Rayne- You look great! What a huge difference. Wow. So much slimmer.. all over! Oh and I love how your dog is right at your side in both pics. haha

Hi Ladies,

Still majorly under the weather here in Chicago. I can't seem to shake it and now TOM and migraines are adding to the mix...not a great week here. Haven't worked out since Thursday. ugh. I did attempt to go yesterday morning, I drove the 20 minutes to the gym in 32 degree weather to find out...there was a power outage. I did some cleaning and yardwork, that's as much energy as I could muster.

I have the trainer tomorrow, so I'm sure he'll kick my butt into high gear. I just wish I knew what I had. I don't have a stuffy nose, but I feel completely drained. Plus, I am totally stressed at work, which doesn't help.

Went to the orchard, and I took some pics with my baby. I also had some pics from last year...and I have totally noticed how my face has thinned out. It's hard to tell with the rest of my body since I was bundled up, but take a look.

Hope you are all doing well. Good night.

Vicky- You are doing great. I am sorry you are still icky. Hopefully the rest of the week will start to look up. Your trainer sounds amazing. I wish I had one of him =) or two. lol. Feel better chica! And again, the pics are so cute!

AJ-sorry you are having an off day. Hope tomorrow will be better for you.

Staccie-wow, major workout. I like the idea of running/walking and going sideways, etc.

Neesy-thanks, and yea those 2 dogs are my extra shadows.

maddiesmom-you can def. see a difference, looking good!! Maddie is adorable. Sorry you are still feeling under the weather. Stress will do that to you.

No updates here, except got day 21 LEVEL 3 done today. Killer, using the weight a lot more now and tons of plank moves. 9 more days!!!

Vicky - definitely tell in your face and shoulders...I really like your new haircut too! It really suits you.

Rayne - I am curious about this workout DVD thing...I work out at the gym but everyone talks about it...it sounds really tough with all these levels and stuff...

Well I didn't get any work done this weekend and I don't care. I will have to focus hard this week and get through it. Pretty soon this weekends won't be an option so I guess for now they are so I will take advantage of it while it lasts!

Feeling good from my workout and remotivated to have an awesome week. Losing 10 pounds before Halloween is a daunting task and if I don't, well that is ok - but I will fit into my snug pants..

Goodnight everyone. I hope to log on tomorrow during lunch!

S

Staccie- I will make it a challenge with you! I will shoot for 10 too =)

It really would help me to have something to shoot for seeing as I just shoved 4 servings of chocolate ice cream down my gullet. Boooo bad day that I just made so much worse.

Good morning girlys! Oh how I have missed you girls sooooo much! And...I have fantastic news, I only gained 2 pounds on the cruise!!! Woo-freakin-hoo! Haha. Lets see, quick overview of my vaca, had a blast, hated Jamaica though, met a hot Boston boy (lol-see Mygrits, you were right!), met a hot Bosnian waiter who gave me a personal tour of Cancun (he was my waiter on the boat) and we agreed to be penpals (nothing more---obviously), exercised everyday on the boat, ate tons but never took the elevators once, stairs everytime, LOVED looking at my pics---I actually want to post them for everyone to see, Im not ashamed. Um, I think that is pretty much it. :)

Ok--Burgundy and Maddiesmom, you guys look AMAZING!!! Burgundy, I so want to whoop out my 30DS again after seeing your pics, you are doing great girly. Ill have to catch up with everyone elses posts later, Im sorry, Im sooooo behind at work and at home, this is the only bad part of vaca. Ill catch you girls later. PS- new goal, get down to 160 by Halloween for my sexy Little Red Riding Hood outfit that Im going to wear to a costume party, hee-hee.

AJ - you're on! Let's try and make 10 and keep each other motivated!!! Vicky - I am also just ahead of you but barely.
I made a mistake and weighed myself this morning - OMG - that was nasty. But I know I don't weigh that - no way - I'm not stepping on that damn thing until Thursday. I had some good workouts this weekend and well a bit of sodium on the weekend - but I am bound and determined!
I got up at 445am, went and did 45 min of strength training followed by 30 min of spin. I have Yoga tonight as I really need to do some stretching. I don't consider Yoga a workout - I know many would disagree! I got my food all packed and going to rock it. My arse isn't going to know what hit it!!

AJ - sorry about the ice cream...were you feeling grouchy? I tend to eat bad when I am grouchy too - let's try and find something else to do when things are not going well...get a good workout in today and drink tons of water and don't go near the scale for a few days :)

Lindy - welcome back - sounds like an awesome vacation! Can't wait to see some pictures. And little red riding hood heh - I hope you find a big bad wolf - woo hoo!!! And congrats on the 2 pounds - for a vacation like that - amazing! I hope you can rub in that chicks face at work!!! HAHAHA

Well I am off to work and I have that coworker to deal with today - yuck - I have no idea how that is going to go and it's after lunch when I a bit more quiet and 'leave me alone' kind of mode, I should have gotten it over with this morning!

Hope to check in at lunch but if not will at dinner when my day is done and before Yoga. I hope some of those guys are in my yoga class that were there last time - they were funny to watch - ohh I am so mean!

AJ - if you need some support - FB me - I have access to it on my blackberry :)

Have a good day ladies!!

Geez---its hard to get back into the groove of eating healthy after Ive had steak and hibachi and god knows what else on my trip, lol. Yesterday and today have not been too good, but I did make it to the gym, but was running behind and only got in 10 minutes of cardio, it was mainly an upper body weights day.

Stacie- kudos on your gym routine. I see your ticker reflects 5 pounds down, good job. Your getting there slowly but surely. OH and I love your big bad wold comment, lol...definately! :P

LINDY- Welcome back!!! We missed you too. I am glad you had fun. I have never been on a real cruise and I can only imagine it is awesome! (Real cruise because I did sail from the Greek Isles to Turkey but the ship was cruddy and small) I can't wait to see your pics!!!!

