Hi everyone...

Just wanted to check in real quick before bed - 6 am will roll around really quickly!!!

CG - 3 points for me today! I walked 30 min (2 mi.) this morning, then walked another 20 minutes tonight. Stayed right at my WW target of 30 pts, and drank 8 glasses of water! Whoo hoo -- go us!!!

Also, CG, I love pilates! I used to take a class at the Y, and it was really good. It makes you focus so much on your core muscles that you really feel your abs tightening. Unfortunately, it isn't offered to fit in my schedule any more, but oh well. I'm not sure how pilates and yoga compare - only have ever done abs yoga, and that was freakin' hard!

Susanne - glad to hear that you're trying to stick with us through this trying time. Don't worry -- we are here for you as support with not only weight, but anything you need. Lean on us!

Red - hope you're able to ride again soon! I know that must be a bummer for you. And hang in there with the job situation - things will work out. Trust me - I was in a similar situation to yours just recently, and things always have a funny way of working themselves out for you!

Sorry if I missed anyone - must get to sleep! Have a great night, thanks again to you all for being such a fabu support system!!!

kelly

kjk !!!! to you! What a powerhouse you are. I am now going to the gym and goin' whip this bod into a sweat!!

And kelly, I want to hear great things from you tomorrow morning (your morning) about how you pulled yourself out of bed and walked!! Yes ma'am. DON'T let me down!

Woohoo! See you are thinking better already Wow a 45 minute walk to the gym, that is a workout in itself I know you are going through a tough time, but I firmly believe everything happens for a reason. Everything is a lesson, we just need to learn from it. We may not understand it. You are very right, it does have an effect on our eating habits. When I get back to school this weekl I will be a prime example, I am sure. We just need to remember to hang in there. Being healthy and fit will change everything. Like you said we are training for bigger, better things. It is okay to moan sometimes Let it out here instead of putting food in your mouth. This is why we are here. I rather you type away and moan instead of eating something you may regret later!

All right I need to keep my resolution of being in bed by 11. Good night and have a great day!

Being the ref here: Day One KJK and CG tied at three points a piece. You are both doing so good. Keep it up!

Well, I did it. Got to the gym and jogged 5K and did chest/back weights, crunches and even some stretching, which I hate to do because I'm so incredibly tight!

Walked both ways too. I admit I had a sweet bean paste thing on the way back but that isn't that bad. Now, I'm sitting here sucking on these sweet potato candies, which are all natural but again, not that bad. The sweet stuff is going to stop there though, promise!

Special thanks to Crime girl and especially stormy for the encouragement today. I trained at the gym like I used to for the first time in months. Of course, my strength is a lot less but I least I was pushing those weights around. Even the palms of my hands were hurting because all the callouses I had in the summer are almost totally gone. There were still a lot of people doing the traditional New Year's greetings, bowing and such, which I do too, because it's the first time we've met this year so it was nice to be there.

Now, to just keep on doing the same kind of thing over and over. The summer is great because I can fly there on my bike, no heavy pack with clothes, no heavy coat etc trudging home with but, oh well. . .the heat will be here soon enough I suppose. I love the summer. . . Ok, more work tonight, some little meal and I'm hitting the sack. Thanks for your help today, again!

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kjk -- wanted to say again how great you're doing. walking both morning and night and sticking to your eating plan. This is what it's all about, isn't it? Now just multiply that by some more days and the weight will be coming off and you'll be on your way to the new you! wow, you really like pilates? I've never been able to do it long enough to get to like it. I know it's supposed to be real good and all but the video I had was so boring and the books, well, maybe I'll give them another look. do you really think things will work out for me? I need all the hope I can get. Anything to help me believe I'll get away from this horrible place intact and not the worse off for it. I really need that. well, good luck tomorrow, I suppose that'll be when you get up and read this!

crime girl -- you go ahead and sound like a camp counselor all you want. It's what holds us together. Just read your note about the yoga as a stress reliever. what does your friend mean, it's impossible to learn yoga like that, like what?, on a DVD? Of course you can, people do it all the time. All this stuff about fixing the postures etc. etc. it's not necessary, especially in the beginning. You'll have to be doing modified poses because of your weight and if you're as inflexible as me and besides the explanations in the books are usually great. Check out the Yoga Journal Web site for postures and you can learn all you need. http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/index.cfm Like grass said, you can use mirrors and such. Some people really get carried away with this stuff. I was doing yoga eons ago when I was a kid. Yoga is ancient, people didn't learn it in classes. People nowadays think they know so much sometimes and it all has to be spoonfed them by "professionals". Mostly it's to help the teachers profit from a lot of unknowing people. I mean, a lot of people in poor countries have never done a yoga like move in their lives but spiritually they're light years ahead of people sitting around in yoga classes thinking they're nearer nirvana! It's what's in your head and the body will follow. Like they say, it ain't rocket science! Ok, just had to let a little steam off there. Thanks and no offense anyone!

