Biggest Loser "Sizzlin' Hot" Summer Challenge

[JacksLilWench]

Hi Everyone! I want to join in!

I am going to Disney World for the FIRST time next month (32 days to be exact). I just love these boards for planning.

I've also been trying to lose weight my entire life. I tend to yo-yo. I'm on an upswing right now. Calorie counting works well for me when I do it. I recently tried Atkins and I lost 6 lbs and then started gaining and losing the same 2 lbs so I've swiched back to calorie counting. I also want to get in better shape so I can enjoy Disney instead of being winded and worn out.

I guess that's a good start. I look forward to getting to know everyone!

Welcome!!! Be sure to send your starting weight to Sue (dvccruiser76) so she can start tracking your goals

I like that!


I think the challenges I face once I reach my goal. Right now, trying to lose this weight, it is simply following the rules. Keeping to them, not relapsing, once I reach the goal is the big thing. It is all too easy to see, I've done it now I don't have to keep track. I came close to my goal, and let it slip away - but because I got rid of all my "fat" clothes, I reigned myself in when my clothes were feeling uncomfortable. When I get closer, maybe I will lose another size, and then give away my current size!

I can't wait til I can give away a fair amount of my clothes. Some stuff I want to keep, but there is some of it I would give away! Actually the VFW truck is coming around on tomorrow morning and I have three bags of stuff to give away!

Now onto the QOTD (finally!)

 

[JacksLilWench]

Today's QOTD takes us to..

Star Tours: The Adventure Continues!!

I am not gonna tell a lot of people about this, but I am really excited to ride the reimagined version of this. It's so out of my element to like Star Wars, but I am so stoked about it! Yesterday we talked about what you are most afraid of on your journey, but today...

What are you most excited about once you reach goal? If you've already hit goal, what were you happiest about achieving?

I am SOOOOOO excited about reaching goal and being a size 8. I know you're not really supposed to put a size on yourself like that and have it be the only goal...but it is a BIG goal for me that I am excited for

 

[jillbur]

If you've ever been to a Disney Race, is something like that (the parties and what-not) a motivating factor when compared to a local race?

If you're not a runner (or even if you are and you like this question better!) what is the scariest thing about reaching your goals? Is it actually reaching them, or all the challenges you may face ahead of you?

I would love to run a Disney race, but after running 6.5 miles the last week, I don't think I could make it for 13.1. I was just bored and wanted to stop.

The scariest thing about reaching my goals is what to do when I get there. I do not want to start getting lazy and gain weight back, but man, I would love to not have to track every bite. I know I will have to or the weight will creep back on, though.

In case y'all haven't seen this.


Marsha Coughlin "Mackey Mouse" was a moderator on the disboards and a great friend to us all for many years. She passed away recently after a long and brave fight with cancer. We are going to bring the boards down and put up a tribute page on Wednesday from 11am to noon during her funeral.

Oh no. My prayers are with her family and friends at this time.

Hi Everyone! I want to join in!

I am going to Disney World for the FIRST time next month (32 days to be exact). I just love these boards for planning.

I've also been trying to lose weight my entire life. I tend to yo-yo. I'm on an upswing right now. Calorie counting works well for me when I do it. I recently tried Atkins and I lost 6 lbs and then started gaining and losing the same 2 lbs so I've swiched back to calorie counting. I also want to get in better shape so I can enjoy Disney instead of being winded and worn out.

I guess that's a good start. I look forward to getting to know everyone!

Welcome and good luck with your goals! This is a great support group.

Today's QOTD takes us to..

What are you most excited about once you reach goal? If you've already hit goal, what were you happiest about achieving?

I am excited about new clothing and feeling good about myself. I am also going to celebrate and feel pretty darn proud of myself for setting a goal and achieving it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I love summer since I am off, but I am about done with the stinking heat! It was only 94 here today. It was so hot & humid. I would love a couple no humidity, cooler days. And by cooler, I mean 80s or less!

DS9 was invited to the movies and a sleepover at his friend's so we let DS6 stay up later with us to watch a movie. It's about time to get him in bed, though.

I'm planning on running in the morning as long as the weather cooperates. If not, I will hit the gym treadmill (ugh...hate running on treadmills). I haven't been motivated to go to my favorite gym classes since they are at 4:30 and it breaks up our afternoon since DH is usually getting home around 3/3:30. At least I've done some dvd workouts to supplement my runs.

Other than that, I started decluttering around the house today. We got rid of 4 garbage bags of stuff. I also found more stuff for a garage sale, so I may be having another one in August. It feels so good to get rid of clutter. We've only been in our house 9 years. How did we accumulate so much stuff!?!?

Okay...DS6 just went up to brush teeth, so I'll check in tomorrow. Have a good night and Wed morning!

Jill

 

[myweegirls]

Time to catch up for real!

One of my favorite shows really is the original Twilight Zone with Rod Serling, and I am so excited to be able to run in the Inaugural ToT 10miler race this September. One of the things I'm most looking forward to is the on-track entertainment and the party afterwards.

If you've ever been to a Disney Race, is something like that (the parties and what-not) a motivating factor when compared to a local race?

If you're not a runner (or even if you are and you like this question better!) what is the scariest thing about reaching your goals? Is it actually reaching them, or all the challenges you may face ahead of you?

I've never run in an organized race. The ToT 10-miler this year will be my first - what an intro! Then we're doing the WDW 1/2 in January. (DH is running, too, although we'll be in different corrals, I'm sure.) I was never a runner, but I've really come to like it. I'm just about to start in on the longer distances on the weekends, and I'm counting on the Galloway plan to get me there. I'm intimidated by the distance, but I also find that I like the challenge of it. I just can't quite imagine actually doing it yet.

The scariest thing about reaching my weight goal was the idea that I had to learn to be happy with that. I'm so used to being critical of myself and working toward that goal that I really had to reframe my thinking. I had to realize that holding steady *is* the new goal, and that's not something I can achieve someday - I have to meet it every day. It can be a little daunting sometimes, especially when I feel the need to slip off the wagon for a meal or two. I'm paranoid about the slippery slope!

