Congrats to everyone on the losses! I weigh myself tomorrow. Tiff, if your clothes are fitting better then you did great! Don't let the number get you down. This time I am also doing measurements, and I think that will help me when the scale doesn't say much. I can tell already that I've lost some size in different areas! Haven't measured yet. Got a spreadsheet from somewhere linked on this site, can't remember where. It tracks it all for you. Tells me to weigh-in weekly and measure every other week, so I guess I'll do it that way.

Last night I had a Boca burger, got the roasted onion ones... yummy! And some fresh corn and tomatos. Should've let the tomato ripen a little more, but it was okay. This morning I made myself a fruit medley (watermelon, cantelope, banana and strawberries) and toasted an English Muffin. Tasty!

I am about to go change and do my video. I have always avoided exercise. Now, I am actually looking forward to it! I think aliens have invaded my body! lol... In reality, I just thought of something as I typed that. I don't think I had really tried to get on an exercise regimine since I quit smoking. I bet since it's easier to breath and such, the exercising isn't as bad and that's why I am not avoiding it as much. Things that make you go hmmmmm....

Forgot who said that about being jealous about my farmers market being so close, but ... One thing that kept me going last summer when I was adjusting to living here was all the wonderful stuff I could get over there, and so many co-workers brought me tomatos and squash and stuff they grew themselves. I loved that. But, that being said, I cannot wait until next year when I move to New Orleans.

I finished grad school in social work last spring. I had some financial help with school under a federal grant that obligates me to work for the State of Alabama for 2 years. Just past one year, so I am on the home stretch now! I had an interview in this county and really liked the folks in my interview and got an offer right then. I had several jobs before grad school where I hated who I worked for. I knew that working for people I get along with was priceless. So later that day I called and accepted. While I really don't like living here, I love my job so it is not unbearable. I tell them all the time, if I could move the job with me to a big city, then I would. I love it! But I am a city girl. And I've always wanted to live in New Orleans, so that's where I'm headed. Gotta be healthy before I move there though so when I fall to the temptation of all that great food in that city, I can handle it!

Okay, enough from me for now. On to join my "friend" Susan Powter for a workout! Have a great day everyone!

Just Cuz, CONGRATS!!!! Good for you hon. Makes you feel awesome and really reinforces that desire to lose weight doesn't it!!!

Lizzo, I admire all those veggies and fruits you are getting in. I tend to eat the canned stuff. I am a convenience freak. (I know...canned veggies are gross compared to the real thing, but... )

I saw you mention Alabama. My grandmother lives in Foley and we travel down to Gulf Shores every summer and then skip on into Biloxi to do some gambling!!! Whoo Hoo!!!!


Here is my big news for the day. I KNOW we are not supposed to be scale watchers, but hot dang, it takes a big person not to hop on it every now and then. Ok, every day. Actually, I have ONLY been weighing in on Saturday, but not having a loss ticked me off, and just for grins, I hopped on this morning and low and behold, I was 2 pounds lighter. Of course, IT DOESN'T COUNT. I have a chart that I made on the computer and I had to put a big 0 under the weight loss column for Saturday, but it makes me feel AWESOME to know that there will be a loss next week! I will actually be weighing on Friday, early...cause I am headed to Atlanta to visit my father, so I want to weigh and get that charted and be on track when I leave! So, before I hit the road that morning, I will log in and update and then you won't see my hiney until Monday night. Whatever shall I do without my friends?????

Well, Lizzo, you have made me almost want to go out and get Susan Powter's video. I saw a picture of her recently and she is GORGEOUS now. Hair is a little longer....hold on, I will link you all to her pic...

Oh, heck, I will just post it here. I am not a computer genius!
I attached it, let's see if this works!!!

Off for my walk gals. DH is playing golf today and I am home with my 13 year old slug. I will see if she wants to go with me. Can't wait to hear the excuses!!!

Ta ta!!
Tiff

Wow she looks good. But, I've kinda gotten used to the cropped do! I want to buy some of her other videos but am strapped for cash until after I go to San Francisco. Might ask my folks to do it. One advantage to their obsession with my weight, they'll likely get me almost anything I ask for since they are so excited I'm doing this!

The video is getting easier. Not easy, but easier. I'm used to the moves and changes and stuff. So today I turned down the sound on the TV and put in a cd I love and cranked that up. That was a big help! Might work on a mixed work out cd and burn that. The slow songs weren't helpful... lol

Tif! I am going to Atlanta this weekend too! My dad and I are meeting in Birmingham Friday afternoon. We'll go to the Braves game on Saturday night. They're playing the Red Sox. Should be fun. Not sure what else we'll do.

Okay. Time for lunch. Not sure what I'll have. Hmmm....

