Fresh Start Week 6 (group closed)

Ladies, here we go...week 6!  Hope you all had a successful week 5. 

Now, I would like each of you to take a moment to focus yourselves and think about this...we are 6 weeks in, where are you?  Are you still at the beginning, are you right in the middle or close to the end of your journey?  At this point in our journey together we should have each lost between 3 - 12 pounds and still be loosing at a healthy rate.  Congrats on all of the changes you HAVE made.  Let's use the second half of our journey to really kick it up a notch!

Review of past goals:

Food:

Week 1 – Tracking and recording all food – stay within your “eat meter” number.

Week 2 – WATER, WATER, WATER!

Week 3 - 5 Fruits/Veggies per day

Week 4 - Give up that one thing that hangs around in your diet that is not good for you but you work it into your calories

Week 5 - Reflect on past week's goals and revisit the ones you want/need to

Exercise:

Week 1 – Do something, anything at least 3 times this week

Week 2 – Add one more workout into your schedule (one more day or the equivalent in time)

Week 3 - Maintain

Week 4 - Take a good look at your work-out and determine what changes need to be made and MAKE them (ie add in some strength training)

Week 5 - Reflect on past week's goals and revisit the ones you want/need to

Mental:

Week 1 – List the top 5 reasons you really want to do this

Week 2 – List 3-5 reasons how you got here

Week 3 - Look back to your happy place and give yourself a visual (picture or clothing)

Week 4 - Make sure you are building yourself towards a healthy lifestyle...by doing each weeks goals continuously (don't just eat your veggies for one week - eat them every week!).  Make a plan to push you.  

Week 5 - Reflect on the last 4 weeks - what did you do right that helped you drop that weight...what things could you improve on during the next four weeks.

NEW GOALS:

Food:  Try a new healthy food.  This could be ordering grilled chicken instead of fried, white rice instead of fried rice or wheat bread instead of white OR adding a new healthy food to the list of foods you eat (in the last year I have added carrots and lettuce now I am looking to add in some more beans (or other things high in protein).

Exercise:  Add some additional time to your work-out or another work-out (this will take you up to 5 work-outs per week).

Mental:  This past week I noticed not only am I an emotional eater but I am surround by people at work (where I spend most of my awake time) with people who eat terribly (french fries daily) and always have treats...think about the people and places that also trigger your extra calorie intake...what if anything can you do to avoid these people or place or at least the extra calories!  Obviously, I cannot avoid work (believe me I tried) but I can set limits...allow myself 1 (and I mean only 1) piece of chocolate from the candy bowl and then make sure to avoid that co-worker's office unless necessary and if it is necessary running in and out quickly! (Maybe I will burn some calories by running!)

Good luck all! 

So it is 6:00 a.m. here and I am unhappily up for my morning work-out!  Oh how I wanted to stay in bed but staying in bed is not going to help me reach my goals, so here I am up!  I will have a crazy day at work so I wanted to post real quick this am to report my new weight...190.4 which means I am down 1.2 from last week, yay!  This loss comes despite my unfocused work-out efforts last week...maybe it is all the soda I gave up, which I am happy to report I made it through the weekend and 2 dinners out with NO soda.  5 days down, 2 weeks and 2 day to a healthy habit!

Hope you all had good weeks!

Hello all!

I was thrilled to see when I stepped on the scale this morning was a 209.8! Down 1.6 pounds from last week. The new healthy food goal is going to be difficult for me. To be honest, for some reason I'm almost afraid to try new foods. That's the downfall of being a picky eater. I'd like to try some new vegetable (especially since I still struggle eating them...even though I'm better than what I was!). For some reason I have a urge to try some butternut squash...I keep hearing people talk about it... If anyone has any good recipes...let me know!

My husband seems to be the worst person to be around when I'm trying to eat better. He's very supportive, but at the same time he keeps bringing cupcakes into the house. I try to cook healthier...but he usually doesn't want what I'm cooking. He's trying to eat some of my things, and he's getting better...but it's still hard. I'm just trying to be strong and not stuff all the cupcakes into my mouth. The sweets are my weakness.

Congrats on being pop-free for 5 days, elaughter!!!  That is a great accomplishment!!

Well, I think I'm going to go for a walk tonight. Happy eating!

Well, I am down a whole pound from last week! 

I was 217.6, now 216.6.  Not a lot, but just enough.

Hope everybody else is doing great!

Lisa

PS... Rach, dunno how recent that pic is, but I love the hair!!

