Lisa - I have a video... it came with the ball, it's a compilation sampler, but whoa! It kicked my butt into shape, FAST. Takes about 3 weeks (of 4-5times per week) to get results you can see right away. Not too shabby, tho!! =) Also.. HAHAHA!! bout the underwear *G* If it gets that bad... I'll end up washing a pair in the sink and blow-drying them. That is SO sad!! *G*

Jennifer - Hmm. Have you tried Ponds All-Day Moisturizing Lotion? I do the regular scrub thing in the shower, then as soon as I get out, I put a thin layer on my face. The lotion comes in a little white bottle with pink writing and a black cap -- AWESOME stuff. It kills my flaky skin. I love that stuff. =) Other than that... where on your face is the skin peeling? Mine does forehead and cheeks (around the bone). I hear ya about being fair-skinned -- you'll see once I get my photo shoot pics. I am the whitest white girl you've ever seen, my dear. The translucent makeup is too dark for me!! I'm Irish, what can I say?

Today was good. We had pizza for dinner, but my calories were WAY low, so I'm still under 1200 for the day, so far. I'll probably have another slice after an hour or two here, before bed. I worked out as planned, yay! Tomorrow will be a little more hectic...

Gotta get up at 9:30 (EW! Before 10?! What has my life come to...), work out early, and be ready. My dad's coming over to help trim the kitty's mats so she can breathe and move. Then I have to go out and do a shopping trip, plus I've got 3 1/2 tapes left!! Ack!! And Friday I may have to drive up to Bellingham for my hair... not sure yet. Bellingham = 2 hr drive each way, plus 6+ hrs for the hair. NOT a fun thing when you can't see in the dark... hopefully my hairdo friend will be able to come down Friday, after all.

I am going to take some measurements tonight. I'll post 'em tomorrow if I don't end up killing myself after seeing how bad it really is...

Okay, THAT was dumb. *Sigh* I just did a full-body measurement. UGH. That sucked a large amount.

Here's the URL to my measurements: http://psychosexytripp.cruin.com/measurements.html

I'm hoping I did them wrong, because I had to copy inches from a tape measure onto a piece of yarn. *lol* I'm going to make my mom measure me tomrrow or something, because she knows how, and I think I messed it up. I HOPE I messed it up. I'm lopsided!!

OK you gals...I did my 30 (well, 25...I was interrupted by a certain 4 year old at the very end!!) but I feel better anyway. Gotta get my butt in gear and get in the shower and get ready and get her ready and be out the door by 8:15 and it's already 7:30! Yikes!

Lisa--you asked about my day yesterday...I posted last night BEFORE I went and vegged in front of the TV. I was hungry (NOT!) and had a little snack of lowfat yogurt (not so bad) AND...a small serving (1/2 cup) of Cheetos! GADS! What am I doing? I complain because I can't lose and then I eat like a horse! So...I need to stop this stuff and just start to focus! I need to write my plan down or do something easy like Jennifer does and just eat the same thing every day! (Can't do that!!!)

So today, I have already had my oatmeal with stuff in it...you all know the routine! And for lunch I am going to have chili
And for supper....Hmmmm....I should probably pull something out of the fridge cause I am not going to have time to fix a big meal tonight...maybe it will be a good night for leftovers or a salad! DD likes salads these days and DH will be gone, so we are on our own! Maybe some soup! Anyway...those are some choices.

I will check in more with you all much later tonight. I have a meeting tonight at 7 and probably won't be home until after 8:30, so...see ya then and hope you all have a super day! It's sunny here right now, but very cold and supposed to get colder! DRAT! Even though they predicted 3 inches of snow last night, we got NONE and now the sun is shining! It's going to be a great day!!!

Hugs to all!

Morning, Chickies!

Okay, I did my 1 mile this morning. I really, really, really wanted to stay in bed...it was so nice & toasty. Everyone else has warm waether- how the heck did we drop into the 50s & 60s? Egads! I was actually cold at one point last night & threw a blanket on the bed, on top of the comforter. And usually I'm the one with the hot flashes and just the sheet

Another closet find this morning...another shirt buttons all the way down- a dark plum peachskin (like sandwashed silk, without all the wrinkles) shirt, with a pair of the new, slinky, smaller black pants...It's like having a whole new wardrobe. Maybe by June these will be big on me...

