Biggest Loser 9 Spring Challenge -- thread closing -- see new thread Part 2!

[LegoMom3]

Up a pound this week.....

So. Frustrated.

The week that I had my best loss, I had worked out morning and afternoon 5 days that week. But I haven't been able to keep that up due to the weather and my schedule!! I do the trampoline EVERY morning. I sweat. It's a good workout!.... But the running has been so sporadic (our house is too small for a treadmill so that isn't an option), and I think that was the real calorie burner.

I think I'm going to do the free week at my husband's gym in town. It'll give me a chance to see if I can definitely work in the time (on the one hand, I can get all my exercise in at once, but it also means getting up early and going before the family's day starts....we home school so my days are full!).

I've got to do something because I'm on the verge of cycling downward again, where I'm not seeing the progress that motivates me to keep going, so I stop caring and basically give up.

Hope everyone else has had a good week!

.

 

[jenanderson]

Up a pound this week.....

So. Frustrated.

The week that I had my best loss, I had worked out morning and afternoon 5 days that week. But I haven't been able to keep that up due to the weather and my schedule!! I do the trampoline EVERY morning. I sweat. It's a good workout!.... But the running has been so sporadic (our house is too small for a treadmill so that isn't an option), and I think that was the real calorie burner.

I think I'm going to do the free week at my husband's gym in town. It'll give me a chance to see if I can definitely work in the time (on the one hand, I can get all my exercise in at once, but it also means getting up early and going before the family's day starts....we home school so my days are full!).

I've got to do something because I'm on the verge of cycling downward again, where I'm not seeing the progress that motivates me to keep going, so I stop caring and basically give up.

Hope everyone else has had a good week!

.

I know it is frustrating when you work so hard and you don't see the loss you want...don't give up though. You can totally do this!

Is it possible for you to actually schedule time for yourself to exercise? That is what I have to do. If it is not on my calendar (with the time I am going to do it), I have a hard time finding time for it as well. It is so important to find that time and yet so hard to do sometimes.

I think it is a great idea to try a free week out at a gym! It might be just what you need to be motivated again! Keep it up because even with the down days, this is so worth it!!!

 

[pjlla]

Still have some things to do with son although we're getting through it. Still need to make corrections to the FAFSA, transfer his savings to a different account. He has to write an essay for one of the scholarships.
One of my kitties has uti now-- I took a lg bag of junk catfood for $2 at work--never again.....have been giving her apple cider vinegar and it really seems to be helping her, almost miraculous really. I'd rather try this first than take her to the vet and have them try to squeeze out urine like the last time, and do the tests. She is about 11 years old and has a big lump on her back. I had it tested when it first appeared and there was no cancer but since it has grown I'm pretty sure it must be cancerous. I keep a really good eye on her because of this so I think I caught the uti quick enough. She likes canned food too. I've also been giving her the cranberry pills. From what I know about cancer in cats fighting it is just hard on the cats and doesn't work, so for now I'm just watching her. I've also learned that a lot of times older animals just get bumps and it doesn't really mean anything. She is beautiful and a dear. I'm watching her--I'll take her in if I need to. I'm pretty worried about her though.

Prayers for your kitty. Mine is doing MUCH better..... and she now recognizes the sound of the medicine bottle opening and runs to hide under the dining room table!! But I try to fool her by shaking the treat can first... she usually comes running for that.

How do you get a cat to take vinegar?? I bought some cranberry urinary health treats for my cat last year when she had troubles... but she wouldn't eat them.


Today’s QOTD: What do you still find to be a challenge in your weight loss journey and what is one step you can take to overcome it?

Honestly.... a change of schedule/routine makes me want to use it as an excuse to eat poorly. For example..... knowing that I have a CRAZY busy weekend ahead.... many hours in the car and sitting poolside watching DD. One of my first thoughts was about the munchies I could bring along and "enjoy" and how it could be a "splurge" weekend. WHAT WAS I THINKING?? I know what I was thinking.... I was thinking like the old me.... the old, 219 pound me! I didn't get to within 7 pounds of my goal weight by using every excuse in the book to overeat!! (Insert dope slap to forehead here )

(And here is my one step I took....) So I got smart and headed to the grocery store and stocked up on healthy, easy-to-bring-along foods.... LC cheese wedges, pretzel sticks, baby carrots, seltzer, light yogurts, etc. I plan on packing snacks and meals to have with us every day.

