April 2006 Bandits January Challenge

[guysis 0]

Thanks Julie...........I will try that! Your are awsome - another lb down!!!

It's like watching my child succeed - I've adopted you!

[Boo 3]

You're right, Betty, I should be grateful for where I am now. I see everyone else dropping major pounds and while I get so excited for y'all I can't help but wish I was dropping faster, too. Patience is hard sometimes!

Oh, and I hear you on the fill question. I've not had a fill since August. Maybe it is time for both of us. The cold Water trick is a good idea!

Ran four miles tonight. The funny thing is that I bundle up in a black scarf, gloves and headband with my hair pulled back, and run in the dark, yet EVERY night somebody different recognizes me! It's crazy.

[guysis 0]

Dear Boo................didn't mean to sound cruel - maybe that's how I came across...............didn't mean that you should be happy with where you are..................I know that some of us would be thrilled to be where I am right now.............just meant at my age - right now I'd be thrilled to be in the 160's and if I had a couple extra inches............I always said I wasn't "too fat, just too short"! Just trying to be flip/funny......sometimes in words on paper what you mean is not how it comes out! Hope your plateau and mine is soon a thing of the past. Now that Julie and Dawn.........can you believe the nerve of those guys............they sure don't know the meaning of plateu (not a hex - DON'T LISTEN UP THERE PLATEU GOD!).

Having my Mah Jongg group over today for our marathon day of practice - the 6 of us are going to Palm Springs on the 25th for a Mah Jongg tournament...........they're arriving at 9:00AM and we're playing thru the day and then we're going to Happy Hour for dinner (yes, I'll be careful) and coming back and playing more...............we usually play every week (take turns at each other's house - we normally play from 10:30 - 4ish.................we do this every year in preparation for the tournament........it's our last day we can play before we leave..............

probably will not get any exercise today (other than upper body - picking and discarding the Mah Jongg tiles).

[JulieNYC 4]

It's hard to compare our different challenges. We all want to be as close to goal as possible NOW and also the one who is losing pounds the fastest NOW. Those are incongruous, of course. There are exciting things about both (I know I'm stating the obvious -- I just am kind of using the obvious as my own therapy to get over my jealousy of Boo and Betty for being in Onederland and Dawn about to be! I love you all and want the very best for you all, but I know you know the jealousy I'm talking about -- it's not the evil kind, just the "I wish I could be there too" kind.).

On the one hand, it's exciting to have lost 134 lbs. I get PMs all the time from people just starting their journey asking me what I did differently and how they can replicate it. I tell them (softer than this, but essentially this), start at 5'1 1/2 inch with a BMI of 68 and you'll lose a lot fairly quickly too.

On the other hand, I'd do anything to be in the 180s or the (holy grail) 160s right now! Even if it meant not losing but 0.5 lbs per month as opposed to the 6 lbs I've weirdly lost this week (thank you scale god)! Ask me again when I'm actually 180 and I'll probably sing a different tune.

And that's ok. Because I know when I get there, Boo, Betty, Kat, Dawn and all you other April bandsters who are already in Onederland or knocking on the door will be there to pull me over the border.

Sort of along that line, I've been wondering about something I was hoping we could discuss. I direct this to Boo and Betty, but as with everything on this thread I love everyone's view. What is it like to be 20-ish lbs from goal? Does it feel the same as the rest of the journey, just more frustrating because the scale doesn't move as fast, or do you feel "done" and that you're just tweaking? Do you buy nice clothes in your current size, or do you still say to yourself "I should look for something on sale because I know it won't fit in the long term"? Do you spend just as much daily time on weight loss planning (meal prep, gym time, time on the forums, whatever) as you did during the more rapid weight loss phase, or do you feel like you're in long-term "normal life" mode? If the latter, how different is "normal life" mode from the "gunning full force -- it's all I think about mode? As you can tell, I'm really wondering what will be different 40 lbs from now when I'm close to goal but not at goal. I know that phase could be a long one and I want to prepare for it.

Thanks for your input!

**PS Betty, I'm honored you've adopted me and I accept. Wink.

[Kat817 19]

Good question Julie! I am not 20 pounds from goal--I still have closer to 50-but it still seems wierd, in my mind I still have the 100+ mind set of "it will likely never happen". Then when I realize it is only 50---I feel so psyched!!!

Been to Curves this morning. Was a good group of women there, I enjoyed it. Lifted weights with DH last night, all was fine until I lifted the dumbell over my head, and was to slowly lower it towards my shoulder blade....which I sailed through before. I hadn't felt like that muscle was sore, until I attempted it again! Holy smoke, I almost dropped it on my head!!! I worked something in there!!! DH gave me a smaller weight for the first set, and once the muscle limbered up, I was able to do it the second set---shocked me tho, and it is nice to know it is really working something!

