This seems to be a good way to start...small. I have been here at 3FC in the past...New Year, New Name, New Body, New Life. This will be my year for success!!

I am Cindi, mom to 7, and Home Daycare Provider! I am diabetic and hypothyroid, but can always lose weight when I really put an effort into it. I haven't been good with my eating and exercise in a long time, and I have decided that I HAVE to make some lifestyle changes before I suffer some of the bad side effects of my illnesses. My doc said the diabetes IS reversible if I lost weight and still continued to exercise. So that's what I want to do...my biggest focus to start with will be the exercise, if I get that in check, everything else will fall into place. I automatically want to eat better and drink water if I am exercising properly. The thing I have to remind myself is that even if I can't get to the gym, I can do some sort of exercise at home...anything is better than nothing!

I am looking forward to getting to know all of you better.

My goal for this week is 3 days of exercise at the gym. I did one! The rest of the week I have suffered from a migraine, so maybe tomorrow will be day 2!

I can do this and so can you!!

Hi Cindi, welcome to the group I'm hypothyroid myself. Good for you on getting to the gym with 7 children to watch over. You're an inspiration for those who say their day is too full to find time for themselves.

Good going on the weights Bonnie

DG in regards to your question which I assume is about calories - I just went to the doctor who put me on a supervised diet and gave me lots of info. I see alot of people shooting for 1200 or so calories a day. I was looking at the chart my doctor gave me for weight loss. According to that it looks like they figured 13 calories per pound to maintain your existing weight. So if you were 150 pounds it would take roughly 1950 calories a day to maintain your weight - taking in more would cause a weight gain, cutting back would theoretically cause a loss. Now you don't want to cut your calories too much lest your body go into starvation mode and your metabolism will slow down and block your efforts. Since a pound is worth 3500 calories, you'd cut 500 calories a day (7 days x 500 calories) to lose a pound a week or 1000 calories a day to lose 2 pounds a week. The nutritionist said I should cut an additional 300 calories from the days that I don't exercise. Right now I get LOTS of calories even with cutting back but that would also explain why it gets so much harder when you're down to those last 20 pounds or so.

So it would seem that you should multiply your weight by 13 and then subtract 500 to 1000 calories per day depending on a goal of 1 to 2 pounds loss per week. No, you can't and shouldn't go faster than that if you want to maintain your loss.

I just started seriously tracking this week. So far I don't feel deprived all tho I do have to look for better carb choices. I used to feel that 2 pounds was so slow but then I realized that if I had focused on 2 pounds a week or so last new year's I'd be at goal now. Sometimes I feel like the fat is glued on me until I start charting my food intake and then I see how I sneak in calories I didn't even realize.

Yabadabadoo!

The scale loves me this morning - even after I moved it to several different places, it still insisted I was at 189.9!! So mild euphoria going on around here, tempered by the fact I've been invited to a cocktail party tonight that I can't avoid. So that number will go back up, but not for long.

As for the challenges: okay for the no late eating (hmmm... maybe that's the difference?), but I was 20 minutes late getting into bed. No good excuses, apart from my Zen attempting catricide (new word) on Lily - hard to leave the lights off with yowls and hisses of outrage coming from the corner of the room. I guess I shouldn't have overstimulated them with a chase toy so late at night.

Happy, I'm pretty sure I've been told 12 calories per pound, but I like yours better - extra food. Anyway, if you multiply your GOAL weight by 12, and eat at that level, you'll eventually get to your goal. To go faster, eat under the goal weight. My diet doctor (NOT Dr. B******** - my asterisks - for those of you who know his semi-starvation diet) has me on approximately 1200 cal per day, but it's not precise, just a certain number of carb, protein, fruit etc servings per day. It is lowish carb.. I'm pretty sure I'm eating more than 1200 most days, but want to develop good eating habits, so I'm trying to make good choices that I can live with long term, using the diet as a guideline. For me, I think the biggest thing has been making sweets and alcohol a rare treat instead of a nightly event. And, much as I hate to admit it, ading extra water this week seems to be doing something...

My apologies for the overly chatty post - I know this isn't meant to be a stream of consciousness verbal diarrhea thread... I'll try to behave next time.