I live in a pretty rural area and these are my running tips. First of all... if it is like where I live, you are in more danger from animals than anything else! I can run for an hour and not see a car or other human being.... but I might see a skunk, deer, turkey, heron, possum, fox, ermine, bat, assorted squirrels and chipmunks, and lots of birds (have seen all those) or bear, moose, coyote, or fisher cat (not yet, but someday).

Wear a reflective vest and carry a small penlight if running at dawn or dusk. Carry pepper spray if you are concerned about dogs or wild animals (but DON'T use it on bears!! It just pisses them off!). Don't be afraid to sing or whistle or talk to yourself.... it will keep the critters away.

If you are using earbuds keep the volume low or just use one. It is a bit alarming when it is so quiet and suddenly there is a car up next to you. Helpful to be able to hear things around you.

Carry your cell phone. Not that I think that you will need it for human-related dangers, but if you were to twist your ankle or something and needed help, if there aren't any folks around you (as there would be in a more suburban or urban area), you might be SOL. Be sure your family knows when to expect you back.

Keep safe and run fast!!

Thanks for the tips! I admit that in this particular area, I'm more worried about the bored natives - the drunk teenagers. :/ If it's cool enough, I can run during the day, but I wouldn't want to be out there at twilight, which has been my usual run time lately. If the high school track is available, I might just use that. I haven't run on a track yet, and it would be interesting to have something so steady and level for a long run. Although I suspect it might also get boring.

Oh, I'm gonna know a Dis'er on the run! I'm training myself, and this Saturday is gonna be HARD for me. I have to do seven miles

Woohoo! We should definitely figure out a way to meet up and celebrate our medals.

What are you most excited about once you reach goal? If you've already hit goal, what were you happiest about achieving?

Ohhhh, the clothes! I have never loved clothes as much as I do now that I'm at goal! I still and will always hate bathing suit shopping, but I am so happy to feel like I can wear almost anything I want to. Within reason - I've never been an ultra-low-rise kind of girl (and I never will be), but it's not about turning myself into someone I'm not or dressing like I'm 20 years younger. It's all about feeling good in my skin and the clothes I use to cover that skin.

Other than that, I started decluttering around the house today. We got rid of 4 garbage bags of stuff. I also found more stuff for a garage sale, so I may be having another one in August. It feels so good to get rid of clutter. We've only been in our house 9 years. How did we accumulate so much stuff!?!?

I *love* that feeling!! We've been in our place for almost 8 years, too. We're in a townhouse, so there's zip for storage. Whenever I start feeling squeezed, I take a decluttering tour of the place, and I love the feeling of getting bags of stuff out on Freecycle or to Goodwill. My inner Peter Walsh.

*~*~*~*

I went out for my second-to-last C25K workout tonight! That may not have been the smartest idea - I waited until 8:20, and it was still 97 degrees out. I was *wiped out,* but I did it! One more C25K, and then I move on to the Galloway plan. I think that might be easier at this point - the C25K has me running 30 minutes straight now!

So now I'm on the couch, big pile of berries with Truvia on top consumed, VitaTop nommed, and still a bit munchy. I think I need an apple...wow, I get hungry after these runs.

Hope everyone has a great night!

XO
Liz

 

[Bungle]

What are you most excited about once you reach goal? If you've already hit goal, what were you happiest about achieving?

I'm looking forward to not being so tired. Every time I let the weight creep back up I just feel exhausted.

 

[lmhall2000]

What are you most excited about once you reach goal? If you've already hit goal, what were you happiest about achieving?
.

I just think I will cry, not just the whimper kind, but a full out gasping or air and sobbing kind, then I will run out and buy a good fitting pair of jeans (i know that should be well-fitting) but good just so fits there!

 

[bigsis1970]

Hi pjlla - are you anywhere near Colby Sawyer College? my DD will be attending there in the fall for Nursing.

 

[kollerbear]

Still working on getting caught up on reading through the thread! It's so neat to read about everyone taking up new exercises and all the successes you guys have had so far. Congrats!

Welcome back! Good for you for coming back with just 5 pounds back on. It is so much better than waiting until you've gained it all back plus 20 (not that I know anything about that.... ).

That said, if you intend to keep this weight off for a lifetime, you should plan on counting calories (or Points or carbs.... whatever your system) for a lifetime.

Thanks so much!! I'll be honest, when I first read what you wrote my heart just skipped a beat-- I don't know why, it had never occurred to me before that this was something I'd do for the rest of my life! (Right now I do use My Fitness Pal to track calories--it's been great.)

The reason it seems so tough to me is that I love cooking, even to the point of wanting to go to culinary school for health-supportive cooking in the next year or two. I actually often avoid recipes just because of how hard they'll be to track, and I've got a list of dozens of recipes and projects for "after the weight's gone", like learning how to make pasta, bread, pastry crust etc.. It's not that they're unhealthy recipes, especially in the right portions, but they're just a pain to portion and track.

Does anyone else experience this "tracking fatigue"? I find it so exhausting some days, and I've been doing it pretty religiously most days for about 6 months or so. There are even times when I would make myself a big salad or soup with lots of fresh stuff in it, but then I'm like, well, a frozen Amy's burrito will be easier to track!!! I kind of have to catch myself sometimes!

I live in a pretty rural area and these are my running tips. First of all... if it is like where I live, you are in more danger from animals than anything else! I can run for an hour and not see a car or other human being.... but I might see a skunk, deer, turkey, heron, possum, fox, ermine, bat, assorted squirrels and chipmunks, and lots of birds (have seen all those) or bear, moose, coyote, or fisher cat (not yet, but someday).

I am so jealous of the wildlife in your area! That sounds incredible!! Where are you living? I feel like you've said it before, but I can't remember...

I have the same thoughts, kollerbear. Like, what if I get there and it's nothing like I thought it would be or I'm not in the shape I thought I would be? It can definitely be scary! But for me, the scariest part is what happens if I stay where I am? But you can do it! And going vegan? That's so cool!

