New Maintainers - Week of 6/8

[JuliaL]

Good morning everyone! Since Anne posted a photo of herself in her bathing suit I thought I would do the same. I don't really like this picture, but do we ever like photos of ourselves? I sure like them a lot better now than I did before this woe!



I still have a ways to go, but I'm working on it...

Yesterday I made Linda Sue's Chicken and Broccoli Casserole for my lunches this week, then after I made it I put it into Fitday and discovered it has almost 600 calories per serving . Well of course I'm still going to eat it, but this week will really test the theory of whether its calories or carbs that cause me to gain. I've seen some posters (Dana1114 for example) say that its the macronutrient mix, not the calories, but ever since I hit the 30 lbs. lost mark I've watched calories as well as carbs.

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoyed the weekend!

Julia

[kbgardengirl]

I'm getting really brave here but since Granny and Julia have exposed it all I guess I can too. So taking a deep breath and here it goes. Now don't laugh.

[JONAH'S GRANNY]

Hey, you are looking wonderful. I've been looking for that picture everyday. What do you mean by you have a way to go? Looks to me like you have ARRIVED Congratulations on looking so good. What does DH think of you in that suit? I bet he is one proud husband.

I'm with you on the calories thing. So many of the good recipes are loaded with calories and I will not prepare them for that reason. Calories now scare me about as much as carbs do. Even many of the desserts call for so much heavy cream that I am totally afraid of them. I think that is the reason I'm so hooked on Zcarb bars. They satisfy my sweet tooth without a heck of a lot of calories. How about some of you other posters?

Hope everyone did have a nice weekend. Mine was busy, and I did not drink my water like I should. I'm feeling it today with a bloated feeling. I just got to busy to stop and drink it; didn't even take my supplements. Bad Ann.

[JONAH'S GRANNY]

Oh gosh, there you are Karen. Looking good girl! I bet you got one super proud husband too. Congratulations.

NEXT, NEXT!!

Who says us ladies of middle age can't look good?

[JuliaL]

Thanks, Ann

Karen - you look wonderful!! We're a bunch of great-looking old broads, aren't we? Now you younger ladies out there need to post yours too!

[kbgardengirl]

We certainly can't go back to the days of our youth when our bodies were firm and we had the glow of youth but we can make the most of what we have left. Yes, we are a group of great looking ladies. I wouldn't even put on a bathing suit let along take a picture of me in it last year at this time. As for my husband, he doesn't have much to say about my weightloss. He isn't one who hands out the compliments. Would be nice though, to ocassionally here "you look great" from him. He's only told me once in the past year he was proud of me. That was it.
Since all of the talk on the news and in magazines of the obesity epidemic I have become even more aware of the number of people around me that would be classified as morbidly obese. The thought goes through my head about how close I had come to being in that group. Thank heavens I found the Atkins WOE. I see these people and I really would like to let them all in on my secret but I realize that they too have to come to that decision on there own. My hus band and I went out to eat Saturday night at J. Alexander's, an upper end restaurant. It's no wonder there is so much obesity out there. There portions are huge and when you are paying good money of course you won't leave it on your plate and if you aren't going straight home you can't take it with you. I ordered the 12 oz. prime rib (the smallest size by the way) and replaced the smashed potatoes with sugar snap peas and a salad. The salad was a meal in itself. A dinner plate full with all kinds of goodies. I only ate half the salad and as for the rest of the meal I ate until I was more than satisfied and took the rest home. There was enough left over for my husband and I both to share for lunch the next day. He had the smashed potatoes and I know there was at least 3 cups in that mountain on his plate. Now the reason behind these huge portions when the restaurant management knows that the portions are far too large. They can make more money. They charge, for example, 24.95. They dont care if they have to throw half of it away or that they have to box up leftovers. They can only serve so many people in an evening no matter what size the portions. But they would also have to charge less for the smaller size dinners. So they can make the most by charging more, huge portions to make you feel you are getting your money's worth and still serve the same amount of people. The buttom line is profits. Yes, it's your responsibility to control your own eating but they sure make it harder to make responsible decisions. Especially if you were bought up to clean up your plate before leaving the table.

[JuliaL]

I honestly don't think I would want to go back to the days of my youth even if it did mean I would have a firmer body. I am really enjoying my life now. That's not to say that I don't have problems, but I'm happy with where I am in life and wouldn't want to go back.

Sorry your DH isn't more verbal about his appreciation of you. I know how you feel. My DH has given me a few compliments since I lost the weight, but he's also made some comments that hurt my feelings. For example one day he told me that before I lost the weight I had "gotten really huge", and another time he said he remembered the days when we would eat at a fast food place and I got mad at him for stealing my french fries. I reminded him that it was still me in there, and that it hurt my feelings for him to say those things.