Lisa- The pic was actually taken this week.  I was thinking about cutting it off until I actually had a good hair day!  Doesn't happen often! (Oh, wait...I usually don't have good hair days because I get lazy and throw it back in a pony tail!)  Good job on the 1 pound loss though...every little bit counts!

Okay, Right now I am aching!!  I decided to be an over-achiever and I first walked to my bike (it was at our little restaurant), and then I biked back home.  We're about 3.5 miles away...so a 7 mile trip.  The bike trip back probably hardly burned a thing though because it's mostly downhill...it still felt great though.  Love the wind in the hair!  I'm going to be HURTING in the morning.  Well...everyone have a great night and thank God Monday's pretty much over!!

Rach

My scales finally budged!!  After three weeks at 201, I was at 197 this morning!  I was so excited, I actually thought about posting before work, but I came to my senses.  My goal for our session was 20.7, so I'm halfway there.

I was one of the ones that wasn't around as much last week.  My back pain returned (probably my insistance on wearing my wedges that I love) and my neck caught up, too.  Using the computer all day and all night long contributes to the neck thing, I think, along with the phone and driving and stress.  :)Between the muscle relaxers and the additional pain from the chiro trips, I only logged my food and went to bed.   I've tried to make my home office more ergonomic last week, so we'll see.  But I'm not going anywhere--I like you guys and feel like I know you as well as the people I see every day.  :)  If our other regulars don't show up tomorrow should we start e-mailing them?

Yay Liz on your lack of soda!!!  It's amazing what a difference just that can make.  I have a friend I didn't see for six months who was visibly much thinner and in the right places and she swears the only thing she was doing differently was give up her 1-2 ginger ales/day and added 20 min of pilates twice a week.  I know it's hard though.  I was diet coke addict!  I mean addict!  I won't even tell you how much I would drink per day for 20 yrs.  Then all of a sudden it started making me physically ill every time I drank it.  It's been almost two years since I've had one, but I know I couldn't have stopped but for the illness.  I'm also impressed at the being up at 6 a.m. again to exercise--way to start the week!

Rach-Could you ask your husband to hide the cupcakes and not tell you they are in the house?  :)   Way to go with your walking and biking!  When you said "at our little restaurant" do you mean that you have a restaurant?  What kind?

Lisa-Every pound counts! 

Ya'll have a good week!

Well, i missed weighin in this week!

My grandmother arrived for her unexpected visit.  88 years old and had driven over 2000 kilometres alone.  She had basically been ordered on a holiday by her doctor as she'd had her plate full helping to nurse my grandfather (in a nursing home) and my great aunt who had recently had her leg amputated.  Her plan was to travel further north to Cairns and the Atherton tableland where her father is buried and to tend his grave.  She also planned to organise two urns so that her ashes and my Poppy's could be interred in her father's grave. 

I took her to Mass on Sunday morning and we learnt, on our return, that my grandfather had passed away.  We were very saddened, but had known that it was possible that he might pass away while she was on her trip.  He had had eleven major strokes in ten years (plus almost a hundred minor ones) and the doctors had prepared us to expect another.  We were just grateful that it took him swiftly and gently.  He was in a nursing home but quite mobile.  He had gotten up and showered and dressed himself, then layed down again to wait until breakfast time.  He just went to sleep.  Next month he would have been 91 and in April they would have celebrated theri 70th anniversary.

My Nana left to drive all the way back down to Brisbane yesterday.  I offered to fly her there or to share the driving but she wouldn't hear of it.  Madame Independence!  I will fly down for his funeral next week and have been busy today writing the booklet for it.

I need chocolate but there's none in the house!!!  Unfortunately, other sweet things have found their way to my plate.  I'm pretty sure the scale will move back up.

I am away at a conference for the next few days so won't be able to get back online till the weekend.  Keep up the great work - avoiding sodas and cupcakes, eating squash and going walking!!!  You are all doing an awsome job!

168.8 now, which is actually up .2 from last week. My weight seems to be kinda stuck lately, which is annoying... but I'm not really gaining too much. Lately I've just seemed to stay around 168-171. I guess I'll have to re-evaluate some of my goals... I was hoping to be down to 160-161 by the end of the month to be out of the obese range... but it doesn't seem like that will be happening :( I wasn't feeling so great last week so I only went to the gym twice but I walked a lot over the weekend.. but also ate a lot. So this week I'm getting back on track and so far so good. I ate well enough yesterday and went to the gym yesterday morning and this morning and packed my lunch for today.

