Jaynie - I think you and my mom are alot alike. She has been divorced for 17 years and in that time only had 1 or 2 dates. I think she has become set in her ways and doesn't want a man to mess that up! But sometimes, well, alot of times, she is very lonely and wants to have family and friends around her. But she put so much effort into raising my brother and I (we were 8 and 2 when me parents divorced) that she never took the time to develop her own hobbies or friendships. Now she's 50, out on her own, and her children have their own lives now, and I think she's starting to wonder how she's going to spend the rest of her own life now that she doesn't have to worry about anyone else. But she's like you - when you've lived without a significant other in your life for so long, it's hard to find room - mentally, emotionally, and even physically make space for another person. I don't think you need to generalize all men either, there are some who love to cook for themselves! I used to think that the way to my husband's heart was through his stomach, but I've opened him up to healthy foods over the years, and now he eats brown rice, big salads, and whole wheat pasta right along with me! Anyway, sorry to be longwinded, but what you posted was very interesting. Oh, and I 'm so thrilled for you about your legs getting all turned around!

Skinny - Glad to see the good ole Erinn is back! 140 pounds - woohooo! I can't wait until you cross the 200 pound loss mark. We need to throw a huge cyber-party for you!

Speedy - So glad you're staying focused even with emotional ups and downs. I'm terrible with emotional eating (as I'm sure alot of us are), so to conquer that mentally is a great accomplishment.

Julia - Have fun on your weekend trip!

Not much going on here except Aunt Flo arrived today, early in fact. So feeling a bit crappy but loading up on unsweetened iced tea to keep the bloat down and the fatigue away. I don't have any terribly exciting plans for the weekend, but I will be helping my husband with a work event - planting hundreds of sprouts from his greenhouse in the nursery (he's an ecologist that manages a 700-acre wetland). So that should burn some calories, and I have a healthy dinner planned for Sunday to cook out over our new open fire oven in our backyard. Looking forward to staying on track, since I'm only about 2 pounds away from the next decade!

Grad Party's, Birthdays, rainy days, roomate problems and generally just a feeling of ick have been the monkey on my back this past week or so:(. I've barely worked out at all and the eating hasn't been so great but I did weigh myself on Thursday (I was nervous) but thank goodness- I was down .2 lbs. Plain old 258lbs this week instead of 258.2lbs. I'm going to do my best to get back on track this next week! I know I can't always get that lucky I need to do the work darn it!

Eeb, you will get there. I had weeks like that too and even more before I joined this group. You guys keep me motivate. It's going to get better and I know the roommate thing. I had a succession of them after my divorce to cut down on loneliness but that was the worst mistakes that I ever made. The extra funds were nice but the headaches weren't, but I suppose you are not in a position to not have a roommate. Things have a way of getting better and not being so daunting. Just take the hurdles one at a time and pack foods to eat for the parties and b'days. My son is having a bbq and I am going to bring what I want bbq'd and the sides I want to eat to stay within my program and snacks in case I stay a long while.

I tell you; I did my exercises this morning. Well I tried to. I could only do the warmup. I thought I would get farther than that. It lasts five minutes but I put everything I had into it. I mean I did kicks as high as is possible for me without losing my balance and knee lifts as high as an able bodied person and it was unusual for my hip socket so I was wearing out during them. I side stepped like I was a professional, but I was so glad when the warm up ended. Tomorrow I will try to go a little farther. I'm proud of what I did and just doing that much has made my endorphins rise a little. I have that feel good feeling that you get after exercising.

Going to do a little cleaning around here today. I haven't done any in forever because of my feet and my waddle walk. I have a computer bug because I have a disc stuck in it and I couldn't put Norton on it. Well now I have sent everybody in my email contact list an advertisement for Cialis. I can't even remember which commercial medication that is. How embarassing. Have had three people contact me about it. Two, I know, but one I didn't know. He asked, "Who are you?" Funny thing is he had my maiden last name, also.

Well have a nice day. The contractors are here. They are poring the foundation for the addition, yay. You don't know working with the VA and another contractor that I am now suing, this has been two years in the making. I will be glad to no longer have to sleep with my leg liners on so I can throw my legs on to walk to the bathroom because I can't roll my wheelchair in my present bathroom. When I was confined to it for a month after a really bad fall, it was a miserable situation. Now all that will change.

Well, as always, TMI.

Dang it!
 

So, I weigh in this morning before my shower - and I see a whopping 4 pounds lost! Why in the world couldn't 255 have shown up yesterday? Poopy.
Back is achy today, but I'm trying to not let that slow me down. I have a bday party for my great nephew, I think it's been a month since anyone saw me, I am hoping they will notice a change. My own mother says she can't see any difference from 430 (175 pounds ago), but she's an evil sadistic biotch... so I just laugh and continue looking at brochures for extra abusive nursing homes.

Jaynie - congrats on the workout, build up gradually. And if it hurts, back off it for a while. I know you're gonna get cycling real soon!

Almeeker - I just can't get over your non-obeseness (is that a word? eh... who cares)... so inspirational.

HAVE A FANTASTIC WEEKEND EVERYONE! I dunno how active I'll be, but I'm sure I'll peep in a time or two.

Sorry - I sent our favorite Auntie packing today, and that witch went straight to your house - evilness. I am sending BIG decade vibes your way girlfriend!

Blackrhino and dobbs, I appreciate the support. To be honest, I don't know what I want. I had a female fellow vet that I used to hang with, but she passed away last August and her husband didn't even tell me he had put her in a nursing home. She had diabetes and a host of other problems. Her sister emailed me that she had died and said she had gone from about 230 something in February when I had last seen her to 108 pounds. There's more to the story but I won't go into it.

I do have friends back East and we are very close--army buddies of which are a couple that are also retired mastersergeants and my dear friend, whom I call my sister, who is also retired from the military. The idea of belonging to an action group or committee sounds wonderful but I have problems with commitments as I have alluded to before especially when in group situations. I am praying and hoping that I don't peter out in this forum. I guess you could say that I am toward the extravert side of being an intravert. I prefer alone activities and it is not that I am so much lonely as I am not wanting to bother my children too much and sometimes since they are so mature and responsible, I kind of forget to whom I am talking and I have to back up and regroup. There is a communtiy activity paper that comes out each season and I always say I am going to sign up for this or that, but I don't. I joined curves a few years ago, not just to lose weight, but to get out of the house and meet people. That lasted about six months. I just am a loner kind of person. All of my hobbies are one person type hobbies. But , I guess I would like someone that I could laugh with and reminisce about the old days for awhile: however, the one thing I miss is just dancing. I danced with my son at his wedding and it was wonderful. The song lasted forever and I was laughing at that and crying with joy at the same time. It was a Celine Dion song I had picked. I can't remember the name of it, but boy was it long. I also miss comedy clubs and going to a club and listening to jazz. I want a social life, but I want my parameters on it. Bother me when I want to be bothered and definitely never, ever show up unannounced.

