Hello All,
How was everyone's weekend? I participated in a TOPS walk over the weekend. It was the first time one was held in our area. We held it for the SouthEast Area of Ohio.

I was on the planning committee and was in charge of the trail signs and keep everyone motivated on the trail.
It was a fun time and we are hoping that once it's sent in to the TOPS news they will run our story of it.

I ate way to much yesterday and I can really tell it this morning. I've got to quit doing that to myself! I'm excited because my workout partner is home from a 2 week vacation and I'm ready to get committed again. It really is important to me to keep losing.

I did have a good weigh-in on Thursday. I had a .75 lb loss. My goal that I set for myself was to lose something each week until Labor Day, and I've done that for the past 2 weeks since I set the goal. I've got to get busy this week and stay ON PLAN so I'll be down again on Thursday.

Have a great day. I hope to see a lot of posts and I promise to do my best to get here once a day.

Debbie~ we are very much the same. Both of us are fiercely independant. Our biggest challenge of marriage has been finding a commom ground while maintaining our own individuality. I carry the home and kids load for sure and got into the habit of excluding him, not good. We have gelled well somewhere in the middle. My 2 oldest and best friends married guys who lack backbone and they "run the show" those friendships have drifted and it was hard. They do not think much of my hubby or marriage.The bottom line is I would not be with a man who was not a equal match in all ways. It doesn't make it a smooth road at times.

Susie~ HI!!!! The walk sounds fun.

The house is CLEAN!!!
This is a major accomplishment considering I live with pigs. I say this with love but they are a filthy, messy bunch.
I had words with hubby about his laziness and plain sloppiness in the house. He made a small effort to pick up after himself. The kids pitched in when I started putting their toys and"treasures" in garbage bags to be stored til a future date. Needless to say the house is empty of ALL extra belongings, ALL the closets have a bare minimum of personal belongings. Bedding and towels are in their proper homes, the whole house is dusted and vacuumed.....I will work hard at the pile of paper in the kitchen today and pay bills.
3 little people here.
School is out on Wednesday. DD is thrilled. DS is sad and wants to go all summer. Anyone remember September with him???? Who woulda thought this!!!
I am getting him lesson books per his request for the summer.We got the learning bug turned on and there is no shutting it off!!!!!!! Kinda cool. He is brilliant, of course, lol.
My headache turned into severe intestinal cramps and cold sweats. They have passed.
Supposed to go up to 33C every day this week. Thank God for AC and wading pools.
I will whip up a salad for lunch&supper.
My baby boy who is supposed to start in August is having respiratory issues and may have cat allergies. I am really sad about this. I have had his sister since she was 7 months and she and DD are VERY close.

I best go have breaky. I bought 10 litres of strawberries yesterday.MMMMM!!!
Have a cool refreshing day!!!!

PS I ate half a bag of Bugles while watching a movie( The Gift, most enjoyable) last night. Bah!!!! Told myself I would have a handful. Had several handfuls!!

Good morning, Ladies!

Holly- I can relate, I have a family of piglets too! My youngest is almost 3, and if she`s done eating something it goes on the floor. Or behind the couch, or under the bed! I swear more food goes on the floor than in her mouth! It does keep my busy though! Sometimes it seems like an endless battle just to keep the house decent.

I did well all weekend, did have a pringle munch-fest and even though I said I`d have just a few, I had a few more... but still stopped before it was a total binge. I had nothing "good" in the house and being so hot and humid shopping was no option yesterday! I went to the store this morning, and you know it felt really good looking in that cart and seeing apples, water, yogurt etc. besides cookies, chips and soda! My kids still get their snacks, but instead of getting MY favorite ice cream I get them something I won`t be tempted to dive into... got some slimfast snack bars for me. ;)

As I mentioned before this week is going to be tough. Hubby returns Wednesday for 2 weeks home, and I seem to do good but fall off when he gets back. He loves to BBQ and just plain loves to eat everything. If I can just hang in there and keep the exercise up I think I`ll be okay. I hope! I have to learn not to blame him. I`m the one who puts the food in my mouth, not him.

