Hey all, it's been a long, long time. I hope you are all doing well. It's been a busy, busy year - yes, I gained most of the weight back, but I started the journey again in July and I'm making gains. I just had a full physical and watched my in-laws get really, really ill (one of them passed away) somewhat due to a lack of a healthy lifestyle so it's time to start the health journey again. How are you all? I'm sure there have been many major events in the past year. I hope you are all well. Take care. tiredoffat

Hi Elyn, welcome aboard. Carol was right, we are tight, but we always like newcomers so please visit often. I'm a low cal, exercise (walking mostly) type of dieter. Since April, I've lost 26 pounds. :carrot: I have another 51 to go, but I'm on my way!

Carol, have you ever thought of saying "no" to lifting 45 pound bags over your head. You are a little nuts. It would be cool if they moved you out of that old building. I used to work in an "historical landsite" and it was horrible on my asthma and allergies. Then I moved to the desert and only once in a while have problems. I know that not working in that building was instrumental as well as no mold in the air.

Tired, welcome back. Are you ready for another school year???? Today was T minus 3 weeks till our first day and things are starting to hit the fan. Summer was way too short.

Nikki, I'm so sorry things are still so dramatic at home. Try to find time for yourself and visit us here. You know we're all in your corner.

Judy, I really like the description "hellishly hot"/ That was here about 3 weeks ago. Very fitting. I remember when DH and I were first married we went to DC (from Hampton, VA where we lived) for the 4th of July and CAMPED. It was so horrible we left the next day. Never saw the fireworks or anything. That was my most recent memory of DC. I have better ones from when I was a kid.

I was a little under on the calories today, but I didn't want to have too many in the evening so I figure it's okay. I did the strength 2 mile walk this morning and then DS's GF and I went on a 2 mile walk around the block with the doggies and DGS. I think TOM is due at the end of this week so I probably won't weigh again till next week. This morning showed a .2 pound loss. Hey, I'll take it. :)

Talk to you tomorrow.
Marie

Tiredoffat wow its so good to hear form you. I am glad your back and hope you will ck in often it really has made the difference for me. I still have about 10.5 lbs to lose. But feel good about what I have accomplished so far. I gained some back but recently said hey this is it I need to get serious. So far its worked well. Sorry to hear of your loss its never easy. Take care and don't forget to ck in you will feel better its a good outlet.
Marie I know sometimes I just do what is needed. I am a bit crazy like that. I guess it comes from being Polish! Hard workers but a little silly! Anyways at least my cals got burned off. I took it easy last night my hips are a bit sore nothing else though not too bad.
I ate within my calories yesterday. Thinking ahead and left breakfast out cause I knew we had birthdays to celebrate at work with cheese cake being 290 a slice. I did well having cukes, tomatoes and a little potatoe salad for lunch. A hot dog for dinner with squash, tomatoe and a little mozzarella ch. I am getting better about balancing things out and planning ahead most of the time.
Judy our weather has been cooler but its going into the 80's again this week. I love it. Sounds like your making some progress. Keep it up.
Marie take any little loss cause it adds up so what it might be little but its something. My scale only does .5 and above losses. Hey I am actually wearing my shirt tucked into today with my capris. Couldn't do that a month ago and look okay. Gotta go off to work!
Be good and think before it goes in the mouth! It all adds up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the warm welcome, you're all so nice.

Judy~ I'm basically just counting calories, watching portions and trying to eat a healthy balance diet. I tried South Beach, but I just can't seem to do those low carb diets~ I just love bread, rice, and pasta. I also try to exercise, walk out doors or on my treadmill or workout with my video tapes.

Marie~ WTG on the 26lbs. lost, how much is your daily net calories? I'm aiming for a daily 1200-1500 net calories.

Marie - You are doing awesome ....26 lbs wooohooo

Tired - Welcome back I don't remember you but I could just have a block. I look forward to getting to know you .

Carol- wearing a shirt tucked is an awesome accomplishment.

As for me ... I am hoping to lose the 1.8 I put on by friday. I tried to tape a workout show this morning but the vcr messed up grrr. I think I'll either swim or go for a walk later. I would love to lose 4 lbs by next week.

Catch you all later

Nikki

Just a quick hi, especially to Tired, who' I've missed hearing from for many moons. Welcome back!

