The following people need to PM me their cabana boys for last week!

* Nori
* Maria
* Elizabeth
* Dee
* Dora

:congrat: ladies!

*cry*
No cabana boy this week, so who is going to mix my drinks, shake out my towel, and feed me grapes? Drat!

Happy Monday!

Sonja - You and I have the same thoughts about being a vampire. I always thought "Oh it'd be cool... hrm. I think I'll wait until I'm down to a slimmer size before searching out Lestat..." ;) :lol:

When I reach my goal...

I will shamelessly go shopping for an entirely new wardrobe. In fact, this process may take days on end of trying on everything in a store... in many, many stores.

Chellez - I'm actually going to be trying for my first cabana boy this week. (I think I can, I think I can...) The miles seem manageable. We also have that Bi-monthly 3FC 5K to run (or walk or bike) this coming weekend.

Well, how many calories will you burn by mixing your own drinks, shaking out your own towel and feeding yourself some grapes?:DJust looking for the silver lining.

OK, so you have a point, Miss Optimistic. But who will be my EYE CANDY! Huh? Huh? That's pretty essential, you know!

I am so jealous, but with work, kid, soccer, parents, life ... :lol: I just couldn't get the extra 100. I just got some shoes this week :( Next week though I will make it, I am already 1/3 of the way there :woohoo:

SoulBliss - Thanks for your thought of the day! It really is something to think about. Are you leaving thoughts for all the teams? Or just the amazing Blues? :cheer3:

To all you ladies out their like me who didn't get a "New" cabana boy, just lett ing you all and Chelle know, that I'm not giving up the ones I have, I earned them, I'm keeping them. I have decided that I want a harem (can they be called that if they are men and not women?) of cabana boys by the end of the challenge.

Also, I want at least 10 days of 5Ks by the end of the month. I CAN DO IT!

It's cowboy week on my beach, so if that does it for ya, you can borrow mine. I'm going with themed weeks. Week 1 was Military (the character Bruno Dylan plays was a Army Ranger), Week 2 was Sci-Fi (Torchwood character), and this week's choice is Eric Close (playing Vin Tanner on The Magnificent Seven).

You are all too funny with your cabana boys :p I'm going to try for my first one this week! I haven't so much as earned a sparkling drink on the beach for the past 2 weeks. This exercise thing is kickin' my butt (but in a good way)! But since this week's challenge is lower, I'm going for the gold, baby!

Speaking of which, I just finished a salad, and I think I'm going to go head out for a walk if it isn't raining. If it is raining, then maybe I'll head to the mall to walk.

Maybe I won't completely give up on the exercise challenge. I probably can do this weeks. I need to get my butt in gear anyways.

I just got back from the gym. I am doing so good with my workout. The only thing is that I was bad with eating this weekend and my weight shows it. I'm very upset with myself but I know I can hit ONEderland this week if I try hard enough.


Cabana boy???????????!!!!!!!!! I don't know who I would pick if I got to. Probably Leland Chapman. I think he's sexy. Alittle too skinny for me but still sexy.

Okay, I'm a freak. When Chellez posted the beach this week, I was like "Oh, that's only an hour a day for a cabana boy". (412/7 = 58) I was dissapointed that it wasn't further where I had to really push myself.

QOTD--Buy new clothes and wear my smaller clothes in my closet. I really care about my appearance but you wouldn't know it to look at me now. When I feel better about myself then it shows.

Chellez--I did give up on the Beach Hopping last week. To the point I went in and deleted my post. But this week I am on it. I'm going to the gym 3x this week and I will be doing my 3FC 5K this weekend. I might need to count my cleaning yesterday and planned cleaning today to get my cabana boy. We will see. I want to only include that if needed.

Kelly--BF doesn't care what I weigh. He does compliment me all of the time. He likes his women with some meat on them. When I weighed 150 he said I was skinny. I think it was more about he met me when I was at my heaviest (278) so it was weird to see me that small. I'm still considered obese at 150. I believe 149 gets me to overweight. I might be happy with 150. We shall see. I'm happy to hear that you decided to give DH a gentle nudge.

My anti-gun, pro-animal stance goes right out the window when cats crap in the kid's sandbox.

Just out of curiosity, I counted all the people with 3 badges on all of the teams. We have 11, Red Team has 11, and the Black Team has 14. Like I said, I was just curious.

I'm sitting here trying to figure out what days off work I want to take this week while my family is in town, and I find myself planning in my exercise. For example I could come into work at 730 instead of 830, but that doesn't give me enough time to do an hour walk in the morning before work. (the track opens at 6am) I'd rather work an extra hour in the afternoon than miss out on my walk. I find that I realy need that "me" time in the morning, saying I'll work out when I get home doesn't get it done.

