Hello everyone. I was really good today. I went to McDonalds with my kids. We go once a week. This is how much my life style has changed. The last three times I went to McDonalds, I did not order me anything. I ate the apples in the kids meal and had a bite of my daughters hamburger. Also, one of my sons did not eat all of his ice cream cone. Usually I would finish it for him. I took one bite and threw the rest away. Later their Nana bought both boys a Hershey Bar, and neither finished it, and they handed it to me. Now Hershey is my very favorite. LOVE THEM! I threw it away without taking a bite. Yeah me!

Now tomorrow is another story. I am going to be as good as possible, but it is my son’s 6th birthday. I will eat a piece of cake (small piece). Also, we are cooking him Lasagna, and I will have a nice big slice of that. Also, we are taking him bowling, so I am sure there may be snacking. But that is okay. I plan to splurge a little tomorrow. I was way under calories today. Not intentional, it just happened that way. So this works out just fine with my planned bad day tomorrow.

I hope everyone has a great week-end.

Thanks to everyone with the encouraging words about my baby and my efforts on running.

Countingdown, Shymoment, Andi18, Terapet & Utahgirl: Just wanted to say hello!

HuneB: That is inspirational about you friend running between the poles. I am really motivated. I just wish my tax money would come in, so I can get my jogger stroller.

Tina: I love games. When I lived around my family, that’s what we did every time we got together. Now I play with my kids every chance I get.

Catsgetting: Great job on exercising through your congestions. I hope it gets better.

Melissa73: What grade do you teach? It sounded rough. Great job on the inches lost.

Cakses: I hope you are feeling better now!

KSK: Congrats on you weight loss! And I am glad you are doing better.

JLBake: There is no way you gained that much weight. The scale just does that. If I was really good one day and I especially was good with not eating carbs too late, then the scale goes lower the next day, but then if I eat carbs for dinner, then I gain that weight back. I think it is all water weight. I usually loose a pound, gain 1 or 2 back then loose those plus one. This has always been my pattern. So when I gain, I think oh yeah, I will weigh less tomorrow. So I just don’t sweat the scale, unless I know that I was extremely bad.


Idealmuse: Great job on the running.

Good morning ladies,

Just wanted to jump on quickly and announce that i'm down 2lbs this week. I only have 6.4 to go to get to my WW 10% goal. weight. YIPEE!


Karen: LOL about James. I feel the same way!

Mom: I teach a 5th grade Social Emotional Behavioral Classroom. So it's only a maximum of 8 kids, the teacher (me) and 2 paraprofessionals. We have a clinician that does therapy group with the kids once a week as well as individual sessions with a few of the students and we have a behavioral specialist that works with us and meets with us once a week as well. My students have many issues and are very challenging.....there problems range from being abused, foster homes, ADHD, Bi-Polar Disorder, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, etc. So it takes alot of patience, tolerance and understanding to work with my students. They really are a great group of kids, they just have alot of problems! But it's not a typical classroom. My classroom is monitor behavior first and then academics. But I have had most of my students last year and they have made alot of progress...they are mainstreamed in the regular 5th grade classroom all morning until 11am and I am working hard to get them prepared for more responsibility in MIddle School next year. They are really bright and are mostly, A, B and C students. So i'm doing alot more academically with them than most teachers do in the SEBS classroom.

Gotta run, I'm going to a casino today. TTYT

I'm wondering how you knew that I wouldn't be able to move today! Holy :cow: I've got a cramp so bad in my right calf and it WILL NOT go away, I've tried the heating pad, stretching, hot shower... the only thing I haven't tried yet is Tylenol My legs are so sore it hurts to walk, let alone sit down.

On a good note, two of my co-workers that don't know that I have been exercising and changed my eating habits came up to me yesterday and asked me how much weight I've lost! Yesterday morning I hit 20 pounds lost since joining 3FC 6 months ago! Granted that sounds like a long time, but for 2 months I could not exercise because I was horribly sick and hardly lost anything but I do know that that is a healthy amount to have lost and I know it will not be coming back!! It just amazes me when I pick up my cat and I can not equate the amount that I have lost to how heavy he is.

