You didn't hijack the thread! Besides, it was an interesting discussion. Are you icing your knee (as you should be?)?

Diet's going fine, I'm in a bit of a stall again, but that's normal for me -- stall, drop weight, stall, drop weight. I was swinging a 25 pound kettle bell for the first time -- progress! Warm weather today, so hope to get a bike ride in.

You didn't need to start another thread but since you did I'll respond here.

I am finally below that 3 pounds that keeps bouncing back. But that's it, there hasn't been any real weight loss and I say that to set-up the next statements.

I told my sister that a friend, my new bff need I add?, mentioned it looked like I've lost weight. My sister, my favorite sister need I add?, said yeah, I was thinking you looked thinner too.

Really, 3 pounds makes a noticeable difference?

I can't let this go to my head, and hips and thighs, so I will parlay these comments into determination to get well beyond the 3 pound bounce.

Still going to the gym, but the scale is still missing.
Just downloaded new tunes and my 45 minutes on the spin bike felt like 10.

I'd like to try yoga, but the only beginner class given at my gym are on the days I can't possibly be there. Maybe I'll buy a DVD for days I can't get to the gym.
Any recommendations?

It's supposed to be 66 degrees here tomorrow, going to skip the gym, dust off my jog stroller and get outside for a good long walk. Looking forward to it.

I use a yoga DVD called Weight Loss Yoga for Dummies and the instructor is Chris Freytag. A friend of mine who is a yoga instructor recommended it to DH after she did a personal class for him and his friend. He raved and raved about it so after watching him go through the 35 minute routine I decided I would give it a try and have been hooked on it ever since. It's faster paced with more movement so you can get your heart rate up a bit. I always thought yoga was more slow and holding poses but I now understand there are all kinds of different variations.

DH has been doing it almost every day for almost a year and I'm amazed how buff he's gotten - more so than when he used to go to the gym and lift weights all the time. He also has no more neck or back pain which is a big plus. I'm hoping if I keep it up I'll get buff too. I do think the core work helps with posture which makes you look better even if nothing else has changed.

Thanks Gibby! I will google it right now!

I'm continuing to hold my own. I had been 1 lb under my goal then up 1.6 but now I'm back down the .6 to my goal. I do much better when DH is out of town - easier to stick to my rigorous tracking of everything I eat plus no eating out. I was at the grocery store tonight getting some bread sliced at the bakery counter - where they had all kinds of gourmet desserts. I was practically drooling right onto the containers. I LOVE that stuff - I could eat a whole dessert in one evening. In fact one of the last "incidents" before the new healthier me in 2012 had to do with a french silk pie I bought for Christmas eve - kind of a tradition. Well I guess DH doesn't really like them any more so I ended up eating all but about 1/8th of the pie - in about 24 hours. Loved it but how disgusting is that. I did walk away without buying any dessert tonight. I will treat myself to a chewy chocolate calcium supplement instead.....

I'm kind of detail oriented by nature and now I feel like I've taken that to a new level with weighing my food! I never did much of that in the past but with a lot of things that's what you have to do to tell how many portions you're really eating. It's kind of interesting - how much a portion is (and what I eat now) vs. how much I ate in the past. I've said it before and I'll say it again - unless you're an exercise maniac you just can't eat much and even maintain your weight let alone lose any.

On the activity front I have had major problems with my leg. I think I mentioned before that I'm an above knee amputee and it's the prosthetic leg that's the problem. It's nine years old and everything is going to he!!. I got a new foot not too long ago but now my computerized knee is shot. It kind of works but needs to be replaced. The worst problem though is that it's custom fit to me and since I've lost the 8 lbs it's too big; i.e. falling off!! I started having that problem last summer but dropping the additional pounds has pushed it over the edge. They tried to temporarily fix that and made matters worse to the point I could barely walk - yikes!! I have come up with a reasonable temporary work around but now working feverishly to get a new prosthetic leg approved by my insurance company and constructed by my prosthetist. So the weather is starting to get a little warmer and I simply can't walk any where - which I hate. Oh well, happy I can just walk around the house and the office and that I have insurance that will cover most of the cost of the new leg.

