Morning, chickies! I'll come back later & catch up & comment, but the day has already kicked into full gear! I'm enjoying my diet coke (I will not give up my caffeine, I have given up everything else!) and a Zone bar. Once I get to Publix in the next evening or two, I'll have my cottage doubles to go with it, and have my mornings all set. Then, I'll need to start cooking & prepping my baggies to have quick & easy lunches ready to grab. Gotta set up my safety zone.

Last night I got to catch up with 2 really good friends, and kinda talked out my plan. First thing I need to do is to get my fitness level back. It'll take me a while to lose all the weight I need to, but even when I was fat before, I was able to move quickly, and not have all these aches & pains & stiffness. So, for me, exercise, and building up my cardio capabilities will be my first target. When I plan, and prepare, the food & water fall into place, and the weight comes off, but I really need to focus on the exercise, the motivation to do it, finding time to fit it in when I would normally waste time, thinking I deserved "15 minutes" to sit down & relax, and it becomes 2 hours.

I'll be back- hope everyone has a great day!

Morning ladies!

Jennifer: Boy, do I ever know what you mean about 15 minutes becoming 2 hours! Last night I sat down to read for a few minutes after dinner right at 7 then the next thing I knew it was 9 and I was falling asleep! And I'm having the same problem with my body not wanting to move quite right. When I exercise consistently, it hardly bothers me at all, but if I slack off--BAM!

Lisa: Good job staying OP! I never really got the trick of the whole "flex point" thing. I think that may be why I never really wanted to try WW. It always seems like there are a lot of flex points to use, and I know I would want to use them all all the time, and that would kind of defeat the purpose. But I know the system works well for a lot of people, and if it works for you, more power to you.

Betani: You had a great day! I had to chuckle at your message to Julie's brain! I will have to check out that site while I'm goofing off later today.

MsRD: Good job staying OP, and even getting in the WATP! It seems so hard to work up to that level, then we stop for just a little well and all of our hard work gets wasted so quickly, all the progress gone. But Lisa's right, in no time you'll be thinking it's not challenging enough once again.

OK, let's see...

Yesterday was good. Calories came in at 1370, but I think I may have forgotten to add in the 2 oz. of pork that was in my stir-fry (I'll have to check), but that won't put me too far over. Today is going ok so far, and packed lunch is good, snacks are fruit, and there will be lots of water. Water yesterday was 90 oz, plus a can of Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper at lunch. I didn't exercise, but I had planned to take the day off anyway, so it's ok. And it's a good thing I did, because my back just kept getting progressively more sore as the day went on, and by the time I sat down I couldn't move so well. I'm still a little stiff this morning, but that typically works out over the day, so I will exercise tonight.

There has been a change of plans involving the wedding: the date has been moved to September. I'm not sure what day in September, but that's the only month we both had no objections to. I didn't want to make it any earlier than that, because if I had I would surely be overwhelmed with everything I have to do and hyperventilate almost daily.

But, hyperventilation has been avoided (at least for today). I just have to work a little harder and faster, and be more persistent. It also means that I need to find something else to do for a honeymoon, since I don't really want to be going on a Caribbean cruise smack in the middle of hurricane season. Perhaps Disneyland--I've never been to the west coast--or a lovely fall drive through New England. I don't know. I'll investigate today.

Oh yeah, and I weighed in at 215.8 this morning, down from 216.6 yesterday and 217.4 on Monday. If I can lose 0.8 pounds every day, I'll be buff in no time!

OK, now I've got another meeting to go to, so I'll wrap this up for now. I hope you're all having a wonderful day!
~Elisha

Aloha Chiquititas -- (Any other ABBA fans out there? Who wouldn't like a man named Bjorn? )

First day "back on track" was like the race horse jumped OFF the track and ran off to Krispy Kreme for a mixed dozen. : Yellow day. And then yesterday was an "I'm sick of studying" red day. My Darth Vader penny jar is at 0.

Tonight I'm going back to jujitsu. I miss it too much to give it up for six weeks. It's really changed my life. And, when I was practicing my attempt at a handstand, I realized that I'm just plain old to darn heavy to lift my body with my arms and shoulders. In the back of my mind, I've known that for a while now. Since I dig the jujitsu so much, I really should commit to working harder.

