Finally

OK, finally I think I have lost 2.5 pounds. I say I think, because a lot of times I am down one day and up the next. But this has actually stayed off for 5 days. Yea!!

New addictions...

I have what we might want to call a sweet tooth problem. When I went on this venture for a healthier lifestyle, since I can't stand the dreaded "D" word diet. The clinic I am with basically removes everything from your diet and gives you only protein, vegetables and fruit. I have been on it since November 1st and have been doing well, they tell me I am their star pupil. Well, I went through Christmas and other holidays just fine without sweets, breads, pastas, starchy vegetable, basically anything tasty. :) I keep wanting something sweet and the sugar free jello just ain't cuttin' it! I am an admitted chocoholic and caramel addict. So I asked them what do I do when I am PMSing or just having one of those I need something sweet days. They said I can have sugar free candy (not chocolate), sugar free Popsicles...etc. Now granted I am not an advocate for sugar free products, I am more of a vegetarian, natural foods or organic person. I do not use Splenda or any other sweetners, but at this point I will take a knee to benefit my sweet tooth and give in. I found Sugar Free Brach's Cinnamon Disks and Sugar Free Nips Caramel (the caramels are 60 calories for 2 large piece), so delicious. I have to take it easy on the sugar free candy though. Not sure if any of you have taken the time to read labels but it says clearly on the back of the bags of sugar free candy, May Cause a Laxative Like Effect, now for those of us losing weight that is great. My problem was watching a movie with my hubbie and not knowing the bag said this and having half bag of Werther's Sugar Free candy and having to leave (OK run) to the restroom half way through the movie. AJ wanted to know what was wrong I explained I didn't feel well but could stay for the movie. On the way home he was looking at the back of the bag and informed me what it said. OK so lesson learned.
A little tip though that I have learned is that Splenda, Equal, Sweet and Low...... are not good for you at all. When Splenda came out I was on Weight Watchers and was using it religiously as a replacement for sugar. I couldn't figure out why I was getting Urinary Track infections every other month. I did some research and found that Splenda causes Kidney damage, Liver problems, bloating, gas, rashes and there are many other issues people have with it. In France Splenda was not allowed to use their commercials because: "We want to ensure fair competition through accurate advertising so that consumers can make informed decisions about the products they're buying (…) Splenda is a synthetic compound - created in a lab and manufactured in a chemical plant - and is no more natural than any other low-calorie sweetener." So Mama Smith was talking one day about Stevia and how she grows it. It is the best stuff ever and it sweetens like sugar but has zero calories, low on the glycemic index and is all natural. Publix has started to carry it, all health food stores do and you can grow it like an herb at your home. Pull off 1 leaf add it to tea and it is sweet, you can chew it right off the bush and it is sweet like sugar. You only have to use half of what you would use in sugar. The health food stores have it in powdered form, with no additives. The best tasting one is by NuNaturals NuStevia. Sorry for such a long blog entry but I thought I would pass it along.

By the way my new addiction is smaller clothes and SHOES! LOVE SHOES!!!! :)

Calculator online...

Garvin found this neat site...that some of you might like to play with:

	http://health.msn.com/weight-loss/bmi-calculator.aspx

Slowly but Surely

I'm down 1.5. I've been having sugar cravings!!! Help!

Copyright

I was going to retype a formula for "Cleansing" from this book Sarah got at Education Week, but, I read under her "copyright" that it would be "illegal" if I made copies (or retyped it)...I don't feel right in breaking her wishes....So, if anyone is interested in getting this wonderful book in spiral form...the author is - Jonell West Francis...She does have an email that you could purchase all copies...maybe...you can get just the cleanses...to developed...

jonell@feelgoodcookbook.net

Name of the book "The Feel Good Cookbook" - Whole Foods and Allergy Free Recipes

Deb

Still a live

Well after two weeks of not doing much weight wise, this morning I was down two pounds. Hurrah.!! This is due to lots of sleep after coming home sick from the middle of sacrament. Kyle got me home just in time for me to dump and to vomit and the Hayley gave me some medicine to make me sleep and I woke up feeling great and two pounds thinner.

I am feeling less tired since getting iron infusion treatments and look forward to getting back to the gym as soon as the stitches are removed from the moles I had removed.

