I want to be Sherry. **** yes!! 138 pounds. If only. 177.6 today, again, still, always, really.

Beautiful day to get outside for a workout. We did 20 min. of arms first, then walk/jogged. I jogged 1 1/4 and walked 1/2 miles. Yeah baby!!!

Susie- you can do this. Come on girl

Angie- Cupcakes??? Oh they sound yummy.

Wow. This says I haven't posted since Feb 22. I didn't realize it had been that long. Like Ward, I have been reading every day, but not posting. Don't know why. Still on the maintain path, unfortunately. I would still like to lose this last 15-20 pounds to get to my initial goal weight, and my goal was by the end of the school year, but it may not happen. I am happy to say that life seems to be slowing back down a little, and I have already been able to work out with Mindy 3 days this week. I plan to work out with her tomorrow and Friday as well. I have also stayed between 1200-1300 calories each of those three days, too. I will keep my fingers crossed!

Angela--I know losing your grandpa has been tough. You are doing a great job getting through without throwing your plan out the window. Stressful times don't help weight loss efforts, and you are keeping mindful of your plan through it all. Good for you!

Susie--Hop back on the train!!!! You can do this! Be strong! ;)

Mindy--What can I say. Stubborn f-ing pounds:devil: Keep on keeping on. At least you are staying healthy even if the scale isn't cooperating.

It looks like everyone is spending time away from the computer this weekend--if you have weather like we do in Ohio this weekend, I sure can't blame you!

I wish I could say I was out walking in it but I haven't been. I always seem to have so much to do. I got my cards out from the weight loss book that I bought at the first of the year to "get me started again". I read it but haven't been putting the action steps into action.

But today I read them through again (I am to read them daily). One of them says to put dieting first, I have to plan my life around exercise and dieting activities, not vice versa. I deserve to put myself first.

I think this was just what I needed to read because I haven't been doing that.

Granted I have had a lot going on and we all do and I have a lot that is going to go on. I was told on Wed of last week that my last day of work will be July 31. The company that bought us out in October is closing down our location--everyone will be gone by August 31.

It is a bit scary! I am our main income and I carry our benefits--my husband's company doesn't carry them. So, I stepping up the job hunt and also lowering my criteria a bit than I have been. I have to have the security of those health benefits that is most important to me.

So I have decided that I have two things to focus on right now and the first is loosing this weight and the second is to find a new job. I will plan my life around those two things.

Kelly: I'm so happy to hear that your life has slowed down a bit and you are getting to work out with Kelly. Also I am very proud of you for maintaining.

Mindy: Sherry looked great...but I want you to know that you do too! Don't sell yourself out..you have worked very, very hard and it shows.

Ok..time to get to bed. I have a 30 min walk to finish in the morning before church and my day gets started--putting dieting and exercise first!

Susie- I know it may seem scary, but sometimes things work out for the beat. They did for me many years ago. Stay positive.

Nothing to tell. I just keep hovering around the same weight. I know how to maintain, what happened to losing?? Waiting for my secreat weapon to arrive. Hopefully tomorrow. I want to get started.

Hi there. Not much new here. I'm busy with work--we have a lot to do to shut things down and of course I'm job hunting via the job board sites.

I am coming down with a cold...not a good thing ever but next week I have 4 performances to participate in for our church's Easter Muscial Drama.

So, I've made a decision that until I get done with the church thing next week I'm going to take it easy...if I want to go for a walk I will and if not, I won't. BUT when April 5th rolls around I'm back to exercising and really working my plan.

I'm not taking on anything else other than finding a job and working on my weight-loss. It's going to be all about me for a change!

Now, don't go thinking I'm through caution to the wind for the next few days. Nope, I'm not going to allow myself to have candy so I'm detoxing during this week and next week so that when I'm ready to get back to the structure of a weight-loss plan and program I have already won the sugar battle.

I'll also be popping in most days to say hi, encourge and be encourged so I"m looking forward to everyone's posts.

Mindy: What is the secret weapon? did it arrive?

Hi! Where is everyone? I have been very sucessful in staying away from sugar and I'm starting to feel my energy level come up.

Looking forward to seeing everyone's posts.

I am still waiting for my Gruve to come. It is an activity monitor, tells calories burned. It is getting close to 2 weeks now and still no sign of it. What's up??

