Hi there- are you guys open to new members?? I used to be a regular here, but my group has disbanded and I can't tell tell where I fit! "Fit by 40" has been in my head for awhile- how close are you all to 40? I am 35- 36 in June. Gives me plenty of time right?? lol

Well, the weekends over, thank goodness. Now, I can enjoy my 3 days off. I stayed under 2000 calories yesterday also. I'm back to 1200-1300 today. I worked out for 1 hour after work. I bet I burned a bunch of calories at work last night. I was in charge of 2 ICU's and we were moving patients out all night to get more in from the ER. It was crazy!

Emily- Jump right in! We love new members. I think we are all in our 30's, from 33-39. Post often.

Welcome Emily! You're in the right spot. I'm 38, so I have about a year and a half before I hit the big 40. And I don't care if it takes me that long, I'm going to lose this weight. Please tell us a bit about yourself. And do post often. I have found it really helps to stick with my plan to "talk" with the other people here who are going through the same thing.

Kim: You should be proud of yourself. I can't imagine going to work out for an hour after being on your feet all day in an ICU. I'm getting varicose veins just thinking about it.

My weigh-in was this morning, and I've lost 3 pounds. That's a pound a half a week, which is fine with me. I updated my bar at the bottom. And I decided that since my highest weight last year was 204 at the doctor's office, I'm going to use that on my status bar. That makes ten lbs I've lost since the end of last summer. I'm now working harder on getting it off, so hopefully it won't take as long to lose the next 10. But I'm not giving up if it does.

Take care all.
Robin

HI Ladies! I'm still hanging around in between unpacking boxes. We are actually finished with unpacking! Its only been 3 weeks from start to finish. Not bad huh?!

I have yet to step on a scale. I'm scared. My water intake has dropped off. It is a new house with new carpet so there is no drinking or eating anywhere but in the dining room or kitchen. Makes it hard to get that water in. I have been get some exercising in. It feels great. We have a TV set up in the workout room. I didn't think I would like it but it really does make the time go by faster. When I am back in the game for another week then I'll get on the scale and see what the damage is.

You are all doing great. Bad days and good days you are still inspiration to us. Keep working!

Welcome Emily. I'm sure you will find this to be your new home. I'm 35 (almost 36) and have two kids (11 & 2). You will find something in common with someone around here!

Oh....I really need to get going on this weight loss thing. I'm getting a job! The company I used to work for before I had my little one is looking for someone. I contacted my old boss and he is going to work on it for me! Yeah! It will be great for my self esteem. Problem....I haven't been really social since having this baby. I've gained ALOT of weight. More motivation for me!

So much for the 3lbs I lost. I think I've just gained them all back. That proverbial wagon must have hit a huge pothole and threw me off. And then it backed up to see what it hit, and ran me over. And then, to continue on its way, it ran me over again. I have eaten nothing today, but junk food, except for a banana. I was running late for work, so I ate a banana on the way to work. When I got to work, I was still hungery, so I got a bag of chocolate-chip cookies from the vending machine. Then for lunch, I ate several (6) Little Debbie snack cakes , with chocolate milk . And because that obviously wasn't enough. I went to Taco Bell and got a Mexican pizza. They were all good, but it's going to take forever for me to burn all that off. I think I'm stressing about all the stuff I need to do before we start construction on our house. So, I decided to take tomorrow off from work and get as much of it completed as I can. Then I won't stress about it. Now I'm nauseated.

Well ladies, it's been a good day. I did 90 minutes of cardio this morning. I actually ran 2 miles. That's the most I've ever run in 1 day. I'd run 1 lap, then walk 1 lap until I had went 4 miles. Then I did the bike for 25 minutes. I ate 1300 calories today, which I'm very pleased with, and I actually made healthy food choices and drank plenty of water.

Robin-don't worry about slipping up today. As you know, I've had my share of that. Just make sure you get back on track tomorrow. The most you could've really gained is 1 pound. Just don't get on the scale until your next weigh-in in 2 weeks, and by then you will have lost that 1 pound back + some. Tomorrow's a new day!

