I got mine on Overstock.com for $22, and it came with a video of it's own which has great ab and thigh exercises (every order is only 2.95 shipping there which is awesome). I got the DVD "Pilates on the ball" with Lisbeth Garcia, also on Overstock, and I have to say she is really good. It feels great to get support from the ball, and I absolutely would recommend it. The ball, to be specific, is the Exerflex, and it goes from 55 to 65 cm depending on how big you need it to be. It says it holds up to 1,000 pounds, so I have no worries it will dump me on my face as I do back exercises. The back exercises! They are great if you have back pain, it has really strengthened my back and it never hurts anymore...I'm sure all my exercise combined has helped that, but I really enjoy the back exercises for some reason.

Today all I have had is a Balance bar and two glasses of milk. I went a tad overboard yesterday and today I don't feel hungry. Tonight is chicken curry, and hopefully no snacking. Today at the store I officially switched to skim milk...which is a big thing for me because I think it is wretched but will just have to get used to it.

So, anyway, I am baby-stepping away and hoping everyone is also doing great!

So today for eating wasn't as bad, I am happy to say. Lunch was actually really healthy, and the only junk food I really have had today is some penny candies from the corner store, which at least wasn't chocolate! hehe

The past 2 days I haven't ran, and I've noticed ever since yesterday morning that my hip/upper thigh has been hurting, not like feeling sore, but it feels like I hurt something, so I am going to take it a bit easier for a few days as to not make it worse.

Wow, that ball is pretty cheap Jodie! I might end up buying one a bit later on, after I get bored with the pilates dvds I recently bought. I like your dessert Girlie! hehe and it won't add to your thighs like other desserts either! Anyways, I'm getting ready to ride my stationary bike for a bit, and maybe do pilates if my leg isn't bothering me, so I will check in later

Girlie- I have tried the soy milk. 8th Continent was the name, and I thought it was very tasty. Unfortunately (or fortunately) we drink way too much milk around here to be able to afford it...I think 1/2 gallon was around $3.25...and we go through a gallon of milk a day!

Okay, yesterday I had a kids meal at Wendy's for dinner which I have a little bit of guilt over. I haven't exercised in two days. I will exercise today. The good news was that yesterday all I had was the Wendy's and a bowl of Uncle Sam cereal (which is vile, horrid!). So I guess I shouldn't hate myslef. Today, right back on track...I can slip, I just can't quit!

B- Balance bar and SKIM milk

L- will be a bowl of soup.

D- Will be grilled pizzas, mine will have only a little cheese and no pepperoni so I can quit hating myself about yesterday.

Now I must go do my time with the Bellytwins.

Good luck, everyone!

Hey I'm back too! There used to be a thread here where you could set a goal for the month of how many minutes you were going to exercise... and report in deducting your minutes each time. Does anyone know if that thread is still around... and if so, what the name of it is?

Thanks

Hmmm, I have no idea where that thread would be Dance4Joy. Sorry!

Girlie....Uncle Sam cereal is a boxed cereal that has wheat flakes and flax seeds...it is so gross. I tried, I really did...but yuck.

About the exercise...I also feel so much better about myself, so much more energetic and sexy when I exercise! It doesn't hurt to work out every day, so why not? I can't think of a better addiction to have than to exercise! Better than fat and sugar!

I am holding off more exercise until tomorrow...yesterday I had a great 30 minutes with the bellydance girls, but then I had really bad cramps for the rest of the day. I haven't had cramps with my period in years, so I guess this is the only thing I can complain about exercising...it makes my period painful!

So far today I have had a balance bar and a glass of milk. Protien bars, I have found, are craving killers for me...I just feel so satisfied, but not full. Cool.

Good luck everyone!

Girlie, great to hear about your control on the Burger King!!
Jodie, ahh I just got mine a few days ago and I too am having cramps and I can always tell when mine is here because today i ate a chocolate bar and I never usually crave chocolate hehe..

I'm joining a gym tomorrow and I too have baseball tomorrow. I have been holding off on the gym because I don't want to pay for it, but I figure I will get really good use out of it and they have a "sale" type offer going on right now, its 30 dollars the first month. My friend is joining it too so she will hopefully keep me on track with it.

Today my eating didn't go all too well, but I did get in some exercise, I walked about 35 minutes and did a 20 minute pilates video. Thats about it for tonight, bye guys!

Happy Monday, everyone!

