Hey girls!! It is monday already over here..... time just flies eh?

Starting week 4 of BFL and I am ready to kick some serious booty this week!!!! I sneaked some measurements yesterday and I was quite surprised..... looks like I am losing top to bottom??? The only numbers that changed were my chest measurements.... down 2 inches!!! And I am not a 'big chesty girl'!! AHHHH!! I am much leaner on my back already, so hoping that is where it is all coming from hehehehehehehe. My waist and lower body measurements have not changed, yet my skirts are getting looser, must be losing where I don't measure I am taking 'official' photos and measurements next weekend.

Matrix was AMAZING, and I totally enjoyed it. Good company and good food, finished off a great movie!! I already have the soundtrack in my MP3 player and did my cardio workout to Rob Zombie and an Oakenfield mix..... yeppers, It was a great change from the europe techno I had in there last week!!!

I love my mp3 player, keeps the conversations out of my head, there is a group of 3 chatters who do the minimum settings for the whole hour I am at the gym, and they just gossip and gossip loudly, the whole cardio section just rolls their eyes. I am just glad they stay on the bikes on setting level 1.... I think they are scared of the treadmill or the eliptical machine!! :P

Well... I must run, get some work done and out of the way and drink my WATER!!!!!

Nola.

Good Monday morning everyone!
I had a pretty good weekend-I finished up the last costume piece on Saturday-so I joined my husband at the campground with the kids that evening, and we stayed at the lake...I did absolutely NOTHING-and it was everything I thought it could be! I sat around the campfire, and laid around and watched tv in the camper after the kids went to sleep. AHHH...
Nola-I found that even though I work my entire body-that my measurements do the same thing...one month it is my waist, then the next my arms and chest, and the next my thighs...it always seems to "concentrate" itself into one particular area each time...funny, huh? I also know what you mean about the walkers or bikers who chatter and barely work out...my mom and I walk so fast on our walkway that we are huffing and puffing and sweating through a conversation-maybe they should do the same!
Holly-hope you had fun at the ren faire! We are hitting the big Ohio one again this fall for our anniversary-our yearly "anniversary date." and we need new costumes...Jason went as sort of a "thief" last year, a tattered brown hooded cloak, ivory top that laced up with leather laces, tan pants and boots-this year he has requested sort of a more "powerful/rich" attire-he wants a dark red shirt with black laces, black leather wrist gauntlets, black pants-and if I have time, a black cloak. I went more "royal" last time-this time I want to do the saucy gypsy type of look. The big ones are just oodles of fun...they usually have jousting, and they have a cool outdoor tavern with homemade beer and hard cider.
Well-I have a workout that is calling my name...better get it done and over with! Have a great day!
Aphil

Hello to all, it's been over a week since my last posting. I have tried to stayOP, tonight I weigh in, I missed last week due to traveling, the week before that I stayed the same...so I hope I can lose something tonight! Has anyone had success or ever tried to do WW and low carbs? I'd like to know if it can be done. I am staying within 21-23 points a day, exercising 4 times a week, doing sit ups every night, what else can I do to make the scale move (down)? I am thankful for the 42 #'s I've lost, but now I want the last 12 to come off for summer...any help out there????

Idealperson-
What sort of exercise are you doing for the 4 days a week? You may actually want to add another day of cardio (walking, aerobics, treadmill, etc.) to make it 5 days a week of exercise.
Another tip that helps me when the scale doesn't want to budge-is to really look at the foods I am eating for my daily calories. (In your case, points.) You can eat a certain number of calories or points-but if you are eating too much "crap" in those calories/points-you are not doing yourself any favors. Limit treat foods, like fat free pudding cups, diet ice cream, meringue cookies, etc. to ONCE a day. There are lots of ladies out there eating most of their points/calories in flavored coffee creamer and Snackwell's cookies.... Try to keep the rest fo the day pretty clean-lean meat, salads and veggies, fresh fruits...and always try for whole grains over refined-Grape-Nuts or Raisin Bran instead of Corn Flakes or kid cereal, and whole wheat pasta over regular. I avoid Pop-Tarts and donut-y pastries like the plague...all they make me want to do is eat more the rest of the day!
I usually keep my treat for my bedtime snack-because if I am going to have a little sugar, it is best right before bed, because when I eat sweets-I crave more sweets soon after-so going to bed right after "breaks" that cycle for me-and I start the next day just fine.
Hope that helps!
Aphil

