Back to 145 again after Thanksgiving pie. Yum! I'm grateful. This week is Nutcracker week full of practices for Austin and Stephenie. Stephen is Stage direct0r this year so he is busy and Lona is helping with the quick clothing changes. She is back to work for 4 hours each day, comes home and naps and then goes in the evening to help. We're grateful that she is doing better. Love to all, Grandma Gloria

Bragging rights

OK, I know that my kids did not sign up for this contest. Still as a proud parent I need to brag about their weight loss - plus, it improves our family stats quite a bit! Here's what Jacob and Ariel have accomplished:

Jacob - start 200 in Jan, currently 165 (17.5% loss)
Ariel - start 185.2 in July, currently 156.2 (15.7% loss)

(Which means both Jacob and Ariel weigh less than I do)

And so... ta da! the family totals:

Start: 748.2
Currently: 683.2
Loss: 65 lbs, 8.7% (thanks to Jacob and Ariel)

Really, hopefully this inspires me to follow Jacob and Ariel's example and get back on track! On the good side, by summer I was 4 pounds up, so now I'm actually 8 pounds down from my July high. Hopefully I will continue in the right direction.

- Carolyn

Never, Never, Never Give Up

Okay, so I am back to 170....sigh. The formula for weight loss is so simple - fewer calories in than expended. If I am not willing to give up the 'calories in', I guess I need to find out how many calories I need to 'expend' to lose weight. Two hours a day? Three? Well, that starts to get ridiculous, so maybe I better think about the 'calories in' again.
On a good note, I went to a chiropractor last night and, although I am sore, I am doing better. I didn't wake up once last night with numb arms and hands. And I can 'scrunch' my shoulders and feel the release - ahh. He said I had a lot of things out of whack (my words, not his) and I must have. I will go back tomorrow - my choice - because my muscles have all been so tight that I am sure they are trying to pull everything back out again.

Reluctant to Post

I have been avoiding posting because it seemed like my weight was out-of-control heading the wrong direction. I was 168.5 this morning - after breakfast - so that is better than it had been looking. I was talking with trainer Holli about it - my original goal was to get healthier and stronger. Weight loss would come with getting healthier. Well, I am definately healthier and stronger than I was at the start of the year, but have been quite discouraged by the weight loss - or lack there of. Especially lately. Part of it is stress. I don't know exactly why I have been feeling so stressed of late, but I have, and I am a stress eater. Holli said stress releases cortisol (?) which makes you think you are hungry - preferring fats and sweets because they release endorphines. AND stress makes you hang on to the fat harder. So the key is to RELAX - NOW! Yeah, you all know what that is like. So, my goal for the next week - month - is to do some relaxation during the holidays - and not relaxation with a package of cookies:)

Staying steady at 145. Getting cold up here but no snow so far. Austin lost his new coat so we went looking for it in the "lost and found" at Jefferson and sure enough it was there! Hooray!
There were about twenty good coats in the bin waiting for their owners to find them. We are going to Robert and Junice's for Thanksgiving. All of their children and spouses will be there with Noah and Gage also and we will be bringing Alisha with us. She is arriving Tuesday night with Jordan Brame. His sister's reception is the Friday night after Thanksgiving. Should be fun.
Hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Hugs, Grandma Gloria

I lost what I had written so here goes again. The pound I thought I lost found me so I'm 145 again. The Ribbon Festival is Saturday. Chandler is playing a solo and a duet plus his scales, etc. Stephenie isn't taking piano this year but is playing the duet with Chandler. Austin is playing a solo and a duet with his Dad plus a modified scale, chord, etc. They are both playing hymns also. The missionaries are coming for dinner so I've been working on getting the kitchen cleaned after the grape juice canning. Looks like we're getting about 30 quarts this year. We share with Junice and Irene. Robert has a job interview tomorrow. Have a good week. Love to All, Grandma Gloria

A Weigh-In - ugh

Interesting weighing this week. My weight spiked to 169+ and I didn't want to post that, but here I am. But today was a new 5 week cycle with trainer Holli, so we weighed - 166. I don't get it. When I weighed in the first time at the club, it was off from my scale by 1 or 2 pounds. Well, I guess this is just 3 pounds off - JUST! I will continue to go by my own scale - darn it. I really need to address my eating as my sleep has also been really crazy this week and I know they can just work off each other - tired, eat more sugar - eat more sugar, sleep disturbed - tired, eat more sugar, etc. That is my goal for the week - really think about what I am putting in my mouth again and get better sleep.

