I'm down another .4 and still walking. The scale is definitely an encouragement. Haven't decided on the jewelry reward yet.

Dancer---You're doing great. You'll make a beautiful bridesmaid.

IntheMidst---Way to stay positive during the stress of school/homework.

Wishing you a new number, ICU!

Small accomplishments, Big Dreams! Have a great week, everyone!

dancer - WOW!!!! Role model! You just keep knockin' 'em down! Careful there - you're going to need to get that bridesmaid's dress re-altered the week before the wedding!

sukierd - I agree that seeing those numbers move is motivating. Mine just continue to waffle. So this week I am going to change a couple things up and see if I can recover the juju. Regarding the jewelry reward - there was a lady in one of the other threads that started her loss by purchasing a charm bracelet - and she buys a new charm for every 5 pounds lost. I thought that was really cool!

OMW - glad to hear the new school year is working so well for you!

No loss for me. No gain, either. I remember this place - I was stuck here for almost 8 years, and this is one of those comfy set-points where I could stay for life. That'd be fine, if it were where I want to be! I got spoiled by how easy it was to take off those first 17 pounds. Now ... I think I'm going to have to buckle down. Onward into the week!

Thanks for the encouragement, ladies! : )

Sukierd - sounds like that walking is working for you!

ICU - It must be hard to make yourself lose the last few pounds when you're already looking so great. And definitely, the earlier losses are much easier - I'm a little nervous about how to deal when I get where you are - I imagine it's a lot tougher! You can do it though - that itouch is calling your name.... : )

Off to run while it's still nice and cool....

Down .5. Patience, perserverance - plateaus - ugh!!!!

ICU - you have got this! that setpoint is now toast!

Hey all,

Be swamped with school work. I have not been as OP as I like to be. And tomorrow I head out to my summer camp reunion. Haven't seen these women since 1976. Very excited. I did end up going out and buying some size 14's! I am stressed because I must get in a bathing suit. It's 200 women from 50+ years of camp so I think I will do it. I am going to enjoy my reunion and not go overboard eating. Will be back to the computer and back OP on monday.

sukierd- Congratulations on the continued walking and loss.

dancerindenver - Will you share a picture of you in the bridesmaid's dress?

ICU - 0.5 is fabulous! It's gonna keep coming off now!

Have a great F-Su!
Ash

Dancer----The last 10lbs, how exciting. I can't wait to hear that I am down to the last 10lbs! I also would love to see you in that bridesmaid dress...picture please. You have so whupped the Labor Day Goal, good job.

ICU---Congratulations on the number change. Good-bye set point.

inthemidst---Enjoy camp reunion, you'll be great in your new clothes and swimsuit. Celebrate your success.

Newleaf---How's the exercising going? I can't remember if I told ya all, but I signed up for Pilates during the school year. My dd takes hiphop at the same time and I figured since I was dropping her off and picking her up I didn't have any excuse not to take the class. Haven't done anything like it before, so we will see.

onmyway---How's it going w/routines now that school is back on for you? I officially start next week Tuesday w/kids starting after Labor Day. I feel the stress rising. Last night the Oreo's were calling my name. So many changes this year due to budget, etc. My fabulous teacher's assistant resigned to go to Nursing School. I am so bummed. So far I do not have a replacement. I am sharing 17 students with another teacher(another new thing), so we will see how that goes.

I am excited about the Labor Day Goal...I am close, but even if I do not make it I am thrilled about what I have accomplished. I didn't think I could keep the momentum going. Thanks to all of you for giving me a boost. I lost 1 1/2 lbs this last week. So I am down 11.4 lbs. This is big! Last year when I lost weight in sept/oct/nov I made it to 165 then went back up the rest of the school year. I am now in new territory at 164.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

TGIF! 11 days to go to Labor Day!

