Dance: I am totally with you on the 5 pound challenge. WE CAN DO THIS! I'm going back to the gym December 1st, no matter what! I see the back specialist on the 1st, so hopefully he will be giving me the ok to go back. I really do miss it and since I've been lazy with workouts, I'm lazy with food as well. Need to get it back on track. 2011 is my year to meet my goal....who's with me?!?

Work is super stressful, doesn't help that a lady brought in all the full sized candy bars from Halloween and they sit 3 feet from my desk. Didn't touch them today (which is an improvement, since I've had one every day for the past couple of days). Small steps, right?

Thanks Dance, I will need the luck.

Vicky-Thats all amazing with the job. Glad to hear ARP seems to be helping. I know once you get back in the gym, you will be back to ticker weight. Look how far you have come. We all stumble during this process, we just gotta get right back up and keep pushing ourselves. Remember, you just told me the other day, "this weight loss thing takes time. What matters is that you are still doing it and not giving up. One pound at a time." So focus on getting your strength back and lets all get back to eating right!!!! We can do this!!!!!

We have all our things packed and are heading out in the morning. Gotta drop the dogs off at the kennel at 8am. Gonna miss my babies so much. Wish they were going with us. I am though, looking forward to the warm weather and getting out to walk without freezing.

I'll try to check in as much as possible over the next 2 weeks.

Allison: Love the new pic by the way. Who's the little one with you?

Love both of your avatars!

maddiesmom - 2011 is definitely going be our year to meet goal! And we'll get off to a good start by getting back to ticker by the holidays.

I went on a great long walk last night (surprisingly warm evening here) with two of my buddies which was great and I'm planning on working from home this afternoon and will squeeze in a run. Then we're having a fancy (but healthy) dinner out to celebrate my bf's raise and my new gig at work (the one that makes me be in the office all the time, darn!).

Burgundy - safe travels! Hope you packed some healthy snacks for the car.

maddiesmom - what are you guys up to this weekend?

Dance - this weekend is kinda busy actually. I have a doc's appt on Saturday (yearly check up stuff) then a 1 year old's b-day party. It's a friend I worked with 9 years ago and we caught up again on FB! She lives 3 miles from me! Sunday is home renovations - the hubby hasn't touched the floor since before the wedding (10/2) and I'm thinking I may put up Christmas lights since it will be on the warmer side here.

Food not good today - had a salad at Chipotle with chips and guac. Couldn't resist (even though I should have). I'm not having dinner - not really hungry - so I have to start anew once again! Going to ARP tonight with Jeff and hoping that spending some time with him will get my willpower back. Working out always made me eat better. Gotta lose these 5 pounds. So disappointed that I did it. I'm on the cusp of 200 again and I don't want to be there!

What is everyone else up to? Burgundy has her road trip, right?

Vicky-the little one is Chris' cousins baby. I have to get my baby fix with her. LOL. Busy weekend for you. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that the specialist gives you the go ahead for the gym.

Dance-Good job on your walk. I cant wait to get to my moms and walk as much as I can down there. We're taking a few days to get down again so we are in TN right now. I just want to get there. I did pack healthy snacks and have been eating them but I've also had a few unhealthy treats too.

I am ready to be in AL. My sis has been sick, I'm hoping she is better tomorrow. I dont wanna get it. I have had a stuffy nose for a few days and hope thats all. I had taco bell for dinner tonight, and didnt order off the fresco menu like I should have. Gonna eat better tomorrow. We should be at my moms by 11am tomorrow.

I will try to check in this week but my mom doesnt have internet so if I dont I hope you both have a Happy Thanksgiving. I am so THANKFUL to have you two as friends to help me along this LONG journey. Thank you both so much!!!!!

Hey girls! Finally ditched this cold and went running yesterday and today - woohoo! I'll either run again tomorrow or walk with a buddy. Will write more tomorrow...

Got in a good walk this morning just as a cold front started to blow in so the last 20 minutes were FREEZING!!

Burgundy - hope your travels are continuing to go well and that you can get in lots of walks once you get there.

maddiesmom - did you get your xmas lights up? I'm impressed at your being so ahead of the game.

Doing okay for food so far - this morning I went on a veggie cooking frenzy to get stuff ready for the week which is a big step for me. Off to run errands - hope you're doing great!

tiny woohoo - down 2 lbs from my worst after the pineapple popsicle craziness but still 4 to go until ticker. I'm shooting to be down another one by next monday - anyone with me? Kind of crazy over thanksgiving but for some reason, I'm not that excited about the food on this holiday. I know, I know - that's practically un-american Going for a walk (probably a very cold one) with a friend tonight after work and thinking about a run tomorrow morning. Brrrr. Hope you guys are doing great.

