Today has been a great day...absolutely no pain in that darn eye.  Still putting 4 different kind of drops in the eye but it is coming along.  Tomorrow will be the first day since last Wednesday that I will NOT be going to the eye doctors office.  Yeh!  Thanks to everyone that has been so supportive...you are all great!  The weight loss has been really kind to me this week but I did eat a fattening Panera Cheese souffle for lunch but then had chicken soup for dinner, fruit for snacks so I should be OK with my lunch choice (sure hope so).  Have a great evening!  Denise

 

 

 

This morning I go to Weight Watchers and I am down another pound...that makes 5 lbs in 1 week.  I have not done this since, oh, probably the 70's.  I am ecstatic and can't wait to weigh in at the meeting.  Could be nerves but whatever the reason I will take the loss.  This past Wednesday I had some laser work done on my eye and have had problems with the pressure and a lot of pain since.  Of course I am one of this with the extremely rare complication.  Why can't I be NORMAL.  So, maybe my nerves kicked my metabolism into gear...don't care why, I'm loving the loss.  You all rock!  Denise

OK, I complained about gaining 2 lbs over Easter...well, now I am down FOUR pounds and loving it!  I knew I was good over the last 2 days but never expected the best loss yet.  I will blog more later, gotta get ready for work.  Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.  Denise

OK, Easter and the day after cost me 2 lbs...but, today I am 6/10ths less than when I broke the 178 barrier.  I went back to 179 and now I am 177 again.  No more backward strokes, forward is the only way for me.  Had laser surgery yesterday so I did not blog with the headache and scratchy feeling.  I hope no thought I gave up...I am here and staying!  Also, I finally got back into morning workouts with "Walk Away the Pounds" this morning.  Good luck to all and keep moving toward you dream.  Denise

This is Tara... and I have fallen hard... off the wagon that is! I am so angry at myself and I also cannot motivate me to get back on... I gained 2 pounds this week... ERRRR what the beep! I am unsure of even what to say... please give me words of motivation and encouragement... I losing it over here!!!

 

 

I too gave up the idea of counting points yesterday, just too difficult to calculate but I ate less than ever on a holiday (no 2nds).  I did eat desert though.  I guess I will figure that yesterday eats up all my extra 35 points for the week and stick completely to plan for the balance of the week.  I am not dissappointed though because I did not overeat...started with totally healthy breakfast and snack and then Easter dinner was the rest of the days food.  Have a great week everyone!  Denise

OK it is Easter and only day 2 of Weight Watchers.  I stepped on the scale this morning and FINALLY down 1 lb.  Hoping this will give me the extra push to NOT eat too much today.  We do not do candy in this home but dinner could be another story.  We go to friends house and boy oh boy can she cook!  Yesterday I tried the chewing 20 times and putting the fork down and YES I did get the signal that I was full before finishing my dinner so I saved the last bit for a snack later since I had already logged the points.  This also made my snack healthier so I was happy.  Thank God Applebees has a WW menu, makes my job sooo much easier. 

 

I am so very motivated but I have to admit that when I think of eating this way forever it sometimes feels overwhelming.  I watched the show "I Can Make You Thin" and the technique of eating slower should have a major impact on those days when you just must have something NOT SO HEALTHY.  I hope as time goes by these thoughts will go away after all I gave up soda years ago and do not miss it at all anymore, gave up those croisant breakfast sandwiches and don't miss them (in fact I don't like them anymore) so I guess there is hope for the LONG range future.  I guess the most important part is retraining our way of thinking!.  Hope everyone has a wonderful day.  If we do eat too much, tomorrow is another day!  Denise

It is time to get this weight off!  I joined Weight Watchers this morning.  I have been at a stand still now for 3 weeks or better and I don't like it. Now instead if tracking calories alone I will be tracking the types of food groups, water, etc..  Hopefully this is going to help tremendously as I believe that my problem has been too little food or not enough of the right types of foods.  Wish me luck because Tara and I have a contest going with my sister and niece in Canada...if we beat them they pay to come to New Hampshire to visit us and if we lose we pay to go to Canada.  We also decided that if we tie up the contest we will meet in Montreal Canada for a few days and everybody pays.  Personally it is a win win no matter what way it goes but I would still rather they lose so that they can come to New Hampshire for Tara's graduation in May.  I know that we can do it!  Denise

