Victory Day!
 

Hi All!! I just want to give my 5 cents (no pennies here in Aus) on the scale numbers. I have only lost on the scale a kilo 2.2 pounds) in almost 2 months. In January I tried on one of the 3 non-fitting suits I brought from Canada with me.... they were all tight. Last night we received a wedding invite and it got me thinking that I would like to wear that favourite black suit of mine I wore at my last job, so this morning I tried it on to see if I could get motivated before April 27 (not that I have motivation now.... crikey, almost every evening at the gym lately) and it fits!! not barely like before... but nicely!!! So I tried the next one on.. and the next.... today I am at work wearing a fav light grey suit that I have not worn for 18 months! It is a great feeling. To **** with the scales.... dig out those old favourite items from the back of the closet!! WOOOHOO!! Scales are no longer the determination of my daily mood!!! A Canadian size 12 is my new determination.

Talk about motivation, this has made me pack my gym bag, leave it in the car (I usually take the train but with school holidays this week the traffic is almost non-existant) and I am heading to my Body Pump class RIGHT after work. On Wednesdays, my hubby downloads the US Survivor and I watch it at a friend's house, tonight there will be no chocolate OR cheese twists....... I am so MOTIVATED.... so much more than before!!!

Christine, I have a gift certificate for a book store from my b-day and am thinking of buying the Body for Life book after I finish this 12 week challenge..... still thinking about it..... seriously!!! I hope you find success with it!

I just love reading everyone's posts in this thread. You guys are GREAT!

Keep up the good work, and don't let those bunnies catch up with you!

Nola.

Way to go Nola!!!
 

Nola you must be dancing on air!!! You go girl!!!!. I think that all that exercising is sure changing your body shape...And that is even more noticable then losing pounds.

I really would love to be able to change my shape. But before I get into any strenuous type exercise(besides walking) I need to go to the doctor and get some blood work done. I have been having such weird heart palpitations and lightheadness, and sleepless nights. I want him to do blood tests to check my hormones.. hopefully its the start of menopause and nothing more serious.
I dont know if I had mentioned this before but I also have a thryoid disease that I have had for over 10 years. Its called Hashimotos disease. Its when your immune system attacks your thyroid gland. Well anyway when I was living back in the states I would go and get my blood checked every 3-6 months to make sure my levels of TSH were right. I havent had any blood tests since I have been in Canada. (I am afraid to trust a new doctor,,weird eh?)So Iam still on the same level of medicaton as i was almost a year ago. But if my level of medication is too high, that can also cause the heart palps, and lightheadness and restless nights. So I will be sure to make an appt with the hubbys doc (I had all my medical records sent here from my doc in the US).
But as soon as I know what the heck is happening with me.. Ill feel so much better about doing the cardio and all that muscle building stuff. And hopefully I can change some of this flab into muscle....Oh I know I wont ever look like Julia Roberts... but I dont want to look like Kathy Bates either!!!!! :eek:.......:lol::lol::lol:

Keep up that exercising Nola,,,, it sure is paying off for you !!!!!

I hope everyone is having a great evening. See ya'all later !!!!!!

Nancy:wave:

Where is everybody????
 

Night, Night all

Nancy:wave:

Nola--Just reading your post will keep me motivated today! Isn't it great to get something out of your closet and it fits so nicely! I'm sure you got lots of compliments on it today!
I got on the scale for the last time in April today. I am down 1 more pound, with only 5 more to go! I have really been struggling with the last couple of pounds! I just can't wait to be in the 150's--that sounds so much better than weighing 160!
Nancy--I hope you make an appointment with the Dr soon. YOu don't want to play around with medication. And, with your weight loss, your body may be requiring a smaller dose. Perhaps your old dr could give you a recommendation??
Well, I hope we all have as good a day as Nola did! You guys are terrific!

:) Hi everyone!

I was having a hard time posting yesterday - actually, had a hard time even trying to find the last post listed - the page would just suddenly end, even though I knew someone had posted - the mysteries of cyberspace!!!

Nancy - Gosh, I'm now feeling a little concerned for you, with your mention of palpitations and lightheaded-ness - we will all feel better once you are checked out by a doctor :) we don't want anything bad to happen to you!!!

'Nola - You go, girl, for exercising so much! And hooray to you for fitting into the clothes that are smaller!!!

tryin' hard - you have come so far - was it 87 pounds in a year? - soon you will be at your goal size and feeling fine!

