Ok, ladies...here I go AGAIN. Time to buckle down and lose some of this unwanted mass I have accumulated. And to think one year ago I was 25 pounds lighter! That is terrible!

I think most of us have a pretty good idea what needs to be done, in order to lose the weight....it is getting into it and STAYING into it! I did some reading that said we shouldn't start off whole hog. We should make a plan, and make changes over time. Don't just jump in with guns ablazin! Which, of course, is always how I do it...and I fail every time.

So, this time I am going to start off a little more easily and hopefully work my way up to the whole hog!

My start date is Jan 2. On that day I am going to increase my water intake (always an issue for me) to 4 glasses, which is half what I should drink. I am hoping natural thirst will make the increase easier than starting off at 8.

I am going to use the treadmill for 10 minutes each day. That seems like an easy goal....to start with. I am also going to use the Wii 3 or 4 times a week.

I am going to eat a high fibre breakfast everyday - I am not a breakfast eater, and YES I KNOW THAT IS BAD BAD BAD!!!

So that is my Week 1. I will weigh and measure on Jan 2, and see where my starting point is, I tell you I am scared to know that!

Who else is on board??
What is your plan?

Floater,

Way to go!!!! I gained weight over the last year and in the summer decided to to something about it. I started running. WEll, I loved it, but my knees hated me for it. I then wound up using a nordicktrack starting Sept. After about three weeks, five days a week, 30 minutes a day, I FINALLY saw a change. My pants started to fit again. But, it took the whole summer and three weeks later to get results. My point is, if you dont' see results right away, Dont give up!!!! At this point of time, those stubborn pounds don't seems to budge as easily as they did in the 20's and 30's. I used to cut back for a week and move more and bingo, 5 pounds gone. Now it took three months, but I am so much happier now. (except for these past two holiday weeks). I can't wait until Monday to get on track. When I am exercising I automatically eat better. My thought is if I am working this hard why blow it on junk?

Lets all try and stick to this and help each other along the way.
I'm in.

Hi Floater!

Your plan sounds like a good one and I am on board. I will follow your plan - we sound pretty similar in our starting points and our goals. It would be great to get encouragement and have someone to whine to when I don't feel like I'm making progress.

Happy New Year! I will check in with you tomorrow - January 2 - the first day of the rest of our lives!

Thanks for the great idea.

Smarty

count me in! my biggest issue is with exercise so i think that (along with eating clean/drinking way more water) will help me the most - getting my butt off the couch and up and moving. due to back probs, i think walking will be the best for me for a while.

you're right, float... we CAN do this!!

I won't get on the scale or measure. I will measure success by how my clothes fit. My goal is to drop 4 dress sizes this year. That equates to about 40 lbs. and I think that is a reasonable goal. I went grocery shopping yesterday and stocked my cart full of items that will fit in with a Mediterranean lifestyle. Dieting is such a negative. I have a Wii fit on order. I have a treadmill. I will get back on the treadmill after my foot finishes healing, which has kept me unable to exercise for the last 7 months. Of course, I did not cut back on the calories during that time, big problem. Good luck everyone!

Okay I know I need to do this too. So I need to buy a scale and get on with it. Do we have a plan here or are we just going to do the best we can? I will jump on the water train with ya floater, I don't even drink a glass a day most times...that's a start! I will vow to walk my dog farther than the front or back yard ha ha !

I'm in. I need to lose 20lbs. I'm getting off the computer now... and going for a walk. Hubby is on the Wii right now LOL so I'll do some hula hooping when I get back.

My plan? eat less, exercise more. Period. It's not rocket science. I get sooo bogged down in the mechanics of it I sabotage myself before I ever get started.

I'm in girls... and not just for a week or two. I'm GOING to do this!

I have been at it since oct 30,and I feel better!I just lowered my calories.I wish everyone the best of luck!!!My goal is to weigh 148.

My goal is to lose the last 10 pounds from my weight loss of last year -- I never quite finished ... and now I've put back on 5. So the total goal is 15 pounds. I started today in fact. Went for a three mile jog and then walked another 3 with a friend. I figured that was a good way to start a new year! These last pounds have been stubborn so I know I will have to work doubly hard. All sugary, low fiber foods are now gone from my house since the holidays are over. I will be eating a high fiber breakfast each day, soups and salads for lunch and then a lean protein and more veggies for dinner. My snacks (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) will be fruit and/or nuts. With getting some exercise virtually every day, it should work. Best of luck to us all!

