It's been a very long time since I have been on the list so I thought I would start all over. I had several goals that I wanted to make but apparently I didn't want it enough. I don't really know what I am going to do to try to get rid of this weight. I know my best be is to take it one step at a time, so I am going to start with little things and see how I handle it. First water. I am terrible about drinking water so my first personal goal is to make drinking water a habit. On a broader scale I am gong to start at the grocery store. If I only buy things that are healthier my family adn I will only eat things that are healathier. Makes sense right. My long term goal isn't so much to lose weight for me. It's more than that. I want my family to have better health and I want my boys to realize that sugar is not a staple food.


On another front, we finally came to a decision, more or less, about a house. We are trading in the matc box for a sectional. If we get things done asap we will be in by the time school starts. We pretty much know what we want it is just gettng both of us there at the same to finalize things and get the finalncing started.


Anyway, at least I am back and going to try to honestly change my lifestyle. Hopelully a more realistic look at life will make things easier.

Hello,

your goals seem very realistic and obtainable,. ( i think thats a word)
i also love your quote as it describes most of us.

I want my family and myself healthier and they learn by example. my kids love goodies cuz they always saw mommy eating them. i got them now to eat fruit and yogurt and other good foods.
for me i love water so its not a problem and neither is exercise. its the food. i love to eat at night and had to quit that and its tough for me. each day i struggle but am trying.
i have alot of weight to lose yet but am fighting to do so.

i am looking to move to but to rent and not buy. but its so stressful(its all in my journal) and want to be in somewhere before school as it may not be in the same school district.

stay strong and take care.

I think starting with 1 goal at a time is wise too. And water is a great place to start. I thought it would be harder than it was because I use to never drink water, and I do mean never! But once I realized how many calories were in sodas, juices, etc., it was actually the easiest thing in the world for me to pass the other drinks up! I decided to think of calories in terms of money, so if I have $2000. to spend today, knowing how much I love food, do I want to spend $150. on a soda? I think not! So that helped me big time!
However, it isn't a perfect science cause I've been known to "spend" $1200 on a pint of ice cream in a nano-second! So there are kinks in every plan!:D

But water became easier day by day, week by week, I just kept it with me at all times all day long, even overnight on my nightstand. Once it becomes habit, you're in there!

Your plan for the food is a good one too. My daughter lost her mind when I stopped buying chips, cookies, and treat foods in general. She hated it at first, but I realized as hateful as some of her comments were like, "we're not all on a diet mom!" I was doing what was best for her in the long run. And your kids will get use to healthier snack foods, it'll just be a transition phase, then they'll adapt.

Good luck with your home, hope you get in a new home before the new school year.:D

Donna

Thanks for all the positive support. I'm not worried about the boys being mad about no junk food because they choose fruit over junk anyday. Water is getting easier. I usually do really well with it then end up slacking off. I know I need more exercise but that is a goal I am not ready to add yet. I just don't have the time. I should becuase I have the whole summer but I am so focused on getting the new house that I am spending a lot of time packing excess junk and moving boxes to my Mom's for storage. I guess that is exercise in itself.

I started out pretty good with food today, Cheerios, milk, and toast. the we went to the mall to run some errands and I had a chilli dog, cheese fries and a sierra mist. I know, I know I was weak. For dionner I we probably be at my moms so it's hard to tell what I will have.

Anyway, I will try to do better tomorrow. I am going to go drink my weight in water. See you all tomorrow

Wanted to add that Ihad a pretty good 3-4 oz steak, augratin potatoes and green beans for dinner and a sucker later for desert. I will have drunk probably 80 or so oz of water.

Here is a picture of me at my current weight. If I do this right I will post new ones from time to time.

Okay, new goal. I will do a minimum of 15 minutes exercise a day. It can be sit ups, floor work, walking whatever. I figure I'm spending most of my evenings on my butt, I may as well do something. I can even get my oldest to exercise with me although it is kind of disheartening exercising with a 7 year old. He is like a machine. I tickled his belly yesterday and when he tensed up it I realized how tight his little muscles are. I supposed if I did half the things he does in a day I would have abs like that too.

