Updates here.....

(I ain't sayin' nothin' about mine!)

Thanks, Cindy!

Hey, Bestoffour- you done good in the morning! (I'm SO with you on that Pepsi thing-- right now I believe I might actually SHOOT someone if it got me a Coke.)

But, I believe I may be in a position to offer actual, helpful advice for the after-5 eating. I know they say, don't eat after 6, and don't eat 2 hours before you go to bed, and yada yada yada, but I've been there, and am VERY MUCH a night-time eater, and what I learned in Weight Watchers is, be honest with yourself. (I think the first 3 weeks I did it, I was out of points and climbing the wall by 6 p.m.)

If you know you're going to be wanting to snack all night, then eat lighter meals and snacks during the day, and go ahead and have dinner be the big heavy meal you want.

If you know you can't live without any sweets at all, just keep in the back of your mind that you can have that bag of M&Ms any time you want, and if you snacked on something like cottage cheese earlier in the day, you won't feel so bad about the candy. Or find the healthier alternative-type of sweets that wont give you 500 extra calories and a complex for life. (For me, Healthy choice fudge bars or sugar-free jello usually do the trick.) Or for that matter, compare candy. A pack of starburst has like 200 less calories and less fat than a bag of M&Ms, and still tastes great!

If you're a volume eater (quantity counts more than quality), find stuff you can eat in volume that's not too damaging, like air-popped popcorn, or Fiber One cereal, and eat all you want.

If you're a once-I-start-I-can't-stop kinda gal, just keep those foods out of the house. (For me, that's Coke and any kind of chips. non-negotiable.)

Geez, well, that was a lot of tips. Well, take 'em for what they're worth.

uh...I made fudge today....

Fudge is not a good idea to have when you're trying to lose weight, fyi.

Since I've had this cold, or whatever, I haven't had much appetite. It's been picking up again the past 2 days.. but not completely. Well, sometime yesterday, my belly started hurting pretty bad, and I think it's from my screwed up non-eating, and it's caused me to umm.. not be able to go... you know. Maybe I should force some shredded wheat down my throat this morning..lol. Anyways, I feel hungy, but because my stomach is now hurting, I can't eat. :rolleyes: Hey, at least I should lose a couple pounds this way..lol. I did take a peri-colace last night, so I hope that helps me sometime today.

Meg

I ate an entire apple pie today I lost the weight as soon as i gained it though >.< I forgot what apples do to you :rolleyes:

But ya, for breakfast *whenever i go to bed and wake up that is... its like 12:35 AM here*, i'm gonna have a Scottish breakfast, complete with sausage, egg, bacon, toast, and honey flavored tea

~Phoebe

Hey Phoebe,
Perhaps you should concentrate on eating things like meat and potatoes alot. Your blood sugars will sky rocket if you eat things like that pie and then totally plumet after an hour or so...its not so good for you. Oh to have a metabolism like yours!!!

But, I bet you'll remember from now on!

Meg...
You need to get some Metamucil, and take a tablespoon a day whether you need it or not! It is just HEALTHY. It helps lower your cholesterol as well as a bunch of other good stuff.

Cindy

i donno, i've been having a lil trouble eating and sleeping lately >.o i'm like, never hungry. I have to force myself to eat sometimes. I could go all day without eating sometimes.

But ya, the meat and potatoes thing is what i should definately be doing. Actually what i should be doing is sleeping lol. Goodnight!!

updates...okay.

was I good to me yesterday? I can't remember doing anything special for me, but the only one I tended to was Ashley...so I guess that's good.

Really, I had no idea that metamucil could help cholesterol too. hmmm.. maybe I'll have to get some & give it a whirl. (I take lipitor for cholesterol already.. but ya know, if I could do this another way, more naturally, I'd prefer it.) I'm only 34, and I already am taking 4 meds daily, plus a vitamin & an aspirin a day. It's getting a bit out of hand for someone who's not that old. Another good reason to lose some weight.

Meg

Metamucil

Alrighty....