I`m also planning better for the dreaded TOM, which really started the set back in April. I have a tough time with that, especially the few days before. Between the emotional changes and the cravings and the scale going up a pound or two, I have to learn to get a grip on that. SO my plan is to keep healthy sweet treats on hand, like the slimfast bars, and some baked chips or something like that for the salt cravings... I get em both! And definetly no scale for about a week.

I recently realized I`ve been an on and off dieter since I was around 13, thats almost 17 years! Of course the younger years were the most foolish, starve for a few days, binge for a few more, and so on... Then the children and the comfort of marriage, you all know how it happens! I think all these years of reading and trying and failing is such a learning experience when you`re finally ready to do it right.

One time I succesfully lost weight, and here`s the kicker... I didn`t try. After being at home with 2 kids for years I started working, managing a resteraunt at night. I started in Sept 2000 a size 20. By March of the next year I was in a 14 closing in on a 12. I didnt even notice the weight loss until my family at Xmas were all saying how good I looked! I still ate what I wanted, I just had less time to overeat. And I was on my feet from 6pm to 3am. The weight just melted off.

Once I quit, I gained about 20 pounds so fast it`s ridiculous! Then I became pregnant late in 2001 with my youngest, and here I am. A tight 18. :(

I`ve really thought a lot about that weight loss, and the activity is what did it, no doubt about it! What I was doing wrong in APril, if I ate more than I planned I`d call the day a failure so why bother exercising?! What a huge mistake that was.

I guess it`s just taken me 17 years to figure this all out! LOL

Sorry for such a long ramble, just feels good to share. Now I have to clean cereal off the floor :D

Have a wonderful day everyone! If I work out today ( I will!!) it`ll be 5 consecutive days of 30-40 minutes on the machine. I`ll be back later to let you all know if I reached this little goal of mine!

Hi everyone :) I just got a PM from Caro30 inviting me to join in here and I thought that was an excellent idea. I'm in my mid-20s, married, a mother of 2 little ones. My oldest is almost 3, my youngest is 1 1/2. I have lost 26 pounds so far (I've been at this for 2 months now) and at the moment seem to be stuck at 222 pounds. I'm 6 feet tall and my long-term goal is 165 pounds. I'd love to reach that by my next anniversary (next summer) but as long as I get there eventually, I'll be thrilled.

I'm not following any specific plan or program. I am a carbaholic and there's no way I'd be able to do the low-carb diet, although I know it seems to work really well for a lot of people. I've been using Slimfast shakes a couple of times a week as a meal replacement, simply because with my two little kids keeping me on my toes, sometimes my choice is a shake or something like chips or cookies! I have been staying around 1500 calories but I'm messing with my calories a little bit to see if that's what's stalling my weight loss. My goal at the moment is to stay under 1700. I'm wondering if between getting an hour of exercise 4+ times a week, and cutting my calories down to 1500, my body has gone into starvation mode. We'll see. I'm going to give it another couple days to see if that does the trick and if not, I'll go the other direction and try to stay under 1400 instead. Hopefully I can break this little plateau. I want to see the scale moving again!

If I can lose 17 more pounds by this fall, I'll have lost every single pound that I gained during both of my pregnancies. I've already lost everything I gained with pregnancy #2, but still have some left from my daughter. Her birthday is in fall and I'd love to have all the pregnancy weight off by the time she's 3. I don't know how realistic that is, but we'll see. Slow and steady wins the race, right?

Anyway, I guess I'll just jump on in. Thanks, Caro, for mentioning this thread to me. I hope the rest of you don't mind if I join in. At the moment I feel like I need all the help I can get!

