*Judo Chop!* I'm back. Massive, ridiculous amounts of energy have abounded from nowhere... I love that. *G* I'm super crazy with energy. Hubby's at the store, I'm doing my workout right now, and today is going to be mass fun. I also have a big art project planned for today. I'll show ya some pictures when I'm done with it tonight!! Compared to the plain beginning object, the new one is rad. *G*

Just had to post to keep myself on track. Breakfast was on track today, alreayd got down 1 bottle of water. Woot!

Julie - I am ON for the challenge. Yes, I would like to do a morning exercise challenge. 20 minutes sounds perfect. I will think of the reward part and let you know what I come up with. What should we call our challenge?? I am ready to start whenever you guys are. No, keep the Kaleigh stories coming! I know how you feel. My children are so very precious to me! We thought we would not be able to have children, and look at us with these three boys!! No TOM?? Go buy one of those early detector tests. OMG I can't stand the suspense

Jennifer - Sorry sweetie for the tazer threat!! I really wouldn't carry through!! I'm so glad you got some time with your DH. Please forgive me

Lucy - PLease send me some of that energy!!!! Please!!!

I feel rotten, can't talk, and I am fighting with my DH. We usually get along well, but lately he has made me so mad I could spit!! He is barely speaking to me today after I blasted him this morning. Is anybody else out there ever bit**y to your DH? Am I just an old crone or what?? I feel like running away - like crying and screaming and climbing a wall or something. Good grief, lisa, get a grip!!

But... food is GOOD today! And, I have been very active with chores, baseball, etc. Well, off to do laundry...

(((hugs))),
Lisa

OH Lisa...do I ever get *****y with my DH??? What? Are you kidding??? Maybe the better question would be...Is there a day that goes by that I'm not *****y with him? Just kidding! Well..I hope that your day will get better and that you two will patch things up! I know how that feels! Glad you came here and screamed instead of at him..again! It's nice to know we have a place to go to do this, huh?

Lucy: Please send some of that energy this way! LOL!

OK, well food pretty much sucks so far today! b-fast was good (except for the extra piece of bagel I ate) then lunch...the problem is I don;t have in the house what I would like to have and I'm too lazy to cook, so I ate chips and cheese for lunch...and some of my veggie soup (which I think needs to have been thrown out because I have a stomach ache!) Then I ate about 4 mini choc. chip cookies and then opened a package of nutter butter mini's (the snack size pkg, but still...) and ate the WHOLE thing! Oh, my stomach hurts now! Not sure it it's the sugar or the veggies! Yucky!

I need to get my butt back on track...any words of wisdom? I printed out Ralph Marsten's quote and I will put it where I can look at it all the time: "You've made it this far. Keep going a little longer and you'll see the sun rise on a beautiful new day" That's kind of the idea Jennifer was trying to say to me a week or so ago! So true! Why ruin all of this success...and I'm that much closer to my goal, so...

I've got to get back to housework and go check on hubby who is building a deck and steps on the back of our garage to our photo studio! He has waaay more ambition than I care to have! He's been working on it since 9am and only took a short break for lunch! Talk about endurance! I vacuum one room and I'm ready for a break! LOL!

Hope everyone else's day is going well!

My meals were ok today! Too heavy on the carbs, but ok! However...I have managed to scarf down TWO packages of those snack size mini cookies and a partial of one my daughter had half eaten! Somebody STOP me!!!! TAZER me...something! I am sure TOM is right around the corner and this is where all this is coming from, but geesh! I am not hungry when I'm eating this kind of stuff and in fact, feeling rather full after this last package...I can feel myself fall into that old feeling I used to get when I ate just to eat! Not good!

I'm gonna write this off as a TOM thing and then hope that it arrives soon because I can't continue like this. The other problem is that I haven't been planning my meals AND I need to get to the grocery store for some goods! I know I am not going to be happy on Weds when I weigh in for the last time this month, so unless I really kick some butt in the next few days, I am going to be sorry!

There! That ought to be enough for now! But in case any of you would like to chime in, feel free! My butt needs to hear it all!!!

