Need to Lose 100 LBS -Robins Thread !

@Rozie. So sorry for your loss. You will miss your mother so much. I'm proud of you for making this a stepping stone to a healthier life.

@Rozie. Sorry about your loss. Praying for God's comfort.

I need to loose about 160 pounds, could always use more friends and motivation.

@rozie--so sorry for your loss. My heartfelt condolences to you and your family.

@holly--your Riley looks a lot like my Gunner when he was younger. I think you were very smart to drop that math class--always take control of what you can in life.

@linda--I've had days like that--one little choice can upset the whole day. When I 1st started logging, I used to log my planned meals and snacks for the day, first thing in the morning. It kept me on plan and made it easier to adjust if need be.

@amy--I'm happy that you are happy about the Patriots going to the Superbowl. Just as I'm happy that Tammy is happy about the Seahawks. As for this Chicago girl, I'm happy we have a new coach for our Bears.

@kelley--glad you are enjoying the walks. That's a tough one about the gym membership. Does it have a monthly membership option? Could you get a "summer-only" membership. I know a lot of gym's offer that due to all of the students who are out of school all summer. Some gym's also let you put your membership "on hold" for a time period to accommodate people who travel a lot or are snowbirds. It might be worth talking to someone at the gym to see what your options are--I bet they would be willing to offer you some sort of package to keep you as a patron even if it's just for part of the year.

@L2T--congrats on your daughter's engagement--how exciting for your family!

@MKknits‌ --hope everyone gets well soon!

Welcome to all of the newlings!!

Monday check-in:
After one day on the prednisone, my shoulder and neck already feel so much better. Tomorrow I will call to schedule the PT. I had a very productive day since school is closed for MLK day. I met a colleague for a working breakfast, came home and walked gunner, then went to starbucks to grade some more. From there I went straight to the gym and ran 3 miles in 32 minutes.

Now I'm home checking in with you guys and I still have plenty of time to get lunch ready for the week and perhaps grade the analysis activities.

2015 mantra = "Just 15 minutes"

January Challenge:
Under calorie goal: 17/19 days (goal is 28/31 days)
All-in: run 2 days/week: week 1 = 2/2, week 2 = 3/2, week 3 = 1/2, week 3 = x/2
8k at end of month (not sure what day) in 56 minutes (Thanksgiving 8k = 56:49, NYE 8k = 57:47)

Grading Goals:
1. 36/66 AP essays
2. 30/66 AP journals
3. x/14 junior analysis activities
4. 23/66 journal conferences

Exercise Goals: (week 3)
Sun--walk gunner DONE
Mon--walk gunner DONE + gym DONE
Tues--rest day (meeting)
Wed--walk gunner + gym
Thurs-- walk gunner
Fri--rest day
Sat--walk gunner + gym

Hello all! My name is Brittany. I'm not new to MFP, but this is my first time jumping in and posting in groups. In 2012 I weighed 253 pounds (5'8) and by 2013 I got down to 218. I moved out of my parents house and couldn't find time to eat healthy (re: was too lazy to eat healthy) and by the beginning of this year I had reached 274 - the most I've ever weighed. I have asthma, so my breathing is already raspy, add 100+ pounds of extra weight and I sound like a freight train. The good thing I realized I couldn't live like that anymore, and I joined a gym, as well as asked for a bike for Christmas that I've begun riding every day. I'm also living back home again (a whole other story on its own) and my mom is on a health kick herself so eating healthy has gotten easier. Since starting last Monday I'm down 10 pounds (260) and hoping to be under 200 by my 27th birthday in December. I could use any encouragement you'd like to throw my way, and friends are welcomed, too! I'm hoping to stick it out this time! Healthy is the new skinny!

Welcome to the new people, you have found a great group.

Rozie- Sorry to hear about your mom. Wishing you and your family peace during this time.

The swim meet went well and I beat all the times that I put in so that was an accomplishment. I also managed to beat one person in on the last leg of the 100 Back stroke so I was not last for once. Overall, I am happy with the results of the meet. I thing I learned is never shave your legs on the day of a swim meet. I have a horrible area on the inside of my knee that looks red, spotty like when you cut yourself while shaving. It does hurt and is painful. I also learned that I need to use the steps to get out of the pool, otherwise my calfs will never get rid of the bruises. They are very sore and bruised and I can't blame it on rock climbing.

