300+ And Ready To Try Again......#392
 

HI guys !! :wave:

Tina... you and three others posted while I was writing this post on the last thread. LOL
After I hit submit I saw you had already started a new thread so I moved it over here. LOL

My daughter is home so we are running everyday. Yesterday we hit a GOLD MINE !!! We were at Garden Ridge... (like Pottery Barn, Hobby Lobby, ect ) and they were pricing a dozen baskets full of damaged merchandise. Some of it was almost impossible to find what was wrong with it. Anyway... I SAVED $450 !! I spent $50 but saved $450. I bought this one huge picture originally $199 for $20. Another picture with beautiful frame originally $99 for $4.50
Lots of large great smelling candles for 50 cents each.
And my favorites were greenery arrangements formally $20-$50 for $2.50 each. We filled up the trunk and back seat. LOL
We spent a couple of hours going through all of it for the best stuff. It was fun. :D

My exercise is still good... my food only so so.
At least it is not totally bad. LOL
I actually believe I have improved my normal eating.
We went out to eat last night to a great Barbeque place and brought half of it home. :) BUT I did eat their awesome potatoes and hot bread. :^:

Steph good to see you. Laura welcome back.
Okay... I am out of here. We have a lot of decorating to do with all the stuff I bought. :D

Hey everyone.....
 

I'm baaaack! :wave: Man..... being without you guys for two whole days is like murder! I hate being without my computer at home. I wanted to talk to you guys so bad yesterday I almost drove into town, so I could get on the computer here at work. But I thought....."if I've got a vacation from that place...I'm staying home." :yes: Well, technically not a vacation, but anytime you get two days off in a row there and you get to keep them (meaning....no one calls in :mad: ) you take em and be happy. :cb:

I didn't want you guys to read too much into what I posted on Saturday.... I would never have the surgery. I'm too big of a scaredy cat. I have heard so many horror stories, it's not even funny. Plus, you have to so severely restrict your eating habits, I mean....why not just do it without risking your life?

Once again.... I mean no harm by saying that. I know that Jen has had the surgery and I completely support her choice to do so. I am very pleased that thus far, she has had no problems. I just know that speaking for myself, that I couldn't do it. I am a big ol' :chicken:

I am so sore today. I got up yesterday morning and did my new WATP dvd (1 mile) and then put in the extra 10 minutes for the abs. Then I set out to get my messy house cleaned. I did five loads of laundry and cleaned the living room thoroughly. Dh took Trey to football practice and while he was gone, I decided I would mow the back yard for 30 minutes. My intention was not to completely mow it, just get in 30 minutes of a different type of exercise. I thought dh would complain because I only did part of it and ask me why I stopped....but instead he griped because I mowed in the first place. He said with three guys in the house, I shouldn't be mowing the yard. Whatever. :rolleyes:

Anyways.... I'm paying for it today. Doing the exercise for the abs along with mowing the yard really has done me in. I still plan on going to Trey's football practice tonight though and will get in some more walking time though.

I haven't read the last thread yet, but I have printed it out so I can respond to you guys properly. I hope you all had a super nice weekend and I will see you tomorrow!

P.S. I was OP all day yesterday. :smug:

:grouphug:

Mary...
 

I thought you might like this.....

Here is a picture of Tony with the special paint scheme car he drove on Saturday in the Busch race. He was driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the car was representing the band 3 Doors Down and the video he and Dale Jr. shot together.

Nice, huh?

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL22/5...2/32058379.jpg

Hello ladies!
I am back on track today and feeling much better. Isn't it amazing what a difference our eating habits make? As soon as I started eating healthy again my energy and pleasant mood came back. I don't even mind being at work today.


Tina,
It's good to have you back from your mini-vacation. I don't think I could ever have surgery either. First off, it sounds way too painful. Secondly I don't understand how I would keep the weight off without changing my eating and exercise habits. I would be one of those that lost it all at first and then went right back to my old ways. I feel like the experience I'm going through now is teaching me so much about myself that I'll never be able to go back to the former me. I know that the surgery is a life saver for many people, and I'm glad for that. But for me, it's not the thing either. ;)

Speaking of the surgery...anyone get a look at Al Roker? He had GB a couple years ago, now he's working on the food network pigging out on chocolate and giant sandwiches. What's that about?

2cute,
I love finding a good sale! It sounds like you did great! Good job on the exercise too! When it comes down to it, it's the exercise that really counts for us losing. It is so good for us, the more you exercise and the more muscle you build the more calories we'll burn just typing away!

Have a great day everyone!

Hi all! :wave: Does anyone else feel like the world is just going by without you???? I think I'm going crazy, or getting old very quickly and the days just seem to be slipping away. I keep thinking 'tomorrow I'm going to get serious.' 'Tomorrow I'm going to start anew'. Then I wake up tomorrow and say 'tomorrow I'm going to get serious.' 'Tomorrow I'm going to start anew'. Before I know it a whole dang month has gone by.

I signed up for Curves a month ago. The first couple of weeks went fine. Then I started those cosmetics resets and was exhausted when I got home and just didn't have the ambition to go. Now it's been 10 days since I've been, it's time to get weighed and measured and I have no desire to do so because I haven't been going. I'm sure I haven't lost anything.

I went and had my hair done today. I swear I fit worse in the chair than I did before. My gosh, I'm spreading instead of losing and I just feel like I'm on this giant merry-go-round and I can't seem to get off. The days spin faster and faster and I'm accomplishing nothing in the weightloss department. My mind is so bogged down and my heart is so heavy that I can't seem to care enough to make some progress.