Thank you!! I agree--whenever I get worried that I won't look or feel the way that I hope I'll look or feel, I just remind myself that, no matter what it is, I'll feel healthier than I am now. And yay! going vegan has been really cool, thanks! I often get really weird reactions, so that made me happy. I love to talk about it with others if they're interested, so if anyone is at all curious about vegan recipes, meals, etc. please PM me!!

Today's QOTD takes us to..

What are you most excited about once you reach goal? If you've already hit goal, what were you happiest about achieving?

Feeling like I'll be ready for the next chapter of my life to begin!! That's got me really excited.

 

[lisah0711]

Good morning all!

Finally have a few minutes to catch up here since my return from DL on Sunday. I had a blast! It was crazy hot and humid, just like Orlando, which is very unusual for Anaheim. The parks have a nice vibe with the APs blocked. We were able to ride on this:

Best Disney ride EVER in almost 50 years of going to the parks!

Carthay Circle Restaurant was absolutely delicious!

I had a wonderful time at the reunion, too. It was so much fun to see everyone and we yakked for 6 hours. I'm so glad that I was able to go.

And a great NSV, I came back weighing the same as when I left. That was a victory as flying usually does a number on me.

Shawn, glad you survived the IL week-end.

A BIG congratulations to all our superstars and especially to our biggest loser, Alice! Woo hoo!

Jill, that Pineapple sorbet sounds yummy!

Pamela, hope that you are feeling better!

One of my favorite shows really is the original Twilight Zone with Rod Serling, and I am so excited to be able to run in the Inaugural ToT 10miler race this September. One of the things I'm most looking forward to is the on-track entertainment and the party afterwards.

If you've ever been to a Disney Race, is something like that (the parties and what-not) a motivating factor when compared to a local race?

Thanks, Kaiti, for coaching this week!

Running the Princess in 2011 with my BL friends was the motivator for getting me to start to run. After a couple of years of reading success stories of people I really admire like corinnak, Worfiedoodles, Rose&Mike I wanted to try it myself. I still had a blast even though I was swept. I went on to finish my first half and do 4 more local races as well as the Tinker Bell Half in January so while I may have started to see my friends, I have adjusted to running for myself. You don't get a lot of chances as an adult to do things completely out of your comfort zone and amaze yourself!

RunDisney races are so much better than local races -- the entertainment, the support, being at WDW or DL. You can't beat it! And, of course, RunDisney races have another very important something that I don't get at my local races: WISHers! Be sure and go to the WISH meet and hook up with Wishers at the W tent before and after the race. WISHers are some of the nicest people that you will meet anywhere!

Tara, those are some amazing mileage numbers you are doing!

back kollerbear and Bungle!

Alice, that clippie looks great on you!

Liz, congrats on almost being done with your C25K!

Buffy, thank for letting us know about Marsha. She was a very nice person and will be missed.

NightAngelX!

Carol, sounds like a busy summer at your house. Glad your DS is okay after his wipe out. Poor guy will want to go back to school after all this summer stuff.

Laura, I got a chuckle out of all the Moms on this thread telling you to be sure and wear a helment! Hope those sandals help the feet!

AliceNWonderland! Congratulations on all your races!

Tara, thanks for volunteering to coach! Here is a link to the QOTD archive thread. http://disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35031934&postcount=1 I just bumped it. It has questions from 2 or 3 different years worth of challenges and is sometimes good for inspiration. You know how we like to recycle here!

Dona, sorry that it is so hot there but I know that you will be glad that you did this in a short month when you are at WDW!

Today's QOTD takes us to..

Star Tours: The Adventure Continues!!

I am not gonna tell a lot of people about this, but I am really excited to ride the reimagined version of this. It's so out of my element to like Star Wars, but I am so stoked about it! Yesterday we talked about what you are most afraid of on your journey, but today...

What are you most excited about once you reach goal? If you've already hit goal, what were you happiest about achieving?

I am SOOOOOO excited about reaching goal and being a size 8. I know you're not really supposed to put a size on yourself like that and have it be the only goal...but it is a BIG goal for me that I am excited for

I think whatever goal you set for yourself is the right goal.

I think being at goal will bring a different set of challenges so will be more like a beginning than an end. I am looking forward to running my first RunDisney race at goal weight, which should be in January 2013. It will still be hard to run 13.1 miles but easier without carrying 50 extra pounds.

I would love to run a Disney race, but after running 6.5 miles the last week, I don't think I could make it for 13.1. I was just bored and wanted to stop.

The scariest thing about reaching my goals is what to do when I get there. I do not want to start getting lazy and gain weight back, but man, I would love to not have to track every bite. I know I will have to or the weight will creep back on, though.

It can get boring running a long distance, Jill. It's supposed to help you with the mental part of your training. And after awhile you kind of forget the bad parts . . . like childbirth.

I'm going to tread water this week because I am leaving again soon for family vacation in Iowa. I have a 12 mile run on Saturday so it's not like I am totally off the wagon.

Have a great day all!

 

[NightAngelX]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!!!

Welcome, welcome!! Glad you are here with us! You only have a short time to get your feet and legs ready for all of the walking at Disney, but you can do it! Buy your "vacation" sneakers/walking shoes now and start breaking them in!!

How much exercise are you used to doing? Or are you starting from zero? If you are just starting up and haven't done any sort of walking/running, might I suggest just starting with a mile a day for a few days to see how the feet and legs hold up. If that goes well, progress to either 2 miles a day or one mile twice a day. It isn't much, but better than overdoing and ending up sore and possibly injured right before your trip!

Best of luck.... can't wait to hear how it goes!

Thanks for the welcome. Depends on what starting from zero means. I've yo-yoed with exercising too. I usually exercise at home because then I do it more often. I used to do at home videos alot and I have a wii fit. Then several years ago we got a Gazelle for my husband who has arthritis, however it hurt his hips so he never did it. At the time I was exercising other ways and found it too easy but I got it out of storage and put it in our main room where the TV is to hopefully encourage me to get up off my rear and be on that while I watch tv instead of sitting down. I'm up to 2x a week for 30 minutes plus stretching. I want to be doing it daily. It seems easy at first but by the end my muscles are definitely feeling it and I feel it for the next day or two. I also have a dog who I used to walk alot but she tore both back knees out last year. We fixed one last year (can only do one at a time) and plan to do the other this fall but basically she can't walk as much any more so I haven't been either. Plus its been so hot, though I think I should be using it for training for Disney! lol

Welcome to this group. We are a little quiet this summer but that happens. There will probably be a new one starting up in Sept and that will probably be more active.

