For Lisa
 

First of all...Lisa, you are very brave to come clean...especially since you know the cyber foot is reving up for you and ...here comes the kick....pow! Ok, lets move on...I can tell my your post that you are well aware of what you did wrong so I wont rehash all that. I will however focus on the part where you said you started eating when you found out you had lost weight...Why did you sabotage yourself that way? Are you afraid of something...to actually look and feel good? Also, when you knew you gained...you gave yourself persmission to continue gaining...STOP THAT! You did not give permission to yourself to gain weight...you are too important to allow to...you have worked too hard...you go to the gym so often, why would you throw away all that effort and money...why? Okay, So you had a slip up, but you are well aware of it and now you are back on track...stay there:D
Glad to hear your sono was normal...I would probably ask your doctor what else can be done for the pain, maybe other tests for other parts of your body that are around that area! I think we need LadyRider to help us here!:) So I hold you to this challenge you are on....to exercise, to eat right and to lose 2 pounds...good luck.

Its looks like we have all been lazy and off track...all these posts about our indiscretions...no more, we are back on track, we will not gain weight, we will lose weight, we will exercise, we will eat right, we will feel good about ourselves, we are worth it...now repeat after me...again!

Okay, gotta get back to work

bye
Cyan

Thanks Cyan! I needed that!!!
Lisa

Hi everyone, I'll let you know a little about myself. I currently weigh 140 and am 5 foot 3. I would like to lose 30 pounds in about 4 months. I never had a weight problem until I got married and had kids. My plan of action is to try to change my eating habits instead of counting calories. I try to drink more water, eat more vegetables and replace potato chips with healthier snacks. I started eating the peeled and washed carrot sticks with hummus as a snack food. I am also trying to keep a food journal and to "think" before eating. I am keeping busy with hobbies--- watercolor painting, decorating the house and I love to go to antique auctions and garage sales. In addition, my two boys, Jimmy 7 and Jake 4 keep me very busy. As far as exercise I would like to start a yoga class and maybe increase my walking during the day. I have never been good about going to gyms. Once again my new year resolution will be to eat less and exercise more. I have to go now and get my sons ready for bed. I'll try to post again later this evening after they are asleep.

Here I am
 

Well, I can't remember the last time I posted. You all talk about one day and I'm already finished with it, it gets confusing:dizzy:

Sunday was, not so good, but could've been worse I guess. Didn't exercise the entire weekend:o and felt totally bad about it. It has become a habit, so not walking twice is kinda like weird.

Monday, I tried my best. I had my breakfast drink and then took my son to buy breakfast (dh has him in a bad habit of not eating homemade stuff, so they go out and buy sandwiches here, a normal Chinese breakfast). DH was sick so I had to go and buy the breakfast. Well, what do I do???buy probably the worst thing on earth for me:( a piece of thick bread with chocalte spread:o boy was it good though. It was probably at least 500calories. Lunch, I had soup (70calories/cup) and 2 pieces of whole wheat toast with "I Can't Believe It's not Butter" and my diet pepsi. Dinner, salad and tofu soup and diet pepsi.

I did have one banana last night and before bed I had a hand full of cherry tomatoes (no fat in those right?)
I did walk for 30min (1mile) did abs/butt lifts and tried to march/jog in place for like 15min. So the abs/butt lifts were like 15min too. I probably burned off about 200calories. That makes me feel a little better.
;)

Reina--wow!! I don't think I would've had the will power to pass up Krispy Kreme. You Go Girl:cool: Now that you've done it once, it will be easier next time and your dh probably thought he gotcha but you showed him (I know I hate it when it seems like dh "tries" to get me to eat something I shouldn't!!)

Lisa---hey, at least you only gained 5lbs and not 20lbs!!! Maybe you just needed a wake up call or something. Sounds like you have a good plan to get that weight off. Going to the gym and all will get that off fast. Go Lisa! Go Lisa!Go Lisa! Go Go Go:D

Cyan--hey you all see what I am dealing with living in Taiwan? all Chinese food!!!! It's a struggle alright. I admire you for exercising so much. Actually, I am trying to learn from you. Adding up your calories and then exercising and deducting that. What a great teacher you are!
Debee--you have a great plan. It's definetly not easy in the beginning, but this is a great group for support. Anytime you want to write and whatever about, we are all here for you.
MikiG--4hours of shopping!! I wish I could do that--sounds crazy I know. We don't even have a shopping mall here. We have one department store (not muchof anything though) and something similiar to WalMart I guess you could say. Christmas isn't even a recongized holiday here in Taiwan. But we let our kids (even fosterdaughters) take off of school and it's a special day for everyone. Have fun at all those games! Man, my parents only went to home games, never an away game.

Well, ladies, yes, I am writing this on my Tuesday morning. I have already had my breakfast drink and thinking about what to do for lunch as we usually go out. Gotta go get some fruit today and some veggies too. Any suggestions for snacks? I am thinking of purchasing a kickboxing workout DVD or something I can do at home as well as go walking. I just feel I need more exercise. Well, have a good night ladies.

"Don't the let the midnight munchies bite"


210/199/150

Hi all! Got home a little earlier than I expected so of course I had to run check in here. Stressful day today but I didnt eat because of it...yeahhh!

I didnt eat breakfast and then worked thru lunch so I could get off in time to get to Josh's ballgame on time. Well, about an hour before I was to leave, my mom called. She was keeping Luke, my youngest, because he wasnt feeling well this morning and didnt go to school. His temp was 104 degrees!!! Scared me to death!! So I left work and took off out there to check on him. Called the doctor and they said they would work him in. We were there FOREVER!! The doc said it was just a severe sinus infection. Anyway, after a huge shot of pennicillin, his fever was down to 101 or a little less so I took him back to my mom til my hubby got off work. I didnt want to miss Josh's game because for the first time, he was going to get to be a starter and I couldnt bear to think that my husband and I neither one would be there. I was really torn between staying with Luke who was sick and being with Josh for such an important game for him. So anyway, I decided with Luke feeling better, I'd go on to the game. I FLEW practically and got there just as the last buzzer went off. :( I wanted to cry!! I was already stressed from Luke's sickness then I missed Josh playing also. During all of this, there was never time to think of eating. On the way home, we went to a drive-thru, and I got a grilled chicken wrap. ( grilled chicken strip with lettuce, tomatoe, and lite ranch dressing wrapped in a flour tortilla). My calorie total for the day is less than 400 calories! ( dont worry, that part wasnt on purpose, and I wont go that low again, but hey, thats better than 4000!! lol )

Lisa, that was like reading about myself! I do the same thing...if I gain, I get depressed and eat...If I lose, I think, cool, now I can eat a little more! Crazy huh? It's just subconsciously that I think those things but I've noticed that's how it happens usually. Sounds like you're back on track now so that's all that counts. Dont look back!!

Cyan, thanks for figuring out how many caloried I burned walking thru the mall. Made me feel much better about not doing the AirWalker. No more excuses tho...after today, if I dont exercise on the AirWalker, you have permission to kick my butt once again! lol

Reina, sorry to hear you've had some family probs. I hope everything is working out for the best in whatever it is. I'm excited about the chat room too but I havent found a nite yet that I can get in there. Maybe Wed nite? No ballgames that nite. It's usually around 9 pm ( central ) when I get online. Way to go on resisting the donuts!!! WOW!

