Good Morning everyone,
Brooke, welcome to the group. Thanks for the intro. I realize I never did that, and I will do it soon. Please do stick with the group. It is a great support group and I "hear things I've read" in my mind when I think about eating.

Regret to report I've been getting into the sweets late at night and I'm up a solid pound or more again. I've been a skeeze about the 11pm committment and serves me right. Plus DH is not happy about my late hours. Says one thing he loved about me is early to bed.

Yes the scale fluctuates. Overnight gains are due to water retention and the weight of the food itself. Someone once told me it takes 2 days for the calories to actually get absorbed and take effect. Makes sense. Digestion has to take awhile.

Holly, good to hear from you.

OOOOOOOOHHHHH I'm so serious today.

Morning everyone! Busy day for me!! Jasmine has her kindergarten school program tonight. All of the grandmothers are coming into town this evening to come watch her.

It changes my schedule slightly, I have to exercise a little earlier today, and dinner will be either early or late-before or after the program-but that is doable. I have some sewing to do as well, and a bathroom to clean.

Welcome Brooke!!!

What has anyone heard about Splenda?
How about Stevia?

I like Slenda and Stevia. Stevia is more natural if that is important to you.

I should have been more specific. I meant to ask about the safety concerns. Heard some terrible stuff about the Splenda so of course I wonder about the Stevia.

I use a little of each (splenda, nutra, equal )- my way of reducing risk. But haven't tried the stevia.

Pretty strange, eh?
Elyse

Elyse I bought some slpenda to bake with but it still is in the cupboard. Just haven't tried to use it yet maybe scared? Anyways many people sure seem to use it but I am not sure of the side effects. I use the little packets 1/2 in my oatmeal sometimes. I will be interested in hearing the feedback.
Brooke welcome to the site. I enjoy posting here and reading all the motivated folks it sure does seem to help. Calorie counting has been helpful to me and the importance of exercising makes the difference. Sounds like your on the right track keep up the good work.
Yesterday I managed to stay around my 1400 calories but didn't exercsie today I will fit it into my day.
Have a good day everyone!

Morning everyone!

It has been hectic the last 24 hours! We had Jasmine's kindergarten program last night, so we had all of the grandmothers come into town to go with us to the school. I stopped on the way and picked Jasmine up a small bouquet of flowers-a little blended bouquet in pink/lavendar/purple-little daisies, carnations, a couple sweetheart roses, and the assorted filler flowers. It was very sweet and "Barbie" colored.
The program was just what I expected-the one child who won't sing, the one showing their underwear in their dress, someone picking their nose, and the child who sings 10 times louder and more off key than anyone else. Classic.
When we got home last night Jason got called back into work and did another full shift. (He is an engineer, so when there is trouble he is on call pretty much like a doctor.) He finally came home dead tired about 6 this morning. He has the rest of the day off, since he did it last night. He is sleeping now.
Today I need to go to the grocery store-I browsed the ads earlier. Looks like this week's fruit is strawberries and apples! (sale!) Lots to do...pay the bills...exercise (strength training!)...take and pick up Jasmine...
I have used aspartame, Splenda, and Stevia. None have given me any problems at all-but I don't "overuse" any of them. I know there are people who down the sugar free candies, or drink 3-4+ diet sodas I day and I am not one of them. I know that the Stevia is 100% natural, so if you are worried about side effects at all you can use that in your coffee and tea without much worry...and only use Splenda if you want to bake something sweet now and then.
I only use Aspartame/Splenda sweeteners about twice a day. One serving in my coffee...and then *maybe* one serving later in the day if I have a single hot tea or glass of diet soda or Crystal Light. I drink water the rest of the day. I think any side effects come in really when the products are overused-which is true with anything.

good morning ladies! and welcome Brooke!

It's FREEZING here!! we had two wonderful sunny warm days (upper 70's) then a cold front came through and yesterday it did not get over 49 during the day! that's with sun! and this morning it was 22, even now at 10:30 am the air temp is in the high 40's. Supposed to get to 55-60 by afternoon. Sheesh!

I have new sunglasses I want to "bike-test" to see if they are close enough to my noggin so my contacts don't get dried out (or blown out! )

I've been lucky, have gotten lots of riding in so far. 1900 miles in fact though i could be spending the time doing housework. Nah.