Exercise Challenge: Shall we start on Monday when most of you go back to work??? And run through the month of April or do you want to make it a short 2 week challenge? I think this should be a M-F challenge because I think most of us find time on the weekends to fit in some sort of exercise if we are home and if we aren't...well, we try!

Anyway... have a good night...I am going to go down and watch School of Rock with hubby. DD is chilling on our bed with "Balto" and will be fast asleep (if she isn't already) in no time! Lots of fresh air and sunshine and playing hard today! Yea!

I am exhausted!! We have been outside raking again. Our yard and the field behind our back yard are in need of a lot of cleaning. I am having my son's first grade easter egg hunt here at our house (we live just across the street from the school). Which is a good thing, because it has got our butts in gear to spruce up a bit.

I am right on points today - 22 exactly. Which is amazing, because the weekends are a challenge for me. Anyway, I ate pretty good and my water is almost there. Just another 8 oz or so I think. What is the official amount of water a person is supposed to drink?? I have heard several theories. Hmmm.....
I am not going to exercise. My body is sooo tired from the yardwork!!!

And, I have been nicer to DH. I told him I was sorry, and I got a mini lecture, but I took it and gave him a kiss, and now I think things are o.k. I love my DH, I really do.

It has been 75 degrees here and so beautiful!!! Julie- my kids played hard today too!! I'm hoping they will all sleep tonight.

Julie - When it is my TOM, a wicked little hungry, sweets-craving beastie comes out of me!! I know how you feel. I think our bodies feel a little off-balance, and we automatically think eating will make us feel better?? Maybe. Anyway, you are forgiven for your indulgences. Come Monday though, we all have to stick together. I am counting on you. Cause if I know you guys are getting up and exercising, then I will be motivated to do so as well!! I think we should do a short challenge(2wks), because we can still do something else those last 2 weeks of April. But I am game for whatever. I also agree that it should be a M-F schedule.

You know what?? The truth of the matter is that we CAN do this. WE CAN. I was at the ball field today, and there were all these people in shorts. I was wearing my capri pants, cause I do not wear shorts under any circumstances. But, there were huge women in shorts and skinny Minnies wearing shorts. No one seemed to be a bit self conscious. And I got to thinking how hard I am on myself. And I thought how crazy it is not to wear shorts in hot weather just because my legs don't look like they did in college. I mean, give me a break. I am 33, and I have had 3 kids. But I am sooo flabby, and I have got to exercise consistently and do some light weights. Tell me I am not alone with this crazy thinking????

I am really close to my goal. Well, I need to lose about 16-20 more pounds. And that is not so bad, not really. I think of how far I have come - almost 70 pounds, and that is a good thing - so why am I stalling??? Why am I yo-yo-ing??? ARGGGG...
I am kind of scared to be back at my goal - what is up with that?? I feel like I can never get "ME" back no matter how thin I get. No matter how many things I do, I feel like my body has been irreversibly "flabbed out".

I'm not sure where all that just came from, but there it is. Thank you for listening! You guys are the BEST - absolutely! It is amazing to me how I feel like we are all friends and we have this support system, and we have never even met in person. Have a great evening everyone.

((( My chickies! )))

Sorry- I was doing schoolwork earlier, and made the mistake of laying down to read...crashed, and now that it's quarter to 11, I'm up. Sheesh!

I'm trying to set stuff up for the next challenge....I'm pretty sure based on the feedback that I got, that it should be April 1-April 30. What do you think about the "Easter Challenge" or "April Showers Challenge" or "Spring Has Sprung Challenge?" I saw a commercial today that the tagline was "Spring into Motion" which would be great if this was all going to be about increasing exercise & movement (motion)...but I wanted to get everyone's input. (course, then I get to make cool new avatars & awards & stuff.) What should we be rewarding? So far, there's cool stuff out there for Easter, but we'd have more floral stuff for the other challenges....so, input, please....if no one takes offense to "Easter" (I might be too overly cautious, having worked with easily offendable people...) we can do that....

