I just wanted to pop in a say good morning. I slept in a today, so I'll be back after I get the kids on the bus for personals and what not:)

Good morning Ladies! No more being down on myself. I'm over it. You all are amazing and inspiring!

Karen-- Congrats on being our team's Biggest Loser this week AGAIN! :bravo: You Go Girl!

QOTD-- This is my first BL challenge. I tend to be a lurker, but I have pushed myself to be involved with this challenge because support is vital for success. It's been fun to check in every day and get to know my team members.

Isn't there already a rule in place that everyone needs to check in with their team at least once a week? Why don't team leaders simply cut people that don't check in once a week unless they have gotten permission in advance from their team leader (in case of travel or other extenuating circumstances)? It might be more work for team leaders at first but it should lighten their load for future weeks. What do you think? Perhaps a roll call day would be easier. Although I would hate to penalize a regular poster for missing roll call.

Good afternoon buddies,

I'm just popping on quickly to wish everybody a happy day. I have to run out during my lunch.

Melissa: That is just AWFUL!! Especially to think it was a parent who took that money. :mad: Being a teacher I know how hard our PTA parents work and we just did a chocolate pop funraiser for valentines day too. One o fmy students sold 360 of them, I would be so pissed to know that someone stole that money that he worked hard for!

BBL

Muse and Tina – I have a Jari Love and a Gilad dvd on my Netflix, but I noticed that both require a weight bench or step. I don’t have either. What do you use or do you have another alternative for me to try? I used to have a step that I got rid of in a garage sale many years ago. Same with an elliptical I used to have. (Man I wish I still had those.) Is there anything to watch out for if I buy a weight bench or step? I found a couple of other dvd’s on Netflix that don’t require a bench/step that I’m gonna try until I figure out what to do about the bench/step.

Melissa (Hun) – Congrats on finishing week 3 and good luck on week 4. I’m sorry about the PTA money. That’s infuriating. I don’t get people who steal from others but to steal from kids just stinks! Grrrrr! And thanks again for all of the hard work you put into this for us. You’re a great leader! We appreciate you!

Rennie – I have Leslie Fast Start Fast Firming that came with the Pink band. I also have an older one that had quite a bit of toning to it. I think it was Fat Burning walk (maybe from before she was calling it WATP?) I’ve done them each a few times. I guess I need to do them more frequently. I’m going to try a few other DVDs as well to get some variety. Thanks for the comments on my weight loss. It feels great! I’ve been trying to think what I’ve done differently so that I can continue to do it! I bought some new drinking bottles. I had been using a 20 ounce one and finishing it off twice at work (40 ounces). Last week I started using a 32 ounce one and finishing it off twice (64 ounces) – just the right amount to earn $2 a day for our trip. I also exercised about 5 hours for the week instead of my usual 3 1/2 hours. While working through the Beck Diet Solution (I sound like a commercial, huh?), I’ve learned to eat slower and to have smaller portions. I’m not sure if there’s one thing that has made the difference or a combination of all of it. I’m still afraid that it’s a fluke, and I’m gonna wake up tomorrow 5 pounds heavier. :D It’s funny how our minds mess with us.

Terapet – I do Zumba too and I love it. I’ve never figured my heart rate while doing it. I think my teacher doesn’t do as high intensity as other teachers. It seems to be just right for me. I started out not as intense but have been trying to up my movements and putting more into it. I’ve never done Pilates. What sort of work do they in your body sculpting class?

Laura – Thanks for the “8 Minute Fitness” suggestion. I’ve been researching it this morning. I’m going to try some other ones on my Netflix and maybe order this one with some other ones I like. I wish they had the 8 minute on Netflix but they don’t. Anything that can stop me from using excuses is great. I can fit in 8 minutes somewhere. I’m sorry you had another up, but hang in there. Your loss is coming. I can feel it. Enjoy your Westin Workout room. That sounds awesome and I know you’ll take full advantage!

Jen – Hang in there. If you’re keeping track of your food, it has to be something temporary. I read an article at the beginning of the year. I can’t remember exactly what it was about but the main idea that stayed with me is that you have to focus on the journey not the destination. If you focus on eating healthy and staying active, the weight loss will come with it. Don’t focus on the scale (as our fearless leader always says….scales are for fish! ;)) It’s great that you have a wonderful mother!

Emily – thanks for checking in! Way to go on the 20 minute run. I knew you could do it. And 1 pound is awesome!

Cat – Yea on getting to 197! 189 is just around the corner! You can do it!

Kari – thanks for checking in! I can’t wait to hear about your Total Gym experiences. Enjoy!

