OH, BTW, welcome, Mindy! My dad did the same thing with sweet tea (I'm not sure why, either-he's not exactly concerned about his weight). He gradually reduced the amount of sweetener, and now he drinks it completely unsweetened.

Welcome Mindy!!!! Nice to see another southern face here . Although we have been a little slow around here lately we have a great group of women . Nice to have you here and I know we look forward to getting to know you. I see we have a very similar goal in mind. I know we will make it!!

The weekend was pretty good here -- I got a lot of exercise on Saturday with all the cleaning and dusting I did around the house. I still have a lot to do but it's nice to finally have done things that have been on my house list for a long time. I will try to make more progress through the week. Our house lookws like the inside of a toy chest and we are trying to reclaim each room. Hopefull we will get the kids stuff contained to two areas before long. On Sunday I got to spend time with Leanne and Christa YAY!!! That always makes me feel recharged. They are both looking awesome and are just melting away!!!!! Congrats Leanne & Christa

So, how is everyone doing this week? Got anything special going on in your neck of the woods?

Good morning everyone, Hope your weekend was good. I babysit all weekend so didn't get much exercise in. I don't know how you ladies with the little ones manage! But I did take her to the park and ran around a lot. I hope that counts for something. And I went for a bike ride Sunday evening. So not all is lost.

As far as eating.....I do fine during the day but I can't sleep at night due to aches and pains (old age is wonderful) and I compensate by eating. I read somewhere that the body actually craves more calories if you dont sleep. It's like it's saying "ok, if you aren't give me sleep at least give me food".

I had to go to the doctor this morning for an echocardiogram so I was out early. I picked up some groceries on the way home. Any one know how to find out the calorie count in Deli lunch meat? It was Healthy Choice Roast Beef and Chicken.

Welcome the new member who has joined us! Looking forward to seeing lots of posts from you.

Have a nice day all, freda

Freda -- I'm so sorry about your not being aboe to sleep. I know how rough that can be and it does throw your eating out of whack. When I can't sleep or have had troubles with insomnia I found myslef eating a lot at night. And it was always bad stuff. My dad was a middle of the night eater and he would eat anything he could. Funny that he was a tiny man in spite of this... Now I find myself wanting to eat something when I am up in the middle of the night feeding Logan. A scoop of peanut butter here or there.


Look here for the info on your deli meat -- http://www.healthychoice.com/eatwell/ew_delimeats.jsp

I've bookmarked it. Very good info...

For the calorie count of other stuffyou could use the calculator on www.fitday.com as it is fairly accurate or go to www.calorieKing.com . i have used both and like them.

Freda, was your appointment this morning a routine thing or have you not been feeling well? I hope it is nothing serious. Hugs!

I have so far not gotten much exercise today but I am getting the house stuff out of the way so that we can play outside when Julia gets home from school. She has a volleyball net that she wants to put up. I am hoping we can play when Bryan gets home.

Ta ta for now (as Tigger would say) !

HI Every one, It's a beautiful day here and i'm washing the bed linen to hang outside on the line. I love the smell! It just puts me in a wonderul mood and helps me get to sleep. Now, why don't they make a fabric softner that smells like that? It's supposed to be in the mid 80's again today. Yesterday was a record high for this time of year. It's just delaying winter a little longer, but i'll take it!

I haven't gotten out to walk yet, I had to take my grandson to school this morning. But' i'm going before it gets too hot. Hope the rest of you gets in some exercise today.

Thanks for the sites Sweet. I did check them out and i'll have to bookmark then. I know the calorie count of almost everything (it took years to learn) but sometimes you get something new.

I had oatmeal for breakfast, with my usual splenda and raisins and cinnamon. Only this morning I had BROWN SUGAR with it too! Splenda has a new brown sugar out! I always used bown sugar but gave it up because of the calories. I can think of a few more things I want to try it on! Like my baked sweet potato along with butter spray. Takes so little to make me happy.

Have a good day, Freda

Sorry I have been so out of the loop, between missed work with sick kids and now a pile up on my desk, I have zero time to check in. I have some before/after pics if y'all are interested! Amazing what 18.5 lbs can do for a person!

Melissa, I would love to see your before and after pictures!

The Slim Me, when did they come out w/ the new Splenda brown sugar? I haven't seen it in stores, and I have looked.

I have some catching up to do around here. I don't have any excuses for not checking in on the thread - I just keep forgetting!

Anyway, I am doing well on the food front but I could be exercising a little more than I have been. I've really buckled down and the scale has started moving again. I'm so glad about that. When I weighed in this week I couldn't help thinking, "I can't believe I'm actually DOING this!" It really motivated me to get down to business and rid myself of these last few pounds.

I'm anxious to get on with the next phase of my life. I keep finding these awesome off-season clothes sales and it bugs the stew out of me that I can't take advantage of them yet. I'm not sure what size I'll be when I reach my goal. I always sort of thought an 8 would be it. But, I'm in an 8 now and awfully close to a six and guess what? THIS AIN'T IT! The point is that I want to be in the size that I intend to stay in from here on out so I can do some REAL shopping - and I want it NOW!

I'm really tired of only having a couple of outfits to choose from between sizes. I'm pretty good and getting mix and match separates but there is only so much you can do with a couple pairs of pants. Oh well, at least I don't have to go to work where people would notice me wearing the same thing over and over. My kids don't seem to care what I have on. Heck, they'd spend every day without clothes if I let them. Oh, who am I kidding? My kids are naked about 90% of the time. "Dressed" to them is keeping their underwear on - LOL.

Well, I hope everyone is on plan and feeling healthy.

P.S. - Melissa, I LOVE before and after pictures - please post yours!

