I was really bad today, but I promise tomorrow I will get back on track. Went to McDonald's today for lunch, and it tasted great, believe it or not.

I'm just recovering from laparascopic surgery, and am not ready to do aerobics or pilates yet, but will be in a few days. After 5 days of inactivity, I feel like a blimp.

Kathy, I know it isn't fair. I was really sweating the weigh in this morning. I think swimming those 300 metres in the pool and the three hours of scuba probably helped me immensely. Good luck on your weigh in tomorrow. You are well on your way.

Diana informed me that tomorrow night we have a champagne tasting to go to at Farpoint Cellars here in town. I guess that is going to be my one indulgence this week. I know one of the champagnes is Pommery that they are now serving on Silversea, so I guess we'll get a sneak preview of what it is going to be like in a little over three weeks. Speaking of which, Linda called today and our docs are in at B&K, so my feet are getting ready to do the doc dance. :banana:

Wendy, just hang in there. Just wait until you are feeling better and then build back up gradually. You'll get there.

I must confess that I have been cheating really bad because I've been busy visiting and had too many temptations. :ohmy:

I thought I better fess up and tell you. :mecry:

Trish

Hi everyone!! I'm back!! Trish, like you, I have a few confessions to make:

1. I have been so busy at work (the final, final 10/15 income tax deadline crunch) & working lots of hours so I have not even been reading this thread. I've printed it out to read and catch up on everyone. Then I'll post my responses to all your hard work.

2. I have not weighed myself for about 2 weeks (afraid - VERY afraid!!!). But my clothes are fitting tighter than ever.

3. I have been EXTREMELY bad for at least 2 weeks straight.

4. I've been very depressed about my lack of any progress and haven't felt like joining in here.

Well - as of yesterday I'm back on track!!!! So with everyone's help and a huge desire to lose this weight once and for all, I'm ready to jump in again!!!

:app: :app: :app: :app: :app:

Welcome Back, Cyndi! Those baby steps feel really really good. And it is hard to adhere to it when you're under all that stress. If you work so many hours, you get hungry and grab the wrong things for the satisfaction and reward of working so hard.

I have been surrounding myself with good foods to make it easier to stick to the program and I am not allowing myself to get hungry by snacking (lots of fruit and yogurt on JC).

I am officially down 9 lbs in 3 weeks. Yesterday was the first of birthday celebrations for me. My friends asked where they could take me to eat. I picked a seafood restaurant and had a salmon filet, broiled and steamed veggies. And 4 bites of the dessert. Delish and I was proud of myself. I made them take the bread from out in front of me. I won't make the 15 lbs goal before I leave for Italy, but, the progress I am making, I do not want to lose momentum and I am really going to watch my portions when I am there.

Kathy - As always, thank you so much for your encouragement. I hope to earn that applause very soon. You are doing absolutely FANTASTIC!!! Sounds like you'll at least make 10 lbs before Italy, if not more. And that is wonderful. You are being so strong and I believe you will carry that on thru your trip. Good girl!!!!!

Kathy, major "high 5" for losing 9 pounds! VERY happy for you. I know how hard it is, especially with birthday celebrations! Good heavens girl!!!!

Cyndi & Trish, we need to get ourselves back on track. You all inspired me with your confessions. I have been using excuses lately by saying the bad weather is preventing me from "doing my routine". My exercise has been disrupted recently with the rains so am looking forward to getting back to it. I can only keep it off & lose more if I exercise & eat less. Back to it!!

Don, you are doing a great job with the scuba and swimming. You deserve some champagne.

Good luck this week, everyone. One day at a time.

Michele

It is OK Trish, Cyndi, and Michele you have now gotten it out of your system and today is a brand new day! I know it is hard to keep it up especially when things mess up our routines. Just hang in there keep after it.

BTW Michele, the champagne was great.

Kathy, that is too cool. :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

<img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />
Hooray, Don!!

Dance those pounds away tonight, Don.

Kathy, congratulations on your weight loss. You have really stayed focus.

Maybe some of that will rub off on me!

Michelle is right, one day at a time. I might even need to take it hour by hour!

