Hi Ladies,

It is nice to be back. I have been so busy but it is important that I take the time to chat with you all because you help me sooooo much . I went for my swim today at the gym after being gone for so long. I then painted wood stain on our fence in the back yard. It looks pretty snazzy but I was only able to get the dog run finished. My hubby bought some tonight for me to paint again tomorrow. I have a dentist appointment in the morning because while I was in Northern Idaho, first the temporary filling fell out of a root canal tooth then, it broke below my gum line so ouchy it is hurting. I'm sure they will have to pull it. At this point I just want the pain to go away . I am kind of calming down about how unsettled my life is right now. Trying to be patient and allow God to work and lead us where He wants us. It is hard to let that happen because I have such an A personality where I am a perfectionist and not a procrastinator at all.

Brandnewme: Hope you feel reall better soon sweetie. Take care of yourself.

JillyBean: Hang in there. You will get back on track where you don't care to binge. It sounds somewhat hormonal to me. Just hang on and it will pass!

Biggirl: Wow, 2 miles to work and 2 miles home and you feel guilty about not exercising! You are nuts silly girl. You are really exercising. You will get back on track too. I'm so glad that you are back with us and that your move is basically over. Now all the fun part of putting things away and decorating. Have fun with it.

Lilion: Glad to see you. Let us know if you are expecting? I'm sure you would think of it as a blessing. As you said, they are always blessings. Take care of yourself and thanks for stopping in with us. We love it.

SueMarie: lol. Oh the joy of families. I hope that your trip is very quick and uneventful. Thanks for the warm welcome back. I missed you all so much.

Xena: I'm glad that you found someone to talk with about over eating. I know it has been bothering you for some time. I will be praying that it helps you. We have lived in the Boise area for about 4 years and we are anxious to move to Northern Idaho because it is so beautiful there. I don't want to do it without money or when we still have a house down here though. It is kind of nerve wracking to have two house payments when you only can afford one. God will provide a way though. Take care and hand in there.

Netkey: so sorry about your car. I hope your car troubles are over now. I'll be praying for your troubles to be over with that car.

Adventurerer: Welcome. I am glad that you are here. I'm sure you will like it at this site. Everyone is kind and friendly. Good luck on your job interview. I'm sure you will do well.

Well, I'm off to spend time with my hubby . He is headed to bed and if I don't go in there now, I will miss our prayer time and we read the bible together every night. You know watch tv and ????? maybe other stuff.

Blessings,
Dogpal

I survived yesterday--I had strawberries, peaches, and pineapple all day and only water to drink. Then when I went to work, I had about a handful of onion tanglers (or onion straws or whatever you want to call them--thise skinny little onion ring string things), and that was it for the day. I drank water while I was there and had a glass of sugar-free kool aid when I got home. Well under 1000 calories--probably even under 750. I know that's not good for every day, but to get me back on track just for a day, I feel much better I feel like I have at least made an effort to compensate for my bad habits the past few days, plus I have proven to myself that getting back on track is not that difficult. Today, I will have eggs for breakfast (plain), a turkey burger patty for a snack, and a frozen fish thingy (stuffed sole--stuffed with crab and shrimp, so still very low in carbs) for lunch. For dinner on Thursdays, I always have Subway after my TOPS meeting. I still don't want to weigh in there tonight. I know I'm up a few pounds, which will likely be gone by next week (plus some, as seems to be my bi-weekly routine--up 3 pounds one week, down 6 the next ). My thing is that when people are trying to be supportive, they kinda hurt my feelings. When I announce that I had a gain, I can't tell you how many people say things like, "Oh, and you were doing so well..." WERE? I am still doing well--just because I had a gain one week doesn't mean I'm not still down nearly 30 pounds overall, which I would call well! And just because I had a gain doesn't mean I didn't learn something about myself and my body and my dieting needs this week, which I would call well! And just because I had a gain this week doesn't mean I'm not going to lose it and then some next week, which I would call well! Just because I had a gain this week doesn't mean I didn't do my cardio exercise to increase my stamina and better my cardiovascular system, which I would call well! Whew, how's that for a rant? But I just try to keep in mind that they are going through the same struggle, so they do not mean to be offensive or anything at all. They are just there to try and help

But anyway--thanks again for everything you guys have said. I don't know what I would do without such a helpful and understanding group!!

Too right jillybean!!! Too many equate success to just the number on the scale. You have many things to celebrate besides just that. You've certainly got your head right!

Hi Everyone, Just a quickie...

Lilion, thanks for your words of wisdom. I hope that if I am pregnant, I will have a similar experience - I especially like the idea of weighing less than I did to begin with after having a baby

Dogpal, I hope everything works out with re-locating and hubby's job. Thanks for encouraging me with my walks to and from work. I have been feeling lazy lately, so I can't say that I've been completely gung ho about it! Hubby always offers to drive me to work and even though I say no there is still a part of me that's saying 'Yes please!'

