Jane,Doc Phil is so right about getting it out of the frig. I gave away as much as anyone would take.I even took the unopened non-diet soda over to the neighbor and gave it to him. So far today I'm back on track. I didn't get to walk because it's nasty out,cold,wet and rainy. It so easy to eat a little extra and say,"I'll wait until tomarrow to start",then that gives you the OK to go fill up the rest of that day. NO,no,no.

Katy - are you referring to BLTs? They'll get ya, lol! But I think you maintaining over Christmas is wonderful! It's so hard to not gain.... You can already tell such a difference in your recent photos. I was truly blown away! You look younger, too.

Cristi - have you tried the tiny Crystal Light To Go packettes for water? I buy them to keep in my purse and use in (free) water in restaurants. Took them to Disney World, too. That would help you get your water in. WW lets you have half of your water flavored like that. Just a thought. YAY for eating only 1/2 of what was on your plate. What a nice NSV!!!!!!

Pam - so glad you're back on track! Feels good, doesn't it? Dr. Phil's advice has helped me a lot. Especially the "either you want to do it, or you don't" part. I got tired of farting around with it - spending more energy on worrying about what I was gonna do than I spent actually doing it, lol. Does your MD cause any specific problems with losing? Is exercise hard because of it?

My exercise today is going to be spring cleaning the living room. Lots of bending, stretching, and squatting there! Can't do the windows yet, because it's too cold, but I can clean the walls, furniture, ceiling fan and all the knick knacks. That ought to jump-start my metabolism, lol.

How's it going for you?

Jane - Yeah - those BLTs are kicking me in the butt this week. I think I am really close to TOM and I am getting the munchies really bad I walked for an hour yesterday on my own, then hooked up with some neighbors and walked another hour. And we took the kids to Zoolights - our zoo has hills ...so we ran around there for another hour. I think I am keeping the weight gain monster at bay with all the activity, but would love to welcome the weight loss angel! Thank you for your lovely compliments...I keep a folder on my computer of photos of myself as times goes on, so I can remind myself that I have been losing...even tho' it just doesn't seem like it now.

Cristi- I am concentrating on getting more water in as well - sometimes it helps to give it a lemon twist - stills counts as water but makes it a bit more tolerable. I like to heat it up in the microwave. I have these 16 oz glasses and I try to have one as soon as I get up, then one with every meal and snack.

Pam - good job getting yourself back on track! I think you did yourself a big favor by getting rid of your soda. I gave up soda of all kinds about 17 years ago... It is much easier to get the recommended amounts of water in without pop around. I have the Dr. Phil book and I think I am going to pull it out to refresh my memory. I think he has some tough wisdom that I need to hear...don't care for his writing style..but that's just being picky I guess.

Well, ok....today is another day! Today I am still working on sitting down to eat... or no eating while standing...( see Geneen Roth) I have another chiro app't today and have a massage after.. so that will be detoxifying and will help me feel real relaxed and healthy. Other than that I am going to pay more attention to getting my water in....

Don't have exercise planned yet as I have a pretty busy day, but might get the stepper out of the garage and try to squeeze in 20-30 minutes tonight...


? for you all - I have normally been real anti- meal replacements ( Slim-Fast, Atkins Advantage and the like) but I have read in two places ( Dr. Phil and Thin for Life) about how they can work for healthy weight loss as long as it is accompanied by lifestyle changes. I've got this maintenance thing down... Haven't had significant weight gains except when pregnant for at least ten years or so....but I have the hardest time with plateaus.. so I must say I am tempted...what do YOU all think?

Thank you ladies for the advice with the water drinking. Jane~didn't even know Crystal Light had the packets, now that I would definitely be willing to try. Not really big on lemons tho Katy. Don't even like lemon in my tea or lemonade so I know I probably wouldn't like it in water. Did pretty good yesterday with the water drinking, for me anyway. Since I haven't really been drinking much at all I did get 2 1/2 16.9 oz bottles down, so it's a start. Sometimes I get tired of the diet coke but I have to have one to start the day even to it is caffeine-free-it is my coffee.