Happy News

So, with the snow yesterday I had to wear long pants and shoes (not sandals) for the first time since last Spring! I dreaded that, because I had grown out of my pants last year or so. I bought ONE pair of pants that I wore all last year. I didn't want to buy more than that because I refused to think that I would stay that size! And that is why I have resisted wearing long pants as summer has turned to fall and now winter. I knew the day would come, but I tried to postpone it as long as possible. So yesterday I decided to try on the outgrown pants and they fit! I didn't have to suck it in or jump around or anything to get in them :) My weight hasn't come down like I would like, but my body is obviously changing and responding positively to the work I have been doing. Working out has definately been beneficial - I am stronger physically and I know my cardio-vascular system is working better and stronger, too. So that is all a plus. I will just stick with it and, eventually I'll get the food under control and lose weight, too.

144 this week. Don't ask me how with Halloween and Austin's Baptism Party also. Maybe it was because of Fast Sunday. Stephenie, Chandler and Austin did "Trunk and Treat" and then Stephenie and Chandler also went "trick or treating" with friends. Austin didn't want to go. He said he had enough candy and wanted to stay home to answer the door and give out candy. We did have some trick or treaters come and it was fun to see Austin enjoy giving them candy. We still have a lot of candy left over. Sigh!

Halloween - ugh

So I managed to salvage a weight-loss this week by weighing after a vigorous workout this morning. Monday mornings you will find me at the club on the treadmill. On Friday I had Don drop me at the club for my spin class and then I walked home! Saturday morning found me walking VERY early - 5:30am, because I had been woke up by activity in the house and I was too frustrated to go back to sleep, so Sanders & I walked for a little over an hour. The funny thing was that I went to sleep in the guest room around 7:30, so when Don got up he took Sanders for another 1 hour walk - virtually the same walk we had done earlier! My undoing was definately Halloween. I was good not to get into the candy before Halloween, but Friday night I couldn't/wouldn't stay out of it! So ugh again! This does put me a bit behind my goal, but not too far. And I am NOT going to throw in the towel just because I am a little off my 1 pound a week. As long as I keep heading down, that is good.
I like the email post notification that I rigged up. Do you?

Checking in After 1 Week

I did weigh in at 169, so I met the 1 pound in one week goal last week. It's amazing, because I am really wanting - and indulging in - treats. I know it is stress eating. Now I just have to figure a better way of dealing with it. (I was actually 168 this morning, but I'll hold that thought for next week :)

I'm back ...

at least for today.

I had a system going that was working for me, slow, but working. I have somewhat abondoned that system and the results are a gain in weight. So, it is time for me to really think about the quote I added to the blog and stop eating just becasue I want it now. I am setting a goal - weight goals are tricky, I think - to lose 5 pounds by Thanksgiving - that's 1 lb a week. I will let you know how I'm doing.

145 still and happy about that. Enjoying this season (my favorite) with its good weather and good food (tomatoes, corn on the cob, watermelon and yes even the zuchinni) Hope all is well there. Love to All, Grandma Gloria

Weigh In Sept 21-27

You know what to do.

Education Week eating habits

I spent Monday night thru Friday night at BYU education week. I was really worried about the effect that would have on my progress, with all the sitting and no time to get in a real work out and the temptations of BYU brownies, ice cream and fudge, etc.. There must have been just the right combo of stairs, campus traversing and BYU food and treats, because I actually came out a little ahead, but not enough to really count, so I am keeping my weight from last week. Anyway, good things can happen, even while having fun :)

Camp and aftermath

The good thing about last week is that we were at Moon Lake and I managed to get a lot of exercise and at the same time avoid overeating too much. The day after our return was Friday and I weighed in at a very nice 167.5. I have to say that, but since then I've settled in at 169.0, so that is my post (and after the excesses of today celebrating John's birthday, I'm afraid I'll go up... so I have to enjoy this while it lasts).

