This thread is a sub-set of the 300+ thread.

This group is for those dealing with the challenges of having a significant amount of weight to lose and being fit which becomes harder after age 40. If you're an old or new friend and not over 40 and feel this is the place to post, jump right in.

Morning ladies,

This morning, I remembered that it is Monday! Although it doesn't feel like it. I was all confused yesterday as to what day it was.

Unfortunately, I have to work today. It is supposed to be that we close at 3 pm but it is year end close for us this week, month, quarter so begins the really busy time. I may even have to work some tomorrow. They moved a deadline up on us a day so we'll be stressed to make that 1/3 noon timeline. But this close, I am going to work hard at not letting all the stress and extra hours derail my efforts.

My mantra for 2008 is going to be disciplined. In eating, money, housecleaning, yard work, projects, horse training, fitness. And dog training too since they just ran off with a bill and are in the process of shredding it. It isn't so much as being rigidly disciplined but its about making a life plan and putting the effort into achieving it rather than getting lazy and just thinking about what I'm not doing that I could be doing.

Our family Christmas was pretty good on Saturday. I haven't seen my brother who hosted it in over a year. We've barely spoken to each other in two years. This is the snooty brother. The other brother gave me part of the money he owes me. DH has finally relented and said that the past is past and he'll agree to going forward. So have I. So this was a good day except that DH didn't go with me because of his physical limitations. He was more comfortable at home. Yes, I ate too much but not of all foods. I was choosey about what I ate. Like the pecan sandies and homemade peanut clusters. I sampled the holiday treats that my sister made because I didn't do any for myself this year. We do the Chinese, or as some think of it, the White Elephant gift exchange. With 27 people, it takes forever. However, I try to buy gifts that I think people would like to have and will fight over and others buy stupid gifts. I got a bag of chips and salsa from a Mexican restaurant. The salsa was awful. That was my lunch yesterday. Talk about carb loading before beginning SBD.

I learned how to transfer CDs to itunes yesterday. DH created an ipod monster. At least I was loading the ipod up with tunes I already own and not buying them at 99 cents a pop.

Karen - I was almost away this weekend. I was gone all day Saturday and then yesterday I was either working on cleaning off my desk, loading itunes, or ironing. With nothing good on TV, I got addicted to "Say Yes to the Dress" on TLC. Geez, I felt bad for spending $600 on a wedding dress. These chicks weren't even batting an eyelash at $6900. Good job on the three days in a row with the food and exercise. Its hard to get in the habit isn't it?

Helen - Hey, you're doing great too. The first big accomplishment is getting a grip on the emotions and sounds like you're making progress if you're not having any guilt for not hitting your mark. Gotta start small and focus on making permanent changes. We didn't get this way overnight and it will take lots of hard work to undo the damage. But...we CAN do this. As far as exercise, have you considered doing chair exercises? CatherineM over on the other thread said that she started just by doing flutter kicks in the bed because she couldn't walk either.

Valerie - Glad to see that you had a good time. Too bad for the carbs though. I did the same kind of thing to myself. See you on the beach this week! I've got my menu cards pulled out of the depths of my desk that we used last time we were really focused on SB.

I better get up or else I'll not make it to work.

Have a great day! to all!

TERRI, I hear you on all of that - year end closing, discipline in eating, exercise, housekeeping and critter training - you cracked me up with the dogs running off with the bill. This morning I had to remove a teddy bear, and it's detached eyeball, from Simon's mouth.

I got a gift cert to Kohls from the folks, so I can buy more motivational attire. I desparately need a new suit for work, and I have a wedding coming up this Saturday. OH NO! Wedding cake. My gosh! Will it never end?? Well, no one says I HAVE to eat it. It's probably one of those gross ones made with tons of lard in the slimy icing, anyway. And maggots. Maggots baked in. HEATHER, I will owe you forever. Or until I become naturally, effortlessly thin, whichever comes first

I adore my nephew & neice-2-B who are tying the knot, but unfortunately my stepdaughterfromhell will be there, too. May The Force prevent her from sitting at our table, PleaseOPlease.

