The Weight Loss Support Group

I'm down some this week from 336.4 to 334.8.  Almost 2 pounds. 

Hugs to kittymommy and Tammat.  Health issues can really screw things up.  My mom and I are thinking that one of the reasons I had a spike in weight gain might have been one of the medications I'm on (we doubled the dose -- I'm going to see if we can get it back to the original dose and have the instructions be 1-2 pills per day, which is what I wanted originally).  But it's nothing compared to what you're describing.  But don't give up hope!  And Tammat, we had to euthanize our old cat about three years ago, and I still cry when I think of it.  There's no way I'd be worried about weight or other issues right at that time.  Take care of yourself.

Winchester:  Congratulations!

MargeCat:  I loved your motivation post!  That is so true.

Now, as for me. . . I lost .8 lbs., so that's good, but I'm really nervous because I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon.  I've been forgetting to check my blood pressure, so I don't know what it is and I'm worried it's going to be high.  On the plus side, I'll get an indication of how accurate my scale is.

Tammat said:

I forgot to get on the scales this morning. I don't think I've gained. I feel very hollow anyway. Yesterday we euthanised Ruben. I'm telling you guys because I feel like you are my friends and I know you will all understand how I am feeling. Life goes on but I'm taking a few days out to cope however I can. I wish you all the best of luck with your weigh ins. Ill be back next week.

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I am so so sorry   Hugs to you.

Winchester said:

I lost 3 pounds this week! 

And, for the first time in a long time? I am 4.4 pounds short of my weight goal! 

 (Now......let's see how I screw it up this time. That's usually what happens. I get really close and then...........boom! It hits the fan.)

My weight goal is 135 pounds (my doctor's weight goal for me is 130 pounds....and preferably 125 pounds). I need to get back down to 135 and then I'll think about going lower. At 58 years of age, I don't think I look healthy at 125; my face tends to look rather gaunt and drawn. I keep telling my doctor that, but she won't listen to me.

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Congratulations!  I didn't realize we are the same age or that my goal is not that far from yours...I just have a LOT further to go to get there

kittymommy said:

I'm down some this week from 336.4 to 334.8.  Almost 2 pounds. 

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Congratulations..awesome!  You will be in the 320s soon!

I lost 2.48 lbs. this past week, and saw a new low weight this am.  As of today (and today only as this isn't an averaged weight), I've lost 110+ lbs..  Woot!

Up to 281.  For some reason my body seems to like that weight trying to convince it that it could like 181 just as much.  Have had ALOT of energy lately and doing lots of stuff around house so not being a total blob.  Need to walk more for sure. 
 

Andrya said:

Wow, thank god that's over. My overtime is now finished and l'm officially on a 12 day holiday, woohoo.

l didn't weigh in on Friday, and might not be around much with holidays an' all, so my weight today is 180.6 for a total loss so far of 18lbs.
l celebrated with a half-tub of banana chocolate ice cream 

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18 pounds is great!!! Enjoy your time off.

MargeCat said:

2. Bear in mind, when you start losing weight, that you still may take a larger size, even after losing a lot of weight. Clothing sizes, at least for women, are weird sometimes. When I had the mega-weight loss many years ago, I discovered this--and stopped being angry with myself when I needed something that was close to my original fat size, even though I lost many clothing sizes. It's really demoralizing. In fact, this happened today.  I bought a belt over the weekend, thinking it surely would be a bit loose. Couldn't fasten it, though I lost 1.5 dress sizes so far!

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Isn't that the truth!! I have shirts in my closet that range for Medium to XL!

kittymommy said:

Mostly this is to vent.  I am now off the latest med cocktail from my gastrointerologist for Ulcerative Colitis.  I'm back on the prednisone and Imuran and Uceris.  Yuk!  It works and it keeps the symptoms in check mostly but long term the prednisone isn't sustainable.  I can't be on it forever.  I've been on it since January except for the last month while they weaned me off of it and we tried doubling up my Imuran but the double up gave me horrendous joint pain and big sores inside my mouth (yeah not so much fun).  For six months we have tried and failed five different cocktail combos.  It's discouraging and frustrating.  It could be worse, it could be so much worse I know this, but still I just want to not be doubled over with stomach cramps or spend evenings in the bathroom.   I just want to be able to stand up long enough to load my dishwasher without the back pain being so bad I have to sit down and rest.  It doesn't seem like I'm asking for so much.  I want to have just a tiny percentage more energy than I have now, just a small one, like 10 or 20 percent more.  I just am so frustrated and want to cry ... I feel like this is holding me back from trying to lose weight.  I also know this condition acerbates obesity because it makes it so your body can't absorb some of the nutrients in your food, so you want to eat more to get the nutrients.  Arrrggghhhh ...................

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UGH. The prednisone. I've been there and siiiiiii understand your frustration.

