skinnyerinn, I have weird flucuations like that too. I link them to not enough water OR too much sodium. It'll probably come off pretty quick once you're back to drinking water and watching sodium. I know that I eat to much sodium, but it's really not something I watch too closely so I have the fluctuation...

Hang in there, it'll be okay!

Oh yea... Montanacricket just reminded me of something else - I GOT INTO MY SIZE 16 JEAN SHORTS ON SATURDAY! I haven't been able to wear those since 2006! So, I am a 268 pound size 16? Does that make sense if I am only 5'5"?:(

YOU ROCK lady! :) We all have weird shapes...there's no such thing as normal.

I don't know why, but your encouragement actually brought tears to my eyes. I am taking this very hard, very personal. I didn't eat anymore sodium than usual, in fact I stopped taking the prescription sodium pills my doctor ordered me to take (with my extreme workouts my body burns through electrolytes VERY fast - like 1 hour, so I take prescription strength potassium and I am supposed to take sodium, but I was thinking the salt was slowing my loss). Thanks for the confidence and the encouragement, I hope to reply with good news very soon, I'd hate to change my signature if this doesn't come off by Thursday. :(

skinnyerinn- You’ve got this. Don’t despair. In the scheme of things this 5 lbs (while yes VERY disheartening) is NOTHING compared to what you have accomplished already! You are AMAZING and I know you will beat it into submission in no time flat. From one Erin to another- YOU ROCK! (Remember that chica)

Also have fun with your friends and try not to beat yourself up for the extra work that may come out of it… Relationships, time with friends, fun and your own happiness are so important in to life. You’re 29- you can live a little AND you can do the work to make up for it. My water and Diet Coke (yep I’m double fisting it this fine morning) are raised to you. You’re my inspiration and like I said before – You’ve got this!

eeb - thank you so much, glad I can be your inspiration... I am going to make that my mantra - "You've got this!" whenever I look at the scale. I just did my Yoga and went cycling. I usually do 6.5 miles on the weight loss track (which is 4 minutes at resistance level 1, 4 minutes at 10... and so on for 32 minutes). On the resistance level 1 segments I did my weight lifting exercises. Seeing my muscles bulge out of all my extra skin gave me a little more confidence and made me appreciate my body a little more. Now I'm off to work, tonight I am going to do another 6.5 miles then my core exercises, push-ups and gravediggers. I am going to sweat this gain out!
I double fist it in the morning too, I got 50 ounces of water in with my protein shake! You guys are so awesome for taking the time to boost me up!

It very well could be that you didn't drink your water. Alcohol can make you retain water, and the way to get rid of excess water is to um, drink more water. Crazy but true. It could also be constipation, no lie if I don't go on a given day, I will be up the next. The other thing could be Aunt Flo, you expecting her in the next week or so? And given that crazy workout your doing, it could just be some muscle gain, duh. And it's probably a combination of things, right? Did you gain five pounds of fat, no you did not, fat doesn't stand a chance of gathering on you these days, cause you will beat it off with a stick, a low-fat, low-cal, high protein, grueling workout stick. Oh yes you will. Take that fat, whack whack whack.

Now on the fatty breakfast meats, I highly recommend a little bacon. I usually get some on the weekends, and it helps me stay on track. This last weekend I had sausage on Saturday and bacon on Sunday and I was down this morning. I've been finding that as long as my fat intake for the day isn't over 20-30% or so, I lose pretty steadily.

Chris,

Great about the jeans and shorts. I know that makes you feel good. I didn't track my food yesterday either. What I did do was since I have a lot of customized foods, add them all up and just put them in one entry. When I customize, I don't put all the nutrients. But what I have decided this time, is one, if I overeat not devour everything but just to continue the day and you know what, I was no where near my maintenance cals. And today I am right back in line with where I should be at this time of day. In the past I would have just quit for awhile and edged my way back up. I just came from maintaining the weight I had lost, as you will see below and beginning again. I am trying different strategies this time. I am so glad that you have not let your weekend deter you.

Sorry about your walk and arthritis. I have it in my left shoulder and one time I could barely drive, which was particulary bad since I drive using hand controls. I feel you.

Jaynie

Erinn,

I think that constipation could also be it. That is first what came to my mind but then I am 52. For me, it makes me gain weight, even when I know I have been "good" and irritable and frustrated and then I count back and think that is it!

Jaynie

Mornin' all! I raise my coffee cup to you all! Even with the ups and downs and scale malfunctions, we're all still keeping up the fight. And almeeker, I love what you said, "take that fat, whack whack whack"!

GOt my 1.5 miles in this morning despite hurting. We have a super weather system here, and the rain is badly needed, so I'm not going to complain, other than to say "I hurt, therefore I am".

