Kelly, Congratulations on being our Biggest Loser for last week! :carrot:

Yeah, Kelly, I knew when you posted that loss early on this week that you'd be our biggest loser! Congrats!

Finally!
 

OMG! A week later and I've finally caught up with all of the posts. Man, you women can type. :comp: And, no I haven't forgotten about John. Is he still with us?

So, it's 2:00am here in California and I really should go to bed, but I'm afraid there'll be another 20 pages in the morning if I do. :)

Sorry fellow Bluesers, I only posted a 1lb loss this week. I'm OK with it since I know I didn't exercise the past two weeks (one down is better than one up any day), but I'm sorry I didn't help the team much. Been nervous about working out so I haven't been. Read on for why.
Question: Is anyone perimenopausal? I've always been irregular (sorry John :^:) and for the past 4 to 5 years, I've been in perimenopause. The last two weeks I've had weird aches and pains in my arms, back, chest and neck and everything I've read points to menopause, but with heart disease in the family, I felt a doctor's visit was in order. They drew blood for a multitude of tests so now I'm just a'waiting.

I've got time for just a few personals. Being so behind, some of these are probably long forgotten, but I've taking notes for a week (4 pages of 'em), and I didn't even write down everything!

Erin (scgirl): Jasper is adorable! I think my heart just melted at the sight of him. Does Franny enjoy the company?

Anna (tee): Where do you play Scrabble online? When I'm not playing poker, I'm playing Scrabble at Scrabulous. It's my favorite board game. If you're ever there, look for AChgoNatv and we can have a game or three. :) And that rabbit behind the TV that took out the power, was that a pet rabbit or one that wandered in from outside?

Dee (dixie): I like your avatar pic! Has anyone told you that you resemble Reba McIntyre? I work out to country music too (Dixie Chicks and Kathy Mattea are on my MP3 player now). I'm a relocated Chicagoan who loves country music. I'm so odd. And, speaking of odd...

Rhonda (girly): I just finished 'Odd Thomas' and 'Forever Odd' by Dean Koontz. I'll be checking 'Brother Odd' out from the library as soon as I finish Ashes to Ashes by Tami Hoag and 'T is for Trespass' by Sue Grafton. Except for a number of books that I will one day re-read and a few series by Anne MacCaffrey, Sara Paretsky and Nevada Barr, I've given up buying books. I discovered that moving with hundreds of pounds of books just isn't fun.
Belly dancing! :yay: When is your first class? Coin belts or hip scarves can be found fairly inexpensively on eBay, I think I got my 1st one for $10. There's a great online store called Moondance Belly Dance that has a great a selection for us girls.
By the way, how is the WW key lime pie? This is my favorite dessert, but the one I can only have if I plan my day really, really well, has a ton of sugar and too much saturated fat.

Chelle: Inquiring supervisor minds want to know...what is your job title that allows you so much free time at work to do TBL stuff? I either want your job or I want to know your secrets of looking like you're busy working.
Hope the strep throat is better.
How is Lexi? Are all of her problems cleared up?

Teresa (purple): I agree with you and the quotes from Poppy that you posted. I have made the decision to be healthier and I am changing every day. I'm just trying to eat healthier to avoid the familial heart disease trait. I'm losing weight by default. I guess you could say it's a side effect. :lol: Oh, did you skate at your DD b-day party?

QOTD (from way back on Feb 8): Do you feel like you had to sacrifice something to get where you are in your weight loss today? If so... what is it? Yes, I feel like I'm sacrificing convenience. I know in reality that I'm putting my health and myself first, but it feels like a sacrifice when I have to search for nutritional info online prior to going out for a work lunch or avoid a quick drive-through meal.

QOTD (from way back on Feb 20): What are you favorite planned treats? I've discovered Russell Stover's sugar-free chocolate line. I'm not a huge chocolate fan, so maybe that's why I like them. Other than that sugar-free popsicles or pudding or cool whip (with pecans or walnuts and cinnamon). Yum!

OK, it's 3:30am. Gotta hit the sack. I hope everyone has a great rest of the week! :wave: and :hug: to everyone I didn't mention personally. I will be back to finish up.


