Oh, how I have fallen. I promise I'll weigh tomorrow, no matter how ugly the scale is.

I ate SO much during my 8 days away. SO much. "Squigier" doesn't quite begin to explain how I feel. I've been home since Friday night and have been slowly pulling myself back OP (it's always a few day process). I've got healthy foods prepared for the week, but I'm sort of "looking" for junk right now.

Certainly not the cause of overeating but making it worse was that I somehow seem to have hurt my hip. Not sure if it was the unfamiliar elliptical in the hotel gym that seemed to have a much wider stance than those I use at my gym (ie my feet are forced to be wider apart than normal on the foot pedals), or sleeping on a pull-out couch, or something else, but even after resting it for 2 days and going to the gym it started bothering me again after 30 minutes on the elliptical at my home gym on Sat. I'm resting it another 2 days and then trying again (that's tomorrow), going from there.

I'm not really "feeling it" right now, but I'm trying not to let that keep me from getting back op . I'm trying to remember how great I felt before the holidays when I was a whole month POP and losing weight! I will get my pep back in the next few days, darn it! We can do it! I won't let the holidays derial me (further)!

Allison, no worries about being in for more than 10! When the first 5-10 thread started I was nearing 20lbs over goal.

Megan, time to detox from the holiday indulgence! Remember Meg's theory, you have to get the holiday pounds off before they have time to stick! I bet our eating was comparable during our time away from home. I admit on our last day there I told DH, "I don't want to go home yet because I want to eat more ice cream." I hope your hip feels better soon! Have you tried some gentle stretches for it?

Still slightly "on the prowl" for sugar but it's fading. Feels good to get back to the routine of the oatmeal, fruit, sandwich, and morning snack. And water. Lots and lots of water!

Back to the pool tonight - just going to stretch and drill, so that I won't blow anything out on Wed, assuming I can get enough room in the lane. Next meet is this Sunday and I've picked 4 of my 5 events so far.

Megan - hope the hip recovers quickly!

Yeah, us! Slipping into healthy habits like warm socks! We can do this!

I have two strategies I'll focus on. First, a high protein snack BEFORE I leave work. My danger time is when I walk in the door and it's not time for dinner and then I dive facefirst into whatever is convenient. Second, I bought some individually wrapped dark chocolates that I can work into my day. One a day, on an as needed basis. I need to allow for a little somethin' somethin sometimes. Hopefully it will help keep me from going off the deep end once a week or so as I have been known to do.

Midwife~I hear you on the pre-dinner convenience snacking! It's my WORST time also. If only I could get myself to sip a cup of warm broth or tea instead of munching on tortilla chips or pistachios.

I'm only glad that I haven't fallen into a sweet trap. I don't know why, but I really can do without sweets, however yesterday at the movie I saw that there is a specialty cupcake store near the Imax. Thankfully that's a half hour drive away so it isn't all that tempting. Cake is really hard to resist but most other sweets I can do without with no trouble.

I'm in! I'm still suffering from the DFS. The scale is still rising. Yesterday and today was better food-wise. Paperclippy, you and I will easily release those 3 lbs...

And I am in as well
Same ol' same ol' I am able to watch just enough to maintain but am not getting the last 5 off with any ease. 2 days op lead to treats for 2 days....
AND exercise is lacking. Last year I was running in 18 degrees. But not this year, well not yet anyway

But happy happy and healthy 2010 chicks, I am in it for life let's do this thing!!!

Kitty, better get ON that 1000 miles in 2010!!! Time is passing! Make haste!

I'm hoping for 500 miles in 2010, so far 6.6 is done. I figure at least 9 per week will get me there.

Eating was fairly good yesterday. Leftover lasagna for dinner with breadsticks, but I took the smallest portion and had a little extra salad. My scale is going down, but really, until ALL the leftovers are gone (tomorrow I think) it will be difficult. We've just had so many large meals...At least breakfast and lunch are easy and low cal.

Ok, happy to report that the scale read 156.5. Sounds weird saying happy about that weight, but I am, b/c that means only 1.5 lb gain over the holidays. I'm definitely in for a 3-lb Valentine's day challenge, Jessica, but I'm going to give it a week of detox to decide what my official "start" weight for this mini challenge is - not sure if I'm still carrying water weight. So whatever I weigh Tuesday, that's where I'll start my 3 lbs from. We can do it!

Sorry I'm not so peppy yet. When I fall off the wagon it's always several days back on before I really start feeling the groove again. I have to "walk the walk" a few days before I really start "talking the talk" as it were. I need to eat and exercise OP for a few days before I want to eat and exercise OP, if YKWIM. In a few days I'll be back there. I was POP yesterday.

I started coughing yesterday afternoon, and am trying not to get sick. I had packed my gym bag to go early and just decided not to go, to stay in bed and get some sleep (the cold outside didn't help my motivation any). I'm sorry I'm whining and making excuses, I know I'm doing it. Not sure when I'll really get back to the gym. C'mon, energy, where are you?

Midwife: a high protein snack BEFORE I leave work ...

Great idea. What are you having? I'm looking for something other than my standard cc, tsp pnb, apple. High protein is the key for me.

Ideas, anyone? It's my worst time too.

Hard boiled egg? Sliced turkey and cheese either alone or wrapped in lettuce? Protein drink? I make them and freeze overnight then let them thaw in fridge all day - perfect by the end of the day (I like one before I go to the gym to lift after work).

You know what's good and fairly low in calories and fairly high in protein is two slices of turkey with a wedge of Laughing Cow light cheese mushed up inside. Kind of like a mini sandwich without the bread and mayo!

Heh, heh! Those ideas are pretty much what I was gonna say! Deli turkey around string cheese, hard boiled egg whites or an egg. Cottage cheese with blueberries. I stocked up on these tuna salad cups from Chicken of the Sea. 80 calories/12 g protein. Add an apple and I should be able to not be starving when I get home.

lol to see that DFS has now become a 3FC acromyn! It should really be DOFS (Delayed Onset Fat Syndrome). I still have it. My goal is loose clothes by Valentine's Day. The puff has left, but not the size.

Mel