Debbie - It’s true, I really do feel it. BUT, the problem is… is that whenever I go to lose weight, I always feel like I’m going to do really good and actually do it this time! But I never seem to, so NOW I’m feeling like “Why will this time be any different?”. What a horrible attitude, huh? But I feel that if I keep checking in here, it will help me. I don’t want to look at my vacation pics and see an overweight girl, either.

Celeste – Ok, let’s go over EVERYTHING right now, ok? Tell us an average of how many cals you eat a day. Do you have a cheat day/meal once a week? What is your workout routine like? I want to know intensity, duration, frequency and type. You will get through this, and we are all going to help you! And I know you know this, but the closer you are to your goal weight, the harder it is to lose those pounds! Pretty crappy, huh?

Karen – Great job on staying within your cals! The weekends are hard for me! I hope you lost a pound let us know, ok? Anyways, I don’t know what will help me stay on track. Well. Food journaling helps! I write down everything. Maybe I should start checking in here at LEAST once a day, at the end of the day to let you girls know how I did? If I can do that from work around 9:30-10pm, that would be good. Because usually, my downfall is eating when I get home from work. I don’t know what it is! But I just want to eat, and I’m NOT hungry. Ugh. So very frustrating.

Melanie – Man, situations like that are so hard to control. But look on the bright side… after you ate that stuff, you didn’t eat anything else for the rest of the day (which I’m hoping it was at least in the evening to late afternoon?), and then the piece of cake… yeah it was 450 cals, but you can work that into your day. AND you said that overall you have been making good food choices! And that’s great! Stuff like this is just going to happen. No one is perfect! And you won’t be going to a family reunion ever weekend, so this was just something different, you know? So you’re not losing either? Have you tried to change up your workouts? Are you lifting weights? Are you eating enough cals? Let’s figure this out!

And you guys, I'm back up to 205 (from 203.5). I kinda don't understand, because I didn't really think I was doing THAT bad. So that's pretty crappy.

Nicki, I really don't know how many calories since I go by points..I eat 22 points.

Morning:
Usually 1 c of 1% milk 2
3/4 c of WW's Honey Almond cereal 2

Afternoon:
2 tbsp of tuna salad (which was made of 4 tbsp of light miracle whip, 2 boiled eggs, 1/2 c of celery, and 2 boiled eggs)--2 pts
2 slices of whole wheat/whole grain bread: 1 pt
12 baked lays: 2
Tea with saccharine-0 pts

Snacks:
Some kind of fruit, oranges, grapes, or plums (1-.5 pts)
2% Cheese stick: 2pts
WW's ice cream cone: 2 pts

Dinner:
Dinners are usually chicken and something..Varies between 4-6 pts


Workouts are usually running an hour or so. Intensity: high
I usually work out 5 days a week. Last week though was 6 times a week trying to shake this plateau.

Any suggestions? Anything I should change?

I'm baaaaaccckkkkkk! Melanie, don't worry about some screw ups, I think we all need screw ups now and again to remember we're all human. I hope you enjoyed them, at least! Just get back on track and get back with the exercise and the eating healthy and I doubt you'll even gain anything!

I didn't eat very well the few days before I left for school, but now I'm at school and have re-committed. I went to the gym yesterday, an hour on the elliptical and machines for about 20 minutes and I'm going to go the gym after class, which ends at 4:45. I don't know what I'm going to do about the gym, so my classes end at 4:45 Mon-Thurs, so that'd be the perfect time to go. But there will be traffic there (it'll probably take me 15-20min to get there), busy at the gym and then more traffic on the way back. I'm contemplating just trying to go at a later time. Maybe, I can come back to the dorm, work on homework, then go around 7 or so. I hung out with some people I hadn't seen since I went home for the summer and they told me I definitely look like I've lost weight. It made me smile because I can't tell that I've been losing, but if other people can, that means a lot to me!

I need to buy a scale because I don't have one here and I'd like to keep track of my weight.

