300+ Countdown to Jan 1, 2009 !

   T O T A L   L O S T   I N   2 0 0 8 :   9 9 3 . 9  L B S   

       LINK to *NEW* Jan 2009 / Jan 2010 Thread 

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      We share a long journey.
      January 1, 2009 is coming ... IS HERE ! 
      What progress we'll make ... WE'VE MADE !
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~ THE 2008 300+ COUNTDOWN CLUB ~
      Counting down to JAN 1, 2009!
 1. Post your 1st of month weigh in.
 2. Check your updated number below.
 3. Let me know of any corrections.

.......................... GROUP WEIGHT LOSS ..........................
SW: 320.0   JAN 1st 2009 185.0     Lost  135.0  bigbrett22
SW: 340.0   JAN 1st 2009 173.0     Lost  167.0  danielle_20077
SW: 343.0   JAN 1st 2009 275.0     Lost    68.0  denise07
SW: 326.0   JAN 1st 2009 280.0     Lost    38.0  freethrowtommy 
SW: 354.0   JAN 1st 2009 328.0     Lost    26.0  humorpam
SW: 329.0   JAN 1st 2009 295.0     Lost    34.0  korali
SW: 329.0   JAN 1st 2009 221.0     Lost  108.0  laurabow
SW: 370.0   JAN 1st 2009 286.0     Lost    84.0  mnic
SW: 442.2   JAN 1st 2009 392.0     Lost    50.2  mwiowa
SW: 325.0   JAN 1st 2009 267.0     Lost    58.0  punkrockriot
SW: 315.0   JAN 1st 2009 226.0     Lost  100.0  renaer14
SW: 317.0   JAN 1st 2009 311.0     Lost      6.0  shnitzel (tracy)
SW: 465.0   JAN 1st 2009 220.8     Lost  244.0  sun123
SW: 385.0   JAN 1st 2009 336.8     Lost    52.0  sunnyone24
SW: 305.0   JAN 1st 2009 234.5     Lost    70.5  Tina_4792
SW: 367.0   JAN 1st 2009 299.0     Lost    69.4  topeze
SW: 576.0   JAN 1st 2009 447.0     Lost  129.0  velvetkiss 
SW: 325.0   JAN 1st 2009 255.0     Lost    70.0  watchmeshine82
SW: 355.0   JAN 1st 2009 287.0     Lost    68.0  wobbley
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I was thinking at our final January 1st weighin, I should rename the thread "We Lost xx lbs!" with our yearly total loss.  I only mean final for this thread - I will be creating a new thread for 2009 for anyone interested who is or initially started at 300+ lbs. 

Yesterdays double block walk had me wanting to skip today but I did make it one block.  Strange that the soreness was in the calves and hips yet not where it has been in the past - knee problems.  Funny thing is yesterday after the 2nd block, I didnt feel so badly.  At least have a weekend break as Im planning mon-friday.  Getting up from sitting even aches but hoping I'll be better in the morning.

I also would like to do get over 10 lbs October - being in the 140s would put me closer to 199 than 299 (just barely but still it strange in concept to me!). Still 50 lbs away so not jumping the gun but instead of getting away from 300 its more like going towards 200.  Put me on board!

Great idea Jayne! I am not sure but I think this has been one of the more successful group weight loss threads. Others seem to die down after a few months. This one is going strong! It is a wonderful support for me and I know others agree. People here are very supportive and motivated, thank you all so much!

I wish my weight loss were going as well! I have been frustrated with my lack on control lately on the food front. I think I will try something new this week: planning everything I eat a week in advance! I am going to go shopping and make a plan for every day. Some days will still include convenience foods or fast foods - I need to be realistic. But having healthy snacks and pre-planning what I will eat and buy to eat should help me do better this upcoming week.

My food intake seems so closely tied with my exercise. When I am exercising well, I control my food well. When I am not, I don't. Lately it has been hard because I hurt my knee on a hike, and then I sprained my ankle in the gym, and lately I have had vertigo (for the past week or so) and that has put a damper on my exercise too. No exercise means I get depressed and discouraged and eat way more than I would if I were exercising! I know, I am a big baby and need to get over it.. starting with this "pre-planned week" experiment!

Betting the preparation will be of helpful Denise!  It not only helps with the mindset of putting things in control with a plan (whatever that is) which then helps with food impulses.  I think the exercise makes us more conscious of the effect of eating types or amounts of food since when we dont choose well, its counterproductive to time invested in our exercise. 

Im not suggesting that there isnt room for certain foods for those who prefer treats but know with balance that it can be successful if that system works for you.  Personally, its just easier for me to eat clean and I end up tempted by certain treat foods to eat more instead of others who feel it kept them from feeling deprived.  I do find treats in the SF and FF options are fine anyway.