Anyway, My goal along with keeping up wiht water is to do 15 minutes of something. Wish me luck!! :ex:

Didn't get to do the exercise, but thewater was still pretty good. I got started tallying the numbers for the community service the kids do at school. (We have a population of about 1400 and at leat 75% do CS that I VOLUNTEERED to keep track of. What was I thinking?!?!?)

Anyway, I had 2 eggs and toast for breakfast, butterfinger for lunch:c( , sweet and sour chicken, veggies and rice for dinner and toast the PB for a snack. Oh yeah I shared a twim pack of little debbie snack cakes with my son. Not good. I really need to do more with planning and orgainzing meals instead of eating what I have urges for.

Today I had 2 french toast, and so far 2 pieces of pizza bread. I haven't thought about dinner yet (this is a issue that I need to deal with).

I will try again for the exercise. Actually I should do it now since Cam is asleep.

Hi MO--

I'm originally from West Virginia....just below Charleston in Putnam County. It's nice to see someone from "down home" on this site.

I've been dieting since around the first of the year. You'll find me on the "calorie counter" forums. I've lost 62 lbs so far at a rate of 2 lbs a week.

I'm keeping calories between 1200-1500 calories a day and doing the Leslie Sansone "walk away the pounds" tapes (very easy and not at all complicated.)

Just wanted to wish you luck...I know it's hard to get started on the right plan but I hope you do well.

It's great to hear from a fellow hillybilly! Congrats on the loss!

I did get in te 15 min of exercise and food wasn't oo bad. Today I have several chores to get done so who know what the day will bring. I will hopefully check in tonight.

Hiya Mohigan! Your goals sound terrific and I'm sure that this brand-spanking new journal will help you achieve them.

I have an exercise suggestion. I too have a very hard time some days just squeezing in any exercise at all. But the other day I was playing with this fitness ball at the gym at work and I found a great stretch for my hips. It looks a little seductive ;) so I decided I should buy a ball for home and stretch there. I have to tell you, I have a hard time getting off of this fitness ball! It's addictive! It's so much fun to just sit on the thing and bounce around, plus you can do squats, pushups, situps, etc. with it! What a great way to spend $15 at Target! I highly recommend it. You can get in your 15 minutes while you're watching tv no problem.

Good luck with everything! :wave:

I have seen those and I want one but right now we live in a 14x66 moblie home and I barely have room to move. We are buying a new place hopefully before Christmas so I plan to get one then. I saw those when I was preganant and they look like too much fun. My oldest sone would even ove it. thanks for stopping by and for the suggestion.

Lets see, what did I have yesterday...2 eggs w/ bacon and toast, lunch-hot dog, dinner-calzones and poppers (you know, those yummy deepfried cheese filled bites of sin)

Today was better. Break-2 pancakes, lunch-nada, lost track of time and next thing I knew it was time for dinner. Dinner-Mac and cheese, chicken breast and veggies.

Exercise--GREAT!!!! I actually let Bill talk me into betting on the bike I loved it. I didn't do anything like we used to but I t was so much fun riding with the kids and pulling Cam in his cart. I good day!!!

Crazy crazy crazy week!!! My in laws are here for most of the week so I really don't have much time for anything but catering to them. I love em to death but it gets a little tiresome. They went out visiting so I have a little time to check in.

You could probably guess that the diet has gone done the tubes this weekend. We had Bill's graduation party so we had lots of really bad food, burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, cake, chips, yadda yadda yadda, so I was really bad yesterday. I am trying to rein it in but it isn't working today becasue of course we have al the leftovers. oh well.

Bill is almost done with school. He has the rest of this week and then m,t,w of next week then we will finally have him home inthe evenings!!! Maybe soon we will be able to get started on the financing for the new house.

Anyway, I am going to go and relish the quiet for a while. I will try to check in later.

I am self destructing. I have done nothing but eat this weekend. I feel like such a failure. I was going through my regular routine and I stopped at the kitchen counter and cut yet another piece of cake and it hit me. I am eating myself to death and I can't stop. I put ona happy face while I am writing thinking that if I keep typing away that maybe what I'm writing will come true. I have totally failed myself. I keep saying if this happens or when that happens. I can't wait for everyting else to happen to make me lose weight. I don't know what to do. that's a lie. I do know what to do. It's as simple as eating right and exercising. I can't make myself do it. That's the issue. I have tomake myself do it and I can't...or won't. I'll come back later. I want to wallow in private now.

