Hey everyone! It's been a long time. Teaching is done, which means a summer of trying to get into a routine. Life is super busy right now but hope to get things turned around and settled down over the next week. Decided to go to countryfest this past weekend... yikes. As I've said before I really do enjoy my beverages. Oh well, lots and lots of walking (my feet are still swollen) so hopefully that helps out for weigh in.

about 13 pounds from my original goal. know I have lost weight as i can fit in a 9 (although it's snug) and used to be a 14-15. Just wish I saw it when I look in the mirror. Still see a big, burly girl and am kinda disappointed that I do not have a daintier build. I think this may prevent me from ever being 100% happy with what I look like... even if I change my goal and drop more. Oh well, all things eventual I suppose!

Great to see so many new faces around here!! Hope everyone gets goign in a good routine for sumeer so that we can chat about how the pounds are just melting off!

Congrats Dria on being so close to goal!!

Good evening Ladies.

I am sooooo pleased to tell you all that I was down 2.75lbs today at WI...for a grand total of 8.5lbs....I am so close to being in the 100's I can't wait!! :carrot::carrot::carrot:

I am really looking forward to measurements on Friday...;)

Hope everyone is well.....thanks for the cheering on as well...:hug:

Kim

Well After a weekend of camping and cheats...... I faired ok lol.
Had I gone in to weigh in at my usual time... 8 am I would have hit my goal today lol. But because I didnt go weigh in til 5pm.... well I was 120.8 LOL can you believe that lol.

So yeah Im gonna go weigh in tomorrow morning and see how that does. Fingers crossed for my 8 year wedding anniversary I can say I weighed 120 lbs or less LOL
Congrats ladies on all the loss's and those of us who were tempted and badly behaved this past week or weekend ( I know all about countryfest LOL) Cheers to a good week.

Hi ladies!!! Long long long time to see. I've been insanely busy. INSANELY. On-top of an already crazy schedule... (new dog in january, new house in march), my bf proposed a couple of weekends ago and we're getting married this october : ) It's a lot easier to stay on track when you've got a dress coming that's 2 sizes smaller that you are right now. With that being said... I'm having a hard time breaking 190!! AHHHHHG. I don't know if it's stress, or periods, or having the flu... but I've been bouncing around it for the past 2 weeks. I've been sticking to the diet nearly religiously... but my HM girl said that where I've been working out a little more that I might not lose as much right away. BAH. I can't wait to break 190.

Good evening ladies! Hope you all survived your monday!

Michele, I'm a size 14 now and I can't wait to fit into a 9/10, snug or not so good for you and keep going!

Better, 2.75 is FANTASTIC! Congrats!

Dria...you TOTALLY hit your goal and I am sooo happy for you! What a victory! I hope you savour every moment. Can't wait for you to tell us what the stabalization and maintenance stage is like.

Hi Nicole! Congratulations on getting engaged, that's awesome! You're right, no better incentive than that white dress!

Well, I weighed in this morning and was so sure I would finally be in the 100's. The scale read 200 EXACTLY. It was like it was laughing at me! Oh well, on wednesday it will be 198, I just know it.

I had my first weight training class today and holy ***** it was difficult! I was suppose to do 30 min of cardio right after but just couldn't do it. Still, with my 30 run this morning, that's an hour and a half of working out today so I won't beat myself up.

It's time to put my weary bones to bed now. Sleep tight everyone, happy eating clean~

Better - YOU GO GIRL! That's awesome!
Dria - Fingers crossed for you!!!
Michele - You must be SO proud!!
cgy girl - thanks for the encouragement :) We'll see the real numbers tonight.

To all the other ladies - WOOT WOOT...you can do this!!

So I didn't go to WI last night... I slept on the couch instead. I'm not feeling too well lately...stomach pains, indigestion, tired, nausea...and no, NOT pregnant. :D

Last night, I had a trigger. Long story short (as short as can be), I was in love with this man... I was 18 when we met. He was my first... I loved him so much. I wanted to marry this man... but we were never a "couple"...
Through the years, we had quite an adventure... He never had a gf cause his 1st gf broke his heart - couldn't handle getting close to someone.

Whenever I had a bf and broke up, we ended up together again... We had passion, we had quite the attraction... but it never grew to a relationship as he was scared.

