tifftiff - it's such a bummer that the scale is measuring all kinds of stuff - retained water due to workouts or hormones for example - and not just bodyfat. I completely understand how frustrating that is when you've been POP. Glad you were able to turn things around so quickly. How has today been?

Snow wasn't that big of a deal - but it was down to the single digits in temperatures for a while - brr. Like the calorie burning of shoveling snow though.

I moved jobs within my company and am back needing to be in the office all the time which definitely had some impacts on my ability to fit in workouts and eat well but I think I'm back on track.

burgundy - so glad you had fun at the comedy show. How's everything since then? You got me all inspired with your ticker comments. I'm back to tracking everything on the daily plate for a while until I get back in the groove. We KNOW how to do this, right?

maddiesmom - hope things get less crazy at work soon and you can come and chat with us more.

Sticking to plan so far today - planning on chicken, broccoli and couscous for dinner and 30mins of walking on the treadmill this evening.

Hope you all are doing great....

Ok I updated the ticker, as much as I didnt want to(Dance, that was rough, right, no one wants to make the ticker go UP). 4 lbs isnt so bad but not good either. Im getting my eating back in order. I was eating crap for a while.

I have the boys the next 2 days. Im hoping to get in a good workout each day before I go over then I can sled with them if we get a little more snow(since the rain melted most of it)

Tiff-I know I've done that too, eat too much at one meal and dont want to eat the rest of the day. My eating hasnt been great right here around the holidays and I am trying to get it back on track.

Dance-we can get back on track and get those tickers back down. I started back at the gym so I have been the last 2 days. I'll probably miss the next 2 since I'll have the boys, but I will still get workouts in. We have to recommit and do this. This is our year.

Ok ladies, I updated my ticker as well, as much as it hurt - no more onederland for me! I am back, recommitted. I realized I have been stress eating again, which I'm going to stop. Work cannot get the best of me, and I've been letting it do just that. I've been doing a little better, but not having the willpower that I once had.

Tiff: To answer your question, back is doing well, finally. I had surgery in mid-October, which is part of the reason I gained weight back. They removed a piece of cartiledge that hit my nerve, so I have very little feeling in my left foot and part of my left leg. It's coming back slowly, but it could take a year to come back - or it may not come back at all. So sorry about your Christmas! Poor thing. Hope you are doing better. I know what you mean about work - every other day I want to do something else - the newest is a nurse or a wedding planner. But, right now, I have to focus on a paycheck, so off to the office I go. I figure when Madeline is in school, perhaps I'll take night classes and find something I love to do. I remember you mentioning you were thinking about moving...is that still the case?

Allison: Are you going to the doc about your back? My advice is not to let it go too long - you don't want something major to happen to it in the process of healing. Trust me, you don't want to experience what I'm going through. How are you liking the workout Wii games? I saw some at the store the other day, but don't want to purchase any if they aren't any good. Suggestions?

Dance: Good luck adjusting to the new work schedule. I'm definitely not a fan of working in the office all day, but my work is super conservative so we can't work from home. Sucks, definitely. The company I work for is so conservative that I have to wear a suit everyday!

So, I'm definitely depressed about my weight gain. I know that once I start eating better that it will go down again, but it still is sad - especially since I worked so hard. I guess I just let the surgery derail me too much, I became depressed and ate. It really should have been the time where I was watching what I ate, but I just couldn't do it.

I've been sick for the past 2 weeks, double ear infection as well as a cold, still not feeling well. Called the doc today and he has me on a stronger antibiotic. Hoping it works because my ears are so clogged, it feels like I'm listening under water.

Had today off for the New Year holiday and spent it with my hubby. We were talking about planning our 2nd child, but I told him that I really wanted to get to goal weight before that happens. So, now I have even more motivation to get going. Whatever motivation I can think of right now has to help, right? I wanted to go to the gym today, but I felt so crummy, I didn't want to push it.

So, I'm still super busy at work, they haven't filled my position yet, so I will be working double duty - the difference now is that I'm salaried, so I don't get overtime. So, I may not be able to check in until the weekends, but I will try and check in on my lunch hour.

