We're a group of people that have/had 100 or more pounds to lose. Join us in our journey to a healthier way of life!!

Hey gang, just got back from my walk and I kicked a$$!!! Had my best time yet of 65:12 for 4.5 miles (4.14 mph). I think the hiking really contributed to the improved effort on the walk, it's getting my legs and lungs in better shape.

So, any big to-dos for Mother's Day? MIL has received so many dates for us coming down that it's pathetic. First we were going down Saturday since DH got a morning tee time on Sunday, then it was Friday because the Avalanche had game 1 of the next round on Saturday in the afternoon, then it became Saturday again because a key player had to have his spleen taken out so DH has given up on the team winning the Stanley Cup, and now it's Sunday because a guy we share playoff tickets with can't make it to the game Monday so we are switching dates. At least DH put his mom ahead of playing golf, and cancelled the tee time. I'll just be ready to go at a moment's notice in case he changes things again. It's only an hour drive so no big deal to me . And now we'll actually be there on Mother's Day!

Not much going on, just crappy weather again, though it looks like some blue skies are starting to peek out, so that's nice. I'm going over some recipes today to plan what I want to cook next week. I always like to make a couple of new things, plus have some reliable standbys.

Have a great weekend, folks.

Hi all,

Gosh, has this been one hectic week!! Between work and my children's sports/practices & school meetings, I am beat. I will definately be glad when the end of June is here. I am not trying to push the summer, but my weeks between now and the end of June are full. I enjoy being involved in everything I am in, but am kind of depressed that my "me" time is definately hurting right now. Am going to get some exercise back in this weekend, and see what weigh-in brings next week. Missed last Wednesday's because of meetings and softball games. My hopes are to just maintain through this hectic time and hit it hard when things slow down in July and August.

Cynthia - Glad to hear the Avalanche advanced, but sorry about the player and his spleen. Tell the hubby not to give up, maybe someone else will step up and carry them through. As always, your exercise amazes me. 4 miles in a little over an hour!! Were you running. I thought I walked pretty fast, but can only do 3 miles an hour (on a good day). Keep up the good work!! You definately benefit from your various exercise options!!

Kathi - I believe I do remember you, but I have been here for so long, I can't remember a lot of specifics. I know I was posting here in 1998, cuz when we sold our house in early 1999 I had to post from work. (We lived in our camper for the summer). Glad you are back. I could just never leave this place. A lot have left, but some have come back. I was most excited to see Setina when she started posting again. She was and is such an inspiration to me. Maybe we can get this thread hopping again. I can remember printing out numerous pages at work so I could read them at night that summer we moved (and that was only a couple days worth).

Setina - Hey gal!! You really need to get better. How is the WW thing going for you now?

Kim - Good job on the exercise. Two pounds is super!!! Remember that everyone loses differently. Is your mom alot heavier than you? My first year on WW I lost 70lbs, while my mom struggled to lose 20.

Joanne - What beautiful weather we are having!!! Sorry to hear that Jen quit, but they have to do it for themselves. I have decided to just let my daughter do what she wants. She still wants to go to WW, but I will let her figure out what works for her. I just want her to be happy, and I know that some times her weight depresses her, esp. when she can't buy "cool" clothes. I see so much of myself when I was her age in her. My mom tried with me too, but I didn't listen or do well. Eventually, I guess we all get to a point where it's OUR decision. We'll see!!

Well, I guess I have rambled enough. It seems nice to sit down and relax (although it is way after my bedtime). For those of you who remember, we are big Nascar fans, and my husband works for NH Int'l Speedway when they have races. This week is the Busch race so he has been down there since Wednesday night. I am loving the whole bed to myself (and of course the dog)!!

Hope everyone has a super weekend, and Happy Mother's Day to all!!

Sheri

Sheri: That's right! I remember you were living in a camper all summer while your house was being built! And I remember you talking about the racing thing too! I am trying to think of what was significant in my life at that time. If it was the summer of 1999, that was the year I had my 10 year HS reunion. My little one would have been 3 at that time. We had two trips to Florida within two months because of my reunion and my brother's wedding. My weight was at my WW lowest at 203.2, but I never broke the 200 lb mark. I don't know if any of that helps you to remember me or not.

I had a loss of 1lb at WI today. I realized that DH and I have a wedding to go to in three weeks. This is a wedding of one of his friends, and I always get tied up in knots at the thought. Most of his friends are still single, dating pretty young girls, and I can just imagine what they think of me! They are always very nice to me, but I wonder if they feel sorry for him that his wife is such a fat cow. Not that they act like that, but I get myself all caught up in what people think of me. Many of his friends have told me that they are jealous of him and that they wish they could find "Mrs. Right", but I don't know if I buy that! The thing that has got me the most anxious is that the last time I saw these guys, I was about 20 pounds lighter than I am right now. I just wish I could be happy with who I am , and not get so concerned about what other people think!

