Good lord I think I need to start drinking coffee I can't seem to wake up today. Of course, it's still early, but I'm just hoping I don't fall asleep at my desk here at work

I actually got home a little earlier last night than anticipated. I was in the door before 11 whereas I thought I wouldn't be leaving the restaurant until about 11:15 or so. So that was good. So after I worked 6am-2pm, I went to my new gym. It is so big and nice! I did 30 minutes on the eliptical machine, then 20 minutes on a recumbent bike. That was quite a workout after doing nothing but sitting on my *** for the past 6 months! I'll probably do something similar again today, but I'm going to have to shave the workout down to about 40 minutes, I think. I ended up not having time to eat any dinner between leaving the gym and starting my shift at the restaurant at 4 (needed time to take a shower, put on my work uniform, and put my hair up after the workout). Not good to go from 1:30pm-10:45pm without food, especially when I'm working out and then running around a restaurant all night! I did stick my baggie of Better Cheddar crackers in my apron during my shift and ate those, but that's only 140 calories. Then I ate my strawberries in the car on my way home. I never got around to eating my beefaroni dinner or my pickles, so I missed out on 220 calories worth of food I had packed, which means I only ate barely over 1200 calories (I think about 1235). I made up for it in an unhealthy way, though--I had a cup of Sprite during my shift. I couldn't help it...the water there tastes so icky, and I don't like lemon in my water, and diet coke just doesn't quench my thirst as well as Sprite. At least I stayed within my calories for the day even with the Sprite, so not much harm done (I actually didn't have a lot of Sprite, so I would say I still ended up with fewer calories than anticipated--maybe 120 cals worth of Sprite). I just need to make sure I don't make it a habit.

Hopefully I will get in enough calories today to keep me going. I may need them--I feel so tired! There's this part of me that thinks that if I am this tired after just 1 day of crazy schedule, there's no way I can handle it all! But then the other 90% of me knows that once I get used to it, I'll be fine. Also, after exercising regularly for a couple weeks, I'll have more energy, too. I know I'll be fine--I've done worse before (in college, especially). I will just need to make sure I get plenty of rest on the weekends to recuperate from my hectic weekdays. After all, I have read numerous times that getting enough sleep is vital to weight loss! Since I don't think 4.5-5 hours of sleep a night is exactly what the experts mean by "enough sleep," that just gives me more reason to be lazy on the weekends to make up for it

So, do you think it's wrong that the first thing I do every morning when I get to work is spend about 30 minutes or so on this web site instead of actually doing work? Too bad, I have my priorities! Well, you ladies have a wonderful day--the weekend (and the holiday) is almost here! Think happy Springy thoughts!

OH, btw, it's Thursday, my weigh-in day, and I am down to 304.5, so lost a half pound this week. Better than nothing! Never gonna met my Easter goal of 295, but as long as the scale is going in the right direction...

Hey all...my dog drives me nuts . He is on this kick now, has been for a few weeks really but this morning I was NOT in the mood for it, as much as I love him...I let him out to go pee, and instead of running off the deck, he stands there and walks around...he wants me out there too...NO WAY...not in my nighty with 3 inches of fresh snow on the ground . So I watched him, and there he stood. One morning, I watched him walk around out there for close to 10 mins before I had to go and throw a snow ball into the yard for him to go out and pee . Well this morning, he stands there and I wait, he stands there and I wait...well finally I am sick of that, since I need to get back to sleep ...So, I open the door and scream, "GO PEE RIGHT NOW". He stares at me...well that made me more upset, so I yelled "DAMMIT, GO PEE" and threw some snow at him..almost falling on my BUTT doing it in my bare feet. He went pee...UGH... HOW ANNOYING SOMETIMES...what a BOOGER! And I have this one eyelash that I know is getting ready to fall out, but has been tangling with another one since last night, was hoping it would go away, well, it hasn't still there being annoying. Sigh..today already is a grand day...But, hopefully will be signed up at CURVES by the evening, so not all is a loss...well, gotta get mving, HAGD til later..Oh and yes, Aimee...we have done a ton of research on the Mazda 3..when it comes to cars, DH is a pro.

don't get that, for that would mean this for me: 236 x 13 = 3068 calories/day to maintain (I'm not all THAT active) ...So 2068 calories/day to lose 2lbs a week?? Kimberley

I've seen these numbers before and they seem wacky for me. I wonder if they're more accurate for people that are more like 20 or 30 lbs overweight. Yeah, we like to use olive oil. Sometimes veggie oil. Rarely butter. I use butter over margerine. PS I need to get my behind in gear and dust and organize. I feel buried in paper sometimes.

