Dancing to the wiggles is good too-my kids are wiggleholics!
Melissa

LOL yes, the wiggles are great too, though for some reason my daughter hasn't wanted to watch that for awhile so I forgot about it!

welcome to the group mel-we check in through email once a week (wednesday) so if you are interested please PM me with your email address and I will add you to the list.
Melissa

Thanks Theresa! I filled a 2 qt. pitcher with water and put it in the refrigerator this morning and I've been working on it all day...man, that's a lot of water! :dizzy:

Welcome to the group Mel! :wave:

Welcome Mel! You can do this if you just stay focused and committed, we'll help all we can.

WELCOME MEL. Hey SuzyMC, try cucumber slices in ice cold water. Great refreshing taste.

I reached my goal yesterday of 30 minutes of exercise. I have the same goal today and my eating has been fabulous which is quite surprising.

That is awesome uncovering! Never thought of cucumbers in water-will have to try. Occassionally I use fresh cut up lemon but will have to try the other too.
melissa

It does seem like a lot at first, but you get used to it. I drink most of mine just before, during, and right after my biggest workout of the day. It gives me more energy to get through it.

Theresa

Cucumber slices? I never would have thought about that. I did get some lemons this afternoon...I'll have to see about picking up some cucumbers.

May I join you all, also? I need all the help I can get to put an end to my yo-yo nightmare. In the last 8 years I've been as high as 265 and as low as 122 and back and forth in between the two. Right now I'm aiming to attain a goal of around 150 and be able to maintain it. I am always either losing or gaining...I have a really hard time maintaining ANY weight for more than a few days. I really want to put a stop to this as I know how unhealthy it is and I'd like to be around for a while. One of my downfalls is that it's always "all or nothing" with me. I either do very, very well or I do really, really bad. I love all kinds of sweets so that's what packs on the pounds when I'm doing really bad.

I'm 35 years old and happily married for 16 years and we have 2 terrific kids.

I'm not really following any specific plan...I just found something that works for me to lose weight so I stick with it. I don't really pay attention to carbs or protein, but I do count calories. I stick with low-fat and high fiber foods as much as possible and that seems to work for me better than anything. I'm not really much of a meat eater so I could never stick with a low carb plan. I do eat chicken, turkey, or fish on occasion, though. I love fresh fruit and veggies so that helps.

I know I don't drink enough water (mostly I just don't like water that much). I'm wondering if I can include Diet Rite as part of my water intake? I do drink quite a bit of it and it's sodium and caffiene free.

For an exercise goal I want to jog at least a mile and walk at least 2 miles 5 times a week, or substitute with an exercise video if it happens to be rainy.

I am really looking forward to being a part of this group! It looks like everyone is really committed and you are all doing great!

Kay

Welcome Mel & Kay!

About the iced tea..... have your tried to brew your own from a decaf tea bag and then low cal sweeten/add lemon as usual? I would think that would count toward water if there is no caffeine?

Good Luck to all on your goals!

Thanks so much for the welcome! Wondering though... what's this "check in" email thingy about???

Every Wednesday morning you are sent an email with current weight, loss ect and you fill it out and hit reply to all. It is a way for us to all be accountable to each other but still keep it private and just within our group so it isn't on a public forum. If you have any other questions or I didn't do the explanation well enough let me know-happy to answer questions.
melissa

Hi Everyone!

If it is ok I would like to join you. I had a baby 7 weeks ago and need to get rid of the weight I put on before both of my children were born. I was so excited watching the scale go down after my son was born, but now I am watching it slowly go back up. At my highest weight I was 212 and my goal is 150. I would love to be part of your thread to get help and motivation from others.

Hi Julie you are more than welcome. One of the things we do is a weekly check in with each other through email. Could you PM your email address so I can get you added to our list?
thanks
melissa

Well I drank more water than my little 20 oz. daily goal :D every day this week and I am finding it easier every day as I go along to drink more.
I have decided that grocery stores are not my friend and I have to be on guard every moment checking labels and avoiding the candy aisle. I have also decided NOT to take others as in hubby or kids with me when I go - This means I can put healthy foods in the cart and take time to follow my list. I spend alot of time in making a list so I can eat better and then can't follow it with kids fussing and hubby putting cookies in the cart
I am also really finding lots of great tips on the forums , one was mixing cottage cheese with yoghurt for a more filling snack and I tried it and it was GOOD.
I did get a bit down :( when I was reading forum posts and seeing how much exercise everyone does compared to me But then I thought well gee no two people are the same and you have just started after NOT exercising for years.
I will one day look back at my journals and laugh when I can do miles on the bike and lift weights with no prob.
Keep up the good work everyone and thank you for all the :thanks: support!

Hmm Cukes in water.. I'd prolly end up eating the cukes.. but I'll try it ..

