Friday Five - Weekly Update!

1. What types of food did you eat this week? 2. What types of exercise did you do this week? 3. How much weight did you lose? Total loss? 4. What was your biggest challenge? 5. When you're ready to give up, what happens to change your mind??? *Fun bonus question: If they made a movie about your life, what famous person (doesn't have to be an actor/actress) would you want to play you? I'm having a real hard time, folks. I'm basically coming to the conclusion that I'm not going to lose anymore weight and I have to find a way to be truly okay at this weight. To be completely honest, coming here and reading about all the weight loss (the numbers) your losing is only frustrating me more. I hate that I feel that way, I should be happy and supportive of you all. I hope that will change really soon. Amber

Amber, Im really sad to read that u are having such a hard time and that u are getting so frustrated. I was in that boat for about 2 months. I wasnt loosing anything then all of the sudden i dropped 2 sizes and seemed like it was overnight. I dont know where u started or what u wt now but I am only 1/2 way to my goal and I still have a long way to go. I know I will miss your post and all of the support u give in here if u would ever leave the board. I hope u find peace with all this soon and that u get back on the losing trac before u know it. Thank you for all u do to keep this board active Mariah

1. What types of food did you eat this week? chili, chicken tortilla soup, lots of fruits, steak, pork chop, cheese, salads, tuna, even a hard boiled egg, and of course tea Misto's 2. What types of exercise did you do this week? not much, I was very bad this week, I walked every morning at work, but that's it! 3. How much weight did you lose? 2 pounds Total loss? 127 pounds gone forever! 4. What was your biggest challenge? exercise, I hate it 5. When you're ready to give up, what happens to change your mind??? I had a melt down moment the other night over of all things sushi! My body won't tolerate starches, and I started crying over the food I couldn't have anymore (talk about an addict!) So after boo hooing and then laughing about how silly it was to cry over food, I went to the bedroom and started trying on new clothes in the closet, in the next few sizes down. When I first had surgery I wore a size 32 pair of jeans, I went and tried on size 20 slacks and they fit!!! I put on a size 18 sweater, and it fit, I use to wear a tight size 34!!! That's when I realized this was all worth it. I also have a very supportive husband who talked to me as I was crying. He told me I'm a much happier person now, that I do many more things than I used too, heck I even walk more. He thinks this is the best thing I've done for myself, and you know what? He's right!! *Fun bonus question: If they made a movie about your life, what famous person (doesn't have to be an actor/actress) would you want to play you? Kirstie Alley, she wacky and funny, and knows what a struggle weight loss can be! Hang in there Amber, you've hit the 6 month stall like a lot of us. My DR says it's a time when your body is figuring out how to work again. The weight loss slows dramatically, but it hasn't stopped yet. Look at what your eating and go back to basics, no snacking, reduce the starches, and you'll pull through this rotten time! We've all lost so much weight so fast these first 6 months that it's hard to see it slow way down. I'll be thinking of you and sending lots of good thoughts your way. I love the Friday Five, it's what's help to keep me going these past 6 months! Jan

1. What types of food did you eat this week? I had Power Crunch Protein Bars, Tuna, Salad, Carrots, Celery w/peanut butter, a few crackers, leftover enchiladas and black beans...pretty bland basic stuff. 2. What types of exercise did you do this week? UGH....does walking to and from my car count? I really need to get this part going to continue my progress. 3. How much weight did you lose? Total loss? Total I'm at 101 4. What was your biggest challenge? Exercise and dealing with my emotions...I've been craving the large portion comfort foods with the stress going on in my life. It's been more mentally tough this week than anything. 5. When you're ready to give up, what happens to change your mind??? The fact that I know I'll get sick and that I don't have any clothes to go back too! I know that's stupid, but the fact that I've been giving away all my "fat" clothes along the way makes it a bit more real ****rtainly don't have the $ to go buy more!) *Fun bonus question: If they made a movie about your life, what famous person (doesn't have to be an actor/actress) would you want to play you? Well, I used to be told that I looked like Rosie O'Donnell or Monica Lewinsky...but I wouldn't want either of those women to play me! I'm hoping to be more a Catherine Zeta by the time they want to make that movie! Hang in there Amber! I know that I've felt those same feelings lately. I can tell that the progress has slowed considerably and I'm only 1/2 way to my surgeon's goal!! Very depressing. SO...as much as I'm celebrating my 101 gone, I know that I still have over that to go and it's so not going to be easy. Keep coming here...keep pressing on...with determination we can both get to where we want. Christina S

Christina, Im so happy for you, CONGRATS on making it to the CENTURY CLUB. I'd say Catherine would be a much better choice...You are so beautiful. Keep up the great work. You all in here are such an inspiration for me.

