The Pact #2
 

Original Introduction (mette): We are 3 women who met in the "Buddy Up" forum, and we thought it was time for us to move our little group into "Support Groups". The 3 of us have recently made a pact to lift weights, eat right and lose weight. We want to do this together and support each other daily while doing this.

Together we have been trying to learn how to eat well and exercise well. We all want to lose weight, and we don't follow the exact same food and exercise programs either. But we all want to eat more balanced and healthier. And we all want to lift weights and become stronger.

We are also very friendly and welcome anybody who wants to join us in the pact to lift weights, eat right and lose weight!

2005 - It's a new year and a chance to continue with our pact and take a step closer to our goals. Please feel free to join us in the new year with our new resolve.

Hi guys! :wave:
Ang, thanks for starting the new thread; the old one was really getting too big!

Hope you all are having good weekends, it's very quiet and slow here. Bad weather too: it hasn’t stop raining at all today.

The guys at the maintainers’ forum are going to discuss the book “Thin for Life” by Anne Fletcher this month. In the book, she writes about people who have lost weight and kept it off for a long time (she calls them “masters”), and different strategies they use to lose weight and maintain the loss. So far I like the book, but I’ve only read the first two chapters – or “keys to success”. The first one is about the fact that you need to believe that you’re capable of getting and staying thin. The second one is about taking responsibility for having gotten fat, and then taking responsibility for getting and staying thin.
I find it a bit daunting how much work it actually is going to take to lose this weight and then to maintain the weight loss for the rest of my life. :^:

Like anything else - it’s all about taking it a day at a time, huh??? ;)

Hi there. :goodvibes

Weekdeds these days never seem to be as good as I'm hoping as I am trudging through the week. I am really hoping that it has more to do with winter than me so at least in a couple of months things should be better. Do either of you have trouble getting motivated to do things around the house? I'd just rather sit and watch television - but not really because I wish I wanted to be productive.

I did go to the grocery store today - my big accomplishment. The weather is not very good here either so that doesn't help with anything. I may be going to a friend's house tonight but don't really care if I do at this point. The roads are icy and it's cold.

What have you ladies been up to this weekend?

mette - would you recommend the book at this point? I need something to really get me thinking here so a good book might help if it actually says something 'new'.

I got a free two week membership to the YMCA since I took a tour there. I'm going to do it next week (friend in this week) and see if it is something that can work for me. Maybe it's the jump start my exercise program needs.

Today my bf looked through some old photo albums of mine that included a few pics of me. It was surprising to see how my appearance has changed even in the last 6 years. I didn't realize how much my weight fluctuated (or at least my size given changes in muscle at certain points). We were just talking about pictures - it is really amazing how unrealistic my body image is since I don't look at each day and glances are from a partial mirror mostly. Do you feel like your body image is realistic?

I'm off to try and motivate myself to do something today. mette - I'm in the one hour at a time mood.

Morning ladies!

*yawwwn* I really miss those three day weekends already. Geez.
I did a lot of eating out this weekend, but had steak and mashed potatoes (which are not South Beach friendly, but screw that!) I just cut both the steak and potatoes in half, had it for dinner one night, and lunch the next day.

I even had half a milkshake, and when I weighed in this morning - I had finally dropped another pound!

My sister and I made it to the gym yesterday and I am enjoying the tight, sore feeling in my abs from the crunch machines. We didn't write anything down, since it was our first day back in months. We are going to try to go Weds and Suns for sure, and next time we go, I am going to start writing down exactly what I do. Then be really dorky and put it in a database so I can track it!

Breakfast this morning was Kashi Autumn Harvest (That stuff is so good.)
I have two clementines for my snacks.
Not sure about lunch or dinner yet, but oh well. :)

Just a quick pop in. I'll try and write back more later. Oh, need to subscribe to this new thread.

Hello there - It is so hard to get going on Mondays, particularly when they are cold and dreary.

Congratulations Renne on the pound weight loss. Portion control is probably just as important, if not more so, than the actually choices you make. Also great that you got to the gym! btw - I'm all into databases and spreadsheets. At least you can monitor your progress.

I stepped on the scale last night (ok, shouldn't get on at night but...) and I was 200. I didn't dare step on this morning. The awful thing was I had had a big lunch so dinner was an orange. I thought my eating had gotten a little better in the last few days or so but the weight still keeps coming on. I know I need to exercise but I s hould be able to maintain by just not eating too badly. right? The 200 mark is really scary. Unfortunately getting depressed about it just makes me want to eat.

Breakfast this morning was cereal and lunch is a salad with chicken in it and an apple. I have a thing of string cheese for a protein snack later. Dinner will be chicken with cucumber/avocado salad and some butternut squash. DOe sit sound bad to you two?

Other than this work is going fine. I'm going to try and walk a little at lunch. What's up with you ladies?

Happy Monday everybody! (It really doesn’t feel like a happy Monday, but it’s a chance it gets better by pretending – you know: fake it until you make it - so I'll just keep saying it! ;) )

A big “ouch” for the weighing Ang! It really isn’t a good thing to go on the scale in the evening… At least you know that you have no idea whether this number on the scale is realistic or just random. I think you’re doing the right thing today: eating light food (Your eating today sounds very good!) and getting some light exercise. And then you can go on the scale again tomorrow morning when you’re naked! You’ll probably get much better results! ;)
Wish you a good food day today!
Well both of you obviously – or all of us! :D

I’m not motivated to do things around the house either – and don’t even have much to do – but I still prefer to watch stupid TV shows instead. I blame it on January these days; because everything outside is just wet, cold and dark! I want to sit under a blanket and drink tea!

