Evening chickies~
Wow! It is sure getting dark earlier these days. It's only 9pm and the sun has already set! Pretty soon it will be daylights savings time and we will see no light after 5pm!!! I hate winter! But it is in the winter that I find myself wanting to exercise more!! Go figure! Guess because I have more time!

OK...Ihaven't checked in since Wednesday! This is not good! I have read the posts and it's been kind of quiet since then! What's up chickies? I went to TWO baby showers today. Eating was grazing and then I had a bowl of sherbert tonight,so food has been ok, but not great! I tried to steer clear of sweets but did have a piece of cake and a brownie! So much for steering clear!!!

I borrowed a (Tai) Chi tape from a friend today. I haven't looked at it yet, but will check it out tomorrow when no one is home and I have the day off! Wow! That will be a first! Kaleigh has school all day and until I have to pick her up at 3:15...the whole day is MINE!!! Whatever will I do??? LOL!

I have been giving serious thought to this whole weight loss thing...(Yea, don't I always??) and have concluded that I suck at it!!! I'm not giving up, but I sure am not trying very hard right now! Several things need to change in order for me to start the downward loss again!

1. My mind needs to be in a different space (thus the Tai Chi tape)
2. Planning needs to take place...I've been really bad with it lately!
3. I need to commit!
4. I just need to do it and stop talking about it!

So, in order to get there...I have to set some new goals. My sister and I have both been struggling with being around 170 for quite some time (her longer than me) and so tonight when I talked with her on the phone, I told her we should come up with some sort of reward for the first one who gets to 164 (and stays there for one week)!!! I will send her a book of her choice and she will send me a workout tap of my choice...to whichever one of us wins this challenge. I sure hope this will help motivate me!!!

Labor Day is a week from tomorrow!! Like Jaymi, my sights are just to stay where I am...or lose if I can...by then. I want to stay under 170! I want to BE under 160!!! I know that I can do this...I have done it before. I just need to get the mind set that this is what I want more than anything and just get to it!!

Elisha...Your motivational question...In what ways do you think losing weight will change your life? (I'm glad you are posting these here!)
1. I will have more energy, less muscle pain in my back (that is almost daily!)
2. I will look better than I have ever looked and wear smaller clothes than I have ever worn!
3. I may be able to do more things (like with my daughter) that I had never considered doing most of my adult life.
I'm hoping it won't change my life so drastically that I become a new person, but then...that wouldn't be so bad, either!

OK chickies...that's enough insight for one night! Now I just need to get planning for the month of September! We have 2 camping weekends in Sept (the 2nd and 3rd weekends) and you KNOW how those throw me off! So I am gonna need your help in planning for eating and exercise those weekends! Thanks chickies!

To see what is in front of one's nose requires a constant struggle. -- George Orwell

Here it is Monday again, but this morning I am feeling a sense of renewal. It might be the crisp cool air this morning or just in a new "mind set", but I did do the new Tai Chi tape this morning. It was good...not difficult but very...centering and refreshing! I am thinking I should take 20 minutes out of my morning to do that every day and maybe soon I will feel like a new person! It is supposed to give you a sense of energy for your day...and then there is one to do at night, too! Just 20 minutes each.

Some weeks finding 20 minutes to myself is difficult, but I must find the time I need to do the things I need to do for myself! I am important and I need to keep that thought at the top of my thoughts! I need to find time each week or so to plan my meals, then shop accordingly or at least make a list so hubby can shop (and he will!). I need to make time to work out at least 3 days a week, but would like to do 5 days! And of course, this new Tai Chi will take time too. It seems selfish, but I just read a post last night on the journals that was talking about losing weight being selfish...and it is! It is time consuming which to some may seem selfish! Maybe I just need to be more efficient with the time I do have! Plan better. Spend less time on the computer!! Now there's a thought! But this IS my support, really! I learn and am inspired by all the chickies here!

So, today I have the whole day off until 3:15 when I have to pick up Kaleigh! I plan to get my meals for Sept in order...still looking for ideas and suggestions! Need to make some phone calls and of course...need to get in a good workout! Since it is such a beautiful day, I am going to walk outside in the neighborhood today! Going for 2 miles, which shouldn't take too long!

Hope everyone else is feeling ready for a new challenge and some new ideas and just a sense of renewal in general! I am ready! Bring it on!

Elisha...keep those quotes/questions coming! Love them!

Jaymi...find some time for "quiet" and renewal today!

Jennifer...hope you are back on track today chickie!

Lisa...Keep thinking positive thoughts and things will start to happen!

Lucy...Keep up what you are doing! You are sure sounding terrific and are motiviating for me!

Hugs to all!

hey chickies! Been a busy morning- trapped in a meeting from 9:30 until 12:30. Sheesh- lost the better part of the day being unproductive, and now we've got all this added crap to deal with. Sigh...what fun. I'll be checking in later on, as soon as I get a chance. I'm also working on some "stuff" for the next challenge.

Elisha, can we convince you do do your daily questions & stuff here? I really believe that the more we think about the process, the better equipped we will be for the long run.

Ladies- any suggestions? Want to add a daily topic? If Elisha does the question of the day, and the great motivational quotes...who else has something to contribute? I get so many newsletters & tips of the day...both fitness & nutrition...anyone interested in that?

post your suggestions & let's talk about them...maybe by next year we can have our own "club" or forum like some of the other groups do? Something to think about, right?

Ok, back to shuffling this stuff around....hope everyone is having a great Monday!

I feel the need for some accountability here today. Not sure why, but maybe because I am feeling focused!

