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 

*******************************************
      We share a long journey.
      January 1, 2009 is coming ... IS HERE ! 
      What progress we'll make ... WE'VE MADE !
*******************************************

~ 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
********************************************* ******

After signing off yesterday, went to my daughter's dad (his phones out) because he's a clothes shopaholic and wanting store recommendations although was planning on walmart.  He gave me a pair that he bought but didnt wear- Nike Air Max 180s. His feet are actually just smaller than mine but these fit perfectly.  Free!! Ive been broke with a list of need items by urgency so this was a win/win/win (free, took care of priority and better than I wouldve paid for).  ALSO the arch thingy inside actually slightly lifts my foot, taking some weight off the blister so add another 'win' onto that.

If that wasnt great enough, woke up to see 242.4 peek on the scale! Not sure when I'll wake to that number again but it was a treat and encouraging with another week until montly weighin (YUP - a week, lets give it the 7 day push!!)

Mwiowa - sorry your scale isnt complying but Im thinking your body is.  I dont think the number is reflecting what physically happening to your size with your diet and exercise.  My thought is with them both that you *are* burning so it will show.

Velvet, betting your right about a showing next week and in time for monthly weighin.  I think your right about feet being happier and interested to see how the new sneaks work out, feeling optimistic with their fit.

Liza, thanks for the idea and love the idea but because the blisters are coming from movement inside the shoes, know I have to be 'strapped in'.  I used to barely drink a full glass of liquid a day and my pee was almost orange. My dr said I had crystals in it as a result, bad for the kidneys.  Now with dieting, since Im burning fat I very much want to flush it out.

Wobbley, the float/sink thing - found THIS poop report LOL!

Thank you for your answers.  I do have very yellow urine but drink at least 60 oz of water a day but that must just not be enough....I will have to drink a whole lot more and check the difference. 

Very interesting article Sun.... :)

Congrats on the sneakers, Sun!  They sound like good ones.  I should get some as I have terrible "holes" on the bottom of my feet just below the toes as my feet are so dry and then they crack open. - Not fun.

Well, I will just wait and see what weigh day brings on Thursday morning.

Can you elaborate more about the weight training and building muscle Liza?  I'm so new at actually sticking with a diet this long that I don't know all the facts.  I have started adding 10lb weights with my arms while I do the exercise bike as I realized my legs were doing all the work and my arms just went along for the ride.

Thanks everyone!

Sun, awesome about the shoes!  Free is always good!  I've also seen  Stool Analysis and Poo Chart by Gillian McKeith from BBC's You Are What You Eat.  So, more those of you curious about poop.

mwiowa, basically, as we lose weight, we lose muscle.  So, the end result even when you get to your ideal weight can be a "fat skinny" look.  You're the right weight, but you need to tone up.  Also, building muscle is supposed to help with the sagging skin issue.  If you haven't done much of anything until now, cardio on the bike will absolutely build muscle when you first start.  But, we want to maintain the muscle we have and lose the fat, right?  That's why weight training is important.  People do it very differently.  You'll find a ton of info on this thread by Melkor in the Fitness Forum, especially the strength training section.  Gives you lots of info, more than you probably need. 

I'll summarize as I've learned it so far.  Basically, you want to challenge yourself, that's what helps build and maintain muslce the most.  So, instead of 4 sets of 10, the plan is to do two sets of 8-12 so that by the time you're done with the 2nd set, you're about at your omg, I can't do even one more of this.  It saves times and gets your muscles to build and maintain.  When you do a ton of reps, you're really doing cardio weights, which will burn but not build/maintain really the same way.  So, I started on my own with 5 lb weights and built up from there when it started to get too easy.  I now do 15 lbs for most of my muslce groups.  (I'll need 20s too soon...just don't want to buy them :)  I'm using a link through that forum on the about.com site.  The first you can do for about a month and then build up to the second.  People notice a much more substantial difference in muscle and body shape doing strength training.  I absolutely notice and feel more muscle in different places than when I started, even despite my elliptical use for a while.  This will also increase your metabolism in the long run.  Muscle burns more calories than fat. Cardio burns when you're doing it.  Lifting burns while you do it and more for the next few hours after having done it.

Hope that helps some.  I'm hoping that I was clear enough to understand. 

