hi everybody! just re-joined 3FC before the weekend.
I got the courage this morning and joined curves! i went for my first work out and they killed me! im really out of shape!
im down 10 pounds since i started though so im very glad!

i wonder though, seems like most of you are eating 1200 cals. im eating 1600 cals. my fitday says i can have 2200, plus i exersized so 2500, if i want to lose 1.5 pounds per week (my goal)....so how come most of you are eating so little? will i lose at 1600? im a little concerned and confused with how much i should eat.

Aggie- you should start there but if you don't see results after 1 week then you should lower it to 1500... if you don't see results then lower it again. You should start as high as you can still lose weight. I try for 1200 and rarely end up there. I exercise a lot and usually end up at about 1500 calories. The fitday calories seem a little high to me. I definately don't eat back calories that I burn either.

K9 - Isn't closet shopping the best

jomatho - Woo-hoo on new lows.

Grace - Possibly the only good things about Mondays is that you get to start over.

berry - As usual I'm jealous of all the time you're spending in the dirt. My dirt is all mud and no hope in the forecast

still - Congrats to the hubby! And to you for sticking to plan.

RachelJ - I'm not the workout video sort, but I am curious about P90X. Seems to keep circling around me.

themilesawaygirl - Welcome. This is a great place. Nice to be somewhere with people with the same focus.

roadbikerchick - Happy Anniversery! (Why does wedding planning always bring out the worst in people?)

Stacy - I'm in awe of all your exercise.

Diana in LA - So jealous on the that iphone. I've been drooling over one for a long time now.

novelista - good luck on your trip!

modkittn - Whoa! Losing on vacation is a major accomplishment.

shishkeberry - Welcome! I'm starting out very slow on the exercise front too.

sum - Have fun at the banquet. And you can't please everyone, right?

Larry - Your scale just keep on crusing downward. Amazing!

txladymedic - Good for you for staying on track. It's so easy to let stress lead us astray.

Diana - I'm always amazed at how consistent your calories are. Mine zigzag all over the place.

MzJuicyD - Congrats on the drop! And good riddance to the guy. That's just tacky of him to even mention your coworker.

Andejean -

jenfett, TXGirl - Welcome!

Aggie - I eat 1400-1500. You'll probably have to do some experimenting to see what works for you, to find a balance between what you're happy eating and how fast you'd like to lose. You're suggested calories are probably high in part because because you're young (?), and fairly tall. Also if you set your activity level to something other than sedentary, it might be throwing the calcs off.

I have a doctor's appointment with my doctor on Thursday morning. With lighter weight clothes, I will probably weigh 50 pounds less than the last time I saw him in January. I'm not very satisfied with him and will be switching after this appointment, but I'm curious what he will say about my weight AND about my health (as this is FINALLY the appointment to talk about my lab results which I have gotten back almost a month ago!)

It feels nice to FINALLY being going to the doctor feeling good about where I am health-wise. It's like never happened before!

Hi Everyone!

I've had a busy day! I had to go downtown to our Attorney's office. We have a communications tower on our property. The current contract doesn't expire until 2023. They want to extend that for another 25 years. I had to take the documentation to my Attorney for him to pick apart and protect us. I like our Attorney and he is very good, but I hate dealing with that type of stuff. Also, I will probably be dead before the contract is even up. It seems crazy to do all of that, but that tower is an asset and income for us and the next owners of our property.

I came back to the shop to get a couple things done. This will be a quick check-in.

zoodoo613 Something funny about me: I eat the same thing, every day for breakfast and lunch. I enjoy those meals very much. I'm not one that gets bored and needs variety. My dinner is different every day, though. In general, I know my serving of grilled protein is 300-500 calories and I make up the difference that I need in veggies. It's a very simple way for me to eat. If I am lacking in calories, then I might have a 100 calorie ice cream or dark chocolate. I hate trying to figure things out on a daily basis and I like to keep things simple.

Total Approx 1440 Calories +

Breakfast (365 Calories + coffee)
spritz oil in pan
egg 70 cal
egg whites from carton 60 calories
Vegetable of choice
2% Reduced Fat Cheese 40 calories
high fiber English muffin 100 calories
1 teaspoon jam 20 calories
juice 75 calories
coffee w/sugar and cream

Lunch (375 Calories)
Natures Own 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Rounds 100 calories
3 Slices Hormel Natural Choice Deli Turkey 60 Calories
Mustard/Lettuce 25 Calories
Oikos Strawberry Greek Yogurt 4 ounce container 90 calories
1 Apple 100 calories

Dinner (700 Calories)
2 Grilled Chicken Tacos 600 calories
Sauce 100 calories

Exercise:
Check-In: Bob Harper's Ultimate Cardio Body Extreme Weight Loss Workout

This is a new workout for me. I think I really like it. It was a great deal. It was just under $9 at Sam's Club.

