Looks to me like this thread needs to be bumped up!

Hope you're all having a nice Labor Day Weekend!

Hi Kayla - how are things going sweetie?

I really do miss not being able to get on here and "talk" to you all more often, but life is still a little crazy and I got a call yesterday afternoon that my great aunt is on her deathbed so we are going to see her today before she is gone. She is my favorite grandmothers sister and I've always been fond of her, I will miss her terribly when she is gone. Both of my grandmothers and grandfathers are already gone.

So..........I guess there's going to be a Halloween challenge and this time it's weight/pounds lost is that correct? I am currently at 195 so I think I will say 10 pounds. That is 10 lbs in 9 weeks if I'm looking at the calendar right. Have a good weekend all.

LJ

Huntress, I will say a prayer for your Great Aunt. Things are crazy here too, we are trying to get everything done around the house that needs to be done, and the neighbors are having a block party, so I have to cook and all that...so....I will be checking in, probably tonight.

Nice weather here...aaahh...I am really trying to make this most of the weekend. I really dread the cold weather coming.

Thank you Tiffany.........I went to see her and I was surprised, she recognized me. We know that she will not last long since her kidneys stopped functioning and she is refusing dialysis. Also, she will not eat and basically has given up. She is only semi-coherent and comes and goes, it is really a shame because she just turned 74, doesn't seem to me that she is old enough to die.

Have fun at your party, and hey, send me some of that cooler weather it's burning up here.

Was I right about the goal for the Halloween challenge?

LJ

Hi!

I am new and would like to know more about how to be successful using this site. I am trying to lose 120 lbs. so that I will be healthy and comfortable again. I am defintely having a problem with being honest about my food and also as much as I love strength training I am having a hard time getting back to the gym.

Please write.

Hi Nurse,

Well, I think most of us like to hear each other talk, so I will start.

The thing that came into my head first when I read your post, was that you HAVE to be able to be honest with yourself first. That is a big thing. It is somewhat similar to an alcoholic standing up and saying "My name is Suzy and I am an alchoholic."

I can say now with honesty, that I am a food addict. I eat to soothe emotions that I am not able to otherwise deal with. I eat to make myself unattractive because I was molested once upon a time and that was my way out of it, to make myself repulsive to men. I eat because I like the feeling of stuffing food in my mouth. I also simply love the tastes of food and the feeling of being full.

Too dang bad getting fat comes with all that eating. Now that I am older, I know I need to learn to deal with emotions head on, and not by soothing them with peanut butter cups. I no longer need to make myself repulsive to men, I can knock any man on his *** that has the audacity to look at me cross-eyed. I want to be healthy and sexy and have energy, etc. But these behaviors have been a part of my life for so long, that they are hard to change.

That's where this board comes in. If you come here looking for a magic fix, it isn't here. What you will find here, are amazing resources. Recipes that are low in fat and calories, support from people that are going through the same thing that you are. Tips and hints, information on all types of diet plans, enough information that you can make fully informed decisions before jumping into anything. There are links to some journals, and there are so many inspirational people on this board, people who have reached their goals, people who have lost 100's of pounds. People who aren't rich and have trainers and chefs and thousands of dollars of exercise equipment, most of these success stories are normal women like you and me....women who just do the best they can, but want it bad enough to get it done.

Help is here for the asking. Look around carefully through all the forums. There is a forum for hooking up with buddies, there is a very active thread for people who have more than 100 pounds to lose, there are challenges starting every day that you can join.

Start small. If you drink regular soda, make a vow to switch to diet, or drink more water or Crystal Light, you will be amazed the difference that alone can make. Start walking small distances if you don't get much exercise. Starting small is the key to sustaining a long-term exercise program. Build your endurance over time.

Try to cut out the sweets and the fast food. Cut out the mayo and the cheese, or switch to low fat or fat free mayo and cheese. Enjoy Subway (without that cheese and mayo) go to light breads, skim milk, switch from regular ground beef to extra lean, eat more chicken. Eat those fruits. There are so many kinds of fruits out there, you won't get bored.

