Hot Mamas - Team 9 - Feb 1

[HavingHope]

Good Morning Hot Mamas

It's a brand new month, a new time to shine and kick some more fat cells to the gutter!!

There will be some new challenges posted sometime soon, and I'll post them in this thread when I see them.

I asked everyone to challenge themselves this month in an area of weight loss that they are struggling in and set a goal for the month. My main area is portion control and eating too many calories. My goal is to stay below 1800 calories eaten a day. Since I'm not expecting perfection, my goal will be to do this with one higher day a week allowed if I feel the need. I will stay accountable by posting here. If I can do this I will need to think of some reward for myself

Have a great LC day!

[bettyee]

Good afternoon, you hotties!

Brrr, it's cold! It's just above freezing and has rained for 4-5 days. It's supposed to drop below freezing tonight so that'll mean icy roads. I've got a really bad narrow, hilly, curvy, not much travelled road to navigate in the morning so wish me luck.

Sorry to say, but for supper all I wanted was a big bowl of hot soup and since I still haven't gotten to the store I had to use what I could scrounge up without having to thaw anything big from the freezer. I found enough little frozen packages of meat leftovers to throw in a pot, some watered down spaghetti sauce from something, and then came the bad stuff; 3 cans of beans (pinto type but there's no more in the pantry) and a can of creamed corn to make it stretch (just one more corn in the pantry). Yo, Betty, you must to remember to thaw stuff the day before!!!

B - 2 sausage, 2 eggs
L - pepperoni, lc yogurt
D - 2 cups bean/meat soup

Betty

[pawleys14]

Hi Hot Mamas

My challenge for the month of February- not to snack at night. That seems to be my hardest challenge..... I tend to get hungry during the evenings... it could be that I am not busy enough. I get home from work and I am tired..... and I turn around and I want food......

so I will try to NOT snack.... just jello and cool whip if I need a little something.....

diana

[HavingHope]

Happy Hump Day Hot Mamas

Here's what I ate yesterday-
B - eggs
L - steak, celery, flaxseed muffin
S - cauliflower soup, salmon patty, a few bites of hamburger while cooking for my family (that is a BAD habit, snacking on the meat while cooking)
Sn - sunflower seeds, pepperoni
Cals - 1771
Carbs - 19

Exercise was 25 min cardio and 10 min flexibility stretching.
Water was 140 oz.

Diana - I really struggle with the night time eating too. That's when I can pack on the calories for the day by snacking. Last night I had some hot tea sweetened with some DaVincis and it helped. Good luck on your goal!!

Betty - get to the store girl!! I have to go several times a week here since my family goes through bread like crazy - they probably eat 6 loaves a week I hope you don't have icy roads, they are the pits!

Hi Misty and Lisa - I hope your week is going good

Lisa - I still need your measurements from the start of the challenge and from the 31st. Please post them here or send me a PM. Thanks!

Have a great LC day

[HavingHope]

February Challenge

Everyone please read The newest ones for the month are toward the bottom.

Here we go!!!
EXERCISE

Less than 500 minutes exercise/month = -100 points
501-599 minutes of exercise/month = 35 points (avg 17 min/day)
600-749 minutes of exercise/month = 40 points (avg 20 min/day)
750-999 minutes of exercise/month = 50 points (avg 25 min/day)
1000-1149 minutes of exercise/month = 65 points (avg 33 min/day)
1150-1249 minutes of exercise/month = 80 points (avg 38 min/day)
1250-1499 minutes of exercise/month = 95 points (avg 42 min/day)
1500+ minutes of exercise per month = 120 points (avg 50 min/day)

EXERCISE is defined as: a steady paced walk increasing heart rate, jogging, exercise videos, biking, gym workout in any form (aerobically or with weights).

EXERCISE is NOT: walking around the grocery store shopping for Mary Kitchen Hash and Ladies Speed Stick, shopping at the mall, arm wrestling, vacuuming, or any other related activity. You get the point here kids.