Today I am starting my excercising. For Christmas, I got a fitness to go kit made by Weider. It came with a 65cm "flex ball" (like a pilates ball), ankle weights, aerobic latex bands, and a jump rope. I've wanted the ball for some time now and am so excited to ues it. The kit comes with a workout poster for the ball that has 10 excercies on it. That is what I'm going to mainly do. I figure, doing that, combined with eating correctly should get the pounds running.

Since I decided to start a journal for this year, I am going to take my measurements and record them and every two weeks will take them again...that and I will weigh myself once a week. So, here we go....

I just got a good laugh just THINKING about me doing "the ball"!
I'd probably break some bones, not to mention some knick-knacks, rolling all over the house like an idiot...



Cindy

Now why can I imagine that happening to you???

I accomplished the ball....no bones broken, no knik knacks on the floor. Did get some pretty weird looks from the cats tho. They do not like the ball, I think. I felt like I was on an infomercial while I was doing it tho! I had dance music on the TV so I wouldn't get bored while doing it. I don't know if I worked out my arms or my butt like I'm supposed to, but lemme tell ya...my abs are SORE!!! Forget abs of steal....we're talking platinum after a couple of months of this!!!

The ball....I thought about the ball....but I figured as gracefull as I am I'd knock a hole in the wall or something fun like that Plus I'd have to let ashley play with it too. She'd probably loose weight and doesn't need to.

I'll just stick to walking and using my bicycle. Bicycle sits still so I don't have to worry about falling off.

Jenn...what's your second ticker for?

I have a really boney butt. Will the ball make a good seat?

I donno, i just kinda run a few miles if i need to gain some muscle. I then follow it with about 10 marine core pushups *1,2,3,1,1,2,3,2,1,2,3,3etc.* and as many crunches i can do in 2 minutes. I'm normally pretty dead after that lol. After that i take a nice warm shower and i feel supercharged the next day

~Phoebe

I'm attemptig to quite smoking for my new year's. It's going pretty well...i've started by not smoking at work and when i get use to that them i'm going to cut out hours that i'm at home and so forth until i'm done. Anyway I noticed a lot of people are dieting and the best way that i've found to get and keep lbs off is too 1. NOT do the atkins diet (it does more harm than good) and 2. to drink only water and 100% fruit juice. I dropped 30 lbs. doing this. I also hike whenever possible. I work retail so its not possible a lot of the time but it helps. Hope I helped some. If anyone has any other tips about quiting smoking let me know please.

My cousin swears by Wellbutrin.

Cindy

My friend Mike told me that everyone will quit when they're ready to quit. Cuz if you try to quit something when you're not ready, then its hard, cuz you'll always want to do it again. But if you quit when you're ready, then you'll not wana do it. You'll feel the need to do it, but you'll have willpower and force yourself to not do it.

~Phoebe

Well, just the mental (and I do mean mental) pic of Cindy with "the ball" and her Taz slippers had me on the floor...so got my exercise today!

See...I AM good for something!

It's absolutely true. You just won't make a change until you're totally ready to do it. Then when you're really ready, it's not that hard.

Let's see, A. I quit smoking for nearly 2 years once, then started again, like a fool. but what worked for me was setting up a rewards system, and making it something where I could actually SEE the results. So what I did was, figured out how much I was spending per week on smokes, and decided to put it into a "me" fund. Then every week, I'd go to the post office stamp vending machine, and buy one stamp, and get all my change (the same amount I was putting in the "me" fund) in Sue B Anthony coins. (Doing it at the post office was easier and faster than going to the bank.) I got a GIANT piggy bank shaped like a parking meter, and fed all that money into it, and the post was clear, so you could see all those silver dollars adding up. Anyway, it was a great motivator, and when I finally stopped doing it, I had almost 2 grand saved up. Good luck with quitting!

Jenn- Those balls are supposed to be really great, and provide a tough workout. Sounds like from what you said, it's working.

Nako- the weight lifting advice was right on track. You build muscle, and gain weight, but only if you lift slowly and correctly, and for weight gain, always add weight when the lower weight gets to easy. Less reps, more weight. But then it'll kick up your metabloism even nore, so that might be a big drawback for you. ?

