*** Supportive Friends -- Looking to Release 50+ Pounds ***

@Meg - things are definitely getting a whole lot better on a personal front. My low year was 2010, due mainly to a major client keeping me hanging on with promises, then cancelling projects at short notice due to budget restraints so I ended up working (and earning) only about six months of the year. I think I did a lot of stress eating then! Things got better from February 2011 and continually improve. From a marriage point of view, don't get me wrong, we are good friends and sort of rub along together but I feel (and I'm sure she does too) there must be more to it than this. I notice a big difference when I'm with my family, sisters and mother, we just laugh non stop and I realise my life was always full of laughter (they do say it's the best medicine) but not in this marriage and I think that is what is missing, for whatever reason. However I am now full of optimism and feeling much better than I have for some years so the future looks pretty good.

@rdcphone572 - Although I was born there, I only lived in Scotland for the first ten years of my life so apart from drinking whisky I'm not very Scottish really. It's useful sometimes, in France for example, the English are not liked, so when asked if I am English I look offended and say "No, I'm Scottish". Traditionally and historically France and Scotland were allies against the common enemy England so the atmosphere immediately warms up! And they forgive my bad french!!

@jehan - Welcome back! And don't beat yourself up about losing it for a few days, sounds as if you had good reasons. Regarding eating your exercise calories, I think it depends what you set your activity level at. I am set at 'sedentary' so eat back most of my exercise calories (in the rare times I do exercise!), if I had set myself to lightly active I wouldn't and would probably have to do more exercise to warrant that level. Only you can tell, and it all comes down to what works for you. This works for me, I continue to lose about 3 lbs a week which is high, but then I have a lot to lose!

I'm away tomorrow and Wednesday, but only about a two hour drive from home so not too bad but I'll be in a restaurant tomorrow night......... Got a funny couple of weeks coming up, I'm off on Friday as my wife's cousin is arriving from Canada and she'll spend a week with us, Monday is a public holiday, then in theory I'm working next Tuesday/Wednesday but off again on Thursday for another long weekend. My sister also arrives from Africa next weekend, though she's not staying with us, so it's going to be busy!

Keep up the good work all :bigsmile:

@Loulou, welcome! Hope you do well on your way to getting fit.

@Ron, good to hear :happy: Have fun visiting with your family!

@Jehan, like Ron said, it depends on what activity level you have set. Mine is sedentary, so I eat back a portion, but not all, of my exercise calories. I have it set that way because I like having a baseline for days I don't work out. So if yours is set to something other than sedentary, you could change it to that to eat back your workouts.
Good luck with job interview! And don't worry to much about being away for a bit, we all have those times that things just don't go as well as we'd like.

@rdcphone, I'm not actually going to run backwards! lol, I guess I didn't say it the right way. I'm running my course in the opposite direction :bigsmile: Good work making sure to get your exercise in!

Monday... Going to walk my son to school this morning, then do grocery shopping, and then work on making jar cozies (a little side income, a friend sells them at her tea shop), then walk to school to pick up my son, then make dinner for the family, then go for a run, then come home and relax! And this is a typical day off for me. LOL. Have a good week everyone!

@Loulou - welcome, told you this was a good thread :happy:

@Steph - She's from Edmonton, AB, she's been there since the late 60's but still has a thick Norfolk accent. My first wife had an aunt (and family) in Sexsmith - drive north west of Edmonton till you just about hit the Arctic circle and you're there! - always tickled me that their main produce was rape...... Drove once from Vancouver through Jasper to Calgary and up via Edmonton to Sexsmith to visit, but a long, long time ago. Fantastic trip though, stopping along the Frazer river to watch the salmon jump the falIs and Jasper was something else. I was very disappointed to find the Mounties didn't wear the red uniforms and the funny hats though! Had a strange experience outside Calgary (the stampede was on, all the motels were full, and we were desperate for somewhere to stay, ended up in a .......town?......dorp?.... called Stony Plain. It was kinda like the wild west. Weird hotel with drunk people and no locks on the doors. I'll tell you about it sometime :laugh:) You Canadians are crazy Strangest thing about that trip was we'd been all through the US, southern states mainly from FL to CA for about four weeks, we were even starting to differentiate accents, and when we got to Canada they all sounded English in comparison!

