Hey girls (I didn't see any guys posting...) just checking in.

Not so hot, I am up a little bit today (TOM) and I have been having issues with food lately that are just driving me crazy so I am taking a new approach. Instead of calorie counting and bingeing (lol) I am reading a book recommended by Julie08 called the slow down diet and I think that is just what I need right now!

I am seriously obsessing over food and weight and getting some VERY bad ideas in my head so this book should help me at least get back into the right frame of mind again. So for now I am working on attitude not goal, hopefully both can go together but we will see!!

Good job all I saw lots of losses, and even if they were small they were something!

kpme - sorry you had to deal with the inappropriate comments at the bridal shower! I totally feel for you - I have relatively thin limbs and tend to carry my weight in my tummy and have had people say things like that to me too and I just can't stand it. You are doing great and will blow this woman away at the wedding, I'm sure.

takingcharge - wow - training for a 10k - that's great, good for you! You are probably building muscle right now which is slowing down the scale for a bit.

edzard - curious to hear about the 'slow down' approach if you have time to post more.

I'm down a pound from last week, which isn't exactly a "whoosh," but I'll take it! My challenge this week will be to religiously log everything I eat--I'm heading to a conference in the morning, and I won't be back home until Saturday evening. My heavy travel schedule has been my downfall; killing time in airports, dealing with buffets and oversized meals, receptions, not having access to food when I'm hungry (and vice versa), etc. I'll pack snacks and workout gear. Alas, the average temperature will be around 114 degrees every day...yikes!

Hang in there, kpme! Congrats to everyone for managing as best you can in spite of the challenges.

judy

Hi Ladies!

I'm really terrible with keeping up with posts, I have to apologize. I recently broke up with my boyfriend of three years and I've kind of been on auto pilot for a while. The break up was a long time coming, and I'm glad its over. I'm really looking forward to a healthier (mentally and physically!) future: )

I'm happy to post that I came in at 130.0 this morning- which is a loss of 10 lbs since the challenge first started! I'm really pleased with the Jenny Craig program, I realized that I had "portion distortion" before- I thought I was eating "small meals" but really I needed to encorporate more water, F&V's, and littler (in this a word?) plates.

Conrats to everyone who is still working towards their goals on this challenge, no matter how big or small our progress we are all moving in the right direction- a healthier life and a sexier labor day!

Have a great week everyone!

Hello all - sorry I have been AWOL lately. Between grad school work, trying to do my job remotely, and trying to make the most of Boston in the summer, I haven't been online as much. I skipped yesterday as a weigh-in day: Sunday night I went out to the north end (the Italian district) with a friend and had pasta and cheesecake so I knew the scale would be up and just didn't want to deal with it. I have not been doing the 30 day shred but have been walking a lot. I mean, a lot. Saturday, yesterday and today, walked to Coolidge Corner and back, and also have been walking a lot with sightseeing. Not as aerobic as other things, but lots of activity. Feeling I am doing decent with eating beside one or two lapses. Always have breakfast before I go to class, and lunch at home is a can of soup or beans, tortilla and fruit. When I've been eating out have been trying to be careful with portions. Have only brought healthy food home from the grocery store.

Edzard - I read the slow down diet (my acupuncturist gave it to me) and found it really helpful. It has a big focus on routine and rhythm, as well as slowing down and actually savoring and tasting the food that you do eat, not eating while you are stressed or multitasking.

Not sure what the scale says these days, but feeling pretty confident in my body and enjoying how I look. I catch glimpses of myself reflected in the window of the T (light rail public transpo) or a shop window and think "hey, not bad." And can I just say how much I love that this pair of jeans which used to be wicked tight on me are now so loose that I put my hands in the pockets and have plenty of room.

I'll try to keep in touch more regularly - definitely need the accountability while I am away from the routine. and I WILL weigh in this coming Monday and post to you all!

Hey ladies! Happy hump day (I need some reminding the week is half over!)

blueridgegirl - sounds like you're settling back into grad school life just fine! To me it looks like you're making it a lifestyle... eating well 90% of the time, incorporating exercise and making do with what life has in store for you. Way to go!

leantoinette - Sorry to hear about the break up but it sounds like it was for the best? It sounds like you are dealing with it in a healthy way and not with chocolate (like I would!)

TakingCharge - woohoo, a 10k! Good luck with the training! I have my eye on a 10k next Memorial Day...gotta make it through my 5k first LOL

dancerindenver - Nice job on the loss and getting ahead of schedule!

wannabeskinnyagain - sorry to hear about the emotional trauma with the fertility treatments. I have heard it can wreak havoc on your hormones. Good luck with them!