I think you're right about the restaurant servings too. It does make it hard to control your portions when you know you're paying for the food and they bring these huge plates full. I've learned that in most restaurants if I order an entree that has a meat and veggie then I don't order the salad - its just too much.

[jvryden]

Karen, I LOVE J. Alexanders. It was my favorite restaurant pre-lc. I haven't been there since strarting this WOE, although there are plenty of legal choices (not my favs though). The strange thing is, their portions have gotten smaller since they opened in our town! My friend used to be a trainer/server there and she would get food comps and treat us to dinner all the time. Those were the days!

I haven't posted pics yet. I don't have a digital camera or a scanner...although I suppose I have access to them since everyone else I know does! I'll have to figure out how to do that. You guys are looking great, btw!

[romecat]

Hi all!

Thanks for the welcome!

I guess I am not as scared of carbs as some people. Right after reaching goal we went to DH's gmother's in PA and I had some pie and a few bites of potatoes I was fine though. Ate more pie than I should have, but no damage done.

Yesterday one of our dogs died and DH was depressed and wanted to go to golden corral. I ate a whole sweet potato and some sugar free (but not listed as low carb) dessert. Of course that was in addition to veggies and protein. I probably had more than I should have there too, but didn't trigger a binge or cravings or anything so I won't worry.

Jamie, your stats are almost identical to mine. Including start date and lcfs registration date! Pretty amazing change in a year huh?

Jeannie, that is wonderful about the staff at the buffet. Now, if only your 'intervention plotting' friends had have been there to watch you eat. Sigh, oh well! Congrats on doing so well!

Dang you women look great!!!!!! I would say that you are all brave to post your pictures, but really, when you look that good . . .

I can't find my battery recharger I'll finally post an avatar when I do though

Hope everyone is doing well!!

[Loretta V]

Boy you gals are looking just great. Nice photos.
Thanks for posting them.

Interesting reading about the calories. I have given up pork rinds (which I ate about 3x a week) and am slowly losing and am a little under my goal weight now. Have also learned to drink my coffee black instead of using skim milk. Guess it does all add up.

[ginabw]

Julia and Karen, you girls look great! Your husbands will be beating back the boys at the beach this summer! I will try to get a picture up tomorrow or the next. It is a great feeling to think back to last summer when I didn't want anyone to see me in a bathing suit and now I don't care if the whole world sees me!
I have been doing OK foodwise, but my husband came back from Italy on Saturday evening and he brought home two containers of the specialty buffalo mozzarella cheese that I have been trying to plow through before it goes bad (would definitely be a sin to waste it). Each container had 4 balls, I am down to 3 left. I think it is fairly low in carbs, but the label was faded and hard to read.

[sugarless4life]

You guys look great!!

Here's me!



Betty

[Jamie]

Hi to all!

You are a bunch of hot mamas! When I figure out how to post pics I will be daring and post a bathing suit pic too.

Very busy this week getting ready for DH's surprise graduation party.

Romecat: Yes, our stats are the same.....except..... I am a puny 5'3 and a half

The problem I'm having with my DH is that he thinks I'm too thin...he likes heavier women. As you can see from my statement above I certainly am not a skinny Minnie. He tells me that he is happy for me as he knows that I am happy and have wanted this for a long time but he is having trouble getting used to it. Oh well...not going to gain it back again.

Take care everyone!
Jamie

[akmd65]

wow. you all look fan-freekin-tastic!!!!

my friends are still driving me nuts about me having an eating disorder. my one friend (who has cheated since day one) had the nerve to say to me that i must have a problem to have lost so much weight because she hasnt lost that much. ugh. i almost got nasty, but my kids were there so i told her to knock it off. i did leave a friends party after the one friend kept asking me to eat, when i said we just had lunch she started grilling me. so i grabbed the kids and left. im seriously considering running away! anyway....a girl i work with asked me if i was done losing weight. i said yep, im just maintaining. she said good, dont lose anymore, you are almost too thin. ok, im 5'8 and weight 144. that is NOT too thin. i went to my doctor and asked if at my height and weight was i considered "normal" or what. the doctor said i am smack dab in the middle of healthy on the chart. so why is everyone saying i look too thin??? i wish i had a scanner so i could post a picture to get y'alls opinion. but i have to tell you, i am not a freeking stick figure. i have jiggy parts, and i feel i look average sized. im not thin, i am a large boned person so i have always carried my weight well. i dont have bones popping out anywhere and....grrrrr. ok, im sorry for the rant. i just am so tired of being treated like im withering away. ive never been this healthy and to be honest my feelings are crushed right now. i really overate dinner tonight, and i know it was because of stress. im going to do a tae-bo tape and try to work out my anger.

julia, the firm tapes that you do...do you feel they are worth the $60? that includes the bar and step thing, plus the tape. target does have just the tape for about 15 bucks. should i get the whole package, or just get a tape?

sorry this is soooooo long!

