Skinny V. Look at our trackers lost/left they are almost exactly the same!

Muse - WOW - great day for you! And 14s!!!! You have come so far! You are an inspiration

Cecil - stay strong! I pack string cheese and raw veggies for car trips - baby carrots, string beans, snap peas - anything crunchy. And - for some reason, I can entertain myself seeing how many "strings" I can make with string cheese. It can take 15 to 20 minutes to eat that way

Shy - hope everything goes well with your friend! We will miss you!

Cassie and Hun - good luck on your paper! Oh, do I remember those days!

bella - funny thing this time around. Since I finally got it through my head that this is a forever lifestyle change and not a "diet", I don't worry about it any more. While I sometimes grumble that this is going slowly, it really doesn't get me down. If I don't lose weight during the week, I know that it will go down next week. I've adjusted my "goals" several times - my new philosophy is - so what if it takes an extra month, or two, or six, or 10 to get to my goal weight. Life is good. I am getting stronger and fitter and smaller every day. I'm really trying to enjoy the journey instead of focusing on the destination.

Melissa - congrats on the new bike. Mine is in parts and pieces in the basement and garage. The kids canibalized it for parts 2 summers ago. Now they don't live at home any more and it is doubtful that they will have time to assemble it when they come to visit. Good think I like walking and hiking so much

Laura - If I had HALF the energy and commitment to my workouts that you do...

Kari - the crockpot is such a great appliance. It keeps me from doing the quick (and often high calorie) thing for meals when I am hungry and tired after work. Congrats on staying strong!

Tina - congrats on your success with OA. It is a wonderful program. I'm so proud of you for taking that first step to go to class. And also for your positive attitude. You are looking gonna finally break through and be able to control your eating and we are blessed to be able to be here to help you

Mom - I'm not making my goal this month (barring a miracle loss) but I find that weight goals are very, very difficult goals. Even though I have been POP all month, I can't control how my body responds. If you don't make it tomorrow - don't let it get you down. Look at what you HAVE accomplished this month - celebrate your success! You have done well.

Karen - I wish we had a zumba class here. It sounds like so much fun. I think I may have to break down and order the DVDs.

Jen - congrats on your dessert victory! I've a total weakness for cheesecake. I have to split dessert with dh or I go hog wild!

Yello - hope you are feeling better soon! I started with Leslie's "I Can Do Yoga" It was a short workout, but it helped me with my confidence in trying other routines. I like Gaiam's Yoga Conditioning for Weightloss too. I use all of the props and even some modifications of my own. If you are taking a class, make sure that the style of yoga that is offered is one that shows you the modifications you should do to the poses.

Hello to everyone I missed - Stay strong this weekend! We are gonna win that challenge this week.
RECOMMIT! FOCUS! VIZUALIZE SUCCESS! We can do it!

Good Morning Ladies!

I have been sick the last 3 days or so, just not feeling human lately. I have been so exhausted that I've literally come straight home from work and picking up the kids from school and gone to bed. Yesterday was better however so I'm relieved. I've had a sore throat that has been threatening me off & on and today it is here with a vengeance already. I am not feeling tired though so I think I can fight thru it and get going where I left off with exercise and "to do" lists.

I only have but a few moments, I'm headed out to work but I just wanted to come by and say hi and see what you've all been up to. I will have to do personals this afternoon.

Keep up the great work everyone! You are all doing SO great and all this positive progress has put me in the 'go to' mind frame! Thank you!

Make today great ladies!