Count me in, after injury my knee and not being as active the last few months i have stacked on the weight!

I aim to have smaller meals because i have a tendency to have huge meals. I'm a vegetarian which makes it hard when it comes to food choices.

But i know i'm addicted to sugar! so i have to cut down on all forms of that.

I weigh twice as much as i should but going through peri makes is hard because my appetite is out of control!

Good luck ladies

I'm going to join the club and try and shed some of the extra weight that I have.

I'm also not a breakfast eater and tried hard for months to eat a bowl of ceral in the morning but I haven't been good about it the last few months. Starting tomorrow I will eat that stupid breakfast!! I don't even want to talk about trying to drink 8 glasses of water a day. I guess I would get my exercise going back and forth to the bathroom all day!!

I also haven't had the nerve to step on the scale for awhile and will do that tomorrow. I have been using the Wii Fit to keep track of my weight. I see you use the Wii for exercise so I was wondering if you use the Wii Fit or just the Wii with the other things that it came with. I have seen the Wii Dance and would like to try it but I hate to waste $70 not knowing if I would like it or not.

Elder- my grandma always use to say "I'm not fat, I'm just short!" LOL

And to all of you sugar addicts... if you can go without any sugar at all for about 3 days, your cravings will go away. You'll be miserable for those 3 days, rather grumpy... but if you can fight your way through it, you'll break the cycle. I know, I know... easier said than done!

Hi -

I just wanted to pop in here and give my 2 cents. There are some great online calculators to measure calories, activity and macros. Fitday is great and it's FREE. There's also sparkpeople. In order to be successful with weight loss, you have to measure and track everything that goes into your mouth (sorry, it's pain to track, but it works) . It's amazing how we "think" our portions are under control only to put the food in an online calculator and see that we're really exceeding our daily caloric intake for weight loss.

Good luck and I look forward to reading about everyone's progress.

Also, take the stairs, park far away from the office or mall entrance. Don't forget to lift weights. This is very important for our bones and the more lean muscle mass you have, the more fat you'll burn. No, you will not start looking like a man.

Oh, I so much need to do this. I need encouragement!!! I have been paying for a gym membership since last summer and haven't been one time!!! I come up with more excuses for not going.

LLW

LLW, I use to work at a gym and it's surprising at the number of people who join and never come back. Do you know why you have a tough time going? If it's time, you might find it easier to build a gym in your home and work out when it's convenient. That's what I have done and it's the best gift I've given myself. If it's because your self conscience, buy a few sessions with a trainer and obligate yourself to show up for the first couple of times. It's a great ice breaker to get you feeling secure in what you are doing.


Add me to the group! I started today. I worked out this morning and journaled my food and drank some water. Now that I'm not working I find that I don't drink as much so this is something I need to work on as well.

I'm reading Tosca Reno's Eat Clean book and she says (and I tend to agree) that your health is 80% diet, 10% exercise and 10% genetics. My diet is pretty clean as far as processed foods but I tend to reach for nuts or peanut butter or cheese rather than veggies so... my plan starts at the grocery. I'm not buying anymore peanut butter or nuts but I will buy a wide variety of vegetables and fruits.

I also heard on the radio today that sex is great exercise! :-)

There's a great, funny book out there called "Skinny B itch" by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin!! Pick it up if you can, you'll laugh and totally relate!

CUTE!!!

Isn't EVERYTHING in our lives OUT OF CONTROL during this time!!!!!????

GRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!

Let me know where I can find a sex exercise place and I will be the first in line!!!

OOOOPPPSSSS!!! Did I just say that?? NOT ME!!!!

So.......

Tomorrow is my start day..............

And my MIL sent over a shoe box full of CHRISTMAS BAKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What am I going to DO???????

Shortbread cookies, chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, butter tarts, carmel/chocolate squares, date squares, and MORE!!!

EEEEKKKKK!!!!!!!

I for one would be happy to wait until all the Christmas baking is gone to start eating right. Of course you would have to share all your goodies!!

