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

[chskover]

I have swapped a few things. Instead of a cookie or piece of candy, I now eat sugar free pudding. It does help when you need something sweet. When I go to Starbucks, I get a Skinny Latta (90 calories). I have cut way down on Starbucks so thats a plus.

 

[lisah0711]

congratulations you LOSERS!!!

QOTD: Now that you have identified your obstacles, how can you overcome them to reach your goals?

when i have a bad day, or week or even month...i won't give up. i only fail if i don't keep trying. it is a long race. it doesn't matter if i fall or even run backwards for a mile or two. i will get up and keep heading towards my goal and i will succeed.

I love this quote of kimara's -- it was accidentally attributed to me in one of Jessi's posts. It is such a great comment but the credit is not mine!

Am I the only one who doesn't think they're as fat as they are?? I see myself in the mirror..those stretchy pants kept stretching....sure the bras were getting tight but taking them off made it feel better! I can NOT believe the mental games I played with myself!!! Oh, and then the pain, heck my body was carrying over 100 pounds it should not have!! No wonder my knees ache and my feet have pain when pounding away at the treadmill!! Inspired by each of you and your journey, hope I can inspire those with similar thoughts like I have in this horrendous 'why am I here again' journey!

Tara

Great job, Tara! Sounds like you are well on your way and won't ever be going back again.

Thursday QOTD: What's one healthy swap you can make in your eating?[/QUOTE]

I'm going to take a page from pjlla's book and start working on a seltzer for soda swap. I'll have to have coffee or latte in the morning because I really like a little caffeine.

Have some respiratory infection this week that has really flared up my asthma. Stayed home yesterday and will do so again today. No COW points for exercise for me this week but my other COW points are spot on. My scale continues to move -- that coughing endlessly must burn some calories!

Have a great, OP day all!

 

[jbm02]

Wednesday QOTD: My obstacles are all about time management. I'm really feeling buried right now.

Thursday QOTD: What's one healthy swap you can make in your eating?

My obstacles are similar to Eyeore and Jen's - time management. I am totally buried right now. Between work (just finished a major case and let others slide while I did it. I am now paying the price for it! ), Army Guard ( have a big hearing coming up in February and need to find time to interview over 20 witnesses - some of which are deployed. Luckily, they have internet capability, put exhibits together for it, etc etc - . all without support staff), home (volunteering tomorrow night at the elementary school lip sync (my poor ears), teaching an afterschool German class, taxi driver to girl scouts, basketball, track, ski club, piano class, ice skaking lessons... and doing regular "home stuff" - time with DH and kids, cooking, cleaning, shopping). DH is a big help but he is scheduled to start another class for his education administrator's certification on Monday - which will limit his availability for several weeks. I understand - it's important. But, gosh, there is just so much to do!! ...sorry if I am whining. The last 2 weeks have really overwhelmed me. BUT I am determined to get back on track. I kind of got there this week (well, after the weekend anyway) - although my journal has slid. Starting today - NO MORE. I need the journal to keep myself from over eating. And it showed on the scale - I haven't been able to journal this week and the scale has not budged. Not one bit.

My healthy swaps - I've swapped clementines for my daily pretzel snack. And water for almost all of my diet soda snacks. I tried the selzer - blech, not for me. But I used to drink about 2 liters of diet pepsi a day and now am down to one 24 oz for three whole days. For me, that's a huge drop. I also switched from regular lite bread to the Arnold's multi-grain round ones. I forget their exact name but they are only 1 WW point. DH has grumbled a bit but that's what he is now getting in his lunch too. The swap I need to work on is to have some healthy snacks - and to think about them! - for when I get home from work - so I don't shove my hand into a bag of pretzels or goldfish... even when I do have them on hand, I forget about them til it's too late. I'll be working on this one starting today...

 

[pgumiela]

Thursday QOTD: What's one healthy swap you can make in your eating?

DH and I are both trying to lose, so at dinner time we are subbing more fresh veggies in place of starches like macaroni and cheese. After my morning coffee I am replacing anything else I might drink with water, at times I have been a diet coke junkie, I crave it. But I do like water so I have been drinking water all day, who would think diet coke would be a hard habit to break! At snack time I am trying to avoid potato chips and other salty fatty snacks. Instead I have been eating special k bars, or since I love hummus I have been trying to eat it with baby carrots instead of crackers or chips, that is an adjustment carrots are just not the same and a crunchy salty cracker, but I am determined to make it work.

