This is a great thread for those who want support, helpful hints, friendship and a great bunch of people to communicate with. This thread has existed for a long time and we keep re-starting it whenever the old one gets too long. Feel free to stop in and chat, we are not a "closed" group and welcome newcomers. Some of us have been together for well over a year, some only a few days, but we care about each other. We offer tips, we share, we pick each other up of the floor when we've had rough times and we applaud when someone does well.

So, please do stop on by and share a bit, support is what it's all about! We can really do this together.

Now, here are my responses to the old thread:

Like you all, I have a old pair of jean that are my "thin jeans". I haven't tried them on in awhile, but I don't think I can fit into them yet. Soon, maybe.
Barb, you food for yesterday sounds good. You sound like you've been very busy. Surely, you have earned a few activity points.
I have to paint a bathroom and have been procrastinating about it. Maybe you have inspired me? We painted it when we first moved here four years ago, but I just despise the color. It's an "electric" terra cotta that looked lots more pale on the little paint swatch card that I took home. It almost vibrates when you walk in there. I want a light cinnamon kind of shade with tan overtones in there, I think. It will calm down and be a nicer room, particularly as far as resale value.
Ann, where are you going on vacation? You should go and I think your dad will understand. Just give him a few phone calls while you are away.
I gave in (what is wrong with me lately????) and ate the lasagna last night. So, when I weigh in today and if I don't have a loss, it is no one's fault buy my own and I have steered far away from program on many days this past week. At least I wrote it all done and didn't cheat myself that way.
Maybe things will be better this upcoming week as my daughter is coming back with me today. I think having her doing WW with me is very good for me. I have to do it right WITH her and I care more about it all when I am cooking for the two of us this way.
At least last night's lasagna was made with FF ricotta and 2% mozzarella. I wasn't being all bad, but I still ate it. I should have made the other kind of pasta for myself before starting the lasagna and put it aside so that I wouldn't get lazy towards dinner time.
I need to plan better and follow through better.
Sandra, good luck with your weigh in. My own is today as well. I have no clue how I will do.

So, here is today's eating plan:

Breakfast:
1 egg with 2 egg whites omelet with peppers and onion that have been sautéed in 2 tsp olive oil
one slice WW toast with butter spray
banana

snack: apple

Lunch: has to be portable as I am bringing lunch with me to a quilt group today and then going to the polls afterwards to volunteer.

peanut butter on 2 slices lite bread (have to count the points)
diet coke

Weigh in will be at my 4:30 WW meeting and after that I think I shall have a 2 point bar of some kind, buying a box of them at the meeting

Dinner:
Roasted pork loin, baked potato, string beans
will use soft margarine on the potato and count the points

Dessert:
Pumpkin custard with lite cool whip

Ahh Linda, you beat me this AM....
Here is my post from the old thread...
Good morning everyone,
Well today was the first day since berfore Christmas that I actually saw the scale go down. I really needed that. I worked out so much yesterday, a jog at lunchtime, a quick trip to the gym after dinner, and then a walk after my gym workout. I think if I didn't see that number on the scale move I would've smashed it . I really stayed within my points yesterday too. What helped me to do that was to really make sure I'm eating as much protein as possible during breakfast and lunch. Otherwise I am beyond starving from like 3pm-7pm, and I just keep trying to satisfy my hunger. The protein is key for me. Also, I was so tired after lunch, but DH said "aren't you going to work out?" I forced myself to go for a jog, I was so glad I did because the weather is unbelievable here. The endorphins really kicked in after about 15 min., I swear if they could bottle up how I felt after 15 minutes of exercise....

Kim-thanks for your inspiring post. I read it twice. I found myself kidding myself and playing games all the time. Like during the holiday's I told myself portion control, only a few glasses of wine here and there, but truthfully what I'm really doing is playing a foolish game with myself. That if I talk the talk, keep telling myself that "tomorrow is the day" and buy the "right" foods etc., then the weight will just come off. So, so wrong. Anytime I have EVER lost weight, it is because I work out on a daily basis really hard, I carefully journal every little thing that I eat and stay within my points, and I surround my everyday with forward thinking about weight loss, new products and recipes. That's it, right there, it is so much work, really to the point that it's obsessive and always on my mind. And for me, it's what has to happen for the weight to come off. I really like your idea about faking it till you make it. So true. I think I faked it all through the holiday's. And the idea about your shorts, another great thing, in fact, I'm going to get out all the jeans that I was wearing when I was so close to my goal.

ontarget- good luck with your WI. I really liked your post yesterday. It was such a good reminder to me, to lighten up and enjoy life all along the way, regardless of my weight.

