Thank you!

But no...we won't be "looking at me" just yet. I overindulged for two solid years after I quit smoking, so I have a lot more tonnage to lose still before I agree to be looked at..LOL!

Every little bit does help, though.

Don & Kathy, I've already warned Tom that I'm going to need to go clothes shopping when my clothes start getting baggy. Maybe we can set up an LCT Clothes Shopping get together!!! Of course we'd have to squeeze in a low-cal, low-carb lunch while we're at it

Don - How are the extra daily workouts going? I was all set to add a walk after work in addition to my morning exercise regime. But it is still too dark & dreary after work. Maybe in a few weeks. Keep up the good work, Don!

Pam, I know just what you mean. It still hurts to look in the mirror. I do it at an angle and with one eye closed. Helps a lot. Just remember that you already look better with 8 lbs gone. It's only going to get better from here on out

Cyndi, it is actually going quite well. Didn't get to work out this morning because of an early sales meeting, but did go this afternoon. I usually only weigh once a week, but couldn't help myself this morning so I got on the scale. Well I tip-toed onto the scale. I lost 4 more lbs since Monday. Yippee!!! BTW, I love your emoticons. They are great.

Pam, we will all just have to keep after it. We can do it. Plenty of support here.

Mirror and Scale Routine:

No Contacts in or glasses on (They add weight)
One Eye Open
No clothes on, no jewerly on, only birthday suit
No food, drink or water for at least 8 hours
Face Mirror square on - no side or rear view
Turn out lights.
Close Eyes
Get on scale (in front of a full length mirror)
See, I weigh 125 just like my license (my 1973 version) says!
Can't read scale anyway
:app:
Hooray for me!

Kathy, you are soooo funny!!!!

I think we have the same weigh in routine!!! :D

Kathy - LOL!!!!! I couldn't stop laughing. Are you sure you haven't been spying on my morning weigh in routine - right down to the no glasses/contacts and old Dr. Lic. version of weight. In fact, every single line is part of my routine. So, so funny!!!

Don - BIG TIME CONGRATULATIONS!!! Good job!
Glad you like the emoticons I stole from a Low Carb Message Board I've discovered.

http://www.lowcarbcafe.com/index.htm

Wish me luck tomorrow with my weigh in. No matter how much I stick to Kathy's mirror and scale routine, it's not going to be 125!!! LOL!!!!!

Way to go, Pam! Keep us alerted as to your progress.

We leave for Orange Beach tomorrow morning. I keep telling myself that I'm going to walk the beach every morning and eat lots of salads and soup. We'll see how good I really do.

How did everybody do this week? Tomorrow is my day to sneak up on the scale in my birthday suit. :D I missed my workout last night and this morning, but am going to go for a long walk after dinner.

OK, here is my version of weigh-in.

1. The night before weigh-in, make sure that you eat extra light.
2. Make sure that you leave plenty of time to go to the bathroom, BEFORE you step on the scale.
3. Slide the scale to the part of the floor that gives you the lowest reading on the scale.
4. Make sure that you are completely buck naked when you step on the scale.
5. Make sure that you push down a couple of times on the scale to make sure that the needle is right at zero and adjust accordingly.
6. Step on the scale with your left foot first, while holding onto the vanity top, then ease your other foot onto the scale, removing you hand gently from the top, then slowly with one eye look down to the numbers.
7. If you don't like what you see, then go to the bathroom again, find a better spot on the floor, make sure again that the adjustments are just right, and if necessary step on with the right foot first, hold your hand on the countertop with more weight on it, then step on with the left foot, then look down with the other eye. If the numbers still don't look good. Go get a haircut!!! :D

Don, very, very funny!! <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> No way I can top what you and Kathy have posted. You've covered all the bases.

I'm still a little bummed because, although I did lose the 2 lbs I had put back on, I have not lost any more. Still at 9 1/2 after a full week of being very good on the diet and exercising every day. So, basically, I've lost a precious week. The good news is that my clothes are fitting better each week. Still not baggy, but not too tight anymore. So I can consider that I'm still making progress I guess.

I was pretty good this weekend. Did eat too many calories on Sat at a luncheon I went to. But I ate 1/2 of what I normally would have eaten. Today I went to lunch again. Just got a cobb salad. Ate 1/2 of it and had the other 1/2 for dinner. No exercise this weekend. We'll see what the scales bring tomorrow. Hope I don't keep losing the same 2 lbs over & over :D

Good luck on your weigh Don. And everyone else too!!!