My other 30 minutes was spent working out on the bowflex. Sure am glad we bought that thing so many years ago--just sad that it sat unused in the garage for so long! And GLAD I have it in my house now! :)

Hold the line ladies, we can all do this!

Almeeker - How are you doing with your Grandma's passing? I've been wondering about you - and thinking that only someone who has put a ton of work into her body could describe funeral clothing as flattering and cute! Way to go on looking on the brighter side of YOUR life. You're so inspirational. I wacked the heck outta my fat yesterday... daring it to creep back! I hope the scale will reflect all my efforts, if not I am going to start taking measurements. I didn't do this previously because I didn't want to discourage myself. Instead I measure body fat and pounds. I did 70 minutes of cardio yesterday, along with Yoga and weight lifting. I didn't get to my core due to a moderate case of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) that happens to me on Mondays following Bootcamp. I'll bust out double core and double cardio today. My body craves that soreness that comes with a great workout.
I also drank 150 ounces of water! I am pretty certain I was dehydrated since I drank a lot but pee'd very very little. Ate 1300 cals, but burned 3200... yea, stupid fat... I see your 5 pounds and I raise you extra cardio!
Chris - You are such a good General! Hold the line! Whip us into shape girlie! You're doing to great at dragging us along and keeping us in check, be sure that you have lots of people here that will return the favor if you ever need it. Oh, and WAY TO GO! on the jeans and dusting off the Bowflex!
Jay - I really admire your committment, don't let the whole day fall apart over an hour of poor judgement. You just get right back on the horse and keep riding. Great job!
Where's Patti? Am I mistaken or is she missing in action?
Erin - keep up the great work sister!!

*Protein shake up!* Have an excellent Tuesday everyone, I am here holding the line with all of you!

don't let the lack of losing get you down
 

SE Around 3 weeks ago, I went up a down 3 lbs for about 2 weeks, very discouraging but it finally did drop 3 or 4 lbs in about 3 days. I think it was probably a combination of things like yours is. Salt, more carbs than usual, not enought water, constipation just one of those plateaus we hit. I've noticed I'll lose everyday a few ozs then I stay for 2 or 3 days and then drop some more. Just seems to be my body's pattern. Yours is probably a build up in muscle mass also as much as you work out

Chris and Jaynie - Great job to both of you pushing through the soreness - the workouts will definitely help the arthritis. My mom has all but cured hers through exercise and weight loss!

SkinnyErinn - Awesome job whacking that fat back into line! Holy crapload of cardio, Batman!

CC1158 - Glad to see you back around after a few days - how are you doing?

Been a couple of ho-hum days for me, thus the non-posting. Stayed mostly on plan on Sunday (except for a banana with peanut butter on it - yum!), did fine yesterday, and the same planned again for today. Can't wait for Biggest Loser tonight, and then Jillian's new show next week!

Dude, as someone who used to finish an ENTIRE cheesecake in one night, I seriously applaud your peanut butter and banana. When I first started losing weight, I used to eat that with a little bit of Smuckers Sugar Free Chocolate Sauce as dessert. I am sure your pb and 'nana is much better than what you used to eat, right? Great job, and I am sooooo looking forward to Biggest Loser tonight too! Who are you rooting for? I am sticking behind Ashley. I used to like Daris, but he's gotten cocky and I used to REALLY not like Mike up until recently, now he makes me cry every show. Koli (and Sam) are just incredible too, but he's gotten so angry since Sam left. I'm like... um, everyone else lost their team mate before you!
Anyways... great job sticking to it!

Jay - I really admire your committment, don't let the whole day fall apart over an hour of poor judgement. You just get right back on the horse and keep riding. Great job!


Thanks and the one thing I still was lower on Monday morning and yesterday I was under 1300 calories and weighed about a half pound more. It kind of stunned me but then I remembered that I had not "gone" yesterday at all. I'm trying to adjust a high fiber and low fat diet because colon cancer runs in my father's side of the family. I know that I didn't take in enough fluid yesterday. Some days I am good at that and some days I am not.

I'm not exercising yet. I kept wondering why I had been so tired lately. Usually when I eat better, I feel better. Well one of my feet (on my leg prosthetics) is turned inward. How that happened, I don't know. I have been using them for about fifteen years and this is the first time that has happened. I have an appt on Friday, but anyway, it causes me to expend a lot more energy and it is already estimated that amputees expend 40-100% more than those who are not when walking. Here I was huffing and puffing and not being able to walk the full length of the commissary and I couldn't figure it out. I finally looked down and both my feet are sort of facing in the same direction. (It's ok to laugh, I did when I figured out that was the problem.) Anyway, I was up to 2.25 miles on Leslie Sasone's walking CD in March and now I will have to start all over. My problem is I start exercising for awhile but continue to not eat all the way correct. Don't get me wrong, I eat correctly during the day and always have. The medication I am on effects my brain in the way that it makes me feel hungry and I eat more than I should at night and not always the right foods because I am ticked. I don't keep bad foods here as I am the only one here and don 't have to have snacks, desserts, etc, here for children and such, but I will get up and get dressed and go to the store to get something because I can. Oh yes, I used to be determined and a large bag of peanut M&M's were my nemesis. I have stopped that now and hopefully when my feet are not both pointed slightly to the right, I can begin my exercises again and be in unison with foods and activities.