I feel like such a failure!

Well, enough of that downer.....

Connie: I hope you're doing better today. You sounded really down in the dumps too.

Michelle: I've been more tired than bi^cHy for PMS the last few months, but this time I got tired AND bi^cHy! :rolleyes: Must be the age.

Mel: Go back a couple of threads and read. I think it was Kat that started the discussion on authors. There were quite a few suggestions in the last couple of threads. * Yes, I did think of you. And it's because when I first met you I remembered that you were a senior in college and so was my oldest son. He graduated this Spring as well. AND still no 'full time gig' for him either! :(

Steph: If you promise not to disappear on me, I'll loan you my set of Evanovich paperbacks to read. I'd be happy to send them to you, of course, you better ask Mary just how quick I am about shipping books! :lol:

Barb: I'm glad you had the opportunity to lay out the plans for the cruise ahead of time. One of my least favorite vacations was when we took my mom and MIL and FIL along. Everyone thought I was supposed to be the tourguide. It got old real quick because I was constantly trying to make sure everyone else had a good time that I couldn't.

Laura: If the low carb/high protein isn't working well for you, then it's time to check out a different plan. There certainly are plenty of them out there and I'm sure you'll find one that fits YOU! Keep looking and keep coming back here for the love, support and encouragement you need.

Katrina: Sounds like you're on a roll. Keep up the good work! Hope you had a nice visit.

Pam: 'Mini vacation days'??? What's that all about??? The days are shorter??? Or you get to go somewhere for a short time??? Sorry, I'm just messin' with you! ;)

Andria: So glad to hear you're feeling better. And 2 more pounds! Good girl!!! :D

2cute: WOW! What a great sale! I bet you guys are having fun with all of it. Just think, a new house is like having whole new canvases to paint on.

Tina: We miss you when you're not here too. I'm glad you had a couple of great days off.

Natalie: You're getting so close to Onederland! I'm so proud of you!!!

Well girls, I'm headed out to the store. They've got bi-color sweet corn on sale at the store and I need to go and re-buy zucchini for that squash bake. :spin: I bought some last week and they went bad in the fridge before I made the stupid recipe. :mad: Does anyone else do that? I buy all the goofy ingredients and then lose the recipe until after the ingredients have gone bad. Ok, vicious circle going on here!

Love :love: to all.

"Persevere and never fear.
Slow and steady wins the race."

I just had the yummiest grinder :)

Tina, are you talking about that bariatric surgery or whatever? I've considered it actually. I talked to my brother about it the other day, actually. We reached a similar conclusion....If you're going to staple your stomach to decrease your appetite, you might as well just forge ahead and try extra hard to restrict your eating habits anyways. I'm too much of a scaredy cat too! :(

Good Afternoon Chicklets....

Thin, I know what you mean about time slipping away, before I started on this journey to a healthier me, (on June 5th), I felt the same way. I felt like my life was passing me by and I was powerless to do anything about it. In my mind, at least fleetingly I would "think" about getting better, but "thinking" about it was all I could manage. My life had BECOME unmanageable, I felt like I was dying, and inside I was, my spirit was dead, and it was taking a physical toll on me too, I saw no way out of it. But one day, something just told me (it really did just "click"), I was going to die if I didn't choose to try and do something different. So, I went to see a Dr (had avoided that before, like the plague), I got
some blood pressure medication, but I still ate like I had been eating, (that was in Feb of this year), so from that time on, I started to really think about how close I came to dying, and it scared me....It scared me how close I got to becoming a diabetic, and maybe losing a limb, or becoming insulin dependent, or having to go on dialysis!!, I could finally see it all clearly...I was 43 years old, and I had been punishing myself by overeating, I had been killing myself with food since I was 12 -13 years old, (but learned even earlier than that to comfort myself with food), protecting myself, insulating myself from hurt, right?? That was illogical, but I continued down that road, and it spiraled out of control, but I "thought" I was handling it, and my body was allowing it, it wasnt' talking back. Several times over the years the depression got so bad, and I felt (much of the time), a lump in my throat, an overwhelming sadness. and I lived like that for YEARS!!!! I missed out on so much in my life. Compulsive overeating, and FOOD KEPT ME FROM MY LIFE. Intellectually I knew it was, emotionally, and spiritually I was beaten!! and I reached a point "I couldn't do it ", all I could do was sit and eat, and somehow managed to go to work, but I felt like I was just exisiting! and I was. So I started making really small changes in my eating habits, I mean really small changes...then I started going to see a nutritionist/dietician that is affiliated with my Dr's office. I saw her the first time and talked about nutrition, she gave me some information to read, and a blank food diary, I took it home and set it down, and for another month, I didnt even pick it up, and yes I started eating again with no abandon!!! Then on June 5th (my day of liberation as I like to think of it), I again started slowly, I did it day after day after day, until it became a habit, and then 2mos later on July 1st I started exercising, just a few mins at a time, and now here I am August 19th and I am working out, 1.5 miles a day with the watp tape, and on some days I walk 2 laps at the fitness park with a friend. NOW THAT IS A MIRACLE.....I want to live, I DISCOVERED I WANT TO LIVE!!...and somewhere in all of that I built me up a circle for friends, and support, all of you included. I began to feel worthy of asking for what I wanted and needed, and it is getting much easier!.....I love my life now, I love myself enough to do this as long as it takes and beyond!!!, I have to do this if I want to live...I was killing myself with food, and I do not accept that in my life anymore...I WILL NOT HAVE IT!!!

