Nicki, it really is about learning to feel that way before. I never used to feel bad if I ate something bad until I finished it, then I would feel awful. Now, I think about how hard I am working to lose weight and how much I want this and that pretty much stops any bad eating. Maybe that can help you, too? Don't beat yourself up when you eat badly, just pick yourself up and keep going. Besides there's nothing wrong with eating chinese food or anything else as long as it is done in moderation (which it sounds like you have done).

I just finished an hour workout on the elliptical with about 30 minutes of strength training and am gonna go eat some dinner.

Welcome to Karen and Melissa, good luck!

Haley - I completely agree with everything you said. Good job on the workout!

Don't fret Nicki - but just take the feeling you felt after eating the chinese food and remember it everytime you are about to eat something questionable. I am not saying to never have chinese food, but make sure you are eating the healthiest choices available (nothing fried or breaded). A good option is almond chicken or kung pao chicken (full of veggies and protein) with a cup of white rice. It's filling and much easier to figure out calories than with something fried. Anyways, I think it's good to have your conscience working - that means you are aware and that you really want this. Whatever you do, don't think that you screwed everything up so you may as well eat whatever you feel like - that will really get you down! You're learning your pressure points and now you know what to prepare for when eating out in the future. It's all about pre-planning!

Hello Karen :) You are doing great for working out so early in the am 3 X per week. I know how challenging it can be with babies. I have a baby boy, so I realize how you have to plan everything out in order to get anything accomplished.......and sometimes you can't stick to the plan because kids are unpredictable. That's why it will be even sweeter once we reach our goals - we have more challenges, but we can do it! Welcome aboard!

Welcome Newbies! Sorry I wanted to post earlier but I was in pain, I can't move! Im sunburn all over my arms and shoulders and back. I am soo dumb. But I did manage to get 4 hours of exercise in the pool. Anyways I also had 2 tests this week. I am done now, though not for good. So I should be active here in the coming days.

Here's a thread I posted that I thought might interest you all;

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...509#post913509

Hugs,
Mel

Thanks all for the warm welcome!
 

Has anyone had nausea when working out with weights? Today, I did. I was lifting much heavier weights and doing them at a fast pace. I think that my heart could not keep up that much, but my stomach as been abit upset this morning.

Please put me down in weighing in on fridays....

Also, how do you put the cute gaphics of weight loss goals in. I love it, but I am not sure how you do that? Hummmm, can anyone help. Hope everyone has a great day!
See ya!
Karen

Jenny, I'm so sorry about your sunburn, I burn VERY easily because I'm fair-skinned so I know how that is. Use aloe vera, it soothes it! And congrats on your exercise in the pool!

Melanie, a nurse at my school suggested I start using Stevia, but I had forgotten about it. I think I'm going to get some and try it out, I don't really use much sugar, but I would much rather have a healthy calorie/carb free substitute for when I do. Thank you!

Karen, to get the weight tracker in your profile go to User CP (at the top above 3FC Home). Click on Edit Signature on the left. There are some instructions then it has a weight tracker, click on the weight tracker and choose which things you want for your tracker, then copy the code that comes up in the box (it should say use this one for 3FC), paste it into the empty box where it says Your Signature. You can add anything else you'd like in there too. Hope this helps! If you have any other questions, ask away! Also, I have never experienced nausea while doing weights, but I used to get light-headed, dizzy and blackout, so if any of this ever happens, don't keep lifting weights! I talked to my doctor about it, who diagnosed me with something, so if you have any of those things happen, let me know, and I'll tell you what my doctor told me about it.

I am SSSOOOOOOOOOOOO SORE. My legs feel like they're about to fall off which sucks, but I'm glad I feel sore because I know I worked really hard yesterday. My arms aren't sore which makes me wonder if I'm not using high enough weights, but I struggle to lift the weights I do, maybe I'll just do less weight and more reps. I'm going to strength train every other day, so we'll find out tomorrow.

Hello everyone!

I did my 5k today and did pretty well! I may work out on the elliptical but not sure if I'll have time today..

Good Job Celeste!

Haley - that's awesome you are working out so efficiently ;) Oh yeah, and Stevia's the best - especially if you are having a hard time getting enough water in!

Karen, doing heavy weights fast like that is not very good for you! Not too sure about the nausea thing, but you should always do your weights slow so you don't hurt yourself. And your muscles know time, not reps, if that makes sense?

Pictures
 

Hey Ladies,

I thought it might be fun for us to post pictures of each other; any pics with you, your family, significant others, etc.... so we can put a face to a name :)

I will start;
My Family
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ty/thefam1.jpg

Me
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...eldarkhair.jpg

My Cute Baby Boy :)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...sweetsmile.jpg

Now it's someone else's turn ;)
Melanie

Good idea!! Melanie, you have a beautiful family! Your little boy is a cutie!!

