Hi MamaBear! Nice to have you back! Thanks for your encouragement! I hope that we can encourage each other to take it off and KEEP it off! Life happens! I remember starting out on WW after I had my daughter! I gained 80 lbs with my first one! Congratulations on losing the 80 pounds! That's something to dance about!!!!!!

Derrydaughter -- the chili recipe would be great! I'm always up for trying new things! I'm not so suddenly single though! I have been divorced since 2000, but with kids at home I wasn't willing to do the dating thing as I felt they were the most important. Now, with the youngest out of the house, it's my turn. I really took a good look in the mirror and knew that the extra rolls weren't very attractive (plus all the health issues that come along with it!). The guys I have been out with have been great, and weight has not be an issue, but it's me that's concerned.

17 pounds gone on 5'2" is GREAT!!!!!!! That certainly would make a big difference! Remember, you are NOT going up any sizes...you are going down, down DOWN!!! You are going to be that HOT MOMMA that everyone stares at!

Ok all....had my weigh in yesterday and was down .2 (thank goodness I went to the washroom before!). Ok Ok I know that it's down...but come on!!!! I actually drank all my water last week and stayed on program. *sigh* I think this is going to be a looooooooooooooong journey.

Elan, I have had weeks like that with .2 or .4 when I have been such a good girl. Then, I'll suddenly have a good loss one week and leave the meeting kind of scratching my head wondering what the heck I did to be "rewarded" with such a loss? I swear there are times when it's sodium and fluid retention and other times I swear that it's the exact combination of foods that does it for me. I do find that losses come more easily when I have those _____ healthy oils. I get annoyed with spending 2 of my measly 20 points a day on oil. I want FOOD!!!!! At any rate, when I do have the oils and check off all those boxes on the bottom of my tracker and know I've had the exact amount of fruits/veggies/calcium servings as well as those oils, things go better for me. Maybe it's just that those are the times when I am really watching it the best? Hard to tell.
I'm going to type out the chili recipe. It was presented at the meeting as a one point chili vs. a two point chili. I'm going to give you both variations and you can choose if you want it to be one vs. two points. I made the modifications as I like my chili a bit more heartier and also I prefer it made with ground beef and a pound of it vs. 10 ounces of ground turkey. You can do either, but it goes up to 2 points if you make the changes I made to it.

ONE Point Chili (modifications in parenthesis for a 2 point chili)

10 oz. lean ground turkey, browned (or 1 pound lean ground beef)
1 med. onion, diced
1 med. yellow squash, diced
4 stalks celery (I omit this as I am allergic to celery and added more pepper and squash to compensate)
2 green peppers, diced
2 28 oz cans diced tomatoes
1 15 oz can black beans, rinsed, drained (I used 3 cans "assorted" beans, one black, one garbanzo (chick peas) and one kidney bean
2 cans low sodium beef broth
1 package chili seasoning (I found an envelope of McCormick's that worked quite well)

Mix all, simmer 30 minutes.
1 cup equal 1 point on Flex Plan, 0 points on core, if you make the changes and use the 93% lean hamburger it is 100% CORE still or two points.

I also mixed it all up and left it in my crock pot all day, but I did brown the beef/turkey ahead and drain off the fat. It was VERY easy and really quite good, even my husband who isn't big on WW recipes, at times, really liked it.

Happy Sunday to all and I wish you all and healthy and relaxed day with family/friends!

Oh thanks for the recipe. Someone I know makes it but won't give me the recipes or should I say keeps forgeting to give it to me.

Can't wait to try it.

Ahhh CalgaryElan - you are not alone my dear friend. I'm not just your friendly neighbour to the east, but someone who feels your pain...

I joined WW in August 2000 and by May 1st 2001 had lost 70 lbs. Never did a day go by that I didn't scribble in my little journal. Thoughts of cheating never entered my mind. I was the "Dedicated" profile... if you remember that little test they had you do.

Then they asked me to work for them. I would NOT be a leader (was too big of a chicken), but agreed to be a receptionist. Worked for them for 2 years. Managed to keep my weight somewhat in check. By the end of the two years - I was slightly altering my weight (lying, yes lying! ahh the shame!) on the tally (leader never checked) and eventually bowed out gracefully before they gave me the boot. How sad, eh?

