Sandy, Hang in there. You're doing all the right stuff. Don't forget that stress can make you hold on to pounds, too. You may find you drop several pounds at once, very soon.

We love you and we know you will succeed, it's just a matter of time. Don't give up!!!!!

Thank you so much, Annie. I think you're right. I have set a goal to get into this skirt for Easter that I bought last year and didn't fit into it then either. I know I have to lose at least 8 more pounds and/or 2 inches on my waist in order to wear it comfortably. So I've been exercising my waist area like crazy. But I think I may be overtaxing my body, because I am constantly sore. I need to ease up and give my poor muscles a break.

And I was pleasantly surprised to see a drop this morning of 0.8 on the scale! So, one pound in about a week is not too bad at this point in my life. I'll take it. .

Hope you all had a good weekend!

High 70's this weekend meant it was time to get the bike out. I washed off the cobwebs & went on a ride. I don't know what I was thinking! I used to ride 20-30 miles at a time, but I hadn't ridden in almost 2 years. So I got about half as far as I wanted & realized my legs were getting pretty sore. There was no way I could go all the way where I wanted to go & come back, so I decided to turn around & start heading home.

Good thing too because the last mile or two was ****! I made it home, barely. lol. To my best estimate I think I went about 15 miles. Which doesn't seem like much, but a lot of my riding was on either dirt roads or the side of the road which is also dirt & a lot harder to ride on than the pavement that I'm used to. I think I will be investing in a bike rack this week as there are some wonderful trails around my new house, just not a good way to ride there.

I love my house that's more in the "country", but boy do I miss having sidewalks. That's why I didn't do any riding last year, but I missed it & am determined to do a lot of it this year.

Sandy, I hear you hon. I get discouraged by only seeing a weight loss of 2 pounds after a month's worth of hard work. It seems so hard, but then I have to think that it's taken me almost 20 years to put on this extra weight, I can't realistically expect to take it all of in 2 months.

Plus, maybe since it's becoming so hard to take it off we'll remember that & make sure we don't ever put it back on! That's what I'm hoping for!

Have a wonderful Monday all!

Kim
__________________

SW: 264
CW: 259 (- 7 lbs)
GW: 250

7 lbs lost, 7 lbs to lose.

Nice work, Nicki!

Kim, a 15-mile bike ride is nothing to sneeze at. Way to go!

And you are so right about the slower loss making us remember how hard it is to lose. Believe me...there was a part of me that said, "To heck with it. I may as well eat what I want!" when I saw that tiny loss on the scale Saturday morning. But I did actually stop that thought almost immediately and replaced it with, "Yeah, right! And then it would take you another 2-3 weeks to get off what you'll put on in a day or two of binging." I was actually proud of myself for realizing this. After all, what did that way of thinking ever get me in the past? Nothing but a cycle of weight gain/weight loss (more gain than loss unfortunately). And look...I was rewarded with staying on track that day with a bigger loss of 0.8 pounds the very next day!

Hey, maybe I'm puttin' on my big girl panties and growin' up!

I am loving this weather... This weekend and today the temp was 80 and so nice and bright and beautiful outside. My bf lost his job, but thank god we are getting support while we are looking... We have been looking for another place out in the country... I am tired of the city and want back out in the country lol.. We have been packing and lawd how mercy didn't know how much stuff we had accumulated of the past year lol.... I have gained alot of weight from stress and stress eating.. I am trying to get out the house more and soon we move back out to the country I will try to get out and walk.. I hate walking in the city it not as nice as walking in the country...

I have not weighed since thursday so I am afraid to... I really wanted to loose weight by spring but didn't work like I wanted to.... I am hoping that since it spring I can get out more..


I think I need to start looking for things to workout for.. Like walking in relay for life and breast cancer walk... My birthday is in June so I am going to try and looke 25-40 pounds by then...

So for the long post/vent, but it seems like that I haven't been on here in ages and needed to say that to someone.....

I really need some motivation, well actually energy

Hey ladies,

So nice to hear that everyone has been sticking with it. Kim, I think that's definitely an impressive bike ride! And Sandy, you have a great attitude. I know how frustrating it is to work so hard for something and not see the results you want, but I'm sure the changes are happening, however slowly!

I had a pretty good week, started building Couch 2 5K into my regular fitness rotation - after just one week I can feel a difference in my endurance and I'm actually enjoying the running parts. Perfect timing, as we had June temperatures all weekend, so I got to enjoy a lot of play time outside. (I also had to give in and have a cold pint on a patio with my hubby, but I don't feel too bad about that as I'm calorie-counting and staying within my range).

The scale was down to 165 on Saturday, but when I weighed in again this morning it was 167... step off and then 166... step off and then 167, etc. I think it's time to break down and buy a more precise scale! I know this might be cheating but I'm going with the lower number for today's weigh-in. I certainly feel a pound lighter than last week!

SW: 172
CW: 166
GW: 162

Weigh-ins:
February 20: 170
February 27: 170
March 5: 170
March 12: 167
March 19: 166
March 26:
April 2:
April 8/Final:

Roncygal, I'd take the lower weight, too. Congrats!

So, I know someone had mentioned it a few posts ago, and I've been thinking about the next challenge, too. Should we be daring and go for a July 4th challenge? I know we usually do 4-6 week challenges and a July 4th one would be a span of 3 months, but I guess it all depends on what the majority wants. If we want a shorter one, we could do a Memorial Day challenge and then the July 4th one. What do you guys think?

