2014 Starters November & December.....Heading into the Holidays Again!
 

So I am lumping the next 2 months together since they both come with holiday challenges....Lets keep going....

Sue, thanks for getting us kicked off!

Your "combined Nov-Dec holiday" title reminded me of this cartoon I saw recently ... LOL

Does anyone else think this year has flown (is flying) by?

https://mindstar.com/scratch/TG_XMas.jpg

Thanks for the new thread, Sue!

And as always, Alexandra - what a great graphic visual! Love the cartoon!

New month, new path for me - determined to get back on track.
I want to start the new year with the regain behind me, and with a 2016 vision that is about fitness, maintenance, and health instead of resolutions strictly focused on weight loss.

I hope the next thoughts I am about to share do not turn anyone off. I am watching Super Soul Sunday this AM... Oprah is interviewing Paul Williams and Tracy Jackson... (Paul is a singer/songwriter.... Remember Kermit's song in the Muppet Movie, "Rainbow Connection"? it starts with "why are there so many songs about rainbows and what's on the other side"
The book (Gratitude and Trust) is aimed at folks with life-limiting habits - those who numb or self medicate their way thru life's challenges with food, shopping, and other non drug addictions.... Somehow that description is resounding to me right now.... Really? :dizzy: yes, really.... :)

In their book, they have identified 6 affirmations:
- Something needs to change....and it is probably me.
- I don't know how to do this, but something inside me does.
- I will learn from my mistakes and not defend them.
- I will right the wrongs whenever possible.
- I will live my life in service with purpose, in gratitude and trust

Whoa... The 3rd one about not defending my mistakes... Letting go of the mistakes and looking forward - that is where I need to be right now... And allowing myself to feel connection and community with my 2014 Starter IPeeps is the source of fuel for my journey.
Thanks for letting me share some of my spiritual exploration as I try to work my way through this period of floundering....
Love you guys!
cheryl
ps: the episode with Paul Williams repeats on the OWN network today if you are in a more western time zone, or you can likely find the video on Oprah's website. I recorded it for repeat viewing because it is one that encourages me and helps lift me out of negativity or fear that I cannot do this.

Sue - thank you as always for starting a new thread. I was thinking at the new year maybe we just start a thread with no “date” reference and just restart it when it hit 500…. just a thought:)

Sue I remember Paul:) I loved your post, thank you. I can find inspiration in many places if I am open, and I appreciated you sharing that.

One - Very interesting and true.... It comes from within...

Yes figured I would combine the months since there are not as many of us left :( Lets stick together thru the holidays...

I am planning a strictly OP week this week, however we have the last of the college visits tomorrow and thursday so meals will be out those 2 days but I can work with that... Fridge is stocked and I am ready to go...

One, I hope yesterday was successful for you and you stayed OP for the continuation of your losing journey.

Sue, thanks for starting the new thread, I hope your campus visits go well and you are able to make good food choices.

I went off plan in a BIG BIG BIG way yesterday! I made it through Halloween, I wasn't tempted by the candy we handed out, I went to our party where there was treats and drinks and was fine with it for a good part of the night. Then I read bad news about a family member, and that instead of a happy family trip next week I might be faced with a grieving family visit. I got bummed and it put a damper on the night for me, but I stuck around for my DH as he was having a great time and cabs are a nightmare... I was still ok with the food for a bit, but sometime after 2am I was really tired, and emotional and really just wanted to eat crap! I went as far as eating some processed meat and cherry tomatoes which wasn't great but not bad, then near the very end (3:00 or 4:00 if you don't account for the time change ) I was so very, very tempted but I said no and I didn't eat any we candy or junk. Victory...almost.... I was up at 8:30 and DH was still in bed and I was still feeling emotional and well I couldn't get cheating out of my head, there was talk of meeting up for brunch with some people from the party and I was imagining bacon eggs and french toast! So finally after waiting all morning I got him up just before noon complaining about how I really wanted to stuff my face! Trying to make a long confession at least a bit shorter, I caved! And not just one meal, the whole day!! I'm over it though, and ready to be back OP today!

DD - That may spur some weight loss as long as you get right back on today.

Sue - Have fun on the last of the college visits! And, you sound like you are in a good state of mind.

I only lost 1.1 pounds last week. I am very disappointed with that result. I was starving last week for some reason especially yesterday, but I didn't give in to temptation. If I would have sat home yesterday, I probably would have, but instead, my 2 brothers, sister-in-law and went out to the casino for the day. I am never hungry there as I love to play video poker. They ate at the buffet but I just had my IP stuff so I was good with that. I made Quest chocolate cookies yesterday for the week, and I would have eaten all 10 if I didn't leave the house. My first thought when I woke up this morning is how much better I feel for not having given into that temptation than if I would have.
I think I am overdoing it a bit with minimums, boot camps, etc so this week I am going to up my calories by 100. I have been eating Quest pudding but I don't find that as filling any more which is why I made the cookies - they are definitely more filling for some reason.
I thought for sure I was going to have a 5 pound loss but I won't let it get me too down as I know I'll probably get it next week or so. I fit into a pair of jeans that I haven't worn since March so that was a good NS victory/feeling.

