OK, ladies! (And any lurking guys! )

It's Friday!! I've lost 1.4 pounds since last Friday!! WHOO-HOO!!
Alvin and I have walked 1-1/2 miles almost every day since Christmas, and I've been careful not to snack at all after 7PM. I'm also very concious of portion control. I think it helps that I have started serving our meals on smaller plates! It looks like I'm eating the same amount as before, but it's really less!

If portion control is confusing for you....all that measuring and stuff....the next time you are shopping for groceries, pick up a pre-made frozen meal. Eat that for one meal and you will know how large (SMALL???) our portions really should be!!! :shock: Check the calories on the box and you can see how much of a daily intake that represents.

I don't do the weighing, and the journaling because I can pretty much restrict myself to foods that I know are good for me and eat small amounts through the day, but you need to find what is going to work for you and DO IT!!!!

Remember we are not on a DIET!! We are making changes that we can live with long term for a HEALTHY LIFE!

There are lots of sites on line that talk about calories needed, but this offers numbers in a nutshell, as well as other opinions:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=1006042911573

So....how did you do this week?????????????

Great news Karen...I did the weigh and measure thing myself on Monday and it wasn't as bad as I had thought...but still not good. On my scales I have gone down 2 lbs....water weight no doubt, but I'll take it!
Keep up the good work....and yes moving does help...but it sorta aches a bit since it has been so long...It couldn't be the age stuff talking to me, could it??? :shock: :shock:

Went into Curves today (first since before the holidays). Of course, they wanted to weigh me and measure me. Well, I had lost 1 lb!! Now, that surprised me as I was terrible over the holidays in my food consumption. But what really surprised me was that I had lost 1 inch from my arms and several from my stomach!!!! So....moving does help!!!!!! Anything is better than nothing!!! Keep going, girls!!!

This is a good message also

http://rawfoodrehab.ning.com/video/how-to-make-healthy-changes

For anyone interested, here's a link to a news story about one of my favorite sites. I think it would be helpful to many on the journey to health here. You can belong to Penni's site for free by answering a few questions. It is well worth it, as there are MANY free recipes, great discussions and support *)* Her site is first class. If you get just one good idea, it's worth it! Jan

http://www.newson6.com/Global/category.asp?C=121535&autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=4439897&flvUri=&p

I love to watch the Biggest Loser...only problem is that here we are like three seasons behind!!!! LOL Why not try to watch it while riding a stationery bike, walking on a treadmill or elliptical trainer???? I always feel like I can do anything after watching those contestants work out! My biggest struggle has been water....I must be dehydrated and holding onto every ounce my can body can grab. I hate drinking water when I wake up!!!!

Thanks for the info, Margo! I meant to watch that last night, but watched the Orange Bowl instead (the football game, not the bowl of oranges in our kitchen ). The Biggest Loser was really motivational for me last year and I hope to get motivated by it again this year!

For those who didn't watch BIGGEST LOSER last night, it was a real eye opener! Talk about being thrown in to the deep end! Before the contestants even got to the house they were taken to the gym and had to ride stationery bikes for 26.2 miles per team!!! Yep, a combined marathon, and some of these folks had never even been on a bike before! The last two teams to get to that milage were eliminated and sent home, without even seeing the house! This year they have the LARGEST contestants ever. The largest young man started at 526 pounds. In the first week he lost an amazing 34 pounds!

http://www.nbc.com/the-biggest-loser/contestants/michael/

Like I said before. Not everyone can leave their real life and do nothing but exercise and diet, but the show last night proved once again what determination and a willing to work hard for a better life can do.

One day at a time folks....WE CAN DO THIS!

I walked today for the exercise...not for shopping ..did a mile in my new shoes and I have to say my legs and butt were feeling it. I have been doing well with my journal and was reminded today about how tough the first days of a new routine are....I ate plenty, but my tummy is arguing about wanting more...I know this will pass, but it's not the fun part is it! BUT I am determined and I know tomorrow will be better or at least different and less of the grumbly tummy making itself known. My water intake is good and I am back on my vitamins and can feel the difference that makes. Tomorrow I have scheduled a weigh in and measurements at Curves....not exactly looking forward to that, but I know it will make tracking things easier for me personally. Thursday afternoon my friend Sandy is letting me use her long arm to quilt my DD#2's quilt.....I have had a couple lessons and think it will be a good day to play with Sandy and her long arm.
So I am saying Life is Good and I am glad to be totally aware of that!!!

Have started keeping a food journal since 1/2/09 and I have been shocked and dismayed by the calorie counts on some of my everyday staples. THEY ARE NO LONGER MY STAPLES! It really is worthwhile to keep track.

Love that program, I will be watching too!

I love The Biggest Loser - wouldn't miss it. Now that we are trying to get healthier, this show should be some great motivation. It's amazing the size of some of those people and what they can do.

I think that a very inspirational TV show for us is BIGGEST LOSER, and the season premier is tonight!

Not many of us have time to take several months out of our real lives to devote to nothing but exercise and diet, but it certainly shows what can be done with lots of determination and the willingness to sacrifice for a long term goal.

I'll be watching!

PS...DH and I have walked 1-1/2 miles every day since Christmas! We are walking at the mall until the weather gets warm enough to get back on the Greenway, and I find that walking with a buddy is a huge help for me!

I'm in! The one thing I do consistently every day is look up what's new on the forum. If I have time for that, I have time to write down what I eat. I believe reading about what every one else is doing will help me stay focused.