I am new to this forum and thread and so for the last few days I have been lurking on a few threads to see what the vibe is, and I must say you guys are so positive, even when sharing your failures in your journey. I started my journey after weighing 250lbs back in late November of this year, the highest I have ever seen on a scale. My last weigh-in was this past Tuesday and I was holding at 240.2lbs. I am pretty sure I will be under that by my next weigh-in. I refuse to reach my next birthday with a 2 leading on the scale.

Best wishes to everyone and their future successes

mara it'll go back down! just have patience!

justaloozer stupid AF! but at the end maybe a nice whoosh!

marli WELCOME!!!!! and congrats on 10lbs off so far go you!

marliQQ. I don't know if you saw this when you were checking out the different threads located under 100 lbs to lose Club but there is another thread for 220s-230s which it sounds like you might be there very soon. However, glad you can join us until you are ready to "cross over".

on the nearly 10 lbs gone! You are doing great!

I meant to get on here two days ago but my DH finally both got paid and had some free time to do some shopping. The weatherman was predicting more rain for the weekend so we also wanted to beat that. It has been very cold here this past week. It has been in the mid-30s once the sun goes down. That is cold for northern GA.

pixiekat: thanks for the tip on carbs and "carbs flu". That is more of a withdrawal symptom when you are going from a higher carb food plan to a low carb food plan and that usually goes away within a few days. I used to follow SB 5 years ago and I do know what you are describing. I am pre-diabetic and I monitor my blood glucose. What I was referring to was when I have depleted my glucose stores and my blood sugar drops uncomfortably low; usually when I have had a high energy cardio workout. What works best for me is to not have too high or too low of carbs within each meal as well within each day. So, I both monitor the amount of carbs that I have with each meal and pay close attention when I have used up all of my glucose reserves. I have glucose tablets for hypoglycemia episodes. It is a much more serious condition than what you are describing and it can become a medical emergency if left untreated.

mara, justaloozer et al: hello, my dear friends!

Well, it is hard to believe that we only have a few more days left of this year.

FYI; I will be leading an 8 week weight loss challenge here on 3FC and you all are welcome to join if you wish. If you think this is something that you would like to do, then PM with your email address and I will send you the excel spreadsheet that you follow. It will begin on January 6th. Weekly weigh-ins are on Mondays so that is why I am starting it on the first Monday of the month.

My weight has stayed the same but I am not surprised. We had two great meals on both Christmas Eve/Day which I both monitored and logged. Then, we had three meals out. All were sit down meals with meat/potato and vegetable. So, I have been enjoying "the high life", so to speak, for the past week and all of that sodium is just lurking around. Yes, in that order!

So, what are everyone's plans for New Year's Eve? We usually have a quiet one and stay-at-home. I want to broil salmon for our evening meal. I rejoined another group that I have belonged to on and off for the past couple of years and already our first weigh in is tomorrow. Boy, 2014 is coming around quickly!

Take care, Pam

So today is the last day for my veggie/fruit load challenge , THANK GOD I basically only had vegetables in my plate for all meals and fruit as snacks, for an entire week. I thought it wouldn't be that bad if I stuck to veggies I liked, but eventually, I got so bored that I started trying to pump up the variety with veggies I didn't like so much. Needless to say, I found myself with ramped up cravings for everything I was denying myself. Strangely,there was even some homemade lemonade in the fridge I kept staring at continually. I say strangely, because I hadn't had a hankering for any juices before this week, and you would think that would be the case, since I have been drinking only water since last month. So yeah tomorrow I pray that I don't binge in my excitement

Oh and I also want to pat myself on the back, since deciding I was going to go on this weight loss journey, I have been so diligent with working out even when I did not want to. Honestly, my best motivator has been me, and I do mean literally ME. This may be TMI, I'll share though because it may help someone else, but when I get to the point that I don't want to workout at all and just skip a session, I take myself to my full length mirror. I then proceed to get naked , and yes I spin around nice and slow so I can see it ALL It helps to remind me of what I am striving for, I mean, of course I always remember that I am overweight, but a nice stroll in front of the mirror without clothes gives you a moment of...clarity.

So fingers crossed for my next weigh-in, I hope my hard work paid off

pamatga,pnkrckpixikat Thanks for the welcome.
pamatga I lived in Dallas GA for three years, up until this past summer, so I agree, mid-30's was def cold for down there And honestly, I haven't thought about New Years yet, probably because I'm never the host or hostess for anything, only the attendee But I know there are like 5 birthday parties in the month of January, and those people expect my presence and presents

Hi everyone

Looks like finals period and the holidays brought me back up into the 240's. Hopefully I won't stay very long, as I am officially back on the wagon now (calorie counting). Let's all make 2014 our year!

Welcome MarliQQ and Em Coconut!

Not weighed this weekend. Waiting to see what tomorrow brings.