Jill, Glad you feel you got back control! You're so right about how well you're doing and how people shouldn't make ignorant comments like that... my MIL can sometimes be that way... it burns me up especially since she is overweight and always used to harass me about dieting - even though her bulk wasn't disappearing. I love her though!

Speak soon Ladies!

Hello people, hope we all well and happy! I am down another 6lbs in two weeks, so am floating high this evening! I am halfway to getting to my mini goal!

I've been so busy with work I have not had the day to say as much as I wanted!

So I am sending my love to you all!

Alison
x

I haven't posted in a while...I apologize...but I have been lurking.

So first things first...I am UNDER 250! Wow. What a feeling.

I don't remember who posted what, so just a few random thoughts that came into my mind as I was reading.

1) "Binging on strawberries"...I make a very conscious effort to keep things like snap peas, cherries, frozen grapes, edamame, etc. always on hand for that very reason. If I feel a binge coming on or I suddenly start eating for no reason....let it be on things like that. I purged the house of cookies, chips and everything like that a while back. I even have some crackers in the house that I know are 2 pts. for 38 crackers. I doled them out into baggies and everything...but for some reason they seem so taboo.

My WW leader keeps reminding us that none of us got to where we are by eating apples. Nobody ever ate themselves to death on celery sticks. So help yourself out and keep some binge-friendly foods in the house...pre-parceled into little disposable plastic containers or ziploc baggies so that you can just grab something and go. She also reminds us not to stand and grze...that's when things get out of control. She said...even if you're going to eat out of the fridge, pull up a chair and sit down to do it. She didn't originally say it, but you get the point. Change the environment to change the behaviors.

People who make negative comments when you don't have a great WI...a HUGE pet peeve of mine. I complained at my WW meeting because of the women who run the scales. On weeks when I have a good loss, I get comments like "wow, you had a great week!!!" On weeks when I have had a smaller loss, I get comments like "Ok, that's ok." and on weeks when I have gained, I usually get no comment at all or maybe just a sigh or something like that. That is so frustrating to me, especially since I don't see what the scale says. When I have had a great week and get the silence, it's maddening...when I am already feeling low and I get it, it's worse. So I finally complained...and my leader said I was right to be upset. It's about celebrating every small success...which for some people is the sheer fact that they came back again. A few weeks ago I posted an unusually high gain (and I had had a pretty good week food-wise) and the silence and the sigh put me into tears and I refused to stay.

It's so hard when people make comments that seem so innocent. We all go through cycles. If any of us found constant and consistent weight loss to be an easy venture, we wouldn't be posting here, or going to TOPS, or WW, or eating SlimFast or any of those things....we'd just do it and let it happen.

Do not be afraid to speak up and to empower yourself in those situations. The other people don't mean to sabotage you...but they do...and we are vulnerable people, so it gets to us, usually more than it should. If my skin were as thick as the fat under it, I'd be set for life...but the truth is I cry easily and am so harshly critical of myself to begin with. Losing my fat mentality is a bigger challenge than losing the fat itself.

I have come to realize that I need to adjust my mental mirror to match the one I actually look into. Fact: I have lost 63 lbs. since February and have dropped from a 26 to an 18/20. Issue: I look into the mirror some days and see no difference whatsoever...or after I get done marvelling at my face and neck I go straight to my arms and stomach that are probably stretched out for life and will never look acceptable to me. I need to learn to embrace success without conditions and be happy for the positive outcomes and not fixate so much on the little things.

Thanks for the opportunity to vent and wax philosophical.

Have a happy day.

OH...on a very personal girly note....(my apologies if this is TMI):
My doctor wants me off of the Pill once and for all because of my BP (which was back down to 120/80 last Friday!) since I am still being monitored on BP meds. She wants me to consider an IUD and I have a consult with an OB/GYN this Friday. have any of you had any personal experiences using one with either good or bad results? I have done a lot of research but am looking for actual people who can speak of their experiences. Many thanks...

Dogpal – You are most welcome! Keep in touch! I find the ladies here keep me honest on my weight loss and keep me going as well!

Jilly – I hope things will be able to get back into line for ya… I too am slowly getting things back into line and hope to jump back on program. *big hugz*

Mazarin – Wow! Congrats on that 6lbs!

Julee – That’s great news! I can’t wait to get under 300lbs!! I still have to try that frozen grapes snack you mentioned. My teeth hurt already just thinking about it! I agree about the off comments when you have a gain… which is why I love it here. The ladies understand that and always cheer me up and motivate me forward. I never want to give anyone any negative comments, because I know how that is with me. It can set a person back a lot more than you think!

