Good Morning Ladies

A 12 hour workday looms but I wanted to send a shout out. Today is a day of restarting for me (and Sue, right?) And this time we will not be defeated easily! Girly, I've heard other people praise that book. I'll have to look for it. There is a wild animal inside me! It's always hungry!

More later,
L

Howdy you two,

Liannie, I used be the staffing person for a hospital and had a 10 hour day, 12hr day is a heck of alot. Are you on your feet the entire time? Is it one crisis after another?

Girly-new book sounds interesting. May take me a bit of time to get a copy but if you folks want to include it in our discussion it is fine with me. I have sort of lost focus dealing with each chapter of this Beck book-thinking like a thin person. Got the idea that the Martha Beck book also deal with changing habits and the brain responses. Alot of this info fits my interest in meditating. We can make such suffering for ourselves by feeding our negative emotions by a internal dialogue. This current brain research is exciting that our brain are capable of great changes at any age. Some of the first studies were done years of ago with people who consistently meditiated. Thier compassion areas of the brain were larger. They were content people.
I have a continuous harsh dialogue going on to my self-I "should be" faster, thinner, smarter, nicer, do more each day, keep things neater, read more, earn more, ect. I am never just fine. Food has played a significant role to temporarily calm these negative voices. I want to change this dialogue, not temporarily bury it with sweets.

So now I have taken an emotional needs and created a physical habit. This powerful stuff to have to change. The Thinking like a thin person really address the physical habit but often I rmust wrestle the emotional aspects and here I need much help.

I did record food yesterday and swam for 50 minutes, I did lose 1 lb of the 5 lb gain. OnWard.

sue

Just a quick shout out to say Today's Lesson: Hunger Tolerance. Being back on plan after almost 2 weeks of free-roaming eating means being hungry!

L

Hey All,

First of all, CONGRATS TO YOU GIRLY for continuing the exercise and to SUE for staying on plan yesterday and swimming again! I think it would be WONDERFUL if this time next year we were all smiling and happy in our bodies with healthy lifestyles. I'm definitely committed to working on it until then.

I think I will order the Martha Beck book so that we can cover those topics here together. Sue, you bring up good points. That negative inner dialogue is hard to fight against. I don't understand how I morphed from being so hopeful to being so critical--of myself, of life, of pretty much everything. Burying those feelings with food is not the answer! You are so right about that.

BTW, there *is* one crisis after another at my job and generally not within my control to prevent. That's why I'm planning to look for a new job after the first of the year. I don't like the last minute scrambling, especially when I see it could have been avoided if others planned better. It just makes me stressed out and resentful and those feelings make me want to eat. But that's just one facet of the situation. The problem is not with chaotic management on my job. Lots of people can deal with that and not overeat. The problem is my brain. But until I can change my brain, its easier to look for a new job.

Well, here's hoping today is another day of success for each of us. I'll check back later today to see how you're doing.

L

Hello Liannie and Girly,

Stress was the major factors in my 2 periods of large weight gains. About 20 yrs ago I remarried- had 4 rebellous teens all at once, got laid off from my job, studied to get 3 teaching credential, and worked part time. The last period was 9 yrs ago when I had a horrible job-even managed to get mono while balancing all the crazy factors. I understand your idea that it is not the stress by itself but how we deal with it. I put too much energy in not being angry, crabby and strive to be very accommodating. I have a tough time being assertive about when stressed. That is when I use the Oh Well method on the surface but continue to seethe inside.

I bet the core of so many addictive behaviors is inner conflict. I also would love to have a healhy life style without the long daily check list of "good" behaviors which must be done. I get so tired of the constant diligency not to over eat. It is like I can not relax and also stay on the diet. Add a martini, good conversaton and some nearby snacks and I am overeating. I see the favored ice cream store(luckly 1 1/2 hrs away)-the only question in my mind was what flavor to get -Now it is what are the cals? what else do I give up that day? Is it "right" to be implusive? I find it tiresome. All this hyper alertiness about food has to pass with time!! I am hopefully that soon old habits will weaken and the new ones will be much easier. For now thanks for letting me whine, whine and whine.

