Weight Loss Help...with The Chunky Monkeys!
Lounge By TexasSugar Updated 28 Oct 2011 , 1:50pm by TexasSugar
Ahh okay, so if I just track the number of calories, fat and fiber in what I cook I can figure out the points from that?
I don't have a computer with internet at home. I do have internet on my phone but some things are easier to do on a computer over the little screen/keyboard. And I like to get creative in the kitchen so I probably wouldn't always have recipes to follow. I've always kind of stayed away from online trackers, as I figure I can use a calculator to add up numbers myself. Sometimes it is quick to do that than anything else.
Karen421 -WELCOME! Great to have ya as part of our group. Look forward to chatting with you. I know exactly how you feel. I too have been in a yo yo cycle for years. I am trying so badly to break it but it's not easy. We CAN do it, we just have to really want it badly enough. I lost 50 pounds since Jan BUT went on a cruise and during the 14 days I gained 7 pounds. Unbelievable...... Now I'm trying to pick myself back up and get back on track. It's difficult once you stray from watching those calories but it can be done and we WILL do it........ Congrats on your weight loss thus far. I believe that you can reach your goal. Believe in yourself and you're well on your way....
Tracy - I have been checking into joining weightwatchers again. This time to go to the meetings. Last time, I did the online WW. I think I could really use a group setting where I can have one on one chats and insights. Plus the weigh in part I believe will encourage me to stay on track. I need to figure out how to stop sabatoging my success and gaining weight again. Maybe it's just something I need to figure out on my own but it may help to hear how others have dealt with this type of issue. Wouldn't hurt to try. Other than the fees of course. 
I could try the month to month and see how it goes. I need to check to see what they are offering and then I'll decide. They have a calculator that you can purchase and with this, you can determine the number of points in anything you want. For example, if you want to know how many points are in 1 tablespoon of lite mayonnaise, you would enter the number of calories in that tablespoon of mayo, then the total fat in that mayo, and lastly the number of fiber. With this information, the calculator can tell you exactly how many points are in that tablespoon of mayo. Really easy actually and fast. It takes some time at first to get used to the program but once you get the hang of it you're good to go. The calculator is fantastic. I brought it to the store with me and I could figure out the points before I purchased. Great little tool.
I have a daughter at Purdue U so am chronically short of cash. As I was lamenting the cost of WW and the WW online tools, a friend informed me about Sparkpeople.com. It has many of the same tools as WW online -- but they are free. They have advertisements to wade through but I do not find them any more annoying than the advertisements which are now on CC. I have found SparkPeople to be helpful to me. I apologize if this suggestion was already submitted and I overlooked it.
There are a several websites out there based on helping people keep track. My only issue is that I don't want to have to go to a website just so I can know what I can or can't eat that day or for it to keep track of my numbers.
A food journal in a little notepad helped me to keep track and was something easy and quick I could pull out anywhere. And when I was doing my best at eating I could tell you the calories and servings in a lot of the things I was eating with out actually having to look it up.
My mom mostly uses the internet for family history stuff. So she didn't have a place to go to, like I do here, to report in every week. And that was one of the things about the diet place that she felt helped her. Because it kept her accountable. That's one of the reasons I suggested WW to her. And if I have to go on the buddy system with her, then I will. I'd almost do it with out her, except I hate going places alone.
I'd feel a lot better working on my weight/health and spending that $10-$12 on weekly meetings than spending it on fast food or junk food during the week. Because I know when I'm not eating healthy I spend way more than that on fast food a week.
I did 10 mins on Hank last night, and hope to talk myself in to some more time on it tonight. I've just got to get back into those healthy routines.
Okay, so after asking momma about it a few times I could tell she wasn't ready to join WW yet. Last night I pretty much asked her which meeting she wanted to go to, this evening or tomorrow and she was hesitant then said she'd try it and quit if she didn't like it. I decided instead of us both wasting money if she really didn't want to do it yet, that I'd wait a while before proceeding.
When she was on the pills she was eating better, eating regular meals, smaller portions and exercising. I know she can do all of those with out the pills, she just has to mentally prepare her self.
Yesterday after work I went over to her house and we went walking around her neighborhood for 50 mins. Im hoping that will help her want to start walking again. We shall see.
We also agreed to have a weekly weigh in together on Friday mornings. We are going to try this for a few weeks and see how it goes.
Im mostly eating better this week. I did have fast food for lunch yesterday. We got bbq, but I got their turkey instead of beef sandwich, ended up not eating all the bread and I skipped the potato salad I had been getting. Dinner last night was tilapia, carrots and cabbage. I did have some nibbles of cookie dough when I was making cookies last night and one peanut butter cookie.
Lunch for today is in the crock pot, so Ive eliminated even considering the option of fast food. It is beef tips with noodles (got whole wheat ones and plan to have a half serving) and steamed veggies. Ive also got a pork roast that I will probably crock pot for tomorrow to make carnitas with, so that will take away the fast food option again.
I told my brother last Friday that I was going to cut back on my fast food and he is being supportive of it so far. He had tuna salad sandwiches with me on Monday, and will be eating the beef and pork with me as well. He enjoys the home cooked food and since I live next door to work it is pretty easy to do. Ill eat some left overs of them for dinner, then freeze the rest for other quick and easy meals.
I didnt get to work out on Hank last night. I had planned to even though I did go walking, but I ended up staying in the kitchen all night. I really have to make sure I do it tonight, before I forget about him for another week.
When I got home from walking I had turned the TV for a few minutes but before I could get sucked into The Biggest Loser I turned it off. I knew if I started watching it I would end up watching all two hours and not get anything else accomplished. Id promised a guy at work cookies and had other things I needed to do.
I did turn it on while I was eating dinner, and it happened to be at the weigh in part. Ive decided that I am disappointed in the show. I know Ive expressed this when last season started, but I miss the first seasons when people actually lost realistic amounts of weight. When you have men that are losing 30+ pounds in a week and women that are crying cause they only lost 12, 14, 16 pounds in a week but it wasnt enough to keep them safe, it just has got past being a realistic motivation in my opinion. People at home that are severely overweight just cant compete with that and I can see them ending up getting depressed and quitting before they even get anywhere. I wish they would realize that if they took out a lot of the drama people would still watch the show and get motivation.
You know what would be a good show? A show about people losing weight in the real world while still working their jobs and taking care of there families instead of being secluded on the ranch where they exercise when they arent sleeping and have limited food sources. Now that would be reality tv!
Sigh. Okay Im done.
So how is everyone else doing this week?
So how is everyone else doing this week?
Just got back from my WW weigh in and I lost 4.4 lbs this week! I worked really hard on it this week because I had gained 1.8 lbs last week (hometown festival .... homemade ice cream ... favorite pizza place .... you know how it goes! 
). So I made extra effort to walk the dog more often and made healthy snack choices (celery & peanut butter and my favorite in-season apples called "Cortlands").
I told myself I'd buy a new pair of jeans when I hit 175 (25 lb loss). I'm 0.8 lbs short but I'm buying them now anyway. I say "Close enough!" 
AMEN!! The first guy on the biggest loser lost 41 pounds. Unbelievable. I too am extremely disappointed in the show. When it first came on, the weight loss, even though still high, was still within reason. Now it's just so totally unrealistic to think that the average person could lose that much weight in that amount of time. It really makes one feel like they are not doing anything at all if they lose just one or two pounds a week. I'm about done with the show. I agree, it would be GREAT if they had a show that was more realistic for the average person.
Anyway, this past weekend went well as did Monday. But something happened and Tuesday, I kinda went out of control again. I'm not staying focused for some reason and it's really upsetting me. I know what it takes, I know how to do it, but the motivation is lacking. Tell ya what, I really allowed that vacation to screw with my goals. I just need to really work hard to get back in the right mind frame. Focus Margie, FOCUS.....
debi - AWESOME, awesome job. Wow, you did great!! See, that's the way to do it. You slipped up a tiny bit the week before but then you got right back up and lost over 4 lbs. That's the way it should be done. With me, I tend to think "well, I already screwed up, might as well just keep on going". That's the mentality that gets me in trouble every time. I'm proud of you. GREAT JOB!!!
butternut, I dont' consider it "slipping up". I just look at it as "taking a vacation from the program". Using terms like "slipping up" implies "failure", and it's not a failure to splurge once in a while.
Vacation is over ... time to go back to work!
Weight is always going to go up and down a little. I think the biggest thing is keeping track of it, and when you do go up you figure out why, make the changes you need to get it back down and keep going.
But Margie, I totally understand how you feel. It seems like no matter how many good habits you get in place, it is easy to fall back to some of those bad ones. You can get back on that horse, and so can I. We can, and will do this. 
