And they're off..the first week was officially marked this past Wed.

I put up a private forum where we discuss the best fat-burning foods
and exercises.

Last Wed. was the 2nd call and I asked the women
to recap their weeks as well as do things like put together vision boards
of what they want their bodies to look. I laughed as I looked at Wendy's
profile as she took my body and put her head on it!
I had to show you it..take a look.

Wendy:
55 years young

I've always been interested in health and fitness and felt like I was eating healthy and exercising well. When I started working with Heather (taking her bootcamp classes - she really gives you a great workout and working with her on my nutrition), I learned that I wasn't working my body efficiently. I've never had anyone work with me to focus on changing the role that your mind plays as it relates to fat loss. My goal is to have a lean body as well. I have family members in MD that are on the same program and they are all losing weight. I'm talking about 90 lbs but it has taken them a year to do it. We just all need to be patient but we can do it too! Heather is a great motivator! Good luck to everyone.

Here is her recap of her first week accomplished:
What I did good this week: I fixed Easter dinner and only ate healthy foods. We went out with friends and I remained on my program. No alcohol! Social drinking can be a problem but I remained focus and think before I have a social drink.

My challenges this past week was that I didn't work out hard enough since I was in Myrtle Beach part of the time. I'm back home and on track. I will continue to take Heather's bootcamp where I get the best workouts.

When I fixed Easter dinner, I really wasn't tempted to eat the cheesecake or the twice baked potatoes that I fixed.

What I will do different this week is increase my workouts. I will maintain my healthy eating and focusing on putting only good fuel in my body.

Fat Loss Goals:

30 Days
My body is now fit.
I am a size 8

My challenges are when we go out for the evening. We have some things coming up and I will only put good fuel in my body. We have a trip planned at the end of April that will be a challenge for me because I know there will be lots of eating and drinking. We are going to Palm Springs, CA with about 24 members of the Harbour Club but I will stay focused on my eating plan. I will exercise while I am on vacation.

60 Days

To think more positive about my body. I continue to do my affirmations and listen to the CDs to stay focused.

90 Days
My body is now fit. I have lost body fat, continue to do my affirmations, eating healthy, and get some sort of daily exercise. Continue to enter my foods into FitDay and monitor my calories, fat, carbs and protein. I continue to have protein with every meal that I eat.

Denni
39 years old (young)

Hi, All. I put some of this in the Welcome discussion. I'm 39 years old, married with 3 wonderful children. Grew up primarily in Goose Creek, attended college at CofC, been working in an environmental lab since my last semester of college. While I was in college, I started caring about my health after I put on the freshmen 10 lbs. I took some fitness classes (running, racquetball) and worked out sporadically at the FIRM. Moved to N. Charleston, joined a fitness center, didn't really worry about the nutrition part of being healthy. Slowly put weight on over the years. Got married, had children. With each pregnancy, kept a few more pounds.

I am a size 8 (currently in size 14 clothing). My goal is to be healthy, lean and strong by eating the right foods and exercising regularly.

Set your goals:
Nutrition: I am eating protein with each meal. I am recording intake on FitDay.
Mental: I am a size 8 and I feel great.
Exercise: I am exercising at least four days each week.
Write affirmations:
I eat for my size 8 body everyday.
I train for my size 8 body regularly.
I use affirmations everyday.

What I accomplished this week:
I am back at the gym on a regular basis. I am recording intake on FitDay.
Challenges:
Making time to focus on the mental part. Eating on Easter.
Changes for next week:
Better plan food. Make time for mental component of this healthier lifestyle.

Laura:
I am Laura. I am a 54 year old business woman,and grandmother. I quit smoking about 10 years ago, and I guess I substituted food for the smoking. I have just never gotten it under control again. I get on the wagon for a while, and do well, and when I fall off, and start eating unhealthy, I have a time trying to get myself back on track. I have diabetes now, and I know what I need to do to be healthy.

