I want to work where you do! Although I wouldn't be able to stay awake all night I'm sure. LOL

Glad you're doing well - I'm in week 2 of Low Carbing it. I can tell no weight loss but I am determined to keep going. I'm really starting to feel better as I rid my body of all the junk I'm sure has built up over the last months of junk eating.

Planning is definitely key. I made 5 different recipes on Sunday and have to plan to keep at it. I need stuff to grab to eat when hungry or I'll fail for sure.

I found a good website - the Keto Queens - they don't have a ton of recipes yet but the ones I've made have all been delicious and easy! I made a blueberry cobbler that even dh who isn't following low carb at all said was really good. In fact, he ate more of it than I did. Which made me frown a bit since he CAN have the fattening stuff! lol

Eggnog. I love it but it makes me sick whenever I drink it so I gave it up years ago. I'd been drinking Irish cream on crushed ice... SO good but I'm sure really fattening. Talk about being able to drink a tanker truck of something... that'd be my choice! LOL

Eggnog? I love eggnog. I haven't yet looked for it in the store yet. Guess I need to!

Sephia, Safeway and Costco have had it since before Halloween. Ask me how I know ;0)

So do Wal-Mart, publix and Winn Dixie. :(

When I decided I needed to lose weight, like you, I didn't tell anyone. I decided that it was my private and personal journey.

Good for you for going back to basics. It's a tough thing to do, keep it up.

Oh and I detest eggnog.

Good luck! I haven't done any walking in a while and have gone off on eating healthy lately. It's too cold to walk now. I have asthma and the last time I walked at work I ended up coughing for an hour and having to use my inhaler. I'm trying to get back to exercising at home. I was doing chair yoga and Barre exercises but haven't in months. I feel awful and have gained about 6 pounds after finally reaching my first weight loss goal a couple months ago. Time to get back to it!

I haven't bought any eggnog either. Not this year or ever. The creamy + nutmeg + boozy combination doesn't work for me. If someone makes me a glass of it, I'll gladly give it to any of you who will enjoy it.

Good for you, amylou!

share_oh, if it makes you feel any better or provides some motivation, when I'm trying to lose weight, I don't usually see any change until about three weeks in which is about the same time that people start getting discouraged and give up. My theory is that it takes that long to turn the metabolism around and get the body in losing mode.

If either of you need inspiration, there are a lot of really good low carb recipes at this site: https://www.skinnytaste.com/

They also have keto, paleo, gluten free and several other categories there.

You've inspired me anew, Ladies! I lost 50 pounds simply counting carbs. Weight was lost slowly but steadily. A dietician suggested this and got me started. It took lots of planning and prep work! However, over the last year I have gained most of that from, I suppose, not knowing what to do with myself since my DH passed away. So I seem to be without motivation and just eat any old way. It's very depressing but maybe I will try again! Thanks!

Love - The stress from having a loved one die can have very different effects, some lose weight and some gain. Please be kind to yourself and make allowances for "sad" days. Do try to get more active, it helps to lift your mood and concentrate on something outside of yourself.

Good progress amy! I’m so impressed you are able to get in so many steps at work. It does take a couple of weeks for your body to go into ketosis, which is why you need to stay faithful to the diet as much as possible early on. It’s hard but worth it when you see the results begin to happen

My DD has been on a Keto diet since March and has lost 2 sizes. Not so much in actual pounds as you might think but she has always had a short, muscular body. She’s a nurse and hasn’t had a lot of time for regular exercise but fits it in when she can. Still I’m so happy for her and she has been faithful to the cooking and prep it takes to stick to it because she enjoys cooking. And another benefit is how great her skin looks and how much better she feels overall.

Amy I am very proud of you!

Moni

I forgot to put my fitbit on before I left for work today. So I am refusing to move any more than necessary until I get home and put it on. Guess I'll do my 10000 steps on the treadmill at home before I go to bed in the morning.....sigh.

I have done that a couple times since I started the whole walk 10000 steps everyday kick...when it was raining and I couldn't get outside at work to get them in. I feel like the treadmill is a better workout but I do like just getting it over with at midnight when I am at work rather than staying up an extra 2 hours: 1 and a half to get the steps on the treadmill, another 30 to shower and fall asleep.

So I am refusing to move any more than necessary until I get home and put it on.

Or you could just guess at your steps?

Nope. My employer has a wellness program that syncs with my fitbit. The more steps i get the more points I get,which i redeem for Amazon gift cards. I would rather get the steps PLUS the extra benefits. I just got off the treadmill.....got all my steps in for the day.

You won't walk without wearing the fitbit?

I am motivated by results. I feel awful when I don't get some exercise every day. I've learned that I will have more successful if I can work out in a group, but that's me. I started out, barely able to move, with chair exercises.

I don't see long term success for anyone who cannot share their goals with their partner in life. My husband knows that he would be sabotaging my health if he brought me unhealthy fast food and expected me to eat it. We've learned that nearly every kind of eating establishment has stuff that I can eat, including the fast food places.

If you are eating low carb, don't worry so much about proportions. Your appetite will slack off when you stop feeding the sugar addiction.