Lisa-glad you're getting settled in. Good luck with the job. We've missed you!

Robin-I think (I know) we all slip up. Some days are worse than others. Just get right back in the game and you will be fine. Isn't it incredible how much stress can effect what we eat?!

Kim-You are an exercising fiend! You give us all hope! I also try and run a lap, walk a lap. I don't get as fas as you but I try!

I did really well with eating yesterday. I had my green tea, turkey bacon and egg for breakfast. Snack was some almonds, 2 green olives and some thin turkey slices. Dinner was another story. Hubby wanted pizza. I ate one slice and a pizza roll. It could have been worse and it could have been better. I did get my exercising in and I still feel pretty good. My feet are a little sore but I've taken my meds this morning for pain so I'll wait a bit longer to start working out today.

Here is a question for you. I'll also post on another thread maybe over in the exercise section. I'm loosing inches in my butt and thighs. I can see it and feel it. Clothes fit different. I am not loosing in my belly. I work my abs but there is a layer of fat I can't get rid of. How do I do it? What am I doing wrong? If I'm loosing everywhere else why not in the belly? UGH!!!!

Keep drinking Ladies!
Lisa

Hello Everyone,

Lisa - first on, last off. Keep working, that tummy will go. When your body stores fat it seems to have an order. When you lose it that order is reversed. You are obviously doing something right and you are noticing some very significant changes. Keep it up!

Welcome to all the newcomers....and hello to the rest of you.

I have been hit and miss with the food department. And since the flood exercise has been non-existent. I still can't access my weight room. I haven't been idly sitting by though. I've been busy ripping a room apart, carrying wood and supplies up and down stairs, cleaning and organizing. That oughta count for something. The scale is stuck though.

Keep working everyone. I am proud of all of your efforts and you inspire me.

Well, it's been a good one, so far. I did 60 minutes of cardio this morning, and I had oatmeal and grapes for breakfast. For a snack, I had almonds, a granola bar, and strawberry fat free yogurt. I'm planning on a salad for lunch and a boca burger on whole wheat with some pretzels and an apple for dinner. If I make it to the gym after church, I might have some popcorn for a snack tonight. At work, there is a few of us that just started another contest where we put in $2 each per week, and at the end of 12 weeks whoever loses the most gets the money. I won last time, and I'm going to try to win again. Last time, I won $146 and this time the pot will be $120. It's so much fun. We weigh in together every week, and it helps keep me motivated. I'm shooting for 22 pounds. Wouldn't that be awesome?

Lisa-sounds like you still had a low calorie day yesterday, even with the pizza. I was told by the girl that was training me that there is no way to actually do "spot reduction". She said that the best way to burn fat is cardio. She told me that if I kept up the cardio, eventually the fat around my midsection would come off. That's my trouble area also.

Sherry-it's good that you're maintaining. I'll take that over a gain any day. Sounds like your getting plenty of exercise without the exercise room.

Have a great day!!!

Hello to all!

Kim, what are you using to track your calories? Fitday.com? That is what I have used in the past. I haven't used it since we moved though. Guess I should! Thanks for listing what you have been eating. I'm always looking for more food ideas. Sometimes I get stuck in a rut!

Sherrie, since you are moving and grooving with the house problems just do what you can with food. It is hard to stay motivated when you are so stressed. The time for you to get back in the game will come soon enough!

I doubt I will be on the treadmill today. I have a phone meeting today so I'm guessing that will take up my free time during my daughters nap. I did do my Pilates today and since I haven't really done it since we moved it just about killed me. It was like I was back at day 1. I'll get back to doing it every day again. I don't want that pain again! I got my exercising in for yesterday though. Those ab balls are tougher than they look. I've only used it for about a week but it uses muscles I didn't even know were there!