Breakfast:
1 apple & cinnamon cottage double
1 oz fat free swiss
1/3 cup smart start
12oz diet coke

Lunch today:
3/4 cup ditalini
3/4 cup meat sauce
sprinkle of parmesan

Dinner:
I think I'm going to try my hand at something new...we bought low fat tortillas at Publix on Tuesday, and I have fat free cheeses, and taco seasoning, and ground beef, so I am thinking about making my own concoction tonight with ground beef, drained & seasoned, and then roll that in a tortilla with some fat free cheese...more filling than a quesadilla or something like that. If my night gets away from me, I might just do something quick & then make this over the weekend. If it's good, I can make a big batch of the seasoned meat, and then baggie that in individual sized portions like I did witht he chili & meat sauce & stuff.

Julie- I guess I'm making it look easy...between the retraining myself that food is fuel...once I get that ingrained, I can start working on adding variety- but now, I know portion sizes of the things I prepare most. It's a science now, instead of just random grazing, looking for what satisfies my craving. Eating for fuel, not for fun. And I will master this at some point, but until then, I'm "re-training" my head. All I can suggest is plan, and on weekends, cook what you're planning for the week, and make it as mindless & automatic as you can. Ok, that's my 2 cents for this morning.

Lucy- I sure know that pale, white, pasty thing. I used to use the palest foundation and have to mix it with pure white sunscreen to get it close to me. Me at my tannest...lol Shhh...maybe no one else will notice the link. I want to see pics from the modeling, and definitely the new hair! I will have to look for that Ponds cream and see if that will work.

This evening- I need to do the 1 mile WATP again, and another 5 miles minumum on the bike. I think Friends is still the viewer's choce crap...I get to see the reruns at 11pm every night, so I'm not going to sit through all the repeats to wait for the new shows leading up to the finale. Bleah.

Will check in later, chickies! Everyone, have a wonderful day!

Hey! Where are all the chickies today?

I nuked lunch, then dropped by the mall so I could go into Sears & pay the bill. My Presssssscious (my bike..lol) is now mine, free and clear. LOL So, with 66 miles on it, I'm making sure that by the time the 3 year warranty is up, that I've ridden the bike to the point where Sears has to repair, or replace it.

Told hubby what I wanted to make for dinner. I asked him how it sounded. "Sounds like a lot of work." Hmmmph. I might have to do that this weekend then, and just deal with something easier tonight, unless he's cooking.

All right...back to work here...but I'll be back!

Jennifer - Oh, my dear. We're the palest chicks around!! *G* I should have the modeling pictures up sometime next week, I believe. Not sure if my photographer is using digital or 35mm... =)

Okay, so I don't feel so bad about my measurements. I thought about it for 2 hours while waiting to sleep (insomnia as usual!), that it occured to me. In the general scheme of things, my body isn't -that- outta whack right now. I'm most of the way back to where I want to be, and just because I have bigger legs doesn't mean anything is going wrong. It simply means that I will -never-, probably not even if my life depends on it, take prednisone for 3 months again! It ruined my body, and now I'm going crazy trying to lose the 85 lbs it made me gain.

So I decided something, today. From now on, breakfast will be something good, lots of protein and calcium and stuff -- like the cottage cheese, peanut butter toast & some fruit. That's a good start to my day, and it keeps me from ebing hungry for a long time. Then,my lunches are going to be either 1 can of soup (which is VERY low-calorie), or a big bowl of salad (way under 100 calories!). If I can do this for the rest of the month, and keep myself eating healthy stuff the rest of the time, then everything SHOULD fall into place quickly.

Yesterday, I put on a pair of size 11 pants that used to be baggy on me. They zip up now, and my butt's a little too big for 'em, but they DO fit. However awful they look. *G* That gave me hope. It's like, hey, look how close you are! Can't you just give up a couple of things for a couple of months so you can get back there, you big geek? I have a closet full of size 9, 11, 13, M, L, XL, and 18/20 sized clothing. I want to get rid of that 13, XL, and 18/20 stuff for good.

So... workout is staying the same, because it's a good wokrout, and it's working.

