Just a quick check in. I am unpacking the boxes that I worked so long and hard to pack. Then there is finding a place to put everything. I'm not having as much trouble with the weather change as I thought I would. I've had more trouble going from humid to dry than I have from hot to cold. I just bundle up, and have been fine. I'm still having trouble adjusting to a new grocery store, and new food brands, many without nutritional labels. I knew someday that I would have to rely more on real food than my safe short cuts like boca burgers. The kitchen still scares me. Himself is loving having someone cook for him. We had company this weekend, and I made chilli. I used lean meat, but still felt like I was cheating. I have got to get over my fear of food. I'm so afraid of regaining what I have lost, that anything that steps out of my routine scares me. My whole world is now out of my routine, and it is quite terrifying. I'm trying to get into a rythm, but it is so hard. Even little things like flossing my teeth have gotten messed up because I was used to doing it at a certain time of day in a certain place, and that place is 3500 miles away, and that time of day is now filled with something else. I'm trying to take it one day at a time, and trying to get my feet back under myself.

Thank you, Felicia. I like the way you think!

Jilly ~ it’s The Simple 0-to-10 GI Diet and its based on the glycemic index. I’m trying it on my own because of my PCOS. The only problem is, it’s not all that “simple.” I think a regular glycemic index diet would be much more simple, but I’m thinking that counting calories always seems to work best for me. I just can’t handle diets that are too restrictive. I can say, however, that I can’t blame the diet for putting Haagen Dazs in my mouth. That’s for sure! That was all me.

Voodoo ~ The “N” word is my worst word. But I need to work on that. I’m not good at answering that question either. Something else I really need to work on.

Catherine ~ I have food fear too. I understand exactly what you are saying. Sometimes I don’t know what to do with it anymore, especially if I can’t find whatever it is I need to help me with my diet. I’m afraid to not have a “routine” or “plan.” I almost can’t function without one because I’ve been doing it so long.

This is another burst of honesty, but last night I was thinking of putting my finger down my throat and getting rid of the Haagen Dazs. I’m not the type to do that, but I will honestly say it crossed my mind. Food is very stressful to me anymore. I can both enjoy it and hate it at the same time.

And getting married turns your whole routine upside-down. I gained 60 pounds after I got married. My husband didn’t have anyone to cook for him either before me so he always wanted “good” food to eat, and you kind of want to prove that you’re a good cook when you first get married too. It took me 10 years to get him to eat healthy foods, but it finally took. Don’t take as long as I did. Just remember to make yourself a priority. The marriage will be better for it ~ I promise! You have to set your place in the marriage and stick to it.

I have no doubt that you will be able to master foods in your new country (sounds weird to say that). Dieting without the labels must be freaky. Can you find foods that are similar to what we have in the U.S. and just use the counts for those? Let all of us know if there’s any way we can help with that. I know it’s going to be difficult.

I did the Crunch Fitness Dance Party DVD for the 2nd time...it's a killer. The moves are really challenging but they teach it well. It's more of a fat burner...no resistance or weight training...but it's 45 minutes of straight motion.

Bought a new skirt at Target on Friday...the waist is too big but it fits my tummy. Still exciting. If I could get the tummy down I would be closer to a 16.

Good weekend food wise...found a frozen yogurt place that has SkinnyMinny and WowCow...both are amazing. One is 38 calories an ounce and one is 45 calories an ounce. Both are sugar and fat free and I think they are also lactose free. I had the chocolate caramel and it was sooooo delish. I also had them slice a banana into it as well.

Off and running...lonnnng day at work coming up.

Well I got myself a stability ball and I am loving it! What was I afraid of? I like to sit on it when I am on the computer and I have been doing leg lifts on it. I have also been exercising every day. I walk outdoors for 30 minutes or do a WATP dvd and I go to the gym for strength training.

It is so interesting that since I have started walking outside everyday I really miss it when I don't do it. It really is a good way to start the day and keeps me energized all morning. I may get to like doing it someday.

garnetfairy: Which WATP tape are you using? I have 3 now and the first one I got is Walk Strong which is a 2 mile interval training walk. It is very good if you find you are tireing as just when you feel like it is getting to be too much you stop the walk and do some training with a strechie band. I find it easier with the little break. I do love these dvd's they are perfect for me.

Jillybean: I hate it when I lose a post so I have started writing everything in word and then I bring it over here when I am done. Then I don't have to try and remember everything I already wrote!

Catherine: I can't imagine what it is like for you to move here from Florida! I was thinking about you the other day, since we are having this strange winter which is really much more like what we get in the spring. I am glad it is not -30 for your first few months here that would really be a shock. I would be happy to help you out if you need any ideas on where to shop or for something that might be comparable to what you had at home. I know I have seen Boca Burgers here somewhere. What foods are you buying that don't have nutritional lables? Pretty much everything that I use has the label. Anything I can do to help please feel free to message me.

