Well, I see that we have a great new site for our recipes, and I m wondering if anyone would like to get back aboard our Travelin Lite camper and keep the good things going for all who are trying to do good things for themselves. We seemed to have a lot of advice and support for each other before we came to " the promised land" and I m betting that since we all just managed to get thru a long tempting holiday season we may need some cheering on and encouragement to get back on track. I know that I sure do, the round of family get togethers did a real number on my will power with all the candies, pies cookies, etc. I actually did cheat pretty bad, and am putting myself on a very strict intervention program for a few days, til I get with it again. If y all have any good advice for me, or if ya just want to gloat because you didn t cheat, bring it here. LOL
T
[;)]
wiininkweHealthy living? Sounds chomp chomp good to me sis. chomp Hey oldmoose, this peach cobbler is chomp real good! [:o][;)][&:]
wiininkweI usually lurk here, but had to add that I too did some serious cheating for the last 2 months!! Yikes!! Believe me, I know how hard it can be during those get-togethers with all those wonderful food choices!!!!
So... sigh, now I am back to some really strict locarb rules to get back on track. But I know I can do it... and so can you wiininkwe!!
wiininkweQuiting smoking hasn t done anything for my waistline.[:o] How about we get some recipes in here without enough calories/fat/salt to kill off a cardiac ward. Seems everything either has seventeen kinds of cheese or 12 cans of condensed soup in it.
wiininkweAmen to that Mike!
I Quit too last May and it hasen t done a thing for my waste line but make it bigger than it has ever been. Not sure what is worse? I was big before, butt now! OMG! Problem is even if I went back to smoking I would still be FAT! I guess I will just be a " Plesently Plump Non-Smoker" .
Congrads on quiting! I know how tuff it is!
wiininkweOkay, I see what you mean about the wasteline increasing after you quit smoking. I quit smoking about 14 yrs ago, after spending several years of smoking 3 packs of Kool 100s a day. At that time, I was more concerned about my lungs than my waist, but I have to say now that i really think that may have been the start of my uphill gains in pounds. Add some extra health problems to that in the last few years, and you ve got the whole story.
When I quit, no one really emphasised the importance of drinking lots of water. (yeah, yeah, I know, that s what they tell you on a diet too) But it seems to make a serious difference to your body, if it isn t properly hydrated. Besides making you feel full, so that you don t want to eat, it keeps your body on a more even keel so that your emotions and such don t swing so widely. My DH is trying to quit smoking right now, for the fourth time. And he s trying to do it while I am trying to get back on my WOL with locarbs.
The only other suggestion I can make is to make sure that you do eat regular meals, and have a snack in between if you need, but be sure that the things you eat aren t like, oh say, potato chips, fudge, etc. Look for some things that you can have that will give you some added protein,( I found some little cheese wheels at our local grocery store, in the ethnic foods that are called Queso Fresco, cheese from skimmed milk, high in protein, lo in carbs and fat) and remember to keep your vitamin B complex up there. Try eating more dark green veggies, maybe have a salad for the snack. I found that simply switching to diet Pepsi made a big difference for me, both in calories and in carbs.
And, if you are trying to quit smoking, don t think that you have to be all strong and do it all on your own. If you can afford the pills that help you quit, or the patch, use them. Your body and your brain are going to be going thru some real intense changes, and there s no reason for you to think that it should be just a matter of will power.
T
[;)]
wiininkweWell gang, in the long run, I d rather take my chances with a fat waistline than tobacco. I am REALLY depressed as I just learned that ANOTHER cousin is dying of lung cancer--he is the 8th relative from our two families to die of this as well as three good friends, and all were heavy smokers for many years so I am pretty knee-jerk negative about cigarettes and I apologize for bringing my sadness about this here. Substance abuse specialists say that nicotine is the hardest one of all to kick and I believe it! Our youngest DD smoked for several years as a young woman, but gave it up the day she learned my BIL had inoperable lung cancer. She said it was THE HARDEST THING she ever did (and she is a VERY determined person) so I imagine it must be a real battle.! But someday all of you will look back and be proud of winning this war.
Now as to the war of the waistline--[:o] well, I am not exactly a winner these days. (Ah, yes, Holiday Indulgence is a b*tch!) but we finally got our house addition finished and the treadmill is out of storage and I actually used it this AM, AND went back to my lo-carb WOL yesterday. Still cant remember to drink enough water though[:(]
Toni, I am SO GLAD you got this started again--at this time of year, we can all use the encouragement, and maybe by this time next year, we can all look back and see our progress!
wiininkweOk....Healthy living. What a great topic!! I love it!!
I guess I ll throw in my recipe for a slimmer waistline. If you want to be skinny, here s what you do.
Go out and adopt a wild mustang from the Bureau of Land Management. I can help you train the horse for riding and you will have a great trail companion for upcoming camping trips. What does this have to do with a slimmer waist you ask??? Well........
First you have to actually " catch" the mustang before I can help you train it. Put the horse out in a 60 acre field and you ll be slim in no time!! Works like a charm!![;)]
I wish everyone a happy and healthy 2003![:D][:D]
wiininkweHealthy living, man-o-man have I been learning about that over the last 10 years! In that time frame I have learned two secrets and am searching for another. I have learned that to quit smoking you have to want to quit smoking; if you haven?t really decided in your mind to quit don?t waste your time trying. The second secret I?ve learned is how to loose weight and keep it off; you have to change your lifestyle. The one I haven?t learned yet is how to keep on track for the first two!
In the last 10 years I have quit smoking twice (gained about 30 lbs. each time). My heart has a funky condition called Pericarditis, which is best treated with Prednisone (gained about 30 lbs. by the time I got off the meds.) Had three kids in two tries (twins)(gained about 30 lbs. each time.)
Being obese is not fun. I have arthritis in my family however my joints are even worse than they should be due to my size. Not being able to wear to what I want because they don?t make it that big; my asthma is worse than it ought to be. I can?t play with my kids like I?d really like to! There is a litany of other things that are hard to deal with being so large. Unfortunately, I have had more occasions to gain weight than to loose it.
About 3 months ago I joined Weight Watchers with another PUT member LuvMyJayco and up to the week before Christmas was down 24 lbs. I haven?t had a weight in yet but think I?m down, will find out next Wednesday. With money I received from Christmas, I was able to buy new pants and I?m down one full size! Some clothes that haven?t fit me in a while are now fitting me.
I?ve come to the conclusion that I took several years to gain the weight and it will take time to loose it as well. I?ve started to change my lifestyle, make healthy choices, be aware of why and what I eat and most importantly feel good about being me (something I haven?t felt in many years.)
I was following this thread on the other board and am glad it was started again. Sorry my post so long, I guess I got diarrhea of the fingers, it is nice to share though. [:)]
Tammy
wiininkweI m so glad to see that so many of you have decided to join our trip to better health. Remember, when we first started this journey on the other boards, we talked about the fact that a healthy lifestyle includes more than just staying slim. You have all proved that fact again today. I want to repeat my invitation to anyone who is trying to, or thinking about trying to, make some sort of change for the better in their lifestyle, you can come here, whether for support, or to let us know about something new that you discovered, or to share your encouragement with others. I think by now you have noticed that those of us on the weight loss road, are not just skinny model types trying to lose two pounds, but are really wrestling with problems caused by excessive pounds. Those trying to quit smoking are also on a wild ride. Anyone who turns to the responders of this particular forum should know that they can expect compassion and understanding when they bring a problem here. (oh, and a little humor, but never humiliation or sarcasm)
Toni
fivegonefishing
QuoteORIGINAL: fivegonefishing
Healthy living, man-o-man have I been learning about that over the last 10 years! In that time frame I have learned two secrets and am searching for another. I have learned that to quit smoking you have to want to quit smoking; if you haven?t really decided in your mind to quit don?t waste your time trying. The second secret I?ve learned is how to loose weight and keep it off; you have to change your lifestyle. The one I haven?t learned yet is how to keep on track for the first two!
In the last 10 years I have quit smoking twice (gained about 30 lbs. each time). My heart has a funky condition called Pericarditis, which is best treated with Prednisone (gained about 30 lbs. by the time I got off the meds.) Had three kids in two tries (twins)(gained about 30 lbs. each time.)
Being obese is not fun. I have arthritis in my family however my joints are even worse than they should be due to my size. Not being able to wear to what I want because they don?t make it that big; my asthma is worse than it ought to be. I can?t play with my kids like I?d really like to! There is a litany of other things that are hard to deal with being so large. Unfortunately, I have had more occasions to gain weight than to loose it.
About 3 months ago I joined Weight Watchers with another PUT member LuvMyJayco and up to the week before Christmas was down 24 lbs. I haven?t had a weight in yet but think I?m down, will find out next Wednesday. With money I received from Christmas, I was able to buy new pants and I?m down one full size! Some clothes that haven?t fit me in a while are now fitting me.
I?ve come to the conclusion that I took several years to gain the weight and it will take time to loose it as well. I?ve started to change my lifestyle, make healthy choices, be aware of why and what I eat and most importantly feel good about being me (something I haven?t felt in many years.)
I was following this thread on the other board and am glad it was started again. Sorry my post so long, I guess I got diarrhea of the fingers, it is nice to share though. [:)]
Tammy
Tammy, dont EVER feel you need to apologize here for what you want to say--it doesnt matter if it is 2 pages long--this thread is MEANT for you to say whatever you want when you need a lift or want to encourage someone else.