In a way I don't care if it is hunger, desire or craving-the bottom line it that I can only eat a very limited, measured and nutritious amount of food-period. And I have to keep that idea 24/7. I know it was very unhealthy for me, but I miss that fun "sinful" pleasure of some foods. Told DH I miss the sense of play that I got from some foods,- spontaneous cookies at friends, treats at the coffee house, candy in threater, a spoonful of peanut butter, The trouble was that I needed about 10 of these "fun" moments in a day.

What are some of your struggles in these changes?What you are missing with limiting foods?

much sucess to us all.
Sue

Hey Sue,

I guess what I struggle with while limiting food intake is what I call the "constant vigilence" required in order for me to stay on plan. The fact that I must plan ahead, shop, prepare and cook on a never-ending basis when I don't always have time or inclination to do so.

In fact, I sometimes find it hard to make menus etc. because I want to eat "what I have a taste for". And that's hard to predict days in advance. Which is probably just another manifestation of my perverted relationship to food: I want to eat for pleasure (what I have a taste for, what will make me feel good) every time I put food in my mouth. Basically, I concentrate on leaner versions of my favorites: burgers, tacos, pasta bolognese, roasted chicken, crusty bread sandwiches. Then I eat these same things over and over and over again.

I too enjoy the sense of play that comes with food. Every activity is so laced with food and drink, that is hard to *not* make that association. I don't have a single friend that would revel in getting together to jog as much as they do our cocktail and dinner parties. I wouldn't know where to find someone like that!

I'll keep working on myself though. Day 2 still on plan. No exercise yet. I hope you ladies are doing well.

More tomorrow,
L

This is BIG.
************************************8
Yes, eating is so fun. I'm trying to remember when I was a kid and it was no big deal. I always had a healthy appetite, but was very thin and active, and I think food was just not a big deal.

So true, Sue, about the constant vigilance. It is tiring. I'm actually tired of the obsession with food. Really tired. Im' either having to be vigilant and do all this sh#t that I don't want to do, like total my calories, plan my food, etc., OR I'm obsessive in the other extreme and thinking about food too much, what I want to eat, too much time eating.

HI folks,

While whinning about the restriction,-some good news-I have lost all of the 5 lb gain plus 1/2 of a lb. Mini goal -hope to be 319 by the end of Sept.

Thanks for acknowledging the difficulty of this "thinking like a thin person" stuff-Actually right now I am thinking like a very fat person striving to eat as thin person. Aint't easy but there really isn't any other choice for me.

A fun food thing is that we just started getting a bag of organic fresh picked farm veggies that we get once a week in town. Helps the local farmer, makes me learn about new vegggies and new recipes, fresh really does taste so much better.

Basically I continually repeat the same menu also. I go for about 350 cals for each breakfast and lunch, About 700 for dinner and an added splurge of wine for another 80-100 cal. You have any dishes which would work in this Plan? L how do you make lower cal tacos-sounds great, what is your roasted chicken dish? Anyway anything you two feel like sharing to break the monotony would be great.

So true that we can always party with others, but dieting and exercising is really done alone. Diet discusssions can really be unsuccessful, either it not their problems, it is their problem but not ready to deal with it, or they know the perfect solution for me or the worst is that moralizing attitude about how in the h*ll did I let myself go so much. Actually a couple is coming this weekend who have this attitude of superiority about my weight. It can be a bit of strain for me, They deny it when confronted, but give me little digs while we are together for my own good. The good news is that while I"ll be a bit stress, their smuggness stops me from overeating. It is after they leave that I'll want a quick tension release by then using some food. I think I'll plan for rewarding snack for that time.

Well thanks for just being here, I think it is help for me to write about this stuff, For me acknowledging negative inner dialogue is part of the process to release it. Poor DH just nods his head and wishes me well. He and his family are all thin and this type struggle just doesn't make sense. Not judgemental but not wishing to emotionaly involved.

I am off to swim- ah for the golden jewel studded candle holder.

best wishes to you both
sue

Hi Girly, I too get tired of the food-obsession required to "eat better." But when I look at what "eating at will" has done to me, I have to admit that isn't the best either. I do accept that it's okay to have periods of control and periods of freedom in order to maintain, so I just have to get to maintenance phase. And actually STAY THERE for a change, huh? How's the exercise going? I need some inspiration. Please tell me this is like Day 7 or something!