Also, at the end of this challenge, I'm going to do "final awards" so everyone needs to tell me pounds/inches lost...and if you want, I've got plenty of webspace & everyone can have a page to display what they've earned during each challenge....any other ideas/suggestions?

All right chickies...gonna get something to drink (water or tea, or caffeine free diet coke) and try to get back to sleep....I am so glad we all got together! ((( my best chickies in the whole world! )))

Well, a "quick" check in this afternoon! Just got home from church, a lunch at the church (which is always NOT on plan!) and a trip to the grocery store. The weather here has finally broken and Ithink Spring is really here! It's sunny and close to 60 (in my opnion, that's shorts weather!!!) DD & DH are outside and I wanted to get my post in before I got to busy helping DH build his sidewalk/deck!

First of all, food not good today! I am promising that tomorrow I will get back on with food and exercise (although I do hope to get in a good walk or bike ride some time today!). The budget is broke for the week with hubby overspending for his home improvement project, so groceries were at a bare minimum! I will, however manage to use what we have around here and not go "carb wild" just because the fridge isn't full! I have a pantry full of stuff and if I have to, I will survive on chili all week (which is made and defrosted, just need to ration it out! LOL) Also hubby is making some chicken (with homemade noodles) soup which I will have for dinner tonight! I'll make a pot of brown rice and I got some chicken. We have tuna and I have some WW bread, cottage cheese, lettuce, deli meat, eggs. Maybe someone should just make up my menu for me???? Would a bribe work???
Oh yea, as we were shopping, and I threw some chunk cheese into the cart, he gave me ahard time about it being a "luxury item"! HA! Does he not realize that cheese is my life!!!??? Anyway...

Does anyone else have the ad from e-diets to the right of the journal which features a woman in a bra with half her boob hanging out??? It's pretty annoying, if you ask me. Jealous maybe? Sure! That's it! Even if I lost 50 lbs I would not look like that! Who are they trying to fool???? Afterall, this website is 3 FAT chicks, not 3 chicks who are a little overweight!!! I feel better now, but I really don't like looking at her boob...and she has a LONG nose!!!

So, Lisa...glad you kissed and made up with hubby! Sometimes we need that humbling "lecture"! LOL! OK, now to the shorts thing! Some people just don't feel comfortable baring their legs to wear shorts, like you. That's ok, because truthfully, I wish I didn't wear shorts...but I LIKE to and I don't care if people see my jiggly flabby legs. They just don't have to look at them if they don't like them! But, honey, if you only have less than 20lbs to go before you get to your goal, then you need to go put some shorts on!!! And once you start exercising daily, you are going to see a huge difference in how your legs look and feel. I have already and have noticed that is where I seem to be losing inches the most! Can't wait to measure myself! And no, you are NOT crazy in thinking the way you feel! WE can't help how we feel, but we can change the way we think! That's where this group comes in handy!

Now, Ms. Jennifer, avatar guru, tech goddess, exercise queen...(OK, you can come down from your pedastal now ) Personally, I like the "Spring into Motion" even if it's not all about exercise and moving...it's still part of it and the less we weigh, the more we can spring into motion...and enjoy it! So that's my vote for whatever it's worth! And yes, April 1-30th is a good time for the challenge! As far as the rewards, do whatever you want! We didn't see too many here this time around, so hopefully we will all kick some butt in this next challenge! Me, you and Lisa, though...we start Monday with our "at least 20 minutes in the am M-F exercise challenge"!!

Well, DD has been in twice to check on me and I need to go out and spend time with the family! So, I will check in with you all later!

Hugs

Okay, been a full weekend, as far as trying to get stuff done. Of course, I got to spend some quantity time with hubby, so lots of quality time, for sure! He made more chili today, and more brown rice. Tomorrow I'll bag it all to freeze, and we'll make more of that taco meat, too. I had those taco rollups twice yesterday- and a little pudding for a snack in the middle of the day.

