:hug:Well, Karen, sounds like I need to join you on that bandwagon. I was just not in the mood to behave yesterday, but thank goodness I don't do it too often. But I have been doing good so far today. I guess maybe that's progress. We have going away potluck at work, and I will not be able to get away with not eating there. For some silly reason, the bunch there thinks that when you are diabetic you need to eat more and all the time! As long as someone besides me brings something healthy, I will be alright. I have to get moving as it is, so I will check in later. I have to weigh in tomorrow morning, as I will be gone until Monday. :crossed:Hope it's good!

Kathy;)

#28 weeks to go!
 

Somehow witht the system crash I couldn't remember all the places that I would regualrly post! AHH But I'M BACK! :woohoo:

Ok - here's a catch up on me... I'm down from the start of my Christmas challenge - not much, but remember I gained #1 at the first weigh in. Also I've gotten my Mom and my BFF to join in the fun! If I can stick to my guns and push myself to win this I'll have 4 seperate $50 gift cards come Christmas! I've put all of our tickers here so you can support and cheer us though to Chirstmas :elf:

Our goals on here are #25 - but really I want to be "over weight" for Christmas - which means I need to bust butt and lose another #32.2! It's doable!!! (28 weeks until the Big Guy Comes! :santa:

Other then that everything is moving along nicely. I'm working out everyday - although i've been slacking on the morning workouts, and I did miss/cut back on a few night ones this week. I'm still focused and Motivated! I'm still moving, and eating better. I've been tackling my "trigger foods" you know the ones that NO MATTER WHAT you can't stop eating them... I'm working on control and avoidance... but mostly control!

Ok - I'm checking out and going to do my workout. - I'm So GLAD to be back!!!

:hug:Well, glad you are back! :cp:
That's great that you are getting others on board the challenge. Wish I could get my sister. I am working with my daughter. She is a food sneaker. She is 9.5, 116 lb and 56 inches tall, she wears a ladies 7shoe,(which means she can almost wear mine). We know she will be about 6 ft tall, and she is pretty active, but it's the home laziness now that school is out that gets her I think.

Have a good Thursday. Kathy;)

A month later, and I've just discovered this thread. A bit late, but I think I'm up for this challenge.

Right now I'm dealing with thyroid problems, which *hopefully* have been relieved somewhat by finding a new doctor. He's also added a second medicine which seems to have bumped the scale somewhat.

I've only lost about 10 lbs since the beginning of the year, but I've implemented more conscious eating and "mandatory" exercise. I started keeping track of minutes in March and have found it incredibly motivating, especially as I watch my monthly totals grow.

Because I'm in a tweener stage with the thyroid, I think I'll make my goal 26 lbs. That will put me at a number I haven't been at in 10 years or so, and will be more than double what I've lost for the first half of the year. If the medicine really kicks in and I lose it "normally" (within 2 or 3 months or so), I'll come back and adjust my goal, but for now, that's it.

*oops forgot to subscribe so I can find it again*

Enygirl - you girls are awesome!! I will be cheering you girls on and seeing who wins ... lol I should have my gym buddy and I do that ... I would looove an extra gift for xmas haha

Well I finally got a personal trainer going and she is amazing. I weighed myself on Sunday and I am starting over I guess you can say with that weight and have lost 5lbs since. I have been dragging my feet about going to the gym the past couple of days but seeing that number has motivated me and now I am dragging my gym buddy to the gym tonight.

She wants to me burn a TON of calories which means I have to stay at the gym longer then I usually do. Before when I was really into going I would stay for 2 or more hours. Now I have to push myself to stay longer because once I really start up with her she is going to push me to my limits and beyond and I want to be able to handle it lol

Ok well I am off. Everyone have an awesome week and I will check back a bit later ... byeeeee

Morning gang. I'm happy we are rolling into the weekend. I've been house/dog sitting this week and biking between my house and that house has added some nice cycling time but it also has been hectic trying to get everything I want done, done. But that ended last night and I got to sleep in my own bed last night, which was lovely.

Welcome EarthShaker! I've heard that thyroid problems can take a while to resolve by finding the right level of medicine! I hope your levels get evened out really fast!

