WISH Away the Pounds **Maddening March Challenge** All Welcome

[Flossbolna]

I am just not finding the time to answer to everyone, so sorry!!

Helen, congratulations on the new PR! I would love to be able to run faster, I just never seem to get there. At the moment I am just happy to be running at all! But I think having that regular challenge of a timed race is wonderful. I wish we had something like this here...

Lisa, that is interesting about your running group. I am thinking about joining one here as well. I have to be honest, I am kind of afraid to go there not because of being afraid of not being able to stay with the group, but because I can be a little bit shy about new people who already know each other.

Pamela, the Space Mountain Lisa posted is the one in Paris. It is so wonderful! My sister were at DLP for the first time in the summer that it opened in 1995. The don't have a Tomorrowland, but a Discoveryland and it is all themed to Jules Verne. The Space Mountain was originally called De la Terre a la Lune (from the Earth to the Moon) after the novel where they shoot a rocket with a cannon to the moon. It is a launched coaster and the start of the launch is outside through the cannon (you can see it on the right side of the picture). Now they changed it to Mission II, but it is still great, even if I think the original one was better. It is also much wilder than the American Space Mountains, think more along the lines of Rock'n Roller Coaster.

Hope you all have a great weekend. I seem to be doing well so far. Yesterday ended up having a snack of sunflower seed which was far too many points. Well, at least it was something healthy, not empty sugar calories.

A few weeks ago I bought the Weight Watchers magazine (not sure whether you have one in the US as well?) as I thought it might be something motivating. Last week I finally got around to try out a recipe from there and I absolutely loved it. It was quick and very tasty. I changed it a bit, but was very happy that I have another easy dish that I can put into my regular rotation. Tonight I am going to try another dish. Will try and put the first one into the recipe thread sometime next week!

 

[willonlyflytodisney]

Morning, all! I, for one, was not so pleased to spring forward as I really wanted the extra sleep haha But, with the extra hour, I'm able to do my laundry today, which I desperately need haha

My mother's adult bat mitzvah was yesterday, and had a reception afterwards at a great Mexican restaurant. Twas a great party, the food was delicious! But, the margaritas was CRAZY strong! I went home and took a nap! Ready to be back on plan today!

It's a dream of mine to marry someone with a large family. I even think about having four kids, just so that I can create a large family of my own. That idea of a loud, boisterous family, where there is just so much love, that it can get crazy and overwhelming - that's the kind of family I always wanted.

Instead... I have two parents in the city, and everyone else in NJ. For my parents, its a schlep to get to any family function, for the rest of the family, its a schlep to come see them in the city. So, as a result, no one makes an effort to see each other. As a result, family functions like these are usually filled with apologies for not staying in touch, and awkward moments of feeling like you are encroaching on a clique of people where you don't belong.

Oh, well. Maybe one day I'll meet that handsome someone and he'll have a giant family attached, where people call each other all the time with mundane family issues, and everyone shows up for the smallest events, and there is always food and love and laughter.

Anyway, the reason I'm telling you all of this is because having a distant family who you don't see very often means that they are usually very good at noticing small changes, like new clothes, a new haircut, or losing weight. Of course, this means they also notice bad changes, too, like gaining weight, and have no problem saying so haha

For this event, I bought a new dress, I felt so great about the way it made me look and feel, and I was ready for my overly critical family to finally tell me some nice things about my body. But, it seemed everyone had their own issues and problems this month that they wanted to tell me about, and I went home feeling not so great.

I know what other people think about me shouldn't matter, especially a family that I rarely see, but it did. It took some time, but I decided instead of wallowing about it, to just keep striving towards my goal, because that's what will make ME happy. And if other people see it, then, great. If not, who cares? Because, I will be happy with myself, and that's all that matters.

aaaaand end rant.

Well I managed to have a good week finally! Down 4.5lbs. Of course I was up from 2 weeks of eating junk due to kitchen remodel so I was hoping that would come back off quick.

I'm so frustrated though w/my foot issue. I think with all the up on a ladder and reaching I found my foot hurting I think due to standing on my toes a lot. From my big toe joint on the top of the foot and running straight up the top of the foot towards the ankle. Of course just when I get motivated to start exercising. So I've taken a break for the last 4 days and it's better but I took 2 aleve and got on the treadmill today. We'll see how the foot feels when the pain meds wear off

Congrats on the loss and hope you are back running soon!

grrrrrrr!!!! I'm up today and really up from last week!! ugh I hate water retention!! I know that I did not eat the calories I would've had to in order to truly gain what the scale said but UGH so frustrating!! I will have to use this WI to motivate me to be extra super good the coming week and flush the fluff back out, or I will never make my march goal!!

Sending good vibes for next week!

Happy Friday all! I hope everyone had good weeks and saw some progress. I'm close to 2 lbs down so I'm hoping I can keep that moving. Need lots of progress to fit any of my vacation clothes for our cruise in May!

WTG!

Friday - are we allowed to say "behind closed doors" however I do love an upbeat song and a few 80's dance moves! also I love to do a bit of my wii boxing..

