Well we are getting closer to the deadline everyone, only 38 days left until our final total.

The challenges are going to be getting tougher, with Thanksgiving for those of you in the U.S. and all of the holiday parties and baking days that are on the agenda for all of us.

Keep in mind that it is o.k. to re-evaluate your goals and change them if they become a little to overpowering to contemplate. Some of us may want to lower the number others may want to just maintain and that is all o.k.

"Setting goals for your game is an art. The trick is in setting them at the right level neither too low nor too high." Greg Norman


We have to remember that we need to stay on our programs even if we hit a stumbling block or two on the way.


I know that one of the challenges I face especially this time of the year are people who want to get me to eat to make them feel better, some people are not happy unless they can get us to fall. The following quote sums them up for me.

Don't be distracted by criticism. Remember the only taste of success some people have when they take a bite out of you. (Zig Ziggler)

Got on the scale again this morning and I'm down another two pounds for the week. Yipppee!!! I know that it's impossible to lose 2 lbs. a day everyday but it sure is encouraging.

Staying on track with my workouts and eating. I have to get in two morning workouts which I have yet to do...ugh! Hopefully thursday and friday.

Keep up the good workout everyone!!!

Wow Niecey that is amazing, I may have to come and live with you! All this ecercise seems to be working for those of you who are doing it! I must get at this soon.

HI Guys

Yes Sheri my mother is coming to visit!!!!! She always trys to say I need feeding, and if I don't eat I will get the rolling eyes and sad face from her! but I have a plan of action! I have a recipe for very low cal chocolate cake! (1 medium slice is about 150 cal I think!) and it tastes YUM! so I will make that and have some, before she starts saying.. oh your losing weight! Why? you don't need to.... once she sees me eating cake! That will shut her up all day!!! Not to mention she is diabetic, and also enjoys mud cake, so it will be better for her also!!! I will find the recipe and post it here! The recipe is made for the microwave, but last time I put it in muffin tins, to make individual serves and cooked them in the oven, worked just as well! (with a little bit of light chocolate topping, it would fool any chocolate lover!!!)

I only realised just then I have only 6 pounds till I reach my christmas goal! I plan now to get to that then try maintenaince until after new years! (so I can still enjoy a little of christmas) Then I only have 16 to lose after christmas, and I am in the NORMAL weight range... BMI of 25!!!!!! (that would be incredible!)

I told my DD's that this summer(christmas) I will take them on the waterslide, I no longer have a fear of getting stuck! they are soooo excited.

I have had 2 days off any hard excercise (except for one long walk) so today it is time to get in and have a treadmill run! It hurts and nearly kills me, but after I get off, I am walking on cloud nine for having done it!!!

Cheers all
keep up all the good work! (we have a new ad on TV here with Kirsty Alley and weight watchers, I love her saying about getting leaner drumsticks by christmas! While a turkey is chasing her! )

I've done well so far this week. I have upped my cardio a bit. My DH looked at me like I was insane for getting on our elliptical machine at 8 pm after I had already spent half an hour on it at 7 am. My body is just so keen on hanging on to every last pound that I figure adding exercise will be easier than taking away any more calories (I'm already between 1200 - 1500 per day). I got a really nice compliment from a complete stranger today. The bagger at the grocery store commented on how adorable DS is and then looked up at me and said, "Well, look where he gets it from - you're beautiful." It was such a nice compliment because it was unsolicited and from a complete stranger.

WICKED CHOCOLATE CAKE
(one serve not iced 165 cal, iced 214 cal ,serves 8) p.s.using splenda instead of sugar might lower the cals further as well?

Ingredients -1 1/4 cup Self raising flour
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon bicarb soda
2 egg whites
3/4 cup castor sugar
4 level tablespoons low fat margerin3 (like flora light)
3/4 cup boiling water

ICING-
3/4 cup icing sugar
1 level tablespoon cocoa
1-1 1/2 level tablespoons skim milk

In a medium sized mixing bowl, dissolve sugar and margaring in boiling water. Sift flour, bicarb and cocoas into bowl in one go, using and electric beater, beat together 1 minute, add egg whites, and beat 30 seconds more. Using microwave round ring or microwave dish coat with cooking spray, line with cooking paper (if possible) Pour in cake mix microwave on high for 6 minutes. leave in microwave for 2 minutes before removing and placing it on a cooling rack.

