Mmmm, Zone bars...sounds good. I think we sell them at work - will check that out tomorrow. About the Fat % issue - I keep forgetting that there are bad fats and good fats. So, if we eat only the good fats the % shouldn't factor to much because we need fat to loose FAT, still a concept I just do not get but - oh well! So I stick to olive oil and avocados. I do splurge on my
salad dressing - measuring exact amounts - for my daily spinach salad. Taking one step at a time here on them, using lower and lower fat content ones.

Afternoon ladies! *wave*

I have a question for those of you using protein shakes and/or bars as part of your diet. What is the main reason for this? Is it because you don't eat as much meat or other sources of protein? Is there some benefit to it that I don't understand? I'm just curious, as I'm a novice at nutrional supplements.

I have been taking a multi-vitamin and probably should take a calcium supplement, especially at my age, but I never really thought about a protein supplement.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

As for my new eating regimen, everything is going well. I'm feeling satisfied on the healthy foods I'm choosing and not deprived, though it's still early on in my behavioral change. My trigger foods are usually 'pizza' and 'ice cream', and I just haven't had those in the house. If I don't see it, I don't eat it, but I hope when the time comes I do have access to it -- I will be strong enough to make good choices or limit portion sizes to what they should be.

Hubby is cooking three pans of lasagne today for his co-workers. They are doing a pot-luck and he is a great chef. The smell will be tempting, but I still am not too worried about it. I've got other yummy foods to eat that will help me achieve my goals!

Retaining a bit of water today, and the scale reflects that. Gonna head to the library and look for more fitness DVDs to try out this week. Have a good one all!

Ciao,
Smoosh :D

Quick question for you guys. I'd like to eat more fish...mostly tuna & some salmon, but I'm concerned about mercury levels. I know some of you do eat a lot of fish & that it's a great protein source, but I was curious how many times a week you eat it & how much? The recommendation I've seen is 3 cans a week, but sometimes I'm in the mood for another can or two.

OMG I think I can smell the lasagna from here, that would surely kill me if DH were to whip up a batch, let alone 3. Last night I went running, and there were people cooking on the grill at maybe 3-4 houses on my route, it smelled so good I almost jumped a fence and introduced myself.

I put chocolate protein powder in my morning coffee with a splash of skim milk, call it my "skinny muscle mocha latte". I only use it on the days I workout, to help reap more benefit from all that sweating. Once you tear the muscles up they need food and protein is muscle food. And when you tear them up and feed them, they get bigger, and more lean muscle makes you a more efficient calorie burner. Also the protein helps to fill me up, which is a good thing because breakfast tends to be one of the biggest meals of the day for me. Seriously I could eat a whole cow in the morning, I'm that hungry. The protein supplement also helps me get to 40-40-20 (carbs, proteins fats), which I've found is a good pie chart for me to lose at. Because even though I eat meat, I don't eat a lot of it, I'm something of a borderline vegetarian. Actually I was a practicing veggy-girl for years, but I have trouble with anemia, so I have to eat red meat 3X week, doctor's orders. Also when you're dieting, your body likes to burn muscle instead of fat, and this helps to keep that to a minimum.

Until joining this website I thought using protein supplements was way OTT for me and my family, but I've changed my mind after seeing that my pie chart was mostly carbs, and almost no protein at all. We have 3-4 kinds of protein powder in the house at the moment, and an assortment of protein bars as well. I like the bars for when the kids get something really yummy like cookies or candy bars, that way I can have something yummy and on plan. When we go to the grocery store my kids don't get a candy bar for good behavior they get their pick of the protein bars. And they even know it has to have at least 10 grams of protein, fewer than 20 grams of carbs, and can't cost more than $2. It's really funny to watch them choose, they actually read the labels and everything, which of course NEVER happened when they got to pick candy bars at the register.

I don't know about the mercury thing. I eat tuna 4-6 times/week and other fish like 2-4X/month (more during lent). I have amalgum fillings and they have mercury in them too, and nobody seems too worried about those. I suppose mercury poisoning could be an issue down the road, but so far I don't have any symptoms. I just keep thinking to myself that if I lived in Italy, FL or Japan, I would eat fish everyday (and probably wouldn't have gotten fat in the first place).

Hi All,

I am so very inspired by all of you, you're working hard and making it happen! All of you are terrific role models! Thank you!