WEIGHT LOSS

Any weight GAIN = -5 points
1-4lbs lost per month = 4 points
5lbs lost per month = 5 points
6lbs lost per month = 6 points
7lbs lost per month = 7 points
8lbs lost per month = 8 points
9lbs lost per month = 9 points
10lbs lost per month = 10 points
11lbs lost per month = 11 points
12lbs lost per month = 12 points
13lbs lost per month = 13 points
14lbs lost per month = 14 points
15+lbs lost per month = 45 points


WATER (only WATER counts! – i.e. not tea, soda, etc) consumption per month (in ounces)

1983 ounces or less = -100 points (avg less than 64 oz/day)
1984-3100 ounces = 35 points (avg 64-100 oz/day)
3101-4340 ounces = 85 points (avg 101-140 oz/day)
4341+ ounces = 150 points (avg 141oz+/day)


MEASUREMENTS – INCHES LOST

HALF-Inches lost per month ((total ONLY from waist and hips (same for both men and women)) You are encouraged to measure more body parts for your own records but just the waist and hips will count during this challenge:

Add 10 points for every HALF-inch you lose (measured monthly) – add hips and waist together for a combined total. If you choose to measure every three months, you will have to be on an individual challenge – only. All team members are expected to measure and report their results on the last day of the month. (permanent challenge)

Deduct 20 points for every HALF-inch you gain from the prior month.


Further Additions and Deductions:

Deduct 1 point for every can of diet pop that is not made with the Splenda Sweetner or another Atkins-approved sweetner. Example, saccharine is not good. (Even if it doesn’t stall you). (permanent challenge) (hint: drink Diet Rite)

Deduct 1 point for every 12oz. you drink that is not caffeine free. (permanent challenge)

Deduct 30 points for going over YOUR monthly carb intake goal at all! (permanent challenge)

Deduct 100 points for NOT reporting your stats on the 15th and last day of month. (permanent challenge)

Make a progression model of yourself using the following link. Begin with your current weight and allow the pictures to progress to your “goal weight”. I suggest creating about ten pictures (models) that show a gradual decrease in weight. This will be a visual reminder of what path you are following. Do this by February 10th, and add 100 points. If you chose NOT to do this, deduct no points, and add no points. For those of you who may not be able to create a model due to your current weight, create a progression model within the weight limit allowed by the site – to your goal weight.
http://www.myvirtualmodel.com/mvmhome/jsp/home.jsp?

Carb goal. This is different than January’s carb intake rules. For FEBRUARY, you create a DAILY carb intake goal that you may NOT exceed. For example, Floyd Pink has a daily carb intake goal of 20 grams and he only eats 14 for the day. The following day, he is NOT allowed to eat 26 but instead, only his daily maximum carb intake goal of 20. IF his number (20) is exceeded by ANY amount, you must do any one of the following “penances”:
· Do 50 pushups that will NOT count towards your exercise for the day. –or-
· Listen to a song called “I’m Not Okay” by a band called “My Chemical Romance”. This sort of describes how carbs make you feel. Pretty easy but definetly a good reminder. A fun way of reminding yourself of evil carbs! There are many music websites on the internet. You have a choice this way….
Bottom line is - If you don't play the card, you won't get burned. I.E. stay at or under your daily carb goal. If you DO go over your daily carb goal and do either "penance", or simply stay under your daily carb goal, add 55 points.

Increased exercise goal: Increase your exercise amount from January’s amount by at LEAST 10% and add 40 points. For example, Dink Winkerson did 1000 minutes of exercise for January. In order to get these points, Dink would need to do at least 1100 for the points – not to mention that he may have been able to get himself into the higher exercise points bracket.

[HavingHope]

Good Morning Team

The new challenges look good. I'm definitely going to go for them. I think the penanace one is a hoot I like how this challenge is really making me try harder every day.

