This thread is a sub-set of the 300+ thread.

This is a group of friends dealing with the challenges of having a significant amount of weight to lose and being fit which becomes harder after 40. If you're an old or new friend and not over 40 and feel this is the place to post, jump right in.

Good morning!

You can come back and post now Ruth!

I have gotten up and done my exercise this morning. Pilates, stability ball and time on the stationary bike. I keep thinking about how the Biggest Loser folks wouldn't be doing a workout at half-enthusiasm as I was but it was difficult to get the body moving. I keep thinking about how I need to keep pushing myself to work a little bit harder. I still wanted to just lay down on the floor instead.

Valerie - Have a safe journey! I will definitely miss you while you're gone! Keep OP and stay away from the fried, high fat foods at the truck stops. You rock!

2Cute - I am very sorry to hear about your son's marriage. That is so heartbreaking. Try to focus on one day at a time and make sure you enjoy each day to its fullest whether its getting to talk to your granddaughters on the phone or be with them. Don't let the fear rule your life. I've seen those shows on the super obese and it is frightening. And you must move that body and watch the portions.

Okay, I'm outta here for now. I need to see if there are bills to be paid today and I'm trying to get my butt to work a little earlier each day.

Have a good one! There are no excuses for not making this an OP day. None. Period.

Good morning ladies, as usual I just have a minute. Got to get to the health club and EXERCISE!!! Move this body, push push push.

And 2cute you are so right about not moving making you even bigger. That is exactly what happend to oleAlvin. He was alway active, exercising and playing a lot of golf. Then things got changed over time, and he quit working out, didn't have time or money for golf, and before you knew it he was almost 600 pounds, and couldn't move. He was in an electric scooter to even get around the office. The weight-loss sugeron told us after the fact that he was the biggeest person he had operated on. So you better believe he works our religiously now. And I KNOW I have to,too. So do as I say, not as I do, and get moving!!!

Val, you will be missed. Terri, keep on keeping on, you are my inspiration. Hello to everyone else, and remember my motto "HANG IN THERE!!!"

Good Morning Ladies!

Confession time.

I was so proud of myself for being OP all week...then...

Came to the office at 11:00 and stayed until 5:30. By then my 10:00 bowl of oatmeal was LONG gone. I was starved and I was really wanting red meat. So I didn't bat an eye when DH suggested we blow the budget and go to Longhorn.

On the up side, I skipped the appetizer, ordered mashed potato instead of baked so I wouldn't smother it in sour cream and butter, ordered a 11 oz steak (instead of the usual 16 oz) and didn't finish it, drank water and didn't order dessert.

On the down side, I got regular dressing on my salad, the mashed potatoes came smothered in butter, I ordered ribeye instead of of sirloin, ate two of my husbands ribs and we stopped at Dairy Queen on the way home...but I did split a smallish treat with DH there.

So...although I had about 25 points to spend...I'm sure I went over all in one meal...so we're back to try, try again. Having been really good all week, I'm not considering yesterday a disaster. In fact, I may not have gone too far over on points, since I rarely go into the flex points and so may have had another 30 or so to spend...I didn't keep that good of track.

I have been pleasantly surprized by some things lately. First that a bowl of oatmeal lasts me pretty much all day. I seem to be over the muchies that the holidays inspired. I find that if I add some protien to the oatmeal, pecans specifically, I get even more out of it. (Plus with some cinnamon it's just yummy!) I also seem to be past the sweets cravings. Second, that I get fuller faster than I was...can't remember the last time I finished a restaurant meal. Third, I do still seem to be losing...although I still need to WI. I was drying off after my shower yesterday and on a whim tried to wrap the towel around myself - and I COULD! Now, granted, it didn't go all the way at the hips...but it's WAY closer than it used to be! And lastly, my size 20 jeans are really comfortable now! I can fasten them right out of the dryer with no problems. I've decided to return my new ones from Xmas and get 18's - since the new ones have lycra - so I'll have something to lose in to!

All in all, Longhorn notwithstanding, I'm feeling very good about things diet-wise at the moment.

2 Cute: So sorry to hear about the family problems. Divorce is so hard on the whole family. I'm sure if you make an effort to keep in touch, which I know you will, then so will she and it will all work out.

Valerie: I probably missed you...but We'll Miss You! Hurry Back!

Barbara: I didn't realize Alvin had weight loss surgery...Apparently it worked well? I know a man who really should have it done and there was talk for a long time about it, but there was some problem with his insurance and then his health and he still hasn't had it done. I'm quite sure he's over 500 or if not darn close. I keep thinking about him. Is it difficult for you, doing it "the old fashioned way"?