My heart really goes out to you because you are facing battles on several fronts that make weight loss harder. But your victory will be all the sweeter! And your attitude and wisdom about what you need to do convince me that your 24 pounds is just a beginning of what you will lose.
Toni is also dealing with many of the problems you face and she has great courage and determination--so you have come to the right place for encouragement and inspiration and appreciation for what you are doing for yourself and your family [:)] We are ALL on your side!![:D]
wiininkwe
QuoteTammy, dont EVER feel you need to apologize here for what you want to say--it doesnt matter if it is 2 pages long--this thread is MEANT for you to say whatever you want when you need a lift or want to encourage someone else.
My heart really goes out to you because you are facing battles on several fronts that make weight loss harder. But your victory will be all the sweeter! And your attitude and wisdom about what you need to do convince me that your 24 pounds is just a beginning of what you will lose.
Toni is also dealing with many of the problems you face and she has great courage and determination--so you have come to the right place for encouragement and inspiration and appreciation for what you are doing for yourself and your family We are ALL on your side!!
NightOwl, thanks for the kind words. The people on PUT I ve met thus far have been great. It s easy to say things over the Net but to actually meet face-to-face is another. I ve had the opportunity to both camp with some and to just meet for a couple of hours with others. I am glad I have had those opportunities and look forward to even more. It s amazing how similar some of our plights are yet we feel as if the battle is ours and ours alone. I look forward to both receiving and sharing encouragement and inspiration in the future.[:)]
Tammy
fivegonefishing
QuoteORIGINAL: fivegonefishing
I?ve come to the conclusion that I took several years to gain the weight and it will take time to loose it as well. I?ve started to change my lifestyle, make healthy choices, be aware of why and what I eat and most importantly feel good about being me (something I haven?t felt in many years.)
Tammy
Tammy,
I think you hit the nail on the head here. I am a firm believer that no matter what type of dieting you do, if your lifestyle dosn t change the weight will come right back.
wiininkwe
QuoteHealthy living, man-o-man have I been learning about that over the last 10 years! In that time frame I have learned two secrets and am searching for another. I have learned that to quit smoking you have to want to quit smoking; if you haven?t really decided in your mind to quit don?t waste your time trying. The second secret I?ve learned is how to loose weight and keep it off; you have to change your lifestyle. The one I haven?t learned yet is how to keep on track for the first two!
When I decided to quit smoking it was January 1, 2002. (Thought about it plenty of times before that) When I quit smoking it was May 17, 2002
Here is my idea or philosophy;
When I made that desision, (Jan 1st) I was determind to quit. I gave myself the year 2002 to do it. I didn t know exactly when it was going to happen but I thought about it every day. At mid-night on May 17th I told myself that was it! and it was! and has been to this day. It worked that way " FOR ME" .
So for the LBS! I figure the same way it slowly crept up on me, So I am going to slowly let it crepe off of me day by day. I will keep it on my mind and slowly form myself to that " NEW and HEALTHIER LIFE STYLE" we are all talking about.
Don t want to SHOCK myslef. I am keeping one thing though!
ICE COLD BEER!
wiininkwe
QuoteORIGINAL: wiininkwe
Okay, I see what you mean about the wasteline increasing after you quit smoking. I quit smoking about 14 yrs ago, after spending several years of smoking 3 packs of Kool 100s a day.
omg...when i quit smoking i was a 3 pak a day kool smoker too!!! i was 3mths prego with punkboy...gained 80 pounds and he was 10 3 when he was born...never did get all the weight back off...but i realized tho later that i was too thin to begin with... 5 7" and weighed about 115-120 average prior to quit smoking...now i weigh about 148 and when i was lifting wts about 165...much healthier looking...
I think the hardest part of the adiction is finding something new to do with your hands and mouth...not the nicotine part...although after 18 years...i still dream i started smoking again...sigh
wiininkwehey fivegonefishing...wish you the best with the pericarditis and prednisone...i can t take it cuz i get physically mean...also know what ya mean with the tight clothes and asthma...i have a tendency when i panic to try and get my pants off...so i can gasp more air...unfortunately...more than once i was in a public place [&:]...but i only get this bad when it hits me out of the blue and my rescue inhaler has quite kicked in yet... i can t use my car heater most of the time in winter cuz i can t tolerate car/truck exhaust so i am cold alot....
find someone who can make you jeans and shorts out of light weight denim with elastic waist bands. i wear spandex all summer cuz i am afraid to where jeans with the non-elastic waists in summer.
wiininkweElastic is my friend!!! Over the last several years, if it hadn t been for elastic I would have had to stay home in an old robe and sloppy socks. LOL But yes, along with my tendency to be apple shaped anyway, it was just too hard to get in and out of jeans with regular closures on them. I ve been wearing lots of loosefitting jumpers and shapeless dressed with little jackets, too. Hopefully, those days will be behind me soon.
But I do understand what you mean about keeping your hands and mouth busy, I had a really hard time with early mornings. I used to get up and have a cup of coffee and read for a bit before the rest of the family woke up. (the only time of the day I had to myself) When I quit smoking, I found out that I couldn t read, no concentration, that lasted for quite a while. Also, while I drank my coffee, my hand had a tendency to slide over to my right, searching on the table top. I realised that I was looking for my cigs, so I started holding my coffee cup in my right hand so it was other wise occupied. I also had trouble in the car. I was used to getting in, putting on my seat belt, adjusting the mirrors, lighting a cig and then turn the key. Without the cig, it seemed like I was missing a step. I actually asked my DH (who is at this moment keeping his hands and mouth busy with a bowl of peanuts in the shell) to do as much of the driving as possible for almost a full month. Make arrangements to cover all those bases, you ll have to make a major change in your habits for a short while. I also ate things like dry cheerios in a little bowl while watching tv (one at a time). Funny thing is, I don t remember being real crabby or anything, but DH says " trust me, I was there, and you were." So, be prepared for that, and apologise ahead of time to those around you. You don t have to announce that you re quitting, just maybe say, " I m out of cigs, and don t want to buy any more right now." or something. Most people will be helpful, unless they re afraid that if you quit it will show them up. Stay away from those kind of friends for a while.
I m really making use of the PUR water pitcher that my DD got me for Christmas, drinking lots of water. Have to do some grocery shopping later today, and get myself plenty of good stuff.
T
[;)]
wiininkweomg toni...i ate cheerios too...but the thing i did most was chew drinking straws and those coffe straw things....but i liked the drinking straws best...that way it was calorie free. and it used my hands as well!!!
wiininkweSmoking is still a tough one for me, even reading this post I have to take a few real deep cleansing breathes to get over the urge. I was about 12 when I started and smoked over a pack a day of Player?s Light until my first born came along 13 years later. I managed to stay off until the boys came, 3 years later, it was either take up smoking or vodka, I chose smoking.
Finally, I realized I had chronic pericarditis which is like arthritis of the heart and very painful (I?d rather give birth to twins!) but I still didn?t quit until one of my son?s spent 3 nights in the hospital due to an asthma attack. Even though I never smoked in the house or van with the kids, the time and effort and finally health issues out weighed my addiction.
I chew gum all the time and feel like I?ll always be an ex-smoker but my kids mean the world to me and I?ve made a vow to myself; I quit both times for them and I owe it to them, and myself, not to start again. I know I won?t. Plus, I when I started smoking the second time I was kind of hoping I?d loose some of the weight I gained when I quit, I didn?t, instead I just gained even more with I quit again!
I think I?ve finally decided to loose the weight as well, I had tried several times to quit smoking but until I made my mind up, nothing worked. I?m kind of feeling the same way about the weight. I?ve tried countless times to loose but never accomplished much. I had even joined WW over a year ago, lost 30 but gained back 40 when I gave up. My mind is set, I want to feel like I use to and I want my kids to see how I use to be.
Tammy
wiininkweTammy, I know you can do this! For one thing, in the case of the smoking AND the weight, you make it clear that you realize it is not just a matter of " quit smoking" and " diet" but in both cases what is called a WOL (Way of Life.)
You can come here every day if you want and kvetch about falling off the wagon or crow about a triumph you want to brag about, and we will cheer you, either way!
You already know that not smoking does some really important things for you like help with the athsma and spare your cardiovascular system.. Losing weight does some other important things for you healthwise both physically and mentally so you already know YOU ARE GOING TO BE A WINNER ALL THE WAY AROUND. You already know you can lose wight--you ve done it before. the difference is that this time you will keep it off, and we ll help you.
You are going to win--one day at a time and we will be doing it, too. And just think, when we begin 04, we will all be able to say to ourselves and to each other:
LOOK HOW FAR I HAVE COME SINCE A YEAR AGO AT THIS TIME!!
wiininkweI need some advice...I haven t been able to find away to get off my lazy butt and increase my level of activity, which is pretty low, other than chasing three kids around the house.
I use to be on the swim, volleyball, softball and soccer teams and now it s tough to even consider doing half of what I use to do. One of my obsticles is my dh s shift work; I can t committ to a weekly program.
Any suggestions or stradegies?
TIA, Tammy[:)]
fivegonefishingTammy, did you ever hear the adage: " Dance like no one is watching ? I found that when I couldnt get to any other source of exercise, putting on some good tapes or CD s with a beat really got me moving. You can do this with your kids around and they might even join you (Of course, they might also tell friends and neighbors that Mommy has gone nuts, but that will just make you sound all the more interesting[:D])
Anyhow, the dance thing is nice because you can invent your own moves and set your own pace. The great thing about it for me was that it lifted my mood until I would sometimes get high as a kite with all those endorphins racing around in my bloodstream.