Fortunately, we will be coming home each night, so I don't have to plan too far ahead. Tonight will be dinner on the road (something I pack.... probably something snacky because DD won't want a big meal... cheese, pretzels, fruit, yogurt, etc) on our way to UNH and snacks for poolside. We will probably make a stop at Wendy's or Dunkin Donuts on the way home later (the only fast food that DD will eat) because DD will be starving by the end of it (and it is nice to get her something warm). While she enjoys a chili or a bagel, I will get a decaf coffee with skim milk and something from my snack bag.

Tomorrow's lunch will be at the local pizza shop. DH is taking his entire basketball team there for their post-season treat and trophy ceremony. I will join them but buy myself a salad and enjoy just 1 slice of cheese pizza.... no chips, no cake.

Tomorrow night will be spent poolside again. I will pack sandwiches made with my Hormel 100% natural, preservative-free, nitrite/nitrate free lunch meat (the only kind I buy) on La Tortilla Factory Smart and Delicious whole wheat wrap... and load it with spinach, tomatoes, and some guacamole. Maybe some baked chips (a treat for both DD and I) or a handful of pretzels and some carrots on the side and a can of seltzer for us both. I will probably eat during the event, but DD will probably eat on the ride home.

I will also be packing some healthy snacks for her to eat during the event (she tends to just lightly snack during the day when she is swimming.... even during really long days she never wants a full meal)... dried fruits, Luna bars and Odwalla bars, apple slices, snack size yogurts, dry cereal, light popcorn and juice.

Sunday morning we will be off EARLY again to Vermont. Breakfast will probably be a stop at Dunkin Donuts... but I can do reasonably well there and it seems like a treat (I don't like donuts, so no temptation there). I will pack lunches for us to eat on the ride home. Probably sandwiches again.... or maybe LC cheese with melba toast and fruit.... or maybe something warm in a thermos. I'll need to decide today.

Hopefully we can get through the weekend with just two food stops (Friday night at Wendy's and Sunday morning at DND).

Good morning all! I hope everyone had a great week. I hope the scale showed happy numbers this morning for everyone! If it didn't, think back to your week and try some self-analysis. Did you take a few too many BLTNs (bites, licks, tastes, nibbles) that you didn't count? Did you accurately weigh/measure your foods (especially the more calorie-dense things like nuts, peanut butter, oils, salad dressings)? Were you brutally honest in your food journaling? Did you honestly get in as much exercise as you planned? Just some things to think about.

I didn't do my Friday workout yet. DH was still asleep and I decided to be merciful on him and not climb on the treadmill just yet (it is in the bedroom). So here I sit, letting my breakfast digest and hoping he gets up soon! I will be honest about my exercise this weekend. I probably WON'T get in a real workout tomorrow (and Sunday is my rest day anyhow)... but I will still try to get up and get walking around these swim venues between events. Better than nothing I suppose.

Well.... I am off to get myself ready for my busy weekend. TTYL........P

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Today’s QOTD: What do you still find to be a challenge in your weight loss journey and what is one step you can take to overcome it?

Consistency is my biggest challenge. I have a stellar week or half week, and then I fall apart. I'm the classic one step forward, two steps back. One thing I'm trying to overcome it is I'm working on an exercise "streak", I'm trying to exercise continuously for as many days as I can -- now, I don't mean hard core runs every day, I mean doing yoga, weights, Wii, exercise bike, getting a good variety to keep me on my toes, but doing something every day. I think if I do a good job of varying my intensity, I should be able to avoid too many rest days. I do think rest days are good, but I also think if I did a nice gentle yoga, it would be as good or better than doing nothing, so I'm going to try that out and see. One thing I've definitely discovered -- just because I think something will work for me doesn't mean it will. I have to be open to trying new things and schedules until I find one I can stick with for the long-term.

Jen -- Of course you can call yourself a runner! Do you run? Then you are a runner!

legomom -- The only way I attain any consistency is to workout before the family rises. I get up at 4:30 whenever I can. I know that doesn't sound like fun, but it is actually empowering to do something that is just for me, where there are no other demands for my attention. I get some of my best thinking done!

