I did 35min on the treadmill this morning. We're going back to the gym tonight for their new member orientation, so I'll probably do more cardio plus some weights. We'll see.

I received my bellydance and pilates tapes in yesterday. I really wanted to try them, but by the time I got home it was 9:15, and I had an awful headache. I can't wait to try them. Hopefully I'll find time after midterms.

Hello!

SB, new member orientation at your gym... wow, talk about a way to stay motivated. It's great that your gym is so personal. Kind of takes the anonymous grinding at machines aspect out of it.

Shelly, I know you can make it through this week. Do the best you can. Think about a new week starting today. Between today and next Thursday, you can accomplish a lot.

Sandy, woo-hoo! You've established a new habit. Doesn't it feel good to KNOW that you can keep not eating after 7pm? It's like you KNOW you're strong enough to do it, so you don't stress anymore. I'm jealous of that feeling! Got there with vegetarianism, now I have to get there with veganism.

Cherie, eh, cold days are hard. The blankets are so warm... mm... tempting to stay in bed... And I am NOT all that strong! I totally fell off the bandwagon last week and the first half of this week. Oh well, I think true strength is continuing to work at it rather than giving up. But thanks for your kind words.

Eydie, wow, 141, what's the view like from down there?

Lisa, another OP day down. Good for you.

Marti, two more days, two more days... you can do it! Maybe you can crunch at the computer... you know, rock back and forth a little?

Vegan day yesterday. Although I'm not quite sure it was a success. I ate three vegan muffins! They're just impossibly delicious. You don't get much fatty sweet food on a vegan diet, guess my body was just craving it. Ah well. I counted calories at the end of the day and topped out at about 1500. Not too bad. I keep telling myself the muffins were small.

Shold be a vegan day today. I will be thinking about you all at about 3pm. That is when I start getting hungry for dinner. Sitting at work, working away, thinking about how it will be great to get home and relax with some food and my husband. Hm, I wonder if that could be emotional eating, huh? In the past these feelings make me rush home and beg DH to go out to dinner, or order pizza, or something non-vegan, non-healthy, and non-beneficial like that. I'll think of you all tonight and refrain from breaking down.

OK, everyone have a good day.
AR

Good morning ladies-

Got up and already got the crunches in this morning. Felt bad that I didn't do them last night... but that's ok, made up for it today. Will try to do some more tonight, depending on the homwork load!! Getting things done first thing in the morning is pretty nice. Get's your day started!!
I was talking to my sweetie and he told me that he heard pilates were good. Some friend of his knew someone who was way out of shape and he hadn't seen them for 6mos. or so.... and when he saw them again,,, he was like "wow, you look so good!" That's what I want!!
Soooo Cherie----
Are you noticing a difference since you've started doing pilates? And how does it differ from yoga? I heard they are very similar.
I told James that I wanted to get something on tape for the winter time... he could get it and stick in my christmas stocking!! So I'm looking around and seeing what appeals to my eye and pilates is one of them.

Ok... must finish getting ready for school. Exam day!! Let's hope I do well!!!

Hello to all my girl "friends" here on this thread!! I couldn't do this without you!! You are all my inpiration!!

Take Care
Marti

Hi all! Passing through and catching up on everyone. I am so inspired by this group. Wish I could say I am 100% on target, but I have let stress get in the way of passing on sweets this week. I always go straight for the chocolate, when I need to turn to something like oh, exercise,lol. I am doing ok on the rest of my weekly challenge.

Yeah me!!! Tonight was night four out of four of duel cardio days! It is also day 4 of doing my pilates! Now I feel tired.. but Great!

Allthatjazz... I understand about the stress.. it's been very hard on me not to have chocolate... good luck with the rest of your challenge..

Marti.. WTG on the crunches.. and on the pilates... I have a Windsor Advanced Slimming one that is 19 minutes that I do first thing in the morning. I love it because it just sets the mood for the rest of the day. I get a good stretch in and I feel like I have accomplished something for the day. In the evenings, I've been alternating between my Abs video and the Pilates for Dummies. That is a great one too, a little longer, 28 minutes. I think that it is helping my flexiblity some and toning a little.... but I am doing so much other stuff, I can't tell you exactly what pilates by itself is doing for me, I just love how it makes me feel. I haven't done yoga, so I can't tell you the difference.

Aqua.. hope your vegan day was a successful one! You are doing great!

Butterfly did you get the chance to view your new tapes??? Tell us how you liked them!!!

Shelldawn you are doing great by focusing on the water.... small steps.. every little one counts!!! Keep up the great work!

Sandy good luck with the scale tomorrow!!! And I am with you about not eating after 7. I just don't do it. Gives my body about 4 hours before I go to bed to burn it off, so I feel that is helping me with this weight loss.

Ok... time for me to go to bed... hope you all have a great day tomorrow!!!

Hugs,
Cherie

*Imagines a long, svelte Cherie looking very graceful doing her pilates* And good for you for completing the four days.

