Advice & Encouragement
for Claire

"Once written it would become fact". That's what you said and that's what finally did it for me. I couldn't ignore it once I put it on paper. So I'm trying that - thanks.

It's a bit daunting at first putting that number down on paper where anyone could see it, but it's helping me too. I know if I've not been keeping with the diet because it shows the next day. It also shows when I've been good.

I have noticed that my weight goes back up on Mondays after I've been cheating on the weekend. I always kind of knew that but I would ignore it and only pay attention to what I weighed by the end of the week. Maybe this will help me be better with my eating on Saturday and Sunday.

Let me know how it works out!

Claire

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I just recently discovered that my television runs on electricity and my eating has no effect - it will run even if I am not shoving food in my mouth.

I don't want to give up my favorite shows, but it is so hard to watch TV without eating. Any ideas?

I have the same problem. One thing that has helped is that my kittens won't leave me alone when I'm eating. I get too frustrated with them trying to eat my nachos and end up putting the food away.

I also thought that if I could keep active while watching my favorite shows, then I wouldn't be tempted to munch. I bought one of those Tony Little Gazelle exercise things and put it in my living room. I confess that it made a terrific coat rack for about two months before I actually started using it.

Now if I'm going to be watching TV I make myself get on the thing for at least 30 minutes. I'm getting my exercise, watching "House", and not eating!

I also just bought one of those exercise balance balls. What a great toy that is! I haven't actually tried any of the workouts yet, but I'm having fun sitting on the ball and trying to keep my balance while lifting my feet off the ground.

I have this (possibly insane) notion that one day I'll be walking through my house, balancing on top of the thing like I was in the circus. I'm sure they warn against that somewhere in the instructions, but my mind likes to make those leaps.

If worse comes to worst, and I still want to eat something, I try something healthy first. A bowl of oatmeal or maybe some yogurt or popcorn. If that doesn't do it, then I eat the junk food, but limit myself to 100 calories. If I still want to eat, I go to bed.

Good luck with your TV viewing!

Claire

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Where do you get the strength (inspiration?) to keep going. I have so much weight to lose - much more than you. Every time I lose a pound I think of all those I still have to lose.

It seems hopeless. But you never seem to lose hope.

My inspiration?

I want to be that skinny, healthy girl. I want to be able to stop taking blood pressure medicine (if that's at all possible). I want to wear shorts and not be embarrassed about how my thighs look. I want to go sleeveless and not feel self-conscious. I want to take a photograph and not have a double chin.

I want to walk up a couple flights of stairs without feeling winded. I want my old boyfriends to take one look at me and rue the day they walked out of my life - even more than I'm sure they already do ;-).

I do get discouraged. I lost that first 20 pounds and just gave up. I couldn't see how I was ever going to do any better. It wasn't until enough pounds had crept back on that I couldn't fit in my clothes comfortably anymore that I got the gumption to do something about it.

I don't want to go back to how things were. I don't like how I felt about myself back then. My self-confidence was very low, I was embarrassed, unhealthy and just plain uncomfortable. I didn't like myself a whole lot and people treated me differently.

I am so much more than how I look but no one could see past the Lumpy Girl - not even me!

Don't give up hope. A pound lost is better than a pound gained. Try setting shorter goals - 5 or 10 pounds at a time. It's not a race. The journey is just as important as the destination. Celebrate your successes along the way.

You can do it!

Claire

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Welcome back Claire. I quit when you quit (how's that for a guilt trip?)

Really you inspire so many of us and again I will restart, even though I may not lose at least I won't gain this Christmas season.

Good luck and thanks for coming back

Thanks! It's good to be back - well, except for the diet part. And now the added guilt.

Not gaining over the holidays is a great goal. I'm actually going to try to lose weight - crazy girl that I am. I have a goal weight in mind that I want to be under come January 1st. It's less than 5 pounds away so it's definitely doable.

At least I'm going to give it my best try. Thanks for writing - it's good to know that I'm not in this alone. Good luck and keep me posted on your progress!