***

MsRD -- Good for you for keeping those restaurant portions under control. We can't avoid restaurants all our lives; may as well conquer them now. Yeah, xcel does keep me on track. Not only does it let me see patterns in where I fail, but it also rewards me when I do well. I see the green days stack up, and they're kind of like the visual reward system that casinos use in slot machines.

Lisa -- Hey, another biker! Julie and I try to keep each other motivated in biking. We're working on a bike-training schedule. Can't say I personally have done too well... maybe a third lady in the group would help? Hey, 150.4 is so close to 149... soon you will be in a new "decade." It's always fun to see the scale drop that middle number. As for a plan, I used to do WW, and did have success. But I moved out of state, and I am so busy right now that finding a meeting and attending is not practical. So I count calories and exercise... I also use a tracking system for how well I'm doing, but I won't bore you with the details.

Betani -- Hey, the cholesterol-lowering diet must be good motivation. And if you want, you can PM me (isn't getting to know each other part of this challenge? ), and I'll give you a step-by-step guide to xcel.

Julie -- Sounds like you're having success. I invited Lisa to join our bike training; hope you don't mind. Sure, tell us about the DiscoveryHealth program. Any idea whether it's vegetarian-friendly? And OK, per request: "Brain of Julie, thou art just fine." Omiogod, your partner was a jerk. Tell her not to say stuff like that anymore.

Joy -- Sorry to hear about your dog. Sometimes men can be a little self-conscious about the diet thing, since culturally, diets are marketed to women. His comment was funny, though.

Elisha -- Welcome back to your zippy connection! And, seeing how much fun you tend to have on the internet, check out weddingchat.com. The website tends to build up a large community with lots of posts. Recently, they crashed, but they re-opened on Jan. 1, and already they're hopping. I joined five years ago, and I still visit the boards even now that I'm married. : Check it out...

Jennifer -- Apparently you have great supportive friends.

***

Well, I'm going to record the bad news on my spreadsheet now. See youse tomorrow, hopefully with better news.

hey chicklettes! What a day! After my post this morning, one of the 3 people in my area QUIT. Turned in her 2 week notice, but since she is going to a competitor, they told her she could collect her things and consider today her last day. Nooooo- there's too much crap being shoveled onto my desk- she HAS to work the 2 weeks. Well, no sign of that happening. I had to work through lunch to weed through all the stuff and figure out what closings were happening in the next 2 days so that I wasn't surprised when her equity line clients show up & no one is ready for them. Sigh.

Food started off good- lunch could have been better, but since I was trapped, I ordered in a turkey breast & swiss cheese sandwich. Came with potato salad (one of those little dixie cup sizes for salad dressing & stuff) and I did eat that, and the melty cheese. Full fat, but hey, it was better than hitting a drive through & getting crap, or skipping, and coming home to scarf down whatever got in my way. Dinner was a chicken breast with BBQ sauce, and a plain baked potato. I didn't have a single veggie in the house- and the fruit is all in the fridge at the new house. This is going to be a little more complex than I thought for the next few weeks. Not a horrible day. No exercise, though, and that has to be fixed. And water- I need to keep tracking on my calendar again- and 4 32oz glasses each day before I can leave for the day. No excuses!

ok, catching up on comments:

TBJ- these 2 particular friends are amazing- they are my lifeline, and so much more. I know that I can always count on them to be there for me, through thick & thin, & thick again . I don't know what I'd do without them, and without the supportive chickies here. I'm not successful at this without them.

Elisha- chickie, tonight- the SAME thing- sit for a 10-15 minute recap & post, but the site is busy, then down, then busy, forums closed, lemme just hang for 5 more minutes & refresh a few hundred times, and then the site is back, so you know how it goes! Congrats on the upcoming wedding! Can I come stay with Mary & come crash the wedding? I'll bring that darned treadmill I'm still trying to unload. Maybe when I move, it'll fall off the truck!

Lisa- way to go on the biking, chica. I gotta dust off mine- get the clothes, sheets, and stacked boxes off of it. I was looking for some kind of mat to put under mine for the new house, so I didn't ruin the new carpet, and I thought yoga mat, until hubby told me clear carpet runner. Now, I have ANOTHER Home Depot trip to make. They are gonna know me by name.