Thanks for the encouragement. It is especially hard for me because I am also quitting smoking simultaneously, something I have never done before as the same time as dieting. So if you see errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrh, written across the page, you will know it is because I am irritable because of that. I can't kick the dog or cats, I love my pets, lol.

Jaynie

PS. If any of you write a long post and when you submit get a blank page, don't fret, use your back browser to go back to the page where you wrote the post and hit submit again.

Jaynie - keep us posted on the doc appointment for your feet. My dad was a quadruplegic and he used to do "arm chair" exercises, since he never walked a day in his life (little known fact about me - I am a test tube baby made in the UC Davis Fertility Laboratory!). He would lift weights, etc. I had knee surgery about 14 years ago and did chair Yoga... it was really awesome and I still felt a difference. I think as long as you're doing something, it definitely counts. And with being tired, I find when I significantly reduce my calories, I get more tired too because my body just slows everything down to "save" what precious calories it is getting. I just have to fight through it too.
Don't worry about being irritable, I'm quitting smoking too - this is my first week completed I think... have to go back and check the ol' blog to get the actual date, but I seem to remember it being Tuesday. Anywho... good luck, I'm sure you'll be back to 2+ miles in no time!

Jay, I'm totally cracking up about your toes pointing in the same direction!!! LOL. I have that trouble too, only I don't have prosthetic legs to blame it on. Actually mine don't point in the same direction, they just aren't the same length, which causes me no end of difficulty with my balance... Although one of my best friends has a difference in her legs of about 6 inches and she's a happy go lucky get-it-done kind of girl, so my measly inch and a half difference is nothing.

Well skinnyerinn, you're probably right, not too many people would think of funeral clothing as cute or flattering. It's just that for so long clothes shopping has been a depressing sport I've avoided, seriously I've done most of it on-line since my first pregnancy. So it's almost shocking that I can walk in to a store, grab something off the rack and have it not only fit, but look well enough that I can't find anything to object to about it. Sooo weird. And seriously the skirt is very slimming, probably makes me look a size or two smaller than I am. You've lost more than twice the weight I have, so I'm guessing shopping is getting to be a whole lot more fun for you too. I'm also guessing that you have to shop for new things constantly, since you haven't stayed at any size for very long lately.

Good luck to all of you who are getting off the ciggys. I watched my dad quit, it was really hard but he's been smoke free for about 25 years now, and he's much better off for it. He still carries a pack of gum in his pocket and he always stands down wind of fire and inhales deeply, but he hasn't smoked a ciggy in a very long time. Can't say exactly how long because he used to cheat here and there, especially on really bad days at work.

Well I gotta go the little one stinks to high heaven. I'm hoping it's just gas, but I'm an eternal optimist.

Good to know you are out there Erinn and Almeeker, thanks also for the nonsmoking support and I can also feel you about having one leg slighltly longer than the other. When I was in the army runs were so hard for me; although, I passed, because my left leg was about an inch longer than my right and flat feet didn't help either. I probably should have been FourF or whatever they called it in the old days when they didn't take you, lol.

The other day I came in the front door and somehow managed to step with my other leg on that inward foot and tried to keep walking and went down. Again, laughter is OK. I never had coordination and it is getting out of hand as at 52, I guess I could break something. I guess I have good bones.

Anyway, it is great being able to chat here and if I go too long, remember I live alone with my four babies (Zoey, Kittykitty, Cece and Shadow) and they are tired of hearing me talk to them.

Jaynie

checking in
 

almeeker - so sorry to hear of your loss and glad you found a way to deal with the pain and sorrow in other ways.

went out to dinner with family in from out of town yesterday and she is also trying to lose weight, she quizzed me and I told her about FitDay and all of my wonderful friends - explained that I decided not to "diet" , but make healthy choices within a reasonable calorie range that I could live with the rest of my life. We had a nice time visiting and I brought half of my dinner home, so stayed right on track. Got two for one as had the other half for tonights dinner lol

glad to hear everyone is staying motivated- I know how you feel Skinnerrin when you feel as if you have done everything right yet the scale either doesn't move or moves the wrong way :( It could be a lot of factors as everyone suggested I don't let one or two days get me down anymore as usually with a few days I drop again as long as I keep on track. sometimes I'll spend a whole week on the same numbers and then the next I'll drop four pounds lol our bodies are mysterious creatures sometimes

Evening everyone

Sorry couldnt get here till now...dh got home late thursday evening,,plus a long weekend and some issues we are still dealing with...its been a stressful weekend but Im determined not to eat my way thru this. Eating has not been low carb but it has been low cal and thats a good thing.