Keep up the good work ladies. Remember even ounces going down have you moving in the right direction. Weight loss is kind of like the gospel. We need to stay on the path and keep moving forward.
Gail

Inching along

OK inch my little Turtle along. My total so far for this year is 5.8 pounds! This week was about a a pound and a half. I turned down some yummy stuff but still not up to snuff on exercising! I tried to give blood around Christmas time but was too anemic- I think that's the cause of my running out of speed before I run out of day.

My goal for this week besides losing another pound is to call the doctor and get an appointment!

Sandee

Today here is my report(:

Ok here it is. My weigh in days are Thursdays. This past Thursday I was down 2.5 pounds making it a total of 7.5 so far for the month. I am still doing slim fast but this past week I ate fruit in the morning then a shake and something small for lunch, an afternoon snack and then a sensible dinner(usually) (: I am so happy to be seeing results. I have been frustrated long enough and now it is all payiong off. Another goal I set was to walk/run(when able) 6 miles a week and then go from there but that is where I am starting. I feel great and I am very much aware when I eat something I call dead food. You know after you eat it you feel gross and a rock sitting in your stomach. Its nice to be more intune with my body.

I truely hope you all had a great week. Great job Renee. I look forward to seeing the rest of your reports. Until then have a super duper week.

PS Does anyone know of a really good cleanse that actually works but not too hard on the pocket. I want to start doing that more often to help rid myself of "stuff" that is hiding out in there(: Sorry if that is too much info. I hope someone can help(: Talk to you later(:

Grandchildren - A method that works...

For the past few days, I have been helping tend Sarah's 3 little ones...oldest being "4" years old...(smile) (now, there are "4"...as of YESTERDAY...and I can hardly wait to HOLD her for the next coming days...while I am here in IDAHO) (smile) Anyway, running after little ones...has certainly helped with my WEIGHT LOSS...I weighed in YESTERDAY......(Can't this morning, til Luke gets up, since the scale is in their master bathroom)...so I will base my loss on yesterday's weigh-in...I have lost another "2" pounds...making it a grand total of "6" pounds...since January 1st...I am THRILLED...My goal for the month of JANUARY was "4" pounds, so I feel VERY GOOD that I am at least "progressing".... I saw this quote this morning in my email box...thought...it would be perfect to share here...in regards to GOALS:

"Set your goals-without goals you can't measure your
progress. But don't become
frustrated if the victories don't come quickly or easily.
Remind yourself that
striving can be more important than arriving. If you are
striving for
excellence-if you are trying your best day by day with
the wisest use of your
time and energy to reach realistic goals-you are a
success, and you can feel
proud of your accomplishments."

Marvin J. Ashton, Ensign, Feb 1993, 64

Weigh in on Friday...

Well today is the day I normally go to the doctor's office to weigh in. Being that I am off the medication right now and see no sense in driving 30 miles there and 30 miles back, I weighed at home. My scales are .3 off of theirs and it costs me $75.00 each visit plus gas and tolls. So I weighed this morning and I have lost 6 more pounds. I will be very interested though next Friday to see what happens since I am off everything as of today. I do have to go to their office next Friday for one last check of everything before the LEEP procedure.

Great Job Ladies(:

I know it is halfway through some of your weeks, but I didnt get to say "congrats" to you all for your last weeks SUCCESSES(: Hey any down is still down. It all adds up(: Sorry so late to say great job. I have had computer problems....namely the kids wont leave it alone so it decides to go on a break...hehehehe...if only that was so easy(: anyways I look forward to all of your next great reports(: I hope you are all having a super duper week so far and the rest will be even better(: We are all on our way(:

Busy!

Hey! I lost two pounds! Hurray! Too busy to write more, but wanted to check in. Congrats everyone! Didn't you round down the week before, so doesn't that mean you lost more?

It worked!

I am down three pounds this week! yay! I was good about sticking to my not eating out policy and managed to work out three times. I aim for almost everyday so when i only hit half of them it works out ok. Ive found that I do really well five days a week when i am busy at work and follow a routine. The weekends are when it is hardest for me. So I guess my goal will be to add some structure to my weekends...at least as far as meals go. looking forward to a new week.

