Ahhh...Happy 4th everyone and I am basking in having slept comfortably all night in air conditioning! I'm not sure what to do with myself, I'm so excited...
My girlfriend came and spent the night and we just laughed and gossiped all night long. Then we called our friend who's the owner of the place (she visiting the States) and asked her if we could root through her closet and she said yes, so we had a fashion show and decided on the clothes we wanted that she never wears. Such fun...
Lori, you're right, the scale will move when you become more conscious...it's hardest (at least for me) to get started. But once you get in a groove, it's gets easier.
Happy 4th!
Happy 4th to all the Americans!
I have been racking my brain for good challenges or wisdom for my cheerleader week. why does it feel so hard? I think that it seems like a lot of us are suffering from some diet fatigue. (maybe not Susan, who continually inspires and amazes me with her effort!)
So what can we do to ramp up the excitement people??!?! Any ideas?
I didn't weigh in yesterday. I also went to the amusment park with the kids. it was a long day. I really didnt have a chance to make a lot of good food choices, but I did split a meal with DH instead of getting my own and I didnt get my own ice cream because I knew the kids wouldnt eat all of theirs (I just ate the leftovers.) which in my mind is better then eating my own and then theirs! LOL. But I got a lot of walking in and I was exhausted last night. Can't handle those rides like i used to.
Well the challenge for the weekend: since there is a lot of parties and bbq's probably, get your plate of food (I am not going to even suggest what is on it!) but eat it and wait at least 20 minutes before having seconds of anything. They say your brain needs at least that long to determine if you are full. maybe you don't need anymore.
Also don't hang out need the food! Keep a bottle of water or low cal drink on hand. it might keep your mouth happy and your tummy full!
Merissa I think waiting 20 min is good advice!!
All the time as well. I'm going to try to put that into practice!
We actually didn't do much for the 4th yesterday. Which was fine. Today though we are having a get-together with the neighbors...you know, more food.
I've had another busy weekend with cakes, so have only just noticed your challenge, Merissa. I will attempt your challenge tonight, when my brother & his family are coming over.
My DH went to a garage sale yesterday and found a brand new KA ice cream maker attachment for $10!! I've been wanting to try it, but don't know one of the main ingredients - half and half - can anyone tell me what it consists of??
Half and half is like heavy cream...but only half. I think it just makes it lighter. I really dont know what the other "half" is. People put it in their coffee.
I think you could find other recipes that dont call for that.
I am feeling really irratated at myself that half of the summer is over and I never lost any weight for the summer. Now I am ready to go on vacation..and I feel yucky in my swimsuit. grrr. I've only got myself to blame.
Thanks, Merissa. I did a search on the internet and found it's half cream, half milk, around 10 - 12% fat, so I assume I can make my own mixture!
Hi all...I'm at work today, but the clinic is closed, so it's nice, except I can't get into my personal email account and my computer at home is not working so that's a bit frustrating. I ordered a replacement cord for my home computer, hopefully it will arrive this week. One thing I've learned living overseas, is patience. If I want a new craft material or cake decorating item, or new book, I have to order it and wait at least 2 weeks. I'm ready to move back. I love it here, but I'm ready.
Merissa, thank you for your comment above about my efforts. I'm a bit disappointed now because I'm so stuck and I have been for the past 6 weeks or so. I don't understand it...I'm eating so much less and so much better than I was 6 months ago, I thought these plateaus would come near the end of my goal, not smack in the middle. I'm trying to amp up my walking and having a pedometer helps. Yesterday I hit an all time low of 35 pounds lost. I ate really well and actually was hungry when I went to bed, but I'd had all my calories for the day. Today? I'm 2 pounds up. I'm not going to quit, but it's just disappointing sometimes.
How is everyone?
Susan, do you think it might be a good time to start weighing yourself only once a week?? It would save all the "ups and downs" in between! I get very frustrated when I weigh myself every day.
morning all! weekend is over, back to work!!
Well I went to the beach yesterday. It was great, BTW! The kids are old enough now not to eat sand and can pretty much entertain themselves for hours. I really had fun lounging around! It was really crowded so I did a lot of people watching. I was kind of thinking that I was being to hard on my body image. Even the skinny ones usually had "problem" areas. Ladies that were definitely heavier than me were wearing much less than me. Don't get me wrong, I would have liked to have been 15 pounds lighter, but I guess maybe I ought to stop beating myself up. No matter how thin or heavy I have been in my life, I have (almost) always thought I needed to be thinner. I even remember thinking at 10 I was too fat (i wasn't). Come on!!! there is something wrong with that.
