Good lord--I think I could spend my entire 8-hour workday reading this thread and still not catch up! And then there would be more posts added while I'm reading

New motivation: I want to have an amusement park wedding. We've been engaged for over a year now and still have not set a date. In the fall, we're going to go look at a few places where we're considering tying the knot. After that, we'll decide where and then when. So, we have well over a year before the big day--maybe fall 2009 or spring 2010. Currently, I'm too big for some rides (well, I assume I am--would never try at this point for fear of getting kicked off), so I need to get my butt in gear and get to a size where I'll be comfortable at an amusement park and maybe even in a (one-piece) swimsuit at a water park. I have plenty of time

So now we need to get this challenge started!!!

I'm never going to keep up with this thread -- y'all move quick!

Quick query -- anyone interested in working through Bob Harper's "Are You Ready?" as part of the Challenge? It looks great but I have a terrible time sticking with "emotional" stuff unless I have help.

Thanks,

Barb

Jill - An amusement park wedding sounds like so much fun! It took my fiancé & me a long time to finally settle on a date.

WOW, Vanetta - we were there at the same time - but I don't know what you look like? I came at 4:15 and left at 6:00. I always have my hair up in a ponytail, brown hair, glasses, blue eyes, metal purple water bottle. I was in a green tee shirt last night. I was on the StepMill for 20 minutes and then the elliptical against the classroom for 40 minutes.

What is this about? I am always interested in anything new, but I haven't heard anything about it.

Part of the reason that I quit my doula practice was people's reluctance to take responsibility for their own healthcare choices. Being informed and accepting your choices can be scary, but to put your life (or two lives) into the hands of a single person without your own information is crazy to me.

if we were looking at maintenance dilantin, I would be researching surgical options.

EEG and MRI are scheduled for the 29th at Riley. It also is my 8th anniversary and the 4th anniversary of my positive pregnancy test announcing Meara's impending arrival.

Shay, you should go on and try the other Jillian workouts. She only uses the step for a couple moves in one, and one move in the other, and you can just do it on the floor and modify that one move. Her workouts are super hard, but it only took me a couple weeks to get to where I could do them more comfortably. I rotate frontside, then backside, the cardio, etc. daily, giving myself one day off (on a cardio day) weekly...I have lost a bunch of inches with this, and am in a size 16 now while was in a 18 last time I was at this weight, so it really does pay off if you stick to it and put in that hard work. I actually like the jumping jacks with overhead presses now, and I could not do them at all when I first started, so give yourself time to build up and start with beginner versions at first...like she combines cardio moves with strength but at first I would just do the strength move, and within a week I was doing the full out moves as she does them.

Dixie--that is an adventurous challenge, but if you set your mind to it I know you can do it. maybe give yourself permission to take one day off now and then if you need it, but I realy believe it is realistic and you can do it.

ceegee--happy birthday to your little man

hello to everyone else, will try to come back later and finish reading all the new posts.

Possibly you are not eating enough calories? I have found that I need to increase my calories when I am working out hard daily, or I do not lose as much. Your body needs more to keep up with the workouts. You might raise to like 1700-1800, or mix it up doing 1600 one day, 1800, then 1700, etc. Your body could be used to the 1600 or it could need more with the activity level. I'm not a doctor, but might be worth a shot.

I've seen you all talk about the Jillian Michaels workout videos. I've been exercising (walking and eliptical) 5 days a week but would be interested in this too. Which one would you all recommend to start with?

I'm expecting it in the mail any day now so I'll make sure to give it a quick read so I can follow it.

Hi Big Losers!

I want to apologize for everyone for being such a downer lately. I was doing my "laying-in-bed-thinking-instead-of-going-to-sleep" thing last night and I had an a-ha moment. I'm depressed right now because of the cold/allergy medicine! I've been fighting this cold/allergy/sinusitis stuff for the last two weeks and have been taking medicine every day. Those medicines do this to me every time....they totally throw off my hormone therapy. I'm having hot flashes again, feel fatigued, being a cry baby and just grumpy as all heck. I should recognize the signs by now....I've been through this many times before. I really wish the Neti pot worked for me as I hate taking anything systemic. And, I really hate going to the doctor, but I think I'll have to break down and go get some type of non-steroidal nasal spray to get this stuff under control. The chicken soup and hot tea aren't doing much.

Shay - You have a really cool job! I can see why you love it. My job pays well and I get to work from home, but it's not particularly rewarding or enjoyable.
Anna - I can totally see you as a doula. Glad to hear that Meara hasn't had anymore episodes.
Kellyand Purple - I'm taking your suggestion and changing my official weigh-in day. I'm debating between Wednesday or Thursday. Monday just doesn't work well for me.
Jill - An amusement park wedding sounds really cool. What would you wear? Will you get married on a roller coaster...or, maybe the carousel?

To everyone I've not addressed personally, I've read your posts and enjoyed catching up with you.

Hope everyone is having a great on-plan day.

im a newbee can i be in just beachy?

Wow Nori, We were there last night at the same time. My workout partner and I got there around 4:00 and left around 6:00 (I had to log onto work by 7:00)...we were on the stationary bikes (not the recumbent) for 45 min., then we did the little circuit over where the trainers are, and then a few more leg and ab machines on the main floor. I was the one in the KeyWest t-shirt. Very Small World !


Well said Purple !


OK, I'm not caught up on the thread...but I wanted to pop in and say "Hey". Sounds like Ali really pushed a button for some, me included. I'ts lunch time here, so I must be off.......................................

Later ~

Wow cant keep up. I am excited about some new challenges. and it looks like you girls are prepared for it! As a newbie I am wondering what to expect!

GirlyGirl, I'm glad you figured out what's been getting you down lately. I never woul dhave made the connection to a cold-type medicine. Excellent detective work!

I'm currently leaning toward Cedar Point in Ohio, which is on Lake Erie. I'm hoping to find a cute lakeside site for a quick ceremony, then off to the park for photos and food at a private picnic area. I'll wear a dress (not a huge elaborate gown, but a nice white dress) for the ceremony and photos, then change into something else for rides. I know if you stay at one of their resorts, you can actually get into the park an hour before it is open to the public, so I think we may end up doing some photos before the actual ceremony so there won't be many people there (or, heck, do the ceremony at sunrise at the lake--that could be gorgeous and would still get us to the park way early). I am having visions of a fabulous black-and-white carousel photo