O.K. People we are on our Final Countdown before Christmas only 23 days until our final tally.

We can do this, we are doing this!

A quote to get us going:

Get around the right people. Associate with positive, goal-oriented people who encourage and inspire you.
Brian Tracy


Well we have that right here on this board! So let's go and do it!

Hi everyone!

I am very headachy and scratchy-throated today. I can't tell if I am getting sick, or if it is just from the weather being all crazy. Plus it is my PMS time, so that doesn't help. I am still sticking to my diet/exercise though!

I can't believe we are only 25 days away from Chanukkah/Christmas. I really want to lose another 5 pounds (for a total of 10) by then. I am so close to my goal weight and it is so frustrating to not be losing faster!!! I need to eat more fruits and veggies. I am trying for 5 servings a day, but yesterday had only 3 servings total. In the warmer weather I like to eat salads, but not in the winter and that makes it hard for me to eat enough vegetables. Grr. I am trying though. And I weigh 5 pounds less than i did at this time last year, so that is something good

Sheri - I already journal everything that I eat, but I am really going to try to eat more veggies and lose at least one pound by next tuesday (my weigh-in day).

I cannot believe that tomorrow is December! This year has flown by. It's been kind of a rough year but I now weigh the exact same as I did at Christmastime last year (gained some weight AFTER Christmas). I have 4 more pounds to lose to meet my Christmas goal of 195 and I think that still is a doable goal. I was so inspired by watching the Biggest Loser this season (and especially last night's finale). Those people lost a lot of weight after they left the ranch and they had to do it just like we do - diet and exercise with life thrown in there to throw you off. It was inspiring to see that it is possible. So I am heading into December with renewed focus of my goals. I hope everyone is doing well.

Good morning! I hope everyone is doing well with their holiday goals. I don't have much to say but wanted to bump this up to the first page

O.K. everyone is probably going to be pretty busy over the next few weeks, but please come by and share your success or ask for some support if you need it.

Does anyone have any Christmas traditions that make staying on track difficult? Do any of you have the best recipe ever that you want to share?
What do you do for yourself at this time of year to make sure you don't get too stressed out?

I send my kids to a friends house for an overnight visit at least once during the month so I can have a little time alone to decompress so I don't explode! I will also take 1 child for a friend one weekend night so she can do the same.

I also like to get all of my Christmas Shortbread from Costco (it is so good) that way I am not baking and eating it when it comes warm from the oven with all the lovely smells in the house. It is also packaged and ready to pop into the freezer so I don't have to think about it until I need it.

I plan my holiday meal right now so and write it all up on the computer so I know exactly what will happen when, I make note of when to go purchase the items on the list and when to prepare them so all I need to do is look at the list and follow the plan and everything gets done on time and I am not working my butt off while everyone is having a good time.

Hi everyone! I went to my personal training session last night. I was given the tour of what machines I am to use. There are 5 exercises, 3 sets each; they are chest, quads, abs, back and there's another one but I can't remember...lol Plus I am to do at least 30 mins. of cardio on my days at the gym which is every other day. The other days, I will do an hour of cardio at home.

I was measured and weighed and I will see the PT again in 3 weeks, Dec. 21st., to see how I'm doing. And probably will receive a new program. But anyways I'm really excited about it plus I have a friend that's going with me, so that will keep me motivated.

Eating is still on track. Didn't eat last night because I got home late but I'm back on track today.

Hope all is well with everyone and hang in there!

Ahh, Christmas traditions.

Every year my sister bakes all the X-mas cookies (she is a very good baker) and on Christmas Eve I spend the day and night with her. We finish up the baking, and frost all of the sugar cookies. We also drink 2 or 3 bottles of champagne and eat cookies all night long.

Last Christmas we were pretty hungover, so this year we are limiting both the amount of booze we drink and the amount of cookies we make. Of course, this means that someone will end up being upset because *their* type of cookie didn't make the short list.

Due to my being in the military (got out almost 3 years ago) and my husband currently being in the military, this is actually the first Christmas in 7 years that I've lived close enough to my family to have a family holiday. I kind of missed the idea of family holidays while we were stationed in other places but after Thanksgiving, I'm trying to think of ways to simplify Christmas. Unfortunately, my mom is having surgery on the 16th so I get to host Christmas dinner and all that jazz. My husband wants to nix the turkey and have pizza -- it's going to be a long holiday season.

Hi everyone! Yikes christmas is getting closer 3 wks and 1 day!

Well i have hit a new stage in my life! i now like my weight and instead of focussing on the weight, now i am starting to turn to the fitness! ( any more weight i lose is icing on the cake!!! )
I want to keep posting with you all! (i need to stay accountable ) and i have set some other goals! ( i listed them in a few good friends part 7)
So cheers all!

And lets see if we can all make our goals happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(ps i updated the avator! this is me TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Sonja you look wonderful, You are so tall! It is hard to know what someone looks like from the face shot. You have done a great job and your dedication to exercise is an inspiration to me!

IceDragon: I'm glad you have gotten to a comfortable point with your weight. I just wanted to chime in and say that you look fantastic!!

Icedragon you look awesome!

Christmas traditions that make it hard to stay on track..well every year I made home made peanut butter fudge for everyone in our family. They look forward to it every year. I've made my first two batches this week, and have been really good. I haven't had a smidge. I think what makes it easier for me is that I'm so close to my goal and I don't want to mess it up.

Thanks guys!
Its just been such an eye opener, we all concentrate on our weight. a stupid number, and when we hit our goal! then what!! so instead i am aiming on a fitness standard! my goal is 3 cardio and 2 weights a week! consistantly!
I am 5 11! which has allowed me to hide a lot of weight! (most people do not realise how much i really weighed! and some did not even notice that i had gained back 30 odd pounds!).

My parents visited and my weight was not discussed ! that was a first in my life!!
AND my father, a man of few words, hugged me and said "oh gosh! you look good, Its a pity you left home, i can not show you off to anyone", i was speechless! i love my father more than words could say! (only daughter and 5 older brothers, he has a huge soft spot for me! which i of course used to full advantage all my childhood <- spoilt!!)

is anyone getting snow? I envy all of you that get to have a white christmas, one year i will have to visit the usa or holland (my parents are dutch) just to experience a white christmas!!!!!!!!!

Hey everyone, great job on all the excersise. Icedragon you look fantastic! It's amazing what can happen when you feel good about yourself. Keep it up.

Sheri, I definately will join your challenge. I haven't been on here for a few days so I am starting today, Sunday Dec 4th, 1 pound/week and I too will monitor and keep trak of everything I eat. I am still friggen sick with this darn flu/cold so I still can't get my cardio in, but I am going to start walking and doing abs when I can, my energy level is depleted most of the time, but maybe my immune system needs the kick start of working out to help me get rid of this bug. I will keep you posted for sure, and I am promising my self to to do this one week at a time - I owe myself at least that. Thanks for your support and your challenge, I don't like failure so I know I can give you a good run.

I will let you know by the end of the 7 days on Sund Dec 11th.

Hi there. I just wanted to say that I weighed in today and I have lost another 2 pounds and I'm down to 197. I get happier the farther I inch away from 200. I've only got 2 to go until I reach my Christmas goal of 15 pounds! It's so weird to set a goal and actually have it in sight. I normally set a goal and then never get to it becuase it was unreasonable. I hope everyone's weekend was good and I hope we are all motivated to stick with our plans for the coming week.