Ladies,

I wasn't able to post yesterday due to some sort of stomach virus. I'm feeling a bit better this morning, but I'm staying home from work so I can be sure that I'm over it. I drive over 40 miles to work one way..that's to far away from home when dealing with something GI.

Needless to say I didn't work out yesterday but then again, I didn't have much to eat and what I did eat...well...let's just say it didn't hang around long.

Mindy and Kelly: New workout clothes? How fun!

Kelly: I watched the Biggest Loser last night to. It's so inspiring.

Ward: You will get back on top of your game soon. I'm like you...I'm good with the workouts...but the food is always a challenge for me. How about some more protein so that you feel fuller? Hang in there...we are here to help you through this.

I'm going back to bed. I got up so that I could email work that I'm staying home and turn on my out of office assistant.

I'll check in later.

Hi everyone. Just a quick update for the day. I was down to 181.5 today. Yay! It keeps heading the right direction! Did about 45 minutes of Jillian's Backside workout tonight with Mindy. A lot of it was kind of easy. I can definitely feel it in my muscles, though.

Keep it up ladies!! See you tomorrow!

Yep, our workout was kind of easy, but it was mostly strength stuff. It was allright. I was up today to 195.2. Could this be the big mid-cycle gain. Probably. Or should I say, duh?? I hope it stays small.

Kelly- It's oky about the workout clothes. I tried them on tonight and they just wern't working right. I'll have to try something different.

Susie- Hope you get to feeling better. My DD went to the doctor today. She acute bronchitis. Poor baby.

Ward- Come tell us all your troubles.

Susie, I hope you are feeling better. Your dd too, Mindy.

A Jillian workout that was easy? You two must be getting really strong!

Me: good workout yesterday and eating on plan. I am feeling a bit better but still beating myself up over the number on the scale.

Hi,

I'm somewhat better today. I haven't had much to eat but crackers since Tuesday night. I'm at work, but moving slow. I'm sort of hungry but when I think about eating I feel sick again.

Needless to say, I'm not working out. In fact I made a decision to table them until Sunday. Just taking my shower this morning wore me out.

I hate when this happens. It seems like I just get going really well on a program and then I get sick! It's frustrating.

Mindy: You know why those scales are up a bit--it's the way your body cycles. I hope you DD is feeling better

Kelly: So happy to see those scales going the right direction for you. Your comment about the strength workout made me smile. That's they way they work..at the time it doesn't feel so hard, it's later on that you can really feel those muscles.

Ward: It can be upsetting to see a number that you don't like, but it's just a number....you can change it. Power back girl!

This is funny. Kelly and I were doing BL Bootcamp tonight. We had both agreed that last nights workout was pretty easy. Then we did some move and we both went "ouch" at the same time. The backs of our legs were both hurting. Yep, I guess you feel it later. Tonight's workout was certainly tougher.

My DD has bronchitis and my ex has Upper res. infection, almost phnemonia. He is on all kinds of drugs, steroids and antibiotics. I feel like I should move to a hotel for the week. Hope i don't get what they've got.

Susie- Take it easy. Remember, you must eat though. Light and bland.

Ward- Sounds like you are back on track and your number will look better soon.

Hi,

I'm almost back to normal, but the food is very light and bland. I'm thinking a baked potato for lunch. I talked to my trainer and she agreed, no workouts until Sunday and then to keep it on a Level 1-2.

I did show a loss at TOPS last night, 2.5 lbs. I thought it might not be a true number but I never got sick with my virus..just felt like I could, so the Docs that I work with said it's most likely a true loss..maybe not the .5 part. Anyway, you can bet I'll be very careful this upcoming week so those scales don't go back up next Thursday.

Mindy, Kelly: It's killer when those hamstrings hurt! But it's a good hurt..you know you worked them.

Ward: How's things going?

I'll be around this weekend. Not much planned..thank goodness. I'm tired!

Hi girls. Well, I was only down a pound this week. I was excited earlier in the week because I was down another pound, but that was short lived. I guess a pound is a pound and I need to stay positive about the scale moving in the right direction, but it sure seems like a lot of exercising and a lot of not eating what I want for that pound to come off. It makes me question if it is worth all the work. Hopefully next week there will be a better showing at the scale. I couldn't stay to work out with Mindy today. My 3 year old got sick at daycare and I had to leave work early to pick her up. I will be doing it tonight on my own I guess.

Mindy--Sorry about the gain for the week. I am glad you can laugh about it now. Just think about what would have happened a year ago! At least that darn body of yours is pretty predictable. Sucky, but predictable.

Susie--Great job on the 2.5 pound loss! You have been working really hard for that! Take it as a true loss!

Ward--Hope you are doing well!

See you tomorrow!

Susie, I am glad you're feeling a bit better. Good job on the loss.

Mindy, get out of the house if you can!

Kelly, I completely agree with you about working so hard for so little result. But, we have to remember that it's not all about the number on the scale. We are doing this to be strong and healthy, too.

