Peanut - I love desert delights gum! It is very sweet(fake sugar high) but really helps my cravings. I love the strawberry cheesecake and the chocolate mint. I haven't tried any other...I would definitely try them if I were you.

homiegiiib - I love the elliptical as well! over the summer, when I was at home and first started trying to lose weight, that was my main form of exercise. My mum managed to buy a completely brand new and unused one off a friend really cheaply, and I used it in the morning before going to work. I don't get to do it very often anymore though now I'm back at uni!

Jennie - congratulations!!!! that is brilliant!!! I've just been looking at your mini-goal list. I can't believe you've lost over 50lbs in 8 months! That is AMAZING!! You're such an inspiration

Peanut - there are loads of stuff you can find to spice morning porridge up a bit I think there's a thread somewhere on here about it if you want more ideas! My two housemates are trying to lose weight as well so we all support each other. One of them likes their porridge with a sprinkling of drinking chocolate powder mixed in and the other one like putting a teaspoon of peanut butter in sometimes. Maybe go to the supermarket and see what you can find that you'd like? PS. I've never heard of this gum thing. What's it supposed to be/do?

I was so pleased with myself yesterday. I managed to stay the whole day completely on plan. That hasn't happened in a while!
Food plan for today (my goal is to stay on it again!):

B- porridge made with water and a teaspoon of sweetener, coffee with sweeteners and skimmed milk
L- tuna salad, vanilla Activia yoghurt (0% fat)
D- either chicken with couscous and peas (thanks for the idea Kim!) or a WW meal and broccoli, depending on whether I'm going to my friends house later or not
Snacks- blueberries, 2 crackers thinly spread with extra-light philadelphia soft cheese and a couple of slices of cucumber.

I might try and fit in a run later as well, but to be honest, it's raining and I have a ton of stuff that needs doing in the house. Not to mention: argh I'm doing my theory driving test tomorrow and I'm SO nervous!!! :/

Hope everyone's having a good day!

PS. I forgot! Also weighed in this morning. Down to 150 again! Hooray!

Kim: I'm glad you found a good/fun workout with kettlebells and that's awesome that your instructor is flexible with classes. I hope the best for your friend this week; hope things get back on track for her. That's good that you got your schedule worked out (work/exercise-wise).

On exercise again, (since katylil mentioned dance ) I like some dance workouts (the ones I've tried), including pole dance and burlesque (really fun classes taken in Dallas; too bad they were 60+ miles away).

Jennie: Congrats on your mini-goal. Gosh, you've come a long way and are nearly to to your main-goal. HUGE KUDOS AND CONGRATS!!

katylil: Your meal plan sounds healthy & tasty Good luck on your test and congrats on your low weigh-in!

Got groceries this morning: microwave-steam veggies and brown rice, apples, grapes, almonds, "health" trail mix, smartpop mini-bag popcorn, part-skim string cheese and special k wheat crackers. The veggies and rice go with chicken or fish for lunch &/or dinner, then the rest for healthy (portioned) snacks.

Only got in 20 min of exercise yesterday (10 min abs, 10 min zumba), but walked for 10 min this morning while grocery shoppping (I count that much as straight walking)... some activity is better than none. Another thing (one of my resolutions) is Family Time, so its not that bad missing/cutting short a workout if I'm spending time with husband or kiddo

Hope y'all are doing good/staying on track/staying warm! Good luck, everyone

Thursday & Friday Question~ Weekend is coming!!! What is your plan of attack to make sure you stay on plan?

On Fri/Sat, Mom, Big Sis and I will be going to Austin to see Reba McEntire & George Strait (yay!!! lol), so I thought of packing enough of my 'healthy snacks' for the 3 of us (apples, grapes, almonds, trail mix). Guess we'll have a couple of meals 'on the road', so I'll just pick healthiest of the bunch (salad or grilled chicken) or watch portions (kids meal or small sized).

Gosh, Kim, that sucks, all your snow mess I gripe about scraping my windows every morning, but we never got over 6", and they did give us a 2-hour delay for school the first day. Ugh... hope you stay safe and warm..

Hope everyone has a good rest of week/weekend

southernbelle – I’ll just try and track down both They really sound too good to be true. Did you have to change your signature because you’ve lost so much weight you couldn’t fit all the down the bottom?? I think that’s awesome!!

katylil – From what I’ve read the Gum tastes just like a bowl of Chocolate Mint Ice Cream at only 5 Calories. I’m hoping that it will give me that dessert fix I’ve been looking for.

ferretgirl – You’re right.. Cutting a workout short to spend it with family is well worth it. Your weekend sounds like it’s going to be a blast!

