We have a 3 year old female Rottie named Kat (short for Katstrophic) and a 3 year old female Chocolate Lab.........but they are DH's.

I've been drinking Diet Coke. I didn't have much trouble converting. I was actually given a regular Coke by mistake the other day and I swear it was like drinking sugar water. MMMMM, sugar water. For as yucky as it seemed it still took every once of will power I had to go back and get diet instead. I mean, WHAT is in that stuff that makes it so darn hard to give up?

Yep, Mississippi is fat alright. Those studies used to really frustrate me. First of all, at 214 pounds I only saw skinny people. We'd be ranked number 1 and I'd be looking around thinking where are all the other fat people? I figured they had to be somewhere because I didn't take the survey but I honestly felt like I was the only obese person in the state. Then, I'd feel bad for being a part of the problem. I hated being reduced to a statistic. Now that I'm at a healthier weight I'm not quite so bothered by the results. I don't fear telling someone I'm from Mississippi and worry that they'll be thinking, so SHE'S they are at the top of the list.

As for the fiber study, it has proven to be true for me. A couple of months ago I began using a couple of tablespoons of Benefiber each day. I'll stir it into my coffe, cereal or oatmeal. I can really tell a difference. I don't think it is making me lose weight and I don't buy the toxins theory but I'm not nearly as bloated (a feeling I didn't even know I had until I wasn't anymore. LOL). And it does make a difference in how full I feel and for how long a meal sticks with me. I know that actual food is a better source of fiber but I find it difficult to get all that I need and stay within my calorie range so a supplement is my best bet until I reach my goal. At that point I think I'll be able to add a hundred or so more calories and get all the fiber I need from what I eat.

I've been away from the gym for a couple of days thanks to a sore throat, cough, etc. but I think by this afternoon I'll be able to at least manage a short workout. I'm always surprised by how much I miss exercise when it isn't part of my day. The weights are what I really, really hate to do without. I can tell such a difference so fast if I skip those. Anyway, it will be good to get back down to business. I'm also going to try and manage 1200-1300 calories for the next few days. I've done pretty well foodwise but I think I need to kick start myself again and really pay attention. I don't have to pay much attention at a 1500-1600 calorie level so an occasional reduction of calories helps me keep my focus.

Hope you are all having a great week. Everybody keep up the good work!

Tricia

Hi again, I got my exercise in for the day! I went walking this morning and then went to garage sales and walked blocks again! I just have to lift my weights now and I'll be set. I'm working on drinking my water too, but so far it's coffee mostly! I get headaches if I don't get caffeene too! Migraines that make me end up in bed! Or emergency! Yeah, I am truely addicted! I have cut down drastically though, and without the headaches. I switched to Lite Coffee, which is half decafe. Every little bit helps.

I know ther are a lot of dog lovers here. My niece called me from Virginia to tell me that her dog (a little Shih Tzu) had an eye infection and she had to take him to the vet. The vet told her that the groomer (2 days earler) had poked him in the eye with the grooming scissors! He has to have surgery now and may still loose the sight in that eye! I would be ready to do great bodilly harm! She is reluctant to say anything to the groomer!!! The very least the groomer could do is pay the bill! Our dog is our little baby and to think of someone hurting him just makes me see red!

OUCH! Poor little furbaby!

Howdy Melissa!! Thank you for the info on the Metamucil/fiber before meals :). I'm gonna give that a try. If anything, the extra fiber will do me some good and it's recommended on the south beach WOE anyway.

Ya'll are making me want a soda this morning!! :coffee2: I'll jut make due with my coffee though. I shoulda got a diet Dr. Pepper while I was at walmart. Shucks!! :) For some reason I just can't bring myself to dring diet coke. it has a funny aftertaste to me and I would much rather have the the real thing. Last time I did have a regular cok though it made my teeth feel funny. Weird...

Oh My, Slim Me -- poor little doggie. I agree that the groomer should be told about what his slip up has caused
:(.