Almeeker Im so sorry for your loss of your grandmother. ((hugs))

I will be back tomorrow to touch base with everyone...its almost time for american idol and i dont want to miss it!!

One week in.
 

Alright ladies one week in and I’m feeling good about this. I’m making conscious (if not always the best) food choices- no more mindless eating for this girl! I’m not really sure how many calories I should be getting but I know I have cut back. I also know that; even though I’m not exercising as much as you all are, I am working my way up to it. I’ve added a lot more movement to my days and for the first time ever have some strength training going on. It’s been beastly here in Wisconsin- May is not supposed to be 90+ and HUMID…the next “coolish” day I’m out for a good long walk. I’m not logging in any weight yet because even though it has been a week since I joined- I joined not actually knowing my weight (I guessed around 270). I was weighed last Thursday at my “why-oh-why-do-I-have-to-be-a-woman-appointment” (LOL) so I will weigh myself in on Thursday with my handy dandy new scale! Who knew I’d ever be happy to have a scale-CRAZY!

Do any of you have any books or websites that you found particularly helpful when you were first starting out? I love to look for books at second hand stores.

Thanks again Ladies for being such inspirations and so welcoming. I think I could do this alone (maybe) but I’m so glad I don’t have to!

catching up
 

Almeeker – you know, I keep meaning to actually follow through with the “button test.” My 22’s fit me, though they are SOOOO super duper baggy even right out of the dryer, 20’s are loose, 18’s fit well and my 16’s are tight. LOLOL. I bout some size 18 shirts last week, thinking they were too small and I would grow into them – welp, they lasted a whole week and are now too baggy. I made the mistake this morning of putting on my old favorite shirt, and it looked like I was wearing a tarp, and it was a 22! So, unfortunately – clothing shopping is few and far between because I LOVE LOVE LOVE clothes and it gets expensive. They are just so pretty and… oh, I just love them. I NEED to find a skirt like yours so make me look like a skinny Minnie. How many kids do you have? I just got the 2, the 7 year old girl and the 1 year old boy – they don’t understand why I am so busy these days. I am trying to find a balance between snuggling on the couch and exercising. I’m loving the fact that the KIDS get tired before I do! I feel so studly.

Jaynie - I feel ya on the coordination. I am a total klutz. There are some exercises I am supposed to do that I won’t even TRY! I still can’t do an elliptical. Are your babies all kitties or are there doggies in there too? I love your sense of humor and your ability to laugh when others may lash out in anger.

Speedyfair – WAY TO GO GIRL! I think that inspiring my friends is the biggest thrill I get from becoming more healthy. More and more are asking me what I am doing and how they can get started.

Patti – I’m recording AI and watching Biggest Loser! Sorry to hear you’re going through a rough patch. Great job on making mindful food choices, even if you have to give a little here and there to get through the tough times. Bravo, you are a leader and inspiration.

Eeb – I didn’t read any books, but I am addicted to web research. I read articles on sports medicine, personal training, calories, beauty, hydration, metabolism… I just google anything I am curious about… which is how I found Fitday! Way to go, we all started right where you are at this very moment… just making small changes and being more thoughtful. Just expect that when you start to see results that you are going to want to ramp things up – it’s a great feeling and we are all here for you! You become addicted to all sorts of freakish things, like exercise, drinking water, veggies… and other equally bazaar habits. Just relax and tell your friends that YES! You have joined a cult and YES! They have brainwashed you! LOL.

Goodnight all, I am still recovering from my DOMS.. though I still got my cardio, weightlifting and core exercises in, they weren't as intense due to the pain but I should be recovered tomorrow. :D Yesterday morning, my body was still stuck at 268, this morning I was down to 265. I am trying to get that last 2 pounds of gain off before Thursday (the only day I really count). I'll be thrilled with 0 lost if I have a 0 gain too... oh, today's calories were 1,303 with 150 ounces water.

Well again I am getting frustrated since I went and weighted in and I have gained 1.5 pounds this week!

I do not understand why one week I lose 6 pounds and the next I gain 1.5. I have changed nothing and I am still working out 5 days a week sometime twice a day

I do not want to give up because I keep telling myself this has to be good for me (exercise) but I really need to see it on the scales.

I have been working out for 3 months 5-6 days a week and watching what I am eatting for the first time in my whole life and I have ONLY LOST 1 POUND:confused:

HELPPPPPP!