Interesting Mind Games

I find that, as I lose weight (not that it's been THAT much, but still) and feel better, I somehow think that I can get away with eating more, and by more, I mean more JUNK! I know this is another psychological barrier that I will have to work through. I think it's kind of funny and very lame.

Weigh -In Aug 10 - 16

Weigh-in here.

Okay, I'm working out.

I have started running three times a week. If anyone wants to commit to anything with me you're welcome to. We don't have a scale and we quit going to the YMCA so I won't be weighing in.

Weigh-In Aug 3 - 9

Another week - weigh-in!

Weigh-In July 27 - Aug 2

You know what to do by now!

Learning Lessons

I HOPE I have learned something. The week of the 7th I pushed myself too hard - too far, apparently. I worked really hard all week and simply wore myself out. I didn't feel good and I usually feel good if I am working out - a little sore and all, but good. So with pushing everything too hard and getting too tired and not feeling great, I also got VERY hungry and started grabbing food again. I stopped journaling my water, food and activity. Those old patterns return very easily. I felt like had undone everything I had accomplished before, but it wasn't that bad. Instead of looking at this as a huge backslide/failure, I am choosing to see it for the lesson it is and hopefully learn from it - listen to my body, take one day at a time to use my new 'habits' and just keep working at it. It took the entire following week to really recover. So this week, hopefully, it is back to the better routine.

July 20 - 26 Weigh-In

You can click on the comments for this post and weigh-in or post a seperate note!

Holding pattern

I am still at 172.5, which is actually good news since I had trended upward a bit and this is at least back to more of a steady state. I did exercise yesterday and have tried to include more activity in my life, but it is very little, and unfortunately I'm still all-too-willing to eat stuff that's bad for me.
-Carolyn

July 6-12 Weigh-In

Click on the comments for this post and post your weight.

145 this morning. Wishing you all a very Happy 4th of July. We will be going to Robert and Junice's for barbecue and Woody's dutch oven. YUM! Love to All, Grandma Gloria

June 29 - July 5 Weigh-In

Another holiday hazard!

Click on the coments for this post and weigh-in.

Vacation - ugh

Well, vacation is hard on an eating plan if where you are staying doesn't have the same ideas as you. Grandma and Grandpa Brown's house has a LOT of food out all the time - nuts and candy and cookies and breads, etc. I thought I would be okay, but I buckled and ate. It still wasn't as much as in years past, but more than I've been eating of late. And we ate out a lot, but that wasn't as hard as the constant temptation at the house. On the plus side, Don and I walked along the river together almost every day and enjoyed that. I also went to 2 classes at the club that my friend Karen teaches - an aerobics + class and her yoga class. I really worked up a sweat in the aerobics class and looked forward to 'cooling down' with the yoga - WRONG! The yoga had me sweating like crazy. It was quite strenuous and I wasn't even trying to keep up with the advanced poses - just working like the beginner I am. It was good. Anyway, after the equivilant (sp?) of 4 days in the car over 10 days, I am trying to get back into the swing of things. Got to the club for a good treadmill workout Sat morning and took Sanders on a good walk this morning. Hope you are all doing well! Go forth and work out!

June 22 - 28 Weigh-In

Click on the 'comments' for this post and 'weigh-in'.

June 15 - 21 Weigh-In

Click on 'comments' and post your weight for the week.

Weigh-In June 8 - 14

Click on the 'comments' and post your weight this week.

My Happy News

I weighed 169.7 this morning. I am so happy to see a number below the 170s. I am not recording this as my weight - yet - as I usually use my 'average' weight for the week. But this is a great trend for me.

June 1 - 7 Weigh-In

Click on the 'comments' and post this week's weight.

Weigh-In May 25-31

Trying to stay positive here! Click on 'comments' and post this week's weight.

May 18-24 Weigh-In

Click on the 'comments' and post your weight this week.

Congratulations!