"bella - funny thing this time around. Since I finally got it through my head that this is a forever lifestyle change and not a "diet", I don't worry about it any more. While I sometimes grumble that this is going slowly, it really doesn't get me down. If I don't lose weight during the week, I know that it will go down next week. I've adjusted my "goals" several times - my new philosophy is - so what if it takes an extra month, or two, or six, or 10 to get to my goal weight. Life is good. I am getting stronger and fitter and smaller every day. I'm really trying to enjoy the journey instead of focusing on the destination."
Thanks counting down for all your kind words you are truly an inspiration. My problem is I don't know how to not think of my weight...it dominates my whole life...its always there. I just would like to be able to sit down for example, for breakfast an have a bagel or muffin if I go to Tim Horton's with my family and not have guilt consume me all day. How do you get past that? I can't seem to get past this hump. Yeah, I am ON Plan 100 % ...but it killed me this morning waking up knowing how good I have been and yet I'm up again, how can that be. I realize that TOM is due today and tomorrow but this yoyoing between 177-183 is driving me crazy. The way I look at it, is I think if I didn't care too much about what I ate than you know it is what it is but I really work at this each moment of my life and its such a constant battle and for this....this plateau has got to give, but how? Sorry I guess TOM's arrival is making me even more miserable!
Well, I have to head off to work now, I really do apologize for venting, I a m just so frustrated because darn I am so committed why can't my body just work with me!

I just had to stop in this morning before I leave and see what everyone is up to lol. Ok I am nosie you can say it lol.

bella
I think for those of us that count calories instead of being on some kind of plan like weight watchers for example it is easier to think of this as a life style instead of a diet. There isn't anything we aren't allowed. We just fit everything into what we allow ourself for the day. I know I don't even think much about it anymore. There are times I kind of grumble because the weight is coming off so slowly but generally I really don't think much about it. I pretty much eat the same things within a week because they are the things I like. From time to time I add something new and get rid of something I am tired of. It takes time to get to this point. Something I don't do is eat out but then I never ate out. OH YUCK, the thought of someone else touching my food. The one or two times a year I do eat out. I plan that right into what I allow myself. Keeps the guilt away I guess. As far as your DOT goes, I can be 3 to 5 pounds up during that time. NEVER do a weigh in within three days of starting and within 3 days of being on it. Who needs to see those numbers, that is just depressing. You will get to the point that you think of eating and weight less and less and it just becomes something natural that you do. Don't get down, it takes time. Counting and I are a great deal alike when it comes to the journey we are on. I didn't gain the weight in a day or a week or a month. I am not going to take it off that fast either. Will I hit goal by my birthday, who knows. If I don't, oh well, that is how it goes. I will sure be more healthy and a lot thinner than I was when I started this journey.

Danielle
I am so sorry to hear you aren't feeling well. My gosh it really is going around and doesn't seem to stop. You take care of yourself and give that body plenty of rest.

Ideal
WOW you are doing terrific. Look at the sizes you have gone down. Love to see someone that really sees the difference. It isn't all about the scale. This journey has so many challenges but it also has so many rewards so many victories. Enjoy each and every one of them.

Just so you know!! We only need about $1500 to make our trip! Once we get to the island I'll tally up and see who our biggest earner was!

Good Morning Red team!!! I hope all is well with everyone! Gonna try and squeeze out some personals before I need to run the girls to school then its back to my paper.

Rennie....thats not nosey! this place wouldnt be the same if you werent here checking up on everyone!!

Sara....there is no need to apologize for venting. Thats what your support system is for! Losing weight is more a mental game than a physical game and its understandable to have those constant daily struggles. I go through it too, as if its a race. Slowly I'm working through it, WW and journaling has helped. I think to be successful you've got to be mindful but it cant consume your life, eventually you'll find that balance. It just wont happen overnight. Maybe we can be like Valerie Bertinelli who woke up new years eve and for the first time ever didnt think about her weight LOL!

Danielle....ugh! I was so hoping you would be feeling like a champ today! Do ya think it could maybe be allergies? Tis the season, I would imagine with those 80 degree temps everything is a blooming down there too. I hope you have a great day and feel better!!

Counting...thank you for the amazing support for your team!! We ARE gonna take that title back this week!! its funny I've said all along that I love to be a student that I'd do it forever if I could get paid, and yet this semester I just want it to be done!! I dont wanna do it anymore! LOL!

Kari.... G'mornin!

Muse....O>>>M>>>G!!!! 14s!! Are you serious!!? That is such fantastic news!! you are such an inspiration! Every day there is exciting news from you, you really are blooming this challenge. Keep up the great work!!! I work out at the university, they usually have great facilities, I know ours is fantastic! Great job on your find!!

