HAPPY DANCING FOR MICHELE!

Hope you were able to keep the 3 pounds gone!  I gained one this week, but am glad that it was only one, I'm sure you know what I mean.  Holidays are difficult especially when you are the one doing the cooking and everything looks and smells so good.  I was able to freeze and/or give away alot of the food that wasn't eaten on Thursday.

I am back on track and back to work tonight.  That pesky pound won't stick with me and I plan to lose several more before the next holiday feast.

Keep everyone posted on your fantastic progress!

Marcia

 Marcia,

        One pound after Thanksgiving isnt bad at all! You have probably lost it by now! A positive for me is that I didnt have to cook, so that helped. I worked until 3 then went to my moms for dinner so that part was easy! How much have you lost so far?

Hey there Brody803 :)

So I have been on Alli for nearly a week and have lost 5 lbs. Your stroy has been such an inspiration to me and how quickly you lost the weight is such an encouragment. Do you have any tips or pointers I could go by? I know this prob isnt the best post to be writing a personal message to just you but I figured id ask. How often did you work out? What were your meals like? etc. Any advice would be helpful. I am only 19 and am missing out on the some of the best years of my life...college that is. thanks for any input in advance :)

 Smithan8 thank you for the kind words and WELCOME! 5 Pounds your first week is wonderful! I would be very glad to help you in any way I can. I will give you a basic rundown of how I live this program, and feel free to ask me anything! When I first started I worked out 3 times a week, now its usually 5 a week. I walk when its nice out and I do the Hip Hop Abs tapes when the weather is bad(which is most of the time here in NY). Those are the only workout tapes I use.  Even from the beginning I ate 1200 calories. I have a hard time eating any more than that, and try very hard to always reach my fat grams.... Now that I am just about at my goal though my fat grams are usually a little less. I seem to eat a lot of the same foods each week:  For dinners: Spanish rice is a favorite, pasta, lean cuisine pizzas, turkey and pita sandwiches,fat free hot dogs, lean ground beef hamburgers...Snacks: homemade fat free jello pudding with fat free cool whip, sugar free jello with coolwhip, lots of fruit, dry cereal(any kind including sugar cereals), 100 calorie packs,granola bars,mozzarella cheese sticks.... Being honest I dont always reach my water requirement, and live on diet coke.... I also like raw vegees cauliflower,and carrots.... Breakfast is usually dry cereal or yogurt.... I hope that some of this helps you! Again welcome!!!!!!!!

 Thank you so much for you advice! And the dinner and snack ideas really help. I just moved out on my own so dinner planning is already hard without having my mom make everything haha. she was on alli also and lost about 60 lbs last year. Having to cook for myself is hard since I work 3-9 everynight.take out is easy but i know its not worth it and your dinners sound easy and veryy yummy :) Thanks again. and keep me posted on any more progress you make. Congrats on all your weight loss!

 Heys guys I am sooooooooo sorry I have not posted in forever.... I am so stressed from the holidays and other financial stuff but thats life and I will get through...... I have not lost much weight but did make it down to 171 but my weigh in I am 173 again ... so water retention maybe??? I know my old pants sure dont fit anymore at all !!! They are HUGE as I have lost 42 lbs since FEB. I have lost exactly 30 pounds on ALLI as of today. I hope to be at 169 by the finale of the TBL as that will have me at 20 pounds lost since we started this challenge..... So Marcia, Michele How are you ???? Please update me. Amanda

 Amanda;

Good to hear from you.  Stress will pass, just remember to "go to your happy place" and think of all that you have accomplished so far!  You are truly amazing! 

I stayed the same this week, but since Thanksgiving was less than a week ago I feel okay about my weigh-in.  Not enough time to exercise and I did give in to the cornbread last week. Smile!  Otherwise, I was very impressed with my willpower-I'm a legend in my own mind :-)....

