What motivates me is looking at old pictures of myself from when I was at my slimmest... how i felt about myself then is how i feel about myself now. Now I know not to be so hard on myself and appreciate what I've worked to become!!

HOT YOGA!! I've always wanted to try that. Have fun!

As for my update. Today was measurement day and the day where you tally up the week. Here are the results for the week:

-4.5lbs (:O)
-6inches (everywhere except my leg!!)

So that's a total of 7 and 1/4 pounds and 8inches for two weeks.

I'm really excited about this, because I was looking at my old success charts from when I was on HM before, and I didn't start losing inches until the 3rd week. Yaaaaaaay.

I hope every had a good measurement day!

chunksof love:Congratulations! That is awesome progress for your first two weeks!

mememegogirl: Hot Yoga sounds like fun. I have a few friends that do it but I am SO not into heat that I don't think it's for me. Hope you had a great time.

I decided not to go in for my wi...partly because I know I am not going to like what I see there and I am hoping that this water weight will disappear by tomorrow...and partly because it was a very busy day and finding the time to drive in there would have added too much stress to my day.

I'll go tomorrow and hopefully the scale there will be kinder than mine has been at home today :(

Good night all!

I think for myself, it is important to go to all the weigh ins. For me, I have to be held accountable, thats just the way I am. Avoiding uncomfortable situations and accountability, is one of the reasons I got to being over weight. I know that if I started avoiding weighing in when I felt heavy it would just snowball and I would quit all together. There have been times when I went in and was up by 2 lbs, and there have been weeks when I have lost nothing, ya just gotta keep going! Don't worry so much about the scale, I have only lost 20lbs, but have lost 30 1/2 inches, sometimes you lose nothing but inches in a week and that would be the results of your exercise. You can do it momo, just keep on truckin, and ditch the scale for awhile.

That is some great perspective witchie. I have always said that I don't care about the numbers on the scale but about how I feel overall. Inch loss is what makes the difference. This is what makes our clothes fit better and is also what is visible to others.

Hot Yoga was good. I will have to learn what I can and can't do thru trial and error as today I am in quite a bit of pain. I will have to consult with my doctor some more so that we can lay out a plan. Overall, if I can be moving and active I will be happier, and more importantly I will be healthier. The bonus is how it will affect my weightloss and inches. More and more I am feeling the pressure to stick to and complete this program. It is just one more financial burden when we already have so many medical expenses to cope with.

So I went in for my wi first thing this morning and I am down .2 pounds. I'll take that.

At my centre, there is only one girl working there that I really don't like and so, of course, that is who I got today :(

So, she did my wi and frowns... then looks through my journal and sees that I had chili on Monday. That is NOT on the program, she says. Hum....interesting, I say, because I was at the centre on Monday afternoon and had an entire conversation about chili with the staff and how to count that in my day....and then she is just silent. Grrr!

Anyway, a .2 loss is better than a gain and I know that I am feeling better and my clothes are feeling better so that is what counts. I had planned to get my measurements done today too (because I had only one child with me :) ) but I didn't really want to hear anything else from this particular woman anymore so I may go in tomorrow or Saturday for that...or just wait until Monday. That will make it two weeks since my last measurements were done so that could be a good time to go in. How often do you all get yours done?

witchie...I hear you on the accountability thing. And if I had been cheating a bunch and "knew" that my weight should be up, I'd totally go in and just grin and bear it. My problem this week was the fact that I had stayed on the program and I felt that my real weight (read: FAT!) has changed but that the water retention or whatever was not getting the scale to reflect that. The girls at my center that I have talked to about this don't seem to have any good information about this.

Has anyone else had conversations at their centres about how exercise effects the scale? Any good info you'd like to share?

As always thanks for the encouragement everyone!

momof5k : Sorry you got stuck with the girl you don't like. I can't believe she acted like that. I'm so thankful that none of the girls at my center are like that. I too only lost .2 but like you said, it's better than a gain. The only problem I've ever encountered so far is one of the girls told me that she needed to see another pound gone by the end of the week. Kind of irritated me a bit seeing as how I am ahead of schedule by 7 lbs! Whatever!

