* ~ *New Year, New Focus, New Habits* ~ *

[**Jennifer**]

Happy New Year, Chickies!

It's 2005...a brand new year, and a brand new chance for success!

Ahead of us are endless possibilities...new opportunities for healthier choices. New days, weeks, and months ready for us to decide how to use them. We've come so far in 2004- look at everything we learned. The triumphs and struggles, the gains and losses, the laughter and the tears that have made us who we are. And look at the tremendous group we have built!
I can truly say there are no better supporters than our group.

I know we've all struggled individually over the last year. Some with food choices, some with sugar, some with water, and exercise, and balancing all areas. We're not going to get things together overnight, so this first Challenge of 2005 is to work on one thing. Just one area which has been the biggest problem for you in 2004.

We'll take the next 30 days to work on this. It takes 21-28 days to build a habit, so we've got a few extra days, in case we slip up.

I hope you'll join me in making 2005 our most successful year yet!

Let the Challenge begin!

Want a New Year's Avatar? Click here for a selection (http://www.boomspeed.com/jenr/newyear.htm)

[hikein2005]

Here I am! I am trying to make this first 30 days really count and with having gained probably 5#'s (i will weigh officially on Monday) I will start with that!

Here were my areas of weakness for most of the year:
*Difficulty avoiding/staying away from sugar and those kinds of products.
*Lack of consistency with planning meals and working out
*started toning, but did it for a short while and then stopped altogether!
*stopped working out in November! :?:
*water intake once the weather cooled off dropped considerably!

Here are the areas of improvement for the year of 2004:
*Started using splenda vs. sugar in most things.
*choose lower calorie/less sugar products over fully loaded products.
*Made exercise a priority for about 2/3 of the year!
*Learned about fitness vs. "getting buff" and applied that to myself for several months (which is when I started seeing losses, BTW)!

There are several areas which need to be revisited this month but like Jennifer says, pick one and start there, so....
Here is the area I need to focus on for the first 30 days:
Consistency with:
1. Making food planning/healthy eating a habit...planning, planning, planning!
2. Working out on a scheduled basis. I have the schedule all made out
for working out...just need to stick with it!

OK, well that's it...Happy New Year everyone. I'm not feeling well today so if I get in a workout it will be amazing!

[**Jennifer**]

would have to be the commitment & follow through with the exercise. Even if food & water are right on target, without the exercise, nothing happens, then I get lazy, and food & water start to slide. So for this month, it'll have to be:

1. Plan to exercise 5 days a week
2. Start back slowly with the 1 mile WATP, and then build from there
3. Complete my exercise log in the journal daily

This morning, I slept in a little, then made breakfast for hubby. I wasn't hungry then, so I waited & had a brunch of an apple & cinnamon cottage double, 2 slices of pepperidge farm cinnamon bread, and 2oz of skim mozzarella cheese.

Hubby is making me sugar free kool aid as I type this, and I finished my 1 mile WATP before getting the challenge set up. I'll get the new avatars done sometime today- just need to resize & upload them & we'll be underway. I hate to put them up plain, because people tend to help themselves, so it'll have something on it, but be pretty simple. :)

Okay, time to relax a little, and later, I think I'll even get on the bike for some afternoon movement.

Happy New Year!

[lauren2pink]

:wave: Hello everyone!

My goals for the new year are pretty simple - I want to get back into the routine of the diet and exercise plan that I know works for me: :goodscale:

1) 1200 calories / 20 fat grams per day :hun:
2) 8-10 glasses of water per day
3) At least 4 (45 min - 1 hr) yoga sessions per week
4) At least 4 (30 min) cardio sessions per week :tread:

I know that if I can get into a routine, this is a plan I can stick to. Soooo... Hopefully this challenge will help me stick to this long enough to establish that routine.

Good luck to all! We can do this! :cheer:

-Lauren

[miss_elisha]

I'm here! Happy New Year, chicks!

I did learn a lot during 2004, and now it's time to refocus and start applying all the things I know. The main thing I know is that I have to exercise regularly if I want to lose weight, and I have to pay attention to my calorie intake. I'm also going to start paying attention to carb/fat/protein ratios, and the food pyramid, and try to work in more veggies and fruits. And drink as much water as possible.

I've got my goals/resolutions for the year written down at home (I'm at Steve's right now), and I'll post them in the morning when I do my measurements/weigh-in. I'm going to post all of my goals, not just those that are weight-loss related, simply because I know I'm going to talk about other stuff during the year, and you'll all get to read all about it, so you might as well know what I'm talking about. ;)

This is going to be a good year for us, I just know it. We've got a great group here, and it's only going to get better. This is the year for us to meet our goal, lose the weight, and grow stronger as individuals and as friends. I wish the best for all of you in the year ahead of us, and look forward to hearing about all of your setbacks and successes.

~Elisha

[scorchin]

You guys know I'm in.
I haven't come up with my resolutions as of yet that way I got on here to get some ideas. I think Jennifer, hikein, and Lauran your goals sound great and have helped me come up with a few I need to do as well.
I weighed this morning I have lost .5lb not much but still its a lose. My hubby is sick just when I get the 5kids back to their houses lol. Now I have another baby to deal with hehe but thats ok.
Well I"m gonna go check on hubby take care,
Heather

[lauren2pink]

Heather -

:cheer: I'm impressed that you've lost any at all! I haven't weighed in over a week, but I know I've gained at least a pound over the holidays! :sman:

-Lauren

[**Jennifer**]

Okay...new avatars are up...if you find anything else you like, or want something personalized, PM me & I can make any changes :)

I'll be back in later to update....we had chickarina soup for lunch- yum, and very low calorie, too! Getting back on this horse, and this time I'm hanging on & not letting anything throw me off course.

Hope everyone is having a great first day of 2005!

[squabb56]

You know I gotta be here :lol3:

I have decided on the following five resolutions for 2005. I posted them at 1:06 am this morning on the journal.
1. I will continue to work toward a healthier life style by eating less and exercising more. Eating less unnatural sugar and “white” carbs as to keep my diabetes II in check. My wellness is also aided by regular daily exercise which also helps toward keeping me mobile (arthritis) and reducing my blood pressure and reducing stress (hypertention & depression) and keeping my heart pumping and circulation moving (edema).

2. I will continue to work toward my PMAC Level II

3. I will work toward becoming more organized at home and at work by keeping lists and checks and planning and scheduling chores and tasks by priority.

4. I will keep better track of my/our finances by tracking spending and deposits as they happen.

5. I will try to reach out and make some new friends and touch base with those who I’ve lost touch with.

The one thing I want to work on specifically for the next month - and my area that needs the greatest amount of forcus - is getting in some daily exercise. I enjoy it while doing it, but for some reason I always come up with excuses not too. I need the motivation.... So I will report here (starting Monday) reporting my daily exercise. No more excuses.... that should be my new motto :lol:

A Safe and Happy New Year to all ...
Joy

[MsRD]

Happy New Year!!

There is nothing like January 1st to make you reflect on the year past, and plan for the year yet to come. Last January 1st, I committed to a healthier lifestyle.....and signed on to 3FC with a born-again enthusiasm. I spent the next 8 months reading and learning, trying to find the right program for me and the right group of chicks to keep me motivated. The football coaches would call it a 'building year'.

I feel like I have laid the foundation for the rest of my life. I know what I have to do.....eat right, exercise, drink water......but, more than that, I have to use my brain. I have to apply everything I have learned; I have to be conscious of the daily choices I make regarding my health.

Specifically, for January, I will focus on exercise. It has been my most difficult struggle in 2004. And it is the linch pin of my entire program......if I can exercise regularly, everything else falls into place and I see positive results.

The year ahead is full of challenges, but I know we are ready for them. This is an incredible group....together, we can do anything!

[Hotcupojava]

Squabb, Great goals! As are everyone's. I'm still working on a list of goals and/or aims (I'll call mine aims because I want to be different :joker: ). I'm also working on a list of things to be thankful for. 2004 was a great year for me. I quit my old job and got a new one, took a pay cut, but then got not one, but two raises (confirming my decision) and I've cut my stress levels at work from a strong 8-9 to ZERO! :cloud9: I won tickets to my first concert which just so happened to be the band I am totally obsessed with BARENAKED LADIES! :cb:

I had a small success in losing weight, but quickly quit when it didn't come off as fast as I thought it should be. I've got a sneaking suspicion that it's not just me, it IS harder for me to lose (maybe because of that stupid gastric by-pass). I was actually jogging... oh don't get me started on that again, you know how I whine. :bb: But if that's the cold, hard facts, then that's that. I'll have to deal with it. If I don't lose some weight and soon, I've got serious consequences to deal with. I'll just simply have to work harder. :drill:

Anyway, I'm feeling pretty good about moving my arse again. Seems I have no choice. This polyester straight jacket, they call a uniform is creaking at the seams and if I don't do something AND NOW, I'll have to ask for a leave of absence or something. It took so long to get the uniforms, once ordered, it's not going to happen quick enough to bother ordering them again. And no, although it may be possible to have them altered, I'll not give in and do that. Better to just bite the bullet and move my expanding butt.

My sister lost close to 90 pounds with Weight Watchers. That's all I'll say about that. :sssh:

Okay, no promises that I'll post here every day. But I will subscribe and read up on all of you, I'll post daily in my journal (which you are all welcome to participate in) and I'll be fighting this fight right along side all of you. Hip hip hoooooray! :hat:

[lisa girl]

Oh, how I need this challenge!! I learned that eating your way through the Christmas holiday can rapidly result in a 10 pound weight gain. But, I'm trying not to look back at that, and instead, focus on what I CAN DO ABOUT IT. I've been to the grocery store and stocked the kitchen. I've had the all important "chat" with myself about why I need to do this once and for all. Is this worth it? Absolutely. Am I worth the effort? Absolutely. I feel like I am at "rock bottom"..gosh it's a bad place to be.

I know what a terrific group you are, and I believe that being a part will help me to be successful...and perhaps I can be of some support to some of you as well.

MY MAIN GOAL I think for starters is to get my food portions/water intake under control. I also would like to get my exercise going..and I am going to be working on that as well. I want to get my vitamins started again too.

I hope you all had a terrific and restful 1st day of the year!!

(((((Hugs))))),
Lisa

[hikein2005]

One thing I forgot to say was that I know that without many of you here/this group...I would have quit a long time ago, so I thank you for being here and cheering me on and helping me through the tough times. I know there will be tough times ahead this year as well, but I have learned where to go and what to do! You all are truly my friends!

I wish I was feeling more up to exercising today because I would have started, but unfortunately, the intestinal flu has gotten the best of me and I have been chasing back and forth to the toilet most of the day! Let me just say that Ihope none of you are afflicted with this because it sucks! Blah! So much for upbeat and happy beginnings in 2005!!! ;)

I promise, though, that if I am feeling better tomorrow...I will workout somehow!

All of your goals sound great! Let's do this together...and since so many of us are making exercise a priority....I feel a challenge coming on!!!!! :)

[scorchin]

WOW everyone goals sound wonderful. I was to surprise that lost weight too. OK I came up with 8 different goals for this coming year.:cp:
2005 Goals
1) Limit Cola intake to 2 per week:coffee:
2) Exercise at least 3-6 times per wk :tread:
3) Keep my food and activity journal up to date:hun:
4) Make sure not to eat high pnt snacks at school:cookie:
5) Stick to my custom ww plan :mcd:
6) Get up to drinking at least 60oz of water daily
7) Start being happier with myself :D
8) Find one thing each wk I like about myself and focus on that whenever I get upset or depressed:flow1:
Goals Week of Jan. 3-9: :dizzy: ;) :dizzy:
Exercise at least once this week
Water to be 40oz daily
keep food at pnt range 18-23 daily
Ladies I know we can do this lets all get to working hard and having fun....

