Picture This! (Blest)

Whoa! This week is flying by!!  And where, oh where is this week’s QOM challenge?!  Who’s responsible for this shocking delay?!! 

Oh.  Uh…     That would be me.  

Well….  Okay.  We are HALFWAY through the QOM contest.  I think it’s a good time for Progress Pictures!!  Now this is a challenge, which means it is an optional way to earn a bonus “pound”. So you don’t have to do it. But as we’ve said before, pictures are a very valuable tool in tracking your steady progress towards your goal.  So your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to take a fresh photo, preferably one that somewhat matches your QOM entry photo, and email it to me! 

Snap To It!

« Hot and bothered   Water, water everywhere… »

1. Out of curiousity… what will be done with these pictures? Since, well, ahem, I kind of sent in a bathing-suit shot for my first picture… and I don’t really want those (if I send in another one) out there for the public to see… 

   Comment by anne — March 29, 2007 @ 7:32 am

2. No worries Anne. I won’t publish anyone’s pics without their consent. I will probably want to post before and after pics of the winner(s) but we can always password protect them if necessary.

   Comment by blestwithsons — March 29, 2007 @ 7:39 am

3. Your killing me!!!

   Comment by Kellie — March 29, 2007 @ 8:34 am

4. I won’t be able to participate this time around…:( My personal photographer is on vacation for a week. I wouldn’t look any different anyway, I’m sure.

   Comment by lady laura — March 29, 2007 @ 2:34 pm

Hot & Bothered (Lady Laura)

From Real Simple:

“Eating fiery foods can make you feel full faster, so you eat up to 200 fewer calories during a meal, according to a recent study published in Physiology and Behavior. It also turns out that capsaicin, a compound found in chilies, speeds up the metabolism.”

Cool, huh? Or should I say, hot!

« In with the good   Picture This! »

1. I experienced that last night as I attempted to make a rice & lentil dish Indian style. Boy was it hot. I couldn’t eat everything that was on my plate.

   Comment by Anita — March 28, 2007 @ 8:42 pm

2. Woo hoo! Outstanding! Glad to be wrong!

   Comment by blestwithsons — March 28, 2007 @ 9:50 pm

3. My hubby LOVES spicy food and puts hot sauce on most everything he eats. HE has lost 51 lbs to my 25 so maybe there is something to be said for sweating while you eat!

   Comment by Kellie — March 29, 2007 @ 6:52 am

Glug, glug, glug... (Missy)

Ahhhh!

For the first time since I started dieting, I just drank the last drop of 64 oz of water for the day!  Why is this so hard to do?  For weeks now, my skin has been dry and itchy, fatigue and forgetfullness have reigned and my mid-section has been bloated.

Duh?

I am on South Beach (maybe more like “my idea of what South Beach is”) and the amount of protein in my diet MUST be supplemented by drinking the correct amount of fluids or I WILL get dehydrated.

I like water, but I have never drank much of any fluids.  I just don’t seem to ever “feel” thirsty.  Am I the only one with this problem?  What can I do to help me remember to drink my water?teen movie hotillegal porn moviesgadget inspector moviemovies interacial samplemovies gay interracial sexmovies japanese girlkama movie the sutramovie kinky bootsMap

« Breaking News!!   In with the good »

1. Missy…I too have a hard time getting in my water. I play little games with myself like drink at every traffic light kind of thing. Lame, but hey it works.

   Comment by Kellie — March 28, 2007 @ 7:39 pm

2. Brandi drinks water like a camel. I think she started doing it when she got preggie with our firstborn, Nathan.

   I drink a lot more frequently then I used to. I found that drinking good, filtered water is way more yummy than tap water.

   I wish Coca Cola counted as water.

   Comment by Bird — March 28, 2007 @ 8:13 pm

3. There are lots of different strategies. One is buy a BIG jug - like in the summer aisle at Wal Mart - fill that up in the morning and then fill your little cup from it all day til it’s gone. Me, I’m a big cup kinda girl. I use 20oz cups and drink the whole thing at one pass. So I just have to drink four to six of those and I’m good for the day. Plus, we keep flats of 20oz bottles of water (from Sams) in the back of the van. It’s cheaper than buying them when we’re out, after all. And I just guzzle one or two of those depending on how long I’m out.

