Hello ladies! Sorry I haven't been around lately - I've been so busy! I need to catch up on the last thread. For a while there, I was eating food when I wasn't even hungry and not drinking my water at all but I'm over that now and back on track. I'm at 163, which is only 3.6 more than my lowest weight. So I'm not fretting too much. Once I get my water back on track, I think I'll lose a pound or so because of that. Hope you all had good weekends and hello to our new posters!

Good morning!

Lori: Thanks for getting the thread up and running this morning. I know I've battled eating when I'm not hungry over the past few weeks and like you I'm back on track. I'm working on my journal this week.

It's a balmy 60 degrees here this morning and they're calling for temps to possibly hit 65! I have my windows in my office open to air things out. It's hard to believe it's January with temps like this!

I had a pretty good weekend--I did track/write everything down even if it wasn't what I wanted. DH and I went out to dinner on Saturday evening and I had blackened Grouper (Lisa, it's one of the only places around here that offers it and it wasn't as good as I've had in the past), roasted red potatoes (equal to about 1 small potato) and a cup of chili. Overall I did good at dinner. We made a stop on our way home to a microbrewery and had a beer there and there was a bowl of homemade chips in front of me--I won't lie...I had more than my share

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Lori and Melissa, Yep, eating when I wasn't hungry has been the norm for me lately. Argh. I'm trying very hard to be back OP. I am so afraid to get on the scale. I just haven't done it yet. DH did and he was up 4#. I know mine will be worse--my clothes are not fitting as well.

All of the holiday parties are over--went to the last one last night--Little Christmas. Now I can get serious.

I auditioned for a movie this past weekend, just a local independent production, but it sounded interesting. They may cast me.

Back to tai chi classes tonight--I've missed them. Not much else going on here.

Hello to Pam, Susan, and Tanya.

Hello Ladies,

Lisa, thanks for the offer of support. It's much needed and appreciated
I didn't realize that most of you were lifers, I hope I don't cramp your style

The weather is warming up here, but still chili. I had a BIG day today. I went to the gym this morning for the first time since Oct and that was only one time in Oct and it had been months since I had been. So anyways, I went with the intention of doing 15-30 minutes of cardio and some weights. Well anyways a friend of mine who is at the gym everyday and who I haven't seen in a while was there and we got to talking. She is in incredible shape. Her husband plays for the Boston Bruins and my husband is a die hard fan. She's also an RN and has kids around Jackson's age so we ten to gab for a long time. So after my 15min on the elliptical machine and finishing 3 of the lower body nautilus machines, she said "let's take Freddie's class"? Freddie is this huge buff guy from Hawaii who used to be a professional back up dancer. He teaches a boot camp style class that includes kickboxing, abs, weights, and pretty much anyhting he decides to throw in. I used to take the class three times a week religiously, but I planned to work up to it over the next month or so before attempting it again. I remember how I felt waking up the day after my first class It must of been the peer pressure, because I said sure. My mom and I really didn't think we could do it. She is back on WW with me btw and also took the class w/ me. So I did most of the class and of course had to modify it some, but I was shocked at how much I could still do

I plan to keep up the gym 3 days a week and walk w/ Jackson on the other two. Weekends are off limits... for now. I used to work out 5-6 days a week and I got burned out fast.

I am doing well with my eating too, but I think that is partly because I am just newly bop and being more strict w/ myself. I never used to used my extra points and when I did it was just a few, but this time I am using them... at least in the beginning. If I don't, I am afraid I will give up. I am trying to avoid using any extras after Thurs night before my AM Fri meeting and I am also avoiding overly salty foods on Tues, weds and Thurs. I know it may seem silly, but I retain a ton of water and salty food make me puffy. I also heard at my last meeting that it takes up to 4 days water retention to diminish?!

How is everybody doing? Do you all still go to meetings, and if so what days?

Good morning! It's a balmy 60 degrees here this morning--we broke the record yesterday and have already broken the record for today but cold weather is going to reappear here tonight/tomorrow. It's been nice to be able to open the windows at work/home and air things out. My sinuses don't appreciate the temp changes though.

