I concur with the word buoyant to describe me today!
Because I RAN--I can hardly believe it--RAN a 5k around school today, including those blessed rolling Tennessee hills in . . . .
26 minutes and 49 seconds!!!!!!!
I have always been a "I hate to run!" person, and my previously recorded 5k time was just over 30 minutes. I ran a 5K once after I started walking, and it was 26 minutes 43 seconds, but I was sure my ipod's timer was quacked because there was NO WAY I could ever run that fast--and now here in TN, where the hills are A LOT steeper than my route at home (in northern Virginia), I'm only six seconds slower!
I am buoyant also because my jeans are falling off me, my favorite "too loose, sits-low-on-my-hips" skirt was WAY too loose this morning (I had to safety pin it so it wouldn't fall off)! And because I am enjoying treats here (I had a salmon patty at lunch today and my veggies definitely had a ton of butter on them, and three strips of fried chicken last week), but that's the point--I CAN HAVE treats now because I don't fear having them means slipping back into my old food habits. I'm picky about my meats, choosey about what type of bread/starch items I eat, careful to avoid butter-laden veggies most of the time, and I just don't eat dessert most of the time. I can have treats because I have figured out what moderation means--rarely. And then you pick up right where you left off on the healthy-living train (taking a class on nutrition here is also very helpful!).
The new me is here to stay, and I'm just a little excited!

oneoftwelve: congrats on figuring things out and finding something that works for you and that you are excited about!

Sam: i actually ordered my pumpkin latte treat with skim milk and of course no whip cream. it was still very good, and honestly I am lucky that I have a hard time telling the difference.. (i can eat fat free mayo and not notice a bit, fat free dressings etc. very weird!)

Dianne: I started my weight loss "journey" on August 4th at 136lbs. So it has been about 5 weeks and I have lost a little over 10lbs....

I count calories, I eat about 1200 calories a day, some days less never more (I only eat when hungry, if I have extra calories and I am not hungry I don't make myself eat them -usually only 100 or so maybe 200) I decided that if i was going to count calories and take in so "little" that It was going to have to be really nutritious. I cut out about 97% white starches... basically I will only eat 100%whole wheat breads, pastas etc. I try and eat tons of fruit and veggies. Plus I eat a higher amount of protein vs carbs. (I don't really try for this, I just try and limit my carbs) for example: if I eat oatmeal for breakfast I will NOT have a sandwich for lunch. I have learned to eat small amounts throughout the day, this help keep my metabolism going. Also, for cheating... the first three weeks I did not cheat AT ALL. I stayed on plan every single day, trying to eat very healthy. Then I let myself have a cheat night, but that day I still counted calories, planned my meal and made sure it still fit in my calorie range. The reason why I eat only 1200 calories is because I am not very good at working out (I have only worked out 3 days in the past 5 weeks a total of about 1.5hrs)

I hope this helps Dianne!

This is not completely doable for everyone, I have been VERY disciplined because I wanted to see results as quickly as possible, and no meal was more important to me than losing weight. (this is strange because i was always the girl eating 2nds and 3rds at dinner until I thought I was going to throw up... because the meal was just THAT good.)

New here and looking de a little daily check in and inspiration. It may be a bit lofty but my goal is 15 pounds by Halloween.

I'm going to try Fast 5 starting tomorrow. I've done WW for years and I'm just tired of counting.

Nice to be here!

well that plan backfired today.
weekends suck.
tomorrow's a fresh new day.

Hello, I'm a newbie to this forum and weight loss and everything, just looking for some accountability...
After hearing (reading?) someone else here mention a Couch-to-5k running schedule for beginners, I searched online for something like that, because I've hated running all my life, but lately I have been getting really interested in it. So on Friday my BF and I got off our butts and did the first day of the schedule, which is alternating jogging and walking for 20 minutes. I'm going to follow the schedule on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, so tomorrow is day 2! And by the time the Thanksgiving 5k rolls around I want to be ready for it - it will be my first 5k EVER!! :D

Oneoftwelve, what a wonderful post! So glad to hear you have brought your lifestyle to school and you are enjoying it.

LMP, congrats on your success. Sounds like you stick to your plan like glue -- which is what I need to do for the next few weeks.

:welcome: Changed and MollyBell!

Samantha, you've got it right, pick yourself up and start a new day with a clean slate.