Hi Chics & Larry

Today has been AWESOME! Perfect weather Not too hot not too cold and no

MN-7a: --
7a-Noon: NOW Green Monster, Hummus & Carrots 410
Noon-3p: Packed Tuna w/ 1Tbs RF Mayo, ½ c Spinach, ½ c Romaine, Green Beans, Broccoli, Fiber1 Bar 315
3p-7p: PowerBar 360
7p-MN: Cheese Omelet, Orowheat English Muffin, 2 tsp Polaner All Fruit 284
TOTAL: 1369

456
K9 walk 120
TOTAL: 576

96 oz of WATER!

Diana32: I would love to be able to eat the same things and not get bored with it. I know I eat the same things often, but sometimes they switch up, like I’ll have breakfast food at night or for lunch. It’s hard for me to plan a day—much less a week—in advance, b/c I may wake up hungrier than ever or not at all. Ah! The life of a grazer! It’s getting better though!

Melissa: Hope you get a great report at the MDs office!

ZooDoo: Anything I don’t have to go out and try on at the store, right? Ugh! I used to LOVE shopping! No so much anymore.

Aggie: I agree with Stacy and ZooDoo on your cals/day. How much are you trying to lose? If your close to goal like some of us, trying to eat 2000 cals/day may not allow you to see the results you want. I don’t use Fitday, nor have I ever tried it, so no help to ya there. I use My Fitness Pal and adjust it according to what I am seeing from week to week. I almost have the settings tweaked perfectly!

Hi TXGirl: I know how hard it is to squeeze a breakfast meal in! Here’s you a little to help with that!!

Novel: Have a FABULAIRE time on holiday!!

MzJuicy: for accountability! However, you be sure this cousin doesn’t cause your foot to stumble!! Be the firm, fabulous chic you can be and know that it takes a lot of patience and discipline to coach a family member in this journey, but YOU CAN DO IT!

Andejean: So glad to see you back! Hate you have had one infection after another! That’s just wrong on so many levels. Feel better soon!

Stacy: Nice job—as always!! OK, I was a slacker today and didn’t really get my 2/day like I wanted. I had planned to play tennis before Zumba, but my partner in crime had to stay late at the office. I don’t consider the K9 walk really cardio. Tomorrow is for me and tennis in the afternoon!!! I want it BADLY!!

Kristiina: YOU ARE SO ON!!! You call it! We’ll negotiate it! Your goal is way lower than mine! Hey, I’ve seen 130 before-- SCARY!!!!

Jo: I seriously doubt I could make 8 miles! Maybe in a month, but defo NOT today. I’m at 4 miles and that’s with 3 scheduled walk breaks for 2 min each.

Hopefully I didn't miss anyone this time around. If I did, so so sorry! Put it on my cheque

Phew! Weigh in--OVER for ANOTHER week! After all that smack I talked earlier about only going to meetings to help keep my friend accountable--it was an AWESOME meeting....I left there tonight TOTALLY re-inspired!!! THIS is gonna be a GREAT week! I'm GONNA lose 2 lbs this week.....cause I can!! (How's that for positive?!?!) I lost 1.4 this week.....new low of 198.4 (I think that was my tenths....can't remember for 100% sure) I may need you guys to remind me of this post tomorrow when I get munchy.

K9- Hope you get to play tennis. Sounds like fun!

Diana: I knew something was going on with you when I didn't see a check in from you.

Zoodoo/Diana: I actually like having the same meals too. I find it comforting and easy. The grocery shopping is faster, too~

--------------------------

I've got some sore quads this evening. Going to finish my chores and then soak in the tub. I'm afraid they are going to be more sore tomorrow.

Great Job DianaLA!

If you even CONSIDER snacking tomorrow, Ms. Onederland--I'm

Bring on the dancing and

It's been a busy few days! My scale has not moved AT ALL in the direction I want. Despite all the hard work I've been doing, I've actually gained a pound since I last weighed myself.

However, today was a good day. Workout was a 6+ mile walk with the stroller. Food was ok. I came in within calories, but I ate a lot of carbs. Ahh well.

