Howdy, girls!

I need to be a half-pound down tomorrow to stick to my schedule - hope the scale gods are kind. I'm down about 2lbs from last week so at least I'm moving in the right direction.

I'm planning on zumba tonight so no miles for me today but I'm planning on a run tomorrow.

burgundy - glad you're enjoying the ab thingy! I have to start doing situps, yikes - I keep putting that off. Do you feel like your abs are getting stronger already?

maddiesmom - how's the last step of the journey to onederland treating you? Hope all is going well!

mygrits - what's the latest on you and bubba?

I just got the 'Four Day Win' by Martha Beck in the mail. Looking forward to reading it - the basic idea is chunking up time into 4-day increments so things don't seem so endless and overwhelming. Just that overview has been helpful to me in the last week or so. Curious to learn more though. Will keep you guys posted if there's anything interesting....

Dance: 2 pounds is GREAT!! Congrats. I'll keep my fingers cross that the scales gods are kind, as long as you do the same for me!!! How are you knees feeling with your walking and running? Mine are still going strong, so that ARP must have helped.

Allison: Another mini vacation, pretty nice that Chris got to go with you. I'm sure the boys (and their parents) are relieved that you are back. Is it still a bit uncomfortable with the whole divorce thing?

Well, the scale has not gone down for me, in fact, it's gone up! I'm assuming it's from the buffet that I ate on Sunday, even though I didn't eat that much, I'm sure there was sodium up the wazoo in that food. I know it takes 3 days to flush out, so I'm drinking water like nobody's business. I took yesterday off from workouts, so I'm working out the next 5 days (yikes!) I have Jeff's class tonight, training with him tomorrow, then running the remaining days. I'm going for 2 miles, so wish me luck!!

Food has been good - last night I had the filet and steamed veggies. Matt had some augratin potatoes, but I tried a small bite and all I tasted was salt, so I didn't even miss it. No dessert for his birthday either. He even said "It's not worth the calories!!" Couldn't believe that came out of his mouth! LOL

I'm hoping the scale will be into Onederland by Sunday. Kinda rough with 4th of July - we're going to the "Taste of Grayslake" which is similar to the taste of Chicago - so tons of calories. I'll have to bring my healthy options. I really want to reach my goal by this weekend. Hopefully the bloating will be gone. Plus, I'll be exercising so much, I really hope to burn all this off.

What is everyone else doing for the 4th? We have the "Taste" on Saturday, a BBQ on Sunday (but our friend is making healthy food! Yippee!) and then home on Monday.

maddiesmom - wow! that's some serious willpower! good for you! You will get there this weekend - holiday or no holiday - I just know it. Do you have a particular reward in mind for getting to onederland or just the fun of being skinnier? I'm thinking you deserve, oh, a massage at least. Sounds like you and your hubby are doing well - have things changed some on that front?

I need to swing by the grocery store on the way home today and I'm feeling a bit vulnerable to temptation. Yikes! I'm feeling the need for salty crunchy so it may be time to break out the air popper to keep me from buying something worse. I'm thinking air-popped popcorn and sugar free popsicles as craving busters along with a healthy dinner. Will report back later....

Dance: No reward planned, I've been shopping so much lately that I really shouldn't! A massage would be great, but Jeff pretty much ruined them for me because he said that they do more damage than good. Oh well. Maybe a pedicure? Not sure, I'll have to think about it.

So Jeff is now officially "Crossfit" certified which means he can kick my butt officially! LOL I went today and was the only one in the class (again...I feel bad for him because he's a great trainer and isn't reaping the rewards of his hard work yet), and he had me do this really hard 10 minute workout. It's basically maxing out my muscles doing a 2-exercise circuit for time. So, the thought is that he would compare my time in 6 weeks to where I am now and see how I've improved. Should be interesting.