Mention was made of winter weather...it was 70 degrees yesterday! I don't think I've ever seen 70 in early January before. Of course, today it's 40 and tomorrow they are talking snow....Missouri weather! And I missed the nice day in this lousy office!

Well ladies, I should go. Spending too much time on the 'net is why I'm so far behind at work. (Of course, that won't stop me from checking back later!)

Onward and Downward Ladies!

Thanks terri!, I have never started a thread and I was afraid I would mess something up. Not that I have much to say this morning.

Weighed in this morning and wasn't down anymore. I would be very proud of the three lb. loss. but it is just some of the weight I gained back over the Holidays. BOO, Hiss! I never do that intentionally, but yet it seems to just keep happening! I am sooooo weak!

I hope all of you are having a wonderful op day. I am trying! See you all later. Ruth

Hi girls! Just jumping in real quick for a peek at what you all have been doing.

I was a slug today! Got up about 9:30, went to breakfast with a friend, stopped at my MIL's and came home. Been on this old 'puter fiddling' around ever since.

Honey just IM'd me and said he is on his way home so I figure I better rustle up some food. I have to go dig in the basement and see what's around. I really do hate to cook. But funds are light right now so going out is not in our best interests.

For those that asked, the "baby's" car is still not fixed. I talked to him last night and when I asked how much it was going to cost him, he would even tell me. All he said was "alot". I can't do anything, it was his choice to buy this dang car. He loves it.....when it's working. Oh well, they have to live and learn too, I guess.

All of my Christmas stuff is still up. Honey and I had to work the theatre this weekend for the movie Munich. I had no desire to see it, but we did get to see Harry Potter in the IMAX. That was worth it. And I talked Honey into seeing Rumor Has It with Jennifer Anniston, which was really quite cute. There are several still out there that I would like to see. If we don't catch up soon we'll probably be seeing them in our family room instead of the movie theatre.

Valerie: Have a safe trip!

Lilion: Glad you're feeling better!

2cute: Good to see you!

Michelle:

BarbG: Glad you're getting to the gym.

Terri: You and your new exercise commitment ROCK!!!

Kim: Did we lose you already?

Canoe: Welcome (if I didn't say that already) and congrats on the Total Gym purchase. Hope you use it more that the evil Pilates machine I bought last year!

Ruth: It's easy to start a new thread. Put the "stop posting here" message in a post on the bottom of the old thread. Then go up to the top and copy (highlight the text and hit CTRL and C at the same time) the intro message that is the first post. Then go back to the "300+ and ready to try again" subtitle under "support". That will take you to the main menu of all of our threads. There is a little button just above the listings on the left side of the page that says "new thread". Click that. You're new window will come up and you paste (hit CTRL and V at the same time) that intro message into the window. You'll also have to title it with whatever the next number is. AND THE BEST PART: We won't mind if you screw it up while you're learning. Just let me know and I'll fix it for you!

Well girls, my WI (not Wisconsin) went well this morning. I was down another 1.6 for a total of 2.8 towards my Valentine's Day goal. Too bad the tracker doesn't do the decimal points. Those little things keep me going.

Anyway, guess I better run and get some dinner going. See you all later. Love ya bunches!

Oh BTW, don't forget to check out the silly little quiz I posted.

Hi ladies,

Not anything on TV to watch tonight. Not even HBO.

Its a cold night again. And no I didn't walk the dog again tonight. DH took him by the lake today and let him out to play. Then DH drove off about 1/4 mile and made him run to the truck. Bear wasn't going to be left behind. He got into the truck and was knocked out cold all the rest of his ride.

The dog is laying on the floor howling because DH has Cops on TV. The sirens make him howl. Then he looks embarassed that we're laughing at him.

I got my new lenses for my glasses today. My eyes are going slightly nuts. The distance is a little weird but the bifocal for reading is much better. Like I can really see what I'm reading instead of being half blurred all the time.

Today was a completely food on plan day. Yeah for that. DH made shell-less tacos tonight. Awesome. I only used a little of the meat and cheese and lots of lettuce, tomatoes, salsa and onions. Oh and FF sour cream. I did have a couple of spoonfuls of guacamole. DH makes fabo guac - it actually has loads of flavor compared to eating it out. Tomorrow night is fish of some sort and lettuce wedges with homemade thousand island dressing . Some restuarant has lettuce wedges as their "signature" salad which I've always thought was stupid but this actually looked good so I'll quit being stupid myself and try it.

Its 9 pm and the alarm went off at 5:30 this morning. I think I'll go lay in bed and watch TV (which will last about 10 mins). Frankenstein is on.

for everyone who is seeing losses. Keep up the great work. Goodnight!