Ang - Great news about the free membership at the YMCA – hope you enjoy it.
Renee – good for you going to the gym and getting sore! Yey! It’s so nice that you have your sister to go to the gym with – a buddy is very helpful and motivating!
Btw: I have spreadsheets monitoring my progress too! :D

Ang – from looking at old photos – do you find that you see yourself as bigger than you are in reality?
There aren’t many photos of me from the last years, so I don’t have many photos of me at my heaviest. But even now - 5 months after I stopped losing weight – I still haven’t settled into my new size completely. It truly amazes me how slowly I get used to my size and body when they change.

I'll join in on the fake it until you make it. :D

mette - what are you doing today? Are you under a blanket watching stupid t.v.? :lol: It's not even warm in my office today - the cold seems to zap motivation. Maybe it's a physical thing.

mette - would you mind sending a list of the exercises you do (divided by workout) at the gym? If you're using one of Krista's plans just tell me and I'll go look it up. I want to really get something out of this free membership (hopefully a real membership soon). I'm trying to see if bf is allowed to try it out free too since he was with me during the tour (they send the free invitation to people who tour the facilities but we only put my name down not knowing this fact).

When I really look at myself or pictures of me I am bigger than I 'feel' in my head. It's not that I don't think I am overweight, but I think I try to deny how awful I look and when I see the pictures there is no denying it. Maybe I should keep a picture around as motivation. It just gets depressing though. mette - In what ways does your size still surprise you? Is it when you look at yourself, move around, put on smaller clothes, etc. ? Renee - any luck on getting new pictures taken?

Hi guys!

Ang, my exercise program looks like this:

Day 1:
Squats (squat rack + barbell): 8 reps x 3 series (I start with one warm-up series – using just the barbell before I start on the exercise)
Leg curls (machine): 8x3
Leg extensions (machine): 8x3
Shoulder press (dumbbells): 10x3
Sit-ups

Day 2:
Bench press (bench + barbell): 8x3
Lat pull downs (machine): 8x3
Pulley (machine): 10x3
Tricep extensions (barbell): 8x3 (like this: http://www.fitsite.com/index.cfm?Con...0870&do=detail – except I lie down on the bench)
Biceps curls (dumbbells): 7x3

Day 3:
Lounges (with dumbbells): 10x3 (http://www.fitsite.com/index.cfm?Con...0897&do=detail)
Upper back (machine): 8x3
Ab crunches (machine): 10x3
Lower back Hyperextensions (bench): 14+ x3 (I do as many as I can, 3 series) (http://www.fitsite.com/index.cfm?Con...0836&do=detail)
Side Raises (using the same bench as on the hyperextensions): 12+ x3 (same here: I do as many as I can – the bench I use is a little different; I can lie on the side and raise up using my side-muscles (or obliques! ;) )

I’m going to change the program again in February (after 3 months). This time I want to include deadlifts, try to do lounges with a barbell – and also biceps curls using the barbell instead of dumbbells. Plus exercises the instructor suggests.
Hope you get to take the bf with you!

I’m off to do nothing – possibly nap a little under my blanket! And maybe do some reading later… Have a nice day everybody! :^:

Hey gals.
Well yesterday flopped. My lunch started off bad and got worse! I ran out to get some Taco Bell, which is horrid in fat, but has less 'evil carbs'. On the way back to work, pulling down my street, I pick up a bolt and my tire starts going flat. I drop my food on my desk and head back out to get the tire patched, knowing full well that cold Taco Bell, is death incarnate. So on the way back the second time, already having used up my whole lunch hour, I pick up McDonalds. Bleh!!

I really really need to focus on not giving in to these poor choices, but there is SO little choice around here for lunches, and I can't do sammiches every day.

Groan, work just got busy, I'll be back....

Renee: hope you have a better food day today!!!

I’m starting my hospital practice next week, and I have the same problem: I have to start bringing my own lunches, and I don’t want to bring cheese sandwiches 4 days of the week for 16 weeks!
Maybe we should start figuring out how to make easy and tasty lunches? Make a collection of things we can bring for lunch?
Ang, what do you do for lunch? Do you bring it with you from home?

My day? Blanket and reruns of Gilmore Girls season 1 - and I don't even like that show! :lol:

Woo hoo - it's Tuesday!
 

Thanks mette for posting your routines. It will help me devise a plan. I am all about plans and concrete goals. I plan to start next Monday (after my friend leaves). I'll let you know what happens.

Renee - how is your day going today? I hope everything went ok with getting your car fixed.

mette - you have the life. :lol: The first season wasn't the best of that show though. Do you tape this stuff? Enjoy the relaxation.

I think it is a GREAT idea for us to get a 'database' of lunch ideas together. I get really bored fast so I always need to rotate through things. There is nothing but a wrap place near me at work (and that's a 5 minute drive). I see a lot of people bring in leftovers. Is your sister still doing the cooking, Renee? Can she make a little extra that you can put aside for lunch the next day (maybe once or twice a week at least so you don't get so bored of sandwiches)?

I brought salad again today but need a break after two days. I also always have a piece of fruit of some kind.

Ideas

Salad: greens, crumbled cheese, dried cranberries, walnuts or almond pieces, vinegrette dressing, pieces of chicken or turkey or tofu if need protein

Sandwiches of course: turkey or chicken breast with cheese

Frozen dinners - probably not the best but I try to choose wisely. There are some decent veggie ones too

Roasted butternut squash is good too. You can do a whole half of one.

I am looking to make a taco salad one night and will then bring some for lunch. I also have a decent spicy black beans and rice dish that I am going to make and bring for lunch.