Alright christineval, I'll see if I can't give you a boost (or a drop as it were) in the right direction. Take a good look at your calorie pie chart. What does it look like? For me to drop it's all about the pie! I can work out for hours and keep my cals low enough to pass out, but I won't lose very much weight if my carbs get up over 50% of my calorie make-up. Okay 'nother question, what are you doing to re-charge after all that working out? I usually follow my workout with a protein shake (or bar), and a high protein breakfast, minimum 40 grams of protein (more if I'm not over my calorie budget), and believe it or not some fat. I try and keep my fat around 40-50 grams/day, and I want at least 1/3 of it right after my workout, more if I can manage it. Protein will give your body the signal to rebuild those muscles you just tore up and to make them even bigger, and more lean muscle makes your body more efficient at burning fat. Carbs on the other hand tell the body to ignore the muscles and to make and store fat. Fat gives your body one of the nutrients it needs to break down and use the vitamins in that protein shake. The other thing you need to make sure happens every day is your water intake. I want to say that it's 64oz baseline, plus another 8oz for every 10 pounds you're overweight? So for me that's like 96+ ounces/day. I carry around a 24 ounce bottle and I try and fill it 3-4 times/day. I'm more successful some days than others.

Skinnyerinn, great job on getting down by 3 pounds. That whole 5 pound business is almost a thing of the past, you go girl! Yes, I highly recommend doing the "button test", I found cleaning out my closet to be extremely liberating. It was my way of saying "good-bye" to my fat self and "hello" to my skinnier self, and without all those old fat clothes there is no turning back now! They say you should keep one pair of pants, just to remind you of where you've been. I didn't keep any of the 24's, I gave them to a friend of mine. But I have some 20's and a couple of really big shirts. And let's face it, I can hold up a pair of 24's at the store any day of the week. The DH and I have 3 kids together and I watch a few more, so there is anywhere from 2-8 here at any given time. I'm having "balance" issues as well. My kids are going through something of an adjustment in my schedule. I usually workout in the morning and when I don't get that started on time (which happens a lot) then they have to do more to get themselves ready for school. Hopefully this will change us all for the better, I'll be thinner and they'll be more independent...

eeb_79, I didn't read any books either, like skinnyerinn I'm mostly a web browser. I've heard good things about "Thin for Life" and "What not to Eat". I'm cracking up over your "happy scale feelings", very funny that. As far as helpful websites, this one has been great. Not so much for diet info, but for support it's the best. A good friend of mine calls that "why-oh-why do I have to be a woman appointment" her annual "oil change". Too funny.

patti, sorry to hear that you're stressed out. Stay strong, you can survive this and stay on track, I have confidence in you. And if you drop an egg, forgive yourself.

speedy, great job on having dinner out. That is still one of my worst issues. And with Grans funeral on Friday, there will be probably 3-4 out-to-eat meals in a row. I think I have 1-2 of them figured out, but the rest are yet a mystery. The funeral is like 3 hours from here, and DH suggested we stay with his sister. And I was like OMG NO!!!! She's a vegetarian and skinny as a stick, she doesn't cook at all and there is never any food at her house. But her husband is a chef, so when we've visited her in the past, we go out to eat at whatever restaurant he's running, for pretty much every meal. I'm just not at a place in this journey where I can be at a 4 star for every meal and behave myself. No no no no no.

Jaybrodz, I don't think pets ever get tired of listening, especially if you scratch ears while your talking... Sorry to hear about your swan dive through the front door. Last weekend when we were camping one of the other ladies tripped on a tree root and got a bruise on the back of her calf that looks just like an eggplant, same shape and color. We were laughing at her last night saying we'd never heard of anybody that fell forward, yet bruised the back of her leg.

Hello
 

Hi! Im new to Fitday, so I figured why not drop in and make some friends. My name is Pepper, Im 5'4" (162.5cm) and I am currently at 257lbs (116.57kg). I am 24 years old and live on the east coast. Like most people who are overweight, Ive suffered with depression most of my teen years until now. I got married back in Feb of 08 to a wonderful man who loves me regardless. But now Ive been told that I have type II Diabetes by my doctor. Irregular periods and just plain disgust with myself. So Ive decided to make a life change and try to improve myself. My goal weight is 110lbs (49.90kg), Ive been working alone for the passed week and dropeed 6lbs, so to me that's a great start. Feel free to add me to contacts or anything. :)

Pepper - Welcome! It sounds like you have some great motivating factors to get you started, and congrats on your first 6 pounds!

Speedy - Awesome job keeping it in check even though you were eating out. I actually have to avoid going out to eat because I know it's hard to stop myself!

Almeeker - I hope the funeral goes ok. I know it will be difficult (my crazy family makes me want to eat too!), but I know you can get through it. Maybe if you stay at your sister-in-law's, you can offer to make a vegetarian meal for a lunch or dinner? Then you have some control over the ingredients and you're doing her a favor too?

SkinnyErinn - It must feel good to watch the sizes drop, drop, drop! I have so many beautiful clothes that are 2-4 sizes too small right now, and I can't wait to go shopping in my basement storage closet!

