So this weekend I was horrible at counting my calories!! I'm getting back on track today!

I do have one problem though- my job requires a lot of travel where I do go out to eat with clients......I know salad is always a good choice...but I guess I dont know how to allocate for the calories? How do you all deal with dining out when you are trying to keep track??

I havent weighed myself yet...its TOM (mine go for like 2 weeks including the cramping and the bloating) so I'm waiting because I ALWAYS gain water weight!

Thanks everybody for the words of congrats on the 2 lbs!!

jusj: I know EXACTLY how you feel! My low weight last time I did this was 182, and that's the point where I let my mindset start to slip back to where it is now, and allowed all the weight to come back. Just keep your goals in mind and try to make CONSCIOUS decisions about everything you do -- don't mindlessly snack or anything. If you want a cookie, make conscious decision to have it. You'll be happier with the cookie while you're eating it (you made the choice) and you'll be more likely to pass up on the next temptation (you'll remember that cookie and appreciate it for what it was). You'll totally start coming back to us with losses soon!

cats tongue - sounds like you have a plan! be sure to have fun, enjoy the end of term celebration!

sxulcmnky - congrats on the loss! a loss is a loss! I'm with you on changing the weigh in days.... my official day is Friday because the weekends tend to be hard on me. Though there's the other school of thought, that Monday weigh-ins are supposed to keep you on track over the weekend. Never worked for me Sometimes I weigh on Monday just to see what the weekend did, and this week Monday gave me my loss, not Friday... So who knows!!

lovinlifex2 - congrats on the 4lbs! That's awesome

lottie - happy early birthday, and congrats on the new size!!


Yesterday I had a bit of an eye-opening moment.... I went to the grocery store with a friend who has been steadily gaining weight and is totally unconcerned about it. She wanted to do an exam week junk food run. I went with her and watched her buy $50 worth of junk food of all kinds.... the only thing remotely good for her that she bought was a dozen eggs! The thing is, I used to be there right beside her, loading up on junk, thinking nothing of it. I thought I did well with a $1 bag of gummi worms and a box of oatmeal that I needed. The gummi worms I split with DH at home, anyway. But I think because I've been really cutting back on the sugar lately and I ate them RIGHT before bed I now feel like I have a hangover... headachey and tired and blah. That's the sort of crap sugar does to me Lesson learned.

Hi everyone....

I hope that everyone's week is going well. Mine has been busy...busy...busy, but it sure makes the day go by fast.

jana - hang in there honey...you will get your groove back.

suitejudy - it is so interesting when we really start listening to our bodies and realizing what a difference all the sugar and crap we put into them and how it makes us feel. I love gummy things too...I can walk right by the chocolate, but put out some skittles, gummy worms, or sweedish fish and my mouth is a waterin.

sxulcmnky - I also weigh on Mondays, but I like that cause it tends to keep me "honest" on the weekends, but good luck on finding what works for you.

cats tongue - have a great time with your end of term celebration.

liapizzaria - I too have lunch/dinner out with clients often. Days when I know that I have this I plan for my other meals to be light...say homemade veggie soup to off set the other. I don't know about you, but salads don't usually fill me up when eaten alone. Alot of times chicken things are good choices. You can get a grilled chicken sand almost anywhere and pair it with a side salad and there you go. Hope some of this helps.

Have a great day ladies - ttfn!

Hey Everyone!

I new here and I've been kinda quiet so I just thought I'd drop in and say Hello!

I weighed in Today at 209, that's 2lbs lighter Yipee!! Last week was my TOM so I was pretty bad about my eating, it was way harder than I thought it would be, especially now that I'm more conscious of what I eat. I weighed on last Thurs. at 214 and was a little disconcerted but I'm guessing it was water weight and bloating? Do you all usually wait until after your TOM to weigh yourselves?

I saw the first snowflakes of the year this morning on the way to workout with my trainer and I was ecstatic, I LOVE the snow, reminds me that the semester is almost over. This week is my last week of classes and then Finals. I'm in my second year undergrad, Pre-med. so I'm really going to try hard not to fall of the wagon and go for that exam week junk food that suitejudy was talking about...Wish me Luck!

jana - Only a week and a day? That sucks! But at least it's time off anyway...

Liapizzaria - Ugh, sorry about your crappy TOM. Doesn't sound super pleasant. As for eating out? hmmm, I'm with lovinlife, I try to eat healthy the rest of the day with good homemade food. Also I do try to order something healthy as much as possible. Sometimes though i have to indulge and on those days I definitely watch my calorie intake the rest of the day.

suitejudy - That sounds like an NSV if ever I read one. And it's so true about the crappy food in our bodies... I definitely don't have the same amound of nrg or the smooth running body if I don't eat healthy and balanced.

Vicque - Congrats on the 2lbs loss! Good luck with the junk food avoidance. That is always hard this time of year with exam stress and all. my advice would be just don't have it in your house, or whereever you study, at all. I definitely went out today and loaded up on the fruits and veggies to stop me from resorting to comfort/junk foods over the next few weeks...

