@Meg177 , @bellawares Thanks for the support on the soy. I am very hopeful that this will help. I'm just hoping that accidentally overdoing the soy like that didn't do any lasting damage to my thyroid.

@Sherrielsb Thanks for the suggestion. I'll watch my fiber and fluid intake for the rest of the week and hope that helps, too.

@Bigaug I'm glad to see you around here again! You were missed! I can sympathize with the potato salad. I have a loving family who means well, but stubbornly refuses to consider corn a starch instead of a veggie, and insists that canned french style green beans is no different fiber wise and protein wise than kidney or black beans. After all, beans are beans, right? My daddy used to say about them "You can talk until you are blue in the face and not convince them of anything, and like h&%% I'm going to turn blue in the face for anyone!" While I don't find them near as exhausting as Daddy did, (I tend to see them as well meaning, loving people who are set in their ways and "agree to disagree" with them), it can be maddening how anyone can not understand. I agree with those who suggested that you do bring your own food and use the "I didn't want you to go through any trouble on my account" reasoning (rather than the "You just don't get it" reasoning...) God bless!

@kerin I've done the not weighing in until I could mentally handle it. You have to do what is best for you. And DO take care of you. I suspect that you put your children and husband first most of the time. Keep in mind that they NEED you, so you have to take care of yourself in order to properly care for them. You can't give what you don't have. (And if I'm overreaching, please accept my apologies. Something in what you wrote reminded me of how my own mom put Dad and me before her own self and how the doctor scolded her for it when she got sick...)

@ihawkins1975 What beautiful memories you and your daughter and creating! God bless!

@steffylynnxox I don't have any advice except to remember it will get better!

@mnwalkqueen I'm in Chicago. My favorite spots, though, are places no one ever heard of before. Sunset Grill in Des Plaines has a creative low cal section of the menu (Luau Chicken Salad, Antipasto, Bunless Burger (with Cheese), and some stuff I haven't tried yet), but even people who live down the block haven't heard of it!

Tuesday Goal: To read all labels before eating a packaged food (even on things I've used for a while) and avoid all soy. That means no more delicious protein bars! (Oh how I will miss them....)
To get enough protein in without the protein bars. (That means a trip to the store today for some skim milk!)

Good luck to all of us!

Tuesday goal- to try and stay awake, my 2 year old had bad dreams last night and were were up until about 2am. I am going to get to jazzercise today so I can get my 5 workouts in this week. ALso with school winding down it is a madhouse, so I am going to plan out the meals for the rest of the week and get them prepped so I am not running to McDonalds at the last min ute because there isn't time to cook. Chicken and chinese veggies tonight, spaghetti for tomorrow, Thursday burgers and Friday leftovers. Now the tough part (for me at least) the follow through.

For all those recovering from surgeries, glad they were successful and you heal up quickly and as painlessly as possible. I have always wondered why after surgery when you are sore and swollen and retaining water anyway- they give you IVs full of saline. Do we really need a fluid to make us retain more water? I know there are medical reasons but I have just always strangely ironic. Or Maybe I'm the only one that sees it that way?

I get motivated for a few days at a time then go downhill for a few weeks. I hope to switch this around!

Aug- I do it all the time. Bring my own cooler of snacks OR bring a veggie tray & dip so I am GUARANTEED to have something healthy to snack on. When you bring it for all it's less rude. :D Take care of yourself!!

Time for Lunch check-in - a 0.5 loss this week, slower than the past few weeks but still within my average of 1-1.5 pounds/week I am shooting for. Only a couple of people at work know I am seriously doing this, it's easier if people don't know. But the friend I share an office with told me today that she sees a difference in my face. At only about 13 pounds I don't know if that's true but I do feel better, and it's been surprisingly easy to stay motivated and within plan. My brain is on a plan, too!


I went to my first Zumba class yesterday, right after work. A former student walked in with me, said, "oh, this is easy," and proceeded to get as far away from me as humanly possible. There were about 4 current students there, as well. Whatcha gonna do, nothing, so I just went for it.

OH MY.

