Morning ladies -

Ok, set let me rewind and comment on everyones post first...

Maddiesmom-thanks for you words of encouragement regarding the homefront. I DO realize I will get through this and if it was easy, then there would be a serious issue, then we would have married for the wrong reasons for sure - only time will tell but I am moving forward. And YES, I did go for my swim and JOG! Holy cow...Im catching up to you...you little workout machine, lol.

Tiff - of course you can join, I will add you to the spreadsheet I am maintaining. I am so looking forward to seeing your wedding pics, you are going to be such a beautiful bride. Hows the stress going in regards to the wedding? Is there any or is it smooth sailing? I always watch Bridezillas and crack up at how bad it gets. With my wedding, it was so low key, I let my Aunt plan the whole freakin thing and didnt pick up my wedding dress until the day before, lol. I guess I never had those dreams of a fairytale wedding, lol. My mom was bummed of course but its saved us a ton of stress and money.

Mygrits-how are you holding up with your late night cravings?

Dance - ugh...I can so relate. For whatever reason I decided to hop on the scale this morning and it was up and it made no sense. I hadnt eaten anything too extreme. Oh well, what matters is when my clothes start fitting better or loser, which has already happened, so I try to keep that in mind. I find that if it does go up, it makes me stay more on track, it gives me more drive. Like "oh yeah...Ill show you Im not accepting that 2 pd. weight gain, lol"

Burgundy - I whooped out my 30ds again...at least for the weight loss challenge. I was also asked to attend a wedding in September as a date, I have not commited yet but taken into consideration, it makes me want to stick to my plan just so I can look good and buy a killer dress.

So, let me ask you guys something...does anyone have any additional incentives on the table right now to lose weight? I mean...we all have the...i want to fit into this outfit but like for me, I might be going to a wedding in September, so thats a huge incentive for me...also my cop friend is also a very good incentive, lol...but not as important.

Anyway...hope everyone is doing well, were on Day 2 of the challenge. Woo-hoo!

Hi everyone,

I had a lot of reading to do! It sure sounds like everyone is really supporting one another. Your challenge looks awesome! It looks like it's going well and I don't to interuppt so I will join in the next one

Getting back to work late last week was nothing short of a nightmare. My resolve of not working more than 12 hours a day was pretty much dead the first day. Plus there has been a heat wave here and I don't deal well with the heat.

Other than that things are good. My vacation was great and really was relaxing. I didn't exercise faithfully but my eating was pretty good for being on vacation. I have decided to work out in the am now as I can never tell when I am getting off work at night and going to the gym at 10PM after a 12-14 hour day means I get pretty pooped - very quick. I am looking forward to the time when I work to live, not live to work - but until the Olympics are over I don't see me achieving that.

Lindy - you asked about incentive in your last post - mine is to not be overweight for the Olympics - this is the best career time of my life and I want to look back at the pictures with a smile not a "omg I was that big?" I also want to be healthy because if I'm not I will never make it through 60 + days of sheer stress and hours out of the ying yang! Plus - I want to look and feel really good when I am job searching again! It will make me feel more confident and confidence breeds success

It's a holiday here in Canada today!

One of mine that I've definitely already babbled about is needing to wear a strapless satin bridesmaid's dress on Sept 12th. Yikes! My mom's going to help me alter the one I ordered so I can do it last minute based on how much more I lose. That's definitely a motivator for me - I don't want to be the chubbiest girl up there - just normal-sized looking. Curious to hear what the rest of you guys have to say as far as your goals...

Another one for me that I think I already achieved this weekend is not to be the slowest one in the group on hikes. The friends that I do stuff like that with are all big hikers and I'm usually the one lagging behind a bit. On yesterday's hike, I was out in front most of the time and would have been quite comfortable going faster still but didn't want to make it hard on the others. Goal #2 in this area will be to be able to keep up with my very fit 6'2" bf on hikes - his long legs have mine beat everytime so far but I KNOW I can get strong enough (and light enough) to keep up easily : )

Hey Staccie - good to hear from you! Good luck with all the work stress - it must be really tough to try to focus on personal goals as well as professional ones.

Lindy...my incentive for now is that my best friend is getting married in february and I am a bridesmaid...so I want to look as good as possible in that dress. then another good friend is getting married in march in key west and I want to be able to dress appropriate for a tropical wedding. plus both friends haven't seen me since the 300's so of course I want to wow them.

