Quilt mom, I'm with you. I will weigh in too. It will keep me honest. I am a slacker when it comes to exercise. I get started full speed ahead. Do good for a week, then fall off.

So glad we are encouraging each other. I'm just getting started but I feel more committed to this effort than I ever have before. DH is starting to work on it also. We're planning a September trip for our 30th anniversary and each want to take 40 less pounds with us. So that's the goal for now. I've been at it about 10 days. I joined Curves 8 days ago and have gone four times. We moved the treadmill into the family room and I'm using it in small spurts as we watch TV. I've added more fruits and vegetables and am making better overall choices. I've lost 4 pounds so far.

Something I just found last night: with our cable TV we have "On Demand" and there was an option for free fitness/exercise videos. I had never checked them out. There are two Leslie Sansone walks on it, one mile and two mile. FREE! Anytime I want them. Since so many of you recommend them, I'm going to try the one mile this week. Just thought I'd mention it in case you have this also with your cable.

Hi - are the recipes in a WW cookbook? They sound very good!

I will put the two WW soups on the recipe page tomorrow so everyone can see them. They are really good and I freeze them in two cup portions to get out when I'm hungry for something. They make good lunches.

Okay, they are on the recipe page. I am not sure if they are in a WW cookbook, or which one. But they are on the WW webpage, or I bet you can google it too and it would show up somewhere. They are both good. I keep both in the freezer now. When I am in my classes, 6 hrs. worth, I need to take supper with me. I always take one of these soups along now.

Ok, I promised I'd report. I lost 2 lbs this week, for a grand total of 4 lbs. I was hoping for a little more since I walked 8 miles this past week; (which is more than I walked since last September), but at least it is going the right direction. Oh, and I also bought a digital scale, so no more cheating by 'leaning' the right way on the mechanical one......

YOU GO GIRL! Great job, that is the right direction. :thumbup:

Thanks purplemem; you hang in there too. You just do what you can do, and be faithful with that.

Welcome!! So glad you joined. Everyone here is so supportive and nice. You couldn't find a better bunch of people on the planet.

Thought you all could use a little laugh. This about sums it up for me.

You've heard about people who have been abducted and had
>> their kidneys removed by black-market organ thieves.
>>
>> My thighs were stolen from me during the night a few years
>> ago. I went to sleep and woke up with someone else's thighs.
>> It was just that quick. The replacements had the texture of
>> cooked oatmeal. Whose thighs were these and what happened to
>> mine? I spent the entire summer looking for my thighs.
>> Finally, hurt and angry, I resigned myself to living out my
>> life in jeans. And then the thieves struck again.
>>
>> My butt was next.. I knew it was the same gang, because they
>> took pains to match my new rear-end to the thighs they had
>> stuck me with earlier. But my new butt was attached at least
>> three inches lower than my original! I realized I'd have to
>> give up my jeans in favor of long skirts.
>>
>> Two years ago I realized my arms had been switched. One
>> morning I was fixing my hair and was horrified to see the
>> flesh of my upper arm swing to and fro with the motion of
>> the hairbrush.. This was really getting scary - my body was
>> being replaced one section at a time. What could they do to
>> me next?
>>
>> When my poor neck suddenly disappeared and was replaced with
>> a turkey neck, I decided to tell my story. Women of the
>> world wake up and smell the coffee! Those 'plastic' surgeons
>> are using REAL replacement body parts - stolen from you and
>> me! The next time someone you know has something 'lifted',
>> look again - was it lifted from you?
>> THIS IS NOT A HOAX. This is happening to women everywhere
>> every night.
>> WARN YOUR FRIENDS!
>>
>> P. S. Last year I thought someone had stolen my Boobs. I was
>> lying in bed and they were gone! But when I jumped out of
>> bed, I was relieved to see that they had just been hiding in
>> my armpits as I slept. Now I keep them hidden in my
>> waistband..
>>
>> Thought this was too 'important' not to pass on.... Have a
>> wonderful day - with a joy filled heart. Always remember to
>> laugh!! Helps the heart AND the wrinkles!!
>>
>> p.p.s. Those same thieves come in my closet and shrink my
>> clothes! How do they do it????

Yea Mrs. Mel! WOOHOO! Two pounds is fantastic! You honestly don't want to lose much more than that in a week! It's harder to keep it off if you do.

Joey, that's hilarious!

MJ...have you been able to move just a little bit more this week without putting yourself into jeopardy? :)

That is a great weight loss Mrs Mel!! I listed two recipes if anyone interested. One is WW Potato soup and WW Dreamsicle. Helps so much to have low cal choices, check out recipe section.

LNeal,
Just be very careful when posting WW recipes. Their name and recipes are copyrighted and WW is VERY protective of their copyrights. Wouldn't want anyone to get in trouble here.

Thanks, my recipes are from a local WW group putting together personal recipes into a local cookbook. Maybe I should not list them as WW specifically then. Thanks again

Will join you ladies, Will start my weight lost journey as we work together to lose weight!
Sewspecial

Way (or weigh) to go Mrs.Mel!!

I was able to go to the gym today and walk around for 15 minutes. It was a gentle walk, but it was movement! The pool is closed until Feb for repairs, they gave me a month free since that is the only thing I am allowed to do.

My shower made me so out of breath this morning that I had to nap before going to the gym.

I stayed on my food program today-big victory! I will weigh in tomorrow and see how I've done.


Good luck and good work, everybody!

Joey thanks so much for the welcome. BTW that story is hilarious. MrsMe, nice going. I am going to start moving, learning a new dance exercise, called Zumba. My DVDs arrived yeterday, and I have glanced at them. Tomorrow, the work starts.