ICING - mix all ingredients together and when the cake has cooled spread over the top.

(to make in conventional oven, follow recipe, bake in fan forced oven 180 deg celcius (med/high) for about 30 minutes.

(all the ingredients are listed in metric, But the cake is yummy and worth converting! for all you americans! It really is a moist cake and my SIL did not believe me when i said it was low fat and cal!)

i've been doing pretty well this week. not really keeping up with my calories like i should, but not doing badly either. i just haven't written everything down for the past two days. i have been getting lots of exercise in. today i think i'm going to have to stick to yoga. i raked the backyard yesterday and my back is killing me. hahaha. i have to go out to eat with the in laws tonight. they are so unhealthy that it drives me to pick the most healthy thing on the menu, even if it's the dinner salad. oh well. wish me luck.

icedraggon - thanks for the receipe. I will surely try it out because I am a freak for chocolate! And if I can eat a slice of cake with only 150 calories, I'm all for it!

Amy - don't you just love those types of compliments!

I remember one time I was washing my clothes at a laundrymat and I was standing outside. This guy was walking by me, acutally he was a bum and he said to me, "you're beautiful". And I said thank you, but dang! I was thinking has it come to this! Bums checking me out! LOL The scary ones is when they ask you, will you marry me? H$LL NO! Beat it freak! LOL

As for my diet and workouts, still going strong! Didn't lose any weight today but didn't expect to. I tried working out this morning and was only able to do 10 minutes....sad, sad, sad. I'm just not a morning person. I was trying to workout with weights and cardio but it just seem weird trying to do that in the morning so I will do a 30 min. aerobice tape, and of course my hour long workout in the evening.

Sonja, Does that cake look good I have printed it off already can’t wait to try it. 350 degree oven for all of you in the U.S. It is great that you only have 6 pounds left for your Christmas goal good job! I know all about waterslides I have never been on one either, that is a great incentive for you.

Amy, I am impressed with all the exercise, did you see the show on Oprah where the one woman lost weight and got in shape by having sex, her husband loved her program! How nice to get such a great compliment, that would keep me going for a good week.

Laura, you are doing great too, and a good idea to eat healthy around the not so healthy relatives, I wonder if they notice?

Niecey, I think I laughed for 5 mins after reading your post, damn I would be happy to get a compliment from that bum right about now! With all your workouts I can bet you are looking very good.

I have all the new tapes that I ordered and I did the first 5 mins from one of them yesterday and my arms were like noodles, I am so out of shape. I hope to do better tomorrow. I know it is going to take awhile before I am able to finish one, but that will be a great goal for me.

Everyone have a great day!

Sheri! 5 minutes is fantastic! Maybe you can aim to do 5 minute increments every day, or every other day until you finish a tape? Keep at it, bit by bit, and you'll totally get there! You are so wonderful and supportive to all of us, and I really want to make sure you keep your own spirits up too. You can do this! Wobbly arms are a great sign! Feel the burn!

Sex for a workout? Boy...

LOL!

Niecey - I got hooted at by a crusty old guy in a beat up truck the other day. He was extremely icky, but it had been a long while since anyone had hooted at me at all... So I took the compliment. And you should too! Just because someone is a little "different" doesn't mean they don't have eyes and can't recognize a beautiful woman when they see one (all of us!). They just might be a little more willing to say something than your everyday man on the street. (I'm reaching, I know. But still....)

Thanks for the recipe Icedragon - I love anything you can make in the microwave! I made the no-pudge (was v.skeptical) single serving in there and was so surprised it was SO MOIST.

