Diana, is your new pedometer the one that you can put in your pocket - works even if it isn't right side up? I love :love: gadgets and really want one of those...

Bonnie, this morning's weigh-in at 192.4... if I abstain from all food and drink for the next two days I'll hit my July 1 target. Then again, I can always pretend I'm American and aim for the 4th instead of Canada Day. :lol: Seriously, though, it's GREAT to see you back on track and committed again. You'll probably see some very quick results since you've been "on hiatus" for a while. BBB's rock!

My big change this week is that I've started running again after such a long absence. To my great surprise my feet seem to be okay, so maybe these darned orthotics worked after all! I'm doing a kind of couch to 5k program, and went out three times this week. I alternate 1 min walk/2 min run, and cover between 2 and 3 km. I could do without the heat and humidity, but at least I'm out there again! The morning after my first little run had me feeling my age - I was limping along, very reluctant to do anything except sit still. Even my abs were sore, don't know how that happened. It's amazing that legs that are fit enough for intense spinning classes turn to jello after just a short run. I had wanted to do a lot of biking this summer, but with the tendinitis in my wrist it's not a good idea. (Always some excuse...) If the physio ($$$$ - and not covered by our heath system OR my sad little private insurance) doesn't work soon, I'll stop babying it and just get out there.

I hate to admit it (grumble grumble) but the exercise has lifted my mood. Who knew? :rofl:

Cat, don't let that realistic self-image get you down! It's good to stop pretending and avoiding reality, but don't bring yourself down.

Red, take care. I'm trying to stay off sugar and booze...

Gotta go. Just saw the time and have to get back to work. :yikes:

Breakthrough!!
 

Way to go Red!! I always knew you could do it. You'll notice, of course, that it didn't happen until you joined us BBB's here at Stop the Insanity! ;)

Bonnie, I'm really not counting cals right now. Just trying to avoid excess of all kinds (except fresh berries :lol: ) and almost all choc and sugar... Not that I follow those rules all the time. But I've usually managed to lose quite nicely on about 1500 a day. I was on a 1200 diet for a while, and it worked really well, but I just don't want to be that obsessive about food. So I'm trying to learn to just make good choices without constant checking and re-checking. Also, at 1200 cal I find exercise is really tough. I don't really think exercise can make me lose that much, but I do want to be fitter. (It's discourging to think that my runs burn maybe 200 cal if I'm lucky - less than most chocolate bars.) At least while I'm running I'm not eating, and exercise does seem to reduce appetite in the short term. Add to that the feel-good effect of activity, which makes it easier to make good choices.

I've always known the secret to weight loss and maintenance: eat smallish well-balanced meals with plenty of roughage; avoid sweets, greasy foods, simple carbs and alcohol; don't eat when I'm not hungry; be active. I like to drink lots of fluids, not to lose weight (sorry, doesn't work, never has) but to help move things thru the digestive system. I try not to eat too much at night because it seems to turn into mindless snacking. Getting up at a reasonable time makes it easier to fit in a good breakfast and some exercise. My most effective (and most horrific) diet was the 22lbs I lost in the month after my husband's unexpected defection to a much younger "woman". Followed, unfortunately, by a gain of 50 lbs over the next two years...

So there you have it, the fat woman's guide to weight-loss. I have tried "magical" diets from time to time ("cranberry juice will make you thin!" cabbage soup! grapefruit! ). In fact, I have a whole shelf full of no-fail diet books that failed. And I know the only thing that works is to suck it up, stop making excuses, and take in fewer calories than I burn. Only time will tell whether I love myself enough to stick with it this time!

Sorry to be so long-winded and preachy.

Hey Ladies

Just a quickie yet again... I'm so tired.... I've been working another temp assignment and also not sleeping too well the last few nights.
But I've been doing good with my water. :)

I have temp assignment dilemmas, which I've described here (if the link doesn't work, it's in the 20-somethings forum). You're very welcome to read and add your thoughts, either here or on that thread. In fact, I'd appreciate it - I'm really stuck and can't seem to make a decision!