I had a good workout tonight and learned something from my trainer about eating. There are now three reasons why people eat besides hunger. There is the emotional eater- you eat based on how you feel whether it is happy, sad, celebration, crisis etc. Then there is the food for fuel to run your body (what we strive for and most athletes do this. The newest form is the social eater- hence this is what I tend to do. You eat when you go out with friends. So the trick is to avoid always meeting people for dinner or lunch within reason. Instead go for walk or do something active first or afterwards. The problem with restaurants is the amount of time you wait for food- ie then you order drinks, appetizers etc. So when you go out to eat avoid the apps and order the entree's, drink water instead of the liquor. When I thought about this I realized that when I eat out the night before my weight is usually up in the morning and the reason is simple- Too much sodium in the food, I eat to much and all the sitting and waiting for food. The point is not to avoid eating out it is doing so in moderation and pairing it with some type of exercise. I am a social eater since I like to go out with friends and people. When I do huge group things I tend to overeat the wrong type of food.

Have a great day and a good work week.

I just starter again on mfp after taking a 1 1/2 month hiatus. I was doing really well and lost 15lbs between last September-November but now I've gained 7lbs back and feel so disappointed in myself for falling off again. But I'm back up and ready to start again!

Wow--lots of newlings have jumped in tonight! Welcome to all of you. Come back often and you will get a lot of support as we get to know you.

@marilyn--you're here doing it now and that's what matters.

@minny--you're still down 8 lbs from where you started, so that's a win IMHO.

@bap--anyone can learn to plank; you just need to start slow. Straight arm planks are much easier than planking on your forearms. Also, if you can't start with a straight arm plank on the floor, try it on the stairs or a counter top--any stationary surface that will provide an easier angle than flat on the floor. Once you find a good starting point hold it for as long as you can, rest, and repeat for a few reps. Then add 5 seconds each subsequent session. In order to see improvement, you'll need to be consistent, but you don't necessarily have to do them everyday. Every other day might be ideal as it will give your muscles time to rest and recover. Once you can hold the plank at your current angle for 1 minute, increase the difficulty (ie. move down one stair, or from the counter to a lower surface). Once you can hold a straight arm plank on the floor for 1 minute, you should be able to do a forearm plank for at least 15-20 seconds.

@laurie--congrats on your swim meet--that's awesome that you beat all of your times!! I loved hearing about the different types of eaters. I would add one more--the boredom eater. Perhaps this is just a variation of the emotional eater, but I think it's slightly different than "feeding your feelings." Rather it's feeding a lack of activity. I know I'm guilty of this--when I'm bored, I want to snack. However, when I'm emotional, whether sad, angry, or nervous, I find it very hard to eat anything.

@brittany & 5girls--Welcome to you both!

@teresa--glad you were welcomed back so warmly at work!

AFM (as for me)--I got lunch ready for the week (Parmesan swai--yum!) and did a load of laundry. Never got back to grading and now it's getting late, but I'll have a lot of time to grade tomorrow while my students take their final exams. I need to finish 18 more of the essays tomorrow, but I'm hoping to have them all done before I leave work.

We have a pre-bargaining meeting after work which will probably go until 7-ish so glad I got the gym in today.

2015 mantra = "Just 15 minutes"

January Challenge:
Under calorie goal: 17/19 days (goal is 28/31 days)
All-in: run 2 days/week: week 1 = 2/2, week 2 = 3/2, week 3 = 1/2, week 3 = x/2
8k at end of month (not sure what day) in 56 minutes (Thanksgiving 8k = 56:49, NYE 8k = 57:47)

Grading Goals:
1. 36/66 AP essays
2. 30/66 AP journals
3. x/14 junior analysis activities
4. 23/66 journal conferences

Exercise Goals: (week 3)
Sun--walk gunner DONE
Mon--walk gunner DONE + gym DONE
Tues--rest day (meeting)
Wed--walk gunner + gym
Thurs-- walk gunner
Fri--rest day
Sat--walk gunner + gym

@skinnyjeanz - Glad your neck and shoulder are feeling better and good luck with the PT. Isn't it great to have a day off? It's a little slice of what life will (hopefully) be like if we ever get to retire.

@teresa - How sweet of your coworkers to welcome you back in such a nice way. Hope you continue to feel better every day.

@laurie - Congrats on beating all your previous times at the swim meet!

AFM - Doing much better with my eating and starting to drop the pounds I stupidly gained in the last few months. The weather is gorgeous this week after an entire week of gloomy, gray skies. I think the high today is in the 60s!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.

@Laurie~Hooray for beating all of your previous times at your swim meet!

@Teresa~What a warm welcome back to work!

