Jo,
Yes your dog is adorable! I absolutely love dogs! I can't wait to have one myself!

So everyone, I am going to put myself on a limb and tell you what's on my mind. Tommorrow I am having a colonoscopy..I'm nervous! I was really nercous just because of the procedure, but now I am nervous to find out what is wrong with me. I can't wait till tommorrow is over! I am 22 by the way. I know that when you get to a certain age you have to do those every year...yikes!! Has anyone else ever had one done? Were you scared??

Collegebride-I hope it goes well for you tomorrow. I have never had one done but I have known people who have.

Okay ladies, not sure where to start. I have been terrible the last two weeks. I am trying to pull myself out of this hole I have fallen headfirst into. I have all but given up again. I have lost all my motivation. I went to my doc last week for my heartburn, well far worse than heartburn, he diagnosed me with GERD, wich I basicly knew but hadn't actually done anything about. He prescribed me some awesome pills, I haven't had heartburn in over a week when I usually get it every day. I was even able to eat chili at mom's last weekend. I ate lots of chili, I hadn't been able to enjoy chili in a very very long time. Well I may not have heartburn but one of the side effects is increased appitite. How am I supposed to win with that.

Okay I don't mean to ramble on here, so how bout we just kick me and yell at me and tell me to get my butt back on track. I am capable of doing this, and I shouldn't let anything stop me. Hmm, that might work. C'mon ladies remind me that I don't want to be a fat lazy cow the rest of my life. I am doing this to save my life. I don't want to die of an early heart attack. There is lots of heart disease and diabetes in my family and if I dont' take charge now I will end up with all kinds of health complications.

Well even if you don't kick my butt into gear I may have just done it. Well I feel better. I am gonna go find some pictures of skinny ladies to hang on my fridge. See if that keeps me out. Well I must start supper for the girls. Talk to you later.
Jen

CB, good luck w/the test. I've never had one done but from my understanding they knock you out completely and you don't even remember anything. Yeah for drugs!!! Hope everything turns out well. Even though you have to go through the test, that's one test where being the patient is probably better than being the one doing the test.

Jen, I just want to give you a hug I've said this on many posts (it'll probably be my last words!) but this whole diet/exercise/losing weight thing is 90% mental. I've gone in and out of the right mindset so many times. When I'm in that zone, I can handle set backs and scales that won't budge but when I'm not in that frame of mind, I just want to give up and quit. Yes, even though I know that by not trying I'll just remain where I am. I don't know what to say to get you back into the right mindset other than to just do it. Just for today. Don't worry about the last few weeks and don't worry about tomorrow. Just for today, one day, stick to xx calories and do 30 minutes of any type of exercise. Just start and start again, as many times as it takes. Good luck!

Well, the scale didn't move for me this past week. Anything is better than gaining I suppose. I'm wondering if maybe my body has made an "adjustment" to all the running/walking and if maybe I shouldn't forgo 1 day of treadmill work for something else. I'm going to do an old Gilad Step and Tone tape today instead. Already did the total gym.

Just dropped my youngest off at school. I reminded her b/4 she left to pack her homework. Of course she forgot. A better mother would probably run it over to school; I prefer to teach lessons and will not do that. Maybe next time she'll stop yapping at me when I remind her of things and just do them instead! Kids!! Hope you all have a good day.

Jo

Wow, bet you guys thought I fell off the face of the earth. We had a blizzard here last weekend and the early part of this week and it was nearly impossible to keep the sattelite cleared off long enough to get online and do anything productive. And then when it did clear up mid week I found out that my husband of 5 yrs. (been together 10) has been cheating on me w/ one of our friends (I use that word loosely). The lovely affair has been going on since at least 12/05, that is as far back as I can track on the cell phone logs. I will have to pay $15/per month to get any previous record, I'm probably going to do it to. Needless to say I have an appt. w/ a lawyer Monday and will be filing for divorce. Regardless of how bad this is I will admit there are a few bright lights at the end of the tunnel and one is weight loss. I have actually gone thru all of this before and lost 70 lbs. last time. Weight loss is inevitable for me right now. Well not sure how often I will be able to check-in in the next few weeks but I will be back.

I know, I know, nice topic for a Friday afternoon. Hope everyone has a good weekend.

MJ

First of all, to answer any concerns...the test went well...not as bad as I thought it would be! The problem turned out to be something minor that can be treated with some more fiber and preperation H..lol. I am relieved though, atleast its nothing like colon cancer!! Yo hoo!!

MJ, I am really sorry to hear what happened to you. Wow, your husband must be a good liar to have kept this going atleast since 2005. However, I am sure that the cell phone records will do nothing but help you in court. And your friend, wow. The things some women will do huh? It will be rough for you I'm sure, but you're better off!! Stay strong & remember not to make food your new best friend...because I know that's what I would do!!

Hello chickies -- my, my this thread has been awfully quiet lately!

MJ, so very sorry to hear about your assinine husband. Please do me a favor and go egg his car. You'll feel better! Hope you can work you way through this; good luck

CB, glad to hear your colonoscopy wasn't too terrible. My brother was scheduled to have one the other week and got himself so worked up over it that his anxiety level went through the roof, didn't sleep (literally) for four days and cancelled the test.

Well, I'm reassessing my exercise routine after a no weight loss week last week and eating too much food Fri and Sat. I posted a thread on the exercise form (How Often) but only got one response. It was helpful but didn't answer my specific questions. So I just posted a thread on the Weight Lifting forum (Is This a Good Workout Plan?). Maybe I'll get some more information.

I did the TM yesterday, but only for 40 min walking. Started lifting some weights this a.m. and just did an old Gilad Fat Burning tape. You'd think after 6 weeks of treadmilling I'd be able to breeze through the tape, but different muscles get worked and it took me off guard. Hmmm, maybe I'm answering my own questions through trial and error.

