Hey guys. Thanks for the support and the motivation. I was going to wait until my husband leaves to get back on this diet. But I cannot! It's really driving me nuts and I don't feel good about myself when I eat badly. I got on the scale and was 214!!! Thats up 3lbs from sunday and 5lbs from the sunday before. How is that possible! So.. I'm officially back on my diet hard core today. I'm at 900 calories for the day so far and I'm about to go to work.. where I usually don't eat. But if I do, I will snack on 100-200 calories worth of someting. I'm going to the gym tomorrow after work. I feel better already! Hopefully the scale this morning was wrong.. but I'm not going to take any chances.

Talk to you tomorrow!

Dance - your funny, I love your comment about fancy shoes. If I could watch DVD's at the gym, I would be in heaven. They only have TV's set at CNN and ESPN...boring. Anyway...Im proud of you for getting on, Id be impressed if you did go with the rollerblading but couldnt blame you if you didnt, Ill take it easy on you. The fact that you werent up to doing anything and you still pushed on is awesome.

Neesy - glad to hear from you, sad to hear about the weight gain. I find it hard to believe you can put on that much in such a short period of time, yes..maybe 2...3 pushing it, but you and I know that 2 pounds of that 5 is water weight. Common girly...lets do this. What do I need to do to help you get there. Hmmmm...do I have to send you daily texts? Im serious! I am pulling for you.

Ok. Good day for me food wise. Still feeling bloated as all **** but I consumed my normal few troughs (sp?) of water-lol. Fingers crossed I dont look like the state puff marshmellow man tomorrow. Have a good night girls.

Well, didn't want to go to the gym tonight, but pushed through it and went. I'm getting back to my normal rhythm of going 3-4 times per week. This week I want to do my 2 strength routines as well as 2 days of cardio, so I'm really going to try to go 4 times this week, we'll see.

Food wise, I'm doin ok. Had a granola bar and yougurt for breakfast, another granola bar for a snack, a big salad with chix breast for lunch, and then grilled chicken and veggies for dinner. Oh, and I know my TOM is coming becuase for an afternoon snack, I had Reese's PB cups...sooooo good and I don't regret it for a second. Of course, I did stay after my weights workout to do some cardio to burn them off, but it was totally worth it.

Neesy: Hang in there, we're here if you need us.
Lindy: Sorry I'm not able to get on here as much...work watches us like hawks, so can't log on until after Maddie goes down (and after gym time...around 10 pm CST).
Dancer: Great job on the workout. I'm so impressed!

Sandy: where are you?!? Also, what happened to Kity?

Anyways, it's late and I gotta be up early tomorrow. Good night

Good morning girls...

Im kinda sleepy today and so I skipped the gym, which means I will either have to go tonight (doubtful) or go this weekend, which seems more likely. Especially since Gabriella will be leaving on Sunday. Which brings me to my next conclusion. I think that since I will have no one to account for for three whole weeks, I am going to try to do the gym 2 times a day for those 3 weeks. Maybe not everyday, maybe just going twice 3 days and still sticking with my morning routines 5 days. I dont know...it was just something I had considered.

Anyway...Maddiesmom...no worries on getting on here during the day. I know everyones job does not offer that flexibility, I just try to push you guys a little hard because I have noticed a pattern since December...wow, I cant believe this forum has been active that long! Point being...when you guys dont log in as much, it USUALLY means that you have "fallen off the wagon", now in all honesty...thats up to you if you dont care but being that everyone here has asked for accountability and support...I have to at least put it out there. I totally understand that people are busy with day to day routines and jobs, its just my way of sticking by your sides. :)

I woke up to go to the gym, went through the paces of getting ready...got in my flippin car and guess where I drove? MCDONALDS!!! Ahhhh...what the heck?! I NEVER eat that early (530 a.m.) but I was sooooo hungry. Oh well...its dont, cant change it. Ill take it east the rest of the day. My meal came to a total of 900 calories, which only leaves me with 400 for the day...greaatt...obviously, that is not obtainable. So I have planned out my meals for the rest of the day and I should be at like 1500 if I stick with what I planned out. Sounds good to me.

Ok, Ill check in later.

Morning, girls!
Yesterday's eating wasn't so great (1770 cals - high end of my cycling range) but I'm not surprised since I wasn't in a great mood. Also, not surprisingly, I didn't make it skating and spent the evening in a TV coma. Today I plan to be around 1400 and will walk in the evening for at least an hour with my mom.

Lindy - wow, I didn't realize this group had been together since December! That's impressive. I like the sound of your plan for when your daughter's away. Good luck on food choices for the rest of the day - sounds like a tricky start.

Maddiesmom - sounds like you are doing great - way to go!

Uh-oh...this day has become a disasterous one in weight loss world. I started with my McDonalds breakfast, which in actuality was more like 1200 calories and not 900 (I forgot to include my OJ), then one of my co-workers was without a car for lunch so she asked if we could go to lunch and she would treat if I drove...uhhhh...ok. So we went to Sonnys BBQ. I had sliced pork with BBQ sauce, 2 slices of garlic bread, BBQ baked beans and corn nuggets. BLAH! Even thought I SHOULD have something small tonight to keep my metabolism trucking, Im just going to stop now for the rest of the day. I cant imagine digesting any more food.