Where are you staying in DW. I will be there from the 16th to the 24th. We will be at ASMu from the 16th to the 19th and then switch over to BLT to join my sis and her family in a 3 bedroom suite.

We are stayng at AKL in a standard non-view room. Normally we couldn't afford such a hotel but with the discount on that particular room it was the same price as staying at moderate. We almost stayed in ASMu, but I made the mistake of telling DH price of AKL and he wanted so badly to stay at the contemporary AKL was a 'compromise' for him. (he has champagne taste on our beer budget).

Welcome!!! Be sure to send your starting weight to Sue (dvccruiser76) so she can start tracking your goals

Thanks! I already did!

What are you most excited about once you reach goal? If you've already hit goal, what were you happiest about achieving?

I'm excited about having more energy. Fitting into clothes would be nice too though.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Drive by posting!!

It's been a long day, went to 2 grocery stores, and I'm beat. But I did save some decent cash and got tons of fresh and clean stuff, not much junk.

Of course I had a light breakfast before I shopped (got up late) so I ate to much for lunch when I got home. I'll have to squeeze in a quick jog on the dreadmill to balance it all out.

sorry I've been slacking on the Quote of the Day!!!!
so I'l, throw out an oldie, but a goodie!

success is a staircase, not a doorway

 

[trinaweena]

Still working on getting caught up on reading through the thread! It's so neat to read about everyone taking up new exercises and all the successes you guys have had so far. Congrats!



Thanks so much!! I'll be honest, when I first read what you wrote my heart just skipped a beat-- I don't know why, it had never occurred to me before that this was something I'd do for the rest of my life! (Right now I do use My Fitness Pal to track calories--it's been great.)

The reason it seems so tough to me is that I love cooking, even to the point of wanting to go to culinary school for health-supportive cooking in the next year or two. I actually often avoid recipes just because of how hard they'll be to track, and I've got a list of dozens of recipes and projects for "after the weight's gone", like learning how to make pasta, bread, pastry crust etc.. It's not that they're unhealthy recipes, especially in the right portions, but they're just a pain to portion and track.

Does anyone else experience this "tracking fatigue"? I find it so exhausting some days, and I've been doing it pretty religiously most days for about 6 months or so. There are even times when I would make myself a big salad or soup with lots of fresh stuff in it, but then I'm like, well, a frozen Amy's burrito will be easier to track!!! I kind of have to catch myself sometimes!



I am so jealous of the wildlife in your area! That sounds incredible!! Where are you living? I feel like you've said it before, but I can't remember...



Thank you!! I agree--whenever I get worried that I won't look or feel the way that I hope I'll look or feel, I just remind myself that, no matter what it is, I'll feel healthier than I am now. And yay! going vegan has been really cool, thanks! I often get really weird reactions, so that made me happy. I love to talk about it with others if they're interested, so if anyone is at all curious about vegan recipes, meals, etc. please PM me!!



Feeling like I'll be ready for the next chapter of my life to begin!! That's got me really excited.

I expierence tracking fatigue. I believe the fact that i stopped tracking is one of the major reasons i started gaining again. I find home made meals to be the hardest to track, especially cuts of meat.

----
I started off the week good, healthy eating on monday, and a nice workout after the day was over. Yesterday was not good, and today again, started out good, even tracked my breakfast, and now i'm eating chips! I'm gaining weight and i'm just not happy about it, and my strange schedule isn't making anything better. My mom is going to the grocery store tonight and im really trying to think of some ways to stop sabatoging myself. More veggies for sure, and i need to decide if im going to eat dinner before class or after class or split it up, cause i cant eat two dinners.

I do want to go to the gym tonight, but i also really need to study for the praxis so im torn. Maybe a short workout? I'm just so nervous for this test! Not to mention I have a spanish test tomorrow as well, which i really don't have any hope of passing.

I'm feeling very discouraged this week

 

[pjlla]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to write a little hello post to everyone on the thread to introduce myself. I am a 40 year old wife and mother. I have been running now for 4 years and have completed around 9 half marathons. I am not that I love to run person, but I do appreciate it. In my opinion Disney races are the best! My husband is a marathon runner and loves to run so he got me started. I also Zumba, which i do love!

I have been on WW in the past and I really liked it. I believe I need to watch what I eat, not stress so much in general and not emotionally eat to keep my weight down. I am looking forward to being a part of this challenge.

Wow! Have you checked out the Runner/Walkers thread started by Rose&Mike? Lots of BL challenge folks there!

Friday July 20 - Thursday July 26 we do not have a coach. Any volunteers???

I guess you didn't see my offer a few days ago. I'm still happy to do it, but it looks like you have another offer as well. Just let me know!!

Today's QOTD takes us to..
Star Tours: The Adventure Continues!!
What are you most excited about once you reach goal? If you've already hit goal, what were you happiest about achieving?

Buying clothes with a single digit size!! And I LOVE those stores where the sizes tend to run kind of big. I can wear a size 2/4 at Christopher & Banks! And in Old Navy I'm sometimes a size 4 and often a size 6! I LOVE that! Wanna walk around with my tag hanging out!!

I would love to run a Disney race, but after running 6.5 miles the last week, I don't think I could make it for 13.1. I was just bored and wanted to stop.

I get super bored running as well. I start thinking about how much I need to get done at home!!

The scariest thing about reaching my goals is what to do when I get there. I do not want to start getting lazy and gain weight back, but man, I would love to not have to track every bite. I know I will have to or the weight will creep back on, though.