.2 of a pound

Ackers! I guess it's time to make some changes. I honestly thought a week of "healthy eating" and I'd just lose another pound but I only lost .2 of a pound. Acckkk! I guess it's good to constantly evaluate. My changes for this week to see that I do lose at least a pound are:

1. Write down everything I eat

2. Walk or treadmill at least 3X this week

3. Drink more water

I hope I'm not the lone dragger next week too!

Sandee

Fortune Cookie, Peanut M&M's, and Tapioca Pudding

Ever go out to a "CHINESE" restaurant and NOT eat your "Fortune Cookie"? I ALWAYS EAT my fortune cookie and everyone elses!!! Since, we have VISITING "out-of-town" children (Caleb and Jenny -PLUS "baby Sammy") FAMILY meals are much more "plentiful" than...the "dieting" days when it is the "regular" household occupants....I did NOT eat....MY FORTUNE COOKIE....nor....had my "tapioca pudding" at the end of my CHINESE meal... I LOVE TAPIOCA PUDDING!!!!!....nor....did I surrender to the "calling me to sin" M&M Peanuts...that everyone is EATING...while we play games or watch movies!!!!! THESE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS HAVE BEEN MY TEST!!!!! Unfortunately, I have eaten MORE at MEAL TIME than what I have been...LOST CONTROL the other night...and had "4" pieces of PIZZA!!! But, I figure....I still haven't broken down and had any refined SUGAR since New Year's Day....!!!

Consequently, in the two weeks I have been on this "one pound a week" plan...I have lost 4 pounds...2 pounds ahead of schedule....I was "5"....at one point...but, this weekend has killed me, though...I am STILL PLEASED that I am....still SUGAR FREE....and ahead a bit on the path of NO RETURN....This is my REPORT....

Saturday report

I know it is one day early from when we report but I have a minute right now. I weighed in this week and I went down 1 more pound. A total so far of 5. Baby steps. I am still getting my goal which I am happy about. I do hope though for better results. Line upon line precept on precept(: I hope you all had a wonderful week. I look forward to seeing your reports. Have a super duper weekend(: I am off to do just that(:

Hello

Hi, i am new to the Pound a Week. My name is Cheryl Furnell, I live in KC, MO and have been friends with Sandee for about 20 years now and Debbie just a little less than that. Thanks Debbie for helping me get on. I joined a gym today. My goal is 3 days a week. 0 pounds down, but pumped. Thanks again everyone for letting me join.

Half Way There

Hello everyone, some of you may know me. I am very new to blogging but when Debbie told me about a pound a week I could not resist. My name is Renee Fuller, I am married to AJ Fuller. Some of you may know my sister Brenda Henry (Shepherd). My weight issues have been off and on since I got married due to fertility drugs and bad habits. I decided right before Thanksgiving to start losing weight instead of the new year. So on Novemeber 1st, I had a long talk with myself and decided just because it is the holidays it does not give you the right to treat yourself all day. I talked with my fertility doctor and she agreed I really need to lose 80 lbs. before we started a new direction. She gave me a weight loss clinics info that many women with fertility issues and can't lose the weight go to. The past two months have been long for me, especially since I had to fight to not cheat. I found my strength in inspiration from others who are going through the same thing. I did make it through the holidays without sweets (even though that pecan pie was screaming my name long after going to sleep) and I am the baker in the family. I made sure I worked out and followed the plan they have me on. I still need to lose 40 more lbs. and now I need to get off the program because the meds react with the anethesia. So this blog will keep me on track, sorry for all the details but I needed to type it out to give myself direction. (Smile)

Chipotle Fan...

I am a "Chipotle" fan...I found on the internet a CALCULATOR for their food...You simply check what you normally would get...and it will calculate the calories...fat...etc. VERY COOL...I checked everything I normally get on mine...and found...I had to eliminate...a thing or too...to feel comfortable to the "calories" I had chalked up...But, for those of you who like their food...you might like to do the CALCULATOR first...(smile)

http://www.chipotlefan.com/index.php?id=nutrition_calculator

Keeping Track of what we eat...

