Motivation

So I have seen teen, 20's, 40's, 50's and beyond, but no 30's group.  So would anybody like to get something started?  Not sure where to begin hmmmm

I guess being in our thirties our metabolism has not hit a wall just yet, but it certainly isn't what it was in the 20's.  Don't you miss those days?  Anything you want and as long as you did maybe one sport in high school, then no worries.  Ohwell on to real life where nothing seems to be on schedule.

Let hear your thoughts.

Hi to all! Did a little better today with eating.. around 1300 cal. I did a workout this morning too, a little sore getting back into it, but gotta keep it going.  I am so jealous of all you with the gym memberships- I cant wait till our Y opens up this fall!

tricia, i was reading your post, and so funny- tomorrow is my grandma' b-day party too! We are going to my aunt and uncles house where she is staying right now for a afternoon BBQ.. How old is your bf's grandma going to be? Mine is turning 91! She is the only grandparent I have left :(  As far as suggestions with eating light at events, I can only say portion control.. eat what seems to be the healthiest items, and go small on portions.. or maybe bring something of your own? Drink lots and lots of water too. Good Luck.

Girl6, I know what you mean.. i was gone for about a week and took me quite some time to catch up.. I love this thread though! Congrats on your weight loss! I was about up to 20 lbs, but then I went and gained a few back.. hopefully it will slide back off pretty quick!

Hello! Another 30 something momma looking to lose the freshman 15, sophmore 20, new love 10, and post-baby 15 pounds I somehow seemed to have accumulated in the last 15 years. Too many numbers to keep straight! I looking for active gals (and guys) to help keep me motivated in losing the weight while keeping the memories fond, if I may join your group!

Ran 10.5 miles this morning, only 2.5 more to add and I will be up to half marathon distance. 

Welcome triciae77 and djambyb!

Welcome back Wendy, I bet most of that weight is water retention from eating out a lot while you were gone.  Eating out a lot always does that to me.

Congrats on the weight loss girl6!  Hitting the 20 lb mark is a great accomplishment!

ajazzymama, I am actually not doing HIIT atm as I am training for a half marathon.  I have done them in the past, and they do definitely burn more cals than just steady state in the same amount of time, but I always combine the two as HIIT can be a bit tougher on your body so you shouldn't do them on consecutive days.  For me, its just one more way to get in shape, I love exercise and being in shape, so I have never done them exclusively.  Right now, I am doing running intervals to increase my running speed one day a week and it is DEFINITELY making a difference, my 5K time has improved by about 4-5 minutes since I added in intervals.  If you really want to start running, I would highly suggest the couch 2 5K program, got me started and back into shape.

musicmydestiny, just keep at it, you will start to see changes soon.  Oh, and I HATE gym hogs, absolutely used to drive me crazy when I was a regular at a gym, kind of makes me glad I do all my exercise at home now (well, actually outdoors and running by the ocean!).  Feel free to rant anytime you want

Hi Everyone! Just wanted to check in. It seems that every time I sit down at the computer to log on and read some posts, the baby starts to cry or kids start to fight. So, I will make this quick......Hope everyone is hanging in there. I lost a seven pounds so far, but probably gained quit a bit back this weekend. Oh well, no need to panic about it. I will just have to start again on Monday.

I admire all of you runners. I saw some of those learn to run programs and I'd really like to try that. It will take me awhile before I actually do it. I always have to think about it and prepare for it mentally before I am ready to physically do it. But in the meantime, reading about all of you marathoners is a true inspiration!

If anyone has had any success with those learn to run programs, send me a message. I'd love to hear your story and advice!

Hello! Welcome djambyb! I think you will find this is a great group for motivation and support!

Just got home awhile ago from grandmas b-day party- had a good time, got to see alot of cousins I havent seen in awhile. Grandma seemed to have fun too. I ate ok, but I dont think I'll log today's eating- too much homemade salads and goodies, I dont have all the recipes to enter so I dont really know what to enter. o well.. just have to be extra good tomorrow ;)

manta515, thats great, 10.5 miles!! I wish I could run like that..  I have never been a runner, and right now I think it would kill my knees- I'm thinking of getting them checked out. My workout dvds include alot of lunges and squats and my knees really start to bother me.. I even hear them make strange creaking noises when I go on stairs.. that probably isnt right.

lulufit, congrats on your weight loss, even if you did gain some back- I gained back some too.. I know what you mean about trying to sit at the computer- my kids can be so dang naughty when mom is busy- be it the computer, the phone, or balancing the checkbook and paying bills, thats the time they like to act up!

