Weight Loss Help...with The Chunky Monkeys!
Lounge By TexasSugar Updated 28 Oct 2011 , 1:50pm by TexasSugar
Good Sunday morning all.
Welcome to our group SassyCakes and Shelena! It's so great to have you on board. I so look forward to chatting with you both and going through our journey together.
SassyCakes - looks like you've been pretty successful in losing weight. So, you definitely know that you can do it. Keeping the motivation going can sometimes be difficult especially when we reach those dreaded plateaus. But this will pass and you will be on your way to your goal in no time. Just stay focused and determined and you'll get there in no time.
You know how many points you need to keep losing weight and yes, you certainly can do this on your own. I just met ya and already have faith in you...
Shelena - Oh, I love your name..... it's soooo pretty. I can soooo relate to what caused you to gain weight. I too gained a lot of weight when I started baking cakes. I really didn't have that many people to bake for and yet I wanted to decorate cakes, so guess who ate most of them? So not a good idea. 
My weight soared to new heights. I lost on and off over the last year but really got serious about it last month when I reached my all time high of 183. I couldn't believe it when I stepped on that scale. However, I knew I had gained a lot because of how I was feeling. I was disgusted with myself and "really" decided, this is it. No more....... I have now lost about 18 pounds since Jan 4th and I'm going ALL the way. I WILL lose the weight and I WILL keep it off. You lost 40 pounds in 08 and ya know what? You can do it again in 2010. You really can. You may not be able to do it the same way by working out with your cousin but you can lose it by really watching what you eat and getting in some exercise when you possibly can. Find what works for you and stay with it and before ya know it, you'll be where you want to be. I know you can do it. We all can and we all will as long as we keep the faith and determination.........
Have a GREAT day everyone.....
Lecia and Shelena, welcome to our little group.
Lecia, if you find time to read back though there are some helpful hints posted among the posts, but feel free to skip them and just post from here on out. 
Keep working at it and you will get below that plateau.
Shelena, alot of us have struggled with the gain/lose/gain/lose situations. You know you can lose weight because you have done it before, and you have a good idea of what to do to make it happen. You are a step ahead of the game.
I'm to the point where I don't really like cakes any more, so they aren't a huge issue. I still love to make, and will bake cookies and brownies for the guys at the office. For me it works best if I get the items out of my house. If I don't have the chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen calling my name at 11am I can't eat them.
Margie, what is it with that 183 number? That was the number that caused me to stop and decide I had to do something. I was on the verge of having to move up to size 20 and I so didn't want that. I knew if I didn't do anything I would just slowly keep gaining weight.
I got on a whole text conversation with a guy friend of mine last night. It is funny to talk to guys on the subjects of weight loss, because they really have no idea what women should weigh. You show a guy a skinny woman that is 5'8 and they are going to tell you she is 120 lbs, when we know that you'd be seeing her ribs then. There was a point where me and my tall friend (5'10") were about the same weight. Let me just say it looked a hell of alot better on her body cause it was stretched out.
He was telling me that he thought 135 would be a good weight for me. I'm like that's only 10 more lbs. I have more than 10lbs of fat sitting on my tummy still. He's afraid I'm going to get stick thin and look unhealthy.
I told him I'm going for healthy, and that I will not give up eating food, I do not want food to rule my life and I don't want to get to the point where I feel like I have to spend an hour on the treadmill to work off a piece of chocolate.
I also told him that this is for me. I want to be healthy, I want to feel better about myself and and I want to get to a point where I love my body, or at least like it alot more than I do now (which is more than I did almost 40lbs ago). And yes a side benefit is that I'll be skinner, but that doesn't mean skin and bones. I also told him I can't dictate how people are going to see my body. I've got a great aunt now that every time she see's me she says I've lost enough weight and that I shouldn't lose any more, because then I'll be too skinny. I guess she can't see all the flab still sticking out around my tummy.
So while when I get to a weight I am comfortable with, some people may see it as good and others may think I look like a twig. I can't help that. I have to do this for me, and do what feels right to me. I've never been going for the skin and bones look and feel I am pretty realistic with what I expect.
I also told him that I have already come to terms with the fact that some guys may not be attracted to me with a skinner body. Everyone likes different things and some guys like thicker women. But I can't stay overweight because those guys may not like me anymore.
Since I have started this weight loss journey, my views on guy's bodies have changed. Before I was okay with overweight guys, and I still am, to a point. I don't want a guy that needs to spend every day in the gym, but I do want a guy that takes care of himself and will be fit into what I need. I don't want a guy that will press or encourage me to fall back into bad habits.