Christine - hope the BFL is going well for you. You'll have to keep us updated, in case any of us want to attempt it. I remember you mentioned taking "before" photos - have you done "before" measuring? That would be good to have to compare to.

Hi Sprite - did you find a swimsuit you liked? Thanks for contacting Aphil - I hope she's pleased with our progress!

Hi also to Pamela, Melisa, KellyAnne, Jacklyn, and welcome JoAnne!

I wanted SO much just to eat all day yesterday - really wanted salty things - so for lunch I had two Healthy Choice hotdogs (boy, are they packed with sodium) with lite bread - and then a white cheddar rice cake, all washed down with diet pepsi. It was a big change from my usual tuna with no-fat mayo sandwich and carrots! But if it doesn't happen often, I guess that's okay.

I am in big-time agreement with shunning the scale for a while, and going by measurements/fit of clothing. I measured myself March 24, so I guess 3 weeks will be a good time to wait until measuring again.

And right on Nancy for the statement that a healthier way of eating/living is not just for a week/month/whatever; we have to make changes that we can live with for the rest of our lives. So that makes the occasional treat easier to reconcile and not to view as "blowing it".

I'm going to hit the stepper now - couldn't make it to 45 minutes last time, only 35 - so I'm going to try for at least 36 minutes, for cryin'out loud! :lol:

I'm wishing everyone a great day!

Your friend, Holly

Good morning everyone :-)

A few of you have asked how I'm doing with BFL. Well, to be honest its harder than I thought it would be.

I have only done one strength session so far, the second is scheduled for today. I really enjoyed it (I've always enjoyed strength exercises and have been waiting for the day that I had the equiptment available for me to do it regularly).

I skipped my cardio yesterday cuz I'm a bad girl but I'm considering making it up shortly and doing the 20-minute session today instead. Then this evening when the hubby gets home, we'll do the lower body weight workout too.

Food wise, I'm trying to be good and eat my 6 mini-meals a day but its hard. I'm thinking I might just continue on my merry way with the rest of the program but tweak the food just a tad. I'll still try to eat healthy and higher protein than usual (food for my new muscles i'll be building) but I don't know about sticking with the strict program I'm trying to keep up with here. It takes so much thought that I feel like all I'm doing is thinking about food (not good when yer trying to diet eh??) LOL

I haven't taken any before photos or done my measurements. I keep meaning to but forgetting.. argh.. I think today I'll do the measurements at least because that's what I really want to mark my progress with. :)

Anyway, must go do something productive now.. been a bum on this puter since I got up 2 hours ago.. yikes.. hehe

Hope everyone has a great day today... I'll try to check in again later..

Christine
195/149/130

Good Morning!!!
 

It is a beautiful sunny day here in Northern B C. That sure does make me feel good.

I made an appt with the New doctor for 1:15 tomorrow. I am going to let him know what has been happening to me and also tell him that there are several blood tests that I want done (besides the thyroid). I have learned from experiance that you have to tell them what you want and not let them tell you its all in your head...:lol: All I know is that I want to feel healthy again.

Tryin'hard~~~ You have come so far with your weightloss. How long has it taken? You have to be feeling like a whole new person..Congratulations to you!!!!!!!!

Christine~~~ Even though your BFL feels rather tough right now stick it out. You will see the benefits quickly. Experts say with any type of Diet/Healthy Living Lifestyle change that it gets easier after the first two weeks. I feel that is true. As in the first few days it is so easy to say "oh what the heck" and quit.. But when you have at least 2 weeks invested and you have been commited it seems harder to chuck it out the window. Remember we are behind you all the way!!!

Holly~~~ So glad you were able to log on today, We missed you yesterday. Oh how I wish we could get the Healthy Choice hot dogs here.. By you mentioning those,, It makes me realize how limited we are up here on those types of foods. I think I am going to give the Veggie dogs a try...I know that sounds yucky:eek:... but they sell so much of those types of items up here (I am thinking someone be buying and eating them) I used to love the Morningstar Garden Veggie patties.. but again,, we cant get those here..Have you ever tried those?
And way to go on the stepper... you are so dedicated to your exercise..!!!

Good morning to the rest of the ladies also.. I hope it is a bright SUNNY:cool:day for all and that we have SPRING:sheep: in our step and SMILES:)on our faces!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am going to get out in the sunshine and enjoy this day.. One thing about living way up north like this is,when its spring and summer it stays light till 11 pm and sunrise is about 4:30am...pretty cool eh...

