Thanks Emme! I AM excited beyond belief! I was starting to get "downhearted" because of my knee pain, PMS, TOM and watching myself literally go from dropping an easy 2-3 lbs/week to having to FIGHT for every half pound! The scale hadn't moved (in the right direction, that is) for quite some time. I didn't make my original goal date and for the month of April I only lost something like 2-3lbs!

I'm more determined than ever now...

If I can do this...seriously...ANYBODY can. First off, I love to eat...am a couch potato...work at home, so I really don't get to move around alot...and oh yeah...did I say I LOVE to EAT?

Hang in there...you're right there!

Breakfast - 3 Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Pancakes, veggie pattie - 370 cals.
Snack - 2 Pumpkin Raisin Muffins - 278 cals.
Lunch - Sesame Chicken over rice sticks, stir fry veggies - 375 cals.
Snack - Skinny Cow Truffle Pop - 100 cals.
Snack - 94%fat free Popcorn - 100 cals.
Dinner - Peanut Chicken over spinach quinoa w/salsa, green bean almondine - 350 cals.
Snack - 3 Pumpkin Raisin Muffins - 417 cals.
Snack - 2 small Navel Orange - 90 cals.

Total Calories: 2,080 cals.

EXERCISE:

NO RUNNING - Must run Fri, Sat & Sun!

*UPDATE* - May have to cut myself off muffins for a week...I think I'm getting addicted to them...they are becoming toooooooo good and I need to get rid of this last 2 lbs!

Breakfast - 3 Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Pancakes, veggie pattie -370 cals.
Snack - NONE
Lunch - Spinach salad w/grilled chicken, feta, cranberry & walnut - 300 cals.
Snack - Skinny Cow Truffle Pop - 100 cals.
Dinner - Chinese take out 8oz beef/broccoli over white rice, 1 fried chicken wing - 450 cals.
Snack - Pumpkin Raisin Muffin - 139 cals.
Snack - 94% fat free Popcorn - 100 cals.
Snack - Pumpkin Raisin Muffin - 139 cals.
Snack - 1 fried chicken wing (chinese), 2 spoons of beef/broccoli - 110 cals.
Snack - small Navel Orange - 45 cals.

Total Calories: 1,753 cals.

EXERCISE:

Running - 3.3 Miles

Joyful, just a thought on how to get the scale moving faster again. What if you swapped your carb breakfast for an egg white & veggie omlet? Then an apple in exchange for a muffin as a snack. And swap one late afternoon snack - or just after a run - for a whey protein shake (recipes on my blog.)

I finally broke through my plateau and lost 3 lbs last week!! I'm really loving the shakes, and I upped my cardio to a minimum of 40 min...Thank you for that advice - it worked!

Hi Gwen!!!! Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to eggs, so can't take your advice on the omlet. But I CAN sub out the Pumpkin Raisin Muffins for a fruit and add in a protein shake and UP MY WORKOUTS!

Donno..been feeling out of it and been lacking in motivation for my running. I always feel sooooo much better afterwards, but its the "before" motivation that's been giving me a hard time lately. I think my left knee pain has does something mentally to diminish my enthusiasm. No worries though...I am more determined to lose these last couple of pounds than I am "unenthused" so I'll be back on the treadmill for the next 3 days. Been a while since I hit my 20 mile/week mark. My calories have also been high this week again. As I get closer to goal, my body gets hungrier and I tend to like eating around the 2,000 calorie mark...wonder why?

I have 2 more muffins left in the freezer (that I'll eat today)...after that, I'm cutting myself off for at least a week! I will not make another batch until next week. It will be all fruit, my healthy meals, yogart and protein shakes for the next week, as well as running 20+ miles!!! That should shake the last couple of pounds off....I hope!

Congrats on your 3 lb loss! I remember how great that felt. Keep up the great work!

Joyful ~ the motivation to get started is usually pretty difficult for me, too. I have to talk myself into putting on my workout clothes, and then I end up stalling and throwing in a load of laundry, and then I'll put my shoes on, and then I'll load the dishwasher, and then I'll turn on the treadmill, etc...it's so hard sometimes just to start!! LOL!! If your body is enjoying eating at a higher calorie amount, then definitely don't deprive it...maybe it needs it for a week or so!

