Kali, good luck surviving the holiday fest! It's bound to be ugly, but come on back and we'll get on with the good life! I am so sick of Christmas food..blech! Honestly, note to self: turkey and steamed veggies next year, cuz the other stuff just isn't worth the stomach ache and the all day headache Christmas day. Thankfully, it's over for me, so I'm back OP today!

Today the plan is GOBS of water, because I need to flush out the sodiumfest from Christmas eve. FB lifting workout today, since I couldn't bring myself to sling the weights yesterday with that killer headache. Running, too, probably right after weights, since that's easiest. Might stretch the running out if I can to closer to an hour...after the bingefest, I've got some makeup work to do in the weight loss department! I was up to 186.8 this morning! I know TOM is coming any day now, but that's about 3 lbs more than it should be!

This morning, I have to attempt to dig my van out of the snowy driveway, hit the bank and the library, and pay 2 bills. That will mean all my bills for 2008 were paid on time, with cash on hand, a first for me! That was one of my major goals for 2008, to go cash only as much as possible, NO bank fees, NO living beyond my means, NO overspending on Xmas and having a pile of overdue bills in January...and I'm SO happy to report that I pulled it off!

Alright, I'd better get ready to go. I will check in later today, and hopefully some peeps will report in, and we can get this party started. First thing, I'm drinking my water!

Hey Gang! I hope everyone survived Christmas and had a wonderful time! It was a great day here. We hung out around the house and played with our two little boys (3.5yo & 22mo) pretty much all day. I did hit the gym during naptime for some cardio. It was a good day. I stayed very much in control of my food choices and the scale rewarded me nicely today. I just hope it sticks. The number scared me (in a good way). Last week I was frustrated with my loss of 0.8 and this week it was 6.6! Please, please be for real!

BBB - Thank you. I'm thrilled with the thought of providing inspiration to others. I certainly get inspiration from everyone here! There is no easy way out of this....find a way to make it fun....enjoy discovering new foods, find exercises you like. The hard work will pay off over and over again! You can do it and we are all here to help support you through the journey!

Jammy - Glug, Glug, Glug! Did you manage to get your van out?

What's everyone else up to?

I think I'm going to veg on the couch for a bit....

Well, barbPA, jamsk8r, bratty, and everyone else - I hope you all had a fantastic holiday!

I got on the scale this morning, and to my surprise, the only weight gain I saw was back to my starting weight! So, the totals:

SW 318.2
CW 318.2
GW 314.2

I'm surprised and pleased - it made a difference, I know, being the one who cooked dinner this year.

yay! glad everyone is back in!

thanks barb that really helps too! its nice to have an inspirational figure and a mentor. Even though cheryl (jamsk8r) is my little sister, she is my mentor on weight loss. But i am STILL the boss of her! Even though she lives hundreds of miles away...

i was out for the Christmas holiday -on the road in the 18-wheeler and my company offered to buy my dinner so i found a nice chritmas dinner somewhere in Texas at a truck stop and had turkey and dressing and yams. i don't regret it -mainly because i stopped eating when i got full- it was a hioliday buffet and i did try a few bites of the roast beast but i stopped and left some on the plate and only did one plate.and 2 dinner rolls. heehee.

i went shopping somewhere in Texas at a WalMart and got some good veggies and some fresh plastic-wrapped chicken breasts (3 in a pack) so they last a few days in my cooler that way. Then i bought a couple of cases of bottled water (only about $3 ea at WM). i drink one full bottle at night (i down it) then i go to sleep; then one more when i wake up. So far thats the only water i know for SURE that i am getting. That's 4.22 8oz glasses a day. Only HALF of the reccomended amount i know!

Thanks Kali - i like seeing your positive attitude keep pushing onward!

FB i am glad you are staying on even though you met your goal weight the old fashioned way! i told my daughter about the site and how you lost all your weight from counting calories and excerise. She and her boyfrined are starting a program too.
i hope she joins.

jennifer

i stopped biting my nails in july and my nails are growing enough to paint them now. they were breaking off but i have been drinking lotsa skim milk. any other ideas to make nails stronger? they are part of my new look, skinny with long nails!! ok i'm not skinny yet! but my nails are trying to grow!

hey thanks! got the idea from Robsia, met her in 5 lb challenges.
gotta love the ticker! and check out my 2009 goal ticker

FB-- GOAL--whooooohoooo!
hello to all challenge chicks. it looks like everyone is rolling with the challenges of holidays pretty well. of course, checking in is a really good incentive too.