Hi everyone,

Like Cyndi, I've been really busy this week and haven't been reading/posting until now. (For me it's budgets, rather than taxes...) I did weigh on Monday, and I did really well - down 1.5 pounds for the week even though I thoroughly enjoyed brunch with Denise and Alan on Sunday. I ate more than usual but ate very little the rest of the day. I think I must have broken through a plateau which is good news.

However, this week I've fallen victim to the lure of...CHOCOLATE! It's been a stressful week at work and on top of that, there's a lot of tempting Halloween candy out on a lot of desks! So hard to resist when it's so accessible.

Glad to hear everyone else is doing well. Positive thinking is important, and it sounds like everyone has that down!

Take care,
Dena

Donna, the dancing was pretty good, but not nearly the workout that I got from scuba class. Had to lug my equipment in and then put all of it on (probably about 75-80 lbs) up and onto my back then plunge into the deep end of the pool with it all in place. I think I lost a few inches. In HEIGHT that is !!!! LOL

Dena, good job on last week. I know what you mean about chocolate. Yesterday was our daughters birthday and it was hard to resist that chocolate cake that Diana got, but somehow I managed.

Don, you deserve a medal for what you've been required to do in scuba class. I remember having to dive (jump, rather) into the deep end with all that "stuff" on (sweating like crazy & walking like a zombie)and having to "collect" pennies that had been thrown into the deep end of the pool. We had to pick up the pennies & place them inside our masks while keeping the mask clear! The team who collected the most won.....whew! Well, we won & I have loved it from then on.

Believe me, once you jump into the ocean, you will be FREE! You will feel like you weigh as little as a feather and you suddenly "enjoy" what you've been working so hard to do....!! So, stay with it my friend. You're almost there. Can't wait to hear how your trip goes. All the best, Michele

I was telling Frank that after what I alreayd have planned for 2006, that I want to take some scuba lessons. Maybe do another PG trip or Great Barrier Reef. Sounds like fun to me.

Dena, I know what you mean about the chocolate. 1 1/2 pounds is fantastic. Thats over 5400 calories deficit for your calorie budget!!!
Don, willpower is amazing to skip that cake!
To get my chocolate fix and stay focused, I am having ONE piece of Hershey pieces. They're just a little bigger than the kisses. It's teaching me to be satisified with one piece not a whole bunch of pieces.

My home scale said I lost another pound today. My personal scale says I am down 12 lbs now. Yippee.

Kathy, you are doing so good. As far as scuba, I can't believe that I didn't do it sooner. I think you would enjoy it.

Thanks Michele. The hardest thing for me so far has been stripping my gear down in the bottom of the pool and putting it back on. I almost pulled my arm out of its socket. The instructor had everybody out of their BCD's and then take the tank out and put it back in and the BCD back on. Only one problem. Everybody else had weight belts. My BCD had integrated weights and as soon as I got it off, I started flying to the surface. Had to reach down real quick and grap the shoulder of the BCD. Found out it is much harder to get in and out of the vest with integrated weights, but I managed. It just took a little more time. Tomorrow is the first of our open water dives and then the second and certification on Sunday. Took my final on Wednesday and got a 96. I should have aced it, but misread two of the questions.

Well, since Tuesday I've lost 2 of the lbs I put on the last two weeks. Still many, many more to go, but at least I'm now going in the right direction. I had started my excercising again, but last Saturday I went for a long walk at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and the last leg was this long very steep hill. It seems to have re-injured my foot (the one I hurt when I fell at work a few months before PIP). I think it was the stress of going uphill for that long stretch. My foot has not been used to that angle when walking. So I'm laying low on the walking for a few days to see if it gets better.

Kathy - you are doing magnificently!!! 12 lbs already!!!! Wow. Only 3 more pounds to your goal before Italy. Looks like you will make it or at least come very close. Good for you!!!!!! If I'm not mistaken, you are losing faster that you did before PIP. Do you think it is that the JC program is working better than anything you've done - or that you are just so exceptionally motivated this time? Or both? Anyway, I'm so happy for you. You are giving yourself a very good 50th birthday present.

Don - I'm so excited for you with your diving lessons. And then for all the fun you will have when you actually go on dive excursions. You will most likely see some amazing sights!! Plus lots of good exercise. You may have had a few slip ups on your diet, but the lbs you've lost prove that you are balancing it out with lots and lots of control and good eating habits. Plus all your exercise. Congratulations on your success so far. It really looks like you are going to meet your goal!!!!! Oh and by the way, a very happy belated "doc dance" to you!!!