SOOOO, THIN YES I HAVE BEEN WHERE YOU ARE, AS MOST ALL OF US HAVE THAT PARTICIPATE IN THIS FORUM, BUT YOU KNOW I AM GRATEFUL MY LIFE GOT THAT BAD, AND I REACHED THAT POINT OF DESPAIR THAT I DID, BECAUSE IT BROUGHT ME HERE TO THIS PLACE, AND THE VIEW FROM HERE IS WONDERFUL!!

okay girls, I am off that soap box, and Thin I appreciate all you said, it allowed me the opportunity to re-affirm just why it is that I am making these changes...

Take care of yourself thin, you deserve your life, you are worthy of eating well and exercising. YOU ARE WORTH BECOMING THE AMAZING PERSON YOU ARE!!

LOTS OF LOVE, :love:

AMEN PAM! :)

Thanks Thin and Pam for those posts....

Deb

Hi Gals -
Believe me, I know where you are all coming from with the time passing by and getting healthy, etc. I have been heavy all my life, but was pretty healthy and active up until I got married. The low weight of my adult life was 211 - that was my freshman year of college. Then I crept up to 268 by my senior year, 1992, and got back to about 240 by the time I got married in 1994. Somewhere between 1994-2003 I got up to 328 :sp: I didn't realize what I was doing to myself. I was happy with my marriage, we were both TOO comfortable, eating what we wanted, doing whatever! Something just clicked in me around February! Just to take it slow and figure it out.....actually, there were a couple motivators in my life and they both really made me feel special today....can I share???

There is a man I work with - Dan. I have known him for about 5 years and he was very overweight. About 2 years ago he had his 2nd son and was on the verge of diabetes. I only see him every few months because he travels. Well, he finally realized it was time to get healthy! Since then he has dropped and amazing 175 pounds!!!! He did it the old-fashioned way --- diet and exercise. He looks amazing!!! Well, ran into him today for the first time in many months and he immediately noticed my weight loss and gave me a big old high five! :high: He is such an inspriration to me!!!

Then, there are 3 ladies that I work with who have become very good friends over the years. They are each around 120-130 pounds. So, very petite and thin!!! However, through many conversations with each of them I began to open up, as did they about weight loss issues. Even though they are small they have thier own battles. It's hard to realize that when you see someone on the outside. I never thought they could understand my situtation, but they are wonderful!! They are so supportive and I know in some way they helped me get to a better place in my life! Every week they ask about my losses/gains, we talk about food and recipes and challenges. They have been a great support system. Anyway, I come into work today and find a card on my desk from the 3 of them --- it was a congratulations on my 40+ pound loss and a $40 gift certificate to the mall!!! Isn't that just the sweetest thing????

I just thought I would share that with you. I don't know what I would do without the above people and each and every one of you in my life!!!! Support and encouragement are essential!

I think I am going to head out for the day --- At this rate I won't be home until 7:30, but I am going to exercise no matter what. I use to act like if I got home from late I couldn't fit it in. Now I fit in exercise no matter what. Even if it means 15 minutes in front of the tv ---- ANY exercise it better than none!!!

I'm done babbling....talk to ya'll later.
Love,
Barb
:)

I have time for only a few replies right now...then I MUST get some sleep!

Thin, sweetie, just go back to Curves. You don't have to measure now if you don't want to. Just get back into that groove, of consistent exercise. Remember how good it made you feel? I swear, it will even help with the TOM stuff, AND increase your energy. Really. And by the way, you are NOT a loser!! Don't we all feel that way at times...All it takes is that first step back. I KNOW you can do it. {{{hugs}}}

Pam, Oh dear, I can relate (as I'm sure we all can) to SO MUCH of what you said. The depression, the never ending diets, missing out on LIFE. How cool to have turned it around. Thank you for sharing that...it was very motivating!

2cute...YOU GO GIRL! Gotta love saving those $$$!!

:wave:

Its been a while since I posted and you all didn't even miss me!

I'm so behind I won't be able to make up for missed posts. But just had to jump back in here after Thin's, Pam's and Barb's posts.

I haven't been really off the wagon or anything just so far behind at work and at home. I'm not sure how that happened but I hate that feeling of running hard and getting no where. Like Thin said, too much time passing too quickly.

I've also spent a lot of time getting Balance Log set up on the new laptop for DH and I.

I do have to share his success with South Beach. Sometime during the month of June, we decided to give SB a try and about the same time, his doctor left a message at home that if his diabetes measurement didn't improve at the next visit, he would have to go on insulin. All the more reason for us to go ahead with our plans of trying SB. He had his checkup yesterday and his diabetes was down into the normal range. If we keep this up, he just might be able to get off all diabetes meds and control by diet. Plus he was down 6 pounds too. So, we're going to continue to use SB as a guide and use Balance Log to help monitor overall calories and how it all breaks down. I think I'm going to stop using WW or going to the meetings.

This will be short as I need to make my exercise time a priority and get off the computer.

Thanks for the inspirational posts! I'll try to get back to more regular postings.

TaTa!

sTILL HAVEN'T HEARD FROM MY TESTS. I itch all over but what can i do but claw my self. I am setting here drinking a cup of coffee at work no body is here but me and a sub.

Hello ladies - I am printing this thread to read later, but I wanted to get a post in before I start typing these reports.