Also @Steph - don't envy you your commute (tube?). I've had various contracts in London involving a 40 minute train to Charing Cross then, usually, a tube journey. the worst two being Kensington High Street and Hammersmith, or Canon Street and the City (at least that is walkable). Fortunately the last London one I did was a couple of years from 2001 at Universal Pictures in firstly the Ark, Hammersmith, then we moved to Oxford Street which was a damn sight easier. Since then I've been fortunate enough to be outside London and able to drive, and/or work from home.

Seriously though folks, someone is going to have to have a word with Meg's ponytailed husband and see if he can't hit her off button for a while. She's running hither and thither like a demented running thing, and showing us all up to be lazy and useless. I'm getting embarassed seeing "Meg has burned 50000 calories running around at top speed like a demented running thing", I feel just so inadequate. Gotta love her though, she's putting everything into this (Only joking Meg, we're full of admiration really!)

OK time to get to bed as I really need to be up at 5 am if I'm to avoid the worst of the traffic. Night all :yawn:

@RON! You really made me laugh out loud! I'm still laughing as I type this out! Now if anyone knew where my off switch was, it might actually be kind of nice. All this working out has given me so much energy, so I work out some more, then have more energy... You could say I'm siphoning it off my kids. They can't keep up with me anymore. In fact, as we were riding bikes to school one day last week, I told my older son to slow down for his wimpy mama, and he said "You're not a wimp Mom!" High praise from a 9 year old boy!

@Jane, glad I can be an inspiration! Funny story about organization. As a teenager, I always had things in my room very neat and tidy, it was unusual to find any sort of mess in my room. I know, a teenage girl whose bedroom floor was visible, who'd think they'd ever see that? Anyway, because of my (self diagnosed) OCD, and always clean bedroom, my dad used to come in and hang out. Just because it was clean (should have seen my siblings rooms!). I had saved up money and bought myself a futon, and he would just sit down on that and read a book. I thought it was funny, but it didn't bother me :laugh:

Well, my HRM finally arrived! I'm excited to test it out on my walk to school, then my run later this evening.

Hi guys, I’m very much here (mfp), back on it 100%, eating right, exercising (commuting every day), AND running whenever my work schedule will allow…though recently it hasn’t allowed it. I’m doing a 10K in July, so I’m absolutely committed to keeping that up. I’ve sorted out my foot niggles by getting better more supportive shoes for work so I can still power-walk without doing myself any damage.
Life is pretty hectic right now, work is manic, at home with my parents things are still really tense, and I’m seriously house-hunting for a house/flat share for me so I can move out soon. Doing viewings etc is adding to the hectic-ness but hopefully it’ll help things calm down in the long run.
Bf has moved, settled into his new job, new flat, and things are generally a bit calmer on that front. I very much look forward to reclaiming some quieter weekends once my own situation has calmed down a bit.
As I say, work is hectic, and my evenings are hectic, as when I’m actually home at a sensible time, I’m looking for houses/sorting out phone contracts/whatever other busy-ness needs doing! So I’m not on this thread as much as I’d like to be. I’m sorry I’m not providing much support, the only times I get onto mfp is via my phone/ipad when commuting/in 5 mins between work stuff, so if you need some extra support feel free to friend me, otherwise I’ll pop in and out when I can on here!
Hope you’re all doing great xxx

@Kelly, welcome :happy: Are you consistently logging your food? When I have a not great day foodwise, I log anyway. It helps me to see where I'm at, and what I can change. And you don't have to give up all the yummy stuff completely. I still eat all the items you listed! Just in moderation.

@Penny, glad to know you're still around! And glad you figured out the foot problem could be fixed with shoes. Good luck on the hunt for a new place! I know how crazy that search can be.

