Discussion Board

Sorry to hear about the aches and pains, but I am impressed by your determination!

Very cool, VS!

Ain't No Stopping YOU Now!

YOU ROCK!!!!!

Congratulations on your amazing results!!! I'm so impressed with your determination to keep going and make it the rest of the way!!! You are totally going to get there! We weigh about the same, so I'm right there with ya!!! Keep up the GREAT work!!!!

kirstykay, Quinoamania, fostermom4: Can't say it any better...you guys are awesome. Thanks so much for your support and inspiration.

I got me thinking, after this weight loss contest, of course I would stick with this WOE. I can't go back to eating animal produts and processed food. I'd be a mess. Plus, I'd like to lose another 20 pounds to have my BMI in the "normal" range. It will probably me take a good six months to do so. No worries. Slow and steady wins the race

So, last night I hit the yoga studio for the first time in 5 days. The longest break I've taken from there in about two months. I literally felt like I was starting all over. My balance and my endurance were off, I had to stop a couple of times to get my heart rate down and I was sweating profusely.

Wow.

I'm thinking that cold #2 hit me much harder than I thought. I'm going to skip tonight's class and start attending the beginner classes for the rest of the week to build up my strength. I feel fine this morning, but I'd rather be in classes and enjoy myself and feel accomplished than in some crazy hot-and-sweaty-this-is-nuts yoga class.

Today's menu -

B - Oatmeal, flax seed meal, banana
L - Potatoes, corn, peas
D - Some veggie thing I'll whip up tonight
Snack - Pineapple, bananas

Exercise - hopefully a walk or a bike ride tonight. No yoga.

It's another beautiful day here in upstate New York. Gonna get in the 70s today. Again.

Have a wonderful day.

you are doing so good, keep at it!! I am truly impressed! did you win the contest at work, or is it just extended by the 6 wks!

VegSexy, you are awesome!!! Congratulations on your successes and keep it up!

Hi All.

Missed journalling yesterday. Got busy at work, sitting in training all day and then the day just got away from me.

Today is a ANOTHER beautiful in upstate NY. It's to get up into the 80s again Everything has been uneventful, eating has been good, no one has been picking on me for eating my "sticks and twigs", my weight has been hovering around 169. That's good!

I skipped my yoga class last night with hopes of riding my bike. Seems it needs to go to the shop. The rear tire is not taking any air, probably the valve. It needs a good "go over" since it was left outside in the rain last year. Hopefully I'll be biking in a week or so.

Today's menu:

B - Oatmeal and a banana
L - Rice, beans, veggies. Greens on the side
D - Probably a repeat of lunch
Snack - Pineapple and an apple

Exercise - Walk during lunch and yoga after work. Really looking forward to yoga. I'm hoping this class will be much gentler on me that Monday night's.

There's a possibility I may be heading back to NYC tomorrow. Should be a short meeting at the client site and I'm heading uptown to Whole Foods and couple other shops too! I'll get a good walk in.

Keep on keeping on!

Ahh....Uneventful

Uneventful eating and uneventful exercising. That means I've been on track with my eating and doing yoga. My weight has been hovering around 166 - 167 - 168. It's coming off, slowly and surely. I'm thrilled to have said good-bye to the 180s and the 170s. Bye, bye...

I mentioned to the studio that I rough go with it last Monday due a cold. The instructor mentioned when you're out of the heated studio for an extended time (5 days for me) you need to reacclimate yourself to the heat slowly. I kinda figured that and did the "easy" beginner classes Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Interesting thing about the yoga...I'm really starting to notice more of its flexibily effects. Silly as it may sound, I put my socks on Sunday without any of the hopping, jumping or one-legged dancing I used to do. Standing on my right food, I lifted my left leg, put on sock, put left food down. Repeat on right. No hop, skips or jumps. I think that was the first time in years I was able to such...

So, my eating plan:

B - Oatmeal and a banana
L - Rice, beans, peas, corn. Greens with dressing
D - Some raw veggies and hummus
Snack - Strawberries, kiwi
Exercise - Hot yoga tonight!

