Workinghardatlosing I'm another person who pretty much lived in flip flops and had a heck of a time with shoes. I don't know how much support your ankles need, but I find I'm most comfortable walking in a pair of men's flip flops I bought at either Cabela's or wholesale sports. They're a very thick rubber. I also own a pair of Merrill hikers that I wear in the winter, but I find them to be very heavy.

Garnet I had the same thing! I was stalled for so long and my mom and others could swear I looked thinner every time they saw me.

Thanks everyone for your encouragement. I need a reminder every once in a while. My man turned on extreme weight loss last night, which isn't something I would watch to begin with, and I had a very hard time dealing with the fact that this particular person's "extreme" weight loss was about 75 pounds less than what I had to lose total. Sort of makes you feel like a Circus freak.

Jane- I'm wearing the Nike flip flops that have the memory foam in them with the thick rubber soles right now. And I love love love them. The only downside I find to walking in them is that I have to walk slower. I saw some walking sandals and I'm wondering if those would be good for me to walk in. I also caught some of Extreme Weight Loss last night. I usually don't watch, because I feel like shows like it and Biggest Loser give people a false sense of weight loss with their big number losses in such a short amount of time. But, I could totally understand how that girl last night got an addiction to the scale and numbers. I've been there. I do think Chris Powell's suggestion of focusing on meeting her calorie count and exercise for 6 days a week is a good plan and idea.

Those Nike's looked really comfortable but I couldn't find any in my size. My boyfriend also has those Vibram barefoot shoes (the one's with the toes). Apparently they're awesome, but I had a hard time fitting them to my feet.

Blood work came back today, everything is fine except my cholesterol is a little high (149). She wants to see me again in Oct. She had suggested either loseit.com or myfitnesspal.com for monitoring calories. I started with Lose it! today. Does anyone else use the Lose it! site?

Hey, everyone! I've gained three pounds this week. I've got PMS and the nonstop PMS eating. I'm hoping some of the gain is just bloating though. I went to the running store, and tried on every pair of shoes they had in my size. They all hurt my feet. So, then I was explaining to one of the people that does the stride check, how my feet hurt really start hurting as soon as I put my socks on. But, that I can walk barefoot or in flip flops for hours without any pain. He said it could be the socks not the shoes. He suggest that I try these really expensive socks. I just bought one pair thinking they won't help. I've been wearing them for two hours at home, and so far very little pain. My feet are hot and that drives me crazy, but they aren't burning like I were before. I haven't walked a lot as I'm working for home, but normally I can't even keep my shoes at home for my feet burning.

Lass- I use myfitnesspal. Though, I don't track my calories like I should. I think that should be my new focus!

All of you who have started where I am are such an inspiration to me. It's harder to relate to those who only need to lose 50 or even 100 pounds, because my weight loss will be a whopper at 180 pounds. I don't think about that number though. I can't freaking weight to see the 299! I'll get there, hopefully by the end of October as planned, but life likes to throw things at you and I've realized that plans often need to be changed. I'm down 10 pounds since July 1st though by only making some small changes. I cut out soda completely and haven't looked back. I've cut back severely on the cheap, shitty processed foods. It's hard, but i'm keeping with it. It's not hard because I miss it, because I actually ate a frozen pizza the other night and got sick from it lol, but it's hard because I don't know how to cook a lot of things yet and the healthy things that I like can be costly. I'm not going into that though. I have decided that if eating healthy for LIFE is going to work for me, I have to eat the things I like. Sorry, but eating things you don't like (and I mean want to vomit after eating) will never work long term and my body needs to be cared for, not abused and forced into something. My plan is working for me and that is all that matters!

Good shoes are so important. I'd been wearing a pair of walking shoes that I bought over 2 years ago that no longer fit. I went to see a podiatrist last winter who did quite a few things that helped me but one thing that didn't help were some orthotics that made those shoes fit even worse. So I ended up wearing shoes for a long time that were too long and the orthotics caused a lot of pressure on my arches and the tops of my feet. My right foot was starting get numb spots and burning sensations. That means nerve damage.

So, after my foot pain kept me awake for quite a while on Thursday night, I finally had enough and went to a store here on Friday that sells New Balance shoes. $137 later, I walked out of the store with shoes on that fit and didn't put pressure on my feet. They are also designed to help with pronation, which I have in spades.

Yesterday, I walked more than I have in a very long time...with no foot pain.

Sometimes, I just have to figure things out for myself!

Good morning all. I've been off of here for almost a week -- went on a trip down to the Columbia River Gorge with my grand nephew (6) and BIL -- Great trip and didn't gain any weight. Didn't lose any, but didn't gain any!

PJVW -- Have you taken the trip with your mom to the farmer's market. It sounds as thought you two have a good time together.

Workinghard -- The walking on the beach for 45 minutes every day -- even on hard sand -- would definitely help with keeping the weight off. It's good to know that vacations can occur without gaining weight! Who knew!

Lass -- Good for you for going to the doctor before starting your weight loss. You asked about weight loss apps -- I use myfitnesspal mainly because I like their database the best. But, all of the major apps have strengths and weaknesses and it's just a matter of getting used to one. I did get a chuckle out of having a cholesterol count of 149 being counted as a little high as I'd be thrilled to get mine down to that.

