I think I've done really good today.

Today's food (approximately 1300 calories):

Breakfast: Protein Shake
Lunch: Two lean hamburger patties & cooked cabbage
Snack: Greek Yogurt
Dinner: Rotisserie Chicken Leg and Thigh, Salad, Hummus with cherry tomatoes and baby carrots.

I also went to the store tonight (Costco) and didn't buy anything I shouldn't have - even read the labels, lol. No exercise today, unless you count the hour and a half I wandered around the Costco store.

Good morning my lovelies ! Lovely to see so many people positive and ready for the challenges that weightless brings.
Rennie and MamaP the best advice anyone can give you is take it one step at a time. We are human and will make mistakes, we will have struggles both physically and mentally. I found the mental struggles really tough, as I was not expecting the emotional side of weightloss to be so complex. But that's where 3FC helped immensely. I wish you strength, courage and a huge whoosh !!

Ona - I don't manage the gym daily, but go 4 times a week. I love it!! Sometimes I don't want to go, but once I'm in and blasting it's great. It energises not only my body but my mind as well However yesterday I tried to do a squat carrying the 145lbs I lost. I nearly wept at how heavy it was, and was mentally pole-axed for a while after. Today I am sore !! Such a sobering thing to do, and yet another reason to add to the list of 100's, why I don't ever want to put the weight back on.

Dangerouscurves onederland!

Steph - yes I have started the book. I am making slow progress, but one day I will get there. Nice that you remembered Sometimes it bowls me over how long the journey was, and how far ahed the road is.

I am certain that the only way to maintain is to eat the way I did when losing. I have discovered some great recipes. Look up the Hairy dieters. The recipes come from two chefs who were both very overweight, and who decided they could lose weight by re-inventing yummy foods and making them carb and calorie friendly. I tried their lasagne, using leeks as pasta sheets. It was awesome and only about 300 calories for a hefty portion. Last night we had spicy chicken. Again a filling and try tasty meal for around 300 calories.

The weather here is dull and depressing. I have chores to do, so see you all later. Have a really positive and fun filled day

Thank you for your kinds words but I'm not so sure I would say I'm "standing strong" . . . standing maybe, but not so sure about the strong but I'm gonna get there.

I make my own protein shakes because I want high protein low carb. Slimfast has a low carb shake, but they are expensive and offer no real variety. I use Optimum Nutrtition Gold Standard Protein Powder (expensive at first, but lasts a long time). It has 24 grams of protein and only 3 grams of carbs, 120 calories. I mix it with unsweetened vanilla Almond Milk and that only adds 2 grams of carbs and 40 calories. Sometimes I use frozen fruit (in vanilla powder), sometimes I use instant coffee granules & ice with the chocolate powder for a mocha shake. I have also learned that you can use sugar free jello pudding mix (or even sometimes SF jello mix) to change up the flavors. A vanilla shake with strawberries and a little bit of cheesecake jello mix makes a great shake. It doesn't take much to change up the flavor - I don't really measure, just kind of sprinkle it in.

Well, I better get moving. I have a lot to do today. It will be a test since I'm not tied to my office at work and will be out running errands. I hope everyone has a great day. I will try to come back tonight for personals - baby steps, baby steps.

January WI:

02: TOM
03: 243.2 - TOM
04: 244.2 - TOM
05: 242.8

Checking in to say hi been to the gym. Sweated buckets, which I like as it makes me feel virtuous !! Have had some good days on plan since the excesses of Christmas and the New year. Sadly succumbed to two oatcakes and cheese and pickle at midnight last night. Don't know why - perhaps it was my last hurrah for a while? Seems that I was hungry still and needed a carb snack. I find the excessive cardio sessions do that to me. However, keep moving on.
I have discovered miracle noodles- they are calorie,carb and fat free. Some people hate the flavour as there is a slightly fishy smell to them, but I find rinsing well before cooking cures this. For me they are a fab alternative to real pasta and have helped me immensely. I keep trying to find alternatives to carb loaded dishes, and have quite the repertoire now Perhaps I should include these in my book?
Came back from the gym and hoovered and washed all the floors downstairs in my house. This took over an hour, so I'm counting this as exercise
Was congratulated by the man at the gym for my work today- made me feel really pleased. Funny though, I've never mentioned my weightloss there. I am sure they look at me and think "Boy she could do with toning" but I smile and think if only they knew! It's a powerful force to be reckoned with.
DD comes with me to the gym. She is skinny, but suffers from a belly and thighs, caused mostly by typical teenager food. She has recently become more body conscious and has enjoyed eating my food. Now, if I could just get my DH and DS to join in, life would be peachy.
A few months ago I started taking a supplement called 5HTP - it is a natural pre-cursor for seratonin - the feel good vitamin. I'm not sure whether I should credit this, or the gym, or a combination of both for not suffering so badly with SAD this year. Whatever it is, I'll take it ! Days are grey and depressing here in Belgium for the next three and the previous three months. It is difficult to keep an even mood when you don't ever get any light, so I'll take any positive mood surge I can get.
We are planning another holiday to Florida this year. We had such an awesome time last year, and I discovered a liking for so many stores I would never have been into before. I also began the gym whilst there, so am thankful we will return to the same place and I can keep up with the exercise whilst there. We also jet skied and parasailed - it was awesome and for the first time in my life I didn't worry about whether I was too big to do the things I wanted to do. Hurray
Warm and positive wishes to you all today - feels like a good one x

