Discussion Board

Great news on all fronts!

Hi all, and thanks for stopping by, toadfood! Tomorrow is weigh in day, and it seems really different since I haven't been getting on the scale at all.
I don't know if I lost or not, but I do know that sticking with the program and staying off of the scale has been really good for my relationship with food and the scale. I seem to be really eating to nourish my body (what an idea!) I can feel myself get full and hungry, and I don't even think of eating at other times. I feel really good about it all emotionally. The only thing is, I'd like to get to a good weight, and I sort of want to hurry this along. That usually backfires for me, so I'm just carefully sticking with my program. Today at Curves was our weekly Zumba class. It is just a half hour, and is alternated with Curves machines, so it is at a lower level of intensity than regular Zumba, but it is really fun! I hope that everyone is doing well. Take care, LauraA
PS The Leaf is really a great car. I'm so glad to be using no gas and no oil! I can't believe it !

I read your note at the bottom of your post on my journal asking to visit your journal, so here I am. I really enjoyed your first post, where you described how well your children are doing, despite their special needs status in school. I'm a special education teacher in an elementary multi-categorical, self-contained classroom working with kids in second to sixth grade. I work very hard teaching my kids to read, write and learn basic math skills. My kids do a lot of their work on computers and I teach them keyboarding as well, in order to increase their future job opportunities. I worry so much about my students and wonder how they'll fare as adults. I hope their stories will be as wonderful as yours. AnneC

Hi AnneC, and welcome to my journal! I love having company. It's so wonderful that you are a devoted special ed teacher! Such a contribution to society! I think that many of these students can function well in adulthood, but it takes a lot of family support. I have several kids that I have to check on almost daily - like a teen, but without the drama. For example, my daughter with autism who does roller derby, and seems to function so well - I have to be sure that she's up each morning. I've tried everything, and I still have to call to say good morning and make sure that she's up and getting ready for work. She is supposed to text me that she's up, but it doesn't always happen. Anyway, good special ed teachers who really care (and it sounds like you do) are so important!
Well, I stayed the same weight this week. Mid week, when I promised to stay away from the scale until Friday, I was already down a pound, and now I'm not. I know that there are fluctuations, so I'm just not going to think about it too much. The only thing is that I had sushi and edamame twice this week. The edamame is salty, and the sushi is white rice. On the bright side - exercise is going well, no food compulsions. Also, I have lost 12 pounds in 10 weeks, and my goal is one pound per week. It looks like most of the loss was in the beginning, but I'm sure that I gained when out of town, and then lost that weight again before I ever weighed in. Anyway, all is well, and I'm on plan. Take care, LauraA

2012
Jan 6- down 5 pounds
Jan 13-down 3 pounds
Jan 20- down 2 pounds
Jan 27-out of town
Feb 3-out of town
Feb 10-out of town
Feb 17th- stayed the same
Feb 24th - down 1 pound
March 2 - down 1 pound
March 9 - stayed the same

Good morning Laura. Love reading about your family. If my kids had started their families earlier I would also have a 20 yr. old grandchild, but alas they all started their families late. My oldest grandchild will be turning 8 in the fall. But maybe it's a good thing as we are really enjoying them in our "old age" ha ha.

Oh, I wanted to let you know that I cancelled my Google account because of security concerns (you can read about it in my journal), so don't have my blogs anymore. I am trying to get one started on Word Press, but I don't like the way they are set up. If I get it to working I will let everyone know.

Have a great day!

Hi all - Gramma Jackie, I posted in your journal, thanks for visiting mine! I was a little bothered by my stay the same weight yesterday, so I stepped on the scale again this morning (against my new rules) and I was down a pound. I didn't want to be wondering all week if I should be doing something different. Now, my new rule is back in effect, and the scale is put away until Friday. My company and family start arriving on Monday. I'm really looking forward to having my 3 year old grandson here, and family friends who have a 3 year old boy and one year old girl! The weather is supposed to be wonderful. Well, I'm off to Curves, and I'll check in later. I hope that everyone has a great weekend. Take care, LauraA

Laura,
I just came here to check on you. I am so excited to read about your progress. You are doing AMAZING!!! I think it was a good idea for you to get on the scale the next day, just so you know what is going on...it really could have discouraged you all week. I'm so glad that your cravings and compulsions toward food are gone and that you're not thinking about food as much and that you're really able to listen to your body. You're making GREAT progress, and I LOVE your attitude! YOU GO GIRL!!!

Have a GREAT time with your guests!

