Very pleased to meet to NOTMYMAMA and Perfect24!

Nice to meet you Val, notmymama and imnotperfect24! I look forward to getting to know all of you...

Jeez, I had another tough day depression-wise. I'm really starting to wonder if it was such a good idea to withdraw from Effexor. All that hard work, only to be reeling in pain this afternoon, and not much better this evening. But I stayed on plan, did my leg exercises (5 sets), and finished day 10 binge-free.

Silentartic Valerie

Ubee Sorry to hear you have toxic people around you that view weight loss as a competition rather then being supportive. We can do this together. I also view this as a journey to health and as I get older I feel it more pressing to do so.

imnotperfect24 and notmymama I am here for support too and we can all support one another.

Fi Glad to see you here despite your ongoing struggles and I hope you can see a Dr. or whoever your specialist is to balance out medications.

Have a good night everyone.

Welcome back guys! I think it's a good omen that we're all restarting. Means that 2014 will be our year!

TMI Alert: I passed a kidney stone tonight. A big one. Mystery solved. Annoys me that I got so scared and took so many antibiotics when it was just a waiting game. Also angry great the little bugger hid so well on the last ultrasound. Hoping that means I'm done with all this permanently.

Had dinner at my inlaws tonight. Sodium high, so may be up a little tomorrow. Abstained from drinking though, so no alcohol bloat to contend with. Did my swim and it really worked my legs.

hey ladies

just a quick check in

my internet at home has been done for a week or so, hoping to have it fixed in 24 hoursish...


FI- love Britto, I also own one of his pieces in 3D mixed media http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0wXFeSX2zl...600/Britto.JPG this is a picture of someone else's, doesn't truly do it justice perhaps I will try to take one of my copy when I am home at Christmas. I also own 2 pieces by Alfred Gockel that I will take pics of when I am home to share with you all.

Still trucking but working with a migraine today...haven't even looked at my scale in a while so hopefully still doing alright.

I know I'm late but I hope everyone's holidays were great! Mine was pretty uneventful. I stayed on track so that's the good thing. Just spent time with the family. Here's to an awesome December!

Ubee- Darling dearest, sorry you have people that are competitive that way. I'm lucky no matter I really have no excuses, everyone around me is awesome it is really ALL about my own struggles/issues/hangups. Even my super fit aquaintances are supportive.

Fiona - You are doing awesome!

Everyone else hope we all have a good week. Sorry will hopefully get more back into the swing of things and be able to offer more support to others.

May I join the posse? I have visions of us all getting on our horses and riding off into the sunset with the theme music from The Magnificent Seven playing in the background. Yahoo! Of course, right now I'm also laughing hysterically at the thought of me getting up on a horse, but I guess if they let me use a step ladder, it might work. Yep, let's all get back in the saddle to finish out 2013.

Ubee -- So glad you started this horse metaphor. If we can't laugh, it's going to be a long journey. And the competitive types? I just feel sorry for them that they are so warped that they have to have someone to look down on. Actually, it hurts my overly sensitive feelings that they treat it this way instead of having feelings of happiness for me. But mentally I tell myself I should feel sorry for them. And you will be thin AND healthy before they're pureeing your food. My goal in life is to be kicked out of a senior living facility for being too rowdy.

SilentArctic -- glad to see you again.

Jane -- glad that kidney infection is in it's last stages and you're back at the pool.

Fi -- One day at a time is a great way to work at it. Is it okay to break that down into one hour at a time? Anyone else sometimes feel that they need to do one minute at a time.

I'mnotperfect, Valerie, and Notmymama -- support aplenty with this group. We may have more to lose, but that also seems to mean that we have more to give.

Everyone has gone home, I'm back on plan as of this morning, and the damage from Thanksgiving wasn't too bad. I keep reminding myself of last year's 30 pound weight gain from the great gum ball incident and it's having the same effect as taking a shower right after watching Psycho. I've got 7 pounds to lose to get to the 70 pounds lost for the year. Not as much as I wanted to lose, but better than gaining 70 pounds. More visions.....now I'm galloping off yelling something -- who knows what, my mouth runneth over!

imnotperfect24! I am here to give you support!
notmy moma! I am here to give you support!
Val, 3FC is a big part of my plan to succeed. I am now more informed then ever but I really need the support of people who get being 300+!
Fi, sorry you are having a difficult time BUT I am so grateful you take the time and energy to post. I really enjoy your company. 10 days is so impressive. Good job!
Andrea, it is more pressing as we age. We may feel good one day and then wham! I just wish I could get fully on board again.
Jane glad you got rid of that nasty boulder! As for the antibiotics rather safe then sorry. Did you read the thread about healthy gut bacteria? You may want to take some probiotics and eat a scoop of dirt.
time4me, your internet is down!
Watchout, congrats for staying on track! Wish I could say the same.
Silent I am glad everyone is supportive of you. Just seeing you on here and knowing I am not alone is great support.
Betsy, I picture myself on some old plow horse. I too am glad to get a laugh so lets ride out 2013 on our tired horses and start 2014 with some young hot stallions! My cousins and I all are planning on going to the same nursing home so we can party to the end! Loved your post thanks for the laugh!
As for me I did OK today. Not great but...
How is everyone doing?

Ubee I'm a huge believer in system recovery after antibiotics! I've been taking probiotics and eating foods that promote the good gut stuff!

