It is Thursday again already! My the weeks certainly seem to fly by quickly don't they?

Well this week I have been trying to cut back on portions, drink more water (but not enough yet!) and eat less snacks and desserts. I have had popcorn several times.

I haven't started the exercise videos as the cold I had has made me stuffy and not able to breathe well enough for vigorous exercise. but it seems to have mostly subsided, just a little stuffed up when I wake up in the mornings. I may have to get one out today.

So I haven't really been trying all that hard! But when I stepped on the sale this morning, I was pleasantly suprised to find I lost one pound which is better than gaining one pound!

Everyone who still wants to participate can sign in now. If you want to start you can join in any time. Let us know if you have lost anything this week, and what you are doing to change your lifestyle!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 10, 2002

Answers

Down 2 pounds! and stiff as a board to boot!. The exercise video gets easier every day. Maybe by next Thursday, I can sit in a chair without getting a cramp in my butt!! I've added tons of veggies and fruits, more healthy soups and cut back on bread. I have cut sweets to almost nothing. I do have a crutch, but it is better than eating fattening sweet things. It is Coffee Haze. My aunt runs a coffee dive in a nearby town. She showed me how to make it and it is very low fat and satisfies my sweet cravings. I'll have to work on caffine later in the game! Good luck and God bless to everyone.

-- Micheale from SE Kansas (mbfrye@totelcsi.net), January 10, 2002.

Lost a pound. I've decreased what I'm eating just slightly and am trying to watch the carbs. I haven't skied since last Weds though, because I stubbed my little toe HARD...I may have broken it. It's feeling more normal now and I'm going to try to ski today..there's a little snow coming down too.

Good luck to you all!

-- Cat (catcrazy@somewhere.com), January 10, 2002.

Well, I haven't weighed yet - we don't own any scales, but I can say that I do feel better! I've cut down on portions and no snacking allowed! Also cut out sweets - for the most part. They are definitely my downfall. I've been eating oatmeal for breakfast, with a slice of toast. I can't believe how much more filling it is than anything else. I may actually become addicted to the stuff!

Melissa, thanks for starting this. Having the support of the forum really does help!

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), January 10, 2002.

This may be just the incentive I need so I'm going to join in. I forgot to weigh this morning before I ate breakfast so I'm not going to weigh now! Next Thursday! I have been trying to eat less but need to do better on drinking water. I just don't drink enough. I have been getting on my tread mill the past couple of days. I think exercise is very important and is about the only way I can lose anymore. Congratulations on your weight loss!!! 1# is great! I figure if I could lose 1# a week that's 52 # in a year! Geez, if I lost 52#, I'd be skinny, well, almost!

-- Barb in Ky. (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), January 10, 2002.

Hey Cheryl! Oatmeal rocks!!!

It is my most favorite breakfast, so cheap and versatile, good hot or cold, and fills you up like nothing else will.

I sound like a commercial! Congrats to all who are having some success!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 10, 2002.

Didn"t lose a nothing, I finished off the Christmas peanut brittle. Truthfully sweets are not really my problem. I am a picker, I pick at everything I cook.And I tell myself I may be dead tomorrow, so why not. I like salty things too. All you young ones hang in there, Irene

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), January 10, 2002.

Well, I'm down four pounds which only shows how truly terribly I was eating before!! I have restarted my walking and added another lap this morning. I go up and down our driveway which is quite long with a pretty good hill at the end. Do I get extra credit for dodging the huge mud puddles? I have also added more raw veggies and my family is eating them along with me - we can all use a more healthy diet. And I have cut out a ton of sweets, not totally buy much better. I also find I think about this group and the Thursday report! Thanks for the support.

-- Darcy in NW WA (gatecity@nomail.com), January 10, 2002.

Extra Credit given!! But it is more fun, to walk through the mud puddles!!!!!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 10, 2002.