- Sonja

Okay...so today is starting out as a great day. I weighed myself first thing this morning and I am back down to 193.0 lbs. I've been patiently waiting for TOM to arrive but so far he hasn't. I usually gain weight the week before TOM's arrival, so this loss means he should be here any second.:devil: Since changing my eating habits a few months ago, I am never hungry, but this week...OMG...I am starving. Even my trusty sweet potato isn't keeping me full. This is the first week in 5 months that I am really hungry and not feeling satisfied. I hope it has to do with my period, which I think it does. I haven't gone off plan, but I have been eating a small bowl of fiber one before bedtime and that seems to do the trick.

Does anyone watch the show "You are what you eat" on the BBC channel? I LOVE that show. I am going to try to make her Chickpea hamburgers next week and see how they taste....I'll let you know.

Have a great day Blue team.:hug:

Sonja--I do solitaire at scrabulous, but I play against people through facebook. How do I find you at scrabulous?

Every pound helps. Think about our numbers if each of us lost 1 lb. We would be rocking! I know I speak for us all when I say congrats on the loss:D

Good morning, Accountability Friends.

Woke up with a sinus headache today. Took something and went back to bed for a while. Now, I'm working madly to get my project finished by tomorrow. Feeling just a bit stressed.

Haven't been diligently tracking calories and no exercise, so the scales aren't moving down at all this week. Today, I'll track every single calorie that goes in my mouth and hopefully I can pull out another loss for Monday's weigh-in.

I have to get going on my project. I'll touch base later today for personals if I get an opportunity. Hope everyone has a great on-plan day. Go Blue!

Good morning,

I hope that everyone is doing great. Sorry, I haven't been on in a couple days. I have been trying to stay busy with DH being gone. Congrats to everyone on the loses. I went to WI yesterday and stayed the same as Monday. I was okay with it since I started exercising this week. I went to Body Flow on Monday and RPM (spin) class on Tuesday and Friday I will do both. They tell me that when you start exercising that you tend to hold water. So, I am assuming that is what is happening. Well, I better go work on Box Tops. They are due by tomorrow. I will try to check back in later.

Have a great day.

They could name him Heath!

I had a very rough morning, doing some planning now to turn it around for the afternoon and evening. I did some grocery shopping this morning instead of exercising, it had to be done! My son was sick over the weekend and now this week he's just been crying a lot, low energy, and grumpy beyond imagination. That lead to a very bad morning, and I'm sure he's torturing the preschool teacher as we speak ;) That means I'll be putting him down for a nap as soon as he gets home, and getting my exercise in. After I get my daughter chaos hits again. She has awards ceremony for cheerleading tonight and son has awards and pizza party for basketball...both starting at 6PM, so MIL is coming to take one of them. It's also Papa's Pizza night for the school and they will be upset when I tell them we are not going. Not only is there too much going on as it is, but I know I will binge big time if i go in there place tonight! It's a pizza buffet and they make this really good dessert pizza as well :nono: just can't do it, esp. night before WI. I've worked too hard this week.

I'm hoping for a very relaxing weekend, because this week has just been crazy!

Fluffy Chick-- 1 lb. is good and does help the team! Be proud of every single pound, you worked hard for it.

Our bodies are on the same schedule! I also gain the week before, then when TOM hits all the cravings go away along with the mysterious extra pounds. I have been up 5 lb. all week and begging TOM to come already, so I can lose those pesky pounds before WI Friday. Today they were gone along with an extra pound, so I know tonight or tomorrow probably TOM will be here. I think I do get hungrier during this week before either, it's a new revelation to me, but it's been like nothing I eat can fill me up this week. Very hard to stay under a calorie limit when no amount of food fills you for longer than an hour!

Isn't it crazy with tracking, Rhonda? I didn't get around to adding everything up until before dinner. I was SURE that I'd only eaten around 700 calories, but when I entered it all in (from memory) it was 1000.

OMG, a pizza buffet sounds like a terrible idea! Stay strong, Theresa. I understand if you have to go for the kids sake. It's just so hard when it can cause binging.

Dionne - do you like spin class? They do them at my gym also and they look KILLER hard!

Sonja - GL with the tests. I hope you get answers. 1 pound is awesome.

Missing - Let me know if you like the chickpea burgers. We love chickpeas, especially hummus and falafels around here, and I'd like to try the recipe if it's any good.

