Fresh Start Week 7 (group closed)

Hello ladies.  Again, I am sorry this forum was not up yesterday.  But it is here now!

Week 7...it is becoming increasing difficult to come up with the weekly goals, 1) we are all at really different places and 2) we are getting to a point where we have covered the healthy bases.  If you have suggestions for the weekly goals (specifically food and exercise) please email me separately with your suggestions and I will include them over the next weeks.

But for now here are Week 7's goals:

Food:  This week really pay attention to how you feel after you eat.  Do you possibly need to switch things up...maybe have more protein instead of carbs in the morning or maybe you eat something that makes you feel bad afterwards.  Pay attention to your body and how it is responding to the food you eat.  If you are eating a 300 calories breakfast and you are hungry again within an hour?  If so, maybe you should switch up what those 300 calories consist of...for example I have traded my mini bagel with cream cheese for a banana with a tspn of peanut butter, this has allowed me to stay fuller for at least an extra 2 hours and for the same calories!

Exercise: Try something new.  I have recently discovered that utube is a great place to get ideas and have someone demonstrate how to use equpiment or a new exercise for you.  So if you have an extra couple of bucks get an ab ball or a resistance band and do a little research on how to use.  No money, no worries, change up your walking routine to include some hills or carry some weights.  Just try something new - you may love it...I tried a spin class that I thought I would hate, well I did not I felt like I had really WORKED and I loved it!   

Mental:  Make a list (and share it) of all of the things you HAVE done in the past 6 weeks.  Take a minute to pat yourself on the back for how far you have come.  Remember big changes come from a series of small changes. 

Good luck this week! 

BTW - I too would like to keep the group going after the 12 weeks!  I like doing things in sessions but what do you ladies think about keeping it in 12 weeks sessions?   

Hello everyone. I haven't been around too much lately because I wasn't feeling great last week and was busy this weekend. I didn't count my calories at all this weekend, a first for me since I've started this, but I don't think I did too badly. With the exception of eating out at Olive Garden Friday night I don't think I really went over my calories, at least not by much. Also, when I weighed this morning I lost weight! 167.2, which is down 1.6 from last week. This is really encouraging because the last few weeks I've been jumping up and down between 168-172, but it hadn't gotten this low until this morning!

I also tried a spinning class for the first time this morning so there's my new activity! I've been meaning to try for a while but it just seemed so intimidating. I went to the morning class, and there were only 4 other women (no men) in the class which was nice and the instructor came over to help me set up my bike and explain how it worked. Its nice that the classes at this gym are small enough that the instructors notice I'm new and take the time to help me out some.

Well I'll get back to the other goals this afternoon or after work, gotta get working now. Have a good week everyone

Well hello everybody! 

Liz- I do think we should keep the group going after 12 weeks!  Even if some people decide that either they aren't into the group anymore or some reach their goals and decide they don't need it?  Maybe to add a few more to make up for the few that have dropped out since the group started... who knows?  But I know I'm "in" for as long as we are a group!

My something new for this week?  I have downloaded the Week 1 of the Couch to 5K on my ipod... now to get out there and work it.  I might later today take my butt down to the track and make it happen for the first time.

So my weight last week was 216.6, and this morning I was 215.0, so I'm down 1.6 pounds.  Yayyy!

Gotta run for now, bye all~

Lisa

Just wanted to come by and post my new weight...189.6...only a loss of .8 but got me into the 180s and I am HAPPY about that! 

This week I plan on either trying the couch to 5K program or trying some yoga moves.  I am already walking / jogging but it might be nice to have a program to follow...in the past I have not completed any programs I started but maybe having it in my ears will help. 

Hope you all have a great week! 

My weight this week is down to 202. I am happy about that because I lost a pound while on vacation for 2 1/2 weeks. I wasn't sure how I had done because I had such a pig fest last week but luckily I didn't do too much damage. I am totally motivated to keep living healthy and making good choices. I was worried that the vacation would derail me and I wouldn't be able to get back on track but so far so good. I like this week's goal to notice how you feel after you eat. I noticed while on vacation that I had less energy and  mood swings on the days that I ate badly. I washappy to go the fruit and vegetable shop in my village and buy all kinds of yummy things as soon as I came back. While in London I bought roller-blades since I liked rollerblading so much with my brother. Not the most practical thing to buy as I only had one carry-on suitcase with me for my vacation but I managed to get them home. I am hoping to go rollerblading tomorrow. It has cooled down some and there are not that many people around after dinner time. I am not very good and I get as red as a tomato and sweat like a pig after 5 min. of exercise so I don't want a lot of witnesses. It will be my new exercise.

