in like 60 seconds then I was still hungry. i ended up going to bed to avoid a binge which I new was coming. TODAY IS A NEW DAY! I know that as long as I follow my food plan, I will get enough of everything so I don't want to sit here and eat. I told my husband that I refuse to give into my cravings. I lost the battle yesterday, but I will win today!!!

And a happy Friday to everyone as well.

The past 2 days have been a bit of a struggle, I had bad cravings for the first time in a few weeks, but I got through it and ate very well. As you know I'm struggling a bit with the exercise, and today is no exception - especially since it was raining out this morning and I missed my 30 min. walk. Oh well. I'm gonna try doing a Richard Simmons video, still working up the courage for the gym, hoping to get to that next week. Gym addiction - wow, what a concept.

For the first time since I started this, almost 7 weeks now, I will REALLY be challenged. I have not one, but 2 parties that I will be going to on Sunday, 1 in the morning, 1 at night. And there will be TONS of food, buffet style. I am bracing myself, still not sure how I'm gonna handle it. Any tips would be appreciated. At the morning one I will be seeing people that I have not seen since I lost about 30 pounds, dieing to see if they notice, can't blame them if they don't. If it weren't for my clothing being loose I don't think I would either.

I hope everybody has a great weekend!

Ooooh boy is that a tough one...

Sometimes, I will "pre-eat" before I go to these things. I have a light snack before I go, something healthy like a salad with lots of fresh veggies and greens, or a lowfat yogurt or something, and I drink water. I feel nice and full before I even get to the party; I'm not tempted to gorge myself on the high-calorie stuff once I get there. Maybe I'll have a taste or two of something (I don't believe in complete deprivation!) - but not NEARLY as much as I would have if I hadn't "pre-eaten."

Hope it helps, and good luck!!!

jcatron243: Hang in there, girl, you didn't lose the battle yesterday... it was just a temporary setback in the journey. Your attitude is great... good for you! :carrot:

I tried explaining the whole "life change" thing to my husband, too - and it really IS a life change. He's excited for me because I'm losing the weight and he would like to lose weight, too, but he says he doesn't want to diet OR exercise. (just how he plans to lose weight without doing those things, I don't know. magic, maybe? :p ) Diets are temporary; results will probably also be temporary. A life change is forming lasting habits for lasting results. I think that dieting frustrates a lot of people because of the mindset of it being temporary: get to the goal weight then resume the old habits and gain it back. How many times have we done this??? I've done it A LOT!!!

If we get into the "life change" mindset - "I am resolved to eat healthfully (not starve and not deprive but make good choices!) and move my body" - we are not setting ourselves up for failure but rather getting into a psychology of commitment and long-term, gradual, LASTING weight loss.

Just my two cents...

I've basically told this to my family also - that this is FOREVER - not just till I get to my goal weight. I can never go back to how things were before - I think they're beginning to get it that I'm serious. I am making everyone a bit crazy though - i think they're a bit sick of listening to me with all of my healthy choices and stuff - but they're pretty good about - my kids have been ultra supportive and are so excited for me. They come home from school and ask me how I've done for the day.

Rowdybliss thanks for the input, it is a tough one isn't it? I know they say that you should eat before an event as to not overeat at the event, but I'm just afraid I'll eat before the party AND at the party, so I'm thinking to maybe to not eat before. We shall see. I'm gonna really need some willpower.

:dust: for you fedup!!! Good luck, the best advice I can give Is try to stay at the healthy end of the buffet!



My husband wants to lose weight too. He has been walking to work everyday(a mile each way) and he has been watching his soda intake as well as his sugar. He is so proud of me and he says I make dieting look easy. He wants me to figure out a meal plan for him which is fine by me, but he doesn't plan on doing it as a life change, he thinks if he gets rid of it it will stay gone. I guess though with me eating healthy, he will too.

My friends and family get tired of me talking about calories and exercise everyday, but I listen to there everyday things.

It's amazing how consumed I have been with this weight loss stuff and in such a short time. I can't imagine what it's like for people who have reached their goal.

