Our Accountablity

Mandi

9:20pm and Mandi is AWOL. She's supposed to do her confessional tonight and weigh-in tomorrow. ~sigh~:toetap05:
In other news, I did 32 min of high impact aerobics this morning and another 18 min tonight. I also did squats and arm curls. I think that's all I can manage while on this Nyquil. Squats hurt btw if you go all the way down like I did.
Annette
 
Dizzle and Mandi's Confessionals

It's late, I just got done editing and uploading the last two confessionals of the week after Mandi finally came home-

Dizzle's Confessional- Dizzle tells us what he's been doing to win and how confident he is.

Mandi's Confessional- Mandi tells us how confident she is that she'll lose the most at tomorrows weigh-in and what she's been doing to beat the others.

Tomorrow is the second weigh-in. Weigh-in video will be up by 3pm eastern tomorrow as well.
Annette
 
Weigh in and YMCA

So if you saw the weigh in you know why I'm excited. :hurray:
We are headed out to the Y because we got out memberships for almost half off due to a special deal going on. My goal is to do some machines to focus on my abs and to do 6 miles on the treadmill walking and running small portions at high levels. I'm really excited at what I've achieved so far but would like to see double digits next week. :D
Regarding diet, mom called her doctor today and she said that the calories we are eating at good because our portions are still enough for us, that we're just making a conscious effort to eat more healthy foods. She's going to call again tomorrow with more info.
Hope you all got a chance to see the weigh in, if not check us out on youtube channel biggest loser contest.

Lynn
 
So if you saw the weigh in you know why I'm excited. :hurray:
We are headed out to the Y because we got out memberships for almost half off due to a special deal going on. My goal is to do some machines to focus on my abs and to do 6 miles on the treadmill walking and running small portions at high levels. I'm really excited at what I've achieved so far but would like to see double digits next week. :D
Regarding diet, mom called her doctor today and she said that the calories we are eating at good because our portions are still enough for us, that we're just making a conscious effort to eat more healthy foods. She's going to call again tomorrow with more info.
Hope you all got a chance to see the weigh in, if not check us out on youtube channel biggest loser contest.

Lynn
Actually, she said at least 1000 calories per day. I told the nurse what people here at the forum and some other forums are saying and even gave her a link to a calculator that showed over 2000 calories per day. She's going to have the dr call me to discuss this tomorrow in more detail.
Annette
 
Motivated

I'm a perfectionist. I'm used to giving 300% and usually winning. Today was happy and sad for me all in one. I see my daughters losing weight and it makes me happy, especially since I'm scared that Lynn will get sick like me. At the same time though, I'm sad because I really thought that I would lose more than I did, at least coming in second instead of third.
I really watched everything I ate last week, and I worked so hard I was sore all week long. I did take a day off exercising because of being sick though, maybe that's why I didn't lose more ~shrug~ Long story short, I'm disappointed in myself. I know I shouldn't be because 4.2lbs in one week is great.
I decided today that I would eat 1300 calories instead of 800 to see if it helps. I also got this detox stuff that Lynn had last week (but I have to wait to talk to my doctor tomorrow to make sure I can take it).
This week (starting today) we all joined the local Y and added that into our daily routine (well, at least mine). Today I worked out for 30 min of intense exercise (so much so that I was UBER sore before going to the Y), and then ran/jogged/walked a mile at an incline. I also worked out on some of the weight machines. I'm so sore now that I had to come home and take advil because I can barely move. Keep in mind, I'm still sick. I think if I felt better I could have done more.
I will go and do this again tomorrow, no matter how sore I am. I can not be in last place next week. Failure is not an option to me. Instead of my 300% I normally give, I'm pushing to 400% this week. What really bothers me is that Mandi didn't work nearly as hard as me or Lynn, yet she was second place. Not next week though. She will need to actually work this week to get second or first place. Yep.
Annette
 
Workin' Out!

