SUNDAY: Today is Silly Poll Sunday and here is our poll this week:

What is you ultimate absolute essential beauty regime that you would never give up, ie, having your nails done, always wearing makeup, facials, skin protection, tanning....whatever you do that you won't give up?

WRAP UP POINTS POINTS POINTS POINTS:

AmandaP
Anna
Faye

Amanda: I am so very very glad you have found something that works for you and you can live with. It is one of the most important things to keep you from gaining back when you are at goal. Thank you for your kind words, but I do feel I have been dropping the ball lately.

Anna: AWWWWW, how sweet, though they could wait until you got up or were you sleeping in? You are doing a good job so keep it up though not too many dumplings!

SandyG: Honey you just take care of yourself and get over your strep. That is one serious illness and we don't want you to have any repercussions over it. You come back here when you are well!

Boy, considering I am all about this stuff I always have my nails done every two weeks, never go out without at least some makeup even to the gym, do not tan because I am very very fair skinned, and am lousy at taking care of my skin. My one wish is that I was better with my skin and taking care of it.

What a night I had last night, 4 nightmares all different waking me up, the animals were restless and I kept having to get up and go to the bathroom. So much for sleep! Maybe I will nap today if I get tired. Right now I am ok.

I will check in a little later ladies!

Faye

Hey Faye et al:

Well, the girls came to me before classes start, and classes start at 6:30. They were very good dumplings. I ate them very slowly over the course of the day, never more than two at a time. So... good... Between that and my fruit, I had a very satisfying day.

I definately drank all my water for the day, and I just got back from another run. *wriggles* I love how I feel after a run, it's wonderful! I'm now on week 3 of my training, and I can already feel that I can do this. I will be able to run 5 KM! I am SUPER ANNA! *grin*

As for beauty regime... hmm... Showers and hair washes. I've had one manicure and pedicure in my life, and I loved it to peices and would do it again, but could live without. Wouldn't mind having someone around to wash my back again in the shower. Although I'm with you, Faye. Forget tanning, my face is pale as a ghost. I could go Goth with very little makeup at all. I wear a hat everywhere when I'm not teaching, and everyone thinks it's funny. They don't wear caps in China, I've noticed.

I hope you make it through the day, or at least have a good nap at some point! Catch you all tomorrow morning!

Good night!

Hi all - well I ended up having a takeaway last night, so I got just the one point. This has turned out to be a bit of a 'bad' week, but never mind - I'll do better next week I'm sure. I'm not looking forward to my weigh in on Tuesday - I expect I may have put on, but I deserve it really!

SandyG - sorry you've been ill, hope you are feeling better soon! Well done on the 3lbs!

Anna - I know what you mean about drinking water - I sometimes have to force myself to drink it (I'd much rather have a cup of tea), but I feel so much better when I drink it - my skin is clearer and I can think more clearly. My partner Nige never drinks water - I do worry that he must be so dehydrated.

Faye - Sorry you've had nightmares - wishing you sweet dreams tonight!

Silly poll - I am one of the few women in the world who looks worse in make up - I definately suit the 'natural look'! when I went for my job interviews in Ireland, I thought 'I'll make an extra effort and wear make up', so I spent quite a bit of money on new products, but when I put them on, I just looked awful! I'm sure it's not just that I'm rubbish at putting it on - even a professional make up artist said I look better without it! The trouble is I get red quite easily so make up can be good to calm down my complexion - I'll have to find a really good make up artist for my wedding day!

I think the treatment that is most important to me (apart from basic personal hygiene) is having my hair cut. I go to quite an expensive and trendy hairdresser and it costs quite a bit. I really need a cut at the moment but I can't affford it - I'm having to wait till I get a job interview! So I can live without it, but I'm not happy about it!

Anyway, take care all!

Love Amanda xx

MONDAY: Today is Mission Monday and our mission this week is to look at those times outside our program when we want to eat and to work to make good choices instead of bad. Do you have a time of day that is particularly difficult? A time everyday where you always seem to get the urge to eat? You can do one of two things, save up points, cal whatever everyday for a snack at this time, or tough it out for about a week, not giving in but occupying yourself at that time everyday. Secondly, when the urge hits you to eat again, be sure it is hunger and not head hunger. One of the hardest things to re-train is our brain, but re-train it we must. Let's work on re-training our brain this week!

Later ladies!

Faye

Good Monday Evening, everyone.

Well, I did roundhouse kicks today in Wu Shu! I rock! *bounce bounce bounce*

I also made something to eat that was unidentifiable. So, no, not Ginger Beef like I hoped. I had a tomato afterwards, which made it all better.