Don't feel alone with the excersize thing-I am awful! Course just basic housework gets my heartrate up-not sure if it due to excersion or cause I had just cleaned it and it is already trashed again-all things come at their own pace. Don't worry about eating the cukes, not only are they extremely low in calories and usually a free item in any food plan but they are good for your kidneys. The way through the grocery store is usually around the perimeter-there you get produce, dairy, meat, ect and I try my best not to take at least my oldest child and if I have to, we set one item that he is allowed to have before we even get to the store and if he bugs me for other things, that one thing goes back-it does make shopping a much nicer experience-
melissa

welcome to the group mel, kay, and julie. i am so happy everyone is doing so well. i pretty much messed up today. i haven't counted the calories up yet, but i had half a pint of red bean ice cream. 340 calories, yikes! i think that may put me over my target a little. but everything else was healthy.. veggies, lean ground beef/turkey, rice, puffed rice crackers, cranberries. my husband is always encouraging me to be bad!! he picked up the ice cream at the store, and is all like, "look what i got for you honey!"
i also think i am going to skip the gym tonight :( it's already 1 a.m., so it ain't gonna happen.

Okay, I only got 2 miles in yesterday, and even that was a stretch. I didn't get any in during the day, and that always means I won't finish my goal :( The kids were just way too fussy to even think about it! I just wanted to fall into bed actually, but made myself do the 2 miles first...at least it's something! Now we are going to the mountains for the weekend so I will definitely not finish my goal for the week. That's okay...tomorrow is another week and there will be lots of swimming over the weekend, so that counts.

Have a great weekend everyone if I don't make it back here!

Theresa

Good morning!

I had a bit of a bad spell last night in terms of eating. I had a couple of spoonfuls of ice cream and a handful of chocolate chips. Maybe I need to make time to exercise at night as well so I occupy my time better.

I already did my treadmill walk and I added a couple of weight exercises for my arms. I am in a wedding next month and would love to tone those arms a bit if possible. They are so flabby right now. Of course, the dress is sleeveless.

Tonight's eating is going to be a bit of a challenge since it is my birthday and my DH is taking me out to eat. I guess if I watch what I eat all day, I can get the yummy meal that I want for dinner (chicken cordon bleu).

Jeanne, I've always heard that calories don't count on your birthday...or is it don't count calories on your birthday? Either way, enjoy your dinner out and don't worry too much about the calories for that one meal. Have a wonderful birthday!

:hb: Happy Birthday Jeanne! :gift:
I agree Calories do not count on B -days!

:( Hubby wants to go get BBQ tonight as we have to go to a memorial service and people from work are going to the BBQ place afterwards.. I am going to call or stop by this afternoon to check out the menu so I can pre- plan my meal and stay away from the garlic bread and french fries..I will eat carefully today as not to go over meal plan calories for today.

AND OH MY GOSH I a stupid head ( as my 12 yo would say ;) ) I was sitting here going unnn I can do about 12 minutes on teh exercise bike before I am gasping and legs turn to rubber.. etc.. So I thought gee do your 12 minutes in the a.m. and 12 minutes in the p.m. you'll be getting a bit more exercise that way .. and maybe work up to 13, 14, 15... soon i will be :lol: at myself when I can do miles without puffing.

Tried the water and cuke thing.. neat.. snack and drink all in one ;)
Thanks for all the advice and wisdom!

So even fattening delicious cake doesn't count? :lol My mom was going to bring a cake over today and I told her to keep it. I have been known to polish off whatever is left over (which usually amounts to half a cake).

One piece of birthday cake doesn't count, but if you are talking about eating the whole cake that's a different story! :lol:

Sandi, good idea about using the bike a little in the morning and a little in the evening! I think you're right...soon you'll be up to 30 minutes twice a day! Good for you! :cp:

I'm going to push the lawnmower around the yard for a couple of hours this afternoon, so I'll really be getting my exercise today! :cool:

Jeanne
Happy Birthday
Have a wonderful birthday dinner. It will have zero calories. Birthday dinner doesn't count, but it was good to not let a cake into the house. It will call to you from the fridge till it's finished.
I think it's good to plan a falling off of a food plan once in a while, just for one treat or meal. The hard part is to get right back on and not turn it into a food binge and then feel awful afterward.

Maybe we can all tell each other when we plan a falling off, for an occasion or just because you need a break, and then it will be easier to get back on the food plan.
Laura

happy birthday jeanne!!

:balloons:

laura is totally right! birthday dinner has zero calories. way to go resisting the cake. i am already anticipating the horror of not being able to pig out on my leftover wedding cake next week. i am halfway hoping that it will be totally frostburned and gross because it was *soooooo* good a year ago. ;)
have fun!

Good morning everybody!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY jjeanne! Definitely you should be able to splurge for a birthday meal and a piece of cake without feeling guilty about it. Enjoy your day!

Purplefirefly...Have a great weekend in the mountains! I'm sure you will find a way to fit some exercise in!

Sandisuze I had to do the same thing when I first started exercising (a little in am and pm)...only it was more like 5 minutes at a time at first. You will be amazed at how fast it will get easier.