I went to the YMCA this morning and did about .35 miles on the treadmill and kept switching the speeds between 2.5, 3, and 3.5 MPH to build my resistance. After that, Dizzle and I did some weight machines. I'm not sure what they are all called but we did some that focused on the abs, lower back, back of upper arms, and upper shoulder/back muscles. Oh, and we did one that simulated lunges, too. After that the child care area was closing up around 11 am, so we got the kids ready for a swim and helped them learn how to swim. We did that for about an hour and then came home for lunch. Mom got there as we were getting out of the pool.
Now that I'm done with my 6" turkey and ham sandwich from Subway, I'm headed back to do some more on the treadmill, stair stepper, and bicycle. I really want to focus on the cardio so that I can burn fat. I think we're going to swim some more too, but this time I can focus on me and doing some laps. This time next year, I know I'll be looking better in a swim suit. Who knows, maybe I'll even get a 2-piece...

:seeya:

Lynn
 
Ouch!

Yesterday I did a ton of lunges, front lunges, reverse lunges, side lunges etc, ran 1 mile, did arm curls, shoulder work, did 30 min of aerobics then went to the Y and did another mile on the treadmill and worked on some of the machines for my tummy and butt.
Because of what I did yesterday I was super sore today.... but I went to the Y again and did even MORE. I literally can barely move right now, I'm in so much pain. I did squats with 120lbs 3 sets of 10 today in addition to running 1.75 miles, 4 miles on the bike, some free weights, did something with Lynn with the weighted ball (whatever it was is supposed to work your side muscles and tummy), and finished with an hour 10 min swim. I literally have no clue how I'm going to do stuff again tomorrow, but I'm going anyway.
The good news is, today when Lynn and I were walking around the track at a good pace I had an "ah ha" moment and realized that two weeks ago I couldn't do that pace and that far without being completely out of breath, but today it was actually very relaxing instead of stressful like it used to be. You know what that means?? All this work is making stuff easier and I'm getting in shape. I can't wait for the running to be 'relaxing', right now it's not lol. I also have been getting my heart rate up to where it's either in zone 3 or 4.
My dr also didn't call today like she was supposed to, or I didn't catch the call.. not sure which, but I'm calling back on Monday. Until she does or I talk to her I've increased my calorie intake as a test to see if it helps. I am focusing more on increasing protein also because with me working out this hard I need more energy.
Ok, now I shall go pass out and try to ignore this pain.
Annette
 
Annette, there are a few things going against you in this contest that are unfortunately sort of out of your control. Our metabolisms slow down when we have been dieting, even healthily and not too extremely like you were when you lost your 20 or 30 pounds recently. So new dieters will always take off more at first. More significantly perhaps is that both men and women gain weight as they age because of hormonal changes (if you look around you that becomes more than obvious as everyone you knew in your 20's is generally a lot larger now). While you will get many people telling you its all a matter of calories in versus calories out, its really all about the speed of our metabolism -- which is governed by hormones. So yeah, you're running an uphill battle but you also sound a lot more disciplined and determined than them, which will help toward the end of your challenge when motivation starts waining. I am curious if you will lose more eating a bit more, just eating 800 calories per day and working out a lot sounds scary to be honest.
 
Motivation and weight gain...

So, today is kinda a bummer for all four of us that are competing. All of us decided to see how we are doing since we've joined the Y and have been working ourselves so hard. The results...not nice. All of us gained. Yeah, it's definitely discouraging because we've been trying so much more than we had been. We all could use some motivation at this point rather than the critiquing and telling us all of our disadvantages.
I know that everyone is trying to help by telling us what to eat and what not to eat and whatnot, but it's hard hearing that all day, every day. I just thought that every once in a while we'd at least get a, "Wow, you guys are really trying hard." or "Great job!"
On a more positive note, we're all still trying really hard. Mom, Dizzle, and I took our kids to the Y again today and the kids swam on their own(with floaties, of course). After swimming Dizzle took the kids into the basketball court and taught them how to do some free weights(only 5 lbs). While he did that, mom and I went back to the treadmill and did a mile. I was trying to get some sprints in there and was able to go from 3 mph to 6 mph for 45 seconds and again from 3 mph to 5 mph for 60 seconds. That's about all the time I had before they closed.
After the Y, we came home and I was a little pooped and behind on the DVR. I caught up a little on that and found out that Kris was the American Idol(4 days after it happened, LOL). After a little lounging around and dinner, I picked it back up again and did my fourth day of Wii Active. I was sweating like a pig! :piggy:
Well, mom is doing Wii Active now and I'm off to take Mandi to work. :auto:
Hopefully by the time I get back, mom will be done and I can do my cardio workout.