This weekend was one of those ones that came with mixed emotions. I felt lonely, but didn't really want to call my friend up and see if she could do something. Then I had moments were I was sad and depressed. And those emotional moments were I realize that while I'm excited to lose the weight I'm also scared of what my body will look like when I get done. I know my breasts will never be perky and I have doubts that all the skin on my tummy will shrink back up and be nice and flat and taunt. It's been stretched for over 20 years. What about those nice flabby parts of my inner thigh, will the dissappear?
So while I know I'll be able to celebrate that I lost weight, will I ever love my body? While those parts that bug me now, not bug me any more then? Does that make sense? It is one of those things you don't think about when you start.
I've never been skinny so I don't even have that to compair to things, so part of it is just uncertainty. Will 127 be a good weight for me? Will I need to lose 5, 10 or more lbs when I get there? What size clothes will I be in? I can currently squeeze my butt and tummy into 10s, will 8 be the final size for me, or will I be able to get into a 6? I have no idea, because at the moment I am the skinniest I have been in 20 years, and I'm 31.
Of course I'm PMSing so that could be part of the emotional surge this weekend as well. I know my friend probably thought I was crazy. He kept telling me I didn't have anything to worry about, that my tummy will look great and I'll still be sexy. I so wanted to tell him I didn't need the postive spin on things, I just wanted to express my concearns. But I know he was just trying to make me feel better.
Even with all the mood swings I did get some things accomplished this weekend. I bathed my dog Saturday morning, came over here and spent an hour and a half cleaning the office, then went and taught class. After class I went with my parents to visit my grandma who is back in the hospital then to Walmart. Yesterday I read a book (and didn't like the ending), washed a load of clothes, washed my sheets and blankets, folded the towels I washed this last week, and washed dishes.
I also pulled out the cutting board, knife, scale, plastic bags, and veggies. I cut up brocolli, cauliflower, cabbage and green beans into serving amounts and bagged them up. They are currently in a plastic container in my fridge.
Tonight I'm going to split up the package of salad mix and the jar of citrus fruit I bought so I can just grab and go with them. I'm also thinking about splitting up some cheese, olives and dressings in those little 2oz cups.
How is everyone's Monday going?
Mondays usually stink, however I weighed in this morning and found that I am 10 lbs. lighter than Monday last week!! That seems like a LOT of weight to lose in one week, and I don't expect that to happen every week however it did put a little bounce in my step today LOL Nice to see that watching what I eat WILL pay off.
So far I have tried to count my points via weight watchers system, and have really made a point to NOT eat between meals (which is a huge struggle for me)...typically I'm a grazer, I eat little bits all the time...cook, taste, clean, taste, cook, taste...all day long and that's the reason I'm overweight I'm sure. Alll these little bite here, little bite there by the time you go to bed REALLY adds up to a whole lot MORE calories than I should be taking in each day!
I've been drinking my breakfast in the form of Carnation instant breakfast, one packet plus 8 oz. of skim milk is 2 points on weight watchers (I hate to eat breakfast) and it's packed with vitamins an nutrients I need and is very filling. Keeps me tied over nicely until at least noon or 1pm depending on how busy i am.
So all in all, it's been a good week......even with all the "fellowship" moments after church Sunday morn., sunday night, wed. bible study...sat. ministry meeting...man, my church loves to eat! lol I made a point to take only a bite of things I wanted that aren't GOODfor you and load up on the good for you stuff like carrot sticks, fresh fruit, etc.
KH, sounds like you are on your way. You are right, after portion sizes (we are in a super size me world), it is those little bites of things that really add up. I have to say when you right down what you eat, it makes you stop and think about things before you put them in your mouth. Some things like that are mindless or ingrained habits. We do it with out really thinking about it. I can be tough to break the behavior, but once you do, then it is easier to keep doing the new good behavior.
I find that first week or two the hardest when I go back to eating better. Because you are struggling to be good, and it always seems there is a temptation around the corner. After a couple of weeks the tempations lessen and are easier to over come.
Of course also for me there is that period about 6-8 weeks in where I find myself getting a little relaxed on what I am doing. That's where I stop guessing more on serving sizes and stuff and start weighing it out again. Again as you said it's the little bits that add up, and what looks like 2 tbls of dressing squeezed on top of the salad could easily be more than that.
I love weighing things alot more than I do measuring them!
I totally hear ya about the salad dressing LOL I used to always eyeball.....now I buy little 2 oz. plastic cups from the party supply store and literally measure out 2 tbsp. of dressing and pop a lid on it...makes it easier too when I know I'm not going to be home for lunch to grab one of those and throw some salad mix in a bowl and go!
Then I just dip my fork of salad into the dish and get a little dressing on each bite, most of the time I have a little left over when I'm done too! I used to put 2 Tblsp. on my salad (measured out) and I always wound up not eating half the salad because there wasn't enough dressing lol.
