Well, it's Sunday here (we are 13hours ahead of EST) and we just finished church. Saturday was a good day I think. Man, you all are good at counting calories, I am not that disciplined. Yesterday for breakfast I had a black bean drink (don't ask, I bought it here in Taiwan, it's a Chinese thing) and it has 135calories. Lunch, well, youth group was decorating the church (on first floor, we live on second) and all they left me was the herb biscuits from KFC--though that's probably good that's all they left. Dinner, I made a salad and dressing (a biggy for me as I am not the cook). Salad had 3 pieces of ham, 3pieces of cheese both sliced into thin slices. As well as 3 eggs and carrots and cucumbers and I used cabbage ( I think) . I didn't eat it all, just a small bowl. The dressing I used low fat mayo and milk added garlic powder, oregano and salt. Tasted as close as I will get to ranch dressing here.
I walked for 45 min. yesterday (a total of 1.5miles) plus worked on abs and thighs (and boy am I feeling it!!!!!).
So that was my Saturday. The weather is hot again here (we don't get below freezing here) must be in mid to high 70's.

Remember: Little snacks make big slacks!!

Hi again

LadyRider...glad to see you back! Congrats on not gaining anything this week. I am too scared to check. I"m going to just work extra hard and not weigh again until next Sunday. That way I wont be discouraged. I REFUSE to eat another huge meal now until Christmas. Oh, by the way, I hit that same crazy 6am sale you did. People are absolutely CRAZY that time of morning. lol. I got what I went after tho. ( a basketball goal for my son, $30 less than reg price)

Lisa...wow, you had such a productive day! That's something I should do before Christmas. The kids have so much stuff already it's hard to find a place for new things they get. I bet you burned lots of calories doing all that.

Cyan...Lisa is right. Even when you do go over on your calories, you're a whiz at doing what needs to be done to get rid of them! I always think of you when I'm exercising. I feel like you're the "leader of the pack" in that aspect.

Taiwan...it's not that we are so good at counting calories. It's just that we have found a site that calculates them for us. Go to Fitday.com and check it out. It is sooo cool! Cyan told me about it and now I use it regularly to keep track of what I eat and how many calories I burn. Your salad sounded yummy especially after all the heavy foods I ate today. ( not sure about that black bean drink tho.lol) I laughed about the "little snacks". I need to remember that saying!

Well except for eating too much and not exercising, today was a good day. Went to my mom's and had Thanksgiving lunch #2. I have 3 younger sisters and they were all there along with spouses and kids. Also my mom's 3 sisters, a neighbor and her grown son, and several of my cousins. A houseful. My little niece, Kaylen, who is the daughter of my youngest sis who is 24, was sooo cute!! She spent the nite with us last nite all by herself for the first time. She will be 2 in March. Today, the weather was perfect and she spent most of it running thru and getting buried in piles of leaves. We had a blast playing with her. After everyone left, we came home and laughed again as we watched it all on video. To be a carefree little girl again! lol

Well, I am exhausted. Been an extra busy week and I think I'm about to head to bed. Gonna try to make myself crawl out of bed in time for church in the morning but I'm so tired, I better get in bed soon if I'm going to make it.

Great hearing from all of you!! Cjunk, Precious One, WI_wide, Annie, Reina, I miss ya'll!! Hope you get back soon!!

Nite all

MIKI

Hello Everyone!


Been busy this morning reading all of the postings! What a great thanksgiving everyone had! And all of you did so well at combining great eats with exercise and still working towards your goals. My we are an amazing group!!

Yesterday I swam for 45 straight minutes of lengths! I think that was a lot of calories burned but I am not sure. What website is it that can tell me this?

Today I am meeting my girlfriend for an exercise bonanza--we are going to spin class for 1hour and then Hatha relaxation yoga to stretch afterwards for a 1 hour class. That should allow me to eat a bit of junk this weekend for some eating enjoyment!! I hope I can make it through the spin as she says it is a deadly class. It has been a long time since I have been on a bike. I'll be thinking of you girls!

