First, first, first post of the week! Well, being 14 hrs in front of everyone else might give me a slight advantage i suppose.

Sounds like lots of us are doing well on the activities front at least.

I've had a very well behaved weekend, chiefly because DH is still away so no diversions/temptations. As a reward i've now had 2 days with 122lb on the scale (following more than 3 weeks on 123lb). If i see it tomorrow morning again it's going on the ticker!

And i've been to to the gym each day since my memership was activated culminating in a cycling spin class today which is the first aerobic exercise i've done in 6 weeks. It was great to get back to it again. On top of that the washing machine man fixed the washer after 3 weeks without. You can't get much of a better day than that.....

barb - it's great to hear you're enjoying your geocaching so much and what fantastic calorie burning you're getting along the way!

kathi - you're an exercise machine!! Full marks for ramping it up, especially the lunchtime session. Keep it up, Skinny.

onmyway - Glad you 'got' my username! I reckon i got some good books on Sat, since i managed to pick up a few from a recommended list that my friend (who has similar tastes to me) put together for me a while ago. Lucky you, counting down to a summer off work!!

petra - good luck with your studies. I admire anyone who works and studies at the same time as that must be really tough.

Good morning and happy Monday.

My weight stayed at the same this weekend, but considering I didn't count calories, that's not bad. I'll count them this week.

Petra--bummer about the board tests. Before I joined my gym, I did morning exercises at home--I have a rebounder, and I also set up an aerobic routine (I recorded myself giving directions, leading myself through it, to music). I still exercise at home some mornings, when I just don't feel like getting out of the house early. I enjoy the energy lift from early exercises, and I like feeling virtuous--knowing I've done my minimum exercise for the day--plus, I rarely have meetings interfere with my morning schedule, so I can't use that as an excuse to skip. (I find other excuses, though. )

Barb--geocaching sounds like great exercise. Being outdoors, hiking, walking, all that sounds great.

WLW--what a yummy meal.

OMW--my calorie counting was hit or miss last week, and non-existent this weekend, but I'm going to count this week. I need to--I'm not getting much movement on the scale, even though I'm being good about the types of foods I'm eating. I just need to be better about the quantities.

Annie--congrats on the DH's graduation. Big milestone. Sorry to hear about the 4 hours in the dentist's chair. Been there, done that, didn't like it. And the cost! (Even with my insurance--OUCH!) Having a gentle dentist you trust is a must, in my book.

Wizzie--glad to hear the headaches are subsiding. Did you post why you are having them? I've often wondered if some of my peculiar dieting symptoms are due to stuff trapped in my fat that is suddenly getting released back into my body. Or not. I'm not a doctor, and I don't play one on TV.

Ange--LOL about the 19 books. I used the buy that way--seriously, who can buy just one book at a time? But my allergies are better now that I got rid of several thousands books (paper dust--No, really), so I visit the library regularly. Sometimes, though, I just need fix and I'll go on a buying spree.

Sue--I hear you about the rollercoaster of dieting.

Look at the time! Got to get out of here and get to exercise class.

Woops!

Annie--that was supposed to be congrats on DS's graduation. Darn these fat fingers.

Hi All,

I went MIA on 3FC because I was in a binge cycle starting on Wed & ending on Sat. I ate like I did in the old days where I grazed at multiple convenience stores. The binges were horrible. My body didn't want the food, but the obsession to eat was overwhelming. One night, a guy commented to me at a store, "Someone has the munchies." I would eat and eat, sleep, promise to start over, and then lapse into another binge.

I don't have a scale at home so I didn't know what I was gaining, but my belly was so distended. And I had GI issues all weekend. I don't know what stopped me, but on Saturday night, I didn't want to eat anymore. And on Sunday I was fully back on plan and I spent the whole day reassuring myself that I am okay & I am still in recovery for binge eating.

Sometimes I wonder what years of excessive bingeing has done to my body & metabolism over the years. I have a theory that my body can't process the extreme amount of calories I consume, which explains why I never became obese despite eating thousands of extra calories. I think my theory proved true when I finally got on the scale today... 133 pounds. I lost 0.5 pounds in the last week.

So, I am one of these people that people love to hate- eat excessively and not get that fat. But the shame & misery of binge eating is a greater punishment than gains on the scale.

I really hope I stay on plan today. The past week was horrific & I still have stomach pain from it. And shame. Convenience stores are like crackhouses to me...I need to steer clear of them.

MC - Hang in there girl. We all have tough times. It's over. you're back on plan focus on the positive.