Kathi

Allye Allye in come free!! Where are you all??


Sheri

Good morning!

Sheri -- I'm here. Jen's too sick to go to school. Poor kid was white as a ghost last night and complained of feeling "awful all over". I'm letting her stay home today to get some more rest. This leaves me with about an hours extra time as I won't have to drop her off at school before I take my son to day care. Shane (my son) is thrilled about the extra sleep. Didn't even complain about Jen getting to stay home and him having to go to "school".

Kathi -- I read your e:mail just now and it brought tears of empathy to my eyes. I had to attend my husband's twin brother's wedding just 5 months after we eloped. He not only married a woman 4 years younger than me but she is athletic and trim (really "perky"). They had a very traditional wedding with relatives coming in from all over the country to attend. I felt like every one was staring at me the whole night. My husband is 6'1" and weighs about 180 pounds (my "cowboy wanna be" ). I weighed 260 pounds at barely 5'4". Nice picture, huh? Wait! This story has a happy ending -- really! John's (my husband) Aunt Kathy from Florida seemed to pick up on my distress (I thought I'd been covering up pretty well). She pulled me aside and told me how she'd been getting all kinds of calls from my mother-in-law and John's younger sister and his twin brother since we annouced our marriage. At first they were upset (he'd only been divorced for 5 months), but once they got to know me, they said, and I quote here, "She's the best thing to happen to John in a long time." (Still brings tears of joy to my eyes!) Nobody cared about my excess poundage but me! Maybe your husband's friends really do envy his having found his "Mrs. Right". I honestly feel we are too often our own worst critics and that we project our self-loathing and insecurities into what we think other people are feeling about us. Remember, chin up, stomache in, smile and just breathe. Your there to celebrate the union of two friends in love -- not to worry about what other people "might" be thinking about you. Have fun!

Gotta go. Even with an extra hour to myself this morning, I do need to get ready for work sometime.

Joanne: I have to tell you that we have more in common than you think! I met my husband in January of 1994- and we were engaged 4 weeks later! We didn't elope (should have!), but were married in December of 1994. My husband was a widower (at 23) with two small kids. His wife had been killed in a car crash in early 1993. I was so worried about what everyone would think of me, taking over the role of wife and mother, etc. I was especially concerned about what his first wife's family would think of me. But, I shouldn't have worried. I have had almost every member of his family tell me that I am the best thing that has ever happpened to him. And I just received three Mother's Day cards from his first wife's mom, Gandma, and great aunt. Thank you for reminding me of what is really important. And the truth of it is that he IS lucky to have me! He is a "looker", but he is not always the easiest guy to live with! Although he adores me. So, I guess I don't really have anything to complain about. In fact, I should be proud. Because my husband loves me no matter what size I am. And maybe his friends look at that and think, "Wow, she must really be something special." Or at least that is what I will be telling myself!



Kathi

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted, sorry about that people. The weekend is just a blur, but I did stay OP for Mother's Day. I lost 2.2 lbs. at WI today for a grand total of 31.8 lbs. Now I'm 1/4th of the way to goal .

Sheri, sounds like a plan, just keep things on an even keel until you can get back to your normal life.

kathi, congrats on the loss babe, and it sounds like you married into a great family.

Same for you Joanne, what a great story. We seem to forget we have so much more to offer other than our appearance.

Gosh! In the rush to say my "Hidee Hos!" to everyone on Monday, I forgot to list my weigh-in. Down another 1.8 this week. That's 9.8 in 8 weeks! Almost put out my back while I patted myself on that one. Of course, my "darker" side immediately started bemoaning the .2 that kept me from getting my magnet. Yes, I told that part of me to shut it's trap.

Gotta go. Work is ever present!

I need strength guys...

I am supposed to have my WI this morning and I am really dreading going. I happened to step on the scale, and I will have a gain. I was really hoping that I would be back at this longer before I had a gain. I know why I will have a gain, I have not been journaling, and I have not had as many walks thisweek. Yesterday I thought I would be smart and eat mostly protein, and stay towards the lower end of the points. But, without journaling, I completely "forgot" the cookies I ate while I was making dinner (because I was so hungry). And besides, one day cannot make up for a whole week! My real problem is that this is exactly why I quit so many times. I would not go when I had a gain, and then one week would turn into two, etc. So, I am telling you all this so you will keep me honest! My weigh-in is on Friday morning- don't let me skip it!

I will check back later and let you know what the damage was.

