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<p>Well, that isn’t half bad! It could have been drinking and French pastries, lol!</p>
<p>I thought that I would have nothing to do when my youngest went off to college. I was always busy driving her to band practice and her other activities while she was in high school. </p>
<p>Once she went away to college, my elderly neighbors became more frail, so I get to drive them to their appointments and activities,etc. Just exchanged one person for 2! It all works out, LOL!</p>
<p>First time posting on this thread although I do read it once in a while. I have those 8-10 pounds that seem to creep on and off, has been more difficult in last few years as menapause approaches. On “17 Day Diet”. Haven’t seen much posted here on this plan. Worked once before (it is difficult…have to be desperate/determined to get through the first few days without carbs) starting Day 9 today, down 3 lbs. Low carbs (mostly from the two fruit servings), healthy and creates some good eating habits like including probiotics in the diet. Have to follow it very closely on the Phase One, the first 17 days so best for those with flexible schedules and time to plan food choices. Low calorie so light exercise only as well. Very structured so thought it might be an alternative for some of those struggling on here. Best to have a buddy on it for accountability .Not for everyone, but it does work.</p>
<p>abasket–if you check in, I’m curious how your Couch-to-5k is going. I have five (count 'em! five!) days left of P90X. It’s been an interesting 13 weeks. Still <mostly> keeping track on MyPlate. Still haven’t stepped on a scale, but decided maybe my goal is to drop one pants size. I’d be content with that.</mostly></p>
<p>Here I am! Finished week 2 and will start week 3 tomorrow. Still VERY motivated! Battling a little bit of a sore left ankle area but have been getting advice on that - nothing severe, but as a non-runner/jogger I don’t even know if it’s better to run through the aches and pains or if you should take a break.</p>
<p>I didn’t find week 2 much harder than week 1. Week 3 brings some new challenges but I think week 4 seems quite challenging!</p>
<p>I’d love to have some other people on this thread doing C25K with me - even if we are not on the same weeks! (I fully expect that at some point I will have to take longer than a week to do a week - not a problem for me)</p>
<p>Congrats, abasket!! Keep it up!!</p>
<p>I have been less diligent since the end of August, when I was last 2 lbs from my goal. Allowed myself to slack off, and with the exception of one day in early Sept, have let my weight go up and down by 2-4 lbs. But I am back in the groove, excercised both days this past weekend, and my weight is back to that 2 lbs from goal weight point. I.can.do.this.</p>
<p>Yeah abasket! Yeah jym! Keep it up!!</p>
<p>3.2 lbs lost this week! Earlier on this thread, someone recommended the Anderson Method for weight loss which has been quite helpful to me. It’s behavioral therapy and rings true for me. Let’s face it, we all know how to lose weight, it’s keeping it up and keeping it off that’s the challenge. That’s why this thread is so helpful—we’re not alone! And ellenemope -I’m glad I’m not interested in boozing or moving into a bakery as of yet. Prosecco and eclairs/cakes are my guilty pleasures. I’m putting them aside for awhile!</p>
<p>Can you give me a quick run down on some of the helpful behavioral aspects of the Anderson Method?</p>
<p>Bill Anderson is a psychotherapist. His behavioral program is called Therapeutic Psychogenics and its goal is to create a permanent change in habitual behavior and thinking. He states that overeating is a type of addiction so we must change our minds about how we see our overweight condition and learn to be honest with ourselves or our weight loss efforts won’t be permanent.</p>
<p>Working upon reconditioning my thoughts is very important and helpful. In behavioral psych we know that a behavior that is rewarded is repeated so in my mind I remind myself that overeating causes physical pain (ex back or knee pain). I imagine deep fried foods cooked in filthy grease, donuts as wheels of fat, etc. to make those foods that may tempt me become unappetizing. Cognitive behavioral therapy is also used—changing the way I think and feel about eating events/the weightloss journey. I spend time every day imagining myself at my desired weight. I picture how I’ll look, what I’ll wear, what I’d like to do, being active, and imagining myself feeling good, living life at my target weight and being fit and happy. I picture myself eating healthfully and enjoying the foods I like in healthy amounts, easily able to maintain self control and moderation. Visualization, positive self talk, I could go on and on. I love the book and consult it regularly.</p>
<p>Hi, folks. I had to come back to celebrate. I don’t lose 3 lbs a week or anything (that’s incredible - congrats!). My goal is more modest, because my abilities are at a lower level. So I shoot for losing 1/2 lb a week, and make up for the lower amounts by being determined to see it never come back. Since Feb I have now lost 20 lbs! And I’ve been going to the gym 3-4 times a week, so I’m feeling so much more fit. I threw away every one of my size 14s.</p>
<p>We like traveling, and since February I’ve pictured myself lugging around a 20-lb backpack, then putting it down. The feeling of putting down a 20-lb backpack and not having to carry it around has been a great motivator because it makes the concept feel so real to me. </p>
<p>Congratulations to all of you!</p>
<p>Hayden that is wonderful. I’m proud of you! Want to share any changes you made besides hitting the gym?</p>
<p>Thanks, MyLB! I think the gym was the biggest impact. 200 calories 3 - 4 times a week adds up over 6 months. I’ve been trying to eat in a way that recognizes my weaknesses and preferences so I can keep it up. So I still eat the foods I like. I still have my cinnamon roll from the local bakery every Saturday morning, for instance. But instead of cookies for an afternoon snack, I put a little sugar on black- or blueberries, and eat that instead. I am more focused on making permanent changes rather than quick weight loss. At least, that’s what I tell myself as I enjoy my cinnamon roll . . . .</p>
<p>Congrats, hayden!!!</p>
<p>You are inspiring me to work harder to get the last few pounds off. I need to kick up the exercise.
Last night my DH and I walked up to the nearby nice restaurant for dinner. That might have defeated the purpose :)</p>
<p>But you walked! That increases your food allowance.
( as does being on hold with insurance companies, answering political polls or having a physician 18 years younger than yourself)
;)</p>
<p>I did confirm with a friend that calories you get from eating samples in stores do NOT count. ;)</p>
<p>Good job, hayden! Changing your lifestyle to accomplish a slow and steady weight loss will be the most successful in the long run. And keeping a few treats in the lifestyle helps avoid binges.</p>
<p>Wait until Thanksgiving - walking past the giant turkeys and thinking “I used to carry that much on my body”!</p>
<p>Good work, hayden! nice image.</p>
<p>I told my DH he is carrying around about 5 bowling balls, but he didn’t seem fazed. :(</p>
<p>Lol mommusic! Weight appears not to faze my H either. He was stick thin until middle age so he is happy for the gain but it has been increasing steadily as a result of his previously unknown joy in eating and the slowing of metabolism and now people have started telling him he’s put on some weight…but for now he’s not willing to do anything about it.</p>
<p>Darn, hayden! I’m aspiring to a size 14! Congrats on your success – slowly but surely wins the race here. :)</p>
<p>Countingdown, we’re all aspiring to something. We just have to focus on our progress, and not someone else’s, right? I’m not feeling bad about myself because Marilyn and Ellenemope are doing so much better.</p>
<p>OK, I’m lying. :)</p>