CJK's journey BACK to the real me!!!! Comments welcomed and encouraged!!

[CACruisin']

CJK - your bus story is awesome. You must have been grinning ear to ear! What a wonderful affirmation of all your hard work. You're dedication is definitely an inspiration for me.

 

[CJK]

Thanks so much for your kind words everyone. I've really been thinking about what you've all said. How have I kept going so faithfully these last 6.5 months? I guess it's a few things. The first is exercise. I find exercise easier to do than eating well. The second more important thing, is that I allow myself treats EVERYday.

When I go to diet/fitness websites, I often read how people completely cut out sweets and/or fastfoods and I always find myself wondering how on earth they keep that up longterm. For me, I find that I HAVE to allow myself some treats or I would simply give up. For example, I'm still going strong on my Halloween candy from MNSSHP in October! The key for me is portion control. I have about 3 small pieces a day. Friday night is pizza night. I have 2 small pieces. I simply try to work these foods into my otherwise healthy diet (complex carbs, protein, fruit & veggies).

The third thing is posting in my journal and being accountable. Your support helps more than you can know! Reading your journals helps me motivate and feel motivated! Thank you!

This approach has worked for me so far (51lbs gone). Today I discovered that I've entered a new decade - weightwise! I'm 9lbs away from my goal now. I'm not sure how Christmas will go, but I hope to at least maintain.

Hope you're having a great week!!!

 

[traceycooper]

Hi CJK
You have amazing will power!
I try smaller portions but find they gradually get bigger!!!
It sounds like a great, sensible long term plan you have

 

[Amy&Dan]

CJK: Your are my inspiration! The day somebody on a bus calls me tiny is the day I died and went to heaven! You are the queen of "staying with it" and your success and the compliments that go with it, is earned! Send some of that willpower and determination my way, I NEED it! Good for you, keep it up!

 

[AmyBeth68]

Just read through your journal and I am so very happy for you and all your success! I LOVE the bus story...what a wonderful affirmation of all your hard work and dedication!

Also, thank you so much for taking the time to stop by my journal . It's so nice to see others come and read about my journey. I know that I find everyone on here to be inspiring . So thank you so much for your support!

Great job and congratulations on your successes!!!

 

[CJK]

Thanks so much everyone! Your comments really mean the world to me.

My week has gone pretty well. I have one more Christmas gift to buy and I hope to finish wrapping this weekend. This coming week is the official beginning of many social gatherings of the season. Eek! The good news is that I'm hosting two of them, so I will have more control over what is being served. The next 3 weeks will be difficult. I had initially wanted to continue losing through Christmas, but I think that's unrealistic. The food choices over a period of 7 days will be VERY fattening, exercise will be reduced and drinking water will be difficult with all the bouncing around to house to house. I will still watch portions and exercise when I can however. My goal will be to maintain and if I miraculously lose weight, that'll be a bonus!

I'm down another pound making me 8lbs away from my first goal. Of course, my two scales are still 8lb different. According to one scale, I'm practically AT goal and according to the other, I'm 8lbs heavier. Go figure!

Have a great weekend! Tonight is pizza night so I'm anxious for hubby to get home!

 

[traceycooper]

Hi CJK
That sounds sensible, trying to maintain will be hard enough (for me anyway!!)
Although knowing you & how awesome you are doing it wouldnt suprise me at all if you continue to lose throughout christmas!
Enjoy the pizza

 

[CACruisin']

CJK you have a very realistic plan in place for the holidays. Great job!!!

8 lb variance - Wow. Good for you taking the heavier of the two. Can you get a real weight at dr's office or maybe try out a third scale someplace else? Wouldn't be an awesome surprise if the lighter scale was the correct one? 8lb difference on the scales would drive me nuts! Can you tell I don't like "unknowns" ...

Have a great weekend and enjoy your pizza night!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

CJK-you are doing an amazing job! i think your plan for the next couple weeks, maintaining, is a good idea..holidays are crazy and you dont want to drive yourself crazy..you are SO close to goal!! have a great weekend!

 

[Amy&Dan]

CJK: the best thing you can do you have done: being realistic and not setting yourself up for failure! And you want to enjoy the holidays so why stress about trying to lose? Good for you! Hope pizza night was fun. I would just average those two scales and say you are 4 pounds from goal! Anyway you slice it, you have done so incredilby well have much to be proud of!

 

[lovinaz]

You are doing great. I think maintaining during the holidays is a very good plan. And if you do manage to lose, it's an extra bonus!! Keep it up, you will be at your goal soon! And I'd toss the scale that was 8lbs heavier, that's just the way I am... I'd get some weights (like dumbells) and weigh them and see which scale shows the correct weight. Then you can toss the scale that is wrong!

 

[CJK]

Thanks everyone!! Thanks for the tips re: our scale dilemma! I think I will weigh some barbells on the scales and figure out which scale is correct. Thanks!

I'm starting off my Monday in a lousy mood! First, I weighed myself and was UP 2lbs. Intellectually, I know that it can't be real weight (since I stayed in my allowed calories all weekend), but it still bothers me. I had a lot of salt yesterday and didn't drink enough water. The kicker is that we're having company 3 times this week so it's no fun starting the busy FOOD week off by a showed weight gain on the scale.

In my attempt to make healthy food choices, I made a low-fat cheesecake last night, to be served tonight. Well, the cheesecake split open after cooking. Why does that happen? So much for serving a beautiful looking cheesecake. Dh and I sampled the cake tomorrow to make sure it was company-worthy. Dh said that it was, "okay". It definitely tasted a little healthy. I'm worried that our company will hate it! Argh!!!!!!!

