horseinaround06,

Please, please, please, don't expect miracles...Shoot to lose a lb a week. If you lose more than that great, if not, great too - at least it isn't a gain.

Try not to concentrate on the number on the scale. It will only make you crazy and send you into a tizzy, which will in turn make you want to quit and eat everything that doesn't move.

Concentrate on the plan - eating the correct number of calories and fat grams as recommended by the plan.

Focus on getting healthy and fit and the weight will drop off.

If you need to focus on the weight loss, shoot for 5lbs a month.  In three months time, that will be 15lbs. But, if you focus on the fit part, you'll lose INCHES and you'll be in the size you want to be.

Drink plenty of water and watch the sodium content. That will blow a weight loss faster than eating a few too many fat grams.

==================================================

Hi All,

glad to see everyone is still committed and trying to stay the course. Glad everyone has checked in this week to let the rest of us know how you are doing.

I've finally got my water intake back to 64+ ounces. It was tough going there for a little while, but it's really helping with the weight coming off again.

I weighed in on Monday, down another 1 lb. I peeked at the scale this morning and I'm down yet another 1 lb. I was worried I was going to hit another plateau because I'm now less than 20lbs away from my goal weight. My official weight is now 149.4

I also haven't been to the gym in over a month because the kids are out of school and I don't have anyone to watch them so I can go. Oldest is already back in school and little one went to a friends yesterday, so I DID go to the gym yesterday. I actually lasted 10 minutes on the elliptical before falling out. I just can't seem to do it very long. It kicks my hiney! I did do an additional 10 on the treadmill, varying my speed. I actually put the speed up to 5.5mph for a little bit and did a quick sprint. I have short legs and 5mph is definitely a major challenge for more than a minute.

DH (dear husband) has finally hit a plateau - but, he's also less than 10lbs to his goal weight. I may have to lower his calories a bit to get him jump started again. He's stuck at 174.2 and definitely not happy.

I'm now down 26.1lbs in 15 weeks. I can't believe I'm still doing this - I usually become bored and quit long before now.

More importantly, as of July 6th, I lost 28 inches overall. NONE of my clothes fit that I started the program with and I'm wearing things that have seen daylight in YEARS. I've actually had to start buying clothes just to wear every day.

I'm so glad I've stayed committed and focused. Thanks to all of you...your encouragement, trials and successes have helped more than you will ever know!

 horseinaround - Definitely invest in a measuring tape. Just like toollady said, sometimes you'll lose inches without losing pounds.  I've lost over 30 inches to far, but I wouldn't know that if I didn't measure.

toollady - You are doing great! Keep up the good work.  You and I are at about the same point.  I gained a few pounds over the weekend, but I've been hanging out at 149 for a few weeks.  How tall are you? I'm 5'4", and my goal weight is 134. Are you in the Labor Day Losers challenge? I'm pretty excited, because if I hit my 10 pound goal, I'll only have 5 pounds to go.

all - Go drink some water!!!

 Jen,

I'm 5'1" if i stand REALLY tall! LOL!

My goal weight is 131....I'm debating if I want to go lower. 131 will put me at the high end of normal BMI.

I'm in the loser's  challenge, I recorded a loss of 0.6 for Monday's (7/14) weigh in.

About 2 months ago, I hit a plateau for about 4 weeks.

However, for the last 6 weeks, the weight has been coming off again.

I upped the water and really started to watch my sodium. It was getting out of hand.

And, please, call me Deb!

~Deb

 Hello all,

Toollady, glad to finally know your real name. Thanks to you all on the marriage thing. I have been married 13 yrs. but we've been together for 25. As anyone, we have had our trials and tribulations and I get what you mean Jen about the high tide and low tide. My husband is an alcoholic and "recovering drug addict", it's been very difficult dealing with it all but I have hung in there. He is a great guy when he's sober. Now that the kids are getting older it's getting harder to try and talk to them, they know all about his sicknesses. I attended al-anon for a number of years as well as counseling and it really opened my eyes about alcohol being a disease. Lately though it has been very hard, he works in the city now and it's hard on the kids when daddy doesn't come home after work. When he worked out of town we were doing good, we didn't have to deal with the drinking cuz he wasn't here. I'm having some issues with my 9 yr.old and i'm trying the best I can to handle it. Spending alone time with him and trying to get him to talk to me about it but I may have to put him in counseling. It's a struggle and boy, sometimes I really want to throw in the towel. Enough about my personal crap.

I lost 2lb this week, not sure how or why but maybe cuz i'm out and about a bit more lately. I start pt next monday so I'll be getting some strength training in, maybe aquatic to.

Glad to see you all are so close to your goal, don't leave me when you reach it, I can't live without you girls, all the support you give is really a blessing.

Have a good weekend.

Lynne

 Lynne,

What about alateen for your boy? MIght help to be among peers who deal with similar.

You go girl! 2lbs is fantastic! I wouldn't dream of leaving these boards. They are what keep me going!

I'm sure I speak for the others, we're here for you as long as you need us.

 Deb - That should be easy to remember...it's my best friend's name.  Good job getting through the plateau. I'm hoping to follow suit.

Lynne - We all have "personal crap" and it's part of who makes us who we are...it's also a big part of what makes us overweight! I'm so glad we can share who we are on this message board...you know, something deeper than, "Dear Diary, Today I ate..."

All - I ended up with treatment effects today, but I have no idea why.  This is only my third day back on the pill (but I've only taken 4 doses). I've been really careful about weighing and measuring everything.  The only thing I've eaten that I didn't prepare myself was a grilled chicken sandwich from McDonalds, and I got it w/out mayo.  I thought I would be ok, because I didn't get fries w/it. (But they sure smelled good!) Anyhow, have any of you ever experienced treatment effects for seemingly no reason?