Good luck to everyone this week!

Original Post by rach9898:

Hello all!

For some reason I have a urge to try some butternut squash...I keep hearing people talk about it... If anyone has any good recipes...let me know!

 I highly recommend butternut squash soup.  It is especially tasty with a few bacon bits (I know, but the soup is super healthy, I splurge) and some butter buds to add some butter flavor.  It's yummy!!  I put it in a mug and sip it slowly until I can scoop all the bacon out at the end. LOL

Ok...first things first.  This week's weigh in is 203.8.  I was pretty happy to see that I'm one step closer to ONE-derland even if it's only a .6 loss from last week.  I'm also 4 lbs away from a major goal of mine. (if you remember, it's to weigh less than hubby who's 200)  I did good with my goals last week and even ate a bit more legumes and oats to try and up my fiber and protein.  I also added more fish where I'd usually choose beef.  Veggies stayed the same but I did add at least a fruit a day which was a good goal that I will continue.  I've also seemed to cut back on my diet green tea and subbed water instead. Not a concsious choice, it just happened. 

Liz...congrats on your no soda! It's tough but worth it.  I now order plain iced tea at restaurants automatically and add 1 splenda per glass.  My daughter's even started doing it too (it's all about example with kiddos) instead of soda which makes me happy.  She doesn't have a weight problem at all and I hope to keep it that way. 

Erin...You seem to be really hard on yourself.  It could just be the 'voice' of your posts but I think that you are doing fabulous. Your body had such fabulous loss the first 4 wks, it's probably just taking a break to stay at a healthy pace. 

Jella...I wish I still had my grandma around.  You are lucky. I love spending time with the older generations.  Not only are they crazy (and that makes me feel so sane! LOL) but they have so much to teach us.  Most of them are just happy to have someone look them in the eye and listen.

Babe-Congrats so much on hitting ONE-derland!!!!  Is it a party every day?? That's how I imagine it. LOL  Halfway to your goal....so happy for you.  I'm sorry about the back and neck pain.   I suffer spinal issues too and do not envy you for them.  I hope that you take it easy on the exercise this week to try and not irritate those areas.  You did fabulous last week!

Rach-I own a bike that I never use...mostly cause the seat is so damn uncomfortable but I keep telling myself that as my kids learn, I'll take them out for rides. I hope to keep to this promise to myself, especially after we are in our new home and the bike will be right in the garage instead of locked up in storage.  Also about the hubby thing, mine has a huge chocolate fetish but I keep tons of those 100 cal sweet snacks around my house so if he breaks out the candy bars or cupcakes, I just grab a cheesecake bar or 100 cal chocolate chip cookies and munch.

Okay...where's Shanny???? I hope she didn't lose hope!!  I am here to support you Shan, so please post! :)

Lisa-congrats on a pound loss! Something is ALWAYS better than nothing. And like me, I didn't even lose a whole pound this week so good on ya!

Well, this is one of my scheduled off-weeks.  I have them every 6 wks where I don't log cals, I don't count them, I don't exercise.  I do this and come back guns ablaze and all fired up.  Don't be mad at me please!! It's something I've done since the beginning that helps me stay sane.  I still end up making healthier than not choices and keep up my water and stuff.  It just also helps me realize that even if I have an entire week of non-commitment, I can re-assert myself when it's over and keep at it.  A constant reminder of my commitment to my own health is necessary for my own mental health.  I also have something to look forward to every 6 wks. :)  It's usually the week where I'll have a beer or eat some dessert.  So, while I probably won't lose this week, Ill keep checking in and be on track again starting Saturday.

Oh and 1 more thing....if people want to...I'm curious what sizes people are in at certain weights.  I know every body is different and different shapes affect that but curiosity killed the cat and all that.

I'm 5'6" currently at my weight of 203.8, I range from 16-18 pants but 20's are still comfy with a belt and on top I'm still 1X or 16-18. Button downs and T-shirts or pullovers, XL.

