hi everyone even though i had a few set backs i lost a total of 4lbs im so happy and a 1/2 an inch
thanks for the support

That's fantastic Mia. Congrats to you!

Morning everyone:

I got my workout in. Yay! I got Leslie's book from the library and I started reading it a little last night and more this morning and it really motivated me to workout this morning. She talks about starting a Walk Diet. She encourages you to start with making physical activity a regular habit and then working on diet. This is great for me because I am a very physcial person and I'll workout in a heartbeat, but it takes time for me to change my eating. Then it starts a cycle that once I mess up on my eating, I quit exercising and I'm back at square one because I am focusing too much on the diet aspect. I know that diet is a MAJOR part of weight loss, but when you have over 100 lbs to lose, I think that activity is just as important. Not only for the health reasons that we previously discussed, but for weight loss as well. I feel that alot of the diet and fitness information put out is based on people marginally to moderately overweight. Not 100+ lbs. The rules are completely different for people that want to lose such a substantial amount. So I think that Leslie's approach of being active virtually everyday is great because it puts you in the right mindset and after awhile since you are exercising regularly, you are going to want to eat right as well. I know when I was much more fit most of the time I ate better. I guess it just goes hand in hand.

I guess the point of this HUGE post is , since this is such a journey, I think we all need to find what works for us individually and go from there. Caroline has discovered an eating and activity plan that works for her. RK, I am sure that you have a really good plan in place to have lost 77 lbs. I'd like to hear more about your strategy by the way. We all have the same goal, but weight loss really is a personal thing. Who's going to know what works best for us better than ourselves? I mean, I know we probably all know this already, but sometimes we forget or disregard the most obvious things. We tend to read some success story and jump on that bandwagon, not really thinking if it is healthy or if it really suits us personally.

So, in line with that thinking, I am going to focus on exercising 6 days per week. Mostly if not all Leslie Sansone. This morning was just a 15 minute workout that came with the book. Since I have lost alot of my aerobic capacity, I am going to just try to start with Leslie and follow her plan. It is a 6 week plan, working out 6 days per week. The book really is an easy read. I am about 1/2 way through it already. I should probably be finished by this weekend if the girls let me. I hope this didn't come across as preachy, because that is not my intent. This is kind of a personal revelation and I just wanted to share with you guys.

Well, I have to get the girls fed and dressed and off to to the store. I'll be checking in later to see how everyone's day went.

TGIF!!!

Ciao!

Elycia

Hi Elycia!

No, you're not being preachy at all. We all have major weight to lose and that will take major behavior modification. We have to change the way we eat and make exercise a part of our lives forever. Even after we lose the weight (and I believe we all will), we have to move our bodies 3 times a week and eat properly just to maintain it. So it makes sense to have a plan. Remember that saying, "Fail to plan; plan to fail"? That means we can't just be willy-nilly about this. I love it when I have an excuse to say "willy-nilly".

So, good for you! I'm proud of you for committing to making lifestyle changes and exercising 6 times a week. I'm planning to exercise 5 - 6 times a week myself. It's a good feeling to know that you're doing something positive about your health and your weight, isn't it?

I think I'm becoming a Leslie Sansone groupie too. Her work outs are not complicated, but you'll definitely break a sweat. Plus she's not annoying. That's a HUGE plus.

Good Afternoon Ladies! All is going well for me. I keep seeing the scale move down, however I am going to wait until Sunday to change my weight loss ticker. I weight myself every Sunday morning! I am so happy because I am finally under 300. It has been since 1998 since I have been under 300.

Elycia- I feel like I have tried it all and it all seems to work I know that sounds silly but seriously I started of by doing the Special K challenge. It is where you eat a bowl of cereal for breakfast and then for lunch and then just a regular dinner. I lost 40 pounds this way. Also since I am in nursing school it helped that I was moving around much more up an down hospital hallways Ok so then I wanted to try something else and I went to South Beach Diet for about 1 month and lost 20 pounds on phase 1. I didn't really care for phase two so Now I am on slim fast I love it but I am not stuck to it! I mean as long as I am eating healthy I will eat what I want but in moderation. I started on my weight loss plan on Sept. 10, 2005. I am trying to shed 100 pounds by September 10, 2006. I am almost there and I know I will make it.