I am now going to wollow in my own misery. :(

Lindy - Uh-oh - that doesn't sound like the kind of day you wanted to have! I've been bringing a healthy breakfast to work with me lately since I'm not all that hungry when I first wake-up and it helps me resist office temptations (bagels, donuts). Is that something that would work for you?

Dance - good suggestion. I actually do pretty good with my breakfast (most of the time), this day was an exception for sure. I am going to take Gabriella swimming tonight and do some laps while Im there. That way we have our quality time together but I can get some exercise accomplished. I was still feeling bloated from yesterday and all that BBQ didnt make it any better. According to my Sonnys Meal and McDonalds meal, I have consumed 3600 calories...and you know what that means! I automatically have gained a pound....great. Oh well, no sense in pouting about it, I just have to do something about it-right.

So how is your day going Dance?

Doing good food-wise. Not all that thrilled with the world on other fronts (kind of down due to bf being MIA, bad hair day, etc) but keep getting random compliments from people, some of whom I don't know. And I just look at them like 'are you crazy?'. It's all I can do to thank them politely as I feel completely beaten with the ugly stick today (and large as a house, for some reason). Oh well - I imagine it will pass. Anyone else have days like this?

Swimming with your daughter sounds great! So, I've decided that what you're doing is extreme calorie cycling - your metabolism will not get bored this way, right?

Dance....uh, right...yes, extreme calorie cycling (that sounds good, lol). I can totally relate to you today on the feeling not so pretty side. I went for comfort today and although I enjoy wearing capris, everytime I wear them, for some reason I feel fat and frumpy. Also, my shirt today is really too big for me to wear, which makes me look bigger (in my eyes). ALSO...my hair is pulled back...another fatty mcfat-fat feeling AND Im still bloated from gorging beyond belief. I am ready to call it a day after my swim. We will see. Gab also wants to ride her new scooter which is exercise for me since I have to hold her up because she has the balance of an elephant on a tight rope, lol.

I probably will not have time to check in tonight, so have a good night girls...wait, ahem....DANCE! Lol - I kid..I kid.

Thanks Lindy. You always make me feel better. I did good on calories yesterday.. but I know today and tomorrow will be bad because we have no groceries and only have a few dollars to our name. So.. that means dollar menu!!!! Ugh.. I guess I will get back on track on Friday. I was talking with my husband about all the things that have gone wrong and right since we started dieting together. We definitely gave up a few months back and started eating whatever we wanted.. whenever we wanted. On friday, I am going to the grocery store and get stuff like I use to. No more eating out. That was what got us into this mess. We did fine when we were eating at home only. Plus it will probably be better on the budget anyway.

I weighed 202 at the lowest point of this "diet." So.. officially it has been 12lbs gained since March. My husband has gained back 10 as well... which he will surely take off in boot camp. I want to WOW him when I see him at graduation in October.. so that is my goal. I'm getting back on this on Friday.. when my budget allows. I'll do what I know works...

Anyway, thanks for letting me vent!

Neesy: Glad you are getting back on track. It's amazing how comforting eating can be. I mean, think about it, whenever someone celebrates something (b-day, wedding, graduation, etc) it's all centered around food. Feel crappy? Eat some ice cream...I think that's where my weight gain came from. My parents didn't eat well, we ate out a lot (still do unfortunately) and I gained. I think that once you start eating at home you will do much better with the weight loss.

Dancer: Trust me, some days I feel like I fell off the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down! LOL. I think everyone feels that way from time to time.

Lindy: Tomorrow is another day, and I know that you'll go back on track. Of course, McD's does sound really good. I actually changed my route to work so I wouldn't pass by anything tempting like that...is that something you could do as well? I cut through residential neighborhoods rather than taking the main roads (which are busier anyways). The only place I have to pass is Starbucks, but since I bring my own coffee to work, I don't want it to go to waste.

My downfall? We have a full cafeteria downstairs. Today was waffle Wednesday, but didn't have one. They did have a full fruit buffet, so I had that with some yogurt and granola. They have all the good stuff too, ice cream, candy, and the chef makes an awesome cream of mushroom soup...so good. I've gotten good at turning that stuff down and just hit the salad bar.

Spent an hour and a half at the gym last night, and I went again tonight after work for my cardio...spent 45 minutes on the eliptical precor machine (easy on my knees, thank goodness) and burned over 300 calories, went over 3 miles and man was I sweaty! I think that's one of the worst things about exercising. I'm a girly girl and don't like to get dirty or sweat. What do you guys hate most about exercising? Maybe we can discuss and give each other pointers?

Anyway, my post is huge, so I'm going to stop. Have a great night!

