I live in Michigan...the UP is the upper peninsula. We go every year, and last year's trip is when I let my diet/exercise plans fall to the wayside without picking them up again when I got back. I'm not going to let that happen this time. Something about this feels different. I'm cooking more, buying more healthy foods, finding exercise easier. I just fear that there's always the chance it won't stick. Experience has taught me that, now's my chance to undo it.

Excellent !

This sounds great!! I need a challenge to keep myself focused. Now that I'm exercising regularly, my food intake is suffering! I think a challenge would help me pull both parts together.

Thunder? Please send it to Nebraska! We are desperate for rain--crops & grassland are very dry. Every storm has gone around us & blessed the eastern part of the state with rain.

Eskielover

Heck no! I, for one, wouldn't dream of you not participating in the thread. We will still be posting our trials and accomplishments just as we've always have. I just plan to add challenge numbers to the bottom of my posts.

So dear Bunneh....no leaving the thread

Definitely interested in this!

Had steak dinner so we went for a loooong walk. Nothing tomorrow we're going to be busy and then taking the train to a concert in Chicago. Won't be in bed until probably 2am. :/

Back to Jillian Sunday. Have a good weekend everyone!

Exhale, I bought some kettlebells that are basically sitting in my exercise space collecting dust. What's the name of the dvd that came with your medicine ball? LOL...I like warrior princess...sounds strong and fearless!

Eskielover, I hope you get some rain soon. You never know how dry places get and it scares me to see brush fires on tv.

McMurphy, I told my sister that this week was not good nutritionally for me and neither was exercise. She simply said "just make a uturn and get back on track". I say to enjoy yourself on your trip and if you stray in the other direction too far don't continue to get lost....make a uturn and get back on track.

Good nite all! I've decided I'm going to do Body Revolution again. Tomorrow is workout 1!

@PhillyGirl - I love that That is so true.

Ok, so I was really pumped about going out again tonight because I'm starting to get into the routine of cycling (even if it's only my 4th time out ) and I had the feeling that I should have left the house earlier than I normally do. I didn't, and ended up going out at around 9 so I could avoid the heat and be back long before dark. I've been doing 5 laps around my neighborhood, planning to work my way up gradually. Just as I'm passing my driveway after lap #4, the mosquito control truck pulls onto my street and starts to fog the neighborhood. CRAP! I knew I should have left earlier! Even 5 minutes would have allowed me to finish, and that last lap is when I really bust ***. I know that the small amount of pesticide they spray won't do any harm (the stuff is actually considerably more concentrated in your average bottle of OFF), but ever since I was little I've been afraid of the mosquito truck. I think it's the buzzing sound the sprayer makes as it goes by that freaks me out. Yeah, let's go with that.

Still worked up a sweat, so it wasn't a complete failure haha

Good morning everybody !

What a rain last night. I had an excellent sleep.

Bunneh, Hi
McMurphy, you're doing great.
Novangel - hope you're having a fun weekend.
Eskielover, you're on track, too !
Philly, the dvd is called 'empower power abs medicine ball workout'. Gin Miller is the teacher, and she has another woman working with her. The acoustics on the dvd aren't so great - the music is a bit too loud for the teacher's voice and there's no 'music off' option. 'Empower' has a website that I haven't fully yet checked out. www.empowerfitness.com The ball has these little indentations to make it easier to hold onto. The dvd that I got it for is Paul Katami's Hollywood Hardball. He uses the weighted ball and weights. I really like him - very encouraging.

What I've decided to do is start with daily 20 minutes of cardio or weights, and then 20 minutes of yoga or pilates. If I'm feeling like more, fine, but 20/20 is my 'thing' for the next 3 weeks. But - of course - whatever we decide on the 'challenge' will be in that, because this will be fun.

Off to get some breakfast - stay cool, stay OP, and have a great weekend.

Saturday--Shred day 5, level 1 completed.

We got lots of thunder & lightning last night and a little rain. Haven't heard how much. But we'll take it. Now, off to work!

Later, Eskielover

Great job, everyone!! Sorry I haven't had time to address everyone individually I have done 99% of my posting on my cell the past few days.

Eskie, great job on 30DS I know that's no easy feat.

McMurphy, again Glad to see you're sticking around as a regular poster.

Bunneh, you will get there again just keep your eye on the goal.

Exhale, I'm having a great weekend. I rarely get adult time and even though I miss my son right now I know he needs to see his Dad and I need breaks for my sanity.

Philly....today is the day! Back on the sweat wagon - Jillian BRL1. Ready or not LET'S GO!!

Can I count unsweetened iced tea in the "water" category since it's 0 calories? I drink straight water a few times a day but mainly tea, never soda or juice.

Happy Saturday!

I got a good sleep and feel well rested. I didn't hear the thunder or rain so I must have been knocked out. I tend to sleep very late on Saturday's unless there's something I need to get up to do. I cherish sleeping in after getting up early for work all week. It is cooler today, but still in the high 80's.

I went to the market last night for a few things and low and behold I found two manager specials of chicken. One was a package of 4-chicken thighs for $0.63 and a whole roaster young chicken for $2.64! The chicken went in the crock pot last night and the thighs I baked for dinner. I'm going to separate the chicken into three parts...one for chicken & potato...one for chicken & noodles and one for plain to go on salads/wraps. My meals are almost complete for the week.

I am psyched that so many are on board for the challenge! I will think about specifics and post later.

Gabi, unsweetened tea is fine.

Finished the walls and ceiling. Just need to give the room another half-hour or so to dry and then put my bed back where it belongs, etc. Then for my yoga therapy