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.

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

Yep! But I some how managed to convince people that I couldn't care less about what I looked like, as there are more important things in life. Now I realize I was thinking deep down ‘what’s the point polishing a piece of s**t’. Now that I am smaller and on my way to my weight loss goal I have started looking at shoes and clothes and thinking ‘That’s cute!’ which isn’t something I ever did before. When I was only able to look at two racks of jeans, the ‘large sizes rack’ I hated the idea of shopping. I even bought makeup which was something I didn’t use for years and years. Now I can see I have cheek bones so I like to highlight them now!

Ekkk I am excited! I am going to the gym tonight. I haven’t been since before Christmas. I couldn’t afford the subscription for a couple months, so we stopped going. I kept exercising at home and running and biking; But I really work harder when I have an instructor at the front of the class telling me that I have to keep going. Also waiting for my Boyfriend to finish playing Racquet ball, means I will jump on various machines adding another 30 mins or so to my workout.

Wow, this brought back memories. I did a traverse (zip-line etc.) course on an island when I went on a cruise 2 years ago, and I was miserable. I was scared and exhausted the whole way. The point of it was to see the beautiful forest, and all I could look at was the rope in front of me. I just didn't feel strong enough, and way to heavy. At the time I said I would not do it again unless I got to a MUCH better strength/weight ratio. Hmmm.... interesting, but when I get close to goal it might be fun - sorta to prove to myself that I can enjoy it.

OK, I've been reading all day, but finally have time to respond.
I don't have anything in particular in mind...but the first thing that came to my head was a nice vacation also.

No, gotta say that my DH is following along very enthusiastically in my journey. He makes comments all the time thinks I can wear things that I wouldn't be caught dead in! (Too revealing/sexy for my taste - probably even when I get fit?) I know he doesn't love me any more as my body changes, but I do think he likes what he sees better as I get smaller and more toned. He works hard to be fit and healthy so he knows what it takes to do what I'm doing. And appreciates it.
No. But then again, I've never been what you might call a high maintenance gal. I like to look fresh and I like to smell good. I keep my hair foiled - with very natural sun-kissed highlights over my very ordinary medium-brown hair. When I comes to clothes, as I got bigger I was "forced" to buy clothes for the fit rather than really diggin' them. I always have had a couple outfits that I feel good in and those get worn out and then I regret that I didn't buy 2 of them because I cannot find that certain shirt or cut of pants again.

I can tell you felt pretty that day - it's coming through your eyes and smile! You are pretty!

I am a foot fanatic. Sucks that I have a toenail fungus.:mad: BTW - what ever happened to your toenail after the day that Will learned some bad words?

That's great news, Lisa!

Well, it's a busy Monday...bbl once I'm home!

I did not do the zip lining when we went own our cruise. I hate heights. But I did do cave tubing in the Jungles of Belize and snorkling in Grand Caymans. 2 things I never thought I would do and loved them. Can't wait till I can go again.

Ooohhhh...... Cave tubing? That sounds too fabulous.

You know, now that I think about it, I'm probably going to have to re-certify for my scuba because all my boyancy weight calcs are based on a much more boyant me... hmm... maybe I'll even get to the point where I don't dread the wetsuit.

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

Somewhat. Definitely on weekends, but during the week I have to maintain a somewhat professional appearance (in this office makeup is required, or at least it seems that way). For me, painted toenails are not negotiatable in Florida. I only own open toe shoes and my running shoes. I can't wear running shoes to work, therefore my toes must be painted. Actually I didn't repaint them this weekend, so I have naked toes today. It's weird looking to me now. I will repaint them tonight, blue, in honor of our blue team! Now that I'm to the almost halfway point I find that I do care more.

Other QOTD:

When I get to my goal weight/size, I'm going to either run a 1/2 marathon, or hike the Appalachian Trail. Whichever I can convince someone to do with me.

:hug: Lisa!! I have missed you!


Have you tried Vick's Vap-O-Rub on the fungus? I have a friend who swears by it.

It is still really purple, but it is growing, so I am taking it as a good sign. I LOVE IT when people tell me stories about how theirs took a month or two to fall off.

Snorkling in the Caymans....let me tell you a story. I was 30 weeks pregnant when we did that. Pregnancy makes one VERY bouyant. So does salt water. I COULD NOT get underwater. DH would come up and say, "Come check this out!" And I would swim my little heart out and get about three feet down. It was exhausting. Then we had to swim back to the shore. OMG. I was exhausted, plus I was so bouyant that I could not swim against the tide to get close enough to ride the tide in. I just kept floating back out. We almost made the excursion late getting back to the ship.

I went to be at six that night, and I did not get up until 9 AM.

LOL at preggo snorkeling! Wow! I understand and am impressed that you even tried at 30 weeks!

I hate having to sleep on vacations! I guess we're the get-up-and-go type rather than sitting around relaxing. On that note, I will now pm you Chelle with my new cabana boy: Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

I am in for a leg of the AT. I won't be able to do it all b/c of my parenting duties (heh heh, I said "duty"), but I can certainly do a leg of it for 3-4 days.

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

Yes..to a certain degree. I just kind of got into the mode of " I feel ugly, I look ugly, so who cares??" Some women are still able to look great even being bigger...that wasn't me at all! I also started gaining weight after having kids, and I just didn't have as much time to spend on myself as I used to. Now that I am losing the weight, and working again, I really look forward to having a greater variety of clothes to choose from by fitting in regular sizes again.

Went to see the new Narnia movie this afternoon.....Victoria Day weekend here in Canada. I had too much popcorn, so I just had a little dinner.
Chellez...I am guilty of not recording my exercise minutes this week...and now I can't remember what I did!! It wasn't very significant anyway.
This week, my plan is to start enjoying the warmer weather more with a bike ride or C25K every afternoon after work...plus my workout with Bob and Jillian every morning!
Time to go weigh-in!