I am 38 y/o mom of 2 kids ages 10 and 7. Today was the first day back to school and i will go back to work part time this week. I am planning to stay consistent with the gym with cardio/weights and be more mindful of my eating. This is my first challenge.

You go, girl! :running::running::running::running:

I REALLY want to run ALL of my first race, so I'm holding out til I can. I'm thinking late September or early October, but if nothing else, I'm running the local Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. :turkey:

It's great to see the boards hopping on day one!
Hope everyone drank their water.
I am wiped, so I'm heading to bed. Night all!

HI Red Team,
I'm Bette and I'm 53 years old, married, and the mother of 2. DD is 22 and spending the year in South Korea, DD mis 11 and in 6th grade. I live on a farm and love being in the country. I substitute teach in jr high and high school and just started as a representative for Signature Homestyles. If you are interested then pm me and I'll send you the link to my catalog.
I have a really hard time losing weight, but I need to get back at it after not even trying this summer. I'm looking forward to renewing friendships and making new friends during the challenge.
Have a great week everyone, I have my first sub day on wednesday, I'll be teaching Ag.

Bette K.

Hi Red Team! I am 55 and live in California. I had a really good first day on this journey. Ate wisely and on plan. Had some hunger here and there but responded by drinking more water and having planned snacks. Looking forward to a successful week of "in control" and responsible eating! One day at a time. Good luck everyone! :cheer2::cheer2::cheer2:

Hello, my name is Rachel and I teach English in Japan. I just turned 24, am ridiculously obsessed with imgur and puppies, and miss the crap out of my boyfriend back in the states. I have hypothyroidism/PCOS/IR, but counter that with being extremely stubborn. Mulish even. I've pretty much been headbutting my way to a smaller size. Luckily (though it definitely doesn't feel that way most days), I live in the middle of nowhere and don't have a car or license in this country, so if I want to go somewhere I have to walk or ride my bike. I keep trying to convince myself that running is a good idea, but I find it horrendously boring if I don't have something tangible to chase.

While I joined the site in March, I actually started trying to lose weight in June after one of my 4th year students was kind enough to tell me in Japanese that I was much fatter than their last English teacher. At this point I have 20 lbs left until my goal, and would dearly like to have them gone in the next 13 weeks. I don't know how likely that is, but that's sure as H-e-double hockey sticks not going to stop me from trying.

Good luck everyone! GO TEAM.

Good morning team!

Rachel- I lived in Japan for 2 years, on the outskirts of Tokyo in a town called Higashi-Koanei. I was an English secretary for a professor & taught English on the side. Gambatte!

And lots of people running. Wow! Couch to 5k is a great program.

I'd like to know what people eat for breakfast. I usually start with coffee and then have yogurt with grape uts or a pancake or waffle with peanut butter. I find if I don't eat some carbs in the morning, I am famished in an hour or so and start digging into my lunch :|. What works for you??

I need protein in the morning or I get all weird. I have very low blood sugar, and without regular amounts of protein at the least I'll get insanely *****y, or worse, get dizzy and pass out. I usually have an egg sandwich kind of thing (bagel thin or english muffin, 1 egg, 1oz sausage, cheese) but I've been running late the past few days, so I've just been having PB on a bagel with a bit of milk to wash it down.

good morning RED TEAM!! :grouphug:

:wave: hi bette....good to be back on red with you!! :)

yes...i am excited that even at my weight i have been able to "run" 150 steps at a time!!! i will get there in the end!

i used to think that if i didn't have my carb for breakfast i'd go nuts!!...haha....now, i have found that when i eat carbs for breakfast, i CRAVE foods all day....so for the last 3-4 months have been starting my mornings with a protein drink...mostly an iced cold chocolate protein frappuccino and i love it. i've never been one to "drink" my calories...but i have found that the early morning protein truly helps and i feel pretty good all morning!!

i think i have just realized this too montecristo...i feel more alert and seem to have more energy for the day when i have about 25 grams of protein first thing!!

Running has literally changed my life! I started running on June 19, 2012 and could only run for 30 second intervals. Now I can run 5k easily! Oh....and it has helped me lose 30 pounds!!!;) And the energy I have!!! oh my!

Before I started my lifestyle change I was a chronic breakfast skipper/binge around 11am person. I have found that having the same quick things for breakfast work for me and keep me full until lunch. I always have Vegan Proteins+ in 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk and a banana. Love it!

Keep up the good work, Red Team!!

Hey all!

Im 30 years old, have an 18 month old and am a Canadian living in the US!

I used to LIVE on this website and lost 72 pounds! Then, got divorced... got pregnant and gained it all PLUS some back! Im finally back and realize I need to stay on here and get the support I need to get fit and healthy!
Im interested in eating as close to the eat as possible. Raise my own veggie and herb garden and have panic attacks in the grocery store over organic meat vs cheap! hehe I immerse myself in learning about sustainable living and living of the land and am a DIY obsessed mama!

I love these challenges and i'm so excited to get on here and meet all of you!!

I will list some goals of mine ASAP ( im horrible with those!)

Mel So interesting that you are an amercian in canada and i'm the opposite! Glad to meet you and hope to get to know you better!

riddy and rosaback when I had shaved off a bit more weight in the past, the C25K literally changed my life! it really does work and it ignited a love for running in me which i NEVER thought I woudl have! Right now after gaining 100 lbs back in just walking, but hope to get started back on the program in a couple months or so!!

bennaloe You are one busy lady! I don't know how you do it! I work full time and have only 1 child and i honestly cannot find time for ANYTHING! way to go, you!!

rachelI have been to fukuoka and osaka and few times but lived and taught english in Korea for threee years. I miss it dearly! I know what its like to be told how giant you are in asia! haha I am a lot bigger than you, so there was no hiding it! I did teach my students a lot about how everyone looks different but i also became a lot more conscience about my health!

just had a post written and lost it- grrr.

Happy Wednesday All!

Hope you are having a great day.

Are you finding it easy to stay on plan?
Remember making small changes and it will be easier to stay the course.

:wave: HI RED TEAM!! :cheer:

hope everyone is staying focused and making good choices!!

DRINK YOUR WATER!!!!!

have a great day!!!

Dropped a pound today! :woohoo:

Evening Red Team!

I've been stuck for the last couple of days (TOM is coming. Joy.) but I went for a nice 8k walk around the city. I haven't had the chance to do that for a while, so it was great! School is starting up again next week so there aren't many of those in my near future, but my program is very physical, so all of that exercise will be back into my life!