Melissa, those pictures look great! I can definately see a difference. How tall are you? I look at the pictures, and they look a lot like how I see myself (I'm 155). I don't know if that's my self-image, or because I'm shorter than you. I'm 5'4, BTW.

Jawsmom, how much do you bike each day? I wish I could bycicle around town, but A) bikes scare me, and B) there are a lot of hills around where I live.

The Slim Me, I'm glad you told me that about the brown sugar. Maybe in a few weeks I'll be able to by some.

Welcome Zoey!!!!!

Melissa -- your progress is amazing!!! your pics are awesome thank you for sharing!!!

Up late tonight just surfing the web. Changed my avatar to this painting I found by an artist in Tampa. I LOVE black kitties and this reminded me of a folk art Chat Noir in a way.

I'm still chugging away even though I have no change on my scale. I am at a loss as to what I am doing wrong or what. Maybe my body is still out of wack from having Logan. Today it kinda pissed me off that I am not losing but being so damn good and not having any of the stuff I was having before at this weight. Ugh... I chug on though because a person cannot eat and do like I am doing and not have some progress. I hope it's just sneaking off and that I will see a change later this week or after the weekend.

I saw the splenda brown sugar today and unless I am missing a different type the one I saw was a blend of splenda and actual brown sugar. Still a tremendous savings in calories but is there a true zero impact version? Just wondering.

well, I am off to bed. I love the sound of the rain this evening. The wind has really picked up a lot in the last hour or so but it is not bad a t all. Quite nice really... I hope others are ok around this area and that we don't get any flooding like they have been predicting all evening...

Hugs ya'll!!!

I am 5' 8" so that's probably the difference. I was 160 when I married and I was super slim, my slimmest, and very pleased with myself. So the 4" inches I have certainly helps!

Good Morning All, Hope every one is doing great today.
Melissa, The pictures are great. You can really tell the difference. Looking good girl!

Sweet tea, Yes, it is the Splenda with brown sugar. Many less calories. I'm using it today with baked acorn squash sprinkled with that and a butte spray. Don't give up, you will start to see a weight loss? Do you watch Biggest Looser? One of the guys didn't have a good weight loss one week and the next week he had a HUGE weight loos. We all hit that brick wall (plateau) sooner or later. I think our bodies are just readjusting. Hang in there!

Freda

Welcome Bonnie, we're so glad you're here!

Ruby, I don't bike ofetn. It is just a little adventure that I take with the kids sometimes. I spend more time stopped waiting for them to catch up than I do actually riding so it certainly isn't a formal exercise for me. Typically we stay on our street. I'm scared to get to far away from home with them because I'm scared they will get bored or tired before we can make it back. I made that mistake hiking with them once. We went a little too far into the woods and it was a miserable trip back home.

Melissa, I've changed all of my settings and still can't see your pictures but it sounds like you look GREAT. And, wow, 5'8" - what I wouldn't give! Luckily I've finally accepted that nothing is going to change the fact that I'm short so I might as well make the most of what I've got!

Bonnie, I'm so glad you found this thread. I know you have more success when you post often and this is a chatty group. I'm the same way. There is nothing worse than struggling to keep a thread alive! And you know I'm a talker! I am sorry to hear you are having a hard time with your weight loss but I am sure you can get back on track now that things are settling down for you. Now is the time to really start focusing again - I KNOW you can do it!

Yesterday was probably the WORST food day I've had since I started losing weight back in December. I've indulged here and there along the way but yesterday it was one rotten choice after the other. It started out with a healthy bowl of oatmeal, and lunch was on plan and then I just went nuts. I'm not sure what happened. I wasn't stressed or tired or hormonal - all my usual triggers. I just lost any shred of care I had for what I was putting in my mouth. Maybe I was bored? I don't know. It is possible that I was just cutting off my nose to spite my face. I guess all that matters is that I'm back on track and today will be a MUCH healthier day. I've put a postive spin on the situation by reminding myself that I ate that way every single day for several years and didn't even bat an eye. At least now I feel sit to my stomach over it. And not in a guilt ridden way either. I was physically ill last night from all the crap I'd ingested from noon on. Lesson learned!

Sweet Tea, I am glad to hear that you are plugging along despite the scale not budging. Just remember that the scale doesn't necessarily lie but it doesn't tell the whole truth either. If you are feeling healthier then you are making progress. Weight loss can be a long journey and sometimes we just have to tweak our plans until we find what works for us. It is a good exercise becuase you'll never be able to stop evaluating what you are doing. After 75 pounds I still have to step back every few months, look at what I'm doing, and make changes to get the scale moving again. You will find your rhythm and be on your way to goal in no time - really!

How is everybody's weather these days? We are finally getting the occasional cool breeze and this weekend our highs are supposed to me in the mid-70's. I intend to enjoy every minute because we are sure to be back up in the 90's before Halloween!