Nothing else new to report though.

Susie- Good luck.

Mindy: I didn't know what a Gruve was so I googled it...very, very cool and I think it will help you to figure out why you are plateauing.

Susie- that is my hope. It came today. I got it plugged in and set up on the website. Before I even put it on my body it says My RMR is 1450, so to just do NOTHING, I should eat 1450 calories. Once it logs my calorie burn for a week it will adjust. This should be interesting.

Got on the scale this morning and it said 175.8. I said "Dam* liar". Then it went to 176.8, 2 pounds less than yesterday. For real??? It was probably playing a joke on me and will say 180 tomorrow.

Well you guys, the Gruve is very intresting. It provides a ton of info on my activity throughout the day. It is monitoring for a week before it decides what my burn should be each day. This should be interesting.

Today I was 177. Not bad. TOM will be here this week sometime. I have been under 180 for 20 days now. Don't want to go over it now. If I can just stay under through TOM I would be delighted. We shall see.

We have conferences next week, M and W till 8:30. That really screws up my evening. Will have to try working out at 9:00 when I get home? Yuck!!! I'll have to do it though to keep things as normal as possible for the Gruve tracking.

I am going to have to go and google this gruve thing.

Hi y'all! :wave:

Hi everyone! Still maintaining. Being able to work out consistently would help. Conferences will put a damper on my workouts as well. Mindy's are only Monday and Wednesday. Mine are Mon, Tues, and Wed. Yuck!

Hi--It is BEAUTIFUL in Ohio today with a promise of the weather getting warmer every day!

It's been a busy week for me. I am involved in my church's Easter Muscial Drama and we have four performances this week. I can truly say I have enjoyed the experience surrounding this event as well as the actual performances. I've been involved with this since January.

As much as I have enjoyed it, I'm looking forward to being finished and getting back to my weight-loss goals. We never know what the next day will bring but for the next four months I am going to enjoy a more stable time than I have been since October and I have made a vow to myself that for those 4 months I have two focuses. The first my weight-loss goals and the second to find a new job before my July 31 work end-date comes.

Mindy and Kelly: I hope the conferences were not to bruttle this week. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Ward: Did you google Mindy's new toy? It looks pretty cool!

Where is everyone else? Hope to hear from all of you soon!!

Hey!! So I made it through conferences and am now officially on spring break. YAY!!! I am still in the first week monitoring phase with my Gruve. I am averaging close to 600 calories a day. Today however I am already at 830. WOW!!! It's only 8:00. I took a 45 min, walk and burned 250 calories.

Today was our last weigh-in at school. I lost 2 pounds this week....even though TOM should be here anytime now. I was 176.6 this morning. That has to be a good thing, right??

Well I am going to enjoy my break, starting with a night out with co-workers tomorrow. We have been waiting a long time. It should be fun.

Hi to everyone! Still maintaining. Nothing new to report.

Mindy--Does that mean you are burning around 600 calories a day? I can't believe you would mean eating 600 a day! Glad you are getting your Gruve on! (Sorry, it had to be said!) See you tonight.

Susie--Just get back on track as soon as you can. That is all you can do!

I just keep singing "Shake Your Gruve Thing" in my head. :lol:

Hi--83 degrees in Ohio today! If that doesn't make one happy nothing will!!

I have my last choir performance tonight and then for the next 4 months, it's ALL about me!!

Mindy: Yes that's a good thing! I think this Gruve thing will be the key to getting you off that plateu that you have been one. Enjoy that spring break!

Kelli: Maintaining is a good thing! Enjoy your spring break. I bet you and Kelly get in some workouts.

Ward: I keep singing that same thing when I read about Mindy's Gruve!

So, I told my hubby, NO Easter candy and he said he listend to me but got me something else instead..we still do Easter Baskets for each other. He told me he would take his to work. He always wants candy! He's just a big kid.

Oh, did anyone watch BL on Tuesday? I think Sunshine is looking great! She's my favorite right now.

Here is what I've learned from my Gruve so far. I should burn 530 calories a day. My average though is currently over 600. It has bumped up my calories to eat to 1573. Basically what I am getting is...eat more and work out a bit less. Seems like funny advice right??