Hope everyone is doing well. Please post folks; I need the sounding boards! Aud, how ya doing? Jen, any luck w/refocusing? LIW, how's it going?

Jo

Geesh, hope I haven't scared everyone off. Working on a marriage reconciliation, but don't know if it is possible. Good news, I'm down 5 lbs. Will do an official weigh in on Monday. Hope everyone is well. More from me later.

MJ

p.s. Z, Glad the C-oscopy went well. That kind of thing cannot be fun.

Jo, Wow, Gilad that is a blast from the past. But I do remember it. Good luck w/ it.

MJ

Hi everyone - I'm ok, all is well. I've just been so very very busy this week. Had something pressing, a deadline that needed to be met and now that it has, life should return to normal.

The ice storm thrown into the mix yesterday didn't help. It is beautiful today though, everything is glistening in a layer of ice.

Course I still wish I was on a beach in belize but .. oh well

MJ,
No you didn't scare me off! Its been really crazy in Ohio. The city I live in has been on a level 2-level 3 snow warning the last few days. And I am also crazy busy. My sister is being induced this weekend, so I have been working on a project for the new baby. I also don't get to check this as much as I would like to anymore :0(

Aaaaccccckkkkk!!!! Darn leftover Valentines Day candy that is on sale really cheap!!! Darn, darn, darn And darn kids having snow days, 1/2 days and four day weekends!!! No time for exercise and my eating has backslide considerably the past week. Must re-group NOW! Am also feeling like a gerbil on the treadmill and need to change things up. Anyone do anything w/weights? I HATE winter and windchills!

Jo

Hi everyone - I seem to be suffering from the winter blues as well. I wish I could chase up some of the enthusiasm I need to get myself motivated again. I'm with you ITRM, my eating, my exercise, all of it has just backslided. ****, today I intentionally bought and ate a giant milky way bar. And I do mean giant. For reasons that I cannot fathom I was sitting there eating my usual salad and I just got up and tossed the salad container in the garbage, walked into the store and bought it.

The thing is - why should I feel guilty? Why punish myself? It's not against the law. It's not something I do all the time. Why do we make ourselves nuts over this stuff?

Today is a better day, feeling more myself. Switched up the training dvds, completed the Train Right dvd that is done by the same guy who coaches Lance. I have to admit the clips of Lance riding are motivational to me.

500 calories burned, healthy breakfast and snack done and presto, I feel so much more like ME.

The ride this morning reaffirmed for me that once the weather warms and I'm out on the bike, I'll be back in my normal groove and should drop these remaining 20 lbs.

Happy Tuesday!

Ok, so I've been doing a LOT of research the past week or so, asking lots of questions on these forums too. I'm going to incorporate 2 days a week of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on the TM. Anyone else ever tried this? I've found several routines to start with. You basically warm up, do 30 seconds of a jog, followed by 30 seconds of a sprint, etc. until you complete either xx rounds or xx minutes. (There are many variations but that's the basic gist of it.) The longest I've seen any particular routine is 20-30 minutes. HIIT keeps your body from settling into that "steady-state" mode, where you're at your target heartrate but your body has become more efficient so your just not burning the calories that much. HIIT keeps your body out of steady-state and keeps it guessing and burning much more calories both during and especially after you exercise. At least, that's my understanding of it.

The whole gerbil-on-the-treadmill routine is just getting to be a bit much and a bit boring. Mentally I am having trouble being on the thing for 45-50 minutes at a stretch. So I'm also going to limit my regular workouts to a solid 30 minutes of heart rate working out, at a higher intensity that what I had been doing. I think I wasn't pushing myself enough and was too concerned w/how many miles I was doing. I also started working out w/weights. The total gym just wasn't doing it for me. Maybe I was doing something wrong or just not doing enough but since I have dumbells I'm starting a 2 days/wk upper body and 2 days/wk lower body workout. Nothing fancy; just basic stuff. I did a full blown UB workout last Monday (b/4 Valentines Day). 3 exercises of 3 sets each for biceps, triceps, chest, back and shoulders. AAccckkk, how stupid was I???? EXCRUICIATING bicep pain for three days. Couldn't extend my arms at all. The only good thing was that I absolutely couldn't shovel the snow that we got on Valentines Day; hubby and oldest daughter had to do it. Learned my lesson the hard way and restarted yesterday. I can feel the muscles I worked (except the biceps; I went really light cause I was afraid! ) but am not in pain. Going to do LB stuff and a 30 TM workout now. Don't feel like it but will do it anyway. Haven't stepped on the scale in over 2 weeks cause I just know it went up from over eating and I don't want to see it.

Hope everyone is hanging in there.

Jo

Ladyinwhite,
We punish ourselves for eating unhealthy things because that is how most American women are brought up anymore. We are brought up by society that as women we have to be beautiful and tiny in order to be successful. Eating things like a candy bar puch you away from that goal so you feel guilty. I noticed that when I was listening to a commercial a few days ago, they always cater the wrinkle cream commercials to women. Why? Men get wrinkles too? Its because we have to be perfect, alas.

Also, I have decided to give up certain foods for Lent this year. I did this when I was 16 and this was what started me off losing 70 lbs. (which I have all but gained back now). I am giving up beef, pork, cream cheese, pop (yikes!), chocolate (I'll miss it), and ice cream (how sad ). So far I am doing pretty good, although it hasn't been two full days yet.

Hi Everyone. I also have a lot of weight to lose. I'm a stay at home mom to a 13 month old little girl named Destinee Marie. I live in Anchorage, Alaska and am also a full time college student (taking classes online). Just wanted to say hi!