Hi Taiwan! I bet you do get confused with us having different days from you. lol You and I will have to get back into the exercise thing together! Let's make a deal...starting tomorrow we have to do at least some kind of exercise everyday for the rest of the week. Think we can do it?? As for a healthy snack, how about popcorn? Hardly any fat or calories at all. Do you have that in Taiwan?

Debee, welcome back. Sounds like you have a good plan worked out. Now all it takes is to implement the plan and stick with it. (Easier said than done as I've learned lately but it IS possible!! Just dont give up )

Well, I'm tired and have to get up early the next 2 mornings so I better go for now. It was great hearing from all of you!! G'nite!

MIKI

Hi Ladies,

How are you all? Sorry I don't have time to address everyone individual. I have a major head and got up to take something for it. Couldn't resist saying hello to you all.

Monday was good 1321 cals and 20 mins weight lifting. It's soo hard to resist all of this food. Everyone has the Christmas spirit and baking tons! Reina I wish I had your will power. I asked hubby to stop by Krispy Kreme on his way home the other night. He said nope, diet remember? Sooo that's the only way I was saved.

Take everyone :grouphug:

Good Morning Ladies
 

Well lets see, last night I consumed 1621 cals and 56 grams of fat! yay for lowering my fat grams...very hard for me...I exercised for 25 minutes and burned off 300 cals for a grand total of 1321...pretty good.

Miki...please consider the fact that eating too few calories is just as bad as eating too many...if you consistently eat too few calories, your body will think it is in starvation mode and store any calories taken in there after. Also, you will slow down your metabolism...and in the long run, you are weakening your body...making it more suseptible to disease...so take care of you, you are very important to you and your family...feed your body good food...try to stay about 1200 cals...Ok, a big hug to you and your little boy ...I hope he is feeling better ;)

PreciousOne, give your hubby a big hug for supporting your efforts...he seems very considerate of your health journey and his actions speak louder than anything....very nice to read your post because support is so important when we are trying to change our relationship to and with food for a better healthier one. Also, I am very inspired by your efforts to keep exercising...weight lifting is great for increasing your metabolism and losing weight...so kudos to you. And you also seem to have a good handle on your cal consumption...keep going:D

Hi Taiwan...keep at it, soon you will fall into a healthy diet and exercise that works for you...this health journey is very idividualistic and what works for you might not work for anyone else...the important thing is that it is sensible and not too depriving...remember...its for life! and the benefits are a long healthy life, feeling good about yourself, looking good, feeling sexy, do I need to go on:lol: The banana and cherry tomatoes are very good snacks...kudos to you for making wise choices...tomatoes are very high in lutene...a great antioxident and cancer fighting agent.

Hi Debee, glad to see you with us...is sound like you have very little weight to lose...so go slow, make a healthy change...you should be losing about a pound a week...this way, your weight loss will be for life because you will have changed your eating habits to promote a good healthy lifestyle...and dont forget to exercise!...dont wait for the new year...start exercising now and join our pre-new years resolution to stay on track through the hollidays.

Lisa and Reina...looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Annie, Cjunk...I hope you come back soon...I miss you guys and your infinite wisdom:(

LadyRider...I am looking forward to you coming back soon and I hope you are having a wonderful trip.

Take care y'all

Cyan

Must Read Article
 

How To Resolve To Eat Better
Do you plan each year to do your body some good? Making small changes in diet and exercise will reap big rewards -- and keep those resolutions intact.

By Jeanie Davis
WebMD Feature
Reviewed By Michael Smith, MD

Lose weight, eat less junk food -- they top many lists of New Year's resolutions. But sticking with those good intentions is just not easy.

The problem: "Most people have unrealistic expectations," says Cynthia Sass, a nutritionist with the University of South Florida in Tampa and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.

"They decide this is the year they're going to completely change everything about their diet," she tells WebMD. "That's just too hard to do."

Willpower isn't the issue, says Sass. "Willpower is about depriving yourself, and nobody gets excited about that. Besides, depriving yourself is depressing and leads to bingeing. Focus on the positives -- you feel better, have more energy, when you eat healthy."

When making dietary changes, "start small," she says. "Set a few realistic goals. In the long run, you'll have better self-esteem and more self-confidence because you'll actually stick with them."

Here are a few tips for a healthier diet and lifestyle:



· Don't skip breakfast, says Heidi Reichenberger, another ADA spokeswoman based in Boston. "Skipping breakfast gives you the munchies later on and slows your metabolism down." She advises starting the day with yogurt and fruit or whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk.

· Don't skip any meals or snacks, says Sass. "Try not to let more than five hours go by without eating. Waiting too long can zap energy, and can lead to overeating later. Eat a (healthy) snack between lunch and dinner, maybe right before leaving work, so you will be less likely to grab snack foods once you get home."

· Include a total of 30 minutes of activity every day. "It doesn't have to be all at once," Reichenberger tells WebMD. If it takes 10 minutes to walk from the bus stop, get off at the next furthest stop so you get a few more minutes walking. And walk it briskly -- you can lose some weight, improve your cardiovascular system, and sleep better.

· Drink fewer sodas and other sweetened drinks, like iced tea. A big bottle of a juice-based drink can contain 300 calories -- and those calories add up. Drink water instead. Or mix juice and water, so you're not drinking something so heavily loaded with sugar.

· Aim to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

· Buy pre-cut fruits and vegetables, so you can grab them when you're hungry.

· Keep frozen veggies in the fridge. They are easy, quick, and rich in nutrients. Take them to work for a quick lunch you can heat in the microwave. Season with black pepper, herbs, lemon juice, or a red wine-and-balsamic vinegar dressing.

· Bring snacks to work -- such as pretzels, fruit, and yogurt -- so you won't find yourself at the vending machine every afternoon.

· When fixing a salad, sprinkle rolled oats or crunchy whole-grain cereal for added fiber, so you'll feel full.

· Fix pasta dishes with veggies and lean protein (like canned tiny shrimp, tuna canned in water, precooked chicken breast, or soy crumbles). Adding protein and veggies to pasta allows you to cut back on the amount of pasta (which is high in carbohydrates) while still feeling full.

· Also, hand-select a variety of fruits instead of buying one large bag of the same fruit. "After the third or fourth day of apples, you'll likely be sick of them," says Sass. "Mixing up a few different types of apples, one pear, one banana will keep you from getting bored."

Originally published Jan. 14, 2002.
Medically updated September 2002.
© 2002 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.

I did it again, I had a great post to everyone, and I accidently opened an email with a website and it wiped out my entire post.

Sorry ladies. I hope you all have a better day today.
I totally spilled my guts about changing my eating patterns and it is all gone. and it totally came from the heart because I can't remember a word of it now.

I promise to post tonight, I have some major testing to do today at work, so I will be unavailable today.

Miki, I hope Luke is feeling better today. And I hope you have a great day.

PreciousOne, keep up the good work, I knew you would find your way back.

Taiway, you keep exercising girl. You are doing great.

Lisa, I know for sure those 5lbs will certainly come right off, once you get back to your old regimen. So you had a bad week, It is over, and you are on a new path to come back from that, so I am holding you to that challenge to eat right and lose 2 lbs.

