Finally got my computer back. It's not quite right yet, but I am posting quickly.

TOM is looming. Should be around the 5th. It is wreaking havoc on my weight. I am all the way up to 188, like 3.5 pounds. I HATE this. I am eating right and working out everyday still. I hope this drops as fast as it went on.

I want to be in the 170's by the time we go back to school. It would be great to say I've lost 75 pounds. That is my goal.

Ladies, keep working. Never give up. That's right Susie. You tell those cravings!!!

I am still on the good workout track. I have been eating pretty well the last few days, but I am nervous about the next 5 days. We are leaving tomorrow to go on vacation until Sunday, so there will be continuous eating out. I will do my very best to make the best choices I can with my food. I am looking very forward to spending some time relaxing, though.

Mindy--Glad to see your computer is up and running again. I will miss lunch on Friday, maybe you are available tomorrow?

Susie--I am glad you are right back on track after all the leftover ice cream. You can't change the fact that it is eaten, you just have to move on from here.

Ward--Hope all is well.

See you all on Sunday!

Hi!

It's good to see Mindy back online!

Mindy: I"m sorry that TOM gives you so many problems. I used to think it would be great to not have TOM but since I still have my ovaries I go through most of it. 170's is my goal as well and girl,,,I'm over 100 lbs from it.

Kelly: Enjoy the vacation. Make the best choices you can and walk as much as you can. The most important thing is to relax...we all need that....relaxing isn't overeating and not moving..it's just the opposite..it's having the time to do those things even more than on a usual day. You will feel much better for it! Do you mind sharing where you are going on vacation.

Ward: Where are you? Usually when you go missing it's because you are off track....you know we are here to help you and support you.

I have my weigh-in tonight and I don't expect it to be pretty. It's ok. I need a new "beginning" again and today is going to be it. I had my annual checkup at the gyno yesterday. I got a good report. I still need to go get my mamogram but I think (and hope and pray) that all will be ok there. I dread these appoinments every year. I have had so much female problems in my life that I always expect something to come up...when i get that over with for a year I feel so free! So, I think that is a good time to have a new beginning and wouldn't I like to walk in there a year from now and have lost 100 lbs. That's my goal ladies....one year from July 2...100 lbs gone. It's going to take some hard commitments from me...especially where the food is concerned. Exercise is easy for me. I LOVE it....watching my food intake...I don't like. But I don't like being 100 lbs over weight...so....here I go.

I'll see you all tomorrow.

Susie- Good luck with the weigh-in. And also with your 100 pound goal. When I make my goal weight I think I will have lost 105. Sign up for a new committment today.

Kelly- Have fun!! We'll hear from you on Monday, right???

Ward- Come back to us.

No movement here, one way or the other. I know I won't see anything until after TOM. Just holding steady is good, right??? I think I will go for a good long walk tonight and maybe do some arms.

Hey, where is everybody. I know where Kelly is, but what about Susie and Ward???

Susie- How did the weigh-in go??? Hope you lost something.
Ward- hope you are on track. If not, come on girl. get back with it.

My weight has come down a little. Still waiting for TOM, but hopefully I'll be a little ahead of the game. just did jillian's Shred for 20 min. I am sweating my a** off. Tomorrow is the walk with Kelly. Should be fun.

Hi,

I knew that I would show a gain on Thursday and I did--1 lb. I really honestly thought it would be worse than that.

I am doing well this weekend with food. I have had to do a lot of "self-talk" to myself. We have been to a lot of outdoor festivals where there are so many good things...like funnel cakes, carmel corn. I'm eating a regular meal before I go and so I tell myself that I am not hungry and that those sort of things will bother my stomach and they will..they will make it bigger!

When I"m not at the gym I don't feel that I'm really exercising...unless I plan to go for a walk. At these festivals we have to walk far...last nights walk from the park to the car was a 2 mile walk, carrying lawnchairs. That has to count for something?

Tomororw morning I am going to observe my first ever trialthon--my manager is competing in one and he invited me and my DH to come. I'm thinking that seeing all those in-shape people will inspire me!

Mindy: You amaze me how you just keep plugging through this. It's very inspiring to me.

Kelly & Ward: Mindy and I are here waiting on you to come back.

I hope everyone enjoys the holiday. I'll see you all tomorrow.

Kelly

Kelly and i did our walk today. Man, I hate walking. I get so bored. I would have much rather sprang into a jog at times. Oh well. Just about got run over by a deer that came crashing out of the woods. That was fun. Well the scale is down a little more today and TOM should be here tomorrow (if on schedule). So hopefully the losing will begin.

Hope to hear from everyone soon.

Susie- you go and get inspired at that triatholon. It could be you someday. :p

Hi,

The triathalon was fun to watch and I couldn't believe how old some of the people were and they didn't look their age. That just goes to tell me there is another reason for eating right and keeping ones body in shape.

It didn't inspire me to run. I'm just not a runner. I like to walk (sorry you find it boring Mindy). I was watching those people today and you could tell who was born to run, they make it look so easy and it's fun to watch them.