Ann- so nice to hear that you're going on vacation. Thanks for reminding me of how I inspired you, not sure how I did, but that's nice to hear. I think so much of weightloss is maintaining a positive attitude, and hearing inspiring words about yourself is so key to keeping a positive outlook about weightloss. That's why I like coming here, because it really helps me to stay focused and stay positive.

Barb- I had a thought about the arrival of TOM every month and how that really sets me back. I'm due for mine next weekend, and I really just don't want to helplessly give in to my cravings like I usually do. I've been doing the cocoa thing at night as well, oh how I so look forward to that. I like the no sugar added vs. the diet though.

Linda- I just tried doing something different with regard to the water drinking thing. It is such a drag, if there is one thing I will never like and almost rebel against with WW, it's the water drinking. So, for Christmas my DH got me this really nice travel mug. Kinda funny since I stay at home and don't have to commute with coffee anywhere. But every morning now, I fill that travel mug with water or crystal lite lemonade, put it on my counter and refill it all day. Just something different, but it has been working. One small change always seems to make a difference in mundane things for me. You're good at this too.....

Well, I must go and wake up DD's, so nice when then they sleep in and I can enjoy posting with my coffee. Have a great day everyone!!
__________________

Linda- I just had to respond to your lasagna post before I I was done here... So why is it that we tell ourselves, one thing, plan for it, and then when it comes down to the very time that we planned for (not having lasagna) we do it anyway???? Why is it that sometimes we are stronger and can say no and walk away or stick with our plan and other times we say "he*l with it" and eat it anyway? I feel like I have that little devil on my shoulder in the cartoons, that is just chuckling to herself when I eat the chocolate, when I told myself "DON'T DO IT!" How can we be better about saying no, walking away, empower ourselves by sticking to our plan.

Linda, you beat me, too!!!!

Good morning all!!!

I need to be inspired, too. I have tried every avenue of motivation that I can think of and still feel "blah blah blah" about it. I have a bridesmaids dress in the closet that needs to fit by April, a trip in June with my neighbor that we are trying to lose weight for, Weight Loss Wars, etc etc etc....nothing seems to "get me going." I have been yo-yoing around 195 for the past few months now...it's so frustrating that I can't seem to get myself in gear and GO!

Something seemed to light up dh this week, however. Yesterday he joined Planet Fitness, and even passed up lunch with dd and I because he "wanted to be good." (I had a plain grilled chicken sandwich, btw.) Last night when I was craving another WW dessert, I asked him if he was getting any more dessert and he just simply said, "Nope." So I didn't either. It does make it SO much easier when he is op and rigid like that.

My menu for today....

Breakfast-lite English muffin w/1 egg white and 1 laughing cow cheese-2
Snack-oatmeal-2
Lunch-salmon-2
veggies-0
Dinner-Not sure yet...I'm going to search around for some new "inspiring" recipes today. "budgeting" 13 pts
Dessert-WW dessert-3

Total-22/27

Today I am on a mission to get my house clean. Tomorrow my little dd is starting preschool; normally she will go the same days that I have my internship, but tomorrow I am not working so that I will be home if she has problems adjusting. So I will have an entire day with NO kids! I want to have the whole house clean so I can just relax. We'll see how that goes....!

How is everyone else doing???

Hello everyone. I hope today is a great day for everyone.
I have already walked 18,000 steps,,,,yeah.
It is beautiful here.
I will be going to Daytona Beach and Myrtle Beach. I hope you get a lot of walking in.

Have an awesome day everyone. I will post more once I get back.

Take Care
Ann

Ann, are you already on your vacation? Sounds like you're getting in a lot of steps early in the day. I would love to visit those beaches some day. Do you snorkel? I don't know if that's the kind of beaches for it or not.

Paige, awesome!! I am so happy that dh saw that light. Sometimes Curtis' strength helps me, too.

Linda, thank you for starting this new thread for us. You're a keeper, girlfriend.

Erica, I have that same little devil on my shoulder, too. He gets around a lot. If you ever find answers to your questions, please share. We're all a-wantin to know.

Barb and Linda, ya'll are making me want to get out and get busy. I'm going to get off here and go plant some more goodies outside. It's windy but not too cool.