January WI:

02: TOM
03: 243.2 - TOM
04: 244.2 - TOM
05: 242.8
06: 241.8

Rennie- I use the miracle noodles the way I would any pasta. You can rder them online - I have mine delivered from the Netherlands. But I know you can have them delivered anywhere in the US. Definitely worth a try

Hay Everybody

Sam and Rennie,I tried the noodles(shirataki) once.I didn't cook them right or something but saw them In a magazine the other day,checked on the IE how to prepare them properly and I'm hooked
Making shrimp fettuccine alfredo for dinner made them yesterday w/lean hamburger and it was like spagetti and paste

Sam,I'm always hungry after working out too.With me since I had so much too lose..people at the gym know when they see lose skin or something But since I've been going regular for a year,I'm toning up nicely but There's Just so much toning up my arms and stomach will do.
I checked into having some skin removed but got scared when I started hearing bad stories about that.
When I started at the gym I was ashame cause i was so flabby and some of those girls bodies were so tight but now I'm geting tight too That's great you and DD go to the gym together for sure a motivator! glad the 5HTP is working.

Great WI MamaP you're working it out anddoing great.

Hay Rennie,you're doing great! not gaining,starting to watch what you're eating,good frame of mind about food is comming back...you're on your way. it just takes time.
What helps me is focusing on what I eat more than what the scale says.concentrating on making sure I eat healthy,not too much and to always be prepared everyday helps. when I know I've had a good eating day,sometimes I don't care what the scale says cause I know how I ate the day before and it will show soon.
Your dinner sounded good the other day w/the brussel sprouts.I've found that when I load up on my veggies first,I get full and then won't over eat.Rennie I got My noodles from Publix.I'm sure any whole foods store would have them
No I can't make the Black bean Brownies any more cause I have no control.I make a pound Cake in a mug now and that's something that I can control.I've been trying(always looking for)a lot of recipes from different places.It seems to help keep this new lifestyle interesting and doable.


As for me..I had a good Whoosh yesterday! WI @ 157.0 major pooping haven't exercised in 2 days,..going hard for 5 Is enough I think for now.Just tired.felt like a cold was coming on too so..No WI today,Church early throws off my schedule.Will push for the gym In the morning.Will change my ticker soon,Just couldn't believe I WI @ 157.0 yesterday.

Ona, nice whoosh. And it's great that all your hard work at the gym is paying off. I've noticed some tightening up in my arms, too, which I didn't expect given my age.

starbrite, I was just reading about that 5HTP stuff. Maybe I'll give it a try. I know part of the reason I overeat is because it hits those reward centers in my brain, so maybe this could be an alternative.

MamaP, good progress!

Rennie, hang in there. Stick to your plan and you'll get those results.

I didn't do well yesterday, just overate for no particular reason. But today has been really good, and I did 60 minutes with Leslie Sansone. My heart rate monitor said I burned 450 calories - nice!

Let's make it a good week!

Great burn there Steph you got back on track today and that's what''s Important Hope you enjoyed the time w/your friends.Thank you Great job on your arms .yeah.. age ain't nothing but a number You weren't as heavy as me in the first place,I have really bat wings. can get in a size 8 dress but still..all the loose skin...sigh..as long as I wear long sleeves or quarter length,people wouldn't know I was ever over weight.

just joined! i will be posting my info here too...following the LA weightloss program. i really need the support and accountability.