Liz Congrats on the weight loss! Getting to the 180s is fantastic. Sorry to hear your son was sick. I hope he is feeling better and that you will get a good night's sleep. Everything is so much harder when you are tired.

Lisa Isn't it great to see your hard work pay off on the scales. I love to see a smaller number. I hope you made it to the track! I agree with you on the group. I am staying here until I am the only one posting  

Even if by some miracle I reach my goal weight I will still need support to maintain it or just a friendly chat with a person who understands.

ErinGreat job on the loss! You must have done pretty well over the weekend even without counting. It sounds as if the instructors at your gym are very nice. I would be very intimidated going into a class like that. Not sure if I would be so brave like you and Liz.

Positive things and changes I've done in the past 6 weeks:

- no more non-diet soda (and only 1-2 diet soda's a week)

- main beverage is water - I now drink 60-70 oz/day

- by counting calories I've paid a lot more attention to portion size and even if I'm not counting I don't each as large of portions now

- fruit or veggie at almost every meal - even when friends come over to bbq

- got into a workout routine, so hopefully I'm building endurance and getting stronger

- I have more energy and maybe happier?

Lisa - congrats on your loss, and good luck with the couch to 5k program! Unfortunately I didn't stick with it consistently... between getting sick and some other stuff it didn't seem to stick, but I'm trying to get back into it again. However, for running, I prefer to do it outside (changing speeds all the time on the treadmill isnt so exciting for me) and with the days getting shorter its really dark when I go to the gym in the morning and getting to be dusk not too long after I get home at night.

Liz - good luck, yoga can be fun. It really helps with flexibility and stretching you out! My summer session I was doing of yoga ended and I haven't decided if I'm going to try to pick up another class or just do it at home with my wii fit or some dvds I have.

Dutch - have fun rollerblading! I haven't done it in years but I remember it being a lot of fun. And congrats on your vacation not getting you off course!

Hmm well the databases I need to use to do my work just came back up so I suppose I should be a good employee and get back to work for a bit!

Very slow so far this week. I know that Jella is at her grandfather's funeral and TJ is still in Japan but where is everybody else? I hope everyone is still on-board our weight loss train...

I just game back from my first time rollerblading and the people I passed looked at me as if I had grown horns or something. If I hadn't been so embarrassed it would have been funny. It didn't go that well, not only was I red and sweaty, I lost my balance a few times and was swinging my arms around trying not to fall on my big behind. Luckily I was spared that humiliation. I already told myself that I have to go again tomorrow, people will get used to me rollerblading and I will get better at it! (I hope) One nice thing is that I bought a hart rate monitor that I wore for the first time today. I shows how many cals. you have burned but also how many grams of fat. I think it is pretty accurate as I checked my results on-line. Going to have dinner now, hope somebody else will post something.

I can't wait to get a heart rate monitor! I would really like to have a more accurate idea of how many calories I burn in some stuff I do at the gym. I was going to ask for one for my bday (in an month) but then found out that a friend bought one last summer, and never really used it, and doesn't want it, so he'll give it to me! Now I just have to get him to remember to give it to me next time I see him, or bring it to work to give to my husband. I don't want to nag about a free gift tho :)

Hi, all!  I weighed in yesterday morning and I was at 239, which is one pound down from last week's 'post' weight.  But I did weigh myself Sunday morning and I was at 237.  So I know that I'm fluctuating back and forth, and I expected that. 

Though I'm probably the least focused out of the group on sticking to goals and actually doing things right, I am proud to say that I have really been watching my portion sizes and I'm so far out from my last soft drink (regular or diet) that I can't even remember how long it's been.  I'm going to guess 4 months.  I had lunch with Liz last Thursday night and we did a good job of watching our calories and our portion sizes. 

I'm very excited for everyones' weight loss thus far!

Erin I saw the hart rate monitor at a discount store so it was cheap. I hadn't really thought about getting one, it was an impulse buy but after using it tonight I think I will be happy I gave in to my impulse. The chest strap is very comfortable and I like the fact that I can keep track of my time and cals. etc. on the watch while working out.  I hope you get yours soon as you work out way more then I do.

Shanny Great job losing a pound. I don't know if you do this already but I find it real helpful to weigh all my food so I can get the right portion. Even if you just do it a few times with each food so you know that you are eating what you are logging. With high cal foods like peanut butter or meat it can make a big difference cal. wise if you under estimate. How are you doing with the sweet tea?

