Good Thursday morning Red Team!!! Everyone still going strong on their goal? I hope so! We can do this!! We can reach our goals!!

Karen....LOL..yes sometimes I DO have my sailor moments! Monday morning was one of them LOL! I piss and moan alot about all I do but I really do love it, and I'm going to miss it all when I graduate and have to get a job! I hope today is a little less busy today.

Charity....while you are at it I could really use some housework done too! LOL!! So did you get that workout in yet? I have every confidence that you'll do it!

Danielle....I'm really beginning to get worried about you! I know what these stretches of silence can mean! Come out and play!

I really hope you all have a wonderful day! Looks like rain here, which is a good thing I've got to get my studying done for my last exam. Tomorrow we are putting on lunch for the teachers so I need to do the shopping for that too, and lunch with the superintendent yippee!

Has anyone made plans for mothers day yet?

~melissa

I'm here! I'm here! It's just been an extremely hectic week with work & the kids. Plus, I haven't been feeling super good so struggling to get thru this week once and for all.

I won't even attempt to get to personals at the moment, I'm on my way out the door AGAIN. Then this evening it's work work work! I've caught up on the reading tho and wow, you girls are amazing! I'm so thrilled to see such great stuff happening here!!!

Tomorrow proves to be a much easier morning hopefully, since I've gotten thru DD #2's musical last night finally, and DD #1 has her Presidential dinner tomorrow...phew, I'm glad this stuff is over, it's been one helluva week with it all! These teachers hopefully appreciate all the help they get from us, especially the ones who have work on top of other kids to take care of!!

Have a great day ladies! I will try and get back here this afternoon after my bout with the errands and before going to pick up the kiddos. Be good!

Hi everyone - Not too much to report today. Claire is off at daycare and I did some yoga this morning. I have a singer coming this afternoon and then it's time to pick up Claire again ...

Melissa - you are right, I am extremely lucky. I don't think I could do the marriage and kids thing without DH's great support! With all your stress and finals, etc. I hope you will get a break and some "me time" soon! Mother's Day ... I have to work in the morning ... but I will bring my mom her present tomorrow night.

Karen - I think you are really ready for C25K ... you will love it! Your DH sounds awesome.

Charity - Yes you are getting your workout in today!! Or else!! I know what you mean about leaving DD. I didn't do it until this past September (3 1/2) and she was just about ready for it then. I don't plan on it often though!! My DD is in daycare also and she loves it, but I do miss the time with her sometimes ... this weekend will be good.

Danielle - Holy cow you sure are busy!! I hope you get a break soon ... and also that you are feeling better

to Tanya, Lindsey, Juju, Amber and anyone else I missed! Have a great day!
cheers
Erika

okay,
So yesterday I did this long post with personals and my dear son came and hit something and poof it was gone. I wanted to scream. At any rate, I am going to attempt personals today and an update. My 4 y/o is currently screaming at the top of her lungs in her room. She and my ds woke up before 7 and didn't go to bed until after 9 so I know that she hasn't had enough sleep.
Well I managed to get up this morning and get a good walk in. The weather here is getting nicer each day, so I try and do something outside when it is. Hopefully when my DH comes home I can go to the track and do a few laps.

For those that wanted that eggplant lasagna recipe I will post it later today, so be on the lookout.

Ericka-I too will be a single mom in a couple of weeks. Actually I fell like Melissa in that I've got three kids anyway. With my DH in school, he isn't much help. He studies when he's got a free minute. I am loving the Sonoma Diet book and the cookbook. I checked them out from the library, but really think I am just going to buy them. I haven't started the diet or anything (following Fat Smash still for the most part), but I love the recipes. I made the smoked black bean spread yesterday and had it on my breakfast wrap. It was soo good. I put tons of veggies in it (spinich, mushrooms, zuchinni, peppers and onions and 1 egg) and a little bit of mozerella cheese.


Chairity-Ok if you read this and you haven't worked out yet, go do it! You can't post until you get it done. I had to just push myself this morning to get mine done. Since that was part of my challenge. I really am in need of a pedicure, so I am sticking to my goal.

