whhoooweeee......lots of posts to get caught up with!!!
Sounds like everyone is doing an awesome job staying OP!!!

Not sure if I mentioned this but also with my pulled hamstrings.....I had a yeast infection!!! blech!!! but I am very happy to say, that since falling back into a balanced carb/protein food ratio, my sugar cravings ARE ALL GONE!!!.....AND I'M KICKING THE YEAST INFECTION TO THE CURB!!!! And I might add, no more Zantac either for indigestion!!! YEAH ME!!! Hamstrings are on the mend, although stairs still do a number on me.

Dh is away working for Saturday...(been away since Wed morning) so its just the boys and I. Think we might take in a movie, been ages since we saw something. Have to go shopping for ds, his PE teacher told him his running shoes....(REAL runners shoes....) are not acceptable for gym class. apparently the elastic cord/toggle closure are not the "norm" and he MUST have laces !!!! Maybe coach would like to buy him the next pair
Hope everyone has a GREAT weekend!!!

Morgaine....the dress is fabulous and you no doubt will look like a hottie!!Crazy schedule though....hang in there!

Stephie....Moving? that is stressful, but you'll manage. You have great habits and you'll work that stress right off. Why are you moving?

Susan.....GORGEOUS grandbaby!!! Thanks for the pictures. Its nice to be able to match a face to a name. Also, congratulations on the new client!!!

CanadianMom.....Gotta love those comments!!! When we lived in Ottawa, dh used to travel to Fredericton, NB ALL THE TIME!!! Bet he could still find his way around the city and malls.

Tina.....that is so good to hear about ds and school. 3 days and counting!!! Congratulations about reaching your August goal!!! YOU ROCK!!!

Well just got back from the gym. Another day of fantastic eating and 60 mins of cardio logged. This weekend is going to be a real challenge, it is filled with photo assignments. Usually when I get busy is when I really have to watch myself! See you all Monday...

angel - you are just not having a good run now are you? Sounds like things are starting to get better though.

I am down 2 pounds this week and 2,5 inches, but on a bad note I am sick my tummy is feeling blah I am not sure I am gonna be able to exercise so it will be a bigger push for me tomorrow. I'll just have to remind myself of my lose to get myself motivated tomorrow.

Good morning ladies! I hope you all had a good weekend. I was fairly good over mine except for Sat. but I had a few to many drinks Sat. night and got sick so that ought to teach me. I can't believe that Monday is here already. The weekends really do fly by for us, but on a plus a three day weekend is coming so that is good. I went to shopping yesterday so the fridge is stocked with good things for the week. I also think I told you all how I bought size 8 jeans well I had to return one pair for a size 6. I know this should not make a big deal but I just never in my life thought I would be here. I had to go to the mall yesterday just to try on a few different pairs of jeans to make sure I was really in a size 8 and I really was. I can't believe it for a second. My husband will snap pictures of me though in my new cloths and I always still think wow my rear looks big or my face looks chubby in that picture. I don't know if it is just me or what but it really gets my husband upset. I don't want to be like this especially since I have kids and they see me do this. I want them to grow up proud of who they are not constantly picking themselves apart. I don't know what I can do about this but I am really going to keep a eye on it. Ok off to things not so depressing, today is weights and a walk. I don't know if we will be walking outside as it looks a bit rainy but it is still early. So did you all have a good weekend?

Angel I really hope this week goes better for you health wise. You really got hit last week. Good to hear that the indigestion is gone though. My sister-in-law and I always talk about how about 90% of our promblems health wise went away due to losing the weight and eating healthy. It is really the answer to alot of things.

Susan I hope you had a great weekend with the grandbaby. She is once again adorable.

Steph come on girl tell us how you did because I know it was awesome with all the kick but working out you did this week. Let's have a repeat this week and see where we are next week.

Morgaine well since your husband is in the orchestra he will really enjoy the strip you have to do. 8-10 changes though girl that is a workout in itself.