Thanks for the info ladies...I've been under 1200 calories daily averaging 1100...I've been drinking my water but only very little exercise right now and I have not lost anything since xmas....Just wonder what I might be doing wrong besides the exercise part....I would think that even with the calorie cutting I should have lost a least 1lb since xmas...

carla - your not too chatty...all the advice and talking helps alot...and congrats on the weight...189.9...that awesome..it feels good to move into that next number down(180's)...Keep up the good work

Cindi- welcome to our group

Hi Ladies - I stayed home again today but I feel so much better and so inspired by you ladies. I made my "STOP THE INSANITY" buttons and I am posting them all over the house today!

happy - I love the "half hour of power" - I am stealing that idea too. Imagine what is possible if we each concentrated an hour or half hour or even a quarter hour of power to some goal or task each day? I haven't been taking care of my writing so I am scheduling and dedicating a "half hour of power" everyday to my book!

carla - you are soooo funny! I think you are our resident "sit down" cyber comedian. I love your "verbal diarrhea." Congrats on your scale report!

Bonnie for all that walking 3 days in row and your workout on Thursday!

CiniRella to our cozy little It sounds like this is perfect for you and you are perfect for us. It's a match made in heaven! I love your "New" theme. We also support the idea of doing what you can when the gym is not available. We agree, it is better to do something than sit on your butt just because you can't get to the gym. Great attitude.

Selina on the great article and thanks for sharing it! You are more than an inspiration - you are role model of one of the main ideas behind "STOP THE INSANITY." That is the idea of stop talking about doing something - actually DO IT. You put action behind your words.

dgpebbles - As happy indicated, calorie limits are pretty individual. Some of us are counting calories, some are counting carbs, some are tracking points with Weight Watchers. Weight loss for anyone is a combination of reduction in weight triggers and an increase in physical activity. Weight triggers can be overall calories for one person, specific carbs, sugars and/or fats for another. The important thing to remember is not getting enough of the right foods or too low of a calorie intake will lower your metabolism and your body will adjust to survive and you still won't lose weight. You want to consult with your own physician or a nutritionist to determine what you personally need to lose weight. Good luck on finding the right plan for you.

phatpanda, acire, and fishwoman - How are you doing?

Have a great day!

It's FRIDAY!!!! I'm so happy! Unfortunately, I didn't do my exercise tape yesterday...however! I did walk home which is about 2 miles so that's better than nothing I think I need to get another exercise dvd and put some variety into it. I should really buy the Billy Banks Taebo Workout but I dread the fact that I'm going to be so sore...haha

I had a Stop the Insanity moment yesterday! I was so very close to buying something unhealthy for dinner aka McDonald's or a BIG BURRITO from Chipotle but instead I went to the grocery store and bought ingredients to make home-made sushi so I got to control what when in and use very little rice! It was also horrible being in the grocery store when you're already hungry...but i skipped all the junkfood aisles and even at checkout..i got super tempted to buy a butterfinger wafer bar but instead picked up sugarfree mentos...which are sweetened with splenda! I thought to myself the last thing I want to be is an Insane Crazy woman at the grocery store buying way too much unnecessary food! so I STOPPED THE INSANITY!

Hope all of you have good weekends!!

Just a quick hello to you all, Mscat, Bonnie, Phatpanda, happy, carla, cindirella, dgpebbles and anyone I didn't list here!~ Sounds like you all are very motivated and doing great!

I'm doing well this week so far! Working hard to mentally keep my focus.. one month at a time. Have you all heard of imagining in your mind how you want to feel and look at your next goal? It's like meditation I suppose. They say do it every single day for several minutes at a stretch. I have had a heck of a year last year! A wonderful year, but a hectic one. LOL. Now it's time to get on the ball and knock off another 50 lbs.

I also wanted to say, esp. since you are using the saying Stopping the Insanity, that although Susan Powter is a bit unconventional these days, her book really did help me get started. I have read it several times and her exercises in it and all the tips make a whole lot of sense. What she says makes you think. Consider reading it if you need a boost or a clean start. It's an oldie but a goodie. You kinda get back to basics and realize that if you eat right, breathe, and move more often, that you will eventually get into shape. That's a nice thing to know. There are no miracles, right? Just takes some real habit-changing and then viola!! The new you appears!