Dena - You are reaching your goal in exactly the way you had planned to do. Slow and steady. Steady being a key word. I do understand about the candy at work. Luckily, I just work with 3 other people and they don't bring in food to share very often (just eat their lunches and dinners near me so I can smell all the good food! LOL!!!). When I worked for big companies with lots of people who brought in food to share, it was sooooo hard to resist. Sounds like under the circumstances, you are holding up well. Good for you!!!!!!!!!!!

Michele - I didn't know you scuba dived. I should have known with your love of the water. The swimming you've been doing (before all this nasty weather and ash in your pool from the fires) is a great way to stay in shape. I bet you enjoyed it even more in the Bahamas :) :)

Donna - I'm so glad you are joining in here with us. Love your sweet and encouraging spirit!!!!! How is your back doing? It's always so hard to fit in exercise anyway, but with injuries it makes it so much harder. Good luck. You should be very proud of yourself for being at the point where all you have is those 3 lbs that you keep working on. You are right about the portion control. That is key. Keep focused and just don't be like me and let the 3 lbs grow to 5, then 10, then 20, then. . . .

Wendy - how is your back doing? Are you still working on the E.T.? Keep at losing those 5 lbs. You can do it (maybe you already have?). You did fairly good actually, to have only gained 5 after PIP. Afterall, you were gone for 2 full weeks (plus those extra days at hotel and travel). So you should be proud of yourself for holding it down as much as you did. Hang in there!!!

Trish - You hang in there too. You are still doing better than me. It is very hard, isn't it? Especially when our spirit is not in it and when we have those busy, busy times and lots of temptations. You & I can get back on track and soon we'll be sharing all our good news with the group here!!!

Take care everyone. Have a good Friday and be good this weekend (at least most of the time :) ).

I have a really full day, so keeping this short. I love that we are all sharing this journey together. Thank you for all the support and motivation. Cyndi, yes, I am going to make my pre-Italy goal. I like this diet because I don't have to do a lot of thinking about what I am eating. Just eat what's in front of me. I have a choice by the day of which day's menu to follow and the microwave is my friend. No real cooking.

Cyndi, congratulations! That is great news! Keep up the good work. I hope you just strained your foot and you are up and going soon.

Kathy, I figured you would make it. You are doing so good and you are on the home stretch now. Ah Italy!!! Wish we were going with you.

I am really worn out tonight. Had our lake dive today and I am really feeling it. The diving part is easy. It is the lugging of all the gear and climbing up and down the hill with about 70-80 lbs of stuff that is hard.

Well, Don that certainly counts for calories burned. I got a flyer for a trip to Hawaii and i think I am going to make the deposit. I might have to retire to take this trip too. I will have to check out the diving and snorkel adventures. After the trip to Tahiti, well, I have to go below another time. It can add to the incentive to keep losing. So what if I have to listen to a time share pitch. $110.00 a night for a room in Kauai with a rental car is pretty good.

I am totally laughing at my self tonight. I cheated. All this Italy talk. I had to have some Gelato. So I bought some at the Gourmet market. And I changed out my yogurt for 100 calories of Gelato, which is like one of those little dishes they might put a side of salad dressing in at a restaurant. I'd been craving Ice cream. Somehow, it's never enough just to taste I am learning new skills. It's not a proper exchange, but, hey, it worked. I still have half a person to lose.

Kathy, whatever works. We have Braum's Ice Cream here and they have low carb ice cream. I am saving it though for a little treat probably just before we take our cruise. As far as the time share. If it is the Marriott in Kauai, then the time share pitch will be very mild. We have friends that have one and they trade it off every year for something else. They have a two bedroom in Marbella, Spain. Seems to work for them. They said they could get us to one as their guest for a small fee and we would have to sit through a 1 hour presentation, but that it is very low key. No high pressure.

Kathy, I think you would love scuba. You can get certified in just a few evenings and a couple of weekends and it is great exercise. Can't wait to weigh in tomorrow. Today is my last day and then I will be certified. The weather here has turned nasty though. It had been in the 80's all week and the water temp yesterday was between 73 and 77 degrees depending on the depth. Because of my size, I do not use a wet suit and today it is windy and the outside temp won't rise above the upper 50's. Brrrrrrrrr!!! Hope the water temp hasn't changed much. Taking my sweats with me today and probably take a blanket.