KimL – Snow Days!!! The only reason I actually know what they are is because of The Simpsons. Haha. I don’t get snow where I live so I’m totally missing out. Did you make up the class??

Thursday & Friday Question~ Weekend is coming!!! What is your plan of attack to make sure you stay on plan? I’m preparing everything ahead of time. As you guys know, I’ve been struggling with getting on plan so had a little bit of help to prepare some things in advance. I have 3 days worked out and most of it is already cooked. Everything else is chopped and ready to go. Chicken Stir Fry, Zucchini Slice, Mini Pizza and Pasta. The combinations come to 1500 calories with fruit to snack on as well. Hopefully 3 days on plan like this will get me back on track.

Peanut - actually, that is exactly why I had to change it.. haha! I ran out of characters allowed in the signature Good problem to have I changed it from one every 5 lbs to one every 10 lbs. I just switched back the goal info to how I had it though because I like it better that way

Thursday & Friday Question~ Weekend is coming!!! What is your plan of attack to make sure you stay on plan?

I usually do better on the weekends then I do during the week..it's probably because I'm staying busy and not stuck in my house all weekend long lol.

Thursday & Friday Question~ Weekend is coming!!! What is your plan of attack to make sure you stay on plan?

My hardest challenge this weekend is going to be the houseparty I'm attending tomorrow and the return of my housemates and the rest of all my friends to uni this weekend. A trip to the pub has already been organised and usually this is my downfall! The houseparty I'm being blackmailed into attending with my friend (I missed her 21st birthday party and this is her payback...) is worrying me because I know that I don't know anyone there and I'll have a few drinks (hello calories!)..

So. My battle plan is to try and drink as little as possible and eat a proper meal before we go to the pub on Sunday so I know I won't be tempted by all the yummy-sounding food they do there.

Fingers (and will-power) crossed that I can do this!

Hope everyone has a good weekend xxx

Hi Team!! Im doing great this week getting back down to my low. I started the week at 230 and today i am 225.8 working toward the 2teens. Have a great weekend all!!

hi team sorry I’ve been so MIA! busy IRL! just got done with a crazy hardcore workout and i feel great...

Plan of attack this weekend:
weekends aren’t super tough for me, but still... my plan is to stick to my 1500 cals and get in 2 solid workouts (interval training tomorrow, C25K Sunday).

katy, 21st bday, ouch! good luck staying away from all the potential indulgences!!!!!

peanut, planning is an excellent way to get back on track! you’re going to do great!

ferret, i love fast food salads! the meat is always so salty that no dressing is required! haha. have fun in austin!

kim, 4 hours shoveling snow?? holy crap what a workout! have fun wii bowling! best game ever!

southernbelle, alright well apparently i need to try these gums

Shasha - it's not actually her 21st, that was a few weeks ago. But I had other plans that were unchangeable so I had to miss her celebrations. And she wants to go to this houseparty to meet up with the guy she's seeing. And I'm stuck as accompaniment as punishment for the missed birthday! Moral of the story: friends over everything else! Hahaa.

PS. I passed my theory test yesterday!!!! I'm so happy!

southernbelle – It’s a problem that I wish I had!!

JLNichols07 – Weekends are my downfall. Whenever friends are involved it never turns out well. I guess your “busy” is a different kind of busy seeing as you have kids to run after.

katylil – The start of a new Uni year is one party after the other. At least that’s how it was for me. Good luck getting through everything you have on. Congrats on passing the test btw.

Matilda08 – Yay!! Awesome job this week.

shasha12 – Hey

How is everyone else travelling this week?

Hi ladies,

Just checking in. My scale and I are not getting along this week. I've been really good, but my weight is bouncing around all over the place. Anyway, today is definitely going to be a challenge. My sister-in-law's bachelorette party starts in two hours. I'm going to try to make it through without drinking too much, but I think my husband's family might have other plans for me.

katy, oh i thought it was going to be a sort of repeat of her 21st since you missed it. good that it’s not! a weekend of friends sounds fun. congrats on passing your theory test!!!!

peanut, HI

laura, that is so frustrating! i’m sorry the scale is being stubborn! good luck at the bachelorette party! those things can be difficult. maybe just order vegetarian meals and vodka sodas??


i haven’t been on the scale in a few days. i usually weigh everyday, but haven’t been this week. i was just over it for some reason. hopefully it hasn’t allowed me to slack any, but i did have some homemade ice cream a few times this week. I am super sore today from working out so hard, so today’s workout will be lighter, and i plan to stretch a ton and drink lots of water today. hopefully i’ll get a good number on the scale tomorrow.