I like the Oprah idea--I will think up my posting for it. I also think that we should figure out how much we have all lost together before submitting it so that we can add to the letter a total loss of inches and/or pounds. If each one of us added our totals up and put it at the top of our letters that would work well---what do you think?

Cyan, I think it is awesome that you eat and then burn it off when you recognize you have had too much. It seems that I have hit a plateau at this time and maintaining will be my challenge--probably until the New Year. That is as good a goal as any since I have figured out that I lost about 10 pounds and at least 5 inches all over the place since I started. Like all of us I wouldn't have been able to do it without all of you!

Miki and Lisa--keep up the great work. It sounds like all of your planning is paying off and that results keep coming! We all support each other and I know we do it together.

LadyRider--I have no idea how you skipped pumpkin pie--you are my inspiration!!! It sounds like your holidays were also a success.

Taiwan--Welcome and post as often as you like! We are a chatty bunch here and everyone is so supportive that you are bound to find results. I think you are right that a slower weight loss is better because you are bound to keep it off over time.

Gotta go workout! Can you believe I am leaving my house at 8:30 am to head to the gym??? (and its not even my gym!).

Cjunk

Hi,
I missed you ladies! I've been sick but much better now. I don't have much time right now but wanted to say hello. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

Talk to you all soon

Hello everyone. How are all this morning? I'm okay but having some cramping....HMMMM.

Today is the first Sunday of the month and so, as a Mormon, I am fasting. Usually, I end up overcome with GB pain, but I will still give it a try. I will break my fast at about 5:30. Church is from 1:00 till 4:00 and then it's Choir Practice until 4:45. (I can't skip that...I'm the director)

Well, It's officially December!!! Tomorrow night for Family Night we're putting up the tree and all the decorations. My hubby refuses to put up Christmas Lights outside, so I think I may attempt it.

Precious One! Glad to see you back! I was worried we had lost you. I'm sorry you've been sick and I'm glad you're feeling better!

Taiwan, it's wonderful that you've decided to stay with us!

Have a great day everyone!
Lisa

I got up very early this sunday morning...had to go for a gum taste testing survey that lasted for 3 hours...3 hours of tasting gum...I got 60 bucks for it...and I think another 10 bucks in the mail...to come.

Anyway, yesterday I said I had cycled for 12.3km..no it was for a total of 20.3 I got confused....

Today, I've just walked outside...did a little christmas shopping and ate a smoked meat sandwich. I have a chicken roasting in the oven...hmmmm dinner

Glad to see everyone coming back to post. I just love it here..you girls are the best...Taiwan...are you joining us on our pre-newyears challenge...which is to maintain our weight loss and lose if possible. The more the merrier

Annie...hope you are well and I miss your posts come back real soon.

Well, ladies...feeling a little low energy write now...will post later if not tomorrow..I send everyone a big hug and a bigger thanks for being part of this wonderful group

Cyan

Well, here's my report for the day:

I ended up going to the gym for that time with my friend. Spin class was extra hard and I have to say that I had the tension much lower than they were asking but not completely off and I did make it through the whole hour so I am proud of myself. Yoga afterwards was great for stretching.

Went out for vietnamese noodle soup after and for the first time ate the whole bowl!!!

Then I went home and had a nap!! I slept like a baby!! Man does that ever tire you out.

So all in all I am happy that I made it through because I was worried that I wouldn't.

Cyan and Annie (where are you Annie???), I don't know how you ride your bikes for so long because those spin bikes are harder than heck!

Precious One, glad to see that you are back! I am sorry that you weren't feeling well---there has been a virus going around. It is great to hear from you.

Lisa, your day sounds wonderful with the Christmas plans and choir. I love to sing ---and by the way it is also good exercise because of all of the diaphragm breathing! Enjoy your day and I hope that your cramps don't get in the way too much. Periods can be tough for me too---especially around cravings so I can identify.

