Jessica - great to hear from you. I can't wait to hear about your weekend. I hope work is busy in a good way. When is your review? When are you leaving for the vacation with your parents? Is it this weekend now or this coming weekend?

Although my mom seems ok, at least according to her, she is still in the hospital and will be until Sunday at the earliest. I leave for New Orleans on Monday and really hope she is home before I have to leave. It would make me feel a lot better.

Things here are crazy as I try to get ready for my conference. My presentation isn't quite done yet and I have to clean my house a little before I leave so my friend (cat sitting) doesn't have a heart attack when she walks in. Other than that I should be doing farm stuff and some errands this weekend to prepare for leaving. I also hope to get in some biking and/or running. We'll see. Right now I'm trying to figure out what I want to do tonight that will make me happiest.

I hope everyone is doing well.

Ang – I hope everything is OK with your allergies: no more swelling and your energy back up!
And I think the bf talking to his mother about you is a good sign too. If you plant seeds in your house over winter, that means he will spend some time at your place – doesn’t it? So you will get to spend some time together doing that.

And “Ouch, Ang!!!” – I really didn’t mean to spread my phobias about people noticing weight loss around… Sorry about that…
But nice to hear that you got complimented about your figure, I’m sure most people never think as negatively about us as we do ourselves. What did you answer him when he complimented you? Just a graceful “thank you”? I think your best friend is totally right about how to receive complements; I just figured that I don’t want to argue with people about it when I give them a compliment either, so I’m sure other people don’t want to argue with me when they compliment me. Normally, I just want to say something nice to them (that I noticed) to make them feel good.

Hope your mother gets out of hospital on Sunday as planned, and that everything goes well with her.
How is your presentation coming along btw? I also hope you get a nice trip to New Orleans, will you have time for some r&r and sight-seeing too, or is it just work?
And how did it go with the exercising - did you get any running/biking done this weekend?

Jessica – have a nice weekend with your parents!

I made it to the gym on Friday, I’m adding some new exercises – and changing my program a bit. Because I go to the gym in the mornings and time is restricted I have reduced the number of exercises every day to 4. Lower body on Monday (squats, leg press, leg curls, shoulder press), Upper body on Wednesday (bench press, one arm dumbbell rows, biceps curls, triceps extensions). On Friday I used to do a combination of exercises I had done earlier in the week (squats, bench press, one arm dumbbell rows), but since I lift to failure every time, I never manage to lift as much on Friday as I did on Wednesday. So now I do lower back extensions, ab crunches (with a machine), lat pulldowns and dead lifts on Friday. The lat pulldowns and dead lifts are completely new exercises for me. I like much better to have something new happening every day, not repeating exercises I already did that week. It’s also easier to increase the weight when I only do the exercises once a week – probably because the muscles are completely rested.

Today I’m doing some yoga and stretching, I’ve found that it’s the perfect weekend exercise for me.

I’m having a nice weekend so far. Went out for a play with my "feminist-class" on Friday; we are reading a play by Ibsen and went out to see it when we found out it was showing. It was OK, but a bit long. And it ended very tragic of course… But we already knew that.

For Sunday I have a long list of school things I need to do.

Do any of you guys play computer games? Sims2 was just released, and I’m trying hard not to buy it. I really don’t have time this semester – and I’m thinking that I will wait until Christmas. But yesterday I visited a friend, and she had already bought it, and it looks wonderful! *sigh*
I’m not so sure I’ll be able to wait….

Have a nice weekend everybody!

Ok, so I didn't make it back Friday night. I'm feeling kind of scattered and flakey these days, it's just my state of mind right now. I'm getting ready to leave for Cambria to meet my family there; I opted out of going with them yesterday because I had to go to work for a couple of hours and try to get some things done around the house. It worked out well because Mike left for work last night at 10:30 p.m. and will be gone at least 7 days, so we got to spend some time together. My step-dad called last night and sounded in a really good mood. My brother rented a house for us with apparently a beautiful ocean view, so the next few days should be really nice and relaxing. I'm trying to ease my parent-anxiety and just enjoy the trip for what it is.

