Amanda - Sorry to hear that your knee is giving your trouble. I was afraid I hurt mine a little bit yesterday when I was walking, but it turned out to be something I just needed to stretch out. It's back to normal today. If your knee isn't feeling to hot today, then maybe you should give yourself a break and give it a couple days to get better. If it really is hurt, then all you can do is damage it more by walking a great deal on it. At any rate, I hope it's feeling better.

Norma - Congrats on dropping into the 250s! That's great! As for the green tea extract - all the websites that sell it claim that it is put in many diet pills to increase metobolism. However, I think there is a thread somewhere on this site that gives a list of how helpful certain herbs and teas are in weight loss, and it says that there is no solid evidence that green tea extract will help, thought it certainly doesn't hurt since it is good for you. I figured I would take it anyway since it has been proven to boost your immune system. Then again, maybe it's been partially responsible for me 8 pounds gone in 2 weeks. I'll PM you with some tips I've discovered about walking. Maybe it will help get you motivated to get out there.

Christi - That's a neat way of looking at meals. I've never been a breakfast person either, so I've been making myself eat right after I get up. I have noticed that after a week or two of eating breakfast, my body expects to get it every morning around 7:30 or 8:00. So, that helps keep me on track. Let us know how the dinner/lunch/breakfast works out.

Kenya - At the rate you're going, I'm sure you'll be seeing the 250s in no time at all! :-)

I've noticed an interesting trend in the numbers on the scale. When I weigh-in on Tuesday morning, my weight is the one I post here. By Wednesday, it's gone up about two pounds. By Thursday/Friday, it's back down to a pound above the initial weight from Tuesday. And then when Monday/Tuesday rolls around it's about 2 or 3 pounds lower than the previous Tuesday. So, I'm losing weight, but it seems like it's not showing up on the scales until after the weekend. Which is odd because I eat out on Friday and Saturday nights, and the food I eat has more calories and fat than anything I eat during the weekdays. I've heard of zig-zagging calories, and I thought that maybe I was unintentionally doing this and it was helping me. Supposedly, you can do this if your body has lost a lot of weight and it has adjusted to a new metabolism rate, stalling your weight loss out. You "trick" your body by eating more calories two or three days a week. This makes your body kick your metabolism back up to get rid of those extra calories. A friend gave me this address: freedieting.com/tools If you go there and click on the calorie counter and input your info, it will tell you how many calories you should be eating to lose weight. There is a small link at the bottom with a plan to zig-zag your calories during the week so you can shake up your metabolism. Is anyone else familiar with this? Does it actually work?

Hello ladies:

I hope that everyone had a great day! Well, today was okay. I got my workout in. Yay! I am still going strong and trying very hard to stick to my eating plan and exercise. I think the weight loss is going to be slow. I just hope that I do have a loss each week.

Gale, I think that is wonderful that you are able to look at trends going on with your body. That is really good. Shows that you are in tune with your body and paying attention to what is going on. You are making awesome progress.

Kenya, I don't know how I missed that, but I am so happy for you. You are just scooting along. You will be in the 250's in no time. Wow, what determination you have. In regards to the house, geez, who knows? At first the guy gave us every indication that we were getting the house, but now, I dunno. He is getting on my nerves, I know that. Hopefully, we will know something this weekend, so we can either move on and forget about it or start packing. :rolleyes:

:carrot: :carrot: :carrot: Norma! Congrats! Congrats! Congrats! Made it into the 250's, that is G-R-E-A-T!!! :cp: :cp: I am so glad that you posted and let us all celebrate with you. Water Consumption Chart!! Wow, that is sooo good. You are on a roll and that is so encouraging. Keep up the wonderful job you are doing. I'm so very happy for you. :) :carrot: :carrot: :carrot:

Amanda, I am very happy to hear that you are sticking to your goals. Sorry to hear about your knee. Well, hold on to your non-physical goals. You are doing awesome.

Christi, that is good that you are trying to find what works for you. I have always felt that your eating plan is a very personal thing. You have to find what works the best for you to be successful. So if eating breakfast at dinnertime and dinner at breakfast works, so be it! Let us know how that goes for you. I hope that you have a great weekend with family. :)

Well, I really better get going. Everyone take care and I'll see ya tomorrow.