Pam -- Wow! You really took control to make this weekend work for you! My weekends inevitably start with Taco Bell Fresco, and end with fried something. I am going to break that cycle this weekend. I'm keeping the Taco Bell, but I will be making sure I have a healthy, low point lunch and dinner Saturday. If I can just get through that, I'll be ok since we cook on Sunday. We have a new Subway not far from us, and I'm going to try it. Hopefully, it will become a new weekend staple...Anyway, you have inspired me to do better, so thank you!

Hello to all the other BL participants, and thank you for continuing on this path with us. I hope we will all be inspired by watching or hearing about the Olympics, and we will face next week with single-minded focus. The Olympic athletes view food as fuel, and we can, too! (but of course, you can have some extra sugar free gum if you want a dessert )

Maria

 

[lecach]

Lost 1.6 Prunes are my FRIENDS!!!!!!


I did the Challenge of the Week for the first time too. I really enjoyed it. Especially liked the challenge to do something nice for someone else. Yesterday I helped someone at work who is in a wheelchair get his food in the cafeteria and when I went to feed the neighbors cats (she is in the hospital giving birth) I noticed lots of dirty dishes so I washed them. The COW made me think more about being nice to people

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I am off again today. I really wanted to go in but the school it closed. I have a feeling that the roads in the district are still pretty bad. Our district is very large ( 50 sq miles) and many times the smaller roads are not even plowed by the 3rd day. What is nice about today is dh had to go to school. Ds is home but sleeping late and then maybe going to a job interview. Last night ds and I spent about 30 minutes going over a math test he had to take for this job interview. His math was great because all we were discussing was how many decimal places he should use.

I don't have anything planned for today except to write a letter of recommendation for a student and get it out in the mail today.

Have a good day everyone.

Have a good day. I know it's frustrating when you can't do what you need to do because of weather. Hopefully you'll get dug out soon. My Grandma lives near Cape May and mom said they got hammered. I'm glad she sold her house and move into senior housing, I would be so worried about her.

Good luck to DS on the job interview! Math, especially decimals, fractions and percentages, are not my strong suit. I missed those when we moved from CA to CT.


Today’s QOTD: What do you still find to be a challenge in your weight loss journey and what is one step you can take to overcome it?

Knowing what to eat, when to eat it and how much to eat.
I need to do some more reading, preplanning of meals, and I really need to stop eating on the go.

Up a pound this week.....

So. Frustrated.

The week that I had my best loss, I had worked out morning and afternoon 5 days that week. But I haven't been able to keep that up due to the weather and my schedule!! I do the trampoline EVERY morning. I sweat. It's a good workout!.... But the running has been so sporadic (our house is too small for a treadmill so that isn't an option), and I think that was the real calorie burner.

I think I'm going to do the free week at my husband's gym in town. It'll give me a chance to see if I can definitely work in the time (on the one hand, I can get all my exercise in at once, but it also means getting up early and going before the family's day starts....we home school so my days are full!).

I've got to do something because I'm on the verge of cycling downward again, where I'm not seeing the progress that motivates me to keep going, so I stop caring and basically give up.

Hope everyone else has had a good week!

.

Hang in there!!! My scale didn't budge for weeks but I felt better physically.
It think the weather has affected most of us in some way but spring is on it's way. We will be able to get out to walk and run soon!
The gym sounds like fun! It will change up your routine and maybe give you some good motivation.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

(And here is my one step I took....) So I got smart and headed to the grocery store and stocked up on healthy, easy-to-bring-along foods.... LC cheese wedges, pretzel sticks, baby carrots, seltzer, light yogurts, etc. I plan on packing snacks and meals to have with us every day.

Good job Pam!!!!

I need to pre plan. We had school store grand re-opening yesterday and I had not intended on being at school all day so I had mom bring me McDonalds for lunch. Bad bad choice! I need to get away from fast food for good.
Next time I'm going prepared with a pre made sandwich and some veggies.

DH is not coming home this weekend so I need to rethink our dining options.

 

[LegoMom3]

I know it is frustrating when you work so hard and you don't see the loss you want...don't give up though. You can totally do this!

Is it possible for you to actually schedule time for yourself to exercise? That is what I have to do. If it is not on my calendar (with the time I am going to do it), I have a hard time finding time for it as well. It is so important to find that time and yet so hard to do sometimes.

I think it is a great idea to try a free week out at a gym! It might be just what you need to be motivated again! Keep it up because even with the down days, this is so worth it!!!