I’ve been trying to work up the courage to post, and it is a bit intimidating for me -- but it's time to stop just admiring all of your hard work.

Smoosh, I saw your post on protein powders and thought I might jump in.

A couple of years ago I took a nutrition class, keeping a written food diary and our instructor analysed our food and focused on food groups and the Canadian Food Guide. I was having major sugar cravings in the early afternoon and visiting the vending machine way too much. I ate grains in the morning but not much else. She suggested adding protein in the morning to get the afternoon sugar cravings in check. After not having time during the week for eggs and not liking many other protein as a breakfast food, I tried protein powder in the morning.

A family friend who is into body building pointed me to a brand at Costco that was very low in sugar and carbohydrates. I even found a protein powder low in carbs and sugar in the grocery store. I use the vanilla flavour so I taste the fruit I add. I combine it with water and ½ cup frozen raspberries and crush the berries with an immersion blender. With the help of a travel mug that takes a straw, I have breakfast to go. I had a blender before but found I couldn't get all of the smoothie out of the blender easily so DH picked one up last Xmas as a present for me. :)

Breakfast has always been a challenge for me to eat. The smoothies in the morning help get my metabolism going and help me stay on track and away from the chocolate.

Thanks to everyone for making this journey feel less solitary. :D

All the Best,

Welcome, Gail! You've got nothing to be afraid of here. This is a wonderful group of ladies who all have a common goal, and the support here is just awesome! Congrats on your loss so far!

Today is a big day for me. As of this morning I'm down 25 pounds! I just feel so awesome. I've been slacking in the exercise department..still...but my sister and I are going to start doing Turbo Jam together, so that should kick my loss up a notch. I'm just amazed at how "second nature" it has become to make better choices. I love being aware of what I eat and how much of everything I'm getting. It just makes me feel SO in control! In 15 more pounds, when I reach 40 pounds lost, I think I'll treat myself to a new outfit, since my clothes are getting looser. :)

About the protein powder, I also usually have a protein shake for breakfast, along with a banana or a handful of grapes. I just stir one scoop into about 14oz (give or take) of skim milk. I'm not a huge fan of the taste, so I tend to chug it pretty quickly. When the 2 pounds of it that I'm working on is gone, I think I'll try the chocolate. I use Body Fortress Super Advanced Whey Protein, vanilla. 2 pounds is about $17 at Wal-Mart, and so far has lasted me a few weeks. I find that it keeps me full for a few hours until I eat lunch, and I'm continuing to lose weight, so it's working pretty well for me. :)

Hope you ladies are having a wonderful Tuesday! :D

Hiya Gail! So glad you're posting with us, welcome!

Thanks everyone for the information about the protein shakes & bars. I may have to research those a bit more and see if it's something that might be beneficial for me to consider -- if not now, then down the road in my journey.

About to get my exercise in for the day. Seems like the evening workouts happen more easily for me than trying to do it in the morning.

Enjoy your night gang!

I stir one scoop of the Jillian Michaels protein powder into 2 cups of skim milk. The flavor is triple chocolate something and to me, it tastes EXACTLY like chocolate milk...

Hey, Thanks for the confirmation Gail! I was at Costco today checking out what they had for Whey Protein (30g/scoop) and their Protein Bars(same) and was amazed. I found the bars to be quite high in calorie (almost 300) and sodium - is that normal? If I wasn't walking today, I would have bought some - I will go back on Friday.

Anyone out there with diabetes AND using Protein Powder / Bars and not finding any BG issues? Let me know, another of my concerns.

Carren

ldybug1752 - Well done on being 25lbs down! That's a great number, keep going!!! :D


Well, I had my 6 week review yesterday and I am one happy bunny.
My blood pressure has dropped to 121/81, my BMI has gone down by 3.9, I've lost a total of 11.5 inches all over my body (bust, waist, hips, upper arms and thighs) and my resting heart rate has gone down from 119bpm to 89bpm.
My trainer said that for my weight I am in amazingly good health, and his new work-out for me is totally kicking my butt. I haven't sweat so much in my life, and it feels great!

My first goal of reaching 250lbs by December is totally within reach, and knowing that is just going to make me work even harder. I never imagined 6 weeks ago that I'd be at this point!

Great job weightlossboo, I feel inspired now. Which is a very good thing, since I was just sitting here feeling sorry for myself. I overdid it yesterday - AGAIN:eek:!!! But now that you've inspired me I'm going to log off and do my workout. Hopefully I can find some clean workout shorts...