Andi - Unfortunately, I have been in your place and I know exactly how you are feeling. Pamper yourself today. Take an anti-inflammatory pain reliever. Ice, then heat. Rest, plenty of water. You will be feeling better tomorrow.
Way to go with 20 lbs. lost. That is truly awesome! I have to keep reminding myself that this isn't a race. I went in to Fitday today and change the timeline on my goal. This is the 5th time I've lengthened it. In the scheme of things, it won't matter diddly-squat if it takes me an extra month, 6 months or 2 years to reach my goal. We are our own worst enemies some times - we put restrictions and timelines on ourselves that we wouldn't dream of imposing on anyone else.

melissa73 - congrats on your 2 lb. loss! That is wonderful! What a great week you had. Your job is challenging. I have worked in several different special ed classrooms over the years. It takes a very special person to do what you do.

Mom23 - wow - what willpower! You need to bottle that and spread the wealth! Throwing out food has been one of the hardest things for me. Through Christmas, I threw out and re-gifted so many things. It was so painful. My upbringing just has me cringing every time I do it. But - I stay strong - and look the other way


Shy - hope you are feeling better today! Make the kids do all the lifting this weekend. And - stay away from those stairs

A good day for me - my weight was down 2 lbs. this week. More than expected, so I will probably stall out next week. Just the way it goes at this stage in my life. So, I'm celebrating while I can -

DH is working today, DS just left to go back to his apartment, so it is time for a reality check - I need to get cracking. Laundry, cleaning, work out, church prep, baking bread and meals for next week ...

I wish everyone a wonderful POP weekend! Stay strong! We are gonna do well in the challenge this week. I can just feel it!

Good morning ladies~ I'm just checking in for the day. The weather here is so depressing lately. Kev was telling me this morning that he heard on his news radio that we've only had about 11 min. of sunlight for Feb. that is sad! I need sun!! Today we're not up to much. I've got to run to a few stores and then just picking up and getting ready for our company tonight. I'm going to gert a workout in this morning of some sort. Next week though it's back to the gym for me. I need the gym....it pushes me so much harder then when I workout at home. My weight is back to 147 so no loss from last recorded weigh-in, but down 3 lbs from TOM and my little whoopsy So I'm happy about that. I was watching The View yesterday and there was a guy on talking about a no cardio diet. What he was saying is that strength training is way better for us then cardio. That is reshapes our bodies and makes us loose weight faster. When asked about cardio for the heart he said that when doing strength training our heart rate goes up and down and thats actually better...what do you all think about this. I do both cardio/strength. I do know that when I'm doing weights my body feels tighter and more toned. I just didn't know should I be concentrating more on the strength part or the cardio part??? Let me know what you all think. That's about all for me today though...I talked to my sister yesterday, and she sounded pissy with me. Whatever though I got off my chest what I needed to, and if she has something to say to me she should say it. I'm going to try my best with eating today, but I know tonight we're ordering pizza...one of my fav's! I'll try my best though and hope for the best!LOL!

Cat- I hate when you cough so hard it hurts your abs...that is a pretty bad cough you have. How are you feeling now, any better?

Utah- Good luck with your move.

Terapet- I never knew that Ohama was known for their pizza...huh? I'm a pizza junkie though so I may have to pay a visit there sometime

Melissa73- Ahhh another Survivor fan. We still have to watch it, but my whole family loves that show. I'm taking it you teach a special needs class? I must of missed it if you said that in the past. These poor kids though sound like they have some problems. God bless you for how you deal with that...I know I couldn't! Loosing 8" girl...you rock. Your doing so good...down 2 lbs for the week and only 6.4 away from meeting your 10% goal...keep up the good work

Cakses- Good job for getting in all your workout while sick...that is pretty impressive!

Karen- have fun at the surprise party...that will be fun. Good luck with WI

Jen- Thanks for thinking of me...I'm dealing a lot better with the whole situation now. I know shes and adult, and is going to do what she wants to do, so alls I can do is be here for her when she finally comes to her senses. I think the 2lb gain is probably due to water or something.

Counting- Your right I'll be here when my sis needs me...I could never turn my back on her. I am through though enabling her. Great job on 2lbs down...that's great~

Muse- I love when I get new running/walking shoes. I never realize how bad my old ones were until I wear the new ones for their first workout. Great job on 25 min. of running

Rennie- I hear ya a bubble wouldn't help me either...I would pop it somehow I guess we're doomed to be klutzes the rest of our lives. You should see me trying to do advanced workout videos...I look like a fish out of water. Flopping around everywhere. Yesterday my daughter was like mom you have to try to stay still...I just started laughing

Mom23BC- Your a stronger women then I am...to throw away hershey. I love games...do you all have apples to apples? That is one of our favorite right now. Any suggestions on any ones you really enjoy? I've bought a few that are complete duds

Andi- How cool that your co-workers are starting to notice your weight loss. Down 20lbs is something you should be really proud of, and I say the slower it comes off the more likely it is to stay off. I hope that cramp goes away soon for ya...those are the pits. Try some light stretching~

Melissa- How ya doing girl? Have yourself a great weekend

I hope you all are doing well....enjoy your weekends~

Counting
I feel pretty darn good. Do I hurt? Sure I hurt but heck, if I didn't do anything on days I hurt I would never do anything. This is just one more hurt lol.