Claire

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Claire you rock! Please let us hear from you more often. We need your help and encouragement.

I keep loosing and gaining the same five pounds. Help us through the holidays

Thanks, Rita

Rita,
I'm right there with you! I was gaining and losing the same few pounds too. Then one day the losing part stopped and I was left with the gain. What a miserable feeling that was.

So, it's back to the diet for me! The holidays are going to be rough, but we'll manage. Glad to know that I'm not in this alone.

Claire

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If anything I need to gain weight but I still read those Claire diet stories because they are so real and funny. The Falling one cracked me up.

Thanks for reading! Have you tried the twinkie cake?

Claire

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Maybe falling is a a female thing. My family has even made up a little song about how much time I spend on the ground. If there's ice - anywhere - I will find it and wind up on the ground. I'm by no means small, so when I fall it is of epic proportions. Thanks for your story.

Maybe it's because boys spend so much time falling on purpose that when they grow up, they have all the falls out of their system. We girls, on the other hand, spend a lot of time trying not to fall and I think it catches up to us when we get older.

PS. I'd love to hear the song!

Claire

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Claire, I love your honesty! I fall all the time, but I try never to think about it - never mind say it out loud. And you actually told all of us about it. You go girl! Maybe there's some humor in it after all. Like the time I fell.... oh never mind. I'm not ready for that yet.

Well, I have to laugh about it - otherwise I'd be crying. Plus if I tell people all the stupid things I do, then they can never hold them against me!

Claire

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You're such a hoot! I can't believe the Walmart manager didn't tell you - AND buy you new clothes! I hope they tore down the store to make the money needed for your "damages".

Nope - they didn't even buy me a slushie! I had a better experience when I fell once leaving the grocery. The only thing that saved me from certain damage was that I fell into my package of ground beef (it makes a nice cushion, by the way).

The bag boys put me onto one of those dollies they use to take the groceries to the cars, gave me a bandaid for my knee and replaced my meat.

Ok, it was still embarrassing, but at least I got fresh meat and my pants didn't split!

Claire

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Claire, you are so funny! I feel your pain - I am "a faller" too. Do you remember how Charlie Brown used to get dressed for the winter and then fall head first in the snow with only his feet showing? That's me!

I'm not sure why, but I spend an awful lot of time on the ground. You really made me laugh!

I thought I was the only one! My falls seem to be more like Chevy Chase's impersonation of President Ford. Either that or like when SpongeBob ripped his pants...
Be careful Charlie!

Claire

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That Claire is hilarious

Thanks for laughing with me!

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Claire,
At least you are trying to use the Force. I am still waving my Harry Potter wand around.
Sue Ann

Sue Ann,
I don't have a wand, but one summer after listening to all the Harry Potter books on tape, I dreamt that I used the Patronus charm to ward off my ex-husband!

Claire

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Claire,
I've been watching Celebrity FitClub 2 and it's hilarious hearing all their excuses for why they didn't lose or even gained.

You are honest and come right out and say it. Good for you.

I don't know if I could be on that kind of show. I think it's a lot easier to be honest sitting at my computer than it would be on TV.

Are there cameras everywhere? I'm sure they would install a Fatty-Cam in my kitchen and would have caught me leaning over the sink, eating big handfuls of that coconut cake.

Then they would zoom in to catch the conflict on my face when I dropped a hunk near the drain and was considering fishing it back out.

Does the 30 second rule apply to sinks? Even if they aired the film, I'm sure I'd be doing my best to deny it.

Thanks for writing!

Claire

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You should be proud of yourself. It's hard to go in and face the music if you've gained - that's when most people quit.

Good for you. And to be on a vacation and gain so little, you should be proud of that too.

Joellen

Joellen,
It didn't seem like too much of a gain did it? I think that was because I had lost more the week before that didn't reflect when I got weighed - water bloat that day, maybe?