Anyways I just finished my 3 rd week of Herbal Magic and I'm down 12.8 lbs and 10 inches :carrot: Yaahoo!! I also wanted to mention that I had the taco salad that was mentioned and it was so so so yummy! I felt like I was eating so bad, but I wasn't!!

Good job everyone on your losses! Can't wait to see what my WI for tomorrow says!

Hi there ladies!!!

Congrats to all for your losses...even if it's 0.2... it's still a loss!

For my part, I gained 0.2 but I was expecting it.
So I took it, went in, told them exactly all the junk I ate and took responsibility for it....with a smile! Was it worth it in the end? Hmmm Yes & No. I have to admit the club was good...the fries were ok.

Anyhow, that's it for me! I'm hoping to be at least 2 pounds down by Monday!
If I stick to at least 2 pounds...I'll hit my mini-goal a few weeks ahead of time.
I have 7 weeks left - 12 pounds left...so if I go at least 1.7 pounds per week, I'll hit my target - woot woot! BUT, my goal obviously would be to hit it before.

My vacation is also scaring me... end of June...afraid of not having a routine...restaurants and stuff.... :(

fbenjamin... I know! The taco salad was almost too good! I've used the baked tortilla shell a couple of times since I came up with that and I'm always so satisfied afterwards! When it comes down to it.... a 6" tortilla just isn't big enough to hold a serving and a half of veggies! Glad you liked it ; )

momo: I find that the weeks that I really work hard on the treadmill, and light weights, the loss is reflected more in inches, which is fine with me! As long as I'm losing, whether it be on the scale or on the measuring tape, either way I'm happy. The scale can sometimes be more of a stressor, just keep up the good work, and put the scale in the closet for awhile. Chin up!

Geez I really have to try this baked tortilla thingy!

Taco Salad - mmmmmm....
 

I had the Taco Salad too!
I wanted to let you guys know what I did...

For my dressing, I used half a teaspoon of Salsa, one teaspoon of mayo, and one teaspoon of FF Sour Cream... WOW... Plenty of dressing for 1 F...and a tiny bit of an FE. It was to die for... I added 0.5 oz of shredded cheese too... mmmmmmmm! I want it again! lol

My goodness has life been hectic and cruddy this week.
BUT Thankfully I have stayed on the HM path.
I went for my W.I this morning and Im a lb down since Wednesday so Im happy with that.
I now have 12.2lbs left to hit my goal.......
total weight lost is 43.8 lbs.
I have switched things up
I am trying to follow my goal of switching my eating habits.. small breaky medium lunch and big supper to the opposite.
Bigger breaky medium lunch to a light supper.
A shake for breaky now cause I was starting to find the cereal and fruits in the am werent cutting it so the shake keeps me full.
Then my scetti meals for lunch with a veggie and a fruit normally.... then a protein and salad for supper...... its helping me burn off the big things through the day instead of sitting with them for the evening and bed.... seems to be helping!!
Good job ladies with the losses!!

I'm trying to change it up a bit as well. I tend to eat the same things over and over. Can't wait for the bloody rain to stop so I can get out there and root around in the garden! WI today and I am the same as wednesday, blah! Oh well, at least I'm not up. 16 lbs to go, and it can't come soon enough!

Omg!! Omg!! Omg!!
 

:carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :carrot: :carrot:

CAN YOU TELL I HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS???? lol

I went shopping at lunch...OMG! I was wearing size 18 jeans (Reitmans style)... bought some size 15 today!! OMG! Even the shirts...I mean in some styles, it's LARGE... other it's X-large but that's ok... I couldn't fit in those anymore...I had to shop on the Plus size for the 1X sometimes 2X...

I realized right then & there that I had lost SO much weight... I couldn't believe it. I'm so happy.

Woohoo!!! Congratulations!! That's awesome!!

I am hoping to lose a little more before I go shopping but I can definitely feel a difference in the clothes I have been wearing so hopefully I 'll have some similar celebrating to do :)

See...I wanted to wait TOO...but I didn't have a choice really...When people tell you that you NEED a new pair of jeans...that's when you need to go.
I knew it... I knew it 2 weeks, I knew it last week...but now, it's ridiculous... I could remove them without unzipping! lol

So I bought only one pair...and they should fit me well for another 20 pounds I'm guessing... I think LOL

Woot! Good for you Chantal!! I'm holding out too, but I'll need new bras soon, or I may have a "costume malfunction" soon. Good work girls!!