Ang, liked your heading yesterday – it sort of made me wonder: is she faking it or making it today??? ;)

And I don’t tape GG – I just seem to watch it these days... Hopefully it’s because I’m bored out of my wits! :lol:
(I’m more of a CSI/Sopranos/Six Feet Under/X-files watcher, normally!) (Oh! And Arrested Development! And Angel! And Buffy! And…. yeah, well…. heh)
I watched some episodes at the end of last season when Rory and Dean got together again – and watching the start of the first season now is very different! I mean, they just had their first kiss! (Which means that I got to the sleeping together part before I got to the kissing part!). Anyway…

Great ideas about lunches, Ang!
I figure I can bring sandwiches two days per week, and it would be very good to bring something else for the other two.
To me, salad is also a good idea – with some protein like beans, eggs, cheese. Oh, and nuts! Good idea! And maybe I’ll finally try to make tofu!
I also need to bring a couple of snacks I suppose: fruit and bars perhaps? Do you bring other snacks than fruit, Ang? Renee?

And this “decent spicy black beans and rice dish” of yours – is it complicated to make? Wanna share the recipe? :lol:

I think I was making it yesterday pretty well. ;) Today I just wish the weather was better. I am taking the afternoon off to take the train into Boston to meet a friend visiting from VA. It should be good to see her but the snow/rain/ice makes the getting there and back a little annoying.

mette - it sounds like you watch your fair share of t.v. I also like CSI, Without a Trace, Angel, and other crime/adventure stuff. I don't have HBO so I can't watch any of their shows. Are they really good?

Snacks are definitely a good idea. I bring string cheese or light laughing cow cheese (can spread this on celery for some added crunch). I also like peanutbutter (by itself or on some apple or crackers or celery). I also usually keep a container of nuts in my office (peanuts usually) so I can grab a handful if I need a small snack.

Tofu is REALLY easy. I like to keep it small though because it doesn't have a lot of taste so I like a lot of surface area to soak up any dressing/marinade or just to limit the size in my mouth at once.

I'll post the recipe for the black beans and rice as soon as I am home with a chance. It uses canned beans and stewed tomatoes I think - easy - put over rice. I need to pull out my recipe books anyway. :) I have some fast ones and some veggie ones and some fast veggie ones. I'll see what there is that I have forgotten about - one more step towards one of my goals.

I better get some work done since I have to leave early today. Enjoy your days. I'll be back tomorrow.

This week has been a not so hot week for me and I am getting angry at myself. I am not 'totally' blowing it, but the scales tipped up 4lb and hovered there. It could also be the few days of poor decisions on top of 'that time of the month' - but it's bugging me.

I am going out to dinner tonight. Red Lobster. I think I am going to not go hog wild, but nor am I going to make myself miserable. I am dining with a friend I haven't been out with in a while and want to enjoy it.

Then tomorrow, it's back to the core. I bet I could get away with my current eating habits, if I actually did the work out thing. I think I -might- try going to the gym tomorrow morning. We'll see.

I'll chat it up tomorrow. Work is still going nuts today! o.O

Renee - I'm sorry you are having a tough week. I'm sure that time of the month is not having a good effect on the scale but you know best if you have been making good food choices. I sympathize with your situation tonight. I went out with a friend last night and wasn't going to make myself crazy about the food choices. I did end up having a Thai Steak Salad which might not have been too bad for me, but the cannolli for dessert was definitely a no-no and it didn't even taste good. :( I bet Red Lobster has some decent (and good tasting) choices for you.

Don't give up - we'll keep plugging away at it together. I hope you make it to the gym. How is your sister with motivation? Does she have similar problems or can she help motivate you?

Good luck with work. mette - how is your day going?

Lunch today for me is a tangerine, stuffed chicken breast and some pasta salad. I don't think this is my healthiest lunch but then dinner can be lighter - maybe salad so I can get some greens in for the day. Does anyone else have more lunch suggestions?

Ugh ugh ugh! The scale has been hovering at 157 now since Monday! I weighed on Sunday at 153, and now this!! I haven't been eating the best, but I haven't gone so nuts that I should have gained this. Heck, over Christmas I was eating cookies all day and this didn't happen. I'm getting so frustrated!

Top it off, I had my braces adjusted yesterday and my mouth is killing me, which leavse soft food choices, which aren't always as diet friendly.

The gym hasn't happened since Sunday, but we took the Christmas tree down, which was a lot of up and down stairs, and a lot of lifting things into the attic. I should not fuss over 4lbs I guess. I am just so sad, because I was dropping dropping dropping, and now I am freakin'g hovering at 157!

I'll be going to the gym on Sunday - hmm, maybe I should go tonight too. I dunno. Just totally frustrated right now.

I had McDonalds for breakfast, which is bad yes. But I am down to going there just once a week instead of twice a week. And again, back when I was going twice a week, I was still losing!

Lunch is likely going to be my healthy bologna sandwich - with the ingredients I use, it totals 275 calories - 11.5 fat - 22 carbs - 6 fiber. And very tasty - but not so filling. :( And I really have a taste for chinese anyway.

Today is going to be bad I think!

Good morning girls!

I didn’t turn on the computer at all yesterday, and had a very nice day – I spent it with a friend, just hanging out doing nothing. Very nice…. :D

Ang – how did seeing your friend from VA go? Did you have a good time?
You have some very good ideas for lunches and snacks, Ang – I’m sorry I don’t have that many. I always like to eat soup for lunch in the winter – hot and spicy – but I think it would be more of a hassle to do at work. It’s probably better to do at home.

Renee – sorry to hear that your scale is up, hope you had a good day yesterday despite that.

I don’t know what’s happening in your body, Renee – but your experiences sound very familiar too me.
I have started diets in the past and gone for weeks and months eating a bit off the diet, and still lost weight. But then, would suddenly stop losing or gain weight – still eating the same way. To continue to lose weight I had to become strict and start following the diet. I think of that first period – when I will lose weight no matter what I eat - as the honeymoon-part of the diet; I don’t really have to be *that* strict. When the honeymoon is over – it’s all hard work from then on. But I’ve also found that the honeymoon periods are getting shorter and with less weightloss in my thirties. It *is* much easier to lose weight in your twenties.
The other thing is going off diets and overeat/binge/cheat for a period of time (like, say, during Christmas perhaps (ehrm)). I can get away with cheating for a couple of weeks without gaining weight. It always make me think that weight loss maintenance really isn’t hard at all! Which is very stupid of me, because if I keep up overeating I reach the point where the calories reach up with my body, and I start gaining weight fast.

