I'm really guilty of blogging / not chatting and I'm the leader!

Spank me! I'm so naughty!

I just get really busy / stressed out and only have a few minutes to get something out.

But today however... the boss is heading to Michigan and I'm free to chat all day and tomorrow!

Well, I stayed on some sort of program yesterday, though it was pretty sad. I was within my calorie range, though!

I knew I was having Indian food with a friend for lunch, so I skipped breakfast. Before the day started, I put that and 2 Almond Joy fun size in my counter. Did the kids get an Almond Joy? No, they did not, and I was NOT happy. Settled for Snickers Almond, but it was not the same. Anyway, I ate like crap yesterday, (C- on the nutrition scale, which I have never done before), but I did not eat too much.

There is no candy in our house today. We have a Treat Witch tradition here. The kids get their candy, then they pick the five pieces they want to keep and they can have one of those a day. The rest is put on the hearth as an offering to the Treat Witch. She takes the candy, dumps it in the garbage and leaves a toy in its place. The kids don't need all that, and neither do I. Much better to have a new puzzle for a 2 year old and an RC car for a 5 year old.

Off to a LEGO playdate and to take the little to preschool!

Wow! Treat Witch sounds like a great idea! I'll have to keep that in mind when I have little ones...

I agree. Kids... or adults don't need the ridiculous amounts of candy people pass out. I remember when I was younger, we would all run around 3 neighborhoods with the black trash bags (yea the ones you put leaves in!) and them up pretty full of candy. I remember I'd make my mom hang on to a lot of it and where ever she'd put it, it just sat there for a few years. Yuck

Goooood Moooorning Bluezers!!!!! LOL

How are you all? Sooooooooooo glad to be back. Will write more this afternoon, have a lady coming to do a screening on Gerber just to make sure he's on target. He has started sitting up on his own and crawling since Oct.23. He's wayyyy ahead. He's just 7 months but I think I told you all he wears 12-18 months clothes? He's strong too, you have to watch him soooo close. Anyway, Christian's party on Sunday was great. And Halloween was great. I had a few small pieces b4 we left. I saved cals for two Reese cups and didn't even eat them! Now I have a huge bag on my piano and since I can't see in it, it's opaque, it's not bothering me. We let the kids pick out some for dessert for a few days then my DH takes it all to his work and gives it away, yay!

Ok, hafta clean house back up for her. Oh and Christian is home, poor baby was a trooper. Had been home yesterday too but wanted to trick or treat, but had slept all day, just out of it and fever but dunno what he has. 2 other neighborhood kids have it too. Poor things. He just looked pitiful. But when we were out he did ok to be feeling bad. He didn't want one pce of candy either. He might today. Anyhoo, I have heartburn this morning, took some pepto. I seem to have it all the time lately, taking acid reducers, etc. Uggh. Makes it real easy not to eat tho. Sad when ur happy u have an ailment! LOL.

Ok, hugs, tty soon! Selina

I read Rhonda's post about examining the underlying reasons for weight issues, and I read Chelle's post as well. I think there are some really good points that we could all address and have greater success. I will post my confession here.

I have a huge sense of entitlement. I have some of the skinniest friends on earth. They have had two kids; they homeschool, they have lives very much like mine EXCEPT they bake almost every day, put real CREAM instead of skim milk in their coffee, eat pasta and potatoes like it is the last day of civilization and still are crazy skinny. If they can do it, I should be able to as well. Except it does not work out that way.

Even if I switch to healthier foods, I cannot eat like they do. Substitute scones with heavy cream for green pepper and hummus...I still cannot go gram for gram with them.

Every one of us here knows that it is all about calories in, calories out and moving our bodies. It has to be the head stuff that gets in the way. So after I hit my 1100 calories for the day, what makes me go ahead and have cheese and crackers, even if it is just 4? Entitlement. At the end of the day, when my kids are in bed and I get a moment to just sit, I feel like I DESERVE to have a snack. Even on the days when I am already over the limit. And if I have planned for the snack, which I try to do? I will eat a little bit more than I planned because I am ENTITLED to it. Why should I have to count every little bite? I shouldn't! Bring on the crackers.

