Hey, chicas! I am back on track and doing well. Had a 'splurge' of celery and hummus after seven last night, but was still in my cal range.

Right now I feel like I am auditioning to be the 8th dwarf. It is a toss up between "Crampy" and "Bloaty". Hopefully TOM will start well ahead of my weigh in.

Let's rock these two weeks!

Morning gals... well I was getting back on track, and then school happened. Hah. I am less than two weeks from finishing, so stress is through the roof.... which means that my nutrition has gone for a vacation, too. Eeesh. I'm letting myself have today as a freebie and then Thursday things are getting right back on track.

Cathy - I hope your hubby is feeling better as the days go on. How are you holding up?

Glad to hear you're back on track, onthetee, but sorry to hear TOM is being a pain in the neck!

I could ask them to do that but I think not only would it cause an unmanageable amount of people to join, it would spur an onslaught of other challenge moderators wanting the same attention.

We get about 200 plus people that sign up for their New Years Resolutions. About half of those people are gone by March. Imagine how bad it would be if we had a lot more people.

Chellez, what do you think about a fruits and veggies challenge? No matter what diet plan one is on, there are some allowable fruits and veggies!

SoulBliss - I'd be interested in a fruit & veg challenge, too. It seems so simple to do, but I know I'm not the only one who struggles with it!

Also - for some of the Bluesers who are in a similar boat to me, I've attached one of the pictures from icanhascheezburger.com this week. It gave me a good laugh, especially as I re-evaluate MY plans!

Hello Blue gals!!!!

I'm having a great week! I measured as I do each week, (I only write that down on Thursday tho). I'm down a little over 26 total inches just since the challenge has started. Sooooo thankful. Seriously. I was feeling so sluggish in the summer. Not next summer tho!!! I'm down to 207 now!! 70 lbs off total. And can't wait to hit my 100 lbs. mark!!! Started this challenge at 235 (was 245 2 wks b4 that tho which was also around TOM so doesn't reeeeally count but 245 was high for me, I never wanted back up there again.) Excited about this new year and the next challenge to help me get to my first real goal, 177. Thanks so much for everyone's support here and input that has helped me this fall season TBL. I've learned something from each person here. You are all so cool. Hope you do the next challenge too! (You all are, right??? )

Cathy, how is your dh? Hope he's better and that he gets well real soon.

Dea, I know! I'm already saving up calories for Christmas Eve and Day. But am determined to pass thru it all with no regrets. There will always be another holiday with great food. No need to ruin what I've worked for just for a few moments of good taste. (Also, I tell myself if I want to eat too many diff. things, I can always make one a week of those things and taste them over time. Doesn't have to just be today that I can have those things, right?)

Chellez, I so understand when ppl beg to be allowed in. That happens to you every time huh? Hmm.. Maybe keep posting what the deadline is way in advance and state really huge in each post that no one can be allowed afterwards, etc. (Hmm.. maybe you already do that.) I dunno! Just trying to help! LOL. Sorry it's so much drama for you. We really are grateful for your hard work on this. It has really saved me this year. So thanks.

Tina, after the holidays things will calm down and we can focus more on ourselves. (yay!) Even tho this time is fun, it's tiring! Which can make us want to eat, plus take away our time and energy for exercise. I know, I'm living it! LOL. I think I am going to have to decorate our yard with the lights, etc. too bc Dh is working so much. Ahhh, tis the season.

Soul, mmmmmm I love my fruits and veggies. They save me when I want to keep munching but have few cals left.

Diva, hi! You are on red team? It's nice to have you visit! Hey, are we all gonna be chosen again for teams, will we be mixed up again? or no? Just curious. Nice to meet u Diva.

Anna, sorry u have TOM coming. You'll feel better when it's gone again. I agree too, let's rock these two weeks like nothing we've ever done b4!! I'll commit to MAKING myself find time and actually DO 15 mins of exercise each day til end of challenge (even if I have to get up 15 mins earlier and just get on tmill).. Anyone else interested?? (I'm actually also doing this for myself for the whole month of December to help keep me focused and get me back in the habit.) So who's in??

Practice, oooh! Two weeks from finishing!! I bet ur excited!!! Yay!!!

Hi, Blues! How was your day?

I hate to sound like a broken record, but I've been struggling...big time! If there was ever any doubt in my mind that I am an emotional eater, these last few weeks have erased every doubt. The job stress has been overwhelming. Combined with the stress of the holidays, traveling and company, I've felt like an emotional basket case. Of course, I've fallen back on my drug of choice to cope.....sugary carbs! Today, I had three major tasks to accomplish for work and I didn't sleep at all last night. I was literally in a half sleep state and did one of these tasks over and over again all night long! Well, I made it through each of my tasks....and was extremely successful. Now, I'm wiped out and will be heading to bed early tonight.
I still have the trip to Minnesota to get through next week...but, its strange. I actually did great with staying on-plan during the last trip to Minnesota. I'm hoping I can do the same thing again. I really can't wait for things to settle back to "normal" after New Years so I can focus 100% on getting in shape and losing this weight once and for all. I am thankful to say that 2007 has not been a complete bust. I've managed to lose over 30 pounds and keep it off and I've not given up. I keep trying. Three steps forward and two steps back is still forward momentum....right?

