And here we go into week 3- hope everyone is having a great August so far.

We are starting to think about school and slowly figuring out what we need before it starts after Labor Day. Just spent a small fortune on new backpacks! oy.


Today is my youngest's 8th birthday.
I'm guessing we'll go out to dinner to celebrate.

Have a great day!

Mel, have a nice evening with your 8-year old and family.

Well, less than 2 weeks before our final starting weights can be added. I went up a couple of pounds from the last weigh in but I'm now only 1/2 pound away so I'm feeling good about that.

I bought a lovely watermelon today. So tasty and sweet. I hate when they taste only as sweet as a cucumber, lol.

Hi Mel, how have you faired in our crazy little storms? We lost a lot off the trees and our poor flowers in the hail storm the other night. Lots of trees down in my neck of town tonight. Crazy weather.

Retiredone - good for you getting back down in weight.

I'm holding but then I go up, then back down....need to get some exercise in but took two days off noe hoping my dizziness will go away. I think it's from my back but not sure.

I have one more day of work tomorrow then off until Sept 4th......so looking forward to that. Should get some great workouts in then.

Night everyone

Good Morning Everyone, I’ve been busily helping my granddaughter’s get ready for school. With Mom working nights they spend a good deal of time at grandma’s so I get to help with things like bedtime and school preparation that a lot of grandma’s wouldn’t typically need to do. School starts the last week in August here so the summer is winding down quickly.

I have been holding my own on the weight, not really losing anything grand but not gaining either. I decided to change up my exercise while we are off and began the New Rules of Lifting for Women. I love using my weights but boy am I sore, apparently I really needed it. You haven’t lived until you see a 60 year old grandma trying to do a jackknife on a Swiss ball. I didn’t have the strength to get the form as peaked as I would have liked but I did manage to actually stay on the ball for all 8 reps, which was a significant accomplishment. Tomorrow morning I need to get the mirror situated so I can see myself doing them and see if I’m even coming close to “jackknifing” the way I’m supposed to. I was really concentrating last time on just staying on the ball so hopefully tomorrow I can stay on the ball and improve my form. I actually do love feeling your muscles after you’ve worked out. It reminds you for a couple of days that you did good.

Have a good day everyone.

I just wanted to introduce myself. I have recently found 3FC and was excited to find this challenge. I love Biggest Loser and always wanted to participate in a challenge myself, so this is perfect for me. I have a lot of weight to lose and am focused and committed to making it work. I can't wait to get to know everyone more.

I am a freelance writer, so I work from home. I have two children, ages 8 and 10. We are super busy right now with football and gymnastics, so I have developed a weight loss plan that works with our lifestyle. I will be walking laps on the track while my son practices football and doing my Ellen Barrett DVDs. I love Ellen Barrett!

My biggest obstacle is going to be sticking with my food plan. Food is the big issue for me, but changes have to be made and I am determined to make them happen.

Welcome, TikTokTrae!

Super busy week here, worked all weekend, heading off to work soon for the late shift. Hoping it's less crazy than last night. Very happy to have tomorrow off - I'm trying a real live hot yoga class tomorrow. Wish me luck!

EofAZ - that's awesome you get to help with the kids it will really make that bond with you even stronger. Before I comment more I need to google jackknife on the ball. Sounds like your doing great though. I too long the muscle soreness at least you know it's working then.

TikTokTrea - welcome to the challenge it's a great place for support and just to gab. We always have a good group of people on here. Make sure to keep on chatting as it helps you get to know everyone and it also helps with accountability once the challenge starts. Good luck with your journey. Walking the track sounds like a great workout plan....don't know who Ellen Barrett is so apparently it's another google search for me

Riddy - have a happy crazy free night at work and have an awesome hot yoga workout.

Well been a weird day for me started off pretty crazy but ended up okay in the end. Long story short lost my credit card.....found my credit card in the cuff of my capris0)

Went with my mom to here Dr appt.....she has needed a knee replacement for years (had one done but didnt go so well) she has been on the list for a couple years then she was referred to a new Dr which she saw today and now she already has a surgery date of Oct 29.

Then we went to look for a bike for her to strengthen up her muscles before surgery and to use for rehab after.....wow it's hard when you have no mobility to even move the seats on some of those bikes. Anyway think we have to pay some big buck for one just so she can use it easily.

Then I saw something on one of the fitness store websites and came home with it.....now not sure if it was totally stupid to buy (can't return it so doesn't matter I guess) or if it was a good thing to get. Its outside now as it has some rubber on it and I can't stand the smell so I'm hoping it will wear off.....anyway it's the workout 180, anybody heard of this or know someone who has one....thoughts?