Lori: I know what you mean about how one thing leads to another in terms of getting in activity. I hope you're not sore today! There are a lot of members who consistently lose and use their WPA's--if you find you start to slow down on your weight loss or get stalled then look at cutting back on them but you certainly don't want to feel deprived. I'm also a receptionist for WW in my spare time. I still attend meetings and my meeting day Wednesdays at Noon--I've been a regular attendee since 1999. We have a "lunch bunch" which consists of a regular group of us who have been there for a while. Like you, I watch my salt intake prior to my WI day because I tend to retain fluids.

Lisa: I'm so glad all the holiday gatherings are done--I needed the structure of "normal" days. We have a banquet tomorrow night and I have no idea what they're serving. Once I started to track and plan I found myself feeling better and more in control. Rather than looking at the whole week I'm just focusing on each day and that seems to be working.

Pam: I hope you're enjoying the same nice weather we are! I'm not looking forward to the return of winter weather. How's the activity going? Are you getting back to a more normal routine?

Susan: How's everything going with you?

I worked last evening at a travel location and today I'm dragging--it was a long night, I didn't get home until 9:30. I'm looking forward to a quiet night at home tonight!

Tanya, Woo-hoo is right. I hope you're not sore today. That class sounds like a difficult one. I don't attend meetings any more, but I weigh in once a month as we Lifetimers are supposed to. Believe me, I need that accountability. Oh, yes, I avoid salty foods before WI for sure. Don't worry about using the extra points for now. If that's what keeps you OP, then do it.

Melissa, As you said, one day at a time is the best for me, too. It I look to far ahead, I can get into trouble. It's good to be back in a routine. Your weather is sure strange for January. It's going to be 78 here today. We're having strange weather swings too.

Hello to Lori and Susan.

Hi everyone, hope your all having a good day. If not, just remember that the work week is 1/2 over
Lisa and Melissa, Thanks for sharing your tips. I am glad that others find that reducing salt intake helps, because this is my first time trying it. Actually before I just did the WW program and I never worked in anything specific to my needs. This time, in addition to the salt thing, I am trying not to have carbs in every meal, which is hard for me. I tend to have an english muffin or cereal for breakfast a sandwich for lunch and then pasta or potatoes w/ dinner. I never realized until I and it all written in front of me that I was eating so many carbs. I am not eliminating them... not even close. I am just being mindful of not over doing it.

Lori I am glad you are feeling better and back to posting. Is the weather in RI as nice as it is here? Today was beautiful!

Hi Pam and Susan, How are you both doing?


I went mall walking w/ my mom this morning, but we got cut short. My mom has Graves disease, which has been very well controlled for the past five years but every now and then she gets hit like a ton of bricks. She just couldn't walk anymore and was exhausted. We came home and she went home to lie down. We live in an in-law apt so we are close. She felt better after an hour of resting, but I am worried about her. She never speaks up when she is not feeling well, so I know that for her to do that, she must have been feeling pretty awful .

Some good news... Jackson is doing very well w/ potty training!! Today he went #2 on the potty for the first time. I promised him a treat, so I bought some 100cal sugar cookies and baked them while he was napping. I walked to the local grocery store, which is maybe 1/3 mile away at the most and walked home lifting weights one arm at a time, using my two grocery bags as weights. People were looking at me like I was on something, but hey it's better than nothing and my morning walk was only about 20min, because of my mom's episode. Well anyways, when he woke up we frosted and decorated them w/ sprinkles. I had 1/2 an unfrosted cookie and was proud of myself for resisting the temptation. He went again this evening and went pee 4 times today. This was our first day since starting a week ago this past Friday that we have had zero mistakes!! Oops, Sorry I know this is not a parenting forum, but I am so exciting and proud of him.

I feel like we are both tackling something big and I know how much work it is for me to change my lifestyle and I am an adult. For a child to learn something different is amazing and to see him succeed is motivating.

