Hi guys. I don't know if anyone on here would remember me, I think it's been over a year. I looked around a little and saw that that Sara and Tom are still on here...so hi guys, I hope you're doing well. I wish I had good news like I lost all the weight I wanted but I don't. I'm on here again because really, all you can do is keep trying right? I had a lot of ups and downs, mostly downs, and instead of losing the 30 lbs I wanted, I ended up gaining 10. Anyway, I came back here because this was always a good supportive environment, and I really want to keep trying. I feel better this time and I really feel differently. I feel like I'm more aware of what I'm eating and more aware of what's in what. Last time I was counting calories like a mofo and measuring everything and I'm still not sure I really knew what I was eating. I think it will benefit me a lot more to just be aware of what I'm eating and make good choices.

Anyway, on a brighter note, I weighed in at 172 Monday, three pounds lost! That's a start, right? I don't expect it to be that much every week, but I really used to eat a lot of bad food, so I'm glad to actually be able to see the benefits of cutting it out. I feel better, and my skin looks better too.

So I decided to come back here, kind of on a whim, to see if I could get some motivation to go to the fitness center...then I started reading around and I just couldn't resist.

So that's that!

Welcome back.

I just shuffled in myself. Hopefully we'll both make an end of it this time around.

Okay, think I am there w/ ya's.

Need to get my mind on board.
Maybe I'll get brave and post my hot pics & my now pics.

Need someone to get throw me the ball and get me started.
The person to me that i need is me, me to throw me the ball! I've never had
a problem like this before.

Ready

Hey Kitty!

It's good to hear from you again...

Okay, girlfriend, what are you willing to do to accomplish your goals?

Good news, I made it to the fitness center! I ran a half mile and did 15 min on the eliptical. I was hoping for 30, but I started to not feel well so I decided to cut it down and work my way up. I also did biceps, triceps, quads and hamstrings. For the arms I used the machines in the weight room where you do two arms at once, but I don't think that's good for me, I could really tell my right arm was doing more work. I need to learn how to do freeweights, but the freeweight section is so intimidating!

Afterward I was starving and it was dinner time so I got a grilled chicken sandwich and a little salad from our food place and afterward I felt like I stuffed myself! I guess I'm just so used to eating a whole bunch of crap that I wasn't even paying attention. Next time I'll listen to my stomach.

Anyway, overall I feel pretty good about today.

Glad to hear from you guys!

Congratulations - you started! That is something most people are unwilling to do!

Thanks! I was so excited that I was actually motivating that I was grinning through the whole walk to the fitness center, haha.

Good girl.

Ok no official exercise today. I had 14 hour rehearsal. Yes, I did say 14 hours. And I'm beat. And I have 8 more hours of this crap tomorrow. I did do a lot of walking today though. Ok I'm going to bed.

Welcome back - will look forward to tracking your progress.

Ok, so yesterday, TON of walking. A lot of shopping too. and pretty good eating, I orded a chicken club sandwich without bacon or mayo but the bacon came with it and I ate a couple of pieces, then my roommate gave me two mini reeses cups and I ate those later. Probably not the end of the world. Obsessing about that stuff is just going to give me another eating disorder, which will ultimately kill my desire to take care of my body which will put me right back where I started. Anyway we went out last night and I had one drink, rum and diet. I don't know the real ramifications alcohol has on someone trying to lose weight, I'm gonna read around and try to find out, or if someone wants to tell me, that's cool too.

Anyway, I know I'm not going to have time to workout at the fitness center today, I have A LOT of cleaning to do and we're going to see the Rite of Spring! Yay!

At the very least, cleaning burns calories. We have a townhouse, so lots of running up and down stairs. (I always run up and down stairs, I always have, I know not why)

I'm going to go make breakfast.

Giterdone.

Alcohol is generally bad because it is high in uhh, what I want to call "priority" calories. It spikes your insulin, and gets burned off first, and so can cause fat storage where fat storage might not have otherwise occurred, partly through causing you to eat additional food in response to the cravings it causes.

It also has a negative impact on ability to train - though this is not 100% established - by lowering testosterone levels in both men and women. This also has the effect of decreasing your sex drive somewhat (though it may not seem that way. ), if that is also an issue you for you.

However, having said that, obsessing over perfection in your nutrition and avoiding alcohol all the time is not a good way to start out, imo. I think the psychological ramifications of super strict adherence will be much worse than the physical consequences of an occasional treat. Don't torture yourself. That's my thing. XD

Focus made some good points on diet... Work on improving but realize you're not perfect.

That's what I'm really trying to do, but it's something that's always been a problem, so I really appreciate you guys' support. In the past it's been really easy for me to get on a cycle where I start to obsess and it just spirals downward and ends up ruining everything. So I'm trying to keep my head up above the water, so to speak, which is why I brought up the drink and the candy. Deep down I know it's not a big deal and it's not going to ruin my weight loss or my health, but my initial reaction was just that. I went with the diet, so you know, no sugar at least And less calories than beer.

But thanks guys for the support guys!