Tonight I went to the dollar theater with a friend.  Before losing weight, I used to wonder if I were to put something like my folded up coat beneath me in a theater chair, could it raise myself high enough to sit in it above the chair arms since I couldnt fit in them.  Sitting in the theater seat and able to slip my hand between my thigh and the seat edge made me feel so tiny LOL! Being invited to anything before always meant the very real concern whether there would be seating available with chair arms. 

Going down stairs has always been much harder than going up. When I step down, I bring the second foot to that same step and repeat doing down. Recently I discovered I can take that second foot past the first and onto the next step.  Im sure this is because the walking has strengthened my leg muscles. Looking forward to taking the sneaks for a test drive tomorrow.

Today I only got up to 244ish so hoping that might mean another 242 tomorrow and Dec 1st at 240 is seeming possible or at least close.

Original Post by sun123:

Today I only got up to 244ish so hoping that might mean another 242 tomorrow and Dec 1st at 240 is seeming possible or at least close.

That later day 244ish was a high 243. This morning I hit 240.2!!  Think I reweighed myself 3x.  So happy! 240 is my Dec 1 goal and know Im one to flucuate but recent days have been more steady.  Wondering if this is my 'keep it clean' reminder for Thanksgiving. 

Ive four paper signs on my wall (Dec 240, Jan 230, Feb 220, Mar 210).  I consdier them aggressive but still possible.  I just dont want to lose momentum although wont be too harsh if closer to 200.  Thinking the new year, new thread will be a push after the holiday dress goals have passed in order to stay driven for my Feb 6th trip (and other dress to fit in).

GREAT NEWS Sun, another new low, at this rate you will need to set another target for Dec 1st LOL, I am so happy for you.

In answer to your questions, we go back to the UK on 9th December, not looking forward to that long flight. When we arrived my system was all out of  bonk, I didnt lose anything for over 10days even though I was swimming for an hour every day. Then one morning 294 so a 4lb loss but I HATED staying the same, jet lag, fluid, who knows.

I have also just discovered what we call a jumper you call a sweater!!!

We were taken, as a surprise, to the Gaylord Palms Ice display yesterday, God what a shock, it was cold only 9 degrees, luckily they said we could borrow a parker (I didnt think they would have one to fit me but they did), in the USA you are so catered for as bigger people. My hubby only had on a short sleeve shirt.  It's much harder in the UK to buy clothes, get any sympathy from Doctors or places that cater for larger-framed people. 

What make and model are your scales? In the UK it is hard to buy a set over 290lbs.

sun, YAH!!!!!Awesome all time low. You are just flying through the 200's. You are going to be saying goodbye to the 200's here real soon.

wobbly, to funny about the jumper. I didn't make that connection at all. Wow I can't believe how cold it got. I didn't think it actually got that cold down in Florida. America really does cater to bigger people, unfortunately that has been a bit of a problem here. I can't remember what my scales brand is called, but most scales even here don't go much higher than 300. I didn't have a scale to really weigh myself on till I was 290. I think I saw my biggest weight of 315 on a loading dock scale at a factory I worked at. The digitals seem to be the best scales for weighing on and they say on the box in big wording what they go up to. That's why I got mine I think mine goes to 350, but that's kind of a new thing even here.

Bla, whoever invented Chinese food and peanut butter cookies aught to be shot. I had a free day yesterday for the first time in awhile and I feel so gross. I'm so bloated! I gained 6 pounds over night, whats up with that. I know allot of it is water weight, I can feel it, but darn it one meal and a couple cookies and my body explodes on me. Hopefully I can get my weight back down and quick, so I can make weight for Dec. 1st and to feel better. Even though I know it's just water weight it still makes me feel gross.

Trying to stay positive for weigh in only 6 days to go:)

-Angie

Hey Everybody! Well,  here I am again,  finally getting serious again about my eating.  I can't exercise right now,  so I am going to have to be serious about my eating.  So I wanted to tell you all what I have had today,  and see what you all think.  This morning,  I had 2 oz of Roasted Chicken Breast with 1 cup of Roasted Green Beans and 1/2 cup of Mushrooms and 1 oz of Cheese.  That was delicious!  Then a little while ago,  I had 1/4 cup of roasted almonds and 1 apple.  Then in about 3 hours,  I will probably have the same thing that I had earlier,  because I divided the chicken and green beans in half and so I will have the second half of that in a few hours.  Then I will probably finish the day with more almonds and apple or a few meatballs and some broccoli normandy.  What do you all think of that? 