I think my kids may have broken or really screwed up my scale.. I weighed this morning at 169 and then I know they were messing around with it in between somewhere while I had breakfast, showered and cleaned up the house a bit.. I weighed again before I left for the party and it said 179- wtf#$!@ I really dont think I could have gained 10 pounds in about 3 or 4 hours! So I may need to go get another one - any suggestions on a particular brand or anything? This one I have I got at walmart for about $25- $30, its digital and I think it says 'taylor' on it.

lulufit,  it took me almost 2 years to "mentally" prepare to start running (or start any sort of exercise program for that matter!).  I remember thinking how I wanted to start exercising again, and I wanted to lose weight, but it was just too hard, I didn't have time, I had a baby and I worked full time, I was too tired, I was too this or too that, you think of an excuse and I probably used it.  Plus, I was in such great shape in my mid-late 20's that I just couldn't stomach the realization that all that hard work was now gone and knowing what I used to be able to do made it hit home THAT much harder as to how out of shape I had gotten.  One day during my mental preparation to get back in shape, I was looking at start running programs and came across the couch to 5K, and thought... hey I can do that!  And then I just decided to start getting up early and try it, and well... it just kind of stuck and the weight fell off in the process.  Granted 5/5:30 am is way early, but I really have learned to enjoy running.  I started the program at the end of Nov. 2007 and I am now up to running 10 miles on my long run (usually Sunday morning).  I run 5 days a week, and the changes in my body are fantastic (both physiscally and mentally).  I have probably lost 25 + lbs (stopped weighing myself after I lost 22 lbs), and gone down 3 dress sizes.  I think I have lost about 5 inches in my waist (didn't actually do a pre measure, but know I was around a 32 or so inch waist at the time, and probably lost 5+ inches in my hips (again, not pre measurement).  Unfortunately, I have also lost quite a bit in my bust, emphasizing even more my pear shape, but oh well! But best of all, I am setting a really good example for my two year old (she watched me run my first race on Mother's day and STILL talks about watching mommy run), I have stopped worrying so much about the number on the scale, and I have relaxed my eating to the point that I don't really count calories but just try to make good choices and practice portion control... and there are of course a few treats here and there too. 

Wendy,  awww... my knees creak and grind too, I always thought I couldn't be a runner because I have always had bad knees.  I was actually born with a congenital knee defect where all of my ligaments in my knees are too loose.  That means that if I want to, I can actually pop the knee out of the joint (it also means that it can pop out of joint when it feels like it too).  When I was in high school, I used to play softball and I was a catcher, and my knees used to just slide out of place while I was in the crouch position.  I would have to straighten the leg and snap it back in.... with a loud snap and a bit of pain.  My knees would swell up like grapefruits and they would grind and creak when I walk up or down stairs (its actually not that uncommon, and not necessarily too much of a problem).  Anyway, long story short (I know... too late), I decided to try running anyway, but the first thing I did was go get my gait analyzed and buy a pair of running shoes that would suit the way I walk/run.  Amazingly enough, I have had very few knee problems since I started running.  Also, the other thing that has helped is strengthening my quads and hams.  Keeping the big upper leg muscles strong really helps to stabilize the knee and prevent too many knee injuries.  So anyway, I haven't had any issues yet (knock on wood), but I really listen to my body and take it easy if I sense any knee pain whatsoever.  Mostly, all I get these days are sore quads.

Hello everyone,

I can keep up from time to time, but some days I get lost from all the newbie's on here.. Welcome to the newbie's that I've missed. This has been a very long week vs Weekend. We didn't go hiking this weekend like we normally do. We just took a break from all hiking and walking trails. I really needed a break from my long week of walking and running in this spring/summer- what ever you want to call it heat. I know... I did good all this week. Doing 15 mins in the morning and 15 mins in the evening around dawn. I mean really. How hard can losing weight be???? I can't bitch about it, but I want my bitching right's when the right's are due.... Rant/Fuss/Cuss, what ever you want to call it. I'm going to do it. I'm 30 knocking on 31, and that's no big deal. Dating a man who is knocking on 40 in gasoline Undee's and Aunt Belle's Peach Pie on his T shirt. Looking at me with those big brown eyes telling me.. "I don't know what I'm Missing." Oh! I know what I'm Missing. My aunt Belle's Peach Pie has walked around on my back side for the last time. I mean, don't get me wrong. They are damn "GOOOOD." I just don't have time to lose the damn good weight gain that comes with them suckers. Trust me...... You can't do her pie's like chips.. Really, you just can't have one slice---- before you know it... You done ate the whole pie, and you have room for the next one that's due to roll out of the oven in 10 mins.