Have a great day everyone, I have to go.

Good Morning!
 

Good morning! Good morning! Good morning! Well, I have to say that since I got back on track yesterday, I feel awesome!!! I had 29 points when I added it all up, but with the workout, I'm sure I burned off 2 or 3 points, which is good. Today, I've been to the gym already. I actually got there a little early so I could get on the treadmill for 10 minutes before the Body Defined class started...so I had already burned 85 calories before the class...not a lot but better than 0!
I keep having to stop typing to yell at our pig, Hamlet. He's searching the floor for food, but I have to watch because sometimes he stops to pee pee. Or he eats my magazines on the floor.
I had a Slim Fast for Breakfast and I'm having sauteed zuchinni with cheese (only 2points) and a Root Beer Float..with diet root beer and low-fat no sugar added frozen yogurt..it's delicious and only 2 points!!!
My workout was great but I can tell my butt needs the most work because it's the hardest area for me to work. It hurts so BAD!!!:^:

Well, my son is begging me to hurry up and take a shower so I can fix him lunch afterwards. So, I'll do some personal messages later. I have to study. I have two tests tonight for my last Anatomy and Physiology class!

Bye:wave:

Chinese Food
 

Ok,
I just had to post this.
Here I am stressed by deadlines tonight, so everyone here ordered Chinese Food. I didn't know what to order so someone recommend KungPaoChicken...

I am trying it and it is pretty good, and I thought well, it's chicken right?
WRONG:s:

I just happen to look up nutritional content, and came across this section that i just had to show you all

..The Center's study analyzed the nutritional content of 15 popular dishes from 20 mid-priced Chinese restaurants around the country. Believe it or not, a 2 1/2 cup portion of Kung Pao Chicken contained 38 grams of fat, equivalent to two fast food quarter pounders. Two cups of Orange Crispy Beef was found to have over 800 calories, equal to about two orders of large French fries at a fast food restaurant. :devil:

Oh My God, I would have been much happier just eating 2 orders of McDonald's French fries. ;)
Well, I just I am going to have to going to have to take a 30 minute break and do a brisk walk around my building...

If anyone knows of any good chinese dishes that are low in fat and cals. please let me know. Taiwan, I hope to hear from you on this, because I know you said you were having a hard time when that is all you can eat. I like Chinese food, and they order here alot, so any suggestions would be appreciated.

Lisa, Good for you.:bravo: I knew you would be back into it.

Hi! everyone seems so motivated and positive. I wish I could be but today was not a good day. I tried on some Christmas outfits and got so depressed that I ate a bowl of nachos.
Because I am petite these 30 extra pounds (mostly in my stomach and hips) make me look like I am expecting. In fact, a woman I had not seen in a few years asked me when the next child was on the way. Talk about motivation to go on a diet!
I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for any low calorie snack foods (that deit rootbeer float sounded great) I try eating popcorn, chex mix and carrot sticks but I crave McDonald french fries .

Evening Ladies
 

Boy do I have a victory to tell you about...today, at work, very tired, very sluggish...I didnt sleep well at all last night..so I ate, stayed on track but towards quiting time, visions of McDonalds appeared before me and as I head down the stairs...I was determined that I was going to eat a BigMac and a McChicken...yes girls...two burgers...for real...so when I got to the corner where the golden arches are, I look inside, open the door and wait in line....in line, I was able to convince myself that I was too important to sabotage my success and that I really didnt want the BigMac and McChicken....I turned around and left...for real...from inside McDonald's, smelling the food, next in line, I turned around and walked out the door:cb: :cp: :bravo: :gift: :high: :balloons: WooHoo...what a victory for me...and I ate a sensible meal for dinner so, my total cals for today is 1468 and 42 grams of fat...I exercised for 30 minutes for a distance of 9.5 km and burned off 350 cals for a grand total of 1118....yahoooooooooo!!!!!

Ok, sorry for all my gloating but it was such a good feeling to be in control.

Well I gotta do some weights and take a shower....be strong, stay motivated cause its a great feeling...and you are worth it!

Cyan

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/chat.php

Before I forget it, there's the link to the chatroom for any of you who dont know where to find it. I first got a plain gray screen with nothing on it, but if you "Refresh", it should come up fine. May take a min or so tho. Im going to try, if at all possible, to go in there tomorrow nite around 9pm central. I'd love to see some of you there.

My calories for today are low again, and I just finished doing 25 minutes of my AirWalker. Josh had a ballgame again tonite ( in town at least) so I had to work thru my lunch hour in order to get off for it again. By the time I got off I was starving to death so I ran thru the Subway drive-thru and got me a 6 inch veggie subway and had a handful of Baked Doritos chips with it. That was around 4:30 this afternoon. The game started at 5. When I got home, I cooked hamburgers but it was only a little after 6 so I wasnt hungry yet since I ate so late. It's 9:00 now and I just ate some FatFree vanilla pudding and an orange. My calories are still under 1000. ( of course I havent gone to bed yet either lol ) No ballgame tomorrow so believe me, calories will be higher for sure. Plus Thurs and Fri hubby and I are going out of town shopping, which means eating out and eating something yummy! ( Dont worry Cyan:) I promise I havent gone too far the other way. I love food just as much as always!)I"m actually going to cook a REAL supper tomorrow. lol It's just that when I work thru lunch, even tho I havent had any calories yet, I cant see grabbing something greasy and fried rather than the healthier veggie sub just because I can spare the calories. I havent purposely stayed under 1000 the last 2 days. Just worked out that way. I'm going to TRY to get up in time for some cereal or something in the morning but I have never liked eating before around 9 a.m. I have to leave for work by 7:30. Wish I was more of a morning person! One thing I love more than eating is SLeeping!:yawn:

Luke is better today. Kept him out of school again because he still has a bad cough but no high fever, thank goodness! He may be able to go back to school tomorrow. Bad time to miss since this semester is almost over and he needs to be studying and not getting behind right here at the end. 5th graders have lots more homework now than I had in 5th grade!! Actually he brings home more than Josh does, who is in 7th grade.

Reina...I hated hearing the bad news about the Chinese foods. I had seen an article about that also on the homepage of 3FC a week or so ago. Not sure if it's still there. I hate that...I LOVE Chinese food!! Thats really depressing to think about how high in fat and calories some of it is. Even more depressing to think thats probably what I'll eat Thurs or Fri when we go shopping and those buffets are what get me everytime. I just cannot pass up seconds usually. ( Hey, just remembered tho that with my sis last week, I actually did that! Hmmm..could I do that TWICE??:?: Guess we'll find out huh? lol ) Hubby doesnt have the willpower that my sis does tho. :crossed: Ya'll cross your fingers that I wont totally blow it.

:queen: Cyan, you are the QUEEN of Will power!!!! Turning down McDonald food while being IN McDonalds????????? That is the ULTIMATE!!! Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lisa, everytime I read something about Hamlet:ink: I cant help but laugh.:lol: I bet he's a cutie. How did you happen to decide on a pig as an indoor pet??? lol

Precious One, hope your headache eases up soon. Nice to hear you have a hubby who's supportive of what you're trying to do.

Taiwan, now I'm confused. Did you post today?? Or was that yesterday? lol I dont think I saw one from you. If not, wanted to tell you I missed you! If you did, sorry I must have skipped it somehow.

