Hello everyone Nice to meet you all. I've been eating less mainly and not pigging out. Well, I'm a binge eater and I know how to control it but it's not always easy. Sometimes I've been following the weight watchers flex plan.I was a member several times but I hated the meetings. So I'm pretty much doing it on my own.

Hmmm super bowl sunday plans..... Im not doing too much. I'm actually going over to a friends house to do my laundry (I don't have a washer or dryer in my apt. and I'm cheap and don't really use the laundramat!!) She's watching what she eats and stuff too, but we made a decision to kind of 'splurge' today cause its Super Bowl Sunday. I am proud of us though, we usually make a Hormel Chili and Cream Cheese dip to eat with tortilla chips. Well I bought turkey chili and the low fat cream cheese and baked tortilla chips. Plus we're doing hot wings and wheat-tortilla pizza! It'll be fun, its a snacky kind of day, but at least we made the effort to make our snacks a bit more healthly!

Aubrey

judydc, Glad your trip is going well! It always seems more difficult on the eating front when you are on a trip (of any sort), but it sounds like you are still doing well

colneen, first, welcome! lol I hear you on not particularly enjoying the Weight Watchers meetings. I was also a member several times, but I rarely made it to the meetings, and eventually gave up (though I don't really think that had anything to do with the meetings). Congrats on the weight loss!

KCWMU, honestly, don't blame ya on not paying to do your laundry. It adds up quick. I do mine at my mom's weekly because I can't afford $1.50 to wash and $1.50 to dry. Sounds like you had a fun Super Bowl planned!

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Sorry I've been gone for a bit. My semester started on the 17th (two nights a week, 3 hours each of those nights) - a bit exhausting and getting adjusted to. Plus January was such a fiasco, especially going down hill on the 17th. Between losing my bank card, not receiving it, having to reorder it, etc. to just a bunch of other odd ends that (you feel) go wrong, and just make for an over all bad month.

I'm currently sitting in a freezing 59 degree apartment while it's about 10 outside (something is wrong with my heat - gotta love this place, can't wait to move! Shame I have to wait until the end of August...).

In between, well, did pretty well beginning of January, but started struggling a bit half way - end, but not horribly.

I have really noticed a change since actively trying to lose weight. I've become more irritable (but that could be from school as well, and a few stressors at work), but I've noticed a large increase in my anxiety. Wednesday night/Thursday morning, I kept waking up in a panic/panic attack, so I only had slept a couple of hours. I have an appointment tomorrow with my therapist, and I want to bring that up (I've always noticed a large increase in anxiety when trying to lose weight since I was about 16 or so).

I've also noticed that, weight loss/food/exercise is becoming a very strong focus, perhaps too much. I've already missed a class because of it (was extremely stressed and was gravitating towards food/comfort/coping).

In 2003/2004 when I was in school/working, I pretty much stopped both all together eventually because all I wanted to do was stay home to exercise, etc.

One good thing is that I finally have a membership at a gym - My mom and I were doing the discovery health national body challenge, and we ended up getting a good deal at bally's (she pays $36, I pay $17, 3 year contract, 3rd year is free). I'm actually enjoying it a lot. I've only been going a few weeks, but it's definitely been quite enjoyable.

Spunker, I'm sorry it's so cold up there! I was in Chicago last week, and boy, that was no picnic. It's colder than usual here, and our office is so cold we were wearing gloves this morning. I hoep your therapist gives you some insight into the anxiety issue. Food really can be a mood regulator, but maybe you can switch up what types of food you eat, when.... folks on the low-carb diets often complain about irritability. Working up a sweat at Bally's will certainly help! How cool to have your mom as a partner in this.

Coleen and Aubrey, soudns like you're both making good choices. I was too tired to do anything special for the Super Bowl, just vegged out....

I wa going to have a big salad for dinner, but I think I'll nuke up some leftover stew instead.

Be well--judy

Wowzers... these past few days have been killin me. I live in southwest Michigan, and I haven't had to work yesterday or today, and its TOUGH. (The school disctrict that I teach in has closed the past 2 days due to 'extreme low temperatures'... wind chills of -25)

Anyway.... I look forward to the workweek because it is easier for me to stick to my healthy habits when I'm not surrounded by food all day. I'm going to try my HARDEST to make healthy decisions today..... Hopefully I'll do well!

Aubrey

Hello, I'm finally back to join the group. I went on a business trip, then managed to get sick with a nasty sinus infection. Been on some good drugs for the past week and am finally getting my strength back.

Wind chill of -25 = brrrrr. We dipped below 30 last night and that's all anyone talked about in the office this morning.

Ashley, a sinus infection is a major drag! I used to get them a couple-three times a year, especially after longerer plane flights. But I haven't had one since I eliminated wheat from my diet in November, and I've been on at least five round-trip flights since then. I'm a believer!

