Posts by jehzimom

Why is this weight loss thing so da** hard?!! I swear I gain and lose the same 5 lbs over and over and over again. It really makes me mad at myself. For a strong, determined, educated woman I struggle tremendously with my weight loss. I know how to lose, I know what to do, I like exercising, yet I dink around and jerk around and accomplish absolutely NOTHING!!!

For today through Friday, I am pulling out the stops. I am kicking myself into high gear (despite the holiday). I need to jolt myself out of this rut that I am stuck in. I have the tools and the means, but not the commitment. Gosh darn me!!!

So, enough yelling at myself. The next three days I am tied to this group and this computer. I will post my weight on Saturday, and I am making myself accountable to this group. Help me get this 10 lbs off!! Don't let me slack.

J-mom

Week 2: 10/14/09 - 148.8

Week 4: 10/28/09 - 150

Just realized that I forgot to post my weight last week. I know this was water weight, so I did not bat an eyelash.

I am like Rancho, I go up and down. My problem is that it's the same 5 lbs. I feel really stuck in a rut. I have not acclimated to not working. It isn't that I miss the job, and I am not worried about finances or the future; I had been working so hard for so long AND going to grad school that I lost all sense of a routine. I am having trouble getting myself back on track. I want to go to bed at 8:30 and get up at 7 am. No, I am not depressed. It is like I hit the pause button. I just sit here sometimes and analyze what I want to do next.

51 is a wierd age. I am not young and I am not old. My youngest daughter launched in May, and my husband and I are empty nesters. My husband is a great guy and we have shared interests, but we don't do a lot of stuff together. For the past 3 years, he worked Mon-Fri and I worked weekends. We are used to sharing separate lives. Now, we are home together a lot!! I know that I am in a transition period, but haven't transitioned yet. So here I sit, trying to figure myself and my future out.

I am glad you guys are on this path with me. We live our goals together.

For today, I have made my to-do list. I will accomplish all my to-do's by supper time. Have a good day everyone. Thanks for letting me think outloud. I really am OK; I just need time to recover from overwork.

J-mom

START     Nov 12-14: 147.4
Week 1.   Nov 19-21: 148 (11/20)
Week 2.   Nov 22-28:
Week 3.   Nov 29-Dec 5:
Week 4.   Dec 6-12:
Week 5.   Dec 13-19:    
Week 6.   Dec 20-26:
Week 7.   Dec 27-Jan 2:
Week 8.   Jan 3-9:
Week 9.   Jan 10-16:
FINISH.   Jan 17-23:

Was out of touch for the end of the week, but I am posting anyway. Am continuiing on with the challenge.

"Healthy options" always kill me. They are always loaded with fat, sodium, or sugar rather than just eating the decadent version, being satisfied, and moving on. I think the biggest one for me is salad dressing. So many of the ranch or bleu cheese versions are terrible tasting and full of nasty stuff that we should never eat. I try to stick with olive oil and vinegar.

Here's to a good week for everyone.

Well, I fell off the wagon. A friend gave me a package of the most fabulous (and non-healthy) trail mix ever!! It has chocolate covered coffee beans. I ate 4, and they were wonderful!! I savored the flavor for over an hour. Will start again today.

J-mom

1028 + 86 =   1114/2000

Ifthey,

I am 51 years old--slightly older than you. I have been fat and I have been thin. Thin did not feel good for me. Before my husband and I married 26 years ago, I dropped from 150 to 106 lbs. On my wedding day I was 106 lbs and a size 5 wedding dress. I have gained and lost back up to 154 and down to 120's, but I never felt good small, and that is my point. This does not always feel good, but healthy does. Currently, I am 147 lbs. That is 20 lbs above my desired, but I feel good. I can run a 3 K, walk for 10-12 miles at a single pop, and out work women half my age. I don't describe myself as fat, but flabby. I am not worried about the lbs on the scale--I want to be jiggle free.

