Good afternoon everyone,

I just got back from WI and I am up almost 2 lbs from Friday. And since Monday is my official WI day. I only get to report a 2lb loss. I don't understand how I gained weight this weekend. I stuck to my plan and even started exercising yesterday. I am so discouraged right now. However, I refuse to turn to food to try and make myself feel better. I hope that everyone has a great day and stays POP. I will try to check in later.

I can't imagine not being able to find my scale ... I would go into scale withdrawls. I need my scale ... I have to have my scale ... I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT MY SCALE. OK, I'm better now

My DS is a very active child, he has to be since he gets bored quickly. He does Cub Scouts, Soccer and is a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do (don't tell me he can't focus - HA). I realize they have to learn, but you would think they would work them up to it. They could super glue him to his seat, but ... knowing my DS, he would either be walking around with a chair stuck to his butt, or sans pants (now wouldn't that go over well in a Catholic School)

Thanks! Congrats to you on all your work too!

When I got stuck, I guess I kind of unofficially went into maintenance mode. I had a whole lot of craziness fall on me at one time -- gall bladder surgery, a move to a place that wasn't near a gym, the new place didn't have a dishwasher (which meant that I was a whole lot less likely to cook!), blah blah blah. Lots of stuff that piled up to give me a good excuse to not worry about the last 20 pounds for a full year! For that time, I didn't really keep track of my calories (I knew portion control by this point). I didn't go to the gym, and my main "exercise" was walking the dog (not exactly high aerobic work when the dog is a Corgi with three-inch legs!).

In a weird way, though, it's really satisfying to know that, despite all of that, I maintained the loss. I really makes me optimistic that I can be one of those folks who lose it and keep it off.

Monday's Question of the Day:We have now completed 1/3 of our competition. In the words of the doctor, "How's that workin' for ya?" Are you where you wanted to be at this point? Is there anything you need to change or is everything going according to plan?

Not so much according to plan, but I am where I guess I should be. I have a 12 pound goal and being down the 5 only 1/3 of the way thru is great for me! So it is definitely working, even if I was a little disappointed with WI on Saturday.

This week is proving to be a challenge for me so far. I will work hard to not gain! I worked hard last week but anyway...I know what I have to do to get-r-done!

Here's to a GREAT week Blue Team!

"Monday's Question of the Day:We have now completed 1/3 of our competition. In the words of the doctor, "How's that workin' for ya?" Are you where you wanted to be at this point? Is there anything you need to change or is everything going according to plan?"

I took my first first freebie this week. TOM is here and I suffered a huge cheat on Friday night that is still kinda hangin' around. My goal for the end of this week is to be 229. I may end up a couple pounds shy. I gotta say, that as of now, nope this is not going as planned, but I am putting a stop to that today! I will keep myself away from the temptations, and focus on exercise and staying on plan! Gotta get in it to win it for the BLUE TEAM!

My 3yo just had eye surgery the end of November. Keep the patching up it really does help a lot. My DS is still slightly crossed but is now correctable with glasses and we don't want to put him through surgery again. However without his glasses his vision is still 20/25 which is better than mine with glasses. for you and the DS.

Hi everyone it looks good for the blue team again.
Hope we win all i want is to lose weight and look good in my cloths.
And do it for myself And be proud of myself.I know i can do it
I think i can I THINK I CAN LOL Hope everyone has a goodday.

I also posted a gain this week. Sorry team. I had a very rough week last week recovering, laying around too much (I felt good enough to exercise by Thursday, but I didn't...) and eating too much junk.

I'm 100% back on plan today and have had probably the best day so far this challenge. I'm actually hoping I've lost weight since this morning. I'll see tomorrow. I need to be good for about six more hours.... evening is the roughest for me it seems.

Yep. Last time I lost a ton of weight I got stuck at 172.

I'm so busy at work today. No time to really post. Or even eat! I'm getting light-headed and feeling very hot, so I got to run and refill my water and grab something. BBL...

Oh my gosh. I just killed some time fooling around on Facebook, and looking at old pictures. I found a bunch from when I had lost weight after first year uni - down to about 170lbs. I looked SO good!! Very cute, fit, happy, healthy, etc. Then I look at more recent pictures - my skin is pale, I'm puffy and chubby all over, obviously not strong (e.g., my upper arms). Um, can we say that my motivation is back? Regardless of what the scale may say, I want THAT girl - late 2004/early 2005 me, who was healthy and glowing and happy - back ASAP!

Kelly - I'm an every-morning weigher, so I was in a panicked rush trying to find the scale, but just had to give up in the interest of eating breakfast and getting out the door.

Hi Bluezers. It's been a long day. I still have a cough, etc. so not feeling too hot. Just wanted to say hi and I was OP today, day 170!!!! Day 183 is my halfway mark for my goal of my first solid year OP!!! I wouldn't have made it this far without all of the support from everyone on this site. I'm so happy to be able to come here.

I lost 1.5 lbs this week and hope to keep that up! If I just lose half a pound a week I'm happy because it's at least in the right direction. If I do that for the rest of this year I'll hit my first goal, just a few months later than I thought. Not too shabby.

The cruise challenge is too cute, Chelle. I really like that!!