I HOPE we get out of work early today, but we'll see. I need to get the stalls cleaned. I'm not sure if anyone did them since Saturday, and I bet they're hideous. I'm delighted that I have a friend from Georgia coming out to visit the pony boys on New Years Day. She's an awesome young woman that I met when she was 13-14. She leased Steega for a few years when I first started driving truck, before she went off to college. She's married now, and her twins are turning 3 on New Years Day.

Nose to the grindstone, now. HAVE A LOVELY DAY, ALL!

Hello ladies, I am still not feeling very chatty, but I knew I needed to come and visit for a minute anyway

If you look you will see that I joined this site and thread in Jan. of 2005! Do you know how much weight I can actually say I have lost since then. Oh, a bunch if put alll together, but 19 lbs to show for. I mean that is so pitiful! Had I just stuck with it I am sure I could have been down at least 70 to 80 lbs. Or maybe more. What I have done is lose and gain the same darn 10 lbs over and over. Is that sick or what?

Like so many of you say, I know what to do and how to do it....I just don't get it done. I would love to say this year is going to be different, but I can't even promise that because I say that every year.

Sorry for the downer message. It just struck me that I have wasted 3 years.

Well, onward and downward. I will keep trying! My scale snuck back under the 3...thank goodness!

Until next time. Ruth

Good Monday Morning All! I see we have some early posters this morning and thought I would add my 2 cents. All heck broke loose last night with my eating. I almost made it through the 3rd day...darnit! I couldn't figure out what was making me so frenzied all of a sudden, until this morning when I woke to find it was TOM time...duh! You would think someone of my age would know when to expect it, NOT! A bowl of Special K and some chocolates leftover from Christmas were my downfall. I know the candy should not even be in the house, but it is and down it went...chomp, chomp, chomp...little piggy! The good news is that at least I know there was a good reason for the binge and maybe keeping track of TOM will keep me more aware....ya think?

Ruth...OMG...I totally agree with everything you said! We are intelligent women and have all the tools to make this work for us, right? So, what's the deal with all the back and forth crap! I don't get it either. It's only food for crying out loud, not like we're never gone get any ever again...geesh. I've quit smoking, drinking and drug use but this food thing is a whole different ballgame! I wish you an unwasted and positive new year! GOOD LUCK!

Terri, try not to get to busy to take a few minutes to breath and take care of yourself. Disciplined sounds like a mantra we can all use this coming year! Maybe we all should print out some banners and post them around crucial areas of the house!

NoLifeWithoutHorses, sounds like you have a really nice visit coming up. Sounds like it will be wonderful to see your old friend again and her children, how wonderful!

Well, until later, wishing you all a successful day!

Ruth - I totally understand, as I know many will, exactly how you are feeling.. but.. if I have learned anything in the last 43 years... beating yourself up is not the way to go! Starting today.. you are on the right track, so, forget the past... forget what you have perceived as failures, and take the things you have learned over the years, concentrate on those things, and move forward! We all have faith in you, but, the person that is most important right now, is you! Believe in yourself.. and like they say in 12 step programs... act as if believe in yourself until you do! Have a great day... Helen

Ruth, I sure understand what you're saying. Please remember that you've taken steps this past couple years that HAVE had a net loss, and not just let yourself continue sliding farther up the scale. This is lifelong, and stopping that gain, maintaining, keeping an outlook towards better eating and health are all essential to reaching goal. You've accomplished a lot of that. We all just need to keep at it!

Reposting from my post on the main thread, because someone asked for ideas, and I need more myself!! :

Last night when I got home from Western New York, I threw the makin’s in the crock pot for chili to cook over night, including ground turnkey instead of fatty beef. This morning I grabbed one of my divided lunch containers, scooped chili in one end, frozen veggies in the other, and sprinkled some shredded cheese on it. [Shredded cheese is one of my best friends. ] Wa-Lah!

Those divided plastic meal containers from the dollar store are one of the best investments I could have made. For those on a tight budget, consider that given the cost of buying ANYthing “fast” or pre-made, the containers paid for themselves the first or second time I used them.

