Lekhika - I can totally relate to needing alone time! I am the same way. But now that DS is in pre-school I feel like I get just a bit. Rain is coming to Georgia too.I won't complain because we truly need all the rain we can get being in a drought.

Claire- I hope you are able to catch your breath soon.

Susan - LOL! I would have liked to sleep more too.

Dagmar- sounds like you will have a busy weekend

I am under the weather today My stomach is giving me major problems so I am just hanging around and will probably sleep a bit if I can. Most likely not up to a power walk today, but we will see.

Leigh-hope the tummy feels better soon. Take it easy for a while. And you can keep all the rain, we had plenty here in VA lately.

Dagmar-do you stay overnight at their houses while you sit? thanks for all your advice the other day. She still coming up with new demands...

Susan-I hear ya on the sleep. I got home from the gym last night at 2am!!

Lekhika-that's why I run, that time without someone needing something from me, esp the kids. I love that ME time.

Claire-I hope you can get some YOU time this week. It's tough when everything is so hurried, hardto exercise and hard to make good choices.

Yesterday I ran outside and then went to the gym and ran some more and then took my midnight class. So I'm trying to decide if I should take today off. I'm not a giant fan of generic crosstraining but that probably means I should do it. I just love how much more eating freedom I get when I factor the exercise into the mix.

I've never "done" South Beach before, but if you look at how I eat, it is very, very close to what they preach for phase 2. I'm just trying phase 1 for a week or so to get back on track.

Half a pound down...15 to go.

I just lowered my goal weight by 5 lbs! Although if the strength training takes off and I don't actually get down that far I'll be ok.

Batmomm - my main motivation for exercise is also being able to eat a bit more, or have a bit of a cushion - although on a logical level I understand the immense health benefits of exercise I wouldn't say that alone motivates me - unfortunately.

Allison - I am glad SB seems to be working so well for you.

My stomach is a lot better than this morning, but I am still not 100% - though I was happy to get a nap in today.

A box of chocolates DH ordered for me for Mother's Day arrived (late) today. Ei yi yi. I have limited myself to just three pieces per day, but am also going to happily share with DH and DS to get rid of them even more quickly.

Thanks! Yeah, I go to school out-of-state and now I am back home for the summer and working until the end of August, when I will be traveling to Spain for my junior year abroad. So I definitely want to be bikini-ready for hanging out on the Costa del Sol!

My dad is giving me some guidelines for what I should be doing, like my target heart rate and things like that...it does help a lot to have family who is supportive of what you are doing!

Went to the gym yesterday and did an intense hour on the elliptical/cross-trainer, and am planning on doing cardio + weights today....

I think the head cold is dragging me down, along with the cold grey weather.

And I jsut saw some charming new signs at the beach which say it is now "illegal" in Toronto to bring "personal or family fireworks" to the beach on Victoria Day!

I'm beginning to feel like my life in Toronto is now "death by a thousand cuts". All the small, charming things I enjoyed about this city are now being eradicated by the municipal government. Everything is now a corporate entity and all celebrations are with sponsorship and a complete set of rules which mostly prohibt citizens from doing things.

And the new Vogue with SJP and Chris Noth doing hot and sexy things is not available on our newsstands yet - SIGH.

Dagmar

whew! all of a sudden wednesday is over, i haven't been to the gym in a week, and i have only two days until my bf's gradution! how did this sneak up on me? luckily i already have the dress i am wearing and it hides the bulges pretty well, but i still need to stay on track for the next two days. do you gals feel like i do that even if you haven't lost anything, just being on track for a day or two boosts self confidence?

dagmar, i hate it when little freedoms are taken away... like how we can no longer bring a bottle of wine to summer sunday concerts in the park. but i guess that's for the best for my waistline anyway!

loveliam - share those chocolates! =)

allison, congrats on the half a pound down! cheers for moving in the right direction.

kitegirl, that's exciting that you're going to be studying in spain! what is your major?

batmomm, i have to agree that i love the extra eating flexibility that working out gives me. unfortunately i've been too tired for the gym lately (lame excuse) and still eating as usual... not a good combination.

Good morning!

I don't have anything new or startling ... just hello and have a slender day.

ditto Susan's post! My exercise has been non existent. I am ready to be not so busy! Have a great day, ladies!

Morning cardio done! I have a busy day planned today...I have to run around town and hunt down "suntan tights" that my daughter will need for her recital...(the in class dress rehearsal is today!). Then after her class, I will zip off to buy veggies for next week.

It's leftovers all day today, so I won't be doing any cooking other than breakfast. Thank god the kiddies are still sleeping....I get some more down time to have my tea and relax before the "breakfast rush".

Thanks SusanB....I will try to have a slender day!

morning everyone, my lovely scale told me i was 202.2 today so i am veryhappy.. onederland is edging ever nearer!

My evening last night was great! DH and I went to a new restaurant for our 20th anniversary (ok--not a new, new restaurant but one that we'd never gone to). It was an expensive splurge, but we only do this once a year.

I'm down another half pound DESPITE eating 2 rolls and a dollop of garlic mashed potatoes AND wine! It's still not enough to fit into my skirt next weekend (and the tailor called, they can't let the skirt out). I may be going shopping this weekend!

great job paula!! You'll be at Onederland before you know it!

sounds fun Allison. Do you buy any chance have a Dress Barn near you? I needed a long black skirt once and found one there. I don't think I had ever been in it before and not since but I did get a nice black skirt

I ran 5 miles this morning. Today's my son's 8yr bday so we'll be eating at Friday's tonight, only way he'll get to see daddy today. I will have to be good all day so that I don't lose all the effort I've put in all week.

Does anyone else use the daily plate? I just got a "medal" for logging my food for 30 consecutive days, I didn't think I had been doing it that faithfully but I guess I have and it has totally helped keep me honest.