(AND--THINK ABOUT IT--HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANY FAT DANCERS?) Even a few minutes of sustained dancing will let you know you have been EXERCISING pretty actively.
Get a tape of the music from Dirty Dancing--that is what I use. If anyone can stand still while playing " Love Man" or " Do You Love Me Now That I can Dance?" they are either deaf or very old or dead. Just thinking about it makes me want to jump to my feet and move!
Advantages of this kind of exercise aside from the above are that it takes no special equipment, no special clothing, can be done at home, and you can fit it into your schedule at your own convenience even when you have even 10 or 15 minutes. (If you are interrupted, it is easy to go back to and it will help limber you up and use a lot of muscles you may not often use.
It may sound crazy, but it is wortha try.
fivegonefishingNightowl
Dancing---What a Great Idea!!!
Simple, convenient, and never depends on the weather. Sounds like something anyone (who needs to increase exercising) can do. I know I need to exercise more yet I always found an excuse, gym too expensive, no time to go, uncomfortable in a group, don t want to go alone etc., etc. But your suggestion is not only simple but sounds like Fun[:D]
I am really proud of those who are making a real effort toward a more healthy lifestyle. Every # lost and every cig not smoked is a Positive move in the right direction. You should be Proud of Yourself. Concentrate on the Good things you do and don t beat yourself up or dwell on the slipups. YES! YOU CAN DO IT.
Quitting Smoking is a Major Positive step. I know when I quit 12 yrs ago it was a constant " mind game" . I remember cleansing breaths. I also would play this mental game whenever the urge came---I could always tell when I was pregnant cause a cigarette would make me sooo nauseated that I could never smoke when I was pg.--So whenever I had that urge to smoke, I would take a cleansing breath and remember that horrible nauseated feeling---urge gone. That really helped me get thru.
My DH struggles with weight and since we found out he has extensive coronary artery disease (had stent placed this summer) we needed to make major WOL changes. Trying to eat low-fat, low cholesterol, low salt and decrease calories-- what a challenge. One of his doctors told him that as well as weight loss, he wanted him to increase exercise(walk, walk, walk) as that has a profound benefit on cardiovascular health. Why does that seem so hard to do?? Our work schedules are day and night so that presents a real challenge in meals, exercising etc.
It helps to know others are struggling with all of this also. Whenever you read that someone else has lost some weight, exercised more or quit smoking, you know you are not in this alone and if they can do it so can you. We are really here for each other.[:)]
fivegonefishingNightOwl, that is a great suggestion thanks. I have actually caught myself doing that the odd time and just thought boy, am I loosing it or what [;)] but I think you re right.
bncampin2, this thread was very inspirational and I can see it s heading in the same direction.[:)]
Tammy
fivegonefishing
QuoteORIGINAL: fivegonefishing
I need some advice...I haven t been able to find away to get off my lazy butt and increase my level of activity, which is pretty low, other than chasing three kids around the house.
I use to be on the swim, volleyball, softball and soccer teams and now it s tough to even consider doing half of what I use to do. One of my obsticles is my dh s shift work; I can t committ to a weekly program.
Any suggestions or stradegies?
TIA, Tammy[:)]
OK, I ll tell you what I am doing.
Just before Christmas I had a physical and the doctor told me that if I don t change my ways severe health problems were just around the corner. Unfortunatly diabetes, excess weight and high blood pressure run in the family. I guess it took a little shock to get me going[&:]
Diet I have become a convert to the Adkins diet. Many people are down on it because they feel all you eat is meat, but all I can say is you have to read the book to understand. yes for a couple of weeks the food you eat is limited, but things open up after that. The key thing is that Adkins does not like refined sugar and flour.
After about 6 weeks I am down over 20 pounds and my energy has increased as my desire to eat has decreased. Additionally my fasting blood sugar dropped from 111 (over normal) to 89 (mid range of normal).
All I can say is if you try it, read the book and stick to it. It is not something you can do part time.
Exercise Take it slow! If all you can do at first is walk around the block, do it. Natasha is happy now because most days she now gets over a 2 mile walk!
Little things count
[ul]
- Skip the elevator, use the stairs
- Park at the far end of the lot and walk into work or the store
- Aviod any other energy saving devices if possible
[/ul]
OK, I m off my soapbox now, but will be happy to answer any questions asked.
fivegonefishingTim, I am SO IMPRESSED with your determination. These health problems also run in my family and I dont want to have a stroke at age 73 like my Gram, so I am trying to stick to a WOL that is wiser and healthier just as you are.
Did you see that the Society of American Cardiologists were FORCED to admit at their national meeting in December that the Atkins diet was NOT invented by the devil, but that it works and makes good sense? They had FINALLY done a REAL double-blind study involving the Atkins program and found people lost more weight and KEPT it off and did NOT ruin their arteries or drop dead of massive MI s [:)] (They wouldnt believe Atkins figures and he had been begging them to do their own study for 30 years)
Remember BaltimoreBayside (Dan) from the old board ? He lost a lot of weight on his own version of Atkins, and his blood stats went down, too!
Toni lost 35 pounds on a low-carb diet between August and November. And I also find it works for me when I combine it with exercise. But I have a lot of friends who have had great success with Weight Watchers, too. It doesnt matter HOW people do it just so they do it.[:)]
fivegonefishingI just found this and thought it fit in
America s Fattest Cities
Houston Bloats to the Top for Third Year
By Daniel DeNoon
Reviewed By Michael Smith, MD
on Friday, January 03, 2003
WebMD Medical News
Jan. 3, 2003 -- Houston is the couch potato capital of the U.S. and Honolulu is the fittest city, say the editors of Men s Fitness magazine.
The " America s Fattest City" award goes to Houston for the third year, uh, running. The ratings are based on a major city s score in several categories such as fruit/vegetable consumption, sports participation, smoking, drinking, air quality, and percentage of overweight/sedentary residents.
" Given the region s climate (hot and humid), air quality (abysmal), and relative lack of outdoor recreation, staying active presents a Texas-sized challenge," the magazine states. " And with its love of junk food, Houston is a vastrodome of bad nutrition."
If you don t live in Houston, don t let out your belt just yet. The annual ratings are meant as a wake-up call to stop what the CDC calls a national epidemic of obesity. Two in every three Americans have a serious weight problem.
Here s the magazine s list of America s 10 fattest cities:
Houston
Chicago
Detroit
Philadelphia
St. Louis
Cleveland
Atlanta
Columbus, Ohio
Dallas
Charlotte, N.C.
And its list of the 10 fittest cities:
Honolulu
Seattle
San Francisco
Colorado Springs, Col.
San Diego
Portland, Ore.
Denver
Virginia Beach, Va.
Tucson, Ariz.
Sacramento, Calif.
fivegonefishingHas anyone seen the latest issue of Readers Digest and their new plan " Change One" (I think that s what it s called). It actually looks similar to other plans out there, but without the counting/journaling. Basically, it s making healthy choices and controlling portion size. Might be worth checking into, at any rate. I m really glad to see this thread " continuing" . The encouragement and ideas are such a major part of any weight loss program. (I hate to use the words lose weight, as I certainly don t want to find it again once it s lost!) So, together, we can all deal with this new way of life!
fivegonefishingI have had good sucess so far on Weight Watchers and am using as a tool change my WOL. I just purchased another 3 month worth of meetings. Everytime I turn around, there is a News story about our society getting larger and larger. No wonder!
Bear with me for a minute, the basic theory behind WW is you can eat what you want, just make sure it s in a range of points (good healthy choices). By looking at the calories and fat content of any food, you can determine it s points value. Your points range is determined by your weight, I get to eat around 30 points a day.
Now, on another website, there are restaurant listings and that has really opened my eyes! One famous hamburger joint, for a burger and fries is 22 pts; another restaurant it s 34pts; and at another, a 2 peice chicken and fry combo is 22 pts. No wonder we are a larger society, if everything we are eating is so full of fat in the fisrt place. On of my big problems was, I would eat at those places all the time, once in a while I m sure is ok but not 5 times a week. OK, I ll get off my soap box now.
fivegonefishingreally seem to have a good mix of people on this thread with various health problems or challenges, and several ways of looking at the ways to solve them. I think it s especially important and impressive that we are seeing our men take an active part in this, as maybe during another era, it wouldn t seem " manly" to worry about weight, or smoking or other bad habits. I m learning something new, and exciting about making good choices everytime I read this thread, thanks for all the help, everyone.
T
[;)]
fivegonefishingHi and thank you for this thread.
I am also a strong supporter of Weight Watchers. I found the program very easy to follow and non threatening. I am an at home mom with 3 kids (11,7 and 2) and don t always have the time to sit let alone eat a nutritious meal. Fast food is my friend used to me my motto but no more!! I quit WW over the summer and have been wanting to go back. You are all my insperation and will walk in that WW door and sign back up. I lost 25 lbs in 8 months the first time and I still have 30 or so to go. I KNOW I CAN, I KNOW I CAN!!!
I have used a lot of your recipe s from the previous board and it would be great to have some more if anyone has a couple to share.
Jacqui
OC Campers
QuoteORIGINAL: OC Campers
Hi and thank you for this thread.
I am also a strong supporter of Weight Watchers. I found the program very easy to follow and non threatening. I am an at home mom with 3 kids (11,7 and 2) and don t always have the time to sit let alone eat a nutritious meal. Fast food is my friend used to me my motto but no more!! I quit WW over the summer and have been wanting to go back. You are all my insperation and will walk in that WW door and sign back up. I lost 25 lbs in 8 months the first time and I still have 30 or so to go. I KNOW I CAN, I KNOW I CAN!!!
