Haven't posted in this thread for a while. I'm not back to things full force yet. I start back to school again on Wednesday so that's when I'm officially back on plan.

Newleaf, you MIL sounds a bit like mine. DH and I have been married for 24 years and she has hardly ever complimented me on anything in that time. She went to Florida with us and asked what I was doing to lose but never said anything like I looked better or anything. Oh well!

Dancer, I'm also a bit scale obsessed. I'm on it every day, sort of keeps me in check. Congrats on Paris weight!

Sukie, way to stick with the exercise!

ICU, THat Ipod WILL be yours!

Inthemisdst, Hope you had a great vacation!

Onmyway - good luck getting things going with going back to school!

inthemidst - welcome back!

dancerindenver - it sounds like you're well on your way.

ICUwishing - this Labor Day goal is also something that I hope will feel good when I accomplish it, too. I think that's the only way to keep the momentum.

newleaf - I'm not sure what it is with MIL's. They often have kind of strained relationships with their DIL's. My MIL passed away about 5 years ago, but our relationship was always pretty uncomfortable.

sukierd - good work on the exercise!

I'm finally back here now that I'm finally on a downward trend. Strangely enough, I can only seem to lose weight in the early part of my monthly cycle and I'm finally there again.

InTheMidst - welcome back from vacation!

The funny thing with my MIL is that since we moved to Pittsburgh (where she lives) our relationship has gotten 1000 times better. We actually have a very good relationship now, but it was rocky when we lived far away, never really knew each other to begin with, and then threw grandchildren that she never got to see into the mix. So I'm cutting her some slack with not seeming to notice my weight loss. DH and I have chosen to find it amusing...

It's hot 90's and humid today. I took a day off of exercise yesterday and only did some stretching so far today. My week total was 1.2 lbs down. Good, but I was aiming for 2lbs. I'm having a sugar/carb craving day today. Haven't gone over my calories or what I think are my calories yet though. I'm averaging about 1200cals a day. Do you think that is about right or should I up? I was trying to analyze my food/exercise journal yesterday and I got very frustrated. There are a million calorie counters out there and each one would give me something different for how many cals my bod needed. They ranged from 2800 to 1800 to maintain this 42yo bod with moderate exercise! So to lose weight my range would be 2300 to 1300, no way!

My MIL has weight problems too, so she is always very complimentary even when I haven't really lost any weight.

I had to buy a new battery for scale Friday, I wore it out!

Hi all,

Thanks for welcoming me back - the trip was nice. We saw "Julie and Julia" which added a nice touch to a "foodie" vacation. I am proud that I ate what I wanted but did not overeat. I have got to figure out how to do this and be a foodie at the same time. In the past I have just gotten so disgusted with myself and started overeating crappy food. So I am thinking I may plan a foodie day once per month and eat really good food.

onmyway: I start back to school soon - next week- having been a stayathome mom for 3 years. Any suggestions...Like what is your favorite snack to take?
presmaggie: Glad you are back and on a downward trend. Interesting about that trend. I think I am going to start graphing a few things. 179 is just around the corner!
newleaf: My MIL always sends chocolate when we start to eat healthy in the house (aka diet). She always says we don't need to diet. Maybe your MIL is the same. In 18 years she has never commented on my weight loss or gain.
sukierd: I have the same issue with calorie counters. I use one on my itouch that has me eating 1150 calories a day but others suggest I should be eating 1600 calories a day. Odd.
dancingindenver: Hope that 1 pound went bye bye today!
ICUwishing: Hope the BBQ went well. Let us know when you try those latkes.

Have a good night.

Ash

inthemidst, For snacks I take things like string cheese, pretzels, (rold gold cheddar pretzels are my favorite!) grapes, fiber one bars or WW yogurt. I work at a school and we have a fridge in our class so I can pack whatever. When I'm working I have a lot more control.

I've adjusted my ticker back up to 183. I hated to do it but it is the reality of where I am! I have not been as dedicated this summer and now I'm ready to start again.