I guess what I really want is a female friend and a male friend and really nothing more than that. You all talk about Aunt Flo, hmph, the thought of well you know, is not really all that appealing to me anymore. And that is what I was getting at with the cooking and all that comes with it--expectations..

It'll work out though; I have faith in that, either way. I'm not in a church right now because I am still looking for the one that feels like home. I have my pets; they keep me company. I am not sad and not really lonely but I know I should for my health be more paticipatory in some type of social life. Social people supposedly live longer--probably because they are supposedly happier--and I would like to be around to see my great grand-children.

You ladies are so nice to indulge me and I appreciate it. And I know the intravert part is probably hard to believe since I blab so much on here, but I find you ladies so accomodating and willing to listen to my going ons and I know you realize that I am out here on the W coast with no family except for one of my children who lives an hour and a half away. I see him every couple months, so I am OK.

So enough of this train of thought. I have two whole days this week that I was at my calories. I am hoping for a good weigh-in on Monday as I had put back on some of my weight and you know I had that other problem. I had tried hot prunes the other day to no avail. Well after taking OTC, today I made some more prunes and put them in my bullet with some of that wood Fiber One and drank that hot. You talk about going. Felt so gooooood. OK, that is it, when you talk about movement, when I was younger, I thought that was a definite sign of being old.

Erinn, my heart goes out to you about your mom. I hope you don't let that poison be toxic to you. That is an inner problem on her part. Makes me wonder what childhood was like for you and how it is related to your start weight. Not saying that it is but it is something to think about. Thanks for the encouragement about the exercise. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't do a mile, but I did put all that I had into it. I usually just lift my feet a little when starting out.

sunday & relaxing
 

enjoying catching up with everyone- so many of you hve some great successes posted- I'm hoping it is contagious lol

dobbs- reach for the next decade- I usually get extra motivated when I'm with a pound or two - it's like you can almost see yourself there

skinny- fantastic job and great attitude about your less that enthusiastic mom, remember you are doing this for yourself and that's what matters, but you really made me laugh-

jay- love reading your posts and great job on getting back to the exercise, even if you can't do alot to start with, it will happen.

very good weekend so far, went grocery shopping this morning and got lots of healthy fruits & veggies for the week. I dropped another two pounds and am so happy, life seems good now. the weight seems to be melting away with this heat- have kept my water up and really trying to make healthy choices.

hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Hi all! Feeling pretty good today, the cough is mostly gone. I was bad and had birthday cake, and now my oldest's birthday is tomorrow. But for the most part I've been able to build cake into the calorie plan and will tomorrow as well.

MOnday is my "get back on the treadmill" day. I didn't go at all last week because I was so sick and now that I'm feeling good, I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm also thinking it's time to change things up a bit. We have the Wii Fit Plus, I also have a couple of yoga DVD's. In addition, I need to replace my medium sized ball and I have a really good strenght/cardio DVD for that. So it's time to do some different stuff in the mornings. 4:30 is going to come early tomorrow morning though!!! :)

Sounds like everyone is still trucking along for the most part. Keep up the great work ladies! I hope that everyone had a great weekend and that you all have a great week!!!

Hey ladies, just logging and checking in. We came back from the in-laws early in the day and I went straight out to the garden, only to discover that I needed to pick a crazy amount of strawberries and that my nephew backed over a whole row of potatoes with a manure spreader and tractor - repeatedly apparently with my dad's permission. I understand that mom has already peeled a strip or two off dad, which is a good thing cause then I don't have to. If that is all confusing, let me clarify, mom and I share a garden (two actually). It's at their house, since DH and I own a whole 1/3 acre in town. Mom works full time so she loves it that I can come over and get it planted and keep it weeded. All in all it's a good arrangement provided we can keep dad and his equipment and cows out of the garden. Last year he put the rototiller through the beets. The year before his cows got out and ate maybe 1/3 of the corn patch.

Sounds like most of you are on the mend and looking forward to a good week. I'll be back on in the morning to salute all of you, but right now I have to go as the muscle relaxant I'm taking for the shoulder is going to put me belly up in 10-15. G'night.

Hope everyone had a good weekend. The most exciting thing for me is that my microwave died. I don't know what it is about them, but I kill one about every three years. Oh, and the foundation has been pored for the new addition. I actually took my walker, because I have trouble walking on uneven ground and it is groved out there from them driving on it, to see what it looked like. Feels like I am getting a whole new house and will soon--in a couple of months--be able to stop being holed up in the livingroom as my totally all purpose area.

Had a gain this week, but that is all right. I am still in the tweaking phase of this eating program. However, the good news is that I was up even more when my son and I weighed ourselves so I actually show a 1.8 loss with him, but I know that he probably has lost much more than that.

Morning everyone...
Summer is here and its getting warmer here. I don’t do warm weather very well...couldnt sleep last night. That was with two fans going...oh well.
I felt more in control this weekend and that was with pizza. On Saturday i was in a workshop all day and when I got home I didn’t feel like cooking or going out...so we ordered a pizza. Since I ate lightly during the day I stayed under my calories. That is how you are supposed to do it!!!! *note to self*
I was going to start to walk again today but will be going home to a nap instead..I will start again tomorrow . I miss it.
Jay you know men lose weight so much faster then women...if its a challenge what about going by percentage lost instead of actual pounds. It would make it fair for you.? Just a thought. You don’t blab on here by the way...we are all learning from each other. If we need to vent or cry or laugh..its all good!@ Better then eating our feelings right?
Almeeker did I read that right on the weakend challenge>?you lost 3 pounds this weekend...nice going!!! And you were out of town too...very challenging.
Glad your feeling better Chris! I took a week off exercising last week as well..back to it tomorrow!
Speedy...your weight is melting off with the heat...oh i wish...hahah....very good!!! Nice loss
Off to get some work done here...lets have a great week ladies!!!

Skinny – How dare you send that no-good aunt of ours over my way! :) And I agree with Jaynie…don’t let your mom steal the glory of your success. It’s yours, you own it, you work for it, and ain’t nobody goin’ to put you down!

Almeeker – Is that a new decade I spy? Congrats, Miss I’m-Just-Overweight!

Chris – How did your new workouts go? I remember I always saw some good gains (strength and stamina-wise) and losses (weight-wise) when DH and I would switch up our weightlifting routines, you know, back in the good old days when I spent 2 hours in the gym everyday.

Speedy – Congrats on another 2 pounds – you’re right about the melting away, you’re on a great losing streak!

Jaynie – Congrats on working out, sticking to plan, and seeing some loss! Just keep on truckin’!

