A little embarrassed, but definitely encouraged...

Today at the Y I got TWO compliments! One from another woman,(about my age... 40) . She told me that my butt was lookin' great. : ) And I know that she's straight because I've had conversations with her about a couple of her different boyfriends. And the other compliment took me completely by surprise. A man, I'm guessing him to be in his 50's somewhere asked me as I was standing in the lobby, if I was a dancer? If you can believe THAT?!?!?!? Maybe it was just a pick up line, I don't know. I suppose the sweat pants and shirt that I wore today must have been doin' my curves some good. At any rate, I'm motivated to keep going to the gym.

Late evening snack

Ok - its a little bit like spinach - you like it or you don't - but I found a guilt free, stomach filling snack that will stall your hunger.

Cottage cheese w/ pineapple chunks.

It has a ton of protein, it is high in calcium (which we need as we age, ladies!) and the cottage cheese itself is fat free.

You could also add a little of Bonne Maman Apricot preserves - but I like the sweet spike of pineapple.

Haven't weighed myself. My jeans told me not to.

I'm feeling re-inspired!

Okay, I wore some jeans on Sunday that I've not worn for several months... ones that were starting to get a bit baggy on me, and they were too tight! I've worked too hard to let myself get fat again. I am NOT going to be fat for the holidays dangit!
So, I've been eating healthy again, drinking my water, and even started drinking green tea in the afternoons. I've already lost a few pounds since this weekend ladies. : ) I am encouraged, and determined. My goal is to lose 10-12 pounds more by Christmas. Does anyone else want to set some goals with me?

So Glad to See Y'all Back!

Hi Ladies!

Well, as promised, I'm posting and WOW has it been a long time! I haven't lost any weight - at least I don't think so - but I don't know because the battery in the bathroom scales died and I haven't yet gotten around to replacing it. I think I'm a little scared to, since I have been eating SO MUCH lately. My appetite is really strong with all of the running that I've been doing. Which brings me to...

The marathons. Yes, plural. I am running my first marathon on November 16th (if you'd care to say a little prayer, I'd appreciate it - I feel like I can use all of the help I can get) and my second on December 14th. The first one, I want to beat Oprah's time (4:29) but the second one's just for fun. I'm a little scared of the distance, but I've come up with a battle plan (courtesy of Lance Armstrong's ex-wife's friend via Runner's World magazine). Which is...

I plan to dedicate each mile in my first marathon to someone I love, someone who has been an inspiration, or someone who has gotten me to the point where I could run a marathon. For example, one of my running buddies is mile 8 because she got me through our first 8-mile race last year. Another friend is mile 25 because he has always believed that no matter what I'm doing, I can do anything and I will do it well. You ladies are mile 22 - because each of you has been such an inspiration and last year when I said in a posting that I was thinking about taking a running class, each of you was so supportive and realized that while I might be afraid of it, it could be a really good thing. So like it or not, you'll be running a marathon in spirit! But the last mile...

That last mile of the marathon is kind of how I feel about my relationship with my body and this whole weight loss thing. You can't set out to lose weight or change your lifestyle or get healthy simply because you want to please someone else or because they told you to. In order to be successful at it - as many of you have shown - you have to want it yourself and be willing to work for it. The dedication it takes to be successful and lose weight in a healthy way doesn't come from other people - it comes from within. Which is why, the last mile? Of my first marathon? When I could barely run a half-mile 14 months earlier? That one's for me.

There's so much else going on so I'll keep posting, but I'm glad to "see" you ladies again. I've missed you!

Lisa

This is for you Coreen...

You know, I check the blog every single day, even though I've not posted anything in ages. I suppose I feel like if I'm not losing anything, that I've not really earned the right to post. Does anyone know what I'm talkin' about?!
Anyhow, I've not lost anything for a while, but I've continued to be extremely active. In fact, we've taken the boys on several hikes this year. Something that I wouldn't of DREAMED of doing a few years ago. All I used to want to do was lie around, eat, and stay home, because I had no energy and I was ashamed of myself for being so unhealthy. Well times have changed baby. Perhaps I should take the time to look at some old photos of myself. I need to find some more inspiration to get the pounds movin' again.

Inspiration?

Hi everyone!
So I have been checking the blog and I only see Elicia posting. I, being guilty as well. I just wanted to share what all of you have done for me. I joined the blog several years ago with hopes that I would lose weight by surrounding myself with people that were also wanting to losing weight. I worked for Jenny Craig so I thought how could I not do this? Well I failed and ended up gaining about 20 pounds. During this time I still read the blog and look forward to updates on all of your progress so I could hopefully get motivated.

