Transforming-thanks for the encouragement! Here's hoping I can kick it in a bit after a tough summer!

Everyone else-welcome, I look forward to this challenge with all of you ;-)

AFM-I am following Weight watchers points plus. My weigh in day is Wednesday. I've had much better success (and longevity) with this plan than i have had with any others. My current loss of 45 lbs is the most I've ever lost on a diet plan! Of course, I started heavier than I ever have before, but still, I take that as a huge success. Now I just need to get back on track a little better...namely, I need to start tracking my food again. I've had a lot of family stress in the past week (my cousin unexpectedly died at 32 years old) and I've let my tracking slide....back on track tomorrow though when i get back to work and back into my routine...

I think that sounds like a great plan I am eating quite similar, coupled with IF. I only eat between 1pm and 7pm. It is working great for me!

I went walking again today for an hour. My legs actually hurt. I forgot to weigh myself today, but will weigh tomorrow. I guess I'm lucky I already have to get out to walk my kid to school because it makes it so much easier to decide to go ahead and do the extra walking, as opposed to being at home and having to decide to get dressed and get the babies dressed and all that. So... still on track!

Erin, You're welcome! All you can do is move forward. Summer is in the past. You know what you want, and what is needed. Just keep pushing forward. Sorry to hear that about your cousin. ((hugs))

AndLy, That is great! Everyone needs to find a plan that works for them. What works for one, may not work for others, that is fine, people just need to understand that, keep pushing forward and never give up. You are doing great!

This may be one of my problems - I don't count calories. I have a rough idea of how many I eat, but I never weigh food and rarely measure. So I suppose that I could be overestimating, but jeez, it's worked for me so far!!

I eat what I consider normal things. I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich today on 35 calorie per slice bread. I eat a lot of fruit and veggies. I switched to brown rice over white. My tough time is dinner. DH does all the cooking and he is trim (5'10" and 158 pounds) but he has a crazy good metabolism. He expects to cook huge hunks of meat and wants to split evenly between the 2 of us. That's always the way it's been, but now that I weight a lot less, I can't keep eating that amount and expect to lose.

For exercise I am running 4 days per week 3 miles at a time. I typically walk the dogs an additional 3-3.5 miles 5 days per week. I also lift weights (on my Bowflex), 30 Day Shred, Pilates, balance ball work - nothing terribly organized, but it adds up to about 1.5-2 hours per day.

CherryPie, I do not count everything, but have a good idea from past experience, when I use to count. I watch my portions. Don't stop what you are doing, especially if it is working. If the weight loss slows down, you know you need to reduce your calorie intake. At dinner time, divide it in half (what is on your plate) and eat the other half for lunch the next day. That is if you have a huge plate of food. Your exercise program is awesome! You may need those extra calories! I watched Dr Oz the other day, they suggest you eat your dinner at lunch time and lunch at dinner. I may try that, for a couple of weeks.

I'm in for that I've been going good for a couple of months, but a recent running injury, and now the flu have halted things. But I want to get back on track again.

Welcome Eruanna, sorry to hear about your injury and I hope you feel better soon!

I think that lunch at dinner and dinner at lunch thing is a good idea. I am usually not even that hungry at dinner, but eat anyway because I have to cook for the family. I'm focusing on not eating if I'm not hungry and only eating enough to make me satisfied, not necessarily FULL. I can't stand counting calories and portioning, so I just try to eat healthy stuff. Also, I put the salad or vegetables on about half my plate, meat on a quarter, and the pasta, rice, potatoes, or bread on one quarter. I like to use the kids plates with 3 separated spots for food. No matter how I heap it up, it can't be too much on there! And having an apple or something else instead of seconds is a good thing too, if still hungry. I'm not into depriving and starving myself, so if I really want a soda or something, I have it, just not ALL the time or in massive amounts. I've found that helps me to not want bad stuff so much all the time.

Thanks Once I kick the 'flu I'm off to buy a new pair or running shoes as the dr thinks that could be the main cause. Looking forward to loosing a few more pounds before Christmas

Welcome Euranna and CloudySky (and anyone else i'm missing)! I'm glad you're all in this challenge with us to get healthier and fitter!

Today I finally started to track again. I'm coming in pretty much dead on with my points for the day (I recently lost another point after losing a few more pounds....its a good problem, but still a little annoying lol) so I'm happy about that. I made it to the gym again today and did 32 min on the elliptical (30 min cardio and 2min cooldown). I'm pretty sure I'll either have a gain or stay the same tomorrow at WI, but that's ok, I"m back on track.

CloudySky, I think so too. I am looking to start it on Friday. Then continue it for 2 weeks to see how it goes. This week I cut out bread/pasta/rice/potatoes everything is going good, I am getting great results so far. Pretty much eating lean meat, and fibrous fruits and veggies, consuming about 1,500 calories a day.

Erin, You are doing great! It will come off eventually. Keep pushing forward.

I hope everyone is doing well and has a GREAT day! I weighed in today at 204.6, feels GREAT!

This seems like a fun idea! I'd love to join ... my goal is to lose 15 lbs. Doable, I hope, in 14 weeks.

SW 170.4
GW 155.4

Can I jump in? I've been looking for a Christmas Challenge. I am scared of scales (I think I'm allergic to the numbers although my MD doesn't agree). However, I'm tracking sizes. I would LOVE to be a size 14w or smaller by Christmas. I'm at a baggy 18/close fitting 16 now.

I had my WI today, up 1.5, but i expected that...on the flip side, i made it to the gym 4 times this week, so i'm proud of that. back on track this week and hopefully a big loss next wed! :-D