Weekend update: Burned about a ga-zillion calories on Saturday planting about 500 plants at the wetlands. Very sore still from being on hands and knees most of the day. Was very hungry over the weekend due to extra calorie expenditure, and overdid it just a little with very healthy foods Saturday after the planting. We also got some Skinny Cow treats too, since both of us wanted ice cream really bad. So I felt justified in the treat because we chose something much healthier. As a result, I’m the same weight today as I was on Thursday (and I’m usually heavier after the weekend).

I have a challenging week ahead of me this week. I have work luncheons on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and Wednesday is our all-staff meeting which usually means an entire day of snacking and treats on tables. My motivation is that my weigh-in is on Thursday, so I have to keep it under control that day. Also, I just found out that my mom’s company is having a health fair/screening on Saturday, and family members are invited as well. Lots of good information, freebies, and I will get a free cholesterol screening, which at 27, I’ve never had before but I’m interested to see where I’m at and what I could work on. So that will also be my motivation for doing well this week!

So sorry I haven't been back, seems I've been living at the hospital, Dr's offices and specalists. To make a long story short my little guy, he is 2 and half had a nasty fall and I heard a loud crunching noise. I took him to the ER after an 8 hour wait and x-rays, we find he has broken is collar bone really badly. They think they will do surgery later today to pin it. So needless to say my meal plan is out the window at the moment, I've been eating in hospital cafeteria’s and vending machines (very healthy I know), but I am getting lots of walking in (well pacing actually but I guess its the same thing). No weight loss last week for me, hopefully this week will be better.

Congratulations to all of you ladies you are truly inspiring.

Stitchergirl, sorry to hear about your son. I'm happy he is finally getting the care he needs and hopefully he will be on the mend soon. Luckily little kids seem to heal up quickly, so hopefully he will be able to bounce back from this. I'll being thinking of you guys.

I had an 9.5 hour drive down to PA on Friday but luckily it only took us 8.5 to get back last night. It was a fantastic weekend. I loved where I went to undergrad so much, the people there are all so supportive and interesting. Kind of like all of you! :)

So yes, it was a great weekend and I was on track for all of Friday. Saturday was off track but I don't know how many calories I went over because I didn't have internet. I probably was over by 1000 cals. Sunday was okay, didn't eat 5 servings of fruits and veggies but I stayed within a reasonable calorie allowance. I got zero exercise this weekend other than laughing my a** off for a full 48 hours.

Today I had to get take-out for lunch because I drove to school from my boyfriends and he had nothing I could take in for lunch besides a can of beans. I bought this really delicious lamb souvlaki wrap (with all the veggies). I am not sure how bad it was for me but probably like 800 cals or something. I'm just having a salad for dinner to try and make up for my junky lunch.

I went to WW right before I left for PA and I found out that I had gained 0.2. so frustrating. I think it just made me make better choices over the weekend though. Aunt Flo came on Friday so I can just blame it on her. Thanks Erinn for sending her to my place early too!

Speedy, Almeeker, SkinnyErinn and Jay fantastic job on your weight loss!! You just keep it going ladies!!!

Chris and Patti, I hope you both enjoyed your walks. I'm off to take one of those tonight too. I was going to go to yoga but missed it--walking tonight should be nice though as it's only in the low 70's here...perfect for walks.

Stitchergirl, so sorry to hear about your little one. I know you are very concerned but I go with what was said earlier and he will truly bounce back.

Thanks for all the praise, guys, but if you look closely it say negative eight. That means I gained. Buuuuut, because I was up from my previous week weigh-in when my son and I started, I did manage to edge him out by a whole one hundredth of a pound. his was .98 and mine was .99. He did lose four pounds but I think he was disappointed.

Up to ten hard, long mins of walking and those dog-gone knee lifts. I haven't lifted my knees that high since I have been disabled. I ususally just move minimally, to medium with her on the dvd. Added exercises and weight lifting. It's a traumatic experience. I only use three pound weights, only because I didn't have one or two pounds to start with, and whew. I am now up to one repetition of the six or seven different ones that I do.

Well, if this will get your goat, I don't know what will. One of my contractors is young and streamlined and I had taken my walker out on the uneven ground to see what it was looking like back there and I asked him how his day was earlier because he had mentioned on Friday that he wanted to play Saturday. This was later on Saturday after his "play" where he had biked 80 miles. He is built just like Lance Armstrong and I told him I couldn't even imagine how many cals that was. He said he had a new computer that does all that and hooks up with the satellites and it was 5000 calories. He thought that was a little low. I did too, but can you imagine 89 miles and then you come in the afternoon to do construction work. So anyway, I thought you might want to hear that and know that, hey, I may not touch, but I still like to look.

I almost made it to my garden today. I had pulled my wheelchair from the bathroom to use and everything. I was contacted by the VA Occupational Therapy about a tub lift they are providing and I couldnt' get an appt until the 29th of July or today. So I went today and when I got back, I was so tired. I have been having flu like symptoms. I think it is because I eat absolutely nothing that is not good for me, even if I over eat. I only have two things here that are bad and that is Bisquick and saltines because of transfat. My fat intake is low, but not so low that my food doesn't digest. I said all this to say either I am partially detoxing or I have a liver problem. I will know more when I get my labs this week. Some of my meds can affect that.

I won't know about Zoey, my dog, until her culture comes back tomorrow. Well that is about it for me over the weekend. Hopefully tomorrow, I will make it to the garden in the morning. I should have known I wouldn't today because I have to do things that I didslike early. I started it when I had nothing to do and I wanted to fill my days and get the other benefits but these days I am a little busier and I really suck at gardening, but anyway, I persevere because I know, I did it and there is something wonderful about knowing that you created something even if it is not as pretty as the beautiful flower gardens that your mom had, but it is blooming now. I just have a humongous amount of weeds.

Stitchergirl - OMG I am so sorry to hear about your little buddy! My thoughts are with you, I am so protective of my guy... much more than his sister - what is that!? Ugh, I have more issues than TV guide.

So the weekend - was ok. I went over to friend's house on Friday and had dinner - carnitas (YUM) - without the tortilla (YAY!). And.... 3 glasses of wine (I promise not to freak out if I have a gain, it's all water weight and will come off). Well, there was no gain... YAHOO. Sunday was Bootcamp, which always makes me feel strong.