Sombering news, I've gotten word that my ex-husband's ex-wife passed away Saturday. She was 57 and died from a very long battle with cancer (about 20 years, I think). She smoked, she drank, she didn't eat well. Numerous surgeries. We didn't have a good relationship, but we had a relationship. Regardless, I really wished she took better care of herself. I wished she put out the cigarettes, poured the booze down the drain and ate better. She left behind two beautiful daughters and two cute little grandkids. This woman passed away way, way too soon.

Take of yourselves out there. If not for you, for your family.

Peace out.

Another day, another journal blog.

I'm happy to mention that, once again, things are very uneventful and without any drama (there's plenty going around - just ask my BF's roommate who busted up with his girlfriend) I'm happy minding my own business.

So, eating and exercising is going well. I'm up for a renewal at the yoga studio this week which I'll definately do. I'm at a point now with all of the exercising I have done I can really start to see the changes. It's nice too look in the mirror and see your reflection start to slim down. I carry my weight in my face (and in other places, too ) and I'm now starting to see it leave my cheeks and chin.

Today's food:

B - Oatmeal, banana, strawberries
L - Greens, rice, beans, peas
D - Probably potatoes
Snack - Banana, kiwi

Exercise - Yoga

Happy Tuesday everyone!!

So glad to see that you're keeping on keeping on! I have been curious for a long time as to just what "hot" Yoga is...can you fill me in please? Also, no matter what the exercise, just keep at it! I got a foot injury and wasn't able to walk for over a year (as exercise--I managed to "crip around" as needed). Even though still on plan, I gradually gained 10 pounds over about a year and a half and it all went to my middle (grrrrrr ). Now I'm in therapy to help my feet and walking a mile or more daily and gradually dropping the weight again. Your journal entries are so encouraging to me--keep up the good work!

oooh...sorry to hear about your foot Fostermom4. I'd go out of my tree if I couldn't do any exercising. I get ansy after two days of not doing anything. You know what they say "To move is to live." Glad you're able to move about these days. I betcha that makes you very happy.

So, yeah, hot yoga. Love it. Here's where I go http://www.thehotyogaspot.com It's a nice studio. Right by one of our universities. My BF and I figure the owner is making about 300K a year teaching people to stretch. Why didn't we think of that???

Anyway, the classes I do are set in a room where the temperture hovers around 90f. I do mostly beginner "flow" classes (quick moving sequenced postures from one to the other). I find they really tone and build up strength rather quickly. The first class I took I was hooked. I always found yoga to be a struggle for me. It was hard to hold poses and the class would drag on second by second. I hated it. I knew it was good for me, but I hated it. With hot yoga, I find the heat (and the humidity) help me hold the poses and as the class moves on I can then deepen them. Sometimes it feels like the class was only 20 minutes (and sometime they feel like 5 hours).

So, you sweat alot. ALOT. "They" say you sweat out toxins. I beleive that. I took a vitamin ONCE, did a class and I sweated out the yellow dye into my white shirt (needless to say I've thrown the vitamins out). My skin is clearer that's for sure. And your heart rate really gets up there. I've been meaning to wear my heart rate monitor (once I get a new battery) to track. The nurse at works really thinks that's what caused the significant drop in my cholestrol. Ok. That and the food I eat, too!

And of course there are all the other benefits from yoga - flexibility, mind calming... It's all good stuff. It really creates an environment for you to thrive.

I tell ya, partnering it with this WOE I've really noticed some very positive changes. Toning, strength, weight loss. It's all good. I just want to add in walking or biking on a consistant basis. That will help me aerobically and take the weight off a bit faster.

If you get a chance to try a class, any class. There are so many classes for so many abilities. It's all good stuff!!

Happy Wednesday to ya!!

Oh - and here's today's update:

B - Oatmeal and a banana
L - Sweet potato and brocolli
D - Backed potato and horseradish hummus (mmmmm...)
Snack - Strawberries

Exercise - Taking a break today. I like to give myself a rest two times a week.

My scale at home is holding steady at the 166 pound mark. I haven't seen that in quite sometime!!

Life's a garden! Dig it!

