The A2K (virtual) Weight Loss Club !!

Thanks you all for the warm welcome!

My weight update after 3+ weeks of slogging it out: 1 less pound on the scale. Slow, but still YAY! Of course, B - my husband has been bringing me two bite-sized Milky Ways after work everyday! And I've greedily savored every last bit of them. Taking a leaf from Dagmaraka's book - saying No! to chocolate from today.

One more resolution that I'm hoping to keep: instead of checking my weight twice everyday, am going to try to check it once every 3 days.

OK!

I have seen George in his winter plumage. He doesn't seem to quiver much under his Boston Winter Wadding.

I'm doing well this week, 174 this morning which is exactly where I was on 4/26 when we left for New Orleans. If I can lose a pound or two by Wednesday and actually lose weight over this three week period it will be a miracle, but that's what I'm shooting for.

I've asked for the gift of time on Mother's Day. Weather permitting (doubtful) the entire family will help me plant up my gardens and finish pulling the garlic mustard from the woods. I'd much rather spend the day working outdoors with Mr B and the girls than go out to eat.

_heatwave_ : I have a long, long history of weighing in daily and sometimes twice daily. Data is knowledge and knowledge is power. Perhaps Mr _hw_ can save up the cost of the Milky Wave bars and buy you a slinky something when you've reached your goal.

Waiting for George to check in - the race is on!

J_B, I'm going to pass on your words to B (Mr. _hw_). I've a feeling he might be all for it. Or maybe not....this morning, my scale showed that I had lost 3 of the 7-8 lbs that I wanted lose. Bringing me down to 108 lbs. (I know that doesn't sound like a heavy person, but I'm severly vertically challenged.) Plus, I was able to fit into a favorite pre-preg pair of jeans. So I trilled about the loss (weight) and the gain (clothing) to B. Received a very growly response about how I sabotage his diets (I don't) and manage to lose weight myself. He really needs to lose weight, at 5'8" tall, he tips the scale these days at 187 lbs. (Of course, he just quit smoking two weeks ago - cold turkey from 3 packs in 2 days. Weight gain is almost a given.) When the green-eyed monster had slinked away, though, the congratulations were effusive. Even better, he's now going to work out/diet with me.

I loved your idea of the gift of time for Mother's Day. Lovely thought! - I might borrow it for myself. It's our first Mother's Day with our first. We're so blessed on so many counts, but Time is the one thing we just don't seem to have enough of.

So now - you and George have a race in progress? Would love to know the details. What's the goal, the timeframe, the REWARD?

I'm putting my $ where my pudge is.

Tomorrow night I'm signing up for belly-dance class. Convinced a coupla pals to come along [including Brendalee who is supposed to be posting here ]. Not sure I'm entirely ready to wear a crop top and yoga pants in front of a group of people and a mirror, but it's going to happen.

Classes start in 2 weeks - but we're paying now - to make sure we do this. I hope Brendalee likes the yoga pants I found for her.

_heatwave_, Congrats on being a new mother on Mother's Day. More congrats on losing 3 lbs. It's heartening for both of you that B will be joining you on an exercise plan. It's interesting that he thinks you are sabotaging his diet while giving you Milky Way bars. Ah well - stick to your guns and those last five lbs will be history.

George has a pair of pants in the back of his closet that shouldn't be there. Ehbeth has long encouraged him to give them to Goodwill. I'm trying to help.

[size=7]It's only a matter of time, George; go ahead and pack them up.[/size]

ehbeth, Belly dancing sounds like a lot of fun. Bringing pals along will only help. Is anyone taking pictures?

Hello, Brendalee (if you're reading). Welcome to the club!

ehBeth, I was working out to bellydancing videos for a while, it was fun! I'm seriously considering signing up for a local class -- might observe, see how much hearing is involved. I do love dancing, one of the best ways to get myself motivated to work out.

What I love about this place is that they do various exhibitions at festivals and stuff and while some of 'em are skinny-skinny, a lot of 'em have proper bellies! I wouldn't be self-conscious about shakin' my booty in that crowd (though it'd be a while before I'd be willing to go up on stage, I think -- more power to the ones who have plenty to shake and go up there anyway).