How's everyone else doing today?

I ran 13.2 miles today - just for the he** of it. LOL

Sorry I have not been around much, but I will write more when I have a bit more time. Kids are finally in bed and now I gotta go see what the husband is up to.

Ward- 13 miles!!! Yikes!!! That's like a half marathon. You are awesome!!!

Susie- I say we let Ward do the running for us. :smug: Just kidding. I do like to get my own runs in.

Okay so it wasn't 13 miles..... but I did run 1 mile last night and then 20 min. of arms. Had pizza with my son and his GF. The scale is up a little, most likely because of that.

Keep working hard and giving it your best effort girls. See ya later.

Hi,

I'm on track today. Workout is done..1 hr of Body Pump class. Going to the movies tonight and forgoing the popcorn...I'm taking apple slices and almonds.

I did have a piece of cake today...a birthday celebration for a co-worker. I did count it into my calories/points for the day.

Ward: Lady...you are AMAZING! 13 miles for the h*LL of it....you are crazy...but you look good! It's good to have you back!

Mindy: Hey..you keep doing the runs...I'll do the walks..and the yoga, and the weights and the Zumba and the belly dancing...I think that I have to have a variety! Good for you for doing that mile run and then arms. That's why your ticker has gone down, down, down!

Kelly: What's up?

Hi all! Had a nice vacation last week. We went to Ludington, MI for a few days, which is one of our little beach towns here in Michigan. Although the weather was gloomy and pretty cold, we still had fun. Then we went to my mom and dad's area and hung out for a few days. Did the 5K walk with Mindy. Ate way too much along the way and came back 4 pounds heavier. That was yesterday, and today I was down 2.5 of that, so I think it will come back off relatively quickly.

Ward--I agree--Yikes! 13 miles is a long way!

Susie--Keep doing great with that calorie counting. I am glad to see you counted the calories for the cake and didn't give up on the rest of your day's food.

Mindy--I am with you on the walking. Even though I have no desire to be a runner, walking is kind of boring at this point in the game. It is nice to throw a jog in once in a while just to take away from the monotony.

See you all later!

Just finished 3 miles. Walked and jogged. It feels like a much better workout than just plain walking. Holding at 185ish. Looking to drop some soon.

Susie- I agree with Kelly. You counted the cake and adjusted for it. We should be able to have a treat once in a while.

Kelly- Glad that gain is coming off. You should be back to normal soon.

Ward- hope you got in a good workout today.

Hi,

I was crazy busy with work yesterday and thought I would post last night but when I got home from my 2 hr cardio workout--I could barely keep my eyes open after I had my dinner.

I've already done my big cardio workout for the day--Zumba. I have bellydancing tonight and then yoga.

I was so very proud of myself this afternoon. I brought watermelon and a rice crispy square for something sweet to eat, knowing I would have one at lunch and the other on my way to my workout classes. I was going for the rice crisy square first and then I told myself that the healthy thinner Susie would choose the watermelon first..and I decided to let that Susie choose instead of the current Susie. Hey...it's the little things!

Mindy: I think doing a combo of walking and jogging are good..it's like interval training which we know is very good for helping to burn calories

Kelly: Is all that gain back off yet. I want you to know that I got the idea of planning to account the sweets into my daily totals from you. It leaves me feeling less deprived this way.

Ward: How are you doing?

Susie- Yay for the watermelon. I haven't had any good melon in a while. It sounds good. I get to do some serious grocery shopping this week (payday). Plan on re-stocking our new, barren fridge.

I need to do a workout tonight. I am bored though. What shall I do??? TOM started today, so I am looking forward to losing some pounds, hopefully. That's the plan anyway.

Keep with it girls. I need to eat some food today. I am only at 1000 calories right now. How do I do this???

Hey, where is everybody??? I am here doing my thing. Just finished a 3 mile walk. That was about all i could manage with the vice grips of TOM squeezing my uterus. I know, TMI. Well, hopefully I can see some progress on the scale soon.

Hope everyone is doing well. Hope to hear from you all soon.

Hello,

I'm still crazy busy at work. It's going to be like this for about the next month. I am determined that I will not let it derail me from my goal of losing weight and being healthy.

I had a small loss at the scales last night at TOPS. I lost 1/2 lb. I am actually very thrilled with that loss because I would have sworn they would go up.

In two weeks our weigh-loss challenge at the Y ends and they will do our measurements again. I can't wait to see what they are and the difference between the beginning and now. Last time I was measured--a month ago, I had lost a total of 7 inches.

I found a friend who agreed to continue measuring me at monthly intervals. I belive this will help when the scales aren't showing my progress.

I am catching some sort of cold or something. I feel like there is a cat in my throat, I want to sleep and my eyes are watery. I called my doctor and she called in something for me. I see her on Wed for a blood draw to re-check my thyroid so if I'm not feeling better by then she can give me something else. I always seem to end up with a secondary infection when I have a cold so my dr is pretty good about getting me on a low-dose antibiodic to get well.