I saw the doc today - just as I suspected my "back door" problem is a rectal tear. She prescribed suppositories and stool softener and told me to drink lots and lots and lots of water and to watch my fiber intake. Not as painful this evening as yesterday. This is a recurring problem with me and I have got to start taking better care of myself in this area, cause she said that if it doesn't heal we will have to consider other measures which would mean surgery which I do not want to have. So I better start chug-a-lugging and learning to love whole wheat products (I don't like whole wheat bread). I was using bran flakes then switched to Kashi GoLean cereal (10g of fiber in a serving). I don't deal with pain very well sometimes, I eat to get it off of my mind, plus I eat as a reaction to the stress the pain causes. But I've noticed that now I am overeating on the healthy foods instead of the sugary stuff. I have planned an OP dinner break tonight.

Well, I've got to get to work; i'll catch up on this thread at dinner and try to get in a reply to everyone that has posted on this thread so far.

You all were posting on books and authors you like - I just love the Mitford series by Jan Karon (she has a new one out "Shepherds Abiding"). I also like new hard cover series by Patricia Gaffney (Flight Lessons, The Saving Graces, Circle of Three). I also like novels that are set in old England (Philippa Carr). I'm not much on romantic novels. I haven't read too many mysteries.

There's a doctor in the office, gotta go.

I almost forgot.........
 

My weigh-in at the doc's showed a 3lb loss since I was there on 7/28; I'm now 10 lbs away from losing my first 50 lbs.

Hi Ladies!
I hope everyone is having a good evening. I am watching Cupid and looking forward to getting a good night sleep tonight. :)

Terri --- Great to see you popping back in. :) Glad to hear your husband is doing well!

Dixie --- Good job on the loss!!! Keep it up!! :D

Mary --- Hope you get to feeling better! :^:

Sweet Dreams to all! Talk to you later!
:)Barb

I know I sound down, but I just have to get this out!!!
 

Hey everyone:wave:

Well I read over what has been posted so far and I can relate to several. I feel exactly as Thin does right now, the "today is the first day of the rest of my life" syndrome which blends into tomorrow, and so on and so on. I know this feeling. It is what I have been struggling with for years, too. I too haven't been to Curves in about a week and a half and every day, I think okay, today I am going, but I talk myself out of it because I figure, "What's the point. I am never going to be able to do this":mad:

I once heard, I think on Oprah, that you shouldn't make the committment to do this until you know that you can keep with it. Otherwise it is just like lying to yourself. The more you lie to yourself, the less likely you are to believe yourself the next time you think, "Okay, this is it!" - in the back of your mind, you are saying "Yeah, right!":( I think that the dialogue we tell ourselves in the back of our mind is very powerful, and I find that that is one area that I have a lot of difficulty changing. You know, the believe in yourself, I'm worth it, :blah: , etc.

And so, I started working on this in January and have made minimal progress and, yes Thin, I too feel like time is passing me by. I head back to work in a week (full time after a year and a half leave:fr:) and I think to my self what the :censored: have I accomplished. Not a **** of a lot! I had really hoped to have lost a significant amount of weight so that I could feel a bit better about myself going back into the classroom:yikes: but here I sit battling the same 5 - 7 pounds for the last several months. I take it off, I put it on, I take it off, I put it on, you know the drill!

I too, feel like a failure and I feel like it is never going to happen for me.

Someone mentioned previously, I think it was Tina, about stomach stapling, and let me tell you I had it done when I was 20 and it was a huge mistake for me. I respect the right of anyone else to decide to do this but it is a huge step and it will change your life forever - or at least it did mine. In March of 1990, my Dad died of a massive coronary and although you have never seen me, I am the spitting image of my Dad and I am blessed with his never ending battle with weight. When my Dad died, it scared the **** out of me and I panicked!:yikes: I look just like my Dad, I have his weight problem, I even sound like my Dad and I figured I was headed down the same road as him. I had already looked into the surgery and my Dad felt (about six months before) that it was dangerous and I shouldn't do it. Then he died and I was terrified that I was next. I didn't get the proper counselling I needed to make such a life altering decision and I ended up in October 1990 deciding to go ahead and do it. At first it was good and I lost weight rapidly, but then when I tried to resume normal (read healthy - not my old "normal") eating habits, I couldn't. Everything, made me sick. Literally, I was throwing up all the time. I discovered the easiest thing to eat after this surgery is - you guessed it - junk food (it doesn't required a lot of chewing and alot of it melts in your mouth) - that was the end of my weight loss. And for the next seven years I bounced around the scales up and down like a yo-yo and developed the worst eating habits I have ever had in my entire life. In '97, I had the surgery reversed and gained more weight, but I still have trouble eating a variety of foods. My capacity to digest hard-to-digest foods is not good and I have completely cut out pork and beef out of my diet because that is just asking for it. I often feel sick when I eat and still throw up sometimes. This is the result of the surgery and I am stuck with it for life. I know that some people are very successful with this procedure, but I was not one of them. I feel it is important for me to let you know what I went through so you can make an informed decision. Whatever you decide, please make sure you get lots of counselling and make sure that you really want to go through with this, because once you do, there is no turning back.

