I've lost a pound 
I know I know. At least I'm headed in the right direction 
But I feel like I could be doing better w/ the exercise bit. I can't seem to motivate myself How do you all do it?
I forgot to weigh myself before I ate, totally forgot it was thurs. Oh well, I don't want to know right now anyway.
Like I said I've been busy so I haven't been eating or exercising...except for the countless number of times I've gone up and down the stairs moving stuff.
2sdae - I'm sure everything will work out with your daughter, try not to stress too much. Like Susan said, medical technology is great and she will get whatever she needs.
Merissa - good luck at the contest. Have tons of fun.
Hope everyone has a good thursday!!!!
Morning all!
I did it, I survived no-cheat Wednesday without the cupcake (gave it away very quickly and apologized to the friend that asked me to taste it)
My motivation: I went for x-rays week and found out yesterday that I have degenerative arthritis. I'm 26!! This isn't supposed to happen for another 26 years. By carrying this weight and not being motivated I've hurt myself beyond repair. So that has definitely motivated me to do a lot better. And I'm proud to announce I lost 2 pounds last week! I'm down to 243. 
And, I nominate Susan to be our next cheerleader!!
Hi everyone, I'm back from New Orleans, and will be home until the end of Jan or Feb.
I did not do well with no cheat Wednesday, it is so hard to eat well when out of town. I ate mostly sea food and I did leave some of it on my plate every meal time! (That is a first for me, I usually lick the plate clean!!! Just Kidding, but pretty darn close!) I too forgot it was Thursday until I was already at work, I loss track of the days when I am out of town working especially when it inculdes the weekends, because it doesnt feel like a weekend. OH and the hotel did have a gym to use, but I had to pay a daily fee to use it.....as if the 250 dollars a night wasnt enough!
2sdae, I am sorry your daughter is having problems. I will keep you all in my prayers!
Merissa have fun with the contest and good luck!
Congrats to everyone who has lost, and being I had a week of posts to catch up on I am sorry to say that I cant mention everyone by name!
My goals for the week
- get back to my work out schedule
- try to journal my intake, and perhaps my work outs
- organize my health book.
(by that I mean I have to test my blood sugars at least once a day and record them, take my BP once a day and record them and then record all of my test results) As a borderline diabetic I have a blood test every three months and I have all of those results just written on pieces of papers and put in a binder, but nothing is organized.
Crislen, congratulations on your weight loss and thanks for the nomination! I'm sorry about your diagnosis...losing weight will definitely help take much of the stress off your bones, and you have support here!
As this week's cheerleader, I'll repeat that others before me have provided great suggestions about drinking water, exercising, eating healthy and writing down everything that goes into our mouths. Reporting all of this helps us to maintain accountability, so let's recommit to doing these tasks. We DO NOT care how much anyone weighs. We care about supporting and encouraging one another to reach whatever goals we have set for ourselves.
I would like to add a few tips I've been trying to use the last month to help me stay on track. They've been helpful for me and maybe someone else can use them:
1. If I'm tempted to "cheat" (whatever your
definition of that is), I wait 20 minutes. If I still
want it, I eat half of what I wanted. This helps
me get a grip on what it is I really want and not
be impulsive.
2. I've been trying to put a positive spin on hunger.
so now I've decided to VALUE hunger. Hunger
means my body isn't stuffed to the gills. Hunger
means I can eat good things to nourish myself.
3. I'm lucky that my parents, 2 sisters, brothers-in-
law, and 6 young nieces and nephews are
healthy and love me. I imagine what an early
death because of obesity would do to them. I
want to lose weight for myself, but also because
I want to see those children grow up.
4. In reference to #1, I can only "cheat" after I've
had at least 5 fruits and vegetables for the day.
So I have to consume healthy foods first before
I can go off my food plan.
5. I don't starve myself!! Eating is NOT cheating!
6. I don't have to have "cute" clothes or perfect
exercise wear to work out. I just have to have
good bra to keep these enormous breasts in
place!!
7. And in honor of Cake Central...I think of my fat
as fondant. If the fondant is too heavy, it will
crush the cake! This is what my fat is doing to
my physical body and emotional spirit! It's
crushing me! So I need less fondant...