I know what you mean, about wanting to be the one losing the fastest, and doing the most---it is hard not to want that! Just like listening to you all talk about running--sometimes it really makes me want to run, but since I cannot, I won't! I feel lucky I have done as well as I have, and hate to seem unhappy with it, by being jealous, but sometimes ya just can't help it!

Off to do some birthday shopping for my oldest granddaughter today---they are re-doing her room, so guess I'll find something along that line. I am thinking of paying my friend Niki, to paint something in her room. She is an awesome artist, she did a mural for another friend, who owns an ice cream shop (yes I have a friend who owns an ice cream shop!!!!heaven help me!). Her shop is called "The vanilla Moose" and Niki painted a big old moose on the wall looking through trees, and flowers, it has a vine hanging from his horns...turned out awesome. Will talk to Mom and Dad and see how they like the idea---if not, will find something.

I think the wall she painted for my DD is one of the things that made leaving her house when she left her ex so hard, she did not want to leave the babies nursery!

Better go get ready---y'all have a good one!

Kat

[DeltaDawn 0]

Well Julie,

I decided about 20 lbs ago to start buying clothes I really like, and to heck with them costing too much and me not getting value from it. At my size now I figure that I will get quite a bit of wear out of clothes. My dh bought me a sigrid olsen sweater for Christmas... I think I am in love with him and the sweater!!!

I too worry that as I approach goal it will get harder and how am I going to cope with that??

So far this month- I have worked out 6 times and all is well.

Happy Wednesday everyone!!!

Dawn

Banded April 4th, 2006

Montreal

385/211/179

[Ceparano 0]

Interesting question... I am 35 lbs from goal and it's very difficult. On one hand I'm desperate to get there, on the other hand I find myself doing things to sabotage my progress. I bought an Alfani suit in September and when I put it on this weekend it was way too big. Who would have thought that would ever be a problem! I have clothes in size reg. 18,16, and one or two 14's so I really don't need to buy much. Every once in awhile I purchase active wear in my present size and give them away as they get too big. I still think of myself as 100 plus #'s over weight at times. For the most part I'm in the long-term normal mode. Trying to make these changes a way of life.

My asthma started up yesterday so I haven't been exercising. Hopefully I can back on track.

Roberta

[Ceparano 0]

Too cold and windy for my asthma. Worked out at home..40 min.

Roberta

[bluehill 0]

probably will not get any exercise today (other than upper body - picking and discarding the Mah Jongg tiles)

That's very funny, Betty! Six hours of finger exercise, that's gotta count for something, right? Your Mah Jongg group sounds like a hoot! I love that all six of you take off to Palm Springs for a tournament! I wanna do that!

Roberta, I'm so sorry to hear that your asthma has started up again. All these roadblocks keep placing themselves in front of us! It's good that we have one another to bolster us when things get discouraging. And I hear you on the subject of sabotaging one's own progress. It's a phenomenon I want to get a handle on so I can come up with some strategies.

Kat, please be careful with those weights! Almost dropping a dumbbell on your head, well that's just dumb! heh. Isn't the body weird? Now that I'm exercising daily and much more in touch with my body -- funny how movement makes you more connected -- it always amazes me how much goes on inside that I am just becoming aware of. And how the energy, the strengths, the weaknesses change from day to day. I'm learning things about my body that are new to me. In my yoga practice I have been focusing on mindfulness and intention, enabling me over time to do postures that I never imagined myself capable of.

Julie, I was very interested in your insightful remarks on the kind of jealousy that says: "I wish I could be there too." Maybe envy is a better word, because it denotes a longing to possess something achieved by another (whereas jealousy carries with it a feeling of resentment). But this can be a positive, useful, productive feeling because it provides goals and inspires excellence -- "wanting to be the one losing the fastest and doing the most" (to quote Kat). And then DOING it!

April 2006 Bandits January Challenge: EIGHT days of exercise completed

[Kat817 19]

Ahhh Blue---I just love how you take my words, and make them sound so much better!!! Envy is definitely a better word than jealousy. I harbor no resentment that Julie is gonna have to reach down and grab me by the scruff of the neck, as she runs by, or leave me in her dust!!! Seriously tho, I am glad that you understand what I mean to say, even when I have no idea how to go about saying it!

Betty's weekend in Palm Springs does sound fun, but they wouldn't want me to play Mah Jongg with them, when I play on my computer, and I get it down to 2 tiles, and they are stacked, making it impossible---I say bad words!