Christine - I'm totally feeling you about the weightloss - I hate even minor fluctuations upward on the scale because they always make me want to throw in the hat. But I think you said it best - you know the exercise is good for you and you need to focus on being healthy - not a number on the scale. I know it's hard, but the work will pay off if you are keeping your calories in check and exercising.

I'm having a total case of the blah's the last few days. I got down to 226.4 again after that weird fluctuation from Aunt Flo, but then the last two days I've been 226.8 and now today 227. Not happy! I've not done anything very different - still keeping calories between 1300-1500, and Fitday says I can have up to 1,900 (but I've always thought their estimates were high). If I eat any fewer than that, I am so tired and can't function. My "month anniversary" of being on fitday is on Saturday and I was really hoping I could say I lost 10 pounds this month (which would mean losing 1.2 pounds by then!)

I know I need to incorporate exercise, but I just don't know how at this point. My son wakes up at 5:30 a.m., so I get up at 5 a.m. to get in the shower and get ready before he wakes up. Then it's two hours of eating, dressing, getting DH out the door, getting some prep for dinner that night ready, and finishing up myself before I head out the door to drop him off at daycare and go to work. I pick my son up at 5:30 after work, then it's fixing dinner, feeding him, getting in about an hour of playtime (which I try to make active play if it's nice outside), then books, bath, and bed for him by 8:30. Then it's dishes, laundry, light housework and maybe 30-60 minutes of TV with some tea before I pass out at 10 p.m. DH doesn't do anything for my son except play with him while I fix dinner, and he barely does anything around the house - only yard or outside stuff which consumes all his time at home (he works 10-11 hour days during this season, so he has less time at home than even I do). I'm not one of those people that can exercise at night and still fall asleep, and if I get up any earlier in the morning I'd be getting less than 7 hours of sleep, which sometimes happens anyway. I don't have a regular lunch break at work that I can count on for exercise, and my office is in a scary part of town for walking. I know it sounds like I'm having a pity party here and making excuses, but I just don't know how to do it! I know you moms out there have got to have some advice for exercising without sacrificing the precious little time I have with my boy each day!

eeb - I can't believe I was SOOOO super dumb! I forgot to list my favorite book of all time that I started to read when I first began eating better - Eat This, Not That! They have TONS of editions, like one for restaurants, shopping, kids, making babies... it travelled with me wherever I went.

Welocme Pepper. I live in Washington State, but am originally from S. Jersey. I know far and few between. I have only been with these ladies for less than a week but I am finding them all wonderful to chat with. I am sure that you will enjoy their lovely company too and great work on your first week!

Erinm, I have one dog and three cats. Originally, I was always a dog lover, but my ex had a cat and I liked him and I kind of inherited these cats as the kids left home, but I don't think of my cats as cats. They understand commands like dogs do. In otherwords, they do not act like normal independent felines--most of the time. Zoey, the dog, goes everywhere with me, except on the freeway as I have visions of the door opening and her rolling down the freeway. She sits like she is human with her right arm on the door arm rest and the gate guard to the AF base where I go, commented on how human she looked. She used to love to go through drive through windows, where she would almost always get a treat. Of course, since I have been doing this, she hasn't gotten any KFC popcorn chicken. I had another little love that passed away about three years ago from a stroke at only six. I called them sisters; although, they were totally different mixed breeds that I got from the animal shelter. Before then, I always had full breeds. My previous buddy was Bud, who was a Bernese Mtn Dog and before that it was a miniature poodle and that is it for my adult life and I grew up around pets. Are you sorry you asked, Erinn? You know I have the gift of gab, lol.

Christineval, I weighed the same today as I did yesterday, but this one was my fault, I cheated late last night and even though I ate healthy, I was over my usual calories, but not over my total that my body is supposed to maintain for my current weight. But you know what? I am not letting it bother me. The first couple of days I dropped 3.4 lbs and hope to get back to that point by tomorrow which like Erinn, is my weigh-in day. Right now, I am at 2.8 for the week, but that is a consequence of weighing daily--weight does fluctuate. Average people, I don't think, weigh the same thing everyday either. What I am going to do when this week is done is compare my weights with my journals and see what I can tweak. Right now, I already know that my biggest weight loss was after a day where I moved around much more during the day. Being that I have no family to wrestle with, cook and clean up afterward, my normal activity is at the very minimal. It is a blessing in one sense in that I don't have to keep any foods here except what is acceptable for me, but it almost "mutes" my activity.

