One week into the challenge and pleased to report that I've done what I set out to do.

Hit the gym four days this week, lifting four days and running three.

I like that Diva, reporting how your week went. I'll be a copycat.

July 1st-6th:
4 long bike rides, 3 5k's (for the 3fc 5k dealy), 4 lifting days at gym.

Food was A+, tracked every single morsel all week.

I should have walked my dog more. That's criminal. What I'll change this week is to add some time in for him.

ETA: Those 5k's were walked. I'm not ready to be a runner yet.

Both the running and the eating went well this week. And I lost one pound which is right where I need to be right now.

Hello Ladies. I hope its not too late to join in. Like FB my FIRST mini goal is to be in Onederland by Labor Day. I want this so bad i can taste it.

To meet my dream target (mid-September), I really need to be at 149 by Labor Day. That's just over a pound per week, so maybe a little aggressive, especially as I'm no longer overweight. But, so far, most all my weight loss has been diet and a being generally less sedentary. I haven't taken up any regular exercise. So, with regular exercise and a little determination, I should be able to do 1.5 pounds per week.

Val, I don't know if this helps, but my simple method for getting the veggies in is to have a big serving of steamed (or grilled or stir-fried) veggies first, with lunch and dinner. I usually cook those up, eat them, then put any other food on to cook while I take a break of about ten minutes or so, usually with a cup of tea. By the time the meat/etc is cooked, I'm past feeling like I'm starving, so it keeps me from overeating there, besides making sure I'm getting the veggies in first. For fruit, I usually have a serving as one of my snacks...currently, I'm all about fresh peaches, then I use frozen berries in my protein shake, which is my "breakfast" after my morning workout. It usually looks something like this (I don't really eat the grains, which might be bad, but I'm just not into that sort of thing right now):
wake, eat a FF yogurt
do chores, then workout, then protein shake (1% milk, protein powder, banana, and either frozen strawb or 3 berry mix from Costco, sometimes I add a couple tablespoon of peanut butter)
-that's calorie dense, so I usually don't eat again till lunch-
lunch: steamed brocc or stir-fry zucchini
break: cup of tea
lunch part 2: chicken, salmon or a turkey bratwurst
afternoon snack: peach or a few strawberries
dinner: same as lunch, just pick a diff veggie or meat
-if I'm skating, I cook up dinner, but split it in half, eating half before I go, then the other half when I get home, because skating always leaves me hungry..this keeps me from raiding the fridge or going over cals on skating nights-
eve snack (if I'm up late enough, though I try not to be!): fruit or FF yogurt

Anyway, hopefully that makes sense, and gives you some ideas for how to fit your fruits/veggies in.

Cheryl,

Your plan rocks! Nice job of balancing it all.

Now what are we going to do about them grains? LOL

Really.... you've really pulled it together in the last year and it shows.

Nice job!

Thanks, Diva! That means a lot to me, coming from you. Speaking of you, I had no idea you were old enough to have grown kids, sheesh! You look really young in your signature pic! Good luck on your marathon goal...it's so huge, I love it! I like how you've got the last one planned for HI..that seems like a nice reward!

Raemie, welcome to the challenge, and to 3FC! Good luck with your goal!
Sgirl, I hope you are feeling better now...?
FB and Diva, you guys are the boss of me on the exercise! I did get in something every day since Wednesday last week, but didn't make my goal of hitting it twice a day. I'm still struggling with scheduling and exhaustion from starting up "new" again with the lifting. I may just have to get over my bad self for a few weeks, until my body gets used to the lifting again, or stop being a wimp and do my cardio anyway!

Slowmo, congrats on the 1 lb loss this week!
Courtney Rae, welcome and see you in ONEderland by Labor Day!
Layri, congrats on getting into the 150s! woohoo!
LED, welcome and good luck with your goal!
(sorry, I'm running out of smileys that I remember the code for, lol)

Lifting is a killer, isn't it, Cheryl? I came home the other day and had to climb my stairs backwards. Husband says I'm going too hard. I tell him.... lift heavy or go home.

Photo is three years old. Still have all my hair and all my teeth. Those are the true signs of youth.

You work out twice a day every day? Damn, girl. I'd be cranky, too. I'm going to start doing that in September but my advantage is that the house is empty except for the husband (who is just the most beautiful man I've ever known so I'm happy to keep him) and I own my own business so I control my schedule.

I don't know how you're doing it. Do you fear burnout?

Thanks for the hugs Jammy. I am feeling much better right now and slowly getting back on track. Haven't had much of an appetite, just basically some toast and some soup is about all I could stomach. Don't wish this flu on anyone! Hopefully by the end of the week I will be back to eating and working out normally and MAYBE some of the 5 lbs of weight I lost being sick will stay off! LOL...but it's probably mostly water weight!

Well, I missed out on the beginning of this challenge, but I'm in!

I'm going to stick with the same action-based goal -- staying on plan. I have a scale number I hope to see, but I'm not going to count on it. Also, I suppose I'd add that *if* I do go off plan, my goal is to get right back on track.

Sgirl -- Sorry to hear you're sick . Hope you feel better soon!

Congrats to everyone who is already off to a good start on this challenge!

I am late but I am going to join in with the challenge. I am just starting back to counting calories. I really have not been doing anything.

My goal for the challenge is to lose 7 lbs.
My starting weight is 176.

Bev

That's what I'm saying...why do we bother talkin'?

I work at home, so that's how I can (supposedly, lol) work out twice, but the real reason behind it is that there's so much fun stuff I want to DO, and so I have to space it out so it all fits in there! Also, with skating twice a week, it's tricky to fit FB lifting workouts in there, so I've been fiddling around with splits, to try and give myself a rest between heavy leg exercises and skating. (um..and running, lol, though I've found that I can run right after lifting, before my legs realise they are toast)

Sgirl, hope you'll be back with us soon!

YYM, welcome back!

Bev, welcome to the challenge! I hope this challenge is a help to you, in getting started again!

Hello Ladies. I weighed in today and im glad to say im down to 214.5. 1lb down from last week. Even with a HUGE binge day on Sunday. Trying to het the gym a little more and add some more classes and man am i sore! My yoga teacher was out of town so we had the Piyo teacher and holy moly donut shop she is a killer. Feels good to know that im working hard though.