riderchick- Definately!  Before, if it was in the house, I was gonna eat it!  A package of cookies or candy lasted me maybe 3 days (often 2).  Chips weren't safe around me either.  I just don't have any lurking around anymore, and no I didn't eat 'em all up before getting healthier, I threw them away.  Cried a little inside, but tossed every last bit of the junk.  I shop mostly the perimeter of the grocery store (produce, dairy and meats), but I do have to get a few convenience items (albiet the more healthy options) of some things like tuna, tomato sauce, individually packaged unsweetened applesauce (son's lunches), oatmeal and breakfast cereal, salsa, frozen veggies and high fiber spaghetti, but that's probably exhausting my list.  I remember stocking up on mac-n-cheese, boxes of flavored angel hair pasta, tacos, other dinners in a box, canned soups and other additive enriched foods.  And why?  I didn't really loooove them, and in the long run, they cost more than the do-it-yourself method!  I used to love weaving up and down every single isle of the grocery store (took me over 1.5 hours to shop!), but now I look at everything and want to just roll my eyes.  I hope that doesn't mean I'm getting the dreaded food superiority complex (You know, how people can be all judgemental about what you eat/buy?).  *Mental Note: Don't judge others food choices.*

mladdy: you look sooooo good!  I mean it!  I can definitely see a difference.  You go, you hott thing!  And your son is so freakin adorable! also, happy late birthday and congrats on the 30 pounds down!!!!

riderchick: my diet also starts with the list.  I had to go grocery shopping to stock up today since I came home to an empty fridge.  I made my list and stuck to it, that made me feel great :)  romaine, spinach, avocados, tomatoes, celery, carrots, mushrooms, leeks, red peppers, oranges, bananas, apples, smart wraps, turkey bacon, laughing cow cheese, soy dippers, chicken breasts, tuna, weight control oatmeal, black beans, low sodium chicken broth, yogurt.... mmmmmm!  and $150 for old clothes is great!!!

booster: woohoo on the body fat loss!!  even though your weight difference wasn't huge, you totally gained some muscle mass which is awesome!

ali: you would have adorable half korean babies!  If my hubby and I ever have kids they'll be half korean and I'm quite positive they will be the cutest things ever... although i may be biased... lol.  very funny that you are all about the korean guys now!

for everyone starting and doing weight training: it's so good for you and you should really see a difference!!  I've definitely toned up a little and I just feel stronger, which is very empowering!  keep at it!

allydan: i'm sorry about the guy.  big hugs!  and I'm so proud of you for recommitting to the weight loss!  I know you have the strength inside of you to do this!

suzanne: you are so amazing!  i don't know how you keep up with everyone like you do, but it is so sweet and encouraging.  you're so awesome!

watchme: i missed you too!!!  I really wanted to meet up with you in chi-town, but didn't have any extra time at all... and since i wasn't the one making the schedule... yeah.  yay for revving up your workout and switching things up a bit!  I know you'll see some great results!  Good luck at hitting your 1997 weight by the summer, I know with as hard as you work, that you can do it no problem!  You go, girl!

welcome to all the new girls!!!  I look fwd to getting to know you all!

Hey ladies, Wow busy day in here! I'm fixing to head out for a walk in the neighborhood even though I don't want to--what I want to do is go to bed and take a nap but I'm not going to. Somewhere, somehow I have the motivation to go outside for a 60 minute walk! yikes, just don't feel like it mentally. Man, you ladies are brave--I try to clean out my closet at least once a year and even if it is a favorite outfit but it doesn't fit I still give it away to Goodwill. I'm not sure what I would do if I still had an outfit from high school--I guess it's different for me because I honestly was pretty big in high school---My best years were junior high(very sad right??) but I was 160 pounds and  a size 12 and I thought I was super fat but now I look back and I'm like damn you looked good--why didn't you see that!!!!! I'm sure that 160 and a size twelve will look a lot different on me these days--but still--I remember running all the time and being so healthy in junior high--I did pretty good with my food too--what went wrong??? I can tell you that, emotional eating, my mom's 3 divorces, etc etc....Dang, if we could only block out all the bad that happened in life--or for an emotional eater that would be great! alright, I'm off to walk when I don't want to--I'll check in later

I am 28 5'9 and 223. At one point I weighed 306 pounds I lost 116 pounds. Now over the years I have gained back more then half of that. I recently lost 22 pounds and Im trying to get back down to 190 and then go from there and see how I feel and look. I would love to have someone who I can work on this with and to suport each other on losing weight.

mladdy... I forgot about my barilla plus pasta, heart smart prego, and other things that you mentioned.  But I, like you, used to spend 1.5 hours going up and down the isles grabbing prepared foods in my cart.  I LOVE that shopping takes tops of 20 minutes for me now.  I also enjoy the foods I eat SOOO much more now.  Before I would be like... lets just go out to eat...but now I can't wait to try new things.

