*.*Joyously Jumping into a MWL January!*.*

[losing in Ftm]

Counting down the days until our Naples, FL getaway.....you FL folks better be having above-average weather by then! I have new bathing suits I can't wait to wear!!

Your heading into my part of the world and yes it has warmed up nicely again. You'll probably laugh at us who bundle up when the temp. is in the 60's. I use to until I lost weight.

I just want to sing the praises of Spanx undergarments for those like me who will never have a taut body because of loose skin. They are so comfortable and flattering that I wear them all the time. If you haven't tried it (or one of the other brands) give it a shot.

[GatorEng2007]

No promises on the weather :-)


I am a novice in the kitchen and I think I fell in love with roasted garlic last night... I looked online and everything suggested that I use an entire piece (i don't know what a whole thing of garlic is calles... a bunch of cloves? lol), cut the top of, drizzle olive oil and bake in the oven. Are there any other ways? Can it be done with pam? I don't think I have any fresh garlic at home, but I do have a jar of whole peeled cloves... is there a way to roast those?

[melody7287]

Gator, I think you had asked about resteraunt eating...
I am a waitress at Olive Gardena and can tell you that we can modify ANYTHING! (And any other resteraunt too!!) Their Mixed Grill (no sauce sub broccoli for potatoes) is a DREAM come true. We also keep olive oil and vinager in the back which is great with lemon and splenda. You can even ask for a little garlic on the side. YUM!!

My husband and I eat out several times a week and I've learned the fine art of eating out. Almost any resteraunt I've been to has been able to make what I wanted (Hamburger no bun wrapped in lettuce... etc!) I would say this, tip your waitress well for your modifications.18-20% is for good service. 20-25% is for above and beyond. Modifications are above and beyond what's on the menu.

It's extra work to fight with the kitchen and to make it right. I get women and men who are want dressing on the side, croutons on the side, pasta no sauce... etc.. and it's a LOT of work for me. I don't mind doing it because of being on Medi, but it's frusterating to get a 10-15% tip from people who run me to death and I get it right, when the table with no modifications and were easy give me 20%.

Just a quick note... maybe a bit of a rant.
:-)

By the way, I'm enjoying everybodies weight loss succeses! Yay!
I'm down to 160 and I don't even remember the last time I was able to fit in a 10!

[Mary T8M]

Just stopping in to say 'Hi' to everyone......I'm SO impressed with the progress. BEAUTIFUL new pictures too!! IF I ever get my hair cut I promise some pictures of my transformation too!
I'm still hovering between 152 and 155, but it seems my body is shifting again, and NOT for the better I'm not really sure but it seems my middle is getting to be more of a "muffin top" than it was earlier......even my Spanx (or Lipo in a box) cami w bra thing isn't hiding it as well as I THINK it did a couple months ago (What's up with that?) I also think the tops of my thighs seem bigger too. The skin seems baggier, all though my thigh muscles are harder.
Oh well, guess it is, what it is.....I KNOW for a fact that I am MUCH healthier, stronger, and happier than I was at this time last year!

[Fit2010]

Good attitude Mary! I know I am much healthier than I was a year ago!! I've weighed and measured myself since goal (well before then too), and I'm trying to stop the going up the scales thing again. It got colder after the middle of October and that's when I stopped jogging and biking, even though that was only about twice a week each. Results?
10/29/10 wt 141.2; bust 36; waist 31; hips 36 1/2; thigh 21 1/2
11/17/10 wt 141.0; bust 36 3/4; waist 32 1/2; hips 39; thigh 21 1/2
12/8/10 wt 145; bust 37 1/2; waist 33 3/4; hips 39 3/4; thigh 22 1/4
1/10/11 wt 153; bust 38 1/2; waist 34; hips 41 1/2; thigh 22 3/4

Good grief!! Look at all those inches!! It's the "fluffy" fat back on me again. Yikes!

