Howdy chicks!

Motivation level: 6

It's been there for a couple of days now. I just can't seem to get any more motivated than that. It's ok, some things are starting to work themselves out (unfortunatly, those things do not include my body ), so my mind should be settling down any day now. The night at the movies with Mom was fun, even if it did include going way over my calorie budget (I've still got calories "in the bank" though). I haven't decided if I'm going to exercise today, even though I know I should. I feel like my mind has been under such stress these past few days that even my body is tired. I might veg out and watch movies all day or something. I guess we'll see.
The good news is that the scale read 205 this morning. Yay! I guess that means I'm doing something right. I've said it before, but I think my body is just in "weight loss mode" right now, and it's working of its own accord. Which is fine with me! I think it has a lot to do with my mindset. It's like I've finally gotten to the place where I've decided to do it, and I know I'm going to do it, no matter what, and my body is just cooperating. Always before it was just an idea, something I might try. This is so much better.

Anyway, I'm going to go find something to eat, my tummy's growling. Hope you all have a wonderful day!
~Elisha

Well, yesterday was ok... although I didn't get any exercise in. Bah. Again, stayed below the 1000cal mark which was pretty good since I indulged in two doughnut holes. And amazingly enough, that was enough to satisfy my sweet-tooth... so I'm definitely proud of myself for staying focussed.

Julie, I'm not really sure how I manage to stay around 1000cals.! I'm never hungry and try to save the bulk of them for dinner time. That way I can enjoy a sensible dinner with my family rather than munching on a single leaf of lettuce. Today, for instance, my menu will consist of 1 c of Spec. K for breakfast (today I ate it dry but normally add a 1/4 c low fat milk), tuna salad (made with 1tbsp of low-fat mayo) sandwich on whole wheat bread for lunch, an orange for a snack, slices of grilled pork loin on a bed of fresh greens and orange segments. I drink nothing but water and don't add oil or butter when cooking. I also try to grill as much of my meat as possible.
But you probably already know all those secrets, don't you?

Anyways girls I have to go for now, but take care and have a happy and healthy weekend!

~mel

Hi ladies!

Today has been a pretty good day. Went to the park at 9am for a 45 minute power walk. There was a lady on the trail in front of me that was really moving, I tell you! So my goal became to just try and keep up with her. Unbeknownst to her, she really helped me get a good workout today because I was wringing with sweat! I was a little concerned about how suddenly she stopped however. Before I knew it she was just flying right off the trail towards her car, with no cooldown or anything. I had no idea she was about to stop! So I went around the trail one extra time slowly to cool down.

While I was walking I started dreaming of breakfast foods - specifically omelettes and hashbrowns, which I haven't had in ages. So I quickly did some re-arranging of food in my mind and decided to stop and get a carryout breakfast for me and hubby, with a plan that it would be my only MAIN meal for the day. Since breakfast I have had some yogurt and a peach and I'll probably have more fruit a little later. I so rarely eat a big breakfast that when I do I am literally stuffed for the remainder of the day. It was yummy too, and worth every calorie - veggie omellette, sausage, hashbrowns, and toast. I then did some grocery shopping, housework and laundry. Then went to purchase yet another pedometer. I don't even want to discuss my pedometer issues!

Mel - that's amazing that you can stay below 1000 calories, but seeing your food intake for today helped to put it in perspective for me so I can see how its doable. Do you find that you can still lose on 1000 calories a day? I was just wondering the point at which your body thinks its starving. I've often wondered about that.

I too am going to be doing mostly grilling this week. I bought romaine lettuce so dinner for at least a couple of days will be grilled chicken ceasar salad. I only thought about buying croutons looong after leaving the grocery store today !

Elisha - that's great that your body is on board with your plan to lose! Glad to hear you had fun on your movie night with your mom!

Check in with you guys later! Hope everyone is enjoying their Saturday!