I'm the person in the family who's considered the one with rythym!! Always the one who's out on the dance floor at everything. Thats why I thought I'd enjoy this. And I did, but I stink at it!! After the first half hour I wasn't trying to copy the steps and was just moving around as best i could in the same general direction as everyone else, clapping at all the inappropriate moments and spinning the wrong way. At least I can laugh at myself and not be self-conscious, all that dancing with the kids knowing I look like a fool and not caring truly paid off yesterday!!

I wish I had a friend to go back with, because it would be beyond hysterical. Since I'm fairly certain that at least one student was trying to secretly film me I will have to be checking youtube for myself happily shuffling away without a care in the world. The highlight was probably the fact that I forgot my white socks and was doing this with black dress socks with my white sneakers.

@Helen & @datenshi - Thank you for your encouragement. I am very happy with the (almost) 2lbs. A loss is a loss, and it is moving forward, so nothing to be too upset about.

Tuesday goals: to find a route that gets me my 2 miles but doesn't have gigantic hills so it doesn't kill me! lol Also, non exercise related to get the sheet rock off in the bathroom where it needs it and get the lanolium taken out.

Been having headaches again this week. Thought with me eating better they were mostly gone, but I have been proven wrong. So my only workouts are my walks with my daughter. I ordered 30 Day Shred, and should get it some time next week. Excited but scared. Need these headaches to go away so I can do the workouts!!!

Thanks Helen. I'm glad to be back.

Tuesday goals - Mow the lawn. That's enough bloody goals for today. I lament/despise/agonize/hate/can't stand yard work. You all know how that conversation went too; "I don't want a big yard because then I will have to take care of a big yard." "You won't have to take care of a big yard because I love doing yard work." Guess who takes care of the big yard, bonus points if you can guess how long we lived there before yard work became my job... I find it utterly ironic that I'm feeling better just in time for mowing season. I just keep telling myself I'M EXERCISING!!!!! I'M WORKING OUT DAMNIT!!!!!!!!!

aug

This is me, exactly... I'm ALL good for a few days, then all of a sudden, I'm not... I need some serious help!!!

I don't know How to italicize on here either--it drives me crazy to do it wrong every time I mention a book title!

Chicago is a really big city--do you know where you are staying? (I don't need your hotel and room # , just the neighborhood)

ooh, ooh, call me, call me !! I love doing yard work!! At least it is better than doing housework
and YES, it does burn calories and gets you out in the fresh air and gets you moving, so....get at it

Tuesday goal- yup, someone already said it.....just stick with the program....yesterday was good.....gonna have a repeat today..

i'm not good at it either. but it really is fun. it doesn't seem to last very long which is also a plus. and probably no one was actually looking. probably lol



mowing is a great work out. my husband and i both loathe yardwork so back when we lived somewhere where grass actually grew we just hired someone to do it. i guess that's always an option haha. but if you're stuck doing it know that you're burning serious calories

Tuesday Goals

In addition to my morning gym sessions my goal for this week was to hit my trails every afternoon. So of course mother nature had other plans (at least for today ). I was about to go out the door for my trail walk and what happens a huge black cloud rolls over and it starts lightning and raining. It 's clear as a bell and very sunny everywhere but my back yard. Go figure . . .

@skinnyjeanz - You need to use BBCode tags instead of HTML tags for Italic Text. Use square bracket small i square bracket in front of your word and square bracket backslash small i bracket behind your word. Presto you have Italics.

@Bigaug - I'm a yard work hater as well but you are right . . . IT IS EXERCISE

Aug - I'm glad your feeling better... but as for yard work and mowing I look forward to it. It is mindless and I get a chance to remove myself from my dh whom I work with day in and day out seven days a week. Granted I only have a .25 acres of lawn to mow but like a hot shower it is meditative.However, I will admit that I am constantly shifting my attitude to see the positive - otherwise I would be miserable all the time.

Tuesday Goal: Just to make it through tonight. For whatever reason, I am really tired tonight and I have to work until 6 AM. Makes for a horribly long shift, since work doesn't like it if you nap through part of it.

