He-LLLO, Snowey!!!!!!! So good to hear from you! CONGRATULATIONS!!! on losing 11 pounds!!!! How great and motivating and encouraging!!

yes, we are missing our amy/aphil! Hope all is well with you

Snowey, did you see that our Sprite is back? She is posting in the "Buddy up" section, and I've "talked" to her there. I hope she pops in here to say hi!

I will do my best to day to keep to 1500 good calories, and to drink more water. Exercise - wise, I think I have gotten into a rut with "just" doing the Gilad 45/split routine, and the Gilad Step n Tone exclusively. I am working these muscles hard, but I'm afraid I'm just not getting the cardio I need. Well, the Step n Tone is good cardio, but I really think this body is getting used to the same ol same ol', and needs some adjusting. So I dug out my Karen Voigt Cardio-Strength Circuit Training tape, which I only attempted once last year, 'cause it was so tough for me. After I type this, and have a little yogurt and Kashi, I will try it, and let you know how it goes

Oh, and Snowey......congratulations to both of us on our two-year anniversary here!

Wow, now I remember why I put that tape away for a year TOUGH! and I had to adapt alot of things. She cues well, meaning she will let you know in advance what to expect...but then it's hard for me to make the change. So I kept moving at least through the parts I "couldn't get". I was in a cool (65 degrees) room with just shorts and a sports bra, and I was sweating!! yay!

The tape first has warm-up; then about 9 minutes of cardio/step; then intervals of weight use and again cardio/step. Seems like a good mix. And using different muscle groups, I'll feel it tomorrow, I'm sure.

It was good to do something different. I've almost memorized the Gilad tapes; can remember just when that blonde girl brushes her hair out of her eyes and misses the step so something different keeps the interest!

Happy Friday, All! Boy, am I glad the weekend is here.

VermontMom, good for you, doing that tough routine. I’ve read many times that varying one’s exercise routine is beneficial because it keeps your muscles challenged (because of the variety of exercises). I’m glad you mentioned the Karen Voight tape. I’ve been looking for some good workout DVD suggestions. I just ordered a step from Walmart.com, and with the money I spent, I’m seriously considering not renewing my membership (I pay month by month). I figured I’d pull out my old exercise tapes and get some new ones; I could supplement that with walking and my own weight routine (I already have dumbbells). We’ll see how it goes; I might be signing that gym contract next week if I can’t get my butt out of bed and outside in the morning!

Snowey, I haven’t “spoken” to you before (I’m relatively new), but congratulations on your weight loss! Eleven pounds is terrific!

After two weeks of foregoing weighing myself, I weighed myself this morning. I’m happy to report that I’ve lost 2 lbs. over the past two weeks. I’m really satisfied with that since my goal is to lose a pound a week. That puts me at 145.4, about 10 lbs. from my goal. I’m going to try to hold off weighing myself for another 3 weeks or so. As I’ve mentioned before, I just become too focused on the scale if I weigh myself too often (besides, psychologically, the weight loss seems more significant if I wait several weeks between weigh-ins!).

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Hello everyone!!!!
Sorry fr being MIA lately! I have been SOOOOOOOO busy! We had a dance performance this past weekend...dress rehearsal on Friday night, and performances on both Saturday and Sunday. It takes me about two hours to shower and get into full costume and makeup...so I spent the entire weekend like this:

get ready...drive....dance....drive...take it all off....sleep....put it all back on....drive....dance....drive....take it all off....sleep....repeat.

We have been working really hard at rehearsals for our performance the past couple of weeks...and my costuming/vending business has really taken off. I custom made my own costume, and the costume of another dancer for this performance...plus did repeairs to my instructor's costume that she needed to wear. I also have an order that I am working on right now for someone online.

My business has expanded a lot over the last few months...I not only make custom costumes for belly dance and movie replica...but I am also doing regular seamstressing work specializing in "funky" clothes like hippie looking clothes...and stuff like that. The order I am working on right now are for hawaiian shirts made out of vintage cartoon character bedsheets as the material. I am also working with imports as well...and I vend at local belly dance events. I sell harem pants that I get from Indonesia...bindis (forehead jewels) that I get from India...silk veils hand dyed from a friend in California...as well as the belly dance costume items I make myself. I am also working on a custom t-shirt design...essentially...designing my own t-shirts with someone who does t-shirts professionally.