Challenge for today (or tomorrow): wear something that makes you feel good about yourself!
Hey everyone I am back! Well I've been back for a few days now just super busy. My 4th was alright, I don't think I overdid it on the food but I did make cookies and ate a too many broken pieces.
Our vacation was great. The wedding was beautiful. It was on the beach so we had a couple of days to just lounge by the pool or ocean which we were so busy doing I ate less...3 meals, no snacking.
Disney World was busy...again not much time to eat. Lots of walking...lots of sweating so I am down 3 lbs, hopefully I can keep it that way.
We're planning a trip to Tenn. to visit dh family in the fall. Usually we see them once a year so it will be nice. Evey time we leave I tell myself 'next year I'll have lost so much weight, I'll look great, everyone will be so surprised' and never do so I'm determined to lose at least 20 lbs in the next few months (then I'll be back at the weight I was when I met dh family 
)
Hope everyone had a great holiday!!! It's good to be back.
Welcome Charity!!!!
Hi everyone.
sorry I have been MIA lately, I was on a business trip so was busy there then with school it takes up most of my free time now.
I have been doing the same I will try to remember to weigh in on Thursday.
Merissa have a great time on your vacation!
Welcome Charity!
Casey, glad you had fun on your vacation!
I will be on vacation my self starting this Friday until the 20. I should be able to log in a couple of times.
Ok gotta run and get caught up on what I misseed while gone.
Michelle
Charity, I'm embarrassed to say that although I have one, I have no idea how I did it! I'm quite computer illiterate and somehow stumbled onto making it work...so I'm sorry I can't help you. There are some sort of computer codes on tickerfactory, have you looked at them? I think they have instructions.
Merissa, I think you're so right about how hard you are on yourself! For a long time, I thought my weight was offensive to others, almost as if I didn't have the right to be in their presence and enjoy the same activities they enjoy. As I've grown older, I now think it's all about personality and how you treat people. They may form an immediate impression but if you put your personality forward, that impression can quickly change. Enjoy yourself and don't be so hard on yourself!
Casey, welcome back. It sounds like all your walking has paid off, congratulations on your loss. And I have to say...I cannot imagine Disney World in July!
Sonia, I think for right now, I need to weigh myself daily. It just works for me, even though I've been complaining (sorry about that!). I just don't want to get out of control and this helps. Once I get closer to my goal I might feel more comfortable weekly, but I need to stay on top of this now. It helps me try and figure out what I need to do differently. It's so hard!
Good mornine everyone.
Susan, you are such an inspiration! I think I need a recording from you to wake up in the morning telling me to get my behind up and work out!!!
I cant remember how I got my ticker at the bottom either, I think you need to copy the BBC code and put it in your forum info, but cant remember where. Hopefully someone can fill in the blanks.
I did not work out this morning, I think my brain has decided that I am already on vacation and it will not allow me to get up and work out. Little does it know I am bringing my DVD with me!!! HA
I am back now and will try not to go MIA on you guys again. Next week will be sparse since I will be on vacation but will try to check in a few times a week.
Michelle
Charity what I do to get my ticker posted....I make them at lilypie.com, I don't know if they have a weight loss one. When I'm done they post all the different codes to copy/paste but there is also my actual ticker and I just copy and paste that. I do it for my kids bdays and it changes the days everyday so it works.
Susan Disney World in July is hot!!! Luckily we stayed on grounds so we'd get up early, enjoy the parks in the morning, head back to our hotel between 12 & 1, take naps, swim and head back out to a park around 5. I could not imagine being outside walking around mid afternoon, I'd die. The funny thing to me is dh found it unbearable and he's from TN. where it's just as hot and even more humid. I liked Florida in July much more then I like TN in August.
I've been eating ok. since I've been home but the exercise is lacking of course. I bought an exercise mat so I have no excuses to not do my dvd. Today I am going to mow my lawn at least until my ankle starts hurting too much.
Good morning, all!
I haven't been getting any notices of replies, so I have not gotten on while I look at my e-mail in the morning and I have not had a chance until just now to open the website. It has been so busy here the last couple days, and I took Thursday off last week.
Nothing new happening here. I am getting tired of this status quo. Ready to get on with my life.
