Good morning all! I got to walk 2 miles yesterday, hopefully I can repeat that today. I do much better hooked up to a mp3 player. Keeps my mind busy while I walk. I joined sparkpeople. It's alot of information and I am finding it alittle confusing. I'm sure I'll figure it out. Have a good day.
Welcome Beth!! I guess you won't be weighing in with us on Thursdays if you have no scales, but you'll get plenty of encouragement to lose weight here!!
Susan, 1 lb is great - don't be disheartened! You're slowly but surely getting there!!!
Otter, yes I have had my photo taken, but may get another one....aaaargh - I'm not photogenic!!
Glad you're back with us Merissa. Hope your re-start day goes well....YOU CAN DO IT!!
Maggie - well dont for throwing out the rest of the bag!! I wish I had your self-control!! What are you sewing?? I love craft too!
Katie, it sounds like you had heaps of exercise over the weekend! I find it's easier to get outside and do things when hubby is home, too.
Well, is everyone going well with their no-cheat Wednesday?? This is it, girls, last day before photos......so let's kick our butts into gear and give it all we've got! SEE YOU ALL TOMORROW!!!
Thank you to everyone for your encouragement and support. I know, I'm whining about 1 pound...it's terrible! And I also know that no matter what, no matter how long, this weight will eventually come off. This is my good news...I only have ONE more pound before I can say "Oh, I only have 70-something pounds to lose" instead of saying I have 80-something or 90-something left to go. I like that!
OK Sonia, I'm going to do what I can to post a photo tomorrow! I'm so technologically inadvanced, it will be a challenge. But a friend is coming over tonight after our weekly get together and I'll have take it. I may be a day or so late with it, but I'll do it. Havfta figure out how to download from my new camera that CLEARLY I have no business operating!
Bella, I was completely and totally overwhelmed by SP when I first joined. It probably took me 2 weeks before I did anything other than just sign up, I had to let it sit for a while. But you'll get, you will, and I think you'll find it incredibly helpful.
2sdae, our fearless leader, what a great story about your post-baby weight! Just keep thinking of that and how amazing you've done. You're my heroine and role model!
Good morning everyone (well for some of you it will be afternoon!!!)
My no cheat Wednesday has started out well, I got up and worked out, not only that but uped the speed from 2.5 to 3.2 for the whole 30 min. GEEEZZ that felt good when I was done, hated it while I was walking though! I have my salad for lunch and I had yogurt and granola for breakfast. I plan on strength training today when I get home, I have no stops between work and home so I should be able to do it (as part of my no cheat!!)
Welcome Beth to our family. As everyone has said we are a great bunch here for support. One other part of our little group is that every week there is a cheerleader. You will get the idea as the weeks roll on before it will be your turn.
Susan was it you or Sonia who has the roster? We should probably post it again with our newest members.
Bella I know SP is confusing I just took one part at a time and slowley got to know it. I still am learning new parts of it. Best part is its free, I also like WW, but hate paying!!!
Merissa I LOVE your doll cake it is so pretty, you did an amazing job! Glad you had a good vacation sometimes you need that little break even just a day trip somewhere to see something different! Glad to hear that you have not let this backslide take you all the way down. Great job on reconfirming your decision for a healthier lifestyle.
Maggie take your time in SP, since it is free you can take all the time in the world to explore what it has to offer. I know what you mean about snacking at the grocery store, our store gives out free chocolate chip cookies! I love them, I have to purposefully walk around it in order not to stop. Unfortunately it is in the same open area as the produce section. sometime I can walk past, sometimes not.
Susan a pound is great and at least in the right direction! Great job.
2sdae Happy birthday to your oldest! You are also my heroine and I look to you for inspiration!
Karen good luck with those algeries, I am so glad that I dont have them! Just being stuffy from a cold a few times a year is enough buggers for me!! I have not taken my pic but will tonight and will post tonight if DBF gets done studying early enough, otherwise I will post tomorrow afternoon.
I better get to work. Have a great no cheat Wednesday everyone!
