Well TOM arrived early so that explains the no weight loss. Also maybe my weird big mac craving but I really haven't craved anything else. No chocolate, no other salts. Weird. Good but weird. I am feeling sick and icky so I will spend today on the couch and tonight in the gym. =(

AJ, I so understand where you are at. Bubba is 6'3 and when we met he weighed 230 and I weighed 240, but I had previously weighed 270 - much larger than him. He was all muscle and I was all fat. It seemed like nothing would motivate me, but I finally decided I would try one more time and I lost down to 180. I did regain some, from major stress from caring for my father-in-law when he was dying of cancer. What worked for me after trying every major diet out there? Keeping a calendar schedule, and realizing I loved myself more than food. I have made mistakes and fallen of the wagon, but I know what works and just have to jump back on it without being pissed at myself. Remember, is is a lifestyle change ;-) Oh, with Tom being here for you, I bet you were down 2 to 3 pounds!!!

Lindy thanks for the compliment ;-) I have learned so much at the Health Food Store and yes, if you ever need anything let me know. I get 35% off nutrients and 20% off foods. I hope you and Lindy have a wonderful time today. Take pics!

Today has been good. I didn't work out, because I have been working most of the day. Food is good though. I started eating an Ezekiel Wrap with loads of veggies, grated cheese and Vidalia Onion Salad Dressing. YUM!

Check in later ;-)

Hi all,

Thanks for the motivation! I am feeling grouchy and annoyed today but less negative about things. People are just getting on my nerves.

Going to Yoga tonight and that will be great. I am eating cajun chicken breast and baked red peppers, zuchinni and carrots right now. Very colorful meal, tastes pretty good too.

Dance and Lindy - you're meeting today, that is awesome! I hope to meet you all one day too!!

Sandy - thanks for the tip, I am totally going to look into that. You guys are much better than a therapist that costs $100.00 an hour!!!

Aj - TOM is visiting heh - what an arsehole. I am such a bloated hag when I get mine!

Popcorn - I've been walking backwards on the treadmill for a long time and it's an amazing workout - but it does take awhile to get coordinated and I had a few 'incidents' lol. Thanks for the giggle!

There are all these guys at work that eat like pigs and are as skinny as Kate Moss (well not really but close) - I hate it! But heh, I wouldn't want something hanging between my legs so I guess I will take being a chick

Well I have a busy afternoon...then Yoga, then work for a few more hours and then to bed. I am feeling good - confident about resisting temptations... you girls are the BEST!!!!

I found a skinny picture of me last night and I am carrying it with me now...so when the urge comes I am going to look at that and rub it all over my arse if I have to so I can say no (ok that sounded gross, but I meant it would be with pants on).

S

Lindy-i knew that weight would come off soon. Have you stayed away from the pumpkin pie? I am just about done with my holiday shopping, just one nephew to go.

Popcorn-yay for your hubby noticing the loss and fitting into more clothes. You know, I dont remember ever going to a Red Lobster. My hubby doesnt like seafood so we never go. I've never tried the treadmill thing but you made me laugh.

Mygrits-too bad you have to work and cant meet up with Lindy and Dance. Your oatmeal and blueberries sounds yummy.

Dance-so happy for you that you are focusing on you and letting your bf deal with his issues. You have come a long way and glad you found us here to help you. Have fun in Orlando

Simple-when you bike to work, how far is it? We live so far from everything its not possible to bike, it would take me all day.

Neesy-3 lbs is amazing. You are far away from your hubbys weight now. When I started I was 236 and my hubby was around 265 so I was getting close so, I knew I wanted to do something.

AJ-TOM sucks, relax on the couch and get in a nice workout so you can feel better. Glad your hubby is going to start pushing you more, you are so close to goal.

Pam-painting always seems like a chore. Hope you got it done. Where does your bf live?

