My dog likes to kiss my face when I go down into push ups on my ball. He's going to be so excited when I get the ball back out tonight. He also snuggles when I lay on my yoga mat and gets in my way but I don't mind.

Nice NSV! I am in that place where I'm tired of the comments. This should be another "stages of weight loss" post. I was pi$$ed when people weren't commenting in the beginning and just this week I told my husband, "I can't wait until I can go somewhere and the first thing mentioned isn't my weight loss." Don't get me wrong, I like the nice comments here and there but it's just not all there is to me. Am I the only one that is so wishy washy?

Great NSV!

When I started on the ball, I found it helpful to just sit on it and bounce a bit. It's good for a leg workout and helps get those core muscles working which will make the crunches easier. Remember the farther out you roll on the ball, the more difficult it is to balance. There's a lot to be said for just sitting on the ball and rolling out while keeping your hips up.

Reverse crunches on a ball can be fun. I usually have a cat walk under me, but I can see the dog in the face too. The bigger the ball, the harder they are.

I totally hear what you are saying and I can be just as wishy washy. I want people to acknowledge that I look good, but not necessarily that I have lost weight. I think that was part of why I actually stopped the first time around. People were making so many comments--including the 'don't lose too much' that I was uncomfortable. Imagine saying to someone well over 200 pounds don't lose too much weight! For me though, most people don't have a clue how much I weigh because my body is relatively proportional. I have a belly but it is below my waist, so I just look curvy.

Anyway, most of the time, I appreciate the compliments, but there are definitely times when I'd rather be recognized for something other than my weight loss. Last time through I was pretty public with what I was doing and this time, I've been much more of a need to know basis. I don't know how long that will last or whether it's really the best decision because I know that my resolve is shakier with everything else going on in my life, but we'll see. People will notice eventually, but I've still got another 15 pounds to get back to where I was when I stopped.

Okay, I've rambled enough! Have a great day!

Morning ladies!
I find the numbers kind of interesting myself. I'm finding when I shop for clothes that while I'm reaching for the correct sizes, my brain really isn't making the connection that yes I am that size. Here are my stats thus far:
total loss of 57 inches
chest- 38"
waist- 30.5"
hips- 37"
thigh- 20.75"
arm- 11.5"
I'm currently wearing a size 10 but if I keep losing from my mommy muscle, I will be comfortable in an 8 soon.
It's another blah type November day here, quite cool yet and the wind is supposed to blow so I think I'll get caught up on some cleaning and organizing.

Morning all...Today is a much better day. I'm 50 (few weeks shy of 51) and perimenopausal for years. 5 years ago I had an endometrial ablation (basically had the inside of my utereus fried) and no longer bleed. I have bled enough in my lifetime for 10 women! I am now having periodic spotting and am so not happy about this. Praying its just some hormonal upheaval from rapid fat loss. Explains to me why I'm having "non skinny" days and wishing I lived in a two-story home so I could throw the scale out the window!!!!

Interesting to be comparing inches lost and sizes. I would like to pipe in with my measurements later. I'm wearing M/L tops and 12 dresses/pants. And while I never thought it would happen, especially now, today I am wearing sz 10 velvet jeans very comfortably! Yes, I'm smiling.

Congrats to all continuing the weight losses in the next phases. I know we don't count calories but I have decided I need to begin looking at current food choices and how they will compare to life ahead. Does anyone have an idea of the accepted calorie allotment for phase 2 or 3? I know there are a few who use myfitnesspal. Please chime in!......I just began to do so. (scanning the barcode on my bar this AM was too cool)

Keep up the good work exercising. As you work to stabilize your body on that ball, you are working your core. Your core is not just your abdomonal muscles, but your mid and lower back as well as those side muscles. Visualize those muscles while doing your exercises and see just how fast they respond to your efforts. I was so stressed out on Tuesday that I pulled out one of my power walk tapes.....3 miles for about 50 minutes, start to finish. I used to be able to rock it, but my endurance is gone. Yes, I felt so much better afterwards, but during...thought I was gonna die! I did have an EAS drink prior but a friend of mine pointed out that I'm lacking the carbs for my body to burn for fuel. Duhhhh! That is why you should keep the intensity down...which I have been until the other night.

Regarding weight loss comments......I have mixed feelings here. Here lately, I've been "in need" of them to keep me focused and remind me that I am not finished this journey yet. I just ran into a former (male) coworker the other day. He hasn't seen me in about 15 years. Even though I weighed about the same, I look so much better NOW. He didn't see me in my rough years and it was nice to know that.....and I so appreciated the look on his face when he saw me!

I will weigh/measure either tomorrow or Sat. and post my numbers.

Toodles.....