Oh, and a side note...about the boobage.  If you'll remember from my previous week's postings, I'm obsessed with this subject! haha  I had bought some new bras...grr they were too small but I"m keeping them anyway.  So went to get a professional fitting to see what my size actually was since I seemed to be getting it wrong and my currents weren't fitting right.  So...found out some terrible news!! I'm not kidding, I'm so upset.  I thought I'd lost some boobage and would finally be a little bit free-er from back and shoulder pain at the hands of these globes of fat!! But no.  While I have a smaller band size due to my weight loss, the boobs themselves are exactly the same size resulting in....you guessed it, actually a LARGER cup size.  OHMIGOD!!! The lady at the fitting measured me at a 40F but her shop only sold up to 40DDD which she said was actually 40E (why they don't label it that way, I have no idea, probably cause you feel like a freak seeing that on your tag!!!)  I mean, come on!! F??!! Gimme a break.  Ok, venting over.  I bought some of her largest bras and lemme tell you, that's a lot of friggin material, so embarassing.  But if there's a plus anywhere, she said that by actually wearing my correct fit and size, I should see a reduction in shoulder strap slippage and my posture should be a little better due to adaquate support.  *sigh*

I'm here, I'm here!  Thanks for worrying/wondering about me, Nillytoots.  Makes me feel good!  And Liz has checked in with me too so I know you guys care.

I actually did weigh myself Monday evening but forgot to go online and post.  I have not lost any weight but I haven't gained either so I'm glad for that.  I'm still at 240. 

I am so proud of all of you.  Almost everyone lost (between 1-4 pounds - that's great) and even for those that gained, it wasn't much so don't let it get you down (you know who you are).

I packed a very good lunch for myself today so I'm looking forward to getting back on track.  Before we started this group, I did so good tracking my food every day and really paying attention but for some reason, I'm not doing so hot right now.  And that's really strange considering my best friend is the moderator of the group.  I should be doing even better, right?  Well, at least I'm still trying.  I haven't given up.

In response to Liz's (elaughter) questions as to where we each are in our process, I am still at the beginning.  I haven't even completed the goals from week 1.  So I'll try really hard to do good for the second half of this group, and then we can maybe all start again with a new group to move forward even more and then maybe I can be perfectly on track.

Liz, once again, well written post for week 6.  Very motivating.  I want to do better just reading what you wrote -- now if I can only truly do better . . .

So I have been soda free for a whole week and I am so proud of myself!  Two more weeks to an actual habit but so far so good.

I worked out on Monday.  Missed my work out on Tuesday (not for lack on wanting on my part but life got in the way and I got home too late).  And missed my morning work out yesterday (still a result from my late night) BUT I got off my butt at 10:00 last night and completed my Tuesday work out last night!  I just kept thinking about my goals and realized skipping work outs is not going to get me there and I actually got up and did something about it!

As for this weeks goals, I have not tried a new food yet but I will (thinking about asparagus).  So far I am still on schedule to meet my work out goals.  As for mental I have avioded my co-workers treats - in order to do this I have been weighing how many calories the item is vs. how much I want it / how good it is.  The other day someone brought in lemon bars (one of my favorites prepared correctly) but I took one bite and literally throw it all away (including the bite in my mouth) - they were NOT good and I was not going to WASTE 200 calories on something that was not GREAT (btw they were store bought so I was not hurting anyone's feelings).  I hope I do not jinx myself but I really have been actually thinking about how many calories are in something before I eat it and that has helped me stay in my calories range and turn down certain foods.

Yesterday I got my first "you look like you have lost weight" since starting this (again) and it was great!  I am not one who gets offended by this statement, instead I take it as a compliment on my hard work! 

I hope each of you are doing well.  I will be back later the finish reading posts! 

Hi all. I've been a little sick this week.. a little stomach bug or something. Off and on tho, so it hasn't stopped me from eating too much...

I just wanted to stop in and say that I saw a commercial yesterday for Old Navy jeans on sale this Saturday... $12 for adults, $7 for kids... so if you need any jeans or are stocking up for the kids for school, it may be a good time to get them :)

Other than that... I was good and went to the gym Mon and Tues, went yesterday morning but only stayed about 25 mins cuz I wasn't feeling so good, and didn't go today. Hopefully I'll go tomorrow! I've been pretty good at staying in my calories too.. I still need to work on replacing my bad foods (that still fit in my calorie count) with fruits and veggies. Although, the past two afternoons I was feeling really snacky so I ate a bunch of baby carrots, which worked out really well. I forgot to bring some to work today, but hopefully I'll still do ok.

Hello!

I hope everyone's week has been going great...we're getting close to the weekend!  Yea, for days off!!

