7 Day Motivational Thread starting May 20 - Stay Strong!
 

Where is everybody? By the time I log in on Monday (I'm on the West Coast), there's already a thread and several posts.

Ian, I like your strategy of monitoring your exercise for this week to set your goal for the following week.

******
My goals are simple too. I'm going back to logging calories this week.
1. Calories averaging under 1400 day
2. 30-min extra movement a day
3. No sugar, white flour

Good Monday Morning, everyone! Rise and shine, up and at 'em!

Goals for the Week:

• Log everything, no exceptions (nibbles and "tastes" count!):
• At least 2000ml water per day:
• Maintain a 7-day rolling average between 1200-1550 calories:
• Maintain a 7-day rolling average between 800-1300mg sodium:
• Maintain a 7-day rolling average of at least 16g fiber:
• Some sort of physical activity 4x during the week:
• Study every day:

After having a nice, solid blue week last week (yeah, I'm psyched!), I'm upping the stakes a bit. Challenging myself to do 2000ml water daily (up from 1500ml) and adding in the physical activity goal. These are things I did last week -- now I'm making them official goals. Let's see how it goes!

Congrats on the weight loss Epi!

Going to rain Mon-Fri this week so any exercise will have to be done indoors!

Goals for the week
1. Eat within carb limit
2. 4 servings fruits/veggies
3. 6 glasses of water
4. 30 min exercise 4X
5. write

Did ok on the fruits and veggies last week and exercised a little bit but not quite to my goal for the week. Weighed myself yesterday and I'm the same which I'm ok with.
Now that the warmer weather is here it's easier to eat lighter and there is lots of fruit in season.

Jenn

Today is a holiday, long weekend. And I am doing up some much needed housework. Not spring cleaning, just housework. Between too busy, health issues and hubby's broken leg, the house is long neglected! Pretty much all winter.

It's pouring rain outside so I am not tempted to go anywhere.

I can hardly believe that I have nothing urgent to do!

Goals for this week:

1. Green tea 1x per day
2. Calories 1200-1400
3. Swim once
4. Gym once
5. Walk at least 2x.

Good morning losers! I weighed in at 186.6 this morning (updated my sig... Donna). I'll list some goals before today is up but the main goal is to drop 2 pounds.

Jenn - I'm fine with no weight change too - any which way but up! And these plateaus are giving me time to come to terms with the realization that, with this older-model body of mine, I'll have to always watch what I eat and get some exercise in just to maintain.

epixi - You always sound so danged cheerful & energetic. :) No wonder you're doing so well. Congrats on the weight loss.

Mike - good to have you back.

Robin - glad you can have some more relaxing time this weekend with nothing urgent to do.

Awesome job Epi!

• May 20: 15 gone, 60 to go -- back on track!

Week 1 goals:

Less than 1500 calories per day, under 10 000 for the week.
Log all exercise to set a proper goal for week 2

Daily Progress:

1101 Calories (had some late night popcorn which screwed it up a little bit)
Walked 1.5 miles (it's day 1 I'm still lazy)

Well blew my calorie limit today...........not really sure why, poor planning I guess. This is the first time my total cals were below my cals burned since December (1800+). I ate reasonable food, just too much of it I guess. It's raining hard, I never left the house today.

Tomorrow am I will swim and back to work, guess I need to plan better.

How's everyone else doing at this end of Monday?

Awww Robin, sorry to hear that you and the calories didn't see eye-to-eye today. You've been so diligent for so long, though, that this little blip will probably smooth right out over the long run. Not to mention, if you got all that housework done, you probably burned more than you think!

Happy Victoria Day to you and yours and all our other neighbors to the north! Although, with all the rain you mentioned, shall I assume there will be no fireworks tonight? Drat!

Ian, you're off to a fine start! You've even left yourself some wiggle-room on the calories for the week!

Looks like you're heading back down, Mike! Yay! And Carolynn, you're pretty much at your goal -- I'm so very happy for you! You're an inspiration!

Jenn, like Carolynn said, staying the same it a victory, too. I'm a firm believer that sometimes it takes the body a bit to adjust to its new normal. Did you get a chance to write today?