Hi, everyone! Counting down ... 4 weeks to go! I'm nearly at the halfway point - 2.5 out of the 6. Dropping under 157 is going to be a big, big deal for me - it's been something like 8 or 9 years since I've been in that range!

inthemidst, I am a total foodie and married to a near-gourmet level hobbyist chef (and yes, that's part of my challenges). We almost never eat out, because the verdict is always "well, we could have done that at home." The hardest thing for me to unlearn, though, is the idea that being a foodie also requires near-gluttony. Portion control has always been my bugaboo and I really, really love the sensation of a big mouth full of food. But I am very slowly figuring out that great food doesn't taste better with quantity. A few years ago, we went out to Chicago to have a meal at Tru. It was NINE courses! But each one was maybe 2-3 oz, and it just ... worked. I haven't reconciled all the ideas and concepts into how I'm going to live as a thin person, but I feel that there is a personal epiphany out on the horizon.

sukierd - I think just breathing in weather that hot should count as exercise! I was up to my nose in a cool spring-fed lake most of the day. I have about the same range as you do with calories, and it definitely is confusing. I started with 1700 (which is actually a heck of a lot of food) and in general, cycle around that. It works ... it's slow, but I never feel like I'm deprived.

OMW - you've lost so much and are so close to your goal! Let me guess - are you in the same spot that I am - we're looking 100% better, feeling great,, having NSVs ... and are you thinking (like I do all the time), well, maybe I'm done? It's the path of least resistance! The devil on my shoulder is nagging at me every darn day, since I got back in the 150's.

I'll have to finish this in a bit - I have to do an emergency grocery store run. BBL!

pres - with ya on the TOM thing! I noticed in my graphs that I would generally make the big chunk downward in a span of only 8 or 9 days, then spend the next two weeks ticking back up just a little, and then stall for the rest of it. Grrrrrrrr. And while some things have changed a little with my weight loss, THAT remains stubbornly persistent.

Heidi - agree, MILs are a unique breed. The only major wrangle I've had with mine is over religion. Handled that indirectly with a spectacular blowup at my spouse - and as anticipated, the matter was discreetly dropped. All of our parents are an hour away in various directions. I like that hour - it's short enough that DS gets to see all his grandparents, but just far enough away that it totally discourages unannounced visits!

Dilemma - I have a wonderful Tanita digital scale that is almost annoyingly consistent, whether it's on carpet, hard stuff, even outside. It reads only in half-pound increments though. I'm a little envious of those of you with the tenth-pound capability, but I hear all sorts of complaints about four weighings having four different measurements. For those with the tenth-pound scales, can you give me an idea how much they vary? Would you trade the precision for the accuracy? Just wondering ....

Howdy, all!

presmaggie - congrats on the downward trend!

sukierd - I'm not an expert but 1200 cal with a bunch of exercise sounds on the low side and hard to keep up with. I've been losing an average of 2lbs a week with moderate exercise and a cal count of around 14-1500. Curious to see what you decide works for you.

ICU - I have an old clunker of a scale (I think it's one I've had since around college) that is no where close to being digital but I'm so used to it, I can't stand the idea of a different one. Since I fluctuate a bit, I wouldn't like the tenths of a pound thing, I don't think. Curious to hear what you decide!

inthemidst - sounds like you are doing great! Way to go on vacation!

OMW - it seems like taking little maintenance breaks is helpful for a lot of people. What do you think? Has it been helpful or frustrating/discouraging to loosen up your discipline a little this summer? I don't have official "cheat days" but we're kind of in a pattern of a long hike on Sundays and I usually let myself have something I don't usually (chips and salsa, thin crust pizza) after the hike if I've burned a ton of extra calories. It seems to help a little with not feeling deprived. Curious if anyone else does anything similar : )

In the spirit of the Labor Day Challenge, wanted to post my results so far (plan in black, results in red). I'd like to get ahead of schedule this week and lose a pound or two. I did another closet cleanout of stuff that's too big and went through the bags of stuff that's too small to find out what fits now and I have to say it was a pretty fun to see the too small pile shrinking.


