[Cord the Seeker]

I have decided that today is a 'day off' for exercise, so all I have done is a 30minute hike along some bike trails.

I've just started work for the evening - have mounds of fruit and vegetables to keep me going.

[Cord the Seeker]

By the way...

I have posted my beginning and 3-month photos over in the 'before and after' thread.

That may have been the hardest thing I have ever done, posting these pictures of myself.

Like many heavy people, I am terrified of cameras, hate almost all pictures of myself, and used to dress in mainly dark, concealing clothing.

Well, the clothing thing has fallen away over the years, but the rest still remains.
I was genuinely afraid to do this, to reveal myself in all my Hutt-ness. Both before and now, I also took photos of me in a shirt, with the idea that those might get posted on the forum and the shirtless ones were just for my own records and comparison.

But, I felt I had to step up - this is the only way to get over my issues.

So, go check 'em out, if you dare.

[Omega]

Originally Posted by San

Oh, and Margaret, does it have to be a completey different vegetable for the challenge, or would it count if it was prepared in different ways? That way we might be able to exchange ideas on how to make veggies more interesting? Or maybe we could use that for another week? Just a thought...

For this week I think that we will stick to the "completely different vegetable" concept - but that is a good idea about us all comparing different ways of cooking vegetables. I have already said that I am all in favour of copying good ideas - so we may well do something VERY much along those lines over the coming weeks.

At the minute I want us all to be testing our boundaries and trying vegetables that we do not head for as a small list of "the veg that we eat". Buy a small quantity of something that you have not had before - enough to make one portion or two if feeding it to your hubby. The worst that can happen is that you find out that you do not like something that you have never had. You might find that you love it. I found that I really liked butternut squash when I did that last winter - but I had never had it before. We both loved it so much that I made butternut squash soup every week for the next couple of months!!!!

Most vegetables - I would either boil, roast in fry-light or stir fry in fry-light. I might sprinkle with a few herbs or garlic. If stuck for ideas I would probably google on the internet or ask around - maybe in this thread.....

I will allow varieties to be classed as a different vegetable - eg savoy cabbage can be classed as different to white cabbage.

[Omega]

To save everyone going to search for Cord's stunning photo shoot:

http://weight-loss.fitness.com/befor...tml#post621567



Are those pictures stunning or what!

[Omega]

I am sorry to hear that quite a few of you have had bad weather. We have been in a heatwave for the past week - which is really unusual. We have had a little bit of rain overnight for the past two nights which was most welcome and was only enough to take the edge off the intensity of the heat. Normally when we get weather like that we look back on it and say "you know last week - that was our summer". It never lasts long.

It is great that Heather was able to give Kimberly some reassurance / advice regarding the breastfeeding / hunger issue. I hope that drinking water does help as it will reinforce Kimberly's determination to notch up her challenge points. I doubt that she needs much reinforcement as I know that prior to my disappearance from the forum her nutritional control was tighter than anyone else that I know!!!

San - it sounds like summer has finished there LOL. Sorry to hear that swimming was spoilt by the pool temperature.

Cord - how cool is that! A thirty minute hike qualifies as part of a no-exercise day! Statements like that define the difference between the old unhealthy people that we were and the unlikely athletes that we have become. I can relate to everything that you say about the trepidation of posting pictures. I still hate having my photograph taken. Well done for going ahead and doing it despite that.

[Omega]

STOP PRESS

I have been giving a lot of thought to the fact that I want to encourage everyone to try to adopt new healthy habits and I do not want anyone to think that something is "too hard" and not try at all. I didnt try to lose weight for too long after I deemed it as "too hard" after my failed 1996 project.....

Some people may be discouraged to try increasing their water consumption if the total that they need seems too big. I have therefore decided to give 2 points this week for each day to anyone who manages to drink 3 litres of water - if they calculate a greater allocation which they cannot quite manage. Simply put "3" instead of "W" on the scoresheet if you fall into that category for those days.

[Bellaryna]

Originally Posted by bikinibound

Dawn--Too bad you didn't go camping over the 4th. It's supposed to be sunny with highs in the high 70s to low 80s over the next 5 days.