Well, lunch is about to roll around and I still have breakfast dishes in the sink so I'd better get a move on. Hope you all have a great day!

Thank you for the welcome Sweet Tea. Love the avatar and hang in there, you will see results sooner or later.

Melissa....great pictures!

Welcome bonniebelle. I think that losing weight at age 61 is a great idea. I am working on it at 68 and it is hard, but not impossible!

Freda, I seem to be following you around the forum. Maybe because I am an RN who once lived in MI?

zoey

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...smom/comps.jpg

try clicking this link

hi girls... sigh like u guys i am also stuck!!! I am walking 3 miles in the mornings, doing 1 hr of circuit training, and then walking another 2 miles in the evening.GRRRRRRR and also staying oP with my food and does the scale move???? NOOOOOOOOOO

altho.. i will say that my body is changing shape... even if the scale wont move.. so dont get discouraged ladies... recheck your measurements i bet u have lost inches even if u havent lost pounds!!!

Curlylocks, maybe you're just replacing the fat with muscle?

Jawsmom, I wouldn't worry too much about yesterday. If that's the worst day you've had since December, than I'm impressed. I have entire weeks where I say, "screw it". Then I have to get right back on track afterwards.

Bonnie, welcome! I understand about the weight gain. I did horribly last summer, gaining about 10 pounds that I had lost. However, I'm (mostly) back to where I need to be, and I didn't gain all of the weight I lost back.

Melissa, if I was your height, I'd be so svelte right now.

Sweet Tea, even if you aren't losing anymore, you're still eating healthy, which has tons of benefits besides weight loss. Plus, you haven't gained any, which, hey, BONUS.

Ok girls, I'm not really doing so good and probably throwing in the dieting towel at this point. I had surgery last week and the found Endometriosis. They blasted about 75% of it. The approach is to go on fertility drugs for 3 cycles with one break in Dec to get pregnant. NO DIETING. If I don't get pregnant by Feb then I have to go on Lupron for SIX MONTHS to induce menopause (AT 31!) and put the Endo into remission. Then once I come off the Lupron (if it comes to that) then we'll do IUI &/or IVF.

Please pray for me that we get pregnant straight away and don't have to go down this long and painful road. We've been trying for over two years and I really thought that losing the weight and getting healthy was one of the last hurdles. Now I have another. My body is just working against me. AND if/when I do get pregnant I have to take injectible blood thinners and Progesterone through the first trimester. This is all so challenging but we want a family so much.

I'll still peak in on you from time to time. I'm going to work to maintain. I seem to be able to keep it between 139-142. As soon as I get above 140 I tone down the sweets/carbs and it goes back down.

Good luck to all of you. I hope you all reach your goals and get healthy!!

Kerry, I wish you the best of luck. I never had trouble conceiving but we did have our share of problems when trying to build our family. I know how emotionally draining it is to want children so badly and to have one roadblock after another thrown in front of you. Keep your thoughts positive, relax as much as you can. Even if you find yourself facing the worst case scenerio the payoff will be worth every second. Please keep us posted!

wishing u luck kerry and will keep u in my prayers! hugs

Kerry -- I will be sending you some major get pregnant vibes!!!! Every bit of effort you put in will be so worth it in the end. I will be praying for you and I do hope you will continue to keep us updated as you can or feel like it. Do you have a good support group/family behind you for everything coming up? We will all be wishing you and your dh the best of luck!!!

Curlylocks -- If you feel that your body is changing but the scale ain't budging you are still making awesome progress!!! I too have been doing really well with no weight change but I have noticed things fitting better. I'm just gonna chug through and get over the plateau. We'll do it together!

Ruby -- you are so right I have not gained so that is half of the daily battle already won. I am now toying around with my daily plan and I will just tinker until I get it right. Frustrating on some days but I do feel better so I know I am on the right track.

Zoey - How's it going??

Freda --Thank you for the words of encouragement . It felt like a good hug. You all are great!!

Melissa -- just gotta say again Thank you for sharing your pics . I really need to take some more pics of me so that I will be able to see the differences.

Bonnie -- Welcome Girlie!!! Wonderful to have you here . I look forward to getting to know you better.

Jawsmom -- You are an inspiration . Thank you for the pep talk and I am going to do exactly as you said. I am tweaking away here and staying positive about not gaining. Yesterday I was a bit pissed off because I made the kids some tea and although I didn't want any (AMAZING I know) it made me think how I was eating crap before and was maintaining at this weight and now I am being so damn good and nothings happening. The anger passed though and today is a good day so far . I hope you are feeling better from your fall off the wagon!

I apologize if I have forgotten anyone this afternoon. I am off to help Beren in his room while Logan sleeps a bit. Logan is teething so bad right now .

Melissa, thanks for the link! Wow! You look great. I can REALLY tell the difference in the side and back view pictures. You carry your weight very well - even in the "before" pictures. Keep up the great work!