Meg- I swear, try Fiber One. It's a great diet food. (You actually...um...eleminate... more calories than you're taking in, and you'll NEVER be more regular.)

My Metabolism is at the speed of light! I'll eat something and have to literally go to the bathroom like an hour or two later! I get all the nutrients that i need according to my doctor though.

But ya! I gained 5 lbs! And its staying!!! *hops around happily* and i don't have a gut or nothin, which means its all muscle from running, situps, and pushups ^.^ Apple, you better watch out! I'm gonna beat you up when i come home!

~Phoebe

Update:
Okay after one week on the diet....dum dum dum DAAAAAA!!!: Lost 5 pounds! YAY! Jenn, Dianna, everyone, how's it going for y'all?

Hey Phoebe, maybe I am giving you the extra pounds. You gained 5, I lost 5. Maybe this week, you could gain 10, and see if it works again?

I've gained 4 pounds this week. :rolleyes: Dieting does not work for me at all. I hope to be able to find something that I like as a dress, if I don't manage to lose weight instead of gain it!

Congrats to those of you that are managing to lose! Or gain if that is what you wanted.

Dianna

After ridding myself of a lot of excess hair.. I woulda thought that I'd have lost 5 pounds, but no. *sigh* That was a LOT of hair, and not from my head.

Meg

Dianna/Dixie Angel,
Can I ask what you are doing for your diet???
If you post what you are doing, maybe some one
can come thru and give a couple of pointers for you...

Weezie

My number one pointer is WATER
and bulk foods!!!

Hey Meg
Phoebe wanted me to tell you *ahem* "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwww..."

hehehehe... *snort* heheheh.. roflmbo!

Well, that's one way to lose weight!

Weezie, so far all I have been consciously doing is drinking more fluids before I eat so I will fill up faster. I have, also, been walking a little bit more (at least two miles per day).

My aunt told me if I would quit drinking my margaritas with salt when we are working, that that would probably cut some of the water weight and I would lose a few pounds. I have low blood pressure, though, so I need the extra salt to keep it from bottoming out.

I went to the doctor today and they told me that I had lost three pounds since I last saw him in October. If I can lose at least ten more by May, I will be happy. He is testing for thyroid disease now to see if that is what is causing me to be exhausted all the time. I want to exercise more, but I don't have the energy. Hopefully, my body will straighten out in time for me to enjoy the wedding!

Dianna

Dianna,
This is my husbands' diet, and he swears by it.
*and I am by far a person who should be talking about what to do for a diet because when I am ready to diet, I will and not until..*but I'm heading there**

you can eat for breakfast, at say 6:00am.
Eggs, Oatmeal, etc..
He doesn't allow ANY milk on his diet at all, but I can't see the point.. but it's his diet.

then around say 9:00am.
water and carrots and celery *I say an apple*
(for diabetics, they say that's okay!)

Then lunch, say around 12:00pm.
Tuna fish with salad dressing..for a sandwich.
and a big salad...

Then around say 3:00pm.
Cucumber's and Green Pepper's...

Dinner say around 6:00pm.
Chicken on the grill and some green beans
or assorted veggies and baked beans..

and a snack after dinner time before bed but not too late, can be popcorn or something like that....

I like rice cakes too, for the sweetness!

He says the constant eating speeds up your metabolism, and fills it with no calorie stuff.
And loading up with the water is one of the best things for you...*he likes Crystal lite for his water substitute*

I think it might be helpful too, if you map out what you like to eat.... and work it in...
Most veggies are "FREE" he says, no calories,
cucumbers, radishes, salad *romain is the best, for nutrition and bulk*

Some of the fruit has calories, but beneficial vitamins for you, so work those into when you walk or something like that....
And lot's of things with Bulk.. *okay, the gas producers.... *us girls in the lounge were on this subject one day* but the gas producing stuff is the best for you...
Broccoli, califlower, beans, etc....

