I've heard that healthy weight-loss is 2lbs a week I think? So I guess 25 pounds is
around 12 weeks for the Super-size me guy.

Makes sense, but why isn't weight-gain the same?!! 2lbs per week.

I went sport-shopping today and while at the mall, I ran into a friend who had also gone to a cookie exchange for the social aspects, but didnt want the rest of her cookies. No, she didnt toss them, but she needed to take a bunch of yard clippings to the city dump, and gave them to the workers there. She said they were so excited to get them and that no one ever gave them cookies.

I am taking the ones I got last Sunday at the cookie exchange to my relatives' tomorrow night. I wont cut them out of their duct tape cacoon until I am about to leave. I can trust myself only so much. There will be lots of young people with large appetites there. And heaven knows the other food wont be anything to shout about. (Its the people, its the people....)

I went to my club this afternoon (Thurs) and it was amazing how few people were there - the parking lot was almost empty. Its a full athletic club with tennis courts, pools, classes, and complete gym. Where did all the people go? That place is almost always jumping. And cold weather was no excuse here today.

:sman:

JanSanta

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house … not a creature was stirring … except for three crazed cats who think that the tree and presents are a big kitty playground! Wow, they’re frisky this morning – I’m trying to keep them from waking up everyone else. It sounds like a herd of elephants when they stampede up and down the stairs, chasing each other. The kitten goes so fast that she always ends up tumbling down the last four steps!

I’ve got a date with the gym this morning and was trying to explain to my MIL last night how to fix her own breakfast if I’m not here – it wasn’t computing though. I don’t think she’s very happy about me possibly abandoning her for the GYM, for goodness sake! But hey, I skipped entirely yesterday and need to do some cardio and legs. The gym’s closed tomorrow so … sorry, Mom. Here’s a skillet and I baked cranberry bread … you can do it!

Elaine, congratulations on reaching goal! What a great Christmas present you’ve given yourself!

Welcome, Orate! You’re in the right place, for sure. Congratulations on your fabulous weight loss! Words of encouragement? We’re almost through the holidays and it’s going to get a whole lot easier in a week or so, so try to hang in there a little while longer. Keep posting and stick around with us – we're all dedicated to keeping the weight off for life and we’ll help in any way that we can.

Wedded, it’s one of the mysteries of the universe why it’s so easy to gain weight and so hard to lose it! If only it were the other way around …

Karyn, I’m so glad to see you back – I was wondering where you were. This is the hardest time of year for all of us and you’re exactly right – the times we need support most are the times when we’re struggling. It’s human nature to want to run and hide or tell ourselves that we’ll come back and post when we’re back on track … but then it’s too easy for things to spiral out of control. I read your post and thought ‘Amen Sister' because I’m fighting ten pounds too and it’s been a tough December. But for me, keeping this weight off is way too important to risk messing up, so I made the weight tracker under my name and now I’m accountable for those ten pounds (much as I hate having it out there in public! ) Last night I put on a pair of pants (4s) that I haven’t had on in a while and they were a little tight – wearable, but they grabbed me a bit where they had been loose before. And I was so totally PO’ed! My first reaction was that I was furious at myself for allowing that to happen because I swore it never would. I’m hoping that anger will fuel my resolve over the next two days of food challenges. Even though it’s Christmas Eve today and Christmas tomorrow, I don’t need one darn cookie or goodie – I think I’ve had my share already, thank you very much! Then once December 26 rolls around and all my company is gone, all goodies are either out of the house or DH has to hide them in the basement freezer (I’d love to get rid of them all but don’t think that’s an option – the downside of having a naturally thin DH ).

If anyone’s out there lurking and maybe not wanting to post because you’re struggling, please come back and let us help. There’s a huge sense of relief in just unburdening yourself about what’s going on and knowing that there are lots of us who are fighting the same fight and understand just what you’re going through. We’re all going to make it through 2004 - even if a little battered and bruised - and move on to a wonderful new year together, dedicated to keeping this weight off for life.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays and I love you all.

Hi,

I just want to share one idea I've read years ago - I think it will explain why we gain so easily and loose weight soo slow.
have you ever thought why are we born young and silly and finally when we are smart enough to lead nice life we already got old? I mean, how much easier life would be if we would be born old and silly, learn on our mistakes and somebody esle mistakes, and finally when we become wise enough we also become young, so we can enjoy all the best in life together?

I think that is why it is so easy to gain weight and so hard to loose it. Nothing good comes easily in life, everything has a price tag.

Just wanted to share my idea - well, as I said, not really mine, but I was young and silly when I read it - so now i do not remember whose idea it was!

Merry Christmas!
Sandy.

Good afternoon Girls !!

Great post Sashenka, it sure made me think of why life is the way it is ... why when we are finally wise we're too old to get around to using our wiseness other than talking about it or writting about it, NOT that I am THAT wise myself, but I am thinking of my parents. Oh well, "C'est la vie!!" not much we can do about it I guess...

