Ha Ha Ha...I got a good chuckle out of the being able to see the lint in your belly button and not finger it out......what a hoot....but it sure would be nice to be able to see in it without turning it upwards....!!!

Well....I am definately positive today....I have not strayed at all .... of course the day has not ended yet but I have faith in myself to remain OP.....heres to hoping you all survived another day!!!

I found a caramel milk drink (dulce de leche) that is in a 16-ounce bottle (I think the little ones I love are 11-oz or thereabouts), made with lowfat milk, it has 460 calories per 16-oz (which is two servings, but who doesn't drink the whole thing?) and 10 grams of fat, as well as somewhat less sugar than the kind I love. I only bought and drank one bottle ... my obsession was calmed and less damage was done to my body! THIS IS A POSITIVE THING!

Boatingmommy: I am smiling and chuckling, too, at the picture of you checking out your belly button! More motivation: Have you ever worn a jewel in there? I once took belly dancing lessons and stuck a little fake stone in there when I wore my costume! That was awhile ago in life, maybe I need to do it again.

Mom: My day is not over yet, either, but like you, I'm positive it'll end on a good note. BTW, counting calories has always worked better for me than using exchanges or points, but all are workable and fun. There's a specific scientific formula to estimate your correct calorie range (it's in lots of places on the web ... the site for The Business Plan for the Body has a good calculator for this, or did the last time I looked). Some of these are a little off, in my view, though. I lost 100 pounds going no lower than 1500-2000 calories a day. Lower than 1200 and you're not going to get the nutrition you need and your body tends to conserve energy, metabolism dips, you know the drill.

A quick general rule is to mentally assess whether your daily activity level is high, medium or low. If it's high, multiply your weight by 15 for your calorie level; medium, multiply by 12; low, multiply by 10.

Have fun! IT'S ALL A GAME!

Oops, shouting again!

I'm stopping now. Bye!

Crone...good news for you on the new low fat dulce de leche....and thanks for the info on the calories...it came up with like 2176 calories for me to use....I think thats too high so I will go with between 1700-1800 per day....and I guess if ever I need to go over I will still be in the clear.....dont you think???

Well, I ended yesterday using just between 1200-1300 calories and I am so darn proud of myself for remaining truthful and on plan.....so this is my positive thought for today:

Another day today like yesterday and I am well on my way to a new beginning!!!

Thanks for all the support and ideas you all lend....it sure helps a lot of us!!!

Take care...LisaL

And reflecting on a whole, entire night in which I slept and did not get up and ingest ANY calories. That's a really fine achievement for me and also reflects a healthier level of thinking than I've been experiencing. Already had a short fitness walk.

I am proud of you, too, Mom!!! I do think 2176 is a bit high for weight loss! But yes you can probably binge that high and not have a problem. Most people need to eat more than they think to lose and maintain weight ... it's important to assess activity correctly, too. Very active means going, going, going all day and very intense and frequent athletic exercise sessions. A cool idea is to train yourself to generally eat in the correct calorie range for the weight you want to be. So you eat the highest number of calories you can to lose, say, a pound or two in a week. As your weight is lowered, though, you have to lower the calories or increase exercise if you can do that without overtraining. At goal weight, you'd plateau for a long, long time and you should be able to gradually add some calories back.

It all takes time, but what's the hurry?

It's a lifetime commitment, though, those pounds of fat want to come back and our old tapes start to play and old ways of thinking start to intrude into our daily life ... BUT the good news is WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO CHANGE AS LONG AS WE ARE ALIVE.

Motivators I Am Keeping in Mind For Today:

I have a page from Runner's World magazine (2/02, Motivations, 28) on my refrigerator. It has a picture and short blip about Gerry Davidson. She turned 81 years old in March. On May 27, 2001, she ran a mile in 9:00.52, "the fastest time ever for a woman 80 and older," RW says. SHE IS SMILING. I want to be her when I grow up.

On the same page, under "Words to Live By" is a quote from Roger Robinson, New Zealand masters runner and author: "The experts are always telling us to 'Listen to your body." If I listened to my body, I'd live on toffee bars and port wine. Don't tell me to listen to my body~it's trying to turn me into a blob."

Amen.

Sunshine, blue skies, birdies chirping, flowers blooming...I love Spring! I'm going to keep the spring-like attitude of new beginnings...each new day is another chance to be better than the last one...no regrets...keep moving forward...