At 20 you think you live forever. At 51, I know that I won't, so I want to live it with both feet intact, without hospitalizations, and free of diabetes and other obesity related diseases. That is my motivation. Sure, I want to look sexy for my husband and feel good about myself; but let's get real--I AM 51!! I will never look like a 20-something. But when my daughters tell me I "look good for a woman my age", that is a great compliment.

Good luck with putting your attitude in a good place. You are the only you that you have. Take care of yourself.

J-mom

Just got back from the health club. It wasn't my best workout ever. I forgot my sweat towel, so I had sweat dripping in my eyes. Not much fun. I watched people around me. I like the fact that there are fat, thin, young, and old working out. In the 80's (the Jane Fonda days) everyone was young and thin. Today, we are real and whatever we are doing is improving us. There is a cute little old couple in their 80's who work out together. The wife's technique with weights is terrible, but there they are together in gym gear and Nike's working out and living healthy (for them).

Have a good evening everyone. See you tomorrow.

J-mom

I'm back--just been sloppy and lazy.

J-mom

Lynn,

You know what works best for you. If you begin with the group thing and it does not work, can you go back to the private sessions with the trainer? I must admit, I am not very good with group experiences. When it comes to weight loss and exercise, it is just too easy to slack off. You know what happens when you slip the first time--future goof off's get to be really easy and excuses become quick answers to bad choices.

Rancho:  Congratulations to you!!! You are almost there!! We are with you in your success.

Took measurements this morning. That was enough to keep me p***ed at myself for a month. Those were not the numbers that I wanted to read on the evil tape measure. However, those were the real, true numbers. Da**!! When did I chunk on the thick waistline? My clothes all fit the same, but my measurements are awful!! Rant! Rant! Rant!

No more excuses for me. In truth, the scale number does not matter to me near as much as the waist and butt inches. My daughter wants me to eat clean for a month and see what happens. She has had to give up red meat, sugar, soda, and white flour products because of severe acne. She has dropped 15 lbs like it was nothing and thinks I should, too. With the holidays, that will be tough but not impossible. Truth is:  I am really not wild about holiday food. It is too heavy and too sweet. My husband, though, would probably lose it if we had a vegan holiday rather than traditional. I guess I could do both with smaller portions just for him of all the usual holiday fare. I do think that this is an easier time for me than this time last year. Since I no longer work in the hospital with all the crappy food choices. Plus, health care workers love salt and sugar and all the yucky starches for potluck meals. Since I am not there, cookies and all the other crap is not missed. Believe me, I don't cook those things in my own home.

OK, group, I am not so focused on the weight for this week. My focus is clean eating till the end of the month. That's 15 days. Let's see what happens in 15 days. I rarely eat red meat these days. I already avoid all types of fast food, white flour products, and most sugar. On a rare occasion, I will indulge in 1/2 tsp white sugar in my coffee with skim milk, but that is very, very rare. I don't eat pork. Chicken is no more than twice a week and never fried or greasy in any way. I drink water well, but could do better. I have not had diet soda in 3 or 4 days. I have eaten mostly fruit, vegs, veggie soups, etc. Dairy is limited to ff cottage cheese and skim milk.

Any other suggestions?

J-mom

I am check in. I joined this group on the 13th and today is the 16th. I have eaten very well for the past 3 days. I have had chicken (very small amount), lots of veggies, and fruit. I am probably not as "clean" as the rest of you--this still is rather new to me, but for me, I am eating beautifully. For me, I am in the process of phasing foods out. Years ago, I gave up fast food. I eat very little white flour, red meat, or sugar. I completely avoid processed stuff like frozen dinners, packaged foods, or canned things. I am a huge brown rice, lentils, and homemade soup eater.

Over the past month, I have been using my crock pot to make vegetarian soups and foods that are filling and healthy. I really need to build up my recipe stash for not only health reasons, but the cost and convenience of crock cooking can't be beat.

