[CNSlim]

Ok, I guess this is a great place to keep track, vent, spill the beans! I am starting my journal so read on.
CNSlim, I chose this username because it is my initials and also sounds like "seein slim" as in soon I will see a slimmer me!
I started my phentermine treatment on 9/10/05. I went to the store and passed right by my usual Junior Mints package that I treat myself to. I know there is a psychological factor along with the chemical (pill), I don't want to eat foods that are junk or bad for me now. I feel turned off to them.
Day 2: 9/11/05-Sunday
I am keeping a food and exercise log, my doctor wants to see it or else...no more phen for me :smirk:
She'll be so proud that I took it a step further and joined this forum! Ian, what a great thing you've started!
Worked out for 30 minutes on my elliptical machine. It is so easy on my knees!
I have set an alarm on my cell phone to remind me to eat something every 3 hours. This pill really curves my appetite and makes me forget how delicious chocolate is. I don't feel that strong urge anymore. It is an amazing 360 degrees.
I am going to try to get in another 30 minutes of very moderate cardio before the day is up.
I'm off to do laundry!

[zoey]

You have started off fantastic. Great attitude and great plan. I'm glad to hear that your doctor wants you to keep a journal. This shows more attention to your total health than a lot of doctors give. Yes, this is also a great place to vent. I do alot of it. If you start looking at other diaries hear you will notice that I vent alot! I have spent many years holding in alot of pain and grief and anger. All of that built up in me as fat. Now, for the first time I have found a place where I can feel comfortable letting it go, and knowing the people here will support me and not judge against me. It's like each time I let go of some of what I've built up, I let go of some of the fat too.
Keep up the good attitude and you will succeed. We are all here for you too.

[maymay]

I noticed the chocolate thing too. Mine is peanut m&m's. When I first started phen they would be right in front of my face and I wouldn't eat one. I need to work on writing what I eat down. I have never been good at journaling, but I know that this is more important now. I'm going to Florida to visit my family in June and they all know I'm losing weight, so I want to be able to show them that I lost weight and that I kept if off. My grandma said I would be a skinny minnie when I went back.

[zoey]

Skinny Minnie huh? My grandmother used to use that phrase too. Never for me of course!!! Well, when you get to Florida you are going to blow them away. You might need to wear a name tag.

[CNSlim]

Today is day#3 and it is also Monday so this will be my first workweek to get through this, I tried to get in another 30 minutes of exercise last night, but housework took over. I am going to the grocery store later tonight to make sure I have plenty of good snacks, carrots, apples, yogurt, etc to take to work and also I guess I will start eating a salad for lunch everyday.
I also take a protein shake called Amplify that I got at GNC. It is so easy to mix up...I only use water.
My husband baked a chocolate cake last night, it is sitting in the microwave, the smell got to me and for a split second I wanted to taste, but I walked away. I am so proud of me! I wonder if he is testing my wit!
I woke up this morning at 5:45 a.m and worked out in my garage on the elliptical trainer for 30 minutes at a moderate pace. It felt really good, I ate very well today, drank lots of water. I took my phen at like 7:00a.m. since I try to give it at least half an hour before eating any breakfast. Does everyone else take it at the same time each day as a rule?
Want to laugh? my cell phone alarm went off at work today, it was on my hip, it vibrated to remind me of an am snack and just about scared the living fat cells out of me! There was still a lunch alarm and afternoon snack alarm, each time I looked like a complete idiot because I jumped out of my seat, everyone thought I was out of my mind today.
Well, I decided to pack up the kids and go to the YMCA for some strength training. I am so scared of sagging skin since I assume I will probably lose weight rapidly. I will try to weigh in once a week at home on Sunday mornings and then my doctor's appt is every 5th week and that will be the BIG weigh in and comparison.

[zoey]

If you start losing too fast check with your doctor. Recommended healthy weight loss is 1-2 pounds per week. No more than 3. If you stay in that range you should be fine with the skin issue

[CNSlim]

Yes, but I think I lost 3 lbs overnight! This is surreal. I actually ignored it and figured, water weight, something wrong with my scale. I don't know what exactly I am going to do with tracking my progress. I may need to start over with a weigh in tonight, track that as a starting point since when I weighed in at the doctor's I was all suited up from work, pants, suit jacket, shirt under that, hosiery, I don't know how much that accounts for, but I feel most comfortable weighing in at home, about half an hour after waking on a Sunday when I am not up at 5 am for a workout, nothing to interfere in my weight reading and I feel better that it is more accurate. We will see what happens.

I actually know plenty about exercise, health and fitness. I used to work for Bally Total Fitness in Chicago years ago as an instructor and was this close to getting certified as a personal trainer and then I moved to Florida, got married, stressed out and fat. ](*,) This is one of the reason that even more so I can kick myself in the ass for letting my health go and getting out of shape when I knew better all along. But hey, what's done is done. I just have to focus and make this the beginning of a new me and permanent changes.

Right now I feel lighter, just better and it has only been three days. I am weary, but hopeful and will follow through. I have heard so many stories about people losing weight on phentermine and I just hope that I don't do all this for nothing.
I didn't go to the YMCA, the kids didn't want to go, my husband was at a coach's meeting, so of course there went that intention. This is why I purchased my elliptical, after many fights with the husband, because I can now at 10 pm. get on the machine for at least 20 minutes before bed (like I'm tired yet anyway right \/ ) and not feel so bad about not getting in my activity for the day. Well, I guess I better go get busy!

[Back to 135]

Hey CNSlim,

I used to work out at Bally's fitness in a Chicago suburb years ago. That was when I was my thinest ever. Age 20 and 121. That was the only time in my life I was content with my body. I'd been between 135 and 155 in high school. After high school I went to College of DuPage and worked out every morning afer class before going to work at Nordstrom. Brings back fond memories Thanks.

Well, I also moved to Florida (Jacksonville), got married, got stressed out and gained weight. I did happen to lose some when I got rid of the stress (x-husband) and went to law school. After law school I moved to Atlanta and again found myself unhappy and gaining weight. Well, I've been fighting it for a while, and I really think this time I'm going to win.

Did you grow up in Chicago? I grew up in a suburb called Clarendon Hills.