Aubrey, how are you doing at home? I used to have the same problem on weekends, until I stopped turning on the tube during the day. If I'm moving around other parts of my apartment, doing chores or talking on the phone, I don't find myself gravitating toward the frig. It's harder when it's cold, though, I just want comfort food.

Spunker, have you bought a space heater yet ? You've been dealing with a lot lately, at least you could be comfy in your own home.

I have been doing mini-workouts this week, 'cuz I'm still tired from the past tow seeks and feeling the need to catch up on sleep. But I'm on program with food, so I'm satisfied with that for now.

judy

I really hate Valentine's Day. First, I have no sweatheart in my life so all the romance really stinks. Second, there is way too much candy hanging around everywhere I go. I made Valentine's "care packages" for my daughter and her college friends. I put lots of other stuff in the packages, but also bought one package of candy to add to the baskets. Then sat down and ate a whole bunch of the left-overs. Finally had to just go to bed. Brought the left-overs into work and left them in the break room this morning.

The only good news out of this is that the "old" me would have eaten every single piece of the candies. The "new" me ate about 10 pieces, which was still way too much, but could have been way worse.

Ashley,

I join you in the sentiment of hating Valentines day... so far I haven't bought anything... we'll be having a party at work for the teachers and staff on Monday and of course parties in the classrooms on Wednesday....

Reba

I'm doing a bit better now that I'm back to work! I'm eating a lot healthier and I'm not overeating as much. Plus on Tuesday I decided I need to get back to working out every day. Since Tuesday I've seen the scales start to gradually creep down (a scale that shows tenths is WONDERFUL!) So of course that is giving me more motivation to stick to it. Not to mention I decided on the spur of the moment that I'm going to take a Friday off at the end of the month and fly down to Florida to visit my grandparents for 3 days. Which is of course a bit more motivation than my France trip. I mean, my France trip is motivation, but it still seems so far away that I find myself thinking 'oh I've still got time.' Now I've got less than a month to make some sort of a difference....so it keeps it right there in my thoughts all the time. And now I'm blabbering on and on.....haha.

Good Luck everyone! I'll have a new update soon!

Aubrey

I had a really fun day today. The "Whad' ya know?" show from National Public Radio was taping here and I had tickets, so went with a friend. Had a lot of fun and then went out to lunch. Still stayed within my daily goal range of 1500 calories though.

Aubrey - congratulations on your downward creep. It's so exciting to see a change when you've been stuck.

Reba - I think being around a classroom on Valentine's would really be tough. Do you have a game plan to avoid eating the sweets?

Judy and others - hope your weekend is going well.

Ashley, I love Whadda Ya Know, the host craqcks me up, and the band is great. It must have been fun to see a live taping. Congrats for putting the brakes on a binge. Fall down six times, get up seven...

Aubrey, a long weekend in Florida sounds like a great motivation to me!

Reba, it must be hard being at a school on 2/14. I hope you come up with a good strategy to deal with the temptations. I don't mind Valentine's Day anymore. I buy cards for my Mom and Grandma and try to avoid all the chocolate. Having a sweetie is no guarantee for a lovely, romantic day, believe me! I've had a nice time, and I've been miserable--at this point I jsut don't let the hype get to me.

I'm still in San Francisco, where it's been raining non-stop. But looking at the crazy snow some people are getting, I can't complain. I'm all over the place with my eating, and I did something to my back so I haven't been working out. But I'm trying to get my act together--I don't want to gain any weight back on this trip.

judy

Actually, for me, there will probably be more temptation Monday at the staff party... I'm on the commitee for this one... I'm taking strawberries and dip... Wednesday won't be too bad... Our school system is actually pretty careful about what we have at parties and such because of the new federal regulations... we will be having a pizza party- so I won't eat lunch and eat 1 or 2 slices of pizza- we will probably order cheese or pepperoni... and then we'll have cupcakes- no candy planned at this point. Now that doesn't mean a kind hearted parent wont send some.... but I'm usually busy helping the kids and have to feed the little girl I work with....so that helps too...

I know not having a sweetie isn't the end of the world, it's just hard sometimes for me... for other reasons, this is a difficult time of year for me... and I have to fight not to binge just to because and to push some feelings down.....

Reba

Hi, Samantha, you live in one of my favorite places! I lived on Chicago's far north side for 16 years. I can relate to your comment about sabotage. Losing a lot of weight is definitely about more than dieting and will power.

Reba, I love chocolate-dipped strawberries...or chocolate dipped anything! I hope you're able to enjoy the day as a singleton.

I've come down with a sinus infection, which is a real drag because I'm still on the road, and supposed to fly again this evening. I haven't worked out since Sunday, but I have been eating more or less within my program. I'm off to find drugs, if not an urgent care center. I'm afraid to fly with this much congestion...