125.5, ladies! Another half-pound down. I'm psyched by the changes I'm seeing in my body. Went and bought new bras today--bought some 32DDs and one 32DDD. My boobs haven't been this small since I was 17, and I am totally happy about it! I have been wearing some grossly oversized 36DD bras for a long time now, and my new bras make me look much better in my t-shirts. Yay!

cantgetenoughchoc: I'm exactly the same way about treats now. My mother is like me, gained weight over the years, then got thin again and has maintained for a long time. When she visited in mid-June, we came across an ice cream vendor. We asked him for one type of ice cream off his list, which he didn't have, then another, and he was out of that, too... then he told us what he had, and we decided not to get any of them. The old me so would've gotten whatever he had, but we both knew, when you're going to splurge, it better be really good.

krampus: I'm sure it must be strange, coming back home after a long time. But you strike me as a super-capable gal, so I know you'll get back in the swing of things soon!

philana: Back on the bandwagon, girl! You can do it! My two cents, for what it's worth: be careful not to overcompensate by restricting too much... binge/restrict cycles can get pretty nasty, as plenty of people here at 3FC can attest. I'd just put it down as one lost day and continue as planned.

fitmom: Noooooo not the bloating! Hope it goes away soon. I agree, cooking breaks are awesome--and kudos to you for staying on plan. And yes, those are my arms. They were sort of semi-flexed, so they're a bit more impressive than they are when they're just relaxed. But I'm pretty proud of my arms--worked hard for 'em, ya know? (I know you know... 'cause you are the ABS QUEEN. )

Dorian5: You'll bounce back soon. I'm always amazed by your progress!

skinnyminnynow: Welcome! Congrats on your losses so far--you're doing really well! 99 degree walks... that is so hardcore, lol.

Hope everybody else is doing well!

sumire - you are calling 32DD small? Hihih! Then I just have no boobs at all - you must have a wonderful hourglass figure if I you have those measurements. Im jealous! And thanks for the advice, I actually don't eat very restrictive - my problem really just is -not- eating something when it's right infront of me. And there's been too many temptations. I need to learn how to not eat something when a co-worker brings in petit fours or when there is bags of chips leftover at my house from a party.

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I am so HAPPY. I am back on the bandwagon. I did my excersise last night (gym + c25k) and I had been eating a little below maintenance but not on plan so wasn't expecting direct results from one day back on track - but I lost 1lbs already. Finally below the 143 where I'd been sitting at for a week. I am hoping to get to 140 by saturday - because sunday I go to France and need a good start!

Dorian At least the food sounds worth it! Gourmet chocolate, mac and cheese, pulled pork YUM! I hate when I waste calories on something that doesn't have the "Mmmmmm, that was soooo good!" factor. And it was after official weigh in day, no doubt that you will be back on track for a loss for your next weigh in!
Krampus Sorry you are not feeling at home yet. I'm sure it will take awhile to feel to get the feeling that this is home again.
Sumire A fried rice and tomato sauce burger? Shudder!
Cantgetenough Minus three pounds when you thought you lost nothing, double bonus!!!! WOOHOO
Dorian, again Ooops, just got to the point of the devil dog, cookies, and PB. Ugggh, I hate that, it always takes something delicious and worth it to zap my willpower, but it seems once I pass that wall, my mouth becomes a magnet for junk for days lately.

I am wondering if my scale is broken. I gingerly stepped on for the first time in at least a week thinking "Oh, please don't say 140. Top out at 135-136 please, please, please." And then it said 130. I swear I don't know how I am maintaining. Maybe I am so used to the "dieting" mentality that I really am eating at maintenance levels and it just feels like I am overindulging? Even if my mouth isn't eating, my mind is constantly rummaging for food, thinking I am hungry, what should I eat next, even if I *just ate
Little League football season has begun. This usually entails me sitting on my butt for THREE hours five days a week at the practice field. The park has a one-third mile loop around it, so it is the perfect time to get my run in this year while still being at the field in case of an emergency. It isn't my ideal time of day for running as it is still sunny and hot, but if my 7 and 10 year old can work for three hours in helmets and uniforms, I can surely run for 45 minutes in a tank and shorts.