This disease is controllable, and nutrition and movement are the key. I could teach volumes, but I am really having a tough time following a healthy plan. I am, by nature a strong willed, determined woman, so when I am good, I am great, but when I am bad, well, I never do anything half way. I love healthy foods, and salads, but my weakness is starch, and sugar. ( sugar is a drug)

My goals are to be lean, strong, and healthy. The healthy part is so much more important than anything else. I want to " sit on the back porch, covered with grandchildren, and yell NO, and Stop that!!" I am looking forward to the strength we will have as a team, and hope we can all help each other.

I think Heathers creation of the team atmosphere here will certainly help me.

Tina:
When I moved to SC 2 years ago, I was in the best shape of my life, lean and in a size 4! I slowly started to gain the weight back when I did not join a gym and started picking on the boy's fries, etc. The last 10-15 lbs came on fast when I was trying to clear my system from my thyroid medicine to start a new one.

My goal is to be lean, strong, healthy sexy and confident. Heather's program is really making me think about when I eat carbs and to add protein to everything. Good luck to everyone.

Sarah:

Well, to summarize in short story form, I've always been interested in fitness, exercise and healthy eating, but I have strong 'binge' tendencies when it comes to french fries, sweets & simple carbs.

I've always exercised regularly since graduating from college with a few bouts with minimal exercise, but exercise makes me feel SO good & full of energy. Of course, I didn't have issues with weight until after having my children. But I got the weight down to a size 8/10 (8 is my norm).

I love to eat so I have to exercise to keep the weight from creeping on. When I say I binge, I mean I'll eat healthy for a week and then eat bad one day and not just limit myself to 2 cookies etc...I will get in that mindset of 'well, I've already blown it for today so I'm going to eat anything I want and how much I want - even though I may not be hungry'...it's more of a mental game of emotional eating...then a fe w days later I'll get back on track. I have yoyo'd with my weight for several years within 10-15 lbs. I was at the weight I wanted to be at until last Nov when I started eating bad and letting the lbs come on.

I have gained close to 15 lbs since Nov and I want it OFF and to be back in my size 8 pants! Since I work full time and have 2 children (8 & 12 yr olds) , I don't have time to go to a gym so I work out at home...I have a treadmill,weights and a slew of workout videos (taebo, core secrets, turbo jam, hip hop abs and the firm) that I alternate with. I'm very interested in healthy eating and learning the proper balance between cardio and weight training.

I'm excited about Heather's plan for us teaching us about the role our mind plays, how we can 'train' our metabolism by eating the right balance of protein, carbs & fat and to have her as such a good resource and motivator through these 12 weeks.

I'm ready to get my discipline on track and to eat healthy for life with keeping moderation in mind at all times (when the sweets are around!) I figured a good old competition/challenge would be good for me as well! :)

Nancy:

It was a pretty good week. What I think I did right this week was watch my diet. I ate much smaller meals and more frequently. Their were a few times I could of eaten more, but managed to stay on track and never let myself get overly hungary.

My challenges came to pushing myself harder at the gym. I got there, but a few days I felt like I could of put more into my workouts. I will push myself harder this week.

I haven't gotten on the scale, but my clothes seem to fit a little looser already. I feel very motivated!

Brooke:
I realize fat weighs more than muscle, however, I have not lost a pound and don't feel any thinner in my middle???

This Week Review:

good: I was more conscious in my eating trying to eat consistently through day and get some pro in with meals (but not eating enough still) . i have been doing daily mind setting/affirmations/goals.

challenge: being on the road and finding a way to eat in car since i don't like to stop!!! also, eating more protein when not much appeals to me.

goals: to keep eating consciously, but try not eat late at night. get more pro in my diet. keep weening sweet tooth. stay on track with mind setting (i am size 6).

We've got a few more that I well put up next week.

Congrats to everyone!
http://www.mybodyisfitnow.com

Since July of 2005 I've lost 53 pounds - simply by exercising and eating mindfully. However, somewhere in the last year or so, I've realized I'm never going to look like the women on TV or
on the cover of major magazines. Except maybe AARP... :)

I've spent much of this life wanting to come back in my next life as one of those long-legged blondes who drive high-end Mercedes convertibles. But this is the life I've got and, actually, there's nothing wrong with it. In fact, there's an awful lot right with it - I just need to remember to look.