Here's me:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/4...5119AZNGTFi4ao


This is my daughter Kalynn at Dora Live last weekend
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/4...6109AZNGTFi4ao

And my husband Bill and DD Kalynn at Dora Live
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/4...6109AZNGTFi4ao

Melanie, great idea! And ok, you and your family are SO CUTE! You are very, VERY pretty. Your hubby is handsome and your little boy is ADORABLE! His blue eyes are amazing! Beautiful family. :D

Here's my boyfriend and I at Disneyland (or I think it was actually California Adventure)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/6472bcba.jpg

This is my kitty Cha-Chi. OMG I love her so much! Sorry if the pic is kinda big.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...e/877de322.jpg

This is me waving! That is a really good pic of me I think, because my face doesn't look as chubby. :p
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...Picture_15.jpg

Ooo that was fun! More pics guys! :D

Celest you and your family are adorbale! Awww, you guys have really cute familys, and you are all hotties yourself. :p

Haley, about the sorness and weights... my old trainer told me that just because you're not sore doesn't mean that you didn't have a good workout. If the weights you are lifting right now are heavy enough for you, then that is great! Don't mess with that. I think if you want to (and you should if it's been more than 6-8 weeks) change your routine around. Here is a cool link. You just click on the body part you want to work out, and it gives you lots of different exercises! I love it.

Oh and thanks Melanie and Haley for what you said earlier. I think I will copy/paste what you said and put it somewhere for quick reference! :D

6-8 Weeks?? I wish! I've been getting more serious about weight training for the past....2 weeks, so I have a ways to go. That link is pretty cool and very informative, I'm going to bookmark it so I can look at it a little later on.

Now, those are some cute kids! I don't have any pics of myself on my computer, but if I get some I'll post them. I'm planning on taking a picture so I can do a before/after comparison (straight on shot/side shot/back shot).

Celeste - You have the cutest figure and such strong shapely legs. I can't wait till I can accomplish all that you have! You look great and you deserve it from all your hard work. :cool: What a sweet family too, your daughter is such a perfect mixture of you and your hubby!

Nicki - You & are your boyfriend are really cute together - you look like you are such good friends, which is so important in a healthy relationship! I love your cats name - how creative "Cha Chi" - LOL! I love the 2nd pic of you too! I am glad that what Haley and I said helped a little - I hope it truly helps when temptation is present! Oh, and thanks for the compliment - I have been truly blessed with a wonderful hubby and a precious little boy :D

Thanks ladies for sharing your pics - now I feel like I know you all a little better!

Melanie

Thanks Melanie! Yeah we are like best friends. :D You are so sweet!

And yeah, what you guys said really did help. It's 9:35pm right now, and I have 2 more hours to go at work. Hopefully I can eat well the rest of the night. About this time, it's really hard for me! I haven't eaten all that much today. I think it's because I was actually DOING stuff, you know? Well, I mean I have eaten a decent amount, but I haven't gone totally over my calories I don't think. So that's good.

How are you all doing?

Hey Nicki -

Only 1 more hour of work - huh? Hope it goes by quick for ya! I am so glad today wasn't a struggle for you. Today has gone really well for me too! I was telling my husband how weird it feels to have eaten dinner and only be at 1200 calories and not be starving still! I think my stomach is finally shrinking and I don't feel deprived - that in itself is a miracle for me! I was able to have some low fat ice cream tonight as a snack because I was short calories........what a weird concept for me! What I am struggling most with right now is the exercise - I am doing it everyday, but everyday I have to force myself - last week I was all jazzed about it, but this week I feel like "do I have to?" LOL! I guess my energy level is lower this week.......hmmm, wonder if it could have anything to do with my "TOM"?? I don't know :dizzy:

Have a great night and I will post tomorrow - nighty night buddy!

I've NEVER felt energetic about going to the gym. I get bored easily when I'm just on the elliptical and am just kind of counting down the minutes. I'm going to my 2nd kick boxing class today and am excited because the last one was kind of a flop (too hard to follow so I left early). I'm a little worried it'll again be too hard to follow, but oh well, I'm going to at least stay for the whole class and if it gets too hard to follow I'll just jog in place until I know what's going on. I feel so awesome after I work out that even if I get bored, it's worth it!

Melanie, I know what you mean about the 1200 calories and not be starving still. When I first started I was hungry, but my body adjusted to the new intake and is fine now. A yogurt used to not fill me up at all, now it's a great snack and is filling for me! And I'm guessing it has a lot to do with your TOM, I don't feel a lot like working out when it's mine.