I met my husband when I was 22...but I still thought... "one day"... that one day we'd be together. We've kept in touch, we've become real close, great friends... more than friends really...hard to explain...

So now I'm 29, married...and he's now with someone in my town...(he lived 2 hours away)... I'm having a **** of a time with this. He moved in with her, I see his car, her car... The pain is very... present.

So, last night, I'm driving...close to where their home is (I try to NOT drive there as much as I can)...and here they are walking on the road...they had to wait for me to pass... I couldn't look... I felt like I was going to be sick.

So I stopped at the store, grabbed cookies and went home. I felt so sad... still feel sad this morning...

I don't understand why GOD would punish me this way...why bring him so close to me?

Last year, she moved in an appartment...at my stepdaughters's grandma's house... CAN YOU BE CLOSER TO ME?? I had to see his car, see him...whenever we picker her up after school... *huh* and THEN, my husband comes home one night, to tell me that the new league he plays in in town, well he plays in it too. I mean...

He too wondered why there was so many coincidences...he called me up many times to talk about it... but he doesn't feel the pain like I do.

Not sure what I'll have to do about this... You can't throw away 10 yrs of friendship/love... and forget about it....

What do you guys think this is my letter for our monthly newsletter for being client of the month

I was diagnosed with Graves Disease in Feb 2008. This is a touchy auto-immune disease. The medication they put me on to treat this disease makes it hard to lose weight or keep it off. I had put on 10 more lbs during the 2008 year. With my graves disease, severe anemia and being overweight, I was a 26 year old body feeling like an 80 year old. I knew something had to be done. To top it off for health reasons relating to this disease I was advised against walking for 10 minutes or more at a time. Thus making exercise near impossible.
I stepped on the scale in early January 2009 and it read 176 lbs. I was only 4 lbs lighter then I had been at the end of my last pregnancy. After having gestational diabetes with my last pregnancy the fear of having diabetes return from weight issues scared me to death.
I came to herbal magic in February 2009 looking for some help. After having my consultation I was positive I could do this. I have had nothing but positive support from the ladies at our centre, and family and friends. The information, tips, suggestions they have given me through these months has been life changing. I have not had one day where I felt I could not achieve my goal. And if my face went funny if the scale was being temper mental, they were quick to give positive comments to turn the day around.
My husband noticed a change within days. Often he would come home to find me on the couch as I was always tired and worn out with minimal energy. He came home 3 days after I started Herbal Magic on my hands and knees cleaning the baseboards. The energy I have felt has been amazing. Since losing my weight, I have been off my Graves medication since May and I am currently in remission. My energy level has sky rocketed which is something my kids are enjoying very much. I had always planned to be a young parent so I could be fun, and have the energy to keep up with my kids. Having lost this weight and getting my medical conditions in control they now have that mom. I could not ask for anything more.
As I write this I am .8 away from my goal, I have lost 55.4 lbs in slightly over 4 months time. As I come within ounces of my goal I feel very positive that I can keep up with this lifestyle change, and with the continued support of the ladies at my centre I have no doubt the support I need to stay on track will be there.
I am often asked about my weight loss as it is very noticeable. I tell people about my experience and they often ask me, “Isn’t it expensive?” My answer is simply this.
“I am worth it, and I could find many worse things to spend my money on. My health and well being is so worth the investment”
Thank you Ladies at Herbal Magic for believing in me and for your constant support. I could not have done this well without you!

I think it's great Dria - love it!

And I'm sorry to all for posting such a long post...I was so sad this morning still...

Kind of feeling better :)

Hi Chantal, Sorry to hear you going through so much pain. Hope you navigate your way through it with the dignity you deserve and come out on the other end feeling better about yourself.

Dria, I was very inspired by your story. Well done! Truly, hearing the story of a 'normal' person with obstacles reach their goal means that I can too. Thanks for sharing.

I was VERY sore today from my two workouts yesterday but I went for a run at noon anyway for 30 minutes. Kind of a mistake. The run was fantastic and I loved it but now I can't move. I'm also getting cranky because I'm getting too tired. I have to remember that I took a month off working out and I can't expect to jump in where I left off. I have to ease into it. I'm very all or nothing and I have to get over that.

WI is tomorrow and hopefully I will reach my first mini-goal of being under 200. I'll even settle for 199. By the time I go on vacation on the 24th I want to be 189.

