Fingers crossed for you today Kylie
Vonni

I also have my fingers crossed for you Kylie. Lets hope 'he' has something that resembles a consciene and that he does the 'right' thing for a change.

Well I weighed in at a very plump 85kg this morning! Look out!!! I'm catching up to you Ani!!

I haven't got the time to do all my measurements this morning - I'll work on that this afternoon. But for now, my challenge for this week is set at dropping at least 1kg - which, after all these bad weeks and knowing how it has happened in the past, is not unreasonable I don't think.

So, the plan...

Over the next 8 weeks I want to lose at least 5kg.

This week:

I plan to have a pedometer attached to my hip and I plan to reach no less than 10,000 steps a day (tough call as I still haven't managed that in the few days I have had the pedometer!).

Also contributing to my 10,000 steps will be 20mins of step-ups a day.

I am allowing myself to eat 1500cals a day - I don't want to be feeling hungry at the end of the day! (Which was happening on 1400cals a day!)

I plan to drink at least one 1.25L bottle of water a day - I am struggling with that now that the weather has cooled a bit!

I will sort out my measurements this afternoon and set a four week goal for those - I'd appreciate it if someone could tell me what a reasonable goal is in regard to losing cms?

I am feeling pumped!

How's everyone else doing?

Kylie, I can only echo the sentiments of everyone else. I hope the b@stard pleads guilty - for all your family's sake. And I hope you are strong enough to go to a doctor and get some anti-depressants or something. I agree with Gen - sometimes you need the medication just to find the strength to go to counselling. We're all thinking of you, and are here if you need to talk

Lindor I lost 0.4kg this week, and weighed in at exactly 89kg.

I'm feeling pumped about our challenge too. In terms of realistic measurement goals, I have been measuring myself from the get go, and find that anything from 1cm - 3cm is achievable in a month.

My goals for this week are pretty simple. I'm writing down my food and allowing myself 1700 calories/day. I'm going to walk for an hour on six days this week. I'm going to drink at least a litre of water/day (it's around 8ºC as I write this, and not easy to convince myself to drink water in this weather).

My starting measurements (as of this morning) are:

Bust: 110.5cm

Waist: 100.5cm

Hips: 119cm

Thigh: 68cm

Upper Arm: 34.5cm

Neck: 35cm

Over the next 8 weeks, my goals are:

• To lose 4kg and get to 85kg; and

• To lose an average of 4cm from my torso!

OK - off to get coffee to warm myself up, and then I'm going for my walk.


Ani

I weigh 91kg - gained 500g this week. I've been dicking around about there for 4-5 weeks. However, I'm back on track this week!! Going to up my calories and see if that helps me stay on track. Got up at 5am, rode to training (10km away) and home - had burned 1360 calories by 7:30am!!

Plan: Drink >1.5L/day water, record food & exercise, eat net 1500 calories.

Starting weight: 91kg.
Target weight (8 weeks): 85kg
BMI today: 32.6
Target BMI: 30.5

Measurements today:
Hip: 108cm
Waist: 89cm
Bust: 104cm
Thighs: 60cm

Aim: Lose 5cm total.

Alrighty girls, let's get going on this challenge!!

Hey Gen, when you say you're going to measure 'net calories', does that mean you will eat 2850 calories and subtract the exercise?

Sorry if that sounds like a dumb question - I'm just curious.

I'm really pleased to see you sounding enthusiastic again. I've been a little like you - hanging around the same weight for weeks, and I understand how annoying that can get.

But you've already achieved great stuff, and I'm looking forward to seeing you do really well over the next eight weeks.


Ani

Good to hear you are up and about Perth chick, you are sounding positive again

Lindor, is that raw nuts or roasted?

I also agree with the others Kylie, and hope he gets what he deserves.Go and get yourself some meds and in time when you feel you can, some counselling, it really helps you sort out your thoughts and feelings.