Also I have been dancing the entire time. I can't dance to save my life but me and my kids will bounce around the house moving our bodies. I figure some movement is better than nothing. I also joined New Lady Fitness---but I haven't been in like three weeks. I go there for weight training and some cardio classes. I was doing the treadmil but my ankle started hurting really bad so I backed off until it gets better.

Also congrats on exercising 6 times a week. I know how demanding one baby can be and since you are double blessed with twins I can't even imagine what its like. I think it is super cool with your increased exercise and plus you are setting a great example for your children!

Mia Congrats! you are doing great.

Congrats on the weight loss Rkrs!

Happy Friday Gang!

We had another quiet night last night, everyone stayed gone til who knows when. I don't care when they come home, as long as I can't here you!
Ran into the room mate last night, his dog came bounding down the stairs to visit with us. He's a great dog and my kids love him. I think we shocked "Tatoo"(my nickname since I don't know his real name-he's got tats all over the place) that we were talking & petting the dog-its a pitbull puppy maybe 9 mon. old. In all actuality this guy is really nice, I've talked to him a couple times, it's the OTHER guy that I don't get a good vibe from. Of course it has to be the one that actually owns the place that I don't really like! Go figure! My dh teases me and says, yeah leave it up to you to befriend the "menacing looking" one!

I LOVE Leslie Sansone WATP stuff! I've got her set of 1,2,3 milers, a 4 mile walk, a 1&2 miler that go with the stretchy band, and then an exerball/yoga one. They're all great. I love that her voice does not grate on my every last nerve. Can someone say Denise Austin????? I had her stuff awhile back but just didnt do it cause her voice just drove me bonkers.
I have a couple Jillian Michaels (trainer from the Biggest Loser) that I bought a couple weeks ago. of course they're still in the package! I wanted them so bad, at the same time she scares the crud outta me! LOL I hear she's very tough but I love her philosophy. Her book is fabulous. I also have the Biggest Loser workout dvd, that one is awesome! When I was doing it faithfully I saw huge results, lost alot of inches in a small amount of time. Now getting back into that mindframe has been the hard hard part! Someone just smack me and tell me to get with it already!

Good day Aqua & Anna, hope you gals have a super Friday afternoon!!

Amanda, congrats on getting those workouts in!!!!! I bet it feels really really good to be moving like that. Good for you!!!!

Mia, WTG on the losses!!!!! KUTGW!!!!

Elycia, I think you are in a great place mentally.
Everyone isn't the same, you're right, so what might work for one may not work for another. In the past I always tended to jump on the wagon trying various plans or whatever, never taking into account what was right for me. In the end it ended up in failure, took me a long time to figure out why. You need to do what works best for your lifestyle and body makeup. If doing exercise first helps to get you going, then so be it. For me, it's the exact opposite, and for someone else it could be something different altogether. That's why I'm always telling people to make the plan of their choosing fit their lifestyle, tweak it and bend it to make it liveable. I don't like people who only believe that things HAVE TO be as written or you're wrong,not doing the plan, or whatever...I think that for those people, that as written just happens to work for them..we're not them so they can go pound sand for all I care! I'm so thrilled that you are finding something that you really like and that can motivate you to keep up with it, that's so important! I look forward to hearing lots of success stories from you lady!

RKRS, you are doing fantastic! Look at those stats! I had fabulous success with slimfast a few years back, loved that plan!!! Lost about 85 pounds in less than a year and was down to a size 10, I was one hot momma! I wish so much I'd have hung onto it, but as usual, life throws those curveballs and you know if you're not ready...wham! down ya go!!! Also, the plan is alot different now than it was when I did it. Now they incorporate real food along with the SF products, whereas before it wasn't like that. I think this is a super way to get people to focus on real foods along the way so they really learn how to eat & portion control. I'm so excited to hear more fabulous things from you! You can do this!!!

Alrighty girlies, guess I should go eat some lunch and maybe try and do a workout. I am really going to try hard to exercise everyday this week, I really am!! Why is this concept so hard for me?? Drives me crazy!

Be good ladies! CBL and see what ya'll have been up to. Keep shining!