Pam, sounds great and as a low carber I often have breakfasts that resemble lunch or dinner.  Great choices and way to push through with the exercise limitations your dealing with :D!

Ang - chinese food and weight gain, yup! I understand it to be chinese to be one of the saltiest of the culture foods.  If I allowed myself a free day, I'd would pick chinese.  Did you say days? I prefer week - it sounds longer LOL!  It should be enough time to get that water gone but work on the fluids to flush, flush, flush it out.  Im betting you come in just fine with a Dec 1 weighin.  Funny about PB cookies - even though nuts and PB are my achilles heel, PB cookies never did it for me. Then again, certain popular foods I never understood the appreciation for (pizza, donuts, etc) have definitely taken on an strong appeal with the diet and I'd throw PB cookies (or any cookie) in with that.

Wobbley, nine degrees?! Are you talking FL? I hadnt realized that the UK was harderUS places that arentby there culture as acceptingUS places that arent by as accepting because of the population while others it is because its more prominent there. I had a best friend in college that had come from England and he always asked whether had to say I had to go get gas because it sounded crude and couldnt I just call it petrol (sp?).  What a wonderfully long vacation youre having.  Are you looking forward to being able to use your scale? I know Im so used to mine.

Original Post by sun123:

Wobbley, nine degrees?! Are you talking FL? I hadnt realized that the UK was harderUS places that arentby there culture as acceptingUS places that arent by as accepting because of the population while others it is because its more prominent there. I had a best friend in college that had come from England and he always asked whether had to say I had to go get gas because it sounded crude and couldnt I just call it petrol (sp?).  What a wonderfully long vacation youre having.  Are you looking forward to being able to use your scale? I know Im so used to mine.

 

 Hi, yes in Florida for 4 weeks, visiting my sister. A very long vacation. The 9 degrees I should explain IS in Florida, but inside in a hotel, they set up an exhibition in a very large aircraft type hanger and put the air-con down to 9 degrees so that the ICE sculptures would not melt. Some were 10 feet high and one was a gingerbread house that you walked through!! A solid ice santa about 40 foot high you could sit on his lap and have photos taken. I will up load some in my gallery for you to see.

wobbly, wow that sounds cool. Def explains the drop in temp. I hope your having fun that sounds exciting in and of itself. What a perfect time of year to do that to. I bet it's freezing back in the UK.

sun, You would think with all the veggies in Chinese food that it would be healthy for you, but you are right it's the sauce it's very salty which leads to sodium build up and bloating and stinking weight gain:) I love pizza, but I'm with you on the donuts thing, yucky. Peanut butter cookies are not my fav and especially non homemade cookies in general, yucky, but the g/f was having a craving for that and made them out of some Betty Crocker cookie packet, so there they were in my face. They were pretty gross though, but still couldn't keep them away from my mouth. Darn cravings.

I'm noticing a pattern. I had incredible cravings last night. I was so good all day, the plan was to walk and drink plenty of fluids to flush my system out and stay really low on my calories. Walked an hr, drank 4 liters of water and had about 500 calories up to 6pm. Than the cravings hit hard. I had subway for dinner with mom, only about 300 calories so not bad stayed in my calorie range. Than had a work meeting late that had snacks had 2 crackers and not even a tablespoon of bacon something cheese ball, still not to bad. Than i get done with that and hit McDonald's bad bad bad. Chicken nugget meal, regular soda, double cheese burger AND McFlurry. THAN, little ice cream snacks I had at the house AND a big bowl of cheerios. WHAT THE HECK!!! I'm realizing though that I had this issue the exact same time last month. It's PMS cravings starting already. I hit my low of 219 this time last month and than messed it all up, and I hit my low of 215 and messed it all up again this month, hit 224 this morning, again almost 10 pounds up from my lowest. Grrr so stinkin frustrating, but I'm hoping that my realization of this fact will help me stay focused. I have 5 days and I can push weigh in till about the 3rd so technically I have 8 days to get back down. Little bit of a concern with Thanksgiving, but I have to focus on the fact that it's one meal and it will be ok if I just control myself, very small portions and only one plate. *BIG BREATH* ok I feel better. That was a good venting session lol.

I hope everyone else is doing good. Can't believe this month is almost over already. We can do it. Keeping fingures crossed.

