Goals:

2000-2500 calories per day no, yes
Cholesterol under 250 mg per dayno, yes
Lift weights 3 days lifted tues
Walk or Elliptical 2 days
Take veggies to work everyday as part of my lunch.no, yes
Lose at least 2lbs we'll see...

I ate way too much on Monday. I went to a buffet with my family and although I got small portions the meal just got out of control. In the end it made me want to be healthy even more. I didn't want to throw in the towel. I logged in all the stuff I ate and resolved to do better.

I'm going out with my wife for our anniversary in about 10 days so I want to make some solid progress so can justify eating more.

It very encouraging to hear about everyone progress. :)

Goals for the week:

• Log everything, no exceptions: yes, yes
• At least 1500ml water per day: yes,yes
• Maintain 7-day calorie rolling average under 1550 (day/7-day average): 1466/1566, 1299/1556
• Maintain 7-day sodium rolling average under 1500mg (day/7-day average): 1172/1245, 1521/1327
• Study every day: yes, yes

I need a few more lower calorie days to bring that 7-day average comfortably under 1550. Definitely doable. Tuesday was a bit high on sodium (and I know why), but other than that, we're rolling along. Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Tues
 

UGH totalled my food yesterday and carbs were 175. Hmm only 10 over my allotment though--45 per meal and 15 for two snacks. It just looks like a lot! Broccoli 6 and carrots 12. I always forget to add in milk too. Calories for the day were 1250.

Jenn

My goals for the week:

1) Clear / "Good" Liquids - 3L a day. Monday, Tuesday
2) Cut out dairy - only greek yogurt and milk in tea – NO CHEESE!!! -Monday, Tuesday
3) Running a week without added sugar. No sugar in drinks, no sugary sweets, no sugary deserts. Monday, Tuesday
4) Try at least 3 new recipes this week - Tuesday - I attempted Kimchi (korean spicy cabbage salad). Apparently....not terrible...but not the way I like it at the resturants haha.
5) Try some form of new exercise - Oh GAWD Jazzersize is not my thing. Most awkward hour of my life. Call me crazy but Im going to go back to lifting heavy stuff haha


All in all....feeling ok. I had a minor too-many-nuts mishap yesterday, but meh! :)

You're rigth!!! My bad!!! See what a little time up north does? I gotta get back there...

My main goals for today:
1) Rest, don't feel guilty
2) try and make the library meeting but if I can't don't feel guilty
3) water

I overdid it this past week and am in a flare.

I will read and respond to posts later but my regards to everyone. To y'all.

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Lots of good progress reported. Despite most of us having a weak moment (or two or three), we're moving in the right direction.

Hope - take care of yourself.

Good for you for not letting one slip-up throw you off track. Just keep that goal of being healthy for yourself and your family in mind.

LOL. I hope you didn't sign up for 20 sessions! I've heard of it but never done it or even seen it. I'm off to youtube it to see what you went through!

Kali good for you for trying Jazzercize though. I love that you are trying new recipes too. I'm bad at that. I get recipe books out of library and I always seem to go back to our usual.

Jenn

I felt the same way about Zumba! Everyone loves it, but it just wasn't for me. I kept wanting to pick my feet up too much instead of shakin' the hips and booty ;).

What's that saying? Find out what you don't do well, and don't do it.

Hope you find something you love!

Hi Everyone,

I am pretty new to this site. Although I signed up in 2008, I didn't start using it until last Thursday (4/4/2013). That was a big mistake as I gained even more weight. I am one of those people who used to be able to eat anything and not gain weight but I was actually a really healthy eater so all of the fruit and vegetables wasn't a problem. My husband, on the other hand, has always been a meat and potatoes with nightly dessert kind of a guy. He never misses an opportunity to buy onion dip and chips and multiple yummy Entemann products when out to the grocery store.