My half-marathon went really well. I finished in 2:08:21, which is 9:41/mile. I need to learn to run a smarter race, though. I ran the first half slower than a 10-minute mile, and the second half well faster. I need to trust myself to go out faster, but I'm always afraid of running out of steam. I'm sure experience will help. I beat my last half-mara time by 11 seconds. :)

Two of my friends finished in 1:48, which is 8:17/mile. :fr:

I've been lousy about sticking to plan and I've had some calorie creep, so my goal is to stay on plan for the next 3 weeks. Plus two, really, because my 20-year HS reunion is in 5 weeks. :fr: again! I also have to get back to healthier food. I've been eating more and more junk, and that just leaves me craving more. So here's to 21 days of clean, on-plan eating!

Hope everyone has a great week!

Same7, big congrats to you on your half-marathon! I think your time is awesome! What an accomplishment! I am in awe!

For me, it's another Monday after another off-plan weekend and this must change! My weight has been heading in the wrong direction. D-day for me has come and gone and I'm at the point where some pants are not zipping. Not good, I know. I need to stop the snacking, the dining out on fatty foods. It's not working for me, and I know better than this. I really thought I had this food thing under control, but now I'm convinced that I'm going to struggle with food issues forever. But that's okay as long as I can acknowledge it and get it back under control. I can do this. I must do this!

Come on, Feathers! Let's have a great on-plan week. The cooler weather around here has made outdoor exercise so much more pleasant. Let's all get out there this week!

Oneoftwelve Congrats on your 5k! I understand what its like to not be a "runner" and to complete something like that! It truly an accomplishment. You should feel great!

Lilmisspope Thank you for sharing that with me. I am always so impressed with people who can do the 1200 calorie plan AND stay on plan. I am doing a 1500 calorie plan and I go over those calories probably 4 days out of the 7. Ugh no wonder Im losing so slow! :o

Changed and Molly Welcome!! This place is awesome! :carrot:

Samantha Im with you girl. Weekends suck. Thats when I really mess up. Yesterday, I had 3 slices of stuffed crust pizza from pizza hut. Really!? Im supposed to be on a weight loss journey and I couldnt stop at one or two?! wtf

CONGRATS Amy on your run! I hope I can one day do a half marathon! I bet you felt AWESOME after completing it!!

Went off plan AGAIN this weekend. Not as bad as my other weekends. But still, went off. The next morning after drinking I weighed in at 135.4!! Wahoo! Well, it was probably because I was dehydrated but it was fun to see :D

Im going to weigh in tomorrow and see my real weight. Goal is 134 by NJ - Sept 22

I REALLY want to try and stay on plan all of October. I am really curious to see how much I can lose if I actually stay on plan a whole 3-4 weeks. We'll see!

Happy Monday Feathers!

Good morning!

Today is my first Fast5 day. I'm having my coffee black which I have decided, is better than not at all. I'm interested to see how today feels but I have to say, I think I like the idea that food is just off limits for certain hours. It really leaves no room for sitting around thinking about what I want to eat and wondering how I can squeeze it into my calorie allowance. I can have it... just not until 5 o'clock. I'm going to be very very conscious about not overdoing that 5 hour window because I've read that doing so is responsible or most people not losing for the first few weeks.

I've been doing a lot of thinking and meditation to find the willpower that I had before (my real starting weight is right at 190 but that's been over the past 3 years) and I think somehow I've just allowed myself to sort of blur out the reasons I want to get to goal. I want to be in control. I don't want to be the person who sits in bed at 10pm eating banana laffy taffy and feeling gross and hopeless. I want to be that person who can look at food and just as easily not eat it. Just not feel the need to have sweets all the time or eat things that I know will not make me feel *healthier/better*.

That's probably a little more of a journal entry than you wanted to hear but I needed to put it out there and I'm thankful for a safe place to express it.

Amy - :congrat: on your race! That is amazing to me that you can do that. All runners amaze me :) I've never been able to do more than 5K really. I'm going to start my running program (Couch to 5K) again in October, once I get other things - diet, etc - sorted out. I love that program! It's the only thing that gets me out running.

WOW!! That's about half the time I took last time I ran 5K...

Yep, I agree, weekends are sooo hard, especially when they involve other people! I try not to drag anyone down with my choices but OMG, I never really realized how many social activities revolve around food. My friends chose to go to a Mexican restaurant yesterday, where it was almost impossible make a good choice. I found a shrimp cocktail, had a side order of pinto beans, avoided the chips and drank diet Coke when everyone else was drinking beer... constant vigilance...

