Good morning Blue Team. I just posted by weight, and I'm still up 2 pounds from my pre-Thanksgiving weight. I am fairly frustrated about this, because when I weighed myself yesterday morning I was back down to my pre-Thanksgiving weight, and somehow I'm back up 2 pounds today. I swear, no matter how much I tell myself that the body's weight fluctuates because of different things, and my scale is digital and never gives you the same reading when you step on it 3 times in a row, I still get frustrated. But I keep on plugging away hoping that someday I will reach my goal.

I guess on a good note, we got a treadmill this weekend. My fiance's parents had one that they never use, and they brought it up this weekend. So now i have an elliptical, treadmill, weight bench, and a whole assortment of cardio DVDs. I have a good variety of stuff to keep me interested during exercising, and I'm hoping having the treadmill will keep me exercising regularly because the treadmill is something I would use daily when I belonged to a gym. I am working really hard to get rededicated to this weight loss because the past month and a half I have not been 100% dedicated (which I do feel very bad about for the members of the Blue Team even though I am still trying). The next month is going to be hard because I have so many events to go to where the food will not be quite healthy, but I am doing my best every other day to get exercise in and to eat on plan. I am about 6-8 pounds (depends what the scale says that day) from my first big goal, and I guess it is going to be extra tough to get there, but I am still determined to do it.

Yes, plz post the questions!!! They'll help all of us. You be our coach!! It's good to write out all the things that you feel you need to work on and reasons why we are the way we are.

TOM should be here in a day or two. Good thing weigh in came first. I feel bloated pretty bad this morning. Uggh. Hate it. And I'm still coughing and all that. Good thing the babies are doing well, and the kids and dh.

Mr.F and Baby Girl are doing really well lately. He is wanting to crawl sooo bad! And he giggles so loud when you tickle him, cracks me up! She is sleeping well, only wakes up to eat and goes right back to sleep. When she's awake she's very alert and calm. Funny how they look so wise and all-knowing at that first born stage. It's been true of all 5 of the newborns I've had. So neat to watch them just looking up at you with that look and the way they look at this new world they've been born into. I've had lots more babies, just only 5 were straight from the hospital. (So far! lol)

The boys are really excited about Christmas. Almost everything is wrapped already and under the tree besides what Santa brings later on. Their stockings are huge, like 3 times a normal size. LOL. Had to put back sorta big toys to put in there. They say I've Been Very Very Very Good on the front, LOL! The babies each have baby blue or pink and theirs say Baby's First Christmas. Awww.

Ok, today is 100. Haven't weighed but don't care bc of TOM. Day 3 of exercise. Need to do weight training, can't with my arms bc of my stupid wrist problems, doc said no. But my legs need more strength too!~Dang, I need to post what I've done on the exercise thread. I feel better when I do it, even for 15 mins. Main thing for me is the get the habit back even if it's only the 15, but sometimes I like going more.

Hope you all have a great OP! day.
It's really cool to see all the new people. I'm sure whichever team we all get on we'll enjoy the teammates just as we did this time around.
Goooooooo Bluezers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good morning ladies! Sorry I wasn't here much last week....it was insane around here. I went to the kids school a few times to help out and then just trying to finish the raking before the BIG winter storm came and finish decorating the outside of the house. Yeah that BIG winter storm was about 3 inches of rain For real though it was nasty for about 4 hours and then the rain all started to freeze, but by that evening it was warm and melting. Well it did get my butt moving and I have 25 bags full of leaves to prove it The outside of our house looks really cute. We toned it down big time this year, but it looks nice and tidy. So this week is all about getting back into the groove of exercise/eating for me. I fell so far off the wagon it's not even funny. I have only lost .5lb this challenge...that is pathatic. The holidays are so hard for me, and then the whole thing with my sister and the baby did me in. I openly admit to being an emotional eater, and it took it's toll on me this round. I am looking forward to next round though for a few reasons....I think everyone will have more time to post and participate since the holidays will be over, I think it will be easier for people to stay OP since the holidays will be over, and I also think that after all the holidays people are ready to get back on track....at least I know I am. My SIL and I though are making a pact to exercise at least 3 times this week....that may not seem like a lot, but seemings how I've done nothing the last couple of weeks it's better then nothing Every weekend from now until Christmas is booked for my family. I love all the running around, but it is really draining at times. I went yesterday to see my baby nephew, and OMG that baby is so cute.....I wanna eat him up I swear I never was a big newborn lover, but something about this little guy just warms my heart. My sister is doing really well, suprised me if I'm to be honest. I thought she would have a really hard time adjusting to being a mom over night, but she loves that little guy to death....it's so neat to see her with him. This coming up weekend my MIL and SIL and I are going to see a Christmas play, and then afterwards were going to finish up some shopping and see a show. I'm really looking forward to that. I have a lot of shopping to finish up, but most of it's just giftcards....that is like a whole day running in and out of places! I hope your all doing well and enjoying the holiday season....I have to say this is one of my favorite times. I love sitting at night with my trees lite up and my candles burning and just realxing with my family. Well I should move my butt along and get the beds made....Have a great day ladies~

Tina30 - Sounds like you are doing a lot of really good thinking about how things work for you, which is hard but will be so good for you! All that leaf-raking must have been a killer workout, too. I'm glad you are enjoying your nephew, too.