Well, gotta get my girls up and hit the gym for lower body this morning.

Have a wonderful day ladies!

Hi team...

Well, I'm just going to jump right into this.

I need to quit the challenge.

I am SO sorry to bail out on you all, partway through like this. I have so appreciated the love and support from everyone, both in this challenge and last. It has been so great to share experiences with you all and keep each other focusing on the positive.

But I need to do this, for me. I've been getting too wrapped up, lately, in hating my body and getting angry at myself for going off plan or whatever. It's effecting me too much, and it's effecting my DBF and our relationship too much, and that's not okay. This last 7-10days has really highlighted that for me, and been quite the emotional rollercoaster.

So I'm going to step away from the challenge, 3FC, and weight loss in general for the next little while, and work to heal my relationship with myself and with food. I'm still planning to learn to run and do yoga, but not as an approach to weight loss, just as goals to be achieved in and of themselves.

I really do feel a lot of love for you all, and I hope that, with some time and mental work on my part, I'll feel comfortable coming back in here to say hi once in a while.

I understand any and all disappointment in me, but I've got to take care of myself inside before I can work on the outside, y'know?

Lots of love to you all,
Marianne

Hello Blue Team!

MARIANNE...you have to do what you have to do so take care of yourself. :hug:

Nothing much going on with me today. I did get in 45 mns of exercise this a.m. before heading out to buy groceries. Getting ready to finish it off for the day...aiming for about 60 minutes.

Hope everyone is having a good day!

Marianne, it won't be the same here but I understand what you are saying. So much in fact I've been contemplating it myself. My sadness has been unbearable lately and knowing I MUST come here and post is another thing I need to do each day. Sometimes my days are just swamped so not much time, then I feel bad unloading here and venting about my life. But some days I can't think of anything else but the things that are going wrong.

I'm still here for the moment and hope to stay on til the end and do next challenge as well. Love it here! Will miss you lots Marianne! Hope things get better for you very soon. I totally get not wanting to let it make you feel negative and all that.

Hugs, Selina

:hug: Marianne, if you are still around to see this I wish you the best and hope you figure things out for yourself :hug:

Nori- I do like the spin class. Our class is in a room all by itself and halfway through the class they turn the lights out. That is usually when you work the hardest. Because even though the lights are out the instructor can still see you. It is a hard workout. You can burn up to 900 calories in the one class depending on how hard you push yourself.

I have to go get DS from school now.

It is only 31 here today, but the gorgeous sun is shining and lighting up the world with the hope of spring. I am taking my butt to the road and getting in my walk/run that way instead of on the treadmill. While I will miss my West Wing DVD, I will make the sacrifice for some luxes.

Marianne--I hope you pop back to see what we say to you. Your post cries out for some Sark, if you have not read her. I recommend this one:
http://www.planetsark.com/eshop_prod...ks_feat_04.htm

Best wishes. I hope you get everything squared away.

Marianne - by all means you have to do what works for you! We'll miss you and I look forward to bumping into you here on 3FC in the future if you're around.

How are you feeling, Chellez? I think you had something else on top of the strep? Maybe influenza? With strep you'll be nearly 100% better after 24-36 hours of meds.

I'll have to try the spinning class. It looks so hard that I'm a little shy of it!

I got to the gym this morning, did a warmup and an hour of lower body work, then got on the elliptical for 30 seconds and was paged to the children's room where my youngest dd had thrown up. Luckily, I think it was a fluke because she's NOT sick at all. Maybe she was coughing? She's eaten normal and not thrown up anything. So, I haven't done any cardio today yet and will head back to the gym once DH gets home tonight. Whatever! It's off and on sunshine mixe dwith rain this afternoon, so I've toyed with the idea of pumping up the tires on the double stroller and hitting the road. But if it suddenly downpoured, it'd suck.

Anyone have a good QOTD? I like those, but cannot think of one at the moment!

Marianne- Good luck with everything, we will be here if you need us.

Spinning class- Am I too short for those bikes? I never like the bikes at the gym.

Hi All,
I worked out 2x this week so I am hoping for any loss, if not I will take a freebie, we will see I will weigh myself on fri, sat, and sunday, and post on Sunday my lowest. I have been trying to eat a little better, but still struggleing with eating out.