Thanks almeeker!
When I'm at home doing my weights/mat/Tai Chi exercises I shut my door and do it in my knickers. ;):D My man thinks it's sexy, but I think he's pulling my leg. :rolleyes: I don't care though, as least I'm comfortable - I loath gym clothes.

Hope you had fun doing your work out!!

I am hosting a girls night, potluck style appetizer dinner. (we are all making appetizers to share).

No slacking with like veggie tray stuff, LOL.

SO. I need ideas for HEALTHY, filling, YUMMY appetizers.

Hello ladies!

I just wanted to introduce myself. :) I'm already partway into my weightloss journey, as you can probably tell by my signature, but I was looking for other tools to help fine-tune my nutrition... plus this sure beats calorie-tracking by hand. ;) But most of all, I'd just love to have other people to talk to about daily struggles, accomplishments, etc. :)

As for me, I work part-time and am also attending school for Veterinary Medicine. I'm vegan, I love to watch movies, and I love to sleep (wish I got more of it).

Hope to get to know you all!



Edit: Oh, and here's my suggestion for an appetizer:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Avocado-Salsa/Detail.aspx

I've made this before and it's really delicious, and it goes great with almost anything you want to dip into it... plain tortilla chips, cucumber or zucchini slices, etc.

Hello and welcome aboard to the new folks. Happy to have you join us!

Grats on your checkup, weightloss. Yer kickin' a$$ and takin' names.

Doin' good over here; I'm in the middle of quitting smoking (I don't even know what attempt this one is... maybe my 10th? I've lost count), but have surprisingly stayed on plan despite the cravings and intense hunger pangs. Woo! Fun fact... actually, maybe not so fun, but I thought it was interesting... So, I know that quitting smoking lowers one's metabolism, so I wanted to see by how much. Turns out, smoking in and of itself can burn up to 200cal/day. O_o That's, like, just a bit under what my daily workout burns off. I found it funny, in a kind of dark, ironic way. :) Ok, enough of weird fun facts from yours truly. Happy hump-day to all.

Thank you! :)

Good luck with kicking that disguuuuusting habit! End of the day, it may take you a little longer to reach your weight goal with a decreased metabolism and smaller deficit but you could potentially be adding years to your life by giving up the tobacco. Big thumbs up!!! :D:D

Hello!
 

Ok, enough lurking. It's time to post! :)

I don't have 100 pounds to lose this time, but I hope you all don't mind if I'm more comfortable here. I did lose 100 pounds nearly 20 years ago, and have been (mostly) successful at keeping it off all my adult life. I have had some blips in my healthy eating where I've gained back some of the weight, then I've taken it off again. I was looking back at my weights on fitday, and I've been logging for almost ten years (only periodically)!

My most recent "blip" happened a couple of years ago during a really busy year where I was an intern (working for free to learn a new career) and taking masters classes. I just didn't have time to exercise and cook healthy meals, and the weight crept back on. This past April I found myself with more than half of the weight back on, and decided I needed to get it back under control. I've been logging my food since then and exercising more, and I've dropped 27 pounds so far. I have at least another 25 to go, but I'm feeling so much better already.

It's neat to see they have this forum feature now. It's so nice to have support and encouragement from people going through the same challenges. I wish all of you a healthy and fit Thursday!

Sheri

Hi Sheri, welcome! It's always great to see new people joining the group, regardless of how much or little you need to lose.

Today is the 10th day of my 'new lifestyle' and I have to say I'm feeling so good! I have managed to make wise choices about my diet everyday and I have strived to get in some activity & movement everyday. I can tell I'm getting stronger, as I'm able to walk a little longer or complete the workout dvd with a little more ease than before. That's exciting!

I have been reading "Thin for Life", which is a book that came out in 1994, and it has information & profiles of people who successfully lost weight and kept it off. One of the fascinating things from all that I've read thus far is that each person had attempted to get fit & healthy several times before they finally succeeded. That encourages me! They all mentioned having a 'click' moment, where things just seemed to make more sense all of a sudden. I kind of feel that way right now myself.

The formula has been so simple all along -- Calories In vs. Calories Out. Healthy diet + Exercise = Weight Loss. I've known this! I've heard it and read it a million times! I just opted to continue my old habits and ways of eating because I wasn't ready to make the change.