So today I'm down a couple lbs, but certainly not close enough to goal to settle down and rest. Although I have been a little warmer in the past 1 1/2 months! Made a MWL appt for next week...guess I need to make it hurt and pay someone til I submit! Ha! I can go a couple of days, but then looking for fruit or triscuits. Stay away from the carbs!
I think it's that over the holidays, on maintenance, a little sweet treat led to more and backing off again is brutal! But we CAN do this!

[Determined Gemini]

I was tempted to cancel my weigh-in which was at 8. We got more snow over night, my son had a 2hr school delay, the clinic was opening at 9:30 and I was planning on working from home. But at the last minute I changed my mind, I thought "I have to go, I WANT to hit my 1st mini goal next week'!!! Made it to my weigh-in and the office
I lost -4.8lbs

Has anyone bought the Medi shakes recently? I bought 1 today and was surprised to see a larger, rectangular scoop. It seems to me that this scoop is larger than the usual round one. Am I wrong??? I want to make sure I'm measuring correctly.

[mommy2princesses]

Losing in ftm - I wholeheartedly 2nd you in the wonder of spanx-type clothes....I have one tank top that you wear with your own bra, it comes down over your underwear and makes that "muffin top" of loose skin disappear.....even under fitted clothing. It amazes me! I don't wear it everyday (mainly because I have lately been in layers of clothing, sweatshirts, sweaters, etc) but if I am going somewhere "nice" than it is definitely on. This should be in the products good vs bad thread!!

Determined Gemini - congrats on the loss this week....almost to the "one"derland!!!

We too got more snow last night/today....another 8 inches....and another snow day from school for my kindergartener! This morning we took our time getting showered...the girls took a LONG bubble bath....then we all put a clean pair of PJ's on! Last winter on snow days I would always bake with the girls, they asked today if we can make cupcakes or cookies...I had to say no, way too much temptation when we're stuck in the house!! Now I'm trying to find what we can make healthy with ingredients in the house (I may just resort to necklaces out of cheerios....craft and snack all in one!).

On the positive side - got on my scale this morning (4 times, in different spots on the floor in case it was making a mistake) and was 164, for the past week and a half it has been from 165-165.6.....and I like that it moved below my goal weight! Now, it needs to stay there!

For those of you in a sunshine state - please go enjoy some for me!

[betty_going_85]

Determined Gemini - I am also from NJ. I go to the Randolph clinic and the people there are very nice. What clinic do you go to?

Congrats on your weight loss this week. I'm hoping to have a good weight loss on Tuesday because the last two weeks were not the best. I was retaining a lot of water for some reason. But it seems to be better now.

[Determined Gemini]

Betty going 85 - I also go to the Randolph clinic and yes they are very nice.

I retain a lot of water too but I notice it always happens when I don't drink all my water which is usually 128 ounces or around my TOM.

When in December did you start?

[betty_going_85]

i started december 28th. i go on tuesday's for my weigh ins. i changed my time to 8:45 am instead of 11:30.

[clergywife]

Any advice on how to get the water in? This is my biggest challenge. Any tips, hints or tricks would be appreeciated. I know I need to work on the self discipline but in addition to that would be helpful.

[Mary T8M]

OK I'm going to TRY to post a couple of before and "during" pictures. The first is from our Las Vegas trip in 2009 I'm sure I was somewhere around 228 lb



The second was 1/20/2011 and I weigh 153

[Mary T8M]

sorry guess that didn't work. I'll post them om my profile

[losing in Ftm]

Any advice on how to get the water in? This is my biggest challenge. Any tips, hints or tricks would be appreeciated. I know I need to work on the self discipline but in addition to that would be helpful.

I don't know if it will help but I use Walmarts Clear American Sparkling water in different flavors (you'll need to try different ones). I use to live off of Diet Coke and coffee, it was scary when I realized how much I was drinking. I found I was really struggling with plain water and cyrstal light flavors though. Because their carbonated these felt like I was drinking soda.
I usually drink 3 - 4 bottles a day along with a tall bottle of Smart water and there is no struggle at all anymore. The only time I drink a soda now is if I go out to eat.