Andi
Sounds like you are doing well at losing weight. Not everyone takes off tons of weight fast. I sure don't. You know it is funny, my cat weighs about 15lbs. I remember when I lost 15lbs I picked him up and thought darn you are heavy. How did I carry you around all the time


Melissa
Nice going. Can't wait to see you dance around when you hit that goal.

Mom
Nice going. Wow toss away a Hershey that takes willpower. I love those things from time to time. Nothing wrong with having a splurge day. It is NOT going off plan if you plan it. Exactly the way to do it, plan you are going to. Hope you have a wonderful time.

Good Morning Red team!! Well AF left all your houses and came to mine this morning! Very inopportune time considering its my WI day! But I was still down .6, which I am very happy for because I was over points more days than on points plus AF...so yay me!! This is going to be a MUCH better week! We've got Valentines day, which we usually do dinner out but ya know that doesnt have to be a bad thing. No reason I cant still stick to points!

My girls and I have 3 birthday parties today. I'm planning to go and finish out Week 3 at the gym while my youngest is at hers. Then I need to hit the mall and get dh's valentine's present, hopefully I can find what I want to get him! And I gotta pick up one of my dd's birthday presents if they arent sold out! We were at the mall yesterday and these shoes she wants werent on display anymore!! Hopefully they just sold the display size or can order some in. Its the one things she wants most of all. So weird to me because I'm not a shoe girl and my dd LOVES shoes!

I bought these dark chocolate raspberry bars at my meeting this morning $7.50 a box and icky! I dont like them.

Alrighty, best stop rambling and get to personals before its time to run dd to her party. Have a wonderful Weekend Red team! Dont forget Weigh in deadline is Monday 11:59pm EST!

So, today I bought a pair of pants TWO SIZES smaller than when I began this diet on 1/1/08! I am so excited it's ridiculous.

Rennie.....a paramedic that looks like that is almost worth the 911 call eh! LOL!!

Tina....Jillian says in some magazine, I think that BL little thingy that came out a few months ago, that we should be doing at least 4 hours of resistance training a week for weightloss and that cardio was just extra. She says thats the way to lose weight quicker. Its something I guess I need to pick up too, because right now all I do is cardio. I'm craving pizza myself!! I was thinking about getting it tonight. Actually the thin crust Hawaiian isnt that bad calorie/point wise and I love that flavor LOL! Have a great day! Dont let your sister get to you!

Counting...way to go on your 2 lbs!!!! Excellent job last week!! Keep up the GREAT work! I hope you have a very productive day!! I think if we all just stopped for a moment and really thought about what carrying this extra weight does to our bodies (not just asthetic) but what its REALLY doing, we'd be even more driven to get it off. Not just the joint pain either. There is so much on the inside we dont even know about. Way to go to us for working on it!

Andi...you are doing SO awesome!!! I'm so happy for you and incredibly proud of how far you've come....20 lbs is AMAZING!!! And people are noticing which is even more enforcing! Keep it up girl!! Rest that body!! You really took a beating LOL! I hope you feel better soon!

Melissa73....WOOHOO!! Way to go on the 2 lbs!! That is fantastic! And almost to 10%!!! So impressive!! I cannot wait for those milestones myself!! You are such an inspiration! Keep up the good work!! Have a great time at the casino...win big!! I didnt realize you and I are at the same point in the C25K, I'm going to do Week 3 day 3 today. I'm so impressed with your measurements!! That is FANTASTIC to see!! Excellent job!

Mom23BC....You are so amazing!!! Look at you turning those habits around!! That is so impressive and you should be so proud of yourself and the changes you are making!! Way to go!! I hope ds has a fantastic birthday! You can enjoy and indulge without going overboard. Bowling is great exercise too! Have fun! Enjoy yourself! Keep up the great work!!

Muse...I'm so impressed with your running!! It makes me want to see what I can do! I wonder if I could walk 1 run 1 for a whole hour! I just might have to give that a try! thanks so much for the inspiration! Have a fantastic workout!!

