Weight and Resistance Training - BFL/BB #78 - Thanksgiving week (25 Nov 2002)

Hope everyone is having a great (short) week and had a FAB weekend!

Since the server here at 3FC was being changed, I didn't even log in except a couple of times. I was actually a busy bee this weekend - Jim and I took my nephew to the stables with us on Saturday morning - he had a great time feeding carrots to the horses and got to ride Freight for a little bit - well one of the instructors led him around anyway! Less than two weeks until my show in the East Bay...and one of the big tack shops in the Bay Area was having a major sale this weekend - since I'm getting my bonus this week, Jim and I drove to Cupertino and I went a little nutz...bought some new Ariat boots...a show helmet...vest and 'ratcatcher' shirt...the boots were marked down from $180 to $99 - the shirt was originally $50 but had a 75% markdown...the other two items were 20% off so I am a happy camper indeed! :) Nothing like a little shopping to get your spirits up! :lol:

Thanksgiving this week...aackk... :devil:

I have been struggling nutritionally lately - but not with my workouts. It IS tough getting out of our nice warm bed in the morning, but again, once I'm up, I'm rarin' to go :) It's the NUTRITION right now that is tripping me up big time. Probably a lot has to do with the season - getting cold out at night - the time of year when I feel the urge to cocoon and make 'comfort food' - you know, stuff like mashed potatoes, meatloaf, stews, etc. But I have Miami coming up fast - the end of January isn't that far off - and I want to be lean and strong like last year, rather than look like a stuffed Christmas sausage! So I'm starting with writing down my menus the night before again - that always helps me. I am going to have Monday - Thursday morning be PERFECT nutrition days, then have a good Thanksgiving dinner...then PERFECT again until Saturday 7 December (the night before my show - Dee Dee's taking the whole crew to Outback Steakhouse).

Sweet Chick - sounds like you're doing well! That big BF% drop sounds a bit impossible though - what method are you using to measure your BF? And is it the same person each time? Just curious - some methods are more reliable than others (although NONE of them can claim 100% accuracy).

Sounds like everyone's having good results - what are your plans for Thanksgiving? Are you going to move your Free Day to Thursday or (horrors) eat clean??? No way for me - I can't miss my Mom's cooking!

Yes, Ledom thanks for the suggestions. I'm gonna make up a BFL corrected chilli recipe. Only problem, I'm gonna have to eat it with a spoon. (My usual chilli vector is taco chips!!!!) :o

I do make and eat pamcakes every morning, they too are getting boring ..... I do make chicken rollups with peppers, salsa and a dollup of non-fat yogurt rolled up in a ww tortilla. I have three weeks to go on this first challange, and I want to finish strong. So I've gotta get off my butt and work out the food thing. I think I can adapt my nasi goring recipe to be BFL too. And .... make it not be "nasty and boring" :D

Well, the big "40" party is over!!! We had so many guests and so many house guests all weekend that I'm afraid that dh and I pretty well had two free days: party day (saturday) and actual birthday (sunday) Sigh ....... regrets ...... back on track today !!!!!

Last night dh was washing up some dishes and broke a wine glass in his hand and cut a big chunk out of his finger, we had to spend the last 4 hours of his birthday at the hospital getting stitched up. Luckily, mil was visiting so we didn't have to wake the kids up. Anyhow, he is now hoping this won't affect his lifting too much. Luckily this is leg day, so we should manage pretty well.

As for turkey day, ..... luckily I am Candian and won't have to move my free day!
:)


Happy Thanksgiving to all you guys though!!!!!!!!


Patt

Hey everyone, sorry for not being around so much. It seems like a lot of people are busy as well, probably with work, Thanksgiving (in the U.S., at least), etc. I'm actually already preparing for Christmas -- because my family lives all over the place, I try to buy gifts early so that they get shipped in time. Makes for a crazy couple of weeks. :dizzy:

Mel: I'm happy to hear your good news. Phrew, right? :D

I'm doing really good on my workouts, but have also slipped nutritionally. I didn't realize how hard it would be to eat clean, given all of the parties, lunches, etc., that have already geared up. I'm still working on different strategies, though, and haven't given up the ship. I'm also re-committing to posting here more regularly. I found that really helped keep me focused.

BTW, I'm looking for new tricep exercises. Any suggestions?

