Thanks ferret =) I love your costume! My boyfriend used to be addicted to WOW, it took me 2 years, but he is FINALLY over it! lol

katybelle: Nice job on the NSVs. There's nothing better than loose jeans!

KimL1214: Did you make it out for some exercise today or is the weather too bad? We're finally having some nice weather here. It rained on and off for weeks!

toastedsmoke: The videos I was most successful with were the Firm videos. A lot of people really like the old ones and really hate the new ones (like the Wave system) and I was somewhere in between. I used the TransFIRMer system plus others as add-ons. Turbo Jam is also really good for cardio, but I never stuck with it long. I have two left feet and never felt very graceful following the choreography.

Thanks everyone for NSV comments! I had another food free night last night and it's been reflecting on the scale. I'm down two pounds from my Sunday weigh-in!

Today's Question: I like Halloween, but my husband and I never really do anything for it. A costume to me means Comic-Con! I'd love to go one year and dress up. I never would now for fear of ending up in one of those "cosplay gone wrong" slideshows you always see. I'd probably do someone from Street Fighter like Ibuki or Chun Li or one of the characters from Harvest Moon. The latter is definitely less revealing. Those Street Fighter girlies don't where a whole lot!

Krizstyling: What is your secret!!! Lol! My husband refuses to stop playing WoW, he's living under the delusion that he can't live without it, and it's getting REALLY irritating.

toastedsmoke: Firstly, I would recommend Turbo Jam, it is an AWESOME workout, and it's really, really, REALLY fun! It feels like dancing/martial arts/self defense. You burn a ton of calories and you build up arm muscles very quickly, and also learn a lot of moves that could be applied to any emergency situation (not that that would happen). And yeah, it's not so much my physical appearance as it in my mental state. If I believe I'm unattractive, I will be more reserved. I feel like my personality is getting hidden under all this weight, and it's stopping me from having confident relationships.

Kriz: thank you! I've been playing WoW off-and-on for years..

stacy: I'd love to see a Chun Li costume/cosplay :D You could probably find a skin-tone liner/catsuit (pantyhose-type/thin material?) to cover up underneath if too revealing. Another good one would be Felicia from Darkstalkers (old arcade game).
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_78uANekbFa...Q/s1600/j1.jpg

Definitely dream costumes... but still within our powers to make wearable by next Halloween ;) We're smart to wait until we'd look good in them...

ferretgirl: We actually have two or three of the old Darkstalkers games for the original Playstation plus the compilation one for the PSP. I would never be brave enough to attempt Felicia! She is one of my favorites though. Morrigan is awesome too, but again, I'd never be brave enough to pull that off. At least Chun Li is kind of covered!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, I'm noting them all down to look up so please keep 'em coming!!! A lot of people on 3fc seem to love Turbo Jam, I'll definitely check that out and thanks ferretgirl for the Beto Zumba review, there aren't any zumba classes around here and I've heard lots of good things about it so I wanted to give it a go. I've been "shredded" (30DS) and also have NMTZ and BFBM and was actually thinking of doing a Jillian 30-day slim down month for November as suggested here: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/20-s...slim-down.html (does anyone want to do it with me starting Nov. 1?? <said in pathetically hopeful voice>). I guess I'm looking for variety and new workout DVDs so like I said, keep the suggestions coming.

I haven't worked out yet today. <Shakes head at self> I'm lying down with my computer, procrastinating (i.e. hoping if I put off exercising long enough, it will soon get late enough for me to decide it's no longer worthwhile to do it tonight). It's just gone 1.12a.m. and technically I should go to sleep, but I'm going to get up and still work out a bit after I post this. No excuses! <but a degree of whining to self allowed>

A little late!
 

Sorry for getting on her a few days late everyone! Our home network has been on the fritz and I'm finally able to access the internet. It's been a long few days without it! :D

Age: 23
Location: Novi, MI
Most Recent NSV: Running an 11 minute mile
Weight Lose Goal for the Challenge: I want to lose at least 15 lbs
Battle Plan for Reaching BL Challenge Goal: Continue my calorie counting and my half marathon training!
Particular Challenges/Upcoming Temptations that You are Working to/or Planning to Overcome: Ugh... Thanksgiving. But I'm running a 5K in Detroit that morning to help me stick with my plans. :D
Anything Else You Would Like to Share About Yourself: I'm an accountant who is busy wedding planning in any spare time that I have. Jay and I are getting married next September and that has been all the motivation I needed to get my health, weight, and eating habits back in order. Have been counting calories and living a healthier lifestyle since June 21st, 2010 and have lost a total of 27 lbs. Cannot wait to lose more! I'm super excited for this challenge!

KimL1214 – I can’t believe that they actually published an article like that. How pathetic was the apology tacked on the end, it almost seemed like a long winded justification for her position rather than really being sorry.

princessdi86 – That’s awesome that you can get involved in the Marathon with your Dad! I got a chuckle out of your Mr Clean comment.

ferretgirl – that’s a cute outfit from last Halloween!

toastedsmoke – how did the exercising effort go today? Did you manage to fit any in?

excitedtolose – Welcome aboard. It’s always nice to see new team members jumping in. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!!

I’ve had a really busy day with work and am absolutely drained. I can’t really be bothered cooking anything for dinner tonight so am trying to convince myself that I still have the energy to make something healthy rather than resorting to chocolate. At the moment the idea of chocolate seems to be winning out.