Well, take care everyone! Be back when I can, hugssss Selina

Oh my, this thread is so awesome this week!
Amazing to see so many new faces, and to see how well everyone is doing!

I sort of fell of the wagon on Thursday - got home extremely tired after work, and ended up falling asleep even though I didn't want to. Tummy ache woke me up a bit later... ...in the end - no exercise, no lights off at 10:30 pm, and I had a bit of chocolate...
On Friday I was ready to give up - both this challenge and my 21-day challenges because I was so awfully tired again. So I took out my contacts and brushed my teeth before 9 pm thinking, screw it, I'm going to bed. And then I woke up... in the end, I thought I might as well do my exercises - I started at 10:10 pm, and did 20 minutes on the stationary bike and then the exercises I'm doing as part of my second 21-day challenge. Didn't finish till nearly 11 pm, but at least my 21-day challenges are salvaged! And I didn't eat after 7 and did get all the water in.

Mscat, I love the buttons idea! :clap: Right now I can't really make any for myself because I don't have my own place, and I have so little time left at home that there isn't even time to do insane things... I could only put them up in our room, but there is nothing there that needs them... But I'll surely treasure this idea and use it as soon as we have our own place again!

And I love the 12 or 13 calories per pound idea as well! Now, how many calories is one kilojoule??? Everything is in kilojoules in this country, which makes calorie tracking an impossibility!!!

That's it from me today - sorry for the lack of personalized messages, I just don't have enough internet time.

hello ladies

Well I've managed to get in 60+oz water this week except for yesterday I only got in 56oz but still good

I did 30 mins on bike last night for 7.29 miles and burned 160 calories....I also did better the last 2 days with getting in calories...I was eating to little...also someone told me last night that i need to eat more protein...So my goal for this weekend is to up my protein intake and to get 30 on bike

Bonnie - way to go
I know your excited..

Sushi - way to go for getting that last second energy and motivation to get in your exercise ....feels good to keep that challenge going...

Well I'm off to work...Have a great day and I"ll chat at ya later

Ladies - I actually got on the treamill yesterday I took it easy and only did 20 minutes but that was an accomplishment over sitting on my big, fat sick butt! I felt pretty good and didn't start coughing so I think I am on the mend. Didn't do so well with water which I really needed - the anitbiotics made me constipated yesterday. I probably lost at least a pound after I finally went (sorry that was gross).

I bought exercise mats for me and DD and I am putting a STOP THE INSANITY BUTTON on mine - going to use it today. Today is the push the envelope day for STOP THE INSANITY. I have been doing less of the same things for my weight loss. Today I declare WAR on my FAT - I am not doing the same things - I am doing MORE of the amounts of water and exercise I usually do. Off the to battlefied!

Bonnie for a great scale report! We have no doubt you will be back in onderland by Monday. I was referring to you missing your "Y" sessions when I mentioned Yoga. Sorry, I meant to refer to your YMCA or YWCA? sessions. Too much medication!

Sushi - for getting back on track on Friday. As far as the button is concerned you can imagine the buttons and press them anytime you need them. Or make one button and pin it over your heart and touch it whenever you need it.

phatpanda for using your imaginary STOP THE INSANITY button! What a great example you are for all of us making this work in everyday situations.

Selina for the imagery tip! I used to use that and it does help get you focused to meet the days challenge. I have a picture of myself in the bathroom cabinet in my belly dancing costume when I weighed about 118 and wore a size 7. I am taking it out of the cabinet and doing an imagery meditation this morning before I begin my day. I read Susan's book a long time ago and I agree it is very motivational.

dgpebbles for Thursay and Friday's goals. You are having an awesome challenge week. Good for you for adding protein - you actually need it to burn calories efficiently and build muscle.

Happy, carla, CindiRella, emjay, acire - hope you are doing well and can check in soon.

I wrote a nice long post yesterday, but it didn't make it here...my add must have kicked in and I hit the wrong button...or a child could have come along and erased it when I wasn't looking. With 7 kids, that's highly likely!!