   Someone on here was keeping a cup on the bathroom sink and drinking a cupful every time they went to the potty.

   Comment by blestwithsons — March 28, 2007 @ 8:18 pm

4. Drinking alot has never been a problem for me. It just used to be Diet Coke and now it’s water. I do find that cold water is better tasting, though I know some say it is hard on the body. (When I am really hot after a workout, I do drink it room temperature, though)

   Another benefit, if you haven’t thought of it, is if you are eating the correct amount of fiber a day, you really need to drink a lot of water or you are making things…well, harder on yourself.

   That was probably no help at all to your problem. The cup in the bathroom idea sounds good to me. And taking a bottle/cup of water with you everywhere you go, even if it’s only to the living room 

   Comment by lady laura — March 28, 2007 @ 8:40 pm

5. I keep a pint glass of water on my desk and keep drinking throughout the day. I almost don’t notice I’m doing it. But I do notice the difference, my skin is so much softer than it was before I started drinking more.

   Comment by Bekki — March 29, 2007 @ 1:21 am

6. Thanks for the support and ideas. Yesterday I committed to it by drinking a half-liter bottle of water every 3.5 hours. I feel wonderful this morning! I guess I could set the timer on my cell phone and continue this?

   Does anyone know if I can count the water I make my morning tea with?

   Comment by Missy — March 29, 2007 @ 5:52 am

7. Tea and coffee act as diuretics, so probably not. Somebody was discussing this just the other day.

   Comment by Bekki — March 29, 2007 @ 7:55 am

8. Found it, on the Checklist post.

   Comment by Bekki — March 29, 2007 @ 7:56 am

9. Oh, missed that. Thanks, Bekki!

   Comment by Missy — March 29, 2007 @ 8:27 am

Breaking News!! (Blest)

This just in…

OWOA Goes Co-Ed!

Yes my friends….it’s official! Bird and his lovely wife Brandi are joining the team here at One Weigh or Another! I’m so excited! Bird is coming on as a man on a mission.  He and I are going to start recruiting more men to join here with a view towards eventually splitting off a “brother site” to this one. Cool, huh?!

Now although this does necessarily change the dynamic here slightly, we can still have our Girls Only moments if we need them.  I will be emailing all female members of the site a special Ladies’ Password.  If you need to write something that you don’t feel is suitable for male eyes, then password protect it with the password I’m sending and all is well! 

And lest anyone worry, our future OWOA weekend retreat is still, of course, for women only.  Bird and his fat-busting dudes can have their own party! 

So everyone….let’s welcome Bird and Brandi!!

 

« Choose your words!   Glug, glug, glug… »

1. Welcome, welcome dear friends. We are so glad to have you!

   Comment by Kellie — March 28, 2007 @ 12:30 pm

2. Welcome to you both! I’ve already enjoyed you guys so much.

   I have taken a “leave him alone” approach to my hubby, and he really doesn’t have much to lose; but I would be so excited if he was doing this with me I’m gonna mention it to him that ya’ll are in it together!

   Comment by Missy — March 28, 2007 @ 1:52 pm

3. Welcome Bird and Brandi! Glad to have you on board!

   Comment by Bethany — March 28, 2007 @ 1:52 pm

4. Tread lightly, Missy! I saw a woman mention on another site that she accidentally blurted something about her husband getting “man-boobs”  … Last I heard, he still wasn’t really speaking to her! 

   Comment by blestwithsons — March 28, 2007 @ 1:56 pm

5. *snort*

   That wasn’t very nice!!! I don’t blame him…:P

   Comment by Bethany — March 28, 2007 @ 1:58 pm

6. Welcome, Bird and Brandi! Looking forward to seeing more of you, or less as it were 

   Comment by lady laura — March 28, 2007 @ 2:31 pm

7. Welcome! It’s great to hear that you are official members!

   Comment by Cristina — March 28, 2007 @ 2:53 pm

8. Thanks for the warm welcomes. We’ll to an introductory post later. 

   Comment by Bird — March 28, 2007 @ 4:47 pm

9. It’s okay Blest, my hubby could pro’ly quit sodas for 2 weeks and lose all his excess! I just thought it’d be fun.

   Comment by Missy — March 28, 2007 @ 4:57 pm

10. Wahay! Welcome Bird and Brandi!

    Comment by Bekki — March 29, 2007 @ 1:23 am

11. WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME

    Comment by Sarah — March 29, 2007 @ 3:03 pm

Choose your words! (Blest)

