Hey all, just popping in to say that I'm not dead! I've been staying with my parents since my bf is in Austin working for his dad and I get LONELY even with 3 cats around... haha. I've been OP pretty much all week, including last night at The Cheesecake Factory. They apparently added a section to their menu that has "Weight Management Salads" which are all under 590 calories a piece. So, I had the Pear & Endive Salad (soo good with roasted pears, candied pecans, blue cheese, etc.) and even had enough calories left for the day to have a couple bites of dessert (the Lemoncello Cream Tart). I'm so glad I don't have to dread going to that restaurant anymore... anyone that's been there would know what I mean about it previously being a healthy eater's nightmare (huge portions of rich, decadent foods... and that's not even talking about the cheesecake).

I hope all of you are doing well and that I'll have time to catch up with all of you soon! I'll be weighing in either tomorrow or Monday morning, as I'm picking my scale up from my apartment today.

Good Saturday Red Team! Good to see a couple of you poppin in and keeping in touch! I'm thinking we need to start some challenges around here and get everyone involved again. We dont want to lose steam already, its not even the halfway point yet.

Love...how'd that shopping go? We are going to have a big sale ourselves coming soon. Just as soon as I get my garage cleaned out. I hope you found some great bargains!

Shelby...thats great that your ds decided to get in on the fitness action with you! I bet that was the fastest hour you've ever spent working out wasnt it? They just grow up too darn fast! How's the eating going? No more poptarts? Be strong! You can win this battle!

Danielle....WOOOHOO!!! Another one bites the dust!! Congrats on that control lady! You are doing it! the numbers are going in the right direction!!! And every one lb loss takes you that much farther away from those icky feelings of being too big! Way to go!!! Fat Smashing has been fantastic!! Felt like cheating last night but held strong and went to bed instead! Then I figured it was probably because I hardly ate a thing yesterday. No wonder I was ready to cave!!

Lindsey...good to hear from you girl!!! Way to go on staying strong at the restraunt!! We dont have one of those here thank goodness, had em in arizona but luckily I never went inside! LOL!! You did GREAT!!! Way to show who is in control! Good luck with the scales...nothing to fear there!!!

Good evening ladies!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend! I'm just unwinding after a pretty stressful week, but I will have the next two weeks off school before my summer class starts. Unfortunately, hubby got picked for jury duty on Thursday for a trial that will last at least 2 weeks (some guy shot at a judge while trying to steal his truck, go figure), so he will not be around much.

I managed to stay pretty much on plan this week, although I was stressed and craved salty foods, plus went out twice to eat. Mother's Day and for a dinner with friends on Thursday night. I made pretty good choices, even at the Chinese buffet--no rice, plus I ate lots of veggies, and a bit of meat. They had tons of good things like snow peas, string beans, broccoli and cauliflower. Yeah, they had sauce on them, but they were still a much better choice than some others! I did eat a small slice of this amazing dark chocolate raspberry cake on Thursday. It was so good, but it reminded me of why sweet are such a bad thing for me. If I had had the cake at home, I would have eaten half of it. Also managed to get in some exercise, because it really helps with the stress. I did overdo on Thursday with my exercising and am still pretty sore. It never hurts when I'm doing it, only afterward!

Welcome and ongrtulations Michelle on your house, and your amazing, amazing loss!

Melissa, sounds like the fat smash is going great for you. From what you posted your meals sound really yummy.

Jen, hope you had a great 39th birthday and a fun time out.

Love and Amber--hope you are sticking with your plans. I admire your commitment to re-committing. And Love, hope you got some good deals garage saling. That and thrift stores are one of my favorite activities!

Erika--I had reserved a copy of the Sonoma Diet book at my library and just picked it up today. I saw some of the recipes on the web and really wanted to look through the book. I am sticking with pretty much a whole foods diet, so I thought recipes from the book would be right up my alley. I also got the French women don't get fat book, which I thought would be fun. I think it mostly says don't eat too much, enjoy your food, and eat the best quality food you can, but maybe there will be other interesting stuff in there.

Lindsey, I'm so glad you were able to enjoy your dinner out and stay on plan. That salad sounds really good to me.

Everybody else, I'm thinking of you and hope you are having a great weekend with warm, sunny weather wherever you are!

Hi everyone!

In case anyone was wondering where I've been I've been SICK! Just flat on my back in bed sick. An evil virus got me ... my throat was all swollen (still is, really) and I had the chills, couldn't move. Blah! I cancelled a whole bunch of lessons ... haven't been running, or eating much ... though what I did eat a couple of times was not ideal ... but in total I don't think any damage has been done and I may even have lost something. We'll see at weigh-in tomorrow ... Anyway I hope to be back at full strength sometime this week.

Ann - I hope you enjoy the Sonoma recipes! I think you'll find they do integrate well with a whole foods approach.

Love - Oh, I heart the easy balsamic chicken. Think I"m having it tomorrow night actually. Always good to have some new recipes to throw into the mix!

Melissa - How is the Fat Smash induction going? Sounds like you are doing well with it! Give it time ... I remember when I started Sonoma I was skeptical, but I think the body responds better when it's not in starvation mode for sure.

Danielle - Slow but steady wins the race! WTG on your loss!

Lindsey - Glad you're still alive That salad sounds scrumptious. WTG on great choices!

