I have to keep it short today. To sum up week 2: I averaged on 1.530 calories a day, did (at least) 30 minutes cardio 5 times, lifted weights 3 times. Ate vegetables, fruits, drank water.
But like you Ang, I’m not losing weight. I get thinner, but I don’t lose weight. I don’t know what’s going on.
I don’t think I’ll change anything yet – I start work this week and will probably need a couple of weeks to get into the new routine. So I aim for the same thing: between 1500-1600 calories, 5 x cardio, 3 x weights.

Ang, good to see you – good luck on finishing your paper! We’ll talk more about jogging when we have more time, because I love to hear what you say about it. Good work on your plan this weekend too.

The paper on DSH is one of my last major papers – and I chose the topic because it’s a continuation on the research project I worked on last summer. It’s about the increasing problem of DSH among adolescents. It’s both very disturbing and strangely familiar – not that I ever did that – my self destructive behavior as a teenager was bulimia. My focus will be on DSH as a very lousy coping strategy – but still a coping strategy that works in some ways.

See you guys again tomorrow.

Renee, where did you go?
Ang, hope you finished your paper OK.

Another day, another report. Yesterday I ate 1.781 calories (I was *starving* and overdid the protein bars), did weights (legs) and cardio for 30 minutes. Today I did weights (back + biceps) and 30 minutes of cardio. I’m slowly getting stronger.
Right now I’m very motivated to work out a lot this summer. Sometimes I get a glimpse of certain parts of my body in the mirror (yesterday it was my shoulder from an unfamiliar angle) and see muscles. And get impressed. And very, very motivated to keep lifting heavy weights and getting the fat off.

Anyway. Another busy day today. Have a nice one, guys…

mette - good luck with your new job tomorrow. How late do you have to work? I know you mentioned exercising after work.

The paper is finished! :) I had some trouble uploading it and it's not my best work, but it is done. Today I am taking the afternoon off to finally finish planting my garden. I still have peppers, cucumbers and some squash and pumpkin seeds to put in. The garden will be smaller than last year (only 160 tomato plants versus 350 last year) but that is fine with me. The main thing is that I have fun, eat good veggies and make enough money to pay for my investment. It's good activity too! ;)

mette - I wouldn't doubt that if you're getting thinner and not losing weight it's more because of weightlifting and redistribution. OK, maybe it's lame but I think it is true. I support your decision to just keep doing what you are doing. You don't want to eat too little and you are working out a lot. My ONLY suggestion would be to increase your cardio to 45 minutes when you can. It has been suggested that 45 minutes is better for fat loss and 30 mins is best for overall health. Just a thought. Are you still walking as much as you were now that you're not in school? If you are than disregard the above because that is a lot of exercise on top of your cardio. I'm also glad to hear that you are making progress in the gym and feel stronger. Your abundant motivation sounds awesome. It is helping me find some motivation too. Thank you. I would conservatively say that I lost a pound. I weighed myself Sunday and this morning and was 205 so I changed my signature. I get motivated by weight loss. I will also be happy as I begin to fit into my clothes again. I do still have to buy a dress for my talk in two weeks though. :(

I feel like I am getting a little bit more stamina. Running was better on Sunday and working out in the yard doesn't make me tired. Yesterday I only had time for about 45minutes in the yard. Today I'll be there all afternoon (taking a half day to finish planting and such). I am drinking lots of water and eating better. I started keeping track of my food at slimfast.com and it seems helpful. I had 630 calories before I got home for dinner. Unfortunately my plans for dinner at home got changed when bf wanted to go out and get something. I had a cup of soup and a little chicken fajita stuff. I'm not sure how I would calculate the calories.

Your paper does sound interesting. I enjoy hearing about other peoples behavior. Sometimes it helps put my own in perspective.

Enjoy your day. I hope busy doesn't mean stressful.

Hey ladies! I am soooo excited. After last weeks 2.2 gain, I was down 4.8 this week, so I must have lost the flash pounds, AND some. That is the most I have lost in a single week since March! I am not going to get spoiled though.

The sad thing is, the reason for my success, is that I have stopped exercising. I have long assumed that the exercise vs points thing in weight watchers didnt add up right, and this seems to confirm it. I still get out and move a bit, a bike ride here or there, and softball, but no more hour long cardio sessions.

I think I was eating too little, and asking the body to do too much before, and now that I am just eating less, and not asking it to do more, it's working. Again, the sad part on this is that I WANT to be more fit, so I think I am going to have to give up on WW soon and find something that works better. Perhaps MFD. Where I can plug in so many calories, and then so many calories burnt, and make sure I aim for 1300-1700 a day.

