Since I'm here fairly early, I hope it's ok that I opened up a new page for March.

So, how's March coming in, in your neck of the woods? Lion? Lamb? We're lamb-like here, just a bit of drizzle.

I'm hoping all our deficits come in lion-like! Let's go!

February was full of new beginnings for me. Started calorie counting in earnest. Started working out in earnest. Started using Fitday (and then FitdayPC). Started using a ped to record my steps (and started really trying for the 10K per day). Started doing research and expanding my knowledge of healthy living.

It was a good month.

Yesterday, last day of February, my deficit was 1,218, second highest ever. I'm ready to get March started!

Woo hoo, it's March. I think the weather is supposed to be fairly decent today - almost 50, but raining. I hope I'll still be able to get my walk in at lunch.

It was hard, but I made it to kickboxing class last night (I had a migraine, and was really tempted to just go home to bed) and I'm so glad I did. My headache went away, I worked hard, and really felt like I accomplished something. And my reward - I had a deficit of 1831 yesterday!

Today I hope to walk, do some ab exercises (I love 'em! lol), and then it's off to my bowling league. We go out to dinner after bowling, so my challenge for the day will be making smart choices at whatever restaurant we go to.

Have a great day, everyone!

Lena - Thanks for taking care of starting a new thread!

DGPebbles - Thanks for the encouragement. Your numbers give me hope for achieving my goals!

Oh, and March is coming in like a lamb here! The weather is fabulous! Unfortunately, it means that the dog days of Southern Louisiana's summers are close behind!! Have a great day!

Morning all .

It's like a lamb here, gorgeous weather we're supposed to reach 70 today.

I had a deficit of 655 yesterday, today started off good. Going out to eat lunch and dinner today so am vowing to not overdose on blue cheese dressing . Wish me luck!

A cold lamb!

Mornin ladies,

Highs in the 60s here today so I guess it would be pleasant if my office wasn't so cold (guess that means I'm burning more calories right? )

Trying to take it easy. Haven't been sleeping well, cut out some of the caffeine I usu. have yesterday but it didn't help. I think I'm just stressed! Any tips for refocusing or making yourself stop thinking when you go to bed? Seems like I just can't turn my mind off.

Sure blues4miles - it's called Effexor. Seriously, I have always had anxiety issues with major insomnia problems. The only way I have been able to sufficiently deal with it is anti-anxiety medication. This may not be the answer for everyone, but it works for me. And, I've tried just about everything to not have to take meds. So, if you can't get relief, you may want to talk to your doctor. Good Luck.

I'm so ready for spring...it's 28 here and soooo bitter out! Makes you not want to do anything except lie on the couch and eat comfort foods :-)

How much lbs do you all find that you hold while it's your TOM? Just curious....

I did good last night..we went to Garfileds for dinner for my SIL's birthday and I had a charbroiled chicken sandwhich, no mayo, side salad insted of fries. I ended up with a 1128 deficit yesterday!!!! Yeah

Some combination of Paxil and exercise helps me sleep better too

Good evening everyone!

The darned Girl Scout cookies came in today (oh those Samoas!). I ate four of them. Had it not been for that.....Oh well, I still am coming in at about a 900 deficit. How in the world can I keep myself from making such impulsive, self-sabatoging things?

Well, I want to do yoga to at least off-set some of the calories! Hope you all have a good day tomorrow.

Awful day yesterday, just awful. Ended up being 2k calories over. Good grief. Still, it was a much needed kick up the backside to remind me that I cannot eat like that again. And I won't.

Awwwww Lynne. I hope you at least enjoyed whatever it was that took you over for the day. And I hope it was just *joy of eating* that sent you over, rather than eating in response to something bad or stressful in the day. Whatever it was, here some for you!

Today's a new day, right?

AJsMa, look on the bright side. You had only 4 cookies, got that great taste and still had a deficit (and a very nice one, I might add)! You *could* have eaten the whole box!

Miles, I've heard that warm milk (if you can swing it with the calories) before bedtime can have a calming effect. Hope you're feeling less stressed soon. Is it general overall stress or is something in particular going on (something that will go away, eventually)?