And Hey Sue, CONGRATS ON THE WEIGHT LOSS! I'm sorry to hear you smug thin people coming over soon. I hate people like that! When I was in school we had this one teacher who was tall and thin and always talked about "obesity this" and "obesity that" every time she talked about anything health related. I wanted to shove an eclair down her throat until she choked! I hope you can get through the weekend without too much stress. And do plan on a treat at the end. That will give you something to look forward to.

As for my lower-calorie version of tacos, I just buy extra lean beef (like 160 calories for 4 oz.) and fry it with onion, garlic, chili powder and cumin. Then I eat it with 2 corn tortillas (100 calories), an ounce of chihuahua cheese (110 calories) and about 2/3 cup of pico de gallo (50 calories). There's so much flavor from all the spices that it tastes more decadent than it is.

And the roast chicken just comes from the rotisserie at the grocery store. I buy one of those bags of fresh broccoli or cauliflower that you can steam in the microwave and make a meal from that.

Well, I'd better go to bed. I'm about half dead. The new house creeped me out and I couldn't sleep so well last night. It's too quiet around here! :-)

L

Hi folks,

yumm making that taco soon-what is chihuahua cheese? cheddar? low fat?
Our grocery also has the rotisserie chicken-it seems like they are cooked on monday, stored until Thursday, then put them out- so dried out-not good.

Hang in there being back on the plan. It ain't easy, but hate the consequence when not the doing all this preplanning. When I try to think positively I view this as a curable disease. It is a hard one to reverse, but we have the option of doing it. We can do it. We are not just dieting, we are dealing with an addiction-Just was reading Bob Greene's The Best life Diet-nothing too new, but he did note some of new research-overaters have less serotonin which causes cravings of sugary and starchy foods. Some research that show fat and sugar can actually limit the release of stress hormones.
we have to weather some geniune physical changes in the brain along with being hungry. It isn't easy but we can do it! Remember feelings are temporary but the fat gains can be permanent. Can really understand being hungry, angry, furstrated, stressed, discouraged, whiny, but they all do pass. Just an H*ll of lot slower when I overeat.

I did go swimming and have been doing 50 minutes a day, today I decided to do much faster laps-overdid it and got so depleted but continue to push myself during the day so when DH walked thur the door I blasted him about the chaos about the house-he is bigger packrat than me (however my mess doesn't brother me as much) It was uncalled for, but he was so understanding.thanks heaven. Tomarrow I doing some on call work and will not swim in the morning- Still the guady will be mine.

sue

Good Morning,

Well, I weighed myself yesterday and today and it's true. I somehow managed to lose a pound during the move, despite a 10-day run of fast food and rotten eating. I guess all that good old fashioned manual labor is what made the difference. Now if I could just change jobs and go work for a moving company....

Sue, chihuahua cheese is a Mexican white cheese that is very mild tasting but not at all low-fat. You could use cheddar or whatever you like. Fresh pico de gallo is one of my favorite indulgences from the local Mexican store where I used to live. You could actually make your own though: chop tomatoes, jalapenos, onions, garlic, cilantro and salt (maybe a squeeze of lime?) and mix together. I can't give up full-fat cheeses! Only sharp cheddar will work for me in low-fat variety. There are some tastes that can't be imitated: real butter, olive oil, mayonnaise, cheese (hmmm....notice a theme here?) :)

I agree that we are probably low on serotonin. I worked in an obesity clinic once (Optifast clinic) and the doctor there used to listen to my theories and either laugh or agree. He told me the thing about food releasing serotonin, and he agreed with me that fat people have the wires between their stomachs and their brains crossed/formed differently. I had this theory that our stomachs contain stretch receptors and some of us get an extra shot of "feel-good chemicals" when our stomachs are stretched out and full, which is why we eat past the point of fullness. He looked at me funny when I said that but I believe it.

Good for you, doing the exercise all those days! That's what is making the difference. Us slightly-more-mature ladies really need the exercise before we can drop the pounds. Keep up the good work! DH finally got my TV hooked up downstairs so I can work out but ran out of cord to connect the VCR so I'm still on foot until the weekend. All this dogwalking has to count for something though! (Our fence won't be built for another month and the dog is making a monkey out of us acting like she has to pee about every hour...)

Hey Girly, wherever you are! Let us know how you're doing!

