Hey girls - sorry I wasn't on this past weekend. It's been CRAZY! I have developed a huge I DON'T CARE attitude! Ugh. I'm getting through it though.

MM - I pulled my quad muscle pretty bad a few weeks ago, and it still isn't 100%. I'm going to attempt a 1 mile Leslie video today, adn do some upper body work. I haven't wroked out at all since the injury. :nono:

right now I'd LOVE to be back in the #180's - and I know that my fast food diet, no exercise and bad attitude the last few weeks has killed any plan of that. I need to reel myself back in!

I'll be back later girls.. right now I have a lot of work that needs my concentration. :)

morning all, I am having trouble figuring out where I am losing focus, on & off lately. I seem to fall off the wagon tom and then spend the rest of the month getting back to where I was, not so good! Need a better plan, on the other hand, exercise is ok again, so if I can just get both pieces at once, watch out skinny jeans!

MM - I'm just starting to get focus again too. Last night I did a 20 min wog, stayed in my cal range it felt good actually. :) I don't have that *yuck* feeling this morning like I was hit by a mack truck! :)

Anyhow, tomorrow's weigh in day. I'm not expecting much. to be back under the #190's would be nice, but I'm not even pushing that. I'm just going to take what the scale says, chalk it up to REALLY bad choices for 3 weeks - and move forward.

Hey ladies! Hope all are doing well. I see that I am not the only one that it has trouble keeping focus and falling off the wagon. I have managed to keep it on with this latest weight loss journey (and God willing - the LAST TIME I take this journey). I can say, HONESTLY, that the difference this time is that I have NOT fallen off of the exercise wagon. The exercise is making all of the difference. The farthest I have strayed from exercise is 3 x per week instead of 5.
Ladies, we are worth it! Every day is a new opportunity to get back on track.
Hugs to all!!

Morning Chickies!

Eny, hope the scale fairy is nice to you! I'm with ya, let's regroup and move on! How's married life?

Dixie, yoo hoo, where are you?? Preparing for your 5k?

LIF, great job on sticking with the exercise!! Good for you!

I'm BACK IN THE #180's!! WOO HOO!! the scale godess was nice - #1.8 down this week. So I'm at #188.6 I'm happy with that, and I'm going to keep going on this streak! My sister gained some weight this week, so I'm still in the running for the $150 Christmas challenge too. :yay:

I need to get back in to the working out bit though. I definately need to start doing my crunches and push ups again... and my wogging. I'm doing my own version of a 5K training. Everyday I'm going to push to jog just a little bit longer, push a little harder. right now I'm doing 4MPH 9which is actually more of a fast paced walk) but then next week I'm going to bump up to 5MPH. and so on... 1 week Up the pace, next week up the length. and so on. My goal right now is 1/2 hour 3xs a week, but I would like to do it more often. It's tough, because it's all jogging in place right now. On nicer days - like today, I'm going to do it outside. :)

Ok girls - I'm off for now. I'll check in later! :hug:

:congrat: Eny!!

Don't hurt me- I forgot about this thread. *hides*

:hug: to all!

Don't forget us !! We need to start thinking of what we will shoot for after Christmas too...maybe Easter.

Eny, wtg, glad the scale was good to you!!

Dixie, how's the training going?

MM~Things are going good. The DSL was down since Monday early morning. Finally got it up and going again about 2 hrs ago. Sorry I was mia. I am back in action again. I am signing up for the 5k walk at the YMCA this week. I am so excited about it. I am ready to go back to aqua class. DD still doesn't have the shot records for me. Going great. Catch ya later. Pat

Hi Everyone~It is snowing in Indiana! It started last night and still flurring as I write. I might have to go for a walk in the snow. Nothing on the ground as yet, but if it keeps up we might have a dusting on the ground. Winter has reared its' head! Catch ya all later. Pat~~Gotta cheer my Colts on!!

Dixie, it was flurrying here yesterday too, although the Colts were not on in the Northeast, we watched the Giants and then the Steelers play football instead!
Glad to hear the Y is working out well for you.