Back from the Dead
 

Hello Ladies,

I am so glad to be back. I have been over-loaded, and just plain old SICK.:yikes:

My DH sister is in between homes from PA, to MN, so she needed to stay with us until she could close on her new home. She left today after being with us for over a week. She was here with dog, so Maggie was very happy. Not a dull moment in the house for sure. I was very happy she was here. Last Friday, (week ago) I came down with a sore throat, and just feeling run down. By Sunday, I was very ill. DH wanted to take me to the emergency room. I begged off for Monday at the clinic. Big mistake. By Monday morning 6AM, I was sooo sick. :stress: Went to clinic, strep throat, double ear infection, pink eye, and MONO. :stress: It about put me over the edge. Literally slept 3 days away and didn't even realize it. Glad she was here to help with DH and DS.
Missed my conference that I begged the school to pay for me to attend for my little autistic student. (and didn't even know I missed it until I woke up on Thursday evening, and DH told me he called and cancelled my hotel, and called my principal). :sorry: Big tears. Back to clinic on Thursday for more blood work, and another shot in the BUTT, and more medicine, and now I am feeling somewhat normal. Tired, but back on track. Check up today puts me down over 5 pounds for week. Didn't really want to lose it this way.
Decided I would take a walk around the block to see if I could do it. I did, and it felt wonderful.

Have lots to post on personals, but will do tommorrow. Just wanted to check in, and see how everyone is doing. I have a TON to do, laundry, cleaning, and just getting stuff taken care of. SIL left house well, but I just need to do some things. She even did her own laundry, bed linens, and towels from her bathroom. Gotta love her.

Love Sandi

Oh Sandi, you were seriously ill. Poor dear. Sorry about the missed conference. So glad you are on the mend!! HUGS!!!!
Caro~ lots of great insight in your post.My kids are 4&6 and i am still lsing the baby weight. I am down to what I weighed before my 2nd one.It is such a huge lifestyle change and their needs are VERY important.It is hard to find yourself when they start to get more independant. Hang in there!!!!
Gray~ Welcome. it was nice of Caro to bring a friend! You are an the road to success!!!!!!

Hello all....

Sandi....glad you are feling better...nothing worse than a shot in the butt!

Gray.... know what you mean about the carbs...I did the low carb thing last summer.....easy to grill out meat and ate lots of salads....did I do it "right"? .... probably not, but it was not for me....the science makes sense, but I need something I can live with. I try to stick to 1500-1600 cal a day, with some days going over......I worry about putting myself in starvation, but I am over 40 and losing weight is just so hard !!!!! I will get back to exercise next week I hope.....

Everyone else.......stick with it!!!!! I try to remember that I am the only one in control of my eating and anyone or anything else is just an obstacle I can overcome!

Lilybutt

Me too
 

Hi, I hope it's okay for me to just jump on in. I'm new here and I'm LONGING (and working my tush off) for that ONE!

I've been overweight my entire life but never this much. I'm working on cutting calories, exercising as able (I have fibromyalgia) and low glycemic index eating.
I'm trying to do this right this time, including not doing it all alone! :)

Sandi, I hope you are feeling better, sounds like you just got everything at once!!!

G.E.G.- Glad you made it! I`ve never really experienced a plateau, yet. Last time around I did get frustrated at just a few days of non-scale movement, and it was emotionally hard, and I crashed! I have to stop weighing everyday. Although today is a good one!! Down to 220! Even after some mashed potatos for dinner! I`m considering having my husband take the scale with him on the boat, so I cant get to it for a whole 2 weeks every month. :D I know the days are coming where it won`t move! I did read a very good post from Jennifer3fc about plateau`s, and basically said to try upping the exercise and lowering the calories a bit to see if it helps. See how it works for a few days.

Well I did it, 5 days of exercise! I`ve joined in on the 21 day challenge thread to keep me going. Looks like a fun thread as well.

It`s weird, even in the midst of a good eating day or sweating my butt off I still wonder "Can I really do this?" I guess when your used to failing at something for so long, it`s hard to believe someday you might succeed.

I know one thing, I feel alot better coming here when I have these thoughts.