This week for me is Week 12 so last week to finish 3rd month of reboot. I go back to the doctor next Monday for my next blood test. It will have been 5 weeks since I have been there so I want to have a big loss this week so they see a big loss over the span of past 5 weeks. I feel this week I need to eat to lose though so I will make sure not to get less than 800 calories this week. I have my meals planned. I found a recipe for meatballs on IdeallyYou.com - I am looking forward to making those. I don't usually eat red meat, but I have a craving for it so perhaps my body needs some iron after not eating meat the last 2 out of 3 weeks.

Have a good week everyone!

Thanks Ro, congrats on the NSV!!

Didn't you lose 5# last week? I know that my body hardly ever has 2 large losses back to back. It usually takes a week or 2 for my body to adjust to a large loss. I wouldn't be discouraged. With that being said...

I have noticed that when I play around with eating restricted and unrestricted, it tends to trick my body. In the past, I would go a couple of days eating all unrestricted and I would see a drop. Then I would add back in restricteds and then see another drop. Might be worth a try...

Thanks, Jenny. No, I lost 2.2 pounds last week and 5.1 the prior week. I had my TOM this week so I thought I would see a bigger loss this week with the combination of water weight loss and bootcamp. I'm not too worried about it. I know I have 4-6 weeks left to get off the 18 pounds I have left.

And, I agree with you which is why I am adding 100 calories this week. My body is telling me I need it.

Sorry about the bad news leading to emotional eating -- I can relate. What I have found is a 1 day cheat is not really a problem ... other than it does take a few days to get back into the swing ... and a sodium bump can cause a quick 3-4 pounds of water weight to stick ... but if you get back on track in about 2-3 days you should be back close to where you were. Where one gets into trouble is multiple consecutive days (or weeks) of cheating. I am rooting for you to get back on track.

So we have all been there....it happens. It stinks, but it happens... I know cause I have been there. Very hard to stay the course so long. Your over it, had your fill (so to speak) and made peace with it.. Today is a new day and you can move forward.

Ro - Yeah on your loss....I love every .2 that comes off lately. Large drops are not in my future now so I am happy for every ounce in the right direction...

Up early this am .. Time change has me all thrown off and I need to re-write some contracts before my friend picks us up at 8:30 to head of to the last of the college visits...

Scale was kind this AM and seems I am firmly back under 200.....Oh god I cant blow it this week LOL....:dizzy::dizzy:

So my binge was delayed by a day...I felt it coming on for about 10 days - I had 5 Quest cookies last night. I have been starving and even though I wasn't yesterday, I felt I needed it. I chose those because of only 1 carb each so not to get out of ketosis. Now, the rest of the week I need to make sure I follow protocol to ensure this does not become a pattern. I think I am under control but I need to make sure that this doesn't start a pattern. I really feel I needed a sharp increase in calories so I had 1400 calories yesterday which is 2x what I had been having the last few weeks. This morning I still feel so stuffed so hoping that does the trick. I'll keep you posted as I may need your help to ensure this doesn't open the floodgates. Stay tuned...

Sue - congrats on the return to one-der-land!! That has to be a great relief! And I hope you enjoy your college visits - what great fall weather we are having this week - good time for car trips and walking campus pathways!

Ro22 - so sorry you had the binge, but I admire your ability to be selective about the food you binged with. It could easily have been something high carb or a trigger food, but you kept to the smart cheat. Kudos to you for that.

And caution re: letting the cheat become a pattern is wise - it is as if we are walking a tightrope and the smallest lean to the side can take us all the way off the rope - then it takes great courage and extraordinary strength to pull ourselves back up onto the rope and find balance again. Our Gremlins see us struggling and they begin to feed us messages to keep us down rather than help us to climb back up. The mental game is the one that we all have to master.

DD I hope your return to rope has been successful and you are finding your balance again.

This is where I am right now - battling the gremlins to get back OP. I was off for part of yesterday - previous commitment to lunch out at a place with few OP choices - but I beat the gremlins at dinner and after coming home from the rehab center where I had an OP dinner with my husband, I experimented with Ro cookies. Check out the Alts thread to see photos! I have the cookies at the ready for today, and I am prepared with cappuccino drink mix, IP soups, and decaf tea in the bag ready to travel with me today hen I go to the rehab center.

Meeting with the rehab treatment team today after lunch, and I expect they will say that DH can come home on Friday or Sunday. Next week will be return to multiple therapists coming and going, and return to cooking for Jack Spratt (the hubby who MUST gain weight) but despite being his wife, eating on program myself so I can lose the regain. It's a mine field, but I can do it if I can beat the mental game.

Hi Guys I really need some encouragement.
I am back up to 173lbs today.23lbs from goal, I did so good on Trick or treat night no candy, and no birthday cupcake,since it was my daughters 16th b day.
Last Friday am we left for NYC to celebrate her b day .I did so good eating wise and we walked around 15 miles in 2 days, well sunday came and 6 hr drive home,exhaustion,I gave in to a binge now 2 days.
I am discouraged.Last yr at this time I was 163lbs,.My chest keeps getting bigger and bigger,I hate it and shirts feel so uncomfortable. I eat 1560 calories a day,does anyone think that is too much? Any advice welcomed