Good luck, Don, on your check out dive! You've done so well! Lugging around all that "stuff" is the part I didn't like either...but, I had a wonderful dive buddy who carried all my stuff for me. (Ah, chivalry was alive & well in 1984!) Take a small thermos with you--a few cups of hot tea or chicken soup could really help you recover quickly when you come out of that chilly water.

Kathy, I love that you are contemplating going to Kauai - worth enduring the timeshare pitch. And, consider looking into the certification classes there. It's usually so much easier to get certified at resorts! My classes were in Marina del Rey (Calif.) & open water dives at Catalina; I had month long classes and the water was so cold it required a full wetsuit top to bottom & lots of weights. That's the "stuff" we've been referring to. You can avoid all that if you certify in a warm tropical resort. My Don did it in the Bahamas and had it so easy!!.....now I'm anxious for some Gelato! Power of suggestion! Soon....soon! (6 more days 'till Italy for us.)

Cyndi, that's so great that you are seeing the pounds coming off. You are definitely on your way again no matter if it's the same 5 pounds over again. We're going to stay on top of this for you! Hope your ankle is much better now. Such a bummer when something like that happens.

Hope everyone else is hanging in there!
- Michele

Kathy - if you have to go through Oahu to get to Kauai, give us a call ... :)

Which Marriott timeshare on Kauai? The one on Poipu is very nice!

Masaki

OK, I am certified. I lied about the temperature though. It was 44 degrees when we got out of the water, raining, and windy. Lets just say we got our gear loaded pretty quickly and out of our wet clothes and into something dry and warm. Thank goodness for seat warmers!!!

Masaki - Iwouldn't dream of visiting Oahu without a visit to you and Amanda and Marika! We're not sure where in our schedule we can fit that in, but, I will certainly find a spot for it.

Don - Congratulations. Anyone who can go into open water when the air temp is 44 is a hero, I grew up off Santa Monica Beach and in summer the temp was in the 70's and I had a hard time getting wet in that temperature.

Michele - we have a Dive Shop right by the house with PADI classes. I am going to check it out after we come back from Italy. They take you to the Channel Islands for your deep water dive.

okay - I did not diet today. I took the day off. Went to lunch with some friends and had an Egg White Omelette with Veggies in it and Bagel (with cream cheese) and then walked and walked. Then we went to dinner and I had Ahi Tuna and steamed veggies. The splurge was a very tiny bite of bread and a glass of wine. The dessert came and I took a few bites of it. This practice was good for me. Hope I don't blow the weight loss for the week. I better be really good tomorrow.

Kathy, I'm sure that you will be fine. Weigh in is tomorrow, right? I know what you mean about the Pacific. Can't believe that I surfed there without a wet suit.

I guess the lugging of equipment did pay off. I am down another 4 lbs this week and have 7 more to lose in two weeks and two days, so it looks like I am right on target.

Michele, unfortunately I read your thermos idea after I got back!!! Wish I would have done it. It was brutal.

Speaking of a Thermos, that was something I learned in JC. One reason I got where I am today, is that in my work, I am running around a lot and became queen of the drive through. My Counselor told me to buy a thermos, heat my lunch and take it with me. Keeps me out of In and Out and it's actually a great way to plan my food.

Don -CONGRATULATIONS on getting certified. WOW!! Now you've added another level of fun to your many trips. It does sound like it was burrrrrr cold that day!!! You sure needed Michele's thermos idea. Just remember that you won't have that problem in most of the places you dive, where it is warm and sunny!!! Now I know you'll make your goal, Don. You are so close now!!!

Kathy - you did really good to "trade" your regular JC dessert for the small portion of gelato. Good for you. That's what is all about when you come right down to it. We need to make the decisions on a daily basis as to what we will eat. One meal at a time!!! Your little cheat this weekend wasn't that bad at all. You should be fine in your next weigh in.

Michele - I've never been diving, but I feel the same way about all the gear when you snow ski. It takes more effort to get to the ski lift than to ski down the slope. LOL. Thanks for your encouragement about those 5 lbs! They will all be off SOON and then some.