Over on Traineo, Podfitness has been posting excerpts from the book The Celebrity Edgewhich you get free if you sign up for the challenge, by the way.  Today’s list of tips had one that I particularly liked:

Find A Positive Word. Choose your word, incorporate it into life, and use that word on a daily basis. Choose a word like ’sacrifice’, that will have a positive influence on you and help you reach your goal. Look it up in a dictionary, then apply that word to your life and how it is going to make you a better person and help you move towards your goals. Use that word on a daily basis. Tell people, “You know what? Today, I’m sacrificing this to help me reach my goals.” Focus on one word a week and before you know it, in two months, you’ll have eight positive words that you’ve incorporated into your lifestyle. That’s not only going to help you reach your goals, but it’s also going to make you a better person.

I was thinking about the phrase “I can’t…”  As in “I can’t eat that”.  That seems to me like a prime place to practice positive parlance!!  For example, how about “I’m choosing not to eat unhealthy foods”  Or to use the example above, “I’m sacrificing desserts towards my goal of being healthy”.  Or even “I’m not eating that” sounds better than “I can’t”. “I’m not” says you’re in charge. “I can’t” implies something else is forcing you.  I know that’s what I say every Sunday to the youth that chase me around the church campus trying to get me to eat donuts.  (really - those kids are EVERYWHERE)  “I’m NOT eating THAT!!” and I laugh while I say it. (They laugh too, by the way)

What other positive words changes can you think of?   

 

« :-(   Breaking News!! »

1. Girl, I am so with you on the donuts. They ARE everywhere, they even store them in the nursery sometimes. EVIL…they must be stopped!

   Comment by Kellie — March 28, 2007 @ 9:41 am

2. What a great thing to think about and practice.
   Instead of “can’t” we could also incorporate “won’t”. “Won’t places the power in our hands.

   Comment by Tami — March 28, 2007 @ 10:20 am

3. My mother is the queen of “I can’t”. I’m choosing to change my lifestyle! Sometimes I say stuff like, I’d rather spend my calories on better quality chocolate.

   Comment by Anita — March 28, 2007 @ 10:24 am

4. “will” — as in, “I will…”

   Comment by anne — March 28, 2007 @ 11:07 am

5. I don’t think I ever told you, Blest, but when I first read about your weight-loss journey on your other blog, I was struck by your description of your vacation an that you didn’t end up eating dessert. I remember you said something like, “it’s my choice, right?” Most people can’t imagine that type of discipline, but when you see it in light of a choice for a bigger payoff (losing weight,) it makes sense and the negative connotation is gone.

   My word: freeing
   instead of “I can’t have those desserts,” “It’s so freeing that I don’t feel like I need those desserts since I have changed my eating.”

   This is so true, BTW, I still want them and know they taste yummy, but I don’t crave them anymore. How freeing! 

   Comment by Brandi — March 28, 2007 @ 1:27 pm

:-( (Bekki)

It’s mid-afternoon and I’m tired and hungry. It’s just about time for my afternoon snack and I look in my bag to find the little bag of nuts I carefully counted out this morning and it’s nowhere to be found. Grr. It’s not been a good day, all told. No particular reasons, I’ve just been tired and grumpy all day. I suspect hormones.

Ah well, nothing to be done but drink lots of water and wait until I get home and cook yummy food.

Memo to self - put emergency supplies of nuts in your desk drawer.

« Birthday Girls!!   Choose your words! »

1. Bummer! Hope tomorrow is better.

   Comment by Anita — March 28, 2007 @ 10:25 am

2. I’m proud of you for not using this as an excuse to hit the snack machines!! You go Girl!! I hope your dinner is/was extra fab!

   Comment by blestwithsons — March 28, 2007 @ 1:45 pm

3. There’s a tin full of biscuits (cookies) on the other side of the office and I didn’t even think about looking in it. Dinner was fab, thanks. Lentil bake with lots of veggies.

