BonnieMcC

whosya- thanks for the pic compliment. I am a make-a-wish mom and my sons wish was granted (he wished for a Disney Cruise). A local salon did a makeover on me and then a photoshoot to give me a day to myself. It was a blast! Everyone thinks that photo looks like it belongs on an '80's album cover. I think thats cool because I am sooo an '80's chick--although my hair is not NEAR as big as it was in the '80's! btw, I added some pics into my albums--my goal pics (of what I want to...I mean WILL look like again someday!) and then some of my pics at my heaviest. Ewwww... something to keep me movitated as well!

Hi Jackie! Welcome to our low carb group! In order to get into ketosis you need to cut carbs back about 20 or less for a few days and after about 3 days your stick will show you in some form of ketosis. After that you can go up to, but no more than 30 carbs a day. Atleast thats what I have done. Many days I get barely over 20 in to stay in high level of ketosis. I am obsessed and I check my sticks every morning (which btw, is the best time of the day to check it---first morning pee!) You can buy at Atkins diet book or look up more specific details online. I mostly eat meat, eggs, cheese, salad, and I use low carb tortilla wraps (called Flat-Outs in the deli section) I also drink protein shakes too. Good luck with low carb. Its hard to stick to sometimes but the results are sooo worth it!

whosya---I am glad you said that. I just figured that since 5.0 was the preset "jog" button, that is what I "should" be doing. I thought it was pretty fast for someone like me. I think I will do week one a couple of times too. I am in no big hurry to complete the program and I am not signed up for any 5ks in the future. I just want to be able to pick up the pace, which will eventually come with training. Thanks for your input!

Wish me luck! I am going to Chicago for a few days and I am having Chicago Deep Dish pizza tomorrow night. I am hoping I will only eat one slice (which is way more than my daily carb allowance!) Maybe I can just eat the toppings??? I am really going to stick to the plan as much as possible because I was to be down to 240 be the end of July. Its in my PLAN! The fat girl in me keeps saying "you will NEVER have chicago pizza after the band...just enjoy it ONE LAST TIME!" but the skinny girl in me says "You will never make your goal if you keep giving in to eating bad one last time" If I don't talk to you before Friday...have a great 4th of July! Lets try to be in ketosis again by Monday if any of us fall off the wagon for the holiday.

Well, I gave it the good ol college try. I did much better day one. I got through 3 intervals of running at 5.0, the 4th at 4.5 and then walked the rest of the time at 3.0. My heart rate was 168 and was beating so hard, my lungs felt like someone had blown ice cold air into them and the top of my foot has been hurting for the past 48 hours..I don't know if it happened during first run or what. Its not a consistant pain, just when I twist it slightly the wrong way. I bought some new running shoes yesterday. The shoes I have been wearing to the gym are pretty old and beat up. These shoes feel heavier, but have a lot more support. I'm kinda down about not doing the podrunnner the correct way, but I did keep my heart rate up the whole time and I walked and jogged for 30 minutes. Btw, I will be in Chicago for the next few days, I will take my iPod to the fitness center in the hotel, but I don't know if I will have time to check in. I will bring my laptop and try! I will be getting PLENTY of walking though! Have a happy 4th of July if I don't talk to you before then!

Do you any of you low-carbers keep a food journal? I write down everything I eat and try to write down protein, calories, fat, fiber and of course carbs. The only numbers I REALLY watch is carbs and calories. If I go out to eat I just write what I ate, but I don't write the numbers. Too much work to look all of that up, plus I think if I am faithful to the plan then an occassional out to dinner (and eating wisely) is not going to ruin my day. I also journal my exercise. I don't get crazy about that either. Just a general description. This afternoon I put some goals down in my dayplanner (where I journal) for each month...all the way to the final goal pound. At the end of each month I am going to write other goals (fitness, size, and anything else I can think of) for the next month. I find that I work much harder when I have something in writing that I am working towards. This really makes me look forward to my skinny future!

Hi Skinny! welcome to our group and congrats on your band!

Welcome Annika and good luck!

Great job Wendy! I totally know how you feel!!! I have never went faster than a 4.0 on the treadmill and THAT felt like running! Im pretty sore right now but like you...can't wait until wednesday to do it again. Once we become "runners" we will look back and be so happy we decided to accept this challenge!

Hope! How DO you do it??? I bow in your presence! My TWO kids (12&6) keep me busy! Altho I must admit, its getting easier..until those teenage years hit...haha! Good luck with training today!

I checked out your profile pics! WOW! Your before body is identical to what I have now...and if your now picture is what I have to look forward to...woo hoo!

mamato!!!:wink_smile: Great job one ONEderland!! Oh I can't wait to join you someday!

whosyadaddy, Amazing...I love to hear about people like you! Very inspiring! I will check out your blog!

