Hey everyone! The weekend was very, very busy. Sorry I've not been around so much. Welcome to newcomers!

betsey - Congrats on 50 lbs lost! That is such a milestone. How are you celebrating!

Tracy - dogs are great for fitness, I think. All the necessary walking, and walking is so much more fun with a dog in tow. Or, as is often the case, towing!

Devon - how are you doing?

Welcome, kelmomto3! Congrats on your NSVs!

sassyangies - hah, yes. Tulips require a very specific cool climate! They do great in northern Europe, though. And mine did fairly well. Some are still nice, it is cooler here this week so the remaining tulips will be happier. Also: what a lovely idea for your tattoo! Now that you've met your mini-goal, when will you be getting the work done?

SnowAngel - yes, IIII totally use my own scale as the measure of my progress. And I'm sure you'll feel skinnier soon enough. Some days I notice it, some days I don't!

ThreeThirtyTwo - hee, my treadmill is in my dining room, actually, but yes: getting through that every day makes me happy.

Welcome former340! We are the same height, I would love to make it to where you are right now. I've made it to the point where I generally am okay with exercise. but yes: still have food issues and everything else, alas, even though I feel super successful.

Isles - I watch shows from the DVR, usually the Daily Show, which I love, but I still get bored on the treadmill. But especially first thing in the morning I need to be close to the bathroom, too. HA!

Jane - wow, I am SO sorry, handling that with aplomb is pretty impressive. You STILL see your progress, right? Because it is amazing and you can absolutely keep going, even if the going is a bit slow through the wedding prep.

dgramie - you can totally get back on program today and this week! I know the feeling.

Nancy - what an awesome NSV. Congrats! I'm sending you good vibes for the job search, that does not sound like fun.

Hmm. My weekend was busy. I went to see my Dad sing, volunteered for the last weekend of tax season (which took up all Saturday), then did errands/worked a bit on Sunday. Did not get any yard work done, but hopefully will do some tonight, though getting back to my weights work-out in the evening is a priority above that. I did a bit more shopping, too, and now have spring/summer appropriate clothes to wear. The best find was a pair of work-appropriate pants in a black and white houndstooth pattern at Macy's for less than $8. (On clearance! in size 16W short. The short makes it best: I don't have to hem them.) I'm not really a 16. These pants have an elastic waistband and are a bit tight, and the brand runs big. But the 18W shorts were too big so I bought the 16s. I probably need another 5-7 lbs off before they will work, but I can totally do that. Hah, someday soon, hopefully!

Hi ladies!

I just wanted to say hi to everyone and let you all know how inspiring you are!!!

I just started South Beach Diet today, under the advisement of my doctor. I'm 29, I weigh over 340lbs and my blood pressure was waaaay up there. Not prediabetic...yet. But I'm sure that would be the next stop if I would have continued on my path.

So glad that I stumbled on this site and that I finally have the courage (and ambition) to do this!!!

Thanks so much for all your inspiration.

I am sooo...beyond over this. Sorry that I always vent in here. I seriously have done everything right and the scale moved then went back up then stayed at the same place even though I did everything I was supposed to. And it's so frustrating and unnerving. So what did I do? I binged the entire weekend. I ate any and everything I wanted. It didn't really make me feel any better, but I want to binge and binge and binge again. I get so discouraged whenever I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing, staying on track and yet nothing happens!!!!! UGH!

hey girls, I've been away for a few days. Stayed on plan, just was off doing stuff with the hubby and hanging out. The scale gave me back 1 lb this week, but that's ok, I think it's just a salty day? I know I'm on plan so Im not going to let that number kill me and bring me down.