[mommy2princesses]

I also drink the same sparkling waters from walmart - key lime is by far my favorite!!!! I do sometimes use the crystal light packets, but found I drank more if I just sliced up lemons or limes to squeeze in my water. I tried to drink A LOT during my walks, that way I could get a good portion of the water in earlier in the day. I did allow myself 1 (ok, in all honesty, sometimes 2!) diet pepsi's a day.....I sometimes just needed the flavor/caffeine boost!

My biggest thing was to constantly have cold water with me - whether in the car, watching tv, on the computer and force myself to always be taking sips. It became a habit.

Keep experimenting, you'll get there!

I have to say Wow, Mary....what a change in you! You look amazing! You skinny thing!!

[Aliciahmartin]

I have a question---is it necessary to get the mid week shot? It is very hard for me to make it there with my work schedule but if it's what I need to do to lose weight I will figure out something.

[Mary T8M]

Originally Posted by mommy2princesses

I also drink the same sparkling waters from walmart - key lime is by far my favorite!!!! I do sometimes use the crystal light packets, but found I drank more if I just sliced up lemons or limes to squeeze in my water. I tried to drink A LOT during my walks, that way I could get a good portion of the water in earlier in the day. I did allow myself 1 (ok, in all honesty, sometimes 2!) diet pepsi's a day.....I sometimes just needed the flavor/caffeine boost!

My biggest thing was to constantly have cold water with me - whether in the car, watching tv, on the computer and force myself to always be taking sips. It became a habit.

Keep experimenting, you'll get there!

I have to say Wow, Mary....what a change in you! You look amazing! You skinny thing!!

Thank Keri (Bill wanted to practice taking pictures with his new camera, so I was his subject! I'll get one soon with make-up on ).....It IS a huge change.....Still don't know about the "skinny" part! But I'll sure take the change! I went to see the movie Burlesque yesterday with a girlfriend. I wasn't too hot on seeing it at first, but I LOVED it! All those BEAUTIFUL slim, FLEXIBLE bodies......for some reason it really has gotten me motivated again (right after I finished my "snack" bag of popcorn :blush I kept thinking that MAYBE losing another 25 pounds would leave me TOO thin but now I REALLY want to continue on, and get down to 125 (I'm only 5'2') or maybe even 115. NOT that I'll have a body like that, but at least I think I still have room to go.

I drink the sparkling water from Walmart too (Key Lime, Peach, Raspberry) and the ONLY Crystal Lite flavor I REALLY like is the Peach Tea, and I could drink it by the gallon! I have to limit it just like I have to limit my Diet-Pepsi. I also drink hot tea. I HAVE to have "something" with me to drink all the time, and most of the time I have no trouble at all drinking enough water. At home I have one of the big (24oz) Tervis Tumblers with a big 'M' on it that I fill with water (I TRY to write the ounces down as I fill the glass or open a can or bottle, then I make a check mark through it when I have finish it, and write down the next one) Drinking fewer BIG glasses makes it easier for me than drinking several small ones.....guess my mind is easily tricked

[Mary T8M]

oh I forgot. I see today on dealsucker.com (it's site that combines a bunch of the "one day deals" into one place) they have the 4 DVD Zumba set for something like $29.00 and I think it has FREE shipping! DD bought me Zumba all though I haven't received it yet, or I would buy this

[Mary T8M]

Originally Posted by Aliciahmartin

I have a question---is it necessary to get the mid week shot? It is very hard for me to make it there with my work schedule but if it's what I need to do to lose weight I will figure out something.

We are not currently going to the clinic (due to financial reasons), but when we were we took our midweek shot home and gave it to ourselves......It was a 40-60 min drive one way for us to get to the clinic, so we weren't about to go twice in a week! You might ask, and I'm sure they will show you how to give it to yourself. (I'm an RN, but it's EASY)

[Fit2010]

Horray Mary!! You look so fit! Now you make me too want to watch Burlesque and get all motivated! Now that you're in a dancing, burlesque mood your DH will love, love, love your new Zumba moves!

