You're vain, I'm vain ... we're all vain. We're all human.
I sidestep the vanity issue by trying to think that I'm proud of my accomplishments, but it feels good to have folks admire your new bod!

Seriously now ... according to statistics, you have done something that 95% of weight losers have not. That is an accomplishment and something to be proud of.

Hi all,

I´d like to get in on this, if that´s okay...Of course I only have a week until I leave the country for two months (going to visit the in-laws), but I might offer some encouragment for the next few days...

--Katherine

Hi Katherine! We'll want to hear how your trip went too.
Tell us about your weight loss so far.

My weight loss is pretty uninteresting, I think.............I just try to control portions and eat as little junk as possible...and I get some exercise on the side. I´ve been breastfeeding for 10 months now...and I think that helps a lot, too, hehe. Three days before I had my daughter, I weighed 183 lbs. Now I´m down to 135...I´m hoping to go down another 5-10 lbs over the next two months with my husband´s family, but I know it´ll be tough with them telling me to eat constantly and them worrying about whether the food is okay or not, just because I didn´t want to eat it......

--Katherine

When I'm with my husbands family, I talk like I'm a health nut .... they think I'm nuts and don't bother me much :)

Morning everyone!

I wish I could do that, but I can barely speak their language..........hopefully I´ll learn how to express myself more eloquently while I´m there......I´m going to learn a lot anyway since my husband won´t join me until the last two weeks of my trip...and nobody there speaks English...

The last time I was there, they kept pushing food on me no matter how often I told them I was full...ugh..

--Katherine

:wave: Hello all!

Welcome, Katherine!

If anyone's been perusing the UK chicks bit, you will see my BUPA Capital 10K picture... :rofl: We did it yesterday in 30 C heat! :faint: It was brilliant! I really really enjoyed myself and got a respectable time, 1hour 22 mins. Well respectable considering I haven't actually done any running since the beginning of May and I've never run over 5K and it WAS so hot... :D

My legs are holding up quite well... I just need to crawl down to the kitchen for the morning drink and the crawling back upstairs might be a bit of an effort, but apart from that I'm fine!

My trousers feel looser today, but I bet the scales are up! We celebrated with pizza and Ben and Jerry's! Had to be done I'm afraid!!! But to compensate I only had strawberries for dinner! I didn't eat a roast dinner with my family (mum and dad are staying one night to pick up a car), I just drank a diet coke! I'm proud of myself on both fronts! The damage was quite bad with that 12" pepperoni pizza - I dread to think what it would've been like with a full roast dinner too! :yikes:

Good work Jenfrus! 10k! Oi!

Well part of my vacation challenge has been taken care of. The friends we stay with just watched "Supersize Me"

Hello All!!

Where or where does the time go?? My dh and I were planning out our weekends and we don't have a free one until the middle of July. Hopefully with life being so busy I can quit stressing out so much about my weight and just enjoy where I am. For the rest of the summer the plan is to stay under 150 and get back to losing the last 10 when life returns to normal in September. I'm feeling quite complacent and content with myself at the moment. I haven't decided yet if that's a good thing or bad thing....

lucky~~Best of luck with your job decision.

Susan~~Isn't that an awful show?? I never like McDonalds to being with....

2frus~~Good for you for completing the 10K!!

Katherine~~Welcome!! Hope you have a great vacation!

Hello to everyone else!!

Gaylyn

I've just been reading the previous posts to find out when I was actually 162.5, like it says in my profile! :lol: It was the beginning of April. Since then I have put on 14lbs :eek: :cry: What? How? Who? When? Where? Then I read about all the bingey stuff I did and that made sense! Then I know I put on 7lbs in a few days when my parents came down last month, but what I can't understand is how come it's still there? I've been trying my hardest! :tantrum:

I guess I just have to try harder *sigh*

:boxing: tonight - aiming for the gym at lunch, all on 1600kcals or less :faint:

JenFrus .... I just want to come thru the line and give you a hug. I don't know what I'd say but .... You're like the picture of healthy enthusiasm especially for exercise .... I don't know Lovey. Keep thinkin', you'll get it figured out.

I think I'm a little high on calories - I just checked my past fitdays and I average at about 2100 for the fortnight, I was losing on 1900 before, so I think I need to drop a coupla hundred. All I can think! I'm going to try and add some extra cardio in some mornings too.

Added exercise ... girl, you make me tired ;)

Jenfrus! I have an idea. You know those planning for a nearly perfect day threads and I read again how the LWL know about how much each snack is going to be so that they don't end up very much over or under calories ...