There are so many ways to take small baby steps to get to where you want to be. It won't happen tomorrow or next week, it took a long time to get this heavy, it will take a long time to recover. Have we all been perfectly on program everyday? WE WISH!!!! That is the best thing about this group. We are all human and make mistakes and have a bad day or days, but we get back on track and we are so far ahead of where we would have been if we have never started. What do you have to lose? Besides the weight? Nothing. If after one year, you only lost 10 pounds? GREAT!!! At least you didn't gain 50. And you weigh less than you did the year before. And that is a wonderful thing. Best case scenario...you will be at goal and helping others to get where you worked so hard to get!!

So, welcome to this board. On behalf of everyone here, I welcome you and encourage you to stay. Take the time to go through old threads, and really explore this site. There is so much information here, you will be amazed and inspired to make changes. You don't have to join Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig to lose weight, you don't have to drink Slimfast or eat tofu...diet is NOT a four letter word. You have so many options ahead of you.

You are about to undertake a wonderful journey. The real you is buried inside and ready to come out, like a wonderful butterfly in a cocoon. Enjoy the journey, it is even more rewarding than the destination.

Sending you a hug, feel free to stay here with us, or move around until you find a group that you feel at home with. Or start your own.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!
(I'm climbing down off that soap box now)
Tiffany
35 pounds gone since May 15, 2002

WHOA TIFF!!!!!
Easy girl! Im sorry but i had to just skim over that last post! you my dear...are the QUEEN of writing books on here! lol..but I luv you anyways!!!! hehehehehehe!!!!

SO yeah...im bored...i have nothing interesting to say...my life without camp umm....leaves me not many good stories! lol......

Huntress....i'll be praying for you and your aunt!

where IS everyone?? i MISS you guys!!!!

Nurse, Welcome my dear.....trust me...if you want support and to meet an AMAZING group of ladies.....who will accept you no matter what......this is the place to be..im the youngest on here...im 15.....but these girls treat me just like one of them and i luv em all!!!

anwaysy...i gotta jet! my friend has been here for the weekend and tonight is her last night...its her birthday tommorrow and she lives wiht her aunt and uncle and they arent always very nice to her so we came and got her for a birthday present on thursday and then were going to take her out for lunch tommorrow and get her a cake and everything and have a nice birthday for her and then drive her back tommorrow night because we both have school tuesday morning!!!!

Well..its the last night of summer Vacation!!!! boy it went fast!!!

later!
luv
kayla

Good morning

Kayla - thank you sweetie. Enjoy your holiday before you get back to school.

Tiffany - right on! Not only is that good advise for someone who is just getting started but also a reminder for those of us who have been doing this for a while. I find myself falling back into my old habits and reading your post was a wake up call, thank you.

Hope everyone is out having a glorious labor day, but dang it, it doesn't mean that you can dissapear for the whole weekend. Here I am, finally can get in here to chat with you all and what do you do............go MIA for the weekend.

Well, got a million things to do today and hopefully going to get a new car. I'll check in with you all later.

LJ
225/195/150
Halloween Goal - 185

Hello Everyone!

Tiffany---what an inspirational message! I think I will make this Day 1 of my new life.... I've been battling stomach problems and haven't felt like posting for awhile. The doc has me fixed up now and I feel close to a 100% again!

Huntress---hope you find that new car. So sorry about your great aunt, it's great that she recognizes you, you'll never regret your visit with her.

Nurse---Welcome aboard! I think you will like it here---very funny, real, and amazing people here.

Hi to everyone else...I've met some of you before and some I feel I know from reading all the posts.

Halloween Challenge? I've got to back up and read about that one....let's see...

Hope you all have a great Labor Day!

(I love these little moving smilies!)

Hi everyone, I am alive and well. This is my last day off before I go back to work, and Mike and I are trying to give the dog a flea dip. YIKES!!! He is a Pomeranian with a double coat, and an inside dog 98% of the time. I have no idea where he got fleas at...so we are trying to get this taken care of ASAP. I hate fleas. Also, we are trying to put the trim up in our breakfast room, it needs it around the windows and the floor, etc...and we are measuring and cutting, etc...and it seems like all the laundry needs to be caught up, cause I slacked all weekend.

So, I will be here later in the evening. Welcome to everyone, good to see you again, and I will chat with ya all later tonight.

Dead, feel free to come here anytime. You don't need permission, we are pretty friendly and love new people!

Talk with you all later,
Tiff

Hey girls, we made it back home and enjoyed our time with the kids. Must say that I now need another day off to rest.

