Good morning. I over slept a bit - Crime girl, I agree with you, the wierd weather is messing with my sleep too! I wake up ever single night at 3:30 and sometimes I get back to sleep, sometimes I don't.

Red - I hope you find the joy again very quickly!! Just so you can be happy I know what it's like to live life daily and not be happy. I was more depressed and frustrated than I even realized and it tainted my whole being! I gained weight, was a ***** to everyone and was so depressed I never went anywhere. Lost my confidence, lost myself even. If BF had met me then he'd have run the other way and I wouldn't have given him a second look. He's not "driven enough" for the person I was then. I'm SO much happier now!! Life is a journey - like it or not. I'm glad you're deciding to like it

Crime girl - 2 acres?????? My yard isn't that big! But I do have a nice size spot picked out. I'm growing squash, lettuce, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, herbs, anything I damn well please. I'm even ordering the organic seeds so they REALLY taste yummy!!!! I can honestly taste the difference now between organic and conventional veggies...organic has more burst to it! NC is beautiful!! I'm jealous of your florida though. I wish I could be closer to my family there but I have family here too...there everywhere I like the laid back feeling when I go to apalach. Of course, I'm on vacation when I go there - that might be why it feels to laid back

NBK - about this vacation? I hope you have a great time!!!

okay, off to the gym. I really REALLY don't want to go but I'm going anyway! I need to form the habit again. I'm just walking. I laid out too long to do weights today. I'll start the pain cycle if I do. But walking is enough Talk to everyone soon!

Welcome Shanberg!
Of course it is OK- we are happy to have you! Post when you can- we all have some restraints (school, work, etc) so we get on when we can.
Tell us about yourself- anything you want us to know. Also- at the beginning of this thread is what we try to do daily- we dont always follow it (mainly because I forget to remind everyone) but it is a guide all the same.
Glad you decided to join us!

Shanberg-
Thanks for letting us know a little about you..
I am doing a similar program as you - I am counting calories and I feel your angst with others not having to measure every little things they eat. I also have friends I go out with that sway me from following my plan. Maybe you and I could challenge each other. I go out every Friday with the "girls" at work. Let's see which of us can make it the longest without blowing it by eating out. What do you think? Not sure if this is what you mean but I know I do fine until I start eating out with others- then it is no dice. I fall off the wagon and let it run over me again and again. Seriously gets me derailed.
If you can eat out and stay on plan- you can do that but we can look at which one makes it the longest without falling off the wagon.

By looking at your progress so far it looks like you are off to a really great start!! Good for you ! Keep up the great work and you will meet your goal- no problem!

Okay for everyone- it is Monday so it is ways to stay motivated day. Where are the points that you fall off the wagon and abandon eating right? Is it the fact you are always running out the door? Temptations by other people? Eat when you are bored or upset? What gets you off track?

Also- I am going to start trying to do the question of the day again...
Question of the Day:
If you could travel anywhere in the world for 1 month and be able to come back to your life as it is without losing your job, bf, husband, etc. where would you go and why? Money is no object here..

Good Morning! Welcome Shanberg! It's nice to have new people join the thread (after all I was a newbie not so long ago!) I am doing a "make healthier choices and be more active" type plan. I tend to get obsessive about food if I count calories or restrict anything. And I totally understand about having to finish food even if you don't feel like it!

First things first now:
News: Friday night I flagged doing the gym as it was too freaking hot and humid and I was still feeling tired from drinking the night before... so bad Tifftiff...Anyway Saturday we got up early, and drove out to a nearby beach township to buy lotto tickets. While we were at the shop, BF noticed the pies (meat) he is always going on about were still in the warmer! Now we've been going out there for months trying to get one for lunch but they are always sold out. So we got one each for breakfast (healthy I know..) I got a V8 to drink also..anyway the pies were mince and cheese. The first couple of bites were heaven. It had the right mix of pastry and meat, gravy and cheese.. but then my body started rebelling and I felt like crap... I felt so bad not enjoying this food that BF loves..but he was so kind and said "don't feel you have to finish it" now this might not sound like much, but my ex had been known to basically force me to sit at the table until I finished my half of our dinner or what ever it was that we were eating. It was like a real weight was off my shoulders! It's great. Now I don't feel guilty if he shouts dinner and I can't eat it all. I think this might help me get back off the maintaining plateau and onto the losing slope! Anyway it was another stinking hot day, so he went for a surf and I actually washed my car! he he.. we don't have a yard so I have to do it on the footpath outside my house (which is about 2.8m (9ft) wide). I was wearing my short denim skirt and a bikini top, cos I figured I may as well get a tan while I endured this most horrible of chores.. anyway I was washing away and I GOT WOLF WHISTLED AT!!! BY TEENAGE BOYS!!!! There is a boys high school just up the road from my house and they have boarders. Anyway some of them were walking down my street on the way to town and called out to me! It was awesome. So this is the thing. I have never been whistled at before in my life. Except by drunk people and that doesn't count. It was cool. And they weren't being sarcastic either. he he.. anyway the rest of the day was spent hiding from the heat, going for a sunbed so I have a better tan for australia, and getting my hair cut.
Sunday we went swimming in the river and it was sooo nice and warm. There's a bit where it meets the sea and we would swim across the river, run over the hot black sand jump in the sea, body surf a wave in and then run back.. I am sure that counts as interval training??