Sometimes it feels overwhelming...I have to exercise. I have to listen to my body while I`m eating. I gotta kick soda. I cant eat when I`m emotional. I can`t eat at night. I have to keep busy so I dont eat simply because I`m bored... all these things and more. I know it gets easier as it becomes second nature, at least I truly hope so! I seem to be able to do it all, but the anxiety about worrying how long I`ll last is drving me nutty.

One day a time, right? ;)

Sandi- that sounds terrible! Glad you are feeling better.

Holly- thanks for your kind words! My body seemed to go downhill after the second pregnancy. What bothers me is even though I`ve been heavy forever, I never have had this much weight in the middle. The last pregnancy just distorted my body!
All 3 were c-sections, and the last was definetly the toughest to recover from. I could barely move for weeks, I practically lost no weight after her birth. Of course I want to lose the weight for all the million reasons we all do, but as I get older I know putting on all this weight on top is not good for me. I want to go into my 30`s healthy (and looking like a sexy 25 year old! lol)

Bella- Welcome! Lets drop out of the 200`s once and for all! :)

Have a great day everyone! Tuesdays are payday so it always consisted of Mcdonalds for lunch while I`m out and about, then pizza for dinner as our once a week order-out. Not today! I have a Lean Cuisine pizza for dinner, and frozen pizza for the kids (that I hate). So we all still get somewhat what we`re used to, but I save money and tons of calories! ;)

Post first, Read later...7 kids all day
in scorching heat!!!
The basement will be well used. We have a thermometer on the north side of the house, Hubby was going on about it not all that hot at 85F. So I put a thermometer out in the back yard. I popped right up to 97F. LOL!! He agreed that is hot. He likes the heat and builds houses outside in this weather.Remember the winter and how painfully grumpy he was. He hates to be cold. I equally hate to be hot. I get sick! Literally. It is my fair Scot blood.

Heat stroke runs in my family.
I am fighting a bit of a virus too.
My monthly weigh in was today. I am 226. Up 1 lb. Basically maintaining. I seem to lose 5 lbs., maintain for a couple of months, then lose 5 more, maintain for a couple of months.........The trend is thankfully downward.
I have a very sore neck. I have been doing stretches and using tiger balm. Today it feels looser but still painful.
I am not feeling great in general and I dont like it. Niggly things are getting under my skin.
I will be going to the Lake to see my family on Friday and I dont want to see them.
it is Canada Day and there are spectacular fireworks over the lake. In the past we have gone and stayed at least one night with the whole battle axe brigade. It is stressful for all of us. I usually drink too much( to cope). So the plan is we wont stay!!( didn’t last year either but spent the whole day). We will go up after supper around 7pm. Lots of time to swim and frolic. Fire works wont be til after dark around 10 pm and then drive home. I invited another family to join us. The BXB will be extra charming and leave me the **** alone.
I tested out Mom yesterday with a chat and told her I hadn’t been feeling well and had fallen off a ladder. She went on and on about herself as usual.I know what to expect anyhow.
The kids really want to go. Hubby will be by my side. Deep breath.
2nd last day of school. Very sad.We are all loving school.Our principal is retiring. I am very close with him. I guess I am sad in general too. LOL!
Avon is still going very well. Need to make a few follow up calls.
Gala Days is coming up too.
I worked on the editing for the handbook last night. It is looking marvy.
I jumped into the wading pool with the kids last night. We had a festive time!! They were flabergasted at first. You cant come in a kid’s pool...........

Need a swift kick in butt over here in SW Ontario!!!!!!

Hello everyone,

I started posting this morning but got busy! I have been going through and reading your posts and can't do personals right now. I feel bad because I'm so behind and I feel a little left out. I hope I can start posting more often soon!!! I miss all of you...and I see a few new "faces"!!!

I'm so glad this thread is still going!

