Count me in too ladies.......sigh to all infinity!

I had pizza tonight...aghhhhhhhhhhh.......

OK, I thought I was doing great and then, bam, I ate more than alotted this weekend, but in the last four days I've gained 4 pounds! Is that even possible? I am getting ready to start, could that account for some of it? DO you guys gain weight before you start your period? The weather has been so yucky around here, I haven't been running like I was. I must have the slowest metabolism in the world! It sure can be hard to lose weight. Congratulations to all of you who are doing such a great job! Time to get back on the bandwagon.

I'm afraid to get on the scale.. That monster is back and I just can't seem to manage while it's on my back. I'm leaving in 5 days for a tropical cruise and all I can do is eat.. I'm not even sure any of the clothes I'm packing will fit... yet I'm unable to stop.. is that not crazy?

I would always gain 4-5 lbs before I started. Don't weight yourself when you know you're about to start, it will drive you to chocolate cake!!

i am getting ready to start and it's been h*ll around here, trying not to eat the house down, but not having anything sweet here has helped a lot. also the fact that i don't want to leave the house for any reason helps me not to stop at the local bakery and buy one of everything!!! actually, instead of taking a bite out of that glazed donut, i've been biting off the heads of those that get in the line of fire - no calories, but lots of apologies to come later...

Ok, I am a big fat failure.
I don't know why I can't control my beast either. I did really well for a couple of weeks....then lost control of the situation. Jez it is just so frustrating!

Floater, You are not a failure! Because I'm not a failure. On the contrary I am quite good at this diet game. I know what to eat. I know how much to eat. I know how to work out and I work out hard. I know how to say NO to temptations. I'm really quite the displinarian. However, like you I have not been able to tame this beast. This beast is unlike a normal desire or temptation. It's irrational..

I was thinking yesterday as I was struggling with this that it is similar (only stronger) to PMS. So I think perhaps it's hormonal in nature. I originally thought it must be estrogen deficiency so I went and filled an old script of the estrogel pump to try, thinking my compounds may be losing their power... that didn't help so I read up on PMS and now I'm believing it must be a deficiency in progesterone so.. I doubled up on my progesterone dose last night. I Had PMS cramps like crazy and felt like I might start a bleed after not having any menses for 2 years. That was a little scary... now today, I'm going to try and not use any E or P and see if I can't clean my system out and start with a fresh dose on Saturday. If it works, I'll let you know. My thinking, and someone correct me if I'm wrong because I'm flying by the seat of my pants out of deperation here, but my thoughts are that the hormone supplements may have been building up in my tissues and/or mixing in with the remainder of what I produce and caused me to be off balance again. So maybe a day or two will clean it out. I'll start back once I feel the old anxiety kick in. That's always a sure sign to me that my estrogen is low.

day 22 for me. i'm sticking to this with a vengeance and got up the courage to measure this morning. i'm down a total of 6 inches. maybe i'll get up the courage to weigh in a little bit, who knows.

i have to say that i didn't know how this new way of eating would go or how easy it would be, but after three weeks, i've noticed that even though i'm PMS'ing, the cravings of the junk i used to eat and love, especially breads, are getting fewer and farther between. i'm still drinking about two sodas a day, but have cut out the sweetened tea that i so dearly loved. that took me about two weeks to be able to quit altogether.

floater... hang in there, sister!! don't be so hard on yourself. we're all going to give in to temptation every now and then. pick yourself up and move ahead. you can do this! we can ALL do this!

(((hugs)))

6 inches in 22 days! you are amazing, gyzie!

will you be my trainer?


(((angel)))

I understand I've been with my guy for 5+ years now (living together for almost 3) and I cannot even stand to look at myself naked much less allow him to look at me. when we first started dating I was about 25 lbs lighter and very active and athletic, now I'm a slug.....a HUGE slug. But as someone else mentioned in this thread: love truly is blind Thank God!

trainer, angel? you are funny!! i wish! i'm still not exercising, just eating cleaner than i ever thought possible! there really is something to this - it's one of those things you just have to try for yourself to believe it. i've always heard that 21 days makes (or breaks) a habit so i'm hoping that now that i'm past those 21 days, it has become second nature for me to make this a way of life for me and my family.

as i mentioned in one of my earlier posts, i've got some great recipes that are really very good and filling. i eat as much as i want, when i want. if you can just get past being hungry all the time, but even then there are healthy things you can munch on to help the cravings - i've been eating salsa and chips each afternoon. organic, of course, but very good.

as for a trainer, man, i doubt i'd last very long if i had someone over my shoulder, pushing me like a drill sergeant. we'd probably go for a run and one of us wouldn't be coming back!

I also decided to clean up my eating and I have lost 8lbs. The best part about that is when I got to work this morning, one of my co-workers actually noticed. That made me feel great. This is day 18 for me. I decided to cut out meats, breads and desserts. On Saturdays, my husband and I have been eating seafood, but last Saturday, I got full before I finished. I'm beginning to think that I can keep this up. The best motivation is actually seeing results. The reason this excites me so is I have been trying for several years just to lose a few pounds and I always fail. This lets me know that it is possible if you just persevere. If you want something bad enough, do what have to do to make it happen. It's tough at first, but you really can do it.

Good for YOU Patrice!! That is excellent!

Do I want it bad enough?? I really do, but I am battling a drug induced demon that is stronger than me. RESIST RESIST RESIST!!

that's awesome, patrice! it does work, if you can stick it out, so with your losing 8 pounds, i can't imagine how motivated you must be right now! keep going, it is worth it.



gyz

Congratulations Angel & Patrice! Very encouraging!

While I have been eating clean for over two years now, I haven't been able to find the same results. Well that isn't true. In the beginning I was able to drop 10 lbs and I did lean out some but since then I have been stuck. I haven't gained but I haven't lost and I could lose 20 lbs and would love to lose 30.

When I say I eat clean, I mean I don't eat any processed foods. I do eat meats because lifting weights I need the protein but the only deserts I have are fruits. The only starches I eat are sweet potatoes, beans, kasha and quinoa and only once per day. Maybe on a rare occasion brown rice or corn but I don't really care for either of these. I may drink a diet pop twice a week but not daily. My beverage of choice is coffee but I drink plenty of water also and I don't doctor it with the flavor packets either. The only indulgence that I have is tootsie rolls and then only if that monster has reared it's head. I am not one that waivers too often. I am very strict with myself so as Floater said, it isn't a matter of 'wanting it bad enough' or even of adapting a new lifestyle. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate all your tips I just wish they were tips that could help me.

I still believe it's hormonal as to the beast issue anyway. He seems tamed today and I'm sure it's because I didn't supplement with my estrogen this am. However I think maybe even once the beast is tamed, I should probably consider that I may have thyroid issues. I hate to even consider this unless because as much as I would like to lose, I don't want to take any pills. But thyroid problems do run in my family.

Floater... I'm a firm believer that if we keep on keeping on.. we will win.. or lose.

Well girls

I have a head cold and have been living off soup. I think I've managed to lose 2lbs. The horrible feeling in my head travels up and down and I have periods of nausea which has prevented me from eating. I don't know if this is good or bad. I have a funny feeling when I feel better I'm going to treat myself to the diner and will probably gain back five!