I do schedule time to exercise, but because I'm at home, it can be a challenge to follow through sometimes. Because we home school and I also work where we live (at a camp/retreat facility), I have to be ready for those unexpected interruptions, and when they happen, I don't get to exercise.

....
legomom -- The only way I attain any consistency is to workout before the family rises. I get up at 4:30 whenever I can. I know that doesn't sound like fun, but it is actually empowering to do something that is just for me, where there are no other demands for my attention. I get some of my best thinking done!

.....
Maria

I totally agree with what you're saying, and I've tried, but it's a real challenge. And while I can use my trampoline in those early morning hours, I can't go out and run in the dark!....which is why the gym is looking better and better.

(and by the way, I'm Maria too!)

Lost 1.6 Prunes are my FRIENDS!!!!!!
....

Thanks for the laugh this morning!!! (and congrats on the loss!)

.

 

[mikamah]

Thanks to Melanie for coaching last week, and a big welcome to Jen!!

Can't sleep!Throat is killing me! Head is achy too. Of course, I have 3 must do things this morning to do. Gotta take DD1 to school and drop off soda for her class party. Then I have a meeting with DD2s preschool teacher and speech pathologist. Then DH and I have to go to NH to see our financial advisor.

Tonight we are celebrating the Olympics by making pizzas and Olympics onion rings! I hope I feel like staying awake for it. I will have to take a nap at some point today. Been awake since 4:30. No fever just feel like crap.

Hope you are feeling better soon and you are able to get some rest today. I love your idea or olympic onion rings. How fun.

Today’s QOTD: What do you still find to be a challenge in your weight loss journey and what is one step you can take to overcome it?

Emotional eating. It's been my down fall through the last year or so. I am up 3.8 today, which brings me above my starting weight, and .8 below my september weight when I restarted ww. What can I do to overcome it? Great question, and when I think about it, I say I need to drink a big glass of water before I eat anything, but I don't, and I know it would help to get up and do some wii fit, or watp when I feel like eating for no reason, but I haven't been doing those things. My bro and sil are in the same boat, we had all started a bl family challenge in the fall going to april 15, and out of 4 of us, one ds has lost 15, and kept it off, the rest of us have been up and down and right at our starting weights. My sil said last night, "what's it going to take?", and I don't know. I have done it before, and I know I can do it, but some days my heart's not in it. Now I need to stop whining and do something about it. I will journal all my food this week, and I will get up and exercise every morning. I'll follow the cow. I can do this. This is the perfect question for me today.

Off to DS' Valentine's Day party -- the last school party of his school career. I'm kind of and kind of .

See this, Kathy, we probably have the same thing to look forward to with our boys!

It is bittersweet to see them growing up. It would be nice to halt their growth and stay right where we are. 8 is a good age. I've heard boys are easier than girls, so I'm going to believe that right now for my sanity, even if it it's not true. Teenagers are supposed to be a challenge, right? But then on the other hand, I was perusing the adult/solo dis board, and thought now when he's grown and going off to college, wouldn't it be nice to take a disney trip on my own. (not that I'll have any money then)

50sJayne- I'm sorry you little kitty is sick, and I hope she does ok. She is just beautiful. Reminds me of our cat, Muffin we had growing up with the long fur, so soft and cuddly.

Dona- you really have been slammed with the snow. It sounds like you deserve some me time today, enjoy that last day off. I'm sure it's frustrating to know you'll have to be in school one more day in the summer. We had an early release and didn't get any snow, so I was frustrated. Early release is harder to find child care for than a day off, but I think I would have been more aggravated with a snow day and no snow!

Congrats to all who are losing this week! You are my inspiration!!

Hugsto my fellow gainers this week. It's so hard and frustrating, but let's not give up. We can do this, one step at a time.

 

[kimara]

i used to hate the weekend arriving when i was trying to do weight loss on my own because the different schedule would make it more difficult to stay on program. But, thanks to our Friday weigh-ins, I ♥ Fridays! I am a person that cannot weigh everyday or I feel depressed with the natural bumps up and I feel overly positive with downward bumps. Weekly is the safest for me I love weighing in and seeing that scale say my increased effort this week has paid off in a healthy, slow way. I'm so glad you are all here.

