No worries Lexi, glad your back, I'd hate to lose ppl at this point in the challenge. You can still lose some weight before this is over.

edit* you made the deans list this week. Congrats. your first star.

Scarlett

Awesome job on sb phase 1. i found it super hard, but once I got going I was scared to do phase 2! That's the only reason I ever dropped sbeach. Im just not good at phase 2. My exercise suffered badly also on phase 1. I had a once a week "cheat meal" and it seemed to help my exercise. I consider it a small scale version of "carb cycling". I would eat small portions of food (carbs mostly! ) that I didn't eat on the diet. I lost 12.5 lbs in 3wks on it.

The heat could also be affecting your runs. I ran yesterday and had borderline heat exhaustion. Today I ran and had no such problem. And I was 1 minute faster today. Keep it up. Losing weight is hard. I like your new ticker

Hey everyone. As you might have noticed I've been a bit down lately with my whole weight loss (or lack of) journey. Thanks for the words of support and encouragement, it means a lot to have a network here with so many kind and inspirational people.

So I planned to come back with a bang today and hit it hard, but the most exercise I think I'll be getting today is trying not to cough my lungs up. I don't think getting on the treadmill would be a great idea. On the plus side, I have managed to keep 100% on plan today with food, and plan to have a healthy dinner, so climbing slowly back on the wagon.

What do you guys think about doing some weights when I have a cold? Would this be a good idea for light exercise or should I hold off until I can breathe again? It's been a week since I've been to the gym

If I were sick with a cold, I would NOT do any exercise, stay away from dieting and just try to recover. The more you try to recover, the more healthier days you will have. If you tried to exercise, you could make yourself more sick.

The reason is because the energy you expend doing exercise, even just weights, is being wasted on lifting or burning cals, when actually your body needs to use that energy to fight off the cold virus and flush away the virus (runny nose, excessive sweats (if feverish), and mucus in the lungs)...The process of flushing away the virus takes a toll on your body already so, that is why sick people feel tired. Makes sense right?

If you stayed home, drink a lot of water, and make hot soups like chicken broth with veggetables, this will help that process. Studies show that chicken soup helps fight a cold (it helps thin mucus secretions), and the veggies and noodles will provide the nutrients and carb energy to carry you through the day as you feel lethargic.

If you just rest, you'll see that you'll recover fully and more quickly than if you were to work out and continue the diet.

There are certain things to avoid eating with a cold, but I'm sure you know these things, or you can google them... like milk products and sugar.

Feel better!

CONGRATS! Biggest Loser, FassGal!!

Scarlett--CONGRATS ON ONEDERLAND!! I can't remember if I said this...I'm so glad that you found south beach to work for you! I heard good things about it. I haven't tried it myself, but I know that if you tend to have suagar cravings, keeping carbs low or eating more whole grains does help you fight off the sugar spikes and cravings for sweets. I have laid off of sugars and sweet things for a while, and have been battling binge eating since the beginning of this year, and i can say that just keeping the sweets away and eating whole grains (or sprouted grains) and gluten free has helped me TREMENDOUSLY!!

I'm kinda sad that we are in our last quarter of this challenge. But I am happy that so many of us have lost weight and are reaching our goals! You girls ROCK! I'm so happy that I am in this with you all!

Themilesawaygirl

There does seem to be some type of virus going around lately. My kids had it for 3 wks straight! I got it and so did my husband. You just have to do what you're comfortable doing. It was easier for me to stay OP when I was sick bc I wasn't as hungry. (i ate like a crazy person once I got better though). I didn't feel up to strength training but I did get 4 runs in during the week I was sick. I felt better after my runs, but they did not make me get better faster or slower than if I hadn't done them. It just depends on how you feel and what your body is telling you.

It's an icky virus. If you have problems with coughing/drainage at night try: Similasan-kid's cold and mucus relief. It's homeopathic and safe. I bought it for my kids and took it myself when I couldn't stop coughing and sneezing long enough to fall asleep. It worked so well, I took it every night I was sick. They sell it at walmart for $5.86, i think. I hope you get over it soon, it's a pain in the rearend and drags on forever!!!!

Hey guys, your posts cheered up my crummy day.

Losing weight and feeling better made me feel confident in my bathing suit. Sunday I kept checking myself out in the house windows, by the pool. I intended to go for a quick swim but got cozy in a raft and asked someone to hand me my book. 1.5 hours later I am burnt to a crisp. I feel like Lucile Ball in that episode where she gets so burnt she cannot bend her knee.

Chugging water and slathering on lotion produced little relief. My thighs are the worst. This is what happens when I expose areas of my body that haven't seen the sun in years. It hurts to walk; my thighs burned today just walking across a parking lot in loose pants. Going back to running is hence postponed. This sunburn and the heat here have just been making me miserable.

Plus I'm seriously upping the intensity of my job search which is also making me anxious. I keep telling myself, this too shall pass.

Also, I'm off the south beach wagon. I just can't do it while living with my family. It worked a lot better when I lived alone. I'm going to go back to what I was doing. Write down everything I eat and try to eat mostly SB friendly foods.

Sniperhill - thanks for the reply, glad you're doing well and getting your exercise in.

Themilesawaygirl - Glad you're "climbing slowly back on to the wagon." That’s the way it usually goes.

Belia - Thanks for the ONEderland congrats, you've been a ray of sunshine in this thread. Always staying upbeat and having positive words. I'm going to do another 12 week challenge something like September - November, so hopefully most of us will be back and we can keep the scales moving.

Scarlett

Ouch. I feel your pain. Sunburns suck! Great job on rocking the swimsuit though! LOVE the Lucy throwback! makes me smile.

