Hi Everyone! How's everyone's week going? I just wanted to post really quickly and check in. I have ALL my boys home with me today. One of my sons has bronchitis, and a couple others have colds.

I've had a good week with exercise. Tina and I have worked out 3 times already this week and we're going tonight and Thurs. so that is great. Eating has been so-so. I don't know if it's the more intense workouts or what but I've been starving! I'm trying my best to eat healthy and limit snacks(Halloween candy is still very tempting to me!)

Hope all is well with you all and I'll check back at the end of the week! Take care!

Hi all! Have a feeling that people's lives have just taken precedence (sp?) to checking in....hope all of you are doing well with your new jobs and new situations. All is well here....am focusing on getting back into my routines, and creating new ones as well. Have been on target with both exercise and eating.

Take care. S.

Whoo-Hoo! I lost 2 lbs this week! Tina and I have been working hard at the fitness center, I'm just happy to see some really good results this week!
I would just love to keep this up for a week or two more and then hopefully hold it steady through Thanksgiving. We'll see.

Susan-Great job with the eating/exercise!
Tina-Good luck with the weigh in, I'm sure it will be much better than you think!

Hope all is well with all of you! Everyone have a great weekend!

Hello ladies! How have you all been doing? It has been quiet busy here lately, hope everyone is doing okay! I know I have been super busy painting my house and I'm sure you all know what kind of mess that makes. I can't wait to have my house back to normal. It looks really nice but I am starting to go insane with all the clutter. I also have not been checking in because I have been eating awful and feel ashamed to even come on here. I don't know what my deal is but I feel myself totally slipping and it scares me to death. I can see how easy it would be to put the weight back on. I have been with the exercise but I still gained a pound this week with all the junk I ate and that was with 5 days of hour and a half workouts so just imagine if I would not of worked out. I am really upset with myself but still it is Saturday night and I have ate awful all weekend so far. I don't know what my deal is for real but I have to get control of this. I feel like a failure and a hypcrite all in one. I feel like I am not only letting myself down but so many other people but still I don't change. I am really scared with the holidays coming of what is going to happen. I find myself bingeing almost daily and then feeling like I'm going to be sick after. I hate the mental feeling that comes afterwards like I am a complete failure. I tell myself everyday that today is going to be better and it starts out good and just get worse as the day goes on. I don't know what to do. I have to get past this though and turn this around before its to late. Okay besides all that depressing crap today the kids and I went to see the Nutcracker, my cousin is in it. This was the first time I had seen her in it and she was wonderful. My daughter was mesmorized by the dancers, she kept saying she wanted to dance like that. It was really nice to get out for awhile though with the house in such disarray. This week will be spent getting my house back in order and trying to catch up on some sleep. I think my husband and I are running on fumes over here. I hope you all have a great week and please send a positive thought my way to help me stay out of the junk!!! Have a good week ladies!

Hi Tina,

I've been lurking on this forum for a few weeks and have been meaning to register and introduce myself. Pardon me for jumping in but I can't resist replying to your post. I think I know why you are having a hard time controlling your eating right now: You are tired. With all the painting and disruption in your household, you are physically and mentally pooped and need to take some time to rest and relax. I have been trying to lose weight since February and will post more in my introduction. I can't wait to begin participating. This seems like such a wonderful, supportive community. I just wish I had found you sooner. I sure don't have all of the answers when it comes to losing weight and staying on track as I have lost weight before only to put it on again. This time I am so hoping for things to be different though. I have been trying to be more aware of what causes me to overeat and I really think being tired is a big part of it. When I do too much (as in work on household projects, work too many hours, don't get enough sleep) my willpower goes totally out the window. Plus I think I mistake tiredness for hunger and try to feed my body to get more energy when what I really need is rest. So those are my two cents. Don't beat up on yourself too much. You have done a fabulous job and look great. Good luck and I hope to talk to you and everyone else more soon.
Pam

Pam, so glad you wrote, and I think your words are right on.

Tina, you try to accomplish so much, and are way too hard on yourself. What is really important is how you are feeling about yourself. Instead of looking at this period of time, when you are undergoing some bumps of the road, as just bumps, you are thinking of it as a reflection on who you are, and you need to stop it...you are only human, and weight loss is a series of baby steps....and it is never ending. Don't be so unforgiving of yourself. Probably some of it may be chemical, and out of your control. It's the beginning of winter, and I think there is an instinctive desire of the body to store food. Have you tried cutting your meals into smaller chunks so that you are eating small meals every two hours instead of a few big ones? Eating is also habit, and you are under stress....and if you are like me....stress=food. It's a way to postpone doing all the things I don't want to do. I can find more excuses for doing undesireable tasks, and one of the greatest avoidance techniques is to sit, read a book, and eat. The habit goes way back to childhood, when I would be trying to avoid doing dishes, or helping my mom. Habits are enormously difficult to break, and with all that is going on in your house, and all you are trying to accomplsih, plus dealing with the kids and DH, well, there it is, a situation set up for disaster!

And, of course, don't stop writing. We are not here to judge you...we have either been there, done that, or are there, and are doing that. Forgive yourself, forget the transgressions, and move on. And keep in touch. Worry about yourself, not about what others think. In the ultimate, you are doing this for YOU!