I'm up 2.6 today. Expected that after dinner last night though!

Jane, please share which foods promote healthy gut bacteria!
I've read how thin persons have totally different gut bacteria.
Thanks, Ubee

Well, I finally phoned my shrink because of how bad I was feeling, and we decided together that I should go back on a low dose of Effexor. He says he has another patient who's on both Cymbalta and Effexor, so it's not unheard of. I often wonder if I need more meds and higher doses just because of how big I am.

At any rate, I already feel a bit better, just knowing that things are going to change. I stayed on Atkins today, did my leg exercises, and in a few hours I'll have racked up 11 days free of emotional/binge-type eating.

Jane— Good for you on the probiotics! I like buying the probiotics that come in a spoonable powder, because just a half a teaspoon makes a big difference if you spoon it into plain yogurt: way less sour that way. Then I add a small squirt of SweetDrops stevia, and some raisins & nuts: YUM...

Betsy— Your posting was hilarious! I love the image of the Magnificent Seven and the line about "my mouth runneth over." Your high spirits and your sense of humor are a tonic for a blue mood, that's for sure. 70 pounds is very impressive for a year's worth of weight loss!

Ubee— You sound like you're on the verge of a big re-commitment to the project: you go, girl!

silent— It's so great to see you posting more often! Would you mind telling us where you live? I've been very curious ever since you told us about all that winter gear you have to wear. I feel lucky livin' in the DC area, because I wear T-shirts and Birkenstocks all year 'round: the only difference winter makes is a jacket over my T and socks with my Birks. But I'd still rather be in Houston, my home town, where it's low 70s and gorgeous in December. (By the way, I do wear pants or a skirt with my T-shirt. =laugh=)

watchoutforthatcar— Good for you stayin' on track over Thanksgiving! Your focus is admirable. I don't suppose you'd be willin' to give us a name to call you by....it doesn't have to be your real name, of course. Names are so friendly. But maybe I'm alone in thinking that.

Melissa— Ooooo...sorry to hear about your migraine. I used to have migraines, but then they mysteriously went away during my 30s. The part I hated the most was the nausea... Are you startin' to get psyched about going home?

Andrea— Thanks for the support! Tell us what's going on in your life these days, if you can spare the time...

Say, y'all, are any of you addicted to diet soda? The more I read about aspartame, the more convinced I am that it has an effect on insulin, which is of course the big fat-storing hormone. I've been drinking diet soda as my main source of fluids ever since I was a kid, back in the days of cyclamates. My family used to have a whole separate refrigerator stocked with nothing but diet sodas. So I think I'm gonna give up my Diet 7-Up, Diet Mountain Dew, and Diet Canada Dry. =sigh= A whole lot of seltzer is in my future, because I refuse to give up the fizz. And maybe I'll spring for some Zevia, too: it's sweetened with stevia, and is quite tasty. Probably in a few years they'll decide that stevia is bad for us, too. What's a sweetaholic to do, I ask you?!

FIONA, I admire you SO much! Sometimes the hardest person to take care of is ourself, and you're doing it! Sounds like you've got a good doc that will work with you- that's great!

JANE, you're so right about probiotics! Great stuff.

I had a good day one. I didn't think much about food I was saying no to. ravings weren't really the issue today. I did focus on visualizing how GOOD it feels to just feel good, when I've got enough weight off to be ALIVE. I used to ride like a banshee. I can see myself - not as fast as the old days - but up on a horse again. Alive!

What's the one thing you used to love doing that the weight keeps you from? I want to garden again, sit in a lawn chair without holding my breath in terror, go to a craft sale....

Val— Thanks for your kind words! I just gotta tell ya: I love horses, too. 'Never had one of my own, but I grew up riding horses in Texas—Western saddle, of course. I even rode in a few rodeos when I was a kid: the barrel race was my specialty. I'd be embarrassed to tell you how many years it's been since I've been on one, but riding horses used to be second only to sailing as my favorite way to spend my time. I sure would like to go on a nice long Texas trail ride before I get too old.

The things that I used to do that I hope to get back after reaching goal (what a great question!) mostly revolve around the ocean—like sailing a small boat without feeling that my weight is going to make it founder, and sitting on a towel at the beach without it being a major accomplishment just to stand back up again. Windsurfing, too. And here's one I have not done so far that I really fantasize about: scuba diving. I love sharks, and before I die, I want to watch one glide by while I'm right there in the ocean with it.

I also want to return to backpacking: walking into the wilderness with a 30-40 pound pack carrying all I need to live on for several days. And canoeing and kayaking in the great northern lakes... Rock-n-roll dancing for hours on end... Oh I could go on and on...

Good morning!
Fi, thanks for the diet soda info/thoughts. I don't drink it but two members of my family do. We are doing this as a family so we will slowly cut back.
Val, my weight is keeping me from feeling light. Everytime I move I feel like Java the Hut. I want to have a bounce in my step again.
Confession time-I am afraid of horses. Please don't kick me out of the posse I have a lot of quarters to keep my horse going.
I feel more optimistic each day. I have found out that I enjoy my lean protein salad/veggie combo so much that even if I think I have had an over the top day it was not so bad. Dare I say I like our new way of eating. If we eat this way 80% of the time it will be such a great improvement without deprivation. As Heather said in the over 40 thread "I am not saying no to the food, I am saying yes to me!" Now to get moving...
How is everyone doing?