Thanks guys!
Omega, I'm glad to have some numbers to go by. Thank you.
Trops, You're so right. I won't bring the scale. And I'll make sure I have a great time. Thanks so much.

I have some good news. I think its good news anyway.
My boyfriend has agreed to help me with my goals. Before he would just tell me I didn't need to lose weight, he thinks I'm beautiful, blah, blah, blah. But he knows that I want to, and that I'll be happier with myself if I can do this, so he has agreed to keep tabs on me. Here is the plan we came up with:
I call him at the end of the day, and tell him how the day went, and if I stuck to the plan or not. He will then offer encouragement or congratulations. We're going to try it for 4 weeks, and then see where I am, and re-evaluate. I'm going to start a countdown, to remind myself every day to do well. If I can complete the month successfully, he said he'd buy me a day at the spa, which I've never done, and was actually his idea, but I like it. I will weigh every day, but not make any goals as to what I would like to be, because in the past when I haven't met those goals, I've gotten frustrated, and given up. As long as my weight stays the same, or goes down, that is considered a success. I will measure once a week, on mondays, including body fat. I will write down everything I eat, and all the exercise I do, so I can see whats working, and what isn't. I will stay under 1700 calories a day, and must include protein in every meal. I can give myself one treat a week. I will make sure I do some sort of exercise every day, even if its just a walk. No more feeling bad about myself if I don't go to the gym and do cardio for an hour! I'm going to do strength training on Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday. I think thats it. I'm pretty excited right now. I've always thought that if I just had someone else who knew I was trying to do this, that it would really help. What do you guys think? Anything I should add, delete, or change?

Go more by how good you have or havent been (we all know if we have done the exercise and been good with our food or lapsed a bit - be honest with yourself).

Remember that the scale gets confused at times. We all get day to day fluctuations when our weight goes up - this happens for a load of reasons - water retention because of the time of the month, water retention because you had too much sodium, weight of food eaten, weight of water drank, whether the toilet visits are as regular as they should be....

We can be good and still get a gain at the scale. Dont be upset and think that you have failed when this happens to you. It happens to us all.

Hey I'm so excited for you! Boyfriend on board...thats a huge deal...and him coming up with a spa day, double WOW. That'd be an incentive or me for sure . And yea I'll definitely let you know how it goes once I start swimming...I'm amazed that the "Comfort Inn" has that. They have them all over so I wonder if its just local or not? Maybe you could do it too. And yea definitely understand limited space for equipment...thats why I'm so happy we're finally moving into our first house...all the SPACE

As far as your work outs go, I'm no expert but I've heard that you're supposed to give muscles that you're working a day to rest so were you planning on working the same areas on Saturday and Sunday? I know scheduling can be a pain in the butt so you probably only have some days to get in there but it'd definitely be better to have the 3 strength training days spread out...something to do with actually getting more results because the muscle is rebuilding in between. That's pretty much my extent of knowledge...I'll be coming to you for help by the time I actually get to that point, lol.

I'm starting tomorrow. Today didn't go so well. But really starting tomorrow.

I think its great to have the BF on board with you, makes you more accountable! You might even get him to work out with you... or do activities that are fun yet physical... like hiking or biking or tennis or hoops or anything that gets you moving!

You're doing great! Kudos!

Cheers,
MissDFITT

I think in most parts of the land -that activity is called sex

I did not read every ones posts I most skimmed through and read yours...But, What I have been told by SO many of my doctors. I have a lot beleave me, being a termadic brain injury victim = ALOT of doctors. But really they all have told me that it going in strange patterns for weigh loss. You might loose 20 pounds the first 45 days you might loose 3 the next 45 and then the next you might not move in weight. But don't get sad they say. The body is strange so just keep up the good work

Thanks guys. Believe me, I would like to do all those activities with him, but he's 6+ hours away. I usually see him about every 3 weeks. But yes, it is great to have him on board. He's awesome because he lets me know that he's helping me because he knows I want to do it, but that he thinks I'm great the way I am now.

