Thanks for the vote of confidence!

Everyone seems to be focusing well on their respective plans this week! So great!!! I am so proud of EVERYONE!!!

This week I am focusing on exercise (I have a fear of losing all my muscle mass and being a sack of skin when I reach goal). This evening I did my very first pilates session. Oh my goodness it was so difficult! I know I have a weak core, but I didn't realize how pathetic it really is.

courtney....it helps to have a great store that accepts competitors coupons. i shop at publix. the publix stores in sc accept more than florida stores. they also double coupons that are .50 or less and are manufactor coupons.

check out the store you shop in...to see their policy. check out www.southernsavers.com she does all the hard work...giving everyone the weekly ads with links to printable coupons. check www.cookingwithkraft.com, www.target.com (click on the coupons link at the botton of the page), www.iheartpublix.com. from those links you can see other links for other stores. southern savers is awesome. she travels and teaches others, but she also has a tutorial on her webpage.
thats all i did was watch it and do as she suggests. she posts when new coupons are out on www.coupons.com and www.redplum.com.

if you just click online free printable coupons, you can find hundreds of web pages that teach how to save.

i also write to the companies and get on their mailing lists for free samples and coupons. i rarely do rebates, but ocassionally will. i don't buy the paper every week, i check the webpage when the preview is posted, and if there are coupons i need i will buy the paper, maybe 2 of them.

the more you do, the more you learn how to save. i have found that most grocery stores repeat the general sales every 4-6 weeks. start saving your flyers...you'll see the trend. the idea is to buy at the lowest price, using a coupon, to maximize your savings. then buy 4 weeks worth to hold you over until the next time it goes on sale. i always check the store as i am shopping for those little blinkies that have pull out coupons...usually in front of the item. only, don't buy the item right then, wait until its on sale. buy one get one free sales, when you use coupons, get lots of things free. check the boxes, sometimes venders will stick coupon on to the actual item, for an instant savings. i will go online to the manufactors webpage and send a comment, a thank you for such a good product, etc...and sometimes the send me coupons. i also trade coupons with a few other ladies, as i don't need baby coupons, like diapers, etc. or pet coupons, so i can trade.

maybe some of these tips can help you get started
hugs
susan

Hi all! I'm down a little today, and did another C25K workout yesterday -- still confident that I'm going to see an even lower number tomorrow morning. I ate out again at lunch today and did really really well sticking to my plan...it was chicken and salad again, but different chicken and different salad.

It's been a trying evening; took my DS to his gymnastics class and when we got home he was overtired and had a meltdown because he doesn't have a TV in his room -- I explained that mommy didn't get a TV in her room until she was 35, but somehow that was no consolation. Walked in the house to find everything from the kitchen table on the floor (daffodil centerpiece, napkins etc) from the cat jumping from our table to launch himself at our finches which are in a cage high atop our pantry; and the dog had pulled a Houdini and got himself out of his locked up crate, scratched up his face under the eye in the process, and then peed all over the mess the cat had made on the kitchen floor. *Sigh* I've cleaned up and am having a nice cup of tea now, and chatting with you nice ladies. Can't say I"m sorry the evening is nearly over!

Rainbowsmiles (Susan) - Your motivation story really touched me. I can remember a lot of times that I was aware of being the biggest woman in the room, and then the even worse realization that I was the biggest PERSON in the room, man or woman. Those were always hard days and probably also helped to drive me to the start of my journey. I'm so glad you're making this happen for yourself.

This cold weather is making me lose my mind , it was -37c (-34f)with the windchill this morning. I am SO done with winter. I spaced out that my daughter has a soccer game on Saturday- even though I had it on my electronic calendar- as well as on the wall calendar. I felt so bad. Then tonight she was late for practice-ugh, I need my brain back at 100%. hopefully it's just hibernating and will wake up whenever spring arrives.
I'll respond to Shan's question tomorrow.

Wow those are some really great stories and you should all be so proud of how far you have come on your journeys. I like your green challange too.

Susan - great coupon clipping......I live for deals I have so much fun trying to get a deal wherever I can. I'm bad for clipping coupons though. Will have to look up some Canadian ones again I know of a couple sites but what a great way to save.

Courtney- I can totally relate to your story. I hate taking pictures or having pictures taken of me. But I'm finding as the weight goes off the pictures don't bother me as much. Even though I have been on a really bad plateau this challenge, looking back over this past year is a HUGE change in my pictures. Not just in body shape, but the way I present myself.

P.S. Courtney- Love the green challenge. My big greens for the last two days have been zucchini and celery. Love it!

skinnycow- Are you going to incorporate the aqua aerobics into your workout time? When i was home this past summer visiting in the states I took a class. Wow do they know how to work your whole body out in the water!