Tammat said:

I forgot to get on the scales this morning. I don't think I've gained. I feel very hollow anyway. Yesterday we euthanised Ruben. I'm telling you guys because I feel like you are my friends and I know you will all understand how I am feeling. Life goes on but I'm taking a few days out to cope however I can. I wish you all the best of luck with your weigh ins. Ill be back next week.

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Oh Tamela, I'm so, so sorry. You take all the time you need. It's bad enough you have to deal with your own grief, but I'm sure the kids are upset too.

Winchester said:

I lost 3 pounds this week! 

And, for the first time in a long time? I am 4.4 pounds short of my weight goal! 

 (Now......let's see how I screw it up this time. That's usually what happens. I get really close and then...........boom! It hits the fan.)

My weight goal is 135 pounds (my doctor's weight goal for me is 130 pounds....and preferably 125 pounds). I need to get back down to 135 and then I'll think about going lower. At 58 years of age, I don't think I look healthy at 125; my face tends to look rather gaunt and drawn. I keep telling my doctor that, but she won't listen to me.

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Congrats, Pam! That's awesome!!! You are going to hit your goal before you know it!

kittymommy said:

I'm down some this week from 336.4 to 334.8.  Almost 2 pounds. 

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That's awesome!

RavenCorbie said:

Now, as for me. . . I lost .8 lbs., so that's good, but I'm really nervous because I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon.  I've been forgetting to check my blood pressure, so I don't know what it is and I'm worried it's going to be high.  On the plus side, I'll get an indication of how accurate my scale is.

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Congrats! Good luck with the doctor. I freak out so much at the doctor that my BP is soooo high. I have to bring her in a chart of pressures that I have taken to show that it is normally OK.

Pat said:

I lost 2.48 lbs. this past week, and saw a new low weight this am.  As of today (and today only as this isn't an averaged weight), I've lost 110+ lbs..  Woot!

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Pat, that is just fantastic! Congratulations to you. You are an inspiration to us all.

catsallaround said:

Up to 281.  For some reason my body seems to like that weight trying to convince it that it could like 181 just as much.  Have had ALOT of energy lately and doing lots of stuff around house so not being a total blob.  Need to walk more for sure. 

 

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I hear you. I think my body likes to be a higher weight as well. :nod:

As for me? I am the exact same weight that I was last Friday and I am OK with that. I have had some major family stress since last Friday morning (no emergencies, at least that I know of, just people acting like idiots and making things harder on me) and have definitely not been eating as well this week.

Regardless, I have good weight loss news to share. I've been going through my pants the past week and noticed that the legs are baggier and on a few even the waist is too loose. I went back to the Lee outlet that I bought all these pants at back in June, and I was able to buy pants in a smaller size. Some of the shirts that I bought back at the beginning of the summer are now loose. Mind you, I still look in the mirror and look the same to myself, but apparently there is a difference. I've lost 15 pounds since April and 32 since November. I'm not breaking any speed records, but I'm slowly losing.


So I feel that people aren't as into the challenges lately. Do you think we should discontinue them?

Quinoa was suggested as this week's superfood. Does anyone have tips and suggestions for using quinoa?

Also, I will be away from my scale for the next two Fridays, so won't be reporting weights for a bit.

I bought some Urbane packages of quinoa, but found out that they are a combination of brown rice and quinoa, so not quite as good for you.   On the other hand, it was easy to make in the rice-maker.  My mom and I tried just plain quinoa a while back, and we didn't get it fully cooked.  So, there is a trick to it besides just following the directions on the package.

In other news, blood pressure wasn't too bad, but the scale I have was way off:  8 lbs.  So, I was 152.2 this morning and 160.2 at the doctor's .  So, I guess I need to add 8 lbs. to my scale -- I think I'll just go with an even 10.   So, we'll start tracking again today at 160.2, and when I weigh myself next week, I'll add 10 lbs. to the amount.

Finally, I'm stressed out because I have to put on a play but can't ask students to stay after school.  The class time is 45 minutes long.  I was going to have them improv it, but because they chose Romeo & Juliet, the administration is insisting that we actually perform Shakespeare's version, which means they'll have to memorize all the lines.  It's going to be a disaster unless I can get them to see reason.

AbbysMom said:

As for me? I am the exact same weight that I was last Friday and I am OK with that.

I have had some major family stress since last Friday morning (no emergencies, at least that I know of, just people acting like idiots and making things harder on me) and have definitely not been eating as well this week.

Regardless, I have good weight loss news to share. I've been going through my pants the past week and noticed that the legs are baggier and on a few even the waist is too loose. I went back to the Lee outlet that I bought all these pants at back in June, and I was able to buy pants in a smaller size.

Some of the shirts that I bought back at the beginning of the summer are now loose.

Mind you, I still look in the mirror and look the same to myself, but apparently there is a difference. I've lost 15 pounds since April and 32 since November. I'm not breaking any speed records, but I'm slowly losing.