Kitteh - My headaches were from caffeine withdrawal. I have given up diet soda and I'm happy to report headaches are gone.

Annie- Congrats on the DS graduation!

Ange - I too love your username. The reason I have given both dairy and diet soda up together is I went to a naturopath about my liver issues and she suggested it. I would just about try anything to get my liver numbers down and not be so fatigued all the time. That's why together.

OMW - Thanks for the encouragement on the diet soda. The craving for it is subsiding.

Petra - How often do you have to take tests? I saw it was crappy weather in MS. Glad you are OK.

AngelsKeep - I've always wanted to try geocaching. I have a cousin that does and loves it.

WLW - Great job on joining a challenge at the gym! Keep us posted.

Today is Day 7 and it's getting easier. I found some dairy free cheese at Whole Foods that was actually edible. I put it on a veggie frittata. I am headache free and the brain fog is a lot better. However, I'm still fatigued. I had 5 vials of blood taken on Friday for more testing. Hopefully I will hear something by tomorrow. I'm ready to feel better.

Hope ya'll have a good day!

Hi everyone! Kind of a blah day here for me. Nothing good or bad to report. Just blah.

You all are doing great!

Well, it's Monday - hello again!

I don't have much to report at this point either - I'm just muddling along kind of maintaining in the high end of the 140's. Did not achieve the goal weight by the birthday, but I'll deal with that next week.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Howdy everyone. I have spent hours and hours on the computer today, re-writing my website and then trying to find one error that kept the whole thing broken. UGH! My eyes are all tuckered out. Think I will bail offa the computer here for a bit.

Chickie-*HUGS* to you! I'm sorry you had such a rough go, but glad you are back. Anything we can do to help iun the future? Can you come and post when you feel like eating?

Everyone else-will catch up later!

Barb

Happy Birthday ICUWishing!!

And hello to everyone else.

I'm still doing well staying on plan, at least with food. I'm not really pushing myself too hard on activity at this point, just trying to get at least 30 minutes of moderate activity according to my GWF. I will get back into more activity but one thing at a time - lots going on at work, plus all sorts of end of year school things with my son, so I can't push myself more than I can handle.

ange-you are really doing well with your gym stuff...Congrats! I would never make it, so I really admire that you can...and anyone else who can. When does your hubby get back?

Kitteh-Howdy! Nice to see you today. Good job going to an exercise class and also to being able to not gain weight. Yaaay!

Wizzie-I wondered if the headache was due to a lack of caffeine. I get them something fierce if I go too long w/o my coffee. I think maybe you are dehydrated too from lack of blood after they took so much! Crossing my fingers that they figure out what's wrong. It seems like it shouldn't be that hard for the professionals to figure it out.

Annie-blah blah to you too! LOL! I will be doing the WATP video this summer in between guests no doubt. I sure like that for the days when I have to stay home for one reason or another.

ICU-and blah blah whatever to you also. You are so close. It must be harder and harder to lose weight when you're down to such a tiny size. Keep at it and you'll get there.

PMom-Just eat well and don't beatr yourself up. If you already have too much to do, then no need to stress about where ti find extra time for exercising.


Okay, so I think that last week even though I stayed within my calories, I had more processed carbs than I usually do and less spinach/veg and more fruit. Lesson leanred probably. I think I personally do better with less fruti and more veg, even if I do get tired of all that spinach! And I'm also guessing that maybe my muscles were retaining some fluid yesterday, because I did 3+ miles walking twice last week and my calves were aching. I'm just so thrilled to get to actually walk and hike...it's been a long time since my back cooperated, and the geocaching is just a hoot and doesn't feel like "exercise" at all. Today I had a pile of spinach and some pepper steak and cous cous, which I guess is better for me than an apple and some grilled chicken on a hamburger bun. I'll see what happens next week and try not to get discouraged so easily. I know everyone has a setback.

Barb

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BECKY!!!!!!!! Have a lovely day!

Barb - hubby's back. He bought me an ebook reader!!!! So now i can store however many thousand books on it and don't have to load up my suitcase with real books when i travel (i still haven't yet confessed to him about the new 19 books accumulated over the weekend.......)

MC - It happens to absolutely everyone to a greater or lesser extent, so don't beat yourself up about it, just concentrate on what's ahead.

Wizzie - Hope the blood tests reveal something easily remedied that makes you feel much better. Keep us updated.

Third consecutive day of 122lb for me today so i've moved my ticker!!! It's taken almosot 4 weeks to shift the last 1lb, so i've got plenty of work left to do to get to my goal. Happy though.