We went to WW this AM. Both of us had gains. I gained 2.0. We talked about the meeting when we got home. We are approaching WW this time as a guideline. We are still loving ourselves and are not going to "not participate" with family and friends because we're on WW. That's one of our plans--live life to the fullest.

It is Tuesday and so far so good. I got up, had 2 slices of FF cheese with my coffee (I know, not the tastiest breakfast, but I wanted to start off with some protien and I didnt' have time to make anything as the DKs missed the bus and I had to take them to school!). Then I did a quick walk on the treadmill (yeah!! I feel pretty proud that I actually got on!) and for lunch I had a small piece of salmon with cranberry salsa, some brown rice and carrots. So far so good! Dinner is homemade stirfry with the leftovers from the other nights fondue evening. Lots of veggies and a bit of protein, evoo, and a spash of wine, (and maybe if I am within points a small glass for me). Snacks are going to be some fruit and cut veggies. In planning for the day I have realized that I haven't eaten a whole piece of fruit in days. A glass of juice here and there, but no whole fruit.

And so here is the big ugly reality... I stepped on the scale this morning and I think that I have gained more weight since New Years, than the whole holiday season. Of course, Erica your comments about drinking water also makes me realize that I haven't been drinking mine, so I am sure that after drinking a few gallons over the next couple of days I hope to see some weightloss just on water retention alone. I could go on and whine about how if I would just stick to the program and just do what I am suppose to do I could potentially be down 16+ pounds. But There is no point in pouting. My behavior is mine and I need to look at myself in the mirror and decide if this is really what I want or not. Only I can make this happen for myself and blabbing about it, and making excuses for it isn't going to get me to where I need to be.

Erica, your question about why we plan plan plan and then walk away from the plan has been on my mind too. I set myself up for success, and then just decide not to succeed. Ugh!

Linda, the family is the whole reason that I decided to give WW a try instead of going back to South Beach. My family fussed about the changes that I was trying to make. Then I was trying to make two meals and pretty soon, because I always put my family before myself, I just gave up and ate what I was fixing for them. I have to say though that whenever I baked whole wheat pasta, they liked it much better than if I made speghetti.

Ann, have a great vacation. I would love to go somewhere warm and relaxing.

Ok, I have taken at least an hour to get this post completed. I keep getting interupted and I need to get some work done for DH. I need to go and fill up my glass and get some water in! I raise my glass to you and cheer you all on and thank you for your support and inspriation!!!

Hi everyone.. A nice warm day again today... I went to return some clothes and decided to try some dresses on etc... Ok there is a motivation factor for you right there. Yikes.... Not good but hey you see it and bang you are motivated again. I am between sizes again. My problem is my Belly I need the room there more than other spots. . So things never fit me right. Anyway need to get motivated spend the day at the store.

Walked about 4 miles today. Felt great. My legs are sore from doing squats yes. Tom back to the gym to do more. Doing pretty good with hte planning now need to watch the BLT. They will get you all the time.

Menu for today
cereal, ff milk
snack; laughing cow and 3 wasa crackers
lunch: chiken in a roll up , with a full fat cheese (that was all I had)
Tangerine
snack; Carrots and Hummus
dinner; Still debating something with rd steak. I bought some ww wide noodles ans no fat cream soups. I was thinking of maybe a beef noodle with ffsour cream. Need to find a recipe for that though.
Snack ff pudding or my coco

Ann I wish I were on vacation in a sunny spot. Enjoy
Kim you will get in the groove .. sounds like you are there
Sandra I like your attitude
Paige enjoy cleaning...I did that yesterday
Erica, congrats on the loss
Derry, It is nice that yyou have your daughter with you ..This way you do have to cook right. My Ds is young but big. He has always been off the scales for weight and height but he is porportioned. Anyway, I worry about him because he could go the other way so I to need to do this for him. So far so good.But he really has no idea so I can only go so far. But he does love chips. I have beed buying healthier ones. Like 100 cal packs or sunchips. Anyway, it is hard

I must be off. Have agreat day....