I’ve spent years dieting, and one thing that I’m 100% certain of is that it’s not a 1:1 relationship between calories eaten and the numbers of the scale in the short term. But in the long term – eventually - every calorie counts.

You talked about writing down to measure progress when going to the gym, do you do the same thing with your eating? Writing down or logging food intake at fitday or something like that?
Maybe it could be something you could try for a week? It’s always good to know as much as possible about the present, and what you’re doing now - and to look at it as objectively as possible to look for areas you can change. And starting with small consistent changes – I’m a big believer in that. Introducing small stuff that you stick with!

Hope you both have a great Saturday! :coffee:

I used to log my things in at fitday, but stopped pretty quick into that. I had plenty of success without monitoring every little thing and so it's frustrating to think to go back to that.

I'm having a real bad day today. After eating well all day, I went grocery shopping and got totally pissed off about the foods I wanted, but could not have. The cookies, the cakes, the ice creams. I mean, I got REALLY mad and depressed. It's unrealistic to think that there will ever be a day that I don't want these things. Even after the strict following of South Beach, I still wanted these things. Even after 6 months of drinking diet soda, I still -want- to drink regular and think it tastes way better.

I don't know how to counter this very destructive feeling I am having. I don't know if it's triggered by the fact my weight has gone back up, even if it's just a mere 5lbs. For me, food is a hobby. I don't do a lot of things that are pleasing to me, and so I really want to enjoy what I eat, and that's not happening because I am constantly limiting myself. Or rather, I wasn't for a while, and now I am trying to again.

I'm hoping to get into the gym tomorrow, but I'm a bit afraid I will wake up depressed and end up sitting at the computer the whole day. God, I'd kill for some milk and cookies right now... sigh.

I’m so sorry you’re having a bad day, Renee!
I agree with you that it’s unrealistic to think that there will be a day you don’t want cookies, cakes, ice creams. And I certainly understand your anger and frustration - feeling deprived makes me feel angry, resentful, and depressed too.

Maybe you can try looking at this a bit differently: look at it like it’s not about never, ever eating cookies again, but about not eating a lot of cookies every day. You can eat anything – but not every day. If the diet you’re following doesn’t allow you to eat food it’s very hard for you not to eat – then maybe you need to look a bit closer into whether the diet is working for you?

I have been reading Anne Fletcher’s “Thin for life. 10 keys to success from people who have lost weight and kept it off” since it’s being discussed in the Maintainer Forum. Fletcher writes about (in chapter 3) the importance of losing weight your own way – and how important it is to tailor your diet to your own needs. You need to learn from your past – what worked for you and what didn’t, because the diet must fit you and your life – it’s not the other way around. If you need to eat cookies now and again – to keep yourself from feeling deprived – than the diet you’re following should have room for that.
I do recommend this book, even if I don’t agree with everything in it – but that’s one of the points of the book – there is no one diet that fits all! You have to find one that works for you, alter it to fit your life – and thus making it your own and taking responsibility for your own weight loss.

You know what to do about this one, don’t you? Finding *other* things that are pleasing to you, because to lose weight and maintain the loss - you need to find your pleasure somewhere else, if you’re not getting it from food. Any ideas?

I’ve been struggling a bit with the amount of work and commitment maintaining a weight loss for the rest of my life will involve. And what motivates me these days, is the realization that I’m going to be preoccupied and fixated on weight/body/fat/overweight/exercise/eating the rest of my life anyway! If I stay fat or regain weight, I will not be any less fixated or obsessed by it – so as long as I’m going to obsess about it – I can just as well obsess and struggle while being thin – and obsess about weight maintenance.
This thing with weight/eating/my body/fat is going to be one of the biggest issues for me my whole life anyway – whether I’m thin or fat. I can just as well be thin while I obsess!

Not exactly the help you hoped for, is it Renee? Sorry about that. I really hope you have a good day today.

Ang, how are you doing this weekend? Got any thoughts for Renee and her struggles?

Quick check-in
 

I hope your weekends have been going well.

Renee - I'm sorry you're having a tough time with the scale. You need to consider the WHOLE picture. It is never one thing that you're doing that causes you to gain or lose weight. The reason might not even be noticeable (e.g. hormonal changes during the month). How is your mouth feeling? I know how frustrating (I think we all know) weight loss can be but you have to keep trying. I know I start to feel bad and then it causes me to eat more. It can become a vicious cycle. Try to get a hold on it before it gets worse. How did the gym go today? Congratulations on reducing your breakfasts at McD. That's great! What do you eat for breakfast on the other days?

Renee - we're here for you. I totally understand how you are feeling as I go through the same thing. Right now I can't seem to restrict myself because it is one of the few things that brings me some type of happiness. In the end I know it doesn't make me happy though and it sounds like you feel the same way. I think one thing we may need to do is find other things that give us pleasure so we don't want the food so often. You'll always like the good stuff but it doesn't have to control you. :grouphug:

mette - A day of doing nothing sounds wonderful. I am enjoying my weekend with me friend (more later). She is resting now so I thought I'd jump on the computer quickly. If you like soup maybe you should invest in a good thermos. I don't think it would be that hard to do soup a couple of days a week. Do you have access to a microwave? Do you bring homemade soup?

