Diva - I don't think that you need to starve yourself nor do I recommend it or promote it. I think that there may be other things working against your favor that you may not know about. Has your doctor ever tested you for diabetes? My mom didn't know she was diabetic until after her toes started turning black and she almost lost them. Since then she's lost about 25 lbs because she's regulated her sugar. I'm not saying that it will happen like that for everyone, but there are a lot of things outside of eating habits that can effect your weight. Even your thyroid can mess with your weight if everything is not normal.

My suggestion before you harm yourself with anorexia or bulimia is that you go to a registered dietitian or see your doctor about your weight concerns. It may not be cheap, but it's better than developing habits that are often deadly and hard to break.

Why don't you try what Chellez suggested. first go to your doctor.

Have you been doing the same exercises for a while cause if so your body may have adapted to them and is not working out as hard. Mix up your weight routine (different weight and exercises in different orders)ex if you do 3 set of 10 reps of 10 pounds for biceps try 3 sets of 12 -15 reps with 8 pounds. Thos will make your body guess what it is doing instead of it already knowing (you could do less reps with a higher weight also).
If you run or walk for 30 mins try to add 5 more to get thet "extra bit "in.

I know it can get REALLY frustrating but do not quit or starve yourself. We want you to be healthy.Also if your are losing inches your are gaining muscle but losing fat on some of the weeks I do not lose my inches go down. So if you are not messuring yourself, start. It has helped me throught some of my tough spots.

When I stall I just try to maintain for a bit, I slow my cardio a bit then kick it back (speed walk insted of run for a week or 2 then start running again).

Evening Ladies!

Just got around to getting to the computer tonight. I had a very long test tonight and then Daniel had to tell me all about his new car he bought today. So I'm looking over the weigh in thread and it looks like we lost candlemaker. Lisa Cherry and Tina didn't weigh in so they are all on freebie passes this week.

I'll know more where we stand once I get into work tomorrow morning. Look for results around 9 am! :D

Hi ladies - since you were so nice in encouraging me before the half marathon, I thought I'd come back and report on how it went. This is basically a repeat of a post I just made on the coolrunners exercise thread, but what the heck, why should you have to leave the blue team zone to read this :) Looking forward to reading here about a blue team victory tomorrow!

I finished in 2 hours 41 minutes, which put me at a pace of 12:19 per mile. Going into the race, I was hoping to get under 12, but the course wound up being quite hilly, and since I'm used to running along the flat flat flat Chicago lakefront, I'm still very pleased - heck, I'm very pleased just to have finished.

The other unexpected challenge was the cicadas! This race was in an area of Chicago that has a lot of old trees, and the 17 year cicada population is out in full force now. Not only was the noise amazingly loud, there were little dead cicada bodies smooshed into the road everywhere, and I had several fly into me during the run - ick!

It was a beautiful day, and I felt pretty good the whole way through, even with the hills. One of my friends surprised me by showing up at around mile 11 and running up one of the hills with me, then doing the last lap around the local high school track with me, which was really nice.

Of course, at mile 13, I kept thinking - holy cow, if this was a full marathon, I'd only be half way done now! I think I'll definitely have to work on speed a bit to get to the point where I really believe I can do a marathon. But, I am thinking about it - maybe next summer. In the meantime, I was so excited about yesterday, that I went on the web tonight and signed up for another half marathon this September. And the good thing about this one is that it's back in the flatlands of downtown Chicago, so surely I'll be able to improve my time

Here's a little picture of me on the last lap - I don't think I realized till I saw this that running really has created some muscles in my legs - when I look at them in the mirror, I still see fat girl legs.

Rachel - Awesome job! You're truly an inspiration. :)

Good job, Rachel!! :D

Girls, I have been a complete slacker on my diet...and unfortunately the month ahead is going to be packed with activites so unless I make it a point to plan-plan-PLAN, it doesn't look to be any better. Think camping and festivals all weekend, EVERY weekend for the next month. Aack. How can you eat healthy like that? *sad* I know there's a way to do it...I just need to suck it up and do it. But anyway, just wanted to let you know that I haven't given up...just have mighty big obstacles to face for the next few weeks. :(

:carrot: Woohoo! We won two weeks in a row!

I think the Red Team is having a really hard time with getting there members online to weigh in since its really getting into vacation season. I'm so glad that only a few of you used your freebie weeks. Make sure you hang on to them for when you really need them!

Rachel - Look at you! I wish I could get the motivation (and the time!) to get out there and train for a marathon. Maybe after the wedding and school is done? You're such an inspiration to me! :hug:

Megan - If you are going camping in the wilderness, will you be doing any hiking or mountain biking? I heard that mountain biking is a really nice strength trainer. You could try backpacking too. I'm not sure how many veggies you can have on LAWL, but get a bag or two of those pre-sliced and pre-washed veggies (They are near the organic veggies in Wal-Mart) and stick those in your bag for when you are out. Festivals can be tricky. I would recommend eating at home before you go so that way you are full when you get there and the smells aren't so tempting. Also, carry water or a diet soda with you to your festivals. Anytime you get an urge, take a nice chug of drink and let that fill you up instead of something greasy! :D Hope this helps!

Oh Mrs. Tina.... Where art thou? I miss your long posts!

Alisa - Can you stop spooning with Bob and post! Plus he needs to come to my house for a change!