Canadian Mom great job on the loss of weight and inches. I just had my husband re-measure me after a few months and was surprised at how many I lost all over. Keep up your good work and I hope your feeling better.

Well hope you ladies have a great day and lets pray the week goes by fast and the three day weekend drags on forever.

Tina, what an awesome job you have done! How long has it taken you to lose the weight ... from reading your posts, it sounds like you have done it the right way. I would love to see your before and after photos.

Morning all! Canadianmom, hope you feel better quickly...rest up so you don't get worse. Congrat's on pounds and inches lost!

Tina, you are sooo awesome! Size 6, wahoooo! I know what you mean about having a hard time seeing the new you...you might want to check out the maintainers columns....I think they talk about that alot. Self image is a toughy....hard to change all those years negative thinking.

Stephie, great that you are on a nice long roll...hope the weekend and all the shoots went well, and that you stayed away from the food.

Morgaine, wish you could send us movies of your performances....at least send us some stills.

Angel, how are you doing now?

Had a great weekend with the grandbaby but I am sooo tired. You would think the parents would go to bed early considering that the babe doesn't sleep well at night, but we were up way late Sat night, and with the hour difference it was midnight for me. And, of course, I'm up at 5 no matter what. It was worth it tho...catching up with all that is going on.

Was so busy chasing after the grandbaby I didn't do much eating...am down another pound! Halullulah!

Woke and did cardio and lower body this morning, and if I have energy, will do floor lower body tonight.

Time to get back to work....have a great day all!

Hello EverHopeful! Thank you so much for the kind words. I have always been a yo-yoer with diet and exercise but last spring I said enough and began to make little changes that have turned into a lifestyle for me. I have continued to lose weight now for about a year and some odd months it has been a slow process but I would not have it any other way. I know now that I will never go back to the unhealthy person I was. I do not do any diet just watch what I eat and I just recently have started calorie cycling. I really enjoy it and it seems to have gave my weight loss a boost. I love food though and all kinds of food at that so a specifc diet would never work for me. I do allow myself Sat. to indulge but I try not to get goofy with it. I am the type of person though who can't just watch what I eat and loose I have to exercise also which I enjoy. I walk 4-6 times a week for 4 miles and do strength training 3 days a week for about 30-40 min. It has been a long and slow process but the end result is going to be a healthier me and what better thing can I do for myself and my family. I will have to have my husband help me with some before and after pics since I have no clue how to attach them. Feel free to join in our thread we would love for you to share your journey with us. Have a good day!

Workout wise I am queen Went to the gym on Friday and got an hours worth of cardio in, hard cardio...sweat drippin intense cardio. Started off the weekend with 124.6 staring sweetly back at me from the scale. Then on Sunday played in a championship tournament for my kickball league. Played over 3 hours...ran and stretched in between games to stay limber. It was with my eating that I lost it. Junk, lots of junk, a binge and just a general lack of control. This hurt my wallet as well as my progress. So here I am your 126.4 lb Stephie. But I am NOT defeated...I will just have to use this to keep my from doing it again...I don't want to have to work hard to get back to where I was, I want to progress...I want to hit goal. I want it more than all the late night junkfood in the world. Know what I mean? Sounds like bootcamp week number two...

canadianmom - Congrats on the loss, sorry you weren't feeling well. Take the day off it happens...

Tina - HA awesome could not be farther from the truth regarding my progress I really got myself into a mess hehe...YAY rockin the size six and stocking your fridge for a healthy week!

susan - Shoots went well, workouts went well, food well hrm....congrats on another lb gone forever.

Tina ... we seem very similar in approach to weight loss. I too can never follow any certain diet. I journal my eating and keep my proportions in check and the weight slowly comes off. At this point in my life (35), I am sick, BEYOND sick, of yo-yoing. This time, I am taking a different approach. I am focusing more on the maintenance aspect than even the weight loss. Cycling calories will, over time, produce the weight loss results .... it's the maintenance that I have always had a problem with. Because you have similar views about weight loss, weight maintenance, and you are so far ahead of me, it is wonderful to use your success and a motivation for me. The pounds creep off ever so slowly, but doing it in this fashion has the benefit of the lbs. not packing on quickly and minimizing the muscle loss.