Welcome, Beth! I'm a newbie here too 
Congrats on your upcoming graduation! Do you know what you plan to do when you are finished?
Susan, congrats on your pound!! I'm sorry you are disappointed. It really is good though.
Bella and Michelle, great job on the walking!
Sonia - my sewing project is just a little sample quilt. A friend of mine asked me to teach her daughter to sew this summer as one of her homeschool electives. I'm reviewing the curriculum now (which my friend had already purchased) and the first project is a little quilt (doll or crib size). It's very simple, but since I've never actually quilted before, I thought I should make it myself before assigning it to my pupil! I'm kind of excited about it, but I couldn't find any fabric I liked very much so now I'm kind of bummed to go to all that work for something I'm not going to love. But oh well, so it goes. What kind of projects do you do?
I am absolutely STARVING today. I had an apple and two eggs for breakfast. I was trying to increase the protein, hoping that will help decrease my appetite. So far it isn't working though. All I can think about is foooood.... But I'm going to try REALLY hard to make it through my very first NO CHEAT WEDNESDAY!
GOOD JOB SUSAN on the pound!
Great job on the walking and keeping up w/ your goals everyone.
I worked out again today but MAN I swear everytime I move during my work out I am constantly popping.
I have my lovely yearly appointment tomorrow so I won't be able to work out (IF I don't exercise in the am then it just doesn't happen).
I'll probably post my picture tonight if cc lets me since I won't be on in the morning tomorrow. It's just a waist up picture right, or do I need a full body? I can't remember and cc is going slow today for me so don't want to try and scroll thru the thread.
Goodmorning everybody.
Welcome Beth. Like everyone else has already said this is a great group.
I don't think I will be beating Tuesday in her little challenge. My eating has been good but my exercise is slacking...a little.
Merissa your doll cake is awesome! Good luck with your re-start day, starting is the hardest part.
Susan a lb is a lb. Be happy! I don't think my scale is moving at all even though I've been working at it.
My scale tricked me last night. It said I had lost 7lbs since thurs but I didn't believe it. My real weight showed up again this morning. Oh well, I know I shouldn't be focusing on #'s.
I'm excited for pictures....not mine but it will be nice to place faces to names!!!
Maggie and Sonia I envey you with your sewing abilities. I do not get along with any sewing machines, we fight constantly and I end up very angry and close to beating the dumb thing with a bat!!!
Casey, I too am looking forward to putting faces to names too.
Surviving No Cheat Wednesday so far... I actually made it to Walmart and back without ever getting myself a treat. This is actually progress for me... I know, I'm pathetic! Hey, gotta celebrate those small victories, kwim?
Michelle - I fight with my sewing machine too. In fact, we are fighting right now because it won't keep the right tension!
Katie - So neat that you have horses! I've always thought if I could have horses I would have FUN exercising every day - who wouldn't love riding horses every day?! But I know in reality most of the exercise you get when you have horses is the WORK required to keep them (building fences, lugging feed, shoveling out stables, etc.)!
I made myself some yummy chicken salad for lunch. Unfortunately my toddler wanted to sit in my lap while I ate it so I had to share it with him even though I really wanted it all to myself! 
Guess I gotta make him a bigger sandwich next time.
Not sure yet what is for supper. I wish it were bedtime already so I could just go to sleep (the only time I'm not tempted to eat!) and wake up for my weigh-in. LOL!
Hey everybody, and thanks for the welcome.
I joined SparkPeople this morning, and I'm seeing why you all say it's kinda confusing. But I've learned a lot already, so I"m sure more time on it will only help.
Well, my first No Cheat Wednesday is going great. Although my toughest time of the day is after dinner...but I'm determined to do it.
So is everybody posting pictures tomorrow? I think I missed something. I tried looking back at past posts to find out, but since this site is taking forever to load, I gave up on that.
Maggie - Thanks for the Congrats! I plan on furthering my cake business, to get it legal and all that. But Michigan laws are a pain in the butt, so it's more complicated than I thought it would be.
Well, I'm of to make dinner for the family.
~Beth
Beth: where in Michigan are you? Curious since I am in Michigan too!