And alot has to do with protion size....
(That's my problem, when I find something I finally like, I like alot of it)

Hope some of this helps a wee~bit???

Weezie

Hey Weezie...you might want to tell hubby that milk is actually really good for you when you are dieting. When I was heavy duty and lost over 100 lbs I was told to make sure that I didn't cut out my milk because it helps the elasticity of your skin. You don't have to drink whole milk..you can do the 2-4% or even skim. I drink the high protien milk. And I guess it was the milk ...but I had no sags!(and trust me...I am NOT an excersizin kinda gal) Now that I am trying to gain(UGH) I drink a lot of the high protien milk and can tell a huge difference in my hair & nails.Just a thought!

Thanks, Weezie. It's good to know that beans are good for you (gas-producing, though, they may be). I have a pot of pintos in the crock-pot right now. My problem is that I will want to have them over rice with a slab of cornbread and a hunk of onion.

4Ruddy, I didn't know that about milk, but I am glad to learn it. I love milk! Whole milk, though. Drinking skim or 2% milk is like drinking water with milk flavor!

Dianna

Hey Dianna!
Isn't that milk thing great? It's the calcium. they've done studies, and people who get 3 servings of milk a day as opposed to people who don't on the same diet will lose an average of like 12 lbs more. But it has to come from milk or dairy products, not supplements.

I do the South Beach Diet. I love it. The first two weeks are rough, but if you can get past that, then your set! Its kind of like atkins, but not. It concentrates on keeping your blood sugars at a constant level. The first two weeks, you can't have any sugar at all...none...no candy, no milk, no fruit...no sugar! That is to purge your system from the sugars. Then after that, you start to introduce a little sugar....like apples and peanut butter and small snackies. Before when I did that, I lost 12 pounds...then got pregnant and couldn't do the diet anymore because I had to eat as soon as I got up and the only thing that was staying down were bagels! :rolleyes:

I didn't mean to post that then. I was quoting that and was going to reply, but hit the wrong button first... I'm still an amateur.

That brought to mind immediately (have no clue as to why -- kind of like that one game you guys play...)

"knick, knack, paddywack.... give a dog a bone" OR did I just make that up, or just get the words wrong, and they just SOUND like that? Feeling a little

Well, we are cousins...

That's ALL you have to say!
They understand completely now!

WOOOOOOOO! Thank you Japanese Food! Japanese food is different here o.O Its more *thinks* I donno it tastes better than it does in America ^.^ I think its cuz i'm closer to Japan I'm like totally addicted to General Chicken, and Crab Rangoons!!!

but ya! 5 more lbs! yay! Well approximately 5 more, but i make sure ^.^ its more like 84-86, and it goes back and forth throughout the week, BUT I GAINED WEIGHT!!! *hops*

~Phoebe

Vanessa,

What are you referring to when you say "high protein milk?" Just curious. I drink skim, and love it, but can't drink anything "stronger." I didn't used to like it at all, so... I'm doing much better. It DOES help you build muscle when you are losing weight, instead of losing it. (well, keep muscle tone - not build...).
A nutritionist I work with also says this about milk helping you lose weight. They are saying now to aim for... What is the new campaign?

Good luck everyone on your diets. I wish you all the best.
.

Yep, I see now that I am gonna have to buy a cow if I want to lose weight. I can lose more than I want to and then eat the cow to celebrate!

Dianna

24 ounces in 24 hours

I notice that most of you all have diet resolutions......I want to get back on that treadmill(that I had to have)---want to get back on it everyday starting Monday.....

My real resolution though is to declutter my house.....I started with the computer room bedroom, then yesterday moved on to the other spare bedroom and it amazes me how much stuff I have that I need to part with......Soooo much clothing--stuff with tags on, stuff that's too small that I've been holding on to in case I ever get back in to that size(5/6)--not happening ever again-ever!!! :p Plus at 5'10" I looked really ill when I was that thin. It was after a bad breakup anyway....you all know how that goes. SOOOOOOOO, I'm purging out all the junk that is cluttering up my life and my house.....and it feels really cleansing to be able to do that and not hang on to stuff just for the sake of hanging on to it....

loz...I could have written that exact post!
I don't know what's up with keeping all those clothes we've never worn, and the 5/6's! I have them, too!