Soon2BFitChick - CONGRATS ON DAY 100!!! Sounds like your family will have a great Christmas with lots of love and fun, which is the best kind of Christmas.

NoVaVTFan - Aren't the scale fluctuations insane? I know it's frustrating, but like you said, there are so many other things that make it fluctuate, so maybe today was just a fluke and yesterday was more accurate? Sounds like you're in a position to really do well over the holidays with all the exercise equipment! I wish we had room/money for a treadmill, I would use it all the time!


So, here are the three questions from Bob Greene's Best Life Diet:

1. Why are you overweight?
2. Why do you want to lose weight?
3. Why have you been unable to maintain weight loss in the past?

He suggests that you sit down and write out your answers, rather than just mulling them over, so that you have a record of it and so you are really taking the time to think deeply about it. The interesting thing about how he outlines these in the books is that he takes a really no-nonsense attitude to the answers. The answer to "Why are you overweight?" is deeper than "Cos I like food!", that sort of thing. He really wants people to go deep into their thinking and pasts and figure out what has been going on, rather than stopping at the superficial reasons, which we all have, too.

I'm still working on #3, but I'm discovering some interesting things about myself as I go over my answers for #1 and #2! I had a total breakdown in the shower the other morning as I realised that why I am overweight (and messy and a procrastinator and a lot of other things!) is because I feel like I have no control over my life or like I have LOST control over my life... and I realised in the shower that I've felt like that since my beloved grandfather passed away 8 years ago. He was my friend, my mentor, my idol, my confidant, my inspiration and he died very suddenly almost exactly a week after my 14th birthday. Talk about WOW when I realised this. It's given me a tonnnnn to think about in terms of my life in general - not just weight loss!

Whew. That was a lot to admit publicly! Now that I'm thinking about these things, it's getting easier to think about what I want from 2008, and to know that I will commit better to myself from here on out.

I had a great week considering Tom started today. I owe it all to staying OP and exercising like a crazy women. I started a new rotation of fitness dvds called the Slim Series. I was going to wait to start them in the new year but couldn’t wait. These are all tough long dvds (6 different ones). I am smashed after I finish one, but I can tell they are really working. I got a lot of compliments at church yesterday. I saw one of my older sons friends that I hadn’t seen since this summer. He told me he hadn’t recognized me at first. Then my daughter who’s in college called later that night to say that this same friend had called her and was going on and on about how amazing I looked. Wow that felt really good.

Soul Bliss-Way to go on your huge #’s. 10lbs in two weeks-you rock! You’ve been exercising tons too and I’m glad you are being rewarded.

Aud- I’m excited to see what your weight loss will be this week. I’m betting you get all of your 5lb gain off with all the exercising you’ve been doing. Maybe even more.

NoVaVTFan- Time to ask Santa for a new scale. That's gotta be so frustrating.

Soon2BFitChick- You had a nice big woosh loss this week. What a great reward for your 100th day OP. Congratulations! You’ll be in one-derland by Christmas. That’s an awesome gift you are giving to yourself and your family.
I had clothes in my closet that were 7 different sizes too. As soon as I grow out of one size I’ve been getting rid of it. I have 3 huge bags to take to the Good Will and this will be my 3rd trip. I’ve also gotten rid of lots of smaller clothes too. They just aren’t in style anymore and I know I won’t wear them even when I can fit into them. Who knows why I’ve hung onto them this long? I’ve enjoyed decluttering and love watching my closet get emptier and emptier each month. I went clothes shopping Thanksgiving weekend. I was a little discouraged that I am still in plus sizes (size 20 and 1X). I did buy a few things in the next size down that almost fit, for hubby to give me for Christmas. I hope I can fit into them by then. Anyway I have some cute things that I can fit into now and even though I’m dreading all of the holiday events that are coming this week, I’m glad that I have something to wear to all of them. Last year I really didn’t want to go anywhere because I hated all of my clothes.

Practice Living- my plan for the new year is to stay OP at least until my Birthday the end of Feb. when I hope to get below 200. I’m on the other Oprah inspired plan “You on a Diet” by Dr. Oz. It’s been working for me so I’m sticking with it. I think I’ll read through it again over Christmas break just to see if there’s anything I need to tweak. I also plan to challenge myself with fitness. Not sure yet what I want to do after the slim series. Maybe a few weeks of kickboxing. I tried that for the first time a few weeks ago and really loved it.
I just read your latest post. Looks like you’ve been doing a lot of soul searching. It reminds me of the quote about letting go of things you can’t control and taking control of things that you can. Something like that. I hope in 2008 your life will improve in all those areas that you are struggling with now.