I burned 300 calories in less than 15 minutes, so I guess I can't complain. I am noticing that my endurance has improved, as I'm not burning as many calories in one hour, but I don't feel exhausted after 60 minutes either, I feel that I can go longer. So I will have to test that theory. Maybe run a bit after my training classes, not sure. But, I do have to get to that 3 mile mark soon.

Tomorrow is training with Jeff and staying on plan food-wise. Doing well with the food - I have all the fruits and veggies prepped and ready so I really don't have to use my brain when I put my lunch together in the morning.

What is everyone else's plan for Thursday?

maddiesmom - that's interesting that Jeff is not in favor of massages. I know it's not a good idea for certain medical conditions but the mainstream medical community (Mayo Clinic, etc.) seems to think it's pretty helpful for most folks. I'd be interested to hear what he sees as the harm part - possible nerve damage? tissue damage? Anyway - looking gorgeous in your new clothes is the best reward ever. I love the idea of comparing your results in six weeks - what a good fitness challenge!

So after all the salt on my popcorn last night, I think I'm retaining a little water so I may move my official weigh-in to tomorrow. Am heading off for a run before it gets too hot. Hope you all are doing well!

Dance: He just mentioned that a lot of times when you get a massage to ease muscle pain, it ends up hurting the muscle more than anything. He used an example that a woman went for a massage and then ARP'ed the next day. Where was she having pain? The part of her body that was massaged. Not sure if it's 100% accurate all the time, but with my back issues, I'm not taking that chance! LOL

Were you able to get your run in? I have training tonight so Jeff already has my workout all ready for me. The circuit he gave me kicked my butt last night, but at least he gave me fair warning. I'm going to try and run tomorrow night, not sure though. Our aunt is very sick (alzheimers and constant infections, etc) and the doc isn't giving her much time (they said a few hours on Tuesday), but she's a fighter. Matt is going to go and see her tomorrow so I may not get to run. For good reason, so I may do my isometric exercises instead.

Where is everyone else? Hope out having fun in the sunny weather and looking skinny! Have a great day!

maddiesmom - after all you've been through with ARP, I wouldn't mess with success in any way either! You'll have to stick to, what, pedicures? I love the foot massage part of a pedicure. I got in my run and an extra walk with a friend after work. Hope your workout goes well!

Dance-yay for being down 2 lbs this week. I havent used the ab lounge as much as I wanted to this week, but maybe next week I can use it more. Should have more time then. Hope your weigh in goes well tomorrow.

Vicky-the situation with the boys parents isnt as bad as before. I rarely see their dad now. Cant wait for you to get to onederland. Its so exciting. Thats awesome that you feel you can go longer than an hour now when working out. Sorry to hear about your aunt.

I had the boys all day today, so I was tired when I got home. They tried getting up at 6 this morning, but made them go back to sleep for a while. I didnt go to bed til 130, then woke up when I heard someone awake upstairs at 215. Then woke up again when their mom left at 4, so I didnt get much sleep. Didnt workout today, bad bad bad. I will tomorrow. We lit a fire outside and sat out there. Chris lit some fireworks too, but we just ended up scaring the dogs with those. I have to be at the boys tomorrow at 6 so I have to get my workout in before then. Still need to clean my house, just feels like I have barely been here this week.

Anyone have any fun plans for the holiday weekend? We are gonna stay home, we live in a small vacation town so it will be crazy this weekend. Gonna have a bonfire and let the kids roast hotdogs and make smores.

Morning, girls!

Nothing too exciting going on here - a lot of my closest friends have out-of-town families that they visit over long weekends so it's quieter rather than more social on the holidays sometimes. We're going to do lean steaks and grilled veggies tonight I think and take the dog I'm sitting for for a walk. Tomorrow I'm shooting for zumba but don't know if I'll make it. I'd like to swing by the farmer's market and see if I can get any japanese eggplant or baby eggplant as I tend to like the little ones more. The King Tut exhibit is in town - we may try to go at somepoint if it's too hot to do other stuff. Maybe a hike Sunday and a rollerblade in there somewhere. Nothing wild and crazy. The dog is super scared of fireworks so we'll try to be here as much as we can in the evenings so that she doesn't flip, poor sweetie.

