KayG - Wow! 16.8 pounds in one month is insanely good. Congratulations! And I know exactly what you're saying. Even when I agree to allow myself a "cheat meal," I often decide not to do it when things are going well. That's where I need to be again. As Diane said, you make a fantastic addition to this group! Hope you are able to maintain your rate of loss through this month. More likely, it will slow down, but it seems like you are aware of it and ready for it. You are just rocking this thing.

Diane - Your description makes me think of Greek mythology and the beds they used to stretch people out to fit exactly. Even though it sounds as though it's unpleasant, I am very happy that it seems to be working for you. And I agree with the commitment to just get in the gym, even if you're not able to do all that you want. Hopefully, this neck/back thing is just about done driving you crazy.

I did so well yesterday! And I know it was all about making the commitment in my head. I had promised to make cookies one last time before the official cookie moratorium takes place (I made them Friday, Saturday, twice on Sunday, and Monday -- that's not good for anyone!). I get so tempted by the cookie dough and the freshly-baked cookies as they are coming out of the oven and people are devouring them. But not last night. If I got dough on my hands, I washed it off. When one batch was baking, I cleaned to keep my hands busy. And I did not have to endure the instant regret or the feelings of sickness. I can't do it every day, but I gave the leftover cookies to our guests to take home, and feel like no-sugar February is off to a good, and important, start. I also ran 5.3 miles. Not my planned 6.55 -- I just ran out of time -- but I still feel really good about the day as a whole. Yay, February!

Today is a lifting day. They are painting the gym, and it is unpleasant, so my husband and I have been walking instead of lifting. But today is super cold. I am going to try to be a bit tougher and to actually use the gym. However, I am also going to plan for a disruption to those plans, and I am going to do some "at work" exercises, including some planks, push-ups, wall sits, etc.

Hope everyone is having a great start to the last full month (hopefully) of cold. Soon, we will be outside running! (At least, more regularly - I know you, Carter, are better at braving the cold than me.

FedEx is thwarting me.

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/5299134-post37.html

Just grr.

Good morning everyone.

Still holding at 194. I really can't complain about that. Upcoming food challenges include: (1) A super-bowl themed party at my office this afternoon. My company's food-service contractors do these events for us about a half dozen times a year and they are really quite good - excellent treats and snacks. I think this time I will just skip it entirely. It seems easier to stay in my office than to go down there and try to just eat a bite of this and a bite of that. (2) The friend who was supposed to come last weekend is now supposed to come this weekend, which means the dining out and the halwa poori breakfast are at hand. More reasons to skip the party I mentioned in (1).

Mandy: Oh no, how rotten about your treadmill. I guess it's good that they asked if you wanted to accept delivery rather than just dropping it off and saying "see ya!"

Laurie: Great job with the cookies and the commitment. I am glad you are feeling better in your head about it.

Diane: Definitely a smart idea to keep going to the gym in your routine, even if you can't yet do the exercises you'd like to be doing. If you stay in the habit of actually going and setting aside time in your day for it, it will be that much easier to get back up to speed when your back heals.

KayG: I know just what you mean about skipping the planned treat when things are going well. It's one of the ways success breeds further success. It's frustrating to forego treats when you're not getting anything out of it, but after an awesome loss like you had in January, it can feel easier to stay on track. Oh - about the drinks - my drink of choice is a martini, and believe me, one is really enough. Also when I'm watching what I eat, the alcohol hits me quicker and harder.

Good choice, Mandy. Such a disappointment, but a very good choice. It's a huge purchase. You don't need something that has been so blatantly mishandled. Even if you can't see the damage immediately, it is almost certainly damaged in some substantial way. You've been waiting so long for the shoes and the treadmill. It's gotta be frustrating. Yet, it's another testament to your determination.

Carter - The "skipping it entirely" is a strategy I almost always employ for our company-wide potlucks. Though I'm guessing that your part might contain even more deliciousness, the company-wide potlucks here are insanely excessive. If I go, I focus on what I have decided not to have. And it sounds like your planned breakfast is going to be super-super-delicious.

I have been very irritable. I announced my cookie moratorium, and told everyone that I would not be playing Settlers of Catan last night. I let myself be wheedled into doing both. As a result, I got far too little sleep last night, and I did eat a few cookies -- just enough to make me sick. I came downstairs this morning after deciding "Screw it. I'm eating cookies today." But then, I did not eat the cookies. And I have claimed the day for myself. I have work deadlines that are making me crazy, and I need to run today. So, I will focus on work, and stay late, and run, and go to bed early, even allowing myself to take some OTC anti-anxiety meds. I have arranged for people to cover my kid responsibilities and told my husband he is on his own tonight. I am really excited about the focus, and acknowledge that my "me day" feels a little too adult-ish for my taste. (Okay - old-ladyish.) But neglecting responsibilities gets me edgy, so it's reasonable for me to address those needs.

Mandy: Yeah, smart choice in sending it back. Those things have so much electronic stuff on them, I would be shocked if it isn't severely damaged. I can imagine your frustration when you've been looking forward to it for so long.