Welcome, Charity! Hope you find the support you need here.
Well, I have to go. More work in my work e-mail. Talk to you all later!
Karen
I didn't get notice of replies either 
It's weird. Oh well!
So have you all worn your cute outfit yet? 
Yesterday I wore my new skort (you know the shorts that have the skirt over top?) Anyway, I felt pretty good in it. getting my hair cut Friday just in time for vacation too.
I got the the gym today and did 3.25 miles on the treadmill. I took it easy and it felt pretty good.
Welcome back from your vacation! Florida in July IS hot. Sounds fun though. I would like to take the kids to Disney in a couple of years. I was thinking I'd like my youngest to be 5 at least. Only a few more days until my "vacation" LOL! The kids are excited though. My SIL's tend to let my MIL watch all the kids whenever we are all together. I think becasue they want a break. However, I feel badly that my MIL is entertaining the kids all the time, so I am not going to do that to her.
I missed something...cute outfit?!?!
I mowed the lawn a bit today. My son tripped me ( by accident ) and I totally re-twisted my ankle. I don't think it is ever going to get better.
Merissa sounds like a fun vacation for your mil. It is nice to have someone to watch the kids but I feel bad too.
If you want to go to Disney World wait at least until your kids are 40", most rides have that height requirement and then there are a few that are 48" and a couple that are 52" or something. DD got to wait around alot for us but the nice part was they give a fast pass ticket for having children that can't ride and you basically get to cut to the front of the line.
It was so hot today. I was going to make terriyaki chicken burgers with my recently discovered favorite terriyaki sauce but....ordered pizza instead. I'm so bad but I only had 2 pieces.
Michelle, close your ears, because you won't like this! I'm spittin' mad! I gained another half pound today to match the half pound I found last week, meaning I've gained a pound...I'm so disappointed. I'm not discouraged and I'll keep on eating what I've been eating, but it stinks! Yesterday I added more walking to my informal walking program just to see if that would help my weight budge because I've been so stuck for so many weeks with the same 31-34 pounds lost. So now, I'm walking an additional 30 minutes a day broken into three 10 minute walks, hoping that that will move my weight in the right direction. I'm walking in the mornings, at lunch, and in the afternoons, all at work. I've mapped out a little path and each 10 minutes adds up to about 1500 steps, which will really help in reaching 10,000 steps a day.
That said, I'm not going to go hog wild and throw out everything I've accomplished. My city has amazing food to offer...pizza, ravioli, gnocchi...you get the idea. None for me, I've come too far. I'm just really disappointed. And I'm not going to my women's group dinner tonight, too tempting with this kind of attitude. I know we can ALL reach our goals, we need to persevere!
Morning, all!
I got my notice today that there were replies this morning. Just a temporary glitch, I guess.
Sorry, I don't have a cute outfit. Seems like any cute outfits I have are too big. Even the jeans I purchased a couple months ago for black and gold day are too big (just a bit). I can't wear a dress (I do have one I like) because I am walking and I refuse to wear a dress with tennis shoes. Of course I don't have a good pair of shoes to wear to walk in a dress. Five miles is an awful lot to walk in cute shoes.
Susan, hange in there. There are several reasons why the scale is not going in the right direction. Maybe you have added some muscle or something.
Well, I'd probably better get prepared to start work. I'll check in with you all later!
Have a great day!
Karen
LOL casey, the challenge the other day was to wear something that made you feel good about yourself! Karen, don't worry. At least you can say the clothes you bought this year are too BIG! My problem is some seem too small 
Thanks for the heads up about Disney. I think by the time my youngest is 5 he should be 40 inches (I think he is 36 now and he's 3, almost). Plus I have to save up lots first!
Well susan...I think you are doing probably just what you need to do. I always hear that you should change it up a little if you hit a plateau (add or change exercise, maybe even change some foods). Maybe your walking program will be all that you need.
Susan, Its OK to get mad, just dont get discouraged and undo all that you have accomplished!!! Sounds like you have a good plan keep it up! I dont know how you do it with your willpower with all of that great food. I would be a thousand pounds!!!
I didnt know about the cute outfit either....I just bought a cute top last night and am wearing it today so I guess I did it.
We are going to Disney Land this Oct. We are taking the train from AZ to CA, much cheaper than flying!! We are going with DBF family, his brother has a son he will be 4 by then. Both grandmas are going so there will be lots of us to watch both boys the other is just 4 months old now.