Our weekend (Mike and I) was really nice. The place where we stayed was nestled in the hills and only about a five minute drive from the beach. We had our own mineral water hot tub on our patio; the only problem was that one of the minerals in the water was sulfur, so it was really stinky! Most of the time we ate at the hotel restaurant which was really fancy and REALLY good. We hiked around, walked on the beach, soaked in the spa, watched a couple of movies... it was really peaceful. No proposal like I'd thought maybe there would be, but that's ok.

Hope everyone's having a great weekend. Mette: I usually just play card games on the computer, and sometimes those little freebie games on yahoo and msn, but I have played the Sims before, I just ended up with unhappy characters so I got frustrated and stopped playing. In fact, I even set one on fire once! Sheesh. I've also played Roller Coaster Tycoon which is pretty fun. Mike just got Railroad Tycoon and has been having fun with that.

Ok all, I'm off to my weekend adventure. I'll be back on Tuesday!

Hello Ladies.

mette - all good with the allergies. Hopefully they won't return. I think planting seeds in my house is good. The fact that bf keeps talking about next year with me in it is good too (assuming I want to be with him next year). Don't have time for details now, still need to pack for conference and I leave at 10am tomorrow, but I have had some serious talks with bf and told him some stuff. He tells me that things will be better in a month or so and that it is the work and not me. We still need to have a very serious sit down face-to-face (we talked about needing this) but I really think he cares and I just need him to realize he needs to communicate it better. I also need to understand him better. I am trying to give him credit when he says things now, even if it isn't exactly how I want to hear them. Yesterday we talked on the phone for 40 minutes while he drove home from work! It was just like old times talking about a wide range of subjects. I saw him today and it was pretty good. He lent me the shirt off his back (literally) because I was called. It smells like him. I am going to bring it on my trip.

Yesterday it poured here so I got a bunch of cleaning done in the house. I have lots more to do but feel really good about the progress I made. When I get back I am ready to start getting my life in order. I am definitely going to start SB diet and start working on the house and my life. In a good place today. Yeah! Went running with a friend this morning (4.2 miles).

mette - I didn't mean to make you feel bad about the weight loss thing. I just hadn't thought about it. If I never gain that much weight again then it will never be an issue either.

As for compliments - I can barely get out Thank You so that's all I strive for and usually manage it - this past time included.

Mother is still in hospital and hopefully will leave tomorrow or Tuesday. The doctors don't work on the weekends and they are just being very slow with her. I think she is out of the woods though so I am not worried.

The presentation is basically done. A little fine tuning when I get off the computer here and then I'll burn it onto a disk and I'll be ready. I'll just practice it a couple of times while I am in NO. I'm hoping for a fun trip. No professional expectations this time - what a relief. I should have one afternoon to at least walk around a little and one evening. I guess it ends up being a lot of work but some fun too. My goal is just to come home without doing something embarrassing. It won't make or break my career at this point.

mette - sounds like you are doing really well at the gym. Your new plan seems very sound and reasonable. Do you feel any different? stronger? more toned?

I don't play computer games - not enough time and I prefer to be outside. In the winter I may play some games but not the kinds you are talking about. I go the solitaire type and mahjongg stuff. Hold out if you can. I know a lot of people that get addicted and just takes up too much time.

Were you able to get your school stuff done mette? Are you enjoying the work?

Jessica - sounds like there is potential for a great trip. I hope you can put aside the issues with your parents and enjoy it. I am very envious of your weekend with Mike. It sounds like it was WONDERFUL. You deserved it.

Yikes, 9:16pm already. Gotta get this presentation done. I'll check in when I can from the conference. I'm hoping to get at least one or two good New Orleans meals in but in general hope that I don't overdo it. I wa going to bring running stuff but reality hit me and I'm not going to waste the room. With only two days it isn't going to happen probably. I figure if I have time I can always walk and I don't need anything special for that. I am going to wear sneakers on the plane so I'll have them just in case.

