Kathy,

Thanks for your wise words of encouragement. It helps a lot. I have been doing Denise Austin very sporadically. These past two weeks my mornings have been interrupted with extra errands, appointments, etc. So, of course, that has been my excuse. Next week will be a little more back to normal, I think. So I plan to get back on track with both Denise Austin and walking after work.

I can only imagine how hard it's been for you with your Oz "adventure". You sound like you are hanging in there as much as possible with your eating. Much better than I've been doing with half the stress you have. Your diet buddy is going to be a HUGE help to you. That daily focus is very good. Two more weeks - hang in there!!

Hi - you all sound like you're working so hard.....We just got back from San Diego (Hi Cyndi!). I took off the past 5 days from exercise and I really feel it. Need to get back out there asap. I was only hoping to maintain and not gain while I was out of my routine.....so far OK. But gotta get back to the exercise....

Cyndi, you have me now as a partner in your "car accident experiences". It's so frustrating - I can't believe it keeps happening to you!! I keep scratching my head when I have to give up my car to get it repaired and then the time it takes to do this. We end up on the losing end. Let's break this cycle!

A diet buddy sounds like a great idea, Kathy. The support is certainly needed so it would be great to have that "talk" whenever possible. You'll feel better once OZ and the crazy stressful schedule is over. Your "normal" life will seem so much better.

I think the "maintain" plan for you right now, Dena, is a good thing - you know the pitfalls so you're holding on well. When I fall out of my normal routine, I just pray to "maintain".

And 3 more pounds, Don? Your workouts certainly do the trick once you go for it. Congratulations and get back to it when you return from Vegas!!Hope Vegas was fun & not too hot (ha).

...michele
-michele

Michele - You're so sweet! Yes, we can start a club for "car accident victims anomymous" or something like that. But I hope I don't have to be a regular member - Ha!!

Be good the rest of this week and next and I'll see you and Kathy 8/6!!

Yes, Cyndi, you & I will be cheering little Daisy from the audience 8/6. It will be so fun to meet you and Kathy and, of course, Daisy the star of the show. I'll probably be in a rental car since my car will be at its new home, the repair shop....."victims anomymous" is right!

michele

OK, I give up. I have been really bad. I kept meaning to get back onto my diet and kept putting it off. I was always going to start tomorrow, but tomorrow never came. However, tomorrow finally arrived, when I realize we had only about 2 months until our next cruise and some clothes were rather tight again. I got on the scale and after checking a couple of times (playing with the adjustment to make sure that it was at zero) and then getting really mad at myself for putting so much weight back on, I decided, I put it on and I can take it right back off. I also realized how much encouragement that I got from everybody, so I decided to resurrect this thread.

Last week I started and my first weigh in was Monday and I lost 9 lbs. My next weigh in is tomorrow and I am hoping for 3 more, but will see. I have only 46 days to go, so I have to stay focused. This next week I start at the gym.

It is really hard I know for everybody to stay on their diets, but I found this to really help and be an encouragement as well as having some accountablity to others going along with the same struggles and temptations.

Don, they say confession is good for the soul. In that case, I better fess up. I've been sooooo bad for waaaaaaay tooooooo long. I put back on all the weight I lost for PIP + 5 lbs. There - I did it. I confessed. Hope it helps!!

Tomorrow is D-Day. I'll be counting my calories each & every day from now on. I did start my exercises again last week and boy do I feel it already. I have a little more energy in my step and feel much better emotionally. I do believe exercise is the biggest key. It just gets everything going in the right direction.

Thanks, Don, for starting this up again. With everyone's help here, we'll get back on track. You have always had such strength in the past and I know you'll be ready in the 46 days for your next cruise and your tux!!! Hang in there!!

Hey all, count me back in. Cyndi, I too found all my lost PIP weight and 5 lbs more too. I have an appointment with Jenny Craig on Wednesday to get on their plan. I figured if I am eating structured food then I take my thinking out of the equasion for most of it. I won't have to worry about thinking I am going to order fish in a restaurant and ordering a hamburger and fries instead. If I am going to eat out, I will eat my JC food first and then have only a dinner salad out to be social.

Kathy,

Sounds like a very good plan!!! It's sure working for Kirstie Alley. I agree with you that it is so much easier not to have to think about what to eat. Who has time for that? I think that is why I like Lien Cuisines so much. And what a good idea to eat your pre-packaged JC meal before you go out. Then the salad can seem like dessert. Very smart!!!

Hi fellow losers (and I mean that in a good way!),

Good luck Don, Kathy and Cyndi as you renew your efforts. Probably one of my top wishes if given 3 by a genie would be to eat whatever I wanted and stay healthy and fit. Unfortunately that's not to be for most of us!

I've been slowly and steadily losing for about 10 months (since the day after Thanksgiving 2005) and I'm down to the last 8-10 pounds. It's going sooooooo slooooooowly now but I've accepted that as being OK - I've come to realize that when I get to my goal I will have to eat pretty much as I do now, with the occasional indulgence.

My hardest meal of the day is lunch at work. I do eat out a few days a week (mostly salads) but there are a few days a week where I take lunch and eat at the office. Anyone have any great lunch suggestions that don't involve bread? Usually I do dinner leftovers (meat/veggies), black bean soup, or just canadian bacon and low fat cheese with lots of raw veggies. I'm in a bit of a rut and any new and interesting lunch ideas would be appreciated!

Dena

Cindy, it's ok we will just have to keep encouraging one another to keep on track and you are welcome.

Kathy, I am so glad that you are joining us. Hopefully some of the others will join back in as well. It sounds like you have an excellent plan.

OK, if confession is good for the soul, here it goes. I had put on 32 lbs :eek: <img border="0" alt="[bang]" title="" src="graemlins/banghead.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[c]" title="" src="graemlins/c.gif" /> since our cruise last May. Now, with the nine I have lost last week and the three that I probably have lost this week (will know for sure when I weigh in again tomorrow), I will still have 20 lbs to lose in 45 days! I CAN DO IT!!! i think. All I have to do is 3 lbs a week for the next 6.5 weeks. Piece of cake! OOPS, I mean piece of celery!!!

:D

I had this thought while walking this evening, and it looks like Don is on the same page...

Accountability really helps me out. Would anyone be interested in joining me in declaring publically (at least to this thread) a mini-goal? Let's see, if Don's milestone is in 45 days, how about a 6-week goal? 6 weeks from today would be November 6.

OK, here goes. I challenge myself to lose 3 pounds by the weekend of November 5/6. (Don't laugh, I've been doing really well if I lose 1/2 pound a week lately!)

Anyone who cares to join in, let's report in next weekend with our progress.


------------
Dena

Don, you've been the champion of weight loss here. I know you can make that goal. It's almost nothing for you if your mind is set.

I'd like to lose 2 lbs a week between now and when I leave for Italy on October 31st - 10 lbs. I could lose more if I really work it. And I need help because I've been on the "see food" diet for way too long.

Dena, one of my favorite no bread lunches is to open a can of white meat tuna, flake it and add some dried onion flakes (crunchy) and sprinkle some red wine vinegar into it. It gives it really good flavor and the onion flake cruchies gives it texture. On the original weight watchers, I'd eat it on a piece of toast open face, but, I've also served it in a piece of lettuce, like a wrap.

C'mon girls and Don.....you can do it!

I will eventually be back when I feel ready to do it again. <img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" />

Trish

Trish - hang out here with us and give us some moral support. Maybe it's catch on for you. It did for me the first go round.

Dena, congratulations. Glad you are joining in with us. Sounds like a good challenge.

Kathy, thanks for the compliment. I am really going to bear down on it and get it done. It is going to be work. I hoped to lose three this past week but only did two. I can make that up this week though with starting my exercise routine. Also, that sounds like a good way to do tuna, so I will have to try it. Dena is right, you do bored eating things the same way everytime.

Trish, thanks for the encouragement. We hope you will stick around and if nothing else, just help us along.

Trish - I agree with Don & Kathy. We appreciate your support!!! You know we'll receprocate when you are ready.

Dena - You are doing GREAT!!! The last pounds are always the hardest. Losing them slow is truly the best way so that you keep them off and start working on the maintenance part (which as we ALL know is probably the hardest). I'll join in with you in your goat for Nov 5/6 and vow to lose 5 lbs. I'm sure I could push it for more. But I'm still determined to try to lose it very slow and steady this time in hopes that maybe I can keep it off easier.

Don - Kathy is so right - you ARE the "champion of weight loss here". You have more determination and grit than anyone I know. You'll make us proud and spur the rest of us on.

Kathy - I know you can make your goal before Italy. Especially with your JC program. Can't wait to hear how your Wed. meeting goes. Keep us posted.

Good luck to all dieters. I know y'all can do it if you put your minds to it. You have my full support. I can't join you as I'm leaving for a "puddle jumper" (quick trip) in about 10 days.

Cindy, it's just a good thing they don't have In-N-Outs in Texas!!! LOL

Thanks Mrs. Moose. Where are you off to this time? Wherever it is we wish you a wonderful trip.

OK, we are all on the six week plan, right?

I'm kicked out of the house tonight, so it is off to the gym.

Don - over the last few months of the same diet Kathy said she's been on - "the see food diet", I got hooked on In-N-Out. Oh my!!! Glad to hear Texas doesn't have at least that temptation.
And yes - the six week plan is ON!!! Shall we report our weigh ins each Monday to help us keep on track?

Mrs. Moose - Welcome to our group here!! I've been so bad lately about welcoming new people to the board. Please forgive me. But I have been enjoying your posts so much. You are a delight!! Have a wonderful trip and visit us here on this thread when you get back.

Cyndi, sounds like a good plan. Nothing like a little accountability.

OK, I confess I didn't make it to the gym last night like I planned, the girls didn't meet last night after all and we went swimming instead or should I say floating. I did make it this morning and boy am I out of shape. My pulse rate shot right up to target immediately and I had to keep the cycle resistance down a few levels and only managed 20 minutes today. Tomorrow I will raise it to 25 and Thursday be back up to 30. Then next week I will start adding more resistance back on.

Then if that wasn't enough, I went and put out about a dozen For Sail (oops I meant Sale LOL) signs in ground that is as hard as concrete. I don't know which was worse, the workout or using that sledge hammer trying to get those signs in the ground.

I have been sweating all day!!!

It is supposed to start cooling down later this week and we are going to start walking in the evenings as well.

Hope everybody has a great week.

I know it was time for someone to bring back the weight loss discussions and for me to join in. I just needed to admit it. I have done so much outrageous eating and my weight is up by ten pounds. I am totally blown away by how my fall clothes are feeling.
So, I started trying to eat better this morning with a banana and a bagel. I, too, am glad we don't have In-N-Outs in MN, but we have enough of our own temptations. So, I'm with you all on the program. Let's see if I can boast about looking better by my trip to Nevis. That's not until January, but I still need to put on a bathing suit and don't need a good laugh, nor do I want to have to see "those kinds" of pictures.

Trish

Thanks for bringing this back to the top, Trish. I too need it, and it's overdue. I was "laid up" for a whole month in August, unable to do any exercise, and am trying to get back into the swing, and lose what I gained. But am due for minor surgery in a couple of weeks which will put a stop to that for a while. Just got to control my appetite, which is hard when the weather is getting cooler. The worst right now are the late-night peanut butter sandwiches!

Wendy and Trish,

Glad you are here with us. We need all the help we can get.

Hi everyone,

Glad that the thread was bumped up and we have a good group supporting each other.

Cyndi - I'll report in on Monday, sounds good! It's better for me to report on Monday instead of Friday so I am careful over the weekend ;)

Oh my gosh - you have all gotten me hungry with talk of In-N-Out and peanut butter sandwiches! Two of my favorites! That's why lunch is hard for me - I work in Costa Mesa and a lot of good restaurants (and In-N-Out) are close at hand. Sometimes it's hard to get out my brown bag of meat and veggies with all those other options! Kathy, the tuna idea sounds great - though I don't eat seafood I think it would be just as good with the canned white meat chicken. Will definitely try it soon.

My "challenge" this week is a cooking class I'm doing tomorrow on Spanish Tapas. These classes are a lot of fun but it's usually more about socializing and sampling versus serious cooking instruction! I will try and be sure I'm not famished when I go, so that I'm just tasting and not pigging out.

Mrs. Moose - thanks for your kind thoughts - stop back by and cheer us on!

Don - sounds like you are off to a good start with the activity - often the hardest part is just getting started, and you've done that. Keep it up!

Kathy - good luck with JC tomorrow - my mom did it a year or two ago and lost her weight fairly easily. So I know you will make good progress before your trip in October.

Have a good rest of the week!

---------
Dena

Kathy, I forgot you only have five weeks, but I know you will do it. You will blow right past that 10 lb mark.

Wendy, Trish, and Mrs. Moose. Thanks for joining in. We all need as much help as we can get.

Dena, Thanks! The cooking class sounds like a lot of fun. Love Tapas. You're right though. Eat before hand so you can just nibble.

I have more than 10lbs to lose. I want to lose 10 lbs before we leave for Italy. When we get back I can work on the other 50 plus.

Kathy, I will be right there with you. We will have to get right back to it after our trips. How long are you gone for?

Hi All -
I am just back from Jenny's with a bag full of food. Today's challenge will be to go and buy a wide mouth thermos so that zap my lunches and take them with me.

Interestingly, I have 4 weeks before I leave and we talked about what to do when I am gone to not gain. They want me to eat a JC breakfast every day to remind me to eat sensibly - no gelato in Italy. I will switch back while I am gone to my nutritionist's program so that I can eat whatever I want.

Anyway, Don, to answer your question, I am leaving on 10/31 and I return 11/16.

I always find it interesting to hear people say how hard it is to lose weight in the fall, Wendy. That's usually my easiest time of year. The summer is the hardest. One of my closest friends has a great bar outside in their backyard and I have spent many nights down there with the salted peanuts and rum drinks. Not to mention all the potato salads and all the other
"stuff" loaded with mayo.

Trish

Kathy, NO GELATO? :eek: I am sure that you will manage. Sounds like a wonderful trip. I am sure that you are very excited. You may even lose weight on this trip with all the touring and walking. I hope you are going to be safe with those fires. You are in our prayers.

Trish, drinks, nuts, and potatoes. Those are three of my downfalls as well. Now, just an occasional glass of wine (like once a week), no nuts, and definately no potatoes. I am off to Costco for my weekly supply of low carb foods and water.

Y'all keep it up this week.

I had been all set to Jenny Craig this morning. Got too much to do today.

I have to admit that Dave and I went out to dinner on Wednesday night and I had chicken and boxed half of it up, but then THE CHOCOLATE CAKE COMETH!!! The worst part? I didn't even want it. I was full. Why do we do these things to ourselves?

Trish

Trish, in fact I find the fall the easiest too, despite what I said about the weather. It's psychologically really the beginning of the year for alot of us, a time of new beginnings.

On the other hand, I'm having pizza for dinner tonight (healthy vegetarian pizza, with a thin crust!)

I am having more Jenny Craig food for dinner. Fish and Chips. Actually - there is too much food on this plan. Too many little things - I feel like I have something I have to eat every 15 minutes. A protein bar and a yogurt, a protein bar and a glass of milk, a piece of fruit. It's all good. A stuffed potato and salad for lunch. Lots of small stuff to keep you from being hungry.

How is everybody doing this week? Kathy, I know you have had your hands full, but it looks like you are doing good staying on program. I am glad that you have too much food and that it is all good. Sounds like an excellent program.

Tonight we head to a hockey game. My son got tickets from the President of the Dallas Stars, so we will be center ice. Got to eat before we go though, otherwise :mecry: , well you know...

Don, my resolve is that I am going to eat my food. Period. I have three business dinners next week. Zapping it at the office and eating before hand. Then at the dinners, a mixed green salad.

I want a whole new wardrobe for my June Cruise.

Kathy, that's an excellent goal.

Hey Kathy, way to go, great goal. My goal is to fit well into lots of new clothes that I have bought, including a really nice expensive pair of jeans. I need to lose about 10 pounds to do so, although they fit right now (like a glove ;) ). I have also promised myself that if I then go on to lose another 10 some day, I will gladly give these clothes to charity, or sell them.

Wendy, that is a good idea. I too have clothes that fit like a glove. Or should I say a corset. LOL I have shorts that I need to get into by the time we set sail in November and I have to do it. I can't even go out and buy some looser ones. Their are none to be found this time of year. And then their is that famous tux that I had to get into in April and now I have to get back into it again.

I was good last night at the game. They all had pizza and my son had a couple of beers. I on the other hand had some tuna before we left home and splurged on a diet Dr. Pepper at the game.

Good luck and be careful. It's constant temptation out there and tomorrow is weigh in day.