Thanks Rusty those some great ideas. And that griller you talked about that is definetly something DH and I want to get. We plan it soon. He wants the big B-B-Q because it will be big enough for the whole family. I have grape nut flakes up there but hate to have milk. I think I am lactose intolerant as much as I enjoy milk. But I think I can force it atleast for breakfast time and maybe add a banana into it for some sweetness instead of sugar. I will do that.

Jen~~~Weigh to go Lovie! You just keep doing what you are doing and before you know it you will be there. I know I am going to try and do all the opposites of what I had been doing these past few weeks and perhaps I will be at my mini-goal before I know it.

How much longer do we have on this challenge? Does anyone know? Okay I am really out of here. You know how men hate it when they want you ready by the time they get back. Aaargh! Bye.
Kina

I have one of those big grills too. It is the best thing in the world to have!! Everything cooks super quick and I feed a family of five from it. I love putting veggies on it to go with supper. I would definately recommend getting one. We actually sold our outdoor grill after we got the indoor one. Cleanup is easier and it cooks so much quicker. lol

I think the challenge ends on the 25th. right?

Have a great day all!!!

Kina and Jen, You are dedicated and that is what counts. One day at a time and you will get there.

Congrats on the losses ladies!! A pound is a pound, and one gone is always a good thing!! This is a long, hard journey and every tiny step is actually a huge feat!!
I got a mini George Forman for Christmas and I really love it!! I use it for fish and chicken usually. It's super quick and everything comes out yummy. I got four miles in on the treadmill today. That's pretty good for me. I'm behind on my monthly goal because of Sarah's hospital stay. I have to play catch=up the rest of the month. But that's ok, I need someone to stand behind me with a cattle prod!! I guess I'm lucky because my dh is so supportive, but loves me no matter what I weigh. I really feel like this is the first time I am 100% doing this for myself. I think that's very important. Have a great one ladies, TTFN,

WOW everyone is doing awesome. I *think* I have a 1lb loss this week. My official weigh-in day is Monday so I will update you then. I like the idea of the George Foreman type grill. I am moving in to a new apartment next month and I think that may have to be one of my purchases. I am going out dancing/drinking with my girlfriends tonight. Hopefully I can keep the drinking to mostly water and do some booty shaking to burn any alcohol off. Have a great weekend ladies!
Claire

Well the scale is still reading a 2 pound loss!Hurray!!! 1 more pound and I'm back to my pre holiday weight. 2 more and I meet this months challenge, something I have never done before!!! Next week is going to be tough. Actually, just the rest of this week-end is going to be tough. Wish me luck!!!

WTG Apple Blossom! Isn't it a pain trying to catch up after a temporary gain? I hate it. I know I'm not going to make my goal this challenge, but I may come closer than I thought earlier. I guess I got my weekends mixed up and didn't realize the TOM was right around the corner. There's so much going on in my life, I didn't recognize the symptoms either. Anyway, I woke up this morning and TOM had arrived. I can't wait to see how much weight comes off in the next week now!
Thanks for the words of encouragement and Rusty, thanks for all the meal ideas. Now that I'm a stay-at-home mom and caregiver for a while, I plan to try all kinds of new things.

Jen
238/230/140

How is everybody doing! Well today was so chilly here in Florida. My husband and I had to sell Girl Scout cookies at our local Kmart at 9 am this morning! We were totally freezing even with the sweaters and long sleeves underneath. My hubby ended up going back home and getting the girls their winter coats! Back home now and all warmed up. My scale has been between 129-130 so that is a good sign! The challenge ends on the 25th of this month and I will start a new one the next day...
Appleblossom,let me know how much you've lost for this entire challenge. I didnt see your name and I just realized that!
Gen..Goal.. Maintain current weight

Jen519..Goal..8 lbs Loss 1 lbs

grizzlyschick..Goal..10 lbs..Loss 11 lbs

AngieMe..Goal 8 lbs..Loss 7.5

Lidian..Goal 6 lbs

DipsNTwists..Goal..8 lbs..Loss 3lbs

Kina..Goal 8 lbs

Choci..Goal..10 Lbs..Loss12 lbs

Kempyd..Goal 7 lbs..Loss5 lbs

Rusty..Goal 5 lbs..Loss 2 lbs

SuzyQ..Goal 10 lbs

MADCAT..Goal 7 lbs..2.8 lbs

Laney1733..Goal 5 lbs..Loss 4 lbs

Guinever..Goal 10 lbs

Clarita ..Goal..5 lbs..Loss 1 lbs

Appleblossom Loss 2 lbs

I really have to apologize for dropping off the face of the earth this past week. I have been reading the posts, but I just haven't been able to get my act together to post anything. Work is crazy busy and I usually write my responses there...

Anyway, it should like everyone is very upbeat and motivated this week - which is a great thing! Congrats to everyone who lost! I forgot about weigh in yesterday so here is my numbers: down to 156.2 for a loss of 1.6 this week and a total loss of 2.8 lbs (and I had to go double check that and subtract my current weight from the weight I posted in my first post) since the start of the challenge. Do we just have one more week? Wow, time has flown...