Tomorrow I've got to do laundry...and come heck or high water, I need to get up & do something before work. This case of the lazies is going out with the weekend. Not going to have this. I've worked too hard to get where I am right now to forget this key part of the program. I don't need to hit a plateau, caused by my own laziness. Nope. Accountability....need that. And what better way to recommit than with the next challenge. I'll be setting up that thread on April 1, so we can all think about our goals & start planning for the next 30 days...a fresh start..a clean slate- enough time to get back on the path, especially for those of us who need to get back at it with a vengeance.

I did a little playing earlier today- well, I needed the mental break from schoolwork, and had to get creative. So, I've made a few things which should also get us in the right mindset for the next challenge.

Click here to check out some funky new avatars to pick from for the Easter Challenge

I'm looking forward to being able to measure on Wednesday, since this will be the first month that I have a weight difference to log along with the difference in body measurements. I'm already psyched to see what I accomplished, especially with the weekend at Mom's, and my lack of activity this past week or so.

Weekend food:

Saturday:

Brunch-
3/4 cup taco meat
1 oz shredded cheese
1 lowfat tortilla

Snack
1/2 cup fat free sugar free chocolate pudding

Dinner
3/4 cup taco meat
2 oz shredded cheddar & mozzarella cheese
2 lowfat tortillas

Sunday:

Brunch
3 slices light oatmeal bread
2 tbsp reduced fat peanut butter
1 tbsp sugar free blackberry jelly

Dinner
1 cup chili
1 cup brown rice
1/4 oz shredded cheddar

Tonight I'm going to have a little pudding while we chill out & watch TV...heading there in a few minutes. Tomorrow- something- either the bike, or WATP when I get up....no dang excuses. I cannot leave for work until I've done something. Period. And my boss will be pissed if I'm late, so that tells me what I need to do.

I'll check in tomorrow morning to report what I did....and if I have an excuse, short of debilitating problems, tazer me.

Night, chickies! Here's to the final 3 days of this challenge!

Lucy - Girl, I hope you are still Judo Chopping today!!!! LOL!!

Julie - Thanks a million for your comments you wrote me! I really appreciate them, and they gave me a lot to think about!
And, for the record, I have the same "boob girl" on my screen. Is the ad saying that when most people lose 10 pounds, they look like that???? Well, she does have a big nose though.... so ha!! she isn't perfect I also had lunch at church, and I'm not sure, but I DO NOT think the cooks there are thinking about weight loss!!! And I am sooo hungry by the time we eat, I just don't really care! We had our church easter egg hunt today, and tonight we had a flashlight hunt for the older ones. It was so much fun!!

Jennifer - Hi there!! Glad you had a nice weekend. Guess what?? Your friend Lisa is over the whining and the excuses!! I am going to exercise in the morning if it kills me!! Does exercising in the morning ever make you sick?? I get light headed, nauseous... Maybe I need to eat a small bite first.

Well, I hear my DH coming, and he needs help with groceries. Talk to you tomorrow

LOL! OK chickies... this has a double meaning but not what you think!
Today I spent a good poriton of the day outside in the beautiful sunshine and warm temps (finally!)...Hubby is working on this deck to our unattached garage/photo studio...well this is where the screwing comes in! And oh, do I ache!

I was the screwer extraordinairre...that's power tools to you chickies!! I screwed in the deck boards after he cut them and put them in place! My back hurts, my hand hurts, my body just aches! Whine, whine, whine!! OK, I'm done! Now for the other screwing around...

Tomorrow starts me back on my journey to weight loss! Isn't that why I am here??? You wouldn't have known it this weekend. No (formal) exercise today...the food sucked, but I will give you the lowdown if you want it! Water has been ok!

Bfast: 2 string cheese, 2 cups coffe with hazel nut low carb creamer!
Lunch: Church Dinner....baked chicken, gr. beans, salad with a little dressing (ok so far)...rice with mushroom soup (about 1/2 cup) and...dessert! Blueberry cobbler with icecream...regular portion, and I didn't eat all of it...but it was good!
Snack this afternoon (I was starving from all that screwing): a small serving of leftovers from last night...cranberry chicken, sweet potatoes and about 1/4 cup rice a roni w/ almonds! (I am a crazy woman!)
Supper: What? There's more????....grilled hamburger w/ slice of cheese, salad and steamed broccolli and carrots (now that's more like it!) 1/2 cup milk.
Oh, did I mention the 1/2 Nestle's Crunch I ate while fixing dinner!!??

so, there ya go! I am excited to start tomorrow...you know just start the day with exercise, fix my meals for the week (that really excites me) and stay on plan all day! I will do this...I WILL do this...I will DO this...I will do THIS! Have I made myself perfectly clear!?

