LoseIt!

Although I tried NOT to approach it as a diet, but instead as a lifestyle change, it didn't really work out that way for me at first. To me diet=hunger and disatisfaction. After I started to get restriction (i.e. more satisfaction and less hunger), it stopped feeling so much like a diet. However, I'm trying to lose another 80 pounds or so...so I AM on a diet (of sorts). I'm currently aiming for at least a 500-1500 calorie deficit per day. When I get to my goal weight, I will no longer be aiming for a deficit, just no surplus. So, in my opinion, until I'm no longer looking to lose weight, I AM on a diet. But it doesn't feel like the diets that I have done all my life. AND once I get to my goal, I won't go back to my OLD habits and will incorporate much of the healthy lifestyle I have learned along the way. I guess that is what the difference is for me.

Awwww!!! I so LOVE to hear things like this. I could not be happier for you. You are a beautiful girl inside AND out!

That is just absolutely awesome! I'm so happy for all the success that you have had and I have no doubt that it will continue. You can't possibly know the affect you have on all of us out here. You haven't just lost a whole bunch of weight, you have gained friends, because that is surely how I think of you! Way to go, Sandy!

Your body is just catching up! We are all learning that if we do what we are supposed to do, we will get there. It may be slowly, but it will be surely! Keep up the awesome work. You inspire me to push myself harder!!

You look beautiful!! Congratulations and best of luck on the last few pesky pounds!

YOU GO GIRL!!! You just inspired me to kick it up a notch this week. Love it!

You will do great! YOU are in control now!

This morning I weighed in for my weekly Monday official weight and I was the exact same weight I was this time last week. Normally, I would be SO UPSET! But not today. Today, I know that I most likely lost over a pound this week, but I'm still dealing with the havoc put upon my body from being sick. Last week, I "lost" 4.4 pounds according to the scale, but I know if reality, it was more like 2.4. This week it says ZERO, but I know it is more like 2. So, PFFFFFFFFFFFFT to you scale! I have the power now!! And now that I'm back on track, things will be back to normal. I win. I won't be able to reach my goal of being 210 before my trip to NOLA, but it was an aggressive one. I have 8 1/2 weeks to lose 13.20 pounds to reach my Thanksgiving goal. That one I'm determined to reach!!! I had a nice relaxing weekend before my whirlwind October begins. Despite the rain on Saturday, it cleared up enough for us to have a couple good hours at the drag races in Ennis. Boy, those cars are LOUD! Sunday, after I spent an hour at church with my stomach growling virtually the ENTIRE TIME (I really need a fill...), we went to breakfast at the Original Pancake House. I had some egg concoction. It was good, but I think I prefer IHOP. Then I went bargain jeans shopping. At Kohl's, I bought a pair of SIZE 14s!!! They are Gloria Vanderbilt and they tend to run big, but STILL...SIZE 14! No "W" after it or anything! :smile: Then I went to Cato. When I was bigger, I LOVED the way their jeans fit me. Plus, they are cheap! I got to shop on the SKINNY side of Cato this time which was a big, huge stinking deal! I bought a pair of the Classics and a pair of skinny leg (heh.) in size 16. I think I am a true 16 right now. Not bad, but I will be REALLY excited when I am a true 14. (Don't get me started how I'm going to feel when I'm a true 12, because that has NEVER happened in my adult life!!!!) Lot's of exclamation points this morning. Hmmm. or Hmmmm!!!! :ohmy: I'm not wearing any new stuff today, but I am wearing a shirt that I haven't been able to wear since 2006. Yay! I'm starting to thing about what I need to take on my trip to New Orleans this weekend. Must look sassy!! Have a great week everyone!

So glad to hear that you are feeling better! Fills are part of the process and they really do help. Just follow all of the rules and I'm sure you will do great!!

Have a super fun time at the concert!!

You have done an amazing job since getting that wake up call. Congratulations on changing your life. A lot of people have gone through similar things and still didn't have the strength. Quitting smoking is freaking hard. I did it and I would be lying if I said that I never thought about it. I wish you all sorts of luck in kicking that habit, because it is a doozy of a bad one. Good luck!!

I am so sorry! That has to absolutely suck. But good for you for picking a new race and starting again. It will be so amazing and worth it when you do get across that finish line!

Let it out, sister!

My favorite "breakfast" is to fry up a small amount of diced onions, green peppers and mushrooms with Pam. Then scramble an egg, add the veggies and some havarti (jalepeno havarti or garlic havarti, even better!) at the end. Absolutely delicious! I say "breakfast" because I usually have it for dinner. And now that I bring it up, it sounds great for TONIGHT'S dinner!

