Looks like everyone is enjoying their Thansgiving.... no one here :lol:

Well I'll just report that I did go for two 1/2 mile walks during my breaks at work today. Decided not to put off exercise until Monday (Thanks Elisha). :cp:

Managed to stay OP today (23 points only - so far) :yes:

Hugs :-J

It's time!
 

Time to crack down and get serious here! I've been floundering for waaay too long. I know I say that over and over every month and I am so tired of saying it that I am totally serious this time. I am getting out all of my weight loss stuff (I have a HUGE folder) and looking through it this weekend to help me decide my plan of attack.

I do know that one thing I have lacked, more recently for sure, is my dedication to working out. Sure, I walk but it's not the same as a real good 30 minute workout on the bike, so starting...yup...this morning...I am going to work my way up to 30 minutes. I will do whatever I can today and increase my tolerance each day until I get back up to 30 minutes. It shouldn't take too long!

I also know that eating has gotten waaaaayyyyy out of control! I am not logging my food every day, nor have I planned (really) what I am going to eat, so like my quote at the bottom of the page reads...if I fail to plan, I am planning to fail!!! There's nothing any truer than that when it comes to this journey! AT least for me!

And finally, it's time to stop the excuses (for me, anyway) that life is getting in the way! That's bull crap! We all know that life is going to happen and if I am planning the way that I say I am, then everything will be ready for me and I can squeeze in 20 minutes or more for a workout anytime...usually!

On that note, Thanksgiving was ok. I did overeat and had a gut ache last night as I lay in bed...gassy and all! UGH! It was the constant nibbling all day that sent me over the edge. I didn't even eat all that was on my plate for dinner, but managed to have alcohol (Wassail with rum, wine, Bailey's in my coffee) and apple pie with whipped cream (lite, but who's counting at that point?) So, it's no wonder my stomach was screaming at me!!! My family was here and it was nice...everyone got along for the most part, DD played hard with her cousins outside in the snow, my Mom was decent...for the most part! ;) And my sisters only got into a little tif just once!!! And *I* managed to keep my cool all day even when I wanted to scream at my Mother who is so....oh...we won't even go there...that would take a whole session of therapy!!! LOL! So I would call it a success!

Hubby is currently out in that mess this morning trying to find the best bargain he can! ;) He's nuts! I did it with him one year when DD was a baby, but I won't ever again! It was just a madhouse...I prefer to shop at 2am when noone is around! ;) I prefer NOT to shop...that's what I love about my DH...he LOVES to so I don't have to!!! :) I make up the list and he goes! Such a deal!

OK gang...I am rambling and I need to go get my butt on that exercise bike and then get ready for work!

I hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving and that you will all be here later today to check in and let us know how your day went (those of you who celebrated it!)

Squabb...I'd be taking every pound I could...5.6 is awesome! Let's keep this motivation going. I really want to be accountable this next challenge so that's why I am going to start today! I'm proud ofyou for doing your walks! Great Job!!!!!

MsRD...hope your Thanksgiving was as wonderful as you wanted it to be! Hugs, chickie! Keep up the good work...don't lose momentum!!!!

(((((((((Jennifer))))))))))...email me if you want me to help out or get the next challenge started. I'm waiting for your word chickie! Hope you are well!

Morning chicks!

Well, Thanksgiving was nice, but I'm glad it's over. This year was kind of hard, being our first Thanksgiving without Grandpa, and I'm sure Christmas is going to be even worse. But I suppose we all deal with things like that, and we do the best we can to just keep going. It's good that the rest of my family was together, and I'm sure Grandpa was with us in spirit.

Anyway, so I ended the challenge exactly where I started, which I suppose is better than a gain (even though I lose 2 pounds and then gained it back). At least I'm breaking even, right? And that's all I'm hoping for for next month. If I can stay under 200 through New Year's, I'll be happy and ready to start again full-steam. I'm going to watch what I eat and attempt to get in some exercise between now and then though, and if I actually lose a pound or five, well that would be fantastic. I actually have the weekend off from work, so I'm going to go spend some time with Steve, and I'm going to make him go for walks with me, even if it is snowing outside!

But that will be tomorrow. As for today, I'm sure I'll get in more walking than I hope, and I'm sure I'll be busy busy busy all day, seeing as I work retail and today is Black Friday. I'll be okay though, this isn't my first one. Besides, I get commission, and that makes it worth while. (At least to some extent.)