Good Luck Girlys!

Vixjean- I don't think you are to short for the bikes. I am only barley 5' 1". I have to adjust the bike sit to the height of my hip bone. So, try to adjust the bike there and your legs should be at the correct length. The instructor should help you set up the bike.

Anyone that is thinking about the spin class. I do warn you in advance your butt will hurt because of the little bity seat. However, keep going to the class. After your third time of going to the class your butt will ease up.

Good luck.

Hi all. I'm getting ready to go to the gym. I brought all my stuff outside to start the car and its 10 below outside. I can't believe this winter. I don't know if this is normal with all this snow and everything or if the last 10 years or so have been abnormal. Well gotta go. Talk later.

Good morning!

I've been working on my project since 6am. Still not finished yet, but plugging away. This evening, oldest DD is having a slumber party. Looks like I'll be very busy and not getting much sleep. But, at least this project will be complete and I'll be just a bit less stress. Of course, a group of giggling tweens in my house is not the most calming and peaceful atmosphere.

I've read and enjoyed all of your posts. Unfortunately, I only have time for a quick break right now. I'll be back later today to check in.

Hope everyone has a great on-plan day.

We are getting a break in the weather. I ran last night and should be able to each day through Sunday. I hope you that are starting C25K are fired up! Maybe we should do a virtual 5K when everyone is done. All run at the same time some weekend or something.

I am doing a five mile hike next weekend. Should be muddy. Not sure I have proper footwear.

Things are going well here. Nice day OP yesterday. Nothing to get in the way today either. Went out with friends last night, had one drink and probably danced it off. Drunk sweaty guy kept trying to dance with/fall on me. Bouncer handled it beautifully.

Taking kids to the Children's Museum today. Quite the petri dish, that.

Quickie drive-by posting again. I'm still swamped at work, and my eating has really suffered for it. How bad is it? I ate "product" the other day. :o To make matters worse now I'm also sick, my throat hurts and my mouth feels hot. I hope it's just my sinuses, but there's something nasty going around down here. DH says if I get it, he's moving into a hotel. Such a sweetheart, isn't he?

Sonja - That's possibly the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me! I think Reba is just great.

Dixie
Hope you feel better.. tell DH if you get sick YOU are going to a hotel... a big posh one with a huge tub and room service.. what better way to mend!
We are in the midst of another snowstorm.. average for us in Feb is 22 cms and we are over 75 cms before the accumulation today. I am officially on strike from winter!
I hope you are all having a good week. Mentally I'm struggling as I've been eating clean since beginning of January, working out 4-5 times a week but the scale is barely budging.. now those on Biggest Loser do the same with a JIllian or Bob helping them along and drop double digits. I KNOW I am building muscle but let's be honest.. we are conditioned to and want to see the scale move and care much less about the size of our biceps..HMMMPHH

Keep up the good work and stay warm and safe!

Kris - I have 2 cousins married to Canadians who live in Toronto area (Palgrave-Caledon-Hockley and St. Catherine's area I think?) and it's been terrible this year. Hope spring is right around the corner for you.

I'm swamped at work today also.

I'm already at nearly 1000 calories for the day and it feels like I haven't even eaten breakfast! I don't think I've had enough FAT - so nothing it sticking!

BBL - hope you all are doing well!

Thanks for all the great comments. Knew you all were wonderful! ;)

Anna - I will look for Sark's books, thanks for the tip.

Take care all!

Having mouth hunger again. Certainly not hungry physically. Am going to try a diversion.....go watch TV and do some pilates.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Chellez, where are you??

Slow days around here this week.

I've got to do some month end stuff for my bookkeeping job now...

Yay. :carrot::carrot::carrot:

I fit into all my prepregnancy clothes that haven't fit in 2 years. I had lost 40 pounds before getting pregnant so these were smaller sizes than I had worn in a long time before that. Plus I just bought a pair of size 20L jeans that fit perfectly. In fact they may end up too big soon. (But hey I bought them for 1.60 on clearance at work.) For some reason they are clearancing all the Long length rte 66 jeans in plus. I know maybe this is obvious but its only in the last few weeks when I bought some new pants that I realized if I buy Long length and have them fit at my waist then my pants fit correctly. I think with all the hype about low rise that it kind of never occurred to me that maybe for me it doesn't work to have the waist of the pants at my hips. I was going to wait to buy a new pair but for 1.60 who can resist.

