Great job Cathy!!!! It's getting late and I still haven't worked out, but I'm still determined. We went to see Prisoner of Azkaban today. I thought it was a good movie, but DD, who's read the book said she didn't like it. She said they rushed through it and left too much out. Of course I ate loads of popcorn, but it was really good lol

Kristi

Good Morning Gang!

This morning I did another 30 minute 2 mile WATP w/2 lb handweights from start to finish. I am sore from my strength training workout yesterday but oh well, that is just the way it goes.

I won't be exercising tomorrow morning because I have a doctors appt at 8:00 and I don't want to drink a bunch of water before weighing in. For some reason 32 oz of water weighs about 3 or 4 lbs on me.

hugs,
cathy

July Miles = 9
Strength Session = 2

Good Morning SunnyD,

yea I feel ok this morning...I mean I'm sore and my muscles feel shakey but I am fine :dizzy: I really didn't want to get up this morning and walk, but I knew I would be skipping it tomorrow, so I didn't cut myself any slack.

Yes my appointment tomorrow is to see the doc that is treating my low thyroid. I am hoping and PRAYING that he will have some insight as to why I can't lose any weight. Hopefully he will be agreeable to upping my armour thryoid to 3 grains a day, if not I have decided to do it anyway, for at least 6 weeks to see if it helps, but I just wanted to talk with him about it first. Maybe he will know something that I have not thought about, even tho I have read everything I can get my hands.

Sooooooo you slept in til 5:15 huh! ;) wow that is really late you sleepy head you! :rofl: hope the extra few minutes helped!

hope everybody has a great day!

hugs,
cathy

ya know - some days 6 miles feels like 6 hours! :rofl:

Hey girls!!!! Hubby bought me a new bike yesterday and I'm so excited to go out on a ride!!! I'll be recording my bike riding time here with you guys!! Its such a cute little bike too!!!!!

Sheila 6 miles is great!!!! Keep it up!!

Sunny I'm so glad you had a great weekend with your DH!!! My second anniversary is coming up and I want to plan something special for him/us like a night at a nice hotel and dinner in the room etc... I can't wait because we don't really get to ever do anything with just the two of us.

Kristi how are you doing you busy mom you?

OMG you guys I forgot to tell you!!! I have a tan for the first time in 3 years!!! I got a little bit on my legs and a lot on my arms and shoulders!!! and even my Feet have a tan!! I was so excited because in the past I've tried to cover myself up from everyone but now I'm not doing it anymore!!

Well I better go get my kids dressed AGAIN!! Teagan has torn her diaper off and is crawling around bare bottomed YIKES and Taylor is brushing her teeth bare bottomed as well!!! You would think I was running a nudist camp ;)

have a great day!!
Michelle

You ladies are just too much today. I'm so thankful once again. I planned to not exercise today and now you all have made me laugh so hard I feel like I've burned plenty of cals anyway :)............Sheila, great job over the holiday weekend. Hope Curves goes good too!.......Cathy, as always terrific job walking and strength training alike. Praying all goes well at the Dr tomorrow...........Michelle, you run a nudist camp too?!?!?! It's so hard to keep clothes on them all...sometimes I'd like to just join them lol...I'm so happy for you. All your new confidence to go out and show some skin..the sun just feel so awesome....Be proud girl!!........Sunny, You have so many smileys in your post, are you sure you just "napped" on that new mattress?!?!?! Glad you had a good day!.......Lynne, Where the heck are you girl?.......As for me, it's all ablout baseball and softball again today. Everybody won again. I don't know what's going on. We are a very small school district so usually we don't do so well at sports, but these kids really know what they're doing. In all honesty though I'm really starting to need a Kristi day. My Dh is wonderful, but when the kids schedules are so full he always seems to get more needy as well and I'm ready to have just even 6 hrs where nobody wants anything from me. Do you all feel this way too sometimes? Anyway, I'm skipping exercise today and will be at it again tomorrow.

Have a great one

Kristi

9 miles 3 strength

I am such a slacker here. I have not done any real walking but I did swim today. I plan to about 5 days a week for the next 6 weeks. I signed my boys up for swim lessons so while they are in lessons I can get in the pool for Family Swim. I stay in the deep end so forced to swim or at least tread water. My legs are a bit tired after today being in the water for just over an hour but it's a good tired.

Wow Janine - an hour in the water sounds like a great workout to me!

