Wow, I'd like to receive training in the Bahamas! I wonder what I can train for? :)

OMG ! :eek:
I just pulled my shirt up and saw my stomach in the bathroom mirror. After the first wave of "gasps", I smiled, turned sideways and put my hands on my belly like I did when I was preg! Totally look BIGGER!!!! WAY BIGGER!
My stomach is gross. How could I have gained SO much weight with the 2 kids? :?: And not lost any, just gaining more and more? I asked my DH for a tape measure but we don't have the cloth kind, just the one from the toolbox. I can not believe I walk around with this gut. It's the grossest thing.
A neighbor just called and invited us over for the holiday, I thought well maybe, so I went upstairs to freshen up and was so repulsed I'm staying home.
I want to lay low the rest of the summer and MAYBE just MAYBE by the fall people will say "have you lost some weight"? Can I drop 20 pounds by Sept 1? Will I?:barf:
As for the 4:30 thing I'm going to try it again tomorrow.
Question to everyone though - I've seen commercials for that One A Day vitamin but it also helps with curbing your appetite? Has anyone seen that? I think Fiber One, or some fiber pill also has commercials for the same thing.
Okay , my pity party is over. Sorry I'm asking for a magic pill.
This gut is just repulsive.:barf:

2B, my understanding is that fiber is pretty filling, especially since not all of it is absorbed/metabolized by the body (one type is, one type isn't, I think); it makes sense that a fiber supplement may be able to claim such a thing, though I figure it will be pretty mild.

The One A Day vitamins my BF got for me to try are One A Day Weight Smart, and they have caffeine, guarana seed, green tea, and cayenne pepper in them, on top of the normal vitamins and minerals. I think caffeine and guarana are there just to increase energy (and heart rate, supposedly raising your metabolism a tad in the process but I believe too long at that and it wears the heart out), and the tea and cayenne pepper have antioxidants as well as a little metabolism boosting power of their own.

It should be a very minimal benefit at best, and these pills kept me up at night just about every day I took one (I took them mid-morning when I had a meal - otherwise they did not stay down). So, if those are the pills you saw advertised, I don't recommend them unless you find yourself lacking a lot of energy during the day, and then be aware it's basically the same as taking some NoDoz (caffeine pills) or drinking coffee - you may get the jitters, etc.!

As for my 4th, on the 2 hour drive there and back the BF and I got fast food, but I was careful to limit my portions. At the party I just had a grilled kebob, some veggie snacks, and a tiny slice of low-fat pie, so (shockingly) I ended up short on calories for the day! Guess I'll have a cup of milk before bed. :) It feels good to eat with a purpose instead of "grazing," knowing that this isn't just some diet, but how I will be eating for the rest of my life. I can do this!

How did everyone else do?

Ethereal - good for you on doing so well on the 4th.
Thanks for the tip on the One A Day. I guess I'll skip that. Although my energy every day is LOOOOOOOOOOOOOW. I could take a nap anytime, anywhere. I am also hypo-thyroid which contributes. I am hoping as the weight creeps off the energy will return.
I'm so excited about this group.

If caffeine doesn't make you too jittery, and you can take them EARLY in the day with a meal, you could try them. I don't have any problems staying awake during the day, and often have a hard time falling asleep at night, so it was pretty much a "Bad Idea(tm)" for me to try them haha, but we're all different and I don't think One A Day would market a bad product.

May I ask about how many calories you're consuming per day? If your energy is super low despite healthy eating and exercise, it might be as simple as not getting enough fuel from your food. All the pros on these forums always say to listen to your body, but I know it's not always that easy to hear what it's saying. ;) It could be something else entirely!

