So far so good. I did indulge in 8 Starbursts but trust me...it could be a lot worst. I am having a god awful craving for Taco Bell right now, so my plan is to go home, finish laundry, walk and feed the dogs, head to the pool to lounge and relax, then come home...dye my hair and watch Big Brother (LOVE this show), then off to bed I go. Im trying to stay busy so I dont drive off to a fast food place. Fingers crossed.

Ok, Im having a high and low today...

My high - I wanted Taco Bell SO BAD yesterday and almost went out at 930 at night to get it! But then I sat down, weighed the good and bad and went to bed without it. Now...I did budget it into my calorie range for today, so I will be having it for lunch...lol.

My low - my mom usually dyes my hair but since we are still not on speaking terms I dyed it myself and OH MY GOD...I screwed up. :( There is this big, dark ring around my head where the two blondes meet...it looks so bad. Worst off, I didnt notice it until this morning, so I had to go to work like that! I am actually debating on leaving early, trying to fix what is screwed up and call it a day.

How is everyone else doing?

Hang in there, Lindy - great restraint on the taco bell cravings! And I know exactly how you feel on the hair thing but I promise you that other people are clueless - they are not seeing what you see. We're all so much more critical of ourselves than we are of anyone else : )

So, a little bit better on the late night eating but still more calories than I had planned for the day at 1700 : ( Am heading out on a hike with my sis in a bit on my random vacation day so that should help on the calorie deficit front. Have a great day, all!

Just a quick note. Down to 246 today...not changing the ticker because I'm going on vacation until Sunday. So, I will weigh in, (yikes!) and hope I do ok. I'm going to indulge a little, but there is a gym onsite, so I told the hubby I was going.

Have a great rest of the week.

Dance - I know what your saying. My co-worker was telling me that it is not obvious at all and that I am making it more than what it is. Nonetheless, I pull it back in a clip and now you cant tell. I called my best friend and asked if she could help me dye it tonight to fix it and she was totally game so yay for it being fixed. I probably am not going to leave early now since I wont be able to do anything anyways until she gets off work. Thanks for keeping me on the positive up and up. :)

1700 calories is still not bad. It will probably trigger your metabolism, high...low...high....low, ya know? I so wish I could go hiking on a regular basis.

Hey!

Dance, thank you for the kudo's. I know warm tea at night is not a big draw, but the lavendar seem to help relax me. For me it is soooo hard to break the TV & eating and it doesn't help that they run one food commercial after another either!

Lindy, I had no idea Publix shrimp was 10 for 120 calories? Dang, I can eat 30 with no problem. I had my calories wrong on that one...ugh. Taco Bell is a household favorite here, especially there new bacon, potatoe, meat, cheese burrito that is probably 2,000 calories and the same in sodium! Yummy. I had one a couple of weeks ago, and oh my was it good. I know, no more! LOL... It was a Tom day! I have to say - GOOD FOR YOU STAYING AWAY! Woo Hoo! Hey, why not make your own low calorie burrito or taco at home? I use to make Taco Pizza at home to reduce the calories and help the cravings. On the hair, I am sure it looks great. I do remember one time I did my own and it turn out pink and I had no choice but to go to to my parents surprise anniversary party with all the family and guests. God help me, I was so embarrassed. I wore it clipped up, but hey, how do you hide pink? LOL....

Maddie, Congratulations! You will do awesome on vacation, just enjoy and make sure you move alot, which will keep the metabolism going. Have fun! We will miss you.

Dance, how envious I am of you living in Denver and able to go hiking. I wish, I wish, I wish...... Here, to go hiking is walking flat land, on concrete, in 115 degree heat, in a neighborhood...............should I just say "It sucks!"

Yesterday was good, however I did eat a small sandwhich at midnight because I was soooooo hungry I couldn't go to sleep. It was plan chicken on bread, with no sauce, so calories were fairly low. I did weigh and lost another pound - thank goodness. I didn't work out yesterday, and today it is too hot out, so I am headed upstairs after I walk the dog to do some strenght training.

I will check in later.

Sandy - your stories are so funny. Thank god I didnt wake up with pink hair, I would not have gone to work. Its going to be fixed, so I guess thats what matters. Good job on not doing worst with your chicken sandwich craving. I have came to the conclusion that even if I slip up, if I make a smarter choice than what I may have prior to dieting, I am proud of myself. I.e.: eating 10 Starbursts yesterday vs. a taco salad, meximelt and 2 hard tacos (YES - I CANT EAT ALL THAT IN ONE SITTING, lol). Anyway, I took the liberty of looking up my taco salad online to see how many calories it was and after I saw that it was 950 calories!!! I decided to pass. Woo-hoo. Instead I got a huge portion of sushi, which was only 550 calories and stayed away from the soy sauce to reduce my sodium intake. So Im happy.