Knowing myself, I am slow to come about to change. I shift gears slowly in other areas of my life too. I am deliberate and determined when I am ready to change however, and that's why this time feels so different.

I am giving up the negative self-talk. This is not an all-or-nothing proposition. This is for ME. I have always wanted this, but only now am I ready to do something about it. No one else can do it for me.

Anyway... I am proud of these past 10 days. I am looking forward to the future and how energetic I will feel as I go.

I know we all can accomplish our goals. We can do it! Many others have, so can we!

LOL... I feel like a motivational speaker at the moment... but I'm just very pumped up! =)

Have a great Thursday everyone!!! Believe in yourself!!! Make the most of today!!!

Smooshmcsmeesh, you are a motivational speaker!

Thanks for the info. The psychology of losing weight is at times I find harder than actually losing weight.

For me it's about giving myself permission to take off the fat suit. I realised earlier this year that I was trying to control who could look at me and find me attractive wearing the fat suit I've had on for the last 23 years. My concerns about what other people think and feel are no longer worth potentially shortening my life and that was my Aha! moment.

At first I kicked myself alot for letting a fear rule my life for that long and then I picked myself up from the self-pity and started on my journey to being me. Every once in a while I have to give myself that same mental shake, but they're needed less and less these days.

I'm taking some of the advice here and putting it into practice. I'm doing my first girls' weekend away as a reward. I definitely need some new clothes and surprisingly some things that I never thought I'd fit into again are coming out of the back of the closet.

Thanks all for the support, ideas, advice and warm welcome!

Welcome harpegcanuck, zootnarf, and kisami! This is a great group!

Congrats to ldybug1752 for losing 25lbs! That is amazing! And to Boo for your fantastic 6 week review. What great results...your hard work is really paying off!

So I'm messing around with my calorie intake & my exercise. I know, I know, I need to find some consistency. But I've just been so darned fatigued lately, to the point where it's an effort to do daily chores again. That is one of the reasons I STARTED trying to lose weight...so I could have more energy for daily activities. And it seems like the more exercise I do, the more tired I am. I'm not getting a boost from the exercise anymore.

I'm getting plenty of vitamins, so I'm sure that's not it. I'm suspecting that I'm pushing too hard with the exercise & not backing it up with enough calories. Based on the free-dieting calculator, I should be eating a minimum of 1872 calories a day for exercising 5 times a week. And I am exercising intensely for at least 4 of those days.

So I'm upping the calories & dialing down the exercise a bit. I'm still going to do intense workouts 4 days a week, but the other 3 are going to be slower activity days...yoga, walks, playing the Wii, etc.

This is going to likely cause not so pretty scale results for the next few weeks while my body readjusts. And I'll probably start seeing a more average loss of 1-2lbs a week. But if I have more energy & I feel better, I will be more likely to stick with this for the long haul, and I can be patient with a slower loss.

I've also got to adjust to a more college-friendly workout schedule. I'm starting grad school full-time on the 30th while I'm also working full time and I have a 2 to 3 hour commute a day (depending on whether I have class or not). I've got to be able to workout, eat right feel good, and keep up with my busy life. Because it's not about weight-loss as much anymore as it is about my health.

Welcome to all the new voices here, it's a great bunch, very supportive, I always come away from this thread motivated and feeling strong about the diet/lifestyle changes I'm trying to make.

Anyway I have some good news and some bad news, the bad new is that I went to a potluck last night, I watched what I ate, but there were certainly some unknowns on that plate and I just couldn't deal with trying to log it all once I got home (the first time I haven't logged since joining fitday). The good news is that I got the stomach flu during the night, so I don't have to worry about those calories anymore.... Well I guess the good news and the bad news are sort of interchangeable today eh? I'm still feeling sluggish and sick to my stomach, but so far I've logged my calories for the day and they seem to be staying put.

mstaff, I don't know if you're calories and workout are causing your fatigue, I felt exhausted just reading your schedule... Have you taken a long hard look at your pie chart? What do your ratios look like? Maybe you need to swap out some carbs for some protein or fats. I don't know. When I first started doing this I too was exhausted, but that's evened out with adding more protein in to my diet and dropping my carb intake.

Well I gotta go it's time to make the pickles...

