<p>Marilyn–Congrats on getting down to pre-Thanksgiving weight. Ever since my H had a heart attack about 2 years ago, I don’t eat eggs as much as I used to because of the cholesterol in them. I don’t think they’re bad to eat though–in my pre-mom days I was a fairly serious marathoner and an ovo-lacto vegetarian, meaning I ate eggs & dairy but no meat, poultry or fish. I ate like that for about 10 years. For most people, I think if we just cut out the j-u-n-k and highly processed stuff we’d be fine.</p>
<p>"
Who is this jj virgin and what makes her an expert??</p>
<p>Edit: OK, I just googled her and found out she’s America’s “foremost fitness and nutrition expert.” Shows what I know. She certainly looks fit."</p>
<p>But who has decided she is a fitness expert, indeed, what makes one a fitness expert? </p>
<p>Anyone who advocates a “cleanse” as nutrition needs to be looked at carefully.</p>
<p>I ate enough carbs these last 10 days, and drank enough alcohol that I don’t even want wine OR chocolate tonight. That never happens. I’m detoxing with miso soup with seaweed:). This detox will take a while. I plan to stay off the scale for a while too…</p>
<p>Ack! I have gained 5 pounds in two weeks! I run 5 to 8 miles a day and lift weights every other day. It just is not fair. Ug. I guess it is truly all about counting every calorie.</p>
<p>Chinablue,
Don’t get too discouraged. I was up 2.5 lbs after Thanksgiving and I mean it happened in no more than 4 days. As of this morning I am back to my goal weight. I think the holiday also packs on a lot of water weight if you are not accustomed to eating a lot of the salty,starchy foods that we tend to consume on Thanksgiving.</p>
<p>Wow china that’s a lot of running!!!</p>
<p>Think where you’d be without the running! Glass half full!! :)</p>
<p>Jj virgin program is part of a detox program where you cut those items, items that many people are overly sensitive to, or have allergies, and after three weeks you add them back in slowly one at a time, and see how body handles it, in the meantime cutting back on those foods will help with weight loss.</p>
<p>I have pretty much already removed dairy, corn, and don’t eat peanuts anyway. Looking for gluten free products. Adding in lots more veggies. I need a holiday jump start and will just do the best I can. Not get to fussy when out or at parties, but when I control the menu, I will be tough.</p>
<p>I eat an egg almost every day. If I don’t I’m starving at 10 am. I don’t eat huge amounts of the other stuff. Gluten - half and English muffin or bagel most days and pancakes on Saturdays. Sugar - some in fruit some in Saturday’s maple syrup. Dairy - 1/2 cup 1% milk in my coffee.</p>
<p>I am not a fan of detox diets. I’m pretty sure I just need to exercise more than I do.</p>
<p>mathmom I like your attitude:).</p>
<p>CountingDown, you should mention the coldness to you doctor. That is a strong symptom of hypothyroidism, and a simple blood test will check your thyroid stimulating hormone (tsh) levels.</p>
<p>Weekly weigh-in. Lost the lbs gained at Thanksgiving. Total weight loss this week 2.1 lbs. Starting week 14. 31.1 lbs lost so far.</p>
<p>I agree with dragon mom about cleansing diets. When I was an athlete in my younger, fitter days I would do them occasionally but I wouldn’t recommend them for people trying to lose weight and regain fitness. For those of us who are overweight cleansing diets can put the kidneys into an overwork mode because we’re not only throwing off/burning fat “ash” so to speak, but all kinds of toxins too. Give the body a break! Good food, sleep, exercise is more than adequate for most people. I’m fat because I’ve eaten too much junk for too long, didn’t get enough sleep and rarely moved. Now that’s changing. Don’t anybody be discouraged by these tv gurus. They come and go. It’s called m-a-r-k-e-t-i-n-g!</p>
<p>Great job Bungalow! And I agree with what you said for the most part - IMO, cleansing is ok if you want to kickstart something, but as you mention, most people need to lose weight because they ate too much or moved too little - so…that’s what you’ve got to reverse!!</p>
<p>Maintaining during the holiday, much less losing during this period, is amazing, Bungalow. Great job…late night stress eating is my downfall. Must.stay.strong.</p>
<p>Thanks abasket and ellemenope! You’re both truly inspirational to me! When I first found this thread a few short months ago, I went to the v-e-r-y beginning and read all of the posts-----there’s no doubt about it----this is WORK and it takes TIME. I appreciate all of the information you and so many others have shared to make this a dynamic, informative place. A place to d-r-e-a-m! I’ve made weight loss through the holidays a personal “gift” to myself. I’m tired of being sick and tired, if you know what I mean. I think I’m just angry enough at all of the lost years of not being able to do things and not being able to look nice in the kind of clothing that I like and having to “settle” for outfits I thought I’d never catch myself dead wearing. Standing on the sidelines watching my husband ice skating and sledding, etc with my only d because I could hardly move with knee pain, etc. Feeling old and unattractive. And feeling overwhelmed by being overweight and not knowing really where to start. Gaining and losing the same weight over and over. After a scary breast cancer biopsy I’d had enough!</p>
<p>I just finished the First Trimester of my “pregnancy” towards a new life and body. We all know that it’s in the second trimester we begin to really “show”. It’s that dream that’s keeping me going day to day.</p>
<p>Bungalow, YOU are inspiring!!! (I mean it!)</p>
<p>Would anyone using MyFitnessPal like to friend me there? My userid there is the same as here. </p>
<p>I just had an appointment with a nutritionist (benefit I didn’t know I had until last week) and she rates this tool higher than all others for tracking food and exercise, so I am going to reinvest my efforts to shake off this 10 pounds.</p>
<p>Just taking the opportunity to bump this up so we all can stay on target. I’m still bouncing around a pound or so above my lowest weight; just trying to keep my own resolutions! Right now my nemesis is Trader Joe’s strawberry licorice but latkes are not far off. Not to mention that theory that the body wants to pad itself for the winter cold!</p>
<p>You are all such an inspiration!!
I had to buy a cocktail dress yesterday, which was a bit of an eye-opener (literally and figuratively, and not in a good way). I am still at 4 lbs from goal, but its settled in the wrong places. I do walk on the weekends but need to do more (though it gets dark early now). Thank heavens for spanx 
I will get my head back in the game and get back on track. There are som lumps and bumps in the wrong places and they need to go away.</p>
<p>I have the same thing, Jym and I am AT my goal. MAkes me wonder about setting my goal a few lbs lighter. I just think age is a huge factor. And gravity. I have been doing well with my diet but haven’t been exercising as much as I should. I really need to get back to that. </p>
<p>Today I am home with a bad cold that started three days ago and is threatening to hang on for a while. Ug. Exercising with a cold is so miserable.</p>
<p>bungalowdweller, CONGRATS!!! I could have written your last post. I cannot fathom how I managed to drag around all this weight for as long as I have. I can’t even LIFT that much weight.</p>
<p>I have come to the conclusion that even when I get to my goal, there will be lumps and bumps that are not going to be gone. (Am currently trying to wrap my head around the concept of loose skin and hoping that it will resolve to a fair extent on its own, because a tummy tuck or other skin removal is not medically possible.) I am trying to stay focused on the HEALTHY weight part, not the beauty part. Dropping the sizes will be good enough, even if I don’t get the figure.</p>
<p>Talked to the charge nurse at cardiac rehab yesterday, who is very glad I am sticking around for the post-rehab program. Said a lot of folks go home thinking they will keep up with the exercises and diet, and they are back in rehab within a year or two after having another cardiac event. Our conversation reinforced my decision to continue there vs. finding another gym and getting up the courage to go.</p>