Congrats are in order to Marty for hitting the 10 lbs lost mark. (He got a new computer and is having trouble accessing the site again.) John and Marty have lost 10 or more pound. Robert was on the verge of 10 lbs last time he posted. Keep up the good work!

Are apologies in order?

I am worried that I offended everyone.... That certainly was never my intention, but we often offend without intending to. Please accept my apology if I put you off to this endeavor. I really do want everyone to participate and enjoy the journey. I'm sorry if I detracted from that.

As far as things are going with me: I am still working with Holli, my personal trainer. It is amazing to me how much I have to concentrate sometimes to get the right muscles to do what we are asking them to do without help from other muscle groups. Correct form and movement are really crucial in this. My weight spiked up to 178 earlier and I about freaked out, but Holli told me that would happen and it has been coming down a little each day since. I have started a log - water intake, activity, food and any comments for the day. I have added weight to that. It is helpful to have to write down everything I put in my mouth :) I made the decision to limit my 'treats' to one a day. That sounds kind of stupid, but I was 'treating' myself much more that that - if a serving was 2 cookies, I didn't care and ate 4 or 6 or.... Now I look forward everyday to my treat - often just a 100 calorie pack snack. But it feels good and right. I am also purging the house of foods containing high fructose corn syrup, one of the banes of our modern day. Those 100 calorie snack packs? I am only buying those without HFCS. Don does prefer Yoplait yogurt, so I may have to make an exception for that for him. And I found a site - calorie count plus, I think - where you can log food and activity to keep track of your daily calories. I have never counted calories in my life and I'm not using this site fully at the moment, but checking it out. It's interesting. I workout with Holli once a week and I am doing 3 'serious' cardio sessions a week - one spin class and 2 treadmill sessions - plus walking Sanders and all the other activities that comprise life - housework, yard work, cleaning the church, etc.

I hope you are finding ways to make your 'health improvement' efforts a success. Would love to hear what you are doing!

Weigh-In May 11-17

Click on comments and post your weight for the week.

Hellooooo....Anyone out there?

Thanks, Carolyn, for your comments. I am going to have to leave to each individual to set goals and rewards for themselves - don't know how I could keep up with weekly/monthly contests! Don weighed-in. Gloria's computer has been usurped, so I know why we haven't heard from her. How about the rest of you? Are we going to have a winner in January 2009 simply by attrition? What fun is that? My workouts are going well. I am surprised at how much concentration it takes me to get the right muscles working! But I'm getting better at that and Holly is a great trainer. I'm still eating too much, tho. Part of that is the transition and need for fuel, but I tend to eat what I like which is generally the wrong things :) One step at a time.

April 20 - 26 Weigh-in

Click on the comments to post your weight for the week.

TIME OUT!!!

Okay everyone, time for a serious talk! I have been incommunicado - I apologize. I am the same weight. Just bouncing all around my beginning weight, up a pound, down a pound - discouraged. But here we are mid-April and nobody, (but John,) is really accomplishing anything. I don't mean to be harsh, but the point of this was for us all to get healthier and, selfishly, I wanted this to provide me with some motivation. Let's get something REAL happening here. Suggestions:
-If $$ is a motivator, the prize money is at $180. That could buy some real fun :)
- Find something, ANYTHING, to commit to this week (whenever you read this.) I will make a suggestion. Since one of the 'rules' for this contest is to incorpoate physical activity, I want you all to participate in at least 2 sessions of at least 20 minutes this week. If you are already doing that, add another day. If you are already getting in 5 or 6 days a week, add 5 minutes to each seesion. Whatever, just raise your activity level. This means 20 minutes of raised heart rate - not gasping for breath - just continuous raised heart rate.
-Up your water intake.
-Eat 1/4 less than usual at one meal a day.

Two weeks ago I made a big commitment and signed up with a personal trainer. I used my Christmas money and work bonus. Holly is great. I will meet with her for the 3rd time this Wed. We are concentrating on getting me strong, especially my core as my abs are total wimps, and increasing my cardio strength. Weight loss will follow.

I would also like to see more interaction on this site. Can we congratulate one another on a job well done? Can we share ideas? Can we develope a feeling of being in this together?