I am back on the eating plan. Exercise has been good, too. I went to Power this morning and something happened to the stereo on the second song. The mike wasn't working, either. So the instructor just counted reps for us for the next 45 minutes. It seemed much harder than doing it to music. Then I got on the bike for 15 minutes, and my iPod crapped out on me. No music for me, either! Oh well.

See you tomorrow!

Well, I was hoping this month's gain would be small. HAH!! No such luck. As a mater of fact I think it is the worst one ever. I am up 4.8 pounds. WTF???? As Kelly said, I can usually blow it off since I understand this is just what my body does, but 5 pounds. I have got to say that has me quite worried. It only took 4 days to go up that much and God only knows how long it will take to come back off. HELP!!!!

Susie- So happy you saw a loss again. You are making progress. So happy for you. Keep it up.

Ward- I knew you would be back on the band wagon ASAP. Keep it up.

Kelly- Yep, it's work. Lots of work. But it is so well worth it when we get to buy smaller clothes and look good. You know it's worth it.

Mindy, just keep drinking your water so you're not retaining. It'll be gone soon.

I had a good workout this morning - with music! One hour on the stair mill and Group Ride. Eating is on plan. I have the extra incentive of a swim birthday party next week-end. I am so not ready for this year's swimsuit debut! LOL

See y'all tomorrow.

So, I was back down a pound this morning, but I am sure it is going to go back up. I was very down on life yesterday, and I ate. Pizza for dinner, and a couple more snacks that night. Not a huge binge or anything, but enough to make me blow my calories out of the water for the day. Today I was off to a rocky start, had to go out of town to get my hair done, in really bad weather, mind you, so I ate fast food for lunch. And yes, I had the fries, too. It has been a long time since I had fries. The good part is that they didn't really taste that good, so I don't think I'll eat them again for a very long time. But, now I am back home, and I headed straight for the workout DVD's. I did 25 minutes of WATP, and 25 minutes of BL Cardio Max levels 2 & 3. I feel good, and I will try to eat light tonight. I don't know, though. We may go out to dinner since the kids are at grandma and grandpa's for the night. I vow to choose fish, chicken, or salad.

Mindy--I know exactly how you feel about that 5 f*****g pounds. It has not been that long since I had that 6 pounder. It sucks, and it most definitely has to be water retention. Did you eat salty stuff yesterday? Probably not. Just rest easy and know you are still below 200, never to see it again.

Ward--Glad to see you back and on track. Working out without music must be pretty boring. I know the times I have walked on the treadmill, I never would have made it without music.

Susie--Hope you are feeling better and taking it easy.

See ya!

Hi Ladies,

I wish I could afford a housekeeper! It's like my Saturday's are always taken up by housework! It took me al day today. I had 2 of my nieces for a couple of hours today. My DH and I fixed them breakfast and then played games with them and hung out for a while. So, I really didn't get started on my housework until about 1. I was doing laundry when the girls were here.

I still am not able to eat normally. I did have a cheesburger from McDonalds today--it just sounded good and I had one pancake at breakfast. I just finished eating some pears. I know it's not much food but I'm trying to listen to my stomach and only give it what sounds good. I've heard that this virus I had seems to last about 4 days before your stomach feels normal.

I will do a workout tomorrow. Most likely a walk.

Mindy: I am shocked and sorry about your gain. I know that's hard to deal with and I can't really see why it happened. Hang in there. It came off before andit will again.

Kelly: You hang in there too. As long as you don't have fries everyday they are ok sometime. I smiled when you said they weren't that good; that's what I thought the last time I had them...I only wish I could think that about potato chips!

Ward: The words "Swim Party" would strike fear in my heart! I know that we will be swimming at my family reunion in June. I'm really hoping to be at a 25 lb loss by then. I'm glad your music was back for your workouts. I don't know how you did it without the music.

Everone stay strong!

Well I didn't lose anything today, but I didn't gain any more either. That is a good thing. It is so frustrating to be right back where I was before my loss last week. This just makes me crazy. No rhyme nor reason. I did WATP for 45 min. last night and didn't eat very much yesterday, at all. Hopefully some of this crap starts going away tomorrow.

Kelly- I had fries last week and was shocked when I looked up their calories. 400 for a small at Wendy's. That is crazy. Just get over it and move on. We have a staff meeting Monday so we can't workout together. Hopefully we'll get in a few days this week.

Susie- I have been meaning to clean my house all weekend and haven't done it yet. I hate cleaning and nobody seems to give a s***. I really need to vaccum and dust. YUCK!!!

Ward- I'm with Susie. The thought of a pool party would freak me out. i don't even own a suit. Not ready for that step yet. Have fun though. I'm sure you will be smokin.

Mindy, sounds like you're going to start going back down now.

Kelly, I don't like fries any more, either. I wish I could lose my taste for sweets and chips, too.

Susie, I hope you are getting closer to 100%. Did you get in a light workout today? I am sure you will be feeling good by June and strutting your new body in your swimsuit.

I ran 9 miles on the treadmill this morning. It was too cold to run outside. Eating is on plan.

See you tomorrow!