Hi Terri! Guess you're the only one that's been here since I was last. Nothing on TV? Does that mean you're not addicted to Wildfire? Gosh, I thought being a horsewoman you'd like that one. * Sounds like DH is a pretty good dog walker. I'm sure Bear didn't think it was funny. * The lettuce wedges are at Lonestar Steakhouses here. I think they look stupid too. You'll have to let us know how it turns out.

Night all. See ya later.

Good morning ladies, thought I would dash in here and post right quick. (Dash? That will be the day I rejoice...when I can dash.) Just wanted to say good morning and tell you that I am still op! Imagine that? I stood on the scales this moring and the darn things weighed me two lbs heavier than last week I don't know why, but it might have something to do with eating a dill pickle, you think? I am hoping that is water retention. It had darn well better be!


Thin, thank you for the info on starting the thread, lets just hope I never need to try.

Terri, It is good to be able to read without all of the fuzzy letters isn't it? I am starting to get a cataract on both eyes! Talk about fuzzy letters! They are not ready to be removed and believe me I am not ready to have it done, but eventually I know it will have to be if I want to see the world clearly.

Lilion size 20 jeans sounds good to me, but 18, even better! Good for you! Must be soooo nice. I wanna know what that feels like!

Barb, How is the exercise working for you? Got the kinks out yet? You are so right though, we have to get these bodies moving no matter how much it hurts.Ouchy!

Michelle? Come out, come out!

Have we lost all of our newbies already? If you are lurking, come on in! We will play nice. Gotta run now (RUN?) Ruth

Hi ladies,

Got to run too. We're supposed to be having snow/sleet start during rush hour so I better rush on over to work and miss some of it.

Just had my breakfast of steel cut oats, walnuts and blueberries. I love blueberries! I never appreciated them until buying them from someone at work who has a huge patch. Yummy!

I've done my exercise so I'm two for two so far this week.

Have a great OP day!

Thin - Are you on diabetic meds? You might talk to your Doc about Byetta. Its a shot you do twice daily but its not insulin. It has helped curb DH's appetite tremendously plus his sugar has improved where they are cutting down on the meds. He's lost 11 pounds!

Good Morning my Favorite Ladies!

I've had an incredibly busy and hectic morning, filled with annoying people! One more hearing to go and I'll be DONE for the day! Thank Goodness!

It's awfully dark and dismal outside my window. I hear sleet and then snow is the order of the day...we'll see. I just hope it isn't enough to close school early or close it tomorrow! Finding last minute daycare is such a chore! I am sooo tempted to stay at the office today at lunch and just let my puppies burst instead of going home to let them out...but I guess I won't. Sometimes the running home gets really, really old! I can't wait until they are old enough to hold it until DS gets home...but I think I have a couple more months.

I was very OP yesterday. Even eating my left-over steak for lunch...which was about 3 oz...I was only at 22 pts at the end of the day, and hungry so I had a snack. I love when that happens. Nice to be able to have a snack at night without guilt. Today I had a pretty fattening breakfast but I'm on track.

I'm trying an experiment for dinner. Had frozen, bone-in chicken breasts and didn't have time to thaw, so I stuck them in the crockpot with some onion, garlic, oregano, balsalmic vinegarette and a dash of worchestershire. Have absolutely no idea if it'll be edible, but I was out of ideas. All the recipes I have call for boneless breasts or else for ingredients I didn't have. I'll let you know how it turns out. The breasts were HUGE! The bag was 4 lbs and only had 4 in it! Heck, I wish mine were a lb each! I'll have to remember to cut them up and give DH and I only part of one each. I really need to go shopping!

DH has started school again. Monday and Wednesday from 5:15 to 8 or so. Dinner's are always a problem when he has those schedules because I have to cook for DS and myself and then have something for DH for later. This is when we wind up calling out or eating "scrounge" meals, so I have to be careful now to keep things cooked up for quick meals. Hope the breasts turn out well so I can keep the extra for salads, etc...

On the other thread someone was saying how excited they were to go from "morbidly obese" to "obese". It was funny, because I just looked that up myself the other day! I'm so excited...at 210 I become merely "overweight".

Must run...my last hearing is waiting. Ready to get that done and start some REAL work...writing my 60+ day old cases that are ready to storm the castle if they don't get a Judgment soon!

Later,

Good afternoooon!

Its beautiful here in NC today....low 60's and by Thursday its suppose to be in the low 70's....no...I DON'T miss Philadlephia or Rhode Island! I don't miss that SNOW, Sleet or Hail!