June 8:190: 190
June 15:188: 189
June 22:188: 188
June 29:186: 187
July 6:184: 184
July 13:182: 181
July 20:182: 179
July 27:180: 178
Aug 3:178: 178
Aug 10:176: 176
Aug 17:176
Aug 24:174
Aug 31:172

LABOR DAY Sept 7: 170

Hi,
Just had a lovely lunch (OP) and shopping day with my dd. She is entering HS and will have a semiformal homecoming dance, followed by a sadie hawkins dance, and then possibly a prom. So we went to a consignment shop and she found 2 great dresses. I was so proud as a mom. And I cannot wait to buy some cute black dress for myself.

onmyway: Thanks for the snack tips. I have a new lunch bag with freezy thing. LOL

ICU: It's all about portions for me, too. AND when I feel deprived I will overeat anything. So acknowledging that I am a foodie and committing to work with that love of food is new for me. ....We once did a tasting menu at one of Emeril's restaurants - 5 itty bitty courses - it was perfect. I just want to taste it all.

dancerindenver: You are doing so great!! Sounds like you got to go shopping in your closet. I cannot wait to do that!

Ash

inthemidst, I splurged on a new vera bradley lunchbox! Can't wait to carry my lunch in style!

dancer, loosening up my plan for the summer has proved to me that I CAN maintain. I haven't gone overboard, my portion sizes have definitely changed. Dining out means eating about half and taking the rest home, I can't eat as much as I used to. Since I have upped my exercise this summer, I also can justify my cheats a little easier, not sure if this is a good thing or not! LOL

ICU, you are very wise! I am comfortable where I am, my clothes fit great, I'm doing things I wasn;t doing before. When I started this thing my original goal was 170. I have to at least get there. I really want to see what a difference the last 20 can make.

presmaggie, congrats on the downward trend!

Sukie, 1.2 is still a loss. Next week may be 2.8 and you will average 2 a week! Keep up the good work!

Newleaf, glad you and DH can have a good laugh about MIL. Sure beats being frustrated with her!

I had a good eating day yesterday. I am ready to get back to losing. I'm hoping for a good first week like when I first started out! Wouldn't that be great.

I'm having an attack of the lazies today (my work from home day) and need to get out on my run before it gets too hot. I'm going to head out the door now! (I'm posting this so I can't use any excuses to not go)_

Phew - run is done with!
OMW - : ) I didn't even know they made fancy lunchboxes! I'm sure you're going to have a great first week back on plan!
Inthemidst - how fun for you to have that special shopping trip with your daughter! Those make great memories.

Back to work... hope everyone has a good one!

Ugh, my mind is not in the game. What's with me?? Well, back on track tomorrow...

OnMyWay, don't feel bad about adjusting your ticker upward. You've acknowledged the gain, now you get to enjoy to positive momentum of bringing it back down...

ICUWishing, you are doing awesome!!! Keep up the great work!

SukieRD, LOL re: wearing out your scale battery!

DancerInDenver, wow, you are doing great!!! Right on target!!

InTheMidst, so did you like Julie & Julia? It sure has gotten a lot of press! I'm curious about the movie b/c it seems to deviate somewhat from the book, which is a good thing b/c I found the book somewhat annoying. I can definitely wait for Netflix on this one...

Good Morning,

I took a bold step today and declared a goal met and changed my ticker. Still have 10 lbs to meet my Labor day goal but I am happy about this victory.

Yesterday went to Grad School Orientation. It was fun. I did not feel out of place even though I am one of the oldest there.

Onmyway- A Vera Bradley lunchbox is very stylish. When do you start back?
Dancerindenver: Yay! Have you always been a runner? How much do you run? I used to run when I was younger and I miss it - but I miss what it felt like to run when I was in good shape. I'll get there.
Newleaf: I did not read the book - and from what you wrote I may not - the movie was fun because I love Julia Child and I enjoy watching Meryl Streep. And she was excellent in this role.

Today the dd has orientation for 9th grade. So fun!

Have a successful day!