Just a quick post today. I actually skipped running last night and didn't work out this morning. I just felt like my legs were too tired after the crazy weekend of yard work. I just needed to sit and read my book this morning!! I think it was a good break.

Kelly: Glad you are going on to day 2!!

Amanda: I'll bet that getting some sleep and releasing a little stress probably helps a lot!

Yay! Day 2 and feeling fine ... could I be getting into the groove?! Lol 2 days wow. Well I'm coming up to my 1 year anniversary and I just have to lump it that I'm not where I wanted to be *lesigh* but I think I need to rejoice in the fact I'm not where I was :) wedding anniversary this Saturday so maybe a night out if I can get a babysitter. Oh man went to the movies with a bunch or is it a gaggle (maybe a giggle) of girlfriends saw Trainwreck .. I don't think I've laughed that much for ages. Also I resisted the popcorn and choctop! Win!!!! Scales rewarded me with a brand new number too 224 which is helping my quest to stay on plan.

Amanda yes I think we totally underestimate the effect of stress and lack of sleep have on weightloss. Glad its coming off for you

Diane definitely have to listen to your body sometimes, although reading a book sounds a pretty good use of your time to me!

Now as much as I love your company ladies where is everyone else?? Sending you all good vibes

Another day off from workouts for me. I have a hip flexor that is sore, so I decided to have one more rest day, so no spin class and no running tonight. I'll go back to Body Pump tomorrow. I don't want to go too long or enjoy the rest days too much! I just have to remember that I also like the results. One thing I've been thinking about it I have about 40 pounds to go to get to my goal. Granted that goal might change once I get there, but for now, 40 more to go. So, I think that I need to get recommitted to the plan, stop with any excuses and buckle down on my food plan. Then, get to the goal! Then, maybe I can relax a little bit. I don't want to lose my focus now and not get there. So, that's my plan for the next couple of days. My husband is out of town, my son has moved into the dorms at school, and my daughter isn't around all that much, so I'm going to give myself a pep talk and get that drive back. That's the plan.

Kelly: Look at you go!! Day 2 and weight loss!! Awesomeness!

And, I agree with you. I am so glad that you and Amanda are still posting here, but boy did we lose a lot of friends from this thread recently. It makes me sad because I am afraid that they might have given up. I hope that it is just a matter of being busy. Of course, we know where Mandy (FeraFilia) is, busy growing that little boy!!! If any of our MIA's are reading... just post something! We're worried about you!!!

Down to 255.8 today (YEAH BUDDY). Haven't been this low in about three weeks, so I'm feeling pretty darn good about myself right now. :)

And yeah, a lot of people suddenly stopped posting all of a sudden on this thread! Hopefully it's a temporary hiatus and they'll be back soon. I was tempted to just quit altogether when finals came and I started reverting back to old ways, but I'm glad I stuck it out and just ate (pun intended) the shame that came with falling off the wagon.

Come back, friends!

Day 3 dun dun dun ... survived mcdonalds with peppermint tea (seriously I drank peppermint tea at McDonalds) and a snack wrap. Oh lordy if the scales don't move this week I'm in trouble lol. Now to day 4, Saturdays going to be hard dinner and a movie, also a birthday party, must plan :)

Yeah come back ladies! Good or bad keep posting.

Yeah, but Kelly, to be honest, those snack wraps are to die for! I love them! And in a pinch, they're not that bad calorie-wise! And you do what you gotta do to make it through a McD's trip without cracking. ;)

Ok, didn't work out today either. Kind of overslept. Oh well, I'll go to spin tomorrow and probably run tomorrow after work. Gotta get back to it.

Kelly and Amanda: You're doing well!!! Yay!!

Diane: I dunno about doing well lol. Ate a bunch of tortilla chips with lemon and salt last night and I'm all bloated up today. Terrible. Weighed myself and refusing to post the results (it's that bad lol). Instead, I'm going to drink butt loads of water to off-set the sodium intake, work my butt off at the gym this afternoon and then eat a sushi roll for dinner tonight. And tomorrow morning I'll post my weight when I feel better about myself lol.

Killed myself at the gym. I feel amazing and exhausted. Been drinking water like crazy. I'm calling today a huge success. :D

Yay success Amanda. I've been a bit unsuccessful on the exercise front but totally on plan with diet so I'm happy, had a sneaky look at the scales this morning ... 222 eek! May that stick til Wednesday please. Day 4 down :) 3 weigh ins til my parents come back from oz and I'd like to be at my next goal. 7 pounds in 3 weeks?! Doable

I didn't sleep well last night, having a few issues at home. Nothing relationship wise, but enough to keep me awake. I'll be looking forward to going home today......