Cecil...if you are gonna use a freebie for the week, you can just type "freebie" into your weigh in. Or PM me, either way if there isnt a weight there it'll get marked as a freebie. Way to go for turning things back around this week! You can do this! Remember those goals! Have fun this weekend, my tip would be to pack healthy snacks to have in the car. Dont go for the soda, get water. YOu'll have to bring the healthy snacks because they are pretty tough to find in the convenience stores. Fruit, dried fruit, pretzels, if you bring a cooler yogurt and string cheese, nuts. Try to put them in single serving baggies that way you arent mindlessly eating out of the bag.

Cassie...EW 8 pages!! LOL and I'm complaining that mine has to be 5-6 LOL! I hope it goes smoothly!!

Melissa73...how ya feeling today? Better I hope! Yay a new bike!! I got myself a new bike last year and I love it!! I cant wait to be able to start riding to school again!

Okay, time to get the rugrats rolling! Have a wonderful day everyone! My plan is to hit the water HARD today. I think my soup I made for dinner last night was high sodium, for whatever reason I'm up this morning on the scale and tomorrow is my official weigh in. I might just take my free pass at WW. Hopefully things will go back to where they were! LOL!

Melissa: Feeling a little better today. Still a little sore inthe lower back and behind my legs. But I'm much better! LOL I'll be pumped and ready to do the class on Monday! I wonder if I should just go tonight and suck it up. If I don't lose, I don't lose, but the workouts i'm getting are great!! I'll have a better loss next week if tomorrow isn't that great. besides I have TOM, i'm constipated. Anything else trying to stand in my way of NOT getting my 10% and my 25lb awards tomorrow? FRUSTRATING!!! oh well, if not tomorrow, then next week...right?

Good morning ladies! Well I'm onto day 5!YIPEEE! Just when it was starting to get a bit easier though I have a weekend full of going out to eat and cake. Tonight we're going out with my inlaws for dinner for Madison's b-day, and then coming back here for cupcakes and icecream. The cake and icecream is something I can totally control...just not my thing, but the eating out is really hard for me. I have come to terms though that my calories will be over what they we're during the week, so my goal is to just eat my portion and no seconds. So if I can do that I will feel really good. Also I'm going to research the web for lower calorie options. I have to come to understand though that holidays and birthdays come up and I have to learn to enjoy them, but control myself at the same time. So that is what my goal is going to be for those times, my one plate and enjoy it, but that's it. Today is busy for me. I have to clean, decorate for Easter, go to a conference for Joey, and then get ready for dinner and company tonight, oh yeah and workout Today is a home workout day though, so that good. I feel like I'm in a really good place right now though. In control again, and really taking care of myself.

Danielle- I hope you get to feeling better....this getting sick is getting old!LOL! It seems like someone is always coming down with something in my house. Take care hun~

Melissa73- I did this kick box video at home, and I swear I could hardly move the next day. Like you said though great workout, and it will make our legs and butt look great!LOL!

Melissa- Did you get started on that paper yet?

Sara- I can totally relate to thinking about weight constantly. It's something that takes over your life, and it's really frustrating. I have gotten a lot better with it, but it still is on my mind 90% of the time. I don't know how you get over it. It just seems like it's so draining to think about all the time. I mean I have 3 kids, a great husband, a wonderful family, and it's like weight shouldn't be the main thing on my mind. I feel like sometimes it robs me of so much. I do find though when I just concentrate on exercise the eating falls into place most of the time. I also know that if I'm eating right and exercising and the scale doens't show a loss it doesn't bug me as much. I know I'm doing all I can and my body feels good. Hang in there though hun...you've had so much going on lately. I think it's time for you to have a girls day out or something

Muse- Great job on the jeans...that is even better to me then a number on the scale! Keep it up!

Cecil- Have a great trip

Rennie- I hope your friend has a speedy recovery...she is lucky to have such a great friend like you

Have a great weekend ladies~

Ksk: Okay! I am with you. I am feeling so much better. I really think the over indulging last week got me in the funk. It made me feel out of control, but I am back on track.

Skinny: Good job staying on plan. How old is your little man? Snow sounds like fun. My kids would love snow.