Ok as for me I have some exciting news to share. I accomplished one of my non-scale goals this year. In January I decided that I was going to do two things, regardless of what I weighed: one of course was run a 5k (that's in September) and the other was to hike a 14'er. Well on Saturday, I climbed my first 14'er at 14,110 feet (Pike's Peak!) It took me six hours to summit and another 3 to get back down - so 9 hours total - and it was awful and my body hurt like the dickens but now that it's been a few days, I'm pretty stoked and proud of myself! Here's a photo from the top:



It's a touristy spot and you can actually drive up to the top of the peak (hence the cars in the background), but we hiked the 6 miles up the back side of the mountain. It was INTENSE! But very cool. I'm already planning my next 14'er for August!

I had a big WHOOSH on the scale today, but still a few more days until weigh-in so hopefully I can maintain the loss or even better, lose more!

Fatpants - WOW! That is truly an accomplishment. You look so confident and proud up there, as you should be. Way to go!!

Thanks! Hahaha actually I was leaning against the rocks to hold myself up... my legs were DEAD!

Fatpants - way to go! You are a rock star!

madison - sounds like a tough time relationship-wise - hang in there kiddo! And major congrats on the losing streak - you're doing great!

blueridge - you are doing great! What a cool nsv to see your own image and be happy with it!

fatpants - girl, you rock!! That is one heck of a hike! We're planning on doing a 14'er later this summer and I was completely wiped out by our training hike over the weekend - not sure if I can get in enough shape to do the real thing but will keep trying. We're thinking about trying a hike in the Colo Spgs area - any recommendations for one that's tough but not 14'er tough?

Have a great day, all!

Hahaha well the only reason we went the whole way is because I was determined NOT to have to do that stupid hike again! DH kept saying "oh honey, we can go back down and do the 14'er another day," and I'm thinking... no way. This hike sucks! I'm not doing it twice!

You have two options for really great training hikes on Pike's, and you don't have to go the entire way on either.

Option 1
Use Barr Trail which is 13 miles to the top of the peak, but gradual elevation gain and obviously you don't have to go to the top. You start in Manitou Springs and you will cover more elevation but it's a class 1 hike so it's a bit easier.

Option 2 (what we did)
Use the Crags trail to Devil's Playground. It's about 6 miles round trip and you gain 2800 ft (I think) in about 3 miles so it's pretty steep. With this route you are actually going on the back side of the peak. It's a class 2 hike, but I don't think it becomes serious until the final ascent when you have to scramble on the rocks to the top of the peak. With Devil's Playground, you'll have a good idea of when to stop since the trail levels out. In fact I'd probably recommend this one because it's a good work out but you don't have to spend all day doing it AND it's a less popular trail so you have less people to deal with. Let me know if you want more info!

Thanks so much!

man, i am doign bad. i weighed in at 175.4 this monday (same as last monday), but tuesday had a gain. i am just eating like crazy and not exercizing. and not getting enough water in. i've been so tired when i come home from work and get my daughter ready for bed and stuff. by 7, i'm ready for bed. she doesnt go down until 8, then i'm like dead. really struggling over here. i know tomorrow i can work out though because it's a half day at work. i'm guess i'm still adjusting to the new job. hope ya'll are still on track.


June 15: 180.4
June 22: 179.8
June 29: 176.4
July 6: 175.4
July 13: 175.4
July 20:
July 27:
Aug 3:
Aug 10:
Aug 17:
Aug 24:
Aug 31:

LABOR DAY SEPT. 7:

Hi girls,

Lots of great stuff going on in this thread this week! Onestar, sorry you're having such a rough week. I wouldn't be so hard on yourself -- having a major schedule adjustment like a new job is so hard. You're trying to get in a routine PLUS you're learning so much new stuff and then you come home to an energetic toddler! I'm sure in a few weeks you'll feel back to your old routine. This might be a good time to splurge on some kitchen shortcuts to make meals easier!

Fatpants - congrats on that awesome hike! How satisfying (and annoying) it must have been to get to the top of that mountain and know that you hiked up when others drove! That's quite an accomplishment - glad you're celebrating it!

I'm about to go "off the grid" for the remainder of the week on a 3 day canoe trip with a bunch of friends. I'm sure I'll eat and drink WAY too much and will spend my whole day sitting in a canoe but at least my arms and back will be toned!

Have a great weekend,
kpme

Hey girls. Like kpme, I'm also off for a 3 day weekend to DC to visit my best friends from college. Yay! I weighed in at my lowest today (136.6) but I have a feeling that the alcohol and sodium from the weekend will make for a very unhappy weigh in on Monday morning. Oh well! Have a good weekend everyone!