I just watched a Dateline NBC program where there were 5 high school classmates getting ready to attend their 25th reunion and they all embarked a different diets. Some were more successful than others but collectively they lost 187 lbs. The key measures of success were support of others - family and the other dieters and those who did DAILY exercise lost most and the third factor was those who made the lifestyle changes to get there. The one lady who lost 50lbs and reached her goal weight said that when she made time for herself and her exercise was when she was most productive. No one followed the food plan 100% but all of them said moderation in cheating was key

Cyndi, don't beat yourself up. It is more important to lose the inches. If you are exercising, you may also be adding muscle, which weighs more than fat. So keep up the good work. The scale is just one indicator, but not even the most accurate one. You are alot closer to your ideal weight than I am, so don't dishearten. It will come off slow, but it is the inches that matter.

I have ALOT of weight to lose. I also had TONS of motivation. I could either NOT BE ABLE TO WALK or LOSE WEIGHT.

Also, weight fluctuates by quite a bit. My example being that week before last I only lost 2 lbs and got depressed. However, this week I lost 8 lbs. and am really jazzed.

Kathy, I think you are right, support is key. You need to have people around you encouraging you. Like here on these boards. Exercise and lifestyle change are the other keys.

I just told myself to "Kuiiteurbeichen". I think it helped. But not as much as all the support from all of you. Thanks Kathy & Don for your encouragement above.

Don, I didn't realize you were still aways from your goal. But, you are making such steady, great progress. And you are doing it for the best reason of all - to be healthly (looking good is nice too :D :D ) I'm sure that even though the rest of us see your progress as steady, it must seem like it's taking forever for you at times, being the one actually doing the work. But your attitude is FANTASTIC and you are working so hard. I take my hat off to you!! :nw: :nw:

Kathy, I wish I would have seen that Dateline. Sounds really good and inspiring. Thanks so much for passing on the info about it. So, as I see it, I've got all this going for me:
1. Tom is being a huge support to me
2. My family & friends are too
3. I'm exercising almost daily
4. I'm being good on my diet at least 80%
of the time
5. I'm devoting a ton of energy & time to
it
6. I'm changing my way of eating for life
7. I'VE GOT ALL OF YOU HERE TO GIVE ME
WONDERFUL SUPPORT <img border="0" alt="[bounce]" title="" src="graemlins/ubbbounce2.gif" />

Thank you all.

P.S. I just finished my Denise Austin workout, got on the scale, did ALL the things on our weigh in list, and I have gained the 2 lbs back :( But, I'm counting on what you said, Don. It must be muscle weight (please, please, please :D )

This should make you guys realize how great your efforts are......My husband KNOWS not to buy me chocolate right now, not even for Valentine's day. But, he also knows how I LOVE love love chocolate covered cherries. So, he thought he would do the right thing and buy me a very small sampling, rather than a regular box. 10 chocolate covered cherries. So, what did I have for breakfast??? 10 chocolate covered cherries :b: with milk. I felt sick for hours, so I only had a salad for lunch. Of course, the salad had cheese and was covered with ranch....there must be some sort of chocoholics anonymous group out there <img border="0" alt="[Hammer]" title="" src="graemlins/hammer.gif" />

Kimmi,

At least you had the choc covered cherries FOR breakfast and not in addition to breakfast. You get lots of points for that!!!! It's just not fair, is it? If only chocolate didn't taste so darn good :mecry:

Here's a link to the story Kathy was talking about. Congrats on your hard work and losses team LCT!

Ok, I've been lurking here and now it is time to post.

Weighing procedures: Do not forget to cut finger nails and toe nails if you need to loose another smidgen. Otherwise, I pretty much follow the buck naked, no glasses procedures listed above.

Right now, tho, I have a problem. I had been running faithfully, daily before Christmas and 5 days a week since I got off Voyager (Jan 5) and added 2 days of weight lifting (arms, torso, shoulders only).

A week ago my knee felt sore and I haven't been able to run (seeing doctor tomorrow as it has not gotten better). I am still lifting but what if I can't run anymore. The way my knee feels I can't even bike and I need an aerobic exercise to do PRONTO!!!! I also can barely walk or should I say, I can only walk slowly and if I am on my feet too long, the knee acts up again.

