We are almost done with this challenge!!!! Two weeks left it looks like So what would we like to do for our next challenge? Do we want to do a Halloween challenge (9 weeks, end on Monday Nov 3)? Or make it a really long one and go for Thanksgiving or Christmas? Honestly I am partial to the 8-9 week challenges but I am up for whatever you would all like to do.

Guess what. The scale actually said 149 this morning. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it stays till tomorrow. Then I will change my ticker. I have a long workout planned today. I will have be at the Y for over 2 hours. I think I will do 20 on each of the tread/elliptical/bike then I am going to swim for at least 20 then sit in the hot tub for 20.
Mindy I hope your day back at school goes really well! Do the kids start back or just the teachers? Then give myself a good while to get dressed and maybe stop for a nonfat sugar free latte. I think I am going to get my hair done. DH really finds the burgandy streaks really sexy so I may go for those. Today is our 7 year anniversary.

Its monday and I am geared up for the week. Planned food is cooked, portioned and ready. My mindset is in progress mode. I look forward to walking tonight.

I have started a quit smoking plan. Yes I am probably the black sheep here, but signed up on becomeanex.com and am going to work my way into it. My grandmother is in the hospital today having a mass on her lung biopsied. She smoked forever and quit years ago when they put her on oxygen. She is the most spunky lady you will ever meet and always has a smile on her face. I can't wait till 70 to quit, or even 38 for that matter. So as I work the deal, and pick my quit date, I hope to have you girls to keep me in check. My quit date WILL be in the next 30 days.

I did my flylady mission this morning. Going to get back to that. I cleaned my bedroom, dusted my whole house and started laundry in less than 25 minutes. I know this is going to help me come home and not feel like I need to clean instead of walk.

I am committed to 30 minutes of walking today. We have a new development below our property that is maybe 1/5 built but the streets are all paved. Going to talk my music and my big booty and move on that asphalt.

Weed for the day - Weight is 193 this am
W -64 OZ
E - back to 1600 cals or slightly less
E - my 30 with the tunes
D - If you want better, you have to do better

Sorry no personals from the end of the last thread. Just trying to get refocused! Have a great day!

I'm voting for Halloween Nixie honey you go girl. I can't imagine doing both at once, so I'm glad i quit several years ago. I'm up getting stuff ready to go cuz i have to be back at work today. You know what's sad? Friday morning I woke up with a headache so bad I thought I was going to have to cancel my plans that day....i made DH bring me an ice pack. I'd been dreaming about work. Sad huh? *sighs*

I should focus on school and weight loss and what's this flylady stuff? Will she help me keep the house clean?

okay one quick blurb

Jcat - go for it with hair! It always gives me new attitude!

Also, I am up for scaring away the pounds for Halloween!

HT, yes check out flylady.net, she will help you get and stay spiffy! Great idea ladies, I used to get that done, have gotten away from it. Vacation week is a great time to get back at it!

JC, it's hair day, just got mine done this am, it does feel nice and Happy Anniversary!!

Nixmom. I guit 6 years ago. I am here for ya!

OK, off to get back to the flylady missions!!

HI ladies. my banishment from the house is over. so I thought I would pop on and check in.

Nixie~ good luck with quiting smoking.

HolyT~I absolutely HATE work dreams. Usually I wake up very stressed out. I hope your headache got better though.

MM~ I hope you like your hair.

It's monday where is everyone else??

SO the best laid plans . . .well you know. I never made it into the swimming pool or the hot tub (may do that later, I know my legs will be sore) but I spent 100 minutes doing cardio. 20 minutes on the bike, about 5.5 miles. 40 minutes on the treadmill ran 3.25 miles, then 40 minutes on the elliptical 3.1 miles. I was going to go straight to the pool after running, but I was too hot so I was going to cool down on the elliptical for a while, but then a buddy showed up and next thing I know it was time to go and 40 minutes on.

So todays WEED
W 64 oz
E100 minutes cardio done
E 1200 calories ALL PLANNED
D Deep breath: workout done/ get my hair done/ clean out my car and vacuum it/ shampoo my carpets/ Possibly go pick up my nephew from my moms. Wish me luck.

Today's NSV: Last year on my anniversary I bought a pair of shorts on a whim. Went to put them on and I couldn't pull them over my thighs. I was so embarrased. DH wanted me to take them back and I told him No. I will fit into them by next year at this time. So I put them on once a month and today a year later, I can pull them up fasten them up AND no muffin top they just actually fit. Things like this make me realize that even though the scale doesn't move quickly it is worth it. So far it has taken me 2 years to drop and I still have 20 or so pounds left before I get to my goal weight I hope to be there at this time next year.