1. What types of food did you eat this week? Eggs, Cottage Cheese, Yogurt, Cheese, Green Beans, Peas, Potato, Tator Tots, Chicken, Pork, Turkey, Lettuce, Apples, Grapes, Strawberries, Protein Bars, Smoothies, Shrimp, Refried Beans, Peanuts, Goldfish, English Muffin, SF Cookie, and SF IceCream. 2. What types of exercise did you do this week? I went to the gym a couple times (treadmill & bicycling), lifted weights at home, and I walk around the grocery stores on my lunch break every day. 3. How much weight did you lose? Total loss? Nothing. I think I'm gaining. 4. What was your biggest challenge? Carbs. They are the devil. 5. When you're ready to give up, what happens to change your mind??? You people. *Fun bonus question: If they made a movie about your life, what famous person (doesn't have to be an actor/actress) would you want to play you? Thanks for all your kind words, guys. I know I'm just having another moment. I'm really looking at all my eating habits on my Fit Day account (http://www.fitday.com/WebFit/PublicJournals.html?Owner=blubberbuns) and reading the reports. It's not 100% accurate but its pretty darn close. I know there are things that I should not be eating and I know I need to get back to basics. I guess its just hard because I'm so hungry all the time. I wouldn't consider myself snacking/grazing, but I do take a lot of time to eat while I'm at work. I between doing things and it might take me 2 hours to finish my breakfast because of interruptions. I eat probably on average of 1000 cals a day and I normally burn more calories than I eat. I need to just look at the weight loss progression and remember I technically have lost 5 - 8 pounds over the last month and I have to be grateful for that. I'm rocking between 82 & 85 pounds lost. I hate my scale. It changes all the time depending on how I'm standing on it. I'm not going anywhere, I just need to get past the numbers issue. I started this at 300 pounds. I'm at 215/217. Doc's goal is 189. My goal is 169. A billion people tell me how great I look and I always reply with a thank you and tell them I feel great. Healthy-wise I do. Mentally I'm a mess. I also have Bipolar Disorder and the depression gets worse in the winter. This really is expected. Come March I'll start getting better. Just hang in there with me and it should all change in the near future. Thanks guys, I love you all! Amber

1. What types of foods did you eat this week? Blue Bunny Lite 85 sf yogurt, Laughing Cow LF cheese wedges, salad, sf fudgsicles, a little roast beef, hamburger patty, Lean cuisine ravioli (one meal), Frigo lf string cheese; I am feeling like today I need to add some variety to my diet! I'm eating a lot of dairy, all super low fat and sugar-free, but I need to add more veggies. I'm getting a little bored. 2.Exercise: I've been doing Leslie Sansone's various videos that came with her Walk Blaster step thingy. It's really fun, and my gluteal muscles are sore today from the squats! Did Pilates twice, too. It's been a good week for exercise. 3. No weight loss; started the week at 218, gained a pound mid-week, but this morning back to 218. Go figure. 4. Biggest challenge: getting in enough water, and wanting to have a snack before bedtime. 5. When wanting to give up, what happens to change your mind? I remind myself how close I am to the 100s...only 19 pounds from it! And the last time I was this close, I lost control and went off my paid program and gained all the way up to 304, which is where I was when I started this surgery process. It makes me sad that I was so close to the prize and I let go of it. I'm not going to this time. I do get discouraged, too, Amber. I totaled up my weight loss for January and I lost a grand total of 8 pounds. So basically I'm losing like any normal person who is dieting now, an avg. of two pounds a week. I hope that I at least lose that much in February, though it would be much more fun to lose 19 and be in the 100s! However, I have to take what I can get, doing my part by exercising and eating right and let the chips fall where they may! I got spoiled in the first few months, losing so fast! Now I've got to fight for it, as we all do, but we WILL make it! I know we will. Hang in there! Bonus: I would want Kerri Russell to play me. I loved her on Felicity, and we both have curly hair. I WISH I was as waifish as she is! LOL