I've tracked virtually every day for the past 4.5 years. I think it is the ONE MAIN KEY THING that has kept me from falling off the wagon and regaining the weight (along with the really healthy eating habits I've developed). After a while it is just second nature. I've developed my own sort of short-hand to make things a bit easier.


I love summer since I am off, but I am about done with the stinking heat! It was only 94 here today. It was so hot & humid. I would love a couple no humidity, cooler days. And by cooler, I mean 80s or less!

It was nearly 80 when I got up at 6:15 here this morning. Glad I got my run/walk done early! The humidity is overwhelming!

I'm planning on running in the morning as long as the weather cooperates. If not, I will hit the gym treadmill (ugh...hate running on treadmills). I haven't been motivated to go to my favorite gym classes since they are at 4:30 and it breaks up our afternoon since DH is usually getting home around 3/3:30. At least I've done some dvd workouts to supplement my runs.

Other than that, I started decluttering around the house today. We got rid of 4 garbage bags of stuff. I also found more stuff for a garage sale, so I may be having another one in August. It feels so good to get rid of clutter. We've only been in our house 9 years. How did we accumulate so much stuff!?!?

I know the feeling. We just had our 18 year house-anniversary and our clutter level is

Okay...DS6 just went up to brush teeth, so I'll check in tomorrow. Have a good night and Wed morning!

Jill

Thanks for the tips! I admit that in this particular area, I'm more worried about the bored natives - the drunk teenagers. :/ If it's cool enough, I can run during the day, but I wouldn't want to be out there at twilight, which has been my usual run time lately. If the high school track is available, I might just use that. I haven't run on a track yet, and it would be interesting to have something so steady and level for a long run. Although I suspect it might also get boring.

Hope I didn't scare you. In all of the rural running/walking I've done, the scariest thing I've ever encountered up close was a dead frog frozen into kind of a "frog-zombie-coming-to-get-you" position!! Most of the wildlife is happy to get away from humans. My other suggestion was going to be to watch your feet. The rural areas tend to have pretty bumpy pavement out where I live.... I am always having to watch for frost heaves, pavement cracks and dips, etc. No sidewalks out here in the boondocks!

I *love* that feeling!! We've been in our place for almost 8 years, too. We're in a townhouse, so there's zip for storage. Whenever I start feeling squeezed, I take a decluttering tour of the place, and I love the feeling of getting bags of stuff out on Freecycle or to Goodwill. My inner Peter Walsh.

Love him!!

*~*~*~*

I went out for my second-to-last C25K workout tonight! That may not have been the smartest idea - I waited until 8:20, and it was still 97 degrees out. I was *wiped out,* but I did it! One more C25K, and then I move on to the Galloway plan. I think that might be easier at this point - the C25K has me running 30 minutes straight now!

So now I'm on the couch, big pile of berries with Truvia on top consumed, VitaTop nommed, and still a bit munchy. I think I need an apple...wow, I get hungry after these runs.

Hope everyone has a great night!

XO
Liz

Good job with the hot run. I did a few of those last fall.... 6pm with high heat and humidity.... and was absolutely dripping and exhausted for the rest of the night! Probably needed TWO showers!

Hi pjlla - are you anywhere near Colby Sawyer College? my DD will be attending there in the fall for Nursing.

We are about 45 minutes away. DD swims there once or twice a year during the high school season. Actually, her HS swim coach is a full-time student there, majoring in early childhood ed. She commutes from our town. She lived there the first year, but I think she missed her boyfriend.

If your DD would like a contact person who is reasonably close to her, by all means let me know. I would be happy to give her my home number and my cell number to call in case she has an emergency or such.

Thanks so much!! I'll be honest, when I first read what you wrote my heart just skipped a beat-- I don't know why, it had never occurred to me before that this was something I'd do for the rest of my life! (Right now I do use My Fitness Pal to track calories--it's been great.)

It is hard to think about. But think about EVERY PERSON who has ever told the tale of regaining lost weight. One of the recurring themes is "I stopped caring, stopped tracking my foods, and all of the pounds came back on."

If you find a good way of doing it that works for you without being terribly time consuming or difficult, you WILL continue to do it. My method is VERY old school, but it works for me. I keep a notebook on the counter in the kitchen.... open at all times with my favorite Mickey Mouse autograph pen from my last visit to WDW. I use my own short-hand and use one page per day. For a long time I used the cheap spiral bound notebooks from Staples (20 cents at back to school time), but discovered I had a HUGE portion of notebook filler paper built up, so switched over to a cheap-o binder and filler paper.

Anyhoooo.... I scribble the date at the top (I pre-fill the dates when I have a minute of standing in the kitchen waiting for something or talking on the phone). Then below that I put a letter for each meal or snack (B, S, L, S, D, S) as I go through the day. I usually try to write the letter, even if I didn't eat something.... then I write "X" and a "0" for the points.... just so I know in looking back that I didn't just forget, I actually didn't eat anything.

Above the day I write in my exercise and anything else odd or unusual about the day, (if I had a migraine, if we were away at a swim meet, etc).

At the end of the day I scribble in a "TP/xxx" which stands for "TOTAL POINTS" and the "xxx" is my points for the day.

I can literally do this in under 5 minutes for the whole day probably. I try HARD to write it BEFORE I eat it, but even if that isn't the case, I still go back and write EVERYTHING I've eaten, and even what I've been drinking (decaf coffee versus regular, etc)..... I'd like to have a good record in case I want to look back and see if there is any pattern (like more headaches with or without caffeine, better weight loss without diet soda, etc).

When I was fat, if someone had told me that there was a magic trick to make me thin and it would only take 5 minutes a day, I would have paid HUNDREDS to hear that trick! And I've got the answer for you for FREE!! Sure, you still have to watch your foods and figure out your calories.... but it will get easier with time, I promise!! Tracking should be the EASIEST part of this weight loss journey! It certainly isn't as hard as exercise or as difficult as denying cravings or being hungry!! So why do so many folks resist doing it???

FIND A SYSTEM THAT WORKS AND KEEP AT IT!!


