Good day #4 here and it feels fabulous. Don't worry, I won't continue counting my good days much longer. I'm just a little giddy about being back into the swing of things.

Yesterday was my cardio day. After two 45-minute sessions of shoveling snow, I was too fatigued to walk on my treadmill. In a situation like this, would you guys "count" snow shoveling as cardio?

Today was another great weight lifting workout. Wonderful!

Mel and now Meg, I'm jealous of anyone who can hire you to be their personal trainer. You are both brimming with so much information, inspiration, common sense and good smarts - you are and will be a blessing to each client who comes your way. Congrats, Meg, on your decision to go for it.

Robin, I also enjoyed your post very much. It's good to know that I'm not the only maintainer that goes up and down. My latest up was way too up, but I'm on my way down again. The person I became over the holidays is NOT the person I want to be - it's a relief to get my old self back again.

Karenlee -- I know when I shovel snow I am sweating almost as much as when I do cardio... Didn't you know it's called sno-cardio , which I have done myself today... boy for a while it was coming down faster than I could shovel it

Food wise has been a good day under 1500 caloreis but I did have two slip ups I won't mention what food it was because I know that when someone mentions certain foods that they've had a problem with I sometimes, not all the time, start wanting that foods so if you really want to know what is was you can visit my fitday journal there's a link in my siggie...

Hi all, last night I was reading another article about how low carb is slowly on its way out, and they were suggesting the next hot diet trend will be the 'satiety diet'. Wet foods and foods with fiber such as veggies and whole grains, in other words, Volumetrics such as in the Barbara Rolls book. The article also mentioned Rolls has another book that should be out this spring for all the Volumetrics fans out there.

All in all, a good day here food/eating/exercise-wise. Good thing because the rain is supposed to start again tomorrow for the next 4 days. Egads. That will make good quiet time to do my Thin for Life Homework.

Jan

Ha! I gothome tonight to find a package slip. It had better be my books from Amazon, including Thin for Life and Volumetrics! Luckily the PO opens for package pickup at 6 am, so I can get it on the way to work. Do you think anyone would notice me reading in my office? It IS a library after all!

Hello:
A good week so far in my neck of the woods. Gym has been happening and food is still on the higher range but I'll take it. Had a run in with a "trigger food" yesterday and I happly came out the winner. Since I can't have just one I am glad that this time I won.
Question: Is the revised Thin for Life a big change from the original. I have the original and haven't picked up the new edition yet and was just wondering.

Hi all. Today is one of those days when I really have to heed the warning "to be careful out there." Today is a danger day for me. I woke up uggy -- sluggish, tired, somewhat blue and feeling like I have weights in my shoes. Every step is an effort. Why? Beats me. I slept well; am not stressed; had good meals yesterday. There is no apparent cause, but this happens every now and again. It's just the way my body works (just like the Up-Down syndrome). It took me a looooooooooong time to recognize the symptons, but now I can tell within 30 seconds whether I'm going to have one of "those" days. There was a time when I coped by grabbing a little treat ... KWIM? And, of course, one treat led to another. And another. And another.

These days, I do things differently. Although I often skip the coffee on these mornings, I opted to have a cup this morning. I have some hard-boiled eggs for my lunch, which I may eat mid-morning, and save my fruit and oatmeal for this afternoon. I've filled my water pitcher, and I'm trying to breathe deep. And I'm explaining all of this to you to keep my awareness and my energy up. I bet I feel more up to snuff by this afternoon. Thanks for listening.

Hey, I went over and looked at our new site -- totally awesome. What a great job Meg!

If there is *anyone* who does not regard snow shoveling as BOTH cardio and lifting, please come over and give my driveway a go, and then give me your assessment. Clearing that puppy is hard work!

Well, gotta churn out a little work here ... talk to you later chickies.

Robin, it's such a huge victory that you recognize the symptoms of your off days and have your plan of attack ready. There's a thread over at our new "home" that talks about our warning signs for looming slipups. I've been thinking about mine. I'm thinking my #1 warning sign is when I don't have a plan for the day. If I don't have a plan, I cope with my stress and emotions just like you do - with food.

Good to hear from you fellow snow-shovelers! It's hard work and kicks my booty every time!

Heading to the gym this morning with my pal. There's a coffee shop attached to the gym so we're sitting down for a chat and some java (after our workout, of course) - I'm hoping this becomes a regular Friday treat.

Have a fit and strong day, everyone!

I did some of that snow shovelling workout this morning. It wasn't as much of a workout as usual though--the snow was light and not that deep. But along with snow comes sledding, one of my favourite winter fun/workout activities. I'm always suprised at how much of a workout I end up getting trudging up the hills over and over for an hour or so. And it's lots of fun and requires no skill.

Ali--I hope your feeling better soon. Enjoy your enforced break from exercise and pamper yourself a bit instead. Can't go running? Well then give yourself a pedicure instead. Take the time for yourself even if you can't use it to exercise.

Hey everybody. So glad to hear that everyone is getting back on track. I never thought I would be jealous of people who live in cold climates but I'm now kind of sorry that I DON'T have snow to shovel. What a great exercise that must be.

My NY's resolution was to kick my butt in gear and "get 'er done" as far as finally getting to my goal weight. So this week I've been following my JC menu to the "T" and exercising like crazy. Last night was my weekly weigh in and I registered at 114.8 pounds -- .2 lbs below goal. So I am now officially a MAINTAINER! I'm so excited. But also a little scared. They've now upped my calories from 1200 a day to 1500 a day and I'm to wean off the JC foods by 1 day a week until I'm completely on my own. I'm resistant to that because the JC foods are "safe" and it's so easy to let JC control what I eat. But I know that I must learn to fly on my own and so here I am.