I took the Running Room Learn-to-Run after I quit WW, which helped. No sooner did I complete the 5K clinic, did I register for the 10K. When I finished the 10K, I moved to the 1/2 Marathon. Running allowed me to eat as I pleased. But eventually, being the lovely pear shaped woman I am, the knees and ankles got sore. The Vitamin I (Ibuprofen!) wasn't kicking in as nicely as it used to, and I quit.

Anywho - went back to sit in the chair (shamefully) once since then. It's too hard when you live in a small city (Regina) and you know all the WW employees and half the members KNOW you have failed yourself. I keep saying I'll get below 200 and THEN I'll go back. But as Dr. Phil would ask "How's that working for ya?". Well Dr. Phil, it isn't.

So anywho... long story short - I know how ya feel. But I also wandered on to this site today, which has been a nice little energizer. I used to be a faithful fitday.com user, but it just isn't the same as interacting with those who know and feel the same. I think this place is the boost I need So thanks CalgaryElan for letting me know I'm not alone and thanks everyone else for this great board. Looking forward to hanging out here!

Sask, you should try meetings again. I swear most of what happens when a former WW person who was a Lifetime (either a member, employee or whatever!) regains their weight is that we feel so remorseful. Weren't we supposed to be setting the example and doing it right?
By the way, I was just now thinking of Oprah (I hope I spelled that correctly) and how she tried so hard to lose and gained back her weight - before the eyes of the world. Then, she just squared her shoulders and worked hard. I think she probably could have (and probably had enough money to just quit) just quit and stopped working and her show, but she accepted kind of a responsibility, not unlike what a lifetime member or leader has as all eyes were upon her. I think she just vowed to do it right.
I remember watching her show once a long time ago when her personal trainer came at something like 5 am to get her out of bed and get her out running with him. She hated it, she didn't want to get up and she wanted to just lay there in bed, but she made herself - and before millions of people.
So, today I get my inspiration from her. Today, I sit here and think.... I could NOT do any exercise, I could eat whatever I want to, but the person that suffers will be me, now and in the future as my health will go downhill.
I want to be the person at the WW meeting that everyone turns their head and watches week after week as the remaining pounds drop off and see me as an inspiration person to them. They could say to themselves, "Wow, look at her, she blew and and gained it all (and then some) back, she's so good and so determined". I want my leader to call me up before the group and present me with whatever it is you get nowadays for being at goal.
By the way, I have not seen anyone reach their goal at a meeting in a very long time, that seems kind of odd to me. Maybe it's just that I've missed that particular meeting.
At any rate, we deserve that final recognition and there is no shame in what has happened to anyone if they put their weight back on. We are human and we are definitely not perfect!

Thanks for the great post derrydaughter. Right now I've just got the "I'll start tomorrow" syndrome. Was always my biggest fault. It's like I start the day okay, I have a small slip - and declare the whole day a write off. More often than not, it actually becomes "next Monday... yeah - that's when I'll REALLY start". Uggghhh! These pathetic excuses just need to stop.

And I agree - I need to get my butt back in the WW chair. I really used to love going to meetings. I was a very vocal member and had a great support group. I was sad to hear that my leader (who was WONDERFUL!) is actually struggling with weight and was recently asked to step down as a Leader. Blah! She was a big part of my success.

Now off to google Regina meeting locations. Decrete locations, but locations nonetheless!

Sask, as I read your post something came to mind. I am unsure who wrote it but it is "If you really want to do something you will find a way. If you really don't want to do it, you will find an excuse." You made me aware of the fact I am making excuses for not staying OP. I am ready to find a way. Thanks to you I have added that to my signature today as a reminder. Thank you!

I just read your postings and have to add "no day like today" as a good mantra for us all.
Have any of you seen the movie, or play, RENT? One of the underlying plots is about people with AIDS who have to seize the day. They have a death sentence laying over their heads. They have to grab life with gusto and they have to keep their health in any way they can. So, I ask you today, isn't the excess weight on your own body also your own death sentence, but in a less blatant way, perhaps?
There is a song called "No Day Like Today" that goes on "there's only us, there's only this", it's about the fact that you have to let go of the past, forgive yourself, live for today and have no regret. Life is too short to miss!
Here is a direct quote from part of the song:
There's only us
There's only this
Forget regret
Or life is yours to miss
No other road
No other way
No day but today