@Karen~Glad the meds are helping your shoulder, hope you’ll be good as new after a couple of PT sessions. Thanks for the ideas. My gym only offers summer membership to kids that are home from college; however, I can freeze my account twice a year—maybe I can freeze it until Jun/Jul. I did talk it over with my friend and trainer some last night—for now I’m playing it by ear, see if we keep up with walking consistently.

@Hansea~Hooray for the loss this week, WTG!!!

@L2T~Congrats on the impending engagement for your daughter, how exciting. Sounds like she picked out a winner! Retirement…we can dream.

@Holly~You made some great decisions in moving around your classes, I know your're disappointed that it will prolong finishing your degree but I think your mental health is more important.

Welcome to all of the newlings. You’ve found a great place for friendship and support, check back often and become part of the conversation to receive the most benefit from this group.

AFM~Well, I had an altercation with a wood fence last night after a certain 100# chocolate lab pulled me down a hill because she saw ducks to chase! My hand and two of my fingers are pretty cut up. That was at the beginning of our walk yesterday; the rest of our walk was fine (our trainer joined us too, which was unexpected)—did a little over 3 miles. Today I lift heavy things with my trainer.

Monday~Walk w friend DONE!
Tuesday~Trainer
Wednesday~Walk w friend
Friday~Walk w friend (or rest day)
Saturday~Walk w friend (or rest day)
Sunday~Trainer

Drum Roll Please. . . . . . . . .A most successful weigh in this morning
Please note the new ticker


I am happy beyond words. The last time I was at this weight was when I was pregnant with my baby 23 years ago.

New goal is to get out of the obese category on the BMI.
Love to all Happy dance!
Lori
Living Life Gratified

Good morning all.

Happy National Cheese Lover’s Day!
January 20, 2015 is
National Cheese Lover's Day
Today is National Cheese Lover’s Day! Did you know that the average American consumes about 31 pounds of cheese each year? That may seem like a lot, but for the average French person it’s 50 pounds!
There are more than 900 known cheeses in the world, and they can all be classified by texture. Here are the primary classifications and some examples: fresh cheese (ricotta); soft cheese (feta); semi-soft cheese (Fontina); semi-hard cheese (Gouda); hard cheese (Cheddar); double or triple crème cheese (Brillat-Savarin); blue cheese (Gorgonzola); washed rind cheese (Limburger); and bloomy rind cheese (Brie).
People have been making cheese for at least 8,000 years, so the cheeses we enjoy today are all relatively young by comparison. Take Emmental (also known as Swiss cheese), for example. It’s only been around since the first century BC!
Visit your local cheesemonger and pick up your favorite kind of artisan cheese or cook a cheesy dish for dinner tonight in honor of National Cheese Lover’s Day!
I guess I should cold smoke some cheese today and I have to put some butter in the smoker while there is cheese in there.

“Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” ~Martin Luther King Jr.

Tom

I'm been MIA once again. I think the relocation, new job, new house, BF's husband's passing, Cyrus, etc. . . has caught up with me and I'm just plain exhausted. I can't get enough sleep and now I've come down with a nasty sinus infection/cold and sound like a bull frog. It's just lovely. I think this is the first weekend coming up where I have nothing to do and I plan on doing just that. NOTHING! I'll be back soon I promise.

My goal today is simple.

Make it to the end! I am sick, with some serious sinus pain and pressure. Plus a teething 6 month old - who does nothing but scream! And a crazy 3.5 year old that doesn't understand that mommy is sick.

I just need to make it to bedtime. I need strength... And my husband to get home

Happy Tuesday everyone! Just doing a quick run through. The women at my church our starting our own Bible study that starts in about an hour. I just made the most yummy pasta dish with tons of fresh veggies. Went over my calories a bit, but I will make it up tomorrow and eat much lighter. Sometimes you just have to have pasta!!

@Rozie, do you have a Play it again Sports in your area? You would probably find some good bargains there.

@scrubb816, I sure hope you feel better soon. I remember when my girl was little and how much of a pain motherhood was when I wasn’t feeling well.

@susan, feel better soon!! ((((Hugs))))

@nanigyrl4ever, this is the right spot for awesome support and motivation. Welcome!!

@cblue, congratualation to you!! You will be out of that obese category in no time and onward to even greater successes. (*) (*) (*)

@Laurie, I know I fall into the social eater category. I can do great until I’m with others who are eating whatever they want. This has totally derailed me so many times and I would love to get a handle on it this year!

Motto for 2015: Fit for 50!