Debi, Congrats on the loss! And yeah I agree with you, it is time to go shopping for some new jeans!
I'm at the point where my skinny clothes aren't more tight than not, so I'm really trying to curb the want to go shopping for something that looks good on me right now. Since I already got rid of most of my 'next size up' clothes, I'm not happy in my closet. I know in my head that instead of going shipping I just need to relose the weight again and I will feel good in my clothes again.
It is about time for a hair cut and color, so I'm thinking maybe I'll do that, since it is usually a pick me up, and avoid shopping for a while. Of course I'm also trying to save money, so there is that part of me that is debating paying the money for highlights over bottle do it yourself color. I have no problem with the do it yourself color, but I love the colors my hairstylist gives me too.
butternut, I dont' consider it "slipping up". I just look at it as "taking a vacation from the program". Using terms like "slipping up" implies "failure", and it's not a failure to splurge once in a while.
Vacation is over ... time to go back to work!
I like your way of thinking.
YAY - I made it a week without gaining any more weight back!!! Hopefully I am getting back on track.
Woo Hoo Karen! Isn't that a great feeling?
I'm going over to momma's in about an hour to start our official weight in. I did weight first thing this morning and will track that as well since it is on my scale and I can do it first thing in the morning before breakfast and a bottle of water.
I did weigh Monday morning to see where I was and I am 'down' a few pounds since then. I know it isn't lost fat, but atleast I now just sit 10lbs from my lowest weight at the beginning of the year.
Momma also got a exercise bike and I went over and tried it out last night. I did 4.5 miles on it in a little over 20 mins and only burned 100 calories. Momma told me 10 miles on it is equal to 2 miles on the treadmill. I did get my heart rate up while doing it so I know I atleast got a work out, be it maybe a short one.
What a great group! I'm going back on Weight Watchers on Monday. I have put on some pounds lately, I was doing so good and then had a major set back and the motivation has just been totally lost. 
I know feel so horrible and have no energy now that I had gotten off track and off my exercise program, I'm ready to get back with it. I have jeans in my closet from the size I am not (22) to my goal. I of course want to see the numbers go down, but I always do so much better seeing the progress of fitting comfortably (meaning I can actually breath....lol) into something I'm looking forward to wearing.
I too use to love watching the biggest loser, but I agree....who in the "real world" can lose 41 pounds in a week? If I could do that I'd be to goal in no time at all, but I know it's not going to happen that easy and it's a 2lb a week (on the really good weeks) lose. I know I didn't put it on over night, so it's not gonna fall off over night either (darn it!).
Hey there Mommy2ThreeBoys, welcome! Sounds like you have realistic goals which do give us realistic results.
Me and Momma were talking about BL the other day and I was like if I could lose 15lbs a week I'd be at my goal in under 3 weeks. Of course we all know that the journey through out the weight loss process is just as important as everything else. It allows us to live and learn, to fall down and pull our selves back up and to plan how to better keep the weight off in the long run.
Went to momma's and weighed. Yep I like my scale alot better. 
After about 3 hours, breakfast and a bottle of water my weight was 151.7 on her scale.
This morning when I got up my scale says I weighed 148.4.
I'm not sure which of our scales is off, and they are digital, so I don't know how to figure it out either. But that's okay. I'll just track both of them and see what happens.
I have a digital scale too. I found I have to weigh in the exact same spot every time because if not it'll give me a different number. Not sure why, must be something with our floors.
I'm doing the weight loss thing with my mom too. She just called me and asked me since I know how do the points instead of paying to go to the meetings if I used that money to work with a personnel trainer with her instead. We can do a session together for 40.00 so it's only 20.00 each. I think instead of going back to the weight watcher meetings I'm going to do that. I have the books and stuff and know how to work the program and I know it works for me. I also know I can follow my points without going to the meetings and the workouts would probably help me more any.
I just recently made an account on spark people, they have a lot of information on there.
Yeah at home I do keep my scale in the exact same spot. I have also realised where I stand on it makes a differences so I line up my toes on a line every time.
I'm pretty sure one of our scales is off though, because a 3.3 lb difference is a bit much for that short period of time. My weight from morning to night is usually about that difference.
But that's okay. I can still track the pounds I lose even if the scales are a little off from each other. And while I have a weight goal in mind I know in the end it will be based off how I look and feel more than being a specific number.
Good luck with your mom! Me and mine have lost weight at the same time just doing things differently. And this time around it is sorta the same thing. I'm just trying to encourage her to keep at it. So far we have both done some form of exercise every day this week, so that is a plus for both of us.