Last November (with all of your help) I joined Weight Watchers and I am currently down about 33 pounds. I have lost my motivation and I keep coming back for inspiration and theres no one here (except Elicia). Thanks Elicia! You all have been a inspiration for me and I want to thank each of you for that!

So if you all could come back and help me (because I'm selfish) get back on track I would be very happy. Even if you aren't losing weight or at goal it's nice to know what everyone is doing and it's so nice to have solutions or just someone to talk to. Is any in with me?

Coreen

I feel Fat....

Have you had this thought recently? I have. I was down several pounds, but then I did what I often do, slack and eat inappropriately, and the pounds and girth responds.

I got a Wii recently, and am using their Wii Fit product to measure my path as well as encourage me to exercise - run, do areobics, step, all classical workout stuff - in addition to Yoga and games which encourage balance (skiing).

I'll let you know how it works.

I can tell you I got up and moved around for 45 minutes yesterday, all while playing tennis and baseball INSIDE. You have to still swing....

Elicia

Miss
You
All
Very
Much!

Stretching Help

Keeping flexible is very important for us ladies. When we walk on heels, carry babies and do many things women do, our muscles can get very tight, making falls more likely and recovery slow.

I bought these rubber strips which have varying resistance, light/med/hard at the Bartells. They advertised them as pilates bands. You use them to stretch gently and to do resistance work.
I am really liking using them (especially after a long ride) to loosen up.

They are inexpensive, portable (for workouts on vacation) and easy to use. You can get a nice workout without cardio just by doing resistance stretches with these puppies. Give them a try!

Green River Gorge

Yesterday, I had the awesome privilege of riding a gaited horse down to the Green River and back.

A gaited horse has a special step that allows them to cover a lot of ground while providing a smooth ride for the mount. It doesn't jostle and bump and shake, it smoothly and deftly advances and you're surprised at how little you're bejumbled!

We rode for five hours roughly, and while my back is sore a bit, my body seems to be able to handle the ride.

Plus, check out how cute I am in my tight breeches? That extra 10 lbs has made a big difference! Three cheers for being able to enjoy life! The weather was sunny and clear, and the wilderness we traveled was beautiful. I'll have to look at a map to see where we rode, exactly.

What are you doing to push yourself?

Hello, my name is Melissa

And I am a slacker blogger.

Well, not on my own blog - but I put off coming here for a couple of weeks (like, around CHRISTMAS!) and it's like skipping church - the longer you stay gone, the easier it is to stay out.

Well. Enough of my "sermonizing."

When last we spoke, it was the Christmas holidays and I was determined to maintain.

I think I ended up with a net gain of half a pound, but I guess that wasn't too bad.

In February, though, I realized that the Weight Watchers "Flex" plan was no longer working for me - I don't know if I was getting complacent, or spending too many POINTS on junk, but I was at a virtual standstill for MONTHS - so I switched to CORE.

One of the best decisions I've ever made.

I'm not penalized for eating fruit! Or drinking fat free dairy! Or eating whole grain rice or pasta!

(Well, as long as I only eat the pasta, or potatoes, or rice once a day. I can usually handle that.)

I'm eating way, way less junk now. I'm cooking better meals at home. And I'm feeling "freer" about my choices.

I've also lost another 10 lbs. since Christmas, to put me at 146.5 (a total of 90.5).

My three-year WW anniversary is coming up in a few weeks, and it kinda bums me out that I haven't lost my 100 lbs. yet. But I keep reminding myself that 90 lbs. is nothing to sneeze at, and that the longer it takes me to lose it, the more chance there is that I'll keep it off.

So, I'm sorry to have stayed away so long - I've been reading, even if I haven't always commented - and I'm glad to hear from those who are keepin' on keepin' on!

Checking In

Hi gorgeous ladies! Well I, like Kristina, haven't posted in forever so here I am. I'm still running, now stuck smack in the middle of marathon training in the hot (HOT!) Texas summer and really sort of thinking that this might be more than a little bit crazy.

I get up at 4:40 most mornings and meet a friend to get in a run before the sun comes up and then on weekends we do a long run. This weekend we're scheduled for 16.5 miles early Sunday morning and I don't mind admitting that I'm more than a little bit scared. Nevertheless, I'm getting excited about the race this fall and keep thinking to myself that I'm going to be a marathoner. It never even occurred to me to think I would ever say that before this last year.