Renee - I agree with mette totally. I hadn't thought about the obsession part but it's true. I don't remember one day in my life where I didn't think about food/weight/etc. Channel the obsession into a positive. I also agree that you have to allow yourself to eat in a way that is 'normal' for you. I know I can't live without chocolate. I also know that if I get up and move I can allow myself a little chocolate because I'm burning extra calories. I'm not advocating food rewards but balance. I learned through life that I cannot stick to a strict diet. I don't have the will power or the time/knowledge to put into the preparation and cooking. When I lost weight in the past it was because of small acceptable changes to my diet and the addition of regular exercise. It was more important for me to eat what I wanted (reasonably) than to sit on my butt and not exercise. This may not work for you, but you may be able to find your own balance. Even the thinest people eat 'bad foods' occassionally. Another key is portion control with 'bad foods'.

I also recommend logging your food, at least for yourself to just see what you are eating and if there are any patterns or 'easy' changes that you can make. I'm also not big into the fitday type (seems like too much work) of logging but just writing it down to see the realistic picture may prove helpful. This is similar to our discussion on looking at pictures of your body. Sometimes you neeed to be objective about what you are eating.

I'm sorry I rambled. I should think about my responses before I post but I was in a hurry. My friend is leaving this afternoon. I'll try to come back later or I'll be back tomorrow.

Good luck today to both of you. What are doing to enjoy the rest of the weekend?

Just a quick one from me too! Ang, just wanted to say that I loved your post, and that I think you’re completely right that the important thing is to do is to break the vicious circle – and get a hold on it before it gets worse.

This whole thing about what it is in our lives that gives us pleasure and makes us happy – it’s a difficult one, isn’t it?
For me it’s all tied up with what I’m trying to get the food to do for me. I know I get pleasure from sleeping, napping, and hot baths when what I want from food is warmth and comfort.
But it doesn’t work if I want to eat because I’m bored – a nap doesn’t work as a substitute in those situations. Although sometimes playing Sims does. ;)

Ang, hope your weekend with your friend is going well. I also think using a thermos for soup is a really, really good idea!

Renee – hope you’re having a good day too!

Thanks mette. I just wish that breaking the cycle was easy. It can be VERY difficult, particularly when you are in it. I am trying to break mine too Renee. I am hoping that I am going to the YMCA for the first time tomorrow. It is snowing here now and I'm not bringing workout clothes with me to work (even though I should) so things are stacked up against me a little but I hope I go. This is my attempt to start to break my cycle. Renee - can you think of a small thing you could do that would be a start in the right direction?

I agree mette - why is it so hard for us to figure out what gives us true pleasure. I was sad tonight and lonely and ate way too much. I wasn't hungry and the food really didn't taste that good or give me much pleasure but it did keep me occupied so I didn't think about anything else. I think I need to face my life and not turn to food. Hmmm.... I'll think about that a little more.

mette - how about reading, puzzles, solitaire with actual cards or a craft when you're bored? Computer games aren't all bad either. :) I keep saying I am going to get a mat down on the floor and start stretching while watching t.v. but that hasn't happened yet. Sometimes I just don't think of things at the right time.

My weekend went well. It was really good to see my friend. I miss her a lot. We were like sisters when I was in grad school. She is good with interior design and clothes so we did some shopping. I stink at shopping so it is good to go and feel confident that I'm getting good things because she approves. I bought some jeans that I needed desperately (went up a size :( ), earrings for everyday, dishes, a beer mug for bf, and picked out rugs for my living and dining rooms. We didn't get everything but progress was made. If it weren't for the extra eating it would have been an excellent weekend.

One other note - the farmer that is sick, he is talking some now and eating a little on his own. Very good progress! It was good to see today when I went to visit him. Gotta hold on to the good things. :)

Renee - how did your weekend go? This is a new week. What plans does everyone have for this week?

My goals for the week:
1. Post the black bean recipe (sorry I forgot this weekend and it's too late right now for me to go get it and type it in)
2. Make taco salad or black bean recipe and a Thai dish this week
3. Get to the YMCA at least 2 days this week.

What do you think?

Thanks girls, you guys are great. Reading your replies got me calmed down enough to grab the reins again. Speaking of reins, the man at the stable emailed me back and would like to discuss lesson options over the phone. I am still 6lbs away from that goal and I am not sure if I should continue to wait and do it once I am officially at 150, or call it close enough.

I weighed this morning at 156, which is only 3lbs up from the lowest I've weighed. I think I ate REAL well today. For breakfast, a bowl of Kix and skim milk. Lunch was 5oz of chicken and some corn salsa. Snack was 2 clementines and a piece of low fat string cheese, and dinner was beef and spinach lasagna (made low fat style) My late night snack came as a bowl of cereal. So all tallied up I know without a doubt I am under 1500 calories.

I also went to the gym AND wrote down everything I did. I did about 8 different machines, 2 leg ones, 2 hip ones, 2 abs ones, 2 shoulders ones. And about 25 minutes of bike riding. After this afternoon though, I am not sure exercising in the morning (I have yet to try it, but want to) would be a good idea. I got back at noon and ate, and by 2pm I was about to pass out! I thought it was supposed to give you more energy for the day?

My abs are already sore, so I know I did well. I really focused on lifting enough weight that the last couple reps are a challenge, and I was breathing right too. It felt good at the time at least. :)

Tomorrows plan is cereal for breakfast, clemetines for snacks, cheese for snacks, sandwich and yogurt for lunch. More lasagna for dinner.

See you ladies tomorrow, and thanks again!

Oh yes. I *do* know that breaking the circle is difficult – and sometimes I can’t even explain how it’s done, how I did it – looking back.
Ang: here’s cheering you on at the Y today!!! You go girl!! :cheer:
And I really like your goals for the week – it’s all about proper eating and getting to the gym!

I have to say that the thing that’s working best for me – against grazing and mindless eating – is the fact that I log my food. Knowing that the food and calories are going into my daily and weekly summary is actually enough to limit my eating. Whenever I eat it’s documented and *there* for all eternity (yeah, not really, but it feels that way) – and that keep me more in check. It actually works for me.