@Jehan, are you trying to go really fast when you do the running segments of c25k? If you are, I would slow down. Work first on the movement of running, speed can be worked on once the c25k program is complete. Also, you might want to look into Chi Running. I think they have a website. My husbands assistant is a runner, and she and I are friends via Facebook, and she told me about this method of running. It basically is good form running. I've been working on using that form and it makes running less tiring, and less stressful for your legs. Also, if you have an iPhone, they have an app. Haven't checked it out yet though.

Tuesday, means work... :grumble: Get to listen to people complain about the software I support. Yay... anyway, I am riding bikes to school with the kids, and running on my lunch break. I may get out of cooking dinner, since hubby may have a business dinner to attend. Then off to town after dinner for my son's choir practice. And since hubby will be at his rehearsal (The Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged, put on by our community theater), I get to bring the munchkin with me. So my evening is going to be crazy. Have a good day everyone!

@penny - welcome back. Agree with Steph - that is the purpose of parents! they make an art form of driving you nutty

welcome Kelly!

@Steph - glad you got to do the spinning class - lots of calories burned there. And your visit to the peanut butter makes me feel less bad about my visit to the lemon meringue pie! Over my calorie limit - but I don't care - it's been a long, hard day at work and it was so worth it!!

ReNae!!!!!!! So glad you found us and are here. I've kissed you and of course you can do it again :-)

ReNae!!!!!!! So glad you found us and are here. I've kissed you and of course you can do it again :-)

Haha just reread this morning. I of course meant I missed you! Silly autocorrect. :-)

@Renae - I think I joined after you left, so I haven't kissed.....er I mean missed.....you! Welcome back, I'm the token male around these parts.

@Meg - I do sympathise with your legs, no wonder they are complaining! Look after them, they're the only legs you have, have a long soak in a very hot bath and then be a couch potato for a day. Who am I kidding.............

@Steph - I have no idea what Spin class is, but it sounds dizzy making, anyhow glad you made it and enjoyed it

@Jenny - welcome! This is a great thread and very supportive.

@Penny - welcome back, glad things are becoming more stable for you. And as a parent of a grown up son, I have a different (and if I might say, more sensible and balanced) viewpoint I don't support the premise that it is parents' job to make life miserable for their offspring, it is much more the other way round. I really despair sometimes and now understand why my parents, in turn, despaired of me!

Busy week coming up, trying to get some time off while my wife's cousin is staying, no doubt work will be pestering too as I have a lot happening at the moment, not the best time for visitors. I've been accepted as a beta tester for the new Android version of MyFitnessPal app, downloaded it this morning and so far it looks good and an improvement on the current version.

@renae - welcome back! Good to hear that you are feeling better and ready to tackle this again.

@meg - congrats on the t-shirt sizing and general need to clear out clothes and start again. Think of the fun you will have buying fun new stuff for the summer. Not convinced your good husband will agree with us there though:laugh: Lemon meringue is also one of my favourites and I hadn't had any for ages. Wouldn't nornally have done it but we went into the supermarket to pick up milk and it was just sat there calling my name:happy: Although as Ron accurately pointed out, it was really the two fingers of Twix at work that did for me!

@steph - don't you just hate auto correct and predictive text - it gets us all into trouble so easily!

@ron - good to hear your positive thoughts about the new app for android phones. I have to say I've always liked the app on my iphone and I found the MFP app before I found the website - hopefully they will be making good changes to it and it will be available to us soon! Re: your view on parents - I sense a split between those of us who are parents and those who are not:laugh: Although I look back and I do wonder how on earth my parents put up with me!!

@jehan - sounds busy at work for you with all these job interviews. When do you expect to hear about the 'jumping ship' option? And what's with the unsubtle whispering??? Who do they think they are to do that??? Anyways, just use it as motivation to get back to where you want to be:bigsmile:

Well, I'm having a better day than I did yesterday - not that it would be hard! Working from home so for the first time all week actually get some real work done (other than right now obviously!). And we have two weeks off for the first two weeks of June - which means with Bank Holiday Monday, I only have 5.5 working days left. Which is both a good and a bad thing - great for the holiday but not so good given my workload. Oh well, can only do my best.