Amen sista, carbs ARE the devil. I am in the exact same boat as you. I'm hungry a lot, too. It's like my body is craving calories. For the most part, I eat the right foods but I snack in between meals because my body wants food (or my mind?). I have lost hardly anything this last month, BUT I think to myself, I've lost 101 lbs since I first started the journey and 88 lbs since surgery. I'm at 174-175 now and in a size 10/12 so I can't really complain. I think my body is putting a stop for a while to the weight loss to try and recoup from the last six months. I look at it like, this is okay, let's give the body a chance to catch its breath before I lose the last 30 lbs or so. My primary doc said she'd like to see me at 135 so I'm in the "normal" range, but I think that'll be too tiny for my frame. I've got an appt with my rny surgeon in a week or so and I think it's time we start talking about "goals." He didn't want to do that before but it's time now. I need to know what to shoot for. I also want to talk to him about what my daily caloric intake should be because I really have no idea. I just eat until I feel full and it's been working so far but I need guidelines for long-term maintenance. You're not alone, Amber. We're all feeling the same thing. I also hate winter and can't WAIT for some sunshine and brighter days. We'll get through this and just think where we were LAST February, ugh!! ;) Have a great day and keep your chin up. Leave me a comment on myspace and remind me to do Friday five tomorrow, 'k? lol I always forget! Talk to ya soon!

1. What types of food did you eat this week? Still have absolutely no hunger nor cravings. Am still diligent with my program, although had my verysecond taste of beef: Three tiny fork-littles of just the steak and cheese of my boyfriend's Philly cheese steak sandwich, which tasted amazing, though stuck with that. I made crab cakes for us, using whipped egg whites instead of breading, and used less than the required 'mayonnaise' (Light Miracle Whip). We both love them! Also made meat loaf with ground chicken (less fatty than turkey) and used chopped fresh spinach instead of bread crumbs (did add 1/2 of recipe amount of crushed Romano/Sundried Tomato soy crisps, so modified the spice powders. Also made from-scratch spaghetti sauce with no fat. I had mine over steamed fresh broccoli rather than his whole-wheat pasta. Had fresh lobster, (besides with other fresh fish) for variety sake. 2. What types of exercise did you do this week? Going with him to the Y, where I 'walk' in the pool, and he's training me with lifting weights. Otherwise, Yoga Pilates and stair-climbing. 3. How much weight did you lose? Stayed same. Total loss? 87 lbs 4. Biggest challenge: With no hunger, merely remembering to eat three up-to-one-cup meals daily when on the go. 5. When you're ready to give up: I 've honestly not felt this. *Fun bonus question: If they made a movie about your life..: It would have to be a documentary because nobody could play me! I'm so unique that I'm often imitated, never duplicated.

Feb 3rd Sat This mornings wt in was at 255. The body is rapidly changing and the skin is really hanging. My emotions have been more stable this week than they have in months. 1. What types of food did you eat this week? Im still stuck on the Ocharleys 3 cheese and shrimp dip and steamed broccoli and mixed veggies. One order lasts me 3-4 meals for 11.00 . I also started eating some dried cranberry and mixed nuts I get at Walgreens...they are really good. 2. What types of exercise did you do this week? I do leg lifts each day when I wake up and arm exercises...still being lazy and doing them in bed...but still doing them none the less. Also taking a couple long walks a week when Andys home 3. How much weight did you lose? Total loss? Wt in today was 255 (bmi 36.6). Still hoping to be below 250 for my 7 month anniversery on the 12th..but its looking like I may not make that. Im down 4 lbs since Monday so Im not complaining however its cause its my TOM and so the water retention is passing 4. What was your biggest challenge? Dealing with my husband moving back to Indy and his stuff all over the place. Not knowing what hes going to be doing from day to day...since his job is ruling what he does on a daily basis things change 5. When you're ready to give up, what happens to change your mind??? Finally being able to see a difference when I look in the mirror or I get a compliment from someone that was totally unexpected. I had one of those today from someone at work and it really did my heart and mind good! *Fun bonus question: If they made a movie about your life, what famous person (doesn't have to be an actor/actress) would you want to play you? I used to think I would like it to be Kathern Turner but recently saw her on E entertainment and now that Im getting thinner shes old and fat...LOL Go figure..Guess she could play the old fat me and I could play the present me...LOL