I'm heading out for a run - wish me luck with the sprinklers!

Allison: You are super busy, not sure how you are able to keep up with it all. Sorry you haven't been able to get some sleep or work with your ab lounger...how has your eating been since you've been home?

Dance: That heat is a killer! It's supposed to be in the 90's this weekend so I'm not sure if that will affect our plans. I need to visit a farmer's market, they have one in a town nearby but it's on Wednesdays from 5-7, not exactly prime time that I can go. What can you do? How was your run? Sprinkler free?

I had training with Jeff last night and he kicked my butt again. Seems to be the theme lately. He's surprised how efficient my body has become, as I'm not burning the hundreds of calories I used too (800+), now I'm lucky to get 500-600. He said if my eating is good, I really shouldn't have to work out for a longer period of time due to the efficiency. We'll see. Poor guy, his car broke down yesterday and he was stranded, so he asked a "huge favor" and asked me to take him to the train station. not a huge favor at all, after all he's done for me. So it was nice having a conversation with him for 20 minutes outside of the "working out realm."

This weekend we are going to a local "taste" where they have tons of food and rides for the kids and then fireworks at dusk. Maddie hasn't seen fireworks before so it should be fun. Loud noises don't frighten her. Hopefully the calories in the food won't frighten me! LOL I'm bringing healthy snacks because I'm like 1.5 pounds from Onderland and I don't want to mess it up now.

Workout today will be my isometric exercises and then I'm hoping to get 2 miles in...we'll see. Hubby hasn't decided if he's going to his aunt's. Tomorrow's workout will be 2 miles before the heat comes, then it's isometrics and running on Sunday before our friend's bbq. Super duper exciting! I have Monday off so I'll be back in the gym for Jeff's class.

Have a great Friday ladies!

maddiesmom - I love those 'taste of xxx' type events but they're usually not that diet friendly. I didn't go last year to the one near us on Labor Day as I wasn't sure I could manage the temptations well. Great plan on bringing snacks to go along with.

I was lucky this morning as it was kind of cloudy and I got hit by a number of sprinklers so I didn't overheat too badly. I'm still cooling off and probably will be all morning

Just asked a friend to take a work break this afternoon and fit in another walk - we'll see if we can make it happen.

Happy Friday!

Dance-steaks and grilled veggies sounds yummy. Dont know what we are having for dinner yet. It will have to be kinda early, I have to leave for the boys around 530ish. I missed the farmers market, they only have it on wednesdays. I'll make sure to go next week.

Vicky-my eating has been good, but the scale is still holding around 194. Sounds like you are doing great workout wise. Good idea taking your snacks along with you. That should be fun for Maddie to see the fireworks.

I decided to pull out 30 day shred. I just finished day 1. This will take me right to July 31st. I am determined not to skip a day, even my birthday in a week. I'm thinking about having fruit salad instead of cake. I guess my SIL can get a cake for her and the kids if they want it. I also worked out on my ab lounge this morning and might get in a walk with the boys this evening. I am back on track, no more skipping workouts for me. I want the scale to move again.

burgundy - woohoo for being back on track!

Got a 2 mile walk in tonight with the pups since the boys mom texted and said their dad picked them up. So I had a free night. I am so happy to be back into a workout routine. I got lazy there for a while but thats changing now. Hope you all have a safe weekend.

Good morning ladies, this will probably be a quiet weekend. I am about to get up and get day 2 of the shred done. I was sooooooo sore when I woke up this morning. Not so bad now, maybe in a few days the soreness will be gone. I'm gonna either get a walk in this evening or do a workout with my kettlebell later. The scale was up a little this morning but I think my muscles are probably holding onto some water, plus I drank a powerade zero last night after my walk and then saw it has 400 mg of sodium. Drinking unsweet tea and water today.