Alice: good luck on the home purchase & the new chapter in your career!

My girlfriends car that was parked on the street was totaled at 3am by a drink driver today. He also hit 7 other parked cars. The police came and arrested him. I really don't care what I eat today. We have been struggling with health issues, she didn't win her disability case which makes her more depressed and her bipolar is worse. She has no income and now this. I'm just over having to deal with all this right now. Ughh.

Thanks Liz. I meant drunk driver. Can't type when I'm upset. We are having to deal with too much lately. It's wearing us down. Just trying to cope today. She's sleeping so she doesn't have to feel. I don't blame her. Sad thing is her Mom gave her the car before she passed away so it's sentimental as well.

Hi all, just a quick hello to say I'm back from my business travels. The trip to Taiwan was amazing and exhausting. By far the easiest place I have traveled in terms of healthy eating, including most of the US.

Other than a couple of overnight trips in the next few weeks, I'm home for a while and glad to be back.

My goal for this week is to just get back into routine. I started logging my food again today, and am headed out to the gym in a few minutes. My body is sore and tired from all the travel, and it's time to be kind to it again.

I have only had time to glance at the last few posts, but I can see that it has been a hard couple of weeks for many of you. Sending lots of hugs and love to those who are grieving and hurting. I wish life was being kinder to everyone in this group! We have been going through a lot, I'm glad we have each other for support. I look forward to having time soon to read up and catch up on what has been happening with everyone.

Liz congrats on settling into your new home!

Glad to hear most are doing well and well wishes for the others.. tough times it seams..
So here is my tale (my vent)... I have been working out at the gym for over a year and at the start I lost 12lbs ... then I hit a plateau a while ago, and since I gained a few back. So I started weight watchers and for a few months and nothing changed and that was very expensive. Then I switched over to MFP and started counting calories back at the beginning of April at that point I was eating the calories that I was earning... on May 5th I stopped eating what I burn and dropped to 1100 calories a day. I am still not losing weight. What the F... is wrong (sorry about the F word)... I don't get this.. I am really frustrated and I just don't get it....

Thanks mystic... I am 48 and 5'4"... yes i weigh my food as well... I will continue to do the right thing, as I am sure or keep telling myself that it will eventually catch up...HA ...

EM Cindy is right about the NSV's. Without them I would have given up right at the beginning. I lose weight at a snails pace. I've only lost 9kg since I started in December and spend most if the time on plateaux.

Here are a few other things to consider, which you may or may not have tried.

1) reduce your salt intake
2) try to reduce the amount of processed foods in general, they have loads of added salt and hidden sugars
3) eat probiotic yoghurts - they are good for millions of reasons and if you are lactose intolerant, they usually are fine anyway. Test with a couple of spoonfuls first
4) drink lots and lots and lots of water
5) drink green tea, they make them with mint, jasmine, ginger etc
6) look up specific yoga moves to increase metabolism
7) change your eating habits around I.e. Eat 3 balanced calorie amounts, or every 2 hours, or heavy breakfast, heavy lunch, light dinner
8) change your exercise routines, go for low impact, low calorie burn during longer workouts
9) sleep... Try to get your 8 hours a day so that your body can repair itself
10) make sure you get at least two rest days in your body needs time to repair
11) reduce the number of hours exercise to 3 per And then to top it off, I crashed and fell asleep before getting all my water in.
if you are on such a low calorie intake
12) make sure you get 1200 calories per day if you are not sedentary, your body won't let go of the weight if you are burning muscle and not fat

I hope one or two of those things might help you. I will copy paste this to the tips n tricks section

Cindy I used to be an extremely energetic person, who was always on the go and never sat down. I used to party every single night and sleep less than 5 hours. I would dance 8 hours a night, 4 days a week, whilst boozing and smoking I don't know how many cigarettes a day. I only stopped that life 10 years ago and only gave up drinking and smoking 3 years ago. When menopause hit, it's like someone poured concrete in my body and I couldn't move any more, i lost all stamina, and started getting allergies to everything and my weight started increasing. It triggered one of my longest episodes of major depression and my bipolar symptoms.

The moment I started MFP and got moving again, my body remembers the exercise bit, but doesn't realize that I stuffed up what I can actually eat, so my metabolism is still not working properly. I've burnt mainly muscle as I try to get fit again, which is why I'm having the problem with the ankle. I'm determined to get my health back... So I guess it makes it easier than trying to reach an ideal weight goal. I've learned to listen to my body much more than my mind - my mind gets noisy with its wants and demands and is totally irrational when it comes to taking care of my body. I think that is what keeps me going, more than everything else... listening to my body!

Thank you so much for your encouragement, for your compliments and for your kind words. But you must remember that this group that you created has an awful lot to do with my perseverance and commitment. I see what you and the other ladies also do each day and that keeps me motivated on the days that I get down. When no one posts, it makes it a little harder but still, there is always yourself and Liz, and then Marcella is quite a regular and that helps too.

Sorry if the post was so long but I really want you to know that without you and everyone else here, I would have given up.

Now have a fantastic rest of the week everyone. Big hugs. It seems that it is indeed tough times everywhere at the moment, so triple hugs to each and everyone of you.

I'm still praying for all of you! Thank you for being my friends!

(((Hugs))) Em, I am sorry for your loss. It is the living that suffer. I am glad you are feeling better today and that the frustration has ebbed. I think that when we can conquer the frustration without sabotaging our efforts, it is a victory. So hurray for your victory yesterday!!! I hope you have a good weekend too.

Cindy - I hope you are starting to regain your strength. That is what happens when you don't care for yourself first. Your body had to make a point since you weren't listening to it. Alice had some awesome points about that in her post yesterday. Take care of yourself, there is only one of you. (((hugs)))

Barb - I am glad you are home safe and will get a bit of home time. What an awesome place to get to, what an experience. Enjoy your home time.

Way to go Jenn!!! Not gaining any weight!!! What a huge victory that is!

Marcella, How is your garden growing? Have you had any cups of tea on your porch?

Karen - I hope you and Stacy are doing o.k. (((hugs)))

Noodle - I see you swimming every day, you get me motivated.

Hi to everyone else!

My question for everyone today is, what day do you weigh yourself for your weekly, bi weekly, or monthly weight? I had been doing Monday, then Sunday, and now I am thinking of Friday. It is a little silly thing but it has been on my mind so please chime in and let me know. Thanks!

Everyone, have an awesome day!!! I am sending happy thought to everyone!!!