Posts by ronna

just finished reading thru this entire thread - interesting comments to say the least.  I believe if monogamy and commitment work for you, that's just awesome! If not, be safe! 

I personally was in 3 failed relationships and after the last one decided no more of that 4-letter "L" word and the commitment (monogamy) and the heartbreak and the games!  I also raised 2 children (from different relationships) and they have turned out to be respectable, hard-working adults.  I've been dating a lot of different men over the past 2 years and have had true peace and contentment in probably the first time in my entire life.  BUT one of the men I met almost a year ago - well, I've found myself beginning to have a VERY strong attraction to and have many times had to 'bite my tongue' in order to keep from muttering that "4 letter word" - just because I am so afraid by saying it outloud I will ruin the fantastic friendship and intimacy we have built together.  I truly enjoy the times we spend together - he has four teenage boys and he has them two evenings a week and every-other weekend - and he has ME the other evenings and every-other weekend.  We both were dating others simultaneously and I never was jealous of that (and he says he wasn't jealous either) because we don't claim to 'own' the other - but as time has gone on, we've both stopped seeing the others and that's what is starting to scare me! Oh well.  I'll just enjoy him until I slip up and tell him I love him! Then it will probably all come crashing to an end.   Sorry to be rambling here.  But it's just my 2¢ worth on this topic of monogamy.   Oh, by the way, he once commented to me "you know we'll never be married" when I confessed I love chicken gizzards and liver!  LOL. 

I just recently stumbled on a series by Janet Evanovich - novels about a female bounty hunter named Stephanie Plum - be sure to start with the first book, though - I'm up to #10 so far - I almost can't put them down - very entertaining and I find myself laughing hysterically -

UPDATE:  The only thing I'm doing differently since I started Slim In 6 is NOT going to the gym and using the ellipitical for 45 minutes 5 days a week.  I'm eating the same nutritious foods that I have been for months.  I've been awfully faithful with SI6 but maybe I'm not "pushing" hard enough or something because the 8 pounds that I had lost before IS BACK.  And I actually feel more jiggly than before.  Ugh!  I'm gonna put SI6 on the back burner for now and get back to the gym.  I've been with SI6 for only 2 weeks and I am pretty disappointed - I wasn't expecting to get toned or see much weight loss after just 2 weeks but I didn't expect to GAIN back the 8 pounds I had lost   GRRRRR.   My game plan now is to lose that 8 pounds AGAIN and lose another 12 and THEN I will hit SI6 to see about toning up. 

thanks for the tip about pullng my stomach muscles in more! I take tips to heart!

I hired a personal trainer a few months ago when I was starting to workout at the local community center, and one tip she gave me when doing the stationary bike or the eliptical was to push wtih my heels instead of my toes, and to squeeze my butt cheeks (not her words, mine!) and pull in my abs at the same time. 

Congrats on deciding to start up 2nd time! Keep us posted on your journey.

Okay.  Now I gotta get back to work!

Hi AnnHelen!  yes, I started today with Start it Up.  It is only 25 minutes and even though I worked up a sweat, it wasn't that bad.  I fell off a bike at the end of April (lol and they say you never forget how to ride them - HA) I sprained my wrist and so doing the push-ups was a bit painful.  My back is a bit achy from doing the crunches, but since I had been working on the elliptical at the gym for about a month, for 45 minutes 5 days a week, my legs are okay.  I am not following her diet plan since I discovered www.dietitian.com and have devised my own Meal Plan.  Since starting on my own meal plan a week after I sprained my wrist and started using the elliptical, I have lost 8 pounds already but I, too, have the jiggly stuff I'd like to get rid of and this tummy bulge, which I'm sure is that other 20 pounds I want to lose!  I think I'll do the Start it Up tomorrow and then see how the Ramp it Up goes from there.   I am exchanging my time at the gym every day so I can give Si6 my best effort!  Otherwise I don't know when I'd do it  Since i start work between 4 and 4;30 in the morning and work until suppertime, i don't  do much of anything after supper other than I do need to walk to Dollar General this evening.  My motivation is just wanting to tone up my body for my 'boyfriend' ... :o).  Catch ya later!

