I can't say for sure on cardio or weights first. My time to workout is limited to 60 minutes at a stretch. I usually do cardio first because I use an elliptical and the kids are still asleep, well they are supposed to be only this morning my youngest is up and being a pain in the behind. If I have time left over then I do weights, or I wear my ankle/wrist weights.

I don't know why you guys thought my running around town in ankle weights was so funny. They are purple and black with a splash of hot pink and quite the fashion statement really. I'm a trendsetter yessiree. Well maybe I'm not, but that's what I always tell myself when I act like a dork. It's a good thing I didn't have on the 10 pound pair, those babies are like 8" tall and cover me from ankle to mid-calf and they are black as the ace of spades and make me sweat and walk like an elephant, thunk thunk thunk.

I'm totally cracking up over skinny at the gym, way to show smirky smirk!!! I get that sometimes too. When I lift, I'm not messing around, I grew up on a farm, I'm freakishly strong and build like a field stone outhouse. I can work most of the machines at maybe 1/2 way down the blocks, some even more. And you should see the young bucks who follow me. It's hilarious!!! The women who follow me are even funnier, because they usually grunt, squeal and cuss. One of the Staff members always makes jokes about it and immediately goes over to coach them so they don't get hurt. Last night I bench pressed with the machine set at 13. I could only lift it 5 times, so I backed off to 12 and finished my sets, but next time I'll do more at 13, just see if I don't.

Okay skinnye, let me get this straight... You've been drinking lots of water, sweating like a pig in 90 minute workout sessions and you don't understand why you're not peeing? I think if you took a day off from the workouts, you would find yourself on the potty quite a bit. You might want to up the water just a touch, so you do pee a little more, because clearly you are turning most of it into sweat. Hey, I just want to say you might give the elliptical another try, especially now that you've built up some muscle tone and stamina. I love it and what it's doing for my fanny. I tell you what they should change the name of it from "elliptical" to "fanny anti-gravity device", it's perked up the whole works back there. Whoo hooo hooo!!!!

Ugh. Having an "off" week this week. I've developed a pain in my left side just under my ribs. Not sure if it's intestinal (youngest daughter was home Friday with stomach flu) but feels like your esophagus does when you eat food that is WAY too hot. Comes and goes. So I'm not eating much.

Skipped my workout yesterday due to simple exhaustion. Got back on this morning, but I'm just beat down tired.

It's been a heck of a week with softball games Mon-Wed and then a band concert (marathon) for both kids tonight. I'm off tomorrow for a long weekend and really am hoping that I pull out of this whatever-it-is.

Anyone else have PMS/period get way worse when working out? I know that most I've talked to indicate the opposite and I'm wondering when I should be concerned...

Jaynie – Planks are done on my Yoga mat, or any padded surface. I have little callouses built up now, but if I started doing them on carpet I would have rug burns…just saying. So, get on all fours, rest your entire forearm on the ground, thumbs pointing forward. I have a stopwatch by me and very motivating music because these are HARD. When you’re ready (take several deep breaths) pop up off your knees and onto your toes. It’s like a push-up, with your back flat, your butt DOWN. Only rest on your forearms. You should be looking at your thumbs, not hanging your head. Hold it there for 60 seconds (hence the stopwatch). You should feel it in your abs, arms and legs. The first 2 weeks I did these I couldn’t get through them without shaking. I try to do 3-5 a night. After 1 minute, I then pop over onto one side, rest on my feet and one forearm and raise my body up. Lift your other arm toward the ceiling, aligned with your back and fingers facing the ceiling. Then repeat on the opposite side, holding each pose for 60 seconds on 3-5 reps. You can modify these by resting on knees if you need. If you Google “planks” you should be able to get a good image.
Gravediggers: Start in male pushup pose (modify to female if needed), but instead of hands on the ground, hold a set of hand weights. Alternating arms, lift one weight off the ground bringing it to your chest/armpit and releasing back down. Stay in pushup pose the entire time, just lifting the weights off the ground one side at a time. One turn on each arm counts as one. For example, I count it: left arm raised, right arm raised – ONE, left arm raised, right arm raised – TWO and so on.
Now, with the cardio first, your metabolism is already high. You’re warmed up and blood is pumping rapidly to your muscles. So, you’re going to stay rev’d throughout the strengthening. Also, because you’re already running hot, you’re less likely to injure yourself. Try a workout both ways and see which one makes you feel better. I know if I start with strengthening first, I don’t feel my muscles worked as much as when I do it after cardio. Then, just like Almeeker said, EAT PROTEIN. Your body will thank you.

Almeeker – I bump up to 200 oz today and def try the “fanny anti-gravity device” tonight. I am just so uncoordinated it’s ridiculous. WAY TO GO ON THE 13!!!! What other stuff are you doing to push through your plateau?

Chris – oh yea, I actually take Spiro the week before my cycle. My doc prescribed it for my PMS, water retention and carb cravings. I always heard that estrogen was stored in the fat cells, so burn fat and release estrogen… which can make even Glenda a little witchy. I find that exercise helps elevate my moods most of the time, so when PMS gets me down it’s more noticeable. I have noticed my cramps are a little stronger, but a little time on the treadmill or stationary bike helps to loosen their hold for a while. Oh, and drinking caffeine makes them worse – and since PMS makes us more tired, we are apt to drink MORE caffeine. And, um…. “flying to Ohio”… relieves menstrual symptoms too… even if it’s a, um… “solo flight.” Lol. I do notice that my cycles are heavier and longer.

Weighed in - I lost 4.7 of the 5 pounds I gained, which makes a gain of .3 pounds. Meh.

SE, What is Spiro?

I'm glad to find someone else who has worsened symptoms--not that I'm glad you suffer too, but I am just blown away at how much worse I feel than I used to.