I had a rough week and then got back on track, I see a pattern here. I get back down to 146 or so, go out to dinner with DH and then binge for a week, get back to 153 or so, then start losing the same weight again. Need to be really careful next month during TOM and see if we can break that cycle.

LIF, ENY, Stephi, Modcat, how's it going, good - bad or indifferent?

Lots of stuff going on, getting ready for Turkey Day, need to start Christmas shopping, blech!

Trying to create a winter exercise schedule. I was walking to the store (about 2 miles) each day at lunch in addition to the treadmill and such. Getting to cold for that (highs in the 30's) too cold for me! So I think, starting today, I will starting taking the stairs at work! More on that tomorrow!

I LOVE THE SNOW! I hate driving in it - but I love looking at it! It just makes me want to curl up with my family, watch movies, read a book... ahhh... hot tea :) I always swtch to hot tea in the morning after the first snow that sticks... I've had 2 glasses already today. I know it's better for me then soda though, especially since it's green tea.

I'm in a good mood today. I think i'm going to buy some microwave soups. I'm in a "I want warm food" mood. :)

Pat - I'm SO glad that you're back! I missed you!

I have a TON of things to do for Christmas still! I want to make wall hanging quilts for my parents and for my MIL. But I have a baby quilt that I have to finish for this weekend first for my friend's Daughter who's turning 3. I tried something new - hade quilting. I'm doing some big flowers on it, and then going to machine quilt it as well. It's actually turning out really cute, but WOW it's time consuming! There's only 5 flowers, and I've done 2... those alone have taken well over an hour & 1/2!!! I think if I had an embroidery hoop it'd help a ton - but I have NO clue where the 5 I remember having went off to. *sigh* such is life I suppose.

TOM is knocking at the door - pretty loudly I might add - so I'm going to do my best to be good this week. When he comes the chocolate cravings always hit! MM - I keep losing and regaining the same weight too... I'll get there, everytime it's a little better. but still it's frusterating!

ok off for now - have to get some work done!

Hey everyone!

I know I'm kind of late in joining this challenge but I had all ready set a personal goal for Christmas and then realized that this group existed!

I am currently 185 and I'd like to be 180 by Christmas. Then I want to ring in the new year at 179!

I'm on week three of the Couch 2 5K program and am trying to do some light weight training three days a week.

Good luck to everyone with their goals!

KT, welcome. I am working on C25K again too, I am currently repeating week 3!

Morning Eny, sounds like you are doing well, perhaps we are both back on the wagon!

Good morning everyone!

mothermavis & Eny, you do so much to help my motivation because you always remind me that weight loss usually isn't linear. You lose, you gain, but then you get right back to it and lose again. I need to remember it's possible on my worst days!

Pat, WTG on the 5K! I would love to participate in one of those; perhaps in the Spring!

Welcome, ktandthesmurfs!

I'm getting excited about the holidays too! Since we've recently moved into a new, larger place, I finally have room to host Christmas, which I've never done before. So, we'll have about 25 assorted relatives and friends for the day! I probably should have waited until next year, since we're not quite settled, but my loved ones aren't too fussy, so they won't mind!

Ok - I've revamped my goals for Christmas. Since I slacked off and then had the injury - sulked and so forth... I've posted my new goal in my ticker... I'm going to start doing 30 DS again, starting tonight! I'm also going to go over to my dad's and use the treadmill while DD is at dance class. I just need to get moving and KEEP MOVING! I know you girls have heard me say this time and time again - but I'm proud of the fact that no matter how many times I fall I get back up before I hit rock bottom. I can honestly say I haven't seen #200 on the scale in over a year - which is AWESOME and The #180s although are comfortable right now - will soon be a thing of the past as well. I think that I'm going to buy myself a gift everytime I stay out of a "10s" for a month. So when I've stayed out of the #190s for a month I get something small, and then the #180s, etc... What do you all think?

Kt - :welcome: your goals sound great!

Pat - I think I may join you in the 5K training. I need to find an indoor location though. i think that I'll walk one for St. Patty's day this year. It'd be good.