Exercise wise, I plan to do some walking in the park again on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. I really enjoyed doing it last weekend. The bonus is that it will make my surgeon, Dr. I-have-no-people-skills, happy since he's always harping on how I HAVE to walk an hour a day, no matter what other exercise I do. I may not do an hour every day, but I'm working my way toward that.

If it's too hot outside, I may try my ExerBeat Wii game again. It's a fun suppliment to my exercise routine.

@helen--I don't like to drink regular milk--something about the idea just grosses me out. I don't mind dairy in general, but can't drink straight milk--yuk! Anyways, the only problem this posed is that I LOVE cereal, so when I discovered soy milk, I went a little crazy and had cereal w/ soy milk for breakfast, lunch, and dinner . After a couple of days of soy milk overindulgence, my lips swelled up and became all tingly. A colleague suggested it might be a food allergy and since soy was the only new addition to my diet, I knew that must be the culprit. Through some research, I learned that too much soy when your body isn't accustomed can cause all kinds of weird reactions, BUT if you ease into soy consumption you can eliminate the side effects. Like you, I went soy-free for a couple of weeks to get it all out of my system, then I gradually worked it back into my diet. This way I was able to enjoy soy without any repercussions. So, if you're so inclined, you may still be able to eat soy, just add it to your diet slowly so your body has a chance to adjust to it.

@chazymomma & jessie--I used to have that problem as well. I would be gung-ho about fitness and nutrition for a short stint and then I would lose all interest. When I started MFP I decided to avoid that pattern by making small changes and sticking with them. By not going 100% in a radically different direction from my normal life, I managed to sustain the changes I did make. Not to say I don't lose motivation from time to time, but it no longer causes me to completely fall off the wagon.

@aug--I LOVE mowing the lawn!! It burns about the same calories as running (at least according to my HRM) AND I don't feel any guilt b/c I'm getting something done! I now I shouldn't feel guilty about working out, but I can't help it--I feel really selfish when I choose a trip to the gym over cleaning my house. And I agree with karenleona--yardwork beats housework hands down!!

@andrea--you have way more guts than I do, my dear! The zumba with your students is brave, but doing it in your black socks makes you truly heroic!!!

@bella-- thanks!

Tuesday Goals:
Well, since I only have a quick reading quiz to grade, I guess I don't need to make my usual checklist . Instead, I want to manage my calories well over the next week:

Thursday is our school's Spring BBQ--we shut down the school cafeteria and make hot dogs and burgers for lunch. Trying to decide whether to eat the burger or bring my own lunch. Normally it wouldn't be a big deal, but after work I have a retirement party and I will want to indulge in some food and cocktails there. I feel like I should just bring my lunch so I can enjoy the party.

Friday I have a second retirement party.

Saturday I participate in a charity pub crawl--we ride the train and make stops at bars along the way. The first bar serves pizza and the 3rd bar will have tacos. Add this to all of the drinks and it will be calorie overload. At least we do a lot of walking to and from the train .

Finally, Sunday-Monday my husband and I will be traveling to MI and back to visit my uncle, so we will be eating out during those 2 days as well.

Sherriesab- Actually, I don't like heights either. I guess because I have control I have no problem climbing my way up and then coming down is fun. I just don't look down.

Goal- To climb all the way to the top of the intermediate side before my next birthday in June. I will make it. Next attempt Saturday!!!!

I didn't get on here in time to list my goal before I met it My goal was to make spaghetti for supper tonight and not overeat and I actually managed to do that. I was a good girl and measured everything. Of course I'm sitting here now, right before going to bed, and I'm hungry lol Oh well, on to another day.