I'm smiling as I read your post because I can just FEEL your happiness. Every congratulations to you and I just know you are going to continue doing well!!

Wow, truly inspirational story! You are awesome, that's all there is to it!

Those are great goals!! I had similar ones and it amazes me how many of them I'm reaching so quickly. I LOVE that your daughter is going to be a whale dentist...that is most fabulous!!

That's wonderful! Way to go!

Aw...I'm so sorry you have had to go through all that. But now you are back on track and can move forward! Of course you can do it!!! We are all here to help you through it!

Dude, I TOTALLY did the same thing right before surgery and I think it is totally normal. Best of luck to you! I'm sure it will go perfectly.

Good morning everyone! Last night I was still not to my pre-Chinese fighting weight. I was beyond frustrated and quickly coming to the realization that a little Mandarin chicken is NOT going to have that LONG of an effect. When I don't know what in the heck is going on, I go to the numbers. Accoring to Jax (as many of you know, Jax is my BodyBugg), I should have lost roughly a pound this week thus far...give or take. Seeing that I have only lost two tenths, that is A LOT of TAKE! I went back further. Last week was my overfill, allergy, emergency unfill debacle. I lost 4.4 pounds last week. Well...according to Jax, I should have only lost 2.3 pounds last week. So at the end of last week, my scale was 2 pounds "ahead", which I'm sure was an effect of dehydration from the overfilled period. Meaning, I would have to gain 2 pounds this week for me to "break even". Make sense? The fact that I'm down AT ALL is a sign that I'm having a great week! This is why I'm glad I spent the money to buy Jax. I would have been very frustrated this week to work so hard and be at a standstill. However, he has given me the INFORMATION to make me realize what is going on with my body. Goal track: I still have 2 pounds to lose by next Thursday to reach my mini goal of hitting 210 by my New Orleans trip. But I'm still well on track with my semi major goal to be 199 by Thanksgiving and the major goal of losing 100 pounds (185#) by 1/31/11. New stuff: I was a little less creative today. I have on an old shirt, but this is the first time I have worn it. I bought it about 5 years ago on the way up. It was tight at the time, but it was on sale. :thumbup: Plus, just a few pounds and I could fit into it! Haha! Anyway, now it looks quite nice. I also have on my new black flats. They aren't fancy, but everyone needs a basic pair of black flats! My jeans are a size 18 and it is apparent that it is time to retire them. I have 9 pairs of jeans (keep in mind that I wear jeans to work) and over the last 2 weeks, I have had to retire 5 pairs! I think if I try on a 6th pair, they will have to go as well. Looks like someone is going jeans shopping!! Have a wonderful, wonderful Friday! And a safe and happy weekend!!

I'm so happy and smiling at your post!!

I don't even listen anymore to comments like that. Certain things hurt my feelings at first, but I'm doing this for me and I'm as happy as can be. I control that! Good luck to you and I hope your journey brings a TON of WONDERFUL new people into your life.

I LOVE the show So You Think You Can Dance and have attended every tour they have had! Yes, I am somewhat of a 12 year old girl. :thumbup: The first tour which was from Season 2 didn't come to DFW so we actually flew to Chicago for a weekend to see it. We are dedicated! Last night was the most recent SYTYCD tour at the Verizon theater in Grand Prairie. Eight of us met for dinner, then went to the show. It was great! Plus, I had plenty of room left in my seat AND I kept my legs crossed which was super awesome!!! I was slightly annoyed this morning when I weighed and I hadn't gotten rid of ALL the pesky extra I had found with my Chinese food. I guess it was over half though, so I should get over it. I'm sure that tomorrow will bring things back to normal. Today's new items: I'm wearing a long shirt/short dress in grey black and white animal print over leggings. I added a short-sleeved linen jacket and grey suede short boots. My dental hygenist told me that I looked "super cute" this morning so that is fun! This is the first time I've worn any of it except for the leggings. It's so fun to take tags off and wear something each morning! Tomorrow is Friday everyone...hold on, we've almost made it!!

I'm one of those people who doesn't really like exercise, so I'm a HUGE advocate of finding whatever works for you. I went to one Zumba class and I liked it a lot! I am a Jazzercise class manager (I became one because it keeps me committed) and I get plenty of cardio there, so I don't end up doing other classes often. If I can only pick one, I prefer Jazzercise because they have weight & flexibility training added, plus they (at least in my classes) seem to focus more on technique. I like/need that. In Zumba, you can let loose and dance, dance, dance! If you are into dancing, I think you would like it. Have fun!