Food today:
B - 1/2 cup ff cottage cheese, 1/2 cup peaches, 1 slice toast w/ peanut butter
L - Salad with salsa
D - Hamburger Helper or perhaps grilled chicken breast.

I WILL do better today. I WILL NOT feel bad about my measurements, because that's just a stupid thing for me to do! I got on the scale this morning, and I'm at 160 - which, if I'm not mistaken, is 1 lb down, even! Bah! I'm crazy.

Today is a beautiful, warm, happy day. I will enjoy it.

Lucy, how tall are you? Bigger legs isn't a bad thing- that means you've got more muscle, so you'll burn more fat. That's just strength...the strength we need to carry us through the next 60+ years of our life, the healthy way, instead of old & frail & stooped over. Your breakfasts look good, but for lunch, consider adding some protein- like cottage cheese, fat free cheese, some tuna, or chicken, or even lean lunchmeat cut up with your salad.

And, many congrats on your additional pound!

Drum roll.....

Ugh!!!!!! I just typed a long message and it got deleted!!! I wrote for at least 20 min.!! Basically, I had a really good day! Husband is home - I'll be back later!!

Jennifer -- good idea. I'll add some tuna to it... Today's has some taco meat in it. I forgot about that part. *G*

Also -- I'm 5'1". So... very short. My legs have always been bigger, and it drives me totally bonkers. I know they're muscular -- which is what I totally hate about my calves -- there's no fat ON them. They're gigantic... *lol* I can outwalk anybody I know, though, hehe! They are strong, but it's one of those things I have to learn to accept about my body, even though I can't stand it. =)

yay for the award!! =) Thanks!

(Oops, I hit enter!)

Today has been awesome so far. Breakfast was good, lunch is good (eating right now), and dinner will be good, too! I got a bunch of new makeup for Saturday's photo shoot, the waist-cincher I needed to pull off some of those pictures, and a brush for the rescue kitty. =) Talked to my hair friend, and s/he'll be making it down tomorrow after all, so I don't have to go up there!! Woot!! My hair is going to be black, red, hot pink, sparkly silver & black, sparkly red & black, and sparkly hot pink, all braided up together. And a few streaks of day-glo orange here n there. Woohoo!! =) I've also been working on some new clothing designs for myself, and the best idea I've had will be easy to make, CHEAP for the fabric, and should look super-funky.

You guys keep me so motivated during the day, you know it? I just come on here and take a peek at what's going on, and I feel ten times better.

Everybody gets the Lucy award for being rad. =) *poof* There. You are all RAD!!

Where is Cristin???? I am telling you...you all need to get out the switch and use it on me!!! This has not been a good week food wise for me! It's out of control and I need that control back and darn it...Cristin knew how to tell me to do that! I know what I need to do, really I do!

1. I need to start planning my meals/snacks again (starting this weekend)
2. I need to look at my goals daily and update them weekly!
3. I need to give up control of my eating and give it to God!
4. I need to continue to visualize me at my goal weight hiking in those mountains next summer!

I will print these out and then go from there. I will tape them to my forehead at work so the chocolate and junk food demons do not attack me again!

Yes...today was another bad day...even worse! I ate my usual breakfast...that was good. I planned for morning snack, but didn't have time to eat it before lunch. I ate my chili and a few french fries for lunch. Diet Pepsi (went out to a fast food rest. with the residents, chili was the best option.) Then...all he** broke loose this afternoon! The chocolate demons reared it's ugly face again and I could not resist. I tried. REally I did. I resisted for probably a good hour and then I caved. I headed for the snack machine and got one of those new Nestle's brownies with the caramel. Yes...it was good. I gave some of it to a resident (tsk, tsk on me!) I enjoyed it thoroughly! I wanted more an hour later! I did resist and had some SF hot chocolate instead. On the way home, I chowed on some cashews which were in the car. Probably 2 oz...inhaled! What am I doing????
Got home and fixed DD supper (chicken breast strips, salad and garlic bread.) I fixed myself a nice salad with some chicken strips cut up, some hard boiled egg, and cheese and dressing. It was good! It was satisfying. Then there was that one piece of garlic bread calling my name, so I cut it in half and ate 1/2. then cut that 1/2 in half...ate another 1/4! Ate another chicken strip (they were little, but still...) I know there is nothing wrong with me except that my brain can't seem to remember that I am trying to LOSE weight here!!! NOT gain it!!!