[kelly4me]

Wow, what a difference Mary. Congrats to you!

[Deshaye70]

Hello all! My first week is officially over...I lost 9.2 pounds! I am MEGA EXCITED about this program! I've been reading behind the scenes on the site for a few weeks while I decided if this program was for me...and after reading about all of your successes and seeing the support here...I decided to go for it. I've never posted on bulletin boards before, so this is all new to me, but I can't wait to get to know all of you better and share this journey with you!

[KBinAL]

I am on my tenth day today. My first weigh in was Wednesday and I lost 10.8 lbs. I am finding it hard to get my mind wrapped around that, but I can totally tell a difference in my clothes so I know it is true. Unlike any other dieting I have tried, I have lost weight in my midsection from the get-go!! Wow!

This site is amazing, I found it on my second night of the program and it really helped me with being more creative that first, difficult week. I am not a big meat-eater so getting all of my protein is something I am still struggling with, but I am managing to get it.

I have noticed that several of you have talked about Zumba. I am "addicted" to it. I have NEVER EVER really liked any type of exercise in my life, but I LOVE Zumba. I have been going since July and by early August I had worked my way up to 4 one hour classes per week. (sometimes 5!) Never before had exercise given me more energy, but Zumba has. I cannot believe I am going to say this, but I actually miss it on the days that I dont have a class to attend!

Thank you all for sharing your before/during/after photos on here. It is very inspiring. Perhaps I will have some to post before too long!

[GatorEng2007]

You look great Mary!!


I have my week 10 weigh in this coming tuesday (I skipped week 9 because I am now going every two weeks). I am little nervous about it though. I normally don't touch the scale at home, but I caved and checked today... I was the exact same as I was almost two weeks ago. This is kind of concerning me... I was sure that the two week weighs would be ok (I still even went in and got the shots last week). My clinic is probably going to think I slacked off and cheated the whole time.

In reality, I have been tracking my food better than I was before and have been in ketosis the whole time. I may have had a few days here or there that were not perfect, but not perfect to me means I may have gone a few over on my calories or I did not know exactly what was in something I ate out and had to estimate.

I am hoping that I am just holding water like it is going out of style. MY only other reason might be that over the past two weeks I have upped my exercise from nothing to 6 days a week (cardio and weight training). I know in years past my excuse when I would try to "diet" and not loose was that I was losing fat but gaining muscle because I was exercising at the same time. I feel like that was a cop out (because it was) and it was clearly not true considering I dieted my way up to way to many pounds.

ugh... after two weeks, I should have lost at least 4 lbs (if I continue my previous progress) and I have lost none. It almost feels like I have procrastinated on my science project and now have to rush to get it down. That is not how this is supposed to work.


TOM is this coming week... I wonder if that is it... though in previous months i did not notice anything significant

All I can do is keep doing what I am doing and trust that it will work... and be sure to drink all my water.

[Mary T8M]

Originally Posted by KBinAL

I am on my tenth day today. My first weigh in was Wednesday and I lost 10.8 lbs. I am finding it hard to get my mind wrapped around that, but I can totally tell a difference in my clothes so I know it is true. Unlike any other dieting I have tried, I have lost weight in my midsection from the get-go!! Wow!

This site is amazing, I found it on my second night of the program and it really helped me with being more creative that first, difficult week. I am not a big meat-eater so getting all of my protein is something I am still struggling with, but I am managing to get it.

I have noticed that several of you have talked about Zumba. I am "addicted" to it. I have NEVER EVER really liked any type of exercise in my life, but I LOVE Zumba. I have been going since July and by early August I had worked my way up to 4 one hour classes per week. (sometimes 5!) Never before had exercise given me more energy, but Zumba has. I cannot believe I am going to say this, but I actually miss it on the days that I dont have a class to attend!