As for me, I'm still wrestling with that dreaded water. Only 500ml to go for today (whew), but it's a struggle. I know I upped my goal from 1500ml to 2000ml per day (what was I thinking???), but I've also been doing some research on the theories regarding min-max water consumption. I'll try for the 2k this week (correction, not try... do!) but there's a good possibility I'll revise that goal again next week :p.

Thanks Epixi, for the moral support:D. I never logged housework before and have never really considered it exercise before but I did go up and down the stairs many times today so I logged an hour of general housework, and my yoga and that brought my net cals for the day to -77 haha. So it appears that I was somewhere around maintenance for the day. Not a total write off.

Good luck with the water.

Hi there, everyone!!! OK now I'm beck. Better late than never as they say. Congrats Epixi!!!! Rockin and rollin!! Mike can we get this woman a dancing banana please? I will learn how to do that, I mean it. (future goal?)

Robin, it' sunderstandable to eat more when you are home and indoors. You'llmake it up. I liek what Epixi does, rolling calories for the week, rolling totals, good idea.

Ad for me, I went to the orthopedist today and he took an X ray and I AM NOT CRAZY (well not about this, anyway) and these six weeks of nonstop back pain is not my imagination and NOT fibro. I have arthritis in my back and at least one bone out of place. So the ortho (who I liked a lot) offered two options: shots or surgery. So I am going to a pain management specialist tomorrow and praying she can give me a shot. Immediately. Scared of it as I am. Fingers crossed, bye bye pain.

Mike, you got shots, right? How did they work?

Goals:
1) Healthy diet
2) cut out stress eating
3) more water
4) stretch daily as much as I can stand
5) don't be a baby

Hope I really doubt you are being a baby......no wonder your back hurt! At least you got some validation for the pain, of course it was hurting!

I've heard mixed reviews on the shots. Totally fixed my husband's shoulder.

New Week!
 

• Calories Avg. < 1400 /day: 1218
• Cholesterol < 200mg: 65
• Vegetables > 3 / day: 2
• Protein > 50 g / day: 54
• Sugar < 50 g / day: 53
• Workout > 150 min/wk: 60

Glad to see some new posters as well as the old hands and apostates ;-)

Even with the calorie blow out last weekend, I'm starting the week a the low end of my weight range. So I'm feeling good about this week, even if I fear my goals this week are somewhat tenuous with the long (US) holiday weekend ahead.

Thanks all for the congratulations, folks! As I said, I'm pretty stoked about the solid blue week and about (finally) getting back to 15 pounds gone (cue: Happydance). Of course, can't rest on laurels -- there is still work to be done. Much, much more work to be done.

That's why we're all here, Robin! You've given so much to others, I'm glad to be able to give some to you!

Hope, it must be such a relief to know what it is that is causing your back pain and to know that there is something that can be done to help alleviate it. In my opinion, pain is not just physical -- it can take an enormous emotional toll as well. I'm hoping by the time you read this, you'll have had the shot and it is giving you some much-needed relief. Then it'll be you doin' the Happydance!

Agreed! Welcome to our new friends!

Hehe I try. I tend to be pretty upbeat most of the time and I try to spread the good vibes to those around me (do I sound like an old hippie?). That said, during those times when I'm not feeling so cheerful, watch out!!! You have been warned :D.

Whoops, forgot to update my progress. Ok, here goes:

Goals for the Week:

• Log everything, no exceptions (nibbles and "tastes" count!): yes
• At least 2000ml water per day: 2000
• Maintain a 7-day rolling average between 1200-1550 calories: 1319
• Maintain a 7-day rolling average between 800-1300mg sodium: 903
• Maintain a 7-day rolling average of at least 16g fiber: 23
• Some sort of physical activity 4x during the week: M=Tai Chi/Yoga
• Study every day: yes

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4...cc6bo1_400.gif

Yes, I had a series of epidurals. I went 3 times for 2 injections each time. Was super simple and helped a bunch. I didn't even feel a thing but then again, I'm a man and you know that we have a higher tolerance for pain than you women. The only reason why God has women deliver babies instead of men is for our entertainment. :D Just kidding, did I make your blood boil?