Well should go to bed now eyes are burning, so I'm either tired or the crazy thing outside is seeping in my window as that smell of rubber was burning my eyes too

Night everyone.

P.S. I'm on two weeks vacation now so very happy about that as I haven't workout at all this week except for yesterday....hoping to get in many good workouts while I'm off.

Been quiet on the chats hope everyone is out enjoying the lat bits of summer.

I've still been bad and not exercised this week. Next week I need to start up big time. Tonight I'm volunteering at the Energizer light up the night race so that should be fun. Always wanted to run it but have no one to run with so this is the next best thing.

Well off to drink some coffee now. Have a great day!

Well, I survived work Thursday night, but my neck & shoulders were a mess from stress by the time I got home. I ended up getting a massage yesterday afternoon - my chiropractor rents space to a massage therapist, and she only charges $50 for an hour, so it was well worth it.

The yoga class was challenging, and sweaty, and I loved it! I'm feeling it today, but not to bad. I think I'll keep going, so I'll probably buy one of those towels that stick to the mat.

OK, I'll bite, Bigmid, how did your credit card end up in your capri cuffs???

Have fun at the race! I'm trying to sign up for my first 5K, but I need to coordinate with someone to go with me. Fortunately I have a bunch of coworkers that run, and have been major cheerleaders for me, so they all want to go with me.

Good luck bike shopping - I would have loved to have my own stationary bike when I had my ACL surgery.

Riddy -- just curious, what is hot yoga? Is it performed in a very hot room so you sweat more?

Bigmid--I have the same problem. I would love to run a race but have no one to go with me, and don't want to go alone.

I had family visiting the past few days, but was able to watch my calories and make healthy food decisions. Exercise schedule is off, but will get back at it tomorrow.

Hello people. I'm on the road again but should be home by the middle of the week for a dentist appointment. I think I'm up again. . .sigh. . . Oh, well I'll be back on track this week again.

Yup! Apparently this place isn't as hot as traditional hot yoga - they only crank the thermostat to 90 degrees. Still seems pretty hot to me!

I went back again Sunday, and really liked it. I'll probably go again this weekend.

Bigmid – I searched the internet for the Workout 180 and didn’t find anything referencing a bike so I can’t give you an opinion on your specific bike but I know when I had my first knee replaced the very best tool I had at therapy was a recumbent bike. As my knee would warm up I was able to move the seat closer so I could work into a tighter bend.

When I had my second knee replaced I went out and bought a recumbent bike at Costco. The seat had a handle release between the legs and it was really easy to adjust while still seated and I used it just like I did for the first one but now I could use it even when I wasn’t in a therapy session. I still have it in my living room and use it just as much as I do my elliptical.

I would also recommend stability exercises. If you can get something like a boso for her to practice standing on it would really help develop her stabilizer muscles (flat side down). As we age that is just something good to do anyway and the stronger she is going into the surgery the better and quicker her recovery will be. In therapy that was another area that they had me working on. When I got my boso, many many years ago I picked it up at a Target Store. I don’t do any “formal” exercises on it but do play with it just trying to see how long I can keep my balance on one foot and then the other. If you have a WII game the Wii Fit also has a number of games that target stability and balance.

I really think being a strong woman is why I recovered so quickly and well from my replacements. During recovery I lost a lot of strength in my legs (I was amazed at how quickly I lost muscle.) and know I am really targeting my legs to get them built back up and muscular again.

The worst part and MOST important part of the knee replacement is the therapy afterwards. Your getting her a bike to work on post-surgery, in my opinion, was a very smart thing to do. The first 10 – 15 days after the surgery it is very important to work the knee and it hurts so darned much to do it but you just have to push through the pain if you are going to make a full recovery. Right now I’m walking better than I have for 15 years before I had them replaced. The only thing that stinks is I can’t run or jump. I feel like I could, they feel fine but it is a no no and it is really hard to want to take off running, feel just fine and know that you could put too much force on the joint if you did.

Sorry about the long rambling post. I get to wordy some times.

Thanks for sharing, Riddy! Interesting!

Retiredone -- no worries, we will get you on track once the challenge starts again. I've had a hard time this week, haven't lost an ounce, but I'm thankful I haven't gained (yet) either. Discovered those coco covered almonds. Oh my goodness, they were way to good. I was waiting for my DH to get off work and started nibbling. Got to the house and handed the bag to my granddaughter and told her to help herself, she would love them. She did and I know they will disappear very quickly with her attaching them. Lucky for her she takes after her father's side of the family, very lean. If she were more like her mother and I her eating habits would already have her in trouble.