   Comment by Bekki — March 29, 2007 @ 1:34 am

Birthday Girls!! (Blest)

We almost missed it!!!! Almost but not quite!

Happy Birthday LadyLaura!!!

And a belated

Happy Birthday Mandi!!

while we’re at it!

« CheckList…   :-( »

1. Happy Birthday to you!
   Happy Birthday to you!
   You look like a….er, wait sorry,
   Happy Birthday dear ladies!
   Happy Birthday to you! 

   Comment by Bethany — March 28, 2007 @ 4:00 am

2. Happy Birthday ladies!!

   Comment by Tami — March 28, 2007 @ 4:51 am

3. Happy Birthday to both of you!

   Comment by Cristina — March 28, 2007 @ 7:14 am

4. May all your dreams come true (only the good ones, not the nightmares!)

   Comment by Missy — March 28, 2007 @ 7:50 am

5. Thanks, girls!

   Comment by lady laura — March 28, 2007 @ 10:51 am

6. Happy birthday, ladies!

   Comment by Brandi — March 28, 2007 @ 1:29 pm

7. Happy birthday!

   Comment by Jana — March 28, 2007 @ 1:57 pm

Checklist... (Blest)

Don’t think you’re losing fast enough?  Well, first of all, check your expectations.  1 to 2 pounds a week, although it feels painfully slow, is a very good rate of progress for your weight loss journey.  Second, take into account the wild ways of water. (nuff said)  But other than that…. take a moment to make sure you are doing everything you can do to transform your body into a lean, mean, fat burning machine!

1.  EAT BREAKFAST within an hour of getting up.

 By waiting until lunch to eat, your body will assume you are fasting, since it may have been 12 or more hours since you last ate. Fasting causes you to conserve energy and slow your metabolism. Weight loss with a slowed metabolism is a steep uphill battle. ~Catherine Gorman, RD, LD, BAAC Nutrition Program Director

2. WORKOUT in the morning if at all possible.  Getting a good workout in the morning boosts your metabolism for the entire day.  What constitutes a good workout?  Go read this post where I quote heavily from trainer Bob Greene. 

3. Eat every few hours!  Now I know we aren’t all on South Beach. But South Beach has a rule that I think is applicable to anyone.  Eating three meals and two snacks every day is MANDATORY.  Eating frequently keeps your engine burning!  Plus it keeps you from getting so hungry that you stuff yourself at your next mealtime.  The snacks don’t need to be big - a small serving of nuts. Or an apple and a glass of milk. Or a few reduced fat Triscuits and some hummus… Whatever.  Just eat!

4. Drink Water  We’ve gone over this one several times.  Water flushes impurities, helps your metabolism, makes your skin look oh-so-pretty, helps your muscles function and repair, helps fill you up, and is just generally awesome!  Drink some - RIGHT NOW! Then drink some more…

5. Don’t Eat Before Bed  I’m not going to go look for the book right now, but I remember reading in Bob Greene’s book that eating before bed does something to your metabolism to ramp it down.  If you don’t eat for 2-3 hrs before bed, you burn calories all night long.  COOL!! 

6. Get those fruits and veggies  You know they’re good for you. Just do it!

7. Avoid Fast Food like the plague. Soda too.  Nuff said.

8. Have a plan. Don’t go out without healthy snacks.  Don’t go out to eat without strategizing your order beforehand.

9. Read this website…constantly!      Okay…that’s all  I can think of…anyone got anymore?

« Home again   Birthday Girls!! »

1. Ok, this may be a stupid question, but since stuff like coffee and tea is 99 percent water, does that count as “drinking water”?

   If not, why not?

   Comment by Bird — March 27, 2007 @ 4:53 pm

2. Nope, they don’t quite count. Caffeine acts as a mild diuretic. So actually, if you’re a big coffee drinker - like me - you need to drink more water to make up for it. I can feel this in the afternoon after I drink all my coffee… I get REALLY dry. On the up side, caffeine does have good effects on your metabolism, so you don’t need to give it up unless you’re suffering ill effects.