I wanted to do something good this weekend, but no. This weekend was tasting my aunt's pies, and helping her master the low fat sugar free cakes. My boyfriend granny just turned 88 young, and she is as happy as she can be. I'm happy for her too, and I am sure one of my aunts pies made it to her. I hope the jackass gave her a slice of the damn pie. I mean really... I'm more pissed than ever at him. He's so happy about gaining this little weight, and then on top of it.. Dare's me to gain a pound.. LOL! Like it's going to make either one of us happy.. Me gaining a pound.  NOT! If I gain the one pound, that means I will get off his back. He said, I lost some weight, and he need to pick it back up... (HIM) regain some weight. HAHA! How many times do I have to remind him about 2005 x mas.. We went to 4 department stores looking for his Dad a pair of size 44 /34 jeans.. I mean, we was hunting for those jeans....  My boyfriend was a 34/32, and now look at him.. The big CHEESE! 38/40, and really pushing at the 40 wearing an XXL, and telling me... I'm proud of this little weight. I can't be small forever... OKAY! He can't be, but crap... Give me a little respect.. Give me a little something... Damn!

You go hiking without me. Let's go out to eat. I don't want to go to the gym with you on Sunday.. Give it a rest Zena, he called me Zena.... WTF! I mean really...  What do I do next.. GAIN 10 pounds so he can bitch and rejump my diet... NO! Or send a 5 year going on 6 in a few months relationship packing.. Or should I stop riding him about his weight gain, and stop pushing him to lose undercover. I know you been doing something different with the food we eat... When did you change every thing over to turkey.....

Hello! I don't eat red meat around the clock.. You are lucky if you get it once a month, and another thing. I hate pork.. I hate it, I hate it.. Give me turkey bacon..... Get me a pack of turkey bacon... He comes walking in with a pack of Ham. I hate ham! What are you effing doing to me.. I hate ham... 110 calories yogurt.. What are you thinking! MEN! I mean really girls.. I done open up a can of vent on you all. I asked him to so something, and look what I get... Ham and 110 calories full of fat yogurt... Not one peach.. I got 5 Blueberry, and 5 Pineapple...  Guess what.. I hate that too... And! I'm not PMSing.. I just really think my boyfriend is feed up with this diet stuff now.. What do you all thing?

Wendy, I know what you are going to say... I will undercover his butt again.... His blood pressure had gone up one too many times for me to watch him suffer like that.. I love him, but I can't have him flush me down the drain with his poor eating habits.. Not only that.. He's been very supportive, and maybe I need to support him in being fat... Somewhere he should be shamed of it a little, or is this really a man thing.

lynnhaslost, get use to it, it only gets worse once you marry them.   My mothers day present from my husband was one of those foot bath massager things.  Now, I realize that in the winter my feet do sometimes ache because I have really high arches and arthritis, but come on for mothers day?  Really?  How many times did I say digital camera?  I even said something about a good book to read.  I made plently of attempts to give him choices on both ends of the money specturm and none of them were ever a foot bath massager thing. 

I actually felt a bit of a victory the other day, when he brought home my Lipton Diet White teas and remembered I liked the peach better than the rasberry in the diet.   My 15 year old daughter,  looked shocked and said "Mom where did dad go?  He bought you something to drink without being asked and it wasn't a dew.  Not only that, he got it right?  Did you trade him in for a newer model or something?"  

Its kind of like asking them to tell you the difference between pink and fusha, not going to happen.  Bacon is bacon, doesn't matter if its turkey or pork.  You must always remember that no matter how burned, or undercooked or nasty a food might seem to a man, if you cover it up with enough gravy or A-1 sauce  they will eat it.   To them Yogart is the female equvilant of gravy.  They just don't understand.  They never have they never will.  

Watching my husband try to pick out Yogart for me is like watching him sitting outside a dressing room holding my purse.   I rarely buy anything or even actually try it on.  I just like to watch him from behind the dressing room door acting all flustered.   I know its mean, but hey its pay back for going from the most romantic man on the planet to the guy who can't remember where he took his shoes off, left his wallet, what shirt he wore the day before....... exc. exc. exc.