Now I just need to figure out what I am doing for lunch next week. I need to think of healthy ideas, but also stuff my brother wouldn't mind eating with me. I'm not sure I could convince him to go for the turkey meat loaf quite yet. Hehe.
Hey everyone!
Mom's out of town so I'll be weighing in alone in the morning, and will try my hardest to stay away from salt foods tonight before bedtime. I've been on a salt kick again, but since Aunt Flow is due to visit I am guessing that is why.
I have done either the Ellipitcal or Exercise Bike every day this week. Some nights were tough but I managed to do something everyday for the last 11 days, so that's improvement.
I have a feeling tonight will be pretty tough. I did 10 miles on the exercise bike last night and my legs felt like jello when I got off. I'm thinking they may be a little sore tonight. I did two different settings that increases the resistance up and down for ya. Not fun!
If all else fails I'll pull out the hand weights and exercise bands and work with those rather than cardio, so I can keep up with the doing something proactive.
How is everyone else doing?
WOW - you are doing great!!!
I still haven't gained any more, which I am happy about, and each day that I don't gain is a good day! At this point, I will take that.
Well weighted in on my scale this morning.
Last week my scale said: 148.4
This week my scale said: 147.0
So that is a lose of 1.4.
Guess all that time on Jill and Hank were worth it. Even did another 4 miles last night on Jill, the exercise bike.
I am so glad to see this post! I have been struggling with my weight all my life. I had a stroke right after getting out of nursing school, and I said, "I have got to get serious or I am going to die!" At that point I weighed 295 lbs. I had bariatric surgery and got down to 179 lbs. I had a lot of difficulty dealing with the loss of my job as a paramedic for 25 years. I felt like I lost my best friend. I had only been a nurse for 3 months so that did not bother me as bad. I felt useless. My daughter decided to take a cake decorating class and wanted me to take it with her, so I did. I have enjoyed it since. Though I can't do it for a living, it is a good hobby. I have a lot of memory problems that keep me from holding down a job. This has been hard getting use to since I have worked since I was 16 years old. I am a bowl licker. As soon as I load the cake in the pan I lick the bowl then wash it. If it is a very big cake, I probably eat a box of cake mix during the whole process. Plus, since that time, my son has been going through a divorce, which has caused his wife to move the kids out of state. Then my mom has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, as well as a close cousin of mine. I at once had everything under control, felt good about myself, and everything, but when my life came crashing down, I began to gain weight and now I have gained 30 lbs. I don't know what to do. Keep me updated. Thanks for this post.
HUGS!
Life can come crashing down and yeah it takes a toll on us emotionally and physically. And as hard as it is, we have to tell ourselves that we are worth it. We are worth the hard work and the effort it takes to get things back under our controll. We are worth the work and time it takes to exercise and eat better. We are worth it to do those things that make us feel better about ourselves and that make us happy.
And in the long run, no one else can do it but us.
It is amazing how just losing 10 lbs can really make you feel better. And on on the flip side of that it is amazing how gaining 10 lbs can make us feel crappy. That's where I have been. I felt really good at 138, wasn't done by any means but I felt good in my clothes, and felt more comfortable in my body. Now that I am back up, and my clothes are back to being snug, I am reminded of all the little changes in my body I had just 10lbs ago.
That's what is motivating me now, the knowledge that I feel so much better lighter, and I deserve to feel better about myself. I am worth it.
Rethy- welcome!
I can totally relate - not specifically, but doing really good - and then Smack! Life hits you. It is exactly what TexasSugar said, âwe are worth the hard work and the effort it takes to get things back under our controllâ and no one can do it but us. I had struggled and reached my goal, then 3 weeks ago my Mom died, and my husband basically had to quit his job to be able to come home. So as a stress eater, the weight started to come back on - fast! And that is the first time I have actually told any one other than my close group of friends. So progress! I have stopped the gaining, and now hopefully I can start the losing again. You will find that this is a great group of people!!!
Keep checking in - and keeping us posted on how you are doing!
Thanks for your encouragement! I am so glad to have found this sight. I have been on here for a long time, but I have never really talked to anyone on here before. Thanks for making me feel welcomed! I am going to try to get back on the band wagon! Thanks again!
Me and the scales are not friends today. I'm up over what I was on the first. I'm hoping it is a combination of the end of aunt flo's visit and that I ate something really salty yesterday.
