Shape Up for Canada - July 2011

Okay....I haven't lost anything more than the six I managed to work off since Christmas. Exercising like mad...and trying to make much healthier choices, so I suppose things will start to move eventually. ::)

I want to thank Jablea for her tremendous work in keeping this thread alive during both challenges....

I'm going to keep plugging along.....I've used many of the suggestions in this thread! Thanks to everyone who contributed!

[stardust]

AcK!!! I had a whole long post and lost it! Grrrrrr!

I lose 1 lb this week but still bouncing around. Maybe it isn't a good thing to weigh everyday. Not sure how I managed that cause I've been binging off and on for a couple days. I'm vacillating between trying to make WW work and going back to moderate low carb diet. Low carb lots easier than WW with all the measuring and weighing and journaling. Need to chose and stick to it. Oh, well. And still trying to get butt out of chair. Wish Adam would be boring for a week or two.

Thank you, Jablea, for running the thread. It really does help to check in. I promise I'll try to do better. I hope we will set another goal.

Hugs to all who are working it!!

[sugaree]

Encouragement to everyone here. I admire your commitment and drive.

FWIW, my husband has lost 21 pounds in a month and a half using a low carb approach. We were on vacation eating big meals at restaurants and the condo. Still, by keeping it basically low carb, he didn't gain a pound. I don't follow a particular diet book or anything, just cut waaaaay down on the carbs. I make him breakfast and it's fruit, cottage cheese and a one egg omelette. A treat is an English muffin with butter and apple butter that I make myself without sugar. He is using agave syrup in his coffee and on his fruit. It tastes a hell of a lot better than other sugar substitutes in out opinion. Lunch is a whole wheat wrap, a salad, or leftover dinner. Dinner is usually a meat or fish and a veggie only. Rice or potatoes are a once in a while treat (he doesn't like pasta). If we go out, it's mostly sushi or a burger - no fries, at other kinds of restaurants, he skips the bread, rice, pasta, etc. I know this doesn't work for everyone, just wanted to share.

[adamrocks]

Hi, guys. I haven't checked in for a couple of weeks...me bad! :( But I have lost a couple of pounds just staying away from pasta, rice, and some other carbs. Lots of salads and lettuce wraps are helping, too. But they can get pretty boring. ::) I tried to spice them up with the spicier Laughing Cow cheeses.

[Jablea]

Friday

Topic: The Dreaded Weekend Looms.....

It's when we eat out more for family time, sports have the hubby glued to the tv, and the weather never seems to cooperate.

Since every wants to keep going then let's shoot for the DVD/CD release in Japan on April 27th. That's 5 weeks out so 5-10 pounds if we are losers and maybe a dress size if we are slimmers. Somebody will have to add up the pounds of veggies for those of us eating betterer.

Do you want to stick with the Tuesday weigh in day or move it to Wednesday to coincide with the 27th?

I'll post topics at least twice a week, sometimes more. It's gardening time so we'll green up the place a bit.

[Melisende]

I've been trying to spend less time on the social media sites because I have so much work to do on getting presentations ready for my cruises in June. But I don't want to get off track and this thread helps.

I was down 4 pounds this week for a total of 28 pounds but I also know I'll be up this weekend because I've had a couple of very bad days. It was all emotional eating because my purse disappeared on Tuesday night from the house and by Thursday morning, reality sunk in (that it wasn't just misplaced) and that I had to replace everything from passport to drivers license, credit and banking cards, android phone ($300), car keys ($300) etc. I was devastated, stopped counting points and ate the cupcake my son bought to cheer me up. That speaks volumes doesn't it?

I'm clearly not in control when I stop counting points but at least the binge was mainly nuts and WW cookies.

My viewing party is April 11 and as of tomorrow I'm back on the wagon to get in shape for it.

BTW, low carb worked for me on the 2 week cruise in Feb. Stayed away from bread, potatoes, rice but not desserts - sorry I love them - and took off the few pounds I gained in a week.

[Jablea]

Tuesday

Topic: Oh no, another Check in Day

Well, I haven't budged an inch or a pound, hope others are having better results.

Melisende, it's scary when something disappears from the house. We've had several break ins of cars in the neighborhood. About once a month they've come thru and rifled thru unlocked cars. Ours has always been behind a gate with 2 big dogs on the prowl so it's very invasive when you think someone you don't know has been in your car seat. I'm always afraid now that I've left something in one. I hope things are a little back to normal for you.

[Alison]

I'm all for continuing because I fear that I have lost ground. I don't anticipate a huge turnaround next week though. We are going out of town for spring break--renting a beach house with several families and our main source of entertainment is related to food and drink. I do intend on engaging in beach activities to help balance the effects of my intake.