Heh, what's this, 942 calories! Man, I would be looking to lunge at someone's plate to grab their food if I were trying to skimp by on 942 calories! I would have this crazed look and keep trying to swat down thoughts of food, food, FOOD!!! You've got to eat, kid! Don't try to go too fast. It'll rebound on you, and you'll be losing muscle as well. Take it nice and slow, move that booty like you're planning to. How tall are you again?

hmm, problems with tennis shoes? Wonder why that is. Have you considered getting fitted by a good running store? I did that in Seattle and they were great. You may have problems with the arches. Some shoes have very pronounced arches and if they aren't in just the right place for your arch, you will be in a lot of pain. And depending on the maker widths vary greatly. I can't wear any Reebok, for example, they're all too narrow and the arches are totally wrong for me. You should find a brand that feels good and stick with it. If you're getting blisters you may need a wide shoe. Nike, New Balance, Saucony all tend to be wide. Are you looking for real tennis shoes? No, right, you mean like crosstrainers or so, right? for your exercising? You can still get fitted at a store that has people that know about these kind of things. If, that is, you're in a big enough city to have speciality shops. Well, let me know and maybe we can help you find something. Shoes cannot hurt! That is the pits!

grasshopper -- You have really been working out, haven't you? Great going! Sorry I missed out and didn't say something sooner. Hope you weren't thinking I was ignoring your accomplishment. I just can't keep up and talk about myself at the same time and I certainly do enough of the latter, don't I. I! I! I! I! Oh yes, as I was saying, really great on the exercise. I know about those mirrors too. I'm pretty sure they put some of those mirrors up they have in the funhouses, the kinds that make you look bigger or smaller than you really are. Strange, I always seem to get the ones that make me look bigger and the little thing with her ribs showing next to me gets the skinny mirror, never fails! So, no way, your "boobs" are no doubt NOT "that big!" not at all. It's always the mirrors, yes, for sure. Take it from me. I know about these things, the tricks gyms play on people and such. . .

Oh heh, sorry about that finger. What's this second skin stuff? And why does it hurt so much? Hope it's feeling better soon.

stormy -- I like the reminder on the rewards for weight loss and I especially like your post, "when I lose my 10 pounds by Feb 14th!" Thata girl!


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Okay, gotta do some more work. Susanne, how are you doing? Please come in here and talk, especially when you feel so down you don't want to do anything. You don't have to have anything earthshaking to say to post here. Just take your cue from me! And, like stormy said to me, it's better to be typing, letting it out, then sitting around eating. I know this is a very rough time for you so please lean on us. Ok? Things will get better.

Good morning!

Red, here I am...it's 6:42 here and I just finished another 2 mile walk. Boy, I'm glad I did it, because if I would have read your post and not done it, I would feel awful! So thankfully I did get up and walk, but boy, was it a struggle! There were so many times during that 30 minutes that I was ready to crawl back into bed...but I stuck it out and think I'll be better for it! Thanks for the encouragement!!! I do really like the pilates class I took, although I hate the video I have. I think a lot has to do with taking the class with friends and knowing the instructor - makes it more fun! And yes!!! I absolutely think you will make it through this current situation. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you!

Stormy - thanks for being our ref! It's so great that these little challenges can keep us all motivated. When my alarm went off, I thought "I've got to get all of my points today to keep up with CG."

CG - we both had great days yesterday -- a great start to the week, and to our challenge! Now let's keep it up! I'm at 1 point for today, with 2 glasses of water already (sheesh, walking so quickly dehydrates you!). Keep up the good work, we can do this.