Today’s QOTD: What do you still find to be a challenge in your weight loss journey and what is one step you can take to overcome it?
I still want to eat when I am not hungry. I am dealing with some high stress issues and I keep finding myself in the pantry looking for something to eat. So far, I have been able to say to myself, "Self, why are you in the pantry when you aren't hungry?" I am just nervous that in the next few weeks I will forget to ask and a large bag of Salt and Vinegar chips will be gone before I stop!

I am working on my Master's degree and my comps are scheduled for March 10th. I started the program 3 1/2 years ago--I can't remember what I learned in those classes! I will get to re-learn every theory. I will get to restudy my statistics class. I'm gonna be crazy stressed until those tests are done. I am planning on turning to exercise with the stress, but...chips are so much easier to enjoy

Have a great day!!!
What other Olympic or Canadian food can you think of for tonight's dinner?

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

QOTD What is the one thing I find to be a challange and how to overcome it?


I was having trouble using my ww points for the right foods. I have been at this for over a month and decided to switch over to core today. At least for a few weeks to get that sweet tooth tackled. So I will see if that change helps any. I have done core in the past and been very happy with it. It is a matter of me getting in the right frame of mind.

My recipe makover is actually from ww:
Chocolate Bran muffins: 1 pt each
3 cups kellogs all bran (not buds kind)
2 1/4 cups water
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 box Betty Crocker lowfat Brownie Mix

Soak waster and all bran for 7 min. Than add the 1/2 box of Brownie mix and baking powder. Spray muffin pan with Pam. Makes about 20. Bake at 350 for 15-17 min. They are good but I dont double this recipe because they go bad fast in about 3 days so freeze or eat them fast. There are only 2 of us so I have to freeze some of them.

I am happy with my progress this week. Now I have to go set my house up for the change over to core this week. I just found the Panera Bread black bean soup recipe and I made a spinch and feta quiche (sp) for breakfast/lunch. Mmmmm. I am happy to have gotton my walk in before the rains start down here.

 

[lisah0711]

Congratulations to all the COW participants this week!

And congratulations to all of us who are still here, working on our goals, through the good times and the bad. We are all winners!

Don't know if I will have much of a weight loss tomorrow. My body seems to be fighting itself. I have stayed on program all week. Maybe its because I ate different foods than what I'm used too, could be the sodium. Hopefully I will see a loss but I really have my doubts. I just have to push through it and not give up. No pity parties.

Great attitude! You can do this and your body will let go sooner or later.

Thanks for sharing the mousse recipes, corinnak!

Can't sleep!Throat is killing me! Head is achy too. Of course, I have 3 must do things this morning to do. Gotta take DD1 to school and drop off soda for her class party. Then I have a meeting with DD2s preschool teacher and speech pathologist. Then DH and I have to go to NH to see our financial advisor.

Hope that you are feeling better soon. That is one bad bug you have!

Today’s QOTD: What do you still find to be a challenge in your weight loss journey and what is one step you can take to overcome it?

Thanks for being our coach this week, jen!

I have to admit that I still find getting in regular exercise a challenge -- I know, I know, how long have I been saying this is an issue for me and I still haven't figured it out! So, I am just going to suck it up and make it work. The walk I signed up for with DS and DH will help. If I really concentrate on it for the next few weeks, I can make this a habit, just like I did with my eating.

Up a pound this week.....

So. Frustrated.

The week that I had my best loss, I had worked out morning and afternoon 5 days that week. But I haven't been able to keep that up due to the weather and my schedule!! I do the trampoline EVERY morning. I sweat. It's a good workout!.... But the running has been so sporadic (our house is too small for a treadmill so that isn't an option), and I think that was the real calorie burner.

I think I'm going to do the free week at my husband's gym in town. It'll give me a chance to see if I can definitely work in the time (on the one hand, I can get all my exercise in at once, but it also means getting up early and going before the family's day starts....we home school so my days are full!).

I've got to do something because I'm on the verge of cycling downward again, where I'm not seeing the progress that motivates me to keep going, so I stop caring and basically give up.

Hope everyone else has had a good week!.

Nope, don't give up. I think you will find something that will work you but it will take some time to figure it out. I thought of you when I saw this article from sparkpeople. http://www.sparkpeople.com/community/ask_the_experts.asp?q=17
It will be interesting to see if the gym works out as well as you hope. If not, I know you can come up with a plan B.

pjlla, glad your kitty is feeling better. Great job on getting those snacks and activity planned for your busy week-end!