Anyway, we have agreed to a separation of eating habits and I am back to my old eating style. I am also exercising and recording EVERYTHING, including my vitamins!!!! I have lost 8.8 pounds in my first week. I know this is due to water weight loss (which is funny as I drown in the amount of water I drink) but I am still very proud of myself and very motivated.

Wish me luck as I do for you.

Age: 58
Height: 5' 5"
Start weight: 4/4/2013 211.8 lb. [NEVER thought I would weight this much:()]
Today: 4/10/2013 203 lb.

Welcome aboard, Piwacket! I'm fairly new (again), too. I'm glad you found this thread. Folks here are really warm and supportive.

Nearly 9 pounds in a week, woot woot! You're off to a great start!

New to this....
 

Hi, I am new here and found fitday and this forum while looking for good on line support and motivation. And this looks like the place.

I love the friendly comments and support and hope to become part of this little family.

I have stolen some great goals from the posts. I have started a "phat" book for myself. Its all the little notes and tips that I think will help me the most. And several of your goals are now part of my "phat" book.

My goals....

Log everything.
small bites and put the fork down in between.
get better about taking my vitamins.
Work on leg exercises every day. (problem leg...boo hiss hiss)
Exercise at least 15 minutes every day
Try to stay under 1200 calories
Continue to research and make my list of foods for me.
Drink, drink, drink, drink.... 48 oz a day..

And I think that will get me on track.

If I can do anything to help anyone out, say the word. If you just need to talk, [email protected].

Roses are red
Violets are blue
I'm not hungry today
What about you?

(I know...I know... not a very good poem but definitely:D to the point.)

Okay, so I am suppose to list goals and share my secrets for success. As I am only a week into this diet, I cannot guarantee the "success" but I know that I maintained my weight until I was 45yrs. That was two years after my second child. I had my first child at 40yrs. Late childbirth probably added to my weight gain. Anyway, before I started to gain weight, I use to aerobic exercise 5 days a week for around 40 to 60 minutes. I would give myself a pass if I played golf mostly because I was carrying my own bag for 18 holes so that's a pretty darn good effort, especially as your are walking up and down hills to the tune of 7200+ yards. I mostly exercised in the evening. My first child was a 2 nap a day kiddo so I had plenty of time to keep up the exercise. My second child stopped napping at 10 months; what a nightmare! I also was a big fruit and veggie eater and my meat choices were almost exclusively chicken and fish or edaname in a salad. I rarely ate bread, pasta, potatoes or rice. It was conscious but rather my food preferences. My sin was salt, as in nuts and sometimes chips. I didn't keep junk food in the house. If I wanted something junky, I would go out and order an appetizer like crab dip. And I almost exclusively drank water. My dad was a dentist so I never developed a taste for sodas and I am a total light weight when it comes to alcohol. I weighted 112 -119 lb. forever!

So, my goals have been to go back to my old eating habits. I have been working out 6 days a week but I am using a nordic track step climber. I do 15 minutes on the climber 3 days a week and then I lock the tread down and walk at a varied pace for another 30 to 45 minutes. I fluctuate the pace from a quick pace to a very fast walk for 5 minutes, then down to the quick pace and then back up for 5 minutes as fast as I can go on this equipment. As I lose more weight, I will try to run outside but I need to work up to that and I don't thin my knees can take it outside at my current weight. I can go harder on the Nordic Track.

I would like to loss 5 pounds a week. I am not sure how much I should try to lose. I think 112 lb. might be a little skeletal for my 58 years old bones but I think 115 to 120 would be good. That's a long way to go for me so I will play it by ear. I definitely want to get below 130 though.

Writing this down is like signing a personal contract with myself. I submit and it's in writing so there's no turning back.

Welcome to all the newbies here! Glad to have you, the more support the better.

My reading and posting has been poor, my planning has been poor, and I have had too many incidents of hunger this week (not cravings) all as a result of being too busy (mostly work). In a related vein I have only walked one day so far. But I am still on the wagon and still logging!