I notice you have lost 60 lbs! that is AWESOME! you must feel great! was wondering how you lost the 60 lbs if you wouldn't mind telling us your story.

thanks,
cathy

Cathy, It's not a very exciting story and no majic pill. I altered my diet and invested in a decent treadmill. Took me many months but I did it slow. Never more than 3 lbs in one weeks time. I have been stuck for the past 6 to 9 months. I would like to drop another 15lbs and hope the swimming gets me over the hump. Granted I have been neglecting my treadmill. Hurt my back quite a while ago and walking was tourture so stopped walking. Just got out of the habit. I am happy with what I have lost so far but would like to get over this hump and down closer to my final goal weight of about 135.

Well, I hope no one minds me joining in...!

Unfortunately I've never been athletically inclined (infact, you know the person who always got picked last for team sports? Well, I was *AFTER* that person!), so I suppose walking is one of the only options I have for exercise where I'm pretty much guaranteed I won't get hit in the head with a ball of any sort. :dizzy:

I enjoy walking... once I get out there. I just need that kick in the a$$ out the door. Eeesh.

Any tips/advice on how to get/keep motivated?

~mel

Do any of you use a pedometer? If so, do you find that they are accurate? How many steps should you take to help you lose weight. I do a 20 min strength training in the morning and am trying to hit over 12000 steps per day. I have been doing it a week. I can usually eat less and lose 10 pounds in a week but with the muscle gain, I have only lost 5. I already see a difference in my muscle tone. What do you all think. Is this enough exercize if I limit my calories to under 1100 per day to lose weight long term?

Good evening everyone! I finally got back to walking today. I had such a terrible June and noticed that I was starting to put weight back on so decided that today was gonna be a new start. I also have a dr. appt. in about 2 weeks and want to be able to say that I'm exercising and eating right ;) .

I walked on the treadmill for 2 miles and rode the exercise bike for 6 miles today. I have to say that I was inspired by all the posts on this thread.

Have a goodnight and I'll see ya tomorrow! --- Vickie ---

Good morning ladies....Janine, I think swimming is an awesome choice for exercise. No stress on any joints, it's fun, plus I love how light I feel in the water. Enjoy!....Cathy, Good morning lady!.....Mel, I too was always picked last in PE. lol (it's funny now) You've come to the right place for encouragement and knowledge. The ladies her are the best......Laurie, I wish you the best on your weight loss journey. Saying that I have to express that I fear your goals may be a little high. Losing 10# a week is very unhealthy and can rarely be attained more than 1 wk in a row. You run the risk of losing muscle you also run the risk of becoming so discourage when you don't lose at your goal rate that you quit all together. Please, don't hate me. This is a journey I've been on a long time. I have successfully lost and kept off 35 pounds for 4+ yrs. As you read more posts and become aquainted with more of the ladies here who have reached or almost reached goal. You will see they have done it by losing 1-3 pounds a week. Welcome to a thread full of wonderful women who will support you all the way. Truly, I'm not a know it all. I just want you to be successful and slow but sure has worked for me and a lot of others as well. I apologize if I've overstepped my bounds..........Vickie, Your numbers are awesome. Terrific job! 2 mile on TM and 6 miles biking in one day WTG.........Sunny, Hope your morning at Curves was fun. I see your egg's on TTYL.............As for me. I'm planning 2 miles on TM and 2 miles on the trail while my kids are at the library. I have to make sandwiches for the blood drive in town today. We have no ball. It's raining for the 3rd day in a row. When is it going to be summer?!?!?! Have a great day ladies....Sheila, Your post is on the next pg. I'll catch up with you later!!!

Kristi

JuNe MiLeS : 13 StReNgTh SeSsIoNs : 3

Sheila, You're so funny. I too feel the same way about additional miles. If I have the time I (and the weather's nice) I love to just keep om walking. Every week you sound so much happier, more energetic, and confident than the woman we first met. I'm so happy for you. What has your niece decided, boyfriend or service?

Have a great day,

Kristi

Good Morning Gang!

Welcome to all the new comers!

I did not exercise this morning because of my doctor's appointment.

