Heidi: Congrats!! You are amazing--I cannot believe how far you have come!

Zumba: Hang in there. I can't imagine how hard it must be, but you will ger through it and be stronger for having overcome!

I know it goes without me saying....I LOVE lifting free weights! Take some measureemnts now if you haven't already and compare in a month. Once you start to see the results, Sum, you can't help but love it!

But pregnant - nope. Hated it - gestational diabetic, high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia...with BOTH babies & induced 4 weeks early. *shudders* I had mine 18 months apart, too.

I really need to dredge up some before and afters but I just don't feel like the after yet. Wonder how long that takes and if it equals complacency and the beginning of old eating patterns and weight gain? Hmmm. must contemplate this....

Day2 and nothing to do...I am going crazy! Thankfully I am back to my volunteering tomorrow.

I am a bit scared. Once the kiddies leave the nest, what then? I have two degrees; finance and law....both are outdated because I have been gone from the working force for so long.

I LOVED being a stay at home mom, but what now?

Congrats Newleaf!

zumba - thanks so much for the encouragement. I think that it's been so long since I have been under 150 or 140 - I can't even visualize what that would look like anymore. I want to know!

sum - I have only been out of the work force for 2 years, but I already feel like my degree and work experience is outdated. Apparently, so do potential employers. In a way, that ok, because I want to change direction in my career anyway. For the moment, I am a stay at home mom, and my youngest is 7, so I have awhile to go.

I am glad to see that women are achieving their weight loss goals over 40. Makes me feel like, if I get my head in the right place, I can too.

Sum & Guac:
I've been out of work force almost two years myself. But - my degree is in medieval history...kinda started 'out of date'...:D

And Congrats to Heidi! :carrot:

Either my computer is slow or 3FC's is having problems again.

I am really ashamed; I can't seem to get back OP; it has been 4 days :(.... I need to dig deep for that motivation I had last week and I need to get it back. -- Hopefully my ovulation has ended; I think those darn hormones make me eat :mad:

I have not dared to jump on that scale.... I know the gain is, mostly, water weight, but I am not ready to face it...what if I put on 6 pounds in 4 days, that would totally destroy me.

Thankfully I have a busy day ahead of me, volunteering, then gym and finally 5 mile walk...that should keep me away from the fridge. These last two idle days were killers.

Sorry to be such a downer today!! BUT it is a new day and I need to forgive myself and move on.

Well I Made This Goal......I Also Made It Too 1Derland!!

Mboo: YAY!! Way to go! That's amazing!

Sum: Definitely time to forgive yourself. Everyone falls off the wagon! Maybe a totally new career is the cards for you? It might be fun to try something completely different.

2FatCats: I'm looking forward to the pics! I'm sure you look fantastic--your brain just needs to catch up with your body!

I was a little leery of getting on scale today, because I managed to eat myself almost sick with Jolly Rancher jelly beans last night. At least they are gone now ;) I was at 177.2 though, so down .2 from yesterday and back to where I was 4 days ago. I keep thinking TOM should be here, but not sure what is going on. Last year when I lost some weight I stalled at 176 and never got any lower. I am determined not to let that happen again!

sum - I am right there with you. I walked 2 miles today - 1st mile was fine, but 2nd mile back was in the pouring rain. Ugh! At least I got some movement in today. However, my eating still isn't on track, my rings are tight, and I feel bloated.

mboo - Congrats! :carrot:

Jennifer1966 - I know all about stalls. You seem to be in a good place to lose weight mentally. It's all about the attitude. I know it, but now I need to live it.

Today is definitely going better :cheers: I feel like a bloated pig, though.

I tallied up my calories for the past 4 days. Highest was 2600 in and 2400 out. The other three days were around 2300/2400 in and 2300 out. -- I have kept up my water consumption, anywhere from 9-15 glasses per day...and it ain't coming out :lol3: My socks are leaving nasty marks, my rings hurt to wear, my face looks bloated and I just feel that every cell in my body is filled with water.

So mathematically I only should have gained a few oz... I will face the scale tomorrow morning and see what the damage is. I will cry like a baby if it is anywhere near 165.

I seem to be very sensitive to carbs and salt.

Another thing; my hormones. My cycle is so unpredictable; sometimes it is 28 days and other times 38 days. It is hard to predict those hormonal weight fluctuations. :( UGH!!

I've eaten pretty well today, and I walked for 30 minutes after school with a coworker then DH and i did our 3.5 miles. Spring is definitely in the air--flowers blooming, kids playing, and people walking everywhere. I love it! Really hoping for a good number on the scale tomorrow.

I feel a million times better today. I tracked my calories all day(1385) and did 2.9 miles on the treadmill, 2 mi jogging plus a warm-up and cooldown. Looks liks PMS has been at the root of the struggle..yet again. I want to fit into the new dresses I bought without shapewear undreneath. Will hold off on facing the scale until next week, though, until TOM is gone.

It sounds like we had a bunch of good days yesterday! Here's to a repeat today:)

I was at 176.2 this morning! If I can stay op, I just may come close to my goal!

SW: 183
CW: 176.2
GW: 173

I'm still looking to get back to my low of 155.3. Weighed in at 156.8 today, so I'm getting there...

Feeling really good lately, but I'm trying not to let that result in taking my eye off the end goal. My back has gotten so bony that it hurts to sit in our adirondack chairs. That's never happened before! This week was the first time I sat in them since the Fall. Weird NSV... I have to align my spine with the space between the slats to be able to sit in them. If only my thighs and butt would follow suit...

Torrential rain storms here again - wreaking havoc with my exercise plans. My basement is flooded and stepped on the scale to 158lbs! Ugh. I did really well yesterday controlling my cravings and sticking to my calories (actually wound up about 250 calories under my goal). I just need to keep it going and start a good pattern.

Good luck today, everyone!