Happy new week!

I hope it's spring wherever you may be.

I'll be back after the gym to catch up. The past three days have been spent moving DS into his own apartment and I feel like I feel off the face of the earth.

Back from the gym and I have my mug of coffee, so all is right with the world.

I was on the exercise bikes at the end of my workout when the former star of my Weight Watchers meetings came and got on the bike next to me. Back in 2000 - 2001, I was gaining and losing the same 20 pounds with WW and she was the star who had lost 93 pounds, the one that the leader would have stand up and tell her story at every meeting and show her before-and-after pictures. I've run into her occasionally over the past seven years and each time she's been heavier but always had an excuse about how she was going to get back on plan.

Today she was enormous. She clearly had put back on all 93 pounds plus considerably more. So we rode the bikes and talked. She said that her problem is carbs -- that she just can't stop eating carbs. She buys 100 calorie packs and eats five or six a day. She said she eats them and feels like she eats nothing, but keeps eating them. She spents all her WW points on carbs, but then keeps going. And she's gaining weight, not losing!

I know that vicious cycle because I was trapped in it for years!! I was the biggest abuser of WW ever because I would eat 85% of my points in carbs and at that time, I didn't know what a complex carb or whole grain was. So I'd technically be OP but be eating sugar and junk.

It's always hard to know when someone just wants to talk and when they want advice, so I didn't offer much diet advice other than to say I try to limit myself to one starchy carb a day (oatmeal), after I work out, and if I stay away from carbs, then I don't crave them. She just seemed to want to say that diets don't work and WW doesn't work, so screw it all.

I told her that I'm there every morning from 5:45 - 7:15 am, so maybe she'll start coming then and we can keep talking. Honestly, it scared the heck out of me to see her like that. Here's someone in real life who lost 93 pounds and probably regained 130. And she's miserable and feels completely helpless. I know that could easily be me and it absolutely terrifies me. I don't feel safe and immune at all from what happened to her.

Thanks for listening! I'm not sure why, but I just had to come home and talk about it.

Thanks for sharing that story. yes it could happen to any of us. I have lost and regained many times and have actually been a lifetime member of WW TWICE! I was too embarrassed to admit I had regained so I just started all over the second time.. I decided this time I wasn't going to pay anything for someone to tell me what to do to lose weight. I have nothing against WW or various programs and their are some very good ones. I find calorie counting works best for me. I don't use the 100 calorie packs for the very reason your friend describes. I hope you can be an inspiration for her.

Just popping in to say hi. 35 days until my scheduled c-section. I feel awful, migraines and painful BH contractions, but time is short. Nine more work days until maternity leave.

I'll post more if/when I get out of my "I hate everything" phase that I'm going through right now, but realistically won't be very active around here until next month. I am still lurking, at least on the weekly thread, and my thoughts are with you all.

Anne

MEG ~ I think the part I left here in you post tells ALL of us WHY you had to come here and talk about it!

WE are all always so excited to announce our 1 pound losses, etc. But we are all ashamed to tell others of our gains or our other losses, as in LILY's new thread.

We are all human....we are not perfect...we fail...

Thank God WE have this site! WE know where to come...for help...to share good losses...to admit...bad losses...

We all know why you shared that with us...it could be us...at anytime...anywhere...

THANK-YOU for sharing

Good morning all,

If you all are following the "no excuses week 2" thread you know that I went overboard with some sweets and food in general this weekend. I don't want to go into too much food porn, but let's just say I didn't totally binge, just overate repeatedly when not hungry (fine difference, but there is one). I did get in good workouts Friday & Saturday, and Sat. went out w/ BF on his (power)boat to help with a youth sailing regatta, which was a lot of fun. Sunday I went shopping again for a bridesmaid's dress. Of course the one I found that looks great on me is the most expensive one that is really out of my budget. I could buy it, but I really feel like that money should be going towards my students loans. *sigh*

I also went to the big grocery store in the city, and the co-op, so I have plenty of delicious healthy food for the week. I picked my first zucchini from the garden this weekend! It's such a beautiful green color. Mmm I'm going to grill it tonight.

