REGARDING THE CHALLENGE:

OK...so being that it is 07/31..it is agreed that we will start tomorrow? August 1st? and end November 1st? Is that right or am I just super confused. And I LOVE Dances idea of us doing an "electronic" gift card for Amazon, although I dont know how that works, we will cross that bridge when we get there. SO...that being said...I think the following individuals have shown interest:

LuckyLindy
Maddiesmom
Mygrits
Danceindenver
Burgundyrain

Anyone else? That would leave the winner with $40 ($10 a piece)- not too shabby. So, how about we all weigh in tomorrow, log on and record your start weight. This is how we will do it, percentage wise:

To calculate total percentage of weight lost: subtract ending weight from starting weight. Take this number, and divide by starting weight.

So, if I started at 300 lbs and got down to 200 lbs, I would have lost 100 lbs. 100 divided by 300 is .33 or 33%.

I can maintain a spreadsheet with what everyone weighs in at. This will definately hold us accountable. Woo-hoo. Great idea girls!

Ok, now, for weight loss (or lack there of), hopped on the scale today, not sure why, just felt kinda bloated and well, it was 186, which means I have gained a pound. Oh well, lets see what it says tomorrow, Ill drink lots of water and wait and see.

Ill check in later girls. Good luck today.

I am ready for this challenge. The gift card sounds much easier, but like Lindy I am not familiar with how to do it. I am sure my husband does. I'm hoping to have a productive day. I want to get a bike ride in, take the dogs for a walk and do 30ds before bed. I am restarting days with my 30ds, yesterday was day 1. I need to do it everyday!!!! Like everyone else, my thighs need some time away from each other.

I will check in later tonight

EDIT:tomorrow, I plan on changing my ticker. I know the number is going up, but I want it to be correct starting the challenge

Yay!!! Sounds good Burgundy. I too might have to edit my ticker tomorrow to reflect my 1 pd. wieght gain, we will see what the scale says tomorrow. I am also going to try doing the 30 DS. I am only going to the gym 3 days a week now, so I think I can handle doing both. Its really the exercise I need to get to my goal, I have my EYE ON PRIZE, lol...so BRING IT!

Lol. Ok...going to lunch. I am also going tomorrow to buy a bunch of fruits and veggies and lean meats. I am trying to go with a VERY low carb diet, it seems that when I tried to limit my carbs, thats when I lost the most weight.

Sounds like a plan. I will weigh in tomorrow - thank goodness it's not today! lol......

I think your list is correct Lindy, as I haven't seen Neesy on here in a while and Tiff is busy with her wedding. It's alright, because if it is a success, we can do it again after the holidays.

Ok, I did better yesterday, but it wasn't a total success, as I ate last night. Today, I am just focusing on my brain malfunction, and what is causing me to eat at night. It's either emotional (duh) or boredom. I do know when I am busy, I could care less about eating. So, that being said, maybe I need to go back to working out in the early evening......??? Hmmm.

Check in later, going to eat my oatmeal.

Howdy, girls! Happy to be back home and am gearing up for a run at altitude again, even thought I'd rather just laze around.

Anyway - tomorrow's perfect for the challenge start. I'm glad we're doing this - I needed something to get me going as I've kind of lost steam this week.

Quick overview on the gift card thing (I'm pretty used to them since I often cop out and use them as a last minute gift for my brother in law's b-day). You log on to your amazon account (assuming you have one) and you select the electronic gift card option, enter the person's email address and dollar amount and purchase it as if you were actually buying something physical. It sends a email with a code on it to the gift recipient who then plugs in the code in as a gift card number when she goes to purchase something. And I just checked - it doesn't look like it's a problem to use multiple giftcards on a single purchase so we should be good to go.

Happy Friday!

Bike ride-check
30ds-check
Now I just have to take the dogs for a walk. I am waiting on my sister in law and niece to get here to go with me. Gonna go around 8 when its cooler. Heat and Boston Terriers dont mix well. Its awesome to set up a goal list each day like this and actually achieve it. I will have to do this daily.

Hey Dance & Burgund, I don't see anyone else on here tonight, so I will say hello to you both ;-)

Burgund I totally understand heat and dogs. Our German Shephard loves being outside, but in the summer he can last all of 10 minutes because of the heat. I feel so bad for him because during these months he is inside alot and bored to death. His favorite thing is to be outside chasing sticks being throw, but he just can't handle it this time of year. Shephards and Florida don't mix! LOL..

Dance, sounds like a plan. I think I do have an Amazon account from purchasing books in the past. I an anxious to start tomorrow too. I am trying really hard not to eat right now. I did eat a small burger, but I did great all day, and it was lean meat on very thin whole wheat flat bread. I guess tomorrow we should all weigh-in and record it, or copy and paste in continuously so it is on one list (one posting), then save it.

