Did well yesterday having a bit of a light day, back to the regular stuff today!

- Breakfast: 1 serving Rice Krispies (130) with 1/2 cup blueberries (42) and 1/2 cup Blue Diamond Unsweetened Chocolate Almond Milk (22.5) and 1/2 a banana (52-1/2) topped with 1 tbsp of peanut butter (95). 342 calories total.

- Lunch: 2 slices 40 calorie bread (80) with turkey (30), LC garlic Swiss (35), tomato (4), mild banana peppers (5) and arugula (5); 1/2 serving baby carrots (17.5); 1 serving of Pretzel Crisps (110) topped with 2 tbsps sun-dried tomato hummus (77) and 1 container honey almond yogurt (80). 443-1/2 calories total.

- Afternoon Snack: Medium orange (64). 64 calories total.

- Post-Workout Snack: 1 Fiber One PB Chocolate bar (90). 90 calories total.

- Dinner: 1-1/2 cups spaghetti squash (150) topped with 1 basil chicken sausage (130), 1 cup of Italian-style diced tomatoes (50) and 1/8 cup Parmesan cheese and 1 slice five cheese Texas Toast (170). 555 calories total.

- Evening Snack: Skinny Cow Truffle Bar (100). 100 calories total.

1594-1/2 calories for the day

Weight lifting and cardio after watching the Sox spring training game this afternoon!

Thank you! And back at ya for your excellent shopping experience!

Fruit: love the new pic!

Elizabeth: what an awesome shopping trip! I did some clearance shopping on Friday as well. My stuff was XL (I could *maybe* do a large in some things, but just not quite comfortable with that yet), but I'm still THRILLED to not be in the plus section. I'm finally just getting used to not feeling like a total imposter in the "regular" section.

I also counted my calories all weekend! As I mentioned Saturday, I stayed under 1600 on Friday. Saturday was my planned "high" day, though it ended up a little higher than I had planned...DH talked me into splitting a piece of cake which put me at about 2,000 for the day. Sunday ended up at 1628. I also did my extra day of exercise Sunday, so I got my 5 days in for the week!

This will be my first full week with my new "tweaks" to my plan (staying strictly in my 1400-1600 range on weekdays, exercising at least 5 days a week instead of 4). Since this challenge ends on Thursday, it will be too soon to tell if it is making any difference, but I've got a good jump start for the next challenge!

Still hoping for a 185.something final WI for Thursday. Let's finish this thing strong, ladies!!

Northern- Thanks!

Rode the bike for 25min. too cold for a walk. My weight was down a pound yesterday, today it's up a pound. What's with that? Ok, maybe the higher calorie thing isn't the thing to do. I was feeling hopeless today so my calories were 1788. I ate (healthy foods)even though I wasn't hungry. It's hard for me to get my sodium & fat in for the day on 1280 calories, so I've been going higher to fit it in even though I'm not hungry. Now I'm really confused and just felt down cause it feels like a never ending battle.

Lori Thanks!

Elizabeth Thanks for the advice - I'm not even sure what I'd do! I'm planning on a night off of sorts tomorrow (Wed) night to celebrate 3 years of being with my boyfriend. We're going out for dinner (I hope) and I'm planning on ordering what I want (within reason) and possibly having a dessert as well. Maybe that will change things? Who knows. This is the first real plateau I've experienced. Congrats on your smaller size sweaters! Awesome!


~So I have an interview on Friday for this receptionist's position at my boyfriend's dad's company - they're a freight forwarding business, so they're not a corporate workplace, more like business casual - but I'm still kind of stuck on what to wear for the interview - I own NO office-type clothes at all. No pants. No blouses/button shirts. Only one skirt that might be appropriate, but no top to wear it with.
I'm hesitant to go buy a whole new outfit because A) I may not get the job, and B) It would suck to then have those clothes and not be able to wear them, and then have them be too big!
I'm so stressed and nervous, I've had interviews before but never for office type positions and I don't know what she'll ask! We already spoke on the phone yesterday and I was given the ok to skip the cover letter with my resume since we had spoken, but I don't know whether the interview will be more formal or just a kind of casual chat about the job...eeee. Nerves.

Oh yeah, and the plateau - doubt I'll be making my goal of 62kg/136.6 pounds by Thursday for the end of the challenge...which is terrible as I set it as a fairly achievable goal, until this plateau hit!

Dont think I will make my goal.... My wieght today was 186... but I know I will come close. Its still not over.. You all seem to be doing so well. I'll be back on thursday... Good luck to all.

1575 calories yesterday, 30 minutes WATP and 20 minutes yoga.