Celeste, I think everything you're doing looks pretty good. Just stick with it. If you haven't been doing strength training, perhaps you should incorporate that into your regimen? I remember Melanie saying something about how it may be a good idea to switch up your caloric (I guess point in your case) intake, perhaps you could look into doing that and see if it kick starts anything??

Good luck to you all! I will definitely be around more, so we can keep each other accountable and kick each others butts or just give a helping hand when its needed. I know I couldn't do this weight loss without all of you. Thank you!!

Celeste: Wow! That is alot of carbs...I would try the core plan on WW for one week and see if that works...Also, I would try weight lifting...The more muscle mass the better the metabolism, the more you can eat. I did WW and think that it is an excellent program...but, I did find that my weight was on hold when I was around your weight. Then my trainer at the time said to eat about 100 gm of carbs a day and more protein. I thought that she was nuts , but it did work for me. The core plan on WW is very much like that, but I would still count pts. with the core plan. This may shock your body..Hope that this works.... Sounds like you are getting lots of cardio in, and your body might feel it needs more carbs...I would cut back on it too...sounds scary...but it may work? I like to go to ladies that lift forum and read there post, I have found it helpful too me...

Mel: You are doing so great! It's a nice day to start again! New, month new goals. We can always have a new start anytime...I like that....But, please do not be hard on yourself...lets start over again....right Nicki!

Hi Haley....glad to hear from you....It's a nice day to start again....

Karen, OK, I switched to Core..Hopefully this will help! Did your trainer tell you all carbs? Or just simple carbs? Looking at that, I do need to cut out sugar and eat more whole grains and stuff.

I KNEW that was gonna be it! Like the other ladies said, weight lifting can really help. It can change your whole body. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. I can't stress enough how important it is! I'm not quit there yet, but man, I would love to design a weight lifting routine for you! I'm like a chapter away. Boo. Try going here . Read that, and then click on "workouts".

Also, I have been reading in my text book, that when you work out, you should be able to hold a comfortable conversation with someone. If not, you should turn down the intensity. But I have to say... I do intervals, and when I'm jogging, I can't hold a comfortable conversation. I sometimes wonder if they are just talking about beginner exercisers. But they didn't say they were. So shoot. Maybe that wasn't helpful. I should go back and read that.

Haleyyyyyyy glad you're back! I LOVE when other people notice that you have lost weight!

OK, I'm kinda confused on Core...

Celeste: Are you going to any WW meetings? I know on WW core you do not count points, but I think I would...I personally could not do core, I would do better with about 100gm of carbs a day, and it could be more carbs...listen to your body. My trainer said whole carbs, such as brown rice, whole wheat bread, but allow for a little treat at the end of the day...about 2 0r 3 points...
Also, EFA are important to...if you are eating too little EFA then your body will hang on to the fat... Celeste...does this help?

Thanks Karen, that's making a lot of sense! What is EFA? AFter reading the Core user guide, I think I am understanding it now...

I'm not going to meetings, I am doing the online one.

Thanks Nicki, I do need to do some weight lifting! Thanks for that link, I am totally new to the weight lifting thing...Not sure where I should start though!

Does anyone know if Curves does any strength training?

Celeste: There is a WW core forum on this site, maybe that may help I don't know....EFA are the good fats...they help you burn more fats.....such as flax seed oil and it is in salmon...I was eating fat free for a long time and cut my fats down to below 20% so my body thought it was straving, so it hung on to the fat...EFA are the good fats that help you burn more...Sounds crazy to eat fat....But, it worked for me....

I never did curves...but I heard about it from a friend...It sounds like it would be great for a beginner....They work a circuit workout...for 30mins...

Thanks for info on the weight lifting. I am just now beginning that since the tread mill come with the bench and the weights. I am totally clueless. I read in my book that you should be able to just speak short sentence not carry conversation. Last night for sure all i could do is say I am k poppie aka hubby. He is afraid I am doing to much. I am down to 190 now. I want to change my ticker and make me a weekly one but I am not sure I know how to do all that. I can not wait till next summer. I am going to be so buff it will make all my skinny friends sick. I am doing this for me now. I totally recomend everyone to read stop the insanity and food by susan powter. She is great!!! Old books but fat still applies lol.