Having a few site problems this week also, to time (patience) to re-try. Does this mean we have more people :)

Welcome, Mechelle & piwaket.

Mechelle - good goals! I find that I can work towards accomplishing daily specific goals. A general goal of losing X number of pounds was too amorphous, and I never got going. I enjoy reading the posts here about what everyone's doing food and exercise wise - as you said, it's a great source of ideas - and inspiration.

Piwaket - I have so many similarities to you. Up until I was 35 (after my 3rd child), I could eat pretty much whatever I wanted and not gain weight. My husband is also a meat & potatoes guy. And he has a kitchen counter full of chips, cookies, candy, etc. I couldn't manage losing 5# a week. The only time I've done that has been when I'm on vacation and can spend hours walking, swimming, cycling, etc. If you can do it, that's great - but don't get discouraged if you don't. Concentrate on making exercise a routine part of your day and making your old healthful eating patterns a new habit. Consider yourself successful if you do those things even if your weekly weight loss goal might fall short. I'm not sure of my final goal either - it will be when I'm happy with my body shape.

Just a quick little check in. The scale will not be kind to me tomorrow. Our middle daughter wanted Chinese food so I took her out for Chinese and I had some myself. So I'll blame her for my gain. Either way, I'll post up my numbers tomorrow.

1) 1300 calories or less except on group dinner/movie night Saturday- 1241, 1018, 1299 lol
2) 6 glasses of water, count them -7,7,7
3) do not slack on the stretching -yes, did some (ie slacked), no
4) walk or mild gym... was not well enough, I know, excuses, excuses, not well, not well
5)... but do not overdo - see above
6) meditate -no, no, no :(
7) read a poem a day (April is National Poetry month AND my birthday month.) yes, yes, yes
8) lose between a pound or two this week and do not find it again!!! not yet
9) practice Spanish - si, mucho no, no

Cassie, I love this saying; this may be my new motto. Kali, sorry about your bad jazzerice experience but you made me laugh - soooooo relatable.

Welcome, Piwacket and Mechelle!!! You guys sound determined and that is a beautiful thing!!! Piwaket, congrats onthe weight loss!!! Will someone give Piwacket a dancing banana? (you will see these here.) Mechelle, you are not "stealing" our goals, you are paying tribute to how good they are lol.

Mike, do not blame the chirruns!!! Did that child force you to eat that food?

Good morning, everyone! We made it past Wednesday, Humpday! Yay!

So you're a golfer, eh, Piwacket? Fantastic! I knew I liked you! I'm a lapsed golfer -- played frequently a few years ago but we moved out of state, our finances changed radically (not for the better) and something had to go. The fees here are far more expensive here than what I had been paying and my (lack of) talent doesn't justify the expense. That said, I made it a goal to get back to it this year. I found a course that's fairly close and relatively inexpensive. I think I can do maybe one round a week. I'm just waiting for the course to open. While I wait, I'll watch the tournament this weekend :).

Welcome, welcome, mechellemechelle! So glad you're here! With those goals, you look like you're off to a grand start!

Hope, 1299, nice!!! :D (I hope you're feeling better soon).

Mike, Chinese food, how could you resist? And I'll bet dollars to donuts (oi, what a saying!) it won't be as bad as you anticipate.

Robin, of the four activities (reading, posting, planning and logging), I'd say logging is the most important. You did it, so good for you! And you're still on the wagon, so it's all good.

As for me:

Goals for the week:

• Log everything, no exceptions: yes, yes, yes
• At least 1500ml water per day: yes, yes, 2000ml
• Maintain 7-day calorie rolling average under 1550 (day/7-day average): 1466/1566, 1299/1556, 1064/1490
• Maintain 7-day sodium rolling average under 1500mg (day/7-day average): 1172/1245, 1521/1327, 483/1158
• Study every day: yes, yes, yes

Hah! Got that 7-day rolling average back under 1550 (calories). Now the goal is to keep it under. Make it a great Thursday, everyone!

Mike, I so get you.