Then I more than made up the difference, and then some! (I still keep thinking about that cake!) No way I'm giving up yet!

Thanks so much for your kind words.

Claire

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Keep up the good work Claire. A little gain is to be expected. You're doing great!

Sal

Sal,
Thanks! Even though I know that I'm going to have those weeks when I'll gain weight, it's still hard to face at the scales. I appreciate the words of encouragement.

Claire

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Hi Claire
Sorry to say it, but I'm happy you gained! It makes me feel more normal.

But you got right back to it, so I know I can too. Thanks for being so honest and sharing this with us.

Marie

Marie,
If anyone isn't normal, it's me!

I've never had this kind of success at dieting. I think it's because I'm doing it online and have that added pressure of all of you out there watching me.

I felt like I was letting you all down by gaining weight. It's good to know that it's OK. Thanks for sharing your feelings with me.

Claire

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Claire,
Claire - Don't worry about a little gain. You're doing so well, it's only natural!

(BUT, if you ever want to help the numbers along a simple water pill would help -oops, did I say that out loud?)

Hi,
Thanks for the encouragement, but I'll pass on the water pill (no pun intended)

The effects of a diuretic are only temporary and I think should only be used under the advice of a physician. I'd hate to become dehydrated or cause any damange to my kidneys just for a better number at the scales.

I think I'll do better to just avoid salty foods and quit cheating on my diet so much.

Best wishes!

Claire

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Hi Claire
I laughed out loud at the "leaning toward the sun" after so much salad.

Next time all my friends order clubs or patty melts and I get yet another salad I'm going to use that line.

Thanks

Hi,
I don't think I'll ever turn vegetarian, but some days I feel like I'm turning into a vegetable!!

Claire

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I would love to know Claire personally. She's a hoot.

Maybe you should have a girl's night out with Claire and other personalities.

That will be a tough one! I won't be able to party much because everyone will know I'm dieting and will hold me to it.

I'll be sipping club soda and munching on veggies instead of the nachos and margaritas I've been hankering for!!

Claire

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Hi Claire
Do you watch the Celebrity Challenge weightloss show on VH1? I love it.

You should be on that show. They are so open about it - just like you

Hi,
No I haven't seen it. Sounds like fun, but I don't know if Lumpy Girl could stand the scrutiny.

There's something about seeing yourself on film that can be truly devastating. A few years ago I was filmed for an activity I did at work. When I saw myself on TV I cried for several days.

I never realized that was how I looked! These days I'm feeling better about how I look and have become somewhat of a camera hog.

Maybe if someone did that locally??? You'd have to join me!

Claire

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Claire, You make my day!

Who needs to be pencil thin when you have a personality like yours!

Your doing great wish I could say the same. It's not the meals for me but the snacking

I look like Jackie Gleason

ML

ML,
I couldn't live without snacking. It's a planned part of my day.

I even eat right before I go to bed, and I plan to keep that up until I get acid reflux and have to change. I just make sure my snacks are ok to eat on my diet.

If I eat snacks that arent, I try to make it up another way. Generally, when I have a naughty snack it's of the carbohydrate variety (cake), so I just have less carbs at my next meal. (or two - I like cake!)

Don't be discouraged. You are doing your best. It's all about the process.

And as Jackie Gleason would say, "How sweet it is!"

Claire

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Claire, Congratulations on your weight loss.

Love your analogy of the butter sticks. I started a program in February from University Hospitals for weight loss and the last 4/6 weeks I have been STUCK on the scale. Talk about discouraging.

Well, I finally have kick-started and am dropping again.

I will use your butter stick analogy instead of my "I have 2 bowling balls to go"

Keep up the good work.

Lee - Cleveland

Hi Lee,
Wow! Being stuck for 6 weeks sounds like agony--but you kept at it and didn't give up. That takes a lot of dedication.

What a whiner I am! I'm going to remember your example next time I'm bemoaning my slow weight loss.

Thanks for the inspiration!

