Amanda - give yourself two weeks and than re-evaluate. The best time to work out is the time that works out for you.

The talk about dating and gaining weight got me thinking. I looked at my spreadsheet and I weighed 194 when I started seeing the b/f and now I am 191.2. But after I started to see him I put on 10 lbs and shied away from the gym. It is a good feeling to be back on track.

Yesterday….oh yesterday. I ate too much . But I am okay with that. I still got in my 10 servings of fruits and veggies (oh yeah). But I also had chocolate. And pie. I had a modest amount of chocolate after lunch yesterday……but this is when I realized “I am getting full, I should stop” and I didn’t.
And then the boy made dinner. A good, nutricious dinner. And there was dessert. He served a very reasonable and portion controlled slice of pie and frozen yoghurt. (I cannot blame this on him, unfortunately). But I went back for seconds…….and my second pie was twice as big as my first. And I was as hyper as a 5 year old. I only felt a little bad for the boy.

But a pet peeve I have is if I do take a big piece of desserty goodness he says “you have to share it with me”. I feel like he is saying “you know you should not have that”. I think its my decision – I am a grownup. It does not happen very often, but it still irks me. And it does not help that I don’t like sharing. I act like an only child – its taken a lot of behavior modification in teach myself how to share.

Anyway. I had a great gym work out and just sipping on my tea. Looking forward to my hike on Friday and personal training session on Saturday!!!

I am going to a bbq/picnic on Saturday. Any advice on how to not nibble and snack my way through the event?

Hi Girls!! Its Wednesday!!!!

I have a co-worker/very good friend that gets all kinds of emails and coupons from "Mall Stores." She know that I am running low on clothes that fit so she always prints the coupons for me too. This morning she came over with one for $50 off of $100 at NY & Co. I <3 NY & Co. She say's "I think I'm going to go at lunch." So I say "I'll go with you!" (I have lots of willpower when it comes to food, but none when it comes to shopping.) $130 later (after my $50 off!) I'm back at work. I stopped by Crisp (do any of you have those?) and got a yummy yummy salad.

I did get a new suit (size 10, and the waist is baggy, YAY!), a black shirt dress (also a 10), a button-up collared shirt (Medium!) and a pair of yoga capris (Medium also!!)

I have jazzercise tonight right after work (hopefully its not cancelled again!) Then home to see my boys. I'm very much looking forward to the 3 day weekend that is coming up! No plans, DH will be working 2 of the days, so I will get lots of quality time with my little Monkey.

I was completely MIA yesterday. I went to work for 2 hours and came home. I was running a fever.. I stayed in bed ALL day. I'm feeling better today, but still very congested. I'm ready to be over this so I can start running again!

On a better note---Today was weigh in, and I was down 3 lbs!!!! WOO! Finally the scale is going down. The fiber pills definitely helped ladies!

On the gaining weight while in a relationship topic... I have been with my bf for going on 9 years, and we have both steadily packed on the pounds over the years. I'm hoping eventually he will get on the wagon with me. He wants to get bikes when we have the money. We have a lot of great trails right by our apartment. We have so many other things we could definitely be spending our money on but I think it would be completely worth it. He has a friend that lost a ton of weight when he started biking and I think it's kind of a motivator.
Kaitlyn-I know it's depressing to hear something like that come out of your boyfriends mouth, but be glad that he is willing to be supportive and go through this journey with you. One of my biggest problems is my boyfriend cooking ridiculously unhealthy (and yummy) foods, or constantly wanting to go to restaurants where I will be so tempted. It would be really helpful if he tried a little harder to be healthy. But then again, I don't want to be the naggy girlfriend!

Rainbow - Oh thank you! I just got them last month And as for heat + exercise, just make sure you stay really hydrated. Exercise indoors if you have any asthma problems (like me :C). Thankfully our blistering hot and humid NJ summer is ending and soon the cool weather should be moving in. Back to my walks outside!!!

I can't wait for work to be done so I can go home and see the boyfriend!

Thanks for the kind words I know he wasn't saying it in a mean way... but its kinda a touchy subject haha. On the positive side, its great because then we can motivate each other.

Now that I am finally getting over my cold, I planned out dinners for the rest of the week and went grocery shopping. Oh, and after I got home, I organized the fridge. Glad I did that because all the veggies wouldn't fit in the drawer haha.

Hello!