Hope everyone is having a great Monday. It was bitter cold (for me at least) this morning. Thank goodness my car is garage-parked. I'm not sure I would make it to the gym in the a.m. if I had to scrap snow off of it first. ;)

Ciao. Mox

I forgot to ask . . . I was shopping this weekend and picked up a book called Body Rx (it was only 90 cents!) I've only been able to flip through it, but it seems a lot like BFL -- 6 meals a day, weightlifting, etc. (I picked it up b/c (1) it was so cheap, and I can't resist bargain-priced books; and (2) it had some lifting exercises in it, and I'm always on the lookout for new ones.) Anyway, has anyone heard of this program? If so, what's your opinion about it? Thanks, Mox

Sorry for being so spacey today (and not getting everything in one post). I'm not sure what my problem is . . . :dizzy: Anyway, I just wanted to add that I'm visiting some family this weekend, and they just bought a Bow-Flex! I'm really excited to try it out. Has anyone ever used one? How does it compare to gym machines? I'm also thrilled because I know I'll be able to stay on-plan exercise wise. Yeah! Mox :lol:

Mox - actually L&S has a Body RX board - you might want to peek over there. I think Erik (QZ) is doing BRX right now. I really don't know a whole lot about it even though I did buy the book (like you, it was cheap!).

My boss just told me this morning that she wants to take the department (those few of us who didn't take the week off that is!) to lunch on Wednesday - aack. Fortunately for me, Viognier Restaurant is renowned for their itty-bitty portions of California Cuisine :)

Been very busy last week, and this week will be the same unfortulately. I'll try to get on here a little more this week.;) I went to a body building comp Saturday nite to see Tom W. and BFL_Sue from the L&S board compete. It was quite an experience, and I gotta say, even if I ever can achieve the body, I don't think I'd ever have the nerve or the stage presence to do that! Those posing suits are TINY!

Thank you all for your kinds words about my cancer scare- it was very tough to go through, but I never missed a workout (the gym kept me sane) and after 1 week of panic eating, I realized no matter what was happening, eating caramel corn and ice cream was not going to do anything positive for me. So I'm back on track, managed to undo the damage. After seeing the BB show, I'm really motivated to keep it clean.

Karen- Sounds like you made out like a bandit on riding clothes. That stuff is so expensive! When my dd was riding, I dreaded the clothing bills almost as much as the lesson bills.

Patt0- Sorry to hear dh spent his birthday in the ER! I had that happen many years ago (the glass shattering in my hand) and still have scars from it. Hope it doesn't affect him too much. Tell him to heal up then hit the weights- don't want to pull stitches!

mox- BodyRX does have a lot of similarities. I have the book too, and incorporate some of the eating principles, but hated the lifting scheme. The one super advantage is NO CARDIO! I have a friend who posts on L&S as LLS who is now in cycle 4 (each cycle is 6 weeks) and has done fabulously. I was with her Saurday nite at the BB show, and she loves the program and looks fantastic. You can see her transformation pics in the L&S gallery. There is also a BodyRx focus board there. LLS (Laura) is one of the online coaches and I'm sure would answer any questions you have.

I had an incredible ab, quad and calf workout today with Robert, and I'm already sore. My quads are actually stinging. He showed me all sorts of new ways to isolate muscle groups- mostly painful! So they gotta work, right? I was supposeed to do chest and quads, but he told me that was an idiotic combination, need to keep all the blood either up or down. It was the last split Pam gave me, and while I don't want to knock her knowledge, he has a LOT more years of doing this and a LOT more hardware at the pro level than she does. So I'm slightly rearranging my split.

Ok gotta go start dinner for the rest of my crew- already had my chicken and brocolli.

mel

But Mel...

I was only going to buy a HELMET!!! I did get a gorgeous one though - black velvet - the real thing. (Of course I will probably end up having a bird crap on it within 10 minutes!)

I could have easily spent much, much more money but I restrained myself and now I'm regretting not buying a riding jacket - I'll be borrowing one for the Ranchotel show. Hey, like you said, it beats wearing those posing suits! They are itty bitty, ain't they??!?

Hey everyone,


I got my body fat percentage done by the same person at my gym....I am not sure what to say...but that they use some sort of machine that goes on my arm...i am on weeks 6 and a 11% drop in body fat percentage is alot????


I am looking for a protein snack to take on the go...i don't want peanuts or sunflower seeds...i like to have a piece of fruit for carb..but not sure what sort of protein to go with it. so anyone have soy nuts? i think that's what my friend at work called them???


please help...

one_sweetchick

You are a shopping freak gurlie!!
Glad I don't live in the US, Thanksgiving seems very decadent....