Hello to all the other BL participants, and thank you for continuing on this path with us. I hope we will all be inspired by watching or hearing about the Olympics, and we will face next week with single-minded focus. The Olympic athletes view food as fuel, and we can, too! (but of course, you can have some extra sugar free gum if you want a dessert ) Maria

I hear it's better than blue pudding or even cake!

Nice job on doing the COW and the loss, lecach!

Are you feeling better, Buffy?

It is bittersweet to see them growing up. It would be nice to halt their growth and stay right where we are. 8 is a good age. I've heard boys are easier than girls, so I'm going to believe that right now for my sanity, even if it it's not true.

I think boys are easier than girls, too, but we may change our tune in a few years!

i used to hate the weekend arriving when i was trying to do weight loss on my own because the different schedule would make it more difficult to stay on program. But, thanks to our Friday weigh-ins, I ♥ Fridays! I am a person that cannot weigh everyday or I feel depressed with the natural bumps up and I feel overly positive with downward bumps. Weekly is the safest for me I love weighing in and seeing that scale say my increased effort this week has paid off in a healthy, slow way. I'm so glad you are all here.

We're glad that you're here, too, kimara!

I am a samer this week for the first time this challenge. I am okay with it since I am more than half way to my goal for the challenge and obviously my body needs some adjusting.

Have a great day all and don't forget those weight and COW PMs!

 

[kimara]

i just checked back in on the BMI (body mass index) chart.
with today's weigh-in i went from officially "obese" into the "overweight" category! while mildly embarrassed to admit it, I AM ALSO THRILLED!

 

[chskover]

i just checked back in on the BMI (body mass index) chart.
with today's weigh-in i went from officially "obese" into the "overweight" category! while mildly embarrassed to admit it, I AM ALSO THRILLED!

That is great! I know when I am out of the obese category and into overweight category, I will be celebrating too. Good Job!

 

[tigger813]

Thanks, everyone for the good wishes! I am feeling a lot better. I took some Dayquil and also sat up for awhile. I do have a headache now but it's not too bad.

QOTD: My challenge is weekends! I love to let loose but sometimes over do it! Going to enjoy this weekend and as long as I feel better by Sunday I will get back on schedule! I'm only up 1.2 since last week so that's not bad. I was up 2.8 after the weekend and I did next to no exercise all week! My body is starting to crave exercise again! I am getting Just Dance for the Wii on Sunday so I will hopefully do that with the family!

 

[princessbride6205]

Up a pound this week.....

So. Frustrated.

The week that I had my best loss, I had worked out morning and afternoon 5 days that week. But I haven't been able to keep that up due to the weather and my schedule!! I do the trampoline EVERY morning. I sweat. It's a good workout!.... But the running has been so sporadic (our house is too small for a treadmill so that isn't an option), and I think that was the real calorie burner.

I think I'm going to do the free week at my husband's gym in town. It'll give me a chance to see if I can definitely work in the time (on the one hand, I can get all my exercise in at once, but it also means getting up early and going before the family's day starts....we home school so my days are full!).

I've got to do something because I'm on the verge of cycling downward again, where I'm not seeing the progress that motivates me to keep going, so I stop caring and basically give up.

Hope everyone else has had a good week!

Checking out the free trial at the gym is a great idea. I understand that it is tempting to stop working out when you're just at home. Something that's really motivating for me is to put a chart on my fridge. You can have just three boxes to check off for working out each week, or you could have more specific things like 3 trampoline, 2 strength training. As geeky as it is, checking off my chart really works.

Consistency is my biggest challenge. I have a stellar week or half week, and then I fall apart. I'm the classic one step forward, two steps back.