Still holding at 145-146. But I'm seeing some more arm/delt definition. S-l-o-w-l-y but surely, we're all getting there.

guess what!!! my husband and I walked last ngiht, and he got up early to walk the dog this morning. I told him how great that was, how much better he'll feel with regular exercise. He sarcastically mentioned Jerry Garcia, who had a lifetime of extreme drug and alcohol abuse, then dropped dead when he was on a treadmill. Nice attitude, eh? I wouldn't mind the $200,000 life insurance, but don't want to nurse a stroke victim. Admins, you may take that out if I'm too cynical

call me Hangin' in there Holly

Holly I like that sense of humor! Sometimes our sense of humor helps us all get through life. If you don't have one there is trouble! Good for you building up those arm muscles. The wt. machines sure do help me with that area. Recently I have noticed a difference in my abs. due to the machine I have been using. I actually can notice and feel the difference. I have been doing better this week with my intake. Some better choice making and motivated to exercise a bit extra and walk at a faster pace when possible. Our weather has been also a bit cold we were spoiled with some warm weather for a week or so. I hope it warms up before Memorial days weekend or I'd better take some long johns camping and lots of firewood.
Aphil I have been to some school things and your description is right on the mark!

Happy Monday y'all. It's 8:30 and I've already walked. Also wanted to do some yoga/meditation but the internet called.

Aphil - loved the kindergarten story. I'll look forward to that with the grandchild.

Holly - great arms! I was just looking at My Hadassah arms last night. I wonder about the extra skin when I lose weight. I need to get some other training going.

I should measure. My bras are fitting better (I was using a bra extender and my cup, mostly lefty, runneth over). My boobs are definately smaller. My shorts that wouldn't close are very comfy. I can tell you I'm down another solid 2 lbs, changing the chart, and actually the scale was 209.6 this am. Under 210. Where is my appetite? Well, this is the 3rd year in a row I did better around this time of year, and maybe the walking 2.25 miles is helping. I'm going to bed 9:30 / 10:00 and getting up to make breakfast for my husband. So between the walking and the fewer calories consumed at night, I will do great, easily.

Hi girls,

Had a great weekend. It too was cooler down here and a little rainy. Did lots of cleaning and yard work this weekend. I ate really good all weekend and lost 1 pound. Not much but I did my two week measurements and lost a good solid 1/2 inch in my hips, 1/2 inch in my waist, 1/2 inch in my upper tummy and 1/4 inch in my upper leg. I was so shocked and happy...I measured twice! "Thanks to the Elliptical!" It works your whole body.

My DH is still trying to sell his car. He has been given 3 offers but people will call and say they have the cash then never show! One has to sell a vet first.....We have 3 bikes that we are trying to choose from. All three are used Harleys.

Holly you sound a little better and I know how you feel, When my DH decides to walk with me it makes me happy, if they would just stick with it!

Hi Amy, you busy little bee!

Hi Lori, Elyse, cacmsc, newbies......Have a great week and stay OP, get those work outs in!

Amie

I'm confused, Amy, what is your ID?

Ladies, I just changed my ID picture, I also put a new before and after picture in my profile...take a look. I took the picture of myself with my DD this Friday.....The before picture was at 212 about 2 years ago!

Elyse~ Are you asking me or Aphil about the ID?


Amie

Elyse-

I (Aphil) am Amy, and amoses is "Amie". Confusing, huh? I guess I can change my signature and put my first name/spelling in it too so everyone can tell us apart when they use our name and not our user ID.

Wow...yesterday I got one HECK of a workout!!! I took a 2 hour class in Classical Indian Dance. (different than belly dance-classical Indian dancers wear the saris draped on them, and do all the stomping moves with intricate hand motions.) Boy it is hard!!!! It is very precise-every little hand gesture must be done perfectly-because each gesture means something (like sign language) so it has to be correct. My calves and knees and shoulders were singing let me tell you!!! Then afterwards the dance troupe got together for a short 30 minute rehearsal.

OOOHHHHHHH love those photos! Amie, you truly took off a mask and unveiled a babe. I'm all for before and afters. I sell Mary Kay and have loved makeovers since I was a reader of Seventeen.

AMY - mystery solved. I had no idea you were one and the same, although I'm surprized I never noticed the siggy on same pg as your photo. So your ID is amy phil, ok.

And I have some questions. Today I noticed a big drop and I think its water. Didn't eat much over the weekend due to stress from some household discord (yes, here , too) and starting to get up earlier. I took my diuretic at least an hour earlier this am (came in from my walk and forgot I could have eased into the earlier pill time - I take the pills after walking so i don't have to pee while outside). I also think my food choices were less salty Sat & Sun so that made a difference.

I think my metabolism is still good so I lose faster when I do the exercise and cut out the late -night binges.
So the question is, aren't I right that a person loses faster at first, and I shouldn't worry? What a kick. Now I'm losing and that worries me But I can't see eating if I'm not hungry.

AND THE SECOND QUESTION: I sure want a lifestyle and not to gain it back. Previously I was thin on diet pills in the 70's and OA in the 80's. This is the longest I've been fat, and the highest I've been. Anyone care to comment on the change of thinking that leads one to be able to stay OP after years of counting calories or trying to stay OP and being done with the days food by afternoon, or binging, etc. I see quite a few of you have big weight losses.

All comments are welcome.