Let's see, my blood pressure was low, temp was normal (that's a first, it usually runs about 97.2, but has been up to 98.0 lately on 2 grains of Armour Thyroid), my pulse was slow (because everything just barely runs on me) and my weight was up 5 lbs since I saw him on February 17. Now could you please tell me how it is possible for anyone to gain 5 lbs in 4 months while they are eating 1200 calories a day, exercising like crazy, and drinking around 100 oz of water per day??? somebody please please please tell me how that is possible! :cry:

We did blood work to check my thryoid levels again (even tho we are mainly treating my symptons) and to check my testerone, and some other things. He wants me to see the nutrionist to "discuss things" and see if maybe she can help me see something that I'm not seeing, and said that possibly even tho I am aiming for 1200 calories a day, I am eating a little more then that, and that I apparently have a very low basal rate. I asked about only eating a 1000 calories a day and he says that is just too low.

He is against me upping my armour thyroid to 3 grains a day until he sees my new bloodwork, but gave me a prescription for Phentermine 37.5 I haven't taken diet pills in 9 months (and the last time I took them I did not lose any weight while taking them - if you can believe that) but after talking with him I feel better about taking them. He says that most people with a low thryoid problem need a good diet pill, that their not addictive, etc. So I will fill the prescription and start them tomorrow.

So I guess I will do what he says (for now), keep the thyroid meds like the are, take the phentermine and I will finish my birth control pills on July 22, and give that a 3 month try without them. If none of that helps me lose some blooming weight, then I will just up my thyroid med myself and see what happens. ;)

So there are the boring details of my continuing weightloss struggles.

5 lbs up can you believe that! *sigh*

hope everybody has a good day!

hugs,
cathy

Thanks for the advice, guys. I did about 16000 steps yesterday and about 40 mins of weights. I ate very little and lost about 3 lbs ( I am down to 185). I know losing this way may be a bit unhealthy but it is just a push for my vacation. I am still going to work out on vacation and eat healthy. I think I should be able to maintain (maybe lose?). When I get back I will be on the 1100 calories per day and maintain my exercise. I am already at 11000 steps and it is 9:23 in the morning so I am on my way to 20000 steps today (my goal).

Hey Gang!

thanks so much for the encouragement!

Sheila & SunnyD I really appreciate it!

SunnyD - I have thought about the muscle, but my clothes aren't any loser so I figure I really haven't put on any muscle, even tho I've been working hard (for me) at the strength training. But I didn't think about the muscle retaining more water. He did mention that I seemed to be retaining fluid bec my ankles were puffy and my fingers were swollen - but I really figured that was because I did not exercise this morning and get all that circulation going??? know what I mean?

But I really appreciate your encouragement - you are right - I don't have the time or the energy to get into a funk over this, because I cannot let up on the exercise or healthy eating. I have no choice! I have to do this - or I will POP! :rofl: :cry:

I am hopeful that the diet pills will help, and that getting off the birth control pills will help. I am always hopeful - silly me! LOL

He said that one reason the diet pills may not have helped me last year when I took them was because I ordered them over the internet and he is not sure that what we get over the internet is the same stuff we are getting at home. Maybe he is right about that.

thanks again for the encouragement and understanding!

hugs,
Cathy

WOW! You girls are so encouraging... makes me think I could climb Everest. Hmmmm... not quite that ambitious yet, but you know what I mean. Anyway I definitely think I found the "right" thread for me. Yay!

I managed to get a short walk in yesterday, would have gone farther 'cept my darn shoes were rubbin' bad and developed a nasty blister. Note to self: MUST GET NEW SHOES! <--- Like women *REALLY* need a "reason" to buy a new pair of shoes! ;)

I really wish I had the energy to roll outta bed, hair every which way, eyes still "stuck" together and head out for a walk. Not that adventurous yet. Perhaps sometime soon I'll have the motivation. It looks like I have to invest in some "comfy walking clothes" as well. <--- Any excuse to go shopping, hey?

Hopefully the rain will let up a little bit and I can take my little one out for a walk this afternoon. If not, looks like it'll have to wait until after dinner. Either way, I'm heading out for a walk. I also plan on doing a 30mins pilates class....! Guess we'll see. :)

-----------------------------------------

Laurie: Congrats on the 11,000 steps so far today! I have no doubt in my mind that you'll meet (or beat!) your 20,000 goal! WTG! :D As for the pedometer, I read somewhere to judge the accuracy, reset it. Then take 20 steps. Your total should read somewhere between 19-21 steps to equal "great" accuracy. :)

Cathie: Although I don't know anything about you or your condition, I really hope you don't get discouraged. It sounds as though you've been working VERY hard. I just wanted to wish you all the best in your weight-loss journey! :) Congrats on all your effort you've put forth thus far!