Melissa-You are supermom. I want to be like you when I grow up. I love being busy. Now that I the little ones are getting a little bigger, I am thinking of doing some volunteer work in the fall. I used to be in PR and marketing in my former life, and would love to put my skills to use more than just marketing veggies to a 4 y/o.

Karen- How are you hanging? Just think, only one more day until the weekend. Hang in there, you can make it. And think, Sunday is your day!

Danielle- Hope you get to feeling better. Sounds like you've got a lot of running around to do. Get back up on the horse and let's keep on ridin'. One bad day...or week, maketh not the woman.

Julie-Don't get down on yourself. At least you know you are doing the right things to be a healthier you. The scale will start moving. Definately use some of these wonderful ladies suggestions and see what works for you. You can do this!

Lindsey-Good luck on your finals! BTW- You just look like you could be a shopper.


Shelby-Where are you girl? I just lauged and laughed at your jeans blowout story...

Hello to anyone I may have missed. Hope you are having a happy and healthy day.

So in my attempt to meet my challenge goal of 64 oz yesterday, I drank 24 oz. of water before going to bed last night. I was up every hour going to the bathroom. That will teach me to wait until the last minute to get my water in.

here's my menu for the day;

B-Fiber One and Kasi Go Lean + 1/2 cup milk
S-Fruit Smoothie of some type My DD has muffins for mom this afternoon, so I will probably have a bite of a muffin.
L-Chicken wrap on a pita with roasted broccoli
S-??
D-Leftovers (pork tenerloin, roasted sweet potatoes, sauteed spinich)
64 oz of water

Ok, so I was going to do the FIRM, but DH and I decided to go to the driving range instead. Not quite as tough a workout, but man do my arms hurt! At least it qualifies as a light workout (I have never been before, I am just learning to golf). Plus, it was fun, and we got to spend some time together.

We are having a friend over for a cookout tonight - and we are having all healthy foods! Here is the menu: lean burgers (7% fat) with 2% milk cheese on light buns; lean turkey sausages on light buns; baked beans; chips with ranch dip (made from light sour cream) - I am going to have regular and light chips; and corn on the cob. If anyone wants dessert, it is vanilla frozen yogurt with choc. syrup (I have regular and low sugar). I think I can have a nice dinner and actually behave too!

At any rate, I hope everyone is having a great day, you all seem so busy!

Good golly it is HOT outside! I'm afraid summer temps are upon us here in the beautiful desert! I gotta tell ya guys, one thing I certainly noticed while out and about today, the extra weight in high temps sure makes it absolutely exhausting!!!! Having to hoof it (I park as far away from where I'm going) across hot blacktop with extra weight in 100+ weather is miserable!!! One more reason to get this fat off NOW!

So I think I am done running around in preparation for DD's dinner thingy tomorrow...who knew it would be such the ordeal! The first dress we bought we ended up taking back after she found another one she fell in love with...of course they didn't have her exact size, but "mom I just gotta have it" and big puppy dog eyes won out and so we sent it in to have it altered. One expense after another, I tell you! Then it was a strapless bra..which I could not find one small enough for her!! Then shoes, accessories,...and on and on..... I think this whole shin-dig ended up costing me about 150+ buckaroos! And they wonder why I work part time! God help me when they go to Prom!

I am a bit apprehensive about weigh-in tomorrow...while I haven't exactly been that bad (sans the Dairy Queen I fought with the other night) I just feel big, like I haven't lost anything? I think it must be the heat and all the running around, so I am crossing my fingers & toes that the scale will give me something good. I am still in a toss up regarding what (if any) plan I want to continue with. I had seriously considered going back to Atkins ( I lost BIG doing this and felt amazing!) but it is so incredibly hard to follow when I have the rest of the family to consider, especially a DH who REFUSES to follow along. I ordered a book at work, Volumetrics. We've had several customers come in to buy it and one man I talked to swears by it, so hopefully it works! Supposedly it teaches you the right combination of foods (low cal) to consume to keep you feeling satieted (sp?) That sounds exactly like what I need and would seem to fit with my lifestyle here at home. We shall see! I just know that right now I feel starved all the time and I feel like I eat every second of the day! Gotta stop!