GIVE it away... and if worse comes to worst... throw it out. I know it sounds wasteful but we gotta do what we gotta do!!

TOSS IT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER!!

Yep i'm the right weight for someone who's 8 feet tall

Yeah sugar is my biggest downfall, i'll doze off on the lounge and when i wake up i need a hit! I shall have to try
and go cold turkey Leanne

LMAO!!

ROTFLMAO i have the same dilemma, my sister gave me heaps of stuff she got for Christmas and everytime i open the pantry they call out EAT ME!! AARRGGHHH
I caved today and had a fruit mince pie
Oh well back on it tomorrow

You realise you can't hurt your MIL feelings, you must eat some then start when they're finished! LOL

Here ya go!

CarolH,
Don't give up on nuts entirely. It's been shown that a handful (maybe 10) of plain almonds will actually help you lose weight. Eat them as a snack. Portion them out in little snack-size baggies, and carry them with you. They contain fat, but it's good fat. Peanut butter is good for you too, just in moderation, and get the low-fat kind.

Also, having dairy foods helps weight loss. 5 servings a day. A serving can be a half a cup of something or a few cubes of low-fat \ cheese or low-fat or fat free cottage cheese or yogurt.

My favorite afternoon snack is a single serving of cottage cheese with a snack cup of drained fruit. Pears are lower in sugar than pineapple.

I really slid off the healthy eating wagon over the holidays, eating full fat cheese spreads, breads, pie, etc. I gained 4 pounds! I only got to the gym twice.

Cut back on alcohol. One glass of wine per day max.

So, now it's back to the good eating habits and the gym. You have to find an exercise you really enjoy. For me, it's water aerobics. The people in the class are all middle aged or older, like me, and we have a great workout that is both cardio and resistence work with special weights. But it's all very gentle on your joints. I sleep so much better when I've worked out, even for just an hour, and it really helps the anxiety. Sometimes it's hard to get myself there, but I feel so virtuous after I do it!

If I can't get to the gym, I try to walk at least 30 minutes, weather permitting.

I tried working out at home with exercise tips, but always found excuses to do things around the house instead of exercising.

I want to lose at least 20 pounds, to get myself down to 140.

WriterMom

Here I go!!

Day 1

Weighed myself...I am officially a fat cow!

Did my 10 minutes on the treadmill this morning shortly after I got up, figured I would get that out of the way asap.

I need to eat breakfast now. I am going to bring a banana, yogurt and bran muffin to work this afternoon for lunch and snack.

Oh, and I drank a glass of water too!!

Its not much, but its a start.

Oh, and my other change, which is going to be brutal for me, in bed by MIDNIGHT AT THE LATEST!! So if you see me on chat late at night, kick me off!!!!

Okay... instead of one glass of wine a day, can I save them all up and have seven in one night?? Kidding... no need to reply, I know the answer! DARN! LOL

I woke up this morning and went for a 30 minute brisk walk. I've been doing really well since the 26th, and last night I slept better than I have in quite some time. Could it be true? Eat well, exercise and all improves?? Man.. I hope so. I hope I continue to feel this way... I even wanted sex last night!! LMAO!!

Neighbor brought over some homemade almond roca last night. I thanked her profusely, and when she left I took it out to the trash. I hated doing it, but I would have hated myself if I had eaten it, so I chose me.

I'm off today, so hubby and I are going to go to lunch and to the movies. I'm a bit nervous. Eating out scares me, but I feel strong so it's probably a good day to venture out.

Have a wonderful day ladies!!

XOXOXOXOXO

Yes, I may keep the almonds. I buy the natural ones without salt or oil so they are healthy and I can usually limit myself to 6 or 9 at a time. That's 1 or 1.5 WW points. Peanut butter is a different story... I buy the natural PB so it's healthy too but I can't seem to limit myself to that.

I did get up this am and try to work out but it wasn't a good work out. I stuck to it for 30 minutes anyway but I had no energy. For the first time ever, I ate before working out (a yogurt fruit smoothie) so I'm blaming my poor workout on this. So chalk me up as another one who can't fit breakfast in after waking up. From now on, I'm waiting till after my workout which is about 3 hours after waking.

