The Me I Want To Be - week of August 23

[Hkgall]

Sorry for the delay guys! Flight home last night was delayed due to wind shears... Yikes!

Anyhow - I haven't read the article that is about sabotage yet - but I am looking forward to it. I think it might be just what I need right now.

This week's topic: (please excuse me if it is a repeat!) What was your "Defining Moment" in this journey? When did you first know that this is the time that everything is going to work for you? How did you feel? Was it one moment, or a series over a month? Do you refer back to that moment for inspiration, and if so, how often?

There were a lot of questions there - mostly just to get us thinking. I have to get to work now, but I'll be back later with my "moment".

Happy Monday!!!!

Holly

[Jessica]

I don't think I have had a defining moment. For me, the journey is about a lot of little steps and small epiphanies. Looking back, I can see that I gradually went from casual exerciser to devoted gym rat and from junk-food addict to health-conscious eater (with some remaining bad food habits). I have realized that tiny changes work for me and dramatic ones tend to result in a lot of backsliding.

Speaking of which, last week I managed exactly one day with no sweets, although my other days were not as bad as they had been in the previous couple months. This week, my goal is two days in a row--they will be Tuesday and Wednesday.

I hope everyone is having a good Monday.

Jessica

[pbutterfly]

Hmmm... I think that there have been a series of "defining moments" for me on this journey - each of which is important and strengthens my knowledge that I will never again be the person I was before -- either in size or mindset. One of the early biggies was when I realized that I was asking for my work schedule to be set around my WW meeting -- it was a sign that I had made health - and myself - a priority, and that people were actually postive in their response to that. Two jobs later, and one meeting time shift (because one location closed), I still find that making the meeting a priority is important to my continued dedication to making ME a priority.... it's a touchstone for me, in a way.

Jessica - Congrats on the one no-sugar day and the better dealing with sugar on the other days. I have every confidence that you can meet your goal this week!

I'm running off to work, so I'll check in again later!
lynne

[Jessica]

Lynne--I think you make a very good point. I've noticed that over time I am less willing to reschedule workouts and exercise classes around social activities, unless they are very special or important. For example, this week I am missing a class to go see a play I really wanted to catch, but I won't skip the class just to meet friends for drinks or something.

[Chefzhat]

Defining moment - going shopping last year and finding that I didn't fit into not only my "normal" size, not even the next size up, but the size after that, moving me solidly into the double digits, and for a 5'2 small boned gal that was hard to take. I drove straight to Weight Watchers and sheepishly told them I needed to lose 5 - 8 pounds (boy was I in denial) and after getting weighed, the leader sat me down and said, "Honey, you need to lose 15 pounds, and then we'll go from there.":o I was so horrified that I went home crying. But they were right. In the end I needed to lose, and did lose, 25 pounds.

I really knew that this would be a successful journey when I journaled and ate according to plan for 5 straight days and found out that I wouldn't starve to death, and that I could stick with it. Fast forward 18 months - I'm maintaining the loss, with a 2 - 3 pound fluctuation depending on what's going on.

Debie

[greysangel]

Happy tuesday everyone!

I feel completely well rested after a fabulous day off yesterday :cool: I got up a little later, basically had the gym to myself for a killer leg work out and some cardio and then mooched around with the DH :)

Hmmm...defining moments. There have been a lot of "little" moments that have made this time "the" time. What got me through WW's doors was DH helping me realize that I was happier trying to lose weight than not regardless of success. Secondly was his unconditional love and support. I remember I used to sort of try to test him by asking if I could stop once I got to a certain size (like 22, then 18, then 16 :D ) and he always answered that I could stop anytime I wanted. That for me was phenomenal because it was the first time someone really loved me for just me...he really didn't care what I weighed as long as I was happy.

Now what keeps me going is the desire to improve and see how far I can go. If I was still a "dieter", I would have probably given up by now...hopefully I would have maintained but I would have definitely stopped trying to get the scale to move. In "athlete" mode, I'm able to have other goals, other measures of progress, other things to focus on that help me see it as achieving my potential vs. getting skinny.

j

[pattiarl]

I think I have had a lot of defining moments, but I am in the same boat with others when I say that I don't like to give up my time at the gym. If I don't make it to the gym in the morning, I don't want to make plans later on in the day. (Of course for some reason that isn't applying to me today :)).

I also think when other people noticed that was a tremendous boost.