Mox: what triceps exercises are you doing at the moment?
I was interested in reading BodyRx as well but it is about $75 over here so I am waiting for the price to drop. I don't know how I would go giving up cardio though!

Mel: I would love to see some competitions but they are very scarce over here. I think that it would be very motivating to watch. As for the trainers advice - I don't know. I don't see how where your blood is helps? I guess using logic it transports all of the oxygen to the muscle groups you are working. There are many ways of attacking things though!

OSC: a machine on your arm - do you mean calipers or something else like taking your blood pressure sort of thing? Calipers pinch the fat on the skin to determine you fat % but if they are doing calipers then they should be taking AT LEAST a 3 point test. Triceps or biceps, and either stomach, back or hips. At least 3 different points - one isn't enough. Last time I had mine tested my tricep came in at 13% but I am certainly not 13% BF.

Ok if we do the figures when you started you were at
233.5 lbs @ 40.5% BF. Which makes you 139 lbs LBM & 94.5 lbs Fat. 5 weeks later you are;
214 lbs @ 29.5% BF. Which makes you 150.7 LBM & 63.3 llbs fat.

So in 5 weeks you lost (94.5-63.3) 31 odd lbs of fat and gained (139-150.7) 12 odd lbs of muscle.

Bear in mind the average person loses about 1.5-2.5 lbs of fat a week. This doesn't compute in my book. The muscle is VERY possible if you have never lifted before. How many sizes have you dropped and how tall are you? Let's try and work out what's going on with these figures because I am a little confused! and yes...... 11% at your weight is a HUGE loss.

JC

I normally take some CC to eat with my fruit or a serve of protein powder that I can quickly mix up. Or I carry Pamcakes which don't really need to be reheated. From what I know nuts are considered fats on BFL not a protein. What about some sliced up chicken breast?

JC

What a treat to log on and find so many posts! Karen, a girl after my own heart - I LOVE to shop for bargains. Glad you found so many good things.

Mox, I'll see if I can remember this tricep exercise I used to love. You lay on the bench, hold a dumbell in your right hand and your head turned to the right. Arm is straight up in the air, lower db to your left ear and raise for as many sets as you decide. Then do the other side, the exercise targets the inner tricep. I always thought it was an exercise that FELT good.

Sat. was my best free day ever. I had some good treats but they were totally within reason. I also kayaked/paddled for about 5 hours so I think I burned up every extra calorie I took in. Two days later I was at the same weight as before free day.

Girls, I think the magic has finally begun. This was a low weight loss week, only 1/2 lb. (remember I have a substantial amt. to lose), but pants are noticably looser all of a sudden. I found myself checking myself out in the mirror a lot the last 2 or 3 days. I have a pair of jeans that are my goal to wear by the end of the 12 weeks and by doggies - I think I am going to make it. I just tried them on and the roll of fat at the top of the waistband is shrinking. I am very excited about the last 4 weeks - I am going to hit the diet and exercise hard.

I changed my workouts up starting today and am sore tonight. I think this set of exercises is a lot better than the last set that I did weeks 5-8. Anyhow, I will be taking a free day on Thurs. but keeping clean at all other times. I'll have a 9 day stretch before my next free day so that will be interesting.

Keep those posts coming - Mox I'm glad you have decided to post more. I have picked up some really good tips from you.

Patt, enjoy that chili. I made a second batch of eggplant stew for this week. That is good stuff on these raw nights and has lots of veggies in it.

Hey everyone,

Ya..i don't really like nuts....but someone had suggested them. I am not sure I know what CC is...or what pamcakes are but they sound interesting...

as for my Body fat percentage. It is measured with this thin foam circle that is placed on my arm. the foam has a circle cut out..and that is where they place this little device that looks SORT of like the things used for ultrasounds..then person inputs my body type, height, weight, activity level etc. in the machine...and a few minutes later there is a print out.

one_sweetchick

Good morning everyone!

Chick - if they're taking a measurement/reading from only one place - then IMO I doubt that it's very accurate - especially if they aren't backing it up with caliper measurements.

When I was going to a PT earlier this year, she used a body-fat gadget that took readings from about (if memory serves) 5 different places, using electrodes (kind of like an EKG reading) that were attached to different places. After taking the reading from the machine, THEN she would do a five-point caliper measurement as a back up.

BF measurement is FAR from an accurate science - which is why I don't even bother personally :) The ultimate in accuracy is the Pants-o-meter and progress photos IMO.