Neesy - I was impressed to read that you and your husband sat down and discussed your "faults" in the "diet" world. Thats the first step and you know it. I know appetite wise its not always a good idea, but what helps me a lot is when I have several meals already prepared and packed in individual containers. I.e.: this past weekend I was jonesing for chicken kabobs, well since its only me Im cooking for now (Gab doesnt like some of the healthy foods), I made 6 skewers on the grill, ate 2 and took the remaining 4 and split them into to tupperware containers. Also, remember when both of us use to buy rotisserie chickens and divide them up? Just remember...you were successful not that long ago and you CAN make a comeback.

Vicky - wow, you are putting in some serious gym time. I cant wait for our end of the month weigh in competition, I think both of us are really doing well. I made the mistake of hopping on the scale and sure enough I did gain a pound but Ill leave my ticker alone until Sunday....oh wait...Saturday. Thats what I wanted to say. I am going to a gourmet buffet Saturday night so I am choosing to weigh in on Saturday morning. :) I know...Im a cheater, lol. And your thing on sweat...yeah, Im not a fan. So heres the deal with me. Since I go in the morning before work and I cut it really close, I always do my hair and makeup before going to the gym. LOL - I know....I look absolutely ridiculous, like Im going to a beauty pagent. But I go to the gym right when they open, so its not like I can "shift" my makeup time till after and then just go to the gym earlier (does that make sense?). But thats not what I hate most about the whole exercise thing. The thing I hate most is the LAUNDRY!!! Grrrr....it has doubled my laundry load, which absolutely sucks. I cant wear the same thing twice because its too stinky.

Here I go..babble...babble...babble. I feel good today. No distractions, no issues-CONFIDENT. Ill check in later.

Have a good day girls.

Neesy - you know exactly how to do this and you totally will! When we were really low on money, my mom used to make inexpensive vegetable soup with a mix of v-8 and chicken broth for the base and frozen mixed veggies and whatever else she had around (rice, noodles, chicken etc). Depending on how motivated you are, you might take those dollars and channel them into something a little lighter. Just a thought...
Maddiesmom - you workout queen - I'm so impressed! And loved the ugly tree comment : ) Strangely, I'm back to normal looking today - weird how that works. Yeah, the sweaty stuff sucks but there are some pretty great workout clothes that 'wick away' sweat. Cotton is pretty much the worst since it gets so soggy. What do you usually wear to work out in? Also, if you guys haven't tried it, there's a special detergent, I think it's called FIT, that helps get sweaty smells out of microfibers that otherwise tend to hang on to them. I guess my biggest issue with workouts is how hard it is to get started. Once I start, I'm okay - I always finish but sometimes I really really really don't want to start.

Lindy - love the idea of you all glammed up at the gym : ) I've belonged to a couple of gyms before but have found that I don't go often enough to make them worthwhile so I got an elliptical to have at home which also cuts down on total time in transit since it's just down the hall and I can wear just a sports bra and shorts which is less hot and sweaty (not a look I'm ready to rock in public just yet : ) ).

So, I did better with my food plan yesterday - 1360 calories and one hour walk. Today I'm shooting for around 1400 cal again and 45 min on the elliptical if I can bear it. I'm in a much better mood today and gave the concert tickets that we're not going to use to my sister who's taking a friend who has cancer, which is pretty much the best use of tickets I can imagine so I'm glad about that. Not sure what I'll do this evening instead - either rollerblade in the park or go shopping as I'm running out of tops to wear to work as my usual ones are too big, which I gotta say is a really nice problem to have for a change.

Have a great day....

Dance - lol, love your comment about the sports bra and shorts look (not ready to rock yet). It made me giggle. I think its really nice what you did with your concert tickets. What concert was it anyway? I swear, I wish we lived close to each other because you rollerblade a lot and I LOVE rollerblading. I am always begging my family and friends to learn so that someone can come with me.

I have had a good day so far. I factored into my calories a Pepsi soda this morning, as I was having a sugar craving and that worked perfectly. I also did something VERY smart. Today is Gab's bday and I promised her we would bake a cake tonight. Now, we had bought a Carvel cake last Sunday but its the act of baking that she enjoys, so thats what were doing. ANYWAY - I went and bought chocolate cake mix for the cake. I HATE chocolate cake so much...blah, yuck. I could have easily purchased yellow cake mix, as I LOVE that kind but instead I bought one that she would love and I would hate. <patting myself on the back>. Food wise, I am doing ok. I thought my grandma was making homemade chicken soup today for lunch so instead of making myself something healthy, I anticipated eating over her house. Well I got there and she said she didnt feel like cooking, so instead I had an egg sandwich. It fell in my calorie range, which is fine but it wasnt filling enough and now Im kinda hungry. I think Im going to pick up cooked shrimp for dinner, you can have like 24 medium shrimp cocktail shrimp for only 75 calories. So I think that is my dinner plans for tonight. God...writing this, Im starving. I left my purse in the car so I wouldnt be tempted to take a trip to the snack machine (I had a feeling I was going to feel like this).