I will check in tomorrow, have a great night!

Hey gals! Sounds like you are both doing great! Burgundy - isn't it weird that just typing in that you're going to do something and coming back and typing that you did it somehow makes you more likely to do it? I don't get all of the reasons why it works but it's probably the whole community and accountability thing that everyone talks about with 3FC and probably the reason groups like AA work well - lots of sharing and support.

mygrits - good for you on the will power - sounds like you are turning things around, sister! I think Lindy sort of volunteered to track our results (at least starting and ending weights) which sounds great so as long as we weigh in tomorrow, we should be good. Let the games begin! : ) I'm kind of nervous about getting on the scale after a week traveling and TOM but it is what it is, right?

Will check in tomorrow - off to take a bubble bath and enjoy the cool air.

Morning, girls! So nice to be sleeping in my own bed again : )
So, news from the scale front is a nice and steady 178 and I'll take it happily! Yesterday was pretty reasonable at 1466 cal and a good 30 min jog. My pace is getting a bit faster and my knee doesn't seem to bother me as much so those are nice NSVs. Today I'm planning a longer run and some gardening time to get back in the weight loss swing of things but we have dinner tonight with my bf's dad who's in town for the weekend and it's at my favorite tapas plate. I'm going to try to check out the menu beforehand so I can get some healthier ideas and maybe eat a salad before I go. Hope you all have a a nice day!

Dancy good for you being 178! Woo Hoo! I guess everyone is busy this morning. Bye the way, the photo's on FB, are those your children, or nieces & nephews. Really adorable photo' too! Love the hiking one.

I didn't get my workout in this morning, as I slept too late and the heat has taken over here. I was going to to a two mile walk and some gardening, but unfortunately in Florida if you don't get at it early, it is just too hot. Soooo, it means working out inside. I guess I will hit the stairs, and do some strength training. I also make swim later.

Let's the games begin!! Here is the list so far!

Dance 178
Grits 219


Look forward to seeing our other partners on the list ;-)

Ok, ladies, I was hoping to see a drop this morning after all my hard work yesterday. But no, so I am still at 222. Have a busy day today. Got a family get together, they are cooking out. Hopefully there will be a salad and some healthy options. I dont want to eat the burgers and hotdogs. I know a lot of me not losing is all the sodium in everything. I need to eat at home more and cut out the salt.

Things to accomplish today.
take dogs for a walk
30ds
Dont know if I will get much more than that done today. Not sure how long the family thing will be.

I will check in later. Oh, I updated my ticker, it sucks to see the numbers go up, but at least I know it will go down now again.

Man just looking at my signature now makes me really want to lose the next pound so I can add another sun. Gotta get on with it. Up to workout with Jillian

Burgundy - I have a feeling you're right on the edge of a loss - just hang in there and I bet you'll see it by Monday! : )

mygrits - the young girl is my niece, the one in the pic with me is my sis (her mom), and the two boys are the sons of two of my best friends here in Denver and they had the best time with a bunch of old mardi gras beads - hard to know what will appeal to the little ones : ) Hope you get your exercise in okay - that's tough when it's so hot outside.

Hey Burgund - You WILL lose it, just keep the sodium down and yes, keep a distance from the burgers and dogs. I have to admit, I love grilled food and that would be hard! You will lose it, sometimes our bodies hang on just from a change of schedule or stress.

Let the games begin list:

Dance 178
Grits 219
Burgund 222


Ok, we are up to three, hopefully Lindy, Maddie, and maybe anyone else will add theirs today. Today is Day 1 for the contest, ending November 1st. We have three months to really kick it in, just in time for the holidays.

Ok ladies, the game is on! LOL Weigh in today was 247. Boy, not a great starting point, thought I would be down a couple of pounds, but I went to a surprise party last night and ate some pretty salty food. My own fault. I was starving (again my fault) and indulged too much. Didn't have b-day cake though...it wasn't that great, so why waste the calories after I already ate too much?!?

I did turn it around today though. Got to the gym at 10:30 and did my strength training workout. Kicked my butt again, but I needed to go after the fiasco last night. Felt good going...(did I just say that?!?) I think I like working out better in the morning, which I'm not able to do during the week. I was able to work out, have lunch with Maddie and hubbie, put Maddie down for a nap and clean while she was asleep. Not too shabby. I actually worked out 3 times this week...which is a record for me. I think I'm getting used to it, so I am motivating myself to go.

I'll check back in tomorrow. Have a great Saturday!