Morning, girls!

maddiesmom - the only good thing about moving up our tickers will be moving them back down again!! Sorry things are still so crazy for you. Do you know of anyone you can recommend to fill the open position to get things moving? In this job market, I wouldn't have thought it would take long. Do you belong to any networking groups on linked in? I get job info through some professional groups on linked in occasionally - seems like a decent way to contact people with specific experience. What a great goal - getting ready to have another child! Sounds very exciting. Are you still working out with Jeff? Since it's gotta be super cold out where you are, I imagine the gym is your only option at this point. I used to walk up and down the stairs at work (inside staircase in high-rise) at lunch sometimes in the winter - is that an option for you for a little extra calorie burn on the days you don't go to the gym? I may try picking that back up again, actually, now that we're talking about it. Good quad workout!

Just heard from my dad that there is a fat free plain greek yogurt at costco that has 20g of protein per serving - wow! My yoplait light isn't even close and of course like everything these days has high fructose corn syrup. Why would they put that in a product for people trying to control calories? Looks like I'll be switching to plain and adding my own fruit and splenda starting this weekend when I can get to the store.

Didn't stick perfectly to plan yesterday - got the evening munchies - new plan is going to be to fight the munchies with decaf hot drinks. I'm meeting some girlfriends to walk after work in the dark - hope it's not too icy.

Hope all is going well for you all...

Hey girls -
In the spirit of accountability, I'm going to bore you all with my meal plans for a while if it's okay.
B: tlc peanut butter bar, blue berries, coffee with skim milk
L: roasted tomato soup, green salad, 3 string cheese
D: chicken, broccoli, couscous
snacks: canteloupe, almonds, decaf hot drink with skim milk

Hey Ladies! The slacker is back lol

Last month was just one disaster after another omg seriously this month has to be better...So for december yay me I lost 9lbs & gained 2 over christmas week which I am okay with (I think) I did lots of baking over the holidays but tried to make things that I don't really like, that way I wouldn't indulge too much. Chocolate is trouble even as I type my sons bag of mini eggs is calling my name I need to hide them I think...

December was not so good but for the first time in a long time, I didn't stress eat which is a huge thing for me. So a couple days after I joined I figured out my scale had been playing tricks on me (low batteries) so my weight was actually 8 pounds more than I thought. The next day my comuter crashed I have been going stir crazy without it I'm a junkie for sure. A couple days before Christmas my Papa passed away which really put a damper on the holidays, and I'm still having a bit of a hard time with it but I know it'll be okay.

Things are starting to get better I have a new laptop and I am still down 6 pounds from last month so woohoo!! I think having the flu boxing day helped with haha had a chance to detox from chocolate. I really found that keeping track of everything on our kitchen calendar for everyone to judge really helped me be accountable and stick to eating better and working out. Well I am off to make dinner now but I will be back later or tomorrow for sure!

Dance: Just read your Costco info I think I might see if we have that here. I seem to be at Costco twice a month these days, I've never tried greek yogurt but I have heard it is really good.

marmalade - great job on being down 6! I like your accountability in public idea. Greek yogurt is thicker (I think they squeeze the watery stuff out or something) so it's has a different texture - hopefully you'll like it. If you're not a huge yogurt fan, you might want to try a small container from the grocery store before going costco size

Went on a great walk with a buddy last night but this morning I have a scratchy throat which almost always means I'm coming down with a cold. And I have a volunteer commitment tonight so I can't even go home early and try to sleep it off. Bummer.

How's everyone else doing?

dancer- Thanks! It's only a little but I'm happy with it I wanted to lose 10 last month but I was just too busy with christmas stuff and food and wine and egg nog I don't think it was a realistic goal
Hmm do you put anything in the greek yogurt or do you eat it plain? If I don't like it my son will eat it oddly for a 6yr old boy he'll eat anything haha
Sorry to hear you might be coming down with something, winter seems to be so much worse for that. Hope you feel better soon!

Today was good I didn't bring enough food with me so I came home hungry and had dinner early in stead of stopping for a snack. Might have some tea and apple after my workout if I'm feeling peckish.

Going for another mile tonight and probably heading to bed early. I'm so tired and have an extra early morning tomorrow HUGE day of work

Hope ya'll are well!

I like chopped up fruit and grapenuts and some splenda in my yogurt.

Did the hot bath, hot tea, emergen-C, zinc lozenges, long long sleep thing to try to ward off this cold and am not feeling too bad today. I think I need to start being a nut about using hand sanitizer or something - two colds in two months is way way more than I ever used to get sick but I wasn't in long meetings with people who were catching their kids' colds either I guess. Time for a change in habit.

ooo grape nuts hadn't thought of that good idea, I was eating granola but then I realised how much sugar is in it yikes! Maybe I'll try that, I have to grocery shop tomorrow I'll see if I can find a small box.

