Checking in -- after a rockin' July, I started August with a gain of 0.4. I'm sure it was just water since this area was extremely hot and humid last week, but it was still disappointing.

But I have been trying to put everything in perspective over the last few days. Three summers ago I put on a size 30W dress and tore it in three places. This weekend I bought a size 18/20 skirt.

Remember, ladies, this is a journey, not a destination.

I got my FrontPage up and running -- site coming soon!

F8nacn, I have heard that weight range before also - 98-115 lbs for 5'1. I think that that is for a different body type than AA b/c I am 5'1 and 128 and wear a 4-6. I recall being 105-115 and I was much smaller. Therefore, docs really need to adjust the weight scale for different body types b/c I am not really that overweight yet I weigh at least 10 lbs more than the range says that I should. In other words, don't use this range. Perhaps consider speaking with your doctor to find out a suitable range for whatever your body type may be. It is difficult for us all to lose weight so just keep working at it and focus on your achievements and not how far you feel that you have to go. I have heard that the South Beach diet changes the way that you approach food in general and that it is easier to keep the weight off after learning the approach. There is a book about it although I haven't read it myself. I would like to lose a few pounds and am thinking of trying that diet along with walking a few times a week and a dance class (although it is hard as heck to make it there with my long work hours). I'm not a big exerciser (it bores me) so this will have to do for now for me. But find your own activities that you enjoy, which may not be the typical hop on the treadmill. That crap bores the heck out of me.

SC

This is so right, you definitely need to find an exercise that excites you and go from that, but you definitely need to get some cardio in life. I think I must be the only person I know that loves the treadmill. I get on that thing 5 to 6 days a week doing 40, 50 or 60 mins. I put my ipod on and go to town. With the fast music I am moving at a fast pace going about 4.6 to 4.8 mph and the time flies. I can do 3 miles in 40 mins and I work up a really good sweat and that isht feels good, then depending on the day I do 10-15 mins on weights and strength training or do 10 mins on the stationary bike...again going at a very fast pace...but like Summerchild said to all that hate to work out, find some cardio that you like and change it up fomr day to day..if I miss a day of not working out I feel like something is wrong, and don't get me wrong...i didn't start out like this, it just came on once I decided to loose weight almost 4 years ago, and to maintain the weight loss which to me is harder than actually loosing the weight, the key for me is getting my workout on and also keeping my healthy lifestyle eating in check. For me it's about portion control...sticking to what a true portion is and working out.

When I go on vacation, yes I do visit the gym each day that I am there....i eat what I want and drink what I want because yes I am on holiday, but like I said I visit the gym at the hotel everyday, and this helps to maintain instead of gain while I'm having a drinking and eating good azz tinme.

Summer Child gave a good suggestion about checking with one's doctor about a suitable weight range because those weight charts will vary depending upon the source. For example, Weight Watchers recommends that the upper target weight for 5'1'' (ages 25-45) is 127lbs... which is in line with what Summer Child was saying about the range of 98-115 sounding incorrect...

For all those on the weight loss/healthy lifestyle track... keep the faith -- be active, eat in moderation, and find more productive ways to cope with anger, sadness, &/or stress (I added this last reminder because I know I used to eat more when I was in a negative mood)...
:)

OK, y'all, I'm back on the bandwagon. Not back on "plan," per se, but back on the weight-loss bandwagon and back to updating my blog. I've walked two days this week, and I have to say, I missed it! I ran into a lady the other day who saw me and said, "Walkin'll get that weight off you." I said, "Honey, I hope so." After I said it, I felt all old; who says "honey???" Anyway, she told me that she lost over 100lbs just by walking; went from a size 22 to an 8!!! It made me feel good and I thanked her for the encouragement. Then on another part of my walk a dude told me I was pretty. I thought to myself, my goodness, so much encouragement at once! LOL! It's SO true; you really do feel better when you exercise. I wish I could use that as motivation when I'm feeling down and unmotivated. Ah, it is what it is, right?

So how's it going with everyone?

I've been doing the south beach diet, and I've lost 18.5 pounds in the past 2 1/2 months. Right now I am a liittle discouraged because I have not lost anything the past 2 weeks. have any advice One of my problems is I weigh myself every other day.lol I think I will just start weighing myself once a month. I walk about 2 miles 3-5 days a week. Next week I am going to start .strength training. I am also going to dust off my windsor pilates DVD (which I bought 2 years ago and have yet to try)

It's not good to weight yourself that many times in a week. Try once a week and try and make it the same time of day each week. Something to break your plateau is to add more to your exercising. Like up it to 2.5 to 3 miles and also add the DVD in the same day....see if this helps to break the plateau.

Strength training will help a great deal with that. IT sounds like you've reached a plateau- switching up your exercise routine by adding new activities like the weight training will help you push on through. You might also consider changing up your cardio exercise pattern- maybe try the elliptical trainer, or get on a bike, or go swimming- something that uses your muscles differently.

Congrats on your weight loss! That is GREAT for 2 1/2 months!

exactly...change up...I do the treadmill each day but I do differnentn amounts of time and I go 4.6 to 4.8 mph anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes depending on the day, then I switch up and do the stationary bike and weights on alternate days...but on Saturday I do everything, the treadmill, weights and strength training and the stationary bike. But switching up and adding different things should definitely help you break the plateau.

Thanks Kim, and lovelyivy for the advice. Its times like these that I really need the encouragement because I have tried this before and as soon as I hit the plateau I go back to my old habits. But I CAN do it and I WILL do it this time!!

I have found that I just can NOT use one machine for 40 min - one hour. I get bored, so I do dance classes (another good option- dance classes are a lot of fun and have a great community dynamic). It was where I started, but branching out worked better for me.

lilbay- how are you starting strength training? Are you doing it solo or with a class (my personal favorite) or trainer?

Lady- if you had the willpower to lose almost 20 pounds in 2 1/2 months then you can definitely keep on doing it! Just make sure you don't get bored! It's a killer (along with apathy, which got my rapidly spreading behind, lol).

I am going to use a trainer for about the first couple sessions, then I'm going to be on my own.

Thank you! I think it is very important not to get bored, especially with my meals. I'm taking it one day at a time, and hopefully by my 30th birthday next August I will be at my goal!:D

You know what gets me going for so long on the treadmill is I put on my ipod and I have all my favorite upbeat music and I just do it...and the main and most important thing is because I absolutely love the treadmill out of all the machines there. Something that I started doing as of last Saturday is doing 50 to 60 minutes on the treadmill going 4.6 to 4.8 mph and then doing about 20 minutes on weights, and then 10 mins on the stationary bike, and then going back to the treadmill for another 20 or 30 mins but this time putting the incline up as far and high as it will go, and only going about 3.5 mph. What I can't stand is thta damn elliptical machine. I have done that thing all of 2 times and that was because it was a day that I do the stationary bike and all of them were taken for my 10 mins, so that left me with the elliptical and I struggle thru it both times for 10 mins.