I had the health inspector over to my house a couple of weeks ago to check out our basement to see if we could put a small kitchen in there. It seems doable, but just have to find money for new appliances!
Merissa: I'm about 30 miles between Detroit and the Ohio border. Where abouts is Spring Lake?
Yeah I just don't have room to fit a separate kitchen into the house. I'll have to get my own space somewhere else, and finacially, that will take me a while...
oh spring lake is way over on the other side of the state. It is near Lake Michigan. Just east of Grand Haven and 25 miles west of Grand Rapids.
Sorry Beth, I should have reposted this weeks challenge for the newbies, and also for Merissa who hasnât had time to catch up with all the posts. My challenge was to exercise and diet the best way you know how this week, then post a photo of yourself at the end of the week. If youâre too uncomfortable with that, donât worry!! (Weâd like to see you though!!!)
Maggie, I donât sew much anymore. I made my own wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses 15 years ago, and it was so much work Iâve hardly touched the machine since!! I mostly just do repairs now (and make outfits for the boysâ teddies sometimes!) I enjoy knitting, crocheting and hardanger the most. (when I get time, which isnât often!!)
Michelle, I had the roster, but we havenât heard from Jodi for a while, so I might PM her before I repost it, because sheâs on soon, and we might have to fill her spot.
Well, as for weigh in, Iâm very disappointed as I have lost NOTHING!! Iâve done plenty of extra exercise this week, too. Iâm feeling a little bloated again this morning, so maybe thatâs why. So unless someone else has done extremely well, Iâd say Tuesday will be our winner. Anyone???????
Ok, photo timeâ¦â¦.My 5 & 6 year olds both wanted to take photos of me. Some were blurry, some were very lop-sided, some were taken while I was talking to themâ¦..I think the best ones of me were all blurry, so Iâve had to settle with this one. But like I saidâ¦.IâM NOT PHOTOGENIC!!!!
I need some encouragement. I have been going to Curves for the last three months and I am very disappointed. I haven't lost anything, no pounds or inches. I am thinking of quitting! I don't know what to do. I have been trying so hard and nothing! Are there any other suggestions? Please help! I am driving myself nuts! Next week I am going back to walking my three miles in the morning and see if that helps with going to the gym in the afternoon.
Hi Cathy!
Don't despair!! And please don't quit. You've come to the right place because we all encourage each other here. My neighbour is a personal trainer, and she tells me it doesn't matter how much exercise you do, what you put in your mouth is the most important thing. How are your eating habits?? We all have our ups and downs here, I know I'm an emotional eater. Hang in there, join our thread and we'll see if we can all help!! 
Hi Cathy!
My neighbour is a personal trainer, and she tells me it doesn't matter how much exercise you do, what you put in your mouth is the most important thing.
So true. For me the exercise is just to tone my flabby butt. To actually lose weight I need to eliminate sugar and starchy foods from my diet ( 
all the good stuff).
Carol
Hey Sonia, nice to see your face! You look great!
OK, I don't know what I'm doing wrong, besides being a technological dummy. My friend took photos last night...I spent an hour and a half trying to upload it to CC without success. It kept saying the file was empty. So I sent it to myself at work and same thing this morning. Any advice? I first transferred it to "My Photos" on my computers but nothing. Any ideas?
Use this site to shrink your pic. I learned it here on CC and have used the site myself.
http://shrinkpictures.com/
Hi all, the local hospital started a lose 10lbs in 10 weeks challenge. Three local health clubs are offering 10 weeks of unlimted club usage for 99.00. Can't beat that. Didn't get to walk yesterday, but I did have to weigh in with the hospital. First mistake was to weigh in after dinner..
But at the end if you lose the weight there are a bunch of prizes you are eligible for. (p.s. scgriffiths..my daughter thinks it's so cool that someone from Tasmania is online, she did her science project on the tasmanian devil. She thinks they're cute..)
Good morning all!
Sonia, you look great. It is nice to see your face finally. Did the kids take that picture? They did a good job.
