Good morning everyone! I'm happy to report that my weight is finally going down. 147.5 as of this morning which is a 3 pound loss since the 1st of January. I'm pretty much on target of my 1.5 pounds per week for 11 weeks to meet goal by my birthday. I ran 2 miles this morning and walked another mile last night. Things are looking up!!

Pat, that does sound like you had a rough day. BTW, my DH loves to sing and dance, but you gotta watch your toes with him.

Allison, WTG on losing the 3.5 lbs. since Jan.1st. My official weigh-in will be tomorrow and I'm curious to see if I've lost anything with being back on plan and tremendously upping my exercise. I do feel thinner though, but it may just be in my head. I'd also like to be back at goal by my birthday (at the end of March). This would take me losing about .5 lbs. a week.

I may have to take Shelbey to the medical clinic today. She has some type of rash on her face (looks like poison ivy) , but she thinks she is dying.

I'm heading out now to the pharmacy and bank, then to hit the gym.

Lily & Pat - I've got the perfect DH - he can fix anything, build anything, loves to dance, loves to sail, loves to travel, loves going to movies, loves going out to dinner, brings me flowers, tells me he loves me several times a day, takes very good care of me when my mental illness acts up, has a great sense of humor, is very kind and sentimental (more so than me), and is handsome!

Spamalot was a lot of fun last night. DH loved it since it's based on a Monty Phyton movie about King Arthur and the Holy Grail, and he's not into musicals at all. This Broadway musicals is also a spoof on other musicals.

We went to a Middle Eastern restuarant for dinner before the show. The decore reminded me of when we were on the world cruise and went to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. There were cussioned ottomans and pillows instead of chairs and some people were smoking applewood charcoal in Hookah's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookah). It smells very sweet and apple like. The food tasted good, but my meal arrived 15 minutes before my DH's.

Today's a lazy day around the apartment. Then during the early evening, I'm going to try to take a nap before going to a party tonight that doesn't start until 10 pm.

Wow, Carolyn, it sounds like you hit the jackpot. Wanna trade? LOL.

Lily - not a chance!

Hi everyone!

My weight is already going up, which is to be expected, I suppose. I gained some over the holidays but I've gained one or two pounds since then. I've definitely been eating more since I got pregnant and without running my body is just hanging onto every little bit. I managed a 33-minute walk this morning, which felt really good. It does feel odd to walk, though, because I'm so used to running. I have to get over my notion that walking is booooooring and just relax. I kept thinking....jeez, if I was running, I'd be home by now! It seems like it takes forever to get somewhere when you walk!! I never thought I'd be so into running that it would be hard NOT to do it!

Interestingly, my husband has gained a few pounds too. He's still ridiculously superfit, though. And he gets to keep running!! But I get to grow a person inside me, and he says he's jealous of that!

HI MAINTAINERS

I think I can come back to maintainerland

I don't know what is going on here with my weight. I know it may sound silly to some of you, that have larger weight swings, but since I started losing and maintaining on a regular basis, since Sept. I have been pretty steady. I really haven't had too many ups or downs, from one day to the next, of over a pound. However, twice since right before Christmas until Monday of this week, I have had 4 pound increases...in one day! Is that even possible?

Anyway, I started Monday morning at 175...I was at 171 on Sunday morning. It has gone down a little each day, pretty much, so as of this morning I am back to 172.

I have not got my miles in because of some late meetings at church this week and we met my son and daughter in law at an Irish pub on Thursday for another birthday dinner celebration for Angie. Angie and I did get our 3.5 mile walk in this morning to Starbucks though. That should help a little.

Stayed home last night for date night, had rotisserie chicken with sweet potatoes and broccoli. Then we curled up with a blanket, our parts of the newspapers and watched Ghost and Dog Whisperer, each in our own recliners...gotta love date night

Angie and I will be spending a lot of time this week-end at church....starting in an hour...to begin our job for the new building project. We have to put packets of information together, then hand them out tonight and tomorrow at services, then meet with the congregation afterwards to answer questions. There will probably be many questions as we have upped the $$$ cost of the building from 5-6.5 million to 9 million! But what's a few million between friends right

Well I need to get going here but I wanted you all to know I have been checking in and I am with all of you in your concerns ~ May Our Lord Bless each of you, Gary

Allison, way to go on the 3 pound loss! That's fantastic!