And I know about the whole – not thinking about the right thing at the right time – but I do believe that eventually the time will be right for the thing, and no ideas are worthless! (Yes! You can call me Polyanna!) (or not…) ;)

Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend, Ang! How nice that you got to spend time with your friend! Did you introduce the bf to her? Did she like him? (That’s one of the most important bf-tests, isn’t it?? The best friend-test! :lol: )
Renee: wonderful to hear that you had a great day yesterday! :cheer:
I think you should start your riding lessons now – to get something new and pleasurable in your life. Go for the lessons, and don’t let the 5-6lbs stop you! Do it now! Have fun! Learn something new about yourself, and about horses, and about riding!
Congratulations on going to the gym and getting sore too! Just what the doctor ordered! :lol:

You guys are doing great! I’m off to the couch and my blanket and an article on clinical research on chronic pain patients. Have a nice day everybody!

You know maybe I should go for them! It's exercise, it'd likely boost my confidence and help shed a few pounds since it is work to ride a horse. Good leg work out, and core stabilizers too.

I crashed at lunch. I had my healthy sandwich stuff here, but with a temperature of 6 and a windchill of -8, I wanted something warm. I had errands to run, and of course that meant the only warm, fast thing - was fast food. I got a journal notebook though, and I am going to go back to tracking my food. One bad lunch will not ruin me. I just do better from now on.

Ang- Don't you just love hanging out with old friends? It's one of my goals this year, actually, to get back in touch with some old friends. You and I should come up with a little support contest or something - or maybe not contest, but a game. See who can come up with the most ideas for 'pleasing' things or something. I think we'd both benefit by finding a crutch other than food to fall back on.

mette- make sure you do enough relaxing for all three of us! And any good articles on weight loss you come across, send my way!

Yawn...Monday
 

Congratulations Renee...I'm so glad you had a good day yesterday. Good eating AND exercise. I'm still planning on going to the gym today after I stop at Target to pick up some necessities. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when I get there but just getting there is the big goal for right now.

mette - I think I'll try logging my food. I probably won't put too many details down, but I want to take my own advice and see if there are any patterns. I'll start that tonight or tomorrow. Renee - we'll both be joining the logging club again. :)

I did introduce my friend to the bf. She liked him pretty well so that's good. She just wants me to be happy and she felt that that was what he wanted to so we're going forward (where ever that ends up being). :dizzy:

Renee - I agree with mette about the riding lessons. You do seem to need something good and physical in your life right now. Separate them from your weight loss goal. You may want to even pick another 'reward' (maybe not so big but something so you don't minimize how important it is that you loss those pounds.

Enjoy your article mette - don't strain anything with all that hard work. :lol:

Renee - it's good to hear the change in your attitude. Hold onto that and just keep going on. You know the saying...it's a marathon and not a sprint. We'll be making decisions everyday for the rest of our lives.

Renee - I love your idea about pleasing things. I'll have to start trying some things out to find things I truly like and not things that I think I like. Believe it or not there is a difference. I know I like listening to music and reading S. King (sometimes at the same time). I'm going to try puzzles again and see how that goes. I'm fine outdoors, it's the indoor stuff that's hard (particularly when it's cold and dark). Is there anything you know you like?

Recipe
 

Spicy Black Beans and Rice

In a medium saucepan cook 1/2 C onion and 4 cloves garlic in hot oil (2 T) till tender but not brown. Carefully stir in drained black beans (15 ounce can), undrained Mexican-style stewed tomatoes (14.5 ounce can), and 1/8 to 1/4 tsp gound red pepper. Bring to boil; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes.

To serve, mound rice (2 Cups cooked brown or long grain) on individual plates; make a well in center. Spoon black bean mixture into center. If desired, sprinkle with chopped onion. Makes 4 servings.

Nutrition per serving: 279 calories, 11g p, 47 g carb, 8 g fat (1 g sat), 0mg chol, 631 mg sodium, 573 mg potassium.


This is a simple dish but really easy to make and has a nice zing to it that you can control with the amount of red pepper. If you try it let me know if you like it. If I can just remember to buy the tomatoes and an onion I think I have all of the ingredients.

Goodnight ladies. :)

A little self encouragment goes a long way I guess. I took the photo's and the measurements tonight. Here are the results.

Inches Lost:
Arms (at the bicep): 1.25"
Bust (plenty to spare gentlemen): 1.5"
Waist (getting a shape back?): 5.5"
Hips (will be my biggest challenge): 6.25"
Thigh (second hardest spot): 1.5"

The pictures, I'm not quite ready to show off - but you ladies will likely be the only ones to witness that! I am amazed at what I looked like. Like I said, you can really fool yourself as to how bad you've gotten. I can see major differences in my shape, and while my new pictures are still chubby ole me, I am encouraged and motivated now to keep going - because they are SO much better than the ones from Sept.

I am going to go work out now!

I’m spending my last days of freedom away from the computer – so I’ll just pop in and say hi!

Renee – did you call the guy about the riding lessons?
Congratulations on lost inches!!! How great is that!?! It’s so good to hear that you find progress in your measurements and photos, Renee. Wonderful to hear that you’re seeing major differences! :lol:
Keep up the good work!

Ang - thank you for the recipe, it sounds both delicious and easy to make. I love spicy food but I’m a lousy cook – but I think I will try this. Do you ever use dry beans when you cook, Ang?

I have eaten chocolate 3 days in a row, and it’s not a good food choice – because it means there are fewer calories to eat proper food! So I’m hungry – which makes me grumpy. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t want to eat chocolate…. ;)
I think I’ll make better food choices today.
The gym is going fine – I did legs yesterday and I’m a bit sore. Upper body tomorrow, and probably some cardio to burn off the chocolate… Heh.