I've been learning to add fruit into my day for lunch. Convenient fruit cups, fresh blueberries, and yogurt. I always hated yogurt, plus, it does a number on the belly if ya know what I mean...but it's so good for you. I bought some Breyer's Fruit on the Bottom yogurt that was greatly on sale, and I actually like it. I realized that's because it's not the sugar-free type made with Sweet N Low or Splenda. I think those yogurts taste so artificial and icky. Granted, this Breyers that I bought tastes quite good, it is very sugary and caloric although low in fat. But, the cultures are still good for you and it is a nice treat in the late afternoon for a pick-me up...better than candy. For now, I'll learn to eat the yogurt then experiment with different types.

It's been so hot here and DH and I have been bad about eating out. We ate out every single night last week! Sandwiches, chicken, etc. We did go to a Mongolian BBQ twice last week - when you create your own stir-fry and those are great. I got in lots of veggies. I will try to keep tuna salad on hand. I also bought frozen pre-grilled chicken breasts that have 3g fat in each one. Pop them in the microwave and they are done. Summer is the time for convenience foods. I know it's bad. Cooking heats up the house so much. We have two window units, one in the dining room and one in the bedroom. DH made a "barrier" in the kitchen doorway to help block the heat from the kitchen and it works very well. It's blazing hot in the kitchen, even if we don't cook!

We try to use the ACs sparingly because they use so much energy. We've used the ACs more in the past two weeks than we did all last summer! It just wasn't very hot last summer, and DH is still looking for a job so he's home all day during the hot times of day. Last summer, we had no electric bill for a couple months because we were so ahead - our monthly estimated payments were higher than necessary. It was nice. It won't be like this for this summer! It's been basically in the 90's for the past 2 weeks - all you midwesterners can relate - I'm sure most of you can!

I want to start back to the gym. I need help ladies. Sometimes I am on a roll and go every day for three weeks straight. The heat doesn't help me...I feel fat and grungy out in the heat. But I know once I start going back, I'll feel much better about myself. I do feel good playing softball though - games are every Friday night. That's where my exercise is right now. Not too much. Although I did spend 2 hours weed-wacking on Saturday morning...we volunteered to work in a local cemetery with Civil War vets buried in it. My arms are still sore.

I need to get with it. I must keep up with this decent eating and start to the gym again. I will go tonite. Maybe I can start going around 8p-9p when it starts cooling off outside and come back and go straight to bed. Or, try getting up at 5a again. I think that would be better because when I was going to the gym in the mornings, I was always on time for work. I just have to be prepared!

Talk to you all soon.

Girlie

Hollyhock: Good luck with your family get together on Friday. I just had to post having just gotten over the family thing a few weeks ago. I drank too much (too cope like you said) and there's something about alcohol that makes fried food fly into my mouth. It's really something to behold! I don't know your particular family situation but I completely understand how challenging that can be! I wish I had actual good advice :dizzy: but really all I can do is wish you Good luck!

I am trying to get into the exercise habit (I hear ya Girlie!) and so far this week is going well. I swam for 35 minutes today in the morning. It was so beautiful and peaceful and relaxing. :beach: If everyday were at this pace I would have no problem with my routine! Not that much on my schedule, time to swim, time to lounge, time to relax...

Caro: Thanks for the welcome! Enjoy your healthier pizza today! Sounds like you're making some great choices. You must be so proud of yourself, 5 days of exercise is a great accomplishment! :barbell:

Thanks Bella, it does feel good. I just completed day 6 :) Picked up some of those resistance bands, which I wasnt sure about, but WOW they really work your muscles, and so many ways to use them. I`m going to try to add that in a few times a week with the elliptical.

It`s nice to hear "good job" and encouragement. I love my family but they are the last ones to say "good job!"
Ok... my husband does comment when my butt starts looking good again, he`s not too bad, but my best friend is heavy also and would rather wallow in self pity, and she tends to act jealous when I start shedding pounds. I dont get a lot, if any, support from them.