Hello ladies! I totally forgot to weigh-in this week....good thing I had both of my freebies! I have been busy busy busy....the kids have been out of school now for a week and I have been running all over with them! I didn't lose a thing anyway so I wouldn't of helped any! I have to kick this up a notch big time. Kevin and I leave for San Diego July 11th and I wanted to lose at least 5 pounds by then maybe a pound or two more if I could. I have come to the conclusion that I am not on a diet anymore. I will eat healthy for the rest of my life with treats thrown in at parties and whatever but healthy eating should not be called a diet! I have to get out of the mindset that if I have a treat I have blown "my diet". It is so self destructive for me! I don't know why the exercise has been so hard for me these last couple of months....I really love exercise and used to crave it! I have to get back into the swing of things and get to shakin my tail feather :)! It is going to be hot here for the rest of this week and oh how I don't love humidity! Well just wanted to check-in and let you all know I'm still chugging along! Hopefully this week a loss will be seen! Have a good week ladies!

Rachel~ WTG!!! on the half marathon it is a half more than I could probably do. I do my "running" on the gazelle lol.

Hi Chellez....I'm here!!!!! How long until the BIG DAY???? Can we have a cyber wedding so we can all see how beautiful your going to look ;) You will post pics though for us right? Great job on the loss this week....your really doing fantastic this time around! Keep it up girl!

Hi Ladies

Sorry l haven't posted much, really no time just s few mintues here and there to read but no time tomyself to post.

Everything is going good here, Eric might be starting his theraphy next week, got my fingers crossed that he does, and then my life will change again, having therapiists in the house all day is going to be hard 'but l will adjust. His 4 th birthday is coming up in 2 weeks so l have been busy planning his party, we have invited 6 little autistic boys to come and go to a kiddie gym and then cake and ice cream. It should be interesting.

We got our bike trailer finally in Montana and Eric loves it, he is always trying to climb in it even when we arn't going bike riding. I am so glad we bought the one that turns into a stroller, cause when we ride to a store or even to a park and DH and l want to walk, we lock the bikes and push Eric, it is great.

I am going to curves tomorrow for my monthly measurement day l am excited to see how many more inches l have lost, I bought myself size 14 shorts last week and l love them, pretty good since March 1 l have gone from a size 22/20 to a 14/15.

Well ladies have a great day and keep drinking your water.

Tina - Of course I'm going to post pictures! :lol: I do most of my picture posting on my myspace page but I have pictures from the bridal shower in a Slide.com show.... *looks for the link* Ah ha! Bridal Shower - Richmond - June 2nd, 2007 It'll take you to a seperate page and you can see them there. I have another shower to go to next Saturday and it's about 22 people coming. It's tropical themed so I'm trying to think what in my wardrobe I can wear! I may have to go buy something. I have about 67 days, 3 hours and 54 mins left according to my countdown clock. It feels like its coming faster everyday!

Mo - I hope everything goes well with Eric's therapy. It's always good to see little ones like that having fun. You've lost 5 sizes! :clap: That is so great! I've only lost about 2 and a half but I'm working on it.... Keep up the good work!

Wow, Mo, good job!! :woohoo:

Chellez, all good thoughts about eating while camping...I hadn't thought about getting the pre-cut veggies..just might do that. As for the festivals, I'm actually on cast in a renaissance festival, so anything I eat in sight of the patrons has to be according to my social class (peasant) and time period (1568-ish). So that pretty much leaves me with eating veggies, hard boiled eggs, and hard bread rolls all day. Wouldn't be so bad if that was all there was to it, but after the day is over, we stay in a tent, where we'll be grilling hot dogs, etc, for dinner. Our cooler can only hold so many healthy options before we run out of room, but I'll do my best to stay on plan. Won't be able to hike or do anything really physical, other than stand around and chat with people all day, heh. Ahh, well...if I can stick to plan, even that will be enough exercise. :) I can do it!!!

Hey blue crew

How is everyone enjoying this hot weather? I'm finding it hard to keep motivated with the exercising and eating healthy once the heat starts.
The sun makes me hot and lazy! All the lack of clothing and bikinis should affect me the opposite way!!! I had duty day at my sons co-op pre-school today. I think that is what made me super tired today. Anyhoo, I'm lacking inspiration and motivation for myself so I'm going to give it to you ladies and hope that gets me re-motivated and back on track!

Chellez, I sneaked a peek at your shower photos. You are looking great. Keep up the great work. Two months til the big day! It's so exciting.

Tina I'm sure you are enjoying the kids being home. My son will be done pre-school week after next and although it's only two mornings a week, I will miss the free time a little bit! I think your conclusion about lifestyle vs. diet is key! I found that every time I said I was on a diet, I couldn't wait to reach my goal weight so that I could eat all the foods I eliminated. Then I found I would go crazy and eat everything in sight. GOOD FOR YOU FOR MAKING THIS REALIZATION!!

DIVA hang in there! I know when I stop losing - or gaining - it can get supremely frustrating but I think a visit to the doctor is in order. Since you have been sticking to a food plan and exercising, I'm not sure what to tell you about the numbers not moving. If you haven't already, you might want to start a food journal so that the doc can assess the foods you are eating and the effect that they may be having on you.

Rachel I am VERY impressed with both your progress and determination. CHECK OUT THOSE LEGS!! I've always wanted to run but have huge boobs and found they always got in the way when running. Power walking is my thing! Were you always a runner or is this a new thing for you?

Mo! Best of luck with your son Eric. You've come a long way in 3 months! Keep up the great work. Congrats on being the tied biggest loser this week!!

VEGGIELADY Congrats on being this weeks tied biggest loser!

Megan The rennaissance festival sounds cool. I hope that you are successful in keeping on plan! It can be so hard when you are not at home and there are not many options for food. Remember smaller portions if worse comes to worse!

EVERYONE ELSE THAT I HAVE FORGOTTEN Have a good week and it's only Tuesday - we still have the whole week to kick butt and make it another win! Let's do it for eachother!!!


Talk to you all soon!