I'm sure you are thinking, "well, if she is throwing up all the time, how come she has a weight problem!" It's the damn junk food - and my need to protect myself from the world. Yes, I know this is the problem, I just don't know what to do about it. Between the ages of about 9 and somewhere in my teenage years (read around 18) my brother physically and emotionally abused me. About a month ago (I am 33 now), I finally got up the nerve to confront him about all this and tell him that I have had enough and he is not going to bully and intimidate me anymore! His response was that it never happened, I made up the whole thing - it is all in my mind! What is worse is that my mother (she died in October) also doesn't remember any of this happening (even though she witnessed some of it). Yes, this is why I have been in therapy for the better part of my adult life - because I made it all up and I have nothing better to do than to deal with an issue that didn't really happen. Yes, I know I sound angry, and I am. This is probably making a lot of you uncomfortable (I am very sorry for that), and I don't even expect anyone to respond, I just need to get this rage out! I need someone out there to know that this happened to me and 15 - 20 years later, I am still trying to deal with it! I really am very sorry to be so negative, but I want people to know where I am at right now - maybe you can offer incite - but as I said, if you are uncomfortable with this, I understand.

Thank you for the positive and inspirational posts from others (pjk, barb).:bravo: I know this isn't one of them, but as I said, I needed to get this stuff out.

Thanks for listening

Laura:dizzy:

Okay, I'm going to do replies ---------

Laura - that's what we are here for, to listen and support each other; please do not think you are making anyone uncomfortable. Though I can't relate to your situation, I can relate to feeling angry about something that happened years ago. I still get angry when I think about my ex-husband divorcing me after only a year of marriage. But I know I have to go on with my life and not dwell on it. I know that is not nearly as serious as your problem. Just know that I don't mind it if you need to cry on a shoulder.

2cute - what a great sale! hope you are having fun decorating with your new things.

Tina :queen: - please send some of that enery my way! Congrats for staying OP yesterday and getting in all that activity. So glad your computer is back up and you can visit with us more. Love the Tony pic :T

Natalie - congrats for getting back on track :cp: What we put in our bodies does make a difference in how we feel.

Thin - excuuuuse me but who gave me a kick in the rear in chat a couple of weeks ago about exercise??? :drill: I think you should get yourself back to Curves. You can't fail as long as you keep trying. Yea, I hate those salon chairs too :mad:

Pam - I couldn't have said it better myself. Thanks for sharing. It's funny - when I didn't try to control my eating time just flies by, but when I would try to diet the time seemed to just drag.

Barb - what wonderful friends and co-workers you have. That was such a lovely gesture.

Terri - I do to miss you! So glad your DH is getting control of the diabetes. SB seems to working for you both, so keep it up. Hope your efforts are successful ones.

Mary - can your doc give you something for the itching? Hope you get your test results back soon. Keep us posted.

Mel - what is a yummy grinder?? Hope your having a good day.

Kat and Deb - hope you had a good day today. Have a good night Kat.

Hope that covers everybody. See you all tomorrow.

Good Morning Ladies,:wave:

Connie Congrats on your loss! wow, 10 lbs away from your first 50!!! that is amazing!!!! You Go Girl!!! We are all rooting for you!:strong: :bravo: :cp:

Lola, I agree holeheartedly with Connie, this is why we are here, you feel free to come to us with anything! I think we need to be willing to do whatever it takes to heal!! Whatever it takes to get it out in the open and let it go and move past it, all that hurt, and rage, and repression, kept us sick and made for a miserable existence, that doesn't have to be ANYMORE, we deserve more! I agree you do need for someone to know what has happened to you, the silence will kill you! It will "eat" away at you and rob you of your very life!!! So you come here and say whatever is on your mind and whatever is on your heart, we are all here to learn from each other, and we all benefit so much from your honesty and your bravery...I applaud your willingness to put yourself out there!!! NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR THAT!!! You are an intelligent, beautiful human being, you are worthy as a child of God, and as a woman! and you deserve a healthy body, mind, and spirit...and opening up like that is a huge step!!!!! in the right direction...Thanks!!!

All the rest of you chickies....good morning, let's get up and out and make this a great day?? What do you say, we are going to do this thing today, ready?????:)

:grouphug:

Well we are letting it all out now. It feels good to read about people that are JUST LIKE ME! It amazes me how much we all have in common. Thank God there is 3FC where we can all come together and help each other.

Pam,
I related to so much of what you said. It seems that in one way or another we were all able to take something from your honesty. I find it especially inspiring that you turned everything around in your life and are still able to look back and see what you have learned. That is a difficult thing to do. Congratulations!

Laura,
I would never judge you for putting your personal feelings out in the open. It is wonderful that you had the strength and courage to tell us about your past. Just think, some go through their whole lives never talking about the past or dealing with it in a healthy way. You are a strong and healthy person for getting it out in a safe place where you will never be judged.

Dixie,
Sorry to hear that you're not feeling well. Take care of yourself sweetie! Hugs.

You too Grannie! Feel better soon.

Determined,
I've heard a lot about SB. At first I thought it was just another trendy diet. Then I actually read that it is a safe and nutritionally sound diet. I'm actually thinking I'll give it a try myself. Congrats
to you and Hubby!

Hi Kat!

Barb,
It is wonderful that you have such a strong support group! I don't think I could do it without all of you.


Hello to anyone that I missed. Thank you all again for giving me the inspritation I needed!

Hello girls -


Ok, I was here last night but too tired to say much of anything, so I'm going to reply to this common "I am a failure" theme because I feel like that all the time.


Thin,Pam, Dixie, and Lolda -

First of all it sounds like some of us have problems in our families with weight. I too have this problem: my dad was always overweight as a child (thin and healthy now but he has to eat like Tofu Pups and fat free bran muffins and such..)..My mother has always had issues, and then there are my brothers.