Kelly: Congrats!!! You've totally got this! And besides, diet is like 80% of the weight loss, right? So technically, you're still definitely succeeding. :)

Diane: Sorry to hear that. :( We're here if you need to vent or talk about it! Hope whatever is going on gets better soon.

Sorry you are going through a rough patch Diane, hope everything sorts itself out soon for you.

Another day down, think I'm ovulating cos I feel bloated - must drink more water. Wedding anniversary today so heading to the movies with my man, thai food and a wee wine first. I factored in a couple of low calorie days to compensate for extra calories so hope there isn't to much of a spike on the scales. I really need to keep off the scales but at the moment they are keeping me motivated - its amazing what seeing new numbers on the scales can do. Also tried on some of my summer clothes ... oh and my wedding dress. Officially need a new summer wardrobe people!!!!!!! My wedding dress is way to big now, I'm 20 pounds lighter than when I got married lol wish I had money to buy a few more clothes :(

Worked out pretty hard again last night. My arms were really sore while the rest of me was kind of "eh." Went to the gym and worked on my core and legs to kind of even out the soreness, and I'm definitely feeling it today. My weight is still a little up (257) but I also ate really late last night and it was a decently big meal. We'll see tomorrow.

Happy anniversary, Kelly! Well, belated anniversary now lol. Hope you had a nice night out with the hubby. :) And while new clothes are always expensive, there are two upsides! 1) It's needed because you doing awesome and you've lost so much weight, and 2) That's what thrift stores and resell shops are for. :D I love thrift shops, though lol.

UUUUGGGH. My weight is never gonna go down. 257.4. Whatever, I'm about to be too busy to worry too much about it for the next few months. The new semester starts tomorrow and I need to get everything ready for it.

Tonight I've got to: stop by grocery store to pick up some more hatch green chile chicken salad (the boyfriend bought some and I sort of ate...all of it today and apparently that was for his lunch tomorrow, whoops!), stop by Office Depot and print out my syllabuses and pick up some school supplies, and hit the gym for a quick 30min workout (just going to do C25K) so I can say I did SOMETHING today.

Erg made the mistake of jumping on the scales! Up 3 pound, I know its water weight but I'll be really annoyed if it doesn't come off by Wednesday weigh in ... geez being a woman is a pain sometimes!

On a brighter note I managed to get in some sewing time, its like meditation to me... well it would be if I didn't have 2 little boys 'helping' anny who a managed to selvage a skirt out of a dress that I was making (which I hadn't finished) was to big, I over estimated my waist shrinkage! Can't complain about that though. I love thrift shops too! Although its hard shopping with little boys! !

I feel for you Amanda, I look back at some of my early posts and I went through the same thing - desperate to get to smaller numbers but the scales not moving. Then when it does worrying it will go back on. All I can say is just keep trying :) I'm coming up to a year at this and was feeling abit sucky about not being where I wanted to be but ahh its is what its is! At least I'm still trying.

I really need to get looking for an outfit for tnis wedding I'm going too ... hmm shopping! Its in Queenstown in October so although it will be our spring its still an alpine town. Must hit the sales! I did have in mind a tulle skirt and simple top but thinking might look a bit tragic?! Princess moment lol

Hi all. Thanks for the support. My issues are financial, and it isn't as bad as I originally thought. We're working through it. Kind of getting screwed over a little bit with our mortgage company, and how do you fight the big companies? Anyway, we'll figure it out. Thanks!

I've been kind of off track and for some reason, my weight isn't going sky high, it just isn't going down either. So, I had a talk with myself this weekend and I'm recommitting. Why I have to keep doing that is just beyond me. Anyway, I'm recording everything on myfitnesspal. I went to spin, and I'm going to run after work. I need to get back to my groove.

Kelly: Just ignore what the scale said! Wait a few days and try again. You're like me, though. I just can't stay away from it.

Amanda: Oh yep. You have a lot of work to do soon. You'll have to take it easy on yourself!

Went to the gym last night and ran it out on the treadmill doing D1W1 of C25K. I managed to jog at all the appropriate times except for one of the 1min rotations, which I am SUPER proud of myself for. Also, down to 256 today! Phew!