Talk to everyone later....
Nancy:wave:

Nancy--so glad you're seeing the doctor soon. I think you'll feel a lot better just for getting it checked.
I've been doing my "own thing" diet wise since last January. It's not a diet, it's a way of life. I have become one of those people who says no to cake and I can honestly say I don't eat cookies anymore. There isn't a cookie that I like well enough to waste my calories on. This is the second year in a row that I did not have any Girl Scout cookies! I've learned that if I'm going to limit my calories, I'm going to have what I like and not waste them!
I do feel like a new person. I walk taller and I feel so much more confident. I'm an 8th grade teacher and I also know that I am much healthier role model for my students, especially the girls. I have three girls in my room (out of 16 girls) who are over 200 pounds! They're only 14 years old! My heart breaks for them, but I also know that they have to come to terms with it and have tremendous support from their families if they are going to do anything about it. It just makes me sad...
Physically, I feel so much stronger and in control of my own health. Last year, I had migraines more often than not and I even went to the dr with chest pains! It turned out to be acid reflux, but even that is gone now, too. My TOM is much more manageable, but I attribute that to the walking I do every morning. It helps me from getting too stressed.
I am very lucky to have a dh who loves me no matter what I weigh, but I do know that I am much easier to live with now! And, my 9 yr old dd has a much healthier mom. I never, ever wanted someone to tell her that her mom was fat.
So... lots of rambling, but YES, I do feel terrific!!
I hope you all are having a great day. I'm getting so much inspiration from all of you and it helps keep me going!
Hope you'll all check in soon!

Howdy Tryinhard
 

I am so pleased for you concerning your weight loss. My question is: did you count calories, fat grams, or points or carbs or what??????????

What is a day like for you ............food wise? :dizzy:

Any help will be appreciated?

Jo Ann struggling in TEXAS :?:

Hi there everybody!

Hope everyone is doing well this week. I have still been into my son's Easter chocolate as it is so good. But I did do two super long walks today. The weather is so beautiful here I just had the most awesome day spending most of it outside.

Holly I haven't found a swimsuit yet as I am waiting for my girl's shopping trip weekend which is in about two weeks , then I will start to look.

Nancy how did your doctor's appt. go? I hope everything is okay. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and know first hand how much of an advocate you have to be for yourself to get anything done by doctors. Keep bugging them until you get the answers that you need.

Tryin' hard are you at your goal weight yet? Sounds like you've done a remarkable job!

Christine, keep up the good work on BFL and adjust it to suit your needs I'm sure you will still see the benefits.

Hello to everyone else!:)

I'm still into ds's Easter candy too, but it's not like he's going to eat it since he's 19 months! I didn't buy it for him, he got it from his aunt (Easter egg hunt), got a little too buzzed on Sunday from the little he had. I think I'll send the rest with dh to work (coworkers eat it) so I can get back on track. I can't wait for all the snow to melt so I can ride off the rest of my weight! *sigh*. Soon enough, soon enough. Glad to hear everyone's doing good.
In Christ,
Pamela

:)
 

Greetings everyone!

:)

I hope everyone is well... thank you for all the response from my Victory Day post. It felt awesome. And soon everyone else will have a story to tell. I do have to admit that out of habit, I did do the daily jump on the scale, but today I laughed at it.... take that!! Evil scale. And wore a "new to this job" suit today. YAY!

Hubby is out tonight at a Basketball game, he hurt his knee a month ago and we are just waiting for an appointment with a surgeon to see if he needs surgery on it. Most likely a minor cartilege clean up, so he is keeping score or something. Male bonding more like it... house to myself! Those evenings are few and far between, and I am almost waiting to see which one of his friends has forgotten that it is b-ball night and shows up anyway....... oh well. I am enjoying my evening away from the gym :D

Nancy, I hope everything is good today at the Dr's..... and that you get the answers you want. Get things looked after so you can enjoy the spring/summer!! My mom had thyroid issues too and finds that if she goes for her walks she does much better with the weight control than when she gets busy and doesn't keep up with them. Might be the fact that from November - March she is wearing boots, and a full on ski-doo suit for those walks!! :lol: Spring is just around the corner! I am dealing with no daylight savings!! It is almost dark by the time I get home now! Oh I long for those long Canadian summer nights!

Tryn' Hard.... I didn't realize you were so close to goal weight!! That totally rocks! I have read that the last 5 or so pounds are the toughest to lose, hang in there and they will disappear!

I hope everyone is doing great and are getting through the week, the weekend is not far away... and it begins tomorrow for the people down here!! WOOOHOOO!

