Well, I made it though dinner with Mom (sounds like a movie!). Food was about what I expected - not much OP, or much that Pete could eat. I think I managed to stay OP anyway (if my guesstimates are anywhere close).

On one hand I think that bit I said about rewarding myself with days off isn't completely true, but since in another it probably is I'm going to give the whole thing more thought. I'm not really very good about "rewarding" myself. I always think of it as "spoiling" myself which also bears thought. For some reason I'll spoil myself, but calling it that has huge negative overtones. Hmmmm.....

Have a good week all. It's actually looked like spring here in Kansas. Anyone want pictures to help you remember?

Gizzi: Celebrations are always difficult, unless we have control over the menu and cooking. Okay. So, you've been doing this off and on plan thing lately. Now, you can get down to business and challenge yourself to stay OP for a portion of or an entire week. Build on that. Mom's cooking . . . yum, yum. Can't say enough about the taste - and the calories! Do your best with Mom meals, plan ahead, and enjoy it (and your time with her) while you can. I can go through those one-day-off-leads-to-another-and-another times, but not because I "deserve" it, but because I've heard that I shouldn't "deprive" myself. (What "justification"!) Springtime in Kansas . . . I'm jealous. Free to good home: Michigan snow.

Dora: Under 190?!?! WOOHOO. I'm still dreaming of the day.

Judy: Hope the routine of your new job kicks in soon. Strange how so many things affect how we eat. If you need to do take-out frequently again, maybe you could call ahead and ask how the food you want is prepared. Sometimes restaurants will prepare your way, too. At seafood places I ask that they broil my meal in water instead of butter.

Annie

Dora, way to go! Wow!

I've had three over-point days in a row -- and my weight shows it. It's amazing how quickly I can gain weight, even when my over-pointness wasn't extreme. What started it? Eating ice cream at a Japanese restaurant (I love exotic ice cream). After that, I craved sugar like there was no tomorrow. I obviously have a bit of a problem with sugar.

Anyway, to paraphrase Scarlett O'Hara, today is anuthuh day. I'm saying no to the huge plastic jug of peppermint patties sitting on the table next to my desk. (This table also contains Girl Scout cookies -- which should be outlawed -- and animal crackers and goldfish crackers and tortilla chips and twizzlers and cheetos ... you get the picture.) For the most part, this table no longer gets to me. I mostly ignore it. But those peppermint patties ...

--Lauren

Where is everyone :confused:!!! I'm gone for a week and I figure I'd have a lot of catching up today. I guess you're all like me. Busy, and not a lot to say. Last week was a disaster, except that I learned something. For most people, the week leading up to TOM is rough. I have cravings that week, too, but not uncontrollable. Then, the week after, when I've let my guard down, I get into trouble. This month I'm prepared and it won't get the best of me! As I said, last week was rough, but this week, I'm back on track trying to undue the damage. That's ok. I'm not going anywhere. On the bright side, Spring is peeking it's head out. Daffodils, crocus, and forsythia are blooming and the bradford pear trees are starting to flower and the buds on the dogwoods are looking pretty ripe. I love this time of year!

Lisa Marie - Congrats on your 10 lb. star. Hope things are going well for you. It's a struggle sometimes, but definitelly worth it. By the way, I'm in Georgia.

Dora - WooHoo on getting below 190! You are an inspiration.

Judy - Glad you're enjoying your new job. If your like me, it's easy to let yourself get wrapped up in all the new challenges. Don't forget to plan! Taking care of yourself is still important!

Gizzi - So what are your thoughts on 'rewarding' and 'spoiling' yourself. I'd be interested because I have the same problem sometimes.

2ofMe-Hope you're doing well. What's it like in Michigan these days?

Hope to hear from some of you soon. Just stop by and let us know how you're doing.

Michele

Maybe everyone has the February doldrums. Well, folks, it's March now -- spring is just around the corner! (Unless you live in Michigan, in which case it's ... not.) Time to get out those shorts and tank tops again shortly! How's that for a motivator?

I'm up a half pound this week. I had three days over points, but it averaged out by the end of the week. Still, I can't eat at the top of my range these days and expect to lose weight. So there you go. I've been doing great the past few days and am exercising.

Michele, that TOM thing is a pain. I'm open to suggestions on how people have handled it.

Onward and springward,

Lauren
274/216/down

ME2: Flowers???? Already????? Well . . . now you know what Michigan is like. (We still get flowers at the store.)