I managed to eat very well today, slimfast muffin bar for breakfast, turkey (no cheese!) sandwich for lunch, and my LC pizza. And a S.F. peanut butter bar for a snack. To me they taste like a butterfinger, absolutely delicious for 120 calories! I feel very satisified with what I ate today, calories come out a little lower (I said I wouldn`t count but I have started to today) lower than 1000, but I still drink an iced coffee in the morning with sugar and cream, so I figure that in as well. And no, I cant give it up! I was thinking after I hit my 21 day work out challenge, I`ll try a 21 day coffee challenge. I think that would be harder! I love the stuff, it`s my one indulgence I dont want to give up.

Kids had last day of school today (we had a whopping 10 snow days to make up for, blizzard closed schools for a week!) so they have a late start to summer. It will be tougher to do my afternoon workout in peace, so I`m going to make it a point to still get up early and get my exercise in then, starting tommorow. Im tired of the phone ringing, knock at the door, kids asking for something in the middle of MY time! :)

Girlie- I wish you lots of luck getting the ball rollin' again! As good as we feel doing it we fall into these slumps. I just have to keep telling myself that if I dont do it today, I probably won`t do it tommorow, and I`ll be feeling miserable again. Sounds like you`ve been moving a little, every bit counts!

Lets all keep moving! We can so totally do this!

Have a good night, see you all tomorrow!

I hate my scale. Still not moving. I refuse to weigh myself until Saturday and maybe by then it'll move again. I'm about ready to pull my hair out over here, just to see SOMETHING change on the scale. Ugh. It hasn't moved at all since the 19th!

Hey Gray! I have the problem with weighing everyday, although every time I do I tell myself I won`t get back on for a week or two, the next morning I`m right back on it! I know I`m not losing a pound a day, and I`m not trying to, 2and 1/2 a week is what I`m aiming for. But just a day or two of no scale movement crushes my motivation. It is depressing to see the number not change after working my butt off and eating probably 1/4 of what I usually do!

I`ll try it with you, not weighing til Saturday. I jumped on already this morning, so I`ll give it a shot tomorrow! I went years without a scale not worrying how much I was gaining, why is it so hard to go without it when you know you`re doing good? Just makes no sense to me, but we continue to put ourselves through it!! My mini goal is to be 219 by Sunday, so Saturday would be a good wait for me as well.

Are you close to your TOM? I will gain 2-3 pounds overnight the day or two before my period starts... and it seems while dieting and exercising the few days before and during, I`ll stall for about a week on the scale, maybe there is a weight loss at this time for us but the water gain hides it? Once it`s all over I`ll drop 3 or 4 pounds like nothing. I think it`s very important to keep track of when it`s coming, prepare (for me that means having healthier choices for my cravings on hand) and drink more water, and most of all stay away from the scale for at least a week! (I just saw it`s been since the 19th, so maybe it doesn`t apply to what you`re going through.) Just dont give up, it will move! You are doing so good! If you give up it will definetely move, in the wrong direction! ;) I think I saw a post somewhere from you that you did 45 minutes on the elliptical, that`s great! More than I`m up to!

Okay, so I`m not going to work out in the morning! I was up at 6am, put on my shoes and tied up my hair and grabbed my water. Put the music on, after one minute I said "oh no this is not gonna happen!" I`m definetely not a morning exerciser. With my better half being home later this morning, it will be a challenge to get it in today at all. But I`m determined. I tend to get very bored in the afternoons and early evenings, usually when I`d eat a lot, so maybe it`s in my best interest to keep the afternoon session! It`s like I have all the time in the world, but to have an hour all to myself is inconceivable!

I`ll be back later! I`m going to try to plan meals for the week, luckily the chef is back in the house (I hate cooking) so if I can plan our meals for the week, there`ll be less of an impulse to order out or him choose to make something I really shouldn`t eat. I know the BBQ is coming this weekend... I`m stocked on chicken breast! Keeping the exercise is going to my battle for this next week. I`m determined.