I went to fitday.com and the activity calculator didn't seem to work correctly so I was unable to calculate how much burned. Anyone know of another site I could go to?

Cyan, I am so smelling that chicken roasting in your oven. Enjoy your evening and hope to hear from you again tomorrow.

By for now all, By the way...LadyRider, Reina-Mia and Annie, how was your day??

Cjunk

Hello everyone!
It’s Sunday, and all the company have gone home and the celebrating is over for now. I have a confession to make, cjunk. I did eat the pumpkin pie – three pieces! Maybe my joke about eating it as a vegetable confused you. I left the leftover pie at my daughter – in – laws Thursday and swore I wouldn’t eat any more. We went out to dinner Friday and I did very well, grilled fish, gilled mushrooms, yellow squash and a salad. But when we got home my daughter and son said they had the munchies and there was nothing good to eat in the house – so they made TWO PUMKIN PIES!! I was a goner. I ate pie that night and all day Saturday. Gained 2 lbs on the scale. Ugh! And here my husband had been bragging about me all weekend. I felt so guilty!!
But today is another day. I jogged the entire 2 miles this morning without a rest – a personal best! I’m back to eating right, measuring and recording everything and I’m determined to lose another pound this week.

Hey Cyan! I’d go to a gum tasting survey for $60 bucks. Talk about easy money, but I’ll bet your jaws are tired. Hey, does that count as another exercise session?

Lisa, I admire your ability to fast, especially with GB pain. And, you can sing! I’ll bet people don’t ask YOU to stop when you sing out loud like they do me! You certainly accomplished a lot this weekend - Doesn’t it feel great to get organized? Thanks for the kind words. I can’t wait to meet you in person too.

Precious One! Welcome back! I hope you feel better soon; we’ve really missed your posts.

Cjunk – Wow! You are a virtual exercise machine! Congrats on the 10 lbs and 5 inches Keep it up girl and you will meet your goal in no time at all. I agree, putting our totals at the top of our letters, and then the accumulated total on the letter to Oprah is an excellent idea.

Miki – Your second Thanksgiving sounds wonderful. Don’t cha love those big family get togethers? And your niece sounds adorable. It’s great you thought to tape it; she will love seeing it when she’s older and so will you!

Taiwan – Congratulations on the walking and working out! It’s got to be hard to adjust to the food in a foreign country. We take for granted the foods we have here in our home land. Boy I really needed that Little Snacks Big Slacks reminder. Thanks!

Annie, we miss you. Hope you’re ok.

My husband and I are going up to visit relatives in Illinois and Minnesota from December 4th -11th. I will try to run while we’re gone, but the eating part is going to be really tough. I won’t have internet access, either, so I won’t be able to post again until I get back. I will keep thinking about you all posting and succeeding. Hopefully, that will be enough to keep me strong.

Well, today is Monday. My Sunday went pretty well I think. Still aren't sure about adding these calorie things as some of the food we eat here, I am not sure about (or what exactly to call it ) Breakfast I was having a black bean breakfast drink (135calories) but didn't finish it all as I was rushing around for Sunday school. Lunch was noodles here, tofu and veggies. For dinner, we went to a special dinner for fosterparents (I am the only blonde hair blue eyed person in the ENTIRE room ) and had our picture taken with the governor. I did very well. Before we left I had some of my salad and a diet Coke I took a bottle of water (I did fulfill my 2liters of water and even had and extra 500cc) with me as I knew I would drink too much juice and all at the meal. There was a buffet. All I had was a few slices of bread and some cantelope and watermelon. Though I have to admit I had one piece (it was like 1in x 2in) piece of the most delicious chocolate cake and a thin slice of ice cream cake. But I thought over all I did well. I specifically ate a salad before we left so I wouldn't over do it.
At night my 14yr old fosterteen and I went walking for 45min (1.5miles). I needed to talk with her anyway and it was a great time. Just us two,so I know it was special to her. Didn't do my abs and thighs though, will today.