Debee, dont do like I did all weekend! I totally blew everything I was working for. Gained back 2 of the 8 lbs I had lost and was totally disgusted with myself. In the end, I realized food is NOT WORTH how bad I felt about myself afterwards.

Ok, my stomach is growling now. It's almost 10 pm and I hate eating this late. Hmmm...what could I have? Kinda in the mood for a baked potato but hate eating them so late. (besides I like them with butter, sour cream, cheese, and bacon bits:s: ) Maybe I'll just go to bed. Not sure yet. Anyway, I do need to get off this computer. Another early day tomorrow, then off the rest of the week...yesssssssssssss:):)

NITE ALL.....have a great day tomorrow!

MIKI

happy Hump Day
 

Good morning ladies! I have to start out by saying...CYAN:bravo: Good for you!! WOW!! First of all, I can't believe you actually were going to eat 2 burgers!!!! Now, that's a craving! You have now motivated even more. YOU ROCK!

Debee, some low fat snacks that I like...Smart Pop Popcorn. It's got like 7 grams of fiber and very little calories. YUMMY! Also, I like sugar free jello with fat free whip cream. I also like Slim Fast for Breakfast. Another good snack is an egg...fried, boiled or whatever. Also, try really hard to drink your water. It will make you feel full.

MikiG, about Hamlet. When my hubby and I met, he said he would really like to have a Pot Bellied Pig as a Pet. I said forget it! No WAY! Then in April of this year, I saw a baby one at a petting zoo at my daughter's preschool carnival. It was so cute. So in May we decided to take the plunge. I called all over Wichita one day and finally found someone who had 4 babies who were ready to go. So we paid $45 and took home the only one who wasn't solid black. He was so tiny. When we picked him up he would scream so loud. He only weighed about 7 pounds. He was cute. Emphasis on the word WAS. Now he's probably about 40 pounds. He pees on the floor, he won't stay off my water bed, he foams at the mouth when he's hungry, he eats paper, and he is just weird. He does add some humoruous moments to our life because he has this personality that is very funny. The life expectancy is 18 to 20 years....so I guess I 'll have to learn to live with him. Luckily, he's not too big for the doggy door....yet.
We have a dog named Penny, too!
Well, I had 25 points yesterday. I'm really sore from working out. I'm going to weigh myself today and see if I've made any progress. I think the gym scale is different than the one at the doctor's office. I'm officially done with Anatomy and Physiology! I got that B. I have a Lifetime Fitness test tonight and then I'm done for the semester! :cb:
I hope LadyRider is back soon! I miss her! I also really miss Cjunk! And Annie!
Well, I hope everyone has a great day!
Lisa:wave:

Good Morning Ladies
 

Lisa I am with you...I miss those guys too...I hope they are well and in good spirits.

Guys thanks for your pat on my back...I appreciate it...its a sunny day here today at not very cold as far as winter goes. The day is early so not much to report...except that my Mom is not doing so well, so keep your fingers crossed for her and if you pray, pray for her.

Thats it for now

Cyan

Must Read
 

Beat bad holiday habits
Avoid common health concerns during the festive season

by Heather Camlot



Is this really the most wonderful time of the year? Sure, you may reunite with loved ones, open presents and get a few days off from work but you may also overeat, drink excessively, stress out and lose sleep. Joy to the world.

The season’s pressures are abundant, but you can reduce their harmful health effects. Here’s how:

Food consumption
While running errands during the festive season, you can forget to eat. But, explains Gina Sunderland, a dietitian at St. Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg, skipping meals lowers the metabolic system, leading to weight gain. It can also lower your immune system. Before heading out, pack some yogourt, cheese or fruit, she suggests. And, if needed, take a well-balanced multivitamin-mineral supplement.

On the flipside, over-consumption, especially of fatty foods, can also lead to weight gain, as well as diabetes and heart disease, says Sunderland. "We need to take the concept of moderation to heart. Think of the buffet [at a holiday party] as a menu; pick what you really want."

Alcohol indulgence
Having a few too many at a party can leave you hung over, headachey and uncomfortable. Save yourself the pain and suffering by concentrating on prevention. "Plan how many drinks you’re going to have," offers Frederick Rotgers, associate professor of psychology at the Philadelphia College of Ostheopathic Medicine and author of Responsible Drinking (New Harbinger Publications, 2002). Throughout the evening, Rotgers suggests "no more than four [alcoholic drinks] for men and three for women."

For another way to avoid overdrinking, Rotgers recommends nursing your drinks – one per hour – alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, drinking water or soft drinks to satisfy thirst and drinking alcoholic beverages only at mealtimes.

Stress elevation
Stressors — such as financial worry and holiday shopping — can trigger negative feelings and depression. The severity may worsen for those who don’t have fulfilling family relations or for those who have recently lost a loved one. According to Health Canada, planning ahead and creating a prioritized task checklist can decrease stress. Ask for help to complete tasks, let go of unrealized tasks, take advantage of employee assistance programs and find time for yourself – be it a nap or yoga class.

Sleep deprivation
A little sleepiness, irritability and poor performance may not be terrible prices to pay for a great night out, but be aware of the dangers of drowsiness. "The biggest concern is people driving under those conditions," says Dr. Helen Driver, of the Sleep Disorders Laboratory at the Kingston General Hospital, in Kingston, Ont. "There are an increased number of road accidents [because] of tired drivers."

Of course, the best way to avoid drowsiness is to give your body the amount of sleep it needs but, for a temporary solution, a cup of coffee may do the trick. Caffeine, explains Driver, can perk you up for about four hours post-consumption. She also suggests drinking sufficient amounts of water to counteract the extra alcohol you may consume during the holidays, keeping to as regular a sleep schedule as possible and getting at least four hours of consolidated sleep.

"We can all function on a bit of sleep deprivation," says Driver. "But try to sleep a little later one morning, and use the holidays to get back into the rhythm for work or school."


Heather Camlot is a Toronto-based freelance writer who covers a variety of topics including health, entertainment, travel, fashion and home décor.
MochaSofa, December 2002

Guess What!!???? I went to the gym today and after my workout, I weighed myself.....drum roll please.....I've already lost 3 POUNDS!!!! Since Monday!!!:bravo: :cb: :cp: I am so glad I had you guys to help pick me up after I fell! That is so exciting!!!! I feel awesome. So, now that I know I've done good. I don't want to sabotage myself again. I won't reward myself with food!!! I had a Slim Fast for breakfast and I'll probably have zuchinni for lunch. YUMMY!!! My reward is feeling GREAT:jig: and strong:strong: and happy:dancer: .

MikiG...If you are going to try to be here tonight at 9pm to chat I will try also. That would be soooooooooo cool! It would be really cool if we had a weekly or biweekly "appt" for all us girls to report and chat.

oh yeah, I'd love to send you a picture of our pig. If anyone wants, email me and I'll email you a picture of the pig and my gorgeous kids if you're interested! [email protected]

See ya
Lisa.....3 pounds lighter:wave:

Hello,

Cyan way to go! Thanks for the articles. Congratulations Lisa. Glad to see everyone is doing good.

Another gloomy day. I had to kick my butt to get out of bed and exercise this morning. I had breakfast( 3egg whites) and a little snack (1/2 cup Crispex baked with Italian Dressing) a few hours ago now I'm ready for a nap! Be back to check in tonight.