JUST FOR TODAY

I decided to make a good thing out of my sorrow and grief. Today (Nov 17) is the second anniversary of my dear Mothers' passing. Much has happened in these last 2 years. My life has really been turned upside down. I have experienced many failures in this time frame. Just for today I have decided.....I can not change my yesterdays. What happened happened. All I can do is hope and pray I have learned from those failures......I can not change tomorrow, for it has not happened yet; I can not see what tomorrow will bring for me. I have hope and faith that the choises and deissions I make today will make tomorrow a better day. With all of this in mind.

JUST FOR TODAY I resolved to eat healthy for 3 meals + 2 snacks..I did
take my medications...I did
do 30 minutes of exercise...I did 20 min mindful walking
do something to make this world a better place..I did
drink at least 64 oz water.......81 oz water drank
Finally, do the best I can do with what I have to work with......Not worry about the rest. My weight loss and health are worth it. Pat

Eny~~WTG!! Clue me in!!! Where is there a 5k for St Patty's Day??? I will walk it, I am up for it. I am glad to hear your quad is better. I also have had to revamp my Christmas goal. I just wish I was in the size 14 you are talking about. I would be in absolute heaven!!!!! I am depressed to say the slinky black dress will not happen for Christmas, alas. But some where in the near future there is a black dress with my name all over it. MY DD and I will go out and have a drink over the divorce. My other DD is coming home for Thanksgiving. I do have so many things to be thankful for. I have had my share of failures, but I have also had many blessings. They are what keeps me warm at night. Again Eny I am so proud of you!!!!!!! Catch ya later Pat

Thanks for the welcomes everyone.

Today has been ok so far. I went to the gym and did w3d2 of c25k. About halfway through my back started to hurt so I slowed it down a bit. I'm hoping it's just becuase I'm on my period and not something else.

Eny, What is 30 DS? Half the time I read people's posts I'm guessing what they are writing about :).

Hope everyone's day is going well!

ktandthesmurfs~30ds~ Is a exercise dvd 30 Day Shred By Jillian M

Pat - there's a 5K walk/run in my home town in Flushing Michigan. I thought about doing it last year, but didn't. You'll get to a 14 soon enough. We're just shaped different.. you're already under my weight. :)

I want to see a size 10! That's be GREAT!!!

Good Morning. I have the registeration paper for the 5k run/walk all filled out. I am going to take it by this afternoon. Then I will be officially entered in the Sleigh Bell 5k for December 6. I am stoked. I studied the map. I have walked much of the route while at my sisters 7-4. I have a pair of warm sweat pants and thermals, wool socks, decent shoes. I am ready!!

I don't think I am going to write my JUST FOR TODAY posts here every day. I will keep writing them in my journal. I Totally plan to do them every day to keep me mindful and accountable. I have a few more ideas to help me get back on the weight loss side of the scale. I have been stuck at 181-182 for several months. I am ssssoooooooo ready to see the numbers come down again. I am so thankful that while the numbers are the same they are not going up. I need to wake up the scale goddess and get the numbers going downward again.. MY DD has a doctors appointment to get my Granddaughter up dated on her shots. Then I can go to the YMCA again!!!! Christmas is so close and I am so far away from my goal that I can not see the finish line from here. I was so sure I would be in the low 170's by now. I should be thankful for the 16 I did loose and keep off, not feel so disappointed about not getting close to my goal. I still have time to get into the 170's. All is not lost. Just for today I will do my best. Catch ya all later. Pat http://www.3fatchicks.com/weight-tra...8/150/184/.png

Pat - my new goal for Christmas is #170 something! i like you have been stuck forever. It's time to really assess what's going on - and get moving both my body and the scale! It's very frustrating - but I think of how far I've come.. I'm 1/2 way to my ultimate goal, and it hasn't been easy by any means. I just have to keep going through the 10's to reach the finale. Next stop #170s!!! You in????

Eny~You are doing great. Yes, it is so frustrating to be stuck when you know you did all the right things for all the right reasons and you are stuck at the same weight. Everyone else around you is losing and here I am still the same. I think the way to look at it is we are losers weather the scale moves or not just for the fact we have not given up and walked away from our efforts. My dd is on her way here. I must run. I need to post more but time constraints won't allow it now. Catch ya later. Pat

Eny--you are so like me, getting to a new decade then just hanging around there for awhile. I also am struggling to get out of the 180's but not long ago it was the 190's and before that, I was just dying to get under 200. It is happening, we know it is, so why do we think we aren't succeeding? Dixiemae is right, if we walked away today we still had quite a bit of success! (We just want more! And we will get it!)