Food eaten:
B- 2 egg omlette w/ gr peppers, onion & cheese and 1 T sour cream (lite), l slice ww toast & 1 T jam. 2 cups coffee w/ 4 T flavored low carb creamer!
Chai Tea
No lunch
Afternoon snack-Zone bar
1 turkey teriyaki meat stick
Supper: Pork loin dish made w/ pineapple, onion, gr. pepper (Yum!) and about 1 cup rice! 1 cup milk (low fat)
About 5 Fritos and a couple of bites of watermelon as I was packing DD's lunch for tomorrow!
Sure seems like I ate a lot more! I'll get back with you on that!

Water: Only about 32 oz. so far...better get cracking! I need to at least do 64 oz!!! Chug a lug!!!

Walked about 2 miles with the dog today! Was anice walk, but she's such a pain! She pulls and whines anytime she sees another critter! You'd think she's never had any kind of obedience training!!

I have a plan for next month. I'm thinking maybe it will work!
I'll keep you informed!

Evening ladies!

Today was... bleh. I feel like crap. ToM is here, plus a nasty cough, a sinus headache, and nausea. Not to mention I haven't been getting proper amounts of sleep over the past few nights, and I am nervous about tomorrow's interview. That all adds up to not a very fun for Miss Elisha!

Calories are at 1385 or so, and I'm working on my 3rd 16-oz glass of water. I need to lose 3 more pounds by the 17th--beach time!
I did have a nice NSV today. After work I was trying to find something to wear to my interview, and I put on my nicest suit dress. I knew I would have to adjust the top a little--the chest area was a little big on me when I got it--but when I asked Mom to help me (my mom being a trained seamstress), she said it was beyond the point where we could fix it. It's way too big. Which is a very good thing, but then I had to find something else to wear, and I'll have to get a new suit, and I had only worn that one 2 or 3 times.

Anyway... I have no problems posting my quotes/questions here. Shall I post my daily/weekly challenges as well? I will say though, I could use some help, as eventually I'm going to run low on resources and creativity. So if anyone else has some nugget of health-related wisdom, or some probing question, or anything really, feel free to either PM it to me to post, or just go ahead and post it.

Ok, I am going to go drink some herbal tea and hope at least one symptom of my illness goes away for a little while. I hope you're all having a wonderful evening.
~Elisha

A minute's success pays the failure of years. --Robert Browning

What part of your healthy lifestyle do you enjoy the most?

Since I cut out processed foods, my TOM cramps have diminshed by 75%. That's a great motivator for me!

OK Girls...things are looking up! For the last two mornings, I have done 20 minutes of my Tai Chi tape and today I noticed that I was able to turn my neck further than I have in...like forever! Seriously! I am noticing that it is helping the pain I have been experiencing for years in my scapular area! I am impressed. It's just a beginner's tape, but it is doing wonders for me!

The other good news is that I got on the scale today and I was 167.75!!! I was shocked because I figured I would be up near 170...so I'm a happy camper! If I can just keep up the motivation and not stop because of life...I will be down to 159 soon! People are telling me I look like I am continuing to lose weight! Not sure if they are just being nice or if they are sincere, but hey...it feels nice! My sister and I have a contest for whoever gets to 164 (and stays for a week) first! She's also been hovering around 170 for a very long time! Makes me feel good since she's ALWAYS been smaller/skinnier/ more athletic than me! Now she's the one who hasn't worked out in forever and struggling with weight loss! Not that that part makes me feel better...but you know what I mean. One of my other sisters saw her recently (she lives in Oregon, we live in Michigan) and said "Julie! You look smaller than Therese!" Wow...that was an ego booster! Of course, this is from the "tiny" sister who's never really had a weight issue, unless she was pregnant!!

OK, well food today was wierd...for me! I'm used to eating breakfast at home, then lunch at lunch time, etc! Today I missed breakfast for some reason (poor planning!) and had a sandwich in the fridge at work which I ate at 10:30! It was a "legal" sandwich too! I wasn't hungry at lunch time so at 2 I had a Zone bar. Then by 3:45 I was starving, so I ate my "lunch" (that I had packed...leftovers from last night) and now I'm thinking a light meal! (Goes down to gather food!)
I ended up with some carrots and ranch dip, a couple thin slices deli ham and low fat swiss cheese! Not bad!

My water today has been on target. I'm up to about 50 oz at this point and will drink probably another 40 before the night is over! I hate late night drinking...(and peeing!) but I don't get thirsty in the morning! I did have some coffee this morning with creamer too! Didn't drink my green tea today, though! Maybe I will have some after my walk...iced!

Speaking of...I need to get up off my tushie and go enjoy the beautiful night we are having. I'm going to take the dog!

Hugs to all...hope you are having a good day!

Yea for you!!! Amazing how a diet can change so much of our physical problems! Keep it up! Great work!

So, I come back hoping to see a few "after dinner" posts and Nooooooo! Where is everyone??? I'm feeling motivated and y'all aren't around to share with me!

Well, I did my walk tonight...2 miles with DD riding her bike so that motivated me to keep up with her. She's still got training wheels so it's not too bad and I let her get ahead of me a few houses! So I guess I tied my July miles walked for the month! Yea! Next month I hope to whoop some serious butt with the miles! The weather is cooling off a bit now...wait...oh that's right...it never got HOT here this summer!!! LOL! So I guess the "fall air" will feel pretty much the same...and that's a good thing! I don't like to get HOT! We actually had a frost the other night! What month is this anyway??? Oh well, I'm sure some of you would trade me this weather for hot and humid summers you are having! No thank you!

Well that's it for now! Hope to hear SOMETHING from someone tonight!!