Plan for tomorrow:
Exercise: 30 minutes on bike in Am, weights & toning
Food:
Bfast: scrambled egg omlette? whole wheat toast & butter, 1/2 grapefruit
Lunch: Probably leftovers from last night and some veggies
Supper: Homemade chicken Noodle soup and a salad!
Snacks: a cup of milk or ham in cr. cheese & pickle! We'll see what kind of mood I'm in!


Have to finish laundry sometime and the athome preschool teacher is coming at 1. It's up early for me, too!

Jennifer & LIsa... I know you will exercise tomorrow AM! Here's to the next 3 days!

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!! 20 MIN. on the exercise bike this morning! And, I was in slow motion big time girls. I only pedaled five miles. But, I never, and I mean never, exercise in the morning, and I am so proud. Yea for day 1!!!!

I weighed this morning so that I can officially begin the challenge. I weighed in at 157.5, which is up 1.5, due to my yo-yo attitude. I need to be down to about 135-140 to be a healthy weight for my height. I will weigh once each week to check my progress.

Well, I am off to work. Have an awesome day guys!!!!!!!!!!

Yay, Yay, Yay! 3 days left in this challenge...looking ahead to the Easter Challenge...what do you chickies think about posting an announcement on the Buddy Forum once we get the new one started? See if anyone else is looking to join us?

I did get up early, and although I DID exercise it wasn't the WATP or the bike...let's just say it was cardio, all the same. This afternoon will be a more structured workout.

When I get home, I need to package the chili & rice that hubby made last night, and get that into the freezer. Also, I grabbed my last baggie of Smart Start this morning, so I need to measure more tonight when I get home. Lots of prep work, but believe me when I say that it makes it that much easier to get moving in the morning- take what I need & I'm off- little to no thought involved.

Breakfast:
1oz fat free mozzarella
1/3 cup Smart Start
1 apple & cinnamon cottage double.

Lunch today:
3/4 cup elbow macaroni
3/4 cup chili
sprinkle of shredded cheddar

I'm thinking aboutleaving early today because I was stuck here so late on Friday. I'll ask the manager once she gets in (@ 11am) and if so, then I can get a bunch of stuff taken care of tonight. Woo Hoo!

Have a wonderful day, chickies! I'll peek in later!

Julie- you were probably hungry from all that work yesterday. Anyhow, new challenge is just ahead- we get a few days to prep for it....announce our final losses for this challenge, and move full steam ahead. Got those goals ready for the next challenge?

Lisa- re: morning exercise- I haven't been nauseous doing this- pretty much get up, pee, and then start- and I just read something yesterday on the eDiets newsletter saying you burn more stored fat when you exercise in the morning on an empty stomach...makes sense- you've got nowhere else to look for the energy you need. A small snack might help, just to make sure your stomach isn't growling, or that you're getting light headed.

Okay...I'm off for a little while!

Congratulations on your 20 minutes on the bike, Ms. Lisa! I knew you could do it! Here it is 9:15 and I haven't exercised yet...but I don't work today, so as soon as I get some things done around here, I plan to go hop on the bike! I am going for my full workout today which means an hour! Maybe I will work on the cooking/kitchen stuff later and go workout now!! LOL!

I was going to mention to you to take it easy when you exercise because it sounds like you might be getting your heart rate up a bit too high. do you have a way to measure it? You don't want to go over 80% of your max heart rate (which is 210 minus your age) and you may want to start out even below that for a while, like maybe 70-75% of that #. Always start out slow, also...like don't just jump right in with an aerobic workout. Your body is trying to tell you it doesn't like whatever you are doing! Always warm up...increase your heart rate slowly and always cool down...decrease your heart rate slowly. It's kind of hard to do that in 20 minutes, but just a couple minutes of warm up and cool down is so good for you! Oh yea, and try eating some protein about 15 minutes before you exercise...a piece of cheese or something...that might help, too!