Carter: I think that's also a smart call to skip that temptation at work. I count calories, so it is always a burden for me when I go to those things to try to figure out how many calories I had anyway. Typically, I just don't record it and you know what a terrible decision that is!!

Laurie: Ugh, cookies. I would have trouble with saying no to them. Glad you are reclaiming the day for you! Another smart choice!!

KayG: Congrats on the 2 pounds! That's great! Quite the walk you had yesterday!!!

For me, I did make it back to the gym. I only walked on the treadmill, but it felt good to be back there. It was time. I realized I had been pouting a lot about not being able to do what I want to do. That doesn't help. So, I'm just going to do what I can. We also have a step challenge at work, so the least I can do is rack up some step points for my team!

It made me regroup a little, too. I went back and listened to the song that I have quoted in my signature. This time I'm going to be stronger and, no, I'm not giving in! Day by day...

Thank you all for justifying my irritation! Ugh. I will be getting the replacement on the 8th (Wednesday) so almost another week to wait.

I was so grumpy yesterday that FedEx was thwarting my training plans, that yesterday afternoon I went downstairs and crushed a 45 minute cardio workout. It's a setback. Not a dead end. I'm not letting this send me off the rails.

My husband being home and on vacation and tempting me with all the yummy foods he wants? That's the hard part.

Good morning all.

Quick check-in this morning. I managed the weekend with the houseguest - a couple of meals out, and a couple of nice meals cooked at home. I think I might have been fighting off a mild sickness, because my appetite seemed a little curbed on its own. I'm grateful for that, although not so much for how tired and aches I was yesterday, so that when I had a few hours to write, I wasn't really able to.

But anyway, the stars aligned for me well enough, and I showed a loss this morning, down to 193. I'm pleased.

I have attached pictures of the two meals that my friend and I prepared - dinner was butternut squash paneer, potatoes & eggplants, okra, rice, and raita; breakfast was, as planned, halwa poori and channa. (The dinner isn't so dangerous as long as one doesn't overdo it on the rice, and pretty typical of food I often cook. The halwa poori is definitely special-occasion stuff.)

Have a good day, all. Back into the salt mines today.

Carter - That looks DELICIOUS. Glad that you were able to "indulge" without it being a setback. Glad you were able to enjoy your houseguest's visit. Sorry that you're feeling under the weather, though. Hope it's a quick blip, and you are fully engaged in writing mode soon. Yay for your continued scale domination!

Mandy - Woot for channeling your FedEx frustration into crushing a 45-minute cardio session. These are the healthy ways to deal with frustration. I need to channel you next time I am presented with a setback!

Diane - Way to dominate your step goal! Really glad you got back in the gym, even if you are not able to do what you want to be doing. I am going to listen to your song, too. I could definitely use a little musical inspiration as well.

KayG - You, my love, are on a roll! Check you out - down two pounds already this month AND walking 5.56 miles. I am LOVING seeing you succeed so thoroughly. You are a great addition to this thread.

I was very productive at work Friday, but I admit to too much vending machine garbage. I was here until about 10, and made bad food choices. Ah well. I struggled a bit on Saturday, but was able to get back on track, and had a great day on Sunday. And, I ran eight miles yesterday at 5.1 mph. I feel like I could have gone farther, but I had a post-gym commitment and had to stop to make it. I think my next goal will be 9.3 miles - a 15K.

I may or may not run today. I have to finish a brief, as I am out of the office Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I am headed to a warmer climate, so I may get an opportunity to run outside, though. That would be fantastic! For today, head down, focused on grinding it out until I can hit the goal.

Have a great week, everyone!

Mandy: Yay you! Killing it even through the frustration! That's awesome!

Carter: Sometimes you need to have those special meals. I'm glad you were able to have some! It sounds like the weekend was successful.

Laurie: How nice for you to be going somewhere warmer! You'll be ready to run when you're there and to be outside would be great!

KayG: Dang it! Scales are mean. Don't be discouraged though. You'll get it back down and then some!

For me, went to the gym today and did more treadmill. I did some stretching afterward and I realized how stiff I am right now. It will take some time to undo some of the lack of flexibility from being stagnant too long. I have physical therapy tomorrow. Hope it helps.

I'm also restarting. I recognize some names from when i was on here 6, 7 years ago. I lost 100 pounds then and did great for a while but then what with one thing and another... Well, you guys all know very well how it goes. Or comes back.

I've actually been (re)losing for 2 months but I remembered how great 3FC was for inspiration and support so I dug up my old bookmarks, actually remembered my password (!) and I'm back.

I'm pretty excited to be losing again and be back at 3FC.

Hey Everybody! Dropped in, made a comment, dropped back out, and now I'm back! Thank you all for the warm welcome! Trazey! I remember you! Vladadog! I remember you too! mandy, diane, carterLaurie

So, I've read everybody's comments, and Diane I thank you so much for your perspective on the WLS. I've been hesitant/skeptical about it for a long time. I used to work as a women's health NP and I took care of a lot of women post surgery and I saw a lot of people who were miserable with complicated health issues that no one seemed to know how to manage. Now my doctor tells me times have changed and that the newer procedures are better-- but I remember them saying the exact same thing when I almost got the Lap Band seven years ago, and now they don't recommend it at all!