Staccie- Thank you so much. You really are one of the most amazing people I know. So fun! I am doing okay I guess. I was really grouchy and feeling just blahhhh! I am okay I think now. I am just bored. AND! I can't wait to be 10lbs lighter @ Halloween! I need it!

Okay I am hating myself this morning for yesterday. Its okay though. Its over. I feel sick so my body is kicking my butt for it. I really want to kick it into gear today. I need to eat right/work out and not be funky. I will stay in touch. I hope mygrits returns today!

So, I cancelled my training tonight with Mr. Hott. He's such a nice guy though, told me to feel better and that he'll miss my "sarcastic personality." We ended up talking on the phone for 10 minutes. So, I'm going back next Wednesday with him. Now, if only I could get past this cold, I'd be in better shape. I haven't worked out since last Thursday (does laundry and house work count?) and my eating has gone down hill the past week as well.

I had Wendy's today for lunch, paying for it now, the grease is lodged in my stomach. Had 3 pieces of pizza last night for dinner. I gotta stop!!! Back on track tomorrow, I promise. You'll just have to hold me to it. I was doing so well, I can't be sidetracked now. It's the classic cycle, when I'm sick, it's really hard to stick to a diet.

How is everyone else doing? AJ: did you recover from last night?

Lindy: Welcome back! Congrats on only gaining 2, that is really impressive. And, now you can tell your co-worker to stick it where the sun don't shine!!

Have a great night ladies, I'm off to bed early.

VICKY!- No more ick. Tomorrow will be a good day! You will start feeling better with out that crud. I am okay I guess. I am just off right now. I ate all day. I am going to the gym right now though!!

I am seriously re arranging my bed tonight because I am waking up on the wrong side of the bed every day! I am funky still. I ate ALL day but its was like veggies and fruit. Going to walk with my hubby. He is trying to help me with my attitude I think. =)

Staccie-I actually like the 30ds, its only 20 minutes. It used to be on youtube but I think it was taken off. You do 3 circuits of 3 minutes strength, 2 minutes cardio and 1 minute abs. Good workout. How did the talk with your coworker go?

Lindy-welcome back and congrats on only gaining 2 lbs, that will be easy to take off. Thanks for the compliment too.

Aj-hope the walk with your hubby was good, its nice he is trying to help you.

Vicky-maybe you will start to feel better tomorrow. You must really feel bad to cancel your trainer.

Did day 22 today. Level 3 is killer!!!! I am staying home tomorrow, so I wont eat out. I have been eating lunch out almost everyday since Friday. I have been making pretty good choices, but I could make better ones at home.

I am gonna get myself in bed. Trying to get on a better sleeping schedule.

Hi ladies...well I made it through today - didn't eat anything I wasn't planning on, although I made some adjustments, I didn't go over my calorie range. Woo hoo! I had to plug my nose when I was walking by all the yummy restaurants from Yoga but I made it without stopping. I had a light dinner as it's late and I feel good. Yoga is awesome - I felt way less tense after!
My chat with the coworker went ok - thanks for asking Burgandy - I don't think it's resolved, nor will it ever be - but I think we found some middle ground. We're just very different that's all. And I realize that I can be kind of a ***** sometimes.
Is Dance still away in San Fran?
AJ - sorry to hear you are in a funk...but you do have a lot going on too so I hope you are not being too hard on yourself and no cheats today! Give yourself a booty high five!! Hope things start looking up soon for you!
Vicky - hope you are on the mend as well and I hear you on the eating bad when sick - I was a prime example of that last week. I hope you can find the strength to get back on track tomorrow - it's so hard to get back when you fall off but you always seem to pull through so well.
Lindy - glad you made it to the gym - and hope easing yourself back into your routine pre-vacation works out soon. I am so proud of you only gaining 2 pounds - so awesome. I think I gained that last week by just being bad when I was sick and I wasn't even having fun doing it!
Burgandy - kudos for how hard you are working girl! Those next pictures, you are going to be like - who is that hawt arse chick!

Well I wish that I could do some work tonight but I am too tired. I think I will read for about 1/2 hour and go to bed. No workout in the morning tomorrow, I have pilates and some ab class tomorrow night...I'm scared - never done that before! I really want to work out in the morning because it starts my day off awesome but I know when my body needs some time off. If I do decide to go in the am I won't be going at night.

Sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite, unless they are really cute :)

S

Howdy, girls! I'm finally back and missed you guys! We had a good time in the Bay area and I was able to keep up with running and hiking and as far as I can tell am at the same weight as when I left. Apart from seeing my bf's parents, I was also able to spend most of a day with an old buddy from grad school who has also been on a weight loss kick and who also has a moody partner so as you can imagine, we had tons to talk about. It makes such a difference being with people who really understand you, don't you think? Anyway, I know I missed a bunch and haven't completely caught up yet but I only have time for a quick post as work is crazy and I leave for another long weekend on Friday.

Burgundy - you look awesome! your torso is looking much slimmer - that must make a huge difference in clothes! :bravo:

maddiesmom - loved seeing the updated pic - even though it's not a body shot, you can completely see the difference in your face and upper body. Major progress - we're so proud of you!

staccie - way to go on yoga!

aj - what's going on on the job front? what are the next steps?

lindy - glad you had a great time on your cruise - and congrats for minimizing your gain! That must be especially hard to do on a cruise with food everywhere.

Apologies in advance to anyone I missed - I'll try to go back and get caught up. Small NSV for me - I totally noticed that I take up less of the airline seat than I used to!

Have a great day all....