[mygirl1]

Hey girls!

it's been a while - I have been away on vacation with dh and just got back

I'd love to catch up with your news and see how you're all doing.

My anxiety levels were pretty ok while I was away maybe it was the change of place and space that did it.

Time to get back to work and routine (which isn't such a bad thing afterall).

Take care,
mygirl

[jennifa]

HI Mygirl!!!

I'm sorry I haven't been posting much lately. Sounds like your vacation did you a world of good!! I am glad to see that. You certainly deserve it!!!

In July I started Body for Life. It's not easy, it takes 100% dedication, but I've lost a lot of weight and feel much better. I also kept in mind the Eat Right for your Type diet and avoided wheat like crazy, and I'm sure that helped, too. I had a setback - being thin and gorgeous, I met a man I really liked (they are few and far between!), then it didn't work out and that was really awful. But it was GOOD in a way, because it made me realize that I have to put my body FIRST in order to be able to live the life I want. So now my mantra is "no matter what" and I've kept my workouts and am getting my diet back to where it should be - healthY!!

Keep on hanging in there, mygirl. I know we haven't posted in a long time but we are still out there!!!

Jennifa
242/196/not sure yet but probably 175

[mygirl1]

hey jennifa,
great to hear from you, yes it has been a while I must admit I had not checked in to 3fatchicks for a while.

I am so happy to hear that you lost all that weight!!! I would be interested to hear more about what you ate on a daily basis...how long did it take for you to lose the weight.

As far as relationships go...don't worry there are plenty more fish in the sea I know it's a cliche but it's true! Good for you for putting yourself and your body first - you have your priorities right.

My anxiety has been pretty good but it stil comes and goes when I am stressed but it is nowhere near as bad as it was about a year ago...I guess knowing what it is and how to cope makes all the difference!

Looking forward to some warmer weather!

mygirl

[jennifa]

Hi Mygirl,

Thanks for your support! What did I eat? Oatmeal. Rice. Chicken. Steak. Salads. What did I avoid? Bread, corn, crackers, potatoes, cheese. Really the BFL book has a lot more info. I like it because it doesn't cost a fortune - you can probably even check it out at the library. Granted, the Myoplex Lite bars have really made it a lot easier to stay OP and those are not that cheap, but there are discount options and I buy in bulk. The other great thing about BFL is the free day. One day a week you get to eat whatever you want. Pizza. Beer. French Fries. The "good feed" helps a lot with the deprivation mindset problem.

I started on July 7 and went for 12 weeks, then took a week off, then started again, another week off. I'm on my third challenge now. On average, I lost about 20 pounds per challenge. This third challenge has been the one where I'm really confronting my mindset issues and the deep down reasons why I felt the need to overeat and/or eat junk and not work out. So I'd say that this is definitely a way of life and be prepared for big changes.

If you would like to learn more about that, please come and visit us on the Ladies Who Lift board. I don't post there a whole lot because I'm a bit shy - there are people there who really know their nutrition and workouts!! but we love new folks and would like to see you there.

I would like to tell you that this has helped the anxiety, but really the best way it's helped is I'm not freaking out over how fat I am anymore. That's about it. One of the reasons I was fat was because I was protecting myself from getting hurt. So you can see why that kind of anxiety is worse now.

I like what you said about knowing what it is. Sometimes it's best to just let your body have its anxiety and just plow ahead with your mind power. Super hard, yes, but really what else can you do? Freak out? No.... WORK out! Ha ha!

It's really great to know someone who understands what it's like. Sometimes I've had to postpone a workout for a few hours because of a panic timing issue, but I still get them done. They say the time of day you work out is important, and it probably is, but for those of us with a few more issues, just getting it done is how superstars are made.

Hope you have a great week!

Jennifa

[daytona1]

Hi girls,

WOW, it has been ages since I have been here. Glad to see our thread is still here. Sounds like you two have been doing well with the anxiety. I been doing pretty good also. I do have my set backs. Isn't it funny how anxiety takes a little twist and adds a new symptom so at first you don't really suspect it is the anxiety at all? Have either of you experienced that? I have been wakeing up in the middle of the night sweating and of course the Dr. assumed it was the "big change" but I really think it is the anxiety coming back to visit. I don't get panic attacks, just really racing thoughts, and all the other symptoms. I don't know if hot flashes are a part of the anxiety thing or not?

Jennifa, that is great on your BFL success! It must feel so good to be reaching your goals. I have read the book, but the food is just to different from what I'm used to. I know it would help me with my anxiety if I cleaned up my diet. Congrats!!

Daytona1