I'll be skipping my WW meeting and WI this week.. my Grandmother isn't doing soo well - had her last rites last week and we are heading up to see her for weekend . I'll see you all monday! Michelle

This was the most rollercoaster of emotion post. I'm so sad to hear about your grandmother, but "behind closed doors" was one of the funniest answers I've read on here haha. Sending good vibes for your family.

Thanks for letting me vent here! I am already feeling better!

That's what we're here for! Besides, you had such great things to report as well! Hope you are enjoying Jillian's videos!

First check-in down 2 pounds from the 1st. I'll take it!

I have been well hydrated today. Tomorrow's run is 8 miles. It's been a while since I've gone that far. Long while.

I am thinking about doing the Princess HM next year. Having a training goal is really important to keeping me on track. It'll never be this cheap again!

Maybe I'll do every runDisney race ONCE. But I want to do the full again in 2018 (25th anniv). All the others, just once.

Everyone have a great weekend!

Sounds like you've got some great goals ahead of you!!

Happy Friday Everyone!
I was down 2+ pounds this week! Thanks for the forum to get me going again.

WTG! Great work!

QOTD Saturday, March 8, 2014 and Sunday, March 9, 2014: How are you planning on using your extra hour of daylight? Even if you don't "spring ahead" the days are getting longer.

I don't really have a "neighborhood" in my area, so I'm hoping to use the extra daylight to walk past where I live to some great coffee shops and restaurants in my surrounding areas!

Continuing prayers that your heat comes on and stays on and that life will settle down for you!!

Thanks, Pamela! Good to see you back! Happy your DS is home safe and sound, and that things are winding down for you!

On the running front, I scored a NSV this morning, beat my PB by a cool 15 seconds!!!! I can now run 5K in 31:57!!!!! Way to Go. I tucked in behind the 32 minute pacer, stayed with her all the way, then overtook her on the home straight!!! Must confess that I had a caffeine boost gel before the race, so it obviously helped!!!! (Never tried one before)

How awesome! Good for you!

Hello from sunny California! It was a gorgeous day today, about 82 degrees and just the thing to get me in the mood for spring/summer. Worked for a couple hours and then did some shopping with my sons which I'll count towards physical activity.

Hope everyone enjoys their Sunday.

INCREDIBLY jealous of your weather! I cannot wait until the summer, and even then, I am considering moving back to Florida, just for the sunshine.

That is the one of the great things about this group is that we have folks of all ages and abilities working toward the same goal of healthy living.

Right?! I love that about this group.

I was really nervous yesterday, because I cannot honestly remember the last time I ran outside--probably December. I have been seeing some good times on my indoor track work and doing great with the cross training, but you never know. Anyhow it went really well. 6.2 miles in 71 min~ run 5 min walk 3 min. I wanted to see if I could take that long of a break and still stay below 12 min miles. There were some significant hills on this run and I powered up them despite running on the indoor track all winter. Thank you AMT machine. I was pooped at the end, but recovered quickly and other than some sore glutes (probably from the hills and speed) I feel great today. So my goal long term is a sub one hour 10k and to continue the 5:3 for longer runs (1/2 marathon training).

Sounds like you are making super strides (literally!)!!

A few weeks ago I bought the Weight Watchers magazine (not sure whether you have one in the US as well?) as I thought it might be something motivating. Last week I finally got around to try out a recipe from there and I absolutely loved it. It was quick and very tasty. I changed it a bit, but was very happy that I have another easy dish that I can put into my regular rotation. Tonight I am going to try another dish. Will try and put the first one into the recipe thread sometime next week!

Glad to hear that you like the mag! I was thinking about getting a subscription!

 

[Rose&Mike]

WOFTD--I grew up as the oldest of 5 and my DS is an only child. We live no where near any of our family, and my DH's parents and only sibling are deceased. So I totally get what you are saying. I didn't think it bothered DS too much growing up (we had some great neighbors who kind of took him in as part of their extended family), but every once in a while he will make a comment that makes me think he wishes we would have done better with keeping in touch with everyone. It is really hard. We are 500+ miles away from everyone. Anyhow, I totally got what you are saying.

I am still struggling here, to be perfectly honest. The only thing that I KNOW I need to change is my exercise level... but I'm having trouble convincing myself to get moving. I think it is the cold and snow and dark.... a bunch of excuses, I know, but so true right now. I am SO TIRED Of being cold! But there is some light at the end of the tunnel..... already I can see the days getting longer and with this weekend's clock change it will be even better! And with a high predicted to be about 45 today, I am planning to head outside for a nice long walk after lunch.... even though DH and DD won't go with me..... (DS is at production company all day).

SO glad to be caught up! It makes me feel so much better!..............P

The exercise has been challenging for me this year--especially February. The weather was just brutal and it was so hard to force myself to go to the gym.

Anyhow, my suggestion--set a 'public' goal. Maybe join the exercise thread for the rest of the month and commit to so many minutes per month.

I set a goal for 2014 that in addition to my mile a day that I would get 2014 minutes of exercise per month. February was BRUTAL. But so far, so good. Mike set a push up goal for the year. I think unless you have a specific goal or expectation of I will do xx amount per day no matter what, exercise in the winter is just one of those things that is just too easy to skip.

