RealMe - oh measure! I'll tell you why...there may come a time when the scale isn't moving, and you know you've been working hard...that's where measurements come in...you see progress - even when the scale remains the same, and it helps keep you motivated! It's been one of the best things I've done any time i've worked at losing weight...having back-up motivation!

lambchop - ok, if you think it'll help, i'll give it a go. how often do you measure? every other week? I'll probably get sad with the numbers but it can only get better, right?

ICU - What meet are you swimming in January? Are you doing Masters or swimming on your own?

Happy Tuesday everyone!

realme - I totally agree with lambchop - the time will definitely come when you need a piece of good news that the scale just won't provide!

I'm going to be swimming in a Master's-sanctioned meet in Lake Orion. It will be the first official times I have that can be used for entries at the state and national level. I'm more or less swimming on my own, but hoping to be able to practice with a local team periodically. I've had some conversation with the Michigan Master's president (you just never know who will end up in your lane during free-swim!) and I think I've been switched to his team.

RealMe - every couple weeks or monthly...and trust me, what a feeling when they scale didn't move, but your hips lost an inch -- you realize, yeah, it IS WORKING!

Update on my part: every day is a new beginning, right? My goals are to:

1) Weigh less than 173.2 -- A. I'm at 172.
2) Be mindful about eating -- C. Yes, I'm mindful, meaning I'm not eating mindlessly, but I am still deciding, mindfully, to eat something that perhaps I shouldn't.
3) Exercise 3 - 4x per week -- F. I've exercised once since the challenge started. But, I am on my way to the elliptical momentarily.

Shouldn't this be second nature by now??? (Rhetorical question) I've decided to count calories today, to help me stay on track.

Hi Chickies:

Hurray for new beginnings!!!

Been on track for a day!! I have another birthday luncheon today and my goal is to eat salad. And I will not pick up a cake to bring.

New leaf: Counting Calories is the only thing that keeps me on track. I have got to get in the habit again.

Wishing you all small and large successes today!

Ash

New Leaf - hope your got your workout in!

Did 3 miles last night, and also lost another pound

Still fighting the 150 barrier. I know a lot of it is water ... it's not that I'm eating a lot of calories, but I'm not making great choices. I can fix these particular 3 lbs just with avoiding certain foods. I'm doing great at breakfast and lunch, and bringing good snacks - I lose it when I get home.

150 is a major threshold for me - above it, I have cellulite and fat hands, and below it, I don't. So ... it's time to relegate the 150's to history and, as Larry the Cable Guy says, "Git 'er done".

I was walking beside the wagon for a little while, but I'm back Did my yoga last night (didn't for 3 days ), tried something a little new, that was nice.

ICU, I'm finding at this weight it makes a big difference what kind of foods I'm eating and not just the calories. My abdomen was looking better this spring with more scale weight - but better food and exercise! But I'm kind of happy my body is more sensitive to these things now, it's good motivation

I just came across my weight from New Year's Day last year -- 185.3. So... while I'm not where I wish I was, almost a year later, I'm still 15lbs less and that's a wonderful thing. Yay!

Newleaf - that's awesome! The year could have just been another one ... and now you get to remember 2009 as a year of positive change. Woohoo!

Julie - nice work in getting back to the yoga - I'm sure it felt really good. I think about yoga every time I see a cat stretching - they're such powerful little predators with all those complex muscle systems, and yet when they're stretching, they just look ... blissful. I get jealous. Agree with you about being at a level where every pound has an identity ... I never thought it would be at 150. I figured I wasn't going to see radical differences until I was well into the lower 140's. Do you remember where it started for you? Right now I can't even imagine the 130's - it's a dim memory of my early 20's.

I saw a new low number on the scale this morning. 224.6. I only change my ticker once a week so I don't count it until next Friday but I decided to try those jeans on again and see where I am. I can get them on and get them zipped but they aren't very comfortable. I feel like I'm wearing a girdle, LOL. We are very, very close. I have several other pairs of size 16 pants-appropriate for work so I suspect once I get in those, the others will be on soon thereafter. I've been putting the 18's in a box getting ready to put them out in the garage. Change is good.

As for the measuring. I'm not real good about doing that either but I'm going to try to do it once a month. I'm having pictures taken once a month as well. I'm doing the pictures in the middle of the month-having them done on Monday this month and measuring at the end of the month. I think the pictures are going to be very powerful motivators. I can't wait to see these pictures next to last month's pictures.

NewLeaf, I was just having the same thoughts. Last early December I was 143.5.

Petra, way to go. I always grab every new number as soon as I see it

I think more around 145. But when I saw your latest progress pic, I thought we looked pretty similar, so I think you're a lot heavier at a given size than I am. I seem to have a rather light frame.

Julie, I'm with you. I take the number and run!

I'm new but I thought I'd jump right into a challenge anyway! My mom bought me a stair stepper (thanks mom). Currently I can use it for about 3 minutes without taking a break. Stop laughing all you runners and gym hounds. By Jan 1, I want to do 5 minutes easily.

I also want to stick with my eating plan though all of Dec (even the 24th, 25th and 31st).

Nice to read what everyone has posted here. It is very motivational. -LizR