Count me in as a lifetime member of the Red Lobster junkies. I have chosen them on several occasions for my birthday dinner. My son and I always go there on Mom's weekend at the fraternity as it is always in the spring and usually during lent. He and I once decided at the last minute to go to one here in St. Louis and he was laughing because we were both wearing elastic waste shorts so we should have no problem gorging. I am a bad mom - I hope he stays thin like my husband.

Simple - Harry is extremely agile and very fast. Sheepdogs would surprise you with their speed. Don't be fooled by their bear like appearance and gait. I am like a little old grandma driving a Porsche when we are on an agility course. Totally out of my element with a high powered dog. His problem is he gets so excited when we are out there that he can't think straight. As you can imagine we are quite a mess out there.

Grits- I got your card today! Thanks so much. That was sooooo sweet. I'm looking forward to sending you one at the end of this challenge! =)

Lindy-I'm still interested in that cruise to mexico. When/what/where? My birthday is in march. It would be a good gift for myself, besides.. I hope to be at my goal then too. That would be awesome.

Hey Ladies. Thanks for all your kind thoughts. Sorry I haven't been active as much, and sorry I dont have much time for personals. I have had a crazy weekend helping my sister paint her bathroom. Talk about a total pain. When I got over to her house, she had already painted half of the bathroom and when I went to touch it, it literally rolled off the wall like a balloon. She was soooo mad. We ended up having to run back and forth to town to get primer and stuff to sand with. So needless to say we spent 2 whole days just getting it primed to be painted. I just got my TOM this morning and im hurting terribly. UGH Why us? Oh the other hand im super excited because its getting closer and closer to Thanksgiving and I FINALLY get to spend some time with my bf. Im a little scatter brained at the moment so forgive me if I dont make sense

dancerindenver- My eating plan is basically just been trying to keep my calories at 1200-14000 calories a day. Which is basically a bowl of cereal and a banana for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch and meat and veggies with rice or potatoes for dinner. I mainly just eat less of what is available. I wish I was almost at my goal. My ticker is to be a "healthy" BMI instead of being overweight. I still havent figured out my goal weight yet im hoping it will come to me.

AHH - I tried so hard to get on here today. Crazy day at work - and I never got anything done, now I am home at 9PM and ready for bed, but wanted to check in. I need some intervention. I did good all day and crapped the bed tonight (well not literally but you know what I mean). I don't know what got into me. Anyway I didn't work out today because I didn't fall asleep until 230AM. But help me god I am getting up tomorrow. I find that if I work out in the morning it keeps me from eating bad because I feel like I wasted it.

Does anyone ever have this problem....you cheat a bit and then it gives you an excuse to just go nuts for the rest? How the **** do I not do that. First of all, why oh why is anything food related worth feeling like sh*t. I'm so frustrated and can't figure this out. I know how awesome it feels to feel good but why can't I keep that damn food out of my mouth.

I'm so mad

Ok, sorry rant done...

Popcorn...Red Lobster - you can't go without your buffet pants...

Oh I wish I could break my addiction, obsession with whatever entering my body.

Ok, I am being way too negative...sorry

I am going to get some sleep and try and wake up tomorrow with a better outlook. Maybe I need a therapist or some type of pill.

I'm soo upset

Staccie, don't feel bad. We have all been there. Even as I am telling myself I am not even hungry and my clothes don't fit I am looking for something that tastes good. Obviously, we are hardwired to seek out immediate gratification and our psyche needs a reason to justify. So we have all been on that - I blew it anyway so what difference does it make merry-go-round.

That is the beauty of this place, we save you the trip to the therapist and you can verbalize your feelings, almost like keeping a journal.

Today is a new day. Just make one small step towards the right path.

Random exercise thought.

Twice recently I have seen a feature, on TV and an article in a magazine, about "shaking things up" on the treadmill to boost your workout - e.g. walking backwards or sideways.

I gave this a try yesterday - OMG!