Meg great post too (as usual) ... The older generation does have a difficult time with us going to the gym. I remember years ago when I had been into the gym thing 2-3 years, lost weight and everything, I thought I was looking great !! But I think my mom had a different view, because I guess I was getting muscular, asked me: "When are you going to stop this gym thing?" Sorry Ma not ever I think I had said ... I think at 77 she understands it better now ...

Yesterday I had a great leg workout with my buddy Luanne! We did some lunges and squats with 2 of those Bosu balance balls and at the moment I can feel my hamstrings tightening up, my butt too is getting very sore....Gotta love that ...

Today I am very tired from the Eve of Christmas Eve, 1) because everyone left pretty late 2) because I ate too much fatty stuff and my stomach is not happy with it, I need a healthy meal, but DH is wrapping his gifts in the kitchen, mmmm maybe I should just go barge in there and make myself a meal and play dumb that I didn't know he was there ...

Today I may or may not go for a run later this afternoon... I'll go only later because DH says there is soooo much traffic everywhere that it's near impossible to get around and I don't want to get run over by some crazed person looking for a last minute gift! If I don't go today I will go in the morning with the new runners Santa is suppose to bring...Today and tomorrow are suppose to be bright and sunny days, with -7 to -12C, so that's pretty nice weather... Tonight is a quiet night we go to mass at 7PM and that's it we come home....YAY...

Well everyone I hope that you are all as happy as I am at this time of year and I wish you and yours the very best this Holiday Season can bring... and I too love you all

And here it is, finally, the night before Christmas.

Here in south central Indiana, it’s going to be a very white, and a very cold, Christmas. We have at least 12 inches of snow in our backyard, and the temps are due to plummet to 12 below tonight. This has necessitated a few changes at our house. We staying home tomorrow, and not going to MIL’s until Monday, when the thermometer is supposed to make it all the way to the low 30s. My brother is hunkered down in Louisville, as well, and no one is inclined to sneak a toe out until it warms up.

But the days have not been without their charms. Although it is exceedingly cold, it is also exceedingly beautiful, with the sun shining brightly and the air crisp and clear. DH and I are spending a couple of quiet days at home, just enjoying each other’s company. We’re having scampi for dinner tonight, and I’ve made a cake, of which I will have a small piece. It's Christmas Eve, after all, and I've hardly had a Christmas cookie all season long. (And now that write that, I realize I haven't missed 'em either. How very startling ... and how very nice ) Tomorrow? Maybe an omelet for breakfast and a steak for dinner? We hadn’t planned to be here, but the house is full of food, so I’m not worried.

My greatest gift this season is internal: it’s my own self-awareness. It’s as if a switch has been thrown, and I can’t turn it off (not that I would want to). I keep having little revelations, to wit: Last weekend was truly hectic, as was the beginning of this week, when we began hearing word of the impending storm. To all of the last-minute Christmas stuff we had to add extra marketing and errand-running, because we were pretty certain we were going to be housebound for a couple of days. On Tuesday, we went out for what turned out to be a BIG lunch, and then we kept racing. About 4 that afternoon, I said to DH, “Hmmmm … I’m really hungry.” And then I stopped – how could I be really hungry, given the lunch I’d had just a few hours prior? I just stood there for a moment, took a breath, and gave myself a mental once-over. And then it hit me: I wasn’t hungry. I was exhausted.

Now, if you’re like me, you’ve read repeatedly that all too often we eat when we’re actually tired/bored/thirsty/stressed/happy/unhappy etc. This was the first time I’d ever actually stopped and thought about it, and then doped out that I was beat, not hungry. Another light bulb moment. (Incidentally, I took a nap, and later on, had a small dinner. You see, I wasn’t really very hungry at all.) And I'm guessing that next time, I won't have to stop and think about it; I'll just automatically ask myself, Are you really hungry ... or are you tired/bored/thirsty etc. What a wonderful discovery!

I can’t think of another soul to whom I would tell this except you my friends. You have become my support group, my cheerleaders, my mainstay. And on this, among the happiest of holidays, I wish you all the peace and love of the season. And I look forward to sharing another year with you as we continue on this journey together.

:merry:

Hi all, its about 5pm here Christmas Eve. A very nice quiet time for me. I have to get ready and leave soon, but not quite yet. Its nice to just sit here and pause before the next festivity begins. I love the season, but its just abit too long this year. It will be over soon thank goodness and normalcy will return. I was able to work in the garden for afew more hours today and put in a flat of sugar snaps and some onion seedlings. Its supposed to rain here next week so I wanted to get that done.

Meg, I just loved the description of your kitties. Althought they still have their moments, mine are abit too old now to be that rambuctious, but I loved it when they were. My wood floors are still all scratched from their running, sliding games from one end of the house to the other. Love the little beasties. I wish there was a kitty smiley face or two.

Dont you just love light bulb moments Indiana Robin? I frequently mistake thirst for hunger. Sometimes when I want to eat but suspect I am not physically hungry, I check to see if my regular physical hunger signals are present or not (for me its an empty gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach - if that is not present, I am simply not physically hungry.). If they are not, its either something else such as misinterpreting thirst or being sleepy, or some emotional state I want to distract myself from, or I have just seen or thought about some appealing food, or its a time of day I have developed a habit to eat such as returning home. Whatever the cause, if the actual physical signals of hunger arent there, food is not the answer. Or shouldnt be. As Fletcher says in Thin for Life - face life head on. Dont use food as a solution for non-food situations. Physical hunger is the only situation where food is the solution.

