Day 2 of my 7-day workout challenge is a success. I got to the gym by 5:30 a.m. and swam laps for 40 minutes. 2 days down, 5 to go. Or, is that, 2 days down and a lifetime to go!?

Kaylets, I love the idea of a weekend check-in. I don't usually get on the computer on the weekends, but I could sure use the reinforcement this weekend. I'll see ya there!

Anagram, congratulations on being married 44 years (in October ). That was a heartwarming post about you and DH. Thanks! And good luck with your new challenge .

Terri, I loved your "before" and "after" . You'll be at your goal in a year no problem. Enjoy the journey . Have a great time tomorrow. It sounds like a wonderful celebration .

Empress Amarantha, Elbertine Pep is VERY PROUD of your accomplishments (she told me NOT to tell you that cuz she didn't want it going to your head.....but I couldn't help myself ).

Time to do what they pay me for......

Hi Ladies you are all doing great congrats to everyone.
Well the last long weekend of summer is here and it will be a busy one. I went for groceries today and not only were people stocking up for the weekend but also for school going back on Tues. The traffic by 1 o'clock was crazy and I know it is much worse now it will probably take my hubby 2 hrs or more to do an 1hr 15min drive. I started my last week of holidays today, seems strange after having been off work all summer but I have to take them. Well Im taking holidays during the day but Im going to go in and do some evening hours for a special project my work wants done they are giving me extra hours and I need to have the job done by the 18th of sept. I do this same project every year but they usually ask me in June or July to get started. this year they figured they could do it themselves, I knew they would end up asking me. Oh well extra hours I don't care and I can shut myself in an office and pretend Im not there. Anyway I don't know who all has the long weekend but if you do enjoy and if you don't well enjoy your weekend anyway.

OT-Mole II: Can't see who replied to me about Bill, but the reason I found him suspicious is that he seemed to me to be the least likely person to be the Mole and therefore, he WAS the Mole. I hope they do another season of this. I liked the travelogue aspect of it and I love challenges, mysteries and games.

[I]Elbertine Pep reporting, as Empress Amarantha posteth too much and fears she is too pushy! It is Fiber Saturday in the imperial city and she hath posteth the details of that on the No Guilt Weekend Challenge of Kaylets, of Meditations.

Inspired by Justdoit, of Early Morning Exercise, Amarantha trieth to get out the door to walk before sunup (oops, there it is, too late), but hath asked me, EP, to think up a meditation question (inspired again by Kaylets) to ask on her return ... and any answers from the Power of Five will be appreciated. Hmmm. I, Elbertine Pep, am well known for having no sense of humor or imagination, but I do complete assignments. So ...

Having reached your ideal body size and shape and reached all your lifetime health and fitness goals, you rise early on a weekend morning, don your workout clothes, lace up your athletic shoes and walk outside to take the air. It is a bright, crisp, clear day, with fluffy clouds floating in a turquoise sky. As you look at the clouds, one of them floats gently towards you and touches down on the earth, still moving gently towards you. Squinting to better see the cloud, you perceive that it has taken the shape of a giant grey bear with sky blue eyes. It moves steadily towards you until you meet on the path. You stare at the bear and it stares at you. Then it speaks in a voice so soft no one can hear but you. What does it say?

I'm going to be lovey dovey again. The bear says "I love you" because the gray bear reminds me of my deceased father who was a giant gray haired bear of a guy with "window of the soul" blue eyes. It is the precise kind of a morning I enjoy most and he would caution me to appreciate every minute of that morning and my life.
He'd also say that now even though I have not reached ideal weight, etc.

Queen of the meditation. Or is it mediation?? Either way, that is ok with me. In fact, I am honored.


Justdoit_- I am gearing up to learn how to swim. We have a couple fitness clubs as well as YMCA's and even a Boy's club we are comparing to see what will work best for us. If you don't mind me asking, do you belong to a private club or the Y? I am hoping for other classes (eg. Yoga) as well. The gym we belong to now specializes in weights and more aerobic type classes. DH and I need low impact so I thought swimming would be a perfect complement to the weight training. ( Which we are almost ready to pick up again as well).

Dollar, this whole getting back to school routine is something I don't miss !! Its the reward of getting the children raised I guess.
Sounds as though you've got a handle on it. Good for you!

Elbertine Pep- This a very unusual name. I have never known an Elbertine before. But I am glad you are concerned about giving the Empress a big head- The whole plan here is to get smaller.



A bear with blue eyes- I don't know, Amagram's answer is so perfect that I wonder if perhaps its a special meditation meant for her-- It reminds of the series of books "Clan of the Cave Bear" but I will have to get back to you.

Yo! Elbertine Pep here. I am up to work, but Amarantha will get up later and weigh in and report, updateth list, etc.!

Anagram of the Answers ... I agree with Kaylets, your answer is so perfect, I can't think of a better one. Your father must have been very special.

Kaylets of Meditations/Mediation ... Amarantha saith that it reminded her of the Clan of the Cave Bear, too. The white bear is her special totem, she saith, but she does not understand the message of the grey bear. She also remembereth the lovely White Buffalo that was born a few years ago, but does not know what that signifieth either.