Karen WTG - congratulations on fitting into your pre pregnancy clothes - that is awesome!

I am absolutely exhausted!!! Dad had his triple heart bypass on Thursday - the last 3 days have been draining. Thank you for your well wishes. Yesterday he was in ICU and he had a doctor and 2 nurses at his bedside for most of the day - they thought he wasnt going to make it - and today he got out of the bed, they removed all drainage, he went for a walk and was moved back onto the cardiac ward! My sister split her jeans - revealing her rear end - Dad enjoyed making fun of her in front of the nurses - I think it was a case of laughter being the best medicine today - I just hope he hasnt overdone it today...he is still not out of the clear his cardiologist mentioned about having a pacemaker put in this coming week - I dont know what that entails yet - please continue with your prayers for him and my family.

I have lost 2 pounds this week - I think it due to being just tooo busy and stressed! Cause I havent exercised and my eating habits the last two days have not been good! I am off to sleep - hope you have a good weekend!!!

Vanessa- I hope your Dad keeps improving and getting the pacemaker isn't too trying.

All I can say is this has been a VERY bad week. I'm back in the game but probably will take a freebie this week.

I did start my C25K this morning and that went well for my first day. Maybe when DH gets done snow blowing and I quit sweating I will take the kids out sledding. I bought a new sled to try out. :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Z-Mom - did DH get the job? Sorry you had a rough week.

Karen - congrats on the new sizes!!!

I had a good week, but the scale hadn't moved as of this morning. Planning on heading to the gym when Dh gets home from work. He was called in this morning, so that threw off my exercise schedule!

I took my measurements this morning and for February I am down 6.5 inches on the areas I am measuring. So last month I lost 6.5 pounds and at least 6.5 inches. Kinda funny how it so similar!

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend. It's kinda rainy here for the past couple days. The Seattle weather doesn't really get to me though.

Karen way to go on the jeans.. on my other forum we call that a NSV
Non Scale Victory.. things that keep up going.. CONGRATS

Vanessa hope all is well with you.

Today I've had my little ones at fitness and gymastics, running all over so we're home for a quick respite.
Have a great weekend all!

HI ALL BLUE PEPS!
Studying crazy for my test on April 7th, same as our last week with our challenge, great timing huh? I am getting ready to do a comcast on demand workout, because it's Sat and I am too lazy to go to the gym today. My back is hurting more than usual, so I hope that the work out will loosen things up.

Here is a fitness tip:
RUN from the gym to your car! I hate running on the treadmill, so why not??

Hi all. My mom is in town so can't stay. Sorry I've been gone so much. I really neeeed to be here too. Very hard time lately. Saw this and wanted to share.

Big hugs, Selina :hug:

Become a positive thinker. No matter how dark things seem to be, or actually are, raise your sights and see the possibilities - they're always there.
— Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BLUE!!!!! :carrot:

HI, if you have comcast on demand, you can work out with bob and jillian like i just did, AWESOME!

Momto2 - Congrats on the 6.5lbs and inches. I was going to get measured on Friday but the girl who usually does it for me was busy so I'll have to catch her another time.

I don't know what to do about DH. He had that interview on the 20th. They called before he even got home to set up his drug test. Then they paid for his medical card as well (usually they drivers have to pay for that themselves). His drug test was Monday and we didn't hear anything all week long. He called Friday and the receptionist was very suspicious sounding he said when he asked if they had a start date for him. Said that he would have to talk to J but what a surprise he was outside and sent him to voicemail. We never heard from him. The way DH told me she just sounded very off. Like oh crap he's calling and we hired someone else.

I don't get it. DH was laid off in June of last year. One guy wanted him to work and for safety reasons DH declined. (Almost falling out of the truck because the door wouldn't stay shut, didn't lock, there were no seat belts, and there was NO passenger seat, just a milk crate where he was expected to sit!) The rest of his leads have gone no where. Either they hire someone else or just quit returning phone calls. He came right out and asked a few people and they all have said his references are impeccable as is his driving record. We are more than willing to relocate if needed. I just don't get it.

I am really afraid for his mental and emotional well being right now.