I need a new routine or at least a back up routine until my knee feels better. I am so fearful of putting on weight since I can't work out. And I just love to eat.

Eating, well, I try to eat lots of veges, some fruit, carbs if they have have whole grains and fiber, lowfat dairy stuff, lowfat meat and chicken, some fish, but I am not on a diet per se.

Help with exercise suggestions, please.

The stability (or balance ) ball is wonderful for limited mobility. You can sit on it (which takes practice) and just bounce and it's aerobic. Add arm motions while you bounce if you like. When you just plain old sit on them they build your core muscles. You have to hold your abs tight to do that. If you lift them over your head while holding them tight they build other neck, arm and shoulder muscles. There are tapes and videos that come with them too. I worked for 6 months with my ball and the trainer and it's amazing how toned I got using that as the main exercise equipt.

Colleen, how about walking in water. Do you have a club that has a pool. That way you are still getting an aerobic exercise without the pressure on your joints. We have a resistance pool at our club and I walk against the current and it really gives you a workout without hurting your legs.

Thanks Cyndi. Again it is the tale of the tape that matters, not just the needle on the scale. Just keep after it. I know that I have a long ways to go, but I WILL get there and I am sure that you will to. Just keep after it.

Walking in water and/or swimming is not bad idea except that I am a wimp. If the water isn't bath temperature I don't want to stay in it. We belong to the rec center at the university and they do have a nice pool, only open after noon, heated but not hot. I may have to suck it up and change my daily routine to work out after lunch.

I can just see me with the ball. Have you seen the commercial for Curves? Yup, that would be me.

Colleen, welcome to the group here!! I really hope you get good news at the doctor today. Kudos to you for your great exercise and eating programs. Both Kathy & Don have some great ideas for an alternative exercise routine in case you have to lay off your regular one for awhile. Wish I could add to it, but I'm a novice at this stuff. I do love your addition to our weigh in list - every smidgen helps :D Let us know how the doctor visit works out.

Don, love the "Tale of the Tape" phrase. You are so right! Thanks for the support.

Good luck to all today!!!

Kimmi, I love to hear your chocolate stories! You made me laugh when you told about eating all those chocolate calcium things and now the chocolate covered cherries for breakfast! :app:

MRI scheduled for Thursday to see if I need surgery. YUCK!!! And I won't even know until next week or so. Guess I am going swimming.

Colleen,

Good luck with your MRI. Hope you have a good result.

Kimmi,

I hear ya! Chocolate covered cherries! Yummmmm!
My favorite! They are considered fruit, aren't they?

Betty

Colleen, same here. I hope the MRI comes out OK. I know what it is like. In December, I starting having problems with my left knee and it got to the point that I couldn't even stand up on it much less walk on it. The orthopedic surgeon gave me a list of 4 things that I needed to do to ease the arthrosis, which they found in both knees.

1. Take Glucosamine with Chrondroitin each day
2. Take Naproxin as a pain reliever which also relieves the inflamation.
3. Work on an exercise bike with very little resistance and basically spin my wheels for 30-40 minutes 5 times a week. He said that what I have right now is bone touching bone and the spinning exercises will help keep my knees lubricated.
4. AND LOSE WEIGHT. He said that for every pound I lose, I will take somewhere between 6 and 8 pounds of pressure off my knees when I climb or go down stairs.

He said that if I do those things I will prolong the time in which that I will need to have surgery.

I still have pain in my knee, but it is just a minor annoyance, but not dibilitating.

I hope yours is nothing to severe and easily treatable.

Interesting Don,

I had a Medial Minesectomy for torn cartiledge (spelled wrong / years ago before Arthroscopic Surgery) and they have told me NOT to ride a bicycle because I have no cartiledge - bone on bone. I do isometric type exercises to keep my hamstrings and quadriceps strong.

Colleen - the treatment options are incredible today. Just do the physcial therapy and you will be back on your feet in no time.

Kathy, that is wild. Most people told me based on my symptoms that I had miniscus. If that had been the problem, they would have scheduled arthroscopic surgery and taken care of it soon after discovery. They said that the cartilidge is gone (miniscus), but that it couldn't be repaired because with the arthrosis, it would just tear again. They said the bike (with no or minimal resistance), actually keeps the joint lubricated so that it doesn't stiffen up.