Lizzo

Hey Lizzo, guess what? I just bought Susan Powter's Lean and Strong (I think that was what it was called) video off Ebay for $2.25!!! So, when I get it, I will check it out and see if I like it!!!

Check Ebay out for her other videos. You may just get a deal!!!!

Whoo Hoo!!! I'm pumped. Another great day! I made a GREAT pizza tonight. A Boboli thin crust with fat free marinara on it, and fat free mozzarella and some turkey pepperoni...veggies...I was thinking about making it for days and finally did, and although it wasn't ALL THAT compared to Pizza Hut, it did satisfy my craving for Pizza and that is all that matters.

I had some fat free Mandarin Orange Sorbet before bed tonight and that was yummy. Cool and tart on a warm summer's evening. Makes me REALLY want a cold piece of watermelon...YUM.

Feeling strong. Got a mile in tonight and I am headed to my neighbors house to swim before bed. They are on vacation and asked us to watch their pool. Oh, I'll watch it alright!

Later girls,
Tiff

i had such a busy weekend, i hate not coming on here, i just finished reading everyones posts, and i am not good at the individual shout outs either.

thanks for the susan pic. i had ordered her plan years ago, but havent heard anything new on her, just thought she faded out with alot of other eating plans.

congrats on those who lost and even those who didnt cause we are all trying so hard.

welcom lizzo. you sound so upbeat and very motivated, thats the attitude to have.

i have been doing great. although i slipped into temptation yesterday when my dd wanted to go to mcdonalds, i know there are stuff i could have orderded that would have fit right into my eating plan, but i just wanted the fries and chicken fingers more.

well today i am paying for it, my weigh in this morning was 187, that is a 3 lbs loss, i am happy , i will take it. but know i could have made it more, if i didnt slip yesterday. well at least i am out of the 190's and now it is moving ahead all the way. oh yea, i am still a scale hopper too, but only count the mon morn one, cause when i peeked yesterday it said 185, then i went and ate those darn fried things. dont know why i did that, you would think, i would be so happy to see 185, that i wouldnt sabatage myself, and think i could cheat, cause i had been doing so well. next time i will be stronger.

lets all have a great day.

Okay everyone! It's Monday... But, still, it WILL be a GREAT day! Right?!?! I'm about to get ready to go to work. Susan and I had a great workout today, but I had to leave her early and skip the abs portion. I kinda overslept.

So, here's to everyone staying on their program, whatever it is, today! And exercising at least a little. Y'all can do it! I know it!

(Geeze, this exercising in the morning is making me way to cheery so early )

Bye Y'all....

Lizzo

Hi girls, this is gonna be fast, I have alot of work to get done. I am doing fair, didn't have such a great weekend. Mcdonald's got the best of me on saturday for lunch. Although I did resist getting my usual ( I opted for the less fattening chicken fingers) and I never finished my fries, see I am changing!

Hooray.

On a darker note, got on the scale today and discovered I didn't lose this week. At least there was no gain, but it still stinks.

Ahhhh, we ARE all scale watchers. Letting our moods be dictated by that nasty mechanical object. Phooey on that.

Will, THREE POUNDS!!!! That is an awesome loss, especially considering that the average loss is 1-2 pounds a week. That was incredible. Don't give the McD's another thought. We all have to do that once in a while, otherwise we get into that mentality of "Oh, I CAN'T have that" and then you really go off the wagon. So, I am a believer in eating what you want. If you have McD's for one meal out of an entire week. BIG DEAL!!!! You are proof that you can still have a significant loss. Good for you.

Just me!! Looks like McDonalds was calling to you too!! You are in the same boat I was this week at weigh in. Nada, nothing, zero....BUT...thank God, we didn't gain!!!!! I'll take that, and I know I will show a loss this week, cause I am kicking butt and taking no prisoners!! (You will too!!!)

Nice to see everyone checking in, Monday's are crazy, but it's nice to get some reinforcement before diving into that day!

Hope everyone told themselves in the mirror this morning what a glorious day it was going to be!! (It's raining in Illinois, and that saved me from weeding the flower garden, but it is STILL a beautiful day!!!)

Hugs to my friends,
Tiffany

Hi everyone.
I didn't loose, but didnt' gain either. I knew I hadn't done as well as the previous week. It's hard not to fade back into those old habits.
I picked up another Bob Greene book. It's after the one he did with Oprah, but before the newest one. It has some great stuff about motivation. So many "one liners", for example...
"Passion and a positive attitude can take you anywhere."
"You create yourself through choice." I think I need to print some off to hang on my mirror! DH will think I'm nuts.
I too had fast food this weekend. Burger King fish. It was nasty, but somehow I still ate half of it. Funny thing was I didn't order fish. I ordered a burger, got home and it was fish! I guess it was a positive thing since I probably would have ate the whole burger!
I've been doing good making friends with the scale, trying not to live on it. Sticking to Monday weigh-ins. Sad it didn't go down this week, but I know why. And, I WILL LOOSE NEXT WEEK! I will drink my water, exercise and make wise food choices! I have to loose 2lbs per wk to hit my goal!!!
Willbethin, 3lbs is great!

