Thus my 150 calories of "graze" that I start each morning with.

I'm agreeing with weights being most accurate. I have been weighing most everything I can. Gonna have to replace the batteries in my kitchen scale soon as it is getting such a workout.

I am SOOOO proud of myself. I finished my 500 minutes of cardio for the month. The kids helped me to 'esersice' for the last 21 minutes I had to do tonight. I told DH to take pictures but he didn't. They had my stretchy out and were copying all of the WATP moves I was doing. They were so cute. Next time I am going to have to get them on video.

Next goal......let me think.....550 minutes.

LOL! This is exactly how my 2 year old says it!!

BTW - CONGRATS on reaching your exercise goal!!!!!!!! WTG!!

I got the 5 box set and the Beginner set which is 2 dvds. I think the black set which as 3 is the beginners plus the cardio that is in the 5 box set (had to do some research to find that out). That 3 set is more expensive and I woudl have 2 of the cardio DVD, so i got the 2 set and the 5, and paid just under $24 at amazon for all 7. It said it would take a month for them to get here, but they came in less than a week.

If you could get them all I really recommend them because the beginners set is a great workout, will take me some time to work up to the boxed set...BUT that cardio kickboxing in the bigger set is well worth the $$! It's fast paced cardio but again, is Jillian style with no dancing around or anything. I sweated more in that 30 min. than I do with the beginners set that is longer! Plus, you pick up SO much information about your body, tips on training, etc. She talks as if she is training you one on one. Then in the cardio she's so real, she's dying for it to be over and let's you know she's feelig it just as you are, I love it.

Thanks for your opinions. I agree, the weight is probably more accurate, not that it really matters that much.

Just wanted to pop in and say good morning to everyone. A new month, another new beginning, and we are going to do this!

Much better than my 3 year old who comes in when I am on the treadmill and says, "Are you all stink?"

Well I'm in a much better mood this morning despite the heavy rain we are getting outside. I'm enjoying my "breakfast soda" since I'm still without coffee

Today is Friday and there's a few things on my to do list today:

• Get invoicing done
• Get prepared for the tax audit Monday
• Line up the bills I need to pay
• Clean up the office!
• Write some more of my novel
• Finish the laundry at home
• Hang the curtains in the computer room
• Try and swing by Lowe's to buy some paint
• Squeeze in a workout in there somewhere!

My mission last night was to get the computer room painted so I could get my desk setup and ready but Daniel decided to drop the bombshell on me that he doesn't want the computer room blue like our bedroom. In fact, he doesn't want any more rooms blue. So now I have two brand new cans of "Bother Free Blue" (its a Disney paint color) just hanging out getting wasted in my garage. If anyone wants them you are more than welcome to come get them!

Well at least this gives me an excuse to get creative in the other two rooms. I'll admit I think all the bedrooms in one shade would be boring as well.... looks like I get my green exercise room after all.

Which brings me to another rant... I was watching HGTV before we bought the house and they were showing a remodel of a "fitness room" in one house. They painted the walls a pale blue. OMG Don't they know that blue does not promote energy but relaxation! Get your chi's right people!!! Green = energy!! Which is much more appropriate for a room you'll be exercising in!

Ok now that I got that out of my system.

I didn't get on the scale this morning cause I knew about what it would say. I'm hoping if I get some exercise over the weekend that it'll help my body dump this water I'm hanging on to and I'll at least break even. I'll probably weight through the weekend just so I can be sure.

Shay - I don't think that we have always won but we pull a very strong showing most of the time. We just really need to focus on being consistent from week to week and we should come out ok in the end.

Well I better get moving... the invoicing is calling...

Good morning, Bluesers and TGIF! What are you plans for the weekend?

Purple - Congratulations on losing 3.6 pounds!

Yesterday went well. I have managed to teach myself how to use Powerpoint and things just started to really finally come together for me yesterday. It's almost like the lightbulb finally came on and I understood what I needed to do. The formal presentation is not until February 11th, but I just felt like this report was hanging over my head. I am much more relaxed today! And, I didn't turn to the kitchen to de-stress at all!

I’ve noticed the same thing…when I incorporate protein in every meal, I’m less hungry…which is a very good thing! And, Congratulations on making your exercise goal! I think it’s great that your kids do the workouts, too. Jus think, you are teaching them a very valuable thing….to exercise!

Dionne, I apologize, but I seem to have missed something. What exactly is Take of?

I agree! It just seems like everyone is much more upbeat and on-plan this week.

