Thanks for all the kind words re: my mom, everyone. She is a great person and we are very close..can't stand the thought of her being ill. For the last few years she's been working on a type of bucket list so I've gotten to go with her to a few things. She tries to have one new experience every month - she has lived in NYC her whole life but there's always something to do around here. I took her to see Book of Mormon last month..she didn't get all of it, but it was fun.

LuvCats, you're doing great! Weekends away can be tough, but I know you will find a way to make it work. I'm also hoping we will have another challenge(Spring? St. Patty's? ) right after this..I like the short challenges personally!

zumba, sounds like you are doing great on the exercise! Since you said you had a tough toning class your muscles may be retaining some water. It's great that you're mixing it up!

newleaf, great job on limiting the m&c. I also have a growing boy at home(he'll be 10 next month and is AWESOME!) and he just eats larger portions of everything we cook...especially meat, which I hardly eat.

8 more days!!!

natamars - I am so sorry about your mom. It sounds like you have a great relationship with her, so that's something to be thankful for.

Zumbachica - I find cooking and baking for my family to be such a challenge. I know it's part of the job of being a mom, but I just can't eat the foods they can and not gain weight.

curleycarr - It's nice to think of the men once in awhile instead of putting all the pressure on them to step up!

LuvCats - Good luck reaching your goal - you are close!!

newleaf123 - Meals with friends and cooking yummy things "for the kids" get me down too. It's too easy to partake in what everyone else is eating. That's why I like to have one or two off plan meals per week so that I don't feel different or deprived - I can eat like everyone else. I tend to stay on plan more when I eat alone.


I had the worst cravings for sweets this morning - it didn't help that I had to make a trip to the grocery store. I actually bought cake mix and frosting and was prepared to make it once I came home! Instead, when I arrived home I sat in my car, logged onto my calorie counting app, and planned out a healthy breakfast for myself within a reasonable amount of calories (whole wheat, egg, veggie sausage wrap). I planned something that sounded tasty and filling without empty calories. After I unloaded the groceries, I made my breakfast with ingredients I had already entered into my program. I was no longer hungry, but the sugar monster was still there! So, I had a cinnamon apple greek yogurt with kashi cereal to satisfy the sweets craving. I also had 2 cups of coffee from wake-up to breakfast. That did the trick and my craving was gone - but - I ate up almost all of my calories by 10am! I hate it when that happens. So, we shall see what will be with the rest of the day. I think I can keep away from sweets and even forgo lunch, but I am probably going to be hungry at dinner time. I am making meatless burritos tonight, so I will probably have one, which will put me 200-300 calories over my limit. However, at least the calories won't be from cake and frosting! I am really craving chocolate lately - I had a hard time staying away from it last week too.

Good luck today!

Starting weight
1/25/13 - 159

Current weight
2/6/2013 - 155

Goal weight
2/14/13 - 150

Thanks guacamole. Good job stopping and planning before you ate the cake. I hate those sweet cravings too. Uggh. I made pancakes today from one of the WW recipes posted on there that had cottage cheese in them. The recipe said each pancake was 1/8 cup batter and should make 16 but I got 25 out of it... had them with around 1/8 cup of log cabin lite syrup. Not bad at all and I enjoyed the sweetness of the syrup.

natamars: That is neat that your mom has done so much like that!

As far as the next challenge, a St. pats day one would be good too, but I just put up one on the Chicks Up for a Challenge forum for Independence Day. That is just under 5 months so not too long but not super short either. I'd love for anyone that wants to join me.

Quick check in today. Everything is on track, but I'm feeling hungrier today than normal--maybe the end of this stupid head cold??

Natamars: so sorry to hear about your mom, but her "bucket list" sounds great! I want to see Book of Mormon! It's great you are enjoying doing some of these things with her.

Luvcats: I really like the idea of a St Patty's Day challenge. Holiday to holiday!

I'm in for a St. Paddy's Day too. First, I like these short ones. Otherwise I lose focus and interest. Plus, that happens to be the day I leave for Patagonia and I hope to be rocking my hiking pants!

CurleyCarr you mean Valentines Day is about more than losing a couple of pounds?? LOL I had forgotten that... I did get a couple little things for my sons. Nothing for my husband yet. We don't really "do" Valentines Day, and I worry that if I do something for him, then he will feel guilty for not doing anything for me. He's a great husband; holidays just aren't our thing.

Guac totally, we seem to be in the same mindspace. I do much better when I eat alone, or when DH is out of town and its just me & the boys. But, I hate to let my friends down, so I do the lunches. But it makes me grumpy, also, to spend $20 on lunch (salad & drink) when I could have had a much more wonderful salad at home. I have to keep reminding myself, it's not about the food... I hope your evening has gone well. I love those cinnamon-apple Greek yogurts, too!

LuvCats can't join you for the July 4th challenge... I just can't think that far in advance to know what my goal would be LOL

Jennifer I hope your cold is behind you now. Glad to read that you are feeling on track!

Nothing much new to report here, other than that I keep inching my goal weight down. Looking at myself, I certainly have at least 15 more pounds to lose (5 thigh, 5 thigh, 5 abdomen/butt), but my goal was only 13 pounds away, so I dropped it down another 2. I can't imagine going any lower than that, but who knows what I will think of my appearance at that weight. Hopefully I'll be tickled!

HI THE LAST OF THE GREAT ROMANTICS!!!!!

Well first things first .....I already have a mini goal for St Paddy's day!!
You know I take my role as the token Irish of the group very seriously.....updating you on our awful weather etc......and keeping with that.......March 17th is my birthday!!!

