Kind of quiet on here, I guess.

Went to Body Pump this morning. I'm feeling it.... I missed about a week of it, so I will probably be paying for it tomorrow.

Have a good one!

Went to spin class this morning. It was a tough one, but it felt good. I was a little sore from Body Pump yesterday, so it was good to work it out a little. I went to the gym after work last night, and ran. I've lost a lot of my endurance, so that was a little disappointing. But, you can't expect to hold on to your gains when you take that much time off from it. I did about half of what I did over the summer, so I have some ground to make up. It is doable!! I've been doing better on keeping under my calorie goal, so just need to keep that going. Struggle, struggle, struggle....

Nici: Well, that was an eventful trip. Glad you are ok!! That's too bad about your foot and back. It is hard enough to keep things going when you feel ok, but when you have parts that hurt, it makes it that much harder to exercise. Hope you feel better soon!

Went to Body Pump this morning, so that helped work out the soreness. I got on the scale and it was up. Not very happy about that, but maybe it will be back down on Monday for the official weigh in. Ugh..........

Good job on the walking, Nici!

Went running last night and it was much better than it was on Tuesday. I still have to build back up, but at least it is better! Went to spin this morning with an instructor I haven't seen for a while who was filling in for the normal instructor. She said that she could tell that I've lost weight and that I've improved with my endurance. That was cool!

I even resisted the urge to tell her how much weight I put on over Thanksgiving......

Hi all. Went to body pump yesterday, but I was so worn out after it, I just didn't think I'd make it through body flow. So, I skipped it. I did a lot of shopping yesterday, so that might have helped.

Weigh in tomorrow. Oh so excited.

Well, not a great weigh in, but I haven't been doing well on my food plan, so I'm not too surprised. I'll just own it and move on. I'm doing fine with workouts, but not with food. Need to be much more disciplined. I went to spin this morning. So, keeping up with that.

My cousin, who is very much obese, is planning to go in for gastric bypass surgery. I hope it helps her, but I'm worried that she will not be ready for the huge change in diet that she will have to do. I really wish she would just get on a good diet and exercise plan before resorting to the surgery. But, her choice. I hope it works.

Diane and Nici - Looks like you're keeping us alive and moving! Thank you!

We've been moving locations at work, so I've had intermittent access to my computer. Thus, I have been needing to use it for work. Gross, right?

I weighed in on Sunday at 256. I'm almost back up to my May 2012 starting weight. Less than a year ago, I was down to 189. It's sobering. But all I can do is try again, right?

I prepped my food on Sunday night for the week. Nothing fancy. Just cooked some chicken in a crock pot with some spices and shredded it and deseeded a pomegranate so I would have easily accessible, tasty food at work, as I have not been able to commit to intermittent fasting. Maybe I'll build back up to it, but for now, eating during the day seems like a better route.

The husband asked me about it, and I told him I am back to losing weight. He seemed a bit enthusiastic about it. Not overtly so, but he sort of almost sounded like he regretted making fun of my healthier food choices. I think he likes it better when I am making progress with weight loss. I certainly prefer it. I tend to be better in almost all aspects of my life.

But you are right, Diane. I need functional fitness. And so I am beginning. Again. And I am yet again considering the surgery. I know exactly what you mean about your cousin, though. I hope she finds that it works for her, and that she's able to deal with the psychological fall-out of not being able to resort to overeating to deal with life stresses.

Excited to see you rocking tomorrow's weigh-in!

Nici - Woot on stringing together some good days. And woot on getting rid of a lot of that water weight. And WOOT on walking five miles. Love that you're here. Love that you're making this work.

So, for today -

1 - Make it to the gym. At some point, for some amount of time. (Crazy craziness here today.)
2 - Eat the lunch I prepped myself.
3 - Unpack my office.

Life is good, though. Really good. Maybe this is where I make the permanent lifestyle change.

Went to body pump this morning. I almost didn't go because I was really dragging. But, I'm glad I went. I don't need to find excuses to not exercise. That's the one part that is really on track, so I have to hold on to that!! Ha! I'm planning on going running after work. I'm doing ok so far with staying under my calorie goal, so that's a plus for now.