Welcome excitedtolose! Nice to have another Michigan girl ^_^ Grats on your upcoming wedding and your NSV! Running a mile is also one of my goals, I'd like to be able to do some 5ks in Detroit someday =)

KimL1214: I finally read the article and the EIC Joanna Cole's (whom I usually love) response you posted on the other thread. I'm so disappointed. Marie Claire is the ONLY non-fashion specific "womens" magazine I read so it was awful to see them associated in that article. I'm more sad than upset by what was said in the article, it's everything that I try to convince myself daily that people aren't looking at me and thinking, but apparently they are! Ah well... To be honest though, I too feel somewhat uncomfortable (but also admiration in a way) watching obese people PDA not because I think it's "disgusting" or they should "get a room," but because I'm just uncomfortable imagining what all the skinny people around probably have snarky things to say. (The admiration part is from seeing to people who by society's standards should be uber-self-conscious and trying to be inconspicuous, not giving a hoot what anyone thinks and being themselves within their relationship, even in public).

excitedtolose: Hello and welcome!!! Congrats on your NSV! I can run a mile but certainly not in 11 minutes, that would be amazing, so I understand what an achievement that is!!! Well done, you!!! I'm also super inspired that you're training for a half-marathon. I'd like to do that someday. What programme if any are you using? Also congrats on your wedding!

oOPeanutOo: I ended up working out for like a little over an hour between 2 & 3am ish (idiocy, I know ) and then was a bit wired afterwards and so didn't sleep till about 4am (setting up my iPod playlist for the gym today of all things!!!). Then got up early for work etc. So once again, another gym day, another headachy day. But I'm still determined to go. I'm at 1212 minutes so far for the month and determined to hit 1500 by Sunday! How about you? What did you end up having for dinner? Chocolate or non-chocolate (the two main food groups- jk)? I know the feeling on Sunday I had cookies for brunch and ice cream for dinner (totalling about 1200 calories) and that was all I ate. It was good though, but I felt quite ill/sugared-out afterwards- not good!


Today was a good weigh in day. I was back down to pre-TOM low of 220.5 , however now I'm nervous that it may be a fluke (even though I weighed 2ce) and am nervous about Saturday's weigh in (that's the official one/ ticker change day)! I think I'm extra worried bcos dinner this evening is going to be pretty high calorie (its the local cuisine and I kind of have to eat it and I think the 1 meal might be like 1200cals eek! And goodness knows how many carbs and fats, although to be fair it will have lots of green leafy veggies in it, just sauces up with all the bad stuff)! However I've tried to plan for it, first I thought I would just not eat anything till dinner time- maybe have a glass of juice or something, but because I'm going to the gym after work, that's no good, I need the energy. So I've decided to have a couple of lean beef sausages (100cal/ea.) so as to avoid carbs (getting a goodly amt tonight) but still have a little energy for the workout. Ah well... This is life, can't stress too much about single meals. It's done and I've tried to plan for it and so I should move on and get over it. Ok team, I'll update later.

Thanks for such a kind welcome everyone!! Also, thanks for the congrats about the wedding!

toastedsmoke I started using the C25K program, but it was just too slow for me. Was just really hard to get into it when I was only run/walking. I'm sure it's great for some people, but it wasn't my style. A co-worker's sister was recently diagnosed with lymphoma, and they joined a program called "Team in Training". Without too much of a soap box schpeel (sp?), its running program/fundraiser for leukemia and lymphoma research. They map out a five month program calendar that will have you running a half marathon (or a marathon for the truly adventurous) at the end. They raced out in San Francisco just last weekend, but I decided to finally get involved. I haven't fully enrolled with T.I.T. yet, but am using their training program until I get the packet back from them in the mail. I can send you a link to the calendar if you'd like. If everything goe according to plan, I'll be running my half marathon on June 5, 2011 in San Diego. :D

jelbelle I'm always excited when I see someone from Michigan on here!! :) Whereabouts in the area are you at? Let me tell you, the best motivation to run was to sign up for the Turkey Trot! Figured since I have already paid to do it, I have to do it. Plus I'm telling EVERYONE and their brother that I am doing it; if I miss a run I feel guilty. Kind of a backwards way to get motivation, but it helps me get through my runs!

Congrats on the upcoming wedding excitedtolose!! What a great motivation and it seems as though you are on to a great start!!

This has been an awesome week for me! I started really exercising again Monday. I walking Monday and went "wunning" (run/walk) last night and will wun again Friday night. It's been a few months since I've been able to run cuz of a busy busy schedule with the kids. I would love to be up to running 2 miles straight by thanksgiving..that's my goal!

Here's a question for you all about goals..how do you chose your goal weight? Now that I've gotten so close to mine I'm not sure I want to stop there but wondering if I should just keep going or drop another 10 and then re-evaluate again. I feel like my butt/hips/belly could stand to get smaller yet...

princessdi86 Yay for accounting! I have finished my 150 hours of coursework and graduated with my Bachelor's in Professional Accountancy this past May. I've been working at a small firm that specializes in condominium association audits and personal/corporate tax returns since January. Best job ever! I love it so much! The only thing that stinks for me is that I had to put my CPA exam and exam preparation on hold until after the wedding. Have to make sure the wedding gets paid for first! Hopefully you get that sparkle soon!

zephyr524 Thanks for the congrats! I'm very excited, and it has been all the motivation I needed to turn my life around that's for sure.

KimL1214 Everything with the program seems to be great so far! I just hate the acronym lol. I'm going to continue just doing my mile runs until November 1st. Once I hit that date I'm starting the program for the half-marathon. If anyone else is interested in doing the running program with me (not the fundraising or T.I.T.) I'd love to send you the calendar schedule.