Hey...you will get your self-control back again. I was battling with myself because I am not working right now and I am at home with my husband (who eats!) It is not as easy to cut back when I eat with him for three meals a day so I can imagine what it is like for you with 2 kids in a small mobile home. I am back doing the Atkins diet and I told my husband that I am not into the cooking thing...eating for my diet is the priority, and he understands because we have been through this many times before in our relationship. I have completed 3 good days in a row and I feel terrific.

You could try concentrating on eating the recommended numbers of fruit and vegetables in a day, and if you have room for more, eat what you want. I suspect you will eat less of the high calorie processed food if you eat your veggies. Just a thought to get you going in the right direction without making a radical change.

Take care.

Mohigan,

I don't have much time today but I saw your post and had to respond quickly. First, :hug: :hug:

Don't give up babe. We all have issues, and sometimes it takes time to work through them. This is a great place to do it, with lots of others who have been through the same thing and understand how you are feeling. It is okay to have down days.

You will get through them. :sweety:

Something I have noticed in my life is that I usually sink the lowest right before I come to a significant breakthrough in my life. Almost like I need the extra insight that comes from a very dark place. You may also be on the verge of a powerful discovery that will change your life forever. Don't be afraid to listen to your depression and learn from it.

I have to run, but please know someone cares and I'll look forward to talking more with you later.

Take care! :rose:

Thanks All!!! I really appreiciate the support. I just don't know what I am doing right now. I think I am going to talk the weekend and re-evaluate what I want and how I what to go about it. I have tried so many things so many times that I really don't know where to start. Changing one thing ata time seem good but I Have the "Ben Franklin" complex. If you have ever read his autobio where he talks about the virtues he wishes to master, as he masters one and moves on to the next, the first one goes to pot.

So. Where to start. Planning and preparation. I should start planning a menu for the week. that may even save me some money because it will help with impulse buying. I think I even have a program onthe computer to do that. Next, exercise. I ahve absolutely no excuse for not walking. I have tons of space out here to walk and I don't need toworry about miles, if I walk for 1/2 hour that would be great. So why not start now? I don't know. It looks really good on paper (or monitor). All I have to do is do it. I don't need any special equipment, computer programs or food. All I have to do is DO IT. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DO IT. Keep saying that.

It's Sunday morning and I have done alot of thinking. I wrote a long time ago that that time what my last try. That was about 3 tries ago. I am tired of saying that I am starting over when I never erally start at all. I say I am gong to do big things, Or lost of little ones, but I can never keep it together. Once again I am making some goals for myself. I want to walk at least minutes a day. I am not going to worry about miles, I just want to put in the time right now.

Bill is finally finish with school!!!! Well, after Tuesday. This means we will all be back together for dinner. No more instatn food for me and Mack. I went to the store adn got decent things breakfast and lunch, yogurt, cottage cheese (fat free of course) and lots fo fruit and fat free, low can high fiber cereal. Dinner is still a quandry. I want to plan meals out for the week to be able to monitor what I eat, save money and keep my sanity whenI sart back to work in August. I also plan to start taking my lunch to school. School lunches have change alot and the potatoe bar is a real killer. I am also trying to thing more along the lines of the recommended daily allowances of different food groups. Veggies and fruits are the priority I am really going to try to get 5 of each that are good quality.

Before I get into the menu for the week, I want to update anyone who has been listening to me rant about buying a houe. Billand I finally got to sit down with a sales rep and figure out just what we want an dcrunch some numbers. We are looking at 80000at the minimum and 100000 at the far outside. With the interest rates today that is actually doable for us. I knwo have the task of finding a loan. Bill works through the dy so I get to do the financial shopping. I am nervous about it but I have a few different options and plan to spend much of tomorrow looking and researching. I also saw that NEA (National Education Assoc) has a mortgage assistance program so I may look into that. Wish me luck!!!