So I can relate to what must feel like a doomed failure. <b>Thin</b>...seriously...whenever we start anew it's ALWAYS going to be depressing because we haven't seen any progress yet. We haven't been losing...but I know you know this, so I am going to remind you. WHENEVER you start anew...after that very first week..think of the confidence that you have now because, although the world might see someone a little bit larger than average, YOU know that you are actively doing something to change that. Am I right ladies? I feel like this. Before I came back to this 3FC I was actually worrying about being judge "what are they all going to think of me...coming back YET AGAIN. Truth is, I have had a hard time coming back here when I haven't had results. The fact that you are all still coming here and sharing your fears..that counts for a lot.

Losing weight can't be a simple process, and I know that you have to take a step back for every two you take forward..but if seems like the best way to go about something as consuming as this, because if you want to do it right, you need to realize that you are going to make mistakes...and you want to tell yourself that even when you reach your goal..you are going to continue the way you are...and you will want to...I know after I "purge" myself of sweets I never really want any.

In fact just yesterday I had two chocolate covered cherries. I didn't even feel bad about it, nor did I want more ...I was actually quite proud.

Even though I ate a large roast beef grinder (12 weight watcher's points...I fit it in :p)

Ahh..so that feels better :) I got on the scale and it was a few pounds down, so I Don't want to say anything yet. I forget..do we have weekly weigh-ins here?

Good morning, everyone! :wave: I hope you all are ready for another :sunny: sunshiny day!!! I'm heading to the other side of town to have lunch with a friend of mine.


I think I'm out of my 'funk' at least for the moment. Not like I'm any more committed (more like I should be committed). :( Mother Nature graced me with her presence yesterday, so I think that had a real positive affect on my mood.

I'm reading another series (only 3 books for now) of books that I really like. Funny, witty, fast like Evanovich. They are by Sarah Strohmeyer. The titles are Bubbles Unbound, Bubbles in Trouble and Bubbles Ablaze. The main character, Bubbles Yablonsky, is a hairdresser in Lehigh, PA and she's aspiring to be a investigative newspaper reporter. Very funny.

Anyway, there is another reason for me bringing this up. I found a passage in the book that I think we could all use as an afirmation. Bubbles, of course, is not saying it in relationship to losing weight, but I think if I put blanks into the passage in certain places and we each fill in the blanks with our own words, it will make some real good sense. Let's see what happens....

"I had made a promise to myself when I took that _____vow. I was going for the whole enchilada. Just as I was aspiring to become a _____, I was not going to settle for less than _______.

It had taken me a long, long time to realize that this is what I wanted. But there comes a moment in a woman's life, after she has compromised herself for her parents and her boyfriend, husband, boss and children, when she takes stock and says, NO! From now on, I am going for the golden glories in this world. I want it all. I am worthy."

I hope that passage does something for you. It struck me as very pertinent.

Melissa:

Pam: I'm glad you had an opportunity to re-examine and confirm your decision to become healthier. That's what I love about this place. It seems like someone is always saying something that makes us stop and think, re-affirm and move on.

Deon: Where have you been, my little dear? You are not posting like you used to.

Barb: How cool your day was with all those compliments. And those friends of yours at work are just gems.

Terri: Definitely missed you! Sounds like the South Beach is going well for you and hubby. That's great!!

Mary: Can you get any relief from Benydril or something topical??? You must be miserable.

Connie: 3 pounds! Good for you!!! I sure hope your backside is feeling better real soon. Sounds painful!

Laura: I'm not uncomfortable about you telling your story. [[[hugs]]] I'm just sorry that you have gone through that type of childhood. I'm such a believer that children are our greatest joy and gift and have no tolerance for abusers of any kind. I'm glad that you are working through your troubles and that maybe, you'll see a light at the end of the tunnel. You can vent here anytime.

Well girls, I'm off to lunch. Dr. Atkins is on The View today. I'm taping it to see what he has to say. Hope you all have a great day!

Thin -

I just saw the View in light of your entry. Looks like there was a whole slew of weight loss "experts" including Suzanne Summers. I think the smartest man there was the one that was saying: "hey look, you can't deny yourself certain foods and expect to make some sort of lifelong change." Atkins may work, but it has a **** poor sucess rate. I don't want to sound 'down' on it...but it's a fad diet. Dr. Atkins fails to remind us that Ketosis does a number on your brain...your brain functions on glucose...and it cannot get glucose from proteins...when your body is in ketosis, it is manufacturing ketones by feeding off of your muscle.

Just my two cents. :)

Hi all....
 

I don't know that I'm going to have anything to add, but I guess I'll hop up on my :soap: for a little bit.

This is not only for Thin, but for all. First of all. We are ALL beautiful. We are ALL worthy. We are ALL lovely, smart, capable women who are entitled to have everything that life has to offer. The only problem is: Sometimes we don't grasp on to what life has.... we are complacent to stay in this "rut" continuing on the same path over and over and over.

How many times I've said, "This time I'm doing it." This will be the last time I look in the mirror and cringe. This is the last time I do not fit in the amusement park rides. This is the last time I make sure when the waitress sits me in a booth that the table scoots. This is the last time I miss out on something fun that I want to do because I'm too tired, too lazy, or too big.

Then..... 6 mos later and many many lbs. lost and gained back, I'm giving myself the same pep talk. Sometimes it just seems like we're on this big journey to nowhere.

BUT..... what is the alternative? High blood pressure? Diabetes? Heart attack? Sitting home, looking out the window at your children who may not have a mother one day because you care so little for yourself and your health that you cannot stop eating? Staring at your dh, who loves you with all of his heart.... imagining him standing over a coffin because you couldn't stop eating? Ladies...it sounds rude and wrong, but it's true and we all know it. If we do not stop and change our ways, it is inevitable.