Tomorrow I have another long walk planned with some P90X.

Also, have you guys ever had weird cravings while losing weight and working out? I'm talking WEIRD. Tonight my mouth is WATERING over the thought of combination Pizza Rolls dipped in chocolate icing/frosting. How gross *should* that sound?! Of course, that fat bomb will not be indulged, but still. The thought is sooooo tantalizing. I'm utterly confused over it.

Melissa - Way to go on that 1.2 pound drop. Glad to see you have Mel's book on Square Foot Gardening. I have the original that I bought back in 1981 when I lived in Hawaii. I have been a Square Foot Garden enthusiest ever since.

Diana3271 - Thank you for always being positive, even when you are faced with health issues. You make my day better.

RachaelJ - I hope today was better than yesterday for you.

Zoodoo613 - Remember without the rain there would be no flowers or rainbows. Always been intrigued by your "Upstate New York" in your profile. I moved from Buffalo to Florida a year and nine months ago.
My son and my grandchildren live near Albany, NY.

Stacy - You said you were perfectly behaved yesterday. WOW!! I have never been able to say that.about myself ROFL

Jomatho - A huge congratulations on being overweight!! I wonder what a bystander would think if they heard me tell you that? ROFL I am a big fan of Mel Bartholamew's Square Foot Gardening. Your mother will love the book and she would be able to move her garden closer. Square Foot Gardening takes up a lot less space.

Jenfett - Welcome!! Sounds like you have an attitude for success. Good decisions!!

Diana in LA - I also tend to be low in calories. My target is 1500 but my 4 month daily average is much closer to 1100. I have found that I can eat a lot of healthy food and stay low in calories. My computer based program that I use is called "WEIGHT BY DATE" and I track everything Cals, Carbs, Fats, Protein, Sodium, Cholesterol, Vitamins, Minerals and I try to keep the mean monthly averages of each in a healthy range. That way I can eat lower calories than what some folks say I should and eat more food volume than folks that are eating far greater calories. Last but most important I am getting more of the necessary nutrients than folks who are eating more calories than I am. I can't prove it but I think that this has been the key to my weight loss. Since starting on the 6th of this January I have not splurged. I have had exactly two days over plan each one was in the 1800 calorie range, not much of a splurge.

Shishkeberry - Way to go!! Planning meals is a great way to stay on plan. I also weigh and measure EVERYTHING. I found out I was a lousy estimator of my food portions. I record everything I eat. This has helped show me a lot of areas that I was able to improve in.

Krystal - I hope your day was every bit as awsome as you had planned!!

Sum - I would never forget you. HI!! I get the impression that you secretly enjoy cycling your MIL up and down emotionally.

Novelistabac - Enjoy your trip!!

MzJuicyD - I find store brands are frequently as good or better than the name brands.

Andejean - Love those home grown tomatoes, They actually taste like tomatoes.

TXGirl487 - Welcome!! Great food choices and 3 miles? way to go!!

Aggie2006 - Welcome!! Congrats on the 10 pounds!! You are off to an awsome start.

Pint - 6 mile walk? Wow that is a lot.

My day was great. I went to Sarasota about 1 hour and 45 minutes drive South to be at a Shrine function. A lot of my friends from Buffalo were there and we had a great time.

1098 calories today on plan. A super low 640 mg of sodium!! My target is 2000 mg.

No exercise today unless you count non stop talking with friends.

I left before my weigh in time so will have to wait until tommorrow.

My DW brithday is tommorrow and she asked to go to Red Lobster looked online and my best choices seem to be be either the 1/2 order of Tilapia at 210 calories or the 1/2 order of Salmon at 270 calories. I will decide when I get there. I am definately staying away from those wonderfull cheddar cheese biscuits. There should be a law against them.

Larry,

Hi Larry,

I haven't seen any werewolves, so the garlic soup must be working

Here's the recipe:

4 cups low sodium chicken broth
1/2 c. white wine
14 whole cloves garlic
2 onions
1 large carrot, sliced
1 medium stalk celery, sliced

Combine all the ingredients in a slow cooker. Cook this on low heat for 10 - 12 hours to steep the garlic. If you cook it on too high heat, the garlic will turn bitter. After the slow cooking, put everything in the blender and puree it. Enjoy!

That garlic soup sounds awesome! When I was single, i used to bake cloves of garlic and spread them on crackers. Unfortunately, i'd end up eating a whole sleeve of ritz and smell like garlic for days, but I'm a woman that loves garlic!