Who knows. All I know is that it is feeling much better and I am walking again. Even walked 30 minutes on the treadmill this morning. Not fast (only 2.5 mph) but at least I was walking.

Kimmi,

I LOVE chocolate covered cherries and at Christmas time I lay in bed at night and think how good I am for not buying them. Something you can feel cheerful about - it's much betetr for you to eat them first thing in the morning rather than at night! AND, if they were the dark chocolate kind, you get extra points as that's actually healthy for you!

Colleen, I wish you lots of luck with your MRI. We'll all hope for the best!!

To all of you who have had knee problems, your stories are encouraging me to continue with my exercise and weight loss. It sounds so painful. You are all doing very well to do your best to improve it. Good for you!!

Robert, I finally printed out the article re: Dateline's diet challenge. Thanks to Kathy for alerting us to it and to you for finding it and setting up the link!!! I've read it, and it is inspiring. Each story has it's ups & downs, just like the rest of us. If they can do it, so can we.

Loon, I wish I liked the dark chocolate better than the milk. They do say dark is actually considered good for you. I guess under those circumstances I could consider switching :)

Just as an aside, folks ... it's spelled "meniscus" ... and it's a "meniscectomy". Nitpicking, I know.

And generally, bicycling is considered not good for people with knee arthritis - contributes to more wear and tear of the cartilage. Though the lack of resistance may make it not as bad. FWIW.

Masaki

At this rate, we need a separate thread for knee injuries.

Thanks for all the encouragement. Hopefully, I got this early enough before I did any permanent damage.

Don, I'll have to see what my doctor says about a treatment. I wouldn't mind losing 15 pounds as that would put me at the low end of my high school weight but if you look at weight tables, BMI, etc, I'm pretty normal or average right now. I jog to keep the weight off and to be able to eat a little more freely, without suffering by needing incredible will power.

Thanks for the information Masaki. I guess I better look into this some more. I have been using the exercise bike now for over a month and they are feeling better, but hope I'm not doing more damage. Now I don't know what to do. It hurts more when I walk than if I do the bike, because of the weight. It also hurts more when I do resistance walking in the pool because the current sometimes creates some lateral movement that bothers me even more. Guess I better make a phone call.

Don - if it's working for you, don't mess with it. :) The best therapy is the therapy that works for YOU, not for everyone else. That's why I prefaced that comment, with "generally".

Masaki

Well, injuries must be contagious. Thursday I took a bad fall at work at the main entrance of the building. It was raining and they have some decorative tile that is unbelievably slick when wet. I fell, twisting my left foot and hitting my chin on the pavement. Lots of assorted cuts and scrapes and bruises. But by Thursday night my foot was in agony. I went to the Urgent care and had xrays. They didn't find any fractures and believe it is torn ligaments. I've got the usual crutches. I've been keeping off my foot and am hoping it will heal fast. I'm supposed to go back for a follow up visit on Monday. I am so concerned that it is something that will heal slowly and will interfere with PIP. And of course, like Colleen, I'm so afraid that it will slow down my fitness process.

So, wish me luck.

Cyndi, I'm sorry to hear about your accident. I hope everything ends up being OK. We will just pray for quick healing for you. We had a woman at work this week that took a nasty spill also, but it was on aggregate concrete (you know the kind with the rocks on the top of it) and it chewed her up pretty good on her legs and on her hands where she tried to brake her fall.

You and Colleen, both take good care of yourselves and take it easy.

Oh boy, sorry about your accident! Don't be worrying about a silly thing like a few pounds right now. Just get that foot better. And remember, plenty of salt water is good for anything like that. But seriously, I'm sure you will be all better way before Pip.

Cyndi,

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about your accident. I hope you are not in too much pain and I hope for a speedy recovery. Take it easy, o.k.?

Betty

Cyndi, hope you will be up and running again soon!At least you didn't knock out your teeth or bite your tongue off, so as not to talk on PIP! Here's to a speedy recovery. And Colleen, don't know what happened to you since I don't frequent this thread often (too many diets following childbirths, it is so hard), but if you too had an accident, I hope you are also well-mended by now!

Cyndi, sorry to hear about your accident. Hope your recovery is a speedy one and that soon you will be enjoying PIP.

That and Windex!!! LOL

Hi guys, so sorry to hear of your injuries. Hopefully this will be a temporary setback, there is plenty of time left. Don't overdo it in an effort to keep fit. Take care of the injury first.