That's all for now...keep smiling!

Crone: Thank you soooo much for the comment. It feels so good to hear such nice and positive things from people who barely know you. (Although, I feel like I kind of know you...or at least know how you feel) I know that you can beat the dulce de leche. Sometimes though it is too easy to give into temptation. If there were only a way to keep food off my mind when I am stressed! Anyways: My positive thought for the day comes from a song, " Hey, dont write yourself off yet. It's only in your mind to feel left out and looked down on. Just do your best. Try everything you can. Don't worry if it's good enough for someone else. It just takes some time little girl your in the middle....everything everything will be alright...alright!" -- Jimmy Eat World. That is really the groups name!
I had a great day today. A few co-workers and I went into NYC and watched the Veiw Broadcast live. I saw Barbara Walters, Susan Dey and Harry Hamlin. It was a beautiful day and for once I felt good and beautiful. Hope everyone had a great weekend.
For all the Mommy's out there.....HAPPY MOTHERS DAY. Dont forget to enjoy yourselves and relax. Treat yourself to something decadent! You deserve it!

What is this "dulce de leche" I keep reading about? It sounds like something decadent and wonderful...ummmm...on second thought, maybe I don't need to know...another temptation in my life really isn't what I need!

On a positive note...I have been OP all day, got my bills paid, some errands run AND managed a good exercise session...not to mention that it is an absolutely gorgeous day and I planted the pretty flowers that my sweet son bought for me at his school's plant fair.

Life is good.

Good news, good news, good news: Yesterday I passed on the dulce de leche during two trips to the convenience store whilst out 'n about!!! Yay! At the grocery store I bought that kind of fat free milk that's flavor augmented to taste like 2 percent and I bought some fat free caramel ice cream syrup and you can guess the delicious result! Much healthier.

Yesterday also I was thinking how well I am doing on my Pollyanna program, stopping negative self-talk and smiling at people when I want to growl at them. I know this will translate to greater health, happiness and a fantastically fit body at some point.

Positive Post Stolen From Around the Board (Amyjo01): "I firmly believe that someone had been guiding me where I was suppose to go the whole time but I just coudn't make up my mind to listen and since I have I have been happier than I have in the past 13 years. I believe if you're getting signs.. whether they are from my God or yours then it is probably time for a change. ... Hugs to you!!!!!! Amy
__________________
A man with outward courage dares to die. A man with inward courage dares to live. - Lao-Tzu

Katrinabgood: I love your screen name! Dulce de leche milk is just thick caramel flavored milk. A regional dairy here has put out a version of this evil stuff that is loaded with fat and calories and put the picture of a well-known baseball player on it. I shouldn't call it evil because that is a negative ... it is rather "taste-tempting" I guess!

Echristo: Sounds like you are having a great life! Thanks for the song. One of my favorite inspirations is the "I hope you dance" song and I'm sorry I can't bring to mind the name of the country singer who wrote it and performs it. (I think she wrote it, anyway). I often cover graduations and have heard it so many times and it kind of makes me cry (in a positive way, of course)! What did Barbara Walters look like in person?

"And if you get the chance, to sit it out or dance ... I hope you dance. I hope you dance." ~ Apologies to whoever holds the copyright on this song, I can't think of your name, but you are great!

Wishing all the moms on the boards a very Happy Mother's Day....enjoy...we deserve!!!

As for my positive thought today....I weighed myself after being on the calorie counting plan for 3 days....and I was down 2lbs....so.....I am on my way to a new me....and I will do my best to keep up the loss!!!

Hoping you all are having a great weekend....not sure whats on the agenda today....they arent telling me around here.....but I will have fun....(as long as the boys behave....ha ha...)

Take care all...LisaL

There is a lovely, soft rain falling here...the kind that makes everything look so green. My lawn and my flowers are being watered. No pressure to go out and do more yard work. Great day for a walk, with an umbrella! The car is being rinsed of all the signs of a busy bird population around here. I don't have to blow dry my hair...it will just curl up anyway!

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mom's day Ladies~~When I started to write on this thread I thought it was just for positive affirmations. I had never intended to try and write to each and everyone everyday. Then I seen the rest of you were. I haven't been here for a few days although I have been reading the thread everyday. I've been really depressed for a few days. Fighting food, winning sometimes and not winning sometimes. Any kind of a holiday usually throws me into a depression. I have 2 children, son and daughter, neither of them contact me on Mother's day. Hubby takes off for his Mom's and I'm home a lone. I am going to treat myself this afternoon. (not food) I'm going to town and buy myself a computer program called PhotoImpact. It's a editing program. I love making stationery for Outlook Express.