Diana, Good luck with Curves, I'm sure they'll be nice and discreet. I see all kinds of women go into the one we have here, all sizes. I agree that a car is great incentive! Man, you don't even need to go on Dr. Phil, you have your own btw, we have a cat that wakes us up at all hours of night sometimes (!). May have to loan her out to a night owl for a week or two!

Aimee, you and your boyfriend need to start your own business. How about a boutique clothing store? You both know retail and you like fashion. You could start it over the internet then when you get things going you could open a space.

Congrats on the 1/2 lb, Jill I come here during work too, In fact, gotta go and tackle a few things.

I took half my walk yesterday despite the fact that it was snowing/raining, slushy windy and damn cold! Ok, I was lame to do that, but it felt good to take the walk. I've stayed away from the evening eating *all* week! And only 1 chocolate. It feels good to be back in gear and doing what I need to do.

Sleeping hasn't be so great lately, so I'm feeling a little Think I'll take it easy this weekend. Get through the last of the crappy winter weather. The crocuses are coming up here YEAH! Have a great one.

Morning! I gave up my workout this morning for some more sleep, and hour and a half more sleep. I also gave up my healthy breakfast for more sleep and just ate some leftover rice and chicken.. I can't believe how lazy I'm feeling today, I get the entire weekend off (Sat, Sun & Mon) so I'll be sure to exercise all 3 days. Exercising 5 days a week is enough right?

Marge - I'm not really a business woman, I know a little about fashion, and have worked in retail for less than 2 years. As for my bf, he's been doing the supervisor thing/retail thing for 4 months. I wouldn't even know how to start anything like that. I wonder about the money thing, like, I grew up with a single mother of 2 children, she worked 2-3 jobs to keep things going, and my bf came from a simular thing. I think that people who grew up without money just think differently. For example, I finance my car insurance and pay 140/month, while my friend who grew up with money pays for it up front. She makes the same amount of money as I do, but she just saves up all year to pay for it. I wouldn't ever think about doing something like that..

As for my future? I'm looking into something sensible like being an insurance broker, while day dreaming of doing the model thing again... we'll see which will win!

Jill - Congrats! Half a pound is GOOD! My mom has been losing 0.4 pounds a week -ish for a few months now, and its added up to 18 pounds. I wanna lose 18 pounds! Saturday will be my weigh in day, I already know I'm down (I had to be, I was WAY up!). I'm NOT changing my ticker, even tho I'm still 2.5 pounds up from there.

Alrighty, I gotta shower.. bbl!

-Aimee

Kimberley,

I have seen so many variations on that formula (anywhere from your weight times 11 to your weight times 16!), and I don't trust ANY of them! I agree...I think they were meant to be guidelines for those who are not severely overweight. If it were all true, I should be losing at LEAST 2 pounds a week eating 2000 calories a day, even if I just sit on my butt and do NOTHING. Would benice, but I don't think it's gonna happen

All of the food I packed myself for today (plus my breakfast I ate at home this morning) only adds up to 1296 calories--and that's assuming I actually have the time to eat all of my food today (not like yesterday). That's not a lot, and yet I don't feel deprived. I know I should eat more than this, though, considering my activity level (cardio at the gym for 40-45 minutes, then hostessing all night at the restaurant). I'm going to have to find some higher-cal foods or just pack even more, I guess. We'll see how next week goes when I have to work both jobs 4 days in a row.
My legs hurt a bit from exercising yesterday--they're not really sore, just feel very stiff. Too bad--more today!

hey all.. waiting for MIL to get here so we can go check it out...I don't like the guidelines at all. For one thing, no 2 people are alike. What I said before, I am 5'10, but I may look a LOT different than another person who is my height due to bone structure, muscle mass, etc...according to alot of the charts, a woman of my age and height should weigh anywhere from 145-155...well, nooo, if I weighed that, I would look like twiggy, my boobs are too big, and I would look wayyy out of poportion ...I would love to be 165-170..that will be perfect for me...Same with how we all eat...some of us eat by a precise guideline..I am choosing to eat smaller portions and eat more veggies and fruit. I want to learn to eat like a thin person, so that I am not cutting things completely out of my life, then one day binge and gain 10 pounds in the process. I will still eat pizza, just not an entire medium, lol...I will still eat ice-cream, but a cone instead of half a gallon...I am not going to deprive myself. If I am craving chocolate, I will go and buy a small candy bar at the store, instead of having a whole bag in the house and eating it til it's gone...I love soda, but am only allowing myself to drink it when we go out for dinner once or twice a month.. I think, with me, this is the way to go..It's a learning process. Well she will be here in a sec..wish me luck!