:p "flying to Ohio"

Spiro is a diuretic (sp?) that is pretty powerful stuff. I pee like crazy when I am on it, and it requires me to up my electrolytes or can lead to muscle cramps. It's pretty powerful stuff, and if you Google it, you will read a lot of dangers, etc. But, you also will read a lot of scary stuff if you Google "Tylenol." I only take it 7 days out of the month (like I said, the week before my period, when I am bloated, craving lots of carbs, etc.). It somehow stablizes my moods and curbs my carb cravings so I can function easier. Just a word though, the week that I use it I have a larger than normal loss, but it's all the retained water... so it's not a believable number. If you have insurance, ask your doctor about it. My doc prescribed it when she diagnosed my PMS.

Thanks Erinn, for the explanation. I could never do planks. I just learned that I can run in place if I bring my feet straight up and down and not kick back as most people do. I probably could with practice, but for when I get back into my dvd's, that will be enough. Usually, you have to have special feet for running. I can do the other two though or I can try them.

All day yesterday I was thinking that I would be going to the commissary and almost went in the afternoon, something I never do because it is too crowded and slows me down, after my doctor appt. Then I realized I hadn't eaten all day because I didn't know if I would have to take labs or not so that was the reason that I was willing to go to the commissary.

Well last night I couldn't go to sleep and my usual cup of warm milk and oatmeal didn't help. I was up reading a book about what foods to eat to lose weight and I had two servings of 100 cal popcorn wihch wasn't bad because I still wasn't over my upper limit that I have set. My son sent me a two pound box of See's and it arrived two days ago. I hadn't touched it and I thought maybe I will just have six and pushed them together so that they were the size of one candy bar, so I imagined. One chocolate Hershey's is only 210 cals right. Course these were taller in size and made with all kinds of delectable items. I chewed them slowly and gave my dog treats as she was watching my every bite and chew. Well about an hour later, I ate five more in the same fashion and then at 4:44 this morning, I ate five more. So needless to say, I was totally demotivated on going to the commissary this morning and I still felt full; although the book said that you are to eat b'fast within two hours of rising, which I knew but have never done. Today was supposed to be my day at furthering this journey and turning over yet another new leaf. I got on the scale timidly and low and behold, I weighed the same as yesterday. Ladies, that's the time when you're glad that scale hasn't moved. So, with four not so good days and three good days, one where I lost nothing, I have lost 22.8lbs. I zoomed around that commissary. Well not zoomed, but you catch my drift. I was only getting all cold and frozen but it over filled my cart because I only shop once a month and am trying for every two to see how it works. I've got a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables, which I never cared for or took the time for, whichever the case.

Right now, I am reading posts and having my coffee and taking a break before bringing them in the house. I don't know if this breakfast thing will ever kick in with me because it is not a habit that I had continued from childhood. I feel good. I always work up a sweat when I "do" the commissary and they ask me am I OK when I am unloading the cart and sweat is running down my face. I bring paper towels. Due to my disability, I expend anywhere from 80-200% extra in calorie burn just from walking.

_____________________________________________

Three good days, four bad days, 2.8lbs lost this week.

4 lbs lost for me this week which brings me to 260lbs :) Oh and I wasn't up once to pee last night I was up THREE count 'em THREE times! LOL

Well I'm off to walk to Shopko to return something 1.4 miles each way with a little wander around the store time thrown in too :)

Good for you, eeb--four lbs. Yah.

I have just come to a conclusion that I probably should have come to a long time ago and I probably have read it somewhere before and don't remember, but after my morning trip to the commissary and believe me, that is exercise for me and bringing them all in and putting them away, I am not hungry. I haven't eaten yet today; I know, I know, I should have but remember I had all that candy last night. Does anyone else find that exercise decreases appetite. I arrived at the commissary at 8:15 and here it is just before one and I am just starting to feel the slight pangs of hunger to which I am going to answer now. Just curious. I know I never used to eat after PT, but I didn't think about such things because I was 160lbs, which was an 8/10 for my height. And I could do what I did last night and I would automatically adjust or whatever to keep my weight the same with not thinking. Am I making sense? In other words, it wasn't a conscious effort, but then I hadn't lost ten to fifteen percent of my body, been through menopause and wasn't the same age as I am now.

checking in
 

wow- so may great friends on here, it is so motivating to read all the posts and you ladies make me laugh for the last half hour lol

I was so rooting for you skinny to make that guy put his eyes back in his head- great going- thanks from all of us

and almeeker - great job at the gym -its a wonderful feeling when it show.

like most of you - although I don't have children still finding time to work out, take care of the house, my parents, and my pets is sometimes a tough schedule so I love the idea of the wrist weights. I actually bought a 3lb dumbell last night as the walking is helping with my legs (and Butt!) but not my arms so thought I could use it while on the computer and watching TV or such- again multi-tasking lol

love the comment about the cult- lol was so funny but it's true the more I have lost and the better I'm feeling and loving the new clothes the more I want to do and push myself harder. Still trying to reach my goal to get to 240 by the end of the month @ 243 so I will be close if anything. Must have a great weekend and the thought of being close to my goal will (i hope) keep me on track through the holiday.

water bottle raised to those who get up at night !! lol

Hey what is up Speedyfair? What pets do you have. I am a fellow pet lover and I know how time consuming, challenging and hard it can be being in the sandwich generation. My mother had dementia and my father had terminal cancer and although my single sister was the primary caretaker, I visited to give her respite as much as I could.

Jaynie

Morning everyone
This may be a challenging week for some of you with a long weekend. I always find summer so hard to stay on plan..I never used to realized I always gained weight in the summer. You would think with all the fresh veggies and fruit available to me this would not be the course. But, I find it easier to grab and go...and added to the fact Im less active in the summer...no schedule to follow all adds up to a gain. Not this summer...I plan to lose!!! Stress is still ongoing here..Im trying hard not to wallow in it...last night I went to the pottery studio to take my mind off things for awhile..it helped and by the time I got home I had a nice cup of tea and no snacking. Im back to my lowest weight and would really like to get to the 260's by end of June. Im working on it!!