Anyway...listen to me...do I sound like I know what I'm talking about??? LOL! Really I do, but I didn't mean to lecture you! Sorry!

Hope you are having a great day! Quote for the day from a certain 4 year old "You know, it's a beautiful day...I think we should go outside! " ...and we will!

Okay, I can't hear a thing, but I feel awesome!! Concert last night was totally rad. Godsmack didn't play for very long (45 min.) but they were just as good as I remember them! Metallica played for over 2 hrs (!!) and it was awesome. TONS of fireworks, tho, so my hearing is a little off today. It's supposed to be in the low-80's here today. WOOHOO!!! I LOVE Seattle!

I am feeling way better today. I have no tapes, so I'm going to work out in a little bit here. I'm doing a house-cleaning and some art stuff today, so I've still got a busy schedule. I feel awesome.

I dyed my hair yesterday, back to my semi-natural color (I went grey, tho, so this is technically how it looked when I was around 15), and it is so cute! I totally love it. *G*

Food today:

B - top ramen & water & vitamins
L - salad & tuna
D - chicken pesto

Workout today:
25 min bike
8 min stepper w/ weights
500 situps

I've noticed that working out for 3-4 days a week, and then taking 2- 3 days to rest, is making my body change a lot faster than if I go every day. This is strange to me, but it's definitely working. I made a new shirt yesterday (edited, made, whatever...) and it hasn't fit me like this before. EVER. My shoulders are massively toned, and my stomach is getting that hourglass-like shape to it, somehow. My legs are changing, and becoming a lot more toned. Even though I'm technically -not- a size 12, yet, like I WANTED to be at the end of this challenge... I've met and exceeded my goals.

I've made a huge lifestyle change, and I have an awesome support group, both in my home and online with you guys.

I'll be posting my measurement results later on today, with the totals I've lost. I've lost a total of 6 lbs, which isn't much, but I've gained so much muscle, I don't even care how much I weigh anymore. I wake up in the morning, walk into the bathroom, and notice that my body is different, and I am happy with the change.

My husband and 2 of our friends are planning a roadtrip this summer, just to wander around WA & OR, with a video camera, "in search of bigfoot." Meaning... doing nothing for a week, sleeping in random campsites, and basically being goofy the whole time. I'm totally looking forward to it. My hubby & I are planning a camping trip at the end of May, beginning of June, probably at the beach.

I am no longer seeing my goal as LOSING 33#. I see it as dropping down to a size 9/10, from a 13/14. That's, what... 2 sizes? Yeah. NOT a lot. I can do that. No biggie at all. *G*

Today is a cleaning day, though. We rearranged on Saturday, but didn't have a chance to finish everything up. So, I'm finishing it today. Everything is getting organized and whatnot, and I'm loving it.

It's beautiful, my flowers have started to come up, and everything in the world is right as rain.

Lisa - you are doing a great job!! Make sure you don't overdo it! We don't want to lose a chickie!! *G*

Jennifer!!! You're going to make all of us blush. *G* Hey, it counts as a workout. You can burn A LOT of calories doing that. That's why it's recommended 4x/week. (Sorry, I just had to!) :P

Julie - I wouldn't worry too much about that screwing issue. *G* (Man I am on a roll today!) If you were busy and active all day, then your body probably needed those extra nutrients!! Even the ones that came from the crunch bar. Sometimes, indulging in a litlte chocolate can do wonders, even if it isn't packed with healthy nutrients. We're women. We're totally allowed to have chocolate once in awhile.

I say this, about the chocolate, not to be a torturous horrible girl, but because I simply refuse to give up my favorite thing in the world, next to my husband. (Sorry, hon, you're #2 when chocolate is involved. Unless someone makes a lifesize chocolate figurine of you, in which case, you'd be tied...)

You guys are all awesome. Keep it up, ladies!! WE ROCK!!!!!!!!