I am having trouble eating well, because me and dh have some serious acid reflux problems this week. EVERYTHING we eat HURTS!!! So I am trying to go a little bland and not worry so much about anything else til we get over this. It's probably due to over indulgence through the holidays NOT WORTH IT!!
I also haven't exercised due to major migraines and this other issue...I have a long set of carpeted stairs to my basement where my laundry is, so I try to run up those a few times a couple of times a day when I can't make it to the gym...I am going to increase that this next week when dh is not on vacation anymore. Why do I have such a hard time with my daily routine with him around? I won't exercise in front of him at all!! I don't know if I should expect any change on my Monday weigh in

I am getting ready to go to the gym, before a major grocery shopping trip!!!That will be strength training, as my cart gets soooo hard to push about half way through!!! LOL!!

Thanks for the warm welcomes from everyone! This is a great group!!

Good morning ladies,

Big victory for me yesterday. Year's ago I stopped cooking on Friday evenings. I figured I have to plan meals and cook all week long, Friday's supper was my break for the week. Of course as I started to diet, I would get in to a routine of being good all week long and the downward slide would come on Friday night when I got off plan. I'd use it as an excuse to enjoy whatever I wanted to eat that night. Trouble was, I didn't stop it with one meal and it would turn into a trigger of bad eating until Monday.

So, yesterday the DH decided on Outback Steakhouse. I like fish and more often than not will order that. Decisions, decisions - boy that pasta alfredo sure sounded good. There is another dish with the catch of the day that has a creamy sauce that I like. I was torn between should I be good and make a HEALTHY choice or sink and do the usual get what my tongue wants that tastes good. I decided to STOP THE INSANITY and go with the healthier choice - after all I thought, some day I'm going to HAVE to sit in a restaurant and make better choices - might as well start now. So I had the grilled shrimp, grilled veggies, grilled pineapple over a bed of veggie rice. It came with a tossed salad though I don't know how you can consider a salad a veggie when it's 1/3 shredded cheese, some lettuce, croutons, a finely chopped cucumber slice and a few small tomatoes with dressing. I picked at the vegetables as much as I could. And I shared half of my shrimp and pineapple with my husband because the waitress misunderstood his steak order as medium well instead of medium rare - it came out like a rubber hockey puck. So maybe I'm FINALLY learning to turn things around.

And I almost forgot to log my food yesterday - not a good habit to get into. After a few days of medication I am finally feeling human again Still need to be near to a box of tissues but I actually am looking forward to cleaning the house and getting in some light exercise today. It's also time to pack away Christmas for the year and organize my decorations a bit better than when we hurridly ??? packed things last year when we moved.

Everyone is so motivated - I can feed off the positive energy - I'm sure that's what helped me make good decisions this week too.

Enjoy your weekend, I'll be back later with a more personal post. Go team

Sunday morning, and feeling much better than yesterday at this time. Let's just say the party Friday night was a lot of fun, the morning after much less so. But in bed lights out just before midnightlast night, food rules respected, so on the right track after my little trip down a siding. Hoping my little choo-choo will chug into the weigh-station in good form tomorrow morning.

I apologize, and I'll now drop the train nonsense. It's probably the result of all the brain damage incurred Friday night...

My quick trip into the one-eighties is over - anxious to see what tomorrow brings at weigh-in. Bonnie, fantastic work getting the extra off. In my crystal ball I see a number under 200, and the initial "B" beside it... could it be you're edging back into onederland?

Mscat, glad to hear you're able to move a bit more again. Just don't overdo! We need you!

Gotta go, nature calls. Maybe I should re-weigh after...

I did another 30 mins and 7.39 miles on bike yesterday...i can tell the exercising is paying off..My energy is coming back....I'm doing better on eating more protien and and got down 64oz of water yesterday...

mscat - glad your feeling better..congrats on getting in the exercise again..bet it made you feel back on track...but don't over do it

I like the idea of stop the insanity buttons...I've been using a desk top calender of the sport illustrated swimsuit models posting them in the kitchen as a reminder of what I wont look like if I eat unhealthy...kinda weird..lol

how is everyone else doing?..are your goals coming along?..I cant wait till tomorrow to see if that scale is going to move..Hope that my increase in calories and protein is helping

also with the comment of nature calls...I have a crazy question. ..Have you all noticed that after eating more healthy that you don't seem to go as much or is it just me?