2babetterb- Congrats on the huge weight loss!!  Plenty of time left for the other half of your goal!  You'll do it.  Sorry to hear that you were hurting so much last week, hopefully you've been feeling better this week.  I took your advise and I'm asking my hubby to hide the good stuff.  Out of sight out of mind, right?  You had asked about our restaurant...we are part owners of a sport's bar/dining restaurant.  It's a lot of fun...just a lot of work!  (Also a lot of fried temptations.) 

Jella- Sorry to hear about your grandfather.  That is amazing that your grandparents almost got to spend 70 years together...that is quite an accomplishment when some couples can hardly last a few years.  What an amazingly independent woman though!

Nilly- Thanks for the butternut squash soup idea!  Sounds yummy.  I'll have to make up a batch tomorrow or Saturday.  I'll let you know how it turns out!  Sounds like you're making great food choices!

Shanny-  It's great to see here!   I like the idea of starting again after the 12 weeks.  I feel this group has helped out tremendously!  Forget about how you've gotten off track in the past...just focus on the future.  You can do it.

Liz- Woo hoo!  No pop for a week!  That's great that you're staying up with your work-out goals and throwing away of the lemon bars. 

Erin- Hmm...I could use some more jeans...might have to stop by Old Navy myself!  That's great that you went to the gym despite that you were feeling sick.  It shows how motivated you are.  Hope you start feeling better!

Well, I need to get ready for work.  I'm going to attempt to see how many times I can take the stairs tonight.  I might make it mini goals to keep upping how many times I take the stairs at work...  Laters!

Just checking in real quick...

I told myself I wasn't going to eat pizza anymore.  DH wanted ME to order it for dinner.  I ordered his Bacon Cheddar Melt (YUM!) and I ordered the kids' Hawaiian (also YUM!) and then ordered a large Vegetarian, had 2 pieces, and let my kids devour the rest.

Small steps!

Hope everybody is doing great... I don't work next week so I'll be posting a LOT!

Take care,

Lisa

Hello everyone,

I am back from my vacation but haven't stepped on the scales yet. I have read every ones post and was glad to read about weight losses and goals being reached. This past week has been great fun but very bad food wise. I ate carrot cake, fried mashed potatoes stuffed with lamb (so good!), fresh cut fries with wild garlic mayonnaise and sushi just to name a few. I washed some of this down with light caramel frappochinos or soy chai lattes. It was wonderful to be able to eat and drink so many different things but I don't even want to think about my daily cal. consumption. I did walk almost everywhere, at least 3 hours a day some days close to 5 so I hope that made up for some of my very bad choices. I did not get enough to drink which I notices every morning when I woke up with swollen hands and my pee was dark and smelly. (Is this TMI?) I am glad to be home so I can get back on track with our program. I am really hoping this group stays together after the first 12 weeks. I don't think anybody is close to their goal weight and I know that I appreciate all the support I get here and the sense of accountability I feel being part of the group. If Liz doesn't have time to keep us organized maybe we could take turns being the group leader? Okay, I have to go unpack and do laundry. Will check back in tomorrow (Saturday)

G'day all,

I have been away at a conference and returned late last night.  Ate terribly irresponsibly - catered meals, no preparatin and no washing up just make you enjoy every morsel... we had five fairly heavy meals a day but I came back at exactly the same weight.  I ate lots of fruit and veges but didn't care about the fats on meats or in desserts.  Did manage to stay away from carbohydrates on the side, so maybe that helped.

Am flying out tonight to spend a few days with my family before the funeral on Tuesday.  So will no be online again for a while.  I finished writing up the funeral book - it was a very comforting experience.  Thank you all for your messages of sympathy, Poppy was a darling man.

Okay!  Seriously need to kick up the weight loss!  I have a wedding to go to in October.  It's a friend of mine from college that I haven't seen since we graduated and about 20-30 pounds ago.  Quite a few of my classmates will be there.  I also have a 10-year class reunion (high school) that should be happening any time as well.  The crazy person that is putting it together lives out in California while my class is back in Indiana.  So who knows when we'll have the reunion.  On that note, I'm going to get off exercise some.  I'm also going to make that butternut squash soup tonight!!  Yummy! 

It's Monday... Wanted to post my weight but no new forum yet. I'll check back tonight.

Hey all!  Sorry the new forum is not up yet.  I had a sick child last night which consumed my evening - including the portion I set aside to post week 7.  I am working on it this morning and will have it up in the next few minutes...just wanted to let you all know in-case you come here looking for it before I get it posted. 

Sorry for any inconvience this casued each of you.

Liz