[lisa girl]

I was surprised! Yesterday went really well for me. I ate within my point range, drank my water, and had the right amount of fruits and veggies. No exercise, though- I have this icky cold! I'm going to try the exercise bike today...maybe at least 20 min. on there would make me feel better about starting "Exercise in 2005". I found the neatest thought, and I wanted to share it with you:

Steps along the way
Progress is made in steps. Be willing to take enough steps, and you can get wherever you want.
Imagine walking to a destination that is one mile away. The first step doesn't seem to take you very far, though if you keep going you'll be there in half an hour.
When working toward a goal, the intermediate steps may seem tedious and unfulfilling. Yet in reality, they are the very essence of fulfillment.
That fulfillment will be realized when the steps are all taken. Keep going, and the achievement will be yours.
Whether the goal is modest or highly ambitious, taking sure and steady steps will get you there. When you're willing to take the necessary steps, there is no limit to where you can go.

Though the goal may seem distant, the pathway is not. The first step is right in front of you now.
-- Ralph Marstonv

*I just loved this!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a super day everyone!

Lisa

[lisa girl]

Julie...sweetie, I hope you are feeling better today!!!

[miss_elisha]

Ok, chicks, so here's the goals I promised:

1. Pay off as much debt as possible and quit spending money on stupid crap.
2. Actually save some money. I want to have at least $500 in my savings account by 2006. I know it's a measley amount, but it's something I've never had before. You gotta start somewhere, right?
3. Lose 40-45 pounds. To do this I will:
Lose at least 5 pounds per month
Eat within my daily calorie budget
Exercise 4-5 days per week
Strength train 3-4 days per week
Yoga or pilates 3 days per week
Slendercises every day
Drink at least 64 ounces of water every day
Eat more fruits and vegetables
Eat more unprocessed/whole foods.

I've already made out my workout schedule for the month, starting with today, and budget worksheets. Today I'm going to clean up the mess I call my room so I can actually have some space to breathe, and exercise. Organization is a wonderful thing, when you actually have it.

I've printed out my goals for the year, and I'm going to hang them on my wall, right next to my door, where I will see them every day. I wrote it up like a contract, signed and dated. At the bottom it says:

I, Elisha, will accomplish these goals in 2005. They will be kept forefront in my mind and I will work toward them every day. I will not allow minor setbacks to deter me. I will not allow others to interfere with my success. I will accomplish these goals in 2005.

I challenge each and every one of you to write your own contract with yourself. The words don't have to be the same, but it always helps to have it in writing. Keep it somewhere you can see it.

Also, I think it's time to start up my daily quotes/questions again, but this time it's going to be a little different. I'm only going to use one thread (which I'll post right after I'm done here), and it could be either a quote, a question, or some interesting nutrition/diet information. You may already know some of the stuff I'll post, but some you probably won't. I'll try to keep it random so you never know what you're going to get. If anyone has anything they want to add, PM me, or feel free to post it yourself.

Julie, I'm up for an exercise challenge if you are! Let's get going!

Ok, time to get moving. I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday weekend, and best of luck with your goals!
~Elisha

[lameducklucy]

Hey! OF COURSE I'm here! Just a little late... :D

My goals for the year are:

* Lose the last 25 lbs and get back to my 'normal' weight of about 145, and size of about 9/10.
* Take my vitamins, including the extra folic acid that I need every day, because we want to start trying for kids NEXT January.
* Keep up my healthy eating habits, which shouldn't be too hard.
* Drink as much water per day as I can manage to drink!
* Do 3 hours of DDR per week (after we move)
* Lose 10 lbs or so for the first couple months of '05!

My doc suggested, since he couldn't put me on any prescription meds, to try Trimspa. Nobody is whining at me about this. *puts foot down!* Nutritionist said it was OK, too. SO. Since I have friends who've had success with it... I AM DOING IT!

Next paycheck, on Jan. 14, I am ordering the stuff and starting on it!

A big personal goal for 2005 is to get over myself and, once I've lost this last 25-ish lbs of weight, find a bathing suit.

Not a two piece. Not even a daring 1-piece. Just something comfy that looks okay. AND WEAR IT IN PUBLIC WITH MY FRIENDS THIS SUMMER! I am going to work hard for this one! :D

Another big goal for myself is to really get tough on my ab muscles. We're going to start trying in Jan of '05, and I am NOT about to go into a pregnancy and labor with weak abs!!! (Stronger abs are proven to make labor easier and less painful!)

I hope you all had a safe and happy New Year! LET'S KICK SOME BUTT THIS YEAR CHICKIES!!!!!!! :D

[lauren2pink]

Well, so far I am doing okay with my goals - I stayed within my calorie and fat limit yesterday and drank plenty of water, though I didn't get any exercise in except a short run with my dog.

Everyone seems to have some great goals - lets all stick to them!

-LAuren

[hikein2005]

OK chickies...I need some positive vibes/prayers or whatever you can manage sent my way here!

Aside from the intestinal flu, which seems to be lingering now for day 2...I have a major problem with my left hand. I went to the Dr. last week but I'm pretty sure she mis-diagnosed me. I did some research on the internet and from the conclusion I have made (I know I'm not a Dr., but anyone could do this test if they knew anything about anatomy) is that there is a bone in my wrist which is unstable or fractured...causing me great pain with any kind of extension or side ways movement! I think it is irritating the muscles/tissues around the bone which is when I have the pain! Anyway...I am going to call my Doc in the morning and see if I can get in with an ortho Doc to have them correctly diagnose and treat. I'll tell you what, I could use some heavy duty drugs right now with this flu and the hand issue! And those prayers wouldn't hurt! Thanks!

Other than that...I'll be ready for this challenge when my body is ready, but until then I am just lying low, I'm sorry to say! I will try with the food thing but I just don't have an appetite at all!

Sorry for the whiny post...Wish I could be more inspiring and motivating. I really NEED to be motivated because I really NEED to get this weight off! By the time this flu goes away, I should be down the 5# I gained!

Lisa...thanks for the well wishes! I appreciate that! Hope that you are well and I love the Ralph Marston quotes!

[lauren2pink]

hikein2005 -

:sorry: I'm sorry your new year has begun so badly! I am sending lots of thoughts and prayers your way! :angel:

I would go to an orthopedic for your hand. I had a fracture in my foot a few months ago that the ER docs insisted was just a bruise... 4 weeks later, it was still hurting so bad I went to an orthopedic and he found a hairline fracture in the x-ray that the other docs had missed. This is just one story... I have lots of joint problems, and can tell you from experience that most normal doctors are not great at diagnosing them. In the mean time - take some Aleve or naproxen (or celebrex if you have it) - that will help more than anything else!

Good luck! Hope you are able to be more active very soon! :goodvibes

-Lauren

[miss_elisha]

Ok, so my dad helps me fix my treadmill this afternoon. Turns out that the rubber coating on the front bar was peeling back and wrapping around. In the process of fixing that we managed to cut the actual walking belt. Great. Now it just makes a different annoying noise.
So anyway, I actually work out today. Slendercises as warm-up, then I climb on the treadmill. I was planning on doing 30 minutes, but at minute 24 it starts screeching and the front bar starts wobbling and clunking. So I get off before it falls apart completely and I end up breaking an ankle or something like that. That would be just what I need.
Yeah, so we fixed the treadmill, but it still doesn't work. How's that for luck?

I just want something to work! That's all!

*sigh*

But I did go on to do my UB circuit, pilates, and more Slendercises as a cool-down. And I'm more than half way through my 4th 16-oz. glass of water, and I'm sure there will be more to come tonight.

I guess I'll just have to go back to the stairclimber, or walk outside when it's warm enough. Or save some $ and get something else. (Yeah right, like I have any money.)
Maybe I'll just take a few days off of work and drive to sunny Florida and take Jennifer up on her "come and get it and it's yours" treadmill offer. ;)

Ok, now to scrounge up something healthy to eat. Then a bit more room cleaning, shower, facial, perhaps manicure/pedicure, relaxing for the rest of the evening. I'll be back later. Hope everyone is doing great!
~Elisha

[hikein2005]

hikein2005 -

:sorry: I'm sorry your new year has begun so badly! I am sending lots of thoughts and prayers your way! :angel:

Good luck! Hope you are able to be more active very soon! :goodvibes

-Lauren

Lauren,
Thank you for the prayers! I can use them for sure! ...I'm filling up on Ibuprofen this afternoon. I will try some Alleve tonight at bedtime! Now, if I can just get rid of this diarrhea! ;) Oh well, the weight will be off in no time, right??

Gosh, tell me all about your ortho problems! Never good for working out unless you do lots of low resistance stuff!
Hugs!

[MsRD]

Hello all! :wave:

Everything is so enthusiastic and all have such great goals! We are going to go places this year! I had to get on the scale this morning.......for my official 2005 starting weight......and found I had only gained 1 pound over the holidays! Christmas is the time for miracles!

Hikein.....hugs & prayers going your way, chickie. That flu has been nasty......they're dropping like flies at work......try Imodium for the diarrhea. As for the wrist.....maybe you should go to the emergency room.....they could diagnose it right away and recommend an ortho person for followup.

JavaTurtle.....how great to see you again! You really ended 2004 on a good note.....new job, no stress......there's no end to what you will be able to accomplish now! Even if you don't post, I will know you are there....and you should know we are always here for you too!

Squabb......quite an impressive list of goals! And at years end, you will have quite a list of accomplishments too!

Lisa....great Ralph Marston quote! I am going to print it out.....a reminder that every positive day makes me that much closer to my goal.

Elisha.....that is one impressive contract! It does make a difference when you write your goals out. Put the word out that you are looking for a new treadmill......you would be surprised how many folks have one collecting dust somewhere and will be glad to get rid of it!

Lucy......keep us posted on Trimspa.....I will be interested to hear how it works. BTW, what is DDR?

Lauren.....a run with the dogs is exercise.....and it counts!

[lauren2pink]

Gosh, tell me all about your ortho problems! Never good for working out unless you do lots of low resistance stuff!
Hugs!

I used to figure skate competitively, soo... in addition to bad genetics, my joints are just all torn up from too many harsh landings, etc.

It is hard for me to find the right workout - especially cardio. Even with lots of meds, I can only run or power-walk short distances. I basically stick to the stationary bike or eliptical at the gym and do yoga and power yoga at home and at a yoga studio. I have been told that water aerobics would be good for me, but I can't afford it right now. I think I am switching my gym budget over to the YMCA next month though, so I should be able to start that there.

Hope you feel better soon!

[lauren2pink]

Well, ladies, I managed to stay within my fat and calorie intake today, though I haven't yet met my water requirement. I did do a yoga session, so that makes one down and three to go for the week. No cardio yet - I meant to go over to our complex's fitness center and use the bike today, but never made it and now it is dark and rainy out... Oh well- perhaps tommorow!

-Lauren

[miss_elisha]

Evening chicks!

I've decided to start posting my food intake again (here as well as on the journal, which means I have to do journal entries too), because I know it helps to keep me on track. So here's what I ate today.

