NEED TO LOSE 100 LBS OR MORE !

Annie, Kris and Angelika- Welcome back, so happy that you found us again.

Rewards- Go to a park and have a picnic or take a bike ride. We have a local park that has paddle boats or canoes available for rent that could be a reward. You may also want to consider clothes shopping as a rewards since as you lose weight your body shape and size will change. I know I now have fun buying clothes these days.

I admit it I should go to the gym tonight but I am just not in the mood to workout. I am sore from yesterday's workout and just don't have the energy. I will do something tomorrow either in the morning or afternoon depending on how my day goes.

I did get my Wednesday wish early- I went shopping today and was able to fit into pants that were a size smaller (14) than last summer (16). It was my favorite brand but I did pick out some brighter colors this year. It's funny, some brands I am okay with wearing a slightly larger size and others I will refuse. I guess I know some fabrics will stretch. The ones that didn't fit quite right were not the ideal size for the brand. Overall, a good day.

Monday Check In: Weekend was good. I realized I don't eat meals, but snack all day. I stayed within my calories though so I'm OK with that. I took a break Saturday from exercising since I had gone 6 straight days. It was WAY too hot on Sunday (108) to walk so I decided to swim in my pool for 30 minutes. I miss swimming and think I'll do it more often before the weather changes.

Of course, this AM was not how I had planned. I needed to go get my right twin smashed as a follow up, but they messed up their communication (film versus disc). 2 hours wasted. Grrrr!!! I rescheduled at a different place for Friday. I'm sure it's nothing, but better to be safe than sorry. Save the ta-ta's!! Life is good though. No complaints.

Happy Monday all... I ate unplanned foods Saturday and Sunday, but I logged every bite. Today was back on track eating planned food choices. Rough week ahead at work, so I need to make sure I pack and take my good foods with me for lunch so I don't go all day without eating then make bad choices because I'm hungry and overwhelmed.

Wishing every one a good night's rest....

Monday check in- The leg cramps dissipated and now my calf is just a little sore. I'm continuing eating foods high in potassium. I don't really know if that is the problem, or if I strained it last week at the gym. I would have thought that if it was potassium, a day or two of V-8s and bananas would have done the trick completely. I'm planning on ordering new shoes.
I didn't weigh in this weekend. I know I should, but I'm putting it off until next Saturday. I'm starting to think I see improvements in the mirror, though. I noticed the other day that if my posture is correct, I see my bust when glance down, but my tummy isn't protruding past it.

If the cramping was severe enough, it could have caused some internal bruising of your calf muscle which would account for the lingering soreness.

Bella, HUGS. You need them more than any of us right now.

Toots, I hope that newsletter you got was good news!

Oh, crud, totally forgot your name (gentleman looking for on-the-cheap rewards). If you have, or have access to, tent camping gear (and you like said activity), it's pretty cheap. And fun, IMO. Not cheap if you have to buy the gear, mind you. Alternatives.... try doing something ridiculous and fun -- roller skating or ice skating, perhaps. River rafting. Kayaking. Check out a local museum. There are tons of things you could do; approach your own city (or nearby ones) as though you were a tourist, and get out there!

Monday check-in: yesterday was a total calorie blowout. Saturday was better but still bad. HOWEVER, yesterday was "potty party" day for my little one, who will be 3 soon. The entire day (literally, 7:30-6) was spent with her, her new doll, and a series of treats and party activities that revolved around teaching Dolly to use the potty and then reinforcing the same skills with the kiddo. She is now the proud wearer of big-girl underpants and a member of the Mystic Order of the Toileteers.... Her Big Kid Celebration included a very calorie-dense meal at The Old Spaghetti Factory (original location, woot!), and I have enormous appreciation for what Toots and other stay-at-home moms do daily. Honestly, as wonderful as the day was, I was just as tired (almost said "pooped," LOL) as I am after a full day at work!

Good Morning Tuesday and even its only 9am it is a good Tuesday, so this is a late addition to my earlier Monday Check In (which I think is on the last thread), but I weighed myself this morning and 7lbs down on last week....so, so happy but bemused as well (no way I should have lost this much with the over eating/drinking of last week).

So Tuesday Goals are going to stay the same as last week as they were not completed and I need to complete them and keep them going until they become habit. So for Nutrition, at least one serving of fruit or veg with every meal, and for fitness at least 5 30 minute workouts within the week.