FS72: My one thing this week will be to Think before I put something in my mouth. To be aware of what I am eating!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Sheri

I had to pop back and share- I finally lost all the water weight I had gained when I couldn't get my one med and I've lost another pound! I'm at 312 this morning- one pound and I'll have met my second mini-goal. Happy dance time!!! I guess I got so focused on losing the excess water weight that I never thought I might be losing 'real weight' underneath all that-lol. I'm off to do some major cleaning & sorting stuff....I need to make room for my Pilates reformer so I can back to using it again.

Christine - I didn't even THINK to take measurements until I was about 15 pounds down, but I figure that's a good enough "starting" point. I'm the opposite, though. I don't like wearing stretchy clothes. I have lots of jeans or pants that have a set waitline, so I DO notice when there's inches gone. Which helps keep me going. I measure myself about once a month. I want to be to a size 18 first...and then down to maybe a 14 or 16. That would make me so happy, coming from a size 26/28! CONGRATS on making your goal!!!!! You must feel FANTASTIC!

Sharon - Just get back OP! Don't worry about your little slip up! Working out picking up after your boys will get you back down!

Jill - Again, don't beat yourself up for straying. Just hop back OP, and you'll be back down there!!!!

Tasha - What plan are you following?

Catherine - I'm sorry you are having such a hard time adjusting. Hopefully, everything will settle itself back to normal soon.


Well, I did about 15 minutes of intense cardio today. Good for me, since I haven't really been exercising except at work! lol...hence why my total minutes are so high! I have CPR certification in about an hour, so I'm going to go and get cleaned up. Then I have class after that. Hope you all have a great rest of your day. I forgot how good you feel when you get done working out!

Catherine--I can definitely identify with your anxieties; you've had a lot of changes in your life recently, and even cooking for someone else can sometimes turn that particular routine as well as how some of us approach food upside down. I still get my own food anxieties from time to time, and with Super Bowl Sunday fast approaching and myself once again invited to a 'football party,' I have a sinking feeling I could get in serious trouble, which is why I am being extra careful this week leading up to THE DAY. But in your case, I hope things settle down soon and you can get back into a routine minus the anxiety. We are pulling for you!

I've just skimmed some of the posts to TRY to catch up - as I always seem to be doing - and I'm missing many of you that I know I wanted to reply to. Please forgive - I have to be dressed & at the barn in 35 mins.

Catherine, You are such a rock and inspiration that I was a little surprised to hear you having such a struggle with your new routine. It's such a huge adjustment you have to face, I can't imagine it myself, and I'm sorry for having been so dense. But you ARE such a centered person. You've done an amazing thing and you're so wonderful to share it with us, and your sweetheart knows how terrific you are too. I hope you feel comfortable with your feet back on the ground very soon, and with your life and schedule under control and and securely in place. You can do if anyone can, and it sounds like you have the right guy to help you if you need it. My very best wishes to you!!!

Barb - your baby Carlton is gorgous! Ya just gotta wanna kiss that face every second!

Garnet - Happy belated Birthday!!! ... and your doctor with the smug, skinny man smile - Ya just gotta wanna SMACK that face! Grrrrrr...

Fawnice - you asked about Curves - I LOVE Curves. Don't know how I ever lived without it!!! I met a lady at the one I visited in Columbus Georgia the other day who had had 2 strokes. Her doctor's PA suggested it to her and she says she feels better than she hasin her life. No more strokes, either. I love the atmosphere, the challange, the friendliness and the workout. I visit them all over the country as I travel, and I look forward to each new one I walk into. I just visited one out it Salt Lake for the second time and they remembered me. And yes, there are old people and young, fat, very fat, and even skinny people, but the spirit in every one that I've been to has been very supportive. If you have more than one near you, visit them both if you like. I work out with a friend here at home when I can, but even when I'm on my own I love it.

Well, I had my weigh in this morning, and I was HOPING for an 8 pound loss for the month, but only had 7 down. Close enough to be happy with, but I better really buckle down and sprint if I want to get close to my Valentine's day goal. My exercise still wasn't as high for Jan as I wish it was, but I'm home for the next week and I'll do my best. Overall I'm still looking at a 20 pound loss since I started Curves in October - over three months, and since one of those months was December, I'm really happy with that 20 pounds!!! ALSO, I had manually calculated my BMI last May when I started at 335 pounds to be something around 60+, but on the little meter they have my BMI was down to 50.2 this morning, so that's another cool thing. FURTHER MORE, I'm going to go buy a stability ball (with YOUR encouragement) and while I'm there I'm gong to try one size smaller jeans. I'll cross my fingers on that, but the smallest pair I have right now needs constant yanking up, so I have hope.