Hope everyone is having a great day. :grouphug:

Great Rewards
 

Cyan,
You so deserve to wear the 3FC Crown for WillPower:queen:
YOU ROCK! for passing up McDonalds, and not even that, for passing it up even when you are already inside.....:bravo: :cb:

Lisa,
You too, congrats on losing 3 more pounds. :dance: Now you are feeling good and back on track. You are a great motivation to us all. Congrats on completing your Anatomy and Phsiology Course.

Miki, I am glad to hear that Luke is doing better. Have fun with the hubby this weekend shopping. I know how the buffets can be. If you had the willpower once, you will have it again.. And if it has to be chinese, go for the steamed veggies. THose are the least amount of calories and fat.

Debee, I totally understand, I have alot of my weight in my stomach and I am barely 5"0". So I know how hard it is for us petite women. As a snack, I grill veggies and snack on those. The item being hot helps trick the stomach into thinking it is filled up.

I hope to have a good and light day, but that time of month has approaced a few days early and I can't help but eat around this time. So Wish me luck
Have a Blessed day everyone

Hi again ladies
 

Wow! Is all I can say for you Cyan. I just start drooling going past McDonald's and you went in, stood in line and left deciding to get something healthy. You go girl. My hero:)
Lisa, see that weight came off fast. It's a great feeling, really gets you going. Your soreness will go away if you keep it up. Good job. Can I ask what you are studying? But hey, a B on any exam is great. Wow! I can't imagine being a mother, wife and student. Though if I can get my dh through his Master's of Theology (kick his butt through is more like it, it's in English--not his native language so he is kinda scared, it's a correspondence course), then I will get one in counseling since we work with children and teenagers here. Man, are they reallly messed up.
MikiG glad your son is feeling better. This weather is something else. Well, it's cool and really windy here. My almost 6month old now has a stuffy nose--Robitussin to the rescue! My 4year old takes children's vitamins and if someone is sick or he starts sounding sick, I add a vitamin C to his routine. Plus, he drinks water, loves the stuff, won't touch any kind of soda.

Girls, about the Chinese food, I know, it's dangerous. I don't know much to tell you about what to eat and what not. Reina was right though, stick with the steamed veggies and/or soup. Actually though, most Americans wouldn't eat authentic Chinese food. When we go back to the states, it's hard to find a place that serves real Chinese food. It's made to fit the American taste buds. But here too, alot of things are fried. I am trying to get my family into steamed veggies instead of fried. I know I am not much help. I too am learning how to handl the Chinese food. But what I can't understand is if they eat this stuff, how the Chinese can stay so stinkin' thin:mad:

Anyway, I have stayed with my exercise. Yesterday walked one mile, I try to do these after I walk: 10situps, 20crunches, 20side crunches (don't know what to call them, works on the waistline) and 25butt lifts, then rest a minute and stretch it out and do it one more time. Every other take I take 3lb. can of soup and work on my arms too. Yes, almost all my weight is in my behind, and them love handles (got lots of lovin to go around!!!) I just heard from my mom that ballerina style exercise is really good for those. I don't know, gotta do something.

Well, I need to get off of here and wash dishes and do some stuff before my class. I teach ESL to 12 4yr-9yr old kids twice a week here at church. Have a great day (since I am writing this while you all are probably in bed!)

Good Morning Ladies
 

First of all it was a hoot talking to you Reina and lisa...too bad it was short but none the less fun!

Last night food wise I did ok...I ate 1707 cals...I had 5 hors d'oeuvres that put me over 1500 cals ...oh well...my fat grams were 66 grams...I exercised for 35 minutes for a distance of 9.5km and burned off 356 cals for a total of 1351....I'm gonna keep at it...hard work.

Did Miki ever join in on the chat?

Taiwan, good on you for sticking to your exercising and food regime..it feels good doesnt it?:lol:

Well, gotta get to work so I will post later and tell you how I'm doing...have a great day everyone and make wise choices

Cyan

Happy Thursday everyone. The week is almost over. As of last night I am completely through with classes for the rest of the semester. I should find out on Jan 7 or 8 if I was accepted into the Nursing Program.:crossed: I'll be checking to see if all my paperwork is completed and stuff to make sure I don't miss my opportunity because of something stupid...like my grades wern't transferred or something.

I am not going to the gym today. I will tell you why. I'm sore. My body needs to rest. I need to clean my house. I'm having lunch with hubby at 11:30. I need to make a grocery list. I have to get groceries. I have to be at the church at 1pm to help make some Christmas Party decisions. I have to pick up my daughter at 2:45 and then, I'm leaving hubby here tonight alone because he needs some down time. He hasn't had a day off since...Sunday Dec 1st and today is his second 12 hour shift in a row. :eek: So, I'm taking the kids somehwere to spend time with them while hubby relaxes with nothing to do in a clean house. He won't get another day off until Dec. 20th and then he's on vacation until January 2!

It was fun chatting last night in the chat room, Reina and Cyan. I wish the rest of you could've been there. It really helped me get to know you two better. I feel closer to you now! I started thinking about he Oprah thing and I started to get excited. We need it to be a good letter...AND we need to lose weight so that we can prove that our support group works. The closer we get to each other the more we will WANT to meet each other...so LOSE LOSE LOSE and PLEASE ....none of you....leave this site!!! I'm in this for the long haul!!!:D

Well, Taiwan...I'm studying nursing. If I'm accepted in January, I will have 4 semesters of classes and then I will be an RN with an Associates Degree. Then, I will start working and going to school part time to get my Bachelor's degree. Then....I want to get accepted into a Nurse Anesthitist program here which is a 2 year program. I will come out of that with a Maters degree and will make LOTS of money!!!! Starting pay is about $100,000 a year.

Okay...I'll see y'all later!!!!!
Lisa

I'm Back!
 

:wave:Howwwwdeeee! Boy it's good to see you all again! I just finished reading all the posts - sounds like we've all been having our ups and downs. But that's what we expected with the hollidays, right? As long as we keep exercising and keep on trying we'll be OK.
I started out our vacation determined to write down everything I ate and to eat small portions. HAH! Well I messed up big time! :lol: I guess I just can't spend all day, day after day sitting and talking while surrounded by food and not induldge. There was pie, cookies, and other assorted snacks everywhere! And about those White Castle burgers, we call them Sliders 'cause all that grease makes them just slide right down. There were three boxes of them the night we had dinner with our cousins. Boy, those little buggers are good, but they just sit there in your stomach and wait till the middle of the night to wake you up. :o Oh, and my daughter in law made fudge for the ride home. I LOVE fudge! Needless to say, it didn't last long. I was even tempted to open up the gift fudge she sent for the other members of our family! But I didn't. One small victory for me, one large victory for my family! lol