Well today I hit a new low, 175.4. And that is with TOM popping up any minute now. Maybe this thing is correct. We shall see. I am not going to bust my butt everyday, but take a nice walk most days and throw in a bit of arms or legs on a few days. I will see how this works for me.

Mindy: I think this Gruve thing is what you needed! I was wondering if you weren't working out to much and not eating enough. I know it's weird but I have heard that can be the case sometimes.

I'm headed back to the gym tonight. Yep..going back to the weight room. I'm excited!

Hi! I got busy and then forgot my password... doh. But I just wanted to pop in and say hi - and hope that everyone hasn't forgotten who I am.

How is everyone doing?

Susie & Mindy: It sounds like you guys are doing well!

SCraver: Welcome back! Of course we remember you. How are you doing?

So, last night I went to the Y. Walked and then did my upperbody weight workout. Total workout was about 1 hour...and I sure was sweaty and breathing hard but it felt good to move and I slept really well last night.

This morning I'm a bit stiff...the only way to deal with that is another workout tonight--got to moving to get limbered up! and stretching.

Small victory yesterday..I talked myself away from the Peppermint patties that my boss has on her desk. It was a rough 30 min but I made it! lol

Good morning. I'm feeling pretty good today. I'm hungry..not sure why because I had breakfast. I'm going to drink some water and wait about an hour and see if I'm still hungry then; if so I'll eat my apple.

I walked last night and did a lower body strength workout. I'm not as stiff today.

Today I will walk, upper body workout and then yoga.

So, did anyone watch BL? I was so excited when Sunshine got under 200! And I was shocked to learn that Melissa was a lawyer--somewhere along the line I missed that. I don't really like her at all.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's posts.

Susie- good job working out. That's right...just do it again.
Scraver- Welcome back. Don't leave us again.

TOM is rolling through and weight is up. I was 179 today, yuck!!! I did not go over 180 though, so that's good. Didn't get in a workout yesterday, unless you count my trip around the mall once a workout. I did hit my Gruve's burn number though, 523 calories. I actually burned 580.

Hopefully the numbers will start going back down now, once TOM is finished. I really want to see low 170's soon.

I am sitting at my kitchen table right now. My 15 mo. old son is eating his snack... THEN I am going to put him in his jogging stroller and go for a jog. I am going to do this instead of having an ice cold Guinness. Or maybe just BEFORE I have an ice cold Guinness.

It is glorious outside today. I have been out digging in my yard planting things. And after my jog, I think I am going to sit out on my deck!!

Mindy - I am just about to hit TOM, too. ~sigh~ My problem is always my raging appetite right before hand. I am hoping to get through it sipping a lot of hot or iced tea and having some carefully planned out snacks. I will wait until it passes to weigh myself!

Susie - it sounds like you are doing great with your workouts! Keep up the great work!

Hi everyone. I am happy to report a loss at my TOPS weigh-in last night--it was a small loss, but it's a loss. ;)

Last night at TOPS our chapter handed out achievement awards for weight-loss recogniations for members' achievements last year and then they also handed out awards for the 1st quater of this year. I was the ONLY person in that room that didn't get anything. Last year I it netted out that I stayed the same and that is what I have done so far this year. Which is a good thing for when I get to goal--I guess I'll know how to do it! :p

I was a bit upset that I had allowed a year to go by and achieve NOTHING against my weight goal. That isn't me. Why, only 5 years ago I was recognized for lossing 60 lbs in a year. I was only upset with me--and it was a good upset..not that poor me I'll eat upset. It was a "by golly next quarter I'm going to be in that group that is recognized". And I had a lost last night so I'm already headed that way.

I hope everyone is having a good Friday and ready for the weekend. I know I am!

Mindy: Not going over 180 during TOM is a very good things for you.

SCraver: Did you get out and jog?

Susie: YUP! I did get out and jog on Wednesday... However, I use the term 'jog' VERY loosely. I can't believe how much of a difference it is to go jogging with a 25 lb toddler in a jogging stroller. I had to walk a good portion of my 4 mile route, but I definitely worked my legs pretty good!

And then when I got back, I only had ONE beer. (not two or three!) and I had NO beers (or alcoholic drinks of any kind) last night! I feel so good, I may not have any drinks tonight OR tomorrow either!!

I have been VERY good - compeltely on plan since Tuesday. I have excerised four out of the last five days, and I am about to head down to the gym in a few mins. AND I have plans to jog with my sister tomorrow morning.