   Comment by blestwithsons — March 27, 2007 @ 5:04 pm

3. Got it. Thanks.

   Comment by Bird — March 27, 2007 @ 5:35 pm

4. Thanks for the tips! I wish I could exercise in the am…what do your kids do while you exercise?

   Comment by Brandi — March 27, 2007 @ 6:00 pm

5. Run wild… 

   My machines - bike and treadmill - are both in the Master Bedroom which is downstairs off the living areas. I babygate the door so I can still see and be seen. In the beginning I let them watch movies…now they’re used to the routine, so I don’t. Well, sometimes I let them do Tae Bo while I do my stuff. They LOVE Tae Bo. They also listen to some of their favorite cds. I’ve got my iPod on - so their stuff doesn’t interfere with mine. (I can still hear them if they need me, of course)

   Now that it’s warm, they also like to run around in the backyard and peep at me through the bedroom window. They are usually pretty encouraging! “Go Mom! Peddle faster!!”

   Comment by blestwithsons — March 27, 2007 @ 6:42 pm

6. I’ve been lurking for a little while now, and enjoying yall’s interactions.

   So, this question is a off topic from this post, but something I’ve been wondering, do any of your team members have PCOS?

   Comment by amanda — March 27, 2007 @ 6:43 pm

7. Hi Amanda!! Yes, I know we have at least one lady with PCOS.

   Comment by blestwithsons — March 27, 2007 @ 6:47 pm

8. Hi Amanda!!! So glad you’ve been hanging around! I had no idea!!

   OWOA ladies, Amanda is one really, really cool friend of mine!! She’s even helping me with a school project for my daughter!! Of course, Blest is too! Thanks you guys!

   Comment by Bethany — March 27, 2007 @ 6:50 pm

9. Okay, I have a question about the snacking between meals. First, I do it because if I don’t I make bad meal choices (eat too much). But, I could swear that I have read a couple of different places that not letting the digestive system rest between meals is bad for you long term. Specifically, the bowels. However, I cannot find original sources for it.

   Has anyone else heard that/know if there is any truth to it?

   Comment by lady laura — March 27, 2007 @ 8:43 pm

10. I have PCOS, Hypo-thyroid, and wacky hormones, hence, no children.

    Comment by Anita — March 27, 2007 @ 9:40 pm

11. Please tell me. What is PCOS?

    Comment by Elly — March 28, 2007 @ 8:24 am

12. Poly-cystic Ovary Syndrom. Little cysts form around the ovaries making ovulation sporatic. Some side effects include weight gain and irregular menstration.

    Comment by Anita — March 28, 2007 @ 10:27 am

13. Is there a medical test for this? Or is the diagnosis based on symptoms?

    Comment by Brandi — March 28, 2007 @ 5:59 pm

14. Yes, I have PCOS, and hypothyroid. 3 living children, ages 13, 10, and 3. all conceived with help though. I have conceived without help, but never carried past a few weeks.

    PCOS is actually an endocrine condition. In many women, there is a family history of type 2 diabetes as well. The ovaries are a sign of PCOS, not definitive though. They used to say that the ovaries were the problem, but instead they are the result.

    I could write a book about this… but the books have been written. Dr. Samuel Thatcher wrote a very good one.

    I will say that diet and exercise are completely necessary to be able to lose weight with PCOS. I tend to do better with Metformin as well, since I have hyperinsulinemia as well (too much insulin).

    Love your tips Blest, though I will have to keep breaking the breakfast one. For best absorption of my thyroid replacement hormone, I have to wait at least an hour after taking it to eat (and not eat 2 hours prior, if I am remembering this correctly). Since I don’t eat overnight, I take the pill when I brush my teeth - first thing in the morning, then wait an hour to eat.

    Comment by Tracy — March 28, 2007 @ 7:40 pm

15. I have PCOS as well.

    4 living children all conceived with help.

    Comment by Christy L. — March 28, 2007 @ 11:17 pm

16. Thank yall so much for answering my PCOS question even though it was off topic.

    I have PCOS too–hence the asking. 

    After losing 60 pounds two years ago, I stopped taking Met (a diabetic med for insulin sensitivity) and for about 6 months was ok–regular monthly “lady’s days” and no weight gain. Then, seemingly overnight with very little change to diet and exercise–I put back on 30 pounds and quit having “Lady’s Days” altogether.