sumire: Ooo, I knew they were your arms. I wanna cry now for real, lol. Consider me very impressed. They remind of my sister's arms, she's muscular like you. Think of Tori Spelling - her arms and mine could be twins, lol. Congrats to you on the scale moving down, always a good thing. OMG, the Abs queen? That made me chuckle, seriously. I know what you mean about your t-shirts fitting better with the right bra. Foundation garments are the basis for any wardrobe IMO. And by the way, not only would I give my right arm for your biceps but um, your boobage as well, lol. Give me just one of your D's and I'd be happy. Mine are looking full again b/c the TOM is here but once it's gone, the fullness will be too. Oh well.

aimeebell: You are so close to goal, that's awesome! I wish I had a field closer to my house so I could run on it too. I bet you look really good at your height at 130 lbs. That's funny that we have kids that are similiar ages, mine are 9 and 6. They don't play baseball though. Older son is into music and younger son wants to play football. I knew there was a reason I liked you and we're even the same height too.

philana: Can you stow me away in your suitcase? LOL. I hope you have fun on your trip. Good to see you are back on track. Having somewhere to go on vacation is usually a great motivating factor, at least it is for me.

Well, there's still a heat advisory today with on and off showers so the kids and I are stuck indoors, again. Oh well. I'm sore as heck from yesterday's HIIT but in a good way. Last night was Pilates and I slept like a baby, lol. Tonight is my weight training and core work.

This is a weird question but do any of you find that as your abs shape up that your innie belly button is starting to slightly protrude? Mine is ever-so-slightly. I've seen photos of other women online who exercise regularly and theirs does as well. I wonder why this happens. Weird or what?!?

It's almost time for me to start making lunch. A mother's work is never done. Have a great Tuesday everyone!!

I've come to the conclusion that I don't like lifting weights, lol. I LOVE LOVE LOVE cardio. I don't get a 'runners high' from lifting weights and I find it boring. Plus, I have to really concentrate on my form which with two kids my mind is all over the place. I do love my kettlebells but I'm finding that I've mastered the 15 lb. weight so I've got to buy at least a 20 lb. weight to challenge myself. And the whole, 'whoa is me thing' that I don't really build muscle all that much because of my body type is depressing me too. It seems like everyone on this board has muscles but me, lol. Oh, I don't know. I just love the way running has changed my body, I can't really say that for weights. Ugh! End of my rant.

fitmom I used to love, love, love cardio but now I find it incredibly boring and taxing. I still love spinning though because the music and ever changing tempo of the ride keeps you from getting boring but anything else just drives me crazy. It used to be that all I needed was an Ipod full of good music and I could jump on the elliptical for an hour with no problem. If I did that now Id probably die of boredom.

Nowadays I prefer my dvds that incorporate bouts of cardio in between strength training. And I love, love, love working my lower body! Squats, lunges, you name it... I just love feeling those muscles activate. Good thing too bc that is the part of my body that still needs the work!

skinnyelle39: I can't really do too many squats anymore because my knee makes a creaking sound but I'm a lot older than you so I'm sure that's why. It stinks getting older. It's funny because I used to hate cardio and love lifting weights but I guess fitness is like anything else in life - lots of ups and downs along the way.

I did great today, weirdest thing ever though is that my tummy feels a bit weird but nothing is happening. It's not TOM, feels more like a bug or so. But I don't have any issues. Only thing I notice is that today I am extremely hungry. Even though I ate about 1400 calories. I had trouble at the gym because of the hunger so just quit sooner and went home for a hearthy dinner with lots of tempe, egg and whole wheat crackers. But the hunger is giving me a headache by now.