I am working my maintenance thing, so I guess I am on track too. golly, it is painstaking tho. but there doesn't seem to be any other way

Happy Holidays and lets keep on truckin'

kitty i love the new ticker!

Kitty, 1000 miles?!!! Woohoo! That is inspiring!

BBB, what about zinc, or Knox gelatin? The zinc you can probably get in pill form or included with a multivitamin...? Glad you had a nice dinner, and paid for is nice, too! Now we are all back OP and ready to kick some weight loss in gear!

Kali, glad it worked out so well. Mine was way up, but is coming down already after being OP and drinking extra water yesterday.

Barb, I did get my van out, thanks! Of course, today we finally got the rain to melt the snow, lol. At least I got a little bonus upper body workout!

Today my weight is down from yesterday (185.4), but still running high. The roads were good yesterday, so I decided to try making it to the skating rink last night, instead of running. I got there fine, though getting in and out of their parking lot was a challenge, and got in 3 hours of skating, which was a good workout. This cute little girl, about 6 years old, showed me a super secret handshake, so I'm now officially part of a girls-only club! Yeah, you're jealous! My pal who owns the rink says the rink might be moving, and if it goes through, they'll be closed from Jan 5th to the middle of February...where will I skate??? I could DIE! I asked my pal just how big his garage floor is... Anyway, that will be cool if they get the new place, all shiny and new and stuff, plus we might get a wood floor...sweet!

Today I'm working on my goals for the coming year: fitness, weight loss, financial, etc. My boy is gone to his buddy's house for a few days, so it's a good time for getting my head on straight for the new year.

thx bbb, and I take biotin for hair . I think some people also use it for nails. And, do you take a regular multivit? That's a good place to start!

It's something I'll have to work for... that's for sure!

Hey Brat, when are you going to get a weight loss ticker? Hmmm?!

jaminator! as soon as YOU show me how to do it!
I would like to make a ticker like kittys for my four minute walks! Any ideas on how to do a 4-minute ticker picker??

I clicked on someone else's exercise ticker and followed the pretty simple directions. use mine!

yay jammie-wearer! You always get back on track! something in the genes maybe..i hope! Anyhoooo, i am going to be stuck in the terminal at my company in Arkansas for three or four days. I have decided to get a bicycle at Wal-Mart since everything is marked way down-thats what they are saying! I can strap it to the back of my truck and bicycle (or tricycle) around the truckstops.
The water thing is sounding good. Everyone is rocking! My problem is that I cant seem to do it during the day, so I am going to double my water intake when I AM able to drink. (kinda like cheating!!)

So the plan is:16.9 oz 2 bottles at night (i "down" them to get it over with) and 2 in the morning ( i "down" them to get it over with -again!).
i have to trick myself-apparently. That gives me almost 8.5 (8-ounce) glasses of water per day. Hooorah!


jaminator, I will have to ask you to help me make the new ticker. i wanna be just like spitty-kitty!: idea:

Heya BBB - How about biotin supplements for your nails and hair? It's a B vitamin.

Biking is a GREAT idea, I am a huge fan of cycling. I swear I wouldn't have lost the weight I have so far without it. If you do plan on getting a bike check other stores as well. Walmart bicycles, while made by large companies, are not of the same quality the companies produce for other stores. In addition, the bike support at Walmart is nil - you'll need it to be adjusted and fitted. Perhaps visit a bike store and use the knowledge they give you to purchase a bike at Walmart? A great place for advice is bikeforums.net. If you do a search on whatever bike you're considering you could likely find great info - no matter where you decide to purchase from.

Oh Jamster, quiet time for you. I'm jealous. I wish someone would take my people away for a few days.

Kitty - Imma skerred of maintaining! It DOES seem like it would be painstaking. I haven't officially started yet. I should, because I worry I'll keep losing while I experiment. I've got too many nice jeans in the perfect size and do NOT want to buy more. Is that petty?

Barb - That's the fun of a slow loss week - you usually get a whoosh. Yes I'll bet it's for real! I'll PM you again soon, I've had a weekend filled with my 2 guys, it's been awhile since we've had family time. Once the schedule stabilizes I'll get my computer time again.