My family wants me to join them for "their" dinner once or twice a week. Last night was boneless pork chops with cheesy, buttery potatoes and mixed vegetables. I passed on the potatoes, ate lots of the veggies (no butter or salt) and had a pork chop. Man did that pork chop taste good!!!! But they are so high in calories and fat that I gain half a pound. Not too worried; just longer and harder on the Nordic Track today.

You guys!!! Do not enable Mike!!! Where is the tough love he gives us?????? LOL. Mike, you know I just have to bust y'all's chops.

Carol Lynn,

I think there are a lot of "us" out there that could eat anything and then there's a wall and boom!!! It's hard to get your mind to realize that things have changed and you have to think about what's going your mouth now. My cousin has always had to watch what she eats and she's in great shape at 59. It's just the norm for her. She's given me some good tips but the reality is that I have to accept my "today" body abilities and forget the old one. I definitely have to exercise to lose the weight in any measurable amount.

Pamela Peeke, M.D. wrote a wonderful book titled "Fight Fat After Forty". It is wonderful because it explains how menopause (pre & Peri) effects a woman's body, how fat is stored, etc. It's very motivating. She has also written a companion book titled "Body for Life for Women". It's a 12 week program to get you back into shape. I just bought that one but I am going to re-read the first as a "tune up".

Good luck on making your goals.

Episode2011,

Yes, I am a golfer and tennis player. I am definitely a better golfer. I understand what you mean about the expense of golf. That is why I said I use to carry my bag. I have also had to cut out the tennis. Financially, things have been very hard. We had to sue a client for payment of nearly 3/4 million. Although we won, we still need to collect and then we will have to pay legal fees out of it, etc. It really hurt my husband's company. Stress can really send you to the refrigerator for some comfort. I am trying to get on the Nordic Track when I really feel the stress. One of the reasons I started the diet now is because it's tax season and I do the bookkeeping (which is a joke as I went to college for art, sculpture to be specific). I use to be quite a good golfer. One of the local pros felt that I could become a scratch or plus handicapper if I practiced hard enough. But that cost money so I am a 20 without any practice. I am very flexible so I have very good length and that helps my score a lot.

Congrats on making your last goal early. That's really wonderful and inspiring.

Hey does anyone know where the site is located? There's a big time difference between when I blog and the time listed.

Mike, I know you know it's not the fact that you had Chinese food, but the quantity. I feel for you though. Despite my well-laid plans to have a limited amount of foods like that, good intentions slip away.

epi - Good job this week - keep it up!

piwacket - I'll have to look at those books. Everything I've read about weight gain after menopause is demotivating! Regarding the time zone - if you go to User CP (at the left of the blue bar above), and then to "Edit Options" - you can choose your time zone.

Hope - today's the day to get your mediation in!

I wonder where Jezzie is.

***
1. Calories under 1300: 1118, 1299 (just slipped in under the wire!)
2. An hour extra movement a day: Y, Y,
3. No sugar, white flour: Y, N
4. Small bites and put fork down between bites.-Working on it and I'm remembering to do it more often.

Monday 3/11/13 - 197.4
Monday 3/18/13 - 188.8
Monday 3/25/13 - 184.0
Monday 4/01/13 - 186.0
Monday 4/08/13 - 183.4, Tues 181.2, Wed 181.6, Thurs 182.6


1) Lose 3 pounds -.8
2) 100+ ounces of water per day yes, yes, yes
3) post daily yes, yes, yes
4) take all vitamins daily yes, yes, yes

Wed.
 

Welcome to all our new members. So glad to have all of you here. I joined 2011 an have been messing around off the wagon, feeling sorry for myself and regaining weight, and am back.

I should be logging every bite of food I put in my mouth to keep track of my calories, carbs, fiber, sat fat, cholesterol intake, and protein. I know pretty much from experience what I can and cannot eat and hope that soon I can get back to logging because I need to log to assure longterm success.