I am doing decent today on eatinf...i didn't have breakfast because we have no groceries...and then don brought me chickfila for lunch because he had my car to get an oil change. I had a 4 piece tender and fries....i need to look up the calorie count so I can dictate the ret of todays calories.

hope everyone is staying on plan! kinda hope anyways...i wanna win!!!

ok I take it back...i did not do decent at lunch. 1170 calories...damn chickfila sauce...guess that means small dinner

Lol..Tiff your funny. I hate when I THINK I do well and then I look up the calories after and have "sticker shock" (as I like to call it). Ill eat a salad at Wendys and think I did awesome, then I look it up and its like 800 calories...what the? You mean I could have had a burger and fries for the same amount of calories? lol.

Stacie- sorry to hear things are so stressful. Id like to say it will all be over soon but the Winter Olympics is quite a bit of time away. Just stay focused and keep motivated. Are you preparing snacks and meals ahead of time? Are sticking with any plans?

Dance - I like your goals...a lot. Especially the hiking one, because its not just "visual" or an event. All the goals are great. I too have a goal like that, I would like to do the Disney Marathon in January here. It takes A LOT to train for it and I surely dont think I could do the WHOLE THING but if I could get halfway, that would be an accomplishment. I have been running lately and am amazed at how far I can go before I have to take a break. I NEVER in a million years thought I could be there, Id sit there and look at people jogging down the road and be like...how the heck do they do that? But now...Im getting there.

I did very well today, I am really proud of myself and I am not hungry and Im going home to do 30ds and maybe a jog if Im up for it. Its kinda hot here in Florida these days and I might die, I did run this morning though, so I made up for it.

Ok...I probably wont check back in until tomorrow, so I hope everyone does well...ESPECIALLY TONIGHT. Stay away from the munchies! lol.

Wow, Lindy - a marathon is crazy ambitious - you go, girl! We'll be here cheering you on as you train. Don't you love how running gets so much easier as you get lighter and stronger? Just about the coolest thing ever.

I got a huge container of cat litter the other day that weighs 28lbs and it was incredibly heavy. I can't wait until I lose another 8 (for a total of 28) so I can congratulate myself on the difference in strain on my body in not carrying around a ginormous and super heavy thing of cat litter every day.

Have to swing by the grocery store on the way home to pick up a prescription and a few things but otherwise am headed home for a bubble bath, quick and healthy dinner (leftovers - chicken, grilled veggies and couscous) and to crash.

Later all!

Hi Everyone

Wow, it has been a few months since I've been on the boards and I've had to demote my ticker, as I've gained back some weight

All I can say is that my life went on a rollercoaster ride and there was a lot to revaluate..and unfortunately my weight *at the time* wasn't what I was focusing on.

But, I'm heading back to basics and wanted to get in contact with you ladies again! I started my exercise regime again this week and looking at couting calories (fyi, that wonderslim I was doing before-- was okay for a month, but then it made my system back-up like no tomorrow...gross).

I looked through some of the posts and saw some fascinating pics!!! Lindy, you are smokin' hot with that blonde sassy hair do'! And Tiff, when is the wedding date, you are looking great!!!

Anyway, just wanted to get logged back in and start being held accountable.

Hope all is well and chat with you ladies soon!

BACK2BASICS - woo-hoo, welcome back girly! Thanks for the compliment! No worried on dropping off, that will happen. As long as you get back on the wagon we will get you there. You CAN do this.

Ok...I had to log in and let you girls know, I did 30DS and it was crazy. I didnt want to half a$$ it of take a break like I did in the past so I pushed myself to the max. p.s...this is going to be the most ridiculous thing you have ever heard but I have printed a pic of my "sweet 16" (as in 16 pack...lol) pack guy so keep me motivated. Im not crazy into him, I mean...he's a catch for sure but I dont get into guys unless they REALLY prove themselves to me but he is a nice incentive, as I would have never dated a guy like that before. He accepts me now and has no idea that Im trying so hard to lose weight but I want to totally surprise him next time I see him.

Ok...taking a shower and going to bed. Watch out girls...Im on a role.