Just wanted to add...... I just received the text below in an email from my coach. I know it's all positive but this is some of where my rant came from the other day. What would you feel constantly reading these?

Another dieter just walked out of the clinic after completing all phases of the diet.

Suz lost 10 pounds and 4 and 3/4 inches in less than 7 weeks on the diet.

Suz DID NOT CHEAT!!

She says," It really was not hard even though others tried to sabotage me. It was easy to stay focused knowing I could wear my bikini on vacation and feel good in it."

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Love the new pic Cat!

I just had a great phase 2 lunch. I'm not gonna lie, I was watching the clock for about and hour and a half before lunch because I was so excited to eat real food. I only had 1 phase 1 day this week, to try to jumpstart things, but today I needed that "real" lunch more than other days for some reason.

Jenny: I just noticed my week 17, 18 and 19 weigh ins are similar to a sequence you had. Maybe this means I will lose 2lbs next week like you did.

That would irritate me.

love your new profile picture, you look great!!

I would not appreciate those kind of emails, For myself, I would feel they are being directed towards me and then it would just upset me

And a great avatar picture. The velvet pants?

Thanks.....I will see her on Sat and I am going to come up with some way to let her know that it affects me negatively. Unfortunately, like so many things in this world we have no control over, the only thing that really needs to change is my attitude. I understand exactly why she's sending them out but she needs to know that there can be a down side as well.

Thanks....and yes ma'am, those are my velvet pants! I think its a really good idea for us all to take photos when we really feel great about ourselves. I see a woman in that picture that I don't see in the mirror and I can really see what everyone else sees. Makes my frustrations a bit easier to handle.

Isn't that the truth! I never see the same thing others do so when I have a good day I cherish it.

Getting love the new pic, and yes that would irritate me getting something like that. the only thing I thought of at the time of reading it is... she only had to lose 10 lbs? and it took 7 weeks... *****y that I am...
I have to tell you I am not having a good week where food is. It has been sketchy all week, I am working downtown for 2 days and there is a little food court but hardly anything I can eat. I did bring my salad and tuna yesterday to eat but today I thought I would be back at my office so I brought stuff to make egg foo young and am still downtown... ended up having a lettuce with thai chicken on top not the best but ate my bean sprouts and mushrooms later to get my 2 cups... haven't been having my night time snack. would rather have a tea. and today can't seem to get water down me... and tonight off looking for a house for a friend. I think I am at the point where I know it matters what I eat but just not hungry this week... and of course my supper meals have been late all week first because of Halloween and then just busy. I keep saying I will try better today... tomorrow back at my regular office so can do better...hopefully.

I hope all of you are having a wonderful day.

Hugs back at ya! We've all been there. Oh, and I was thinking the same thing, 7 weeks and only 10 pounds? Then I got to thinking, the rate I'm going, it will take me longer to lose the last 11lbs than 7 weeks so I should probably keep my mouth shut.

Oh this is so fun looking at measurements! I've lost 46 1/2 pounds and 46 1/4 inches. I wear a size 10 and my measurements are:

chest- 37.25"
waist- 34"
hips- 38.5"
thigh- 20"

I am going to be 59 in 11 days and have the matronly up and down figure (no hourglass anymore). I went through menopause 8 years ago, so no more estrogen!

Hi everyone. I've been kind of busy lately and haven't been able to post much. I get the time to read a few posts and then I have to get off the computer before I post.

Something really.. surprising.. and disheartening happened, and I hope you guys can give me some insight into this, because I can't comprehend it, and I'm really kind of freaking out. I'll try to be brief:

So I got labs done about 2 weeks prior to starting IP. Everything was normal. My cholesterol level was 176 (normal range 125-200). Now, this past Monday I went in for labs again, since I have new insurance blah blah blah, I was so excited to see what difference IP made (even though I was in the normal range.). Everything came back normal EXCEPT my cholesterol level, which is now high, at 201. I know it's barely out of range.. but it really saddens me. I've been regarding IP in such a positive light, and now this result.. I don't know what to make of it. All I could think of is that it's because of all the meat that I've been eating. I eat beef about once a week and the rest of the time it's either chicken, fish, shrimp. Before IP I didn't use to eat meat all the time. Red meat was really rare for me.. like maybe once a month, and chicken 2-3 a week. When I read the results I felt immediately as if I had completely lost faith in IP, and I felt like just eating whatever. Maybe it was an extreme reaction.. but really, why am I getting worse numbers now?? I would really really appreciate some feedback. I know that whatever i"m thinking right now isn't completely rational, so Im going to try to just hold on, hear what you guys have to say, and try to calm down as soon as possible.

I would really appreciate your input guys