My own workout plan refuses to settle into a routine (I got over the initial hump of "hey I can do this! I don't hurt! I'm more fit than I thought! Yay!" and then just kinda stopped), so I approached it from the "If I was trying to get sozlet to do this, what would I do" angle and made myself a chart. :-? It's 12 weeks, with 3 boxes per week -- when I have checked all three boxes (three workout sessions a week, at the gym) for 10 weeks, I get a reward. (If I don't manage to do that, I'll reconsider. But I want the reward.)

Just started that, we'll see how it goes.

Idea is to get myself into the routine by hook or by crook, then the routine can take over. Hopefully.

Happy first mother's day, Heatwave!

Don't worry about it being just a pound. That's probably because your fat loss and your muscle gain offset each other at the beginning of your excercise program. At least this has been my experience whenever I began one. Just keep it up, and you'll be fine. Happy mother's day!


I so envy you! My discipline in eating and working out had lapsed well before Chicago. But all those stuffed pizzas, hot dogs, Thai chicken, Jumbolayas, and pancakes have enormously boosted my waistline. I hope much of the extra weight is water and will come down in a week or two. Still, my first step on the scale after returning was shocking. The only reason I post it is to have a benchmark that my future weight looks flattering against.

-- Thomas, 5'7", 258 lb

PS to J_B, speaking of food in Chicago: Have you ever checked out Russian Tea Time on your "day in downtown Chicago" routine? It's on Adams between Michigan and Wabash, across the street from the Au Bon Pain where we'd been meeting up. Their Russian food is delicious, and should be reasonably waistline-friendly.

Tomorrow is another Monday, albeit a Monday starting a ten day period of exceptional stress.

If I can keep from gaining.....

It's a tough goal to meet, Noddy. Good luck!

Good luck to all of us as bbq and ice cream season begins!

Sorry to hear you have a hard time ahead, Noddy. We'll all try to help you in the dominion holding realm.

Thomas, I'm sure you'll get back into your normal routines and recover. You gained it quickly, it will probably come off quickly too. I've walked by Russian Tea Time many, many times. I've been intrigued, but never ventured inside. The Burghoff was a few blocks west and always drew me in before reaching Wabash. Now that it's closed, I'll get a chance to sample more restaurants on the way to the Art Institute. But then My Thai is just around the corner - decisions, decisions...

Mr B insists I not fix dinner tonight, I insist on not eating out. We've ordered pizza. I'll eat the veggie version (green peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, green and black olives) and leave the sausage and double cheese to the others.

Soz - your chart sound like a good way to get started.

I'm looking forward to getting back to my routine too.

I've had two weekends out of town in a row (Chicago last weekend and Baton Rouge this weekend for Mother's Day). Plus we had no Weight Watchers meeting this past Wednesday - a new session starts this week. It's time for more shrinking! Actually I'll be happy to just not have a gain this week.

Thanks, all, for the kind words. Please keep thinking positively for me.
Life returns to normal a week from Wednesday. I'm hanging on to that thought.

I lost a pound since April 10th.

Queen of the Slow.

At 172, I can start to dream of the sixties...

Thinking good thoughts - sending them south and west and east [is there anyone north of me?]

I've been doing great for the past few days. Eat less and better, exercise more. Now I just have to work on more sleep...
Nothing like a romantic interest for motivation, I tell you. Food just isn't on one's mind unless one's really starving.

Oh, I thought I should report that I fit into my nice black pants again. Next step - the grey pants should feel loose.

Thanks for the Mothers Day wishes, J_B, Sozobe & Thomas. Hope all of you mothers here had a good day y'day.

J_B, that bit of Milky Way irony had escaped me for some reason. Well, I'm armed now for the next 'sabotage' comment. You're right about Knowlege being power...and you know...it's really hard to resist the call of the scale.

George, adding my voice to the chorus of: "you can dump those pants!!"

Ehbeth, dancing for weight loss is highly recommended. And doing it with friends is even better. I once joined salsa classes with friends. It was just so much fun that losing the weight became a bonus. Go for it.

Thanks, Thomas - I think you're right about muscle gain & fat loss off-setting each other. Gonna keep at it! Good luck to you in jumping back on the discipline bandwagon!

Noddy24: Good luck to you too, during your 10-day stressful stretch. 'Hang in there' doesn't have the same class as 'Hold your dominion,' so I'm going to quote you back to you...Hold your dominion. Good thoughts your way.

dagmaraka: Fitting into old favorites is the best feeling, and so inspiring. I found that out myself recently. Nice going!