Keep up the good work everyone! :D

Hi Everyone~ Looking forward to see how you all did yesterday.
JoAnn--Thanks for the pat on the back. People are getting used to seeing the "new me" and don't seem to say much anymore, but I still like to hear it!
I basically count calories. I tend to think of food in 100-calorie portions and it's easy to count! For breakfast, I eat Kashi to Good Friends cereal. It does taste a little like twigs, but once you get used to it, I like it. It's high in fiber and I eat about 200 calories worth. I don't put milk on it--I eat it dry. It's super crunchy and satisifies that need as well. I drink a couple of cups of coffee in the morning, with just a little bit of milk. I also drink 48 oz of water before lunch. (Especially around 10:30 when the belly is rumbling!) For lunch, I eat 2 slices of diet bread (100 cals) and two pieces of fat free cheese (50 cal) with mustard and a green apple (100 cal) and I drink a diet coke (can't give THAT up!!). After school is probably my worst time of the day. I usually have a handful of dried apples (100 cals) and some crackers or popcorn (100 cals). Dinner is usually about 200 cals worth of protein (chicken, fish, lean beef or eggs), 200 cals worth of starch and a salad. For dessert, I either have 2 rice cakes (100 cals) or I have recently found the skinny cow ice cream sandwiches (130 cals). So, by the end of the day, it adds up to 1300 cals or so. I figure if I come in under 1500, it's a good day. Like I've said before, I eat whatever I want on Fridays and even then, I rarely go over 2000. When I think about what I USED to eat--my goodness, 2000 would have been a good day!
I hope this helps! I've seen other people post guidelines for calorie allotments for b'fast, snacks, lunch and dinner, and those are pretty helpful in planning.
Speaking of planning, I plan the week's dinners on Sunday mornings before I go grocery shopping. If I don't plan, we eat way too much pasta!! It also helps eliminate boredom. I recently read in a magazine that every time you go to the grocery store, you should try something new from the produce section. I have recently had a red pear ( I always bought green) and a new lettuce combination in the bag.
Well, this is the longest post I've ever written. I hope you all have an amazing day! Make it a good one!

Howdy TryinHard!
 

Thank you so much for your inspirational post! You have really made me realize that the OLD BASIC WAY of counting Calories is the best way to be TRUE BLUE to yourself! I was thinking of counting fat grams, but I know there are a lot of fat grams that read 0 but are loaded with sugar, therefore are not good for you.

I am weighing in at 179 (SOUNDS LIKE A BOXER!) :lol:
I am 56 yrs. old (MOTABOLISM SLOWED DOWN, WAY DOWN!):dizzy:
I am 5 " 5" (AND STRINKING!) :p And I am not very active.

TryingHard or anyone else.............DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT AMOUNT OF CALORES IF SHOULD LIMIT MYSELF TO in order to LOSE WEIGHT? It has been so long since I have counted calories, I have forgotten. Is there a site that will help me figure this? :?:

Hope to hear from someone soon?
Jo Ann struggling in TEXAS :(
[email protected]

JoAnn.. I get different numbers from all different sites as to how many calories I should intake per day. Who knows which are accurate or not!!

Some general rules I've heard are, never drop below 1200 calories a day, as this will put you in 'starvation mode' and your metabolism will slow. It is a good idea to fluctate daily calories. Like, if you're aiming for 1500 calorie limit, try 1600 one day, 1400 the next and just mix it up so your body never knows what to expect.. even 1700 one day and 1300 the next. As long as you're balancing out at around the 1500/day. Lastly, I've heard if you don't want to calculate to get your specific calorie requirements, most people will suggest you just aim for that 1500 calorie mark as it seems most folx will lose at that level. Of course, if you start out VERY overweight, that may be too little but 179 pounds is certainly not in that category.

Here is one link for you if you'd like to check it out. It's at iVillage. Look down at the 3rd row and there is a 'calorie quiz' that asks like 11 questions and gives you a recommendation of either a 1200, 1400 or 1600 calorie plan. It recommended to me the 1400 calories (I am 27, 5'4" and 149 lbs (down from 195)). Give it a try :) http://www.ivillage.com/diet/weightl...406848,00.html

Hope that helps, for some reason I cannot find any of the other calculators I've used in the past online. I'll let you know if I can figure out where they were ;-) You can try going to a search engine and searching for 'calorie calculator' and you'll probably get a number of hits with useful info :)

Christine
195/149/130