♥danielle

Rkrs, congrats girl, you really are an inspiration to me. thankyou for sharing the different plans you have tried, what was different between phase one and 2 of south beach diet?
Anna

ooo update on the room, walls are all painted and the floor all primed, man that furniture is heavy though i found when i am pms'ing i can move it my dresser is 6 feet by 7 feet tall so yeah not joking about it being heavy, anyways, tomorrow i can start laying the new flooring in and if i get really ambitious i will show before and after pics. This is the last room to do then i have 2 hallways and the kitchen floor to do but that can wait until another vacation . I have been remodeling on and off for a year now and now that i am finally seeing an end maybe i can get back to the gym that i have been paying a membership for for almost 6 months, i did go faithfully for about 3 months then summer hit and there is so much to do. though i think you ladies can understand that
well have to get moving, have dinner out with the SO , parents and grandparents tonight though i forgot what we are celebrating, oh oh
Anna

Well, the good news is that our neighbors are not trying to steal our cable. The bad news is that the cable company never bothered calling to let us know that they weren't coming. They have some issue in the area that they need to resolve. Meanwhile, my husband has been trapped in the house all day waiting for them.

I don't know when they'll have the problem fixed so, if I don't get a chance to post before Monday, have a great weekend everyone!

BTW, can you tell how slow it is at work on Thursdays and Fridays? I've had all the time in the world to visit the thread.

Until later!

congrats to everyone and thanks for the encouragement Elycia
thats an accomplishment i really need to work on get motivated to exercise i have alot of equiptment at home i just let time pass me by
anyone have any tips? i think i need to adjust my goals a little
i havent recieved the turbo jam because something went wrong with the order where they claim it didnt go through i havent been charged for it either so now im a little skeptical to reorder i may just try ebay
anyway congrats everyone

Hello and thanx for the kind words and understanding. I know how it is in my head, but I wasn't really sure how it would come across in print. You guys are great!

RK, thanx for sharing some of your routes to success. You've really accomplished alot losing at 77 lbs! I can't wait to see your updated ticker. You are just so close. I believe you will reach Onederland by September 10, 2006. It has to be so empowering to know that you saw it through to 77 lbs and still going strong. Please keep up the good work. It is very encouraging.

Mia, congrats on your weight loss. I know that this thread moves so fast, so I don't know if you saw my earlier post saying that Mia is one of my daughters name. You are doing really good. I am glad that I was of some encouragement, but it looks like I need to follow your lead in the area of weight loss. Great job!

Danielle, glad to know that things were a little better. I tell ya, there is nothing worse than lousy neighbors. We live in a house, but I really can't stand my neighbors. On one side, I have this lady that puts her dog out at 4:30 in the morning and it barks ferociously. Then on the other side, I have these sometimey people. Sometimes they are okay and sometimes rude, rude, rude. Thank goodness we rent because I would never buy a house in the middle of these imbeciles. It is unbelievable how rude people can be. I just don't even have any dealings with them because they just get on my nerves. So needless to say, I do have a general idea of what you are dealing with and it is tough. It does sound like you may be getting a little bit of relief soon. PTL!!

Anna, thanx for the compliment on the girls and again congrats on your weight loss. Sounds like you are really making some hedgeway with your remodeling project. I hope you will post before and after pics soon.

Amanda, thanx for the kinds words and encouragement. You really are a gem.

I would like to say thanx to everyone for being so committed to being part of this group. It's really been very nice getting to know everyone and hearing everyones thoughts on weight loss, health and sometimes life in general. I think we all are going to be very successful and reach our goals.

Oh yeah, I wanted to post a few of my favorite sites, outside of 3FC. You guys are probably aware of them, but I thought that I would go ahead and post anyway.

For cool WW suggestions and ideas this is a great site. It's kind of similar to this site actually. http://www.***************.net/forums/index.php

For exercise videos and video reviews Collage is a great site http://collagevideo.com/

A hot spot for fitness talk and workouts this is a great forum. I have been a member for several years http://www.videofitness.com/

Those are just a few. If I think of anymore, I will post. I had a really great site for low point recipes, for if you are following points, but for some reason it is down. It was great. If I find it is operating again, I will certainly post.

Well, I better get going, it is time to spend some time with the girls, feed them and then bedtime.

Check in with you guys later!

Elycia

Elycia mia seems to be a common name the only thing is mine is short for Gahmilia....if the site you were talking about comes back up please let me know because im following points also im having a hard time finding low point foods though by after lunch i was already at 20poiints so i am left with 6 for dinner.... oh thanks for the sites i hope everyone has a good evening