Have a great Monday mette. Were is Renee?

Hey ladies!

Trying to skim through things and post before I get swallowed up by work.
Yes - I play video games, in fact, you could almost go so far as calling me a 'gamer chick'. I currently play Final Fantasy Online, one of those big, multi-user roleplaying games. I am sooo addicted.

Saturday I worked the Farm Fest at the Hooved Animal Humane Society. For seven straight hours I gave pony rides, which involved lifting children in and out of saddles, and then walking in large circles. We (the other pony people and I) wager that we put in about 20 miles of walking. -and I have the blisters to prove it. My calves, inner thighs, hips.. everything hurts! I can't believe that I got so sore from JUST walking!

The weight loss, for the whole house has not only stalled, but reversed. We have no idea what's going on. We did so well in Phase I, and have not cheated in Phase II, but all of us showed a 1lb gain this week. How frustrating! I've posted on the South Beach board to see if this has happened to others, and how common it is. Still, very discouraging. I am going to blame part of it on my monthly visitor, which is -again- late this month, but I think today it'll come around. I really don't want to go back on the pill because my sister always scares me that it's related to breast cancer.

Anyway, menu today.
Yogurt
String Cheese
Whole wheat pita w/ turkey cheese lettuce and mayo & spaghetti squash with red sauce
More cheese
Chicken something or other for dinner.

Oh, and I have an ortho appt. today so on top of sore feet, I'll have sore teeth! Hahaha.

Hi everybody! Are you still there?

Jessica, are you home from Cambria?
Ang, are you home from New Orleans?
Renee, are you home too?

I haven’t posted since Saturday I think – my so called real life came up and bit me in the a**, so to speak. I became very busy suddenly. I have a multiple choice exam in neuropsychology next Wednesday, so I have a lot to read this week.

Jessica, your weekend sounds so great: nice weather, spa, beach, beautiful scenery, great food – and great company too! Good for you!

Ang, great that you and the bf have some serious talks every now and then; and it must really make you feel good when he says that it will be better in a month or so? Sounds like good news, doesn’t it?
(I used to love to wear my ex-bf’s clothes and have his smell on me too! I bet it made great sleepwear on your trip, huh?)

And Ang, you didn’t make me feel bad about ‘spreading my phobias around’ – I just didn’t mean to! (*oops*!) And of course! Neither of us will ever gain weight again – so it will not be an issue for us anyway!

Hope your mother is getting better! And also hope you had some fun in New Orleans? How did the presentation go? (I’m sure you did great!)

As for my progress at the gym – I’m not really sure if I feel stronger, different or more toned. I suppose I feel stronger – if for no other reason so because I *am* getting stronger, and the numbers on the weights change/the weights I lift are heavier.
I’m having some problems with measuring progress on my body though. It has something to do with not trusting what I see and feel anymore when it comes to becoming strong/toned than I did when it came to losing weight. I tend to measure my progress by how much I increase the weight I lift. Next week I’ll take my measurements and see if they’ve changed since September first - hopefully they have.
Next week I will have maintained my weight for a whole month.

No Sims2 yet, but I really, really *want* it! *sigh* I’ll hold out though!
My article about ‘heroes, heroines, and archetypes in film’ got accepted too, btw! So yey for that!

Renee – your weekend with the Farm Fest(!) sounds like exhausting fun! Hope you’re still hanging in there dietwise too – and haven’t gotten completely frustrated by the missing weightloss. Hopefully you have started losing again by now!

I have to go back to my neurobiology book (Brain and behavior!) and read about the anatomy and physiology of the different nervous systems! Have a great Wednesday everybody!

Heh, where is everyone? >.>? Now I feel like it is my sole duty to keep the forum thread going! Hope you all are doing well and feeling great.

After a week of not losing (Thanks alot TOM) I weighed in today to see a pound missing from! Good riddance, I don't think I'll go looking for him. I am at a total of 15lbs lost since really buckling down on eating right, and 3 lbs short of my goal for the cruise, which was to have lost 18lbs. My reward is going to be to splurge on a nice massage.