Carolyn, sounds like you had a great evening and a super hubby! WOW!

Lisa, you'll get used to the walking, it's just going to take you a bit. The weight gain will also slow down a bit in the 2nd trimester so it'll be easier to keep it under control! And dh is gaining, too, huh?

Well this morning was my WW meeting, and I had a happy weigh in with a 2.2 pound loss...WHEW!! I was beginning to think I would never be back on track after the holiday eating frenzy! MIL was there and gushing over me like she actually likes me and is proud of me...PHONY BALONEY! That fake stuff just irritates the crap out of me! It's ok though, I just keep repeating the mantra that she never sticks with anything for long and it will be my meeting again real soon. The power of positive thinking!

Lillybelle,

Thanks for making me feel like I'm not totally alone. I'm trying to stay positive. Perhaps when I return to my full time job on Monday after taking off the last 3 weeks, my body/weight will start going back towards where I want it.

I'm here for you if you need me! Hang in! Together, we will get the 6 lbs off each other

LisaMarie-unless the doctor has specified no running you can still run, just adjust your pace to comfort. Back in the old days when I was young and fit (read with the first three babies) I ran up to about the 5th month, after that it did get uncomfortable. Now that I walk I often listen to podcasts on my iPod. My dh listens to music on his. It's something to keep you motivated and not bored. You probably know all that anyway so just put me on ignore.
A so-so day yesterday. I ate a couple cookies and my knee hurts so I slowed down my walk and avoided my hilly route yesterday. Tomorrow is weigh in so we will see.

Lisa, don't feel bad at all that your weight is starting to go up a little. It is supposed to since you have a wonderful little life growing inside of you. I'm sure you do miss the running, but pretty soon you'll be running after a little one.

Gary, indeed whats a few extra million in the big scheme of things. Hmmmmmmm, sounds like a really fun date night. LOL.

Kelly, WTG on the 2.2 lb. weight loss. Hang in there with the MIL, chances are she won't stay there for long.

goalsuccess, you are welcome. My scale does show it's moving in the right direction, but slowly now.

I had my official weigh in day today. I am down another 2 lbs. So a total of 4 lbs. in 12 days since I joined the gym. Of course, I had hoped for a big whoosh, but I am pretty sore and was just happy to see that the scale is again moving down instead of the constant slow upward trend that I had been seeing. I'm gonna stay totally off the scale again now til next Sunday and hope for another (dare I dream it) 2 lb. loss. My starting weight on Jan. 1st was 151 lbs. and I'm at 147 lbs. this morning. Which seeing the 140's makes me so much happier than the 150's. It's weird cause just lookin at my tummy and feeling how much flatter it is, I would have thought I had taken off 10 lbs, LOL.

I had a great workout last night. Did treadmill 10 min's for starters , then 25 min's on stairstepper (which really gets me sweatin), then 1 hr. on my Lower Body workout. When we left the gym, Shelbey and I ate at Western Sizzlin. I had a grilled chicken salad with LF ranch drsg. and some grilled veggies. It was delicious. Shelbey ate her usual junk and then had me stop at Braums' so she could get a triple scoop of ice cream. I refused any ice cream. Then she bought 5 granola bars and 2 Dr. Peppers to have in the car on the way home. And she's griping that even though she is working out, she didn't see any weight loss this week.

Allison, I have a doggy question. Is it normal for a dog to start gaining a lot of weight after being spayed? Molly had the surgery 3 weeks ago and is looking huge. She is eating way more than before and even lazier than she was before! I'm wondering if she needs put on a doggie diet? I am already walking her 3 times a day!

The party last night was a lot of fun and I danced several dances. But, I'm back to day one of my no sugar diet because I had 3 large Mojitos made with mint, sugar, lime juice, rum and Sprite. They were delicious. My elbow joints are feeling their effect today. My athristis has kicked up with the sugar and alochol overload.