Jaynie Im an *apple* as well....only Im working on my arm flap...I have *skinny* legs and they are one thing on my body that I actually like. Im so inspired by you!!! You are a couragous woman.
Almeeker and Erinn you two are machines at the gym!!!! It took me alot to start walking at the ymca without being intimadated....my next goal is to start on some of the machines. I have done the button test...didnt realize it had a name..haha.
Feeling better Montana?? if it dosnt stop soon I would be getting it checked out..take care
Erinn I think I know what planks are and have tried them...for such a simple exercise my god they are hard to do!! They sure work on your inner core though. And I did them on my knees!
4 pounds Eeb!!! yeah....
Speedy have a good weekend!!! I love cats myself and even though I cant have them in our rental I have 5 living around me...If they would come to me they would be very spoiled but they havnt figured that out yet..

Ok Im off to post the weekend challenge if anyone is interested....this weekend I will do better. Stress helps with not eating for me, I tend to do more housework.
We are doing this ladies!!!! lets keep going!!

Hello ladies!

Thank you all for the suggestions on fitting workouts into my very busy life. Almeeker - The ankle and wrist weights are a good idea - I will have to get some. At least it would add a little burn to whatever I'm doing already. And as far as working it into my job, I'll see what I can do, but I'm a grant writer for Girl Scouts = computer work almost all day. Although yesterday I volunteered to be out at one of our day camps, so I spent 9-5 running around after 75 kindergarten-3rd grade girls! Whew - glad I don't do that everyday!

So the good news is that I made my goal of losing 10 pounds in a month on Fitday! I was 225.4 yesterday on the scale, and I think I'm going to follow SkinnyE's method of weighing in everyday but only counting Thursdays. Because I weighed in today and I was 224, but I don't think that's a true loss, probably just from running around all day yesterday. Either way - my first 10 pounds! I celebrated a little last night, and although I know we all need to come up with non-food rewards, I decided that after a day of 75 girls and 10 pounds lost I could have a pint o' the good stuff at DH and I's favorite microbrewery last night, and boy, did it taste good!

Tgif
 

happy Friday to all and looking forward to a healthy weekend. I borrowed a turck from work and plan on getting some much and stone to do the front yard- may take me longer than the weekend, but plan on getting the materials and starting it. lol - maybe you gardners have inspired me !

Jaynie- yes I love pets, I have two cats, one is almost twenty years old and still in good health. I also have a beagle and he is only three so still likes to be very active. He is my dog(a gift), but my boyfriend used to spend most of the day with him and he loves to be outside. It was one reason for my decision to change my life, my boyfriend and I broke up and I had to find a way to keep him active or find him another home, as that was not an option to me lol - couldn't/wouldn't give him up lol I made the decision to get healthy and now he is my walking buddy. It gets us both exercise and also time together that he needs.

happy memorial day weekend to everyone- have a great & healthy holiday.

Good morning everybody and Happy Memorial Day weekend! I'm up, but none too happy about it. I haven't slept well in days, last night was especially bad. All three of my babies were up sleepwalking! I guess they are just as exhausted as mom. Being away from home is a stressful thing, but we're back now. Grans funeral was beautiful and tragic all at the same time. I'm still breaking down and crying out of the blue, but it's part of the grieving process, and I know the waves of sadness will get a little farther apart as time goes on. It was great to see the whole fam yesterday, Grans 86 year old sister came in from Boston with 2 of her 3 daughters. It was funny to hear them talk and watch the daughters fuss over Auntie. A real pair of mother hens those two. I had to really keep a lid on my emotions, my children are not used to seeing me cry and every time our youngest saw a tear in my eye, she burst into tears, the loud sobbing, gulping, snuffling kind....

I was 500-600 over budget yesterday with my calories, but most of the things I ate were on the healthy side, just too much of it and too many carbs. Is there a law somewhere that says a hotel continental breakfast must be 90% carbs and 10% fats? It seems there might be.... There must also be a law somewhere that says a buffet dinner must have fried chicken, butt fattening potato salad and huge gobs of full fat ranch dressing.

Good afternoon everyone,

Haven't checked in for a day or two... you all amaze me. So strong and courageous. Congratulations to everyone for the great choices they are making in the face of stressful and saddening times.
Patti - Congrats on finding something to do (other than eating) to blow off steam. I bet it feels great to know you desire those other options.
Egm - it makes it easier for me to stay sane if I just count one day, though as of RIGHT NOW, I am down to 260... man I hope to hit that decade mark by Thursday... I am getting closer and closer to the weight it says on my license.

There were others I wanted to comment on as well... I will when I get back from work, I just couldn't run off without connecting with you guys. You keep me strong and focused throughout my days. :)

Hi Ladies!

Patti - A pottery hobby sounds like lots of fun and a great way to relieve stress. I wonder what others of us do besides exercise to get away from it all?

Speedy - That's awesome that you got healthy for your dog! DH and I adopted a dog about 3 years ago so we'd have a running/walking buddy, but we got the wrong kind of dog for that - she's much more content to laze around!

Almeeker - I'm glad your Grandma's funeral went ok, I knew it was going to be stressful for you but it sounds like you handled yourself well in spite of the full fat ranch dressing and continental breakfasts! I'm always astounded watching other people eat at hotel breakfasts. I feel like saying, "If you were at home, would you pile your breakfast plate with a muffin, a bagel, some toast, AND some cereal?" If you're lucky, there might be some peanut butter or a hard boiled egg, but if you want protein, milk is usually the only thing there!

Skinny - I'm sending "decade vibes" your way - I know you can do that by Thursday! You're bound to have a good week this week after your last week anyway!