Jane -- Sounds like this has been your traveling year. Your one year pictures look great and reading about your journey this year has been such an inspiration. I rarely watch the weight loss shows -- but then I never watch reality tv shows. You are not a circus freak and I'm so sorry that you had any negative feelings while watching it.

Wheezypi -- I laughed so hard at your description of walking with the "tall people" and then realized that at 5'2" you probably have to take 1 1/2 to 2 steps for every one of them. Good for you for keeping up.

Garnet -- I haven't reached the too many compliments stage yet (and doubt if I will). I think it takes our bodies a while to adjust and have the weight loss be noticeable so even though I haven't lost any weight in a month, I'm getting more compliments now than before.

All of the shoe talk this past week made me realize that my current shoes are really not giving me the support I need and, in fact, have created huge callouses on the sides of my feet by my little toes. So, I just ordered a pair of Orthaheels as they force your feet into alignment and I think I need the bigger toe box they seem to offer.

Off to catch up on all the work related stuff around the house. I haven't checked the garden since we got home.....I imagine that the beans and zucchini are ready to be picked.

Hi Betsy...

Mom and I had an outing but we didnt make it to the farmer's market... We live a good way out and some other things came up that we had to take care of... anyway... we did get to have the day together... so that was the best part... and I even stayed POP

been kind of bad the past few days. dealing with the loss of our dog has been rough and we ended up eating out like three times this week. I'm still down like 6 lbs from last saturday so I figure I'm not doing too bad. I just need to get back into exercising and will hopefully be able to do that this week. life has been kicking me in the balls. I kind of have attributed my serious weight gain to the depo shot that I'm still recovering from (having a period for the past six months with maybe combined 3 weeks off) and just convenience issues. I don't really see myself as an emotional eater, never have attributed food to feeling better, just usually too damn lazy. I'm hoping the more I lose the more the laziness goes away. then again, if it was just me I'd just be eating things like lean cuisines and healthy snacks. unfortunately I can't leave my husband to fend for himself. betsy, you're right. it's about 2 steps for every one of theirs. I have short legs, husband is 6'3" and his mom is 5'11". they walked "my pace" but it was a fast pace for me. bleh.

where is nmen? I just read thru the past week and didnt see her?
I have been missing also. I have had a horrible couple of months. First hubby had his teeth pulled and got dentures. It has been a 2 month process and we still have a ways to go to get him back to normal eating. Then my brother passed away suddenly. He had just turned 50. He had a massive heart attack.
Hubby hurt is back during the week my brother passed away and has been on the couch since.
Eating hasnt been what it should be. Im hoping to get back on track today.

Slush- I think it's most important to find what works for you and then roll with it. Personally, little changes is what works for me. If I try to change to much at one time then I end up falling off the wagon.

Betsy- Welcome back from your trip! Not gaining on vacation is an amazing feat! Way to go!

wheezy, I have to remember sometimes to slow my pace when I'm walking with my mom. My legs are longer than hers.

dgramie- I'm sorry to hear about how much has been going on in your life. I hope that you are able to heal from your loss.

Hi all! I walked two blocks from my car to my client work site in the rain today. Here's the weird thing. I enjoyed it. My pain today is minimal. I was able to walk at an almost normal gait. I was steady and balanced on my feet, unlike the toddling, teetering, limping creature I used to be at 300 pounds. I enjoyed the sound of the rain on my umbrella and the scents being released into the air. Best of all, I wasn't at all scared of falling.

I've come a long way, baby.

Wheezy & dgramie I'm sorry to hear things have been so rough. Hope it starts looking up!

GarnetThat's awesome! You really have come a long way!

I full on regressed to every bad habit I've ever had this weekend, until about 9 pm last night when I literally just snapped out of it. I have no idea what pulled me out of that tailspin, but I'm glad it did. I finally got back in the pool today, and god did I need it. I think that I need exercise more than for just weight loss.

Good morning ladies. It's a gorgeous day here and not too hot. One of the reasons that summer in the Northwest is close to being in heaven.

PJVW -- Glad you got to do an outing with your mom, even if it didn't turn out to be the farmer's market. I sure miss my mom and the outings we used to take.

Wheezypi -- Sounds like you're managing to stay on plan even with all the ups and downs you're having to deal with. Good for you -- that's hard to do.

Dgramie -- What a horrible couple of months you've had. Hope your husband is close to getting back to normal with both the teeth and the back. And I'm sorry about losing your brother. I lose my sister about 4 years ago, and there are days when I'm still dealing with it.

Garnet -- Loved the description of your walk and enjoying it. I'm walking, but not enjoying it so you've given me hope that that situation will eventually change. Thanks for sharing that.

Jane -- You're not alone in regressing. And glad that the exercising seems to help.

Lots of stuff coming out of the garden right now -- especially zucchini. I had grilled zucchini last night. Tonight I will have zucchini patties. That will use up one of the 5 huge ones I picked yesterday. The neighbors are getting some and I may make some bread for my BIL as he loves it. Lots of piddly stuff going on right now with house and yard maintenance, but overall things are good.