Now I don't want to sway any of you .... but I'd love the company!!!!!

Luvcats I also do long range goals ...so count me girl!

Working on ANOTHER deadline....so MUST get back...

Keep going ...remember Newleaf, Natamars, Zumba, Guac, Jennifer....
Take a deep breath and......

LOVE is in the air!!!!!...every sight and every sound...LOVE is the air!!!!.... every where I look around....( note if its cheesey I know it !!! )

Quick am check-in! Ugh, the scale went up 2 lbs this morning. I ate over 2,000 calories yesterday. Yes, I am proud that I didn't eat any sweets or bread. i did overindulge in carbs and foods that have a higher salt content. Yesterday was just a really bad day trying to fight off chocolate cravings by eating other things. Too much of other things. I hope to do better today.

Oh yeah - I am in for a St. Paddy Day challenge with you all!


Starting weight
1/25/13 - 159

Current weight
2/7/2013 - 157

Goal weight
2/14/13 - 150

Still in Finland.

I have not been very active; just visited a ton of family and friends.

My eating has been light and my clothes fit better If I could keep up with these European style portions up upon my return, I bet this weight would just melt off.

When I left for Europe I was around 164 pounds...I believe I am around 159 right now -- But I have no way knowing; MISS MY SCALE!!!! Anything under 160 would be great!

Everyone is so thin here; I am this fat cow next to my friends. This trip has definitely motivated me into getting back in shape. Once I am done with all my trips; I will hire a personal trainer and focus on me and getting fit.

By the summer arrives, I want to come back as a strong and lean person. I can do it!!

Sorry no time for personals, but sending to all.

Sw 166.2
Cw 161.1
Gw <160

We'll have to make it The CurleyCarr Birthday Challenge LOL

Guac I know all too well about the denial of a craving, only to eat too much of something else anyway... Sorry the scale is up. You will find your groove again; I know it. I've been exactly where you are, maybe 5 pounds ago. You'll break through. Just keep at it every day. Hey, thought of you as I was dissecting an avocado last night LOL

Are you guys sick of hearing me wax on about my ever-changing goal yet? Last night I tried on the stack of 3 pants that still don't fit yet in my closet. Yeah, they clearly don't fit, oh my! It's all in the hips/butt. Then I got to thinking about how much I weighed when I bought them. 146, in 2005-6. Which happens to be what I had changed my goal to only hours before. So... maybe I'm finally coalescing on a number; we'll see.

Wednesday: 1325 calories, 25 min stairclimbing, 4.6 mi on treadmill(4 of them jogging, go, me!)
What made me proud: My stair buddy went home sick but I did the stairs anyway - up to 770 steps each way

Had my wellness assessment at work - unfortunately my BMI was 25.4 on their scale so I don't qualify for the extra $100 :-(. There are other ways I can earn the funds. Bad news was my blood pressure was too high(it always is in these situations - I had a 24 hour test once and it was fine, plus I monitor at home). Good news was all my cholesterol and glucose numbers were optimal,and had improved a bit over my last test.

Blizzard is heading this way! Will have to find ways to get my exercise in at home for a few days.

newleaf you are so freaking close to your goal for this challenge! Awesome!!

sum, glad you are having a great time, and it's good to experience other lifestyles and learn from them. I think we do a lot of things wrong in the US.

guac, isn't it amazinghow sensitive the scale is? By tomorrow the 2 lbs(and hopefully more!) will be gone

curley, the next challenge will def. have to be a combo of your b'day and St. Paddy's - love it!! What a great day to have a birthday!

jennifer, hope you got through your hungry day OK..those are tough.

luvcats, I may check out that challenge. I am actually hoping to be at goal weight on the 4th of July..that is a 1lb/week loss from when I started. I actually keep a spreadsheet with my daily weight and calories and goals..yes, I work in finance But I like these short-term ones too.

Hope everyone is well, and staying safe with this crazy weather.

Glad some of you are interested in the Independence Day challenge... I probably wouldn't do one that far out either if not for the fact my goals are small steps but ones I want to keep up for the foreseeable future. I'm not looking at it as "lose XX pounds by 7/4." I imagine we all think of different things when we think of setting goals.

I would be happy to put up one for 40's St. Pat's day here if you like... or someone else can either way is terrific.... not sure if y'all would like to have it up now or not until later next week.

Keep up the good work everyone! We're doing this.

I think we should put it up after this Valentine's challenge ends, but either way works for me! I've had a decent day calorie-wise, but I'm not getting any exercise in due to this stupid cold. I'm so wiped out after work, I can't imagine working out! I'm even debating tracking my Niquil calories

If anyone is interested... I could make a google spreadsheet with weekly weigh-ins and measurements?

Thursday: 1095 calories, 50 min Zumba class
What made me proud: Didn't eat after Zumba even though I wanted a treat, I wasn't truly hungry

Down 1.6 for the week and 5.4 for the challenge, even though Ive complained, that is a really good rate of loss for me, so I'll shut up now.

Snow has already started here and they're saying we could get anywhere from 10-20". Going to get out early and make sure I have good food for the next few, but exercise will be a challenge - probably won't get back to the gym until Sunday so I'll have to get creative around the house, or do something with the snow(I hate shoveling and am hoping one of DH's friends will plow the driveway for us).

Sum I would def. be interested and have been tracking my weight weekly, not my measurements though..I think it really helps to see progress that way...

Jennifer, hope you're feeling better

Luv, is that challenge up on the chicks for a challenge board? I think we'll prob post the St. Paddy's Day/Curley's bday one on Friday...

Stay safe, all.