BluetoBlue Wow! You're an inspiration to me. I'm trying to get to that point in my planning but I'm a long way away.
I do plan each day and I have a rough idea of dinners for the week. The afternoon snack is where I fall down. I have one thing, and then a bit of another, etc. etc. and don't realize I've consumed 600 calories until I start writing it all down.
I'll have to put something in the fridge for the afternoon and write it down in the morning when I pack the lunches.
Wow, I just realized I set myself an aggressive goal, but really if I can lose 0.5 lbs/week with as completely awful as I have been, surely I can do better for just THREE WEEKS.
Planning, I go back and forth. I am in a freezer coop so I have most of the main dishes in my freezer, last month I did really good in rough planning the entire month Other than that I dont really plan. I get my vegetables from my farm coop each week and try to plan around them. My breakfast is almost always the same (although this morning I had fresh freezer jam on my toast...at farm pick up yesterday they had strawberries that "must be made into jam today" FREE - They were too far gone to sell, it took 5 1/2 pints to get a good 4 pints)
A few more good things -- first, scale dropped to 143.6! After being stagnant at 144-145 for awhile it's good to see this drop. Hopefully it can be 143.0 by end of week.
#2: Planned out my menu for today yesterday, and actually managed to squeeze McD's in! (Ok, so maybe I'm just having one of their grilled chicken entree salads /w dressing for 360 calories, but it's still great knowing that calorie counting isn't the end of fast foods or eating out)
#3: Convinced my mom to join me for a weekly yoga class in the summer (a first for us both) -- and I'm glad my city's park & recreation classes don't charge a "non-resident fee" (which my mom, who pinches $$ in some places but splurges elsewhere, would frown upon).
Barb You still got 2 pounds on me for the abs, usually my exercises involve only one dumbbell (I only have one crunch workout that involves 2, and they're right against the chest so not particularly high on resistance) - and wow on the planning!
Ilene Biking and swimming? Wow, what wonderful active pleasures -- wish a city boy like me had more time for that fun stuff (though I am planning on a beach trip this Saturday)
Ennay Thanks for the tip, but I've done evening exercises for quite a while and it's only been this past week (when I've been consistently eating right) that I find myself having irregular sleep schedules. Last night was a bit better though, had a 1-hour nap before my dance class & weights - then slept for 6.5 hours after Nightline.
I was up for 26 hours yesterday (with a couple of 1 hour nap breaks) from 3pm on Monday to 5 pm on Tuesday then I slept like a baby from 5pm-10:30pm but then I had to get back up and go to work. I have tonight off then I work Thursday for 14 1/2 hours then I am on vacation!!!! I am going to do nothing but relax! I will be going to Chicago next week and then my husband & son are going to come there and meet me for the weekend but that's it. I go back to work for a few days then start vacation again for the week of the 4th of July!!
My eating has been good but it's TOM and I feel bloated and sluggish I hate feeling like that.
I am getting clipped & dipped on Friday. I really wish I could think of something inspiring to do with my hair (that doesn't require any work on my part! ). I look in magazines and everyone pretty much just has long straight hair or hair that's been very styled and I just don't have the time, patience or talent for that!
My son is playing in a tennis tournament this weekend so that pretty much takes care of our plans. Hopefully the weather will be nice and not too hot.
Susan-I just want to say I am THE biggest dentist weinie. I am pathetic and I choose just to ignore it and I really need work done especially my gums. I just can't seem to make myself and I know it's ridiculous and will just cause me more work down the road (and more $$$$$$) but I keep ignoring it
Have a great day everyone. Talk to you later. Jane
Jane~I'm not sure what kind of hair style you're looking for, but have you seen Ellen Barkin's hair style from Ocean's 13? Too darn cute and it doesn't look like it would take much to do it each morning. Have fun in Chicago!
Thanks for all the advice. I just need to get used to the "hungry" feeling I think!
Whittlin: I hope you're right about the 34% body fat being wrong (so depressing!)... but my waist IS 34" (only recently...it was a 36 a few lbs ago). I am skinny legs (all legs...with a 32" inseam on a 5'6 frame), but a fat, rolley torso (and some into my upper arms also). I had my fat measured a few years ago when I weighed about 127-130 and it was around 23 or 24 then...I can't remember the exact number, but that is close. My BMI is 24.
