tryin'hard-that is too funny!
Men usually have it so much easier though...naturally faster metabolisms and a naturally lower body fat percentage than women...my husband can drop a couple pounds just by cutting out his midmorning vending machine trip at work, and exercising a bit more.
Tell your husband not to worry-he can still eat what he wants, just have him use your treadmill or go walking with you, and maybe cut out a small habit he may have, such as a fattening bedtime snack, or something like that. It should do the trick if all he is wanting to lose is a couple of pounds-and he won't have to be cranky worrying about a diet! It is the little habits like these that we develop that put on the pounds-that mocha latte every week at the coffee shop, the lack of exercise, that candy bar from teh vending machine habit we may start at work...these are the things to watch out for...they creep up on you!
Have a good evening!
Aphil

Howdy Chickies!!!! :wave:

Just back from Curves and I feel good!!!!

The scale has not budged since my half pound gain after Christmas not what is up with that??? I am totally OP also! :shrug: Hope next week will show a loss!

Hang tough I say !!!! :lol:

Nola~~ Not moved to Calgary yet,(Bruce has) but funny you should mention Vernon, Bruce's niece lives in Vernon :)
I hope you had a great time while you were back in Canada.

Amy~~ Tell me about Pilates, you are the queen of exercise info ! :)

TryinHard~~ Men are too funny at times . Being a fly on the wall would be a hoot... As a matter of fact I bet they are asking each other all the time "Do these overalls make my butt look big " :lol:


UpandAway~~ Good for you for staying strong!!! You get the little happy dancer for your mini victory :dance:

Holly, DNW, T-Girl, Christine~~ How are you ?

Ok, am going to post a picture soon of myself at my top weight and then one of me recently. Prepare yourselves :lol:

Bye for now!

Nancy:df:

Nancys Before Picture
 

Ok still trying to post a pic,, says file is too big....duh...go figure I did weigh 304 pounds... :lol: :lol:


Nancy:df:

Still laughing at Nancy....:lol: :lol: that was a good one!
Good morning everyone!
Nancy-Pilates is a form of exercise that is strength training of your body's "core"-in other words the main trunk of your body-abdominal muscles, your entire back, and your buttocks. Basically your body without all of its appendages. :lol: It is a slow paced workout, free flowing like yoga-but strengthening movements like lying on your back and lifting the upper part of your body up like you were trying to sit up, and holding yourself in that position for a few seconds-or laying on your tummy, and lifting your head and shoulders off of the floor and holding it-to strengthen your back. I hope that explains it a bit!
:D
Don't worry about your lack of loss when you first start up exercising again, Nancy! You have to remember that you are building muscle now, and that it is possible for you to lose in inches while your weight stays the same some weeks! (So do take measurements as well as your WW weigh ins!) When my mother started working out over a year ago-she weighed 135-she was already small at a size 9, but she was flabby and out of shape. Now she weighs 130-only a loss of 5 pounds-but she is a size 6!!!!! :o That is what exercise does! She looks 15 pounds thinner, but in reality it is only 5-everything is just firmer and tighter and smaller now!
Well, I better get going-today is bellydancing day...woo! hoo!
Aphil

Hi everyone!

t-girl WELCOME BACK!!! so glad to hear from you again!!You were always such a positive and pumped voice for exercising. Yeah that you're back "on the wagon" :lol:

Nola! Hi! Glad that you're back in you old stomping grounds. But gosh, no 'cycle riding in this hemisphere at this time of year, eh?

Nancy, still giving you the virtual high five for joining Curves! Yes, definitely measure with a tape measure, maybe once a month. Because you'll be seeing the oh-so-nice changes in shape, not just pounds.

Amy, congrats !!! on being into the 180's now!! Keep those cute jeans out in sight for motivation!!

Hi tryin'hard! That is funny about your husband asking for permission to eat! Good luck to him, though he has such a role model in his house!

I am going to do my best to compete with you for maintaining, girlfriend!!:D

Hi Kina! So glad that your sore throat is all gone. What is the family challenge?

hi upandaway! Good for you for the bike riding, and for having those little victories, which really add up. Hope you're having a great day.

hi DNW, how are you doing? Are you feeling better by now, I hope?