Me, I haven't exercised again yet since Monday (I do NOT know how you all do 2-3 hours a day. OMG.), but I've been doing a lot of walking, and I'm going bowling tonight. That counts, right? Anything is better than sitting on my butt in front of the tv... As long as I can stay away from the nachos and beer.....

Tho speaking of sitting on my butt - the new Harry Potter opens tomorrow! I already bought tickets. I'm so EXCITED.

Talk to you all soon,

Emily

Got a treadmill run in yesterday and a 20 min steady recumbant bike ride. Also my best friend came over to go for a walk. So I felt good!

The cake is very moist! It is not huge huge, but in a normal cake tin it comes out about 2 inches thick. Just don't cook it too long, it will go really brown outside.

It is good to have, without the icing, but to use light chocolate topping (shop bought) or yoghurt and tinned/frozen berries on top.

Sex Diet!! Dh would love that one!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!
My SIL (desperately wanting to lose weight, but not trying to?) came up with a study done on fishoil, saying if you take 2-3 tablets a day, and walk 3-4 times (45min) a week, people have lost weight. I said "NO S**T, if you are not doing anything excercise wise, and start walking you will probably lose the weight as well, the fishoil will help in health wise, but whether it caused the weight loss I really don't think so?" maybe the gross after taste destroys your appetite? has anyone heard of this. I am sure my SIL will start doing it! she really wants the miracle cure that doesn't involve sensible eating and excercise.

I am happy sticking to what I am doing , eating under 1800 cal, and adding excercise (daily if I can), i only do what I am comfortable with, and each week I can see improvement, so I am happy.

Compliments from bums freak me! When me and my friend walk a bunch of old smelly drunks were walking the other way and they were say "wow girls, you's look great, keep up the good work,... blah blah..." I really think they were so drunk they would have said it to anybody. So I didn't really take it as a compliment.

Sonja

Ice Dragon - Mmm, that cake sounds yummy! I am going to have to try it.

Sheri - I agree with Ice Dragon. Just try to add a little more to your work out each day. You will eventually be so strong and even more beautiful - you will have to beat off the compliments from homeless persons with a stick

Lazeedayzee - let me know how the HP movie is! I never go to the cinema. I always wait until the movie comes out on dvd. The last movie I actually went to see was Hotel Rwanda.

Niecey - if some guy on the street I had never met before asked me to marry him, I would be freaked out too!

But it is nice sometimes getting compliments from strangers. What I don't like is when I am out running and the guys drive or walk by and hoot or hiss or say something obscene. What makes them think that that works? Men are crazy! I have been married 5 years and had about 30 boyfriends prior to that, and i will never understand them

Thanks Emily, compared to the rest of you I am a snail chasing rabbits! I will get there though, I actually like to exercise once I get into it.

oh they definitely notice. they always say something like, i can't believe you are still on a diet (its not a diet!!!!!arrrrgggggg) or, no wonder you are so skinny, i just like food too much to eat like that. yeah well, i like food too, but i can think of a million things i'd rather spend calories on than the catfish dinner with cornbread, mashed potatoes with gravy and creamed corn with a glass of vitamin d milk.

we ended up having BBQ instead. the only veggies in the house were baked beans and slaw. agggg. after weeks of not eating stuff like that i have a hard time with it. i had a tiny bit of everything but loaded up on the grapes and strawberries sitting on the kitchen table. did really well with my calories again yesterday although i felt slightly pms'y.

went out for a run this morning and 1 mile in my toes were numb it is so cold. guess i'll have to stick to yoga and pilates on the really cold days. or hit up the school gym.

today i get my certification to test for and council in HIV/AIDS prevention. i'm excited but it's going to be a long day.

Laura - great job on maintaining your calories with the BBQ!
And, that is fantastic that you are getting your certification today. HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness is so important - are you a nurse or a counselor? Or both?

My gym has replaced the elliptical machines it used to have with a newer kind by Precor - I don't like the new ones as much. They are higher off the ground, and they have the moving arm things instead of just a stationary place to set your hands. Oh well, I guess this is a hint to me to keep up with my running

Happy Friday! I hope everyone has a great day!