Susie and Scraver- Good job on your owm small victories. You know this is sure a lot of work. That's why I am only doing it once. I will never go back, I promise.

Today was my weigh-in. I was 177.6, up from last week, but TOM is just finishing up. This is usually when I lose a bit. So bring on the loss. I did about 2.5 miles today. I jogged a little less than half. It was cold. My whole sping break has been rainy and cold. YUCK!!!

SCraver: Good idea to take it easy on the drinks..they are just empty calories and it's hard enough to work off good calories much less those empty ones! Great job staying on track this week.

Mindy: I LOVE your statment about this is hard enough and you are only doing this once. I was looking through my Shape magazine and they had a blip in there about the Gruve. I"m thinking of telling my friends and family I would like one for my birthday in June and they can all go in on it.
Are you really liking it?

Ward: Is your Biggest Loser contest still going on.

I'm doing ok. Had a little bit of candy today but I was able to stop myself before it got to bad.

Susie- I really do like my Gruve. It gives me a lot of information. Not sure if it is helping me lose yet. My body still resents giving up any more weight, but by the end of the month I'll know if I dropped anymore.

177 today, same as yesterday. We shall see what happens next.

Beautiful day in Ohio today and I didn't get out and enjoy it. I have just been so tired and I slept most of the afternoon.

I am still dealing with being sick from two weeks ago. It has turned into bronchitis. I now have a strong antibodic and I'm resting this time so I will get well.

I am looking forward to getting back to the gym tomorrow. I made it 4 days last week...going for 5 this week.

My sister and I jogged on Saturday... Then we had pizza for dinner. I was SO good - I only had two pieces and didn't even care to have another. I was only interested in drinking my Rum and Coke (which turned into 3 and 1/2 rum and cokes and a third piece of pizza late that night) BUT I was just glad that I started with only two pieces. I never just have two and stop.

I had a healthy breakfast and then went to visit with some family. I did over indulge there - but I only ate breakfast and then snacks & dinner yesterday, so all in all, I did pretty ok.

I am back on track today. I am not going to the gym today. Too tired, too crampy, muscles too sore, and I am taking it a little bit easy this week to get ready for my 5k on Saturday. I don't want to be doing it with sore muscles!

175.8 this morning. In my heart I want to see 173ish this month, but wouldn't turn down 174's either. I've burned about 650 clas so far today and should eat 1580. Still working on hitting the calories in.

Yesterday was a hard day for me emotionally. It was the date that my daddy passed away on 12 years ago. I always get emotional around that date. I never know if it will be before that date, after or on it. This year it was on it. You think that after all that time it would get easier and it does somewhat, the ache isn't there every day that strong but when those "dates" including birthday's come along the ache feels just like the 1st day.

I'm better today though. I allowed myself to just be yesterday and that really makes the difference.

My plan tonight is to get to the Y early and get my walk done, then I'm in a 30 min "Tot's tumble" class with a friend of mine who has twins. She can't handle them both in class. It's a interactive class where the kids are learning to stretch and tumble. Should be interesting. :D

SCraver: Good idea to give yourself a bit of a rest so you can get ready for your race.

Mindy: How often are you hitting your calorie range?

Susie - :hug:

Ward: Thanks for the hugs! I really miss you when you aren't here. I hope we will see more of you soon.

The Tot's tumbling class was fun. I even did a front roll! I was surprised I could still do it. I used to like to do headstands but I can't do them anymore.

I also got my walk in. I walk for 45 min at a pretty good clip. I get 3 miles in usually in that time frame. I also logged my food yesterday AND counted the calories! and I'm doing it again today. I feel positive about myself because I'm working the process again.

Did anyone watch the Biggest Loser last night? What did you think?

Susie - sorry about your father. That must be difficult.Maybe at that time each year, you just need to cut yourself some slack on what you are eating.

Good job on the walk!! 3 miles in 45 minutes is awesome. I jog - but I find that walking that pace for a long period of time is quite challanging!!