Staccie-yea, sometimes when we cheat, we just say whatever and go all in. Its gonna happen, but just get right back to the right way of eating and more forward. LOL about your arse comment

Ok yesterday I ate and ate and ate, but I am not gonna dwell on it just more on. I cant go back and change it now. I have decided to do the grapefruit diet for 12 days and hopefully get over this plateau. That is what I did when I lost 32 lbs in 2005. I was up a couple lbs today so we will see if it helps. Gotta work tonight so gonna eat a nice dinner and stay out of the kitchen over there. I always want to eat there but I am gonna take a book to keep me occupied. The boys will probably be in bed when I get there. Easy night.

Have a great evening ladies.

AJ- Im so sorry honey you had a breakdown last night, it happens, I was in a funk a couple nights ago but didnt care to share because I didnt want to bring others down. Anyway, big hug! I haventgotten my TOM in about 2 months, this isnt anything new though, Im used to it, I have a spastic cycle. Oh and about the skinny partner, yes...every single partner Ive ever been with, even now, these guys weigh less than me in most cases and it is very depressing at times, my husband weighed the same as me and he was 5 inches taller, ugh. Its ok, youll get there and not have to worry about it. And let me tell all you girls, in the experience that I have with dating, all the guys with the exception of 2 (including douchebag Mr. 16, lol) have said the same thing when I say I want to get to 130, they are like--no way, your gonna be a stick, yuck, guys like some fluff. So its funny how we see our body image and what they actually want. Just food for thought.

Mygrits- your meal sounds awesome - I want some, lol.

Stacie- no, your the best! You give me giggles everyday, so thank you! Yoga will do you some good today, especially on extra stressful days. Good lucky getting through the rest of the day...you can do this-no cheating! Kill it girl, common!

Burgundy- noooo, I have steared clear of those darn pumpkin pies because I really cannot have just one. Glad to hear your so ahead with your Christmas shopping, I havent even started, lol. I always hear about the grapefruit diet, I also wanted to know what its about, I suppose I could google it, but youll have to let me know from your experience. I dont think it helps long term but to break through a plateau, do what you have to, I mean...look what I did and it worked quite well. Good luck!

Ok, heading out to meet Dance now. Ill check in tomorrow. Good nite girls - AJ---YOU CAN DO IT!!! Chew gum, do what you have to, dont sabotage your efforts you worked towards all day. LOVE YA!

Dance and Lindy-have fun and let us all know how it goes. Cant wait to meet all of you!!!

Lindy-the grapefruit diet is 2 eggs and 2 slices bacon and 8 oz or 1/2 a grapefruit for breakfast. Lunch-salad with any meat and any dressing and 8oz grapefruit juice or 1/2 fruit. Dinner-any meat, cooked any way, red or green veggies with grapefruit. Eat as much as you want at lunch and dinner. Drink lots of water. Can have diet drinks( I dont) You cant eat any starches. There are lists of things you can and cant have. It says you can lose 10 lbs in 12 day but I am not expecting to lose that much. Just losing any will be fine with me. I did this diet in 2005 and lost 32 lbs in 6 months. I kept it off until early 2008 when my MIL got sick with cancer. I gained it all back in 5 months. My mom also did it back in 2001 and lost over 60 or 70 lbs and has kept it off. Right now I am just looking to get over this plateau and not be a long term thing for me. I cant do it long term anymore. Hopefully this will do the trick.

Rayne- You look really great in your pic!! That diet has been around forever! My grandma use to eat it. =) It works.

Lindy- Thanks for all of the support. I can honestly say that you guys are my only friends right now. I don't know a single person here and still have met no one. I think that has a lot to do with my emotions now.

Lindy & Dance- Have fun!! I hope you took a picture. Did Gab go?

Staccie- Moo ha fa ra bah hah moo! The day is over and even though people are annoying... its over until tomorrow =) I love your skinny picture scrub. lol.

Sandy- Thank you so much! I do love myself way more than food. My heart and my impulses don't always work together but... eh. =) Your sandwhich sounds awesome.

I am forcing my self to eat. But thats good I am not hungry. Lots of protien shakes today. NO SALT! I am going to go walk now. I am feeling pretty slow but I think I can walk.