SunnyD: Thanks for your sage advice... I can't wait to get to the "place" you're at... I really need to stop "thinking" about exercising and just DO IT! Reading what you wrote made total sense to me... why I haven't been sleeping well... why I haven't been feeling well...! Light-bulb moment, if you will! Thanks for the enlightenment! :D

Sheila: Your story definitely brought a smile to my face. I can't wait to have that same confidence you spoke of! Congrats on your success... not just with your weightloss but with where you are with youself! :)

Good luck to everyone... have a great day! :D

~mel

Hello all,

It's so nice to have a place to come to and feel so welcome and encouraged -- especially when somedays it's hard to even think about exercise much less doing it. :dizzy:

I did 3 miles on the treadmill this morning and 6 miles on the exercise bike.

Totals for July: 5 miles walked and 12 miles biked. :)


Sunny --- I love your graphics!!!!!!! :D

Wow you girls are exercising like crazy! :dizzy: ya'll go!

I didn't exercise this morning because I had to get up early and be at the Louisiana National Guard Armory to say goodbye to a dear friend who is leaving for Fort Hood, Texas, today and then to Iraq in September. We probably won't get to see him again before he leaves so I just had to be there. Brought him a great big batch of homemade oatmeal cookies for him to eat on the bus ride there.

Please keep all of our troops and their families in your prayers, while they are fighting this war against terrorism!

I may try to walk tonight if I have time, or just catch it tomorrow.

Hope everyone has a blessed day!

hugs,
cathy

Well poo on me, I didn't get my walk in yesterday! :( It rained pretty well all day long (we had a nasty storm roll in)! But I did get my 50 crunches and pilates class in... plus a little weight-training. I also managed to keep from eating "the bad stuff".

Goal for today: 60 crunches, pilates, 1hr walk, plus weight training!

--------------------------------
Congrats to all of you on your great exercising! I hope you all have a happy healthy day! :D Take care.

~mel

Hey SunnyD - WOW curves and walking! you're doing great! passing me up for sure! ;)

You weren't too strong at all yesterday! I appreciate all of your concern and support and encouragement! really I do! I got on my scale this morning and it is definitely up 4 lbs. I had been weighing in at 205 *wah* and its up to 209 *wah wah*. It's enough to make ya cry! *cry* but I have always been like this, always had trouble losing weight, but now it seems impossible at times. But like I said I'm not giving up hope - ever! LOL

I wasn't on diet pills. I haven't taken them for 9 months, but he gave me Phentermine, which I started this morning, so now I'm on them. Hopefully it won't make me retain fluid, but will help me get rid of it! But I am on birth control pills and they always make you retain fluid - I think I've just gotten use to it, but I'm fixing to finish them up on July 22, and gonna give myself a 3 month break to see how I do off of them. I know they cannot help with my weight problems.

My friend's name is Todd, and I know he would appreciate your prayers SunnyD! Thanks for asking and adding him to your prayer list!

hugs,
cathy

Sunny: No you didn't "say too much"... and you certainly didn't annoy me! I'm truly grateful for you advice and encouragement! :)

Thanks also for the compliment (having had a peek at my profile)... it's not a particularily recent photo of mine but I'm debating having my hair cut like that again once I reach my 1/2 way goal. :) We shall see....!

I know I didn't mention how far I went... I honestly don't know. :( I lost my pedometer (my 2 y/o has a habit of "hiding" things!) but I did approx. 1/2 an hour, moderately paced if that means anything. Since I missed yesterday's walk, hubby and I are hoping to get out for an hour tonight. Again moderately paced. :)

Thanks again for all your encouragement...! It really inspires me to keep moving! :D I wish I would have found this site a few months ago when I was *TRYING* to get in shape for my wedding. Ah well, better late than never, I suppose! :)

