Thanks aphill! I lost 2 lbs. in this weeks weigh-in. Float sonds really good and not too many calories.

246/213.5/165

Hello everyone,
I haven't heard from anyone in a couple of days-I am curious to hear how everyone is doing!
I am doing okay-I am holding steady at the same weight, but I am not discouraged. I am doing a lot of weight training, and I am really starting to feel the muscles in my arms and shoulders.
There is a thread under food that is called "looking for a recipe"-if any of you like pineapple, check it out. There is a recipe for a pineapple angel food cake that is really good-I made it in a bundt pan instead of a rectangle one and it turned out great, but you may have to go by checking rather than the time they have listed for baking;at 30 minutes it was still not done enough.
I have a lot more energy since I have upped my exercise regime. I feel really good, and the fact that my son has started sleeping from 10:30 pm to 5:30 am the past week has REALLY helped with that!
Deana- I tried your vegetable soup-I have been making it in single servings-a little boullion and water to a 1/2 cup of frozen veggies. It has turned out really good.
I have also found Kraft Light Done Right salad dressings are really good-a lot better than the fat free ones. Try them out-the very small amount of fat makes a major difference in the taste!
Hope to hear from you all soon!
Love, Aphil

I lost 1.5lbs. at last nights weigh-in.
I use JoAnna Lunds Healthy Exchange recipes a lot and have found a lot of success with the variety.

Hi Everyone!

Keep it up Aphil! The pounds will start dropping again. I'm also doing strength training and I went through a period of no weight loss and this month I lost 2 pounds! So, I'm happy about that. For upper body I have two favorite videos... "Claudia Schiffer's Perfectly Fit Arms" and "Kathy Smith's Lift Weights to Lose Weight". They're really good and like you, I have really started seeing the definition of my muscles in my arms and shoulders. A year and a half ago, it was all just one blob of fat!

Sadiegirl - congratulations on your loss! Doesn't it feel great??? Keep up the good work!

Have to go for now! Aphil - that diet float sounds great!

talk to ya guys soon!

Lisa

Hi everyone!
Congrats Sadie on your loss! A lot of times we see a pound or two as not a big thing-but it brings you that much closer to your goal-and if you use something like a weight for one or two pounds, or a sack of flour for 5 pounds-it gives yu a better visual of exactly what is NOT on your body anymore!
Lisa-if you like variety in your weight routines-some good ones I like are Denise Austins shortcuts-she has 2-one for upper and one for lower body. The lower body ones don't use the weights as much, because you are usung your body weight as resistance. They are good and easy to follow. I usually do a female bodybuilders routine while I am watching TV, but with smaller weights(3-5lb. depending on body part) but I do one of these videos if I need motivaton or nothing good is on!
I am trying to cut through my plateau by eating more protein, and morecomplex carbs instead of refined ones like bread and sweets. I know Iam gaining muscle mass-and once I am at my goal size-I wouldn't mind raising my weight levels and getting more "cut"!
Well,my son is squealing for my attention-so everyone stick with it-and have a wonderful day!
Lots of love,
Aphil

i just finished reading everyone's inspiring an enthusiastice posts. hope everyone is doing alright.

i am currently on richard simmons. i just started yesterday. it is basically the same thing as you guys are doing. but he pretty much counts the calories for you and i dont have to write anything down. just shut the windows on the food mover.

i too believe the old fashioned way is the only way it will happen. i really wanted the lowcarb thing to work, but didnt like how i felt. i was on ww points, but used my points for basically all carbs. so, with richard simmons, he has got a window for every food group, and if i dont want to be hungry at the end of the day, i will close each and every window i am allowed.

i am 5'3 and am 180, between switching different ways of eating since april 28th, i have lost 9 lbs. but now i am sticking to this. healthy eating and a balanced eating plan.

i do drink my water and excercise 4 to 5 times a week for 30 min. i am doing the 1200 cal card, but if i am hungry some days i might just add a little more, i believe for my height and weight i can have up to 1400 cal. but i really want to jump start my weight loss. good luck to all

Willbethin, I use the foodmover too as a way of counting the amount of exchanges that I eat each day. I like the excercise he promotes as well. Richard's program is so well balanced as it is based on the exchange plan. I also post on Richard's thread.
Glad you are here.

