All right! WEEK 9 and officially into the third month.

Challengettes We're into the home stretch for our first round of the 12 Week Challenge.

I've been stumbling with what to give myself as a reward for sticking with this for 12 weeks. Still haven't come up with a good 'un. And I've been wondering about what's a good topic for this week to focus on... how about MENTAL REHEARSING? A number of you have brought it up in the past. And I've got to say it's a tool I avoid and forget about. But going to my in-laws this weekend through next - is filling me with thoughts like... how will I get through this without gaining the weight back? Yada yada yada...

Is there anything coming up that you'd like to Mentally Rehearse for and think you might be up for giving it a try? If so post it here.

Mental Rehearsal: OK for me I want to project myself amoung upcoming family and friends and see myself enjoying the gatherings without overindulging both food and drink wise... drinking more water and munching on avail veggies and fruit.
First trick will be to get through this Saturday, on the plane...then dinner in Boston with friends.

Week of Aug 13 - 19th

Mon --- 20 -- (banked 5, activity 5)
Tues -- 23 -- (banked 2)
Wed -- 17 -- (banked 8)
Thurs -- 25 -- (used 2 pts from banking)
Fri ----- 25
Sat ---- 25 --- (28 - 3 banked points)
Sun --- 24.5 - (26.5 - 2 banked points = 24.5)

Just back from my weigh in. Lost .8 which brings me 1.6 lbs. to my 10 percent.

Myra - You are really working it gal. Yeah! Yippee! Hooray! I know on the Wed. thread you were hoping for more. But, it really is an enormous feat to consistently lose. And that's what you've been doing. So major congrats. You truly deserve it.

WAY TO GO, MYRA!!! - that is so wonderful - you must be so proud of yourself.

Hi all-

congrats Myra: bravo. I'm in your boat, i need to get down another 2 to my 10% and then another 14 to my goal. You are my inspiration, because I haven't thought about it in the smaller goals - 10% v. goal in a while.

so, Patch, mental rehearsing is a good idea. I too will be in boston and maine next week. Lets hope that the lobster will be steamed and there is plenty of lemon juice and light mayo for its consumption!

I'm staying with a former colleague and she is an excellent cook . We are doing some work with her and so it'll be spending time at the university and then a few daytrips to the coast. DP told her I'm really trying to stick to my program, so she is forewarned. I'm just hoping I can stick to my somewhat iron resolve on dessert and extra munchies.

I am planning to bring my own food on the plane or ordering a lf/high protein meal (dinner flight, even upgraded, it sucks big time) and bringing lots of low point high protein snacks for my breaking point (mid-day, when will we stop for lunch? - please no lobster rolls!)

and DP located a gym for me to go to while in orono. Way cool, she really wants me to stick to my routine. I'm impressed that she is taking my committment to my lifestyle change as seriously as she is.

anyways, i'm really taking your challenge to heart.

take care,
lala

Lala,
I have to think about small goals or I will drive myself crazy. I have over 30 pounds to go to get back to goal! I remember the first time I went to a WW meeting and they gave me my goal range. The first thing I thought of was that they were crazy. There was no way that I would reach goal weight which was 45 lbs. away. But I put that out of my mind and just tried to lose something every week. Most weeks I did and I lost not only that 45 to become a lifetime member but 10 more. So that is what I am trying to do. I live for those 5-lb. stars they give out at meeting. Getting back to goal will come. I'm not sure when. But it will come.

Good topic for discussion Patch! Mental rehearsing has been a huge part of this journey for me. Going to my parents for the weekend or my husbands parents has been a big thing. Since these are weekend trips I will often bring some food with me to make some situations easier so that I able to accomplish was I mentally rehearsed.

I also have to mentally rehearse how I will answer questions about my changing attitude toward food and why I will now not always eat certain things. I often need to explain things a few times to family and friends since my habits towards healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle are continually evolving as I learn new things and learn to love new foods. I am not shy to explain why I am doing this. Now, they see the results and there are no longer many questions. They understand and are completely supportive, thank goodness.

The biggest barrier in this journey we are all taking is mental. Mentally we praise ourselves, beat ourselves up, reward ourselves, and somehow find the internal strength to continue.

Perhaps that's a bit heavy for today..........

K

173.2/140.0ww/138.2current

Kena - great stuff. With this vacation coming up I naturally want to just forget about it all, and escape. And that usually means through eating and drinking. And you're so right about how we internallty process this stuff. Sometimes the voices praise, often they just beat me up , and upon rare occasion they actually make me think of rewarding myself. I've written down in my journal what I want to pack munchies-wise for the plane trip tomorrow... here's to remembering to take them. I've even hardboiled a couple of eggs today for tomorrow morn.

Myra and Lala those small goals and rewards are the best. Sometime Myra I have to give myself a treat (usually that ice cream sandwich) just to get through the day within range. Yes, we know it's worth it, but it's not always easy is it?

So far the mental rehearsing seems to be working ok. I even got my mother in law to get rice cakes to munch on! Hope is well with you.

Hi everyone. No numbers to post this week - I did journal some during vacation but I wouldn't have enough days with accurate numbers to make it worth posting them. Suffice to say that I was over my daily allotment

But it's a new week and I have one OP day under my belt, complete with exercise. WooWoo!!

(Now do you understand why my 12-week journal lasts seven months?)

Here are my point totals for the last week (8/15-8/21) - ate more points on the weekend than I should have, but at least I tracked it. I don't add/subtract any activity points.

Wed: 22
Thur: 24
Fri: 23
Sat: 30
Sun: 30
Mon: 23
Tues: 21

My meeting & weigh in is tonight, so we'll see how I do.

Good luck! I weigh in tonight too. I am hoping to make my 10 percent. I'm only 1.6 lbs. away. Here are my totals

Mon 23
Tue 24
Wed 21
Thur 21
Fri 25
Sat 20
Sun 23

Range: 20-25

Hi, here are my numbers for last week, with exercise points deducted.

W: 24.5
Th: 24.5
F: 45
Sa: 37
Su: 25
M: 20
T: 18.5

average points/day: 28.5

gained 2 pounds. It was not a very good week. But somehow the overeating due to overindulgence and self-destructive tendencies did trigger a desire to lose about 3 - 8 pound below my goal.

Good morning! Here are my points for the past week...my weigh in is today at noon so I'll post how I did later on.

Wed: 21
Thu: 23
Fri: 24
Sat: 21
Sun: 25
Mon: 23
Tue: 21

Average points/day: 22.5

I also got in 4 days of walking so that should help a little. The only stumbling block I might have is TOM begins next week, but I'm hoping for the best

Katie: I don't add extra activity points in either. I just figure it's better to get it in and don't worry. Good luck on your WI.

Patch: Keep up with the mental rehearsing and you'll be fine It's a great tool and I feel better when I say, "no thank you", I feel in control and proud of myself.

Laurel,

I'm a big believer in having the WW goal higher than my true goal. Set an actual number that is you personal goal and try to stick to it. But it gives you the flexibility of not having to pay even if you had a bad week.

Don't fret about the weight gain. This week will be better. I have faith in you.