Nicoyaangel -- sounds like you'll be spending significant time in the gym getting to love that sweat! Awesome! :)

Welcome back Enygril -- you are the Challenge Queen! Are you mentally spending those gift cards already?

Actually I haven't spent the money *yet* ;) I'm thinking that I when I hit #163.6 (overweight) at Christmas - I don't even know what size I'll be! I just know I need to keep plugging along and get this done!

Niccoy - Let me know hoe working w/ the trainer goes. i've considered it as well - but I just don't know when I have time! Right now I do all my workouts at home, generally with a 6 yr. old right next to me!

Earth - :welcome: Christmas is 28 weeks away - Set a good goal and work! WORK! WORK! I'm hoping to surpass mine!!! :D

Alright girls - I have a TON of work that I have to do! I'll check back later - did I mention how nice it is to be back??? :)

Okay.....26 weeks till christmas. I gotta come up with a plan and STICK to it!! lol. I definately want to be 120 by christmas. So....that's 16 pounds to lose in 26 weeks. I need to lose half a pound each week to reach that goal. I can do that...right??? lol. I gotta find my motivation. A picture to look at or a dress to work towards. I gotta find something. geez.

Well...good luck everyone. I know we can do this. We just gotta keep trying. Everyday is a new day.

i rode my bike to and from school today its 5 miles total and my butt and legs hurt lol its the first time riding a bike since last summer but im sure ill get used to it....

Lumi - I have good news for you - Chrsitmas is 28 weeks away(you had said 26) so that means that you have to lose #.57 a week. In order to hit my goal of #163.6 I have to lose #1.14 a week - How about we keep eachother motivated and GOING STRONG through this!!! When do you weigh in? Mine's every 2 mondays for my Family challenge - but I'll do it more if it will help you stay on track! Let's see if we can hit our goals EARLY!!!! (then we can buy a slinky Christmas number BEFORE the tree comes down! :D)

Haley - WTG on the bike riding! That's awesome! Keep it up - rain or shine! Put a poncho in your backpack if necessary! :cheer:

Remember: If hunger is not the problem, then eating is not the solution.

oh thats really good ill have to write that down on a post it and stick it.....EVERYWHERE lol if you came up with that do u mind if i put in my johnstonefitness.com fitness journal signature? i dont want to infringe on someone elses saying lol

I cheated!!!
 

Not on my eating plan, but I weighed myself 1 day early. I just new I lost some weight....I won't post until tomorrow though!!!!

Does this give away how I'm feeling?:carrot: Too subtle? :D Is this better?!?!

Yikies! 26 weeks?
Assuming I didn't gain this week (and I just KNOW that I did) I would have to lose 1.38 pounds per week (or so) to get to my "just overweight" goal. I'm thinking it's not gonna happen. At this point, though, I'll be thrilled as heck if I make it to my pre-pregnancy weight by Christmas which is only 12.8 pounds from last week's weigh in and (again, if I didn't gain) just about half a pound a week. THAT is far more likely to happen! We'll see tonight how much I have to make up for from this past week. Luckily the weather has been a lot better the past 2 days so I've been able to take John out in the stroller for a bit and today restocked my supply of Phase One favorites for South Beach so I can be super-devoted/determined girl again. ALSO luckily, Tom has been plowing through the leftover cupcakes in the fridge from the party to the point where we only have a couple left -- he and John can have those tomorrow for John's ACTUAL birthday and I'll have ... a sugar-free fudgsicle or something "legal."
So, 26 weeks til Christmas ... 52 weeks til John turns 3 ... and THOSE party pictures are going to ROCK!!!

Hehehe ... I started my reply before read the last page of posts!
Hooray for an extra 2 weeks!!! That'll give me time to make up for the past week of being super-bad :D

Yay for 28 weeks!

It could have been so much worse.

:halfempty

I gained just like I knew I would, but at least I kept the damage to under 3 pounds. That's something, right?

Morning all, I gained this week too. Bloat city and no excuse, rings are tight, pants are tight.

Anyway, I am taking care of that and next week I will be further down and by 7/1, I will be below 145. Can't wait, must focus!!