Hi everyone!

Scarlett Sorry to hear about your sunburn, but glad to hear you were feeling terrific in a bathing suit! Your story sounded so relaxing until the severe burn bit. I hope aloe vera's been good to you.

themilesawaygirl Are you feeling any better?

Beila I'm also a little sad that the challenge is ending. I did expect to do better, but I feel like I've learned a lot. It's also been really great watching people hit their stride. I'm hoping maybe people will be thinking of a part 2.

So, I just got back from trying to go jeans shopping, and as I've mentioned before it's pretty much impossible to find any clothes above a size ten where I'm living. It's such a nightmare. I live in a gigantic fashion-forward metropolis and there is ONE shop that caters to the length/hips/size of so many western women. Most stores don't sell shoes in my size, either (and there are sooooo many adorable cheap shoes for sale everywhere it's torture) but that's another story. Basically it just feels 1000X worse than shopping at home, and I already disliked shopping since gaining weight. Having no options is the absolute worst! Sometimes it makes me feel like I can't even keep living here. I'm running out of clothes! Anyway, I know that the standard is super crazy here - we're talking about an entirely different body type/shape, but it still reminded me how much I hate the feeling of having no options and paying for things you don't even like. I shouldn't have been shopping for jeans anyway, it's the middle of summer! I don't want to have to go through this anywhere else once I move beyond Asia. I deserve clothes I'm comfortable with!

Sorry, just a rant. I'm also turning 25 this weekend and heading to Hong Kong for a week's vacation to celebrate, and I just wish I could be feeling more confident in my outward appearance. Ill-fitting clothes don't help. I'm so happy and excited and so annoyed too. How strange life can be sometimes. We all deserve to enjoy ourselves more. <3

I'm feeling frustrated and inspired. Hope you guys are feeling good! Good luck with weigh ins!

thanks scarlett, even if i maintain its better thqn gaining!

Ok my sunburn is getting better. I can at least wear clothes without much pain now .

Ish - That sounds absolutely awful. I've felt devastated before spending a day at the mall and having nothing fit in "normal" stores. That sobering feeling of sizes that used to fit not even coming up past your thighs. I cannot even imagine what you are going through it sounds 1000x worse. Can you order clothes online?

Also Happy Birthday!! I hope you have a blast in Hong Kong. Sometimes I feel like I'm living vicariously though some of the more interesting people in this thread. Especially when you guys who are living in fun places talk about your experiences abroad. Live it up!!

X Lexi X - maintaining is great. Being down 3 pounds at the end is definitely much better than being up 20. You didn't give up!

Hi everyone! Sorry I missed last week's weigh in. I had a death in the family and wasn't able to weigh in or get to a computer. Hopefully it's ok if I join back in this week!

CW: 150

That's down 2lbs from last wk! Yay!

Now, I hope I can keep it! I seem to have a trend of lose a couple lbs, gain 1 back. I would be happier if I would just consistently lose a lb every week. I'm happy with this though

Ish

Happy birthday!!! I'm soooo sorry you're having problems with the clothes fitting right. It sounds like a downright nightmare.

Smurfles How terrible for you, hope you're OK. Best wishes you to and family in this difficult time. xx

Beila Thanks for the advice. I don't think I could go without milk products or sugar when I'm poorly - I dose up on hot lemon and honey and cups of tea.

Sniperhil Thanks for the kind wishes - unfortunately I'm over the pond in the UK so we have different medicines, but I have a cough syrup which seems to help a bit (it doesn't do any harm at least!) I couldn't face running with a cold I don't think, but feel more up to some gentle weights, think I might try this tomorrow.

Ish I'm feeling a bit better today thanks, still coughing and spluttering but not as much as before. That sucks about your clothes problems. A friend of mine who is a UK size 8-10 (US 4-6) is living in China as has to buy a large, and she's only 5ft tall! Crazy small Asian sizes. I agree with Scarlett's suggestion of mail order - if you know what stores fit you well can they ship out there? Good luck finding clothes you're comfortable in, I know how much of a difference it can make. Also, hope you have a GREAT birthday in Hong Kong. Hopefully you'll have such a good time you won't have time to worry about anything apart from enjoying yourself!

Scarlett Glad to hear your sunburn's healing - I got burnt a bit a few weeks back and smothered myself in aftersun lotion every 10 minutes, I think it helped!

So I'm still struggling to get back up to speed, but I feel like I'm regaining a little bit of control. I've started logging my food again, it's so time consuming but definitely makes me realise how easy it is for me to overeat. I think I'm going to ease back in to the gym tomorrow when hopefully this nasty cold will be on it's last legs. I don't think I will have lost any weight at the end of this challenge which is a real downer, but I guess getting back to it now means I'll stop gaining again and try and gear up for the next challenge. I'm going on holiday on September 1st so I'm extending my own goals to then. I don't have a set number in mind, I just want to get to a point where I'm losing steadily and not giving up.

smurfles - sorry to hear that
sniperhill - wtg!
scarlet - ouch sunburn! i know a couple of people that are allergic to the sun and can't be out for more than 10min unless they're 'roided up
milesawaygirl - ahh hate being sick, but you know it's actually good for you to exercise while you're sick b/c it boosts immunity so maybe you can try that and feel better quicker (it has worked for me in the past) oh and also dont buy store bought cough drops, cut up a piece of ginger and just suck on that, your throat will thank you!

and as for me, i weighed in at 146.6 today...been on plan for 4 days now, just gotta stick with it, but seeing that number on the scale is def motivating me to tho!