So I'm here... avoiding studying.

YAY i made the avatar... i can't wait to look like my goal weight YAY!

and thanks everyone for the support... i think i will stick to my tuesday weighing day through december, then see what happens.

thankee, and yeah that's me, thanks.

thanks for the happy bday!

Hi all,

Just wanted to pop in and say congrats to everyone who has had successes this week. Keep up the good work.
For everyone who isn't feeling too well... like me (darn cold!)... just try to take it easy and get yourself feeling better. I'm with ya.

So I still haven't had the nerve to get back on the scale yet... I'll likely wait until Friday so I can get back into the habit of Friday weigh-ins. Besides, I haven't been exercising at all lately so I'm really not looking forward to the scale. You'd think that since I'm home practically all the time now since I'm out of work that I'd get myself exercising everyday.... kinda hard to feel motivated when you really feel down in the dumps though. I've really got to get myself out of this funk!! Ergh!

Do we have a December NSV's thread yet?? It didn't look like it to me but I could be wrong?

well ladies... i weighed myself this morning... 209.8.... so ya... it's amzing that i can lose 2lbs in 1 day... less than 24 hours....weird

Good Morning Ladies!!

The scale stuck at 195 today. I just put it together this morning and realized that is a 13lb gain! My mind is on straight so I'm getting it together.

lovin - thanx for the words of encouragement!!

suitejudy - my closet friends and I are always falling off the wagon at the same time. it's like we will all do good for a few weeks then we will call each other saying, 'i'm starting boot camp this week' (our code word for staying on plan, STRICTLY with NO slips). I have a friend that is a little bit heavier than me and I have one that weighs about 10lbs less but has the smallest stomach ever with the biggest butt ever. I would actually love to be here size but I understand where she is coming from because she was much smaller in high school and I know she just wants to get back to where she was at.

I'm actually would really love to just get my stomach to be smaller I'm satisfied with the resat of my body.

liapizzaria - i know how ya feel girl! TOM will be here next week and I can feel the sore breast and early cramps already.

Hey, maybe that's why the scale is so high! I forgot all about that! Okay, now I'm a little bit more at ease!

I have a question for all you ladies...I don't have any WATP dvd's right now but I have done the workout before...do you think if i just watched one of my favorite 30min shows and walked in place with some of the added movements she does in the video that it will be an effective workout?

Have a great day ladies!!!

Good morning all you fabulous 20-somethings!!!

highhopes I know what you mean about not wanting to workout when you feel like crap. But I have to say, it's a cycle: you feel gross and you don't workout and then you feel even MORE gross because you didn't workout so the next day you don't workout again... My advice? No matter how bad you're feeling get out there and workout! Even just 15min will leave you feeling just a teensy bit better. I promise.

lottie Happy Birthday!!!

sxulmnky - 2lbs in one day? nice! Are you a daily weigher? Is there one day a week you count your weight or are you taking a sort of "average weight"?

jana hmmm. I think that could definitely be an effective workout. As long as you keep walking. I know when I try to watch TV and workout I sometimes get distracted.. hehehe. I'm bad like that. Of course I've never really tried doing a cardio workout in front of the TV, usually just weights.

artsnsmarts I'm not sure if we have a december NSV thread. I haven't seen one either... By the way I like your screen name.

Alright ladies, I am in a good mood for several reasons:
a) Classes are done!! Woot Woot! I might have to study for exams, but I can now sleep in. Makes me happy.
b) Last night I went out with friends for a burgers and beer celebration of the end of term. I definitely only ate my burger and most of my beer. My friend M (one of those silly boys who can eat anything and still look fabulous) ate my fries. It feels like a fantastic NSV, because I didn't overeat, I just felt alittle over satisfied (big burger! And a thick pint of guiness.).
c) I have more energy and my eating is starting to get normal again. yay!

I have so much to do today! ugh! Got to get sewing, I'm making a large quilt like blanket for my mom and dad. I hope it works out just as I'm planning it. Plus I want to make some small things for my friends (like magic bags and such...) and maybe a baby blanket for my landlords (they just had a baby and she is the sweetest thing ever!!!)... Plus studying.

Well...I DID weigh myself today and I am at 182....and I am still at TOM (mine usually last for 2 weeks including all of the cramps and bloating...eck...) so I'm thinking once thats over I should see some weight loss since I know I am retaining a TON of water. I'll probably weigh in again on Monday.

I'm going out to lunch today and will order a salad. What dressing tips do you use? Should I bring my own low cal or dip my fork into dressing then put on the lettuce.....I'm going to BJ's Brewery....any low calorie suggestions for there??

jusj- You have already come soooooo far! You can get back on track! And yes, TOM is usually like 3-7 pounds of gained water weight. Arent we lucky???

Cats - Congrats on the end of the term!! Isnt that a great feeling??


sxul- love your avatar!! 2lbs!! Thats great!

Hey- does anyone have a good EASY recipe for something low-cal that you dip your veggies in? I love dipping my apples in Yoplait light vanilla yogurt, but I need a dipper for veggies. I have a hard time eating them plain.