Good morning ladies! I just want to drop a quick thank-you for all your advice and kind words. I do know that I am really hard on myself but I feel like if I'm not I will slip so far back and I don't want that. I have come to realize though that there are underlying issues at hand here, I just have to figure them out. I mean when I want to I am a very disiplined person but when I slip I slip big time it seems. I need to get my head back in this because I am really starting to feel down and moody all the time. I want my energy back and eating all this junk is not helping that at all. I feel like a slug half of the time. I also refuse to keep exercising at the intensity I am just to come out even or gain at the end of the week. I mean come on that is kinda silly and even I can see that. The good news is the painting is done and the house is back in some sort of working order for now so that is good. I have to say it looks really nice in here after all my complaining. I just wanted to let you all know though how much your words me to me. I will get through this and come out on the other side whole and you all are helping me get there so thank you! Okay so today I have to take my son to the doctor and then my mother-in-law and I are going to do some Christmas shopping and out to lunch with the kids so that will be a fun day. Tonight I am going to the gym and then hopefully my couch for some Tivo time this evening. It was nice last night to sit on the new furniture and watch a movie with my husband so hopefully a repeat tonight. Hope you all have a great week.

Susan your right stress does = food and God only knows there is enough stress going around here right now. I am going to try and let up on myself and start focusing on some positives and see how that goes. I won't stay away anymore though when I am feeling down or ashamed because you all really did lift my spirits for me. It sounds like you are doing good and back on schedule so keep up your good work. Have a good day!

Pam thank you so much for your advice. Please tell us more about yourself and join us we would love to have you here. It sounds like you would have alot of great input for us and we would love to share ours with you as well. I will say you were right on point with my out of control eating. I just have a hard time changing that behavior after so many weeks you know? Well I look forward to getting to know you. Have a great day!

Cindy okay girl you have to help me be accountable this week. NO CANDY STARTING TODAY!!! When I am about to fall off the elliptical just tell me if I have candy that I am do it for nothing. I have to get back in this before I look like those pictures Kevin sent you a few days ago!!!

Okay let's have a good week ladies! I will check in later in the week!

Tina- I will do my best to help you get through this rough time. If you want to, call me when you want junk and we can talk instead of eat. You are the one who has had the biggest influence on me this whole time I've been loosing weight. You have encouraged me, and have been a great role model with how well you've done. Plus I think we're good positive competition for each other. When you excecise and do well, it makes me not want to slack off! So whatever you need I'm happy to help you. If you need a I'll do that, you'd do the same for me. Hang in there!

Well, I fell off the wagon myself last night...big time! But I am going to pick myself up and start anew today. have an important interview at lunch time with someone who is looking for trainers to go to private homes....just what I am looking for. Wish me luck.

Tina and Cindy, you are so blessed to have each other for support....alot of people don't have that.

Hope everyone has a very good day!

Oh my god...I just realized today that my 10 year reunion is near (Dec.27) I have to call a friend of mine tonight too see if she is going. I have to kick it into hihg gear if she wants to go.

Artmaker~ good luck at the interview.

Tina~ I hope you can pick yourself up and dust yourself off. If it amkes you feel any better I have been into the leftovers here, I have not gained but I have not lost either.

Hello! Is everyone hanging in there? I'm doing ok this week, eating has been so-so. Exercise has been good.

Susan-How'd the interview go???

c mom- A reunion right around the holidays? That's a rough time to have to crack down! Good luck!

Have a good rest of the week! Hope all goes well for everyone!

I think the interview went well....I am supposed to get in touch with him in January when I am ready to start doing at least a few sessions. I think it is a good match. He has a great website, gets the clients, and then gives me a good percentage of the fee, so all I have to do is show up at the client's house and work. Worth it for the lack of having to hustle for clients. He seemed to think he would like to have me train for his clients.

Now all I have to do is (ha!) lose 10 pounds. Easier said than done...that's why I'm here!

Hope you all have a good day.

Hello ladies! Well things are getting back to a bit of normal here so that is good. Although my eating is far from perfect it is a lot better and getting better each day. Whoever said baby steps had the right idea with me. I hope things continue on the up for me. Today was spent doing laundry and that was about it. Hope you all have a good rest of the week.

Susan sounds like a great opportunity for you. I think it would be so satisfying being a personal trainer just to see you clients lives improve and bodies change would be awesome. I wish you lived closer to me so you could train me. You can get those 10 pounds off look how good you have done so far. Hope all continues to go well for you.

Jen a reunion yikes that sounds scary to me. I don't think I really would care to see anyone from highschool. Our school was so big I had my few good friends and that was about it. I have to admit though I would be curious as to what people turned out like. You will have fun though especially if you end up going with a old friend.

Steph and Angel how are you girls doing? We miss you here and can't wait for you to come update us.

Well ladies two more days until weigh-in and although I am not holding my breath for a tremendous result it has to be better then last weeks so that is a plus. Have a good day!

TINA~ My High school was huge also (First High School in Canada) There was over 3000 students when I was there (They have built a second High School) I believe there was something like 300+ that graduated with me. There is a friend I want to see (Hope she goes) also guy that saved prom for me (my date was acting like an @$$) I would like to know how he is doing.
I'm glad to hear you are doing better. This weight loss (maintnence) is a lifelong pain in the ...

Hi all, just a quick check in....want to wish everyone a good weekend, and hopes that you all stay on target. I may be off line next week....am heading to Nashville to visit DD and family. Have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Susan