Speaking of the Christmas goodies... I'm making a batch of candies to take to my MIL tomorrow for our Christmas get-together.... Since I have to smell the chocolate cooking I won't be tempted but I'm sure I won't be too popular with some of the other ladies there. The children however will love me.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful but light day...

I ate a bran muffin for breakfast, but kind of late...like at noon!!

Then I forgot my snack food at home, my yogurt and banana are sitting in a bag by the door!!!

I am sipping water as I sit in the office, bored to death!!

I am a little worried about how I will do after work, as I know I am going to be ravenous by then!!!!

Leanne, Pat yourself on the back, that was a brave and awesome thing to do!

Floater, It's great that you are sipping your water but you're right.. you are going to be ravenous by the time you get home. Nothing but a bran muffin all day would have me barking at everyone. I find one of the best places to stop for lunch is at the grocery store. Pick up a banana, a tub of yogurt and a protein bar. Grab a spoon from the deli and you are good to go.

When I read that you gave yourself a curfew of midnight... I had to laugh because I'm lucky if I'm up past 9:pm.

I think I did good tonight. I made sure hubby and I got the smallest out of the chicken breast. I cooked them in a mixture of a couple of tablespoons of raspberry chipolte sauce, about a tbs of orange marmalade and 3/4 cups of chicken broth along with some onions and garlic sauteed in about 2tbs of olive oil. They were just a little spicy and a little sweet...perfect. I served it with steamed broccoli and some rice pilaf. Hubby and I ate small portions of everything because we had become quite the fat butts in 2008!

Floater,

Try bringing some snack foods to leave at work. I usually bring fresh fruit in at the beginning of the week and I always have some raw almonds on hand. If you have access to a refridgerator you could bring in yogurt and string cheese. Better to have snacks close at hand so you can nibble in the afternoon and not feel too hungry when you get home!

All my hard work yesterday was undone by what I ate at lunch today ... two little crabcakes and a couple french fries. And then about two hours later I got a bad stomach ache. Guess that shows me that I shouldn't be eating those things. Oh well, I'll do better tomorrow!

Sad that it only takes one meal to make us feel lousy about our efforts, isn't it? Just shake it off... it may not have been the stellar take off you wanted but you wouldn't have gained anything from a few crab cakes... tomorrow holds promise for us all!

It's Day Four for me and I'm beginning to feel and see some changes. We are eating clean for the first time in our lives and it is a challenge, to be quite honest!! For a while now (actually, after a friend was diagnosed with breast cancer and was instructed to cut out all processed foods and go strictly raw) I've had it on my heart to try eating this way, except for the raw part - just didn't think I could go that far yet. However, we decided to cut out all bread, dairy, sweets (I still have one soda and sweetened tea, which I'm trying to wean myself off of, but have cut out all those cakes, donuts, cookies, etc. that are a weak point for me) meat and all chemicals (which means reading and reading and reading all labels). Of course, drinking tons of water is part of this, but I had already started upping the water a while ago, so it's not that hard for me now.

We're pretty much eating organic, or as close to it as possible. I've found a few recipes that are very tasty, but therein lies the challenge... coming up with a variety of dinners that appeal to all of us! I'm not giving up, though. I'll keep searching the net and talking to friends who eat this way and get ideas. The great part is that you can pretty much eat as much of this as you want and eat we do, since we're finding that we're all sooooo hungry alot of the time. I'm told it just takes time to adjust.

As for how I'm feeling... the first night, hub and I both slept amazingly well. Hadn't slept that restful in quite a while! By the way, someone else mentioned wanting sex... oh, yeah! Another perk is that I noticed my skin is looking clearer, smoother and more even toned. The drawback is in the cleansing. The first few days were awful, I'll admit. I kept breaking out in cold sweats, headaches, nausea to name a few. Today, when I got up, I noticed only a slight headache after sleeping fairly well, but my mind seems clearer.

Now, my next challenge is to get out and start walking. I know I need to move somehow, someway. I won't join a gym, because I know I won't go. I'll figure it out. If I can change my way of eating to this extreme, I know getting out and moving isn't going to be that big of a deal!

We can do this, girls! It's tough now, but it'll be so worth it in the long run!!