How is every one else doing? We've had great weather here, (of course some folks are already complaining too hot) in the upper 80's and lots of sun. We really need rain though, everything is wiltiing.

I head up to Canada at the end of the month, I am already trying to mentally prepare for being 'good' while up there.

Congratulations Renee and welcome back. I would ask that you really think about not exercising. I would think that exercising and eating a little more healthy stuff would be a better route. mette - you seem to have a handle on the balance, what are your thoughts?

I'm feeling a little under the weather so I am going home early. I'll try to get on tonight but I may not be back until tomorrow. Enjoy!

So good to see both of you back!

Unfortunately I don’t have time for more than a quick report. Yesterday: 1.670 calories, did weights (back + biceps) and 30 minutes of cardio. I have to do better on drinking water, especially now that it gets hotter.

Ang: congratulations on losing weight again! Yey for you!!!
Renee: congratulations on losing weight too!!!
It sounds really weird that it takes *not* to exercise for you to lose weight though! Really weird! Being fit is definitely the best goal – and I eat more on days I exercise too. I seldom go under 1600-1700 calories the days I lift weights...
Ang: sorry you’re feeling lousy: get well soon!

I’m on my first day at work – have to run, just wanted to report in as usual. See you guys later.

Yesterday was not too fun but at least I got some rest (although the cats and a coyote kept me up from 3-5am) and am back to work feeling a little better.

I have been getting into this Slim Fast website and using their nutrition log. It is a long time coming but I guess I was ready now. It takes longer at the beginning because I have to put in all my favorite foods but I'm getting it going and if I keep up with it it's not too bad. There is a space for notes, so if I eat something that I don't know the calories I put it in the notes (e.g. if I go out and can't figure it out). It's not perfect but I think it is a good step for me. I found out that I eat about 700 calories or less by the time I get home for dinner (this includes an afternoon snack). My problem definitely occurs at night. I am supposed to eat 1700 calories a day. Yesterday I went to book club and had eaten a small dinner knowing there would be snacks there. 1330 calories going to book club. If I had just eaten one brownie I would have been fine. At least I know my normal eating is good, I just have to stop indulging so much in the sweets at night and keep dinner portions controled.

mette - please let us know how work goes.

I'm so happy we are all making progress. I am still drinking lots of water (>64 oz a day) but no exrcise still since I am under the weather - hopefully tomorrow. Tonight I'll water the garden but that doesn't take much effort.

Renee - are you going to Canada for a vacation? How long will you be there? It's good to hear that you are dedicated to your health that you are going to bring your good habits with you to Canada. I've been thinking about my trip to Las Vegas and hoping to be good and planning on getting some exercise.

What's up with the weather? It was beautiful for a while and now the last couple of days it has been about 50 and dreary. I guess it's a good time to be sick since I wouldn't want to be outside anyway.

Take care.

Ang, it’s so wonderful to hear you say that you’re ready now. It just shows how this is about finding the right time to make the changes. After the emotional rollercoaster you’ve been on the last year with your ex-bf, mother’s illness, relationships with your family, and your mother’s death – it’s no wonder you needed time to get ready. Your attitude seems very positive and realistic – I’m sure you’ll do great.
Finding the way that works for us takes time sometimes.

Work seems OK so far, but I have yet to find out what I’m supposed to do. I’m not sure how much work there will be either. Are your job slowing down in the summer too, Ang? So that you’ll have less to do and more time to write and do good stuff? What about you Renee? Slow summer?

Yesterday I ate 1.502 calories and didn’t work out. I’m going jogging tonight though, and I’m taking Ang’s advice and will focus on hill training.

I’m still trying to make a good impression at work – so I’m off again….
I’ll write more this weekend. Have a nice day everybody!

My work isn't seasonal at all. To be a good performing I have to be busy. It'll never slow down but after June things will change and shouldn't be as stressful. I don't like presenting at conferences so I'm a little stressed about that (June 28). I'm also not a big fan of travelling (Las Vegas). I am going this afternoon to look for a nice dress for the presentation. Wish me luck.

I think I have more time in the summer because of the weather and sunlight. I am happier and push myself to do more fun things. The garden is in the next stages so that's good. Most of the plants seem to be doing really well. Next step...mulching.

Do either of you have some ideas for fun stuff for the summer? Of course lots of activity is in order.

I'm feeling a lot better so this weekend I am going to get outside some more
AND start my weight training. Yesterday I ate 1200 calories. I didn't cheat really but had 2 pieces of a small pizza and 2 squares of a Hershey bar with almonds. Maybe not the healthiest choices but not too bad with the calories - unless I calculated wrong. I'm loving this food diary stuff.

mette - I'll be interested to hear about your hill training. Good luck.