I have used a lot of your recipe s from the previous board and it would be great to have some more if anyone has a couple to share.
Jacqui
Hey Jacqui, you go girl! I have so much respect for stay at home mom s, I honestly feel it is the toughest job going. Good luck and remember, no regrets!
fivegonefishingOne of my weaknesses has always been the overnight trip. My job requires me to spend time away from home occasionally and tomorrow night I will be out of town. I use to love going away; I could smoke in bed and eat what ever the heck I wanted to, usually a whole pizza followed by a bag of chips with dip.
I?ve been planning different ways to avoid just that. My first obstacle is the ride there. Four hours in the van can be deadly, I loved the smoking and munching. Now I?ll still munch, but I?ll bring raw carrots, the mini kind that come already pealed and Skinny Chips (my husband calls these Styrofoam chips but will still polish off a bag when need be.) The other thing I do is bringing Garth along, I love to sing to his Hits album and that will keep me busy for a couple of hours at least.
I?ve already decided I will probably have Swiss Chalet for dinner and popcorn as a snack (I?ll bring my own.) Maybe I will even dance like there s no one there!? I hope one day I won?t have to put so much effort into planning how to handle over night trips. I wonder if it does become a way of life after time?
Tammy[:)]
fivegonefishingTammy, I want to wish you a safe, happy trip. And it will be happy becuase you have planned in advance to CHOOSE WITH DELIBERATE THOUGHT what you will do so that you dont come back feeling guilty. It wont be automatic so early in the game--this is why I admire your decision to plan ahead and be in charge of what you eat. Later on, you ll make the good choices without thought, but right now, they will take a little preparation.
And GARTH will definitely help out with the good spirits department! [:)]
fivegonefishingYee Ha, pardon me while I do a little happy dance [:D]
Okay, my trip went very well, managed to stay on the plan I had prepared then when I got back to town, I attended my first weigh-in since before Christmas...I was down 4.4 lbs! [:D]
I knew I had done well and thought I would be close to even but I was pleasently surprised to be down that much, especially after being home for two straight weeks, mind you the kids were sick pretty much the whole time, however it sure did feel good.
Tammy[:)]
fivegonefishingWell, I finally got to get back into the water aerobics on tuesday, and it was really a challenge after having two weeks off. (they close the pool for maintenance during the holidays.) But even tho it was hard to get back in the groove, it was fun, and I felt great afterwards. Go again tomorrow. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that I had lost 3 pounds, and that makes it so much easier to stay out of the M&M s that DH has stashed where he thinks I don t know about. I ve been pretty frustrated for the last few days, first because I was having trouble getting on the board, and then because I was just too busy to get online. I needed my fix of encouragement from y all. It s really great to see how well all the rest of you are doing, and it really makes me want to send out a great big hug to Iris, wherever she may be, for getting us all on the right track way back on the other board.
T
[;)]
fivegonefishingHey Toni and Tammy--GREAT Job[:D] Ya ll came thru the Holiday season and have already lost weight. My DH had check-up today and he had dropped a pound since his last ck 6 wks ago. with all the holiday temptations, I had fully expected him to have gained back some of his previous 25lb loss. So even though it was only a pound it is still a step forward. I think we should all be excited about each and every pound because it keeps everone moving in the right direction and it all adds up in the end. Continue to look for those little things to change and gradually replace old habits with more healthy choices. Watch serving sizes, choose healthy snacks, move, dance(aka exercise) etc. Ya know fat free,sugar free pudding topped with fat free cool whip ain t half bad. Put it in a wine glass and it seems like a special dessert.[:)] Another helpful trick is to eat slooowly, savor each bite, put fork down between bites. Keep it up and keep us posted.
I think I am going to try and find one new low fat,cholesterol,and sugar recipe a week to fix. When I find a good one I can replace a less healthy " old" meal with that one and before long almost all of the meals will be more heart healthy.
---Thanks to Suezyque for the tip on the Heart Healthy CD--(bargain emporium)Gonna send off for that to see what ideas they have[:)]
fivegonefishingtim 5055 - You are SO right! My doctor recommended that I read The Protein Power LifePlan by the Dr s Eades. It too is a low carb diet. He did not lecture or harp. He just suggested that I read it and give it serious thought. I have lost 40+ pounds, and all my blood count stuff is really good. The book explains why low fat diets will not every really work and in the long run are not good for you. I have NEVER felt better. I don t " exercise" but I do walk and take the stairs whenever I can. When we are working at the camp ground I, of course, get the chance to do a lot more walking. It is really an easy way of eating once you set your mind to it. It is like any other habit. I am lucky in that I quit smoking 30+ years ago and never started again.
fivegonefishingOMG, things are getting pretty tense around here. With me trying not to eat any junk food or carb laden stuff, and DH trying not to smoke, but eating and cooking every ten minutes (he s also layed off) it s a real test to both of us to see how long before the screaming starts. I have to admit that he made an excellent meat loaf, (yes, venison) for dinner, but the mashed tades with it really tempted me. I had about a tablespoon of them. Couldn t help it.
Tomorrow I go for another session of water aerobics, can t wait. Got to get away from here. (another drawback to having an active man around the house in the middle of the coldest yukkiest time of year is the fact that he keeps coming in to any room I m in to see what I m doing and then to ask " SO, what do ya want to do now?" )
Anyway, we re both trying darned hard to live up to our own commitments, and we ll make it. One or both of us may have to get hurt along the way, but......we will make it.
T
[;)]
fivegonefishingtime for dh to get a hobby i think [;)] how bout some mod work?
fivegonefishingHad my weekly weigh-in and I m up .6#[:o]
I m pretty sure it was the chilly I made, well not the chilly but the garlic bread I made to have with the chilly! Plus I still haven t gotten off my lazy butt. [&:]
I ve made a personal goal to loose 2#s next by next weigh in!
Tammy
fivegonefishingTammy, once in a while ya just have to break down and have the garlic bread. Don t worry about it, I know it was just a momentary lapse, and you ll be right back on track. I m having a pretty bad day today too, and have eaten some comfort foods that I know I shouldn t have, but tomorrow is a whole new day. Hold my hand, and we ll jump off this junk food ledge together, and land in skinny world. (well, maybe not right away, but eventually).
T
[;)]
fivegonefishingThanks Toni, I needed that. [:)]
I just put the slow cooker on to make some beef barley soup and I will not be buying any bread!
fivegonefishingThis evening was a good one; the kidlets were whining for McDonalds so I broke down and took them. My choice for dinner was the new Flat Bread Chicken Sandwhich and a Side Salad. Didn t even finish DD s Cheese Burger like I d usually do. Was filling and enjoyable. It felt good to know I made a healthy choice and it s kinda nice that these places are starting to provide better menu choices too.
Tammy[:)]
fivegonefishingI m actually kinda surprised that I have started to enjoy the salads and tortilla wrap sandwiches better than the heavy burgers and fries. Subway and Blimpies also has some good choices, even tho they have lots of bread, and they taste good too. This evening we met up with DH s sister and her hubby, and went out for Mexican. I chose the chicken wet burrito with no beans. It was really large, with big chunks of chicken, lettuce and tomatoes and onions wrapped in a tortilla, with red sauce and cheese on top. mmmmm, so much better than chips and beans and rice! And better for me, and I m stuffed. Finished out the visit with a couple of games of dominoes, and I was an almost winner . I don t have much of a sense of competition, so I never care if I win or not, the fun is in sharing the game with family and friends.
T
[;)]
wiininkwe
QuoteORIGINAL: wiininkwe
Tammy, once in a while ya just have to break down and have the garlic bread.
NOpe, stay away form the bread!!! I have been on Adkins and from December 1 to today down over 25#, only 30 to go.
Check it out [link=http://atkinscenter.com/]Adkins Health Center[/link]
fivegonefishingI m doing another happy dance! Had my weekly weigh in and I was down 4.4 lbs this week! That s a total of 32 since I went back to WW. I was really good and thought about everything I was eating, I didn t journal but I feel like my portions are bang on.
Tammy
fivegonefishingI knew last week was too good to be true! [&:] I was up 1#, and to top it off, I feel off the wagon and had six delicious cookies, I do feel sick now so probably won t do it again, but I ve been feeling the need to binge for two days! I ve also be craving a smoke recently...maybe it s the February Blah s setting in. The good thing is that LuvMyJayco is continuing to loose. She looks great and is helping to keep my spirits up!
Tammy
fivegonefishingHi everyone, I just had to let you all know about my day. My dh came home from the doctor the other day and the doctor told him if he starts now and starts taking care of himself he won t end up with diabetes and 2 large scars on his chest when he is 65 (he is 41 now with high blood pressure and high chloresterol). Boy did the lightbulb go off for us. We both decided to do weight watchers. I am a returning member and he is along for the ride. I plan on going to the meetings and bringing what I learned home to him. SO>>>> I finally got my behind in the WW door. I figured if I was going to follow the plan I better go in and get weighed. This is where the amazing part came in. My last visit to WW was in July 2002 and I have to say after I stopped going my diet was terrible. Eating what the kids ate and of course cleaning their plates when they were done. Ya know all the stuff you aren t supposed to do. Well, I walked in the WW door on Wednesday and stepped on the scale. Would you believe I only gained 1.3 lbs. I was so excited!!! I guess running after a toddler does have its benefits.