I had a good weekend, lots of walking and shopping and activity, and I kept to my eating plan and so today I am pretty happy with myself. I couldn't say if I lost last week...my weight seems to fluctuate so much from day to day. Does anyone else have this problem? I know water makes our weight change, but mine is as much as 5 pounds a day! And let me tell you...to weigh myself and it says I've gained 5 lbs. in 24 hours is very discouraging, even though I know it is water weight! But, I can't not weigh myself, I have to keep close tabs to feel in control.

Anyway, I am really warming up to the bellydance thing, and I do some of the moves to the radio when no one is home. I feel lighter already, and more able to simply move!

Okay, I've checked in. Hope everyone has a great day!

Hey there, Jodie - I haven't had much fluctuation, but I know a lot of people who do. That must be quite discouraging sometimes...but you are right - maybe you should weigh yourself less and go more by how you feel and how your clothes fit.

The whole point of all of this isn't just to lose pounds...it's to be healthy, eat healthy and feel good! Good for you on the Bellydance! It's cool when a routine starts to "feel" better - it gets to be fun to challenge yourself by moving faster, etc. That's how I feel on the elliptical. I know I can go for 45-50 minutes, now I can start to work on speed.

I had a great workout last night and wanted to get up early today to go back to the gym since I'm having sushi with an old pal tonite, but I couldn't get up! I'll probably go late tonite again. I had broiled steak, potatoes and sauteed squash last night...a little heavier than I thought but I'm sure I burned that off lol! I was dripping sweat last night after my 50 minute elliptical session. I hate that machine but I love it!

Have a great day!

Well i finally joined the gym, it was great! I'm feeling sore today, but that's only to be expected. I have a treadmill at home but I was surprised to find how much more advanced the ones they have at the gym are than mine.

Tonight I'm going to try to go walking but I don't think I'm going to push it with running, because I want to be able to go back to the gym sooner so I don't want to keep myself sore.

My eating has been a lot better, I've stopped buying lunch and now bring one, and although I did have McDonalds on Sunday, that was the first time that week I had eaten out, and since I'm allowing myself one time a week, I don't feel bad about it. Well I am going to eat dinner, talk to you all later!

It is so great to hear how well everyone is doing. It is very encouraging to just read over this thread and see our progress. We rock.

I have been doing great, I have bumped up my exercise a little. I am trying to walk in the evenings and add a few spurts of jogging to the mix when possible. I really want to end up running. It is one of my thin fantasies...to be in such good shape, to have such control over my body that I can RUN. Wow. So, I went to a few running websites yesterday and learned that first I need to be able to walk at a fast pace for a good 20 to 30 minutes. So, I am working on that...I think I do pretty well, all these weeks of bellydance has gotten me in shape a bit so I can breathe better. So, I have set a goal...to run!

I am eating well, I am always trying to add more fiber to my diet...always more! And now mt stomach has no problem with it. Before if I had had so much fruit and high fiber cereal and veggies in my day I would spend the evening in the bathroom...so I see this as a wonderful sign that my body is becoming healthier and more effecient.

Better go. Hope everyone has a great day!

I'm going to copy and paste the message I wrote in my other forum which about sums up what's been going on LOL!!!
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My hump day wasn't good, y'all!

I felt so good on Tuesday, wearing my old jeans and such...but I was bloated all day yesterday...I decided to take off from the gym last night...I don't have to go 7 days a week...and that's cool cuz I think I needed it!

It sucks to feel bloated...especially when you are trying to keep upbead and on program, you just feel FAT. I'm still a bit today, but not as bad. Last night I figured being bloated means I can pig out and boy did I! I didn't feel like cooking and had a 6-inch steak and cheese sub and shared hand-cut CHEESE FRIES from a local spot with my husband while sitting on the couch watching Extreme Makeover LOL! I don't feel bad about it because I think I need that sometimes, and if I don't lose this week, I'll know why...I hope I'll be okay if I go to the gym each night for the rest of the week and stay active. It's just funny how sometimes when I get my cravings, I want it and I want it NOW!

So anyway, running late again this morning and am having animal crackers and diet coke for breakkie...when losing weight, you really have to be prepared and plan ahead. Hopefully, the bloating and the PMS stuff will be over by weigh in on Sunday and I'll have something positive to report!

In the meantime, my stomach will be messed up all day for eating such grease...that's what happens LOL!

There's my little confession...hope the rest of you are doing better than I am!