I seem to be retaining fluid. get pins n needles down both arms from the neck down when i lie down. Doc sent me for carpel tunnel tests and came back positive, but i think its only when i have fluid. No pain any other time. So guessing i retain fluid everywhere else to. Now if only i can shift that i might get some easier weight loss. these last few kilos are a struggle :(

You two are going great!!! How did you cope with plateaus? I have been hovering around 118 for 6 weeks? I am losing 100g, 200g, 100g gaining 100g, losing 200g... I am also not doing as much exercise as I was, what can I do to step it up! Finding it hard at the moment but not giving up!

Do you track your intake? That is the single best thing for me. I use my iphone and sparkpeople app. It is SO easy to underestimate your calorie intake and you just won't lose if you don't keep that deficit. I am finding it much harder to lose now that I am closer to my goal,so have to track strictly.

I am using the WW etools to track... I have been monitoring my eating as per the healthy guidelines and noticed I wasnt eating enough dairy... fixed that up. Keeping positive!

Vanessa, I have reached plateau then drove the weight up again, down a bit more plateau then up again. Its been a yoyo for years. Finally I can say i am smaller than the past 5 years. I gain badly when stressed and I have had a great deal of emotional stressors in my life. Finally learning to let go of most of them and the weight is slowly coming off.

I still attend the WW meetings - and weighed in yesterday...I lost 1.2 kg... let's hope I keep losing this week. It is a bit disheartening when you are trying everything but not seeing the difference.

We have all gone quiet - is it the weather? I am down another 1.3 kg this week... been a great week... last week of term, birthday yesterday, out with friends tonight and a date tomorrow... things are looking up.

go vanessa. 1.3kg is awesome. Yeah it is quiet. i have a lot of stuff going on at the moment so not really into the computer or weight loss. :( hopefully though things will soon look up. Keep it up girl, yr doing great.

Hope things work out the way that you want it to. I had another awesome week, weighed in tonight minus 1.8kg!!! A total of 11cm lost in July, mostly from my thighs and waist... I am now a size 18 in the top, I was a size 22/24, but I can't quite fit into 18 in the bottoms... Some 20s are snug in the bottom, some are loose, I cant get a bottom part of the outfit that looks good atm... DAMMM!! I planned to wear some new jeans on the date but they clung in the wrong places, so I choose to wear some black pants that I owned, the waist was sooooo loose it hung near my pubic line LOL Lucky I had a long line top to wear. I raced over to a friends house to see what she thought - it looked ok, but she said don't raise your hands LOL We were going bowling!!! Anyway the date went well, we met online but talked on the phone for two weeks. The date didnt feel awkward, in fact it felt like we were old friends. So good we are going out again on Tuesday night, and he asked if I was free on Friday night cause he knows how busy I am and would like to see me again. He is an accountant and is super busy with year end but wants to go out for a drink and a meal tomorrow yeah!!! I'm feeling great! Was 200g off my birthday goal which was to achieve my 10% off WW goal... next week then LOL

You are going great Vanessa!! I am quiet because in the middle of exams and papers etc for summer classes... 3.5 weeks until this semester is done, thank feck. Also weight loss is slooooooooow. Coming up to 1 yr anniversary and really wanted to hit 65kg by then but I doubt it now - barely lost 2kg in June and have sat bouncing between 68.1 and 68.9 for past 2 weeks.. have DEFINITELY slacked a little and let bored eating creep in when hanging out at home over the long weekend studying. Must tighten it up and at least hit the goal - it's easy to get complacent when I am already size 8, fit, comfortable, enjoying summer heat without blubber suit, but must shape up! Also rarely drink water.. must drink more!

Last night's date went well, but I have woken with my TOM. I feel awful, no energy, feel like eating the biggest steak, but I wont be going out to buy one. I have had to change my clothing 3 times today. I have never been this heavy before. I think if it is like this tomorrow I am going out to buy maternity pads ARGHHhh!!! Does anyone else get like this - cause I cant remember ever feeling like this before!

Nope, mine have actually improved over the years. Day 1 used to be pretty awful but now it's only 3 days and not bad at all. Much less regular since losing weight though - I guess it screws your hormones up.

I can NOT get under 68kg. The lowest was 68.1, the highest 68.9 in the past month. Honestly I think I have been eating a lot more - not a lot at once, but just keep eating/snacking all day. Partly stress from school, partly (mostly, I think) because I am almost at 50kg and sabotaging myself. I have been at >49kg lost for a month but just can't get to the 50kg mark. VERY fricking frustrating - specially when what I eat is minimal compared to what I used to eat, but then again I guess I haven't gained anything.