My husband who also needs to lose weight, although not as much as me was doing really well for a few weeks. And he's certainly benefiting from the dinners I have been making. But he works long hours outside of the home and has access to all kinds of fast food stuff and lately that's what he's been eating for lunch and stuff. He's a big boy and I can't control his food intake when he's not at home.

And thanks for the Will Power Dust - it made me smile. (If you could figure out a way to bottle the stuff for real....... ahhh just think!)

Happy Saturday!

I haven't been around for a few days and it looks like I missed a lot! I so enjoyed reading everyone's posts and I think they may help me get into the right mindset for this journey that I am re-starting.

Right now I am having such a hard time committing to regular exercise and eating well. I believe that successful weight loss and maintenance is almost all mental, and before my injury I used RowdyBliss's suggestion about focusing on what I was gaining. Is a very powerful tool and I think I need to re-focus on that. So here goes:

What I am gaining:
1. The GIFT of good health by CARING for myself
2. More ENERGY so I can enjoy all the things that are important to me
3. A body that is STRONG and FLEXIBLE, and doesn't tire or injure easily
4. A better FIGURE (vanity here!)
5. FITTING better into my own CLOTHING and buying new things that look good

RowdyBill and NurseMichelle, thank you for your posts about the gym. I belong to a very well equipped gym but have not stepped foot in it since June. I want to go, just having a hard time getting going (Have been walking and bike riding, and lifting weights at home for past couple of weeks). But I felt the same as you both describe when I finished a workout. It was awesome!! I miss that feeling; gotta get it back.

"Fed" Up, maybe you can get a trial membership at a couple of local gyms and try them out before you commit. It's really great to be in the company of others who share the same goal. And don't worry about your size. I never did when I was bigger and I'm not worried now. Keep in mind that many of the skinnies there were probably large at one time and have to keep working to stay skinny! My own experience is that most people are happy to help and never look down on larger folks trying to get in shape.

After I sign off, I am planning out my meals for the entire week. Will plan every meal as well as every snack. Then it's off to the store to get a few odds & ends; already bought a bunch of stuff at Trader Joe's after our 50-minute bike ride so will need to get more produce. In the past, planning, planning, planning was the only way to keep my eating under control. I will also cut veggies for snacks, pre-cook steel-cut oats for breakfast, and anything else I can do in advance.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

I had a great eating day all the way until last night. I skipped my snack because we were going to head out shopping when DH got off work, so when we were done we were all pretty hungry so we had mexican....mmmm, I only ate half my burrito, but i am sure I went way over my calories. Today I step on the scale, and I lost a pound! Now I am wondering whether I should increase my calories for a week and see how I do.

I had a screening interview for a job that would be really nice to have, I made it through with no problem, but now I have to wait until December for the actual interviews. It will be nice, I am hoping to have lost at least 15 more pounds, but I am going to have to buy some interview clothes! (My husband is having his screening interview on Monday!)

I am hoping my son will nap soon so I can get in a short workout before I have to go to work.

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Sunday:
Hi ladies! I hope everyones weekend has been good. Mine has been great! We took the kids to the pumpkin patch/corn maze and boy did we have a great time!

I got on the scale yesterday and guess what I am down one more pound. I was shocked considering I have been eating bad and not exercising much in the past two weeks. I think I am going to up my calories by 100 calories (average) and see if I can get to my Thanksgiving Challenge weight, I still have 10 pounds to go, but I am getting closer!!

This is crunch time for me (well us ladies) we are just over 4 weeks to our goal date!!!!!

Hi Ladies,

I hope you don't mind if I jump on this challenge. I just started my diet not very long ago and I'm still trying to tweak this thing to fit me. What a great post Rowdybliss. Thanks for sharing that thought about focusing on what we're gainging or getting instead of giving up....

5 Things I will be gaining are:
1. A healthier body
2. Self confidence to go places without feeling like a complete whale out of the water.
3. Size 8 clothes will look so much nicer than tents from Ishmar the tent maker.
4. My body will be something (hopefully) worth noticing by the DH. :wink:
5. Does shame go away? I hope so...

go to the other weekly chat this is an old one.