Ok.. so my vacation is with BF. We are going back to broadbeach on the gold coast of australia (queensland). We were there in november/december last year for 6 days and loved it.. and the shopping so back we go! he he. We actually booked it when we were in the middle of what looked to be the coldest, wettest summer on record. Of course now that's all changed. but still. Then we fly back into my home town and go to the VELVET REVOLVER concert.. he he and I believe we are staying at the same hotel as the band! (welll the only 5 star hotel big enough to accomodate everyone).. of course BF is not too impressed about that as he is convinced that I would run off with Scott Weiland if I got the chance, and I can't completely say I wouldn't LOL!!!
ANyway I'll be back on friday next week.

ok now to people
Red - good plan. I think it is a really smart thing you are going to be doing. I hope it means that you'll still find time for us? You're a really awesome person to talk to and hear your take on life! I'd miss you ALOT. Now back to your plan. I can honestly say for me that my biggest weight loss (i know i haven't lost heaps but) I lost the most the 3 months I finally started doing things for fun and not being a stress merchant about food and exercise and everything else. It was like when I stopped trying, things actually happen, a bit like on your horse.. you know one day you give up on teaching them something, and 2 weeks later apply the aids almost by accident and bam you get a perfect leg yeild!

CG - I would love to come to florida and help you out! It's actually on my list of places in the states to visit (along with NOLA, Indiana, Chi-town, San Fran, Seattle and NYC)How's your special time with Maya coming along?

Grass - I hear you on the sleep thing. Last night it was actually cold enough to sleep but my body just wouldn't, out of habit! he he..Good on you for going to the gym! woo hoo.. you'll get back into being a weights junky in no time!

Ok QOD: Spain and Portugal. I went to barcelona for a weekend a year adn a bit ago and totally loved it. I really need to spend more time there. It's a pretty special place to my father too. Also I know I have spanish/portuguese blood in me somewhere, and anywhere you can get dinner at midnight without people thinking you are a freak or being at denny's is awesome! hmmm tapas...

Well if you made it through all this, you're a legend! I'll check in before I leave, but otherwise have a great two weeks guys! I'm going to miss you all!!
Tiff

Hi shannon - you've lost some weight girl! Good for you!! Welcome aboard!! This is a great group can't wait to learn more about you and to see you hit that physical exam goal!!

Crime girl - it's 65 outside today and PERFECT! I have changed my idea of what to do outside 3 times now but so far they all involve being outside. Used my juicer today - you SHOULD be jealous!!! I had mixed greens, with a pear and it was YUMMY!!! And I don't mean - "my taste buds are wierd now so I like yucky stuff" I mean YUMMY! Very sweet - even the greens were sweet - tomorrow I'm usuing 1/2 a pear.

okay, what's making me fall of the wagon?? I eat out and make good choices - it's impossible for me to eat out without cheating at all because of all the food sensitivities...i'm sensitive to just about everything they use....so I make the best choices I can make all things considered...but then I get this mind set of "while I'm cheating, why don't I have 'this' too...." I ate chocolate bars, yes bars and not bar, yesterday because of this. I'm not kicking myself too hard because I did enjoy every single stinking bite of it but I'm not dieing for one today either. I'm okay today. That's HUGE improvement!!! Anyway, having small cheats steam roll into big ones is my biggest problem right now.

Where would I go?? I don't even have to think, Tuscany. I would explore every inch of it. From the food, to the Romans to the Estruscans....I would learn as much as I can and enjoy the heck out of it!!

And bring home tons of wine, olive oil and any other yummy foods

Hi again-

Shanberg- fair enough- I can see where it would be difficult to try to do a challenge. I just need something to motivate me not to go overboard when I eat out. I do the same thing as you- plan the smart choice and then get there and over order. Don't know what compels me.
Like little said though- you have lost some weight! WOO HOO! Keep it up!
I am also a stress eater by the way- and unfortunately I stay under stress- I am in school and work so there is little time for fun most the time.