****
Ok, friends, I am starving, fighting half a headache, feeling fatigued, etc and I know it is junky carb withdrawal. One minute I think--potato chips and coke would be so good and I would feel better (very short term of course) and the next minute I am able to remind myself that these cruddy feelings are short term and that I will feel better in a couple of days if I just stick with it.

Mike is doing the shopping and then I am going to make some paleo cookies and some paleo pudding for later and hopefully that will help me get through the next couple of days. We are having avocado egg salad lettuce wraps for dinner.

 

[lloydy]

WOFTD--I grew up as the oldest of 5 and my DS is an only child. We live no where near any of our family, and my DH's parents and only sibling are deceased. So I totally get what you are saying. I didn't think it bothered DS too much growing up (we had some great neighbors who kind of took him in as part of their extended family), but every once in a while he will make a comment that makes me think he wishes we would have done better with keeping in touch with everyone. It is really hard. We are 500+ miles away from everyone. Anyhow, I totally got what you are saying.


The exercise has been challenging for me this year--especially February. The weather was just brutal and it was so hard to force myself to go to the gym.

Anyhow, my suggestion--set a 'public' goal. Maybe join the exercise thread for the rest of the month and commit to so many minutes per month.

I set a goal for 2014 that in addition to my mile a day that I would get 2014 minutes of exercise per month. February was BRUTAL. But so far, so good. Mike set a push up goal for the year. I think unless you have a specific goal or expectation of I will do xx amount per day no matter what, exercise in the winter is just one of those things that is just too easy to skip.

****
Ok, friends, I am starving, fighting half a headache, feeling fatigued, etc and I know it is junky carb withdrawal. One minute I think--potato chips and coke would be so good and I would feel better (very short term of course) and the next minute I am able to remind myself that these cruddy feelings are short term and that I will feel better in a couple of days if I just stick with it.

Mike is doing the shopping and then I am going to make some paleo cookies and some paleo pudding for later and hopefully that will help me get through the next couple of days. We are having avocado egg salad lettuce wraps for dinner.

I am sorry I don't know how to squeeze the quote down, but I wanted to say I support this. I have such a different response to housework and activity generally when the sun is out. I was never sure if it was SAD syndrome.

Some places here in the UK had 19 degrees today and I dried 3 loads of washing on the line in the garden. ( last one was a bit damp). I had a huge smile across my face as I walked the dogs down our country lane and was just glad to be out in it! We had a coffee sat in the garden, for the first time since around September last year. Changed all the beds and did some housework, so keeping on the move to try and burn off a few more ounces.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Carla Rae! It's never to late to join one of our challenges. Sounds like you've already sent in your info so you are good to go. Tell us some more about your sweet gliders -- I remember them from another challenge -- they are so cute!

I don't know if I would go with sweet. They are total brats!
This is a very old pic, when the twins were still babies, but it is the only one I have of all 4 of them together. And the secret is that it is really only the three on the bottom are actually together. I photoshopped Oswald (the white one) into the shot ). My boys are Oswald (the lucky rabbit) as I said, Timothy (Dumbo) and Sebastian (little mermaid) are the twins on the outside and Raja (Aladdin) is the lighter faced one in the center. (also have a cat named Belle. I am a wee bit Disney obsessed)

Timmy as a baby

Sebastian showing off his "wings"

Awesome!


I am so glad the new running group is working out so well!

I was really nervous yesterday, because I cannot honestly remember the last time I ran outside--probably December. I have been seeing some good times on my indoor track work and doing great with the cross training, but you never know. Anyhow it went really well. 6.2 miles in 71 min~ run 5 min walk 3 min. I wanted to see if I could take that long of a break and still stay below 12 min miles. There were some significant hills on this run and I powered up them despite running on the indoor track all winter. Thank you AMT machine. I was pooped at the end, but recovered quickly and other than some sore glutes (probably from the hills and speed) I feel great today. So my goal long term is a sub one hour 10k and to continue the 5:3 for longer runs (1/2 marathon training).


Last night we had lentil 'barbecue' over cauliflower rice. Normally we would have made gf pasta. I actually really liked the cauliflower rice and with the food processor it was easy to make, just really messy.

Way to go! I did skip my run today in order to go shopping, so I have no clue how far I have fallen off.

Sounds tasty.

It's a dream of mine to marry someone with a large family. I even think about having four kids, just so that I can create a large family of my own. That idea of a loud, boisterous family, where there is just so much love, that it can get crazy and overwhelming - that's the kind of family I always wanted.

I have the family you want. Aunts, Uncles, Cousins. A simple summer BBQ is a "thing" with 30+ people. Its absolutely wonderful, but a bit heart breaking as well. My grandmother was one of 7 kids. She and her siblings stayed very close so all of their children grew up as "siblings" even though they were cousins. My mom is one of 6 kids. The kicker is that with 6 kids, my grandmother only has 7 grandchildren. Us 4 girl grandchildren have remained close to the family, but the 3 boy cousins kinda went away. We haven't seen 2 of my cousins in 10 years (but I am friends with them on Facebook). The other male cousin only comes around for Christmas. One granddaughter doesn't plan on having children. Another has a 12 year old son and doesn't plan on having any more and the other has a 3.5 year old boy and despite her best attempts he might be an only child too. It took her 5 years to get him and she has been trying for #2 since he was born with no success. Dh wants an only child when we finally get around to the baby thing. That will make the next generation 3 cousins total. Its tough to watch. My childhood was FILLED with 1st, 2nd and 3rd cousins and Tanner and Tommy only have each other and they are 9 years apart.

