Thanks Silence. Boy do I feel dumb. You gave me a simple solution to my problem.

You stated something that I agree with. You mentioned that "something clicked" this time in your weight loss battle. I know what you are talking about. I have lost 40 lbs twice before. And both times I could not lose until something "clicked."

Deb

Hello everyone!
and welcome Kathryn! What kind of exercise do you see yourself doing? Would you like walking regularly, doing video tapes, working out at a gym? I do the tapes, but that's 'cause that works for me...privacy of myown home, own time, etc. I would bet that if you chose an exercise, stuck to it consistantly (right, vmelo? ) and examined what you eat, you could shed some pounds and firm/tone up.

We can easily be your boot camp instructors but we also always support each other when we have crappy days

vmelo, I hear you, sister, on the non-disciplined eating... I think that what you're having isn't doing much "damage" (as evidenced by your loss!) but I know that YOU know that it isn't what you should be having. Same here, but without the loss. Like, WHY did I feel I HAD to have two small bowls of cereal before bed last night....??!! Do you write each bite? I don't, maybe I should. It could be a scary eye-opener, calorie-wise!

How is everyone else? hi debbie, and Christine! Gosh, where's aphil? and SNOWEY!!! and the others??...

We had sun today, but it was almost 30 degrees cooler during the day than yesterday! almost 80 yesterday, low 50's today. But that's Vermont. I was able to ride to work again, man, you gotta love getting 60 miles to the gallon!! and it's an invigorating way to wake up during the 5:30 a.m. commute

Good vibes to everyone! Have a nice evening and a strong day tomorrow!! (I remember something one of our regular posters said at about this time last year...think of this summer, think of how nice to NOT have hot sweaty thighs chafing against each other! )

Hello, all!

Welcome Kathryn. I cracked up when I read the you had "many rolls of fat" around your middle. Kathryn, honey, many rolls of stomach fat have been my constant companion since I reached puberty! It's odd, but before joining this web site & others, I always thought that the majority of women had problems w/ their hips & thighs. I'm finding that just as many seem to have a problem w/ their stomach area. Holly gave you some good advice, though. Consistency w/ exercise & clean eating will get you in shape & shed those extra pounds. Glad to have you aboard!

Good choice on the nuggets, Christine. Doesn't it feel good to be "in the black" w/ Fitday?! You're on the right track (could you push me on that track too?).

Holly, I'd love to say that I do write down every bit when I overeat, but I don't. After all, it doesn't count if I don't write it down, right?--LOL! That morning motorcycle ride must be invigorating! I have a jeep & I could take the top down, but I have an hour commute to work, & I don't think I could take the noise for that long.

I think I'm going to have to be stronger about refusing to eat things my husband cooks. I find that I'm succumbing more lately to his general grumpiness when I won't eat anything he cooks. He's the type that likes to prepare good meals & have them appreciated, but if I keep making him feel appreciated, I'm going to gain weight. Tonight was homemade pizza. Of course I had some. But, I'm resolved that as of tomorrow night, his feelings may have to be hurt. We're having omelets, & I will mix in an egg white & use cooking spray for mine (as opposed to his 3 whole eggs & half inch of olive oil).

Wish me luck . . .