 

[maiziezoe]

Okay, so today I quit. I just gave up. I'm not seeing the scale move. I'm walking, working out, eating MUCH better and staying with the program. I'm stuck at 180. I always get stuck at 180 and never get below it. so.i.just.gave.up.

then, my DD21 and I went to Kroger to get the stuff we needed for dessert tonight. There was a woman there that both DD and I know--she was a customer at the store we both work at (I no longer work there, BTW). Anyhow, I haven't seen her since September. She exclaimed: "Wow! You look GREAT! You've really lost some weight. You look as young as your daughter!"

So, maybe I won't give up. Maybe I can keep at this. I ate a lot of fruit for dessert and backed off of the other stuff (we had chocolate fondue by special request of my in-laws.)

Tomorrow I WILL get up and walk two miles before I leave my bedroom. I WILL take my DS5 to his swim lesson and workout at the Y. I WILL eat on program. I may not make it below that 180 today. Or this week. Or maybe next, but I WILL do it. I WILL!

Good for you!! That is the kind of attitude I need to have when I am having a down day!! Thank you!

Well, my obstacle is my focus or lack of it! To overcome it I will just focus on one meal at a time.

Now today...I did not exercise or eat on plan! I had chips, cheetos, and ordered pizza for dinner - but I did only have 2 pieces of a medium pizza. DD cheered and DH was excited when I said I was ordering - it's been about a month! I wanted to try Dominos new pizza that they said it so great. It's so "okay". I have just about broken even on calories in and out today, so that's and okay maintaining day.

DD was home sick again today. I worked until 1:30 then called the dr. to get her in tomorrow. They had an opening at 2:15 today so we headed out (bye bye exercise - I didn't get up this morning to do it)...turns out she has a virus. Of course $140 later a virus, nothing we can do thank you have a nice day. Of course I am very very glad it's nothing else but I do wish it was something she could take a zpac for and feel better! I got a semi-nasty email from one of her teachers today about her missing school again. That really kind of upset me - what can I do about it? Send her in sick? And the girl is in the gifted classes and still getting straight A's so backoff! I know she misses a lot but she gets sick a lot. Last semester - she got a 97 in her gifted english class and that teacher wrote a note on her card that dd was confused about a lot of things b/c she missed so much. Well how did she get a 97 if she was confused? I asked the dr about it and she said she most likely has a weak immune system. Some kids are just like that.

I hope your DD is feeling better today. I'm sorry the her teacher is being a pain. I look forward to meeting your daughter in September!!

Wednesday: Now that you have identified your obstacles, how can you overcome them to reach your goals?

Better planning is probably my best bet for overcoming my obstacles. Making sure there are tasty healthy things in the house for breakfast and lunch, as well as things to pack to take to work. If I have tsaty things to eat I have no excuse to eat junk instead of actual meals and mealtimes. I have been this week been making a real effort to actually eat breakfast and lunch and not just snack on junk. I bought the special K blueberry cereal and actually like it.

Yum! I love Special K Blueberry cereal. I throw a handful of real blueberries on top of it and I am in heaven!

I had a little victory yesterday and I wanted to share it---this is probably the only place anyone would care!! I went shopping at Sam's Club and before I knew it I had had about 8 different samples. I wasn't paying any attention as this is what I "always" do. But then I realized that all of those items would really add up to a lot of point. So, I went back through what I ate and figured out what I thought the point total would be. This was at noon and according to my best guess, I had used up all my points. I decided to stay OP no matter what and I made it through dinner and beyond. I had to work late and about midnight I was starving!! I actually started walking upstairs to get something to eat when my stomach growled. I remembered something someone posted on here..."that is me losing weight". And that is what I told myself---what I am feeling right now is me losing weight. And I turned around and went back to work. I went to bed having stayed OP all day. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it was a big victory for me! Thanks for listening!

I thought the same thing the other day when my stomach growled right before I went to bed! I was like, "hey! Thanks for the reminder!"

How old are your kids? Are they old enough that you can say that meal time is "mommy time" and they can be independent to get what they need? Or have your husband do it?

My little kids are 5 and 2. My 5 year old understands that mommy wants to pay attention to her food when she eats but my 2 year old doesn't. My hubby is more than happy to help, but my 2 year old is a mommy's girl and doesn't let ANYONE do anything for her but me. I created a monster in that little girl. She is my youngest and my last and it took a lot of work to get her here so I have completely spoiled her. Now I am paying for it. Last night was a little better. I fixed her dinner plate and got her some juice and a napkin and asked her if she needed anything else before I sat down. She said no. Then I asked her if she needed to go potty before I ate and told her that if she needed to go potty while I was eating, daddy was going to have to help her pull her pants up. She said, "okay, I'll go now." I actually ate a complete meal without having to get up once! Joy!