Evening Ladies,
I had a few spare minutes to sit and write you all a little note. First off, I want to say congrats to Elisha who is down to 205!!!! Yea you! You will be at 199 in no time! I'm working on 159, so we can do this together! I hope that your last few days have been helpful to your healing in whatever area you are needing it. I'm sending prayers your way! ((((((((Elisha!)))))))))

Michelle, I don't know why I didn't notice this before, but you are from Michigan! Me too! Where you at and did we have this conversation because there aren't too many 3FC members from Michigan! I live on the West Side in Muskegon! If you are close, maybe we can do a power walk some day together! Way to go on the great walk today! You are doing so great with your exercise!

Mel, thanks for the info on the 1000 calories! I'd be starving! I'm a grazer and I need stuff all day, it seems or I do get physically hungry! Just look at my food journals!!! Maybe that's why I'm losing so slowly!!! But slow is better than not at all!

As far as eating today! I skipped lunch which was a huge no-no for me!!! It made me want to eat bad stuff the rest of the day! I did ok until we went grocery shopping and hubby and I talked each other INTO buying a small NY style cheesecake! We had salad for supper and shrimp cocktail, then a small piece of cheesecake with strawberries (& splenda) with low cal cool whip! Yummy! I also had a bite of DD's icecream & strawberries that she couldn't finish! The cheesecake alone was about 300 calories!! Ai Yai Yai!!

No exercise today! I will do 4 days next week for sure of exercise! I want to up the Aerobics to 30 minutes instead of the 20 I am doing, so I am in the process of getting some new videos! I also have the trusty exercise bike or my pedal bike which I really should get on!

Tomorrow is a busy day! We have church in the am then company coming over for dinner after that. Hubby is taking pictures (we have a studio and he's doing a friend's Senior pic along with family pics!) so should be a busy day! If we go to the beach, I am going to try to get in a short walk! That will probably be my only exercise for the day!

I'm making beef roast & veggies along with green bean casserole. I'm going to have a light b-fast and probably salad for supper with NO snacking tomorrow! I want Tuesday's weigh in to be at least what I was before I left for vacation! And that was almost a month ago! Yikes! I'm going for 165 for my birthday which is the 25th of July! I'm currently at 168. That's 3 lbs in a week! If I really buckle down I can do it!

Well that's enough rambling for now! Catch you all tomorrow evening!
Julie

Well girls, to be honest with you, I'm eating more frequently now than I was before. So I imagine my body is loving all the extra nourishment. I used to skip breakfast and lunch completely and just have a junkfood snack in mid-afternoon with dinner to follow. I've never been a huge eater... I just have to concentrate on meeting the RDA of nutrients which I've been coming close to on a more regular basis.

Congrats to Elisha for being down to 205 -- that rocks!!!

Anyways I'm outta here to get my evening walk in... talk to you all later!

~mel

Dreams come true; without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them. --John Updike

Evening chicks!

I miss a day and everyone else shows up! Typical!

Today was... eh, good and bad. Exercise was good, food was bad. Not beating myself up about it. Tomorrow will be even better.
My motivation is way up right now, which is unfortunate because it's after 11:30pm. It seems like I'm always motived AFTER I exercise.
Better late than never, I suppose.

Jaymi--That's cool that your husband's friends are decent. Sucks about the rain though. Doesn't it seem like that's always the way it goes? It'll probably rain on my one day off this week too.

Lucia--That stinks about the sciatica! I've had back problems myself (scoliosis, plus a nasty car accident a while back), and walking really does help. It's sitting still that I can't stand! You'd think I'd take that as some sort of hint! I can't ride a bike for very long either, because it aggravates that exact point in my back... it stinks. I don't know what your dr. said about your case in particular, but yoga and pilates help me as well, though pilates can be too tough until you get the muscles built up (which you do by doing pilates, ironically enough). I hope you're feeling better soon!