Tricia -- you made me LOL at the Mississippi thoughts! when I read about the weight problems in GA I had a similar reaction. then I went ot Walmart and saw where all us bigguns were hiding. Oh My!



Today I'm cleaning house a bit and getting ready for Leanne and Christa to come over this evening for dinner (No, I'm sweet tea and fatchck). Laundry is also calling my name. It's a bit cooler here today so I'm hoping to get outside this afternoon with the kids after ulia gets home from school. I can't wait until fall gets here though so that we can spend a lot more time outside.

I'm down another 1/2 lb today. YAY! My goal for the rest of the week and weekend is to get under the 200 lb mark. I am finishing up week two on phase 1 of south beach. I think I'' be taking a look at the phase 2 updated list later today to see what would be smart things to add in. I think the only thing that I miss so far are the low carb/whole wheat tortilla wraps.

Anyway -- hope you all are having a good afternoon. I'll be back around this way later!

We started using our break time wisely this afternoon. We're going to walk the warehouse once on our morning break and once on our afternoon break. Not sure how far it is, we'll know tomorrow, but it takes 15 minutes. The girls were whining, but then when we got back I said "now wasn't that better then just sitting here drinking soda and snacking?" and they all agreed it was. So now we'll do it twice a day!

So great to see everyone! Don't laugh, but I haven't been posting because my husband has been working from home for a couple of days, and I don't want him to see the little bar at the bottom of my posts! lol The man knows what I look like.. but I don't want him to know the actual number :P I've only been married to him for 5 years, I don't think I know him well enough to tell him my weight LOL just all you guys on the internet :P

oops...gotta run, will hopefully chat tomorrow!

Beth

ejm - you truly made me laugh with that - but only because thats kinda cute..LOL! Welcome back and don't stay away too long anymore!

Freda - I actually haven't looked at the glass in about a year. I will open up that box and try to see what pattern it is to let you know, ok. I will get into it this weekend. Thanks for your help!

About that Metamucil...I talked to Sara tonight and my sis and I are going to get some and try that. I think it will help and I need all the help I can get!

Tonight my sis and I went over to Sara's for dinner. Our friends Chris and Aaron also met us over there. We call this our "monthly family dinner". I don't have a scale at home, so I wait until I go over to Sara's to weigh myself. Well..I haven't weighed since last wed or so I think it was. I have now lost a total of 10 lbs! Now I feel like I am getting somewhere!! YAY!!

We had a great dinner tonight and it was alot of fun. Sara had found a recipe for meatballs for Phase 1 and we had that with salad. The men at the house had pasta with theirs :?: but that's ok, we did just fine without it! It was sooo very good and I have a feeling Sara will be posting about it soon as well.

This weekend I hope to get some walking in, even if it is just going around Target. I have been trying to do this a few times a night but I have to have the buggy to help me until I get this herniated disk situation worked out. Atleast I am trying and getting some walking done tho and I feel good about that!

Enjoy your evenings ladies!
:cp:

Good morning to you all, It looks like rain this morning and I hope we do get some. It's dry and we need it bad. I'll be cooped up in the house, but I'll find something to do.

My3suns, Good for you for making the most ofl your time at work and walking. I try to walk around the building when I work (when I actually get a break) and I climb the stairs, all 7 floors. Every little bit helps, right. And if you walk around twice and it's 15 min. each, you've got your 30 min in!

EJM, I don't know if my husband of (almost 40, our anniversary is the 31's of this month) knows how much I weigh. I wouldn't care, but I doubt that he does either. He likes women with "a little meat on the bone". So I get no encouragement when I'm on a diet.

Leanne, You lost 10 lib.? That is so great! You must be feeling pretty good by now. That is a major accomplishment. And I know you've made some healthy changes. I have a bad back too, I think I mentioned that before. I just have bulging discs. It's enough to give me major back pain almost all the time. Are the Dr's thinking surgery? Even if they do, looseing weight will make every thing go better.