Rainbowsmiles- Wow $71 worth for less than $10! Coupon queen you are! My best friend who recently moved to Idaho is a coupon lady too. She is married with three kids (two toddlers) and she gets a bunch of stuff on sale and saves so much money. Your example is just awesome!

Madam- Hope you had a good day after working. It goes to show that everyone has their own workout methods. I exercise in the evening after my day is finished. I'm not really a morning person. But my mom recently started doing yoga at home in AZ, and she suggested I give it a go for 30 minutes before I shower and get going in the morning. I'm going to give it a shot. Like they say, it only takes 21 days of doing something to turn it into a habit. What kind of workouts do you do in the morning?

peanutt- the health saga...no way! We just want you to feel better. I've been fighting my cold for a week now, and I know rainbowsmiles has been sick. Hope you feel better soon and this new medicine sounds like it might do the trick!

P.S. Rainbowsmiles- I relate and totally understand your story. Enough said.

CharlieJune- So jealous of your subway sandwich! We don't have a subway here on the island. There is one in the capital city which is like 4 1/2 hours away. We do have a quiznos though, but its not the same. Awwww...Subway...>America is calling my name, only 19 more weeks and I'll be home for a much needed vacation.

Angie- Sorry to hear about your rough night with the pets. Hope it ended on a high note for you and your getting some good sleep tonight.

Mel- No joke that is insanely cold weather! Holy moly! Well the rain has cleared here but still a bit chilly...not cold like you though. Stay warm! I hear spring is around the corner.

Keep it up red team. Week 8 is going to be blown away by all of us!

That's fabulous Shan!!!! I am looking forward to seeing improvements when pictures of me are taken. Right now I still see my slouchy posture and can tell that I am doing everything I can do not be seen in them. Like in Harry Potter, I often wish I had an invisibility cloak to wear when I have to have a picture taken. I just look so awful.

Well done on your greens! I am not a fan of celery, but I adore zucchini! Yum!

GOOD MORNING RED TEAM!!!!

Happy Tuesday everyone! I will make this one short because I just got to work and cringed at the giant pile of stuff on my desk to do. I swear, you take one day off and spend a week recovering from it in the office. LOL!

I started on my blood pressure meds today. I knew that the doctor was going to put me on them when I went in yesterday for a check up. I'm on something called Norvasc. My mom was on that one for a while, but isn't anymore. I go back to see him in a month so he can tell how this pill is working for me. I've never been on blood pressure meds before so I admit I am nervous and don't know how my body is going to react to being on daily medication.

While at the doctor's office yesterday he noticed that my weight was up a bit from my last visit. He asked me what happened to my weight loss. All I could say was, "The holidays." Yeah yeah...lame. I know. But he said that he wanted to see a lower weight next month when I came in. I do too! I don't want to disappoint him...or myself. NO EXCUSES!!!! I'm seeing Sarge now...and that pic of Jillian!

Eat your green, save your green, and have a wonderful day team!!!!!

Sorry for that whine last night. I was tired, but I'm still done with winter.

Re: Shan's question. It wasn't a single moment that inspired me to begin a lifestyle change. Rather, it was a retrospective look back at all the times I'd attempted to lose weight (weight watchers, nutri system, etc) and was unsuccessful. This was the once and for all. It started as a new year resolution, but. Started off slow & steady. Journaling food and telling no one that I was making any changes. I came back to 3 fat chicks and committed to daily visits. I had joined 3 years earlier & promptly forgot about weight loss & the site. I can't say why it has worked this time, other than I was mentally ready.
Have a great Tuesday red team

Mel that's a HUGE part of why it's working for you this time! I've also learned that losing weight is just as much of a mental game as it is a physical one. When your mind is in the right place for it, it works. If your hear isn't in it, then the weight won't come off. You are so totally right! Your head's in it so your body is responding.



It's so quiet here today! I hope that means everyone's out exercising or something!

Happy Tuesday all! I did power-yoga this morning... A little too powerful for me, but good nonetheless.

Is anyone a vegetarian? I am looking to become one for lent, but I have no recipes that don't involve meat or pasta (I am carb sensitive).

I'm not vegetarian, but I have been incorporating more veg/vegan meals into my weekly menus. I'd highly recommend the book How To Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman. I picked it up at the library and got so much information about vegetarian cooking, how to make balanced meals, etc. So good!

Why yes. I have several vegan cookbooks. Today's lunch was homemade lentil soup made in the Crock Pot. YUM! I made up this recipe and it really did turn out well.

Ingredients:
-1 lb. lentils
-1 large can of crushed tomatoes
-1 box of vegetable stock
-1 clove of minced garlic
-1 can of black beans, drained
-1 can of corn, drained
-1 cup of diced carrots
-fresh basil, chopped
-salt and pepper to taste
-1/4 cup of lemon juice
-1/2 cup water

Basically mix it all together in a big Crock Pot and cook it on high for about 6 hours. Delicious!!!!!