Anybody have plans for New Year's?

Hello all! and YAY.. its almost time for a New Year (and a New US!)

Even tho it was the holidays.. I have a feeling that we all did pretty good. Did not lose total track of what our personal mission is and have gotten back (or close too) the saddle again and on the Journey!

Welcome MarliQQ! and Em Coconut!... (You both won't be visiting us very long as you will be flying down to the next thread! ... I think a few of us will be following in a week or so!) Glad you have joined!

Pam... Carb Flu is icky and I am so sorry that your workouts deplete your sugar that bad. But you are taking care of yourself and that is the important thing (Glad you got your shopping in before the rain!)

Mara...I am with you! Lets do the Down Down Down dance!!!

Pixikat...your gains are whooshing off YAY!!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas (if you celebrate) and a Holiday with your family and loved ones! MIne was nice as, for a change, no fights! HOORAY in my book... But I am having a mishap.. I lost 2 bills and checks to pay them somewhere in my local Walmart and they have not turned up... So now I am worried about my Checking account, CC and Cable info Sigh... So not sleeping very well..... If they don't show up clearing my account by Thursday, I am opening a new account. I am hoping for a good Samaritan that was nice enough to put the letters in the mail and did not open them.... I am praying... sigh...

BUT Looking forward to the New Year!.... Mara.. I have a friend having a few people over for New Years eve and I am making a crab Rangun dip (Mostly no carb) so I can put a big dollup on my plate and eat it with just 1 chip acting as the shovel LOLOLOL. Work today and its a busy day!... Lots of Real Estate Closings that I have to preform and crabby people.. and both other girls in my office out (1 has a doctors apt REALLY??? END OF THE MONTH AND YEAR??? really it was a preset apt and not an emergency... so I have to answer the door too while I am explaining documents to people.. not professional.. but gotta deal).. I hope you all have a wonderful day! Tomorrow WILL BE BETTER! (for me!!)

Sue I will keep my fingers crossed that someone put your bills in the mail. I could not fathom taking someone's money. The crab dip sounds amazing! Love those rangoons.

I am all for the down down dance. lol I am at 244.0 this morning.

Hopefully this New Year brings us all a sense of renewed determination, good health, financial stability, and wonderful memories to be made.

pam oh, Idk then. from what I understand since you won't have glucose stores and everything is fueled by fat you shouldn't have that problem but I have only read a couple books, I would talk to your doctor, if they aren't as familiar with HFLC eating maybe they can look into the studies.

marli a week of eating only fruits and veggies, wow, I'm not sure I could do that lol good job!

mara no plans, my hubby works NYE and NYday so we might just go out to dinner and go to bed at our normal time. 244 isn't bad, and some of that will likely flush off just keep it up!

sue yuck! I will cross my fingers for your letter to have been mailed. and a Dr. appt today makes perfect sense, trying to squeeze out as much of the insurance coverage as possible before the 1st of the year.

I am 244.5 which is only slightly up from my 243.0 low so hopefully I will see that tomorrow or the 1st so I can start off the year with no water weight.

Hello!

Hi all the new people and hello again to the regulars now! I am just hanging around 247.5 and that's okay with me. I'm hoping to get to 245lbs before January 15th so I have time.

I had a cheat day a few days ago and completely enjoyed a bowl of spaghetti, a small bowl of ice cream and a heaping hot cocoa with marshmallows. I filled it with marshmallows so many times I couldn't finish it because I started to feel sick!

But I just love marshmallows and it was a nice break. I think the holidays definitely present more opportunities for cheat meals and cheat days though so I've been trying to stay on my toes.

The biggest issue for me is alcohol. I started drinking and partying very young and only within the past two years have I been able to get my addictions under control. I quit smoking cigarettes and doing drugs but alcohol is the thing I come in contact with the most as my father struggles with alcoholism.

So New Years is going to be an interesting day for me, but I think I can handle it.

I know all of you can overcome whatever it is you're fighting with over the holidays as well! Holidays can be tough for anyone. If it's not food it's alcohol and if it's not alcohol it's family or money or anything really.

Time is ticking everyone and 2014 is just around the corner!

em coconut. Me too! I am coco-nut! I just haven't put a name to my "kind of crazy". but I am sure someone else will.

walrus: Well said. I couldn't say it any better or as Roseanna Danna used to say on SNL (now, this dates me for sure) "It if itsn't one thing it's another."

mara and pixiekat are the two who are tied here for weight right now from the looks of it. I am still holding some Christmas sodium bloat but by the bathroom quick steps that I have been taking today, I may be changing my ticker tomorrow. We'll see.

sue(wannaskipnlaugh): I hate the year end "tying up" that goes on everywhere in business. Everyone is running around like they didn't have the previous week(s) to do it. I mean it's not like we didn't know that this month would eventually end, right? I say there are a lot of procrastinators in this world. I can count myself in that, of course, not to point any fingers because they just come back to me anyway.

marliQQ: I did a fruit n vegetable challenge last summer although it wasn't quite as severe as yours. Did you ever cave in to the lemonade or was it just a "stare down"? The one good thing about that is the rest of the food chain really tastes good after doing something like this, doesn't it? I will never forget my first piece of chocolate after not having it a long while. I was in heaven... Now, a day doesn't go by that I don't have one small piece of dark chocolate. It is my one indulgence.