Originally Posted by 2frustrated:
:boxing: tonight - aiming for the gym at lunch, all on 1600kcals or less :faint:

I know you can do it!!

I did do it! Then I crashed out! :yawn: I'm a bit sleepy today :yawn:

I've got my calories sorted - and (I know as soon as I post this the opposite will happen but here goes...) I don't think food has a hold over me any more. At least not as much as it did. I was standing in a petrol station starving hungry and I didn't buy any chocolate or crisps. I went home for healthy food. DF also bought me reduced fat chocolate cakes last night (first ingredient sugar) :rolleyes: and I ate one just to show willing and I haven't brought any to work, I don't even want to finish the packet. I don't feel the need to stuff my face with pizza or ice cream or anything like that. I went out for dinner with my parents on Sunday and I was still full from my lunch out, so I didn't order any food at all.

I think I'm going to be ok! I was trying Tom V's calculations for maintenance and losing calories, and then I read Meg's post in Maintainers about "reduced obese" and remembered that those calculations may not actually be valid for me! So I'm aiming for lower calories.

I'm writing out those "I am so happy and thankful....." things twice a day and they seem to be working... My attitude has changed, and I ate healthily two weekends in a row! That's a first! I think it's just the calories that need tweaking - everything else is A-OK! :D

You'll be just fine Frus...with all your determination and hard work you will get to where you want to be...I am sure of it!

I'm doing ok!

I was out for dinner last night, I was so hungry I almost fainted, but thankfully I got a low-fat lemon mousse just in time and didn't resort to the big chocolate chip cookie DF bought! :lol:

Then we went to Subway for a healthy sandwich (dressing free - natch!) which is a real treat anyway, all that bread!!

I took a rest day, but still managed to get a good walk in. Today is double kickboxing, so that will be fun! I'm still a little pooped from my 10K!!! :yawn: :rolleyes:

We're off to Nice on Saturday. I am not going to eat flan every day, I am not going to eat lots of croissants and pain au chocolate and other sickly stuff. I am going to eat sensibly and get my trainers on every day! I will be taking my affirmation book and writing them out at least 3 times a day, or any time I am bored! I'm taking apples and nuts and raisins and all sorts so that I have no excuse that I can't find anything healthy! I will have some treats though, what's the point going otherwise? ;)

Nice? how lovely. I think I work all weekend :(

Yes, well at least you're at goal at work :p Some of us still have ways to go (again!)! ;)

Has you've been told lately that you're a BRAT! :hug:

:D Not recently... :chin:

Hi Girls,

I totally forgot yesterday to post my Tuesday night weigh in (probably because I gained :mad: ) It was almost as neglible as my loss the previous week, but I put on .6 lb.

I was actually pretty thrilled with that because I was :devil: soooooo naughty :devil: over the weekend. I recently started spending time with a new fella (is he still new if I've known him for 20 years?) which makes it easy to over-indulge. He recently lost 85 lbs himself and is working on another 20 so he is aware of his eating too, but on the weekends we both agreed that we would have some fun and not worry too much about the calories.

Friday night was dinner (seafood) and drinks :ink: , Saturday was drinks and dinner (seafood again) :ink: and Sunday morning was breakfast out :ink: (Mmmmmm.....haven't had that in a long time). We did take a nice long 5 mile walk on the beach on Sunday but that was followed by ice cream :ink: and then Taco Bell for dinner :ink: (with diet coke of course :angel: )!

As you can see, I was pretty lucky to only have gained a half pound! I suppose it is a good thing that we aren't seeing each other this weekend...maybe I can redeem myself :crossed:

2frus, I have read your most recent posts over and over. I'm telling ya, girl. we are going through the EXACT same things. I just can't figure out why I'm struggling so. Today was another on of those days that I woke up and thought, "THIS is the day!" And so far it has been. When I weighed myself the other day I was back up to 147. Plus, I've not been doing weights at all and cardio is hit and miss. So, it isn't just that number that is horrifying - I can actually SEE the changes. I have been stressing a bit about whether or not to go back to work and that has lead to my having a difficult time sleeping. As much as I would love for those to things to be good excuses the truth is that I just haven't been trying hard enough lately. I'm not planning like I need to be so even though my three main meals are usually on target I'm finding myself doing the whole lick, taste, nibble routine. It adds up and it adds up fast. It sounds like you've gotten a handle on things and I really, really hope you keep it. I hope you will find some comfort in knowing that you aren't the only one who's been to the lost and found bin and picked up 14 pounds she'd left their not too long ago! Hey, we can do this!