My husband cooks for me because he gets home from work 3 hrs before me.  Usually he is quite considerate of what he serves but this week with a fridge full of good vegetables, etc.  he served macaroni and cheese along with pasta, sauce and sausage.  No vegetables unless you count the tomatoes in the sauce.  I know I looked slightly angry but tried not to show it.  He willingly cooks every week day and I don't want to appear ungrateful.  Maybe I need to pre cook the veggies the night before so they can be added easily.  Tonight was vegetarian lasagna, not bad.  In fact the taste was fantastic.  I guess I'll just have to ignore those not so good meals and just eat less.  As a result I am still stuck at 178.  No gain, no loss.  A better week is in store.  I was glad to hear so many are sticking with our spaces, blogging and challenging each other.  Have a great week! Denise

OK, the ones going to California should have been chosen by now, so lets find out who wants to continue blogging, commenting and in general sharing our ups and downs.  This week I have lost nothing again, however I have not gained.  If this coming week doesn't show improvement I may just join Weight Watchers and see if that helps.  So lets here from everyone out there.  I will be waiting to see your names show up in comments.  Denise

 

 

On Biggest Loser Bob had stated that after weigh in he lets his team have a high calorie day and even said the word "macaroni and cheese".  Since this is my absolute favorite I told my husband that next Tuesday he could make this delectible dish for us as that would be after weigh in.  Sooooo...he made it last night!  Guess he can't tell Thursday from Tuesday or he just couldn't get the thought from his mind.  Either way I had seconds and pray it won't hurt me.  I guess more workouts are in the works for me and of course lots of fruits and veggies today.  Thanks for listening.  Denise

 

We are still here and going strong.  I took yesterday off and had a glass of wine after dinner.  I drink so seldom that that makes me very dizzy and mellow so obviously no workout yesterday.  Oh well, I will go from work (I have a workout bag packed and in the care for such moments).  I even have an "Extend" bar for blood sugars.  One of the diabetes educators that I know through work gave it to me to try as it is supposed to help control blood sugars for 9 hours.  One of my problems has been that I must eat before going to the gym or my blood sugars may go too low.  I will try her bar today and order more should this prove to be beneficial and since she is an educator I'd bet she knows what she is talking about.  Yeh!   OK, how many of you are driving youselves nuts wondering who gets to go to California?  I didn't know how badly I wanted the trip until the deadline.  Now I wonder how long before the winners know and of course realization hit that if we are not contacted...we do not get to go.  Well, we ARE winners in the fact that we have begun taking care of our bodies and minds.  I really do feel great about all of this!  Denise

Well it all ends in a few hours, so this will be my last blog before the bewitching hour.  I was really hopeful for 1 more pound but failed by 2/10ths of a pound.  Guaranteed to be down tomorrow morning.  Oh well, 10 pounds is good and I am happy to have that weight off.  Prior to this challenge I had lost 10 lbs for my daughters wedding so I am down 20 lbs. since last summer.  Clothes that I have not worn in a few years are being pulled from the depths of my closet, it is like having a new wardrobe because only one person that I work with has ever seen them and she gets excited for me because she also knows how long it has been.  The thoughts that I have about the future are all good and I am looking forward to staying in touch through our Windows Live Spaces  Like the contestants this journey has only just begun.  Best wishes to all!  Denise

 

 

The challenge is nearly over but not the weight loss and healthy lifestyle.  This has been the jump start that I needed.  Since beginning this journey I have improved my blood sugars tremendously and all asthmatic symptoms have disappeared, my blood pressure readings have improved, even my sleep is improving.  All of this is in 3+ months, just think what I will be able to tell about at the end of a year.  I work in a medical office so you can believe I get all the support that one could hope for.  We have a picture of an extremely obese cat on the wall and under this picture are the words "IT IS ALL RELATIVE".  The changes I have encountered have proven this theory without a doubt.  Long story short I need to continue this challenge for the HEALTH of it.  Best of luck to all in the final hours of this challenge.

Denise

 

PS:  I do not get winded going up 3 flights of stairs anymore either.

 

 

 

 

 

Well everyone, this contest is almost over but not nearly over for many of us.  Yesterday I ate...just a little junk, well maybe a little more but I like coming to this place admitting what I have done and just get on with getting healthy.  Just gotta do it somethimes and that was one of those days. I have learned that when the pressure builds at work I am far more apt to say yes to the junk and the pressure isn't necessarily on me.  Peoples moods are altered by pressure and we all feel it in some way.  Yesterday was that way and I caved in to some of the goodies,  I did not however eat the way I would have a few months ago under the same situation and that is success on a smaller scale.  A few of you responded that you want to keep these sites updated and keep in touch and I am hoping many more will.  I plan on keeping it alive as long as we need it.  Maybe some of us will even meet some day in person. One never knows what the future brings but we all know slimmer, healthier bodies is a definite for those of us in the challenge.  I thank Biggest Loser for bringing such insight and motivation.  Gook luck to all of you in our final days of THIS challenge!  Denise