So I feel that people aren't as into the challenges lately. Do you think we should discontinue them?

Quinoa was suggested as this week's superfood. Does anyone have tips and suggestions for using quinoa?

Also, I will be away from my scale for the next two Fridays, so won't be reporting weights for a bit.

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Yay, Karen! Even though the scales aren't moving, your body is and that's wonderful! Kudos on the smaller size! You've lost a lot during this year!

I did that last night. I decided to go through some of the clothes in my closet, too. (See? You inspired me.  ) I've been wearing the same old, same old now for so long and I refuse to buy a bunch of new clothes in a larger size.

I found seven pairs of pants (work and jeans  ) that I can now wear again. Three "new" blouses. I have four pairs of favorite casual pants that I used to wear to work; I can get them shut, but they're still a wee bit tight, to the point where I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing them right now. (Patience, Pam, patience.) Took stock of some of my fall wardrobe, too, while I was at it and I should be OK there, too, with a few new sweaters or jackets for work as it's always freezing in the office.

My peeve is about blouses and shirts that button. I'm not large-busted by any stretch. Right now I'm wearing Large tops and blouses, but it's basically because of the bust area. I can button them, but there's a gap at the bust. This is a Large; why is there a gap? I don't have a large bust! That's been my pet peeve for years. When I wear Mediums, I have the same problem. Gaps at the bust area. It's frustrating. Because the shirt fits every place else. So I layer with a pretty t-shirt and that works fine. But still.....

So that was my peeve for today....have I mentioned that I just hate shopping for clothes??? 

For the most part, I enjoy the challenges....I'm just not creative enough to think up some new ones. As for the superfoods, it's difficult because, even though dear Richard is more outgoing foodwise than he used to be, he still has some issues. When I mentioned quinoa to him, he gave me "that" look. You know, the look that says, "Are you crazy, woman???" With the eyebrows that move up to the top of his head, the whole bit. He did that with bulgur, though, several years ago, too, and he doesn't mind it now. Doesn't really care for it, but can eat it...."If I have to" with a long, drawn-out sigh of resignation.

He's finally started to eat blueberries now, after many, many years of telling me that God does NOT want his tongue turning blue.   But he's not crazy about them. This past week, for the first time I can ever remember, the man took some grapes in his lunch. Honestly, I thought it was going to snow around the equator.   It takes a l-o-n-g time for him to adjust to foods. (Still won't eat coconut in any form; "If God wanted me to eat grass, he'd have given me three stomachs!"  )

When I first married him, he refused to even touch a salad. Wouldn't even go there. Now, thankfully, he will eat them and I do take advantage of that to get fresh vegetables into him. Took me years (YEARS, I tell you) to get him switched over to skim milk). So this is what I'm up against. He is the pickiest foodie around.

If we want to start in this week with superfoods again (quinoa), I promise to buy some and try it in a meal or two this week. And dear Richard will try it with me. 

RavenCorbie, that's not funny about your scales....I'd be frustrated, too. (I know that our old scale, as it turned out, was weighing me 3 pounds lighter than I really was; found that out when I went to the doctor a couple years ago) But a weight loss is still a weight loss. And I'd be frantic about the play. I hope you can talk some reason into the powers-that-be. Good luck!

I have some ideas for quinoa. Rinse it very well before you cook it or it can have a funny taste. Cook it in chicken or veggie broth instead of water for a lot more flavor. I like it mixed with salt and pepper, chick peas, red onion, tomatoes, cucumbers and Newman's Own light balsamic dressing. I put this mixture on top of arugula with a piece of marinated grilled chicken for dinner.

You can also try it for breakfast like oatmeal. Cook it with cinnamon and add berries and nuts on top.

Here is one recipe I found (with comments about if it's paleo or not..lol) for Coconut Quinoa (sorry Winchester!):

So, I talked to my students, and they've decided they WANT to do Romeo and Juliet, and have agreed to come to after school practices on Friday afternoons (they have Fridays off).  So, it might not be a disaster.  Whew!

I like the challenges, too, but I usually forget about them.  I just got a new swimsuit top/tankini, so I'm planning on adding some swimming to my weekly schedule.  I really miss the water.

Well, now, how cool is that?! I'm glad the kids are willing to do the play and come to practices. Hope it all goes well.

Weigh-in day! 

And I failed. Gained one pound. (Margaritas will do that to you sometimes. But it was worth every sip.)

It's not much but I lost .7 of a lb. this past week.  I'll take it!!

I'm in at 333 so 1.6 lbs lost this week.  Woohoo!  I'm continuing to revise my diet toward the things that are best suited for Ulcerative Colitis.  It just turns out that most of those things are super healthy for you too.    I'm feeling much better than last week about my continued struggle with this disease.  Thanks for the kind words from everyone. 

Whoo to every one who lost and don't give up to everyone walking the other side this week.