Hope everyone is doing ok. Keep working....keep drinking....keep smiling!
Lisa

I'm not Irish, but I wish you a happy St. Patty's anyway. I'm getting back on track now. I tried to walk yesterday, but the weather was bad here. I did get in a little walking, though, and I guess some is better than none. Made the dog happy anyway.

I stayed home from work yesterday to finish up our floor plans for the house we're building. Now that that's done, I'm hoping I won't be feeling so overwhelmed. Plus, I've just been in a funk the last few days. Not sure why, but it will pass. I've just got to make myself walk, eat right, and drink water.

Sherrie: Carrying stuff up and down the stairs should definitely be burning some calories. And depending on how fast you go, it can be either or both cardio and strength training.

Kim: You're competition at work sounds very inspiring. You lose weight and get money. Plus I'm sure it helps to have others at work going through the same thing you are. Good luck. I hope you win. Just on the exercise alone, you deserve to win.

Lisa: My worst problem is my abs, too. It's partly genetic though. Everyone has their hard parts to lose. My cousin gains her weight in her backside, but her stomach always stays flat. But like the other's have said, if the stomach is your hardest part to lose, then it will probably be the last part to lose. I just try to do crunches so that at least the muscles underneath are in good shape. And if I ever win the lottery, I just may splurge on that tummy tuck.

I wish everyone a great day. And since fat melts in the heat, wouldn't it be great if we could just sit in a hot tub and melt the fat off us? Just a thought that occured to me while I was soaking in the tub last night.

Robin

Great recipes This is a website I found through reading another thread. I was looking for crockpot recipes and found the site. This woman lost a ton of weight. She has included all her recipes. She includes the ww points too. I don't do ww but someone may. I'm trying some of her yummy looking recipes this weekend.

Happy St. Patty's Day to you!

Robin, the cold weather will pass soon and the sun will shine again! I have a friend who is about the same weight as I am but we look totally different. She has tiny arms and shoulders and a bigger behind. I'm pretty plump all over. We wear different sizes too. All I know is she has a flat tummy. No one thinks she is pregnant! I'm sure the belly will go soon but I still hate it. And when you hit it rich make me an appt. for a tummy tuck too!

Lisa

I've had another good day so far. I've still got to make it through work tonight. And I've lost 2 pounds, yeah! I'm back at 153. My planned calories for today are right under 1400. I did 90 minutes of cardio and 30 minutes of weight training. I went to another step aerobics class tonight and it was pretty challenging. I loved it though!

Lisa- I do use Fitday religiously. It helps me a lot. I haven't tried pilates yet. Does it burn many calories?

Robin-I would live in a hot tub if it melted away the fat, lol. Have a good one!

Kim, congrats on the 2 pounds! It always amazes me that 2 little pounds can feel sooooo good! I have no idea how many calories pilates burns. Sherry would know better than me. I do know it tones your muscles. It makes then longer and leaner looking. Since I have been doing it my butt/thigh area has really slimmed down. I'm sure my stomach is getting smaller too...I just cant see that part yet!

I got on the scale this morning and I'm where I was went I last weighed in. I'll take it! I was sure I had packed on some pounds with the move and all. I feel pretty good about it. I would like to break that 190 mark though. I guess I need to push harder on the treadmill.

Have a great day Ladies. The weekend is here so be careful with your food intake and get some exercise in!!!!

Well, the weekend's halfway over and so far, so good. I didn't exercise, but I ate about 1600 calories today, which isn't enough to gain. Weekends are so hard for me. I just want to munch out the whole time. Tomorrow I still have 22 flex points left to use, then I'll get 35 more on Monday. My weigh-in at work is tomorrow night. Hopefully, I will still be 153 which will be a 5.5 pound weight loss for the first week of the competition. Our first weigh-in last Sunday was after we all finished pigging out, so it weighed me a little heavier than usual. Anyway, I hope I can keep my focus and motivation. I just have to keep thinking about that swimsuit that I'll be wearing in about 3 months.