NBK- have a great vacation! I love hearing about your adventures with your bf. He sounds like a great guy! I am glad he is supporting you in your effort to lose weight and not giving you a hard time about eating. I have a similar scenrio with my bf- we live together and when he cooks I feel obligated to eat to keep from hurting his feelings. I have started cooking more because I need to be able to eat what we prepare together and there is less pressure on me.
Have a wonderful time in Australia and try not to attack Scott at the concert.
By the way- congrats on the cat calls from boys- that has got to feel good!
Also- Maya and I are getting along great! I really love that program and I have order Dance Dance Revolution for some extra exercise. Can't wait until it gets here.

Little- I really have juicer envy now! I use to live with a girl who owned a restaraunt grade one (she was a chef) and MAN did I like to juice. You do know that you need to drink the juice immediately to get full benefits right? She would make us carrot and apple juice in the morning and I was addicted to it. You can really feel the kick when you drink fresh juice.
I feel you with the small cheats adding up to more cheats until it snowballs. If I fall off my program or eat something wrong I totally lose it. Wish I could stop doing that!

As for me-
I have a variety of problems staying on track- being busy and running all the time from work to school etc. is a big part of that. I also stress eat and choose foods that are horrible for me. It is like I think at the time that I deserve something good to eat because I stay so busy and my life is hectic. I think this is an offshoot from childhood and my mom's desire to sooth our bad days and stress with food. My mom would say, " A good hearty meal will do you some good." I need to exchange food for exercise.

I would go to England and Scotland if I could go anywhere. I have never been to anywhere in Europe.

Okay need to get back to reading..
Red- are you around??? I hope that you will still get on and talk with us- we would miss you too much if you didn't.

Little Grasshopper - Thanks for the welcome! Most of the weight I lost was lost at the beginning of last year. I have been yo-yoing the same 10 lbs FOREVER! I finally got them off and kept them off. Now, if I could just drop below the 260 mark!

I also fall under the spell of, well, I cheated and ate this, so eating this won't make it any worse! Its like a vicious eating cycle!

Tuscany sounds great! I love cities/countries that are rich in history!

NBK - Congratulations on the whistling! I have no yet managed that feat (with the exception of drunks, which, like you, I do not count ) And, your BF sounds great. I like a man that thinks of me and how I am feeling (or might be feeling)!

I have an Aunt and Uncle that live in Australia! It is very beautiful country. And the people are super nice. Have a great time!

Guys, I am still here. Crime girl, I am looking for my morning horoscope! No, really, if you want to lump it, go ahead. But I would miss them. I enjoy them a lot. Gives me something creative to enjoy every day.

I will still be here. Don't get me wrong. It's a mind thing with me totally. I just can't feel the pressure, that's all, not from any of you, but from myself and my environment. It's actually very little about the food that makes me eat junk and drink beer. It's everything about how I feel about my life and A LOT of that is because I take on the feelings of everyone around me and belive me! the atmosphere is downright poison at the office. Really, really bad! Actually, I'm starting to see how this feeling that I've been thinking is ME is not at all me, but a result of the office. I am going to try to stay and just distance myself, in other words, FIND myself again, from the others.

Red's Horoscope for the day:

There's a lot going on in your life and the best you can do is to try to keep up with all the action. You prefer it this way, but you'd rather not have the emotional drama that seems to come along with the heightened activity. Being kind to others, even if you are angry at them, will bring you closer to your dreams.

Crime girl, you absolute sweetie!! Thank you for the horoscope. I love it. I edited my last post, well, just added to it because I didn't think anyone was around.

Funny you should say that about being kind. I normally swing between both, a lot of kindness and a lot of cynicism (these days, normally I hate cynicism, that's why I say this is NOT me.) The reason I say, it's funny you should say this is because I'll tell you a gross little story that happened at work.