The last (I hope) of the interviews are today. I worked out this AM, and walked for about 20 minutes on my way to work. The afternoon and night cravings are gone, thank goodness. They were really a problem since mid-July or so, but I think I've managed to knock them out. I read a feature article in last Sunday's NY Times Magazine about genes, bacteria and obesity. What stood out most for me was what I've always known in my head but not accepted in my soul: I'll have to work very, very hard for a very long time to lose all of this weight, and then I'll have to work pretty hard for the rest of my life to keep it off. At first that was depressing, but in the big scheme of life and its many blessings, that's just a reality and I should make use of that knowledge instead of moping about it. Weeks and months of little slips here and there are why I haven't made much progress...the harder I work, the luckier I'll get.

Didn't want to sound like a wet blanket! I'm actually in good spirits today, and hope you are, too.

judy

Carol - You have such a busy life - I don't know how you do it! I hope your sinus thing has cleared up by now. Home grown veggies and fruit are great but I wish they wouldn't all get ripe at once. We have tons of figs this year and they're already rotting before we can pick them. It's great to snag one and eat it while I'm weeding. Have to be careful though, figs have a lot of calories and you know what happens when you eat too many :lol:.

Girlie - :welcome2: I'm glad you're back on the wagon and have already lost some weight. Everyone is very supportive here. Looking forward to hearing from you again.

Nikki - Good to hear from you again. I hope things are going better for you at home and that you reach your Friday goal.

Tired - :wave: Nice to meet you too. I'm glad you've found your way back to this thread. It sounds like you've been through a stressful time, which doesn't help when you're trying to lose weight.

Marie - Congrats on the .2 lb. loss - I'd take that or anything right now! Your doggies must appreciate all the extra walking. I feel so sorry for pooches that don't get to go out much.

Judy - Wouldn't it be great if they found out that excess pounds are caused by bacteria and they could just give you a pill to cure it? I wish. In the meantime, I guess we'll have to do it the hard way. Actually, it's really not so hard for me anymore now that I've made a permanent commitment to lose weight. I have the usual ups and downs, but at least I don't throw in the towel when I gain a few pounds like I used to. Before, I would always think "in 6 months I'll be done with this diet". It's amazing how long it took me to realize it's something I'll have to do for the rest of my life. My pals at 3FC have helped me to get this through my thick skull!

I've eased up a bit with the walking but find I can do about half an hour ok. My problem is I feel perfectly fine one minute and then suddenly go lame, so I have to judge how far I can go in one direction so I can make it back. Luckily, I go walking with my DH so he could pick me up in the car if I couldn't make it all the way back. The walking hasn't shown up on the scale yet, but my legs feel more toned.

Hi everyone, it's another late night for me (okay not late in most people's book but I get up really early). So this morning I did the 2 mile jog, 1 mile walk DVD. I have to exercise now before work because it makes me calm and I'd kill that idiot I hired if I didn't. So exercise I shall... After work I decided to swim and swam about .3 of a mile. Then DS decides since it's cool this evening we should DDR (for those who don't know DDR is dancing on a dance pad watching the TV with which circles to tap). I'd say I got too much exercise. But DDR is fun so it was cool. It just made me late to check in here and then that makes me late to bed. So tomorrow morning I won't want to get out of bed, but I must (read about the idiot above). :)

Penpal, definitely I also stopped looking at this like it's a 6 month deal. A friend on another thread had a great quote.

"Never give up on a goal because of the time it will take to achieve it - the time will pass anyway."

How true is that??? I think I'm might make it fancy and put it up on my craft room wall (I should rename it exercise room since I do more exercise than crafts in it).

Judy, you weren't depressing. It's insightful. The more we really internalize the thought that this won't end, it'll be better for us. I don't think people are just blowing smoke when they say that losing the weight is easy, it's keeping it off that's hard. I'm living proof of that. I once lost all this weight and it took 15 years, but I let it come back. This time I will diet the rest of my life. I'll always count and log calories.

Which Girlie, I aim for 1500 cals/per day. I think that if I was at 1200 cals, I'd throw my metabolism way off with the amount I exercise. Been there, done that. So now it's slow and steady. BTW, I failed low-carb too for the same reason. I love bread and pasta. I do homemade for both and hated not having it.

Nikki, you're probably going to want to break down and buy a tape, or at least not tape over the old workouts so that you have those in reserve. I was thrilled to see you here today. We're all thinking about you.

Carol, way to go on the capris. Tucked in looks so much better!!!!