Anyway, back to work - determined to get in a proper workout tonight so will see you all later. Unless I don't do the workout in which case I shall hide!!

Welcome Fraileya! This is a great thread and we're mostly pretty positive. Some of us are manic and run around most of the day but the less said about that the better!! (You know who you are Meg :laugh: )

@jane - yes becoming a parent changes your life. Forever it would seem. And cost you a fortune. If I had my time over again............... Working from home is great and one of the biggest changes in working practices since the Industrial Revolution. Over the past five years I have been lucky enough to work from home for most of my working time, I love being able to get up in the morning, put the kettle on, switch on the computer, get a cup of tea, then check the overnight email. No commuting, no need to go out in the cold and scrape the frost off the car to get to some freezing station, etc, etc!

@jehan - yes things are busy right now. On the upside, I am off work tomorrow and Monday. Good luck with the interview(s), hope everything works out for you, there is nothing like a new job to give you a boost!

@Ron, "what you talkin bout Willis??" Me, run around like a chicken with it's head cut off? LOL, yeah, that's my life... Even yesterday on my rest day, I had to take a little walk. And do push ups.

@Fraileya, welcome! We are very positive, and you can share all the ups and downs of the process with us. I'll send an FR.

@Jane, did you get your workout in? No hiding!

@Jehan, wow, the bosses said that right in front of you? I'll go kick them in the shins for you. No matter what, that's just not nice. You're right to take it as motivation though. Let us know how the job interviews go!

@Tru, sounds like you've been getting your exercise! I've torn down and rebuilt fences, not an easy job :happy: Glad you're back with us!

Interesting day so far today. Rode bikes in the rain to school this morning. Got a text from my sitter that I don't need to pick her up, she has her mom's car today (yay for gas $$ saved!), so I sit down and try to get online. No go. Ugh, internet was down. So I missed my first hour of work due to that. Since the company I work for is in Ann Arbor, MI, and I'm in Washington State, I can't exactly go to the office to work instead. So waited around until the internet came back up, then logged on for work. Have gotten one call. Love slow days! Means I can spend more time messing around on MFP! lol!
So I'm going to do some zumba this afternoon, and ride my bike to the school again, and that should cover my exercise for the day. Although I might throw some yoga in there too. Then I've got do some more sewing. Don't know why I decided it was a good idea to make a batch of SEVENTY EIGHT jar cozies. Ugh. Oh well. At least it's a couple hundred dollars worth of income. And if I keep busy with it I might have it done by next month.

@Steph – You can kiss me anytime. That was a great autocorrect. So glad your husband is onboard with you. Just keep reminding him that ‘happy wife means happy life’. I’m really glad to be back and I love that this group is so active on here. I don’t always have time to post as much as I’d like but I really love being part of the momentum. It’s what kept me going before.

@Meg – From the post I’ve read you remind me of myself when I’d drop a fair amount and started cleaning closets. That is the best reward. So much fun. I bet you smile at yourself in the mirror now to. Way to go. There’s nothing better than pulling jeans over your hips without unbuttoning them when they used to be tight on you.

@Ron – You seem like the glue around here. I love that there is a guy is in the group. It really lends a different perspective. You have done great on your weight loss. What type of exercise do you do? I was running when I was at my lightest last year. I got to like it enough to run some races and really miss that world. Sounds like you live in the UK? What type of changes are there to the Android version of MFP? I use it quite often for for food diary. Love the bar code scanner!

@Penny – Nice to see you here again. I’m with you on the crazy schedule thing. Some days I’d like to pull the plug with all the technology but I guess wireless has made that virtually impossible. I find taking time during the day to do some deep breathing helps. Check in when you can. We’re all in it to win it. Good luck training for that 10K!!