My foot seems to be much better today. I'll try walking again today. I'll just stick with flat ground for awhile and build up to the steep hill at Wild Animal Park. Sadly - I used to do that walk a couple of times a month with no problem. Now, not only did it hurt my foot, but I was huffing & puffing like the overweight person I am!!! No more denying it. But that is now one of my big goals. To take that walk again (one of my favorite places) with ease and enjoyment. That will be a very good day, indeed.

Haven't weighed in yet. I was good this weekend. I didn't keep to a very low calorie plan, but I did eat as planned. I kept track of all calories I ate and in fact, had planned in advance each day exactly what I would eat. I had one of my favorite Stouffer's (not Lien Cusine - but the regular ones) pasta dinner. It has more calories than I should eat in one meal. So, I split it in half and saved the other half for dinner tonight. I allowed myself one glass of wine at dinner and stuck with that instead of moving on to 1 1/2 and then 2 glasses. I had a great mousse type dessert that I split in half. I'll have the other half tonight. So even though I allowed more calories than I should have, I kept control of what I ate and made those important "decisions" in portion control.

Good luck to everyone!!!

Congratulations on your certification, Don. Also on more lbs lost.

Kathy, you are doing so great. I bet you are really psyched now.

Cyndi, the 3 lbs I keep gaining and losing is before the weight I really need to lose. My back is still holding back my exercise. I try to play a little tennis and walk but it's not nearly enough exercise for me. Just have to hang in there.

I entertained Alan's handball buddies and wives at a hamburger cookout last night. Made my famous brownies with fudge icing. It's back on the wagon for me today. Got to cut back my portions again. It's easy to creep up to eating more. Slicing slivers of brownies over and over is not in the program!

Two more weeks till our cruise. Got to be good.

Donna - can't believe it's only 2 weeks till your cruise!!! I'm so excited for you!!! Well, when I met you, you didn't look like you had any weight to lose (the 3 lbs or more). But I know what you mean about the portions creeping up. That truly is my biggest problem. What I used to eat years ago now seems like teeny, tiny portions. I've got to get my mind wrapped around the idea that those tiny portions are the proper size!!! We CAN do it!!!

Michele - you're leaving for your cruise in 5 days??? Can't believe it is almost here!!!! I'll be looking forward to hearing all about it. Is your path going to cross Kathy & Frank's? If I'm not mistaken, you'll be there about the same time or at least close to it. Small world when you travel!!

Kathy - which day are you leaving for Italy? You are counting the days now. I'm with Don - wish I could go too. Even though it has been over 30 years since I've been to Italy, it is still one of my very favorite places!!! You are going to have a wonderful trip!!!

Don - how many days for you & Diana? Very soon!! Can't wait to hear your reports on it.

Something is wrong with this post - I'm not going anywhere!!! :( :( :( You'll all have to have fun for me too!!!!!

Cyndi, I've learned to be a master of disguise <img border="0" alt="[naughty]" title="" src="graemlins/naughty.gif" /> . Wearing black helps too! Just don't put me in a bathing suit. No hiding there, which is the reason I need to lose the weight.

Donna, Cruising has helped me "get over" the I am not wearing a bathing suit mantra. If I wanted to have a good time in the water, I had to wear a suit. Actually, while I don't like being overweight, and I have been almost all my life, punctuated by brief periods of being a size 6 or so, I have come to accept that I just can't be THAT small.

Cyndi, I leave next Monday for the airport a 4AM. I will be just settling into my seat on the plane at this time next week. With all of our dieters heading out, you'll just have to plug on without us here, but, we will be with you in spirit, saying no to 2nds and dessets!

Congrats on your certification, Don!! Wow! You really went through torture in that chilly water! I would have backed off from that - especially without a wetsuit on to help take the edge off. You are a real trooper! I promise you will LOVE the warm Caribbean waters after all this! Sorry I didn't get my post re: the thermos up in time for you...it really would have helped. But you're tough! I'm so happy for you!
You're almost there now! I'm applauding your successful weight loss too! Quite an accomplishment. :app:

Kathy, you are doing so well with JC. I just know you will do well in Italy after working so hard! This is a major birthday celebration for you so you can certainly give yourself a break & enjoy all the wonderful Italien cuisine....I certainly plan to! I just remember needing to stay away from the breads & pasta....! That one got me last time. I recall that our itinerary is going to be too far north of your tour. I'll still be watching the Tauck coaches as they pass.

