Lin's kickoff post:

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Here's my "official" version of the fable:

The Hare and the Tortoise

A hare met a tortoise one day and made fun of him for the slow and clumsy way in which he walked.

The tortoise laughed and said, "I will run a race with you any time that you choose."

"Very well," replied the hare, "we will start at once."

The tortoise immediately set off in his slow and steady way without waiting a moment or looking back. The hare, on the other hand, treated the matter as a joke and decided to take a little nap before starting, for she thought that it would be an easy matter to overtake her rival.

The tortoise plodded on, and meanwhile the hare overslept herself, with the result that she arrived at the winning-post only to see that the tortoise had got in before her.

Moral: Slow and steady wins the race.

This comes from a book handed down from my grandmother to my mother to me. The book is so old it doesn't have a copyright date or an author/editor's credit.

That fable has been the motivation for us turtles for about three years. Someone on the ancient WW forum mentioned the fable and I discovered it was very motivational for me. I talked about it in posts and other people said that the tortoise philosophy worked for them, too. So, I started a thread for us turtle types.

We work toward accepting that our bodies have a natural speed of weight loss when we choose to live a healthy life, instead of "going on a diet". Many of us have experienced "the diets" as go on/lose weight-- go off/ gain the weight plus more back.

We choose to perservere with each choice we make throughout the day. We believe that choosing to be slow, steady turtles helps us to learn the skills we need to in order to lose and keep off the weight. Our main focus is to become the healthiest people we can be.

So, welcome to all who realize that losing and maintaining a weight loss is a lifestyle change. And who want support as we all learn the skills we need to successfully make the changes that will allow us to reach our goals.

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Hi, all. Since Lin's computer is acting up, I took the liberty of starting a new thread.

First, check out this article on Atkins. http://www.3fatchicks.com/articles/aha.html Doesn't surprise me that the latest "study" the media has been hawking was funded by the Atkins folks. I hate that. I wish we knew what information to trust these days. I guess we can find out; we just have to work hard and remain skeptical.

Anyway. First, Lin, I'm so sorry about Blackie. This was the kitty with the tumors in her abdomen, right? How hard. I'm sure you gave her a wonderful life, and I also believe you'll see her again. Remember what Martin Luther once said? That he was sure of one thing: in heaven, he would find a golden-haired dog with long silky ears (or words to that effect). I agree with him. Also, a friend of mine who's a doctor who works with end-stage dying patients says he has seen certain trends among folks who are near death. One is that they often see (and sometimes talk with) beloved people and animals who have passed on before them, who are eagerly waiting for them to join them. One of his patients recently saw a particularly beloved dog, happily wagging its tail in anticipation.

On a more mundane note, your Thanksgiving menu sounds creative and fun. How did the day go for everyone?

Juday, that's so exciting about your 3-pound loss! Even if you go up a tad over this past holiday, don't sweat it -- you're doing great.

Kaylets, 170s!! WOW! You rock! Take me with you, OK?

Kathy, good for you doing the Curves. I've got to get back to my health club, too. It's hard to motivate myself when I also go to work (and it's REAL easy to fall out of the habit of going). Let's remind each other to work out, OK?

Hi, Mousie. Always good to see you.

Our visit with my dad and his wife went fine from a relationship standpoint; we enjoyed spending time together, which hasn't always been the case. While my eating wasn't out of control, it was WAY over points. Nell (my stepmother) cooked up a storm, every day we were there, and we also had "happy hour" most evenings, which included a fuzzy navel (for me) and cheese and nuts.

On the good side, we did get in a long walk on Thanksgiving (3 miles) and walked a bit in a botanical garden another day. I drank my water. I tried small amounts of things for the most part rather than having full portions. During our travel days, I chose mostly healthy food at restaurants (salad at Wendy's, along with 1/2 a small frosty and some of DH's french fries -- that kind of thing).

This morning I'm up a pound from my official weight last week. I had actually lost a couple more pounds from my official weight last week, though, so my gain is more like three pounds total. But I'm feeling very motivated today, am picturing myself thinner, and am ready to stay within my points again.

How is everyone else doing?

It's really snowing here -- looks like Christmas!

Onward and downward,

Lauren
274/183/179 by Jan. 1

Yikes, where is everyone?