 

[tea pot]

Happy Thursday Everyone

Wow been away from my computer for a week
Kinda been in a slump need to snap out of it.... afraid of tomorrow morning's weigh in.. very afraid.
Setting some time aside to read back this afternoon.

Take Care

 

[princessbride6205]

Thursday QOTD: What's one healthy swap you can make in your eating?
Like pjlla, I feel like I've already made a lot of swaps. We eat whole wheat or "plus" pasta, whole wheat bread, after my morning coffee I only drink water, I've decreased meats to a few times a week, increased veggies at dinner.
I know I can still work on my dessert in the evening. Once I finally sit down after DD goes to bed and my workout, I just want a treat. I was successful over the summer having fruit with a little drizzle of chocolate syrup, but in the winter I crave something more substantial, like ice cream or cookies.

In continuing my running training, I reached a new distance yesterday: jogging 4.1 miles without stopping.

 

[maiziezoe]

Thursday QOTD: What's one healthy swap you can make in your eating?

The biggest swap I made was giving up sugar. I was a sugar-a-holic. People used to tease me and ask me if I wanted coffee with my sugar and cream. At night when I had my nightly cup of tea, I would add at least 3 heaping spoonfuls of sugar. I also drank 2 or 3 Pepsi products every day (usually Mountain Dew). All that stuff is gone. Now I drink just enough fat free creamer to change the color of the coffee from black to dark brown and I don't put sugar in my coffee or tea and I haven't had a Pepsi product (or any other pop) in almost 3 weeks.

I'm going to lunch with my mom today. She picked Panera. I looked at their menu and decided I am going to have a turkey sandwich on country bread with no mayo and a fruit cup. I told myself that lunch with my mom is all about the company, not about the food I am going to eat. Gotta go work out before I go!

 

[kimara]

Thursday QOTD: What's one healthy swap you can make in your eating?

this one was much more difficult for me to think about. i don't drink much soda or coffee. i don't have too much junk food in my house, and what is here i can resist. my biggest food problem is my daily afternoon binge. my energy level sinks and younger kids are napping before the chaos of the older kids coming home from school. so i now keep a veggie tray with very low calorie dip in the fridge and some fruit on the counter. when i need to binge, i can eat that and feel good about it. only problem? the kids keep snacking on my veggies! we are all enjoying it and that makes me a happy mom.

 

[Nicholfamily5]

I already eat fairly healthy, being a vegetarian who avoids junk food, but my one healthy change would be being consistant with my vitamins. I rarely take them, and I know that I should! SO that is my goal this week, to take my vitamin every day.

 

[pjlla]

Thursday QOTD: What's one healthy swap you can make in your eating?

DH and I are both trying to lose, so at dinner time we are subbing more fresh veggies in place of starches like macaroni and cheese. After my morning coffee I am replacing anything else I might drink with water, at times I have been a diet coke junkie, I crave it. But I do like water so I have been drinking water all day, who would think diet coke would be a hard habit to break! At snack time I am trying to avoid potato chips and other salty fatty snacks. Instead I have been eating special k bars, or since I love hummus I have been trying to eat it with baby carrots instead of crackers or chips, that is an adjustment carrots are just not the same and a crunchy salty cracker, but I am determined to make it work.

How about trying some jicama or celery or cucumber? There is a great big world of raw veggies out there other than carrots!

Nice job avoiding the diet soda.

My little kids are 5 and 2. My 5 year old understands that mommy wants to pay attention to her food when she eats but my 2 year old doesn't. My hubby is more than happy to help, but my 2 year old is a mommy's girl and doesn't let ANYONE do anything for her but me. I created a monster that little girl. She is my youngest and my last and it took a lot of work to get her here so I have completely spoiled her. Now I am paying for it. Last night was a little better. I fixed her dinner plate and got her some juice and a napkin and asked her if she needed anything else before I sat down. She said no. Then I asked her if she needed to go potty before I ate and told her that if she needed to go potty while I was eating, daddy was going to have to help her pull her pants up. She said, "okay, I'll go now." I actually ate a complete meal without having to get up once! Joy!

Well... you trained her to depend on you and now you will have to train her to be more independent and to look at DAD for help occasionally. I could be in TRACTION with broken limbs and my kids would STILL bypass their Dad to ask me to do something for them... and they are WAAAAAY older than your kids! I'm working HARD on getting them to be more independent while still making sure that what they want to do is okay with me. In other words.... if you want a snack, please ask me if it is okay.... but then don't expect me to wait on you and BRING you the snack!! I am only there to give permission and suggestions, not to be your waitress!