I have a hafla (belly dance party) next month...as well as a workshop coming up next month and I am vending at both events. I also have two more upcoming performances this spring as well...and I am making my instructor a new skirt to wear in a high profile dance event in April. WHEW!!!
I am BUSY!!! I am loving every minute of it though!

My eating and exercise has been pretty good lately...even with being busy and having to grab a quick bite frequently...I have been aiming for grapes, yogurt, etc. rather than junk. The dance performances have been really great with all of that too...they usually have a "snack table" in the backstage area...but along with the not so healthy things...they have been great about having bananas, bottled water, and cut up veggies back there for us.

My weight has stayed the same, but I took my monthly measurements yesterday...and I lost 1/16" of an inch off my biceps...1/4" off my waist...and 1/2" off each thigh....

I am still trying to get into the 160's by summer...if my schedule keeps being as busy as it is now...then I should have no problem!

Holly-thanks for putting my little quote from 2002 up back there. It still holds very true...I was 211 pounds a couple of years ago...and I would still be there today if I didn't work at it...I know that I will always have to...and I just have to accept that and deal with it...and try to do so with a good attitude!

Have a good day guys!
Amy

Just wanted to say hi to everyone. Aphil you sound like you are really busy. Don't forget to take care of yourself while you are taking care of everyone else.

I have been doing great. I am really excited about my weigh loss efforts this time. It has been a long time since I have done as well as I am doing right now. I hope I can keep it up. I have lost 6 lbs in about 2 weeks, so far. I am doing good with keeping my calories at 1500 per day and keeping fat grams at or below 50 grams per day and still going to the gym 3 day per week. Its amazing how good a 6 lbs weight loss can change the way a person feels.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Wow, Aphil! What an interesting life you lead! I have always wanted to take belly dancing lessons. It must be fun. Congrats on staying on program with your busy schedule. I know that that can sometimes be difficult, but I guess you're finding that it's just as easy to grab a banana as it is to grab a candy bar (easier if you think about the consequences of grabbing the latter!).

Debbie, I'm so glad to hear that you're psyched about staying on track. It's a great feeling to be in control. Good for you, losing 6 lbs. Keep up the good work!

I've been doing fine as far as my food and exercise. I ordered a step from Walmart.com and some home workout DVDs from Amazon and decided not to rejoin the gym because I spent so much money. This is my first week being "gym-less," and I'm hoping my weight won't be negatively affected. I walked on Sunday, but I can't during the week because it's too dark outside in the mornings and, frankly, I hate the cold. So, I'll be stuck with doing the same workout video on Mon., Wed., & Friday of this week (can't do it every day because it includes weights) or until I get the videos I ordered from Amazon. I'm such a slug at work (sitting at my desk all day) that I HAVE to work out frequently to stay in shape.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Hello all

Yesterday I decided to try counting calories again. I counted until I was invited to my mom's for dinner... then I gave up. The scale still reads lower today than it has in a week so maybe my body let some water go. I told my mom that next time she should have some diet drinks and if she has to have dessert, something healthier! She said she'll start next week... ha! Both her and my sister (who lives there as well) claim they are 'fat' and want to lose weight too. Of course, their 'fat' is where I wish I was... about 140 lbs or maybe even less!
Today I'm back to counting again. I really want to get back into the habit. When I 'dieted' a few years ago, I got to a point where I didn't have to count the calories anymore and I was still losing weight (slowly but thats ok!). That is where I want to be again but the only way to get there is to get into the calorie counting habit again for a while!
I'm not on the exercise bandwagon at the moment but I know I need to work on that too. I'm not sure what's harder... keeping away from overeating and eating the 'bad stuff' or making myself exercise!

Anyway, I thought I'd check in. Its been quiet around here lately... where's everyone been hiding?


Christine
180/ /130 (I'll put the current weight back in when its 180 or less.. lol)

One day down! And an infinite number to go....

I actually counted calories yesterday ALL day and stopped a little over 1400! Woohoo!

So far today I'm at 300. I think I can do it again!

How's everyone else doing this week?