And then there is my wonderful husband, who wouldn't know how to support my diet if I wrote everything down and spelled it out for him.  At 38 years old, he weighs all of 132 lbs soaking wet and has since he was about 16 years old.  This is the man who decides he wants chocolate cake RIGHT NOW, so after getting annoyed because I won't go to the store and buy him one, or become Betty f***king Crocker in the kitchen and whip one up, he reluctantly goes to the store and buys one.  Then he comes home and, of course, his skinny little arse start offering me a piece of this absolutely delicious looking chocolate mud cake, and when I say no thanks, he is like, you know you want it, and sits there and tempts me with it.  So, I stay strong, and get to sit and watch him eat not just a piece, but HALF of the whole damn cake.  When I check the calorie content, I realize he has just eaten over 1000 calories in chocolate cake... and you know the kicker, he probably lost a pound doing it! 

Ladykelien, I guess you are right.. Better like it, and love what I got. I have to get over it.. Well, this is one fact in the making. I've been married once, so this will never happen again. We do Mother's Day... What I got from him was a.... A music Tin Thing.. Looks like a tin shack house, with a horse in it, and it plays something.. I can't catch the tune to..... As for yogurt. He knows what I eat.. Getting it right or not. Bacon.. He knows I don't eat pork.. It's all pay back to make me bitch.. I get it. He loves the healthy foods.. He just don't want me to know it. I understand him hating the fake sugar.. I will not give him any of that... I keep that for myself. "More for me." I guess we women can't ask for respect. He said to me.. Hours before I posted my, RANT! He said, " I didn't give you any problems when you weight went up and down. I just let you do you. When I'm ready to lose the weight it will happen, but until then.. Get off my back." So, I'm going to get off his back. No more worrying about his health. I got my own damn health, and 3 little ones to worry about. He fall out from high blood pressure he falls out.. I'm washing my hands of it until he wants the help.

I got that foot thing 2 years in a row.. The 1st one didn't heat up, and the 2nd one was" Look babe it heats up!"  Men! Sometimes, I want to join there team so I can understand the rules better.

I love anything that has anything to do with fashion... I mean.. I make it really easy for him.. Each year.. Non stop for the past 4 years.. I've been shoppin' for my own Mother's Day Gift, and filling out the order form... Not sending off for it, but having it all set for him to write out the check, and send off for the damn thing.. Do I get it no! But after I lost 50 pounds.. I did get a shoppin spree and it was nice. Have not finish yet.. I saved some of the money for some other things.. But that was nice of him to do that. I guess I have to look at the good little things I do get, and leave him and his weight gain alone.. :)

Thanks for the advice, on getting use to it. It's been almost 6 years, and I should be use to it by now.. But what ever happen to that romantic man that use to give me shoes, hand bags, and cute little things on his own... I mean really. He still helps me pick out some of the things I get, but sometimes I wish the first 2 years would come back. It's like.. once they get you... OH! It's time to stop working so hard, and lets become the real man we are deep down in side"...... :)~ She will never know what hit her. I mean really.. Do they do this over a time frame or what! I mean.. Monday 2003 they are so sweet and loving. Here comes 2005, and you see the good one check in ever once in a while. 2007, you want to get your life in order for yourself, and the family... 2008, he notice you are doing little changes and do the very little just to keep you happy.. MEN!

We can never "beat" them... I don't think I can mustard up the smell to join them either. LOL! I have to smell bad by fitness and health choice 5 days a week... Just for a short period of time.. You ask them.. Are you going to shower, and what do you get.. Yeah! Later on....MEN, LOL.... That's are life long soul mate huh.... 