I have a million things to do today to get ready for tonight and it's no fun starting the day off feeling so lousy. I'm going to run on the treadmill in an hour or so. Hopefully that will help me feel better. Sorry to vent, but I figured this was better than eating another piece of cheesecake!! Have a great day!

 

[traceycooper]

Hi CJK
Hope your day gets better!
Sending some to help
Sorry the scale is not behaving!
How do you make low-fat cheesecake, i would be interested in that recipe.
I'm sure your company will love it

 

[CACruisin']

I hope your run helped you feel better today. Bummer on the 2lbs, but I'm sure you are right about the salt. Just drink lots and lots of water this week. If you slice the cheesecake before you serve it, no one will know about the split. I'm sure your company will love it either way.

 

[lovinaz]

I made a low fat pumpkin cheesecake and it split too. They are very finicky creatures. I did get a cheat sheet on how to prevent cracking, I will have to make another one to see if the tips work! I'm sure everyone will love it, no matter what it looks like. You could always put some whipped cream on it to hid the crack (that's what I did!).

Don't worry about the scale going up. If you know that you ate within your limits, it is just water retention. I know it's easy to get frustrated by that number on the scale, but just try to keep doing what you are doing and try to stay positive.

 

[CJK]

Thanks everyone. Sorry I've been MIA again. The last few days have been full of Christmas parties and lots of disappointing news. As I sit here, I'm struggling with my mood. But first the good news!

Wasn't the BL finale fantastic last night? They've all done so amazingly well and deserve a lot of credit. Talk about inspiring!! It really makes me think that WE CAN ALL DO IT too!!

I've continued with my water, healthy eating and exercising as much as possible during all of these Christmas parties. I baked some cookies and didn't eat a single one for dh to bring to work. I did have one glass of wine per party (a far cry from 3 like I would have done). I'm proud of how I've done, but the scale isn't cooperating!

I did drop one pound this week (the mysterious 2lb gain disappeared thankfully). I've just been confronted with some family stress and disappointment. Another couple was going to go on a Disney cruise with us in the new year, but they have had to cancel. Another dear friend just told me that she and her husband are separating. I'm just heartbroken b/c I love both of them. I want to do something to help, but I haven't a clue what to do. I just heard some disturbing family stuff pertaining to Christmas which is difficult to handle. It's funny how we hear bad news in three's!

Normally when I'm stressed, I EAT, but I'm not doing that now. I'm just letting myself feel everything. Wow!

Oh wait, I don't want to end on such a down note. The good news is that a dear friend was here earlier this week who I hadn't seen since early September. Anyway, he commented on my weightloss which was nice to hear. But what meant the most, was how he said I have a new "glow" about me. My skin and hair seem to be shining he said. Basically, he said that I seem so healthy overall. I told him that he could come for dinner again.

Have a great weekend!

 

[bekkiz]

It's so nice to have people notice all of your hard work!

I'm so sorry you're haviing some added stress over the already stressful holidays. It is such a hard time, but good for you for sticking to your guns and not munching. I really want a chocolate chip cookie, and it's taking every ounce of will power to just say no!

I saw the winner of BL on TV this morning--what an inspiring story. I only wish I could maintain that kind of dedication.

 

[traceycooper]

So sorry about all the sad news CJK, it seems to feel all the more sad at this time of year too. Just be there for your friends who have seperated - both of them, & make sure they both know that, so they wont think your taking sides.
Congratulations on losing the mystery 2lb's plus another 1lb
That IS something to celebrate, remember as you've lost more & more the weight loss will slow down, this is when a lot of people 'give in' but i know your not one of those people, as you have shown amazing will power & still are!!!
Hope all the other stressful stuff calms down!
That was lovely what your friend said to you, & just the motivation we all need to carry on, tell him he can come to mine for tea too if he's nice

 

[CJK]

Thanks so much to everyone for humouring me during my unecessary pity party. It's comforting to know that I can really be myself here which, as you've noticed, ain't always pretty!

Today is going great! The scale showed a 2lb loss and I'm wearing SIZE 8 jeans!!! They're old jeans from my skinny days that I thought I'd try on for heck of it and they fit (still a little tight on calves and waist), but fit perfectly everywhere else and absolutely wearable! Woohoo!! I just may have to go shopping soon!

I had a really good Taebo workout today and am ready to conquer the weekend and all the food temptation it brings. Have a wonderful weekend everyone. I'm going to try to get to all your journals later today.

 

[CJK]

The scale saga has been resolved........sorta!!!!!!

This afternoon, dh stood on our two scales that are 8lbs out from each other. We then brought the scales downstairs to our little gym where he weighed himself again on both scales (to ensure that the numbers didn't change from moving the scales). They were the same. We then proceeded to put 115lbs of weights on each scale. The verdict? The heavier scale was 4lbs too high and the lighter scale was 1lb too low. We concluded that the more weight that is on the scale, the further out the scales go. Sooo, we've concluded that to be safe, we likely weigh 2lbs heavier than the number on the lower scale. Does this make sense or am I rambling??

Anyway, the point is, I've been going by the heavier scale and now I realize I should be going by the lighter scale (plus adding approx. 2lbs) which means I'm now AT my initial goal!! Woohoo! I'm still going to try to lose a few more pounds so as to fit into my pants a bit better. My 8's are still a little tight on the waist and I have a few cotton pants I'd like to fit into without having the pockets bulge. But still, it's nice to know that I'm almost into the 140's.

Thanks for sticking with me! I'm off to read your journals. Have a wonderful final week before Christmas!