GYZW.. that was an inspiring post. It's good to see that you are doing so well. You may want to check out toscareno. com and her forums for some recipes.. along with danispies.com Both are good for clean eating.

I have actually blown it the past couple of days. We had our last Christmas get together on Saturday and I was doing so well... then blew it.. chocolate was my downfall... and it went down from there.

I'm back on half track today... I was glutened (ate gluten which I'm allergic to) at the above holiday affair and now I'm struggling with all kinds of misery so I haven't worked out.

Hope everyone else is finding success this new year.

I made a big pot of chicken vegetable soup last night. I froze enough for my lunches for the next several days. Only breast meat, with TONS of veggies. I'm feeling better also. I feel a bit lighter, and I'm sleeping better.

I WILL do this!!

Today... oatmeal and melon for breakfast. Chicken veggie soup for lunch. I have a yogurt and an apple for a snack, and I'm planning on some cottage cheese and tomatoes for dinner. Bland yes.. but healthy. The thoughts of food are leaving (I had a dream I was eating ravioli LMAO!)

Hang in there ladies!!!!

XOXOXOXOXOX

carol - thank you for those websites. i will be checking them out, that's for sure! if anyone else out there is eating clean, please give me your input/advice/suggestions!! i'm open to anything and soaking up info like a sponge!

gyz

I have joined my yoga online, it is only 9.95 a month and full of yoga, meditation, pilate videos. I am doing one of the beginner routines. I am so out of shape yeesh. I have also order a dvd of Callenetics as well as yoga for couples. So let the games begin with the exercise!

Doing what I consider to be good on my food intake. So far nothing but fresh chicken breasts, steamed veg and rice. I did a pear dessert, you lightly coat the pears with some brown sugar, and put a mixture of mascarpone cheese/marshallow cream on top. Yah yah the cheese is bad but it was so very little I tried to think it is still healthy, still getting calcium from that and the pears were organic. You only need a tiny bit of the mixture to make it taste like an extravagant desert. My snacks have been things like celery with a bit of pimento spread, and yogurt. Tonight I think I will do chicken and pasta of some sort.

Buying a bit more organic already since the year has begun. It is expensive but every little bit helps! Sometimes I get lucky and Wal-mart carries organic eggs, so I save a little bit on things like that. Next I need to figure out how to remove soda from my diet. Maybe start making some herbal iced tea to keep in the fridge.

Still haven't purchased that scale yet lol.

can we all say mooooooooooooooooooooooo together?

you are too cute Floats!!! too, too cute!!!

oodles of hugs to all of you udderly loverly ladies!!!



(((angus angel)))

UDDERLY..... LMAO!! I love you Angel!! You always bring a smile to my face!! XOXOXOXOXOX

mooooooooove over herd, i'm joining in!!!

hubs and i are nearly at the 3 mile mark per day on our walking.
a year ago, i could barely lift my legs up the stairs cuz they ached so. now, i actually miss our walks when we can't take one. we also joined a gym in late December for those days when it's too cold outside and to add variety to our routine.
we have our own version of a home gym which consists of a big red (hubs doesn't use this device; says it reminds him of a 60's era form of exercise), an ab lounger and the total gym. he uses the home equipment with regularity; i don't.
must be why you can't pinch an inch on my hubby. not so for me. it's like i swallowed a packet of yeast and am rising solely in the tummy area. pop, goes the tum tum! yeah, don't I HOPE???
i really miss my waistline. i really do.
give me wrinkles, give me grey hairs, just give me my girlish figure back!!!!!!!

i'm really good about drinking water; always have been, though hubs needs to improve in this area. we both eat sensibly (except for the key lime pie over the holidays that was toooooooooooo scrumptdillyiscious to pass up!) and have added oatmeal 2x's a day to our diet and consume salmon 3-4 x's /week rather than 2 x's. i can handle raw salmon (lox) but other raw fish...NO WAY!!! i am not a sushi girl.

i do plenty that's right; probably more that is right than wrong, but i just can't seem to lose the protective packaging surrounding my mid section. it materialized on me around age 50.