I really need to tighten up my maintaining resolve. It has been very easy in the past few weeks to have formerly forbidden foods, and I have slacked big-time on drinking water, which I think has been leading to the false hungry feeling. I have GOT to get back to my regimen!! I have still been keeping up with almost daily exercise, so I think that has been my saving grace...but I can't skate long-term. Everyone please send me a mental kick in the rear! Ow! Thanks!!!

I think I might even go back into the archives here and read posts from last year to help inspire me...

Talk to you soon!

Your friend, Holly

I'm back - I need to post my weight to be serious about getting back on track = 145. I was at 142 right before Christmas, I believe.

Hey! I tried out a new exercise tape today - I'm pumped!! It's Gilad's "Split 45/45 Routine Workout", Volume 2, Toning. It has a 7 minute warmup; standing strength and toning for chest, shoulders, arms, waitst, hips and thighs; then floorwork for abs, outer thighs, inner thighs and butt.

Man, I was straining to finish each set! That is good, because I have not been pushing myself lately during my routines. They have become relatively easy; I haven't been straining or "feeling that burn"! so I definitely need to challenge myself further, and this tape is gonna do it.

I am so excited about how these changes in my routine might look in a month or so! Maybe this will be how I can finally shape my legs so I am content with them.

"Feeling the burn", Holly

Good for you Holly! I love how at Collage video it shows you what level the exercise tapes are-I am intermediate to advanced on toning/strenght training videos, but I still need beginner videos on Pilates and Yoga-I am still working on my flexibility-and beginner aerobics type videos. I cna do the moves and all, but it is the stamina that I have trouble with as far as having my heart rate elevated for so long-after I while I can start huffing and puffing... :(
I am still cracking up at Nancy and her sarcasm with the "before" photo being too large to post...that was just priceless!
Aphil

TGIF Everyone! Fridays are tough for me, the classes I have are a 'challenge', to put it kindly. It's a good thing I have two days off to recoup afterwards! Still hanging in there. Yesterday could have been better. DS turns 12 today and we got his birthday cookie. One tiny slice, when I wanted the whole thing! The water and veggies took a slide too, but the exercise was on track and the attitude is strong, so hey, I'm hanging in there. Hope everyone has a great day on the way to a great weekend.
upandaway

OMG! You ladies, I am SO upset it's beyond describing and that is why I didn't get on here yesterday. But I am going to briefly describe the trauma that I have been subjected to, along with my son. Seeing that I will be dropping off my children at school from now on.

Yesterday afternoon, when the children were expected, I heard the bus from down the street. Like every day I went out to the door so the driver can see me and will stop in case he is a sub-driver. Well of course he didn't stop even though I was out there screaming. So then he does stop finally a little bit late but somewhat in front of the house. So Vianca gets off and I am motioning to the driver to stop there is one more to get off. And he is looking at me and I hand-motioning "one more". Well without noticing, like I noticed, my son gets off the bus and as my son starts to walk across the street-half way past the engine-the busdriver takes off his warning signals and begins to accelerate with my son right in front of his bus....OMG! I start to scream and motion with hands again. My son hears the engine moving and begins to run across to the sidewalk. OMG I got on the phone and started calling the safety director of the man driving. I was crying over the phone. I cried all day and I think I cried most of the night. I went to bed at about 8:30 because I was exhausted from crying and woke up at 2am and tossed and turned the rest of the night. Just the other day I was telling my son, Mark Anthony, that he never tells me he loves me and that he should. He said " I don't tell you because I love you. You know I love you. " I told him no you should always say not just figure the other person knows. So yesterday I finally was out of shock I just hugged him for the longest time and I told him if something had happened to you I would never be able to hear you tell me you love me. See why it is important for you to say it. After that he would tell me over and over. I guess my crying was more about what possibly could of happen. I can't even describe my terror. I was crying when I called DH...OMG he got even more pissed. He went out there and starting a ruckus and demanded for the safety of all children that that driver undergo a drug test. So he would not be working today since he would be getting a drug test. Thank God. But for that reason I will be driving them and picking them up from now on.