I think I might have forfieted the contest. I forgot to weigh in this morning. It was cold in the house and I dressed this morning before I left the heated bedroom (heat still not working). We really do have to get that motor put in before we leave. Don't want somebody moving in and not having heat in the house.
I will be working on my picture this evening. We got busy yesterday. I sure hope I don't have problems with it.
Welcome, Cathy! Glad to have you here. Please don't give up. If you start living a healthy lifestyle, the weight will adjust itself. Keep on plugging on.
I have failed miserably with my calorie counting goal, so that is what my main goal will be this week: To know how many calories I am eating and to adjust my eating to reflect the number of calories I need.
Well, I'd better go and get ready to start work now.
Susan: Tell us EXACTLY what you are doing. To attach a photo here, it does need to be on the smaller side. I usually take my photos in 1MP. So to attach to the forums (not galllery) I go to the shrinkpictures as sonia suggested and reduce by 50% and that does the trick.
But if it actually already looks tiny then maybe there is some other problem.
Click Add attachement
Click browse and find where your pic is located
click open after you select it
then click add attachment
Good morning. Well I DRAGGED myself to the scale this morning. I really didnt want to because this was the worst week Ihave had since the holidays. But I guess I need to know where I am starting (again!) So I was 153. Not great, but I was worried it would be worse. That is up over 3 pounds in 2 weeks. Yesterday, however, I did pretty good. I wont say I didnt "cheat" because I did have a handful of chocolate chips and 2 easter egg chocolates! But I did stay below my calorie range (I think!). Plus I started drinking my water yesterday and I had to get up 3 times last night to pee. It always takes a couple of days to regulate that!
Goals for the week are to GET INTO THE ZONE BABY!
Count calories and stay in calorie range
Work out 5 days
Drink 64 ounces water daily
Sonia: you look GREAT! Good to put a face to the name!
As for pics. This one is from my vacation this week. I guess you cant see my body really well. But if you go to my website there are a couple of pics of me there. It is from the fall, but I am pretty much the same!
Thanks for sharing your photo, Merissa! It's a good picture of you, and your boys are gorgeous!!
Good morning everyone
Sonia, love your pic!!! remember as you work out more you gain muscle and that weighs more.
Cathy, Welcome. As 2sdae said it is not only working out but what you eat. Try journaling your intake to see where you are then make the appropriate changes. Check in here often for encouragement and challanges
Bella, what an awesome challange with the local hospitals! I wish there was something like that here. I do have friends who say they need to loose weight and we start a buddy system, then they flake out!
Otter, no heat!!!!! Geezz I need heat in the winter and I am in AZ. I did grow up in MN so I know what it is like to actually be cold! I feel for ya!
Merissa, great pic and your boys are adorable! Get back on track girl!! It sounds like you have it well in hand and getting there, great job.
I will put my pic up tonight when I get home. Was going to do it last night, but forgot to get it taken before I left work yesterday.
My no cheat Wednesday was a bust. I couldnt get the DVD machine working in the living room so instead of going to the work out room I just changed my clothes, then for dinner I had nachos!!!! First one that I didnt make my no cheat goal!!!
I weighed in at 213.4 which is a 1.2 poind gain I believe. I also tested my blood sugar this morning and found that it has jumped up 15 points in the past 2 months. I better get my self in check soon or I will be on drugs!!!
I have my next diabetes check up and blood draw at the end of the month so my challange for myself for the next 3 weeks is to loose at least 6 pounds (thats 2 a week, is that too much?) and to get my blood sugar number back down the 15 points it jumped.
My goals for the week are
1- start journaling, I know I say that all the time.
2- work out M-F on the tread
3- start the strenght training t & th after work
I bought myself the large exercise ball so I will start this afternoon with their work out DVD!
Off to a great week!
OK, I hope this works! Thank you Sonia and Merissa for the shrink site. Now, of course I don't like this photo, I feel so...well....fat! Thank goodness there are no photos of me 22.5 pounds ago! I'm going to try to remember to take one every 20 pounds.
Merissa, you look great and your boys are adoreable. Can't wait to see everyone else!
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