Now the good news! I met my exercise goal. :cb: I ran outside or on a treadmill every day that we weren't traveling. This is how it went: Tuesday we drove (and I ate)13 hours up to southern Illinois to see our son and his family. The next morning we woke up to 6 inches of beautiful fresh snow and a clear blue sky. They live out in the country, so I ran on a long country road sourrounded by all this silent white beauty. Talk about a spiritual experience! The next day it was just too cold and windy to run outside. My grand daughter is in track, and we had fun challenging each other to runs on their treadmill. Friday was another long 10 hr ride to Minneapolis, so no exercise and lots of snacking. That night we visited my sister who just bought a new weight system. Both my sisters and I played on that for a while, and I rode her exercise bike for about 10 minutes. Sat I ran my two miles in crisp 20 degree weather; a pleasant change from our warmer Florida temps. Sunday we spent at Bryan's cousin's. By this time I was really bloated with all the junk food I had been eating, so when I saw this awesome treadmill in Sue's family room I asked if I could try it out. I loved this machine! You could program in your weight, the type of work out you wanted and everything. It was really sturdy and quiet with a cusioned bed. I did 2 miles, but I felt like I could run for ever. Monday and Tuesday were travel days again, and we got home late Tuesday night. When I weighed myself Wed morning I was up 3 lbs, but I've lost one of those all ready and I'm back to eating healthy and running everyday, so I hope to have lost another pound by weigh in day next monday.
I have a question for you all. I'm thinking of adding Taebo twice a week, and I'm looking for a good tape. Can you suggest one? I need someone who starts out slowly so I can keep up. I tried the blond exercise nut - what's her name? Anyway, I tried her tape at my daughter in laws and she drove me crazy - intirely too perky for me! What about the guy who invented it, the good lookin black dude? Have any of you tried his tape? Also, there is a guy named Guillan(?) who has one, but I haven't been able to find his.
I tried connecting to the chat room and was told I had to download a Windows update. I may not be able to do that because my version of XP isn't exactly licensed, but I will try. When do you all meet to chat?
Any word from Annie or Cjunk? I wrote Annie a personal note, but didn't get a reply. Sure hope they're ok.


Lisa! Cyan! Congrats on the 3 lbs! Excellent! Lisa, it's so hard not to eat with the stress you've been under. And Good luck in making it into nursing school! I was a psych nurse, so I'm very weak on the physical stuff, but I will ask my medical nurse friend what other tests you could have to identify the cause of your pain. this is not something you should have to live with.

Sorry I can't write more personal notes now, Time to get some things done around here. Boy, it's good to be back! :flow2:

:grouphug:
Lady

LadyRider
 

So glad you are back! I missed you and I am even happier for you that your holiday was amazing....isnt family the best. And, good on you for keeping up the exercising...truly inspirational...you are...I had and have a huge smile on my face after reading your post...you go girl:D

And that run through the snow...I pictured it...I was actually there running beside you taking in all the beauty and magic of a winter wonderland. Sometimes, after a fresh snowfall...you can feel the silence, the beauty of nature...its the best feeling!

I am so happy that you are back with us. Onward and forward we shall go.

I feel sad about Annie...I do hope she is doing well...if you read this post Annie, I send you lots of good energy...stay strong and motivated.

Cjunk...I hope you come back soon cause I miss your postitive posts too

Reina and Lisa...the chat was so much fun...I too feel closer to you girls and am very happy that you make up a part of my life...its nice knowing that you are there.

Taiwan and Debee, looking forward to getting to know you more cause you girls sound amazing.

big hugs to everyone

Cyan

Cyan

PreciousOne and Miki
 

YOU GIRLS ROCK TOO....I DIDNT MEAN TO FORGET YOU...TOO QUICK ON THE SUBMIT BUTTON....AND BEFORE I KNEW IT...TOO LATE....OK GOTTA GET SOME LUNCH...YUM

CYAN

Must Read
 

From Dr Phil's website...makes lots of sense

Stop Choosing to Be Overweight

If you are obese, you're putting your health at risk. You need to take control of your weight to reduce the possibility of suffering serious complications. Having tried and failed in the past is no excuse to give up on yourself now. Dr. Phil spells out the most common weight loss pitfalls so that you can avoid them.

Making Excuses
What is your excuse? You don't have time to work out? Well, do you have time to die from complications related to obesity? You're too busy working? Why? So you can pay for the funeral? Get real! Life Law #1 is "You either get it or you don't." What is making you fat? It isn't your schedule or your metabolism or your willpower. Stop making excuses.

Letting Weight Work
Life Law #3 is, "People Do What Works." How is your weight working for you? What is your payoff for being overweight? Does the weight protect you by providing a barrier? Is the weight a form of rebellion? Do you get attention from it by playing the victim? Is your overeating a way of getting pleasure? Accept that you have chosen to be overweight because of the payoff, and have stayed overweight by having a lifestyle that contributes to it.

Dieting
Diets don't work because dieting is not a long-term solution. If you diet to lose weight, you'll gain the weight back once you get off the diet. Remember, you behave your way to success. There are no quick fixes. Even gastric bypass surgeries can only provide short-term results if your behavior and thinking don't change.

Triggers
What triggers you to overeat? Is it a certain time of the day? Do you turn to food when you get upset? Life Law #4 is, "You can't change what you don't acknowledge." So you need to be honest about how you are using food, and change the way you respond to your triggers.

Labeling
What is your internal dialogue saying? That you're a failure? A quitter? That you'll never lose weight? If so, you need to change these labels and limiting beliefs because they are sabotaging your efforts. How will you change if you don't believe you can change? How can you lose the weight this time if deep down you believe that the outcome is predestined and that you are destined to fail?

Hello everyone, I hope you are all having a pleasant day.

Cyan, and Lisa it was nice talking to you both last night. Maybe we can set it up again real soon.

Cyan, love that article. It makes so much sense.!

LadyRider!:wave: Welcome back!, You were very much missed! I have done the Taebo with Billy Blanks and even his is pretty hard to ease into. There is an 8-minute workout, but to be honest, I was dizzy afterwards. I would definitely do a 30 minute one and just ease into that one, it starts slow, but boy, can it pick up quick. I am glad you had a great vacation, I couldn't even think of writing down what I eat on vacation. So I totally don't blame you for that one. Glad to hear that you still worked out. You are still a big motivation...

Lisa, I am also in this for the long haul, and it may very well be a long one for me, but knowing that I have friends like you all, I am totally looking forward to it. You are such a pistol. I was telling my husband about Hamlet, and how sometimes you call him breakfast!:lol: That is way to funny.
Lisa, It is nice to see you have your future all planned out. I wish you the best in your educational endeavors! I am in the middle of a career crisis. So I am starting to consider what I want to do with myself going forward, besides losing weight;)

I hope you all have a great day.
Big hug to you all
:grouphug:

inspirational quote
 

Hi Ladies..yes me again:lol: but I was surfing..a little bored..things are slowing down at work...for the holidays..anyway...here it is...very moving and beautiful..powerful

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our
deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens
us. We ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not
serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about
shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure
around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it
is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we
unconsciously give other people permission to do the
same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our
presence automatically liberates others.
- Nelson Mandela

Lady Rider!!! :cb: So glad you're back!!!!! I really missed you!!! When I logged on and saw your picture I was so excited!!!! you're vacation sounds wonderful!!! I can't believe you ran in the snow...sounds awesome!!!

About Taebo...I've done a 30 minute video of Billy Blanks. I really like it becase it's fast paced but you can do it at your level. The fast pace keeps you thinking fast so you forget that you're tired. I really like it.