So as part of my Tuesday Goals, I am about to head off to the gym and then food shopping (as not much in the house)...oh need to prep a snack for post gym/pre shop otherwise it will be dangerous

Tuesdays goals My goal is to get back on track with eating healthier this week . I am going to wait a while before i start exercising again since i had surgery last month but i am doing alot better now !~

Tuesday Goals: I weighed this morning and I'm right back down to 279. I'm going to refer to myself as Duncan(like the yoyo) from now on. I'm really indifferent about my weight now. I've been at this weight and want it to be lower. I'm running the way I should and I'm trying to eat the way I should. If my weight goes down so be it. If it goes up that's fine too. I have a 5k to concentrate on and don't need that stupid number to discourage me now. I think I'm going to lay off the scale for the next month and work on counting calories and getting my miles in on the road\treadmill(I hate that thing now) and weigh myself after the 5k.

5k training update: I ran last night and ran 3.2 miles! The only time I was tired was the last hill and the first mile. It's funny how that first mile is ALWAYS the hardest. Anyway I'm continuing to drink my water to get some more of this weight off of me. I drank a gallon again last night and I think the next few pounds should come off fairly easily if I do this. Wish me luck

Way to go! I was off my 5k training for about a week and got back to it last night. Ran 20 minutes (about 1.4 miles...I'm really slow) and plan to run 25 minutes tonight. I need to pick up my pace or I'm not going to meet my goal of 45 minutes (race is August 25).

Tuesday Goal: I tend to second-guess almost every food-related decision I make. Many of my meals end with the thought "I wish I'd eaten something else instead." So, I've decided to give myself a mental break and just accept the decisions I make and not feel so badly if maybe I didn't choose the best, healthiest thing on the menu. I can't expect to get myself in better physical shape if I continually beat myself up over things I cannot go back and change. A preventive measure, of course, is to make better food choices to begin with

Hope you all have a fabulous Tuesday! I'm excited to get back to my hotel tonight to go running :noway: (never thought I'd say that)

Cheers!
Annie

Good Morning Everyone!!! :flowerforyou:

First, I totally forgot to wish my fellow left-handers a Happy Left Handers Day yesterday--so there it is! :drinker:

Tuesday Goals:
I'm going to school in a bit to start prepping for classes next week. I want to get my room arranged (plan to move my desk and need to figure out how to rearrange the student desks to make this work). I also want to finish organizing the Gatsby binder I started on a month ago. When I first started teaching, I put everything in manilla file folders, but I've found that binders with sheet protectors stay better organized. Every summer I try to convert 1 or 2 of my most-used files to binders.

I'm also meeting a colleague to plan the first few weeks of our Honors American Lit course, and afterward, we are going out to lunch.

Realized we're almost half-way through the month and I haven't updated my monthly goals, so...:

August Goals:
1. Meet a minimum of 80g of protein at least 5x/week--Week 1 = 2/7; Week 2 = 5/6; Week 3 = /7; Week 4 = /7
2. Stick with my current calorie goal (9730/week)--I know I will be tempted to raise this once school starts--this actually dropped to 9590 b/c of weight loss and so far, so good...
3. Gym visit or 5k at least 3x/week (this will be hard once school starts on the 22nd)--Week 1 = 3/7; Week 2 = 3/7
4. Get back to doing core work at least 3x/week--Week 1 = 0/7; Week 2 = 2/6

I'm getting better with the protein. Really need to work on goal 4. :ohwell:

I have to share this......

Top 10 things I've learned along the way


1. The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday - I borrowed this saying from my MFP pal Brutesquad (who borrowed it from the Navy Seals), but it sums it all up better than anything else I can think of. If you became obese, you will fight the “battle of the bulge” for the rest of your life. Apparently the most recent science from Yale and Cornell supports this phenomena - - one that most of us have experienced first-hand. Even if you reach your “ideal” weight after much effort, and hold it there for years; your body remembers that it was once heavy and wants to get back to that nice comfy place where they serve jelly doughnuts. You will always need to consume less calories than someone who is the same size as you, but who spent their entire life at the “ideal weight.” So, as many have said before, this must be a lifestyle change, not a temporary change. Diets are great to get you started, but no “diet tricks” will ever work for maintaining your weight. If you “diet” and then go back to your old method of eating, then you will just gain it all right back. You have to keep hammering away at the fat enemy every day for the rest of your life. You can whine about how unfair this all is, or you can accept it and get to work.