So anyway, I hope all of you chicks did well this month, and that I will see you again on the final challenge of the year (Christmas? New Years? Who knows?). Jen and/or Julie, PM me if you need help getting a challenge up, you know I'm always happy to help.
Have a great day, chicks!
~Elisha

Blaaaah! :lol:

What a busy, crazy day! We went to my hubby's dads' place for dinner at 2, which was weird but good. His family rarely communicates (aside from my hubby and his dad, who're the only 2 people who actually ever speak to each other), and there were about 10 people in his house. It was akward for the most part but okay. :)

Then we headed to my parents' house and had dinner with the relaxed, goofy people that are my family. :) My brother & sis-in-law actually managed to make it down for the day -- he's been doing drywall almost 24/7 up north. He had a pretty nasty eye infection from the dust and just being a member of our family -- I get those infections all the time. They hurt. He wasn't feeling too hot, but that's about it. :)

I actually didn't eat that much yesterday. I managed to wake up massively late, not have time for breakfast, and just had 2 meals total, plus a tiny bit of nibbling on good stuff at my mom's. I had a little tiny piece of my homemade apple pie, and a small piece of chocolate creme that my aunt always brings. You have to have the chocolate! :lol:

Today, it's decorating and cleaning day! WOO! Putting up the xmas tree, getting all the xmas decorations out and in the windows and whatnot, doing all the xmas lights (which should prove very easy since we're in an apartment...), and most of all, getting this place CLEAN!

We took out the xmas tree from the box yesterday before we left and put together the very bottom row of branches to see how far it'll stick out, and it fit. So we were organizing the color-coded branches that go everywhere, and I go to lift the edge of the box's lid, and this weird thing touched my hand. I look down, and there's A GIANT NASTY BLACK HAIRY SPIDER TOUCHING MY HAAAAAAND!!!!!! :lol: I screamed like a little girl and ran around the house screaming because IT TOUCHED ME!! EEEEEWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My husband thought it was quite funny, but I felt somewhat nauseated all day yesterday because of it. I know, it's sad, but it's true.

Other than that, I'm finishing up with a batch of holiday baking today. Tomorrow, we're helping hubby's friend from work move (he has MS, so he needs a bit of help with boxes & whatnot), and then Sunday, my hubby is heading out with his friends for the day, and my mom & I are hitting the stores!

Well, I'm glad to hear that almost all of you had good thanksgivings! :) Take care and be happy! :D

Hello All :wave:

Had a great Thanksgiving....DD and DGS were out sick, so that left only 11 of us. We picked up both of our Mothers at assisted living.....which can be a logistical challenge on a good day,:dizzy: but was complicated by icy roads, backed up traffic on freeway due to numerous accidents, and, of course, by the fact that I forgot and left a whole bunch of stuff in my car's trunk and we couldn't get the wheelchair and walker in. Life was not meant to run smoothly all the time.....so I just sat back and smiled and enjoyed the beautiful sunny winter day.

Thanksgiving food was good. I took just small portions of the different dishes, so did not overeat at dinner. I did have a piece of pumpkin pie, however..:hun:..there are certain things I will not do without.

Joy....how lovely! You have received blessings from the scale fairy! :goodscale: And walking during your work breaks is such a good idea! I may pick up on that......it is getting to the point where I go to work in the dark and drive home in the dark.....so noontime might be the only outdoor activity I would get!

Lucy.....2 dinners at Thanksgiving and you still kept OP! You are good! :) I can't believe you have the Christmas tree up already......I think I will rest a bit first, if you don't mind.

Julie....OK, chickie, back OP! Dust that bike off, get out the food journal..:cheer:...sounds like you are planning for success!

Weigh-in is tomorrow..:crossed:...I really feel so much better physically, so hope that is reflected in the scales

Stuff to do tonight.......and I am already yawning!

Weight Loss Plateau!
 

Hi chickies,

I know that we all struggle with plateaus along this journey, so I've put a great article about weight loss plateaus in the "Articles Thread" which...hopefully...might help someone along the way!

What a great job everyone has done with this challenge, despite some of our setbacks ...among the many successes! Everyone has managed to keep a positive attitude and that is what it's all about! I am so proud of each of you for being here and for sharing your journey with all of us...really strangers we are...but connected still by this journey!

It's been great to get to know some new "faces" with this latest challenge and continue to deepen some new freindships along the way! I hope to see all of you on the new challenge...

AHEM....Jennifer?????

HAPPY Saturday!! :dance:

Official weigh-in day.......and I am down 2 pounds! This week the eating, exercising, and water guzzling all came together....and it works! Two pounds! And this even included the pumpkin pie episode! I have even acquired a little (teeny tiny) bit of wiggle room in my jeans...:hyper:...what could be next? Waistbands without elastic? Being able to tuck in my shirt and look decent? My mind reels with the possibilities!

That makes me down 7 pounds total......since the September challenge. I have to thank each of you..:thanks:....I have never before been able to keep the motivation going for this long, nor have I achieved this kind of success......and it is due to the support that I get right here. Up until now, I have never set a long-term goal.....mostly because I didn't think it was possible.....but today is differerent.....*deep breath*....I want to weigh 120 pounds again. The doctor always said it was the ideal weight for me, and the one where I felt my best physically. There. I said it. I have a real goal.....and the chickies to help me see it through.

Sorry to have babbled on......those 2 little pounds seems to have left me a little euphoric. :cloud9:

Julie....i just read the great article on plateaus and how to get thru them....thanks for posting the link. All too soon I will need that info to get me kick-started yet again..:^:....remind me it is there, k?