Hi everyone!
Willbethin-thanks for the great post! Richard Simmons FoodMover is a great convenient way to count calories without looking things up and it can go right in your purse! Glad you are doing well with it!
I tell ya, I am real excited! I do strength training with weights 3 days a week, but I have been totally unmotivated the other 4 days with cardio/aerobic exercise! I hate to run, hate the stairmaster, and can't walk for long periods of time because of my 2 small kids-I hate aerobic tapes for the most part, except for step aerobics, so most of the time I stationary bike. It has been getting SO boring! I ahve read every book in my house on that thing, and I needed something new.
I actually found a tape that I LOVE!
I am learning to bellydance! I have always been interested in it, and I am trying it, and loving it! It does not get your heart rate up as much as jogging or aerobic dance, but the movements are much more isolated, and really improve your posture and tone your abs, shoulders, and back. I am even learning to use zils, those little finger cymbals! Once I am really confident with a few routines, I may surprise my husband with a little show!
Well, I have to go now-the dishes need done.(how boring!)
Love, Aphil

hi aphil, i am so glad you found something to make your excercising interesting. i am sure hubby would love a show. good for you.

i usually do a circuit workout, sometimes tapes, but mostly aerobic machines i have down basement mixed with arm weights, stomach excercises , hip and thigh machine. all while i watch tv. i am a tv addict, although that is being taken over by my computer. there are so many supportative people regarding weight loss, i just love to talk to people, who made goal, who are struggling to make goal, and everyone in between. i have to believe i will make goal one day.

there has been enough failures. and i want off this rollercoaster ride. too many ups and downs only up from now on

Hello everyone!

I've been reading your posts and think this is probably where I fit in best!

I'm another one who has tried everything under the sun but have trouble sticking to anything for very long. I've lost weight (and gained, and lost, and gained...) but I'm very discouraged at this point with my weight at an all time high of 220. Currently, I'm walking as much as possible, trying to drink enough water, and just trying to be sensible about my eating. I'm using calorie counting and the old WW exchanges as a guideline.

I wish each and every one of you much success! Here is to seeing less of us in the future!

Southern gal

Hi,
Welcome Southern Gal!
I am so glad you decided to join us! We offer each other a lot of support here! Do not beat yourself up over your weight-we are all in the same boat, and at least you recognize you have a problem, and are doing something about it! Good luck!
Willbethin-I, too, am a tv fanatic and watch while I weight train. It really makes the time go by faster. And, yes-my hubby is looking forward to the show!
I just printed off a picture from a website of the dress I have to wear in my friend's wedding-along with a picture of me at my highest weight! (yuck!)
How's that for motivation?
Well, take care everyone!
Love, Aphil

Happy Friday Everyone!

Welcome Southern Gal! Glad you joined us. I know how hard it is to find that motivation to stick with the weight loss. I was an overweight child, overweight teen and an overweight adult. Something happened to me when I turned 29 years old. It just hit me that I was wasting the best years of my life being fat! So, I made a vow... told EVERYONE I was going to lose it all by the time I turned 30. By telling everyone, I felt like it gave me that push to make it happen. Like a challenge to prove myself right. Anyway, here I am midway into my 30th year on this earth and I'm over 60 pounds lighter! I KNOW how hard it is and the commitment it takes. It almost has to become an obsession... at least with me. You have to think about it almost every waking moment... counting calories, planning meals, making time for exercise, etc. But I do have to say, the hard work IS worth it in the end!

Aphil - I LOVE the belly dance thing! I thought of trying that myself. There is a video out there and for the life of me I can't remember the name of the woman who does it, but she supposedly trains celebrities using belly dancing techniques and she's made a fitness video along those lines. I'll try to remember her name. My favorite workout is Step! I LOVE it and I get such a good workout in the classes at my gym. I mentioned before that I don't really sweat as much doing aerobics... I was doing Jazzercise for several months and just wasn't getting the intensity I needed. I sweat buckets during the step classes and I have so much fun, the time goes by so fast!

Well, have to get to work! Have a great day everyone!
Lisa

hi everyone, how are you guys doing??? i am doing great so far. but weekends are hard, eating out or ordering out with hubby, socialize drinking, i just have to be strong. make better choices, and stick to this way of eating. i just have to take it one day at a time.

next door neighbor gave me leftover birthday cake, last night. i didnt touch it, and planned on giving it to kids for snack today.

well i almost made it , had a piece. but i shut a bunch of windows for it, i dont know if they were right. i t was a little piece w icing. i shut a fruit, 2 fat and a dairy. thought that would cover it. i hope so. i am doing to well to not see loss at then end of the week.

i wont be doing that again soon.

it is 2:30pm and if you read my previous post, you know i had a piece of cake. well i guess that was a trigger food, cause i overate at lunch. well i guess i am still learning. i will try to salvage the rest of the day with lots of veggies and healthy foods.

Willbethin,

Don't beat yourself up over this. It's okay to "fall off the wagon" once in a while. What counts is getting right back on and keep trudging along. The worst thing you can do is feel guilty over it.

I know what you mean, though. Sometimes if I eat something I don't usually eat, I want to keep eating bad stuff all day long! One thing I do is allow myself a "Cheat Day" where I can have a meal or a sweet snack that I've been craving all week. So, for example if someone brings Donuts into the office, I'll tell myself... you can have a donut on Cheat Day. That usually works and I reward myself with the donut (or whatever it is) on my designated day. It helps me stay on track during the week.

Have a great weekend!
Lisa