Diva -Thanks for our little blue cheerleader. I can't wait to use her on this post.
Dea - How are you feeling?
Cathy - I'm sorry to hear that your Hubby hasn't been able to have the surgery yet and is in extreme pain. I hope he finds relief soon.
Tina - I understand about falling off the wagon...I seem to do it every few weeks Don't give up! You can do this!
On-the-Tee - You "splurged" on celerly and hummus? Oh man! I wish that was all I had splurged on. You are doing great!
Soulbliss - I'd like a veggies challenge...or, any type of challenge that encourages whole foods. I really think the better nutrtion can benefit everyone.
Marianne - I understand about the stress. I have felt like that poor kitty all week.
Selina - 26 inches just since the start of this challenge? Girl, you are my hero! I want to be just like you....on the next challenge.

Hope everyone has a great on-plan day tomorrow!

I have always been a 'you play, you pay' kind of chick. My mantra during runs or on the elliptical when I have been bad is: "I ate (insert word here), now I gotta pay" Usually it is pasta or almonds.

Played and paid tonight. I have a tradition with my kids that we started two years ago, and we all love it so much. Indianapolis has the world's largest Christmas tree. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMVE4eFp7HM (not really a tree--we cheat a bit with the title) On Monument Circle is a mailbox for Santa, and elves answer the letters. Also on the Circle is the South Bend Chocolate Company. We drop off our letters, then have a cocoa and admire the lights. This is the first year we have included DH. I kind of liked having it be MY tradition, but he was thrilled to be asked, so I guess that will stick.

Anyway, we ate at Johnny Rockets tonight. Granted, I split my meal with my daughter, did not get cheese or 1000 Island dressing on the burger and said no to the mayo. However, the Johnny Rockets site says that is over 600 calories. I about died when I saw that.

As a result, I came home and walked 5 miles. Despite the fact that I run, I am not a terribly speedy walker, especially when I am listening to news shows on the pod. I just posted my 84 minutes on the moon challenge.

going to bed.

Good morning everyone! Just wanted to get a quick chat in before starting on my work for the day. How is everyone's week going so far in terms of staying on plan? I (supposedly) gained 4 pounds over the holiday weekend (I don't think this is true because even though I did eat more than my 1300 cals a day and ate some junk, I don't think I actually ate 4 pounds of food - I think some of it is probably salt and water retention). This week I was determined to get back on track because the next month I have lots of events that are going to be tempting to go off plan, so I wanted to make every other day even more on plan in case I indulge a few times this month. Monday wasn't great because I went out to lunch and ended up having a burrito that wasn't so great. But I did go home Monday night and pop in a WATP DVD. Tuesday was also a little off because I had some macaroni/cheese/ham casserole that my mom cooked over the weekend and sent a little tupperware back with me. I find it nearly impossible to throw away my mom's cooking, so I ate that for lunch. I made sure to get on the elliptical for 40 minutes Tuesday night tho. Wednesday was clean, with a 30 minute TBL workout with Bob (YAY! - he is so motivating in the TBL workout dvd - even when you have to do lunges and my legs feel like they are going to collapse, Bob somehow talks me into to keep going!). I plan to be on plan today and tomorrow, and at least exercise for 45 minutes tonight. My 2 year anniversary with my fiance is this weekend, so we are going to Ruth's Chris steak house on Sunday - that will be on off-plan dinner, but I plan to exercise Saturday and Sunday for it (probably raking the enormous amount of leaves in our yard as part of the workout). Well, sorry for rambling, just wanted to check in with everyone.

Cathy - how is your husband doing? I was so sorry to read your post about his appendix. My appendix burst when I was 17 so I know what he is going through. My doctor misdiagnosed the pain in my abdomen as being a pulled muscle from weight lifting, and I went around for 2 weeks with a pain in my side, and it finally burst, but I didn't go to the ER until 2 days after it burst, so I was in a lot of pain. I am sending good thoughts and wishes your way and hoping that your husband is ok.

OMG! I love you for posting that site! I've been looking at another forum at their cat thread for the past month and wondering where they get all those pictures!

I just did 42 minutes on the treadmill....I challenge each of you to beat me before midnight!

Hi all,
I'm down 60 lbs today and best of all I made my challenge goal. I think when I originally made it this would have been the last week so I made it just in time. I'm a bit worried about the rest of the challenge. TOM is due on Monday so who knows what will happen with that weight-in. The last week I have a potluck, 2 Christmas parties, and a wedding to go to. Too much temptation!!! I'll need that . I want to finish strong so that will be motivation to be good.

on the tree- I'm taking your challenge. I need to exercise like a crazy women to keep from gaining right now. I know it helped a ton at Thanksgiving.

Cathy- to you and your hubby. Hope things are going better.

Best wishes to all those recovering from sicknesses and to those of you facing finals right now.

Maybe we could all post over the next two weeks what we learned about ourselves or from others during this challenge. I know I have been thinking about this a lot. I will make a list and post it in a few days. Oh, and I like the fruits and veggie challenge idea.

Ok, blue team lets finish strong and win this thing. Anyone now how close the teams are?

Fit-congrats! I have had a good OP day, and I still have a few cals to spare. I have an outing tomorrow night, so I am just going to keep those cals in my back pocket until then.

I agree about the exercise. When I was younger, calorie vigilance was enough, but not anymore. If I am not moving my a$$, then nothing moves FROM there either. I hope to get in another 40 minutes of cardio tomorrow and then whatever else I can do with toning.

Strong to the end, blue beauties!