More later,
L

Hi guys,
I'm running thru a bout of depression. I haven't felt this bad in a long time. I've been reading thru the other Beck book, and it's really brought up a lot of sad feelings and dissatisfaction with my life. Basically, looking at the *whys* of why you eat and then fixing it.

There's a part about rats, and and experiemnt that was done where rats were given a rat park, and another group were given cages, and the rats that had the luxurious, everything-a-pet-rat-could want type park, with activities, and socialization opps, and fun tubes, etc....when the rat park group was given water with an addictive drug *morphine, I think* they wouldnt' touch it, and the rats in the cage quickly became addicted to the morphine water (subsitute that for becoming addicted to food). And it's meant to show that if we're happy, we wont' want substances, and it brought so many dissatisfied feelings up besides truly feeling like I'm in a rat trap.

I'm feeling like the focus on diet in BDS, the many, many tasks , are all too much. Spritually, I think that the more I focus on something the bigger it gets, and that focusing is just bringing more dieting and damn lists into my life.

And I don't feel that I'm making progress. I'm definitely not making progress weight wise, but even with my controlling my food, I'm not sure if I'm any better really. I just don't think it should have to be this HARD. I think it's not natural for it to be this HARD. I don't like being a failure. I'm not sure if struggling is the way to be successful; I'm not sure if I buy into that things should be hard philosophy of our culture.

Anyway, sorry to bring the rain clouds in. I'm glad that you two are feeling the progress and that it's showing up physically, too.

girly

Dear Girly,

tough place- It is a hard balance to change the addiction and cope with the hard emotions which addictions can mask. Very very hard work,. Get some support -friends, possible counselor, You are not a failure I have many of such negative thoughts, have gone on and off of anti-depressions. Some of this stuff is core patterns from childhood. Maybe focus on changing some of deep internally attitude is the key now.

If it would help to write and vent to us, we would glad to listen and respond. When your spirit is down, is seems unimportant to measure out bits of food and so it is.
keep in touch
sue

Hey Girly,

I absolutely agree with Sue. When you are hurting all over, it seems inconsequential to be worried about how many spoons of potatoes to put on a plate. You just can't do that right now until you come out of the depth you happen to be in. And if you don't want to do TBDS, you can do whatever you like as long as you continue thinking about it, working on it and moving toward changing to a healthier way.

In fact, we don't have to be the TBDS thread. Honestly, we haven't followed the book much lately anyway. We seem to be the "introspective self-analyzing dieters" thread....or something like that. We'd sure love to keep you with us. There is strength in numbers and right now our magic number is 3.

I've felt like that addicted rat before too--especially when it comes to sugar. I will cram sweets in my mouth like a giant meteor is heading for my house and I want to get that last bite before I die. Bite after bite after bite...craving the next one before I've finished the last. It's like a drug. ****, it IS a drug. And, I guess, yeah, we reach for drugs when we're not satisfied with our current state. I'm often unhappy, and reach for my drug of choice a lot as a result. Does the book say it can be fixed? Does it say how?

Sue, I've been on antidepressants before too. Various unwanted side effects have been the reason I stopped. And you're right. We need to change those negative patterns of thinking. Just like in that article you read. Rewire.

Keep venting ladies. We're here to listen, reflect back, and help each other change.

L

Addendum:

I just went to the 4 Day Win website and read some blurbs from the book. I think I'll get a copy at the bookstore tomorrow and start reading it. I like the concept that it takes 4 days of practice to master a new technique. Judith Beck's lesson-a-day did not work for me. I need to repeat some stuff over and over and over! Also I like the scientific studies she talks about. I'd like to read more.

L

Hi

Girly hope you doing better-my depressions seems to come and go at times-Some days I have a much greater and quicker bounce back ability. I got very down for a number of months after a 10 minute visit the doc said take this- a genetic wellbutrin- then after 3 months when I did not feel much better he said doubled it-never called back or anything. I then became very very nervous-guess this can be a side effect of the meds, got a a very stressed and fearful of driving,-not good with the closest store 5 miles away. So I just slowly got my self off of the stuff. I guess getting help with depression is a lot like going to a mechanic-some docs are whizzes, other OK and some don't have a clue what to do but charge alot of money. But keep working on what feels good for you-friends, meds, exercising, talking, meditating, changing life style.

