When I first started my journey, I laid out a pair of red jeans that I wanted to wear again. I put them on every morning until, FINALLY, they fit! I then pulled out another pair of pants that I wanted to wear and just focused on those until they fit. I kept this up! At Christmas I FINALLY got into the dress from our rehearsal dinner 13 years ago! It felt great to wear it! That was 50 pounds ago!!
It's still a struggle especially on weekends for me! I'm trying to get in at least a 2 mile workout everyday. Hoping to start walking with my neighbor again a few mornings a week by the end of the month and now I get a weekly walk with Redwalker. I may be able to come home an hour early today so I will do a 3, 4, or 5 mile workout then before the kids get home and I plan on doing 2 miles on the elliptical tonight as well!
TTFN
Thanks for sharing this Tracey. I think it really helps to know that everyone has their days that they struggle a little, but that there are also victories to celebrate as well.
good morning everyone! i didn't log on last night and decided to just relax and watch tv after DS went to bed. the doctor's visit went well! i had an u/s and we got to see and hear the heartbeat. i'm measuring exactly what i thought i would be (6 weeks) and my due date is november 25th. oh boy! here we go! t
I really enjoy reading all of your posts, Rose. You are very inspirational to all of us. Sure, you're dealing with knee issues and gluten/belly issues but you are very honest with us about your struggles and you are overcoming them with grace. we are all working on weight loss and it's great to use you as an example. for instance, when i get down and out and stressed, i want to turn to food. but knowing that you too have up and down days and are still successful in your weight loss/maintenance in spite of those down days is a real inspiration! thank you
A thanksgiving baby! How exciting! And by the time the weather is warmed up he/she will be big enough to be out and about without worrying too much.
Thanks for saying this Nancy. I have been struggling so much mentally, and it's nice to know that I am at least holding it together a little. I think sometimes it just helps to type it all out--though a lot of times I delete what I typed cause I want to be more positive about things.

See, you all are helping me with my attitude.
oh by the way, i made lisa's chile verde pork last night (see the BL recipe thread) and it was a total winner. served it on whole wheat tortillas (yeah, ok with cheese and sour cream but not alot) and it was great!! DH is taking some for lunch today!
Good to know folks are using the recipe thread!
Rose I love the way that you always make lemons out of lemonade. You're feeling yucky from the gluten, but you're making the most of it by shedding a few lbs. You always find the good in the situation
Thank you too, Deb.

I think of all of us, you exemplify how to handle what life throws at you. You are one of the busiest Mom's I know, but you always seem to find the time to help out if someone needs it. And three boys--my one is driving me a little insane this week!
Today I feel like I am Happy. I have a lot to do today so later on I might be wishing there was a dwarf called "Crazy"
Have a great day all!
I hope the Crazy dwarf didn't visit today, Lisa!
Hang in there Rose! My Dr is now convinced I do not have a gluten allergy but am a carrier of the genes for the allergy (which is why I have only mild symptoms and not full blown symptoms). Couple this with a wacky almond allergy...I should just have a biscotti and call it a day
So, is he sure that if you are carrier that you will not develop celiac? I think the scariest thing about all this, is that by the time you have serious symptoms you have done a ton of damage to your body including developing a host of other autoimmune disorders.
I'll be doing the results at 2pm today when I get home from work. I have 2 clients today so I will do the results as soon as I get home!
I've had a few more come in since last night's deadline so I will be accepting those as well as any that come in between now and 2pm!
Your friendly neighborhood weightkeeper!
(I don't know why I'm acting so silly today!)
TTFN
You're making me smile today, Tracey!
QOTD Tuesday 4/5/11 Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, It's Off to Lose Weight We Go! (recycling from the last BL Challenge -- it's good for the environment!) If you were one of the seven dwarfs, which one would you be today -- Happy, Grumpy, Sleepy, Doc, Sneezy, Bashful or Dopey?
Not Sleepy (thanks to the 2 cups of coffee I just drank).
I would have to go with Happy. I am Happy because for 2 reasons.
Reason 1: I have recently started a new phase of my life. The huge, global law firm that I have worked for as a graphic designer for the past 8 years has dissolved. As of March 31st, they no longer exist. I am taking this opportunity to change the course of my life. Instead of getting a job at another law firm or legal consulting firm, I have decided to stay at home with my little girls. This has been a very liberating/terrifying decision. I know it will be difficult, but I am excited to get to spend time with my daughters. I am very happy with my choice and am looking forward to the challenges and joys it will bring.
Reason 2: It is a fantastic feeling to put on pants and they are too big. I have not had to buy new clothes because I have lost weight in a very very very long time. And I actually look forward to that shopping trip.
Those are the reasons that I am Happy this morning.
Matt-that's really exciting! And congrats on needing new clothes!
On a brighter note -- I went to the Y last night and did a 30+ minute session on the treadmill. I did intervals of walk 4/jog 1. It ended up including 5 1-minute jogging intervals (very slow) and one 2 minute jogging interval. I cannot believe how much I have lost but my knee doesn't hurt excessively today from the workout. The real problem is that it doesn't bend right and you need it to do that when you run - I can't keep it in that constantly somewhat bent position that you need to run smoothly, so I have a very strange gait. And that kind of hurts my hip. But I am grateful that I worked up the courage to give it a try and that I was able to do the entire 30 minutes.
I also did lots of work on the leg press and realized I have lost a lot of quad strength - 3 sets of 10 reps at 140 lbs for both legs and 3 sets of 10 reps at 80 pounds for my left (bad) leg. I am looking forward to watching it improve.
Woohoo for all that exercise Cam! I am really happy for you.

Can you do squats or lunges? I can't do either one right now, but I have three other exercises that I have to do to strengthen my gluteus medius (I think that's the muscle) which when it's weak can cause problems with your itb. Just throwing that out there cause I'd hate to see you develop another annoying knee problem.
Hello everyone! I have been busy spring cleaning/rearranging furniture for a week, so I have had a hard time getting caught up on the thread, but I am now.
Cam, glad to hear the knee is improving. My DD had a donor tendon implanted in June to replace her meniscus that wasn't holding her knee-cap in place properly; I still cringe (inside) everytime she runs or pivots, but I am thankful there was something they could do to help her.
QOTD: I think I would be Grumpy today (ok, this week), but I'm striving for Happy! I feel like I'm going to struggle just to maintain this week, the scale is all over the place!!! Last week I finally made it to 139

- but it's been back up over 140 again - hopefully in another week (or two), I will be out of the 140's for good!!! Have a great day!
I hope those 140s are gone soon!
Finally Back to normal here
Spent all last week on a WDW vacation (Family in town) then had internet issues due to the nasty storms so finally back to normal here-
Missed everyone especially when the battles ensued over my lack of eating when my family was here over how I was trying to show them up and embarrass them due to me not eating a 2-3 course meal (x 3 a day) and 3-4 snacks between the meals... I did end up eating more than I wanted but it kept the battles at bay
Soo glad to be back to my routines and hopefully the scale will start being my friend and not my foe again
-em
Sorry about the family stuff. It's hard when your family thinks food is love or that you think you are doing something insulting to them by not eating. Hopefully this is not something you will have to deal with much, but just try to be as strong as you can and make the best choices that you can.