Lynn
 
I think it's great that you guys are doing this as a family. I think that helps, because if you really make this into a lifestyle change -- and not just a competition -- you guys have all this support already built in to create a good future for you.

This message is mostly for Annette, because my father went through the same thing -- he was diagnosed with pre-diabetes and had to lose the weight to get healthier again.

Annette -- unfortunately, once you have diabetes, you can't go back to the way that you were before. This is it for life. Sure, losing weight will get you off medication (if you're taking any) or at least bring your blood sugar to where it should be, but this is a permanent lifestyle change for you. Sugar, white carbohydrates, have to be a "treat" and treated in special ways.

My father lost his weight by doing something that was really innovative -- he walked after each meal and he did weight training. If you can do the same thing, I have a feeling you'll start losing weight more steadily -- although 4.6 lbs is actually a pretty big weight loss. The average weight loss should really be only 1-2 lbs -- that's considered a healthy weight loss.

The other thing that really worked for my father was eating 5 small meals a day -- it helped keep his blood sugar steady. I worry that you skip breakfast too much.

Nowadays, he's kept his weight off, and he exercises twice a day. Now that everything is "balanced" that's all he needs, but he's still eating 5 small meals.


Lynn -- I think we just want to make sure you're losing weight in a healthy way and that this is something that you do for the rest of your life, especially knowing that diabetes runs in your family. It runs in mine too and I have PCOS, which makes weight-loss just harder.

But fundamentally, it has to be something you can continue forever, because otherwise, the weight will come back. You have an incredible support system with your family doing this and your husband knowing all these awesome routines that you guys can do together. Learn up on the nutritional stuff, and you guys will be set for that healthy lifestyle change.

Good luck and I hope you reach your goal weights!
 
So, today is kinda a bummer for all four of us that are competing. All of us decided to see how we are doing since we've joined the Y and have been working ourselves so hard. The results...not nice. All of us gained. Yeah, it's definitely discouraging because we've been trying so much more than we had been. We all could use some motivation at this point rather than the critiquing and telling us all of our disadvantages.
I know that everyone is trying to help by telling us what to eat and what not to eat and whatnot, but it's hard hearing that all day, every day. I just thought that every once in a while we'd at least get a, "Wow, you guys are really trying hard." or "Great job!"
On a more positive note, we're all still trying really hard. Mom, Dizzle, and I took our kids to the Y again today and the kids swam on their own(with floaties, of course). After swimming Dizzle took the kids into the basketball court and taught them how to do some free weights(only 5 lbs). While he did that, mom and I went back to the treadmill and did a mile. I was trying to get some sprints in there and was able to go from 3 mph to 6 mph for 45 seconds and again from 3 mph to 5 mph for 60 seconds. That's about all the time I had before they closed.
After the Y, we came home and I was a little pooped and behind on the DVR. I caught up a little on that and found out that Kris was the American Idol(4 days after it happened, LOL). After a little lounging around and dinner, I picked it back up again and did my fourth day of Wii Active. I was sweating like a pig! :piggy:
Well, mom is doing Wii Active now and I'm off to take Mandi to work. :auto:
Hopefully by the time I get back, mom will be done and I can do my cardio workout.