Putting weight back on in future is a terrifying thought... not doing this again!

Arrrgghghhhh

PS: Am meeting a guy from match.com for coffee in a few hours. First ever internet date!! Don't hold a lot of hope but I need to get out and meet people and stop lusting after the hot married guy at work. Just had a lightbulb moment last week that I am completely wasting my time obsessing over him so that I don't have to actually risk meeting someone in real life. Duh, I know, but just realized it's time to get a life.

Hope your date goes well... what will you have wasted if it goes bad, a couple of $$ and an hour or two. But what if it works out..I have been dating too and I met him off the internet. At first I was wondering if he was fake, but I have asked for a lot of proof LOL And now I am having a ARGHHHHH moment. I have known this guy for 3 weeks, and he has already mentioned "Marriage and kids"... My response was "i dont know if I want to get married ever again". Dating this time round is soooo different. I would love to be spending Sunday with him, but I have my son, and at this stage I want to get to know Jeff better on my own, and see if he is worthy of meeting my son. I feel he is, but how long do I wait before introducing the two males in my life. I dont want it to be complicated, but it now feels complicated. How do I know if things are gonna work out, when they didnt the first time.... ARGHHHH!

Hoping to get my WW 10% key ring tomorrow night! Keeping really focussed on weightloss. Will try and let new relationship work itself out. Thinking about joining a new gym today... will go and have a look and see what its like. I'll check in again tomorrow after my weigh in.

Congrats on the 10%, that is great!

I met the guy, we had coffee and it was fine. He seemed nice, I would meet him again. No mad sparks but I don't really expect that either at first meeting!

Yeah about the date! Have you heard from him yet?

Weighed in - 700g down! Yahoo! Got my 10%. Set myself a new goal to lose another 5% - 7kg by the end of September. I am feeling great!

Had my mother put a dampener on things today, she just cant be happy for me. She asked about the guy I have been seeing and says, "I have a feeling he is a sleaze" "How do you know?" I questioned. "Its just a feeling" she says. Well that was it, Liam and I left. I am fed up with her negative talk. I havent answered her calls. I havent jumped into the new relationship, we are taking things real slow. I dont think she will ever be happy for me. I showed her my 10% keyring and she didnt say anything. It is a major achievement MUM! Be happy for me for once!!!! Grrrrrr!

Hi Aussies, I am a kiwi girl who has jumped the ditch to QLD. I'm trying to lose some weight too.....

I will be reading up on you as this looks like a fun blog

Welcome!!! What plan are you following o2bayyummymummy? Wish you well on your weightloss journey!

I ran 5km on Thurs night! I went to our gym and hit the treadmill for a jog - I have been jogging/walking around outside and doing more jogging than walking. Anyhow I started running and thought I would love to do 5kms, but wasn't sure I could. Then I thought - why not? My legs feel fine, I am not short of breath. Yes, it's hard, but I am doing it, what should make me stop? I realized it's all mental - it seems hard so I just stop usually. Anyhow - forced myself to just keep going, and decided even if I slowed down to a crawl I wasn't allowed to stop.

And I did it! Killed my quads the day after, but would like to practise and maybe do a real 5km outside.

Kind of help the fact that I haven't lost anything for a month! Wt loss sped up in May/June, then nothing for a month. My 1yr surgery anniversary is coming up July 28th and I wanted to hit the 50kg lost mark! Boo.

Yeah on running! Keep it up and I think you will hit your goal!!!

Hmmmmmm - the new man just left... He came over Friday night and stayed till lunch today! We didnt spend the weekend in bed the whole time, we went out for dinner, watched some dvds, played rummykins LOL it felt soooooo good! sooooo right! Hoping things continue to be great!!!!

I am hoping to see a loss this week but I havent tracked the whole week!!!! It will be a great if I do, but a wake up if I dont!!!

You inspired me this afternoon... when I went out for my walk this arvo, I jogged some. I actually was peeved off. My mum drove past my house at 8am this morning and noticed my "visitor's" car... this afternoon she yelled at me and called me a sl@t... I told her I was 36 and deal with it!!! Jogging definitely helped me get over her comments. She will never be happy with me!

Wow Vanessa, that must be upsetting to hear from your mum! It is great that you were able to stand up for yourself; seriously, 36 years old! Heh. I am so glad to hear that the new man is going well.. just take it slow and enjoy it! You are braver than I am!