I went to the doctor for a follow-up (routine med check, thyroid level, etc) and she is impressed with how well I have progressed.  I've lost a total of 25 pounds and over 20 inches since last spring and kept it off!  I'd like to lose more and do it quicker, but this plan is really working for me.  I have even been able to stop taking several medications since losing the weight.  I still require meds for certain problems (and will always need them) but my doc said that losing the weight and increasing my exercise has really benefitted me physically. 

My doctor also likes the idea of the personal experiences thread on this website.  I feel that the emotional support and encouragement from so many people who know what I am trying to do has been a key factor in my progress.  Thanks to everyone, but especially thanks to you Amanda for your kind words and this "challenge."  It has kept me focused on the prize and out of the kitchen!

I just got home from work, so I will close for now.  Take care and happy losing everyone!

Marcia

 Michele;

Thanks for the encouragement...there are so many nice folks on this thread and you are one of them! 

I went to the doctor yesterday for routine follow-up and she was definitely impressed with how well I have been losing with alli.  It has been 25 pounds and over 20 inches (I'll measure again this weekend) since last spring.  I have even been able to stop some medications as a result!  There are some that I have to take-heart meds, thyroid meds, etc.- but the doctor explained to me that my weight loss and increased energy have been the result of the hard work I have put into this new lifestyle.  I feel better, I move better, and people are starting to notice the physical changes.  Now, if I could wake up looking the way I feel inside....lol!

Actually, by this time next year I should make my goal of 160.  I'm nearly 5'7" and should weigh close to 150.  I'll decide a realistic GW with my doctor after I lose more weight. I don't have a thyroid or a gall bladder.  I have heart damage from fen-phen and I'm menopausal so losing 2-5 pounds a month is absolutely awesome.  My blood pressure has dropped to within normal limits already and my cholesterol is only slightly elevated.

Thanks again for all your encouragement and congratulations on your weight loss.  You rock!

Marcia

 Amanda nice to see you back! I know how stressful this time of year can be but these boards for me are one source of calm. No pressure, no shopping, no cleaning, just friends! Congrats on your weight loss so far!

Marcia sounds like you are doing fabulous in regards to improving your health! The dr wont recognize you pretty soon!

Cant believe there is only 2 weeks left before the show is over! My hubby and I really enjoy watching it together. We usually get away from the kids in the living room and watch it from our bedroom. We normally have our healthy snack and curl up together before one of us has to go to work. Its a nice time together! Hubby and I work at the same place he works straight overnights and I work his two nights off and then I also work two day shifts. Its a crazy life!  

 Hi everyone!

Michele-you are soooo close to your goal!  We are all proud of you.  You are an inspiration!

Amana-I know life gets busy and stressful, just remember we are here for you!  We all want you to succeed and I for one enjoy hearing from you.  You are full of encouragement and a positive influence.

About TBL-I hope they sack Vicki this week.  She gives us redheads (after her makeover) a bad name.  Have you seen the bonus scenes where Amy C. went back to school?  She has the most beautiful voice! 

MY THANKSGIVING POUND IS GONE!  HAPPY DANCING FOR ME!  I hope to be down even more by next weighin.  I've taken some NS food to work for emergencies (you know when you are in a rush and can't make a lunch or "forget").  It has helped this week.  I even learned to think smaller when planning food for celebrations.  I have always cooked for a crowd.  It's hard work to think about cooking for just a few people especially when they are watching what they eat.  I had more leftovers than I planned, but I was able to give most of them away.  After 3 days of turkey, we pitched the rest. 

Take care and happy losing!

Marcia

smithan8:

Hey there Brody803 :)

So I have been on Alli for nearly a week and have lost 5 lbs. Your stroy has been such an inspiration to me and how quickly you lost the weight is such an encouragment. Do you have any tips or pointers I could go by? I know this prob isnt the best post to be writing a personal message to just you but I figured id ask. How often did you work out? What were your meals like? etc. Any advice would be helpful. I am only 19 and am missing out on the some of the best years of my life...college that is. thanks for any input in advance :)

 keep up the good work smithan8. We have something in common. I also lost 5 lbs after one week. And I am only 19 yrs old and is also in college. I am inspired to know that there is another person my age who wanted to change their habits and stick to their goal: to lose weight, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. I hope you, and everyone else achieve their goals.