Well thanks for listening, I knew you guys would appreciate what it means to me
Jacqui
fivegonefishingGOOD FOR YOU TIM 5055 - I have lost 52 pounds now - I only want to lose about 10 more. DH has just started. He has lost about 10 already. I have found lots of nice recipes and it has become real natural to not eat the carbs. Mashed turnips, cooked correctly taste just like mashed potatoes. I have lost enough weight that I have a treat each day. Keep us the good work!
camphostBill & Mary Ann,
Thanks
Well today I am now up to 30 pounds lost, only about 25 left to go. Who knows, maybe I ll go for an extra 10 pounds.
fivegonefishingWell, boys and girls, I am here today to serve as the example of what not to do on vacation. DH and I have been gone for the last few weeks, and most of the time was spent in motels, and on the road, so we ate out a lot. And, since we were in the south, and also in the Keys, we ended up sampling (if ya want to call eating everything in sight, sampling) as much fried fish, conch chowder, french fries, boiled p-nuts, pralines, salt water taffy, well.....you get the idea. I m home, and got on the scale yesterday to find that I had GAINED back 6 pounds of that weight that I was so proud of losing. No question what the next step will be, but in the meantime, I have to say that I actually had other choices that I could have made everytime I put something bad in my mouth. And, the other choices would have tasted just as good..NO.. better. I was just a willing participant in something called " WHO CARES WHAT I EAT, I M ON VACATION!!!!!!" Take a guess who cares now?! I m only telling you all about this because I want you to remember it when you go out to eat, or go on vacation. Your new way of eating is a way of life, and you can splurge once in a while on one or two items that you really like, but you can t go HOG wild like I did, and expect no reaction from it. Keep your goal in front of you, and stay in perspective. Tomorrow all my kids are coming for dinner, and I m going to have what I am referring to as my " last hurrah" a casserole of baked ziti, with strawberry shortcake and ice cream for dessert. On Monday, it s back to the lo-carb way of living for me. And, to be truthful, even tho all the things I ve been eating for the last few weeks tasted good, I have to admit that going back to hi-carb foods really made me feel loggy and yukky. (And fat)
My darling friend NightOwl fed me wonderful healthy foods while we were there, and if she hadn t I would be reporting an even bigger weight gain. Keep it up gang, it s really worth it in the long run!!!
T
[;)]
fivegonefishingawwwwwwwwww you`re not fat, you`re " fluffy" !!!!!!!!!
fivegonefishingThanks Leigh Ann, you always know how to make me feel better.
BTW, the kids have all just left, and there is a little baked ziti left, but since Topcat doesn t know about it I feel safe in putting it in the freezer so that maybe someday when I m busy DH can have it for a meal. We had a wonderful day, got out a big box of old (yes, I mean really old) photos and spent the afternoon sprawled all over the living room roaring with laughter about how funny all the rest of them used to look. (not me, unhuh!!!) The strawberries were great, and there s only enough left for one serving, so my DH can have it for a bedtime snack. My oldest daughter, who has been living up north with her family, had gone and looked at a home here in the area, made an offer and got the call while here that their offer was accepted. That means that I ll be able to see my DGS anytime I want.
T
[;)]
fivegonefishingallright!!!!!!! you know how i feel `bout havin` them grandbabies close by!![:D] heat that ziti up, it sure smells good! btw, i have been pretty good lately after falling off the ww wagon. i of COURSE cheated today by going to an all i can eat [;)] buffet after church this morning and then allowed Pa to stuff a couple of pancakes w/ my blackberry syrup down my gullet tonight. ahh, well at least i`m heading in the right direction, as i have been VERY good for 3 weeks and will jump right back into it in the morning. all we can do-is all we can do. now how is that for wisdom [8D] and, it could ALWAYS be worse. yeah, i`m full of `em [:D] but you love me anyway heheheh
fivegonefishingL.A. You ve got more of those little wisdoms than anyone else I know, and I love them all. Today I m back to the lo-carb living, and am so anxious to start feeling better. Even DH notices that I seem to be more tired and slow than usual. of course, returning to this cold and snow has got the fibromyalgia and arthritis really reminding me of what they can do to me. One of the things I was going to mention is that I saw an article somewhere just the other day, that said that a hi-carb diet has been found to contribute to the problems of fibromyalgia, test subjects that switched to a lo-carb plan reported very great improvement. I agree, as I remember that when I was following this plan more closely, I had much less pain. Wish that I could remember where I saw the article, oh well, that s one of the fibro fog things, maybe I ll remember later. (today I remembered the name of a person that I couldn t think of last Thursday, shouted it out loud, and DH thought I was nuts. He may be right!)
T
[;)]
fivegonefishing[:D][:D][:D][:D] heheheh you crack me up! sorry to hear bout the pain girl, but it IS better than the alternative [8D] i also notice how i feel like a big ol lazy butt when i have been eating things i shouldn`t. and ya know, Pa says it makes me louder. i said, louder, what in the world you talkin` bout willis? he says, you`re lots louder when you been eatin things you shouldn`t, cause you should HEAR how you huff and puff just getting yer socks on hahahah. HEY, not funny mcgee!! but, i wasn`t too mad, cause i guess he DOES have a point. course, i had to point out how he has to throw his back out tryin to suck his gut in to hitch up his britches heheheheheh[;)]
fivegonefishingThat s too funny, Rick says I need a stick with a hook on the end of it to put my socks on with, cuz I huff and puff too!!! Can t bend my legs, and have such a tummy that I can t bend over. Well, I discovered something last night that the rest of you have probably been onto for a long time, or else it will turn out to be a bad thing, and I ll have to stop doing it. I was making my DH the last of the strawberry shortcake, with some cool whip on the top, and was feeling left out cuz I didn t have anything around for me to have. So, I looked at the coolwhip container, and discovered there s not much carbs or fats in a serving. So, I put a few tablespoons in a small dessert dish, and ate it slowly, and it actually gave me the feeling that I was getting a nice sweet dessert. Niidji NightOwl says she mixes a few frozen blueberries or raspberries in hers, to make it fancy. Give it a try sometime.
T
[;)]
fivegonefishingWell, here it is, Friday and I feel that i ve done a pretty good job of staying in my self imposed limits of 20-30 carbs a day. I m going to have to consider yesterday my free day for the week, as the cold weather got me inspired to make a big pot of beans and ham, with some cracklin corn bread on the side. I was careful to have just a small serving of each, with a big salad, but I know they put me way over the top. I have gotten back to the water aerobics tho, and can tell a big difference in how I feel already. I m just not ready to get back on the scale yet, tho, will wait til Monday to try that. Okay boys and girls, I m back in the game!
T
[;)]
fivegonefishing[:D][:D][:D] GOOD JOB!!!!!! proud of ya [;)]
fivegonefishingThis thread is great...it s a real pick-me-upper [:)]
I ve hit a few mile-stones and it sure does feel nice! I m at a weight I havn t been at in about 3 years or so, to tell the truth I m not sure because I wasn t really keeping track of things. I ve also gone down in my points range. My leader was so happy, she really is one reason I enjoy doing the WW program.
I wasn t journalling for a few days but will change that asap, I find if I don t write down what I eat then I really do loose track of exactly how much I have eaten, including portion sizes.
Tammy[:)]
tim5055
QuoteORIGINAL: tim5055
I have been on Adkins and from December 1 to today down over 25#, only 30 to go.
Check it out [link=http://atkinscenter.com/]Adkins Health Center[/link]
OK, make that down over 30#, only 25 to go[:D]
fivegonefishingGood job on all that weight lost, Tim. I hope that I can keep up with you. I originally lost about 38 pounds but during the holidays I sort of gave in to temptation and ate almost everything within reach. (that sounds bad, but I actually kept things under control enough that I didn t gain, just maintained.) And then after that, came the trip to FLA. I gained 6 pounds back, in that two week period because I just couldn t seem to say NO to the Key Lime pie, or the conch chowder or any of the other luscious things we were getting. Good thing we ate lots of seafood, or I would have gained back even more. Well, I am glad to say that I have lost that 8 pounds back again, and am now right back where I was in December. I have a very long ways to go yet, my dr. did give me a goal to reach and it s not very close yet. But, it s still 38 pounds closer than last August when I started this journey. One of the things that has helped me the most is knowing that there are lots of you out there, and you are aware of my progress and I would feel like a big jerk if I couldn t come back here to report my good progress. If I had to just drop out, or had to say that I wasn t getting anywhere, I would be ashamed to tell those of you that are doing such a good job. Y all are keeping me on the straight and narrow, and keeping me honest. Thanks, I needed that!
T
[;)]
wiininkweI started smoking when I was 15 years old and quit 18 years ago when I was 31. For me quitting was very easy, I had Pneumonia for the second time in 3 months and just threw the cigarettes away and never looked back! I think it helped a lot that I was so sick! I am 6 3" and weighed 165 lbs when I quit and in the last 18 years of non-smoking, I ve added 100 lbs to that!
For me, losing is very hard! I m a pencil pusher, and do get into Cross Country skiing and Kayaking, BUT I love to eat!
To make a long story short- I NEED some of those low fat recipes!
fivegonefishingThanks for replying Gary. As you can see, we all have our own stories to tell about why we ve decided to post to this thread. Weight loss and not smoking are a real challenge all by themselves, but put them together, and you have a really tall hill to climb. Along with the info here, try going back into the archived posts from the last message board. I think there were lots more low fat offerings there, we haven t caught up yet.