Kelly: Water weight! Bah! Worst part of the month, by far! It'll be better in a few days, you'll see!

Diane: Glad it's not quite as bad as you thought it was! Hopefully everything will get figured out in your favor! And I bet the stress isn't helping with your weight, either.

Money stresses are the worst! We are on one income till the boys go to school, it can get hairy some months!

Still waiting for a whoosh! I feel really bloated but the peeing has started so fingers crossed for tomorrow's weigh in or mammas going to get angry lol

Good work on the jogging Amanda!

Good morning!

Diane - Oof. Sorry about the fighting with your mortgage company. It can be done, but it often takes more money to fight them than it would be to give in to them. Hope it goes well. I think I may join you in logging my food. I hate logging. So much. But sometimes, it's the boost that I need. And that recommitting thing - always so critical. and probably the key to your long-term success.

Kelly - I love your entertaining posts! Hope the peeing pays off! It's so great that you make time to sew, even with so many little fingers "assisting." Hope your weigh-in today goes the way it should.

Amanda - Yay of C25K! It makes me feel so good when I run! And yay on a new semester. First day of school yesterday for my young 'uns. I love the sense of renewal that the first day of school always brings. This will be the semester where you totally rock the life-school balance! (And me on the life-work balance!)

Missed a bit because of travel, a wedding, and trying to catch back up. Not going to back-read posts today. And maybe not ever. Just needed to post. I don't know that I'm going to track today, but I might. I will, however, try to get to the gym this afternoon, though I have a meeting smack in the middle of my normal gym time. (And it's my meeting, so I can't skip. It was just the only time I could get the whole group together.)

Have a fantastic day, everyone!

Had a pretty good, on plan day yesterday. I went running after work, but didn't go for as long as I usually do. I started getting tightness in my back and hip again. So, might just have to take it a little easy for now. Went to Body Pump this morning. It was a tough one, so that was good. Just need to stay on track with calories now.

Laurie: So good to see you back here! I missed you! Hope you get your gym time in.

Kelly: Ha, ha! Yep, waiting for a whoosh can be taxing! Hope it comes through for you!

Amanda: I love C25K! It is what really got me into running. What a great program! Proud of you!

Down to 254.8 today. YEAH BUDDY. Going back to the gym today to do another day of C25K and some strength training (focusing on arms today with a touch of core and legs). I'm exhausted...between stress and adjusting my sleep schedule back to school, I've only slept 4 hours a night the last couple of nights. Insomnia is keeping me up, and experience this year has shown me that the only way to beat the insomnia is to work out till I drop, a long hot shower, and some kind of sleep-aid (big ol' swig of Benadryl or a couple capsules of valerian root) for a few nights until I get back on track. Another problem is that I've started getting lower back pain and I think it's partially because I'm tense and partially because of my mattress. Going to start doing some stretches before bed and buy a couple pillows to put under my knees at night.

Kelly: I totally get the one income thing, we're doing it right now as well. Some of the people in my program are pulling off jobs while they're finishing it out, but most of them (like me) started off the year working full-time, and slowly but surely have dropped down to the bare minimum and/or quitting entirely. I quit my job after I had already dropped to about 24 hours a week and failed my first Med-Surg test. Turned in my two weeks notice that night lol.

Diane: I'm pretty sure as long as your eating is on track, slacking a little on exercise isn't that bad at all. ;)

Laurie: :D You're back! C25K normally makes me feel so accomplished and awesome, but for whatever reason I haven't been able to get into it lately. I'll start it but get halfway through D1W1 and just quit. I feel like I can make this round stick, though! The furthest I've ever made it through is to the end of Week 4. Goal is to go further than that this time and make it to the end!

Arg I hate my scales!!!!!! Down 1/2 pound grrr ready to throw them out the window. That is all.

Oh pleased to see you back Laurie :)

Went to spin this morning and plan to do some running after work. Eating wasn't great yesterday, so hoping to do better today. Shouldn't be so hard....

Gotta run!

Oh man, I'm so freaking exhausted today. I slept well last night, but one night of decent sleep does NOT make up for a few nights of terrible, small amounts of sleep. Don't even know what my weight is, it was 255.something this morning. I have to be up at 5am tomorrow morning for a 6:30am clinical shift, so gonna be hitting my pillow pretty soon here tonight.