Rhonda, well, my plan hasn't been working wonders but it's working enough. I hope to tweak it some when I'm well and my head doesn't hurt from this dang cold or whatever I have.

scgirl, I hope I maintain as well as you. I think I'll do ok but may still struggle if I get away from tracking my calories only bc they can add up soooo quickly and you just don't realize. I have most of what I eat memorize for calories tho so shouldn't be hard. LOL!!

Marianne, I know the feeling. I want my 22 year old, 179 lb self back. Felt really good then. That's why my goal is 177, at least at first but maybe forever. We'll get there. Just gotta have patience.

Sweetpea, I wouldn't mind getting stuck at 172!! I gotta get there first tho, lol!! I look forward to one day... :: sigh ::

Heather, evening is worst time for me too. I just have to go to bed at 8pm sometimes!

I want to continue personals, but dh is home for a little while and should go spend a few minutes with him. Plus gotta get kids to bed. Hugs to you all, tty 2mrw.

Selina

Hey blue team!!!!

Okay, so I'm BACK. and NO i did not SKI.

Sadly, the little cold I had turned into a full-blown body aching, sweating, shivering, feverish FLU. I spent all weekend cooped up with family in a condo. Honestly, I just wanted to go home and go to bed.

There were however 2 highlights to the weekend. I did leave the condo briefly on Sunday to see the kids in the snow with their skis on learning to ski. It was SO CUTE, I cried. I was emotional for a lot of reasons which I will get into in a bit. The second highlight was that I was assured to have lost more weight than I had hoped. I barely ate all weekend because of feeling sick. I had some crackers and some soup, but really, I'm sure I am down another few pounds. This highlight of my weekend really doesn't compare with the first in any way, but it's the only other thing that was good about being away.

I am a bit emotional about being at the ski hill. First of all, I can't believe how many people go there and how much fun active, healthy people are having!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am sad because I have missed out on literally years of having fun, all because I am too big to do things (or I perceive myself as being too big to do these things). What is shocking to me is how even 10 years ago, (before kids, before being over 220lbs), how I never thought to go and have fun skiing??? Did I think I was too fat then>?? My god!

I resolve now, to lose the weight, the guilt, and the burden. This is more than just losing weight now, it's a mission to gain the confidence I need to know there is MORE TO LIFE than eating chips and watching TV.

Next year we are going back, and I plan to ski, take lessons, have fun, enjoy it all....I plan to show my kids that I can do this too. That mommy can learn to snowboard too. Next year I will be well under 200, and I should be able to find ski pants in my size!!!!!!!

Okay, so I came home 3pm on Monday and I weighed myself. I was 256 after having eaten my first big meal since being sick ( I am feeling better as of this morning). So I am usually about 3-4 pound heavier in the day, so I am thinking I will be 253-254 in the morning.

Cheers, Ginger

A quick PS: this is the third FLU I've had in 6 weeks. I'm a tad worried it's something else, so I am going to my Dr. just in case.

Well, it appears that my goal of losing 10% (to get to 241) of my body weight goal was a bit too zealous for a 12 week period! I've only lost 6 pounds (2.24%) so far. BUT, overall I'm happy. Life has been very "real" for a good part of this competition with my girls being sick off and on and my work schedule being hectic. I'm learning how to stay OP when my plans change and I cannot control what's happening. As of tomorrow they are well enough for me to go back to the gym! I cannot help but wish I was losing faster, but actually I'm pretty comfortable? I feel like I can continue doing what I'm doing forever and I do not feel like I'm depriving myself at all. I know if I got crazy low with calories I could lose faster. But I've BTDT before and not interested in a crash diet this time around.

Sorry you were sick again, Ginger. You have been sick a lot. It's odd to have the stomach flu that many times that close together. Hopefully this was the last time. I relate to your feelings/awakenings about missing out on so much because of being/feeling limited by fat. Isn't it amazing how quickly our bodies respond to exercise though!

It looks like lots of us had a rough week from looking at the weigh in thread. It happens. Lets aim for blowing the competition away next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone.
Sorry I didn't weigh in today...things have been a little...blah.
I'm a bit stressed with school...kinda got a curveball thrown at me with a new roommate who's a tad bit...annoying.
I've just been a bit stressed lately I guess. I'm trying to get back on the ball with exercising since last week I had a rough sleep schedule. I guess it was due to the stress.
I hope everyone else is doing alright!

Good morning, Bluesers!

I didn't get around to working out yesterday. I had a presentation for work and ended up working late. Hubby strained his back on Sunday, so I was responsible for dinner. Have I mentioned how much I despise cooking? Then, I had to make a "Wallyworld" run and pick up a little something for my oldest DD. Today is her birthday. She turned 12 at 7:05 this morning. Today, we are taking the family to dinner to celebrate. She wants sushi. (yuck!) I'm not sure where we're going as we moved here last June and we've not found a sushi place for Hubby and DD yet. Wherever we go, I'm looking for something low calorie or as healthy as possible. And, I'm determined to get in a workout sometime today. Maybe at lunch.

Dionne - Love the new avatar picture!

Hope everyone has a great on-plan day. GO BLUE!!!