Oh, and I came up with a cute July 4th challenge name based on a Katy Perry song: ~*~Baby You're A Firework July 4th Challenge~*~
What do you all think of it?

Sandy, great job on staying on track. We will get there, it may be a longer journey than we wanted it to be, but eventually we'll get there. Another thing that I've been told is that when you're exercising hard your muscles tend to hold onto water to repair themselves & you might see a big whoosh. IDK if it's true, but that's what someone told me when I was being down about not losing like I think I should (every day lol). I haven't seen my whoosh yet though.

Roncy, go ahead & take that pound, you've earned it. I hope you enjoyed that cold one this weekend. I'm not a huge drinker, but I do like an occassional mixed drink. Since I've started this diet I've only had a couple, but would have loved one this weekend out on the deck.

Barbie, you just need to start hon. Once you get started moving more you'll discover that you feel better & you will want to move more. I'm discovering that about myself now. The more I do, the more I want to do. It's just the getting started that's hard. So start moving Chickie!

Have a great day ladies.

I haven't posted in here in awhile, but here are my updates:

SW: 191
GW: 181

Weigh ins:
February 20: 188.7 (-2.3)
February 27: 187.6 (-1.1)
March 5: 184.1 (-3.5)
March 12: 184.1 (-0)
March 19: 180.5 (-3.6) & hit my goal for the challenge! YES!
March 26:
April 2:
April 8/Final:

I'm really excited to see how much extra I can lose by the end of the challenge!

(Let me try this again... I hate it when I do stupid things and loose a whole bunch of typing and have to start again... grrrr)

Well, my doc says it's time for a maintenance period. He wants me to stay at my current weight for 6 weeks (well within 2 pounds, so I might still make my adjusted goal). With the weather getting so incredibly beautiful, I can get out more and work on toning and endurance, so even if I stay at the same weight I can still work on loosing inches (o: One thing I will say... I noticed this week that I actually have a neck again I mean seriously, it is amazing to me to look in the mirror and see an indentation between my jaw and my shoulders!

Kandd... It sounds to me like you have determination's butt kicked!

Italianne... To only gain 2 pounds while on vacation, and then to get right back on track like you have is wonderful; GREAT JOB!

Bethann... Stress is a b****. It sounds like you are doing a great job at making time for yourself, and that is a beautiful thing.

Sandy... What a reward, maybe you deserve some pretty, new big girl panties as a treat for sticking with it... lol. It's easy to do the right thing when the road is smooth. The true test of character is doing the right thing when the road gets difficult. Awesome work!

Nicki... Keep up the great work (o:

Barbie... I know packing and moving is hard all on it's own, but how about turning it into a workout routine in your head and setting yourself a mini goal for when you are moved and unpacked?

Roncygal... I agree, take it (o: 1 pound is still a difference of more than 1/2%, which is not bad at all.

Rlb... You did blow by it. I will be interested to see where you end up as well. Keep up that momentum!

2/15/12 SW: 307.3
CW: 289.7
GW (for this challenge... updated): 285

2/22/12: 304.2
2/29/12: 298.3
3/7/12: 295.4
3/14/12: 289.7
3/21/12: 286.2
3/28/12:
4/4/12:
Final 4/8/12:

To update my stats:

Starting Weight: 184.4
Goal Weight: 175

Weigh ins, the week of:
February 20: 184.0
February 27: 183.4
March 5: 183.0
March 12: 182.6
March 19: 181.2
March 26:
April 2:
April 8/Final:

Yay! I finally broke the percent of a pound streak! Of course now it's looking like I won't meet my goal by the end of the challenge, but I will not revise it. I'm just going to try like heck & if I fail so be it, at least I tried! I'm almost at the 10 pound mark. I know my ticker says 10 pounds, but it doesn't seem to recognize the numbers after the point. lol

Rlb, great job on meeting your goal! I love to see people smash their goals. I tend to be a little overly ambitious. For the next challenge I'm going to be a little more realistic with my goals.

Fiyah, you will probably still end up losing weight without even trying. You've probably improved your eating habits enough to see a little of a loss each week. You were having some huge losses these past few weeks.

Sandy, I'm already part of a July challenge, but whatever you decide to start I will join. I really like this group of ladies. Everyone is so supportive & I would love to see all of them reach their final goals!

Hope everyone has a great day!
Kim

Good morning ladies and HAPPY SPRING!! The temperatures have been so nice here that I can't make myself stay inside and be on the computer. Which is why I haven't been checking in as I should. Last week I didn't check in on my weigh-in day to post my weight...I was up .2 and blamed it on my TOM. On todays weigh in I was down 2.3, so all that exercising outside is working.

After quickly looking back over everyones most recent posts it looks like everyone is continuing their hard work and reaping the benefits!! Keep it up ladies, all our hard work and effort is paying off!! Have a great day

Hi Ladies! I have not been around recently......life got very busy. I have not lost any pounds but haven't gained either. I have 5 lbs to my Easter goal and I think I can make it if I really get back on track.

I have been catching up on posts and people sound like they are doing well....the determination to succeed comes through loud and clean! I love the idea of a next challenge! These challenges keep me directed even when I am not able to check in regularly.

have a good week all!

So, I absolutely HAD to go get a couple of new (smaller) bras, and while I was there, I found jeans on sale for $12.99, so I had to get a pair. To my complete shock and amazement, I had gone from a 32 down to (drumroll please) a 26! I was flabergasted!