Gotta run for now. More later.

Patti O.

[pbutterfly]

JeAnne - I'm laughing at your 'testing' of DH... but only because I've done EXACTLY the same thing! :) It's nice when you get the answer you want, and you can be secure in the knowledge that you're loved for you, not your size (either positively or negatively - since there are 'chubby chasers' who might be distraught if you LOST the weight!)

I'm still working through the back problem, but it's getting better. Today was physical therapy appointment #2, and I'm more sore tonight than I was this morning. :mad: That wasn't true last week. Ah well, it's the overall picture that counts. And the fact that I was able to get to the gym Sunday and use the elliptical. :) That's progress.

I really like what JeAnne said about 'dieter' vs. 'athlete' mode... in the former, it's easy to get discouraged when the scale isn't your friend. While I don't consider myself an athlete (yet!), I do look at things more in terms of overall health (not just numbers on the scale) - and that does help mitigate things a little when the numbers are stuck.

lynne

[Peggy C.]

Hi guys I've enjoyed reading your responses. I'm late checking in, because somehow I can't pin down my defining moment. So it must be a series of little things. A picture I saw of myself, feeling stronger after a few weeks of working out, losing a little weight, slacking off and finding out I had not gained all plus some extra back....

[Jessica]

Just wanted to drop in and say I made it through yesterday with no sweets. My goal for this week also includes today. I thought yesterday went well with no real cravings, but then I woke up wanting a piece of chocolate. Too bad. I had Kashi with milk instead.

[greysangel]

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY JESSICA!!!! :D :D :D Those days are huge successes in my book.

I'm home sick today :( I either ate something bad (I'm blaming canned salmon) or I have some kind of bug. I'm hoping for the former because I really don't want DH to get sick. Last night no meals 5 and 6 so I had a 1000 calorie day which I think is a first ever for me :rolleyes: Needless to say, I could not get that low if I wasn't sick. I'm hoping to be back on eating schedule today although I still feel pretty wuzzy in the stomach dept. I swapped my restday for today from the gym and really hope I'll be able to do my workout tomorrow.

The goal today is no feeling sorry for myself eating. I must be the only person who likes to feed stomach problems with ben and jerrys :( lol. NO GIVING IN! If jessica can do it, so can i!

JeAnne

[Peggy C.]

Good job Jessica! JeAnne sorry you aren't feeling well.

[pattiarl]

Good job, Jessica. And no Ben and Jerry's for you, JeAnne.

I hope you are feeling better soon.

I am so sad that summer is almost over. August in DC is it's own vacation and I am very sad to go back to normal work hours.

But my boyfriend is busy tonight so I am free to go to the gym--no excuses!

Does any one have fun plans for the weekend?

Patti O.

[pbutterfly]

Jessica - YAYAYAYAY!!!!! :) Good for you! I hope that you're having as good a day today (it started off well, with the Kashi). Every small success adds up.

JeAnne - So sorry that you aren't feeling well. :( I hope that it was food poisoning, too, since that tends to be gone faster (within 24 hours or so), and you and DH won't be able to pass it back and forth. Take care of yourself today... even though that means no pint of B&J! ;)

Patti - Not too many plans for the weekend, yet, for me. Going to the gym, getting together with some friends. That's it so far. :)

I had my WW meeting today, and am intrigued by this huge deal over the "new" flex-points system. To me, it's just another way of looking at the same ol' program (with a teeny bit more flexibilty as far as the formerly-forbidden 'reverse-banking' trick). I understand that some portion sizes and points counts have changed, though, so I'll have to go back to looking EVERYTHING up for a while until I work out which things are different.

I do like the greater focus on the "8 Steps" (having places in the journal to check off the water, fruits/veggies, and milks is long overdue), and I think that there's going to be more emphasis on exercise, which is also good and overdue.

Anyhow, that's my 2 cents.

And I was down 2 pounds, which means that I'm back to my lowest point. :) Yay. :)

lynne

[JanetJ]

Jessica and Lynne....woohoo! Big accomplishments on both fronts - way to go!

JeAnne...hope you are feeling better soon. :(

I am another one who really doesn't have a defining moment. I remember debating between WW and ediets and decided WW sounded easier (more control over choices). I was just going to go check it out after work and ended up signing up. At first my competitiveness got me motivated and I wanted those stars and magnets. I soon noticed myself behaving like a healthy person...I remember specifically stating I would stay on points the day of my birthday and posting a 3 lb loss the day AFTER Christmas. Looking back, those moments are huge and really show me how much I've changed mentally, as well as physically. Like others have said, it's been a series of small moments/victories and a few A-ha's thrown in.