ETA - doing okay on food so far:
b - yogurt, strawberries and grapenuts
l - french onion soup (no crouton), whole grain baguette
s - TLC peanut bar
d - plan is chicken, broccoli, brown rice, peanut sauce
s - apple, sf popsicle

Dance: WAHOOOOOOOOO!!! 2 pounds is great! A lot more than I've done! Glad you are feeling better after your cold. How is your exercise / walking? I would love to be down a pound by Monday. I'm in with you! I'll walk and clean, etc. this week, so I'll do my best! You know I love challenges!

No Christmas lights up, the hubby finally decided to work on the floor, so he wasn't able to get the lights down from our attic. I am going to decorate Friday, after I do my black Friday shopping. Should be fun (not really, but want can you do - love the deals!)

This weekend is going to be busy for me: thanksgiving with the family on Thursday, cleaning, shopping and Christmas decorations on Friday, my SIL's Chicago reception on Saturday, then Madeline's birthday on Sunday. I'm having family over on Sunday - spending time with the SIL before she goes back to DC. I really can't wait to be over the whole "Lauren's wedding" thing - it's been ongoing for over a month and the topic of every conversation - including at Maddie's party. My hubby's side of the family is excited - mostly because they haven't met the groom yet - (crazy I know), but it seems that Lauren is cutting herself out of the family slowly but surely.

She excused herself from the family grab bag, invited his mom's side of the family to her wedding, but not her dad's side, she never visits with them when she's here and the fact that no one has met the hubby before they got married, to me that's inexcusable. They even threw her a bridal shower and he was a no-show. Perhaps I'm over sensitive, but I just dont' think it's right. Sorry for that tangent!

Dance - looks like it's just you and me - what are your plans for the weekend?

Hey you!
Interesting family stuff you're dealing with! Weddings seem to bring out unusual behavior in lots of groups. One of our buddies here got married a few years ago and wanted us to be around for everything all the time and then we haven't seen her since the wedding practically. Go figure. I really enjoy going to weddings but they seem to bring out the more selfish side of many brides.

Okay - here's to that pound by the end of the weekend - we can do it!

I got up before six this morning to fit in a run before work and am really proud of myself for actually doing it. Am planning on another one tomorrow, knee permitting, but probably in the afternoon when I'm working from home. We're planning on going out for sushi weds night then we are headed over to my parents' for thanksgiving. I'll be working from home on Fri, trying to finish up my old job writing reports as I have not had any time to work on them lately. Nothing else really planned so I'll have to live vicariously through you

How's the numbness doing? Any improvement at all?

Numbness is the same, unfortunately. I am getting some feeling back in my big toe, but the 2nd and 3rd are still numb, as is the ankle, and the side of my knee. Strange how patchy the numbness is. Small steps, I guess. The therapist said that at least I'm showing some signs of improvement, numbness wise. I go back to the doc next Wednesday and we'll see what he has to say. Hopefully I'll be able to get back to the gym - I really miss is and I know I eat better when I'm working out.

Tomorrow is a pot luck at work and I'm dreading it - my willpower is still very low...but I didn't eat the Milky way that has been staring me in the face. Been trying to keep busy and luckily someone at it today. Here's the food today:
B: Oatmeal and fruit (water)
S: bagel (ugh - was starving)
L: Salad and soup
S: BBQ chips
D: Crispy chix sandwich and veggies - not the most healthy, but no mayo!

Little steps to get back where I need to be. Of course, checking in here will definitely help. If you check in, so will I!

Hey ladies. Checking real quick using my hubbys computer. We're having a blast. My niece is my little shadow. I have been doing good food and exercise wise. This morning I was at 189, not bad. When we left I was at 188 so if I can just stay right around there I will be good.

I found a lump on the side of my nieces neck last night, so gonna go with her and my sister to the doctor this afternoon. Lets pray it is nothing. I have been worried all night.

I'll check in again soon. Happy Thanksgiving.

Hey girls!

How did you guys do yesterday? Not too crazy here - two pieces of chocolate in the evening but no pie and nothing over the top. Went for a walk with my mom for about 45 minutes. Today I'm planning on walking or running with some girlfriends and then catching up on work, ah - such fun.

maddiesmom - saw your post on fb - you are a shopping nut! Is it going well?

Did okay yesterday - got in a 5 mile walk and did well on food until some evening snacking. Today I'm planning on a run. Hope you guys are doing great!