I'm not back to exercising yet, but am doing better on my eating and water and am down a pound and a half since Monday. :)

I haven't had time to read the thread or log my food because I have other stuff going on and honestly, I just do not have the time to do all I should be doing. But things should get back to normal in a couple months and all will be well again and you all will probably get tired of my monopolizing the conversation here. LOL

Thanks Carol Lynn, I am now set for EST.

It is ALWAYS the fault of the chirrens. Damn kids. Almost as bad as a damn yank.

Quantity is right. That part is my parents fault. They brainwashed, I mean, raised me into thinking I had to clear my plate because it wasn't okay to waste food. Oh, it's also the fault of that restaurant for putting sooo much food on my plate.

Boy, if Tori were here she'd have a tear in her eye. A tear of pride. She would be so proud of how well I'm doing with the blame game.

Mern, myself and many other have been, or ARE there. Logging is great but after a while we all feel like we need a break because it can be such a PITA. Sooner or later we realize that without the PITA, we begin to slip back to our old habits... and body.

Good job so far Donna. How did you only manage 37g of protein, did you eat any meat?

Where are you from? If that is your correct time zone then it should look right now.

Believe me it's been recently crossing my mind. I have been logging everything everyday since mid December and I hear my mind saying "take a break from the logging you deserve it." Thanks for the wake up call.


Today is an "awwww" day, classes finished at the university and this frees up my schedule significantly. I still have to deal with exams but the scheduling is much easier now -I got to walk 3k today. Back to planning. Just enjoyed an awesome salad and some chicken. Not hungry and still cals to spare!

My back is definitely healing and so I really might register for that half marathon in mid May. My sis agreed to do it as well.

I am from the Baltimore/Washington area. Below freezing last week; 90's this week. And I thought my dieting was a roller coaster.

Went out to lunch with my hubby today; really nice. Ordered a sensible meal which tasted blah so I barely ate anything. Made Chicken Kabobs tonight with rice. I don't usually eat rice but I had 1/2 cup. Calories low today due to lunch... a whopping 780. Need to beef up calcium.

My daughter came home very upset with her friends. She says they are all toothpicks and 6 of them have decided to diet. One of her friends is in the hospital for bulimia right now. My daughter is 108 lb. and 5'4" so she's not looking to diet. She has habits we all could envy. From birth she has eaten between 5 & 6 small meals a day. Her friends think she diets. I told her to make sure they all know that her last meal is before she goes to bed; usually black beans on a tortilla or a yogurt and fruit but always with skim milk. She hates whole and 2% milk, hates syrup on her pancakes, hates salad dressing on her salads with the exception of a blue cheese wedge salad. She has always been like this and I have never seen a reason to change her. It's her natural eating habit.

I try to take her example.

Never!!! We will never get tired of your wonderful contributions, Mern!!!

Piwacket, love your name...as in the kitty?

I sort of play tennis, too, but have been seriously sidelined after jacking up my wrist, elbow, and shoulder. I'm hoping to get back into it soon. I have a ton of relatives in the Bal/Wash area; from there myself but have been gone since '94 and still miss it. Welcome to the thread :).

Sounds like everyone is rocking right along. Thank goodness it's almost Friday :D.

Mern, I agree with Hope. We will never get tired of your sharing (it sounds hokey to call it this, but it is the right word) wisdom! You are an invaluable part of our group and never boring!

Checking in two days:

1. Calories below 1300. 1247, 1125, 1087, 1350
2. Move more...up the exercise. Hit the weights for a little bit tonight, Yes-C25K
3. Take vitamins and supplements. Yes, Yes, Some
4. Sleep enough. Yes, Yes, Not even close, Yes
5. Stay on top of work; don't get behind. So far, so good, Yes, Yes, Like a boss

Today was crazy busy, so between the time I woke up and the time I got home (7:30), I had a total one cup of tea and one apple. Went out for pizza with the guys; of course my big pitfall is letting myself get too hungry during the day. I had two pieces but also had salad; those independent pizza places you never know, so I just tried to err on the side of caution when logging. Hey, at least it was whole wheat crust!

