willbethin-
Something that may or may not help you, is maybe to eat your regular calorie level during the week (I think you said it was around 1300?) and allow a little more, but still in weight loss mode, like 1500 on the weekends. I do this often as well. Sometimes if there is a big holiday like Thanksgiving, I will up my calories that day to 1700-1800, so that I stay on plan-but I have more to "play with" that day. If I stick with things like veggies, roasted white meat turkey and things, I have enough calories left to enjoy a small portion of a dessert or stuffing, or something I don't normally eat.
Basically, it is just learning to plan ahead for tough times to keep you on plan.

Great advice Aphil!

I am really just learning this myself, even after all the weight I've lost. I really screwed up during our last party and it is because I tried to hold myself to 1300 calories. If I had planned for 1700/1800 I probably would have stayed on plan. Instead, I went way overboard to about 2500. Because once I was off plan - I was OFF PLAN.

My bday is next week, which means at least two days of celebration / cake, with my mom and with my husband. I have to be good and do my best to plan, but I don't really know what they have in mind. It will be all about the good choices.

My sister comes to visit for the first two weeks of August. That means lots and lots of "on-the-go" meals. I have to pack my cooler full of healthy snacks and resist grabbing a meal out while at the mall or park.

Hey everyone! Everybody seems to be doing so well! I actually got my husband to go to the gym with me last night. We did lower body and today neither of us could barely make it down the stairs off our deck! It was one of those mornings that I rolled over and immediately thought "ouch!". That's okay though, it is a good kind of hurt! I'm really trying to get back in the swing of things to get back down to my desired weight. Hopefully I've gotten my husband on board and that always makes it easier (not having to fix 2 separate dinners, going to the gym alone, etc.). We have put ourselves on a budget so that should help as well with the eating out and such. We'll see, everyone have a great day, it's cardio day for me. It's been raining here it seems like forever so I don't know if I'll walk outside or go to the gym. We'll see. Everyone have a good one!

HI Ladies,

Did everyone have a good 4th? I got back from my vacation Thursday night and it took the whole weekend to get things in order and to feel back to my self. The time in Maine was great but so short. I didn't go wild but was OFF PLAN for 11 days straight and I have to say I didn't work out once the whole trip unless you count the long day of walking around Storyland I am having a hard time now to get my energy back. I have lost that fire I had. I finally got up stairs to work out on Sunday and could only do 20 min in my elliptical when I was doing 30-33 min I am having cravings too because I allowed my self to eat foods I normally don't and after 11 days it is sooo hard to get back on it. I am working on it. I am eating good all day and am going to try to get my energy level back up with my work outs. My problem is the snacking while making dinner with my cravings.... I miss that burst of energy I had when I was working out that made me push my self, I seemed to have lost that over the last month or two? Has this happened to anyone and how do I get it back? I wonder if I need to take a multi Vitamin or something? Wish me luck with getting back on track. I did weight 2-3 times and didn't seem to gain, but I was thinking it may take a few days for the fat to start forming..... I really feel bad and lazy.....It shows me why we feel so bad all the time and tired when we eat bad and lay around everyday! I do not want to go back there! HELP

Hi Holly, I know you must have been riding last week. The weather in Maine was so great! My DH went around to all the bike shops in the area and bought some new stuff for his bike while we were in Maine.

Hi Amy

Boy there is a lot of new people here! Hi to you all and hope you stick with us. It is really good support.

Lori is MIA?? Keep her in your thoughts, she has had a few stubbling blocks and sad things happen over the last few weeks.

I am so close to my goal but just can not seem to loose this last 21-22 lbs! It has be hard to get out for a walk here at work with this 90 degree weather and record high humidity

Have a great week!

Amie

Amie hang in there it will get better because you have come to far to stop now! I had stopped going to the gym for a bit due to excuses, to mcuh going on etc. Well I finally said I need and will get there. I scheduled it for yesterday morning and yes scheduled right on my journal and plan book. I went before work as I make too many excuses of why not to go after work. It felt great I only had a 40 min. work out but it was sweat drips for me! I not only maintained my level from before but increased it yesterday as a challenge for myself. I think all the hikes, walks, gardening and swimming, kayaking helped. But now I want to add the gym back in to my schedule at least 3 times a wk. So that is my current goal. I also have had lots of food challenges with events, celebrations its tough. But I am trying to becareful inbetween times out to eat. Yesterday was a 1200 cal. day for me. With the heat I wasn't so interested and when I work out I eat better too! I like Aphil's idea on not just having a full free day but up your calories so you have some guidelines in there. Otherwish the hay day might really cost us and we all work too hard for that. Sounds like Maine was fun. My son lived there for awhile its beautiful now he's in Hawaii.
Carol

Hi amie,

I know what you mean about slipping and losing motivation just a touch. That is what I have felt like the last few months as well.
I do have couple of occasions coming up that are going motivating me to get cracking on my workouts, and to really lose the rest of this weight and get to where I want to be.
Jason's sister's wedding is coming up in 11 months, and I would really love to be at goal then. Also, there are some girls who do costumes like me, that want to do a group costume that is sort of revealing, and I really want to get in on this costume...and wear it without worrying about how I look, so I am going to really get things together.
I told Jason that I was going to get a picture of the costume and the bridesmaid gown, and stick them on the fridge.