Tanya, I too eat many carbs, but I really like them. I just try not to overdo it. Well, hooray for Jackson. That is a big accomplishment and certainly helps you out a lot. That's great that you're getting your walking in. There's nothing wrong with doing it several times a day--whatever works. The visual image of you walking and lifting your grocery bags made me laugh.

Sorry about your mother's illness. I have heard that it is rough.

I still haven't gotten on the scale, ladies! I just don't want to see that number. I'm working up my courage though.

So I'm not quite as back on track as I thought I was, but I'm still doing better than I was the previous two weeks. It always takes me a while to get back into the swing of things. I'm one of those people where if I have even one bad day it turns into 15 bad days. One little slip and I'm off, and then it seems to take forever to get back on. But when I'm on, I'm on. So lets hope that happens soon

Hi Tanya! Nice to see you on 3FC again I didn't realize that our new poster here was you until today! Did you see the Winter Classic on New Year's Day? That was one of the best games I've seen in quite some time.

Lisa - Good luck with that movie. Did you hear back yet?

Melissa - Its been warm here too, but over the next couple of days it is supposed to get back to normal January weather

Hello to Pam and Susan!

What a difference a day makes! This morning I was up at 3:15 with thunder, lightening and high winds...our power flickered about 4 times but thankfully we didn't lose it. Yesterday our temp got up to 67, this morning it's 43 and it's supposed to drop throughout the day to about 29!

Tanya: I find that if I watch the bread/cereal I do much better--they tend to make me feel hungry so I make sure I have protein with each of my meals and so far that's worked out well for me. I've switched over to whole wheat pasta and go for whole grain breads. That's great with Jackson! I remember being excited when my two boys were trained and out of diapers. Seems like ages ago (they're 23/16).

Lisa: Have you weighed yourself at home? I know my scale at home weighs different than at the Center so I don't even get on it. I was convinced last week that I was going to post a gain because my clothes didn't feel loose but didn't. Sometimes it's better to "bite the bullet" and take the hit...

Lori: Try not to be so hard on yourself when you have a slip--focus on what you're going to do next rather than beating yourself up for having a bad day/meal, etc. I know that once I'm on track I do much better and this past week I just focused on each meal/day rather than looking at the whole week or what I had done in the past and that helped a lot. The cold weather is moving through and snow is in the forecast for the weekend.

I'll post later on and give you an update as to how my WI goes at the meeting today.

Lori, I am having the same problem. I seem to be OP one day and off the next, but I'm going to get this Christmas weight off! I ate so much junk food, it wasn't pretty. I got a part in the movie! I don't know what it is yet, but the director sent me an email and said that he definitely wants to use me. I'm excited. I haven't done much film (a couple industrial things, but nothing like a feature film). It should be fun and interesting.

Melissa, I had heard about tornadoes in the midwest earlier this week, so I wonder if that was the leftovers that came through your area. 29 tonight? That's cold. I really like the whole wheat pastas.

Hi! Just a quick post before I leave for the day--I was up .6 and have no idea why...I tracked everything and stayed within my Target so I'm just going to forge ahead. I'm on an antibiotic for staph infection from my surgery and I feel really tired today so maybe that's part of it. In the long run it wasn't like it was over a pound or anything like that.

Lisa: Yes, the storms are the leftovers from the midwest. Our phones have been off and on all day today and it's frustrating. I'm hoping they get them fixed for tomorrow.

I have a long night tonight--DS #2 has his football banquet and it's from 5:30 until 9 pm--I hope I can make it! Catch up with everyone tomorrow.

Hello Ladies,

I read your posts last night, but I was exhausted so I figured I wait to reply. Jackson was up at 4am yesterday morning!! He is waking up dry which is great, but he is getting up early to pee. This morning was 5am. I can deal w/ 6am, but not any earlier. Hopefully as he gets used to it he will be able to sleep longer and hold it... hopefully.

Lori, seeing your familiar avatar was so welcoming to me when I found this thread. I am impressed that you have kept on getting and giving support on the forums and I am motivated to keep OP program this time around.