Already today, I have gone for a 2 mile walk/run, just got back and did AbJam, I do better when I exercise first thing, then I don't want to blow it for the day.

I have to be to work by 10 today, it's my late day to work until 6. So off to the shower I go, great job to those that showed a loss. :jig: To those like me that didn't, that's ok, we aren't gonna lose every week, but let's turn it around for next week! :cheer:

well im up a little today but its TOM week i thought it would effect me last week but it didnt its today so thats ok because ive been OP all week so its def not me so im not stressed about it.

mothermavis: i agree it helps me too to exercise first thing in the day

Hey everyone, never did check in after my good day on Tuesday. I finished the day strong; going out to dinner I ordered a portabella sandwich and nibbled a little bit of other people's food so I could have a taste of meat without going overboard.

Been a weird few days weight-wise. Wednesday I was down 2 lbs to 191, Thursdays I was down another three to 188, and today I'm back up two pounds to 190. I just want my TOM to be done with so things will settle down a bit. Of course, I really should try not to weigh every single day, I don't want to get obsessive about it.

Oh, and exercise is easier again between the heatwave breaking and the air conditioning being fixed (we hope! hard to tell yet). I'm still gonna walk up to the gym about a mile from me though, and check em out.

28 weeks left... I've got to lose about a pound a week at that rate, a bit less. I think I can manage that, it seems to be about what I'm managing on average so far. Time will tell!

Karen, I'm so glad to see the damage was not too bad - less than three pounds is not bad at all, you can fix that no problem! :hug:

I am going to make this commitment to Christmas also. I am going to commit to loosing 30lbs. As of today Christmas is 28 weeks away. This is a totally achievable goal! GREAT IDEA BTW

:)Good morning everyone. Well I lost 3 pounds. It feels like I lost 10 though. I feel so much better. Now, what I am going to try really hard to do is stay focused each day and not try an overthink everything. The first week is historically easy for me. It's when I am most excited, motivated etc. My true test will be when things aren't going well. Will I still post or will I go into hiding? I am so impressed and grateful to see people sharing their feelings when everything isn't perfect. I tend to withdraw and sulk and be alone....a very dangerous place for me. So, I am just trying to tell you all thank you for being so real. It is what I needed to see, and I hope to shrink physically and grow emotionally!:)

Just saw this tread today. Count me in!! I want to be down 60 pounds by Christmas. That is 10 pounds a month, so far that is what Ihave been averaging. I know it is a lofty goal...but if I stay on plan and keep exercising regularly I can do it!!!

Kate - :welcome: #60 is a lofty goal - just keep working at it! We're here to support you 100%!

Haley - actually I found it on some website - and LOVE it - so I passed it along. It was claimed to be an anontmous quote - so feel free to use where ever :)

Betsi - weight varies a TON day-to-day, especially during TOM. Try to stay off the scale for awhile and it won't haunt you!

362638 - STICK WITH US!!!! My first week is generally easiest for me to stick with it too - right now I've made it through 12 days straight of working out and eating right! THAT'S A RECORD FOR ME!!!! Just keep going!!!

enygirl....that's a great idea!! I usually weigh in on Fridays...but we can do mondays....it doesn't really matter. Thank goodness, 28 weeks left instead of 26. whew!! I know half a pound a week doesn't seem impossible...i just gotta stick to my guns on eating healthy. And the gym is back on next week. Just talked to my boss and told her i would not be working any overtime next week. I may try to come in on saturday if she wants, but not during the week.

Good for you Lumi - Remember you've come this far - #.6 of a pound a week is nothing compared to the #60 you've already lost! :) Keep your ticker updated and we'll watch each other hit our goals! :D

I went looking for yesterday's posts and realized that people had been posting a lot since then. Thanks for the welcome, and Tyler -- love that picture. One of my favorite movies of all time.

Almost didn't walk today. I'm behind where I wanted to be for my minutes exercised, but I peeked at the scale yesterday, and WOW. Not a huge loss, but it's moving. My official weigh in will be on Monday, so we'll see.

It did get me moving this morning, though.