Hi all
Where is everyone today? I am feeling like complete CRAP!!!! My lovely friend decided to visit me today, and I am cramping and tired and moody! WHY OH WHY!!!!! I have not done much of anything today because I feel lousy. I did weigh in and at 201-1 pound gain. However, I think it is TOM!!!!! What do yall call the wonderful time of the month when you have every pickin symptom under the sun? Just good to be on the same page when speaking about it. Ok-gotta get ready to take my son to his first soccer practice for the fall season. He is on the TRANSFORMER team-how cool is that. Be back later.
Heather

Ethereal - I am trying for 1200, sometimes 1500. I read someone else who posted they were doing that, alternating calorie intake every other day so that their body doesn't accept the 1200 and start to conserve. I know I need to increase some things...or modify. I'm horrible in the veggie dept. I am such a caraholic it's not even funny. Right now I have 3/4 cup of cereal with skim milk for breakfast and for lunch it is ham on whole wheat and 8 walnuts as my snack, for dinner it is a Lean Cuisine Hot Pocket with a small green salad,no dressing. Sometimes I sneak one bite of pineapple from my sons plate, or something like that. I have been replacing my rootbeer with sugar free koolaid. Not drinking enough water. Some place I need to add something. Just don't know what. I bought a bottle of B12 vitamins at the GNC store a few months ago but have not taken any.
Heather -- girl I wish my friend would visit!!! I hit menapause already! And I'm about to leave to take my 3yr old to T-ball. Well, okay so I don't miss cramps, but I hate saying that "I'm post menapause", I didn't think that would happen for another 20 years!!!

Hi guys, I'm feeling a little blue. Just went through my whole closet & boxes of old clothes I haven't worn in years... I was hoping to find things that I fit (again) but I really didn't come up with anything much. I seem to be between sizes - too big for my 18/20 stuff but not quite small enough for my 15/16 stuff. I guess a few more weeks will help but I must say I was really disappointed as I tried things on and I feel like it's a million miles away for me to fit them :(

I have to go to a banquet this weekend at my hubby's golf club and I have NO IDEA what I am going to wear. I really think I will have to buy something -which I also hate doing because I won't fit it for long and it's such a waste of money.

I looked at some of my old size 7 clothes... OMG, I remember wearing these things but I can't believe I really was that trim & slim. There is a dress that I don't think my leg would fit in now LOL and I remember wearing it out for dinner and being so comfortable and feeling pretty. I want to wear that dress again so badly.

ThinGirl - I hear ya!!!! I try old stuff on as well, and most of my stuff from 5 yrs ago (before kids) is probably all out of style now. I would just love love love to fit into any of them though. I'm 5'6 and around 222 I guess...wearing an 18...or 1X. I have a lot in the 16s that I hope will fit in another month, the 16s were my first official "fat pants" what I had to wear after my kids were born before that I had mostly 8s.
I have a big event to go to as well and I am going to buy some SPANX. I hear that they work great and look great under clothes. Have you tired them? Know what you mean about wasting money on something you hope you won't wear long, least there are tons of sales now after the 4th and you could always EBAY the outfit? Just a thought.
:)

I'm back!

I did OK over the holiday...got in some activity, but "indulged" in a few things, too. Still, better than it would've been a month ago, so I'm not complaining.

RE: Spanx...I have some...they do pull in everything and make it look a lot smoother under clothes, but I found them to be VERY uncomfortable and itchy if you sweat at all (I wore them out dancing). I didn't pay full price though (EBAY!), and I do wear them if I'm going somewhere that I know I won't be moving around too much (or when it's not too hot outside).

--K

Hi Girls! (Thanks for the encouragement Queen Jane =)

Going into the 4th I was showing a 1.5 lb loss, but was back up after and I haven't quite been back on course since. Hoping I can hit the gym tonite and do better over the weekend. This week has just flown by!!

Thanks for the tip on spanx (hey! that rhymed? lol)

I will have a look tomorrow when I'm out finding something to wear.

thin girl - WOO HOO on the 17 pound weight loss!!!:carrot:

I know :carrot: thanks so much, I'm so encouraged that it's really possible to be slim again.

Just wanted to drop in to say that I actually felt like I had a good day. I did well on food and I exercised. I am really bummed and a bit stressed because my hubby leaves tomorrow for 10 days. It is going to be a challenge handling everything by myself with the boys. My DH is a great help. so I am going to miss him so much! Well, off to bed. I have to take him to work at 6am. Good Night.
Heather