Lynn

To be fair, dreamingblue was pretty positive just up the page :)
I know what you mean though Lynn, today has not been a good day for me at all, as you know.
I know the constant advice is well meant, but sometimes reading it over and over (here, elsewhere, and via email) gets you down. Like for instance today I read several things and started to feel like "why am I even bothering with this competition" & "everyone thinks I'm doing everything wrong, yet everyone's advice is opposing each others so why even bother". I was in a very negative frame of mind today, all day. I literally had to FORCE myself to keep in this competition and go work out each time I did.
Tomorrow is a new day though and I hope to wake up with a better outlook.
Annette
 
Lynn, if I remember correctly, didn't you lose 7lbs? That's really good and quite a lot. The weight gain can be from water retention.

Unless you guys ate thousands of calories over your limit, which I highly doubt you have, otherwise you have taken our advice to eat more calories to the extreme, LOL, then water retention is probably what it is. Don't worry too much about it.

Drink more water. And if you are drinking enough then just keep continuing what you're doing and you'll be fine. If you read many journals around here you see that many people start getting stuck or even staying the same or even gain a bit of weight. The body is SO weird. So many things going on in there. You just gotta trust it.

I had stayed the same weight for about a week and a half and it was killing me. Then finally I got over the hump, and it was awesome. I just kept doing what I had to do.

I know you're sick of hearing this, but eating more calories will NOT hurt. In fact, I bet you'll shed more pounds.
 
So, today is kinda a bummer for all four of us that are competing. All of us decided to see how we are doing since we've joined the Y and have been working ourselves so hard. The results...not nice. All of us gained. Yeah, it's definitely discouraging because we've been trying so much more than we had been. We all could use some motivation at this point rather than the critiquing and telling us all of our disadvantages.
I know that everyone is trying to help by telling us what to eat and what not to eat and whatnot, but it's hard hearing that all day, every day. I just thought that every once in a while we'd at least get a, "Wow, you guys are really trying hard." or "Great job!"
On a more positive note, we're all still trying really hard. Mom, Dizzle, and I took our kids to the Y again today and the kids swam on their own(with floaties, of course). After swimming Dizzle took the kids into the basketball court and taught them how to do some free weights(only 5 lbs). While he did that, mom and I went back to the treadmill and did a mile. I was trying to get some sprints in there and was able to go from 3 mph to 6 mph for 45 seconds and again from 3 mph to 5 mph for 60 seconds. That's about all the time I had before they closed.
After the Y, we came home and I was a little pooped and behind on the DVR. I caught up a little on that and found out that Kris was the American Idol(4 days after it happened, LOL). After a little lounging around and dinner, I picked it back up again and did my fourth day of Wii Active. I was sweating like a pig! :piggy:
Well, mom is doing Wii Active now and I'm off to take Mandi to work. :auto:
Hopefully by the time I get back, mom will be done and I can do my cardio workout.

Lynn

Did y'all recently start to weight lift at the Y? Because weight lifting temporarily causes lots of water in the muscles which can add a bunch of weight. I have a feeling that's why you all gained weight when you started at the gym. I always gain 2 pounds immediately when I start weights back at the gym again. It does suck but realize its not fat.

As far as us being discouraging, there are cheerleaders on the forum who will only cheer you on and not offer any advice as you wish. Usually if you go to other people's diaries and cheer them on they will support you the same way. So plenty of that going on if you're there people as well.

Sometimes people who have been at this and successful, or who have read a lot about the subject and have educated themselves on the body's processes and also when you've seen the hundreds of diets on this board that always crash and burn, well we try to come here and throw that knowledge at someone to save themselves learning the hard way. A reality check shouldn't be taken so negatively if you're really looking to change your weight issues for good :) (said with a smile!).

