Girls, I'm totally sucking on the exercise front! I tried to make myself get up extra early for a run this morning but couldn't pull it off. *sigh* I'll be working from home tomorrow for what is probably one last time so I will definitely go running tomorrow am and will shoot for both days this weekend to at least start the week off right. I have a treadmill but just haven't been jazzed about using it so my new goal is going to be to walk on it for 30 min/day if I can't get outside. I have to play mindgames and it very unintimidating or I won't do it at all. Doing okay on food so far today - yogurt, grapenuts and raspberries for breakfast, trout and salad for lunch, planning on salmon and veggies at a restaurant tonight before my niece's school play.

What are you guys up to? Anyone up for being my mileage buddy tomorrow?

Me too Dance. I was gonna get out for a walk today, but had company and by the time they left it was almost dark and I needed to cook dinner. I really wish I had a treadmill but then I would feel guilty about not taking the dogs for a walk. I will be your mileage buddy for tomorrow, hopefully. I will have the boys for a while but will try to fit in at least 2 miles.

Vicky-I bet Maddie was adorable. Great job ebaying. I feel the same way, I should be so happy about losing almost 50 lbs, but I still have a long way to go. I have just been basically maintaining for a longtime and I am ready to get on with it. I know I would have given up a long time ago if I didnt have you girls telling me I can do it.

Since I didnt get my walk in, I am gonna do a kettlebell workout tonight. Havent done one in months. Hope you both have a great night.

Ok, confession time!!! I had a McRib for dinner, bad bad bad!!!!!!!!!!!! At least I got off my butt and did a workout today. I will be better tomorrow, I promise. Dance, I didnt get to walk today it was freezing and snowing so the 4 y/o was scared cos it was really windy so he wouldnt even go outside. I did do a kettlebell workout last night and did some yoga and strength training tonight.
Gonna go tomorrow and buy a new winter coat, got my down filled one out of the closet and it looks like someone moved out of it when I wear now, but it will be nice for walks on cold days. Dont care what I look like then.

Have a great weekend ladies.

burgundy - I know exactly what you mean about the coat - too funny! Curious to hear what you pick for your new one.

Yesterday I ended up walking with my bf instead of running but will definitely head out for a run once the electrician gets here at 9am.

what are you guys up to today?

eta - woohoo! got in my run early for a change today - I often stall and stall and run out of time. Doing good with food -
B: cereal and strawberries
L: brown rice, green curry, chicken and veggies
Dinner I'm planning on lots of salad and a little thin crust pizza. Girls, I am back in the game! Hope all is well with you...

We must all be in a slump - WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF IT!! I've been eating whatever I wanted, and I really have to stop since I still can't work out. I'm hoping the therapist releases me soon so I can get back to Jeff's workouts. I feel like such a bump on a log. I've gained 2 pounds thus far (not horrible, but I'm really not happy about it). Tomorrow is back on plan and I have to watch what I eat. no more Halloween candy!

I have Madeline's birthday party next weekend with 45 guests. That should be interesting. Gotta watch what I eat - I made sure there was salad! Tomorrow is cleaning day, so that will ahve me up and moving at least.

Have a great weekend!

chuck that candy out ASAP! :) I don't do well with temptations around, that's for sure, but you are a stronger woman than I am - 2lbs when you can't exercise is hardly anything - good for you! Good luck with cleaning day - don't hurt yourself!

It's actually kind of amazing - my back isn't in pain AT ALL. I figured I'd be hurting a lot more, but nothing. Guess I healed super fast. I'm able to pick Maddie up, bend and pick stuff up, etc. The therapist even has me doing squats, etc. Nothing they have thrown at me has made me sore, so I'm hoping to get back to the gym sooner rather than later. Just need to work on stretching the muscles in my back and legs each day - they've become tight since surgery.

I do need to throw the candy out - not like Maddie needs to eat it all. Doesn't help when at least 3 coworkers have the gigantic bags of candy which is 2 feet from my desk. Just don't know where my willpower went - gotta find it asap.

maddiesmom - so glad you aren't in pain. how's the numbness? is it going away gradually? Bummer about all the candy at the office.

I took you and Burgundy's advice yesterday and stocked up on a bunch of healthy snacks/quick lunch on the fly stuff - hummus and baby carrots, celery and peanut butter, apples and string cheese, lots of fruit in general.

Planning on a run later this afternoon - anyone up for some mileage?

Dance-I ended up getting 2 coats yesterday. Got these---

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/produc...scid=789258042

http://www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com...rchedProduct=t


Good job on the early run. I pushed myself and got out for 2 miles today.

Vicky-I am getting over this slump right now. I did so much better today. Eating was good and exercised. Might pop in a dvd later for a workout. Yep, I agree with Dance, get rid of that candy. Im so happy you arent in pain. How is therapy going?