Basics: Welcome back! Glad you were able to join us again...we're on a roll ourselves!

Tiff: Don't stress on lunch, just move on and drink LOTS of water. Gotta get rid of the sodium...those chicken tenders are full of them.

Staccie: Welcome back. Good luck with the morning workouts. I think I would actually prefer to work out in the a.m. but that would mean that I would have to get up at 4 am, and that's not happening. So, I will do the evening during the week and morning on the weekends. Glad you had a great vacation!

Lindy: Congrats on the 30DS! That DVD kicked my a$$, so I'm going to stick with the gym. Kudos to you though!

Dancer: Isn't it great to see your hard work pay off?!? The rate you're going, you will be a stunner in that dress. You'll be the "hot bridesmaid" standing by the bride!

Today, I was good. There was a bday lunch in our dept, so we went out to eat (which I didn't want to do, but had to because people are starting to think I'm antisocial for not going out with them). So, I had a blackened chix sand (only ate bottom 1/2 of bun) with just lettuce and tomatoes. Instead of fries, I had fruit. Not too shabby. Dinner was a Lean Cuisine panini (which are actually good) with some baked Lays potato chips and mushrooms. Pretty good dinner if I do say so myself. Just something easy.

I'm kinda depressed today. A friend of mine from high school (mind you, we were close friends in junior high, and talked here and there in high school) had triplet boys 14 months ago. Her husband was in a motorcyle accident last week, and passed away yesterday. I'm taking it hard, which I find almost strange, since I haven't spoken to her in 10 years, but I feel so horrible for her and her sons. I'm contemplating going to the funeral which is a 2 hour drive. I haven't seen her, but we emailed back and forth when I found her on facebook. I think I'm taking it harder because my hubby rides a motorcycle and we have a young one...couldn't imagine 3 of them. Do you think it's strange that I want to go? It's almost a 2 hour drive for me, but I'm not sure. What do you guys think?

Lindy- Thanks for the welcome back

You go girl--- glad you are on a roll...me too! I was scoping out some good low-cal recipes and now I'm off to restart my Chalean Extreme right now!

Maddie's Mom-- thanks for the welcome back as well... I'm sorry to hear about your friend, how horrible. I don't think it's strange at all if you go to the funeral, she'll need comforts both old and new.

I would really like to join this group. What do I have to do?
MaddiesMom! I am so sorry for your loss. Even if you weren't currently really close it is still a loss.

Hey AJ - welcome! You can just jump right in. We just started a weight loss challenge on Saturday, that is supposed to go to November 1st. Whoever wins gets $10.00 in Amazon gift cards (electronically), I think there are 6 ppl. total. Not all the girls are doing it, so if you dont want to...dont worry about it. Anyway...whats your plan, do you have any short term and long term goals? Kids...married? We pretty much babble about our day to day lives and our challenges and triumphs in weight loss.

Maddiesmom - I would TOTALLY go. Heres the deal...my bestfriend from high school, actually elementary too, well..we had stopped talking after high school, mainly because we got in a big fight. We stopped talking for 3 years and then one day I got a call from her, she called to tell me her dad had died, without hesitation I absolutely went to the funeral, and even though there were so many others that did as well, she was so appreciative that I was there. As far as the distance, if your schedule does not allow you to go, maybe you can do something nice, ie: when my Grandpa died someone sent our family a fruit bouquet from Edible Arrangements, I know it sounds kinda weird but we were so appreciate of it, especially since you have tons of people who send tons of crap junk food to your house, so the fruit was a nice change of pace. Just a thought (I know they are kinda expensive). As far as your diet goes...kudos to your lunch choice, it sounds delicious..in fact your whole day looked pretty well balanced, great job girly.

Ok...gotta check emails. Ill log on shortly.

Lindy--- Ohhh a challenge, huh? What an incentive, I'm in! Do we put our $10 in now or at the end?

I'm feeling the burn in my arms and legs from my workout last night-- but, it's a good thing! I'll be heading to the club over lunch, I'm super bummed I forgot my music at home, but I won't let that be an excuse to stop from hitting the cardio.

Okay- I need to ditch the coffee in the morning... what pick me up to you eat or drink or vitamins do you take to help give you a boost before heading out the door? (this is of course for the mornings I can't get to the gym to start off the day)...