I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend! It's morning right now in Italy so I'll post again before I leave work for the day but my internet at home is still down, so after today, it'll be Monday morning before you hear from me again. I'm thinking about and supporting everyone!
Wow Susan, I love your tips. #6 made me laugh out loud and almost spit my coffee on my computer screen. I know what you mean about having to have a great bra!
I also love the fondant reference, and it makes sense!!!
I will print your tips and keep them with me and will definately use them!!
Hi again everyone...I hope you're all having a great start to your day. My work day is nearly over and I'm exhausted and ready to relax! I have my exercise clothes ready (complete with bra!) and am looking forward to starting again. If I visit any friends over the weekend who have computer access, I'll sign on. Otherwise, I wish everyone the most success and am looking forward to hearing about Merissa's experience. Can you believe I've never seen Duff's show?? I've lived here for 5 years, I'm not sure how long he's been on in the States. Wouldn't know him if I tripped over him but I looked at the TV guide and his show is on Saturday mornings at 6:00AM! So I've set my VCR to tape it, I've very curious. Sending out good wishes of support and success to all!
Ahhh...Karate,
Isn't it SO true??!! I'm waiting for the day when my chest doesn't weigh so much!! I'm glad you could laugh, what else can we do? Besides tackle the problem, that is!
What a great post Susan.. I love the fondant reference... completely suitable and definitely understandable.
I think "cheating" is ok, but only after you've done everything to avoid it.
I did 30 days without chocolate by finding outher things to satisfy my cravings. And I'd do it again. It was a great proof to myself that you can resist almost anything if a better alternative was available. Fruit, exercise, hobbies are great! We can do it ladies.... this fondant 
will slowly melt away
Hi everyone......haven't had much time to get on here lately. I am in the middle of helping my mom move. I weighed in this morning and only lost a pound. I'm happy with that though...at least it is a loss and it is closer to my goal. 34 pounds down so far. I started to add a 25 minute weight training exercise to my daily routine so maybe I am just building more muscle.......and I just have to keep thinking....muscle weighs more than fat!
Susan.....I love the reference to fondant.....that is great (and so true)!! I hope everyone has a great weekend!! 
Well, I never thought I'd get so excited about computer access, but I'm up and running again at home, thank goodness.
Crislen, I don't know about you, but when I go off a food like chocolate for a while and then taste it again, it usually isn't quite the fantasy I remembered. That's a great tip because most of us can commit to a month, that's reasonable and feels like it can be accomplished.
Jenbenjr...34 pounds! Many, many congratulations!!! Just pick up something weighing 34 pounds or hold 17 regular size boxes of powdered sugar (for the complete picture!) and that's how much is gone! Don't feel bad about one pound...CELEBRATE it!
Katie, good for you for buying an elliptical machine. I wish exercise equipment would fit in my little place...Italian homes are not at all like American homes in that while the square footage might be adequate, most rooms are chopped up into small ones. And because the homes don't have closets (not kidding), much of the space is taken up with armoires and other storage units. So I'm envious and waiting to hear how you use your new machine in the coming week.
OK everyone...we LOVE fondant...in the right amount and in the right places. Work off that fondant!! That way we won't look so thick or as if we're about to fall over!!!
Let's get ready for No Cheat Wednesdays and prepare for the whole week. I just made my oatmeal for tomorrow morning and I'm boiling the edamame soy beans to add to a few lunches this week. If we prepare and make decisions ahead of time about food and exercise, there won't be any negotiating with ourselves about decisions...it'll be easy because the plans are already made.
So click your heels together...."I feel my fondant getting thinner and smoother. I feel my fondant getting thinner and smoother. I feel my fondant...."
Happy Monday Everyone! How was your weekend? I had a blissful weekend AT HOME with NO COMPANY!! I didn't get much exercise in, but my eating was better. I brought my clothes today (including that huge bra!) and will go after work.
Merissa, we're dying to hear about your cake experience, how was it?