This exhaustion just isn't lifting, everything is still a struggle for me. I slept most of Saturday, then went to my great-nephew's birthday. When I got out of the car, my sister (his grandma) and my neice (his mom) both gasped, "Oh my god you have lost so much weight!" It made me feel good, especially when I flexed my calf while standing on tip-toe to tie the pinata up and my sister exclaimed loudly, "WHOA! Look at her calf!" I got to shine just a lil bit, it was nice. My mom sat on a distant park bench and never said a word. It makes me sad for HER - she must be so lonely. She looks bigger than the last time I saw her, and she is using the walker more than ever. I am so fearful of her losing more of her foot, but that's HER battle, not mine. My battle is to prevent myself from ever having diabetes.
Growing up, weight was never discussed. No one was allowed to mention it, major taboo... so now, I make it a joke wherever I go. I make it a point whenever possible to exclaim loudly, "DID YOU JUST CALL ME FAT!?" I especially like doing it in the plus sized section of department stores when my SO holds up something for me to consider. HILL-ARIOUS! I also refer to the Food Network as Pudge Porn. So, my 7 year old knows that it's ok to joke about Mamma's fat, because she's shrinking.
So, when my lower back was out, I asked the... little dear... to walk on my back. I laid on the floor and she walked. Not more than 2 steps later, she huffs, jumps off and says, "I just can't do it, you're too wobbly!" I start laughing hysterically, as she continues to nudge my belly with her foot saying, "wobble wobble wobble!" I swear the tears wouldn't stop she had me cracking up so hard.
I promise we're a classy bunch, lol... we just like a great laugh when it's to be had, especially at our own expense.
Didn't have time to work out today, needed to go see how great the daughter getting on the balance beam... another proud Mamma moment. So, tomorrow it's double duty, with another Bootcamp on Wednesday. I've got make-ups for the next 3 weeks. Blech.

Morning ladies, I posted yesterday morning, poured my heart and soul into it, and then some bad thing happened and blink blink click fitday logged off. I don't know exactly what I hit, but the whole biznuss were GONE. And after that I had life to take on and didn't have time to type it again. It's raining here this morning, so the kids probably won't go up to the playground program, which is too bad I might have enjoyed that bit of quite time.

The weekend with the in-laws was the usual, except one big bright spot is that my SIL and her DH who are both morbidly obese have totally given up fast food and are now taking baby steps toward getting healthy. We sat and talked about exercise and food issues and what to eat and what to steer clear of. It was a really good conversation and I feel optimistic and happy for them. We also ended up going on a fairly long walk at this nature center and my SIL didn't complain about it in the least, which believe me, is a new leaf for her.

stitchergirl, I'm sorry to hear about the little guy, it's so scary having your child in the hospital. Our youngest was born, that's right BORN with a broken collar bone (tells you a little something about that birth doesn't it?). It was pretty scary for a couple of days, but she healed up perfectly fine. I'm sending "mend and heal quickly" vibes and prayers your way.

skinny, I hear you on the wobble jiggle thing. I feel like I could juggle the extra skin on my arms and legs, and throw the boobs in for the finale. I think the arm skin is starting to shrink a little, which is a good thing, but I don't hold out much hope for the tummy and thighs, all that elastic is SHOT.

jay, great job on the exercise. I know it's hard, and I know you feel out of shape and a little frustrated, but keep it up and pretty soon you'll be kicking butt, or at least capable of kicking someones butt, right? Good luck on your garden. I need to weed mine too, but it's raining today, so I suspect we'll stay in and get some house work done for a change. I'm cracking up over your buff contractor. I read somewhere that Michael Phelps burns like 10,000 in his workouts or some such, so I would think 5,000 a little low for a 90 mile ride too, but heck I would have no idea about that.

blackrhino, sounds like you had a great weekend. It's okay to over eat a little, especially on special weekends. Good luck getting rid of Aunt Flo and her water weight, and don't send her my way okay?

egmdobbs, yep I'm in a new decade, well I'm flirting with it anyway. I was up a tiny bit this morning, but I haven't had a good poo in a couple of days. A weekend with the in-laws can do that to you... So hopefully this week I can drop down below it by a pound or more and make it officially official. I love the tree planting project, sounds like something right up my alley. Dad and I are talking about putting in a fruit orchard this fall. And I agree that a treat was in order. How many calories do the skinny cow treats have? I've been using the WW ones and the Bryer's Carb Smart bars, but I'm always on the lookout for new treats! Good luck with all your lunch/feed-your-face meetings. Ugh.

patti, sorry to hear your not sleeping well, have you considered getting a window rattler? Our house doesn't have central air, but we put a box in the bedroom window for those oh-so-muggy-nights. I can't sleep in the heat either.

montana, did you get back on the treadmill, uh uh? I'm just trying to be a pest and hold you accountable, mostly because I'm having commitment to exercise issues myself. I lost my music player over the weekend, I bought a new one yesterday, but I don't really like it too much. And just that issue is enough excuse for me to not get the workout in. How pathetic am I?

speedy, great job on the 2 pounds and on the shopping! I need to get to the grocery store, maybe today with the rain, since we really can't play outside at the moment.

Almeeker - The Skinny Cow treats are WAAAAYY better than the Breyers or WW ones - trust me, I've tried them all! The Skinny Cow cones (think Drumsticks, and just as good if not better) are only 150 cals, and the ice cream sandwiches are 140 cals. They also make ice cream bars and fudgesicles for around 100 cals, but I love the cones and sandwiches because they taste like you're really cheating!

Patti - Great job on your weekend! Pizza is always a hard one to get past, but it sounds like you conquered it!

Skinny - I think it's good that you can laugh at yourself and that you are teaching your daughter to not take herself so seriously either. You are taking careful steps not to pass down the same unhealthy, low self-esteem issues that it sounds like your mother passed down to you. "Learn from history, lest we be doomed to repeat it", right?!?

Jaynie - Up to 10 minutes of exercise - wow! Especially since you struggled with the warm up just the other day - you're doing great! And there's nothing saying you can't look - hell, it sounds like even the married among us would have looked! :)

Today is work lunch #1. I have a healthy dinner prepped in my fridge already (97% lean turkey burgers topped with parmesan, sauteed tomato and basil, and part-skim ricotta - no bun necessary. And broiled zucchini, red peppers, summer squash, and asparagus - I can't wait!). I've got a bag of sugar snap peas fresh from the farmer's market for when I get the afternoon munchies. My goal is to not finish the lunch that's provided, leaving at least a third of it on my plate.

And I have to tell you guys about my "moment" last night. DH was gone at a work meeting, so it was just my 16-month-old and I for dinner. I made him some french toast with whole wheat, 9 grain bread, dipped in egg and cinnamon of course. Then gave him applesauce with no sugar added to dip it in instead of syrup. As he happily ate his very healthy french toast with a big glass of milk, I thought - "this is what it's about". My mom never really taught me about healthy eating. She taught me about dieting, about how you can't ever accept who you are, and that food is an enemy that you must fight but who most of time wins in the end - like when I would catch her up at night shoveling ice cream straight from the carton into her mouth. She has gotten healthy now and done very well with healthy eating and exercise, but sometimes I can't help but be resentful toward her for finally figuring that out now that my brother and I are grown up and have food and weight issues of our own. (Skinny - I know how hurtful a "mother's love" can be sometimes!) Why couldn't she be that kind of mom all along? Well, there's many reasons why, I know, but I guess all I can do is to do differently. I want my son to know only wheat bread, to know that fruit and vegetables come whole and not in a can, to know that dessert is as simple as peanut butter on celery or an apple. And for that to happen, I need to set the example that my mother never did. Sorry for my little diatribe - but I think I found the best motivation of all.