So, for me, there is no day but today. I can't wait for a better time to start and even jump start my weight loss plan. Every single choice I make, all day and every day, contributes to the entire success or failure of what I am out to accomplish. You can postpone things all you want, but you know in your heart that there are things you can be doing TODAY.
Let's say there was a party you were invited to on Friday evening and you kept saying, "Well, there's the party and I know I'll be "bad" and eat and drink lots of high point things. So, I may as well wait and start on Monday."
Well, then on Saturday, after the party, and lots of indulgences, you hear about a special lunch on Tuesday. The boss is taking everyone in the office out and you get to be treated to lunch as the best restaurant in town. Well, you then say to yourself, "Oh, so I should go and eat and have fun and then I will re-start WW on Wednesday, of course". But, then the weekend is coming around again and by then some other social engagement comes along.
This waiting to re-start your weight loss efforts could go on for months, and before you know it the holidays are here and the BBQs over the summer, etc.
There is ALWAYS going to be that excuse.
Time to take the bull by the horns and start.
So, if you have a party to go to over the weekend, you could be VERY good and on program for the next three days until the party. You could be careful not to indulge too much in the chips and dip. Maybe you could bring a veggie tray with a low fat dip? Maybe you can buy Beck's lite beer that is only one point per bottle rather than having three or four other beers that are two points each? Maybe you can walk the day before and day after the party and still feel that you did something to help the overall result? You could plan some very low point meals before and after that party too.
You can go out to that nice place for lunch next week with the boss and order a grilled chicken salad and have diet soda. You can order a clear broth soup ahead of that salad to fill you up and maybe just treat yourself to ONE piece of bread or a roll, but not have two or three of them. You can pass on dessert and bring an apple to have back at the office later in the afternoon. We are the ones who make these conscious choices, we can choose to succeed or we can fail, it's up to us. WE hold the fork!!!!
There are so many things you CAN do vs. just giving up and saying that you'll start next week. Next week may never come and there is truly, "No Day Like Today" for us all.
Well, I'll get off my soap box now. Time for me to get on with my own day and plan for whatever challenges I will be facing, and there are going to be several!
Plan ahead, make this day count for something!!!!!

Great posts gals! So TODAY is the day, eh? Guess I better get on board

It's so true that we make excuses though. We have a TV show here in Canada, called "Taking it Off". Not sure if you've ever heard of it (I'm sure it's mentioned on the Boards somewhere...) and it's been on for years. Actually pre-dates "The Biggest Loser" by about 5 years. Anywho... I love watching. It's like BL, but without the Ranch. People decide on their program (WW, Atkins, LGI, Personal Trainer, Holistic, etc) and do it all from home. Series is shot over a 6 month period. Soooo - with each new Season, I find new motivation. The last season (Season 3 or 4) I decided I would do this right along side with them. Na-uh! I've watched the series repeat not once, not twice, but THREE times. I've watched them get skinny (well... some of them) three times over and I'm still the same weight (actually + 10 lbs). Yowsers. How's that for lack of motivation.

BUT - great (and very ironic) news today! I work at a major University and received an email today soliciting interest in forming an AT WORK WW! How ironic is that. So without hesitation - I fired an email back saying count me in. So ready or not - looks like I'm about to take the plunge. Thanks all for the comments and inspiration. I needed that nudge!

Elan, where are you and how are you doing?
Sask, I motivated myself a bit yesterday as well. It was a very trying day for me, full of stresses and I stuck with my program. I wish I had exercised though.
Good for you taking the plunge, it's really a now or never thing? So many people wait. Just think of those Jan. 1st resolutions people make, so many of them say "after the holidays" which gives them permission to just forget about their goals and pig out, maybe putting on that last 5 or 10 pounds before trying after January. Now, how silly is that when they know they need to lose in November (or earlier) and just say to themselves, "I'll have this one last fling and then go for it", there are always going to be those "last flings"!
I've never seen that TV show, Biggest Loser, but I have heard of it and think I understand what goes on. Also, I've never heard of the Canadian TV show, but sounds like it could be motivating.
One thing I would never want to do is to pit myself against others who are also losing. I'm afraid I would take it to a different level and do my body harm? But, the practices they are doing can teach us all.
I have to think that if I were placed at some large house/ranch where there were chefs to prepare all that I was eating (is there a chef?) and if I were not going to my workplace each day but had hours to spend on exercising and working towards my goal, I'd probably lose weight pretty fast as well.
But, in the meantime, my life happens and it's what I have to contend with day in and day out and I have to learn to incorporate a healthy lifestyle into this life of mine that works for me and find what I can stick with for the rest of my life. The rest of the life thing is what I worry about. I can get to goal, but will I be able to maintain that and stick with it?