Breakfast:
1 cup of coffee with creamer
2 scrambled eggs with shredded cheese in a flour tortilla

Lunch:
3 potato and cheese pierogies
Salad with light Italian dressing

Dinner:
Grilled chicken with roasted red pepper sauce in flour tortilla
Sauteed zucchini and onion
Applesauce

Water is approaching 96 ounces for the day. Calories are at 1518. Fat/protein/carb ratio is 33/28/39, which means my carbs are way low. But I've still got about 350 calories in my budget, so I may just sneak in some light popcorn or some hot chocolate or something. We'll see.

Here's the thing though: I feel like I've done really well today, with everything. I exercised, I ate well (i.e. kept my calories under control), I didn't snack, I drank my water, I cleaned my room, and I even managed to get in a bubble bath. Usually my days off are the hardest days to stay on track, because I don't have a schedule and I've got nothing stopping me from eating whenever I want. But today I did well. I feel like this is a great start to what's going to be a great year. I'm feeling optimistic again, and that is definitely a good thing.

Ok, it's time for me to sign off for the night. I've got tomorrow off from work too, so I'll be checking in frequently. Hope everyone is doing great!
~Elisha

[lauren2pink]

Elisha - sounds like a great start! Glad you are feeling so optimistic!

I cheated tonight and had too much butter and cheese on my baked potato, so I blew my fat grams after all. However, my calories were still way low so I decided to forgive myself!

-Lauren

[squabb56]

Evening everyone :wave:

It's great to feel all the positive vibes :goodvibes: coming from this site. Nothing like a new year to renew your spirit. :)

Elisha - I think I'll follow your lead and post my food intake as well as exercise done. Glad to see you feeling so positive.

Lauren - I have joint problems too (ostheoarthritis) and have found aquasize a great work out. Actually went to a aqua-pilates class which was great too. I think you should make your gym budget a priority, you are worth it! :lol3:

Hikein Julie - Sorry to hear you're under the weather. Don't worry about exercising or dieting while you are not feeling well. Make sure to get those fluids in. Did you have a xray done of your wrist? I've heard of a small bone in your wrist that is difficult detect and to heal. Can't think of the name of it now... :doh: Take care of yourself.

LLucy - Good luck with the Trimspa.... hope it works out for you :D Congratulations on your decision to start trying.... this will be exciting.... keep us informed... Did you check with your Doctor about this diet to see if it's okay to do before conceiving..... tiny bodies need all the nutrients from mom... don't forget to take folic acid....

MsRD - Good for you up only one pound over the holidays (I was up 2 - and it's not quite over yet.)

Jennifer, JavaTurle, Lisagirl .... How's it going?

Food Today (with points) I'm down to 26 points allowed now

B- Oatmeal/Plain yoghurt (3)
Banana (2)

L- Pea/Pork Soup (5)
Rye Crisp (1)
Crab spread (3)
Almond Tart (too much)

D - Moose steak (3) small portion
1/2 c wild & long grain rice (3)
Brocolli Slaw (2)
Beans --

Crab spread/water crackers (too much)
Popcorn (1)
1/2 almond tart (too much)

Obviously I had far too many too much(es) and did not stay within points :(

Exercise - did some sanding in my ensuite.... swam 1/2 mile at the pool tonight.

It will be nice to get back into routine on Tuesday ... and back into having a safe home that is treat free.

Well this has ended up being a small novel.... Cheers everyone .... and here's to a successful day tomorrow and a successful year! :cheers:

[hikein2005]

Morning chickies!
I thank you all for the good wishes, positive vibes and just general concern. Yesterday I planned to stay home today, but there are things I can do at work and I am not going to worry about filing. Someone else can worry about that! My hand is obviously inflamed by looking at it compared to the other, but I can use my right hand thankfully to write with! And I have a whole month's worth of progress notes to catch up on! Geesh!

I think the diarrhea is gone...maybe! If that has subsided I will stay at work most of the day. Of course it has been replaced by a stiff neck!!!
Guarding this hand when I am sleeping is causing me to become rigid!

My goal for the day is to get all my water in (I want to drink 80 oz). Not only is that positive but I'm hoping that will flush whatever crap I have out of my body!!!

That's all I'm shooting for today! It seems pathetic, but hey...after the last few days, it's a start! And if I can do more, well it will be a bonus!

You all are so motivated! I'm proud to be a member of this group...just wish I could contribute more! Thanks for being here!

[miss_elisha]

Morning chicks!

Motivation level: 9

I'm feeling pretty good today. There's a little bit of tension in my muscles from actually working out yesterday after not doing so in literally months, but not too much. Today is straight cardio, no strength training, no pilates, so I should be ok. I haven't decided if I'm going to dig out the stairclimber or pop in a video. I'm thinking about Cardio Kickboxing, but it's only about 30 minutes, and I usually try to do 45 on my Only Cardio days. We'll see. Anyone know any good 45-minute cardio videos? I've decided to use videos and books as my 5-pound-loss rewards, so hopefully I'll owe myself a new video pretty soon. Does anyone know how long TaeBo is? I've always wanted to try that.

On a completely different note, I'm thinking about taking a nutrition class at the local vocational center, if I can work it into my budget (or if I can get a loan from Mom ;) ). If I didn't do well enough on my GRE essays (I should get those results any day now), I'm going to trash the idea of going to grad school for composition, and the only other thing I'm remotely passionate about is nutrition/weight loss, so my other idea is to become a registered dietician. Granted, that means getting another bachelor's, a year-long internship, and passing one heck of a test, but hey, that's nothing I can't handle.
Anyway, that's just speculation at this point. But I really want to take the class. Even if I don't pursue a degree, it couldn't hurt, and it just might let me know if I would like the discipline.

Ok, now I'm just rambling. I have stuff to do, but I'll be around today, rest assured.
Have a great day, chicks!
~Elisha

[lisa girl]

MsRd - I definitely agree with you..we ARE definitely going places this year!! Yay!! And..you know..it won't take you long at all to get rid of that pound you gained. You are so lucky it was just one!! oohhh...I'm jealous!! LOLOL

Lucy -I'm with you on the bathing suit goal. It's really on my mind. We go to the beach a lot, and it would be so nice to be able to wear some sort of suit and not feel as self conscious as he**. Sounds like you are really motivated - way to go!!

Lauren - Sounds like you are really focused too!! Just consider that butter and cheese a little extra calcium boost for you - since your calories were so low, I know it won't hurt that you ate a little extra :).


Joy - I, too, want a safe and treat-free home!! With my entire family home the past 2 weeks (my DH is a teacher)..it seems like there have been tons of tempting things about. But, with them all back into school and work, I think I will regain some of my control!! I'm gonna clean out these "treat laden" cabinets!!!!!!!!!! We can do this Joy!

Julie - Girl, you take care of yourself!! Slow and easy, until you feel better. I hope you have a great day today, and that you don't spend all that extra time at the potty! You're in my thoughts and prayers :).

Jennifer - And, I am keeping you in my thoughts too!! Isn't today your first BIG DAY ON THE NEW JOB?????????? Oh, I hope you have such a terrific day..you deserve it:). Keep us posted!!

Elisha - Your attitude sounds wonderful. You are really motivating me with the exercise. Good for you!!!

---Well, yesterday was good for me. I ate right within my points range, and I drank my water..although I think I need to up it a bit. But still...all in all, it was a good day. And I AM meeting my goal for eating my fruits and veggies, and I have been very mindful of my fiber intake. Today has started well..I'm about to go and take my vitamins - that's one thing I have been neglecting, and since I struggle with my iron levels so much..I think skipping the vitamins has contributed to my lack of energy!!!

Have a blessed day everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
((((((((((((((((Hugs!!!!!)))))))))))))))))))
Lisa

[gabwill]

well I haven't been on in a while. I figure that it is a new year so it is time for me to try harder and actually do. I have been bad over this past month and WILL do much better. I am still at 144 which sucks but it is better then gaining so I am fine with it. I did get up this morning and ran for 20 minutes. I may go back for another run this afternoon but that isn't a guarantee yet. Felt good to run though. I plan on doing it again on wednesday.

What do I want this new year?
1. be able to get under 130 (that is 14 lbs)
2. maintain that lose
3. exercise 3-5 times a week
4. be able to run 4 miles without being too winded
5. Tone up more (less of my flabby stomach)
6. Get a job to allow us to do more then "get by"
7. be happy with self more

Basically that is what I want with myself. Hopefully I can achieve some of that if not all. Anyway, that is everything for now.

[LKTS]

I'm in!

Goals for the year:
get the weight loss going, and mostly done before the end of the year (see sig)
consistently exercise and make appropriate food choices
buy a bike and start riding
get lots of walking in (I'll do the iditawalk in feb/mar) and start wearing my pedometer daily


Goals for the month:
Start on WW Core
start with exercise classes again
get all my challenges set up

[lauren2pink]

Well I have officially lost 1/2 a pound - not much, I know, but at least that makes my goal of 1-2 pounds a week seem reasonable since that is just 2 days!

I got Subway for lunch with a friend, but still stayed within my limits so I can have a snack this afternoon and a decent dinner.

My only problem seems to be the exercise because my knee is really bothering me. I think I may do my yoga for abs tape so I'm not using my lower body. Still, that is going to make getting cardio in this week tough.

Congratulations to all of you who are doing so well and good luck to those just beginning!

-Lauren

[miss_elisha]

Howdy chicks!

So today's going ok so far. I was wondering about a new exercise video and Mom brings one home with her--Cardio Boot Camp. 3 15-minute workouts, or one kick butt 45-minute workout. Yeah, so Mom and I do the entire workout this afternoon. Man, did that kick my butt! It's not hard moves or anything, I'll just have to work up to that fitness level.

And then I take a shower, at which point I almost pass out. I don't know if it was cooling down too quickly or what. I have vertigo, and get dizzy fairly often, but this was the worst spell I've ever had. I barely remember drying off, stumbling around the bathroom, then coming to lay down on my bed. I was going to do my Slendercises, but after that I don't think I'm going to.

But food has been pretty good.

Breakfast:
1 cup of coffee with creamer
Honey Nut Cheerios
2% milk
Banana

Lunch:
1 English muffin
Light mayo
1 slice of cheese
1 oz. of deli ham

I'm on my 3rd glass of water, but it's going slower today than it did yesterday. I'll make it though. I'm just going to take it easy for the rest of the evening. I'll find something for dinner, then settle in for a night of movie-watching with some nice hot tea. Perhaps I'll make some cornbread--one of my favorite comfort foods--and actually allow a little butter. I've got enough budgeted calories left.

Ok, my brain just stopped working, but perhaps it'll kick back on later this evening. I hope everyone had a healthy day!
~Elisha

[**Jennifer**]

Hey all! Later on I will go back & comment, but this is the first 5 minutes I have gotten to myself all day! But what a good day overall! :)

Today I started in my new position, and I never even had 5 minutes to get an entry in. It was good, productive work, trying to get all this Loan officer’s current files into a database so that all 3 of us working them would be able to access the same stuff at the same time without having to copy & deal with merging all changes. Tomorrow I start setting up the same worklist as I have been using under MoniCow, and sort through the first quarter & what’s closing when. It was a great day...and I brought in 2 new loans from an associate at a title co- there’s half a million dollars in referral business on Day 1. Hopefully that wins me some brownie points

It felt really good to be productive, and to be appreciated for what I’m doing. Finally! Woo Hoo!!!! ;)

There’s a little “thing” between Cindy (little yapper) and the temp they hired permanently to do marketing, Toni. Neither can stand the other, each wants to undermine the other...it’s almost fun to sit back & watch the intricate dance. I’m just there to get my stuff done, and knock my new loan officer’s socks off. I'll have to keep filling you in, because it's the most hysterical thing!