So with that I better get going they want to get to breakfast.
Bye.
Kina

Good morning everyone!
Kina-so sorry to hear how upset you were over what happened yesterday with the bus. It seems that you are even more a protective mother than I am-and I thought I was bad. ;) My children have never even had a babysitter that wasn't a grandparent-I just can't seem to trust anyone to watch them but their grandparents. (And I am sure that if that day ever comes, that I will be the mom with the nanny cams all over the house!) :lol: I hope that you are feeling better about things today.
upandaway-I hope your "hard" exercise classes go well today! When my kids get a little older, I may start taking a class outside of the home just for a change of pace, and to meet new people. Our local YMCA has a lot of classes that they offer-like Pilates, aerobics, yoga-etc.
My in-law's are coming up this evening to come and get the kids for the weekend-they just emailed me last night about it-so it looks like my husband and I will have tomorrow all to ourselves-that will be really nice.
Today is strength training day for me-which usually takes about 50 minutes for my whole body-and it is pretty intense. I am really looking forward to today's workout.
Holly-here is that kick in the butt you wanted! :drill:
have a good day!
Aphil

Hi I'm Back with some good news!!
 

Kina: Wow...I can understand how upset you could be...you know these bus companies will hire anyone and in NYC there have been dozens of scandals over the years with the problem of incompetent drivers and buses that are just not safe..where I live in Jersey we have had some problems too...I am so sorry you had to go through that.

Vermont: Pilates...I get couriouser and curiouser about it...saw your Xmas picture...very inspiring.

Snowey: You were 304....I am now very motivated because I can see that if you can do it I can do it.

Aphil: You always give the best advice. That's why I like to visit here.

Tryinhard: I wish my husband would try to watch what he eats, he is actually only about 30 lbs. overweight but losing that would really help his Diabetes and he thinks cheese is a required food group..and he's a nurse so he knows better....-a-a-g-g-h-h men :mad:

upandaway: Giant birthday cookies...that's a hard one...congrats on just one small slice..

Kanola: Hope you have a safe trip back and sorry you are so sad to leave..

Now my good news. I started positing at 3fc on 9/11/02 and I had just given blood the month before and found once again my cholesterol (which was never a problem before I went into Menopauseland) was 215...my nurse practitioner said I would have to start medications if it didn't come down. Also the old glucose was starting to creep up too.

Gave blood on 12/4/02 and just got my blood donor card in the mail. Cholesterol is now 194!!!!! :dance: :dance: :dance:

I am so happy and I bet my heart is happy too...with only a 13 lb. weight loss and some exercise and a change in food I accomplished something very good for my body and don't have to take another pill..this is the best news for me and I wanted to share it with you all.

Take care and sorry if I missed saying Hi to anyone else out there.

DNW-I am so glad that you have good news with your blood levels going down! That is so fantastic!!!!! I know exactly how you feel, and how you feel about your husband and his diabetes. Along with wanting to look and feel better-another goal of mine with getting fit is to keep from getting full fledged diabetes. When I was a gestational diabetic, I didn't like how it made me feel, plus the burden of checking my blood sugar all of the time, and the possible scary things if you do not keep it under control. (I do a fasting blood sugar test first thing in the morning about twice a week, just to make sure things are still good for me, and not turning that way.) I know how important the health benefits are of getting fit-and like you said, even a relatively smaller weight loss of 5-15 pounds can greatly help with heart problems, or back pain, or other health issues. I am happy for you! :D
Today starts the dreaded TOM...I don't PMS all that much, but let me tell you, the first day of TOM-EVERY TIME-I just feel like eating carbs all day long! The past couple months I have given myself permission to have a couple hundred extra calories each month on this one day-up to 1800 instead of trying to keep it around 1500, and that seems to help-but I still hate that feeling. I am trying to take it hour by hour, until today is through!!What else can you do?
Well, I need to get in the shower and get the rest of this house straightened up before the inlaws get here this evening...you ladies have a wonderful day!
Aphil

Aphil: Thanks for the thumbs up on my annoucement. I am glad I am at the point in my life where my health matters more than how thin I'll be. Wish I'd felt that way years ago!

Hello everyone!

Kina - OMG, how terrifying that must have been. I am so glad that he was not actually injured. But I'm sure you saw that in your mind a million times over. You have done all you can now, what with notifying the authorities, and now being responsible yourself for taking/picking up from school (whew!)

DNW, congrats on the lower cholesterol!!! and for being a blood donor, you are one of the "everyday heroes"! I am at my #31 pint donation, and feel proud each time I do it.

Thank you, Sargeant Aphil, for the kick in the pants, may I have another one, ma'am? (just kidding! the one should do it!:lol: )

Hi upandaway, tryin'hard, Nancy, t-girl, Kanola, and everyone else!