Katy~I see nothing wrong with the meal replacements. A few years ago I did the slim fast bars but had to add a piece of fruit with it sometimes. I think sometimes when you hit a plateau you have to try something different. I just wouldn't do it for long and for more than one meal a day. Or even maybe just do it for one meal a day 3 or 4 days a week.

Sorry...gotta cut this short V is needing some help with something upstairs.

Cristi - I don't see anything wrong with starting your day with a diet Coke. It'd be different if you guzzled them all day, lol. Btw, the crystal light comes in lemonade and raspberry.

Katy - I think Cristi hit it right on the head, and I agree with her. Personally, I want FOOD at mealtime, lol. But I can see how this may be beneficial to you at certain times. Let us know how it works out if you try it, ok? Some people freeze them and eat them like a blizzard..... could be interesting!

Actually Jane there was a time I did guzzle diet coke all day long. I still do once in a while. I know that is not good as I have been drinking sodas for waaaay too long. But I have cut back and am concentrating on two bottles of water a day for now, no more, no less. I figure if I can make 2 bottles a day a habit then I can follow with a third and then a fourth. I will have to get some of the Crystal Light packets. Went to Wal-Mart today and totally forgot. I do like the raspberry.

Doing pretty good with the water and food this week so far. Haven't actually started counting points yet but I have been watching what I eat. Now to work on the walking. Haven't been able to do the WATP videos this week because the house has been a mess but will do it this weekend.

Still wrangling with munchies inthe p.m.....but it's getting better...I have been exercising alot this week, so I continue to maintain.

RE: Meal replacement - I did some searching on the internet and was put off by prices of some of them. Then I looked at their calorie content and thought I could do better just sticking to food...I mean I can make a little omelette with egg substitute and laughing cow cheese for less calories than one of those shakes. But it can be a kick in the pants, so I 'm not ruling it out completely. I am going to restrict and count cals ( probably do WW Fast start) til February, then re-evaluate,,,,

Today I am counting my water oz. and I am walking for a hour in the morning. I do plan on having some champagne and truffles with my sweetie tonight, but plan on keeping a tight rein on the rest of my cals. today....

Cristi - way to go, starting with 2 bottles of water and working up. That's a good way to work on increasing it. When I first began drinking lots of water several years ago, I wrote the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4 in permanent marker on my write-on board in the kitchen, down in the corner. Then everytime I refilled my 16 oz. bottle, I would put a check mark (in the wipe-off marker) by the next number. I'm such a doofus, I'd forget which number I was up to, lol.

Katy - I like how you plan ahead! Works for me, too. Have fun with your sweetie tonight!

Marti and Pam - how're you guys doing?

I still am not exercising the way I should! Thought I'd do some Spring cleaning and get a work out with that, but it hasn't happened yet. I'm going to wait until Zane is gone, and Katie and Neal are back at school. However, the treadmill is still sitting there waiting on me... <sigh>

Jane, and Ladies,my MD has been a big cause for not being able to exercize. My particular MD causes the muscles in the hands,feet, and lower arms and legs to artrophy. There are few if any muscles left in my lower legs and my feet dangle pointlessly at the end of my legs. I had to remember to raise them up high to walk at all or the toes would drag and I'd fall . What has made all the differance are my new leg braces. They are lite weight plastic that go into my shoes and under the foot. They go up the leg and fasten around the calf with velcro. They are wonderfull. I can walk without fear and doors have opened I thought were closed. I've wanted to go back to Disneyland at least once more before I kick the bucket,(not for a long time),but thought I couldn't. Now that I can walk we're planning a return this spring.With losing the weight and being able to walk my quality of life has risen so much. I'm happier then I've been in so long. It's even easier to deal with my sister now.

Pam - wow, it's really great that you have braces now! From one Mickey lover to another - have fun in Disneyland! I love Walt Disney World in Florida, and would love to visit Disneyland CA, too.

How's everybody else doing? I'm just trying to make it through the weekend without eating too many points, lol.

I've been guzzling water like crazy.....but also been snacking on this and that!