I'm home for a week or so, so I'll be happy to have the chance to catch up with everyone. TERRI - I'm looking forward to hearing more about your house hunt!!

OH LOOK! I'm late for the dad-gummed barn!

Here is a public service announcement in case you didn't see it. I think it only appears at the top of the main forum page and I know some of us come directly here to 300+ so you may not have seen it.

"We're moving to a new server. Read how this will affect you.

Many of you have noticed a variety of technical problems since the beginning of January. This is due to increased traffic, sometimes as high as 2,000,000 hits per day! We love the new traffic, but our current dedicated server has had problems keeping up with us. We're moving to a more powerful server which should carry us through without any more errors.

How will this affect you? During our move, you may have problems reaching 3FC, and may even think we're gone. But don't worry, we'll be back up within a couple of days, or even hours! We'll close the forum and journals on the old server, so if you get a closed message, this means you are accessing the old server. Your internet provider must update their DNS records before going to www.3fatchicks.com will take you to the new server. Some internet providers will update their DNS within a few hours, so you'll barely miss us. Other internet providers are considerably slower and may take several days. Most of you will be back within one day. If anyone is curious about this process, this page http://help.broadviewnet.net/support/dns.htm provides a great explanation of domains and how you reach them.

When will we do this? We've ordered the new server and have several things we must do before we can make the move. We hope we will be able to move this weekend, preferably beginning after midnight Friday night.

So go check out a good diet book from the library, or buy a new exercise DVD to stay busy during the move, and we'll all come back with new energy, speed, and motivation to start the new month right."

WOW! I was only gone for 2 days! I have been back, sitting here and reading for over an hour *L* I think that is WONDERFUL!

Well, funeral is over and we are now broke *L* But Steve got to bid farewell to his beloved grampy and all is right again. We both had to work this morning and after being in the van yesterday for almost 10 hours.... I am ready for an evening of R&R. I threw some chicken breast in the oven and I'll make some sweet potatoes to go with it.... that is it! I was so bloated last night after our trip ( on which I may have not made the BEST food choices ) I was up 9 lbs since Friday! Thankfully I was brave enough to get back on this morning and was down some of that. FREAK ME OUT!


Well, I too need to recommit myself to my goals. I have been too busy this past week to exercise much. In fact, last tuesday was the last time I officially exercised. Also, I know eating carbs is NOT going to let me lose weight. I have tried to re-introduce them into my diet and since, have lost little... almost nothing in a month. When I was not eating them, I was losing about 4 lbs per week. I know that I need to give them up. And not just until I reach my goal, but as it stands, I will have to give them up for good. The minute I went back to eating them, the weight came back with a vengence. Carbs will have to be something that I am going to use as a treat and only as a treat. Being a carb addict like I am, I almost feel as if I am losing a friend. I am sure that there are more of you that feel the same way.


SO with that said, I am back to chicken, eggs and greens for a few weeks until I can get my carbs under control. (if that will EVER happen!) Hopefully I will be able to show a loss again. I am going to update my ticker once more back to what I feel that I actually weigh again. I have been filling my fat face with all things "good" and nothing that is "good for me" so..........


felicia~ that is my one thing to change.....I need to find 1 new thing that is both "good" and "good for me"

I am not really feeling up to answering indiv. tonight. I was so over tired this morning that I went to pee after work and low and behold.... down I looked and my underwear were on backwards Maybe if I can get that much right tomorrow, all will be back to normal *L*

Congrats to all you losers!! Looking forward to joining you on that path again!

Brenda

I think someone asked me which WATP I have been using, I dont know if it was this thread or another thread so I will answer in both places rather than weeding through the posts to find the question. I have been using Weight Loss Walk out of a 3 dvd set called Walk The Walk. This dvd has different segments and if you do the whole thing it is 4.5 miles I think including cool down.

Valerie - Congratulations on your big weight loss!! was that 7 pounds in a week!! What is the secret? I have 8 pounds to lose before Valentines' day

Brenda - good for you for climbing back on your program horse!

My new good for me thing will be not spending so much time on the computer and get back to keeping my room straight (you should see my desk, EEK) and getting read for the new bed!! yahoo.


My UPS died on me...boo hoo! Other than that and a small fight with mother, I had a really good birthday. Got to see my son briefly. Got a call from a friend I had written off who is apparantly still my friend just incredibly busy in the past year. So that is great!! Ate on Program for all meals. Got to have strawberries and fat free, sugar free chocolate pudding...saving the lime sugar free jello for when the pudding is gone. Which means tomorrow. ha ha
Thank you to all of you for wishing me a happy birthday, I appreciate it for sure!

In fact I just appreciate all of you and having this place to come to for support and inspiration!