Hello everyone!

So, today I went to the local library after work, the one that is CLOSED on the weekends I checked out Susan Powter's book, Stop the Insanity. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Had a good day. Ate well. Was busy at work so up and down the stairs A LOT. They're getting easier by the day!

Talked to my dad a little bit ago. He's an amazing cook. Well, he wants to bring either some fish or, if he can get them, soft shell crabs, in a cooler to Atlanta and cook them Friday night for our dinner. The fish I can live with. He only uses a little oil. The crabs, I had a moment of turmoil. I LOVE the way he does them, but he lightly fries them. I decided I've been doing so well, that it won't kill me to enjoy that dinner to the max. I did request healthy side dishes though (he's been known to fry potatoes or sweet potatoes with them... what can I say ... we're in the SOUTH!!) But, I might call him back and tell him to go with the fish. I don't know. I'm worried about what I'll have at the Braves game the next night. If we do the fish, I'll go on and have a hot dog. If the crab, then I have to find something better there. Okay, I've got all week to figure this out. I'll do well all week no matter what the weekend brings.

Hope y'all all had good days! Have a good evening too!!!

Having fun with the smilies... can y'all tell?

Liz,

Don't worry about the dinner with your dad. We all deserve a treat every now and then. Even skinny people occasionally over eat unhealthy things. The key to it is that it's not consistent. One mean in excess is not going to tip the scale. You may feel a little lethargic after, but it's not a biggie. Just make sensible choices the rest of the week. Enjoy yourself. You're worth it!

morning girls, i did great yesterday, still stayin in control and learning different things everyday, like i can really go 3 hrs and not think about food, if i eat the right kinds of foods. i used to think about food all the time, i am slowly changing that. i excercised yesterday and had my water. i am doing good so far today. the theory that no food is forbidden or that i am not on a specific plan and of course coming here with the great support, i am doing so much better and learning to control my cravings. i am learning to like whole wheat pasta. and gettting more veggies in, oh and yesterday i even had 2 fruits, that is a record for me, i rarely eat fruit. so i am changing little by little day by day, my "OWN" way. this could work!!!!

lizzo, i hope you dont worry to much about what you are gonna eat, i used to obsess about it thinking all the time, just like you sound like in your posts, then when the time came and i didnt follow my plan, i was so upset , i just ate everything in sight. so just try to enjoy and take the days as they come, we have to start trusting ourselves to make the right decisions when the situation might be unpredictable. i am not saying you are like me, but your post just sounded so familier. i am slowly getting out of that mentality.

hi tif, oh about mcd's, it will always be there, me and my daughter will probably go once a week, so i wont sweat it, thanks. the fact is , is i know it is not good food for me, but i love it and if i dont allow myself to have french fries once a week from there, then this isnt going to work for me. maybe i can switch to a salad with my fries instead of chicken fingers or a cheeseburger, but if it happens it happens , i am not telling myself i have to have a salad instead, it will be a choice i make when the time comes and hopefully make healthier decisions next time.

lets all have a great day

hi just me, we must have been posting at the same time. great advice , very well said.

Hi Everyone!
I'm having a 'doing my own thing' crisis. I don't want to count calories or fat grams, don't want to do points. But, darn is it hard to teach yourself to eat right w/o using a plan. Especially when my version of a portion is more like 2 (or 3).
Have any of you used good diet software? I'm logging my food at fitday.com, but it isn't complete enough....or maybe I'm not doing it right. Maybe I'm just dense.
Today after breakfast, lunch & snack I had 432cal/6g fat. I still felt hungry, and think maybe that was low. ? Maybe I need to make up my own pyramid and mark off the servings as I eat them. ? I need to do something until I retrain myself to eat correctly. Any ideas out there?

Tigerlily I have an idea. If you're not into doing a specific plan then why don't you just let your body do all the work for you. Eat when you feel hungry, stop when you're satisfied. Try to avoid eating between meals unless your next meal or snack is more that 3 hours away. Just remember to listen to what your body tells you, I think that for the most part we've all gotten away from doing that. Alot of times I think I need a snack but when I wait it out, it ends up that I was really just thirsty. See, who knows.

I also think that 400 calories for both breakfast and lunch is VERY low. Your bulk of calories should be early in the day as that is when our metabolism is at it's slowest. You want to eat early to rev up your metabolism for the rest of the day. Also, it gives your body more time to burn what you've eaten. This way by the time dinner rolls around you're not storing extra calories as fat.

Hope you found some of this interesting, try it out, don't stress out!