Wow....I just read back through the posts and your support is amazing. I feel like this forum is my secret garden and I can come here whenever I want...to just be me...in my own little world. I really look forward to being on here each day and getting to know all the new blue team members and catching up with the "old" ones!

Okay, well...I think I'm going to bask in the afterglow of being named biggest loser this week! Although I don't recommend family tragedy as a weight loss tool, it still feels pretty damn good.

So...is our team the shizzle or what??? OMG...we killed it! Congratulations to EVERYONE!! I am so happy to be on this awesome team.

I'm trying to get back into my routine and that includes working out. I went from working out twice a day to doing absolutely no exercise for over a week now. The ONLY thing that would keep me from the gym today is if a giant pack of rats surrounded my house, stared at me with their beady little rat eyes, bared their sharp, yellow rat teeth at me and threatened to crawl and rub their disgusting pink rat tails on me! I truly don't anticipate that happening, so I think I'm good to go. (My secret phobia is rats and I've never even seen a real one ) I'm sure some of my weight loss is due to the fact that I stopped working out so hard. I honestly would rather lose the weight slow and steady with the training instead of losing it quicker without it.

Well, have a great day guys. I'm off to get my life back in order...laundry, grocery shopping...all the fun stuff!

missingmyerica--Congrats again! My secret phobia (although it's not much of a secret) is snakes. I have actually called my dh at work to tell him there was snake outside. Of course in my mind he was supposed to come home and take care of it!!! He didn't. Totally lost points for that! Luckily the dogs didn't have to go out, or not sure what I would have done....


Today is my day of meetings, so I won't be around much until later. I weighed in today--down anothe 2lbs. I am really happy w/ that. Before this challange started, the scale was stuck for so long, I am thrilled to see it moving again!

K, gotta get ready for these meetings....

Have a great on plan day!

dora and amouse-I'm trying so hard to make a life for myself and I think maybe that's why we're getting into so many arguments lately. I can't live the rest of my life not talking on the phone because he's gonna get mad or cause he doesn't like it. Why should I be the one to have to take care of literally everything and not be able to have one night out with my best friend without the kids?! I'm not trying to be vindictive or anything, I just feel I deserve a break once in awhile. I've told him that and that was a whole other argument. And last night, my brother called and DH got mad because I was on the phone..................with my brother. Normally he doesn't mind because it's family and I don't have ANY family around me. But last night, he just got mad. I'm so sick of it. I so many times think of just leaving. I'll be going to Vegas to visit my mom in July and it'll be just me and the kids and I just can't wait. Time is going by so slowly. I just wanna hop on the plane and go already. Life is so hard. Dora, you said it perfectly. I don't wanna do it to make him mad or him thinking I'm being selfish because I'm not, I'm the last person you could ever think is selfish. I have put everyone before me. I need something but I don't say it because I know my hubby wants to buy something for his truck and I let him. I don't eat dinner with the family because I'm busy getting everyone else their stuff and by the time I can sit and eat, everyone is done and had left the table. DH will takes naps when I can't barely stand anymore but I let him sleep so I can take care of the kids but when it comes time for me to take a nap, I can't because of the kids. He's outside cutting the grass or working on his truck and he wants the two youngest in the house and who has to watch them......I do. My children are 8 yo, 5 yo, 2 yo, and 9 months. I am so frustrated. I think I will take the advice and see if there is anyone at the VA that can help me. amouse-yeah, he says he trusts me 90% but it's not. I can see it. He doesn't. If he did then it wouldn't be like this. And it's funny that you ask because we just had a conversation about it and I told him that if he did trust me then he wouldn't be the way he is. He just claims that it's because of the way he feels. Well, if you look at the whole picture, it all boils down to him not trusting me. I sometimes feel like just telling him I'm going to go ___________ with my best friend because I deserve it, no if's, and's or but's about it. I'm just afraid it'll start a big problem.