I’m looking forward to going to the gym today. James is my own personal trainer. Had I known he knew so much I would have made him get a membership a LONG time ago. He used to run cross country so he knows all the exercises and how to do them. He told methe other day, he used to get up every morning before school and run 5-6 miles everyday. The three times a week he would swim a few miles. And then he would bike at least 50 miles a week and then hit the gym. My jaw dropped. I didn’t know the human body could do that!!!!!!

I asked him, how in the heck (I used a different word ) did you find time to do it all… he said he always had time. Then I said your social life must have sucked he said what’s a social life. :-p

What I would really like to know is, why didn’t he mention this before?! Anyways when we went to the gym the last few times, he’s told me which machines to use, what a good order is, and some good techniques. Mentioned like work on machines that work more than one muscle first. Then work on the antagonistic machines. Like if you are doing an exercise that is pulling down with your arms, do a pushing up with arms. He said go from general muscles to specific muscles. Basically do the weights that work a group of muscles then later towards end of workout, use a machine that does a specific muscle. The the curls which work the tri cep or bi cep. Work on one region of the body one day and another region the next day. Like upper body then lower body. I don’t say this to anyone as professional advice, just what he’s told me (so please don’t use it as advice) It sounded good to me. I’ve been trying to do all the machines that work the whole body and when I got home I was just sore and tired. Since I’ve been doing what he’s said, I’ve actually felt better and not so wasted all over.

Anyways, I think I talked you guys ears off enough… I’ll catch you all later!

Hope everyone has a good day!

Sue…

Was lurking and wanted to jump in and say YIPPEE Julee for getting under 250!

And I agreed with everything you said!

Also, on that personal note...I have very high BP without meds. I take two daily and only three weeks ago took three daily. A couple of years ago I actually was hospitalized with a BP of 210/132. I still take a progestin-only pill - what they used to (and maybe still do) call the "mini-pill". The brand name is Erin. My Dr. has never suggested taking me off it. (And I'm 41 and I've had a blood clot when I smoked and I have a heart arrythmia.) Maybe that says more about my Dr. than it does the pill , but you might want to mention it to your Dr. By the same token, the progestin-only pill is not quite as effective as the regular pill and sometimes (not in me) can cause breakthrough bleeding. You have to be very careful to never,ever,ever miss pills. I have unusually heavy periods at times, making an IUD not right for me. Just a thought.

Hello Everyone~~

Hope you're all doing well this evening. I've been so busy that I haven't been able to come and see what's up for a while. I've been doing really good though--I'm down 22 pounds so far and I feel great.

Julee--I just wanted to say that you've made me hopeful--when I read that you've lost 63 pounds and went from a 26 to an 18 I was so excited. I've been thinking that I would have to lose way more than that and I'm relieved I only have 40 more lbs to go until I'm in "my teens" Even if our bodies are different--I'm going to use that as a mini goal. I do have about 200 lbs. to lose if I want to get to 130 after all.

Everyone else--big hugs. I know that I don't post here very often, but your words always inspire me and I always wish nothing but the best for you. I have to go now. It's almost 10:00 and my bf has to get up early tomorrow. Have a great night and I will try to stop in tomorrow.

Vicki~~

Hello Everyone,

Relatively new to the boards. I look forward to the camaraderie and support.

Welcome allienvegas and a big hello to everyone else.

I went out on my first date tonight in almost a year. (I have spent the last year mending from surgery and regaining my strength.) It was a blast. We went out to a british pub and to a jazz club to see a woman artist from Japan. It really feels wonderful to be out and about again. Also, had great food without guilt or overdoing it.

Re IUD's

I had one put in years ago and ended up in the hospital emergency room when it spontaneously dislodged. Very painful! Don't know how typical this was but it cured me.

See you ladies later,

WHEW, I was able to greatly minimize this week's damage. I thought I was going to post like a 5-pound gain at TOPS last night (between hormones, water retention, bingeing...), but I only gained 1.25. Only? Heh, how sad that I'm glad it's only 1.25, huh? But at least 1.25 should be easy enough to lose by next week. My goal for next week is to lose 2.25 pounds, because then I will be at 279.75--below 280

I am so insanely grateful for this site. I cannot even begin to express how helpful it is! Without everyone here, I probably would have turned that binge on low-fat graham crackers into an all-out week-long food fest, ya know? I would have been stopping at McDonald's thinking, heck, I already know I gained, so I might as well make it worth it...But coming on here and reading everyone else's posts and experiences and encouragement just helps SO much

Good morning ladies. Well, I am on vacation starting today through next week. Yippeeee!! I was supposed to have my physical this morning but when I got to the hospital where the doctor's office was I couldn't find her on the directory anywhere. The hospital and medical offices were under construction and everything was torn up so I walked from end to end reading all the directories and finally finding a help desk and they said my doctor is not in that building. I was SO aggravated because I just knew she was in there. I didn't have my cell phone with me so I drove home and called her office. Well, they had moved offices since the last time I was in and didn't bother to mention it when I made my appointment. So I am rescheduled for Tuesday morning.