I am still aiming to lose a total of 30 by Christmas, which means I have 15 more to go and 13 weeks to do it. I think that is a pretty fair goal?

Work has been so much better lately. I am still boggled over what the change is. Was it me? Has eliminating the carb-rollercoaster really helped me balance my moods so well?

I think the next big hurdle for me is going to be really, truly incorporating more activity into my lifestyle. It's not a matter of hating activity, but finding activities I can get so addicted to, that I put them above other things, namely: me time. I.E When I get home from work, I want to veg out in front of my video game.

So that's whats going on here. Hope to see you ladies soon! Oh, by the way, my sister joined this forum too but hasn't posted. Don't know if she will, but her name is ruffir!

She did a search for fat chicks diet, and clicked on something at work that was NOT this forum. ROFL! Poor Ruffir.

Edit: Hehe, Mette snuck in and posted at the same time! Hiya Mette! Good to see ya back.

Hi Renee! At least you and I are still here!
It’s a bit sad that this thread is slowing down, I have really, really enjoyed having everybody here on a daily basis this summer. But I suppose it’s waxing and waning with how busy our real lives are.
Renee: congratulations on losing 15lbs! Great work!
15lbs in 13 weeks should be possible to do, especially if you increase activity too!
And say hi and welcome to your sister, hopefully she’ll be inspired and motivated by this place too. Have you been posting some in the SBD and other forums, Renee? I’ve been posting a few posts in the LWL (ladies who lift), one thread in the Exercise forum and in the Alternachick forums. But this place has always been my favorite thread!

Ah well. Hope you have a nice day Renee. Talk to you later.

Hey Mette!

Yah I post occasionally on the SBD threads, usually with specific questions, or recipe advice. But like you, here is my favorite.

So with the lifting, can you recommend a good site to go to, that shows you good machines/exercises to build a routine around? When I first joined Bally's, I had 2 Personal Trainer sessions so I know how to use the machines, but not how to build a routine. (Those sessions, I think she overdid it with me too, she wasn't very good. I was immobile sore for a full week afterwards!)

I was thinking of, in the meantime, starting to do push ups and sits ups every day. At least to do something with my muscles.

Oooh ! Lunch time, and I have pictures to pick up! Back soon.

Hi Ladies.

I'm sorry I wasn't able to post while I was at my conference but I have returned. I need to try and get some sleep so I'll have to give a proper report tomorrow. Short version - my mother is home from the hospital and holding her own with the help of a visiting nurse and medication. My presentation went fine. All feedback was positive - very professional was the main theme. It generated A LOT of discussion which is a good sign at this conference. I even got one idea to add to my data analysis. In general I tried to enjoy the conference and I did - little pressure on me from me. I'm glad to be home. I have a renewed attitude. I am trying to get a hold of the SB diet book and am going to start that asap. I am also ready to tackle the house projects and begin my life yet again. I guess I just have to keep trying. Maybe one day I'll get it right.

Have a great night.

Hi guys.

Renee – about good links for sites with exercises w/machines – I don’t think I have what you're looking for.
As I’ve said before, I adore Krista but she mostly talks about weights and not machines: http://www.stumptuous.com/weights.html
Another site I use is ExRx Exercise & Muscle Directory: http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html - you can find exercises by muscle or by exercise, it’s really a very good site. I have mainly looked at the exercises for bars and dumbbells, but they also show exercises for cables and levers – and those are machines. You can look and see what you find.
The third site I use is Fitsite: http://www.fitsite.com/anatomy.cfm. This site shows exercises by muscles – it’s very good and informative. Some free weights, some cables and levers here too – but probably not what you’re looking for if you’re looking for a new program on the regular machines.

To build a routine I suggest you split up your body on how many days you’re going to the gym a week. If you’re going twice a week: do a 2-split, if you’re going three times: do a 3-split, etc.
You can build a program for machines on one of Krista’s programs: A 2 day split: Do lower body one day (use the machines that cover calves, hamstrings, quadriceps and glutes) and upper body the other day (biceps, triceps, shoulders, chest, back) - warm up first both days, stretch and do sit-ups after.