I've worked out every day for the last two weeks, and while I know there are still improvements I can make with eating, I haven't done that bad there either.
I keep telling myself that it is a fluke and that I didn't really gain 2 lbs in a week, especially after doing over 25 miles on Jill (exercise bink), Hank (ellipitical) and Rhonda (treadmill) just this last week.
Well this week hasn't been a good one so far. I don't know if it was the whole scale thing on Friday or what, but I have only exercised once since Friday. I started the week off with little sleep, which greatly effects my mood and emotions.
I'm trying to work on that and jut pull up the boot straps and keep going.
Hey Tracy. I'm right there with ya. This week hasn't been great, nor was the week before or the week before..... Just having a difficult time since my vacation. No one to blame, just my doing. Not sure why I can't seem to take control of my actions, I guess I'm just choosing NOT to at this time. Wouldn't even be half bad if I was maintaining the weight I was at a month ago. But nope, I've gained quite a bit. A bit out of control at the moment. There's been a LOT of stress lately, I guess I've converted back to the "comfort" eating to try to deal with that stress. Back to the old habits. Makes me wonder if I'll ever be able to deal with those emotional times. Anyway, don't mean to be a downer. I guess that's why I haven't posted much lately. I know that I can get back on track when I'm really ready. At a bit of a low point right now but I'll get my mojo working again and be back in full force before too long and pushing everyone to stay on track.....
Margie, I came to the conclusion that weight and eating would always be an issue with me. I know in the beginning I thought hey I'll lose the weight and that will be that. But over the years with the weight struggle, I know that it will always be something I have to deal with, hopefully not as much all the time, but it will always be something that will be there.
I can say that at this point, sitting at 148-150 range that I am 33-35lbs lighter then I was at the beginning of 2006, which is the year I lost the first 25lbs. While I have crept up here and there, I have been able to keep most of that original weight off, and at this point I am sitting lower than that, so I have to remind myself that it can be done, that I can do it, and that I just have to do it.
I think both you and I need to remember that while we are looking at the big picture, we need to take a moment and focus in on the smaller pictures now and then.
"Not sure why I can't seem to take control of my actions, I guess I'm just choosing NOT to at this time."
I totally understand this statement. We both know that we either make the choice to do what we have to do to take and keep the weight off, or we will gain it back. During the times when I am not making an effort I know it. I know that my actions are leading me towards gaining. And yet, I dont take the steps needed to make the changes I know. There is probably some underlying issue there, but I can't seem to get a grasp on it either.
This time though, the last few weeks, I thought I was ready again. I was doing good. I did over two full weeks of exercise EVERY DAY even on days when I really DID NOT want to. I don't know what made me feel that this weekend I didn't have to make the same effort, and in my head I know better. I know that I have to do it every day or it gets easier and easier not to. By the third day of not exercising I know that I'll think about it even less on the forth day, then a week later I'll realize its been way to many days since I did it.
Ive been reading this blog, I came across it one day, and last week decided to go back and start reading from the beginning. The blog is this womans struggle with house work and clutter and keeping a clean neat house, which is another issue I have. I totally love that when she started the blog she knew that she would have to make changes slowly and that if she tried to implement everything she knew she needed to do at once that it wouldnt work. She also knew that it would be an on going thing. That while she may declutter a room she would still have to do more to insure that the room doesnt get cluttered again. That unless she didnt make an effect to keep it clean, it would just got back into the oh my god I dont want to go into that room state of mess. And there were days where she didnt do everything she had on her must do daily list, and yet shed keep plugging along. Reading it I can totally understand where she is coming from and feel that a lot of it applies to other things in life, like our weight loss.
While life gets in way of our goal, or gets us off track, it is up to us to pull our selves back up, to keep plugging along and making the changes. And while we do it, we will make mistakes, we will have bad days, we will want to give up, but if we really want to make the change we just have to keep going, take it one day at a time, and if we screw up then make up for it and keep going, rather than letting that one thing dictate how the whole process will end.
I sometimes feel like this is a now or never thing for me. If I cant make myself a priority now, then I probably wont six months from now or a year from now.
I know it is time to step up and make a lot of changes in my life, because again, if I dont do it now, I doubt thing I ever well. I have to break the habit of Ill do it tomorrow or next week. Because if I have learned anything, they never come for me and six months later I remember I wanted to change this or that or do this or that.
I just have to do it! Which seems to be the hardest part.
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