Jen....I dont think the 2 off days is enough to cause a gain. But ya never know. Our bodies are so intricate I think its impossible to know whats going on. I think what you've got to do is just realize its a machine. Our bodies fluctuate SO MUCH from day to day and hour to hour. For me if I've had higher sodium meals it takes 2 days for my body to respond with a gain. Everyone is so different. I would just focus on the fact that you are changing your life! Your working on your body both inside and out and no matter what the scales says nothing can take that away from you! So keep up the good work!! Celebrate all the amazing changes you've made and realize the scale doesnt tell the whole story!

Karen..I'm so glad to hear that you are doing better! I hope you have a great time at the birthday party and come away with no regrets!!

cakses....I'm so sorry you arent feeling well! Eating out can be rough but its still possible to keep your goals in sight. Feel better soon, and dont worry about the pages you missed. We wont leave you behind!!

MSteacher...WOOOHOO!! A whole 2 sizes smaller..that is FANTASTIC!!! Way to go on a job very well done!! Keep it up!!

I know when I read through posts that I saw someone say that they were waiting for their tax refund to buy a running stroller and now for the life of me I cannot find who said that!! But it reminded me of something REALLY exciting in my life...we got our tax refund and I paid off my car!!!! Thats right, no more car payments for us!! So exciting. Our payments were $320 a month so its HUGE for us to get that off our backs. Now if we could get the braces paid off....LOL!! Always something isnt it!?

Melissa - congrats on paying your car off. I just bought mine in July and I feel like I am never ever going to be done paying it off. That must be a huge relief and $320 in your pocket each month, sweet!

MSTeacher - that is awesome about the pants. It has to be one of the best feelings in the world that comes with the weight loss.

Tina - my trainer has us do 4 strength days and 1 cardio (weekends are our choice) because she says when you build muscle your metabolism gets faster, so it also aids in weight loss.

Mom23BC - OMG I could *never* not eat at McDonald's haha. I just skip it alltogether. You're way stronger than I am!!!

I wanted to add, I am officially at 199 again. I usually use my Sat or Sun weigh in for TBL challenge so maybe I can squeeze one pound out by then haha. Either way, I can handle a 0 for the week after being so sick and cruddy.

Tomorrow is my 28th birthday and I have absolutely no plans - how depressing right? My DH is in Iraq, my MIL is working and I still don't know a lot of people. I think I may take my kids to the movies or bowling, just something to get out. At least there won't be cake to tempt me haha!

Cat -

Mom23BC, good idea with the mailbox running, and great job so far! I know you can do it. Also, doesn't it feel great when you're offered something and able to turn it down? I LOVE the virtuous feeling I get!

Andi, that's so fun that you can do TBL workouts with the contestants during the show! Unfortunately, I don't typically leave Boston until about 5 on Thursdays, and I don't think I can get to Omaha before whenever the bootcamp is, but that sounds like a great class. Also, that is incredible that you've lost 20 pounds and your coworkers are noticing... great job!

Melissa, you're definitely better off running on a track than out on the road. Hope your knees are still feeling good! Also, that's exciting about the car payments. I have a ton of student loans that I just started paying off, and I can't WAIT to be done. I'm trying to get everything paid off in 3 years because that's when I'll be going back to school for my MBA, and I don't want to have any remaining loans when I do that.

Melissa73, I did the elliptical during Survivor. Last season I thought James was gorgeous, but now his muscles (especially in his back) are almost too much for me. They're so big they almost look like rolls of fat instead of muscles. I still think he's great though. He and Yau Man are my top picks

Cat, wow, I can't believe you did all your workouts while sick! You go girl! Also, happy almost birthday!!! Hope you have a fabulous day and do something special to treat yourself

Jen, I agree with Counting and wouldn't worry too much about the 2 pounds. Even if it's there for this week's weigh-in, chances are next week you'll be down 4 or something! At least that's how it works for me when I have unexplained gains.

Tina, I like a combination of strength training and cardio. Basically, cardio burns a lot more calories while you're doing it... but strength training builds muscle, which burns more calories when you're resting. Most exercise specialists recommend a combination of both.

I'm in bed and going to sleep as soon as I post this. I'm excited about the race tomorrow, but also nervous because it's supposed to be cold (23 degrees) and VERY windy - 20 MPH winds! Those could definitely slow me down, but hopefully it will go well. I'll keep you all posted!

Lost 2.2 pounds this week. Slow but steady! Prayer power!