Have a great night everyone!

Thanks CGY Girl :)

I went to my WI last night...gained 2 pounds. It's all good.
It'll be gone in a few days :) I know how my system works now.

I'll be ok, I'm doing good and all is good.
Awareness is key!

Wow things are slow on here!

Hope everyone is doing well :)

Updated pics
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...003Small-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...09002Small.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...09001Small.jpg
Dont mind the mess thats my office/parts room lol

you look great dria!

I've been MIA for about 2 weeks. But all is well. I am now down 13.25lbs!!

Keep on truckin' everyone

Dria, you look AWESOME!

WI and measurements was this morning. I'm so discouraged. I'm STILL 200lbs and I can't seem to move from there. My diet is PERFECT and I'm not drinking, and I'm exercising. Only thing I can think of is I'm on the tail end of my TOM but the bloating from that should be passed. Maybe my body is in shock. Good news is that I'm down 4 and 1/4 " so that's something. I've made a list of some tweaks I can make to my diet. We'll see how I do by next week. *sad*. I don't know what it is about being 200lbs that I can't seem to get below. It's my invisible mountain.

Anyhow, don't mean to sound cranky (come to think of it, I have been irritable for the last two days...) but things will get better.

Hope you are all doing well. Share your weigh in's...they are inspiring!

Sometimes with TOM it can be a week before you show a down. You are losing. But after TOM is gone and a few days after BOOM 5-6 lbs drop in some cases. Dont stress just keep on.
My only thought is your doing what happened to me. Creating more muscle then you think thus holding steady cause even though your losing weight your gaining muscle and by doing this it can take a bit longer (slower) to show on the scale.
Dont fret!!!!!

Thanks Dria, it helps to know that was your experience with TOM. I have to say that it in my case it really isn't muscle gain yet as I haven't been at it long enough and it is surprising how much muscle you have to gain to make a difference. Like I said, your words are encouraging and I won't give up even though right now I want to. After all, you must know what you're talking about, look where you are in your journey!

Well ladies, tomorrow is another day. Keep up the fight everyone!

I also weighed in today and I am down 1.8 pounds. I missed my measurements this week (I have't been in since Saturday) so I'll likely just do them next week.

cgy girl: One thing that I noticed when I first started exercising was when I was sore from my workouts I didn't lose anything...even gained a little. It was frustrating so I did some research and discovered that when muscles are sore from a workout, it means that there are actually little tiny tears inthe muscles that need to repair themselves. In order to do that, our bodies send fluid to the area...which translates into water weight retention/gain.

Once I got into the swing of my workouts, the muscle pain went away and the scale dropped like crazy!

So that means...keep at it...just don't OVER do it!

chunks: 13+ pounds!!! That's awesome!! Congrats!
Dria: you look great!!

cgy girl... I have some advice for you - take it or leave it...and please note it's not an HM advice. I really believe that your body gets used to burning the same amount of calories every single day...

If I were you, I would shock my body for a week.
What do I mean... I would eat maybe 100 cal more one day... 100 cal less the other... see how your body responds.

We have to remember that no one is the same... and the physiology of our body is much more than ONE diet that FITS all...

So you might want to give it a try :)

As momof5k said... and I agree 100% When we exercise if its not done properly we can actually initially cause damage and what happens when we do a bit of damage... water retention. It doesnt always have to do with the actual muscle itself...... and dont kid yourself you may not think you have been at it long enough but its coming along under the skin and you dont see it. I know mine is coming back too even with the 120 lbs I dont see any ripping abs and.... well Ive been at it for weeks.... but I know its there.
But yeah you could be filling with water :) Just keep at er!!!

Thanks ladies!

It's a new day and I'm ready to get back at it. When I get too tired I tend to get melodramatic and sad and that may have something to do with it. The theory of sore muscles needing fluid makes sense too, and my muscles, though not pulled, were sore.

Everyone's encouraging words and advice is appreciated. One of the perks of a forum like this is multiple points of view and there's value in each of them.

Like I said, it's a new day and I'm ready to 'slay some dragons'! I'm confident that Friday's WI will be down. Good luck to each of you today!