Good morning ladies! I am holding my coffee cup high in salute of you all! I am going to try to be sneaky and get a workout in before going in late to work, and then another this evening.
I am really trying to beat this exhaution with a stick. It's kicking my butt... but on the other hand I am so excited about being in the 250's (and how close that is to 240's) that I am dying to get my butt in gear. I just don't know what I am doing wrong. Maybe my body just isn't happy with 1300 cals a day.... I wish I knew the cause of all this... it seems that it's lasting much longer than just some stupid virus. I am getting to bed on time, but all my extra "oomph" is not there. I want the old me back, I miss that spark - and if being thin means I have ZERO energy, I just don't know if it's worth it. Is anyone out there going through the same thing? I always thought, and felt, that working out was supposed to give energy, not wipe it all away. Please help me guys, I am losing this battle with my eyelids. I am even drinking sugar free energy drinks to get my motor running, nothing is working and I am starting to get scared.
I know my mother, and the trauma of growing up with a 500 pound hateful agoraphobic, is what caused a lot of these issues for me. I have said previously that I don't think anyone can become 400+ pounds and not have some deep issues to battle through. I know I am frightened of being thin, I have this underlying feeling of vulnerability whenever I think of being thin. Even 240's is scary for me. I kindof lose my breath a little bit and become frightened. Who or what am I protecting myself from? Perhaps it's just the perception that the old "fat me" deserved a lot of the old crap I have been taking and that "thin me" will be brave enough to demand more - and that change is scary. Maybe when I meet "thin me" who makes all of these demands, I will find that I really don't deserve any better.... either way it's disconcerting that I am terrified of becoming thinner... huh, maybe that's why I am sabotaging my energy? Deep stuff to consider over here.

I weighted myself this morning and I am now 242.5 Yay lol.

I was talking with a friend and reliased that I am eatting for the emotional part of it not the need. I want junk because it makes me feel good but I do not need it.

I am trying to track my food through weight watchers even though I hate tracking so we will see how it goes.

Jillian is on tonight at a different time thought I think she is on at 8pm.

Hey Erinn, My personal opinion, and I want to preface this by saying that I am far from knowing how to be a dietician so maybe I shouldn't give advice, but I think you should increase your calories. Just do it little by little so you don't shock the system.

I was reading "the fitnessista's" blog and thought of you when I read this post (pasted below, and here is the link: http://fitnessista.com/2009/07/i’m-your-bob/)

On Wednesdays, I usually eat more than usual because I teach two aerobics classes (spin and Zumba) at night. For the month of July, starting today, I’ll be teaching three aerobics classes on Wednesdays (morning spin, afternoon spin and Zumba) and two classes on Mondays (spin and Zumba) instead of my usual one class— I’ll still be teaching my one spin class on Tuesday. So on Monday and Wednesday, my fuel intake is going to have to increase to maintain my weight and protect my metabolism. I have spent the past two years working to repair a metabolism that I damaged from not properly fueling my activity levels.

Two summers ago, I spent the summer after graduation with the pilot in NC. We had been doing the long distance thing for a year while I finished school in Arizona and he lived in NC, so I wanted to spend some time with him before out August wedding. He worked all day, I couldn’t get a job knowing we’d be leaving in 3 months, and I didn’t know anyone in the squadron. So I killed the time during the day by hanging out at the gym, taking aerobics classes, doing weights, lounging poolside and drinking protein smoothies from the smoothie bar. I made a LOT of gym friends (who were active duty military or wives that didn’t work) and we would take yoga and step in the morning, then spin in the afternoon. Even though I knew I was burning a mad amount of calories, I wasn’t eating enough to support the activities I was doing—it seems like common sense, but not eating enough had NEVER been one of my problems! I ate when I was hungry and still had balanced meals and snacks, but it wasn’t enough for all of the exercising I was doing. My weight stayed stable –I think my body kicked into dancer mode, because I was used to dancing for 4-5 hours every day- but after we moved to Valdosta, my metabolism was seriously screwed up.

There was NO way I could maintain my NC fitness fun since I was working a full-time 70-80 hr/week (not joking) and had 1 hour in the morning to get my workout in (which, now I know is MORE than enough time for a good workout). I did 30-45 minutes of cardio and a little bit of weights every day, but felt like my pants kept getting tighter and tighter even though I was on my feet at work all day. It was definitely frustrating and I knew that I would have to repair my metabolism to stay at a healthy, happy weight and not have to restrict calories in the process.

Since I was still keeping a food journal at the time, each month I added more calories to my daily intake. Slowly, but surely, I have improved my calorie and nutrient intake to higher level, which supports the teaching, running and weight training I do, and have been able to wear the same jeans size in the process.

So for now, I’m going to add in some food to each meal and snack on Wednesdays (and eat more on Mondays) to make sure that I don’t damage my metabolism by eating the same amount and working out more. I learned the hard way that properly fueling your activity levels is SO important, because when those activity levels decrease it can be difficult to maintain what you’ve accomplished. After losing such a significant amount of weight, I was so afraid to gain it back…. I was used to feeling energetic, confident, and HEALTHY and definitely didn’t want to go back to the way I felt before.

It’s funny how nutrition can be such a balancing act. You definitely need to know your body, what works for you and what doesn’t. I always say that nutrition is an art and not a science, and this example fully proves that

Skinny, I'm going to second that calorie thing, especially since you are doubling up on your bootcamps!!! Just do it gradually, an extra protein shake or a random can of tuna. I know you have issues with self control around carbs, so just use the low-cal foods your body is used to. If your calorie deficit is too high you can also put yourself into conservation mode, and one symptom of conservation mode is lethargy. Of course it could be something totally related to your medical condition too. But a can of tuna is way cheaper than another visit to the doc, so you might try it first? Just a thought. Gotta go the kids think they need to be picked up or something.