This weeks menu:
Monday
B-cereal, milk, fruit
L- LF ham sandwich, FF yogurt w/ fruit
D-Bill's graduation--they decided to have pizza for the graduation party so I may be starting out on an ominous note

Tues
B/L pretty much the same as above
D-Beef roast, potatoes, veggie

Wed
D-Chicken caccatorie (I have been craving this for weeks)

Thurs
D-Big salad

Fri-
?

This is going to take some practice. I want to hav eat least one vegetarial meal a week and try to stick wit recipes that use fresh ingredients. we'll see how this works

Well, It took me one day to not make my goal for the week. I don't feel to bad though because I spent the day running around talking to people about a mortgage. then tonight was Bill's garduation. I didn't do to bad on food, cereal adn milk for breakfast a veggie wrap from sheetz and a FF yogurt for lunch and, unfortunately, pizza and assorted junk for dinner. Tomorrrow will be better. I did do pretty good with water, that's better than nothing.

Today is starting out pretty good. I have 566 clories so far with breakfast and lunch. I want to stay under 1400. I have to come up with something else for dinner because we ended up haveing the roast for dinner on Sunday. I have no idea what to make. Actually I will probably be at my Mom's. I will sheck in again later to finish out the day.

Calorie swere 1449 for yesterday. I'. really surprised, I didn't think I did that well. I have got to find a way to get in the exercise. It seems liek I hav eplenty of time until I want to start then the world falls apart. We'll see what happens today.

Calories today at about 1442. Not bad. It just takes a little bit of thought. Go figure. I am finding that my diet ( meaning what I prefer to eat) is pretty much vegetarian. If I weren't married I probably would be vegetarian but I married a meat and potatoes guy and had meat and potatoes kids.

A friend of mine has some pilates tapes that I am going to try (and pirate SHH ;) ) It's raining today so I am pretty much stuck in the house. Mack had swinning lesons today so we at least were able to get that in. I need to get more water in today, literally. but overall not too bad.

I ended up haveing to completely change my menu for the week. Planning day to day won't work so I am trying to get decent food to use through out the week and not stray from that . I planned to have a mushroom ragu over pasta tonight but at the store Mack asked if we could have chili. Sounded good so I am putting of the pasta till the weekend. Anyway, I need to go get my cornbread inthe oven and finish the laundry.

I did get to walk some yesterday, about 30 minutes while I was waiting to get my glasses fixed. I took Cameron so the stroller added some resistance.

Today calories were 1540. That's a little high, but I did get in several veggies. I tried the pilates and couldn't even get through the basic instructions. I wanted to lay there and cry. Anyway, I will keep at this and some time soon maybe I will be strong enough to try it again.

I have been starving today. I ate more for breakfast and lunch than I have been nor I feel bloated. I am tryign to come up wit something good and different and light for dinner. I have chicken, mushrooms, broccoli and cheese. What I am going to do with them I don't know. I have my nephew today and bill got to come home early, although he took off on the motorcycle, so I am not sure when and how many I am going to feed. Water is going really well. I posted in a couple of placed how I set a jgallon jug of water onthe counter and it gives me a visual of the water I need. So far it works great. Anyway, I am ging to go do laundry. I will check in later with the calorie count.

the weekend has officially gone to hell. Friday wasn't bad, Saturday was way bad. I not only had a coke but 2 beers and one was a 16 oz can. We also had Chinese food for dinner and not necessarily the good stuff. I'm talking eggrolls, cheese wantons and the works. Today I have a babyshower to go to. I know they will have those little sandwches and that I will eat about 30 of them. And of course there will be ckae and other goodies. Sigh, big fat sigh.

It is still nagging at me that I couldn't even start that pilates tape. How pathetic am I. I guess I could just start smaller and eventually work up to that. I guess tomorrow is another day and I can always start over. Maybe that is the problem. I can always start over.

Okay, new week. Here we go again. I am trying not to be cynical but what can I say. I still have some slimfast left from that effort so I think I will start having that for breakfast and then a light lunch and dinner. I finally cleaned Mack's room, it should not have to take 31/2 hours to clean a room that small, so I can do some exercise tape in his room. I am going to change the walking everyday to exercise everyday in my goals. I would really like to be able to lose something before school starts again in the fall. Too bad that is only about 5 weeks away. Anywho I am going to give it a try again this week and see how things go.