But on to happier notes, we did go to Tommy Bahama today and I scored $800 worth of clothes (5 pieces if you don't know much about Tommy Bahama prices) for $350. One of the dresses I bought retails for $220! Total steal!

 

[Rose&Mike]

Carla Rae--those gliders sure are cute!

I am 2/10ths of a (.2) pound from being back in the healthy bmi range, and at the lowest since November 13. So exciting! So happy to be back in the 150s and less than 20 pounds from goal.

Getting out of the 160s has been a real mental challenge for me, so feeling great, but....remember all those medical tests I had last fall? Well she gave me a clean bill of health and said nothing to worry about unless I started spotting again. Guess what happened this morning. Ugh. I actually am feeling like this might be a full blown t.o.m. What a p i t a. I am guessing I am now off to the gyn for more tests. I really think this is nothing--many people online with the same issues, but it is just not something that can be completely ignored because when it is something, it is a bad something.

But I am finally losing again! Back in the 150s! No stress eating today! (That's me telling myself no stress eating today. ).

 

[lisah0711]

Good morning all!

image Disney (c)

If you can dream it, you can do it. -- Walt Disney

It's Motivational Monday! Today's 5 tips to help motivate you to diet success come from webmd.com.

It turns out that the key to losing and keeping weight off isn't simply a matter of what you eat or how much you exercise - it's your attitude. Lasting weight loss is a slow process and it's all too easy to give up before you reach your goal. With the right psychological tools your chances of diet success can be greatly improved.

Diet Motivation Tip 1: Set Realistic Goals for Diet Success
The first step to maintaining your mojo should take place before you cut a single calorie. In fact, one of the strongest predictors of long-term diet success lies in setting the right goal at the start. "If you set unattainable goals, such as losing 30 pounds in just a few months, you're setting yourself up to fail," says Ann Kulze, MD, author of Dr. Ann's 10-Step Diet: A Simple Plan for Permanent Weight Loss and Lifelong Vitality. Instead, you'll be more likely to stick with a diet if you "focus on your health and create sensible eating strategies," says Kulze. Setting smaller, attainable benchmarks, like losing 5 pounds or a single dress size, will give you the confidence to continue.

Diet Motivation Tip 2: Go Slow
Diet success entails making real lifestyle changes, and that doesn't happen overnight. "You have a better chance at keeping the weight off if you lose it slowly. People who are starving get irritable and have a higher failure rate," Kulze tells WebMD. "If you cut back 200 calories a day, you won't even realize it and the weight will come off and stay off." If you keep in mind that optimal weight loss is 1 to 2 pounds a week, you'll be less frustrated

Diet Motivation Tip 3: Expect Setbacks
Everyone is bound to give in to temptation (hello, hot fudge sundae) from time to time. The danger isn't a single splurge but letting it become an excuse for an all-out binge. Call it the "I've already blown it so I might as well eat the entire bag of Oreos" syndrome.

Diet Motivation Tip 4: Don't Be a Perfectionist
So what do you do if you've scarfed down a pint of ice cream before noon? "Perfectionist thinking gets in the way of success more than anything I know," according to Vicki Saunders, RD, who oversees the inpatient weight loss and lifestyle program called Transformations at St. Helena Hospital in Napa, Calif. "A 100-calorie indulgence is just that. But if it's perceived as a failure and a reason to give up, it can turn into a thousand-calorie indulgence." Bottom line when you slip up: Forget about it. Tomorrow is a new (healthier) day.

Diet Motivation Tip 5: Use the Buddy System
"It's hard to make major lifestyle changes when you're swimming upstream by yourself," says Saunders. Finding other people with similar goals can greatly improve yours odds of diet success. When your spirit - or willpower - flags, having people to call on can provide the support you need to continue. Saunders recommends looking for people at your local gym or Y, Overeaters Anonymous, or an online support group. "Having a support group to turn to, whether it's your family or people in a weight-loss chat room, can make all the difference" for diet success.

Here is a link to the entire article if you are interested http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/diet-motivation-tips?page=1

QOTD Mondsay, March 10, 2014: What helps you to feel motivated on this journey to healthy living? Is it one of the ideas above or maybe something else?

BBL with replies and my own answer . . . thanks to the time change I feel like I am already behind with my day and it's not even 6 a.m.

 

[Flossbolna]

Happy Monday everyone!

We are still continuing with the most brilliant spring weather here. After winter was a non-event we now have what feels like the best spring ever! It is over 60 degrees outside and brilliant sunshine! Spent my lunch break soaking it up. And the forecast is that it will last for the rest of the week.

