Deborah, I sure don't mind if you join us!  I completely understand having medical issues and having to go slowly.  I have enjoyed reading some of the things that have worked for you.  I wish I could eat my largest meal at lunch like you've been doing.  I think I'd be so much better off that way. However, with everyone else gone most days at lunch, I have to cook a decent dinner.  The kids eat at school and really don't eat that great but prefer that over taking lunch.  Since it's only $2 per week per child, I don't mind buying it.  There's not a lot I can make for them within that budget for 5 days.  Les eats on the road.  He tries to eat healthy but the choices just aren't as good as a homecooked meal.

Michelle, today's weigh in was a bit of a shock.  I didn't get to measure on Friday at my last weigh in so had Les help me today.  I don't get accurate measurements trying to do it myself.  When we saw I had lost several inches from different parts of my body, I couldn't resist getting on the scales a few days early.  I was very surprised to find 3 more pounds gone since Friday.  I have been exercising a little more but didn't feel that I'd stuck to my meal plans as well as I could.

WOWSA what's your secret????

Hot dog, bun, and oven baken potato fries...447-547 calories for dinner tonight...

It doesn't sound like you need to lose much weight Deb! For your pot belly, you need to strengthen the muscles there. I'm not sure what your physical disabilities may be, if any. You should discuss your concern with Peter and see if he has any suggestions for exercises that can tighten those muscles.

One thing I found when I lost weight before was that I had a smaller body, but the same shape! Working those stomach muscles at Curves helped tremendously. I'm afraid I won't do crunches etc without the accountaibility of Curves....I know it's been over a week now since I've done anything besides walking.

So YES anyone that wants to join in this thread for support while losing any amount of weight is welcome

I'm hoping it'll help having the suport on here that I used to have when I went to Curves.

I'm currently at 288.  I'm 5'2" female.  I would like to be 230 by new years.  I'm able to walk 20-30 minutes at a time and will try to go when the weather is nice and take my 4 footed buddy.  Ulitmate goal is 140. 

when buying food check the package deallie why it ha the calorie count there perserving as small as it is but also salt context you all need to be aware of and the fat perserving thats the one thats the killer the salt and the fat perserving the higher it is the worst it gets go to weight watchers.com they give all the info plus if attempting to do it no matter what go to the dr. first better safe then sorry later like me I lack salt ain the count in the blood and boarderline anerexic

ok, so far I have made more progress with hopping off the roof and flying than I have with losing weight.

But, grocery day is coming up and I have spoken to dh about cutting costs and calories and have told him that I will be preparing some beans to be eaten over rice. He is in agreement . . . I have decided I just need to keep it simple.  I always start out that way, then I stray from the simple path and get overwhelmed and then come to the brilliant conclusion (again) that I need to just keep it simple.    :::sigh:::

I have been walking.  I had hoped to walk at least a mile every day, but somehow getting home at midnight, getting to sleep sometime after 2 and then getting back up at 6 just doesn't make me jump for joy at walking on a treadmill.

I think I need a grand-dog. I don't want a dog full time because they need more than I can give, but I'd like one to walk and pet and play with, then send back home.

 But, I do have some encouraging news - my starting weight was 278 and now it is 269 and holding for the past 3 weeks.

 I really don't think I have any secrets. lol  I have cut back from drinking a 12 cup pot of coffee with sugar and flavored creamer to just drinking 5 cups of black coffee each morning.  I weaned myself off the sugar and creamer slowly so I didn't miss it as much.  I also stopped drinking sweet tea all day. Before, I'd finish the coffee and go to the tea.  Now instead of making a gallon of tea with 2 cups of sugar, it's 1 cup (again weaned slowly).  I only drink it at my evening meal and do have a 16 oz serving at that time.  The rest of the time, it's water.  I drink juice and sometimes milk for breakfast or a snack.

For breakfast this morning, I had 459 calories.  That consisted of a piece of french toast with cinnamon and sugar in the eggs, a cup of yogurt, 20 fresh blueberries, half a banana, a glass of grapefruit juice, and my 5 cups of coffee.  That was about 6:15 am and I finished the coffee a while ago and have now switched to water at 9:30 am.  Usually my breakfasts are a bit less calories than this one.  I will chop up a few pieces of bacon and cook it in a skillet, then beat 4 eggs and add to the mix, sprinkle with about 1/4 cup of cheese and divide it into 4 servings.  With that a slice of toast with 1/2 tablespoon of jelly, some fruit, and/or juice, and my coffee and it's not too bad.  

We eat a small portion of meat and carbs.  For instance, two boneless skinless chicken breasts will feed all four of us because I cut them in half.  Then I season or marinate and grill on the indoor grill (unless the weather is nice, then it's outside on the charcoal grill).  A simple baked potato isn't too many calories, it's what you add to it. I can usually add a pat of butter and some low or no fat sour cream and be okay.  Then a salad or some veggies cooked without any kind of fat.  I try to seperate my plate into sections with carbs and meat on one half and veggies filling the other.I also stick to 1200-1550 calories per day and I log everything that goes into my mouth into the nutrition tracker.

The rest is exercise but I will be the first to admit, I haven't really kept up any kind of consistency there. I do try to stay active but with the weather issues, it's not easy.

Lack of sleep has been implicated in obesity--check news releases. No cook finds it easy to lose weight, unless she has a significant other who wants low-cal recipes.  

One thing you can do with a treadmill, if you don't have a laptop, is get a cheapie wireless headset, plug it into the computer, then  listen to your favorite music or Internet radio while walking.   Not that I jump for joy about any activity which occurs within 2 hours of arising...

Deborah, the only thing which will burn fat without burning muscle is exercise.  I have no idea how much or what kind of weight training your therapists will allow, but anything which builds muscle should enable you to achieve that goal, in moderation.  Unfortunately, once the female hormones drop, your chances of having a permanent "menopot" escalate.  Weight training also is something of a mood elevator, once the soreness wears off. 

Dear Allie, Thank you so very much for letting this "slacker" join the Great Weight Challenge of Feb-June, 2009, Ta-da!

Congratulations, Allie, on your having lost 3 lbs since last Friday!  That's 3 lbs in (just  under) one week!  Amazing!  Yours in Him, Deb

Dear Michelle Cinnamon Huskies, My personal physician, Peter, insists that my pot belly should go away just by my walking.  AND, he is right at least in part, as I've lost many inches at both waist & hip.  However, I also do 20 push-ups (10 regular + 10 on my knees/modified), & 100 circles of cycling daily, + 3 waist exercises.  That helps some, too.

My physical disability is my brain injury, which has sorely affected my balance.  Love in Him, Deb

Dear Jeweled Sunshine, And how is it that I've never commented on your Rainbow handle!

The 9 lbs that you have lost & have retained the loss of is MOST commendable!  Yours in Him, Deb