Rhonda, sorry about your babydog, so sad.

Lisa, so glad we were finally able to crack your shell!

Diva, can we have a silent auction and highest bidder gets you on the team next time? You gotta spread yourself around a little more; chat visits are great, but not enough.

I'm struggling with the marshmallow fluff that has landed on my abdomen. It's amazing the different places where you grow your fat as you move through the life journey. I want to run and go on a 3 wk slimfast plan, but I know that's not the picture of healthy eating either (too many sugars, hfcs, hydrolated soybean oil and other things). Oh boy, I guess I will just have to break down and start eating "right."

Well I've been spring cleaning like a ninny. Something just finally clicked in my brain and said, why am I online surfing most of the day, or watching meaningless tv, or shopping for things I don't need. Why not give face time to my kids (they are old enough that they play on their own now and don't need constant attn) or take care of my home and keep it clean and maintained. Life's too short to just sit on your - get moving! There is stuff that needs to be done!! Hmm, maybe my food motivation will come next.

Speaking of motivation, have you all caught the "I Can Make you Thin" show on TLC? I don't know, seems a little too much snake oil salesman for me. "Do the hokey -pokey........." Still I watch it occasionally for the success stories.

Have a good week all, and I'll keep chatting between challenges as long as there is more than talk going on! I'm kinda out of the loop on that one! lol

So sorry Rhonda. It's so hard to lose a pet, and especially one that you've had for such a long time. Glad you're coping without food.

Fran - Spring cleaning feels great!! My house is so clean also!! I even cleaned carpets today!

Anna - I've thought about container gardening more this weekend and it obviously is the easiest answer I think. Especially for tomatoes, basil and peppers.

Vicki - GL on the test! You've been studying so hard - I'm sure you'll pass. I know the stress of a test that's the deciding factor in tons or hard work.

Theresa - I forgot all about taking after pictures. I honestly don't think 18-ish pounds on my frame will be noticeable in pictures. Especially pictures where it's all hanging out!

Anna and EVERYONE! I've loved being on this team also. Like, Lisa said I sometimes miss posting for a day or so because of busyness, but I'm always longing to get on and see what's up. I'm so glad I decided to join. It's made the journey more enjoyable than going it alone, or even just bouncing from 1 post to another post on the boards, which is what I used to do. I'm kinda sad it's *ending* tomorrow. But, so glad another is starting so quickly again.

LOL! I feel like odd gal out here with that talk also!

Don't forget, we get to keep this chat until the next one starts, so everyone hang on until then. I too like coming here fore the support and the craziness.

Love you all and look forward to seeing even less of you physically, when seeing more of you on the thread (you notice I didn't say mentally, since we all know that would start everyone going )

Kelly

I am sad for the end of the challenge...but excited for the start of a new one! I will be around until the next one starts. We all did AWESOME, whether we dropped 30 lbs. or none at all, at least we gained a lot of knowledge about ourselves and how to do better in the future...and we met a lot of great people

Rhonda--so sorry about your poodle, that is so so hard to handle. You are doing well not to turn to food. Just keep reminding yourself that the food won't change or fix anything...it would only make you feel worse in the end.

Karen, I just saw your updated pics and you look AMAZING! I can't believe the transformation you have made...huge you're smokin'

has anyone else updated theirs? I don't have time to go through that entire thread, so shout out if you have...I am going to take mine now.

Good Morning

I can't believe this challenge is over already. My last weigh in was 183.8 so I lost a total of 19.2 pounds and gained some great friends.

Yesterday, I went to the gym and following the plan that simon gave me I was to do 20 minutes on the treadmill at 3.5, 7 minutes on the elliptical, then finish up with another 20 minutes on the treadmill. I HATE the elliptical and I never use it, so 7 minutes kicked my butt! My legs are sore as **** already from my strength training on Saturday, and this just finished me off. I swear bending down to sit on the toilet is absolute torture.