Oh and I love Trader Joes... yum :).

pink cobra... you said alvocados...I love those buggers, I can only buy 1 at a time though because I have no control with them :)!

Jamie, you came to the right place, all of these ladies are really nice and supportive.

alibuch... I want the recipe for sure!  Sounds great.

hi jamie! you've come to the right place. we're here if you need help, or to gripe, whatever.

and ali, definitely post that recipe. i love tofu!

i started strength training last night, and OMFG, my arms have never hurt so bad! i worked on all the muscles on my body, but i almost never use my arms, so they have no strength whatsoever. i don't know how i got myself ready this morning! but that's a good thing, i know. thank god for rest days, 'cause i couldn't do that again today!

dalmalama... Good for you!!!  Even though it hurts a little, doesn't it feel great?  Keep up the good work, and enjoy your rest day, try some basic palates tonight if you can... it will get oxygen to your muscles to help tone them and stretch them out.  Oh and don't forget your muscles need H2O and protein today!

hey guys!  family is now gone so i'm back to not eating out more than twice a week and making only healthy things at home!  am still stuck at 271 and very annoyed but at least i also did not go up despite all the food we ate at the wedding!  it's looking like today is the last day of my period too so hopefully the scale might budge a little less even after all this is done.

anyway, it's back to lean cuisines, cans of soup, my pakistani style chili, that sort of thing!  went to salsa class last night even though my mom was still here (felt a little guilty but she was glad i was getting back into my routine).  going to go to latin club dance and swing class tonight from 7-9!  will probably pick up a salad from cosi beforehand to enjoy.  will NOT be eating a cookie at the department lunch today.

ally, it's funny.  i'm 5'3" and your CURRENT weight is where i would be content to be at in life.  between 190-215 lbs actually.  i guess when you go past the 300s in life you start looking at things relatively and realize how much better what used to feel not so good feels.  for me, i just want to be able to walk into ny&co and wear their clothes.  i guess once i get to that point (NOT IF b/c i'm going to do it this time damn-it!) i will probably feel differently... but I think I will take a slower approach to it than I am doing right now, work outs wise.  Meaning, no more 8+ hours a week of exercise :)

watchmeshine... gaining beyond what you thought you ever would does put things in prospective for me too.  The last time I was the size I am now I thought I was HUGE... and now I'm trying to enjoy the fact that I have more options at the mall, I can run, skip, jump and have energy, and I can go to cedar point and not feel like my huge arse won't fit into the seats.  This time I have no aspirations to be a size 2 and I'm proud of myself for realizing that god didn't make me a size 2 and I need to be comfortable in my own skin.  I think being healthy and enjoying life are the best things ever.  I'm so happy that there are others like me with realistic goals and expectations on what they can maintain and be happy with for the long run.  You'll get there and when you do, you'll be so much more happy about the small things... I've had a permanent smile on my face since I reached my first major milestone.  I wish you the best.

rider -- are you from ohio?  i was born and raised in cleveland -- and have not gone to cedar point in YEARS (despite the fact that we used to go at least 3 times every summer, if not more!!!) for THAT specific reason that I was scared I would not be able to fit into the seats/seatbelt on the raptor, magnum, etc.  i live in chicago though now.  i'd like to go to cedar point by the end of summer/fall though!  once i am back to my high school weight (35 more pounds) it should not be a problem since I used to go all the time at that weight and have since gained another inch! 

Nope not Ohio, I'm a Michigander... I live in SE Michigan so Cedar Point is not far.  We always went every summer growing up, and I love that place.  I can't wait to go back this summer and enjoy it, instead of making excuses of why I don't want to ride a ride or have fun :)!

Ali: please post the recipe when you get it I LOVE that soup!!!!  oh, and Cincinnati???  UGH!!!  I spent a very long time stranded there on my way home... ok I don't hate the city, just the airport! stupid fog!!! lol.

I definitely hear y'all on the past perspective thing... Last time I was 180 I thought I was an elephant.... Now I'm just so freakin thrilled I can button my 12s without a problem.  I think that's good for us though.

ally: way to be chill about THE GUY!  You're so right that it's better to find out now than later when you're even more emotionally invested.  

dalmalama: that's awesome you started strength training!  You'll feel it for a little while- I felt it for a couple weeks... and then it will get better and then it will be awesome.  remember, you also need carbs!

rider: i love, love, love avocados.... mmmmmmm.  I get them at various stages of ripeness so i don't try to eat them all at once.

welcome jamie!!!

I love that most everyone on here has realistic, healthy goals!!!  You guys are so awesome and I would be lost without your support and comaraderie!

ali: a friend just sent me this thing that says: Once you go asian you don't go caucasian!!  lol.

hey gals!  i'm going to start lifting some more too!  any suggestions?