One of the ones I use, because it is light and still a little high in calories I actually on use about 2/3rds of the serving amount. Another thing you can do is thin the thicker ones out with a little milk or water. It only takes a little bit of milk and it makes the dressing thinner so it doesn't just stick on the lettuce leaves in clumps. I use less dressing when I do that, so the little bit of milk is actually saving me on calories.
I've also started buying the Herb salad mix. Between the different lettuces and herbs that are in the package, it actually has taste, and different tastes at that. So even if I don't get dressing on all of it, I still have flavor to my salad.
Hey guys.... Hope everyone had a nice week-end.
KHalstead - WOWIE!!!! 10 lbs? Geezie Peezie, how did you do that?
Here I thought I had done great losing 3.2 lbs this past week. I bet your face lit up when you saw that number come up 10 lbs lower. Congrats!!
Tracy - if you lose the weight slowly and exercise, I don't think you will have as much of an issue with loose skin. You are pretty young and I think it's just not going to be as much of an issue as you fear. Now, with me, that's another story. But that's ok, I'm willing to have that bit of flab in the tummy area and be at a healthier weight. As for how much you want to lose, you'll know when ya get there.
Hey, wanna hear something funny? When I plugged in my new weight this morning with W.W. online, I was told that I was losing too quickly and that I needed to slow down. My average loss over the last 4 weeks was over 2 pounds a week and they say that anything over the 2 lbs is not good.(after the initial few wks on the plan) It actually made a lot of sense the way they explained it but I just thought it was funny cause I'm eating right up to my points and haven't been able to exercise since I started W.W. on Jan 4th. Soooo, does this mean that I need to eat more? I don't want to do that cause I'm perfectly satisfied with how much I'm eating. Hmmmm, think I'm just gonna keep going the way that I have been. I was really surprised with the 3.2 loss this past week. I weighed 5 different times to make sure it was right. 
Maybe it's just a fluke and next week it will all even out. Anyway, 20 lbs down so I'm happy..... Gonna start the Wii Active today..... I think this is gonna tell me just how out of shape I am. But that's ok, gotta have a starting point....
I'll have to look at what brand it is. It is one that comes in a plastic box at Walmart. I was buying the spring mix then picked up the herb by mistake one day. The herbs vary a little but it usually has dill and parsley. It also has leaves that look like they just walking around picking up green things. 
I vary what extra goodies I add to my salad. I have several light salad dressings on hand and will make oil/vinger ones if that suits my mood better. Sometimes I add green olives, sometimes I do. Sometimes I have a little chedder cheese, sometime it is feta or parm and sometimes I go cheeseless. Sometimes I do cucumbers, other times maybe bacon bits. I usually just do somall amounts to keep them numbers from adding up too much but I like the extra little kick they give, plus I can change my salad up so it doesn't taste like the exact same thing every day.
10 lbs. really isn't all that much in the grand scheme of how overweight I am. I'm sure if someone only had like 30 lbs. to lose it would be the equivalent of losing 1 or 2 lbs. but I have a LOT of weight to lose, like possibly hundreds of pounds!
Margie, I say eat what you are eating if you are feeling full and are not hungry when you shouldn't be. As you lose a little more your body will take less food to run and it will taper off.
I have a feeling this week is going to be a good week on the scale. We will see what happens Wednesday.
KH, 10lbs is an awesome number to lose in a week. Just think that is 10% of a hundred pounds, 5% of two hundred pounts. Just like we said about those calories, weight loss adds up too before you know it. You are 10lbs closer to your goal!
Hello Everyone!
KH - WOW!! Congrats on the 10 lbs! That is awesome. Give yourself a high 5 from me! And I totally understand about belonging to a church that ALWAYS eats! That's how we are. But since I run the kitchen I usually don't eat anything, then I'm starved when I get home!
Welcome to our new Monkeys! You're going to love it here - tons of info, support and encouragement!
And that's what I need today - encouragement! I feel like I'm working so hard and the weight is just not coming off. At least not fast enough, LOL! I know that with all of the exercise I'm getting I am getting smaller and healthier. But I need to see the scale move. Especially since I'm not getting any positive feedback from my husband. He's that one that is supposed to tell me how good I look, how proud he is of me and encourage me to keep going. He didn't even tell me that I looked good at our son's wedding. That hurts so bad. We're going through a very bad time right now and I don't know how it will end. I'm not sure how I want it to end. At least I haven't turned to food!
And as far as staying motivated, being a part of the 1,000 mile challenge keeps me moving every day! This morning I went on a 6 mile bike ride. I try to get in 10 miles every day. I am so proud of myself for sticking with the exercise. That's always been very hard for me.