Claire

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A couple of your goals have included finding new work out regiments as well as new "good" foods to eat. Have you been successful with either of those?

Steph from Columbus (Age 22)

Hi Steph,
I just wrote a column "I Go Out Walking" that addresses both parts of your question. Thanks for asking,

Claire

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I've had my best week yet working along with you - 5.3 pounds. of course my last couple weeks were a pound or less, so I guess I was just saving it up. I bet you are too. Keep up the good work.

Kate

Kate,
WOW!!! That's fantastic! Thanks for sharing your success with me. Lumpy girl may occasionally be dragging her heels, but we are making excellent progress and we are going to make it to our goals. You rule!

Claire

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I like the 'excessive weeping" idea - but you're making me laugh not cry. I wonder if that will help too?

Mickey

Mickey,
Excessive laughing tends to make my stomach hurt, so I'm guessing that means that I'm working my abs? I think you may be onto something!

Thanks for laughing along with me,

Claire

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You are so funny!!! I know exactly what you mean when you describe yourself; I've woken up to that same look many times. Good luck!

Patty

Patty,
You must have bought your mirror at the same place I did. Maybe we should take them back? Good luck to you too!

Claire

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Regardless of how your weight loss is going you should be proud that you keep on trying and you keep your sense of humor.

Joanne

Joanne,
I've only really been working at this for a little over a month, but I'm so ready to be done! In my mind the pounds are just flying off and I'm always surprised when I step on the scales and it doesn't reflect that.

Delayed gratification isn't one of my strongsuits. Thanks for the pep talk!

Claire

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Hi Claire,

I too can't stand some of those lettuces, they are tough and strong. I'm a head lettuce person but I buy the bags because they are so simple.

My mother used to make a luncheon salad of lettuce, cottage cheese, and pineapple maybe a cherry or two. Try it you'll like it.

Hi, I remember that salad too! Cottage cheese and fruit are so good together.

As kids, my sister and I used to make a salad with cottage cheese and a canned peach or pear half that looked somehow like a face. I think you used raisins for the eyes and you set it on a big lettuce leaf.

The recipe was from a kids' cookbook, but I don't remember the title. The next time I visit my Mom, I'll have to see if she still has the book. It would be pretty old by now. Thanks for the memory!!

Claire

P.S. My friend says that she heard Billy Joel referred to as the head lettuce of rock n roll, so we call a salad with iceberg lettuce a Billy Joel salad

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Claire, Claire, Claire
I can't believe you printed a recipe for a twinkie cake!!!

I have been thinking (OK obsessing) about Twinkies since I read it. What kind of help are you? (just kidding - but not about the twinkie obsession)

Angie

Angie,
Sorry, sorry, sorry! I can only think about the naughty foods for so long before I have to indulge.

I could write only about how good I've been on my diet, but you've read my stuff - you know I'm not perfect. Plus the people who know me (and my eating habits) would call me on the carpet for that.

I admit to having a cake obsession. Can't resist it. Think about it all the time. Aaugh!!! Must...think...of...something...else....

I promise that the next recipe I share will be healthy and diet approved!

Claire

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Claire,
You blow my mind, a girl after my own heart!

I will try it, but who would have thought I'd find a wonderful tasty dessert in your column. We do need relief sometimes from this ordeal we are going through.

Peg

Peg,
I was not able to resist the Twinkie Cake and had a generous helping on Father's Day, but I walked in the morning and then again that night to try to burn off some of those deliciously evil calories.

I am a little anxious about this week's weigh-in, but there is no way to be good all the time. I want to be able to eat the goodies once in a while but still be ok with my diet.

I'm learning (sloooowly) how to get that balance. Twinkie relief can be a good thing!

Claire

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Everybody thinks it's only women who have a weight problem. My teen age son is going through a really hard time because he's overweight.

I could stand to loose about 20 pounds too, so he and I are both working right along with you. He likes that it's somebody on the web (even if it is a "girl").

Thanks for sharing your story with us.

