Good afternoon .. morning .. evening .. HI .. Kia Ora ... Gidday!

Okee .. Im in a great mood today .. not exactly sure why lol .. but I aint gonna question it

Just stopping in for a brief HI to all those lovely new members .. its great to see you on your journey and I KNOW you will get the best support you would ever need on here ... so welcome on in and I hope to see you on the boards LOTS!

Its been a busy morning ... sort of lol .. I was naughty yesterday and didnt get in my Richard .. but Im going to do it tonight with my sis (yay) and as my knee has been acting up today when we were out I bought a knee support thingy so will be using that

The weather has come over all yucky .. typical for Labour Weekend lol .. but we are still planning a BBQ for tonight! I have bought a bunch of salad things .. and some chicken breast for me, as well as made up a WW jelly for dessert with bananas cut up in it ... the others are gonna have things like potato salad, fried potato, steaks, kebabs (I might have a nibble of the pork steak cos its my fave non chicken meat lol) .. corn on the cob ... I just think of all that and feel the pounds rofl ... I have a week to get down to 285 .. well .. just over a week lol .. want to be down to 285 by the end of the month Then I have decided I am going to aim for 270 by the end of December .. not gonna post it as a mini goal tho ... its just something I would be happy to see if I can rofl.

Had a good day in town .. did a LITTLE unnecessary spending lol .. but I bought useful things lol ... and I treated Ash to a new Greenday t-shirt and wallet as this week she was down just over 7 pounds for the fortnight! So proud of her and her self esteem is doing a lot better .. she is becoming proud of herself! I have said to her that I will make up treat bags for her this week so that she doesnt start cheating (which is what happens with her after 2 weeks of good eating .. she starts eating bad things from friends etc .. so Im hoping this will help curb the binging).

Okee .. better go .. want to marinade my chicken for the BBQ

1 - We are having our first BBQ since the beginning of the year ... boy have I missed it!
2 - We are lighting the fire tonight so I can have some toasted marshmallows (my treat is 10 small ones .. LOVE them toasted lol)
3 - I have my fave family members around me (5 people and 6 dogs in a 3 bedroom house lol .. definitely a lively place to be!)
4 - The grass was cut yesterday and we are having showers today ... its a positive cos I love the smell of the fresh rain on the newly cut grass!
5 - My teddybear stock arrived today!! Didnt think we would get it until next week some time .. so my hunny can take pics of it for the website this weekend instead of having to wait another week

Love and Light everyone
Be proud of yourself .. its another week of your journey completed!!

Huggies

Hey everyone! This thread moves so fast. Going to attempt to catch up on personals real quick.

JILL~Sounds like you are doing great with the WATP. I have the walk and kick tape. But I am just trying to get back used to just walking in general. Keep up the good work!

Ammi~Sorry you are having all of those side effects! Hopefully you won't have to be taking those meds much longer. Hope you get well soon!

Lilion~Thanks for posting that from Brenda's blog!

Drama~ I hear ya about getting exercise in. I don't have a gym up here. But just getting up and doing my laps in the house is so hard. But I feel so much better after I do it. I try to remind myself every time I start to put off working out how good it feels after. This is a great support group. It keeps me checked in.

ANDIE~I love doughnuts. Good for you not eating one! I freak out when I actually take the time to look at what all was in the junk I used to eat. One thing that always freaks me out is how much sodium is in stuff! And don't even get me started with the stuff in soda!

Valerie~Good luck on your weigh in! You have been doing so great!

Nancy~Yeah I try to tell myself to get some exercise in. Its been hard to make is a priority. Thats great you joining a gym. I was thiking about joining one when we get back to the lower 48. Thanks for the tire link. I hope you feel better soon!

Sandy~Sorry to hear you are sick! Get well soon!

Nightkatt~YUM BBQ sounds good! Enjoy! You can reach that goal of 285! I hope I can lose some more weight by the end of the month.

For anyone I missed...hope you are all doing good!