I know I need to start keeping track of what I eat every day. I'm sure I'm getting more calories than I think I am. But journaling takes so much time. I know, just an excuse!
I've had some really good vegetarian meals lately - lentils and brown rice casserole, portabello cheese 'fakes' (SO good!!), tortellini with pesto, mushrooms and spinach and oven fried eggplant!! Great, now I'm hungry!
Ok, I'm off to do some chores, get some of the kids started on their school and then head out to the veggies market - I want more eggplant and some zucchini! Oh yeah, then I have to go to church and set up the fellowship hall of a meal after a funeral tomorrow.
Has anyone tried kettlebells? I love mine, it's only 7 pounds. So I wish I had gotten a little heavier one. Maybe I'll treat myself to a new one. I would love to find someone that uses them and can tell me some good exercise. There are a couple of good places on the computer but I want to talk to someone else.
I hope that everyone has a great, healthy day! Stay strong and make good choices!
Melissa
Melissa, congrats on sticking with an exercise plan..that can be so difficult especially with a hectic schedule.
As for you and your hubby, I gotta share with you something that has really turned my DH and I's marriage around. He doesn't even know what's going on, he's just reacting to my lead.
Not sure if you've heard of the movie Fireproof or not, but they have a book called the "love dare" and I got the book...you don't have to buy it, there are online resources where you can "take the dare" as well.
It's a 40 day challenge, each day you're given a new challenge to fulfill......one day is "don't say anything negative" another day might be "call your spouse and ask if there is anything you can do for them today", and so on.
It's amazing what a difference it can make, even if your spouse doesn't know what's going on or why you're doing the things you're doing, after they realize that you're being so kind, they have no choice but to be nice back or else feel horribly guilty lol.
My DH and I weren't having a rocky marriage or anything, but we were both under a lot of stress and just didn't seem to be as close as we had always been.
It was a real eye opener when I got to day 6 and realized that since I stopped saying "negative things" to him on day one, it occured to me that since day 2 I hadn't heard him say anything negative either!!! It made me really asess just how often I say things that are negative and how that obviously affected what came out of DH's mouth.
If you're interested here is an online site that has all of the challenges that you can follow everyday.....the only difference is that with the actual book, it has a page or 2 of writing that explains different things about that days challenge and how to continue to grow in your marriage from the previous days marriage.
BTW I got my book on amazon for like $7, so if you've got the money to spare, I'd get the book, it also gives you a good page or two to journal that days results.
Here is one that has all 40 days outlined, it doesn't however include the 2 page devotional before each dare (you'll have to buy the book for that)
http://paulgustafson.wordpress.com/category/day-01/
Melissa, sit down with your husband and talk to him. Okay so I'm not married, but the way I look at it is that people are not mind readers.
I remember reading the Valentine gift post where the women were talking about they wanted their husbands to do gift wise and every other one I thought, well did you ever tell him what you wanted? Of course we want people to do and say nice things because they want to and because they think about it themselves, but sometimes they need to know what it is that we want and need from them.
To me it would be better if you talk to him about how you are feeling and that you do need support and encouraging words, then to wait to just hear. Of course you also know the type of person your husband is. Did he say those things before and it just tapper off over the years, did he always express those kinds of thoughts, or was he one of those that didn't often tell you those things?
And honey, no matter what he thinks or says, you should be proud of yourself and what you have accomplished. Yes, we want to hear it from others too, that knowledge that our hard work pays off, but we also have a tendency to depend on others thoughts over ours. Are you proud of yourself? And that answer should be a very big, capital letter YES! You've been working hard, I can't even imagine doing 10 miles of anything a day.
We make our own self worth, and I believe me I know how being heavy and over weight can take away from that. I'm feeling so much better about myself now than I did five or ten years ago. Yes my family can tell me that I look better and that I'm doing good, but you know what, the best part of it is that I can say that about myself as well.
Another thought about hubby, is he also heavy? Sometimes, when we are losing weight we forget that it affects others. If hubby is also over weight, he may be feeling jealous that you are losing weight?
He could also feel that you are changing, and in all honesty you are. You can't go through this process and be the person you were. Unless you are one of those rare bubbly happy heavy people your personality is going to go through a few changes. You will find you are happier, maybe more out going than you were before.
So again I think maybe sitting down and having at talk with him to get some things out in the open may be a really good idea at this point. Or if sitting down and talking isn't an option, what about a letter to him?
I'll say again I'm not married, and there are alot of things that factor into relationships. So what I said above may help or it may be way off. Just wanted to give you some things to think about.
Now about that food journal. I dare you, okay how about I triple, double dare you to do it for a week? HeHe.
I actually bought a dry erase board that has magnets on the back of it that I have on my fridge. When I am in the kitchen putting together a meal I can make notes on it, or do math on it, and then transfer that infromation into my journal. I was thinking last night I need a caculator in the kitchen.