The problem is that in addition to being a runner, I eat like a runner too. That is to say: I eat A LOT. Since I'm burning mucho calories but also consuming more because I get a lot hungrier, it's all pretty much evened out and I haven't gained any weight. That said, it is occurring to me now how much easier it would be to haul my carcass 26.2 miles if I weighed, say, 10-15 lbs. less. I'm still in the fantasizing stage - not yet the planning or commitment phase - of losing this weight but once I figure out a strategy, I think I will implement it and see where it gets me.*

*The problem with this idea is that you're not supposed to lose weight while marathon training. You need to eat enough to keep your body fueled, and if you're losing weight, chances are good that you're not taking care of yourself like you ought to. So you have to find the precise balance between eating enough to be healthy and running enough to burn what you eat (without overtraining). So needless to say, any weight loss strategy has to be slow and subtle.

I miss each of you, and figured that we'd all come down with a big case of the blahs. I hope more of you post and update us on what's been going on!

XOXO,
Lisa

Feelin' the need to post...

I've not posted anything in quite a while... in fact no one has, accept Elicia. : )

 I stepped on the scale again this morning, I'm up three pounds. I've been flexing the same 10-12 pounds for about the last six months. I'm exactly where I was two years ago weight-wise, when I had my high school reunion. So for the most part I've maintained the weight loss.  It gets hard to stay motivated with healthy eating, heaven knows I love food. At least my working out has been a constant this last couple of years. But I'm looking for new inspiration. I know that I look pretty good, but I'm not satisfied with that. I want to get more of this weight off and feel gorgeous again.

So Robyn....

Do tell,

What are your weight plans? Do you currently have a schedule or program you're following? When you say you have 'a lot of weight' what does that mean? Did the weight accumulate around a specific time in your life, or have you always been a bit heavy?

We're so glad you're here - please make yourself at home and post, post, post!

I find words become "THINGS" and you can use this as a space to create your NEW BODY!

Big love, little waist,

Elicia

The Science of Obesity

National Geographic has a special called, "The Science of Obesity" and it discusses the way the body adapts to our overweight stature - all the way to how the body reprograms itself to keep going.

I was struck by the tenacity of the human body - its amazing what we ask of it, and how it always strives to survive - regardless of what we're doing to ourselves.

Check it out - it is truly eye-opening.

Intestinal Health Ideas

How many of us are concerned with our intestines? Our guts, as we used to call them in childhood, are a large part of how we keep healthy. I haven't paid much attention to this part of my insides, until recently.

My new medicine for fibromyalgia has a side effect of constipation. I've always been 'regular' but in order to keep that way, I have added some things to my diet. Knowing how little I like to eat, I have found Danactive drinkables a great way to benefit myself.

Raisin Bran used to give me the, well, runs. I've been eating it lately and it 'works' the way it should, but I was told the high fructose was not good for me. I've been eating sunflower seeds too, to try to be good to myself.

Do you folks think of fiber? Does digestive health occur to you and do you do anything about it? Kefir, as Jen mentioned, is supposed to be good for that. Any ideas, suggestions or successful uses of dietary (either supplements or live food) would be appreciated.

8.9 lbs to go?

Could it be? Do I really only have less than 10 pounds to my goal weight?

Wow. Wish me luck!

Back at the Y

We are signed in back at the YMCA now. Yippee. I can feel my old fit self rising to the occasion. I will do it. I will.

Howzit going?

Roll Call!

If you are reading this - then hit the comment button and tell us how you are doing!

Elicia Checking In

I've been hovering around 147 for a few weeks now and that's very exciting. My jeans are baggier and I've actually had comments from friends about how loose they fit. I've excavated my closet and found my skinny jeans, which were way baggy yesterday so I'll have to dig even further because I can't afford to buy new clothes, but I know I have something nice back there...

I'm not doing anything special, just trying to keep up the water and stuff. YAY

My Plan

Elicia asked me to post my plan, so here it is. I'm going to do what has worked for me in the past.

• I'm going to "automate" my breakfast and lunch. That means high protein, low sugar cereal and low fat milk for breakfast. A smoothie for a mid morning snack, and a ham and cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread with carrot or celery sticks for lunch.
• I'm going to keep my water bottle filled and in front of me throughout the day.
• I'm going to walk EARLY in the day, not put it off.
• I'm going to start grocery shopping, menu planning, and cooking dinner again. NO MORE deli, takeout, pizza, and eating out ALL week long.

That's my plan for now. I'll do that for two weeks and then reevaluate things. If that isn't working, I'll start journaling. If I do those four things I know I will lose weight. It's basic biology. I know exactly why I've gained the weight too.

Why is it so hard to do? Just knowing what will work doesn't make doing it easy.