Seeing someone who has lost and regained so much weight provokes a lot of reactions from me. A big one is fear, certainly, that it could happen to me. I honestly can't imagine my adult life as a plus size - I haven't been plus sized since college. It is humbling, and a reminder to me to be vigilant. And also makes me grateful that I do have so much support here at 3FC from all of you.

Anne, .

Let's have a great week!

Good morning maintainers,

Glad it's Monday - fresh start.
Had a little detour this w/e from staying on plan.
I was hitting the elliptical everyday for at least 40 min...but since Thursday my leg has been giving my such grief, I have to take some time off.

Made me frustrated - went off plan - end of story.
Back on track this AM.

Hope you are all well

Anne

-S

Meg, that is a pretty frightening story and one that's all too common. I know I don't want to be one of those Weight Watchers who gains it back, and I'm staying right here so that I won't.

Anne, only 35 days-yippee! Although I'm betting you wish it were 5 days.

Megan, you're being really smart about the bridesmaid's dress. You'll only wear it once (does anyone ever wear a bridesmaid's dress again?). Zucchini already? Lucky you!

Susan, I hope your leg feels better.

I have to be out of my house for the next three days because of asbestos abatement in my family room. The house was built in 1972, and there's asbestos in the popcorn ceiling and in the vinyl that's underneath the carpet and other vinyl. Even though it's a small amount, it's quite the ordeal (think hazmat suits) to remove it and dispose of it. But it will be fun staying with my friends and having a kitchen to use.

After a short run, I spent yesterday pulling weeds and planting. It was a perfect spring day--no clouds, sun, and 70 degrees.

Happy Monday!

Hi everyone! I'm back from my long weekend in Philadelphia. I didn't eat great, but I didn't eat terribly either. I drank a lot more than I usually do at home, but not that much compared to how much everyone else did! I only felt stuffed after one meal, and I feel like I made reasonable choices, plus did a whole lot of walking all over. Scale said 140 today but I know that at least 2lbs is water weight.

Meg - that is such a sad and scary story. At least she was at the gym, right? Even if she was being negative, she was doing something positive.

Megan - mmm, zucchini! DH planted his tomato seedlings outside last weekend. Our lettuce is growing pretty big too!

Sznn - I hope your leg feels better soon!

Anne - Hang in there!

Sheila - sometimes I'm afraid in 20 years they'll find out that my whole house is constructed of toxic materials! It's only 4 years old, but who knows what might be dangerous about cement fiber siding or the foam they use for insulation?

Spring is completely here and feels like it's turning into summer already. Our yard looks great and our veggies are growing. The peas are about a foot long now, the lettuce is growing fast, and there are teeny tiny peaches on our peach tree! DH dug up part of the lawn and made a flower bed for me. I'll be at the garden shop this weekend, that's for sure!

The dog is doing great. We signed up for private training for him, and we think he'll be able to get past his bad first reaction to seeing other dogs and also be able to be more comfortable with strangers. He has still been sneaking onto the couch when we're not home though! What a sneak.

I'm going to see the knee specialist tomorrow. My fingers are crossed that he will say I just need to go to PT or something. The knees haven't been bothering me TOO much lately but after all the walking I did this weekend I can definitely feel them complaining.

Oh, I have to rant about something. I was at the airport last night waiting for my flight, and I was kind of hungry. My gate was across from Mrs. Field's, but I remembered passing an Au Bon Pain earlier. So I went all the way back to a different terminal to ABP so I could get some yogurt with granola in it. I found the yogurt, but I could totally not find the little granola cups that always come with it. When I checked out I asked the girl where the granola was. She looked at me like I'd grown a second head! I was like, "You know, the little cups of granola that always come with the yogurt?" and she said they didn't have any. !!! Every ABP I have ever been to has granola with the yogurt! I was so angry. If I had known they wouldn't have granola I would have bought something else. Of course after eating the yogurt I was still hungry and ended up getting a cookie from Mrs. Fields to satisfy my craving for granola-type carbs. Ugh.