I read this little article this morning. Thought I would pass it along... I found in the past, when I did keep track of what I ate...I did lose weight...but, after about a week or two I got tired of doing it. However, sometimes, it is a great indicator of our habits, and that it truly valuable.
Here is the little note:

"5 years ago I spent several months writing down everything I ate. I even went as far as looking up, calculating, and writing down the fat, protein, carbs, and calories. There was one thing I found out real fast: I was eating the same stuff every day. Same breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. And I wouldn't have guessed this before keeping a food diary. I definitely recommend starting one of your own if you never have. It doesn't have to be forever - in fact it only takes a week or two before you'll see some surprising trends." -Nate Rifkin

Late as usual

Well the scale goes down and then goes up. To much salt and carbs I think. But I did lose a pound this week so that is good. I have decided to write down what I am eating and drinking. That way I can't deceive myself. I need to work on increasing my protein and beware that I am letting to much refined sugar back into my diet.

I have enjoyed going back to the gym. Hayley and I are planning on attending a yoga class tonight. This will be my first class, I hope I don't die. I have been painting a lot lately. I have a bad habit of snacking on sunflower seeds while painting which is adding to much salt to my diet. Another bad habit to break. sigh.

Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride

Don't let the title fool ya..."Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride" is a "Celestial Seasonings" HERB TEA...(smile) Tonight, I really was CRAVING something SWEET...but, I knew...I couldn't give in...not yet, anyway....(smile) so I went to the next best thing that SOUNDED REALLY SWEET...(smile) This herb tea has a DELIGHTFUL TASTE...Even SMELLS "naughty"....The ingredients are as follows: Milk thistle, roasted barley, orange peel, natural sugar cookie flavor with other natural flavors and vanilla bean. NO CALORIES...I have NO IDEA...what the "natural sugar cookie" flavor is...but, the tea is MOST SATISFYING...(smile)

Returning and Reporting - Week ONE

Good Morning, Sisters...
The changes I made this week in my eating "habits" were as follows:
1. I only wanted to cut out ONE THING....I cut out my "refined" sugars. Haven't had REFINED sugars since January 1st. I thought I could handle that...I do use, however, RAW HONEY and STEVIA...for my "sweetning" of things.
2. I "eat" TWO MEALS and DRINK one meal...(most of the time) What I mean by DRINK...I make/or JUICE a FRESH RAW DRINK of some sort...and/or drink LOTS of HERB TEA...plus supplements (herb/vitamins/etc.)...I haven't been drinking a "protein type drink" yet....just FRESH JUICE...but, I will in the coming weeks....instead of FRESH JUICE for VARIETY...
3. I am trying to finish my LAST MEAL....as EARLY as possible...and then NO MORE eating AFTER that LAST MEAL...Haven't decided what would be a good CUT OFF TIME... I will have to make EXCEPTIONS due to ACTIVITIES...but, MOST of the TIME I can CONTROL the "TIME" I eat...

RESULTS: 4 pounds in 1 1/2 weeks...AGAIN, I want to maintain...the IDEA...ONE POUND a week...so...if I get a BONUS of an extra pound or two a week...then WONDERFUL....but, I don't want to get discouraged...if I don't see better results, like MORE than a pound a week...ONE POUND....should bring "contentment"....(smile)

Sunday's Reports

When we REPORT, tomorrow, I thought it would be nice if we each could not only report our success, but, what we are doing DIFFERENTLY in order to lose weight. Explain what has worked...if you are trying something new...etc. I am definitely doing something different than my PAST HABITS...so I will share along with the rest of you, tomorrow.

Again, if you want to send me any CHANGES to your "ticker"...then, please do so ANYTIME...I made a change on mine, this morning...cause...it is nice to see "my little turtle ticker moving forward"...(smile) However, I am, also, VERY MINDFUL...that I would be CONTENT if I only lost "1" pound EACH WEEK...because, I truly GEARED my thoughts that if I did LOSE just ONE POUND each WEEK...I was truly PROGRESSING...so, if I get a couple of extra BONUSES...then, I will count my BLESSINGS!!! (smile)

Get support in the Phentermine forums!