Someone please knock some sense into me!

I have been reading all of your posts. Jennifer...you are beautiful! I told you you are beautiful before I even saw your face, but you are beautiful! Thanks for sharing the picture (I noticed the link! ) And congrats on the new clothes in your closet! That is so cool! I love that feeling! The next step for me will be to buy more because all my clothes are 18-20's or 2x's which I refuse to wear anymore because they droop onme in the shoulders! And they just make me look bigger than I really am. I am also gonna wait til the end of the month to weigh again! I figure that will be the safe thing to do! Hold me to that, ok?

Lucy-I am also short (5'2") so I can empathize with you. I only wish I was at 160!!! I will be, though...and it will be sooner than later, I promise you that. I want it bad. I want to be 150 by my birthday (July 25), so it will come. I just need to get in gear and really kick it into high gear! This weekend I am going to sit down with pad and pen and start writing and planning through the end of this month (both food and exercise) and I am going to carry that plan with me wherever I go! I don't care if I have to tape it to my forehead!!! It will happen! Anyway...you are kicking butt, girl. Keep tweakin it and keep doin what your'e doing!

Lisa...sorry about the post! I know how that feels! Grrrr! We will hear from you soon, I know!

Did I mention we are getting blizzard like snow here tonight??? Wind chills around zero, snowing and blowing and drifting....CRAP! I had hoped for a nice sunny weekend, but I guess it will be another one to stay indoors and PLAN FOR THE REST OF THE MONTH!!!

You all take care. Tomorrow it's the bike and weights in AM or maybe 3 miles WATP before work! I promise!!

Turn for the worse... migraine attack. May not be able to work out tomorrow... probably won't be able to eat dinner, and if I'm lucky, I'll be able to have lunch tomorrow. ARGH.

Chicken noodle soup & plain toast for this girlie for the next day. It's ok. I worked out 4 days this week and that's a good thing.

Hikein: Hon, kick that horse and get back on it!! This is a tip... something weird I do when I'm on my bike, working out. I look down at my legs (man, doesn't it suck to be short sometimes?! hehe!), and see that I don't like them. I close my eyes and imagine myself in some shorts, walking through a field (why a field, i have no idea. Ask my weird imagination *G*), and I look at my legs in them -- they are exactly how they used to be, and how I WANT them to be -- lean and I am able to wear the shorts and walk without having them crawl up my legs. It keeps me going. Maybe a visualization could help you? Every time you want something chocolate, here's an even better tip. Go out, and buy yourself a pound of Carob Energy Nuggets. Carob tastes EXACTLY like chocolate, but it's healthier for you and these energy nuggets (Fred Meyer and health food stores have 'em) shut your stomach up, plus they have like 2g fiber and 10g protein PER NUGGET!!! So you get chocolate, protein, and fiber all in one, and you don't feel guilty. You'll get there, hon. Also -- thanks for the positive reinforcement!! =)

I'm going to head out and go grocery shopping, then come back home and pass out. Have a great night, everybody. =) Even if we have one bad day, it doesn't mean we can't have an AWESOME day tomorrow!

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a super day. I had a pretty good day. Just - CRAZY! I kept wanting to log on and check with everyone, but I was "needed" by each and every person in this household

Lucy - Oh my gosh! I would kill for muscular legs!! I'm sure your pictures are going to look great! Thanks girl for my award!! I always wanted to be RAD!



Jennifer - I got so tickled thinking about our exercise bikes!! Mine is from good old Wal-Mart ($99). I was thinking that your bike would probable make fun of mine! I think I ride an old beat up station wagon type of bike, and you are peddling a Cadillac-cycle!!

Hikein - You are NOT eating like a horse And, I hope your meeting went well!!