Yesterday:
B - eggs
L - salmon patty, lettuce salad, flaxseed muffin
S - chicken breast, broccoli w/cheese
Sn - sunflower seeds, pepperoni
Total Cals - 1782
Carbs - 24
Exercise - 30 min cardio and 30 min stability ball video
Water - 140 oz

Our weather here has been incredible! Today it will be sunny and close to 60 - woo-hoo!!

Have a good day Hot Mamas

[HavingHope]

Good Morning TGIF

I just LOVE talking to myself in here

Yesterday's stats:
B - eggs
L - steak, celery, flaxseed muffin
Snack before lifting - 1/2 apple with 1/2 T of peanut butter
S - salmon patties, cauliflower soup
Sn - sunflower seeds, pepperoni
Calories - 1780
Carbs - 28
Exercise - 20 min cardio, 35 min weight lifting
Water - 150 oz

Lowering the calories is really going good so far. My appetite is down and I'm not craving anything at all. I can even look at the chips on the counter and not want to dive in. I feel hormonally balanced this week and everything is going well. It also seems to help me to do 2 workouts a day. It helps keep me focused on my weight loss goal and not just want to reward myself with food for another day done. I love it when it goes so smoothly.

Today is Friday and this is my usual pig out day. It is all in my head and I know how I get - wanting to celebrate the weekend with food. I'm going to treat this just like every other day and I hope my head gets it!

I miss you guys!!

Have a great LC Friday!

[pawleys14]

Hi Hot Mamas

Sorry that I have not checked in for a few days.... just been busy... at workand home.

Mary keep up the good work....

Oh, I love the new challenges.... I did my virtual model... and I so want to look like my "goal" weight... this is a very good idea... maybe I will put my starting weight photo and then my goal weight photo in my kitchen and that will keep me from eating

I have a busy week-end... cleaning house and working on event for our Red Hat chapter.......so maybe I just will not have time to eat

Will be going to my water aerobics class tomorrow at 8am.... love that class....

got to go..... goodnight... diana

[bettyee]

That carb challenge thing is stupid, imo. Good grief, then my goal is not to go over 158,284,001 carbs per day. There's no way I'm going to go out and buy some ridiculous song by someone I've never heard of. We are adults and know what we have to do. That may sound snippy, but too bad. I'm in this for the long haul, but I'm not going to waste my time and hard earned money on movies or songs that I can't find around here anyway.

Now, back to what I joined this challenge for ----

Sorry, ladies, I haven't had time to post the last few days. Work has been rough and I've been having to deal after hours with problems a coworker is causing. The last couple nights we've not gotten home until after 11. I've even neglected my fitday.com stats. I think I've done ok, but the scale is just hanging around 270 still. I must slow down and concentrate on the numbers this weekend.

Hope all is well with y'all. Gotta go because dd wants a driving lesson. EVERYONE OFF THE ROADS!!!

Betty

[HavingHope]

Good Morning

I made my model progression this morning. I did it for every 10 pounds from my start weight until my goal weight. The models all looked the same at the top weight, so it must only go so high. They also didn't change for every 10 pounds, only for every 20 pounds, so I only got 4 different images. But it does give a good visual of what I might look like, after adding in my sagging tummy and flappy arm skin



I went over my calorie goal last night, but I am giving myself a little leeway once a week so I'm not too bummed, and the scale didn't show any gain. I am right back on track today.

Diana and Betty - thank you for posting!! I thought everyone had deserted me. Have a great weekend

Betty - I think the carb deal helps keep you honest - but yeah, anyone could have a really high carb amount and then never even risk going over. My goal is 40 carbs, so it's higher than lots of others. I don't think you have to buy the song, I think you can download it online. I actually thought the idea of doing penance was a hoot! It's something I would do to myself I think all the stuff keeps the challenge interesting. I hope your long hours end soon, and have fun with the driving lesson I could never drive with DS it stressed me out too much. I always made DH drive with him.

I am cleaning and doing laundry today too. Also grocery shopping for the week. I usually make a bunch of food for the Super Bowl, but I am scaling down this year and just making chili dogs and chips for the family.

We are having one more nice day here before the cold comes back, so I'm going to get out and enjoy it.