Let's recommit to a healthy lifestyle, whatever that means for you. Sometimes it's hard to think about the long term picture....so much weight to lose, so much health to gain. So, I'm just thinking about this week. I'm committing to healthy eating and exercise this week. At the end of the week, I'll decide if I can commit to another week...I do much better if I feel and believe goals are attainable. My weight goal right now is to lose 4.5 pounds, which will put my total at 15. I'm now working in 5 pound increments...I feel that's very attainable.
How about you? What motivates you?
Right about now I'm motivated to go back to sleep. This getting up at 4:00 is for the birds. I am still racking up the steps.
I did horribly this weekend. I can't seem to eat on the weekends and I also skipped breakfast this morning. I'll be going out shortly to get my gallon of water, but I found my lid for my water jug this morning so will be bringing water with me again so that I don't have to buy it.
I went shopping over the weekend and bought two sweaters for the coming cold weather. I looked for a coat but they were all so expensive. I think I'll just drag out the one from last year, it's only two years old.
Well, better go and get my water from the store. More walking. 
Good Monday Morning to everyone!!!!!!!
Susan, I love your idea to recommit every week. I am with you there! So on this Monday morning I recommit to working towards a healthier lifestyle.
I did start a food log on Thursday, and have to admit that the weekends that I am so busy that I forget to write down what I eat. I do believe I have been able to recreate it this morning though. I will try harder to keep tabs on this and put this note pad in my purse.
I had a baby shower on Saturday, I went to breakfast first with my dad (in case I have not told you here that my dad snow birds between MN and AZ) since he is here for 6 months I usually have a dinner date with him and my step mom on Thursdays. I missed Thursday so went for breakfast on Saturday before the baby shower. I didn't do too badly, but I suppose I could have done with out the pancakes, but I did leave 1/2 of them. At the shower I did pretty well, had a sandwich some chips and pasta salad, a small piece of cake....the hard part was the punch. Just love the stuff and had 4 glasses, not cups but glasses!!! Then we went to another house party, but I didnt eat a thing. I was full and decided that I didnt need to eat, and it smelled sooooo good I have been waiting for the weather to cool off so DBF will grill hamburgers, and what did they have....and I was too full to enjoy them!!!!!!!!!!!
Didnt do that bad yesterday either, however for dinner I made a pizza using the Boboli thin pizza crust, with their sauce and canadian bacon and cheese. I ate the whole thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DBF had gone to bed and didnt want me to wake him for anything so I ate it all by my self. Should have just taken one piece (1/4 of it) and put the rest away, instead I took the whole thing down by the TV and just ate, before I knew it the plate was empty!
I did notice that last week and so far this week that I have been leaving food on my plate. I dont finish everything that is on my plate. When I am full I just stop put the plate out of reach. If it is in my reach I will keep eating even though I am full, this I have known my whole life, just now I am making sure that I put it out of my reach.
Anyway I guess that will be it for my monday morning confessions!
Michelle
Michelle, I totally understand about mindless eating.. and eating the whole thing. I can not eat in front of the TV anymore!! I overeat and don't pay attention to what I'm doing.
Susan, I'll join you and everyone else in recommitting every week. Today, I recommit to eating and living healthy. I brought both my lunch and dinner (gumpaste flower course tonight!) with me today along with a bunch of healthy snacks (fruit!) and will do this!
As for the weekend, I did really well. My only splurge was a tablespoon a light coolwhip and a glass of light hot chocolate. I lost my voice over the weekend 
and needed to sooth the throat!
Katie.. what type of elliptical did you get? Once I move from my appt into a house, I'm so setting up a home gym. I hate going to the gym since so many people here stare at you and give you disgusted looks (a fat person in a gym..go figure!)
Jen, how is the weight training going?
Back to work.. and my grapes, I go!
That's awful, crislen! I don't blame you for setting up a home gym if that is how people react to your being in the gym. Seems to me that people would congratulate you for trying to do something instead of criticizing you.
I am still telling myself that I am going to start going back to the gym. Can't seem to do that. I just hate paying for a gym membership if I am not going to use it.
Well, better go for now and get some of this work done.
Karen
Merissa, we're dying to hear about your cake experience, how was it?