I just don't want to give up on it this month. It is easy to say "screw it" for the holidays and start again in January, but I can see that resulting in a bunch of other pounds that would need to be lost, too. Ugh! So, I'm planning to work as hard as I can, but sometimes maybe slipping due to celebrations.

Nici: Wow, that's a great walk! Awesome! I'm agreeing with you that we'll all see onederland in 2016. We can do it!

Laurie: Good to see you back! Moving sounds like a really good time...not. Glad your husband is more on board with your eating healthy plan. I wonder if he saw that you were feeling so good and maybe you were happier when on plan? I know that I'm much happier when I stay on track. (Which makes me wonder why I ever get off track, but that's another story...) Anyway, hope you continue to stay strong!!

Nici - Oof. Injuries are the worst. But 8 miles! I am so proud of you! And I am going to embrace your "Onderland in 2016" challenge. Do you do any strength training? Maybe you could rotate that in to get off your foot a bit? Either body weight strength training or resistance bands could be inexpensive ways to do some strength training if you don't have weights. It may cause temporary setbacks with your scale, though. You are very unlikely to gain enough muscle that the muscle would hinder your weight loss, despite popular belief, but you will probably retain some water initially, so that can mess with your head if you're a daily weigher. But it does burn calories, and I love strength training.

Diane - I know you don't need a testament to your commitment, but I am a living embodiment of what can happen to someone who was in very good shape, but who let herself get off track. I love your commitment, and even if you never lose another pound (which you TOTALLY WILL), you look and feel good. Let's rock this holiday season!

I worked late last night, which usually means I do pretty well with food, but I just didn't. I had a good food day, but then I ate candy and granola bars and cake. All between 9 and 11 p.m. BUT - it's way better than eating tons the entire day, and today's a new day, and I packed my prepped lunch!

So -
1 - Cut off my eating at 8 p.m. Period.
2 - Go to the gym at 1 p.m. Shouldn't be a problem, if I just make myself quit working and walk out the door. I can do it!

Life is good. Besides general being-too-busyishness (which will get worse soon, as I am teaching a class on top of the full-time job beginning in January), everything is in place for success. Next focus - tighter time management.

Onederland in 2016!

Well, glad to say that I made it running last night after work. It actually felt pretty good, so I'm improving. I have a ways to go to get back my endurance to what it was over the summer, but step by step! I went to spin this morning and absolutely crushed it!! It was a tough workout, but I felt like I was on top of it! Good feeling. Food wasn't perfect yesterday, so still working on that too.

I'm going to survive the holidays, hopefully with a loss but if not, I just don't need a gain. Then, January will kick back in the discipline I had before. I want to give it a huge effort to get to onederland... and beyond! I did ok this year, but I want to do better in 2016.

Laurie: I'm joining you and Nici in striving for onederland. With that in mind, I copied you and put "Onederland in 2016" on my signature too. I think if we keep supporting each other and checking in here, we can make it!

Nici: I agree with Laurie on the strength training. I do that with body pump, and I think it makes a huge difference in how I look/feel. Yes, it might slow weight loss efforts at first, but developing lean muscle helps with more calorie burn when you aren't working out. Good job on the weight loss!!

Yay, Diane! Maybe we can pressure Nici into adding it to her signature line as well. It was her idea in the first place. =) (How's that for subtle, Nici?

Just checking in for two reasons. 1 - I am going to the gym in the afternoon as a part of my workday for the first time in way too long, and I came here to brag. Woot! 2 - Got a call from an insurance-mandated "health coach." Seems pointless, but . . . I am using it to do another challenge. Perhaps I can replicate the success of my "trainer boy challenges." I talk to her on 02/09. I am going to try to be 20 pounds down by then.

On to Onederland, my friends!

Went to Body Pump this morning. For some reason, my knees were feeling stiff. But, powered through it. Maybe it is the cold weather. Anyway, it was a tough workout. My arms were like jelly after it. Felt good!! Going running tonight after work.

Love that we're getting pumped up on some new challenges and making some good progress in 2016. I'm anxious to see those numbers go down. In addition to making it to onederland, I'd love to be to my first goal weight by the end of the year. Not trying to make too big of a goal, but I think it is doable. I don't think that 180 will be my final goal weight, but I'd love to make it there before I change anything. It has been my goal weight since I first came here in 2007 and I've never made it even close to that goal. I actually haven't been that weight since college, so I really would like to see it.

