~~Winter ONEderland Challenge(Dec.)~~~

[MsChrissy]

Re: ~~Winter ONEderland Challenge(Dec.)~~~

Yup Mary great idea about getting it for him (his b-day is three days after christmas too).......I'm gonna check it out online. Nope i'm right there with you Mary I have to make a conscious effort not to eat as much too.......I've always had a huge appetite .I can eat more then some men I know, its actually imbarassing......my problem always been with portion control, my family always packed the plates and there was always seconds waiting and encouraged. Even if I was comfortably full if I liked something I wouldn't leave until it was gone.
WAY To GO Mary......193 wooo hoooo! Don't look back..........
Well I'm happy that your teachers sent in the letters of recommendation.....I hope you get the school of your choice!

Rikki- Yup don't be so hard on yourself.......you are staying on legal foods, as long as your doing that you are certainly working the plan. I definitely can understand how one can slack off.......I'm new to this just under 4 weeks and i've already been slacking off with fitday (I HATE that site and putting in my food....pain in the butt and I got no patience) So I can imagine someone who has been on this for along time must have slacking moments........be proud of yourself your still aboard and haven't thrown in the towel. You'll be at the top of your game again!!!!!!!

Well i couldn't resist.....had to jump on the scale this morning......Doing a Happy dance .....yup yup I am........down 2 more pounds I'm 193 today!!!! Hey my challenge was to be 190 by NYE.......it still might be possible. I will give it my all and if I don't make it to 190 by NYE, at least I know I tried!!

I wish you both a safe and happy holiday weekend...........as well as an akins friendly Holiday season!!!!!!!!

[MsChrissy]

Re: ~~Winter ONEderland Challenge(Dec.)~~~

Yup I spelled atkins wrong .......I know I'm not great with spelling and grammar, but the least I can do is spell atkins correctly.

[Labarum]

Re: ~~Winter ONEderland Challenge(Dec.)~~~

I have seen 199.75 lb once and briefly - most days in the last two weeks I have been 201 or 202.

I will get to wonderland, but at my height and build that's about goal.

[MsChrissy]

Re: ~~Winter ONEderland Challenge(Dec.)~~~

WOWEEEEEEEE Labarum, You look Fab. .......what a difference. It is so cool to see the before and after.......gives me hope that I can do the same thing!!!

[Mary-chan]

Re: ~~Winter ONEderland Challenge(Dec.)~~~

I agree with msChrissy - you look fabulous!!

How was everyone's Christmas?

I succeeded with staying on atkins and didn't binge either. I even exercised twice at 15 minutes each (better then nothing I figured) and went on two dog walks.

The day kind of sucked. Made appearances at a few different houses of my fiance's extended family. I felt like an animal in the zoo - you have no idea. I hven't seen these people in like 8 months so my changed appearance was all they could talk about. I know most people love this - but I just HATE the attention when it's not my immediate family. One lady, she's a very sweet lady really, she's like my fiance's second mother practically, but she came up to me and was saying to her family "have you seen mary" and actually kind of poked, or prodded or grabbed or something, the side of my stomach as if to show the difference. It made me really uncomfortable - but of course i smiled and looked for a distraction.

At the next person's house someone said "hey look it's skinny mary" .. I guess I was fat mary before.. Ugh someone kill me please.

Sorry, I just hate the attention and think it's insulting more then complimentary - even if they're trying to be nice.

Oh.. Yesterday was annoying too. Someone was talking about dessert, and she's turned to me and was like "oh sorry, mary, cover your ears!" As if hearing someone talk about cheesecake is going to make me give, she has no clue!! If I have enough willpower to make freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and not eat or lick a single speck, I don't think her talking about cheesecake is going to undo 7 months of hardwork!!

And then I got a starbucks gift certificate, and another person said "But you can't even have anything at starbucks"... it is a very big pet peeve of mine to hear someone say "mary you can't have that".. Um actually I can have it, I choose not to have it, and there ARE things at starbucks I can get and what business is it of yours what I put in my mouth anyway!! (I will most likely give the giftcertificate to someone else, but I wasn't going to say that.. anyway..)

