***GET YOUR KIX IN 2006 - WEEK 3 CHALLENGE***

[zeraspride]

Welcome to week there everyone!

I am so happy to report that my "goal" jeans are fitting better and better! I tried them on this morning and my husband asked me in surprise if those were the same jeans I was trying to wiggle into a few weeks ago. It felt so good to stand in front of him and the full length mirror and say "yep". I was so proud of myself. What makes it so incredible to me is that I haven't lost a pound. I have lost several inches off my hips in the past few weeks and I guess that is what is making all the difference. Never thought I'd own a pair of mid-rise jeans! Woohoo!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week and that we have have success, both big and small!

[vessel of prayer]

Hi
Will be back in the morning with my weight. My pants are looser too. That makes me so happy!!
WTG everyone!

Sheila

[redslipper47]

Just flying by to weigh in. I have lost 2 /1/2# this week. A total of 8 1/2# since starting SB two weeks ago. I really like SB. It is so much easier for me to do than Atkins. I am going to stay on Phase 1 another week. I will so how I feel. Then switch to 1.5 like Shelia did. Hope everyone has a great weigh in.

[vessel of prayer]

Weight this morning is 165.6 (start was 170.2 ) Whoooohooooo. I have some goal jeans, I need to try them on.

Sheila

[s1mon3]

I am new here. Hello everyone..Can someone give me the basics of this challenge? I think this will help me be held accountable. Thanks in advance..

[Yankee Belle]

Seconding what Marlette said. I was just going to ask the same thing!

[Yankee Belle]

Marlette....I went back and found the initial sign up for the challenge. I bumped it so that it should be near the top of the postings for you to find. It looks like this:

***Get Your Kix in 2006*** Sign Up Thread (come on in!!)

[zeraspride]

Here is another welcome to both Marlette and Theresa. I welcomed you guys on the initial sign up thread. We look forward to getting to know you both.

Everyone is doing such a great job. It inspires me so much to read about your successes. Being so close to goal, I know I'm not going to see big numbers down each week but the inches are still coming off, even though the pounds are slow to cooperate. One way or the other, when my goal jeans fit well, I'm done! I will post a pic. I should have taken a picture of myself trying to shimmy into the jeans when I first both them but it was too embarassing.

I'm off to the gym for a weight lifting class in a few minutes. I hope everyone is having a super Wednesday! Keep up the great work and we'll have lots to celebrate by the close of this year!!

[Yankee Belle]

Ok, I *think* I lost a pound but I weighed first thing this morning and my eyes were still fuzzy! lol Anyhow, I looked in the mirror and noticed that my belly fat seems to have lessened right around the middle...a very good thing! I'm noticing my pants are pinching less and less. Heck, I can even say they aren't pinching at all anymore! I'm looking forward to saying they're getting too loose...but I'm not quite there yet. That's ok. I will be.

[vessel of prayer]

Welcome Marlette

I am weight isnt going down, but up...eeesh.. and after having such a good week last week. Who knows, maybe I cant do phase 2!

Sheila

[s1mon3]

Thanks for the warm welcomes.. I have a question..do people tend to stay on Phase 1 longer than normal..I guess I am used to always saying I was on Induction during Atkins..

[rose1]

Originally Posted by s1mon3

Thanks for the warm welcomes.. I have a question..do people tend to stay on Phase 1 longer than normal..I guess I am used to always saying I was on Induction during Atkins..

We ( my daughter and I) stayed on Phase 1 for two weeks, then moved on. Some people do what we call Phase 1.5 and add in the new things very gradually. Or if weight loss slows down too much, cut back a little on the new things.

Emily's Mom

[s1mon3]

ok..I will make sure to monitor myself..what can I expect in the next 2 weeks?

[ChicagoGirl007]

Hi guys! Big welcome to Marlette and Theresa! I'm rather new also and I've found this group to be full of support and inspiration. I am a South Beach/Calorie Counter. I basically eat the good foods that SB promotes, but most important to me is calories (I'm all about the math, 3500 calories = one pound).

Since I started two weeks ago I've lost 10 pounds! Whee! I just picked up on the exercising this week and I feel great. I am really looking forward to getting rid of this weight this year. Today I did the ellitical machine for 30 mintues, the stair climber for 5 and then I RAN for 10 minutes on the treadmill (that doesn't include the colldown). I was pretty impressed with myself and my new-found attitude. I have also been great with food, I am eating what I need to eat. At times it's been challenging but really I just think of the crap I've fed myself my whole life and look where it's gotten me. I have a lot of weight to lose, but I'm on my way to being healthy!

[s1mon3]

You have a great attitude Chicagogirl!! I am excited about seeing our transformations!! We are going to do so well!!

[zeraspride]

I'm just checking in for the day. Wow! You ladies are doing so well. I'm so proud of everyone's progress!!!

Theresa - congratulations on losing 1 pound and your clothes fitting looser!! You are on your way! I just love it when I try on something and it doesn't fit. I have a few skirts in a size 14 that I love to put on when I'm feeling down because they slide right off my hips now and I remember when I bought them six months or so ago and they fit well. The same thing is starting to happen with my size 12's now. Anyway, let's both keep up the great work!!!!