Have the boys tomorrow, Thur, and Fri. Only 12 days til vacation. I'm ready to get out of cold MI.

got in another run early this morning - that definitely works best for me. Thank goodness for the time change - now it's not quite so dark.

burgundy - love your new coats! thanks for posting the links - so fun to see what you got. And what a killer deal on the one at burlington - you are quite the shopper!

doing well on food so far. B: yogurt, raspberries and grape-nuts, strawberries. L: string cheese, apple, almonds. Dinner will probably be leftover chicken and lamb kabobs and a big salad.

Girls, my biggest issue is still late night eating - I do pretty well all day and then I'm starving at like 10pm. I'm going to knock myself out tonight with some benadryl I think and I'll try to have herbal tea or a popsicle instead of snacks. Anyone with me on a no-late-night-snacks campaign? :)

Dance-I'm with you on the no late night snack thing. I always want to have a bite of something before bed. Its really bad when I am at the boys house cos I get bored after they go to bed. I put the 7 y/o in bed between 830-9 since he has school, then the 4 y/o stays up til about 930 so he doesnt disturb his brother(they share a room) and so he will sleep in for his mom in the morning. Then from 930 to 1130 I just sit there til their mom gets home and find myself wandering to the kitchen. I'm home tonight and tomorrow so I'm gonna stop eating after 8pm.

Now that I bought the winter coats, its been around 60 and havent gotten to wear them yet. I got a deal on both coats. The one at Old Navy was on $29.

Today would have been my father in laws birthday so my husband and sis in law wanna go out for lunch. I am gonna stick to a salad. I have to get them out of the habit of everything having to be food related. I am bouncing between 187 and 189 lately and want that to stop. Seems like everytime we are going to AL I try to lose and end up maintaining or gaining.

I might decorate for xmas a little bit today since we are leaving on the 19th and wont be back til December 5th. That way it will be done when we get home.

Have a great day ladies.

burgundy - wow, that will be a long trip for you guys - how fun! You'll have a chance to wear those coats out when you come back from your trip south I bet with how chilly it gets in MI, right?

Doing pretty well here - am going to run errands at lunch and pick up a tuna sandwich on the way. Plan for dinner is tillapia, green beans and salad I think. I'm walking with a friend after work so I'll get my exercise in then. How about you guys?

Allison: Love the new coats. I ended up shopping on Saturday as well and got two coats. One for work (I have to wear suits, so need a nicer coat) and then a thicker casual coat since I'll be out in the snow with Madeline.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...&blockType=G24

http://www.landsend.com/pp/ChevronDo...07__0000001029

Dance: How is the transition going at work - I mean, having to go in everyday. Has that started yet? Wasn't sure. Do you find the planning helpful?

Things with me exercise-wise are the same. I'm able to do squats, etc with my therapist, I'm just so BORED! I'm really wanting them to just release me to work out again. I miss the hard, make you sweat workouts I'm used to. (Geez...never thought I would say that!). Jeff makes it fun and I miss hanging out with him as well.

Also - I am 2 days chocolate free! Not that I haven't been tempted, especially yesterday which was a super stressful day and TOM is here. Figured if I can get through this week without the chocolate (aside from a small piece of bday cake at Madeline's party), I'll be good to go.

Tomorrow morning is my interview for the new postition in my dept - wish me luck! I meet with the VP of HR who is one tough broad. I know the hiring manager likes me, but I would be reporting to the VP a lot, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

maddiesmom - love your new work coat! It's so hard to find an office friendly coat with some personality. And, yeah - I'm in the office everyday again - it's working out okay. I actually got up at 6 and went for a frosty darkish run in the park this morning so I'll see if I can keep that up a few times a week.

I finally got on the scale for the first time in weeks and not surprisingly after all my off plan deviations lately, I'm back up a few. I'm going to see if I can get it back together though and am focused on getting back to ticker by Thanksgiving. We'll see how that goes. Food is good so far - oatmeal for breakfast, sandwich for lunch, grapes and strawberries for snack. plan for dinner is eggplant, green beans, chicken and salad.

Hope you guys are doing well...

Made it through day 3 with no chocolate! I passed by that candy dish and saw coworkers eating it all day, but I didn't have one. Thank goodness! Getting easier to say no.

Dance: Sorry you are up a few - I got on the scale today and was completely depressed, higher than the other day. It is TOM so I'm hoping it's water weight. Glad you were able to get up and get your run in. I didn't do anything exercise-wise today. Gotta start going for walks at least.

Had my interview today and it went well (I think). My boss, in the past week, has begun giving some of my work to another person and I'm thinking she's planning on me getting this new job. She talks with the VP of HR (the person I interviewed with), so maybe she knows something I don't. Hoping for good news.

Not sure about you ladies, but I am ready to be done with this year. With all the bad stuff that's happened: 2 spine injections, 1 new MRI, 1 spine surgery as well as a nasty 2 weeks of bronchitis coupled with some stressful work weeks, I'm ready for a new year and a new start. I'm only 35 away from goal and I think 2011 is the time for me to get there.

Looking on the bright side, there was a time where 35 seemed like such a huge amount of weight to lose, but with your ladies' help, it doesn't seem so impossible - especially after losing the first 80. Thank you both for still being here for me and helping me through the rough patches!