I have been doing awesome - I weighed myself this morning and saw 213.0! Whoo hoo! I had hit a bump in the road and leveled off for a while, but now things are heading downwards again! Sunday is the big day... I will be purchasing my dress for my sisters wedding in October. I have lost enough that I should be able to get a size 16 instead of the 18 (whoo hoo!) and I am hoping that I will need to have it taken in a whole bunch by the wedding!! (My aunt says you can take in a dress up to two sizes - but I am just shooting for size 14 by then!)

I have been doing great in the evenings - just eating my one snack instead of grazing/bingeing all evening. Having a snack planned at a specific time each evening has been a HUGE help for me. (I can thank my therapist for help coming up with my evening plan)

This lsoing weight/changing the way I eat/changing the way I think about food sure is a LOT of work. But it seems totally worth it.

Hi--ever have one of those days where you just aren't feeling it? That's me today. I don't know why but I do feel a bit tired so maybe that is it. So, I've told myself that the answer is not to over-eat or binge on sugar for energy, but to rest. I'm resting my mind and my body today. I know that something is going on..my hands are so swollen that I could barely get my rings on today. I didn't get as much water in yesterday as usual so maybe that is what is causing that swelling and the fact that I'm tired. I am on my 6th glass of water for the day so far so I'm doing much better than yesterday.

I came here to remind myself that what I am doing is worth it and there was SCraver's post...so inspiring! Thanks SCraver! Would you mind telling a little more about your therapist and how that is helping you and maybe how you found one to help with all of this?

Yay! I am glad you found my post inspiring! :carrot:

I have toyed with the idea of going to see a therapist for years. I went to one years ago, but I gave up after 3 sessions. She was nice enough, but I wasn't getting what I expected out of it. I probably should have looked for a therapist that was a better match for me.

So... sometimes I get depressed. Lately, I have been having quite a bit of anxiety. But what really pushed me over the edge to find a therapist was about a month ago when I realized I had plateued in my weight loss. Not because of anything physical. I knew exactly why I wasn't losing weight (bingeing in the evenings, bad weekend habits) and I also knew that the only way I was going to over come this permanently was to seek outside help.

I looked up online to find a therapist in my area, that took my insurance (my insurance has a website were I looked up a list of therapists), that was a woman, who spoke English. I felt that talking to a woman would be better than a man. How can a man understand the stress I face as a working mom?

I have had three sessions so far. She is really nice. I talk and she helps me think about how I can fix things. I told her about my bingeing in the evening (btw, she also specializes in eating dissorders). She asked me when I was eating and what. When she asked me when - it triggered in my mind the fact that my day is all set up - I have a plan and times for when and what I eat - but no plan, no time set up for when I eat in the evenings. Since I have had a plan (as simple as it is) I can look forward to my ONE snack in the evenings and enjoy it fully and have been able to keep myself under control. (Now I just need to keep doing it until it is habit!)

The stuff she says may seem pretty much common knowledge - but she helps me to look at things differently. To think about different ways to handle things. She has also invited me to a group therapy. But I can't make this session. I am hoping to make it to the next session.

(Sorry - didn't mean to write a novel!)

Not seeing any great loss right now. DARN!!! Well i asm still plugging along. Walked 2.5 miles today and trying to eat 1650 cals. OH MY!!!

Hi Ladies! So, I went to TOPS to weigh-in on Thursday. Felt great about myself. I've worked out, tracked my food and I have a 2.5 lb GAIN! WTH???

I know this sounds weird but I think it's the antibodics I am on. This is my second round. I'm finished with them today. I had strep 3 weeks ago and then I had bronchitis. Every time I'm on a antibodic I seem to show a gain.

This week I won't weigh-in because I'll be in Minneapolis on Thursday and Friday. This week I won't get much of a workout in except lunch time walks..I have meetings after work Mon-Wed and Wed night I have to pack.

So, I'm hopping that in 2 weeks I will show a big loss..I'm more than hoping..I'm working for it.

SCraver: Thanks for sharing that info with me. I've been thinking about doing the same thing and my company provides 10 free sessions with a theipist--after that it starts being paid through insurance. With all the changes that are coming up for me, I am feeling very anxious and I know that makes me binge. I think I"ll look into using those sessions.

Mindy: How are you doing hitting your calorie requirement? I know you feel that is a lot of food but maybe until you hit it consistantly you won't see the loss you expect? You have the best determination of anyone I know! Hang in there and work really hard on hitting that calorie requirement.

Ok..got to get to cleaning this house. See you all later.