Thur
 

• Calories Avg. < 1400 /day: 936, 1218, 949, 1752
• Cholesterol < 200mg: 100, 194, 105, 137
• Vegetables > 3 / day: 2, 1, 3, 2
• Workout > 150 min/wk: 60, 0, 55, 0
• Protein > 50 g / day: 55, 69, 37, 50

No, not much meat. Salads. I love Salad. Lettuce with 2 oz of grilled chicken, or a couple ozs turkey and some local feta. + black olives, or strawberries. I can hardly wait for blueberry season. For now, I'm eating apples. With some local sorta cheddar. But I see more meat in my immediate future.

I usually don't eat a lot of cheese, but went to a local cheese store the other day, and well, I shouldn't have! And I haven't even opened the best (soft) stuff yet. I remember the sample, & I'm scared!

-- ~ --

I've found that after you've done it for a while, logging everything becomes second nature. It's the only thing that works. It's still amazing to me how those calories add up some times! (The other day I was blaming 'it' on the crackers!)

- D.

Good morning, everyone! TGIF!

Piwacket, my son's eating habits are similar to your daughter's. He doesn't eat syrup on pancakes, doesn't use dressing on salad (on the rare occasions when he eats salad), drinks copious amounts of water, no coffee (wait, this is MY son???) and can't stand soda (he's had maybe 3 in his life). It's just the way his taste buds and appetite developed. What may eventually catch up to him is quantity/portions. He can scarf down half a loaf of bread in one sitting :). 100% whole wheat, of course.

Mern, I agree with the others. You are a wonderful part of this community.

"Like a boss", Cassie? Hehe love it!

Glad your back is feeling better, Robin!

With regard to logging, I agree, it's a necessary PITA. I can attest to what Mike said. My new mindset is, for everything I eat, I say to myself "You know this is going on the log, right?". Nag, nag, nag :D

As for me:

Goals for the week:

• Log everything, no exceptions: yes, yes, yes, yes
• At least 1500ml water per day: yes, yes, 2000ml, yes
• Maintain 7-day calorie rolling average under 1550 (day/7-day average): 1466/1566, 1299/1556, 1064/1490, 1526/1489
• Maintain 7-day sodium rolling average under 1500mg (day/7-day average): 1172/1245, 1521/1327, 483/1158, 532/1083
• Study every day: yes, yes, yes, yes

Let's make it a great Friday, everyone! We can do this!

Thursday is busy day for me. Between grocery shopping, laundry, taking out garbage etc didn't have too much time to check in. I have been reading posts. My Mom has pain in her leg (sciatica nerve?? maybe) and she goes back to Dr on Mon. It means she can't do a whole lot.

Yesterday seemed to be CARB CITY for me. The only yes on my goals would be exercising for 30 mins. I have lost 2.5 lbs this week from eating more veggies and drinking more water. I'm sure a lot of it must have been water weight. Thankful to be back down 2lbs over my lowest weight!!

I hear ya Mike on Chinese food. For me it's the sodium content.
Jenn

Epixi--good job on the goals this week!
Mern how are you doing this week?

Jenn

Hey I resembe that remark!!! I wish I was in NOLA (to the tune of "I wish I was in Dixie")

Since, Tori isn't here, I will do it: Nice blaming, Mike!!! Good blaming!!!! Stellar blaming!!! ( or in keeping with our NOLA theme should I say "Stella" blaming harhar)

Your DD sounds like she has a great attitude and truly admirable habits. And epixi, teenage boys are frightening in the amounts they can eat. Piwacket (where DOES that name come from?) it is frightening when these girls think they need to diet and bulimia is no laughing matter. Balance is key and as all of us can attest, no easy matter to attain.

But here I am logging (grumble, grumble.)

Robin, so glad your back is better

BTW how do I fix my time?