Chantal, just one more thing, I had to smile at what you said b/c I was thinking about that yesterday too. Have you ever 'behaved' for a few or several weeks on a diet then 'splurge' for a few days and have the weight actually come off during your splurge? That has happed to me several times and I agree with that theory. One of the 'Biggest Loser' trainers suggested to their participants that one day a week they increase their calories for the day with a treat or two so the body doesn't think it's being starved and it lets some of the weight go.

Of course, that being said, I just can't do that right now because it may cause me to 'go off the rails' altogether. I'll stay the course for a few more weeks yet. Vacation is coming up in two weeks and I'll be indulging my fair share during that time.

Anyhow, just wanted to share that with you. Everyone's advise made sense but yours struck a chord with me.

Thanks!

I was running out the door this am when I last wrote.
But I wanted to come back and say

CHUNKS MOMOF5K WOW!!!!!!!!!!1 Great job ladies!!!!! Weight loss is coming along nicely!!! Keep up the great work and stop being such strangers.........

Now where the heck is Witchie lol

Glad it did Cgy girl!! And I was a Biggest Loser Fan as well :)
But I've also read this in other books too.

Just a thought - you wouldn't need to go totally off track...even if you ate one extra FE one day (even if it's an extra fruit or Dairy)...and the next, don't eat your FE at all... See what I mean? No need for a real rampage day!

Just a thought - take it or leave it :)

Hi ladies, hope everyone had a successful day! I tried to go for a run at noon with the running group at work but my muscles were still too tight from Monday and Tuesday.

Hey Dria, did you lose that last .8lbs? Can you tell anything about the stabalization and maintenance stage?

I DID IT GOAL EXCEEDED!!!!!!!

119.6 lbs today.

Tomorrow I get one more starch and one more fruit. So
Ill have
2 Protein
3 Starch
3 Fruit
3 Veggies
1 Dairy
2 Fat
1 FE

SO MUCH FOOD

OMG Dria, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I am so excited for you! You were talking a while ago about going for 115...are you still going for it or staying put? YOU ROCK!! How does it feel?? lol...I want to tie you down and make you answer all my questions...I think I'm trying to live vicariously through you!

Hope you continue to share your stabalization and maintenance experience with us!

Dria - you ROCK girl!! You must feel so good.
Can you explain why they gave you an xtra starch & fruit? Are you on maintenance or they are simply putting some variety in?
In my mind...I would put in a protein instead of a starch... but that's just me;)

cgy girl - keep it up!

Well, I went for WI last night... I lost what I had gained on Tuesday...
I'm at 219.8 (ok..I'm missing a big 0.2). I'm hoping to have a great week-end and to lose one to 2 pounds by Monday.

I had a goal from March... of getting at 216 by July 13... I won't be far but I don't think I can lose 3.8 in like 4 days...or maybe I'll be surprised...who knows... lol

Dria - I saw your pics on FB - amazing! Are you working out too?

Good Morning

I start Stab this morning.
They have thrown an extra starch and fruit at me to shock my system I think. Give me the hard to fight off weight food first. Wanna see what my body does right off the bat.
However Its two regular starches and then they ask I make my 3rd starch a LIGHT starch such as.... the arrow root cookies... or graham crackers or pop corn use it as starch instead of F.E. LIGHT starch what a crazy concept here I was excited to get more scetti lol
HOWEVER I can now use a 12" tortilla for my quasadillas (sp) and count it for 2 instead of trying to shove all my stuff into one tiny 6" one lol. And cause the tortilla is a lighter starch I can still have a heavier starch too.

Heavy starch... Breads Pasta Potatoes etc.

I have only JUST started working on in the last week. I turn my tv on and watch a movie or something and do 3 -50 sets of crunches. between that Im doing pilate like stretches and walking and running on the spot. More walking then running. Then about 2-3 nights a week weather depending I go walking for 2-3 miles with my Ipod and Puppy.

So you are done with WL?
You'll probably still lose during Stabilization... but less I figure.
How long for stabilization? Still taking the same pills?

I'm like this question machine this morning!! lol

LOL
Yeah I can still lose.... but I can still go up. Still the same pills same W.I days etc.......
Im dont W/L I go with my new starch and fruit for 2 weeks
then they add more. Stab lasts 6 weeks adding more food every 2 weeks....
Then Ill go to mait for the rest of my time.

so it took you 22 weeks to lose 56 pounds!
How great you must feel !!

