Francie, have you seen "Shimmy" on Fit TV? It's a belly dancing exercise program. I haven't given it a try yet, but you might be interested.

What has really changed for you in the first week of the challenge or for some of us, being back "on plan" for a week?
Feeling in control has really been great for me. Before it was like, o well, if I eat this it doesn't matter that much. But now that I have to be accountable to a team, I stop and think before I eat it. Also, seeing the scale move down again is a wonderful thing!!

Rene, YAY for the 2 lb loss!

Karmuz, hooray for the 1 lb gone!

Shay, aren't the Farmers Markets great? Ours doesn't open til next month and I can't wait to go get the veggies and berries. We also have an open air little fruit and veggie stand that has locally grown veggies and fruits and we get some really good deals there. Everything taste so much better than the stuff at stores.

Lisa, great news on the 7.8lb loss!

tkglenn, sorry to hear about your furbaby. They're like our children and it's hard to lose one. If you're working out alot and your body isn't used to it, your body might be holding on to water to heal the muscles. Give it time, it'll come off.

Jennifer, congrats on the 1.5 lbs gone

Nori, I'm in Washington state too!

I had a 1lb loss this week and am pretty happy with it since it's been weeks since I've seen a downward move on the scales.
Congrats to all the losers and for those who didn't, I send :hug: your way!
Debbie

Ours is cheap, but for good reason. It is a small space, no windows, TV blaring...exactly the kind of experience that Meara cannot stand. In addition, there are moms who leave instructions for their infants to cry (it is a room for all ages), and that really upsets Will. He cannot understand how a mother cannot stop her trip on the elliptical to come take care of a tiny baby.

That makes me :(

I wish the gym here had a day care room though. I am sure they could make a bundle.

-- Totally my story too. I tend to get lazy when trying to workout in the evening...also I feel the entire evening is gone by cuz you come home, exercise for 1 hour, cook, eat, clean, prep for next day... and before you know its time for bed. Although I do have to work out in the evening today cuz I didn't get my a** out of the bed this morning.

-- It looks nice and I've seen something similar to your mini elliptical at one of the sporting goods store...can't remember whether it was Dicks or Sports Authority or Modells...And I didn't feel too comfortable on it cuz I didn't have anything to hold on to. I was afraid I'll loose balance and fall. My hubby on the other hand didn't have any problems. So depends on you I guess. I would suggest maybe if you can going to one of these stores and see if they have it on display and try it out. Also find out the return policy of the store where you're buying it from. BTW have you tried craigslist website someone might be selling it used.

Hey chickies! I got the blue teams badges out of the way and the incentives are there too.

These people still need to make a post in the Badge Log Thread:

* Moon Fairy
* Velveteen
* tkglenn

I'd like to stay and chat, but I have a Business Law test to study for! :(

Honestly if you want an eliptical I would wait and save up for it. During that time you will go down in weight anyway. I would be so afraid of falling off that thing. I didn't even know they made elipticals without arms to hold onto.

Thanks Chellez :D, I just saw it and it looks great. Good Luck for your test.

Hi again!

Francie--That must have been so scary. Hope you are feeling better.

I was able to get LOTS accomplished today and that feels really good.

I have found that if I exercise right after work (I usually leave work and head right to the gym), I am good to go....if I try to do any errands on my way or if I go home first, forget it. It does stink getting home so much later that I would if I went straight home, but dh and I have a pretty good routine down and I try to get things ready for the next day as I am cooking dinner. I do try to get in a little cardio in the am before work, but that's just 'added bonus' exercise. I feel great the days I do that, but honestly there are some days I just can't peel myself out of bed early enough to do it.

Bottem line, everyone has to find what works for them. I wold LOVE to get my whole workout done in the am, but I know that just isn't possible on the days I have to work.

Have a great afternoon/evening!

Yeah, that sounds like a gym I used to go to. I'm very happy with this one. There are tables and stations and I really like the "teacher" (as my girls call her) that is there in the mornings. It resembles a daycare vs. the old gym kid's room where it was always chaotic. Plus they are remodeling my gym and the new kids club will be even nicer.

:( That is sad.

It costs me 3.5 per hour per child at my gym. So, if I go with my 3 youngest kids for 2 hours it would cost me $21. Pretty rediculous if you ask me. So, needless to say I dont use the childminding there.

I haven't looked at your weigh in thread yet so...

As long as you've weighed in for Week 1 then you are fine for now. ;)

Francie :hug:. Hey, is there a way you could get even a PT job on base? How about at the NEX? Think of all the mags you could read then on your breaks and all the clothes you'd get to see cross your register!? Plus it would give you something to help pass the days - and when F is back you could cut back your hours or only work when he's working. I know our xchange is always looking for staff. I just think a job of some sort, or volunteering, would give you some interaction and outside contact. I know I start to freak out if I've been alone with my thoughts too long and I remember those deployments. I worked thru them but most of my girlfriends would leave town and go home when the dh's left, so I would be stuck all alone and the job helped with that.

Comcast bill just came today - 57.95 expanded and 43 internet with $10 of that going to the download BLAST! service So $104 with taxes, which would be $94 w/o the blast feature.

Jill, it's that commute that kills you. I think the avg commute is 20 min most places in the US, but our DC commutes are 2nd worse to NYC, according to a survey that the Washington Post just ran. Two hours is a ton of time in your day. I used to walk at lunch for like 45 minutes to try to make use of the valuable time I used to waste just sitting at my desk and reading anyway.

Hey all! My pants are looser today!! It's probably just time to wash them and tighten them up, but they weren't getting this loose after being worn b/w washes the last month, so this is good. Heck, they were reaching to the bottom of my bra this morning when I put them on. Too funny!

The only reason I have time to put in 80 min of exercise in a day is because I don't have a commute, I work from home, and I have no munchkins to take care of.

I am officially no longer a slacker! I got back on the treadmill today :carrot: and have therefore met one of my committments to myself for today. The other, staying OP, is lookin' good so far!

Oh, nice intro for an Anna rant.

The amount of fuel and time that is wasted in American because people are forced to work in an office is not only infuriating, it is just plain stupid. Combine all of that, and what you have is overt irresponsibility.

DH commutes 80-90 minutes a day. Part of that was our choice to live where we did to avoid property taxes. He gets one day of work-at-home. His WHOLE job could be done from our den, but they want him around "in case something goes wrong". He said he was willing to come ANYTIME. His boss is still not on board.