QOTD: My goals are to try my best EVERY day, to be consistent, to never give up, and to make the changes in my eating STICK! Exercise 6 days a week, stay OP with my food, and of course, lose as much weight as possible!

Hope you all have a great day!

My goal is to beat Heather and Chelle to Onederland!! Seriously I would like to be to 180 by the end of this challenge, but I don't think that is realistic. If I can lose 15-20 during this challenge I will be thrilled! 20-30 I will be exstatic!

All the more reason for me to let someone else make it and me eat it.

You're on!

ohhhh we all did start around the same weight. Bring it lady! Any others starting around the 210 range?

Morning, morning,

Just catching up --

My name is Barb and I'm a nearly 44 yo mother of two (11 and 8 yo girls), wife of 22 years to my NSDH Donald, and an engineer of 18 years (but my secret identity is fantasy/romance writer). This is my third challenge -- I think I did well in the first one but dropped out in the second.

First QOTD: on plan for me is eating on plan (<1500 cal/day) and working out twice a day. By late February, I want to be on Dr. Huizenga's WOWRx plan but I need to work my way up to that.

Second QOTD: I want to participate fully in this Challenge, make a few friends, and lose 30-40 lbs.

Hey, bjeweled & StacyLynn! I hadn't realized there were so many folks from St Louis here!

Barb

Wow I need to catch up on my reading

Hi everybody-my goals for this challenge are

to exercise everyday
to visit 3FC more
stay OP-don't give in, you are worth the effort
eat to live not live to eat

fauxtini, i agree the fishing village near Lunenberg was beautiful (i think it's an artist colony of sorts. i have some great pictures too)

Zumba is a latin cardio workout. I've only taken classes at one particular studio (two different teachers) so that's been my only experience. Each song is about 3 minutes long and a different "dance" is done for each song (currently we're doing salsa, meringue, hip hop, cha cha, cumbia, bellydance, abs and arms focus, etc). It's high energy and can be high impact. There's a lot of hip action and twisty knees/abs action. I have to be cautious with the twisty knee moments but it's all good. The music is loud! My class is all women. I love it because I love dancey choreography (as it engages my mind). Some dances I just concentrate on the feet/hip action and add in the arms when I'm confident with the feet. I've been going for about 2 months now and she changes up the choreography a little bit each month (approx 3 new songs/new choreo). It reminds me of my club days. I haven't been to a club in years (I'm 48).

I know you're running so I think you'd definitely have the aerobic ability to check out a class. Hang in the back but position yourself so you can see the instructor...or find a class participant that looks like they know what they're doing. Try a class in the late morning if you can - the classes might be a little less crowded.

Congrats on being able to work! Best of luck finding a job you like!!

QOTD:My goals for the challenge are:
1. Lose at least 20 lbs
2. Exercise at least 3 times a week
3. Stay OP for 30 days straight!

Wow! If the challenge was who is the chattiest team I think we would have this thing covered!

My name is Angela, I'm in the UK and this is my proper Biggest Loser challenge. Had a good OP day and am just about to go find something yummy for a healthy dinner.

My goals for the challenge are to lose at least 15 pounds and to complete 30 days straight of 30 day shread even if it kills me (which I expect it will do!!).

wrdfrog – I think it's great that so many in the blue team does yoga! I've been doing yoga on and off for 8 years. One of my dreams have been to train yoga more seriously. In august last year I signed up for an ashtanga class. I went once every week. I'll continue at the same place this year, my intensive advaned course starts tomorrow. Maybe we can have a special Blue yoga thread where we encourage each other and discuss all things yoga? Did you know Bob Harper came out with a yoga DVD recently? I haven't tried it but if someone has – did you like it?

And wrdfrog – I'm a th้ nut too. My favourite right now is peppermint th้. YUM!

fauxtini – congratulation on the work visa!

angeline – zumba sounds so fun. I do african dance and I always come out of the class with a big smile on my face. Something about the movements and the music makes me happy.

What are your goals for this challenge?
TO BECOME THE BIGGEST LOSER OF COURSE!
I want to lose weight, my first goal is 132 lbs but I'm secretly hoping for 125 lbs. I'll take whatever I can get. I really want to make exercise a habit again.