I get my food journal from Michaels. It is a little 60 sheet page notebook with a hard cover. They are a $1, but if you watch you can pick some up for .50 when the new ones come in.
Here is a picture of it... http://cgi.ebay.com/Journal-60-sheets-Rooster-Studio-18-New-Sealed-Wrap_W0QQitemZ330402328358QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20100208?IMSfp=TL100208206004r31804
They have all kinds of cute pictures and patterns on them. I bought a couple last month to have on hand that have cakes on them. Ironic huh?
I slid a pencil down into the spiral, and can carry it with me in my purse when I'm going to my parents house to eat. At the office it sits on my desk and at home it sits on the couch. That way it is places I will be so I don't have to make a special effort to go to the computer to type it all up.. I've been using it since Januray, and while it seems like extra work and a hassle, you get to the point where you don't think, you just do it. I'll also chart my exercise on it as well.
I just keep a basic count through out the day, so I know what I am eating. If it is something I don't know the calorie count to, it still gets listed. And I can say that writing the stuff down and adding it up through out the day really does help me out.
I looked at Walmart the other night for a Kettle ball after you mentioned it. They were out, so I'll have to try again. I'm curious about it now.
Oh a side note... It is snowing here again. Since we had a very spring like weekend, I don't think it will stick and they are saying we are going to only get an inch or two. But it is still snow! Again! Totally crazy.
I'm so sick of the snow this year, ours is finally starting to melt here in Ohio since we've had kind of a drizzly rain yesterday and today, but it's the kind of rain that comes down as rain and quickly turns to ice. My windshield is a solid sheet of ice right now UGH!
Welcome CakesbyLecia and Shelena!
I think it is always important to make time to exercise, we all have excuses of course, but it is key to just say "today I am NOT making excuses" and understand how great it makes you feel to exercise!!
KH, what an impressive weight loss! You obviously feel awesome after that!! Don't think of it in terms of the pounds you still have to lose, think of it in terms of a step in the right direction!
Melissa, you sound like you are doing great with everything, my husband is the same way... Men are often just like that. 
I find it way to easy to lapse into old habits when he is non-complimenting and a big grump.
I love Kettle Bells, I only have 1 and it's 30 lbs. lol! I am of the opinion that if I'm going to lift weights, I might as well go strong... I've always been strong and find that shoulder pressing 10lb dumb bells is just a bore. (for me!) The lightest dumb bells I use right now are 15s, but it gets expensive always having to add to my weight room too.
KH, thanks for posting all that stuff. I really find I have to make an effort to do nice things for my DH, and he feels no guilt for not returning the niceness... LIke you, I just feel we are not close at all anymore. I am even wondering if maybe there is somebody else, perhaps online as he spends many hours in front of the computer. I do nice things, iron his shirts, say nice things, make his lunch daily, etc, and I will continue that for a few days but after a few days of putting up with being taken for granted and no returning of compliments, I just have to stop being so kind... This is the man who yelled at me when i made Valentine's Breakfast two days after his Aunt died, I said "Happy Valentine's Day" and got accused of trying to make him feel like shit for not getting me anything at all for the day. I honestly feel like just giving up. *sigh* Okay, enough about me and my marriage. Grrrrr. I've tried talking, writing him a letter, I am just horrible at communicating and he gets all pissy and accuses me of reading too much into everything. Okay, now it really is enough....
We've been having great weather here, very unseasonal! We hardly have any snow, and I've been able to run outside every single run except for 1 day of very icy roads!!
On Monday I was up a bit from last Monday, I went for a long run on Sunday, my first run in over a week, and it was really really hard but I did it!
when I first started the dare, my thought was........I'll do what it says and see how he changes.......as it continued I started to realize that I WAS the one changing and he was just reacting to those changes. I also realized that when it first started I was doing things because I "had to" and as it continued I realized that i was doing things for him because I "wanted to".
One of the biggest eye openers for me was one devotional that said "if you are doing things for your spouse or your kids and you get upset that nobody notices or compliments you on a job well done, then you're not doing these things with the right motive"
I sat there and was like "wow........"
I used to get so upset when I would do something nice and it would go unnoticed, and reading that devotional really reminded me that NOTHING goes unnoticed by God and ultimately that is who I should be worried about pleasing! Even if my DH or my kids could care less about the time and effort I've invested in them, God knows and I will get my reward from Him.
I'm sorry to hear the struggle you're going through, I know what a struggle that can be, especially with the whole wondering if they're cheating and that.
AARRGGHHH!!!!!