Im going to take it easy the rest of the day with food, I am seeing my old boss for lunch on Friday and old friends on Saturday and I would really like to not be even a little bloated. I may not lose a ton of weight but at least I can control how bloated I am. Ok, gotta go. Ill check in later.

After all my hard work on not scarfing down Taco Bell, TOM is in full force. Why the heck does this happen and why dont I have more self control?

I AM PLEADING for help and hoping some of you read this. I want pizza so bad, I mean seriously bad and considering I had sushi (which wasnt terrible) but in addition is a big no-no. Any words of encouragement would be much appreciated. I am going to indulge on Friday so there is no reason to go off track for this, worst off...Im by myself so even if I have a small pizza...chances are I will binge. UGH....HELP!!! I dont think I have had this little self control in a long time.

Hey everyone! I just thought I'd come on and say hi BEFORE anyone started asking about me this time.

Lindy, sorry that your having Mom issues now. You KNOW I know how that is. I don't have anything insightful to say, except you guys will figure it out. It sounds like there is an underlying issue, maybe about your husband, but only she knows why she went at you like that.

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Ok, I typed everything up there the other night and got sidetracked with everything else, and haven't picked up my computer since then.

Now I have completely forgotten what I read that night and what I was gonna say. This is proof that I truly am THAT busy and not just ignoring you guys by choice.

I remember that Maddiesmom, Dancer, and Lindy are doing great on the weight loss front...so great job you guys. Don't hold it against me if I forgot someone who is doing equally awesome.

I have been hardcore dieting since Monday, so three days completely on plan. My motivation right now is that my dress fitting is Friday and the wedding is like 16 days away and I want to look as good as possible for my pictures.

OMG...I almost forgot...I got my wedding ring!!!!! I couldn't find a band to match my engagement ring, so I am having my diamond reset in a new ring. The new ring looks AMAZING. I kinda looks like 4 rings in one and I absolutely love it and can't wait to wear it!

I finally have all the wedding plans set and in motion. That is a big load off my mind. The luncheon afterwards is planned, flowers are set, hotels are booked....yeah...everything is done! Except I need to tan majorly! About two weeks ago we were working on the gutters at my house and I had a tank top on with a sports bra, and so now I have a triangle on my back that absolutely HAS to go before the wedding. Plus, I will definitely look better in a white dress if I have a tan.

Well, I'm gonna say it again. I miss you girls (chicks :) ) Once the wedding is over, I am hopeful I will have the time to keep in the loop.

OOOOOH CRAP...so we are watching my Mom's two dogs right now. They have this reeeeeeeally bad habit of trying to escape however possible. Well they just did it. Don was coming in the front door from work and they both just pushed their way out and ran away. We both had to go after them...me driving and him running (the dogs sometimes will jump in th car if they see it). But most of the times they just run faster when you call them and they see you. So luckily we have a canal at the end of our road and they both got trapped because their terrified of water. But the little Jack Russel kept trying to escape and run down the canal through snake infested weeds...so needless to say, I just got my exercise for the day. Both dogs are in some major timeout right now.

I will post again when I have time.

Lindy - fight the good fight! can you make yourself a fairly healthy minipizza at home with whole wheat pita, 2% mozzarella, red sauce and lots of veggies? And maybe a big salad alongside? Hang in there, girl - you know you want to dazzle them this weekend and you're doing so well so far today!

Mygrits- major congrats on ANOTHER pound - you are on a roll! WTG!

The hike was great (lots of cals burned too) and I've totally worn myself out by going shopping at Ross, JCPenney (had a coupon), Costco and the grocery store on the way home. I wouldn't have been able to hike and run a gazillion errands in one day before I started this kick - there was too much of me to haul around so I guess it's an NSV : ) I've got to put a few more things away from the shopping whirlwind but I'm sitting down having a quick break to get my energy back.

Let's keep it going - sounds like a productive diet week so far!

Tifftiff - nice to see you here! Sounds like you're crazy busy as usual : ) Good job with the three days on plan!!!

Lindy!!!! I'm here to try to rescue you!!! If you haven't already gotten Pizza (which you would have gotten if you were going to since it is 7:04 now, and you don't eat after 7) DON'T DO IT!!!!! It is absolutely, positively, 100% NOT WORTH IT. Like you said, you don't want to be bloated. You want to look your best Friday and Saturday, and even though no one else will notice if you are bloated, you will...and you will not be as confident and happy for those reunions this weekend. So don't eat the pizza.