This topic of up and down during maintenance was so timely for me and I'm so glad that you brought it up and that I have access to such great advice and resources. It has helped to prepare me for those days when I step on the scale and am, perhaps, up a pound or two. I'll know that everybody goes through this and that there's no need to panic (although I probably will anyway).

So, thanks all of you for being here for us "newbies." I have a really hectic month at work this month -- for some reason all of my cases have "come due" this month and I have 2-3 appellate briefs to research and write. That's not such a good thing because when I'm writing and under a deadline for filing a brief with the court, I tend to reach for food and constantly be chewing on something. I'm going to keep a lot of sugar free gum and water handy to stave that off.

Even so, I plan to check in quite frequently and while I may not post on a daily basis, I'll be "lurking" for support when needed.

Danger Day almost over, and I've done just fine, if I do say so myself. I've eaten exactly what I planned to eat and I've drunk most of my water and tonight DH is taking me out for a grilled salmon dinner, one of my faves! So what started out a lousy day turned out to be a great day.

Welcome to maintenance Lawshark! I sure know what you mean when you say, "... when I'm writing and under a deadline for filing a brief with the court, I tend to reach for food and constantly be chewing on something. I'm going to keep a lot of sugar free gum and water handy to stave that off." Writing poses one of my biggest challenges because I write a lot and I always hate to get started. There's nothing like a blank page and an empty brain to make me think Snack Time. I'd march down to the sweet shoppe and buy cookies or candy and come back to my desk, chewing all the while. Then, of course, I'd want something salty, to balance the sweet. Then, naturally, I'd have to get something to drink. I could put off the start of a project by an hour, by which point I'd feel too lousy to write.

Can you believe it; I never figured this out. Life was soooo easy when I was unconcious. Mercifully, the lightbulb jumped to life when I was literally cramming junk into my mouth. I stopped mid-chew and said, "Self, what on earth are you doing?" And that was the end of that.

It's still hard. I, too, keep a lot of sugar-free gum and water around, and sometimes, when I know I have a really humongous assignment to do, I bring in some carrots or something. I also find it helpful to program in hall walks every hour, or yoga stretches.

Good luck! It's all about awareness

Karynlee, thanks for alerting me to that other thread; great idea. I'm going to post over there as well. Glad you're on the way to being you're "old self."

Reg4242, the new "Thin for Life," is much like the old, but there's more to it. She's added to some of the interviews; incorporated new data; and rounded out some of the material. I could have probably stuck with the old version, but I was ready to re-read anyway, and I decided to go with the updated one.

Gotta run .... that salmon's calling my name.

Robin,

You hit the nail right on the head. After I do my research, then I'm faced with the overwhelming task of organizing all that info and thoughts that took 10 hours to compile into something that the judge can read and understand in 30 minutes because that's about all the time they'll spend on your brief. So I stare at the blank screen and then decide to go for a snack. That way I can "stall" for a while. So now, instead of going for a snack I'm coming here and reading posts. Same results - I get to stall - but with no weight gain.

Food as avoidence, I would never ever do that while I was a student... I never have done that in recent years either... I too am very guilty of using food as an avoidance tool... eating is a distraction.

Anyway all, THANKS so much for your support, you ladies are wonderful. I am feeling better about everything. I still don't like the fact that my cervix was pre-cancerous and that they had to remove some of it, but it was for my own good and for my future. I am young, 27 so I have many years ahead of me. All I can do is do my best in taking care of myself.

The nurse commented that runners can be the biggest pains about getting the procedure done, so she was happy I agreed to it. I am kind of viewing everything as a mixed blessing, I can relax and catch up on some sleep and take it a bit easy for now.

Anyway on another note my cat peed on my thin for life book..... ARRRRRRRRGGH. At least I took notes for chapter one (BTW I am a geek).

Cheers!

Ali

Airegrrl, Lawshark, my fellow poets, hacks and pen-pushers! You’re right. Put down the food and take up the exercise, find the support.

At present, I find that a walk is the ideal punctuation between research and writing, or between hundreds of fussy little things which have to be done and writing.

I’ve got a report to begin and finish this afternoon. What I was going to say was as clear as day before the Christmas break. This morning it just looked like murk. So I’ve just spent 31 blowy, rainy minutes around some hilly lanes. Just pounding along, regularly. Not really thinking, just getting in touch with what’s going on inside. The report’ll get written. It’s all there really. I just have to find the space for it.

Filling that space with food is not a good idea.

Hi Ali and all, glad you are feeling better about it all. There is nothing quite like a health scare to upset one.

I have had a minor cold the past 3 days and am hoping tomorrow I will be back closer to normal, physically anyway. The past 3 days I have done very little besides feel punk and rest. What was very interesting re. food, the first day I really wanted to eat more in general. I wasnt physically hungrier, but rather I became aware I wanted to eat just to make myself feel better. Isnt food the cureall for everything??? Not!

Thank goodness there wasnt anything in the house other than healthy stuff, so while I did eat more food, it was not that bad. I probably didnt exceed what my body used by much. Yesterday and today, I didnt want to eat more, and the scale said good things this morning.

Rain, rain, go away, come back another day.....

Jan