Betani- Go, Flybaby! I signed up for that, thinking I'd be able to modify that, and try to fit it around my work schedule, but on the first day, you get what felt like 400 emails. Put my shoes on. 15 item fling. What??? I can't fling, I'm closing a loan now. What's this? Oh come on! It's madness, I say! But in a good way

MsRD- Woo Hoo! Great job with the WATP. I tried the 1 mile, and before I got to the half mile mark, I was so out of breath & panting I had to sit down. Now, that's pathetic. We'll get this back, though. Might take a little cursing at Leslie, and some gestures at her during the 82 knee lifts, but we'll get it back. Did you see that there's a few new videos she's coming out with?

Julie- You have far more restraint than I have. I would have been throttling her. Hope things were better today, chica.

Joy- I'm so sorry to hear about your dog.


Ok chickies, gotta get my tushie out of this chair before it spreads any further, and see if I can't get a load of wash done. And tomorrow, better planning, and a report that includes water, and some type of exercise besides panting on the stairs. Night, chickies!

Jennifer- I can hear the "focus" in your "voice"..you go girl. I'm behind you all the way..Proud of you chica . Wanna do 20-30 min. or so on the bike tomorrow??

TBJ-Actually, I am very interested in your tracking system-would you mind sharing it with me?? And, yes, I am also interested in biking with you guys-that would be a terrific motivator for me . Thank you!!! I'm not going to WW meetings either. I'm just doing it at home..for some reason, I do just as good at home as going to the meetings, which does save me some money!! Also, what is Jujitsu??

Elisha- A lovely Fall drive through New England sounds like paradise to me..it really does. What fun to be planning a trip! I am excited for you .


Everybody else-How are you?? I hope absolutely terrific!

Today was a good day for me. I'm right on with my plan, although no exercise, and I don't know if there will be any. I may take this as one day off. I am so tired and sore, I am shaking. I got up really early, and didn't eat lunch until 2:30, and then dinner at 8:30...I have literally run all day. I think I'll get in the bed and get some rest. You know what? I am really enjoying checking in here every day. You guys are great! I am blessed .

Have a super evening. Blessings to you all!

Hello All!

Things were a lot calmer at work today, and I found the top of my desk again! DH called and said we were going out to dinner......to a neighborhood bar, which has really good food, but a somewhat limited menu. Yikes! I finally settled on 1/4lb burger & diet coke....I ditched the chips, but did have 4 deep fried mushrooms. I had been very good, foodwise, until that point, so the whole day came in at 1200 calories. Now, if I can just keep from snacking tonight......

Betani......You stopped eating at 8pm? You are my hero! That is one habit that has been soooo hard for me to kick!

Lisa.....Did I hear right? 60 minutes on the bike and you still have flexpoints left over? You had one awesome day! :

Jennifer.....I can't tell you how nice it is to see your posts again! you are really doing well managing your food....even when in crisis mode! As for the exercise....just schedule it, like an appointment. I know life has a way of messing up a schedule, but if you had a hair appointment, you would rearrange things and be there on time, right?

Elisha......That scale is really moving now! : You gotta promise to post a 'buff' picture of you in that wedding dress! As for honeymoons......I tend to be a mountain kinda girl......the Great Smokies in Tennessee/N. Carolina are incredibly beautiful.......or, if you really want knock your socks off mountains, look at the Grand Teton/Jackson Hole/Yellowstone area in Wyoming!

TBJ.....Who has the tazer? I'm going to shock/sizzle you back on track....in both the diet and study areas! Come on girl.....you've got handstands to do! And Darth is hungry!

Gotta go unload the dryer......and meet up with Leslie for a mile or so....

OK I want in too please

I am 160 with 40 pounds to lose I want to tone up and lose weight. I have had 4 children that is what i owe my weight gain to. LOL

But I am ready to lose the rest.

My Focus is going to be to lose all 40 pounds by end of the year if not sooner I want to be 20 pounds lighter by May 1st. I have started WW as of today but incorporating the WP. My first time I lost 27 pounds on the WP.

I also want to exercise 3X a week starting On Monday 1/9/06.

I would love to get to know you all more and maybe even gain a buddy.