The place has been falling apart for a long time now. It's not cleaned, there are no longer paper towels. We basically have been buying our own stuff and/or just making snide comments about the filth (not that it really bothers me seeing the state of my room!). Anyhow, there is this guy who comes around every day to collect the garbage from all the little cans in the office. He uses the same giant plastic bag and picks through each and every bit of garbage, separating the burnable from the non-burnable. Now, I think he's something of a flake to be doing this, or just really conscientious about his work. Anyhow, the problem is that he reuses the same big bag all the time and it reeks! It is SOO gross. No one says anything. They thought it was him. Now, I have a nose like a bloodhound so I deduced that it was the bag not him and last year I asked him if he could do something it. I wasn't that nice about it, more like, "This bag stinks! It is so gross. Can't you do something?" And he changed it but slowly the same thing is happening and now the bag is stinking again. And people were commenting on it, saying he smelled like a homeless person and one guy is sitting there like a child holding his nose. I said, "tell him if it's bothering you so much." But of course he didn't. So this time, instead of lighting into him, I very nicely told him it was started to give off a bad odor. I asked if the company perhaps was forcing him to reuse the bags, being so stingy. He said no, he just didn't realize it smelled and he was glad when someone told him and he would change it. So, there, problem solved. All very nicely. Now, of course, the guy obviously has problems. He should just be changing the bag more often but then again maybe he really doesn't smell it. Now, he is probably going to like me and hang around my desk longer each day hoping I will talk to him. No one ever talks to him.

So, what I was trying to say was that I was really nice when normally I would have let the insanity of this situation make me go, "this disgusting office!" and then I would use that tone of voice to tell this poor guy to "change the friggin' bag!!"

shanberg -- Welcome aboard!! I will write later. Must run now. It's early Tuesday here.

LGH- Tuscany would be my second choice.. I got a really good books on castles in the region for christmas from my BF. Of course now I am pestering him to take me their (well if he's not going to buy a house with his savings, he can spend them on me! Lol).
You juicer sounds great! I like wheatgrass juice *i used to eat grass when I was a small child* It's meant to be really good for you. the only pain is that you need like half a lawn to get a shot! but keep on with it! It's great that you can get a yummy treat food that won't have your nervers jangling for the rest of the day.

CG- What about distorting your mum's saying to a "a good heart friendly meal will do you some good?" still the same sentiment, the same words almost.. just a whole lot better for you!! actually for both of you.. just think how much HOTTER you are going to be when you are at GW - because of your happiness and confidence and that should melt the snowball and stop it in its' tracks! Now if only i could use my own advice lol. Good on you for getting DDrevolution.. i wish I was co-ordinated enough to even contemplate attempting something like that! hmmm oh yeah I can't dance..until I am drunk and then I think I can "porn dance" really well ! HA HA HA HA. Good luck with all the school stuff.

Stormy - where are you? I hope things are ok with you and you have your car back? I remember you were talking about keeping OT with eating while driving. I think if you got a chilli-bin (eskie/cooler) and filled it with carrot sticks and pita bread chips (cut pita pockets in half thickness wise and then cut to look like nachos, sprinkle with salt free flavouring and bake until crisp) and maybe some hummus or lf cottage cheese.. and also lots of bottled water you should be alright. I know i am chronic for munching while driving on road trips.. I also go for sugar free juby lollies, like snakes (starburst type stuff) or wine gums.

Red - what a nice thing you did - I know what you mean about being scared of that guy now wanting to talk to you more, but just think, at the end of the day, it might only be 2-3 mins of being a little uncomfortable for you, but it makes his entire day to have a friend and someone who treats him like a valuable human being! It's really sweet that you helped him the way you did. I know what you mean tho about being frustrated that other people don't say/do anything. I am constantly putting myself forward for all sorts of stuff, purely cos I get really really frustrated waiting for others to do things or volunteer. I'm pleased you're going to hang around with us still too!

As for the beer thing.. why not suggest you go to a really weird, different type of bar or a cocktail place - it might shake everyone out of their ***** and moan type behaviour. Perhaps try to get the others to play challenges (go buy a stranger a drink and find out 3 weird things about them like " who was your favourite smurf/power-ranger" or even harder, have 3 questions you have to ask in a row once conversation is started and make them up as a group... or you could just try to see how many randoms you can get to sing karoake with your group or dance with you... ) I don't know, sometimes encouraging people to revert to more childish behaviour can really bring them out of their shell and help them see their problems in new light, without realising it. Also it would help to break the drink & ***** association they probably have right now...

Shannon- cool that you have family down under! I am so stoked all the people on this thread have actually heard of australia and know a little bit about it.. good luck with your goal for the physical. I think it's a really good way to look at things! You can and you will achieve it!!

Well I'm out now, for my vacation, if I get near a cyber caf I'll check in
Ka Kite Ano
See you later!
Cheers
Ciao
Au revoir
take care ladies
I'll be back
Tiff

NBK - have a great vacation! We can't wait to hear about it. If you get to see "the bo jenkins band" that's my father He tours Australia and plays summer festivals and stuff. His music is a mix between blues and rock. Small world, huh.....anyway, have a great vacation!

I am watching I spy with the BF so I'd better get back to it!