Its *Soft Drink* not soda or pop :p

Now my kitty has to be on a diet...
We took him to the vet for a UTI and he has gained 3 lbs since last year and he was full grown then. Ooops. I blame it on my mother who feeds him whenever he asks. Well now he gets one scoop of food a day 1/2 in the morn 1/2 at night. I'm still workin on my diet...I've been pretty good about the no soda thing (Here in good ole Texas all soda is called coke). And I've also cut down on the ice cream...but I've gained 3lbs. Erm maybe I should try and cut out pastries...but I work in a bakery. I'll post a pic as soon as I develop the courage for it (give me a few sleep deprived days).

We fed every cat everything they wanted. None got obese. Has something changed even in cat food? Are they also replacing ingredients with sugar in cat food? What food is the cat being fed?

animals are just like people - except furrier. they have personalities and some will eat more than necessary. probably due to depression.

Totally totally right of course. But without wanting to play the depression card too heavily it's an achievement just leaving the flat some mornings. Easier to sit at the bus stop reading than manage a brisk walk across the park. And yet one of my considerations when I left London was the sheer joy of living somewhere I could walk to and from work :neutral:

Anyway - tomorrow I'm supposed to be starting my Brand New Life. Of course it still kinda depends how I feel tomorrow morning, but am trying to make plans and stick to them. I do need to get some tights before I start walking in though... Not an excuse - chubby chafe is a real problem otherwise :thepain:

I promise I will start trying anyway.

My vet has declared that all processed cat food is junk food.

He has told me to feed my cats raw meat (hamburger or any other ground meat) mixed with a little wet cat food. The wet cat food as the flavor and salt that makes food so tasty to the little beasts. The raw burger gives them the nutrients they need and that their body will use, so no junk food waste to pack on around the waist.

I've been counting calories. It is a lot of work at first, but once in the habit, it works.

Then I can say "do I want this slice of cake or this candy bar? I can't have both . . ."

Then, too, I see my trends, when I tend to eat more, etc. So on movie nights, I eat less during the day so I can have guilt free popcorn.

It is all about choices . . . and after keeping track for more than 6 months, I start realizing that some things just aren't worth eating.

This is a great idea for a thread!

The weight loss thing is tough at first, but if you get yourself motivated to start, it gets easier. It's more about changing your relationship with food than it is dieting, for me. I lost something like 45 lbs this year and have barely felt like I am even watching my diet much anymore. I just manage to surround myself with only foods that will make me feel good. I have found that after eliminating some things like pop and candy that when I do have them around, I am thinking more about how I would feel after I consumed them, rather than how it tastes/feels during consumption. My husband is a big help and he has been trying to get me to start doing some more active things with him, which is somewhat more difficult than managing the food part of it.

I went from 174 in January to 128 right now. I still kind of lose a little bit every week or so. It has just been a change in mindset and attitude about food. The cool thing is, we never go out and buy diet foods or pills or anything. We just work with what we find in the grocery store. Tonight we had chicken breasts with apple stuffing and green beans for dinner. It was satisfying and I even had a little pumpkin spice muffin my little boy made. Its all about making it a positive thing for you and your body, IMO.

As for a goal, I don't think I have one quite yet...most of mine are so short term that by the time I get a picture out it will be irrelevant, I guess. Maybe I should make a goal to get going with painting again. hmm...

:notworthy

My goal is to stop drinking so much just because I can. I drink most nights, and I know it's a crutch for me, so I've got to find the willpower to go it alone so to speak.

My other goal is to try and go for the day today without eating chocolate!

I certainly don't want to put you under pressure, SG, and I do totally understand about the "depression card". Perhaps you could weigh up which mornings are "sit and read" and which feel like "brisk walk"? After all, a little change, walking now and again, would be a step in the right direction (pun intended), and may lead to more ...
My morning walks fell by the wayside under the combined onslaught of a heavy cold and constant rain (either one I would have continued walking, but both together seemed foolhardy) and then an unexpected trip away for family reasons. I'll continue the walks tomorrow.

So I have taken a first step - I bought myself some exercise equipment. Something that I can't fail at and I think will be really fun. I have printed off exercises to do with my new equipment that will help tone and strengthen. What is it you ask? None other than a JUMP ROPE!! I am so excited. I can watch TV and jump around a whole bunch. From what I have seen online - you do an exercise 30 secs to 1 minute and start at 10 minutes total. You move up to 20, 30, and I guess however long you want to do it. Probably by that time, you will be able to supplement with walking or running or some other exercising.

Why something so simple you ask? because I seem to always set myself up for disappointment and try and reach a goal too high. Now I am starting nice and low. From here, Pilates, from there, walking\running, from there, who knows maybe even the gym!!

Sounds good bbro! Watch out for the light fittings!

Ha! I was hitting things yesterday. I think I need to shorten the length or I am going to take out my poor old stereo!

YEAH for you bbro!!! Even the great wall of China had a first brick. Before you know it, you'll be posting your ass on the internet...