Karen (and Tom)

Karen and Tom,
From the responses I've been getting, being overweight is a problem that hits many people and it doesn't matter if they are young or old, male or female. It's great to know that a guy is working on this diet thing along with me. The more of us working together, the easier it will be.

When I was a teenager, I was all butt and nothing else, and boy, did I get teased - even by my family! I think it's great that you both are doing this together. I hope you will keep me updated with your progress.

Good luck to you both!

Claire

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Keep it up Claire, you should be so proud of yourself! I lost 50 pounds and I've kept it off for over a year. It's really a whole life style change.

Don't be discouraged if you don't lose every week, or if you don't lose as much as you think you should. It'll happen if you stick with it.

Angie

Angie, Wow!! 50 pounds!! That is awesome! Thanks for the words of encouragement. It means so much to me that you took the time to write me a note.

It really helps me stick to my diet when I get such great supportive messages. Congratulations on your weight loss - I hope to be right there with you some day!

Claire

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Don't you get bored eating only the "good stuff"? I'm really having a hard time sticking with it. Thanks for your tips.

Colleen

Colleen, It can be boring, but that's mostly because I'm too lazy to be creative with my cooking. Most of the "good stuff" I eat is stuff I like anyway. Corn on the cob, grilled chicken, asparagus - you won't see me eating tofu!

But I do miss stuff like real ice cream and cake and cheeseburgers. I do cheat every once in a while but just a little and then I make up for it by being extra good.

I'm so excited to be losing weight that when I'm tempted with goodies I can resist without too much trouble. Do you have any tips to keep the boredom away?

Claire

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Hi Claire - Congratulations on sticking with it - I'm trying to do it right along with you.

I look forward to your articles because I feel like we're in this together, but I have a little more to loose than you.

Keep it up and I will too

Nancy

Hi, Nancy, Thanks! I'm going to keep trying and writing about it until I reach my goal. Glad to know you are out there with me. Best wishes!

Claire

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I'm with you lumpy girl. Just having trouble getting started.

How did you begin? Did you start on a Monday or first of the Month? I keep putting it off.

Love your writing and tips. Keep up the good work

A Procrastinator

Being a fellow procrastinator, I started on a Friday. Why? My thought was that if I weighed-in on Friday mornings I could cheat all weekend and then diet like mad from Monday through Thursday.

Of course, that didn't work quite like I wanted it to, but I still like having that buffer between getting weighed and the weekend.

Let me know when you decide to start. Maybe you've got a better system? Claire

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I'm right there with you, except, I'm a little older (30 years, feels like I was your age yesterday), but now it feels so much harder to lose that un-wanted weight. If you find the way, please share it!!!

I know more active is one of the answers, but who has enough time to be more active and still live the life style that put the weight on in the first place? Thanks for going public.
Kathy

Kathy,
Thanks for being the first person to respond to the Lumpy Girl. I apologize for taking so long to reply. I'm kind of new to this and you got lost in my email.

I will definitely share what I'm going through. I don't think I've discovered THE way, but I have found a way that works for me - at least it's working right now.

My basic diet plan is no junk food (or as close as I can get to that); eat healthy carbs like shredded wheat, brown rice, and beans, any fruit or veggie I want, low fat dairy products and plenty of lean protein.

My exercise plan is to walk. I don't worry about how fast or how far I walk. I just try to walk for 45 minutes. Finding that time is definitely an issue because of all the demands that fall to me every day.

Somehow, when prioritizing, I always would put my needs and myself at the end of the list, which I think is pretty common for most people. Then I realized that, hey, I am important too, and just started making time for myself.

Thanks again for your support. It's so much easier doing this, knowing that I'm not alone.

Good luck!
Claire

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You are certainly brave to go public with your weight loss attempt. I wish you the best.

I am going to try losing weight along with you - less publicly though (LOL).

