Ms - :carrot::carrot::carrot: Great!

Hi everyone. I'm a newbie. Trying to loose 30lbs. I've never joined an online group before so this is new. I'm watching my calories and walking twice a day. I thought this might be interesting to be a part of.

Hi JW :wave: welcome to the Feathers... Online communities such as 3FC are a great resource...

I lost a couple of pounds, so now I'm about 121-ish. Unfortunately, my capris are now too big. I've got one pair that fits perfectly without a belt. The larger capris (they were a 9 in juniors) you can't really wear a belt with. It looks awkward, and a belt is too heavy.

I need to reorganize my closet.

I've got a huge wardrobe. I wish I didn't get rid of my tighter stuff. I didn't think I'd get smaller. I have a bunch of tops I wouldn't wear before because I hated my arms. They weren't fat, just larger and undefined. OK, I thought they were a little fat, especially my triceps. Now I may venture outside with a sleeveless top. :o

The messed up thing is, I still think I'm the same size. 7-8 pounds really makes a difference, yet I still feel the same size. But then I look in the mirror or feel my waist, and it's smaller.

I might change my goal to 118, since I'm getting used to 121 now, and I'd really like to firm up my arms, get a narrower waist, and get rid of remaining thigh fat.

I have very thick, healthy hair, but I feel like it's gotten thinner, and my nails are splitting and brittle and I have dry skin. I probably need to eat more protein, right?

LabMonkeyGirl, I had the same problem with regard to image. Even though, as shorter people in a normal weight range, our clothes start falling off us after just a 5- or 6-pound loss, I still felt like I looked the same after losing three times that much. Only photos made me see that I did not. And now I will occasionally notice things out of the blue. I was standing in front of a bathroom mirror in Vegas, washing my hands, for example, and I realized that my arms had gotten really sculpted somewhere along the way. I had missed the change completely until that moment.

Eating more protein did wonders for my hair, skin and nails.

JW - I have been on here about 2 months and it really helps.
It helps get you going and it helps get you back on track when you need that. Just join in and let us know how your days are going. :)

Got back on the scale today. 128. This number is like a brick wall for me.

Today is another chance to try and bust through it or climb over it! :)

Kellost I loved your random things that are helping you list. I did one of those lists about 9 months ago and it really helped with my attitude and has enabled me to be successful this time around. I especially liked to hear that running is worth it. I don't like running and need to hear reasons to keep trying this effective exercise. :)

Worth It, here's a reason to pick up running--one of my coworkers who is also losing weight (and has lost as much as me, but isn't exercising as much) commented twice last night on how thin my thighs were getting!

:dance: Way to go Stella :D ......

I'm down a bit this morning too :woohoo: Primal is good :yes: ... A NSV this morning too, I was washing my face and noticed that there was no fat along my jaw line... I had noticed the fat pockets there a while back, thinking it was age related, 53 :rolleyes:... I guess it's not age related, but fat related :lol: ... I am sooo happy with that..... Another NSV while I'm tooting my own horn :lol: 2 people last week noticed I lost weight ... Makes it all worth it ....

I'm very excited to now be a featherweight & join y'all.

Other than health and appearance reasons, I am motivated to lose weight because I visit my ex at the end of May. My goal is to weigh less than him...he's super skinny- 5'7" and 135 lbs. We haven't seen each other in 9 years. And we are both single. This should be interesting, but I think it will be strictly friends. We had that whole star crossed lover thing once & I don't think either of us want to dig up old pain. I will admit that he will always be the great love of my life. I have moved on, but I will never love anyone like I loved him. (I sound like I'm on a soap opera).

As for my plan today, I need to be careful. I'm going out for food and drinks with a friend and he doesn't really "get" my weightloss program. Last time we went out, he insisted that I wrap up my dinner (I didn't want to- too much temptation at home)... but I ended up "forgetting" it and leaving it at the restaurant. :D I hate wasting food, but have a binge on extra food is wasting food.

Today is a planned rest day from running, but I want to take a brisk walk during my lunch hour. I have to work late and the fresh air will do me good.

Thank you everybody for listening. I'm so glad for this check in thread.

Welcome chicke - lots of good support here.

Ilene - What is NSV? Sounds like a good thing!

danni -- NSV = non scale victory = a very good thing :D

:welcome: MC :wave:

Originally Posted by motivated chickie:
Other than health and appearance reasons, I am motivated to lose weight because I visit my ex at the end of May. My goal is to weigh less than him...he's super skinny- 5'7" and 135 lbs.