T
[;)]
fivegonefishingboy, gary, can i relate. 5 short yrs ago i weighed 122, ok, so that`s TOO skinny. but, i have never been this fat except when pregnant and we all know that doesn`t count! [:D] anyway, i have put on about 30 lbs that looks like at least 50 on me. i mean, c`mon gals, we all know WHERE it goes, right there in the gut area and back behind!!! i have been trying to lose this for about a year now and i cannot believe how hard it is. you`d think with runnin after these dgk`s, i would get it off, but really all i do is go from the rocking chair to the kitchen.Pa did manage to lose about 52 lbs last winter doin the Jared thing(subway) but has also gained back about 10 lbs. course, we know how much easier it is for men to get it off grrrrr[:@] but, it does help having to *report* in here every so often, and i just know if i keep at it, i`ll get some of it off. i have quit smoking after jdoing that for about 30 yrs, so i think i can do this too [;)] well, just wanted to say keep it up guys, and lets all realize how lucky we are to have this problem, some people don`t have enough to eat. weird huh
fivegonefishing(picture me in the corner, with tears on my cheeks) I have been a baaaaaaaaad girl. I don t know exactly when it happened, or what set it off, but I have been cheating really bad. No, I should say that I stopped paying any attention at all to my eating habits. I was getting somewhere for a while, had gained some back and then was losing that. But, now I ve gained back almost half of what I originally lost. This morning I went to water aerobics, and made a new promise to start treating my body right. I m back to the exercise and lo-carb way of life. I was feeling pretty bad this morning, but now that I ve made up my mind, I feel better.
T
[;)]
fivegonefishingHey Toni, I hope you re feeling better now, {{{{hug}}}} a good hug does wonders every now and then[:)]
I too have fallen off the wagon[:(] I have so many responsibilities, it s getting a little tough to take care of myself, I don t have time for me, there are too many other people who need me. I havn t lost weight in about a month, between running back and forth from the Hopital for my mom (she had total knee replacement), finding a good path for my DD who s ADHD is worsening, one of the twin s has significant hearing lose in his left ear, work, and the money, or no money. [:o] I m getting overwhelmed.
My leader at WW always tries to remind us that we are doing this for ourselfs but when there doesn t seem to be any time left in the day for us, it s hard to get it done. I hope things start to turn around soon. I just realized this last night driving home from the Hospital, hopefully now that I know, things will change, they have to, I don t want to be where i was 6 months ago.
fivegonefishingThanks for the pickmeup, and just remember that I fall off the diet wagon evry once in a while, so be prepared to hoist me back up now and then. LOL
T
[;)]
fivegonefishingJust thought I d check in and say that now i m back to what I was after I first lost weight, but before I gained some back and then lost some and then gained it all back. Got that?? wait..........
T
[;)]
fivegonefishingTim - How are you doing? I am still making good progress. And I hope you are too! But it is much slower. I lost around 60 pounds and now it seems like I fight for each additional 1. I can t wait to get to the campgound every weekend to really get some exercise. We are always so busy there, lots of walking, etc. I hope it will help. Mostly, I guess it will just be great for good weather to get here and start camping again!
I hope all of you are doing well with your diets. I can hardly believe how easy it has gotten I would NEVER have believed I would be a person that could say that I don t even miss potatoes, etc. I was a snack food junkie and now I don t miss them at all. I did not look for a low carb subsitute for them. I either snack on cheese or sugar free jello or fix a salad. I have done this without any exercise. Our daughter gave us a treadmill, but we live on a third floor condo and we can t carry it up the stairs by ourselves and can t figure out how to get it up here. Tho we would like to have it up here!
I wish luck to all of you!
fivegonefishingOk, I was in on this post way back in the beginning. Then I was talking about quitting smoking and weight gain. Well I got a whole new light on all of this now. Most of you know! But I will tell you first hand but don t recommend it! Want to lose weight and not even try? Not even come close to trying! Have a " TRIPLE BY-PASS" . Like I said not recommended! I have lost 50 lbs. since the first of the year 10 or 15 was before the surgery. I was exercising, and having chest pains that weren?t getting any better actually they where getting worse. So I went to doctor, and luckily we caught it in time so I never had a heart attack. So as the topic line say s " HEALTHY LIVING" . It not just a choice it is a way of life from here on out!
CampNfanCampNfan - I sure am happy for you that they found out the problem before it got any worse. I hope that you continue to do well I wish you nothing but the best! I was not having any health problems that I am aware of. My DH was having some minor blood pressure problems but he has bad heart problems on his side of the family and I went on this diet trying to be a good influence on him and to change our way of cooking and eating at home. I have lost 56 pounds. It is working for him and he is really doing well now. He has lost about 15 pounds, but mainly he now has the right mindset. I wish you well. Stay healthy!
OC CampersHi Jacqui.
DW and I have also both started to WW back the end of September 2002. I ve lost 55 pounds and DW has lost 25. She s got another 13 to go, I ve got another 110, but we ll make it.
Basically I went in for an appointment with my doctor the middle of September 2002 and she looked at me and said, " Chuck if you come in for your next appointment heavier than you are now, you are FIRED as a patient. I set down your chart, and walk out of the room without saying a word." What the Doc said kind of shocked me and I got on the plan.
Going back several months later, and 30 pounds lighter, I asked her (Doc) if she would really have done that, and she said of course not, but I did get the point!
Weight Watchers is the best thing we ve ever done!
C & T
fivegonefishingI would like to join this group if I may. I have been trying to lose weight for years, I tried doing WW this past winter but due to finances had to quit that. I am trying to do it on my own and find it very difficult to do. I quit smoking 14 years ago, the day I found out I was pregnant with my first child. There are still times that I could really go for a cigarette, but I won t. I just wish that I could be that disciplined with food. Does anyone have any good ideas for healthy meals or maybe where I could go to find them? Thanks in advance for letting me join this group.
fivegonefishingFirst things first! Congratulations on that will power to quit, and keep on quitting, smoking!!!
Second, no one needs to feel that they have to ask to join this bunch, we have no rules, regs or what have you, we re a bunch of people who know that we have to make changes, and would like to do it in the good company of our friends. All you have to do to be part of this is to post your feelings, progress (or lack of) good ideas and recipes. We all draw from the strength of the rest. It s good to have you with us, and hope that we can give our strength to you.
Some here follow weight watchers, some of us are lo-carbers, some are just counting calories. No matter what your style, our goal is the same, becoming more fit and healthy. The thread hasn t had much action lately, and I m hoping that it s not because we ve all given up. Maybe with Spring and summer on the way, we can get up the inspiration to get back on whatever program we like and start supporting one another again.
T
[;)]
wiininkweI made three pounds of fudge last week. It is almost gone. I have not gained any weight eating it. Perhaps I should make some every week to keep my weight under control.
fivegonefishingI ve been told that fudge is not fattening, as it s made of chocolate, and chocolate is a vegetable. (Comes from a bean, ya know) Unfortunately, I must have some sort of allergy or sensitivity to this bean, because I gain weight just thinking about it. Congrats on being one of the ones who can eat it with impunity.
T
[;)]
fivegonefishingI just look at chocolate and there goes another pound added...lol. It s still a struggle but am trying to stay on the straight and narrow.
fivegonefishingWe did try to resurrect the Travelin lite thread, with this Healthy Living thread that just seemed to fizzle out. Maybe you can get it going again with some fresh new ideas and support.
T
[;)]
fivegonefishingIt s kinda depressing this thread was resurected; I ve reached a whole new point, unfortunatly going the other way. I swear I m going to explode! Between stress, comfort food and no self-control things have really taken a turn for the worse for me. I think it s time to get back on a wagon before I do explode.
fivegonefishingTammy, I ve been having some of the same problems. A friend told me just saturday that she just doesn t see how I could go back to my self-destructive eating habits after doing so well last year. I didn t know what to tell her. If I say how I feel, and why I m having such trouble with this, a fear of sounding like some hypochondriac old lady kicks in. But, with the things that have been happening for me healthwise, I m on kind of a viscious cycle. My arthritis keeps me from getting much exercise (crap, it keeps me from doing much of anything) and my fibromyalgia keeps me in pain most of the time, too. Which, yes I know, exercise is suppose to improve drastically. Also, the anti-depressants that have been prescribed to help me combat the frustration of being in pain all the time, and help me to sleep better at night to get past the chronic fatigue syndrome that goes with the FM, seem to make me crave sweets. So my willpower has to do double duty. Some days I do pretty well, other days, well.....don t leave any donuts or cookies laying around. I m having knee replacement surgery next month, and everyone that I won t believe how wonderful it will be. My doctor says " lose weight before the surgery to make your recovery easier." But, after I have the surgery, I should be able to do the exercise needed to lose the weight. Just listen to me whine!!! Anyway, please someone, help me get this thread resurrected so those of us who need support and empathy with these kinds of problems can get it together.