In general, I will probably be around Atop less because we have decided to put our house on the market next month. But this thread has helped so I'll surely check in here.

Melisende, sorry to hear about the theft. The same thing happened to me last fall and it is definitely an awful feeling and a real pain in the ass to deal with replacing,cancelling, etc. I have never understood the mindset of people who feel they have the right to steal from others.

[flowergirl]

almost forgot today was weigh-in day! No loss no gain this week...guess I'll have to step up my efforts a bit. I want results!

good luck all!

[stardust]

ACK! Well, I hate to report that I actually gained a pound. UGH! Struggling to get back on low carb moderate. Weight watchers just didn't work for me at this time. Good thing Ihave to check in or I might take a long time to get back on course!!! Thanks all!

[Jablea]

Friday

Topic: Getting Active with the Kids

Spring has arrived with full force here, for a day or two at least. Sunshine into the evening, more opportunity to be outside. The bikes are going to get a work out.

Well this week was Spring Break here too so I had to get something to keep the kid busy. Signed him up for ski lessons. So I've spent 5 hours on each of the last four days driving back and forth to the ski hill. Dang that's a windy road. Considering that we ate chicken strips and fries for lunch every day and I spent the 2 hours of his lesson playing with my new smart phone. (Do you know how to hook up your Android data plan to your notebook? I do now.) But maybe the stress of the last day wore off any weight that I'd gained, well that and fear of heights on that road.

What stress? The stress of deciding to ski the bunny slopes. Me that is. I haven't skied since I was pregnant 11 almost 12 years ago and there was a lot less poundage on my body then too. Belly fat is so hard to work around when you are trying to get those boots buckled up and the duck waddle once they are on twinges the old knees despite the knee sleeves I adorned them with and I was sweating 6 figures in all my warm gear that wasn't needed that day. But I eventually made it to the magic carpet and did a couple of runs and then stopped while I was ahead. I'm still walking today and my knees didn't swell up so Yeah!

[Melisende]

This must be the only thread I'm currently posting on but thanks for the kind comments regarding my purse - which hasn't appeared in any shape or form yet. I'm replacing all the document stuff but don't have the money yet for a new android phone and spare car keys. It'll come though.

Weight loss journey has been odd, to say the least. I gained 2 pounds earlier, as expected, due to going off the WW plan and cutting back on gym time due to a very painful knee. I can barely walk, so I stick to the stationary bike and rest the knee every other day.

Then I went back on the plan 2 days ago and have been peeing every 2 hours - including all night long - with the result that this morning I was down 3 pounds from my last weigh in for a total lost of 31 pounds.
Not sure what's going on but with my viewing dinner/party next Sunday I'd love to be down another couple pounds - so am motivated to stickwith counting points this week. I've got a big menu planned and will be indulging.

Jablea, I sure know what you mean about the belly fat. After menopause everything shifted from the butt to the belly and it drives me nuts. It's so much easier tying my shoes and picking things up off the floor right now.

[Jablea]

Tuesday

Topic: Weighbells ringing...

Yep time to use that scale or tape measure or former skinny clothes and see how the week went by.

I'm down 1 for a total of 2. It's been nice enough outside to bike and getting those quads burning calories. I can tell exercise is the key for me. My neck and shoulders are giving me fits so I'm doing my weights for them too.

Melisende, you lost weight once before too right? How much did you lose then?

[sugaree]

Wanted to share an interesting article in my paper this morning.

Use hot peppers for a hot bod.

Here's once of our favorite diet tips. To lose a few pounds, think hot when you're in the kitchen. Add spice to your foods. Red hot peppers will curb your appetite so you eat less and stay satisfied for hours.

Capsaicin in jalapenos, cayenne, red pepper flakes, hot sauces, etc. works in several ways. It seems to keep "I'm hungry" messages from reaching your brain. It also activates about 20 different fat burning proteins which boost your metabolism so your body burns calories faster.

It only requires several bites to get the full fat burning effect.

[Melisende]

Apr 5, 2011 0:19:48 GMT -5 Jablea said:

Tuesday

Melisende, you lost weight once before too right? How much did you lose then?

My first long-term weight loss was started in 2005 with WW and I lost about 90 pounds and made life-time. (Of course, I've been on and off crash diets since my teens).
By Jan. 2011 I had gained back 100 pounds & knew I had to take control again. This also has to be for the last time as I don't think I can lose that amount a third time.
I'm not being as strict this time around but basically the regime is the same. Keep track of what I eat and get to the gym as often as possible. This time I'm also cutting way back on the white carbs.
As of today I'm down 32 pounds but we'll see what it is at the "official" WI Thursday.

I'm going to try aerobics tonight because my knee is getting better. Stationary bike actually seems to be a good workout and easy on the knee.