What is with men? My BF is 6' and 135. Oy. :dizzy: And he eats ALL THE TIME and is almost 49. It's crazy. Before he started putting in a lot of time at the gym he was 128.

Welcome!

I'm happy to report that the losing conintues, at least for today. I was 133.8 this morning which means only a few more pounds until the magic 120's. :D

Good news for me this morning. I am finally back to 127. :dance:

It has been a 2 week bumpy ride up and down the scale. :dizzy:

Ms - :carrot: Glad to do a little dance for you also!!

:dance: for MS and danni :bravo: ... We're doin' good Feathers, let's keep it up...

Thanks, danni and Ilene! It's so refreshing after a hideous showing in (parts of) February and March.

I'm down a touch more today. I'm not sure how long this will continue since the daily losses have gotten smaller, but I'll take for however long it lasts! Tomorrow will be interesting with all meals away from home, two of them at other people's houses and one at a garden expo. The upside is I should be able to overeat since I'm pretty sure we'll be busy all day. It's a day for good choices and portion control. Then I can get back on my normal food plan. It's become a bit of a security blanket for me. I wonder how I'll handle it when I switch to the higher calorie days (still only 1500). I started planning for it, but I should be more thorough since that structure clearly works for me. I switch to that next week. Time to plan!
Today should be a full day since my dad is coming over with his tiller so we can get more work done in my yard...more grass seed to plant and a flower bed going in today. Next week I'm hoping he's going to bring me a load of mulch to start making it look even nicer. So much to do, so little time!

Bleh. I am up to 122 (holding steady for a few days), and I think it's here to stay. I didn't work out yesterday, but I need to do p90x plyometrics today. It's ridiculous. Suddenly, I feel so big. This is why we shouldn't weigh ourselves every day. I am paranoid that all of my bodily changes have undone themselves already. It's a bit paranoid, but I feel like even a few days of not exercising causes changes that take a month to get back.

Lab - Hope this is only a short term detour for you. I just had a rough 2 weeks. I got down to 127 and then went back up to 131 - finally back to 127 today but very nervous about staying there. So I understand your feelings this morning. I am trying to let my body find its own happy weight - but I hope it wants to get lower than 127.

I'm sending you a little heat :flame: - to get you back on track! Good Luck.

Hi Ladies!
I'm baaaaaaaackkkkkk! I was quite naughty over the weekend, eating and drinking what I pleased and generally enjoying myself. I was shocked when I weighed in today to a small loss (which in all honesty is probably because I didn't drink enough water yesterday, but hey, I'll take it!). I picked up a new recipe to try, it's a Hungry Girl recipe!

I need to get some new recipes to get excited about, seems like I do best when I have a plan and have something new to look forward to!

TGIF Ladies!!!

Originally Posted by danni:
Lab - Hope this is only a short term detour for you. I just had a rough 2 weeks. I got down to 127 and then went back up to 131 - finally back to 127 today but very nervous about staying there. So I understand your feelings this morning. I am trying to let my body find its own happy weight - but I hope it wants to get lower than 127.

I'm sending you a little heat :flame: - to get you back on track! Good Luck.

Thanks for the encouragement. I am glad this Featherweights forum exists, and that you guys understand. :)

Hey gals. I've been staying off the forums for the past week because:

I hate. I hate. I HATE T.O.M.!

(You're supposed imagine Dennis Hoffman in a big wig with a hook on his hand saying that).

It's that pre-TOM week again, and the pretty 126 has shot back up to 127.2 and Will. Not. Move. Plus I feel bloaty and sore and my hunger levels shot through the roof. Last night was torture; the boyfriend was having chocolate chip cookies and I had to do deep breathing exercises to stop after just two. I went to bed starving despite those cookies, a quarter of a personal watermelon and an enormous cup of frozen grapes. It wasn't a binge--those cookies only pushed me up to 1800 cal. for the day--but it was very unusual.

The regain especially doesn't make sense since I've started running about half the distance of my daily 3 miles. I thought upping the exercise would poke the number in the other direction!

Originally Posted by danni:
Got back on the scale today. 128. This number is like a brick wall for me.

Today is another chance to try and bust through it or climb over it! :)

Danni - If you are 127 today, you broke through your brick wall!!