Good luck to all - get active, think about what you eat, and down the water!

Filling in for Nancy

Nancy's out of town today, so I thought I'd initiate this weeks collection of weights. Though I got down to 240 earlier this year, I'm back up to 245. Sigh.

Still 148. We went to see "Singing in the Rain" put on by Hanford High School and starring Jacob Walley as Cosmo Brown. He was fantastically talented and fun. The show itself was sold out every performance and very enjoyable. Have a good week. Robert, Junice and Brinna are coming tomorrow to watch conference with us. Dad hurt his back this week so is laying low on the hot pad. Love to All! Grandma Gloria

John's 11th

I wasted the whole month of March losing only a pound. Well time to begin again. Today 184 lbs. 4.6% total loss.

John's 10th

I gained 3 lbs this week because the world is conspiring against me to keep me fat. 185 lbs, 4.1% total loss.

Weigh-In March 23-29

Click on comments and post your new weight here.

John's 9th

Another bad week. I gained 3 lbs. from simple gluttony, and then lost 3.5 lbs. through pure contrition. My net loss was 1/2 lb and a whole week of wasted opportunity. I now weigh 182 lbs. for a total loss of 5.7% (11lbs). I have been exercising a little nearly every day, and while it has not yet measurably improved my fitness, it has let me know what an utterly out-of-shape slug I am. My scale still says I have 29% body fat. Eh, it could be worse.

Wow! Time flies when you're (cough, cough) having fun! I think we skipped another week posting! Junice is 177, Robert is 281, and Brinna is 196. Hope everyone has a Happy Easter. Watch out for those peeps and chocolate eggs! Junice

Neglect

I'm sorry I have neglected this site for a bit. I will get back to it this weekend, I hope!

Marty 252 lbs
Was it Aristole who thought: If life hands you lemons,make lemonaid.But,if life hands you a pile of fat,RUN.

Grandma Gloria Weight Information

Well, I'm back to 147. The missionaries came to dinner tonight at 5pm. We invited Irene and Lapriel and it was fun. The message was a plea to pray for missionary experiences to help the missionaries find people to teach. It is sad that we each have many friends who need the Gospel in their lives yet we can't seem to get them excited about meeting with the missionaries. Very sad. We'll just have to pray and work harder. We served crockpot cream cheese chicken over wide noodlesl, parmeson rolls, lettuce and green pea salad, and grapes. Everything turned out well. Love to All, Grandma Gloria

John's 8th

Last weekend I gained 2 lbs, and spent the rest of the week losing my average 1.5 lbs, but sadly that leaves me 1/2 lb. up for the week. Hopefully this blog and my graph will help me learn to keep my splurges smaller, and my lapses shorter.
On the positive side, I exercised for 5 days in a row which has to be some kind of record. Other good news is that my Bathroom scale which measures body fat by electrical impedance is finally giving me consistent 29% body fat readings. That much fat is still ugly and terribly unhealthy, but I count it as progress that I am no longer "obese." Now I am merely "overweight." I wonder how far I have to go to drop into the "plump" category?

Weigh-In March 9 - 15

Click on the comments for this post and weigh-in.

Well I'm 148 this week. By way of news we went to Julie's funeral and it was standing room only. She had lots of friends. It was good to see her children and siblings. It has been awhile. She was only 50 years old and died of congestive heart failure. It has been especially hard on her father, Al Taylor who feels he should have been the one to go. I hope we all have a good week. Love to All, Grandma Gloria

John's 7th Week

Each Thursday I evaluate my weight loss progress because that is the day I entered the contest. My week began with a 1.5 lb jump followed by a steady decline to 182 pounds. Losing 2.5 lbs in one week is a bit steep (most experts recommend you lose no more than 2 lbs p/wk ), but I am not too worried because I think I’ll probably have another spike in the next few days, or at least level out like I did after my post surgery plunge.

When I’m trying to lose weight I try to have water always at hand as a snack substitute. It doesn’t crunch, and it’s not salty, but it gives me something to do and hopefully makes my stomach feel less anxious. And since it takes an extra 17 calories to heat up 8 oz. of ice water to body temperature, I figure I can burn up an extra 70 calories a day if I keep it coming and keep it cold. I don’t know how much difference it really makes, but it’s an easy thing to do that is probably good for me.