Haley - I totally hear you about the exercise. I have never been a fan of it, but like you said, I love the way I feel afterwards and that is the part that hooks me! It's like a natural high, plus you know you are doing your body good! Isn't it great how your body adjusts to eating less - it makes me realize how much I was overeating before! Sounds like you are doing great - keep it up!

Melanie ;)

Man I can't wait until I can eat less! I am hungry on 2000 calories! But I try to not eat more than that. I don't think I could get down to 1200, but I hope to maintain at like 1800. I like to eat, lol.

Well, I didn't get a chance to go to the gym today because I had a lot of other crap going on, but plan to tomorrow. And I had Taco Bell. :( I honestly didn't have time to pack anything, and had to do all my stuff and come right to work. BUT I plan on adding it into my total calories today, so hopefully that will be ok. I'm usually ok if I eat something like that, but still stay within my calorie range.

Man, I need to go grocery shopping tonight, also! How are you all doing?

Melanie tomorrow is weigh-in day! :^: :dizzy:

Hey Nicki,

I liked to eat a lot too.....3 weeks ago I was eating about 2000 calories per day and still felt starving, but this week my body is adjusting and it's great! This week I have been eating about 1300 - 1400 calories per day and it is perfect. I could eat less but I don't want my metabolism to slow down, plus it's not healthy to go below 1200 calories per day long term.

So, what will our weigh in day look like - are we posting our weight or lbs lost or both? What are you going to do?

I had a yummy salad w/ lots of veggies for dinner! Yay! It felt really good to eat that. :D

Yeah I can't wait until my stomach shrinks! :p

Welllll I dunno. I'll probably post both. Although I have only been eating good the past few days, so I'm not sure how well I will do. Hopefully at LEAST stay the same. But yeah, I'll probably post both. What are you gonna do?

I will post my weight loss from week 1 to now (week 3 for me). We'll see!

Hey guys! Sorry I've been MIA for a few days. I have been so busy, it's been crazy! And this weekend, I'll be even more busy!!

Eating wise...wasn't the greatest...I wasn't able to run either. But, I will run tomorrow!!

Thanks for posting and checking in Celeste!

That's so awesome you're a runner :D Have fun tomorrow!
Melanie

I went to the gym last night, so glad I was able to go home then get my butt up to go to the gym. Usually when I'm at home I can't get inspired, so that's why I go right after work, but I did it today. My legs are sssoooo sore still and my arms hurt if I hold them up for a while, I was trying to straighten my hair this morning and I felt like my arms were going to fall off while I was holding them up, ouch. I didn't eat enough yesterday, ick.

Good luck with your weigh in, Nicki! I'll probably just post something like this week I lost ____ pounds and now I'm at ____. And your body will adjust to a lower amount of calories, but it's better not to just go from 2000 to 1200, which I think you know since you said you might drop it down to 1800.

Weigh-in
 

Ok, here's my weigh-in to date;

Week 1 = 190.5
Week 2 = 185.5
Week 3 = 181.5 (Today's weigh-in)

Total lbs lost = 9!! WOO HOO :D

Hi Haley!

Good job on your workout yesterday, way to be motivated! Don't you feel so much better about yourself afterwards? I know I do.

Have a great day and weekend if I don't hear from you - keep up the great work!

Melanie

Nicki-

How are you today? Are you around yet? Hope all is well, just checking in!

Melanie

Melanie, CONGRATS on the weightloss! That's awesome!! And I'm pretty much always around. I work on the computer all day and most of the day there isn't much work to do, so I'm usually browsing around on 3FC most of the day and on the weekends I check in a few times a day. I definitely do feel better after my workouts and I'm glad I can motivate myself to go. Have to go again today and tomorrow so I can get 5 days in this week (I skipped Monday).

Have a great weekend, everyone, and good luck!

Hey Haley!

Thanks for the encouragement. The exercise part has been harder for me than the eating part, but it has been paying off and my body is thankful ;) Good job yourself on keeping up with the execise motivation!! I skipped Monday's workout this week too, so I will either work out on Saturday or Sunday to get a full 5 days in. Speaking of workouts, I have to go get one in right now while the baby is sleeping......Tae Bo, here I come!

I am online on and off all day too, so feel free to pm me or post here whenever!