I must be the world's most uncoordinated person on the treadmill.

I had to slow the speed down to less than half a mile/hour to walk backwards and still almost fell off. Of course it took a few actual tosses off to find that pathetic speed.

I felt like George Jetson on the treadmill with Astro operating the controls.



Today was marginally better. I thought I would do the sideways thing instead.

I could somewhat handle it turned to the right but apparently have no coordination doing it to the left. Eventually I was able to right myself and let go of the bar.

Heres a big hoo-rah to Popcorn for her uplifting moment of the day.

Stacie AND EVERYONE- popcorn is right, its a new day, get back on the horse and do this. I kinda giggle to myself when I read some of our posts and we say, "today was a bad day, blah...blah..blah (including me), tomorrow is a new day, I will not do it again" - LMAO, yes we will! Of course we will, were only human! Do we not see skinny people at Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Ale House?! YES!!! Skinny people eat too. So, I was thinking about this last night. I have not stuck to my diet like I should over the past month, BUT...dammit, I havent gained any weight either (PS...got on the scale this morning and I was back at 166, so only a 1 pd weight gain). You can diet if your not in it whole heartedly and what I realized is, I lost 55 freakin pounds, thats darn good and if it takes me a year to lose another 35-45, so be it. As long as Im not gaining, Im not going to stress about it. Anyway, Stacie...your doing well, your trying and yes, of course there are times where I eat a little and say "to **** with it" and eat more, it happens, just as popcorn said..its a new day. And you are incredibly powerful, smart and beautiful, you'll get there soon enough. Just dont let a bad day turn into DAYS (notice, plural S, lol).

Neesy- I havent worked out the Mexico details yet but once I do, I will post it here for anyone who is interested. Im looking in March because it falls around taxes and I can just pay everything up front. Ill probably contact the travel agent in December, anyway...Ill keep you posted.

I took my Gabadoo out for breakfast this morning. My mom couldnt bring her to school because of an appointment so I went in an hour late and we went for breakfast, it was so nice. I wish I could do it more often. More times than I can count, I wish I could be a stay at home mom. Im an extremely intelligent woman and have done well for myself in my career and life (heck, I bought my own house by myself in a gated community at 24) but I wish so bad I could be there more. It breaks my heart when she has events at school and I cant make it because of an important meeting or what not. I try to make as many as possible, but theres the rare occasion. Anyway, Im babbling today, sorry. Hope everyone has a skinny day. PS- me and Dance get to meet today!!! YAY!!! We will officially be the first people from this forum that get to meet each other face to face, Im excited.

POPCORN- LMAO, thanks for the morning giggle, I dont know whats funnier the George Jetson comment or seeing the bounching smiley on the treadmill that matched so perfectly with your post, lol. Anyway- people at my gym do it ALL THE TIME, its a regular thing and yes, sometimes, for the few that try it and have no idea what their doing, ahem-ME! It is quite comical, so you are not alone.

Well goodmorning ladies! Lindy, I wrote previously and told Dance that I had to work today and would not be able to meet you both. I was so looking forward to putting a face to the typing (lol), but unfortunately I won't be able to. I hope you both have a great time and a nice walk around Lake Eola. It is so nice around there, and I am sure she will enjoy it.

Lindy is right on about Jillian Michaels and her new book about hormones. It makes all the difference to weight loss and STACCIE cravings for binging and food. I love the book and am actually getting ready to read it again. It is a lot of information, but made alot of difference in my eating habits, and hormonal balance, and most of all food cravings. Staccie I used to just seriously crave junk food, fast food, salts, sugars and whatever else. I would eat something and then say to myself "the **** with it" and pig out. I no longer do that, and I attribute it to keeping my hormones and system balance. Anyway, just an idea for you.

Neesy, so glad the card arrived. Your welcome! Oh, and another 3lbs? Wow, congratulations!!! That is huge, you are catching up to Dance and Lindy!!!!