Weigh-In March 2-8

Please click on the comments for this post and post your weight.

My Commitment Follow-Up

Well, I did manage to keep my commitment to exercise a minimum of 20 minutes 3 times last week - if I am allowed to be a little creative. I was 'sick' Monday evening thru Thursday afternoon - weird. But I walked 30 minutes Wednesday and Friday and, the creative part, two 10 minute walks on Saturday. I will keep the same commitment for this week, plus no more than 4 Hershey Kisses at work each day. Actually, I've been taking an orange to work, peeling and sectioning it and setting it by my desk where I can just eat a section whenever. That has worked well to keep me out of the Kisses more :)

This week has been up and down. Friday morning I weighed 147 and was so excited but this morning I weigh 150? Guess I'll see how next week goes. I have been excercising 40 minutes in the morning doing floor exercises 3-5 times a week and an evening routine (about 15 minutes ) with aerobic shopping thrown in several times a week. Maybe we should get a beagle puppy.
On to victory> Grandma Gloria

Carolyn's week

My week has been terrible. I made a commitment a couple of weeks ago to start lifting weights and add aerobics about 2 weeks later. Well I started the weights well enough, got VERY SORE, but made it through that, then last week finally took my exercise stuff to work and ran on the treadmill for 20 minutes. That treadmill was too much I guess because the very next day I started to feel a "weakness" in my throat. The day after (last Saturday) I totally lost my voice and had a sore throat. That continued 4 days and I finally went to the doctor after 2 days out sick. Now the thing has blossomed into a miserable cold and I'm not getting a lot of sleep. Needless to say that pretty much killed the exercise program for now. I'm trying to concentrate on getting better, especially my voice - I am supposed to sing at NATS in 2 weeks and I'm afraid I'll not be able to do it. At least now, after a week, I can produce pitch-like sounds, but I'm not trying too much yet. I need to start singing again soon, though, if I am going to get back in shape. I would appreciate any advice on how to get better quickly, and especially how to get back to singing.

So, anyway, my weight is back to 169.0, but I don't know what will happen when I finally get better and start exercising again. My commitment is to start weights again when I feel better and somewhere along the way start some mild walking and work my way up this time. NO running until after NATS!

Second half of the commitment is to eat less sugar (not counting the pie from Marie Callendar's last night... too hard to pass up that "any whole pie" sale!). Hopefully this will help in recovery from the cold as well as weight goals.

John's 6th Week

After losing 5 lbs in the first 5 days after my surgery, I expected to gain some “rebound pounds” when I finally recovered my appetite. But my weight has mostly leveled out and leaves me a scant ½ pound lighter than last week. Not great, but probably as much as can be expected. I have now been cleared for vigorous activity, but I still can’t lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk, so my exercize will still be limited. Shucks!

I'm trying to come up with a commitment to match Nancy's, but if it is at all meaningful, I am afraid I will just break it. It seems so much safer to say "I will try to do thus and such," especially when I feel so deeply encumbered by my history of weak resolve. Yet, I know that character is built when we make and keep our promises, even if they are just to ourselves, so I want to join you in some decisive act. But I can't imagine a weight loss commitment I can honestly make (except maybe to never pour bacon grease on my cheesecake). Maybe that's one of the great lessons of life, how to be less bound by our habits and history. I think I have a lot to learn in that regard.