Hey guys! I'm so sorry I missed a WHOLE week of WEED! I was on/off/on/off mostly off last week. We had people over Friday night, drank and ate myself silly. But I worked the weekend and told myself on Sunday morning that I would jump back on. So here goes again. I do know that I do worse when I'm away from my WEED girls.

I'm up and dressed for the gym(my ladies gym). DH has been hollering about his own weight lately so tonight I'll go to the other gym with him and the kids (the community center) I'll do upper body first and lower later with him. I know it does sound extreme, I'm just calling a "kick start" day. double workout. We'll see. Or if the kids are whiny, he can go by himself and I will have already gone to my gym. Whatever.

W-Lots
E-above, two gym trips? or one gym and one WiiFit?
E-Good stuff?
D-Get back on my WOW and catch up with my girls!

Nix I'm so proud of you. I know it will be hard but I also know your strength and your determination. I hope everything goes well with the biopsy. Sad what it takes to open our eyes. But it is a journey just like the one you're on with your weight loss. Keep us posted! Come on here when you feel like lighting up?

JENI! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Congratulations! I get happy to see young couples happy when so many our age get quicky divorces or whatever. You seem to have a lovely marriage and a beautiful family. Get those highlights girl! They will rock with the coming of fall. I love red highlights. Too bad I'm already a strawberry blonde, but I've had "low lights" and gotten something similar, they're really pretty. When's the Disney trip? This coming weekend?

Amy, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your crafts. I especially like the homemade cards and the candles. I saw those candles once in a scrapbooking magazine and thought all you had to do is use a hairdryer to "melt" the wax and adhere a paper photo to the base of it and it looks like the picture is embedded in the candle. It didn't work out well for me! You absolutely inspire me to get back to my scrapbooking. SIGH! Robert has three full books of scrapbooks and Rachel has FIVE PAGES. Whatta mom. Someday she is going to be all "WHAT'S UP WITH THAT!" I have an awesome section of the basement, a peg board, shelves, honestly, I was so into scrapping I have a small SB shop in my basement. All collecting DUST. sell it or get back on it, I say.

Shari! I miss you! I wonder when/if you'll see this! I would have told you, if I had caught you, to GO TO THE LIBRARY.....she can still pop in occasionally. Hope it goes drama free for awhile. Enjoy being 21 baby girl!

Mtiger! STEP AWAY FROM THE SCALE. seriously! I mean, I am tickled you were down last weigh in, but I think you are making yourself nuts with daily fluctuations and ups/downs. Put that damn scale in your closet and don't get it back out until next Monday. Or if you start getting anxious, peek on FRIDAY. Not before. LOL I'm givin ya a hard time, but I do think you're stressing yourself out.

MMavis have I welcomed you back yet? I'm glad you came back! I've felt like you before though, that maybe all the challenges, and the feeling like you have to keep posting, the pressure we put on ourselves makes you wonder if (not just 3fc, just any commitment to any message board?) make it worse than better. But any time I've slipped away, I've done worse. So whatdya think? One time I was in like five challenges and it was too much. So I stay here, where all my sweethearts are.

Audie, sister! Back to school fever here at the NurseMichelle household too. Rachel doesn't go til next year, but I just can't imagine my life with BOTH kids in school. WOW. I might actually get things done, go out with my friends, clean my house, GO TO THE GYM.

I think I might erase my short term goal ticker, it's not even accurate anymore. I better get to the gym. Love you all, glad to be back on board. Hope it sticks this time. xoxoox Michelle

Michelle, Thank you. I did get the highlights and the girl who did them was wonderful and worth every penny I spent. Disney trip starts friday. Makenna starts school in two weeks, EEEK! Kindergarten here we come!

Today was back to work for me. It didn't go very well. I feel like I am floundering and can't get my head around switching grades and classrooms. I am just very frustrated. I don't even know how to teach a 4/5 split.It is overwhelming. Good news for the day was seeing a new low. 209.4. I made it under 210, at least for now.

Jeni- I'm up for a Halloween challenge. I like the shorter ones. Christmas is a long way off. Hope your official weigh-in is good and you can change that ticker. I'm waiting just a bit. Nice job on the "new' old shorts. I got a bunch of compliments today on my capris. Nice!

nix- Good luck with the quitting. I'm rooting for you. Can you imagine how much better you will feel? Hope you have a great walk.

MM_ I don't have time to get organized right now. Sad, but true. Plus my DD still has crap all over the place. Good for you though.

