The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[DogMa]

Sigh. No weight change, of course, but at least I've been holding steady all week. And today I put on a body-slimming tank thing I bought maybe six months or a year ago that didn't fit - now it fits comfortably. Go figure.

I'm also increasing my strength training a bit (and may even go back to the gym some). After my New Year's race, I'm thinking of doing a race when I'm in Denver in February. And THEN comes the big excitement. I'm going to either go to Anchorage to cheer my cousin on when he starts the Iditarod, or even better, help him either get to or from the race (I'm hoping for TO, because I'd like to be in Anchorage at the start; if it's from, then I'm thinking maybe I could go to Nome ahead of time so I can see the earlier people finish). But if I'm helping, it'll mean some hard work in frigid temperatures, so I want to boost my strength a little.

I'm so excited, though. For HIM, because he's been working for this for a few years now. And for me, because it's such a cool thing to be doing.

[Serendipity]

I'll get to work knitting you a nose mitten, Robin.....you're gonna need it. What a great opportunity!

[DogMa]

I know! I'm going to freeze my butt off, but I figure I could stand to lose a little off my butt anyway.

I'm already thinking about how many layers I can pack on and still be able to move. (I should have saved my old size 18-20 clothes so it'd fit over my other 10 layers!!!)

[Lauren]

That is cool as hell, Rob. Definitely an event/experience worth a little extra push on the muscles!

Ciao,

Lauren

[Tawanda]

Brrrrr! But I agree with you and everyone else.....what an exciting opportunity!

What about ordering yourself some ski pants? or a snowmobile outfit (the ones I've seen are one piece and look warm). If it keeps you warm---the price would be worth it.

Good for you on doing such a great job maintaining!

[bikipatra]

The "Snow Bunny" look is very hot! Work it, Robin!

[bikipatra]

Hey Rob!, you are doing so GOOD with your walking longevity. I sure hope someday i can do a straight hour...right now i'm just doing 30 minutes and i'm POOPED...lol!..it'll come i guess!
You are a true exercise "inspiration" to me girl!

Chynna

Just let it come naturally. I started off with thirty minutes and can do two hours now, although I usually only do an hour. A few weeks ago I walked 6 miles with my husband. Too much too soon can actually have detrimental effects. Earlier on in my MF program I walked 3 hours in Hong Kong and GAINED weight the next day. Probably just my injured muscles returning fluid. You were a faithful journal reader of my trip so you may remember that!

Oh thanks for that advice Biki, and YES, i DO remember you walking that 3 miles in Hong Kong and the negative effects of it the next day:+(but you sprung back:+)
Btw, i really "enjoyed" taking that trip with you!

I think today i will see if i can add 5 more minutes (35)...ok, off to do'it!!

HEYYYY Robin!

Chynna

Thank again Chynna for being such a faithful reader of my trip journal. It helped when I was so far away. Try adding that 5 more minutes or just 3 minutes. You can do it!

[DogMa]

Yeah, I'm definitely going to be heading to REI or somewhere for the after-Christmas sales so I can get some really warm stuff. Because assuming his hip is OK - and my aunt says it's been doing better lately - it's all a go. They want me to write about it (blog or something, probably, for the Web site plus do some updates and/or a travel piece for the paper), and my aunt and uncle said they'd pay for the whole thing (even my dog sitter; although I'm still going to try to use my miles to cover some of it), and I even found my expired passport, so I can get a new one more easily (I'm going to go tomorrow for photos if the auto club is open and can do it; otherwise I'll get 'em done next week).

[DogMa]

Yay. Found my passport, and AAA can apparently do my passport photos tomorrow, so I'm going to stop in and get those done, and bring everything to the local passport office (a post office nearby) to turn it all in and get things going.

And another potluck success. This time someone brought a deli platter along with the rest. So I had some turkey breast and mustard on one slice of bread (remember, maintenance), half a forkful of something that looked good but turned out to be tabouli (which I don't like) and two appetizer-sized meatballs. And then I was hungry a couple of hours later and had a 100-calorie pack, which will hopefully hold me till my regular late-afternoon snack (if not, I'll have a diet hot chocolate for 25 calories; that usually fills me up pretty well). But I'm proud that this time I participated and still didn't go overboard or indulge in things I don't need or even really want.

I wish there had been some vegetables, but of course there weren't. Maybe I'll have some extra veggies tonight with dinner.

[Tawanda]

Robin, thank you for sharing -- You help me more than you can know when you share these types of posts with us.

The 100 calorie packs sound like they'd be a good idea (after goal & transition, of course). Having a portion already measured out so that I would have to recognize, accept and weigh (LOL) the consequences if I chose to have a second (or third) portion, instead of mindlessly reaching back into a box or bag.

Thanks for being here.

[DogMa]

Thanks, T. And they really do help, although I stayed away from them the first year. I've had a couple of issues with them, so I stopped buying the Hostess mini cupcakes. So now I have some rules that I seem to be able to stick with. Except under special circumstances, I'm not allowed more than one pack a day (or at least only one pack of the cookie-type ones; I tend not to have any issues with things like the Ritz snack mix). That seems to work for me, so I have some control but I also get to have a "normal" treat and feel like I'm not dieting for a few minutes each day. Same with my one marshmallow that I get to have in my diet cocoa lately.

For me, with all the working out and being so careful about my food, it really helps me emotionally to be able to feel like I'm normal - and not watching my weight - for just those few moments each day, you know?

Heck, I'm even thinking that today instead of my little cookie pack, I might have a banana because there are some on our free-food table.

[DogMa]

Blech. I'm so very bloated today, thanks to the Chinese food I had yesterday (a Christmas tradition in the tribe). But I also walked in the morning and raked leaves for about two hours in the afternoon. Missed the traditional movie because my cousin called just as I was getting to the theater, and we've been playing phone tag for days. So I finally got some more info on the Iditarod, and it looks like it'll work out best to go for the end instead of the beginning (he has to be there Feb. 23 for a mandatory vet check, which would mean I'd have to go straight from my Denver trip to spend a week driving up there with him, then sit around Anchorage for a week - helping him some, but still - till the start, and then rush back home).

He says there's really just a two-day window for his finishing the race, so it'll be either his birthday or a day or so after (he'll be shooting for his bday, though, which would be awesome). Then there's a banquet, then we would have to fly back to Anchorage (with the dogs) and drive back. So I'm figuring about two weeks, all told. Only issue is a lack of hotel rooms in Nome, but I'm hoping he's already got that covered. Otherwise, the chamber of commerce says it will help people find lodging in private homes. We'll also all be sharing rooms on the trip to Montana (with a stop in Washington to pick up his two dogs who don't race anymore). This will definitely be an adventure. I told him I'm willing to share rooms (not thrilled, but willing), but the one thing I won't do is camp. Especially in below-zero temperatures.

[DogMa]

Argh. Major roadblock. His truck is a stick shift, which I don't know how to drive. That's what he needs the most help with, and he might not have room for another driver AND me. So I'm going to look into learning to drive a stick, but I'm not sure I can learn well enough to drive an unfamiliar truck in unfamiliar areas in snow and ice. Or I may just fly to Anchorage (if I rent a car there, I can still help him out some, but not nearly as much). Sigh.

[Out*With*The*Old]

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that Robin. I hope it all works out for you! I'm thinking you'll burn some serious calories JUST trying to stay warm - lol! Anyway, I do hope it all works out for you.

[bikipatra]

Good luck, Robin!