Good morning.

I had a good workout at the gym yesterday, but almost had an issue with eating. I packed my breakfast and my snacks for the day, but forgot to pack my lunch. I almost succumbed to a burger from the cafeteria, but I thought about how upset I'd be with myself afterward. So, I rearranged my snacks to make a lunch, and bought a snack package of nuts for my snacks--just one package--half at midmorning and half in the afternoon--so the calories were within reason. And for dinner, I had stir fried veggies with chicken.

Wizzie--I've heard about caffeine withdrawal headaches (never drank coffee, gave up caffeinated sodas in college, lo these many years ago), and they sound nasty, so I'm glad you're coming out the other side of them now.

Chickie--I'm glad you came out of your binge after just a few days. Let go of the shame; it's not your fault and you didn't choose to eat that way. I don't usually binge, but sometimes sugar addiction takes over--it's like someone else is pulling the strings, and it's such a relief to be released from that compulsion. After the fact, it's easy to blame myself and tell myself I should have just stopped, and then I have to remind myself just how overwhelming the compulsion was when it was happening.

Well, off to the gym again. No class today, so I'm on my own. Boring. Thursday is also no workout class, but I may try the cycle class. Never done it before, and I suspect it will come close to killing me.

Have a good day.

Hi everyone! This is my first post on here, and I'm trying to get the feel for how this whole thing works haha. My general info is that I've lost about 40 lbs since November, and I would like to lose at least 30 more. I don't really know what else I'm supposed to say about myself on here? I just like that there's a support system available to chat with others in the same boat as me

Happy Birthday Becky!

Welcome Lola, you are doing great.

I seem to be in a funk right now. Not sure what it is. I haven't felt like doing much-not exercising, not wanting to journal my food although I am still doing that most of the time, not wanting to talk to anyone. I think I'm a little burned out in general right now. I desperately need a vacation. I've not had any time off from work in almost 6 months. I have this Friday off to go to the APA in New Orleans. That will be a help. and next weekend is Memorial Day. I'm hoping it will help to let me catch my breath a little. My weekends are never long enough.

I have to take these tests every 10 years to maintain my board certifications.

Hi everyone! I am feeling a bit more like myself today. I think my "blah" (I was seriously depressed yesterday, hate that) was due to a combination of TOM arriving a week late (ruining a weekend of romance w/ fiance, sorry if TMI) AND the fact that the dentist gave me pain medication that (if I'm being honest, and I am) I probably didn't need to take all weekend like I did. I have had issues with pain medication making me depressed in the past and it really came on hard yesterday. I really think that is mostly why I was feeling so bad. Anyway, I am feeling much better today, not such a gloomy outlook. No need for pain medication anymore, either.

I learned something about myself over the weekend, foodwise. We went out to eat Saturday to Cracker Barrel. I wanted to order something healthy, but didn't really limit myself, just wanted to enjoy. So I got a grilled catfish/fried shrimp dinner w/ steamed carrots and fried okra. I found myself wondering how they cooked the fish and the carrots (sodium, etc.). I knew the other stuff was fried, but was still wondering on the other. I really planned to enjoy the okra, but it tasted terrible. Like it had been frozen or something. So I only ate a few pieces of that as I didn't want to waste the calories. If it had tasted good, I would have eaten all of it. It is just interesting how I am paying attention to how things taste, how they are cooked, whether they are worth the cost of the calories, etc. If I'm going to consume the calories, it better be worth my while! So it wasn't a healthy meal in any sense, but I felt good leaving that terrible okra on the plate.


Ange-Great job on the spinning class! Enjoy your new books, electronic or conventional.

Kitteh-I'm so happy to hear that you solved your lunch problem at work. Very inventive and so glad you didn't resort to the hamburger. I try to keep healthy things in my bag at work, too.

Chickie to you! I'm so glad you got things back under control as soon as you did. One day at a time.

Wizzie-I hope the reports on the bloodwork are good news!

ICU-Did I miss your b-day? I hope it was a great one! You'll be at that goal before you know it!

Angelskeep-Hope you got the website going. If you feel comfortable sharing it, could you PM me the link? I'd love to see your place. I relate to more veg over fruit, too.

Peanut's-I hear you on the end of school year things to be done. I am so looking forward to not having to worry about homework, etc. for 3 months! Heaven!!

Lola129- So glad you are here! It's a great place to share feelings, experiences, whatever you feel comfortable sharing. Jump right in! Congrats on your 40 pound loss!!


I hope everyone has a great day!