I am nervous with the arrival of our friends/relatives. They are very judgemental and the kid in me wants their approval. Yet I think that they are judgemental to bolster their own self esteem. To them is is more important to feel superior than to have fun. Thier critical approach to life is so ingrained- yet they are so unhappy I want to rescue them and tell them off all in the same 5 minutes. I started the day by dumping a hugh cup of coffee on the bed-knew I was stressed so wanted a slow start and read in bed-wrong. After cleaning that up for 20 minutes, then I could start on the rest of the house. So I am having a very very hungry day. I have managed to record all the food-That is hugh for the mindless eater. The count is higher than normal but not that bad just may end up being a 1700-1800 day. Separate from the total cals, If I continue to record the food it will a sucess if I am aware of all that I eat.

One of these days I will final say no and mean it to some situations. To me sometimes being the "nice" one puts me a rat cage, the rat cage of no one likes me if I take care of myself, If I don't cooperate or if I confront others. Eating Ice cream can sure feel like I am taking care of myself, however my body is left a mess.

to new healthy brains pathways
sue

Hi guys,

I can't tell you how much your kind posts helped me. It's great that I can be myself, 100% here. THANK YOU.

Sue, at this point, I think meds are not for me. I had one dark experience with, funny you should mention that story, a complete incompetent doc, and that was enough to keep me running away. The meds were all wrong, and I had to go off of it by myself b/c I couldn't reach my doc, and I was having radical panic attacks on it, which was the whole reason I went on it, but they got way worse.

Also, I hate going to doctors after like 8 years of constant doc visits, with the onset of my undiagnosed thyroid disorder whcih mushroomed into all this other stuff, so I have to be really bad off to go to one these days. For better or worse, I have to do it w/o Anti-Ds. I feel so FREE not having all these doc appts anymore.

I would only use anti-ds as a total last resort, like suicidal, and I'm not even anywhere close to that kind of depression. It was a blue type feeling coupled with extreme frustration.

That book is really powerful, scarily powerful.

Liannie, the book isn't well-edited. I'd strongly recommend that you don't do the jump start plan b/c it's really jumbled. It's better just to read thru the whole book. Also, the chapter with the part of choosing a diet that matches your style of personality--there are some mistakes in that that are pretty substantial. Let me know when you get there and I'll tell you which part. (just mistakes in editing that affect the content)
***********************
Sue,
I'm sorry that you have to suffer. Are they your husband's relatives? Do you HAVE to see them? It's sounds really insidious since they sound like they're somewhat indirect w/their criticism. I hope that you can make it thru unscathed.

My eating is sh*t, still doing great with the exercise tho. Kayaked with some students yesterday for 90 minutes.

~girly

Hey ladies,

Girly, I'm glad you're coping and still exercising. That makes the difference when eating is askew. I somehow managed to lose a pound during the move while I was eating like a trucker, just because of the exercise, so hopefully you will do the same.

Sue, I'm so sorry to hear about those crazy people. I can really see the tension building in your post. All you can do now is hope to get past it as quickly as possible. I've always had this hatred of the tendency to "pick on the fat lady". I used to say that even our sorrow didn't move people to be sympathetic to us. Think about it...someone who looks like Julia Roberts breaks down and cries and everyone wants to hug her. Someone who looks like Rosie O'Donnell does it, they just say "dry up you fat slob." It really makes me sick!

But you hit on a BIG thing in your post when you said "One of these days I will final say no and mean it to some situations. To me sometimes being the "nice" one puts me a rat cage,..." Sometimes we are so busy pleasing others, trying to convince people we are worthy, that we betray our own selves and then suffer the internal consequences.

I hope both of you ladies were able to eat decently yesterday, despite the bad feelings. It sure is hard.

As for me, I ate okay yesterday but still have not exercised yet beyond the daily dogwalks. My basement workout area is definitely on the agenda for this weekend though. We are somewhat crippled by the fact that there is only ONE electrical outlet in the entire basement. I am going to buy a DVD/VCR and an industrial strength extension cord at the store today so I can get back started tomorrow.

I'll check back with you all later on. I hope your Saturday runs smoothly.