It will pick up for you and in addition to what has already been suggested, I would suggest that you really analyze the foods that you have been eating. I am the exact opposite of Almeeker. If I look at fat, it stays. I eat 30 protein percent protein and 20 percent good fat and 50 percent carbohydrates as I have a mixed body type. For right now, until I get bored with it, I am cooking all my food and low fat/cal desserts. The desserts, I will freeze in individual servings and only have maybe on Thursday or Sunday or maybe on both days within my calorie allowance. I don't know--this is knew and I am trying to keep it interesting. I know that I have completely left your question but I also am thinking of maybe going to the movie once a month with home made popcorn and a soda in my tote as a reward for doing good. This will serve another purpose as it will get me out and about and I have never gone all by myself before. Should be interesting. Also, I will be returning to college, which I had to put on hold for a year awaiting VA authorized construction to start on my house and be completed while I was out of school because I had to be at home and make sure none of the pets got out. It has started and should be completed by the fall term. When I was going a year ago, I am sure I got a lot more exercise walking from class to class--anyone for math (major)?

Well I better "get to getting" as Niecy says on the show Clean House and do my daily office work. That show makes me feel so much better about how my home looks since the onset of my disability and before you think it looks terrible, I just might not get around to dusting and vacuuming as often as I should other than that I am an orderly person.

Hope you are having a good day all.

Jaynie

Thanks honey, my crazy family doesn't make me want to eat so much as they are all FEEDERS!!! And really good cooks. We're not staying with the SIL, I just can't add that stress to an already emotionally stressful situation. Believe me I have to be in the right frame of mind for that, and this is not the right frame by a long shot. Although your suggestion has merit for another occasion.

On exercising. I'm like you, I get up early and run all day long and for years it didn't seem like I had time for it. But you have to find time for you, we all do. What's good for the goose is good for the goslings. Why don't you start with 10 minutes, you can even make a game out of it and have little man join you. You can swing a whole 10 mins. Our 3 year old does killer Wii Fit Plus yoga, it's hilarious. Or put on your headphones and boogy while you do your light house work and go non-stop for a full 20-30 mins. I sometimes wear wrist weights when I fold laundry, it's a great arm burner, you should see the definition I'm getting... It doesn't have to be grueling or sweaty to burn calories, just moving.

Afternoon ladies...
Still not stress eating and back on plan..scale was not affected by being off plan, but still not going down either..still stressing though. Need to walk instead of eat.


Welcome eeb....youve joined a very supportive group here!! Books or websites.... one book I really liked and was easy to follow was *Dr Oz..you on a diet* I still follow his guidelines. As for websites I am following the South Beach way of eating so I belong to a few of thier sites.
Erinn what is the button test...? I missed something.
Christinevel I know we arnt experts by any means but we do count calories and follow different plans..would you share your daily menu with us? like an exact menu of what you ate one day? Also I would get out the tape measure and start to take measurements to see if those inches are coming off.
almeeker the only egg I dropped this weekend was lack of exercise...thats not bad. Thinking of you
I never thought of putting my weights on to do housework...I have them out in the open to grab when I sit down to watch tv..but now this opens more opportunities for me. Working on those flabby arms~~~ thanks for the great idea...
Pepper welcome and congrats on the 6 pounds down!!! Thats a great start!!
Egm 10 pounds in a month is great BUT so is 8.5 if you dont make that goal....be proud of what you have done this month!!! way to goo...
Jaynie I love the movie idea...and thumbs up for bringin your own snacks..untill theaters start to bring in healthy choices I would do that to....movie popcorn is crazy for sodium and fat!!

The button test is my way of cleaning out the closet. If I can get my pants on and off without unbuttoning, they are officially too big and must go. I have a boob test too, for shirts. If a shirt is so big it hangs straight down off the boobs and doesn't come in a little at the under bust, it goes. Seriously I needed a way to cull some stuff, because once you've lost a little weight, you can get it all on. The real question is should you?

Hey you're welcome on the exercise idea. I've been trying to squeeze in a little extra here and there because I've plateaued a little and need to increase the burn, but in spite of all my requests for more, there are still only 24 hours in a day.

BTW, Almeeker, you and I share the same birthday, but I had it first, lol. I guess that is nothing to brag about, though, especially when it is by eleven years.

Jaynie

almeeker- I love love LOVE the idea of house work with wrist weights on!! Sweet!! I just bought some on Monday and I just put away my laundry with them on LOL (it's also a much needed motivation to get my laundry actually put away)

egmdobbs- what kind of office do you work at? What kind of stuff are you doing all day at work? I make a point of standing as much as I can at mine. I pace when on the phone (if possible) and I make multiple trips to the back to get the things I need or to accomplish tasks. I'm not sure if that's anything you could do but I thought it was worth a shot. I also walk to places like the grocery store (not for huge shops of course- but I do take two reusable bags and pretty much fill them-bonus for the added weight LOL). You said your work isn't in the best neighborhood but if your home is... are there any places near by you could walk to? I like the combo deal of a "workout" and marking something off of my to-do-list.

Thanks for all the book and website idea's I will be checking into them all soon!