I also had to endure my fiance's mother screaming from across the room "oh they can't eat that!" when someone offers us something.. All these things might seem really minor in comparison to what others might have to deal with on the holidays but it absolutely was driving me crazy all day!!!

I'm sorry if I sound like I'm in a bad mood, at the end of the night someone also made a pretty rude non-diet-weight related comment to me and it just had me seething. the worst part is that it's not my family - so I can't be open and honest with them how I feel - I have to be polite, and it is driving me crazy, I haven't had christmas with my own family for 4 years and then I have to deal with these insensitive people. I can't move back to michigan fast enough.. 5 more months...


Anyway sorry to ramble and complain and whine. I hope everyone had a merry christmas!

[MsChrissy]

Re: ~~Winter ONEderland Challenge(Dec.)~~~

Woooo Hoooo Mary......Way to go, doing Christmas "Atkins Style"!!!! Uggggg sounds like you had a tough day.....I too HATE when people try to tell me what I can or cannot have, I take offence to it . Well pat yourself on your back and do something nice for yourself you made it through one of the hardest day's cheat free even though people were irritating you!!!!

My Christmas was very quiet......I have a very small family. I did exercise but only did 30 minutes. I made it through cheat free as well........I can't believe how cool I am to get through Christmas without anything sweet or loaded with carbs........thats so hard for me to believe that I did it all on my own. Trust me I thought about cheating......just a taste, a sliver, a lick........I had that conversation in my head with the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other shoulder several times throughout the day.

I got a couple cool things one of those exercise balls/dumb bells and a tony little digital scale.......suppose to measure body fat and water %, will see gonna weigh myself tomorrow. I NEVER in a million years would of thought I'd be excited to get a scale for Christmas. too funny

High five to Mary for doing awesome and NO binging!

[Mary-chan]

Re: ~~Winter ONEderland Challenge(Dec.)~~~

Woooo Hoooo Mary......Way to go, doing Christmas "Atkins Style"!!!! Uggggg sounds like you had a tough day.....I too HATE when people try to tell me what I can or cannot have, I take offence to it . Well pat yourself on your back and do something nice for yourself you made it through one of the hardest day's cheat free even though people were irritating you!!!!

My Christmas was very quiet......I have a very small family. I did exercise but only did 30 minutes. I made it through cheat free as well........I can't believe how cool I am to get through Christmas without anything sweet or loaded with carbs........thats so hard for me to believe that I did it all on my own. Trust me I thought about cheating......just a taste, a sliver, a lick........I had that conversation in my head with the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other shoulder several times throughout the day.

I got a couple cool things one of those exercise balls/dumb bells and a tony little digital scale.......suppose to measure body fat and water %, will see gonna weigh myself tomorrow. I NEVER in a million years would of thought I'd be excited to get a scale for Christmas. too funny

High five to Mary for doing awesome and NO binging!

Way to go, sounds like you did an amazing job!!! Wow 30 minutes of exercise, I was proud of myself for just doing 15 lol. Way to go!! That is so awesome that you didn't cheat!!

Thanks for the encouragement and understanding. I tried explaining how I felt to a few other people, and they all thought I should be happy with the "compliments" and that people were trying to help. I guess everybody's different..

At least my hardwork around christmas paid off - I was 190.8 this morning, woohoo!! If I could get even a little under 190 by new Years I will be thrilled!!

Hope you have a great day and keep up the great work!!! Rikki - I hope you are having a good holiday break where you are too!

[MsChrissy]

Re: ~~Winter ONEderland Challenge(Dec.)~~~

Thank -you Mary........although I have been doing an hour exercise every single day up until a few days ago (1/2 hour in morning 1/2 in afternoon) and then just started 30 minutes in morning (kinda feel guilty) but do admit I up'ed the intensity.

190.8 that is wonderful.....I'd be doing the happy dance too! yup a few more days so you just might be under 190 by NY.......wouldn't that be nice to change your ticker down another notch!!!!!