T
[;)]
fivegonefishingOK, It was March 20th when I last posted to this thread. Like I said in it, It is a way of life. Not a choice.....Just has to be done, has to be that way! No ifs ands or buts. I am still doing well I go to a gym every morning before work and the mornings I don t go to work I walk/jog for 5 miles. Then throughout the day I try to Bike ride or go for another walk with the DW and DS. My eating habits have changed for the better as well. I have 3 reward meals a week. but the other meals during my week are nothing but good Ol Veggies. My reward meals come at different times. Sometimes I have to plan them when we are invited to a cookout or something of that nature but that is ok. I really look forward to my Fri evening reward. WINGS AND BEER! Nothing better and I work hard for it, and by that time I deserve it too! SO I hope this might help you all to resurrect this thread and those feelings to do better. If you had to look in the mirror every morning at a " HUGE SCAR" that went right down the center of your chest do you think you could not eat that PORK, PIE and CAKE?[;)]
fivegonefishingToni,
I can relate to what you are going thru to a small degree. After a long hard winter of fighting a not so fun variety of health issues, which left me very inactive. Part of my problem was not discovered till June. I was diagnosed along with other things Costochondritis (Tzitzis Disease), which left me pretty much useless. It hurt to sit, lay down or just plain old move. I couldn t even wear clothes that touched my ribs or upper stomach without pain. I couldn t do much of anything for months. No meds really helped. To top all that inactivity off I had quit smoking. So the weight kept coming on. (see,I can whine too [;)] )
My 3 mile a day walks dwindled down to a block [&:]
After giving up on the traditional doctors so called treatment for the Tzitzis I opted for Chiropractic care in late July. I am now a believer in Chiropractic care! I have not taken 1 pain killer or anti-inflamatory since then. Also weakend and started smoking again. Since then I have managed to loose 15 lbs, with atleast 15 more to go. I m at that ugly plateau where nothing is coming off. I am finally able to start my walking again, so now that I can finally start excersing (I have to keep it limited for now) that will help. Building up the stamina is going to take some time, but it ll happen.
Toni,You hang in there, better times are coming your way.
fivegonefishingHey, it s good to see that friends are watching out for this thread. Marcy, and Rick, thanks for putting my problems into perspective, sometimes it s hard to remember that you aren t the only person suffering from something, or that your problems aren t worse than everybody else s. Maybe having this thread back up to report to will help give me a little more will power on those " donut days" . Anyone else ready to get back on the wagon?
T
[;)]
fivegonefishingWell. Things are going a little better for me. With the help of the meds my blood pressure is back under control, down from 190/110 to 118/90 this morning. So far I have lost four pounds and am gradually tweaking my diet The biggest problem I am having is controlling salt. It is recommended that I eat not more than 2400mg/day and most days I am still hitting over 4000mg and that is without touching my beloved salt shaker. I am beginning to think the only way to control salt is to eat no packaged or canned foods. When you start watch that stuff it is really loaded up with salt.
fivegonefishingMy DH has a problem with high blood pressure and we stopped buying any veggies in cans. We only buy fresh or frozen, and that has made a big difference for him. Also, even soft drinks have lots of sodium in them, so ya have to be careful there. Look thru your spice cupboard too, many items that are suppose to be seasonings or flavor boosters list their first ingredient as salt. You can learn to use the ones that have no salt in them. I often use nutmeg on things like cauliflower, and cabbage. (My Dutch grandmother taught me that one, but my other Grandma always used bacon grease to flavor things, and I had to unlearn that one) There are lots of things that can give you the idea of salt, without having the salt itself. Dill always tastes slightly salty to me, also celery.
T
[;)]
fivegonefishingGarrett,
Staying salt free is hard, but possible. My Mothers husband is on a Zero salt diet.
There are some products out there. Try the Organic and Natural food sections. Also Trader Joes (if there is one near you).
Reading labels has just become your newest hobby!
fivegonefishingYesterday I went for a " pre-surgical clearance" exam. I was a bit nervous about it, as it s a pretty thorough one,with EKG, etc. I m happy to report that my blood pressure is perfect, my EKG came out perfect, my chest x-rays were perfect. I ll have to wait for the results to the pee in the cup stuff and the blood work, but for now I am cleared for surgery. I was prepared for a lecture on my weight but my DR was very empathetic and said that he hope to see big changes after my new knee is in place.
T
[;)]
wiininkweOf course it all came out perfect ! As will your surgery too.
fivegonefishingYesterday I went to a class for folks who are having knee replacement surgery. It s given by the hospital I will have my surgery in, and is required by my Dr. It was a very informative session, 2 1/2 hour long, with people from the nursing staff, Anesthesiology, physical and occupational therapy presenting their part in our hospital stay. They were very frank about what to expect, didn t sugar coat anything, but also used some humor and empathy to let us know we ll be ok with it. It included passing around an actual artificial knee joint. The experts say that those who take part in these classes before surgery will actually recover much faster than those who go in knowing nothing about what will happen. I can see why this would be true, as the class actually answered lots of questions about things I was uneasy with, and I could see that the same was true for many others there. It s getting closer, and it makes me a bit nervous, but every day my pain and discomfort seem to get worse, also the fact that I can t function normally. So I ll be glad when the time comes. I was suppose to have tried to lose some weight before this, but it just didn t happen, but after listening to the nurse assure all of us that at the end of our recovery we will no longer have the pain and general crap that we have now, I m looking forward to being able to exercise and get fit . Thanks to all of you for giving me your support and help.
T
[;)]
fivegonefishingToni, my mom who had both knees replaced this year had a follow up with the surgon this week. The x-ray showed perfect alignment and he was happy with the results. She had the worst one done first in March, the second in June. She complained that the first one was still hurting and seemed heavier...he said it would as he had to use more metal in that leg. It s been almost 6 months and she s still in physio. She still says the recovery is tough but is so much better than what she had to go through before hand. Good luck!
fivegonefishingJust thought I d check in and let you know that I ve had my surgery and am back home. The surgery itself was not bad, as I wasn t awake to know what was happening, but afterwards the Dr came in and told me that this was probably the worst knee he had ever worked on. Besides the amount of deterioration from the arthritis making it necessary to cut away even more bone than normal, my muscles and tendons had shortened drastically and he had to go behind the knee to cut some tendons to allow my knee to straighten out. That will mean a little extra work in rehab to keep those tendons stretched. There was some kind of incident that happened the second night after my surgery and I will probably never know just what happened, but it ended with me aspirating on my own vomit and the thing that saved me was that the lady in the next bed heard me choking and called the nurse. I gather from the things I was later told that I almost didn t make it. After i recovered from that, I was sent right to an inpatient rehab center, and stayed there for three days. I was told that I would be cleared for release when I could meet certain requirements towards recovery. I was so anxious to get out of there that I worked my butt off to accomplish the basics in rehab. They released me, said that it was one of the shortest stays they had ever had, and when I got home I found out that I was quite literally exhausted. Slept most of the day yesterday, in my own bed and it felt wonderful. I m still having some trouble with focusing, and concentration, from the effects of the anesthia, but I ve been told that will clear up gradually. Anyway, I m home, getting around with a walker, and feeling a little better every day.
T
[;)]
fivegonefishingYa-Hoo!! Glad to hear your home - I ve been thinking of you, so I m glad you posted on how everything went. [:D] Sorry for the complications, but good for you on getting out quickely. Just keep up with the rehab!
On the flip side, now that the baby is here, I need to lose some serious weight. At least 50 lbs. I m done having kids now (hear that God? - please agree with me! [;)]) so I ve been mentally psyking myself up throughout pregnancy to get serious after Isabelle came. I can t start any physical exercise yet (suspected herina), but I can start eating right. Have any of you had a lot of success with the Atkins diet? I remember trying it before, but couldn t go without my cup(s) of coffee with real suger! I m going to try implementing the food part in and cut back on the amount of suger I use. We ll see!
fivegonefishingToni,
Glad you are home and beginning your recovery process. You ve got alot of work ahead of you I m sure. Keep feeling better with each day.
Acts 2:38 girl - Andrea (right?)
While I haven t gone Atkins, I have started watching the carb intake. Like you the thought of coffe without " real" sugar was frightening. Well, I finally made the switch and started using Splenda. It diddn t take long to get used to it and the after taste that you get with many of those sweeteners is not there. The weight is coming off slowly....good luck
QuoteActs 2:38 girl
fivegonefishingHas anyone tried Jenny Craig? What is the price of the food?
fivegonefishingThanks girls, for all your kind and good thoughts. I can t believe how fast i m improving, but at the same time get so tired easily. I m one of those very fortunate people that has a family that I can count on for everything. While my DH and DS are off in the great north country hunting, my sister is spending a few days here to make sure I m not alone. My DD-I-L has been coming to take me to my therapy sessions, and is here right now doing some cleaning for me. My daughter will take me to the Dr tomorrow to get my staples taken out. My DD-I-L has also been good enough to take my " Lil Spanky" (now 7 months old and weighing in at 60 pounds) so that I wouldn t have to worry about how to deal with her, and will keep her til the first of next week. My next big fight will be to try to get back on the good low carb way of living and lose all these pounds that have been piling on for the last two years. I m already starting to feel more hopeful about things, never really realised how depressing constant pain could be. I can t tell you all enough how good it is to be able to sit down at the computer and type in my feelings and know that in a few minutes someone will reply to me with advice and encouragement. I only hope that I can return the friendship half as much as you ve given it to me.
T
[;)]
fivegonefishing
QuoteWell, I finally made the switch and started using Splenda.
Does it taste a lot like sweet & low or Equal? I have about 4-5 cups of coffee a day, so I really need to cut back on sugar!
QuoteHas anyone tried Jenny Craig? What is the price of the food?
I was on Jenny Craig a long time ago - it worked great! The food then was expensive, but tasted pretty good (about $70+) but I dropped 45 lbs!! I was on it for about 5 months. If I could afford it I would go again. Things are different now, 4 kids, plus the drive to the center is just to far. Good luck!
Acts 2:38 girl
QuoteORIGINAL: Acts 2:38 girl
Does it taste a lot like sweet & low or Equal? I have about 4-5 cups of coffee a day, so I really need to cut back on sugar!