My brick wall is 140. Haven't *really* broken through that number in more than a year now... But for now, I've decided not to weigh myself again until May 1. So I guess until then I can think I weigh anything I like... I pick 135. Yes, I feel like I weigh 135 today :) It's a good, good day! :D

Anyway, I am just on the verge of starting running again. You guys have inspired me so maybe it will be today. I am going to go through Couch to 5K again, possible trying to run faster if I can. I loved it and it provided the structure I needed. After I finished last December, I fell off the wagon and haven't run since Jan/Feb.

Ready, set... GO! :running:

Hi all I'm new here, and inspired by everyone. Just started this week...so far so good...but today is my birthday..planning on going out...not going to go over so well with my plan..

Hopefully I can make good choices and not feel too guilty about it!

*sigh* I remember when I used to worry about drinking too much...now I worry about eating too much. Where has the time gone!

McMommy :welcome2: and :bday2you:

Emma - You made me really laugh out loud!!! That's a great idea. Let's all just pick a number and throw the scales out the window.

Yes I guess I did get over that wall - but it's back there staring at me.

I am so tired today and not in the mood to do anything, but I commit to you to do a 3+ mile run after work. A girlfriend is meeting me for a night of dancing so that should be fun.

I went jeans shopping this week. TWICE. I bought a pair of Old Navy size 8 skinny jeans. I wore them today and noticed these skinny jeans I bought were baggy and falling off. Literally, I could put them on and off without unbuttoning them. So I ran to the store & got a pair of size 6 skinnies. They pinch a bit on hipbones, but they fit well enough.

I know I wasted some money, but I really wanted a pair of jeans that fit. And it felt like a nice reward for my weight loss. :)

Congrats to Ilene, Danni, and Ms. for the losses! That's so awesome! You are doing it, girls! Keep up the good vibes!

Tkm...hang in there girl! We all go through it and it's never fun! I did read once that if you can find ways to stay on plan during TOM, you are likely to see big losses afterwards.

Emma......believe me, if I can finish Couch to 5K, you can too! I honestly never would've believed I'd be able to run 3 miles, but I am doing it now on a regular basis! It's crazy. I'm running my first official 5K race in May. Just believe you can do it, and you will! Good luck to you!

Lab....try not to focus on the scale as much, if you can. I know it's tough. I am one of those who weigh in weekly, but I know not everyone can do that. It helps me to focus on just being healthier rather than numbers, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't care about what the scale says. LOL

Hey Silverstar! I love cooking and finding new recipes! If you find a good one, share it with us. I've been on a Hungry Girl recipe kick lately myself. I love just about every one of her desserts that I've tried. Her shakes and smoothies are great. Her chicken taquitos were also good, as were her knock-off version of Planet Hollywood's Cap'n Crunch chicken. I'm trying one of her recipes for Pumpkin Oatmeal this weekend.

Welcome JW and MC!

Motivated chickie: Size 6 Skinny Jeans??? Yippeee!!!!!! Now that's something to celebrate!

As for me.......I'm cooking my little heart out lately. I made a low-fat white chicken chili and also a red chili with lean beef this week. I made extra on purpose to have lunches/quick dinners of chili in my freezer. I also share some meals with my mom, who recently had a heart attack. She has been following a much heathier lifestyle lately and so I cook for her also, when I can.

For any of you looking for recipes, I, myself, have been mostly trying to adapt favorite recipes to make them healthier. Like I try to take fat/calories out of some favorite casseroles or pastas. Swap white pastas for whole grain, and those types of adaptations. One person I always like is Rachael Ray. A lot of her recipes are actually pretty well balanced with lots of veggies and appropriate amounts of protein. She also uses fresh herbs a lot, which add tons of flavor. The only problem with her recipes is she uses lots of oil. I cut the oil way down (i.e. from 3 TB of EVOO per recipe to either 1/2 TB or 1 TB). Usually the recipes still work great, even with less oil. I especially like all of Rachael's Asian dishes..stir frys, etc. Tasty!!

I'm staying on plan all weekend. I'm pretty determined. So I'm going to keep reminding myself of that if and when the Snack Monster tries to attack me!

Today I am at 126! :woohoo:

Will it stay? :dunno: Am I dancing in the kitchen? You bet I am. :carrot:

Kellost - you made me hungry, I think I will do some cooking today.
I know having my salad fixed ahead of time sure helps me not grab something else.

Have a great day feathers. :)

I stayed on plan yesterday, but I overdid it with exercise. I did a 3.5 mile run, danced for two hours, and walked about 6 miles. At the time, I felt fine and enjoyed the moving around. But this morning, my legs are saying, "What were you thinking?" I had planned to run 3 miles today, but I think a rest from running is in order. I am going dancing tonight in NYC, which is a good low-intensity workout.