Amarantha's calories yesterday were 1780, exercise 60 minutes, her overall average calories for the week (the first of the 21-day challenge) were 1934, which is over her challenge of being in the 1700s, but not by much and only because of one high day, SO, she's declaring an exemption and calling it the first seven days of her block/initiative. She saith rules are fluid! I, EP, will post this selfsame message there!

I, Elbertine Pep, as usual, had a PERFECT health and fitness week!!!! Remember, YOU CAN DO IT!!! (Denise Austin voice).

Yo! Amarantha posteth up a storm! This thread energizes her!!! Woo-hoo! She hath good news and bad news! Good news: down a pound! Bad news: Didn't make challenge date.

Howsomever, since this is NO GUILT WEEKEND per Kaylets, Amarantha is THRILLED WITH HER RESULT on this challenge. Doesn't seem like a lot to some folks, mayhap, but at her advanced age, it's aces! She is EXTENDING her challenge date to Sept. 15 and brazenly KEEPING the 1.5 pounds (net) she's lost from her challenge weight of 165 ... she's actually lost 2.5 because she went up to 166 one week. As always, she keepeth in mind that once she weighed 247, once she weighed 142, and her ultimate goal is 135.

Updated list followeth. If anyone is accidentally dropped, please report in, as Amarantha thinketh (as stated above) she may prune those who've not posteth for awhile but passeth their challenge date. Report, report, report (if thou so desireth)!!!

AMARANTHA, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 15, DOWN 1.5

ANAGRAM, 2ND CHALLENGE, FIVE DOWN BY OCT. 4

BABETTE, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 15

BYRD, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 16, DOWN 1

BOBSGAL, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 1, DOWN 2

DOLLAR, FIVE DOWN BY, SEPT. 9, DOWN 2.6

DAUGHTER, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 3, DOWN 1

DUSTCATCHER, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 13, DOWN 4

GTERA, FIVE DOWN BY AUG. 30, DOWN 3.2

GUINEVER, 2ND CHALLENGE, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 14

JUSDOIT, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 9, DOWN 2

KAYLETS, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 9, DOWN 2.5

PUNKINSEED, FIVE-PNT-FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 9, DOWN 4

RYCHERBABE, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 2, DOWN 3

SARAHBELLA, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 23

SWEETMOM, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 1, DOWN 3

UPANDAWAY, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 11

WSW, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 18, DOWN 1

Yipes! Three posts in a row!

Let's make it four!!!

HOORAY FOR THE POWER OF FIVE!!! FIVE, FIVE, FIVE, FIVE, FIVE!!!! WHO'S BETTER THAN US?!! NOBODY!!! WE CAN DO THIS!!! YOU BET!!!

Hello all!

I am getting excited about my weighin tomorrow. Scale has been looking great but it might just be an aberration- but Monday is the day that counts for me so we'll see!!

Tried a Portabella Mushroom Veggie burger by Franklin Farms out of CT for lunch. Cost a little more than the Morningstar but each burger is very dense and you may be able to get away with one for a meal- We'll see-- Also tried a different Pria bar flavor accidentally. Thought I grabbed chocolate- It was a Cremey Caramel. Not bad but NOT Chocolate.

Yea E A for making it thru your initiative!!! I have nearly 50 lbs to go before I see the 140's- If you're looking for some perspective, go try on a pair of size 16-18. DH was glum that his losses had slowed down so I had him try on his starting size. He didnt know what I was doing until the pants nearly fell down to his knees. He
realizes now that he has come a long, long way.

Babette, , don't let those month ends get the upper hand!!! Maybe Elbertine Pep could take a road trip and stand guard!!

It's still raining so this is a great day to take a nap!

Oops, K! Amarantha may have given the wrong impression. She's only a week into her initiative (aka two 21-day challenges that she can't fail at because she hath exemptions built in). She also hath loads to go to see the 140s again. Current weight is 163.5!!! She loveth it, though, because it is moving away from the 168 she was on a few months back and away from the 165 with which she starteth this 5-pound challenge, then went up, then went down. Sigh!! BUT SHE IS MORE DETERMINED THAN EVER!!! WHO'S BETTER THAN US?!!! NOBODY!!! CAN WE DO IT?! YOU BET!!!

B: I am feeling for you on this deadline stuff! Am still trying to write the story from ****! Don't know why I feel I have to wait until the last minute to finish, but there it is! Writer's block on the one hand, yet here I am posting away all weekend! If only I could pay bills posting here, I'd be great!

Well ladies, I did it! Weigh in today put me at 266 which is a loss of 4 lbs this week. That's a total of 6 lbs for the challenge. My new goal is 6 lbs by Oct 1. I have a drs appt that day and would like to be at 260. Just wanted to share. I'm so excited!
Steph

Way to go bobsgal you are doing great. You should be very pleased with yourself.
I have been rreally on track this week not one slip up I have tried staying at the top end of my points this week to see if I can't get my system kick started again all I want this week is the elusive 1lb for my 60lbs I would be very happy with that. Well weigh in is Tues so I will let you all know how it goes. Have a good one everybody.