Thanks

I just posted a long post with comments to all of you! And zap! It was gone like lightning as soon as I sent it...forgot to copy!!! Grrr!

Anyway...thank you to all of you for your support yesterday! It means so much to me that you all are here and supportive even when I'm having a bad day!

Today was much worse (work related), but we won't go into detail! However, FOOD was ok...haven't added up calories. I did get in my toning which I was supposed to do yesterday! Water has been great! I hope tomorrow is a better day for me!

You all are rocking! Keep up the great work! I have a feeling this challenge is going to be great for everyone!

Hmm...

I ate at scheduled meal times, more or less, but I made some poor food choices. I stopped eating at 8:45, but I've caught myself hunting for food several times already. I walked library laps (up and down the hall, up and down the stairs, repeat) for 15 minutes at lunch, but I didn't get my official exercise walk in this evening. I did, however find a much better cholesterol resource website than the one I found yesterday. (Loweringcholesterol.net)

So, no star for today, but not bad nonetheless.

***

Loving~Mommy2~4-- Glad to have you with us!

MsRD-- Woohoo! Huzzah for visible desktops! I am impressed that you kept your calories that low even with going out. Good luck fending off the munchies!

Lisa-- Take it easy. Too much soreness is a sure sign to take a rest day.

Jennifer-- I know what you mean about the 400 emails. I am pretty much just forming the routines, and deleting the emails unless I can do something about the reminders at the time. I've gotten some pretty good tips, though.

TBJ-- I have this bizarre image in my head of a horse with a checkerd face mask picking out which 12 donuts he wants... DH gets one more chance to teach me Excel, and if it doesn't happen soon, I'll take you up on the offer!

Elisha-- DH and I got married mid-October and honeymooned in Pennsylvania at Hershey and the Poconos. Very nice time of year to be out there, and lots of fun stuff to do.

Hi everybody So sorry I've been MIA the past few days.

This "24" addiction is getting serious ... DH & I watched season 2 - 3 episodes last night and 3 episodes tonight and we'll probably finish off the last three tomorrow night.

Tuesday's food was good. 1317 calories, lots of water (gotta get my bladder back in shape, was doing the pee-pee dance all day) and a 15 minute walk. I managed not to eat after 8pm - after tonight it will be 4 days in a row. Today was good until after DH's dr. appt. ... we were driving past a White Spot and of course I suggested (seen as how it was 5:17) that we should stop for a burger. I ate my jalepeno southwestern burger, about half my fries and a diet coke. Calories came in at 1643.... which is probably a yellow day on the TBJ scale. I did get my 15 minute walk in today too.

Betani ... sounds like you're off to a good start with your new habits. If you look back at the day you DID accomplish alot. Maybe you should get a 1/2 star????
Loving~ What is WP? I've done WW too, but counting calories for now... maybe back to WW later. Feel free to PM me for my email address and we can support each other.
Julie Back up on the bike girl, you know how to ride! Get some of that stress out of your system, you need some endorfins.
Jennifer Your employers must have great faith in you, have faith in yourself and PRIORITIZE PRIORITIZE PRIORITIZE. Don't go skipping your lunch break ... you need to recharge and you could use it for exercise too, with 2 water bottles for weights!
MsRD I found the top of my desk at work on New Years' Eve and am determined to keep it that way.... so far so good. Good for you ditching the chips, I ate 1/2 of mine. I did make a compromise with my drink too, I would have loved to have orange pop (which is my favorite) but chose diet coke because of the calories. See we are making good choices!
Lisa WTG - you're on plan. Maybe I need to dare you to an exercise challenge for next week???
TBJ Knowin' you ... knowin' me..... ah haaaa aaaa Now you... get back on that horse and I know you can ride (like I told Julie). I have a vision.... I can see "green" in your future.
Elisha Keep on... keepin' on doing what your doing.... .8 a day... I'd take it. How about coming to Vancouver and doing a cruise to Alaska for your honeymoon. I'm thinking we need a mini exercise challenge to get us off our a$$e$.... what do you think?
Well off to do by bedtime routine
Joy

Hello all!
Id love to join the thread! Really need a new me---or an old me however you look at it! My name is Becky and Im hoping to lose weight for an upcoming cruise and also for mysisters wedding this summer. Started on Tuesday with low carb, lots of water , and exercise. How is everyone doing?!?