I ran both days this weekend - went to the park where they have a huge walking paved walk/bike track around the lake. It's hard to believe it's right in the middle of town, it's so gorgeous. I jog/walked but actually jogged for 15-20 mins both days. Felt great! It is totally a psychological and not physical challenge to keep going when you want to stop. Good training for life!

Also - hit 67.1kg today - 50.6kg lost!! Now have to reset goal to 65kg by the time I get home and visit my surgeon for the first time in a year!

Fantastic!!!! Told you will hit the 50kg mark!!!!!! Woooooohoooooo!!! Your right about jogging being psychological... hoping to pound the pavement a bit more, but its raining tonight ARGHHHHHH!!!

Yeah it's a lot easier here when it's been 30-35 deg and sunny every day! Actually it was almost too hot yesterday - thought I was going to melt.

"I told her I was 36 and deal with it!!"
hehee vanessa that did make me laugh. Your comment back to her. I bet she was expecting a tirade.

JHC guys. I came back day after day to find no one posting, and the one time I disappear for a few weeks i find u two are running rampant what with the dating scene etc.... WOOHOO go girls

My new man and I are doing ok, almost 7 months now :o talk of moving down south to live if all is still going well at the end of the year. I want to go back to uni to do midwifery (Don't hate me Gen) and there is a great university down there. Also if I work for NSW Health i get paid clinical leave and paid study leave on occassion.

Weight loss slow and steady. Havent lot anything the past few weeks, but havent gained either. On a bright note, I am now mostly buying size 12 clothes (when i can afford it) woohoo.

Must run, massively sore head and want some chillax time xox

Oh - and welcome to the newbie :)

Little guy and new man are going to meet this weekend...I've decided LOL Had some talks with my son, and we are going to invite him J over for pizza and footy on Friday night.

Spoke more with my mum tonight, and she is happy for me. She is just old fashioned and thought he should respect me by meeting the parents first LOL

I lost 300g this week, and it has kicked me back to tracking what I eat. I want to see a bigger loss on the scales. I want to lose another 5% by the end of the term - 10 weeks. Still raining so no running for me. Thinking of buying a treadmill... will look to see the how much that will set me back on the weekend LOL

Been busy tracking - had a few planned slip ups... pizza on Friday night plus dessert LOL

Rain has stopped jogging this week. Went for a a walk yesterday with the new man.

He came over and we spent time together this weekend with Liam... there were a couple of moments with Liam not happy with getting his own way, feeling jealous when I was talking with the BF, and when Liam wasnt winning the game! ARGHHHH! But generally went okay... looking more forward to next weekend when little one is at his dad's.

Been busy cooking today... made a beef and lentil lasagne for dinner, chili con carne soup for lunches during the week. Planned to make a dessert tonight but wouldnt fit in the day's food allowance. LOL

Having a problem with constipation at the moment.. hoping it sorts itself out, cause at this stage I dont think I am gonna be lighter on the scales tomorrow. LOL

Things are still going well with the new man... he saw some Rod Stewart CDs on my shelf and mentioned about buying tickets this week to take me to see him live ... the concert is Feb 14 2012!!

Even though I exercised the most I have for weeks, I have been eating poorly this week, so I am not looking forward to seeing a gain this week at Monday night's weigh in! :(

Hope the rest of you are doing better than me!

That's a good sign if he's talking about 6 months from now Vanessa!

I was 65.7kg today, BMI 23.2 My scales tell me I have 25.9%/17kg body fat. Feeling pretty good, although have been tired this week. I have a doctor's appt tomorrow - was meant to be the annual girly check but TTOTM arrived today so I don't think so! Will ask if I can get some labs done to check for anemia since the blood bank rejected me due to low hemoglobin and the fatigue.

Heading home for a visit on Thursday - only a week but cannot wait to see my nieces, christening for my new goddaughter, friends and family.

PS: I still wonder wtf happened to Ani and Lindor!

So where do you call home? It will definitely be a flying visit, but great to see family.

Any more dates?

I have really sucked at the whole dates and eating out... we had dinner out two nights this week, plus went out dancing...I had 3 drinks which I hadnt tracked and I know I have gone over my weekly "opps" allowance of 49 additional points. I havent been having dessert, but it soooo tempting.

I gained 600g last week, so that is 800g total gain in the fortnight... I need to turn that figure around. It is gonna take some motivation and determination to see results.