Faye, I took your advice. I went to the store today to grab apple juice, and they didn't have my usual stuff, so they gave me this green apple stuff. It's so good... And the whole bottle is more than 1200 calories, assuming I'm reading the lable right. *blink* *blink*

And it's from Coke. Evil coke! *grin* So, yeah, I had a sip, then checked out the calories, and now I'm trying to figure out if I want to dump it or feed it to my plants. Even one serving (100 ml) is way too much I think. But it's so good... *whine*

Anyway, 2 points for me, because other than the apple juice from sugary ****, I drank all my water all day. Go me!

Anna

I'M BAAAACCCKKKKKK!!!!!!!

You know, after a week of green grass, birdies singing, and suntanning in 60 degrees.....what's a foot of snow on your way home??

Seriously, we had an awesome vacation, even with the kids crammed in the back of our little car. Didn't take the van because it is rear-wheel drive and is terrible to drive in the snow. Good thing, or we would still be driving home! Thankfully, our neighbor did plow our driveway for us a day or so ago. So we had no trouble getting into the drive......getting to the house was another (wet) story!

So, after getting tons of compliments on my weight loss and looking at various people who have gained alot of weight and just look unhealthy and unhappy....I"M SOOOO READY TO FINISH THIS *****!!!! Just get it off me! I don't want it anymore.....don't want to be fat, slow, tired, sick.......I ate like crap the whole week! Sugar and bread galore. And I can feel it. Not nearly enough water. I did get some exercise, but not as much as I could have. I think I gained a pound or two, but I fluctuate so much normally it's hard to tell.

It does seem like things are slow here. I did manage to read through the week's messages a couple of days ago, but the computer I was on wouldn't let me post...not even a PM. Well, now that I'm back the party's back on!

Gotta plan plan plan......menus, and grocery shopping. The house is completely empty of food. It's good to be back, I missed you all.......

Let's get this ball rolling again! We were all so devoted last fall, I know we can find the motivation again. Just think, only 10 weeks or so until some of you will be back in your bathing suits!!!!

Talk to you all later,
Julie

POINTS FROM YESTERDAY AND TODAY SO FAR:

AmandaP
Anna


WELCOME BACK JULIE, WE ALL MISSED YOU TERRIBLY!!!!

Julie: I was looking at your post and saw that you had lots of folks complimenting you on how you look. That is so terrific! It really spurs you don't doesn't it? I have to say I am excited about going to Indiana this weekend. I have not seen anyone up there since last Sept and some as far as a year ago almost when I was really porky! I have new hair, new clothes, new me and can't wait for the reaction. I am so glad you are back here with us. Missed you bunches!

Anna: DUMP THAT CRAP SOMEWHERE OTHER THAN INTO YOUR MOUTH, RIGHT NOW!!!!!! I don't think people realize how much sugar most fruit drinks contain. They think, ahhh fruit must be good for you. My daughter kind of clued me in on this when Thomas was a baby and how so many juices are loaded with sugar and not good for kids at all.

I am doing terrific this morning. Got in 2 waters, did 25 on the treadmill at the gym this morning and ate canteloupe for breakfast without my salt, which I usually put on it. I am retaining water and I am sure that is why. Tonight is chinese veggies with chicken breast for dinner. LOW LOW LOW in fat and calories and makes a huge plateful.

Well, I better skeddaddle as I need to drive across town to my back to transfer money so I can get my new contacts tomorrow. I wear daily wear now and am going to try the extended wear and see if I can wear them. I wore them years ago and they would end up being on my pillow in the morning so I we will see if they are better and maybe so are my eyes!

Later girlies, keep OP, WATER AND EXERCISE today!

Faye

Hello Beautifuls!! I have been MIA for a while... needed to just stop so i could reevaluate and start fresh... started today off with 2 big glasses of h2o and did my yoga and some pilates... exercise is in for the day!!! h2o is going well... and i am trying to figure out a new eating plan... my sister has all her stuff from weight watchers so if she will let me use it i am going to try that. she is doing atkins right now... but i already feel good about my program today... so it is a new beginning. We went on Saturday and got out nails done... my sister and i. So, not only did i get a very nice pedicure but i got some new nails...lol its hard to get used to.. especially typing... LOL
Hope you are all happy and healthy... remember to take care of u I love u all... I have to go and make a birthday cake... its my youngest Sawyers 5th bday today... love to u all...
Sandy

Hi everyone,
Thanks for the welcome back! I'm on track for 4 points today......assuming I get all my water in. It's hard getting back into that water drinking habit. Had too many diet sodas on the road.