Speaking of shot, one last shot from our vacation. This is probably my favorite. It doesn't look so great here but when printed it is tack sharp! http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...ps3247306c.jpg

Not just a Dancin' Banana, but a Great BIG Dancin' Banana. Luv it! Woot woot! Can I keep it, please, please???

Very nice! I love black and white photography -- love the play with contrasts. You're quite talented, Mike!

Yay - used my swimming pass for the first time this morning. The water was wonderful and the outside air temp was warmer than usual.

Ian - good job on your calories yesterday, even with the popcorn. And popcorn has lots of fiber and doesn't have many calories on its own. I dug out my old air popcorn popper and have been using that instead of making microwave popcorn. I usually sprinkle with some popcorn salt (very fine, powdery salt) and garlic granules.

Hope, I'm glad they figured out what was causing your back pain. Definitely start with the shots.

epixi - When you reach your goal, you ought to buy a new blue dress to celebrate! And, yes, watch your water consumption. I know someone who ended up in the hospital for several days from drinking too much water (this was several years ago). It threw his electrolyte balance off. Until then, I had no idea that drinking too much water could have such devastating effects. In researching it, I found that the original advice that we need 8 cups of water a day included the statement something along the lines of "of course, we get much of that through foods we consume."

*****
1. Calories averaging under 1400 day 1322
2. 30-min extra movement a day Y
3. No sugar, white flour N (pretzels got me)

a new week ahead :)
 

Well, my long weekend was great for relaxing & being outside with my flowers BUT very bad on my tracking & eating :( Up a couple again but back on track today! I seem to be stuck so need to get myself motivated again. My goal is to see 18# in front within the next two weeks!! Water, water, water- seems to be easier for me now that I have my Citrus Zinger water bottle :) Love it! Also walking at least 3 times a week - 3.5 to 4 kms each time.

Amazing to me how easy it is to get complacent so have to keep kicking myself in the butt :)

Hope you all have a great week & find motivation if it's lacking!

Thanks Carolyn, I made it from kernals so it wasn't as bad as making instant microwave popcorn, but it still added a bit to the calorie count. I used to have an air popper but these days I either have to use the microwave or use kernals, neither being extremely healthy :(

Today I've ruined my entire week, my girlfriend had us eat take out twice today, and once I log it I think it might just reach the 4000 mark :( And to top it off I haven't even done any exercise yet, I think I might need to do some laps around the park late at night :(

So true!!! Good job on the walking.

Ian - there are some ok versions of Lite microwave popcorn, but I think making it from kernels is better because then you can use a good oil and control what goes on it. 4000 calories today! Oh, dear. Well, that's the past. Start fresh from here. When I have a day like that, I try to determine the situational and internal factors that led to my eating too much and think about how to deal with a similar situation in the future. Does your girlfriend know you're trying to lose weight?

popcorn
 

When I crave popcorn I do a light spray of 'Pam' inside a brown paper lunch bag, cover about 3/4 of the bottom of bag with popcorn (I like Orvilles) then put a couple folds at the top and microwave for 1:50. Comes out great and pretty much oil free :-) Season as you like!

Misery loves company
 

I am going to get back on track today and hope to make some progress this week. Congrats to all who are moving forward and strength to those of us who need encouragement to get up after a fall.
CW188.6

For those of you who were off the wagon welcome back on! Dust yourself off, today is a new start!

Thank you for that! I had heard about popping popcorn in a brown paper bag in the microwave, but never tried it, and then forgot about it. Glad to know it works. I'm going to try that. (My air popper works fine, but I hate the noise.)

That's the attitude! Just take it one day at a time. Do what you need to do today to meet your goals.

epixi - Your blue streak continues. Fabulous!!! You can't break it now!