As far as today goes, I ate a lot, and didn't go to the gym. Not a good excuse, but its soooo hot and humid, and the gym has no air conditioning, and only 2 tiny windows by the treadmills. I'll go for a walk when it cools down later. But I did write down my plan on paper, make a chart to record my weights and measurements, and hang up my countdown with the number 28 ready for me to see in the morning. So I don't feel bad about today. I'm calling it my psychological readying for the journey ahead. Sounds good, right?. Like I was being productive. Haha.

LMAO!!! Apparently I've been presenting this to my husband all wrong, I'll try that Mal How many calories does sex burn again?

I wanted to report my first measurements.
Weight: 139.5- down a pound from yesterday. I hope getting back to where I was last week will happen quickly.
Thigh: 23
Hip: 35.5
Waist: 29
Bust: 37
Arm (just below deltoid): 12
Body Fat: 22.2%

Today, I've done well. I'm satisfied with how it went. Not ecstatic, but satisfied, and I'll take it. I've had 1540 calories, and did a good workout on my lunch break. I haven't told my boyfriend how it went yet. We'll see what he says when I talk to him later. It definitely did help me today, knowing I'd have to tell him later what I had eaten and done at the gym. I didn't pig out because I didn't want him to be grossed out. Yay, its working! One day down, 27 more to go!!

I guess I wrote that last part too soon. I did end up snacking too much. However, when I called my boyfriend to tell him that I had failed, and that I felt horrible, he was so forgiving. It was a new concept to me, and one that I need to learn. He told me that every day is a learning process, and that as long as I write down what I eat every day, and how much I exercise, I have succeeded, and can learn from my mistakes. He said it doesn't even matter if I don't make any progress, as long as I can learn something while I'm doing it. He made me feel sooo much better. I hope tomorrow goes better, but I'll just try my hardest.

Goals for tomorrow:
3 meals, 2 small snacks
strength training

1 hr. intensive foreplay Burns Off:
1 slice (large) chocolate cake.

25 min. nonstop lovemaking Burns Off:
2 slices of pizza with cheese & mushrooms.

It's a shame that your boyfriend is so far away. Good that he can support you and make you feel better by phone calls.

We all have times when we break the rules. Immediate total self-forgiveness is the only way to deal with it - as you get yourself back on track. Beating yourself up achieves nothing constructive. The big thing is getting back on track because even if you put on weight - it comes off straight away.

I would be miserable and fade away if I only had two snacks. I eat so much fruit and jelly it is silly. I sometimes spend the whole day going from snack to snack. As long as it is low calorie reasonably healthy stuff you are fine.

Yeah, that 2 snack thing is hard. I should at least make it 3. It seems like it should be natural to me. Breakfast before class. Snack after 1st class (2 hrs). Lunch after 2nd class. Snack after 3rd class. dinner after 4th class. snack a couple hours later. Unfortunately, it doesn't usually work out like that. I'm good until lunch. But sometimes I come home for lunch, and I snack while I'm making lunch. Then I snack both before dinner, and all night long after dinner. thats where I get most of my calories from. it's a habit I think I need to break.

Today went well. I stayed right around 1500 or 1600 calories. i'm not sure exactly. I did my planned workout. It wasn't much- just a short walk on the treadmill, but Wednesday is my rest day, and sometimes I actually find it hard not to do more. But I know rest is important so I don't get burned out. I probably had too many snacks, but I stayed in my calorie range so I think its ok. I didn't do strength training, but I had to study for a test tomorrow. I know, I probably could have found time to do something. but at least I thought about it. Haha. I'll start doing it again soon, I'm sure. I was 139.5 this morning (same as yesterday). I'm really hoping for a loss tomorrow morning.

Goals for tomorrow:
strength training
keep each snack around 150 calories (this might be easier than limiting my number of snacks)

Question: It may have been answered, but I forget. Is yogurt a good protein source? Is it worth eating even though it has a lot of sugar in it?