[JONAH'S GRANNY]

Well, Sugarless you honestly have the body of a teenager. I wouldn't dare wear a two piece; I've still got too much flab in the middle but you look sooooo good. All you ladies are gorgeous.

Your turn next: dg, gina, romecat, jv, akmd, loretta, anyone else that would like to join us in the swimsuit parade.

[sugarless4life]

Well, Sugarless you honestly have the body of a teenager.

Thank you!

Betty

[kbgardengirl]

Jeannie -
I am only 5' 3.5" and weigh 137. Not much below you and I still get these comments. I guess we have to accept the fact that there will always be someone who thinks we're too skinny.

[jvryden]

Wow Betty! You look great! I don't think I could wear a bikini like that either. My abs are certainly not that flat, but also the stretch marks and extra skin below the belly button that I have is not a pretty sight, lol.

My friends haven't given me much grief on being too thin. They ask me on occasion if I'm still losing weight and they are cool with the fact that I'm just maintaining now. I think they are used to seeing me THIS way and not when I was overweight since it was a problem I just acquired with having babies. I feel like I'm back to myself now. My metabolism changed though after having my two babies and I can't go back to eating "normal." My friends have also seen me eating a LOT so they know I don't starve myself! I hope things get better for you, Jeannie. How frustrating!

[JuliaL]

Woo hoo Betty - you look fabulous!! I'd kill to have a tummy as flat as yours!

Jeannie - I think you need to find a new crowd. Maybe one that is not overweight and judgemental about others who have been successful in losing it. Sorry to be harsh, but these people really sound rude to me! I guess some people actually think they're complimenting you when they tell you not to lose any more or that you're too skinny, but when you were overweight did they ever tell you you were too fat and needed to go on a diet?

Yes, I do think The Firm is worth the money. I've tried a lot of different video workouts and it is my favorite. IMO, the fanny lifter is the most important piece of equipment to buy. If you don't want to buy the whole set, then buy the fanny lifter and use a broomstick or something for the sculpting stick. You'll also need some dumbells.

Good luck.

Keep those bathing beauty shots comin', girls!

Julia

[Bonnie]

Wow! The bathing suit pictures are amazing! I may have to go buy a suit and post one of me!

I'm doing much better on the drinking my water thing, but the weather is warming up too.

My dh hasn't really made comments about my weight that hurt my feelings. He did say I carried all my weight in my butt (which now he thinks my butt is too small) but he said it didn't make him love me any less. I was the same size I am now when we met, so I'm kind of amazed he didn't say anything as I kept gettting bigger and bigger over the past 8 years. I find it hard to believe I gained over 90 lbs in 8 years, but I did!

Have a great rest of the day!

[ginabw]

OK, I think I have this figured out.
First pic is me last summer at about 155 (looks more like 200, huh?). Bathing suit pic is of me today, 124.
I still can't wear a two piece, too much loose skin!

[ginabw]

Jeannie,
I am 5 ft 8 in and 124, and you can tell by the pic above that I am not too thin either! I haven't been getting those comments though, most people have been very supportive, although I haven't been able to convert anyone else. Luckily for me my DH has been very supportive. The only time he ever said anything that kind of upset me was after I made goal I asked him if he ever thought I would be this thin again and he said No! How could he not have faith that somehow, someway I would find a way to get rid of the weight?
Well, I am now down to just one more mozzarella ball to finish up, then can go back to my evening strawberries. As much as I love the cheese, I love the strawberries too, and don't feel that I can treat myself to both each day.

[JONAH'S GRANNY]

gina - you are a nice looking young lady with a beautiful figure and perfect size. I know you must be very proud of your accomplishment. As I always say, wish I had some of them long legs.

[ginabw]

Thanks Ann! Being on the tall side and having long legs is nice, although sometimes finding jeans that are long enough has been tough. And thanks for the "young" too, I am hitting 40 this year, one of my motivations for getting back to "me"!

[JuliaL]

Gina - you look wonderful! You're definitely not too thin. I love your bathing suit too. I can relate to having problems finding jeans/pants that are long enoug - I have the same trouble.

Thanks for posting - you should be very proud of your accomplishment! Julia

[kbgardengirl]

It's not just you tall ones who have trouble with pants. For me average length pants are too long and petite's are a tad to short. I'm right in between. Wouldn't it be nice if we could buy are pants like make can in the proper inseam size so we wouldn't have to hem them.