*****
1. Calories averaging under 1400 day 1322, 1207
2. 30-min extra movement a day Y, Y
3. No sugar, white flour N (pretzels got me). Y

Tues
 

• Calories Avg. < 1400 /day: 1218, 1266
• Cholesterol < 200mg: 65, 95
• Vegetables > 3 / day: 2, 2
• Protein > 50 g / day: 54, 53
• Sugar < 50 g / day: 53, 59
• Workout > 150 min/wk: 60, 10

Had a 850 cal lunch yesterday, so for dinner had a peach, a banana, and a handful of nuts. Not enough veggies.

Jezzie, thanks for the great tip on the popcorn. I'm going to try that!

Mike, Who's that guy in the streetcar photo?! (No, not the one in the hat ;-)

Hope, good luck with your treatment plan!

Gotta run,

- Donna

Tuesday report
 

YOU GO GIRL!!

Nice to see you back Jezzie!

Rather humid here the past couple of days(about 90) and our A/C isn't working so I haven't exercised.
I'm under on carbs. Had porkchop for dinner and veggies. Had snack later.
I kind of lost count on water but it was probably up to about 8.

Jenn

Week 1 goals:

Less than 1500 calories per day, under 10 000 for the week.
Log all exercise to set a proper goal for week 2

Daily Progress (Tuesday):

2807 Calories (Not quite as bad as I feared but still bad)
No exercise

Weekly Progress:

3908 Calories
1.5 miles walked

Funny you should ask. Last night my GF says "don't think I mean anything by this, but........ we should try to track down that guy and see who he is." I have no clue, probably just some tourist. He definitely "fits" in the photo.

okay, I think I'm going to go back on the hcg diet (without the drops next week). I was asked in a PM about my honest opinion about it. Y'all should know me by now that I don't mind giving an honest opinion, or review. Last year I went high fat/ low carb (and was very successful) and went into great detail about it. I figured I'd show my response to the PM along with my follow up with the diet plan.

WARNING~~ I apologize if anything I say in this PM offends anyone.

Honest opinion... me?:D For the first two weeks I followed it to the letter. I lost 13.4 pounds in two weeks. Then I started slacking, PB&J sammich here and there, then the occasional cheat day. I continued to slowly lose. I got down to 180.0 from 197(.4), so I was down roughly 17 pounds in a month, while cheating.
Does the HCG work? I don't know. Did I lose weight? Hell yes. I don't know if the drops played much of a role because we all know it's cals in vs cals out. So I think the (hcg) diet was the key, not so much the drops, but I could be wrong. I did notice that even when I was eating 500-700 cals a day, I wasn't really hungry. I don't know if it's because of the drops or me just knowing "hey this is all you can have, no more, no less!" I think knowing you can ONLY eat x amount of x,y or z keeps your mind from THINKING you are hungry because you know you can't graze. So... 13.4 pounds in two weeks, was it easy? I'd say yes, because it was structured. I didn't even need to log my food because I knew what I could eat. So the only thing I'm unsure of is if the drops actually curb your appetite or if it's a mental thing. Either way, I dropped the weight. On the flip side, I got off the drops and my diet slipped even more and of course a few pounds came back. Then we went of vacation and I figured that I didn't need to worry about what I ate since we effing walked our legs off, up hill both ways (and I got back up to 187)! Actually after a while I started to feel like down hill was just as bad as uphill. I know that Louisiana is flatter than a 10 year old girl but OH MY GOD San Francisco has some grueling hills! So back to the hcg (sorry, did I ever mention I have ADD?;)), some things I learned with the diet.
1) Having a limited "menu" of certain meats, fresh fruits and veggies helps a lot.
2) knowing your quantity limits helps a lot.
3) Apples are a natural diuretic!

When I hit a plateau I would eat ONLY apples for a day. I had like 5-6 apples (and water) and that's it. Even eating only apples, I didn't feel hungry. Not sure if it's b/c the fiber fills you up or once again just knowing that's all you get. Anyway, never failed after an apple day, the weight would fall back off.

Penni also did it but the weight didn't come off as quickly this time for her. I think she lost 10 pounds in the first two weeks and like 15 pounds in a month.

The diet is super clean, nothing special to buy. If you want I can scan it and send it to you, if you want to try it without spending the money on the drops.