Remember... its percentage of badges for the entire team... not necessarily who has badges for every week. ;)

I know, I was just curious, cause I'm weird like that. :D

I'm going for a a cabana boy too! DH may wonder what I am doing when I start scouring the internet for an extra hot hottie. Y'all will vouch for me, right?! :)

Dee - I'm the same way with the exercise. If I don't get it done by lunch, then I'm just not likely to do it afterwork. I always have the best of intentions those days, but just rarely find the time for the follow-through.

It was almost 90 degrees already by 11 am, so I opted for a little one on one time with the elliptical machine. Sure is hard to turn the page on my book with the arm things going back and forth though. ;) I call that my "core stabilization" exercise bonus!

QOTD: I have no idea - maybe a spa day or something. I have never had a pedicure or anything like that. Everyone tells me that I would love it, maybe I'll see if they are right. ;)

I have a QOTD in addition to Kelly's just cause I'm curious about something.

Do you feel like you "let your appearance go" when you gained weight?

Like for instance when I was thin I would have my hair colored and looking good all the time. Now that I'm overweight, I let my hair grow long, I go a year or more before I dye or high light it (yea I have the roots showing 24/7), I normally keep my hair tied back.... etc etc.

I'm just trying to gather if this is a link that most of us share cause I always hear every challenge someone wanting to have a day at the salon or a spa day.

Discuss. ;)

QOTD--I am going to buy clothes to match all of my cute shoes and purses (what I usually buy now when I get frustrated shopping for clothes!)

chellez--YEP, I gave up on last week's challenge. Wayyyy tooooooo much stress at work to try to fit in exercise too. The kind of stress that just sucks every ounce of energy out of you. Not a good excuse, never was, BUT I feel much better about life in general today! Thanks for the pep talk!!!! I will be at the gym as soon as work ends. I have a nice healthy dinner planned. I also plan to get a decent amount of sleep tonight, which ALWAYS helps!

Dee--I'm w/ you...my time at the gym is 'me time'. I get really annoyed when people try to be chatty w/ me. I don't want to be rude, but I spend all day being nice to people. I need some time to unwind and let's face it, I can only be nice for so long in any given day and I try to save some of that nice time for dh!

Yes, I have totally let myself go. However, I'm not really sure if it's because I gained weight or because I started working from home. A lot of times, I work in my PJ's and don't even get a shower until the evening. I never wear make-up anymore, never wear my contacts, don't polish my nails, don't style my hair.....I don't do any girly things anymore. I miss being girly. I really need a job outside of the home.

Chelle--I am the opposite.

I did a lot less when I was thinner because I felt the hot bod was enough. Now that I don't have that to carry me, I wear make up everyday.

YES!!! I used to get my hair cut, hilighted, etc. much more often. Now I go months between appts. I used to make sure my hair and makeup were well done, now, well....as long as I give myself enough time to take a shower, slap some make up on and pull my hair back, I'm good to go!

I do find that when I am "in my groove" and eating healthier, exercising regularly, etc I take more time w/ my appearance.

If we ever had a Blue Team meet up I would paint your nails for you.

Its funny because I never do things like that for myself.... take for instance I have a gazillion different things from Bath and Body Works and I know what they all do concerning hands feet nails and skin, but I definitely don't take the time to do that for myself. However I'm more than willing to give all my friends and my hubby mani's and pedi's. I've been known to give one **** of a hand and foot massage. ;)

I've never been thin, so I guess I don't have much input. I've been over 200 pounds since before I even entered high school.

That said, I really don't see myself doing anything differently appearance-wise as I get thinner. I hate doing my hair--I'm a wash-and-wear kinda girl. I wear makeup only for special occasions, maybe 5 times a year, if that. I've gotten exactly 2 manicures and pedicures in my life, and only because I was going with others, not really by choice. I played with hair color in middle school a bit and again in college, but never since. I've never had ANYthing waxed. My skin is practically paper white year-round, unless I have a sunburn, in which case it goes from red to pink back to white--no stops at tan anywhere in between. I get my hair cut maybe once or twice a year when the mood strikes. I've never had a massage.

I guess the only things I DO do to aid my appearance is eat healthy, exercise, and drink lots of water! :dizzy:

Oooh, but I did just paint my toenails yesterday (for the first time in probably about a year) :D

QOTD: Do you feel like you "let your appearance go" when you gained weight?

Yes, I did. In fact, last year my friend and I met after so many years and she was shocked to see how much I've let myself go. For me shopping became a disappointment/chore and I just didn't want to keep buying new clothes to match my expanding figure :( I just lost interest in shopping for clothes and other girlie stuff. I wear sweats, t-shirts, yoga pants, PJs, shorts at home or outside unless a situation requires me to wear something better. Otherwise I'm either in Jeans/T Shirt or Track pants/T shirt. Well, to be honest, I don't feel like "dressing up" cuz I don't feel good inside or outside. I just have enough basic clothes to wear to work as I have to dress business casual. Now I wake up in the morning, take a quick shower, get dressed, tie my hair and leave for work. I never wore much make-up from the beginning except eyeliner and lipstick which I still do as I don't go anywhere without my eyeliner. :)

As for pedi and mani, never had a pedi...and I think I've had mani like 2 or 3 times in my life. I don't like long nails. Hair I get it cut couple times a year and I don't like fussing too much with my hair. I don't have the patience for it. I like low maintainance hairdo hence I get it done in layers. I wash and let it air dry. So that's not going to change once I lose the weight :D

I dunno... this is hard because I've been overweight my entire life. I will say that I went through a phase in middle school where I wore eyeliner every day. Maybe because I just wanted to fit in :lol:

On the other hand, as I'm losing weight, I do feel like I care more about how I look now. I take a little more time to check my appearance. I'm feeling girlier now more than ever.