Just wondering what an average loss per week is for everyone? I seem to only go about 1 lb a week (which i am good with), but I am curious what everyone else is doing...

Well this weekend I ate very good until dinner time. For dinner I ate whatever I wanted. I havent had dinner at home for the past two days. Birthday party saturday night ,all hispanic food! Then baby shower today again all hispanic food,roasted pork,honey baked ham,potato salad,delicous cake too! I'm feeling full from the slice of cake! So anyway tomorrow is back to the gym again.
Well I better get going , hubby calling to watch a movie.

ttfn,Gen

Madcat I am usually around 1 lbs a week too. I think that is a good amount. Nice and slow.

Congrats Apple! I know you are feeling great.

Jen I am with you on the waiting game. I am hopeing for a few more pounds off after this week too.

Gen I havn't been eating very well either. This weekend I had pizza Friday night as treat. Saturday night we ate Mexican and went dancing (had to much to drink). Sunday we were hungover so we ordered pizza for dinner b/c neither one of us could stand long enough to cook anything. Bad me. (slap on the hand) I am doing better today. I am trying to get back on track.

Hi,
Just curious if you ladies have found any difference in your rate of weight loss when you are chugging lots of water. I have not seen any studies showing that people lose more weight when they are drinking lots of water but successful losers seem to swear by it. Does anyone have anymore info on this?

Hope everyone is having a healthy day!
Claire

Hi everyone,

Apologies for not keeping up recently but like Madcat I have been swamped with work and getting kids back into school routines etc etc...Been maintaining, but have lost 1 lb recently to put me at 144. I am not going to be at my original goal but that's fine - I am aiming now at 140 over the next - however long it takes, I guess, as long as I keep working at it!

Congrats to all! Keep up the good work!

Lidian

Hey I was wondering after reading allthe posts about lowfat cheese to make those pita pizzas? I bought some today and Im not sure if its the same type you ladies were mentioning? Its called CABOT cheese,50% lessfat. For lunch today I had one pita sliced in in half,spread 1tbsp of sauce and sprinkled the cheese and baked it for 7 minutes. I bought the cheese in a 8 oz block and shredded it at home in a machine I have. The pita was only 160 calories and 0 fat,the cheese was 70 calories and 4.5 fat. The sauce was 50 calories for halfcup which I only used 2 tbsp so I figured about 25 calories there and also 0 fat. So two slices of this yummy pizza was only 255 calories and 4.5 fat. I had this for lunch with a diet coke and was totally satisfied! Then dinner came around and I cooked cornbeef with fries in them on a bed of white rice, I didnt eat it! I cooked it for hubby and the kids. I enjoyed the lunchso much that I baked the pita pizzas again! But this time I ate two whole pitas and didnt slice them in half so I had 510 calories and 9 fatgrams for dinner.Breakfast today was blahhh but I stayed full for a long time today! It was oatmeal with skim milk,had it with regular sugar sprinkled with some cinnamon on top,had an apple for snack. And for my sweet cravings I bought lowfat yogurt "icecream" (Butter pecan) only 110 calories and 3 fatgrams . So today's total calories was around 1,400-1,500. Went to the gym and burned 720 calories in 1hr. I wanted to add today's calories to see how I maintain my weight cause I dont feel deprived! So there it is, I burn about half of what I eat.
Well I'm still wearing the sweaty shorts and sweater wrapped around mywaist from the gym! Iswear a lot of people from the gym must have eaten too much over the weekend cause it was JAMMED packed tonight!!!! They have at least 20 elliptical machines and all but 3 were taken!all the treadmills were taken also.
Well let me go jump in the shower!
ttyl,
Gen

Hi all.
Madcat, I keep aiming for around 2 pounds a week, but usually, I'm not dedicated enough to get there. I have on occasion lost even more than that though. I have a tendency to get frustrated that it takes so long, even when I'm losing consistently. "They" say that slower weight loss means a better chance of keeping it off, though.
As for the water, Clarita, I can't tell whether drinking water helps me lose weight or not. It generally seems to be an all or nothing thing for me. Either I'm excersizing, eating right, and drinking lots of water, or I'm not doing any of those things! Hard to tell which one is having more of an effect or if they're all contributing.
Catch you all tomorrow.

Jen
238/230/140

Well I went and done it,

I pulled a muscle at the gym yesterday doing bicep curls. (That's what I get trying to hang with the big boys in the free wieghts) But I couldn't help myself. You see these guys lifting their killer weights then you look at your cutsie little dumbell and feel all wimpy. So like a dope I picked up the big ones and now I'm hurting.

I'm walking around the office asking what I should do and their all like "heat it", "no ice it", "no heat it" So i figured I'll do both and see what feels better

In the meanwhile I'm still going to the gym today but I'm doing all lower body to give my arm more recovery time. I hope i don't have to do push-ups tomorrow.

BTW Clarita - Drinking water throughout the day helps to curb your appetite and keeps you hydrated, which is very necessary when working out. It really helps the weight loss process along. ( you burn major calories running to the bathroom all day)

That's all for now ladies.

-Dips-