Mel--Great job on the evening walks! Also, it's great that you're right on track with your eating/calories. I find things work out the same for me--if I keep breakfast and lunch pretty light, I can kind of relax with dinner (as long as I don't go overboard). However, I recently figured out that if my calories get too low my weight loss slows down. I was getting between 1100-1200 for a while and there was no progress whatsoever, but now I've bumped it back up to 1500-1600 and the pounds are dropping off again. I guess it's different for each individual. You know your body better than anyone else!

Julie--I have that eating habit too--if I skip meals, particularly breakfast, I find myself eating all stinking day! I've really tried to cut down on my snacking though, and I think that is what has helped me the most. I would just sit and eat without even thinking about it. Now I shudder to think of what I was putting into my body on a daily basis. That cheesecake sounds really good though. A few of my friends from school (that I haven't seen in months) are having a dinner party this Friday, and I'm supposed to bring dessert. I'm really considering making a cheesecake, but I haven't decided what kind. It's one of my very favorite things to make, and that is saying a lot because I LOVE to cook! I'm going to try to make a lower-fat one than usual though--that will be a new experience! I think I'm also going to take a fruit salad. Or maybe I'll just make some fat-free mocha mousse and strawberry parfaits.... Egads, now I've got myself thinking about desserts again!
And yes, my head is calming down a bit. I seem to go through a few days like that every once in a while, just to keep me on my toes I think. I guess if we didn't have the downs we wouldn't know the ups. I'll be much better after this weekend, when the one issue still up in the air should resolve itself.
Sounds like you and I are both upping our exercise. I've decided it's time to get back to my old routing of 2 days on/1 day off, just because having a set schedule makes me actually do it, whereas if I just say, "I'll do it on whatever days I feel like it and I have time," it never gets done. You and me, chickie, kicking it up a notch! Let's do it!

Michelle--Whatever keeps us motivated, right? I always do that too--I don't want to go slower than everybody else, now do I? NO! And that breakfast sounds GOOD! I think I'm going to have to make an omelette in the morning, but I have no idea what I'll put in it. I guess I'll figure it out in the morning. Keep up the great work!

Ok, ladies, that is all from me tonight. I will check in tomorrow morning before work. I hope you all have a wonderful night, and a very healthy day tomorrow!
~Elisha

Hey ladies! I'm the first one here today? I mean other than Miss Nite-Owl Elisha's 12am post

Today was a great food and exercise day. Water was a little low since I don't recall refilling my 32 oz cup at work today. I'm about to make up for that though. I did a solid hour power walk at the park and it was wonderful. I'm getting a little concerned about my big toe rubbing in my shoe, which is creating a callous - yuck! I'll do my foot soak in a couple of days.

I've been trying for a very long time to think of a reward for when I reach my goal. I love the charm bracelet idea where you get a new charm for every 5-10lbs lost, but I started way too late. I've already lost almost 25lbs and it just wouldn't feel quite like a reward now, after the fact, to just buy a bracelet and fill it up with charms. Things like a manicure or pedicure or massage don't work for me either because I already indulge in those services. As far as clothing goes, I pretty much buy when I want to anyway. I don't say any of that to make it sound like I'm some prima donna spoiled brat because trust me nothing would be further from the truth. I am actually quite conservative (I'm an accountant by trade, if that gives you any idea) and don't shop much at all, but when I DO see something that I really want I do get it. Today I started thinking about diamond earrings as my goal weight reward. Little studs set in white gold or platinum. Of course it seems extravagant to me but I have literally been trying to reach my goal weight for 7 years now. Granted I haven't always been as diligent as I am now, its been an off and on thing, but still. Its been a long journey and has not been easy at all. So when I get to the end of the weight loss journey and embark upon the weight maintenance journey I want something very special to mark my right of passage. Of course I have a little while to mull this little idea over and convince myself that it is going to be a wise thing to do I think that JC Penny has an annual fine jewelery sale sometime in September with up to 60% off if my memory serves me correctly. This just may coincide with the Labor Day Challenge! And what motivation! Can you tell that I'm convincing myself already?