Oh Lynn, honey I feel for you... I have spent over 12 years fretting over my mans health.. I still have to bite my tongue, but i know I cant do it for him- He has to want to do it, and do it for himself! We found out my husband was diabetic when my first son was only 10 months old.. he was around 300 lbs back then and aside from his extreme thirst and  urination he was having vision problems- he went to the clinic and his blood sugar was over 400! The first month or 2 after we learned about his diabetes he was so good- stuck to the diet, checked his blood, took his meds, kept his doctor appts.. then after that he really fell off the wagon.. I dont know if he was just mad about it, or just thought it would go away or what, but he dropped the whole diet thing- said it was too unrealistic, kept forgetting his meds and testing, and always had excuses why he couldnt get to the doctor. This all began fall 1995, then in March 1996 he went back to the doctor and found out he had a blockage in his heart- at 22 years old my husband had to get a stent in his heart! And over the years he has been in and out of the hospital for many problems with his diabetes, but everytime, no matter how much I cry, beg, or rant and yell at him, he always goes back to acting like a damn fool and not taking care! He has had to have more stents- he has had that procedure at least 5 times, and sometimes more than 1 put in at a time! He has had pancreantitis at least 3 times (a condition where the pancreas becomes swelled and inflammed- very painful), He had a bypass surgery-yes, thats right, OPEN HEART SURGERY when he was 25 years old, bells palsy (a virus more common to diabetics where part of your face becomes temporarily paralyzed), eye problems, a kidney infection- I mean really, how much does this man need to go through to get a wake up call that he needs to take better care? We have 4 children, and this is what breaks my heart the most.. that their daddy may very well not be around too long if he doesnt get it together and start taking care of himself.  He did lose quite a bit of weight, but not because he was dieting and taking care- the doctors said that having such a high blood sugar over time does something to his metabolism and 'eats' up his weight.. he was down to 217 earlier in the year, but now I think he is nearing 230 again. (he is 6'4") .. I do what I can to help him- I go get all his meds at the pharmacy, I sort them in this pill box so all his has to do is open this little case and pop them in his mouth.  I try to gently remind him to take his meds and schedule his appts, EAT BETTER, etc.. He has gotten better about taking his meds and seeing his doctor more regularly since his dad passed away last winter, but he still rarely tests his blood and usually forgets to take the insulin when he eats. His eating habits are still pretty terrible. I have cried way too many tears over all this, but I know that there is nothing I can do to 'make' him do it, I wish I could do it for him, but I know I cant.  And with all this, he is also a police officer! unbelievable, right? He has been to many medical calls on the job for people with diabetes, so he knows how bad it can be- I dont know if he is just in a constant state of denial or what! I worry about him on the job, sure, but I worry more about his health than anything else!  I think his job really affects his eating habits in a bad way.. with the crazy hours he works he ends up eating on the run too much and so he just fixes himself what he wants or eats out because he doesnt always make it home for dinner. He loves to eat, and he usually eats too many bad things. He always wants to go out to eat, and wants to take me out, so that way alot of times I find it difficult for me to eat right and the kids to eat right. I just end up making extra things for me with dinner.. when we grill, I have him grill me a boca burger with his regular burgers and hotdogs, I steam some broccoli and have a spinach salad instead of his coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad etc..

On a lighter note, he is the same way about getting the wrong thing! If I send him to the store I have to write the list word for word what is on the damn package or he comes back with the wrong thing- and then he always gets mad if I say something about it and says " well, you didnt write that on the list"

He is pretty good about gifts though, he usually gets excited and runs it by me before he goes to get it. He likes to buy me flowers now and then for no reason still, and gets jewelry for me on occasion. He doesnt try to pick out clothes for me anymore- he just isnt very good at it.  I love him though, and just want him to be around for me and the kids.. I really hope that he will continue improving now with taking better care.. I just need to get him eating better, taking his insulin all the time, getting more exercise- if only there were a pill he could take to make him do all that!

Yowsa.  I'm beginning to think my singledom ain't so bad!  HA!   My boy and I rarely see each other, sadly...so I don't have to worry about any of this stuff.  In fact, I'll be seeing him in 6 weeks and he won't recognize me, if I have my way.  Luckily, he seems to be fond of my bod as is, bow chicka wow wow.

I admire you all for being so concerned over their health when they can't seem to give a flying eff.  I imagine it's incredibly frustrating, and I hope you all have some support as well. 

Bad news: Too many beers=holy bloating Batman! 

Good News: Got a new scale, decided NOT to sport the $50 version and got a good old fashioned dial scale.  I weighed the only thing in my house with a definite weight to it---a box of unopened dog biscuits (stop laughing)---and it seemed accurate.  It read, this morning, after my weekend o'debauchery, 164!!! 

Iffy news: So if I AM losing weight, when do the clothes fit better?  That said, I am beginning to notice some definition, so that's good.

Sidebar: I looooooooooove me some HIIT, ladies.  Even if I'm not doing it right, I'm burning more calories and I love love love the rush.

20 pounds to go.  I'm feeling pretty proud of myself, slip ups and all.   I'm going to bust my ass to get 10 more off by the time I see the boy, and let the last 10 do what they may.  The ultimate goal is 20 by September 1---that's reasonable, right?

Happy Monday!

Good morning gang – I can’t keep up with everyone’s posts individually, but I have to say, you’re all so motivating!  Kudos to everybody staying on track, and to those who fell off the wagon, here’s a helping hand back up.  We’ll get there eventually.