Morning chickies!

thincruiser and Loving~Mommy2~4! It's great to have you with us! Always glad to see some new faces, we are indeed. I look forward to getting to know both of you, and best of luck in your weight loss goals.

Joy: You had a good day! I think I need to join you and Betani on your "No Food after 8pm rule." I'm starting to see a nighttime eating habit form... not good. I am up for an exercise challenge though, of course. What do you think? A minutes challenge for next week?

Betani: You didn't do bad today. "Library laps" are a good thing to do, since a major part of this battle is learning how to incorporate more activity into our lives. I need to start walking around the building at lunch... but then that would mean I would have to stop wearing uncomfortable shoes, and we can't have that!

Julie: Don't you hate it when that happens?! GOOD JOB on the water, the toning, and keeping the calories in check! You're on the right track now! As for bad work environments, you know we're here for you. That's what friends are for, right?

MsRD: I don't know how you do it--you go out to eat, and still manage to keep calories to 1200. I tell ya, if I go out to eat, that *meal* is about 1200 calories! Hmm... maybe that's why I'm here... As for honeymooning in the mountains... I think it's a bit of a different situation when you actually live in the mountains. I could go fishing in my front yard, and camping in my back yard, quite literally. Besides that, neither Steve nor myself is really much of an outdoorsy person. Unless it's lying on a beach somewhere.

Lisa: Yeah, I think shaking is a sign that something isn't going right. I hope you got some rest, and woke up feeling energized and raring to go this morning! You're doing so well! Keep up the good work!

Jennifer: I noticed that with the forums too... what was up with that? But you made decent choices in light of a stressful situation, so that is good. There are many people here at 3FC who will tell you to focus on one thing at a time, so that it's habit before you try to add in another part of the equation. If the eating part is the easy part for you, get that working first--start prepping those foods for easy grabbing!--then work on getting your water and exercise. You KNOW how to do this, and you know that you CAN do this. It takes a little while to get up and running, but once you do it's easy.

TBJ: Do I need to zap you with the tazer? Don't think I won't--just ask Julie! It's good that you've found a new passion with jujitsu, and that you've come up with a way to keep it in your life during the stressful time of studying. Now get back on track and start having GREEN days once again!

OK, well now, time to talk about me!

Yesterday was good. Calories came in at 1392, water was 102 oz., and I did 30 minutes of Yourself!Fitness with a weight loss focus. I was going to spend some time on the weight machine after that, but I pushed myself during the Y!F session and was completely beat at the end of it. This morning the scale says 216.0, which is up 0.2 from yesterday, but ToM showed up this morning, and I did have some pretzels and hummus around 10 last night (I know better than to eat so much starch that late!), so I'm not too worried about it. However, I am going to try to curb the late-day carbs, and I'm also going to set my calorie goal a bit higher today--1600. I've actually been hungry in the evenings, hence the snacking, so I'm going to eat a bit more at dinner in an effort to curtail the evening kitchen raid. Also, I'm aiming to be in bed by 10 tonight, as I'm not getting enough sleep. I'm already back to not waking up with my alarm, and that is not a good thing.

So today will be decent. Exercise will be 45 minutes of Y!F with a weight loss focus, and maybe a set or two on the weight machine. Lots of water, and some extra sleep. Yeah, that's the plan.

As for the wedding... I'm sure the plans will change more. I'm going to make Steve sit down and go over a few things with me this weekend, like a date, and an approximate guest count, because there's really not much I can do without those 2 things. Today (you know, while I'm not really doing anything at work) I'm going to make up a cheesy wedding website so I can keep track of things and keep everyone updated. Also, I'm going to update my personal website this weekend and put up some of the house pictures I took this weekend. That's the plan anyway. But I have some other stuff to do this weekend, so I might not have time. We'll see.

Anyway, I should get moving. I've already written you a novel.
Have a wonderful day, chicks.
~Elisha

HEY GIRLS!! I've been MIA for quite some time now. I've been so busy at work with the holidays and now the returns are rolling in! I've been maintaining over the holidays, well weightwise, but I'm down into a 12-14!!! can you believe it?? I can wear clothes now that I've had stashed away since Jr. High!

