I have to check it out! I love weight loss myths.

I'm so relieved. Down .8 pounds from the previous Friday.

That's in spite of gnawing on apples & plain roasted almonds at moments when I wasn't really hungry, just wanting to work my jaws, and in spite of trying a quarter pound of really salty turkey pastrami on top of my salad at lunch one day.

The Pilates/spin class/arc trainer/weight training routine appears to be working.

And I haven't succumbed to ubiquitous Halloween candy. Also, the shorter, cooler days have not yet caused me to shut down into seasonal torpor. I have been putting up a good fight at remaining as active as during the warmer months.

No. But my nearest and dearest would recognise 'mad eye' and 'slamming fist on table' as behaviour associated with me. Not 'moody', though. That's not me at all. I just say how I'm feeling, and why, if I know.

Good going, saef. Keep it up.

I am doing well, vanquishing tummy ache by chewing Very Thoroughly and eating a bit less. Exercise is no good. Work is getting in the way with too many contracts at the same time. Feast or famine, you see.

Saef, once again you inspire me!

SB, food is the most important piece, so keep focusing on that, even if work doesn't permit enough exercise.

Kitty, how was your run?

I've been at 150.2 for the past two days, which kinda stinks cus I saw 149.2 a few days ago. I think I'm retaining some water because my new birth control has given me two periods this month. I know I didn't eat too much, I log everything.

And... I really want to try yoga. But I don't want to do a class, I'd rather just try it at home and practice the poses. But I don't really know where to start. I've heard am/pm is good. I'm looking for something relaxing and to increase flexibility. I practiced a few poses that I saw online and I'm pathetic, I can't touch my toes. I always thought I couldn't because I was fat. Now that I've lost almost 45 lbs I'm starting to understand the importance of flexibility.

Plus, it looks relaxing and work/life/family is stressful. I want to quit, but then I'll be making less money and then I won't be able to afford to move up North so my fiance and I can be with his daughter. We also want to have a small wedding before we move with my family, then a second with his family.

All this costs money. Why can't I just win the lotto now?

StephanieM, some very athletic runners in my former yoga class had trouble touching their toes & the instructor mentioned that it had to do with their hamstrings, but I'm not sure of the actual, physical issue behind that inability. All I know is that some pretty fit people in yoga class were surprised to discover they had limited flexibility & then very interested in taking on the challenge of improving in this area.

(Except my macho friend Jason who said, "No dude needs to be that flexible & limber." But apparently those qualities are a good thing for women. Probably for some x-rated purpose.)

I haven't taken yoga class in many months, due to various injuries over the spring and summer. Actually, I preferred practicing in the class, at least for the meditation & relaxation segments, as there's something particularly soothing for me in letting the instructor guide me into a calmer state, and also in feeling people around me also releasing & letting go of their own tension. I take comfort in the reminder of our collective vulnerability & evidence that so many others are looking for relief from stress. It's the human condition, not just my own singular curse in life.

150.5 today... inching downward. Being back here and in the company of those with the same focus definitely makes it much, much easier to have "constant vigilance" because you're all in my thoughts at various times of the day. Thank you for sharing the stories of how you're fitting the new lifestyles into your days and nights, how you overcome the weak moments, and how to celebrate victories.

Saef, exactly! I thought it was cus of my gut! It's not there like it was before and I still can't do it and that's when I realized I am not very flexible.

Maybe I should spring for a good dvd, I can do it on my days off (which are during the week, so no fiance to distract me). Daytime TV really sucks since school went back into session too, it gives me an excuse to do more haha.

I hate how I can't make a decision with my weight. On whether to stay or just get to goal and see how I feel. Part of me just wants to see if I can do it.

148.8! Whee! 8.8 to go!

Haha! Do I detect by your excitement, Stephanie, that you solved your question about whether to maintain or press on to goal?

Guys, I feel like I've got my mojo back!! I think I've been a little depressed, and now that I have identified it and can recognize it, I think I can deal with it a little better. I've been in a funk. I've missed my over achiever, kick @ss self that I love so much!

Great, Stephanie!

Midwife Things have been changing in your household. It's normal to take time to get used to different things.
My mojo says hello (or possibly HI!!) to yours.

Food going well here. Exercise was taking two old and past-it pine doors apart. That is harder than it sounds. But fun and a great team exercise.

I shal sy ths n cod e: lst too pnds snce lst Sat. Dnt wnt 2 jnx it. Yes!

Thanks guys! It's only 8.8 more, I'm just gonna keep going because I know I can do it! I swear this happens all the time and I still can't recognize it when it does.

I still have a lot to learn about my body.

Which makes maintenance scary.

I'm glad I have you guys

I posted some new mini goal photos so I can see for myself where I've come from. Sometimes I can't believe it still.

StephanieM- Love your new profile pic - you look so strong and confident! That goal number doesn't stand a chance!

silver - cngrts!

midwife - sounds like you've come out the other side. It's a great feeling, isn't it? Personal power, baby!


saef - I like how you expressed the reasons for preferring a yoga class over the solo-venture. I appreciate your last sentence there even more since finishing "The Divine Matrix" by Gregg Braden ... which is as close to a personal bible as anything I've found so far. A mass release of tension is truly greater than the sum of its parts. I discovered that works also for community service - it feels great to work with other people toward "something better", be it less hunger, more education, cleaner water ... dang, I guess that rustling sound is me growing as a person.

Paperclippy - I am heading for the pool tomorrow. No excuses!

150.5 again - maintaining the "undo" of last weekend. Weekends = weakness ... and there is no good reason except that they lack routine. This weekend proves that even though a lack of routine is a routine in itself, a plan and right-thinking still works. Looking back over the food journals from when I was losing, what stands out very clearly is the division right about this time last year when I started to get sloppy on the weekends. Right about this time last year is when the weight loss ended, and maintenance began. On one hand - I'm confident in my ability to deal with maintenance. On the other, like Stephanie, I do want to see how a goal weight looks on me.

Thanks Becky! I'm trying to ride off this strong feeling, I am just so ready to start maintenance. I'll still be weighing daily for accountability and keeping track, but with less restrictions.

Congrats on keeping the weight low!

StephanieM - I dont want to burst your bubble about maint, but it may not be as easy as you seem to be expecting it is...or maybe its just me You are doing an awesome job though, weight seems to be flying off ya.

midwife/saif/silverbirch - glad to hear everyone is moving past those obstacles and doing well! yay.

What a weekend on my end of the world! I worked my butt off (crunch time at the office), got in a nice 3.5m walk (hey wow Im faster from being lighter, neato), and did a TON of shopping!

I now have actual black pants and denim that fit....in a size 2 which is super mega ultra freaking me out, but all the clothes trying on did help with the mental adjustment to my new smaller size.

I bought skirts. I havent worn skirts....ever. I always thought my calves were horrid, but the lymphatic drainage work Ive been doing is *amazing*...its why Im down to 126.6...water weight, woot.