sukierd - new territory! woohoo! And great attitude - maybe we won't be hitting the numbers we hoped for, but we are ALL making progress that perhaps we could leverage into a Halloween challenge?
inthemidst - don't get stressed - it's going to be great! Reunions are so much fun, and you will have that confidence from your successes here to just relax and enjoy the time. You have a firm foundation in fabulous feeding (doesn't that sound kinda cool?) and if you choose to go off plan for one meal, IT WILL NOT DERAIL YOU. You'll get right back to work the following morning.
dancer - I want to see the dress too! You're going to be fabulous! And thank you for the statement that the setpoint is toast ... I need to make that my reality. I don't know if this is the last 10 pounds or not. I have a lot of functional improvement to make, and muscle to build, so I'm really not sure where the numbers are going to be. What I do know is that I've found a way to eat that is slowly pulling pounds off, and I'm enjoying it and can do it forever. I figure I will ride that wave as far as it takes me, but truly, this is a weird place without a fixed finish line. I can say with confidence that I want to get below "the buck fifty" mark, and that will definitely be my red-line as a maintainer. After I get there, I'm going to really have to do some thinking.

Happy Friday, ladies!

ICU - interesting to hear how you're thinking about your final goal. The way I'm thinking about things right now, 160 will be a 11/1 goal for me, then I'll probably be shooting for 140-something by our trip in January. Something around 146 or 148 should get me in a size 8 and I remember feeling pretty great at that size so I doubt I'll end up shooting for lower still but you never know. I'm not going to change my goal until I totally nail that 160 though!
Are you planning on doing anything special this week to keep on pushing through that setpoint?

sukierd - a big giant wooohooo on the 1.5lbs this week - that's great news!! New territory is big stuff - enjoy the ride!

inthemidst - you will be rocking those 14s at the reunion - good for you!!

Today at lunch I'm planning on dropping off 5 garbage bags of clothes at goodwill (some have been in the back of my car for a while already, but the pile keeps growing) and I keep the clothes that I think will fit me next on the bed in the guest room for inspiration (the really too small stuff is still in the guest room closet). When I don't feel like going for a run, I try on the next pair of pants that are still too snug and it helps me get out the door. The games we have to play with ourselves to make this happen <<sigh>>....

I just had to post again today to scream......I'm down another pound this morning and I'm claiming it, because I am officially OVERWEIGHT and not OBESE on the bmi chart!!!! I can hardly believe it. That is 12 1/2 lbs of my goal gone, gone, gone.

Dancer, that is awesome that you are able to give away your bigger clothes, I don't think I am brave enough to do that yet. Need to reprogram my thinking still.

Have a super Saturday,everyone!

Sukierd - big huge congratulations - that's great news!!!!

I want to weigh 237 by Labor Day. That would be an overall 15 loss. I need to get my metabolism going by exercising more often. I also plan to start drinking herbal tea again, especially red clover tea as it is a good cleansing tea and is naturally caffeine free with virtually no calories.

Hey Chickies,

The reunion was the best. Love the camp! Love my camp friends!
Eating was a mess though. Not much to choose from. I am up 4 lbs this morning. Uggh. My goal is to get that off soon.
Did walk a ton and climb up and down - back and forth to our cabin. And went on a beautiful hike. So I am confident I did not do too much damage.

Gotta run....will do personals later.

Have a great day!
Ash

Hydra - 3lbs in a week can be tough but I like your determination! Good luck!

Inthemidst - I'm sure you'll get those vacation pounds back off in no time!

ICU - so, is that plateau smashed to pieces, lying in ruins?

dancer - I'm going to declare the plateau of 157 dead. I've been below it a couple of times since then. Now I have to be on the lookout for another one at my new weight. I don't LIKE that my weight loss is this slow ... but it's still loss and I'm not miserable.
ash - No damage. It was one day. I can gain that much on one restaurant meal, and it takes 3 days to get it off. I'm glad you had a great time!
hyrda - woohoo - aggressive! Good luck! You have a terrific start - keep up the great work!
sukierd - well done! Funny how that label change is such a rush, isn't it? Going from overweight to "normal" is fun, too - I was hugely relieved!

All righty - we have one week left! I need 2.5 in this last week - which historically ain't gonna happen, but I'm going to pretend it can and see what happens. I'm down 3.5 of the 6# I wanted, so I'm certainly not unhappy!