Best wishes to all of you... hope you all have a happy, healthy day! :D

~mel

Wow, I definitely have to check in more than once a day if I plan to keep up at all.....CAthy, so sorry your Dr apt didn't go as well as you planned. You have to remember how determined you've been and how hard you have worked. Things will shake lose. Keep the faith......Sunny, girl you are just doing terrific. You put out so much energy even through the net I get tired keeping up with you. I'll bet your neighbors look so forward to your visits with or without the beautiful flowers. I know I would if you visited me!!!.......Mel, a bunch of crunches and a pilates class sounds like plenty for one day. You're doing great. I love your "happy" way of writing. Have great day!...Mrs. Beasley, You numbers look great for July. I'm really glad you feel welcome and encouraged here. I know I always have......Sheila, I knew there was an awesome change in you. How wonderful for you that someone is so in love with you. I'm praying that your new relationship goes in the direction you wish for. There is nothing like being strong both in body and in spirit. Lots of love and adoration never hurt a girl either. Congrats lovely lady.....2 oldest children had ball again this morning. Then we visited my mom. She's doing much better. Using only a cain most of the time now. I cut both my son's hair and me and the girls have apt to get ours done at 4:30 today. I plan to go totally short with a little perm on top to help it go back nice. I just hate how my hair gets in my way when I exercise so it's going. We'll see how DH takes it. He won't like it, but he'll live with it. He always does lol I'm hoping to get a couple miles in yet today, but I NEED to eat so I'm not posting it yet. I'm only hopeful not determined yet lol. Have a great day girlies

Kristi

No walking for me but I was in the pool for almost 1½ hours today. Most of that time was spent in the deep end either swimming or treading water so I got my workout in. Plan on getting in again tomorrow. Just hope my body isn't as tired as it is right now.

Sheila, How exciting for you. Winning prizes is a really good thing. Go for it!!......Janine, Wow! You swimmer girl you. Great job! Sounds like you'll get a good nights sleep and that's worth a lot!.....As for me, I was a real big slacker today. I knew I should've said I would. That's what I get. I did get my hair done. I love it everyone else hates it. bummer. I got it short with whispies around my ears and she put a light perm in the top ( I have REALLY straight hair ) to give it a little lift and bounce, but....anyway, I hated how the longer hair flopped around when I ran and I like this do...It's all about me anyway right?!?!?! This is the season I'm in right now and I'm going with it. Slacker me is signing on for 4 miles for tomorrow. At least my resistance training is ahead of schedule so far! Have a great night girls.

Kristi

I rode my bike the other day for the first time all year. Boy was I sucking wind! :dizzy: It was fun though. I tried to do it again yesterday but my legs were just too tired. I did about 15 min on my elliptical machine instead. Goes to show you why real bicyclists have very little body fat. :D Of course there's all hills here so that makes it even harder. My goal is to bike home from my in-law's house someday which is 4.7 miles away and all downhill. :lol: Then maybe I'll be able to ride uphill to their house.

I've been doing my "Abs of Steel" tapes faithfully lately. I think my ab. muscles get stronger a lot quicker then my legs. Has anyone else felt that way? :?:

Keep up the exercise!

Kristi,

As long as you're happy with your hair that's all that matters. I have finally come to that conclusion myself. My hubby and I have a deal that we wear our hair the way we like it and if the other doesn't, we keep our opinions to ourselves. lol I too have gone to a much shorter style and I really like it. I have naturally curly hair and it's alot more curly when it's shorter. I like it because it's perky just like me (though most people wouldn't use that term to describe me). :dizzy:

Enjoy your 4 mile walk tomorrow! I hope to get in a 3 mile walk in the morning -- if I don't do it then, I have a hard time forcing myself to do it later.

Have a goodnight! :)

Good Morning Gang! :wave:

WOW! everybody is doing so GREAT! keep up the good work gals!

I just did a 30 minute 2 mile WATP tape, so now I'm headed to the shower and off to work.

Hope everybody has a blessed day!

hugs,
Cathy

July Miles = 11
Strength Sessions = 2

:tread: :strong:

JoJo, Great job riding your bike. I bet you'll be riding "home" from your IL by the end of the summer. I'm doing a 7 mile ride with my children today. It's a fun day for summer rec. It should be a good time!......Mrs. Beasley, Thanks for the vote of confidence concerning my choice of hair style. I figure I wasn't a raving beauty before so what the heh?! lol I too have a really hard time exercising later in the day. Today is going to be a hard one. I'm doing the bike ride, but it too is my DS 9th birthday so the day will be filled with activities. I'm determined to do both the bike and walk though. I've been slacking a bit this week, but I did weigh today and I'm down two pounds. Only one to go for this months goal. Yippee!!.... Cathy, You go girl. Truly praying your spirits are back up!! Well, I've pretty much spelled out my day allready. So, you all have the best one you can.....SUnny, Sheila, Michelle, Have a great day! TTYL

Kristi

Sheila, You are just an exercise junky!!! I have got to down load some of your enthusiasm. Mine has really been waining lately. I still get out there and do it, but tis week has been hectic and I only actually enjoyed 1 work out this week. It'll come back though. I have to be able to talk to all of you so, I HAVE to keep exercising lol Now, get to work lol

Kristi