Kathi

kathi: DON'T SKIP THE MEETING. You have been going as something you do for YOU and you need to continue. You already know what happened - you had an "off week". Is it the first time? From your post, I don't think so. Will it be the last? Maybe. Maybe not. BUT the difference this time from the others is that you are asking for help, asking that we "talk you into going" because you must already know that that is the thing to do. It is very possible that the scale will surprise you. When I used to go to meetings (I do WW at home now) and I was worried about a gain, I'd tell the person weighing me not to tell me, just write it down. Then when I was more prepared to take the news, I'd look at what was written. Besides, going will surround you with others who know what you're going through and they can be even be more support. Seems that you already know that going is the route to take, if only to keep you from quitting completely.

I have been in your shoes several times. Just one of those mind games I play with myself. One week I would "cheat" for one day and still lose. Thinking that I could get away with it, I'd "cheat" two days the next week. After a couple weeks, I had more off days than on days and was gaining and then quit. Happened over and over.

Don't quit. Go and find additional support and tips to help. We are all here for you.

2oM (Annie)

Yes, I went to my meeting. I had a gain of 1.2 pounds! I knew it was coming, but I cried anyway. My leader lost 125 pounds, and just celebrated her one year anniversary of goal. So, having her tell me that she had many weigh-ins like that and that you just have to take it one day at a time, really helped me. Nothing I haven't heard before, but still, it helped. The othe rgreat thing about her is that she is not one of these leaders that is "perfect". You know the type, the ones that never eat anything that isn't 100% good for them, and never talk about struggling. Lisa talks about food ALL THE TIME! And it is reasssuring that she has been able to overcome the weight, but is not "perfect". I think that is one thing that has intimidated me in the past, that my leader did not seem to have the same issues with food that I did. And I didn't feel like I could ever be that person. The one that always makes the right choices and never has momentary lapses in judgement.

I have been in a bit of a funk today about a lot of things, and I have really let it affect me. I am trying to be in a better mood!

Kathi

Kathi - Good for you for going to your weigh-in. I went this week (and really didn't want to), and gained 3 lbs!!! I knew it was a gain week, but I have to go. I am coming up on my third year anniversary with WW. I definately thought I would be at goal by now. I lost 70lbs the first year, and only 6 lbs the whole second year. At the rate I am going now, I won't be much over 6 lbs for my third year either. But I will not quit!!!!! Keep at it, however frustrating it my be.

I really have to go now, but I will be back tomorrow AM. Just wanted to pop in real quick to give you some support.

Sheri
280/198.4/160

Joanne, yay to that loss, you are doing great. I'm like you, though, and want a reward at every weigh-in! I get one and then figure out how long till I can get the next, just never satisfied.

Kathi, sorry I missed your cry for help yesterday, but glad you went to your meeting. I had a 2 lb gain my second week and almost didn't go. Knew the week was bad and hated for a gain to show so soon. However, I knew that was my pattern, to run at the first bump, and if I didn't go I would most likely not go back at all. So I went and took my licks. I used that day as a "startover" and got my attitude back. I lost over 7 lbs. the next week. I am going to meetings EVERY week, not matter what, because if I don't then I will probably stray even farther from the program until I'm not doing it anymore.

Sherri, and sorry about your gain, what a bummer. I know 6 lbs doesn't sound like much, but I lost 63.5 pounds in 1998 and gained about 65 in 2000, so you are 71 lbs ahead of me!!! I wish I had kept going through the rough times, then I'd be where you are now - 76 lbs gone rather than 31 lbs.

Well, I have to stop putting off the yard work, so will get outside now. Have a great OP weekend, everyone.

Good Evening Ladies...
Well I'm following your lead Kathi and going to weigh in tomorrow even though I know I either gained or stayed the same. This week was a struggle! I was sick for a few days and for some reason that makes me crave salts/sweets. I actually ate a cadbury egg after being so proud of myself for not touching any chocolate throughout Easter. And since I was wheezing, I didn't get my exercise in - which makes me more depressed. So tonight I walked 3 miles before dinner and felt better. It was actually amazing because I wasn't even tired. It took me an hour - but I didn't want to push it while on antibiotics.

I'm so glad we all encounter the same issues from time to time. I too would always not go to weigh in - and once that line got easier I just didn't go at all.

Have a great weekend.
Kim
239/229/140

Oh, my gosh! . . .

So what is this? Did we all fall into one of those "mirror universes" where we all have the same week? I logged in this morning to bemoan my "terrible week" of off-program and little exercise and how I was dreading my weigh-in at 10:00 AM. And what do I read? Three of my buddies having an almost exact message as the one I was going to type!

So, did you all make the same promises to yourselves that I made this morning to myself? You know the drill: I will journal this week; I will get my min. 20 minute exercise in each day; I will drink the water; I will forgive myself for this past week and let it go; etc. If you didn't, do it now!!! (Yes, that's an order. I don't like to see (or hear as the case may be) my friends beat themselves up over stuff that's in the past.)

I will log in later this weekend and let you all know the results of my "off" week. Gotta go get the kids ready to leave.