Save the Earth.  It's the only planet with chocolate!

hi annhelen!  Yes, I'd like a buddy!  I am a work-a-holic so time for me is tight!  I work at home but start at 4 in the morning.  I try to leave here at 10 a.m. to go to the gym (less crowded then) and hit the elipital for 45 minutes then back to work until suppertime ... not sure WHEN i'm gonna find an additional hour for 5 out of 6 days, but I'm determined to tone my body up!  My BF (for lack of a better term to call him!) "prefers" "thin" gals but he keeps coming around (since November) so I figure he doesn't mind me just the way I am, but still, for ME, I want to get back to where I was!   My problem areas are the same as yours.  Sadly, I think my boobs have been the first to "suffer" from the 10 pounds I have already lost!!!  I'll let you know when my DVDs get here

wow.  Never knew there could be so much controversy.  Again, I just started moving in February.  The most "moving" I did before that was sex.  LOL.  So the machines, for me, feel good and I don't do so much that I hurt.  Trainer said to push until I felt fatigued.  On Friday, my BF brought over a 10-speed he got me and I fell off the darn thing - TWICE - so needless to say I am quite uncoordinated!!!!  That's why using the free weights freaks me out - I'm afraid I'm gonna drop them and even 8 pounds on a toe will hurt!!  So the machines offer a comfort level for me and I know better than to push myself so far I hurt.  I can't afford any injuries (when I fell off the bike I landed hard on my right wrist so now I'm doing everything slower!!)  I would like to be able to use the machines to help me strengthen my muscles - my back, shoulders, arms, legs, etc.  Once I feel "stronger" then I would like to start with the free weights, and then, once I feel comfortable there, maybe I'll try that bike again!!!! LOL. 

My daily eating habits (I don't like to use the word "diet" because it is my lifestyle eating, not a weight-loss diet) are not at issue.  I recently discovered www.dietitian.com and already eat "healthy" - fish, poultry, lots of fresh veggies, fruits, whole grains, fibers, protein-rich foods, etc. drink lots of water only (2 cups of coffee then water the rest of the day) and do not consume refined sugars, candy, sweets, etc.  But I know to lose weight (my goal being 30 pounds) I have to start exercising in addition to my eating habits ...

I haven't had any issues as far as I know with the diet so far other than waking up in a bad mood this morning - just been on the verge of tears all day for no reason.  Today I feel hungrier than I have since I started this last Sunday ...

It's loose green tea and I just put one scoop (maybe 1 tablespoon) in my coffee filter.  I use that same tea all day long.  Today I skipped the tea, though, and just put about a teaspoon of freshly ground ginger in the coffee filter and have been drinking hot ginger water all afternoon. 

I could try but ugh!  It goes against my very grain to eat that much!  I still should pay attention to carbs, protein, fat, etc., right?  Just eat more of everything?  Or can I eat ice cream and cookies?   LOL.  This reminds me of when I used to smoke - I could go all day on coffee alone until 2 in the afternoon.  I only drink 2 cups of coffee now, and water and japanese green tea the rest of the day.  The last 2 weeks, I just haven't felt hungry.  I also am down to 158 this morning - I'm sure that's just a fluke although that looks good on the scale for a change!!! 

I can eat a banana - that's a good idea.  I think it is lack of potassium that can cause muscle cramps ... I have one here I will eat in the morning.  I'm not going to this class to impress anyone there - but it is nice I have someone to prod me along the way!  The guy I'm dating has told me he "prefers" thinner gals - but he likes me anyway!!  My goal is to become a thin gal - at least back to where I used to be before I quit smoking 4 yrs ago!  I saved my absolute favorite pair of jeans - a size 8 - it will be awesome when I can fit back into them! 

I know I'm gonna be sore but I'm gonna stick with it.  I thnk the past year I have "settled" for the weight and flab that I am now - and now I want to change that!  I  might buy some epsom salts to soak in tomorrow nite in a hot tub of water ... m BF and I are gonna visit some friends tonite to watch the game so I'll have him swing by a store so I can get some ...

thanks for the encouragment.  I can DO THIS! 

I think you are making this more difficult than it has to be! 

1/2 cup quick oats, and 1 cup water, mix in a bowl and zap on Hi in the Microwave for 1.5 minutes.  DONE. Oh.  I bought a 1/2 cup metal measuring cup at a garage sale and just keep that in my oats!!   I add a dash of salt, too (the 1/2 the sodium stuff).  There's 150 calories. 

Add in Splenda = 0 calories. 

Now add in whatever you are gonna add in - and just note how much and how many calories. 

Personally, I shake in some cinnamon in mine (0 calories), and then about a tablespoon of shredded coconut (40 calories) and then I thin it out (and cool it down) by mixing in a bit more cold tap water. 

Total 190 calories.  Sometimes I toss in a few drops of "butter flavor" and that's 0 calories too.   

Hope this helps! 

I make my own homemade yogurt, so it is plain in flavor, but my favorite is to add a few drops of (artificial) coconut extract, some sweet n low and some shredded coconut.  It's so yummy!  Next favorite flavor is grape!  I buy sugar-free grape koolaid (walmart brand) and add about 1/4 teaspoon into 8 ounces of plain yogurt.  I've never seen GRAPE flavored yogurt at a store before!  It's awesome!