raising the bar...
 

Good morning all. Glad to see some action in here! I slept late so changed my riding lesson to afternoon. It eats up the day but I was feeling terribly lethargic. Also, yesterday was balmy, truly balmy in the morning, then turned cold and rainy. The ground would be frozen this morning, which means I can't ride. So, let's hope the trains are working and I can get out there today. It's a national holiday here (Emperor's birthday or something) and I'm taking off work yet again.
Hurrah. My reward for making it in yesterday!!!

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...9/clapping.gif

Still, I am bloated. My face FAT and even more disgusting looking than yesterday with the haircut from ****. My fault though as my eating was awful yesterday, despite staying on my challenges. I HAVE to rein myself in. Let's work on that today. I am continuing with the food journal and am going to force myself to notch it up a level by writing in calories and making it neater and in order, commenting on why I ate things, if I had planned etc. When I'm relaxed, my eating is fine, but once I have to work it becomes more of a free-for-all and that ain't pretty. :nono: Still, the scale wasn't that bad this morning. I will NEVER understand it. :dunno: :shrug: :?:

**************

Sunni -- Ok, a hamster. Cute. I used to have them as a kid too. Had 13 once. I think my old guy, a beige hamster named Buffy, outlived yours. He was over 3! He and Honey had little ones, 11 of them, which we sold to a pet shop. Buffy really lived a long time, Honey not so. They are really adorable, with their little tails and the way they pack their pouches and run, run, run on their exercise wheels. I miss them but my cats would terrify them in no time and be waiting constantly for a chance to snatch them up. My huge one-eyed all-white Momo brings things home. The other day I went to do the wash and there was a dead mouse in the washer. It really gave me a jolt. Momo likes to sleep in there, so I guess she brought it in to her favorite place. Gosh, do I ever check first now when I throw clothes in.
Oh, Sunni, here's a cartoon for us! Jen, over on her blog http://priorfatgirl.blogspot.com/ had it up today.
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...t59/Monday.jpg
Sunni, on the group it sounds like you're going through a lot of what I went through the past two years as a manager. It really opened my eyes to people and how they change depending on the whole role thing. I've learned more and more not to listen to everything people say. It's a sad thing actually, but it's also more realistic so I don't get knocked around in shock and surprise. You're learning. It's a good experience. Distance yourself a little bit and look at the situation as if you were a disinterested bystander or a researcher or something. It helps. Thanks for the congrats on yet another successful challenge day! Hurrah! I'm with you too on swimming. Though I can do more than dogpaddle, I have never taken to the water. It scares me and just seems way too dangerous and alien. :^:

mod -- So glad to hear you're feeling better. You had some major shocks, things that rattled you, so of course you got knocked down for the count. But you're up, probably still dazed and staggering but you're UP! That's the main thing. I love hearing you're heading to the gym. This is the kind of stuff it takes. Just doing it. I wish you'd mentioned the eat and pray book because I have it and am looking for a new home for it. It was fun to read! I hope your office party goes well. Just have a pleasant gab with people and then out. That's the way to handle them if you go at all. I don't think there's anything planned at my office, that's how bad things are. When's your birthday? That's a tough challenge! Good luck :goodluck:

miriam -- A big hand on your successful liftoff!! :bravo: oh...wait a minute....it wasn't over yet. Well, I'm sure you made it!! :yes: It's good to hear you're planning for the rough times. What foresight! :cp: Good luck!!
Happy birthday to your daughter! I bet the cake was wonderful and again, excellent on the planning. :yes:

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...t59/Bird_2.gif

Yipee!!! Day 1, 3 pauses

Red - luckily - your hair will grow! I wear a wig <for religious purposes> and when you get a bad haircut on one, er... no going back!

Try planning you meals - you'll feel sooo much better! It helps so muich - even if you don't keep to it 1000%.

Hope you have a great riding today!

Wow, it's been busy around here! Well I completed the third of my original challenges yesterday! I love this thread - it's so inspiring!
Challenge 1 - Stretches/weights - 21/21 days, 2 pauses used Completed 12/22
Challenge 3 - Veggies, veggies, veggies 24/21 days Completed 12/19

I'm happy to say that these two are becoming habit again. I'm going to continue a variation of the first one but see no need to do another round of the veggie challenge now that I'm back on track.

Challenge 2 - no chocolate - 21/21 days, 1 pause (none left!) Completed 12/20
So I proved Sunday exactly why I need to do another round of this one. I eventually threw the rest of the bar in the compost to stop myself from eating it :o

Challenge 4: I will journal EVERYTHING that goes in my mouth, no pauses.16/21 days

Red - My last haircut was awful too. I even went back so she could fix it and she just didn't get it. The worst part is I've been growing it out a little so having two cuts in a row was depressing. On the plus side the 6 weeks passed quickly and I just had it cut by someone else and love it so hang in there. The good thing about hair is it grows! I've found brutally honest journaling to be the best tactic for keeping myself under control. Sorry the week has been so up and down for you. Hope things are looking up.