:lol::lol::lol:

What a great feeling Chantal! That is awesome news! You are doing awesome! Same to the rest of you who need new clothes! We are doing this!

I lost my required 2lbs for the week and now that I am able to do a little more physically I think that I shall do at least that or better in the days to come. Wouldn't it be great to be down another 1lb by Monday? I think I shall shoot for that!

Where are Michele and Lady and UFF and all of the many others who are MIA? I hope that this isn't a bad sign about how they are progressing or about how their health is doing... they have all worked so hard and have been such an encouragement to the rest of us. Sending prayers and happy thoughts your way girls!

Hey Ladies!!
I have not been on in a long time! Just thought I would check in, i see everyone seems to be doing awsome! I finally have under 10lbs to go. I guess it is 8lbs now!
Since Monday I have been doing the VHP's, I don't know if anyone eles has done them or not.
My center has me doing one VHP for Breakfast, 5 oz chicken 3 cup veggie for lunch, and then another VHP for supper. Then my water of course.
It is not too bad but I can honestly say that I would be willing to eat just about anything right now, I am sooo hungry. O well It works! I was stuck for quite awhile and then I started the shakes and from monday - wednesday I was down 3 lbs!
Anyway sorry about the long post but I was wondering if anyone eles has done this and how they did???
Thanks I hope everyone has a good weekend!

CONGRATS everybody for the losses again! Chantel... that's VERY exciting news. I'm down just about 12 lbs and I'm starting to feel a difference in my clothes. I have acquired such a 'stretchy' wardrobe, that in hindsight, was much too tight.... everything fits so much better now.

Keough... what's a VHP...? Congrats on nearing your goal.... does the plan change much once you get closer to reaching your goal?

Ohhhh by the way.... my last weight in, I broke into the 90's.... what a great feeling. I was a little more emotional than I had anticipated... but it felt AWESOME. To treat myself... I'm going to re-vamp my underwear. I've found that the more I lost my confidence by gaining weight, the more my undie collection suffered! My good ones are tattered and everything else was bought to suck in giggly bits...

Keough: Are those the shakes? I wonder how your body will react when you go back to eating "meals" instead of VHPs, has your centre commented at all? I'm drinking one of the chocolate shakes right now for the first time and all I can say is Mmmmmmmm. These are great! Wouldn't mind replacing all meals with these. Yum! Congrats on all the hard work!!

Nicole: I hear ya about the underwear, my underwear drawer needs a complete overhaul!

I think VHP stands for Very High Protein non? I didn't know that HM recommended those kinds of approaches for plateau breaking. It sounds kind of like doing slimfast or something to me... but that is ok... Keough you have been successful doing this and have lost 3lbs quickly. Good job! Hopefully with centre support you will be able to reintegrate into real food and will appreciate it that much more! I know I would... :)

My official weightloss for the week is 2.7lbs and 4 3/4 inches .. not bad for one week! I am on an exercise regime now so I think that will really help. I got the speech today again about being behind (by their calculations by 9 weeks) but whatever.... according to MY schedule I am doing great and I will continue doing what I am doing!

The shakes are yummy. Chocolate is my favorite then the strawberry then the vanilla is DEAD last lol. I know some people add fruit to the shakes I never have yet but some like them better that way
The VHP shakes count as 1 protein 1 starch and 1 fat. They are also very filling. I have started having one for breakfast as I noticed my usual fruit and cereal wasnt cutting it til lunch anymore.
This weekend has been good so far. trying to behave myself stole about 4 of my daughters fries at burger king yesterday afternoon but thats about it.
For lunch Im finishing off my starch for the day. 3/4 cup of special k 1 cup strawberries and 1/2 cup of carrots. Tonight for supper will be a bbq'd chicken breast salad and cheese. yummy.
Hope everyones having a good weekend!!

This will be long.....
 