Didn't do too bad on eating but wasn't on program either. Bombed on exercises (lots of walking but nothing I could really count) but drank lots of water. Found some bargains while shopping, we went to Burlington Coat Factory, Marshalls and TJ Max. I bought a purse and three sweaters. Yea, I know buying sweaters in this heat. WHAT WAS I THINKING...... $14.99 for a Liz Calaborne......Like I said I found bargains.

Dread going back to work tomorrow....a day off just ruins a work week for me.

Hi to Brighterdays and Nurse.

I just ordered BallAero (exercise tapes with weighted balls that have straps) has anyone tried them?

Well, I need to get the washer going so I'll chat with you gals tomorrow.

Hey girls!!!

what a crazy weekend! i spent the whole weekend with my friend....we ate out alot...i kinda blew it...but we bounced on the trampoline non stop for hours every day.....does that count as exercise???? lol.....well it was good for laughs anyways!

Tonight we went to the city and drove my friend here and got the last of our school supplies.....tommorrow is the big day! First day of Senior high.......UGH! where does time go??? i cant believe how fast junior high went! its crazy!

But its going to be a good year.....

Anyways......I hope everyone is doing good...wheres cafe?
well ill talk to you all later!!!
luv
Kayla

Hot Rod Mama here............ WooHoo, I got a new car, I got a new car! You'll have to excuse me I'm pretty excited 'cause............I GOT A NEW CAR! I had been wanting a new one for a while, wanted to get rid of the kid wagon (Explorer). Got a Camaro, I had been wanting another one ever since I was 19, I had one in 1978, brand new, my first car ever, I got a job after high school and bought it myself. Anyway, I just love it and I drove it all over town last night. My daughter told me I should just get my sleeping bag and pull it in the garage since I didn't want to get out of it. I think she is just jealous

Kayla - Jumping on a trampoline, believe it or not, is actually very good exercise. Your first day of high school.......how exciting!

Semo - I have one of those balls with the video that tells you how to use it............the video still has the wrapper on it. I hear they are really good though, maybe after you use yours and get all toned up I will be jealous and use mine.

Brighterdays - good to see ya!

Dead - welcome, always good to have a new face.

Gotta go get ready for work, have to be there early today. No time to play around in the new car.

LJ
225/195/150
Halloween Goal - 185

Hello!
Huntress, Hot Rod Mamma! Ya know, we traded a camero convertible for an Explorer when our second was born.

The Blueberry Festival was nice. We walked from 9am to 4pm and still didnt' get to see everything. My dogs are still bark'n! I got a few goodies for the house and KETTLE CORN! But, even though I bought the biggest bag, I didn't get much of it. My boys, DH and BIL chowed it down when I got home. I still can't decide if that was good or bad.
I weighed myself this morning. Up one pound, but TOM...don't really think I gained a pound...actually expected to see a loss. That same 3pounds keeps come'n and go'n. I really want to break 187. I'll be scale hop'n this week.

Tiff, we are working on house trim too. DH cut the new trim for the master bath this weekend. I get to stain it this week. It's been a slow and painful process. Wish I could zap it all done.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Hot Rod Mamma, what color is your new car...red I bet. I had a camero too, it was my second car, first was a VW Bug. Loved that car too. Gosh I don't want to be at work today, I've got seven vacation days left and I'm trying to save them until December. Guess I had better get the payroll in. I'll check back later.

Morning everyone! I'm at work now, so trying to get settled in before I turn the phones on. Then I will be busy for a little while for sure. It's that TOM and I am going pretty bad, I have fibroids, so I think that adds to the heavy flow and the clotting (EWWW) etc...So, I will be running to the bathroom often to check my situation, I am sure they will love that.

Anywho...I will be back in a while to chat!

Congrats on your car Huntress!!! Go Girl!!!!

Kayla, I LOVE the trampoline, it is great exercise!

Tig...that Kettle Corn is the Debil. I want my girlfriend to send me some from Silver Dollar City, I bought some in the box for the microwave. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. Ewww. I LOVE that stuff. It is like cocaine. Sooooo addictive.

Semo, glad you had a wonderful time, it's good to see you back, you are so darn positive, I love it.

DYAN...where are ya, you hot mama?

Cafe? Busy???

I Miss Jo.