Found a TICKER SITE...for our BLOG

Holly, I LOVED "tickerfactory" but, I couldn't find where I could put it on the BLOG...but, I did find this website...and as you can see...I made a "ticker" for me that I could put on the BLOG...
http://www.phenforum.com/ticker/index.php
So...for those of you who WANT a TICKER on the BLOG...go to this website...SET IT UP...then COPY and PASTE the HTML underneath your finished "ticker" and EMAIL IT TO ME...at mothersmith@juno.com

I will then, get it up on the BLOG...Each SUNDAY when you declare your weight LOSS I can make the changes...I figured out how to change the "ticker" so it will stay UPDATED...on the BLOG...If you wanted to make daily changes I can...but, if you wanted to stick to the ONE POUND A WEEK...idea...then, I will make the changes ONCE A WEEK ON SUNDAY...Just give me your new WEIGHT or number of pounds you lost that week...and I will change it on the BLOG... The only thing DISPLAYED on the BLOG is the #of desired pounds you want to lose ...and how many you have lost...I will be the only one who will know the WEIGHT numbers...because I will need to change that ACTUAL number each week...(It will be kept CONFIDENTIAL) Hope all this makes sense...

My daughter, Sarah, had a TICKER for her to weeks in pregnancy...and the baby is nearly over the "finish line"...It was a cute way...for me to see the "progress" measured in weeks and days...as the baby comes near her DUE DATE...(smile)

What do you think about this?

I am not too sure if we can make this work for all of us but maybe mom you can figure out how this could work. It is called http://www.tickerfactory.com/ You can keep track of your weightloss etc. Just came across it and thought why not see if we could all have one here where it is safe and encouraging(:

Hope you all have a super duper night(:

I Finally Put Down the Chocolate to Write

Hey! I finally had a second to sign-in and read everyone's comments! They have been great. I am just now officially starting this weight-loss because I was out of town on vacation until late Monday night. I am going to try a new diet called the "Flat Belly Diet" that was created by Prevention magazine doctors. It really looks good. It is not such much a diet as a lifestyle. The big thing in it is MUFAs. You need your MUFAs everyday. These are monounsaturated fatty acids. What's interesting is what they've discovered about how the body stores fat. Even thin people can have too much "viceral" fat around their organs. It really goes along with what Sandee was saying about the Word of Wisdom and the health of our bodies. Anyway, I'm excited to try it, because it makes sense to me, what they are saying and the recipes look wonderful! I'll keep you updated!

My First week down(:

Ok I know we are to officially report how we are doing on Sundays. I hope no one minds me doing it today as this is my first week down of 2009(: I am happy to say that the 4 pounds I put on over the holidays are no longer here. That is right, I am 4 pounds down. I have a long way to go but this is a very nice start. It is very incouraging as I had a lot of discouraging times last year. Hense this is my year...a new year, a new beginning. I am excited. I am following the slim fast program to kickstart my year and then go from there. I cant wait to hear from you beautiful ladies(: Have a super duper day(:

Word of Wisdom

This is something we could spend a lot of time thinking about but my question is "What does God expect of us as far as our stewardship over our bodies?" I was talking to someone the other day that said "I don't think people should be able to take the sacrament if they are fat." They went on to explain that we can't get a temple recommend if we drink just one cup of coffee a month but if we overeat and eat foods not good for our bodies we are actually doing more harm to our body than if we drank a cup of coffee. Interesting to note that with one exception (the presiding Bishop) our general authorities male and female are trim and healthy looking. 

Another random thought... I mentioned to Kaitlyn the other day I was concerned because one of the young women at church (not our ward) had lost even more weight and was looking frightfully thin. I said (in a grave tone) "I think maybe she has an eating disorder." Kait said "Maybe she does Mom but why are you always worried about people that have an eating disorder and are too thin but you're never worried if they have an eating disorder and are overweight?" I started to explain that anorexia and bulimia can lead to serious health problems including death and then I realized that she is right. Overeating can also lead to serious health problems including death. 

Now in case any of you have been among those that have worried about Kait's weight when she's been her thinnest she honestly eats as much as a baby elephant. She found when she was in her chubby early teen years that unlike many teens she cannot eat cake, cookies and other treats without being overweight. But she honestly eats tons of raw vegetables with hummus or greek yogurt, fruit (she often eats 1/2 of those large containers of grapes from Costco in one sitting) and whole grains.  I would guess she only has a sugary treat once or twice a month and then it's only one normal serving.

So anyway some things to ponder. I just read the Word of Wisdom again and while it doesn't say don't be fat it clearly says to eat lots of fruit and vegetables and whole grains and very little meat. I have heard folks extrapolate the warning against hot drinks to mean we should avoid any substance that is habit forming (caffeine) which we could take a step further and ask "are any of the bad foods I go to when stressed (chips, sweets, fried foods, soda) addicting to me? We know the Lord wants us to avoid habit forming substances because they increase the power of the body over our spirit when what we want to do is just the opposite.

