Zumba sounds fun! I have a Denise Austen dance workout with a latin segment that I always enjoyed, so I think I would like Zumba.

Being a lazy log, I didn't run last night. I unexpectedly had to watch the children while Mom & Dad went to a crew dinner, so I was slightly put out, and so I didn't exercise. I'm watching them again tonight (my parents are going to my sister Angie's concert), but this time I'm going to turn on a movie for the kids, and hit that treadmill. For real. I have firmly decided that if I don't run my 5K tonight, that I don't get to eat tomorrow. Period.

I don't know how I lost that much weight in one week. I ate 2100 calories on Saturday, and I hardly exercised at all the entire week! I'm going to wait until the end of this week to decided, but I think that I may be eating too few calories, if overeating causes me to lose this much weight. If I have another huge loss this week, I may bump up my calories to 1600-1700.

Oh yeah - try Zumba! I did little bits from the Special K thingie on youtube - so much fun.

I have a problem with consistence. I don't seem to follow through well at anything. Be it my exercise, my eating, whatever. Hmph.

how old are all your siblings again? I forgot what number you are

At the beginning of this journey I wasn't losing at all and the dietician said my body was in starvation mode and upped my calories. I think I should go back to starvation though

Do that 5K! Will the movie you put on be in the same room as the treadmill?

I'm the oldest (22). My sister Angie is 20, and a senior music major (emphasis in Cello). Amanda is 14, Christy is 12, Frank Jr. is 9, Joey is 7, Gus is 5, Jessica is 3, and John is 1.

The tv is in a different room, which is okay, because exercise is a sort of solitary "self" time for me. I only ran 1/2 mile so (of course) I didn't beat my last time. I think that I'm going to back off of the running for now. I originally started running so I could fulfill the physical requirements for the FBI special agents, but that is only 1.5 miles, so I don't know why I've got this fixation on 5Ks. I don't enjoy running for that long, so I can't figure out why I'm torturing myself. I think I'm going to stick with long fast walks, with a couple of short runs a week. I really need to start working on pushups (again) and pullups (HA!!) as well, and I just don't feel like it when I'm running during most of my free time.

About consitency. Do you plan your meals? I will admit that I was completely opposed to the idea when I began, but now it has become simply part of living. I always eat the exact same thing for breakfast, 1 cup Kashi Go-Lean Crunch with 1 cup milk. For lunch I usually eat a ham & cheese sandwich with a couple of chips or crackers, or soup and toast. I plan the menu for dinner (supper) for the entire family a week at a time, so I always know what that will be ahead of time. Our menu is nothing elaborate, basically I follow a framework that we've developed over time (soup Monday, pasta Wednesday, big meal Thrusday, etc). I also keep a variety of snacks with 200 or less calories (chees-its, snack bars, sunchips). My method might not work for everybody, but I don't really need a lot of variation. In fact I once ate the exact same thing for each meal four days in a row!

Sounds like a fun bunch you got there. My husband is one of ten, but he's one of the "little" ones. Are you close with Angie? Almost seems like y'all got 2 families going on there

So you wanna be an FBI agent?Like Sydney Bristow type stuff?

I'm kinda bored with my food - I have been eating pretty much the same thing EVERY DAY. But I got sick of eating the salad I brought form home and decided to buy out <bad idea financially - but I couldnt eat my own any more for some odd reason> and that's that. I don't know 0 I really should plan better. When I was planning and writing down, I was also losing better.

Anyway. Until after these holidays, I can't really plan much anyway, except for maybe portion control (not doing too well with it..)

We are pretty close, I guess. We have very different, and not completely compatible personalities, so there is some conflict there, plus she is off at school, and I hate to talk on the phone. I'm probably closer to Amanda than I am to Angie, as we don't have personality conflicts.

It does kind of look like two families. We are kind of divided into tiers. "The Kids" (Frank Jr - John), "the girls" (Amanda & Christy), and "the big girls" (Angie and I). I imagine it is great fun to be one of the youngsters in a big family. Don't get me wrong, I love my family, but being the oldest can be a huge responsibility, and a lot of work.

I'm not familiar with Sydney Bristol, but yes, I want to be an FBI agent. I'd be a special agent in forensic accounting. You know, catch the people sneaking off with millions of dollars. Oh, and I get to carry a gun!

I always have problems with salad. The only kinds I like have tons of toppings, and about as many calories as a Big Mac, which sort of defeats the purpose.

LOL salads - my favorite part is the croutons, hehehe

I NEED to start exercising again!!!! I just don't know when to do it!

My mono has thrown me for a loop - I used to bound out of bed each morning, head to the gym before work, and still walk at night. Not doing ANY of that anymore. And the scale is showing it to me. AARRGH!!!

So depressing to keep gaining and gaining. <sigh>

Our family ain;t a biggie, but I'd love to have a couple more kids - 8 has always been my magic number.. How about you? Planning on a big family?

It would depend on your definition of big. Normal (at least in the U.S) is about two, but I'm use to nine. I'd probably like 3-5. Then there would be enough of them to keep each other company, but we could still fit in a regular vehicle.

My exercise has been down the tubes. I still walk a bit in the evenings, but it is a seriously small bit. I'm just not into it right now. I think I may start doing it outside for a while, and see if that is more enjoyable.

So you have six kids? Are they spead out or bunched together? There is a family here in Arkansas that has been on tv quite a bit that is currently expecting their 18th child and the oldest is only 20 (I think he just got married, but all the rest are still at home). Of course a couple set were twins, but still! I personally think it would be awesome to have twins, but most people don't agree with me.

My kids are pretty spaced - oldest 16, youngest (so far) is 4.

I'd like a set of twins and then close up shop!

come on now - get back into your walking! Or at least - your pull-ups!!

Holidays are finished here on Wednesday - can't wait to get back to work! I'm even hoping to get back to the gym maybe Wed or Thurs.....

Okay, so I got in my walking Monday. I walked for 62 mins (3.25 miles). My calves are a little sore, but I think that is due more to the fact that I've worn heels for the last two days, than to the walking. Tonight I am going to run 1.5 miles.

Wow - good for you! I REALLY need to get back into things!!!!

Yesterday I just walked around the block a couple of times, so only about 20 minutes of exercise. I'll do a longer one today.

I worked for 4 hours straight without sitting down - I bet if I had a calorie burning monitor thingie - I'd get full marks for exercise today!!

I bet you would! Four hours is a long time just to be standing, and I'd bet you were moving around. I'd definitely take points for that.

I walked 3 miles Wednesday. Didn't want to (that's why I'm here, right?), but I grabbed a light book (weightwise, lol, otherwise it hurts my wrists) and just walked for an hour. I am going to try to walk one hour every day for the rest of the month. I need a little "cushion" for my birthday.

Hey Monte!I actually dusted off the treadmill today and did just over 20 minutes of very brisk walking why watching TBL! I know it's not a lot, but I was beginning to feel sore. I also did a LOT of walking today aside from planned exercise. So - that counts for something

When is your birthday? And what do you mean by cushion?

My birthday is Nov 7. By cushion, I mean that I would like to lose an extra pound or two before hand in case I'm a little too celebratory with the food.

I walked 2 miles yesterday. I should have done more, but I didn't get started until late, so I ran out of time.