Hi Chickies,

I have been having great food and exercise days but have decided I will not weigh myself until the end of the month. My sciatica has settled down and I only get slight twinges if I sit incorrectly or turn over too quickly. I spoke to my Dr yesterday, and she said to continue on with my treatment until Saturday and then see how things go.

Elisha - I agree with you, any kind of back pain is horrible. My Dr said that after Saturday I should begin gentle strengthening exercises, she recommended using a fit ball for ab work, and after a month or so, if I am free of the sciatica, I can step the strengthening exercises up a notch. She is also glad I am working on losing weight, she said that, along with exercise will help to reduce any back pain.


Michelle - I'd go for the diamond studs - think of them as all of your 5-10# rewards rolled into one .

Jaymi - I'd be happy with 1 inch off both my waist and hips! When does your Mum have her surgery? A friend of mine had that about 5 years ago. He had around 140# to lose and had joined Weight Watchers just before the surgery to give him support while he lost the weight. He is now a lifetime member of WW and has had extra surgery as he wasn't happy with the amount of excess skin he had. He is so happy these days, he looks great and feels it. I hope your Mum's surgery goes well.

Well, that's it for me today, will check in with everyone tomorrow!

Lucia

And let us not get tired of doing what is right. For after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't get discouraged and give up. Galatians 6:9

Morning chicks!

Motivation level: 3

I feel sluggish today. The scale shows 207, which is completely ridiculous. I didn't gain 3 pounds over night. Sometimes I think I should just throw the scale out, or at least not step on every morning, but I've tried that and my motivation goes straight down the tubes. I know it shouldn't be about the number, but it seems like that is the only way I can see progress. Yes, I take measurements, but only once a month, and a month is WAY too long for me to go without some sort of indicator of success. I can't even go a week without my scale. I'm thinking of investing in a better one (both scales we have now are cheapo WalMart scales). We have digital ones at work that give decimal readouts, whereas our old digital one didn't. However, I do not really have $30 to spend on a scale right now. Maybe as my reward for getting below 200. Hopefully that will be Friday, which is payday. If not, I'll have to wait another 2 weeks.
Anyway, work today, but not late, so I'll have time to exercise this evening. If I can ever convince myself to get out of this chair, that is. I just don't really feel like moving much at all today.
I'll check back in this evening AFTER I've done my workout for the day.
Have a great day, chickies!
~Elisha

I had a quick minute to jot you all a note to let you know how life is going! I have been posting on the Laobr Day Challenge but not here, but I don't really have anything "inspirational" to say because my food and exercised "sucked" over the weekend!

Yesterday, however, I managed to walk 3 miles (some inside and some out with hubby and DD pedalling her bike in the neighborhood!) I also did my toning workout which I haven't done in weeks and weeks! That felt good! Thsis morning I got up to do my exercise, but I got up late and just as I got started, DD woke up so had to tend to her! So, no workout yet today! I am hoping for something tonight! I have been trying to walk fast when I go to the Assisted LIving (joined by a dining room and long hallway) so that will count for something!

My food has been better since Sunday, but I still managed to eat ice cream last night!!! UGH! The scale today showed 168. I can't remember if that is up or down from last week, but at least I've not gained massive amounts!!! I agree with you Elisha, that the scale seems to be the best indicator/tool I use too! Too bad for us, eh? Well, let's get going ladies and just kick this all up a notch!!!

I offered a challenge on the Labor Day Challenge, but I haven't been there to see if anyone nibbled! Maybe some of you want to take me up on it?

Food today was good for me! Water was good! Just need to work on that exercise! I woke up in the middle of the night with my knee just throbbing. So I tried to get out of bed and couldn't straighten my knee. I don't know what happened, but man did that hurt! It was a little tender all day, but it's feeling back to "normal" now!

That's about it for now! Hope you all are having a great day!

Hugs,
Julie