Well, I gotta go clean some more. Have a great weekend everyone!

[pawleys14]

Hey everyone.....

Bettylee - good luck riding with your DD - I remember when I had to do that with my two sons..... I was a nervous wreck...

I am really upset with myself... yes for just losing 7 pounds last month... I know that I can do better than that.....

I really need to watch every bite that goes into my mouth... and to really up working out........

I have been soooo good today egg and bacon for breakfast
at lunch had those tuna patties...(I really do like those.) and I put down 60 oz... have to get the rest of my water down....
we are going to Outback in just a few.... will have salad, veg and chicken..... will pass up the bread and potatoes....but I never really have been a potatoe eater... but I do like the homemade little loaves of bread... I am not a white bread eater... hate that stuff.... so it should not be sooo bad........

Well, I have to fly.... good luch everyone....

diana

[HavingHope]

Happy Sunday

I'm done with my first exercise installment for the day. I did 32 min of Crunch Pilates Burn. I am really liking that DVD, the instructor does a good job cueing and the pace is good for me. I'll lift weights this afternoon.

I'm going to try and get to the 140 oz water point level this month. The first few days of the month I drank 140 oz so I'm thinking I can do this if I try. It's not a problem on weekdays, but on weekends I don't like to drink that much since when I am going places I don't like peeing every 1/2 hour. But I figure if I can get a cushion on the weekdays then on the weekends I can go lower. But yesterday I drank 140 oz and it was tough getting that down!!

Food was good yesterday - right at 1800 cals, 15 carbs, 140 oz water, and 15 min of exercise (besides cleaning for an hour).

The weather got cold again but at least the snow is not suppose to come now - that's if they got the forcast right.

I'm making chili and a lc cheesecake later. I have a new recipe for the cheesecake I'm going to try. I hope it turns out good. It's for my 49th Bday tomorrow!

Diana - wow, you are upset for losing 7 pounds?? I would LOVE to lose 7. I think 7 is GREAT!! But I know everyone loses at a different rate, and if you can go faster good for you!! How was the Outback? I don't like white bread very much either, but fresh bread is so yummy! I hardly ever use my bread machine anymore since the aroma of the bread is too much to handle. I have tried several lc bread machine recipes and they never turned out right, but I might try one again sometime. They don't sell LC bread here.

Hi Betty, Lisa, and Misty!!

Have a great LC Sunday!

[pawleys14]

Hi everyone...

Mary - the Outback was great..... had lobster, salad and mixed vegs.... was great........also had a diet coke... but from now on I will be ordering just water..... just hate to spend $2.00 on soda..

So I had only 15 grams on Saturday.... and went to my water aerobics for one hour..... today I have done well also..... and went to the health center and did 30 min. of water aerobics myself..... will try to do my walking tape this evening...

I just want to lost this darn weight sooo bad... for my health reasons and also just so I will feel better about myself......

This summer we again rented a beach house for a week and both my sons and their wifes are coming down... so I do NOT want to look like a beached whale again this year...

So I have 14 weeks to get on the ball and get this darn #%*@# weight off

But it is sooo hard... skinny people just do not know how hard it is.... there is one girl at work... she is 24 and tiny like a size 4 and she eats ALL the time... candy, cookies, donuts.... whew....... well maybe it will all catch up to her..... but it just is not fair..... I try sooo hard and then I may eat a candy or something and will gain

So, I am on a quest and that is to lose this weight and let my dear wonderful two sons...see me skinny or at least smaller than they have seen me in a number of years..... they are sooo supportive..... I love them soooo much........ and I want to be around for them a long time.

Well, everyone have a great evening... and have a super week....

love ya diana

[mistydawn78]

Hello ladies....

Hope everyone is doing well. I'm doing good..just freezing! Anyone watch the Super bowl tonight? it was such a good game. So glad the Patriots won!!!