I DID IT! I did day one of couch to 5k without dying!!! I barely made it through last segment of running..but I did it! My heart was beating out of my chest. Now my legs are so sore...but I feel awesome that I did it! What type of exercises are you doing on your days off of training. Im going to do swimming and biking. I still need to start adding strength training. I get so bored doing that though. I used the podrunner cd and it helped alot, but we have these cool treadmills at the gym that you can set the touch screen to different speeds that with a touch of a button I can walk at 3.0 and jog at 5.0 (sheesh..they call that jogging?? I felt like my legs were gonna fly off my body at that pace!) Im curious to know how today went for everyone else!

congrats on your surgery maren! you are certainly welcome to join us! Just wanted to let you all know, Im in Ketosis between moderate and heavy this morning! Woo Hoo! I know I could be in heavy if I am willing to give up my tortilla wrap and eat a different salad dressing. These are things I have daily that are my "higher carb" items. My wrap is 6 and my salad dressing is 11. Im not willing to give them up though!

want2lose, Thanks so much for you post. You have totally inspired me! I was wondering if someone my size could actually start running. I am so excited of what my life is coming to be. I haven't looked forward to life like this in years!

I downloaded this tonight too! Thanks! This is so cool. I love my iPod even more---and I didn't think that was possible! Are we all doing this on our schedule or are we trying to complete this at the same time. I am thinking I might need some repeat weeks. We will see!

I am sooo glad your reminded me of those! I used to do that 10 years ago when I was on Atkins but TOTALLY forgot about them! They are DELISH!!! I believe I made them with different kinds of shredded cheese. Ohhhh I was looking for a snack to have while kids are eating brownies...that is PERFECT!

So I wanted to get started a day early on our 5k plan so I went to the gym at 9am and when I got there, they werent even open yet---Sunday hours are different I guess! So, I went home and mowed my lawn..felt good that I got that done early because I was supposed to do it in the afternoon. So after church and lunch I took the kids back to the gym and was planning on checking them into daycare while I worked out and then go swimming in the gym pool. Plan foiled again...the daycare didnt open until 4pm...it was 2:30. I just played with the kids in the pool for awhile and when there was no other adults around I tried swimming my FIRST lap. I have never tried it before and it was WAY harder than I thought. I was seriously breathing hard at the end. I turned around and walked back and caught my breath. I did 2 more laps. That was it...just 3 and I was wiped out. I sooo want to keep this up and get better. I never realized how intense it was...but refreshing to be in the pool at the same time! I think I will try to swim laps 2 days a week and hopefully get better and better! Looking forward to tomorrows challenge!

tsk tsk for yesterday, but way to bounce back today! Come on Ketosis!!!

those are my thoughts exactly...at 248 pounds I don't think my body is any shape to run...but then again, I have seen people my size on The Biggest Loser do it. I already walk on the treadmill at a speed of 3-3.5 with random hills for 30 minutes everyday and only get 1.5 miles in, and my sister is a runner and I have always wished I was more like her in that way. I figure I can do my best to try to hit those numbers but I would like it broke down into speed on a treadmill. I guess I could try to figure it out myself before Monday and if I do, I will let you know!

From what I remember doing Atkins 10+ years ago, any level of ketosis is good, but I think the darker the stick the more fat you are losing. Anything more than trace means your body is using stored fat in your body as engery instead of carbs (because there are barely any to use!)

count me in!!!

Lynn, I am so sorry to hear about the death in your family. I know for awhile things may be stressful...try to stick with eating healthy tho...you will fill much better if you do. We are having a dinner party with friends tonight and my husband is making stuffed shells. I am making my own chicken breast and we will have salad. We will be staying up late and playing board games and everyone else will be having drinks and snacks. I am going to do my best to NOT indulge. Wish me luck!

haha...I know what you mean, its nice to know that we are all human and we make mistakes...but we CAN do this...and it better if we are all doing it together! Last night we went to see a movie (WallE) and we almost always go to this italian restaurant across the street. I went online, looked at the menu for the lowest carb item and when I got there I knew exactly what I wanted and ordered it...didn't tempt myself by looking at the rest of the menu. I used the dipping the fork in the dressing method of eating my salad. It really did work! I got a taste of dressing in every bite and I only used 1/3 of the little cup. Usually I would drown my whole salad with all of it. My meal was chicken breast with montery jack cheese with bacon, brocoli, & pecans on it. It was a little too "bacony" (is that word?) The bacon was shredded like a pizza topping and covered the whole top of the chicken. It was still pretty good though. I felt happy that I didn't get a mountain of pasta. My ketosis was in the trace section this morning. Hopefully I can boost it in the next 2 days!