I know I get happy and comfortable at a new plateau, then I get frustrated b/c i stay there too long. I then push myself and work myself again, really focus on it again, and eventually, a little more comes off! This web-site is what keeps me re-grouping and re-upping my commitment. That is what is helping us all!

Well, off to the gym to run on tm and some strength training. Already had most of my calories for the day, so now have to dial it back for the rest. Gonna have just a baked sweet potato with Smart Balance on it for dinner, and lots of water and green tea to feel full!

Have a good Wednesday eve, everyone!

Modcat~You said it better than I did. Even if the scale doesn't show a loss, if we don't lose weight we still lose weight!! Old unhealthy habits, lose negative thoughts and ideas. All this baggage that doesn't fit into our new way of living and thinking get lost and replaced by new, better ways. We "gain" knowledge.
Catch ya all later. Pat

Well said everyone!

We are all winners! The prize is a healthier, more confident you!

I have been stuck between 147 and 152 since April.

I am trying to refocus and get at least into the 130's by Christmas. We can do it.

Dixie, I will think of you on December 6th.
I will be at YS wrestling tourney that day! Perhaps both you and he will celebrate your own victory that day!

Ok - you girls ROCK! I'm so glad that I have you all to get through this with me! I guess that in some way the #170s is like a breaking point... it's like in my mind that I "know" I'm succeeding if I can get there. I started off at #241 - so I have come a long way... but I'm still only 1/2 way to where I want to be. I guess it's just be nice to say I have #40 left instead of #50... to be PAST the 1/2 way point.

Pat - you're going to have a BLAST on the 6th. And remember no matter where to finish - the goal is to FINISH! :hug:
On a good note - I'm down #1.2 this week (during TOM) and to #187.4 this morning. :) I revamped my Christmas goal to get into the #170s. I'm going to do the 30 DS the next 29 days (did day 1 last night) and continue to make better food choices. It's slow progress - but it's staying off. Even when I fall off - I don't gain everything back overnnight - which is great!

Eny~I have lost 2 of the ugly pounds I gained. I am at 182 even this morning. I am glad for that. 182 has been the stable weight for weeks. It is so close to 170ville. The goal for this week is get and stay below 182!!!!! I am like you, getting into the 170's is a break through weight for me. I think it does mark a mental "I knew I could do it" award in my mind. We can do this!!!! Thanks for the hug I need them. My innocent little grand daughter told me I am fat. I am, but hearing it from her wrenched my heart. Got to get some more weight off so she as well as I can be proud of me. Pat

It sounds like everyone here is generally in the same boat. I have to wait until weigh in on Sunday but I think I'm down a bit (TOM). But right now is essay and exam time at my school and I am very prone to stress eating. I have a huge evaluation today and I have allready eaten too much nutella and cereal (seperatly of course). I'm going to get out of the house and hopefully that will mean that I will think more about what I eat.

Good luck to everyone today!

kt - mmm.. nutella... one of my devious pleasures as well. It's SO good!

Pat - i have TONS of :hug: to give you! I just wish somehow we could do it in person! It does hurt when someone comments on your weight - especially a child who's honesty hasn't been jaded by society. Just remember - you are making progress!!!

Dixiemae--hey last year my niece, who was about 10, said she was going to call me "squishy"! Hmmm, I think my oodles and oodles of fat rolls around my middle must'a had something to do with that, because she loves coming up to me and giving me hugs. I'm hoping that this year, she doesn't feel like calling me "squishy" again! hehe....