Commitment to exercise has been thrust upon us in the form of a now 10 week old beagle mix pup that we adopted from the Humane Society 2 weeks ago! Just how many times a day does he really need to "go", anyway? Up the stairs, down the stairs, up the stairs, down the stairs...all day long! We're trying to train him to be an indoor dog ( our last one was outdoors. She passed away in November). He's a real cutie, though, and I think the conversation with Brinna on getting the puppy went something like this....PLEASE!!!! But he's so CUTE!!!! We're enjoying him and all that goes along with puppydom (well, almost all. Except the constant chewing of everything in sight!) Hopefully, we will end up getting more exercise as we chase the little guy around and meet his potty demands. For this week, Junice is 177, down a pound. Brinna is 203, up 2 pounds, and Robert will have to weigh in later as he is sick in bed at this posting. Love you guys! Junice

Committment - after February

February is a hard month for me. For the last 4 years, February feels like a long, steadily increasing stranglehold. The deeper we get into the month, the more I want to do what I refer to as 'cocooning'. I guess that is about the same as hibernating - staying in, curling up and avoiding everything. Alas - or maybe it's good, life doesn't let me cocoon completely. But I think the effect is the same on my weight. I don't think I'm really trying. It is time to really commit - not even REcommit, since I don't think I have ever committed to this yet. Here's my commitment:
I will resume exercising (haven't done that since Halloween, when I slipped down the stairs and hurt myself.) I will commit to at least three 20 minute sessions this week. Hopefully I will do more. This is where I will start.
Does anyone else want to make a commitment? Exercise, better breakfast, smaller portions, more water, etc?
Good luck to all.

John's 5th Week

Though the sharp pains from surgery continue to diminish, a bloated stomach/belly ache has destroyed my appetite and sapped my energy. This week my weight has dropped precipitously. I’ve lost 5.5 pounds since my surgery on the 12th. (Today I weigh in at 185 lbs, 4.1% total loss)
I want to cheer, but from what I have read, rapid weight loss may trigger a starvation response which makes it harder to lose future weight as your body holds on more tenaciously to fat reserves it might need for energy if the “famine” continues. I think even those who do not hold to this theory, still agree that very rapid weight loss is often an unhealthy loss of water, or muscle rather than fat. Dieters too often see initial success as they dehydrate, or lose muscle which is their major calorie burning engine.

That is why my goal is a gradual loss of only 1.5 lbs a week. For losing 4 lbs last week, I should deserve a D grade or worse, but since I am kind of sick recovering from surgery, I think I shall excuse this excess and also try to be patient with some nearly inevitable weight gain when I get feeling better.

I am interested in knowing how much of a healthy weight loss ought to be fat and how much other tissue. It doesn’t seem reasonable to expect 100% fat loss even from the best program. I would think that a leaner body probably needs less skin, vessels, blood, etc.
Anyone know anything about this?

Weigh-In February 17-23

Please click on the comments for this post and weigh-in for the week.

Hi!Another week, another post! (wow, 2 in a row...my biggest challenge may be remembering to post each week, so I'm hoping to make Sundays the day I do this. So, I was headed to bed at 10pm and just remembered...made everyone weigh in, and here you go....Junice still 178, Robert down to 187.4, and Brinna up 1 to 201. Valentine's chocolate was probably the culprit this week! Junice

Einstein discovered- Fat=Fat2

John's 4th week

It's been a month since I started this contest. I'm down 5 lbs. (188lbs, 2.5% loss). That is OK - my goal is only 4-6 lbs per month, so I give myself a solid B grade. I've done moderately well in cutting portions, and occasionally I even cut high-cal snacks - still my biggest problem. I have over-eaten at restaurants 2 or 3 times, and have had a bunch of high-cal pizza type meals because of their irresistible convenience. My strategy is to not create rigid expectations for myself that I cannot possibly meet, and to avoid tons of guilt (pun intended). I expect some unhealthy eating is part of our culture that I can't avoid, but even so, I must create a healthier lifestyle. So, it is still a work in progress.

BTW - I am recovering from this week's hernia operation remarkably well compared to last time - 1/4 the pain & no noticeable brain fog from anesthesia. As long as I don't cough, I am doing very well. But for a while, my exercise will be mostly getting up and down the stairs, and in and out of my chair.

Oops! I think we let a week slip past us without posting! Well, here goes....Junice is at 178, Brinna is at 200, and Robert is at 288.4. Hopefully, we've started a nice, but gradual, downward trend. Best of Luck! Junice

My Strategy

Hey everybody!

I just thought I'd share what I'm doing, in case anyone cares.

