Yikes - where did this day go??? I feel like this is a huge jump backward, but I'm going to do it anyhow, because I really appreciated all the comments on my photos.
Wow! You look great! And you sound so excited and happy about your trip! You are such an inspiration to me. It's great knowing you started with the C25K program, also. And, thank you for showing us your before picture awhile back...otherwise I think I'd look at your current picture and just assume you've always been thin!
I'm so glad to be able to share - C25K is a great place to start. I've definitely been anything but "always thin!"
I am not entirely happy with how things are going with my weight loss right now. I feel like I am really fighting with myself every single minute to not over eat. I can't put my finger on what it is really but I know I have to figure it out because I have actually now seen a .5 gain on the scale this morning. I know that it not that much but it does make me feel a bit worried because I don't feel like my head is really in the game right now. I am logging everything and doing my exercising but the food part of it is a battle. Somehow I went from being satisfied with my WW points to feeling like I needed my daily points, my flex points and some or all of my activity points. I am not really going over that but using them all has caused a stall and even now this gain. Everyday I find myself telling myself that today will be the day I change up my attitude and everyday I eat more than I wanted to. So...today I am going to battle myself again and say that I am going to stay within my daily points range and not allow myself to give into the temptation of the extra points.
Jen, how great that you are off insulin now! What a huge achievement that is! As for your weight/satisfaction level, I can see where you're feeling concerned. Sometimes the journey is comfortable and feels entirely doable and sometimes it feels like you're holding on by your fingertips for dear life. What you're experiencing now may be situational or stress related, but it seems to me it could also be hormonal/physical-based. Could it have anything to do with the change in your insulin use status? I don't know much about it, but if it started at the same time as you went off of it, I'd have to wonder if there was a relationship.

Hang in there - I am sure tat either the answer will come to you or something will shift and you'll be headed downward again. Sometimes we all have stalled or even backslid a little - you're not alone!
Corinna- You look absolutely amazing, so happy and healthy, and look at those skinny legs, girl. You must be so proud of yourself. I showed my son the picture, and told him about the 5K, and told him that maybe one day we'd run in it together. You are such an inspiration. Love the picture!
Thank you so much - my legs are definitely one thing I'm proud of. I may not have the curviest figure, but I do have legs!

The 5K was such a great experience. I was not expecting much, and was literally overwhelmed by how many characters there were out there (not always the case in the Disney 5K's incidentally) and by how much fun it really was. It was the "Royal Family 5K" and there was definitely a whole-family vibe out there with men and boys in the race as well. The medal and shirt for that one are very gender neutral, compared with the things for the half.
Wow Corinna. You look amazing! Way to go girl!
Thank you! Very kind of you to say.
Welcome back, corinnak!
I was happy to help keep the QOTD thread going. I'm glad we brought it back because a lot of people use it. Thank you for maintaining it for us!
You looked a lot warmer in these pictures that you did in January. :snowflake: Glad that you had a great time and I love your new "goal" clippie!
Interesting book, corinnak. Have to figure out what my mangos are because I am not a mango fan.
Lisa - I think the QOTD archive helps me as much as it helps anyone else! I like keeping it current and appreciate how easy it was to catch up when I got back thanks to your updating.

I am also looking forward to referencing it as I come up with my coaching questions for next week!
The weather was much improved over January, yes! No sleet or snow. No wind. The temperature was above freezing both mornings.

My start-photos are dreadful, though. I was wearing an ugly hat, scarf and plaid trucker coat along with huge old sweat pants. Not a very princessy look, but I was warm!

Note I didn't post THOSE pictures on here!
Lisa, I am not a mango fan either, per se. I am thinking mango only works like that if you're a monkey!
Corrina - thank you for posting your last year picture again - it is sooooo inspirational! I have to look close to see that it really is you in the first one.