Well, good news! I weighed in and lost 2.2 pounds today, I had the ONLY loss reported at tonight's meeting and it was a very crowded meeting. I think lots of people were either new or coming back after the holidays. So, I felt really good!
Erica, so good to read you have some good news as well and saw the scale move. Congratulations! Also, you are right about the lasagna. I wasn't going to eat it, I had a plan and then I blew it. I knew what I was doing. I could have maybe had an ever better loss had I stayed on plan. I just got tired, gave in and wanted to not have to do something different or extra for a change (not that I've been perfect anyway). Something Paige just said made some sense to me as well. She was mentioning how much easier it is to stay on program when her DH is on track too. I agree wholeheartedly. My daughter started back on WW and went with me today. She is really feeling down on herself, by the way. I hate to say "I told you so" so I will not say that to her, but I can say it to all of you. I knew, when she dropped out of WW in early November that I would have her back with me at one point. She "caved". Now, she is very unhappy with herself. I hope she can succeed and feel good about herself again. I hope I can do the best I can as her mom to support her and not nag. It's a hard line to walk.
Ann, have a wonderful time. I was wondering where you were going. Sounds good to me. It was 64 degrees here in NH today, though, amazing for January. It was particularly amazing as last week it was so brutally cold.
I just read what Sandra said about the little devil on everyone's shoulder, he does get around allot and I just NAMED him... not sure why, but I had to name the little guy. He is now BOB. So, now people have this visitor Tom who comes once a month, but BOB can stop in anytime and anyplace and be the devil who really throws us all off. Tom no longer visits me, and I wish he still did, by the way. Hard to explain, but I miss that cycle. So, the next time you complain about it, think that some of us would gladly go back to all of that. I feel old now.... oh well, it's inevitable for us all I guess.
Kim, sure wish this family would have whole wheat pasta and enjoy it. My daughter will eat it, only because she knows it's lower in points, though. I have to say I prefer regular white pasta, but still choose whole wheat. If I had more hours in each day, I would try making my own pasta and mixing half and half WW and regular flour to see if I could make something more tollerable for all.
Barb, trying on clothes in a store is always a real eye opener for me as well. I need to do that.
Well, I must get rolling as I have to watch the NH primary results! Can't wait to hear who won. I am hoping it is the person I voted for in my own party, we'll see!
Take care!

Just wanted to pop in and say that I had a really almost perfect OP day. A couple of points over and only one bad choice (had to eat a couple hot cheetos). I am finishing up my last "required" class of water and just munched on a really good apple. Got all the fruit, veggies, and water in.... and I can tell. I almost feel like I have spent the entire day in the bathroom. But I am sure that my body is rejoicing!!! It was much needed!!!

I hope you all had a good day too! Chat with you tomorrow!!

Linda, so you won the prize tonight for having the only loss? Congratulations! I am proud of you. Your determination is paying off.

Barb, I am sort of in-between sizes, too. I popped a button off my shorts Sunday. That's an awakening, too.

Kim, let's chug that water. I heard it even raises our metabolism.

Kim, glad you had an almost perfect day OP! Those are the kind of days we can be proud. of. I always wonder about myself when I can have such great times and then other times when I can really just let it all go, such as the lasagna.
I've been thinking about Science a great. I sure wish I paid more attention in those classes and actually took more of it when I was in school, I guess. : ) Losing weight is something VERY individual to us all, I think. We all have this exact body chemistry that a certain amount of intake is needed to maintain, what makes us all lose weight is pretty individual. I keep wondering about the lasagna I had the night before weigh in. I was convinced that my efforts would be destroyed by that one meal, yet I had a good loss. I blew it earlier in my week as well, twice. But, that Wendy plan (see the sticky on the WW thread if you are not familiar, I can direct you if you don't know where to look) comes to mind. Maybe I inadvertently did something like that on my own this past week? I'm not saying that I should go over, consistently on my flex points, but I was up over the allotted 35 flex points by about 10-12 this week. I journalled everything I ate, and I was very consistent, even when I knew I was blowing it. I am very glad I purchased a 3 month journal at the last meeting I was at. I do think that might help me to perhaps understand better what makes me have a loss. I must mark down at the end of my first week in this journal how many pounds I lost - so I can keep track. This will be interesting.
Sandra, thanks for the congrats. I do wonder if chugging the water helped. Also, I have one other theory. I really did chug water this past weekend, more than usual, as I fought off a urinary tract infection. I am prone to getting those from time to time and take cranberry supplements to help ensure staying healthy. This weekend, I felt terrible on Sunday. I started mixing the low calorie cranberry juice cocktail with my water, about 1/3rd in a large glass. I also started taking a few extra cranberry capsules each day over the last few days. Cranberry is a natural diuretic, so maybe that helped me out a bit with regard to the weight as well? I wasn't planning on using it for that purpose, but it could have helped. I enjoy the taste of cranberry juice, it's very high in points and I like to mix it with water or club soda and have it on ice, so maybe I should try to do that as well a bit more? It will keep my system healthy while maybe it will help me not to retain fluid?
Well, here is today's meal plan:

