Daffy! There you are! I hope everything settles onto an even keel with stress and your job. I think it's wonderful that you've basically maintained under such pressure. Hope your cottage visit is wonderful.

Go Jammy! Don't you love mysterious downward creeps?

I think I'm going to make this challenge or come really close. Since the weather is warming up and I'm a cheapskate who won't turn on the A/C the weight seems to be coming off again. A warm house does a stellar job of appetite suppressing.

My son gets his cast off today, FINALLY, so we're going to have fun with swimming and bumper boats.

I just weighed in and have lost the last 2 pounds on this challenge-8/8. I'm going to try for 1 more pound before Canada Day and make it 9 pounds in total.

Rina and Isabella, congrats on making your Canada Day goals!

For the next challenge, Labor Day looks like a good option, almost 9 weeks after this goal is done, which would leave us 8-1/2 weeks for a Halloween goal.

I'm staying OP with my eating, and will start back with the regular exercise on Monday. My (cut) finger is healing up nicely...hopefully will be back to normal in a week, but meantime it's good enough I can work out again.

Hoping to make a late comeback and get at least part of my remaining 3 lbs for this challenge. If I don't, that's okay, because I could make my next goal 191 lbs, which will put me into the "overweight" BMI range, and out of "obese" status...how cool will THAT be?

Daffy -- Sounds like you are dealing well with a tough time. Congrats for stting reasonable goals and getting back on track!

FB -- I'm rooting for you! Whether you make it or come close, you are still a winner !

Congrats Rina and Isabella! That's super news!

Jammy - Glad to hear your cut is better. Setbacks like that are when it's most important to hang in there and do what you can. It's great that you made progress this challenge and are already planning for the next!

Since my self-challenge was to stay OP, I can't claim victory until the end, but so far so good. And I'm already pleased with how far the scale has moved. Adding more exercise really helped speed things up!

Hello all!
Big congrats to Rina and Isabella, way to go!
Daffy, you should be commended for maintaining under all that stress! (I agree with FB).
FB and Jammy glad to hear the pounds are dropping for you guys.
Tomorrow I measure myself on the fancy scale, so I will see then, but as far as my bathroom scale goes it seems to be holding steady at 232 as if there is a magnet drawing it to that number. BUT in the past, when my bathroom scale has stayed on one number like that (regardless of time of day or how much food I have eaten or clothing) in the past, it means that in a couple of days there is going to be a big drop. So fingers crossed I will at least get a little closer to my CDay goal.
Jammy I would definitely be up for a labour day goal too!

Yoyoma, I'm glad to hear that adding more exercise helped speed up the fat burning. I'm hoping it will help me, too.

I'll be glad to get back to regular workouts, even if it doesn't change the scale, because I feel like I don't have the same energy or enthusiasm for my day, when I'm not working out.

Sgirl, I hope you'll get your big drop. Good luck with your weigh-in tomorrow!

I got another pound for this challenge today: down to 196.0. Maybe I will make this challenge goal? Only 2 pounds to go!

Had an NSV this week, too...actually fit in a pair of 36" waist shorts. That's a size down from the 38" waist jeans I've been stuck in since the beginning. That means I can buy new jeans soon!

So I wake up this morning and the bathroom scale BANG hits 232 as if there is some force keeping it there....BUT....this morning b4 my work out, I get on the gym scale that put me at 230 AND that I am down 12 lbs in FAT since the start of this challenge!!!!!!!!!! WOOOHOOOOO!! So I am very happy about that! For consistency I'm going to keep my bathroom scale as my ticker weight though, but I will say I feel like I made my Canada day goal since I am down so far in the fat category. I learned a lot on this challenge, esp. that I think since I weight train so much to lose 10 lbs off the bathroom scale is a bit unrealistic for me. Next challenge I think it will be to just stay on plan and then watch whatever weight falls from that.

Jammy congrats on going down to a 36! Shopping for smaller clothes is so much fun!
Congrats on everyone else's accomplishments!
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Oh gosh- everyone is doing so well! Cannot wait to share another challenge with everyone.

I had an ultimate NSV the other night! As I've probably mentioned too many times, I'm a photographer. Yet I don't allow myself in photos, hate it. My hubby snapped one of my son and I the other night with a crappo disposable camera (I leave my cameras at work) and it's like the second photo EVER that I don't hate being in since he was born 4 years ago regardless of the poor quality.

This is great because I feel like my son's photo albums are pretty complete and document his life well (although I often slack when it comes to taking photos of him) except for photos of his mom.

Yeah, my face is still chunky- but almost 80 pounds LESS chunky and my eyebrows need work - and I'll probably take this down soon because I'm shy and don't love posting my photo on the net, but here's a bit of bravery and anyhow - introducing us:



Great job Layri! You finished up ahead of schedule!
Good luck retiredone- although I don't think luck will be involved - you certainly know what to do!
Yoyo- thanks! Stay on plan and complete this challenge with a bang! We're almost there!
Yay Sgirl- don't you love those fancy gym scales? I just had my BF measured this morning at the gym too!
Woo Jammyjam! Shopping for new clothes is great! Congrats on the extra pound!

Yahoo- I just realized I hit my goal a week ago. My goal now is to hit 229 and be out of the 330's. 2.5 lbs will do it!!!

FB, you look beautiful! Not chunky at all, though I understand things look different when we're looking at ourselves in photos. I still have my highest weight photo as my avatar, to remind me how far I've come. Anyway, seriously, there's no need for you to be camera-shy! Thank you for sharing!(and your boy is a cutie!)