Elisha - Wow, your setting a date! Now don't pick September 30th cause that's my date :-) jk. Where did you end up getting a house?

Everyone else seems to be doing pretty well. I have a lot of reading to do to catch up with everyone!

I hope everyone had a great christmas and new years! Well, I'm gonna start doing some reading. I'll post again later. Bye!

ok, enjoying a late lunch after having my review today. Woo Hoo! 4% raise! Sweet! That should make the commute a little bit easier to tolerate. Since I didn't have any leftover chicken from dinner last night, today's lunch is: Leftover Hurricane Supplies. It's a Beefaroni lunch bucket nukeable thing- 210 calories, plus I am having a cup of Earl Gray tea with splenda. Yummy. Not chicken & veggies, but it sure isn't McDonalds fries, right? Gotta consider that a battle won.

In the journals area, I posted pictures of the new house, and I'll add a link here to where the pics are. The kitchen is what sold us on this house, and after 18 loooong months, it's done. Whew! And yes, everyone is welcome to come. I am accepting Swiffer cleaning products, and Windex as housewarming gifts since there is so much more house to clean.

http://www.3fatchicks.com/journals/i...omments/37245/

More later, chickies. And it's already Thursday!

Aloha, everyone!

Jujitsu rocked last night. We practiced kali, AKA Filipino stick fighting. More precisely, we practiced how to defend ourselves against ravaging crazy people who might want to hit us with a hard bamboo stick. I now know a couple of ways to disarm a rampaging stick-wielding violent attacker.

Rolls and falls are improving, even though the improvements might be imperceptible to any onlookers. I am a little more stable and do not feel any pain when falling.

And, best of all, yesterday was a green day. Darth Vader gets two pennies. Now I don't have to fear a force choke... <heavy scary breathing> "TBJ, I am your diet buddy."

***

Jennifer -- CONGRATULATIONS on your raise. Maybe if I spray some Windex from over here in Hawaii, the Windex will land on some glass in your house?

Star Angel -- Hi there. Good to see you around.

Elisha -- OK, tazer worked, yesterday was green. And I read in your journal that you're pushing your date up to September -- eek, now I have to re-do my spreadsheet! Or did you push it back to September '07... give us lots of time to get to a size 10.

Thincruiser -- Welcome! We all seem to be doing pretty well... looks like our little group is back on track. Many of us were having a hard time over the past six weeks or so, but now everyone seems pumped. You picked a good time to join.

Joy -- Your vision of green proved correct. Could you please have another one? Eh, you did pretty well with that burger... and a walk, too. Good job!

Betani -- OK, just let me know if you'd like help with Xcel. Laps at work must be a good way to stay motivated throughout the day.

Julie -- Yeah, it does seem like this challenge is helping everyone. Maybe we've all gotten over our slumps?

MsRD -- Wow, 1200 calories even with a burger.

Lovingmommy --

Lisa -- OK, <deep breath> here's the explanation: my plan is limiting calories and exercising. I keep a spreadsheet with the dates, number of days that I've been tracking, calories for each day, exercise, and weight once per week. I classify the days as green (on program, for losing weight), yellow (not OP, but under the number of calories I'll need to maintain my goal weight), and red days (number of calories that will make me gain weight once I hit goal). Just by looking at the pattern of colors, I can tell where I've succeeded and where I've failed. For example, the week before TOM, I see a lot of yellow and red days, followed by no weight loss, and that data shows me that PMS eating is a problem for me. On the other hand, when I have a long line of green days, the green in the spreadsheet is like an immediate reward. I feel good for accomplishing the color, and I don't have to wait until weigh-in day to feel like I've made progress. And <another deep breath> ... jujitsu is a martial art. It uses leverage and momentum, rather than strength and size, to subdue an opponent. The goal is to use as little force as necessary; for example, putting someone in a joint lock that forces him or her to either stop attacking you, or else break a bone. Techniques mainly emphasize joint locks, throws, and grappling... There is also weapons training, a few strikes, restorative massage, and meditation. Principles include modesty, not fearing a larger opponent, not picking on a smaller opponent, going with the flow rather than resisting, and community service. I could go on and on, but my comment to you alone is probably making this post way too long.

***

A few people are up for an exercise challenge... maybe we should start one soon? Friday?