I had this huge, long post and the computer ate it!!! It explained everything that's going on. Now I'll do it very briefly -
It's all about money (and trust) I spent all our money. Didn't mean to, it just happened. I take full responsibility for it. Hubby found out in July. He won't really forgive me. Things will get better then something will trigger a memory and he'll get mad all over again. I am sick of it. Either suck it up and forgive me or end the marriage. I have always forgiven him of everything he has ever done. I am the one that sends emails to him at work everyday, I write notes and put them in his lunch, everyday. I am always encouraging and uplifting. I never say negative things to him or about him to other people (except the usual 'wife stuf' and even then I try to be really careful and don't say anything truly hurtful). I know that I'm not perfect but I think I am a good wife. I think he wants me to change and live up tp his expectations. Which are pretty close to perfect. I am tired of living like this. Never knowing if he's going to love me or be angry. We are Christians and I know what God wants for our marriage, but it's getting hard to hold on. I have seen Fireproof - great movie. Hubby won't watch it with me.
I know that I shouldn't base my selfworth on what other people say or do. But I have always struggled with self esteem, haven't we all!? But he's supposed to be my bff, my biggest supporter. I guess I'm just feeling a little sorry for myself and alone. But it'll be ok. I just have to continue to pray , give it over to God and seek His will. And I know that His will is not for my marriage to end. Just a rough patch.
Alright, alright, I'll try the journaling again! It's just such a pain trying to measure everything!! I tend to eyeball and I think I do a pretty good job. I try to be honest about how big my portions are. I'm not really depriving myself - I know what happens when I do! BINGE!!! But I know that my meals are very healthy and I am really enjoying my food.
Kettlebells - LOVE THEM!! I am pretty strong, too. But I don't want to hurt myself or get one that's too big. What would you suggest to move up from the 7lb to, Kay?
The house is getting noisy and if this thing doesn't post I think I'll cry!!
Melissa
Melissa, have you tried setting aside maybe an hr. to premeasure out stuff you know you like to eat so that it can be quick and easy to just grab and eat?
It's such a pain to sit and measure everytime you want a little something and then it's so much easier to just eyeball and wind up with a double or triple portion!!
Also, about the whole journal thing.........I keep a notepad right on the front of the fridge (attached a magnet to the back), I guess because I do weight watchers points it's not embarassing to have everyone know what I've eaten since it's not a list of food, it's just tally marks...but there are times when I'm like........14 points....I only had a slice of toast????? Then I'm like......oh yeah.........I grabbed some peanuts and then I had a couple handfulls of chips....woops
It's amazing how quickly you can forget exactlly what you've eaten.
for me it's also helpful to note at the end of the day how my energy levels were, and what my overall mood was for the day.........then it's very interesting to look back and see just how my food choices affected me.
for instance days when I eat less bread/pasta/potatoes.......I have a better mood and am WAY more productive.
Nights after having skipped breakfast, eaten out for lunch, and eat salad for dinner......I'm way less energetic and most times jot down that I'm going to bed hungry!
Melissa, you are not alone. We are here for you anytime. I know that isn't the same as your husband being there, but I wanted you to know you aren't alone. When you haven't posted I do wonder what is going on and hope to pop online and see a post from you. We aren't just here for the good and bad weight days, we are here for each other in life in general.
Have you thought about counsiling? Even if he doesn't want to go, it may be something that you could benefit, just going yourself?
I totally understand the whole self worth struggle. I still go through it. This weekend was a pity party for myself and how alone I feel. But there are days when I look in the mirror and I can say to myself that I have accomplished more than I thought I would a years ago, not just with the weight but with other things.
As women we tend to give ourselves to our family, husbands, kids and everyone else. We define ourselves by those things. As women we tend to forget that while yes we may be a wife, mother, daughter, we are a woman, an individual person. That is just as important as the other things.
I can promise you I have said, I'm not going to measure food, in the past. If I hadn't bought a kitchen scale I probably wouldn't be doing it now. I love my scale because I can zero out the weight and weigh something else in the same bowl in top of other stuff, so I don't have alot of measuring cups and measuring spoons to wash.
Me and KH were talking about cutting up and measuring veggies. I now currently have serving size bags of veggies ready to go. Last night I made some turkey meatballs and some turkey taco meat, measured and calculated what went in it, then broke them up into servings and now I know when I eat them how many calories was in it. And when I picked my veggie, I grabbed the bag, dumped it into the pan and really liked that. Yes it took me a little time Sunday to cut up cauliflower, brocolli, and cabbage, but now I know that it will save me time during the week.
I won't say I measure every little thing that goes on my plate, but if it is the higher calorie items I try to measure those. Because those, like salad dressing, are the things that I'm sure when I'm guessing have added more than needed.