In 14 weeks, I lost 31.2 pounds!
But it'll be a longer road for me cause my initial goal was 71 pounds... but I might end up going to 80...and maybe more! Time will tell :)

It's not a race and want to feel good :)

Amazing for you Dria...can't wait to feel the way you're feeling!!

Are you scared of actually being there... look not having anything to look forward too...? looking for the next big thing? Do you see what I'm saying?

I'm here! Awesome Dria good for you!!! Exciting stuff.

WI this a.m for me was again just ok. Down 3/4 lb.

Things are waaaaay busy here so I haven't been on as often, but I'm still here. Keep up the good work everyone, and Dria, let us know how it goes. Cheers!

I dont feel done....... Like Im still gonna be wanting to see the scale go down and if thats not what Im working for well then now what?!??!
You asked about my 115 well the past week Ive hovered at the 120.4-121 mark which isnt normal for me. So I read it as my body saying ok this is enough. And Im listening.
I can still go down.... watch what I eat. The more food thing is exciting but at the same time it seems like so much more food to get in. And my routine as Ive told you ladies before Im picky so eating the same things over and over day after day is no biggie for me..... but now this screws with my routine lol

Way to go losers!!

Well I went in for my root canal yesterday, wasn't so bad....did wake up at 3am in pain, took some tylenol. But other then that I don't feel to bad.

Went for WI today down another .5 pound....and now I am officially in ONEderland!! 199.5..YEAH for me!!

Measurements are being done next week, looking forward to it!!!!!

Well I am going to head out for a walk...have a great evening ladies!!

K

Hi ladies,

I'm not having a great time. My clinic has me on so many pills I actually think I've overdosed on some of it. My chest is really tight and I have zero energy, my stomach can't handle any food and I'm getting depressed. At first I thought it was the start of the flu but I know my body well enough to know when something isn't right. I'm going off the pills for the weekend and increased my calories today so that I can recover. On Monday I am scaling back to just the WM2000 and chromium. I havn't been able to go below 200 no matter what I do either. My clinic rep kept trying to tell me I was doing something wrong but she admitted my diet was perfect and I was taking all the pills they recommended. I asked if I was taking too many pills and she said absolutely not. We'll see.

I'm not slamming HM but I do think that my particular rep is only out to make money and really is a ditz. She isn't taking any of my concerns seriously.

I am dying to get good advice from someone who knows what their talking about! I'm trying so hard to not give up. I guess we'll see on Monday. If I'm feeling better then I'll know it was the pills. Or too many of them would be more accurate.

Anyhow, keep losing ladies!

cgy girl: that sucks to have such a rough start. listen to your body and I am sure you can find the proper levels for your self :)

HEY EVERYONE....CGY...so sorry to hear you are having a great time...hope you made out well over the weekend!!

I went for WI this afternoon....and again...so happy to announce that I am down 3.25lbs...for a grand total of 12.5lbs gone!! I am already noticing a difference in how my clothes are fitting...clothes that I couldn't wear on the 24th of Last month...FIT!!!! I know the date...because that was my daughter's graduation...and there was a shirt that I wasn't able to wear because it fit be like a seals coat...yeah it was that tight...and now I am able to wear it comfortably!!!!

It sure is a great feeling to be shooting downwards on the scales...it is like an adventure each time I go to WI!!!

Off to change my stats!!

Have to add that it is great to see my ticker saying I have 58.8 left to lose....better then the 72 I started with!!

I didn't realize that summer vacation would get in the way of weight loss.

Arrgh !! It's so difficult to stick to the program with so many barbecues, having guests at the cottage, having the kids around...I can't even get all my water in because I'm never sure that I'll be near a restroom when I need one!

I WAS doing so well, but fell off track and am finding it so hard to get back on program and I'm only a few weeks into it! It's hard to get into the centre on a regular basis, it's hard to keep track of what I'm eating, it's just hard all the way around.

Sorry, just needed to vent.

I am happy for those of you that are doing well. Dria - way to go and congrats to everyone else who is losing. Keep it up. Although I haven't been able to post lately, I have been keeping up on reading your posts and I honestly think I would have given up if I didn't have all of you to inspire me. Thanks

Gotta ticker. Maybe the visual will help!