Great advice, Aphil--especially about saving the sweet for the end of the day! When I was loosing, I knew I could be good all day as long as I had my 'treat' to look forward to!
Idealperson--keep in mind that you've been so successful and you are on the right track! The last few pounds do come off so much slower, but don't forget to say goodbye to them--they'll be gone for good!!
Ladies, I've got some great news to share! FOr the past few weeks, I have been living on egg shells, waiting to hear the results of some job interviews and I am SO happy to tell you all that as of July 1, I will be a PRINCIPAL!! I am so excited to be the leader of a small catholic elementary school here in CT! I know I would never have had the confidence when I weighed 250! Once again, thank you all for your support! See, it's so much more than loosing weight--it's all about being the best person you can be!
My only wish is that all of you achieve the dreams you have in your hearts!!
My new job will be a challenge, but anything worth doing leads us into new territory!
I hope you all have a super day, and thank you all for letting me share my news!!

Congrats on the job !!! Way to go!!!!

What a great challenge awaits you, and the confidence boost as well.



Nola.

Way to go Tryin' Hard!!! I'm so happy for you!!!

Congratulations, tryin'hard!!!! That is SO great!!!

Good Morning Everybody,

We all finally got out to see the new Matrix movie and just loved it. I remembered to bring my cereal and munched on that...(think that was Aphil's idea). I did sneak some pop corn but it was not buttered. We ended up ditching the "Outback" idea and just cooked at home so I didn't blow the diet for the day.

Believe it or not today is "start" day for the pool. I am about as excited as I've ever been about getting something new. We have had so much rain here in Georgia that I figured they wouldn't start for another month. It will most likely be Aug. when it's finished but I can just keep working on my diet in anticipation. Don't think I'll ever wear a two-piece again though...we'll see.

I had coffee with a friend yesterday and she says that no matter what she does that she can not lose weight. I can actually remember thinking that about myself at one point. She says she works out and watches what she eats but she can't lose a lb. I suggested that she just start writing down what's she's eating throughout the day...not try dieting....just figure out how many calories she's eating. She said it wasn't much. Anyway, I dropped the subject as I could see she didn't want to discuss it. I think she'd be surprised to find out just how many calories she is actually consuming in a day...I sure was when I started writing it all down. I've gotten to the point that I don't mention anything about my progress as it seems to bother her...I can also see that she may even withdraw as I get closer to my goal and she just stays where she is. That's sad...you'd think she'd be happy for me.

I can honestly say that journaling my calories daily has been THE KEY for success for me. There it is in black and white the TRUTH and I can see the results of my actions and choices over time. I have never successfully lost weight without using some sort of diet aid....this time I had to and I thought that there was no way I could stick with it. I am truly surprised that it is all working out as well as it is. I'm not saying it is easy trying to lose all this weight or that I will not have to stay on top of things to keep it off, but I know now that it can be done...I have a choice.

I am also immensely thankful that I came across this website....getting that support is invaluable. Sometimes the people at 3FC are the only ones who give you support...

There's my musings for Tuesday....