I just love looking at it and seeing your metamorphosis.
Jennz - those pictures sometimes surprise me as well. I have always loved looking at before and after pictures on the WW website and in magazines - it's amazing how much a person can change over time.
I am so impressed! You look incredible....your time is incredible...and you are one of the big inspirations to me on this board!
Thanks for posting the other one with your 2009 and 2010 photos. It is so important for me to see that right now because I am at a bit of a point where I am struggling. I have to see that with hard work, ups & downs and over time it can happen. After losing my first 20 pounds pretty quickly, it now just feels like I have hit a wall and it is so much harder to keep motivated. Then, I see stories like yours and I know I just have to keep going. Thank you for the constant reminder.
While you were gone, I finished the C25K program and ran a full 7K this weekend in preparation for my 7K on the 20th. I know a while back you posted a site for me to go to find a new running plan...guess what...I can't find it. If you get a chance could you post it for me again? I feel like with the battle that I am having with myself to keep going right now that I need a printed out running plan to hold myself accountable to or that might get to be a challenge for me too.
Thanks and again....incredible!
Jen
Yes, over time, you can make big changes. It's like water wearing away a stone. It might be so slow as to be nearly invisible at times, but eventually, given enough persistance, the water WILL wear that stone down.
Congratulations on finishing C25K! What an amazing achievement! I am thinking of volunteering/cheering for the 7K. I think it is too late to register, as it filled a few weeks back.
The training plans I usually use are from the Runner's World Smartcoach. There is a little box for it on this page:
http://www.runnersworld.com/channel/0,,s6-238-0-0-0,00.html
You know, having a training plan makes a huge difference - it's a clear direction with a clear goal in mind - it makes it very easy to follow through compared with a more general fitness plan, in my experience anyhow.
I bought my plane tickets and put my deposit down for a trip for just him and I to go to Orlando and visit Universal for the Harry Potter opening! I am SOOOOO excited. I am a huge HP fan and even belong to a all adult HP fan club here in Ohio. (yes, I know I am a dork!)

Plus, I get to be with my husband with no one buggin us. No diapers to change, no homework to check, no cheerleading or karate or swimming, no dinners to make, no..... well anything for anyone except us. Selfish... yes. But I don't care! I can't wait!!! We go June 17-20. I want to lose 30 pounds by then. Thats my personal goal. I know 10 of that will be water weight but thats ok, it will still feel amazing.
Hi Gracie's Mom! The new HP area sounds/looks so cool! My boys and I definitely want to see it soon. Is it really opening in June??? It seems like it's been put off so long I can hardly believe it is almost here!!!
It must be so challenging getting through your pregnancy mostly by yourself. It's a tough, exhausting time - glad you are able to look forward to being together this summer!
Tuesday QOTD: Wow, there are so many things that are different. Our kitchen is stock very differently, I wear a size 8 vs a size 20 and I don't mind shopping. I take care of my hair and makeup and actually care what people think. I don't own sweatpant, but now have yogapants. My jeans are stylish and worn with heels instead of oversized t-shirts and sweatshirts. I'm bartending and waitressing again. When I was heavy I didn't want to be seen in public, let alone be out and about everyday. I do things with my kids, I got my lifeguard certification again. I get compliments from strangers. My husband made these changes with me and he looks amazing and after 23 years together we are still totally madly in love and in lust for each other. What more can I say? There are no negatives.
This sounds like so many positive changes in your life! Way to go!
Second order of business.... MORE PICTURES PLEASE!! I love character pictures.
It sounds like you had a terrific weekend.... it is enough to inspire me to keep running so I have a good excuse to make a trip to Disney next year!!
I LOVE these pictures. And I must say, DH was looking over my shoulder and he couldn't believe that both pictures were of the same person! He was impressed (and maybe inspired???... we can only hope!). And your weight stayed the same... how impressed am I!! And

right back to you!
You are doing so great with your running! Hopefully at some point here, you'll get some enjoyment during the activity itself. I did not love it at first either, but I think over time those positive associations can develop into enjoyment.
OK - I will post some more character pictures tomorrow for you. Or if you want, I have posted a ton of them on Facebook - I will send you the link to the album if you PM me about it.
You know, I think that the prospect of a "dream race" in Disney is what got me through the first 6 months of running! Pick out your dream race, put it on the calendar and go for it! You can do it too!
And what a nice compliment from your DH - I swear, both pictures are me, 56 pounds apart. I feel like I am getting the hang of maintaining my weight while travelling and still having fun. The amazing thing was, I barely even stressed about it this trip.
I'll add my

back to
Corinna! You look fabulous and even more importantly you feel fabulous, and it shows!
I didn't eat the Kashi bar -- and I regret it. I made a calculated error. I got so hungry before dinner, I ended up eating popcorn and 3 chocolate chip cookies

Next time I will eat the Kashi bar, and not get too hungry!
I'm pretty sure there's a Kashi bar in my future this afternoon -- and I'm not going to feel guilty if I eat it! I tend to eat some of the 35 weekly points and never touch the exercise points. I get a lot of exercise points (my week started Friday and I'm already at 26) -- and I think if I ate them all I would not lose.
Maria
Maria - thanks for the kind words. I do feel great.