Thanks everyone for such a warm welcome!! I really do appreciate it! And I love the direct questions about what my plan is!! ABout 2 weeks ago I started walking to and from school. The snow and ice has finally melted here and it is once again safe for the texan (gulf coast) to walk the streets without fear of serious injury. So, for two weeks now I have been walking about 5 miles a day. School is 2 miles each way and all of the other walking I do during the day makes about 5. My husband and I go for bikerides after dinner some nights as well. So, I am getting some very good exercise here. We walk everywhere!! This is a change for me. In the U.S. the only place I ever walked was to my mailbox, so my legs are moving! I am looking forward to the summer. We have about 20 hours of daylight a day and BEAUTIFUL weather, so plenty of time to be outdoors!
So, before my wedding, I lost weight by walking/running 3 miles a day with my sister and I lived on Lean Pockets and Smart ONes. So, basically, calorie reduction and exercise. Trouble is here, EVERYTHING costs a fortune!! I loved popping a Smart Ones in the microwave. They have never heard of diet food in Norway. They eat reindeer for goodness sake! Bread is a staple, as are potatoes and rice. So carbs are a part of life. So I am having to learn to make smart food choices all by myself
So my plan is too keep walking to and from school. To be active on the weekends. We also live in a 4th floor walkup, so I am up and down, several times a day! So my biggest challenge is eating SMART! I also cook for a man who is 6 foot 6 and couldn't gain a pound if he wanted to!!
Hey, thanks for the welcome. I really am excited about getting involved and writing about my journey and becoming a part of yours! I will get a scale soon!!!

Things I miss from the states:
Lean Pockets
Skinny Cows
Smart Ones fudge icecream bars
Lean Cuisine bistro pizza
jamba juice power berry smoothie
YELLOW MUSTARD
ANYTHING low fat (i'm telling you, they haven't heard of it here!)

Hi, All!

Kathryn, I’m sure it must be difficult to get used to a different way of life. I think you’ll be fine, though. When I was a teenager, my family spent a summer in Israel, & we walked EVERYWHERE. Also, even though they didn’t have anything that I would consider “diet” foods, they also didn’t have the preponderance of junk food that America does. So, without even trying, I lost weight (probably 10-15 lbs., even though I didn’t weigh myself). Besides, if you think about it, even though America has all those diet convenience foods, we’re one of the fattest nations (perhaps even THE fattest—someone help me out here). I think that with all the walking you do, if you just eat moderate portions, you should be okay.

I’m doing okay so far. I did an hour of weightlifting this morning. My eating has been okay, but then again, it’s the evenings that seem to be my downfall. My plan is to have a ham & cheese omelet. If I can stick w/ that & forego the after-dinner snacks, I’ll be fine.

How’s everyone else doing?

Good mornin' all

Well, this is day 4 of my fresh start and so far so good! DietPower has been giving me A or A+ grades daily on my eating! I have about 300 banked calories for the week so far. The scale is being kind! I think I may actually be on the right track finally!!
My only hope is that I keep this smaller appetite (I'm actually not starving all day which is a miracle compared to lately) after this dern cold goes away. I figure, if it is the cold thats causing my appetite to shrink, at least it'll give me a jump start on the diet!
Still no exercise... I'm contemplating adding in just the upper body workouts to begin with because I enjoy them more. Once they become a habit, maybe then I can add in lower body. Whatever it takes to get me started on something at least!!
More about DietPower... DP actually changes my goal calories daily according to the info its gathering about my intake so far and my loss (my metabolism basically). Each day, until today, it had decreased my calories. I swear I was waiting for it to decrease to nothing but finally today its up a little again. Its just above 1500 so that's not bad. I like that it actually calculates it for MY loss pattern and not just a generic number. I also love the calorie bank idea (similar to weight watchers and their points bank). If I can bank just a few calories each day, then I can allow myself one 'cheat' day a week where I can eat more but it won't really be cheating because I'll just be using up my banked calories! Overall, I am just REALLY liking this program!

Anyway, I guess I'm off to do something productive and start my day.

How's everyone else doing today?


Christine
181/178/125

Hi--just posting really quickly because I've got to get off & watch CSI

Christine, congrats on your success. I need to get there! Does DietPower cost anything?

Talk to you guys soon!

Ummm, DietPower is has a free 15 day trial you can download (or oder on CD). Then you have to pay $50 for the activation code if you want to keep using it. But, ahem *cough cough* I got my activation code ummm, the free way

I went over slightly on calories today but that's okay because I had over 200 banked points to work with. I should still have over 150 banked tomorrow so allll is good! I'm quite pleased with myself with the week as a whole. My kind scale was reading lower than it has in a long while today. My morning weighin was 178 but I stepped on it again later and got a 177! Now to keep that 177 until Monday, this is my goal!