CC = Cottage Cheese. I'll post the Pamcakes recipe in the our recipes thread here in the Forum (it's been awhile since we've posted anything there!).

Ledom! You go girl!!! That's exactly what happened to me in my first challenge - nothing and then WHAM! The thing to do is have patience...it will come (as you've learned) as long as you keep the intensity up and the eating clean!

As far as meals (I don't use the word "snack" anymore - there are no snacks on BFL - only MEALS) for on the go, chicken breast is a good call (carry an apple along for a quick carb) along with Cottage Cheesecake (see recipe in Recipe thread). Some of the folks at L&S eat...beef jerky...can't stand the stuff myself. Lots of people think nuts are protein, when they are actually mostly FAT. Good fat, but still don't go around eating more than an ounce or two once or twice a week as one of your healthy fats.

I'm going to dash over to the Recipe thread and enter the Pamcake recipe for y'all!

CC = cottage cheeze
Pamcakes = pancakes made with egg white, oatmeal and CC (only)

FF = fat free
LF = low fat

I'm sure there are others too. :)


That bodyfat measurement thing sounds like electrical impedence, but I though they would have to made two connections and then measured the current between them. Maybe the difference in your readings is related to hydration? I dunno.

Dh is doing much better, he worked out yesterday without using his hands too much, luckily it was leg day. I had a lousy workout, head ache and I was too hungry. Everytime I bent over for my dead lifts I though I was gonna puke. ARRRrrrgggg!


Goin' shoppin' for my chilli recipe today!!!! Hurray !!!!


Patt.

Hey gals, it's snowing here big time -- it looks very pretty (at least until the buses and cars turn the snow into a slushy mud). I'm eager to go skiing, although it's hard to downhill ski in the midwest -- there aren't even any molehills to speak of in Illinois. :shrug: So, I'll have to see what my budget can withstand in terms of heading to the hills . . .

Ledom -- the tricep exercise you described is the one I've been using for the last few weeks. (Although I didn't realize I should turn my head - - I've been very afraid the barbell would slip and bonk me in the nose! :doh: And thanks for your nice note re: posting -- I actually feel like I take a lot from the posts here, but rarely contribute anything of substance. I'm thrilled to have this space to learn and think aloud a little, if you know what I mean.)

JC: The other triceps exercise I've been doing is the one where you hold one barbell over your head with both hands and then lower your forearms behind your head. I like this one a lot (and if I squint, I can see some tricep/muscle definition), but I want to be able to change things up some more.

Re: Body Rx -- I plan on reading the book (and would be happy to post a synopsis here), bit I'm pretty wedded to BFL for now. I feel like I'm still learning a lot about the process (that ol' trial and error), and want to work through at least another 12 week challenge before switching things around. In some wierd way, I'm looking forward to January and the end to all of the temptations that the holidays bring. It's been harder for me to feel like I'm in a groove (unlike my first challenge) because almost every day brings some sort of food challenge.

OSC: I haven't had my BF measured, and I shudder to think what the percentages may be. I've found using the tape measure every week or so to be pretty motivating -- this may be particularly true for me 'cause I still have a lot of weight to lose; so, I'm still seeing substantial decreases in inches. (And I haven't gotten on the scale for about 1 month -- my jeans are still loose, though!) Maybe tape measurement is another check you can use to track your progress and to stay motivated? I think there's less room for error when you're doing the measurements yourself.

Finally, a co-worker of mine mentioned that she thought my skin was looking particularly good these days -- if that's true, I chalk it up to the regular exercise and all the water we drink on this plan. Let me say, getting compliments is another motivator! :)

Hope everyone is doing well. Take it easy, Mox

Mox! Skullcrushers! I love skullcrushers!!! In fact I have to FORCE myself to stop doing them. They are my absolute favorite tricep exercise bar none - I like to superset them with 1-arm DB kickbacks. Right now for triceps I'm doing close-grip French presses and reverse-grip pressdowns, with a few kickbacks added in for good measure. Can't do bench dips - I have some sort of nerve impingement in my right arm that acts up whenever I do them.

Mox: try the french presses - they are my favourite. Otherwise you could do dips, pressdowns, single reverse grip extensions etc..... hmmmm can't think of any other at the moment.

JC

Hey Karen & JC: I need some translation help -- what are French presses? And I take it that a "skullcrusher" is the overhead exercise? I've tried bench dips, but I get a wierd pain in my shoulder joint when I do them (maybe this is the same thing as Karen???) But, I may try bench dips again given that I've gained in UB strength . . . hmmm.