I actually ended up losing weight this week somehow. I think I lost a bunch of weight after my official weigh in last week and gained some of that back but ended up down for the week. Miracles do happen.

Hope you're all OK, just busy.

Onward and downward,

Lauren
274/181.5/179 by Jan. 1

Lauren, thanks for asking, I'm still here just buried in the last 2 weeks of school before finals! I'm keeping on, though, life has had its major downs (someone took my dog on Thanksgiving day) and its major ups (my dh and I have resolved some issues and suddenly life is golden again).

Congratulations on your loss! No news yet on the weight front for me, but I'll keep checking in!

Mousie, someone took your dog?? I'm so sorry! Does that mean you don't know where your dog is?? Or do you know who took him?

Hi, Turtles,

Thanks, Lauren, for keeping the thread going while my computer was down.

Thanks, everyone, for the condolences. It's so cool to know so many people who understand that a pet is not "just an animal". Our other cat is kind of moping around a bit. She's slowly changing her habits to accommodate Blackie's absence. It's been a tough year for her with both of my sons moving out and then her sister going away, too.

Erin, I hope you find your dog. That's a terrible thing to have happen to your furry friend.

Thanksgiving was fine. It went well. And I splurged on computer games with my birthday money.

The computer fix went fine, but it cost a bunch of money for updated antivirus software and a new sound card. Our old one is so old that you cannot find drivers for it. Well, my games run better than ever and the card wasn't super expensive.

I got an email about my friend's annual Christmas party and carol sing. It's on Sunday this year and we'll have to skip it because my dh cannot take Monday off. If we go, we'll get home too late for him to get enough sleep since he gets up between 3:30 and 4:00 am. This will be the second time in at least 25 years that I will have missed it. The only time my dh and youngest son (who can't get home on such short notice) will have missed it. I have to call my oldest son because he could go if he wants to. This is hard for me because it's the one holiday party we go to and care about. We also are missing the Lessons and Carols service that we usually sing in because it's the same day.

I'm not sticking with that diet plan. It was working well for me, but I can't afford it, unless I'm willing to eat tuna salad every day for lunch. My grocery bill went way beyond my budget because you have to eat a lot of meat protein. So, I'm assessing what I want to do. Right now, when things are stressed is not the time to make major changes. So, I'm essentially eating what I want, but making sure not to eat if I'm not hungry and not stuffing myself. Stopping when I'm full. Those are the best habits I can follow right now. What I want, however, isn't a lot of junk. I've been eating a lot of veggies and generally a balanced diet.

Kathy, I need your email if I'm going to send my recipe. You can send it to me in a PM.

Hope you all are doing well. Hope you can post a bit.

Happy turtlin'!

Lin

Greetings, I'm new. I just had to say that the Tortoise and the Hare is one of Aesop's Fables.... and in a blatant advertisement for someone else's site, You can find all 655+ fables at http://www.aesopfables.com/

I currently have 99 pounds to lose, and I've recently started up again with WW. Hopefully I can get my weight down again. I was a size 7 up until just a few years ago... and I'm 5'8.

Hi Turtle

..Kathy here...Hello to everyone...Welcome Kelly Q. You are very welcome here. We are a nice bunch, just not posting as much as usual ...I just started a new plan..It is one that I have been thinking about for along time..Sugar Busters..It is a very nice food plan where you just give up certain things like potatoes, white stuff, beets, bananas, and anything has a high gmc...Sugar is out...Totally out..But you do add carbs but not 12 a day like the primid...only like 3. I think I am going to do good on this..I am not good with sugar..The more I eat, the more I want..I will keep telling you how it is going...I went to curves 3 times this week, tomorrow will be #4. I will not weigh in till January. I just want to give myself time to get this tog, then I will get weighed and mesaured.

Not to much to get tog for christmas this year. Bought New tools for sil (his got stolen with car, not news yet) My mom will get a trip to either Reno or the Indian casino. Other daughter isup in the air, one sister wants us to give to charity..(I like that one very much..I am going to buy new coats for children and give them to our homeless shelder. The other sister want sbooks on cd..too expensive..Can't afford them..So anyway I am not spending any times in the stores..I should just for the heck of it, but I have been quilting my little fingers to the bone...I have been enjoying that...