All right, gotta run and get ready for work. Excellent work everyone - let's make today a great one!!!!

kelly

What a beautiful morning I woke up to- I am healthy (somewhat), I have a roof over my head, food in the fridge, great friends and family including you guys, and a fluffy cute dog. What more could I ask for? I am blessed!

red balloon- Great job going to the gym and I am with stormy- the walk alone is a workout. You are sounding better and I am glad. Life can be trying sometimes and I think you are handling it like a champ. Keep working it out in the gym and ride for therapy then in no time things will be much better.
Thanks for the website info and I know what you mean about people sometimes. The girl that told me that never has anything positive to say about anything so I don't even know why I listened to her. I am going to break my beginner yoga DVD out today and start doing it because I want to.
As for the 900 calories- I think some of that has to do with the flu I am trying to shake. It definitely wasn't something I did on purpose! (And will probably never happen again). Today I am shooting for 1200 calories.
I think for shoes ( I do mean cross trainers- I just was raised calling all sports shoes tennis shoes) I am going to go to this place in town that in more of a sports store then trying the stores in the mall like Footlocker. Hopefully someone in there can help me. I am wearing New Balance now and I love them! I will try to get New Balance again.
By the way- you do not sound like a nutcase- I am glad you can get on and vent rather than eat something you will regret. We are hear for whatever you are going through so rant on my friend! It helps to get it out- I know. Just wait- I am sure this last semester will cause me some grief so my time will come.

kjk- great job with the points yesterday! Are you trying to best me in the morning? Think again! I am going for a walk as soon as I get off my computer and I am going to kick some butt today so be warned. I like having some healthy competition- It really motivates me!
Thanks for the info on pilates- I think I will just go the one at the YMCA and get in the back of the class in case I can't do the whole thing.


stormy- Thanks for being the scorekeeper! I was laughing when I read your resloution to get into bed because I have a similar one. I am trying to go to bed by 11pm and get up at 6 am every morning. The other thing was I think we are on different time zones because your post was 12:00 my time and I paused for a sec to wonder if you knew it was so late.


Okay- well I know this isn't quite as long as my typical posts but I am hungry and need to eat as well as get another water so I can keep up with kjk.
I will be on later and post the question of the day. I hope you all have a wonderful day and keep posting!

wow I feel like I missed a whole day!!

Kjk - you walkin freak!!! You should keep a chart with your miles and total up how far you walk - that number's going to get big SOON. You're doing a great job!!

Stormy - how are you doing??? Nice reffing earlier How is your exercise going this week? I just read a lot - I'm sorry if it missed it!!


Crime girl - I was going to tell you the same thing red did...I went to a store that fits you for shoes, based on walking pattern and foot shape. (narrow heal, wide toe box). You can call around and see if there are any in your area - I'm SURE there are! Everytime I've gotten shoes there I wouldn't have picked the pair they game me, but a week later I was very very happy. I don't buy shoes without them now. As for pillates....It can be very hard but there are always beginner poses. It's a different kind of ab workout and you see results very quickly. But DON'T get the winsor pillates tapes...they are SOOOOO boring it's not even funny!!

Red - finger is good. thanks First though, you do not sound crazy!! Being in touch with your emotions is a GOOD thing, not a crazy one! Understanding why you eat is the first step in making a change. So tell us all you want We're strong, we can take it. We've also probably been right there and still are! I'm glad you're hitting the gym! When my job was really bad I became quite the runner! I handled the job stress much better when running regularly. I was able to let things role off my back a little more easily. Still sucked but I was in a better place to deal with it.

Well I'm going to pillates today. My lower legs are a bit sore but that's the only part. Yoga last night was great.

Someone please tell me why the do constant tests of the Emergency broadcast system...but on 9/11 no one used it!!!! Why do we have it???? I hate those tests! (we just had an unusually loud one).

anyway, I'm going for pilates today and upper body then I have to stop. They don't want you doing to omuch the day before the fitness test. I'll play along.

Better get going. Can only use you guys to get out of working out for so long before you notice

Hi

RB, I hope today will be better for you (or tonight). You did a great job at the gym plus the walking I am very proud of you. Have you tried wearing lifting gloves while you are lifting weights?

KJK, you are off to a great start. The wonderful thing is that you will have more energy throughout the day.

CG, I hope that you can find the right shoes. Shoes are very important, especially the fit. You have to get the right type of shoe for your foot. Try to go to a speciality store. It is worth it to pay a little more. Did you sleep better last night?