Hello to all the other BL participants, and thank you for continuing on this path with us. I hope we will all be inspired by watching or hearing about the Olympics, and we will face next week with single-minded focus. The Olympic athletes view food as fuel, and we can, too! (but of course, you can have some extra sugar free gum if you want a dessert )

Maria

LOL about the gum!
I'm similar, Maria. Though I feel like I am making progress, more like, two steps forward, one step back.
Thanks for the reminder about food as fuel. I've been thinking about that more now that I'm a runner. It still feels weird to say that. I'm still compelled to add, "But I do run/walk intervals" or "I'm a little slow," etc.
I've changed my breakfast each day to either a homemade fruit smoothie or a bowl of oatmeal. And get this, my 2yo DD loves oatmeal! It's not even the flavored packets. It's the plain oats and I add a little milk and brown sugar. Ooh, that gave me an idea. Maybe I'll make some fruit compotes to put on instead...

i just checked back in on the BMI (body mass index) chart.
with today's weigh-in i went from officially "obese" into the "overweight" category! while mildly embarrassed to admit it, I AM ALSO THRILLED!

Congratulations! That's great news!

 

[jenanderson]

Honestly.... a change of schedule/routine makes me want to use it as an excuse to eat poorly. For example..... knowing that I have a CRAZY busy weekend ahead.... many hours in the car and sitting poolside watching DD. One of my first thoughts was about the munchies I could bring along and "enjoy" and how it could be a "splurge" weekend. WHAT WAS I THINKING?? I know what I was thinking.... I was thinking like the old me.... the old, 219 pound me! I didn't get to within 7 pounds of my goal weight by using every excuse in the book to overeat!! (Insert dope slap to forehead here )

(And here is my one step I took....) So I got smart and headed to the grocery store and stocked up on healthy, easy-to-bring-along foods.... LC cheese wedges, pretzel sticks, baby carrots, seltzer, light yogurts, etc. I plan on packing snacks and meals to have with us every day.

I find myself thinking like the old me a lot too! I was thinking today all my students would bring me wonderful chocolates and how wonderful they will be with my coffee! WHAT???? I made a decision this morning that I would give away all my chocolate treats to other staff members in the building who don't get remembered as often...the lunch ladies, the after school care team, etc. I will give a bunch of people just one or two of the treats to spread it all out and not put anyone in a bad place!

I loved how you stocked up and were thinking ahead for your trip! Have fun!

Consistency is my biggest challenge. I have a stellar week or half week, and then I fall apart. I'm the classic one step forward, two steps back. One thing I'm trying to overcome it is I'm working on an exercise "streak", I'm trying to exercise continuously for as many days as I can -- now, I don't mean hard core runs every day, I mean doing yoga, weights, Wii, exercise bike, getting a good variety to keep me on my toes, but doing something every day. I think if I do a good job of varying my intensity, I should be able to avoid too many rest days. I do think rest days are good, but I also think if I did a nice gentle yoga, it would be as good or better than doing nothing, so I'm going to try that out and see. One thing I've definitely discovered -- just because I think something will work for me doesn't mean it will. I have to be open to trying new things and schedules until I find one I can stick with for the long-term.

Jen -- Of course you can call yourself a runner! Do you run? Then you are a runner!

Maria

Great job on trying all the new things! I am sure you are finding exercises that work for you and that you enjoy! That is the key.

BTW - I am starting to call myself a runner..but I am not a very good one yet!

Lost 1.6 Prunes are my FRIENDS!!!!!!

I did the Challenge of the Week for the first time too. I really enjoyed it. Especially liked the challenge to do something nice for someone else. Yesterday I helped someone at work who is in a wheelchair get his food in the cafeteria and when I went to feed the neighbors cats (she is in the hospital giving birth) I noticed lots of dirty dishes so I washed them. The COW made me think more about being nice to people

Great job on the loss!!!! I love the challenge of the week...my next challenge is to keep doing the challenges that we are not longer getting points for!

Knowing what to eat, when to eat it and how much to eat.
I need to do some more reading, preplanning of meals, and I really need to stop eating on the go.

Pre-planning my meals has been a huge help! I actually put them on the calendar so that I don't try to change my mind.

Emotional eating. It's been my down fall through the last year or so. I am up 3.8 today, which brings me above my starting weight, and .8 below my september weight when I restarted ww. What can I do to overcome it? Great question, and when I think about it, I say I need to drink a big glass of water before I eat anything, but I don't, and I know it would help to get up and do some wii fit, or watp when I feel like eating for no reason, but I haven't been doing those things. My bro and sil are in the same boat, we had all started a bl family challenge in the fall going to april 15, and out of 4 of us, one ds has lost 15, and kept it off, the rest of us have been up and down and right at our starting weights. My sil said last night, "what's it going to take?", and I don't know. I have done it before, and I know I can do it, but some days my heart's not in it. Now I need to stop whining and do something about it. I will journal all my food this week, and I will get up and exercise every morning. I'll follow the cow. I can do this. This is the perfect question for me today.