Vegan day went well yesterday. The past week: (I go Sat-Fri for weigh-in purposes) 4 days vegan, 3 days veggie. Looks like I'm out of my slump. Lost half a pound.

OK, one more vegan day and I'll have made this week's challenge.

Hahahahahahahahaha Aqua!!! Good thing I wasn't eating my morning cereal or I would have spit it out onto my screen! Long and svelte??? What a wonderful dream!!!! I am 5 foot 2 inches... so I am anything but long.... and lean... maybe after I get the next 20 to 25 pounds off then you can see my muscles instead of the jiggly fat on top of it! :-) but Thanks! That made me smile!

I did do my pilates this morning.. and feel good.... I plan on having a really good day, with my eating and exercise. Tonight is my pizza night with my girls.. so I will do my weekly splurge. And have my one diet coke for the week!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!! Going to be nice here in Oklahoma.. so I will try to get outside with my girlies... talk to you all soon!

Cherie

Made it thru the reception yesterday. I always get out there and socialize so I had to eat something. I'd made a beautiful veg. tray with a nice herb-y fat-free dip, so I just had some of that. Had lots of other high-fat stuff and sweets but I passed on those. It really helps me to have a calorie limit, I want to 'spend' my calories on good-for-me foods. Oh believe me, there was a time when I had no control.......

Sandy, I stop eating at 7:30 at the latest. I think it's really helped. Of course, some nights I lay in bed hungry!

Shelly, keep going. I can remember a time when I told myself that if I could just do a little something every day I could truthfully tell myself that I'd exercised.Even if it's 10 jumping jacks, it still keeps you in the habit. Hope your headache's better!

Butterfly, I cannot wait to hear how you likel bellydancing! If that doesn't make a woman feel like an absolute goddess nothing will!

Aquareggie, For next week's challenge, I'm going for a vegan meal every day. I figure that'll be the equal of 2 days! Did you make your muffins?

MNJ, I don't know about Pilates for real fat-burning, but I've noticed a HUGE change in my posture, and my general body confidence. Definitely worth it!

Weekend's coming----this can be a tricky time with me. More socializing, more food. We're having friends over for dinner tonight and I'm making Indian food. Lots of vegetables and I make it all low-fat. The only thing I'll have to watch for is overeating, which is so easy for me to do!

My four days of crunches are in!!! whooohooo!! Now I can have the weekend without worring if I've done them! (isn't that I terrible way to think?)
I sooooo want to feel as good as I did a year ago! I wasn't at my main goal, but I was only 10lbs. from it and I couldn't believe the energy I felt,... the comments..
I guess you can say that I don't feel "bad" about how I am right now, I'm just a bit disappointed that I let depression take control of my will to stay fit. I'm no longer toned.

Oh what a way to start the morning, complaining!! SORRY!!!!

This weekend I'm looking around for tape of interest!! I will let you know what I find!!

BTW--if Redballoon is busy to post next weeks challenge... anyone willing to volunteer to post?

Got to get ready for school. TGIF!! (can't believe I used that)

Take Care
Marti

Good morning! Our orientation at the gym is actually tonight. There was a mixup by the person who scheduled it. I did do 40min of upperbody weights last night. Only need one more day of cardio to finish this challenge!!

MNJ - congratulations on finishing your crunches challenge!!

Edyie - great job on picking healthy choices!! I plan on doing the bellydance video either tonight or in the morning. I can't wait!

Cherie - I haven't had a chance to view the videos yet. I was planning on doing pilates this morning, but the power went out last night due to a storm. I didn't wake up until 10 before I had to leave! You're doing magnificent with all the exercise!!

Agua - I admire how you can eat vegan. I've tried, but I can't seem to give up milk. I can go all day and not even miss meat, but it's the milk. I'm addicted to skim milk.

Another day down on my mini goal. Yay for me.

I lost another 2.2 lbs. Yay for me! I hope everyone has a great week!


Lisa

Hello ladies!! Only one more day of yoga to do and of course the iron horse... 3 days left of that... next challenge i need to remember to make it 5 days so that if i want a break i can take it...lol Its the knowing that i have to do it everyday that makes it like... do i really 'have' to?? lol Yes eating after 7 is definatley a good thing... altho last night was hard... hubby got home late and i had made a pork loin... it was just delicious. I had to stop myself a number of times from just tasing...lol but i didnt taste! I will check back later... love u all... stay strong!!

Sandy

Congrats On losing 2.2 pounds, Lisa!!!

Well... no iron horse today... yoga either. TOM came and i am just exhausted... slept in late, took a nap, and still wantto go to bed early tonite... guess i need it. Hope you all have a wonderful night... talk to u in the morning...

Sandy

Thanks Eydie! Sandybrat how did those cookies come out?? I tried to find the nutritional info on them and couldn't any clues? I am curious as to how many calories per cookie.

Lisa

(I get all 4 points for today)