Girls Girls Girls!!! YOU DO ME PROUD!!! I am sooooooooooo happy to be a part of your little crowd! And even happier when I read the words of wisdom and of course the pats on the back and the boosts when we need them! I've been reading your posts!

I have been VERY busy at work. By the time I get home I am exhausted and THEN heavens I have to cook! But be it as it may, I am enjoying this cooking and actually by having to cook when I get home by about 6....I'm really hungry when it is made. Then I remember Oprah saying not to eat after 7 pm. So I eat my meal and that's it!

Thanks for the recipe by the way! I've printed it out and it will be a keeper (sounds like it would freeze well for those lunches for work!). I found a great tortilla that is only 2 points (believe me this tortilla is a GREAT size -- not only for great wraps, but they make great quesadilla's!) They are called "Flat Out" wraps. 110 cals, 2 fat, fiber 4 (and if you look you can also find some that have higher fiber content). They are delicious!

Derrydaughter...my .2 loss last Saturday wasn't devastating...but it did give me the kick in the pants that I needed. Was I counting EVERYTHING??? Was I drinking enough WATER? Was I having enough balance? Was I having enough veggies? Then I also thought about your post and those *good* fats -- so I made sure I have been counting those in also!

Sask...what can I say???? (((((ENORMOUS HUGS))))) for having the courage for going back and having the strength to tell us your story! We are very proud of you and know that you can do it! Remember to do this for yourself...and no one else! For me, at 48 and 200 lbs, I was thinking how my knees have been feeling...and how out of shape I am (I think the out of shape will take a bit, but then without all this fat that I'm lugging around will help me achieve that!). I was never the girl that was "athletic", but I certainly want to look great this coming Christmas! I gave myself a goal of 5 pounds per month. That's do-able! It's not high pressure and it's not so out of line that I can't do that. By Christmas I'll be down a decent amount of weight -- if I stay on program! With your help and support I know that it's one more thing that will help me be successful!

Becoming Fit -- I have been writing motivational little sayings in my program journal every couple of days. Here's a couple more to add:
A year from now you can be glad you started -- or wish you had!
If hunger is not the problem then eating is not the answer!
Fill the holes in your life and not the one in your face!
Never give up what you want MOST for what you want at the moment!
Eat for the body you want and not the body you have.
If I have a problem and overeat then I have 2 problems!
People get jealous that you are actually doing something to change your life and they can't do that -- seeing YOU do it makes them feel bad (aka....my mother! "eat! eat! You are too skinny!
I choose what and when I eat!

I big public thank you to my co-worker who has lost over 100 pounds (and still going!!) ...she has been so encouraging even though I have less than her to lose! I hope that I can be half as supportive as she has been to me! It's nice to have someone there when you are at work -- support in all places are what will make me successful!

So with all that said (yeah yeah! blah! blah! blah!) I thank you all! You all ROCK!!!!!!!!!

Vitamin I?!? LOL Does that count as my multi-vitamin?

I think we've got great thing going with this group! I've been doing the in the office by 8 am, in my door by 9 pm routine lately and I've missed you guys!

I had a chocolate croissant for lunch yesterday but had otherwise been reasonably good, despite a horribly busy week. I am proud to report that I still lost one pound so far this week! It's not quite the 5 I lost last week but I guess I didn't gain it in 5 pound increments either!

"People get jealous that you are actually doing something to change your life and they can't do that -- seeing YOU do it makes them feel bad" Ah, too true!!! You must know a few of my friends... Why can't we all just get along?!?

Take care!

Ladies I had wroten this for another board around 8 months or so ago. It was a personal epiphany from something I have heard here time and time again. I hope you enjoy it.

you know i wrote this simply profound sentence in another thread. it was something i seen time and time again and always thought "DUH..well of course it is. who else is it going to be up to for you..." but as i was hiking sunday it hit me again out of the blue. as i was lamentating and reflecting on my life and where it was going. how come i wasnt the slim, svelt, seriously sexy siren i've seen in my dreams!