Sorry about the stolen dog Erin, and to the passing of your Kitty Lin..Animals are so important to us.. I got to meet my friends new seeing eye dog Mosey..That was cool. Dog and friend are going to make there new home in Albany Ca to learn how to be blind..Since she still has some of her sight, they will blindfold her and teach her how to do things like cook, sew..yes sew..I can't wait to hear about this one.

Well I have bent your ear enough..

I will keep you posted on how I am doing..I do know I feel really good today..I had no sugar.. and i feel good..

bye for now.

Kathy

Hi, Turtles,

KellyQ, I have no idea what you are talking about. My quote of Aesop's little fable has nothing to do with the website you mentioned. I had never heard of it until you wrote your post.

I have two things to say about that part of your post. First, the advertising we are not allowed to post is advertising to sell something. The web site is about providing information and is perfect for the database of resources for writers that a writing site I help moderate is gathering. Thanks for sending me to such a great resource.

Second, as I said in my post, the only purpose for quoting the fable is that it was the impetus behind a major breakthrough in my personal weight loss journey. I shared that with a lot of other people and some of them discovered that it helped them, too. I was asked to start a group for people who found it motivating and the Turtle Club was born. We've been around for about 4 years, now.

BTW- as I also said in my post- the version of the fable I posted is, to the best of my knowledge, in the public domain. That means it is not a violation of copyright laws to post it. I am a writer, thus very sensitive to copyright laws and would never knowingly violate them.

'Nuff said.

On to the second part of your post. You are very welcome to join us in supporting each other as we go through the process of reaching our goals, whether weight loss or other goals. We often have found that the rest of our lives have a great impact on our weight loss efforts, so we also cheer each other on in our other pursuits. I apologize if we've gotten off to a rocky start, but I felt it was important to clarify the beginning of the club and the significance of the fable for you.

Kathy, I hope that Sugar Busters helps, but I want to suggest that you do some research on general health sites about it before you decide to try it. Remember that whatever you do, you have to think beyond losing the weight. Ask if you can make this a lifestyle, one you can live with every day for the rest of your life. Good luck to you!!

It's so cool that you are getting coats for homeless people in lieu of a gift for your sister. She sounds like a really cool person!

Thanks for the condolences about my kitty. I miss her and think of her often, especially when I go into my bedroom because she usually could be found sleeping on my bed when she wasn't in the living room with us.

I've decided that right now, my goal is to maintain through the holidays. Then I will decide what I want to do to pursue losing more weight. I particularly want to focus on getting fit next year. That is the most elusive element for me.

I hope that all of you are having a great weekend.

Happy turtlin'!!

Lin

Sorry about that. It was just a website with all of Aesop's fables --and the original post said you didn't have the author's name. My apologies.

Kelly

Hi,

KellyQ--apology accepted. What I meant when I said that I didn't know the author is that the book, which is titled Aesop's Fables, didn't credit the translator/author or have a copyright notice. I probably ought to revise my intro post to clarify for future reference.

Lin

Hi, Turtles, and a special welcome and hug to Kelly.

The cat just lay down on my keyboard. OOF.

Gotta run to work here, so this will be quick.

Had three parties this weekend; two were potlucks, and one was at a restaurant. I didn't do so hot in my choices. I also didn't do as badly as I would've done in the past. And I ate carefully when I wasn't at the parties (ate lighter meals at home).

Anyway. I'm also major-league PMSing this month, probably because I haven't been as regular with the calcium and magnesium. ACK. I feel like we're incredibly busy right now, so much to get done, and most of it isn't even directly Christmas related. (We don't get nuts with the gift-giving.) Family start arriving this weekend, and we still haven't cleaned, much less decorated the house. We do have a tree, though, and it smells lovely.

Work is also nuts right now, lots to do. So I'd best get at it.

Kelly, isn't Aesop wonderful? I grew up on his stories. Amazing how many of them have become practically mythology in our culture.

Kathy, good luck with the Sugar Busters. I don't do well with sugar, either. A couple of years ago, I gave up sugar for a few months (didn't worry about starches, just focused on sugar and white flour). I did extremely well with my weight loss during that time. I only intended to do it for a few months, so I stopped. But it was very helpful in kick-starting my weight-loss efforts again. Maybe I'll do that again this winter.