Morning everyone!
I got an unexpected day off today and taking advantage of it..got laundry going..little cleaning and spending the rest of the day at pottery! Tonight I will go for a walk...and check and see if the pool is open yet at the ymca..thats getting frustrating! (little story here..the little guy I watch asked me yesterday if I went to the C.I.A. at lunch time...hahah..he meant the YMCA...I sure chuckled at that one)
Feeling like Im back on plan this week...scale is coming back down and cut out the sugars once again and no cravings so far! Jeez those are hard to beat arnt they? This morning I tried a new recipe (big surprise!! ) a flax seed muffin for low carbers...it was good and I think I can play around with it!
1/ 4 c ground flax seeds
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp splenda
1 egg
1 tsp oil
Add ins: I used some MrsDash spices,,but you can add fruit, berries, cinnamon, cheese, whatever your heart desires!
Put in straight edge mug sprayed with Pam,,,and microwave for 1 min..it works!! I made mine in a small dish Imade and it was perfect! You do have to like flax seeds to like this..more like a cornmeal texture then a bread texture! I ate mine with my omelette this morning! Filling...
Stitchergirl...ouch...its hard to watch your children suffer! Hope hes feeling good soon.
Erinn....maybe you should get checked out . You have lost alot of weight and things could be changing in your body.
Almeeker thats great news your inlaws are going to join you on the journey! You will be a great role model!
Egm that French toast sounds so good for your little guy!! Ive been making muffins and rice krispie square etc for the little ones..but Ive been adding applesauce (no sugar added) , some pureed veggies etc to them without them knowing. These kids do not eat fruit or veggies..so sad.
Christine I don’t like tracking either but it sure helps..and I know when I don’t its wayyyyyyyy too easy to let the calories creep up!! Ive been using mypyramid..its easier to use.
Ok im off to make some pottery here...Im excited to have a whole day in the studio! Im bringing some water and carrots to snack on...have a good day everyone!

Thanks for all the warm wishes and thoughts for our little guy. The broken collar bone isn't slowing him down in the slightest, to have that energy again would be fantastic. I'm just heading out the door for a 2 mile walk, hope everyone is have a lovely day.

When I read this the other day, I actually got a little choked up, are we sisters? I don't remember another girl, where were you hiding in that house? Actually my mother is wonderful on so many other fronts that I don't resent her too much over this one failing. But seriously, when I got chubby in the 4th grade, my mother put me on a diet, drinking those horrible chalky nasty shakes 3 times/day, no food allowed. I look at my slightly chubby 8 year old and think to myself "thank heaven she doesn't have to live with grandma, or she'd be getting nothing but cold water and protein powder". I've made very subtle changes in the diet at our house, I encourage them to play sports (which my mother always discouraged), I get the kids outside at almost every possible moment, and guess what? It's taken 4 inches off my 8 year old DD's waistline since Jan 1. This is the way to do it, not copious amounts of strawberry protein powder.

had to come back tonight and post a fantastic recipe I threw together tonight...it was sooooooo good I will definitly make this my summer go to meal.

Took some veggies I made on a shishkabob from last night and put them in a large bowl..(peppers, mushrooms,onions) ..then added some crumbled feta cheese,,,a splash of balsamic vinegar. Then I took a small container of brown rice that I nuked and added that to the mixture. Tossed it all together and ate it up!
For little calories this was so filling.

YAY FOR THOUGHTFUL, AWARE MOMMIES! I once asked, "mom, when did you and dad first realize I was obese?" They replied, "At your 7 month check up." WTF!? I see my daughter beginning to round out, and I just make little changes, extra veggies on her plate with smaller carb portions... a yogurt as dessert... an extra day of gymnastics added to her week... or a little more time spent in the pool. And she slims down in no time... I am so scared of my kids having to go through what I'm going through.
I had a heart to heart with my daughter about a month or so ago... I told her I was doing this so she and her brother wouldn't have to watch me die the way we're watching Memaw go. Now, this sounds terrible, but so are my mother's amputations, 6+ heart attacks, 2+ strokes, 2 different cancers... and uncontrolled diabetes. I also was honest with her -we talked statistics: she has 4 biological grandparents
4 over-weight if not obese
2 living with diabetes
1 already died from diabetes related heart failure (my dad at 43, not much older than I am now)
2 who have had multiple strokes
2 who are BARELY 60 and walk with walkers - they barely get around....
It's an ugly life, and we need to protect ourselves against it. I want to travel the world in my 60's, and spoil grandbabies... not have 1.5 feet in my grave.
Needless to say, we were both in tears, hugging and saying how much we loved eachother and needed this healthy life together. Now, she's asking to be a vegetarian... and all I can think is: "that's MY girl.":D

So if you were already obese at 7 months, who's fault was that? Ring ring, it's the clue phone. I'm sorry your mom is such a case. I've asked mine about it a little too, and she basically said that when I was a kid that I wasn't fat really, so much as a little pudgy and that my natural inclination was to stay indoors and be crafty. I have a hard time with some of that because I distinctly remember begging for dance lessons. But they were an added expense, and my mom would have had to leave work early 2 days a week to get me there. Which really would have been easy enough since she was the boss and made her own hours. When I gently pointed that out, she told me that the other reason was that I was desperately uncoordinated and they didn't think that I would having the dance instructor on my case all the time. Really? Because seriously, I don't recall being uncoordinated and even so, dance classes might have helped with that a great deal. It's really too bad about that, because since being an adult I've taken dance and learned that I actually have some skill at it and quite love it.

I remember in the 3rd grade, IronKids Bread came to my school and did an assembly on the IronKids Triathalon... I was so pumped up (and 100 pounds!). I went home and asked Mom if she would help me get ready (it was in 6 months), she said (and I quote), "Honey, you're a big girl... you're never going to be athletic, and you're never going to be a shrinking violet, and girls like US just need to accept that."
Well... I begin my Tri-training this Fall. :D
Our parents have a lot of reasons, and I bet it's due to the recent pop-psychology craze to blame everything on our childhood (which has it's roots in truth just as much as victimhood). It sucks that you're mom put all those limitations on you - when setting you free was most likely the healthier solution.
Again, thank goodness our kids won't be doomed to our futures... nor will they be force fed watery protein and deprived of FOOD! WTF is that!?
The one diet my mom put me on was the.... B... something or other. I just remember we couldn't eat anything. I got to below my healthy weight, but was so starved that I actually would STEAL food from my friends' houses... and apple with some peanut butter in fact (I remember it well). Sick sick sick.
My mom is a case - but all those issues have made me (at least in MY own mind), a much better mother and wife. Ultimately I feel very sad for her, and wonder what she thinks about at night, right before she falls asleep. :confused:

Wow - I come back after 2 days away (busy, busy, busy at work) and I see my "moment" sparked quite a discussion! I just want to say that I love you all. I have very few people in my life that I can share things like that with, and I'm so happy we're all here exorcising our demons together!

Christine - Congrats on the loss! I knew it would come together for you and you'd start seeing some fruits of your labor!

Patti - Your muffins sound interesting, I will have to try that! I'm always looking for different healthy breakfast options for me and the little guy.

Skinny - I agree about the calories. Your body has become a machine about burning calories, so if it burns, burns, burns, but doesn't have any fuel for the fire, it will burn out!