Have a nice day - both of you! :D

So – guess I wasn’t the only one who needed some time off from the computer, huh? ;)

All is well here. I’m having a break from reading, and am trying to put together a better cardio-playlist on my I-Pod. Any good suggestions of songs for cardio?
Favorite cardio-songs right now are: Eminem (Lose yourself), Linkin Park (In the end), Chumbawamba (Tubthumping), Blink 182 (All the small things), The Cardigans (My favorite game), Hole (Celebrity Skin)…. And Evanescence.

I’m eating clean again today. Lots of fruits and vegetables, fish of some kind for dinner, protein pancake for lunch, oatmeal for breakfast.
Just popped in to wish everybody a good day! :wave:

Hey girls. Work is a little weird lately. Not busy, but I lose myself in other things and the day whizzes by. I shouldn't complain I guess haha.

Good to hear you are clean eating again Mette. I haven't called about the riding lessons, I will do that this weekend. If he answers. :) I am excited and a little bit nervous about it. We'll see how it goes I guess.

My weight has tipped back down to hover around the 153-154 area and I am soooo relieved. I guess with the time of month that it was, and a week of too much cheating, it really flipped the teeter totter.

I've been having my 3 main meals and 2-3 snacks a day and feeling good about where I am. Sure those Reeses Peanut Butter cups snuck in yesterday, but I don't feel so bad about that. :)

Wonder where Ang is!

Sorry that I was gone but I stayed home sick yesterday and proceeded to nap on the couch the entire day. I'm still tired but doing better today. Of course I'm swamped even more than usual at work since I missed a day.

Congratulations Renee on your progress! Positive reinforcement might just be what you need to get to the next step. Right now I'm too scared to take measurements or pictures. I stepped on the scale and I'm just around 200 and I'm too scared to see it go above but not ready to do much about it yet. Did you get to the gym? It sounds like you are doing great and you just need to stay motivated. I'm glad your weight is back down to where you 'want' it. It's amazing what that time of the month can do. I have it now and I'm hoping it is one of the reasons for my recent behavior.

mette - I hope you are enjoying your time off but still have some time for us gals when you start school. :)

I don't cook much so I go very easy. I don't usually use dry beans. This recipe needs the moisture from the canned stuff I think, even though you drain the beans first. I'm going to make this within the week too. I still need to go grocery shopping though. It's so cold here that it is all I can do to get home and crawl under a blanket. :( Did you get your intended workout in mette? Don't you love the feeling of being a little sore from exercising? I got in a little walk today at lunch (in the snow).

I'm sorry I'm not much help with cardio songs. I'm listening to a lot of folk and country lately and while I like it, it isn't really up beat enough for cardio.

Mette - was today a chocolate free day for you? Your meal plan seems great. Do you make 'real' oatmeal? Is it easy? I do the instant but realize it's not that nutritious.

I better get back to work for a little before I go home. Someone send some warmer weather my way. I don't do well with winter. I hate to just give in, but I feel like I'm struggling to just hold on until some better weather arrives and I can get some energy back and motivation. Maybe I'll look into one of those lights we were talking about. It would also help if my house was warmer - I'm having heating issues so the house can be at 61 all day - that's pretty cold for me indoors.

Later Ladies - take care.

Good morning!

Good luck on the lessons, Renee – hope it works out for you! And it’s very nice to hear that your weight is back down - :D

Ang – so sorry to hear you’re sick. Naps, blankets and warm tea – possibly some brandy: those are my best tips! :lol: Hope you feel better.
About the weight – sorry you’re gaining a little, but it sounds like you’re doing OK for the time being? I understand what you mean when you say you’re both scared of gaining but at the same time not ready to start losing. Like you say: there’s no point in trying to do something you’re not ready to do!
Let’s all hope that spring will come soon: that the snow goes away and it’ll be light and warm again. Everything will be easier then. I think your small changes in eating and exercise is more than enough right now, and that we should try to just get through winter as best we can.
Take care of yourself; get enough sleep, enough to eat, move a little – and before we all know it, it will be spring again. Hopefully. :^:

I don’t cook much either, but I do make real oatmeal for breakfast. It’s no work at all – it boils while I cut the banana, take my multivitamin, and make the coffee. I just boil it up with water for a couple of minutes, put it in a dish – and put cinnamon, banana and milk on top. It’s nice to start the day with something warm these days. Yeah, I’m no fan of winter either…

I have been doing some good work these last days – reading up and preparing for next week. My eating is going well, and I’m pleasantly sore from my upper body workout yesterday.
Have a nice weekend!

Very quick note for now. I'm feeling fine again but not happy about the blizzard that came yesterday and today. I spent all afternoon fighting with my snowblower to partially clear my driveway. At least it was a little bit of a workout. :)

In general my weekend has kind of sucked. Short version - I found out my mother's cancer has gotten VERY aggressive and she doesn't have much more time. It was my responsibility to call my brother and then my father to tell them. They didn't know because they didn't get forceful enough with the hospital. Lucky me that I don't sit back and just accept everything. My mother doesn't even know and it is probably going to be my responsibility to tell her and make some decisions. I'm the youngest and the farthest away but I'm in charge because of the dysfunction in my family.

Given that this has happened, I have held it together fairly well this weekend. I hope you both have weathered the storm. Renee, did you get out and have some fun? mette - sounds like you are really getting ready for school again. Good for you. Have some fun also though. :)

I'll try to come back later or else tomorrow. Things at work are more hectic then ever and the situation with my mother is just going to make it worse. I am planning on going to see her this week so if I disappear for a day or two at a time I apologize but the internet is not always accessible when I go home to visit.

Take care ladies and stay warm.

I just wanted to say good morning. I dug out my 24" of snow and made it to work. It's hard to stay focused but am trying to accomplish something related to work today. How are you doing? I hope you're having fun.

