I haven't read this thread in a while.

SKEdwards - congrats on doing so well!

Sheri - you, too!! I know that you wanted to be down a little more - but in the big picture you are doing really well!

Sheri, I also thought of you when I fell off of the exercise wagon. I know that you totally converted to morning exercise. Yep, I need to go there.

quote:

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Originally posted by Sandy:
Remember that (statistically) the slower you loose, the more likely you are to keep it off!

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Trust me, that is what I console myself with when I get discouraged about the fact that it's taken me 10 months to lose 30 pounds.

I know I'm not 20 anymore and, on top of that, I have some additional challenges, but it is still frustrating to work as hard as I'm working and still have to fight tooth and nail for a half of a pound loss per week (if I'm lucky).

Yea, I know...life ain't fair, Sheri! Boo hoo!

Now 11.2 gone, 14.8 to go. I have to admit that I am a little proud of myself since this weekend. We went on a mini-trip (sat & sun), but I still lost 1 lb. for the week! I made sure that I drank all my water, ate salads before my meals and stopped eating when I was full. I ate basically the foods that I wanted, but just practiced portion control. I promised myself before the trip that I would not get depressed if I "slipped" up and to actually have fun without worrying the entire trip about gaining weight. What a nice surprise when I weighed this morning. It really made me realize that I have made positive "changes" in my life, I'm not just on a "diet".

Sheri,
You really are SO CLOSE. The babysteps'll get you there. Remember that (statistically) the slower you loose, the more likely you are to keep it off!

I am not doing so well in getting to my May 8th weight goal of 150 or below (I'd chosen May 8th vs. April 30 or May 1st like most folks because of my vacation).

I've been exercising 6 times a week, have increased both my cardio time and intensity, and have been eating pretty darned clean, but Easter weekend didn't go exactly as planned and I did have a few times of eating out and, even when I try to eat clean out, it seems to cause either a gain or at least not a loss.

The 2 weeks past have seen small gains, but gains nonetheless...the last thing you want to see when you are working toward a major vacation goal. I had hoped to crack 150 by the time I leave for vacation and I don't see that happening now. I really upped my veggies last week and am doing that again this week, in hopes of dropping a little.

Depending on the day and the time of day, I'm around 2.5 to 4 pounds away from my goal weight for May 8. Just about the most I EVER lose in one week is maybe a pound or 1.25 pounds so, with less than 2 weeks to go, I don't see 150 happening.

So close but so far!

Sandy:

Thank you for your kind words . I actually am doing a bit better, feeling more like myself. I went walking on Sunday, convinced my mom to go with me and we are going to try and make it a weekly thing. She is going to try and do some walking be herself too. I told her how surprised she would be to see it is almost effortless when you have a buddy. Right now I am eating a few strawberries with cottage chs., so I am getting my healthy habits back. I was pretty bummed I gained 5 oounds back after it took me so long to lose them, but i think I can me back on track by July 1st which was my target date for the 10 , but now it is 15 pound weight loss. Maybe I can get pretty close. Hope all is well with you and I wish you a good week.

Stacy

Stacey,
I have had times when I am doing well for while and then eat something outrageous that I really don't even want. I have had to work through feeling like I don't deserve to be thin or the idea that I am destined to be fat no matter what I do or eat. I journal to work through this stuff. I don't know what the meat pizza was about, but I could relate to the self-sabatoge.
Take it easy and be good to yourself.

Hi I have not been around so much this week although I really should have been.I Have had a very bad eating (only after I get home) and unmotivating non fitness oriented week.
Today at this hour is Sunday and I am going to start clean tomorrow. I need to take a deep breath and remember how far I have come and how good I feel when I eat and behave healthfully. It is not usually this much of a struggle, I need to figure out what is triggering these actions. Even my husband has said that I have been eating things I don't usually really like, for instance a super fattening loaded pizza. He got heartburn from it and can't believe that me who always orders the veggie type would order this super meat lover greasy type thing. I feel sick just talking about it or writing about it now.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Stacy,

I wish I could give him nuts, but he is deathly allergic to any kind of nut... which really makes lable reading a must for me! But thanks for the idea on portion sizes!

You can also try to increase his portion sizes as well. I second the olive oil idea as well and the use of nuts is good too.

Sandy: Thanks! It is worth a shot. I can't just watch him wither away to nothing just because I have to lose weight.

Stacey,
What about using extra olive oil on some of your dh's foods. He'll get some good flavor, extra (good) calories and hopefully it will not tempt you too much.

Things haven't gone quite as smoothly as I had hoped for, but hey... no one said this was easy!

My trip out west was quick and food filled. I actually did better than I thought I would because I LOVE good sour dough bread! I really wanted to eat nothing but sour dough bread while I was there, but since a woman can't survive on bread alone... I endulged in some linguisa. Can't get either GOOD sour dough or my favorite sausage in the mid west so I made hay while the sun shone! I only gained 1-1/2 pounds, which could have been a WHOLE bunch worse! Got back on track when I got back home. Not to bad...

My exercise routine kinda fell apart... I did go walking with the family, but only once. I need to do more. I have been trying to get up earlier and work out, but it seems as if my daughter has radar and knows when I am up and about. I know I will figure something out sooner or later!