Off to bed. Talk to you tomorrow.
Marie

Elyn I tried the SB too before but I like fruit so it was tough. For the time I did stay on it I did see where the bad carbs as their called did make you want to crave certain foods. I still learned some good info. and am better for having the experience. It all fits in with health and well being.
Judy together we will all help support you as you do for us. Every day you make a little change and it becomes a habit your improving your lifestyle. Keep up the good work and knowledge only betters your situtation. At least you know more now and can deal with it all. The doctors have always recommended dieting in the right manner losing slowly in order to keep it off its better to do a sensible diet etc... Guess they weren't blowing smoke huh?
Penny I wish we could grow figs. But think of all that great fiber okay! Yes I should make some fresh salsa this weekend. I have grown my own jalopeno peppers. Cukes and tomatoes for lunch today. Yesterday I did grab a crab salad to go with it. I feel your ankle pain as my back is hurting due to my moving too much wt. in a small period of time. Dum!!!!!!!!!!!!
Marie I agree if we go to low on calorie intake then it doesn't work right as our bodies think we are straving it. Back fires and this isn't good. Eat better and make the calories work for you. No one has to be hungry for 1400 - 1500 you can inhale a lot of food. Good luck.
Nikki thanks and it did feel good. In fact the pair of pants I have on are a bit bagger than I like. But they fit nice a month ago when I had them on. I do the scale on friday. Time will tell.
Well I am off on friday as I have a dental appt. then the wedding at 4:30 reception at 6:30. I am going home in between as its only 5 min. from the church. Hope my back is better or no dancing for this girl. That would be to bad.
Everyone have a good day make healthy choices and keep your sense of humor it helps with this journey!!!!!!!!!!

Morning ladies-

Marie- I think you are right I am going to have to break down and get a tape I tried again today with no luck to tape a show. I have no clue why ugh. I have been real good since Monday I am hoping for a significant loss tomorrow. Marie do you use WAP videos? If so how are they?

Cac- Friday sounds very busy. Have a great time out on the town :)

Nikki

Cacmsc~ I’m also still trying to incorporate some of the principles of SB. Looks like you’ve got a lot going on friday. I hate dentists, I need something to calm me down during those every 6 mos. check ups. Hope you get to do some dancing~ great exercise.

Marie~ you’re surely getting a lot of exercise- good for you. I have been yo-yo dieting all my adult life, and I know that I need to realize and accept that maintenance is not much different than losing the weight.:(

Judy~ I wish I can get rid of my afternoon and night cravings as well- that’s a huge problem for me.

Penny~ I hope your feet feels better.

I ate a bit more today:o , but I have been more physically active than usual and exercised with my tapes so I hope I didn’t do too much damage.

Talk to you all later.

Hi Everyone. I am tired, pooped, exhausted. I can't wait until bedtime (about another 10 minutes). I did the WATP 2 mile Fat Burner (incorporates strength training into the 2 mile walk (squats, lunges and arm work) before work and then I went with the doggies for a 2 miler after work. Today was the first time my legs were tired before the end of the walk. Probably the DDR yesterday.

Tomorrow is weigh in, but if I've gained, I'm going to be mad for a moment then brush it off. TOM is tomorrow. :( Food intake is good and I relaly like logging all my food into my database. Makes counting calories a breeze. Not to mention I see the whole picture (exercise, weight, calories).

Elyn, just be careful as you increase exercise not to increase food intake too much. Both Carol and I fell into a bad trap of that this past spring. I gained a bit even though I was exercising daily. I was hungrier so I ate. Bad thinking...

Carol, I hope you get rested so you can dance tomorrow. I love to dance but my DH doesn't have just two left feet - it seems like he has three and one is always tripping me.

Nikki, yes I have the WATP videos. I really, really like them. They're not so strenuous that you get burnt out. Plus there's enough of them out there for a little variety. I think I own 5 or 6. What I was thinking you could do is make sure you wake up in time for your exercise show and hand record it (don't program it - just push the record button). Then break the tab off the VCR tape so you can't record over it. That way you'll always have a spare if your programmed recording doesn't work.

Have a great Friday!!!
Marie

Morning Ladies-

I am happy to report that I lost 2 lbs this week woohooo. Now I am down to a little less then before my gain last week.

Nikki

Just a quick check in for me. I'm a bit off plan today for my birthday (going to have whatever I want in moderation). We went out for breakfast at our local Shari's overlooking a pond where we watched a family of muskrats swimming about and a kingfisher diving and squawking. A nice start for the day. Later we're going for sushi with our son when he gets off work.

This morning I weighed in the same as last week (189) so at least I didn't gain any more. I think I'll start to lose again soon with all the walking I've been doing.

Nikki - Congratulations on losing 2 lbs.! :dancer:

I hope everyone else meets their weekly goals.

Have a great weekend! :sunny:

Happy Birtrhday Penny !!!!