Late post...been busy day-dreaming about winning the lottery, living in Jamaica, paddle boarding everyday in Bloody Bay wearing a bikini (and looking good in it) ...oh, wait...I could be in Jamaica RIGHT NOW paddleboarding but my boyfriend says we need the money to buy a lawn mower first.

Just he wait. If I win, I'm getting a push-mower for HIM to use on the lawn. I'll be too busy downward-dogging in the bay to maintain the grass

I guess you can tell it's still uneventful! My scale said 165 this morning. (It's coming off, it's coming off...the weight is leaving)

Today's food -

B - Oatmeal, banana. Delicious as always.
L - Baked potato, brocolili, tomatoes
D - Not too sure....sweet potato maybe?
Snack - strawberries, banana

Exercise - Hot Yoga!!

My BF is coming down for the weekend. He may spend the entire week. That'll surely put eating and exercise challenges in front of me again.

Well, to all - thanks for the read! Happy Thursday!

Happy Friday Everyone. It's a brisk, cold day here in upstate New York. Sunny out, but a bit cold.

The BF is here for the weekend. He's really concerned about his cholesterol and is trying making changes. He's doing good reading nutrition labels and figuring out food's fat content (fat grams x 9 calories). He's trying to exercise on a regular basis, BUT, YET, on his drive down he stopped at McDonalds and had a quarter pounder with cheese and fries.

Little steps, little steps.

I have to admit, he is trying. He's seeing my results and really wants to have the same successes.

Today's eating plan:

B - Oatmeal and banana
L - Pea soup and fresh, sliced pineapple
D - Dunno. We may go out tonight. Will have to be creative.
Snack - Banana, kiwi

Exercise - Day off. Good class last night. Amazing how much I can sweat.

Other than that, things are uneventful for the time being. The weight is coming off, my pants are getting loser (especially the ones I have on today. They've been "snug" for quite some time. Now they're lose!) and I really don't care to eat anything outside of McDougall's guidelines.

So, have a good weekend everybody! See you all on Monday.

Well, this weekend's past theme was Emotional Eating.

I recieved a phone call from my aunt about my mother. Seems my mom has not been taking good care of herself or the house lately. I won't go into the details, but basically I'm taking the cat to live with me and I'm off to WalMart to get my mom some new clothes.

Some background information -

Mom is 85 years old and has never had a health issue (No cancer, no diabetes, no heart issues. No nothing.) till last September when she was having a TIA - a mini stroke. My mother never exercised. She ate a standard American diet. We always had cookies and ice cream in the house.

Since the TIA, her memory is really going down hill. She'll complain of being confused, can't pay the bills - but when I offer to help - automatically she's ok and doing fine. She changed her mind this weekend when I called to ask what was up. She says it's ok to take the cat since she cannot manage the cat box and would like me to buy her some clothes (we have no idea what happened to her clothes - not too sure if my father is throwing them out, burning them or what she may be doing - we're really perplexed on this one )

I know that hindsight is twenty twenty - but I really do feel if she worked out and didn't eat the garbage she ate, she would not be in this condition today. Cholestorol build up is a bad thing - and when it breaks off - bad things happen to the body - like strokes and heart disease.

She's my one of main motivators to why I pursue good eating habits and exercise. This forgetful stuff is really scary!

This weekend was tough dealing with my aunt, calling my mother and coming up with a plan. Add in two siblings that are NOT WILLING to step in help out makes things even more difficult. So hello food! I get to the point I don't care what eat - I just eat - and I did this weekend. (though I did clean out the fridge last night and threw away all of my BFs junk food.)

So, today is a new day and a new day of eating.

B - Oatmeal and a banana
L - Rice and beans and veggies
D - Repeat of lunch
Snack - Grapes and an Orange
Exercise - One really tough hot yoga class, maybe some walking

Keep on keeping on everyone. I know I am - I might be a bit crabby - but I'll be getting some things done and I'll be taking good care of my mom and dad. It's all good.

Peace out.

Wow, that's really hard -- I'm sorry you and your mom are having to go through this. Of course, if you are going to be taking care of your mom, you need to be extra careful to take care of yourself first. Hugs to you...