Maybe a coincidence or not, but diet life is looking much brighter as well. I am sooooo prouf of me for something which I think I would have been able to do just a few months ago. Since the week of my birthday in November was very stressful, I had promised my colleagues to bring cake/muffins at some later time. Of course then Christmas happened etc., so I never got around to bake something for my colleagues. Now my nicest colleague is leaving at the end of the week and reminded me that I still "owe" him cake. So I made lovely apple-spice-cupcakes. They smelled delicious! But once they were baked, I put all the ingredients into the WW calculator and came out with 7 points for just one of them!!! I briefly thought about eating only a half, but then knew that it would be far too easy for the second half to be quickly eaten as well. So, I packed them all up, brought them to work, made my colleagues happy and did not eat any of them!!!

I have to admit that I had some batter while making them, but counted 2 points for that yesterday.

One of my biggest problem in the recent months was not being able to withstand temptations. At WW online I can choose certain routines that I want to implement in my life, I started originally with eating breakfast and sleeping mor than 7 hours every night. It really helped me in this regard and I feel that my life has improved because of that. Now the two things I have chosen are "to think about whether the points are worth it before eating something" and to take breaks while eating, i.e. eating slower. I am feeling like I am making progress there. Very happy!!

QOTD Mondsay, March 10, 2014: What helps you to feel motivated on this journey to healthy living? Is it one of the ideas above or maybe something else?

defintely the Buddy-System! Meaning this thread by it! It often gives me the kick in motivation when I need it!

Another thing I have come up with recently: try to not be stuck with eating the same stuff over and over again. it becomes boring and therefore your mind is more likely to want all those treats, just because it wants variety. Trying out new recipes really helped me in the last two weeks to stay motivated. I guess the same also goes for exercise. If you do the same thing over and over again, it becomes boring, spice it up now and then if you can't be bothered with the same routine anymore.

 

[ohMom]

Magdalene -- that was a HUGE success with the cupcakes!!!

happy to report a successful weekend! DH was in a weight loss challenge and had his final WI this morning, so we were on a pact to eat right this weekend. it's only one weekend but it's a step and it feels good to hit Monday not feeling defeated and guilty. my weekends aren't horrible, but we do usually eat out once and I'm not great about tracking my food. I went to the gym on sat which was a first in several months (been WO at home) and it felt good too, DD and I are hitting the gym again after school today. I really hope the change up in my WO will show on the scale in the next few weeks

great motivating tips!! I think I them all... I need to remember that setbacks are par for the course and not let it become a downward spiral

 

[RoyalMom]

hi Folks.

I had a pretty crummy and less-than-motivated week, resulting in a less-than-satisfactory result on my weight loss journey, so I started today on a high note, quite literally (belting out "Let It Go" over and over, once I had the place to myself)

to answer the QOTD "What helps you to feel motivated on this journey to healthy living?":

The onset of warmer weather and my weekly chiropractic visit. And maybe the prospect of playing Elsa when Frozen goes to Broadway...


Have a great day, people!

*edit: the cold actually DOES bother me, so maybe it's not the part for me, LOL!

 

[willonlyflytodisney]

Good morning, all!

Feeling good this morning! Probably because I chose to sleep in, and work out tonight instead of this morning haha

I'm applying to a job today at my old high school and something about it feels SO right, so I'm praying and wishing and hoping that this is my light at the end of the tunnel!! Fingers crossed!

WOFTD--I grew up as the oldest of 5 and my DS is an only child. We live no where near any of our family, and my DH's parents and only sibling are deceased. So I totally get what you are saying. I didn't think it bothered DS too much growing up (we had some great neighbors who kind of took him in as part of their extended family), but every once in a while he will make a comment that makes me think he wishes we would have done better with keeping in touch with everyone. It is really hard. We are 500+ miles away from everyone. Anyhow, I totally got what you are saying.

Thanks - I'm sure it is a grass is always greener thing.

The exercise has been challenging for me this year--especially February. The weather was just brutal and it was so hard to force myself to go to the gym.

Anyhow, my suggestion--set a 'public' goal. Maybe join the exercise thread for the rest of the month and commit to so many minutes per month.

That's an excellent idea! It is incredibly difficult to stay motivated in this cold, dreary, weather. I told my family I would be finished with Power 90 the week after Easter, because I knew come Easter, they would ask me about it. I feel much more accountable now!

I am sorry I don't know how to squeeze the quote down, but I wanted to say I support this. I have such a different response to housework and activity generally when the sun is out. I was never sure if it was SAD syndrome.

Two things - 1) To squeeze the quote down, just delete what you don't want to be shown.

2) My half-sister has SAD and I always wondered if I did, too, because of the way that sunlight affects me. But, sometimes it is just that - Vitamin D kicking in to help us out.

How cute are they?!?!

I have the family you want.

As I said, grass is always greener. I know a lot of people who grew up as only children and ended up marrying into a huge family that feels totally overwhelming to them, and they really miss the solitude. So, to each their own, I guess.

I am 2/10ths of a (.2) pound from being back in the healthy bmi range, and at the lowest since November 13. So exciting! So happy to be back in the 150s and less than 20 pounds from goal.

CONGRATS! As someone who is 3 pounds away from that BMI goal, I think that is AWESOME!!! WTG!