Hoping a good weekend in this GOOD month of October! Im ready to reward myself with a good scale weighin, the body being willing with efforts before those holiday food commericals are everywhere :D.

Boy did I have drama today! I was out with my best friend, Spike, a rather large Shepherd-ish mixed breed dog. We were around mile 6 when she got spooked at the el stop on Harlem ave and tripped me. I fell and lost control of the leash. And she went running right across Harlem Ave (a very busy street), and of course, I went dashing across Harlem Ave after her. Neither of us was hit, though I'm sure some motorists were unhappy with us! Anynow, I ran after her for about 1/4 mile till I was too winded to keep up anymore. I lost her some time later and walked home to get the car and then go out and look for her. This all happened at 9:00am. Around 3pm, I got a call, Spikey was fine, she was hanging out in a lady's backyard. So I went to pick her up. She's home now and fine! Amazing! She went from Harlem and South Blvd to Oak Park Ave and Lexington Ave. She had to cross several busy streets and had to figure out how to use a bridge to cross the Eisenhower expressway! My guess is, she found parts of our old walks and followed them.

And now that I have my baby back, I've started to notice that my knee, arm and hand hurts where I fell!

What a scary day and how lucky that Spike remained unharmed going solo with traffic, especially with an expressway!  Most lucky you having her back but imagining with all that time, you were concerned/worried.  I could believe a dog following their old trail.  I've never heard Spike as dog name for a female - bet youve heard that before though.  Probably didnt see that sprinting in your workout today - hope you heal up well.  Didnt realize til your post how ordinary my day has been. 

Yes. When we got her at the PAWS shelter in Ft. Madison, IA, her name was Spice, but my partner didn't like that name, so he christened her Spike, since it was close enough to her original name. When we got Scamp, another of our pack, her name was LuLu. Scamp is special, her legs are crooked so it looks like she's scampering when she walks. Hence Scamp (though Mike liked the idea of As-Is for her, because we got her that way from the shelter. Jackie was originally Jaquay. Yep, they're all former shelter dogs. We're a soft touch and are allowed 3 dogs at a time by our town.

Your town limits you on how many dogs you can get?  We didn't change our dog's name, Roxie, cause we couldn't come up with anything better that had the same R sound.  But, glad she's home and hopefully you'll feel better tomorrow.

Sun, I was thinking that too.  I figured the group would continue, and hopefully continue to increase in members.  It's so very different having to lose the amount we did than just the normal 10-20 most people look for.  Or even 50.  I've already lost 50 and it's made a difference, but not like it will for somebody only needing to lose 50.  The thing I do like is that it has the 300+.  Without that, I probably would not be in this forum.  And I'm sure there are future CCers that will need this support.

I had eaten dinner already, but hubby hadn't.  So, we went to Friday's.  I've decided that the place frustrates me.  They are one of the few larger chains that don't have any nutritional info on their website.  Seriously, it's annoying.  I wound up finding other sites that had some stuff listed, but not what I was looking at.  I did find that their Mudslides (YUM!) have 1100 calories (YUCK!!)!  But, oh well.  Which is crazy.  That's about 2/3 of my daily calorie intake.  Anyway, hope ya'll have a good Sunday.  Looking forward to finally sleeping in some.

Original Post by sun123:

Hoping a good weekend in this GOOD month of October! Im ready to reward myself with a good scale weighin, the body being willing with efforts before those holiday food commericals are everywhere :D.

 That is so true! They must already be starting because my sister called me yesterday, just to tell me that Bailey's Irish Cream now comes "with a hint of coffee." I love Bailey's but haven't had it in forever since it has no redeeming value... and have been curious about the mint & caramel flavors too. It is a very holiday-ish food so I am sure it will be around, calling my name all winter!

aovermy: I am so glad you got Spike back unharmed! Even just reading your story that is a huge relief, I can't imagine how you must have felt.

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My first day of planning got a little thrown because I got confused and thought my friend was coming to visit next Saturday and she actually came yesterday! I had faithfully followed the first half of my daily plan, but was still hungry and she arrived wanting to eat. We did chicken fajitas at Chevy's and it turned out fine because I did not get hungry for dinner later and we went for a long walk. The only problem from eating too much in the beginning of the day was that I of course had to stay up for Saturday Night Live, it being a debate week and all, and I was starving towards the end of the night. I ended up allowing myself an extra serving of oatmeal. Still had a deficit of 674 calories so it was an okay day.

I am all set for the rest of the week, though -  made my meal plans and went shopping so that everything I need is already here, and nothing bad to tempt me.

Now, to get some homework done...

Calling our names is true - the commericals, instore ads, cooking food ingredient displays and recipes of old favorites galore. Way to work in your dinner out and your set for a great week! 