Aw Meg ....thanks for posting about your morning. I am also afraid of gaining my weight back. I lost and regained 30 pounds twice before this latest effort....and now I have lost 40 pounds (good gravy---I have lost 100 lbs!) and I am nervous and anxious and afraid.....

But we arm ourselves with knowledge and we practice behaviors, and when it comes down to it, it is our behaviors that direct our weights. This ties in so well with LaurieDawn's post about disordered eating and also our no excuses thread. Plan, practice, repeat. Over and over and over. You start the weekly thread at the crack of dawn, hit the gym, and come back to be the next post. Every single week. I have been awake in my time zone when you post the weekly thread, and it is EARLY! You eat 6 protein packed meals sans simple carbs every day.....you will be fine. I have faith in you (no pressure or anything, 'kay?) But those behaviors are exactly why you maintain.

We control our weights by controlling a thousand tiny decisions every day. So Self magazine may label us all disordered eaters, but screw 'em.....cause with 60% of Americans overweight, discipline and control and planning are the only strategies that keep us from rejoining the majority.

One of my fellow midwives asked me this morning how my diet was going. I said fine, but my inside voice yelled, "This isn't a diet. This is my way of eating and exercising for the rest of my life." I have been to the place where old habits recur and weight piles back on. I have been where that WW person is, and I am not going there again.

Vigilence.....And I am so grateful for 3FC, for all the fabulous losers and maintainers here. Cause no one else really talks about it. And no one else really understands. But you guys do.

Anne, hang in there!!!

Hi everyone,

Meg, thanks for sharing the story. My Aunt is in the same situation. She went on Atkins last year and lost from 227 down to 191. She is now up to 267 which is 40 lbs. more than she weighed to begin with. She is 4'11 and her health is deteriorating quickly. It is very sad. I pray that she will be able to turn it around. For now, she is hiding junk food from her family.

Anne, I hope those last 9 days of work go quickly and without event. 35 more days til baby is here, that is great news.

EZ, I definitely admit I'm not perfect. I am proud today though, Day 3 smoke-free for me.

Megan, I'm jealous about the zucchini. DH never did till my garden. I've dug around enough myself to be able to plant some tomatoes and that is all.

Sheila my house was built in 1978 , hope we don't have asbestos and not know about it. Have fun staying over with your friends.

Jessica, my dogs sneak on my new furniture when we go to sleep . I've woke up and caught them. Sorry you didn't get the granola with your yogurt.

I'm proud to say that I made it back to the gym yesterday. Not a full-blown workout , but better than nothing. I plan to go again this evening.

Meg~I can totally relate to the carb issue. I find that if I have a carb it usually makes me crave more of them. I can sometimes manage the day with an ww English muffin in the morning and not crave any more during the day, but if I start out with cereal (and sometimes even oatmeal) I crave carbs all day and end up fixing some sort of sandwich for dinner. Crackers and chips do the same thing to me. I have to have enormous will power to stay away from the pantry at times. I do allow myself Triscuits with cheese once or twice a week, but can't let DD bring in Cheese-It's as it would be disaster. I think that's why South Beach phase 1 will be a good thing for me.

Morning all! It's far from springlike here - but at least it's above freezing. My prennials are all coming up, they're about 2" now.

We had a nice dinner with our friends last night, and now I'm ready for another busy week.

Lily - good job getting back to the gym.

Anne - Wow, just over a month left, and only 9 days of work left! Hope you're feeling better.

Meg - it's very scary. Like some others, I've gained weight back twice, the first time quite a bit more. THe second time, which I'm now working on losing, I didn't gain all the way back - whew - but it's lots harder getting off again. Having all of you here for support makes a huge difference in how I'm approaching both losing and planning for the rest of my life.

Gosh, Meg, your story scared the holy heck right out of me!

I find that I can back off from carbs IF I get enough protein. If I don't, and I make the mistake of giving in on carbs, then the result is unpredictable. All bets are off.

I feel so bad for that woman. I've known others, too, who have lost and then ran out of steam and then GAVE UP. That's the awful part! They didn't try to maintain, they just gave up...

Must. Stay. With it.

Jay