And you know – I really recommend the free weights, don’t you have a weight room at your gym? I’m getting such a kick out of weight lifting! It’s such a surprise for me!

Ang – how nice that your trip and presentation went well! And also that your mother is doing OK. Hope you get some sleep and rest – and great to hear you’re having a renewed attitude! Good for you!
Of course you’re going to get it right! We all are, eventually – some of us just need to practice a bit longer than others… I know I have.

It’s Friday, and I need to start reading for my exam – but I’m procrastinating instead….
Hope you’re all having a nice Friday!

And you know – I really recommend the free weights, don’t you have a weight room at your gym? I’m getting such a kick out of weight lifting! It’s such a surprise for me!

Yah we do... but all the really jockish guys are back there grunting away and I could just never go back there and mess with them!

Thanks for the sites, I'll check them out after lunch. Which is two low carb, whole grain ham sandwich wraps with mozzarella cheese, Hellmans 2 Good Mayo, and lean ham. Oh, romaine lettuce too.

I think I've stallled on my losing because I had too few calories. I was below 1100 on most days starting Phase II, and now my sister and I track it at fitday, and it's been a real challenge to get up to 1200 calories! I am forcing myself to eat more than I want to, I get full, but ... don't have enough calories. We'll have to see.

Renee: as you say; eating too little is not good for your metabolism, and you should try to keep (well) above 1200 if you’re planning to keep doing this for a while.
It’s either eating more or start building more muscles that will burn more calories….

As for: This is what kept me out of the weight room too. They really are intimidating and usually not very welcoming, aren’t they? Which is why it’s so important that you know what you’re doing when you start lifting weights in there! It’s important to have a program made by an instructor, and an introductory session where the instructor shows you how to do all the different exercises. So that – on the first time you go in there all by yourself – you know what to do. Which dumbbells to reach for, what kind of bench you should sit/lie on, how to do the exercises with good form, etc.
I found pretty soon that the mirrors were scarier than the guys there….

Try the machines, see if you can get together a program that works for you – if you don’t find out how; try to start a thread in the Exercise forum and ask for help there. Or in the Ladies Who Lift forum (although they mostly talk about free weights there).

And if – after a while (a month? a couple of months?) – you get bored with the machines: remember the free weights and the weight room!
It’s where the action is! Really! I promise!
Jessica – what happened to your journey into the weight room? Do you have some tips to share with Renee too?

So – what are your plans for the weekend? Ang: hope you’re feeling rested and good! OK. Hope you’re all are having a great weekend!

I found this web site a while ago but like getting away from my healthy eating habits I strayed from the site as well. Maybe because I was ashamed of my lack of will power. Whatever the reason I'm back becuase not only did I stop losing weight I gained 12 more pounds. I was going through the support groups and found yours by accident. I'd love to join! It sounds like you guys have defintely helped each other along this LOOOOOng journey.

LIttle bit about myself;
*25 years old, 4 kids (16,12,5,1 years old) (the older ones are mine through marrige )
*Always had a problem with my weight
*Got motivated 4 years ago and lost 45 pounds - kept it off for almost 2 years!!!
*When I started that I was at my highest weight of 182 but now I sit before you now at a place I never imagined to be - 202lbs.
*I know this is an incredibly long and commited journey to a new and better way of life but once agian I am ready. I know I can't do it alone though.
*Low fat diet and excercise is how I did it before but I am always open to new suggestions.

Looking forward to a better feeling me! - Jedi

Sorry - so sorry. Farmer had a stroke and is in hospital since Friday. Can't imagine how busy things have been trying to visit him, work, and keep up with his house. A lot of legal crap too. Two subjects a day at work this week also. I promise to make it back here though.

Keep up the good work mette and Renee. Welcome Jessica2 (just in case Jessica1 returns, which I hope she does).