Francie-we used to live in base housing. We had problems with the people who lived downstairs. They used to always slam their front door, the wife would go in the back and smoke and the smoke would come up through our window and into our house, and the little boy they had had ADHD and was terribly troubled and we used to catch him walking on the top of their fence the is probably 1/2 thick and about 8 or 9 feet tall. Where were the parents? Who knows. We never got complaints but man, you've got it bad. Sorry about it. That's why my hubby always wanted to live off base. He didn't wanna deal with all that. Can't you complain to their command?! I know it sounds childish but they are the ones who are being childish about it.

francie-i had trouble yesterday with yahoo messenger. were you able to get it fixed or figure it out? I got it if you still haven't

trailgroomer - thanks for the reminder that we're halfway through the challenge week! I definitely need some extra pushing if I'm going to make it anywhere close to the beach this week.

Faerie - It's fun to get all these sides of your life in the two chats we're both in I think you're totally justified in wanting to be fulfilled. I mean, it's your life here! It's not like work is an insignificant part of it! Have fun in India, I don't remember when you're going but we'll miss your constant presence around here. Or at least I will

momof4girls - congrats on the -%!

jill - haha, I've definitely had those side-back muscles mysteriously hurt before. I think you can work those by walking if you're using proper abs-pulled-in form. I'm the same as you, near-translucent, I've already had about 3 sunburns this year from my lunch hour. My sunblock is now dutifully waiting for me at my desk, lesson learned!

krjpy - You are SO close to those two goals! You can do it!

chelle - wow... your friends seem to be a little on the... needy side. To say the least. You shouldn't have to explain yourself to that degree. You're busy, life happens. Sounds like they're a little insecure about something. Who knows? That just sounds like a bunch of needless drama and I'm sorry you have to deal with it.

QOTD: My favorite on-plan snack... It varies, but right now I'm enjoying low-fat plain yogurt with 1/2c of fiber one. I'm actually on the verge of getting bored with it though so I might move on to something new soon. Hardboiled eggs? Laughing cow and crackers? Who knows what the future holds?


That's about all I've got time for now, I'm supposed to be worrrrking Man do I have a lot of exercising to do if I want to even get close to that beach this week! The weather's been gorgeous too so I have no excuse!

Here's a question which I feel totally ill equipped to answer: it's a fashion kind of question and color me clueless when it comes to fashion. So my graduation for my MA is in a week and a half. I'm wearing a dress I have that's brown, cream, and yellow. So I'm obviously wearing some brown shoes I have with that. However, over that I'll have to put that stupid black polyester gown thing on. My question is, do I need to have two pairs of shoes? Do I need to be wearing black shoes when I walk across the stage, or does it really even matter? I'd rather just wear the brown ones all day (since I'd have to go buy black shoes, I don't have any), but one of my friends made me start thinking I'd look dumb if I wore brown shoes with the black gown. I'd love some other opinions since I don't like hers

Have a good day everyone!

My house is a disaster. i need to get to work on that, but in the meantime, Yea Blue!!

QOTD: A bowl of cereal with skim milk or popcorn with a sprinkle of parm.

Chellez-I actually don't talk to my matron of honor anymore, because she acted much like your friend is acting. I'm sorry but people need to grow up and learn how to act like adults. Sometimes life gets busy, but that doesn't mean you don't care. I'm one to rid my life of people like that, but you have to make that decision for yourself. I can tell you one thing, the whole myspace "defriend" thing would have pretty much done it for me, I don't have room in my life for people who want to act like children. I'm sorry that they are acting that way. I know what you are going through all too well. By the way I am 27 for the cheat sheet.

Kelly-YOU CAN DO IT!! Don't let getting close to a major goal stop you from making it!

QOTD: Weight Watchers icecream bar or a serving of fat free pringles

Dora - Can you please go in and fix your siggy. It's driving me

Sure, I'd be happy to, but I don't know what's wrong. Shows up just fine on my screen. Fill me in, what's showing up for you and how do I fix it?

