Thanks for visiting. I really love all the words of encouragement that I get here.

Janice

You are too kind.

Kimberly

You are right - it is a new low. 12 st 5.0 lbs i.e. 173.0 on the scales on Sunday (after my walk). I am used to wiggling upwards immediately after a new low - but it is so nice to see a new low and a general downward trend. It is like regaining territory of the weight that I can generally claim to be.

It can be quite a considered decision choosing where to eat freely and think "to hell with the consequences" and have a couple of hours off and when to try and be careful despite being out in company.

I saw a bit of excellent advice recently in Sarah's diary (Rah). She had been told "it is not what you do and eat between Christmas and New Year - but what you do and eat between New Year and Christmas that really counts". I thought that was really brilliant.

Take care
Love
Margaret

A New LOW!!!

How exciting!
I can't wait until I am floating around in the 170's~
Your doing awesome and I will miss you when you go on vacation.

Hi Bellaryna

I am sure that you will be in the 170s before you know it - it is just a matter of keeping focused. If I can do it - anyone can! It honestly is only about five minutes since I had your weight.

Dont worry about my vacation. I am so addicted to this forum that I will be turning up pretty regularly - just not for so long. We will be staying with my very elderly parents and I had access ok the last couple of times I stayed there.

You on the other hand are also going on vacation - so I expect you will be too busy to see me here.

Take care
Love
Margaret

haha same here. im a 12/14 ryt now and i feel huge compared ot my family. there always seems a long way to go. im thinkin even when i reach my goal ill have to sore goals. its a never ending journey. not bad though. its only 1lb a week at the moment hehe.

Hi Angel

One pound a week is so achieveable - you could be where you want to be long before our birthdays. Focus hard and you will be there for the early summer too!

Maintenance is going to be a project in itself. It is going to take some effort to stay at goal once we get there.

Take care
Love
Margaret

Thanx margeret!

i hope i say motivated and get there for my birthday. anything else is a plus!!
Yep staying at 1 weight is going to b a mission but im hoping to set some mor goals after that. like toning different muscle groups everymonth or sumthing. not sure. maybe join some dance and gymnastics classes. that should keep me goin. right now i have to lose a pound before thursday though.

;-)

x

Hi Angel

I think that the classes are a good idea.

I really like doing aerobics. I go to a keep fit class every Monday and there is a bit of everything in it (I was there today). We do aerobics, some exercises with restrictive bands and things like that, and pilates. I enjoy it so much that I have signed up to do it again next term and another keep fit class on a Friday which I believe is organised a bit differently. I will let you know how when I find out next month when it starts up.

I dont set myself a goal of so much weight a week. I just work as hard as I can to lose weight - and if it happens it happens. I would be disappointed if I hadnt lost a pound in the week. Often I have done better than that - but sometimes I have been disappointed.

Take care
Love
Margaret

Sunday 16/12/07

Nice bright weather. The pedometer was again saying that I had not walked as far as I had.


General Data:

Morning walk = 6.3 miles.
Round the block = 6 times
Extra exercises = none
Weight = 12st 5.0lbs (i.e. 173.0 pounds)
Steps = 25,717
Distance = 9.74 miles
Remembered to take normal vitamin / supplements
Continued my creaming regime – missed one bio-oil massage

My Food / Drink:

1 banana
3 weetabix, sweetener, 350 ml skimmed milk
2 large handfuls honey Shreddies
150g crumbed ham
roast chicken breast, swede, carrots, broccoli, brussel sprouts, onion, celery, gravy
2 large handfuls of raisins
2 litres of cold water
some diet cola

Hi, I was looking at some of your menus. Hope you don't mind but I have a little question: do you actually calorie-count or do you simply work by feeling? (Sorry if you've already explained your system in an earlier post, but I haven't yet found it...).

yeah i cant wait for classes. i used to do aerobics. but this year i feel like i have no time. tahts why want to wait till i reach my goal and the holidays and then i can start a good routine. (i say that now lol).

let me know which ones are good to sign up to. tou can trial them for me. ;-)

true about the weight loss. like last week i gained weight but overall i ma on target. so gotta keep going. no excuses to quit yet.

;-)

x

Hi Auburn

I don't actually calorie count. In fact I burst into tears and stamp my feet if anyone tries to get me to calorie count. Not quite really - but almost!!!

I have failed on many many diet attempts in the past that almost all hinged around calorie counting. My psychology is such that I am very strict with myself and weigh and measure every last morsel. Then I always get to a moment when I weaken and have something that I hadnt calculated for and go over the allowable total. I immediately view myself as a dieting failure and hit the depths of despair. When I get down - I get very very down. Every time it has happened it has led to me abandoning the diet and any struggled for achievement is cancelled. I quickly return to my start weight or higher.

I am however calorie aware (courtesy of all those calorie counting diets) so I do check calorie contents in something if I am undecided about whether to have it or not.

By not calorie counting I cannot go over my calories for any day - I have no limit on me. A good day is a day that I walk. An even better day is a day that I walk and try to eat healthy sensible food choices. I try to eat a balanced diet with protein, fruit, veg, dairy and cereal and drink 2 litres of water.

Early November (e.g. p19 of my diary) there were 2 weeks where for a challenge I had to count calories. I did complain about it. These are the only two weeks where I have counted calories this year. I was very glad when it stopped. I very nearly did without the challenge points - and if it had been an individual challenge I would have done this (I didnt want to let other team members down). I have a very repetitive diet - so looking at those pages would probably give you the calories in 95% of my food.

I choose what food I eat because I study my own reaction to food. I weigh myself every day and keep a spreadsheet that covers everything associated with how my weight is likely to react (weight, stepcount, miles, other exercise info, food, period info, general health info, toilet habits etc). I looked for trends - noticing which food tended to make my weight increase and which gave me a weight drop. As time went by I was able to see that I lost weight well with some meals - and the temptation was there to eat more of those things. Some things (e.g. cheese) gave me a guaranteed gain on the scales the next day and they tended to get axed out of my diet.

My approach may not suit everyone - but it suits me.

Take care
Love
Margaret

Hi Angel

You cant quit. We have to be both all slimmed down for our birthdays.

You definitely want to do aerobics. I really enjoyed that today.

I have heard that water aerobics is good but I havent tried it yet. It clashes with my other classes.

I do yoga too - but it isnt as good as aerobics. Pilates seems pretty good - or at least the bits that I do are.

Take care
Love
Margaret

YES i cant quit. dont ever let me quit. any weight loss is better than no weight loss. have to be slimmed down for birthday!! just hope i keep the right attitude!!!

water aerobics are supposed to be better for the body- but i have a slight fear of water (i say slight-im petrified. cant even swim or get away from the edges of swimming pool). maybe that should be one of my goals. to start swimming. hmm. rambling in your diary. sori.

;-)

x

Angel

Ramble away. Swimming would be a good thing to learn. We all have fears - but there can be a great feeling if we overcome them and show who is in control.

You are amazing to read. You've completely honed your approach into a slick, no-nonsense, targeted weight-loss system. Wonderful!

I'm pretty new to weight-loss - well, new to losing weight, not new to wanting to lose weight - so I'll see how my approach develops over the next few weeks and months. But I do like your way of seeing things.

D'you know, if ever you should consider going back to work, you just have to go into project management. You were born to do it!

Thanks for all your advice