Patting myself on the back...things I have accomplished over the last 6 weeks:

I have lost 4.6 pounds

I have given up soda

I have added in a lot more fruits & veggies and eat them for snacks

I have given up soda

I have counted my calories & stayed (for the most part) at or below my eat meter

I have started a work-out program for carido and strength training

I have started thinking about the number of calories in foods and then deciding if I want to eat them / I have stopped eating foods that I do not know the calorie content (except at parties etc)

I have become aware and focused. 

I have gotten my weekend binges somewhat in check knowing I have to weigh in on Monday!

I have tried to respond to my stress differently (not stuffing my face!)

Funny you gals posted about heart rate monitors today.  Iwas just emailing Shanny earlier today about how much I wanted one.  I was even online researching them before I logged on here.  During my research I found a ton of sites saying how FAR OFF machines can be at telling your calories burned (that they over estimate).  I was going to try to hold off but I think I will shop around and try to get one in the next week or so...now knowing my treadmill is a LIAR I am worried that I have not been doing as well as I thought (and hoped!).  I figured it could not be right since it only asks age and not weight or sex but I was hoping for the best!

Hey everybody!  I weighed yesterday, but forgot to post!  I am down about another pound.  I have one of the old school scales and I weigh first thing in the morning before I'm awake and with no glasses, so who really knows?!  My whole weight loss could be a myth, except that I can get last summer's pants on and fasten them--woohoo!!  Not terribly comfortable and some are obscene, so I'm not wearing them out of the house or anything, but progress!  I have no intention to stop at last summer's pants, though, my goals are higher (or lower?) than that.  Oh, I know why I didn't remember to post--I got a new multi-function printer and new, better speakers for my computer yesterday and I spent all night putting them together.  New toys!  With a little more practice I might even be able to upload a picture or something to go with my name instead of my gray question mark.  :)

Congrats on the losses and the accomplishments everyone!   

Dutch, I'm particularly impressed that you lost anything on vacation.  That is truly commitment and determination.

Liz-thanks again for leading the group, I'm sure it is difficult to come up with new and different stuff every week, but you always manage to make me think about something different or in  different way.  I'm all for continuing and 12 wk sessions are fine by me.

I will be back later with my goals, etc.  I'm buried under work and have taken to posting my food a couple of days at a time.  Stopping that is one of my goals for this week, no mtter what.  It is amazing to me that I can eat different things not really knowing how many calories exactly at the time, but I sit down and add it up and it comes out at my goal or even a hundred less.  The neck pain is back too.  But sorry I've been scarce, I'll do better this week!

Sorry I've been MIA!  I feel like I've been doing nothing but running around in circles lately and not getting anything accomplished!  I stepped on the scale this morning for it to read 209.2!  Only a .2 weight loss...but sometimes that's better than nothing. I'm just happy to still be under 210.  I'm determined that by the end of September that'll I'll be under 200.  My big issue has been getting into an exercise routine.  I love to be outside and moving, but sometimes I lose the motivation to go out.  Any ideas? 

Last week I went to a friend's bridal shower and decided it was time to face the music and get some new clothes.  I haven't really bought many new clothes since I started gaining the weight a few years ago...I didn't want to own up to what size I actually was.  I seemed to wear nothing but scrub pants and stretchy pants with a tee-shirt.  I found out my pant size is 16 though.  Actually not as bad as I thought it was going to be...but it gives me an idea of where I'm starting out at as well.

On to the goals...the things I have accomplished in the past 6 weeks:

1. I'm more aware of portion size as well.  I've been learning to cut back.

2. I'm eating more fruits and veggies than I really ever have.  Plus trying some new ones!

3. I've cut pack on the pop.  I've been drinking about 2 cans of diet soda a week.

4. I'm trying to be more active...but this is still a goal I'm working on.  I need to be more consistent and have a routine.

5.  I've lost a little over 5 pounds.  Hopefully that's only the beginning.

I'll come back later and comment.  I need to get ready to go to work again!

Rach

Well ladies...sorry you missed me so much! LOL I'm a smart aleck don't ya know?  I have been horrible at posting in the last 10 days or so.  But I have read your posts and know of your successes and losses.

Shanny, if I were you, I'd have posted the 237.  You are much too honest! LOL  Just kidding with ya.  I am proud of you.  Don't be too hard on yourself. You are here right? You are motivated. You just can't see it.

Jella, Erin, Liz, rach, dutch....all of you great job on losses this week! Despite our busy lives, the fact that we even have energy to focus on weight loss is a testament to our good choices of food.  If we had eaten junk, we wouldn't have the energy to get outta bed and hit life head-on!

