OK! TIME TO POST GOALS!

Hi Dawn - Ive actually found Patt Levine's book in my local library- so look there first - I was reading it before surgery..I attended a seminar at my hospital last night- called "fitting healthy eating into your lifestyle" with the hosptal chef doing a cooking session and the nutritionst doing a presentation..apparently the FDA has redone the Food Pyramid..and all I could say was- there is TOO MUCH food on that list for me to eat in one day- LOL! Imagine that! The chef created a shrimp and then chicken vegetables wit whole wheat pasta.. and then after tasting both those dishes- imagine this- finished it off- with huge fresh strawberries and vanilla dannon fit & healthy yogurt.. (is that right? I eat it all the time and cant recall) AND it was so tasty - just as a dessert..my son and I had to go have dinner right after that.. It was interesting- she had used asparagus tips and snap peas as alternating veggies with mushrooms and something else.. I will post it later.. Dawn you are at my goal weight- congratulations- you look awesome- Im halfway to goal..thanks for joining in. Donna 325/236/145

Thanks for the library suggestion. I found both of her books at mine and started "Gut Feeling" today at the gym. Dawn

Hi Lynn..thanks for joining us.. I think 10lbs is very doable in th e 5-6 week timeframe I set aside..I don't want anyone to feel that time is not on their side..even though I feel that way sometimes.. I'm hoping we both hit the 100 pound goal next month! I read both by Carnie Wilson- and the sequel is a very different style than the first....you should also read: " Jemima J "- its a fictional account and kind of a British "pretty woman" story for one overweight woman.. It makes you feel good about yourself all through the story. Donna 325/236/ 145

My Goal!!! By March 29 be able to complete the 5k run I am signed up for. By End of April lose 10 pounds. Need to weight in at 160. By End of May lose another 5. So would need to be at 155. Keep working out at the Gym 2 days per week and training for the run 3 days per week. Take some pictures of myself and post them for you all to see in the next few weeks. Diana 263/170/135

Hi Diana- Nice to see ya! Thanks for giving me this idea!! When is your run? And by next month you want to be 160- thats your April goal.. do you ever alternate your aerobic exercise? I've had someone tell me- that cross training- even if its an aerobic class you take for fun.. removes your body from the "routine" thats set in- and changes it up - and can spur on your weight loss again.. I know you are training for the 5K right now- do you also do any weight lifting? I dont mean heavy stuff - but for the shoulders, arms and especially your legs- since you are running.. Im at Ballys and do something called the leg sled- its like doing vertical squats with weight over your shoulders- only your horizontal- and the emphasis is on pressing your quads and you are using everything from your hips down..I can press 60lbs- 3 sets of 15 reps- and thats where I left off.. Im going to the gym tonight :0).. I*m also looking into personal training- to firm up my tummy area. Good Luck- let me know how you do this week. Donna 325/236/145

This is a great idea Donna! Putting my goals in writing and being held accountable will really help! Here they are: *lose 12 lbs which will bring me to 225 *watch those evil carbs and control my salt intake (carbs and salt go together for me) * increase my walking on the days I don't go to the gym * work on getting in more water * continue to admire my self every time I see a mirror! Michele T

Hi Michele We are so CLOSE my friend!! I want to get to 220.. I think its doable..Im 236 with TOM (time of the month) water gain NOW of 5lbs..and Im going to my surgeon Thursday for weigh in..thank you very much..talk about inconvenience..but Im happier at 236 than I was at 325..so full steam ahead on the weight loss .. when you are walking- have you ever tried using light weights? Or even hand weights? These are usually 1-2 lbs- and can strap around your wrist or you carry them in your palm.. carry those around and pump your arms with them- or even try it on a treadmill- and see what a difference pumping small weights all the time makes in your arm muscles.. AND it will also aid in raising your metabolism- and help burn more fat and for a longer time.. I raised my metabolism to 50% higher than average for my age (late 40s) - according to my surgeon's metabolic test.. so try it for a week - you can get the weights at sports authority or even modells..or you can exercise with 2-3lb dumbells AFTER your walking- and do bicep curls or tricep flys- and it will have the same effect .. Have a great day- and keep up the good work! Donna 325/236/145

Thanks Donna for starting this... I actually started this past Friday to get my act together again, but here ya go... By April 28th I will the last 6 lbs to get to my goal of 135. I will exercise regularly (3-5 days per week - made it 2 so far this week). I will continue to NOT snack. (made it the last 4 days and I'm so proud of myself) Dawn 258/141/135

Dawn!! Nice to see your post..you are just a regular spring of inspiration for me.. Im halfway to goal, and realize we just all struggle - and thought if we did this- we may turn up some things that are working for someone else and we all benefit!! I have returned to doing 1-2 protein shakes a day, and convinced it helped move me from 238 to 236 last week.. and Im trying to only do the homescale 1x week ( im doing doctors weekly) LOL so I can save the shock for the doctors.. ha ha ha .. and when you say snack- do you mean like sugar free ice pops (45cal each) or apples with peanut butter? or do you mean popcorn and salty stuff? LOL... Im kinda addicted to peanut butter right now.. and I just started using s/f ice pops to increase my daily fluids.. and not having any snacks for 4 days? Did you watch any TV during those 4 days? thats when I tend to wanna have a late snack like popcorn, and I try peanut butter and crackers or PB & fruit now..so if you can keep it a healthy snack..that may work for you. I KNOW..sometimes ya just want the bad carbs!! Hugs, Donna 325/236/145

Per my surgeon anything that has flavor or calories is a snack. I'm supposed to ONLY eat 3 meals until goal and then I can add 1 protein snack to help maintain weight loss. Most of my snacking involved chocolate. lol How typically female I know. And yes, I did watch TV. For me it's the afternoon that gets me. Dawn