I just have to add that I have been fighting my weight forever.... and if I try to lose weight I don't ..... nothing at all..... the doctors tell me it's because I don't eat...... but where the conflict is if I do eat (even the right stuff) I gain and I refuse to do that..... heck I've started working and I am always on the go.... don't get to sit down, it's run run run all day.... literally...for now I'm a dishwasher for a high school (it gives me something to do and still be home for my kids) and the doctors thought since I never really did any exercise and as long as I didn't change my habits for eating I would probably lose....but I haven't...I'm stuck at 225, but I'm also 5'8" and don't look it....
all I really wanted to say was good luck to all of you.... and try to keep in mind that even if you don't lose the weight you can ARE STILL a very beautiful person..... and I'm so sure all of you are!! 
Confession Time:
I have been SERIOUSLY considering throwing in the towel on the whole diet exercise thing. 
Residual effects of having life on hold while the plague was in my home. I'm just tired of thinking about my weight and how I'm going to get control of it ALL the time. There are other aspects of my life I'd like to change and I was thinking maybe I should work on those for a little while.
BUT... then this little muscle/fat/calories conversation came up and I have a new out look on it all. Maybe I shouldn't focus on the weight thing so much as the health aspects. So my new goal is to stop stressing and just take good care of me and my body, the rest will come with time and patience.....AND, of course, a lot of support from you guys. 
Thanks to Nick for sparking the conversations, to Lisa for her wealth of knowledge and to all the others who kept it going. I feel like I was just talked down from the ledge 
I am glad you are talked off the ledge! Dont quit because this should be more about you focusing on healthy meals and exercise, saying "no" to the goodies most of the time...That fat WANTS for you to fail, lol! But you are stronger than that. Lets not get so wrapped up in our weight gains or losses, that we want to quit because it gets too hard. If you mess up, put it behind you and try to do better next time. Lets focus on getting HEALTHY.
Okay I think this week's lesson is that we should all evaluate our plan. Is it a healthy diet or a crash diet? Is it about loosing weight fast or about loosing weight slower but keeping it off? ARe we getting our water? Are we exercising enough? ARe we being realistic with goals? This needs to be a lifestyle change, because if we go back to our old routine we will just gain the weight back.
I agree with this is a health style change, not a loosing weight fast gimmick. I went from 250 to where I am now at 126. S.L.O.W.L.Y.........like in 2 years slow. It's hard to change your life style, eating habits and establishing good exercise habits as well. I have trugged on at a snail's pace with my ultimate goal being:be healthy as poss and showing my girls how to do it right and how to be as healthy as you can be at all time. Not for vanity or other people's reasons, but to take personal responsibility for my own self. I encourage everyone to evaluate your current plans and strategies to see where these are headed in your individual case. Remember, we only get 1 body Ladies, treat it right at all costs!
okay and I have to tell everyone this story.
So there is this lady I see at the gym a lot. I say she is my "crush" because she has a body I would love to have. She is not someone who looks like they are "lucky" to have a body like that. She not just sauntering around the gym just trying to look good. She is lean, but very toned and muscular (maybe a little more muscular than I would want to be, but I would take it ) Anyway she works hard to have that body I suspect. Anyway one day she gets on the treadmill next to me and is programming it for time/her weight/age etc. Anyway I noticed that she punched in 126 pounds. I couldnt believe it. (not that I think that is heavy at all, but I just thought she would weigh less, like at least 10 or 15 pounds less, she isnt especially tall and perfectly thin) So it got me thinking, it must be all that muscle really.
merissa!!! Now I know your mom would tell you to stop being so nosy!!! There is a chick here at the resort that is like that, too. I would KILL to have a hard body like her! But I definately don't have the time to do that. She gives ski lessons, swim lessons, dance lessons, grass ski lessons...all kinds of stuff. She used to be a figure skater. So she has made exercise her livelihood.
When I worked outside landscaping and working in nurseries, I didn't have to work for exercise, it was built into my job. My arms were cut, I was thin, relatively flat stomach. I have never been a hard body, but I was toned. I prefer the softly toned look. I want to still look feminine, but would like some definition, too.
Even when I was young and muscular, 125 was WAY too skinny for me. I looked sickly, hollowed out dark circles under my eyes, cheekbones very noticeable...not good at all. 135 (or size 
I look and feel healthy, however, with my last pregnancy my arse seems to have spread and I'm not sure that is accurate anymore...I hope to find out before too long.
[quote="strawberry0121"]merissa!!! Now I know your mom would tell you to stop being so nosy!!! quote]
Ha ha! It wasnt like I was waiting around or anything to see how much she weighed. It was just, you know, right there! ha ha!