My brain is a bit scattered to do personals this morning, bleurgh, Thursday. Usually I love Thursdays because I get the whole day to myself to do whatever I want, and though I should make the most of it and go to my painting studio, I usually use it to get in a longer workout and then have some time to relax to myself. Today, however, I only have half the day. I offered to take my boyfriend's mum to the airport because his parents are always doing things for me, so it's a good reason to not have a whole day to be lazy, but it also means that now I have to get everything I want to do in before I go pick her up - and I slept in too long.
I just drank a smoothie, Risssa, I used berries! Hah! I found some frozen blueberries and took a handful of those to put in my smoothie. I was literally a bit freaked out to taste it but I couldn't notice them too much. I'm not sure if they're adding anything nutritionally to my daily food intake, but I FEEL like I'm doing something good eating another fruit...I think I'm a little crazy.
I'm annoyed that the scale is still hovering around the same place it was this time last week. I don't want to do anything too drastic (drop/raise calories, extremify my exercise) just yet because I'm not sure whether I need to, so I'm hoping to see how I'm going next week - but it is discouraging to see a scale difference week after week and then one week nothing. I know it's going to happen a lot in this journey, but it's the first time it's happened to me so far.
Alright. Going to let my smoothie settle a bit and then do some exercise! Got a date with Shaun T :P (hip hop abs) haha!

Rainbow ~ It's all about the baby steps when it comes to adding in things you don't necessarily like/use a lot. Good for you!!

Jenn ~ Go you and all your new skinny minny clothes!!! I absolutely love NY&Company so much. Their jewelry is one of my favorite things. It's so pretty and it's always on sale! haha They also give a 15% discount if you're a teacher (among other things like nurses, emt, firefighters, police, etc) but I always forget to show my teacher union card when I go in and buy stuff.

Thought I would get on and post to those who remember me. I am pregnant! We think about 8 weeks...so guess this weight loss thing is gonna have to be on hold. Hope you girls have a wonderful next 7 months while I'm away!

I just wanted to thank everyone for their kind words and support, it means a lot to me. It's awesome how much it cheered me up, its amazing what some online communities can bring a person! It really is rough going for me, but it helps to know i can come here with my b/s.
I can finally say I feel firmly back in my, uh...diet wagon seat?! Lol. I decided to break it down and look at this whole thing as "stages" and that I moved past stage one, and am moving into a new stage now. I hope to step up my workouts and stay on point diet wise. I decided to stick to mainly liquid/protein shakes b/c of my serious issues binging. I really want to lose 30 (well 40 is ideal but unlikely) this semester.
And a really really good friend of mine offered to swing by (he lives 3 hours away) and it made me sad to have to say no to that. Because I still can't/won't deal/allow anyone to see me this heavy. Le sigh.
re-dating/weight
I spent the last 6 years pretty heavily into an eating disorder, so that i suppose kinda taints my views, but it also got me thinking as I am now single for basically the first time since 15. I feel gross/can't/wouldn't put myself out to anyone, nor have any guys approached me.(though this also speaks volumes w/my personal issues surrounding weight. i mean i went from dolling myself up intensely daily to looking like crap in unflattering clothes and hardly any makeup daily. but i cant imagine letting anyone touch me even if someone did approach me seem interested etc) I tended when in relationships to lose weight, and due to-well obviously not the case now- get too thin in most people's eyes and it caused problems. Either way it made me think of my issues w/food and how it affects everything too much. I swear i originally had a point in there.


Rissa- thanks for posting those, i need to eventually incorporate green smoothies back into my diet (right now my veggie juice is just low sodium v8 and i only have a bit of that due to calories and such).
Back in the day (when i had a life) I would often kinda try to figure out if there would be veggies and if not i tended to bring a big plate of them and a few healthy dips. Otherwise I tried to eat something healthy before and just nibble at the healthiest offerings I had. Doesn't mean you can't enjoy other offerings, just sharing what i used to do (and what i plan to do if i attend such things again which i sure hope so)

lissa- Aww, I hope you manage to do something great anyhow (i used to live in hampton roads btw! i feel your pain about the summers, so humid.)

Kaitlyn89- hearing it in any way shape or form always stings, but it would be helpful to have someone in the same boat working towards better health!