Jill, just thinking about your schedule makes me tired! You're so smart to pack everything ahead like you are. Congrats on the 1/2 pound - might not be what you hoped for, but it is going in the right direction!

Diana, I can relate to the dog woes! Ours will go out and pee just fine, but Emma is a daydreamer and getting her to poop can really be a task. That dog will be hunkering down and finally starting to go, get distracted by something, and suck the thing back in so she can investigate! Aaaargh.

We're on the same wavelength when it comes to enjoying our favorite foods, but in moderation. Howie and I used to split a large pizza, then eat a 1/2 gallon of ice cream. To drink, we'd have one or two 32oz cups of milk. Now, we split a small and have a salad, and we drink 8oz. milk. We've learned we don't have to be totally stuffed, even on treat day. We don't even like the stuffed feeling anymore; it only lasts a little while, it's uncomfortable, and then you have to face what you're doing to yourself; we feel so much better, both physically and just about ourselves, eating like thin people. Even if the outward bodies don't show all the results right now, the inside changes are wonderful.

Hello all, I have been so busy the last couple of days. Exercising takes up so much of my spare time especially on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I went swimming this morning and yesterday, I am getting addicted to it!!!! And going to the gym at lunch time. I have two gym free days as it is shut Friday and Monday. My DH is off both of these days Woo Hoo!!!!!! But he is working Sunday

I'm at work at the moment, I am sure the use of 3FC is purely work related. Hey work subsidise my weight loss programme, so surely I can justify it??? Without you gals I would never stick to it.
I am on a maintenance week this week, still keeping up with the exercise, but relaxing the eating a little, just allowing a few more treats than usual, then back into it after Easter Day. My gym instructor wants me to do this every 8 weeks. It sounds like really good advice, it certainly makes me feel less deprived.

I loved the recipes Di. I make a big batch of soup on Sundays and freeze some. I am always after good low fat soup recipes.

I'm winding up my day here. Thought I'd just check in and say hey.

Marge - I'm not really a business woman, I know a little about fashion, and have worked in retail for less than 2 years. As for my bf, he's been doing the supervisor thing/retail thing for 4 months. I wouldn't even know how to start anything like that. I wonder about the money thing, like, I grew up with a single mother of 2 children, she worked 2-3 jobs to keep things going, and my bf came from a simular thing. I think that people who grew up without money just think differently.

You have lots of time to decide what you want to do. My boss grew up in the Bronx and he told me at one point things were so tough he ate out of dumpsters. Now he owns a Trump Tower condo and pays more for a monthly parking space than we do for rent. Sometimes you never know where life will take you. Not that money ensures happiness; I think doing something you feel good and/or passionate about helps dramatically.

I take one day to satisfy anything I might be craving, but on the other six I don't eat anything like pizza or ice cream. I don't believe in eliminating anything from the diet, I just feel like if I don't stick to certain foods I don't see the weight loss. I do like it now when we eat out that we definitely eat smaller portions, get doggy bags, etc. When we order in it will last us a couple of days. It feels more normal and healthy.

It's funny, Aimee, your physical reactions to foods might actually be helping you in the end. Your diet sounds healthier than mine, and I consider mine pretty healthy.

Hi, Kylie. Even when I did Jenny Craig, my counselor told me after a while that she thought it was ok to have a meal off plan once a week.

Rob bought some potted yellow tulips today. We're feeling Eastery today

WOOHOOO I got that same deal..I will be going on Tuesday for my first day, I take in a bag of grocerys ( non-perishable) and they waive the 149 dollar fee, and I pay 29 a month..I will love this and will go every day ...I like it because you can go and do it any time of the day too, and work at your own pace, as long as u do the 30 mins...No pressure..it isn't a race...YIPPEE!!! I will do my walk away the pounds too, so, by Thanksgiving, I will be one hot momma... And no weigh in unless I want to..I am happy enough doing it the way that I am..and measuring too...And I love this forum, you will all keep me in check, so WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! !!
Well, YW kyKaree...I love the minestrone and make that once a week..Has great flavor if u ask me..I add a Bay leaf to it too...forgot to add that...I think people like to tweak recipes they find to their own tastes anyhow...
Well, gotta go eat...HAVE fun ya'll...