Follow up

I don't think there is a limit. I'd do it until you've lost the weight that you want and then start adding in food. The diet this time calls for approximately 1000 calories, I cut back from it, I think I was probably around 700 calories.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/i...ps4915629d.jpg
Sometimes I'd do my snack (piece of fruit) before lunch and I'd have a snack (piece of fruit) between lunch and dinner (it was my fruit that I should have had at dinner)

So it often looked like this:
Basically for the first 2 weeks I was strict.
Breakfast - 2 eggs, scrambled with a little cooking spray and 1 slice of 45 calorie toast (dry). I'd slap the egg on the toast, fold it up and have a sammich. :)
Snack - apple or strawberries
Lunch - (4-6oz) protein, (1-2cup) veggies (steamed in microwave) and no fruit
Snack - apple or strawberries
Dinner - (6-8oz, maybe 10oz if I was active) protein, (1-2cup) veggies (steamed in microwave) and no fruit

Basically I cut out one fruit a day from the plan, cut back a little on the protein and veggies.

It's a pretty simple, very basic diet. All foods were measured raw. I only drink water, so that was never an issue. The B12 may have helped with energy but I made sure to take a daily vitamin every day. My energy was really good, probably because I was eating foods that had actual nutrients.

Another thing that made it easy, if I got a pack of chicken breast, pork chops... whatever, I would weigh it and package it all out. The days that I ate beef, it was hard to drop weight. That didn't stop me from firing up the grill and slapping a (sometimes) 10 oz steak on it!

I think that most people probably think that the diet is probably some crazy shit, but it's really foods that we should be eating anyway (IMO). When Penni first did it, it was a 500 calorie diet. That's probably why she didn't lose as fast this time.

Try it and see how you like it. You could probably do a scaled back version like I did for a week and lose a few pounds (or more). Make sure to drink plenty of water and take a vitamin!

The 'approved' food list looks like what I usually eat now, except it's missing bananas and avocados. And I try to stay away from lobster (too much cholesterol). Oh, and I add chocolate, all types.

I'm now going on 18 continuous months of logging practically everything I eat, which works best for me.

- Donna

Donna, yeah it's pretty basic. The reason why I mentioned not having to log is for some (like me), after a while logging can seem to be a real PITA. I know that logging is truly the way to go but I just needed a break from it. I also knew if I was eating the same stuff over and over and I was steadily losing weight, that could be the break from logging that I needed. The hard part of the diet being so basic... is that it's so basic. Something as simple as you make a salad and go to put dressing on it and it's like "nope, that's not on the list." But, that's also the good part of it, if it makes sense. The old diet was much more restrictive, I don't think it allowed for salt or spices. I think it cut out the spices because most had sugar.

So my plan is to start on Tuesday. My "vegan" daughter is coming down and she wants crawfish on Monday. I'll be boiling crawfish and grilling, after that it's on. I will get back in the 170's again. I was oh so close.

Goals for this week:

1. Green tea 1x per day: M-Y, T-Y, W-Y
2. Calories 1200-1400: 1837, 1286, 1326
3. Swim once
4. Gym once: W
5. Walk at least 2x: T, W
__________________

I like the rolling average as well, I may change this next week.

Attachment 420

Saw this on Facebook. Apparently from NYC..........I picked a bunch of these and froze them.........in minutes lol.

what is it? Never heard of that.

Known as "fiddleheads" they are a fern before it fully sprouts. They grow wild in forested areas by rivers, and around here, are ready for harvest for about 2 weeks first of May. You can usually harvest a patch and go back the next day and there will be more. They are delicious, nutritious and low cal and FREE to pick. Try some in frozen foods. Not as good of course. Fitday does have nutritional info on them.

fiddle heads
 

How do you prepare them. I ate them with gobs of butter and salt but haven't had them in a while. Show me a better way.
CW187.7

asparagus
 

Fresh asparagus will soon be available in Ontario. I boil it and eat it naked.
:D You know what I mean. My weight is coming back down after the long weekend binge and I was doing so well too. Does any one drink green tea cold? How do you make it taste good? I want a go to drink for the hot summer weather coming our way.