and some encouragement.

by meganne 27 Sep 2009

OH Dear, what a difficult choice! LOLOLOL!!!!!

by meganne 27 Sep 2009

Well done for making the effort, regardless of the number. It gives you such a sense of achievement just knowing you have stuck to your convictions and started on a healthier lifestyle.

I feel very guilty right now, I've been in bed with a dose of flu today and felt so ill I had only eaten 2 apples since breakfast this morning. Then just now I suddenly felt so hungry I got up and made myself two toasted cheese and jam sandwiches. This is the worst thing I could possibly do, even though it was good multi-grain bread, cheese has such a high fat content it is an absolute no-no when trying to lose weight.
Oh well, I'll just have to make an extra effort to do some more exercise when my temperature goes back to normal.

We can do it!!!
Hugs n roses, Meganne

by cinderoak 27 Sep 2009

Meganne,
Rest and restore, till you can go for more!!!! The time will be there to work this off but for now give your body a chance to recover. Blessings dear one and again thank you!
Prayers for quick recovery sent your way!!!

by sandynavas 27 Sep 2009

You can get a fat-free cheese (probably made from PLASTIC) and I've had some. It isn't all that bad either. I try to go for the pure natural foods though and try to avoid anything processed. But, give me some coconut surrounded by chocolate . . .

by asterixsew 26 Sep 2009

Please do post a recipe for shushi

by meganne 26 Sep 2009

Sushi isn't fattening is it Yoriko? I've never checked, but since it is predominantly rice, I should think it wouldn't be taboo. It would be nice for a weekly treat. I would certainly love a recipe for Sushi.
Hugs n roses, Meganne

by colonies1 27 Sep 2009

rice is in the same line as potato and pasta..........to much.........is fatting

by shirlener88 28 Sep 2009

Love it - where did you get this design from?

by meganne 26 Sep 2009

I have quick veggie dishes, cooked in a wok, chinese style. I can have a meal on the table in thirty minutes.
Fast food is only appealing because of all the artificial additives they put in it to make people like the taste.

You can do the same thing at home with the wise choice of herbs and spices, most of which have no calories, therefore they aren't fattening.

A Canadian friend of mine amazed me when we purchased hamburgers at a fast food place, he asked for the meat pattie to be served separately, then he proceeded to take a heap of napkins, he placed the patty in the middle and pressed down. The fat from the patty went through all the napkins and then some. I was gobsmacked!!!! Try it for yourself it may just change your mind about eating fast foods.
hugs n love, Meganne

by katydid 25 Sep 2009

Keep up the exercise!!! Am proud of you!!!

by meganne 26 Sep 2009

Well done! A pound a week is all we are really aiming for.
Some of us will lose more initially and then slow down, others will lose less to start with and then have weeks when they'll lose more, so it all balances out.

The main idea is to do it in a natural way so that you do not feel pressured or that you are being deprived, these are negative things to be avoided.

We want to feel good about how we are re-gaining our health and fitness in a positive way by making healthier choices in the foods we eat and choosing to get up from the machine and walk around the house, go outside and walk around the block even, or just do some stretching exercises to start with. Once you start exercising and seeing the change in how your clothes fit you, it encourages you to do more.

I was going to have a Friday night treat of a Hamburger and chips, but after seeing I had lost 3 lbs, I couldn't bring myself to waste all that effort in one fattening meal, so I had roast chicken and vegetables instead. And believe me, I LOOOOOOVE my chippies.
But I really didn't miss them as the chicken & veg was delicious.

Have a great trip and enjoy your travels, just remember it's the walking and sightseeing that will help you keep the weight off, provided you can still eat healthy meals too.

Hugs n roses and come back to us safely, we'll miss you. Meganne

by meganne 26 Sep 2009

Come on Girl, you can do it! I would love to have a tread mill because I hate walking in the streets. Start off with just five minutes, make sure you have a good show on telly to watch, or put a book on the front, maybe your embroidery machine user guide, and read a few pages, not only will you get fitter, but you'll discover features of your machine you didn't know it had.
Hugs n roses, Meganne

by meganne 26 Sep 2009

NOW, Now! No negative thoughts please.
If you have lost 2 lbs that is a fantastic result and you can keep it going.
We are WOMEN, There is NOTHING we can't do when we really want to!!!!

The problem with aging is that we become less active but we still eat they way we always have, which is usually much more than our body needs.

When you exercise, your body actually requires more food as exercising increases your metabolism. The more you exercise, the more you can eat, unless you are exercising to lose weight, then you should either reduce or improve your food intake or increase the amount of exercise you do. We all know that!

It is truly a balancing act and you would be surprised at how much exercise it takes to shed a few measely calories.

Doing 500 steps on an air walker (5 minutes) in the morning, only burns 75 calories. BUT, it increases the metabolism and helps keep it up all day which helps you burn up more than the 75 calories. I hope I've said that in a way that you understand me. You need to exercis in the morning so that you gain the benefit from it for the rest of the day.

Please stay positive, if I can do it when I'm feeling as sick as a dog, anyone can do it.
Hugs n roses, Meganne

by meganne 26 Sep 2009

Naughty Marietta! (LOL!!)

OK, having diabetes means you need to be even more diligent to eat well and get plenty of exercise.

Do you watch The View? Sherry is diabetic and she recently went on an excruciating diet and exercise regime so that she could wear a swimming costume on international TV. She did it with the help of a dietitian, personal trainer and her doctor.
SHE DID IT! She succeeded! And she succeeded so well she no longer needs medication for her diabetes, as she has returned to normal.

OK, so we don't have the assistance of all those health professionals, but we have our own common sense, we have access to any diet recipes or exercise routines we might need, (on the net) and we have our won't power.

When I say won't power I mean, I WON'T eat that fatty food, I WON'T be a victim of poor health, I WON'T fall for advertising and marketing of food products that are bad for me, I WON'T be lazy and add to my health problems, can you think of other WON'Ts that will help you get fitter?

Come on Girl, You can do it! You need to make yourself and your health your main priority so that you have a life you can really enjoy.
I'll look forward to reading your achievements next week.
Hugs n love, Meganne

by marietta 26 Sep 2009

Thanks for this lovely encouragement Meg. Boy I cannot not do well this week. I am going to REALY DO MY VERY BEST this week. I am going to write down every "I WON'T" this week, and will write to all at end of week to see if I can report back only good news.
Thank you my friend.
Hugs and God bless
Marietta

by marietta 25 Sep 2009

Shirlene if you have not got a scale, try taking measurements, as this is sometimes a even beter measure than the scale.
Sometimes you hit a time when your scale might say you lost nothing, but you can see a difference in cm's (or inches), and this can just be the right thing to edge you on to do better. Good luck.

by meganne 26 Sep 2009

You go Girl! I am so very glad you decided to join us Shirl, for your health's sake, if for no other reason. I do so worry about you and now I know you will soon be fitter and healthier and..... well, sook me is so pleased you've just made my day.
Love you dear friend, keep up the great work and if you go by measurements please only take them once a month, not weekly as you do with weight.
Hugs n love, Meganne

by shirlener88 28 Sep 2009

Here is what Jillian Michaels of the Biggest Losers says:

What the Scale Is Not Telling You!
It happens all the time. You've stayed on top of your workouts AND watched your diet every day, but then — Bam! — you hit that dreaded weight-loss plateau and can't get the scale to budge. Instead of getting angry at what the scale is saying, take a minute to think about what the scale is NOT telling you — like what a strong and healthy individual you're becoming. Do you have more endurance? Have you lost inches from your waist? Do you look better in your clothes? Don't be a slave to the scale. Weigh in only once a week, and the rest of the time just take note of the difference in how you're feeling.

by meganne 30 Sep 2009

"Weigh in only once a week, and the rest of the time just take note of the difference in how you're feeling".

That is precisely what I said in my previous post.
After only one week it is a bit soon to have reached the "plateau" phase, but yes it does happen and that is when it is time to look at what the scale is not telling you.
Very good advice.
But not to be used as an excuse to get slack. From what I have seen of the biggest loser show, I do not recommend anyone follow in their footsteps as they lose weight far to quickly and take the exercise to the extreme.

We want to do it in a healthy way, that we will find easy to commit to, and easy to stick to, that way we will keep at it and we will succeed through commitment and perseverence rather than starving ourselves and dropping out.

Hugs n blessings, Meganne

by meganne 25 Sep 2009

Never too late to start a healthy regime. Good luck and keep in contact with the group for support.
hugs n roses, M

by meganne 25 Sep 2009

Well done! That's a pound more than our weekly goal! Remember simple walking is supposedly one of the best exercises, one we crafters don't get enough of, but ANY exercise is better for you than getting none at all.

Keep up the great work! Hugs n roses, Meganne

by meganne 25 Sep 2009

I bought an Omron-HJ-112-Digital-Pocket-Pedometer, cheap, from an ebay seller in China:
http://myworld.ebay.com.au/pc_dig...

It's great because you can wear it around your neck or carry it in your handbag if you don't want to wear it on your waist.

Have you tried the vegetable pastas? They're really nice, just remember it isn't so much the pasta as the sauces and cheeses you put on top and the amount you put on your plate. LOL!!!

Good luck with your commitment and give it your best shot.
Hugs n roses, M

by meganne 25 Sep 2009

You can do it Sandy.

Just remember, "nothing tastes as good as it feels to be thin".
And once you are thinner and healthier and EXERCISING you can actually eat those special foods and still keep the weight off BECAUSE you are exercising.

The last time I had to lose weight (I had quit smoking and put on 42lbs) I found that once I lost the weight and was working out regularly, I could eat almost anything and it felt so good to wear all my beautiful thin clothes.

I didn't have that horrible clothing try-out every morning. You know what I mean, when it's time to get dressed, you go through your clothes trying to find things that fit you and it is so demoralising.
I just keep remembering how good it felt to be able to open my wardrobe and know that ANYTHING I selected would fit me and would look great!
I want to feel that way again and I'm going to!

How about sharing your recipe for your low-cal soup, I'm sure other Cuties would also like to have it especially since it's going into winter in the States.

Hugs n roses, Meganne

by meganne 25 Sep 2009

Oh absolutely! I love fresh vegetables and there are so many ways you can cook them to change the taste. We have a rice macaroni and thin rice noodles with the veggies, lots of cauliflower, carrots, beans, bok choy, celery, capsicum, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, soy sauce and chicken stock. Makes my mouth water thinking about it. And I'm starting to feel a sense of well being already. I even washed all the floors today for the first time since I had my mastectomies. It felt good!
hugs n roses, Meganne

by meganne 25 Sep 2009

Hey you go too girl.

If I lived that close to my work I would absolutely walk while the weather is good enough and if it was safe.

Just imagine, if you did take a brisk walk you might not even have to sacrifice a piece of pizza.

The only problem is that pizza has so many calories you could only have one slice, and who can stop at one???? Not me if I started? LOL!!!

I've resisted the temptation, so far and I even had roast chicken and vegetables tonight instead of my Hamburger. It was really enjoyable.
Hugs n love, Sis