NotTheCheat: Good for you...scale is moving and it sounds like you are having fun in Belly Dancing and Zumba....

sassyangies: I can feel your happiness

Radiojane: that your dress is too big....

mnemosyne: I love the Daily Show too...but the treadmill I use is at the gym...NO TV!!! I find "time" is a problem - getting the "have to" stuff done and the "me stuff" I should be doing - like exercise & sleep.


iheartflipflops:

watchoutforthatcar: Venting is good!!! We have all been at the binge place...probably more than we want to admit. BUT you did come and admit to it which is a positive step...so dust yourself off and start a new.... I have found myself doing the same thing...but keep trying to remind myself it never makes me feel any better.....just thought of a new plan...when I want to start binging...come here and vent...at least while I am typing I can't be eating.

sandy: good attitude....I need to adopt that because I beat myself up and, as we know, that just leads to more eating.

I had a good day yesterday....going for day 2!!!

Have any of you tried a rebounder?

Time for

well, gals.. Can't believe I'm saying this, but the scale went back up to 272. lol.. I am not going to be upset about this, but dang scale!!! At first I wanted to throw it out the window. Then I realized the time of month it is. I had a high sodium dinner, so..... I'm going to just be ok with it. I'm doing everything I need to do and thats all I can do right? I have to make this quick I'm going to the gym again today. I hope everyone has a fabulous tuesday!!

Down a whopping .5 from yesterday, but my muscles are sore as heck from yoga class #2. Hope to see more of a loss tomorrow. My tummy's off today, but I think it's maybe just from too much lemon water today, I had more than usual.

My dress that I ordered for the bachelorette was an epic fail, so now I'm weighing my options. I can probably order another one and have it get here in time, but I have a slightly more casual dress I can wear too. Sigh.... I really liked the one I'd picked out, just not on me!

Radiojane: Bummer you don't like the dress. I just did that with a blouse...loved it in the catalog - but wondered - ordered it - my wondering was correct - looked awful on me. But I keep doing that anyway.

I just don't like shopping and trying on clothes...hated it just as much when I was 130lbs as now.

sassy: I have to start setting mini goals too.

How is everyone else doing?

I have had two good days..(I am celebrating small successes)

Mnem - Thanks for reminding me about Macy's. I always forget they have a nice plus size line. I need to get myself an interview suit and that is a good place to look.

iheartflipflops - Welcome!

WatchOut - I know that cycle all too well since my body likes to hang on to weight and then woosh. Personally I know my binges come from me wanting to care for myself, but just doing it in one of the most backwards ways possible. So I try not to beat myself up for attempting to self-care, but rather keep trying to find other ways to do that. I hope you are feeling better about things. Sometimes it just takes time.

Sandy - Hang in there, the scale will move. Extra salt is a killer.

Isles - I haven't tried a rebounder, but I have major knee issues right now. They do look like fun though.

Sassy - What is with it with these scales being mean? At least you know why. Hope you had fun at the gym.

Jane - Hopefully you can find something quickly. It has been awhile since I have had to buy anything fancy, thank goodness. That is great that you are enjoying yoga.


I had a great moment yesterday. It was in my Zumba class during the cooldown. All of a sudden, something...shifted. I realized that I had just been going through the motions - faking it until I make it, but until right then I didn't really BELIEVE I could do this. But somehow something clicked into place. Now I'm not sure how I kept going NOT believing, but thankfully I did. Very cool.

I proceeded to totally overdo things yesterday. I not only did my back to back Zumba and yoga class, I went to the advanced hour and a half belly dance class in the evening. Um, yeah, that was a bit too much. Oh well, it is good to push the boundaries every once and awhile.

Jane sorry about the dress. Are you sure you can't make it work? Did you have someone else see it on you? Maybe your being hard on yourself. I know you must be dissapointed. I hope you figure out what to wear hun.

Nothecheat, wow that was allot of excersise. I'm glad you had that ahha moment. You must feel great after that. Good for you!!!