Jawsmom, I just noticed that you've lost 76 pounds. That's awesome!

I'm curious, though. Do you have a problem with excess skin? I know with gastric bypass, the rapid weight loss causes excess skin. Was yours pretty gradual?

Just remember, though, as far as your weight goes-to a certain extent, you may never be "thin enough". When you carry around a lot of extra weight, that becomes part of your self-image, and that's how you see yourself. Just make sure that getting down to a size 6 is one you can really maintain.

Ruby, I don't have a problem with excess skin. I have some on my tummy but I am positive that it is a result of carrying a twins and not from weight loss. I started losing on December 26, 2004 so it has taken me about 9 months to come this far. Actually, probably a little more as I'd lost from 214 down to about 195 and hovered there for several months before I kicked into gear again. I am of the opinion that how much (if any) excess skin a person is left with has more to do with age and how long they were overweight. Rapid weight loss certainly has an impact but I've noticed that there is less incidence of extra skin in those of us who haven't been obese all of our lives. Of course, that's just been my experience and certainly isn't the last word on the matter.

I know exactly what you mean about never being thin enough. I've found all along that it takes my brain much longer to process 20 pounds gone than it does my body to actually lose it. But, eventually, the two sync up - of course by then it is almost time to process the next 20. LOL. But, you are right. I look at my pants now and it amazes me that not only do I fit in them but they are getting loose. It is strange to say the least because I don't always see the "new" me.

As for a maintainable size, I am still experimenting with that. I actually think a 4 is what will make me happy and will be fairly easy to maintain but I will keep an open mind and make that decision when I come to it. I cycle my calorie intake and can still lose steadily on a 1600-1800 average with a moderate amount of exercise. At this point I usually hit about 1500-1600 a day average and that is more than enough food to satisfy me. I've spent the last couple of months on a maintainance break and I was able to maintain 139-140 on about 2000 calories a day. So, I expect that 115-125 should be maintainable on 1600-1800 calories (assuming I stick to my exercise routine - which I fully intend to do). I can definately live with that. But, like I said, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Your advice is good for all stages of weight loss because NOW is the time to plan for what happens next. Otherwise, all of our hard work could go right out the window!

Hello all, I guess that I can fit in this group as I am from Fairfield Glade TN.

I am far from being a chick however, I am more of an old hen!

I have about 30 pounds to lose that I managed to put on last winter by sitting at the computer day after day instead of getting out for a walk. I was new to computers and got really hooked.

I am on the 'Tootsie Roll Pop Diet". I made it up. Actually it is a balanced diet of about 1200 calories with one Tootsie Roll Pop allowed per day. I am also walking 5 or 6 days out of 7. I have lost 5 pounds.

This is a great forum with a lot of support for everyone. I am impressed with the stories of how much everyone has lost. Good Going

zoey

Welcome, Zoey!

That sounds like a cool diet. Suckers are good sweets to indulge in, I would imagine. It lasts longer, preventing you from eating a lot. And it's a "single serving" item, meaning you can get one and put the bag away.

I usually allow myself two Hershey's Kisses, or one light cheese stick (I like savory foods) for a treat.

Hi Everyone, Hope you all are feeling good this morning! I just checked in before I go for my bike ride. Todays goals are: bike for 1/2 hour and walk for 1/2 hour this evening. I did my weights yesterday.

Ruby, This is the first week i've found the Splenda brown sugar. It was a Meijer here in Michigan. I haven't seen it in any other stores yet but you should see it soon.

Zoey, That's funny, I just bought some Tootsie-roll-pops yesterday! They were the tropical flavored ones that I haven't seen before. And they are a good ideal for a "sweet" since they are portioned controled and don't have many calories. I'm an "old hen" also. Grandma to 2.

Jawsmom, I have a problem with body immage that I think most people who have been over weight have. I thought I was too heavy when I was a size 4! Everyone was telling me I was too thin but I always wanted to lose that "just a few more pounds". Now my goal is a size 6. Sometimes you don't see a true reflection in the mirror. I can look at picture of my self now and see that I was too thin, but I couldn't see it then. I'm not saying that isn't a good weight for you, just that I had a hard time judgeing myself.

Take care, have a good day, Freda

ok here's my pics, i hope to catch up on posts sometime today or tomorrow.

Start pic was taken 08.15.05 and current pic was taken 10.02.05

Melissa, I can't see your pictures but I don't know if it is my computer or your post. Anybody else have trouble?

Freda, I completely understand what you mean. I think the reason that I never felt "thin" when I was young (despite being a size 4-6) was because I'd never even considered weight training. I've got a fairly muscular build to begin with and I'm only 5'2 so I'm stocky to boot. I recently compared a picture of me now with one at the same weight when I was back in college - there is an obvious difference in my shape and size and I attribute that to resistence training. My sister is about 118 and a size 4. Since she and I are of similar build and height she's sort of my "gauge" as to what I'd like to get to. She doesn't do any kind of weight training so it is reasonable to expect that I'll be able to borrow her clothes without having to get my weight as low as hers.

I'm sort of at the stage now that my health is fine and I feel good. Any weight I lose from this point forward is gravy as far as I am concerned. I'm not quite happy with my body yet but I'm not unhappy with it anymore either. I'll keep plugging along and evaluate how I look and feel every 10 pounds or so. I figure I'll know where I want to be once I get there. But, honestly, if I never lose another ounce I know I'm already 100% better off than when I was 214 pounds!

Welcome, Zoey!

I'm off for a bike ride with the kids. It won't be much exercise since they have to stop and look at every bug, flower, and rock. But, it is a gorgeous morning and the fresh air has to be good for something. Have a great day everyone!