I know cooking for a family is different than what I have to do now. Since I'm the only one eating things I do have to break it down more than if I was cooking for others. I miss cooking for a family sometimes, because there is more variety. With just me, I ended having to eat the same things more often, even if I do freeze it.
I know that weighing, measuring and figuring out the calorie content in what we eat gets tiresome at first. It is an extra step and can seem time consuming. But after a while those numbers just start coming to you and you aren't really doing that extra step because it is just part of the process.
I have said before, and still mean it, that I don't want calories and food to rule my life. I don't want to always have to sit down and figure out every little calorie that I eat. I can say that I do know that they will still play a part in it though. Because I am learning what a serving of this or what looks like and while I may not always add up the calories I know that I'll still be aware of about how many I am eating, and it will factor in on my food decissions.
When you know that a tablespoon of butter is 100 calories, you start thinking about if you really have to have it on your veggies, or roll or what ever.
Growing up when I made oatmeal, we always used the fruit packets, added a little sugar and butter. Now when I think about adding the butter (or sugar for that matter) I realise that it isn't really worth the extra calories, and you know what, the oatmeal tastes just fine with out it.
I think changing the way we eat is part breaking habits and part mental. We have to break the negative food habits we have, and trade in healthy ones. But we also have to decide if certain things are really worth it. Is butter on my veggies really making them taste any better? Is that cheeseburger and large fry from McDonald's really worth it? Is it really 800 calories good? And then you start throwing in the, man I have to walk 2 miles on the treadmile to even work off half this candy bar.
And before you know it, you realize that you stop asking yourself some of those questions and don't have to stop and think about it. And that some of those things that use to be really tempting to you are a non issue any more.
I was looking back in my food journal the night before last because I wanted to see how I was doing with my lunches. Since my brother(s) are always going to get fast food at lunch I wanted to see if I had been better at passing them up the last two months than I was last fall.
I realised that I had only had one fast food hamburger since the beginning of the year, and that was still a month ago. It was actually a Jr. burger and a small fry and wasn't for lunch but on a night I went out drinking with my friend. I also realised that I hadn't missed it at all, because 9 times out of 10 they jsut aren't that great.
I can see where I did get fast food 7 times in the last 7 weeks. I can also see where I tried for healthier options when I did, chicken sandwhich instead of burger, chicken tacos instead of taco salad. And I can say that it is easier when my brother askes me what I'm doing for lunch I can tell him I'm eating out of the freezer with out thinking about it most times. Of course I'm human and you can see that there were times that I did say yeah pick me up something, it is going to happen. But the craving for that stuff is less and less.
It also doesn't bother me to sit there and watch them eating all that stuff. At first I felt different and of course they will pick me about my salad or what not, but I've gotten to the point of so what. I hardly miss fast food.
Today they went and got Papa Murphy's Take and Bake pizza for lunch. I debated on if I wanted some or not. I finally decided that I was having one piece, only one piece and that was it. I ate only one piece and sat there and watched them all eat over 3 pieces each. Didn't bother me to sit there and look at the pizza, didn't really have the desire to eat another, because I knew I had had enough. And of course when I got online and looked up the calorie count, which was less than I thought it would be, I could be happy in the fact that I had 1/3 less calories than they did. Let it sit around their hips and stomach, mine doesn't want it any more!
I guess in my long winded way, what I'm trying to say is that we all struggle with parts of this journey, but we have to keep looking forward and know that one day, all these new things we are doing and new habits we are making will just become second nature and not feel like a struggle, or extra burden or chore.
Thank you so much for all the support! I know y'all are here for me and I really appreciate it. I hope you all know that I'm here for all of you, too. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.
I really do have a pretty good idea of what a serving is and if I'm not sure I'll take the measuring cup, spoon or whatever and look at that to get an idea of what it should look like. I try to keep the number of dishes down as low as possible. Especially now that the dishwasher is broken!! I really miss that thing! I will try to keep track of what I'm eating. Even if I don't record the calories. At least I can see how much food I'm eating. I'm sure I'm eating more than I realize.
I got ten miles in on my bike today and used my kettlebell. I really want a heavier one! I did a new exercise last night that I thought didn't really do anything - until I went to do it tonight! I could really tell which muscles it worked out! I love doing weight training. I am really tempted to go back to the gym. It's only $10.00 and I could go VERY early in the morning. I like the weight machines, bikes, treadmills. I wonder if I could really go at about 5:30 or 6:00 every morning!? I have to really think about it. But I'm seriously thinking about it. I think I'm starting to become an exercise junkie!! I just wish I had someone to show me some good weight training stuff. That's what would be so great about the gym.