OK...and now to vent. I am feeling good because I got my exercise in two days in a row! That is big for me. I have been stuggling to get on any routine. But I am really bothered by something that happened last night and earlier today. We had already had dinner planned but I got this horrible craving for just bad food. And I got so upset. I started to resent everything. I Was like why do I have to do this. I don't care if I am 300 pounds. I literally wanted to cry because I couldn't have the junk I wanted. Its embarassing to say this...but I literally was almost in tears. I am realizing how emotional weight loss if for me. I got so frustrated! I had food. I wasn't starving. But I got so pissed off that I couldn't have the junk food. I felt like a 2 year old throwing a tantrum. I actually let it effect my mood. I got really rude to hubby and everything. I feel so stupid now. But then this morning I felt the same way. I never wanted to think I was addicted to food.. but I am. What scares me is those overwhelming feelings of wanting that bad food is the main cause in why I have stayed overweight. I am just not sure how to deal with these feelings. I am still OP and actually doing really well. I just don't want to fail again. I literally go from doing well and then those feelings come up and I just binge and just continue to eat horrible. Like I said I am not sure what to do when I feel this way. All I can do is fight the urge. And keep on keeping on. Have any of you felt this way? Do they ever go away? Hope this all made sense. Thanks for letting me vent!

And before I forget...

VALERIE~earlier today I saw you mentioned me in a reply in another thread. You said how I was trying to lose weight even though my tough circumstances up here in Alaska. I just wanted to say thank you! I was actually down today and looking for excuses not to work out. But when I read that I got up and worked out. Thanks again!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Michelle

Hey guys!
I almost had a great day today... went out to lunch with a friend, had salad and a club wrap. That was after a breakfast of fruit and cottage cheese. Then I went to the city with another friend, did some wonderful shopping then she was hungry. uhoh. needless to say a burger fries and diet coke wasn't the greatest choice. Then came a bite of chocolate and a handful of chips. More diet coke.

I get it in my head that its OK. Well its not OK. I convince my little pea brain that
"you deserve it"
or
"you've been good"
or
"you'll be better behaved tomorrow..."

Is it because we dislike ourselves? Will tomorrow ever really happen? Where has the motivation gone? If this was easy, we'd all have the perfect little body but why does it have to be this hard?

I'm typing this as I eat another mouthful of potato chips. I could just cry knowing what we do to ourselves, not even realizing sometimes that we are doing it. I write down everything in my food journal. I feel like crap each and every time that I have to write something unhealthy and awful in it. But it doesnt seem to make me NOT eat it. I am not hungry. I am not sad. I am not unhappy at all. I have a wonderful life, a wonderful husband.

Tomorrow will be a better day. I am starting to detox again. I need to get my head on straight and get back down to business. Enough is enough. I think I need to sleep this food hangover off and start fresh. I need to seriously create a program for myself that is going to work. Something that is going to accomodate ME. I am also thinking about joining TOPS next week. I think that it will help hold me accountable to be publically weighed each week. Maybe it will motivate me more. Anything will help.

I know if it wasn't for all you ladies, I probably would have given up a long time ago. Thanks

Brenda

Brenda~I just noticed we vented about the same thing. Food for me is so hard. I realize to its a habit for me just to drink a ton of coke or eat a lot of chips with out thinking. I used to just do so much mindless eating. But now I just feel like I am going through withdrawls not being able to have that bad food. Like you said though tommorow is a new day! ((hugs))

Hi Ladies - Did alot of walking around today...paid some bills, went shopping, etc. John and I splurged on Chinese Food for dinner tonight...I do feel guilty but I know I had to work these kinds of things into my lifestyle now...I mean I gave up my staples 100% - chocolate bars, chips, and McDonalds - so I think saying I can have Chinese once a month isn't gonna to ruin everything. Everything else is still on track with me....it's like a "not bad" splurge in relation to my past 'usual', but it's still bad for me so I feel guilty. But its soo yummy, lol! Sesame Chicken. Anyways, I might do my measurements on Tuesday - even if it's just waist and hips..my main nemesis', lol!! Well I'm off for a bit - welcome to those new to the 300+ thread!! Hope everyone is doing well...stay OP chickies!!