Elycia

Big new ladies. I am less weight than it says on my drivers license. It says I weight 285...today I noticed it for the first time :) I am so excited to finally be less than that :)

Hello Ladies:

Hope everyone had a Sensational Saturday. I just got finished with my workout. I really hate when I have to workout so late, but I am determined to stick with this rotation this month. Today was Cardio Sculpt Blaster. It wasn't too bad. I am not sure if it was an easier workout or if I am just improving my fitness level. I hope it is the latter. ;)

Kenya, that is toooo awesome. My goal weight IS the number on my drivers license. :) Woohoo! That is definitely something to celebrate. I never have changed my weight on my DL and I don't intend to. At this point, I don't think I want to be thinner than 147. It was a happy weight for me. We will see when I get there though. :) Congratulations. I better get going with this weight because you are going to pass me by. :)

Well, I am proud to say that I have stuck with my challenge goals very well. I'm not going to say that I haven't been tempted. I would love to drink a glass of pop (Cherry Coke is my favorite, yum yum), but I am determined to stick to the challenge and not give in. I am not saying though that I will never drink pop again, but it sure feels good to know that I have the self control not to drink it for a period of time. Actually Monday will be a full month. Yay!

Well, I better get going. Hope that everyone has a great evening. I will be checking in tomorrow.

Ciao!

Elycia

hello everyone.

sorry i vanished for so long. it has been so hectic here. two of the kids were ill and then my mum too. all are better now. we also had my hubbys birthday a family christening and a wedding. so ive been really busy. :dizzy:

its great to see everyone is doing so well. i just quickly scanned the posts as im only just quickly checking in before i make brekkie. will check in later again.

Hi Maryjane. Good to see ya. Boy, do I understand a busy life. Life has been speeding on by. Hope to hear more about how things have been going for ya.

I have good news guys! I got the house! Yay!!! I am so excited. So happy to be moving. I really don't care for my house or neighborhood, so this is just wonderful. We don't have the exact move-in date yet, but we got the okay last night. Yay!

I am doing pretty good on my diet and rotation. I did get on the scale yesterday and I am down another 1.5 lbs. So, I am 234.0. Yay! That is like 16.5 lbs and I am very excited. I am so glad to see the scale going in the right direction. I am still doing FIRM for exercise and just counting calories. Sometimes I am disappointed with the rate of my loss, but you know what, at least it is coming off. It may take some time, but I am working hard to get there and it will pay off. Actually it is paying off.

Well, I better get going. Today is a rest day in terms of exercise. Tomorrow is as well and thank goodness. I worked out for 7 days straight. Well, I guess that is it for now. I will check in with you lovely ladies later.

Ciao!

Elycia

How is everyone doing? It's a typical Monday here. Same old, same old. I'm unsure if I'll lose any pounds this week. It's TOM and I've been slightly liberal with what I've eaten in the last few days. That Bennigans Black Bean Burger was pretty good. ;-) So were the fries. I was down a pound yesterday, but I'm back up again. Wacky water weight and such. Blah. I was able to walk about 3.3 miles yesterday. I didn't intend to go that far, but I didn't turn down the street I was supposed to and ended up going out of my way. I decided to just keep going and make the circuit back to my apartment. I was pretty pooped afterward, but I'm feeling good today.

Wow what a weekend!! We went to the state fair here and it was an event. I did manage to be sort of healthy with what I ate. I am sure we walked about 4 miles that day too, non-stop. Sunday was a lazy day. It was rainy and yucky here so me and the little one took a very long nap. Then today it was off to the grocery store and to runn errands. I didn't weigh this morning so I will do that tomorrow and post this weekends damage. I hope everyone had a great weekend and is sticking to their goals.

Elycia:Congratulations on the new house. You sure will be busy soon with moving and all. Don't get yourself stressed out.

Gail: Great job on the 3.5 miles!!!!! I'm setting a one mile goal each day. I just hope I can do it. I should have someone drop me off a mile from the house so that I'd have to walk just to get home! LOL Good work!

Okie: I love your state. We will have to go back soon and see more. My mom was born in Foss, OK. You guys got beat up with storms over the weekend, I hope you didn't have any damage. We were blessed with about an inch of rain and we sure needed it.

We had a lazy weekend. Hubby was ill and between being his doctor, laundry and the rain outside I didn't go far. I feel good about this week. I hope my positive attitude nets results.

You all take care.

Norma

I'm BAAACKKKKKK!!!

Thanks, once again, Elycia, for checking in on me!!! I actually haven't even visited 3FC for over a week!!! It used to be a daily thing, but, gosh darn it, life is CRAZY:dizzy: .

I also haven't had time to browse through all the members here or what's going on with everybody...hopefully this weekend will allow some 'me' time to do that!

Besides being busy, I think part of my absence is due to the fact that I'm sort of in a holding pattern weight-wise. I've been losing & gaining the same few pounds for a month now. Granted, my eating hasn't exactly been healthy, and I do little to no organized exercise, so it shouldn't come as a surprise. If the glass were half-full, I would look at this as a 'practice' for maintenance...but I shouldn't be doing that with only 26lbs gone, and MANY more to go...

Anyway, I'm getting the evil :devil: eye at work now, so I better get crackin'.