I had to stop for a few items on the way home, so I would have stuff for lunch the rest of the week. Good sales on my canned fruit, and some other stuff. 50.00 and all I left with was 4 bags. Sheesh!

Food was good, exercise was as planned, and I think I’ll even do some light resistance band work with my CSI tonight while I relax. This feels good. I just need to remember this.

Today:

AM exercise
1 mile WATP express with stretchie

Breakfast
1 apple & cinnamon cottage double
1/3 cup soy smart start
1oz skim mozzarella
12oz diet coke
24oz water
vitamins!

Lunch
1 cup whole wheat elbows
2 meatballs (3oz)
light sprinkle of parmesan cheese
pineapple chunks, fully drained

Snack
1 fortune cookie (from the client- couldn’t insult her while taking the application)
1 post-shopping 1oz skim mozzarella string cheese

Dinner
1 can chickarina soup, with extra water to make it more filling. Still trying to get the crap out of my system

PM exercise
30 mins of UB resistance band work

Sorry to be so rushed- Happy new year to all the returning chickies, and welcome LKTS and any other new faces! :) I promise, more details once I chow down and can take these heels of & this $&#*! bra off!

[**Jennifer**]

ok, finally! I feel a little better now!

Julie- hope you are feeling a little better. Sorry you're so miserable- tried to check on you earlier. Feel better, and don't rush to get back to 100%

Lauren, 1/2 pound is still a loss, and better than putting it back on.

Elisha- great idea with the contract, and come on down to get this $&@!! treadmill. I'll even meet you at the state line ;) Can we all pitch in & send you to that class & hire you as our nutritionist? There better be some steep discounts :D

Heather- same thing- a loss is a loss, and a good start. Keep at it, chickie

Joy- goals look great, and I know you'll succeed. :D

MsRD- yes- exactly! 2004 was our building year! Love it! :D

Mary- hope we do see you more often. Missing my Java Turtle Mojo, ya know.

Lisa- chickie, now it's time for you to believe in yourself as much as we do. You can do this. And love the Ralph Marston quote

Lucy- maniac, drop & give me 1000 uber crunches. ;) I won't hound you about the trimspa, but if you are going to be trying to have children in a year, are you sure you want to mess with that in your system? That's gotta negate anything the folic acid is doing. Just an opinion- you know I'll support your ultimate decision.

Gabrielle- 4 miles....geez! You amaze me- you really do. I couldn't run 1 mile if someone was chasing me & I was on fire, or something. Kudos- you give us all inspiration.

Laura- welcome to the group! Glad to have you with us. Tell us more about the iditawalk, please- sounds intriguing!

Ok, chickies...I am off for some "quantity time" with hubby, with my feet up. Have a great night!

[Lobacal]

Hi,

Can I play? My goals for the new year are as follows.
1) Drink 64 oz of water a day
2) Exercise (cardio) for an hour a day
3) Do strength training 3 times a week
4) Walk/run 3 miles a day by the end of January.
5) Lose 20 lbs

[MsRD]

Hello All! :wave:

We were busy busy busy at work today.....and the day just flew by! Before I left, I wrote down reminders for tomorrow....better wear my running shoes! I started off with Cheerios & 2%milk & tea.....lunch was yogurt & crackers......mid-afternoon was a granola bar.....dinner was baked chicken, baked potato, california veggies & cranberry relish & diet coke. After dinner, I got out the new ice cream maker (that I gave DH for Christmas) and made some vanilla ice cream......whoa. That probably stretched the food plan a bit :lol3:

Lucy.....check out the 3FC home page for an article on TrimSpa......gotta do your research! :mag:

Lauren....Water aerobics is a great idea! Have you ever thought of checking out the local school swimming pool.....might be cheaper than membership at the gym or YWCA. In the meantime, just keep moving whatever doesn't hurt! :dancer:

Elisha.....wow! you are doing great! :cp: A nutrition class is a good idea too.....just keep learning!

Squabb.....you are right about the 'renewed spirit'. I think it naturally comes this time of year.....the trouble I have is sustaining that momentum. But that is where my chickies come in! :goodvibes:

Julie.....hope your hand is feeling better. :balloons: Were you able to get to the doctors today?

Lisa.....thanks for the reminder to take my vitamins. :) I just look at the food pyramid and know I can't get all my nutrients from food alone! And don't forget the extra calcium we chicks need too!

Gabrielle......welcome back! I am soooo jealous of your ability to just go out and run in sunny CA. This time of year, I drive to work in the dark and come home in the dark! Gotta keep up those aerobics! :dancer:

LKTS....you have some great goals set! What kind of food plan will you be on? :hun:

Lobacal.....welcome! :sunny: You are so close to your goal......keep up the good work!

Not much evening left now......just enough time to get in some exercise! :cb: Have a great evening!

[lauren2pink]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone - let's all keep each other motivated! :cheer:

I have looked at other alternatives for water aerobics, but I am also trying to find a new yoga studio right now. At the Y, I can get the yoga, water aerobics, and access to a gym and a women's fitness center all for one rate - it actually ends up cheaper - I just have NO money to spend right now until my husband's pay checks come in (he just transfered and we are having problems getting past-due pay).

My diet went well today - I got more calories (still under 1200 but more than the 800 I've eaten the past two days) so I have more energy and feel better. My fat grams were still a little high, but within reason.

I have given myself a day off exercise today to try to get my knee better. I took extra celebrex today and hope it will be better tommorow. Regardless, I will do an abs and back yoga workout in the morning.

Keep up the good work, ladies! We'll make it! :)

[hikein2005]

Huge thank you's to those of you with direct connections (you know who you are!) My hand is 100% better today. I am baffled by all of this...the pain comes and goes. I did not call the Dr. today because my hand was not hurting...at all!!! I used my hand a lot today too...probably more than I should have and I did take Alleve this morning which may have helped the inflammation, but hmmmm! I'm just so puzzled! I am going to let it go for now, but if any signs of pain start to creep back in, I'm all about going in and seeing the doc!

I am still under the weather with the flu a bit...probably after effects and I have a stiff neck so no aerobic exercise, although I did get in some Tai Chi this evening which felt good to just move a bit! I did haul and lift boxes at work today putting away christmas stuff, so that has to count. I didn't want to do that, but I really had no choice! It has to get done!

Water intake today was well below 80 oz...more like 50 oz.

Food was ok, but could have done without the afternoon snack of nuts and candy corn...or maybe just a small handful would have been enough!

My goal for the rest of this week (Lisa says...) is to "just say no" to those things that tempt me! I can and I will do this! I have to start somewhere!

I weighed today and I am at 171...my body seems to like that 170 number!!!!
I'm tired of it and I am going to get rid of it forever!!!!

So, 169...here I come!!! Watch out!

Chickies...I promise when I start feeling better, I will make comments, but just know that I love all of you and thank you for being here! You are all awesome and I appreciate your posting here and support more than you know! You are all doing so well!

Huge Hugs!

[lauren2pink]

Lobacal - sounds like great goals! To even be thinking of running three miles impresses me! I do well to get around our little lake with my dog! I also love the serenity prayer in your sig.

[squabb56]

Hi Everyone :wave:

Not a lot of time tonight... Wanted to say welcome to those new to our group and those returning.

:yes: Walked the dogs today. 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) - took about an hour (with bathroom break). Yeah! - I was able to get up the BIG HILL without stopping (525 of my steps). After that I sanded the ensuite for about 2 hours (my arms are sore and tired).

Good food today.... 26/26 :yes:

Breakfast - porridge oats, yoghurt, banana (5)

Lunch - Wendy's chicken strip salad (10 I'm guessing)

Snack - glass of wine while making dinner (2) White Apple - yummy

Dinner - Moose burger, spinach salad, brocolli slaw (8)

Snack - FF chocolate pudding (1)

Back to work tomorrow. Better get to bed ... no more 1am bedtimes.

Hugs to all - You know you can do it!

Joy

[miss_elisha]

Morning chicks! Hello newcomers, and welcome! :wave:

Motivation level: 7

I'm a little sore today from yesterday's workout, but at least I'm not still feeling sick. I was nauseaus all evening from my little spell. I don't know what was up with that. But today is my No Aerobics day, only Slendercises and pilates, which I will do this evening after work.

Bleh... work. I don't want to go back! I have so enjoyed these few days off, and now I feel like it's crunch time again. I've got to have some of my grad school applications done by the end of the week, and I haven't even gotten my GRE scores back yet. I need to know my scores, don't they understand that?!

Today should be an ok day though. Food is easy to control at work, since I only get one break for lunch, and I only eat what I take (most of the time--definitely today, since I have absolutely NO money to eat out). Water isn't so easy though, but I'll probably sneak a bottle to have with me throughout the day (we're not allowed to have food or drinks on the floor, which is ridiculous anyway).

So the scale this morning shows I'm at 204, which is down a pound. I really want a new scale, a digital one with decimal readings. This one is going wacky. I seem to have so many problems with equipment. Why can't things just work the way they are supposed to? When I first stepped on this morning, it said 200, and I thought, "there's no way I lost 5 pounds overnight," and so I tried again, and then it consistently came up with 204. *rolls her eyes*
Oh well, a pound lost is a pound lost. I just think that if I had a decimal scale I could A. Get a more precise reading, and B. See progress quicker therefore keeping me more motivated. That's the idea anyway. Perhaps I will get one this payday, if I have enough funding. And I had about a billion hours on this paycheck (week of Xmas, you know, plus holiday pay), so it's a possibility.

Anyway, I've got to get moving. I hope everyone has a wonderful and healthy day, and I'll be back this evening.
~Elisha

[**Jennifer**]

Morning chickies! I'm making sure I get this post in before the day gets out of control, which is bound to happen in the next half hour or so. But it is good to not only be busy, but to be happy doing it.

I did my UB last night watching TV, and then was out cold before 11pm. Overnight, the head cold settled into my throat, so I woke up with a sore, creaky throat and a manly voice. I tried to exercise but couldn't breathe, so I'm postponing the 1 mile until this afternoon so that I have the whole day to medicate and clear the sinuses & throat.

Plan for the day:

Breakfast
1 apple & cinnamon cottage double
1oz skim mozzarella
2 slices pepperidge farm cinnamon bread, toasted (dry)
12oz diet coke
32oz water
vitamins! (from my "old lady pill minder")

Lunch
Taco Rollup:
1 98% fat free tortilla
3/4 cup 97% lean taco meat
1oz skim shredded cheddar
2 snack cans of mixed fruit, drained

PM exercise

1 mile WATP

Dinner- TBD, but will most likely be another kind of soup, and maybe 1/2 a sandwich. Still need the soothing comfort food. :)

Lobacal- Welcome! There are so many amazing chickies here- glad you found us!

MsRD- ooh, can you make a sorbet with the ice cream maker? fruit puree & splenda?

Julie- Glad your hand feels better. Just be careful- we need you!

Joy- way to go on that walk! Keep it up!

Elisha- I *love* my digital scale. This morning it had me down .4 pounds, so I love it even more now. ;) We got the super-industrial one, and it was 70.00, but I know you can get them for much less that that. It was well worth the investment.

Ok chickies, I'll catch you all later. Have a wonderful day!

[lisa girl]

Good morning girls!! Oh Lord..it was so hard getting up this morning at 6:15. Today was our first day back to school (yesterday was a teacher work day). I got up, fixed breakfast for my oldest son and husband...and then kept thinking that as soon as they left - I would jump back in the bed!!!!! But...I decided not to do that. I have got to get back to a better kind of schedule. I had a good day yesterday. Got my water in (barely!), and I ate within my points range...and I got in my veggies AND TOOK MY VITAMINS! MsRd- you are right...thanks so much about the calcium reminder!!!! I will start that today!

