Lilybelle-- I don't know what's been going on with your daughter, but I hope she feels better soon. My older daughter was diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome last year and I know all she wanted more than anything was to be "normal". It caused a great deal of depression and weight gain for her.

I am so glad it is Friday! Don't have big plans for the weekend. I weigh in tomorrow. There are several of us who go out for coffee afterwards so I always look forward to the socializing. My weight was up last week so I'm hoping it will be better tomorrow. I try to eat a small dinner the night before a weigh in and no breakfast in the morning!

I have an issue and since I'm new, I'm not sure where to post it. My husband has been making comments to me about my weight and my continued motivation. He thinks I am becoming obsessed with losing weight. I am trying to explain to him that I am maintaining and this is what I need to do to maintain, but I think he is seeing that I'm still "dieting" so he thinks I'm still trying to lose (I would like to lose a few more pounds but I'm okay where I am if I don't). I think part of it is that he saw me heavier for so long and loved me that way and he may not find me as attractive lighter. Another issue is that my "girls" (if you know what I mean) have all but disappeared. I've lost 30 pounds and I swear 25 of them are "up there". I know he doesn't like that. Has anyone dealt with similar issues? He is acting like I'm anorexic but I'm still at the upper range of normal. I weighed a little bit less when we got married than I do now so he has seen me at this weight, but after two kids (and much more exercising), things are probably proportioned differently!

Poor men, they are so insecure. Sometimes they worry that you may look too good and someone else will think you are attractive.On the other hand he probably just doesn't understand that we can never go back to our old way of eating, if we don't want to gain it all back.

Allison, I have also noticed that if my back is hurting and I use the massager on it for more than 30 min's that my back seems to be worse instead of better. For me, it's more like a burning pain. Maybe cutting back the time of it would help.

Jessica, I always feel like the elliptical doesn't cause me knee pain, but it feels awkward on my knees. If that makes any sense. But, the treadmill, recumbent bike , stair-stepper and such doesn't seem to bother my knees at all. So, you're not alone. Oh, and big congrat's on resisting the cookies 3 times, that is great. That was brilliant to skip the cookie and tell yourself if you really want it that you can get it tomorrow.

goal, hope you feel better soon. This crud stuff is really nasty. Mine has been lingering for several weeks and I'm now on my 3rd round of antibiotics. I'm very hopeful that this is the end of it so I can get back to the business of exercise. That is great too how you handled the chocolate. I never have liked dark chocolate myself, but would probably eat it now if I got a chance.

Michele, my DD has problems with chronic vomiting. She has had a previous heart surgery when she was 8 yrs. old and a hiatal hernia repair at 9 yrs. old. She is getting more testing now both on her stomach and her heart problem. She misses a tremendous amount of school due to being ill. Her waist is larger than it should be, but her BMI is in the "normal" category. She told me "It doesn't matter what I accomplish in this town, I will always be remembered as the sick kid". She is now on an antidepressant. I'm very sorry to hear of your DD's diagnosis too.

I managed to get my grocery shopping done and my bills all paid today. Lacy helped me pick out groceries and I was proud that she opted for all healthy foods. So, no big temptations in my house this time. Plus we ate dinner out, both of us had a grilled chicken salad with Fat Free Dressing. I tried the dip each bite in the dressing instead of pouring the dressing on my salad. I noticed that I only ate 1/2 as much dressing as I would normally eat and I left almost half my food on my plate. I feel much more in control again. Thank Goodness.

Michele, after I reached my goal weight my DH used to nag me about "still dieting". It wasn't that he didn't like how I looked, it was that he thought I was trying to keep losing more. In time he learned that it takes vigilance to maintain a weight loss and I can't eat like I used to. As for the size of the girls, mine are much smaller now than before, but it's a fair trade-off for the rest of my body being smaller than it was before too.

Hi everyone,

I'm at work and I will probably be here for a long time - I have a big deadline coming up (April 15) and though I've already been working late all week, I'm going to have to do a lot more working late/weekends to make it! I let myself "sleep in" until 8:00 this morning, went to the gym, and here I am at work. I was supposed to work tomorrow but a friend had a baby last night, so I might go see them in the hospital.

Not only does my roommate not think I can go all of April without alcohol or sweets, my BF doesn't think so either! They were talking last night and they both think I can do the alcohol, but sweets will be my downfall. Oh!!! I am doubly determined to prove them wrong. My stubbornness is much stronger than my love for chocolate. Seriously, have they met me? (As a side note, I remember when I was a quiet, agreeable child and marvel at how far I've come... I call those "the doormat years").

Michele, I did have to deal with a lot of friends and family making comments along the lines of "now you don't need to loose any more weight" even after I'd stopped losing. My co-workers who see me eat every day finally realized that this is a way of life, and I wasn't going to become anorexic or anything, but it was quite annoying for a while. I tried to just smile and respond as politely as I could. My girls did disappear but they regained a little bit of their shape as my body settled into maintenance. I just use a push-up bra if I really feel the need to make them bigger.

goal, hang in there with the scale. Your "crud" sounds nasty. I hope you feel better soon.

Jessica, it sounds like you're making a great habit of avoiding the treats your work gives you. They feed you a lot!

Rabbit, there's nothing like a new haircut and new clothes! Just ask Shane, lol. jk, we all love a nice haircut and new clothes. Sounds like a fun shopping trip! Congrats on the new yoga abilities.

Happy Saturday everyone.