Laurie: I like it! Your new "health coach" challenge! That's so cool! You did well with the trainer boy challenges, so hope this one is good for you too. It seems like some of our old friends on this thread joined in with you. Maybe they'll be back in January too, and can join in!

Nici: Congratulations on the weight loss! That's great! And I'm glad you added the onederland in 2016 to your signature. We're all bonded now!!

Today is Day 4 of me following the plan my dietician has set out for me. It's been crazy. I had headaches two days out of the 4, but I think it's because I've cut all grains. Today I woke up and felt great, energized, like I had slept for 12 hours, when really it was 7. By now, I would have already given up so I'm pretty proud to still be going strong. Eventually it will be a habit.

Good morning, all.

Nici - WOO HOO! New decades are the best! Congrats, and thank you for joining the challenge you inspired. Also love the seasonal profile pic change. I am inspired by your commitment to walking. You are definitely rocking this holiday season, which can be the most challenging time of the year.

Diane - I know I say it a lot, but I think it a lot, and I hope you don't get tired of hearing it. You are a total rock star on your fitness. I love hearing about how you are so consistent, even through injuries. And while I know that your weight loss goals come slow, you also don't have the wicked fluctuations I have. (As you know, I've lost and gained 60 or so pounds over the past year and a half.) I love how you keep keeping on. Once you get into Onederland, I have no doubt you will stay there. Even if 180 isn't your "final" goal, getting there for you actually means staying there (or within a reasonable range of there).

Cutie - I love, love, love the "eating right" energy. Way to power through the headaches to get there.

My husband had surgery yesterday, and even though my day started out well, it did not finish up that way. I ate way too much, and my workout got off course because he unexpectedly woke up and needed assistance. A couple of very good things happened, though. I was eating alfredo sauce straight out of the container, which I love to do, and which is why I do not typically keep alfredo sauce in my house. I said to myself, "I can put this spoon down before I do more damage. And I did. I felt that letdown that I feel when I miss a scheduled work-out. I love that I have that feeling now. And, this morning, when I forgot my lunch, I made it a point to concede to being a few minutes late for work and stop at the grocery store to buy me a reasonable lunch. I am back, baby! And I am going to hold on for dear life. (Even when I had great weight-loss runs, I was not immune to senseless binges, so last night was only a blip, not a loss of momentum.)

Today -
1 - Go check on my husband at lunch. Stop by the gym on the way back.
2 - Only eat what I had planned at work.
3 - Restrict my dinner eating to 1.5 pulled pork sandwiches (they're small, and I don't want to be starving) and 2 clementines. STOP eating at 8 p.m.

Onederland by 2016, baby. And 180 for Diane.

Went to spin this morning. The instructor who has been gone for 2 weeks was back today, so it was back to normal. I needed that. The class he teaches is way more of a calorie burn than the other one. I really like him, too. He's a year younger than me and has a very motivating style, so it is a lot different than most of the instructors. So glad he was back. I didn't run last night. I just didn't feel like it. I might go after work today to make up for it.

I thought of a couple of other things I'm going to do for January and 2016. I think it is time to re-evaluate my goals and put a time frame on it. I'll try for the same numbers, but maybe try to put down when I'd like to achieve the weight goals, to give me something to push for. I also wasn't planning to run any more 5K's or anything, but I think that would help keep me running if I'm planning on running a 5K. So, spring or early summer, I'm going to run a 5K again. And finally, I need to think of something I want to do, as a goal, other than weight related or running related. Kind of like riding the zip line last year. I'll have to think about that one a little bit.

Laurie: Hope your husband is doing ok! Glad you were able to find some successes! You're definitely hitting some good marks. Good job in particular for getting the lunch for work. I am struggling with that... would rather just eat out. And thanks, as always, for the kind words about my working out!

Nici: Congratulations on the new decade! Woo hoo! That's always fun to see! I am guessing that your foot is better since you did some big time walking!

Cutie: Glad you are making it through the headaches and powering on!!!