Karen, so how goes it from the big house today? I hope everyone has behaved! Thanks for thinkin of me, and yes, I've been trying to have the most excellent week. Too bad it wasn't spent on me at all! LOL

Melissa, one last final! Hope it goes well for ya. You must feel so relieved to know that you're right at the end, huh? Will be nice to get a break from everything I'm sure....school, PTA, etc. Calgon take her away! lol

Erika, hello! Yes, I'm feeling alot better thank you! I don't know what it was, I just got to feeling very "flu-ish" for about 2 days....no rest for the weary as they say! Hope your singing lesson went well today! I'm sure you will be great while dh is away, but I certainly know what you are feeling! I hate when mine is gone too. When we were making the transition from CA back to AZ, he actually came out here(AZ) for 7 weeks before the kids & I joined him. Now THAT was hard! Enjoy your girl time with Claire, she will love it!

Love, betcha won't make the same mistake again tonight with the water, huh? That is a miserable way to spend the night, don't I know it!! I think after such a long time of drinking so much water my body has just finally adjusted and I'm not up & down anymore. Hope you're having a great afternoon!

Charity, so glad you had a great time with dh today! I couldn't hit the broadside of a barn with anything, let alone trying to swing at an itty-bitty ball way on the ground and to try and fling it into an eensy-weensy hole. Your arms got a workout for sure!! I've got the FIRM transfirmer series but have YET to even crack it open. it's been sitting in my closet for months & months. Of course now, we have since bought new furniture and I have zero room for it. Ack! Guess I should sell it, maybe get some WATP dvd's or something, eh?


Alrighty chickies, I gotta get moving once again! It sure was nice chatting with ya'll for a change! Stay strong and be good!

Ok....just finished all my running around for the day and now its time to hit the books. But I had to share my disgust from the day.

I decide I want to look nice for the luncheon tomorrow, its really hot here (dont laugh dani!) But, my legs are too white for shorts, I tried to find a cute pair of khaki capris....yeah right! So I decide I've got a cute skirt I could wear I just need a tshirt or something casual to go with it. And I found some really cute shirts but I put em on and OMG! I hate being this big!! Even in the size 22/24 I just feel uncomfortable and huge!! I'm telling you girls, if you ever feel like getting off track go shopping! Those nasty dressing room mirrors will shock you back on track! I REALLY need to buckle down and start doing something for me! I cant stand this anymore. I'm seriously looking at the Fat Smash plan, did you see Maurine McCormack on the cover of OK? Shes on celebrity fit club and has lost so much! She looks GREAT!

The plan seems really restrictive and I worry about that, but you can eat all the fruits, veggies and legumes you want. The first 9 days are super restrictive then you slowly add stuff back in. Gee...sound familiar? LOL! Once tomorrow is over I'm hitting the bookstore and doing some more research.

Ok, sorry to ramble on and on! I'm procrastinating the books! Last final melissa...last one!!

I'll be back a little later to see how everyone is doing! Looks like the exercise challenge started, so make sure you log those miles...we want to beat the Red team to Newyork!

~melissa

Forgot to answer your question, Mel! No idea what's up with Mother's day! No plans that I know of, however dh is taking the day off and the kids and him have been conveening in hushed conference, so who knows! LOL I just made sure I got the day off from work just in case they are hatching something!


In regards to our exercise challenge:

Looks like my big butt will be meeting with the bike first thing in the morning! I wanna make sure I put my share of miles in!

P.S. Melissa I totally agree with you about trying on clothes to shock you back to reality! I HATE shopping for clothes right now! Its so sad that I try and find the plainest most straight cut stuff because I don't want to look ridiculous. So I settle for just looking like a blob, go figure! But we'll be shopping our hearts out soon I hope, right?!

Melissa- I am really loving the fat smash plan. Once you get past those first 9 days, it's pretty easy to follow. The menu's I post are what i eat on the fat smash plan. Like I was saying earlier, I use a lot of the Sonoma stuff cuz it's pretty fat smash friendly. I first saw the diet on an episode of Tyra Banks and those girls were the ones in a challenge that lost the most weight.
I have tried a lot of things from teas to WW and this is one that works for me. I am constintly eating and I am still loosing, of course I am pretty dedicated and I make sure to exercise. Sure you fall off, but the plan is designed to get back on easily.
Here's how easy it is. I didn't even know I could have the beans and legumes, and I still made it through the first 9 days. I did the phase a second time and it was super easy. I eat less meat, and way more veggies than i did and I was a veggie person. Now I eat them for breakfast and as snacks.
If you have questions, just let me know.