~~Congratsto those of you who have lost weight, and to those of you who haven't, but haven't given up.

~~PAIN If it were not for pain, I wouldn't be here on this board. Only when the pain of compulsive overeating become worse than the pain it was intended to kill did I become willing to abandon the pretense of controlling my life. Getting in touch with my pain is a new experience. Until the day it brought me to my knees, food was my first line of defense against any and all pain, even that caused by the food itself. I have come to understand that I must let myself feel the pain before I can recover. My positive affirmation for today, I'm not choosing to avoid the pain by stuffing my face with excess food.
I feel better now that I wrote that out. Thanks for being here, and hang in there, we all know this won't be easy.

President of The Pollyanna League (I elected myself), reporting on another week lived in my beautiful state. Last night was magic. One could see the stars (doesn't always happen what with light pollution and such) and there was a hint of a cool breeze in the air.

My weight report is positive also, even though I am up a half a pound ... the positive part of this is that I feel motivated to really start to change. I KNOW I MUST GO IN THE OTHER DIRECTION! I need to get 30 pounds off my knees and I WILL DO IT! The buck stops here. Amen.

Marlana: I don't think it matters whether we answer each other or just do the positive affirmations. Either is nice and whatever one wants to do at a given moment ought to be the Pollyanna League rule! I just tend to go on and on sometimes.

Thank you so much for sharing your feelings on this Mom's Day. I'm actually only a mom of Old Dog, Silly Cat and Budgie Duo, but I know what loneliness feels like and how sometimes people we love don't understand our needs. But I love the way you've turned your first reaction to this day into a positive ... first by venting it (an essential) and then by GOING SHOPPING!! I'm going to write a paper for school and then GO SHOPPING, too. I plan to buy Minwax, rasps and tack cloth for my woodcarving.

Great affirmation about not stuffing down the pain with food. Something to think about everytime my hand tries to mindlessly reach my mouth.

I do not believe pain is a negative. Sometimes pain is unavoidable and can't be cured. In these cases, finding ways to live with it is the only option and this can be a learning and enobling experience. Some pain, temporary or chronic, can be a catalyst for change and growth. For me, the recognition of pain and how I tend to stuff it down with food was a happy revelation and the best thing that could have ever happened to me in regard to health.

Katrinabgood: Happy Mom's Day to you, too! You gave me a lift with your thoughts of rain. Sometimes I forget about what rain feels like for months and months. We do have it here upon occasion, though, but it is usually quite dramatic and messy and causes lots of problems (they don't seem to know about storm drains in this state).

Mom: An equally Happy Mom's Day to you! Congratulations on the TWO & THE NEW YOU! Hope you have great fun with whatever your boys have cooked up for you.

MY POSITIVE AFFIRMATION FOR TODAY: "Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger!"

Nothing killed me yesterday, so I'm undoubtedly stronger today. I can accomplish whatever I set out to accomplish ... and if I don't, I can rewind the tape and try again.

Good morning all...hope you mommies had a great day yesterday and even those of you who arent mommies.....!!!....We went and spent the morning at the mall and the only one who got anything was Jesse...(big shocker...NOT...)...I didnt really feel much like getting anything....I feel too fat to buy new clothes right now and I wanted to wait to buy anything else until after we move and I know what I need...want....ha ha

Anyhoot....my positive thought for today is that its the beginning of a new week and I have been pretty faithful to counting calories now for ummmm 5 days....and thats a BIG plus!!!....I finally got hubby back on track as well and that makes it easier....because we tend to challenge one another by telling each other on weigh in days how much we LOST....!!!

Gotta scoot for now.....gonna get my chores done on this yucky dreary overcast day.....And maybe this evening I will go to the mall and get myself something small...maybe some new make-up

By the way.....can anyone tell me if there are any good websites out there where you can find the caloric content of almost any food...such as fresh fruits, veggies, etc.????

Thanks.....and take care.....have a great day...LisaL

On Saturday, I racewalked 22 miles in 5 hours, 24 minutes.

(( (( whoo hoo! )) ))

I love this body, and it loves me ... just as I am. And in 2 weeks and 6 days, I'm doing the Rock & Roll Marathon. Just as I am.