@Kaavery – Welcome to the thread. With your exercise routine I’m sure you will find that logging your food everyday will make a huge difference for you. It’s not hard once you find your way around. It will discourage you from reaching for the ice cream and pizza because those are not fun to log in. I’m doing a 21 day cleanse right now but when I begin migrating foods back into my diet I’ll try to log my meals for the day before I eat them. PLAN PLAN PLAN! You can do this. Sounds like you enjoy a good challenge.

@Jehan – Thanks for the welcome back greetings. It’s good that the ‘slim’ comment didn’t upset you during your interview but I think I would have throttled the guy. How rude can you be!? At least you’re using it as a motivator. You are a smart girl!

@Jane – I hope you have a good workout! We know you’ll do it! Looking forward to the long weekend myself. We’re heading to Northern Maine to do some camping with our girls. Hope to get a little hiking in also.

Welcome to Fraileya and tru- So nice to be in an active group here. I had a terrific Thursday (or should I say Thirsty Thursday – everyone should drink an extra 16 oz of water today – old MFP tradition). Setting some goals for the weekend. Plan to do at least one small hike and several long walks with my husband. Maybe even a good mt. bike ride. Keep it skinny everyone!

Sorry for the long post - it's just great to be here. Friend me if you would like.

quote from Megblackburn Gump about starting MFP "Now you wouldn't believe me if I told you, but I could run like the wind blows. From that day on, if I was ever going somewhere, I was running!!"
@meg - you're just amazing!

@Steph - I don't think there's any call to use language like that, there may be children reading! I know you have your wild colonial frontier ways and you're not fully civilised yet, but we're rather more cultured in this part of the world and a "Cor Blimey" or "Stone the crows" would have done just as well and been perfect for the occasion. :laugh: Hope you're feeling better today, tell us your woes, sharing them is halving them!

@_tru - Welcome back, we thought you'd got lost because of the switch to the new thread. It was getting kinda lonely around here with just Meg, myself and Jane at one point!

@rennae - Exercise? Girl go and wash your mouth out with soap! What is all this cussing going on around here about? If I ever get the urge to exercise I go and lie down in a darkened room, and it passes.......... Seriously, walking is the only exercise I get at the minute, I'm taking it relatively easy because of my weight and age coupled with a cartilage problem in my right knee (need to have surgery probably at some point, but can't afford being unable to work for 6 weeks or so), so the bulk of my weight loss has come from calorie watching. Yes I am in the UK, there are places in the world I'd rather live but I couldn't budge my wife even with a crowbar! The new MFP Android app is in my opinion quite an improvement on the old one, which was a bit basic, and the functionality more in line with the web app. There are a few bugs to be ironed out still, we seem to have lost the 'frequent' list from the food selections, and stuff like that. There is now a menu accessed by tapping the top left corner so you can get to anything with two taps.

@jane - have a relaxing weekend and give yourself time to get back on track. It doesn't look like your wish for sun will come true, we actually had sleet at one point yesterday would you believe. Glad to hear your Mum is not letting you get away with anything :noway: sounds like you are too alike.

Another 1.4 lbs down this morning (yesterday morning having been away a couple of days I was, in theory, the same as last Monday), and I expect to lose a little more tomorrow morning, the usual water retention while I'm away sorting itself out. That gives me a UK type victory of going over 3 stones (I don't think in stones having lived abroad for many years, pounds is my thing, but people in the UK relate more easily to stones). Coming up to 4 months on MFP in another week or so, and I'm thrilled with the results My waist measurement seems to be on the move at last now, presumably, I've got rid of the internal vascular fat, it's gone down an inch in the last two weeks. My belt which I haven't worn for about four years is now getting very close to fitting, only another inch to go and I'll be able to reach the first hole, which will be a great relief as I'm fed up with my trousers slipping down and doing what Meg refers to as " the hitch 'em up shimmy"!

Have a nice weekend all :happy: