TerriDoodle

I agree that 800 is way too low. If you read the article I linked above it says this (in part): Lowering calories too far…"It takes calories to burn calories" There is an old adage, which says, "It takes calories to burn calories." This is true both internally and externally. Internally, the body simply lowers its metabolic rate when it senses too large a decrease in food intake. This still allows the body to function correctly, but ultimately requires fewer calories (after considerable weight loss), which creates hunger and prevents fat loss. Externally, the body is tricked into less spontaneous physical activities, (i.e., you get lazy, tired and, therefore, move less and more economically). Solution: Keep calories slightly below initial maintenance so metabolism and energy levels remain high during exercise and daily activities. A deficit greater than 20% of maintenance calories makes it much more difficult to maintain lean body mass For example: My maintenance calories are about 2200/day. A 20% deficit means I should eat about 1760 calories a day to lose one pound per week, keep my metabolism revved up, and energy levels high.

(((Losingjusme))) - I am so with you on this...and i've only been at it for 6 months!! You maintained your enthusiasm for a year and you did, and still are, doing soooooo great!! My cheap advice is this: 1) dont buy or store junk food in your house or desk...period. 2) don't expect perfection or even the same level of enthusiasm that you once had...start over with baby steps ...lower your expectations! 3) Pat yourself on the back OFTEN for the things you have done, and are doing, RIGHT! 4) Do NOT leave LBT or let 24 hours pass between posts. One day at a time. Baby steps. (((HUGS)))

Good Morning Sweet Violets! Judy - I LOVE LOVE LOVE your banner!!! I might just have to go over there and make one myself...that is just toooo cute! Amanda & Ms Jen - did ya'll have a great birthday?? (Amanda, you understand "ya'll" don't you??...LOL) Personally, i try my best to ignore mine! Janie- Feeling better today? I hope so. I've been in a funk, too...so i can relate. I just kind of had to re-group and start over with baby steps and it seems to be working. I may or may not ever get back to that gung-ho gym nazi mentality again, but this "everything in moderation" thinking is OK, too. Try not to expect perfection from yourself...be as loving and forgiving of yourself as you would be with any of us! Kat - (((BIG HUGS))) for you this morning. I can feel the nervousness in your post. I wish I could be there for you. Please know that I think of you several times a day (not just when I'm logged in). Oh, and in your list of things you had to deal with since your banding, you forgot the time when Kinsey was in the hospital!!! That was horrible!!! As I've said before, you have had way more than your share lately and I just can't imagine that God would burden you with anything more right now. As you've said...it's time for a rest and you are so right to let go of the discipline "dieting" requires. You are maintaining without effort, and you are beautiful just the way you are, so just enjoy it. If you can't make it on our trip you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be making a trip to NM!! I have just GOT to meet you somehow! Jenn - I am thrilled that we found a spot that you can drive to easily. I mapped it yesterday and looks like it's only about a 5-6 hour drive?? Is that right? I actually think youre lucky that you don't have to rush around at Christmas and get tugged in 5 different directions...it's not all it's cracked up to be! It's going to be a quiet one for us this year and for that I am grateful!!!...after 15 years of trying to make 4 celebrations in 2 days, I'm ready just to enjoy Christmas morning with a nice breakfast, gifts, the paper (and the sale flyers!) and staying in my jammies until 1:00!! Oh, I've got a million powerpoint slides to do today! My fingers are all warmed up now so I better get to it. Ya'll have a wonderful day!

Pamela - How far apart do ya'll live from each other? Mmmmmm! Cocktails!

This is a really good article about what causes plateaus. You don't say how long it's been since you've lost a pound or two...is it just a little stall or is it a true plateau? A week or two without losing is nothing to fret about... A true plateau can last for weeks or even months!!

Just a reminder of how far you've come in such a short time...... :biggrin1:

I am SO in for the cabin!! I also vote for no DH's....or, if you do bring a DH he has to sleep somewhere else and he can't show up before noon !! LOL I'm staying in my jammies 'til then! OMG -- are we really going to be able to do this??? I won't be able to sleep until then!!!

Judy -- I just wonder if you've made it to Victoria's Secret yet??

Well, first of all, to lose 5# in one week you'd have to have a calorie deficit of 2500 calories/day....which is essentially NOT eating at all. Secondly, that is not a healthy thing to do as your body would immediately start shutting down your metabolism to conserve energy......this is a big no-no!! But to address the theory of your question, that would mean you're in a plateau (if you're eating less than you're burning but not losing) ....and these are caused my many factors, most of which are not clearly understood. This is a great article on that subject: http://application.bodybugg.com/files/static/kb/15_understanding_fitness_plateaus.pdf Obviously I just experienced a 7 week plateau which can't be explained by my eating/exercising. I was doing the 'right' things most of the time. All I can say is that I am incredibly jealous. :phanvan BUT, I am happy that you're getting to enjoy it!! Lucky dogs! It would be if I was burning 1800 EXTRA calories, beyond my basal metabolic state. If i don't do any exercise at all...if I am just a slug all day and don't do any chores around the house, no shopping, no cooking, no gym...like I'm just laying in bed sick, for instance, I'll still burn maybe 1800 calories (at my age, weight, level of fitness) just in order to keep my body functioning. If I want to lose one pound per week, I have to average a calorie deficit of 500/day. So I can manage that deficit by either moving more or eating less. The body bugg basically monitors that intake/output and records it in my profile. The website is one of the best I've seen in the area of "dieting", the science of metabolism, the latest research, and fitness. If you go to Welcome to myApex! and click on "Fitness Resources" there are tons of articles and Q&A's that aren't even related to the Body Bugg per se. Good reading. Scale stuck at 184 today. That's a good thing! Denise - Love your 'jellybean' picture!! That is soooooooo exciting!!! Kat - I love Kinsey's choice of song...it's the one I used to sing to my babies when they were little! ....still do!!

Kat - Welcome home! Ok, all my violets are safe and sound and accounted for. I can rest now. Hey, where's Haydee?? Where's Ms Jen? I know where Michelle is...she's got her feet propped up somewhere (I hope). Denise??? You haven't checked in for a couple of days!! Guess I can't rest after all. I like the Bugg so far. It's keeping me from eating when I'd really like to right now! It's telling me I've only burned about 1800 calories so far today (ah, the life of a secretary) and I'm not going to the gym, so I'll burn maybe 2000 total today. My calories are at 1300 and I shoot for a 750 calorie deficit, so I can't eat anymore tonight! This really IS interesting seeing how many calories I am burning ...'hard' numbers as opposed to estimating. It's a pretty cool little gadget and the web program is very good, too. You don't have to count calories if you don't want to. It will give you an average after a week or so on the program by seeing how much weight you lost vs. how many calories your burned, then computing what you must have taken in from that. Make sense?

OH!!! And WOO freakin' HOO on the size 12 jeans!!! OMG!!!

<Big Huge Sigh of Relief> .... Thank God, Tracy!!!! That is probably about the best news we can get right now. It could have been better...but it sure could have been a lot worse too. For now, we'll be happy with it the way it is!! Tell Charles we love him, too...for being such a good Dad and husband!!:kiss2:

I used to have that issue of my feet falling asleep too. I did a little research on it and found that it's not unusual to experience that. It has something to do with the circulation being impeded because you never lift your feet off of the 'pedals'. Loosening your shoelaces will help, as will taking small breaks just to get the circulation back. Not much else you can do!

AWESOME job!!! Aren't you proud of yourself!!? Way to go!!

Just for the records.... After a 7 week plateau, scale finally moved to 183.8 today, 10/16. Started using Body Bugg on 10/13. I don't think the two events are related, it just happend that way.

Today: ---> 183.8 <--- After 7 long weeks at 185..... bring on the shaking boobies!!!

Hey Ya'll Don't forget Kat needs our prayers, too. She's having tests tomorrow. Pray for the best possible outcome! Same for you TracyKS... You know we'll all be on pins and needles so please post when you can. Judy - yeah, I think that was probably a good idea not to tell your daughter you can wear her jeans...although she probably would be nothing but happy for you! Jenn - That is great news that your dd doesn't need braces!! Man, that's unusual these days! You got lucky! TracyK - Great news on your nephew, too. How's his mental state? How's your sister?? Shell-shocked, I'm sure. Speaking of sisters...mine has officially excommunicated me from her family and I'm not sure why. We've never really been "close" ...she's 7 years older and we are just different people. But her kids are my only niece and nephew and I love them like my own...y'know? Loooong story short, I found out thru my mom that they had a party a couple of weeks ago for my niece who's having her 2nd baby...it's a boy this time...so they showered her with gifts for a boy. I wasn't invited to the party!!! This is about the 3rd time this has happened. I also never am told when the kids are in town and I've only seen my grand-niece twice...and she's 2!! I don't know what I've done to piss my sister off, but it must be a doozie!! She's always been majorly passive-aggressive so WHATEVER!! But today I wrote an email to my niece saying I hope she wasn't told that I just didn't show up, or that I was "too busy"....I wanted to set the record straight that I haven't been invited!! I told her I loved her and I would send her a check to buy whatever she needs for the baby. Odd. Haydee - Your trip sounds fun!! I'm glad you took it easy on Sunday...ya'll deserve it! Is the house looking good? We want pics!!! Michelle - Enjoy your week off!! Are ya'll taking your kids out of school for the week? Ms Jen - CONGRATULATIONS on your major milestone!!! WOW, what a great day for you!!! Enjoy!! Re: having kids.... they are tough and exhausting most of the time, but the love you feel for them is totally unlike anything you have ever experienced. I had mine so late because for years I thought that I didn't want any. Glad I changed my mind, but I was on the fence about it for 10 years! So I can understand there are certain advantages to not having any. Hopefully you are blessed with nieces and nephews, or friends' children that you feel very close to. My friends kids feel like my own sometimes...I care that much about them! Especially as they get into their teen years and you worry so often. I'm pooped. I think I'll get a book and go to bed early tonight. Love you guys! XOXO