Hi All, Well there's only about a minute left of Tuesday but my goal is to continue plugging along day by day and doing everything I can to let my body heal. I'm eating well, although to be honest, I haven't gotten my appetite back yet, I'm drinking lots of water, and I'm getting lots of rest. Today I went to Walmart with my daughter for about an hour, just walked around, picked up a few things but took it real easy. It was good to get out of the house, but it knocked me out. I had a bit of lunch then went to bed for a nap. 3 hours later, it was time to get up. You don't realize how fragile your health is until you have something serious happen and then boy, what an awakening. I'm down 5 lbs from Friday when I weighed myself before going to the hospital. That brings me 1 pound under my lowest weight since starting with MFP. Not a great way to lose weight and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone but I'll take the weight loss anyway. Now if I can just get past the next couple of weeks without going stir crazy. My daughter keeps telling me to stop doing things and rest but I'm so used to getting up and being active, its driving me crazy. Can't wait to get back on my Wii.
Oh, and if I can weigh in on the yard work debate, I'll take it over house work any way, hands down. Sorry Aug. Charlotte

Charlotte, your daughter is right (and you know it). Don't push too hard too fast. Time to take care of one of those tasks you've been meaning to get to that requires sitting for a while. Assuming you have one of those on deck.

I'm with Aug. Hate yard work.

Bellawares, thanks for the lesson in italics and the implied lesson in boldface.

@morgori: LOL at trying to out-smiley us all.

Well, I often wonder what to write for a Tuesday goal, as I am usually logging on pretty late. This week, though, I have both this Tuesday and next Tuesday covered. Goal this week: get the family packed for our trip to Hawaii by a rational bedtime on Friday. And have a packing list prepared by Thursday when I get home. Goal next week (when I'll be on vacay and logging but may not check in much here): lose a pound. Yes, I know. Nobody loses on vacation. I am still going to strive for it because I am less than 2 lbs from Onederland. I'd love to return from vacation, wait a week for all the fluid to leave my legs, and be 198.

Speaking of fluid, to whoever asked why they give you so much fluid during surgery: to keep your blood pressure up and your tissues moist, if needed. Cutting into the body is a significant thing, and your body responds with some pretty impressive fluid shifts that can be actively dangerous to you if not counteracted. Last thing any doc (surgeon or anesthesiologist) wants is crashing blood pressure or pulse. It takes a while for the body to get all the extra fluid out through the kidneys, but it's really kind of amazing how well our bodies can respond to pretty serious intrusions.

All righty folks, no idea how my week will go from here, so I may see you tomorrow but I may not. If not, be well and I'll wander back in within a couple of weeks, for sure! Aloha!

I came home from the hospital weighing 10 lbs more than when I went in for surgery, and that was even after not eating for two days post-op. I thought it was funny (ironic?) that a weight loss surgery made me gain for a bit.

Charlotte, I remember my case of cabin fever after my surgery. It was awful. Your best bet is to find ways to keep yourself busy--read a book, knit/crochet, watch some seriously long mini-series on DVD--and rest when you need to. All too soon, you'll be back at work, where it won't be an option.

bump - catch you at lunch

Good Morning!

Wednesday wish.... that my daughter will be okay with me going for a walk while she's at cheer practice this evening!! She is just 4 1/2 and I get a little panicky when I can't see her (even though I know she's in excellent hands at practice!! ) I'm going to try and route out a place to walk this evening, since we are there 2 days a week, it'll be good to have a plan!!

Hope everyone has a fabulous day!!

Wednesday Wish: I wish that I had more patience with myself. I know I'm trying but this weight isn't coming off quick enough for me. I know all about plateaus. I've been on plenty of them during this process. It just gets frustrating to bounce around the same weight for a long time before dropping. I just keep telling myself to keep going and you'll get there but I'd like to get there sooner than later.

NSV: No night time eating last night! Ran and went to bed. YAY! Weighed myself this morning and was at 284.7 AGAIN. Hoping to be below 280 before the end of June.

I am feeling this way right now. My weight has been stuck in the 220's for a month or two and it's really getting me down. I keep going up and down with the number on the scale and can't seem to break the 220's. But I know a lot has to do with my weekend eating which isn't so good. I had a really really bad day last Friday and after realizing the calories I ate I was actually disgusted that I did it. And usually I am ok with eating something like chocolate or something like that but not that day I regretted it. But this plateau has lasted too long and it's time to get it to go down! My goal is to be under 200lbs by the end of July. I am currently at 223 (as of this morning)
So here's to getting back at it and reaching our goals!