Michelle- Look at you. Busting your hump. One lump or two? I can't help the daily scale thing. I am an addict. I feel like I would lose control if I son't check in everyday. Pathetic, I know.

I'll see ya all tom.

ok i'm signing up for flylady's group. a little bit a day always helps

By the way I got my review as soon as I got back to work. I got a 73 cent raise and was told i'd be backing up the specialist. Sadly, the specialist got promoted OVER me....had less experience AND been with the company less than I have. And I get to "back her up." HA! I've been backing everybody up when everybody leaves early on fridays. And the review said I was a real team player and my attitude has changed. Not really. I'm just stupid enough to stay late when everyone skips out early. Ugh! I don't want to go in today.

Gotta focus on my eating habits. Dinner was horrible last night...pretty much all carbs. I have chicken prepped for today so I'll just add some veggies and maybe some couscous.

Got my healthy decadence book with me so I can set up what I'm eating this week. I spent some time on the stair climber yesterday, and will workout again today and have rehearsal tonight.

Ok I gotta go put a face on and grab lunch...don't know what's for breakfast though, just gotta make sure it's something i make here.

HolyT congrats on the raise. Thats good anyway.

Audie good job on keeping away the binge monster. I hope to keep him off today.

Mindy I'm glad you got unde 210! I'm sorry your having a rough time getting ready. I am sure you will do great.

Morning to everyone else!

I saw 149 on the scale again today I am changing my ticker I took it easy at the gym today because I worked my body hard yesterday and I will do it again tomorrow. I did 50 minutes half on the elliptical and half on the bike.

I didn't get anything done on my D for yesterday (except getting my hair done) I am going to try to post a pic later on. So today is going to be very busy. but that is GOOD I cant wait for my trip

W 64 oz
E 50 minutes done. Wii fit strength training later on
E 1200 planned calories
D finish yesterdays plans. Also empty the fridge.

I'll take the raise, i'm not gonna say no to that. I just know that in a year i'll still be worth less than $20 p/h and i bust my butt. Maybe that'll change with the degree and a different job.

CONGRATULATIONS girl! That's a pretty decent raise, though! Our raises are usually around 15-20 cents. Sucks that you seem to get passed over for promotions....but what happens is you're invaluable to your department, if you got promoted, who would do half of what you do now? Sucks! It sounds like it should be a compliment, like they don't want to lose you! But I know, it just isn't fair. We have a nurse aide like that, she is getting older and doesn't want to bust her hump like that day in day out anymore. She wants to find a sit down job but whenever she tries to put in for something else, the unit director blocks the transfer. Yeah, I get that we really can't afford to lose the best thing we've got, but it's just terrible for her. Just keep going with your schooling, you'll get where you need to be. We just have to put in our time doing the dredge work, and someday you'll be where you want to be. I was a nurse aide for three years of being bossed around by crappy nurses until I got where I am today. Not to mention that experience taught me how to treat those 'below' me.

I'm babbling.

WOW Mindy, 209.....! When I weighed 296, I just LIVED for the scale to say the next 'under'...under 290, under 280, I loved seeing 289,279,269. Then I struggled through the 285-290 but breezed through 280-284. Strange. But I always looked at the journey in terms of that ten pounds, then sub category of the 5 lb. You just can't weigh 300 pounds and dread looking ahead 150 lb. Then I got down to 215 and back up to 255....so I've lost that excitement of the next ten pounds. I end up just angry that I'm back there again! I compare it to that semester of nursing school I flunked out, missed it by tenths of a point....had to come back a year later. Spent the whole semester with a big chip on my shoulder just mad that I had to be there again. I shouldn't BE back there! I'd like to be happy to 249 now, but I just wish I was back to 215. LOL

Nixie, I meant to ask you what you're doing to quit smoking? Cold turkey? gum or patch? My brother tried Wellbutrin (I think?) and said it worked (well, honestly, he said he just WANTED to smoke so he went back but that the med worked)....and how is it going? You know the first few days is going to be the worst. Just like the first few days of the diet. We're still rootin for you!

I still owe the rest of you, Aud, Jeni some personals but I better get going. I do have this funny picture though I want to post of Robert's first day of kindergarten...all smiles and good pictures then I snapped this one pic, the very moment he steps on the bus, turns to look and say goodbye, just as the doors close, the moment of panic on his face.....priceless shot. I'll try to figure out how to post it. LOL

PS yes, I did get to the gym TWICE yesterday. At the ladies gym, I did an hour of cardio (over three different machines) then in the evening did 15 min cardio, lower body, 15 min cardio. Not bad. The kids were whiny so we left early but I know I did plenty for the day.

xoxoxooxo Michelle