Well this is a super busy week for me with all of the parties and such. Selina I’ll be keeping what you said in my mind I think it’s really going to help me with all of those temptations. I really want to have a good weight loss week to end the challenge.

FRUSTRATED!!!!! (insert string of curses here)

I worked my patootie off last week AND kept my calories in check. It is that same plateau I have fought on and off for a year--around 155. I am ready to go to the doc and see if there is something up....

Some awesome weight loss going on here blue team!!! Only with that I was a part of it!! No change for me this week....saving it all for the final week I guess.

Chellez...thanks for getting a new challenge going...you are so committed to this thread!
Selina...congrats on the 100 days...you are an inspiration
NoVaVTFan....enjoy the treadmill. I hinted that one for Christmas would be great....no luck though. We just don't have the room, (or the extra funds)
Practice Living...thanks for those questions...I am going to do some thinking on those.
Time to pick the kids up from school..and then home for a hot tea (hot chocolate for the kids!)
Have a great last week of the challenge ladies. I am looking forward to a good week...on plan, lots of exercise, and some pounds gone!!


S

AWESOME chatting going on here Blue Teammers - - unfortunately I'm outta time to respond!

Feeling silly that I got my "Bob's" mixed up - but remain interested in this subject/book.

Yeah, I got 4 of those suckers off & going for the BIG Atkins WHOOOOOOOSH to "round" out this Challenge - no pun intended!

TTYAL in the Wee Hours - Let's DO THIS Bluesies!

It looks like a couple more people who have no freebies did not check in and post in the thread. We are ending this with how many people now? I sure hope we are a cohesive team next time (wherever we end up).

It's been great being a team with you here. Some of you post such beautiful, supportive things! Than you so much!

I feel like an idiot... I totally forgot to check in yesterday and I has no more freebies!

Physics was rough yesterday and I'm leaning on coffee to keep me awake this morning...

<<<<< is the village idiot this morning

I really need to pull that back out again. I lost quite a bit by just remembering what happened in my body chemically when I ate something. I would think "OK, the CCK is kicking in; I can feel it." Things like that. I was very chemically aware of what was happening with myself and food. I definitely need a refresher. It was that book that convinced me to stop eating after 7....now if I could just do it.

Good morning ladies! Well I made it to the gym yesterday for a great cardio workout. My SIL and I went together, and I have to say both of us do so much better when we go together. It's just to easy to skip if you don't have anyone counting on you....I know I shoule be the person who counts the most, but at this time of year it's so easy to just forget it and curl up on the couch and snuggle. Anyways I felt good and my eating was pretty decent yesterday also. My SIL made a pact to make the gym 3 times this week and in addition to that I'm going to do one workout at home this week. That would make for a total of 4 days....I would really like 5 days, but for this week I'm going to start here....I need to get back into the swing of things Today I'm going to my MIL for lunch, and then later tonight my SIL and I will be going to the gym again I think. We are supposed to get snow later this afternoon though, so I'll have to see how bad it is out....but if I don't make the gym I'll do something at home. I really hope to lose a few pounds before next weigh in....it would be nice to end the challenge with more then a .5lb weight loss This time of year for me just is trouble....I can't wait for the next round Hope you all are doing well!

Soul- Great job on TBL this week.....6lb loss...your amazing Keep it up girl~

Onthetee- Hang in there....I know how frustrating it can be, but if you did well last week that's all that really matters....it will catch up with you soon...Hang tight hun~

Fitin2008- It's so nice when people begin to notice all your hard work....I know that felt great...keep it up

Practice- Thank you for sharing those questions. How cool that you have had a huge reveal. Hopefully you can start the healing process now and focus on all 2008 can be for you.

Selina- Have you even posted before and after pics in the mini goal album? You are such a big inspiration here, and I know others would be inspired also. Your doing so well....keep it up~

Chellez- Any word on the house? What a cool Christmas gift that would be Thank you for this challenge and the one in the works....your awesome~

Everyone else I hope your all doing well and moving closer to your goal as we head towards the end of this journey Have a great day ladies~

Great job, team! Sorry I was not helpful.

Soul-- 6 lbs! Awesome.

I almost when I saw Bliss had lost 6 lbs!

Really saved us this well lady! take a

[QUOTE=chellez;1949913
Physics was rough yesterday and I'm leaning on coffee to keep me awake this morning...

[/QUOTE]

Aaaah, physics. Killer weed-out course. I got my textbook out a few weeks ago to do some lesson planning. The coefficient of friction on an incline plane....why was this pertinent again?

good luck with it.