Chelsey - I hate to encourage it, but it seems like your weekends are working out for you so far, even if they are "off plan." haha. But seriously, it is great that you are working all of this out while you are still in your 20s. One of my biggest problems was that as I hit my mid-30s and my metabolism shifted, I had NO good habits to fall back on - I think I was just an unhealthy skinny person for a long time.

:welcome3: Changed and MollyBell!

I can't recommend Couch to 5K enough. Are you using a podcast? I used the one for the iPod and it made all the difference in the world, as I could use my own music. Go find the thread in the Exercise forum and keep up with the others who are doing it as well, it's great motivation!

I'm not really familiar with Fast5, but I've heard someone around here mention it - are there no restrictions as long as you eat in the 5-hour window? What 5 hours did you choose? I'm curious about this plan. Most people say it's so important to eat breakfast and I rarely do (until later). Yesterday I didn't eat until 3 or 4 pm. Not planned that way, but I was fine. It's those evening hours that cause problems for me...

Not too much to report here. Had an good weekend, despite winding my way through an obstacle course of temptation. Ate very little early Saturday, in preparation for dinner at a fancy restaurant on Saturday night. I managed to find healthy choices: an arugula pear salad and seared halibut on a bed of kale and pureed leeks. I had exactly ONE glass of a beautiful wine and maybe 5 bites of the shared apple/strawberry/rhubarb cobbler. The next day was yesterday with the Mexican restaurant, but right back on plan last night.

I am just finishing two weeks of pretty strict clean eating (South Beach Phase 1, just lean proteins, veggies, dairy, and nuts really - no fruit or grains at all and of course no sugar) - not counting the one dinner on Saturday night. I am currently 2 lbs down from when I started, so yay for that, but I bumped up from my low. A whole 0.8 pounds :p

My plan is to stick with this way of eating (adding fruits and whole grains as I move to Phase 2) and start to increase my exercise. I do a decent amount time-wise now (1 hour/day average) but it's not very strenuous - brisk walking and yoga and some weights. Clearly I need to do more if I want to ever see the body I once had again!

It's a new week, feathers. Let's make the most of it!

EmmaD - I've just been using a stopwatch, but it would be great to be able to listen to music! I'll look that up.

Emma Thanks for the positive outlook on it :)

BUt unfortunately, its not really working out. I have been on this for about 2 months now and I have only lost 2 pds. Everytime my body begins to lose weight (during the week), I mess it all up on the weekends. So my body spends most of its time trying to catch up. I have been maintaining and slowwllyyyyyyyyyyy losing.

Church tonight - Hoping to come back here tomorrow morning with a new "freshness" on life :0)

Ran 3.1 miles today, stayed totally on plan yesterday, have plans to take a long walk with my husband tonight, and with a friend tomorrow. It feels good to have things under control after being out of control this past weekend.

I'm tired of letting food control me, or maybe I should say giving in to my food addictions. Because, I am addicted, there's no doubt about it. I've been addicted to food since my tween years, hence the steady weight gain since that time! I don't know if I'll ever be able to say I've conquered this thing, but hopefully I can manage it better than I have in the past. It really feels good to be doing the right things today.

Nope, no restrictions. I picked the 5-10 pm set because I tend to struggle in those hours as well.

I've totally been MIA here, and at times have not been on plan :^:, but I guess overall I've been doing OK because I'm down .2 pounds. Sigh. I really want to see 126, but I need to eat less! Duh. Last week I had way too many carbs and salt and retained water like crazy. Plus I also went to some yoga and pilates classes that made me sore. I hate when you have a high weigh in due to water retention because it totally makes you want to throw in the towel! It's such a viscious cycle.

Have you guys done pilates? I thought it was supposed to be relaxing like yoga, but the instructor went so fast. It seemed like a good workout though. Hopefully it can get some of that momma pooch down.

I'm going to be out of town for a week visiting DH's parents with Ainsley. They eat pretty healthy so it shouldn't be too bad. Plus I'll have some time to go to the gym. When I get back I'm definitely going to buckle down. I got a postcard in the mail to renew WW online for a hefty discount. I hated counting points, but I liked all the recipes and other features. I might rejoin when I get back.