(wait..back up. instead of digressing as per my norm..... i am leaped ahead of myself here. back to the sentence :P )

i loved the way the transition of this sentence took. i wrote it one way, but depending on the reader ...... it was read in another. growing from a postive statement of fact to an affirmation. a declaration even. sort of like the evolution it took in my mind when i was walking yesterday morning. as i was plodding along the easy part of my path and got hit by it and thinking........ oh yeah, how so? how does this effect me? If its going to be, its up to me...me what? then as i am at the most daunting part of my trek......climbing this hill that i have to climb to get back home...... the second writing of the sentence pushes me upward and onward as i am practically doing forward lunges to get to the top...... if its gonna be...... its up to me!! if i am gonna get up this hill, its up to me. if i am going to get over these hurdles, its up to me.. if i am going to lose this weight, its up to me...... there's nobody else thats gonna do it for me. that Can do it for me! 15 grueling minutes later coupled with a brief rest period praying..... i'm at the top. i'm looking down and I'm still alive! breathing like a banshee and ever so grateful that there is enough air for me and everyone else on the planet right now! (truthfully i was really happy that you guys here at this site, were sleeping and not breathing my air at this moment...... ) just then the affirmation reading of this sentence..... "See(my brain was saying)..... if it IS to be, its up to me" now at this point in time i was trying to push that Pollyanna poop out of my head. i needed to rest, recoup, and recover. positive my heart was going to implode it was beating so hard. :blush: but it was a persistant thought refusing to leave me be. so i huffed and i puffed to my internal voice box and said.... "Fine! lets expound...." turning on my toes and heading towards home.

even though i have an incredibly supporitve husband who cater's to pert near every whim of mine ( there are some whims that cant possibly be concieved let alone catered to :blush: ) would of let me cling desparately to his back jeans pockets and pull me up behind him if he were there. but even in doing that..... it was up to my legs to keep moving. my dog bosko no matter how great his desire or need for a walk is......still cant turn a door knob! its up to me to get us out. boards like these..... filling me with tips, tricks, and to-do's. inpsiring me to succeed (and oft times kicks in the wahhh-zoo's.) gifting me with AHA moments and friendships. cant make me do any of them.

its up to me...... to take the advice.
its up to me...... to work the my muscles.
its up to me...... to eat right.
its up to me....... to better myself.

If it's Going to Be........ It's up to Me!

Ah, such profound words of wisdom from everyone this morning.
I'll add my own quote.... I used to use it for my signature line here but got tired of it, maybe it's time to add it back on?
My favorite quote came from a silly movie starring Tim Allen called Galaxy Quest, but it stuck with me. It was from the "fake" TV show he supposedly starred in that was a mimic of the old Star Trec shows, it was "Never give up, Never Surrender" and they would say it all the time through the movie. By the way, if you have not seen this movie, do rent it. It's funny, far-fetched, but a really great and fun film with lots of action. You can't miss the last 5 pr 6 minutes of scenes that are really so much fun.
At any rate, today we should say over and over our inspirational mantras, respectively!
As for me, I'm planning a very busy weekend packed with many activities. I'm worrying about finding the right foods and being able to stay on track as we won't be home much of the time - a college tour for my 16 year old daughter as well as a trip up North to our cabin.
Challenges face us each day, we can be defeated by those challenges or we can learn from them and do it right!
Also, a favorite quote from Richard Simmons (who isn't all that popular nowadays but truly was and still is a good example of how to achieve and how to maintain a weight loss).... I had a motivational cassette tape of his years ago and I would listen to it from time to time, I think it came with the old "Deal a Meal" program he had (it works if you follow it). At any rate he said something that makes sense, kind of along the lines of what Sassy was saying. He said, "I hold the fork", and he would repeat that from time to time. It's so very true. You totally control every single bit that goes into your mouth, it's not as if you have a feeding tube and someone else chooses what goes into it, you make choices each and every day. So, we can evaluate the choices.
One thing I have had personal problems with is eating out. We eat out often and I have to get it through my thick head that eating out is not always a "special occasion" it is part of my day to day life. So, if it's not a birthday or anniversary or holiday, it's "just a meal" and what gives me the right to think that I can consider a "just a meal occasion" a "special occasion" and order those onion rings for "the table" (who am I kidding") or order the blue cheese dressing rather than the oil and vinegar (I get those healthy oils in then!) and do I think I need butter and sour cream on my potato if I can order margarine as most places have it? If I were home would I have fettucini Alfredo with two pieces of bread (and butter) or would I have a salad with my O+V and have pasta (a one cup serving) with marinara sauce and only a bit of parmesan cheese? At any rate, ordering at restaurants is truly a matter of choices. You can also choose to put the ford DOWN, drink water instead of soda or wine there and you can also feel good about yourself when you get home and not "overfull".
Hope that all makes sense!