Weekends are tough. I just started calorie cycling and made sure my highest day is on Saturday so I can indulge legitimately. Several friends have suggested calorie cycling, so I'm giving it a try - I figure it can't hurt and as long as I'm getting the same number of calories over time, it should be good. Back to work tomorrow - and I've got my snacks, lunches and dinners all sorted out, packed and ready to go. Planning ahead is the only way to go for me, especially in the busiest time of my work year. Otherwise I eat out and I inevitably not nearly as well as I should!

Sunday: 1335 calories, 45 minutes on the elliptical(308 calories)

Cooked a great vegetable, barley, and bean soup yesterday. Today I'll make red lentils and rice. Already have salad and baked oatmeal with blueberries to get me through the week.

northern, I hope this is our week!

jules, can you post how you're cycling your calories? I'm doing it a bit as I'm using a range of 1200-1500, but it's not organized.

leslie, welcome!

rainbow, great job w/ the picnic. good luck with dinner!

megems, sounds like you had a great weekend!

Good morning and welcome to a new week!

Rainbow: good job staying OP at the BBQ, that's tough! I know it's frustrating when you don't know the exact count of things...sometimes you just have to give your best estimate and move on. Summertime is especially hard!

Leslie: welcome aboard!

Jules: I too give a little more leeway on weekends. Much easier to plan ahead be more meticulous with the calorie counting during the workweek. So far it's worked OK for me!

Nat: great job on the elliptical! I usually do 20 minutes on mine and then switch to something else (weights or yoga or something.) I should probably try to do at least 30 minutes (and I know I physically can), but I just start getting bored. Watching TV helps, though...my little strategy is to go at a steady pace during the show, then ramp it up a bit during commercials, lol.

Looking forward to an OP week! Let's do this!!

Welcome Leslie!

I had a good weekend and am feeling really motivated. This week I am starting at a new school, so I will have a new routine with a slightly later start time, so I am hoping to get in a workout before heading to school. I am really looking foward to it.

I'm in I would like to lose 20 pounds total.... I started at 289 and currently at 277.8

Mini Goal (Feb 14th) 269 (8.8 pounds to go)

Did an early weigh in today, hangin' in at 123.6..... stubborn!

Hoping for a wee little loss by the end of the week. I'll keep on trying!

Great job to all. :)

Yup, weight holding steady. Kind of glad the next two mornings are the ones I don't weigh in...getting sick of seeing the same number, so I hope that changes on Friday!

Natamars - I got a "plan" from freedieting.com - it's one I've seen recommended on these boards before. I rounded mine slightly so I'm not trying to get 2,027 calories on my high day, but it goes 2000, 1700, 1500, 1800, 1700, 1700, 1500. It works out the same over a week as doing 1700 per day, which is what the site recommends for "fat loss". Google "calorie cycling" and freedieting will probably come up as one of the top hits.

Northern - I try to stay on plan on the weekends, but it's a far greater challenge for sure. I think by having my higher cycle days on the weekend, it'll give me permission to indulge and I'll find it easier to resist temptation during the week. At least, that's the plan. :)

Lost 2 lbs of water weight from TOM, but really wanted peanut butter today, so I had 3.5 servings. Now my calories are up to 2305, they sure do add up fast when your eating p.b That's it for today, I hope!

Had a decent day Today~kids go back to school tomorrow Woooohoooo! Last week mostly snow them home! (Snow days ~LOL) Us momma's need our breaks. I have been maintaing well~staying within my range hoping when I get more active in Spring I will not lose anymore I am comfy where I am,Or seem to be ~Aint buying new pants/jeans/shorts/ ect. til I am sure where my weight is gonna be~so far size 2's In jeans,shorts,skirts,ect. & tops vary in size~depends on the look I am going for & my weight has been 134 to 136 Most days which is super..That is my average weight since maintaining~which is super(never in my dreams did I ever imagine!) ~Anyways I have dial up so it's hard to catch up totally~Just wanted to say~Hope everyone had a Super day & Has An even better tomorrow.~HUGS TO ALL~

Good morning! Hope everyone is doing ok. I weigh last night at tops and I weighed 257.0 Thats 1 lb lost. Our TOPS family had a NO Gain Meeting tonight. Back to the pool tomorrow for a good water arobics class and maybe a few swim laps. :swim: :tread: and :ebike:
Good Luck this week. Let's get it going. :wave:

Had a pretty good day yesterday. 1550 calories (would have been under 1500 if I didn't indulge in a piece of dark chocolate at work...60 caloires..oh well, lol.) Did my 2 mile WATP vid and 20 minutes of yoga. Tonight I think I will do elliptical/weights.

Getting cold around here since the last Alberta Clipper moved through. Supposed to be like -20 tonight....brrr! So glad we got a new furnace this year!

Weigh in was this morning, down another 2 lbs, for a total of 5.6 for the challenge. :D That gives me 4 weeks to lose 8.4 lbs. Really want to hit those 14 lbs lost for the challenge!

I am now working out in the morning before work every day (for appx. an hour), and then going to my local Y for more cardio/strength training at night. I am going dress shopping at the beginning of March, so I am hoping to be 20 total pounds down by that time!

It looks as if everyone else is doing great!!! We can do this ladies!

Got my hour in on the treadmill yesterday and ate within my calorie range. On track for today! Just popping in and will check back later today.