Ennay: That makes me feel a lot better!!! Maybe I'll just stick to the weight and forget the "fat" measurement.....I don't see how it knows anyway since it reads it through my feet (which are pretty skinny )
Jane/greatchoice: I'm the same way about my hair....if it takes more than 10 minutes (drying time included!), I'm not interested! I got a cut and color last week and I really like it....so easy and looks cute. It is basically just thinned out and to my shoulders and left to look messy with long bangs and side layers. Not sure how long your hair is, but this is an easy cut to do (since you just mousse it and blow dry for about 5 minutes and spray it with a little hairspray to make it look messy) Kind of like a straight-haired old-style Meg Ryan doo.
I just had to Google and I love that hairstyle... I just may bring that pic in next time I go see my hairstylist... My hair is similar but not quite like that, I don't have a bang and I'm not sure I'd want one... I wish there was a pic of the back, that's where most hairdressers have a hard time with my hair... I'm very very particular...
It's been a hot 2 days here but I'm loving it... Exercise is excellent and so is food ....
Ilene~I'm getting my hair done on the 23rd and I just can't decide if I want her hairstyle or not.....I've been growing mine out in order for it to go in a pony tail and it's finally there (a short, stubby pony tail!). Do I give up the pony tail (which I still haven't worn) for this cute do?
Hey, lets all do it and we'll be triplets!!! You in Jane?
Thanks for all the suggestions (and the picture Ilene!). It's funny, I should probably get my hair cut just like that but I'm a big chicken. My hair is pretty long and I keep saying I want to keep it like that because I think short hair will make my face look fat! Then my hairdresser points out that I always want to keep it long so I can put it in a ponytail so it's pulled off my face alot of the time anyway I need to branch out! I do have bangs though and what a pain they are! Too much trouble to grow out but they bug me if I get lazy and don't get them cut often enough.
Susan-thanks for the info on Ativan. I'll definitely look into that (along with a Valium and stiff drink!!!). Jane
I'm on the night shift this week and don't always surface for communications...BUT I have been faithful to my BFL plan and am on day 5 today. Monday will be my weigh-in day so I can have that as a reminder over the weekend.
Barbara, I really wanna get to where you are with the planning aspect of this effort. I'm flying by the seat of my pants right now and it would be a GOOD THING if I had some standard meals I could rely on when I'm stumbling around the house in a stupor from the night shift.
Ennay--Mega Congratz! You're inspiring me to hang in there til my own B-day. Nice Job!
Guess that's it for now, gotta hit the showers and get ready for work. Thanks for all the inspiration!
You guys be careful with a "bob" hairdo if you have a totally round face (like me). Cut to the chin adds a lot of weight to my face...I have to stick with below the jawline or above the lobe or I look like a balloon. I asked my DD what shape she thought my face was and she said "round...just like the green m&m". She just hit over 100 lbs the other day and was so excited....remember that? (oh, to be young again!)
Checking in to stay on track. I worked the night shift and just got up--was able to stumble over to my exercise bike and put in a half hour before I was even really awake. So I'm starting my day on plan so far. Cool beans.
I have two "visions" of my upcoming birthday:
One has me sitting there with my husband and his family at the Chinese restaurant [we celebrate Everything at the Chinese restaurant...] and my pants are miserably tight even as I sit down. My buttons are pulling at my front across my chest, and I'll have to face becoming 50 as a failure to even have lost a measly 5 pounds. So then I throw in the towel and pork out on every dish within reach! Go home fatter, and cry. Big Bummer.
The other has me sailing in with that happy feeling I get when the pants went on easy, I have some room to move in my clothes, and I have some zippy energy because I've been working out faithfully. I have a plan for what and how much I'll eat, I stick to it, and go home STILL on track. Feeling pretty good about "Me--at 50".
Both these visions keep me going. One to avoid and one to achieve. The big "AHA!" came when I realized it's all up to me. I get to choose. Fat and fatigue do not just fall out of the sky and "happen" to me. It's my call.
You're setting the bar
I am going to do nothing but relax! I will be going to Chicago next week and then my husband & son are going to come there and meet me for the weekend but that's it. I go back to work for a few days then start vacation again for the week of the 4th of July!!
I hate feeling like that. 
). I look in magazines and everyone pretty much just has long straight hair or hair that's been very styled and I just don't have the time, patience or talent for that! 
)
....
I need to branch out! I do have bangs though and what a pain they are! Too much trouble to grow out but they bug me if I get lazy and don't get them cut often enough.
You're inspiring me to hang in there til my own B-day. Nice Job!