Ordered the Advocare 10-Day Herbal Cleanse off Amazon and got it (along with a beautiful new stethoscope, EEEEEKKKK!) today. Going to start it tomorrow morning. I've been feeling a little, ahem, backed up lately and I really liked the way it made me feel afterwards the last time I did it a few years ago. Plus, it really helped put me in the weight-loss healthy-eating mind set and I feel like a fresh start will do me some good.

Kelly: Forget that scale! The water weight will come off in no time at all. You got this!

Diane: Have fun! lol

Well, running was a little better last night. I did a little more than I did on Monday, but not my usual amount. I figured it is ok to build back up. I don't need to be hobbled again by the pain in my hip. Went to body pump this morning. It was so humid in the gym. We're not used to that here where I live, so we were all just struggling with being so sweaty and hot.

Amanda: Yep, you need more sleep tonight. I agree with you, that it is hard sometimes to bounce back after losing so much sleep earlier in the week. Congrats on the new stethoscope!!!

Clinicals the last two days and did a spin class last night. Headache that is beginning to rage. Checking in before bed! G'night guys.

Well, it sure is nice to drag my butt back here and see some familiar faces! Laurie, Kelly, and Diane, I see you all are still working it!

So.... I'm back!

In a nutshell: Lost 40 last year, but got off track when my dad died. I tried to restart with a different approach-- being more intuitive and not counting calories. Well, guess what? That DOES NOT WORK for me!

I've known for a while that I absolutely needed to get back on track. My body simply does not work at this weight-- I get up to a certain point and I start to have all kinds of aches and pains and minor health issues. (and you know, also the threat of major health issues always looming on the horizon.)

So.... here's what happened. My college-age daughter just went for a physical and the doctor really let her have it-- she told her that she had just tipped into the obese range and HAD TO LOSE WEIGHT. Now, I should say that I made this huge effort never to talk to my daughters about their weight or make them feel bad about their bodies, because I suffered a lot from that, so she doesn't have body image issues. She thinks she looks good, and what the doctor said really shocked her. She came straight home and started changing her habits-- which are not nearly as bad as mine, I might add!!!

So, I realized that if my daughter can change of her health, then I can take charge of mine!

Back to the usual routine-- I'm counting calories and tracking on fit day.

I know I've been totally in and out here, but I hope ya'll don't mind having me back! :-)

Down to 254.4 this morning and feeling pretty darn good. Ate fantastic for most of yesterday (except for taco time at 5:45am on the way to the clinical site) and while I didn't work out, I felt the rest was well deserved. I was also still pretty sore from doing the spin class the night before. Took a while to go to sleep with that headache but once I did, I was OUT. Wishing I could have slept in more today but waking up early through the week is making it a lot harder to sleep in on my days off.

On the agenda today is...a whole of of just studying and maybe going to workout later on today. Thinking of finishing out week 1 of C25K. I also have an exam on Monday over 11 chapters that I haven't quite started to read yet (whoops). Wish me luck!

ubergirl: Welcome back! :) It's been getting a little lonely in this thread lately, everyone seems to have trickled away. Glad people are coming back and getting back in the swing of things!

Hi Amanda, thanks for the welcome back! I haven't changed my ticker yet, but this morning I was down two! Sorry about your headache! I'm a migraine girl-- nothing worse!

Uber!!!!!!! So pleased to see you back! And in the zone too. Its been a bit quiet in here. Me I'm still ticking away, the scales have hit a plateau though I feel smaller. I would love to chuck them out the window but they call to me like a siren :)

Sunday rain here, sitting on the couch watching peppa pig (why do the kids love this??) And need to get motivated to have a shower, I've found a monthly workout challenge on pinterest that I'm going to start on the 1st and with the warmer weather I'm hoping it kickstarts something

ubergirl: I didn't start getting truly terrible headaches until this year, and they're always stress related! I'm in my last semester of nursing school and will be testing to be an LVN in December :) And it sounds like you've really hit the ground running with losing what you gained back! That's so awesome!!

Kelly: Not gonna lie, when I was a nanny and the kids watched Peppa Pig, I always got sucked in too. The voice just draws you in! lol What workout challenge are you gonna do?

I know Amanda Peppa sucks you in!!! I'm doing Steptember, which you do 10000 steps a day and get sponsors all the money goes to charity. Also going to do a sculpt and tone one I found on pintrest - love me some pintrest. So even if the scales don't move I'll hopefully be a bit more toned lol. So over these scales :) maybe the batteries need changed ... grasping at straws much.