Elisha - We bought a Tanita scale, and we really like it. We've had it a couple of years and it is really reliable. Good for you on the exercise!

Gab. - Your goals sound great :).

Lauren - Sorry to hear your knee is bothering you like that. Have you tried Glucosamine with MSM?? It seems to help me. ( I have osteoarthritis). Take care, and don't overdo! And..you are really doing an awesome job!! Way to go with your eating!!


Laura - Hi!! And Welcome!! I am doing WW too...only I am doing the old Flex Plan. It's good to have you with us :).

Joy - hey there! I smiled when I read about your Moose burger :). Is that a brand..or is it a real Moose burger??? Way to go with that exercise. You are on your way!!

Julie - Yay!!!!! Your hand is better! That's great news!! And remember...Just say NO!! You're going to be in the 160's before you know it!!

Lobacal -- yes!!!! Another Georgia Girl!!!!!!!!!! Welcome :). Your goals sound great!

Well.......I need to get busy. Hope you all have a blessed day. It is so nice to have you guys as a support system - I just can't do this alone!

(((((Hugs))))),
Lisa

[lisa girl]

Jennifer - Sorry!! I seemed to have left you out! It is terrific to hear the excitement in your voice :). Take care of that cold, chica. And, BTW..great going with the exercise yesterday, and also with your food choices. I'm really proud of you!

[squabb56]

Hey Elisha Sounds like your need to have a new scale for your reward at 200#. Way to go with the one pound loss. I find it easy to stay OP when at work - it's that control thing...:lol:
Joy

Jennifer - I really like reading your (and anyone else's) menu - gives me ideas for mine. Hope that cold lays low! ;)

Yup, Lisa - it's a REAL moose burger. :cbg: Very lean, Hubby had a small amount of pork fat added.I broil them with season salt. Really, very tasty!

It's pool day for me - hope to get in a couple of small walks during my breaks today - the sky is very clear here (colder than usual) so it's good to take advantage of the sunshine.:jig: Brecky OP - lunch OP (packed) so I'm set.

Have a successful day! Gotta go get my tea :coffee:

[brunissen]

After a year's absence from 3FC, and 40 pound gain, I'm back and trying to get my movation going again. My starting weight for this challenge (as of 1/1/5) was 286. My goal is 275 by 1/31/05. To get there I'll be working out with the (stiill) Evil Trainer at least 3x a week, do cardio 5x a week for at leat 20 minutes each time, AND I'm going to journal EVERYTHING I eat into DietPower - I'll stop playing the game of "if I don't enter it, the calories don't count"....Oh, and I'm trying to stick to 1900 calories or less daily.

psm :df:

[gabwill]

well I did run for 20 minutes yesterday which felt good. Today I did alot. I worked out a workout schedule for myself and figured since I started yesterday and only did the run, that I would do the rest of what I scheduled for other mon/wed/fri. I also did all of what is on the schedule for tues/thurs/sat. I only have bellydancing to do but that is about a 40 minute workout so will wait until hubby comes home from work. Today, so far, I did 2 power90 videos (40 minutes each), advanced taebo, and my circuit training. I am worn out but since I didn't schedule it until today, I did alomst two days worth. Talk about hard. My daughter was good throughout it all and now she is napping so I figured that I would have a little quiet time for me.
alright... comments

Laura- welcome. good that have you here.

Lauren- good job on the .5 lb. That is real good for only a couple of days. Wish it were like that for me.

Elisha- how was the cardioboot camp. I know all of it was hard together. How would it be to do them seperate though... I need a new workout so that I can replace one of the old ones that I am still doing so was wondering. Oh and I know what you mean about wanting a digital scale. I don't have one yet but would love getting one sometime soon. I am just scared that this one that I do have isn't too accurate and I gain 5 lbs (on a new scale) because of that.

Jennifer- The four miles is where I want to be. I can't do that yet. I do about 2 miles and every once in a while 3 but not many times. Just a few months ago, I couldn't even run a tenth of a mile so I think that my training has helped alot... and the fact that hubby brought me a treadmill for our ann last year.

Lobacal- welcome. And nice goals that you have.

MsRD- Oh believe, sunny cali isn't too sunny lately and in the mornings it is even a bit too cold to run in our garage. Like I said though, that treadmill is helping me out alot. I think I need to that DH again.

Joy- wish that I could go walking outside too. An hour outdoors would do me good but really don't want to bring DD out in this weather. Guess that I have to wait until it gets warmer again.

[lauren2pink]

Thanks to Lisa, Gabrielle, and all of you for you kind comments - youa re all doing such a great job!

Gabrielle - 2 miles is still an amazing accomplishment! Be proud of it!

brunissen - glad you're back - I just recently returned too. your goals sound great - journaling works really well for me, too.

Keep it up, ladies!

-Lauren

[hikein2005]

:cry: I just want to cry reading all of your posts about how well you are working out and all the good food you are eating!! I feel like a big cry baby here because I really DO want to work out, but my body ain't willin!!!!

I thought I was over the hurdle with the intestinal crap, but this afternoon, IT'S BAAAAACK! More diarrhea and upset tummy! I have been drinking lots of water and tonight some tea. I really wanted something to eat so I had some CocoWheats with Splenda! It tasted good, but I know I am going to pay later...the gurlgling continues!!!! (Sorry to be so graphic!) I really, really want to get better but it just continues! Blah! :p

You would think with all of this "water loss" that the scale would be kinder. I weighed at home (which is a no-no becaue the scale I usually weigh on is at work) and it says I'm up! We shall see! I'm not eating anything but clear liquids and jello until all of this is out of my system!

Today I actually spit out some chocolate after realizing that I had put it in my mouth by pure habit! Yea me!! I did good other than that, but really didn't eat much. I tried though. Had some cereal for b-fast (dry) with tea.
For lunch a turkey & cheese sandwich on whole grain bread & some peach cobbler (made at work) and yogurt (thanks Lisa)! And other than the coco wheats and tea, that's all I've had today! Don't really have an appetite (go figure!) and made a really yummy chicken crock pot meal which the family enjoyed tonight for supper! I tasted it! It was good!

I'm rambling...sorry I have no good news right now! I promise I will get back to my old self soon! I promise the whining will stop when the body wants to cooperate! I should be thankful for something, right? OK...I'm thankful for all of you and for this site where I can come and be honest about how I feel! Thanks!

Welcome to the new folks! You will find all the support you need here! This place rocks!

[Hotcupojava]

Still hanging in there. I seem to be REALLY motivated about exercise when I'm at work and unable to do it. But I'm hoping my motivation will still be in effect when I get home and out of this uniform. I plan on changing, taking out the trash and then dreadmilling it while I watch my show from 0100 to 0200 and maybe kick the heavy bag around. I have a strength trainer thingie that I bought last year and didn't use ONCE! So that will need to be introduced into the regime. Go Turtle! Go Turtle

[Lobacal]

Hi all--

Today was a good day also. I manage to get back into the strength training today (something I'd been putting off for a while) the gym was packed and 3 guys blew the circuit for the treadmills, that was funny...but thankfully the gym cleaned out the closer it got to 7. I prefer fewer people so that I can get on whatever I want. I did my mile tonight and then cycled and lifted. We headed back to school today. The kids come back on Friday. I did get started on lessonplans today though...and discovered that despite the fact that I do not have the book, I will apparently be teaching Senior English this next term. Thankfully, I rounded up a temporary book.

MsRD: Vanilla icecream! YUM!! I would say the splurge was definitely worth it.

Lauren2pink: I definitely understand not being able to afford the Y right now. What kind of dog do you have? I have 2 cats, but aren't animals wonderful? I'm glad that you like the serenity prayer it's one of my favorites. As far as the 3 mile run goes it is merely a dream now...and I'm a LONG way from there, but at least it's a goal. Oh and before I forget...good job increasing your calories for today.

Hikein2005--Get well soon...and it's been my experience you don't need to be worrying about your food when you a sick...get well first then worry about your diet.

Joy--Thank you for the welcome. Good job staying on plan.

Ms.Elisha--I have similar water problems at work. I think I'm going to start carrying a water bottle with me or at least keeping one in my car, house and classroom (at school). Maybe ready access to it will help me remember to drink more water.

Have a wonderful night ladies and keep up the good work! We can do this!

[Lobacal]

Hotcupofjava--I think we were posting about the same time. Good job keeping the workouts up! It sounds like your motivation was great and that's awesome!!

[lauren2pink]

Lauren2pink: I definitely understand not being able to afford the Y right now. What kind of dog do you have? I have 2 cats, but aren't animals wonderful?



Not having money stinks! :mad:

I have a Maltese named Angel Grace. She's little but has a surprising amount of energy! Some days I feel like she's dragging me around the lake!

-Lauren

[Lucia-1]

Hi Chickies,

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

I have not visited these boards - for one reason or another - for over 2 months and I have really missed checking in with everyone. I have been reading through the posts, and I see a lot of familiar names still using the boards, and all making progress, which is wonderful to see. I also love the weight loss trackers!

I have made progress also, I did weigh 168lbs until a feeding frenzy overtook me at Christmas :o , but my overall weight loss since I started is 10lbs :dancer:

My goals for 2005 are:

* To resume my food diary, this fell by the wayside late last year, but had been very useful in keeping track of not just food, but emotions, helping me identify when and why I eat.

* To continue with exercise and increase the amount I do each week.

* Deal with stress in a positive way. I have recently started relaxation/meditation. Sometimes I find it difficult to switch my mind off, but I am determined to make this a part of my weight loss program.

That's it for today, will check in tomorrow.

[lauren2pink]

Lucia - I think you will like the meditation - it is difficult to get started with it, but it can be so stress-relieving and calming. When I first started meditating, I used to set a CD alarm clock with soft music for 10 minutes. That way I didn't keep looking at my clock during my meditation and could really relax and focus my mind. I slowly extended my time and eventually stopped using the clock. I also like the idea of recording emotions, not just food - I may steal that one!

-Lauren

[miss_elisha]

Evening ladies!

Well, today was a good day, except for the "back to work" part, and even that wasn't terrible. Food was good (menu below), I exercised even though I wasn't planning to. Water's not fantastic, but I'm still working on.

Since I didn't get around to posting last night (Steve--the bf--came over), last night's dinner was:
homemade potato soup, homemade steak hoagie with light mayo, cheese, and lettuce on bun, cornbread with margarine, and some sauerkraut.
Don't worry, I was still within my calorie budget, I figured that out before I ate. I actually came in around 1720 calories, but considering I burned over 600 in that Cardio Boot Camp I'm not going to hold it against myself.

Today's food looked like this:

Breakfast
1 cup of coffee with creamer
1/2 cup of 2% milk with a little coffee
1 English muffin
2 tbsp. peanut butter
1 banana

Lunch
1 can diet cherry 7-up
more potato soup
more cornbread, dry this time, and just one piece
applesauce

Dinner
Water, Water, Water
3 slices of pesto-tomato pizza

Steve wanted me to come over this evening, but he also wanted to watch the Orange Bowl. Now I'm not opposed to football by any means, but I also don't find it necessary to sit and watch the entire game, so I decided to make use of Steve's new recumbent exercise bike while he watches the game. I did 45 minutes, making up for my workout tomorrow.