That is sooo cool. You know for the first 30 years of my life I never met another living soul with the same birthday as me, and then I got married and 2 members of my husband's family have that same birthday, and now there's you too. How cool is that? Pumpkin babies RULE!!!

I actually fold all the laundry on top of my bed. So there is incentive to make the bed, fold the laundry and then of course I have to put it away in order to go to sleep. Harsh, but it works. I'm glad you love the wrist weight idea, you can use ankle weights too, and it's an even better burn (and more fun too) if you throw on some headphones and shake your booty to the beat. The funny part for me is that I hardly notice the weights, because not too long ago my limbs actually weighed all that and more. So then I forget to take them off and end up out in public with them on. How crazy does that look?

And fellow Scorpio, not that I believe in that, but my daughter lives and dies by it. My mother was one. My sister and I, who were the only females born to her, are and my only daughter is also a Scorpio. Of course, as they say about us being born near the cusp--they don't count because they were born in November. I've always been fond of Halloween and once I became a Christian, some churches that I went to didn't approve of it, but to me it is just a day of enjoyment for the kids and me too, when my kids were younger. I used to dress up with a caftan, put white out in my piled up hair and was the Bride of Frankenstein, which was especially effective since I am 6'1."

Oh, and Zoey is one, if it holds true for dogs.

Almeeker is hilarious... thanks for explaining the button test. I need to do the shirt test. Maybe I will put that on my weekend goals... my closet is overflowing and I am itching to go shopping.
Today I worked my booty off... wait, nope... it's still there... back to the grind.
At the gym today, there were two guys working out as I walked in. One guy looked at me and said, "you want the elliptical?" I said no, I was ok. He smiled and said, "you sure? I'm going to be here a while." He just smirked... welp... he WAS there longer....sitting on a weight machine and watching me out of the corner of his eyes as I did 7 miles at 17mph on the bike WHILE lifting weights and 1.8 miles on an incline of 5 at 3.5mph. Then did 20 gravediggers, 50 push-ups and 3 minutes of planks. Sweat was pouring off of me and I never stopped moving. Take THAT smirky smirky jerkface. Fat girl can MOVE. 90 minutes later - as I left I said, "I just can't handle that elliptical" and walked out. I felt so good.
Drank another 150 ounces of water today... still barely peeing... so weird. Tomorrow is weigh in day, good luck everyone! Muah!

egm - I like doing my weights while I cook dinner. How old is your son? My 7 year old AND my 1 year old like sitting on me while I do my butt blasters, lol. Since the 7 year old is at school, I try to work out while the baby is napping when I am home with him. Other than that, I have actually extended my sitter's hours. When I was a SATM, I used to hire a sitter just to come over for the half hour it took me to get to Curves.
Also, I have put him in the stroller and actually taken him down to the gym with me (my complex has a gym, so it's not far)... I bring toys, water, etc.
During the day when I work, I wait until the kids are asleep and rock the workout. Research some home cardio exercises if you can't get to the gym.
Remember that the first 20 minutes of cardio, you're not burning fat - everything past 20 minutes you are BURNING, and if you do strengthening exercises after your cardio the burn goes for even longer (though not as intense). 99% of the time I do my cardio in the gym then come home and do everything else on the floor of my livingroom as my babies snore in their bedrooms.
I hope I gave you some help. I will think on it some more and let you know if there is anything else I can remember.
Oh, one last strategy - and this is my LEAST favorite. When I know I will have a busy night and might not get to exercise, I wake up at 5am and get it all done then wake up the kids at 6:30 (baby wakes himself at 7). By that time I am sipping my coffee and protein shake and loving life.

What are gravediggers and planks? I know a lot of army exercises from when I was in but have never heard of those two and wow, you did fifty push-ups, were they male type. I was just using the door frame the other day as something to "push-up" against and I could feel that.

On that note, I am having an exercise room in my bedroom suite with a table that will come down from the wall for me to use to do all my floor exercises. Right now it is a hinderance and certainly a deterrent to have to crawl over to the chair or couch every time I want to get down and up from the floor. Once I get my foot fixed though, I will start walking and using my ab rocket. I think of all the ab thingies, that one is the best and believe me I have tried a few. I had the one where you rollout from a kneeling positon. And don't waist your money on the Red. I could almost do the same thing from my desk chair and it barely has any tention.

I think that weights or bands are the best, cardio and for me, I have to target my bust and stomach. I kind of look like a brown, round bee that you see in cartoons with slim leg and not too big arms. I am definitely apple shaped for right now. I do feel good though because I actually, now, have somewhat of a waist. When I first started out at my highest for this time, all measurements really had no discernible(sp?) difference. Thanks for the tip. I didn't know that weights should be done after cardio. Is that the same with exercises, should they be done after cardio or does it make a difference? When I was in, we did them first and then ran.