And the other "stuff".....the CLUTTER!
Mass chaos! Boggles my mind when I look around at all the "stuff". Starts as soon as you walk in the door...the refrigerator magnets!

But, I'll never change.
When I die someone is going to have a good yard sale, is all I can say!

That will definately be a yard sale I won't miss!!!

G-Mom

There is NO WAY you have more than I do...you can barely see my fridge due to the magnets!

G-Mom

G-Mom...
Drive on up here and we'll just go ahead and have the yard sale while I'm still kicking, and split the money 50/50!
I'm not kidding!

O.K.
There will be a "Refrigerator Magnet" topic shortly with a picture of mine.
Better go take your picture!

Already did!

I KNEW you'd say that


G-Mom

I'm a pack rat--I can admit it.....it's just time to get rid of stuff, you know? It's hard, but something that needs done....I mean I'm always buying new stuff, so the old stuff just has to go--I still have clothes from my college days over 10 years ago.......Some people are mininalists, but not me....I feel most at home when I'm surrounded by knick knacks, and decorations, and stuff.....lol

Talk about sizes...
I used to be in 0's and 1's!!!!!!!!!
Hmmmmmmmmm ...
oh, there's a song in there some where's....

I wonder if I will ever see those sizes again???
Yeah, and I'll win the lottery next week too!!

I bet you have a memory for every one...memories help make a house a home!

I still have clothes from when I was a pre-teen/teen

My hubby just got 4 out of five on the lottery(over $1000!) so it is possible!

G-Mom

Gmom, that's great!!!! <img border="0" alt="[clappy]" title="" src="graemlins/clappy.gif" /> We play the lotto every week in hopes of winning.......

He's won twice in the past few months

G-Mom

Our Mega Lottery will be $111,000,000.00 on
Friday... I just know I'll win!!!

I'll be rooting for you

I'm a big pack rat and hubby is an cleaning nut, not a good mix.

I guess faith helps me to keep my closet cleaned out. I have lost alot of clothes in big bunches on several occasions, not my fault, but the fault of othersa who offered to help me at times. Lost almost everything I owned once when hubby's sister offered to help him do my laundry at the local laundry matt. The next day I had nothing to wear but underwear.

I guess the only time I actually gave any of mine away was when I was working and this woman's house burned and she was a size I had been, took everything out that was that size and gave to her.

and one other time I gave some stuff to a woman I worked wqith for her daughter.

I lost a bunch of clothes when I moved and was in the process of my divorce. (I think my ex helped there)

but I am the type as long as I have clothes I would never buy me anything new, so I guess that's faith helping me get new clothes

I'll be "rooting" for me too,
that's alot of seeds/plants/greenhouse stuff if I do!!!!

We don't play the lotto, but I think about it everytime I drive by the powerball billboard. Somebody's bound to win it soon...its up pretty high....don't really know how high tho.

Update on the diet. We started it on Monday...after eating out ALOT last week, I went up to 202. BUT if you look at my ticker, I'm almost back down to where I was before...haha. 3 1/2 pounds so far this week on the South Beach Diet. I haven't gotten to excercising yet this week...but I'm sure I'll loose a bit at work this weekend. We usually walk back and forth like chickens with our heads chopped off.

High Protein milk.....I get Borden Plus...it has 25% more protein than regular milk and it is 2% reduced fat AND is really good. That is what I give the baby...and then have to cut his nail twice a week!

And in re: to the cluttered house saga....I wish I had some pics of my dad's house to show you all! He lived in a 5 bedroom, 2 story, full basement house all by himself and you couldn't walk through it. He collected books & antiques & pencils & Avon bottles & salt & pepper shakers & you name it! He had 2 rooms that were nothing but floor to ceiling books and an album collection that was huge. When he passed away it took us almost a full year, 2 estate sales, 3 garage sales, a week-end of book dealers and a double size dumpster to clean the house out! Sad thing was...there was SO much of it that I WANTED to keep....but then my house would have looked like that...and almost does anyway!