For the remainder of this month, I want to focus on water and veggies. I am a good water drinker, but I want to get better at carrying water with me when I am away from home.

I am like querty07, I was on a 3 week feeding frenzy that I just could not get a handle on. I don't know where it came from, but I sure am glad it is gone. Since I have stayed in control and have not eaten crap food, I (for me) have eaten clean all weekend. Here's to a new week and new habits!

J-mom

SW (11/1):  149.8

CW (11/15):  146.8

Goal weight loss for the week:  1 lb

Actual weight loss for the week: 1.8 lbs

Total loss: 3 lbs

Fitness minutes for the week:  324

New week. New goals. For this week I want to stay with the 300 minutes exercise, but I want my weight to stay less than 147. I doubt I will lose this week since I dropped a chunk this week. I really did not expect that. I have to wonder if it is water. So I will be cautious with goal setting for now.

Good luck to everyone this week. I will check back later.

J-mom

I did not do well Thursday or Friday. Today is Saturday. I really get p***ed with myself for starting over and over and over. I just cannot seem to get into a rhythm for eating and exercise. I do really well for a day or two and then it isn't that I fall off the wagon so to speak--but something comes up that interrupts my day I get blown off course.

I just don't know what to do with myself. I don't like what I see in the mirror. If most of you saw me in person, you would tell me that I look "fine for a woman my age". . .and for the most part, I do--but I want to look better.

One of the problems is that I have pain in my right hip. In fact, the entire right side of me is very tight. I have been working on loosening up my hamstrings and hips through yoga, but I am still really tight. I have seen the chiropractor for adjustments, but that doesn't seem to be a long-term fix. I keep considering participating in a yoga or pilates class at our healthclub, but I have not done it. I am not a very good "joiner", so I don't get beyond the thinking stage.

Since quitting work, I am a million percent better regarding stress. The job was just too much and was beginning to make me not only very unhappy, but boarderline sick. I hated going and even dreaded returning as I was leaving. That is not the sign of a good job. I don't have anything concrete at this point, as far as a new job, but that is OK. It has not been a month yet, so I am not really worried.

Any ideas? Any suggestions? I hate to be a whiner, but I really do want to succeed, and I know that I am too close to the situation to see alternatives.

J-mom

Can I join the group? I really need some help with my eating. I don't eat really bad (all things considered), but I would like to get rid of my abd fat. The only way I can do that is commit to clean eating and exercise. I have battled this gut fat for my entire life! So today is my first day.

J-mom

This has been a wonderful week. First, I completed my professional paper for grad school. 93 pages!!! That is such a load off my back! Second, my youngest daughter came home for the week. She won't be able to come home over the holidays, so she came home now. What a treat! Third, the oldest daughter is coming home tonight to see her sister! Second treat!

I have not been able to exercise this week like I am used to, but I have moved and the calories have stayed below 1600. For me, that is good. I have been craving salt, and I cannot eat enough baked Ruffles. You all know what that means.

Am setting a new goal for myself:  want to get below 145 lbs this month. I haven't been below 145 in some time, so I think that is realistic. I am two months away from 52 (boy, that sounds old). I would like to be around 140 by then. However, I can tell you that weight does not drop quickly (or even slowly) after 50. Each pound is a real struggle. I think I would do better if I would eat cleaner, but I am sloppy around the edges (the Ruffles, for example). We don't eat a lot of meat, and I do have veggie nights at least 2-3 times a week. Candy isn't an issue, but when I go to classes (grad school), I take my lunch. Though I have yogurt and fruit, I usually take a sandwich, too. I do eat 2 slices of whole grain bread 3-4 times a week. That type of sloppyness gets me every time.

Oh, well, that gives me something to continue to work on. At least my calories are below 1800. There for awhile I ate 2000 or more every day. I cannot eat like that at 51!

So for today:  I will get in 2 hours of exercise and keep my calories below 1600.

See you all tomorrow.

J-mom