Guys, I am typing this in bits and pieces, because my husband is home. He doesn't care if I get on the computer, but he works a lot, and we don't see him a lot. I have wanted to spend time with him, but you have GOT to hear this story:

We decided to go on our back porch and get in the hot tub. He had bought some really nice scented/moisturizing stuff to go in it, and we get in. We are snuggling, he tells me he loves me, gives me the sweetest kiss... and then BOOM the cover to the hot tub comes crashing down on our heads (that thing is some kind of heavy!!). I start to cry because I was hit so hard I literally tasted blood. Anyway, I finally look up, and realize he was almost knocked unconscious!!!! Can you believe this????So, I go over to see how bad he is hurt, and I am thinking he has a concussion! Good grief! Needless to say, the romantic moment was over. He finally got to feeling better thank goodness! What an evening!!

Welll....for my eating today -
Breakfast - veggie burger with a few WOW Doritos chips
Snack - Spicy vegetable/bean soup
Lunch - low-fat tuna pasta
Supper - blackened grouper salad from Beef O' Braedys (yuck - this is another story all in itself)

I ate all kinds of knick-knacks: 2 ice cream sandwiches (Smart Ones), 1 cookie, 1 piece of chocolate, some more chips.....I don't know what happened.

I am drinking my water, but I have not exercised yet. Talk about eating like a horse! "Neigh! Neigh! Neigh! "says Lisa. What's a girl to do? (especially when she has a concussion!

Have a great day tomorrow!!!!

OMG LISA!!! Are you two okay?! That's horrible!!! I hope you guys are both okay! I feel your pain, somewhat -- my dog weighs almost as much as me, and she keeps trying to destroy my right knee, and has given me countless black eyes and broken my nose twice so far this year. *G*

I did something that you will all be proud of. This was partly inspired by Jennifer (because she does this and I always think "man, i should DO that!"), and partly because I got mad that a bag of granola was $5!

We went shopping tonight (yay! I don't have to eat top ramen anymore!!!), and I got A TON of healthy stuff. 2 boxes of granola bars, a bag of granola for breakfast, bunches of veggies & salad, more salsa for salad dressing, extra lean lunchmeat, etc.
As soon as we got home, I started to unpack the stuff and put it away. I glared at the granola bag, because it's only 2 lbs for $5, and I am a cheap little twit. *G* So, I looked at the nutritional facts, and decided to measure out all the servings right then and there. And so I sat on my chair (VERY high counters here -- and I'm VERY short), and I measured out the 1/2cup servings into ziploc bags. Then I put the ziploc bags in the cupboard. I'm going to be doing this with the nuts I bought, as well as some other stuff, like carrots & cauliflower!!

I MEASURED OUT SERVINGS!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!!!!! *Does a dance* I am so teh r0xx0rs. =) (Don't ask...)

AND... and this is really big deal, because measuring is only really helpful if you eat ONLY the measured amount! I told my husband that he was not allowed to buy ice cream, unless it was in a small, single-serve size, and in flavors that I don't like. And he said, "If it'll help you get to where you want to be, that's fine. But once you get to your goal, can I buy gallons again?" *G* He's so cute! So he agreed to make a HUGE sacrafice for me. I also told him about meausuring out my portions... and he was totally amazed that I did that. Like, "Whoa. You mean, you, like, measure out an actual half-cup of cereal?" HAH!!!

My headache is mostly gone, but I just HAD to tell you guys that I made a big step forward today. =)

First, thanks for your kind words! That's what I love about this list! And secondly, but most importantly...you gotta stay away from those covers...they ARE heavy! OUCH! I feel for ya! Get better!

Will talk with you guys later! I love all of you for all your wonderful comments, but don't have time to comment right now...am running really late!!! HUGS!!

Today's plan: No actual workout, because I'm going to do another whole-house cleaning, and this seems to burn a ton of calories. =) Then a shower, then laundry, then tapes for today. After that, dinner needs to start cookin' and I want to vacuum the whole darn house.

Meal plan for today:
B - 1/2 cup ff cottage cheese, 1/2 cup fruit of some sort, 1 granola bar.
S - Not sure yet.
L - Veggie burger with cheese, pickles, and a fresh tomato.
S - probably nothing.
D - either pot of chinese food (steamed rice, veggies in sauce & chicken in sauce), or a double-pot of Pesto with a big side salad.

Calories for today will probably fall around 1300.

Have an awesome Friday, everybody!! =)