Made arrangements for Niki to paint a castle on Lindzie's wall! And my Mom bought her a pink Princess comforter set, that she is going to use to pattern it with. Should be cute. She will be going to spend the weekend with her Mom, so we can get it done and surprise her! Her birthday is actually the 13th, but we are celebrating when she gets home Sunday. I will try to get a picture, and post it!

Time to go finish dinner---will the fun never end???

Kat

[bluehill 0]

What a lovely idea, Kat, to have an artist paint a castle scene onto the wall of your granddaughter's bedroom. Without doubt, your gift will be a cherished memory of childhood that she will have all her life.

[JulieNYC 4]

Kat, you are a phenominal grandmother. Lindzie (and the rest) is lucky to have you! That is such a thoughtful gift. I bet it gives her an interest in art that she will carry all her life, along with that precious and cherished memory Bluehill noted. That's so cool.

And Bluehill, you're so right -- the correct emotion is envy, not jealousy. There's no resentment in the April bandsters' successes. I want all the success in the world for all of us. With the band, I know we'll get it too, no matter the order.

I was at a work function tonight -- it was a Texas Hold'em contest between a bunch of lawyers. I've got to tell you, it was a whole different world from other functions I've been to -- even at just 30 or so lbs heavier than I am now. First, remember I'm a 34 year old single woman. Then think about the fact that my profession (particularly my sub-field) is 95% men. Throw in beer (for the men -- I had to hit the treadmill later so no alcohol for me) and poker and somehow all my jokes were funny! There were only about 4 women there out of 40. I was up $3500 (fake) dollars and was one of about 12 left in the game (i.e. who still had chips left) when I announced I had to go to the gym, handed my chips to the cute guy to my left, winked at him and walked out. It was a blast! Usually work functions are such a drag, but they're getting better....

And, I did go to the gym to make it exactly 40 minutes on the treadmill before they kicked me out (closing time at 10 pm)! Hey Kat, maybe I'm the one who dropped a dumbell on my head -- winning at poker and leaving a group of cute boys to go to the gym??

Nite,

[Boo 3]

Hey, Betty...I wasn't offended by your comment in ANY way! Don't worry!

I think this whole discussion about "envy" (thanks, BLUEHILL) really helps us to understand what women around us are going through. I see that wishful look on the faces of friends when they compliment me.

I know that feeling too well. So happy for them, but longing for success!

Julie, although I might feel "normal", I really believe this is not the final resting weight. So I find clothes at Old Navy or Nordstrom's Rack that fit well, but aren't expensive. When you are thinner you look better in everything, anyway! And you really WILL shrink out of what you are wearing now. Even the undergarments and SHOES! Most of my dressy shoes are too big now, so I just bought a gorgeous pair of leopard sling-back heels in a half-size smaller! I forgot what it was like to wear great heels! I would have looked ridiculous in them a year ago.

As far as the eating goes, my attention is more focused on how the band feels than how much Protein I consumed. I need to pay more attention to my diet. Even though I run, my body has adjusted to this activity level and almost demands it. I'm POSITIVE I will keep losing, though.

[amourette 5]

Hi all, I am back from my vacation in Atanta with my family and adjusting to warm, humid conditions back here in Auckland, New Zealand! Wow, I couldn't believe you have already 6 pages under your sleeves for this thread. i thought about you all while I was away, and checked the messages although I couldn't post. I ran nearly everyday, I was in shock myself, I walk up the hills and run on the flat and downhill..........it was the only exercise I could get and I had to be selfish to do it, but I did!

So I have one more week before I go back to my flying, I am relaxing doing nothing and it is great, I am gardening and everything has taken off since I have been away! Had a weigh-in before I left and I had lost a bit more but I am not weighing myself regularly as I will get obsessed and I don't believe it is healthy. I am feeling much fitter and my clothes are fitting well, even bought a pair of tight jeans. I am off on a date this weekend, someone I met before Xmas at the speedating, but I am going to go on another one soon, to try and get my social life up and kicking again!

So where is people like Alison from Sth Africa and Efficka, I might PM them and see where they are, i am going to try and load a photo now

Love to you all

PS

Went to the gym today, the firemen were there again working out hehehe, my eye candy..........I am loving running, can't believe I am saying that. I want to reach my goal weight by April 2008 though it seems like it will happen sooner!!!

XX Amourette:D :clap2:

[Kat817 19]

It seems to me that many of y'all are running now. So my question is---I walk, and I walk pretty fast, and I work out---but am I going to hit a point, that it will not be enough? Am I going to have to continue to add distance, since I cannot add speed? If I leave my diet about the same, and my exercise about the same, isn't it soon not going to be enough? Any suggestions? I enjoy my time working out---but also do not care to be working out for hours each day, and feel if I cut my food intake, then I risk malnourishment.

Kat