Katherine, WELCOME! I'm sorry I missed saying hello sooner.

Daisemae, you are doing a great job. You really are. Isn't it funny, though, how such a tiny number can have a huge impact on our mental and emotional states?

Susan, you give such solid and compassionate advice. You ought to consider starting a "Dear SusaB" column in the newspaper!

Well, like I said, today is another one of those perfect days. Calories, exercise right on target. Like 2frus, I went back and checked when it was that I was at my lowest weight (134). It was back in December. I took some time this afternoon and just sat alone remembering how good I felt back then. My favorite jeans were falling off (they fit now and feel snug out of the dryer), I was really comfortable with how I looked, and being at such a low weight made me feel incredibly confident. Just thinking about all of those things makes me determined to get back there.

I also took a gander at how much I weighed on this day one year ago. I was an ounce or two over 150. So, there is my positive spin. Yes, I have gained weight. But I have essentially maintained for a year. Not techinically, obviously. But mentally I've been a true maintainer. After a year and a half I'm still THINKING about reaching my goal. That alone is an improvement over past weight loss attempts. I wish that I could explain how I know that I'm going to get back down to 134 and then even lower. I can't though. I just KNOW. It is a feeling I haven't had before (meaning during other "diets"). Even though I have gained weight recently and even though I'm struggling a lot lately I still have the burning inside of me. Oh, the flame is smaller than it once was but the fire is still there.

I'm looking ahead to when the kids get back to school in August. I've been imagining myself dropping them off and heading straight to the gym and really turning exericse into "me" time. No rush, plenty of time to take advantage of the sauna, whirlpool, etc. I'm not waiting until them to try and get back on track. However, exercise seems very appealing when I can put it in the context of leisure time instead of lumping it in with every other chore that has to be done. I know it is going to make all of the difference in my weight loss efforts. I don't usually set deadlines for losing weight as they tend to be counter-productive for me. I've set one now though. When my gym membership ends in February I want to be maintaining for real an for good. I want to be in shape, not just thin. 8 months is reasonable and now that I'll have more time on my hands there is absolutely no reason not to focus, focus, focus on getting this done.

Whew, I'm out of breath just typing that much! Sorry for the rambling.

Everybody doing okay out there?

Lucky it's your turn for a thru the internet hug. How was it again that I became so attached to you people!!!!

I've been wracking my brain (pitifully small tho' it is) for some other way to say this that isn't cliche ... but ... can't come up with one. It's like sometime the planets will all be aligned properly. Your food will be good almost by default. Exercise will be natural several days in a row. A few pounds will drop away and you'll have a new enthusiasm. You'll do even better for a little while and a few inches will disappear. And suddenly you'll realise that you have a handle on it all! You'll feel super empowered. You'll keep on truckin' and then .... you'll be at goal! More surprisingly you'll realise that while you've been waiting for the other shoe to drop ... you've been at goal for almost two weeks!
Now, I wish I could say that that will all happen just like that without any blips, but I can't. But you'll have to reread your own posts to remember the horrible times when you thought you were stuck forever.

I'm doing ok! I seem to have the low calories sorted with nary a grumbly tummy! I was thinking last night that a few weeks ago I would've gone out and bought ice creams when it was hot... Or not even when it was hot! Today I just don't really want one! I'd rather be thin thank you very much! :lol:

The scales are down 3lbs from Monday, so that's good! :D Some of it was water retention from the pizza and some of it must've been fat, because I've been SUPER-GOOD!

Instead of dreading my upcoming French holiday - I am realising that I can still choose healthy food when I'm on holiday. Granted I would like to eat flan and croissants, but just thinking about fat and carbs together and what Tom V said about them being the worst for fat storing... WELL! I think I'll be steering away from THEM! I'm also going to take some snacks - nuts, apples, quorn sausages etc so that I don't get too ravenous with only the patisserie to buy things from! I hope there's plenty of fresh fruit markets on the streets! :crossed:

Lucky - I feel that flame too, this time it's there and it's not going out in a hurry. I just feel like - for :censored: sake! Let's get this done and quit messing around!

:?: Oh oh oh oh oh gals. What have I gotten myself into this time????:?:
I have worked in the same teeny tiny hospital for 27 years. A couple of years ago it was amalgamated with a couple of other ones around here and a big one (the mother ship) in a quite large town about 45 minutes from here. Our little joint is soooo quiet right now that I was looking at getting no hours from three shifts I was booked for this weekend.
Remember me whining about how tight things were around here financially?
My director called an offered me a shift at the mother ship. It's a stable medical floor so that's OK. I can do that almost anywhere. Money called, I said I would.
It's a twelve hour night!!! :yikes: In a huge building full of strangers. I don't even know where to go. My director is going to meet me at the door (if I can find a parking spot.)
I am scared witless!