Melissa, I checked in the drug facts today at the office and if you are taking an oral antibiotic like kephlex for a staph infection then some water retention is very common. Most antibiotics that threat staph inf and MRSA cause diarrhea and pyuria (no or little urine). Both cause water retention. If it's a topical treatment, then maybe it is just your body recovering form surgery and you need some rest. Also... hope your phone service is back on?

Lisa, Congrats on the film roll! Do you do acting and/or modeling often? That seems like so much fun, and it must be interesting as well. My sister used to model and when they filmed "good will hunting" in Boston they had a big casting call. Well, my sister wasn't called. but they liked my mom who was there w/ my sister. She made $60/hr for 2hrs and was never seen in the movie, but she had fun. She filmed a seen at the local dog racing tracks and was in the crowd. The only people in the seen on camera were those seated around Matt Damon and Mini Driver... they just needed to fill the seats.

I went to the gym yesterday and did Freddie's class again! I hurt like **** this morning, but it was worth it. I went today to do a light workout. I got on a new elliptical machine and loved the burning feeling in my rear and thighs so I did 28min and 280cal on that. Then I went on a new bike that is very cool. It has a screen that shows you a picture of one of several scenic routes you can choose from. I did a easy mountain route that was 15-20min. Well my friend that I mentioned before... the one in great shape who gets me talking. She gets on the bike next to me and each time I finished my routes I selected continue instead of logging out, so I ended up doing 50min on that. It was low impact, but I was feeling it and sweating. It was supposed to be a cool down. I did a few upper body weights after that and then went to Panera for lunch w/ my sister.

I need some help w/ weights. Does any one lift weights? I usually use 5 or 8lbs on my own, but on the machines I am not sure what I need to be doing. To loose weight and tone up w/ out getting bulky... should I be doing reps of 8-12 w/ a heavier weight, or should I do 25-30 with a lighter weight? I have heard 2 different things form 2 diff trainers at th gym?

OK, ladies, I finally had the courage to get on my scale (it's usually within a pound of the WW scale). I am at my goal! I haven't been there in over 5 years. I am so mad at myself, but it's a good wake-up call. I'm glad that I kept up my activity over the holidays or it could have been much worse.

Tanya, Sorry about the lack of sleep. That's tough. Wow! You are really getting into the working out--a good thing. The elliptical with the screen sounds interesting. Regarding weights, I happen to use a Total Gym at home, but I used to lift weights at a gym and use the machines. You may get different answers from people because there are different desired results. Toning and bulking up are two different results.

When I was lifting weights, it was better to do 8-10 reps, take a little rest break and then do 8-10 reps again. Start with a weight that causes you to work a little. You'll know it. For example on a biceps machine, if you can flip those handles up without effort, add more weight. Then do the 2 sets as I described. When that weight is somewhat effortless, move the weight up. I hope that helps. I have not heard of doing 25 reps on anything.

Melissa, How was the banquet--were there point-friendly foods to eat? I sure hope your weather has calmed down.

Did you hear about the terrible accidents we had here earlier this week? There was a 70-car pileup on I-4 due to fog and smoke. Four people died. I travel that road every time I go to St. Pete to see my family.

It's in the 70's here today. We're supposed to get a cold front Sunday night, but nothing you have up there.

Hey ladies! This week has been crazy for me, and my eating hasn't been much better either. I know that working at home has not been a good thing for me. I tend to graze and eat all the chocolate left over from Christmas (all presents - why can't someone give me a fruit basket?). But DH wants to eat it so I can't throw it out!

Tanya - I just do free weights, so unfortunately I won't be much of a help there. How much do you pay for the gym membership? I've been thinking of joining but at the same time I think about what I'd spend and wonder why I couldn't jsut build myself a home gym.

Lisa - I read all those stories about the accident. Horrible I wish it was in the 70's here. I feel like jogging lately, but its so COLD. Plus I still need to buy a new pair of sneakers (per physical therapist's orders) and I'm not supposed to be jogging yet anyway (also per physical therapist's orders!). How do you like your Total Gym? I've been thinking of buying one. There is one at the PT office, and they said they would show me how to use it with some exercises for my hip and back in case I bought one.

Melissa - I hope you are feeling better soon!