Well, everyone I want to cordially invite you to participate in a structured 8 week weight loss challenge. I just finished posting a long but needed (to explain everything) post. I created a new thread "Moving Forward Structured 8 Wk WL Challenge." It will start one week from today, Monday, January 6th since the weekly weigh ins will be on Mondays. If this interests anyone here whom hasn't shown an interest already please PM with an email address that I can send the excel spreadsheet to that we will use during the 8 week period. It will run concurrently with every 8 weeks starting a new one. I have lead this earlier this year on another site. I award prizes at the end of each 8 weeks for the person who has lost the most weight. It is a friendly competition.

Take care all, Pam

Welcome Marli and coconut!!

Sue I hope that a good citizen put your items in the mail!

Walrus good luck for New Years! Addictions, as we all know, are hard to battle. But we can do it!

Mara no real plans for New Years. I work at 7am on both New Years Even and New Years. I will probably take a nap tomorrow after work so that I can be awake to bring in the New Year. Hubby (who recently started counting calories!!!!!!!!! ) requested a roasted chicken for dinner so we will have that tomorrow. Kids requested apple pie but I might make mini ones in our cupcake tin for smaller portions. Otherwise I may just skip the pie if they don't remember!

AF is still here and I am up to 250.2 today. I really hate seeing the same numbers over and over again. I hope she takes a couple of lbs with her when she leaves.

First day off my veggie/fruit and challenge, and I indulge.....pizza!! lol
pamatga you were so right, I'm blaming you for indulging, always good to blame someone else, keeps your confidence up. And no, I did not drink the lemonade, some control there.
I am not weighing in until tomorrow, so hopefully since I ate so well for most of the day, pizza won't be a killer....

Thanks for the greetings justaloozer, wannaskipandlaugh, Mara.

thewalrus I can see you making that weight goal, and just out of curiosity, what kind of alcohol is your guilty pleasure??

Time to WAVE 2013 goodbye! and what a year we all have had! We have learned alot about ourselves... Met some gosh darn wonderful people (My opinion.. but you all are my life savers and such awesome people!) got thru sadnesses, hardships (some are still in the middle of that.. but there is a light) and had happiness where your soul sang! and (yes) moments of just loving the scale LOLOLOLOL! and moments of yelling at it and wanting to throw it out the window This new year.. boy what a year it will be for us all! A year of doing things that we were not able to do before! get great grades at school!, maybe make more money at work, have things that like to control us be NOT SO POWERFUL anymore! I cannot wait to watch our journeys this year. It is going to be SOMETHING SPECIAL!

Walrus... Oh I know what you are going thru (mom and sister are Alcoholics... Mom is 35 years sober now! Sister ..no longer on this earth ).... I too (besides food trying to fill the sadness and loneliness hole inside me) have a compulsion additiction.. Love to buy things (almost a hoarder here.. but I can live in each of my rooms... well all but my craft room LOL) to just a package by the door... thinking that someone is thinking of me (me it is.. but it still sparks me).. so that is something I have to work on as I make less than 1/2 the income I did 1 year ago and only have $195 a month to spend on food and fun.

PAM... your "will" is a wonder and I would love to start your WLC... But no spreadsheet for me... Is it on this thread? I need all the encouragement I can get and encouraging others helps me so much!

Justa, Pixikat (other Sue), Mara (I know you can!), MarliQQ, Em Coconut, May you all have a wonderful last day of this tremendous year and I AM looking foward to being with you in the next year!... WE CAN DO IT!

Well... I made it to 243's HOORAY! 243.8... SO HAPPY... Next goal 240 so I can say I am Half Way!... I am going to do it and hopefully by my year anniversary Monday the 6th with Tuesday the 7th weigh in! Going try my darndest!

Today was my weekly weigh-in and...drum-roll... ...that's the best you can do?... ...okay...well 234.7!!
I had a feeling I did good
So I'm moving to the next thread, unless I suddenly have a Godzilla sized binge session .

wannaskipandlaugh I KNOW. I love getting packages too, but I think it's because I love shopping in any form, never thought about it as an addiction though...Even if it was honestly, I wouldn't fight it, I believe that some crazy can be good crazy .

Anyways, I loved lurking and reading everyone's stories for the past week, and wish everyone the best on their journey. I already see that some will be coming with me in a bit as well.