Originally Posted by SusanB:
:?: Oh oh oh oh oh gals. What have I gotten myself into this time????:?:
I have worked in the same teeny tiny hospital for 27 years. A couple of years ago it was amalgamated with a couple of other ones around here and a big one (the mother ship) in a quite large town about 45 minutes from here. Our little joint is soooo quiet right now that I was looking at getting no hours from three shifts I was booked for this weekend.
Remember me whining about how tight things were around here financially?
My director called an offered me a shift at the mother ship. It's a stable medical floor so that's OK. I can do that almost anywhere. Money called, I said I would.
It's a twelve hour night!!! :yikes: In a huge building full of strangers. I don't even know where to go. My director is going to meet me at the door (if I can find a parking spot.)
I am scared witless!

Susan,

You'll be fine! I worked as an agency nurse and was sent to many different places, working many different units. Sure, the building was different but nursing is nursing and patients are the same regardless of where they are.
Good luck! I'm sure you'll end up with lots of new friends and they'll be begging you to come back to work more shifts!

OH Susan....give the new folks a few minutes and they will love you as much as we do! Good luck!

Susan, if anybody can handle a big change it is YOU! And what perfect financial timing. Think of it as an adventure that you get paid to go on. Have fun!

What do you know. I woke up this morning back on the bandwagon. The kids woke me up early but I just lollygagged under the sheets and tried to think through all of the weight issues I've been having. First of all, they've gone on longer than I've realized. I've come to accept that I don't really gain weight any faster than I lose it. It just seems that way because when I'm gaining I'm not paying a whole lot of attention. That is one thing that has been holding me back with this extra weight I've put on. I want it off and I want it off now. When it doesn't happen that way I'm giving up. Now, I know better than that. It is a terrible attitude that I didn't even recognize I had until I stopped and really, really thought about it.

And another thing. I am proof that a failure to plan is a plan to fail. Summer started out great - so motivating. But as the weeks have passed I've let lazy summer days become the norm. I'm relaxing with the kids, playing things by ear, letting any amount of planning go by the wayside. That means instead of eating a planned lunch I'm milling around the kitchen snacking on this and that. We all know what that means LOTS of unplanned (and unaccounted for) calories. Easy enough to fix. I know what I have to do. I can't let the season dictate how I eat. I still need five to six smaller meals and they need to be planned in advance and eaten on some sort of schedule.

Another big obstacle has been the scale. I need to get on it more often. I've avoided it all together and that has allowed me to live in denial. At one point, when things were smooth sailing, I weighed every day. I can't do that now because the slightest ounce lost is a license to stop paying attention again. I have to go back to stepping on the scale once a week - often enough to see and track results, but infrequently enough not to create head games.

So, here I am, back at square one. And you know what? It isn't that bad of a place to be. Especially since I'm not here weighing 214 pounds. I've got to start thinking of this weight (whatever it is...I'll be weighing in Monday since TOM is here and I'm one of those freaks of nature that actually loses water weight during this time - and I want an accurate as possible starting weight) as my start weight. I need to begin a brand new journey. If I don't I'm afraid I'll just keep packing on the pounds and justifying each one by thinking, "I'm still waaaaay thinner than I used to be." Doing that will put me back at square one weighing 214 pounds. EWWWWW!

Okay, I'm done rambling. How's everyone else these days?

Originally Posted by daisimae:
OH Susan....give the new folks a few minutes and they will love you as much as we do! Good luck!

I totally AGREE, Susan :hug:, you'll do great!! Just don't eat the new stress you'll be having...

I'm so out of tune these days, this week I made it to the gym 3 days in a row, and each time I did 4k runs... Now I haven't gone in 4days!! Tomorrow I must go AND I must run... If I run I must get up bright and early because it's gonna be a hot one! I getting pshyche tonight!!

Well, I picked myself up this morning, brushed myself off, and hit the gym. I took my time and enjoyed myself. Even made a point to spend time in the sauna after my workout. Plus, I ate perfectly clean. I feel like my old "new" self again. I realize I've been like Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde in terms of my weight loss attempts so who know what tomorrow has in store. I've already made up my mind, though, that if I wake up and the tables have turned once again I'm just going to fake it and make the RIGHT choices anyway. Period.

Go Lucky!