Sheila - I know Phase 2 can be a bit tricky. Maybe you are adding back things too quickly. I know I did sort of a modified Phase 1.5 for a while where I added back 1 item at a time. First it was 1/2 cup of flavored yogurt per day for a week. Then I added 1 slice of whole wheat bread the next week and then 1/2 bowl of whole wheat cereal after that. It was very gradual and I still lost steadily. Hope this helps. Also, I am finding the closer I get to goal, the more I have to reduce my calories. I was eating about 2,200 per day and losing fine, then 2,000; now I eat about 1700 and I'm just maintaining so I'll be taking it down to 1400 to 1500 next week.

Marlette - as I mentioned to Sheila above, I added carbs back gradually and stayed on a Phase 1.5 for about a month after I finished the two week Phase 1 period just to see which foods would cause cravings or a gain. This worked for me because I lost steadily for over a year. Now of course I eat lots of grains and fruits and need to cut back on the calories to get these last 10 pounds off. In the next two weeks you should expect to see your tummy area shrinking and you should lose between 8-14 pounds. Each person is different of course. Some lose more and some lose less. I lost 14 pounds the first two weeks and about 22 the first month. I was thrilled!

ChicagoGirl - what a pleasure it was to read your post! Congratulations on a successful Phase 1 period. Losing 10 pounds is just awesome!!! We are all so proud of you!!!! I'm a South Beach/Calorie Counter too. At first it was a pain to keep track but now that I use fitday and have gotten my mind used to counting calories, I can quickly calculate how much I can eat in my head. It's become quite easy now. Keep up the good work, you're doing a fantastic job! As we keep saying 2006 is going to be OUR year!!!

[s1mon3]

Thanks for the info Lisa..I am looking forward to see what the next 2 weeks bring! I am excited. I can't wait until I am at my last 10 pounds..best of luck to you! Believe it or not I was there just last year, but..I let me cravings get the best of me..While doing Atkins, I missed oatmeal so much that when I had it, I felt as though I've cheated and I may as well eat whatever..Bad attitude..now with SB I can have oatmeal and have the mindset that I am still doing the right thing!

[zeraspride]

Marlette - my husband is a big oatmeal fan too. I'm more of a grits or cream of wheat gal myself and when I have them on occasion I feel like I'm cheating but since I'm so close to goal, I do allow myself to have grits every once in a while but I haven't had enough nerve to have cream of wheat. It's a trigger food for me. There are certain foods from my former life that I just can't have, even if they are sugar free, fat free or low carb. You have to know yourself and yes my fear is one bowl of cream of wheat will send me into a carb fest where I'll wake up six month later and probably 100 pounds heavier! Anyway, you're doing great! Keep up the fine work and we'll all be able to celebrate hitting goal in 2006 together!!!!

[s1mon3]

Originally Posted by zeraspride

Marlette - my husband is a big oatmeal fan too. I'm more of a grits or cream of wheat gal myself and when I have them on occasion I feel like I'm cheating but since I'm so close to goal, I do allow myself to have grits every once in a while but I haven't had enough nerve to have cream of wheat. It's a trigger food for me. There are certain foods from my former life that I just can't have, even if they are sugar free, fat free or low carb. You have to know yourself and yes my fear is one bowl of cream of wheat will send me into a carb fest where I'll wake up six month later and probably 100 pounds heavier! Anyway, you're doing great! Keep up the fine work and we'll all be able to celebrate hitting goal in 2006 together!!!!

Hey Lisa..I miss GRITS too!! I can't even buy them!!!

Yes I can't wait to celebrate with you!!!

[s1mon3]

BTW, I love the Lauryn Hill quote

[BeyondClueless]

I am just popping in to say I officially have started SB today (managed to grocery shop last night). Be back later to give shout outs!

[zeraspride]

Beyond - yay!!! Glad you are joining us here on the Beach! I know you'll have much success.

Marlette - Yummy grits! I do try to stay away from them. I've never read anything against them on this program but they are a trigger food for me because I want bacon, scrambled eggs with cheese and toast with jam when I have grits and that is way too many calories! Thanks for commenting on my quote from Ms. Hill. I keep telling myself that I can lose all the weight I want and make the outside look good but if I don't work on the emotions on the inside, what good did all my hard work do, know what I mean?

[justmarvi]

Hi challengers and to our new members.

I ready to get with the program!

[zeraspride]

Marva - you're back! Yay!!! So glad to see you posting girlie. I hope all is well.

[vessel of prayer]

Hi Guys
Lost the pound or so that I gained. At my lowest weight in yrs. 165.4!! Wtg everyone. Keep up the good work.
Sheila

[Yankee Belle]

Marlette... I also craved oatmeal when I was on Atkins. It was really strange because I was never that much of an oatmeal eater! But for some reason, it was all I wanted.

Marva...nice to meet you!

Sheila...way to go on losing the pound & being at your lowest weight in years! Woohoo!!

Beyond Clueless... I'm so glad that you're making the switch! I don't care what anyone says...I think SB is WAY healthier than Atkins.

Chicago... Kudos on the exercising! I really really need to start but gosh doggit I HATE exercising! Love your quote too. It's true. If you want to lose weight and/or get healthy and don't bother to do it...a year from now you'll STILL be wanting to do it and wishing you'd started a year ago!

Lisa... You sure are on the bandwagon as far as welcoming everyone and helping all of us out...but how are YOU doing? I'm so happy for all of the success that you've had and would love to hear LOTS more about it! And you

I think the South Beach board is picking up a bit...what about you guys??

[justmarvi]

It is, Theresa, yah! Hi to everyone!

Looks like I'm 2 lbs above my siggy today after my trip, let's have a good one!

[vessel of prayer]

Hi See Ya later...