Ladies I went to the Dr. again today so he could recheck my lungs and my white blood count. Both are now much better. The water retention is now leaving me and my left arm and leg are back to normal size. The greatest news in the world is I'm down 9 lbs. since Tuesday. I was so worried about my weight but now see it was from the extra fluid that I was carrying. This makes me so happy and I'm even more motivated again to stick 100% on plan and be back at my goal very soon. Just thought I'd share the great news.

WOW lily that is great news!

Megan - you have to work the whole weekend? Ouch! I'm sending good vibes your way, i hope you will be able to finish quicly and enjoy some time off

A good thing happened today ... I was driving DS & his teammates to a field hockey game today...and one of the kids mentioned how DS mom (I) sounded like real smart, like he was joking. And my son actually retaliated like a lion...immidiately jumped in with that his mom was really awesomely smart like you would not believe. I was utterly amazed, and flattered.

Have a great weekend all,
Rabbit

Lily~glad the water is leaving you. I think I'd go crazy with that kind of a gain even knowing that it was due to meds. Hope your DD feels better soon and the doctor can sort things out for her. I have a friend who's daughter spent several years in and out of hospitals without anyone knowing what her problem was (she ended up on a macrobiotic diet and it helped a lot). Anyway, it all resonated with her and now she's in college in hopes of becoming a doctor.

Megan~I can't believe your BF is not on your side! Prove him wrong!!!

I'm down a pound--I'm feeling good. I didn't use the massager last night and I woke up feeling good and DS and I took the dogs on a 2 mile run and that didn't hurt either, so I'm considering myself "healed." I took DS to the ortho this morning, followed by the pet store for dog food and then to the running store to get DS some proper running shoes. He's excited to try them out tomorrow. I've run a few other errands and now I'm slowing down to get some computer work done (which I don't want to do but bills must be paid).

Everyone have a great weekend.

Thanks ladies, I was definitely scale shocked when I first went to the Dr. and his scale read 164 lbs. I knew I was terribly swollen, but I just wanted to cry and give up. Instead I went back to reading labels, avoiding all salt and taking my diuretic. I again was writing down every bite I took and keeping it at 1400 cals a day. My 2nd appointment showed me at 160 lbs. so I was thankful that it was starting to come off. 4 days later I was back down to 151 lbs. (which is still above my goal, but something I can mentally deal with). My Dr. wasn't at all surprised that the water weight left that quick. As fast as my weight soared up there, I knew there was no way I had eaten 10,000 cal's a day for it to be fat. Even my face looks much thinner than it did a week ago. My blood pressure is again back to normal now that the water is gone. On that first visit it was up to 176/106.

My pants-o-meter had failed me cause even with that huge jump in weight , I was still able to wear my size 5's.

My plan now is to continue to log every bite, avoid salt like the plague, take my med's and walk my dogs outside a little further each day until I can make it back to the gym for my regular exercise. Here's hoping to see the 149 lbs. again within a month.

Allison, I think Lacy is acting a little happier right now. She was smiling and playing cards with me after dinner last night and she is now logging down her food too and watching what she eats again. She is grounded right now and her misery had definitely spilled over onto everyone else for a few days.

DH will be home on Tuesday, I sure hope he can use a tiller and get my ground dug up for my garden. I need to start planting.

HI GALS ~

Well I am maintaining...mostly....I keep going between 173 and 175...which is up a little from when I was able to stay around 171-2. I have been out of town so much though so I think I have done pretty good...but...I need to step it up a bit!

Angie and I did a 5K this morning with my daughter and nephew. A few other family members had to miss because of work and sickness. We had a great time as usual. Angie whipped me good! There are pictures in the Weight Loss Support forum under C-N Nothing But Butt in case you want to see our team shirts Feel welcome to join the 3FC 5K too! we need you to reach our goal of 100...it's under Angie Leaves EZMONEY also in Weight Loss Support!

MEGAN ~ I can't help you out with advice on the alcohol

LILY ~ Praying for your daughter's health...and yours! You can do that 5K in the installment plan

ALLISON ~ I hope your back is better. Angie and I live (I have for 42 years) about 5 miles from downtown Carlsbad...it is nice down there...we spend a lot of time there walking along the beach or going for dinner.

RABBIT ~ for your son! Oh and that yoga thing...Angie has done yoga for years...and at 48 she bends pretty darn good!


Well ladies I gotta run....have a great week! Gary

Traveling Michele,

I, too, have heard from LOTS of people that I've got to stop losing weight. I try to reassure them that I'm no longer trying to lose weight, I am toning up the same pounds and that has made me appear, happily, slimmer. I also try to kind of ignore their comments as I KNOW they don't know the slimmer me--how could they recognize her when I look in the mirror sometimes and don't?

As for my husband, he likes the slimmer version of me--not necessarily because of how I look but because of how I FEEL about ME. I like the new me, and it affects how I act with everyone. I wasn't a total b---- before, but I'm happier and feel attractive/sexy and it affects how I act, I think. I'm not one to give advice, but if it were my husband, I'd be talking with him (gently) about how important my weight loss is and how I really need his support. Perhaps he is concerned that others will find you attractive (as he probably does) and feels threatened, or maybe he, too, needs to get used to the new economy sized you I just think that the support of family members is so important. Perhaps if you explained why you lost and how you feel about the new you?

WooHoo, Lilly! Down 9 lbs. That's absolutely fabulous. Hope once I get off these meds for my cold I, too, see a water retention loss. For now, I just know that my clothes don't reflect the weight gain now of almost 6 lbs. UGH!