I had a really great weekend.  Went out to a bar Friday night for some live music, but it was SO hot that I mostly drank water all night, so that helped me behave myself and not load up on empty calories.  I’ve been eating even better, filling up on low-cal fruits and veggies, and have kept cravings at bay.  Spent all of Saturday helping friends cook for an Indian-themed BBQ, and learned how to make DELICIOUS authentic Mumbai-style veggie curry.  There was also tandoori chicken, and funnily enough, it was me and one other girl – the only 2 vegetarians in the group – who ended up doing all the barbecuing of the meat!  I also discovered an unexpected new love – raw red onion in plain yogurt is YUMMY.

Yesterday I joined some athletic friends for their standard Sunday morning sports – it was supposed to be cricket, but not enough people showed up, so we played tennis instead.  Ever since, I have SO MUCH ENERGY I can hardly believe it.  Last night I did a huge amount of housework, up and down the stairs who knows how many times. 

Well, I’m a little bit sore this morning, but I bounced out of bed today at 5 AM!  Usually I’m dragging myself out of bed after hitting snooze a dozen times, and am late to work.  But today I had time to make a huge breakfast (which keeps me from snacking all day), and even do some reading.  Hopefully I can keep this up.  Who knows, maybe I’ll suddenly become a morning person!

Oh, and on Friday after work I joined a new gym, which has an all-skill level racquetball league I might look into joining, if I can find a reasonably cheap racquet.  Going to go tonight after work and get oriented to the club.  I'm feeling great!

Wendy~ Thanks for the reply. You picked me up, broke my heart, and still found the way to  show me how strong we women can be. Thank you! I guess he things he has an easy way out of this. I have to deal with him for the rest of my life. We aren't man and wife, but that's are pack. To take care of each other for better or worst, and I've been there with him through some rough times, and I can't do that again. I just can't do it. If it's not one thing it's the other, and the more and more I look at it. He knows I know what I am talking about. It has to really scare the crap out of him. It did once.. Food Poison got him to really think about what do he eat, and who's cooking he is to eat too. My boyfriend is a auto mechanic, and it took his father eating on his cases about working hard long hours at his shop, and how people won't pay him. Then I came along. I had to teach him the ropes. He had to learn how to get tough, and become more cut throat. He say we balance each other out. Sometimes it's hard to balance a whole family, and a love one who is your life mate at the same time. I'm not going to ride his back as much, but what I am going to do is start being more open about this, and not to undercover anymore. LOL! He lost weight, and was pissed about it. MEN! I just don't know what to do with him.

lynn, thank you! I dont really feel so strong though.. I guess most of the times I feel like I live life with little blinders on, just not looking at how bad it is with him. I suppose in a way that is kind of enabling him, just letting him go about his ways- but if I spent all my time scrutinizing everything he eats, everything he does, I probably would have had to have been locked up in a loony bin quite awhile ago! Now I am just focusing on getting me back in shape and healthy, and trying to do better by the kids with what they eat too. Maybe he will follow along, and maybe he wont, but I cant let it get to me. I will still sort his pills, remind him to take his insulin and meds and make his dr appts, try to encourage him to eat better and be more active, but that is about all I can do.

That is so crazy your bf would be upset about losing weight- i know my hubby is still in the understanding that it is good for him to lose weight- I know he is defineately not trying to gain weight! Tell your bf if he wants to gain weight, he should eat right and hit the weights hard- then he can gain some muscles to brag about! :) I suppose you probably have already told him that, and more than once! ;) I am with you- Men- wtf! ( sorry to you men in our thread, dont mean to offend!) Things would be so much easier if I were a lesbian! ;)

musicismydestiny, lol- you are so funny! Congrats to you on your weight loss and new 'definition' - thats great!

Lidan, you sound like you are doing awesome! Sounds like you had an incredible weekend, congrats on your new found energy! oo, I still cant wait till they finish the Y! All you talking about your gyms, I want to go too!

Lynn and Wendy,  yes men are annoying.  Yes they forget to be romantic.  But, you know what,  I think a lot of times its because we don't see the ways they try to be romantic.  Sure its not the 5 roses of 5 different colors with the poem telling you what each rose stands for and that the sixth rose is for him because its you.  (Yes Bear was that romantic and sappy)  But, they still do things to take care of us and we should appreciate that.