Am I the only one who can't wait for BL to start tomorrow? I was very disappointed in the past season but I've seen the previews and this one looks good.

Sophia Augusta

Hi everybody! I'm Selina, wife to Bryan for 12 years and mother of 3, 7yrs, 3 yrs, and 4 months old. (Feels so funny writing all this when I feel like I know most of you already but I do know there are always many new people so just want to say hello to everyone the right way. )

I very much enjoy these challenges and am so grateful to be in this one! I am a person who KNOWS beyond a shadow of any doubt that I know how to lose weight. I've done it sooo many times. The problem for me is that every time I get under 200 lbs. I get all weirded out and am not truly comfortable until I'm back over 200. I'm still figuring out the reasons for that. So far I have read enough from people to believe some has to do with unwanted attention, some has to do with how other women change behaviors and usually not for the better once you are smaller and by growing up heavy I never had to deal with that "skeeviness" someone wrote on here in the support forum (what is skeeviness?).

They said -We 'fat' friends were never a threat to people so we were welcome everywhere and at any time with anyone. Once we become 'normal' and look amazing (as we all do after working out so hard for a year to lose weight. ) that these same people begin to question everything we all are to each other. (Not all my friends or ppl I know are like that. The ones who are great, are always great, thru fat and thin. So glad to have them.)

I'm not sure I am willing to go there. I mean, come on. Is it always this way for women who are 'normal' size?? If so, then it's sad and I wish there was something that could be done about it. Probably stopping the sale of all magazines with airbrushed ppl on front, and movies where people had hours of makeup and tricks used to create a gorgeous creature that doesn't exist in real life... then, maybe then would women stop acting as if someone who looks a bit better then they do that day is out to get their bf, spouse, buddy, brother and all those in between. Someone wrote on the thread here titled 'unwanted attention' that we could choose to not wear makeup, tight clothes, etc. once we lose weight and we wouldn't get groped?? OMG, is that how we should live? I'm not sure I'm willing to do that either. Why shouldn't I be able to create my own look, the look I've had for 20 years (since about 15 yrs old) and everyone still treat me the same way?? I have to figure all this out. I see the shallow halves of people as I lose. I've done it several times (gained and lost so I have plenty of experience observing them all) and even some of my relatives have done it. The better I look, the more I'm worth??

Well, I don't believe that way and let me tell you. I also can see that people who complain that I am too heavy are also the ones who complain that I'm on my treadmill too much and will hurt my knees and should rest. They are the ones who tell me that Oh this one day, this meal, this week won't matter on your diet. But every single day matters. Those people don't want you to succeed, and they reveled when you were at your worst.

Stay away from them if at all possible. Listen to key words they use. They will hold you back. I've let it happen to me. I'm trying my best to go forward now for my kids' sake. They love exercising so we are going to do it together. They don't know about all these struggles I have. And I have never once told them I want to lose weight. Always that I want to be more healthy. That's it. And until I figure all this out, I will try my best to get near 200 and stay there.

I hope that wasn't too much of a rant. If so, I apologize. Thank you if you read it all. I just saw how long it is.

On a happier note, I am ecstatic about this challenge. My clothes will fit again when it's over and lots of shallow people will want to hang out. Well the clothes part is great, but sad to say my calendar will be full on the days they call. The less of The Shallows I see the better!!!!!!

Let's have a great 2009!!!!!!!

Hugs, Selina

fauxtini - congrats on your work visa!

mary - happy birthday!

angeline - I've always wanted to try zumba but I am such a clutz I would probably break my ankle!

Sophia - I am also excited for the new season to start tomorrow. unfortunately I am going to have to tape it since I will be at boot camp

There are more that I need to do personals for, but I need to restart my computer (at work) so this is all you are getting for now!! hahaha

I'm sure you would feel better if you knew first. You have to go in super well hydrated, the place I go to is literally like being inside a sauna. I drink a lot a few hours before I go so I can get rid of it before class.

River - what do you think are the advantages of hot yoga compared with regular yoga?

Selina, you have no idea how much I missed you, girl!