I have to say, I have done the same thing so many times, feeling hungry and then not eating and ending up eating more in little snacks than I would have if I'd just had something to eat right then. As for the weekly points, you know when I started, I felt like I should try not to use them, but at some point, I felt like I really had to use at least either/or the weeklies or activity. You do a lot of activity and as a result you need to keep that fire stoked. Not saying to go crazy, but do listen to those hunger signals. If, when you're truly hungry, you use those extra points for REAL food, not 100 cal. snack packs, low fat ice cream etc. etc., your body will take those nutrient-filled calories and use them to build your best body ever!
Corrina, I want to be you when I grow up (even though I am probably older than you.

) You are such an inspiration!


That is so sweet of you to say - I am sure you will "grow up" to be your own spectacular self. I'm glad if something I've done gave you a lift on your own journey, though!
Yesterday I did C25K W1D1 with my DD. She was not happy about it but I told her if she did the training with me, she could ask her BFF to walk with us after we were done with the running part. So we did the run and grabbed her friend and walked an extra 3 miles. I think my total number of miles yesterday was 10. I actually walked more miles yesterday than I drove in my car all of last week.

I have today off from C25K so I did 60 minutes of step and after a while (if my headache goes away) I am going to go for a walk outside. It's supposed to be 49 degrees today!! I might even wear shorts!
I no longer use Lupus as an excuse!!!!
Wow - that's a lot of miles!
And how wonderful that you are living your life without letting Lupus get in your way - THAT is inspiring to me.
Corinna WTG your story is so inspiring. I am happy to see a C25K person be so successful! WOW
C25K is a great introduction to running - it's a program that truly opens the door to "anything is possible." At least it did for me and many others as well.
Corinna-what an inspiration, thank you for posting both pictures. I only saw the recent one first and did think to myself that you must have been tiny to begin with. A lot of stuff you have said really hit home so thanks!
Although I don't post much b/c I'm not on all the time I do read back and get lots of boosts of inspiration from seeing people doing exactly what I am doing!
Thanks everyone.
You know, when I was larger, I always felt like I was a small person stuck in a big body. Now that I am at my goal weight, I feel like I'm a big person in a small body. I still have the insecurities and challenges with food, but now it's harder to tell that when you first meet me. I do think that whatever our current weight, those of us that struggle are in the same boat.
Glad you've gotten inspired by reading this thread and I'm really glad you posted - even if you don't have time to post often, it's great to hear from you when you have a minute/ something to add!
Woah. Talk about inspiration! I am bone tired, so I don't have the energy to do quotes. Corinna, I am going to print your pictures and put them up as motivation! To whomever said the first 20 came off easily - AMEN! For me, the first 15 were fairly easy. I am fighting tooth and nail for each pound afterwards it seems.
Since I was such a couch potato, I wonder if some of the difference has something to do with muscle gain now? I am exercising 6 days a week, and I am constantly sore. Is the old adage true?
My good news for the day - I RAN FOR 20 MINUTES. Finished week 5 day 3. 20 days ago, 1 minute was horrible, I can't believe I ran 20!
Congratulations on your 20 minute run! I remember the first time I ran 20 minutes straight - I think they heard me whooping in Wisconsin!! It is amazing how quickly our bodies can adapt when we ask them to change a little at a time! What an incredible change you've made!
I'm touched that you'd print out my pictures for inspiration. You're right about that weight loss slowing over time. Some of it is bound to be your new muscle development. Some of it seems to be our bodies getting more efficient at using what we give them - partly due to not carrying that extra weight with us, I suppose. Just keep on going, tweak your calories a bit if you need to and remember that it's infinitely better to lose a little each week or even stay the same each week than to gain a little each week. You'll get there if you keep on trying.
And that brings me to the end of the quotes directly addressing me, at least! I have loved reading so many wonderful memories. I'll check back tomorrow.