L

HI

Girly glad to read your posting-I admire your continous exercising-alot of studies that alone is so positive for us.-more muscle burns more fat, the brain is happier, and heart is stronger. I like swmming to much because is brings back happy childhood memories of swimming in lakes in MN. Also now it is also the only movement that does not hurt. Yeah, you can fit in a kayak along with paddling it. I envy you that size and energy. I would love to fit in one! Yesterday my DH said yes, your thighs and stomach look thinner but that makes your rear look bigger. hummm I think I got a complement?

L agree with the prejudice of being fat . Some folks act like I lost brain cells and ethics as I increased and enlarged fat cells. It is all back to the old attitude that obesity is due to lack of will power and weak moral character.

Thanks for the support of the stress of the company. There was some awkward times, but all in all it went well. When I get some distance on their behaviors, they are quite insecure. They worked on being appreciative and I work on not being so judgmental when they were negative. I must admit I have let years of unspoken hurts fester in me and add that to the stress.

We did hear a great bluesy rock band last night -why they were here-wow the band was so good, the rhythm and energy filled my body and felt so good. What a sprite high the evening was. It helped me to remember that each situation has different energies and I need to feel the differences. This does sound sort of woo-woo but I think I can absorb others' energy unknowingly-thus around tense folks I become nervous, ect. So last night I could absorb my guests' gloom and anxiety or the band's enthusiasm. Yep I went with the great time.

Still love the rat cage ideas and want to stop creating my cages due to old ways. I can emotionally panic around unhappy, upset, angry people who want to direct such feelings at me. I would love to have the power to be able to have such "attack" go thur me and maintain my sense of self.

you guys are great to let me carry on with these ideas-the scary part is that some of them do make sense to me.

Food-I had alot of wine, and loved every drop. I am allowing today also to be an unstructure day of eating. Tommarrow I shall Return to fitday! The candle will have to be next's week goal. This week my best just could not include 5 times of swimming.

sue

Time to confess
 

Yes, y'all, it is time to confess; I have been lurking....lurking because I find the most POWER in what Beck has to say........also because I was posting on Fat Smash........I truly believe that is the healthiest diet I have ever seen...and yes, I do realize it is possible to do both...Beck says pick one......and then I jumped into the plateau/relapse thread.........but what caused me to JUMP INTO THE WATER.....pardon the pun........was Coastalsue saying her swimming brought her back to Minnesota days...........that hit home....caused me a twang....cuz here I live on a lake......love to swim, but have only done so a few times this year......I do take advantage of summer every day, but mostly with non-stop gardening......you are all seem so close.........is is OK with all of you if I join???

Hello

Welcome Maryblu. We would love to have your company here on this thread. Lainnie calls us the intropsective self analzying group. I think that sums us up. Right now including you there are only 4 of us, so someday don't be discouraged if there a no new postings. We always get back to one another it is just some days it takes a bit of time.

I do remember MN very foudly. I was rasied in the Northern part-born in Ely and went to elementary school in Hibbing. I love it's tranquility and beauty but gotten too soft for the harder winters. I still miss lake swimming, When in cal had to use a pool, I hated the smell of chlorine along with the crowds and noise. The pool I use now is outdoors and often I am the only one in it due to foggy or rainy weather-fine with me. My husband has never been to the state and one of goals when I am down another 100 lbs is take a road trip thur the state. Right now the weight is too hard on my joints so my mobility is too painful.

I agree you can do both posting in that Beck is changing your mind set about food and I think fat smashers is a food plan. What do like about fat smashers and what grabs you about Beck?

I am in a transition day-2 days of splurge eating which for me that is more wine and processed carbs. Now to get back to my lower carbs and on 1500 cals a day which I need to record each measured amount of food. Actually I can tell my body is tired of the richer stuff. Even my husband is ready to eat more modestly.


warmly
sue

Yes~ exactly.

Welcome, Maryblu. It never occurred to me that there might be lurkers!

I watched a Tyra show and they had the author from 3 diet books on, including the Fat Smash guy, and they had a little show contest to see which guru's dieters would do the best over some weeks, and the Fat Smash guy won handily. One of the others was the pretty gravelly-voiced trainer from The Biggest Loser. She and the Fat Smash guy were arguing and digging each other...it was painful and so unprofessional to watch. Anyway, of course I own the book. It does seem really sane and balanced.