I'm working out like a crazy woman!! I've got in 19 workouts this month which is phenomenal for me. I feel great, have arm definition and have lost 2 inches. Scale isn't saying what I want it to, but I know the muscle thing is at work and I'm ok with it. That's another first. :)

[Jessica]

Thanks for all the good cheer, ladies. You knew I would need it around 3 pm CDT. I am getting a little more confidence that I maybe can kick my sugar addiction if I take it waaaaaay slow.

JeAnne--Feel better soon!! I've been known to eat ice cream when I shouldn't; you are not alone.

Lynne--hooray for the 2 lbs. You sound on top of your game today.

[Chefzhat]

JeAnne - how are you feeling today????

Congrats on all the losses! It's been a successful week.

Plans for my weekend revolve around soccer, soccer and more soccer (tournament), otherwise I'd be heading for Detroit for some shopping and a TJs run. School has started for me, thank goodness - something to get me out of my kitchen and away from the refrigerator!!! I have 14 credits this semester, all but 4 of them are History classes - tons of reading. Really dry reading so at least I won't be tempted to snack:)

Debie

[Jessica]

Good luck with those classes, Debie. I cannot imagine taking four history classes at once!

Made it through yesterday and my two days in a row without sweets. No scale movement in a while but I think the gradual reduction in desserts will help a lot.

[pbutterfly]

Jessica - Congratulations on the success of 2 days in a row. I knew you could do it! :) I think cutting back gradually (as you're doing) makes a lot of sense for the long run.

Debie - 4 History classes sounds like a tough semester, even if you love history (which I am guessing you do!). Then again, my favorite semester was the one in which I had nothing but theatre, English, and film classes! :)

Janet - Phenomenal job on the workouts this month!! And the loss of 2" is great! :) WHoooo-hoooo!!

Yesterday I took an Aqua-Aerobics class, which was a lot of fun. I was by far the youngest person in the class (except for the instructor), but that was okay, too. It actually was inspiring -- and a a reminder not only that these healthy habits are for life, but that with them I could be so lucky as to be 80 and in a class at the Y! :) I may go back tonight, if I get off work early enough. Otherwise, tonight's elliptical.

JeAnne - How are you feeling today??

oh, and has anyone volunteered to take next week's topic? If not, I'd be glad to do it, but if someone wants it, feel free.....

lynne

[greysangel]

Hey there :)

I'm feeling ok....good enough to spin this morning and go to work, but not good enough to lift weights. I still feel kinda queasy in my tum which I hate.

I'll be back later once I clear my work email!

JeAnne

[JanetJ]

JeAnne, you are a superhero for going to spin if your stomach is still feeling icky. I am a such a baby when I am sick. I strive to be more like you. :)

I had a friend who has been living in Japan for the last 2 years call me today for lunch. I didn't even know she was back! I abandoned my planned (boring) lunch and went out and stayed on track. Yeah! Also continued my streak with a cardio sculpting tape this morning. I'm 20/28 this month!

Debie, good luck with the history classes. 4 of them? Wow!

[JanetJ]

Just a quick post to announce a 2 lb loss this week! The scale is catching up with the tape measure. Happy Friday everyone!!

[Jessica]

JanetJ---Hooray!!

Lynne--if you can take next week, I can do the following week.


JeAnne--I hope you are feeling better.

[greysangel]

Hi everyone!!!

Despite a distorted body image day :rolleyes: , I'm feeling much better :D Had a great workout this morning, I get to leave work early and it's a three day weekend! What's not to love?

Another benefit of eating healthy and working out...sickness. I hardly ever get sick and when I do, it doesn't last very long.

YAY JANET!

Take care and have a great one!
JeAnne

[pbutterfly]

Jessica - Sounds good to me. I'll start thinking of good topic ideas, then. :)

JeAnne - How are you feeling?

How's everyone else doing? Plans for the weekend? Challenges?

My only real challenge is one barbeque that I'm going to... and my plan to get through it on track is to essentially take that meal 'off', but within careful, moderate guidelines. (I'm saving most of my 'flex-points' to cover myself that day.)

:)
lynne