I would like to jump in on this challage too.
Weighed in this morning at 80kg even. which surprized me, but I will take it and run lol.
Measurements today:
Neck:39 cm
Arms:34.5cm
Bust:117cm
Waist:106cm
Hips: 114cm
Thigh:52 cm
5 kg's in 8 weeks sounds do able.
I will stick with my gym program for the moment, it seems to be working, unlike my pedometer that never seems to go that well. And tryto put in some extra, between times, like walking to the shops instead of using the car.

The other day I said I was thinking of going for a run around the football field!!!!! didn't make it lol. Ended up taking my poor long suffering husband, and dragged him around the shopping centres with daughter and granddaughter. Looking at everything, and dragging the girls out of every second clothing shop lol. WHAT a long day!!!!!mmm not doing that again in a hurry.My man has the patience of a saint.
Be good people or as good as you can be.
Mary

hi girls!

Visit to the doc went well - I'm on luvox...? 1/2 tablet a day to start, then up to 1 a day. This is an expensive busines... $77 last week, $99 this week. Thank god for Medicare. Sometimes I read some american posts, and they cant go to the doc, because they cant afford it. Or worse, they cant go to the hospital. I think we are very lucky here.

Take care lovelies- you'll know the outcome when I do.

Kylie

What drug is luvox? Never heard of that one.

Thanks for the support Ani! In theory yes, I could eat (exercise cals + 1500). BUT I try not to eat all of my exercise cals back, but aim for 50% of them. So I can eat:
1500 food cals
50% of 1360 = 680
Total: 2180 cals for today.

This is more achievable than trying to eat 2860 cals!! In that case, I'd just eat crap to make my calories, which isn't healthy.

Kylie, why has the doctor put you on Luvox? Did they say it was for depression?

The reason I'm asking is that usually you get a milder cousin of Luvox (such as Prozac or Zoloft) to treat depression. Luvox is mostly used to treat OCD - NOT usually depression (although it can be - but it's a much stronger alternative than Prozac or Zoloft). And you can't just stop taking it - you have to withdraw.

And do not, under any circumstances, drink coffee while taking it. Without going into a boring lecture about physiology, Luvox increases caffeine effectiveness - what that means is if you have ONE cup of coffee you will feel like you've just had five!

And - Luvox can make you gain weight.

Don't get me wrong - the right medication can really help overcome depression. I just wonder why you've been prescribed such a strong (and maybe unnecessary) drug.

Sorry - I know I waffle sometimes, and I really want you to get healthy again. But I would definitely be asking questions about Luvox.

Gen, it's fluvoxamine - one of the SSRI's. Similar to Prozac & Zoloft (same family) but mostly used as an anti-psychotic. You start with a small dose, then build up until your plasma levels reach a therapeutic dose.

Sometimes doctors annoy me - they get their "best advice" from pharmaceutical companies and are a bit quick to recommend various pills and potions. Grrr…

Hi ladies

Well, the change in medication didn't work and I've been miserable. My doctor has now finally agreed to try another medication which was recommended to me a year ago. They wouldn't try it at the time basically because it had been recommended by an alternative type doctor and frankly, it p*%#es me off that I've had to go through such a hard time to get onto the medication that I had asked for so long ago.

Good news though is that this week I've been able to get out of been and yesterday I even went to the gym briefly and did my yoga. I'm not feeling anything near great yet but managing to get some physical activity in is an awesome start.

Hi guys. Sry haven't been around. Heaps happening here. But I did log in y/day and read all and wish luck to Kylie, How'd it go?

I also forgot to weigh in. Weighed in at 67kg but I put that down to forgetting to eat for a day. I tried to find tape measure but every time I think about body measurements it seems to disappear. I reckon those gremlins sneak in.

Anyone ever heard of Amira? It's a new one I've heard of, but Dr put my other half on it. I've heard of Luvox Gen but didn't know of what family it belonged to.