Hi all, and thanks kristykay for stopping by! I need lots of checking on to help keep me on track. I do feel that I am doing well. My clothes were all a little tight or very stretchy, and today I put on a sweater set that used to be tight, and seemed fine today! Also, when my daughter arrived she said, "Mom, you look good - you must be really sticking with your program!" I haven't mentioned to her on the phone how well I've been doing, so I feel like it was her honest assessment, not the result of me saying that I had lost a little weight. I finally feel like I'm on my way. Oh, and I think that my knee felt less stiff today!!!
I have put the scale away again, and not been tempted, and I can't wait for the weigh in this Friday! It's going to be a little hard to read journals with lots of company here, but I'm still going to try. I love to see how everyone else is doing, and get ideas from all of you. Take care, LauraA

Laura you must have a bright warm personality because that's what comes through in your writing. I enjoy your posts and am glad you're doing well. It's nice that your daughter (and maybe other family also) support you in doing this program.

Hi Birdy, and thanks for stopping by with such kind remarks! I am definitely an extrovert, and I do love to talk! My family is very supportive! Both of my brothers have become vegan, and their wives are mostly vegan. Also, two of my kids, one grandson, and several nieces/nephews. Others are vegetarian. For one thing, even though I'm still overweight, everyone sees how healthy I am. I haven't been sick in forever - not even a cold! (knock on wood).
Tonight my neighbor had a neighborhood party, and I thought it would just be hors d'oeuvres, but it was a buffet dinner. I ate no hors d'oeuvres, then ate just green beans and a succotash mixture from the dinner. I had had a salad before I left home. I thought that I did pretty well, but the plate was very shiny - lots of oil! I also had a small handful of nuts. Too much oil, but I definitely didn't overeat. I went to Curves today, and took a bike ride.
Tomorrow my daughter's good friend arrives with her three year old and one year old. By the weekend we'll have 10 people here. It is so much fun for me, because it is all family and very close friends. I think that I was put on earth to be a grandma - it is so much fun!
Well, I'd better get to bed. I hope that everyone is doing well. Take care, LauraA

Great job at the neighborhood party!! That's a major triumph! Sometimes it's these kind of social settings that can get us off track, so YOU GO GIRL!!!! ...And nice to hear about your daughter noticing your weight loss...makes it feel more "real" when others notice!

Hi all - I'm sorry to have been a little distracted. As I said over in the MWL section, we have a house full of family and friends. My great grandmother used to call it "delightful confusion". I am down 2 pounds this week, and I'm sticking well to my plan. Thanks for stopping by kristykay, and for your kind comments. I thought about it later, and I really could have skipped the food altogether at the party, but I think that I'm happier being able to take part in special occasions, even if my loss is a little slower than that of some. I'm happy with my loss, and two pair of cropped pants that didn't fit last spring/summer are now just fine. I told my daughter about the pants, and she said again how she had noticed a difference at the airport! Well, by to life in my happy house. There will be 15 of us by tonight. Twelve of us staying here, plus my two kids and one daughter in law who live nearby. Dinner will be pasta with Asian veggies and a big salad. Take care, LauraA


2012
Jan 6- down 5 pounds
Jan 13-down 3 pounds
Jan 20- down 2 pounds
Jan 27-out of town
Feb 3-out of town
Feb 10-out of town
Feb 17th- stayed the same
Feb 24th - down 1 pound
March 2 - down 1 pound
March 9 - stayed the same
March 16 - down 2 pounds

I love that!

Hi all - sorry that I've been "missing in action"! Most of our company left today. We are now down to just my daughter, her husband and their son. We ate out a good bit this past week, but I did pretty well. I stepped on the scale this morning, and I think that when Friday comes I will have stayed the same as last week. That's ok with me. My current plan is to lose an average of one pound a week, and to reach my goal weight in 2012. This means that on weeks that I'm home without much going on, my meals are pretty perfect. When I travel or have tons of company, I'm not as rigid. I could be more rigid in these circumstances, but that's not what works for me. I'm still always vegan, so it's just that some restaurant or big group meals have more salt, some oil, and a little more processed food. My daughter and her family who are still here are vegan, so we're back to just soups, veggies and rice. Soon I'll have a chance to catch up on some of your journals - I've missed everyone! Take care, LauraA

Now didn't I tell you that your newly-developed good habits would make staying on plan a cinch for you? Seriously, dropped pounds, smaller clothing, people noticing your progress, and all in the midst of "delightful confusion" -- my hat is off to you! Great job, and I have no doubts that you will make your 2012 goals. Keep up the good work!