I'll be meeting Donna on the Voyager. I'm sure we'll "Try" to do our best, avoiding all the goodies, right? lol Two weeks for us is going to be a quite a challenge!

Cyndi, I wish you were joining us. But you'll be so good at dieting while we're gone that you'll feel proud of yourself for sticking to it when you see me "waddle" into the restaurant at MIMOSA Dec. 4th!! oh my.....- Michele

Thanks all. I actually have that certification card in hand now. I also have an acquaintance that is going to lend me his underwater camera to take on the cruise and dives. My dive instructor is lending me a BCD to take that is already adjusted to fit, so I should be all set.

Cyndi, glad your foot is doing better. BTW, we leave for Miami in two weeks from Wednesday, where we overnight for our flight to Barbados on Thursday and then board the ship on Friday for 9 glorious fun filled days. Ahhhhhh!!! :D

Kathy, wow! Just a week to go! I bet you are really excited. That thermos idea is a great idea and it is actually kind of hard to fit a double double into one!!! LOL :D

Michele and Donna, we hope you guys have a grand time as well. Looks like we are all leaving about the same time.

Sure wish we could make the Mimosa party in CA. We would have loved to see everybody. Still laughing about Michele "waddling in"!!! I'm sure that we will all put on a little, but then have to get right back to it after we return. Afterall we do have other cruises booked. I want to be the new slimmer me by the MUSH cruise anyways.

Kathy, I am so jealous when anyone says Kauai. My most favorite place! As Masaki stated, the Marriott in Poipu is nice. It is also newer than the other Marriott and I believe that it might be the only one that does the time shares. And, unlike the one in Cancun that was destoyed by Wilma, Kauai's will still be there. You absolutely MUST go to Jo-Jo's for shave ice when you are on the island. Regardless of the calories!

Trish

The Kauai trip would be far off - I have 18 months to take it. With Mush, Snap and Wave, it will be interesting to find a spot on the calendar for 2006. I also want to see my best friend in Florida next year and was trying to surprise Frank with a trip to DC as well. Not sure I can afford to be away from my work all that time. We'll see.

Yes, I think the Weight Loss thread will be on the quiet side for a few weeks. I hope when we are all back we can jump back on the bandwagon together.

Kathy, we just have to keep it going just as soon as we get back. We were all guilty of not following through last Spring and as for me I am not going to do that again. I need y'all to hold me accountable. Also, it is more fun when we are doing this together and sharing in each others victories as well as helping to pick each other up when we have had some setbacks.

Yes, Don, I completely agree. I have a date with "all yall" on November 16th to get right back here. I'd love to be down to fighting weight by MUSH.

and as they say here in Texas, "we are fixin' to!"

Hey Don, they say that in Georgia too!

Wow, this has been a busy thread the last few days! On Monday, I was down 0.5 pound for the week, so that's good progress for me. Will be glad when the Halloween candy is gone from the office!

Don, congratulations on your diving certification and wow, I'm so impressed that you did the dive in the cold lake! The Caribbean will be wonderful compared to that! After seeing Dominique's FP scuba photos which were posted recently, I decided that I should think about taking up diving someday. (Not before this year's PG trip, though...) Plenty of places to do it here in CA or as Michele suggested on a Hawaii trip.

Speaking of Hawaii, I've stayed at both Marriotts on Kauai and both have their pros and cons. The new resort at Poipu (Waiohai Beach Club) is very nice, though it feels like it will be crowded when it's fully built out. We were there a couple of years ago when it was about 1/3 finished. We love Kauai and try to go almost every year. Either Marriott would be wonderful for a getaway.

Wow, there are a lot of trips planned in November! It sounds like Cyndi and I will be here to hold down the fort. We will try and keep you motivated when you return from your trips - that is usually where I have trouble. I can't count the number of times that I've started a program, lost some weight, then a business trip or vacation comes up and when I get back, I never get back on track, and gain everything back plus more. Let's not let that happen!

Finished my lunch, better get back to work...

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