Tales from the Scales

The Old and the New

Good-bye old challenge - Hello New Challenge!  CONGRATULATIONS to so many of you that continued through the entire challenge, I am so proud of you!  How did your final weigh-in go?

To repeat last night's post:   

If you are a weighing in for the final May Day Challenge weigh-in, please proceed as normal.  However, in your post about your past week, please include your goals for the next challenge and also feel free to share with the bloggy weight loss world what things worked for you during the previous challenge and what things you need to work on.  Tell us about your experience, your triumphs, your challenges, etc.

IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE CHALLENGE - sign Mr. Linky, linking back to a post on your blog about your weight loss goal, aspirations, challenges, goals, dreams, frustrations.  Your Story.  We want to hear it.

If you do not have a blog, you may sign Mr. Linky with your weight loss goal, for example: Julie T. -45 pounds.

No matter if you are new or a Tales from the Scales veteran, feel free to put your weight loss goal in the name line of Mr. Linky, however, it is not required.  (if you do not know what Mr. Linky is, look below)

Take this opportunity tomorrow to introduce yourself to other participants while reading their blogs, be a cheerleader, your comments really will inspire others.  I hope this continues throughout the challenge.

WELCOME AND GOOD LUCK!  And again, thank you to those who completed the May Day Challenge, you are all an OUTSTANDING group of women.  You should be very proud of yourselves!

Please don't hate me.

For I have absolutely LOST my mind.

Today is not the last day of the May Day Challenge.  Thank you to Oinkstop for pointing that out, I saw her comment and I looked at my computer like a very confused dog, head tilt and all, I walked around for a good 30 minutes contemplating her comment and scratching my head and I realized:

She is absolutely CORRECT.

Lawd help me, I was so excited about the new roll challenge roll out which is taking place TOMORROW that I missed my dates.

Please, please forgive me.  I will make the appropriate changes on the weigh in post.

One more week, friends, one more week...just what can you do with one more week?

Five Weeks

Many of you have been participating in this challenge for five weeks now.  Have you created healthier habits? 

How did this past week go for you?  By the way, if you are just now finding this challenge, you may join in anytime!

Week One Weigh In

Week one is over. 

How did you do?  Now is the time to tell of your successes or gains, right here.  If you have a blog, just enter your blog url and the link to your current post about this past week and how you did with the May Day Challenge.  If you do not have a blog, just sign your name with your loss/gain.  (example: Beth -1 lb)

If you had a large loss this week and have already lost five pounds, please send an e-mail to Beth at scaletales(at)gmaildotcom with your blog url (if you have one) and your information so you can receive your congratulatory button!

Reminder-Tuesday Weigh-In

Tomorrow is the big day.  The first May Day Weight Loss Challenge weigh in.  Be sure to check in tomorrow to sign Mr. Linky letting us know how you did!  (accountability is a great thing, isn't it?!)

An important reminder for you.  Even if you do not lose weight or you don't lose as much as you thought you should or planned, you still made a difference in your food consumption, you made healthier choices than you did the week before and THAT is what matters.  You may feel frustrated when you step on the scale, but please, think about the GOOD that you did, focus on that, be proud of yourself. 

See you tomorrow.

Welcome to the May Day Weight Loss Challenge!

If you are interested in joining the challenge, you may join ANYTIME!  Just sign below!

Day One is here. 

Please sign Mr. Linky with your name and a link to a post on your blog about your weight loss struggles, goals, motivations and frustrations.  If you do not have a blog, just sign your name and the amount of weight you wish to lose, example: Beth, 42 lbs. 
Remember, you do not need to share your actual weight, just your weight loss goal (leave the url line blank.)

Sisters, I am excited to be on this journey with you.  Let's utilize this community that has been created and support one and another.  I toast to you a happy, healthy week.

"The time for action is now. It's never too late to do something."

                                                  -Carl Sandburg

Getting Ready

Today is the day before the challenge begins.  Have you already cut out some of the fat from your diet?  Or are you furiously stuffing yourself with things you'll be "deprived of" for the next four months?  Either way, tomorrow begins our weight loss journey together, are you ready?   Be sure to check out the comments section on the post "Before you go to the grocery store," many products have been listed as favorites, these are very important tools that can make or break your weight loss.  Thank you to everyone who has shared your favorites!

Just a few reminders and helpful hints to start your journey successfully:

-Don't cheat.  For every bite you throw into your mouth, it will pay you back on your weigh-in day.  It's not worth it.  EVER.  (more about that tomorrow)
-Plan your meals, even plan your snacks.  This is a big life change occurring, be kind to yourself and plan accordingly ahead of time.
-Many of you have mentioned not being able to afford joining WW online or meetings, I do strongly urge you to utilize the free trial (online only) to learn what WW is about for you, your specific points for your body, information about activity points, food point values, etc.  It's FREE!
-Weight Watchers is about getting healthy, they have eight healthy guidelines for you to try to implement in your daily routines:

• Eat at least 5 servings of vegetables and fruits each day.  (remember, not all fruits and veggies are zero points!)
• Choose whole-grain foods, such as brown rice and oats.
• Include 2 servings of milk products each day.
• Have some healthy oil (olive, canola, sunflower, safflower or flaxseed each day.)
• Ensure that you are getting enough protein, try choosing meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dried beans or soy products to aide with your protein content.
• Limit added sugar and alcohol.
• Drink at least six glass of water each day!
• Take a multiple vitamin-mineral supplement each day.
  When I found myself following these guidelines, trying to be healthy, not so much skinny, I had more success with weight loss.