Lost a pound and given up crisps (really hard in our house). I'm trying to cut things out gradually otherwise I suddenly have to eat everything up before I can start on the right track again. I don't mean bulnimia I mean pigging out!! Alison

-- Alison Homa (alisonhoma@hotmail.com), January 10, 2002.

I have lost 2 to 3 pounds (I read the dial at 254, Ann reads it at 255) Ann has lost a half of a pound. I rode the exercise bike 3 times for 10 minutes each. Most of my loss is surely water loss.

I have followed the diet described on page 17-18 of the September/October 2001 issue of CS magazine, for the last 3 days.

It is meant to relieve allergies, but I have a feeling it will work towards weight loss too, simply because it makes you extremely conscious of what I am putting in my mouth, and how often.

I had asked my 18 year old daughter to try the diet to see if it would relieve her asthma/allergy problems. Since the diet is so weird she invited me to try it for 2 weeks first.

Ugh! (I'll do anything for my family.)

-- Rick (Rick_122@hotmail.com), January 10, 2002.

I haven't even done the starting weigh in yet. I've been under the weather here. I'm hoping to get on the program next week. I guess I can always say I'm giving you all a head start. ;o)

I'm glad everyone is doing so well. Keep it up!

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), January 10, 2002.

Howdy Folks,

Down 3, but they don't count. Mother nature. I reeeeealllly can't wait until "She" finally retires. lol My hubby and I are going to start our walking routine back up on Monday. We've cut a path through the pasture and both have pedometers that haven't been used yet, so maybe we will be inspired by the numbers. Or not. lol Keep up the good work folks.

Iris

-- Iris (WatchingWideEyed@peaceful.com), January 10, 2002.

No scales but have taken up a hole in my belt. but let me tell you quitting smokeing was a breeze compared to giving up coke cola ive only had two this week used to have 4 or 5 aday. Bob se,ks.

-- Bobco (bobco@kans.com), January 10, 2002.

Hi, can I join your diet? I'am diabetic and losing weight is so important. Since August I've lost about 25 lbs just by cutting back on sugar, fat, and carbs.I drink lots of water and always have coleslaw on hand.Today I'am at 207 lbs. and I want to reach 120 lbs.

-- Martha Mattews (marthafromwa@webtv.com), January 10, 2002.

Good work everyone! Welcome Martha, anyone can join at any time, but Thursday is the day of reckoning!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 10, 2002.

Hope you are feeling better Gary!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 11, 2002.

I'm starting my diet on Monday!!!

-- Sandy(N.E.FL.) (REDNECKGIRL32@prodigy.net), January 11, 2002.

Hello, I've been out a few days with a sick kid and husband. Any way, I am at the same weight. Hard to stay focused when you're tired.

I don't want to bring anyone down, but remember that the first few pounds you lose is water weight, so don't be discouraged if you don't lose as much in the second or third week. Your body is just using what it's been storing for the occasion that you use it more than you have been!

Also, make sure you are eating at least 1500 cals a day, or your body will think it is starving and hold on to it's fat stores even tighter.

-- Dawn (olsoncln@ecenet.com), January 11, 2002.

I've lost 1 lb. I've cut my meals in half. Breakfast is 1/2 bowl cereal with a banana & handfull raisins.Lunch is big salad with lots of vegies. Then 1/2 plate of whatever were having for supper. Ive taken over the job of spliting and hauling wood to the front porch. That's way more exercise than before.

-- Sherry (Calfarm@msn.com), January 11, 2002.

I'd like to join a bit late I guess but I just found your site yesterday. Have been a Countryside follower for a while now and somehow missed you. I like what I read. Thanks. I need to loose about 45 pounds, then I'd be back to the weight I used to weigh when I thought I was fat! Nancy

-- Nancy (nannyb@huntel.net), January 31, 2002.

Hi Nancy! The new thread started today too. We try to sign in each Thursday with tips, hints and support!

I just read that people who have on-line support are more successful with weight loss than those who have no support! So I hope we can be an inspiration to each other!!

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), January 31, 2002.