 Jen,

What did you eat yesterday, or even the day before...

I just looked up the nutrition info on the classic grilled chicken w/o mayo. While the fat grams were low....YIKES on the sodium - over 1100 mgs - that's almost half a day's worth in one sandwich!

You may want to flood yourself with water for the next couple of days to get rid of some of that sodium.

 i will go buy a measuring tape, and yes i am pretty fit thank god. but yeah even if its not like 20lbs but like 20 inches and like 1 lb id be happy with that, and ive been watching my sodeum(i cant spell forgive me), ive been drinking mostly water ill have the packet tea in the bottle sometimes, should i try the labor day losers challenge??? im very competitive so ill be in the gym everyday for a few hours. Im starting to slowly feel better about my body, so im hoping that by the time im done with my weight lose i will feel amazing about my self, and keep it off.

 Lynne, you know we are here, unfortunately that's about all we can do.  I feel for you.  Jen's right, everything going on with us is part of the weight problem and this is no different.  And don't worry, I am no where near my goal so I'll be here a while yet!  This is the slowest 12 lbs I have ever lost, been on Alli since Jan.  But I had 2 setbacks:  vacation where I was not going to worry about food, and the accident which made the diet unimportant for a bit.  So I'm not really frustated with the slow loss - until I read Jen and then I get jealous!  She's so much further along than I am!  But that's my choice and I'll stick with it. 

Jen, yes I have had effects when I didn't think I had eaten anything that should have caused them - BUT - they were pretty much all in the first couple of weeks.  Maybe it takes your body a few days to adjust to taking the pills again?

Deb!  Hi!  Good to have a name.

You guys are a big part of the reason this works for me.  I couldn't handle going to meetings like WW or anything.  But doing it completely alone is hard too.  We need to stick together!

Have a great weekend everyone,

Toni

 I agree with Jamiti.  I started a low calorie low fat diet 2-3 weeks before starting alli.  In the first 2 weeks I lost 6.6 lbs, and no its not just water, my jeans are fit better and I felt lighter.  As for alli, well so I started the pills, absolutely nothing.  gained a couple of ounds.  what a complete joke.  By the way when I was on alli my bathroom visits became less frequest, well I don't think that's healthy.  Other thing to point out...not sure if anyone else had this happen but when on alli I had to get up at 2-3am to pee, that's not right.  I called my doctor and he said to stop immediately, so I did, and guess what, for the past couple of days since I have not taken alli I did not have to get up to pee in the middle of the night.  My doctor said that long term side effects can damage my kidneys.  I reread the material on alli and I did not find that reference to this long term side effect.  Dangerous.

Well anyhow, to keep this short, in the 4 days now that I have been off alli, still maintaining my low calorie (1000-1200 cal) per day with no more that (15 gr of fat per meal) I've lost 2.4 lbs.  And I finally have gone to the bathroom (#2).  Thank GOD! 

I'm not impatient, I'm just tired of empty promises, the trught is, alli is not the safest way to lose weight. 

Stick to the low calorie and low fat diet, excercise at least 3 times a week for 6 min and you will see the pounds melt off.   Good luck and all the best.

 jojozie,

obviously you didn't read the entire thread. There have been many twists and turns and jamiti/Lynne is still plugging away.

Alli isn't for everyone. You need to be willing to commit to healthy eating habits.Come visit us again when you reach your goal weight and then 6 months later to let us know how you are maintaining.

Most of us here do very little exercising, eat some of our favorite foods every now and then and don't feel deprived by sticking to such a strict diet.

We're not on a diet, we're on our way to a healthy lifestyle.

See you at the finish line!

~Deb

 Deb - I could tell the sodium was through the roof when I was eating that sandwich.  I'm not a big salt person anyhow--I don't add it when I'm cooking unless I'm baking. Don't get me wrong. Sometimes I like a nice salty serving of french fries, but that's only once in a while.  Funny thing is, before I started eating healthy I never really noticed how salty restaurant food is. Now I can't eat out without noticing it. Maybe my taste buds are growing up.

horseinaround06 - We'd love for you to join the challenge. 

Toni - I think you're right...my body is readjusting to the pills. I hadn't taken them in a few weeks.

jojozie - I can't remember the last time I didn't have to get up at night to pee! I bet it's been at least 10 years. :-) I think it has a lot to do with how much water I drink during the day. Anyhow, alli isn't right for everyone; however, whether you take the pills or not, the overall plan is wonderful. It emphasizes eating well and exercising. That is the healthiest way to lose weight. I was concerned about your calorie intake, though.  It just seems too low. The dietician once told me to not go below 1200/day. That number should be higher if you're working out.  Not eating enough will only leave you feeling weak and deprived and will sabotage your efforts.  Take it from someone who has dieted that way and gotten thin many times. It's not worth it. Good luck on whatever path you choose.

 ok where do i sign up, lol??? Kelly ann:D

 Kelly Ann - Go to the  "want to lose 50-100 pounds" forum.  It's under "Labor Day Losers Challenge." See you there.

 my realistic goal is probly 130-120, i judt realized that today talking to a friend, i really would love to get down to the 110's but my body type just isnt going to allow that, and im fine with it i dont want to be that stick thin. ive eatin better over the past week and weekend, but my scale is broken it over reads by 2-4 lbs and i cant fix it,  im going to go buy a new on but where would i look for a good one but cheap??????