It's quiet here, which I chalk up to Thanksgiving tomorrow. I've only gotten 2 phone calls at work as well (usually I'm on the phone constantly . . .), so I've been able to clean up my desk. One more task and I can skeedaddle early. Yeah!

I'm heading out of town until Wed., so may not be able to post. (I get to use a Bow-Flex, though, so I'm pretty excited.) Hope everyone has a great weekend -- and throw away any extra pumpkin pie!
:D

Peace, Mox

P.S. Also, OSC, a good protein to go is tuna in a pouch. They're kinda expensive, but worth it, I think. I usually eat mine straight from the pouch (no seasoning), but I've seen tuna pouches with different spices added in. I don't know if they're any good, though. I also eat tuna with mustard, sometimes. You can carry a tuna pouch and a little packet of mustard with you. Oh, and a fork would be good as well.

Hey Mox: a french press over here is where you lie flat on your back on a bench (like doing bench press). You grab a barbell with the right weight on it and hold it with a close grip above your head arms straight. Then keeping your elbows still lower the bar down going towards your head but behind it if you get what I mean. Just keep your elbows still and you will get a feel for it. Then just raise the bar again and straighten your arms for the other half of the rep.

I hope that makes sense!

JC

Shoot - I have to WORK on Friday! :( Actually it's a pretty cake day, since most of the office takes it off anyway. :)

I had the yummiest lunch today!!! My boss took the department out to Viognier Restaurant and on her recommendation I had this WONDERFUL spinach salad with grilled scallops and rock shrimp, with mango-dill dressing (luckily most of it was in the center, poured over the avocado slices). I just did the Dip and Stab (dip my fork into the dressing, then stab some salad or seafood) and everything was cool! I did have a spoonful of someone's Pumpkin Puree Soup and MAN was that good - I'll bet it could be modified...Pumpkin is a great carb y'know!

Mox - check http://www.abcbodybuilding.com/ for some great exercise descriptions (go to "exercise" on the top menu of the home page for the exercises) including the French Press (actually they call it the California Press - at least what I was doing!) and a ton of others.

Actually when I do dips, I really feel the nerves tingling in my forearm. I have to go really light on the weight, so I just don't bother doing them all that much anymore...

Hope that everyone has a great Thanksgiving (those of us who celebrate it anyway). I've already got my pies - for the past 20 years that's been my contribution to the feast!

Happy Thanksgiving to you guys!!
(I wish that I had a holiday) :lol:

JC

Hey everyone...

Hope all of the American's are having a great thanksgiving... I am just a silly Canadian who thinks Thanksgiving is in October...hahahha.


one_sweetchick

So finally after 5 weeks of BFL...i decided to buy egg whites...omg..i love them!!! amazing...so great...love 'em love 'em..

ok that's all for now

one_sweetchick

Just had an awesome lower body workout today. I barely walked out of there. I never did my cardio at all yesterday. I was sick(flu), so did not think running would be that best idea, and I could not have made myself do it anyway.
Today I feel much better and to top it off, I was doing a working out and one of the trainers came up to me and said, wow you are really doing great, you look so good, you have lost a lot of weight. It felt great! So I really worked extra hard. I can't begin to tell you how my life has changed in the last 4 months. I have so much more confidence than I have ever had. I feel so much better, clothes fit better, life is good.
Virginia

What WONDERFUL compliment. I am so pleased for you.

All is well here. I had an awesome LBWO on Wed. that still has me limping around. Finally last night I remembered the glutamine. UBWO this morning was good too.

It feels good to be back w/ the clean eating today. On days like yesterday, a blowout freeday, I feel stuffed and then I feel hungry. Never feel either of those w/ my 6 clean meals a day.

I finish my 9th week today. I am hoping for a lot for the last 3 weeks. I am just starting to really feel and see the difference.

The turkey is finally digested, and I've ignored all the leftover pie and eaten totally clean since Thursday nite. Yahoo! Had a pretty wimpy back and ham workout yesterday, but at least I showed up and did it, and am sore, so something was happening in the gym while I seemingly wandered in my carb induced haze.:lol: And I thought I was pretty good- didn't go near the stuffing or gravy, but saved my carbs and sugar for pie and wine.:cool:

I did BF measurements this am and am shocked that I've dropped 3 1/2% in the last 5 weeks! Down to 14% on a 7 pinch point caliper measure! I don't think I look 14% tho- I thought 14% would be sleek, with no visibile fat, but I still see a lardy stomach and some fat on my thighs :( . So I'm thrilled with the numbers, but as usual, it just means the goals change.