OK my doctor visit all in all was a good one... I did not mention my weight loss efforts only because I want to go back in for my physical next year a different person. Sugars were 5.5 which to my doctor was on the "high" side of normal. Cholesterol was good, hemoglobin was good, thyroid was good, all electrolytes were good.... I have a black cloud hanging over me which is genetics... so he gave me a stern look and basically said I have to lose weight...I am a candidate for metabolic syndrome... so his recommendation was a low glycemic diet... which HM is right?? LOL wait until next year!!!!

Now my week was ok until Friday... I intentionally missed my WI and I had a horrible weekend. Went out and partied a bit too much and then the next days went down hill after that. I did not document my food, I will hold my head high walk in step on the scale and continue on...I will not let them make feel less of a person for this... I had a great time and I don't regret it, and I danced a lot Friday night as well. exercise and water will be friend this week. I spent the day gardening today so some exercise was had. Do I feel bad??? NOPE... I will just continue on... I will let you all know what happened.

To all those ladies buying new clothes.... You look great!!!! Strut your stuff sexy ladies LOL!!! What a great feeling eh??

Gotta go... Talk soon ladies!!

Happy Monday ladies...1st of June already!! Wow... time flies!

WI on Friday - lost another pound! 24 pounds lost.
I'm hoping to have close to 2 pounds tonight...we shall see :)

I tried on 2 pairs of pants for work this morning... they do not fit anymore... lol It's really GREAT but at the same time, I'm checking my selection..not many left... !!!! Can we please get the summer here so I can wear my capris??????!!! lol

lee2lee: You know best. Get back on track - that's what really matters!! We all cheat once in a while!

meme: WAY TO GO for your loss - you're doing AWESOME! And thanks for your support too !!

Nicole: Thanks!! Have fun revamping your undies LOL

Reporting for Check in
Lee Im glad your keeping your head up and gonna keep on truckin'. Sometimes we need some fun!!! Keep on going!!!

Nicole I also need to get some new undies as well. So far Ive been lucky and have found other ways ;) But I really do need to go buy some new ones.

Meme Good work!! Keep it up!!!

All of you ladies may we have the will power we need to kick some butt this week and rid ourselves of some poundage.

Last weeks Monday W/I
133.6lbs which was 42.6 gone total and 54.4inches.
This week Monday W/I 131.8 lbs

Which means!!!
I have lost a total of 44.4 lbs And 56 Inches total gone.
This week I went down 1.8 total!!

My lady today again said Your going to be done 2 months early YEEEEEEEEEEE
She told me to be very proud of that as it rarely happens!!! Hearing that made me walk with my head a little higher today.
The inches I lost this week was only off my ribs. 1.5" off my ribs this week. Insane!!!

Cant wait to hear about some great W.I's ladies

How motivating! WI this morninig showed a 3.0lb loss! woo hoo for me! And over the weekend yet - that the hardest time for me to stay on program. Was able to get out for a couple of walks early in the morning so maybe that helped speed up the weight loss. Regardless of what it was - I love it!

Can't wait for Wed. to see just how many inches I've lost. I've lost a total of 6 lbs in three weeks...exacty on schedule according to my girl. And it truly doesn't feel like depravation....it does however encourage me to make better choices and get those fruit and veggies in! Which in turn makes me feel better and have more energy.

Reading all of your success ladies is really motivating! Something else that I find motiviating is when we list what we've eaten for the day. Give us some new ideas...

My breakfast today: 1/2c Cheerios, 3oz yougurt, 1/2 blueberries, coffee.

What did you have for breakfast today?

Here's to a great week of weight loss!

~Cari

Great! I now have the Edit Signature option available to me! This forum has so many neat things! It's the little things in life which make you smile....

:carrot:

Lean Cuisine
 

I bought a lean cuisine for lunch since I had NO leftovers.
So I'm surprised... surprised that it doesn't count as an FE (for pasta sauce)... ? And it also counts as 1 Veggie?? Haven't seen ANY veggies in there...

Also, the one I ate (Cheese Ravioli) is made with Ricotta cheese...which is NO NO... hmmmmm

Wonder who is revising these....just a question here :)

What do you all think?

HappyGirl - woohoo! Exciting huh! Now you need to get a ticker and keep us in the loop! You should also write when you started HM in your signature... if you don't mind, of course! :)

I was talking to a friend... her BIL (which I know well) (BIL - Brother-in-Law - in case!!) did Bernstein a few months ago.