Hope you all have a great week. Hey I will join the New Year resolution. You say it's to lose weight and keep it off? My goal!!! Wow, I see alot of you are really into exercise. If we had a gym here, I would definetly be going. I used to go to one when we lived in another town (8hours away!) and I just loved the treadmill and all the weights. My arms are just flabby. I need to get some videos and start a routine of some sort. What an inspiration you all are.


Remember--Little snacks make big slacks

Hello ...me again...well I just exercised for 25 minutes for a distance of 7.3km and burned off 340 cals..yep its my day off from serious exercise plus its my time of the month Total cals consumed was 1501 minus the 340 for a total of 1161. Not bad but my fat grams are high at 76 grams

Yeesh! I gotta get those fat grams down...I know..I'm looking into tweeking my food choices.

Girls stay on track...we can do it..we are strong healthy women of determination...hear us roar!

Be back tomorrow

yuck...its monday

Hey Taiwan...how much weight are you looking to lose an what is your regime?

PreciousOne...so glad youre back

LadyRider..I'm gonna miss your posts while you are gone but am happy you will be having a fun trip. You inspire me with your running...I'm intimidated my endurance running...ugh!

Cjunk the chicken was delicious! And kudos on taking that spin class..I once watched a class in session and people were sweating buckets...very very impresive you are...just for making it. Your determination keeps me exercising.

Lisa...wow! how do you feel when you fast? And whats GB pain?

Cjunk....
Big hug to everyone

Cyan

I am sitting here falling out laughing at myself and feeling like an idiot! I clicked on "Post reply" as I always do after reading everyone's current post and for some reason accidentally arrowed down. Wowww..what do ya know?? Right there at the bottom of the page is everyone's last post!! I never knew they were there!! That's why it takes me FOREVER to type my replies because I have to keep going back and forth between 2 windows or I type it in MSWorks and then paste it here. I never knew I could see them as I replied! That is just so cool...should be much easier now. lol

Cjunk, sounds like you did great with the exercise this weekend! (and leaving at 8:30 a.m...I am sooo impressed!!)I wish there was an indoor pool around here somewhere but unfortunately there's not and it's too cold now for outdoor swimming. Cant afford to join a gym, especially with Christmas coming up, so for now I guess I'll have to stick with my exercise at home. Didnt do so great with it over the weekend but plan to get up early tomorrow to get it in before work.

PreciousOne...so sorry to hear you've been sick but glad you're feeling better! Just jump back in....we've missed ya.

Lisa... wanna come and help me when you finish your outdoor lights?? My hubby won't go to the trouble either and my youngest son has always wanted them. We did get our tree up and decorated tonite tho. I think it's our prettiest one yet.
Ummm..like Cyan I didnt know what GB pain was either but I just happened to think...did you mean Gallbladder pain?? If so, I KNOW how hard it has got to be for you to get things done. I had my gallbladder removed a few yrs ago. Unlike most tho, I did not have a minute's trouble til it just woke me up early one morning, I was taken to the ER, and ended up that week with emergency surgery. Drs couldnt believe I had never had any pain before then. I thought I was having a heart attack, it hurt so bad. The first dr. I saw sent me home saying I had acid reflux or something and just gave me something for pain. He said it would knock me out. By 6 pm when the pain hadnt lessoned one bit, I went back to the hospital and this time, another dr. was there and did an ultrasound and x-rays and said my gall bladder was in the worst shape of any he'd ever seen. I was shocked.

Cyan, what a unique Sunday you had. I never knew anyone who was a gum taster. lol I wonder how many calories that burned. I bet more than we would expect.

Lady...dont be too discouraged. I bet I've gained too but I refuse to look. Just do extra good from now til the 4th to get a head start on getting back on track. Gone a whole week..we'll really miss hearing from you! But I'm sure you'll have a blast. You seem to have fun in whatever you do. That's a good trait to have.