I get on the scale tonight and I really don't know what to expect. I have tried to behave myself the best I could. But I haven't really been writing down my points. I keep a mental note in the back of my brain but that resembles a colander these days! I've taken to keeping a little notebook with me so I can write down stuff I need to do or get! Well, I haven't used my 35 flex points in my mental notes anyway...so if I did go over some days hopefully that will compensate! We'll see tonight!

Lilion I keep those frozen lean cuisine dinners in the freezer for quick grab on the way out the door lunches! Or for the nights I work till 6 pm and don't get home till almost 7 and John and Andrew have already eaten. All Andrew wants to eat any ways is hotdogs, grilled cheese sandwiches or mac and cheese! I just had the LC pannini the steak and cheese one and it was really good!

Teri I love walnuts or any kind of nuts in cereal. I love that Post Great Grains with pecans!

Thin...you left it blank beside my name so I took that as a hint...so here I am posting!

Ruth...you always call me out! I need that...

Ok I know I didnt' get to everyone this time but its time to get back to work! I'll try and check in tonight!

Have a great day! MichelleK

Hey there!

I just got an interesting office e-mail....


Start 2006 with a fresh commitment and fresh approach to a healthier you. Have some fun and "get your skinny on" by participating in your department’s version of the popular television show: The Biggest Loser! Encourage your department or building employees to form teams (two to ten people on a team) and participate in your department’s Show-Me-Shape Up. For example your team could be known as (use your department’s acronym) OA – ‘I'm a Loser’ competition. This five-month competition (January 12 - June 12) encourages Missourians to develop healthy activities and eating habits.

• First things first, get your team together, elect a team captain and come up with a team name! Each team name will need to start with your department’s acronym and then the name of your choice. Entry fee is $10 per person (to be collected
by the team captain). T-shirts for all team members
will be given to the team captain for distribution
after the completion of the program.
• Hold a "kick-off" ceremony with your team
captain and team members. After registering your
team, your team will "collectively" weigh in on a
large "platform" scale to establish your team's
baseline weight. Once the team is registered, team
members can go on-line and see how your team is
doing compared to other teams in your department and across the state.
• As part of the kick-off "ceremony," empty your desk draws and file cabinets of everything "unhealthy" including those stashed chocolates and mini sugared doughnuts. Bring the items to the kick-off and donate your "stash" for non-participants to enjoy. You, however, will leave with a healthier alternative such as a nice juicy apple!
• Award door prizes (such as pedometers) to several lucky participants.
• Each team member will be asked to "weigh in" each Wednesday by noon on a scale that will be available in a private location. Team members will report their weight anonymously on a Post-It note to the team captain. (Drop boxes identified with team names should be distributed for this purpose.)
• Team captains will total the weights listed and record them into the on-line system by 5:00 p.m. each Wednesday. The winning team will be the one that loses the highest percentage of weight over the five-month program.

I think it's time to get my team together! I know for a fact there is at least one woman who'll do this with me...maybe more. No prize, of course, except bragging rights, but I'm kinda excited!

****update****
I'm kind of behind the times! There is already a team of 8 - I'm #9! Looks like there's a lot of us fatties here! Actually, some of them are pretty skinny already and I suspect they'll only slow us down! Here we go!

OMG where the heck is everyone?

Lilion that sounds like so much fun! I would join your team if I was there!!

Barb you hanging in there?

2Cute....come on back and post some more!! Just remember things happen for a reason! Maybe something good will come out of all this stuff going on at your end! Keep the faith and keep your chin up girl! You are strong and you will all make it through the rough times!

Well I am here again 'cause I have to toot my own horn! I went to WI (not Wisconsin) tonight and LOST 3.6 lbs! Yippeee!! Now tomorrow I start back to the gym at least 2 days a week so hopefully it will keep the weight melting off and the motivation roaring! I did it once I can do it again!

Kat...if you are reading this, we would all like to have you back posting with us again! I for one miss you!

OK gotta go get stuff done for the morning. It makes the day so much less stressful if everything is laid out and ready to go!

Talk at you all later....you all better come out and post to keep me reading here and out of the kitchen!

MichelleK

Yes Michelle, I'm hanging in there, just hanging out. I've been to the health club both days this week doing water walking mostly. Today I did ten minutes on the underwater treadmill.

The first of the year is NOT the time to work in the billing office of a medical practice!!! Everyone has new insurance benefits, and it is really driving us crazy. The "new" thing is the Health Saving Accounts where the insurance has a high deductible and the "company/employer" or even in some cases the employee's theirselves have a savings account that can be used to ofset the high deductible. But the down side, people who were used to paying 15 to 25 dollars for this particular infusion treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis is having to shell out hundreds up front. And I am in the position of explaining this to these people. So it has been stressful at work.

That's about all I have to say, other than hope everyone stays OP and has a good rest of the week.