Hey everyone! I know all too well about losing motivation. I have been struggling the past couple of months and put on about 10 pounds in the process. I am slowly getting back on track. I try to focus on the fact that although I've gained I'm still quite a ways from where I started a while back...I just need to get it together before I gain anymore. My husband and I have been going to the gym so hopefully things will be looking up.

Hi Ladies,

Well it looks as though everyone is doing good, glad to see that! Sorry I havent posted in a while but ALOT of not so good things have been going on here and I just havent been motivated at all to post ! But things are slowly mending and Im here so thats a start! I can happily say that with everything that has gone on I have only gained 1 lb but took it back off plus 1 more, YAY And I have started to get back on track with my eating and excersise, this week has been good, hoping to see a loss this sunday!

Aphil, I do that to with pictures, I hang them where I can see them, and like with my wedding dress I have it in a clear plastic garment bag hanging on the back of my bedroom door so it will keep me motivated to loose more weight before my wedding! Hey whatever keeps you motivated right?

Amie, I miss you already!! I wish it would of been a much longer visit but I will be down there next month You keep your chin up, you'll get back on track I know you will! You are a big support to me and very inspirational. Even if you never loose another lb (which you will) just think of how much better you look and feel right at this moment, you have come a long way!!! Like I said keep your chin up, you'll make your goal!!

A big WELCOME to all newbies and HI

My middle sons b-day is this weekend and we are renting a roller skating rink for a few hours, he is so excited! He is going to be 13, so now I'll have 2 teenage boys, god help me I dont know how to roller skate but I think I will try it out and see if I can get the hang of it, I've heard that is also good excersise, so it should be an interesting and fun day (we need that right now)

You all have a great weekend...Holly, nice to see you again and that things are looking brighter for you!

Lori

Hi everyone!1

I feel guilty that I've become such an occasional poster, but our ideals are always with me

I do have to admit that I might be up a solid pound or two, due to my new (since mid-may) duties of cooking breakfast two days a week. It's really really hard not to have another 'Mini-breakfast" of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, hash browns...I love breakfast food! but I'm gonna nip it !!!!

I found a new contour on my leg!!!! aphil knows how I agonize about my legs well, to meet a friend today, I wore short denim shorts (Faded Glory size 6) and slip-on sandals with a high wedgie heel...it took courage for me, but I did it! and had 'fake-tanned' my legs ahead of time. And wore a t-shirt with those baby-doll sleeves and it was a shortie shirt, showed a bit of midriff. Yeah, I'm gonna lay off that breakfast food!

hello to everyone!! You're all such good friends. again, I feel guilty for not being here as much but you're still with me

Hello

I'm a newbie! I've actually been all over 3FC today... so I will tell my story here as well

In high school I was very active (I played school sports) but had horrible eating habits. Thanks to my athleticism I was able to stay below 130. After high school I quit exercising and kept eating...gaining 120 pounds in 5 years

In the past 2 years I've tried all the "Fad" diets out there, and of course non of them worked at all... so here I am, just shy of 240 pounds (I was at 240 when I started this journey almost 2 weeks ago) and finally got it right!

I'm not doing any special diet, just counting calories! I'm not sure what a goal amount of calories should be though... I've been trying to stay between 1300-1600 daily (which is good from my 3000-4000 just 2 weeks ago) but I'm not sure what I should be aiming for!

Holly-I bet you looked HOTTTTT!!!

Holy good for you dressing so cool and sexy. Sometimes thats all it takes to keep us motivated and going in the right direction. We all have faith in you and know you will keep yourself going! Your a cutie and should show yourself off a bit. Hey we all need to lift our spirits once in awhile and get daring.
I have been trying to stay motivated and its not easy sometimes. With so many summer activities going on. But recently decided I need to make a schedule for gym days. I have been swimming and doing other stuff but still need that gym. So that is my goal 3 times this week. Mon, Wed. and Thurs. in the a.m. so no excuses at the end of my day. Take care everyone and newbies welcome here!

I know it's different for everyone, but can I ask what you goal for calories was when first starting out? How about now?

I'm just not sure where to set my aim! I know I need to talk to my doctor, but I don't have insurance right now (due to hubby's job change) and I just won't be able to afford an appointment.

It depends on your current weight, and your activity level. Those are the main factors. If you are currently over 200 pounds, and are getting some exercise, you can start around 1700-1800 calories a day, and then weigh in once a week and see if you are losing. (at a healthy rate of 1/2-2 pounds per week) if you are, then you can stay at this level until you stop losing. (Then to start the losses going again you can either drop it down to 1600-1700 a day, or increase your exercise.)

I started at 211 pounds, and got out of the 2's eating around 1800 a day at the time.

Thank you Aphil 1800 calories seems like a lot!!

Is there anything wrong when my calories fluctuate? Such as some days I struggle just to hit 1200 (what a difference it makes when you're eating healthy! Lucky for me I've always loved green beans, peas and lettuce!) And some days I hit 1800 no problem.