LAnneCarrington - Good luck with trying to turn down all the goodies at the Super Bowl party! That can be so HARD. Andrew and I went to the movies the other night, and I wanted a big bucket of buttery salty popcorn so BAD. It didn't help that I was starving when we went. But I didn't give in, and I know you won't either!

Valerie - Glad to hear that you are home for a little while. Should be a LOT easier to stay OP and get all that exercise in! I was thinking about joining Curves, as I've heard WONDERFUL things about them. Although, I don't have the time during the days to go to it. I only have Fridays and every other weekend, completely FREE. As it is, I'm only working FOUR days a month, so the cash flow is pretty bad, too, and I won't be getting financial aid for the next school year, so I can't really SPEND too much money. I commend you with being able to walk into a Curves anywhere and just join up! I'd be SO SCARED every time. So many new people...that would freak me out too much!

Thinthinker - Thanks for posting the message. I wouldn't have seen it otherwise.

Brenda - Good to hear that you weren't up all of the 9 pounds that you thought! Giving up carbs is SO HARD...but I'm so glad that stores and restaurants are making it a little easier for us, nowadays.

Garnetfairy - How do you like the WATP programs? You just do them on the treadmill? Hearing from your friend must have been a GREAT birthday gift! Congrats on not giving in for your birthday! That takes WILLPOWER!

Well, I went to my little CPR class for work, and got certified. Boy was that ever EASY. I have to go to the walk-in clinic, and get my physical done for work as well, as I started there 2 months, and didn't get one yet. I'm nervous about the doctor, since their scale will be different than the one I'm using, and I'm afraid of being let down. But that just means that I started at a higher weight according to their scales, right? The AMOUNT lost is still the same at least. So if I'm upset next Friday, REMIND me of that! lol...I did 10 minutes of "Dance away the inches" today. It's a bit rough to learn them at first, but I'm sure with a couple more times, I'll get it! I definately worked up a sweat! And after I got done, I just danced around the house to my own music. So 15 minutes of hardcore cardio today! Put me in a good mood for the rest of the day for the most part. Had Pork Parmesan for dinner (found the recipe on the south beach section of 3FC), and it wasn't bad at all! Felt like I was cheating, even though I wasn't! I've started scrapbooking. Going to have all the tickets to events Andrew and I go to this year in it, and pics and such...month by month. I got most of January's page done tonight. It's fun! I can't WAIT for the spring to get here. I have a feeling I'll lose a lot of weight over this summer. I'm going to take my bike to get repaired, and Andrew's going to bring his over here to store. We'll open the pool up, and I am hoping to become a better swimmer. I plan on walking if not every night, at least every other night. And of course, do my dvd on the days I don't go out walking. I'm really confident about this summer for some reason! hehe...I guess that's good, though. I'm going to go bathing suit shopping in June. I was too self conscious that last year, I just wore shorts and a t-shirt all summer. I figure by June, I should be able to find something that doesn't make me look TOO awful! I just gotta keep up with this!!!!!! I guess I've blabbed enough, huh?

kayley - The WATP vids are not done on a treadmill you stand in front of the tv and walk and do the other steps and stuff. It takes up very little room which is why I can do it now, before I get my single bed. Gotta get this double bed out so I can have some room to exercise.

That reminds me, I havent done it yet tonight and I promised myself I would and then go to the gym tomorrow...oops

Hi everyone... I'm pretty new here to this site... and to demonstrate just what a newbie I am---I've already done a newbie thing and posted this in the wrong place thank you to ThinTHInker adn kayleystar for inviting me here.
I have been reading a lot in the different threads (even THAT'S been helpful) but haven't really connected with a group. I know you all seem to know each other really well... but you also seem so welcoming, I'm hoping one more might be ok.

I'm doing the Weight Watchers thing on my own (not the meetings), but I have a WW partner doing it with me, and since we live together we can plan together and give each other help. It just seems, though, that having such a wide network of people doing this can also be such a great support for all. I have a significant amount to lose--I'd like to lose 120 (you know.. I've never admitted that to anyone!). I started on Jan 6, and have lost 10.5 as of my last weigh in on THursday, so I'm feeling pretty good even if it still seems an AWFUL long way to 160. I know that there are good weeks and bad weeks, but I'm determined to stay with it THIS TIME.

The only time I've had success in the past has been with WW (well...if we don't count once due to a really bad relationship break up.. but let's not go there yet....heh heh...) but never stuck with it for the long term. Long term--here I come!

I'm pretty new to any type of forum, so I don't really know much about threads and posts and all those cool things you put on...but I figure learning that can be fun, too. I also discovered fitday thanks to this site and am keeping everything logged there as well.

Well, enough for a newbie..... hope to connect!