Popcorn, hilarious about the treadmill.........LMAO. Yes, I have been there to and thought I would fly off the back and hit the wall at the gym!!!

Well, doing good, food is good, as is my workouts. If I can beat the rain, I am going to get out there shortly and walk. Lately I am hooked on oatmeal with fresh blueberries mixed in........yummmy and only 170 calories ;-) I weighed this morning and was down another pound. Yes, only 2 to go to this weeks goal.

AJ, how is your day going? Is your food good and hey........did you get your workout in ?????

Dance hope your flight is good and your time in Orlando is wonderful. Take some phone pics for us!

Tiff how are you doing? We miss you.

Morning, girls and greetings from warm Orlando! Looking forward to walking with Lindy later today! AJ - I'm so bummed I didn't get to meet you before you left Denver - hoping we can make up for it at Christmas!

Staccie - I hope today is looking brighter!

Lindy - totally agree that it's more than okay to take the occasional break from our eating plans - as long as the overall trend is downward, we're still doing good! And we all know that if we want to move the dial faster, then we should have less breaks/treats.

mygrits - wow, another pound! Girl, you are cranking!!

popcorn - I'd be up for walking backwards outside but no way on a treadmill - they mess with my sense of reality anyway - too funny!

pammy - you look so great in your progress pics! Girls - if you haven't already, check out her link to photos!

All right - off to visit properties. Hope you all have a great day!

Stacy- Dont worry about it so much. We all have our moments.
Popcorn - LOL at the Jetsons thing. I could actually visualize that. Good luck with that haha.
Lindy- Thats so neat going to meet dace and finally being able to put a face to the name. It would be really awesome to have a 3FC reunion one of these days where everyone could meet up. I feel I owe a TON to all of the 3FC woman, and the chance to meet everyone and give everyone a big freaking kiss would be great haha.

Today is a total blah day for me. I have to start cleaning for my bf and his family and I have to help my sister finish painting her bathroom. 15 days till he gets here!!! My TOM is killing me and I really just want to get back in bed. blah...

Pammy- ya know...I remember looking at your before and after pics and being amazed, in fact, Im pretty sure I notated something along the lines of you being really inspirational for me. Anyway - congrats! Ugh...I hate to ask this but Im having a total brain fart...did you tell us what program you were on and when you started your healthy lifestyle change?

Dance- I hope it doesnt do a misty rain like yesterday evening, that poo-poo weather. Your going to love Lake Eola, Im just not sure your going to be able to appreciate it as much with it getting so dark so fast. We will see.

Mygrits- YAY! Im so excited to see you back on track and in the zone. Im jealous that you work in a health foods store bc I would love to shop at one but it really is double my budget. Sorry to hear you couldnt make it but I figured as much with your crazy schedule these days. Im just happy you were able to get the job, you definately seem a lot less stressed.

Ok, Im still full from breakfast so there is no way Im eating lunch, I physically dont have the room in my belly. I know I should have something small but seriously, Im FULL, lol. Ill catch up later.

Popcorn!- Thanks for the morning laugh. Only because I tried it too and was the same way. Staccie does it when she is bored with it. I was like how the he11? So I tried it with the supervision of my husband and almost died. haha.

No workout yesterday. Of course. Food wasn't great. I just lose it about 7 at night. I need to start getting up @ like 4 and going to sleep at 6!! Its like all of my motivation flies out the window when my husband gets home from class. I cried to an hour last night and he promised to help me push harder if I helped him. =( Does anyone here have a skinny partner that thinks they are fatter than they are? Davey barely has a ounce of fat and weighs less than me and he kind of takes the air out of my balloon. I respect his struggle and his feelings but still... I would give almost anything to be that lean.

AJ-I was about the same weight as my husband when I started this diet. We were both around 240. Though he is 6'4" and I'm 5'6". Thats when I decided... that this is crazy. I need to lose weight. He's 225-230 now. So.. I'm inching farther away. But yeah.. I feel your pain. He eats whatever he wants and is still skinny as heck. Men suck.