No, we're not always going to be a rock. We are ALL going to have bad days...it happens. What is important here, is that once we do get down....that we do not stay down.

I for one, would rather stand up after falling down a million times than to lay there and die without trying.

I know each and everyone of you here have to agree with me, at least on some level and I have hope, love and believe in all of us enough to know that we can succeed in this thing called life.

I also think it's important to say that no matter where we are at, no matter how much we weigh....whether we are 120, 220 or 320 lbs, the size of our bodies do not change the size of our hearts. I for one am glad our hearts are huge. :love:

A good friend said this to me the other day and I keep recalling it to memory whenever I get down...... While it's beautiful walking throught the rolling fields and meadows, can you imagine the view from the mountaintop? That's where I want to be..... THE MOUNTAINTOP. Will you come with me?

I love you all. :grouphug:

Wow...lots of soul searching and honest talk around here today...I like it. While our circumstances may not be identical, we share a common problem, the need to lose weight. The need to change the way that we eat and stop making excuses about why we can't/won't and JUST DO IT. Gosh, it seems so simple, really.

So, why is it just so @*&^#% HARD?

Today, for instance....I almost fell into a common trap. I've been working hard for the past week...eating well, exercising....I get on the scale, hoping for my "reward," you know, a 10 lb loss to show for my efforts, (snicker) and I'm the same FREAKIN' WEIGHT I WAS LAST WEEK!!!

:mad: :sorry: :bomb:

So what is my first, well second reaction?---the first consisted of using words like, :censored: and :censored: and :censored: a few times and my personal favorite,:censored: :censored:

To eat, of course!!! It was almost instinctive..."well, what can I shove into my face to make me feel better" OR "since I can't lose weight anyway, I may as well pig out." These words aren't actually spoken, more like felt...

I didn't eat. Something prevailed....common sense or maybe the desire to lose weight has finally been kicked up a notch. Maybe the realization that this is a LONG term process and not only do we need to work it til the job is done, we need to work this for the rest of our lives. This is how it has to be. That's why it's so important to pick a way of eating that we can live with for the rest of our lives. And to make those small, consistent changes that really do add up. Water, exercise, more vegs, a positive attitude. I think that last one is the most important.

Do you guys ever read the Skinny Daily Post thread here at 3fc? It's an daily essay. written by a woman who has lost a significant amount of weight, about her day to day struggles and revelations related to that weight loss and the maintainence of it. good to read stuff from the 'other side'...one who has succeeded, but still works to stay where she is and to not fall back into the abyss of being overweight. Check it out.

Well, I feel like I've rambled on long enough...I have to exercise now...

I'll show that scale.

Afternoon Chicklets!

Its 93 degrees, and heat index makes it 100!, whew!! I had to get out for a little while and run some errands....I let my drivers license expire, was to have renewed them last month, and didn;t realize it....glad they sent a card!!! I would have had to take that test all over again, and then what if I had not passed it?????? :D :D

Tina, thanks so much for what you said, I love the quote about the mountain top!!! Yes, friend I will meet you there!!! There is so much truth in all you said, I really admire your ability to be so candid and forthright!!! I do so enjoy reading all of your posts....how is your son doing by the way, still going to ww with you? I hope so. One of my co-worker's son is 3 and he has to go later this wk to a clinic in Birmingham for diabetes testing! He weighs about 76lbs I think. I do so hope for his mom's sake (and his dad's), that he can just make dietary changes. Debbie, his mom just had the gastric bypass surgery about a month ago, so they have already started making some changes in the household, maybe now she can set a better example for him. I especially hope he gets it off before he goes to school, that will be too much torment for the little guy, and will cause even more eating!!! Hope he and his mom can turn things around.....many thanks for all you said, I am so grateful to be able to come here and be witness to all this inspiration and all of your success strories, WE ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE OUR OWN SUCCESS STORY!!
:spin: :cb: :dance: :dancer: :grouphug:

Katrina, touche'!!!! I second all of what you said, especially the part about being positive, I am trying really hard to block all the negativity, and allow only positive things to fill my head, I try to start the day with a positive affirmation of some kind, a good thought before my feet even hit the floor, and it is just amazing to me that one positive thing really does make room for the next positive thing to occur.......That to me is what has FINALLY clicked. I can do this!! I AM DOING THIS!!:D

MissMeliss...you got it going on girl!!! I (obviously) knew nothing about nutrition, and what I did know I DENIED, but the more I learn anout healthy eating and lifestyle changes the more I want to know, so THANKS!!:goodvibes

Thin...I say AMEN to that chickie.....no more COMPRIMISING OURSELVES!!! HERE'S TO YOU:cheers:

Natalie, you are so right too, thank God for this forum, and its' founders...Suzanne, Jennifer and Amy...they have given us a place to have a "voice", I know I was silent far toooooooo long! Keep up the good work!!

Mary honey, hope you are feeling better today, and hope you have heard your test results...the waiting is insufferable sometimes. I am thinking of you.....

All the rest of you gals, I will catch you tonight:wave:

WOW... I came and read some of the posts yesterday but did not have time to reply nor the right words to share. I wrote a post off line today and came in and found such wonderful replies I almost did not post mine. LOL
Mine is short... sort of ... for me. LOL
It is mainly directed toward Thin... but applies to everyone.
Here it is. Glad to know she does not need it anymore... but I needed to write it so maybe someone else can get some use from it. LOL I certainly got a LOT from all of your posts. Thank you so much for sharing.
----------------------
Hi there stranger. I read your post from yesterday and my heart ached for you.
I have been where you are soooooo many times I can't count that high.
I am torn in what direction to write. Hugs and sympathy ??..OR .. tough love ???
I just know that I have been there... and I am grateful I am not there now.... but .. that is only half truth.