I've been reducing my caffeine, and the last two days Ive slept a lot. A lot. I'm down to a medium coffee (which is like 22 oz) and diet soda during the day. I drink a lot of coffee and I know it's not helping me any or my liver or my feeling of peace and control. If I get into any sort of difficult situation, if I'm jittery, I'm just that much more likely to turn to food.

I'm just going to cut back, not all the way. I do want to get off aspartame, tho. There's a good possibility that it can increase fat or hunger since it causes insulin to be put out into the body, but there's no food for the insulin to go to. (I knew this but it was in the 4 Day Win book and it's an easy enough thing to do) Plus I never drink water b/c I'm always drinking soda.

Those are two easy things I can do that aren't directly involved with cutting out food.

Im so glad I can write here b/c the people in my life don't want to hear ANY of this.

girly~

Hey Ladies,

Welcome Maryblu! Wow, a new threadmate! Great to have you here! As you've seen from lurking, we are loosely following the Beck Diet Solution here. We mostly try to analyze why we are eating the way we are, and how to prevent the bad stuff and cement the good stuff into place instead of strictly following Beck's lessons day by day.

We've lately been talking about the 4Day Win by Martha Beck but Sue and I don't have copies yet. I couldn't find one. I just moved and havent found the local bookstore yet.

Tomorrow my goal is to work on portion size and eating sitting down--two of Martha Beck's lessons. I partied quite a bit today because we had friends over for beer, so I ate more junk than I would have otherwise. It's back to plan tomorrow though: 1500 calories or less and every bite recorded on FitDay.

What's the Fat Smash? Is it a lot of vegetables and a little bit of lean meat, like South Beach?

L

A quick good morning to everyone,


L-Congradulation on losing weight while moving. That is Hugh changes that you were busy, stressed and preoccupied and LOST weight. You are thinking like a thin person! :carrot:

g-I spent many months making small changes in my eating habits.-using less fats in cooking and in my salad dressing, drinking more water, eating less processed carbs.-I slowly lost 20 lb is over 2 years, It still took me over 6 months to lose the next 30lb. I am a very slow loser. But I was close to being 400 lbs and now I have hopes of being a measly 299 lb by Christmas. Every change that you make is improving your health and lays the foundation for your body to lose weight. We both (even skinny DH) after some occassional needed times of overindulgence, now enjoy the simpler meals with more veggies and less fat. One of the trouble with all the diet books is that they give the illusion that changes are quick and easy. It is all for quick and easy sales of books but leaves the reader feeling guilty and unsuccessful .

I LOVE my coffee and also working on reducing diet cokes-I have read that coke-based on some limited studies-coke- diet or regular may reduce bone density. Plus I read the same stuff on even phony sugar can affect insulin.
Still do use some splenda . I try to drink all that water also and use carbonated water was treat-this is sort of working.

My good new is that I went back to 1500 cal . recorded it and lost the 1 lb regain from the weekend. Today I will swim.

I don't have the other Beck book, but got CDs from the library of herbook called The Joy Diet, I'll give that a listen.

to thinner fat cells

sue

This is so, true. Sue, you have a very positive way of looking at things, and congrats, Liannie!

Sue, congrats on the weight loss. That's great.

I'm having a good day so far.

girly~

Thanks, all!
 

Ladies, thanks all for the warm welcome.

Special thanks to Coastal Sue for reminding me how great it is to swim. I live on a clear, clean lake and have dipped only a few times this year. I get so caught up in gardening, I forget how good it feels.

Took advantage Sunday evening........of the lake and the solitude.....yanno what I mean? Clear lake, warm evening, no one around.......ahhhh, such a delight!

What I like about Beck is that it is a step by step, do this.....laid out method. I like that. I gave my book to a friend, though. LOL. We are going to start a group after summer winds down.......which is WAY too soon for me. Coastal Sue knows how short they really are in Minnesota!

I never did buy the Fat Smash book....I just read the review on FC and followed from that.......I can tell you than when I do it to the letter..and even if I cheat a little, I feel great. When I run what I have eaten through My Fit Day, I am getting less than 1500 calories and over 35 gms. of fiber--simply the healthiest I have ever eaten. It just takes quite a bit of doing to get a good lunch. I end up having to eat lunch out with clients or peers once or twice per week.......those luncheons are not Fat Smash friendly.

