Stella --- Don't be discouraged with only 10 lbs to lose... I have a good 15 and I'm having a heck of a time losing too hang in there... I also want to add that exercising alone will not reshape your body you need to have a good food plan because food is 80% of the equation... I tried it, it doesn't work

Ilene, I mean changing pounds of fat to pounds of muscle! It definitely makes a big difference on my body, especially since I have never really been in shape before. I'm much smaller at this weight than I was before.

Oh, I see, I completely understand ...

I guess what I'm getting at is I don't really give a darn what the number on the scale is--heck, I'm already much heavier than most people would be at my dress size. I have more of a goal body/goal size in mind really than weight.

Doh. Just typed up a witty, interesting, confessional, sensational, gripping, post then hit a wrong key somewhere and it disappeared.

Can't possibly do it again.

Anyway, i've lapsed a bit recently and haven't dared get on the scales for a couple of weeks.

But on the other hand i've been doing regular running and regular gym (but somehow by about 8pm i manage to convince myself that i 'deserve' some chocolate etc, which i clearly don't because i know my waist is going the wrong direction.)

Anyway i'd like to get back into losing-mode but could do with a bit of a kick to get me re-started.

Anyone else the same? Or anyone want to buddy up for June and pm me and we'll motivate each other to get back into more accountable eating?

Well girls I just did day 4 on my chalena extreme and them I went 40 running/ jogging .

So I had a good day.

I hope I everyone is doing OK.

Do we post or loss or something each week or how do we do it.

wfonseca you can do whatever you like... post your successes daily or weekly... most of us are so happy and proud of ourselves when we have losses that we post them when they happen...

Good Morning,
Hanging in at 127.5 today. Have not been to gym lately. Promise myself to get back on exercise program when I return from vacation. Will probably walk alot but know how my body also needs the strength training.

This is my 6th month on my new life plan to be healthy. Working on a life plan and not a diet has been a great change in my life. I have lost 15 pounds and I am eating alot of healthy super foods. I had a great report on my last trip to the doctor (he said to keep doing whatever I was doing).

Now I have kind of got stuck around 128. I make good choices most of the time. I have kind of slowed down on the exercise and have started having some snacks at night (munchies with movies instead of real hunger).

But I am not throwing in the towel. I am proud of the progress I have made and will continue my journey - one day at a time. I don't mind being at 128 this summer ---- I just refuse to lose those same 15 pounds again.

Make sure you give yourself credit for every good choice you make!

I've heard this before, but I don't get it. How can what you eat matter that much more than exercise? Can you please explain?

It's just impossible to out-exercise really bad eating habits, because even very intense exercise burns maybe 500-600 calories per hour, and realistically the average person can only work out maybe 2 hours a day. That's a 1000 calorie deficit, which if you're eating badly is pretty easy to overcome, especially if you are eating badly every day and exercising 3-5 times a week.

What also matters is the types of foods you eat... I know for myself, and hearing from others also, that if I eat empty, highly processed calories, I will not lose weight even if I'm eating 1500/day... Also when eating a highly processed diet I have no energy and feel very lethargic and tired... Good natural unprocessed foods, veggies, fruits, lean proteins, even the right fats and oils, give you the proper nutrients to fuel your body for exercise and daily activities...

You know, speaking of paying attention to the kinds of foods one eats, I've decided to take a new approach and see what happens. I'm going to give myself free reign on fruits and veggies (within reason) and monitor everything else. Maybe that combined with upping my workouts will shake some of this weight loose...

Someone on here (I think someone who posts on Maintainers) has in her signature, "You can't out-exercise bad eating habits." I love that quote. For years, I tried to do just that. I eat basically healthy food, but if you're not paying attention, that extra helping of pasta or that Starbucks scone (480 calories!) will quickly outdo all of that good exercise. I trained for and ran a half-marathon without getting below 132 lbs, but once I started counting calories I busted through that plateau (though I'm hovering just below it ).

I also believe that whole foods, things that "remember where they came from," are better for our bodies, and that when we eat things our bodies "recognize," we have an easier time processing our food and have more energy and less by-product or waste in our systems. Not that I'm perfect at this -- I love a diet soda or an oatmeal cookie creme sandwich as much as any girl -- but I'm working on it.

Bama Girl, I was thinking about trying the same thing, but I don't think I could stay "within reason" on fruit. I love it too much! I became almost delirious in the produce section at Whole Foods the other day -- peaches, nectarines, pluots, oh my!

At 128.6 on the scale today (boo!) but had a nice NSV when I smoked my husband on a run this morning. Sure, he hasn't been working out 5x/week like I have... but he is one of those lean, incredibly-athletic types. He ran his first 10K when he was 8 years old -- in under 60 minutes! Whenever we've run together, he has to slow down for me, while I nearly die trying to keep up. Today was the opposite! Oh, and he only slept about 5 hours last night. But still, did I mention -- I really really outran him!

I can definitely go overboard on fruit, specially bananas they can set me up for a binge... Oye we can't win...

Oh, I know what you mean. That's definitely why I am adding the within reason part there, and really trying to focus most of that on veggies. Luckily for me, I am not a banana fan unless they are frozen and dipped in chocolate and that does NOT count as a fruit. =P

Congrats on your NSV, thesame7lbs! I look forward to outrunning my guy friends eventually.