I'm sorry for my part in the lack of "gelling" for our team! I agree with all I've read about it in the previous pages. I'm running a fundraiser for work on Saturday (!!) and once I am through that, my life will be MINE again, which means more time to focus on weight loss and supporting my AWESOME blue buddies!

Here's something neat to motivate us all - as a team we have lost over 160lbs in just 7 weeks! We have 7 people who have lost 10lbs or more, with a few more close to hitting the 10lb mark. We have 6 more weeks to go - maybe we could set a "team goal weight" for the end of the challenge?

I am SO grateful for all you amazing bluesers - you've kept me thinking and going along through this ridiculous plateau and I am SO grateful. Promise I'll be back leaving longer messages and more personals on SUNDAY!

Hmmm . . . interesting introspection onttee. I think I feel entitled at times too . . . ima full time head of household with disabled dh . . . yeah - I DESERVE to have whatever it is I want when I have one of "those moments!"

Also: Crackers etc tempt me waaaaay more than a bowl of candy.

Issues: Luckily with Atkins, I am enjoying the heavy cream & butter tastes and don't feel deprived like som many other Plans I've been on . . . my problem . . . and it has become ever more obvious since coming to 3fc - is that I have a lifelong habit of "medicating" myself with food.

Translation: Carb Binging . . . loading - whatever you want to call it.

When I feel stressed . . . on some level I long for that heavy/dopey/sleepy/blotto feeling that overdoing it brings me.

Do I sit down and plan to alleviate stress that way? Of course not . . . it's a trance-like state that with the help of everyone here - I recognize in time now to STOP myself b4 it starts!

When it does start tho' - I've been able to STOP and carry on with HEALTHIER thinking/actions since coming here as well . . . doesn't lead to days/weeks/months/years like in the past.

WHY do I have this issue?

Dunno.

Post-menopausal aud doesn't really care as much anymore . . . I have it and I have to deal with it is how I'm going forward for now. I've got this great cyber support system . . . I have some strategies in place to help with this "bad habit"/cycle and a committment to myself and all of you to look and feel my best.

Ooooops . . . this is getting long & all about ME ME ME . . . feels like a Monday after a night off, doesn't it?

PS: Did a LOT of PILATES, GirlyGirlS after my back surgery . . . wishing I'd get in that habit again! You may want to check out - gives you that "strong" feeling you may be missing from not working out like you're used to. (???) & Tx for bringing up this root cause Topic.

Have a Great Thursday Blues!

But don't you think that screams to the root of the problem? We can all count carbs, calories, points, sit-ups, miles run, minutes on the elliptical, times we walked away from a doughnut, times we loved the scale, times we hated the scale....the plans are not addressing the root of the problem. Unless we get our heads around what got us here in the first place and face that, no plan in the world can work forever. If it were as simple as the counting, there would not be a weight problem in this country. Everyone can count. Not everyone can manage their weight...

I exercised tonight! It might have only been for a whole 15 to 20 minutes but I moved!

Gotta start somewhere right?

Yea! Chellez, Way to go! I'm seriously so proud of you. Doesn't it feel great. I haven't exercised today but you've inspired me to go do at least 15 minutes even though it's getting late. Hopefully it will turn into more. I've had a bad day eating too many fun size candy bars. Boy those calories add up quickly. I been feeling so sluggish all day and was going to skip my exercise but what I really need to do is go burn that candy off. Hope I didn't do too much damage.

Chellez - 15-20 minutes is definitely better than nothing at all! That's where I started when I started to exercise a few months ago, and even just getting 15-20 minutes can give you that motivation to do it again the next day. I think it's all worth it even if it is a minimal amount at first. Congrats on getting it in!