Ok off to make a healthy breakfast-- Sandee

We can do it(:

I little here and a little there will all add up. I am excited for this post. As Hayley said it helps to make us accountable. When mom(Debbie) and I were talking and I shared that my weightloss goal for this year was a pound a week was I was tired of going hard getting little to no results and giving up. You can only eat an elephant one bite at a time. I can loose all the weight I need to loose one pound at a time. Very doable and with all of us cheering us on we wont be alone along the way. "WE CAN DO IT GIRLS" (: I am looking forward to hearing how everone is doing and learning from one another along the way(:

Goals

Hi Everyone. Writing down goals always helps me stay focused and now I have you all to help me be accountable. So no one let me order a milkshake next time we go to crispers! Since I got the Christmas weight off I feel like I am starting fresh with my usual weight. My goal is to be at 160 pounds which means I have 30 to lose. I also have a goal to run a 5K this year. Its not that hard of a goal but ive never done one and I beleive in taking baby steps. I think this blog will be a great help to keep me motivated this year.

Gail's Start

The best thing about a pound a week is that you are almost eating at maintenance. While losing weight is hard keeping it off is where we have all failed. While my surgery helped me lose most of my weight I still have forty plus pounds to lose and to keep off and now my eating habits will determine my success. My surgery should keep me from gaining weight for the next eight months but after that I could put back on 10 to 20% of what I lost. I know we all can be successful if we pay attention to what we eat and why we eat. Remember we need to cut 3500 calories a week from out diet which is 500 a day. Good luck to us all!

I'm in!

Thanks Debbie! I'm so excited to be able to cheer each other on. I too need to lose 50 pounds. I can't imagine why I kept gaining weight while Kait and Michael were here (20 pounds)... I loved having them but I guess even happy stress can send me to food.

One thing that has helped me in the past that I got back to yesterday is meditation. There is an LDS lady that does a podcast of meditation exercises-- my kind of "work" you just lay quietly and listen. Let me know if any of your are interested. If you don't do podcasts I could burn you a CD. I have always done better keeping my eating in control when I do the meditation. I can only guess that it not only relaxed me while doing it but overall for the rest of the day!

I'm excited about losing 1 pound a week this week! Shall we pick a day of the week to report our success!

Sandee

"A Pound A Week"

Welcome to our very own "A Pound a Week" BLOG...Only YOU and I can see what is posted on this site. It is a RESTRICTED site...so what we say here...is only between US...the INVITED "authors" of this BLOG...who are hoping to lose at least 10 pounds or more...If you have a friend who would like to participate...let me know...and I will INVITE her to this site....as an AUTHOR...and she will be able to participate. Again, ONLY THE AUTHORS of this BLOG can see what we are sharing...NO ONE ELSE, unless we INVITE them...so, it will be PRIVATE....

The purpose of this site...was to be a SUPPORT SYSTEM...in an area we all have in common..."unwanted EXTRA pounds"...

My daughter-in-law, Holly, was the one that INSPIRED the IDEA...when she simply said..."If I lose ONE POUND A WEEK in ONE YEAR, I will have lost 52 pounds." It was like a LIGHT went on in my head!!! I can HANDLE the ONE POUND idea, because...I thought when I tried for at least 2 or more pounds a week, I nearly DIED trying to do it...cause I had to nearly STARVE to do it...and it wasn't any FUN!!! It was TORTURE...But, ONE POUND a week...was SENSIBLE to me...and seemed REASONABLE...I could enjoy MOST of the things I LIKE...but, ELIMINATE here and there...and still take off ONE POUND...Made PERFECT SENSE TO ME....anyway...(smile)

Sandee had the IDEA...we could share what WORKED for us...in any given week...or share recipes...that are PLEASING and SATISFIED our hunger...yet, helped with the weight loss....or simply "be our cheering section"....I for one...need to lose "50" pounds.....I have NEVER weighed this much...even during my pregnancies....

Hope...you will all find this...FUN...and REWARDING.......Thank you, Sandee, for coming up with an idea of a BLOG....

ALL FOR ONE....and ONE FOR ALL!!!!