Emotional eating is SUCH a challenge! I like all of your ideas to try to overcome it...the big glass of water before you eat anything is a really good one. I have been doing this every night before supper and it really does help me.

You are so right...you CAN do this!!!

I still want to eat when I am not hungry. I am dealing with some high stress issues and I keep finding myself in the pantry looking for something to eat. So far, I have been able to say to myself, "Self, why are you in the pantry when you aren't hungry?" I am just nervous that in the next few weeks I will forget to ask and a large bag of Salt and Vinegar chips will be gone before I stop!

I am working on my Master's degree and my comps are scheduled for March 10th. I started the program 3 1/2 years ago--I can't remember what I learned in those classes! I will get to re-learn every theory. I will get to restudy my statistics class. I'm gonna be crazy stressed until those tests are done. I am planning on turning to exercise with the stress, but...chips are so much easier to enjoy

I love the image of you talking to yourself in the pantry! I need to do that more often.

Stress eating is another one of those big challenges. I put a sign right by where I tend to sit and work on school work...Hungry = Eat....Stressed = Move It! I am huge on visual reminders for myself right now!

Hope everyone is having a great day! Have to run as my lunch is over!
Jen

 

[LuvBaloo]

Happy Friday everyone!

I'm looking forward to taking home pizza for supper tonight and watching the Olympics opening ceremony. I live in BC, Canada, so am really hoping our province puts on a good show (and that the debt from the Olympics is paid off in my lifetime!)

Thanks Dona for the COW report! and good luck to your son.

Thanks for coaching last week Melanie!

Thanks for coaching this week Jen!

I'm happy to report a loss of 1lb! Since I've been the Queen of lose a little, gain a little for months, I happy to see 2 weeks of losses! I will stay focussed and lose again next week to break into new territory on the scale I am committing to follow through with it!

Today’s QOTD: What do you still find to be a challenge in your weight loss journey and what is one step you can take to overcome it?

Biggest challenge is staying focusses and keeping the exercise and food both good for more than a week or two.
Right now it should be easier as I have a trip coming up in a month and I always do best in the month before a trip. This time there's a little extra motivation in that DH has decided he wants to lose a little before the trip too, so I want to stay focussed to motivate him and I want to do better than him (a little competition is healthy )

Gotta get back to work!

Congrats to everybody (losers, gainers and maintainers!) - this is a journey and we are better travelling it together!

 

[maiziezoe]

what a busy morning. I made a huge fruit tray for my sons Valentines party at preschool. Did W3D3 of my C25K plan. Now we are off for swimming lessons and then his party. I was a bit bummed the scale was up for me because I had sushi and tomatoe soup yesterday way way way to much salt. Hopefully it will drop back down. We are supposed to get rain tomorrow boo. What is everyone else up to over the Valentines weekend. My husband has to work at the hospital over the weekend so we are having dinner at Kona next week for our Valentines celebration.

Yumm.... Kona!!!!

Was up early this morning and helped ds clean off his car so that he could go to work. I stayed out to clean off the sidewalk. Dh came out to finish the driveway and sidewalk. I got my car keys to start my car to help clean it off and when I turned to get out to the car I twisted my knee the wrong way. I couldn't stand on it (it happened to me last week and it has been feeling pretty good) I have taken 2 advils and have been icing it since I got in. Twice in a week to have this pain must be looked at. I am looking up an orthopedist from my insurance and calling one in a little while

Have a great day everyone.

How is your knee feeling today???

MaizieZoe - I completely missed your post yesterday about the earthquake. How often does Illinois get earthquakes?

I believe this was the third earthquake in Illinois since 1999. This one was really odd though because there was no known fault line where the earthquake happened. Kinda crazy!!

i just checked back in on the BMI (body mass index) chart.
with today's weigh-in i went from officially "obese" into the "overweight" category! while mildly embarrassed to admit it, I AM ALSO THRILLED!

That's awesome!!! I cannot wait to go from obese to overweight! Congrats!

 

[heatherlynn444]

QOTD:
I still find it hard to get motivation at this time of year. the weather and getting dark early makes it so hard for me to want to work out!