Getting out of the 160s has been a real mental challenge for me, so feeling great, but....remember all those medical tests I had last fall? Well she gave me a clean bill of health and said nothing to worry about unless I started spotting again. Guess what happened this morning. Ugh. I actually am feeling like this might be a full blown t.o.m. What a p i t a. I am guessing I am now off to the gyn for more tests. I really think this is nothing--many people online with the same issues, but it is just not something that can be completely ignored because when it is something, it is a bad something.

Sending lots of that is just spotting and nothing more.

QOTD Mondsay, March 10, 2014: What helps you to feel motivated on this journey to healthy living? Is it one of the ideas above or maybe something else?

Weight loss is the one thing that I have control over right now. I can't control the heat in my apartment, I can't control who gives me an interview for a job, I can't control making new friends, and I certainly cannot control this crazy weather. For the time being (until I hit a plateau), I can control my weight.

When nothing feels right, and I feel lost, I get to look in the mirror and see how far I've come, and that motivates me to keep going. I think it was actually Pamela who inspired my inner monologue. She said something along the lines of why you shouldn't eat junk when something bad happens, because after you are finished eating poorly, the bad thing will still feel bad, AND you'll feel worse for having eaten so much junk.

Now, whenever I feel like stress eating or munching on sweets (which I now purposely don't keep in the house), I remind myself that I was in the same situation in January as I am now. Low paying job that I hate, no heat, and confused about life. In two months, I am now in the same place, but instead of also feeling bad about my body, I've lost 17 pounds.

So, thank you, WISH board, for keeping me going.

We are still continuing with the most brilliant spring weather here. After winter was a non-event we now have what feels like the best spring ever! It is over 60 degrees outside and brilliant sunshine! Spent my lunch break soaking it up. And the forecast is that it will last for the rest of the week.

JEALOUS!!!! Send some of that weather over here!

I briefly thought about eating only a half, but then knew that it would be far too easy for the second half to be quickly eaten as well. So, I packed them all up, brought them to work, made my colleagues happy and did not eat any of them!!!

WTG!!!

That's awesome!

------

I forgot to share a funny story with y'all!

Yesterday, I went food shopping while my laundry was going, and I realized I was washing all the pants that fit me right now. Everything else is too big. So, I put on a pair of jeans that I thought sorta-kinda-fit, but I haven't worn in awhile. I knew they were going to be loose when I put them on, but I didn't think it would be a problem.

Well, fast forward to me standing in the grocery store, bending down to get some laughing cow cheese, and then standing back up. Only problem - my pants did not get back up with me!!!

Thank goodness the only person who saw was a little girl, who laughed her head off. But, I was able to get them back up before anyone else knew what had happened.

Ah, the downfalls of losing weight. I most definitely need to go shopping!!!!

 

[Raenstoirm]

Today is my official weigh in day and I am down .8. It is good, but oh so frustrating! I have the pinterest bead jar thing going and I HATE not being able to move a bead this week! (for those that haven't seen it, you start with two identical jars. You put a bead in one jar for every pound between you and your goal weight. As you lose, you move a bead from the "to be lost" jar to the "gone forever" jar. Its a good visual and a good reminder of your goals without being really obvious to others. Its pretty too!). So I didn't get to move a bead this week. Grr.

On a positive note, I ran a 7:30 mile pace in gym class this morning without having to stop before we were instructed to. Its the fastest I have been able to maintain, so I am thrilled!

 

[Raenstoirm]

I forgot to share a funny story with y'all!

Yesterday, I went food shopping while my laundry was going, and I realized I was washing all the pants that fit me right now. Everything else is too big. So, I put on a pair of jeans that I thought sorta-kinda-fit, but I haven't worn in awhile. I knew they were going to be loose when I put them on, but I didn't think it would be a problem.

Well, fast forward to me standing in the grocery store, bending down to get some laughing cow cheese, and then standing back up. Only problem - my pants did not get back up with me!!!

Thank goodness the only person who saw was a little girl, who laughed her head off. But, I was able to get them back up before anyone else knew what had happened.

Ah, the downfalls of losing weight. I most definitely need to go shopping!!!!

Oh thats awesome! The exact same thing happened to me, mid marathon. I had to hold my pants up for the next 12 miles!

 

[Flossbolna]

Ah, the downfalls of losing weight. I most definitely need to go shopping!!!!

yes, at least for a belt!!!

great story!

 

[pjlla]

Well.... I took about an hour earlier this morning, did lots of replies, answered the QOTD, etc.... and now I see it never posted!! Okay Poof Fairy... you win!

Well... I said lots of wonderful and witty things, congratulated EVERYONE on their NSVs, great run times, was equally sympathetic and empathetic to everyone going through tough times, was very motivating and motivated, and of course, was totally insightful in my answer to the QOTD.... but of course all of that hard work is GONE!

Suffice it to say I am well, life is going along okay, home today to do laundry, etc. Snow coming later in the week but I enjoyed last night's extra daylight.

Off to make lunch for myself, DD, and DH...................P

 

[WannaBinPictures]

Today is my official weigh in day and I am down .8. It is good, but oh so frustrating! I have the pinterest bead jar thing going and I HATE not being able to move a bead this week! (for those that haven't seen it, you start with two identical jars. You put a bead in one jar for every pound between you and your goal weight. As you lose, you move a bead from the "to be lost" jar to the "gone forever" jar. Its a good visual and a good reminder of your goals without being really obvious to others. Its pretty too!).