Not that I'm a fashion expert but I would just wear the brown shoes. You won't be in your black gown all the time. Once you're on the stage nobody can see the shoes from a distance anyway. Honestly, I don't think it matters that much. Plus everyone should know you're wearing a dress underneath the black gown and the shoes match that dress

Dora, it doesn't look ok on mine. It's a white box with "this image has been moved or deleted" text by photobucket.

Chellez, I agree with Hopefulpink. That's insane behavior from your friends. We've been busy working on our house for the past 1 year for the same reason that weekends were the only time to get lots of stuff done. They should be understanding of that if they're your friends. And that whole myspace thing is just childish imho. Seems like time for some new friends for you guys.

Our cheerperson is now available as "cheer3", it's been deleted from the photobucket page. You can just go into your sig & use "cheer3" now!

Hey Blues!

I'm feeling like poo this morning, but at least now I can comfirm that it was indeed TOM that had me posting a gain last week. I'm down two pounds so far this week, so I hope to have a decent loss to report. I've made myself a spread sheet broken down by week that I can track my minutes of exercise and daily weight on. I did manage 1 mile on the treadmill at home this morning, but it took me 25 minutes. I'll finish up my 5K tonight, hopefully the midol will have kicked in by then. I'm semi-swamped today, it's taken me 45 minutes just to get this posted, so no personals. I'll be back later, I hope.

Pinto - Thanks so much! I may in fact take you up on that PMing if some questions come up. (And yes, southeast... typo... was thinking of north for some reason ) That weather is the one thing I'm a little leery of... I'm a cold weather person at heart But not gonna let a little thing like heat & humidity keep me from having a great time!

Jill - That's awesome that you're liking your new job. That's the type of job I'd like to have. I did come from a place before where my boss was hands-off... but this one is little more "I need an update every hour" sort. Blah! Oh well ^^

Chellez - Boy the DramaLlama sure is making his rounds! (That's what my friends and I call the mysterious force that causes all drama.) First of all, I cannot stand when people make like they're asking a question, when really it's a backhanded insult. I hope that it all works out for the best, but other than explaining the situation, and saying it's not that you don't want to hang out, but that you can't... Some people enjoy making things all about themselves, ya know?

Suite - I love seeing you over here, too!!! (And wear the brown shoes. )

And just because:

Wednesday's Question of the Day
What is your favorite on-plan snack?
Apples and cheese! There's nothing like a couple of pieces of aged cheddar with some juicy apples to make my mouth happy.

Chellez: I hear you on the coffee! I'm back down to one or two cups of coffee each morning which I'm mostly ok with, but I'm hooked on using that flavored non-dairy creamer which isn't too friendly to my body. I keep meaning to try out the soy creamers so maybe that'll be a better option.

I just did a quickie catch-up of the thread and I have to say that our team totally rocks!

I'm down another pound today so I get to go update my ticker again. I had a good 4K run last night again and now I'll see when I get to get out again. We're heading out of town on Saturday morning and life is all wacky right now with trying to do the everyday stuff along with the getting ready to go on vacation stuff. I can't wait to get on that plane!!

Have a great day everyone!

Oh Faerie....I so know exactly how you feel today. Today, I've been looking at job postings within my company. I hate my job! But, I can't afford to quit.


I'll check back in again later for personals.

Either celery or Crunchmaster rice crackers with hummus. Followed closely by plain yogurt with 1/4 cup frozen mixed berries and a little agave on top. (Sometimes I just eat a bunch of my fav snacks throughout the day instead of "meals"!)

Jamie - I'd just wear the brown shoes also. I wouldn't go out and buy any black shoes especially for that walk, unless you'll need black shoes soon anyways... I wouldn't think fashion faux pas at all if I saw brown shoes with a black graduation gown.

Chellez - I quit all flavored coffee creamers last challenge. Aside from the fact that they are "product", it was using up over 120 calories per day for me. I have tried all sort of things, but have settled on plain sugar and ff half and half. It still is quite a few calories, but better. I'm slowly cutting back the sugar. I don't like any of the artificial sweeteners.

OK, was going to do more personals, but both girls are asking for breakfast now...so bbl.