Right now I've got TOM hanging around and the cravings are just hanging around. Usually I don't eat at all during this time, but this month.....it's enjoying the holidays.

I MUST get myself in order soon!!

I have actually been doing good with the water-getting my 2 bottles down. Food is great also... watching what I eat...now to work on the exercise. V heads back to work Monday and I can get some done! For some reason when he is home I never seem to get anything done.

Pam~how cool to go to Disneyland. I haven't been in years and am dying to go again-one last time. I know you will have a ball-who wouldn't? It's Disneyland! Glad you have the braces! Cool they are light weight plastic and not the metal ones. My cousins DD had those for the longest time-she has spina bifida (sp?) Those were just so clunky.

Yikes! I ate too much Friday and yesterday, both. We ate out yesterday in Evansville (it wasn't planned - we thought we'd be back home before supper) and once I got home and figured up the points for what I had, I was ashamed of myself. Now I'm back to using the points I used pre-maintenance, for a few days. I guess as long as I nip it in the bud, that's what counts.

I had a very good NSV New Year's Eve. I was at the dance, sitting at the table, and waved to our dentist's office manager - she has taken a lot of time off this year, and we haven't seen each other since April. She waved back, and came over to our table and said she had to look and see who I was with, to know who I was!

How's it going for you?

Good morning!
Day one on Fast Track - done! I know this isn't the old 21-day challenge, but I'm kind of using it as one as I think it will help keep me focused on staying OP. I discovered a large container of chicken bouillon, so I made up a quart or so and drank it hot for a mid-morning water portion. It was really good. I had been to Winco and was trying really hard not to eat any of the yogurt pretzels I bought for my daughter and the bouillon really took the edge off. Thought I'd share that for my tip o' the day for all you gals having a hard time choking down all that water

I am thinking that if I can stand it, I will Fast Track through 1/31. I know WW says to only do it two weeks, but then again I already have alot of healthy practices in place, so I'm thinking I can get away with a longer stretch of calorie restriction, as long as it's not permanent calorie restriction, right? I figured this was a better alternative to the meal replacements I was considering.

Jane, hurrah for the NSV! Someone paid me a compliment over the holidays about looking like I had lost - that perked me up! I have never had someone not recognize me, tho'....sigh....maybe someday. I think you are handling your maintenance well, since I just read Thin for Life, it seems to me you are doing all the stuff that book says a successful maintainer needs to do. You've really made a lifestyle change. Hey, are you going to post any before/after pix?

Marti - can TOTALLY understand feeling the need for a kick in the pants! I really indulged on New Year's Eve...everything just tasted so good.... and I was in an eating kind of mood. Yesterday I was just a tired listless blob all day...today I feel more normal.

Seems like the board is getting some new people which for the new year ,I imagine, is not unusual. Maybe we should have a new pic thread? With links, of course!

Pam - great news about the braces...talking about a lifestyle change! you are going to have some decent mobility - what a great gift. Hey enjoy Disneyland!

See everyone over in Chit Chat

Katy - I'm not surprised that your weight loss got noticed over the holidays. I can really tell a difference in your photos, and you're looking great!

Cristi - I know what you mean about the fam been around and changing our routine. Katie goes back to school tomorrow and Neal has some office hours this week before classses start next Monday. I'll miss them, but at the same time, I'll be glad to get back to normal, too.

I walked the treadmill today for 30 minutes. I meant to do 40, but things kept going wrong that threw me off. First, although it was plugged up, the reset button needed pushed, and I didn't know it. Then, the lamp wouldn't turn on because it had gotten unplugged somehow, and the plug in is behind the piano, so I had to get Neal to move it for me. Then, my batteries in the cd player needed replaced and I didn't know it until I was ready to walk! When I finally got going, I had to hurry to make it in time to get cleaned up and pick up Caylin. But it sure does feel good to walk. It was worth all the trouble, lol.

Tomorrow I'll do my criunches and arm presses. I think I'll put an exercise calendar in the kitchen where everyone can see it so I'll be too embarrassed to slack off. What do you think of that idea?

Did anyone else check out the January Oprah magazine for the exercises?