Tomorrow will be a pretty busy day for me - we have a funeral at church and I'm responsible for setting up everything for the family to have a luncheon after the service. Fortunately someone is cleaning up afterwards for me. Usually I do it all. But this time I said that I couldn't do it and I need help. This will probably be the last funeral I do. I truly enjoy doing it for the family and I feel like it's one final thing that I can do for the person that has been called home. But it can take hours! I've been there six hours before! Anyway, I know I'll be checking in but if you don't hear from me don't assume that things are bad.
I rediscovered an old favorite snack - rice cakes!! I know, I know, but I really like them. Plain ones with about 1 ts of peanut butter, cheese ones or just plain ones. I think they're tasty and I love that crunch!
I hope that everyone has a great night!
Melissa
hi guys...
just dropping in to say hi. I am enjoying my "carb Day" with tator tots!! YEAH !!!!!! I just wish there were less calories in a serving... They really eat up my calorie alotment. But I am sooooo.. enjoying them. Only two and a half more weeks before I can enjoy my next carb/starch meal.. it think it will be pasta.
It is kind of nice to have something to look forward to in my life change food program. The good news is I got full really fast..and DIDNT FINISH MY TOTS !!! Which is really amazing for me. But it is also sad, because i hate to waste them..since it will be so long until i have them again.. i know it sounds crazy but i think you guys will understand what I am trying to say.
I hope you guys are all doing well. It will be next week before I can get back on here. Cake practicing. sisters wedding is approacing fast.. and i am nowhere near making those blasted (curse...curse.. curse..) blown sugar bubbles. That I NEED to be able to make !!!
best to all of you.
Good morning everyone!
It's rainy here in Orlando this morning. Good thing I got out early for a ride. I've already got 8 miles in on my bike. I really like getting at least half my miles in early in the morning, it seems to take alot of pressure off for the rest of the day. My son, Andrew and his new wife, Jordan got me a pedometer and I love it! This one actually works! I walk an average of 6 miles everyday - that's just around the house! I was always curious how much I walked. I thought it was alot.
My weight was down another 1/2 pound this morning!! WOO HOO! That puts me at 191 1/2!! I haven't been under 190 in a very long time. I just realized that I have lost 10 1/4 since January 1st!!! Yea me!! I think when I reach 189 I'm going to get a hair cut, depending on how my marriage is that will determine how short I get it cut! My husband likes my hair longer, I prefer to get it all chopped off! Especially during the summer. But we'll just see what happens. I think using the kettlebell has really helped with the weight loss. I think it's gotten the scale moving again. I started them on the 17th and I've lost 2 pounds since then!
I've started writing down what I'm eating. I'm not going to worry about writing the calories as I go, I might do that all at once at night. I am pretty familiar with the calories that most of my food has so I'lll have an idea of what I'm getting.
Tesso - great job on getting full and NOT eating the rest of the tater tots. They're such yummy little morsels! I truly admire your ability to wait to have carbs. I know that takes an enormous amount of strength and discipline! Congrats!
Ok, I'm off to feed a couple of the kids and maybe fix me some breakfast, too. I hope that everyone has a great day!
Melissa
Quick post because I'm excited to share, then I'll go back and catch up.
Start weight - Jan 6 - 153.6
Week 7 weight - Feb 24 - 143.0
- 3lbs lost this week.
- 10.2 lbs lost this year.
- 16.4 lbs to reach first goal.
And the best part?
I have lost a total of 40lbs since I first started this journey in Jan of 2006. 40 POUNDS!! That is just crazy to me.
I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around that number. I mean I know I've lost the weight, I can squeeze my butt into 10s when I once was a tight 18. I actually have 3 pairs of 14s I bought back in August that are in the too big pile. My size 12 jeans are getting baggy. And I know my body is alot smaller than it use to be. But still 40lbs??
I started this journey on my own because I knew it was something I needed to do. I was actually hesitated to join the weight loss thread at the time. I think my fear was that people get all excited about losing weight, for a moment, then realise they aren't ready. I didn't want to be one of those people. Finally I joined in and then after the first 25lbs kinda fizzled out.
I know that since then, the Chunky Monkeys has been a big factor in helping me lose weight. The support you ladies give is awesome, because you have been there, know the struggle and know what to say to help me keep going. And though monkeys have come and gone there still a few of the orginals that remain, and such great new ones. Even though we have had our ups and downs in our weight loss journeys we keep plugging away, by each others sides.
Maybe it is because of my own success over the last 4 years and the great start we have had this year, but ladies, I really think 2010 is our year. It really is!
So with teary eyes (pre period emotions here) let me just say...
Thank you for always being here for me!!
Tracy - I only have a quick second but I just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS!!!! 
What a wonderful week you had and it only gets better. You should be very proud of yourself. I'm certainly proud of you!! Geeez, you sure are making it difficult to catch up to... Gotta run.......
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