I'm not sure what's worse - knee problems with real legs or artificial legs. I kind of feel like it's easier to fix my knee problem - just buy a new one (easier as long as you have insurance coverage for such things).

Wow Gibby, I did not know you were an amputee. Good luck with the new leg when you get it. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be for you for it to be wearing out and rendered useless. Something as simple as walking most people take for granted, myself included, when I look at your perspective, it makes me appreciate my knee (albeit prosthetic) all the more.

I've had years of knee problems, and actually have had a knee replacement. It has been so stiff lately, as to why I'd like to try yoga. My knee was replaced for different reasons than arthritis at age 30, doc warned me it will need to be done again, and I think my active lifestye and a career on my feet are wearing it out sooner than I expected. I need to back off a bit.
Thanks for the tip on the yoga video, I ordered it. Can't wait to start.

Polly you work in Peds don't you? My amputation was related to Ewing's Sarcoma - you might be familiar with that. The good thing about the yoga DVD is that you can easily adjust how much you push yourself - more or less - depending upon your ability or limitations. And it continues to be a good workout even after you've done it for awhile because you can gradually push yourself to work a little harder. Hopefully you'll like it. DH and I have recommended it to a lot of people and most of them like it.

Yes, I am very familiar with Ewing's Sarcoma. It is wonderful to be able to talk to a survivor. The young girl I shared a room with postoperatively was also an amputee due to Ewing's Sarcoma. I had a Giant Cell bone tumor and was treated at Sloan-Kettering in NYC many years ago, and the reconstruction eventually fell apart which led to my knee replacement. After that experience, there is not a day that goes by that I am not grateful for even the little things. It can all change in a second and you never know when.
And the health check-in ventures way OT again!!

BTW-Kellyeng- good luck with your juicing, I didn't chime in on the other thread, b/c I am not familiar with it at all.

hh, once again I am LOL over your comments.

I, too, have lost 3 pounds. No, wait, I have lost 3-1/2 pounds. I have to say that because I have been losing and gaining the same 3 lbs. for months. Literally. Maybe even a year. It's ridiculous. So I feel like the 1/2 lb. I lost this week is a big breakthrough and maybe it means I can actually lose... 4 lbs.! maybe even 5! My goal is to lose 10-15.

This week I have varied the exercise. On Mon., I went to the gym and did 45 min. on the treadmill, then some weights. On Wed., went to a kick-a$$ Zumba class. Today, surprised I could actually still get out of bed, I went for a one-hour walk with my neighbor. Tomorrow I'm planning to do a quick 1/2 hour exercise program that I have saved on my DVR before I have to get to a morning meeting. I've also been counting WW points fairly religiously.

The one thing I notice about the relatively small weight loss is that my pants fit better. Now I want to get to the point where they're too big! Eventually...

You girls are doing great!

Gibby, I know just what you mean about the surprises when you measure food. That is one thing that Weight Watchers has helped with that a lot. Good luck with your new prosthetic! I would imagine after 9 years you are due.

This week has been a little challenging so far. I went to my good exercise class on Monday, but have missed every other day. DD and I are heading to Florida Sunday and somehow I kind of forgot. I needed a few things, so shopping got in the way... We realized we will need someone to take Oscar out while I'm away and I'm meeting the dog walkers tomorrow. I am planning on some super long beach walks to make up for it.

So yesterday, DS texts me (at 1 PM) that he would love it if "we" could bring an International food to the Rec Center for extra credit in Spanish. So I rushed home and threw together a Spanish Rice Pudding recipe. He brought it to the event, and there was a whole bunch left. Guess who ate it all this afternoon? UGH...probably 25 WW points worth. For dinner I had some Hungry Girl Fettuccini. Have you guys tried the Shirataki noodles? They're tofu noodles, super low calories and no carbs (I think). We have used them in Asian chicken salads, with some different braised pork recipes.

Anyway, I'll do the best I can in Florida. Luckily, I will be doing most of the cooking, so I can control that.

Babysteps!

Beth P.