Hey, that's great you got your Curves membership! Howie headed out to go swimming at noon, but turned around and came back home. Most of the schools have spring break next week, but evidently one has it now, for the pool was full of teenagers. He said it was packed solid with kids all around the perimeter.

So, he walked in place while we watched one of the cooking shows we like. Next week, many of the schools are on spring break and the warm pool is closed for kids classes - no arthritis classes, even. We're planning to exercise in the form of doing some outside clean-up and yard work each day.

just wanted to jump on and say hi to everyone. Ive been soo busy w/ school, the kids, the house, that I've hardly had time for anything else. I ate horribly yesterday. NO excuse for it, just did. So today I got back on the horse, which for me is new, because usually eating badly one day will usually make me stop all ive done for months. I worked out at school in my class as usual, and I will just take it one day at a time. Just being on the WW, and having a place like this will help me, I know it will.
Congrats on the Curves membership Di! I hope its fun for you.
Well, I better get some stuff done. I have to clean the entire house(in laws are coming in from out of town for Easter, and my family is coming over as well), and I have major homework to do, tests to study for, piano to practice, and rehearsing for my upcoming performances....I don't think I mentioned that I'm a music education major...so that explains a looottt about me..lol.
I hope you have a wonderful evening, feel free to email me if you want/need anything, and if I don't talk to you before the holiday, have a safe, fun, healthy, and blessed weekend! Many hugs to you all, my new friends

LOL..yard work will not be happening here, lol, still have a lot of snow in our yard..
TY my dear about my Curves. Am going the first time with MIL but after that I will go alone, she is tooooo High strung for me, lol...I was hoping to chat with you tonight Heather so u could fill me in on things, Sigh...boy, I will never find out the scoop, after u tempted me with it Monday...Anyhoo have fun and a gn all..

I am home from work, it was SOOO boring. We had very few customers, and mostly just hung out. We had a painter come in (why when the store was open? I don't know), and he sanded, which made me sneeze and feel congested... and then he painted. So paint fumes and a pregnant woman (the woman I was working with) just don't mix too well. We had to open the door even though it was cold out, but still we both got a nice little headache.

I got a great suprise when I got home from work today! The bf went shopping and bought the slippers I wanted... and they were on sale for 10 bucks!! I love a good sale, and then he got me a pink keychain that says "surf" on it. I'm going surfing this summer, so I've decided that will be my theme this summer... sun, surf and the beach!

Marge - I'm superficial.. money makes me happy! I actually have a great life, so money just tops things off I am such a lucky person really, I have a great family, great boyfriend, just gotta figure out what I wanna do with my life, and lose some weight! And I can also recognize that my stupi dfood allergies help me in the long run, but I don't always keep it under control. I did HORRIBLE today, I had leftover rice for breakfast, a strawberry banana smoothie for lunch, a caesar salad (homemade) for lunch with lasagna for dinner(4pm), and another smoothie at 6pm, and just ate this little tiny burrito. I'm not even going to put it into Fitday, I'm too scared to find out how many calories/fat grams I had today.

Kimberley - it's spring break here this week.. it's just insane everywhere. My bf ran into 7-11 for tylenol and I sat in the car, and some kid freaked out at nothing, and started screaming.. scary. And some other teens were not even bothering to hide the fact they were drinking beer, I mean, when I was younger, at least we hid it! (vodka in a slurpee, rum in a coke bottle.. ) I hate teenagers, I wasn't so skanky dressed, or so rude when I was their age! I feel so old...

Diana - I'm so excited for you! Soon we can all fly to visit you for a ride in your new car!! I can't believe how cheap curves is over there! It's 40 dollars a month here, too expensive for my blood!

Heather - you have a lot on your plate.. I just don't know how people do it! I can barely handle the pace of MY life and I don't DO anything!

Well I'm FROZEN, so I'm going to go cuddle with the bf, and then paint my toe nails We are allowed to wear jeans and sandals tomorrow, so my little toes are comin' out! I'm trying to do a littler reward for myself, that if I exercise 5 days a week for 2 weeks, that I'll get myself a pedicure. That sound good? Or should I have it so I exercise AND stay on plan for 2 weeks? I don't know.. lemme know what you think!

-Aimee

Hi, Heather - glad you came by. Good for you, getting back on the horse. That's half the battle.

Aimee, I think stay on plan and exercise - a one-two punch. You've got the exercise part down as a good habit, seems to me. Kick it up a notch and stay on plan along with it. Me, I need to do the exercise part!