Where is Miki???????????????????????????????????????:?:

Cyan...I loved that quote. I really really loved it. Oh, and the Dr. Phil thing...I watched him on Oprah once talking about obesity. He's right. We choose to be overweight. :^:

Reina...I'll trade you the pig for your Xbox!!!

Well, talk at ya later!!!

Let me know if anyone wants to meet in the chat room. I'll try to make it!!

Lisa:wave:

Hi everyone, Please let me know the next time for a chat I would love to join in!
Cyan, I hope things are going better with your mother. My parents are in their 80's and sometimes I feel like the parent and they are the children. I will keep you in my prayers.
Also leaving McDonald was the ulimate in willpower! I don't think I could do it.

Miki, I have been thinking about what you said about feeling so bad after eating and how it is not sometimes worth all the guilt. I agree. I can also relate with the games and homework. Sometimes I feel that there is not enough hours in the day.

Reina, do you want to change careers? You said you were going through a career crisis.

Lisa what made you decide to get a pig as a pet?

Thanks for the snack suggestions.

BoooooooooHoooooooooo!!!
 

I cannot believe I missed the chat get-together!!:cry: I was so excited about it then missed it!! Couldnt be helped tho. Got home from work yesterday afternoon, and Josh was on the couch asleep. ( not normal for him ) He was feeling awful. My hubby gave him 2 extra strength tylenol around 5:30pm. At 6:30pm, I checked his temp and it was still 200.8 even after the tylenols! It's a shame both kids dont get sick on the same days if they both have to get sick anyway. lol

Worked thru lunch again but had popcorn and ummm...a piece of strawberry cake in the break room.:sssh: That was around 11 am so by 6:30 when I got home, I was Starving! Cooked spaghetti and garlic bread and ate too much. I have found out that spaghetti is the one thing I just cant eat. For some reason, I just cannot stop at one serving!! The last time I did so badly at one sitting was about 3 weeks ago and it was spaghetti that time also. Hubby and I were both miserable after we ate last nite. I think my calories ended up around 1500 tho so not quite as bad as I figured. Anyway, after finishing up in the kitchen, I had to tend to Josh, help Luke with homework plus a Science project, and spend a little time with hubby. It was bedtime before I even realized it. Made me sick to miss out on chatting with all of you!!
Definitely have to try again soon!

I guess you know with Josh being sick, my shopping today didnt happen. :( Was just as well he had to stay home tho because hubby didnt get to have the day off after all to go with me like we had planned. A co-worker got sick so he had to fill in for him. I was really disappointed. We're hoping Josh is well enough tomorrow to go back to school. If so, my in-laws are keeping the kids this weekend, and Phil and I are going to spend the weekend with my youngest sis about 2 1/2 hrs from here. (She's the one with the cutie pie, Kaylen, who is 21 months old ) We're going to try to do all our shopping there.

I did better today with my eating. My calories were a little under 1300 and I did my AirWalker for 25 minutes.

Wish I had more time so I could post individually but I got lots to do before bedtime. Glad to see Ladyrider is back!! And Cyan, I did at least want to take time to tell you your mom is in my prayers. :) Great hearing from everyone else too...

I probably wont make it online to post again til Saturday or Sunday so everyone have a great weekend and stand firm in your healthy eating!

Oh my gosh...almost forgot something!! I have lost the 2 lbs I gained over Thanksgiving plus almost another one..Yeahhhh! Cant believe I almost forgot to tell ya'll! Needless to say, I am encouraged now to keep going after my disgusting weekend last week lol.

Goodnite everybody! "See ya" soon!

MIKI

Well, it's 8:55 pm. Popped into chat just to see if anyone was there. None of you were but 2 others were. Pretty cool in there. We gotta get together again soon so I can talk to all of you!

Good Morning Ladies. TGIF....again...already!! This was a fast week!!!

yesterday...I didn't go to the gym...but I was on the go constantly. I didn't eat too bad. I had a yummy veggie sandwich from Subway with those WOW chips. I think about 7 points for my lunch...dinner was roast beef...corn and mashed potatoes....I'm going to say 12 points plus 4 points for my breakfast....that is 23 points. I've really been forgetting to eat..Not forgetting...but I haven't been obsessing with cravings and stuff. Last night after doing some grocery shopping I let the kids pick out some candy. Usually I'm dying to have a candy bar. Last night there was absolutely no temptation. Junk food sounded disgustin. What's up with that?:?:

Debee...we got a pig because my hubby always wanted one and I saw one at a carnival and thought it was soooooooo cute. And I'm allergic to cats...which is what my daughter really wanted.

MikiG...I'm sorry your boys have been sick. I hope they are feeling better soon. We will definitely have to get together for some chatting again soon.

If everyone could post the times when they are available for chat then we could schedule a time that works best. I can chat usually in the evenings around 9pm Central Time or at noon.

I'm going to the gym today. It's my favorite class today. Step..double step...and body defined.

Oh...I want to get something off my chest. You all know how I've been dreaming about the new YMCA right? Well...I've been talking about it non stop to my husband and my mother in law and everyone I know. I am OBSESSED with this new YMCA. I really want a membership. Well, I know i'm going to sound very childish and selfish...but here's the story. My mother-in-law (who I love and is a wonderful person) gave each of her children, myself, and my kids each $150 for Christmas. We are supposed to get 5 gifts for ourselves and have them wrapped and unmarked under the tree on Christmas Day for some game. It's kind of a new tradition she's starting. But her big thing was I'm not shopping this year because you guys alway end up taking things back and you'll for sure get the things you want this way...etc. So, last night my 13 year old sis-in-law was at the YMCA with a friend. (teens can pay 5.50 and get in when they're not a member) I went to pick them up for my mother-in-law and Allison(my sis-in-law) had found out that she's already a member. We checked and sure enough...my mother-in-law has signed up Herself, her husband, and 2 of my sister-in-law's, up for a family membership for a Christmas present. Now, I know that since those two girls still live at home...blah blah blah...but why do they get a gift above and beyone the $150? And WHY does it have to be the one thing in the world that I want more than anything??????? Maybe if she had done it without making it a Christmas present...I don't know. I have all these emotions. I'm so jealous...which I know is childish. Allison let my mother-in-law know that she found out and she admitted it was a Christmas present. *sigh* I cant' explain in words how badly I want a membership to this YMCA. I couldn't sleep last night because I was so worked up. What's really annoying...is that they have a treadmill in their house and they have never gone to a gym. I am the only one in the family who goes to the gym everyday!!!!!!!!! Here I go..I'm getting all worked up again. I'm going to have my heart rate up before my class this morning.

Okay...if anyone has any advice for my psychotic episode I'm having...it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Lisa

Good Morning Ladies
 

I took last night off from exercising aerobically...I just did weight lifting for 20 minutes..my arms, shoulders and chest...I think I sweat more when I lift weights than when I cycle...:lol: go figure!

Anyway, I know, Miki....you were missed...and thank you for your prayers...my mom really needs them right now.