I'm doing pretty well so far this weekend. I went to a friend's housewarming party today and I've realized that having my son with me at social events is a great deterrent to eat! He had some cheese and crackers and fruit and a little bit of cake, and I only had a Diet Pepsi! I ate a healthy lunch before we left, so I skipped all sweet treats and all finger foods! Woo hoo! Saturday is usually the day I have a little time to put together a nice dinner, so tonight we're having turkey meatloaf (made with 97% lean turkey), roasted fingerling potatoes, and fresh picked asparagus from the pasture across our lane. Yum!

Hi all, I'm new to this site so thought i'd stop in and say hello to everyone. A little bit about me ... I have 135 pounds to lose to reach my goal weight I've been struggling with weight issues for about 15 years. Over the last year I've gained 50 pounds due to stress of a an illness in the family. The thing is I'm not an over eater and i mostly eat fairly healthy. My downfall is soda but after reading an article today on soda I'm giving it up which is easier said than done. I try to walk everyday but i'm finding trying to stay motivated really hard. I want my body back that i had when i was in the military. LOL I think that might be too much to ask but a girl can dream. Anyone have any really good tips for someone trying to lose 135 pounds?

Thanks
Twospirits

Welcome to the forum twospirts, and yes, I think all of us here on the 100 pound thread have good tips to offer. I think all of us would recommend logging your intake and activities here with extreme honesty, swap soda for water and then double the intake, get addicted to exercise, and probably you need to drop your carbs and up your proteins. How am I doing so far ladies? There is plenty more advice, but that's a good start right there.

I'm struggling this morning with self forgiveness. The last 2 days I was waaaayyy over budget calorie wise. Which is totally understandable given that Friday was my grandmother's funeral, and yesterday was my husband's birthday. But I look at my food log and I think it would have been so much easier to face today if I just hadn't eaten this, this and that. I just have to keep reminding myself that I dropped an egg, but there is no reason to drop the other 78.

patti, I love the pottery hobby idea. I used to do ceramics when I was a kid, but that place closed down. Ummm, I wonder if there is another place nearby? I'm going to look into that, thanks for the inspiration. I've been known to sew or knit to keep myself out of the food, but it's hard to face either in the summer. Now hands covered with wet mud sounds a good deal better for a summer hobby.

egmdobbs, turkey loaf eh? That actually sounds really yummy, I watched the McNeilly's make that the other day on TV, maybe I'll whip up a batch tomorrow when it rains. Glad to hear you're doing well this weekend, hopefully knowing you are doing so well will encourage me to do better. I too had some of the good stuff on Thursday night, we all sat around at the hotel and raised a glass to Grans.

skinny, I'm soooo cracking up about you working towards the weight on your driver's license! LOL too funny. When I was in college I went and got a "Driver's License Special" at a spa right before I went to the DMV for a new license. I came outta that spa looking so good that I had to carry a second piece of pictured ID around in my wallet for the next 8 years. Too funny. Maybe a new Driver's License picture should be one of our "goal weight" non-food rewards? Heaven knows a new picture couldn't be any worse than the one I have now, YIKES!!!

Speedy, I love it that you got active for the benefit of the dog. That is so sweet.

morning everyone
 

having my coffee and checking in- love that so many of us are postng- keeps my motivated and provides some great smiles for me. everyone is so positive in spite of the setbacks or little detours from our goals. I took a little detour myself yesterday, but only in the exercise area - calories were actually a little lower, but instead of going to the park for a walk, my girlfriend invited me out to her father's house in the country. No one was home and he said we could use his hottub and deck. Wonderful, layed out in the sun and the cooled off in the water most of the afternoon, then had a cookout- made steak fajitas, but kept it mostly veggies grilled and one tortilla. I had not had my bathing suit on since last year and it slid right on, was almost too big lol last summer I had to squeeze into it - felt so great and with my tan actually felt like I looked good. non-scale victory !!! It also felt awsome to relax and de-stress, been so busy lately that always seems like I'm going and think my body need some time to just chill out.

eegmdobbs- love asparagus- got a new receipe and can use the frozen right out of the bag too - my girlfriend drizzels it with a small amount of olive oil, adds minced garlic, sea salt, and cracked pepper. tosses it and bakes it in the oven at 375 for about 25 minutes. It was delicious. I am thinking this summer I could also do this and put it on the grill - may have to adjust the time, but I bet it would work- anyone else grill asparagus?

goal today it to get my walk in this morning and my mulch this afternoon.

I hope everyone gets some time to relax and enjoy this weekend.

Welcome, Twospirits. We definitely have similar experiences; although, I don't know if you retired from the military as I did with seventeen years in because of a disability. I was a lifer and I don't know what age you are or how long you spent in that environmen, but I plan to get down to that size and it better be those dimensions, for the most part.

Originally, I think I had more than that to lose and my highest weight during another lifetime was 293.5 which meant that I weighed the equivalent of 313.5. That's a lot of weight to carry around on prosthethics. I am considering myself more successful this time because I have held this weight for a year until I was ready to hit it again and have just returned to Fitday. For me, with the diet and exercise, I have learned to start slow, especially if you are trying to lose the weights that we are. Start off with ten mins of exercise or walking and work your way up or go by distance and walk further each day that you do walk. I personally don't set goals that I know I cannot immediately meet. If you are just starting, you might want to workout three days a week and then increase. This is my second week and I haven't incorporated exercise yet, but when I do, I know that I can make a mile each day. I won't defeat myself, by saying I will walk two miles right off, because I know, I can't do that, but I can do it five days a week. Also because it is easier for me and cheaper than a tread; although I have one, I use Leslie Sasone's walking dvd, or whomever's. You can pop them in, do the warm up and be done ind no time and there can be no excuses like rain or whatever. (My tread is packed away in what used to be my weight room with all the furniture that had to be moved for the construction.)