How is everyone today? I am definitely glad it's Friday. It's been a long week with Halloween in the middle. My scale has been wacky this week - 148 Monday morning, 149 Tuesday morning, 147 Wed. morning, 149 Thursday morning, 148 this morning. I hate how much it goes up and down. I was hoping it would go to 147 and stay there, but no such luck. I have been trying really hard to stay on plan this week, with the execption of a potluck lunch at work on Wednesday in which I indulged just a little bit - not too badly. I am going to work extra hard today and this weekend to stay on plan, get in at least 2 more workouts, and hopefully the scale will be nice to me for my official weigh in Monday morning.

I'm supposed to go to 20 points a day for WW now that I'm under 150, but I feel like I'll be too hungry on just 20 points, so I'm sticking with my 22 points for now and seeing if I still lose weight. I've been bouncing around 148 the past couple of weeks, and if I manage to stay mainly on plan and don't lose any the next few weeks, I guess I'll drop down to 20 points and see if that helps. I set a goal of 140 for myself way back in April, and I would like to hit that by the end of this year. I really need to get used to the idea that these last 7-8 pounds could be tough and just stick with it and not be upset if I don't get to 140 by the end of the year. My ultimate goal is to be 130 by my wedding in October of 2008, and that's 18 more pounds from now. If I don't get to 140 by the end of this year, I am going to do my best to be happy with the weight I have lost (I keep having to remind myself that I've lost 40 pounds in 7 months and that's not anything to laugh at) and then focus on losing those last pounds by October of next year.

Sorry that was so long - I'm trying to stay positive this morning even though I am a little discouraged about the scale. I hope everyone has a great day!

Good job, Chelle. I have not been able to get out since Monday! I finally hired a sitter for this afternoon so that I could clean the house and get a run in and get my bikini line waxed.

Here is what is going on with me....I found a charge on our credit card account that is my birthday present...it is from priceline! I am being sent somewhere. In addition, Dh has told me that he is calling me out on something....he is going to see it I am full of crap. So I know it is some kind of physical challenge. Another clue was he said, "It's for my strong girl." Also, we have been trying to night wean the little one, but she is determined to continue. He said my present is part of night weaning, which is another clue that I am being sent away.

I have no clue what it is or where I am going. My friends and family are in on it. I am tempted to sign into his priceline account, but I would like to have some of it be a surprise. I will let you all know tomorrow.

I think I've figured out my issue.... I'm addicted to fast food.

That.... and my body thinks its cold so its ok to eat these things.

Needless to say I ruined breakfast and had McD's. But you know what.... I really think it had something to do with me not eating dinner last night. I just wasn't hungry so I didn't eat anything... well I had a few club crackers but thats not a meal.

So here's what I'm going to do. And I'm being 100% serious when I say this and I want you all to help me get through it.

If for some God awful reason I goto a fast food restaurant and get anything more than a salad and I post it on this board, I want you to remove me from this challenge, no questions asked. Just give me my pink slip because that's how serious I need to make this. I love this challenge but I'm not going to ruin the rest of my life over double cheeseburgers and sausage Mcgriddles... it's not worth it.

Ok so now that I got that out of the way. Its super windy here today and I have to head up to my parents house after work. I'm kind of excited cause I get to see Kujo my pitbull. I haven't gotten to spend any time with him lately so I'm looking forward to it.

Today is really slow so far. The guy that works for us is talking my ear off and I was hoping to get some homework done this morning but I've been yapping since 8 am. I'll probably end up working on it tonight since I'll have nothing else to do with my crazy dog.

Well I'm going to head off and work on some of my survey project. I'll be back later!

Have you seen SuperSize Me? It cured me of fast food forever. Not as much for me as I thought, "OMG, I can never put that in my children's bodies ever." Then I realized that if I was not willing to give it to them, my body deserved the same treatment.

I am getting ready to go to the grocery. What is everyone having for dinner next week. I am running low on ideas....