It's not just this 'diet', but every one I've ever been on it seems like I hit a major plateau and the losses slow way down at 6 months! May of those in my April 07 group are having stalling issues right about now. Any bright ideas on what causes it? The best I can think of is the body simply adapting to lower calories...even though I try to mix mine up a bit going higher and lower from time to time. Do you notice this same trend?

LOL Tracy!! Who the hell knows is right! I found this article on the Apex Body Bugg site that sounds reasonable (which is not the same thing as "encouraging"!) http://application.bodybugg.com/files/static/kb/15_understanding_fitness_plateaus.pdf

Maryrose - I'm sure they wouldn't mind at all if you came in for monthly weigh-ins...or whenever you like!

WASabb posted this article for me in another thread about the dreaded 6 month plateau -- something I think many of us are facing right now: WeightWatchers.com - Weight-Loss Plateaus - Visitor Kat - your mentioning about Kinsey not liking the scary stuff reminds me of a story... When Richard and I got married we moved into a new house, in a new neighborhood and 2 months later Halloween rolled around. My kids were 7 and 11 then. We got all excited about being in our new house and decided we wanted to make it real scary....strobe lights, scary music, cob webs, dark porch, candles, etc. and I dressed like a witch. It was a blast....EXCEPT that it didn't take long to figure out that 90% of the trick-or-treaters were under the age of 5 (!!) and they were too scared to come to the door!! It was pretty funny, though. I probably traumatized all those poor kids that had to walk by our house....not to mention the ones whose desire for candy was stronger than their fear and made it to the front door, but then ran as fast as they could back to their mommy & daddy!! LOL! Ah....fun times! :cool: it's too early to really give a full report on the BB...I'll let you know when I lose a damn pound!!! I was (again!) at 185.2 this morning. When I hit 184 I want some freakin' dancing boobies!!

Thank you, WAS... that does help!! Not what I wanted to hear!...but it helps to understand that it's not really anything I'm doing "wrong". Major congrats to you on reaching goal!! You must be high as a kite! :cool:

TracyinKS - You sure have been laying low lately!! Everything OK with you??? Congrats on that new low!! You are doin' it, baby!!!

That's simply a low-carb diet. Been there, done that! Yeah, I'll lose weight doing it, but I'll gain it right back when I go back to eating normal foods. I'm not really asking HOW to bust a plateau...I'm asking if anyone knows why it happens....religiously....at 6 months!?

Tracy - Your mermaid is precious!!! Oh, I love my pics of Hannah at that age. She used to play dress up ALL the time!! Brings back memories! High cholesterol goes hand in hand with high triglycerides...that would not surprise me. Perhaps you are thinking of HDL and LDL ...where you want high levels of HDL and low levels of LDL (good & bad cholesterol). And yes, if you are having bloodwork to check lipid levels, you definitely should be fasting. If nobody told you that you should take the test over at their expense! Judy - I was thinking the same thing about Michelle! ALL that work for 2 days?? But at least it is done....and that's a good thing! Kat - You are a diplomatic person. I honestly think you should write a note to that minister and express your disappointment in her attitude after all your dad has done for that church. Her performance was absolutely pitiful! I know you would be able to word a short letter in such a way that would get your point across without being 'bitchy'....she needs a wake-up call!! She's obviously forgotten her purpose! Hmmmph!!! Kity - too early to tell yet on the BB. I'll keep you posted though...rest assured. How's Susanne?? Ya'll have fun?