It's such a hard thing to watch the weight come off more slowly when you are used to a faster progress, but I think it is so smart. You have to be able to maintain it over the long haul without feeling like crap and wanting to give up. Don't be disappointed in 1-2 lbs a week! Before you know it, one week rolls into another and you've lost a bunch of weight that you are much more likely to keep off. Celebrate each pound for the progress it represents, and be very very proud of your work, no matter how slow it feels. :)

I just bought this book today called "Such a pretty face" by cathy lamb. If you like to read, check it out... It's about a woman who loses 170 lbs (I think through surgery)... but its a novel, so its not about HOW she lost it, its about the emotional side of it. Sounds really interesting :)

Glad to hear your calories for the day look good. Unhappy to hear about your experience last night...yuck!

Thanks for the advice. I didn't really think about it, but you have a point. I got an energy boost about 2 weeks after I cut my carbs down to 55%, and I've been staying at 50-55% ever since. This may be OK for most people, but the more I've read about insulin resistance & PCOS, the more I wonder if I should shave it down even more. I'm going to try to aim for 45-50% and see what happens. I'll need to give it a few weeks to know for sure.

Hello
 

Hi, everyone, I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Amy and I have 120 pounds to lose. I just started my latest attempt to lose weight yesterday, and I hope Fitday will help me along the way.

Welcome Amy, I think you will find this particular group of FD very understanding, supportive and can kick butt when needed :D

This week has been frustrating, I have exercised more, ate better, and I am losing less :( Its very disappointing :(

*hugs* Chunky, hang in there hon! Try not to let the scale be the gauge of your success. Every day you make wise choices, think about your health & fitness, get in some movement, blog about your feelings, believe in yourself, don't give up... those are all the success markers!

It's hard, I know. I tend to get on the scale everyday and the numbers fluxuate. But so what... we are doing things now that we haven't been doing, and in the long run that will benefit us greatly!

When you start feeling down, or having negative thoughts about your progress, remind yourself of how far you've come! You are doing great! While we want to rush to get to our destination, really, what's the hurry? Let's enjoy the ride and know we're on our way.

I hope everyone is having a great Friday! TGIF! Have a fun & fit weekend. Treat yourself to something special (non-food related) and remember, we're all works in progress. :D

Best always,
Smoosh

Thanks. I KNOW this, but I tend to forget! I feel empowered, but its not because of the scale, its because I am taking control of my body and my life, so why should I feel less empowered? I guess maybe because I feel like I can't control my body ENOUGH LOL. However, two days this week, I walked a mile. I have not walked a mile since before I hurt my back... and even then, it was rare and very difficult. And I am planning on joining the gym and actually using it... And I am eating probably half the calories I was a month ago..... AND I have stuck with this for almost a month now (started July 17th) without having ANY days that were a total bust! I KNOW I have a lot to be proud of. But the pounds dropping are a huge motivation obviously! LOL.

Have you been doing body measurements too Chunky? I know the scale hasn't really moved for me the past few days, but when I took my measurements last Monday I had a decrease in most areas which was really exciting!

Do you weigh yourself more than once a week? If so, maybe you'll want to consider doing it just once or twice a week so it doesn't discourage you or make you lose sight of all the other cool things you've done. Wow, walking a mile? I hope to get to that point soon! =)

I did two laps around my block, which felt like a mile, but LOL... I'm sure it's less than 1/2 a mile. I need to map it out.

Boy, that is just the pits when you know you've done well all week, but the scale doesn't show it. That has thrown me completely off the wagon more than once, and I had to find another system to gauge my progress. I know it's not for everyone, but I actually only weigh myself once a month. I reward myself (non-food) based on how well I followed my plan instead of on how many pounds I've lost. What I eat and how much I exercise is in my control - what the scale says is not.

Of course, this may not work if you are still working on what to eat and how much to exercise, and you need to adjust as you see or don't see the results. I already know what I need to do to lose weight in a slow but consistent manner, so I just need to do it. That's where I focus my motivation techniques and rewards. I also get the reward of seeing progress every month without being frustrated by weekly, or even daily, fluctuations. It really has taken a lot of pressure off for me, and most importantly, it has stopped the downward spiral of defeat that comes with seeing no progress after a week of being on track.

Whatever you do, hang in there! The progress shows up eventually, if you just stick with it. That darn scale is just not showing it yet, but it will! And your body is getting healthier, regardless of what the scale says.