Well, my week of work lunches is almost done. Tuesday was pretty good, Wednesday not at all (no healthy options and by the time lunch rolled around I was starving since it was later than usual!), and today was ok. Could have done better, could have done worse. I weighed in today and lost another .6 pounds, same as last week. I really want to lose it faster, but these last two weeks have been icky (a yeast infection, a really bad case of PMS thanks to going back on birth control, an Aunt Flo that just won't go away, and lots of work obligations that involve food - plus the weather here has been so off and on that it's put me in a funk). So I need to SNAP OUT OF IT and get my groove on. I'd like to lose 20 pounds total by my birthday, which is exactly a month from today, so I think 6.4 pounds is totally do-able in a month but I need to work at it harder than I have been. I'm going to come back on here in a minute and post a recipe that I tried last weekend that was so good I think I will do it again this weekend!

I made this recipe last weekend with a few substitutions - I used 1/2 a slice of turkey bacon to wrap the sweet potatoes, fat free sour cream to make the dipping sauce, and used about 1 tablespoon of chili powder instead of the red hot chili for the marinade (because I didn't have one). And even though it sounds weird, you really do need pure maple syrup in the sauce and it totally makes this dish. We cooked the kabobs over our wood-fired oven my hubby built in the backyard, but it would be just as good on a charcoal grill. Great, healthy father's day recipe, for sure!

Rachael Ray's Official Website :: Smoky Chicken Skewers with Bacon-Wrapped Sweet Potato Kabobs and Maple-Cream Dipper

Hey Erinn, I had to reply to this. I haven't been on here in awhile because I had flu like symptoms that I will explain later. I wanted to address what you said here. First, 1300 cals is a little low, but if that is what you have been told, then who am I to say but your body just might feel with all the exercise that you do, you aren't getting enough nutrients. You may actually have to bump up your cals a little and spread them out more through the day. Also research for weight lifting, what is the best carb, protein, good fat ratio.

But your further comments really concerned me. First of all a thin you will not have to demand more. People that do that don't earn respect, they force it out of others. Remind you of someone. You will command it, by just being who you are and it will come naturally. You will be treated respectfully and if you are not (because some people just don't know how to act right), then my favorite saying is just consider the source. You've got what it takes. I always go down to your signature and look at your weight loss and am amazed by it. What you have got to do it think about the good things about yourself and I know it sounds corny because they always say this on talk shows, but it works. Start thinking positively about yourself. I don't mean become a narcisist, but remember where you came from. You are past the half way point on your journey.

Now, where have I been. I think it was on Friday, I went to Safeway because I wasn't getting enough to go on base to go to the commissary. Well I bought a bunch of fruit--I mean loads and I am definitely not a fruit eater. I eat plenty of vegetables. I tend to stay away from pasta. To hear me talk I shouldn't be fat. My labs always come back good. My cholesterol was 180 the last time and all the rest are always good. My disability is the result of a traumatic even and not diabetes. The trouble with me is that I eat too much healthy food and I do have a sweet tooth from time to time.

Well you know I was having that problem. I decided to solve it. I ate fruit until it came out of my ears or at least to me it was that way. Found out I like those big peachy looking things that I can't think of the name of now, but boy do they have a lot of juice. So I was doing good on my exercising and on Tuesday, I felt like I had been hit upside the head with a brick and my residuals were swollen and felt like I was walking on tight ballons. I took a couple days off and thought about it and thought about it. Yesterday I came on here and searched for side effects of body cleansing and low and behold, there were all my symptoms. Although I have not quit smoking yet, nor did I stop caffeine, my body was in cleansing mode. A good thing about it is when I light up, there are no smoke receptors to receive the nicotine. My brain doesn't even register the cigarette. When I do hold back, it is a hunger feeling I get or a craving, but it is more like for food and not for a cigarette. I don't have anymore cigarettes, so hopefully, I can hold out. Chewing the heck out of some gum though and I feel like I will definitely be working out tomorrow.

What Pyramid?

How do I stop my cravings? I will go well all day and then I get home and I feel like a kid sneaking a spoon.......ok maybe more than 1 spoon of nutella or 1 or more fiber one bars with chocolate etc. I almost feel like I am sabotaging myself.

I really want to get away from chocolate but it calls to me all the time lol.

Wow how did you lose all your weight? Great job you must be so proud. Tell me all your secrets lol. I would love to say I have lost 84 lbs hell even 50 or less would be great.

I am so scared because I am working out lots and think I eat pretty good for the most part and yet I have lost only 8 pounds since then end of Feb

We seem to be matching up well since I have the same weight start and goal.

A friend of mine told me he read a huge article about fruit and that I might have to give it up. It talked about the frutose in fruit and how obese people can not process it properly. Now he know s his food and stuff so I trust him but I love fruit lol. it is weird because I have never heard of someone getting fat on fruit but I do know there is a lot of natural sugars in fruit so if you eat a lot of it I guess it would add up.

We are suppose to eat 5 servings isnt it of fruit a day? WOW

My secret is a high protein, low-fat, low-cal, low-carb diet. I shoot for a calorie pie chart that is 40% carbs, 40% protein and 20% good fats, and a burn/intake deficit of 1,000-1,500 calories (total calories 1,350-1,650). I've set my "lifestyle" is set to "seated with some movement", I have no idea how accurate that is, but so far it's a fair enough estimate and I try and enter as much of my day as I can remember. I work out 1 hour most days (usually running or on the elliptical and try to maintain a heart rate of 145 for 40-50 minutes). I usually give myself Sunday off, and work in the garden or yard instead, which actually burns more calories than my workout because I'm at it most of the day. I don't really know if I'm proud of myself or not, I feel more energetic and I'm thrilled to be wearing size 12 clothes, but I don't know that "proud" has been a factor. The weird part is that I think I'm now the size I've always perceived myself to be. Does that make sense?

At 244 I weighed more that twice what I should, which was really horrible, I was always tired and sluggish and sort of grouchy, which isn't really "me". I'm so glad I stumbled across fitday, it's helped me a great deal. I think the best thing about it is that it took my weight problem, and turned it into a math problem, which was somehow easier to wrap my mind around. And it's also given me a support group which would have been impossible to come by otherwise. My friends and fam are great and supportive, but they're not living it day in and day out like you guys are, so they can't relate and end up saying things that are sort of "off-base", if you know what I mean.

Hang in there cristineval, you're doing all the right things, and if you stick with it you'll get where you want to be. It's okay that it's coming off slowly, usually the slower it comes off the more permanent it will be over the long haul. If you want to accelerate your weight loss you might look at your calorie pie and figure out what the best ratios are for you. I think you have to try each different set of ratios for a week or more to get a really good idea of what works best.