Karen - That is great news about Aiden's doctor visit!
Nori - How is your DD today?
Selina - I'm praying for you, Hon! Just remember that the hard times can help to build our faith. You can do this!
Ginger - Hope you're having a better day today. No quitting after a month this time! This time, its for real, right?

This is day 5 of calorie counting and I must say....this is incredibly easy! I bring up my spreadsheet each morning and plan my calories for the day. Hubby does a spreadsheet, too. It is such a relaxed way of eating for me as there is no guesswork....my numbers are there in black and white as a visual confirmation that I'm on-plan. I'm hoping that the planning will help me this weekend. Weekends are my hardest times for staying on-plan as my schedule is too random. This weekend, one of my best friends who lives right across the street from me, is moving back to Florida. Her daughter is my youngest daughter's best friend...they practically live together and her daughter is almost like another one of my daughters. They leave on Sunday. I've been dreading this day, so I really need to be careful not to comfort myself with food. I thought about changing my official weigh-in day to Friday's so the weekends wouldn't mess up the scales, however, I'm going to keep it on Mondays as I need to be accountable. I still haven't managed to get myself back on the treadmill. I'm not sure why. I really need to dig down deep inside and find my drive to exercise again.

Hope everyone has a great on-plan day! GO BLUE!

Friday's Blue Question of the Day:

How do you stay focused on the weekend?

For me, I've not really been focused on the weekends....ever! I'm hoping that planning my calories for each day will work for me.

I am so busy, there is no time for grazing and snacking, usually. If we have a family gathering, I find out who is bringing what and put it into my calorie calculator before I leave so that I know how much I can have.

QOTD: For me, the weekends are actually easier. Of course, I don't have to worry about kids or anyone else but myself. But, on Saturdays and Sundays, I find it much easier to get to the gym. I don't have to worry about squeezing it in. I'm also much more active outside of the gym. I've got time to walk my dog (we usually do about 3.5 miles on Saturday and on Sunday). I've got time to do yardwork and random little home improvement things.

As for food, the busier I stay, the less I want to snack. As long as I've got distractions, I'm fine. I'm not much of a drinker (I'm a two beers maximum type of girl!), so that's not an issue. I usually go out to dinner at least once (usually) twice during the weekend with my friends, but I always try to pick something moderately healthy off the menu.

Picking healthy off the menu will be kind of difficult tonight as we're going to a new all-you-can-eat cereal bar in town. Basically, you get a bowl and you have 20 different types of cereal to pick and choose from. I figure that I'll probably go into some sort of sugar frenzy. But, calorie wise, I've got about 800 calories banked for this evening. I doubt I could eat 800 calories worth of cereal! But if I do, I just won't have a beer at karaoke afterwards. It's all about balance!

Chelle - both HD and Lowe's will usually take back paint returns, even if custom colored. I know, it's unbelievalbe, but I've been in the returns line when people do it. They resell it, and yes, people actually buy it bc they discount it pretty heavily.

Hiya. Thanks Practice and Rhonda. I actually am proud I'm not gaining tons like I would've done in the past with this stress. I just found out yesterday that Mr. Furley is leaving on Feb. 6th. I'm sad but not as sad as when Tiny Baby left bc I knew Mr. Furley wouldn't come up for adoption, I've been taking him for visits with his family, etc. So it's much easier and truth be told I'm glad a little bc when a newborn comes it won't be so hard on me with only one baby instead of two. So things are working out. Just hope these people treat him well. (The ones awarded custody haven't ever even come to a visit with him, just so happens their homestudy passed so the judge moved him there. He's going to the bio dad's mom, bio dad wants nothing to do with him tho, none in that part of family has ever even seen him. So whatever, no one cares about my opinion. What we see and know and believe for these kids doesn't matter.)

Well, I do have a good thing to say. I measured and am down quite a bit in inches! I'm so excited. I'm 36.75 in the waist and at my heaviest that I measured (was bigger b4 but didnt measure then) I was 49 in the waist. I'm 48.75 in the hips and used to be 61+. So really happy. Also, weird tho, I wasn't this small when I weighed this much last time. So that's strange but ok with me!

Anyhoo, Mr. F has a doc appt for his 9 month check up so better get outta here. Big hugs to you all and hope you have a great Friday.

I'm feeling better about everything. I have to trust that each thing that happens is part of a greater plan and altho I don't know what that is, it's the best thing for me. I will be even better after I get to have my date tomorrow nite.