Christine
180/still over 180/130

Silence,

You did it yesterday and you can do it today. Keep up the good work.

Hey everyone...just taking a break from hand sewing buttons...
Today is going well...I am almost finished with an order...once these buttons are on and the tops are ironed...out the door they go! ha ha
Tomorrow night I am going out of town with a dance friend to go to a beginning class that she teaches once a week. I am going to help out, hopefully sell a few goodies...and then we are going out for a drink afterwards. I have already planned on what I am going to have...either one light beer or an ameretto and Diet Coke...and have planned on adding that into my calorie count for the day. Much better calorie choices than some foo-foo fruity drink...ha ha
I find that if I know I am going out, or going to dinner somewhere ahead of time...and plan what I am going to order before I get there...that I do much better. I already have a plan, and I am not "caught in the moment." Works for me.
Hope everyone is doing well!
Aphil

Hi, all. Just stopped in to say a quick "hello." Aphil, hope you sell a lot. I, too, think planning is essential to stay on program.

I had an interesting "pig out" session the other night that led to an epiphany of sorts. A couple of nights ago, I ate 3/4 pint of Haagen Daz Bananas Foster ice cream (for those who haven't tried it, I highly recommend it). I'd been doing pretty well at eating 1/4 cups of this stuff after dinner occasionally. However, the other night, I just decided that I wanted to polish it off. The funny thing is that I'm not really viewing this as a setback. I really felt completely in control while I was eating it. In a way, I was "consciously overeating," if that makes any sense. In the past, if I had eaten almost a pint of ice cream, I would have felt out of control while I did it, like I had to shove it in quickly, and I would have felt guilty the whole time I was eating. This time, I just said to myself, "I'm going to eat the rest of this pint," and I ate it and enjoyed it with no guilt. I even journaled what I'd eaten. It turns out that I'd gone over my calories for the day by 500. I shaved off 200 calories yesterday and am planning on shaving off 200-300 calories today. Truth be told, I'm actually glad I had this experience because it really shows me how much I've changed in terms of my mentality about "dieting." I realized that there will be times in my life that I will overeat. But I also realize that what I do most of the time (i.e., eating right) is more important than what I do once in a while (i.e., polishing off a pint of ice cream). Does that make sense?

Okay, enough about me, how's everyone else doing?

Vmelo,

I did the same thing as you today. I decided when I got up today that I was going to eat something different for lunch and it was going to be fattening. And I did. I cut back on breakfast and will cut back on dinner to make up for it and WILL NOT go over 1500 calories today. I think the reason that I did it is because my weight loss is slowing down even though I have been doing great everyday and it is upsetting me. I am not going to quit though.

G'mornin all (or afternoon as the case may be)....

Yesterday didn't go as great as I'd hoped. I think my husband is having PMS lately... he's having some insane mood swings. He stressed me out so much last night and my answer was to eat... bad bad!
Anyway, the good news is, I didn't stop counting my calories even though I was overeating. I ended the day a little under 2000 calories. My theory here is, as long as I'm not eating more than my 'maintainance' calories then I'm okay. Considering how I've been gaining weight lately rather than losing, I figure this is still a step in the right direction.
I've already begun counting again today and hope to stay within my 1600 goal. We'll see. This is the first time in a while that I've actually made it through 2 days of counting (reguardless of the numbers) so I'm thinking maybe I'm actually going to stick with it this time.

Today my dad comes to visit for a week... this will be the ultimate challenge. He loves to cook and makes some tasty things! Of course he's real good at portion control and self-discipline so he's skinny.... gotta hate that

Wish me luck!!


Christine

Helloooooo out there .... is that an echo I hear?

Where is everyone?

I'm in 'off diet' mode currently... its not even worth it to try while my dad is here.

My husband says he wants to try eating better once my dad leaves so perhaps if we do it together, it'll be easier. So this week we're just trying not to overdo the eating (ha!) and next week we'll actually try to diet again.

I also have an awful cold... which makes me not even want to think about healthy eating and exercise. Of course, since I can barely taste anything today, I've actually been eating a little less. Unfortunately, I've been drinking more (juice especially) so I don't think my calorie totals are down.

Hope everyone else is doing better than me

Christine
180/ /130