Doing great y'all! Keep up the great work! You guys are awesome! :hurray:
 
To be fair, dreamingblue was pretty positive just up the page :)
I know what you mean though Lynn, today has not been a good day for me at all, as you know.
I know the constant advice is well meant, but sometimes reading it over and over (here, elsewhere, and via email) gets you down. Like for instance today I read several things and started to feel like "why am I even bothering with this competition" & "everyone thinks I'm doing everything wrong, yet everyone's advice is opposing each others so why even bother". I was in a very negative frame of mind today, all day. I literally had to FORCE myself to keep in this competition and go work out each time I did.
Tomorrow is a new day though and I hope to wake up with a better outlook.
Annette

If you break down our advice it is just that most people are not into the extreme thing and dont believe it works, except on TV. I'm actually most impressed with the fact that you lost 20 lbs already! That shows you really know what you're doing, and whatever you were doing is what worked for you. If you kept that up you'd be at your goal weight in no time. We have seen so many people on here who get extreme and we see how quickly they get burned out. Its that black/white either/or fat/skinny binge/starve mentality that gets and keeps a lot of people fat (ya know the "only eat ice berg lettuce w/ no dressing when dieting"). Since we know you can lose weight and keep it off eating plenty, and certainly without starvation (eating 800 calories is considered that). We tried to let you know that your body may hold onto its fat if you force it. So while we seem like we may conflict, I think most of us recommend eating more whole foods, watching calories, and eating a healthy amount of food and doing a reasonable amount of exercise. It really is a never ending battle and struggle that you'll be in for life, which does make you want to give up until you realize you really dont have any other options.. And yeah, the hormones and not losing as quickly as younger people, its very discouraging but I just didn't want you to blame yourself or what you're doing. But you are clearly very determined and so slow and steady will probably ending up winning this one in the long run. You have shown from being able to even do these extreme dieting measures that you are clearly a strong willed person who can be a slim person for ever if she wants.
 
Today makes me happy. I weighed myself and am down 2lbs from yesterday. Yay!
Like I said in my other post, I KNOW that all the critiquing is well meant, it just gets to be a bit much sometimes. Keep in mind, it's not just coming from this forum either. Also it seems like it's 85% critiquing and 15% motivation. I think Lynn and I would be taking things and advice better if it were more balanced.. or you know, just ask how was our day etc :)
Another thing, you don't have to keep repeating your advice like "eat more calories" because some of us actually DO listen. I've actually increased my calorie intake since Thursday (weigh in day) as a test, also on the advice of the nurse at my dr's office (I'll be calling my dr on Monday to talk to her too about the calories etc). I've actually went up over 500 calories extra per day based on your advice here.
Lynn has went up some too the last 2 days. I think she actually went up a little more than me! She also lost some today. Dizzle and Mandi I don't think are even tracking their calories (and I know they eat more than both Lynn and I. So we do listen which means you don't have to keep repeating it. :)
We're taking the exercise more extreme now than the calories, especially Lynn- she kicked my butt yesterday in calories burnt.. but I had a bad day yesterday and was not motivated at all. Today is my butt kicking day though lol
As far as the exercise goes, I've been cleared for all of it from the dr, and I am trying to be smart about it so I don't hurt myself. I'm SUPER happy that things that would have made me out of breath and near exhaustion 2 weeks ago I can do with ease now... it makes me want to keep pushing myself :) I"ll know that I've made really good progress when I can run at a 5 or 6 for 30 minutes without having to stop and catch my breath and feeling like I'm going to die lol. I see the little skinny chicks at the gym doing that like it's totally easy for them so that's my goal :)
Annette
 
So, today was a blah day. I just feel worn out. I think that resting today was a good idea though because I should be full throttle tomorrow. I'm planning on getting up early in the morning because I have to go into town for a few errands, and then I'm coming home to exercise. I did pretty good as far as diet today, but due to feeling blah today, I haven't tracked anything in my fitday.com. Hopefully I'll be back in the swing of things tomorrow.

Lynn
 
Annette's Confessional 5/25/09

Annette's Confessional 5/25/09
Annette shares her concerns about the effects of the competition on everyone's moods as well as the changes she's seeing since starting the competition.
 
Good News!

For the first time since I was diagnosed with diabetes my blood sugar is nearly normal for the last two days :)
Yesterday morning it was 108 and 94 when I went to bed. Today when I got up it was 117! It's NEVER been that low. Normally it's around 170 when I go to sleep and wake up.
Annette
 
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