And I am dying to tell you! There were nearly 60 cakes entered and the contest was judged solely by Duff himself! Anyway, I was lucky enough to receive 3rd place (honorable mention). I got special front row seats at the performance and got to go up on stage to receive my award! He also talked about each cake and I just happened to get a video of him talking about MY cake! It was the best weekend in cake decorating ever!! Anyway I hope to put a bunch of photos and my video clip on my website later. I hope you guys will visit! I also was able to meet a few ccers at the contest! If you want to see a couple of photos, I posted some on this thread (and so did some other members). I think if you skip to page 10-12.
http://forum.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopic-511103-150.html
okay I will stop bragging now! Can you tell I am excited!
merissa, how cool is that!! Keep bragging! I love your cake... so beautifully executed. And you're looking really good behind it I don't get to see much of Duff (don't have cable) but I've visited the website and him and his team and super creative!
Karen, isn't it the worst paying for a membership you never use! I decided to quit the gym and buy 10 time passes for the local community recreation centre - the equipment may not be top of the line, but the people are nicer. I know one guy who, if there is an even remotely overweight person at the gym, stares at them with disgust. I agree... they should cheer people on who are working their way towards being healthy instead of making them feel uncomfortable. Luckily, I have an appointment with a Kinesioligist (sp?) next week who will help me build a core workout that I can do at home. My physiotherapist who has been helping me with my bum said that you don't need a gym membership, just a few basic peices of equipment to work out at home with. I can't wait!
Congratulations! Go ahead and brag, you deserve it! I usually can't get to the links from here at work but I will definately check out the pictures. Great job!
Crislen,
It's true that you don't need a lot of equipment at home for a good workout. You can get a good workout with just an exercise tape at home and no equipment. I'm glad that you are working with doctors. They will know what will work best for you. Keep up the good work!
Merissa, you and your cake look beautiful! Congratulations, what great news! I'm glad "we" on this thread get to claim you!
OK, this is where the ego part of me comes in regarding weight loss. I was thumbing through a pretty good sized Land's End catalog last night (and LE isn't really even my style) and saw gorgeous winter white sweaters and pants...you know what I'm talking about, they look just beautiful, as if when wearing them you should be on a horse drawn carriage in Russia. Anyway, I thought "I WANT TO WEAR CUTE CLOTHES!!!" And although I know I can wear anything I want no matter what size I am, I would not wear this particular combination because I think I'd just look like a big ol' snowball and I wouldn't feel comfortable and I'd be self-conscious all day. And if I felt that way, it'd be a big waste of money because I know I'd never wear that outfit again. So now I'm adding to my original list of reasons to lose weight: #8: BECAUSE I WANT TO WEAR CUTE CLOTHES! Anyone else feel this way?
Yep, I have a closet full of Rocky Mountain jeans that I could wear 4 years ago and my behind looked awesome, now I cant even get one leg in and my behind jiggles!!!
I wish I had read this thread before I got to work. I have been feeling let down by my self, because I cant get into the swing of this whole heartedly. Well when I got in there were donughts and of course I had a chocolate covered chocolate one with nuts. Then when I went to write it down, YES I promptly wrote it down, I saw the list of seven tips that Susan gave last thursday and #1 was wait 20 minutes and #4 is only cheat when I have had my 5 fruits and vegis for the day!!!!! Not off ot a good start today!
Can I blame it on the week before my period? NO NO just take responsibility for my actions!!
Michelle
Michelle, don't be so hard on yourself. Yes, you took responsibility by writing it down. And those tips work for me, but they may not speak to or make sense to others. The important thing is...all is not lost. It may FEEL like it's lost after a doughnut, but don't put yourself back to square one. Regroup, recommit, reconstitute yourself for the day and start again. Don't let 1 doughnut give you permission for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6....doughnuts topped off with doritos and cookie dough ice cream! Your daily diary will read much better: 1 doughnut, 1 salad full of vegetables, 1 banana, a small handful of almonds, 1 yogurt, a baked chicken breast, a serving of spinach...you get the picture. You CAN do this!! We're all behind each other (even if we're jiggling!!)!