Actually I'm approaching this whole thing very sloppily at the moment. Basically I'm so busy with school and family right now that I haven't put any more effort into it than the occasional, "Oh, I shouldn't eat that" or, "Oh, I should eat less of this / I guess I'm full enough."

As for an exercise routine, forget it! I have no idea how to incorporate that at the moment, seeing how I don't want to wake up any earlier than I do, and I don't want to exercise at night-time. The good news on this front, however, is that my schedule changes every 4 weeks, so there's always next month to hopefully implement some good cardio....

Tomorrow is the osteopathic match, and so in a few days I'll know where I'm going to be living for the next 4 years. If I get my #1 spot, Genesys, in Grand Blanc, MI, then I'll probably be able to attend their athletic club which is right next to the hospital. It's a very nice facility. That would start in July, so there's that to look forward to.


But, John, I know what you mean about charts. I love a good chart, and in fact, I'm going to make one now!

Weigh-In Feb 10-16

Click on comments and post your weight for the week.

John's 3rd Week

This week's graph looks like a left-toppled 7. I gorged in celebration of the end of a cold, cold January, and jumped 2 lbs. I have spent the last week getting back down to where I began the month. I give myself a C+. I like graphs because to me they are both psychological carrot and stick. This last week's graph reminded me how much easier it is to gain pounds than to lose them, and leaves me wondering why God doesn't just tweak a few natural laws to make the physics of metabolism a bit more congenial. On the flip side, my graph also gives me the great satisfaction of visualizing a nice downward trend. Sometimes I just sit and contentedly stare at my gently sloping red line, and warm to the knowledge that I am so easily entertained.

I'm hungry

The funny thing is that I KNOW it's psychological. Just thinking about losing weight makes me hungry - and defiant! I want to prove that I can eat anything I want to and still be healthy. Actually, that was kind of true when I was younger, but obviously not any more. I crave sweet, fat things. I have bought a few of those 100 calorie snack packs, thinking that, if I really am going to eat something sweet - and I will find a way - then I can at least control the calorie intake by allowing one package. As if. This is my major hurdle, the first one I really need to get over before I can be successful. I keep trying to give myself pep talks and motivation, but they don't last past the moment. Any ideas?

Grandma Gloria reporting in. My first week was a disaster and I gained but this week was better and I'm down 1/2 pound. Fast Sunday helped me get back on track.

Weigh-in Feb 3-9

Time for our first weigh-in. Please click on the comments and post your weigh-in there any time this week. Thank you.

John's Week2

I did moderately well, I give myself a B- grade this last week. I mostly cut my portions, except for a couple of delicious meals, when I was really hungry, not having had any healthy snacks. And there was the time I had to help Carolyn get rid of her frozen Birthday Italian Creme Cake which was pitifully crying out "eat me, eat me." I was only thinking of her. Yeah, that's it, I was just trying to be helpful. OK, I also had a couple late night TV snack lapses, but I am back on track, and have lost 1.5 lbs this week, for a 2 week total of 4 lbs. I don't feel thinner, and my gut still looks huge, but I keep reminding myself that you have to eat an elephant one bite at a time. Wait, wait, that's backwards. Well. . . . , Nevermind.

Welcome

A great big welcome to the Woodworths. Thanks, all for resending info. Marty - still waiting for your info.

The Woodworth Fam

Hi! I hope I'm doing this right! Junice (me) is 179 lbs 5'6.5" Robert is 290 lbs 6'5" and Brinna is 203 lbs 5'9" Good luck everyone and Healthy New Year!

Tactic of Sickness

I think I've lost weight after being sick with influenza this week.  Not because of puking or anything, but because of fever and my appetite has been lessened.  I haven't been to a scale lately but my pants fit a little more easily....

Is that cheating?

Grandma Gloria's information

As of January 20, 2008 my height was 5 ft., My weight was 148 lbs., my BMI was 28.9

As You Can See..

We are just about up and running again. I need the info I emailed everyone and asked for. Hopefully Todd will be able to reload the BMI calculator link. Thanks for your patience.

Reconstruction

If you didn't read/receive my email, the blog was accidentally deleted. I am reconstructing as fast as I can in the limited time I have. Sorry, sorry, sorry.