I have a new problem now that I have got to figure a way around. My husband has been under a great deal of stress lately and has LOST 25 pounds. He is 6' 1" and 149. Too thin. I told him that I would DIE to have his problem right now! I have to lose 30ish pounds and he need to gain it. HOW AM I GONNA COPE WITH THIS ONE??? AARRRGGGHHHH! Anyone with any ideas? OH maybe I should also say that he is allergic to nuts... (someone told me to slather his food in peanutbutter for extra protein & calories)

Stacy Thanks for the accolades! I appreciate it!

I just came from the gym. After finishing my water aerobics class, I went to put on my shorts and go work out... no shorts, I left them home . So I put on my street clothes headed upstairs and did my workout!!! Afew months ago it would have been the perfect excuse to skip entirely. I didn't even realize until someone pointed out I was "over dressed" that I had headed right into my routine without even thinking. Skipping didn't even cross my mind. Now that is progress.

Laurie

I live in an apartment so there is no garden to tend. I SUCK at being active outdoors. I am not a sports fan of any kind (either as participant or observer), I don't own a bike (and even if I did, wouldn't ride it where I live) and the knees and ankles aren't up to stuff like rollerblading or skating anymore.

I don't mind some light hikes but my friends are not the hiking type for the most part.

I need to work on a way to be active outside the intentional exercise. Hmm. Does shopping count? LOL

OK I just read the assigments. *deep breath*

Hmm .. I live in the high desert, so it's not really conducive to gardening. Our dirt is red clay and rock. Our trees are mostly conifers.

However, there is a 4' x 4' bed below my bedroom window, where I had been planning to put my "desert zen" rock garden.

Last year, my interest in it waned, when I couldn't find black pea gravel. I guess I'll be restarting my search now.

Once that's in, I'll be lugging around flat slabs of stone and forming small structures with them, and creating miniature dry river beds.

I've already been consuming asparagus at a ridiculous pace. And I saw this morning that there's a flat of strawberries in the fridge. I'm not really sure what to do with them just yet, except maybe dig up that strawberry-arugula salad recipe I saw.

I don't think I'll have any room this month to add a new activity. Between May 12 (when class ends) and June 1 (when soccer begins) I'll have some time to get some hiking in.

For the past couple of weeks, if I go for a walk and finish my homework between work and class, I've been rewarding myself with a round at the batting cages.

I don't know if there is a physical benefit to batting, but it's certainly good for my mental state. Just like the weed-pulling, each ball is: too much work, 5 lbs, cranky client, lack of time, lack of sleep -- BAM! bye bye!

Since I am as far from having a green thumb as you can get. ( I actually managed to kill a spider plant and I thought they were indestructable). I feel the only way to be fair to the plants is for me to steer clear of them. I do have a back up plan since gardening isn't my thing. Last year the state funded a new bike trail that stretches across part of the county. It starts right at the Mall entrance. I plan on starting this week to walk it every night. My goal is to be able to walk the whole thing before it becomes a cross country ski trail in late October/Early november. I am also hoping to go on a hike up to the Boulders. its a little area just off the appalacian trail. The appalacian trail cuts right through my hometown. I just have to get together some people and either a good map or find someone who knows how to not get lost. If for some reason that isn't possible I'll walk on the better marked trails.

Laurie

quote:

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Originally posted by cobismom:
Please, please say a prayer for the heater in my pool. It has been down for two weeks now, and they tell me it is fixed. I know this isn't something that you normally pray for, but, walking has done my knees in to the point I know I won't do it much longer because they hurt. The water is about my only advantage, and I need to do it everyday. I won't swim if it's below 60 degrees, cause the muscles tighten up too much. Tomorrow is my first day back, and I feel that all I do is start at the beginning of the plan...I've got to get past 20 laps sometimes soon. I'll give you a report tomorrow. Thanks

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Good luck tomorrow! I hope that it's truly fixed and I will say one for you!

Please, please say a prayer for the heater in my pool. It has been down for two weeks now, and they tell me it is fixed. I know this isn't something that you normally pray for, but, walking has done my knees in to the point I know I won't do it much longer because they hurt. The water is about my only advantage, and I need to do it everyday. I won't swim if it's below 60 degrees, cause the muscles tighten up too much. Tomorrow is my first day back, and I feel that all I do is start at the beginning of the plan...I've got to get past 20 laps sometimes soon. I'll give you a report tomorrow. Thanks

This is my first time posting under this thread, but here goes.

My recent goals are:

• Wedge in some exercise into small spaces of time
  
• Avoid the snacking pitfalls that come from night classes (gas station snacks and taco bell)
  
• Stick to the goals outlined by the Fit for Fun Challenge (week 2)
  
• Save the alcohol for special occasions

Over all, I was pretty good. The weather was not jiving with my lunchtime walks. But I got a break here and there, and managed to work one in either after lunch or after work every day except Monday.

On the other hand, I wanted to add a brief morning walk before work. No dice. I overslept every day. Next week .. maybe move the alarm clock? (Sheri's suggestion)

I was all proud of myself yesterday because I had about 15-20 min before my tax appt, and used that time to go the gym and work out.

Rather than crash as soon as I got home after class on Wednesday (11pm!) I did my Fit for Fun exercises - chair stands, toe raises, push ups.

Monday's class night I nibbled on a Luna bar and a banana. Wednesday's class night, I did eat out. But I got a chicken salad sandwich on whole wheat, and only ate half of it.

I haven't had any alcohol since ohhhh Sunday I think. Even though there are two Fat Tires sitting in my fridge!