My loss, as predicted, was zero but it was good to have the week off from thinking of food, calories, and exercise.  Though, I confess it was difficult to leave those thoughts behind, I did think LESS of them.  My current addiction to iced coffee is a bit alarming but though I order sugar free I still feel jittery and unsettled afterwards so maybe I can stop the addiction soon as I don't like that feeling.  Also....an interesting side note...I may have to take a pregnancy test soon for a few obvious reasons but I'm waiting at least until next week if I can just in case I'm late for other reasons but...we'll see.  You ladies will be one of the first ones to know.  In a way, I'm hoping I'm just late so I can continue with my weight loss goals.  I won't diet while I'm pregnant but I'll still keep exercising.  I am smaller than I was before both of my other pregnancies so that's at least something.  I keep saying to myself that at least I've finally lost the baby weight from baby #2.  Now it's on to the baby weight from #1. LOL  I have to say that I've gone quite crazy with buying my 'new' size.  Even though I know that I'll get smaller, I'm compulsive when it comes to shopping.  At least half of what I bought was a size too small though (a girl's got hope!)  They are the newest additions to my 'goal' pile of clothes!  I'm comfortable in my 16's and my 18's have become my baggy pants and my 20's are just hideously large on me now.  So I've made progress that I can visually see in myself.  Also I've gained a waist.  My hourglass is back. I was tired of being a cylinder.  :)  I've also found a more accurate body fat calculator on the cholesterolhealth website and am encouraged to find that I HAVE lost body fat %.  I'm down to around 28% body fat from 33% which is nice.  It also showed me that since the first of April, I've lost nearly 20 lbs of body fat and only around 7 lbs of water, bone, muscle (lean muscles mass).  Perhaps my self image can someday see that I'm not a rolling ball of stretched out, fatty skin.  I know that's graphic but unfortunately it's all too accurate of how I actually view myself.  I shudder at my old 'fat' photos of myself even as I criticize my 'new' face and still see a double chin.  I hope that eventually I'll be able to acquire new mental images of myself and turn my self-talk into happy talk.  That is my largest struggle through all of this.  I love it when people compliment me on my success but at the same time, I think to myself, but I've still got 50 lbs to lose.  It's a day-to-day battle.  Sometimes I go to bed successful, sometimes not so much.  Part of me is mad at myself for not being further into my goal (especially for this particular 12 wks, even though at the beginning i thought that 10% was reaching a bit far for the average dieter) but I'm really good at beating myself up and knocking myself down.  I'm my own worst bully.  I even kick myself AFTER I'm down.  It's pretty bad.  I know that I'm not alone in this though.  But I don't wish anyone to feel that way about themselves.  I'm thankful for this group.  I'm thankful that I have the support I need through this life-changing struggle.  We may be strangers to each other but I know that I have a safe place to come and tell my secrets and know that I'm not alone. 

How have I changed in 6 wks?  Hmm...well, I've lost 5.2 lbs, many inches, I've learned to add fruit to my daily diet, I've said no to countless temptations at work, I've dropped clothing sizes, I've cut back my sodium intake and upped my protein, and I've learned to be honest with myself about where I am, and where I've been and tried to focus on where I will go (not where I could be if...).  I'm trying daily to have a better mental attitude about myself.  Hmm..that's all I can think of at this time.  This is long enough.  I'll try to get on tomorrow or the next day to continue my dialogue.  I have a feeling I'll need you guys a lot this week. 

wow...didn't think this group could go a whole day without posting!!  Everyone must be super busy this week.  I am currently eating a late late snack because after I logged my day I saw that I had only eaten a little over 800 cals! Way too low!  So I made a 1/2 peanut butter sandwich to go with my applesauce cup. :) I'm proud to make healthful midnight snacks LOL.  My weight is ok today despite totally feeling bloated and puffy.  Even my face was puffy today! But I am starting to think that I may be able to boast a few lbs loss on Monday.  Hope I don't have to eat my words!! (no pun intended)  Well, I shall see where you all are tomorrow I hope!  P.S. I had another large iced coffee today but I told her skim milk and splenda only!! :)

OH and BTW, I just can't help but dance when Andre 3000 sings "Shake it, shake shake it, shake it like a polaroid picture..."   hehehe I made a fool of myself for the surveillance guys by dancing at my desk. LOL

