Dixie - Being so close to not being considered obese anymore has got to be a great motivator for you. You know that once you get there you won't want to gain one little pound back. So, go go go and keep up the hard work.

I had a great day yesterday. I had low calories and really good exercise. I'm back on track!!

Also, if anyone would like to help support the RHAMC and my run up the John Hacock Tower, please see below. My boyfriend suffers from severe asthma so this is really important to us, plus it's a great exercise motivator.

On February 24, 2008, I will be participating in the 11th Annual Hustle Up the Hancock event to help raise money for lung disease research and education.

I will join thousands of others throughout the Chicago land area to raise funds for Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago (RHAMC) as we aim to promote healthy lungs and fight lung disease. You may think that it's crazy to climb the John Hancock Center but I am doing so because I am able. I can breathe freely, and there are many people who are not as lucky as I.

Click on the link below to visit my fundraising page and help me reach my personal goal by making an online donation today.

Linky

Thank you for your support as I challenge myself not only in participating in the Hustle Up the Hancock but also by raising money for this very worthwhile cause.

Thank you!

Amber

Amber - your link isn't working.

Thanks Happy. It should be now.

Good Afternoon Ladies!!

I hope that you all are doing terrific today! I'm doing fairly well. I'm pretty excited, I found out that the Osmonds are going to be on Oprah Friday. I went to school with most of the "Osmonds Second Generation" (all of Alan's boys) and haven't seen them in probably 10 or more years. It'll be really fun to see them all again.

I've resisted the Pumpkin Cake with cream cheese icing that my hubby made last night. That is a true sign that TOM has left for the month...lol. One week ago, I would have had my face in the cake until it was all gone. So, thank God TOM is done for now. UGH!

I applied for a part time job at Macy's in Tulsa for the Holiday season. I have an interview on Tuesday!!! I'm actually excited! I absolutely adore my kids and love every minute I have with them - but it would be nice to get out of the house for a few hours a night and be around adults...lol. Plus, the extra money will come in handy for Christmas. This will be the first Christmas that we're able to buy our kids presents! They are only 2 and 1 so they don't really care either way, but it means the world to us. So, we are SUPER excited! If I end up getting the job and liking it (I'm probably one of the few weirdos out there who actually enjoys working retail) I may see if they want to keep me on as part time at nights. That is.... if I think I can do that AND full time school. But, for the mean time - I get to go shopping for clothes for the interview! This will be my first ever job interview! I've worked many jobs - but none have ever done interviews (weird huh?) So, I'm excited and nervous all at once. Plus it's Macy's....hello! 25% off everything in the store! Heck yeah!

I am so excited about the Black Team Rally!!! I also forgot to mention on the other post that not only will 1 pound put me at in the "double-digit loser" category for this challenge, it will also put me at the 30 pounds lost mark overall!!! So... I WILL lose 1 (if not MORE) pounds by Friday (my weigh-in day). Let's do it ladies!!!

Good for you resisting the Pumpkin cake Julz. that you get the Macy's job. Lead the rally girl - that's a great goal you have going and you're almost at the checkpoint

Here's a fun story for you. (I hope that Amberelise doesn't mind me sharing).

So, as you all know, we have a fellow Black Team Member who is going to participate in the Hustle Up The Hancock in Chicago (Amberelise). So, I went to check out her linky-link-link-a-roo to her donation site. I noticed that her last name is the same as my maiden name (spelling and all). Now, for me the spelling of our last names being the same is rare. I grew up with EVERYONE mispelling my last name. Apparently, outside of Illinois, no one ever thinks to spell it that way. I also know that Amberelise is from Illinois. My dad was born in Illinois. So, I messaged her. Because it was just a little spooky to me. She messaged me back asking where my dad was born in Illinois. I told her. Ends up that the town my dad was born in was the same town her grandpa lived in (up until a big tornado came through and flattened the town). Her grandpa then moved to a smaller town 30 miles away which is where she grew up (I think that was how the story went). So, I emailed her back with as much info about my dad's side of the family as possible. You see, my grandpa (my dad's dad) died at age 25... just 2 months before my dad was born. So, I haven't had a link to that side of the family (other than my dad's 2 sisters [my aunts]). So, to possibly have a chance of finding any of that side of my family is absolutely a dream to me. I miss my grandpa like I knew him my entire life (but I never met him). We are 2 days apart from sharing the same birthday, I look just like him, and apparently have the same personality as him. So, I feel like he's with me all the time. Yet, I've never had a connection to him outside of my dad and my aunts.
Well, I got an email from Amberelise this morning. She had emailed her aunt about all this. Her aunt confirmed that we are, indeed, relatives!!!!!! In fact, her aunt emails my aunt (my dads sister) in Washington every now and then. I was comparing the picture that Amberelise has on her avatar, and the one from Halloween in her costume to that picture of my grandpa that I have - and, to me, they resemble each other.
Tell me... how ironic is it that of all the BILLIONS of people on the internet, 2 relatives who never knew that the other existed ended up on the SAME weight-loss website on the SAME Biggest Loser challenge, on the SAME Black team!?!!? I'm just blown away!
I'm waiting to hear back as to through WHO we are related. It's possibly through our grandpa's or great-grandpa's - but still.... so cool!
So, 3FC can now add "family reuniter" to their titles! lol