Teacup joining Curves is a smart move. I did belong, but had to give up my membership. Cutbacks and sacrifices. The only exercise I really stuck with. Have fun.

:) :) :) :)

Wow, that was weird. I think I typed within purple's quote. Sorry about that.

AWESOME!! I'm so glad that you were able to go to the gym! I know what you mean about the shower...I used to huff and puff just getting myself dried off and dressed... And staying on your food program IS a BIGGIE! Some days will be harder than others, and some days you won't win the battle...but get right back to it, (as soon as you realize it not the next day) and before you know it you'll have won the war!! :D

I'm really proud of everyone's committment to getting healthier! (Weight really is only a part of it!)

How right you are! I know I feel better when I get up and exercise. So that is my main goal this week. To start, I am going to walk 20 - 30 minutes before breakfast. (I already did it yesterday and today.)

Someone told me that exercise before breakfast actually burns more calories. Is that true, or just another myth about losing weight?

To be honest, I'm not sure! I don't eat until after Ol' Leslie and I have been around the block a couple of times and then I shower.
There are those that say you should have a bite or two of something to get your metabolism geared up first...and then breakfast after.
I think it's more important to be and stay hydrated...

I am starting..I got leslies walking dvd from walmarts the other day.
Weighing in at 208,and am 5'7". size 20/22.
would love to get down to 170.size 14. which is the weight i want to be..not the 145 that all the websites say i should be.
i am having trouble eating the 3 meals a day, at least 3 is what they say.
i am on board!

Welcome Aboard!
I weighed in today at 284. My blood sugar was 145 (down from 360) and my blood pressure was 136/70 (down from 160/95). I'm in the middle of prescription changes so I have to check these often. I'm on the way to the hospital now for chest x-ray (to check on my lungs). These are excellent improvements!

Congrats Purplemem!

Way to go everyone....I am thinking I really need to join this band wagon. Support helps immensely!
Hugs
April

I'm not one who needs to loose weight, just wants to loose a few pounds. I've lost 8 pounds since Thanksgiving. I want to loose 6 more. I would like to become stronger and to get rid of the cellulose on my legs. Need to do work outs, but not there yet. Also waiting for spring to get out and walk more again.
My husband though has lost 17 pounds since Jan 1st ish. He wants to loose 60 lbs by July. He is on a modified Adkins diet and tries to be more active by walking (shopping) and less time just being a couch potato. I'm proud of him. And proud of all you who are loosing weight and becoming healthier.

Congratulations, Purplemem! I know what it is to watch those numbers. You are doing great!

Hope you all don't mind me stopping by to visit here and hopefully be encouraging.

You all have a tough road, especially those with health problems. Hang in there and remember, it will be worth it in the end.

So far we have on board dakotamaid Mamagus beckyw Charlee Mrs Mel sew cornie littlehud bluebird janRN lacikat quiltincharlotte jwwskis joeyoz ChasingHawk PamG Karyn purplemem barnbum Pats8e8 obie2 QuiltMom Teacup LovingIzabella QuiltingGrannie QuiltMania sewspecial watterstide wvdek Lneal

WOW!! What a group of support we have!! Remember everyone is welcome here, no matter how much weight we want to lose, so any one can join us. Anxiously waiting to hear from everyones "weigh in" on the way we are getting healthier and the progress we've made. We all need the encouragement, so please join us!

MJ!!! That's HUGE!!!!!!!! Congrats!!! :D

Everyone is welcome here! :) Doesn't matter if you want to lose 1 or 100 lbs...or if you just want to watch and cheer! We'll take all the support we can get, and hand it out too! :)

Count me in, maybe I'll get the encouragement I need to do my workouts and get back to walking.

Oh, PLEASE!!! Count me in. It will be a boost to have someone to talk us out of those - eathing anything we can find quickly. I eat when frustrated, and seldom something healthy.

I'm in, too! Right now (being pregnant) I'm gaining all the weight you have lost (12 lbs so far!!). But to help my blood pressure and to keep me from being taken out of work, the midwife wants me to walk on my treadmill--slowest speed for 20-30 minutes in the morning before work. She thinks it will help lower my stress levels which will lower my blood pressure. 5am comes around awful early though. But it's worth it.

thanks for starting this thread!!!

Rose Hall

LMBO!!!

What day are we going to weigh and report on? just once a week right..? sis you huys pick a day, and i missed it on the thread? lol

We are going to leave this open to report on the thread anytime you have made a progress that you want to tell us about. Since there are so many people, it seems the best way to handle it. Just let us know about a weekly loss of weight, how you are exercising, a progress about your healthy lifestyle ect... Lets keep the thread to "weigh in" your progress and all the encouragement we can give each other. Hang in there everybody!!

Thanks for joining us BrendaB and Rose Hall!!

I picked up a book from the library last week: Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight for EveryBody

It's very good, keeping focus on balance of diet, exercise, motivation, realisitic goals, etc. It includes a 12 week eating plan, and says you should lose 12-24 lbs. by following the plan, which is within the general guidelines most recommended by the experts.

Pre-made food plans are difficult for me to follow because we have severe food allergies in our family and there are certain foods that just don't enter our home. I find it too much work to figure out appropriate substitutes for a pre-made plan. So I'm striving for moderation, while reducing my sweets intake.

I don't need to lose a lot of weight, 25 lbs. or so, but I do need to strengthen both my muscles and my heart. Exercise is my biggest challenge. I'm so glad for this group to help keep me on track and motivated. Thank you everyone!