LaurenH: I've averaged my points over the entire week a few times before, too. It can really be the way to go, because even though I can be over a couple days, the rest of the week balances out. In that way, there is no guilt or anger or undoing what I've already done.

I've been eating healthy foods the last few days, but not journalling, so the points are questionable. Still drinking water (and as you know, what goes in, comes out LOL). Strange how I know all the things to do, but don't do them all and at the same time. :rolleyes:

2oM

Howdy all,
Spring is in the air here, too, depending what day it is. The illustrious texas Bluebonnets are raising their heads. Trees budding everywhere. BUT, nasty, cold rain the last few days. Sorta like Michigan or Washington, I hear. ;)

Ladies, I enjoyed beating the 190 barrier so much, I think I'll do it again. :rolleyes:Unfortunately, I've managed only one OP day this week (maybe two) and highly expect a small gain tomorrow morning. Still walking and watering, but journaling and eating have gone AWOL.

Yikes, have any of y'all tried water aerobics? My rec center just started the Deep Water classes in the early hours. Man, oh, man! That class kicked my butt!! Great fun, but it really worked my abs and shoulders-which I needed. I am definitely adding this to the list.
Judy-I think I am off "A" team for the triathlon. Not nearly enough swim practice and Santa didn't bring that bike like I hoped. And very few hours to practice that, anyhow. I'm still working on it, though.

My boss left me holding the fort for a week and I sold a record amount of stuff. He gave me a cash bonus that I intend to spend on inline skates for me and my favorite girl. (and lots of pads!) Sure wish she could ride her bike by herself, I'd spend it on a bike for me. oh well.

Say a little prayer that a miracle happens at WI tomorrow. Like that I buy a vowel and get with the program. :)

Off to get my cowbell!


------------------
Dora
246SW/188.8 Woohoo!!/140ish
One pound at a time!

Spoiling vs. Rewarding
 

When I was a kid, my mom & I would go shopping & I could always tell when she didn't think she ought to buy my something because she'd tell me not to mention it to Dad. I don't really think it happened that often, but often enough that I remember buying "special" stuff & thinking it's a little bit wrong. And that I was spoiled because I got pretty much whatever I wanted (& Mom & Dad both would occasionally say, "You're really spoiled" or versions thereof).

Fast forward to now when I'm pretty much free to spend most of my money as I choose to because Pete feels like it's his responsibity to pay the bills & stuff. I use my check for gifts (his family & mine) & groceries (most of the time. not always). I always feel that I should be doing more appropriate things with it (saving, buying a decent car...), but I'm not very good at that type of stuff. WW is about as disciplined as I can manage & that's saying a lot! So since I'm already buying pretty much anything I want when I want it, it's hard to think of a non-food thing as a reward.

What I ought to be doing, I expect, is paying myself for every pound lost into a savings account so I can go to Mall of America & shop like a fiend when I hit goal. Then I'd get a trip (which is not a high priority with DH) & new clothes (which I'll need :)), but that's the discipline thing again & I'm pretty strict with myself about not loading too much of that on at a time so the things I really need to be disciplined about (work, WW) don't fall off the track.

Any of this making any sense?

Yup
 

Gizzi, yup, that all made sense. I'm careful not to bite off more than I can chew, too (so to speak). I really like the idea of paying yourself for pounds lost, though. I'm going to start doing that immediately.

One thing that has helped DH and me is to have a "mad money" fund. Each week we withdraw a certain amount of money for his and hers mad money funds. We can spend this money however we want. We haven't been super careful with it yet, but we're working toward it. It really helps ease marital tensions when one partner spends a lot of money on something the other partner thinks is a Bad Idea.

Dora, you crack me up! Let us know how it goes this week.

As for me, I did something interesting -- I added up my weight-loss totals by the month since August (when I recommitted myself to the program), and I was very surprised. All last fall, I lost about 2 pounds per month. The only month I actually didn't lose any weight was December! I thought I was on a three-month plateau, and I wasn't at all. Then this past January and February I lost 3 and 4 pounds respectively. The main difference was exercise (I started working out regularly in early January).

This told me two things:

1. By weighing myself as often as I do, I lose perspective on how I'm really doing. As a slow loser with wide fluctuations in weight from one day to the next, I really do need to cut back to weighing myself once a month.

2. Exercise works. Without it, I just don't lose quickly enough.

Veddy interestink.

--Lauren

Greetings from the (allegedly) snowy Northeast!

We've been hearing about this HUGE storm coming our way since Friday. It was so busy at the supermarket on Sunday morning, it was like the day before Thanksgiving. Very few people came into work today and they closed the office at 2pm. When I left, it was RAINING! Not much snow has fallen yet.