That being said, I'm so big right now that I can't fly without a seat belt extender... and since I do have to travel for work sometimes, that is NO FUN!!!!! And there are SOOOOO many things that I would like to be doing that I can't do right now due to my weight! :-(

So, here is the world according to UBER right now.

1. I'm returning to the tried and true calorie counting and exercise that has allowed me to lose weight before a)record calories b)keep exercising c) get support here
2. I'm going to pursue the very low calorie medically supervised diet and hold off on considering WLS for now.
3. The hardest thing for me is the first 50 lbs... I can get down to around 250 and I feel a lot better than I do at 291, but it's hard to push below. When I get below 230 I start to see real dividends in terms of smaller clothing, more energy, etc. So I'm thinking that a medically supervised diet might help me push past that first 50 a little faster.

Right now, I'm in the HARD first few days!

Hello to all!!! And I'll try to keep up better now!

xxoo Uber

KayG: Congrats on the long walk!!! I hate it that you kind of have to pay for it the next day. Shouldn't there be a reward the next day?? Ha!

Vladadog: Welcome back! This is such a good place for encouragement! Glad you are joining us.

Uber: I think you have a great plan! Good for you! It is funny how what you said regarding the actual numbers plays along exactly with how I feel about my weight. 250 was so much better for me for how I felt than when I was 294. But getting below 230 is key for much better fitting clothes and sizes. When I actually made it below 220, I was amazed at how my body was transforming. Then... I gained some back. But, just gotta keep working.

For me, still going to physical therapy. I do think I'm doing better. I just want to be done, though. I have one scheduled for tomorrow, and I don't know if I'll have more after that. I'm going to tell him that if it is just a matter of time, I can do that on my own. I did go to the gym again today, and walked on the treadmill. So thrilling.....

Hello folks <-- fresh cup of decaf at this hour

Things are going just fine on the weight-loss front - I really can't complain. Even after a slightly indulgent weekend, I am all the way down to 192 today - that's a full 10 pounds since Jan 1 - and I'm still not finding it too difficult to stick to plan.

Work is on the busy side. I skipped the gym this morning because I had nearly solid meetings today and needed the time to prep for one of them. Tomorrow there's a snowstorm coming which means a work from home day and probably not a great deal of exercise either. I'm sure I can take a trudging walk through the snow but that's the best I will be able to manage. It's fine; my knees have been complaining so a day off exercise isn't such a bad thing.

Laurie - working late is brutal for staying on plan. Dinner time rolls around and it can feel like it's either vending machine or order in - if you're getting stuff done you don't want to stop to hunt down a proper dinner. Also, I am pretty much in awe of your 8-mile run.

KayG- My weight-loss pattern always includes a small bounce after every whoosh loss, followed by sitting in the same spot for days and days. It's an incredibly regular pattern - I do not know why, that's just how it is, even when I've not strayed from my plan by a hair. So sit tight and those 2 pounds will wander off again, I promise.

Diane - It sounds like you are slowly on the mend. Hope it keeps getting better.

Vladadog - Welcome back! I remember you from some previous 3FC go-round or other. I'm glad you're losing again and glad you're here on the regainers' thread - we know how to slog it out.

ubergirl - It still makes me so happy to see you here. I know you've got what it takes, and it sounds like you have a plan to help bring that out in yourself. Since I got lots of insight from browsing your old posts a few weeks ago, I suggest you go do the same. Remind yourself of your thoughtfulness and awesomeness!

I hope things are going well for all of you.

Wow, so many names I recognize. Which is nice to know I'm not alone with the regaining but sad because I wish none of us were back at this struggle. But we did it once, we can do it again!

Slashnl said: 250 was so much better for me for how I felt than when I was 294. But getting below 230 is key for much better fitting clothes and sizes. When I actually made it below 220, I was amazed at how my body was transforming.

which is soooo true. I'm down 40 pounds and my old jeans are literally falling off me and new clothes are fitting so much nicer, but I don't think I actually look any (or not much anyway) thinner. I bet my co-workers really don't notice much difference yet (although they sure will if I don't pull these stupid jeans up and find a belt...). But i know from before that another 10 pounds will really start to make a noticeable difference. Right now I'm in that "how can i lose so much weight and still be so fat" phase.....

KayG: Yay for the feeling of accomplishment.... Ha! Should be better than it is! And, yeah, I can see that I'll want to give up the exercises they've shown me, but I'll try to stick to them for the most part.

Vlad: Oh boy. I know that feeling. You work and work and work to lose weight, and you do lose it. But you still aren't where you want to be. So frustrating. But just think back to where you were! You've done great!

Carter: It is always good to have a rest day once in a while. I'm so happy for you that your weight loss is coming along so well. That's awesome!!

For me, I went to PT today. I do think I'm doing much better now. I still have a few issues, so one more appointment next week for sure. Maybe that will be it then. I hope!