Sgirl, maybe your scale really is broken? I joke about my scale at home, but I think I'll have to replace it soon. I got on this morning and heard a big crack, like the plastic is breaking...guess the daily weighing and repeated abuse (when my big dog knocks it over) are taking a toll on it. I'm finally back with the weight training...woohoo! I'm addicted, what can I say? I'm hearing you on the weight loss. Not sure if I should set a number next challenge, or just set some other type of goal. I liked having something to shoot for, besides staying OP, but maybe I can set a weight lifting goal or minutes of exercise or something, to keep me pushing hard, and let the scale number fall where it may.

LC, you're over 50 lbs lost...that's awesome! Good luck with the new mini goal. I love shooting for the 9s, too.

Thanks Jammy! I'm mortified my photo is on the net (I told you I'm a bit shy) but I'll leave it up till the challenge is over.

How's the gym coming along? Love it? I'm crazy over strength training, I love it and hate it so, it's great! I told my trainer I eventually want the physique of the chick from Terminator and she's really pushing me hard. My lower body is amazingly strong (I shock the trainer), probably from cycling, upper body is WEAKweakWEAK but we're working on it.

I wish I could get a good grasp on what to do with weight lifting by myself. The trainer hooks me up, but it's still getting awfully expensive. I should check out some books I'm thinking. I don't know how long people usually use a trainer. We're going onto week 6 I believe.

I tried that C25K thing everyone mentions with my Jack Russell- YEOW! I don't think I'm a huge fan of running. I don't know how to jog, just full out sprint and until I learn to pace myself I think it will suck. Dog loved it.

My weight is headed down again. It's funny, I lose in spurts and then get stuck for a minute. I hope I come close to my challenge so I can join everyone for the Labor Day one. Labor Day would be good for me. Every year my hubby's union has a picnic on Labor Day and every year I've skipped it because I don't want to be the fat wife. Maybe I'll go this year.

Doing awesome lifechange. 50 pounds is wonderful! You've done so well in such a short amount of time. Rock on!

FB, I like jogging, but I realise it's not for everybody. Plenty of other cardio options in the world, though!

I haven't been to the gym since I gashed my finger, but it's healed up enough and I finally put some gas in my van, so I'll go back to the gym tomorrow for my weight workout. I'm a little put off by the "see no one, talk to no one" attitude that seems to be the norm (in the weight room, at least)at the Y, but maybe I'll meet people as I get into a more regular time frame and go there enough. Not like I want to chat while I'm doing a set, but it's just weird watching these people, and nobody says boo to anybody else, or looks them in the eye, like they're all invisible. I would much prefer a nice small gym where folks know your name, but I don't know of any place like that around here, not that I can afford, anyway!

Oh, glad to hear about the weight loss this week!

I've been spending too much time on the 'puter, trying to figure out a new lifting routine. I was going to do NROL, but I really don't like the FB workouts, so I'm planning my own program: upper/lower split, and will start with 2 or 3 exercises per muscle group, and go from there. Seems like I just can't find a program online or from a book that is just what I want, so I gotta make my own!

195 today...One pound to go!

Oh, I'm sorry about your finger. I didn't forget, just mistakingly assumed it was better.

Gym attitudes can be weird, otherworldly. I'm still mulling over it myself. I'm a LOUD person with a really nasty down and dirty sense of humor. My little gym is more tolerant than others I belonged to but they still didn't know what to make of me at first. I usually train with a friend, so I tend not to care when I'm with her - just get louder and crazier. I've noticed that different people are there at different times. At my gym the friendly rock n' roll crowd is there at night. During the day it's stiff lipped professionals. I know you just recently joined but have you tried different times? My little gym is tons cheaper than a bigger one, at $15.00 a month. I don't know what your area would run though - I'm in the Midwest. They're hard to find because they're generally low budget and don't advertise. I'm sure the Y rocks though, they probably have a great weight room? Plus swimming, classes and a locker room - luxury!

I hope you find a routine that works for you, making your own is the best way to go. I can't wait until I know what the heck I'm doing and can finesse things.

1 pound to go (!!!!!!) - congrats, you're really in the 1's now (I'm always nervous until I get about 5 pounds under the new 'decade')!

Yack, sorry I was so chatty!

You're funny, FB! I wish we could work out some time. I think we'd get along just fine, since I used to a real live sailor, so I'd get your jokes. I should look into trying to find some little private gym again, in case there's something out there like that. I wanted to join Crossfit, but the one near us charges $150 a month for me and the boy, and still $100 a month for just one adult. Too steep for my budget!

I should be in bed, but I had to tell you guys...I went skating!!! (after over a month off for injury) And, my knee was good! No stabbing pain this time...woohoo! My legs are a little out of shape, but I got my jam on (jam, jammy, get it? haha...er...nevermind), and was lucky enough to get the whole dance crew there at once. We had a great time dancing, and it was so good to be skating again, pain free!

Tomorrow is my birthday, 39 this year. From what I hear, I should go mental and do a lot of crazy stuff in the coming year, like buy a sportscar, go skydiving, see the world in my RV...no, wait, I think that's when I'm sixty-nine...whatever! I'm going to lunch tomorrow with my sister...Red Lobster...is that crazy enough? Hopefully, I'll get a little birthday weight loss tomorrow morning!