His mom came to visit this weekend.  She came a day early.  I had 3 hours of housework left and still hadn't started cleaning the carpets.  So despite the fact he had worked 12 hours plus the 2 hours of commuting, he picked up the rug doctor and cleaned the carpets for me.  Despite the fact he had to be back up at 4 am to go back to work, he stayed up till 1 am making sure they were clean because, according to him, I had done enough for one day.   Like he hadn't. He build airplanes for Gods sakes.

After she left yesterday, he took me to town and was out till nearly 10 even though he had to be up by 4 this morning.  He took me all over our little bitty town looking for coke Zero so I could make that devils food cake recipe thats on this site.  We couldn't find it.  I was disappointed.  No chocolate for me :(  His answer, was no worries sweets,  Ill have it home to you tomorrow night in time for you to make it and have it for breakfast tuesday morning.   He will too. I will have to remind him, but he will bring it home to me.

He didn't laugh when I decided I was going to try my hand at jogging.  No comments about giving myself a black eye.  Nope instead he said, Be careful sweets, take your phone in case you need me.   Tonight he will come home, have supper, plant the last of the misquito plants for me then help the kids work on their martial arts forms.  Then he will come in and play Age of empires or Star wars until the Daily show comes on.  He will come to bed to watch that with me and fall asleep in the middle of it.  But, just before he does, he will remind me that he loves me and that to him, I am still the most beautiful woman in the world.  The silly thing about it all, is despite the wear and tear having 6 kids has had on my body,  I know he means it.

So yeah its fun to grip about them, but we should never forget how much they give back.

Sorry...  I've neglected this thread!    Hello to the many people who have joined up, nice to see this thread so active :)

Thanks everyone for your answers about what you do for exercise, we sure do cover the spectrum!

wendyb27, I think it was you who asked what DVD's I have... now don't anyone groan!!!  LOL.  I have Denise Austin (various) and Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds DVDs.  I am apparently too dense to follow many of the other "hipper" choices out there.  Couldn't keep up with Tae Bo to save my life, but I'm getting TurboJam from the library so hopefully that will work for me and then I'll buy a copy to add to my collection.  Sometimes just trying to keep 5 children out from under my feet during a workout is more challenging than the actual workout, haha!  My 13 year old DD has started working out with me and is enjoying it tremendously, and I enjoy having the company :)

I have FINALLY (sing, sing, sing!!!) broken back into the "healthy" range of my BMI scale, wooohoooo!  Sloooow going, but at least it's going!

Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

ladykelien, you sound like you have a wonderful, sweet man. Thats great that you appreciate him. I'm not so much griping about my man (and I dont think Lynn is either) I am more upset and pulling my hair out that he wont take better care of himself! He does provide well for me and the kids, and still brings me flowers quite often, but he has and has had so many problems related to his diabetes, and doesnt take proper care of himself (see my previous post) it just makes me so heartsick! I would be absolutely ecstatic if he never bought me another flower or never did another favor again if only he would take his meds, take his insulin, eat right, be active enough to stay healthy- pretty much got his diabetes under control!

coloradosunshine, welcome back! You sound like me- not being able to follow alot of the workouts! I got the Firm transfirmation dvds almost 2 months ago and I am just now being able to follow a couple of them.. I think I was born with 2 left feet or something! I know what you mean about keeping the kids out from under you- I have 4, and especially my youngest (almost 6 yr old twin boys) want to try to exercise with mom- the problem is the room isnt very big and I end up nearly kicking or punching them down! I keep having to tell them move over a little, or go over there! ha. I looked into trying some dvds at our library, but nearly all the fitness dvds have a waiting list on them a mile long- I guess i'll have to get my name on there and wait.  Congrats on your BMI! thats fabulous!

ladykelien, I'm happy that you have a wonderful man. I think I have a great one too, but when he starts to play games.. I'm not one of those chicks who goes for it. If my man is a little too good.. I wonder deep down inside, what the hell is going on with him. Yeah! It sounds like I am bitching about the things he does.. But! He promised to be here, and I promised to be here for him, and to support and keep him happy and healthy. My boyfriend mom has high blood pressure, and she also has Type 2 Diabetes. His father, he has no worries to the world. Don't have to take a pill at all... But! On the other hand. You must understand what our problem is with our man vs. yours. I'm not saying my man isn't good, but when he is good.. I do notice.. When he is bad.. I do notice, and when he is taking my smartones to lunch without telling me, and then bitching about why I don't get what he wants, and I do... Makes me sick, because he is going to take my smartones over his Hungry Man any day...