Thanks Susan
Funny that you put a salad for my lunch, because it is what I have. I have commited my self to a salad for lunch Mon - Fri at work, and for the last 2 months that is what I have had.
For the past week, while in New Orleans and for two days after I got back, I did not have a salad for lunch and I was missing it, and felt so "heavy" eating anything else.
Luckily there are enough of us here in the office so when everyone has one, they are gone so the temptation is gone.
Your tips actually speak volumes for me, and I taped them to the front of my food journal so I see them everytime I add something to my list of what I ate!
Boungiorno Everyone and welcome to No Cheat Wednesday! I'm starting off this morning with steel cut oatmeal and brought a chicken salad, banana, and soy beans for lunch. I'm going to a friend's house for dinner tonight (every Wednesday about 10 of us get together and do something in the evening) and I'm bringing another banana to eat just before dinner so I'm not famished. Good luck to everyone!
Geez, it's sometimes lonely here on this side of the world! I just finished my lunch and thought I'd check the site.
Question: Does anyone use a good quality pedometer you would recommend? And it would need to be a brand that I can order via the internet, I can rarely find things like that here. I'm thinking something like that would wake me up to the amount of exercise I'm (not) doing!
Hi Ladies. Sorry been MIA again. But they put my 14 year old in a children's
Hosp. She has an irregular heart beat and is having trouble stabilizing her potassium so she is having trouble with fainting, dizziness and kidney issues as well due to the potassium.
So with a 3 year old and 2 year old in tow it's been a long couple of weeks. I am so glad you guys are plugging along without me in tow. It keeps me remembering there is a life outside of hosp.
I am ashamed to admit I have gone up to 143 as of this morn. Since I was down to 124.8 I am crushed.
But I have not much choice right now. I am eating when ever I can and the best I can but I have been mindlessly snacking to fill my anxieties again.
But I am keeping my water bottles full and take frozen water ones with me to hosp every day.
So no sodas or high sugared drinks.
I have also been keeping my caffeine to a bare minimum too.
Now I have to get back into my exercising some how. Just with my hubby having a business boom right now and me with the girls and at hosp all the time I am running a little ragged and scared too.
But you guys have helped cheer me up with the pm's and well wishes..got me all teared up infact.
THANK YOU.
My oldest baby is coming home today so I'll be home schooling her for a month or so to help her get adjusted to her meds and her new diet.
Hopefully I can find time to sneak off to join our local curves center. It's a 10 minute walk from my house so I can walk over work out and walk home all in 2 hours!
So to help me physically and mentally DH told me to go join and we'll find the time and money no prob. 
God knows I LOVE that man!
So I'll be checking back in maybe later today but tomorrow for sure!
Anyone ever use the curves systems or their work outs?
DIE YOU STINKING FAT CELLS.............DIE!
P.S. Merissa you are my cake hero!!!!! Gotta love that scarecrow girl...and to sit so close to Duff too, I would have melted all over the poor guy! 
2sdae, Is your daughter doing any better? Still thinking about you and your family. Exercising might relieve some of the stress you are feeling right now. It is so nice that your hubby supports you. Take care of yourself.
Suaan, sorry I can't help with the pedometer. I use one that I got free for joining the neighborhood 10,000 steps club. I don't know where it came from or who makes it. It says "yamax" on the back, but that is all I know. It isn't really a high quality one, either. I just sent the one I got from Highmark to somebody else, too, so I don't have an extra anymore. Maybe you can talk to your insurance company. They might have some type of programs. Seems like everybody is doing walking programs around here in PA. I'll let you know if I come across another pedometer.
Thanks for the reminder about no cheat Wednesday. That means I need to make a concentrated effort to eat something. I did have something before leaving the house but will make a piece of toast now that I am at work. I somehow always seem to miss or forget about no cheat Wednesday.
Talk to you all later. I have to go buy my gallon of water.
Have a great day!
Karen
Wow Tuesday. That is a lot to juggle right now. Please just take care of your family and do the best you can. YOu can worry about the weight loss thing later. Just eat as healthy as you can, to be as healthy as you can for your family...you dont need to worry about the pounds right now. Let us know how things are going when you get a chance. We will be thinking of you.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%