2. Eat Less and Move More - That is the only answer to the weight problem. Now, tomorrow and 50 years from now, if you want to weigh less you have to do both of these things. I don’t care whether you go paleo, Atkins, low calorie, low fat, vegan, or whatever floats your boat. I don't care if you run, swim, lift, bike, or zumba. If it means you eat less than you burn every day, go with it. One approach may work better for you than another, and you can adjust things up and down as needed for your body situation, goals and metabolism, but this unforgiving rule of physics is one you cannot escape. You have to burn more calories than you take in to lose weight. And, you have to burn just as many calories as you take in to stay at that weight; every week from now until you are pushing up daisies. Anybody who tells you different and promises a “miracle” fix is lying.

3. Do Something You Like - You need to, for the most part, enjoy your fitness journey, or at least not hate it. If you hate your exercise routine, and it feels like torture every day, you will fail. Willpower alone can only take you so far. Once you figure out what you have to do (to meet Rule #2) and find exercises you enjoy (or at least can tolerate), you can go on cruise control and just go out and get it done every day. I know; you don’t like exercise, right? So find the ones you hate the least and do them until you learn to like them! You will enjoy them more than the diabetes/stroke/heart attack which are behind Door #2.

4. Do The (Hard) Work - I hate to break it to you, but you have got to work hard to make body changes. There is no fitness system, pill, or gizmo that will ever give you a flat stomach, a firm butt, or the physique you want. If you think there is, you will be continually disappointed and poorer for it. What “hard” means will vary from person to person, but you have to challenge your body and fitness level if you want them to change. Depending on your fitness level, a 5 minute brisk walk may be “hard.” Do it anyway if you want results. If you don’t want results, why are you reading this?

5. Eat some damn breakfast - I know its early - just do it. Your body will thank you.

6. Drink a bunch of water - Seriously! Keep drinking it every day. Drink ½ your body weight in ounces or as much as you can stand, whichever comes first. It helps. It also keeps you away from soda and sugared drinks which is HUGE for cutting calories.

7. Don't allow yourself to get HUNGRY - Eat something (preferably something healthy) at least every four hours unless you are sleeping. That “I could eat a horse” feeling will lead to trouble – metabolically speaking.

8. Eat Stuff That Used to Be Alive - I am not an “All Natural Organic Everything” type of guy, but I get the argument. If all you eat is a bunch of chemicals, why are you surprised that you feel lousy? I never read a food label before this year, but when I started doing it – wow, what an eye opener (both from a calorie and an ingredient standpoint). I don’t care what the carb/protein/fat mix is as long as you are hitting your nutrient and calorie goals, and you feel good, but the stuff that used to be a part of nature had better be the foundation of each meal. Everybody eats processed foods from time to time, but try to keep them to a minimum. They tend to offer less fiber, less nutritional value, and are less satiating. Thus, you eat more which is how we all got here. Most of the natural stuff is packed with fiber. Fiber's effect is the opposite of snack foods’. When you have fiber in your stomach, food takes longer to enter the bloodstream, and your blood-sugar level stays steady. You stay sane and your body works efficiently to burn calories - it's win-win.

9. Make a Plan - If you haven’t thought about how you will get your workouts in, or how you will meet, but not exceed, your calorie goals, don’t be surprised when you fail. Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail. How you do it is up to you, but you better make a plan and stick to it. Figure out your BMR, your TDEE, and adjust your Plan as needed. Find a goal and make your plan to reach it. I don't care if its a target weight, a little pink bikini, or a marathon finish. Write it down, and work at reaching that goal. Wing it, and you might as well say “Goodbye diet - hello diabetes.”

10. Don’t Quit - If you fall off the horse, you get back on. It’s as simple as that. Life will put obstacles in your path, and you will fail from time to time. Just don’t quit. You, and your loved ones, are worth the effort. Mine certainly are. Yours are too, aren't they?

Remember, the only easy day was yesterday. (Sorry, I don't make the rules - I've just gotta live with them the same as everyone else.) I didn't think any of this stuff up, I just learned it the hard way.

Got it? Great, now go get to work! You got this!

Wow - Joe, GREAT stuff. Thank you for posting it.......