OH and another BTW, my friend from high school sent me a quick note reply on my myspace email and on the tail end of his message he just so happens to tell me that my high school boyfriend (my first love) was on his friends list.  Can I tell you all a total secret?? Of course! As soon as I heard that, I got butterflies in my stomach (just like I did after our first kiss) and went immediately to his friends list and looked him up! Ahhh, I'm so pathetic.  Married nearly 10 years and I'm still able to conjure up feelings for this old flame. *sigh* You never do forget your first love.  What's totally bonkers to me is that I know we weren't meant to be. (our differing religions being a major hurdle) but I still loved him and fell sooo hard after our break up. I think I shared already about how our breakup was pretty much a catalyst to my initial weight gain.  OH and another confession, while we are at it...I also switched my main pic to something much more flattering so he'd never know I had been fat. He hasn't seen me in person since grad.  People at the reunion could have told him that I'd totally let myself go or our mutual friends could have shown him pics of me from that day also but I like to kid myself into believing that he's still oblivious to my plight! :)  I'd certainly feel better meeting him and his wife and baby weighing an awesome 150 rather than the 240 I was at the reunion!! :)  Vanity....tis a curse and it's all mine! hehehe

NILLYfirst of all, thank you for trusting me (us) with your secrets. I shall not betray you trust. Wouldn't know how to even if I wanted to seeing as this group is pretty anonymous. But I am happy to read your thoughts and secrets as I have no life of my own.  I am keeping my fingers crossed for you on the pregnancy. I am not sure what result you are hoping for at this time but I hope you get what you want. I have never been pregnant and don't plan on ever becoming pregnant so I can't give any advise about nutrition while pregnant etc. There is a whole section on the site that is probably very useful.

I clearly remember my first love... His name was Alexander and he was Portugese. We met while I was on vacation in Budapest with my family. It was doomed from the start but man that was a great summer...

I don't get butterflies thinking about Alexander that is reserved for THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY. Actually I ran away so it is all my own fault. I totally understand you wanting to look good for your ex-bf it is vain but normal.

On the home front, I spoke to my brother this morning, we videocall on messenger, and after about 10 min. he casually mention he had to go to hospital yesterday with chest pains! Turns out his hart is fine, it was an inflamed something but nothing serious. While he was there they checked his blood and his bad cholesterol is way too high so now he has to change his diet and exercise. I am going to send him a link for this website and I hope he uses it. My brother eats lots of butter and eggs and steak and bacon. I told him he is a dad with 2 very young kids that need him, so he needs to make better choices. I really hope he does. Got to work now, will be back later.

Nilly-  I think you have summed how I have felt through much of this weight-loss process.  It seems that sometimes we can be our own worst enemy and I know for myself I just need to learn to love myself and maybe it might make this weight loss a little easier (enough of the corniness...I'm sorry!!).  I'll be thinking of you though!  Keep us updated on the impending pregnancy!!  While pregnant, like you said, you can still keep up on your healthy habits.  Exercising and eating well are great for the baby!  I found I ate the healthiest while I was pregnant, but soon as the little baby popped out I was back to eating crap.  No more of that!  I too understand the vanity with the first love...  I still stay in contact with my first love and we're friends.  I haven't gone to see him or any of our mutual friends in the past few years because I didn't want them to see how much I've let myself go.  I keep telling myself, soon as I lose the weight...I'll go see them...still haven't seem them.  I don't know why I worry...I'm married with two kids...he's married with a new baby girl.  I think we almost want them to have in their head the image of us being at our prime.  I've done the same with the myspace pics...usually only the flattering ones make it to my page.

Dutch- It's great that you care so much about the people around you.  It's so hard to see family put themselves through what the do.  Hopefully you can have your brother eating better so those children will have a father for years to come.  Also, it's great that you're picking up rollerblading!  I haven't done it in years, because of my lack of balance, but my muscles always were hurting afterwards.  It's an amazing work out!

2babetterb- Yea for being down another pound!!  That's great that you can get into last summer pants...before you know it...you'll be able to flaunt those and they'll be too big!  Can't wait for the question mark to be replaced and to see your smiling face! 

Shanny-  That's great that it's been so long since your last soda!  That takes quite a bit of will power and it shows with you losing another pound. 

Liz- That's great that you made it into the 180's!! Keep up the great work with the lack of pop!!

Lisa-  How is the Couch to 5k going for you so far this week?  I think the podcasts are great and help out wonderfully.  I keep meaning to start it up again!

Erin- Are you still enjoying the spinning classes?  Hopefully you're feeling better as well...

I know weigh in is on Monday, but I weighed myself this morning and I was at 237.  So Nillytoots, I am officially reporting that as my weight.  Hopefully, it will be the same or lower on Monday. 

Yesterday, I not only stayed within my eat meter for calories, I was WAY under.  So exciting.  I don't think I've ever been under -- at least  not by enough to really matter.

Again, anytime Liz and I are together, we work hard to watch what we eat and track everything.  Having her with me is a big help!

Shanny- That is great!  It sounds like you are really turning around and it's great that you stayed under your eat meter!!  Keep up the great work.