I hope that helps, from someone who used to have to run in the military, but understands how it might be for you now. I guess you have read through the posts and honestly, I felt hesitant at first, but now I feel like one of the crowd. You will like it here. Also, we realize that each person is different. I've found that plans are not pushed. I am not even on a plan for the most part, except that I know that my body works better on 50 percent low GI carbs, 30 percent protein and 20 percent good fat, like Omega 3, Olive oil, etc. Someone, I can't recall mentioned that they had to have a certain amount of fat to lose and it caused me to take a look at my, I guess low fat plan and I realized that I wasn't getting enough good fat to fully help with digestion. I went out an bough extra virgin Olive oil, which I thought I didn't like, but my experience with it this time, has been great. I put about a teaspon on a cut up tomato and mix it with a garlic salt and basil mix. If I have left over tomato, I may do the same and add onion. Boy is that good at room temp and after it has been allowed to sit for awhile. I want to lose weight, but ultimately, I want to eat more healthfully. You have sodas. I used to have raids to the corner store, fast food, when I didn't eat healthy and other habits. Fast food is gone. I don't go to the corner store. I don't get up late at night and go to Safeway, so it is these little things that I count as improvements along with the weight loss. Some people can jump right in but there has been a lot of research that also says change things over time.

HOpe this helps with the motivation. YOu might be setting your sights too high.

Jaynie

I think you are being hard on yourself, especially, in light of what you have been through, followed by a birthday. Both of my son's gave me See's candy for Mom's day and I held out for oh so long, but then on Thurs and Fri, I lost the battle. I ate well yesterday and am making a low cal pork stew, but am adding olive oil where I would have used pan spray. My weights the same roughly for the last few days and yes I do think, like you, if I hadn't had the run in, I might have been lower, but truth be known, I ate very well yesterday and didn't lose anything. But then there were a lot of nuts and I eat a lot of fiber, so you can catch my drift. I haven't exactly gotten my water where you all have because I am past menopause and there are problems with water, for some of us after that age.

But as usual, I am digressing. Please don't beat yourself up too much. Those days are gone and over and from your posts, the other eggs are still in the fridge. My biggest challenge on other plans that I have put myself on was the defeatest attitude, of which I know you are not; I am speaking of myself, and if I cheated, the whole thing was off the rocks, so to speak. My goal this time is to get in such a habit that if I have a day like that, I go back to eating normally. Someone mentioned the continental breakfasts and how bad they were or any buffet, in my "before" days, that would be my only meal because I knew it was bad for me. Today's almost gone and I bet you have done very well.

Jaynie

OK, that is three times I have heard about asparagas this week--twice on here and my sister mentioned it with garlic too. I have always disliked its taste and the firm thing that I was going to stick to this time was to only eat food I liked, but you guys have made it sound so tasty that I will try it and get some when I go to the commissary.

What can I do with brussel sprouts--another food that's good to eat but is on my dislike list?

Jaynie

If you are having "issues" with drinking too much water, try drinking 8oz of cranberry juice every morning. Some of those "issues" are actually caused by mild UTI's, which although asymptomatic can actually cause you to have the occasional accident. We keep cranberry juice in the house at all times for just such issues.

Asparagus is awesome. But I'm partial to it, raise my own and will generally only eat it if I harvest it myself. I like it fresh from the earth and still warm from the sun, and yes it's fantastic on the grill. Before you buy any, check it to make sure the outer layer of the stalk is soft. If it's not soft, don't buy it, because the tough stuff is awful.

Brussels sprouts are awesome too. I like them sliced in half and tossed with a little olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper and a dash of balsamic vinegar and sauteed for just a few minutes over high heat. They are also good left whole and boiled in salted water for 2 minutes, then you drain them and give them a spritz of spray butter. The trick with Brussels sprouts is not to overcook them, just cook them until they are a touch wilted, not soggy, limp or mushy.

Proscuitto Asparagus- (the only way my dh will eat it)

lightly steam asparagus

dry off and wrap 1 thin slice of proscuitto around 2-3 stalks of asparagus
Place on cookie sheet
Finish rest of bundles

Place in oven at 350 degrees and cook till proscuitto is crispy!!

very tasty and good for company! easy quick and impressive looking

*can also make it on george foreman grill

Hit the 80 pound mark this morning!!!! Whoo hooo hooooooo!!!! I'm only 1.5 pounds away from slipping under the "obese" stick, into plain old "40 pounds overweight". Very excited here, VERY!!!

I'm thinking about changing my avatar from "almeeker" to "poppy" because everything on me pops now when I move. It started with just my under arm flaps of skin and then my boobs, but now it's my um behind too. Hopefully that will tighten up some as I lose more weight. Good grief a girl that makes that much noise just walking can't sneak up on anybody.

so I went on a 4 day vacation to visit my brother and nephews and was convinced in my mind that I was going to exercise every day and cook healthy meals. ergh. I exercised ONCE by convincing everyone to go kyaking with me, which was a blast! and a small amount of walking. I ate way over calorie budget every day I was there- 1800-2500. I jumped on the scale this morning and tok measurements to see the damage I did- and I've lost inches and lbs! I'm down two pounds and half an inch on my waist and hips, and FINALLY a quarter of an inch on each thigh (it's taking me forever to lose there!). It must have been all that baby-lifting and toddler wrestling!

really, though- I think it was because I was truly relaxed and happy, and I had kicked my butt at the gym for a few days before I went.

