FINALLY!

Hi guys! I am FINALLY starting to loose weight! 5 pounds so far in a week! Yay! I changed a few things in my daily routine. I bought some extra calcium citrate, I take a liquid vitamin which is geared towards wls patients and has "extra" of most of the vitmains and such but I decided to be on the safe side and take an extra calcium tablet. I dont know if thats helped or not but at any rate... I have forced myself to NOT sit on the couch and watch tv. Today is American Idol though so I am not sure how I will do. I will try my darndest not to snack and watch. It has actually been easy. Since the weather is alot nicer I dont want to sit, I want to get out and do stuff in the yard, get some sun and such. I drastically cut my sugar and cut my portion sizes and also cut my carbs down. Not completely but drastically reduced! I've been cleaning like a fiend and just trying to keep moving and keep busy at home. I think its FINALLY paying off. Its only been a week so 5 pounds lost in a week is exciting for me!!!! I am going to keep going and try to reduce the calories a bit more, I am still a little loaded up on the calories. The focus on protein makes such a big difference! These are the things I have been eating throught the week... And yep some are not so great for me. (especially one) Each one is a serving -3 slices of turkey wrapped around a thin slice of cheese -2 slices of Lean Bologna -Little cheese cubes -mozarella string cheese -Peanut butter (1-2 tablespoons per day) -One Banana -Cheese Dog. (the kind of hot dogs with the cheese inside of the dog) OH THE GUILT! But still lost by eating that (go figure!) I guess since its protein??? Not sure. They are my absolute favorite. but so unhealthy! -Tuna -Fish -Shrimp -green beans and veggies (mostly broccoli) -Grapes -Soup -4 Rice Crackers with little cheese cubes on them -Light Lays (about 6) -Protein Bars -Protein Drinks -Milk -Water Just a few things I have been munching on. I have been trying to get lots of veggies in though, like carrots and broccoli and cauliflower and green peppers. If I feel like I have to "graze" I use that. Welp I am rambling now. Just wanted to share and check in! Elizabeth M

Yea Elizabeth!!! What a great feeling when the scale finally moves. I'm so proud of you for stepping up and focusing on protein and movement. I bet you feel great this week. My new found love this week is grilled Buffalo chicken wings. There's a place here that serves wings grilled instead of fried or baked. They're pretty lean (all things considered) and 4 of them with celery and carrots make a great meal for me. Actually 3 make a great meal and the fourth one pushes the limit a little. I'm thinking that I'm going to pick up a frozen bag and throw wings on the grill every once in a while. Keep up the great work. I'm really, really proud of you. Hugs, Connie

YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! Elizabeth, I'm so happy for you!! You have been having such a rough time of it lately, I'm delighted to know that you are getting rewarded for all of your hard work. I've admired your courage in talking frankly abourt your problems. It's great to be able to celebrate your success with you. Congratulations and keep up the good work! Mike

Thanks Mike! Thanks Connie! it sure is a great feeling! I was starting to wonder if I would ever loose again! Now that those pounds have slipped away it really gives me the incentive to do even better to continue to loose weight! Those grilled wings sound yummy! In fact that is a good idea! Buffalo wing sauce is pretty easy to make...throw some chicken on the grill and add a little sauce and that would be a yummy treat! Thanks for the idea!

I'm so glad that you have the scales moving again. You are doing all the right things--just keep at it!! Joy

WELP, NOW YOU HAVE ME CRYING! FIRST KEN, NOW YOU! (Hope you don't mind I borrowed your 'welp' - it's the cutest damn thing.) 'lizbet, I'M VERY, VERY, VERY PROUD OF YOU! In fact, you've put powder in my guns now; I'm sick to death of the scale going back and forth from 161 to 164, on a whim. Forget that 159, that lasted for all of 30 seconds. Well, I'm stepping it up a notch and I have you to thank for this! You just keep focusing on moving, moving, moving...it's the greatest joy of this whole journey. Don't look back, sweetie, not for a second. Keep your eyes and feet moving forward. YOU ARE SO WORTH IT!!! Now if we could just grab Dina by the hand and help her wriggle those numbers to under 200 -- won't that be a party day when we get that word! Woo-HOO! Good for you! Love, Reenie

Ooooh! (((huggie huggie huggie))) I am so happy for you Elizabeth! You are doing so well getting yourself back in order. Now it's my turn! Hurry up and quick - get caught up with me and then I'll jump in line behind you! Dina

Elizabeth, O.K so I am a little jealous of you, but congrats!! I have been stuck at 204 for I don't no how long. I seem to try just about anything & it doesn't seem to budge. I eat mostly protein & have upped that & cut back on the coffee & still nothing. So maybe getting moving is the answer. I stopped going to the gym as I can't afford it right now. So I guess thats it I have to start walking again at least. Congrats again!! keep us posted on your success. Marilyn, the Bearlady

(((((MAUREEN))))) Thank you!!! You always are such an inspiration to me I feel honored I was able to give you a little mind boost Thank you so much!!! You can always borrow my welps I am still going down!!! I am so excited I dont know what to do with myself!!! Its only a couple of ounces but those .8s and .2s make a difference! I think that the extra calcium citrate that I am taking is honestly helping alot! It could just be a coincidence but as soon as I started to take the extra calcium I started to loose! So... I am crunching this chalky horse pill (its massive) and drinking it with milk.. Am I nuts? I just want to be absolutely positive I am absorbing this calcium plus im getting in a little more protein with the milk and helping the calcium absorb I already get calcium with my liquid vitamin but this extra seems to be really helping. I have also been really focusing on the protein and no more pumpkin seeds! which is a feat in iteslf! And no popcorn and snacks. Grapes are my grazing food of choice! Thank God for grapes! If I can become a grape addict instead of a pumpkin seed addict I will really have accomplished something! Frozen grapes, warm grapes, cold grapes, grapes in salad. tee hee.... (jk) Dina I am running in your direction I swear!!! We will absolutely get under that darn 200 pounds!!!! Im going to fly towards you and grab your hand on the way without stoppin! We are going to do this! We are going to wear those shorts and feel awesome! (aside from my scary inner thighs! I told my husband I was going to tape up my inner thighs... you should have seen his face. It was hysterical! such confusion. Aw well cant have it all! Elizabeth M

Marilyn, Try some extra calcium citrate? I just keep getting this inkling that the calcium is really helping me loose because honestly I am still eating about 1230 calories a day. The foods are different ... better... but the calories are still there... I keep thinking that extra calcium is helping... Hang in there, baby steps... replace one bad thing with a good thing slowly It took me long enough to finally get use to cutting those things out. You can absolutely do it!!! Never give up that is the key! ((BIG HUGS!)) Elizabeth M