Miriam - Good to see you back and rocking those challenges. Yes, you absolutely get a gold star for shopping with a teenager! :eek: I remember those trips. I would have been in the food court half way through ;)

bbybear - Nice to meet you :)

Sunni - I have been through hairdresser h*ll a lot - find one I like, she leaves, find another, rinse and repeat. It's so frustrating! I sure hope the challenging people around you lighten up! Good idea exercising your frustration away instead of eating. I really should do that more often!

Mod - It's great to see you back! That's really a huge challenge and one I wish I could get better at. You can get through the next few days. It's good to know you're taking care of you :)

Okay, now I'm behind schedule again (the story of my life!). I could so never work somewhere I had to punch in and out.

Have a good day everyone. I hope to get on later and write out my new challenges.

seven weeks!
 

Hi Everyone,

Sorry to be one of those beginners who disappears after a few weeks. But there's been a lot going on in my life the last year and added to the holiday stress I just crashed for a couple of weeks, couldn't do anything actually considered going back to the dr. for meds. But it seems to have passed for now, and I will be back next week starting over.

To those who celebrate have a great Holiday (which ever it may be).

:wave: Tech :wave:

the big Five Oh!!!
 

50! WOOHOO RED!! WTG!!!

That's a very cute Xmas icon you have going on there - where's my menorah?? You still have 4 days left to post one, ;)

Challenge: day 2 almost done - seeing as I'm done with eating today - i could almost say I'm home free :)

Tech - hope things are picking up for you and that we see you here acing challenges really soon!

Happy Hanukkah Miriam!

A belated Happy Hanukkah!!!
 

Hello Ladies and Merry Christmas,
I am with Tech, between last minute Christmas, the field trip that keeps on giving (I got bed bug bites all over) and constant guests, I am way off the dial so far as coming here! I have been thinking of you all and trying my best to stay on track (no weight gain at least) and I will be back after our ten day trip to San Diego to settle in for challenges with you all. I just wanted to say hello and I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season. My only goal is to not gain weight, rather than the usual ten. So far, so good. Have a wonderful, wonderful holiday and I will be back on the 5th of January!

Sheri

Thanks for the Hannukah wishes, LOL

I am on day 3 today! Hope for a good one! The fact that someone trashed the new container of tahini I bought to keep in the office doesn't help though. Hmm - wonder what that was all about. I'm used to people eating my food - but not to it disappearing altogether!

I actually saw a little scale victory this morning - nice to see a loss again!

Haha - look how positive I sound in this post! Good you all can't see the smoke coming copiously out of my ears.... Grrrrr..

merry little Xmas..........
 

It sure is quiet here today! We've just spent a relaxing day at home. Tomorrow we will travel to my parents and meet my DD there for our family celebration. I like our quiet holidays at home though - very relaxing.

Here's my almost completed list:
Challenge 1 - Stretches/weights - 21 days Completed 12/22
Challenge 3 - Veggies, veggies, veggies 21 days Completed 12/19
Challenge 2 - no chocolate - 21 days Completed 12/20
Challenge 4: I will journal EVERYTHING that goes in my mouth, no pauses.19/21 days

Tomorrow I start my new round of challenges and it's a good thing because I've been a little piggy today. Kind of crazy starting new challenges before 2 days on the road, but maybe it will keep me on track!

Chocolate Challenge, Rnd 2 - No solid chocolate (I'm allowing hot chocolate with unsweetened choc.almond milk since it doesn't seem to cause cravings for me), 3 serving sized pauses

Grain Challenge - Limit of 3 grain servings per day, 1 pause for New Year's Eve

Exercise challenge, Rnd 2 - yoga, weights or stretches every day (cardio is assumed). 1 pause

Journal Challenge, Rnd 2 - Journal everything that goes into my mouth,no pauses

Red - :hat::dancer:50 days and counting :hat::dancer::congrat:
How is it going with the scary box? I think your sugar challenge may be like my chocolate challenge. I don't want to never eat chocolate, I want to eat it sometimes but I want to be in control instead of it being in control. I'm trying to figure out what that balance looks like. How's your hair doing? In a few more days I bet it will be easier to live with (the magic two weeks). I let mine air dry this morning to give it a day off - very scary ;)

Miriam - Want me to come and slap the tahini bandit around a little? It's a long trip but I'd do it ;) How frustrating for you! Sounds like you're keeping your eyes ahead and just moving forward though.

Quix, Tech, Mod, Shy, Sunni :wave: Hope everyone is having a good day whether you celebrate or not.

Hi All! How did your holiday go?

Cyndi - you have been acing those challenges! Wtg! Yeah - come help me get the thief! Realy through off my planning for the day - that was supposed to be my protein. Hmph. Good luck on your new challenges!

Red - BEWARE OF THE BOX. I understand that you took a pause, but... Just speaking form my own experience - if I still had that open in the house - I'd eat the whole damn thing!!!! Probably at one sitting.... Stick strong to the other ones! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!


Day 3 completed!

disgusted with myself and the way it is...