I'm here, I'm here!!

I can't keep up with all your postings, but I read you EVERY day to keep me motivated!!! I'm currently planning a flag day breakfast for 60 and a staff appreciation luncheon for 70 at my son's school for next month, and covering for someone who's on vacation at work. Crazy!!

Good luck to all of you finishing up tests, etc. I admire anyone who continues their education -- it takes a lot of determination and self discipline!!!

Hope everyone is doing well -- miss you guys.

Good Morning Red Team!! Its Friday finally!!! in 4 more hours I'm a free woman!! I'm gonna make it quick this morning, I need to do some more studying and I've got to whip up a cucumber and a broccoli salad for the teachers luncheon I'm hosting this afternoon. I just had to come wish you all a WONDERFUL friday!!!

Dont forget to log those miles and minutes...we need to get on our way to NYC!!!

How did everyone do on their goals this week? Anyone getting themself that reward?

Love....I'm definetly going to be hitting you up for Fat Smash advice. I think I'm gonna just try it...9 days not so bad right. If I absolutley hate it what have I lost? You should definetly volunteer at your kids's school! At least in our area they are desperate for volunteers! Since you've got such a great PR background you could be all over the fundraising stuff. We had a lady here to around to local businesses and get donations so we could have a silent auction. It was amazing! Its time consuming but SOOOO worth it. Even the littlest bit is such a huge help!

Charity...did you get that workout done? How was your cookout? Sounds fantastic! We need to do that this weekend but the propane tank went dry the last time I used it! LOL!!

Danielle...theres my girl!!! I'm very happy to see you are just super busy!! (you know what I mean by that LOL!, not that I'm happy you are busy!) I miss you around here woman! Did you get on that bike this morning? Dont forget your dates with bob count too!

Shelby...hey!!!! We miss you when you dont pop in so make sure and keep us updated!! I can certainly sympathize with you on planning the parties!! Good times though right?!

And Amberd is having some crazy computer issues, so she may be MIA for a little bit while she gets them figured out.

Have a fantastic Friday everyone! And for you moms, incase we dont see you over the weekend HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!! I hope your family treats you like the queen that you are!!

~melissa

Good morning everyone!

Danielle, I am sure you could sell your TransFIRMer, they are in pretty hot demand. You could try ebay, or maybe go onto the weight watchers boards (Fitness: Getting Started would be a good one). People post there occasionally with FIRM stuff to sell and it is gone in no time! You may even be able to trade it for WATP or something else you want. Just some ideas, but I am sure you could get a good amount of what you paid back.

Melissa, I HATE clothes shopping! For the last 2 weeks I have been trying to find a slightly dressy shirt that I could wear with a skirt or slacks (for a conference I have this weekend) and I can't find ANYTHING that fits!! I am right between plus and regular sizes, so neither really fits well! Most of the things I have found I don't like, and if I do like them, they don't fit. So much of the dressy stuff is patterned now, and I just don't really like that. Plus, wild patterns just don't look that great on me with the extra weight!

Love, I am glad that the Fat Smash Diet is working well for you. Finding a plan that you like and stick with is the most important part of losing weight. I love weight watchers, but everyone has to find what works for them. So glad you have found something you love!

Shelby, you sound sooo busy!!! I used to plan events for my old job, I know it can be really hectic! Good luck!

I am so sore today!!!! I can't believe that the driving range made me this sore (I was only hitting golf balls). Not only are my arms sore, but my legs and back as well! I must not be doing it right! Maybe next time we go dh can help me figure out what I am doing wrong. I don't think my whole body should be sore, lol!

Well, I will stop back by later, I am going to go take a relaxing bath

Hi guys,

TGIF! I can't believe it's Friday again already. Just wanted to say a quick hi and hope everything is going well for you all.

Congratulations to those of you who've finished school. I have 3 finals next week. I did finish the final project for my other class yesterday, so that feels good. My goal for the weekend is to get enough sleep so I don't turn into a raving stressed-out lunatic next week.

Have a great Friday and keep on keeping on!