Ladies -- Good afternoon. How is everyone? Work is a little less stressful, though not any less busy than usual. I'm looking forward to the weekend already, even though I have to work Saturday. How is everyone?
Judy -- thank you so much for noticing that I posted in the wrong thread. I didn't see it until today. Thank you for the congrats; I am thrilled to be a size 12 again. That was one of my long-term goals -- goal, and/or being a size 12 again. I can't fit into all size 12's now, but I did fit into quite a few of them, and all of the 14's are too big. I figure that once I get down to goal, I'll be a comfortable 10, or 12. That would be fantastic.
And remember, you *can* be a size 12 again. Just keep going; I certainly didn't get here overnight, but it was worth it, and I'm not finished yet.
Mousie is our exercise expert, I'm a big fan but not a big expert. Regarding the weight gain, it's important not to let any gain, regardless of the cause, dissuade you. It's possible, I suppose, that working out can cause a temporary weight gain, but that's no reason to stop. It's important to remember that muscle weighs more than fat, but muscle burns more calories than fat, and looks and feels better on the body -- I life weights and I do spinning -- that's one of the reasons that no one can believe me when I tell them how much I weigh or what size I am. Although some forms of exercise may not cause the scale to budge, they do eliminate inches of fat and replace it with muscle, which is very important to your health and well-being. I guess the short answer (which I never give first! ;P) is this: keep working out and eating healthy, and the weight will come off as long as you burn more than you consume. If you eat healthy and work out, and you're still not losing the weight, keep trying for 2 or 3 weeks; if the weight still won't budge, trying re-evaluating your strategy -- you may need to ramp up or just change your exercise, or you may be eating too many zero point foods, or you may not be counting your points well enough, or you may not be getting enough protein, etc. Keep it up, Judy -- you can do it!
Princess: Glad to hear that you're back on track. Your workout sounds like a lot to me, so don't knock it! Re new size/weight loss: thanks! I am thrilled. I plan on getting myself something special once I reach the next 10-pound milestone (that's 60 pounds lost -- I have 6 pounds left), but I haven't decided what to get yet. Re psychic vs physic -- we understand what you meant, I just thought it was a funny reversal, like a freudian slip, but not sexual. Quitting smoking is so good for your health, cheers for you on getting out of there. Let me know how you like Beekeeper's. It's one of my favorites.
Re weight fluctuations -- many people have weight fluctuations throughout the day and the week. I would advise you to weigh yourself only once a week, and to do it at the same time of day, under the same conditions if at all possible (i.e. I almost always weigh myself on Wednesday night after Powerflex.) Your body weight could go up temporarily after working out, I don't know. I don't think it's something to be concerned about, though. Thanks for the book rec!
Judy: Thank you! I think everyone deserves to be in a lovely size, young or "less young". ;D Congrats on your self-control at the birthday party, and waiting to go out to eat.