Gab: The Cardio Boot Camp was a good workout, and I bet it would even be great divided into 3 parts. I think I might try that next time, just doing 1 or 2 parts. With all the working out you do though I'm sure you could handle it.

Squabb: I think I'm going to go ahead and splurge on a scale this payday (paycheck permitting, of course) rather than waiting until I lose the weight. I've already got my rewards written out (somewhere), and besides that, I've already made it down past 200 once, so I don't feel like I should get a reward to making it back to where I was 5 months ago. The scale is just something I need so I can determine when I reach my other goals. :)

Julie: You'd better get well RIGHT NOW! We need you with us! Seriously, get better.

Jen: You sound so much better with your new job. Sometimes we don't realize how much stress we're under until it changes (even though I'm sure you know exactly how stressed you were). I'm sure you'll get this weight-loss thing back on track in no time--sounds like you're making great progress already. Isn't it amazing what a few days will do?

Lisa and MsRD--We could ALL use a calcium reminder! Good job on the vitamins and staying OP!

Brunissen: Welcome! I too use DietPower software, and I absolutely LOVE it! It has been so incredibly helpful, at this point I don't know what I'd do without it. I'm going to download it on the bf's computer here in a few minutes.

Turtle: Keep that motivation up! You can do it! Let us know how your venture with the dreadmill and the heavy bag goes.

Lobacal: If I have water around, I drink it. I usually end up picking up my empty glass to take a drink before I finally go get more water. :lol: I should start keeping some at work too, that's a great idea!

Sorry if I missed anyone. You all know I'm not much of a commenter, but I'm trying, I really am!

Ok, I definitely need to go shower and sleep now. I hope everyone had a great and healthy day today, and another tomorrow. See you in the morning!
~Elisha

[brunissen]

It's a VERY chilly 4 degrees here this morning, and let's just say getting up and getting to the office took herculean effort :strong: But I'm enjoying some sugar free hot chocolate to thaw me out and get me moving. :coffee:

I did well yesterday, we are having some snowstorms, so the traffic was horrible, and I KNEW once I got home there was no way I was going out again to meet with the Evil Trainer....So, I was a good girl and called him for an earlier appointment so I could see him on my way home. And I even did 30 minutes of cardio before he started torturing me! So I'm pretty pleased with that!

The only downside to yesterday was a run in with a nemesis of mine - PISTACHIOS! Now I KNOW better than to have them in the house (they are crack to me), but I bought a big old bag on Monday anyways....Well after sitting around just shoving them in my face, I came to my senses, stopped and threw them out. I did go over my calories for the day, but that was due to the pistachios - so today will be a better day!

Well, I'd like to write more, but I'd better get my butt working. Have a great day all!

[**Jennifer**]

Good morning, sunshines! :D

I feel good...this is such a difference, and I'm liking it, big time! I feel like a new person, and I can finally stop obsessing about the 183 stupid things going on, and concentrate on me, this process, and being there for my chickies & myself.

Woke up again before 6am (a big difference from barely being able to drag myself out of bed by 7am) and did my 1 mile WATP. Leisurely showered & dressed, got stuck behind an accident, but still got to work 15 minutes early.

Breakfast at my desk was 1 apple & cinnamon cottage double, 1 chocolate raspberry Zone bar, and 1oz skim mozzarella cheese. My mandatory diet coke for caffeine, and my vitamins. Nearly done with my first 32oz of water.

Lunch is a repeat performance of the taco rollup, with pear halves for my fruit.

Dinner is a toss up- might be soup again, might be chicken breast & veggies with a baked sweet potato (new veggie!)

PM exercise- either time on the exercise bike, or more WATP.

It's going to be a great day!

Pam- Welcome back! And welcome here! :) Wow- look how far you have already come- that's amazing!

Gabrielle- 2 miles is still a heck of an accomplishment. Yeah!

Julie- I'm proud of you for spitting out that chocolate- you go chickie. And once you kick this bug, then you can stop whining...

Mary- kick butt Turtle. Way to shake up the routine! When will it warm up enough to jo-wuffle again?

Lobacal- wow- senior english...I give you a lot of credit. I'm using my teaching certificate to do nothing- fell into banking instead & never got out. Lisa here is also a teacher!

Lucia- Glad to see you back! And even with your setbacks, you're still down, so that is progress, no matter what.

Elisha- thanks, chickie. I really feel like a huge weight has been lifted. Now I can be back to my old self- the one who is here in mind, body, and spirit & not just sitting on the sidelines. How'd you like the recumbent bike?

[hikein2005]

That's where I am today and that's where I'm staying! As if the diarrhea wasn't enough, the vomitting has started! There's not enough in my system to vomit!!!!!! WTF?! Let me just tell you, that if you don't get this bug, thank your lucky stars! It's pure hell! My house is atrocious and I don't feel like doing a thing...and won't until I can start to feel better! The only reason I am posting is because the office is close to the bathroom! LOL! OH...and because I would go crazy if I couldn't check inwith all of you every day!

Just a few comments..

Brunissen...I know what you mean about the cold. The snow storm and frigid temps are on their way. We are expected to get 6-10 inches by tomorrow morning! Yee Haw! I'm ready to head to sunny Florida! Great job on rearranging that schedule...AND throwing away pistaccios!! You are starting the New Year out with a bang!

Elisha...great use of your time chickie, on the bike! And thanks for thewell-wishes! I WILL get better and it better be soon because my MP3 player is just sitting on the desk waiting to be used!

Lucia...so glad to see you back! I have missed you chickie! The meditation sounds great. Are you taking a class or using a tape or what? Tell me more about it. Sounds intriguing! Goals look good and great job on the 10#.

Lobocal...yes...I know I shouldn't worry about my food, but I feel like I should be accountable, even when I'm sick! Go figure, eh? But thanks for the reminder! I also like your signature of the Serenity Prayer. It's one of my favorites too! It says so much in so few words! Great job on the workout!

Mary...hope your workout went as planned! I always have the best intentions when I'm not able to do something, too. What's up with that? Great job on sticking with it, though!

Gabrielle...as usual, your workouts sound exhilarating! Keep up the great work and give that baby a hug from me!

Joy...hope you were able to enjoy that sunshine (what's that?) and the pool! You are just doing awesome, girl!

Lisa, Jennifer...I'm home today! Thanks for all the support! You chicks rock!

[miss_elisha]

Morning ladies!

Motivation level: 2

Well it looks like I'm staying home with Julie today! I've got a nasty urinary tract infection, and now it feels like it's made it's way to my kidneys. Ouch! I'm running to the bathroom every 10 minutes and nothing happens! I've got a dr's appointment this afternoon, and until then I'm drinking lots of cranberry juice and doing a whole lot of nothing. Work will survive without me for one day!

Let's see...

Jen: The recumbent bike was nifty. I have to admit that at first it felt a bit like cheating. I mean, come on, I'm not only sitting down but leaning back! However, after a few minutes, I realized that it actually is a decent workout, and would probably have been even better if I had turned up the resistance more. The really nifty thing about his bike is that it's got a grip heart beat monitor, which means that I can make sure I'm staying within my target heart rate. I'll have to make use of the bike more often.

As it turns out, Mom bought me the new scale I wanted. They had them on sale at the store she works at, and she said their stock wouldn't last until Friday at the rate they were selling, so she went ahead and bought me one--yippee! Digital decimals and body fat measurement!
*rolls her eyes*
I'm way too excited about that.

Just had breakfast: wheat toast with roast beef, American cheese, and mayo (not the low-fat kind, either--that's what I get for eating at Steve's). I was going to put my usual creamer in my coffee this morning, but Steve is out, so I used Equal instead (have to have something), and it actually wasn't that bad. I figure I'll make the switch to Splenda sometime in the near future. The good thing about that is, as long as it's not fat-free potato chips or some other diet form of junk food, my family won't touch my low-calorie fare, and Splenda is one thing I KNOW they won't bother, so I'll actually have it all just for me! Is that selfish? Maybe it is, but I don't care! :lol:

OK, I'm going to get moving. Have to make a run to the store for more cranberry juice! Hope everyone is feeling better today than Julie and I are!
~Elisha

[gabwill]

Well I ended up getting up early so that I can spare my daughter the time she would have had to go into the garage with me. I woke up at 5 in order to run. I was dead tired since I am not used to getting up anywhere near that but I did get my 20 minute run in and even did my power90 video before waking her up. I know that she appreciates it since yesterday, while she was up, I worked out for 3 hours. Not good when she is used to us playing. Today, I figured that I would spare her that time and do it early. The only thing that i have left to do today is belly dancing. Loving it. Anyway, not much time to write at the moment so may get back on to comment later.

[scorchin]

EVERYONE SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
LAME I'm sorry to hear about ur hand...
Well this week has been great. Monday me and hubby helped my parents get a cato's store ready for opening we cleaned and redid some messed up work. I was a 14hr job plus it took up 2hr just to get to the place we were working on so it was a long stressful day however I got a ton of exercise in that day. Yesterday I took it easy today I plan on doing some stepper and stretching exercise. School starts back up today seem like I just started my vacation oh well....
Better go check on hubby he is still sick take care,
Heather

[squabb56]

Morning chickadees :wave:

Had a great OP day yesterday! Went for two walks yesterday total of two miles PLUS I swam one kilometer (.6 mile). Ate within plan, actually only used 20/26 points allowed. I will make up for this later in the week I'm sure. I drank 48 oz of water - could do better here :)

Welcome back Brunissen - I know what you mean - I gotta write down every morsel. Your goals seem very do-able! :welcome:

Gabwill - sounds like your schedule is a good plan... I may try this too - Way to Go :cb:

Hikein - good catch on the chocolate :balloon: Hope you feel better soon... this thing seems to have a mind of its own. Take care of you!

You Go Girl Turtle - You will win your battle with the evil dreadmill (says in a deep voice) ... sorry my imagination takes over sometimes :lol3: Sounds like you are going great guns :jig:

Lobacal - Yup, seems the fitness kick picks up in January and all the facilities are totally full. Best plan is to go when everyone else is doing something else - I've been known to go at 5am ... or 6pm works too. Sounds like a great workout :strong:

Lucia - Great Goals :bravo: ... anything you want to work on specifically for January?

Pam - Pistachio's aside (pun intended) a great day for you. I can't have certain foods in my house either (too many to list). Welcome :dance:

Jennifer - It's amazing how great you fell about everything in your life when a "weight" has been liften from your shoulders (figuratively and literally). I'm really glad for you - you deserve this :D

Well that's it for now.... sorry if I missed anyone and if I did ..... Have a great day.

Joy

[lisa girl]

Hi everyone!! I decided this was a good time for me to post. I have just spent about 5 minutes looking out my back door at my children playing (my niece too). The weather is a balmy 70 degrees, and it has put everyone in good spirits. The kids are all running, laughing....feeling good....what more could a mother want?? My baby is down for a nap, and I plan on going on outside myself in a bit to get some sunshine and fresh air. Watching the kids play - well it makes me see that I need to get the rest of this weight off and get my energy back! I had a good day yesterday, although I went over my points a bit (and I will put those points toward flex). Today, I have been hungry like that too. TOM is here with a wicked vengeance, and I have been feeling really low. I was so sick this morning, that my DH offered to take a day off from work (that is rare!!!!!!!). I have cramps so bad...so bad that I could cry and cry. I have taken my meds. though..and I feel a bit better. I really feel like my iron is low..and I wouldn't be surprised if it is really low!! I feel the fatigue similar to the fatigue I felt when I was pregnant. But, I am taking my vitamins and stuff. Anyway...sorry to ramble, but honestly, the way I feel - well it contributes to the way I eat. I'm trying to talk this out instead of dive into the Doritos.