I dont think I have the drive, the desire, or the time to work out as much as she does either. But even with the few pounds that I have lost, I feel better. I think mostly because I know that I am doing something. I dont feel ashamed or guilty about what I am eating. My clothes feel a little looser. I have more energy now. I used to "crash" around 4 pm, I would get sooo tired. I am not constantly craving the sweets anymore. I know this is all a step in the right direction, but now I am reminded that it isnt so much about the speed at which I loose weight, but the method and sticking with it. I feel like this group has really helped to challenge me, consider new ideas, and inspire me to meet my goals in a healthy way.
If this is the context nglez was considering with his initial comment, he was correct.
I've found that number isn't accurate. In fact, a pound of muscle only burns about 6 calories a day...a lot less than what many of us thought, but still more than a pound of fat, which burns only 2 calories in a day.
That's what I meant.
Holy cow! I guess I was right on the part about MOST people thinking that it was 50 calories, huh? 
THE WORLD IS A LIE!
Hi! Everyone!
I am feeling a little better, still only have has soup, a piece of bread and some cheese nips today. I can't taste anything and I only know I'm hungry when my stomach starts growling loudly.
I just wanted everyone to know that I posted my before pic and my goal pic on the Yahoo board. Anyone else dare?
No, I didn't rob the cradle, he's 9 months older than me!
Maybe I shouldn't focus on the weight thing so much as the health aspects. So my new goal is to stop stressing and just take good care of me and my body, the rest will come with time and patience
Sounds like a good plan It is hard to constantly be thinking about what you're eating and what you've eaten already today. It's hard to live with yourself after eating that cupcake you didn't need to eat (using myself as an example), and one thing I need to do is to learn to let those kinds of things go. Yes, I'm trying to lose weight, but eating one cupcake without BC is not the end of the world. I tend to beat myself up about these things, and part of what I'm trying to do now is to relax a little.
I know that although I'm heavier now than I have ever been (except when I was pregnant), I am also in the best shape of my life. I can treadmill on an incline for 45 minutes & enjoy lifting weights. I never did that before, even when I was my thinnest (110 in high school or in the 20's in college). I love Pilates but unfortunately the class I used to go to conflicts with my kids swimming classes.
I took a week off last week when I was sick & recovering, and it's hard to get back into the swing of things. Really hard. But take it one day at a time & maybe don't concentrate on the diet so much but find an exercise you enjoy doing. Do that 3 times a week & I bet you'll feel much better about yourself and you'll be healthier too 
Just do it at your own pace & don't beat yourself up if you miss a day. We all do!
-Lisa
Casey, I love your signature line!!!
Thanks...it's a magnet on my step-mil fridge. Wish I knew where she got it.
So today for breakfast I had a couple of cookies and a few bites of cake top. Then I ate my sons leftover macaroni before exercising, then I ate a bunch of ganache. Tonight I was super tired and babysitting for a total of 5 kids here so we ordered pizza, after 2 slices and a breadstick I was full but still ate one more piece of pizza and 1 and a half breadsticks and a half of a slice of cake. 
I feel sick now and plan on eating nothing but salad for like 5 days.
nglez09: I am working on a spread sheet for our little weight loss support group. Would you be interested in entering your stats?
Start weight, current weight, goal weight, height, number of kids, that sort of thing.
Well I'm not really trying to lose weight. I am actually near the bottom of my BMI range. But I still like supporting you guys; I know how hard it is to lose fat and it's great that you guys have this healthy goals. Just looking at your scales at the bottom of your signature line is really admirable. Bravo.
Oh Hey Monika I was knocked out with illness last week and forgot to give you my stats.
Name - Amber
Start Weight - 225
Current Weight - 221
Kids - 2 boys
I'm a SAHM, I think that was another stat (?)
Though I'm reassessing my current goals at the moment it would still be nice to see what progress I make even if it's really Slow.
Tuesday - You're my new hero. You started about where I am and now you weigh what I would Love to weigh. AND thanks for mentioning it took you TWO years, I needed that perspective.
I have to say - YAY Team. You guys have made some thoughts finally click in my head, I'm so glad to have you all.
No need to say hero! But It is hard long work and should be expected to be so. I just want everyone to have a real perspective on how long it takes to really improve by changing your life not just your food. It's a total commitment and if you want it...you can do it!!!!
So girls, it's no cheat wed!!!!! So drop those cookies and cakes.....we can do this!!!
Happy Birthday Tuesday! Happy Valentines Day to all as well. Okay so if you are going to spluge tonight...according to the South Beach Diet, go for dark chocolate (less sugar and not a lot of carbs) Also wine is okay, especially red is good for your heart. Okay so if you go overboard today, just pick up and start again tomorrow. Do a couple of extra minutes of exercise and call it good! We really arent celebrating today, we are going to do Friday instead.
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!