Re clutter:
That's a great resolution, Loz. I've been trying to de-clutter mine in bits and pieces here and there for over a year. It's hard, but you're right, it's like a load is lifted from your shoulders when it's gone.
We got our pack-rat tendencies from both our sets of parents. I remember, right before I moved to CA, in '93, I went through my parents' basement and cleaned a lot of their stuff out for them. My dad still had check stubs from 1961! And my mom had boxes and boxes and boxes of something she wouldn't LET me throw out. You know what was in the boxes? MORE BOXES!!! She says you never know when you might need a box that size, so she never throws one away. Aaaugh!!!

I'd love to win a big pile of money. I just know I could spend it

well I got me one of those walking meters. tells you how many miles a day you walk. So far I have been averging about 4 miles aday just doing my house work and feeding the cats. I know I'd double that if it was warmer outside.

I have also been trying to declutter. Tho, it doesn't look like it, my upstairs, where people come in at, is a total disaster area. Kitchen is totally disgusting right now, both sinks piled with dishes, and the floor needs swept & mopped, not to mention, where's my counters & tables?

However... we started out in the spare bedroom in our basement. It has a small storage area like a closet.. under the steps, and has the water main in it. He stores his big toolbox & power tools in there, and I use it for Christmas stuff. We went thru it before Christmas, and we took out about 20 boxes of trash!!! We coudln't move in there for awhile.. the boxes had started piling from the closet, over into the bedroom. UGH. But now, it's usable again. There's still a little extra in there, but not much. And once I get my Christmas tree down (procrastinate much?), I'll have my little corner of the closet under the stairs, better straightened up than it is now.

Now, I go to my local freecycle, and make my first donation post.. a vaccum. It works, but I have a nicer one, a Kirby I bought almost 2 years ago. Haven't used the old Phantom since.

Later!
Meg

Geegeeburr...I gotta go along with your mom on this one.
You can't have too many boxes full of boxes!

You should see my closet

I guess I am just too far out to help. I got a room I keep all my boxes in.

Someone won the Mega Lottery,

Anyone know anyone down there?
Better ask Jiffy!!

Weezie

I hope it's my ex-husband...he owes me $50,000 in back child support and he lives in Ga.!

G-Mom

Wow, wouldn't that be a hoot if it was!!

OR maybe it was Frustratedattimes, or Jiffy..
Wish I knew, they never show the winners on tv
unless it's reallllly huge.

I feel bad for the last reallyyy big winners,
The granddaugher was found to have OD'd and the wife of the guy said she wish she'd never of wanted to win had she known what was going to happen with it...

Weezie

How are the 2005 Resolutions coming along?
Catlover

Doin very well
If i can't get above 90 without losing weight again, i think i can be pretty happy skippin around there I'd prefer to be at 100, but 90's alright ^.^

~Phoebs

Well Catlover, I admit I tried smoking again at a Valentines dance. One to many drinks . And you know what? It turned my stomach. I've never been so grossed out in my life. I took one puff and threw it away. I can honestly say that I will never smoke again. I really plan on keeping this resolution.

Hey Pheobs...keep eatin girl! I was at 92 this time last year and have (had) made it to

Ok, here's my update...

My daily medicine had to get tweeked by the doctor a couple of weeks ago. I do in on Wednesday for another blood test to make sure things are where they need to be. I like the dosage increase tho...I've been losing weight pretty well with it higher....that combined with getting up earlier and running around with the kids!

The diary/journal thing....that has been put off to the side just because I've been soooo busy the last few weeks with trying to get settled into the new job. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I will fall into a new routine and have things straightened out.

I have decided to piece together a quick quilt to work on in the evenings while we are in Florida. I should be able to piece it and baste it before we leave. I just have to figure out how to store my hoop so that it doesn't get broken on the way down there!!! College students don't tend to take care of things as well as Stephen and I do. I guess they just don't realize how much things cost yet.