I'm sorry but haven't got much to offer this morning. I am totally dragging today---just could not sleep last night. Fitbit tells me I woke up 20 times. I believe it.........so tired, have a headache, and my butt is dragging (probably both literally and figuratively). Don't know what was eating at me last night. I'd like to be a little kid again----anyone else remember taking a mat to school and having nap time? Oh and that was after a carton of milk (and I usually selected chocolate). Misty memories..........

Okay, snapping back to it. Truth is I know I've gotta consistently move it. And my Fitbit says I'm not doing enough and who can argue with an electronic device. I'm aiming for the 10,000 steps a day that seemingly every expert recommends. This really is not easy for me. I started with my Fitbit in May at 1,100 steps a day. (She hears a collective intake of breath from the crowd----) Yes, very, very sedentary. I'm going to do my best. This will likely always be my rock to push up the hill.......

Wishing everyone well. Off for another glass of water. :drinker:

Oh and Morgori, no dragonfruit at the grocery store so I had a Kiwi yesterday. :laugh: I heard that when they get dragonfruit they sell out quickly. They must be MAGIC. :laugh:

Lin (exiting slowly)

Hello everyone, happy Tuesday to you.

I am thrilled to have found some support/encouragement on here from some other guys who have succeeded in weight loss goals similar to mine. MFP is such a blessing to me.

GOALS (I guess I'll post up how I'm doing on these next Tuesday):

1. We're headed to the beach on September 15. My goal is to reach 25lbs lost by then. That's only 4.5 weeks away, so that's a bit faster than 2lbs a week, but it's target to shoot for.

2. Conquer the temptation to splurge when we eat out anytime in the next week. If I can begin the habit of ordering healthy food and stopping before I'm full now, it will be easier to continue.

3. Go walking in our neighborhood for 30 minutes at least three times this week.

Good Morning Everyone-

Tuesday's goal-
Fitness related- check out the new gym my job just built and possibly sign up it's $10.00 a month can't beat that.

non fitness related-- buy new work pants I have gained most of my weight lost back over the last 2 months or so. None of my clothes fit.

@Tina- Congrats on the school stuff! The Coach purse is a awesome reward.

@bellawares- God Bless you for being such a good person to help out your family in their time of need. I would state like someone else did make time to take care of you. Also the personal trainer thing does suck but why waste more money on person who says they can't help you. Could be your blessing in disguise.

@Skinny- Thanks for the house wishes!

Tuesday Goal:::: This has been my goal for the past few weeks/months? I have kind of fallen off and just haven't quite found my way back. I'm not totally gone. Just sometimes. Like yesterday I made horrible food decisions and didn't get any exercise in. This week is going to be very hectic for me. My daughter starts pre-k Thursday and right after she gets out of school Thursday and I get off work at 12pm we are heading to Tennessee to be with my best friend after her hip surgery. To help her out and such. And today is pre-k registration and tomorrow is pre-k orientation. And then Thursday she starts and we'll be gone Thursday and be home Sunday. And so eating is going to be hard while I'm at her house. I'm going to do my best. I need to figure out what I'm doing SO differently than when I was consistently losing. I keep yo-yoing and it's driving me crazy. My lowest was 214, yesterday I was 220. I WILL get this figured out. I am SO close to "onederland" and to my new coach purse COME ON what more motivation do I need?!?!?!? I'm still at least tracking the best I can and really working on it.

I'll get there.

Have a Terrific Tuesday everyone

Tina

Wow, you're so far along! And so close!

You might do well to try and plan ahead for meals/snacks so you don't fall off the wagon in your busy schedule. I'm in the same boat and that's what i'm trying to do.

A friend said something to this effect yesterday that really resonated with me....

Just because you had a bad meal doesn't mean you have to have a bad day.
Just because you had a bad day doesn't mean you have to have a bad week.
Just because you had a bad week doesn't mean you have to have a bad month.
Just because you had a bad month doesn't mean you have to have a bad year.
Just because you had a bad year/years doesn't mean you have to have a bad life.

I'm trying to plan as far as this trip goes. She might have me make dinner. She's having hip surgery so wont be up and moving a lot.
Those words are SO true. For so long thats why I never succeeded. I would have a bad day and be like oh well screw it. But this is my life style now. I just sometimes struggle with it. And I understand that will happen from time to time. I'm prepared for it. Just having a rough patch and doing the best I can.
Hopefully I get time for a nice walk/jog tonight...if not I have my lovely elliptical that is waiting for me at home