People with kids can be like petri dishes of bacteria. After my son started school we were all sick all the time, but I think as a parent your immune system gets stronger after a while. I rarely get sick when he is sick anymore but I'm sure I pass it on for him haha

Well I had a so/so workout last night I'm going to go at it a bit harder tonight even though I am so tired. I ate dinner way too early yesterday and started to get the shakes so I only got in 40m on the elliptical. Today was a good day got a very early start so I'm a bit pooped maybe an early night.
Making dirty rice for dinner utterly my favorite thing in the world MMMM...

Vicky-I havent been to the doctor, but I am thinking about it. Its not hurting as bad now but I dont want it to get worse. I love the wii games. Just Dance 1 and 2 are fun. I dont get as much of a workout from them though. EA Sports Active is great. Its my fave right now. I am doing a 30 day challenge on it. Your Shape is ok, I just need to get the moves down cos it has a webcam and you see yourself on tv. If you dont do it correctly she tells you. I havent tried out the Biggest Loser game yet. I think we all felt bad about our gains and having to change our tickers but we can get back to where we were. I am ready to hit the 50 lb mark. Great motivation to get to your goal, I want to get to goal too to have a baby. We have been trying to years with no luck though. We may not have a child the conventional way but we will have 1 or more. I have been looking into adoption and surrogacy as backups. How are you feeling, still sick??

Dance-I tried greek yogurt and Im not really a fan. I might have to give it another try and add fruit to it. You have the evening munchies too lately? I dont know what is up. Its worse when I have the boys and they have snack at night, that makes me want one 10 times more. Im not going to have one tonight. Are you feeling better? We keep hand sanitizer or hand wipes in our cars all the time. Everytime we come out of a store or anywhere we use them. Havent been sick yet this winter(knock on wood)

Marmalade-welcome back. A loss in December is great. I didnt lose any, gained a bit though The same thing happened to me when I joined 3fc. I was 6 lbs heavier than my scale said. It sucked but I accepted and kept on going. So sorry to hear about your Papa. Good job not stopping for a snack!!!!

I am back on plan today. I am giving slim fast a try for a while. Maybe I can stick to it and get this holiday weight off. Has anyone else tried it in the past and had any good results?

Quiet today.

SF is going good. Havent been having any bad cravings. Didnt have a night time snack last night and not going to tonight. I made a big pot of spicy turkey chili yesterday. Froze half of it and had it for dinner last night and tonight.

Got in a great workout last night and was energized afterwards and cleaned my house until 1am. Got all my christmas decorations down and put away, put together my new vacuum and vacuumed whole house, and rearranged the living room. Still gonna workout tonight but hope I can get in the bed a little earlier.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.


Just finished my workout. It was a good one tonight. Got to the halfway mark of my 30 day challenge so the intensity was upped.

Lonely!!!!!

I am sore today from working out, but thats a good thing. SF is going good. Just doing it for breakfast some days and a few days breakfast and lunch. Ive been drinking tons of water. Havent lost any yet but I think TOM is on the way

Hope everyone is having a great weekend and staying warm.

Morning, girls!

Burgundy - sorry to desert you like that! I was struggling with a cold all weekend and we have big org'l changes happening at work today so I've been pretty out of pocket. Good for you on your workouts!! Keep it up! I've never tried SF but I can totally see the appeal - no thinking, no planning practically. But honestly, are you really not starving all the time? I would think you would be.

Did okay this weekend, despite the cold. My bf and I walked to dinner on friday night (two miles) and got in a good loop in the park (around 3 miles) with a buddy and my sister on Saturday even though I wasn't feeling so great. I'm going to have some tea and then go out and shovel my sidewalks. Wish I could work from home today but I have an important meeting at 10:30am that I really need to be there in person for. I'm going to wait until nine or nine-thirty to go in and see if the roads are better by then. *sigh*

Will come back and post more later today...

Dance-sorry you arent feeling well. Too bad you have to go in. Honestly, no Im not starving. I eat 2 shakes or meal bars, 3 snacks and dinner. I drink lots of water too. So really I am not hungry. I do get the munchies at night still some but I just have a sugar free hard candy or piece of a candy cane. Good for you getting those walks in when you are sick. Im gonna go to the gym later and get in 2 or 3 miles. Trying to talk Chris into going with me.