Tomorrow we're invited to my mom's house for dinner though so this will be a challenge! I will have to eat low-cal early in the day and save my calories for dinner because they always have tempting foods there! And then there's always some sort of dessert!

Anyway, for some reason, even though its only 9:20, it feels about 2 hours later to me so I'm off to go relax and get ready for sleep soon! G'nite all.


Christine
181/178/125

Hi all!

Wow...I have been BUSY lately! I danced in the Fort Wayne Internationale Festivale this weekend...and it was great fun! Our group did a veil dance, my instructor did a solo, then I did a sword balancing duet with another dancer, and we ended it with all of us together doing a drum dance. It was exhilarating.

Things have been going well here on the weight loss front though...I am holding in at about 170 now. (Need to change that in my signature...and I fit into two pairs of Old Navy size 14's this weekend-a pair of shorts and a pair of denim capris. Considering I have been at a size 15/16 the past 6 months...I was glad to hit that milestone. I was also glad the hit AND pass the "40 pounds lost" marker. For those of you who don't know...I have these silly stuffed bears on my dresser in my bedroom...I get one for each 10 pounds lost..so this week I will have 4 up there instead of the 3. It is just a daily visual reminder of my accomplishments thus far. Most of my 15/16s still fit...they are just getting on the loose side...so as they get looser I will start weeding them out...and getting anothe pair or two of 14's in their place.

I am hoping to hit the 160's VERY soon. How is everyone else doing?

Here we go again... a post typed out and lost. Argh!!

Let's try this again...

Hello Aphil! Nice to hear from you! Congrats on reaching 170 and a size 14!!

How was everyone's weekend? Mine went pretty well. I was slightly over on my calories each day (according to what DietPower gives me which is in the 1500's somewhere but changes daily) but today, at official weekly weighin, I still managed to be down 3 pounds!! I am so pleased with myself! I am finally doing it... perhaps I really did refind my 'click'! And I don't plan to stop this time either!!

Now all I need to do is motivate myself to exercise. I am suddenly remembering, with great clarity, how much the treadmill workouts helped me last time. I am thinking I should at least try to get in 3-4 times per week, 20 minutes each. I think it will make a big difference!

Its looking like I may actually make it to my goal of 175 by the end of the month but if not, I should be REAL close... I am now down to 176.5!

Hope everyone is having a great Monday!


Christine
181/176.5/125

Congratulations Silence! I am glad to hear that you are doing well. It feels great doesn't it? If we could only bottle that feeling, and remember it every day.

I went through a hard time this past weekend. I am back on track today. I got bored at work today and looked for some new recipes online and boy am I hungry! I know better than to do that! I did see lots of low fat recipes on cooks.com that I might try sometime. I bought some reduced fat Bisquick that I am going to use in some recipes from this website too.

Hope everyone is doing OK.

Deb

Hi there - I have been lurking on your thread! I'm not new to this site - but returning after having a baby. Like some others here, I had gestational diabetes and gained quite a lot of weight which I am struggling to take off. I have never been severly overweight before and now need to lose 60 lbs.

I did a lot of research into different diet "programs" and finally decided to see a nutritionist and come up with a sensible plan that works for me. So, that's why I am here.

I've already gotten some great ideas from reading this thread. Hope to be able to check in here more often.


Christine - am interested in DietPower - I am looking for a good way to track my calories. Sounds like you are enjoying it. How did you get that activation code?

Have a great day, everyone!

Hello everyone!

Welcome, daisynyc! Hope you get to be a regular here, we help each other along and are good friends!

Congrats, aphil!!!! DO change that number, you've earned it!!! and good for you, Christine! your click has clicked on!