As for eating today, I am going to a BBQ and I'm looking forward to having a meal there. The people having it will have vegetarian and gluten free options so I may have some good choices. I plan to make one plate with protein/meat, vegetables, and a bun or some bread. I'm undecided about dessert- probably I will have some, but I might substitute it with another hi carb thing like potato salad.

Hope today goes well. And I appreciate the daily accountability I have with this thread.

Have a good weekend! :)

:carrot: :cb: :broc: Today I am at 125!!!

I'm sure the scale will play the bounce around game - but I can now say I have met my goal - been there done that!

But now for the difference. This time I will continue my healthy eating and exercise plan. The journey continues.........

Congratulations, Danni! :hug:

That is so amazing...and I look forward to hear about your journey with increased fitness and maintaining. I've never maintained a goal weight before, so I'll be glad to learn from you.

As for me, I stayed on my eating plan and now am convinced that the only thing that will work for me is to never have an unplanned snack. Ever. Snacks turn into binges. It's true what they say about not taking the first bite.

I was a dancing queen this weekend. Danced for 2 hours on Friday and then on Saturday I was on the dancefloor off and on from 1 am - 6 am. Also, I did a lot of walking and managed to get in two runs. I am now treating fitness like a lifestyle, something I do for fun and not just about losing weight. I'm not a sports jock like marathoners or mountain climbers, but I'm having so much fun getting fit.

I have two successes to report:

1) NSV - I am able to squat to the floor and get up without using my hands. :)

2) I weighed 140 this morning, down from 142 on Thursday. :carrot:

danni and chickie :bravo: on your successes :dance:

I forgot to weight myself this morning :mad: ...

Thanks!

Chickie :carrot::carrot: 2 carrots for 2 pounds!!

I have lost weight before and then slowly went back to old habits.

This time nutrition and fitness are my new hobbies. I agree that it is so important to plan. I even take my food with me when I go shopping. I snack in the car between stores. Eating out is the big "boogy man" for me. The last time I ate out, I couldn't stop over eating for 4 days. So I have a lot to learn about eating to live - not just living to eat.

I am going to wait to move the chickie - I know how the scale can come back to bite you!

Hope everyone has a great day! ;)

So, Saturday was off plan, but not very bad. Just had some ice cream and stuff that I normally wouldn't eat. No binging or eating 'til I was overfull. All in all, I was happy with it. I'm up 1 pound, but it'll be gone by tomorrow probably. I'm really pulling for the 120's by month's end so I can ease into maintenance mindset over the course of May. That would be SWEET!

Originally Posted by danni:
:carrot: :cb: :broc: Today I am at 125!!!

I'm sure the scale will play the bounce around game - but I can now say I have met my goal - been there done that!

But now for the difference. This time I will continue my healthy eating and exercise plan. The journey continues.........

Danni, Danni, Danni!!!!! How wonderful! Congratulations to you! You did it, and you will continue to keep it off, I know it! Way to go!:hug:

Wow, congrats Danni! You are an inspiration! havent' stepped on the scale yet today...going at lunch time...and I'm a little nervous, but seeing all the good news this morning is perking me up!!:)

Thanks Kellost & Mc Mom - I am trying to be really good today. :angel:

Ms - just keep working your plan. It will happen. I started accepting my weight everyday - no matter what it was. Since I wasn't on a diet but a healthy life plan I had to think of one day as only one-seventh of a week. A week is a lot of time for hope and change.

I want to give my body time to adjust so it won't try to hang on to all the fat it can because it thinks we are going into crisis mode.

Coming here everday - even if is just to say hi has been an important part of my journey and will continue to be.

Way to go Danni, Chickie and Ms Perception :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:
I always have to be careful when I have ice cream, because I'm more likely to go op in the days following.

I had a NSV yesterday - A good workout, the 1st one in a month. I got a lot of rest this weekend and have been making it a priority to drink enough water. I think that made the difference.

Awe, Danni, you beat me :P Congrats!

My scale has been playing games with me too: 126.2 yesterday, 127 today...and my waist keeps swelling between 26.5" and 27," so that isn't much help either. I've been eating more than usual, though, so it wasn't a big shocker. But I think the worst of pre-TOM has passed: on Saturday I couldn't stop snacking but by the next day my appetite was back to normal. If I stay reasonable, by this time next week I hope to see that post-TOM drop!