Renee - what are you doing this weekend? How is work?

I’m having an overeating episode today: I can’t seem to stop eating. It’s sort of fitting that the last time I overate for several days was when I started my hospital practice in January/February. For me, this has something to do with finding my footing in new routines and jobs, finding new ways to organize my days.

My hill training yesterday went very well, Ang! I focused on a steep and long hill (it’s the one I’ve almost been able to jog up on my normal route). I jogged slowly up the entire hill, walked down, jogged up once more, walked down again and actually managed to jog up for the third time in the end. The second time up I was just about ready to throw up, but on the third time I almost blacked out So, yes, I completely overdid it.
But walking home (no jogging!) I felt just great – dizzy and queasy – but I still felt like a CHAMPION! I mean, I jogged up that hill three times!!!

I’m going jogging again tomorrow morning: I’m doing the usual route. Anyway, yesterday I ate 1.851 calories, jogged for (over) 30 minutes, drank lots of water.

Ang: best of luck with the dress buying! Hope you find something cute. I’ll see if I can stay away from food. (Good luck to us both!)

I'll come back tomorrow and write ...

Yeah. So I took the weekend off. I stopped overeating, but I took the weekend off.
I’ll be back tomorrow.

Congratulations mette on the hill work. That'a amazing. Please be careful though as I don't want you to hurt yourself.

How long did you overeating episode last? How were you able to stop it? Did you do anything this weekend for you?

Renee - what were you up to this weekend?

I bought a dress on Friday night. It is a simple black dress and then a bought a 'sweater jacket' to wear to make it a little more formal and cover my bare shoulders. It should work out for the conference and now I have a little black dress to wear in case bf wants to take me someplace nice. I'm not holding my breath though - that's not our style. Now I just have to go through my closet and make sure I can piece together an outfit or two for the rest of the conference (not as formal but a skirt would be nice).

I went to see my father for the weekend and it through off my eating terribly. I was doing so well and had actually lost a couple of pounds. I don't dare step on the scale. I feel like I have to start over. I didn't make all terribly choices, I was just asked to eat too often and at places I would never pick normally. I got in yard work on Saturday before I left at least and also put in about 30 mins late last night. I'll do about an hour or two tonight because I need to remove all the brush from the tree that is being taken down. I'm hoping to get back to jogging this week. My allergies have gotten a little better.

mette - I know what you mean about adjusting to a new schedule, particularly ones that aren't as flexible as you are used to. I still haven't figured out this work schedule after being in grad school for so long. I'm really not sure I ever will.

I have no motivated to be at work and to do work. I don't know how long I can keep up this charade at my job. It pays the bills for now at least.

I know it's Monday but I hope everyone is doing well.

Oh yeah. It’s definitely Monday.
Ang, it’s so nice to hear that you found a cute dress! I hate going shopping for clothes, so you have my sympathies.

Every time I overeat I relearn that the thing for me is "how to end the episode". For years I thought it was about getting to the point where I never overeat, but I think I’ve finally figured out that it’s all about ending it as soon as possible. To do that I remind myself what’s worked for me in the past: writing down what I eat, getting enough sleep, working out the things that bother me (schedule!), and find new fun things to do when I’m bored. I basically have to take a look at myself and my life and figure out what isn’t working, what isn’t OK.
It’s as if – when I get into the routine – I just start to do things automatically (eating, sleeping, exercising, etc), but when I start to overeat it’s as if I wake up. And find out that things aren’t working, and I have to figure out why, and then fix it. And make things feel a little new and fresh again by changing things around a bit. If that makes any sense at all!

My summer project is still in progress, but I think I’ll be posting less here. I’m not comfortable posting at 3FC when I’m at work; my computer is out in the open where everybody can see what I’m doing. I’m just a temp there, and I’m really not comfortable doing stuff that *obviously* isn’t work related. I do school-stuff (reading articles, taking notes, and researching stuff on more ‘plain’ sites) instead, when I don’t have anything to do.

And since it’s finally summer, I don’t want to go home to the computer after work either: I want to stay outside, meet people, do stuff.
That’s why the daily reports will go away. And it’s why my reports from the weekend were missing: I was out doing nothing instead of sitting at home in front of the computer…

Renee, did you go on vacation already?
Ang, have a nice Monday at work!

mette - I totally understand about posting at work. Luckily I have an office so no one can tell what I'm doing. If I have a few minutes there is no problem getting on the site. Of course sometimes I don't have a few minutes. I do worry that especially with Renee not around regularly and Jessica gone for the time being, what will happen to our 'group'. I will be at a conference next week but otherwise will be around. Please post when you can and have fun. Summer is for outside.