RB, YOU hang in there too! things are bound to get better.

For the record, I find you to be a VERY motivating and caring lady. You are a bit famous at my house, I have a revolving message ball (think times square sign in mini....) and Red Balloon Challenge is a standard at my house.

Marble! Shouldn't you be working instead of messing about on the computer with us?

Red, that is one lucky cat! I second Marble's comments, and am very jealous of her Times Square sign.

Marble, carla, thanks! You are the sweetest!

I know you mentioned that you participate in community theater. Could you tell me how one can get involved locally? do you need some special credentials? where can I found info on that? (I've done when i was young and in Russia, I'd love to do it again....)

Red, so sorry to hear that things are not so good on your side of the world. Wish there was something I could do to help.
Poor little pusscat. The things the so called civilised world does to it's helpless creatures and yes to you for helping her - no doubt at expense to yourself which equally no doubt you can not afford.

Hope things get better for you and soon. And huge for carrying on with the thread and the challenges when so much is happening in your world. Makes my problems look small (weeds, humidity, typin around a tortoiseshell cat!)

CBETA- Here you don't have to have any special creditentials to do community theater, you just have to go and audition. The kids and I were talking tonight about how they have done community theater for half of their lifetimes.

Tonight is adult auditions for "The King and I" I'm only auditioning for chorus, so I should be out of there fairly early.

Hey Red things will get better its got to be a good week i lost 2 lbs! Im glad the kitty found u........

day 9----> 1036 calories
exercise---> walk 2 miles, 30 min zelle, 45 min circuit training, 120 oz water

Day 1 in the bag....Talk more later...

hi! this is my first day here and my first post. i love a challenge! i'm trying to lose 30 pounds to get back to my goal weight of 130. i kept the weight off for almost five years but it's managed to creep back up on me, and i decided before things went to far i had to get serious. so i started my program january 1st and the most important thing for me is to not snack after i get off work (i get home at 1am) so my challenge is:
-NO EATING AFTER WORK (or 10pm on my days off) and i consider this a fairly tough challenge but hopefully i won't need any pause days. i might though :P

i am already on day 4 as i started January 1st.
Nice to meet you all and hope to spend more time posting.

DAY 4 - No eating after dinner

Hang in there Red. You are a motivation.

Well, I did not buy any junk food at or for work today. Yeah. But can anyone think of a "salty" healthy snack that comes in single serving sizes? I have sweet covered, but not salty.

I loved the comment on how we lose weight with water. Too true. I can drink the same amount of soda, and pee once, but water . . . .Burn calories burn.

Well, I am up too late. Got back from the barn late, because I left work late. Just wanted to check in before bed.

ttfn

Day 5 of water challenge is in the bag for me, and I actually got off of my bupkis and went for a walk tonight.

Red: hang in there! I haven't been around for long, but I've been here long enough to know that you're one of the first in line to cheer someone else on when they're down or having a rough time, and sometimes you need to have that back from others, so this is for you...


That kitty is very very lucky to have found a kind person like you. Hang in there and know that all of us here are rooting for you both in your weightloss/fitness journey and in your life in general. Take care and have faith that there is light at the end of that nasty tunnel!!!!!

Keep on Truckin!
Erin

RED common you can DO IT....Last push and may be by the time I write this you will be done with your challenge...

Also I'd like to chear for everyone who stayed on the plan this week. It's tough to return after holidays. Lost of stress at work as many things are due at once. Lost of stress at home as it is time to get back into the swing of things again. Lost goodies are still around as leftovers.... and it is a challenge to pass them up. So congrats to all of you who tried sticking to your guns.

As for me on I go
A(3) - Day 5 (Jan. 5) Done
B(3) food - Day 4 (Jan. 5) I went again to work out right after work and when I got home I decided that I am not hungry enough. After phone and shower, I realized I am a bit hungry, but decided to obstain.
C(3) excersice - Day 5 (Jan. 5) I am getting used to things. I elipticated as usual for 30 minutes on a weight loss cycle and noticed that my heart rate dropped significantly. It is now usually stays at the "weight loss" indicated rather then "cardio" which is good. Also as I did my press work, it was easier to do...

So here are some other thoughts:
normally I watch what I eat during the day. Carefully avoiding obvious bad choices. well today I had a chicken grill sandwich for lunch and yes with fries, so I am glad i did not eat dinner, but even then I still think I am in my target of 1800 calories.
Days prior to today my choices mostly were salad and soup or burito with less of stuff. Dinners are always lean as I cook them myself, and breakfast is always the same.
So with that said, over last 3 days I gained rather than lost. May be it's "that time of the month", or I am building muscell as it become easier to exercise ( T.'s suggestions helped, in just 3-4 sessions I got better endurance) and therefore no weight loss, but rather gain. I am confused and if nothing lost tomorrow i will have to move the ticker back up...I so don't want to do this.

On a happier note: I think I told you about the flowers that were delivered for my b-day. That guy called today after he was away for the holidays. In his message he said that he is sad that he missed me, and that i am probably running at the gym. He was right on the money. I tried running the first time today!!! Treadmill for 15min and every 4 min I'd run for a minute.
Also I had to throw away other flowers but his are still standing and yesterday before he even called I decied that I will buy myself flowers once I am under 260, so that I have some fresh ones to remind me that I deserve that even if there is noone who can send them to me...(secretly I wish he would send, I am even ready to give him money...but the fact is so sweet)
I am hopeless romantic, I know. Sorry to take up that much of your time....Off to sleep - another day at work.

Hiya,
Had an awsome day with food today. It certainly pays to plan ahead and ensure that you only have the planned stuff ready to eat.

So....
Challenge 1 portion control day 4 is done.
Challenge 3 for water day 4 is done.

I made an awesome Chicken Laksa for lunch today. Found the recipe in my new low fat cookbook. It has only 8g of fat and 223 calories. Full of flavour and certainly big on herbs and veges. Loved it. I have enough for another couple of days and then have wraps for the rest of the week. My dinners I have planned from the same book and are Marinated lamb salad and Tandoori chicken salad.

Gotta go. Another storm cell heading our way. Thunder is heavy and the lightning is bad.

Good Luck Zoe06! Sounds like you're off to a running start!