Hi Counting, Andi and Melissa73!

Hello....okay the kids are on the bus, and the house is quiet!!! Ahhh this is blissful:)LOL! I never made the gym yesterday, but I had an awesome workout at home. I two videos back to back and I can feel it today. Food has been getting better. It's so frustrating to me though because exercise just comes easy to me, but eating has and I'm thinking always will be my struggle. I'm trying my best though, and everyday gets a little better. It's so cold here today, I can't take much more of this cold weather. I just feel like crawling under my covers until oh about April!LOL! Not much going on though just hanging out at home today. I ran last night and picked up a few little things for the kids Valentines Day gifts. I found some really cute stuff in the dollar section of Target. Kev and I don't do gifts...well he does get me flowers, so I guess he gets me a gift;) I love it though because he gives them to me a few days early so I can enjoy them Valentine's Day. Okay I'm rambling now. Hope your all doing well~

Melissa- I tell ya some people are just plain evil. Who would steal money from school, knowing that it is for the children. That really burns me...I hope whoever it is they catch.

Counting- -2 BRRR...I feel ya though I'm ready to head somewhere really, really warm:) I need to post over in the challenge today

Terapet- I'm thinking of signing up for a pilates class...it sounds like you really like yours so maybe I'll go ahead and give it a try. I hear it does wonders for your body!

Laura- How cool to have all that stuff right in your room. That is what I call a deluxe accomadation:)

Jen- My MIL had a knee replacement a few years ago, and she like your mom was such a trooper. I tell ya it was the best thing she ever did...she can walk miles now without pain or swelling...I think Counting and I will take some of that warm weather off your hands!LOL!

Emily- Don't be silly girl, a 1 lb loss is great...it's 1 lb closer to your goal. Getting to bed early for me is never a problem. I need sleep and I drop wherever and whenever I'm tired:)

DK- I think I'm going to try that 15 min. snack rule. Like you I'm a huge emotional eater, and this may be a way to help that.

Cakses- WOOO-HOOO 197...that is fantastic! Keep it up girl~

Kari- How nice will it be to have a gym at your house...let us know how ya like it;) This cooler weather may be making you want to bake. I hate baking, but it sure makes me want to eat baked goods:)LOL!

Melissa73- Have a great day girl~

Karen- I have a step, but sometimes I'm to dang lazy to pull it out, so I'll either use my stair case, or I'll do knee lifts during the step part. Sometimes I also do the moves their doing with the step just without the step. Don't ya hate when you get rid of stuff, and then want it back...very frustrating.

Everyone else have a great day~

DK - I'm sorry that you've been having cravings. Like I've said several times on here and in my above post (yes, I sound like a commercial) that I am working through the Beck Diet Solution. I pulled out my book to see if there's anything helpful I can give you on cravings.

One thing that I suppose I knew but didn’t ever think about was the difference between hunger, desires and cravings. I am finding that I can deal better with cravings now that I can quickly identify that is what it is. Here’s from the book:

• You hadn’t eaten for many hours and really felt ravenous. That empty sensation in your stomach, often accompanies by stomach rumblings, was hunger.
• You ate a big meal and yet you still wanted to continue to eat more. That was a desire.
• You had a very strong urge to eat, which was accompanied by a feeling of tension and an unpleasant yearning sensation in your mouth, throat or body. That was a craving.

In another chapter, she talks about how to deal with cravings. I’m going to list a few examples.

Mindset Techniques:

1. Label it as a craving.
2. Stand firm. You’re absolutely not going to eat the food you’re craving
3. Don’t give yourself a choice. Once you can tell yourself with total conviction, NO CHOICE, and do something else, the craving will diminish.
4. Imagine the aftermath of giving in. Is giving in to the craving worth feeling guilty or beating yourself up later?
5. Remind yourself why you want to learn to withstand cravings. I have a list of reasons that I want to lose weight and I read them at least twice a day (Beck calls them my Advantage Response Cards)

Behavioral Techniques

1. Distance yourself from the food you crave (especially if you can see or smell it).
2. Drink a no- or low-calorie beverage.
3. Relax. Breathing techniques, etc.
4. Distract yourself. Focus your attention somewhere else. Some examples they give: brush your teeth, polish your nails, walk the dog, play with your child, exercise, do a craft project, etc.

I don’t know if you’ll find any of this useful. These have helped me a lot along with the other knowledge I’ve gotten from the book.