It totally whomps!
I am thinking of going to Holland again this coming Wednesday.
Laura's mom and dad (maybe her too if she doesn't have to work) are going to be camping at the same place we were. Well at the beach campground that is. We were at the tree one.
Anyhow we figure we promised the kids the chance to swim in the "big lake" and we did buy that MI state park pass. So might as well use it.
I tell ya the weather better cooperate! Grrrr
I am not telling the kids anything until we are actually in the car on Wednesday. I totally don't want to hear them being disappointed again.

[Omega]

Originally Posted by Bellaryna

It totally whomps!
I am thinking of going to Holland again this coming Wednesday.
Laura's mom and dad (maybe her too if she doesn't have to work) are going to be camping at the same place we were. Well at the beach campground that is. We were at the tree one.
Anyhow we figure we promised the kids the chance to swim in the "big lake" and we did buy that MI state park pass. So might as well use it.
I tell ya the weather better cooperate! Grrrr
I am not telling the kids anything until we are actually in the car on Wednesday. I totally don't want to hear them being disappointed again.

That sounds a great secret trip that you are planning. I hope that it all works out right for you.

[San]

I'm doing it, right now. I'm eating tomatoes. I haven't eaten tomatoes, ever. I will use ketchup, eat Spaghetti Bolognaise and Lasagne, but I have never in my life eaten a raw tomato. I even picked them off my burgers and stuff. But right now I am having a big plate of salad, and there's plenty of tomatoes on there. Can't say that they will ever be my favourite food, but they're not making me run to the bathroom either....so that's something.

Stupid, I know, but I thought I'd share anyway....*lol*

Oh and Cord, I had a look at the pictures....looks great to me! Definitely a big difference! Give yourself a big pat on the back!!

[Omega]

San - well done for eating the tomatoes. Tomatoes are actually really good for you. Quoting from my book:
"..research carried out in Britain suggests that lycopene, the carotenoid pigment that turns tomatoes red, may help to prevent some forms of cancer by lessening the damage caused by free radicals.
Tomatoes are a good source of both potassium and beta carotene and they are a useful source of vitamins C and E, while containing very few calories."

They might not taste as good as some of your favourite foods - but in my opinion - anything that doesnt taste too bad and does you that much good has to be worth eating.

[Omega]

I have just posted this in the scoresheets thread.

Originally Posted by Omega

Well I make the totals at the end of week 1 as follows:

Omega........................... 20 + 21 + 3 = 44
Bellaryna........................ 06 + 15 + 3 = 24
Bikinibound..................... 07 + 18 + 3 = 28
San.............................. 20 + 21 + 3 = 44
Cord the seeker.............. 20 + 21 + 3 = 44
Charlieemma................... 20 + 21 + 0 = 41
Treehugger..................... 0
Momma4alex................... 12 + 00 + 0 = 12
Reluctantcabbie.............. 20 + 12 + 3 = 35
Kyoropaladin................... 10 + 00 + 0 = 10
Countingthecals.............. 0
Othie............................. 15 + 12 + 0 = 27
Swankychap................... 10 + 00 + 0 = 10
Solty............................. 20 + 18 + 0 = 38
Kirsty............................. 20 + 18 + 3 = 41
Lisamcrn......................... 0
Cinderelly........................ 14 + 18 + 3 = 35
Lisajacobs....................... 07 + 06 + 0 = 13

Let me know if you spot any of my mistakes.

[Kirsty]

Hey I just realised I'm on holiday from Wednesday till Wednesday and won't be able to check in next week! Would it be ok if I submitted them results the following week too as I'll still keep a record of what I'm doing.

[Cord the Seeker]

I too will be out of town for pretty much all of next week. I'll post when I can, and try to keep my record as up to date as possible.

Also - waterwise: 2.4 litres down, 1.6 and a bit to go.

[San]

Managed it! 4 litres of water, even more than I had to drink! Woot!

[Omega]

Cord - well done on the water. Did you see my earlier ruling that some points are to be had if people get at least 3 litres if their allocation is more than that. I thought that it could give an incentive to try because some people could view it as too big an initial jump and I was worried that they might not try at all.