Melissa

"The longest journey is started by a single step, take it!"

Hello ladies

I just want to say I read everything you said about actually eating and yeah I've started to eat, I count calories and I eat healthy. I think this week I ate the healitest food ever lol. I've lost that unfortunate pound but nothing else. Am where I was on wendsday. But thats ok, as Im not hungry and am actually eating good food – and I mean good tastey I cant stay away from the scale, I think im addicted to it lol I just have to check it out every morning, but am not paying attention to it. At least I wont for the next two weeks. Thats the time I really need to start seeing some difference or I just know I'll give up. So please scale be gentle to me
Thanks everyone for letting me know all this cos its one thing reading about it or listening to your doctor or whatever, but hearing from people who actually went through this or are going through this and knowing it does work…thats really more maningfull. Its worth trying!!!

Anyway as for me I felt really poor last two days, I think PMS strats kicking in with a great strenght Felt really down, alone, all I wanted was to crawl in my bed and feel sorry for my self. And I hate that!!!! And my back is killing me as always before TOM. I wish I was a man, I would love shaving my self every day

Its weekend and I'll have more time to check in and go through your posts…until then i hope you are all well and better (those that felt poorly )

Be good, ladies

Hi everyone .. just finishing up for the night .. the BBQ dinner was LOVELY! I really went to town on the veges lol .. had lots of lettuce, red onion, zucchini, beetroot, gherkin and carrot ... also had a large breast piece of chicken (ooops) .. but it was boneless and skinless and it was BBQd with a squirt on both sides with olive oil (1.7 cal a squirt lol) ... I was really nicely full .. and when I saw the amount everyone else was eating I was really proud of myself .. and I only had a small bite of a piece of steak (no fat) and a small piece of one of the kebabs ... I put everything I had today on my Fitday and woo hoo .. I have made it over 1600 cal today!! (Thats if I have my mints that I have put on my list .. lol .. I havent gotten round to having one today .. they are my fave sweet fix at the mo).

Tomorrows meals are already organised too .. we have my fave chicken bacon!! Its about 1/4 of the cal of real bacon .. and yet it taste the same .. ooooh yum! Got the rest of the salads left too so will have a yummy lunch ... and will have a package meal for dinner ... weetbix for breakfast again lol .. and I have some lovely bananas now so thats gonna be my snack to nibble on

I have done my exercise (early tonight) and I did it in front of my sis (I get very self-conscious doing any exercise in front of anyone .. feel like a beached whale doin the crunches lol) ... but I managed to do it all ... and I even talked to her through it!! Feeling nicely relaxed and semi-energised now .. so will go and have a lovely warm shower and get all freshened up again soon

NSV points today:
- did exercise in front of someone and didnt feel too bad and even talked through it!
- didnt wear baggy clothes for the first time in YEARS today when I went up town and I didnt feel like everyone was looking at me
- I almost made it to my calorie intake today .. but at least I got over the 1500 (which I havent managed to pass all week lol).
- I have finally gotten into a routine where I consume at LEAST 2.25 litres of water a day!! (never thought I would get to that point .. seems soooo darn much!).

I was reading the sodium issue on the last post .. and now I have to worry lol .. today I ate soooo healthy!! I had a 6" subway true .. that was 700mg on its own ... but other than that I only had the above (yes I missed breakfast this morning .. for the sake of a lovely sleep in lol).... and yet I have gone over 3000mg!!! I have looked on my past days for FitDay and no matter what I am eating I have never gone under 2600mg!!! Thinking about it .. Im not toooo concerned .. my BP is low, Im not retaining water (go to the bathroom more than I used to) .. so I have to wonder ... okee ... Ive talked to myself .. and on here .. I have decided that is one thing Im not really gonna think about lol .. I figure I have enough to think about ... when I get down more if its an issue THEN I will worry .. but when I am not using any packaged foods in a day .. and I never add salt to anything .. I have to wonder what do I have to miss to cut back on the sodium???!!! Sooo ... okee .. me ramblin lol ..

Anyway .. have a great OP day everyone ... eat (good foods), drink (lots of water) and be merry ... for tomorrow is another day .. another lesson ... and another step on our lifelong journey....... TOGETHER!

Huggies

good morning everyone. been away for awhile but i am back and glad to report a 3 pound loss!

Lilion – I haven’t posted the recipe. It’s Meg’s (our famous moderator) fiber one recipe, which she posts frequently. I made a couple of changes is all. I should write them down so that I know what I did, but just fudge it each time. I probably won’t get to it right away…

Valerie – Another light bulb moment about the challenge in exercise and depression. I know what you mean about things you couldn’t do that now you can. I’ve had similar things happen already in yoga. I can’t do everything there and I could improve every move I do, but rather than see it as a negative, I have turned it into a challenge, which helps SO much! And with weightlifting too, I want to have myself doing things I can only dream of now! So everytime the trainer brings me to the squat machine, I get excited. Not because I like it but because of how helpful it is for me. So much of weight loss is mental!! Turning an “I can’t” into a challenge is a big part of it!

DramaMama – WELCOME!!!! I have your gym problem too! I have a really hard time getting myself to exercise. It has improved in the past year (I cannot argue with the results), but many days I still think the hardest part is putting on my shoes. I put them on because I know I have to do it, not because I want to. Like you, DURING the workout I sometimes enjoy. Afterwards I often enjoy it, but before?? No. But you just have to keep going, right? It’s like, we don’t always want to PAY the bills, but we do it anyway… As Valerie reminds me I said: Commit to the process.

If you like, please join our exercise thread (stickied at the top of the 300+ page. We set goals in terms of minutes/month and then post our exercise. AND, we keep group totals. We are trying to get in 200,000 minutes of exercise this year!!! And I think we will. You can join us anytime!

Michelle – I’ve had those “who cares” moments too. Luckily, I stuck to my guns and they passed (part of my commitment to this). I hope yours does too!

Lavandel – Way to go on the food! Sounds like you feel good about what you’re eating. Commit to the process – be healthy – and then give it time.

You know, I was thinking about another analogy to think about it. We plant seeds right? And they grow, right? (unless you have a black thumb). But do they grow at the pace WE want? No. They grow at THEIR pace. We can affect the pace to some extent with water and nutrients, but we can’t make them grow faster than they should.

I sometimes think when we do this weight loss process, it’s like we’ve planted a tree, but expect it to grow as quickly as a flower. And that just can’t happen! Would we get pissed off if a tree wasn’t grown enough to give shade after a season? No. But we get pissed off at ourselves when we “only” lose a few pounds a month, or haven’t gotten down to our goal weights by a certain time.


I have been so busy at work that I haven’t been here in days! I’m eating a little more than I would like, but I’m not out of control, I know it’s a tough time in the term, and I know that my slight uptick in calories is not going to cause me to gain back the 100 pounds! But I do have to keep reminding myself. I am still exercising regularly, thank goodness!

Good Morning Chicks!
A beautiful albeit cold morning here. We had our first frost on the ground this morning. Nothing more then frozen dew but it means its getting cold.
My morning started out well with weigh in. I lost 4 lbs this week! I'm excited. I worked hard this week and it paid off. Thank you FFM, thank you.
Tomorrow is my day off of work. I am thinking about taking a day of rest from exercise. I haven't taken a full day off in 2 1/2 weeks. I think my legs (shins & ankles) could use a break. Dunno, gonna think about it some more.

Valerie: I enjoyed your exercise response to Dramamama. You hit the nail on the head.
Good luck on your weigh in & measure. You'll do great!
about your evil popcorn ball encounter. Glad you got full without much damage being done. I am like that too. If I have a little something sweet then I want more. Best to stay away from it altogether.

Nancy: I am in the Lawerenceville, Duluth area - well more outward, I live in Monroe, in Walton County but I frequent Lawerencville.
How can you of missed Stone Mountain? Its our one claim to fame. lol I grew up going there, now its not that big of a deal. I did enjoy taking DD there for the first time this past summer. And in the spring I'd like to take her to go climb to the top. She wasn't steady enough on her feet this year.

That sounds like a good deal on a gym membership. I'd like to join a gym but I wouldn't have anywhere to leave DD. I am paranoid about leaving her in daycare with strangers.

Sandy:

Katt: Glad you are having a good day!
Sounds like the BBQ was a success. I love grilled food. We grilled out last night also.
to your daughter on her weight loss. It so great that she is doing it while she is young. You are being a great role model.
I agree with you on the sodium. There is so much to worry about when eating. Its hard to avoid sodium. I do try to buy low sodium stuff & I don't use table salt. But for right now I am not going to be a "sodium hawk", later on in my "quest for fitness" I will probably have to start focusing on it.
Good for you on exercising in front of your sister. I hate to exercise in front of people. I make DH go upstairs or out of the house. I don't like him seeing my fat jiggle. I won't even jog while on my walks if there is a car coming or people outside.

Michelle: Way to go on another day of exercise!
Sorry you are feeling so crappy about food. I totally understand. I too don't want to feel like I am deprived of the good stuff in life. I am not sure what to suggest. Maybe if you plan one "free" meal (*meal, not day*) a week where you can eat what you want (in moderation, not a 16 piece bucket of chicken & a large pizza in one sitting ). Maybe that way you won't feel deprived. You can't go the rest of your life feeling miserable whenever you see food. If you want pizza, have it. Just don't have a large pizza everyday. Hang in there chicky!

Brenda: on the bad eating day. You didn't do all that badly. Just pick up and start again. You came here & posted & admitted what happened. That means you haven't given up & your determination is still there. This is for a lifetime, you can have a hamburger once in awhile.

Melissa: I agree. We can't live life without ever eating Chinese. Moderation!

Lavendel: Sounds like you are on the right track. Just keep at it, I'm sure you will be happier & you will get better results soon!

Too Fat: welcome back!
Congrats on your loss!

Have a great day ladies!

Andie you are smokin, on the weight loss way to go!

Wyllenn: I love the seed planting analogy. Good way to think about it.

Toofat: Thanks! I am super excited. You're doing well too!

Hey everyone~

I am feeling so much better today! I am just realizing how emotional my weight gain had been. Its like part of me wants to get rid of this fat. And the other part is not wanting to let go. I also realize I can't go on "feelings". I don't feel like exercising. I don't feel like eating right today. I just have to do it! I can't put it off another day. That is what has kept me overweight for so long. Or the just one more day of bad eating excuse. I don't want the bad food really. But the "feeling" part wants the bad food. I don't need that bad food to survive. Plus we had a great dinner last night. I had a little bit of rice and stir fry veggies and beef. It was really good!

LAVANDEL~Sounds like you have figured out the food part! Thats great! I hope you are feeling better!

KATT~Sounds like you are having some good food! Makes me hungry!
Congrats on your NSVs! The sodium is hard to watch. I really had no idea how much sodium I was consuming. And I love salty things. I was freaked out when I saw how much sodium was in 8 pretzels!! And I could usually eat way more than 8!

PATTI~Glad you are back! And WTG on losing 3 pounds!!

WYLLEN~First I have to say that a while back when you said a commitment to a process is the key. That really hit me. Because I always went on the "feelings" or the will power/motivation. I realize I have to make the decision to not give into the craving and just go work out! I liked the plant the seed analogy. Makes a lot of sense!

ANDIE~Congrats on the 4 pounds lost! You are really doing great! You know taking day off from working out proably wouldn't be so bad. Maybe just go do another activity. Like walking outside or just something else physical.

AMY and others who haven't posted in awhile.. I hope you are doing alright!

Well I better go! I hope you all have a great Saturday! I will check in later!

Michelle

Good Morning ladies,

Been lurking around but not too much to say. I finally made it to ww and was thrilled to see a 1.2 pound loss. Thrilled because I haven't been able to exercise at all because of my back. I finally got a date for the surgery. I have company coming and I can hopefully keep that date.

Congrats to all the loosers, Hugs to all the non loosers, and Get well to all the sickies.

Blessings,

Annie