Alberta, hope you are feeling better!! I am sure you will lose the .8 no problem!!

Sounds like some of you are having a tough time....sorry to hear that, I know all about that feeling more then I would care to. You just have to re-group yourself, ask yourself why you want it so bad, and if your ready...weightloss is something you have to want bad enough for it to succeed for you. I found this out myself, and I know that is why I have had the success I have had thus far, I know I am a bit behind on my loss as to where I should be, but I amnot going to let that get to me, I still have approx 4 months left to go and approx 40lbs left to lose.

You all can do this....so pick yourselves up and brush yourselves off...tomorrow is a new day. And don't avoid going for WI's because that will only set you back further!!

BL

Congrats Renee, Sunflower and Betterlife!! Skimmy and Momo - really sending good vibes for this week! Can't lose every day - you'll have big losses this week!

Interesting what you say Betterlife - 'weightloss is something you want bad enough'. Kind of like the saying 'skinny tastes better than chocolate' but you gotta really believe that. I kind of feel right now is a bit of a dangerous time. You get all the compliments so there is a temptation to think, ok I'm done - but of course deep down you know you got further work.

Something to think about....December with all the xmas parties is about 6 weeks (or 12 lbs) away - that will be fun!!! Just gotta hunker down until then. Good luck - here's to a great week for all of us.

Laura you can do this, and you are so close to doing it....don't give up or in!!

Christmas, gosh not even trying to think about that right now...lol...but I know it is coming....I don't do alot of Christmas parties, so I think I will be okay, kind of like Thanksgiving for me and I did well.

Regarding the "weighloss is something you have to want bad enough" for me, that is what it came to, heck I have tried everything under the sun for the last 20+ years since I was about 14-15yrs old. To be 17 and doing Nutri System...how is that for the self esteem, NOT GOOD!! It was so hard to go away to friends/family on weekends and try to eat close to what you would be eating of the pre-packaged meals...so needless to say that didn't work, I didn't want anyone to know what I was doing, too embarassed!! Weightwatchers...can't keep track of how many times I have joined. And many many more, I have only had success with 2 plans, the first one being low carb, did that 2 years ago after I had a breast reduction and lost 35lbs in about 2.5months, looked great felt like Shi*....so I quit, eventually over about a year gined back all but about 5-6lb of it. And Herbal One, which is the journey I am on now, that will lead me home to my goal weight and where I shall stay. I cannot go back to where I was before. It was literally killing me, physically and mentally!! My body ached so much and mentally, it was draining me, it was all I would think about 24/7 but had no will power to succeed. I work in nursing and we have this one resident who is severly overweight, I have worked around her since we opened almost 6 years ago, and it kills me to watch her at work because she has gained so much and has a hard time getting around, and everytime I look at her, I can see myself in her and I don't want to become her...it breaks my heart to feel that way, but it is true. So here I am....30.75lbs lighter and on my way to a healthier me!!!!

I guess everyone has their own reasons for wanting it..for me it is for me, and no one else. My husband loves me the way I am, but he is also loving the smaller me I am becoming...my kids are also so proud of me, especially when they seen my comparison photos...and that for me means so much.

maybe all of you that are struggling should go in and request a comparison pic be done, because I tell you it really opens your eyes when you see the transformation in yourself.

Okay rambled enough again....LOL Have a great day!!

BL

Congrats everyone...way to keep up the hard work!
I have a question for everyone. They changed my diet on Friday (down to 2 protein, 2 fruit, 3 veg, 2 starch, 2 fat, 1 dairy, 1 f.e) and they warned me that I might actually put on weigh in the beginning b/c my body is shocked. Did this happen to any of you? What were your experiences when you reduced your food? Larger/faster weight loss, or continued the same?

two.....thanks...

I think I stayed about the same when I had the food taken away. I know I didn't gain. The plans are different though in the way of food portions, not sure if you know this or not but I am actually on Herbal One which is very similar to Herbal Magic, but the one thing I have noticed is that the portions are different. I weigh 178 and right now my foods are 3 protein, 3 veggies, 3 fruits, 2 starches, 1 dairy, 2 fat, 1 freebie and we get 2 free choices, which is our condiments etc. I don't normally eat my free choices OR my free exchange. I am losing fine with what I eat, my mom who weighs 148 is also eating the same portions as I am. When I first started I was eating 3 P, 4 V, 3 F, 3 S, 2 D, 3 Fat, plus the freebies...it just about killed me to eat all that food, I am happy with the portions now.