Karen like Merissa said at least they are too big!!!!!! Could you wear sneakers with the dress walking to work then change to cute shoes during working hours and back to the sneakers to walk home? Just a thought.
Casey that stinks your anckle is hurt. Seems like those take the longst to heal. Take it easy.
OK gotta get to work to finish things up before I leave on Friday.
Just checking in quickly....I have cake stuff to do tonight. There's been lots going on here since I was on last!
I did some op shopping today...(second hand clothing stores - not sure what you guys call it) and found some gorgeous clothes for myself, so I've been wearing my "new" pair of jeans and feel good about myself in those!
Morning all!
Karen like Merissa said at least they are too big!!!!!! Could you wear sneakers with the dress walking to work then change to cute shoes during working hours and back to the sneakers to walk home? Just a thought.
Sorry, I can't stand wearing sneakers with a dress. It is just something I've never cared for the look of.
Hope everyone is well today. Again I didn't step on the scale this morning. I haven't checked the scale for weeks now and, frankly, I am scared to do it. I've fallen into old habits and am skipping meals again.
Well, I'd probably betterr go for now. Talk to you all later!
Karen
Sonia, it's always nice to get new clothes, isn't it? Even if they're "gently used"! In the States we do call them second hand clothing stores...our cultures are probably much more alike than different.
OK, I'm out of my little (big?) fit from yesterday. I'm just going to keep plugging along but changing the game a bit. I went through Sparkpeople today and got some new recipes, maybe I need some new foods to kickstart my metabolism. I'm walking as much as possible; it's 2:00 and I've done 6800 steps, so for sure I can get to 10,000 by bedtime. I guess I'd rather be 30+ (seems to change everyday) pounds down than none at all and even if I never lose another one (bite your tongue!), I can control not gaining. Attitude readjustment....that's what I needed. That and the fact that the grocery store finally got in Coke Zero after being out for a month (not sold anywhere else in town) and I got some yesterday!
I'm the cheerleader for the week. I don't have any immediate words of wisdom, my new catchphrase is small increments. If I can do everything in small increments, especially exercise, it can add up to big pounds lost!
Karen, Im like you I dont like the look of sneakers with a dress either. I just know some that do it, when at work they change.
Sonia- it is nice to get new clothes! I just got a few for my vacation that starts tomorrow.
Susan, I like your moto and think I will start using it!
I forgot to weigh in, I didnt get up to work out, DBF made me stay in bed. I think he is starting to realize I wont be home for almost 2 weeks with my vacation and the business trip I go on right after. I doubt I will even see a scale while on vacation, not sure my sister has one.
Michelle
Hi ladies well we are home, actually got back on Sunday night but I've been busy trying to get things back in order. Then yesterday I finally went to the doctor for my headaches, I figured a month of pain everyday was enough. He prescribed me 2 meds (75 freaking bucks YA that's what I needed) for if it was a sinus infection BUT since I've had it so long he's nervous that it's not (especially since I really don't have any other symptom of a sinus infection have congestion but that started AFTER the headaches) so he's ordered me to get a CT scan (waiting on insurance approval right now). I cried all the way home b/c between my copay and RX I spent 100 bucks (100 that we didn't need to waste on that) which let me tell you just helped that headache SO much! Dh keeps telling me that my health is worth it but UGH I can think of so many things that 100 could have been used for! OH and to make matters worse then they weighed me at the doctor I had gained half of the weight that I had lost back! That alone was worth crying over. I knew I had slacked off on my food and completely stopped working out but UGH! Hard to exercise w/ this headache honestly, I have GOT to get me under control again!!!!!!!!
I hope everyone had a great 4th and weekend and gearing up for another weekend. Tomorrow I will be helping my grandmother w/ my great grandmothers estate sale ~ so being outside in the 100+ heat maybe I'll sweat off 5lbs!
sorry connie... 
. Well you probably do need to get your headaches checked out, even if you don't want to part with the money. If it makes you feel any better we had to take our van in because it was having problems....900 bucks. ouch. My Dh usually gets bonuses quarterly (July is one of the months) so I am hoping he gets one.
I weighed in. 155 again. blah. I havent really been trying, diet wise lately. I did work out 3 days this week so far.
Well I am going to try and take a break here for a few minutes during "quiet time" That is when I force the kids to be quiet for awhile. LOL! Maybe I can catch a couple of z's while they watch a movie.
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