I am on the COUNTDOWN now!!!! TWO more days of my winter job. My boss has done something absolutely so kewl...he is selling the business, the papers get signed Friday...and he is not too impressed with the new buyer. SO, my boss told me to name ANY hourly rate I wanted, for him to say is my rate...I went crazy and said four dollars an hour over what I actually make...so the new owner is going to see that as my rate...hee hee hee. I am only there for one day a week during the summer; my summer job is the one at the private club that I love so much, but I can give up one day off to make some $$$.

and the OTHER countdown is for our motorcycle road trip!! One week from today, we are leaving...lots of riding in a short amount of time, but I shall try to enjoy it all! I do get nervous thinking of riding in the heavily populated areas, as I am used to so little traffic here...but I did it last year, on the St. Louis trip; I can do it again!

I have had some doozies of bad eating days lately...you don't want to hear my confessions! After one of the bad days, I chanced a hop on the scale...and it showed a two pound gain...eeeekkkk!!!! I'm hoping it was not all fat, and mostly fluid retention. But the past two days I've been eating like the proverbial bird...so unlike me! but it is due to the distractions of thinking of stuff for the change of jobs, getting the house ready for the kids to be alone, and preparing for the trip.

And I chanced another hop on the scale this afternoon, and it showed 145 again, whew! I fought HARD to get those clinging two pounds off.

We had stupid snow flurries this morning...and up at higher elevations, just 500 feet up or so, there was 2-3 inches...but it all melted by mid-morning. and I heard tomorrow will be almost 70 degrees! Well, that's Vermont.

I'll try to pop in more often. Our iBook had to be sent to Apple for repairs; and in the meantime, I had to use husband's 'puter, but felt like I was infringing on his time...but iBook is back on my lap, thank goodness

Have a great night!

Well, it's me again!

how crazy that we up here hit 82 degrees yesterday!!! and almost as high today. Just wait, it'll be 50 during the days again very soon

Been doing much better with food choices and no terrible donut incidents like last week

Still on the countdown for our road trip, I have a HUGE list to to cross stuff off on! But it will all come together. I was at my fave thrift shop today, and bought a black belt with red glitter lipstick mouthmarks (haute couture for biker chicks, lol!) for .60 . And a two-piece bikini that I will prolly just use for the halter top, for $3.00.

I really wanted to be at the point muscular-wise that one could bounce a quarter off my butt I am a LONG way from that, but I've improved since last year, I know. And I'll keep going!

Look what I found! a list of our past, dear posters!! Still looking for you all!

Jacklyn, idealperson, zadie k, kanola, Kina, Snowey, missymont, GeorgiaLady, tooround, it's_my_life_.... see, you all are missed!

Each time I do one of my new aerobic videos, they get a little bit more familiar, and it's a little easier. I decided to pump up the Keli Roberts one a bit; I added ankle weights, and I sweat!!

Happy Monday everyone

Well, this week has been an interesting one. I doubted I'd get down to 175 by the end of April (my mini goal) but figured I'd be close. Then I got a stomach bug and lost 2.5 pounds in 2 days. I was down to 174 entering April although I'm not too pleased with how I got there. I'm now back up to 175 but I figured that would happen once I was eating well again. I seem to be holding steady there so far though so I'm happy. I guess now I need a new mini goal.

On another topic... anyone ever seen the infomercial for the 'Magic Bullet'? My grandmother purchased one for me, just because. Well, I've never had a working 'blender' so just that function alone is entertaining me. It came with a recipe for a strawberry banana smoothie, something I've been wanting to make for years. It is sooooo good. I had one for breakfast this morning. Its tasty, filling, under 200 calories and healthy too. Its only berries, a banana, some ice and a splash of oj... no extra sugar or anything. This may very well become a staple in my diet.

So, how is everyone else doing?

Is it just me or is anyone else having difficulties using the smilies?


Christine
181/175/125