Sweet Tea, Your dinner sounds like a winner. How wonderful to have family and friends to go through this with.

Everyone have a good day, Freda

That regular family dinner sounds great. I love stuff like that!

ejm, it makes me blush to let DH see my weight too.

Leanne, 10 lbs!!! You rock girl! Keep up the good work!

As for me, I'm feeling super motivated. Took the babies on a bike ride last night for about 45 minutes around the subdivision and to the park, then took about 10 minutes to get back home, so almost an hour! They loved it and I felt sooooooo good! That good ole muscle burn it's been too long since I last felt!

On the Metamucil, I have found that if I take it about 30 minutes before eating and drink a glass of water during that 30 minutes, it REALLY makes me a lot less hungry!

Thanks ladies! :cb:

I feel great and ready to keep moving! Having my sister (fatchk) and Sara (Sweet Tea) by my side helps more than anyone could imagine!

Sara bought some Metumucil and said that it also helped her with her hunger. I think she told me she took it like 30 min before lunch. So..I will be picking up some of this tonight and trying it tomorrow!

slim me - I have a bulging disk in L4/L5. I have just finished the physical therapy. I thought it was starting to help and then I got worse again. The therapist told me that she didn't know anything else to try :( From talking with the Dr. before I started PT it seems the next thing he will want to try is the Epidurals (YUCK!) and if that doesn't work - he will send me to a neurosurgeon. No one wants surgery but if its all that is going to work then let's just do it and get it overwith! I have very little back pain but my right leg from my butt down to my toes is in much pain! Which disk is bulging with you?

OK, about the Metamucil...
 

Isn't there such a thing as getting TOO much fiber? I'd be afraid if I had it 3X/day (before each meal) I'd start getting constipated or something! LOL :lol:

ejm~ I know EXACTLY what you mean...my hubby DOES NOT know my weight, and I won't even put 3FC on my favorites bar b/c I don't want him to click on it and see. LOL He hasn't know my exact weight since I was 112 lbs! :o

The article actually said no, that there's not, because I wondered that too. Most of the time you don't get all the fiber you should just by foods, not even close. And if you're watching carbs then you certainly aren't getting what you need. A supplement is the only way.

Melissa --The extra fiber really does make really good sense. In teh SB book the Doc even suggests taking the metamucil everyday to get your extra fiber in. My BIL has been taking it for the past year or so and he swears that it does make him feel better and makes his system work more efficiently.

ejm -- I honestly wish that my dh didn't know how much I weighed. But my weight is a big issue to him and I slipped up a while ago so now he knows. I make sure he knows how much I am losing though. I also get onto him about he weight -- he is not a large fellow but he has about 20lbs to take off that he gained during my last pregnancy. I actually didn't gain at all through it. Nice trade off!! :D

Freda -- We've got some rain here too :rain:. It's making me tired but I'm trying to keep movin around! Hope you are doing well today!!

Tricia -- How are you doin' today?? How is your 1st grader doing? Are your twins in preschool or anything? I can't wait to get Beren in preschool. he is so dissapointed when we take Julia to her class 'cause he wants to stay!

Faye and Kerry?? -- how are you doing too??

All is well here :). I'm wishing we had some of theose leftovers from last night. Very yummy stuff. I'm drinking my water and fiber right now and thenI'm off to fix Beren his lunch.

TGIF!!!

Question -- Do you have a treat planned out for yourself when you finally reach your goal weight? Like new clothes, a trip, some pampering, etc... Also -- do you set mini goals for yourself and if so do you think it's a good motivator?

Ah yes, sure do Sweet Tea! My original break 200lb goal was a tattoo, but I went ahead and got that two weeks ago when my best friend was in town from Indiana. So I've gotta come up with a new one for that since it's only 6lbs away. For my 1/2 way point it this swim suit I've eyed for 3 years

http://shop.cyberswim.com/skuimg/70978PER.jpg

And when I reach my goal, it's boobies/lipo/tummy tuck! Now that's a reward worth working towards!!!!