Happy Thursday Everyone

Wow been away from my computer for a week
Kinda been in a slump need to snap out of it.... afraid of tomorrow morning's weigh in.. very afraid.
Setting some time aside to read back this afternoon.

Take Care

You are back here with us and that is what is important today. No matter what the scale says tomorrow, you are here with us to get back on track, right?? It's only a number and it can and it will change. We are here to help if you need it!

Thursday QOTD: What's one healthy swap you can make in your eating?
Like pjlla, I feel like I've already made a lot of swaps. We eat whole wheat or "plus" pasta, whole wheat bread, after my morning coffee I only drink water, I've decreased meats to a few times a week, increased veggies at dinner.
I know I can still work on my dessert in the evening. Once I finally sit down after DD goes to bed and my workout, I just want a treat. I was successful over the summer having fruit with a little drizzle of chocolate syrup, but in the winter I crave something more substantial, like ice cream or cookies.

In continuing my running training, I reached a new distance yesterday: jogging 4.1 miles without stopping.

WTG on the 4.1 mi run! I am so impressed! We are really growing a great group of runners here! Maybe we should host our own 5K run this Spring. "Disboards Biggest Losers Run for Fun" I can see it now! And other than "weight" there would be NO LOSERS at this run.... only winners!


Well, I wanted to scrapbook a bit today, since I was home, but the house is so STINKING COLD and I am too cheap to turn up the heat, so I just sat here and shivered for a while (stupidly, I was still wearing my exercise shorts/t-shirt)... then I got dressed, but I am really no warmer. I just had a hot cup of tea and it has helped, but it is time to get my stuff ready to pick up DS at school for ski lessons today. Hopefully I won't freeze in the lodge for two hours! Hot coffee will be my friend today! Hopefully I can resist eating a piece of the giant cookie that I promised DS he could buy today (HUGE cookie.. think dinner plate size, covered with M&Ms... he begs for one every week, but I usually resist except for one day per season!).

I inventoried my pantry and freezer today in an effort to get more organized and plan some meals with what I have on hand. We rarely eat Lean Cuisine meals (DD and I... DH and DS wouldn't TOUCH them)... maybe twice a month... yet I had 17 LC, WW, and Healthy Choice meals in the downstairs freezer!! And that doesn't count the 2 or 3 that I probably have in the kitchen freezer. Guess I had better plan on eating a few of those over the next few weeks!!

Well.... gotta fly. I'll try to check in again later.... otherwise I'll see you for weigh-in tomorrow morning!............P

 

[beansf]

I have not done very well this week with my eating. I just lost control of it. I expect to see a gain tomorrow. I ate a bunch of candy at my desk yesterday. Not the healthiest choice. Sometimes, I just don’t give a cr*p. I am hoping my poor weigh-in tomorrow will “scare me straight”. In any case, I just wanted to give a shout out to anyone out there that might be struggling. You are not alone. I am having a difficult time, too!

Today is a new day and I am going to try to do better today.

 

[PeterPan09]

Thursday QOTD: What's one healthy swap you can make in your eating?

My best swap is Frozen Yogurt instead of ice cream! I found that the Publix brand chocolate frozen yogurt is rich and creamy and I don't even realize that it's not Blue Bell Chocolate ice cream!!

I've got a few more I like: I use low salt lunch meats now-and I honestly can't tell the difference, I've swapped out honey for sugar on my oatmeal and instead of sweet tea I use cranberry juice mixed with green tea.

 

[princessbride6205]

pjlla - Thanks for the kudos on my run! We should totally do a BL Virtual 5k. That would be fun.

Thursday QOTD: What's one healthy swap you can make in your eating?

My best swap is Frozen Yogurt instead of ice cream! I found that the Publix brand chocolate frozen yogurt is rich and creamy and I don't even realize that it's not Blue Bell Chocolate ice cream!!

I've got a few more I like: I use low salt lunch meats now-and I honestly can't tell the difference, I've swapped out honey for sugar on my oatmeal and instead of sweet tea I use cranberry juice mixed with green tea.

Those are some great swaps! I think I need to find the chocolate fro-yo at my grocery store.

 

[Colleen27]

Could you set aside one day a week, or one hour a day that is just "you" time? Your husband and kdis know not to disturb you during that time, and you do something for you. It might be hard at first, but I bet you could do it and be happier for it!

That's the goal, but getting there hasn't been easy. Some days are good - today I got an hour of exercise and a nap in while my youngest slept. Others are not so good - yesterday, she didn't nap at all and was in one of her "only Mom will do" moods, so I hardly put her down all day. And I'm a sucker for her; I have a hard time "making" her deal without me because I know it will mean tears, even though I know DH is perfectly capable of caring for her.

