[jwiederhold]

I am very excited for you-you are on track and doing so many good things. Remember, research shows it takes 6 weeks to form new habits, so that will be your hardest time.
I do weight training at home with free weights, which includes using my children-LOL!
You can "fly" them around, throw them up in the air, lift them up to the ceiling and down, etc Just be careful to follow good lifting posture and not to strain your back! Then you are exercising and playing with them at the same time-multi-tasking-LOL!
Yes to your question about doing squats and arm weights-those really count. Also, try doing the push-up where you are on your knees instead of your toes-it is one of THE best exercises for all your arm muscles, your back shoulders, even your abs! I have worked up to 30 regular push-ups from the modified ones, and I love the shape it gives to my arms!
Keep accountable on here, or on the other sites people suggested, and do set very small goals for yourself. Remember, when setting goals, aim low, because slow and steady weight loss is the only kind that people maintain over time, and goals should set you up to succeed, not fail. And, like you did with the pizza, don't beat yourself up when you eat more than you wanted to-exercise more, get rid of the temptations, etc. You go, girl!!

[mpayne]

One of my favorite exercises is wall push-ups. Just lean into the wall and do "push ups" while you wait for coffee to brew, dinner to cook, clothes to dry... anytime you have a few minutes, do a few sets of 15. You'll be amazed at the change in your arms after awhile. Which reminds me, I need to hit the treadmill!

[Aprilmar10]

I just had a vision of us all walking on the treadmill cutting coupons. Can you imagine what an AFC gym would be like? hehehe

[mpayne]

I can read on the treadmill, but not sure about clipping coupons!

I woke up starving this morning! This is a good thing... as I'm usually not a breakfast eater. I really didn't have enough calories yesterday, though - 738 according to Sparkpeople. WAY too low, but I'm just getting started... I really wasn't hungry, though. I made a Core Cabbage Soup recipe that my coworker gave me & had it for lunch and dinner. It was soooooooooo good! Will post the recipe.

[newmommy]

Good luck and keep us updated especially through the holidays.

[simba123]

Patbruck, I've been making my meatloaf with ground turkey and using oatmeal for years and it is great! You all are so inspiring. Menopause shot my waistline all to heck (w/o gaining any weight grrrrr!) All I can say is thank goodness for hip hugger jeans! My sister says our sand has shifted.

[Aprilmar10]

Just reporting in. I am so proud of myself. I have been sticking to my weight loss goals a day at a time.. today I went into Albertsons and a woman that works there came up to me and says, "Wow, you have lost some weight!" I told her she was my new best friend . But really, that really made me feel great and it put more confidence in me that I can and will do this. And for everyone out there who is doing it also or who wants to do it.. I KNOW you can and you will! And when we get there.. its going to feel so great!!!

Today I worked out for 50 minutes. (30 in the morning and 20 in the evening) I dont know why I just had a burst of energy and decided to put it to good use.

I ate about 1300 calories and I have NO urge tonight to snack. (Evenings are usually the worst for me)

And I drank 7 bottles of water!

My skin is starting to look healthier too. YAY!

[mcdlady1]

I am on a healthy lifestyle journey also. I can not recommend sparkspeople.com enough it is awesome and I've lost 30 lbs with them and have 30 more to go. I don't say the word diet and I never deprive myself and of course I get discouraged or get stuck and the pounds don't come off but my clothes are looser and I've replaced some. I've met some friends for life there from all over the world. I also have a group with the ladies in my town and we meet and walk from Sparks. Monday we do RPM spin class, Tuesdays we bely dance I joke and say fat chicks can belly dance too other nights we compete on WiiFit and post are high scores and we meet 1 time a month for a fun activity like bowling or japanese stoll gardens.
Let me know if you need anything and if you join or want to join sparks I have the same name on there. Good Luck

[schatz]

good luck to you all!!! I've lost 20 kilos so far..its taken me about 8 months to do it though. I'm still not done either!!!

[Aprilmar10]

Just checking in.. I weighed myself this morning and I was 203! Thats two more pounds! Im going to be soooo excited when I get under 200!

[grace.maddie]

Originally Posted by mpayne

I'm loving this thread!

grace.maddie - do you have before/after pics anywhere? I would love to see them if you do! Your story is so inspiring.

April, I love the Walk Away the Pounds videos. I have a couple of dvds but usually end up doing one of the free ones on ExerciseTV On-Demand through our cable company. There are a lot of different workouts on that channel if it's available for you. Check your local library for dvds, too - they usually have a pretty good selection of workout dvds.

I joined SparkPeople a few years ago and LOVED it! I was suprised that they put my calories for the day much higher than I'd guessed myself. I would recommend checking out some sites to see what your intake should be every day. You may be eating too little, in which case your body starts holding onto fat (starvation mode - even if you don't feel like you're starving). And YES - food as fuel! That's a good one for the fridge. When I did Body for Life (again, several years ago) that was my motto. There was a recipe for a great protein/oatmeal cookie that I absolutely LOVED on that program. I'll see if I can find it for ya.

well i have an awesome profile my trainer did on me for a book when i got the the 85 lb mark (quite a while ago). its in an eamil and the best i can do it forward it to someone with a little more computer know how than me if they want to post it for me. just send me a p.m. with your email addy.
the next time i post a pic will be when i hit my next goal of being in my ideal weight range (at the top) and when i meet my final goal which is losing half of my body weight! its getting close!

[patbruck]

GM - you should seriously contact People magazine! You could be featured in their "half their size" article that comes out every year. They always focus on people who lose it w/o gimmicks and fad diets. Your story is very inspiring.

[Javahead]

My favorite exercise is an oldie but goody! Richard Simmons Sweatin to the Oldies! I picked up a box set of 4 on Amazon.com and let me tell you, it's fun and I do sweat doing it! Even if you just do a little at a time 2 or 3 songs now, and go back later to do 2 or 3 more. I always figure if I'm up and moving at all, that's more exercise than I'm getting if I just stayed sitting.
*Also, tis the season for raking leaves. It's exercise but can be hard on your back, so be careful. (But burning the leaf pile is so much fun.)

[Aprilmar10]

Just checking in. I did horrible today, but Im not sweating it. We had a party for my daughter's second birthday and took her to ChuckeCheese's. I ate pizza and cake and didnt work out.

But I did do great the rest of the week and tomorrow is another day. Im not on a diet, I am simply changing my life. So one day of bad food wont kill me because I have every other day to eat healthy. Right?

[mpayne]

RIGHT!!! You are doing great, April. Don't get discouraged over one meal - just get back on track with the next!

[savings queen]

Where are you? I was browsing around on AFC, and am wondering how you are faring in your endeavors....I don't want your support to lapse if you still need us!