LondonJulz, I just read your blog. I bet you're glad to be quitting that job. I remember 3 years ago working at a health food store for minimum wage. It was ridiculous, because I had to work the register, stock the shelves, check inventory, clean up and close the store, by myself. Not only that, but the boss was an a-hole. It was ridiculous and I think I only worked there for a month before I left that job.

I'm SO HAPPY everybody is happy again!!!

Julz - I see you hit your 4 lb. Valentine's Goal!! YIPPEE!!! You rock!

I'm not a weight loss expert by any stretch of the imagination but I've learned two things about myself:

1) When I'm sad or mad I need to FEEL it. I avoid my emotions by overeating and overdrinking. When I feel that twitchy, gritchy, I've got to get something salty or pour some wine feeling I FORCE myself to sit down and FEEL what is bothering me. I've never cried as much in my life as I have since I started losing weight.

2) I learned this trick from flylady.com . . . It's the 10 minute thing. When there is something you SERIOUSLY don't want to do, but NEED to do, set the timer for 10 minutes and FORCE yourself to do it. You will feel better afterward. It works for cleaning the toilet, paying bills, and especially, for working out. Just 10 minutes. If you want to stop after 10 minutes, let yourself stop and if you want to keep going, keep going.

Love you ALL!!!

I bought the book for the Oprah class but haven't started it yet. I can't even remember the name of it right now! Has anybody else started reading?

good morning teammates... i'm back under the 200 mark again finally...

my coworker/boss brought me in a reeses peanut butter cup heart (4 servings in 1 at 190 calories/serving).. i want to eat it but i just keep looking at it and i haven't opened the box... i told her i will cut it into 8 sections and freeze them so then when i have a craving for a PBC i can just get it from the freezer, plus with my not opening it at work, i won't eat it all in one sitting... plus at home the BF can eat some of it.

tonights plan do not involve eating out... my evening will consist of making dinner for the bf and perhaps watching the simpson's movie since i got it for him for v-day.... dinner is = seared salmon, steamed brocolli and cous cous... yummmmm for only about 550 calories

Good Morning Everyone ! !

Happy Valentines Day ! and for me Happy Friday !

Congrats to all who have hit the mini challenge goal.

Welcome back everyone who was ready to walk yesterday.

As for music, lately I have been listening to the Dixie Chicks when I work out....odd as I am not a big country fan. All the talk about Queen got me to scroll through my iPod to give a listen...how disappointing was it when I found that I had no Queen...so a little Steve Miller right now as I type. My music library needs an overhaul.

And

What is a Bunny Hop challenge?

Someone was talking about Kae's blog, and somewhere else I read about a couple of other contestants blogs....where can these be found? I some some stuff from Kae on myspace, but is there more?

I'm out for a couple of days....have fun everyone and I will see you Monday or Tuesday.

Vanetta: Here's the link to Kae's blog. http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...ndID=127168868 It's eye opening.

Hope4me: I'm reading the book "A New Earth." I'm TRUDGING through it. It's a little different than I thought it would be. Repetitive but you have to pay attention. It put me to sleep by 8:00 pm last night. Can't wait to hear what you think of it.

sxulcmnky: Awesome job on Onederland!!

Julz: I just read your blog. Have you considered placing your hand with only the middle finger extended on a piece of paper, tracing around it, and faxing that in with your "I won't be back" letter? Seriously, it makes me never want to shop at Macy's again. They just don't seem like an outstanding place anymore. tee hee.

thanks i was there a couple of weeks ago but screwed up on eating and stopped exercising and gained back a couple of pounds

oy...did not want to go on TM and was going to take the day off, but decided I should go as I already took 7 DAYS off, lol! Plus, it's going to be TOM when I weigh in so I want to make sure to really blast some fat off for me and the Black team. I feel better that I went.

sally - you need to fix your ticker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It feels cozy in here

ggmugsy: Hmmm... That may be good news for me. I've had terrible insomnia! I'll let you know when I start reading.

LOL @ your placement of the word Outstanding! lol.(I still gag a little when I hear that word) AND, I LOVE your idea for the middle finger letter.... I could tell them I only have 1 reason for not coming back (and the "1" could be my middle finger). I am never this way about jobs...EVER! I have never once considered just not coming back to work. I've only had 4 jobs in my lifetime, all of them lasted from 2-5 years, with one lasting 9 years! With all of them I gave a full 2 weeks notice (with one, I gave a months notice). But that's because those places showed me respect. So, I am showing Macy's the same respect they've shown me. neener neener neener! I don't think that I will go back. I'm supposed to work tomorrow night....but.... well..... no thanks! Thanks to all of you for showing your support on this situation in my life. It helps to have a great group of ladies to laugh about it with.


As for my favorite music, unfortunately I don't listen to it anymore while working out, then I couldn't hear my trainer yelling at me...lol.... okay, she doesn't ever yell, but I think she'd get annoyed if I had my IPOD on. But my ALL TIME favorite workout song, the one I played OVER AND OVER AND OVER, shaking my thang to is "SexyBack" by Justin Timberlake. Yep, I AM bringin' sexy back! WHOOP! And, yes, Diva, Justing Timerlake is mighty hot! Another song I really liked was "Stronger" by Kanye West. "that, that that that don't kill me, will only make me stronger...." story of my LIFE!

The other QOTD that I never answered.... I was a newbie to the challenge last go round. I'm back this time around because I lost 17 pounds last time and it is ALL thanks to this challenge and the support I get here. I'm hoping to lose at LEAST 17 this challenge too!

Chicki - congrats on being our teams Biggest loser 2 times out of the 4 weeks we've been going!