Well, I FINALLY got my house completely unpacked and put away....whew, what a job. If I ever move again, I'm leaving everything and starting over

I seem to be in a stall, have'nt lost anything and now it's that TOM. I have kicked up my workouts though so maybe that will help. Well, I am exhausted, talk to ya all later...take care

[bettyee]

Good morning, ladies!

Mary - I did the model thing a couple years ago and it doesn't work for our sizes. The model doesn't change shape until way down. Of course that might be reality because I really don't see much change in my shape even after 50 lbs., but dh does! Your meals always look so yummy.

Diana - 7 lbs. is nothing to get upset about. Hey, you're going in the right direction, girl friend! Ack, those skinny little things who can eat a house and not gain an ounce only serve to convince me that all calories are not equal.

Lisa - Long time no hear from. How's it going?

Misty - Glad your house is in order. Even though it's fun decorating a new house, it's frustrating having to unpack everything.

Well, we had an interesting weekend. Dh took dd on her driving lesson and for some stupid reason took her down a back road --- hello, we've had nothing but rain for days and days and days. They got stuck up to the axle and had to call me to come get them. It was two hours of digging to get them out of the mud (hey, that's a week's worth of exercise!) Dd lost her shoes and socks in the sticky muck and they had to pull me out when I sank to my knees. Being a country boy, you'd think dh had more sense than take her down there. Ugh, it smelled like dead fish and sewer and it's still all over our vehicles inside and out, and I got the wonderful task of washing our clothes and floor after finally getting home. And that was just the beginning of the weekend -- now to get ready to go to work with a problem coworker.

[lisap36]

Hi everybody. Sorry for not posting. I just have been kinda down in the dumps. No LC worries though. Finally Mary (so that's your "real" name!), my waist is 44 and my hips are 57. I went to the doctor for my diabetes and it's stressing me out. I don't want to have to change my WOE. My A1C was 12.5 and it should be 6, so they will be sending me to a Nutritionist.

Anyway, I'm glad to hear everyone's going, going, going! I'll be back to my once a day now, I have to. See ya later!

Oh, Mary how'd you past those virtual models?

[HavingHope]

Good Morning Hot Mamas!

It's great to hear from all of you

Lisa - man, I know all about high numbers. My numbers are INCREDIBLY better when I eat LC. Are you on meds? I had to cringe when you said you were going to a Nutritionalist. I have gone to 2 and the last one I saw I was hoping would give me some low carb pointers, but all they have every told me is to eat low fat and have 160 carbs a day. I have tried that and it has never worked to bring my blood sugar under control and I have so many craving and binges when I eat that way. Hang in there Lisa you can bring that number down.
Oh, I pasted the models using my paint shop pro program. I can capture any image on my computer with that program. I love it!

Betty - getting stuck in the mud what a story!! It sounds like something my DH would do. I hope your coworker problems are getting resolved.

Misty - Hey, I watched the first half of the game and the halftime show. I loved Paul!! I felt old having to explain who he was to my son's friends who were watching the game at my house. Woo- hoo getting all the unpacking done - that is such a huge job! Maybe when TOM leaves he'll take a few pounds with him

Diana - the lobster sounds so good!! I'm with you about wanting to enjoy the beach without looking like a beached whale. I want that too!! We live near a nice beach on the river and we also go up to a lake in the summer and I would love to be in better shape by then too. We can do this!!

I had a great Bday yesterday - the kids and DH have all been so nice!! The cheesecake that I made turned out inedible, so I caved and had a brownie that my coworker made for me. But it's back to counting calories today.

Gotta go exercise. Have a great LC day

[bettyee]

HaPpY BiRtHdAy, MaRy!!!

You're 17 years young now, right?

Still haven't slowed down to keep up with things here or fitday. Crazy days at work and the kids so I'm falling asleep at 8 pm. My schedule is so messed up that I'm waking in the middle of the night and then I'm tired all day. Gotta get it straightened out somehow.

So far, 1 egg and 3 bacon this morning. Going on a field trip today with the class so will be taking the usual pepperoni but with cheese sticks for lunch.