I'm so close to making it under 200, which has seemed so far away for such a long time. 6.2lbs to go. I've lost 29 lbs, so my goal for the next few weeks (or maybe for the whole month of june) is to break into the one hundreds and to hit over 35lbs lost!!! This is huge for me! This makes me feel like I'm never going to stop or give up, even during the weak times. Hey, I still tracked every single calorie on that trip- I'm not going to lie to my computer or to myself- that's a great habit i've built!

happy memorial day
 

congrats almeeker- what a great way to go-

I was a little disappointed yesterday and today - really did good with the exercise and calories were way down yesterday under 900 but up 2 lbs on the scale :( It was hot and so busy yesterday I was not hungry, maybe it is a flucuation (hoping) and will try to get more water in today- planned a real healthy holiday lunch with my family. We are having 4oz filet mignon on the grill, and I am bring a big spinach salad with feta cheese and lots of veggies. Also having fresh strawberries.

hope everyone has a great day

Morning everyone
The sun is finally out today...not a great weekend to do anything great. Saturday and Sunday all I wanted to do was crawl under the covers and either sleep or eat..so after trying to comfort myself with toast a few times (its been a long time since I ate bread) I made myself get up...get dressed and go to pottery studio. Its helping me alot. Ive been meeting some really nice ladies there and have made plans to meet up with them again this week. I come from a very small town where I knew everyone to a big city where I know noone..its hard to make friends. Scale was up a bit this morning...but I am going to work on it this week...I have a small goal before I leave to go on holidays in July...I will do it!
A long time ago someone told me how hard it is to lose weight in summertime...well I thought they were crazy! There is such a variety of fruits and veggies...healthy grilling available to you?? how can it be hard to lose. Well I sat down and really thought about it..and she was right. Every summer I gain weight. So I asked myself why?? and realized how much I can overeat in the summer. My last jobs I was always off in the summer. No structure..no plans,,,bored,,,overeating, Sound familiar..yup just like my weekends. Only its 2 months of it..not 2 days. This summer will be different. I dont want to go backwards... What is your plan for the summer?

Speedy dont be disappointed..you know you did well. Scales lie sometimes.
Nessa my overall goal is to get to under 200...good for you!!!
Almeeker (a.k.a. Poppy ...) you are rocking it ~!!!!! Under obese...wahoooo fantastic!
Jay did you try some asparagus yet?? Ive tried brussel sprouts but I think after reading Almeekers suggestions I overcooked them. I couldnt eat them but thought you had to cook the heck out of them. I may have to try them again.

Ive been trying to eat sweet poatoes for a long time. I know how good they are for you..I just cant get past the taste..well this weekend I found a recipe for baking them like twice baked potatoes..well Im going to try them again when I get the chance. It was a simple recipe..bake a potatoe , scoop out the flesh...add some light sourcream and bacon ( they used already cooked stuff, and just a touch) mix it together, stuff back inot potatoe and sprinkle cheese on top. Bake till cheese is melted...
does that not sound good!! mmmmm

Ok battery is about to die here....will be back tomorrow...have a great day eveyone!!!

It sounds like everyone is doing really well this weekend!

Nessa - Way to go on being so close to the 100's...I guess we would call that a "century" instead of a "decade", right?!? :) Also, you probably were more active on your vacation than you thought, and I think you hit the nail on the head by saying that you were relaxed. Sometimes when you eat higher calories (like a cheat meal or cheat day), you will actually jump start your weight loss if you've been restricting for a long time because your metabolism will rev up.

Almeeker - 80 pounds! Wow, wow, wow! And slipping under the obese mark is awesome. Despite all the rewards of weight loss, that is probably the biggest accomplishment because it means you're getting healthier!

Jaynie - I love asparagus in almost any fashion, but probably the easiest thing to do is cut them into 2-inch pieces and stick them in one of those Ziploc steamer bags. Then I just sprinkle some salt before eating and YUM! But I've also grilled them, broiled them, baked them, blanched them, put them in omelets - "I will eat them in a box, I will eat them with a fox." I wish I could get good asparagus all year!

Speedy - It sounds like you are doing just fine - I'm sure your weight gain is just retention since it doesn't sound like you're eating a whole lot. Try to get your calories up a little today because 900 is quite low.

Twospirits - Welcome! The ladies on this board have helped me stay motivated over the last several weeks I've been on Fitday, and I've lost about 11 pounds in 5 weeks! You can do it, and we're all here to help!

I'm still doing really well this weekend. We didn't end up going to a pig roast potluck we had scheduled yesterday because it was too hot and buggy for my little guy and DH has been working on the family farm the whole weekend. So my eating was totally in check yesterday (save for one small lemon scone my mom made with tea last night!). And I got in a lot of activity because I chased after my son outside alot, cleaned out my car, did a bunch of housework, and did alot of toddler wrestling myself (it does burn lots of cals, Nessa!). I was way down on the scale this morning, so hopefully some of that loss will stick around until Thursday when I record my weight again!

I have jsut realized that I do not think I am eatting enough! Ha Ha I never thought I would hear myself say that but I think it is true since the way I am working out and not eatting enough I am being told could cause this. As per weight watchers I should eat 30 points not including all the excerise I am doing and I am only eatting 20

I will try to track my eatting better and see what happens

WOW congrats you must be sooo happy

Not sure today. I was off work Friday and basically laid in my recliner drinking water all day. I felt like my joints were prepping to explode, along with that pain in my side. THe side pain is gone now, but with aunt flo getting ready to visit, the inflammation/swelling in my joints is HIGH.

I've resolved to continue what I'm doing, trying to increase water and decrease sodium, for the next 2 weeks and if I don't feel at least marginally improved, I'll see the doctor (or switch doctors) at that point.

I have a fabuloso recipe for brussels sprouts out of Fine Cooking. Quarter them, dress them with a mix of worcestershire sauce, dijon mustard, olive oil and toasted caraway seeds, roast at 425 for about 18-10 minutes on a parchment covered cookie sheet. Then you can toss (if you want) with bread crumbs and chopped walnuts that were toasted together in a bit of olive oil. YUM! My whole family loves them!

thanks for all the support- I think you may be right, we have hit a heat spell and could be water- or not eating enough, just nothing really sounds good just logged my foord today only at 1000 calories so will try to add a yougurt tonight for a snack. you guys rock and thanks for all the receipes for veggies - love to try them new ways and may even try the sweet potatoe, because I have never liked them either. lol

Catching up...giving up...
 