Hopefully everyone will have a peaceful, calm, joyous Christmas. But if you dont, and not everyone does, do the best you can for yourself. If you put aside unreasonable expectations that others simply can never meet (not talking gifts here), the holidays will get better every year. Learn to do what is necessary for yourself, then do it.

Jan

Merry Christmas ladies! (and gents!)

Thank you so much jansan, wndranne, lawshark, and meg for your words of encouragement. It's just a tough time of year to deny oneself. I do exercise, and that alleviates a lot of the guilt. And, of course, now when I "binge" the binge, if you will, is not nearly in the amount as in the past. Like everyone here, I've worked really hard to get the weight off, and of course I'm always reminding myself of why I don't want to ever gain the weight back. I'm sure I will probably eat more than I really think I should in the next week. But, I also know that I'll pick up and start again after the new year begins, and even before then on the non-party days.

Again, thank you all for understanding me on one of the not so good days!

Hi,
just a few words to tell you all that I did my 30 mins cardio and lifted weigths today. i feel very virtuous. Also christmas dinner was good: we had rice, veggies & meet & fish, where you have to cook the meat & vegs yourself in bouillon, and spice with ginger& soy sauce. Good and not fat, so I have no stomach problem today, although I do feel the 2 glasses of champagne. But that is what christmas is for.
All in all I am still clinging to my goal of trying not to gain this week; at new year I hope to loose further but maintaining the loss sofar is my current target.
Thanks a lot for all the support on this forum and happy christmas to your all.

Rabbit -- good for you for maintaining this week that's really all that counts at the moment, I'm keeping my head just above that maintaining line too for this holiday season...

orate -- This forum is indispensable for me when it comes to support, I don't know what I'd do without this gang when I feel down, so anytime come on back to vent, it just feels good and you know someone is listening/reading and that in itself is the greatest...

Indy Robin -- A couple of times this week I mistook thirst for hunger... as soon as I had a glass of cold water it was like someone threw it in my face (which I probably needed anyways) but it did help with the hunger. I also find that water perks me up in the afternoon when I feel in a slump almost better than coffee....

I had a super wonderful Christmas!! The best ever I think... As usual Santa was awesome, but he always is for me I am spoiled rotten! I think too it may be because I ran 8K Christmas morning after opening my new runners and this just put an A+ on my whole mood for the rest of the day ... One cannot dispute the high that exercising gives that is a FACT, even in -14C/8F weather !!

Meg -- did you get a new MP3 or iPod? I got an MP3 it is sooo cool! I didn't use it yesterday morning because I don't like to have music when I run outside because of the DOGS!! But I am going to the gym soon and will use it there on the

Mel -- Very nice picture there at the MSN site ... here it is for all to see ...
http://groups.msn.com/3FCLadiesWhoLi...to&PhotoID=212 ... Mel you look sooooo tiny!! Honest !!

Well I have to get going to the gym I want to do chest TTFN...

Merry Day After Christmas! Hello to everyone who is not either cleaning their kitchen, cleaning up at the mall, scarfing leftovers or still shovelling snow!

I hope everyone had a peaceful and happy day yesterday . After opening presents here (Santa brought me Thin for Life, so I need to start reading), we heading down to my brother's house. I was met at the door by his FIL, who greeted me with the same greeting he's used with me for the past 3 years: "Mel! so good to see you, I see you've kept the weight off." I was later described by my brother as a "professional fitness ****" Other than that, a good time was had by all. I ate waaaay too much beef tenderloin and asparagus, but had no interest in desserts whatsoever, so I figure I was just tanking up my iron reserves 1 glass of wine, and I was a happy camper. I wish I could say I started the day with an 8k run or any kind of exercise, but other than trying to keep 3 dogs out of the food, I did nothing except eat, sit in the car, and watch "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." So in a few minutes, I'll bundle up and head outside for a jog. Not being quite as hardy as Ilene, it will remind me why I usually stick to the treadmill or elliptical

Rabbit- Welcome and good for you for holeing your own this week.
Orate- Welcome to you too!
KarynLee- Come on back, especially when things aren't quite clicking. That's when we all need this place the most. We're definitely reading and discussing in January. Uh- that's only 6 days! Start reading.....
Robin- I've been thinking of you everytime I see pictures of the the mid-west. Boy, did you get dumped on! Good thing it's a "quiet" time for you and school isn't in session! A White Christmas is nice, but that was overkill. Congratulations on all the insights you've been having lately and thank you for sharing them.
Ilene- Your enthusiasm always perks me up when I read these boards Enjoy your new runners and MP3.
Meg-Who is winning the kitty races? Did you get the iPod?
Hello DrAnne, Jansan, Wedded, Lawshark, Karen, Sandy, Ali, Elena, gosh...we've grown so much! I'm sorry if I've left you off, it's my failing memory, not a personal slight!

Mel