Being larger than average always had me feeling as though I didn't have a right to feel girly. I used to be embarrassed to be girlier... maybe I felt it would draw more attention to my size. (Like a flannel over a baggy t-shirt did so much to hide me...)

Now... now I think I feel excited to "try out" the newer me the closer to goal I get.

When I reach my goal hubby and I are going to go somewhere tropical for vacation. He has already promised me we can go wherever I want to go just has to be somewhere that I have to wear a bathing suit ;)

My Dh is very sweet and even though he loves me just for me no matter what weight he also knows that it really bothers me so he tries to be supportive and compliments me quite a bit. I'm a lucky girl. :D I do know that some guys are just not really sensitive about stuff like that. :hug: Kelly

Oh yes! I'm the queen of letting my appearance go. I don't do my hair and wait forever to get it cut too. I can't remember the last time that I painted my nails and rarely put makeup on. When I don't feel good about myself then it shows in my appearance. I kind of have that "why bother" attitude. I'm really working on that though. The more I lose the better I feel and the more I try to treat myself and make an effort. :)

Do you feel like you "let your appearance go" when you gained weight?

Yes I did. But I have never been high maintance. Now that I lost a little weight I would like to have my hair done with someone who will take the time to tell me what would go good with my face.

Self-love is the only weight loss aid that really works in the long run.

--Jenny Craig

I have totally let my appearance go. The pic in my avatar was a pic I took of myself one day because I "felt" pretty. I don't do anything for myself.....ever. I own only one bra that is tearing at the seams from wearing it so much and because I'm slowly losing weight, my undies slide off. I used to get my toenails done, always had my fingernails done, my hair done, and always make up on my face (I have never worn much but it does make me look prettier). I know it has to do with my weight. I feel ugly so I won't do any of it (besides the fact that I don't have the time between 4 kids). I would love to be girly again. I don't even own ANYTHING that is girly.

:yes: I only own one victoria secrets bra and I wear it daily (after washings of course. )

So, I've been thinking about this some more and I had a semi-aha moment. Could my letting myself go have anything to do with the relationship between Hubby and I turning to "best buds" and no longer "hot tamales?" I've always blamed the big surgery and my hormone therapy...followed by the weight gain. Hmmmm. The frumpy housewife look just isn't working for him....or, me either! ;)

Two kids have made a change for me. I can't have my nails done because I use my hands in different ways now. Being a full-time writer and being a full-time certainly changed my hands!

My toes always were hit or miss.

Hi guys...I know I've been MIA for awhile but I have an update. My BIL had his craniotomy today and and the doctors are optimistic that he will have a good outcome. He may have some short term memory loss and vision problems, but other than that they hopeful that he will make a complete recovery. I swear this has been such a rollercoaster and I'm ready to get off!:dizzy:

I am so ready to get back to my normal 3FC life and get back on board with you ladies. I'm happy to report I didn't gain any weight this week and I at least maintained my current weight. Big accomplishment since I've eaten almost all my meals out for the past few weeks.

I'll try to get back on later, but I just wanted to pop in and let you know where I'm at. I miss you all and I hope you are doing well. :hug: Lisa

Lisa - So glad there's some good news! :grouphug: Continuing to send good thoughts your family's way!

Holy cow!!!! We're on page 6 of thread 5? Sheesh, I check out for the weekend and y'all get even chattier!

Gotta go catch up!

:grouphug: everyone!

For me the answer is yes and no. I do dress differently due to my increased weight, but I really started letting myself go when I had DD. I can still barely summon the energy to get up 30 minutes earlier, etc to make the effort. I used to be one of those girls (no matter my size) who always did her makeup and hair and in my thinner days I was a pretty sassy dresser. Now I only do my hair and makeup on special occassions and I wear nothing but solid colors, usually dark pants with a red/pinkish shirt. Still, for me, I think it has more to do with motherhood than my weight...

I actually picked the spa treat because its just not something I would normally spend money on. We're very lucky as we manage usually one or two great vacations every year - in fact I just made my final payment on our August cruise today. :carrot: I don't mind dropping money on frivilous things when I'm on vacation, but in my day to day life, I am very frugal. (Hey, it helps to pay for those fabulous holidays!)

No, everything is exactly the same, I'm just bigger and my clothes are less hip in general.