I had a good day yesterday...I stuck to my eating plan and I jogged a mile, walked 4 miles, did an ab workout, and spent 15 minutes scooping the barn out(that has to count, right?). I definitely did NOT get all my water, but I did drink a lot of Diet Rite. Today I am going to work on drinking more water instead.

The bad thing that happened was...my scale broke! I stepped on and it said I lost 30 pounds! That would have been awesome but I knew better...so I had to go get a different one. Apparently my scale has been "off" since I started because I am 5 pounds heavier on the new one and I know I didn't gain 5 pounds overnight, either. Soooo I've adjusted my numbers since I know the new one is more accurate. I know it's only a mental thing but it's just kind of disheartening to have to adjust the numbers UP when I know I've still been losing. Oh, well....what is 5 pounds in the overall picture. Not much, I know, but it's still a bummer.

Hope everybody has a great day and have fun mowing your yard Suzy!

Happy birthday to yooooouuu! Happy birthday to Yoooouuuu! Have a great one Jjeane and I think you are on the right track by planning ahead for your outing and watching what you eat during the day. There are going to be things in our life and we just have to learn to plan ahead for them. Our annual tacky bbq is coming up in aug so I have already planned what I am going to have. Hotdog instead of hamburger to save a point and I will make my own potato salad and bring it with since I think I can get that for 3pts or something and then some watermelon-plenty to eat really but will all be factored in so there is no reason to feel guilty. I think one of the reasons we feel guilty is because it ISN'T planned for. If it is already a plan and executed the way we figure it out, there is absolutely no reason to feel guilty. Not sure that made sense...What I did jjeane to counteract evening eating is I get 1 diet rite soda, put it in a glass with ice(make it a production so to speak) and I started doing counted cross stitch and nurse that soda for the evening. I tell you I am now so focused on counting stitches, I don't even think about what is in the fridge anymore and the voices have left too-(the ones that call out to come finish what was left at dinner)

Have fun on your trip to the mountains! I know kids can hold lots of things up-for me it is housework. I usually have at least one who is having a rough day and wants to be held constantly so I am trying to learn to roll with the punches a bit better and realize for at least another year or so, that is how life is going to be.

Ok speaking of those whiney days-looks like this is one of them-I can't tell you how many times I have been interupted here lol. talk to you guys later!
melissa

I completely agree with the comments about planned splurges. I think it's necessary to let ourselves have a special treat without guilt once in a while. For myself...having something "bad" unplanned can derail an entire day or more for me because I get so upset with myself. If it's planned, then it's something to look forward to and can be compensated for.

quick question-as our bars go down, do we have to go through and edit each time and copy and paste again? of if you change it on the first part, will it alter on its own? I have been sitting her playing with all this and I did get the avitar hehehe was happy there were angels-I love them. Ok asked now need to fix kids lunch-they are all eyeing my ankles about now.
melissa

Just goes to show you CAN teach an old dog new tricks LOL-will try that next week after weigh in and see how it goes.
thanks
melissa

I'm proud of myself...I drank my 2 quarts of water, I pushed the lawnmower for 1 hour and 45 minutes, and I'm on track with my calorie intake for the day! Woohoo!

How did everyone else do today?

Pretty good day-I did get more water in than normal although I am still short on what I need. Foodwise, right on target and tried new recipe tonite and I thought it was pretty tasty. Going to mom's to see company visiting from arizona so I am taking a diet rite with me just in case there are other things there that I don't want to eat or drink. Mom is usually really good about it-it is Dad who has junk around-lol. I am getting soooo excited and I haven't felt like this about weight loss in the longest time. I do attribute this to you group of gals-I don't feel all alone anymore. I want to thank you all for being here.
melissa

I agree Melissa! Joining this site and group was the best thing I could have done for myself! Reporting in here daily and knowing that you all are here to help me stay on track really makes all the difference!

Ditto - It's great to have a place to go to read about everyone's successes and to share my own.

Melissa - just go into your signature and change the weight number in the text - you don;t have to recreate it.
Happy B-Day Jeanne!
Planned splurges is a good idea! I never thought of it that way - That is something I should start doing, because even a little taste of something leads to a binge sometimes for me.
I didn;t exercise at all today :(. But did get my orthodics!!! My podiatrist said to start back walking slowly so my feet can get used to them. So looks like swimming and walking are the way to go!
Good Luck to all!

Tonight I felt good for the first time in weeks. Apparently I have had Lyme disease (caused by deer ticks here in NY state) for 5 or 6 weeks, but the rash and then blood test and result just came last week. I attributed my terrible fatigue and general dullness and aching arms and legs to the stress of my son's July 9th wedding and all the company and meals and running around. Each day now that I am taking antibiotics, I have several hours of fatigue and pain, but when it goes away I feel better than I have in a long time. I think when I feel bad I kind of accept it, and learn to live with it. And lately that's what I've been doing with my extra pounds of fat. But now I'm so glad to have found this site. I've had 3 pretty good eating days, no sugar, very moderate carbs, stay out of the fridge.
I love the idea that I am connected to other women who understand and I can go to the site anytime and read what happening. I want to succeed because that's what the group is about.
Laura