On other notes, when I read through what had been posted since I started writing my last post, I remembered that I tried to add you guys on facebook, but the only one I could find was Burgandy. So add me! Tiffany Smart...speaking of that, I am going to go try again to find you guys again. Maybe I was just stupid the other day when I tried.

Oh Tiff and Dance - little too late. :( I scarfed down a whole medium pizza with sausage and 6 strawberry shortcake cookies that I made from scratch - :(. Not proud...not proud. Today is a new day and I am ready to focus. This TOM is especially bad this month, I just feel blah. <walk of shame>

Dance - thanks for the healthy alternative. Too bad I got to it a little too later. Im so jealous of you and your shopping expedition, although I did go to Ross on Sunday and bought quite a bit of clothes. Proudly bragging that most of it was Large shirts (a few mediums) and size 12 outfits. Woo-hoo. ALSO, I know this sounds strange but I think my feet shrunk in size. Is that possible? I thought that was the one body part that pretty much didnt change with your weight? Idk. But I was wearing a 10 and now Im in a 9. SO WEIRD.

Tiff - I was so excited about reading your post. Wow, its just right around the corner, my how time flies! I look forward to seeing your pics. As far as Facebook goes, if you found Burgundy, the rest of us are under her "friends", maybe that will help? I will also try to look you up.

Ok...Im not sure how often Ill be able to check in today because both of the girls that I work with decided to call out today (nice). So its just me and 3 needy Directors, lol.

Good luck today. I vow to stay on track, no matter what.

Lindy - sorry not to have caught your message earlier. And oops on the pizza, etc, but sometimes TOM just gets the best of you. I'm sure you're right back on the wagon today and will stick to plan until the weekend. I'm so jealous of your 12s still - I sometimes fit into 14s but sometimes not still which is such a bummer! Gotta keep on truckin' I guess - maybe another 5 lbs? Don't remember really from last time.

mygrits - I really am lucky to be so close to the mountains and have cooler weather. With all my business trips to FL, I'm just blown away by the heat and humidity. Of course, you guys spend more time in bathing suits which sometimes helps as a motivator : ) A buddy of mine and I sometimes mall-walk early in the morning in the winter when the weather outside is awful and the paths are too icy - is that something that is available (for opposite reasons) where you live? The A/C would be nice at least : )

maddiesmom - congrats on the loss and have fun on vacation!

Yesterday was pretty good - less than 1300 cal, 2.5hr hike, 3hrs of errand running (!!) and slept like a log. Am going to try to stick to under 1400 cal today and 30min elliptical. Maybe 30 min rowing if I can find the energy : )

What's everyone else planning as far as exercise today?

Dance - well I had an awesome exercise routine today. I did 40 minutes cardio and 30 minutes weight training. Food wise, Im right on point. I had shrimp with chick peas for lunch, with one slice of bread (I had to). My plan for dinner is rotisserie chicken with a some wheat rice and sweet pineapple mixed in...mmmm. I cant wait for dinner! Lol.

On a positive note, I would like to say that I took the high road and called and apologized to my mom today. Im not sure what for, but I did - lol. So all is well in our world. I am not going to do any exercise or walk tomorrow because after work is happy hour so I want to make sure that my hair is perfect and when I do the gym in the morning, its not bad, but its not perfect (god that sounds so vain). Everyday after work, I have been going to the pool and just laying out. Not getting any major tans and not swimming, just enjoying the evening breeze and listening to the radio...its soooo relaxing.

So, I think Im going to vent about something that happened yesterday. No need for reply, just venting, lol. My best friend of 17 years are still in contact. I do so much for this girl. When she was broke, I bought her food, when she needed her taxes done, I did hers at 11 at night because she was in a rush to get them done to get money (and her boyfriends and her roommates - you get the picture), anyway, so I had my hair snafu and asked if she could help me re-dye it, she told me yes. So I went and got the pizza yesterday (intending to share and treat her for helping me) and she cancels on me...wait...not only does she cancel, but she tells me at 7 p.m. that she's "not sure" if she wants to do it but to wait, so I wait...and wait...and wait...then she texts me at 8 p.m. to tell me shes not doing it! Grrr...I specifically said I didnt want to go to work another day with hair like this. If she had no intentions of doing it, she could have told me earlier in the day so I could have at least had someone else do it. Anyway, Im not that angry, just irritated with her. I just think its really rude, especially when I have been such a good friend to her. Ok - dont venting, sorry.