I have a fundraiser tomorrow night, and I am went to GW and found nothing yesterday. I wanted a new skirt, but it did not find anything I liked.

I always assume the universe is saying, "Bite me." I appreciate that you can look for the positive.

That is great. Your impact on the world is amazing.

Of course you did!

I did too. I was waiting to read about how she felt more balanced!

I am so sorry. That has to be hard.

I am going to the doc today. I sound like a seal when I cough. Not good. On the other hand, I am tired of treating the symptoms instead of the causes. I cannot go back to the other doc b/c I have maxed my coverage on alt. medicine for the year already. I know a little acupuncture would clear my sinuses and chest immediately, but I don't have the pocket money to do it right now.

Amy - I had to go in and edit your post with all the in it.

I didn't really say anything about the stuff with the red vs blue cheerleader because I thought it was just going to be a few fun posts and thats it.

But like I told the Red Team, while its all in fun and jest, we need to play nice so no one get their feelers hurt.

Hi! Sorry I'm kind of late checking in! This thread is LONG! I'm Liz, I'm 26 years old, and this is my first BL challenge, or challenge of any kind. I've actually been sick this week, so I haven't worked out at all, and I kind of miss it! So I think thats a good thing. Its been kind of easy with eating - since I cant smell much, and don't feel good, I haven't had any problems with over eating.

I work in a dental office, and do a bunch of different things - I run the front desk, and then also will assist when needed. I live with my bf of 9 years, and our two Chihuahuas. They are my babies

What do you prefer to be called? Liz, lizzy, whatever really, I have about a 100 different nicknames. Bf calls me LizBetty or Betty

We talk a lot about being OP? What is YOUR plan? I've been trying to work out every day, and had done pretty well last week, but have been sick since Sunday, so I haven't been working out. I was counting calories, and that seems to be working right now, as of Jan 2008, I've lost almost 15 lbs. Its coming off slowly, but I'm trying to change how I live, so I'm ok with that (most of the time anyway)

How can we help you achieve your goals? lol it would be nice if someone could come to my house at 5:30 am to kick my butt out of bed to work out... but I guess just the usual support

Is there any specific request you have? Looking for a partner to hold you accountable for calories, exercise, etc? Do you need some inspiration each morning? I'd like to have a partner to hold me accountable, so if anyone wants one, I'm here!

good morning all. pretty busy today. got a consultation with my client about a wedding cake she wants me to do in a couple of weeks. I'm excited about it. I also have two other cakes to make this weekend. One is for tomorrow and she hasn't given me any details on it. So frustrating some times. People think that I can just whip up something in 10 minutes and the cake is completely done, that's not the case, it takes time---alot of it. And she didn't ask me till this past wednesday. I'm still dealing with health issues and stressed over it. Hope all is better in everyone elses world

Hey - Hope things look better for you soon. Just remember, you can come here and scream, yell, vent, and figuratively pull you hair out (don't really pull it out, it is too beautiful). We'll listen and probably vent right along with you.

I think I'm gonna go work out and try to get my mind off of it.

Hey red team trouble maker right here! Anything I said was totally in jest but apparently bothered someone(s) so I'm sorry. The goal here is for everyone on all teams to kick butt and lose weight, just a little sarcastic joking back and forth - no harm meant. Have a great weekend all.

Down one pound even. I had a slight gain after I weighed in last week, so I actually lost about 2.2.

Holy rapid posting, Batman! I can hardly keep up! And just while I was catching up, another 7 posts were added

I went out walking with Bean last night intending to do 50 minutes to meet my 70 minutes for the challenge for yesterday. Well, I started up the street and around the corner, and I see this little old lady walking in the parking lot (there are sidewalks, so I don't know why she was in the parking lot). Being me, I smile and say hi, and she asks me if I know where the rental office is. I explained that it's a townhouse community, not rentals, but there are some apartments in other areas, and the ofice for those is a few streets away. So we get to chit-chatting about my pup and whatnot, and she asks if I'm out walking with my pup. When I say yes, she says, "Oh good, I"ll join you." Umm, okay...so much for my exercise--she had a cane and walked veeeeery slowly.

But my annoyance quickly went away as I could tell she really needed someone to talk to (or at least someone to listen to her). She told me her life story, basically--that she had cancer, she'd had some surgeries and needed 2 more, her son was in the Army in Iraq and was coming home at the end of the month, so she was staying here with his wife waiting for him to come home, but the DIL did not treat her well, so she couldn't wait to go back home....

She just talked and walked and talked and walked. By the time I got home, I'd been out walking (and listening) for an hour and 15 minutes So I got more walking in than I would have, and she got a walking companion for the evening. I guess it was a win-win

That shows a lot of compassion.

Ok I am caught up - 9 pages since last night

Vixjean - I am so sorry for your loss. You will be in my thoughts.