I just got done cleaning out my closet.. gave bags and bags of stuff away. I have a bunch of clothes that i only wore like once... jeans that were $80+.. so maybe i'll try to sell those on ebay. But it feels sooooo good to get rid of all the clothes that are now too big. It's refreshing. I will never let myself grow back into them. cuz they are gone!!!!! YAY

AJ-Thanks, that is one of the first pictures I have taken from eye level and there is no double chin!!! I used to take all pics looking up at the camera. Were you able to eat anything, at least you have your shakes.

Neesy-it is so fun when you can clean out your closet. I was doing that the other day and my husband told me to keep the nicer things to sell on ebay.

Hey girls.

You guys can always tell when I am on plan. I post endlessly. When I'm not, I disappear. I just can't make myself post to say that I am failing miserably. So I just stay away and ignore the obvious.

So today I was back on plan. I did great, yadda yadda yadda. I'm just not confident that it will last. I mean I hope it will. But who knows. I am trying.

Burgandy love your new avatar!

I think I am going to try the master cleanse that Lindy did a while back to get a jumpstart and get back to where my ticker says I am. Last time I checked it was veeeeeeery bad. I am avoiding the scale now.

This is the cycle that I thnk I have figured out:
Day 1: Do super great on plan and lose several lbs
Day 2: Do even better on plan and lose a bit more
Day 3 or 4: Gain a few ounces, say screw it and gorge.
Day 5-7 (or 20): Eat whatever I want and go to bed every night stuffed
Repeat

How can I break this cycle?? It's kinda ridiculous.

Lindy & Dance: I hope you guys had a blast. Wish I was closer. Meeting you skinny minnies would probably be huge motivation.

Popcorn: HILARIOUS image of your treadmill story!

Pam: Sorry you're in so much pain!

Mygrits: Thanks for asking about me...I always have you guys in the back of my head. I don't know if I will ever be able to post when I am off plan, but I will try. That is an AWESOME discount!

Tiff!- Thats my schedule. I still come here with my head held low but you need us most or at least I need you most of day 4-7!! I wish you would post always!

I worked out. First time in forever. treadmill, bike and weights. Also 10 minutes ball and thennnnn goddess booty dvd =) My first time doing it and I got the dvd 1 week ago. lol. I feel terrible and sweaty but I know I will be grateful tomorrow.

I am going to make a nest on the couch and watch cartoons. Peter pan maybe or UP =) I need to just let go of the rest of today and accept that I am down and out.

Howdy girls! Just got back from walking and having dinner with Lindy - let me just tell you - her pictures don't come close to doing her justice - so slim and the prettiest eyes ever! You get the idea from her photos but even better in person! We had a great time and talked about you all lots - can't wait till a larger group can get together!

AJ - woohoo for the workout queen! I'm going to run 4 miles on the hotel treadmill tomorrow - wanna join me?

burgundy - love love love the new avatar photo - you look gorgeous! Really curious to hear how the grapefruit diet goes - I like that it's high protein and some healthy carbs - sounds about perfect!

neesy - ooooh - closet cleaning and giving stuff away - that's the best! Good for you! It didn't occur to me to try to sell anything but none of my big clothes were very cute so it wouldn't have been worth trying.

tiff - I think we've all been on that exact same cycle - on the up a few onces day, come and post about it and we'll help you prevent the 'eat a bag of chips' that usually follows!!!

staccie - the image of you rubbing your (clothed) arse with the photo is cracking me up - too funny! I usually just tape a photo to the fridge but I guess I'm kind of conventional that way

mygrits - we missed you but sounds like you did well eating today - good for you!

G'night ladies - hugs all around to my best girls!

I was feeling so sick and down. I have not lost like any scale weight so I needed to see the change. This is 1 month and 9 days!!! (the first one is) Look at my butt. My cellulite is going and so are my dang love handles!!

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/4...kprogresst.jpg

This is amazing but not as much as my over all.

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/217/progressside.jpg

Now this is amazing. Even after 1 month of committing to regular workouts.
This is from beginning of the first challenge to now.

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/353...ssprogress.jpg

Very happy now =) No longer craving pizza. lol.

WOW AJ! Great job! What an amazing difference. You're thinner... EVERYWHERE! You have a great figure. I'm jealous! Lookin hot girl!