Red - I hear you about struggling with keeping up with the challenges! What has helped me, was focusing on one specific goal for the weekly challenge, working towards achieving it consistently, and only then adding more. This way there is less to plan/think about, but it still works. :)

Carla - so jealous of your running... I haven't been out for a run for ages... No gym to run at, and the fact that it's winter here means I'm leaving the house when it's still dark and getting back after it's gone dark again... Very poor lighting in the streets around here, and I've nearly killed my ankle once already, so I'm hesitant to run in the dark...

Bonnie - nice to see you on the roll again! :)
Donna and Trying - good luck sticking through the difficult times! :grouphug:

Okay, now I really must go to sleep - it's almost 11 pm, eek!

PS: yikes - on Tuesday, the available balance on my prepaid cell phone was $22.23... now it's $2.75... can't believe I ran through twenty-dollars-worth of calls in a few day's time... all because of the temp job dilemmas...

Hi Friday Friends!
 

So much activity! I don't know where to begin...

Sushi - congrats :cp: on the water. I responded to your dilemma - I hope it was helpful.
carla - :bravo: excellent message! That is the bottom line for all of us - less calories and I would add burn more. I love your rantings - they are always so appropriate. I had orthotics too - really expensive but they work. I appreciate your concern but because of my Landmark Education courses, I can powerfully choose my body AND choose to alter it without being depressed. Without that technology, I would be a basket case :D
Red :cb: :dance: :woo: on breaking your plateau. I can't wait to break 220! I am with carla - STI took you over the hump!

Bonnie :cp: :cp: :cp::cp: for getting in 4 days of exercise in th past week :encore:

Diana - sending you :goodvibes: for recovery - enjoy your new toy!

Donna :jig: I can't wait for your weigh-in next week. Awesome job of stay OP and getting your workouts in. The fireworks were great and I did not get in my workout - determined to do it today, Saturday and Sunday. Wish me :dust:

mscat

carla-glad to hear your scales moving...I also would like to start jogging..It's just so hot here that I can't make myself do it...maybe this fall when it cools down some...

red - congrats on the loss..everyones right you need to come on here more...this thread is so motovating for me...

sushi-way to go getting in that water...It's a challenge all of it's own...hope things get better for you

mscat-glad fireworks were great...I can't wait for the 4th...we always go downtown...they have a big event with live bands, games etc and they play music to the fireworks...It's really cool..

As for me..I've stayed OP all week with eating..I've gotten in my 64oz of water everyday but I've only got in onw day of exercise...I just cant get motivated plus I've worked everyday this week...

Hey ladies :)

My other half is down with an awful cold, so I'm having a quiet and rather boring weekend. I still haven't decided which of the temp assignment to take, but figuring that I'll have work till the end of the month, I just went and shelled out $150 for a monthly public transit pass.

So far this week, I have 4 days with 100% success rate with my water and 2 days with 66% success rate. A bit worse than last week, unless I get all the water in today - which will be hard, given that it's almost 3 pm.

Bonnie, so great to see you on the ball again, and congratulations on the silent challenge - well done! :hug:

Quickie!
 

I am at my MIL with an 8 year old computer and dial-up internet - it has taken me 15 minutes to get to the posts! I used the time wisely, though - I am on my 2nd bottle of water - that means 48 oz down by the end of this post :carrot: Got in a 30 minute walk this a.m. :cp: I am siked about a 2 week challenge to my brother's wedding to eat 3 square meals a day, drink 48 oz plus water a day, and move everyday for 15 minutes or more. Bonus goal is not to eat after 8 oclock. I am not saying how much weight I will lose by then - whatever happens happens - but I am sure it will be something. What ever it is - I will be satisfied that I made a difference in my routine and STOPPED THE INSANITY of doing nothing or next to nothing consistently.

Sushi :cheer: way to go - 66% and 100% are accomplishments to be proud of. Do it Again!

Bonnie :cp: :cp: for your accomplishments last week and 2lbs down too!

Donna :woo: :woo: on the water goal - take on doing something next week for a couple of days - if it is too hot to jog - take a couple of short walks after the sun goes down or do a little stretching everyday inside. Build up slowly with little things until you can do the bigger stuff. :hug:

Where's our carla and diana? ;) Red I know you will pop in when you have a break from taking care of your 21 day challengers!