Dont get discouraged CD! I have been doing the same thing.. exercising a lot, eating within ( actually well under my range) and in like 3 weeks have only lost 2 more pounds... but the other side of it is, my measurements are changing. Dont give up. And agin, if this lack of losing has lasted a week or 2, maybe it's time to drop your total calorie count by a 100 a day or 50 a day. One other thing I have noticed with me is while I eat low calories ( or maybe BECAUSE I have less calories,) my fat percentage always seems high and that may be why I am not losing like I should be. Be sure to keep that fat part of the pie small.

WTG! smoosh!! I think I would drop dead if I jogged or ran even one side of my block!! As for distance, if it is a standard block, it take 8 blocks to make a mile. And if its on the 'short ends of a block, 8 of those make 1/2 mile.

Have a good weekend all!

Interesting Article
 

I am sure this isnt the best place for this article, but this is the section of the forums I am most comfy posting in, so hope it helps someone :)

Restaurant dinner dates. Sunday supper with the family. A nachos-supreme-enhanced happy hour. While weekends are full of fun, they're also full of food. (Hello, Japanese dinner on Friday nights, shrimp tempura included!) People take in up to 400 extra calories over Saturday and Sunday, according to a study in the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, which can lead to a weight gain of 6 pounds over the course of a year. But with these smart, easy-to-implement strategies, you can savor your favorite leisure activities and stay slim. Try these simple tweaks—TGIF!

At the movies: You can emerge from the movie theater without having consumed 900 calories worth of buttered popcorn. Here's how: Before the previews, fuel up with a healthy snack such as almonds or pretzels so you aren't hungry and overcome with munchies when the flick starts—and the urge to dive into your pal's Goobers or greasy popcorn. Need a sweet treat? Twizzlers are a relatively low-calorie choice, and you can split them with a friend. Craving salt but don't like to share? Order a child's size popcorn (without the butter) and a Diet Coke (300 calories, 20 grams fat).

Sunday brunch: Go ahead, order the eggs Benedict. It sounds like a splurge, but the eggs are poached, so there's no oil; Canadian bacon is less fatty than its American cousin; and the English muffin has fewer calories than two slices of whole-wheat toast. Ask for the hollandaise sauce on the side and limit yourself to 2 tablespoons. Or try a made-to-order omelet (ask for two egg whites and one whole egg) with spinach, tomatoes and a sprinkle of feta cheese, with a side of fruit salad and unbuttered rye toast (596 calories)—you'll get protein from the eggs as well as a dose of fiber from the spinach.

Saturday night dinner: A little research will keep you svelte—try logging onto the restaurant's website ahead of time and decide what to order, including your special drink. You'll be less likely to spontaneously place a gigantic order when the waiter arrives at your table. Order something you like, but limit your portions to keep calories to less than about 600. At the steakhouse, try a petite fillet with steamed vegetables and half a baked potato. Out for Mexican? Try two fish tacos and a few chips dipped in guacamole (ask the waiter to remove the bowl when you've had a handful). Japanese night? Go for edamame and 8 to 10 pieces of sushi. And rather than order a calorie-filled specialty cocktail, indulge in a 100-calorie drink, such as a small glass of wine or light beer, while you dine.

Happy hour: Aside from adding calories (a single margarita can top off at 400), drinking may make you more prone to storing fat in your middle, so rather than reward yourself after a tough week with 2-for-1 night, treat yourself to a Friday manicure, movie or other fun time—you'll feel pampered without packing on pounds. Want to meet pals at your local spot? Try choosing a bubbly toast, like Champagne or Prosecco, which you'll be inclined to drink more slowly than a noncarbonated drink. Research also shows that loud music makes you drink more, so if the sound system is thumping, put down the glass and start dancing!

For everyday ways to stay happy and healthy follow Lucy Danziger on Twitter.

