THE RACE ON THE LOOSE CABOOSE

[crickadoodle]

Congrats, Linda!

Kathie, you are doing great -- so don't be too hard on yourself.  You look great just like you are and as for any more weight loss, your body will know what it needs to shed.  Imagine if all the weight you lost was back on you today -- now look in the mirror and realize that it is not and you have been so successful!!  REJOICE in that.  Shout for joy that you have been set free from the weight that hindered you in the past.  We are proud of you and so thankful you found LDL too.

Wendy, I think that I am happiest cooking for myself now.  I really know what is in the dish.  They use things that we would not cook with at restaurants, so we are always in danger of gaining, I guess, when we eat out. 

Well, just remember that maintaining is better than gaining.  You feel healthier and you are making wiser choices.  Nothing tastes as good as LDL food -- plus you feel so much better!  You have found the best way to eat and that weight is going to come off.  If you haven't begun strength training I would encourage everyone to find some dumb bells and start building some muscle.  It will increase your metabolism.  I follow a plan in a book I bought a few years ago called The Cardio Free Diet. I don't follow the diet part, but do follow the weight bearing exercises with dumb bells.  It is good for your bones too when you increase your muscle mass.  The only long term way to increase your metabolism is to build muscle.  Our metabolism decreases at the same rate that we lose muscle mass -- 5-10% per decade.  Men have more muscle mass and lose weight much faster than women because of it.  I realize now that it isn't a magical mystery -- this is why.  Also, in the short term, if you do your cardio exercise, like walking, early in your day, you rev up your calorie burning throughout the day.  I try to take my walk before I eat breakfast.  I read that this is the best way to burn calories all day long.  Your metabolism and muscle mass don't have to decrease 5 - 10% a decade.  You can slow it down incredibly -- even reverse it.  Seeing my mom and how little muscle mass she has has convinced me to do something about it now, before I'm in that kind of shape.  I even give her some light weight dumb bells to lift to try to reverse it  some for her.  It is never too late!

[Bethann]

This is interesting! Thanks, Crickadoodle! 
I have been told by the Chiropractor that if I did strength training it would make a big difference for me and I would have less pain in my body. It seems to me so difficult but I am going to try anyway (with prayer).

[crickadoodle]

Beth Ann -- Take it slow and then start adding weight as it gets easier.  My 84 yr. old mom can do it with little 3 lb. weights. She doesn't do a lot, but she can do it.  I also have some ankle weights and wrist weights for her that you can add these weights to to make various weights.  You can even start with cans of food that are under a lb.  Just get started.

A funny thing happened the other day.  My husband is of course stronger than I am, but I am doing exercise and he just goes to work and does his regular things.  Oh, he did start doing push ups a few months ago, and that is a start.  He saw something about an exercise that you should do to strengthen your lower back.  You lie face down in a prone position and lift yourself up on your elbows and toes, basically -- clasping your hands and just staying in that position for 2 minutes. (I used to go to a chiropractor for lower back problems.)  He was like, "You need to do this.  It is really hard and you won't be able to hold it."  Well, you know where this is going.  He timed me and I held the position for 2 min. and could have stayed there longer.  Then he had to have me time him and I think he lasted a minute!    I think he realized that all my effort is paying off.  I really was a weakling and can't profess to be very strong, still, but I have made great strides. 

[Karen Weeks]

Well so much happening with sister I forgot it is weigh in day.  I did weigh and I think it said 152.4  hugs Karen

[barrypaxton]

Was out of town this AM in a motel. No scales. Will weigh in tomorrow morning.

Ollie

[barrypaxton]

Down another lb. YaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHoooooooooo!!

Ollie (who is pushing the 140's)

[witheraway1]

11 lbs. is such a little bit. That is really doable . what a good feeling you must have. Won't be long until you will be at goal, another success story.

[cuzican]

What great losses....Its inspiring....

Barb

[Wolfmother]

Hello everyone
I have been missing for awhile and way off program.  I know I need to get back on and will be spending tomorrow cooking up a storm to get enough good food around that i will not be tempted to just order in or pick up garbage.

[wendysgoodnews]

It has been awhile since we heard from you.  Glad you are getting back on board  with LDL, you already know how good you will feel once you get on track. 
Welcome back on train to skinny town!  Just remember how easy it is once you get rid of all those cravings.

[Bethann]

Thinking of you Wolfmother  and glad to hear you are coming back on....
Take Care!
Beth(Ann)

[LINDA RN]

Checking in this morning with a 1 pound loss at 179. Whoo Hoo!  FINALLY made it to the 170's

[Wolfmother]

I am up 1.5 to 245.5 but hoping now that I am getting back into the swing of things I will be going down.

[witheraway1]

Checking in with the same. Good for me because I had company all week-end, cooked and did not gain. Used to be anytime I had company I would gain.

Linda, looks like you are on your way again. You will get there!

[barrypaxton]

I maintained this week.

Ollie

[wendysgoodnews]

I am maintaining this week again.  I was glad for the maintain since I was up and down all week

[LINDA RN]

Maintained this week at 179. Feet still a little swollen.

[barrypaxton]

I'm down another lb.

Ollie

[witheraway1]

I AM THE SAME AGAIN, WORKING ON NEXT WEEK!

[bingo]

I haven`t been moving,,,maintaining...I need to figure out Why I`m not going down !