I hope you do well with the change, your body will re-adjust itself anyway. So if you do happen to be up you atleast know why!!

Weighed a home this morning and I weighed the same as I did Saturday morning so I was happy with that, we don't go for WI until Saturday, and my digital scales are similar to the scales at the center.

Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful sunny day!!

I weighed in to day and I am down 1 lb since Saturday.

I just need to remind myselft to stay on plan!!! Then I will be fine. I should have been down 18lbs by now according to Herbal Magic, 2lbs a week. I am only down 3lbs, I have been down 8lbs but I just keep going back up.

I want ot be down 38lbs by December 31st so that I can go to Hawaii weighing under 200lbs.

twovalley....when my food was changed I didn't gain any weight. I think I had a pretty big drop actually.

I lost 2 lbs this week. I am now officially in the 160's!! Definately excited about that!

Keep up the great work everyone...and keep remembering why you are doing this!

When mine changed I didn't gain weight but my losses did slow down. In fact, they do seem to still be slow. Sigh.

Down .8 since last week. Better than a gain (which I was half prepared for) but not what I wanted to see.

I would REALLY like to say goodbye to the 190's!!

Keep up the good work everyone.

I am both nervous and excited for my wi's this week. I know I am suppose to have my measurements done on Wednesday but because of the new hours I can't go so I'm hoping they'll do it on Thursday.

I agree with all of you that you need to be in the right mindset to do this and we all have our reasons for starting this journey so just remember why we all started and what we need to do to end our journey

Uuughh.... For the past couple weeks or so I've had no appetite whatsoever. I feel like I'm choking down my food. I'm not sure if I'm getting sick of the foods I've been eating or what. I hate it. Anyone else have this happen?

Hi Everyone
Thanks Betterlife for sharing your reasons - that really motivated me. I too remember thinking about weight 24/7 and feeling physically/emotionally awful. Gotta admit I forgot about that so it's remotivated me. You know, I still do think about weight loss 24/7, but it's sooooo much more fun now - ha ha!!

Alberta - congrats on 160's. You planning just a brief visit there as you did the 170's? I too was getting sick of food a bit. I got the HM cookbook and I'm having lots of fun with recipes. Maybe too much fun as my weight loss was better 'choking' down food (often left food on my plate, which I haven't done lately). I also notice with cold weather, I don't like fruits and veggies so much - give me bread and wine - oh well.

Keep on plan everyone - it'll be a great week!

How does everyone pick their goal weight? Do you think people often change it when it gets close (either up or down)? I picked the weight I got married at 9 years ago. I felt good then, but I recall that I still wanted to lose weight (although I've wanted to lose weight since I was 6 years old, realistically I may never be happy). I'm less than 10 lbs to my goal and feeling like maybe I should aim lower. But....I'm scared that if I do, then I won't be able to maintain it in the long run. I think to stay on maintenance you have to be within 2lbs of yoru goal weight don't you? Anyone know?

So today is my first day on IP. I was inspired by my boyfriends mom who has lost a lot of weight. I found this forum and it was the icing on the cake I had a cappucino for breakfast, not bad...was suprisingly not very hungry until right before lunch. Had the mushroom soup and a salad w/ veggies...but I am hungry now :/ trying to delay my snack..I am 22 5'8 and 191...i got out of the marines in march and they werent allowing me to do any excersize the last few months so i blew up like a whale! you all are so insperational and i know i can turn here if i feel a moment of weakness coming on!

I know i just started but the lady teaching me told me i should go just a tad under my goal (which obviously needs to be in the healthy range) because it is normal to gain a few pounds (about 6) a year...and that has to do with the way your metabolism reacts to the change in temp/weather so it gives you a little more wiggle room.

Well I was down 1 lb So considering my weekend I'm okay with that. So I am down to 158.2

I was thinking about getting the cookbooks but I'm just afraid I won't like any of the recipes. I know I've asked for some recipes and although most of them have been pretty good, I find they take up all my food for one meal. I am wondering if maybe once they up my portions I would be better to try their dinner recipes at least.

For my goal weight they based it on a combination of what I should be base on my age, height, body build and what I wanted to get to. I actually had said I wanted 120 but HM thinks I should see how I feel when I get to 125.