    So, for the last year, I’ve kinda lived with my head in the sand pretending all my hard work two years ago wasn’t wasted and that I didn’t really gain back anything and my next “lady’s days” were just around the corner. DENIAL.

    But, my denial had to be slaughtered when I brought out my spring clothes and, uh, maybe only 25% of them fit (tightly). I can’t go out and buy new clothes (I live in tiny-little-Asian-ville where an 8 is XXL), so I am responding to the wake-up call cuz by golly wearing clothing aint a choice.

    Don’t know why I am pouring out this story here, but I need to tell someone and get it off my chest.

    Thank you for letting me stick this out there somewhere.

    Comment by amanda — March 29, 2007 @ 7:53 am

17. No sodas?

    Not even diet sodas?

    I’ll die!! Please let me know if you were serious.

    I needs my diet coke (does it help if I’m not a big coffee drinker? What if I bribe you? Let me know)

    Comment by Bill — March 30, 2007 @ 10:46 am

18. Diet Coke Addicts are SCARY. 

    I’m not a huge fan of diet sodas, myself. Nutrasweet is bad for your brain, and diet sodas keep your taste buds accustomed to super-sweet stuff. But hey -I don’t want you to die!!! 

    Just make sure you’re getting your water, dude!

    Comment by blestwithsons — March 30, 2007 @ 10:50 am

19. Hey, Bill, No soda is “good,” but Splenda is considered much safer than Nutrasweet by most people. Bird and I like Pepsi One okay.

    Comment by Brandi — March 30, 2007 @ 11:40 am

Cause for Concern (Lady Laura)

I just read something that has given me serious pause about going to a meet-up with some of you:

“Because asparagus causes most people to produce methanethiol (an essence similar toskunk spray), you may notice a peculiar odor in your urine after eating it. Not everyone can detect this smell, but if you can, don’t worry. It’s absolutely harmless.” (emphasis mine)

I have a very, very good sense of smell! I think it’s one of my spiritual gifts.  Even if you can’t smell it yourself, I probably can.

Can I handle a week-end with a bunch of stinkos? I just don’t know….

« The Last 12 Weeks   Home again »

1. Oh I can totally smell it. But you know…unless you plan on going to the potty with us, or you think we’re all going to be marking our territory around the compound…we should be okay.   

   Comment by blestwithsons — March 27, 2007 @ 6:55 am

2. I have a KEEN sense of smell too but haven’t noticed! I will have to be more aware in the future!

   Comment by Brandi — March 27, 2007 @ 2:51 pm

3. Well, I just stay far, far away from asparagus myself. I prefer the superior vegetable of Brussels sprouts! 

   (I don’t really dislike asparagus, I just can’t get too excited about it…)

   Comment by Bethany — March 27, 2007 @ 2:58 pm

Home again (Tami)

Hi all! I just wanted to thank everyone for there prayers.  Emma and I are home again and things are starting to get back into swing.  We were released this afternoon.  I thank the Lord continually for her wonderful doctor also. 

Blest, if you don’t mind, I’ll weigh in tomorrow that way it’ll be in the AM.  I did get in my 5 a day all week.  I am WAY concerned about weighing in however.  Hospital food just is not too condusive to a diet.  At times I was practically starving due to not getting anything edible and at other moments I just caved in and ate whatever Jeff brought me. 

Anyhoots, I am soooo tired and needing to get things done.  See y’all in the morning.

« Cause for Concern   CheckList… »

1. I’m so glad you are back home. How awful to have your baby in the hospital. I spent three days with my baby in the hospital in December…ugh!

   Hope Emma continues to get better!! You guys take care.

   Comment by Bethany — March 27, 2007 @ 4:05 pm

2. YAY! You’re back! That is one nasty bug…I think it’s been ravaging the entire East Coast. I’m so glad your little one is better! Get some rest and don’t sweat your weigh-in.

   Comment by blestwithsons — March 27, 2007 @ 4:12 pm

3. Glad to hear that you all are back home and feeling better!

   Comment by Cristina — March 27, 2007 @ 6:45 pm