Today was okay - I had a blow up with my sister at my parents - I let my mum know afterwards I will not be contacting my sister ever again and if she contacts me it will probably be to ask for something in which case my answer will be "No- I am sorry I am too busy for that!"

My sister treats everybody horribly- my mum looks after her two boys everyday before and after school- she volunteers at their school, she cooks dinner for them twice a week - my parents have no income, they both just retired and she doesnt offer them a cent! And she usually eats and runs and doesnt bother to offer to help clean up!!!! Anyway tonight she came in after work - I was invited for dinner as well - and when Liam saw her - he crossed his arms and frowned. My sister annoys everyone and she yells at him "Why arent you nice -your not a nice little boy" I looked at my mum disapprovingly- my sister's children have behavioural difficulties and the only time I pull them up is when they are at my house - they follow my rules. She is always on my son. I didnt say anything - I wanted to let my mum see for herself how rude she is to Liam- anyway Liam had a ball - her oldest son and Liam had finished dinner and I said they could play with it. Anyway as children typically play - they (my 10year old nephew and 4 year old) son argue over the ball - she takes it off them and says to my son - "you are a horrible boy" and says nothing to her own... Liam cries. He comes to me to try and get his ball off her and I tell him ask Aunty nicely for it back - and she says to him, "No I am giving it to the dog - you are a horrible boy" He cries more and screams at her. I couldnt tolerate it anymore and I said "Talk nicely to him" My mum said "he is only little" She repeats her comment - no, he is a naughty little boy, and Liam starts sobbing. It wasnt what she said it was also how she said it.

This is common thing when we get together as a family and I said something about how I always talk nicely to her children even when they are being difficult - have some respect. She picked up her bag and went home - without saying goodbye to anyone. Liam was very distressed. But my sister is another person who I am OVER with - she needs to treat her family better. ERGHHHH! I think my mum was surprised but I had complained to her earlier in the week about when I had phoned my sister to see how she was going - she tore shreds off me. She has time for her inlaws but not her family... I told mum about my annoyance with my sister - and my mother witnessed her behaviour to me and my son firsthand.

Thank you for the vent!!!! It was great typing the frustration out rather than eating it away!

OH, and all this sudden exercise seems to be pissing my body off I was really hoping for that rush of water weight loss when starting this challenge since I'd ben eating crappy and not exercising at all and not drinking enough water before, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. I'm happy enough as long as it doesn't go UP, but it's frustrating not to see some major losses like some others are. I know, I know, this is a marathon, not a sprint, blah blah blah...and I'm not giving up, and I understand the million reasons why I shouldn't watch the scale so closely and all that...but this is a challenge, dammit, and a measly 1-2 pounds a week isn't going to help me win it! And 1-2 pounds a week certainly is measly when I'm over 300 pounds. But, nothing I can do but keep on keeping on! Just needed to vent a little frustration. I see these huge losses from some of you, and CHEER (both for you as an individual and for us as a team!), but it inevitably creeps into my head, "Why don't I see losses like that?"

Blah. Whatever. I really don't need advice or anything in response to this--just venting. I already know I need to be patient and there are lots of determinants of success, not just the number on the scale, and all that good stuff. Heck, I could write an encyclopedia on all that good stuff

Wow. That is horrible. I am glad you are sheltering your kids from her. She sounds like a nightmare.

Many people would be thrilled with 1-2 pounds a week, and regardless of your starting weight, that is considered healthy weight loss. One of the greatest stumbling blocks to weight loss is unrealistic expectations, and I hope you are not setting yourself up for disappointment each week instead of celebrating the progress you have made.

Morning team!

Vixjean - I'm sorry to hear about your Uncle.


Jilly - That was so sweet of you to listen.

Anna - Congrats on the pound, or two. I hope you feel better soon. I've never tried acupuncture.

Chellez - Good for you on saying "NO" to product instead of real food.

Fresno - I've always wanted to do the dunk test. It amazes me how far off the other methods of body fat testing can be. Are you bodybuilding for competition or just for fun?

Liz - It's always nice to meet another chihuahua mama!

Cindy - WTG on you loss. Dang, that's more than I've lost in 6 months!


So I went for my fitness assessment this morning at 7am. Actually I went in early so I could knock out my 5K for the day. (I still need to do 3/4 of a mile, I was running late.) Mike the PT took measurement, which I didn't ask for, and weighted me and took my body fat with calipers. Interestingly my body fat is 29%, which is high, but much less than my Tanita scale tells me (42%). So I'm much closer to being healthy than I thought. After the torture, I mean the measurements, Mike had me do some squats, lunges, and other body weight exercises to make a judgement on my general fitness level. Basically I'm on the right track, but I need to work on my core muscles, and stretch more often, like every day. So I'll be looking into a yoga class. I wonder if Bob is available?

Vanessa - Wow! Your sister sounds unhinged. Good for you for being a good example for Liam by not letting her get away with it.