Thanks gals! Your encouragement really helped. My legs are tired and my bed is calling but it wasn't too bad. Busy enough and the patients heavy enough that I didn't have much time to be self-conscious or hungry.

Have a nice Father's day and I'll catch up after some zzzzz's.

I got up at 1:30, by 2:30 we were at a funeral visitation. By 3:30 we were at a 50th anniversary party. But it was all good! Lots of people wanted to talk about how nice and slim I am and one young gal is pretty interested in the fact that I lift weights.
Now? ... now I'm just waiting for it to be a decent time for an adult human to go to bed. :tired:

Susan~~I'm glad the extra shift went well for you. I hope you got some rest.

lucky~~You've inspired me AGAIN! Thank you! :hug:


I was just planning on coasting though the summer and getting back to losing in the fall but last week was a total blow out. 10 lb gain. :fr: Obviously coasting is NOT for me. I NEED to stay in control of my calories. So here is the plan. Back to strict calorie counting. Everything needs to be journaled. My exercise is still good but I'm going to add in extra workouts in the evening three times a week. I think I've finally accepted that this is my life and I'm going to have to be consious of my calories for the rest of my life if I want to stay slim.

Gaylyn

Hello all. I've been reading through all the posts on this forum to get acquainted with everyone. I really feel like I know you all from these "Featherweight" posts to other areas all around 3FC.

I started my lifetime change back in January after turning 41 and realizing that I can control and enjoy life or life will control me (and it probably won't be enjoyed!). I've lost 30# already with about 20 more to go, so I feel like I most fit here with you guys.

Now that I'm over half way I am finding new challenges to my weight loss, in particular. I'm getting the comments like "you will just be unhealthy if you lose any more". Where were these guys when my BMI was shouting OBESE? And, since I want my goal to only be about 5 lbs less than what my doctor's goal for me is - how can this make me unhealthy? I know that I will need the 5lbs as a buffer to keep watch over when I maintain (for life).

The weight loss by eating healthier was just the first step. Now I am finding that exercise is not only doable, but required to feel better. So the keys for my success so far have been: calorie counting, journaling, and exercising. Now as I approach the mid-life of my plan (to lose the remainder of the weight), I need to start thinking new mind thoughts so that I will be able to maintain once I get there for the rest of my life journey.

So can I come along with you guys?

Welcome! You will find tons of support and some really great people here.

Welcome Softballmom! I am so glad you joined us. Congratulations on the weight you've lost already - GREAT JOB! You will find all of the support you need to tackle the last 20 pounds right here. I love your attitude and hope it is contagious. As you might have read, I need all of the help I can get these days!

With that said, things are (once again) falling into place for me. I went shopping the other day and trying on clothes just wasn't as fun as it was this time last year (when my 8's were getting loose and I was dangerously close to wearing a 6 quite comfortably). Thankfully, that instilled the sense of urgency that I've been looking for. I know at least part of the reason that I keep becoming complacent is that I've lost my fat fear. Well, I found it again at the mall (of all places!). So, I've gotten three good days of eating clean and exercising under my belt and I'm starting feel that drive again (what's that, like the 20th time in the past two months?). Admittedly, the past few days has been pure planning and forced tunnel vision. My "this is just how I live" mentality isn't 100% yet...but I'll get it back again!

Gaylyn, you said exactly what has been on my mind. The really stupid thing is that I've known all along I wouldn't be able to stop being a mindful eater. I think that is why I'm not particularly frustrated that I've regained some weight. I knew what I was doing, I knew the consequences, and still chose to slack on exercise and eat without a plan. Yes, it was a bad choice, but it was a choice all the same. Now, I'm sort of coming around and realizing again how important getting back to 134 (or lower! But, hey, one step at a time) is to me. It really boils down to a matter of priority...and my weight is my first one again.

Susan, did you get some sleep? Sounds like a nice rest was well deserved so I sure hope so! Congratulations on motivating a few friends to jump on the healthy bandwagon. I've always enjoyed getting people to at least consider lifting weights. Of course diet and exercise have been the two most important components to my weight loss program. But, when it comes to actually LOOKING the way I want weights are where it is at!

Hi everybody! I did sleep very well, thanks. Housework for me today. Big time!

Good Morning! We're leaving on vacation later today and I'm doing the old kick in the pants thing that I haven't been more diligent for the last few days. It's one thing to have vacation carry-over but a prestart?? .... tisk, tisk!
So I'm gonna do mega workout today hopefully making myself sleepy enough to sleep in the car tonight. I'm a fidgetted rider and probably drive my poor husband nutty.