Hey Guys jumping in on this challenge too. Realistically should be able to see 205 by labor day. Dreaming about seeing 199.9.

Going to go with my LOSE formula and tweak it a little.

L: Lose 1.5lbs a week. Liquid water intake 100oz a day.
O: Ohm, going to try to get meditation down 15 minutes a day. But will plan on Yoga daily at least 15 minutes/day.
S: Lift 3days a week for 30minutes a day. Strength train every day with Plank/squats/Lunges. Not committing to any number
E: Eat 1700 calories or less. Not eat any of my exercise calories. Only one splurge day a week because lets face it we all need a splurge day. Exercise will be the above strength and yoga training plus walk 75 minutes a day. Divided up. On good days I hope to do 90 minutes.

Good luck everybody.

Eeeeeekkk! Just got on the scale! Sad what just one day can do! Can't drink too much water today since I'll be on the train and then in the city......NEED TO GET RID OF YESTERDAY'S GLUTTONY !!!!!!!!!

Have fun in the city, Zumba!! Yes, one of these days, we will be skinny and shop till we drop in NYC! BTW, what did you get from WHBM? I stopped there yesterday but I did not get anything I have started shopping their stuff on line, and I hit the sales pretty hard. They just had an online extra 30% off on their sales items and I went nuts All size 6 tho, so I can not wear them yet (if ever at this rate )

Well, I have lost 1 pound since August 1st; it is a start. I can not believe that I keep gaining and losing these same 5 pounds (Wonder if they go and leave from the same spots ).

Nice to see everyone here, and welcome our new friends!!!

I'm joining this challenge too! All my summer guests are finally gone, and I'm getting back on track, starting today. I was as low as 146 at the beginning of the stream of guests that came to visit, making my loss an official 50 pounds. Sadly, after weeks of company and eating out and not getting my exercise in, I am back up to 152 My goal is to get back to 146 and stay there! I'll try to be around more, and post more instead of just lurking too!

Good Morning Ladies!!
I am so very thankful for this challenge. I found myself feeling accountable to you all while choosing my foods yesterday. It was great to have a feeling of accountability. I actually tracked everything that passed my lips...even the 5 calories for the green tea with no sweetener!!

I have a NSV even for the first day!! Usually I think I want chips and cookies I get them and eat them...ALL!! Well yesterday I was at the grocery store and that very strong urge to get some junk food arose I didn't respond to it. Which was HUGE for me. Because it would get to a place that I couldn't function unless I responded to it. That made me feel really good when I woke up and realized that I didn't and don't have to fall victim to it just because it came up.

Jiggle, there have been trips to the store where I have literally repeated the mantra in my head, "I will not be buying cookies today, I will not be buying cookies today, etc". Congratulations on your NSV!

We went to the ballpark yesterday and watched the Pirates win, so that was fun. But, a trip to the ballpark is never good on the calories, at least for me. So, not a great eating day, and I was 156 this AM! I haven't seen that number in FOREVER. So, back to work today. On my way to the basement now to lift weights. Planning a 5+ mile walk with DH later today. We do a pretty good clip of 15-minute miles in our very hilly neighborhood, so that's a good workout.

Have a great day, everyone!

jiggleFree, glad you had such a great day yesterday!

Heidi Isn't it sad how fast that scale goes up, but how slowly it comes down? -- Glad you had fun at the ballpark.

Jiggle I used to have mantra for wine like Heidi. -- Now it is not an issue anymore. You can go cookie free!!

TooWicky Exercise feels sooo good! I like your goal.

LindaWW Nice to see you again!! Those pounds are just bloat...you will see the 140's in no time.

Carma I will be rooting for ya. Onderland here we come!

Love So glad to have you as part of this challenge!!

Susan I like your approach: "keep everything sustainable".... you will rock this!

Guac Nice to see you again. Getting BP under control sounds like a fab plan! Mine was sky high and it only took a few pounds and some dietary adjustments to bring back to normal.

to everyone else I missed!

Oh my GOSH....today was such a bad day food wise....I'm afraid to get on scale tmrw....I have PMS also....bloated and icky!

Sum I bought a tunic top online....from the store I bought a black cross over tunic, a regular plain black top, a cream colored skirt that has gold beading, jeans and a pair of black cargo capris...size 8....jeans were ten....most all of it was on sale..had coupon...

Working towards getting back to my "satisfied" weight. 155 this AM. Did 40 min of weights yesterday and went for 5-mile walk. Today I'm planning careful eating, a 10-minute "blast" workout (2 cycles through 5 strength stations, 40 seconds work followed by 20 seconds rest at each station), and possibly 30 min of cardio later in the day if I can swing it.

My 10-min blast was good -- more strenuous than I thought! I learned that I can't do regular pushups for 40 seconds solid; I had to move to girlie. And I learned that I can't do 2 40-second sets of burpees; I had to move to jumping jacks towards the end of the 2nd set. So... that's good. There's room for improvement.

What I've found is that the only way I'm successful with anything other than cardio is if I have a routine planned out in advance, which I can then continue improving against. Otherwise I'm spending time figuring out what to do and not maintaining any consistency. So this was good! I can try to work up to 45 seconds on, 15 seconds off for the month of August.

It is the most beautiful day I've ever seen..not a cloud in the sky and a beautiful breeze. Now THIS is summer! Way too nice to go back to the gym, I refuse to go. Plan on spending time at home with my boys and maybe we will have dinner at the beach......I was in a toning class this morning, gave it my all....

Doing well what comes to my eating, and scale is heading down. Yay! I have an hour break between tasks I have to do, otherwise I have a jammed packed day and no time for formal exercise. Therefore I am having a lower calorie day; 1200 cal.

Zumba Wearing a taupe cargo skirt with a red top from WHBM

on the scale Sum!

Zumba: I need to check out this white horse black market you guys keep speaking of. Hoping to buy 1 nice pair of 16's to inspire me. Do their clothes run true to size or do they run large? Or do they even come in size 16? The weather on the east coast was gorgeous today. Hoping to get another walk in which will bring the total up to 70 minutes today.

Heidi: Good for you on the weights.

Jiggle: Glad we are inspiring you. And good job avoiding the cookies. I thought of you when I saw some delish looking Pepperidge farm cookies at Target. I just rolled on by.

Love & Guac: welcome back.

Too Wicky:

Magic: Let me know how those lentils are. I might try it as my first forks over knives recipe. I really did find that video incredible.

I bought lower 8lb weights finally. I need those for bicep & tricep. I use 10lbs for everything else. I did not meditate or do yoga yesterday or any strength moves. Must do some today. Need to get dinner ready. Think I will chop up the stuff for taco's and then lift some weights. I think we won't be eating until 6:30 realistically.
My daughter just got some books in from Ebay and is actually voluntarily reorganizing the bookcase. Will wonders never cease?

Hey ladies I'm back with another successful day under my belt!!! I went to dinner last night and ate light but it was delish. Stayed in my calories and drank my water. I got a little walking in for my workout but not much.

Today has been really busy. I homeschool my daughter and we are done by noon. Had to hit the streets getting ready for a trip Thursday and my bday is tomorrow. I don't do much in the way of labor on my birthday...It's my personal national holiday. I plan to be on point all week even on my birthday. I've had enough slacking to last lots of birthdays. Being that it's early in my journey I may as well stick to the plan and not fall so quickly.

Have an awesome evening lovelies!!