I'm spending part of my tax return on a gym membership, since we FINALLY have a gym opening here in town (until this month, the closest one was about 15 miles away). I think that'll make it easier because I won't be here to hear her fuss and she won't have to deal with knowing I'm nearby but not responding to her. She's fine with DH when I'm shopping or doing something with the older kids without her, and she's fine with MIL when DH & I go out. The problem comes when my "me time" is the Wii or my sewing or something where I'm in the house but not responding to her, so in a way going to the gym should be easier than making time for exercising at home.

My little kids are 5 and 2. My 5 year old understands that mommy wants to pay attention to her food when she eats but my 2 year old doesn't. My hubby is more than happy to help, but my 2 year old is a mommy's girl and doesn't let ANYONE do anything for her but me. I created a monster in that little girl. She is my youngest and my last and it took a lot of work to get her here so I have completely spoiled her. Now I am paying for it.

That describes my youngest to a tee. She's 17mo and she's the baby we thought we'd never be able to have, and I'm afraid I've spoiled her rotten. DH, DS12 & DD8 did their parts too, but she's a Mommy's girl at heart. She's a sweet, easy going baby for the most part, but if I'm around she wants me to help her with everything.

Good to hear you're having some success getting through a meal uninterrupted! I hope it continues for you.

 

[sahbushka]

Thursday QOTD: What's one healthy swap you can make in your eating?

I could swap out my breakfast...usually I have a chewy granola bar...I could start eating oatmeal instead.

SarahMay

 

[redwalker]

A healthy sway I would like to share with all of you who love taco night. I swapped out sour cream for PLAIN GREEK YOGURT! It is creamy, it has the right texture, tastes great with taco fixings....give it a try. I had never tried sour cream until I was 35. Then my husband said try it....and that was it! I was hooked. Which is WHY I didn't want to try it in the first place! My sister in law told me about this swap she made, and now that is how we have taco night with greek yogurt and turkey meat-instead of beef...unless I buy grass-fed beef...then we have beef, otherwise it is turkey. I love it..and so does the rest of our family. Give it a try!

 

[redwalker]

Okay, so today I quit. I just gave up. I'm not seeing the scale move. I'm walking, working out, eating MUCH better and staying with the program. I'm stuck at 180. I always get stuck at 180 and never get below it. so.i.just.gave.up.

then, my DD21 and I went to Kroger to get the stuff we needed for dessert tonight. There was a woman there that both DD and I know--she was a customer at the store we both work at (I no longer work there, BTW). Anyhow, I haven't seen her since September. She exclaimed: "Wow! You look GREAT! You've really lost some weight. You look as young as your daughter!"

So, maybe I won't give up. Maybe I can keep at this. I ate a lot of fruit for dessert and backed off of the other stuff (we had chocolate fondue by special request of my in-laws.)

Tomorrow I WILL get up and walk two miles before I leave my bedroom. I WILL take my DS5 to his swim lesson and workout at the Y. I WILL eat on program. I may not make it below that 180 today. Or this week. Or maybe next, but I WILL do it. I WILL!

Leader of the Club,
Don't quit! You are just getting going! Your body has to get use to all this exercise..and even if you don't see the scale moving, that isn't everything. Just think of what is happening to the insides of your body, how your blood is moving though out your body, how your lungs are processing oxygen better. It is getting better...you are too important to quit...stick with this for the duration of this challenge...think of it as an experiment. You will see at the end you will feel amazing, and wonder how you could have ever thought of quitting!
Redwalker

 

[wezee]

I feel your pain, this week. I too expect a "no loss" week, if not a gain this week. I have tried to be good food wise and have basically succeeded, except for those darn fat free tater chips. I swear they call to me in my sleep. I have stepped up my workouts, but the scale is not budging.
I keep gaining a couple of pounds over the weekends and then have to fight to take them off plus lose more. Last weekend I really did good with my food choices, but DH and I love a glass or two of wine, which really plays havoc with the scales.
Oh well, now that I have had my own little pity party. The good news is, I just ordered two new workout DVDs. I am challenging myself to limit all carbs next week...and step up my fruit and vegie intake. I have a work dinner party on Saturday night and I will limit myself to one glass of wine and I have already scanned the menu options and will order fresh seafood and grilled vegies.
A goal + a plan = success!!!!!

 

[jennz]

Oh no I have dd's stomach bug... no exercise today,I'm getting ready to go to bed. Worked this morning, fortunately it was slow as I wasn't quite feelin' the magic, but did get a few scrapbook pages done at the same time. Hope this passes much quicker for me than it did for dd!