I love this!! I think I've heard of it before, but forgot about it. I think I am going to do this. Like you said what a great visual, and to answer the QOTD a great motivator too!

I forgot to share a funny story with y'all!

Yesterday, I went food shopping while my laundry was going, and I realized I was washing all the pants that fit me right now. Everything else is too big. So, I put on a pair of jeans that I thought sorta-kinda-fit, but I haven't worn in awhile. I knew they were going to be loose when I put them on, but I didn't think it would be a problem.

Well, fast forward to me standing in the grocery store, bending down to get some laughing cow cheese, and then standing back up. Only problem - my pants did not get back up with me!!!

Thank goodness the only person who saw was a little girl, who laughed her head off. But, I was able to get them back up before anyone else knew what had happened.

Ah, the downfalls of losing weight. I most definitely need to go shopping!!!!

OMG, hilarious!!!

Diet Motivation Tip 4: Don't Be a Perfectionist
So what do you do if you've scarfed down a pint of ice cream before noon? "Perfectionist thinking gets in the way of success more than anything I know," according to Vicki Saunders, RD, who oversees the inpatient weight loss and lifestyle program called Transformations at St. Helena Hospital in Napa, Calif. "A 100-calorie indulgence is just that. But if it's perceived as a failure and a reason to give up, it can turn into a thousand-calorie indulgence." Bottom line when you slip up: Forget about it. Tomorrow is a new (healthier) day.

Diet Motivation Tip 5: Use the Buddy System
"It's hard to make major lifestyle changes when you're swimming upstream by yourself," says Saunders. Finding other people with similar goals can greatly improve yours odds of diet success. When your spirit - or willpower - flags, having people to call on can provide the support you need to continue. Saunders recommends looking for people at your local gym or Y, Overeaters Anonymous, or an online support group. "Having a support group to turn to, whether it's your family or people in a weight-loss chat room, can make all the difference" for diet success.

QOTD Mondsay, March 10, 2014: What helps you to feel motivated on this journey to healthy living? Is it one of the ideas above or maybe something else?

I am SUCH a perfectionist thinker!! I am really, really working on that this time. I am So hard on myself when I don't lose or if I eat something I shouldn't, and it really does sometimes escalate into a total derailment. I am conscious of it now, and hoping working on it will make the difference this time!

I joined a gym with a friend, and we have been going together. I really like it because even if we're not doing the same thing when we're there, just knowing she is going to be there hold me accountable, I am not going to not show up on her. We message and keep each other going throughout the week, etc. I really hope we both stick it through because it has made a difference in the days I would have made an excuse not to go.

For motivation it's always the way I feel, I sleep better, I feel better, I am less fatigued and foggy, just as time goes on and I lose more and feel better and better that keeps me going for it. And small goals as well, like a certain weight for a vacation, etc, keeps me working towards the end result. (as long as I work on the not beating myself up for it if I come up a little short part)

 

[bigsis1970]

Happy Monday friends.. great job to all the victorys this past week!

Good morning all!

image Disney (c)

If you can dream it, you can do it. -- Walt Disney

It's Motivational Monday! Today's 5 tips to help motivate you to diet success come from webmd.com.

It turns out that the key to losing and keeping weight off isn't simply a matter of what you eat or how much you exercise - it's your attitude. Lasting weight loss is a slow process and it's all too easy to give up before you reach your goal. With the right psychological tools your chances of diet success can be greatly improved.

Diet Motivation Tip 1: Set Realistic Goals for Diet Success
The first step to maintaining your mojo should take place before you cut a single calorie. In fact, one of the strongest predictors of long-term diet success lies in setting the right goal at the start. "If you set unattainable goals, such as losing 30 pounds in just a few months, you're setting yourself up to fail," says Ann Kulze, MD, author of Dr. Ann's 10-Step Diet: A Simple Plan for Permanent Weight Loss and Lifelong Vitality. Instead, you'll be more likely to stick with a diet if you "focus on your health and create sensible eating strategies," says Kulze. Setting smaller, attainable benchmarks, like losing 5 pounds or a single dress size, will give you the confidence to continue.

Diet Motivation Tip 2: Go Slow
Diet success entails making real lifestyle changes, and that doesn't happen overnight. "You have a better chance at keeping the weight off if you lose it slowly. People who are starving get irritable and have a higher failure rate," Kulze tells WebMD. "If you cut back 200 calories a day, you won't even realize it and the weight will come off and stay off." If you keep in mind that optimal weight loss is 1 to 2 pounds a week, you'll be less frustrated

Diet Motivation Tip 3: Expect Setbacks
Everyone is bound to give in to temptation (hello, hot fudge sundae) from time to time. The danger isn't a single splurge but letting it become an excuse for an all-out binge. Call it the "I've already blown it so I might as well eat the entire bag of Oreos" syndrome.