 Wow we are getting so close to the end of the show already! Seems like it just started didnt it? Is it time to post stats so far and our "last chance" goal????

Weight at start of TBL: 147

Current weight :130 (as of this am)!

Weight loss so far for TBL:17 pounds

Goal for the last episode of TBL: 127

Total for TBL:20 pounds!

 My last chance goal is to be in the 160's !!!! I have been not losing much since the time change as I dont go walking after work because its dark..... BUT still losing !! uMMMMMM I have lost a total of 31 pounds since I started ALLI  and 17 pounds I have lost from the day we started this challenge. If I hit 169 it will make it 20 poundssss woooo hooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amanda

 Amanda;

I think you are awesome!  I know you will get into the 160's soon!  Now that winter is really here, it is harder to get out and walk.  Do you have a mall nearby that allows people to walk inside?  I've started wearing a pedometer to work.  My goal is 10,000 steps a day.  I've even started making parts of my job into stretches and weight bearing exercise by the way I reach to hang price tags...if anyone should see me on one of the aisles they would probably wonder what in the heck I'm doing!  I work my gluts when I have to get low to the ground and my quads and hamstrings when the reach is for a mid to low shelf tag. Eye level and above shelves are for my arms, chest and back.  Of course, I"m a little slower at hanging tags, but I feel the effect of stretching and working various muscle groups as a result of my little work out!

My goal for the challenge is to be below 220 pounds and to have lost 15 inches or more.  Right now I am at 224 and I have lost 10 inches.  I have also lost 2 more dress sizes since we started the challenge!  HAPPY DANCING FOR ME!!

I want to lose another 50 pounds if not more before I am ready for maintenance.  I have some great jeans that I have hung onto for the occasion. I haven't worn blue jeans for over 2 years because most of them make me look like I have on a dirty diaper..lol!  I have a strange build, because I don't have a defined waist and wider hips like a lot of women.  I'm built more like a stove pipe.  My waist and hips are only a few inches different and I have muscular legs from dancing and sports.  I am also 5'7" tall and my inseam is 36".  That means I carry my weight around my waist and that is the hardest to lose.

By the way, has anyone been to TBL website to vote off Heba or Ed?  I can't believe Ed gained 2 pounds!  We must unite to keep Vicki from being TBL!  If Ed stays I don't think he will be a threat to Vicki.  Any thoughta?

Marcia

 Michele;

I am so proud of your weight loss...17 pounds gone during this challenge is awesome!

I have not fared as well, but I am pretty happy with my progress.  I did lose the Thanksgiving pound and another, so I am down 6 pounds (I think).  The best news is that I have lost another 10 inches and 2 dress sizes since the challenge began!  My body doesn't work like alot of folks...I have no thyroid, no gallbladder, I'm going thru menopause and I have some other medical issues which make it harder for me to lose weight than most.  The best thing about alli and the encouragement from people such as yourself is that I have managed to keep the weight off.  No more yo-yo dieting! 

I'd love to wake up some morning and look like I did when the pic I have posted was taken.  That pic is one of my motivators.  And a pair of Levi's that one of brothers wore when he was in high school that I used to wear just a few years ago!  They hang in the closet where I see them every time I open the door.  I even went out and bought a new dress for the holiday party season which is only slightly too small right now.  Another psychological motivator for me.

Have you figured out how to post before and after pics yet?  I found a pic of myself before alli and I've got a few taken recently that I would like to share.  Let me know how to put more than one on the website and I will show you how alli has helped me.

Take care and happy losing!

Marcia