Losinitin07 - I'm a huge Daughtry fan too! And yes, my hubby has lost a LOT faster than I have, though he's started slowing down a bit since he's getting closer to his goal. Men just have these uber-fast metabolisms..... but yet we're the ones that have the babies? It just doesn't seem fair, does it?

Diva - OH YEAH, I forgot about the "Dontcha" song! That's another good one to work your fanny to!! I see you want a ranch? The hubby and I want one of those too, in Montana, a log home, on a river.... someday we'll get there! Let me say again I'm glad you're staying!!

Hope4Me - you saw JT in concert with Pink last year? I remember going to see NSync in concert like 8 or 9 years ago and Pink was their opening act then.... how funny!

Michie - sounds like you have your plate FULL (figuratively speaking, of course ) Make sure you get plenty of rest! Otherwise your body doesn't want to function. Did you end up dropping any of your classes? Forgive me if I missed that part, I just can't remember if you did or not.

mothermavis - you're right, any pounds lost are still pounds that are GONE! I try to remember that when I weigh in and only see a 1 pound loss..... that's just 1 pound closer to my goal.

rainlips - You didn't "do nothing" with the challenge - you managed to maintain your weight. That's a big deal!

chiquita623 - maybe Soulbliss's mini challenge could tie in with Easter somehow? What do ya think, Soul? I like having mini-goals that the end date lands somewhere around a holiday of some sort. Not sure why. Seems to make it easier.

ceegee - yes I love John Mayer too!!!! His music is so great to listen to in a bubble bath.... ahhhhh.... a bubble bath, now that would be nice right now....

veggielady - yes, getting rid of that job is a weight off my shoulders. I keep thinking how badly I don't even want to step Retail is a nasty, nasty B*%#&!

ggmugsy - great advise!! I'm an emotional eater to a tee! I used to eat on behalf of people on TV who were sad. Pathetic, isn't it? But it's a disease and unfortunately not a lot of people understand that. You can't just wake up one day and say *POOF* I'm all better now. I still struggle with it.

sxulcmnky - way to go on being back under 200!!! How do you make cous-cous? what does it taste like? I've always wanted to try it, but I have a fear of the unknown!

vanetta - have a great weekend!

hsmomx2 - amen to you on wanting to teach your children to be healthy. I've said that so many times....the cycle stops with ME. I don't want my kids growing up learning to turn to food to ease their pain, sorrow, anger, or as a reward. So far, so good.

caitbeans - sounds like you got yourself a newly rebuilt computer? Computers are the devil. When they work, it's great! When they don't work, your life turns upside down!

Soulbliss - where arrrrrrre you?

it does, doesn't it?

Hey guys! Wow, this place is getting busy!!! Hard to keep up, but I wanted to do a few personals while I have a minute:

Ceegee - Yes, you definitely helped! I'm not mad at all! It's something I've been needing to face but try to avoid because it's uncomfortable. I told DH last night that I need him to get serious and do whatever it takes to make me think about my choices instead of being willing to indulge me all the time. He agreed, so we'll see what happens.

Mmmm....I never knew Wendy's has a grilled chicken sandwich. (probably cuz I never looked for it! ) Gonna have to try that one. Thanks!

Oooooh....and GREAT job on turning down the cookie! Woo-hoo!!!

SoulBliss - Wow, no scale? How liberating! I wish I could throw mine out. I usually weigh myself at least once a day.

Vanetta - Way to go on all the exercise! You are sooooo right! This is a process, and if we take it step by step, we'll eventually get where we need to be.

Karma - Don't EVER be disappointed in a pound! A pound is a step in the right direction! Be happy very every loss. Way to go!


Diva - HUGS!!!! Awww, I don't think anyone was talking to you personally. And we didn't know you were having personal problems. I'm sure nobody meant anything by it, just like you didn't mean to hurt anyone. I think we're all ok and ready to move on, so don't worry about it! We NEED you on our team!

Losinitin07 - Awww! Hugs to you, too! I just wanted you to know that I enjoy reading your posts! I may not have said anything to you directly in the past, because I usually just do personals to everyone who has done personals for me. I hate to be that way, but otherwise, I wouldn't be able to keep up. I sincerely hope I've never ignored a personal directed towards me, and if I have, I'm very sorry. I know it hurts! I've written a few long ones and never received replies, but I'm just assuming that those people skipped over it, and I understand because this board can get BUSY! I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say that I love ya and appreciate your contributions to our team.


Michie - All the above that I wrote to Losinit goes for you as well! I always read your posts and you stand out to me, cuz you're one of the few others that have a face to go with the name, so please know that I know who you are and appreciate you!

Julz - I worked at a store that was bought by Macy's. I ended up quitting because they wanted to lower my employee discount and they wanted me to work more hours. I work 40 hours at my regular job and they wanted me to commit to working 25 - 30 hours a week at the store. With no raise. Like that was going to happen. Sounds like they haven't changed.

Wow, I read a bit more after posting the above and realize that I'm way behind! Sorry if I was beating a dead horse and bringing up things that have already been resolved! I try to get on every other day, so I get a little behind.

As for my workout song, I love Bringin' Sexy Back by Justin Timberlake. It cracks me up, because I'll be pushing my baby in her buggy, dressed in frumpy clothes, and feeling like a whale walking down the street. But I turn that song on my MP3 player and walk to the beat and always feel happier! I can't help but laugh every time I turn it on, cuz I just imagine how funny people I pass would think it was if they could actually here what I was listening too! I probably look like I'm listening to Celine Dion or some other type of "mommy" music.