breakfast:
shredded wheat cereal with fat free milk
banana

snack:
apple

Lunch:
Progresso lentil soup
fat free cottage cheese
homemade oatmeal crackers (CORE)
pear

snack: Popcorn

Dinner:
Sirloin tips
brown rice
salad, with oil and vinegar

Dessert:
pumpkin custard with lite cool whip


Well, I hope to stay on program and continue towards success. Goal is something I truly need to start some serious work on. I was kind of content to just "maintain" or have a little gain over the holidays, but now I have no more excuses. Time to work hard!

Well, I too had a really good day yesterday. I think what helps with me is to not have a ton of idol time. When I get bored, I eat.

Paige- I was thinking about what you said as far as needing inspiration. I had been looking for that same inspiration since the middle of November. I tried all the tricks, spent $$ on this and that, thinking it would spring me into the same mode I was in last year, when the weight seemed to steadily come off. Then I was getting nervous, thinking OK, am I just bored with all of this? Am I content with my body/weight right now? I answered no to those questions almost as quick as I asked them of myself. But the important thing was, that I asked them. I finally admitted to myself, that there wasn't going to be a "magical moment" where I one day woke up and was so inspired and just worked the program diligently every day. It just kind of happened, when day after day, I was hating how my "big" jeans were now barely able to be buttoned up, I didn't like how I felt about myself when I saw a picture of me when I was almost at goal, come across my screensaver (always seemingly when I was about to pig out on something), talk about karma. It was just all the little things that snuck up on me, not the big things. Sure I want to lose 20lbs. by Spring time, but that is just too daunting to think about, and too much pressure. For me, it really is just about taking each day as it comes. I heard something last night that was really cool and I applied it to my weight loss efforts- that my weightloss journey is a really great book, and I don't want to peak at the ending and ruin it, I know how I want it to end, but I'm going to just enjoy each page until I get to the end. Not sure if that makes sense, but it did to me when I heard it. And, it's hard for me to think that way all the time, it's just kind of corny in a way, but when I'm at my best, my thinking is along those lines.

Linda-congrats on the loss, that is pretty cool. Haha, I like how you named the little devil, that's good. We need to push bob and tom off of a cliff together.

Bellybuster- It sounds like you're fed up, and ready to get down to business. I know for me, that is critical, almost like I have to hit my bottom before I really decide to stop kidding myself and work it.

ontarget-i know, the answers to those questions would be great, wouldn't they? I think I sometimes try to analyze my behaviors, sometimes I don't. Sometimes it just comes down to, I'm not perfect, don't want to be, never will.

Ann- did you guys drive to Florida?

Well, I must be off for now..
Have a great day everyone!

Hello ladies,

Linda, Congratulations on your loss. It is wonderful your daughter is going back to ww with you.

Erica, we are driving, we are leaving tomorrow morning. It will be fun I am sure. Although the weather here has been nice. Are you going for a jog today? Erica I have a picture of you from the summer and you look good. I know your story will go well. I am reading a book The Beck Diet Solution, it is written by Judith Beck, Aaron Beck's daughter. It is based on Cognitive Therapy. I got the book and the workbook. I find the workbook is like a coles note version for me. As I was reading the book, I wanted to put it down...it was like blah, blah, blah, I am not the most patient person so the blah, blah doesn't work for me. I need the condensed version, that is why I like the workbook. It doesn't include a diet, you need to pick your own diet. It works with any diet you chose as long as your eating plan (diet), is sustainable over the long haul....which ww is. For me it compliments ww. There have been pro's and con's about this. It makes me realize why I do what I do. I didn't mean to right a book, if you or anyone wants more info about it let me know.

Paige, I do hope you get your grove back. Could it be the after holiday blahs, that are making you feel less motivated. I hope you have a great week.

Sandra, I hear the Dali Lama has all those answers, I just have never been able to find him....have a great day. I really like your goal.....My goal is to appreciate myself for who I am and applaud myself for making healthy choices.

Donna is the weather mild there? Are you getting some exercise, that always makes you feel better. Take Care of you.

Patty, Laura, Barb, Kim, Janelle, hello to you all and have a great day.

Take care all.
Ann