I had some bad things happen this past week and I have been off plan for a couple of days and it worried me. See, last Wednesday, my horse jumped a fence and was impaled on a T-post. Thursday, we had to put her down. Friday we started worrying we were going to lose her 2 month old foal also as he wouldn't eat, Friday night we brought in a surrogate mother for him, just to find out our gelding has adopted him as his own and won't let the surrogate near him, then the two adult horses had to learn to get along and it has been extremely emotional. I didn't eat at all Thursday, but I did manage to get the HNSs in, then I tried to stay somewhat on track over the weekend, but didn't do well at all. I am starting back right today. According to my scale I gained a pound over all this and I hate that, but I am back on track and praying it doesn't cause a stall and I will just start losing right away again.....

I'm back at home! We spent last night at my mother in law's (as its in the town we work in...our home is an hour away). I REALLY wanted to weigh at home this morning...but I guess I'll have to wait until my weigh in tomorrow at MRC.

Yesterday was good. We went to a taco shop for lunch with friends, but they had breakfast stuff....so I got Mexican eggs...eggs, cheese, chicken and veggies. They are normally served with tortillas, but I had a side salad. It was sooooo good!

We stopped at Braum's for dinner traveling through Oklahoma. Its a burger/ice cream place. I got a grilled chicken sandwhich and ate the chicken and veggies. Then instead of my bread, I got a scoop of their sugar free Carb Watch ice cream. They told me one serving was only 100 calories and 4 carbs...so I made that my carbs for the evening. It was a bit higher in calories...but its the choice I made.

Now that I'm home, I'm hoping to keep making great choices!

Congrats on all the smaller sizes ladies! I bought my first pair of size 8 pants this weekend. They are a bit snug fitting (too tight for right now) but they buttoned and were cute, so I bought them to wear 10 pounds from now. It was exciting!

Too bad we aren't in the same state - I went shopping at Lane Bryant as well for bras and undies!!! I too went down two whole sizes in everything. I managed to get some tank tops too that I can wear to work! I also found some great yoga pants at Old Navy!!

I am SO sorry that you've had to go through all of this. I love animals, and sometimes seeing them suffer is almost worse than seeing a fellow human suffer--at least humans can talk things out and you can try to comfort them with words.

Truly, I wouldn't worry about weight gain/loss from during that awful experience--just focus on taking care of you emotionally and physically until you are strong enough to focus back on the plan.

I hope the horses adjust quickly, for your sake and theirs.

Thanks for the info!

Two questions for the group:

1. When you first started the program, did you notice anything different about your body? Like random swelling? Anything at all? And how soon after you officially started?

2. Did you ever lose weight when it is was that time of the month (and you stayed on plan), if so how much?

Thanks!
Carm

1. When you first started the program, did you notice anything different about your body? Like random swelling? Anything at all? And how soon after you officially started?

Didn't notice any swelling, except when working out (which is typical for drinking so much water and not having a lot of sodium...it happens to runners who drink a lot of water during a long race...they swell. Some sodium will offset the issue). So only swelled a bit when working out for a few weeks after starting. I was drinking 120 ounces of water a day, and eating very low-sodium (don't add it to anything, and buy low sodium stuff...only get it from HNS and naturally). So when working out, I would swell a bit.

2. Did you ever lose weight when it is was that time of the month (and you stayed on plan), if so how much?

Never. Even when I was on plan 100%.

1. Not really. Like razorbackbritt, I did swell some during exercise. Also, my period/pms has changed (even though I'm still on the pill). Stronger cramping, heavier period, longer period (only 1 or 2 days longer). It took a couple months before that started happening, though.

2. Only once. Last week. I lost 1 lb. I'm attributing it all to the SlimQuick supplement I started using the weekend prior (non-MRC). Probably because SlimQuick has caffeine in it, and caffeine is a diuretic (and often found in PMS medications). Honestly, I think the only way to lose while on TOM is with some kind of additional supplement.

1. About week 2 after upping my water to 120 oz daily I did see some swelling in my knees and ankles - by the end of week 3 everything was back to normal. I have had some water retion (bloating with TOM).

2. I have not actually lost during TOM but usually have a larger than normal loss the week after (I assume I retain water during TOM, but this is only my 2nd month (TOM twice while on program) so I don't know if this will change in the future or not.

Mariah

Thanks everyone for your thoughts/experiences on swelling. I am noticing some swelling on my arms - and I think you have it correct - drinking SOOOO much more water than I usually do, exercise and the much lower sodium intake.

My doctor said she was happy that I am doing the program and I got a clean bill of health, so I figured it had something to do with what I'm taking in - and that is pretty much a ton of water and HNS'.

Back to the gym today! I still had my toe wrapped up from my ingrown removal so it got a little uncomfortable but I pushed through. I set the timer on the treadmill for 30 min but I was so close to 1.5 miles, I continued until then.. so it was 33 min! Felt good to get out of the office and go do that for my "lunch". Since I eat lunch earlier, now, and at my desk.. getting out around 2pm was nice. Two weeks ago I was doing 2 miles in an hour.. so I'm getting faster and that makes me happy.

The consultant that did my WI last Thursday, when I gained the pound (probably due to pain meds - water retention) called me today to congratulate me on my WI from Saturday (lost 4)! That was a great pick me up for a Monday! I'm going tomorrow for the Regulating Emotions Class and another WI.

Hope everyone has a great week!
~C

I got a job teaching Zumba today!!!

I went on my lunch break to a nice hospital fitness center. Its in the town we work in now (and where we will be moving after I graduate). And they gave me a job to teach 2-4 times a week starting in May after I graduate! Woohoo!

They really want me to get certified to teach Zumba to kids...so I am looking into that as well. That would give me 4 classes a week, where if I just do regular Zumba it would be 2 a week.

I am so excited! This makes me feel not fat anymore. Surely they wouldn't have hired a fat person to teach aerobics...but they hired me! :-)

What town will you be moving to?

Hi, all! I'm new to MRC, but not new to 3 Chicks. I've had several logins here--seems every time I try a new diet, I come here for support, lose some weight, get cocky and think I can do it by myself, fail miserably, and then try something new. I just got back from weighin--10.5 pounds in 11 days!! I am sooooo excited! I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring, though--have to go to a conference for work and those are always set up for a feeding trough all day long. I'm going to take my HNS, string cheese, oranges and Melba--hopefully that will get me through.

Kathy

We are moving to Fort Smith. We live in Fayetteville and I go to grad school Tues/Thurs...but my hubby owns a business in Fort Smith and I work there part time (M/W/F)....and we are building a house just outside of town. So I will be living, working, (and now) teaching Zumba there after I graduate in May!