[pawleys14]

HI Mary and
Sorry that I have not signed on... been a crazy week so far
Tues. one girl was out sick and another was with her MIL for a heart operation(she is oh) so it was just Doris and myself..... whew what a day

Lisa... good luck with your blood sugar numbers... I know... it is hard to get those numbers down..... I am working hard on that...

Went back to the eye dr...... said that my left eye was doing better.... still a tad swollen... may not get all the way better.... he wants to see me in May....... I really do have trouble seeing with my left eye... my right eye really sees for the left... I just have gotten used to that.....

Have been busy with out community... Lowes (Big Box ) store wants to build a store in our wonderful Pawleys... and the community does not want it...... lots of fighting going on...... they want to destroy some lovely woods..... they are just going to pave over the whole world... and nothing will be left.... the Big Box store would be almost in our back yard.... they want to build here because this is where the money is.......

Also, been busy with the Red Hats... our chapter is planning three large events for the next six months... so I have been busy......

so I have not been able to go to my water aerobics class the last few evenings... and I have been sooo tired that I did not do my walking tape...... will pledge to do better

Bettylee... sounds like you have a most exciting day with your dd.... I have a experience with my youngest son... he was in my brand new car.... and had to miss a deer and went into at muddy ditch... and once I knew that he was ok..... I was livid about my darling new car.... but it was ok......... kids...... you just have to love them... if not you go insane....

Everyone have a great day tomorrow..... love ya diana

[HavingHope]

Hi Hot Mamas

Thanks for the Bday wishes!

Sorry I haven't been here much lately, but I have the flu. I'm so tired, achey and feverish all I want to do is sleep. DS and DH both have strep throat, so they are home with me too.

Diana - I think it is so sad that everyone wants to pave over the whole world. It's like that here too, even our own state park people want to have everything manicured like a city park - they go around destroying habitat all the time. I hope you can save your trees.

Take care everyone!

[lisap36]

Morning Hot Mamas! Man, everyone's either really busy or sick! This are floating along for me right now. Drank more water yesterday and I'm heading in the right direction at the moment. That virtual body thing is cool! Something to look forward to.

So far I've had 33 oz water and one Atkins bar. See ya later.

Oh! I almost forgot:

[bettyee]

Mary - ~*~*~ good vibes ~*~*~ so you get over your illnesses. We're all hacking and sneezing here because the weather has been so nasty. I probably caught something bad today because I played a few kids' instruments in band.

Diana - Sorta good and bad news about your eyes. Wish we could zap them back to 20/20. I know what you mean, I used to hardly pass a soul on the road into town but now there's traffic. Everyone is moving out of the city and invading our nice quiet countryside, ugh.

Lisa - Hey, like your picture! I know I've never met you, but you have one of those familiar-looking faces. Like a neighbor or someone.

Whew, it's been busy here. Yesterday, I went to get our vans for the field trip and the bus barn had scheduled us for the wrong day and it went down hill from there. The field trip was ok, but it's a good thing I went straight to the band hall when we got back because they hadn't gotten any subs and all the band directors were at their annual meetings. Whenever they're out I try to help the subs so it was just me and a volunteer. Of course, the kids were passing off their contest music so he and I had to work in the practice rooms and just let the other 70 hooligans run wild in the band hall unsupervised!!! Odd thing, they acted better yesterday without subs than today when there were 2 subs. I stayed after school to listen to a few more, but we're so far behind that we'll have to do more pass offs tomorrow and still may not finish.

The school Valentine Dance is tomorrow night so dd's friend is spending the night but they want to meet their guy friends (friends who are guys, not boyfriends) there so they can save a $1 - hey that dollar will buy gum! Dd said it was ok if I chaperone but I haven't had time to sign up. Then they all have to be up before the crack of dawn to go on an out of town field trip and won't be back until late Saturday. Her teacher asked, but there's no way I'm going on that trip! And then she wants to have the guy friends over on Sunday. Whew, I keep reminding myself to enjoy it now, lol.

Betty