The reason it seems so tough to me is that I love cooking, even to the point of wanting to go to culinary school for health-supportive cooking in the next year or two. I actually often avoid recipes just because of how hard they'll be to track, and I've got a list of dozens of recipes and projects for "after the weight's gone", like learning how to make pasta, bread, pastry crust etc.. It's not that they're unhealthy recipes, especially in the right portions, but they're just a pain to portion and track.

I don't like cooking, but I think I'd enjoy a cooking program that was based on being health-supportive! Love to hear more about it!! Did you see on Food Network Star this season they had a chef who had lost about 100 pounds and wanted to create a show about healthy, light, FLAVORFUL eating?? I was sad that he was eliminated. Would have LOVED to hear more from him!

Does anyone else experience this "tracking fatigue"? I find it so exhausting some days, and I've been doing it pretty religiously most days for about 6 months or so. There are even times when I would make myself a big salad or soup with lots of fresh stuff in it, but then I'm like, well, a frozen Amy's burrito will be easier to track!!! I kind of have to catch myself sometimes!

Start making yourself some cheat sheets for things you eat more frequently or even just stuff that is difficult to track.

That is one of the nice things about WW. I don't have to track my veggies, since they are all 0 points (other than the starchy/fatty veggies like corn, peas, potatoes and avocado....okay, I know that technically avocado is a fruit). I can make a HUGE salad.... greens, carrots, peppers, parsley, tomatoes, cukes, etc, etc ... and as long as I count the dressing, I'm all set!

I know that WW has a recipe builder on it's website (the paid WW membership website). You put in your ingredients and portions and it breaks down into points. I imagine you might be able to find a similar website for calories.


I am so jealous of the wildlife in your area! That sounds incredible!! Where are you living? I feel like you've said it before, but I can't remember...

Well.... I live in NH, kind of between Concord (state capital) and Manchester (biggest city in NH).... but I live far out in the boondocks of a little-big town. Little in population (although growing) and BIG in landmass. My kids can have a friend right here in town that takes me 30+ minutes to get to!! I am in a small neighborhood way out on a dead end road (well.... the pavement ends at my neighborhood.... it continues out as a dirt road for a few more miles). My property (and my neighbors on my side of the road) backs up to 300 acres of town forest. I'm sure that there is MUCH MORE wildlife that I never see!

Thank you!! I agree--whenever I get worried that I won't look or feel the way that I hope I'll look or feel, I just remind myself that, no matter what it is, I'll feel healthier than I am now. And yay! going vegan has been really cool, thanks! I often get really weird reactions, so that made me happy. I love to talk about it with others if they're interested, so if anyone is at all curious about vegan recipes, meals, etc. please PM me!!

Feeling like I'll be ready for the next chapter of my life to begin!! That's got me really excited.

There is a fairly new vegan restaurant in Concord that I'm tempted to try. Some friends of ours tried it last weekend, but I haven't talked with them yet. Anxious to hear their reaction. They are vegetarians, but not vegans.

Good morning all!

Finally have a few minutes to catch up here since my return from DL on Sunday. I had a blast! It was crazy hot and humid, just like Orlando, which is very unusual for Anaheim. The parks have a nice vibe with the APs blocked. We were able to ride on this:

Best Disney ride EVER in almost 50 years of going to the parks!

WOW! That is REALLY saying something!!

Carthay Circle Restaurant was absolutely delicious!

I had a wonderful time at the reunion, too. It was so much fun to see everyone and we yakked for 6 hours. I'm so glad that I was able to go.

And a great NSV, I came back weighing the same as when I left. That was a victory as flying usually does a number on me.

WOOHOO on both the fun reunion and the NSV! Talking burns a lot of calories apparently!!

Pamela, hope that you are feeling better!

Oh yeah.... all better. THanks for asking.

Running the Princess in 2011 with my BL friends was the motivator for getting me to start to run. After a couple of years of reading success stories of people I really admire like corinnak, Worfiedoodles, Rose&Mike I wanted to try it myself. I still had a blast even though I was swept. I went on to finish my first half and do 4 more local races as well as the Tinker Bell Half in January so while I may have started to see my friends, I have adjusted to running for myself. You don't get a lot of chances as an adult to do things completely out of your comfort zone and amaze yourself!

RunDisney races are so much better than local races -- the entertainment, the support, being at WDW or DL. You can't beat it! And, of course, RunDisney races have another very important something that I don't get at my local races: WISHers! Be sure and go to the WISH meet and hook up with Wishers at the W tent before and after the race. WISHers are some of the nicest people that you will meet anywhere!

It can get boring running a long distance, Jill. It's supposed to help you with the mental part of your training. And after awhile you kind of forget the bad parts . . . like childbirth.

I'm going to tread water this week because I am leaving again soon for family vacation in Iowa. I have a 12 mile run on Saturday so it's not like I am totally off the wagon.

Have a great day all!

I knew you'd have a lot to share about Disney races. GLad you got a chance to share. ENjoy your family time in Iowa!

Drive by posting!!

It's been a long day, went to 2 grocery stores, and I'm beat. But I did save some decent cash and got tons of fresh and clean stuff, not much junk.

Of course I had a light breakfast before I shopped (got up late) so I ate to much for lunch when I got home. I'll have to squeeze in a quick jog on the dreadmill to balance it all out.

sorry I've been slacking on the Quote of the Day!!!!
so I'l, throw out an oldie, but a goodie!

success is a staircase, not a doorway

Don't worry too much! I love your quotes, but things have been pretty quiet here lately. What kind of fun stuff did you buy? DD and I stopped a new market on our way home from Driver's Ed. The Fresh Market..... looks to be a cross between a Whole Foods (although I've never been to one) and a Trader Joe's (only been there once). Produce prices were kind of all over the place, but I did get some wonderful peaches for $1.48/lb, which seemed on the high side of reasonable for Eastern peaches.... .but the zucchini and summer squash were really high at $1.45/lb! That stuff is in season....it shouldn't be that high... and it wasn't even organic!!