-Finally, when you visit Tales from the Scales tomorrow, you will find Mr. Linky.  To all participants: please make sure to link your blog entry about your weight loss goals and struggles to Mr. Linky.  To those who do not have blogs, please type in your name and your weight loss goal in the top line!  To those who have no idea who Mr. Linky is, it's an online tool for bloggers where readers can easily link their own blogs and entries on one public post.  It will make more sense tomorrow when you see it.  TRUST ME!  If you still have questions, just sent me an e-mail at scaletales(at)gmaildotcom. 

QUICK TIP--Bulk up main dishes such as pasta, soups, egg dishes, casseroles and chili with extra vegetables!

See you at the scales!

*Weight Loss Turn Around Program Week One

Take the picture

As we prepare for the May Day Challenge to begin, I have a piece of advice that I hope you will consider.

Take your picture.

It doesn't matter how much you despise the way you look right now, or how dirty your shirt is or how long your roots are.  Just take the picture.  Ask your husband, ask a friend or set the timer and take your picture.

You don't want anyone to see the picture?  Hide it in a file folder that no one else will look at.  Call it "Oprah" or "Chores."  You know hubby won't be snooping in that folder.  Just take your picture.

Because someday, soon, you are going to look at the picture and it will awe you.  And you'll look in the mirror and see what you've done.  And that picture will make you very happy.

And maybe, someday, you'll be craving a Whopper or a hot dog topped with chili and cheese and THAT picture, that you did not want to take, that very picture will talk you out of eating something you will regret.

And someday, Weight Watchers will call you and you'll be so glad you took that picture.

That is one powerful picture.

Thea Thursdays

Hello all! My name is Thea and I will be a weekly contributor here at Tales from the Scales (thanks, Beth!!). For this first post, I just wanted to tell everyone a little bit about myself and how I got to where I am today on my weight loss journey.

 I am a SAHM mom to two (mostly) great kids: Jake is 4 and Emma is 2. They keep me going all the time (and I do mean ALL THE TIME). My husband is a consultant with a Mechanical Engineering firm in town which means long hours and lots (and lots) of travel. I love traveling, movies, scrapbooking, dancing around the living room with my kids, and occasionally retreating to the bathroom for some solitude (admit it, you do it, too). And after rereading what I’ve written so far, I also evidently love to use parentheses (sometimes there’s just so much to say!)

I started out using Weight Watchers before Jake was born. My family has always struggled a little bit with their weight and the related health issues (I have a history of diabetes on both sides), and I wanted to make sure I started my pregnancy as healthy as I could be. I joined WW Online and I lost about 10 or 15 lbs. You can’t be an “active member” of WW while you are pregnant, so I had to quit when I got pregnant with Jake. Six weeks after he was born, I went to my first WW meeting and over the course of about a year, lost nearly 30 lbs. I know that sounds like a long time to some of you, but I want to give you my first piece of advice: IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES YOU, AS LONG AS YOU ARE DOING THE BEST YOU CAN.

Anyway, I repeated the WW/pregnancy cycle with Emma and I didn't gain as much when I was pregnant with her.  When I joined WW for he 3rd time (6 weeks after Emma was born), I was 6 lbs. light than I was when I joined the 2nd time (6 weeks after Jake was born.)  At that point, I knew that I had made changes that were going to stick with me for life, even if I had to remind myself what they were every once in a while.  Which leads me to my 2nd bit of advice: EVERYONE MAKES BAD FOOD CHOICES.  EAT IT, ENJOY IT AND START AGAIN THE NEXT MEAL.

I reached my goal in March of 2007, and to be quite honest, I have had a little trouble maintaining the weight. I have attended my monthly meetings, but for me I’m beginning to realize that I may need to go more often than that. My biggest motivator is accountability to those around me. I thrive on challenges and goal setting, and once I reached my goal weight, I felt that I didn’t have anything to work toward. So that is why I will be joining in with the May Day Weight Loss Challenge: to get back to the weight that feels good on me.

To wrap up this novel of a post, I want to make something very clear: this blog is for YOU! If there’s a specific problem you are having trouble with, just ask. We want to hear from you so that we know what you want to hear from us. Countless studies have shown how important it is to have a sounding board and support group when going through your weight loss journey, and that is why we are here: to help each other out day by day, pound by pound! See you next week!

A few things

First of all, what a great response to our challenge!  I'm so excited to see the results, I thought I was motivated to lose weight before, but all of you with your posts and positivity have me READY TO GO!!

Just a few things:
-If you have a blog you'd like to share, just e-mail me, scaletales(at)gmail dot com and I will add it to a the blog roll.   Please send the url and the blog name. The blog does not have to be a weight loss only blog, but it must be the blog that will be communicating your gains and losses with the challenge. 
Also, A few of you were concerned that you would have to reveal your weight and you do NOT need to reveal your weight.  Just your gains and losses.

-If you have a product that is low in fat and is super tasty, please e-mail me!  Wouldn't a nice long list of great weight loss products be a great thing before starting our weight loss adventure next Tuesday?  So, send me your faves to scaletales(at)gmail dot com.

-Here is the code for a nice long banner for your blogs, if the square button does not fit.

<a href="http://www.talesfromthescales.net/2007/04/the_challenge.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b185/bfletcher/MayDaychallengelongbutton.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>