Oh, Ang – I’m so sorry to hear about your mother! I didn’t read your post until now, sorry I didn’t write sooner.
How are you holding up? On top of everything: the amount of snow you’re getting is really brutal! Did you get to work without problems? And are you able to think about work at all?

Do you think that you’ll take some time off and go and visit your family and mother now? I really hope you take care of yourself in the midst of all the stress, Ang. Wish you the best with everything! :goodvibes

Please come here and talk with us whenever you can or need to vent a little. Don’t be afraid to use us, we really do care about you and want you to do as good as possible. :grouphug:

Hi Ang – just a quick note in case you’re reading: I hope you’re having an okay day wherever you are, I don’t know if you’re still at work or if you went home to be with your parents.
I just wanted to say hi, and tell you to hang in there, to try and take care of yourself, and all the other useless advices people tell each other when they don’t have anything useful to say – and I really haven’t, but I just want to tell you that I’m thinking of you. :grouphug:

I can’t imagine how stressful this must be for you and your family, and it sounds like they’re really lucky to have you there. Even though it must be hard for you to be the one who fixes things, and do the hard and difficult tasks.
I think I told you before that I lost my brother a few years back - but he died in an accident, so I have never had to go through anything like you and your family are now, with your mother getting sicker and sicker.

I’m thinking of you Ang, and I’m sending you lots of positive thoughts! Take care of yourself.

mette - thank you so much for your support. I always feel strange trying to find something useful to say, but I guess the useful and helpful part is knowing that there is someone out there who cares enough to say something. I really do appreciate it.

I am actually working (sort of) from home today so I can get some errands done and I made some phone calls for my mother's situation. I just didn't need to do it at work and pretend I was working there. My mother still doesn't know about her cancer but everything else seems to be better and she is moving more so the doctor is thinking of sending her home by the weekend. They will send a PT to the house and of course adjustments will have to be made, but she can sit and watch t.v. there and people can visit her more easily. In the end it will just be a matter of time, but for now we all need to be doing what will make her most comfortable and happy.

From the house she can get some things done. She is being very practical and is ready to talk to a lawyer and do some things that should have been done a long time ago. I am still happy that she is able to do these things. Not that I wouldn't do them, but they are her things to do and she should do them. I think she is going to let me be her medical proxy so that's good. She can have the lawyer draw up papers on that too. She told me her wishes also so I feel better about that. If she goes home I am going to go visit her this weekend.

It's bad enough that she is going to go soon, but I'll be grateful for a little more coherent time with her. It's not quantity, it's definitely quality.

How are you doing? Are you ready for school? Renee - what's going on with you?

Good morning Ang. Just checking in to see if you’re doing OK and to send you some positive vibes! :goodvibes
I completely agree that the important thing is for people to tell you that they care about you – it really isn’t so important *what* they say, as long as they don’t start to avoid you because it’s too uncomfortable to talk to you. It’s very sad but I actually lost friends when my brother died - people just stopped talking to me. Very weird.

I’m sorry I’m so brief these days; my days suddenly became very busy: my two days at the hospital so far have been busy, challenging, and very interesting. So far I’m not scared yet, but I probably will be sooner or later. It’s scary stuff to work as a psychologist alone! ;)
But I do like my supervisor; he seems very good at what he’s doing.

It’s good to hear that your mother is feeling better and is moving around more - it always seems like the better solution to keep people comfortable and taken cared of in their own homes. I really hope you get your wish for more coherent time with your mother!!
I wish you the best in dealing with everything, Ang – but how are you feeling in the midst of everything? Are you sleeping? Do you see the boyfriend or other friends who can take care of you a little? Do you eat well?
You probably know that it’s important to cover the basics in stressful times: get enough sleep, eat proper food, have somebody there to hug you and listen to you. But I just wanted to remind you to take care of yourself!
I hope you’re doing fairly OK.

And yeah – where did Renee go? Hope she’s OK too!

Hey ladies. This is the third time I am dropping in and trying to write stuff up! Work has been busy.

Ang- I lost my mother when I was thirteen, and I know how stressful and anxious it is once they tell you that it's just time left. *hug* I'll be praying for your family hon. It's great that you are going to spend the time there too, snatch up every moment that you can. If you need to talk ever, let me know.

I also agree with Mette - during hard times we tend to turn to food and other crutches for comfort, and it's so important to eat well and keep up positive habits. Stress is exhausting for our physical bodies, so get your sleep and nutrition. If you don't take a multi vitamin daily, I'd recommend that too.

Mette- things picking up for you now huh? Maybe now, ang and I can stop being so jealous of you! Your days of relaxation sounded so nice. :p It sounds like you are really enthusiastic about your job/school stuff though, I wish I had that here.

As for me. Wow, Cabin Fever, Winter Blahs, moods galore. I have been so down on myself the past while and it's really nervewracking. I want a big change, I want a fresh start, a new life. And on the same coin, I am scared to death to take a leap. I don't even know what direction I'd want to leap to!

I think I might have a hormonal imbalance, and that scares me/frustrates me? Because I hate how in this day and age, 'EVERYONE' has a depression and it's solved by some prescription or another. I'm not saying there isn't validity to these things. But I hate that every solution is a stupid pill. That aside, I think my moods are related to hormonal dips. (Which everyone has) But.. for example. I was put back onto birth control to regulate wacky periods. And now, my fourth month in, in the middle of my cycle, I have cramps, tenderness and enough bleeding that I need to wear a liner? And the kicker is, I am TAKING THE PILL. I thought the pill held back the hormones that tell your body when to start your period. So here's me, on pill 8 of the months packs, and having a mini period? It makes no sense. I am sure that with hormones so strong they bust through the effects of the pill, that there is something fishy. I just need my doc to actually give a crap about it. I'm gonna call her today and see what she thinks. Sigh. So annoying.

I've been doing okay on eating though, so at least that's good.