Best of luck and thanks for the inspiration
Karen

Karen, Thanks for joining me. It's so much easier knowing I'm not doing this alone. Keep me posted on your progress. Best of luck! Claire

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You already know to eat less and exercise more. I teach fitness classes, so want you to know that you are not alone in wanting to slim down. Here are some quick suggestions - just like I give my students:

• Join a Weight Watchers group. It helps to have others to work with.
• Find an exercise group or a buddy to work out with.
• Pick exercise that is fun. For example dancing (even belly dancing), jumping rope, trying a hoola hoop, roller skating, hiking with a friend.
• If you slip up or off the diet, rather than feeling guilty, just get right back on.

P.S. Reward yourself as you reach lower levels (and not with food - maybe jewelry or a great outfit).
Chris King (read about Chris)

Chris, Thanks for the advice and support.

I have joined Weight Watchers and I'm following the "core" plan and intend to stay with it until I reach my goal. It's an eating plan that works for me - I know what foods I need to eat and don't have to worry about counting anything

I have been walking just about every day. It's not that hard to fit in 30-45 minutes of walking if you make it a priority.

Don't you find that once you start exercising regularly, you start looking forward to it rather than dreading it? I get halfway through my walk and I start feeling really good and sometimes end up walking longer than I had planned.

Thanks for pulling for me. I'm going to start thinking about some rewards - other than a big sundae at that frozen custard place I pass every day on my walk!

Claire

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Claire, I have struggled with my weight since high school so I know what you are going through. Society wants us to be skinny supermodels but I have grown beyond that and just want to be healthy.

I will be watching your progress and trying my own plan too. Here's to both of us getting much more healthy! Thanks, Wendy

Wendy, Isn't it a shame that people judge us by our bodies? I know I'll never have that skinny, supermodel look. For one thing, I'm just not built that way. I'm short and I have thick muscles. A friend (?) once told me I was built like a woman wrestler.

I like that I'm a curvy girl. I don't want to look like those skeletal thin girls in the Hollywood magazines. I don't see how that can be healthy. My goal is to get back to my hourglass figure - instead of my current Michelin Man shape.

Good luck and good health to you! Let me know how you are doing.

Claire

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First: Be realistic and be honest. How much time -- honestly -- are you willing to commit to exercise every week? What is a realistic goal weight, one that you are relatively sure you can (a) reach and (b) maintain?

As far as eating, I tell my clients to CHANGE ONE THING. Don't expect to overhaul your entire diet on Monday morning, at least not if you want to stick with it.

Maybe switch from mochas to regular coffee, or drink two extra glasses of water every day, or start making your own lunch. Then the following week, keep that going and do one more thing.

Last: Exercise should be fun. Keep trying stuff until something -- swimming or biking or whatever -- is enjoyable.

Shari Sweeney (ACE-certified personal trainer at Five Seasons Country Club in Westlake)

Shari, Thanks for your recommendations.

I think I'm being reasonable about my weight loss goal. I'm aiming for the weight recommended for a woman my age and height, but my doctor is keeping an eye on me and if that goal isn't right, she will help pick a weight that works best for me.

We won't know until I get closer to my optimum weight. I definitely want to have a weight that is healthy and that I am able to maintain.

Thanks also for the reminder about drinking water. I generally have a cup of coffee (decaf) going all day and don't always remember to drink enough water.

I'm putting bottled water on my shopping list so that I can grab one when I'm on the go.

Claire

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Three words for Claire - You Go Girl!
Susan

Susan, Thanks!

Claire

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Claire, are you using any specific diet plan? Let us know how it works. I have tried them all and am still, as you say, a lumpy girl.

Dear Fellow Lumpy Girl,
I am following Weight Watchers "core" plan. It works for me because they have a list of foods that I'm allowed to eat and I eat what I need so that I'm not hungry.

If I had to count everything that goes in my mouth, I would go crazy and would have to be thinking about food all the time, which would defeat the purpose for me.

The bonus is that it's all good food you can eat and if you stray, well they've figured in ways to do that to. I like it so far. I wish you the best!

Lumpy Girl Claire

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