Well, the scale is up another pound. not liking this at all. It makes me want to quit the gym so bad, but I'm not going to. My son is loving the day care in there and I met an older man that's been talking to me so I'm gong to keep going and going.. lol.. at least Mon through Thurs. I can do this! I will do this. I just wish the weight wouldn't do that. it doesn't help that TOM is coming also so that might be whats going on.
HOpe everyone is having a great Wednesday so far!!

I got a lot of opinions on the dress - I tend to overreact, so I asked my friends (and got a resounding no from my man). The biggest issue is that I'm really long in the torso, so the crinoline didn't flare at my thigh, it flared around my already massive belly. YUCK. I have ordered a maxi dress from igigi, a site I've been hovering on for months, that's fancy and super expensive, but I figured, what the heck, I may get something gorgeous, and if I have to send it back, I'm out $20 bucks for shipping. I don't get a lot of opportunities to splurge on fancy dresses. I settled on a maxi (the long torso makes the cocktail length ones too short in a mostly black print that will be dressy enough but still summery. I may order a bolero to cover my arms too.

Sassy Keep going!!! I'm stalled right out (that whopping one pound loss came right back - new scale or not, I'm still stuck), but the gym is TOTALLY worth it. Especially when you get the eventual "woosh"!

iheartflipflops - Welcome! Good luck with your new plan. The South Beath Diet seems like a good one, and I hope you are finding ways to enjoy it! I think that is important.

Devon - I am so sorry you had a bad weekend. We are here for you to vent! It is really hard to stay on track, ridiculously hard. And we are here for both venting and encouragement. I find that the most important thing is picking yourself up and moving onward, but sometimes I think it is better to give yourself a sort-of-break, where all you care about is staying the same, rather than losing? So you can feel victorious a bit and focus on: eating good-for-you foods that you like, and that sort of moderation. I don't know, but for sure whatever happens we are here for you!

sandy - that is the right attitude. I find the scale fluctuates a fair bit. I try to perservere when it is not giving me what I want, but it can be tough.

Isles - hah. yes, having the TV there is important to me. It REALLY helps me walk. I would be bored otherwise. I do my treadmill first thing in the morning, so at least THAT gets done. Sometimes other stuff falls by the wayside, alas. Congrats on having several good days!

Sassyangies - it sounds like TOM and muscle soreness. It can be difficult to get through, but the fitness gains in the end will be totally worth it. I have been exercising (and increasing speed/duration, et ceterA) regularly since January and while sometimes my losses seem to stall (I am sure that is also: I am a lower weight now), the way I feel is amazing. Keep going!

Jane - so, so sorry the dress didn't work. I know the feeling. I won't order many clothes these days since I really need to try things on to see how they work, but I think that is tough for you living out where you do? By the way, IIIII've seen pictures of you. I don't think you need to 'cover' your arms, unless you are likely to get cold.

Nancy - oh, good luck! They do have a really nice plus size section. And! they always have sales. I like the diversity of the stuff they have. I hope you find a great looking interview suit! Also: I am amazed at the exercise schedule.

I am having a busy week and am going out tonight. My car is in the shop too, fingers crossed that it is nothing serious. I had to renew my driver's license this week, and got to drop my weight from 280 (which was a lie the time) to 230, which was nice. Though I wish I had kept a copy of the picture from the old one as the difference in my face was really noteworthy.

Ah, well.

It is a lovely day there. Good luck everyone!

Thanks mnem, and yes, ordering online is the easiest. While I can get a few tops and dresses in a 2X at some stores at home, my closest plus size store is 2 hours away, and there's only one.

Hey ladies... Not feeling so hot today. Not sure what the deal is. Tummy troubles, achy, and maybe TOM. It definetely is that time of the month. Doesn't help that it's going to be a long long day. Blah.. I think I'm gonna take a nap.. I hope everyone has a great Thursday!!

Crazy but I think cheating over the weekend worked well for me. I was up 5lbs on monday and today I am down 7lbs. I am back to a 70lb loss from my highest in 2008. I have lost 27lbs this year so far..woohoo.