Diet Motivation Tip 4: Don't Be a Perfectionist
So what do you do if you've scarfed down a pint of ice cream before noon? "Perfectionist thinking gets in the way of success more than anything I know," according to Vicki Saunders, RD, who oversees the inpatient weight loss and lifestyle program called Transformations at St. Helena Hospital in Napa, Calif. "A 100-calorie indulgence is just that. But if it's perceived as a failure and a reason to give up, it can turn into a thousand-calorie indulgence." Bottom line when you slip up: Forget about it. Tomorrow is a new (healthier) day.

Diet Motivation Tip 5: Use the Buddy System
"It's hard to make major lifestyle changes when you're swimming upstream by yourself," says Saunders. Finding other people with similar goals can greatly improve yours odds of diet success. When your spirit - or willpower - flags, having people to call on can provide the support you need to continue. Saunders recommends looking for people at your local gym or Y, Overeaters Anonymous, or an online support group. "Having a support group to turn to, whether it's your family or people in a weight-loss chat room, can make all the difference" for diet success.

Here is a link to the entire article if you are interested http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/diet-motivation-tips?page=1

QOTD Mondsay, March 10, 2014: What helps you to feel motivated on this journey to healthy living? Is it one of the ideas above or maybe something else?

BBL with replies and my own answer . . . thanks to the time change I feel like I am already behind with my day and it's not even 6 a.m.

Well I love the buddy system one.. while my Hubs doesn't diet with me he does come to the gym and I would NOT go if he didn't .. I appreciate that greatly ! I also love the buddy system here.. you ladies are AWESOME!

 

[PlutoBaby]

Can someone PLEASE tell me if it's possible to offend the gym gods???!!! I'm starting to think there's a conspiracy afoot to keep me from getting my butt back there. 1. DH gets sick (which rarely happens) 2. I get sick (which even more rarely happens) However, what I thought was originally food poisioning has turned out to be some kind of belly bug that's making the rounds. Not my ideal way of dropping a couple of pounds, but I'll take what I can get, lol!

As expected, a few days in bed and the thread just flies away! I'm just going to jump in here with today QOTD answers on motivation:

1. Family history: with a history of heart disease, high bp and high cholesterol in my family, I'll do as much as I can to fight it. I kind of like my DH so it'd be nice to stick around him for a while!

2. Clothes. Need I say more.

3. Confidence. Someday I'd like to be able to show up at a race with nothing but running shorts and a little tank top and not feel like a complete moose. Don't know if it'll ever happen, but a girl can dream, right?

There's probably more but I think the lack of food intake over the past few days has made my brain fuzzy. Hope you all have a great Monday!

 

[50sjayne]

As far as the time change goes--this one kills me. Today I am just completely dragging. I drank a little too much last night because I had today off and I like working Mondays because I work with my friend all day. My co worker is taking some vacation this week so that's why.
Had a good dinner last night anyway. I didn't have anything thawed out so I was trying to figure out something I could get at work, we had some swai fillet that was just thawed out (way cheaper without the ice weight) and on sale $2.99 lb. I had some stuff in our cooler that was almost empty that I use for samples so I marinated it in raspberry vinegar, honey and olive oil with a little dijon and it was really good. Also had some of the costco kale salad and some good bread.

The guy at my gym is starting to become a problem again-- I swear I feel like the kitty Pepe Le Pew is after. I was on the elliptical a few days ago almost done and he came in and just sat on some equipment and just sat there staring at me. He knows my routine and positions himself accordingly so he went back to the other room when I was done and I escaped out the pool way and skipped the weights. It's ok I got it all done Saturday in one shot but jeez-- I had to stretch in the womens locker room the day I escaped. I don't know if I should just say something to him or what but I've given him a lot of hints. Maybe I should just say hey look when I'm here I'm just one of the guys and that's how I want to be treated--you make me feel uncomfortable. I don't know.
Those sugar gliders are super cute. I know they take a lot of patience and work so you must be a great mom managing 4.
Well, I think I'm going to go look at movie times for my reward for last week. Have a good day!

 

[lloydy]

Carla Rae--those gliders sure are cute!

I am 2/10ths of a (.2) pound from being back in the healthy bmi range, and at the lowest since November 13. So exciting! So happy to be back in the 150s and less than 20 pounds from goal.

Getting out of the 160s has been a real mental challenge for me, so feeling great, but....remember all those medical tests I had last fall? Well she gave me a clean bill of health and said nothing to worry about unless I started spotting again. Guess what happened this morning. Ugh. I actually am feeling like this might be a full blown t.o.m. What a p i t a. I am guessing I am now off to the gyn for more tests. I really think this is nothing--many people online with the same issues, but it is just not something that can be completely ignored because when it is something, it is a bad something.

But I am finally losing again! Back in the 150s! No stress eating today! (That's me telling myself no stress eating today. ).

BMI is scary for me as I fall into the obese category and that is just depressing. But, reading that you are so close to reaching that BMI goal is very encouraging to me (one day eh?) for you, this sounds like it has been a battle and well done to you! It must feel great.
You mention spotting and this is a strange coincidence for me, weird, I don't think it is anything to worry about for you. I have something similar that started when I set off on March madness, which has been a surprise because I lost last week even though I felt blown up. I have had a throat infection and coughing a lot so I have put it down to the muscles being stressed through coughing , weird though.
150's has got to be a motivator right?
So well done!