I spoke to my PT on Tuesday night about my goal to lose now 7kg in the next 7 weeks... he said to change the goal... originally it was 6 kg in 10 weeks. I know he was trying to motivate me to achieving it, but I am thinking I really need to be realistic and change the goal.... ARGHHHH!

Surprised myself tonight and weighed 1.4kg less at weighin!!! Must have been all that dancing Saturday night LOL

read all posts. woohoo about date Gen, and vanessa way to go about the new man.

mine is going well. Looking at moving down at end of year to be with him permanently :)

Weight is so-so. No loss, no gain. So thats at least a little good sign i am not going backwards

Slowly slowly losing weight - lost another 300g this week. Sort of hit another plateau... been in the same kg range for the past 3 weeks. Planned my menus for this week's evening meals and I am shaking things up a bit... planned 3 new soups for lunches. Got my exercise bike fixed, used it twice in the last 4 days it has been fixed. Still dating the new man... we have been exercising lots LOL but nothing that is helping the scales go down. I am still a bit self conscious with my mid section... I havent shown anyone other than my ex husband myself naked post baby, and he was with me before baby so he knew what I looked like pre pouch and stretch marks, and mid section roll LOL It is motivation though to get down to goal... I cant wait to be naked at goal weight LOL

arthromyalgia = OUCH!

What is arthromyalgia?

I have lost another 600g this week... I was excited and shared it with a colleague and she said "I bet you feel disappointed... you have done all that work and for 600g."

I looked at her shocked and said, "I have lost 15kg this year so far! I am overjoyed at such a loss... I have been plateauing for the last few weeks and I am in the next kg..." She expected weightloss to be like the Biggest Loser, big kilo drops each week. Bit annoyed that there is that unreal expectation out there... How is everyone else going?

basically pain / inflammation in the joints. My finger joints have been swelling and are very very sore. normally I have a pretty high pain threshold but i can't even stand a tissue touching them. Let alone trying to put gloves on at work. Been pretty difficult to work to but have been pushing through with some pills. Doc took bloods, unsure of results yet. Was quite sudden. pinky on one hand, then a month later pinky on other. they settled and the index finger and ring finger on my right hand blew up.

What a cow - re you work collegue. You don't need negative people like that around you so don't even share with her anymore. Just wait till one day she / they / he will look and go WOW. 15kg is massive. congrats

I'm same. no movement again. Could have something to do with the fact that when the man is here i eat pretty well, but when he goes hom i sort of dont eat until mid afternoon, and am a bit depressed so dont cook as many veges for dinner. Must get moveing and motivated again. Going to visit him in 3 weeks so will give me a little incentive to look my best. And moving down to be with him permanently at xmas time. Already checked out the gyms and schools etc. WOOHOO

15kg - good for you Vanessa!!

Sorry to hear about the joints Von. I had trouble with my shoulder and had to get an injection into it a few months ago, has been good since thank goodness.

I was 63.7kg today, BMI 22.6. Feeling okay although haven't exercised since my trip to Aus - still on weird sleeping schedule! Didn't lose much weight in August but still trending down slowly so have to be happy with that. Really don't need to lose any more weight but would like to get under 60 just for the he11 of it haha. Need to get something done to my eyelids and neck which are saggy-baggy but am big chicken. Might at least have an appt and see what they say.

oooo scary surgery. Well done for being 63. I got there but have jumped another 3kg just in the past 3 weeks. grrrr

beginning tonight (even though bacon and eggs for tea) I am starting to be a little more careful in not so much WHAT I eat but the times that I eat. I need to be more consistent. AND I have a bad habit of late night snacking.

I have become complacent too... eating out on the weekends - not caring what I choose... Thinking that the scone with jam and cream is ok because you havent had one like in forever but combined with the chocolate the other day and the caramel latte last night ... I have gained 1.8kg the last fortnight combined... and I dont think I have done too well this week so far, so I probably going to report another gain next week... boyfriend's birthday is this weekend and we have 3 celebration meals out!!! Not good for getting back on track.... on a more positive note... actually went into the gym that I have been thinking about joining... child care is just the issue (wondering aloud- should I ask new boyfriend? Thinking of just asking parents for now though)

Pretty lucky here where the local gym has a fenced area for kids to play and lots of toys, and gym balls. Still have to supervise yr child but they happily play without much drama

Can't find a gym with child care on site? I wouldn't leave the kid with new bf but I am suspicious type!

I met a guy at Oktoberfest the other night at the local brewery (man, I can pick em!) and we went out for dinner Sat night. He's nice, we'll see if anything further happens :)