hi everyone. I just joined 3FC this past week. I posted on the weight loss support and in the introduction area. I actually got some great feedback there!! But, someone suggested for me join the featherweights so, here I am saying hello.

I started my "diet" June 9. I'm on the 6 Week Body Makeover by Michael Thurmond. I've lost 7lbs, 2 inches around my waist, hips and shoulder area. So, I'm feeling good.

I'm finding a few things to be my issue though. The diet itself it very rigid, but what's difficult is making it adapt to my ever changing daily life. I find that there are two things I have issues with.

1. Work is always stressful and so are some things at home. So, I find myself getting depressed and making that an excuse to stay off my plan. But, I got some great feedback from another post I made, so I've been making small little steps to alleviate that issue.

2. I'm realizing that my life isn't as scheduled as I have convinced myself to think it is. At a given time in a day I can be thrown into a meeting that will last longer than anticipated, making it hard for me to eat when I should. Or things happen where I can't get to what I've planned. So, I'm realizing I have to find a way to make my health and losing weight work with my every changing schedule.

So, this is me at this moment. Learning how to adapt to my new way of living - eating and being healthier. I have 23lbs to go and I know I can make it. I seem to have found a place (3fc) with a great support network. Hope you don't mind me staying.

Today I weighed it and measured, no change. Which isnt' bad. I had come off my plan so I was truly expecting weight gain.

I had a bit of energy this morning and got up and exercised. Hopefully, this week will continue.

I'm preparing this evening for the rest of the week. I'm including extra snacks that don't need to be refrigerated so I can have a snack on hand instead of missing a meal. Let's hope it works.

I forgot to add, I'm going to use this post as a place for me to kinda keep track of my progress. And if you feel like jumping in and sharing. Please do.

to Featherweights Chickenmonkey ...

Sometimes life gets in the way for me too... I just keep planning and plugging away. Planning is key for me also. Just don't be too hard on yourself just keep telling yourself that this is for LIFE and life can be difficult at times and to learn not to turn to food for comfort.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.....

I found ,that being too rigid is really too hard to follow. Counting calories works best for me, More flexible, less restrictive. The best program for you is the one that you will follow. It is OK to experiment until you find what works best for you. You have made a great start. I know you are going you are going to be successful.

Welcome!!! I look forward to getting to know you better

Thanks for jumping in and offerring your suggestions and support!! That was really motivating to see some responses!!

This morning I got up and worked on my mid and lower body. It was a little bit difficult to get up in the morning, but I did it. And I'm really happy I did. Today I received a few compliments from people who didn't know I was trying to lose weight. So, that was nice. I also got back on plan.

My next goal, cardio this evening.

Right now I'm putting a lot of thought and care into this and what I'm doing. And sometimes I wonder if maybe this is just overkill. Maybe I'm putting more focus on this than I should. But, then I think, if I don't focus on it I'd have a hard time making my goals.

I'm learning to look at myself and accept me for me and liking the body that exists. I feel that if I don't love myself now even in my new body I'll still dislike me. So, this weightloss is really a whole new change in not just healthy eating / living but thinking as well.
I'm really negative and I think through this transformation I'm realizing just how negative I am. I wonder if that's normal. I've only been doing this for the last 4 weeks. Crazy? I wonder maybe over thinking things again.

lol I was that same way .... I still am kinda .. but now I catch myself when I'm doing it and stop myself....

It's ok to think about your goals and reaching them that will help keep you on track ! , its just when you get to caught up in the actual detail of it all ....

( or atleast thats how it is for me )

I get obsessive about food, calories, time, exercise and ofcourse the dang scale! ... ( mostly food and calories )

and just dieting in general .... I felt like I was thinking about what I was going to do all day and night and not even doing it !!.... once I stopped obsessing so much about it ..it started kind of just happening

hi, i've been gone for a bit. I didn't quite stay on the wagon and fell off. But, I had decent reason. We had a passing in the family so I decided to just let off anything I had to remember and deal with what was immediate. So, there were days I didn't eat and days I ate probably the wrong things and way too much.
but, now that I'm awake from recent events I'm ready to get back on the wagon.
I'm preparing my menu this weekend and going shopping to get myself ready and prepared.
I'll start Sunday or Monday.

I've given myself smalll goals to meet every week. I figure this way can help me achieve or get to the bigger goal.
This weeks goals are:

• complete menu - check
• buy food
• cook and prepare food for next week.

I have two items left and I'm worried I won't get to them.
we have family over this weekend and I don't know how I'm going to do this. This is the same issues I run into. Staying on what I need to do despite the current situation. ugh!!

fingers crossed.