My favorite ways to eat asparagus is actually also my favorite way to eat broccoli. Steamed, with a slight bit of butter, salt, pepper and a dash of lemon juice.
Almeeker – you rock my socks! Way to go girlfriend!! 80 pounds is amazing. Don’t beat yourself up at all – just remember that you’re leaner, which means you’re burning more calories. Or something like that. Great job at nearing the “overweight” mark. I myself, am looking forward to the time when I am no longer extremely obese. I have always prided myself on taking GREAT DMV photos, so today I took a look at mine… which was taken about 70 pounds ago. I look very nice… and very, very fat. Time to update, though I’m a little hesitant since I have so many more to go.
Montana – I hope you are seriously feeling better soon. I hate that horrible, exhausted, forgetful feeling that comes with Aunty’s visit…. Sounds like you are having a rough time of it.
Jaynie – I love your rants! Don’t apologize for them! You remind me of my ex-mother in law… she wasn’t in the military, but she was an Air Force wife for over 20 years and has a lot in common with you. I just enjoy reading your posts very much, you’re real and honest and that’s awesome.
Christine – same thing happened to me, the weight actually comes off easier if you up your calories… just make sure they are good calories! Ha, I know I didn’t even need to say that!
Twospirits – welcome!!! As far as tips, just keep hanging around these women and you will get more information than you could ever hope for! Stick in there and you will achieve your goals. It must be grea to know how you feel when you are healthy.
Egm – great job keeping your eating in check with social events! I’ve gotten in the habit of bringing my own food to parties, lol.
Update on me – as of right now (though it’s not official)… I AM IN THE 250’S!!!! YEA BABY!!! Oh, and… I work my SO’s size 36 shorts to the beach yesterday, and they fit… with extra room. Yea, that’s what’s I’m talking about. Today I ate chinese food (half order of garlic eggplant) and the topping off of 2.5 peices of pizza. Still only ate 1300 calories. No working out, since I went to bootcamp yesterday I am too sore to move, let alone cycle or jog... so I will hit it up tomorrow.

Now, I’ve been trying to write this for a few hours now… every time I’ve gotten near the computer for the past 4 days or so I get a lot of attitude from my SO. I really can’t take it anymore… so, I apologize to those I missed, it’s not intentional. I can’t handle the evil glares and the deep sighs. Passive aggressiveness is my biggest pet peeve. Gonna go cry… take care everyone. Talk to you later.

You are not the only one to get that "deep sigh" treatment. My DH and his whole stinking fam are passive aggressive. He's usually pretty laid back, but we were all home together yesterday and he was annoyed with me after I logged on for the 2nd time, and the 3rd time was above and beyond in his eyes. I usually log right after a meal, so that it's more accurate, because I can't remember a thing anymore. But he's not home during the day, so he only ever sees me log at night. Well too bad for him because this works for me. I'm sorry you're living in the same circumstances, passive aggressive is such a pain in the behind, just yell at me already and get it over with. The funny part is that our 8 year old now wants to log on after every meal, and not only do I let her, I encourage it. So double too bad for him.

Thanks Ladies,

I am feeling marginally better today. Drank water all day yesterday, probably was up past 3 gallons, and am ALMOST able to get my rings off today--whereas last week they were practically falling off! When I weighed yesterday, I hadn't lost more, but got back on the scale later in the day and was up 10 pounds--guessing fluid retention! Yikes!

But got back on the treadmill today, got my 60 minutes in and am feeling somewhat better. Still hurting in my hands, shoulders and elbows primarily, and my feet and knees and hips hurt too, but not sure how much is the walk with that.

Back at it!

Hope everybody had a nice holiday. I made the usual fair of ribs, tuna macaroni salad, potato salad and cole slaw; all of which were low cal. I went for a late raid on the fridge and dropped the cole slaw and 80 percent of it spilled on the floor. You don't know how tempted I was to try to scoop the top of it up and put it back in the container. That's a lot of work to make that and it had come out tasting so much like its fatter regular cole slaw. Oh well, even though I had made much less of everything than I would when I had a family, I still made too much. I guess Zoey will be getting a lot of it, but she is overweight too, lol. When she broke her leg, I had to hire a dog walker so she could get her physical therapyn. She is not leashed trained as I have a fenced back yard and she would have pulled me all over the place. She is a well trained dog, but loves people and everybody walks their dogs around here. I would have been flat on my stomach holding her leash with her dragging me, as big as I am, had I have tried to give her physical therapy, injured leg or not. She weighs a hundred pounds.

Weigh-in is Thursday and I think it will be fruitful; although, I have not logged my food this week. I have been keeping a tally in my head and I knew this would happen. I sort of go in and out of doing things. Hopefully, this coming week, I will do better at it. I know I could start today, but I have to have stand out start points, so I will start at the beginning of my third week.

Just called to see if I could get a sooner prosthetic appointment than the tenth. My right knee has been killing me like I have almost twisted it from the stress of trying to make a correction on the other leg, but to no avail. Still can't get in until the tenth of this month. Oh well, I will call daily, but it delays my exercise start date because I will have to recover plus minimize my walking around here. I guess I have no excuses left to sit here at the desk and study calculus for my upcoming college start date. I took it thirty years ago and got an "A" as that was my major, but that was eons ago and I have forgotten that specific math. I'm not sure if I will have the stamina to actually go back to work and teach seventh grade and up, but going to school gives me something to do and out of the house. I meet interesting people.

I am also doing it for my daughter, who tends to think she is the black sheep of the family because she is not making as much as her siblings and their wives. She is my youngest by three years. I think she is doing well. She is an asst mgr at Big Lots and has taken her college core classes but refuses to continue until she makes up her mind what she wants to be. I keep telling her to go and she will find her way. The other day we talked for two hours which was a definite long time, for nothing bothering her, and she said she had decided to take Spanish. That might be fun for both of us. I had told myself when I study math this summer, I will also study my several Spanish books and other media. I took one year in high school and two semesters in college. Her dad, my first husband, was half Native American/Mexican American, but grew up in a Spanglish household but wouldn't speak it at home. I wanted to bone up and I wanted the kids to learn; consequently, she and her bio brother, who lives in AZ, are always asked if they speak Spanish because of their surname.