But, it's expected the office will be closed all day tomorrow. I was supposed to fly to Detroit tomorrow morning, come back on Wednesday and fly to Dallas on Thursday. I know I'm not going to Detroit; not sure what will happen with Dallas.

Anyway ... the weathermen are still trying to save face by saying the storm is still to come ... 18" to 30" in my neck of the woods! Yikes!

So, I'm quite jealous of everyone who has buds and flowers and spring breezes!

2ofM - thanks for the reminders on restaurant take out strategies. I have basically whittled down the number of places I'm willing to get take out from to a very short list.

ME2 - I agree that planning is key. I'm finding that the travel in this company tends to involve dinners with clients, something I rarely did when traveling for my previous employer. I could live without that.

Dora - you must be excited to get below that 190 threshold! Even without training for the triathlon, it seems like you're still getting in plenty of exercise.

Gizzi - I don't want to sound like a Pollyanna, but I find the weight loss and the feelings of well-being I get from it to be a reward in and of itself. And, then, it doesn't hurt to have to keep buying new clothes in the right size so everyone can see how much I've lost!

Lauren - it's always good to go back and review what you've actually done over the months. Glad it's resulted in a re-evaluation of your success - in that you're more successful than you thought!

Take care, all!

Judy
338/239/175

I am new to this post and to Weight Watchers as well . Just began yesterday. Had a very positive day! I am looking for support in my weight loss challenge. Have a VERY LONG way to go! I know I can do it this time as I have gotten SO tired of being FAT.There are so many things I want to do and can't because of my weight. It has gotten in the way of my life!! I hate it! I hope I can be of help to all of you as well. I am taking this one day at a time. My weigh in day at Weight Watchers is every Tuesday. Hope all of you have a great on OP day. We can do this!!
White Squirrel :)
306

Welcome, Squirrel! Great to have you with us. This is a great, supportive forum, and WW123 is the best plan I've ever seen. I've never stuck with anything this long before -- 3 years this June. I started at 274, so I know about having a ways to go. I'm a slow loser, so I take heart by breaking down my goals into 5-pound increments (or less, sometimes). Also, be sure to take your measurements now -- you'll be amazed and thrilled with how those go down over time.

Judy, next time you're coming into Detroit, holler! It would be great to meet you.

I'm upping my exercise to 4-5 times per week now. I'm ready. Two sessions of strength training mixed with aerobics and two to three sessions of pure aerobics. I actually looked forward to doing my workouts the past couple days. Is that weird or what??

--Lauren

Thank you Lauren H. for making me feel welcome. I was a little nervous about posting, being the new kid on the block so to speak. Day 2 went real well. I think writting everything down helps me keep track of what I put in my mouth. I plan on measuring in once a month to go along with my weekly weigh ins at WW meetings on Tuesdays. Exercising is REAL difficult right now because I am soooo large, but I hope it will get easier as I go along. I have a treadmill at home so that makes it more convienent. Now if I could just walk on the thing longer than 10 minutes before I get winded, that would be something. I know that I did'nt put all this fat on overnight, so I just have to be patience and take little steps in the right direction. I have to take it one day at a time! Hope everyone is doing well and staying OP. Just get through today and that is one day closer to our goals, better health and a fuller life. Bye for now.
White Squirrel :)

You're right, Squirrel -- we didn't put it on in a month, and we won't take it off in a month either. I'm a slow gainer and a slow loser. A turtle in every way! :)

I'm down a pound this week, woo-hoo! Next week is TOM, so it'll probably come back temporarily. That's how my body works.

Where IS everyone??

--Lauren
274/215/down

That is just what I was thinking too Lauren. Where is everyone? I hope I didn't scare them all away by coming on board? Well anyway it is great getting to know you Lauren.

I am different in that I put on weight very, very fast but take it off EXTREMELY slowly. So in some respects I am like you, a turtle! HA HA
Just remember who won the race. Slow and steady, we will get the job done!

Day 3 was a little harder for me. I was craving everything in sight but fought it. Went to bed earlier. I guess my body is starting to figure out that is isn't getting all that extra food it has been used too. Just getting through one day at a time is helping me. I know the tougher road is ahead of me, but if I can do it one day at a time then I believe I can win over this battle with the Fat Monster. It is differently a life style change.

Hope everyone, where ever they are, is having a successful day and week. Stay OP! Write everything you eat down, it makes all the difference!! We can do this! Talk to you later. Bye Bye
White Squirrel :)