Congrats on the last 15lbs. to go, I have no doubt whatsoever you will get there. This forum seems to be a great bunch of people that are very supportive.

Good morning ladies! Well will you all keep your fingers crossed for me today! My husband is going to a lunch meeting today to talk about his review. This is really big to us right now and with how hard he works and dedicates himself to his work I hope the response is good. I think I heard before that the first year you own a home is rough and if I did not hear that I am going to say it is ROUGH!! This spring was our one year anniversary with the house and since moving in we have had to replace the furnace, air conditoner, and water heater not to mention that we were attacked by ants and had to pay lots of money to get rid of them and my washer and dryer are on there last leg. I have to say though I love my house and the people before us remodeled the whole house like three years ago it is just everything is going at once and our pockets are hurting. I think about Christmas being a few months away and my stomach flips because we have only a little in savings and every year we say we are starting to put money away in March and never once has it happened because there is no money to put away. Anyway the point of this rant is please keep your fingers crossed for us. Okay on to eating and exercise yesterday they were both good. I got my weights and walk in and came in right on point for calories. It was nice and cool out here yesterday so our walk felt wonderful. This is what I have been waiting for a little nip in the air. I feel my walk is so much better if I am not dying from heat. It is really gloomy here today so no outside for the kids and I as it is soaked. Today I swear though I will relax because the house is clean all the laundry is done and I have a few chapeters left calling my name. Hope you all have a great day!

Susan congrats on the loss! You are really moving now. I think you got over whatever hump you were stuck and and hopefully will continue to see results weekly. Have a great day!

Steph don't worry to much about a bad weekend food wise. You had mentioned that your period was coming and if you are anything at all like me not even the kitchen sink is safe then. Just behave this week and next week you will see good results.

Morgaine how are you doing? I know you are super busy! Good Luck with all your upcoming shows.

Angel how are things going? Hope you are feeling better.

EverHopeful thank you so much for the kind words. It really is a slow journey but it is something that will last a lifetime if done right. Keep coming and sharing your success with us. This group of ladies are great and always give you the advice and or push you need to get it done. Have a great day!

Well ladies have a wonderful day and lets kick some butt this week!

Well my weight loss may have to be put on hold for 9 months.I just got word that I may be becoming a surrogate in September. I am excited I have wanted to do this for years. I am just waiting to hear from the office.

Wow! I will be crossing my fingers for you to get good news! That is a really amazing thing to do, how did you get interested in this? Are you doing this for a family or friend or a stranger! I think it is wonderful of you to do something that will make someone else so happy, we need more people like you in this world! Keep us posted! Holy COW September is only like a few days away!

Hi all, not much to report, but want to wish Tina's hubby good luck on his review, and Canadian Mom, wow! not sure what to say, but no matter what, you should keep up with your exercise and watching your eating. it's possible to lose weight while pregnant, just slowly and carefully.

Caught a bad cold from the grandbaby, settled in my glands so that it's hard to swallow and I have laryngitis. Did nothing last night but watch dvds and will do the same tonight...I know I'm sick because I have no appetite. I have to force myself to get some food down. Been drinking lots of tea.

Stephie, remember that if you get right back under control that weight will disappear again....keep the faith.

Angel, can't believe the school can force you to get a certain kind of shoe. That's totally unreasonable. I would complain.

Take care all! Susan

Hi Ladies - just checking in.

Stress has been affecting me lately. I have hours and hours of rehearsals a night, and that's on top of an 8 hour work day. I've been eating like crap and I'm up to 145. *sigh*.

Susan I hope you feel better that sounds miserable. I am just sitting here waiting for my husband to e-mail me with some good news. I have been a nervous wreck all day long. Morgaine with all that you have going on don't be so hard on yourself about a few pounds right now because I am sure they will be gone with in a day or two! Back to check my e-mail!