Hi everyone!
tryin'hard-WOW! Congrats on the new job! That sounds just wonderful! You are going to be a great principal!
Georgia Lady-I bet you are so excited about the pool-that is just great! I know what you mean about your friend-I have a lot of friends and relatives that are the same way. My mother in law I talked about a few weeks ago is just like that. She talks all about how she doesn't eat much, and how she is so active and just cannot lose weight. I tried to get her to write down her food intake in a journal as well-and she wouldn't listen...or take any of my exercise suggestions. She had a rebuttle for everything I suggested-so I am not wasting my breath any more. I truly think that some people are just happer complaining about "being fat for no reason" rather than doing something about it. I don't believe that your friend is as active or diet conscious as she says... She is also jealous of your success-so don't falunt how many pounds you have lost, or anything "verbal" like that, but when you go out, keep ordering healthy, and wearing attractive clothes, and let your new lifestyle speak for itself.
I am glad my suggestion worked for you at the movies. I have a huge purse, and I always stash a Sweet Escapes chocolate, or a Ziploc baggie of cereal, or some other lower calorie treat in there when we go to the movies. I also store a packet of fat free salad dressing (I usually get an extra one when I go to Wendy's or Burger King for a salad.) to have when I end up at a restaurant that does not have a diet dressing-and there are still a few who don't! If they tell me they don't have any, I order it without dressing, and use my little packet.
You can overcome just about any healthy eating obstacle with a little thought. Any more little suggestions out there? i would love to hear them!
Boy am I sore today-Jason mowed last night and weed eated, and I was outside with the kids moving landscaping rocks, and enlisting my kid's help pulling all of the little seed pods out of our landscaping rock that fell from a nearby tree. In pretty much all of Indiana, they have been REALLy bad on the trees this year, and they have fallen off and are in everyone's yards, gutters, porches...ick. My pretty rocks were totally covered in them-so I was like "Hey kids, help Mommy pick all of these things out of the rocks. We had a huge pile-like 5 dustpans full of them! When we were at the lake over the weekend, we had to pull our camper awning down and get them all out of there and out of the cracks between the boards in our deck. I have NEVER seen them this bad before. Nevertheless-my body is sore from being hunched down picking up all those silly things!
Aphil

Hi everyone,

I cut my vacation short by a week and came in late Sunday night. I havent been feeling to well and decided I needed to come home and find me a doctor and find out what the heck is going on.

For the most part my vacation was great. My little grandson is a doll, we had such a good time. He decided that he was going to call me grandpa instead of grandma But now he has changed it to Bopa ! I have lots of pictures of us, on the shrimp boat, on the beach , coloring easter eggs. I try to post some on here for you to see.

Friday before I left to come home we found out that my sister who had cancer a year ago has it again. She will be starting chemptherapy soon. I pray to god it works !!!!! She is so afraid of losing her hair. All of us were trying to lift her spirits with our suggestions of wigs, every where from the Eva Gabor ones to the more fashionable Joe Dirt !!! We had her laughing at that idea!

While on vacation I volunteered for Bleyer fishing day, it is an annual event (16 years running) for disabled and handicapped people in the Southern Illinois region. Volunteers help teach them how it bait hooks, fish and reel the fish in. It was so heartwarming to see the smiles that came from catching even the smallest of fish. I was even interviewed for the newspaper for being a volunteer that came from the farthest away.
There were over 600 disabled participants this year and about 300 volunteers. It was a chilly wet day, but it sure was worth it to see the happiness it brought.

I know there will so many back posts that I need to read and try to catch up on everyones lives. But I wanted to let you know that I am back and Ill be posting again soon.

So a big hello to all my friends old and new

Congrats to Tryin'Hard !!!!

Be back later

Nancy

ps, I gained about 6 pounds that need to come off ...ugh !!!

Welcome back Snowey!!! Your vacation sounds awesome!! What a great experience to do volunteer work too..... and for such a great organisation. You will get rid of those 6 lbs no worries!