-Angie 

I wondered if it was something like that - ten years in Florida and I only once saw it go  below freezing.  My first christmas eve there from the north, I watched a christmas movie and afterwards went outside into the warmth and was so sad LOL. The dsiplays sound absolutely amazing.  40 foot ice scupture? I love holiday things to visit like that especially when there isnt snow to speak of.  TX usually gets the rare flurries but short lived, sometimes not through the day.one freeze more than snow and not until January).

Funny morning. I woke very early and had to see what happened since yesterdays surprise weighin.  241.2, up slightly but tired went back to bed.  Awoke at 7:30 to discover 240.8.  I like that trend - maybe I shouldve gone back to sleep for another weigh in.  While I was doing okay early month, I was behind on my preset goals and thought it would take longer to catch up so giving thanks to having hit it and just hanging on.

Getting my first eye exam today. Ive always worn dollar store magnifiers (literally $1 which is good because I lose them) but cant deny know I cant read distance like writing on TV and have a second stronger pair of cheapy glasses for the fine print.  Cheap solutions always work for me but since discovering a local inexpensive eyeglass source - going to chalk this up. Besides, will be nice to have 'real' glasses, nicer than than dollar store selection. Going to have to prioritize not losing them.  I have managed not to lose my cell phone since getting it 1/1/2 years back. I think working from home leaves less places to misplace and more likelihood to find them if I do.

Hi everyone!  I've really been struggling since last Saturday. I went to my family Thanksgiving gathering we have every year the weekend before Thanksgiving. And the scales really went up the next morning.......  I've been trying real hard the last 3 days to get it to come back down. I'm so not looking forwards to Thursday's dinner. I have to cook the meal for 5 of us and I'm not cutting calories when I make everything. I'm just cutting back on how much I'm fixing. I don't want any left overs. I hardly can wait until this week is over with. I knew it was going to be like this. My will power just didn't show up last Saturday, and I know... it won't on Thursday either. I had just got in the 280's and now I'm right back in the 290's.  Boy is it scary how fast them pounds can come back on you. I'm telling you I was like a kid in a candy store. I only got small portions but I tried everything. And another downer, was out of 50 people only a hand full said they could really tell I've lost and looked good. But I was prepared for that. 90% of them are over weight and when your over weight you just don't bring that kind of stuff up, I guess. I probably was that way too. I've lost 84 pounds since the last time they all have seen me. Go figure. It's my dysfunctional family. :-)    If I can only just get through Thursday without to much damage I'll just have to work extra hard to get back to my lowest weight and back on track.  

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

KEEP STRONG, you can do it on Thursday, enjoy yourself, it is only one day, a little of everything is wonderful!!! It will soon come off. I find so called friends and family dont WANT to admit you are losing weight because it makes them feel BAD as they are NOT losing. It makes them feel good if they think you are big and not trying!! Just ignore them, you, the scales and us know your success. When you lose 180lbs they have no option but to notice, until then, I am afraid they are probably jealous and do not want to accept you are better than them at weight control, it makes them feel a failure.

If it goes on quickly, it will come off quickly as long as you get back on track the next day.

Have a happy Thanksgiving, I am sure most of us are in the same boat this week. I too will be glad when this week is over.

I agree with Wobbley - my daughter who has weight issues was never one to comment through all 200 lbs lost.  Also that if you go after right away, its got room to drop off quicker - I think its also a metabolism thing that causes that. 

Stepped on to a shocking 239.0 this morning - whoa! I was just hoping for close to that 240 again and didnt see it coming.  Not feeling "in the 230s" yet though but it a real treat and reinforcement to stay away from those other 'treats' tomorrow.  Cool for everyone enjoying the day but I have the company party in one more week and trying to maximize every day.

Got my prescription and heading to see what the strength (eek!) is going to do for the glasses quote I was given.  Still the best cost I found so happy and cant believe wont be juggling eyeglasses for different vision.

Happy, Happy - gobble gobble!

I know its early but Ive been up hours and may need a nap today. Not from over eating,  going in lean and clean today.  To all indulging today, enjoy your foods! For those not, Im on-call for support LOL! 