Well, I sit for my STAT on the weekend. It's not something you can really study for, as it is more of an analytical type of exam. It's more to see how you perceive and disect information you are given and then you answer multiple choice questions and at the moment my head isn't getting around anything. I have looked at sample questions but......... Of well, I can only try and do my best. I will not think about any one question for to long. If I get stuck I will go back to it. I'm not nervous though, so that should help on the day. If I don't get in to chosen course I have a back up plan

Congrats all who lost weight this week.

LittleKiwi I am lucky in that I have a Dr who will support alternative medicine. He is often going overseas to lecture at medical conferences and also to study new things. What are you going to take?

Me, I am not going any herbs or drugs. Just going to try to change my house around (specially my bedroom) and bring in colour and light. Then I am going to definately start my walks again. But this time rather than just going and going, I am going to sit in the park halfway and just close my eyes and take in the sounds around me. Once I get the house in feel good mode I am going to start some relaxation and meditation exercises.

I am always a bundle of energy, never sit still and have a short concentration span in that I start something in the home then go do something else therefore nothing seems to actually get finished. My kids are running feral, my other half is a prat and I guess I have to do something about it.

Ok i was just supposed to egt on say hello how u all doin great weigh ins and see ya later... not run off at the mouth like this. But, you know me, never short for words.

Take care all,
VONNI

Oh yeah..... My BMI is currently 30 (ouch) and even though my goal weight is 58 apparently I need to go 4kg further for a healthy BMI (at the top end) but we will see. I will just go until I feel healthy and happy!

Hey Vonni, you know that BMIs are averages. I reckon you'll know when you've reached a healthy weight.

I really like your plan of walking - meditating and relaxing - and building it in to a better overall lifestyle. I also like your plan of bringing colour and light into your home. I think we underestimate the impact of colour/light and shade in our environments.

By nature I'm a creative person, so I like to have a lot of natural light in my home - and colours that stimulate me.

I'm having a good week sofar. Even though I didn't eat that well yesterday (my tummy was playing up so I went BLAND), I stayed well within my calorie limit, and I walked for an hour.

I'm not walking today - only because I'm on a strict program to help my back improve - but will do so again tomorrow.

Anyway, I need to go shopping for a friend's birthday. I'll check in tonight.


Ani

Ah ok, just didn't know the trade name. I know of fluvoxamine, and Kylie I'd have to agree there are lots of drugs I'd try first. The one which works great for me, and gives me NO side effects (apart from teeth grinding at night) is citalopram (Cipramil). It is often used in older people as it has less adverse effects.

I agree Kylie, you probably don't care as long as it makes you feel better, but the wrong drug is very difficult, as you have to wean off it etc. I'd ask the doc why that drug - it is very potent.

Vonni, good luck with STAT. I've got a similar exam coming up with NCLEX for my US nursing licence. It's really hard to study for, because it's adaptive and changes the questions depending on how you answered. Good luck!

oh dear!! I'm not alarmed, but I am...worried?

Ani!! The doc never said anything about the caffeine! I'm out of coffee at the moment (bring on payday) so I guess that's lucky. BUT - I'm a uni bum! I need coffee! And I asked the doc about weight gain, and she said she wouldn't put me on anything that would do that...

She had three different packs, from reps. I recognised Effexor there (and I hoped I wouldn't get it, from reading the threads here on 3fc). She picked this one.

How do I fix this? According to a DASS (?) test, I scored 'extreme' stress and depression. I'm going back on Tuesday.

So, in family updates - it turns out that yesterdays court apperance wasn't to enter a plea. That will happen on the 4th of June. Mum, of course, if a tad frazzled.

And I think I'm coming down with a cold. But hey - I'm not surprised. We both have been eating poorly (we are REALLY broke this week), and I've been fairly wrung out.

Quick - say something happy to finish off....um.....I'm going to Sydney this weekend, for an AIESEC conference! Yay!