Welcome! You have come to the best ever forum for support, encouragement and insight. Remember - YOU can do it! We will be here for you through out.
Carren

CD78 - you are cool!:cool: Your sharing is motivating. I look at this lifestyle change as a playground - exciting, fun, scary, empowering. Today, you are on the teeter-totter - up/down! :D I am sure you will be in the 'swing' of things very soon. Keep the faith, you can do it.
Carren

GameGal thanks for the article. It confirms several areas that I have had to endure in the last month. I use the internet for restaurants to find out ahead of what I will have - it works better and I feel more confident in ordering. I always have water with lemon and limit sodas, even diet ones. I do not drink alcohol (35 years sober) so no temptation there - besides, like smoking - I am just to CHEAP to do either of them again.:D I will admit to being stumped the other day at the movie matinee. They were giving away popcorn and drink with each ticket. Never turning down a freebie had me getting both. I did decline the butter and got a diet cola. I ate about 2 cups of popcorn before the movie with my drink. Since I was there so early, I had lots of time to 'think' about what I was doing. I finally decided - free or not - next time, just decline them. Reason - I do not like popcorn, how simple is that. Good to know eh! LOL Better to take a single 100 calorie serving of something with me. Love the Eggs Benedict!

Today, since it is thunderstorms, high winds here. I decided to do housework as exercise instead of walking...dishes are soaking. LOL No, really, I decided to look pretty today -DH home from work today - so I washed up, put on my favorite clothes, makeup and did my hair. He was impressed and has be into the computer room several times to 'talk' already. Hmmm. It is nice to put on my 'thinner' clothes, it makes me feel ... powerful, encouraged, happy. Today, I dressed for me and what a boost. Have a great day everyone, treat yourself today. Carren

thanks for the support guys :) Well, I am sticking with it.
I don't think I need to drop my calories anymore just yet (last week I averaged about 1850 a day and lost 10 lbs, this week I'm averaging about 1650 a day).
My body is just fighting me LOL.
I have kept close tabs on the fat ... I try to keep it under 40-50 grams per day (couple days went over, but nothing out of control LOL)

Ok why is it that when I use online calorie calculator to determine how many calories I should eat in order to lose weight they ALL say 2700 a day. If that's really the case, then by eating 1600-1800 a day, am I freaking my body out? Can you really be in "starvation mode" on that many calories a day?

I'd love to hear what someone else who started at over 300 lbs did as far as calorie intake and gradually reducing it... (where they started, etc). I was never one to eat a huge quantity of food... it was just that I ate JUNK. So if I were to try to add over 500 calories, I would have to be swapping something out to eat something that is bad for me..... in order to even intake that much food (if that makes sense). Am I being too restrictive too soon for my weight? I feel fine... full all the time, have energy, etc.

Your energy levels are usually a good indicator if something is out of whack with your calories being too low. Your body wouldn't be getting enough fuel, which would usually lead to more fatigue.

But 1650, IMO, seems a little low for your current weight. If you were seeing greater success at the higher calorie range, then it might be an issue with too few calories. Are you also exercising more? It looks like you have been. Increasing exercise while decreasing calories might cause your body to freak out a little. I honestly think this is what happened to me. I had great 5lb losses my first few weeks, then the scale was all over the place. But that was also the time I started doing my 2 hour swim & boosting my exercise to 5-6 days a week instead of just 3 or 4. I was also cutting out a few hundred extra calories a week too. BUT I am confident this is the problem because I'm wracked with fatigue...I know I'm overdoing it with restricting too many calories & trying to exercise too much.

You've been going at this strong for 4 weeks now (it looks like). The smaller loss could also be a number of things; water weight, TOM, body readjusting to the new weight. It might be good to keep going for another week & see if you get a bigger loss next week before you change anything, just to make sure it wasn't a random blip.

Of course, it's also good to look at things like ratios & different exercises too just to change things up a bit for your body. It might be getting a little comfortable with what you've been doing for 4 weeks now :)

And finally, I'd suggest taking measurements of your body too to use as a motivator when your body might slow down on the weight loss. I've had weeks where I only lost a little or even gained, but seeing the inch loss helped keep me motivated!

A little bit of good news on my end: per almeeker's suggestion, I started cutting my carbs to 45-50%. I'm still a little tired, but it will take a bit for my body to readjust to the new levels. But this morning, I dropped a whopping 1.8lbs on the scale...in one day! I know some of it's water weight, but still, WOOHOO!

Hello Smoosh,
I saw your post and your measurements are close to mine! I just set my long range goals to next hit 255 myself. Hey I love and need my plant protein shakes because of my cardiomyopathy. I'm trying to reduce meat protein in my diet or just stick to other proteins that fly and swim. Tell me please how you lost so much weight in ten days I need that!

Wahoo awesome :) :)

and thanks for the tips... I upped my calories a little bit today and really packed in the protein LOL