Angielynne, I'm curious about that, too. I never monitored my weight daily, like I've just recently started doing. It'll be interesting to go through a few cycles and see what the pattern actually is. It always seemed to me that I'd gain 5 pounds (and only lose 4 of them... grrrr).

Anyway, my yesterday was interesting. Deficit was 1,192 but I overloaded on some (mighty fine) homemade chicken soup (mmmm mmmmm!). Darned if the sodium wasn't ZOOM thrugh the roof! Nearly 3200!!! Arrrrrgh! I *know* better, but the soup was so darned good (I'll have to figure out a lower sodium method of making it). I wonder how long it's going to take for that to work its way through...

Thanks for the advice ladies,

AJsMa - I keep considering whether it's time for me to try something but I keep dismissing all my depression/insomnia/stress as "teenage" problems, than "college" problems, than "young adult" problems. If I don't get some relief soon I may have to think about it though. Oh, and I bought the coconut kind of girl scout cookies, cause I don't like coconut so I made my fiance eat them all.

Susan - I thought exercise was helping me too, but it seems it's lost its potency, perhaps I'm not doing enough (heh, probably AM never doing enough)

Hey Lynne, we've all had them. In fact, I think I had a 2k calorie day on Saturday...just watch your appetite tomorrow and the day after, you may find yourself less hungry and able to cut a little out of your diet. It doesn't have to be much but it will help keep your averages low.

Lena - can't drink the milk unfortunately (lactose intolerant) if I do have a slight amount of milk it keeps me up with my tummy rumbling all night. I'm hoping it's temporary stress but we'll see. Sodium is something I struggle with too...I'm not even going to look at my sodium counts now, I will just have to worry about that another day.

Deficit of 486 yesterday so doing pretty good. I haven't lost in a couple weeks despite having some good average numbers but I *think* I'm losing inches(and possibly putting on a little muscle). Not terribly concerned about it anyways. Using Fitday with yesterday as a starting point I have:
Last week avg-1221
Last 2 weeks avg-1231
Last 1 month avg-1336
Looks good to me! I think I have lots of room for improvement but at least it is catching on. Hope everyone else is doing well and getting over this blah of a Thursday.

Good Evening Everyone! Just wanted to report in and see how everyone was doing. I had a fairly decent day even though I did eat 2 thin mints and 1 All About (damn Girl Scouts!!!). I still have a deficit of about 1200.

Miles - I have seriously fought anxiety/depression my entire life. I don't mean to be melodramatic about the situation. I just have really good handle and understanding of it now (at nearly 35, finally). I have suffered from insomia for the majority of my life, as well. My anxiety attacks could be pretty extreme. I completely understand what you are going through. Definitely keep up the exercise. I didn't start exercising really diligently until my mid-20's. I believe it plays a huge part in helping me keep things under control. Your anxiety is related to one of two things (okay, or a combination of both): 1) situational issues (life changes - death, divorce, etc., money issues, bad relationship, etc.) or 2) a true misfiring of the hormones, etc. in your body. I found that taking something (Effexor, Paxil and even Zoloft and Prozac when I was going through a divorce) helped me to be in a frame of mind to deal with the situational issues that were aggravating the anxiety/depression. Don't hesitate to talk to your doctor for advice. And, don't hesitate to seek some counseling if you need it! We are only human and sometimes need help to ge through it all! I know I do! One other thought - I looked at your Fit Day for the last few days. You may want to try eating more whole type foods. Feeding our bodies good, whole food can go a long way to keeping our minds in tip-top form! P.S. I haven't found a cookie or cake that I don't like!

Lena - Don't worry about the sodium. Just drink loads of water to flush it out!!! I really try to watch my sodium numbers, as well, b/c high blood pressure runs in my family and I've had a few run ins with it recently. You are only 3 pounds away from your goal!!! Keep at it!! You are doing great!

LynneA - Don't beat yourself up too bad! Hope back on the counting train ASAP and you'll feel better.

AngieLynne - I completely avoid the scale during TOM. I have no desire to know!!

Okay, I better get my stuff together for tomorrow. Have a great day!