OH... and I LOST MY POUND FOR THE WEEK!! Today was weigh-in day for me! I was up 3 pounds on Halloween, so I "techically" lost 4 pounds. But, I'm 1 pound under my lowest weight. This brings me to my 30 pound lost mark! AND, I'm in the double-digit loser club for this challenge! WOOHOO!!

Julz & Amberelise - That is just so cool. 3FC...reuniting families one pound at a time. lol

My extended family is huge and at times stressful, but I wouldn't trade them for anything. We have a family webpage to help us reconnect, and stay connected, maybe you could set one up for your family. Ours is hosted at a site called myfamily.com. (can I say that on here?)

Ill try to check in later tonight and catch up on everyone. Its been a crazy week.

Update on the nifty story above:

Amberelise e-mailed me again with the lowdown on how we are related. We have the same great-great-great grandparents! So, our great-great grandpa's were brothers... which means our great-grandpa's were cousins, our grandpa's were second cousins, our dad's are 3rd cousins, so we're 4th cousins. I just think that's pretty dang nifty!

Londong-Amber that is sooooo cool!!! London - seems like your dreams of finding that half of the family will come true. That would be sooo cool if you and Amber met up somewhere or had a HUUUUGE Christmas family reunion. That would be awesome! Awww... I think that is sooo cool.

I FINALLY went to the gym last night. EVERYTHING IS BACK TO NORMAL! I am sooo happy. I had theeee worst day of my life yesterday. It all started before the clock hit `10am (California time) and didnt end until I went to sleep. The drama trickled home. Ahhh! Dont you just hate it when that happens. But, my friend and I finally got to go and we are going again tonite. I am going to reset my calories counter goal thingy because I want to make sure I am consistant this time when doing my calorie goal (see ticker) Wow! But I only did an hour. I used to be able to do 2+ hours but since its been a while I am going to start low and work my way up again. Hey, at least I am going.

Well its Friday. Its laundry day and chores around the house day! I hope everyone is doing well. Go black team go!!!

Way cool story Julz! How fun to find a relative on our team. This has been a really fun challenge. I'm so glad that I have gotten a chance to chat with everyone here. We have such a positive and fun team

That is so COOL! What a small world, eh?!

Hey everyone! Sorry I have been scarce, I am behind on homework once again, lol. I just did a quiz, a paper, and a discussion post, and now I'm on a break before I go do some more. Needless to say, I can't wait until Thanksgiving break.

I'm pleased to say that this week is looking good. I don't want to jinx myself, but the scale looked nice this morning. Hopefully it will keep looking that way, and even NICER by Monday.

Hey everyone!!
Hope everyone is having a great weekend so far. I had to weigh in early this week because I will be out of the state and not near a computer all of the comming week. I gained a little but I expected that, not the best week with food, but better than some. Next week will probaly be worse. TOM is due and I will be on a mini vacation. My sister and I are traveling from Ohio to Kansas City, MO to see Garth Brooks in concert! Floor seats!! I am so excited! We are also staying at a casino and spa which will be awesome too. So after 2:30pm today I am off for nine days!! Woohoo!! I have to get back to work now so I hope everyone has a good weekend and week! I will check back in when I return home.