Modcat~That is cute "squishy". I don't think she will be saying that this year!! You are 1 inch taller than me, I am 3 pounds less. Not "squishy"!! I don't have a niece yet, but my nephew pats my belly. I got quite embarrassed a few years ago at a Chinese restaurant some one stood up pointed at me and yelled shes pregnant. No, I wasn't. Every thing in the place got quiet for a moment. Then everyone started laughing. Catch ya later. Pat

I'm in a different boat then your girls. my DD looked at me this morning while I was getting ready and said "Mommy - you're getting skinny!" It felt SO good! Granted this girl saw me at #241 at a size 22/24 - so a 14/16 mommy would look skinny to her :) I'll take it - and keep moving! :D

My sister seen her surgeon yesterday. She has a really hard decission to make. She needs to have the hernia operated on. He said she doesn't have much time to make the decission. He can fix the hernia, but then she can't have bariactric (bad spelling!) surgery. If she has the weight loss surgery THAT surgeon can also repair the hernia all at the same time. She is in process of getting Medicade/Medicare. They will pay for the hernia. She is in a catch 22. The hernia has bled several time since the night she went to the ER. At 436 pounds she is at crisis stage. She wants the operation so she can see her Grandsons grow up. My heart breaks for her. I told her last night I will be there for her what ever she decides to do. Pat

oooh Dixie--that's rough for your sis. My sil had bariatic surgery last January--she is looking and doing fantastic! Her health has dramatically improved, and she is so much happier, with tons more energy! I think she is down so far about 70-80 lbs! About a size 14-16 now......

But man, a constantly bleeding hernia? wow.....

Dixie – I’m sorry to hear about your sister’s difficult time. I’m sure that she will be able to come to the decision that is best for her.

On another note, I have a bit of a confession to make. I tend to inflate the amount that my weigh-in says I am. I do this because I think that for some reason it is too low and I am setting myself up for disappointment if I stick to that number. So since I’ve been reporting my weight to be at 185 it has actually been on the low side of 184.

I decided that today I would post what I actually weighed in at this morning. 181.3. I know that seems like a lot but I just came off of TOM. Maybe next week I will be up because of this bigger weight-loss but I don’t care. I’m just going to truthfully report my weight now, no matter what.

Good for you KT, who better to tell than us!

Dixie, our prayers are with your sister, but like you said, whatever she chooses will be the decision to support. :hug:

I have had an off kilter weekend, not bad, just off. Ate more carbs and salt than I am used to and feel like bloat city today.

Need to drink my wate rand exercise

:wave: Thank you ALL for the kind warm words for my sister. She struggles daily. I went to see her last night. She still has not made a decission. I told her she doesn't need to make a snap decission. Give it a few more days, let the feelings of being overwhelmed by the bombardment of stressful news and stressful decission making pass. Then when she is calmer that is when to make the decission. Not in the middle of the emotional storm.

MM~I, too, made a decission. I have not and will not give up on the black dress for Christmas. I have the hair style picked out, kinda basic chick, I have pearl ear rings and drop pearl necklace, and shoes ready. Now I need to get my butt to the store and pick out the just right dress. It won't be the size I had hoped for, but the deal of it isn't the size, it is the dress that is the focus. Lady I am going for this just for me. It is my self esteem, self worth, the way that I see myself that is on the line here. This black dress has been my dream from the first day I joined this challenge back in June. Thank you EVERYONE for helping me see the light at the end of this weight loss tunnel. Only I can make this dream come true. I am shooting for the stars.

This is happy ramble so excuse me here. I found a pet site on the web. I am going to order some cute things for my Corgi girl. Her name is Noelle. I found some cute panties, coat, leash-collar, and name tag for her. She isn't spoiled yet, but she will be for Christmas. I found some cute stockings to hang at the Dollar Store. I am going to get each of us one. Hers will be stuffed too. The things I found for her are on sale and $4.99 shipping. So I can do this for her. I will order before Thanksgiving so they still have what I want. So for a little less than $50.00 she can have the things she needs. The panties are for TOM. When I get her fixed in the spring she can wear them for glam??

PS: I found the perfect crate for her too. It folds, it is on sale, and s&h are discounted. I don't have to shop all around town to find what I want!!! :dance:
I will catch ya all later Pat :dance:

Dixie--you have to take some pics of her dressed up! Maybe one of you as well in your "little black (sexy) dress"? You go girl--you are looking and feeling up, and hey, you're back on the market! hehe....;)