I am setting a few challenges for myself. I've been driving myself absolutely insane by counting every single calorie that goes into my body. (an almond has 6.3 calories.) I've also been super restictive with my diet, doing my best to stay between 1000-1200 calories a day.

All of this has provided me with an average of 5 ounces lost a week since May; and stress beyond what is good for anybody. (an egg has 70 calories)

So, my challenges are that I will stop counting calories for a month, I will actively ignore my caloric intake until Dec 1, after Thanksgiving break. (2.5 ounces of turkey has 165 calories). I am on my 4th fill, but I am less than a week into it. I, of course, doubt that I lost anything last week. I feel really restricted, so we shall see how this works out. I can always get another fill, right?

My second challeng is that I'm going to start snacking. 3 meals with no Snacks isn't working for me, so I'm going to add at least one snack in the afternoon. The last time I had any success losing weight I was required to have two snacks in addition to my 3 meals. I would have a bowl of Fiber one Cereal with peaches as my before bedtime snack. Considering how much success I had with that program, I'm going to try modifying my diet to include at least one good quality snack.

I know that these seem to be breaking the bandsters rules, but I'm not having much luck dropping the weight following them.

rules...uh.. schmules...

I think that trying something different is a great idea. I'm frustrated with my own plateau, and I really and truly can't imagine how you must feel most days.

I definately look forward to hearing of your successes

Since you have posted MANY times that you have more muscle mass than the average girl, it seems OBVIOUS to me that you need to be eating more calories! You GO, VINES - I know you are going to find what really works for you!

Of course, you have no idea what lengths we might go to keep you as the turtles' spokesmodel...

lol

Crystal,

Recently when we went to NC and stayed with Mikes parents, I ate like a pig. Funny thing though, I lost about 3 pounds in 2 weeks. What did I do differently over there?

1. I snacked - ALL day long. Nothing big, just a couple of Cookies here, a handfuls of wheat thins there...

2. I ate a BIG dinner and when I was finished, I didnt eat anything til the next morning (usually dinner was over by 6pm - early last meal).

Since weve been back, those 3 pounds have come home as well! Im aggravated about it. My eating habits have changed dramatically since then.

Just thinking though - It seems like those that lose regularly have several small daily Snacks (and I just proved to myself that this seems to work for me too).

Okay, time to check in with this challenge to myself.

I'm doing pretty good on not counting every calorie and I've been managing to get in at least one snack. I find that I automatically count the calories in most of my meals, only because of habbit and the fact that I know how many calories are in most of the things I'm eating. (yay obsession!)

I'm doing pretty good with Breakfast everymorning. I don't always make it, and I frequently eat and drink my tea breakfast at the same time. But I'm doing this on purpose, other wise I don't get in my morning liquids.

I haven't seen any weight loss, not really surpirsed anymore. But, I have lost 2 inches total from hips and waist since I started this challenge for myself.

The added Snacks are definately adding calories to my total daily intake, I know this, even if I haven't activly been counting. My skin is betting better, for a while it was looking pretty ragged and my color just wasn't right. Really blotchy, and normally my skin is even toned. I obviously wasn;t getting something I needed.

So, just thought I'd check in with my challenge to myself.

You keep up the fantastic work Crystal.