Joy - sounds like you had a good day yesterday!!! Can I borrow a few points?? LOLOL!! I'm with you on the water..I need to kick that up a notch. I'm sipping right now at the computer..but the day sometimes gets by me without getting all the water in! Oh, BTW..how many points in an item with 130 cal. , 2 g. fat, and 2 g. fiber?? I have lost my points finder slide!! Thanks, Joy!!

Heather - I used to love going to Cato's!!! I miss that store! Sorry DH is sick. Glad to hear you got a lot of exercise!

Gabrielle - I am really proud of you. Your exercise has been nothing short of awesome! At this rate..you're gonna shed your weight in no time flat!!

(((((Elisha!!))))) - Those UTI's are awful!! Oh, I am so sorry you have one. Hope the doc. gives you a good antibiotic. Take care.

Julie - I started laughing like crazy when you said you spit out that chocolate!! That's my girl!!!!!! Woo hoo!!!! On a more serious note...I hope you are feeling much better. Make Dwayne treat you like a Queen! And you stay in bed an rest!! And that's an order!! Poor thing - (((((Julie)))))!!!

Jennifer - You are doing a great job girlie!! And the smile in your voice makes me so happy!! I am glad your job is working out well..and I am proud of your exercise and food choices!!!!! WTG!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pam - 4 degrees!!!!!!!!!!! Goodness!!! I smiled when I read about the pistachios! My DH loves those things like crazy!!! Oh, by the way...WELCOME!!! :)


MsRd - How are you doing? I hope great! :)

Now....who did I miss????? I will double check, and make sure I got everybody!! I hope you all have a blessed day!!!

Lisa

[lisa girl]

Good grief!! I missed Lauren, Mary, Lucia, and Lobacal...your posts were on the previous page!!

Lauren - I hope you are having a good day!!! You have been doing so well and have been so motivating.

Mary - Did you stay out of the trash today???????????? LOLOL!!! I have a good feeling you did :).

Lucia - Welcome!! Hi there!! I haven't been here in a while either. I didn't do the last challenge. Actually, I think the relaxation/ meditation would be a good thing for me to do too! Let us know how it goes :).

Lobacal - Are you in North Georgia like me....loving this warm weather!!?? I hope so! Hope your day is going great!!

Have a good day guys!!! You are all terrific!

Lisa

[**Jennifer**]

Hey all! Wow, you wouldn't believe the hissy fit that the Bovine has been throwing. Tantrums with the receptionist, gave the processor a hard time. My old processor called me today to wish me happy new year, and just commisserated a little bit. Poor thing. I really felt bad for her when I resigned. She was the first to know I was looking, and the first to know when I had the other offer. Once we move, she'll be close by, and I can see us being friends outside of work. Anyhow, Bovine is aggravating the heck out of her. Veal starts on the 18th of January, supposedly, and then the fun & games begin. I was told I can help get her settled in, and then cut the final ties. Woo hoo.

Anyhow, a tirade I overheard today was about the potential for "her" clients to call & want to talk to me, or "her" old clients showing up on Debbie's (my new loan consultant) lists. I wanted to tell her that the highest producer in the office does not need to go on a scavenger hunt for your bottom of the barrel clients, and if someone DID come in who wants to deal with me & not you, well, isn't that just a testament to how little YOU did and how much I did to keep the client, and keep them happy. Gotta love it. What goes around, comes around, and it is going to whack her upside the head & knock her over. If I sound happy about it, well, I can only say that she's been a miserable person to deal with over the last 2 years, and now that I don't have to deal with her...I can breathe an even bigger sigh of relief!

going to go figure out which is more alluring tonight...WATP, or the bike. Happy Hump night, everyone! ;)

[hikein2005]

I just signed up for it! Wondering if anyone else is doing this. They will send you FREE helpful information and a sample DVD. I'm thinking I can use any help I can get! Just go to THIS (www.discovery.com/health) and it's all right there!

I'm ready to do this (I hope!) and my body is ready (I hope)!!! I haven't had diarrhea since this morning and no more vomiting, so I think I'm out of the woods with this virus! Grrr! Sure did make for a miserable 5 days! But it's back to the grind tomorrow. I'll be up early/to bed early tonight. I took cat naps all day and still feel a little sleepy now (it's 7pm) so I know this thing kicked my a**!!!

((((Elisha)))))) I hope that you are feeling better. I've only had one UTI in my whole entire life and it was miserable, so I know how you are feeling. Take care of yourself...sleep if you can!

I'll be glad to get back into the exercise routine! When the sidewalks are clear, I'd like to get back to power walks in the mornings! Otherwise, it's the recumbent bike and of course, WATP along with my cirucuit weight stuff!

They are predicting 4-6 inches (downgraded now) of snow and so far everyone to the north and south of us has gotten snow but it's still not snowing here! Hmmm! That's ok with me. It always takes longer to get going in the mornings that it snows because I have to pack more for Kaleigh and even if the main roads are just WET, people drive like 45 on the highway! It snowed like one inch last night and when I took DD to school this morning, you would have thought there was a blizzard! So, we were late!! I think DD is starting to think that is the norm...to be late!

Enough rambling!

Tomorrow is day one for me! I am going to do this! I am pumped! Thanks for all the good wishes and positive vibes! I do appreciate all of you!

Has anyone else had problems with logging in or resigning for the journals? I am going to try again today but earlier it told me that my email addy didn't exist!!! Go figure!

Hugs!

[miss_elisha]

Evening chicks!

Today actually turned out ok, except for the pain part. I got to sleep in, and I got to spend some time with Steve, and I didn't have to go to work, so that much is good. My calorie intake, however, was not fabulous. It would have been great if it had not been for the entire bottle of cranberry cocktail I drank--over 800 calories! But hey, my body needs it. The doc took one look at my chart and said, "You certainly DO have an infection!" Then she gave me medicine and says I'll be better in 12-24 hours, so I guess I'll just deal with it for a while longer. I just hope I can sleep tonight.

Let's see, food today:

Breakfast was at stated in my earlier post.
Lunch:
Pepperoni roll and diet dr. pepper on way to dr.'s office
Pierogies and a bit of chex mix when I got home

Dinner: homemade spaghetti with/venison and garlic toast
Lots of cranberry juice!

No exercise to mention, but I'm sick, so I'm ok with that. Of course, that throws my workout schedule off, but oh well.

Ugh... I'm tired, going to bed soon. I hope everyone had a good day!
~Elisha

[MsRD]

Hello All :)

Sheesh! I missed checking in yesterday.....and have spent the last half hour just trying to catch up on your posts! Work has been super busy, which is nice, then add to that club meetings, a hundred miscellaneous errands.....seems like I am getting behinder and behinder!

Hikein.....I am crossing my fingers that you have finally beaten that flu bug! (Sometimes eating cooked rice helps with the diarrhea) We got about 3" of snow last night......they had been a winter storm tonight, but haven't heard the latest. The roads on the way home are beginning to get bad tonight.

Jenn......you are sounding more and more like your old self! I am so happy for you!

Lisa......talk to me more about sunshine and 70 degrees.....makes me feel warmer already!

Squabb......walking and swimming in the same day? Throw in a bike and you will become a tri-athlete!

Gab......what a nice Mom to get up early for your workout, so you can spend more time with DD!

Elisha.....a new scale! I miss my digital scale......it broke some months ago......and the new one is harder to read (something to do with advancing age and fibocals)

Brunisson......WB!! Great goals there! We are with you every cardio step of the way!

Lucia.....if there is anything I understand, it is the holiday feeding frenzy! But that is behind us now and we are ready to get healthy! Meditation.....haven't done that in years......it is just super relaxing!

Javaturtle.....you are pumped! Keep it up and you will see those results before you know it!

It is getting late......and my week is catching up with me. My office partner is going to be off the rest of the week, so I will be doing double duty........now where are those vitamins?

Have a good evening, my friends.....

[lauren2pink]

Sorry I am so late posting today. Had a meeting with the education team at church tonight that ran very late AND caused me to blow diet on cookies and fudge... and 2 cups of coffee that I'm sure will keep me up tonight! :coffee:

You all sound like you are doing a great job as usual! :cheer:

Pam - Awesome job going to the trainer inspite of all the excuses you could have made! I wish I had some of that drive where exercise is concerned! :strong:

Jennifer - So glad you are feeling so good! That makes sticking to the weight loss plan so much easier! :D

hikein2005 - So sorry you are still feeling crummy. However, you are so sweet to think of us even when you are feeling so low! :goodvibes

Elisha - Sorry that you, too, are feeling under the weather. Cognrats on the nifty new scale, though. Hopefully some nice numbers will be showing up on it, too! :goodscale

Heather - Glad your week has gone so well! :)

Joy - You are doing such an amazing job! You are an inspiration! :cool:

Lisa - Sorry your cramps and what-not are getting to you - I have those sorts of troubles, too, and I know how rough that can be. I admire you for even sticking close to your point limit! :cp:

Alright... Think I actually got close to everybody today (sadly, that's a first for me :o ) I am SLEEPING IN in the morning, so I will wish you all a great day tommorow right now! Lots of happy (and skinny) thoughts and prayers go out to all of you! :flow2:

-Lauren :df:

[Lucia-1]

Hi,

I have really looked forward to checking in with everyone today. Thanks to everyone who took the time to welcome me back, I have really missed the support.

I have had a good eating day, journaled and exercise was a 40 minute walk early this morning.

Hikein - Hope you have recovered by now! I have missed you too! You always offered encouragment and support when I needed it, and I have always looked forward to reading your posts. I started the meditation/relaxation about a month ago, there was a segment at the end of a yoga DVD I had borrowed from the library, and I found I felt so relaxed at the end of it, that I now try to practice it each day, I find after dinner is the best time, as that it when I'm prone to snacking.

I'm pleased with my 10#, even though I didn't reach the target I had set for myself last year, I am glad I am lighter than at the start of '04. I am happy with the healthy direction my life is taking.

Lauren - Thanks for the CD alarm idea, I'll give it a try. Feel free to 'steal' the recording of emotions as well as food, it certainly helps me!

Jennifer - Thanks for the welcome back.

Elisha - Hope you're feeling better.

Joy - I have no specific goals for January, just keeping to my goals each day is fine. I've worked very hard over the last 10 months to develop healthy eating and exercise habits which are slowly becoming a way of life for me, but I still struggle at times, which is why I returned to these boards, I have found the support helps so much.

That's all for today, check in with you tomorrow.

[hikein2005]

It's still snowing here in West Michigan! We didn't get too much last night...I'm looking out my window and it looks like about 3-4". But none the less, roads are going to a little slower and a little slippery, so Ineed to get this posted and get in the shower!

I think I've kicked this bug (thank you everyone!) but am still feeling a bit nauseaus this morning, so I know my body is still not ready to exercise (even though my brain wants to!). I'm hoping by this weekend, for sure! I'm going to weigh myself this morning at work to see where I'm at after all of this. Could be interesting because when I eat, I feel so bloated and gassy! Just had some mini wheats for breakfast...and coffee which I haven't drank for 5 days! I missed my coffee! I'm planning to bring something with me to work today. I have some yogurt in the fridge at work and that should be good for the day! Nothing really sounds good right now!