**************

Happy Wednesday all! Had an okay day so far. Got up early to get in a run/walk before taking DD to Driver's Ed. It was so hot and HUMID, even at 6:15 am! And BUGGY! I think the humidity got to me and I had to do more walking than intended, but I didn't stress about it. At least I got out there. Ran just an errand or two before getting a call from DD that they were having difficulties with the DE car and needed to end early. So I popped over to pick her up without finishing up my errands. Oh well.

Tonight is a mid-week swim meet at our pool. It is just a dual meet and most of the swimmers are only doing two events and I don't believe we have any long events (no 1650, no 500's), so it should be done in under 4 hours... possibly under 3 hours even! I'll be running the computer system, so the evening will go quickly, although it will be HOT!

I VOWED I would get two cards made and sent out today and I haven't done it yet. Need to make/send a get well card to my cousin's husband who had a heart valve replacement a few weeks ago and a thank you card to someone! I have an idea in mind for both, so I should be able to get them done quickly if I can get DS off my scrapping table! It has become his new laptop work station..... probably because his desk in his room is covered in clutter!

Need to pack up some dinner for myself before heading out too! Looks like a turkey wrap or salad night. I made a nice dinner for the family at noon so that we could eat a meal together, so "dinner" is done.... tonight is "lunch"! BTW, sorry I haven't shared a recipe yet this week. I'm going to share the recipe I had for lunch today, but don't have it in the computer yet, so I'll have to get to it tonight or tomorrow. It's a good one if you like Asian foods and/or garlic! Can work with both chicken or pork and an assortment of veggies, so it is customize-able! Look for it tomorrow at the latest.

TTYL.........................P

 

[6ofus2]

Congrats to all the losers! I seem to be #8 on the list quite often. 8 is my fav #, so quite fitting. I really appreciate the encouragement and kindness here.

What are some of your favorite songs to play during your workout? Do you listen to music during your workout, or plug in your headphones to the local news?

I like to listen to upbeat, fast music: hip hop, Christian rock and of course whatever is playing at zumba. When I jog/run I have trouble with my earbuds falling out. Any suggestions?

Today's QOTD takes us to.... Tower of Terror!!!
If you've ever been to a Disney Race, is something like that (the parties and what-not) a motivating factor when compared to a local race?
If you're not a runner (or even if you are and you like this question better!) what is the scariest thing about reaching your goals? Is it actually reaching them, or all the challenges you may face ahead of you?

I LOVE ToT, one of my FAV rides!!! I've never been to a Disney Race (how do you find out more about them?) I am just beginning to jog/run a bit and have never been in any race. I'm thinking a Disney Race would be a great first race to do! The scariest thing about reaching my goals is I'm scared I won't reach them. I've lost 40, need to lose 60 more, so I know I can do it, I'm just scared it won't happen. I can only imagine that maintenance will be a whole new can of worms, so to speak.

Today's QOTD takes us to..
Yesterday we talked about what you are most afraid of on your journey, but today... What are you most excited about once you reach goal? If you've already hit goal, what were you happiest about achieving?

I am most excited about being fit, thin, healthy, the sense of accomplishment, wearing single digit clothing, feeling more confident and feeling GOOD!

 

[Disneywedding2010]

Sorry I've not been around much today. I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

Alan's daughter as you all know will be here Monday night. Well, the living situation she is in right now just got a little hairy within the last few days. Alan and I had to spend a few hours today making sure she had a hotel set up for the next few days before she leaves town. Everything is taken care of and I now know we can leave for Vegas tomorrow night and Alan won't be having a heart attack from worry.

I had to email the car service that is picking her up and change details of the reservation but for the most part everything is done. Her bedroom is ready here. Her flight, hotel, and car service are paid for and reserved. She is off work tomorrow so she'll get up in the morning and head to the hotel around noon and check in (per the advice of the manager). We believe she has a few more shifts over the weekend which she'll complete and just relax at the hotel after her shift.

She mentioned to Alan that when she gets here she's going to pay me back for everything I paid for. I told him 'It isn't necessary but if she wants to she can. I just want to make sure she's going to be safe and away from her lunatic of an ex boyfriend."

Trust me ya'll in Alan's eyes Monday couldn't get here fast enough. Yes, we'll still enjoy our trip tomorrow (I'm sooo excited to see Garth!) but ultimately the end prize is her coming.

 

[buzz5985]

Friday July 20 - Thursday July 26 we do not have a coach. Any volunteers???

I'll take it on, not sure what I need to do, but I'm sure I can handle it! Thanks!!
Tara

Thank you so much!!!

I guess you didn't see my offer a few days ago. I'm still happy to do it, but it looks like you have another offer as well. Just let me know!!

No I didn't see it, sorry. I barely have time to check my PM's lately.

Janis

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Don't worry too much! I love your quotes, but things have been pretty quiet here lately. What kind of fun stuff did you buy? DD and I stopped a new market on our way home from Driver's Ed. The Fresh Market..... looks to be a cross between a Whole Foods (although I've never been to one) and a Trader Joe's (only been there once). Produce prices were kind of all over the place, but I did get some wonderful peaches for $1.48/lb, which seemed on the high side of reasonable for Eastern peaches.... .but the zucchini and summer squash were really high at $1.45/lb! That stuff is in season....it shouldn't be that high... and it wasn't even organic!!

Grapes (finally USA grapes are in), bananas, italian ice (Big Y - buy 1 get 2 free plus a coupon!!), chicken thighs, drumsticks, and whole chicken ($1 a pound!!), lettuce, broccoli, applesauce, jello, granny smith apples, kind of all over the place! Heck $50 went to just produce!!
Oh Big Y also had Driscoll strawberries for $1.99 a container, everyone else was $2.99.
All told for the 3 stores I hit today and yesterday, I spent $400 but we have food for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for at least 3 weeks.

Yellow squash came from mom's garden, it's growing like mad! They are overseas seeing my brother so we are benefitting from the garden for the next 2 weeks.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Does anyone else experience this "tracking fatigue"? I find it so exhausting some days, and I've been doing it pretty religiously most days for about 6 months or so. There are even times when I would make myself a big salad or soup with lots of fresh stuff in it, but then I'm like, well, a frozen Amy's burrito will be easier to track!!! I kind of have to catch myself sometimes!