Don't know what to do - it's almost midnight so I should probably just sleep. The thing is, normally I would just eat. I already ate dinner without paying attention to the calories because I felt like I should pay more attention to my feeling of hunger than anything. But.. today is the first day of not eating junk at all, and doing so well on plan again after a week. So I kinda obsess over staying on it. while my plan ofcourse is to just eat what I need.

Bladiebla. Nevermind me! Haha. I'm gonna go for an extra large breakfast. If this remains it might be some stomachbug eating up my energy and I'll go on higher cals for a few days. First time actual hunger since I started!

Aouch 3 donuts today haha! I guess it will be a high cal day.

philana: We all want what we don't have in terms of boobs--the small want 'em big, the big want 'em small. I am pretty happy with my hourglassy figure now, but I wasn't happy when my bust was 6" bigger around and they were causing me back pain! Hang in there with the hunger, and listen to your body. It may be a stomach bug, OR (if it was me & my body, anyway), it could be the sugar/starch from the petits fours, making you crave more carbs/food still. Whatever it is, I hope it passes soon...

aimeebell: Don't question it... just Intuitive maintenance is really impressive!

fitmom: Well, after reading the "this is what I look like thread," I am now TOTALLY JEALOUS of your thighs. So we will all be jealous together. My abs aren't in shape like yours yet, but I'll be interested to see if I get any change in my bellybutton. (And a little bit worried... my husband has a sort of phobia of "outies," so I fear he may divorce me and run off with a slightly pudgier woman... And for the record, I think they're cute.)

skinnyelle: I was the exact same way with cardio at the beginning of my weight loss, happy to jump on the elliptical for an hour and rock out to some music. And now I feel like I'd rather shoot myself. I think I might just be really ADD when it comes to exercise. I did videos for a while for cardio, now I'm doing my "fake jump roping" (since I don't have room for an actual jump rope in my apartment ) and ministepper, and I'm still planning on giving running a shot in a month or so. I guess it's like they say, "the best exercise is the one you'll actually do."

sumire - could the petit fours really still be messing with me after 24hrs? and thanks! i woke up less hungry, so that's good!

sumire Just looked at the photos in your weight loss story. I have thigh envy! LOL! Your thighs look amazing in those jeans. Im pear-shaped too so that is so inspirational. I think mine are about 20 inches right now...do you have any idea what your thigh measurements are? Great job Missy!

damn, I was just in the supermarket after a crappy day at work and before dinner. I walked around for 20mins, reading all the labels on all the junkfood. Deciding that none of them were appealing enough to cost me that many calories. So eventually, after long debates with myself, I left the store with a pack of apple-lime-gum for near to nothing calories a piece.

philana: If I eat a lot of carby, sugary food (a little in moderation doesn't bother me), I am hungrier and more crave-y for the next 2-3 days. I just ignore it and it goes away. Hubby's the same, too. Glad the hunger's dying down!

skinnyelle39: Girl, 20 inches is small! I want your thighs! Fitmom recently posted that her thighs are 19.5 inches, and we all know that she is a lean, mean, low body fat machine. Mine have just reached 21.75" (that's right, I count by quarter-inches on the thighs ), up top where the saddlebags still are.

I was wearing Old Navy jeans, the Flirt style, size 4 in those pics. The Sweetheart jeans work pretty well for me, too. They have a larger hip/thigh area and smaller/higher waist, so they fit my natural shape a bit better. I'm actually wearing a size 1 in those now. (I must be a sucker for vanity sizing. )

Wow, I have to say it sounds like for the most part everyone is doing great

I really like how positive everyone is in here. I know for me, personally, it helps me stay motivated.

Went to the gym & ran 4 miles last night in 38:04. That was after a quite long break from pulling muscles in BOTH calves (got ahead of myself on a beach run, not a good idea). I am working the rest of the week, going to hit the gym, and then will be flying to Florida for a weeks vacation on Sunday. Looking forward to that. Already have trips to the gym planned out during my stay. I hope everyone is having a great week.

-Nikki