On the fruit thing, I only eat 3 servings/day, no more no less. Usually I mix it up, one banana, one apple or orange and one serving of small berry type fruit like grapes, strawberries or cherries. Lately it's been strawberries by the bucket load because they are in season and our garden grew a bumper crop this year. On veggies I eat them til they are coming out of my ears, 8-10 serving/day no lie, and at least 1/3 of them green leafys. I usually only have 1-2 servings of grain based carbs everyday, almost always whole grain and low-cal. And I pack on the proteins (130-180 grams/day) mostly tuna, ff cottage cheese, rf colby-jack cheese, eggs, protein shakes, almonds, chicken, fish and lean cuts of beef.

Christina - Boy do I know where you are right now. If I can echo what the all-wise ;) Almeeker said, it's NOT a diet... it's a life choice. I know that's a huge, "DUH." But until you accept it so deeply in your bones, you will continue having issues with temptation (the nutella and such). I follow a similar plan to Almeeker - though I don't feel confident enough yet to add in fruit, I just added in SOME starchy veggies such as sweet potato and squash. No regular potatoes though. I eat every 2-3 hours... which keeps my metabolism rev'vd high all day. I eat within one hour of waking and TRY my hardest not to eat past 7:00. I say TRY because I have an injury to my back that requires pain killers. Occasionally if my tummy is too empty I get a belly ache so painful I am literally curled up and rocking back and forth crying in pain - like last night, ugh. So, I have to take a bit of milk or cheese for my belly to be coated enough.
I haven't had a non-veg carbohydrate in 2010. We're talking countless holidays, birthdays... you name it. I just tell myself, "you know what that tastes like already." I also remind myself that 1 peice of cake has to power to potentially put my in the gym for much longer than I want to be - it will take longer to get to goal, etc. But, it's a decision, Sweetie - and a really hard one at that.... I have friends who try to force desserts on me, and I just get REALLY forceful back.... I call them, "frien-emies." Because they are not helping me get healthy.
The second thing I wanted to say is drink your water!!! It seriously makes you feel like there is ALWAYS something in your face, and it helps your body flush everything out. I personally don't like water - so I add some cheap Crystal Light that I get from Walmart. Seriously, it's like $1.50 for about 3 day's worth of powder to flavor your water. I love fruit punch, lemonade and iced tea the most. Yummy.
Jaynie - Thanks for your kind words. I am not scared of becoming an ego-centric freak, just that I have been putting up with a lot of abuse my entire life, mostly because of a deep seeded idea that because I'm fat, I should expect less from those who are supposed to love me. But, you hit a lot of nails on the head right there... glad you're feeling better, and you're workouts would prolly kick MY butt!
Almeeker - I miss ya buddy! I get so excited whenever you post.... I just love reading what you've got to say. I am SO super proud of you... size 12!? You're a ROCKSTAR. How tall are you though? I'm 5'5", so my goal of 150 is the top of my healthy range. You aiming for the middle of yours? You just seem so little! ;)

Coffee cups UP!... so, I completely forgot to post my THURSDAY LOSS! Which, being that I am just back in the saddle, I will take anything! I lost 2 pounds, which puts me right in the middle of the 250's! I feel like it's a trick, lol... that I am really not there, the even stranger thing is that in 2-3 weeks, I could conceivably be in the 240's... craziness I tell ya! I am feeling better - I DID bump up my calories. I spoke to my doctor about it and he said to add the prescription salt back in - I am sweating out all my electrolytes - and up the calories with veggies and protein only (duh!)... why do doctors see a fat person and automatically assume they HAVE to tell them to lay off the Twinkies!? Dude, I probably eat better than you... whatev'... either way... I have found my Muchness! :D.
Good luck this "Weak"end you guys, I still depend on you more than anything you can imagine... oh, and I am walking in the Gay Pride Parade (and NOT as a float! :eek:) tomorrow with my kids... so cool to have that opportunity. I did double Bootcamp this week - and I thought I was gonna DIE, but it was really nice at when it was done. Long and strong!

Morning everyone.... ^
Christine what they said above l all great advice and those ladies are living proof it works! Look how far they have come...my pyramid is a site on the net... look up mypryamid.com....its like fitday but I find it quicker to use..and it shows you the calories you eat as you enter your food on a chart plus adds up your veggies, fruits, grains, dairy and protein as you enter food and lets you know when you reached your daily amount.

I have a maintain this week but Im ok with that...I just started walking again yesterday after my accident. Shoulder tweaked a little but it was good.
Felt good to walk again too..missed it.

Have a busy day here...pottery this afternoon and then a concert tonight...Colin James and Tom Cochrane!! cant wait..and its free! how cool is that.
Have a good weekend everyone.....lifting my coffee cup!!

Skinny - Another 2 pounds - WOOHOO! And take some pics at the parade - I bet it will be fun!

Christine - I'm not nearly as hardcore as Skinny and Almeeker or some of the women on this thread. Not yet, anyway. I'm just now fitting healthy eating and exercise back into my lifestyle, so I'm taking it slow with small changes. I still eat carbs, but I just count calories and eat smaller portion sizes. I even make room for treats and chocolate, of course. But all within reason. For the first time in my dieting life, I'm not doing anything drastic, eliminating food groups, or keeping track of ratios (again, at least at this point). I'm just counting calories in vs. calories out. I may be losing a little slower doing this method, but I'm mainly focused on eating nutritous foods, fixing healthy meals for my family, and generally being an active person. I've always gone so "gung-ho" in the past, only to burn out, so I'm hoping that just making some fundamental changes in the way I eat and view food will help me live a lifestyle that I can maintain in the long term. Sorry for the long-winded answer, but all this to say that I really think you need to find what works best for you, and that may include some trial and error.

Patti - I'm so glad your shoulder is feeling better and that you were able to maintain your weight during that time!

Going into the weekend full speed ahead. I'm stopping at 2 farmer's markets today (we have summer hours on Fridays and get off at 1 p.m. - woohoo!) to get lots of veggies and fruits. Hubby is gone until Saturday night, and truth be told, I always do better when he's not around! For Father's Day we are going to Bass Pro Shops (his favorite store) so I will definitely order something healthy for lunch because dinner will be at the in-laws and is never healthy. Skinny, healthy vibes to you all over the weekend!

Must vent
 

apologizing ahead of time for my post, but must vent somewhere and you are all so supportive. things were going well with the ex and I just starting to feel so comfortable and then he left- out of the blue, came home from work and he is gone - I don't know why I am doing so well on my diet and healthy lifestyle. even kept it up, we went bike riding together and it was so nice. I am just sabotoging myself when it comes to this relationship and can't seem to find my willpower to let go and move on. I tell myself I deserve better, but he makes it so easy to believe his lies. I did work outside last night to keep my sanity, but today has been really hard. thanks so much for listening and I know things will get better- when will my head feel that I deserve to be treated better. I know a lot of this is my insecurity and I run back to him because I guess I feel like I can't get someone else or am afraid to start over, but this vicious cycle is destroying me mentally and I have come to far to continue this. even now part of the pain is knowing I might still take him back. again, thanks so much for listening