LGH-Squeeze that tooshie! Don't forget that power house! Just kidding, you are doing so well. So Wednesday is your fitness test, huh? Don't get too sore before then. Do they include a body fat analysis? My scale has a body fat analyzer, so even though it may not be as accurate as underwater weighing, etc. I at least have something to monitor it. Thanks for asking about how my exercise is going. I am doing well. I just finished cardio and weights, yesterday I did Pilates and the elliptical trianer. I am dreading going to school on Thursday.

Michi, Susanne, SouthernBelle and everyone else, where are you? How's it going?

Crime girl - I have to do this before I forget AGAIN! Yes, Fit for life is the name of the program and book that I'm talking about. They cover tons of stuff in the book - breathing and air and things like that. It's not just diet stuff.

Stormy - after this fitness test I think I'm going to pull out my body for life book and follow the exercise parts. I'll have two solid weeks of lifting and light cardio under me. And you can still prgress at a slower pace. I especially liked the interval training for cardio.

I'm glad we are so diverse in our programs and exercise plans. Gives us plenty of ideas and resources to pull from. And Stormy - the pilates class was MUCH better than the videos!! The teacher is great and the people in the class would just burst out laughing when they couldn't keep going anymore. It made things much more fun and funny! I'm so glad I went. Trying to get the house in order so I can walk around the lake before my first client today. It's going to be a late day for me so I need to get everything done early.

Well one of the doggies is drinking from the toilet. Better go.

hi guys! looks like everyone is busy today. I hope you're all out shrinking as I type

I decided I need to get on here. BF is out mountain biking, I am too sore in my lower legs to push it anymore today so I have the evening to myself - which means time to eat. Trying to break that cycle. I'm here instead. I will drink tons of water tonight and not sleep a wink I'm sure.

Well I'd better get to the water and plan a good dinner Talk to you soon!

Hi everyone! How is everyone today?
Where are you guys?
I did pretty good today except the exercise part and I don't think I am going to try to exercise tonight. I am still sick but I think I am getting better. I am going to continue to lay low for tonight and try to mend.
So- kjk I only get 2 points for today. That is the way it goes sometimes.

little grasshopper- I am going to look at that book. Thanks for letting me know what the title is.

stormy- Thanks for asking and I did sleep better last night.
I will take your advice about the shoes and try to find someone who can make sure I buy the right kind.

Well- just wanted to check in and say HI!
I will be on later tonight.

Good morning people. Really had a sleep-in this morning. Couldn't feel if I was too sore but knew I would be. My one cat acts like an alarm clock. It's her mission. She will not leave me alone until I'm up. It's so sweet, really, though terribly annoying. She doesn't want food or anything, just me to get up. She has saved me many a time when I went back to sleep after the alarm went off. It's spooky. Once I had my bicycle under the string to pull the light on and she actually climbed up on the bike and turned on the light. I'm not kidding. And it wasn't like she was just playing. That's the first thing I do when I get up, before I'm off the floor (Japanese-style mattress) is pull on the light. So, she was just doing the same. Okay, enough about my cat. . .

Well, nothing all too much happened since my last post except sleep, so it's over to you all! and what a bunch of inspiring people. You guys are the best!

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kjk -- I am so glad you did it again this morning. This is unbelievable. Mega kudos to you! And I'm so glad you did it even though you hadn't seen my post and would have then felt bad had you not exercised. I was thinking you may not see it. Wow, what utter dedication! I was telling people yesterday I had to find my bike (it's under a pile of clothes) and get on that thing in the morning. Well, this morning, I was lying there thinking, how the heck am I ever going to do that? My room is freezing, I can see my breath. No heating in it so you can imagine it until I put the kerosene space heater on. Well, I usually have two space heaters, sometimes three under the covers with me, little furry ones, but that just makes it all the harder to get out from under the covers. One girl out at the riding club tells me she keeps her clothes by the bed and reaches out and puts them on under the covers, it's so cold! Whoops, caffeine-induced babble here. . sorry! kjk. Yes, well, you are doing so, so great. You're getting Crime girl revved you see. Hear you on the pilates class. Glad you have a good class that makes it fun.