I could be there... my food has been in need of MAJOR improvements lately.
But I have chosen to not focus on the negative and keep committed to the positive I am doing. This morning I did NOT want to exercise. But I "FORCED" myself to just do it. I am glad I did. My food is still not perfect.. definitely NOT going to lose weight this way... but I am not going back to hating myself either.

Right now I still have that mentality that enjoying life is eating whatever I want.
I am re-training myself to know that enjoying life is even BETTER when I eat more healthy choices and exercise. It is a hard lesson to learn when you have used food your ENTIRE LIFE for celebrations and numbing emotions to drowning sorrows.
I truly believe that I can use food for pleasure as well as nurishment but in a new healthier manner. Thin... you can too.!!! Just hang in there... get your butt back to Curves and remember to make it a TOP PRIORITY !!!!! That may mean having to turn down a job a two and even maybe telling a friend that you will be glad to help them but around YOUR schedule so you always make that hour for Curves three times a week. Another tip that helps me is... "Missing exercise is NOT an option !!" When I am trying to figure out how to work everything in my day... missing my exercise is not an option.
It is best for me to do it first thing in the morning. I know for you it is best at 3pm.
Thin... jump right back onto the wagon and get yourself back on your exercise program. I remember soooo well how much better you felt physically and emotionally when you went. JUST DO IT !!!

Laura... and everyone else. Please know that getting the negative out and making room for the positive is what recovery is.
DO NOT make the mistake of thinking that recovery is when you have all of your problems solved and resolved. :no: It is not. Recovery is learning how to live within this imperfect world.
Sharing the bad as well as the good is the entire package.
If our hearts are full of anger, hate, resentment, self pity... then that leaves no room for forgiveness, love, respect and gratitude.
Sharing the negative is as important as sharing the positive.
Get rid of the negative and starting replacing it with positive.
We are here for you... through the good and the bad. :love:
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Okay... thanks for listening. Thin... glad you TOM finally showed his ugly face. At least now you know who your adversary is.
I HATE it when PMS takes control of my common sense and rationale. LOL

Hi everyone!

Everyone bearing their souls just inspired me to finally post. I really need to make some "confessions" I guess.

I noticed there has been a lot of talk about the gastric bypass surgery. First of all, please don't any of you call yourselves "chicken" for not having the surgery. You are absolutely NOT chicken!! It takes so much courage to keep battling it on your own, and I applaud you. Nobody is braver than anyone else because they choose to have the surgery or not. It is simply a matter of choice, and each choice comes with it's own benefits and downfalls. I have been told by several people that I am brave for having the surgery. I feel quite the opposite. I feel like I was such a failure that it was the only option I had left. I've lost the weight before with the good old diet and exercise only to gain it back. I just got tired of it and decided it was time to get drastic before I ended up like the rest of my family with diabetes and heart disease. One uncle lost both of his feet to diabetes. Heart disease is rampant. My grandmother is so far the person in my family to live the longest and she died at 64. Everyone else in my family died in their 50's. Needless to say, I don't have much family left.

I have been one of the very fortunate people that had this surgery. I've had nothing in the way of serious complications, and for that I'm grateful. HOWEVER, the reality of the surgery is that it is just a tool, not a quick fix. I am now 7 weeks post op and am already feeling the old habits creeping up on me. For the time being my physical restrictions are keeping me from overdoing it, but I am making some bad food choices and am totally slacking on the exercise. If I don't utilize this tool now, I know I will gain the weight back eventually, just like every other time. I still have to battle this off. I've only lost 4 pounds so far this month when I should still be dropping rather quickly.

I guess I am here to tell you all that I am not the great success that i had hoped I would be. I'm not giving up though. I did not go through all of this to fail again. I am getting back on the wagon. That means getting all my protein, getting off those dang carbs, drinking all my water, and EXERCISE!! I also really want to get off my duff and start posting here daily again. I know that last time I lost so much weight, coming here to post as well as receive so much love and support was an amazing help.

Thanks for listening to my sniveling. I REALLY WILL try to post every day!!
Talk at ya later,
Jen

Jen... I am so happy you are going to join us more often again.
Success is yours for the taking... just like the rest of us.
Your little motto in your signature says a lot....

"Some people dream of success... Others wake up and work hard at it."

Let's all work hard together. :grouphug:

Ok y'all....(my left over accent from living in the south back in the 70's)! I skimmed through these soul baring posts here and have made the decision to get off my duff too and get with this program...I was a success story....I can be one again. I know this program works...IF YOU WORK THE PROGRAM....so with that said...I went and rejoined weight watchers tonight! I am going to do it this time once and for all...I too am sick and tired of being sick and tired and killing myself with food. I want to live a long time to watch my son grow into a young man, I want to be able to do things with him and not be tired, I want to be able to get down on the floor with him and play and be able to get back up again! I want the aches and pains in my knees and feet to go away again!! And it will.....so who wants to get on this wagon with me tonight and go the distance hand in hand??

Phew....did I just babble or what??

Well I gotta make this short cause I have the boy in the tub and his daddy went out with the guys tonight for a couple of hours!
I will be back tomorrow after work to report my success for the day! It will be a successful day...each and every day...one day at a time!

TTFN Michelle

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