I look forward to lots of good exchanges.

Mary

Hey All,

Just a quick holler on my way to bed tonight. It's been a busy couple of days and I havent been so true to plan in terms of recording each bite but I havent eaten with wild abandon. In fact, I havent had meat in about 2 days, just lots of veggies, fruits, cheese and bread (and about a half bottle of some awesome Portuguese red wine tonight).

Best wishes to all who are in success mode and profound sympathy to those who are not. Big meeting at work tomorrow with catered lunch and dinner. Hopefully I will stick to healthy habits.

more tomorrow,
L

Hello,

Maryblu I envy that tranquil swim-sounded lovely. Look forward to hearing about the group which deals with some of the Beck stuff.

I really need a job-but there are so few in this little place so I now turned is my weight loss tasks into a job while still looking. Working on swimming over 4 hrs a week-which with the drive amd changing really means a total of 10 hrs devoted to the activity.

Just started getting a large bag of fresh organic veggies delivered once a week-I have never used to many unusually veggies-it seems each day I am cutting and dicing something for an hour. Any one know anything about Kohlrabi?

L- did a low cal taco using your suggestions. even followed an idea of quickly steaming the tortillas then a spray of oil before then draped each one over two bars of the oven rack-baked taco shells. It was great to increase the range of tastes and still lose. Hope your week of work is not too crazy.

G-hope all is well. For some reason this exercising and dieting is actually easy for me this week-very unusually but it does happen and will for you too. I have lost a lb but really feel that drop in inches that exercising does. Kind one of those rare moments where my body and head are working as a team and both body and spirit are doing well.-Next if we could get a healthy bank account-hm, alot to ask for.

sue

Just a hello to say I'm here.

Liannie--Congrats on 169...ohhhh!~ I wish! I think we started at about the same weight :(

Sue--I'm glad to hear that some days are easy. I really hope I'll be able to say that someday. And wow, you sound like you are eating really healthfully.

Shout out to MB--

You cannot believe how incredibly hot and humid it has been here in Southern California. My place is inhumanly hot. I hope it ends soon.

Have a great Frday

~girly

Hey Ladies,

Girly....I've been scale-shy for about a week. I don't think I would be exactly 169 right now. I've been a bit lax. But I will get back there soon. Keep up the exercise. It makes all the difference.

Sue, I'm SO GLAD to hear you're in the groove right now. It seems like there's only enough room in that groove for one of us at a time. I've jumped out temporarily. Work stress leading to stress eating (and stress drinking) and my home gym is not yet set up to get me back on my exercise plan--those are my excuses today. Not to worry. I'll be back at it quite soon.

Maryblu, how great to have a friend to work the book with! I bought a copy for my best friend but then she decided she didn't really have an eating problem. She just chooses the wrong foods. Well that's my problem too. Along with eating them at wrong times and eating too much of them!

I just wanted so holler at you all while I'm easing into the holiday weekend. I said I would spend some time unpacking upstairs today but I found a can of mango nectar, a bottle of tequila and a television in between me and the staircase. :) Oops!

L

wellll...........ahhhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmm
 

We haven't started doing it yet. I just gave her the book a couple of weeks ago.....and we have not started...so now I need to get another copy and we are recruiting two or three other friends and starting all together ....a day at a time and meeting once per week...that doesn't mean I can't practice what I learned from the book.

I need to hold in my mind how good I felt at 138#..how nice it was to have clothes hang the way they are supposed to, and not "stick". I carry so much fat in my face, if I gain an ounce it goes there......I want my face BACK.(not to mention my waist)

I am gaining weight instead of losing, I want you to know. I haven't changed my ticker, but I am back to 155#. I just can't seem to stay on track for more than one or two days at a time.....that said, fall is my favorite time so am hoping some active days will help...

I truly believe in Cognative Behavioral Therapy...I just need to apply it ALL the time. I thought Beck hit the nail on the head with everything she said.......everything rang true with me......well, except for trying to be "one of us" with only 20#s to lose, if that! LOL. I loved what she said about us all thinking thin people get to eat whatever they want. I have watched how thin people eat, and some do watch it closely; others do seem to be able to get away with beer and pizza. Oh, well, certainly I am not "one of them".

Luck and joy to all.......chat soon

Mary

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