My mate was not this heavy at all when we met. He is really and truly a small frame man, and he is tough, but now... He just looks like he's so out of shape, and you don't have to deal with what I have to listen to. My boyfriend cares more about his damn teeth than he do his insides.. That's the truth. More about his damn teeth. I care about my weight, and when he comes and tell me about how everyone notice his little weight gain.. It really does hurts him.. He just don't want to be a man about it. My man.. He's not one to do the small things.... Like, Mother's Day and stuff like that.. But out of the blue he can pop up with some of the crazyiest things. Like I need another car.. Yes! He loves cars.. He has his reason for having so many cars.. Give me one that I can drop in D and go, and I'm happy. I don't want to worry about all the steps.. But I learn how to drive a stick to make him happy, and if I didn't know how to drive a stick last year this time around. I would have never gotten him to ER to have his tummy pumped for Food Poison. 2 days there, and he didn't like the bill, and if he could have gotten past it... Trust me.. He would have been happy off at home.... Laying there getting ready to die.. OLD FASHION MAN! That's what I have... But I have to push him to want to live, and you know what. You don't get where either one of us are coming from.. Wendy and I. We just want our men to be healthy. That's it. I understand where she is coming from. She understands where I am coming from. I don't think you do at all. MEN! That's all we are saying. It's not like we are calling them every un forgiving word in the book. Like SOB, and MF, or a long list of other damn names.. NO! We are just saying men.. In more of a you can't live with them, and you can't live with out them.

My man can come home with every rose bush in the lowes, and he want plant one damn bush. My man way of dealing with me is this... How much do you want? Give me my wallet. Here's 100 now stop bitching, and lets have dinner.. I feel like pizza kids how about you... I love him god knows I do, but you don't understand I would like to see him around a lot longer. I don't want one to many cheese burgers be the cause of his death. I can care, but you know what.. When I stop bitching, then he thinks his a** is out the door... I guess that's are little way of showning each other how we feel about one another. This man has no kids, and took me and my children in and loved us from the beginning as if.. He and I was a pair before the beginning of time. So I do love my man, and I do bitch about some things, but this is normal.

Wendy, I am so happy that you was able to make since out of that reply post back to you. I looked at it, and was like... Damn... I was still upset. My boyfriend just read your open post to me, and he said.. All that, and he has been blessed not to have one major worry, and can understand why I'm on him about his weight gain. I had to tell him. You'd do it for me.. That's why I ride him so hard, because I know he would do it for me, and he did.. But you know what.. Sometimes I felt he join me once he couldn't get the weight to stay off of me. He's been supportive of every diet.. He laughed and said.. I never though one would stick. My free ride excuse to being this size is over.. You know.. Both of you are fat.. So people don't look at you so bad, and now.... It's him a little bigger than me.. I've always been heavier than him.. Always, and to be the light one in this kills me.. His mother even asked me about losing weight. I try to give her advice too. I just want my man to be okay.. He will be turning 40 in a few months... I want him to see 20 more years plus more... That's why I ride him about doing the right things.. He get's it now. I can't go in to thinking how long this is going to last.. I just have to believe that he is ready.  Thanks... Thanks for everything.. :)

Lynn , Thank you! your support really means so much! I know exactly what you mean about the size thing.. I think that is what kind of got my butt in gear. For all the time I have been with my husband (going on 15 years together- not married the whole time, but together) he has always been alot bigger than me, I mean he is a foot taller, but heavier than me- bigger bmi. Then when he started to get low, like 217, I realized that being a whole foot taller than me- he was probably only 30-40 lbs more than me! we didnt have a scale at the time, but I knew a ballpark around where i was. Over the winter, we were going to go sledding one day when it was pretty cold out.. He has these flannel lined jeans, so I tried them on for something warm and I just about died when I realized they fit in the hips and waist! I didnt need a belt or anything.. I think that is about the time it really hit home for me that I needed to change- I had to lose some weight and get back in shape- and it took me awhile of hemming and hawing over it to get it going.. it hasnt been easy, but I am starting to see a difference, and he says he has too, so it is worth it. He is pretty supportive, at least he tries to be- but when it comes to eating, he eats bad and wants me to eat with him.. he always asks me to go out to lunch or how bout we get a dairy queen after dinner.. Sometimes its hard to say no! So it will continue to be a struggle, but I will keep going. 'keep it moving' like you say :)

I hope your bf will be ready too- he has to know how unhealthy all that extra weight can be (unless its muscle!) and what eating so bad can do to your body. Good luck to both of you! God Bless!