Me well I weighed myself yesterday exactly 193 (and I was ok with that cause I am doing the best effot I can) BUTTTTTTTT I started my TOM last night so I've prob. have a pound of two of water so wont know till sat. when done.......I'll weigh myself then and measure.

I do plan on going out on New Years eve.......I have been on a induction plan since nov. 29th but on NYE I do intend to drink caffine free coke w/splenda and rum. I'm helping with the party sooooo I'm bring the food I can eat. Carribean jerk shrimp with ranch, meat and cheese plate, pork rinds.....so I have no intentions of cheating with food.

Mmmmm just has an easy breezey meal that is yummy (Most of the time I hate complicated recipes.... I'm a LAZY cook) a piece of salmon sprinkled with Old Bay and about 1 1/2 tbs. mayo spread on it and broiled , asparagus with butter.........I really dont care for salmon but know its good for me, was surprised it tasted yummy today.

Have a great day!

[Mary-chan]

Re: ~~Winter ONEderland Challenge(Dec.)~~~

I'd love to change my ticker down another notch soon, but doubt it will happen for a while. I started a new job today and ate a lot more then I should have, so the scale will no doubt go up again tomorrow. Hopefully I will balance everything out soon and be able to lose weight/exercise while maintaining my job. But we'll see. One day at a time. I decided not to be too harsh on myself today as I just needed to jump back into the workforce after four months out of it. I also need to pack a lunch tomorrow so I am prepared.

193 is still great btw!!! Is your third week over and gone with or was this the end of your third week? I personally love salmon, it is delicious!!

Well take care everyone.

[MsChrissy]

Re: ~~Winter ONEderland Challenge(Dec.)~~~

Mary- Congrats on your new job! I hear you about being out of the workforce it takes some adjusting to get back into the swing of things.

Rikki- Missing you and thinking of you.......hope you had a great Christmas!

Woooooooo Hoooooooondoing Happy dance today. All week 193......got on scale this morning 189, couldnt believe my eyes had to get on 6 times in a row to make sure it was right, then i even went on my other scale to check again. hehehehe 4lbs. I lost since checking my weight yesterday. I'm soooo happy about that.

Have you drank on atkins Mary? I am usually not a big drinking but do like to go out once in awhile and dance and have some drinks. NYE I know I'll want to drink bought that coke with splenda and caffine free and rum..........I'm wondering if it will effect my overall progress. What do you think? Any tips????

[Mary-chan]

Re: ~~Winter ONEderland Challenge(Dec.)~~~

Congrats on 189, that is so cool!!! You have no idea how much I long to be in the 180's lol. Way to go you deserve it I know how hard you've been working at it!!!

I haven't had a single sip of anything alcoholic since starting atkins, so I can't really speak from experience, but I'm pretty sure that it can cause some major stalling and it causes water retention, so I think the scale is always higher the day after. So as long as you're prepared for that possibility and if the scale is a little higher the next day, know that you didn't totally screw up, you should be okay. I think if it's a one time thing it won't effect your overall progress, but if you repeatedly drink it probably will. Goodluck and most of all have fun and be safe on NYE!!!

I was happy this morning... yesterday morning the scale was up two pounds because of overeating the other day, but I worked really hard to exercise and eat right yesterday, and today it was back down again to 190.8. So a total net loss of zero, but at least I'm not relosing the same weight again, yeah!! And I'm going to try to work really hard again today, I want to see 189!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gotta keep thinking about how badly I want to see that number.

Both my fiance and I have friday (today) and monday off, and we have the house to ourselves, yeah!!!!! So other then being an exercise fiend this weekend, it is all about relaxing, woohoo!!

[MsChrissy]

Re: ~~Winter ONEderland Challenge(Dec.)~~~

Thanks Mary!!!! And thank-you for answering the question about drinking. I'll see what happens I guess and won't stress about it. Good for you not drinking at all on atkins........I guess I could live without it butttttttt I do like to party once in awhile.