Taiwain...I bet you do get noticed in gatherings there huh? I could just picture you there with your blonde hair. Good for you planning ahead and taking water with you to the dinner. How long have you lived in Taiwan and how did you happen to end up there? Sounds interesting. I can't imagine doing something like that. I bet it is a really educational experience. Do you just have the one foster child? My parents were fosterparents when I was young. It was hard because we got so attached to the kids, especially when it was a baby. I wasnt quite so thrilled when it was someone my own age...there was that jealous thing going on. It's wonderful that you are giving of yourself that way.

Well, better run for now. I need to iron for tomorrow. ( Cyan, my sentiments exactly..Monday..yuckkkkk) Let's all try to make it a good one, Monday or not. Cant wait to hear from you all tomorrow. Bye for now....MIKI

Good evening Ladies,
I am back, and ready to go. Okay I have read all the replies and I am astounded at you all. You all kept your momentum and worked out and counted calories. I love this group! I did have a very stress-less weekend and I enjoyed every minute of it. I wish I could say that I was as good at you Cyan, and counted my calories, but I probably would have just been better off, counting the calories that I didn't eat. , It would have looked better on paper......

I am glad to see that everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday.
Cyan, yes, McDonalds did call my name one more time this weekend... But you amaze me at working it off woman!

Taiwan, Welcome to the group. I am sure you will find the best support in the world right here. These women can give you everything you need to keep on track and stay strong. Glad to have you aboard. Look forward to talking.

PreciousOne, sorry to hear you have been feeling under the weather. I hope you get that energy back.

I have to say my dessert being made at 12:30am Thursday morning, was a hit that night. It was all done and I was in bed by 2:30.
Now, just because I thougth ahead to making it so late, so I wouldn't munch, doesn't mean that it didn't hit these lips anytime from Thursday afternoon, until now.
Yeah, yeah, I know, but I just had a little.

Well ladies, after careful consideration I have decided to put a hold on joining Curves. I know I am determined seeing that I have been on track for over a month now, but that is just too much pressure on me... So, I spent a few dollars this weekend and bought the Walk Away the pounds videos by Leslie Sansone and will work with those for the next month. I have read some good things about it, so I am going to give it a try.

Well, I don't have much time, and I wanted to get something in, so you didn't think i fell off the face of the earth.

Have a great Monday and a Blessed day.

Well, ladies I have some questions. First about eating at night, like before bed. When I was on Herbalife, they had a rule about not eating 4hours before going to bed. So, does anyone know a rule to go by? what happens if you get hungry? I mean, if I eat at like 7 pm, I usually need a snack or something before dinner. People say, drink a glass of water and wait 30min, well, I am starving by then. So, any ideas or advice?

Lady_Rider, yes, it's hard to adjust to the foods here. I mean, I don't get it why the Chinese can eat 1-2bowls of rice for 2meals a day, plus all the fried food and still be so small. Quite annoying actually. Seems like I just look at Chinese food and gain 2lbs!!! I am trying to control it though. I have started making a salad and keeping it in the fridge and just having a salad at night for dinner.

MikiG, we currently only work with girls and the ones we have now are 14yr and 16yr. Both have been here exactly a year. The 16yr old is going home after Christmas. I will miss her since she is like a little sister to me. Our biological children are 4yr and 5months (both boys). We will probably take boys in someday, but right now we are working with teens and preteen girls. There are only 2 other homes that take in older kids, the rest get sent out of county. Really sad. Our 16yr doesn't want to go home at all. There have been times where I'm like "Lord, I am only 28yrs old, I don't need the stress of teenage girls!" but usually we are all ok. I have started graying!!! Stress.

Well, I know many are wondering..... my wonderful husband is native Taiwanese (aka--aborigine--similiar to American Indian, actually look very much like Indians). He is 9years older than me. I met him while I did a short term missions trip here right before my senior year of college. God just let things fall in place after that. I won't say it's been exactly easy having a husband of a different nationality, but I married him for him, not for his nationality. Would I do it again? in an instant. So that's us in a nutshell. I have officially lived in Taiwan for 7 years now(yes, I came back here right after college). Wouldn't change a thing.