I've been taking Fred Luskin's Forgive for Good class online http://www.mindfullivingprograms.com/onlineschefees.php over the past few weeks, and something Fred keeps coming back to is how we make our life what it is - enjoyable/not enjoyable - by what we think; by how we view things.

In retrospect, I think I looked just fine - even BEFORE I lost the 53 pounds. I didn't HAVE to hate myself for being overweight - I chose to. No one (else) hated me for being overweight and I don't think anyone (else) thought I was ugly.

I've stopped thinking my life would begin when I reached a certain weight. My life, and all of its blessings, is happening right now. It always has been...

... I just needed to pay attention to all that's wonderful and stop focusing strictly on all that could be improved.

Warm regards,

Kelley
Mindful Living Programs
http://www.mindfullivingprograms.com/weblog/kelley
"There is more right with you than there is wrong with you..."

Hi!!

I think I have been on every diet in the universe. Being 100% Italian,
I have a love of really good pasta and homemade bread.

However, several years ago I was diagnosed with celiac's disease (no gluten allowed in
my diet) which put an end to my good pasta and homemade hot bread with olive oil and pepper, unless they are made out of alternative grains containing no gluten. Also being Italian... each meal in my home was a celebration. We loved to gather at meals.

My diagnosis of celiac's disease lead to my gaining more weight. I began to get depressed about the weight gain being added to my already overweight body. Diets seemed to only help me lose a few pounds but not much, and yes I was following the plan. If I stopped any diet, I would put the lost weight back on and more.

For several years I decided I would just try to accept myself for who I am. However, now that I will be soon turning 1/2 a century in age ....

I don't want to be this size forever. I know this sounds crazy but I just don't want to have 8 pall bearers rather than 6 to carry me because my casket is so heavy!! Seriously, I do want to feel better, look better, be a healthier size, and be able to have the energy to want to exercise.

My big decision.... two weeks ago ... I decided to go to LA weight loss. I studied many diets and programs and decided this one was one I can live with. I'm old enough to know that I must have something I can live with in good times and bad, in holiday and regular days, in travel and
at home. I'm calling this a life change event for myself.

Of course I still dream of waking up the next day 100 pounds lighter (well.. a girl can still dream), but have set my goals to have lost all of my weight within 2 years.

So far in the 2 weeks with LA weight loss I have lost 6.2 pounds. I am still reading other programs and selecting out the healthiest choices to do in combination with LA weight loss. I don't eat sugar. I do drink LOTS of water. I have very little coffee, drink one Chai Tea a day, eat
fresh fruits and veggies, organic chicken and pork and do the best I can. I am amazed that I feel so much better with just a weight loss of 6.2 pounds, but I do.

I am also doing some visualization to help me see myself at my goal. Pictures have been cut out with me when I was thinner and placed in a position where I see them daily. My husband and I are planning a trip to Hawaii in 2007 and I have placed pictures of Hawaii along with
bathing suits and cute summer dresses to help me remain motivated.

LA Weight Loss is very healthy food. I don't purchase any of their "LA lites" because I am allergic to many of the foods they use in them. I also can only purchase a few of their vitamins and supplements for the same reasons. This is actually a good thing for me since I don't have
to spend more money with them (the first time was enough). I am learning to be more creative with what I am doing and having fun. My husband is doing the program with me as is my mother so I don't have to prepare separate meals which makes it much easier to do. I like the aspect of no special foods.. just normal things I can buy at the grocery store. I can eat out by making the right choices. This is a lot like weight watchers to me but there are no "free things", you are accountable for everything you put in your mouth (even celery)!! PLUS.. the part I like the most is that I go in 3x per week to get weighed with a personal counselor. She reviews my food diary and makes any necessary suggestions.

I'll keep you posted!!

That's my story... and I'm sticking to it (LA weight loss that is).

Hope to be reporting on less of me in the future!!

Gina