YESTERDAY'S EXERCISE
the day before yesterday on hubs and my neighborhood walk i spotted a ≈200 lb rock in the woods which i mentioned to hubbie would look great in our garden.
sooooo...yesterday we embarked on our walk with a dolly intow (inpush) and set out to get the rock. we looked a little strange walking in 32 degree weather with a dolly, but i joked that it was Santa's answer to my Christmas wish for a segway. hehe

it was about 8/10 of a mile from our home to the point where i'd seen the rock. hubs seemed to have little trouble unearthing the rock from the dirt once we'd spotted it again. the challenge came while loading our precious cargo on the dolly. seems i wasn't executing my part of the process properly (holding the dolly still). i maintain it had something to do with the shape of the rock more than me. anyhoo, we managed to get the rock on board and then set our marks for home. again, 8/10 of a mile-- over hill, over dale, yes indeedy we hit the dusty trail. we took shifts pushing the rock. i quickly staked claim to the downhill slopes and left the tough terrain (up hills) for him.
neighbors along the way got a big kick out of us and our new fangled form of exercise.
we told them we're training ROCKY style this year!!!!

...let's keep that Rocky tune playing in our heads this year ladies!!!!

Trying hard now
it's so hard now
trying hard now

Getting strong now
won't be long now
getting strong now

Gonna fly now
flying high now
gonna fly, fly, fly...

oodles of hugs,

(((angel)))

_{oh yes! the rock looks great in our yard! my hub is such a he-man}

Angel!! You did it again with the words!!

I have been doing so-so. I must say it is really hard to overcome the appetite the ADs give me. I have dieted in the past and have successful except when taking anti depressants. It is like I have this second personality that overpowers my willpower.

I was talking to my Dad about my weight gain, as he pointed out that in the pictures he saw of from Christmas showed I had "really packed on the weight" (thanks for noticing DAD!!!). I said to him it is like I have this voice telling me to " EAT EAT EAT!!!" and he say to me...then you just RESIST RESIST RESIST!! Ok, DAD!!! Jeez!!

Anyone have any experience with the AD appetite?? How does one make it go away?? I mean I don't even have to be hungry, but I still want to EAT! It is making me crazy.

I have upped my water intake from none to some....so that is a step in the right direction. And I have been eating a lot of healthy veggies. So I know my nutrition level is up, but I still CRAVE THE CARBS!! And it isn't a normal craving, it is like a smoker trying to quit smoking....THAT kind of craving. Like an addiction type craving. Very unpleasant and overwhelming.

I wonder if there are any appetite suppressant type supplements that would work??

Can I reserve a place too on this weightloss campaign? Just gotta get over this latest cold & get some horrid tasks out of the way first.

Does anyone else have LOTS of weight to lose?

Hi - I am in...starting tmo. Today was not a good day...two eggs, toast, fried potatoes. Cake for a snack...and now for dinner I have just had crackers with peanut butter and jam on them....so definitely I will start tmo.

I so want to lose weight! The ADs are slowing my metabolism down down down....

Suzanne

I just did 45 minutes of step aerobics and I need a nap... or a cocktail! But instead I'll take a shower!

I'm not on AD'S but i can so relate to the constant cravings! how i wish we could just go cold turkey! but you still have to eat! that's what I told my husband, you have to eat to live, you don't have to smoke to live! because he gave up smoking years ago and sometimes gloats about it.

I swear i could be on my death bed and still NOT lose my appetite! in the last 3 months I have gained nearly 10 kilos there's 2.2 pounds in a kilo!!

Those appetite suppressants, in my opinion are dangerous! I was on some years ago and literally could not sleep! i spent four days without sleeping a wink, sure you didn't feel hungry, you felt DEAD!

Anyway i have lost a paltry one kilo thus far BIG DEAL!!

Anyway good luck to all.

Just to add to the cow humour.......what do you get if you stand under a cow?

A PAT on the head!

A recent pic of me...........................

What do you call LOTS??

Well I weigh 116 kilos, there's 2.2 pounds in a kilo. So if my calculations are right I weigh 255 pounds approx.
So in stone that's approx 18 stone!!! BLOODY HELL now why did I work that out!!

So to answer your question.....YES I definately have lots to lose!

Add to that the fact I'm only 5'4 in height.......

I have LOTS to lose too! I have been doing well during the day but dinner I am still eating too fast and too much. I am too hungry when I get home from work. I'll keep trying though. Mind over matter!