Speaking of sugar in fruit juice.......has anyone gotten a load of the sugar in a SLIMFAST???? O MI GAWD! My mom is currently doing the best she's ever done at losing the weight she's carried forever. She drinks those things, and she didn't believe me about the sugar. I told her to just look at the label and her jaw dropped! It was more than in a regular soda! Just goes to show you that you gotta gotta gotta read the labels! Those No Pudge brownies are great and "low fat", but they have tons of sugar too. I found a recipe online for brownie mix and I just substitute 1/2 splenda for the sugar and end up with way fewer calories.

Sandy, welcome back to you too. I just read something interesting on the Skinny Daily Post about switching your diet plans when you get bored. Since they all work when you stick to them (low fat, low cal, low carb, etc.)....why not switch them around when you get bored? It made sense to me....seems like it would keep your body guessing, too, so you don't plateau.

Weighed myself again this morning, and it appears I escaped all my poor choices unscathed....215, exactly where I was before vacation. So, nowhere to go but down now!

Where is everybody??? Come back and play......we miss you.

Gotta go make dinner and then it's off to dance class. Talk to you tomorrow.

Julie

Hi all!

Welcome back Julie and SandyB - it sure has been quiet here for the past week - but I'm sure things will liven up now!

I got 4 points yesterday - went on my exercise bike for 30 minutes. I've kicked it up a bit and did 15 mins on level 2 and 15 minutes on level 3 - it was quite tough!

I took my measurements today - in under 4 weeks I've lost 2 inches from my waist and 1.5 inches off my hips - not bad!

Weigh day tomorrow - I'm not expecting good news, but I'd rather know the damage and then move on!

Take care girls!

Love Amanda xxx

AmandaP for points today and btw, great job on the inches lost and THAT is where you should concentrate more so than on the lbs down.

Julie: As to the sugar thing, I have found if you find something LOWFAT, most of the time it has a lot of regular sugar and if it is SUGARFREE than it has a lot of fat. One or the other makes it taste "full" flavor so you kind of have to decide which is the lesser evil if you want to eat something that is "prepared" or boxed. I tend to lean towards the sugar rather than the fat because I seem to have less trouble with carbs than I do with something that has fat in it.

Another day done and I got in my water, exercise and squeaked on the program. I don't think I will give myself those pts tomorrow because I couldn't get totals and I am not sure if I went over or not.

Cat, hope you are having fun on your trip! We miss you.

We miss you other ladies who have disappeared too! Susan, Pam, Debbie, Carri, SandyG (has the strep so she is definitely excused), Dorothy, Judy, Beth. We also haven't seen in here the other Amanda, Donna, Joy, Lisa! Hope all of you are well and just busy!

Have a great night ladies and watch out for those snacks and sweets! Oh and for Anna, FULL CALORIE/CAFFEINE SOFT DRINKS!

Faye

TUESDAY: Today is Target Tuesday and our target this week is water. We tend to think of water as just something we are supposed to fill ourselves with to lose weight. Water provides a myriad of things to our bodies, better skin, weight loss, provides a full feeling, flushes impurities and expands our cells providing a more balanced life. Make sure you take in enough water to quench your body each day, not just for weight loss, but for good health!

Check in later ladies!

Faye

Morning ladies!
Sheesh, where is everyone?
3 points for yesterday......couldn't get that last bit of water in. I'll start earlier today, though.

My knee is better, so I'm back on the treadmill with some arm weights today. I'll try not to overdo it like last time.

Not much going on, gotta get the kids to school.
I'll be back later,
Julie

Well, I get my 2 points for Tuesday. *grin* Drank all my water, snuck in a sip of a different fruit juice (I miss the flavour. I think I'll cave and buy the overly expensive apples next time I'm at the store.), and I did the second part of week three of my running.

I have not noticed an improvement in my skin with the water. In fact, with all the running I'm doing, I have two new blemishes (cuz pimples sounds so high school) on my chin. Actually, that might be from sitting with my hand on my chin when I'm thinking. I'll just have to stop thinking.

Hey Faye, what do you mean when you say "expands your cells". Don't I want thinner cells? *grin*

Take care, be well.
Anna

POINTS POINTS POINTS POINTS:

Anna
Julie
Me

Sure is quiet around here lately! I went to my eye appt, the city of memphis screwed up Jack's insurance so it said I wasn't covered so I sat there for 45 minutes for nothing and had to re-schedule. They were supposed to fax over an authorization so I am going to check when I go with Jack to his follow up appt this afternoon. Brother!

Well, all you ladies have a nice afternoon!

Faye