Elle's blog

Weight loss success story on PEOPLE magazine - Kissmekate02 of PT!

Elle — Tue, 22 May 2007 19:23:00 GMT

In case you missed it, we over here at PT scanned in the cover of the PEOPLE article along with her story. Even if you only want to lose 10 pounds, or 50 pounds, this is a powerful story. I can't tell you how many people called me and said, I could totally relate to her story about the moment she had, through the drive-thru, when she knew she wasn't going to live like that anymore. She has a lot of stuff on her own blog (great stuff by the way, even a picture of her...(read more)

How to make broccoli and vegetables taste good

Elle — Mon, 21 May 2007 16:48:00 GMT

I have to share my secret way of eating broccoli because I detested it for years. Yes, I know it seems to be the wonder health food but I couldn't bring myself to eat it. Sure, if I slathered it with cheese, it would have been no problem but what's really the point of that. I can make it taste as delectable as as an artichoke heart. Seriously. I'm putting in how you cook it but the "secret" part of it is the part that you serve and eat. First, steam it. And if you're like me and you...(read more)

The 5 first things you do when you get into your groups or teams

Elle — Wed, 16 May 2007 05:47:00 GMT

1. Fill out your information and your profile. Go to MY INFO (see red arrow below) It's in the top navigation right next to MY LOG. You'll see your profile tab. Click edit and fill out your goal and any info you'd like to share so your groupmates can help you! (click picture for bigger view)2. Click UPDATE MY LOG or MY LOG in the top navigation next to my group. Fill out your log. If it's the end of the day, be sure to use the top arrows to toggle...(read more)

Tips on how to get started on PEERtrainer

Elle — Wed, 16 May 2007 05:45:00 GMT

Here Are Some Other Tips To Help You Be Successful: 1. Develop the Logging Habit. Daily logging is the cornerstone of effective weight loss, and engages you in a process called "self-monitoring." Basically a conversation with yourself each day. 2. If you are new to logging, only focus on that for the first few days. It takes a while to develop a new habit, and you want to start this process by breaking them down into easy, achievable goals. 3. Find active groups and teams....(read more)

The scale: when to weigh in , when not to weigh in

Elle — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 19:51:00 GMT

Now that I've been through both the cycles of losing weight, maintaining the weight loss and back to losing weight, I thought I'd share my thoughts and what I've noticed about the scale. There is a great deal of debate about whether to weigh yourself every day, or once a week, or to give up the scale totally and use other ways to measure progress such as a tape measure. I am a fan of the scale. It works for me. It's funny, it's when I gave up the scale that I gained all of the weight in the...(read more)

Free lunches. Enough calories for the entire day?

Elle — Tue, 07 Nov 2006 20:20:00 GMT

Pound down from yesterday morning on the scale which would make it a 1/2 pound lost during the 2 pound challenge. Note to self: do not eat sushi before a "weigh in" challenge. I'd like to discuss my lunch yesterday. I went to an industry conference and they gave tickets for lunch there. You could pick from several different boxed lunches including tuna fish, grilled vegetable, chicken wrap. I chose the roast beef sandwich. The boxed lunch literally had enough food for 2 maybe 3 people. I ...(read more)

Tips for emotional eating - 5 easy ways to avoid emotional eating

Elle — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 18:54:00 GMT

Since I've been reading about emotional eating today in some logs, I wanted to offer some of the things I do when I get stressed/upset instead of grabbing many cookies (which I tend to do about once every 6 months). This list is for myself as well.I call my friends. This is a common one. If one is not home, I literally move down my mobile phone list to call the next one and so forth until someone is home. Might sound strange, but I need to feel heard and I'm not picky about who...(read more)

"Hi! I'm new to PEERtrainer. Any tips?"

Elle — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 19:08:00 GMT

Saw this post in the community today and it was so well put, I thought I'd add it here..."Hi! I'm beth and I'm new to PEERtrainer. Any tips?""Welcome to the site Beth... this is one of the greatest things you'll do in your weight loss journey... my best advice to you in joining this site is to find a group (or several) that meet your needs and if you find they don't find a new one until you get the right fit for you, you can also start a new group if none of the existing groups meet your...(read more)

Beginner's Luck

Elle — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 00:57:00 GMT

This morning I woke up and said I'd rather live with the pain of regret. That single thought was enough to get me to the gym to run. I ended up doing a run/walk for 3 miles with 4 sprints! I am so proud of myself. It's really hard for me to get motivation to workout and I feel like I'm on a beginners luck roll. What's a beginners luck roll? My theory is that every time you try to do something new, whether it's a positive life change, or a new habit, you get "beginners luck". For instance,...(read more)

Live with pain of discipline or the pain of regret

Elle — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 22:43:00 GMT

I worked out yesterday! So psyched about it. Not long, but a full 20 min. on the elliptical. Someone here (karenk28) wrote a quote on her public log that made me go. It said:You can either live with the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. I realized that I have spent so much time attempting to find a workout that I like, a sport that's fun. I never realized (or acknowledged) that, for me, working out just isn't fun So what. A lot of things "just...(read more)

Fat grams and calories, making counting fat grams and calories easy

Elle — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 22:40:00 GMT

I wrote this a while ago but someone said it was helpful so I'm reprinting here.I was speaking to a coworker today who exclaimed, OMG, that has 8 grams of fat!!! I can't eat that. I realized that many people see a high number of fat grams and lack context for what that actually means. I explained it to her, she thought it was helpful so I thought I'd write it here.According to many diets/regimens, a 25 to 30% fat intake per meal is recommended. It's easy to figure out. ...(read more)

Losing the last 10 Pounds- There is No Expert Who Can Tell You Exactly How to Do It.

Elle — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 02:09:00 GMT

I read SELF magazine yesterday and while I mostly read stuff for the pictures (lol), I came across an article that said if you want to lose 10 pounds, think Cardio, cardio, cardio. Become a cardio queen. I've read other stuff that says strength training is so much better for this because muscle burns more than fat. What bothers me is all the conflicting information out there. However, it does make me realize that weight loss and getting fit is a personal endeavor where you have to be a scientist...(read more)

Instant Gratification

Elle — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 17:11:00 GMT

As much as I wish I was a two marshmallow girl, I'm definitely a 1 marshmallow girl that strives to be a 2 marshmallow girl. Stanford University conducted a study with young children of the faculty there many years ago. They had the children in a room and the facilitators put 2 marshmallows on a table in the room for each child. Then they told the children, we will be leaving the room. you may eat one marshmallow now or you may have 2 if you wait until we return. The children...(read more)

Eat out and still lose weight

Elle — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 19:09:00 GMT

I went out to eat last night. I didn't order a salad, which I should have, but I didn't, I ate enough for 3 people and I'm feeling HUGE today. I think there was a published study that individuals eat 50% more than they normally would when they eat out with friends. I know I do and I often go out to eat so here are some things I started to do. Of course, I don't always stick to it but if I manage to fit in a few, I do reasonably well.I almost consistently order a salad when...(read more)

Confronting Shame and Fear

Elle — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 20:07:00 GMT

I've been reading a fascinating book and it speaks about an emotion we rarely cop to or speak about: shame. Why? Because we're too "ashamed" to even acknowledge what were shameful about. We all have it and it's attached to us like a big elephant in the room, we try to hide it, but you can't hide an elephant. It's too big and too interesting for others to ignore. I know I rarely even use the word "shame". I use the words for emotions like happy, elated, angry, frustrated, sad often, but I rarely...(read more)