Well, he's gaining most of it back...eating & hiding...

I was sad to hear...we've ALL (or most of us) been there... and you know how you feel...you're almost to the point where you disgust yourself.

See...WL is more than losing weight... and I find it SAD that many (or all) the WL programs do NOT offer any support in that sense.

Yes, some people gain 40 pounds with a pregnancy, operation, name it...lose it, and it's over. But for some...it's tangled up with emotions, it's a drug, it's a medicine for pain... Something might have happened to us when we were young... My mom would go out and feel guilty...so she'd buy be chips, chocolate & candies... My big treat. What do I do now when I feel lonely???
I eat chips, chocolate & Candies...all together in one evening.

These people, like I, need help... serious help... Am I the only one who sees this?

Chantal: That is pretty profound stuff. I think all of us can relate to most if not all of what you are saying. Thanks for the reminder that this journey is not just about lbs and inches but rather about all of the underlying situations that brought us to the point where we came to HM for help.

HappyGirl: Awesome Ticker!

Lee: I think that your doctor will be shocked next year! As for your weekend ... it happens right? The important thing as you know is that you are back on track.

As for me,... I am enjoying being physically active! It makes a huge difference to my mood and how I feel. My back is complaining... but it complains no matter what... Hot yoga again tonight! I am excited.

Can I say smile!!!!
 

Well I am pleased to report that my wacky weekend resulted in a whole 0.4 weight gain... Thank heavens. They weren't too happy so now I have to loose 3 pounds by June 8th. I am at 211.8 I believe. Back on track I am and drinking tons of mint green tea!!! And on to my treadmill tonight for some sweating. I am off all this week and I go back to work Friday night so I can exercise pretty much every day!!!

And you know what... I don't regret the good times I had at all... and the dancing and gardening I did must have done some good. I will check back later gals to see how everyone's Monday was.... after the treadmill of course.!!!

Start date April 20th 2009

Question Chantal???
 

I noticed on your ticker that your goal is 180 pounds and you are 5'8"??? Did you set that goal or did HM??? Just curious because I am 5'5" and mine is at 140... you are only 3 inches taller and you have 40 pounds more on your to be slim self.... bigger boned??? Take this as a curiosity thing and no offense is meant by any of my questions... Just in case you were wondering. And if its none of my business just tell me to shut my trap!!!!:D:hug: Any one on facebook?? just wondered who I could stalk out to see some pictures... LOL I am on there... My picture is on my blog... just click the link on the left where all the info is.

Lee2lee

Hmmm no one has ever talked to me about Lean Cuisine! Is that an extra booklet thing for the journal... also.... I've noticed people talking about they're "lady" lol... everytime I got to write about my "lady" I wonder what the heck I could call her?!

I think I have a tracker now!!!

Trying to set up my ticker.... its not working with me lol


Ahhhh nevermind there tis!

Anyways spent today in Winnipeg today had to take hubby to get some jeans and shoes. I decided to try on some...
Grabbed some shorts cause all I have is 2 pairs capris and one pair of jeans that fit.
Grabbed a size 30 at bootlegger thought I was wishful thinking lol.
Nope those didnt fit.... asked for a 29
nope those didnt fit
Asked for a 28 those fit better but wanted a 27.......
sadly they didnt havea 27 so I got the 28 on sale and decided I would suck it up and deal with them for 10lbs difference.. But boy do I need a tan..... and some toning on them leggies yikes lol

Yeah size 28...... wowwwwwwwwwww havent seen that since I was 17 years old..... MUAHAHAHAH Doing the happy dance tonight :)

YAY Congrats girlies!

I haven't been around in awhile so I don't know who to comment on. But I CANNOT WAIT to go to the store and pick out smaller clothes! That is AWESOME good for you DRIA!

Oh my did I ever get into the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies over the weekend...oopsie! They tasted great, but I felt yucky after and a little dumb because I was already UP at weigh in before that. Oh dear...

Today I managed to be down .25. But I am going in almost everyday this week to keep myself on track.

QUESTION:

Has anyone noticed a change in how they lose when Aunt Flo is in town?