I think I am going to skip my workout today since I plan to work on painting my dining room today. That will be workout enough for me!!! I am getting ready to head out and run a couple errands, go to the grocery store, and to Loew's to pick up my paint. I am doing a red accent wall in there and I am very excited to see how it turns out. It took me forever to finally decide on the shade of red I wanted. Now that I have I am ready to go.

Mazarin - congratulations on your loss! And congrats Julee on getting under 250.

Welcome AllieNVegas !!!

actionadventurer - A date? What's that?

Hey ladies!

I lurk here occasionally/often depending on my schedule (and, uh, my changeable interests, but anyway...) and wanted to share my own milestone with y'all - who can understand. I am (finally) under 300 lbs for the first time in many years. I wasn't going to spend much on "interim" clothes, but I went shopping last night to celebrate and bought some new things - 3x and 3xp and size 28, which is down from 5x and size 36 since January. When I started this back in January, shopping (for me) consisted of walking through the store, finding the largest sizes, and praying that they might fit. Sometimes they did, but just as often they did not.

Yesterday was such a pleasure. I tried on everything that caught my eye - although having different sizes from which to choose was a new experience. It makes me a bit sad - I never admitted (in my head) that I weighed that much more than 300 (I'd estimate... 360 or 370. I weighed 322 in April, when everyone and their brother started noticing my weightloss), but I knew it in my gut, since I didn't buy a scale until I'd been losing weight for several months. (I didn't want to see the ERR message I got a taste of when I first bought the scale and decided I wanted to figure out how much my cat weighed. Now I can take my newest household members - the two fattest cats in the world - on the scale with me: no ERR message. Lovely.)

I had a very long plateau through July and August, see-sawing in the low 300s through vacation + the death of a close family member (and all the haphazard eating, far away from home, tired from working to sort through possessions accumulated over a lifetime, and dealing with a very unexpected death + a brief bout of depression on returning home), but I'm back on track, cooking, exercising, planning and living. I'm consistently astonished (and delighted) when I lose, even though I know I'm doing everything right and should be losing. I get a good deal of information/inspiration from you all when I have time to read (or when I snatch a few minutes away from the bill bill bill! imperative), and while I know I've done the work, y'all deserve some of the thanks.

Lurve,

me

Hi Everyone!

I'm not sure where to post since it's been so long since I've been on. Not sure if I'm supposed to be here or at the Old Hens site - I'm 50 which is an old hen, but new to the boards and I was confused as to whether they are going by your chronological age or your time on the boards or both or what. If I'm not supposed to be posting here, could someone please let me know? Thanks!

Well, my 300+ pounds finally caught up with me. Since the hurricane and high gas prices cancelled our FL trip this year, we went for 2 days to the Lake of the Ozarks which is only a 3-hour drive for us. My 4 little ones wanted mommy to get in the pool so badly and since we were at the indoor pool and there were very few people there, I figured what the heck - I love swimming and the kids wanted me in the pool so badly! My right knee had been bothering me for about a month now and when I went to get in the pool the water jerked the knee around a bit and it was excrutiating! Well, I hung in there and just floated around for about an hour - unfortunately when I went to get out, I couldn't - the knee wouldn't support me AT ALL! I cried out of pain and total embarrassment! It took my hubby and another very strong guy to get me out of the pool into a wheelchair that the staff provided - sigh - they moved us from our 2nd fl. room to a 1st fl. room and that's where I stayed until Bob wheeled me to the car when we left - I have an appt. with an ortho guy on Tuesday - we'll see if I need surgery or what -

Bob moved my computer to our main floor and I'm happy to be online again - I missed the little devil since it was hiding out on the 2nd floor!

I truly think this was a major wake-up call and I am more determined than ever to get to a reasonable and healthy weight. Does anyone know if insurance would pay for a weight loss program such as Nutri-System or LA Weight Loss if it is directly affecting my health as in my blown knee? That would be so great since I won't be able to exercise until I have surgery or whatever with this knee -

The kids went back to school today - a half day on a Friday! Isn't that weird? Anyway, I have two second graders, a third grader and a fourth grader. They love school which is GREAT! My oldest is taking part-time college courses while he works part-time to pay for it!

I hope everyone is doing great!!