I haven't been all that motivated to exercise lately but I'm keeping with it. My Zumba class was canceled last night because the schools were closed due to ice. In the past I would have used that as an excuse to not exercise, but I went home and did a 50 minute DVD (the same amount of time my class would have been). Both yesterday and today I didn't feel like my morning workouts either, but I did them anyway. Granted they were easier workouts but workouts none the less.

This past weekend I did some Tae Bo videos that I got for a buck a piece (VHS's) at the Dollar store a few years ago. My arms and thighs are still sore today from my workout on Sunday. Maybe that's why I've been lagging. (along with the cold weather funk!) I noticed that the 25 minute Tae Bo workout got my heart pumping faster than my 45 - 50 minute workouts. I'll have to keep with it. My eating and water have been pretty good lately as well.

Take care and have a GREAT day everyone!

I just wanted to let ya all know that we won this week...it was really close between us and the black team... 0.43 and 0.42! WTG ladies~

I'm quoting you on this in the BLack Team thread. It's really helpful!

QOTD: I would make it so there is only one freebie, and people are removed as soon as a second miss occurs (though if they seem to be a regular participant, and e-mail an excuse or something, exceptions could be made). I don't like that people take freebies instead of posting a gain - I'd rather see freebies used only when something goes wrong and you just can't get to your computer. Gains or not, we all support each other.

I also think the calculation of weight lost should only be for those who weighed in. It doesn't really make sense to include those who didn't weigh in that week.

Finally, I agree with DK that I would love to see more mini-challenges like the ones Melissa gives us to do while watching TBL. What if these were forum-wide challenges, and the team that had the most participants got to add an extra pound to their weight loss for the week? If the challenges were for 24 hours only or something, it might make more people log in and participate to help their team. Right now, I feel like chat could be seen by a lot of people as an extra activity rather than part of the whole TBL challenge.

Karen, that description of hunger vs desire vs cravings was really interesting! I'm going to start trying to classify them for myself, and I think it will really help.

just popping in to say hi today to all my fellow red team members & Diva ;)

I am back to work today but still have little to no voice. Thankfully we do correspondences via e-mail with our branch reps so I am doing that today. Everyone here seems to be sick, we had 3 call in on my team of 18 and 3 more of us should not be here.

I am down another pound today! I think I can safely say I have passed my 245 buffer!

Karen - You are awesome...thank you! I am going to try this technique. I have noticed a pattern of afternoon snacking so I am going to try and plan some sort of activity (maybe cleaning out a closet or something) for when the craving/desire hits.

Tina - I know exactly how you feel. The exercise is much more natural for me than the eating. I have to work really hard to keep it in check. It is hard when you have kids and they want all the bad stuff. One of my main motivations is my children. I want to teach them to eat right. I think it is going pretty good. The other day they were begging for salad for dinner.....SCORE!!!!

Andi18 - Congrats on the bumper number!!! I am only 2.4 lbs away from mine. I cannot wait to hit it. I bet it is a great feeling.

Good Afternoon Red team...flying by the seat of my pants again! I've got to run over to the school to help the treasurer out with some stuff. Poor thing has to deal with both her own personal account and the PTA. Come to find out one of the teachers wallets was stolen yesterday and another teachers this morning. What the heck is going on!!!?

I dont usually go to the gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays but Muse has lite a fire in me! I went and had planned to run for an hour doing 1.5 running 3.5 walking. Well I only wore 1 sportsbra thinking it would be sufficient...lemme tell ya...NO! My poor girls! I was gonna just run and hold them with my hands but I cant imagine how that would look LOL! So I did do 30 minutes of the walk/run and I'm gonna do another 30 on the elliptical tonight during the show. I also walked to the park and ride lot instead of riding the bus! I just dont know what has come over me!! LOL!

I read through posts and there is so much I wanna say but no time at the moment so I'm gonna have to come back!

Way to go team on the win!! So close between Black and us just means we gotta pick it up next week! And a HUGE WAY TO GO to Karen for being the team BL!! Excellent job everyone!!

Okay off to issue a BL challenge then to the school, have a wonderful afternoon!

Watch the show challenge for this week!:

1) workout of your choice during the show

and/or

2) 1-commercial break holding chair pose as long as you can. Rest and hold it again! do it as many times as you can for a whole commercial break! AND 1-commerical break holding plank pose for as long as you can. Rest and hold it again! Try to do that for a whole commercial break! AND (thought you were done huh?) 1-commercial break, shoulder press either with a light weight or without. (hold your arms out to your sides either holding a weight or pretending to, press your arms up over your head and back down. slow up-breathe out, slow down-breathe in)

Good luck!!