Yep!!! We all go through it, but like Pamela said, it does get easier. I'm right there with you with the prepackaged stuff being easier to track but with WW and MFP you can build recipes. It takes time but it's worth it. The only thing I don't like about MFP is you can't tally portion sizing automatically, you have to figure it out on your own.
Like when I make barley salad, I can say it's 12 servings which is great, but then once it was made I had to physically divide it up 12 times evenly to get the serving size I needed. But, now that it's done, it is easy to remake and do.

 

[lisah0711]

Good morning all!

I expierence tracking fatigue. I believe the fact that i stopped tracking is one of the major reasons i started gaining again. I find home made meals to be the hardest to track, especially cuts of meat.

Trina, good luck with your tests today. I think everyone gets tracking fatigue. Or just plain old tired of doing all this stuff fatigue. It is hard. If I go off plan, I try and get right back on as fast as I can. I also like to remind myself doing nothing didn't work out so well for me. Hang in there!

I knew you'd have a lot to share about Disney races. GLad you got a chance to share. ENjoy your family time in Iowa!

Oh, yeah, I always have a lot to say about pretty much anything. Lawyers . . . you can't shut 'em up.

Seriously I do have a lot to say about RunDisney because it literally changed my life. Just like the BL challenges!

Looking forward to your spicy recipe soon!

Congrats to all the losers! I seem to be #8 on the list quite often. 8 is my fav #, so quite fitting. I really appreciate the encouragement and kindness here.

Go #8, go!

Kristina, have fun in Vegas!

Janis, hang in there!

Sounds like you got some great stuff on your grocery run, Buffy. This is one of my favorites times of the year for fresh produce. What are you doing with your bounty of yellow squash?

It is that crazy busy time before vacation again. Have a little housekeeping to take care of as my Mom is coming to stay with our pets while we are gone. Not that she minds, but I do. I have a 12 mile training run on Saturday and by the time I return from vacation I will be just a few weeks away from my next half. I will remind myself of this so I don't stray too far off plan while I am swimming along for the next week or so.

Have a great day all!

 

[pjlla]

Sorry I've not been around much today. I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

Alan's daughter as you all know will be here Monday night. Well, the living situation she is in right now just got a little hairy within the last few days. Alan and I had to spend a few hours today making sure she had a hotel set up for the next few days before she leaves town. Everything is taken care of and I now know we can leave for Vegas tomorrow night and Alan won't be having a heart attack from worry.

I had to email the car service that is picking her up and change details of the reservation but for the most part everything is done. Her bedroom is ready here. Her flight, hotel, and car service are paid for and reserved. She is off work tomorrow so she'll get up in the morning and head to the hotel around noon and check in (per the advice of the manager). We believe she has a few more shifts over the weekend which she'll complete and just relax at the hotel after her shift.

She mentioned to Alan that when she gets here she's going to pay me back for everything I paid for. I told him 'It isn't necessary but if she wants to she can. I just want to make sure she's going to be safe and away from her lunatic of an ex boyfriend."

Trust me ya'll in Alan's eyes Monday couldn't get here fast enough. Yes, we'll still enjoy our trip tomorrow (I'm sooo excited to see Garth!) but ultimately the end prize is her coming.

I'm so happy that you seem to be as excited about this as Alan is. Enjoy your weekend away!

Grapes (finally USA grapes are in), bananas, italian ice (Big Y - buy 1 get 2 free plus a coupon!!), chicken thighs, drumsticks, and whole chicken ($1 a pound!!), lettuce, broccoli, applesauce, jello, granny smith apples, kind of all over the place! Heck $50 went to just produce!!
Oh Big Y also had Driscoll strawberries for $1.99 a container, everyone else was $2.99.
All told for the 3 stores I hit today and yesterday, I spent $400 but we have food for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for at least 3 weeks.

Yellow squash came from mom's garden, it's growing like mad! They are overseas seeing my brother so we are benefitting from the garden for the next 2 weeks.

You were all over! Sounds like you got a lot done though. I've been buying my produce in fits and starts all over the place. Buying as I have time, cash, and find a good price. Hoping to scrounge up some extra cash to hit the Farmer's Market here in town tomorrow.

Our garden is producing some squash but not much.... we only have a few plants this year.

Enjoy the squash.... grilled, sauteed.... oh yes... check out today's recipe that I'm about to post! It contains squash!

Seriously I do have a lot to say about RunDisney because it literally changed my life. Just like the BL challenges!

You're so inspiring when you talk about your races... especially your Disney races!!

Looking forward to your spicy recipe soon!

Coming up next!!


It is that crazy busy time before vacation again. Have a little housekeeping to take care of as my Mom is coming to stay with our pets while we are gone. Not that she minds, but I do. I have a 12 mile training run on Saturday and by the time I return from vacation I will be just a few weeks away from my next half. I will remind myself of this so I don't stray too far off plan while I am swimming along for the next week or so.

Have a great day all!

Enjoy the housework (or at least the feeling of accomplishment when you are done), your run, and your vacation! Have a great weekend my friend!!

***********

Happy Thursday friends! I'm back from taking DD to morning swim practice. Had intended to do my walk/run during that time, but just COULDN'T get into it. Will hit the TM in a bit before lunch.

Last night's swim event was thankfully short (but HOT)! DD wasn't on her game totally, but I wasn't too concerned. Our pool is a 25 yard pool and the summer season is a 50M long course season, so it wasn't really a meet for summer cuts. NBD.

Soup for the family for lunch is made and will just reheat in an hour or so. It was a quicky cheeseburger soup.... plus I made potatoes that I will individually portion out for the kids bowls (since DH doesn't eat potatoes). I will have a tiny portion of the soup, but also a HUGE salad for lunch. The soup is too caloric to really enjoy.

DD is making cupcakes right now for a Y Nationals psych party for the team tomorrow night. I am trying hard to avoid the kitchen while she is working. SHe is a VERY MESSY cook and it makes me nutty.... so I do best to just STAY AWAY!

Off to post this week's recipe!! TTYL........................P