Hugs to all! Charity I hope you're having a great weekend away!
Let's keep going strong red team!
cheers
Erika

Good Sunday Red Team!!

Ann.....well you made it through a rough week and it sounds like you did a great job on making some healthier choices! Good for you!! Now a little break from the stress!!! Sounds like its coming at just the right time! 2 weeks of jury duty..yish! but maybe it'll be really interesting. I've always thought it would be kinda fun see a real life murder case play out, I dont know that I would want to be on the jury though, holding someone elses future in your hands...thats a big job!

Erika...OMgoodness I'm so sorry to hear you are sick! And not just a little sick either. I hope since you've been able to post that means you are feeling a little bit better. Take good care of you, get as much rest as you can and dont push it! If you do too much too soon you'll be right back here again. Fat Smashing is going GREAT! I just love it! The scale is definetly moving in the right direction so its gotta be working! Feel better soon!!

Okay...so I'm thinking we should do a fun challenge around here. Something to get us energized again. Here's what I'm thinking, tell me what you think and I think we'll start this tomorrow....hows that for alot of thinks! LOL! Okay enough silly.

What if we all set a plan for ourselves for the day. For instance:
Today I will: exercise 30 minutes, stick to plan, not eat after 7pm, post to my team, journal. (5 things, could be any 5 things you need to work on, I'll make a short list of ideas)

Now, each day at the end of the day you look at your goals for that day and decide which ones you didnt accomplish. For each one of those goals you didnt accomplish for the day you will be "punished" (I'm using that term lightly and you'll see why in a minute) For example say you didnt exercise, your punishment is 25 jumping jacks. Say you didnt exercise or stick to eating plan...your punishment is 25 jumping jacks and 50 tummy crunches.

There will be 5 levels of "punishments" depending on how many of your goals you didnt meet you may have to do all 5 you may not have to do any if you met all your goals for that day.

See how its not really a punishment...you get a mini workout! Which is good for you! But you may not necessarily WANT to do 25 jumpingjacks so it'll drive you to stick to your plan for the day.

And I think we should do it Monday thru Friday since thats when most of us get the chance to check in. Kind of a 5 for 5 deal! 5 goals a day for 5 days!

What do you think?

~melissa

Its me again! LOL!!

Dont forget to post your weights for Week 4!!!

Are we going to be victorious for 2 straight weeks? We can do it!!!
Lets go RED team!!

Happy Sunday Ladies! After a busy morning at work, I am now headed out the door to run some errands, but wanted to check in on my favorite gals first.

Erica, I am so sorry to hear you've been sick! Glad that you were able to come visit us tho and that everything seems to be getting better for you! Stay better, we miss you around here!

Lindsay, its great to see you hun. You did fabulous at CCF!! I have one down the road from where I live and my kids absolutely love eating there, not so good for my hips! Will definitely be looking for those healthier menu options, thanks for the heads up!!

Ann, glad you survived your week and are ready for some down time! I have never been to jury duty, have always gotten out of it but think it would be amazing if you end up with a really great case. Hope dh likes it. You did wonderfully at your meals out, good for you!! I think the most important thing we can do is just pay attention to what we're eating while out instead of just saying, oh well I'm gonna eat whatever. You are doing great keep up the great work!

Melissa, my little fat smasher! Hope things are still going "smashingly"...... Still eating the yocheese? I just made some with sf chocolate pudding mix...YUMMO! I swear, I am in total bliss with lc eating!

Alrighty girls, time for me to grab a bite to eat and then its out the door into the heat. I am excited for a new week to begin with my new way of eating and TOM leaving hopefully soon.... this should = more lbs lost! Wahoo!
So be good to you! ♥

LOL....no the yocheese is yoEWWW! I've used what I made as a dollop of "sour cream" on top of my mock taco salads but if I get too much yish. I do have some vanilla to give a whirl before I totally give up on it! Be good out and about!!! Stay cool!

~melissa

hello all! Sorry I haven't been around much. I have been sick sick sick. Sore throat, head conjestion, aches and pains. yeeha. Now I am in full blown PMS. I seriously am angry with my dh and I am not sure what about LOL.

It was a tough week food wise. I didn't really stick to anything. I think it was the tylenol sinus and dehydration helped with the 1/2 lb. I am very bummed as I was faithfully walking the treadmill 2 miles per day and haven't had the energy or the lungs to do it. I hope that a week off it won't be too much of a setback..
I am going back to catch up on all the posts so I hope everyone is well and doing great.

Hi Karen!!! So good to see you!! I'm sorry to hear you've been sick and I hope you are doing much better. I'm sure you are retaining all sorts of water with being sick and with PMS, I'm sorry its hitting you all at once, but just think how great things are gonna look when you get healthy again! LOL! I hope dh is okay LOL! Feel better soon! Dont push yourself too hard. Keep us updated please!

5 for 5 challenge has been posted!!! Please join in!!

I've got a mini challenge for anyone brave enough to take it!!....we are 153.45 miles from our first pitstop on the exercise challenge...what do you say we really kick it up a notch and make it there by this weekend? Anyone with me on this? We can do it! I know we can!!! C'mon RED..what do you say?!!

Hey everyone! I had a good weekend away, but I am ready to get back into the swing of things. My weight is up, A LOT, but I think it is largely from TOM. At any rate, I am totally recommitting myself to my program - starting today! So, Melissa, I am totally up for your challenge and will do my part to get us some miles!