Melanie

Hi guys! Since I work late, I don't get up until late. I woke up at 11:30 today. :p That's kinda late for me. It's usually 10:30-11am, but for the past month my boyfriend has been on a weird schedule, and he didn't get home until 2am. So I would wait up for him, and that kinda threw off my sleeping patterns. He's back to his normal shift now, so I need to adjust back! It's so hard for me because I LOVE to sleep in and HATE getting up early! :p

Anyways, I weighed in today. 205 :( . So I'm up 2. But I find it so odd, because the other day (yes, I know, bad to weigh yourself more than once a week! I can't help it) I was at 203. So I'm surprised. AND I have been eating good the past few days. Ugh. I am totally NOT trying to make excuses, but my boyfriend (his name is Troy! so I'll call him that from here on out, lol) moved the scale to clean the bathroom floor, and I'm not sure if that messed it up or not. My scale is SO sensitive. I can step on it, and it says 203. And then I get off, and step on it again and it will say 204! It's really weird and hard to trust. So I mean, who knows. I'll just have to take the 2 pound weight gain and do better this week. Blah.

Haley GREAT job on going to the gym! That is really, really awesome! :D

Hi Nicki :)

Maybe you should invest in a more accurate scale? That would drive me nuts if my scale was always going up and down - especially when making such an effort to lose weight!

I am sure things will be better from here on out. Don't let what the scale said discourage you either - it might not even be right and if it is, it could be water weight.

Anyways, have a terrific day!
Melanie

I agree with Melanie, it may be a good idea to get a better scale. The one I have now was about 30 bucks and it SUCKS. It has the body fat measurement and all that, but it was so complicated, I don't even know how to use it. On the package it said that it was to the ounce, but the scale only does .5, which can be annoying. I also call our scale "the haunted scale," it beeps when someone steps on it and beeps when the weight comes up. It also will beep randomly when no one is standing on it or even near it, creeeeeeeeeeeeeepppyy. I'm going to get a better scale to take back to the dorm with me, so yeah, I'd suggest getting a new scale, maybe one that isn't so sensitive. And I'm guessing if you got on and it was 203 then got on a few days later to see 205 that it's either the scale being weird or just water weight, like Melanie said.

I used to only weigh once a week, but that's impossible for me now. I get on every morning after I wake up just to see where I am, before I thought it was a bad idea, but now I find it kind of motivating.

I think I might skip the workout today and just go Saturday & Sunday to finish up my 5 days. We'll see how I feel when I leave work. Ohhh, or maybe I'll go play tennis today (and still go Sat & Sun). I'm soo booorrrrrrreeeeeeeeeedddddddddd.

Hey guys! Yeah, I should get a better scale. But I bought that one after the one before that was doing the same thing! Only it was worse. This one isn't as bad, but still. Ugh. I think maybe if I don't touch it for a while, it should be fine. My Mom has a Dr. scale! Those things are really accurate. I wish I had one! It was expensive, she said. Maybe some day. :p

Anyways, thanks for making me feel better you guys. I appreciate it. :D

OH AND HELLO?! I think I forgot to say CONGRATS to you Melanie for losing that weight! How rude of me! I'm all into myself and my scale problems I forgot to say something! I thought it, though, if that counts? LOL Anyways yeah, great job. I hope we can BOTH say that we lost weight next week! :D

No worries Nicki! It's the thought that counts - LOL! I am truly trying my hardest, probably harder than I have ever tried for something in my life. I have always been one of those yo yo dieters. I would start a diet extremely motivated, then lose motivation by the 3rd day, I'd gain any weight I lost plus more, then would get so mad at myself and get on another diet - it was a vicious cycle. I am in a totally different head space now. I know if I don't lose this weight I will feel stuck in every aspect of my life. I want to have the confidence I had when I was younger. It's hard when you are constantly realizing that you could be better than you are but you aren't doing anything about it! That was me for too long!

Wow, I could talk about it all day - I bet you're glad I'm stopping - ha ha! :lol:

Haley - I do the same thing....weigh myself every morning. Even though the scale has been kind so far - I still wish I didn't do it. If I waited to weigh myself each week, it would be a way better surprise.....I'd rather see a whole 3 lbs lost, than a few ounces each day - know what I mean? I guess my curiosity gets the best of me in the end. :dizzy:

Are you kidding? Please, continue! I love hearing that stuff. It really helps me, A LOT! I have only done good the past few days because I kept reminding myself what you and Haley said. So this helps! :D

Ok, so the other day you asked for more pics, Nicki - here are a few. You may recognize the people in the pictures with me - they are actors from the soap opera Days of Our Lives (DOOL). One of my friends is a huge fan of that soap, so she had me go with her to fan event - LOL! It was about a month or so ago......

Kyle Brandt & I. He's also known as Phillip on DOOL.
He was also on Real World Chicago.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...24163427-M.jpg

The beautiful Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe on DOOL) & I.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...24166929-M.jpg

I have more but I don't want to bore you all - LOL :lol:

Oh so cool! Looks like it was fun. I remember that Real World Guy, and he was saying how he would never do a soap opera because he thought it was beneath him or SOMETHING like that. Yeah. Ok buddy.

:p You look pretty in both of those pics! :D ;)