Today's been a good day for food for me. I think the scale last night scared my body into submission and my cravings into hiding!!! No real exercise today thanks to 90+ temps being back, but I did get in the .6 mile walk home from work this morning and an additional mile in the middle of the night DURING work and I think after Johnny goes to bed I'll see about popping in a dvd and doing at least one of the 10 minute workouts. :exercise:

Thanks for all the words of encouragement! I spent years on the official WW message boards and never seemed to get the support I get from you "chicks"!!! It really does make it seem like all is not a lost cause :D

Welcome to the new folks -- you're going to LOVE this group!

Congrats to the losers ... and also to those of us who haven't lost for not giving up!!!

:grouphug:

NOW I'm going to go figure out where that birthday boy of mine is hiding and see if he wants to get in a good snuggle and watch a movie with his Momma!

:hug: Hey all. I was the same weight when I weighed Thursday (in Chicago now). I thought I would lose a little, but it's probably water--we had Chinese the night before. What is wrong with me? Who eats chinese the night before a weigh in? Such brilliance:D

Have a great weekend!
Kathy;)

Hi All~I just found this challenge. I hope it isn't too late to join the Christmas Challenge. I just counted on the calendar, it is 27 weeks (Mondays) until Christmas. I would challenge myself to lose at least 30 pounds. I am starting at 192-30=162#. My goal is 150. That would put me within 12# of goal. Doable. It takes me through the hardest holidays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the week of Christmas. Can I join the group? Count me in. I can do 500 miles by Christmas, I already have 7 miles walked this week. Pat

Welcome, Dixiemae!!! :hug:
I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say good luck and we look forward to getting to know you better!

Welcome Dixiemae!

Happy Saturday everyone! I've got a Father's Day BBQ today and I'll be biking as exercise. I forgot (again) that we weigh in on Fridays:

Last Friday I was 169.6, this Friday I was 166, so that's a 3.6 pound loss. Yay!

Welcome Karyn, Kate and DixieMae, we're glad you found us!

Hey to all the rest of ya. Hope everyone has great plans for the weekend! I am going to get out this am and go for a walk/jog, then later I think we are going to take off for a while on the motorcycle if it isn't raining. I would just as soon be out of the house, it keeps my mind off food! I am usually so good during the day, but at night, I am the mindless muncher! Got to get that figured out...:?:

Busy weekend ahead for me, Shopping today, I'm going to fit in a DVD at some point, Boot Camp I think. Fathers day Brunch with my Dad and then off to the in laws for dinner. I am going to try to remember Friday weigh in's I was 176 So that will be my start! Happy Saturday all.

"Have yourselves a merry little weekend!"

I am on my way for a morning walk! And then a yummy oatmeal breakfast. My little boy's birthday party is today, and I have decided in advance that it's not about the food. I don't need to eat cake to celebrate him! Cake just makes me feel yucky, anyway. It tastes good for a few moments, and then I get either a sugar high, or a crash. So, no cake for me today. (:

Hi everyone~
W~8-8oz glasses
E~good, could have been better
E~3 mile walk this evening
D~one step at a time

Had a pretty good day. I hope everyone else had a great day. What day is weigh in day for the group? I usually weigh in on Mondays. Keeps me honest over the weekend. Thanks Pat

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! I have managed to survive the food-oriented Father's Day event my family had, so it should be smooth sailing for today, yay!

Dixiemae, most people here weigh in on Friday, but it's not mandatory!

Josephine, good for you at staying focused during Father food fest!

Hi Everyone~Thank you for the warm welcome. Mother Mavis~ I weighed in this morning because tomorrow morning I have to be in he court room at 8:45 am. I am going to be an absolute nervous wreck. Divorce hearing. I will walk in married leave a divorced woman. I will be lost for a while. I will need to be VERY mindful of what I eat. I weighed in at 190.8 Yeah!!

192.0
-190,8 =1.2 Lost

After the hearing I am going to my sisters' and spend the day. I don't want to be alone. I may not post tomorrow. I will have to wait and see how I feel. Right now I am upset about the whole deal. Thanks Pat

Dixiemae: :grouphug: We will be thinking of you tomorrow! Be good to yourself, you are worth it!