Lucia...I'm glad you came back to find us! I think just being able to be accountable to someone but myself is always helpful. Of course, the journalling is helpful and I will promise to start that up this weekend! I sometimes do a relaxation of sorts when I am really stressed. Ilearned biofeedback type relaxation (with belly breathing) years ago, so that has been helpful. I have a yoga type tape, but I find it kind of difficult (Pilates).
I'm going to have to check into a more beginner's type dvd. I'm right about where you are weight wise. I lost around 12 lbs. in 2004 but my goal for this year is to lose another 20-30, but I'll be happy with whatever comes off!

Lauren...those darned church meetings with all those goodies. And the guilt you feel ;) if you don't eat what they bring!!! LOL! Enjoy the sleep!

MsRD...Yea! This snow...I know I'm ready to see some sunshine! Thanks for thinking of me!

Elisha...hope you areon the mend today! We both need to get better so we can join in! At least I need to join in!


Alright chickies...thanks for being here and for all your support! Hugs to all of you!

Julie

[miss_elisha]

Morning chicks!

Motivation level: 6

Yes, I'm feeing much better today. And I actually got some sleep last night, so that is definitely a good thing. I've still got medicine to take and cranberry juice to drink, but I am certainly on the mend. Thanks everyone for your well-wishes. :)

Today, however, I fear will be exercise-free. I have to start getting ready for work here in a few minutes, then work all day, then a friend of mine is coming in from Virginia and wants me to go out for a drink. Steve is going to go with me, and he's got to be at work even earlier than I do tomorrow morning, so we'll try to keep it to one drink and not too late.

I've also got to write my personal statement for grad school applications at some point today. The application for the school I *really* want to go to is due by the 15th, and I still haven't gotten my recommendations or my GRE scores, and they're all supposed to be sent together. Granted, it's not horrible if they're sent separately, so I guess that's what I'll have to do (otherwise it'll be late, and that would be worse). I just wish this could all be settled and over with. I'll just be so happy when I get a letter they say "Yes, of course you can come to school here, and, in fact, we'll give you a bunch of money to do so!" That's what I'm really hoping for. :D

Oh, my new scale says 201.8 pounds and 34.2% body fat. The weight is less than I thought, but the body fat is a bit higher. Someone commented to me on the journals that I should measure body fat in the evening when I'm fully hydrated, but I don't know, that seems less accurate. Wouldn't it change daily based on how hydrated you are? Besides, I know my weight is less in the morning, so I think I'll stick with that.

Ok, time to get ready for work now. Have a healthy day, everyone!
~Elisha

[Hotcupojava]

I'm not very computer literate, but I CANNOT figure out how this notification thing works. But it'll go days before I realize I've not gotten any updates that someone has posted here. I guess I'm going to have to be more vigilant and check more often. Mantra: I'm simply going to have to work harder.

What would normally be snow here, is rain and eerie weird warm temperatures. Feels WRONG. If the rain was snow, we'd be buried by now. Eek! I'm not complaining, snowy and icy roads are a serious phobia of mine.

I'm still hanging in there. Wishing all of you the best of luck. I trust everyone is keeping their resolutions. Cool beans!

Does anyone know of a good beginner's belly dancing video? I'd like to try it, but I don't want to buy yet another exercise video that I won't use. Thanks!

[hikein2005]

I'm not very computer literate, but I CANNOT figure out how this notification thing works. But it'll go days before I realize I've not gotten any updates that someone has posted here.

Turtle...when you get notification on your email, you have to click on the link that will take you to the 3fc website to reactivate it...every time! Otherwise it just stays on the same message! Does that make sense? Maybe our fearless leader can "splain" it better to you if that doesn't help!

[hikein2005]

ARGH!!! I got ready for work today and took DD to school, got to work and although I was feeling particularly nauseated when I left the house (not to mention the killer headache I had last night as I went to bed), I didn't think much of it, but then I started to feel feverish at work and just plain drained! UGH! Can i just scream?? I AM TIRED OF BEING SICK!!!!!!! So while I really, really didn't want to come home, I don't want to expose the residents to any of this crap (or any of the rest of the staff, for that matter), so I loaded up some work in a bag and dragged my sorry a** back home through the snow filled roads!! Oh happy day! :p

Hope the rest of you are having a good day! :)

[lisa girl]

Yes!! I did!!! 30 min. on my good ole reliable recumbent bike. I know that's not a lot of time really...but it is a start at least. My legs were aching! Boy, my speed is really down, because there for a while I was doing 10 miles in 30 min, but I only did a little over eight today! Feels good to be back in the exercise groove!! Why have I neglected this area of my life so???? Anyway, I guess you can tell I am really psyched!!! Today was weigh in day...I stayed the same - 164. That was really, really disappointing, but I am so bloated that maybe I did lose some and I just dont know it yet!! Food today has been good. I'm finding myself craving sweets.

I hope you all have a great day!! I'll make comments tonight. Julie, hope you feel better!!

[LKTS]

Hi all, way to go! :cb:

I did pilates class yesterday, and man, did it feel great. A more detailed goal list is below:

My goals:
1. transition to WW Core eating plan and continue eating mindfully
2. make fitness a priority; get my lifting schedule stable
3. lose lots of pounds and fat

3 times a week I'm going to do lifting and HIIT, and I'm also signed up for a dance aerobics class and a pilates class once a week. I'll also plan to walk to the train from work several days a week (~1.5 mi) and throw in a hike somewhere on the weekends.

I posted my 3 day split on the LWL forum if anyone is interested.

[scorchin]

Joy- Congrats on the walking and swimming....
Lisa- Hope u get to feeling better. I have cramps like that I have to sit in the shower with the hot water on for sometime 2hrs... WTG On the exercise
Jennifer- I always look forward to reading ur post and about the mad cow hehe....
Hotcupofjava- The twins have great bellydancing tapes..
hiken- SO SORRY UR FEELING BAD AGAIN...
Elisha- Hope ur feeling better. glad ur got to sleep last night
MSRD- U CAN DO IT DON"T GIVE UP...
Lauren- We All slip up sometimes glad ur not letting it get ur down
Lucia- WB and GREAT job on the exercise
LKTS- WTG On the exercise.
Well I'm sick now great I just got better everytime I breath and sharp pain runs threw my body so I don't feel like doing anything.
but i'm so gald that everyone is doing so wonderful. Talk to u later, Heather

[gabwill]

well today went pretty well. Got up late but that is alright considering that hubby didn't go to work until 1. I got to sleep in and do my workout without many interuptions. I did taebo, power90 circuit, and my own circuit training. Felt good but in the morning I will be sore again. Tomorrow should be an easy day though.

[Lucia-1]

:wave:

Just a quick check in before I leave for work. So far, today has been great eating wise. I didn't exercise this morning, as I am going to do a yoga DVD this evening.

Julie - Sorry to hear you're still not feeling well. Sometimes these bugs can drain you so much, it can be a week or two before you start to feel OK again. Look after yourself chickie :goodvibes .

To everyone else, have a wonderful day, and I'll catch up with you tomorrow.

[MsRD]

hello all :wave:

Thought I would check in here between laundry loads......how did I get so far behind? DH went to the store today and brought home 3....yes 3!....packages of butter cookies. Poor dear, he is probably tired of not having any snackies in the house! The cookies are typical store bought.....dry, tasteless, and I can't stop eating them! The dog is trying to help me.....everytime I get a cookie, he begs for his share.

Lauren.....those church ladies and their cookies and fudge will get you everytime!

Lucia....you are starting out great! Don't worry about those 10 pounds.....they are gone! And soon will be joined by even more!

Hikein.....how long has this flu thing been going on now? Do you think you are pushing yourself too hard....trying to do too much before you get your strength back? Or maybe it is time to see a doctor?

Java.......love to hear from the Turtle! Don't ask me puter questions.....I am totally ignorant. Around here, I just whine until DH or DS fixes whatever is wrong.

Lisa......wow! you jumped right into that exercise! 30 minutes......you go girl!

Laura.......another incredible exercise program! I feel like such an amateur!

Scorchin.....thanks for the words of encouragement. You have no idea how they give me that little boost to keep me going!

[**Jennifer**]

Hey chickies! ok, when you read this, you'll know why I haven't been here all day! Man oh man! Heather, I laughed out loud at Mad Cow....I don't know why I didn't think of that before! Maybe that's what caused this meltdown today!

Anyhow, without further ado....my day, and the chaos!

All right....the events as they unfolded today....

I got into the office about 7:45 (still on a getting up early kick) despite feeling like total crap. Nearly no voice today from this “thing” that moved from my head into my throat. Kept me from doing the 1 mile this morning because I couldn’t breathe AGAIN. Anyway, got in, and I couldn’t even get in the door before Cindy (yappy shadow) met me at the door. It seems that “someone” stole all the “company logo” lollipops from the candy jar on her desk. And from the candy jar on my file cabinet. And took the entire marketing presentation that we set up yesterday. packages & giveaways for 16 realtors that Debbie, the loan officer, was using for a breakfast presentation at 10:30 this morning.

I get frosted. We search the office, looking for hiding places, and checking all common areas, to see what the heck could have happened to our stuff. I call Toni, the one who helped me put together these packages, and told her what happened. She was getting the bagels & toppings for the event, and said she’d be in the office in 10 minutes. She gets in, is ticked, and we’re all frosted beyond belief.

2 others show up, who happened to be there late last night. Toni is close to one of them, I am close to the other. They confirm our suspicions. Seems MoniCow waited until 5:30 when we all left the area, and then went through our stuff. It also seems she felt that the materials used were “hers” and not “general office supplies.” The materials that we got from the receptionist, and from Cindy & Toni’s desks- some things which were years old. Everything had Debbie’s name on it. Stupid light-up balls that were screenprinted with Debbie’s name & # and our company logo. Yeah, Monica THOSE are definitely yours. Roll eyes. Big time.

Anyhow, the item which seems to have started all this off was a stupid 8oz blue water bottle. Well, 16 of them to be exact. We had an office grand opening about 6-8 months ago, and at that time, our office manager ordered about a bazillion corporate logo doodads. Well, since there are still leftovers from that event, anytime someone does an event, the first thing we do is check the new office in Weston to see if they have what we want, it gets dragged over by that receptionist, and we all have access to it. Well, Monica seems to feel that any overflow that remained in the office from the last bags made were her personal property. Wrongo. Be that as it may, she went through the offices of all 3 of us, and took what she felt was “hers.” And then proceeded to throw a tantrum in front of at least 2 people who were there late. How we stole her stuff, and this was hers, and she paid for it, etc, etc, etc.

The 2 observers we talked to say they cautioned her not to take the stuff, but that she did it anyway. She didn’t just take it & hide it, she took it to her car & removed it from the office. I guess she didn’t look too closely at things like screenprinted balls, or maps with someone’s name pre-printed on it.

Anyhow, the receptionist came in, I grabbed her, told her what happened, and told her that I needed to get an order together immediately. We’re not playing this petty little game. The receptionist is the one who handed us the pens, pencils, and lollipops. The folders & glossy forms we used were in the copy/work room, and that’s where we grabbed replacement materials this morning. The receptionist was pissed that MoniCow would do something like that. And since Monica basically called her a liar (about who owned what) she called Debbie and filled her in on what was happening.

Debbie was pissed. Needless to say, you don’t steal the marketing material of the 108+MM producer over something petty. Debbie talked to MoniCow and was under the impression that the water bottles WERE hers and paid for by her. When she got into the office, that was all clarified, which pissed her off even more, since she was trying to approach it with a “we’re wrong, you’re wrong, let’s just move on.” Not the case anymore.

Debbie summed it up best this afternoon, once we dropped everyth