Today, according to I'm supposed to do 30 minutes at 3.5 on the treadmill and the life fitness machines (circuit) for 2 sets 10 reps. Tomorrow is recumbent bike for 20 minutes (cardio, level 3), treadmill 3.5 for 20 min., then floor stretching. Wednesday I meet with again.

I like having a plan made out for me daily, because it forces me to stick with it. I would be too embarrassed to face knowing I didn't do what I was supposed to. It's that extra accountability that I need right now. I'm determined to go "balls to the wall" for the next eight weeks until my DD Erica comes home on leave. The last time she saw me I weighed around 240lbs. and I want to knock her NAVY socks off! I want to stand in the airport behind a big red, white and blue welcome home sign and then step out and surprise her in a hot outfit. I swear I have this mental picture in my head while I'm working out and it keeps me so focused!

sportmom: My shell is DEFINITELY CRACKED. Now you guys have to deal with ALL my talking. I can't watch that "I can make you thin" show because the guy creeps me out. Kinda like that guy who says he can talk to dead people....lot's of smoke and mirrors in my opinion.

Morning Chicas!

Not much to report this morning. Working on Kelly's Zsadist siggy this morning... I'll probably make one or two so you can chose then Rhonda can have one as well.

FAQ's are gonna get worked on today too. I'm still debating if there's going to be a black team or not and I haven't been able to get either of the team leaders together online at the same time so we can discuss it. So there's still stuff up in the air.

Other than that I went to Olive garden last night and ate like a pig... my tummy is kicking my a$$ for it today.

BBL!

Lisa - How's the book going?

I failed horribly on Sunday. It was my DS best Friend's birthday, and since we are like family, we got together with them and their family for his Birthday and I ate too much and way off plan. I think this is the first time since I started this plan that I have gone this far right of plan. I am back on today, but the scale is not liking my eating habits from yesterday, and I have a horrible feeling I will have my first weekly WI where I gained, not lost.

I feel like I let myself down, but I have to get out of this pit I am digging and get back on the plan wagon and back on the exercise wagon. I need missingmyerica's motivation right now ... Can I borrow some?

I have my husband's family coming in on the 1st of May and I really want to be below 210. I want to wear something pretty and stylish. I want ... I want ... I want ... Someone please kick my butt!!

I didn't know if I would like it at first because I'm not used to reading this kind of book....but I'm really liking it! I like James Patterson books and it kind of reminds me of that earthy, street type of language and setting. I used to be able to finish a book in a day, but with the kids lately that doesn't happen. Now I read a chapter or two a night, so I'm the slowpoke of the group. I try to skip past any posts about the books because I don't want to be spoiled. I'll try to hurry up so we can pass on the book and recruit new craven vixons!

Which one are you reading?

She's got my Dark Lover. Just a newbie!

Dark lover.

Oh and about you needing motivation!! OMG....you have inspired ME, you have kicked *** in this challenge girl! Each day I come on here, someone says something that sticks in my mind. I think it was a few days ago someone mentioned that it takes 3 weeks to form a habit....or something like that. I decided to give it a try with going to the gym. I go EVERYDAY, no matter what and I've been doing it for 2 weeks now. It does feel like a habit now, like it's just a part of my day that belongs there and I don't feel right if it isn't done. The other piece of wisdom I've read somewhere along the line on here is that your weight today, that you are stressing about.....is actually someone's goal weight at some point. I seriously think about that one everyday. Like today I weigh 183.8, and for someone that might be their starting weight....but someone else is dreaming of being 183.8. I don't know why, but that thought....more than any other ....has helped me get over my hurdles. When I find myself freaking out about my weight, I think of that and I feel better somehow. That being said,
today you need to recommit. Write down a promise to yourself. I promised myself I will work out every day for the next 8 weeks. I don't know...when I see something in writing, I feel like I've put it out in the universe and I feel more accountable. Try it.

Kelly - refresh my memory since I don't have the book in front of me. What side of Zsadist's face is his scar on? I think it runs from above his eye to his lip right?

I'm sorry you had a hard time Sunday. You and I must have been in the same boat.