Aphil & Tryin' hard.... I can totally relate to you on the friend/family thingy and losing weight. I am still having problems with my former 'friend'. She has been avoiding me like the plague and on the last few group outings, she has not come along!! Just her husband!! How weird is that?? Although .... I am not going to a movie with them on Thursday because I am not into skiing and I would rather poke my own eyes out than watch some new Warren Miller (mr. monotone) movie!!! Maybe she dislikes the Matrix and going out for Mexican??? A group of us are going bushwalking on Sunday and they have confirmed that they are going, so this should be interesting!!! I have not seen her for 2 months and have not gone bushwalking for a year, so being 11 kilos (23 or so lbs) lighter and much more fit should make for a great day!! Another issue with her is that I found out last week from her husband that she attempted BFL awhile back and did not make it past week 3, and even he was pretty negative about the program.... sheeeesh I hate friendships that are so much work!!!! I will let you guys know how it all works out after the bushwalk!!! And how many times I had to bite my tongue to lash out from her comments!!


Gotta get some work done!!
Nola.

Nola-you just have to keep remembering that her comments are out of jealousy and out of feeling inadequate because she couldn't stick to her program. That may make them roll off your back a little easier. If she ever says anything too hurtful, then rather than lash out, I would recommend writing her a letter about how you are feeling.
Nancy-welcome back!!! We missed you so mucha round here!
I am sorry to hear about your sister-I hope the chemo works out all right. You might try to get her to look at Paula Young wigs-they have a nice variety and some really cute styles in some of them-I have actually wanted to buy a couple of them for a different look when we go out. They also sell accessories like the wig shampoos, and other stuff. Their prices are really good. Another cute look is to find some pretty scarves to wrap around her head to match her outfits, and wear dangly earrings. I have dealt with this before is the salon, and if she needs any help on how to take care of a wig, or other beauty areas like issues with her skin and eyebrows, etc. which can also change during this time-just give me a pm and I'd be glad to help her!
Class last night was awesome! My instructor brought me in a little present from the troupe-it was a little muslin tote bag that they had a silk screen design put onto the side of it. It has a belly dancer on it with a sword on her head, and it says "Official Costumer of Troupe Taleeba." It will come in handy, as I am always lugging my veil, cymbals, my shoes ( when I take them off for class), keys, and other junk-so now I can just throw them in there for class!
Jason is taking tomorrow and Friday off, so including the holiday weekend he will be home for 5 days. We are taking the kids to the zoo tomorrow-so my exercise will be walking around pushing a stroller all day-I should get in a couple of miles NO PROBLEM! It is great to combine family time and exercise now and then! I will be leaving for the dance show and workshop early Saturday, and Jason and the kids will be at the lake camping-I will join them Sunday around lunchtime when I return, and we will stay until Monday afternoon.
Well, best get going-lots to do!
Aphil

Hello! Thanks for everyone advice and the last postings, won't it be great to enjoy our summers all thin and healthy??? We can only take it day by day and enjoy what God gives us. I weighed in at Weight Watchers on Monday and was up .2 of a pound-that was discouraging-then I went to Curves today for my monthly weight and measurments, and I have lost 4.6 # and 5 inches this month. So now I am not so discouraged, maybe my fat has turned to muscle!!!???

Congrats to try'in hard on the new job! Best of luck to everyone and have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend.

Snowey, welcome back!!!!! We sure did miss you around here!!! Glad you had a great time, the grandson sounds adorable, and kudos to you for the volunteering gig! VERY sorry to hear of your sister's illness; we will all keep her in our thoughts and prayers!!!

aphil, how nice to receive that gift! Shows how much you are appreciated.

Georgialady, cool that the pool is getting started! and "pffttt" to that unsupportive friend!

idealperson, wow, 5 inches lost in a month is GREAT!!!!! That is the true test of showing that you are getting smaller, tighter!

Kanola, you made me laugh out loud about enduring the Warren Miller flick instead of Matrix! I say "pfffft!" also to the un-supporting friend!

I know this was a quick post, but I haven't exercised yet today, gotta do it soon!

your friend,
Holly