So how are you all doing?

OSC (sounds like a university)- glad you like egg whites LOL- most days I eat at least a dozen of them, some days 2 dozen! My daughter suggested we buy a few hens so we don't have to keep so many eggs in the fridge.

Virginia- You sound so revved up! I'm sure your enthusiasm is paying off. You're right, this really does change you, and not just the size jeans you can wear.

Ledom- Same for you! I'm sure you're last 3 weeks will be exciting. I know in C1 I really didn't see major changes til around week 10, then by week 12 I felt totally different. I don't thing my pics reflected that, tho. But I felt great!

JC and Karen- How ya doing?

mel

hey thanks for the kind words Mel. I feel that way about the last 3 weeks, that it is going to tell the tale of the last 3 months. Those near and dear to me have started to notice my beginning transformation. Both D and my mom commented this weekend. They are not easy ones to get compliments from either so there is a change that more that I am beginning to see.

I took D clothes shopping yesterday and while I didn't buy, I did try on. It was fun because there is nothing like those dressing room mirrors to show you the truth about how you look and while I am not there by any stretch, I'm looking so much better. I am down a size, but I want to go down another before buying anything new. I plan on going down quite a few :D and want to save my money for clothes in much smaller sizes than 18. OK, I'm self-absorbed. Sorry!

OSC, isn't amazing how good egg whites can be? I use one yolk in with the whites and now I think any other way wouldn't taste right. Are you taking advantage of cottage cheese as well? This weekend I tried it w/ oatmeal with apple cooked in it. SO yummy.

Karen, your pumpkin soup reminded me of a Butternut Squash soup I have made for years. The recipe comes from an old Shape magazine.

Butternut Soup w/ Parmesan and Sage

1 cup chopped onion
2 tsp. olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground sage
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
3 cups low-salt chicken broth
Butternut squash (about 1 1/2 lbs), peeled seeded and chopped into 1 inch cubes
2 tbs grated Parmesan cheese

In a large stockpot over medium heat, saute onion in oil 4 minutes. Add seasonings, broth and squash and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 20 minutes, until squash is tender. Puree half the soup in a blender; return to pot. Stir in Pamesan cheese and serve.

serving size 1 cup, 79 calories, 28 percent fat (2.5 grams), 62 percent carbohydrate, 10 poercent protein.

AACK! I posted that recipe in the recipe thread...then sis called me to ask if I could babysit and off I went!

It's been a busy, busy weekend for me...I think today is going to be pretty mellow though, that is if you want to call HOUSECLEANING :( mellow! Fortunately we didn't have any leftovers - they're all at my sister's house :lol: I was amazed at how LITTLE it took me to get full at T'giving dinner.

Spent most of yesterday at the stables riding Sneaky, then giving him a little bath and grooming him. NEXT WEEK IS MY SHOW! Yee Haw!! My parents are coming to see it and Dad made this big speech at the table on Thursday (pretty embarrassing but still...awww...) about it.

My other sister loaned me a novel called "Jemima J" by Jane Green - a pretty good read! I recommend it - a good 'airplane read' or when you are at a loose end. I kind of enjoy reading Cinderella stories once in awhile!

I have 2 months until Miami - so I'm really going to put the pedal to the metal...the meeting hotel is in Downtown Miami (all the Miami Beach properties were full) but after the meeting Jim and I are going to move to the South Beach Marriott right on Ocean Drive and I want to look HOT! Clean eating all the way til then (except for Christmas and once a week Free Meal!).

Hey guys,

Just checking in to say a quick hello. I have been studying for my final exams here and had the last one this morning. Glad that it is all over to be honest.

As for my plan well I am meant to be on CPB at the moment but I am a bit lost. I hadd a really had week last week and just got sick of the whole shebang! I am eating fairly clean but not as strict as I meant to be (that damn bread) and it doesn't help that my routine is out of whack either. On top of that it has been so hot here (around 100) and humid that I am in no mood to do much of anything. You know what I mean?

Besides that everything else is blah and just coasting along.
Where on earth has my spark gone? Did one of you guys steal it? :lol: :lol:

JC

Sorrry to hear you are having a hard time. I live in the southern US and I know what those 100 + temps. and humidity can do to you. Get as much rest as you can and drink your water for sure.

You know this better than I but like they say on L&S, you are never more than 2 1/2 hrs. from being back on the program.

I am sure you are evaluating and thinking what you might do to get your spark back. Good luck.