Take care ladies!
~Stacy

Hi Elycia :cheer: I'm so glad you got the house. Thats really good news you have been wanting that. Now its time to get packing and stepping on over to the new pad. :bravo: On the weight loss. Who cares if its slow coming off the point is its coming off. Fast can be unhealthy as you already know.

I want to talk to you about some stuff, I'll either call you or can you :callme:

Congrats:carrot: :dance: to all the ladies that are dropping those pounds.

I shall talk to you later.

Hey Trish! Good to see ya. Oh yes, I am so happy to be getting into my new house. Sometimes you just need something new, something different. I am sooo looking forward to it. Thanx for the congrats! I see that you are slimming. That is so good. Keep up the good job. Isn't it a great feeling to know that you are doing good things for yourself? Well, we should get together 1 day so we can put a face with a voice and become the slim hot mamas we are destined to be! :belly:

Hi Stacy, glad you were able to drop in and let us know that you are okay. Busy, busy, busy. Everyone is always on the go. Like you said in terms of your weight loss, at least you are maintaining and not going up. Believe me, I know how frustrating it can be to get on the scale and keep seeing the same number, but if you keep making healthy choices, the scale will budge. A thing that helps me is to try to challenge myself. Maybe that can help you. I know you are busy, but challenge yourself to get in maybe 3 workouts in a week. They don't have to be long and they don't have to be intense, just get yourself moving 3 times a week and before you know it, the weight will start sliding off a little faster and it will also be becoming a habit. It's just a suggestion because I really want you and all of us to succeed in our weight loss efforts. :) Anyways, so glad to see ya and hope you can pop in again soon.

Norma, sorry that hubby was sick. Thanx for the congrats on the house. Regarding those lazy weekends. You need them sometimes. Just don't have anything planned, just chill. Sounds nice. :)

SAHM, glad to hear that you had a good weekend. I am still sticking to my goals. Hopefully you didn't do too much damage. Let us know how that turned out for ya.

Gale, good job on those 3 miles. Woo hoo! That is so good. Those weight fluctuations will drive you insane. I try to avoid that scale, but it's like it is calling me. :)

Well, I better get going. My daughters are crying. I will see you ladies later.

Ciao!

Elycia

Good afternoon, everyone! My name is Elizabeth, I’m 28 yrs old and I would like to lose 15 lbs right away… My first and foremost goal is to permanently change my eating habits: I either eat too much or way too much, I am extremely impatient, and simply cannot stop obsessing over scale numbers and tight-fitting clothes. Other than that, I'm new and I would love to join your group... :)

cheers,
elizabeth

Hi there Elizabeth:

I am taking a break from packing and straightening up and thought I would stop in and saw your post. Well, so glad that you decided to join us. We are a small group of ladies, but very motivated to lose weight and make healthy choices. We do challenges and things from time to time, but mostly just check-in for accountability and keep each other motivated. The check-in just started this month, so we are just really getting started. :)

I think it is wonderful that you are wanting to PERMANENTLY change your eating habits. That is very admirable. So many want to lose the weight but aren't willing to stay with the new eating and end up gaining back what they have worked so hard for. I am just like you in that I working on changing the way I view food and the foods that I chose to eat. You are definitely on the right path. Please post some of the changes that you are making throughout the day for your eating plan. Would love to hear.

Well, I better get back to the grind and then get on to bed. Again, welcome to our group Elizabeth and I look forward to getting to know you better. Everyone have a great evening and I'm sure I will see ya tomorrow.

Ciao!

Elycia

Norma - I think one mile a day is a great goal! That's how I started out. It's always best to start out slow. That way it isn't too much stress on your body. I know I usually quit something if it's too hard. Building up is the best way to go. Plus, a mile can really do wonders. The first week I walked a mile each day and dropped my calories down, I lost four pounds.

Stacy - On the bright side of things, at least you're holding at your current weight. That's an accomplishment in and of itself. My fear is actually losing weight and then gaining it all back. Hopefully, this whole ordeal will change the way I think about eating and exercise and maintaining won't be a problem.

Elycia - Congrats on the new house and the weight loss! And just think - packing, moving, and unpacking all of your belongings will give you quite a workout.

Elizabeth - Hi and welcome! Glad you could join us. I think you have a great attitude about wanting to change your lifestyle and become a healthier person. Good luck with your weight loss!

As for me... I'm still in it. I thought about getting a big, greasy breakfast burrito this morning, but I told myself that it would be best to stick with my planned meal. I'm still walking everyday. I'm doing a bit of weight training every other day, and on my off days, I'm doing a kickboxing workout DVD. I've been eating those Lean Cuisine/Smart Ones meals for lunch and they're really good. I was surprised at how tasty they are.

Speaking of food, does anyone of a good way to spice up white rice? I'm adding brocolli, but that's getting old already. No meat for me, so I can't add chicken or anything. Perhaps something to give it a bit more flavor?