Amanda- I work out in the afternoons, but I'm also dependent on my mother for a ride (loong story, cant drive for another months or so due to having a seizure-everything is ok healthwise now though). I used to feel i did the best in the evenings, when I was working during the day and went w/my then bf. I kinda am partial to working out solo (but i do like and miss group classes) but having someone to go with always did help me to get into the routine of going. I have to step up my workouts myself, hopefully today will be the start of it.

jenn- Score!! How exciting

casey- Congrats, see good things happen w/patience. Getting to see those kinda results can bring such relief.

rainbow- The scale is not my friend, I am avoiding it for now. However I have reason to, and i also know in the past when i was on plan and doing well that it got to me weeks the scale barely budged. All i can say is keep your chin up and stick through it, b/c it will keep paying off...some weeks more so then others. Oh and in the picture thread i say you by your artwork, and other then being adorable-you're obviously really talented!

sgregg- Congrats!!!!!

cataclysmic - I prefer the solo thing too, but I've worked out with this friend before and she goes her way, I go mine, so I don't mind so much.. I most like having someone holding me accountable, so to speak.. I know I have plans to meet her/them, so I'm more likely to keep the plans. My favorite time to work out is about 8, 8:30 at night, but I don't see that fitting in my schedule in the immediate future.

I'm frustrated with my lack of progress this week, and I think I'm taking a break from the scale. I won't have one while I'm out of town anyway, so I'm just going to make the best decisions I can and enjoy being active, and hope the scale reflects that next week. I've been so piled with obligations this week that I haven't worked out once, and tonight isn't looking much better.

But I'm leaving for mini-vacay tomorrow, so screw it! I'm at work, and this is my Friday, and there's no reason to feel less than positive I'll probably be missing until late Monday, so I hope you ladies have wonderful, fun, healthy weekends.

Cataclysmic- I'm proud of you for keeping your head up! But i'll tell you when I was single it was sooo liberating. I lost around 50 lbs and was in great shape and figured out what I wanted for me and my son. It was great figuring everything out and then I met a great man and life is great. Just gotta get rid of this second baby weight now.

Amanda- Enjoy your mini-vacay! I'm totally jealous can I hide in your suitcase??it would haev to be a really big one though.

So I am feeling pretty good about everything considering I was completely OP yesterday...eating was great and I got a good work out in finally. Tomorrow is my weigh-in day so hopefully I will be moving my ticker down..even though its TOM! Have a great thursday everyone

Ugh, I'm still feeling ill. I have not worked out once this week. I'm really hoping I don't have a hard time re-motivating myself once I'm feeling well enough to work out again. I was really getting into the swing of things!

Cata-I'm glad you're feeling cheered up. It's amazing how supportive this place can be. I always feel like I'm surrounded by people who do not understand what I'm doing, but I know I can ALWAYS come here for support.

Amanda- How exciting! Enjoy your vacation!

BL-Good job with staying OP and good luck with weigh in! Boooo for TOM

Casey- I know what you mean! It seems like I get knocked down right when I'm getting on a good schedule. I actually signed up here in the midst of a 4 day couch-fest of death and hacking. I just try to keep focused on what I want to do, and plan as best I can for when I feel human again.

So, just wanted to share my triumph of the day: I'm making myself drink an entire glass of water before I eat something.. it helped me skip my mid morning craving, and made lunch taste that much yummier (although I kind of think there isn't a whole lot that's tastier than good, fresh watermelon). And it is getting me back in the swing of drinking water... I've been slacking hard core!

I can't stress enough what a difference the inclusion of water makes. It always helps me in soooo many ways.

Hi Girls!!!!

First off... SGREGG - CONGRATULATIONS!!! I'm so excited for you!!!!!!

Jazzercise has been cancelled this week due to the building getting some repairs. Hopefully they are fixing the moldy bathroom (i won't even go in there.) I can't go back until next Wednesday With the 3 day weekend coming up, my goal is to do an Excercise On Demand work out on Saturday morning and Monday morning. I think I may also take the little one to the park one day.

No other news here. Happy Thursday all!

I really want to go on a bike ride today, but there is no one to go with me. Makes me slightly nervous to go alone but I will brave it a little bit later Well perfect! My mom just called me and told me that she locked her keys in her car at work today. Guess I will ride my bike to there!

Side note - I go back to school in a month and my sister and I are carpooling. I need to figure out some good lunches to take with me. The bad thing is that there are like NO microwaves there. I will totally have to get creative. Any ideas?