Crime girl -- I'm like some hound dog or something. I love finding things on the Net. Here's a good article on shoe fit from the runners world site. http://www.runnersworld.com/article/...0-1689,00.html And here's a list of some other intersting articles on shoes and stuff. Thought they might be interesting for you: http://www.runnersworld.com/category...67-0-0,00.html

What kind of dog do you have? Thanks for your support. Really. Yes, I am sounding better, and it's because of you all. I'm glad you are getting your yoga dvd out. Good luck finding good shoes and do eat more. Yes, it was probably because you've been sick. Hope you are feeling a whole lot better.

grasshopper -- I see you just posted. How's it going? thanks for your support too. Everyone is just so nice. I hear you with the running handling the stress. I think the other thing the gym does is, because I exchange words with so many people there and we go out for drinks sometimes too, it's like a little family. I get mail on my cell phone from some of the people too. It helps to give me something other than work, it's a sanctuary, a haven away from work that helps me to remember that there's a whole lot more to me than work. I've been at that newspaper for over 15 years and so, it has been a big part of my life and connected to all the other parts as well (because I'd write articles about people and things from the other areas in my life) but I have to think, it's not the paper itself, it's the writing, it's the readers really that is my life. We all tend to forget the readers. That's who we're working for, not the paper. Again, sorry for the tangent.

Pilates and yoga. You are really something too. As for the emergency broadcast tests, I suppose they are for in the event the major networks are knocked out and they still want to reach people through television or radio. When you say they're loud, is it the TV, the PA system? where are you hearing these tests?

stormy -- how are things with you? Great going on the exercise. You're all into pilates. Hmm. Yes, will have to try it again. Elliptical trainer. Do you find your feet go to sleep on that? Mine do, or one of them. That's why I don't do it. Just tend to jog at the gym. Why are you dreading going to school again? You're already up there, right? It sounds like a tough place to eat right. Do you have cooking facilities, a kitchen or so, a microwave? Please try to keep thinking of yourself and your goals. I know it's not easy. Far from it. Hang tough, kid!

Hi Red! This may be a silly question but I take it you don't have central heat there? How do most people heat? It has been really really warm here. In the 70's today. I have a feeing we're going to pay for it though. It's been nice to get outside and do stuff. Bf has been mountain biking all week long. I don't blame him though. It's soo beautiful outside! I'm sorry it's freezing there...I'll try to send some warmth your way I can see how it would get hard to remember that you're writing for the readers - they don't pay the check. A lot times it's the boss you've got to make happy...makes it easy to forgot that unltimately you ALL have to make the readers happy.

Did you decided a goal for youself? As far as mileage, steps, points? I need to set a short term goal. The problem is that I can't deviate my eating any, and I am also governed as far as exercise. I'm already doing more than he wants me to be doing. It's just hard to get started and then only walk. I want to do so many other things. So far, so good. Maybe I need to set a goal that I will walk and not cheat at all until Jan 27. (that's when I leave for Arkansas to see my family, and most bets will be off for that trip I will be as good as I can but my grandmother will be doing the cooking and she knows every bad thing I love to eat! Mississippi mud pie and all.....I'm looking forward to it though. I'm going to set an apt with the doc so that I have an extra push getting back on track when I get back. My grandmother gives with food. That's how she tells you she loves you - she cooks your favorite foods all the time. She's a sweet, good, grandmother. There is no way I could go there and then inforce my way of eating on her.

Well I'm rambling. Sorry Just wanted to say hi and see how your day went!! Tell me all the positve things you did for weight loss today

Grasshopper! Hi there. Still on? Quick reply. Heating here is mostly by space heaters, electric, gas or kerosene. Kerosene is probably the most popular, cheap and hot. Sure, some well-off people will have central heating I think, well, maybe not central but air conditioners that also do heat. There are also heated floors and that makes a big difference. But no, really, even big houses just tend to be heated by the room.

Ok, I will try to make a good day of today as well. Am just doing some work here, even before breakfast. Have to pick the horses of the year for 2004 and am looking over the races. Have to have my picks faxed in by noon.

I haven't set a goal yet. Have to hurry with that or it'll be too late. I think I like the idea (well not really! ) of getting on the bike and adding up the miles (kilometers) though I'm not sure I can do that. I don't think I have the thing hooked up to my bike that yes, I bought months ago, to calculate the distance. In any case, I can do minutes.

Why are you governed as far as exercise goes? Was it you with the asthma? How much do you weigh now? Only 150? And, I've heard of mud pie but what is it exactly? Sounds interesting! Oh, yes, allow yourself to eat your grandmother's cooking. Just don't overdo it elsewhere. Ok, gotta run, talk more later!

Ciao!