A weekly weighin this morn 399.4.  Havent walked this week (eek!). Monday was valid - I had backache, something I never get and feared it was from walking around home the night before in my heels trying on dresses. How would I make it through the upcoming events in them.  Yesterday and today I went for much the day, in them. I would really like to wear them regularly - the additional height is nice for the profile and makes me feel girly. Also, it lends me to backing off the dresses that are so huge and pulling out the better fitting ones.  So not feeling guilty about the non walking - but after today plan to start up (perhaps tonight if I dont fall asleep early) but if not, Friday. Walking in heels is its own workout (hopefully only this early on) and discovering new calf muscles.

When giving thanks today, remember to include the work youve done and progress youve made from last year. I pulled out my calendar to check the numbers.   and it gave me a real lift.

Thanksgiving sure quieted things around here.  Anyone in the back room? Hello?

Monday is weighin but if you spurged yesterday, feel free to give yourself a few days to drop any water weight.  On the other hand, weigh in and that will be that much more a loss for the final Jan 1 weighin. Well final for this thread, we're starting up again for 2009 for anyone aboard.

Yesterday was quite innocent. That morning I had soup and an english muffin (brand The Alternative, 100cal - great!). Discovered my toaster was broken so put them face down on a pan but forgot them.  Burning, I flipped them on a plate but on distracted also on the phone, put the pan on the counter and burned it ... greeeaat ... Anything else to go wrong? No, had turkey, carrots and a slice of yam for Thanksgiving.  Went to two more stops and ended shopping hours at walmart. In heels, didnt think I could walk this morning but its coming back.

Its pouring so hopefully tonight will be better for my laps unless I end up braving the rain and crowds to shop and if so, will pick it back up monday.

Hope you all had a good thanksgiving yesterday, It wasnt a holiday here,so I have been busy with end of term stuff.

I have finished reading a book called * half assed: a weight loss memoir" and I really enjoyed it, thought maybe you guys might want to check it out to. Althought the author doesnt come right out and say it .. Im pretty sure that she used mainly the south beach diet and exercise. So i went out and bought the south beach diet book, which if im not mistaken .. is the *diet * that Sun has been following ?

Im just really at the point where i dont knw what im doing anymore, so i need to be open to new things. Gonna read this book and see if i can try it atleast, or incorporate some stuff into what ive been doing.

I have been eating well, but still hovering around 288.. dunno where the 285 that i seen on Nov 20th went, It wasnt Thanksgiving here .. I have no excuse !! and to be honest I have been eating well.

You are all inspirational to me !! I have only 3 months to go before Ive been here for 1 year, I wanted to lose 100lbs in 1 year .. but that isnt going to happen, I would like to get to atleast 60-65ishlbs gone .. thats another 15-20ish lbs that should be doable.

I ordered an enell sports bra, online a few days ago, I hope it gets here soon, I cant do much exercise ( like dvds at home etc) cuz to be quite honest, its very uncomfortable, and even wearing 2 sportsbras doesnt help =( So i am hoping that this bra ( which cost me almost 80$) will help me in this area !! No more bouncing = good ! haha

Hope all is well =)

~K

Koralli, is there something special about the enell sports bra? My daughter is large chested and when I watched her playing soccer, I told her she needed a sports bra and she showed me that she was wearing two.

I am on SB - my doctor recommended it for me because of my insulin resistance and it has done amazing things for my 'hunger' which felt exactly like strong hunger a while after I'd eat certain carbs (pasta, white rice, regular bread, fruits).  Just a heads up - in the first few days, some feel a carb withdrawl (I did) but its temporary.  I was not into healthy eating, just losing weight but that was a nice side effect and then CC reinforced getting me health focused.

A week after finding CC August 2007, I found a SB thread and posted it on it ever since. We closed & restarted it beginning of this year so that the new one's beginning posts would have information (not mine, I found it online) helpful regarding SB (LINK).  The members on it are very welcoming and supportive too.  Here's hoping that 'below 288' is waiting for Dec 1 weigh in :D and here's to 3 months, 15-20 lbs!

Been working this morning - still in nightgown, actually two and a sweatshirt.   What a lazy day but caught up on Netflix rentals while catching up on my job. A little more work to do as I peek into the gloom outside and consider venturing out.  

I will report back on the enell sports bra,  I heard about it here on one of the forums that someone recommended it, and then a bunch of ppl agreed that it was the best.. so time will tell i need to get one first =)

Want to finnish the book before i make a final decision on SB diet.. but i will say that all the stuff that you have to cut out for the first 2 weeks are my faves ! =( cept cereal ... lol