So, anyway, all that being said. I have to take Zoey, with my bum leg, to the vet today. I am going to ask them to get her from the car. She has been licking a lot and I think she has an infection. Got to take care of my baby!

I'm having one of those days. I got up this morning, full of vim and vigor. With the funeral, birthday, holiday and planting the garden, I haven't been on the elliptical since Thursday, and usually when I'm off it for a few days I get a great workout the next time I get on it. So I put on the tunes, hop up onto the pedals, turn up the volume and go to town. Only there is this horrible noise, not coming from my headphones, but the pedal is grinding in a new and unusual way. So I stop and pull out an earphone and give it another whirl. Okay, it's definitely making a new weird noise, and it's much much louder than I had realized originally. After some investigation I discover that it's BROKEN!!!! Two of it's pieces are busted in half!!!! So I drag out the manual and try to figure out what I need, so I can go to the website and order it. Oh no, that would be too easy, the website is temporarily down and one of the broken parts is not labeled in the manual. So at 8:03 I call them, get a rude coughing woman on the line who tells me that my elliptical is no longer under warranty because it was a floor model? WTF? So I complain a little and make a mild threat or two and then she gets her manager to okay the warranty anyway. So after all that mess, she ends up telling me that one of the parts (of course the one I most need) is on back order and she can't really say when it will arrive. Argh!!! And to top it off, DH is traveling this week, so I can't get to the gym or go for a run unless I hire a sitter. I have other workout videos and such, but I was so looking forward to jumping back into the whole heavy cardio thing after being off for four days.

To make matters worse we had almost no food in the house, so I had to take 5 kids on a big shop. They were troopers, but it was something of a miserable experience all the same. Sorry to vent, but this seemed like the best place to unload.

Jay good job on encouraging the children. I swear my mother still does the same for me.

montana, sorry to hear you're struggling with water weight. I have similar problems with pressure changes. Good job getting back on the treadmill, it takes real commitment to do that when you feel so rotten. I'm going to try your Brussell sprout recipe, it sound yummy. I planted maybe 24-28 seedlings, so I should have bunches and bunches by July.

skinny, you go girl. Sorry the SO is being a pain in the butt, good job on borrowing her shorts, especially now that they are now too big for you. LOL.

speedy, I love sweet potatoes, so I don't know if I can help you like them better, but here's what I do with them. They have to be whole real sweet potatoes, not the canned variety. I wash them and pat them dry then pour a drizzle of olive oil over them and rub it all around to coat the skin completely. Then I bake them at 350 for an hour (more if they are very fat). Once they are cooled, they can be peeled with a butter knife or your fingers. Then I slice them about 1" thick and drop them into a baking dish, put a couple of pats of butter or margarine here and there on them (or spritzed with spray butter), sprinkle with a bit of brown sugar (not too much), drizzle a little bit of real maple syrup over them, sprinkle with pecans and dried cranberries (or dried cherries), and bake in the oven at 350 for 45-60 mins. You can also toss on a little cinnamon and nutmeg if you like. I also like them mashed with a touch of ff sour cream (or Greek yogurt), sugar (or Splenda) and cinnamon. The mashed recipe is great because from there you can turn sweet potatoes into a faux pumpkin pie by adding a couple of whisked whole eggs to the mixture and baking it in either a pie shell or a nut crust, 350 for about an hour. YUMMMMM. Man now I'm hungry for sweet potatoes.

you ladies are great
 

I look so forward to logging on and reading your posts, make me feel like I'm not alone or going crazy.

Skinny- don't feel bad, sometimes you just have to cry and get those emotions out instead of bottling them up, or using food to avoid them. I myself had a good cry last night- was feeling sorry for myself and lonely, the holiday just was not the same without my ex. I stayed busy and did have a nice and healthy weekend, but last night just couldn't keep it together.

down my two pounds today, so must have been water- got up twice last night to pee lol

jay- take care of you pet- hope he is ok, if you want to try to walk him, a friend suggest a collar called "gentle Leader" because I was complaining that I may not be able to walk Speedy. He pulls terribly and is very muscular, she suggested the collar, I only use it to walk the dog and it fits snug - one strap goes around his mouth & nose and the leash is attached there. it is not a muzzle and the dog can still bark and open his mouth, but he cannot pull because it is attached to the nose piece and it just pulls his nose to the side which they don't like. Speedy is now a joy to walk, he is not thrilled when I put it on, but once we start walking he loves it and matches his stride to mine. mine came with a Dvd that explains it all

montana- feel you about the water gain, has been hot here and I think the weather can effect how you feel and your body.

almeeker- thanks for the receipe, maybe will try them mashed that sounds good - and I could bake them into individual little pies instead of one big one.

welcome to some of the new faces- everyone here is so helpful and has been so supportive.

Montana - Glad you are feeling better and that's awesome that you got back on the horse!

Almeeker - Sorry about your craptastic day :( I know you'll find other ways of working exercise in, especially when you're on the downhill slide toward a new decade! And your sweet potato recipe sounds really good. I usually get lazy and microwave them like a baked potato and sprinkle margarine and brown sugar on them. When I have time for a more elaborate dinner I will definitely try your way!

Jaynie - Good luck at the vet, you brave woman! Letting a 100-pound dog pull you around is a hassle, prosthetics or not! (I should know as the owner of an 80-pound coonhound!)

Speedy - COngrats on the 2 pounds - must have been those tears! ;)

Today was the last day of my 4 day weekend, and I think I did ok overall. I did awesome on Saturday and Sunday, and then ate about 2,000 cals on Monday and today. And extra 800 cals sucks, but I have to celebrate the fact that 2 out of 4 days were pretty good, and I got alot of extra activity in as well. Back to work tomorrow, and hopefully I'll show at least a small loss by Thursday weigh-in. I'm off to watch Jillian's new show!