Okay, now I'm catching up from everything over the weekend. Whew! Someone can really get lost if they miss a couple of days.
Shay - Thanks for the tip about the frozen steel cut oats. I wish I had read that earlier! I had the *hardest* time finding any. Whole Foods had one option - which is what I went with. Jewel did not have ANY. I do live near a Trader Joe's so once I run out of my current bag I'll check out the frozen option. That is certainly more time convenient.
I've been considering making my own plan as well. I'm not sure that I can count calories for the rest of my life. At the same time, I'm not sure I'm fully aware of correct portion sizes and calories in treats just yet. I'm on the fence. We'll see how this week goes.
Selina - Congrats on being in ONEderland. I'm really sorry this is a delayed congratulations. But, I'm sure it still feels just as good a few days later.
Zinke - I hear you on the problems with the eating of bad foods like McD's and apple pie. I truly understand your struggles because I have them, too. I've been taking my lunch hours here at work to go journal and try and figure out why I do the binging. Haha, you know what the one problem is? I can't ever find a good location to do my journaling outside of Starbuck's. But, then I'm stuck paying for a drink and, naturally, I always order a skim latte with syrup in it. I could use the library here at work, but it's always so cold! And, working here at my desk is a definite NO because my bosses will bother me.
I should add, I really like your print-out for your van.
As a warning, last year I took my mom for her very first pedicure. She is hooked and now she goes every couple of months to get one. I don't think she understand how she went so long without ever getting one, haha. Now she's hooked on facials, too. I, myself, have never had one of those and for my wallet's sake I should stay away.
John - YOU ARE A MACHINE. How in the world are you putting in so many minutes of walking. That is amazing. 100 minutes a day.
I'm so proud of you. Btw, I love your quote about committment. I like that a lot.
Karen - I hear you about losing the bottom half. That's exactly what I'm struggling with. I look in the mirror and see the back of my thighs are just full of cottage cheese. Per my own set goal weight I have under 15 lbs. to lose. I feel like I have 10 lbs. of cottage cheese on each thigh alone! And, it's not like my arms or abs are perfect either, haha.
Nori - I know what you mean about being afraid of consuming less calories for life. There is a sticky thread on the maintence board that you might be interested in. It addresses exactly that issue. I'm not promising great news, but it's still a great read.
Also, I know what you mean about the weight being on the limbs. I went for a fitness test at my gym and when he took the calipers to me he said my biggest issues were my legs and arms. Now, I knew that my legs had a considerable amount of fat on them, but I was actually surprised about my arms. I've been taking a little more care to do upper body weights now.
You make Seattle sound SO BEAUTIFUL. I wish I were there to enjoy it.
Seattle is in the top five of places my fiance and I want to take a vacation to. We're doing Hawaii this year for our wedding. Then it's between Seattle, an Alaskan cruise and Vegas for the following year.
Amber - I hear you about not being satisfied even after hitting my goal weight. That is something that I'm certainly afraid of. The last thing I want is to reach a goal and only be met with disappointment. I'm hoping that hitting the weights like I have been will aid in how my body shapes up at goal weight, though.
Chellez - I'm not sure I've congratulated you on your house yet or not, but congratulations. At this point, I do think the worst is over. Getting everything actually IN the new house is the worst part. And, I agree, I think that was likely an amazing workout for you.
I think you did great at they buffet and you should be proud! I'm proud of you.
The signature tag for Jenn is really cute.
My server was Drenden for Wow. I think it was a new server. I transfered there from Azjol-Nerub. Here is the blue points link for Illinois:
https://members.hcsc.net/members/mbrsignon_il.html I'm not sure what it is for each state and if every state offers it.
Purple - I have the trampoline bladder issue BIG TIME. It developed at some point in college. I was jumping on the trampoline in the backyard just as I always had through Junior high and High school. . . and I realized that I needed to go change my panties. That was the last time I ever jumped. *shrug* I have no idea what causes it. I just know I can't do it. (Oh, I read later on that now you don't have the issue. Haha, lucky you, then!)
Oooh, a snow family. I have never made a snowman in my life. Isn't that crazy? I grew up in Southern Illinois. (VERY SOUTHERN Illinois) And, it just never snowed enough to make one. When it did snow enough it was "dry" snow that didn't pack very well.
You know, my fiance promised me a boob job if I lose the weight and keep it off for four years. So, that's a real motivation for me once I hit maintanence.
Congrats on the 10% weight loss goal being reached. That's AWESOME!
97 minutes of exercise? Insane!! Good job.
Jenn - Congratulations on avoiding the cake temptation. That is amazing self control. And, congratulations on the 11 lb. loss. That is AMAZING! And, congrats on being the biggest loser.
Peach - I'm glad to read that you made it out of your surgery successfuly. I hope that you are recovering and all is well! Congrats on the loss.
Pam - 4.5 lbs. is awesome. You'll get below 250 soon enough. I'm very proud of you! I don't want to be a nag, but maybe you should get an MRI on your knee? I'd hate to see you let it get worse and keep you from being able to get around for a long time.
MissRocky - Congrats on the weight loss!
Cristina - Congrats on making it into the 180s.
Keep up the good work. Maybe some gentle stretching exercises could be done for a couple of days while you let your back heal a little better?
Rhonda - What is the world is Bunko? This is the second time I've read about it here on the boards. Please explain.
I'm sorry about the setback on Bunko night, but as long as you take something from it, it will be worth it.