Liza, I hope to see us all for 2009 - just a new Jan - Dec thread. For future members, will include in the OP a link to this thread and summary of our success. Not to brag but as encouragement to show beginners they can make it happen too.  As long as you started at 300+, whether your just starting, on your way or working maintenance youve got peers here.  Funny about Fridays - seems like the big chains would finanlly get on board. 

Sun, apparently when the initial NY law was going into effect that restaurants with 15 or more locations had to put calorie info on the menus the same size as the price, it was only going to have restaurants that had nutrition on their website already to be effected by this.  A bunch of restuarants then took that all off their websites so they wouldn't need to advertise how bad things were.  It's amazing, though.  Any of the places I've asked for nutritional info when I'm at the place (if I didn't check beforehand), none of them have had it.  And they have been mostly chains.  Although, I'm in the south, and there is a significant difference in healthy mindset down here.  It's much easier to be fat, cause so many people are, and you aren't given the same looks as you are in the North.  I'm generalizing of course.  But still.

It's funny, though.  Lately, I've started to notice people who are much larger than I was when I started.  Most tend to be much older too.  But it's hard to see people have so much less mobility, more to try to pull around with them when they walk.  Just so much more difficult.  And I know I don't ever want to have that.  I'm sure some in here started out in that place.  But, it scares me to think that's where I'll be if I don't keep this up.  Or where I would have been.  I know a huge wake up call for me was when I was in the largest size in the store that I shopped.  I mean, if I gained much more, I wouldn't even be able to shop at that plus sized store anymore!  Then what?  That size is history for me, for good.  So, I don't need to worry about it now, but still, scary thoughts.

Hey all

Sorry I have been so quiet recently- Ive had a bit of a terrible month!!! After gaining about 8 pounds in the beginning, I managed to lose that and 2 more. Soooo:

Sept 1: 240

Oct 1: 238

I am going to kick my own ass this week and try as hard as I can. I will keep you posted :o)

Laura, hope your feeling good about reversing that and coming out with a lighter weigh in for Oct 1.  Looking forward to hearing from you going forth - many of us are pushing for an awesome October!

Liza, I was one there with the mobility loss and it came so gradually, it was way too easy to accept and find ways to best work around them to prevent that wake up call that ended up coming from a friend.  Shopping rarely, I would hit all the Catherine plus stores in my area on a day hoping for one item that would even fit. 

I know what you mean about the south and also dont like generalizing but it may be based in southern style cooking.  Low fat - chicken fried steak without the gravy.  Exxagerating but I do imagine it to be true that the healthier, more weight conscious the enviroment, the less easy to blend in.  This can apply even in just your workplace.

I actually was looking at a website that listed states in order of obesity.  The worst state is Mississippi.  They color coded them.  So, after that one, the rest of the states were in that same southern area...Kentucky and down.  Florida, where I live, actually isn't.  But I think it's also partly because enough people relocate.  And places like Miami have a lot more alternatives, organics, things like that.

I think that is because those states have that delicious but fattening southern cooking.

Absolutely.  And Sweet Tea.  Don't ever forget about that!  But they do also do more fish because of all the fishing here.

Long back at a local BBQ place, I saw the baking cupcake-like pans they use for making bread.  Each 'cup' in the pan had a smaller dough ball that was standing in melted butter that no exxageration filled at least half the cup.  And you think, "I'll have bread without butter" - too late. 

I am late weighing in for the month, I made it to 449, so that is 13 lbs for the month.  Finally the water weight is gone and I am on the way to just actual weight loss.  Sorry it is so late but school has been keeping me so busy and just adjusting to the mind set of being in class after all these years and the walking I am sure is helping the weight loss and my mobility a great deal.

Hi everyone,

I need help, I have lost weight every week since I began this at the end of July but now it looks like I may have hit a plateau!! Any help advise or encouragement is welcome, I lose hope easily if I cant see results which is why at 57 I'm still struggling with my weight problem.

I have never been a normal weight, at about 8 I was well over 10stone and althogh when I began back in July I was 350lbs I am now stuck at 318lbs.

How do you cope? How long do I have to expect this to stay static? I cant exercise as I have great problems in walking and pain from arthritus.

Please share your ways to cope and come out winning.

regards, Wobbly  

I can understand how frustrating it can be to plateau Wobbley but as someone who just passed one of several weeks, know that if you hang in there it will pass.  Some things Ive heard to help is to bump up exercise and fluids.  I also now a few fellow southbeachers who have returned to phase1 for a week or two to help leave a plateau.  Its a strict plan though (which is why its only for the diet's first 2 weeks - like bootcamp).  But it has worked.

Velvet - so good to see you and how awesome you've done! Didnt want to think we had lost  you .  I recently began walking again and happy with the mobility help too!

Ya Suns suggestions are great  ways to get over a standstill, just dont give up !!

We are all here to support you =)

ON that note im down a pound from last week, Im excited about it finally out of the 290s !! yay me !!

~K