Lin, maintaining through the holidays is a very wise plan. I'll be thrilled at this point if I manage to do that, too. Sorry you won't be able to make your party. {{HUGS}} as you think of Blackie.

Erin, any news on your dog? What happened??

Onward and downward,

Lauren
274/181/181 for January 1

Hi Everybody..just a quick note before I go off to Curves...Have done that really well last week, only skipped tues/wed. but did it all the rest of the days. Am planning on doing it at least 5 days this week. 6 will be an option too.

Lauren thanks for the advise..I actually have been doing exactly what you said..have been trying not to touch sugar and white stuff. I have not been perfect but I am really trying and I think I am doing ok. I have 3 days off so that will be a good test...Work is a test too with Some christmas goodies around but to tell you the truth, I see that every year, we get less and less stuff. (we usta get stuff from all the doctors in the hospital, ER gets stuff, but er admitting does not and that is good. I remember when I was in a different dept that got tons of things for the holidays..After it was over, I went into withdrawl big time, I went to dept to dept looking for something special and was really miffed that it was all gone..isn't that sick??? Anyway I did have a few pieces of candy cane yesterday and it was a mistake..I didn't want to stop. I really didn't. So today will be a no sugar day. I had steak, 1 egg and a bit of cheese for breakfast..Tomorrow I eat cereal...

I don't know if we will decorate this year,,i just have so much quilting to do before christmas that I just don't have time...Told my husband during my 3 days off I wanted to stay home, clean and quilt..In that order..No going out wasting time...

Welll I had better go ..

Hope you post more Kelly Q..

talk soon

Kathy

Hi, Turtles,

Lauren, I've noticed that I have to go against my nature and be super picky about the calcium and magnesium or I have really bad PMS, too.

Good luck with your plan to maintain through the holidays.

Kathy, I hope you make it to Curves all of the times you planned. It's so cool that you finally found an exercise program that you can stick with and works for you.

I've decided to really focus on exercise this coming year. I will most likely go back to doing WW points, too, because it's the only food plan that I can live with day in and day out.

January will be really difficult for me, too. My kids will be back in their own lives after spending time with us over the holidays. And I will be facing year 3 in this apartment. I am working on a plan to help me to cope with it. And, after I finish with jury duty, I will go back to job hunting.

Everything else is pretty much the same here. I hope to hear from more of you because as busy as the holidays are, it is also a time when we need to support each other the most in our weight loss efforts.

Happy turtlin'!

Lin

Hi, tortoises.

Kathy, I can so relate to the sugar thing. I've been craving (and eating) sugar for a while now, and I can see the problems it's causing me. My current plan is to cut out the sugar and white flour again for a while in early 2003. I need the kickstart.

Lin, the points approach is the only thing I've been able to stick with for any length of time, too.

Although lately, I've had an awful time sticking to even that. Dang, but this stuff is hard. Sometimes it's harder than others, and this past year seems to be a time of waffling for me. Of late, I haven't been writing down my points again. It takes very little to derail me, it seems. Lately, it's the parties and the holiday goodies.

Wish I had something more successful to report. I figured I'd better at least stay accountable here!

Kelly, I hope we didn't scare you away.

--Lauren

Hello ALL!!

Cannot believe where the time has gone! And I dont' even have little ones to shop and do holiday things ! Just been nonstop since Thanksgiving, DH spent that week w/ cold/virus/flu-, we got one vehicle out of the garage and the other went in -- we've also been clearing out a storage bin and selling, giving or trashing --

and working everyday too-

Office is swimming in cookies and etc - folks are sharing or gifts from vendors- so far, I've kept away as I know how I am -- one is never enough and then craving more tomorrow-- so far, I just dont' go near them. Especially once the trays have been picked over, its been fairly easy to remember many hands have touched the remaining items and so far this has worked. ! I do make sure I am not hungry and plenty of flavored water-- so far, so good-

Hello to all the new posters!

Lin, my hat is off to you-! so many folks count the days that college restarts! You really know how to smell the roses!

We are also not wild about where we are living but its amazing how time goes by- Jobs and jobs alone are the reason we are here. Makes you sympathize w/ the pioneers and how dear letters were to them!

I also agree, this is the time to try and support each other as it does really help ourselves too.
Count me in!