Portable low carb snacks:

Layer a piece or two of thinly sliced deli meat, a slice of your favorite cheese, a bit of mustard, and a little handful of baby spinach leaves. Roll it up like a cigar and store in the fridge with several others. I like roast beef.

Egg "muffins" made with eggs, a bit of cream, chopped veggies of your choice, meat if you like, and cheese. Our favorites include chopped bacon or ham, onion, jalapeno peppers, and shredded cheese. Once baked, they can be stored in the fridge or freezer for a quick grab and go.

Nuts are always great for a snack.

Duke's Mayo is sugar/carb free and delicious. You can make chicken, tuna, turkey, or any kind of meat salad loaded with eggs and celery. Eat a generous serving on a bed of green stuff.

rhizo those ideas for low carb snacks sound great. I especially like the idea of the rollups.

I will walk without the fitbit,but prefer to do it with the fitbit, for the reason listed above.

SO knows my goals,but I don't like to tell him when I start my diet. He will either go into the "one won't hurt you" mode,or go full on food cop mode on me. "Can you have that?"

I don't like working out in a large group,though I do enjoy when the woman at work occasionally comes to walk with me. I didn't like the large weight watchers group I was in at work either. It was discouraging to see how well others were doing while I struggled with it.

I appreciate all your low carb food tips rhizo.

I like those too Rhizo.

I am a life time WW member. I find I learn the most from the other members. Amy, I am surprised that you only see those that are doing "better." My group always has an eclectic variety where people are all at different stages of their WW journey.

When looking at food, there are always ways to reduce the calories. One member shared Tummaro's wraps. At 60 calories, they are a nice option if you feel like a "sandwich."

People don't have to know what you are doing. It would be nice if your SO were more on board, but if it works not telling him than it is what it is.

This is just me but.....I don't exercise to lose weight. I exercise to look better, feel better and have stamina. I don't ever want to be that person who can't take a long walk on the beach, or be able to quickly walk up a flight of stairs if I use the subway.

For me, it is all about the food. I can walk over 21/2 miles with the dog, take my weight/body works class at the gym, then go on the stair master and climb 62 flights (1,0000 steps). I can then get on the scale the next day and see a weight gain.

You can successfully lose weight without exercising, but you won't be as fit as you want to be!

People sometimes confuse being thin to being fit.

Keep up the good work!

My hat is off to all of you who put in the work to stay fit and trim!

I am still carrying around a few extra pounds gained when I broke my leg/knee last year. Not only could I not exercise, but I was doing a lot of boredom/comfort eating.

The knee is pretty good now and I am back to doing yoga, walking and several trips up and down the stairs every morning. And, because I'm back to being able to do something other than sit in a recliner, I'm no longer eating out of boredom/stress.

I'm not doing the full on low carb thing at this time, but I do keep a close eye on how many I consume each day. A small piece of toast for breakfast or a couple of corn tortillas when eating Mexican food or a small serving of potatoes is something I'll allow myself, but not all in one day. Perhaps a bite or two of a dessert; just small things like that. I'm also really watching portion control.

The scale refuses to budge, but this week I was able to wear two pair of jeans that have not fit for months. While it's nice to see the scale go down, I'm good with being able to fit into clothing that was previously too small. :-)

Eld, I don't think exercise helps in my weight loss either. Well, not how most people think it does. I don't think a 5 mile walk burns enough calories to create a big enough deficit on its own to help me lose pounds. But it does help me in other ways. For example, exercise KILLs my appetite for several hours. Also, it makes me more mindful about what i do eat. I tend to think "Now you JUST spent an hour and a half walking around in a circle like a madwoman, are you really gonna undo that in 30 seconds by eating this? YOU'RE NOT EVEN HUNGRY!!! SIT!!!!" When i used to go to a doctor who specializes in weight loss, he told me that for women especially, exercise doesn't help all that much in weight loss, but that it is imperative for overall health. The RN on staff at my employer recently told me that i need to get up and MOVE a lot more than i did. Like you, I look and feel better when i exercise. I also sleep better, which is saying something, because i usually am a good sleeper anyway.

As for WW, my journey, as its sometimes called, was miserable, and counterproductive. I gained 4 pounds, was hungry and cranky all the time, and grew more and more disheartened and yes, angry, at seeing the weight fall off almost everyone else. It made it worse when they would say crap like, "Oh, I can't even EAT all the points I am allowed in a day!" Meanwhile, I was out of points by lunch. That being said, that was several years ago, and i do notice that those who lost weight on WW have kept it off all this time, so I am glad it works for some. Its just not for me. My diet is fairly simple, given to me by the aforementioned doctor. Unlimited portions of meat, cheese, eggs, and non starchy veggies. I am allowed one serving of fruit if i wish, but since cherries are out of season, I am not tempted by any fruit enough to have the sugar. Keep carbs under 50 a day. Any snacks should be protein only. Right now, I am trying to limit carbs even more than that.

I haven't checked my weight since i started, because i know it takes a little time to show on the scale, and i don't wish to be discouraged. I thank all of you for your encouragement!!! I encourage everyone to join me in getting healthier than you are now!!! Let's DO this! Whoop WHOOP!!!!!