Not the best weekend, I didn't eat too much but enough to maintain I think. Raining again and a sick child so mucking round the house today, if he has a nap might be able to do some sewing maybe?!

Down to 253! Yeeeaaaaaaah! Just studied and laid around the house. Been babysitting the sick boyfriend (who is feeling much better) and reading chapter after chapter after chapter and not a whole lot else. :P

AmandaNursing school tough! I should know, because I'm a nurse! A nurse-midwife actually, although I don't work in my field anymore.

Kelly You are doing awesome!!!! Nice to see you!

It's been pretty hot the last few days, which really helps me not eat! My littlest goes back to school tomorrow, and I feel like I'm off to a good start!

I didn't get a chance to check in this weekend. I went to body pump and body flow on Saturday, so that was good. I also mowed my lawn Saturday afternoon, so it was an active day. Sunday... not at all. I just didn't do too much at all. It was just one of those days, I guess. Missed spin this morning, too. I slept a little long and then talked myself out of going. I seem to be in a little funk right now. But I'm going to go running tonight after work. I hope!

Uber! So good to see you back here. I missed hearing from you, but I knew you were going through a rough time. I'm glad that your daughter took that news from the doctor in a good way, rather than being depressed or offended. I hope you both have an easy time getting on track. I'm just happy to see you!!!

Kelly: How funny. I've seen Peppa Pig on the TV schedule before. I've never had to watch it. My husband and I make fun of the title each time we see it. Ha!

Amanda: Hopefully your headache is better now!

I wasn't going to post today because I've got a super crazy day, and if I just can't get in a post first thing in the morning, I have been tending to skip it.

But I had a few seconds, and I thought I would do a quick check-in. And WOO HOO!!!!! I am so excited you're back, Uber! Check out your daughter. One warning, and changes made. May they stick forever.

Not going to spend more than a few seconds on here, though. I'm in frantic prep mode for a meeting in about an hour.

Probably not going to escape to the gym today. Meeting during my usual gym time. Dinner with the fam to prep and serve immediately after work. Social gathering at 7:00. Goal, then, is to go for a quick walk after the social gathering. We'll see.

Uber pushed me over the edge on my Fitday dilemma. I will join you and Diane in daily tracking. Starting tomorrow. Woot?

Until tomorrow, when I will be more responsible about reading and responding. Probably.

253.6 this morning...could be better, but honestly I'm just glad I'm still in 253 range. Hoping tomorrow will bring me down, FINALLY, to 252. Going back to doctor today, it never seems to end. We're talking about my weight loss thus far, and talking about my plan from here. I'll be back next month for another follow up. I was a little worried about going back until I realized that I've lost almost a full 10lb since the last time I was there two months ago, so I'm actually still doing decently well.

No working out today...after the doctor's appt, I'll be going grocery shopping, and after that I'll be home studying for tomorrow's exam. I want to go to a spin class and maybe a yoga class tomorrow, so I'm looking forward to that.

Kelly: Blah! Scales. I have a love/hate relationship with mine. And yet, I just can't stay away! The toning will get you all revved up and before you know it, that scale won't know what hit it!

ubergirl: Holy cow, that's awesome!! I start my maternity and peds rotations in another three weeks, I'm super excited. Pretty sure I'll end up in psych though!

Diane: Thanks, it is. :) Have fun running tonight, you can do it!

Laurie: Enjoy your walk! Hope you get a minute to yourself to breathe today. :)

Happy first day of spring!!!!! Okay just for me and the rest of the southern hemisphere. And right in track the weathers packed it, a wicked wind coming straight off Antarctica! Also day one of Steptember, I'm doing it with a couple of friends so hopefully a bit of competition! My friends who weigh in with me on a Wednesday have fallen off the wagon big time and seem to be going up the scales instead if down so I'm finding it hard with my plateau as well - hopefully I'll have a new number to chart tomorrow.

Good too see its filling up in here again!

Quick check in before I finish studying for the night and pass out: at my doctor's appt, they said I have officially lost 10lb since the last time I was there! :D :D :D I originally saw this doctor right before my 30th birthday in July, and at the time I had no idea I would be quitting smoking so abruptly. When I told him that I'd quit in July, he said that me not only not gaining weight but managing to also lose 10lb was no small miracle. That bumped my self esteem up quite a bit. :)