Hey Lisa...sorry to hear about you YMCA crisis...I have to admit I would be upset too. Are you sure your Mother in Law is aware of how badly you want this membership? And who knows, maybe you will get a membership as a christmas present...but you dont know cause its a surpirse:s: You never know! Surely your enthusiam for it has not gone unoticed:)

I am usually available for chats on week nights around 8 to 9pm eastern! Usually after 9.30 I go to bed...yes I need lots of sleep:lol:

Well chickie poohs...have a great day and I will post back later to let you know how my cal consumption and exercising went today

Have a great day everybody and make wise choices

Cyan

Well, my Friday is over...
 

nothing eventful. Finally put up our tiny Christmas tree. Haven't even started Christmas shopping yet. Then again, we only have like 2 big stores here in our little resort town and Christmas isn't a holiday here (no day off anyway), so it's just not the same.

My Friday was good. I haven't really totalled my calories as it's hard to sometimes with some food here. But I am pretty sure I don't go over 1500, if I do, it's not much. I walked 1.5miles tonight and as soon as I get off of here I will do my abs/butt lifts/ and arms tonight. Today while waiting for someone to come to the house, I did lunges (20) and ballerina style leg lifts (20 each leg).
I did weigh in today and have lost one more pound. But I think it will be more next week as today started my time of the month (or MC--monthly cycle as they call it here), so feeling a little bloated. Hey, has anyone heard that during that time, or the first like 4 days if you are good:) then it's easier to loose weight? or is that just an old wives tale that i've heard.

Lisa, I would too be quite upset about what MIL did. Does she usually do this type of thing? Maybe she just didn't realize how much it meant to you (well, ok, some people don't get the hint too well). Hey, there's still time till Christmas you know;)

Cyan, praying for you and your mom. Take it easy and have patience. Easier said than done I know.

Hey all, I will try to get on the chat, but I am more than likely putting the kids to bed. Yes, my youngins go to bed late here. My own kids do since they aren't school age. Our fosterkids go to bed at 11pm (ok, late for the states, but not for here since they usually still take naps all through highschool, even adults do, my dh does!) But I will check in occassionally to see if anyone is there.

Sorry I haven't mentioned other personal notes, but I've really gotta get some things done before bed. Take care all.


210/198/145
first short term goal==187lbs by Jan.15th
**new information as of 12/13/02**

TGIF !!
 

Good Morning everyone,
Well, I was very reluctant to get on last night and post. I was not in my normal cheery mood yesterday and I just refused to think healthy...
Cyan,
I love that quote. Very Inspirational!! I will keep your mom in my prayers, as well! Hope everything is okay.

Lisa, I would take the pig over the Xbox, but this Xbox comes with a Husband attached to it.?? Your Choice:dizzy:

Miki, Sorry to hear that Josh is sick now. But kudos to you for losing the weight that you put on after Thanksgiving!
:bravo: to you!

Lisa, I have come to the realization that In-laws are just different people that were put on this earth to make us stay on our toes!:s: I am not the person to give advice on In-laws, considering my dysfunctional set of In-laws. But ride with it and see what happens, It could be a nice gift from the hubby too:D You NEVER Know...

Taiwan, I wish we had nap time here in the states. When I went to Mexico, that was the only part of the vacation that I liked. The siestas in the afternoon. Everything closes in the town for 2-3 hours. It was so relaxing...
I like your short term goal. I may ride with you on that one. In addition to our other challenge of maintaining and not gaining by 1/1/03.

You all have a great weekend and I will try and pop in this weekend, I have my Mom's Surprise Birthday party tomorrow, and my office holiday party on Sunday. I will try to keep the calories low.

Have a blessed one!

Hi Everyone, :wave:
It's the third day of rainy drizzle. :( I was supposed to meet my friend for lunch today but I begged off. I'm feeling lazy - like I need a day to do nothing all day.

I chuckle at you girls and your McDonald's addiction. You see, I remember when the first MickyD's was opened...oh ... ahem ... a few years ago ... and I loved their burgers and fries too. Then they stopped cooking in lard and changed the ingredients of their burgers and they just don't taste good to me anymore. While driving to Minneapolis we stopped to get something to eat and McDonalds was the only fast food in town. I grumbled about having to eat there until I thought about all of you. I decided to let you enjoy my meal vicariously. You had a cheeseburger, fries and diet coke. Sorry, I couldn't get myself to eat a Big Mac!;)

Hey! I tried on two pairs of pants yesterday and both were baggy in the seat, so I put them in the given away pile. When I told my husband, he said my butt is getting firmer and it doesn't sag anymore! Yea!

I tried to log onto the chat room, but was told I had to download Microsoft's Virtual Machine. When I tried to do that it didn't work. Just got the message Installation Failed. I will keep working on it. Meanwhile, if I get it to work, between 8 - 10pm Eastern Time is good for me.

Cyan - My folks both passed away at a young age, and as much as I miss them, I'm so glad they were spared what your parents are going through. There is a special place in Heaven for daughters like you.

By the way, you described it perfectly - I could hear the silence when I ran in the snow.

Thanks for the Dr Phil advice - very good stuff. I really like him; he's got such a logical way of looking at things. I'm going to check out his web site.

Do we have a format for our Oprah letter? I don't know exactly where to start.

Reina _ Mia - thanks for the info on Billy Banks. I saw his DVD and it had a 15 min instruction, then a beginner, intermediate and advanced level. I think I will try it. Even if I only do 15 minutes to start, it will be a good workout.

Lisa - I agree. We are in this for the long haul! Together we will succeed! Thanks to you too for the feedback on Billy Banks. So, I gotta ask, does Hamlet dig holes all over the yard? I hear pigs are very smart and the pot bellied pigs are really cute.

I wish I could give you the magic answer for the YMCA problem. I sure understand where you're coming from, but try to find a way to let it go. If you don't it will put a wedge between you and your MIL and SILs that will not go away. If you don't get a membership for Christmas, make a goal of getting it on your own - through grants, or by saving your money - whatever will work. It will mean more to you if you earn it yourself anyway, right?

Debee - I never got a chance to welcome you to the group. WELCOME! :dizzy: It's good to meet you!

Miki - Hope you were able to work out time with your hubby and your boys are well again soon. Congrats on losing 2+ lbs! Keep up the good work!:cp:

Taiwan - Naps! I love naps!;) It's hard enough to get into the Christmas mood here in Florida; I can't imagine what it would be like in a country that doesn't celebrate it at all. I know nothing about Taiwan, is it a warm climate? Will you tell us a little about your town? Good for you for watching what you eat and exercising! It's working! Keep up the good work. :cb:

Anne, Cjunk we really miss you!

Happy Friday Everyone!
:grouphug:
Lady

For Prescious One
 

I sure didn't mean to leave you out of my post! I bet you can identify with my blahs today. At least you kick yourself in the butt and get moving! :lol:
Hope we hear from you again soon!
Lady

Down Another Pound!
 

Goood Mooorning Everyone! Happy Weekend!

I lost another pound this morning, bringing me back to the weight I was before our vacation. YEA! :D

While you all are lounging in bed on this fine Saturday morning, ;) I'm at work. Two years ago I did a career change and left nursing to become a software instructor at Gateway. I have some free time, so I thought I'd check in and see who posted last night. Guess what? No one posted last night!

There was a class scheduled this morning with only one student, but she didn't show up. Guess I get to do some Christmas shopping! :) Think I'll pick up a new scale while I'm at it. Mine gives a different weight each time you stand on it and if you lean forward or backward just a little bit, it adds or subtracts a pound or two. :mad:

I'll check in again tonight, meanwhile you all have a great weekend!

Lady