Emme - I lol'd about the "laundry" That is soooooo me!!! I WILL run for the next 3 days consecutively...I WILL not let my knee get in the way...I WILL enjoy it...I body WILL drop these last few pounds. In the famous words of Charlie Sheen, "failure is not an option"! Oh and my favorite quote of all time...."WINNING...duhhhhhhh!!!"

I'm off to get my hair cut and styled! Woot! This is my "reward" to myself. Last week I got a manny/peddy and brows done, the week before that I went to Marshall's and got some new clothes...so this week is the haircut. WOW...I've done more for myself in the past month than I have in the past 5 years..haha! I LOVE IT!

Good for you! It's great that you are doing stuff for you! Love the "winning" quote, too -- LOL!

Ok...I'm back and LOVIN' my new HAIRCUT! Below is the exact cut I got. It's amazing what a reaaaaaaaaally gooooood cut can do for one's self-esteem! WOOT!

Schnexy, albeit you look fabu! Young, hip & trendy, go YOU!

Wowsers, only 2 more lbs to go?.... ahem a good poo & your there girl!

Thanks Wendalyn!!! Yup...a good poo WOULD probably do it...and it's about time for one! Sorry for TMI.

Breakfast - 3 Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Pancakes, veggie pattie - 370 cals.
Snack - small slice watermelon - 40 cals.
Snack - 1/2 cup fresh pineapple - 80 cals.
Lunch - Peanut Chicken over spinach quinoa, green bean almondine - 350 cals.
Snack - Skinny cow truffle pop - 100 cals.
Dinner - 5 slices DiGiorno 3 meat pizza - 1,200 cals.
Snack - 1/2 cup fresh pineapple, few slices of watermelon - 100 cals.
Snack - 1/8 cup raisins - 60 cals.

Total Calories: 2,300 cals.

EXERCISE:

NO RUNNING - Shopping all day!!!

*Knee feels GREAT this morning. No pain. I ran really late (10pm) last night, and after I ate greasy chinese food, so my tummy started acting up during the run and I had to cut it short! Will RUN earlier today and WILL do my full 5+ miles! I feel like I cheat when I don't get in all 5!

Love love love the hair cut!!! Too cute!

Thanks Jennnnnnn!!!!!

Breakfast - 3 Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Pancakes, veggie pattie - 370 cals.
Snack - NONE
Lunch - Thai curry chicken over spinach quinoa, spinach - 330 cals.
Snack - 94% fat free Popcorn - 100 cals.
Snack - Skinny Cow truffle pop - 100 cals.
Snack - 1/2 cup fresh pineapple, couple slices of watermelon - 100 cals.
Snack - 1/8 cup raisins, 10 unsalted almonds - 100 cals.
Snack - Banana - 100 cals.
Snack - Activia Light Yogart - 70 cals.
Dinner - Thai Curry chicken over bulgar wheat, spinach - 330 cals.

Total Calories: 1,600 cals.

EXERCISE:

NO RUNNING

*UPDATE* - Despite the myth...I usually am not a fan of watermelon (cuz of the seeds) BUTTT...I bought the BEST...THE ABSOLUTE BEST watermelon in the world and it's SEEDLESS! I've been eating it all day and I LOVE IT!!!!

The hair cut is too cute! I'm glad your knee is feeling better ~ I hope your day of shopping was awesome!

Official Weigh-In: 156.6

I almost didn't post this week's weigh-in! Ok...though...I did the crime...now I've gotta do the time this week...IT'S ONNNNN!!!!

Breakfast - 3 Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Pancakes, veggie pattie - 370 cals.
Snack - Activia Light Yogart - 70 cals.
Snack - 94% fat free Popcorn - 100 cals.
Snack - 2 Pumpkin Raisin Muffins (new batch) - 278 cals.
Lunch - Spinach salad w/grilled chicken, feta, walnut & cranberry - 300 cals.
Snack- Watermelon slice - 60 cals.
Snack - 2 Pumpkin Raisin Muffins - 278 cals.
Snack - 2 Pumpkin Raisin Muffins - 278 cals.
Dinner - Jamacian food take out (curried chix, peas/rice, cabbage) - 1,500 cals.?
Snack - 1 pint of baskin robbins hand packed (rum raisin/pistachio almond) - 2,000 cals.?

Total Calories: 5,234 cals.

EXERCISE:

No running