My gripe for the day - when people are crabby at you, and make a big deal out of little things - I'm doing counter-work at a sandwich shop/bakery for the winter, so am dealing with hungry people all day...one guy actually rolled his eyes at me, when I told him we were out of the type of soup he wanted (it WAS crossed out on the board, indicating we were out of it, and geez, we had ONLY 3 others to choose from :lol:) and it just irked me so much when he looked so wounded and "put-upon" - I felt like smacking him upside the head, and saying "don't be such a big baby!"

AND, by honest mistake, I gave the last sesame bagel to someone other than whom it was supposed to go to - I apologized profusely, and offered the other 4 varieties - this guy doesn't acknowledge my apology, ALSO rolls his eyes, chooses a different bagel, then sarcastically says, "and don't give it away to someone else this time." People are STARVING in other parts of the world, some folks don't have the resources to eat in restaurants ever, and sure, it's okay to be disappointed, but don't be such a friggin' baby about it...okay, ranting over! :D

Have a nice night!

Your friend, Holly

Thanks you guys! Today was better. Of course I had to get up and take the kids to school. I went and picked them up after school. It's a big adjustment. Mark Anthony, the one who was involved in the near miss situation, said he didn't have enough time for breakfast. So I have to get them there a bit earlier next time. So there is plenty of room for adjustment. I just hope that I will be able to uphold this once school begins next week. It's going to be difficult, but for th safety of my children I will fly to the moon if that's what it takes.

Aphil~~~Oh don't be silly...I think as a mom we have no boundaries as to how protective we could be once we are put into situations. I think it is exactly what any mother would have done...but then nowadays there are so many mothers who don't give a darn.

OMG...speaking of did any of you see that newscast of the lady who left her 7yr old and 4yr old alone for like 3 weeks because she went to meet some guy she had met on the internet. She was totally sane, but not sane, in other words she knew what she was doing and she intentionally did it, leave the children alone that is. She gave the older one instructions of do's and don'ts and left them so much food and left. What the heck was she thinking...oh and her parting words of affection to her oldest was "Wish me luck that this works out." Meaning her meeting this online guy would become grow into something. Good God! I'm sorry when women do things like that they should make it a rule that they instantly undergo some sort of tubuligation or hysterectomy so that they won't have anymore children that they could possibly harm...mentally, physically, verbally and any other possible way!

Whew! Sorry about that. I just can't swallow that one and be okay with it. I love my children and would never dream of living without them and that is including my "special" son who I don't consider less than my own, born from my womb.

DNW~~~Big CONGRATS go out to you! Any success is worth an applause. At this point seeing that I am on a plataeu I will take anything I can account for a success. Even if it means patting myself on my back for the simple fact that I drank my 8 glasses of water. You keep it up and take a *bow*!

UPandAway~~~It's good to see the old willpower is working. Hey we have nothing to rely on but ourselves so might as well fight for what want. And well then we are only normal we have to once in a while enjoy lifes little pleasures. But just a "little" at a time.

Kanola~~~Long time no see. How have you been doing?

Nancy~~~I didn't mean to dismiss your wonderful accomplishment...I just didn't notice it at the end of your post the other day. Lady, did you know you are melting away faster than an ice cube in Texas! You have got to be so proud of yourself and then EXERCISE...OMG! STEP OUT OF THE WAY and ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET! You go girl!

Holly~~~Those jerks! I swear some people can be so rude! You just smile and be your wonderful self! That will get them good! LOL

Okay I know that there are plenty I didn't mention but I love you anyway!

I am going to go and get a perm tomorrow...I think. I am kind of nervous since it has been a couple of years now since I had my last perm. Actually since I had my old perm cut off from the ends of my hair. Since then I have just had it so straight. I hate my straight hair I can't do a darn thing with it. I think it is straight and fine but others think I have thick hair. Well if that were the case I would think styles would hold better but they don't. The only time I was happiest with my hair was when I had it permed, ver tight curl and long. So I think I am not going to think about it and just go do it otherwise it won't get done.

So okay I'm getting up early tomorrow for our girl day. I told my little one if she sits still for mommy to get her hair done I will take her to get a manicure. She is all excited about it. So hopefully she will sit still. I better get out of here. Oh one more thing if my messages become sort of sparse it is because school started and also my part time job at the college. Okay talk to you all later.
Toodles...Kina