I tried Equal, which is made of Aspartame (Nutrasweet)...It never made it past my gums....I spit it out...that stuff is nasty! Plus I m leary of anything made of Asparatame. But I was getting desperate and knew the sugar had to go to lose any weight.
Splenda is made from sugar and did not taste like the other sweeteners. The ingredient in it is Sucralose. It took a couple cups to adjust to it...but not many. I find if I use just a little less than a packet it s fine. A whole packet and it s to sweet unless I m using a jumbo mug. I was using 2 to 3 tsp of sugar in each cup of coffee. Once I switched to the Splenda is when I started to see the weight start coming off again. I drink atleast as much as you do, most days a little more. Buy a small package and give it a try.
The hardest part is knowing that to keep the weight off, I will never have real sugar in my coffee again. Making that switch is hard, almost as frightening as no more chocolate [:o]
I have lost 25 lbs since mid June, with another 15 to go to get back to where I was before I got sick.
wiininkwe
QuoteORIGINAL: wiininkwe
I can t tell you all enough how good it is to be able to sit down at the computer and type in my feelings and know that in a few minutes someone will reply to me with advice and encouragement.
T
[;)]
Will a few days do?[:D]
It s amazing how being in constant pain affects your outlook on life isn t it. Never really understood that `till it happened to me. It taught me that sympathizing and truly understanding are 2 totally different animals. Sounds to me like you are on the right track now...
fivegonefishingtoday I went to my second therapy session. My Dear Sister, who just happens to work for the surgeon who did my knee went with me, and I over heard her tell my therapist that two weeks ago, I looked like an 80yr old woman, just bent over and haggard, because of the pain and disability. Today I can actually stand up straight when I walk, (with a walker) and look straight ahead instead of down at my feet. I have also lost almost 10 pounds, and am going to work hard to keep that loss going. Marcy, you are exactly right about your perspective on life being so different when you are in pain. For any of you who are in chronic pain from a condition that you have just refused to acknowledge, get off the pity wagon and take the necessary steps to do something about it. I waited for two years, going downhill the whole time, because I didn t want to face the fact that I could be so debilitated at such a young age. Get over it, be good to yourself and take care of your problem. You will love yourself for it very soon.
T
[;)]
wiininkweToday was my 3rd therapy session. They started me last week on a semi-recumbent stationary bike, and I was able to just rock my leg back and forth. Today I spent 10 minutes with the pedals going all the way around, at a relativley stable speed. The first time it went around I gasped, and everyone looked at me. I was grinning like an idiot, and they all cheered for me. It was great. I also spent about 10 minutes on a slantboard type thing, pushing my body up and down using my legs, and then some time at the bars, and the last thing was some stretching (which really hurts, but I don t let anyone know that). Can t believe how tired this little bit of exercise makes me, but it feels great!! I have to continue using the walker for two more weeks (darn it) and then I m off and running. When the incision is fully healed I ll be able to go back to water aerobics and I m really looking forward to that.
T
[;)]
wiininkwe
QuoteORIGINAL: wiininkwe
Today was my 3rd therapy session. They started me last week on a semi-recumbent stationary bike, and I was able to just rock my leg back and forth. Today I spent 10 minutes with the pedals going all the way around, at a relativley stable speed. The first time it went around I gasped, and everyone looked at me. I was grinning like an idiot, and they all cheered for me. It was great. I also spent about 10 minutes on a slantboard type thing, pushing my body up and down using my legs, and then some time at the bars, and the last thing was some stretching (which really hurts, but I don t let anyone know that). Can t believe how tired this little bit of exercise makes me, but it feels great!! I have to continue using the walker for two more weeks (darn it) and then I m off and running. When the incision is fully healed I ll be able to go back to water aerobics and I m really looking forward to that.
T
[;)]
Congrats on the progress and keep up the good work[:)][:)]
Okay, my last report on my progress since my knee replacement surgery. Yesterday I saw my surgeon for a post op check up. It's been just 5 weeks and I was anxious for official 'permission' (yeah, like I ever waited for anyone to give me permission to do anything) to cast aside the walker and get behind the wheel of my van again. There were some x-rays done, and he manipulated my knee a bit, seeing how much range of motion that I had. After this he looked at me and smiled and said that he feels I'm ready to "do just about anything you want to do" in his own words. There is still a lot of stiffness, will have to work for quite a while to get rid of that, but the pain is almost totally gone, (on a scale of 1-10 i'd say 1/2 rather than the 12 I used to live with) He told me that he had never replaced a knee that had as much damage as mine did, and was actually anticipating that there might be some problems to address at this office visit. I think he was as happy as I was at the clean bill of health. I return to water aerobics next tuesday, and get back to a normal way of life as of today. Maybe I'll go shopping. Thanks for all of your support and encouragement thru all this.
T
;)
Sounds like great news, just don't over-do-it -- stay healthy
Toni,
Sounds like you are making great progress , but I have one question........
IS there a "normal" way of life ? ;)
ALLLRIGHT!!!!!!!!!!
YEEE-HAWWWWWWW!!!
so, if you can do anything ya wanna do, umm, are ya gonna turn off yer lights and lock the door tonight??? snicker snicker
seriously, T, thats great news! i`m really happy and PTL everything is downhill for ya now!
heheheh, Leigh Ann, sure don't need to turn the lights off for .....oh, hi everybody, guess ya do need to lock the door, tho. It's funny, when I told DH what the Dr. said, he just laughed and said, "I guess I should have warned him that you always do what you want, anyway." (whenever I ask for his advice, or if he thinks I should do something, he says, "might as well say yes, you'll do what ya want anyway." And to be honest, I lost track of the walker almost three weeks ago, and have been driving for a few weeks too. But now I'm legal!!
T
;) ;)
Well, I went to the pool today, and it felt just delicious to get into that nice warm water. I did all the exercises, but modified some that seemed like a bit too much stress on my knee. On my way home, I thought to myself, that I should get a few things done right away as soon as I got there, so that I'd be able to relax on the couch and recover from all the activity, and wait for the pain to hit. The first thing that happened when I got there was to spill a very large glass of RC Cola on the kitchen floor, and while trying to make sure it was cleaned up thoroughly Lil Spanky got ahold of the paper towels and shredded some all over the living room and dining room. After I mopped the floor, I got out the vacuum, and took care of that mess, then decided to throw a load of towels into the washer and dryer (downstairs), got a venison roast started , made some biscuits and mashed potatoes. (not in that order) After dinner I went down and did another load of laundry, did the dishes and then settled down to watch the sad episode of John Ritter's show. All of a sudden I realised that i never did lay down, or take any tylenol for pain.
Just thought I'd share.
Whooo Hoooo!!
T
;)
Sounds like you were over doing it just a bit. Please don't injure it any more.
We follow "8 simple rules...." and last night was a tear jerker. It was very hard since it was always such a funny show - don't know if it will make it without John Ritter. I hadn't seen James Garner in such a long time - he has changed. I had heard that he may be there as a regular, but it just won't be the same.
It was a tearjerker. I have always watched the show, too. Even tho I've been a fan of John Ritter, I was really impressed right from the beginning wih the strength of the rest of the cast. He was definitely the 'star', but none of the rest really was overshadowed by him. (yet another testament to his skill as an actor, to let everyone shine) I truely hope that this show does survive, the best reality show of all!!
T
;)
I could see my DD's with the same attitudes and problems and reactions -- both fit into the same character's on the show. It was just so real in this day and age without being a "REALITY SHOW"
Toni, you are on the way back to mobility ! Way to go. :S Nancy has a good point. Do be careful not to over do. I know how hard it is once you start feeling good again, to not keep going like the energizer bunny.
I still get lectures from my chiro to not go to nuts overdoing heavy physical tasks....But doc, someone had to load all that firewood for the weekend in the van ;)
Okay, I really wasn't going to admit this, but I guess if I do, it will be a lesson for someone else, too. Today I ache all over. It isn't bad, not even enough to take Tylenol for, but just a result of not having used soooo many body parts for soooo long. It hasn't kept me from doing anything today, just doing it a bit slower. But, I am going back tomorrow to do it all over again.
T
;)
hey glad you are back in the fight, T! btw, i have been on the Atkins diet since aug.1, so far as yesterday have lost 26#! feel sooo much better, am goin for another 20. this is definately the best diet i have ever been on, i am not hungry and have energy to boot. i realize its not for everyone, but for me, it works and ya cant argue with success. best part is, DH has begun it as of 2 weeks ago, he has lost 6 # so far, but i think he may have cheated on the induction phase. next summer when you see us at the beach, we will both be bootylicious hahahah
Somehow I became the originator of this topic. Of all things.....me and healthy eating! LOL
Now, I noticed that the replies abruptly ended on November 6th. So, for all of you who rolled off the wagon, it's time to get back on before xmas! And, to my little sis Toni, just tell our brother to send those Entemann's cakes my way! (I'll suffer by eating the bad stuff & tell everyone how bad it tastes). ;)
Al, I have some leftover Apple Pie and Sweet Potato Pie from Saturday night's dinner party with the Bluegrass band and their wives. Would that help you out?:D
Well, I have to come clean, and admit to everyone that I have been a baaaad, baaaaad girl. That's why you haven't seen me here in such a long time. But, I am determined to make a new start, and to give it my best effort. So, soon you'll be hearing from me again. (And Al, I keep telling you, no more Entemannes (sp) donuts and cakes!!
T
;)