Also a great investment that I considered a “treat” when I bought it, is my super-chopper thingy. Pampered Chef makes a great one, but I found mine somewhere for half the price. Whack things like peppers, celery or onions quickly into chunks, bang the chopper down on them a few times and you won’t believe how fast & easy it is to dice things – fun even – and it cleans up in seconds.

I need to plan more quickly, easily packed meals ahead of time. In the interest of eating healthy without cheating or depriving myself, I’m going to pick up some shrimp & cocktail sauce. That with veggies and an appropriate dip would be a great lunch at work. I have some more chicken to bake, and yams too, so that those are easy to grab & go. I also have some small containers, great for SF Jello, with mandarin oranges! Or even SF pudding perhaps. Why pay $1 a cup for the prepared stuff, when that will pay for 3-4 servings if I take 3 minutes to make it myself?

Shopping: I also need to add easily carried fruits to my shopping list. Is turkey still on sale from the holidays? It’s often cheap enough to make it well worth cooking it up for supper, then freezing leftovers for later – BOTH healthier and tastier than any prepared ‘turkey loaf’ you can get in a deli or packaged in the grocery store. WHAT ELSE? My personal plan is staying away from processed carbs, so for me pasta & breads are out, even tho those are great and easy to take along for lunches at work. ANY MORE IDEAS? C’MON, HELP ME OUT!

Valerie -- Can you do nuts without... going nuts? I'm starting to pack more pre-portioned nuts for snacking. I'm now in love with almonds.

What about yogurt or cottage cheese?

Oooo, EXcellent! How quickly we forget. I was keeping yogurt in the frig at work last month, but it ran out and I forgot it even existed! I have to watch the nuts, cuz I do luv 'em, but like you said - pre-packed & measured is the key there again! Good stuff, that - and at my age more calcium is better!

OUt of work early, picked up my new jump cup/stands at the tack shop. I've seen them as high as $99+ per pair, and I got them for $25 a pair. Yeah! Off to the barn!!!

Happy New Year! Ruth

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Ruth - This year WILL be different. One little thing at a time, you CAN change it. Think about looking back 3 more years from now, and how proud of yourself you'll be!

Oh my, I'm like crazy. Must be time to go back to bed!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! Here's to having as much as we need to make it through the coming year!

Happy New Year!

I decided to work from home today instead of going into the office like I thought I might. But first, I'm sitting in the recliner in my flannel nightgown, the dogs are having a blast being rowdy and playing, and I have my laptop and South Beach diet book. I also have "Eating Stella Style" which is a cookbook by a FoodTV chef who lost 260 pounds on low-carb. Before I do anything, I'm working on our food plan.

DH's doctor called yesterday and his sugar is too high in spite of his diabetes meds. So this is important for him too.

I'll be back later after I've finished our plan and two weeks worth of food.

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!!!!!

I feel relaxed for the first time in a while. Just in time -- classes start tomorrow.

I also wanted to encourage everyone to think about posting in the exercise threads this year -- it's fun and, I find, motivational!

It's a brave new world! A day for new beginnings everyone. Let's all make the most of it. I was BAD yesterday - last hoorah as it were. Dinner at Steak&Shake, ice cream from DQ and wine with friends later. And that's okay, because today I'm back on track.

I got on the Infernal Machine today! Over 16 minutes! I thought I wouldn't do nearly that well after not getting on the darn thing since May. But I probably could have done a bit more. I feel really good about it. Fact is, I have regained quite a bit and I know it. Although I haven't been to the "official" scale so I'm not sure how much. 10 to 15 lbs, probably closer to 10. I can really tell too. Not just in how my clothes fit, but in how I look and feel - I feel fatter under my own hands and I can really tell my tummy is fatter. That's just wrong! How the heck did I get to 328 without noticing, but I can tell I went from 230 to 240? Weird.

I WILL NOT REGAIN MY WEIGHT. Not a resolution...no one keeps those. A promise to myself that I intend to keep. I'm starting today really just because it's a good, convenient date. 8 months and 6 days to my 45th birthday. I want to weigh less than I did on my 25th. And I can do it too! 40 lbs. I can do that!

I hope this day finds you all happy and filled with determination for the new year to come!