I have struggled long and hard with this decision, but here it is. I am going to have to take a break from my focus on weight loss. My back problems continue to get worse, despite being under doctor's care. It is looking more and more like I will need surgery. Right now I need to put all my focus on healing my back and being healthy again. My daily Tae Bo workouts are essential to my weight loss/maintenance plan and up until now I have been trying to do them, no matter how bad it hurts. My DH is very angry with me about that, he is terrified that I'm going to hurt myself worse and do permanent damage, and he's absolutely right. I have been very stupid and stubborn about it. Also, I'm on a ton of meds that have undoubtedly screwed with my metabolism. I got a steroid injection yesterday, so I can expect weight gain and bloating as a side effect.
So, I will still be checking in here and offer as much support as I can, but I need to take a break from my obsession with my weight and concentrate on healing my injuries. I am going to continue to drink my water, make healthier choices, etc. But the discouragement I feel when I don't lose (or even gain!) is destroying my peace of mind. I'm already really down about the back problems, I need all the help I can get to keep a positive outlook. My weight loss goals will still be there when I recover, and I will be more successful if I don't have other health issues to try to deal with. Thanks to all of you for your support and inspiration and I will be back with you full time as soon as my back heals.
We are all here for you Shellie! You do need to focus on getting better. I hope you will continue to come here to offer support and we are here to support the descisions you make as well. You can still join us in choosing healthy meals and just not focus on the scale. Then when you are healed and able to put some more focus on weight loss and exercise, you will already be part way there!
Well I'm not really trying to lose weight. I am actually near the bottom of my BMI range.
But I still like supporting you guys; I know how hard it is to lose fat and it's great that you guys have this healthy goals. Just looking at your scales at the bottom of your signature line is really admirable. Bravo.
Eat some cake for us! We can live vicariously though you! OMG, I wish I had appeciated my body when I was 17, 18. If I had that body again I would be so hot! LOL! Of course that was before 3 kids and when I used to swim (anywhere for 3-6 hours a day!) How in the world did I have time for that!
We are all here for you Shellie! You do need to focus on getting better. I hope you will continue to come here to offer support and we are here to support the descisions you make as well. You can still join us in choosing healthy meals and just not focus on the scale. Then when you are healed and able to put some more focus on weight loss and exercise, you will already be part way there!
I 2nd that !!!!!!!!!
Thank you, Merissa! I will still be in here...I'll just say I'm putting down the cake because it's straining my back! I think I have set my expectations for myself too high and I am at my emotional breaking point. I still need to concentrate on NOT doing any emotional eating now. I still want to make healthy choices, I just can't deal with not meeting my goals right now.
Shellie, I hope everything goes well for you! We'll be here for your weight loss when you are ready for us!
However, healthy eating and some form of exercise will do nothing but good for you and your body. Talk to your doctor to find something that is right for you for now. Is there an indoor pool around? That might be a great way to get a little excersice in while not straining your back. I say talk to your doctor. Good luck!!
Shellie, I have to say I kicked into mama mode and the first thing out of my mouth was, "that poor thing." Everyone has already said it, but here's my two cents as well. Take care of yourself. Back problems are nasty business, you definately want to take care of it while your young and able to heal up completely. We're here for support even if you just need someone to vent to about the kids making you crazy. I'm figuring out every little bit helps.
Thanks for the support, everyone.
Unfortunately, Monika, I have gotten to such an acute state now, I can't even walk. (I mean, for exercise...I CAN walk, just with a limp) I have a ruptured disc that is displacing a nerve root, which is causing pain and weakness in my left leg. The doctor is watching my leg closely for permanent nerve damage. I let it go for way too long before I saw the dr.
I got my epidural injection yesterday, so HOPEFULLY I will see some improvement within a couple of days. Thanks for still being there for me, everyone. As always, the support this group offers is invaluable!
Hi! Everyone!
I am feeling a little better, still only have has soup, a piece of bread and some cheese nips today. I can't taste anything and I only know I'm hungry when my stomach starts growling loudly.
I just wanted everyone to know that I posted my before pic and my goal pic on the Yahoo board. Anyone else dare?
No, I didn't rob the cradle, he's 9 months older than me!
Okay I posted one pic, a thinner picture of me! Not the thinnest I have ever been, but I didnt have a digital camera back then. I would be happy to look like I did then though. I dont know if I am brave enough to post my "bikini pic" I took as my "before" yet (the one I took about 3 weeks ago!) Oh let me think about it! I dont feel my best, but I guess that is the point! lol! Hey monika can just anyone join the group or do you as the moderator accept/deny people from the group? I might feel better about posting pics if not just anyone was looking at them!
Hey hot mama!!!!
I don't know. I will find out. Then if anyone wants to join in, they can pm me.
Ok, I set it so that I have to approve members and I found a place that makes it so you can hide your e-mail addres so that it's not wide open to anyone who goes on there.
Tomorrow I will update the spread sheet again when weigh ins come in
I used Yahoo before with a little Weight Watchers group that fizzled out and we used the database on there. It was difficult to navigate and use.
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