NextChapter60 Member

Nerd Fitness (dot com). You'll get an ebook (pdf): "15 Mistakes Newbies Make When Trying to Get Healthy". NF has changed my life. And it's free.

An art teacher once told me that if I wanted to draw people or portraits, to use a live model or sculpture instead of a photograph, because people are three-dimensional and photographs, especially flash photos, are two-dimensional and tend to "flatten" the subject. (Might be why the old saying is, "cameras add ten pounds…

A very few months ago I was doing the same - do well for a couple of days, then binge. Then I read the suggestion to not consider it a failure, but of learning what doesn't work. I looked at my repeat failures for commonality - Was there a trigger food? Was I becoming too tired? Too hungry? Once I examined WHY, then I…

I wore clothes I had made myself to my 8th grade sewing class. I've done weddings and Ren Faire garb and will be starting my Halloween costume soon. I've renovated coats and dresses and replaced zippers on jeans. Love to sew! You might be doing this already, but when making alterations, put on the garment inside out. Use…

Hi! I'm 54 and early in my fitness journey. I understand self-sabotage; seems that as soon as I'm seeing progress I veer off course. It's a learning experience!

Buy two. One in your current size, one a size or two smaller.

How exciting! Congratulations!

My daughter and I have both done that - dry our big clothes in hopes of shrinkage! LOL!! Congrats on your successes!!

For iced tea, brew tea as you normally would - with hot water - (I make it a little stronger usual, as the melting ice will dilute it), then pour the hot tea over ice.

I've added sliced lemon and sliced lime to a pitcher of water; orange slices would be good too. I've heard of using sliced cucumbers but haven't tried it. I drink a LOT of unsweetened tea, iced in summer, hot in winter. I've purchased assortments of flavored teas and just tried each flavor until I found the ones I liked.

Type II here. Take the tests in October: "The A1C test gives you a picture of your average blood glucose (blood sugar) control for the past 2 to 3 months. The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan is working" --…

^^ This! I admire those who say they include a little in their diet every day (dark chocolate, etc.); I can't - sugar seems to be a trigger for me, too.

You didn't fall off the track, you just found something that didn't work for you. Did you try to change too many things at once? ("I'll work out everyday, eat perfectly, train for the Olympics and become a doctor?") Just pick one thing. Remind yourself of the "Why" behind your efforts. Why are you on this journey? Write it…

Dressing room mirrors.

Gongrats on the loss! And I think the visual comparison is a great idea. Losing just a few pounds can be discouraging, until we see it as a bag of rice or a gallon of milk. Thanks for sharing!

If this has been a life-long problem, I suggest getting professional help. Also, the book "Feeling Good", by David D. Burns, M.D. can help in defeating negative self-talk, but it won't take the place of a professional.

Your past is not your destiny.

Great job - great NSV! Better practice flashing a smile and saying "Thanks!", because there will be more to come!

Depression is a broad umbrella, and can be physical/chemical, psychological, or both. If it's lasting more than a week or two, talk to someone. And talk to someone else. And someone else. Keep talking until you get the right help. I went through a rough break-up followed by two years of depression. In retrospect I should…

About 10 years ago I lost weight to within 20 pounds of the upper limit of a "normal" BMI for my height (5'5"). I was ecstatic at the time, wearing 12s and 14s, and feeling fit and wonderful. That's the goal I've set for myself. If I go much lower, I'll look gaunt and wrinkled. Health is my first priority, but I can't deny…

Beliefs are highly individual as they are often born and reinforced through personal experience. I've read some of these authors, and others; but my experience with magic and spirituality is unique, as are theirs. Sharing experiences and beliefs is important as long as everyone understands the individualtiy of it.

David D. Burns, M.D. if you want something clinically proven. Psychological, not metaphysical. But helpful for resolving the damaging things we tell ourselves that can lead to bad choices.

I think another part is other people don't realize how LONG we've been at it. Most people don't notice until you've lost a significant amount of weight. When my daughter took her son back to school this fall after a healthy summer, all the other moms commented on what must have seemed an "instant" change from last school…

Regarding the "eat right, and the cravings stop" comment: I'd heard that before and was skeptical. Imagine my amazement when I found it to be TRUE! I told a friend it was like I had reached a "Zen" place in regard to food. I was full, calm, and free of food anxiety. My daughter has been asked about her success - 70 pounds…

When I hit a rough spot, I focus on one thing, generally breakfast. Have a healthy breakfast, log it, and forget about it until tomorrow. Once you have some momentum with breakfast, add lunch. Then dinner. Then exercise, setting a goal of one day -"every Wednesday", for example - to start. If you backslide, go to the last…

My five-year-old grandson loves music, and we heard him singing "I love rock-n-roll, Put another dime in the juice box baby!" (Ya sing what ya know!) So I took him to a retro diner and we put money in the juke box. Just so he'd know.

1) Health 2) Appearance 3) All the things I want to be able to do in years to come: hike, bike, ski, swim, play with the grandkids, and TRAVEL! I don't EVER want to worry about the size of the seats on the plane, train, bus, or boat!

I was with my last guy for four years, he was with me for two before he started writing to a woman he met online, who lived in another state. He dumped me after he proposed to her after meeting her only once. But they couldn't marry. She was still married to her cheating, bi-sexual husband who had slept with her sister and…

I didn't talk about what I ate BEFORE I started changing my habits, so I don't feel the need to talk about it now. I'm watching to see how much weight I'll have to lose before someone mentions it.

Back in the day, there was Jazzersize, Richard Simmons had everyone Sweatin' to the Oldies, and now it's Zumba. I love music and MUST have it during a workout, and I've enjoyed the Zumba classes I've taken - however, I have knee/hip issues, so I couldn't move as vigorously as the rest of the class, and my knee was swollen…