Cutting Back/One Day At A Time/Anywhere I Am ... Thread
 

Hi all,

I am in desperation mode. Lost almost 50 lbs. a couple of years ago, have gained most of it back now, and can't get in the mood for a full-out diet program. SO ....

For the last two days, I've been cutting back (1800 calories yesterday/1500 today, instead of my usual 3000+), and I did an hour of water aerobics yesterday. I'm going to try to do better one day at a time, not make myself any big promises but just do the best I can today. Then tomorrow I'll tackle tomorrow, and see if I make some progress. I probably weigh about 224 now, and if I'm 223 this time next week, I'll consider that success.

Everyday, whether I'm here or traveling, as I often do, I'm going to try this philosophy, and report in here, even if it's just to myself. If anyone wants to hop on board, I'd love your company.

BTW, I'm a 60-ish Granny from the Southeast U.S., love travel, cooking & cookbooks, reading, and sports. I'm also a bit of a TV addict to my favorite shows. :o

Here's to everybody who's "walking this walk" :) ...

:sunny: Good morning, World! :sunny:

Two successful days under my belt, and going for the third. One thing that keeps me on the straight and narrow is to have the healthy food in the house, and plan my meals a couple of days ahead. Yesterday, it was Veggie Pitas for dinner, and today we'll do grilled salmon outside. I have all the stuff for a big salad to go with it, and water aerobics are on my afternoon exercise menu.

Any friends from "old threads" peaking in? Please pop in and say "hi", even if you don't plan to stay! :) Anyone who would like to stay, you're welcome. Monday will be weigh-in day, I think ...

Reporting in again ... 3 out of 4 days have gone very well. I took a day off for a BBQ yesterday, and a couple of glasses of wine too many but that's real life, isn't it? Today, I was back to 1600 calories and did a 35-min. walk. :flow2: Hoping to see some of my old buddies drop in soon ... :) Any company would be welcome!

Hi there!

Sounds like your getting back on track. I started out slowly this last time too. I started with drinking water and slowly changing those habits. I'm down 5.2 :D I try and eat lowfat /healthy during the week and then one day on the weekend have a cheat day. I usually eat something I have been craving during the week. Sometimes there is a little gain but so far once I get back on plan it comes back off.

Losing, it is GREAT to see you! Hope you'll drop in now and then, and keep me company. :hug: I've had a good day, about 1600 cals., a session of water aerobics and am planning a walk tomorrow. I won't weigh until about Thursday when I've been on plan for a week.

Sounds like your new plan is going well, Losing. So glad that you're down 5+ lbs. and will be happy when I can say that. :balloons: for you! Where do you live in Florida? I was just at some of your beaches for a couple of weeks, then in horse country (near Ocala) for a few days. I guess you've been lucky in regard to hurricanes so far this year. Maybe it will be another eventless year like last year was! I hope so for both of us ... They like to come to North Carolina, too! :o

Have a good night!

Olivia

Good job Olivia:) :cheer:
I'm not keeping track of calories just yet. I know the more I lose the less I can eat so I will have to get out that pin and paper once I stop losing. Only big change really is I don't eat snacks like chips, little debbie snack cakes, Ice cream ....you know all the good stuff :lol: I moved to diet soda and come to think of it ...don't have 3/4 of the sugar I had in my diet before.
Your back from traveling right? I bet when traveling it's hard to stay on track with all the eating out you have to do.
I live a pretty long ways from Ocala. We drove up there 2 years ago to pick my dog up from a breeder. WOW! it was a longer drive than I though it would be... Almost 5 hrs but we had kids so we could have made better time without them. I live about 45min/an hour southeast of Orlando. I'm close to the coast as well :eek: I'm very thankful that the hurricane season has been nice to us. October is the most active month so hopefully the last few weeks of hurricane season will go by quietly. ***FINGERS CROSSED**We did get tons of rain yesterday night though. The water was half way up my lawn :yikes: A few neighbors had most of theirs yards underwater. It did remind me of hurricane rains.
I'm down another pound and a half. YAY!!!! :cheer:

babe, hi there. Thanks for the thread. I need something too. I've just been falling further and further into an inert funk and though I at times have moments and even days of motivation and movement, I am soon back to where I was. I'm thinking that I need something like this, just to say I'm cutting back on what I know was eating and drinking. :eek: I'll try to keep you company a bit. I'm writing everything down I put in my mouth. Did it yesterday...well, most of it and plan to continue. If I can't do that it means I'm eating too much, closing my eyes to it all and going hog wild...then I wonder where the fat came from. Sigh. Good luck! And Losing, too! :wave:

Happy Saturday Red Balloon and Losing ... so happy to have you both with me. Weight-wise, I'm about the same. I saw a trainer on Wednesday, who set up a program for me again on the weight machines, which I will start next week. Also, this morning I did a good, long, "sweaty" walk. I am sputtering a little some days, but eventually I will really get going, and I know you guys will do great too.

I'm in a little bit of a hurry right now, but just wanted to welcome you, RedBalloon, and say hey to you today, Losing. You girls have a great weekend. :)

Cheers,
Olivia

Thanks, babenwaiting, for the wonderful welcome! :love: Since I'm in Tokyo, I'm well into Sunday already but never mind, I'm used to be totally out of kilter with the States and threads there. Er, maybe I'm just used to being totally out of kilter....cough, cough. ;) Sounds good on your walk, babe. Good for you! I've been riding today and have been writing down everything that goes into my mouth. It actually helps me think about things and though I'm allowing myself anything at all as long as I write it down, I do check myself. It's embarrassing to write everything down but that's the rule I've made for myself. I know as soon as I start gorging that I stop writing and I'm going to not let that happen this time! :yes: Ok, talk later. I've got some hours left on Sunday here. Dangerous hours are coming up. I am going to try to learn to sit with myself and NOT eat.

Just passing by
 

Good morning, babenwaiting, Just passing by, but stopped to wish you well. Sounds like you have a sane plan in one day at a time. So, I wish you well for today :) Walking is my aerobics exercise. I can get the heart rate up and see a goodly chunk of one neighborhood or another.

Good evening (in Tokyo), redballoon, It's nice to see an ex-pat using kilograms :) When (if) you return, perhaps you can work to convert us all to metric. The USA is moving SO slowing in that direction.

Waving at Losing4another. May all your hurricanes be gentle ones.

Bill, heh there. :wave: Yeah, 25 years here, five more out of the States, I should be using metric. I can use 'em both, though I can't tell you temperature without a conversion chart! I forget that most Americans are not used to metric at all. It is odd trying to explain the English system here though (not that I do). Seems so bizarre. Anyhow, look at you! Congratulations on your weight loss! :cp: Wish you'd stick around and show us how to do it one day at a time. I tend to revert back to old ways after about three days.... :^:

Hey there BillBlueEyes, Losing and Red Balloon,

Thank you, BBE, for your good wishes. Please stop by and say hi anytime! :) You did great losing your weight in six months ... I wish you much continued success maintaining!

RedBalloon & Losing, I've finally had a good day (1400 calories). I really, really must get back to writing everything down as I think doing that does make me think twice before I gobble a giant bowl of something! My weight was actually 226 (:() this morning, but I think that was the salty stuff I ate all weekend, and am hoping a lot water. I have my fingers crossed for 224 tomorrow.

RedBalloon, yes, we do have to learn to just sit quietly "with ourselves" and not eat! You are so right. Good for you for getting your riding in. I have relatives who will visit Japan during Christmas. I assume you love it there since you've been there so long. Are you there for the long run or do you have plans to move back to the U.S. at some point???

Losing, I hope all is going well, and that the scale is continuing to sneak on down for you. I wish we could get some of your rain here in North Carolina!!! And yes, it is misery to try to diet when you're traveling, and I'm ready to drive/travel again for about 10 days, to see foliage and family in New England. I'm going to try much harder this trip to keep everything under control! I leave the end of the week, and will report from the road!

Any newbies who peek in here, please feel free to post with us. We would love to have the company! :flow2:

Cheers,
Olivia

Hello from New England
 

Have a nice trip, babenwaiting :) You'll be traveling through New England right in the middle of baseball's American League playoffs and (hopefully) the World Series. Don't count on getting tickets :D

hmmmmm ... so my avatar isn't so clear - will have to rethink how to present that. My weight loss took place over 18 months; I've maintained my current weight for 6 months. It's been two years on the healthy lifestyle journey so far.

Waving to losing :wave: Congratulats on ditching "snacks like chips, little debbie snack cakes, Ice cream". My biggest overeating was unbounded snacks. It works for me to have 3 scheduled snacks of about 100 calories. That both solves the legitimate hunger issue as well as gives me a mental way to pass on food of opportunity that appears; I know a snack is coming soon.

I share your concern, redballoon, that I might "revert back to old ways". Am constantly aware of how many people I know who have regained what they lost. 3fc has a bunch of people who have maintained for several years. They're my idols.

BBE, maybe others are not misunderstanding your avatar ... maybe just "moi!" :D Anyway, just wanted to say that I'm happy to hear you lost your weight over 18 months, as that's probably the perfect loss rate, with your body having time to adjust. I'd lost 45 lbs. in a year, and if I'd kept going for another six months ... man, I could kick myself. So now, I have to lose 36 of those AGAIN, and start from there!!! :mad: Oh, well, all that water is under the bridge ... BBE, I'm very much cheering for your Red Sox, though I won't be able to go to a game. I was so happy to see the Yankees lose last night ... that's one good thing. THEY won't be winning the World Series this year, right? :) But I'll be watching the games on TV, if I can.

Well, gang, I had dropped a pound of my "weekend salt weight" by this morning, and maybe tomorrow I'll manage to be down a bit more. It's too hot to walk here today, but I've got so much to do to get ready to travel that at least I won't be just a couch potato.

Have a good day, all!

Cheers,
Olivia

babe, excellent work on the 1400 calories! Wow, I need days like that. I have been writing things down, but the weight is up...I know I shouldn't think about weight a day at a time and I'm not really, but it's a bit scary because I'm not counting calories, just writing things down. Anyhow, that's the initial plan. I've noticed that when I write everything down it seems like more food has gone into me, but when I later look it over, it doesn't seem like as much. Good thing, I guess.

Olivia and gang -

Olivia, it is good to see you doing well. I am slowly still losing. You have been a great motivater to me so I just wanted to look you up to say - Thank You. I had a very frustrating plateau in September and I eased off things (like counting every calorie) a little this month and actually started losing again. I average about a pound loss a week. I just don't want to ease off anything too much. It is good to see Bill in maintenance. As much as I've been working out I don't know how realistic it would be to think I could keep this pace up for years. It seams silly to already worry about maintenance because I still have a good deal to lose - but I do. Losing, I am glad to see you are doing well, too. I think losing about a pound a week and making small changes is the way to go!! Red balloon - it is nice to meet you and keep up the good work!!

Hey everybody ... :sunny:

So glad to see you here again, Mae. I'm so proud of you that you're still actually losing. Whatever you are doing is working, so don't stop! I traveled again for 10 days last month, and have been sick for another week, so I'm afraid my weight is still about the same. I haven't posted on the thread for a bit, because I haven't done anything to cheer about! :dizzy: When I travel, it's sort of a victory not to gain ....

A shout-out to redballoon, losing, Bill and anyone peeking in ... hope you're all doing really well, and that you'll drop in now and then.

Everyone, have a great week!

Cheers,
Olivia

Hi ladies!

I wanted to give a quick hello...I need to get to bed . Tomorrow comes to early. I'm still pluggin along.

Mae- WOW 34 pounds...That great! Glad you came over to say hello

Olivia- Sorry you've been sick.
I hurt my foot so I've too been on my butt for far longer than I'd like .

I will try and stop by soon NIGHT!

Hi Losing :hug: ... happy to see you here, girl. Just as I thought our thread was about to dissolve, I come on to find you and Mae this weekend! Lucky me ... :) I am sorry to hear about your foot, Losing. When your foot is bothering you, it SO affects everything you do, so I feel for you. I remember when I kicked something a few years ago, and broke one of my middle toes. Such nagging, annoying pain that you could do nothing about!

I'm exactly 224# still today, but not unhappy because it could have been way worse with my traveling recently. I need to get the "one day at a time" thing going in my head again, and just see how much healthier I can be TODAY! That is going to include a walk, I've decided, so here I go, everyone ...

Have a great day ...
Cheers,
Olivia

Well, howdy and hot dog! I found you!
 

I missed you ladies! Hey losing! Hi Olivia and Mae! So, my life has been one huge road trip to insanity for the last several months which is why I have been MIA. And boy does my shape show it. Ugh! I'm sad to say that I am back up to 168 :( But, I am ready to get back on the ball now. My mom was in hospital, I started school with my kids (homeschool), went to Colorado, my dh went to Toronto for a week, and all the kids activities have started up. Lots of stress, relationship issues etc have all combined to get me off track in a big way. I was looking for you all last night lol, and couldn't find the thread, but I found you this morning. I finally feel ready to get back in the saddle. I really need to get my sugar cravings under control again, I was doing so well, and it feels like starting over...not in a good way either:mad: Oh well, today is another day. Hoping to be able to buy a nice holiday dress lol! So, today is the start of my 'new new beginning' lol! Give me an update and let me know how you all are!
Hugs
tracyg

Tracy!!!! Yay ... You're Back!!!
 

Wow, girl, am I glad to see you! :hug: I received your PM as well, but since you've found me, I'll just respond here. I've had a tough time trying to lose anything the last few months as I've traveled so much, which is great, but all the food eaten out is the downside!

So your kids are back in school now, and you've decided to work hard until the holidays? Sounds a bit like me ... Your dance class sounds fun AND I think it encourages you to look good when you do something like that. Good luck! I'm not a "natural" dancer, and always wished I was.

Are you trying any particular diet, or are you calorie-counting, as we usually do? I wish you the best with it!

Hello to everyone else peeking in ... DeterminedLisa, are you still out there? If anyone wishes, please join in ... the more the merrier.

Happy Halloween, Tracy (big welcome back!), Losing, Mae, and to everyone on 3FC!

Olivia

Tracy-Good to see you! So - sorry to hear about your mom. I hope everything is ok. It sounds like you've had a lot on your plate (and I don't mean dinner plate). {I know bad pun}.

Losing - how's that foot doing? I hope your feeling better too!

Hey there, where is everyone?
 

I'm still hanging in there. I keep eating and eating and saying tomorrow I'm going to do better.....grrrrrrrr! Dh and I did start a dance class. Last night was our first night. It is only an hour long, we learned the two step and by the time we were done, I knew I was gonna be sore lol! My thighs and calves and feet are killing me. Arms too from holding them up so long..dh is way taller than me lol!
I'm going to try to get some walking back into my week too. I think once I get back in the exercise habit it is easier to get my eating under control. It's because I am lazy lol! I figure if I'm going to do all that exercise, I am not going to waste it and ruin it by my bad eating lol! So, that is my plan for the week. Updates please!
Hugs
tracyg

Hi Tracy, Mae, Losing and anyone who would like to join in ... :) Happy to hear that your dance class has started, Tracy. Sounds like a lot of fun AND a good workout! I am SO LAZY ... have not been exercising, and my eating has been the same. My weight hovers around 224 to 226 lbs. I need a giant foot to kick me you-know-where to jumpstart me, I think. It's two+ weeks until Thanksgiving, the holidays are well on their way, and my lethargy hangs on! :mad: I am going to try to get myself out to walk today as the weather is perfect, in the 50s and beautiful.

:grouphug: to you all ... Hope everyone is hanging in there, and that we'll hear from you soon!

Cheers!
Olivia

Hey guys and gals:)

Tracy - I bet you and your hubby had a great time dancing. I bet it is a challenge.

I am still trying to hang in - but my diet and motivation has gone down hill this past week:stars:. I started eating all the goodies:chockiss: my officemates continue to bring in (it will only get harder as the Holidays progress). I have gained a pound or two back, but I am determined to shed them - at least before Thanksgiving. I live on the edge of the time zone and it is dark at 5:00 when I leave work. Now that it is dark and cold I really don't feel like doing my work outs. But I keep telling my self I must do my minimum of 30 min. of something everyday and even though it is a struggle I battle through. I think this helps me to stay in the habit.

Olivia - if you don't mind the colder weather you should get out in the sun for at least a quick walk. I think you'll feel better:)

Take Care All - Mae

Good evening ladies! Hope you've all had a good day. :sunny: Foodwise, I've done better the last two days, cut my food by about a third. I still haven't gotten out for a walk but I am not stuffed at night when I go to bed, as I'd been recently, so I've had some success. You're so right, Mae. I know I'd feel better if I started walking ... I really must! (And I LOVE the cooler weather.)

Mae, I'm sure you will lose those couple of lbs.! Halloween candy is such a killer, isn't it? My DH and I ate way too much of it the last week because we had very few trick or treaters this year.

Have a good Thursday, all!

Mae, Tracy and Losing, come out, come out, wherever you are! :D I'm on my 4th day of cutting back on food ... I'm eating about 2/3 of what I was so I've alleviated a lot of the heartburn and "stuffed" feeling. I will gradually lose if I keep this up.

Now to the exercise! Today will go up to only 57 degrees, it's sunny and beautiful, so surely I can walk a mile or two!!! :dizzy:

Losing, hope your foot is better! Mae & Tracy, hope you're both feeling more in charge of your "food programs." You can do it ... you know you can! :grouphug:

Happy weekend,
Olivia

OKAY!!! Where is it?
 

:D:D:D

I'm talking about my GOLD STAR???

I actually took that walk this afternoon! Just half an hour right before dark, but I DID IT! :p

Now for tomorrow ...

Okay, now I need another one!
 

A GOLD STAR, THAT IS!!!

Greetings to all on this special day when we remember and thank the Veterans who have given us the life we have today. Thank you to all who have/and are serving in our military forces!

Okay, I've actually walked two out of the last three days even though I have a sprained calf, some such problem, from tripping on steps. The food is not as good as it could be but not nearly bad like it was.

Where are my buddies? Drop in and say hi, ladies!!! :)

Cheers,
Olivia

Gold Star For You!
 

:cheer::cheer: Yeah Olivia :cheer::cheer: Way to go :cheer: :cheer:

I hope you are taking it easy on your foot. I did not realize you were hurt. It has been such pretty days here recently I bet you enjoyed it.

hi ladies :)

How is everyone doing?
Can you believe Thanksgiving is Thursday?
Here I am trying to recommit myself after all those sweets in the house after Halloween (and my daughter's b-day Nov 2)and here we are so close to Thanksgiving. I love the holidays but hate the goodies ...okay love the goodies but it's more a love hate relationship :lol:

My foot is better now thanks for asking ladies.

Our weather is finally cooling down and it's a great time to exercise.

I'm so glad Tracy found us . I hope Lisa finds her way over here as well.

Who is cooking for the big turkey day? I am doing the cooking for my family...need to get to the store to finish up the shopping.
Keep on postin everyone :D

:sunny: Happy Thanksgiving, Losing, Tracy, Mae & Lisa (please come back!) So good to hear from you again, Losing, and glad your foot is better. Now I'M having some foot/ankles problems ... hurting and cramping when I stand up or get out of bed; think I have that Plantar's Fascitis (sp?) thing. I've had it before, and it goes away, but can be so uncomfortable!

Losing, I am cooking Thursday, and will have family visiting. The traditional Thanksgiving feast, plus other goodies so I've been busy as a bee this week.

I hope all you ladies will have a lovely holiday weekend. My weight is about the same ... sigh! It will probably be January before I can GET REAL about dieting again. Please drop in and say hi when you can!

Cheers and good wishes!
Olivia

Olivia~ I hope you have a :happ3: too :hug:

I take the easy way out and don't start cooking until today :o I'm taking the day off from my diet tomorrow....and probably be snacking through the weekend. Then I plan to jump back on my diet.
I don't have a lot of poeple to cook for this year. It's just going to be my family and maybe my Mom. I know we will have more than enough with me cooking both a turkey and ham. I'm the turkey fan and my husband loves his ham. Just cooking that will give us left overs for a while.

:turkey::thanks1::turkey:
EVERYONE

How did THAKGIVING dinner go for everyone? I'm still stuffing my face with left overs :( Hope everyone else is stonger than I am this season.

howdy ladies....
 

ok, i really really need to get it in gear, ugh! I've gained a few pounds back with the holidays. Ugh! I'm having the hardest time being motivated. Plus, my dd's gymnastic schedule changed so it is harder for me to get out and exercise during that time like I used to. But, no excuses, starting over today. I really need to get going. So, at this point, today is day one for me. Will try to check in tomorrow with you all. How is everyone else? did you all have a good thanksgiving? has anybody reset their goals? Do you all have a plan on how to accomplish them? I was at about 197 at my highest and am still down about 27 lbs. I need to keep going though. I was actually down to 165...but I am back up to 169:(. So, I MUST get back on track. SO, RAH, RAH, RAH:carrot::carrot::carrot:, WHO IS READY TO JOIN ME??????! LET'S GET MOVING AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!
HUGS
TRACYG

UGH is right!
 

Hey there Losing and Tracy ... :sunny:

Glad you both had a good Turkey Day! I did ... and am still eating those leftovers, too, Losing. It is so hard to toss them out when you've worked so hard making all the good stuff, isn't it?

Tracy, great to see you back. I weighed 227 today, but considering how I've been eating, I wasn't surprised. Tracy, I know you hate that you've gained any back, but today is a NEW DAY! You can do it! I'm so tired of trying on my clothes from last year, and looking somewhat like a sausage so tomorrow I start walking again and trying to do better.

So ... let's go, ladies! Get at least a few pounds back off so we can enjoy Christmas more, right? :)

Cheers!
Olivia

hi ladies, just checking in.
 

doing ok today! I still haven't gotten any exercise in. I really need to make time for that. But my eating has been better yesterday and today. So, that's a start. Where are you all?
check in.
hugs
tracyg

Hi ladies,

All my leftovers from thanksgiving are gone...Well all but one piece of pumpkin pie and if my husband doesn't eat it tonight ..before leaving again on business... I'm going to toss it :) I don't really even care for it but will eat it when I am needing that something sweet / high calorie treat.

I decided to join weight watchers again and went to my first meeting today. Was kinda fun ..people were nice the leader was nice. Tons of support! That is what I need more than anything. I have tons of stuff to read tonight...so much it makes my head hurt just thinking about it.

I weighed in at 251...more than when I lost during the fall with you guys but less than I thought with the Thanksgiving madness.

My December's goal is to keep the weight off that I lose in the next few weeks ......before we start all over with the big Christmas dinner/ party's the week of xmas.

I actually WALKED!
 

Hi girlies,

All the Thanksgiving leftovers are GONE! I walked briskly for 35 minutes today, and I can tell how badly I need to do it by how winded I get on the hills! :(

Losing, good for you for joining WeightWatchers. It's the best group around, really, and if I weren't so cheap, I'd go join. I just keep thinking I can do it myself, but I may be "joining you." :)

Tracy, good for you for getting better with the food. I finished leftovers today but tomorrow I plan to match the exercise with some good eating!

Happy evening, girls!:hug:

YES, That is what kept me away as long as it did too. That and the getting there. I thought what if I can't make it but then said the pro's out "WEIGH" the con's. The price isn't that bad if you pay 6 weeks at a time. My mother in law is doing the program and has lost so much weight ......she was never good at diets. She tried them all and would only lose a little before giving up. She likes all those sweet snacks that most diets say no to. One of my sisters friends lost almost 100 pounds on weight watchers and she was a fast food queen. She would go to fast food places for breakfast lunch and dinner. However it wasn't just the diet it was the meetings as well. The diet is just another diet without those meetings. Both my mother in law and I tried the diet on our own without the meetings and didn't get to far. I lost 22 not sure what she lost the last time.

Let me know if you decide to join :)