On a side notI am sending in the application for our loan in the morning so send all your good thoughts.

Mohigan, I am trying to do the Pilates tapes too. I refused to surrender even tho I suck lol
I cant even do an AB Crunch right.
But, I dont get far at all with any of those videos except the Walk off the Pounds tape.. its more my speed..LOL
No ballet, no twinkle toes, or dancing or standing on my head with my leg on my head LOL
So, I just think any movement is better than none and those people on that tape cant see me anyways lol
I started out with only 5 minutes..lol
I love the Eliptical tho, its like riding a bike standing up, but you dont fall down lol

Mohigan,
Here come the good thoughts...:)
Go easy on yourself...shoot for *health* and not numbers...and you will suceed. I am cheering for you!

mohigan,
Don't worry about the pilates I can't do it either, I don't know who they are kidding when they say everybody can do this! LOL ! I put my pilates away until i can lose some weight, I walk on a treadmill and do richards simmoms downtown toning and uptown toning. One day we will be able to do the pilates! have a good day everybody

I broke out the old RS tape and did about 30 minutes. I forgot how much fun he is, and how goofy. Calories were are 1433, not too bad and to top off the day I finally sent out the applicationfor the loan for the house. All in all not too bad.
Thanks for all the good thoughts and positive vibes!!!! I really needed them!!!

Okay, I have a problem. I'm an addict. I am addicted heart and soul to macaroni and cheese. I thought I really blew it today with lunch but I ran the numbers t hrough fitday and I didn't do to bad. I am going to definately lighten up on dinner. Iwas thinking of making burritos and I can go vegetarian with that and save a ton of calories. Also at the store I forgot fo rget sour cream so that helps too. I will just have to go easy on the refried beans. We may not even be here for dinner because of another b-day party for a cousin. If so I will just snack there and, because they live right on the rail-trail, maybe I can talk my sister into a walk. Anyway if not I plan on doing RS again tonight. Will check in again later.

Mmmmmm...

Mac & cheeeeeese...

I hear you, doll. Comfort food is the reason I can barely fit into an airplane seat these days... :(

Ended up way over calories but I did get to walk. Walked about a mile with Cam on my back in his carrier.

Caloies were 1497, not too bad. I ma begining to think before I eat, kind of the rationale that if I eat this now I can't have a snack later. I got to walk some tonight. Not as much as I wanted but I did get out inthe neightborhood and talk to some folks I haven't seen in a while. Carried Cam again which is a feat in itself seein that he is about 25 lbs. I am a littel worried about Friday. WV is having a "tax free" weekend and my sister and I are going school shopping for the boys and out to dinner. I know we will end up at the chinese buffet that si right bedie Wal- mart. Why doesn't that seem fair? It is definatley good marketing puting an all you can eat for 5.95 chinese place right beside the shop till you drop king.

Anywho, That is what is planned so far. Tomarrow I am going to surprise the guys with a shrimp, mushroom pasta dish. that keeps them happy and is light and low cal.

Here I thinkI am dong some thing really good and like always it come back to bit me in the butt. Onthe days I get paid I usually take Mack to luch. today I was starving adn he wanted BK so I amd looking at the menu and I think, "hmmm...veggie burger that shouldn't be so bad" I tasted okay and I had an unsweetened tea that sucked. I enter the numbers in Fitday and guess what. What I thought was going to be a great fast food has 461 calories 461!461!461! It also has 24 gram of fat!!!!!! I am at 1349 cals for the day and I still have dinner to go and the really bad thing isn it is 3:00 and I am starving!!!!!!! Why me?

long story short....DO NOT ORDER THE BK VEGGIE BURGER

:D
I stopped by to say "hi"...thanks for the encouragement. I FEEL victorious!:lift:

Life is officially not fair. At Wal-Mart a associate that I never seem to get away without seeing thought i was my little ones GRANDMOTHER. It took a few seconds to realize that she called me grandma. I mean I know I feel old today but do I look that old? This really sucks.

calories were hight than I had hoped but is did get in more exercise than I thought I would. I am still going to try to get a solid week in this week.

Nothing on the house yet.