Thanks Silverbirch!!!

Hi FruitLady!

Megan, too bad I don't have a similar story about the Megans in my life, there have not been too many!

My experiment is quite a success. Two weeks ago I stopped counting calories and started focusing just on being OP in general, and while I haven't had any dramatic effects, I was under 139 for two days two weeks ago and under 139 for three days last week. So, the weight is still gradually going down, and I feel much more sane and much less stressed.

Spring is here and I am SO going running outside tonight! I am so excited about this, I can't even express it. Also exciting is getting my lunch break back. This is the first day I'll have a lunch break that is not spent working out or in a meeting in over a month. (Too cold outside means no outdoor exercise which means I need to run on a treadmill, and my only treadmill access for free is at work, which means a lunchtime workout.)

Jessica, glad your experiment is going so well! How was everybody's weekend? Mine was a lot of fun. I did get a lot of movement in but my eating and cocktail drinking was horrible... I mean tasted good, but not good for me.

Copying & pasting what I just posted in the maintainers weekly chat. I'm starting my boot camp today, though I realized I had bought some foods I need to use up before I go grain-free. I'll taper off the grains as my sandwich thins disappear etc...

Food:
No alcohol or sweets, period.
Limit to 1500 calories a day.
Limit artificial sweeteners and processed foods.
(No grains)... No french fries either, though potatoes aren't technically a grain.
Exercise (trying to capture the idea of doing totally different things to shake up my routine, and working out smarter, not harder):
Do running HIIT 2-3x per week.
Incorporate more jumping (body weight matrix idea from NRLW, jump rope), step-ups, etc.
Weight training - I'm still training for my chest, triceps, shoulders, for a benchpress competition 2x a week. To balance that I need to keep up with back and my legs, and want to be sure to train my abs and core 3x per week.

Ack, Megan. You just reminded me that I put off the body weight matrix until I got home from the gym. Er - I am home now and I guess that means I have to do it.

Sorry? lol

I had a setback, I ate way too much yesterday, now I'm back were I started. Still have 4 lbs. too go! I did real good today, the weight gain scared me into really sticking with it.

Despite (or perhaps because of) my pathetic state of health, I am losing weight rather nicely. About 2lbs each week at present. Oh, yes.

Plus ... my friend at the gymn said to me today, 'You lost weight!' Statement not question. And she's right. More than a stone now: let's say 14-15lbs since 6th January.

Plus ... a stranger at the gymn told me I had great posture and that I was tall!

Plus ... I gave my neighbour a lift and she told me I was looking nice today!

You don't really have to ask but, yes, the sun is shining!

And I'll tell you the secret of my success: I've been eating squeakily clean, modest portions since 6th Jan. Not eating standing up, and eating mindfully and slowly. You know, I'm pretty excited!

Great job Silver!!!

Megan, good luck with the boot camp.

Fruit, today is a new day!

Water weight is almost gone, 139.4 this morning. I'm hoping for 4 days under 139 this week as a good sign of progress. I got outside for my run last night and set a new PR! 2 miles in 21:49 (previous PR was 21:51 in Nov or Dec). That's including a couple times I had to stop or slow down because the dog decided he needed to pee, so if I hadn't had him with me I would have been a few seconds faster.

Jessica - thank you! This group is part of the success - we are optimistic and supportive! Hey, running outside must mean it is (or almost is) spring in your neck of the woods?

Fruitlady - good to have you with us.

Silver, great job! We do it for ourselves but it's so nice when other people give you compliments, too. Keep it up!

Fruitlady, you slipped up, it's ok. Today is a new day.

Jessica, great job on your run! Glad the weather is warming up for you.

Day 1 of bootcamp went ok... I did HIIT on the treadmill at the gym. Normally I jog at 6 mph on the treadmill, so I thought, ok, I'll vary between 6 mph as my "recovery" and 8 mph as my "high intensity". Holy cannoli, I got through 3 of the high intensity parts and had to start walking. 6 mph was not enough of a recovery. I felt like such a cardio wimp! But, it can only get better... right? Plus you can do anything for 30 short days... right? Right. Next HIIT day will be Wednesday or Thursday.

Silver, yes! Yesterday actually hit 59 degrees, which google tells me is 15 degrees in Celsius. I even wore short sleeves to run. I'm just crossing my fingers that it doesn't get cold again -- this time of year you never know, we could still have another snow storm.

Go, Silver!!! Squeaky clean eating, hmmm? So....food....matters....You'd think I'd have that tattooed inside my eyelids by now!

So, Ward, how was the workout?

Go, Jessica!!!

Glad you're here, fruitlady.

Megan, I am so inspired by your plan....Hmmmmm!!! I may borrow some of it, if that's okay!

Setback for me as well. I was right on track most of the day and then my in-laws came for dinner and they ordered pizza.

Right back where I started. Ick!

Thanks everyone, it always makes me feel better to read your posts and to know it's not the end of the world( which is how I feel sometimes)to go overboard with eating.

Borrow away! I believe Meg is going to "join" me after she returns from her vacation around March 22, also. Going well so far... but then again I'm only 3 days in. My co-workers and BF have been informed that I'm not drinking or eating sweets this month. I've got to stay accountable.

Allison, why do house guests always order pizza? I had pizza not once but twice last weekend with my house guests. Why don't house guests order salad with chicken breasts on top?

Fruitlady, I hope you had a better day yesterday than the day before.

Have a good Wednesday everyone!