Good job on the exercising, though. I have not gone running in so long, even on the treadmill. That is some GREAT exercise. Keep up the good work. You'll get that calorie counting down perfectly soon enough. At least you're progressing in the right direction.
QOTD: Three things I like about my body/appearance. I have huge brown eyes with long eyelashes. I think I have the perfect nose. If I was getting a nose job, I would ask for my nose. I've always been told I have a great butt. (Personally, I think it's a little big, but the guys like it.)
Ginger - What I'd give for some boobs, haha. You're very lucky.
Dee - Wow, 6am for a workout. Now that is dedication! It sounds like you're going to a really nice gym. We spend a little extra money on a nicer gym because it gives us extra motivation to attend. Though, I wish our heated pool was just a little more heated. Maybe I don't move around enough in it.
And, no, you're not the old woman. Don't you worry.
You'll get that one pound back from TOM soon enough.
I agree with what you learned from last week. Even if a food is on plan, you can still have too much of a good thing. I had to stop buying string cheese all together. I could eat six in one sitting. Bye bye string cheese.
scgirl - I couldn've have said no to the mozz sticks, either. What I do when I get a food in front of me that I know I can't say no too is pass it out to people. Once it's in their hands then I know I won't eat it. But, that's what I do when I'm being good. Hopefully that will be more often now.
Uuugh, the weather in TN sounds horrible. I hope it warms up soon enough down there so that roads can clear up. I know from when I lived in Southern Illinois that they do not prepare with enough salt trucks, etc. like the northern locations do. Good luck. I hope you get out of the house soon enough. Cabin fever is NO fun.
Sonja - Do you take dancing in Hyde Park? It's something I would be interested in doing, but Hyde Park can be a bit of a drive depending. (Of course, if it's not during rush hour it's not bad since it's just an drive down LSD.) And, yes, I'm still training for Hancock. I've been doing the stairclimber religiously at the gym. Just another month to go!! I'll take pictures for everyone here.
CONGRATULATIONS on the weight loss.
That is FANTASTIC! I'm very proud of you. You make a very good point about how you want to eat right if you've got the personal trainer. Maybe I should edit my answer. Maybe I should go pay for that personal trainer. . .
Sigh, if I only had the money. My trainer is my fiance and he's awesome at getting me to work in the gym, but he's bad bad bad about letting me eat junk.
Kristen - Congrats on the weight loss and for avoiding the pizza and cake. I wish I had avoided the pizza.
That takes some major willpower. Also, what in the world are you dressing those poor children in? Boooo!!!
The Sunday activity day is a great idea. Your kids will remember that and appreciate it. My parents had a family night every Friday night for a long while and I really liked it as a kid. But, then my older sister hit her teens and that was the end of that, haha. Regardless, teaching them to be active *now* is a great idea.
Mommytoacacia - Congrats on the weight loss.
One pound down is one pound in the right direction.
Victoria - Congrats on the weight loss! You'll reach your goal for this month, I have faith in you.
Marianne - I get a 15 minute upper back massage every couple of weeks from the masseuse we have here at work. It's $15 (then tip) so I try not to go too often because I'm saving up for the wedding and house downpayment. However, sometimes I just can't say no. She is AMAZING!
And as far as breaking up with your body, haha, that gave me a bit of a chuckle but it is also so true. Maybe I will take that route as well. I'll break up with my brain that tells me I need to binge. Stupid brain.
Congrats on avoiding McD's!
You're right, I should tackle one day at a time and just string them together. So, I was going to quit tracking calories, but maybe I'll track them after all. That way I'll know for sure whether or not I'm on plan. So far today I have been great. I will check in with you tomorrow and let you know how today went. I'm feeling optimistic.
QOTD: I would choose a personal chef. As of late I've been doing ag reat job getting my butt to the gym. And, I'm a fairly active individual as it is. However, I JUST CANNOT EAT RIGHT. If I ate right, I'd never have been fat in the first place. There are all sorts of "skinny fat" people. The ones that are thin but out of shape. But, that's not me. I'm fat fat and that's because I was eating wrong.
Dionne - Your FIL and husband are in my thoughts and prayers.
sportmom - The eating out is definitely a HUGE reason I gained the weight I gained. It was still sabatoging me as recently as Sunday night. But no more Pizza Capri. Do you hear that? NO MORE!
Amen for what you learned from last week. I learned EXACTLY the same thing.
Anna - The bright side is that you made your confession and now you're going to go work out because you feel so bad when you don't. No worries. Use it as a few learning days.
Enjoy your trip!
There, I'm all caught up.
AND, I was so determined to get through everything that I haven't had my lunch yet. Nor did I have a morning snack. I will save it for the end of the day right before the gym.
Can you start with working on being OP one day at a time, rather than looking for a whole week? Like this week, maybe aim for 2 perfectly on-plan days. Obviously, you won't set out to have the other 5 days be off-plan, but would it go better for you in smaller pieces?
And your question of the day. They really get me to thinking, the questions and your posts. Good job on the exercise.
but I'm okay now 
the question of the day ideas you are coming up with.
on the 3 lb loss!
I'd ask what diet you're one but I have Marianne's cheat sheet open so I already know! 
Players get yelled at for keeping the other team from catching the ball.... isn't that part of the job? 
on your plan this week! I'm glad you are writing everything down. I think it will help in the end. Bonus that you didn't buy any bad foods.
(I might even add a couple of spoonfuls of real creamer....of course, I'll track the calories.)