That is terrific you have the whole house and each other for the entire weekend, cherish the free time.......Ohhhhhhh I so need a weekend like that just me and hubby, lol, don't see it happening anytime soon.

You are right there too 190.8, we did it MARY we hit the 190 by New Years (although can't say my cheese challenge did well, but I have been only eating 1-3 oz a day)......Last time I tried to lose weight I got down to 180 (I got to 180 and celebrated my victory with junkfood and gained it all back plus some) ........haven't been below 180 in about 10 years, so my eye is on the prize and keeping it off!!!!

Have a great weekend !!!!!!!

[Mary-chan]

Re: ~~Winter ONEderland Challenge(Dec.)~~~

Thanks Mary!!!! And thank-you for answering the question about drinking. I'll see what happens I guess and won't stress about it. Good for you not drinking at all on atkins........I guess I could live without it butttttttt I do like to party once in awhile.

That is terrific you have the whole house and each other for the entire weekend, cherish the free time.......Ohhhhhhh I so need a weekend like that just me and hubby, lol, don't see it happening anytime soon.

You are right there too 190.8, we did it MARY we hit the 190 by New Years (although can't say my cheese challenge did well, but I have been only eating 1-3 oz a day)......Last time I tried to lose weight I got down to 180 (I got to 180 and celebrated my victory with junkfood and gained it all back plus some) ........haven't been below 180 in about 10 years, so my eye is on the prize and keeping it off!!!!

Have a great weekend !!!!!!!

180 was pretty much my lowest weight as an adult, so I know how you feel!! Last time I got there I did it through taking metabolife and it was doomed to failure - as soon as I stopped taking the pills I gained it all back plus 50 pounds!!!! The day I get to 180 will be a major victory for me.

I didn't do so well on the cheese challenge either, but i have lowered my intake considerably. Before I wouldn't pay that much attention to how much cheese I was having, now I try to limit it to about 3 ounces max. It's usually one ounce per meal, I can live with that for now, I just have to be careful and watchful.

I discovered a new way to make an old favorite meal of mine today.. I usually have tuna with mayo and a slice of swiss cheese about once a day, but today I made it into a tuna melt and served it on romaine lettuce - it is delicious in my opinion!! I think it would work well as an appetizer too, in smaller portions, if I ever give an atkins party lol.

I did almost an hour on the treadmill today and almost 3 miles, I am beat!!! Hoping to see a new number on the scale tomorrow... I hope I hope!!

[MsChrissy]

Re: ~~Winter ONEderland Challenge(Dec.)~~~

Hey there, It's funny I quit smoking and started this WOE and was very nervous of screwing it up if I had any alcohol (I seem to give in to easy to temptation when I drink) So I mentally prepared myself and tried to set up my NYE by not being around smokers and bringing the food I could eat. I was so proud of myself.......I pulled it off not one bad thing to eat or smoke NYE.....even though everyone was raving about the choc. fudge brownies I made, nope I didn't crack. Well New Years day........was a whole nother story. I cheated bigtime.......uggggg had a blueberry pancake with alot of syrup on it and a half order of home fries. I felt so guilty but kept right on eating knowing damn well that I was screwing up a perfect month of no cheats, but not caring at that particular moment enough to not do it. Well then I went onto have two pieces of new york cheesecake with strawberries. Ok......New day I messed up bigtime but not going to get sucked back into it. Today starting over....yup

I hope you girls are doing well.

[Mary-chan]

Re: ~~Winter ONEderland Challenge(Dec.)~~~

Don't beat yourself up too much - it happens, glad to see you are back for another round though and didn't stay down, that's the important thing!!! On days when I really feel like I want to cheat, I just stuff myself with legal foods. i know that's not too good either, but it seems to help me stay on the bandwagon. I know if I were to have something with a bunch of carbs in it it would be a catastrophe for myself.

I had a good weekend, but the internet's been down, I'm on a dial up right now, ugh. I also got sick today and am about to go lay down. I'm so angry because I've already been sick once this year, and I have to work tomorrow, and I can't exercise today. I am soooo mad!!!!