See you tomorrow late after I get home - I can't take up this kind of time on the internet here :eek:

mscat

mscat, good luck on your challenge. Always a good thing to be pysched about something like that! :strong: Things are quiet in the 21-dayer, I'm continuing along on that. I have been stellar and yet today and the last few days have been greeted at the morning weighin by gains and feeling bloated. This is water retention time of month but I don't think I can deal with this. It's just too disappointing. Do you really gain inches even if you've been exercising hard? I can't be thinking of muscle or anything like that. I have too much to lose. The only other thing I can really carry on with in my life without seeing results is riding but this weight-loss thing just knocks me flat every time. I try, I lose, I keep trying, I don't lose, I blow it. It's the same thing. It's that the efforts are just too hard for me in light of the lack of results. Oh, I am just sooo down about this. :cry: I was getting ready to go to the gym but don't know if I can now....just too bummed. What can I do to get over this unproductive mindset?

Well, let's see. My skin looks good. I have a surprising amount of energy. But I need to lose weight and size. I will just push on despite it all. Okay, here's the dope and I'm in for a week of goals here....

This is it --

1) Keep up with everything despite any sort of results of apparent lack thereof. Push on as if in a pitch black room. Do NOT look for any results, NONE!!! :nono: Just keep asking myself, what did I do, what did I do, what CAN I do better and keep at it!!

That is my goal for the week. Today is Monday here. I will notch seven days of doing this. I will NOT report on any feelings of progress or signs of the same. I will ONLY report on what I have done to move myself (in blind faith) toward my goals of weight loss.

Ok, people, wish me luck!!

Sushi, I can't help but think of you - I bought a huge container of cherries and am having a field day. I don't know if you can get them there this time of year, but don't worry, I'll eat lots for you too. :lol: What a shame that you can't fit the running in. There's something so addictive about it. It's still always a struggle to get dressed and out there, and at this point (and in our hot, humid summer) it's a struggle while I'm out there. BUT I feel SO good afterwards. I really hope the feet hold out. So far so good. I can't wait until I can cover enough distance easily enough to run with my old running buddies.

Wow! The rain is just pelting down again! We've had so many thunderstorms lately. As long as the power doesn't go out I'm happy - it cools things down quite nicely.

Eeyore - er, I mean Red... Patience, my dear! Just a week ago you were on cloud nine because you'd finally seen a downward move in the scale. So why the long face now? There are bound to be ups and downs, and maybe this down is just a little TOM mood swing. Have you tried tracking ALL your calories in and exercise-related calories out? Is it possible you're eating more calorie-dense food (and beer...) than you realise? Or expecting your activities to knock of more pounds than is realistic? Or maybe you're doing everything right and should just send your parents a letter "thanking" them for your fat genes... Seriously, though, DON'T give up so quickly. You just started the no sugar/clean living program a bit ago, and it takes time to get anywhere worth going.

Bonnie, :bravo: on two pounds down - I know there'll be plenty more evaporating now you're back on track. I envy you a decent selection of, um, roomy swimsuits. Not that I've tried to shop for one yet, but I don't have high hopes as Ottawa is small and doesn't have much selection for us BBB's. I also envy you your diet partner. It really does help a lot. I predict great success for you this summer.

Mscat, good for you making a project out of the time before your trip. It would be so easy to find excuses while you're out of town. Let's hope this summer will be a chance to see things moving in the right direction.

Donna, I know what you mean about jogging in the heat. Yech! I much prefer fall, spring - even winter running. But since I'm doing such short distances right now it's not too bad here. And I agree that it's tough to find the energy to do anything when you're working all the time. I have the same problem.

Well, I didn't make my July 1 (or July 4) goal of getting under 190, but I was at 192.3 this morning, which I'm pretty happy about. And with being more active and eating better, I'm feeling quite positive. It really helped finding pants that fit and flatter. I'm looking at 180 by Labour Day... (never miss an opportunity to set myself up for failure ;) ) Apart from a one-week job out of town at a resort, I'm off work until mid-September. Yay!!