Scenestealer: He, He. I knew it. You are truly my inspiration. And you made me laugh.

Melissa73: Kickboxing sounds fun. I really want a punching bag. Where to put it, is the question.

Cassie501: I hope your Migraine goes away. Congrats on the loosing! Oh, and good luck on your paper.

Bellamia: Yes! It can get me in a funk. That is why this has to be a lifestyle change for this time. I just can’t imagine spending the next 4-5 decades worrying about my weight. I feel that I think about this more than anything. I think my kids is what motivated me. I don’t want them to see the struggle. I want a good role model for them.

HunEb: Good luck on the paper.

Cecil: Your trip sounds fun. Pack some healthy foods. I don’t know what is on your plan, but I would plan for your meals. Also, be careful with the alcohol if you can. That only makes you eat more. If the drinking is more than one day, can you limit it to one day, and maybe the other days drink non-alcohol or just one drink? Or for all the days, plan how many you have, plan it in your calorie total. Even if you can plan for one meal, do that. Remember this is a lifestyle change. Even if you make one good choice, its better than that bad choice. I hope this made sense. Just throwing out ideas. When I went to Disney this past year, I ate what I wanted, but I tried to limit the amount. Instead of ordering my own food, I nibbled on my kids food a lot.

ShyMoment: Have a great weekend.

Idealmuse: Congrats on the size difference. It is so funny about weight. I weigh 191, and wear size 18. I can’t wait to get in 14’s. I carry my weight on my bottom half.

CountingDown: Thanks for the support. I agee. Goals can be tough. But I think they motivate me a little. If I don’t make it, it is okay. I am on the right track.

SugarNSpice: I hope you start feeling better and get your strength back.

Tina30: Good for you. A lifestyle change, right? Eating out at restaurants are the hardest for me.

Yeah for me. I lost my water gain. So maybe, I will have an actual loss this week or at least not a gain. I went to the state park yesterday and walked for three hours with the kids. We had a blast. Then I came back and did 30 more minutes of ab and butt exercise. I am trying to give it one last push for my end of the month goal. It is okay if I don't make it, but I am paying the price for my week of indulgence. Of course I am having fun paying the price. I had a great time with the kids yesterday. The stroller worked out great. I pushed the boys when they needed a rest. The double jogger stroller holds 150 pounds. I even was able to carry my girl while I was pushing the boys. I had my back carrier, but she refused to be in it. That was a first. Next time, I will bring my sling, so she can be on my hip, and I can have my hands free. (See the big hip is good for something. God made them for women, so we can carry the kids on. I LITTLE "shelf" is good.)

Well, I hope everyone is having a great day.

Good morning ladies! Started my workout this morning, but I was cut short. Intend on finishing it here in a little bit.
Mom~ my little man is 21 months. My other two are 12 & 15.
Muse~ you are so right! Our tickers are almost identical! Yay we have come so far!! I have one pair of 14's, but the only reason I can get into them is because they are denim that has elastic in the material. But I was estatic when I tried on those!
Well I had better get busy with my morning stuff so that I can get my workout in and my errands done before the kiddos get here.

LOL Tina...I've been working on it for an hour and I've got 2 paragraphs written! Woo! Go me!

Happy Friday Ladies! Sorry I've been MIA this week - I see I have a lot of catching up to do over the weekend. Work has been extra insane again 12 - 14 hour days and no me time whatsoever. So I thought I'd pop in today while I'm having my lunch to say hello.

Even though I've been super busy with work, my eating has been on track. No movement in the scale though - I've stayed steady all week. Must be the stress.

Hope everyone has a fantastic Friday! Woohoo the weekend is almost here

Happy leap day, Red team!

Thanks for the supportive words, Melissa (hun.e.b), Terapet, Tina 30, Karen, and Mom23BC (Your little girl sounds like such a cutie. ).

Countingdown, thanks for the tip about the yoga videos. I'll check them out for sure. Sounds like it's exactly what I'm looking for!

Has anyone tried to borrow workout videos from the library? Do they have any? I just don't want to end up with a stack of videos I don't like, and wasting 10 or 20 dollars on each one.

-Yello.