Time to get on with my Saturday chores.....laundry, grocery shopping, and chasing dust bunnies.....have a great weekend all! :)

Hey chickies! Whew....ok, can I please get a week off from the circus which is my life? :) Nah, I guess I really wouldn't trade it, unless I knew I was trading up. ;)

No word from the recruiter yet...the manager who referred me told me it may take a little while, since they are all traveling & having meetings & doing things that might not be conducive to sitting in 1 place, interviewing. So, it's an opportunity still out there, and I'm still looking elsewhere to see what other opportunities arise.

I haven't been able to check in from work because the receptionist/office manager's daughter in law passed away, and she was out for 10 days dealing with arrangements. We all had to take larger blocks of time to cover the front, so I was even further behind, spending 2-3 hours some days covering & not being able to get my own work done.

A good friend of mine in Rhode Island lost her father 11/16, not 6 months after losing her sister to cancer. She'll be coming back down to FL for Jan & Feb, and I know she really needed me to be there for her, and I feel bad that being pulled in so many directions at once, I haven't had 100% of the time to be there for her.

To add to that, my SIL passed pre-ecclampsyia, and went right into toxemia with the baby. On 11/19, they did an emergency c-section, and my nephew, Tyler Jadon, came into the world almost a month early. Mom & baby are both fine now, but they sure had us worried! See- I truly can't catch a break! Here are some links to his pictures:
Official Hospital Picture
Tyler's First Day
Tyler & his lungs
Tyler & Mommy
Tyler & Mommy #2
Tyler Sleeping
Tyler Sleeping #2

with SIL's surgery & MIL having to help take care of her until she can get around more easily, Thanksgiving was cancelled this year. Too short notice to make other plans, and me working on Friday made driving 4 hours to Tampa for dinner, and 4 hours back totally ridiculous. Plus Mom wasn't expecting us, so I know she makes other plans on the years she gets us for Christmas & not Thanksgiving. I know this is an extenuating circumstance, but this now makes 3 Thanksgivings that his family has cancelled/postponed/screwed up on us in 8 years. I think I'm seeing a pattern. We've already decided that once the house is built, that first year, everyone comes to US for the holidays. 10 total years of travelling, it's the least they can do, right?

I feel like I've missed so much...like I'm back at the starting line, since nothing has gone as planned. I need to seriously refocus, and get back to the task at hand. I was able to pound out 4 class assignments yesterday, leaving 2 assignments & the final for this class, and 1 more course of 6 lessons to be totally done with my certificate. I really think if I can get that done before the end of the year, it will be one less thing hanging over my head, and free up more mental space and actual time for getting back into the swing of things.

So...as crappy a chickie as I have been in the last 2 challenges, I'm still doing this. I have to do it. I can already feel parts turning back to jello, and my habits have all been blown to pieces. Have to start back at square one, re-forming these habits, one day at a time.

And I'm making a promise to myself, and to all the chickies here- I WILL get back on track. I will drink my water. I will plan my food and stick to my program. I will journal everything. I will get up and exercise, even if I have to start back slowly. I will work out at least 5 days per week. And I will practice, practice, and practice some more, until these habits are second nature, and automatic, and make the permanent changes that will keep me from sliding back, and break this cycle for once & for all.

:grouphug: Have I told you all lately how much I need you all? And how wonderful you are? I sure can't do this without each and every one of you.

Can I join?
 

Hi,
I'm new. I started my weight loss journey 3 years ago after my last child was born. ( I have 3 children ..ages 16,15 and 3) A month after I had him I weighed 222. I went to the gym and managed to get down to 170 in a year. Over the next year my weight fluctuated between 180 and 160. Finally in my 3rd year my weight has fluctuated between 170 and 146. Yes...I got down to 146 and said WOOOHOO and then jumped back up to 165. The weight I currently am. I feel a great weight range for me would be 140-150 max.( I'm 5'5") I would love to be 150 by Christmas. I'm gonna have to hit it hard! Ultimately I would like to be 140 by Jan 31st for a cruise my dh and I will be taking! Hubba, Hubba! Also!! My 20th high school reunion will be this year! And I would OHHHHHHHHH SOOOOOOOOOO LOVE for everyone to speculate if I have had plastic surgery because I couldn't possibly look that Great after 3 kids and damned near 40! LOL! So...Please tell me what I need to do to join in because I'm ready for the challenge!!

Happy Holidays!
Janet 222/165/150
Pictures!!
Here they are.
http://chat.provida.com/forum/photo...ilter=chocolots
You can click on the pic for a better view of the destruction and construction. LOL!
I was 30 in the wedding photo

Janet
222/167/140-150

New Challenge Up!
 

Jennifer and I worked together to get the new challenge up and running before December 1st. We are going to run through the end of Decemeber so to cover all the holidays, etc.

Congratulations to all of you who met or exceeded your goals and a huge hug to all of you who stayed the course enduring the hardships that come along with this journey. We hope you will continue to join us for this next challenge. It's going to be fun and we are going to all stick together to keep things in perspective!

I've posted the new (and last for 2004) challenge. It's called the December to Remember Challenge.

See it here!

Hugs to all!