Rainbow: I know what you mean about having to buy "nice" clothes that you'll probably never wear again because the next time you HAVE an occasion to wear them, they'll be too big! In those cases, I try to find things I can "dress down" to wear in more "everyday" situations (i.e., you can't have too many pairs of black pants!). Another thing to try is second-hand stores. You'd be surprised at some of the nice things you can find sometimes. And if you opt for something a little dressier...no biggie if you don't wear it again if you only paid a few bucks for it. Good luck with the interview!

Hi all! Well, Tuesday is my normal weigh in day, but I am going to give an official report on Thursday for the end of the challenge. I will say, I am pretty much at my starting weight of 192. I have been really lax the last couple weeks on my diet & exercise. I found my drive again this week, but it is a little too late to meet my 6 pound loss for this challenge. I just hope it is a loss period! I could kick myself!! It's been a whole month since we started this challenge, and instead of losing 6-8 pounds, I am right where I was, and I have no one to blame but myself. I will do better the next challenge. I start dress shopping in May - so I need to lose at least another 20 lbs before then!

rainbow stripe- You could always try goodwill or thrift stores. You may be able to find some barely worn shirts and pants. I know I just donated some of mine. I wore them maybe once or twice for an interview (and didn't get the job) and then lost weight but they weren't really nice enough to invest in getting them tailored. If not you could always try Walmart they have decent stuff though it may not last long. Lots of clearances at all stores too right now. I would definitely wear at least dress pants and dress shirt OR if you have a professional dress or skirt that could work too. Sounds like a full fledged suit might be a bit much, but I think its better to over dress than under dress. If you are receptionist you are going to be the first thing everyone sees when they enter their business so they want someone who looks professional and presentable.

Meanwhile I am getting kinda peeved. Darn low carb diet. My weight is up again today!!! 194! I only had 1500 calories yesterday and I haven't eaten over calorie limit so there is no way that is fat, it has to be water due to carbs, but still it makes me mad. I dont want to move my ticker. Stupid low carb diet. *grumble* I guess its better to gain it all back now when I barely lost any than lose a bunch of weight on low carb only to gain it all back. :P

Hi all! Getting close to the end of the challenge!

I will never make my goal of 108lbs. In fact I don't think I'll be seeing that number ever again. I did eat too much yesterday, all whole food though, no junk. I gained 6oz. it would have been alot worse if I was eating junk food. Can't seem to get below 109lbs. I'm confused , don't know how to handle it. Even if I lower my calories again, I'll stay the same. I lowered them for a week before & I just maintained. Finally able to walk for 50min. the weather was nice. It felt great!

Thanks for all the advice Northern and Elizabeth. Thrift stores here are pretty hit and miss, mostly miss haha. My dad has given me some money and told me not to worry about paying him back, so I have a little bit to play with...I think since it's Wed and the interview is Friday, I'll have to go with a skirt of some sort, since I always need pants taken up (why they don't make petites in this country is beyond me) and I won't have time to do that by Friday.
I'm thinking nice pencil skirt, shell type top and a nice cardigan or jacket, tailored sort of style. My personal style is a little more outgoing and interesting, but I figure that I can always test the waters with that further down the track if I get the job.

Calories are in check this week, exercise too. Today is my 3rd anniversary of being with my boyfriend, so we're going out for dinner somewhere tonight. I'm probably going to take the night off a bit - I'll still estimate the calories, but I want dessert and I want to really enjoy my food without worrying too much - easier said than done though I'm sure, I'm always worrying about what I'm eating!

It has been a busy day! Drank too much coffee this morning, or maybe just that I drank coffee at all, and was super jittery til I ate lunch. Won't make that mistake again!

Am happy to report that the scale is still going down. I am so happy that I decided to up my calorie allotment. Between the scale going down and the lack of binges for 12 days, I am really feeling optimistic about things again!

Have a great dinner rainbow and try not to think about the calories too much!

Today I'm OVERWIEGHT (NOT OBESE)!!!!! YAY!! LOL. One More Day!!

I have really learned the importance of fruit in my diet these past several days! I've been perfectly on target with calories, but I've been completely out of fruit for several days(normally I have fruit with every meal) and replaced the calories I usually have for fruit with.. well, other stuff, and since have been up 1-2 lbs in water weight.

Thankfully, I've now got the funds to finally stock up on fruit today.

Also, the weather people lied and it most definitely did not get into the 50's today, however I got my bike out anyway and it was great fun.. even though my face felt frozen when I got back. I took one of my dogs running alongside the bike and then I walked the other two when I got done with that.

I'm not sure if I'll be able to get the last pound off for my goal, hopefully I'll have a bit of luck..

Congrats Tired, it's awesome to get out of the obese range!