Well, I am really glad I found this list. Have a great day.


Little snacks make big slacks

Oh, I guess I forgot to answer one of Cyan's questions. I am now at 200.2lbs (as of Nov. 15th) I journey at 210lbs end of Sept. using herbalife until October 20something, on my own for a month now)Maybe I should write it like this:
Sept. 210lbs/94.8kg (started herbalife)
Nov. 15 201.3lbs/91.8kg (started exercising/serious)
Nov. 28 200.2lbs/91kg

Now if my conversions are wrong, someone please let me know. My target weight/weight I should be is 63-65kg/139lb-143lb. I am shooting for 140lbs. WOW!!!! That makes it look impossible.

I come from a family that is all overweight. I am the smallest! My younger sister (by 3 years) is almost 300lbs. I can blame alot on my two kids;-) I want to lose weight for health reasons, I don't have any health problems and would like to avoid them if at all possible. Plus, we'd like number #3 sometime down the road. I don't want to add yet another 40lbs onto my current weight!!!

As for regime, I don't have any. Actually, it's only since I started here that I've actually been looking at my calories. I have considered Susanne Sommers and maybe the zone diet. Really not sure. My husband will probably kill me if I buy another food book. Though he is suprised I've stayed with it for this long--a record for me. If anyone has any suggestions or tips, please let me know. I am not a cook at all so that is a problem for me. I have started keeping a diary in a spiral notebook as well.

Well, I could go on, but you all get the pix.

Well, my monday hasn't started off too good. I went to the gym all pumped up to do a Cardio Combat Class but the instructor never showed. ARGH! So, I just couldn't find it in me to motivate myself to do it on my own on the treadmill and stuff, so I burned 70 cals and came home. However, I do plan on working really hard today with Christmas decorations.

Taiwan, I try not to eat anything after about 6:30 or so. If you are really starving (or think you are ) you should try a small handful of nuts or a spoonful of peanut butter. Let me tell you why...or at least what I've been told by my doctor. When you eat a carbohydrate too close to bed time...You don't burn it off with normal daily activity and so overnight, you store it as FAT! So reach for a protein. Not fruit or pasta. I hope your choices are not too limited there. I hope that helped.

Reina Mia, glad to see you. Don't worry, over Thanksgiving, we all did a little over indulging! I think you made a wise choice about Curves...not that it wouldn't be a great program, but when money is tight, it's best to be frugile. You do sound motivated and that's great! Let me know how those videos are. I need some good videos.

MikiG, WOW about your gallbladder! yes, I did mean gallbladder pain. I was up all night Last Saturday and part of Sunday with heart attack like pain. I thought I was going to die. I almost went to the ER but I figured it was Acid Reflux and they would send me home and then my insurance wouldn't cover it because it wasn't a medical emergency. That's horrible how insurance works. Anyway, I'd had pain before but not like that and I've been to the doctor and the ER and I've had an ultrasound done also, but they never found anything. Now I have a new doctor and after last weekends incident I went in and I hope to hear from them today with some test results and to set up an ultrasound. Everything points at my gallbladder. If they don't find anything, I don't know what to do. I've become afraid to eat! (which might not be a bad thing for me!) If you have any helpful advice about treatment or what the doctors should test for, let me know!!!

Precious One....I know your out there! Stop in and let us know how you're doing! We miss you!

Lady, we will miss you while you're gone, but have a GREAT time! We will be thinking of you also.

Cjunk, I need you to come exercise with me! How lucky you are to have a workout buddy!

Annie, where are you? Hope you're okay and hope to see you soon!

Havent' gotten off to a good start today eating wise or exercise wise, but now I'm motivated and ready to go! Thanks y'all!

bye for now