Thank you all for sharing your before/during/after photos on here. It is very inspiring. Perhaps I will have some to post before too long!

DD bought the DVD set for me (or so she SAYS.....I have yet to actually see it! LOL) andyway I sure HOPE I'm going to love it as much as you, Deb, Keri and others here say! I had a whole collection of VHS exercise tapes, that were all near new. I have been much more consistant about exercising (something for which I give full credit to this board )I've been working with my fitness ball, total gym, ab wheel, and bands at home as well as walking outside. Now I'm anxious to try Zumba

[Fit2010]

DeShaye70 and KBinAL - Welcome! Great job for your first week. I'm so happy fo ryour to get on board here too!

Mary - You are doing so great...just keep up the home workout. I'm glad you've got the support of doing the program with you DH!

[Mary T8M]

Thanks SO much for all the nice comments about my pictures! I'm STILL working on getting them IN the post, and I'm getting closer.....I think!

Today is our 40th Wedding Anniversary! OMG I've been married longer than many of you have been alive!!! Of course I was a mere CHILD when we got married!

We went to the Frog Legs Festival yesterday....but the legs were all sold out by the time we got there, so I didn't get any! I look forward to this all year long!

Today we're going to Orlando just to "hang out", and have dinner.....It's cooler than I hoped it would be.

Charlie, drink, drink, drink.......my guess is that you are retaining water (TOM, and new exercise) you're still in ketosis so that means YOU ARE LOSING! Sometimes I saw a gain in water, and a loss of FAT one week then a big loss the next weigh-in. Your body will try to hold on to weight to "save you", but you KNOW you're doing what you need to do, so keep it up and you'll lose it! Your clinic MAY suggest (some time) that you actually have a CHEAT day.

[Determined Gemini]

Ugh I have a terrible headache and I have the sweet cravings big time and its only 4:45! I keep looking at the dessert recipes thread but there's nothing that jumps at me HELP!!!

[GatorEng2007]

Ugh I have a terrible headache and I have the sweet cravings big time and its only 4:45! I keep looking at the dessert recipes thread but there's nothing that jumps at me HELP!!!

My favorite quick treat is to make little Choc-PB cups with the chocolate PB2 and cool whip. It is in that thread somewhere I think. Its great because I can make it, and then i have to wait at least 20 minutes while it sets in the freezer. It gives me time to settle down and not eat everything in sight. Make them, then lie down for 20 minutes to help your headache, and then enjoy! Feel better!

Mary,

Thanks! Water water water. Played 3 hours of volleyball this afternoon (perfect weather for that). I chugged between everygame, though I didn't want to overdo it because I pee like a pregnant woman when I drink the water I am supposed to be drinking and there were no open restrooms at the courts! lol.

[Determined Gemini]

Thanks Charlie.

Actually I took a 20 minute power nap and it really helped my headache. I then took a long hot shower where I had a tough talk with myself! What am I a 5yr old having a candy tantrum??? Honestly I was not nor am I hungry at all, it's all in my head. I've been putting a lot of stress and restrictions on myself since this week's weigh-in is when I'm supposed to met my 1st mini goal. After missing my original 1st mini goal date because I was sick, I don't want anything, especially I to sabotage it. After the shower and the little talk, I finished reading 'Women, Food and God' ( I highly recommend it!) I still had the last 2 chapters to finish and they were exactly what I need it.

I'm an emotional eater, especially when I'm feeling lonely or sad and that's when the dessert cravings kick in. These two paragraphs from the book really hit home for me:

'I am beginning to understand that this whole struggle with food is not about discipline or self-control or bargaining with myself; it's not even about FOOD. It is a story - a powerful story - about loving and wanting and having.'

'Even a widely successful diet is a colossal failure because inside the new body is the same sinking heart. Spiritual hunger can never be solved on the physical level.'

It's not sweets, dessert or chocolate that I'm craving or hungry for but an emotional one. Aww I feel so much better without eating anything I shouldn't! Thank you for listing