I'm going to stay on the couch this evening with my book and just relax.

Mindy: I used to feel the vice grips--I'm so glad I don't have to do that anymore! I hope the scales start going down for you now!

Susie- Sorry you are feeling crappy. That is no fun. Things are getting better for me today. Not such bad cramps. I hope to go down tomorrow.

I just walk/jogged about 3 miles. It is pretty humid, so I am a totally sweaty mess.

Okay girls i am feeling lonely here. Good news today!!!! 183.6!!! That's a new low. Hope it continues.

Hope to hear from you all soon. I miss you.

Mindy-:carrot: Celebrating your new low!

I'm feeling a little better today. I still have that weezy feeling in my chest and then the tickle in my throat. This is what I felt like last year when I had the bronchitis that took forever for me to get over. I'll see my doctor on Wednesday for a blood drawer and I'll talk to her about it...I don't want to go through months of feeling sick again.

I took a small walk this evening. I wanted to start moving so I could gage how I think my workouts will go this week. I thnk I can do them just maybe at a reduced intensity.

Susie- I sure hope you can nip that in the bud. There is nothing worse than feeling sick. Hopefully they can get you back in tip top shape. Congrats on the loss. May be small, but any loss is a good loss.

I was down a little more today, which is good. I need to really take advatage of this week. It is my good week to lose. Just did a 3 mile walk/jog, mostly jogging. It felt good.

Well I have exciting news. Hope someone stops in to hear it. I can say today that I have officially lost 70 pounds. Yep, 70. I was 181.6 on the scale today. I am super excited. Now I understand it will go up some at mid-cycle time, but I am loving that number today. :carrot:

I have been trying to eat more. During the summer, I am so off schedule and routine that I just get busy and forget to eat. I don't feel hungry very often, so I need to just eat. I am also trying to stay active by working in the yard or around the house. No sitting on the couch vegging all day.

I will do my workout tonight with a DVD. I am alternating DVD one night, jog the next. Hope everyone else is on track. Hope to hear from you all.

:woohoo: That is amazing!!! Congratulations!

Mindy--YEE HAA!!! Awesome! I am so excited for you! You have worked so hard and deserve every pound shed (plus some!)

Susie--I agree with Mindy--Any loss is a good loss. Celebrate that 1/2 pound!

Ward--Hope you are doing well.

I am working my tail off every night with my hubby, but just staying the same as far as weight goes. The last couple days I seem to be fighting off a cold so my chest hurts, my throat hurts and I'm coughing a bit. Normally I would give up the workouts until I am feeling better, but not this time around. I am still working out. I refuse to give up. I will just keep counting every calorie and continuing to exercise. This plateau will end eventually.

See you all later.

Mindy: 70 lbs! WOW WEE!! You are right to claim that number and love it. You have worked so hard for it.

Kelly: You are more woman than me to workout with your symptoms. I am still moving but at a reduce rate. I will try one of my regular classes today. I am feeling better.

Ward: Good to see you here.

I'm doing ok. My food journal is filled out. I need to get back to my feeling journal--since I'm an emotional eater I need to use this more often than I have been.

Everyone stay strong...I'm getting back there!

I went up a little today, but not too worried. I just finished my 3 mile walk/jog for the day. I have worked out 17 days in a row. Pretty good. Thank you for all the comments. It's hard to believe I've lost that much. Gotta love it.

Ward- good to hear from you. Hope you're doing okay.

Susie- I have become one tough cookie. It seems I'm like the postal service. Not rain, nor sleet, nor snow will stop me. Sick, tired, crampy, it doesn't matter. I am a girl on a mission and I will not stop. You can do it also. Determination, mind over matter, something like that.

Kelly- You keep doing what you're doing. You know you will get a loss eventually. How's the eating out? How about your activity level? Are sitting at home more than during the school year? I know I have to watch out for that.

I hit a new low today! 169.5. My eating has been good. I haven't really been eating out, which I know is a big downfall for me. So, something is working. I am still sick. I have very little energy, so I didn't work out last night. I feel a little better this morning, but still pretty low energy, so we'll see how I feel tonight.

See you all later.

YAY Kelly!!! I knew you would drop.....eventually. Keep eating at home and working out and I'm sure the losses will continue. It was nice walking with you today and catching up on gossip.

Kelly and I tried on clothes together at the mall today. She is definitely smaller than me, by about 1 size. It was kind of fun. I am still 192.4 today. It's not 181, but still a good number.

Now, stop that Mindy, you are 182, not 192. Get those 190's out of your head! Yeah, trying clothes on was fun! I still can't believe how different we look from each other in the same outfit.

I'm CRAZY busy at work. I knew it would be like that this week and next for sure.

I'm journaling and working out. But just 1 hr a day instead of my usually 2-3.

I just wanted to do a quick check-in because I miss you guys!

I know I need to slow down soon or I'll loose focus.

Mindy & Kelly: Look at you! New numbers and new sizes...I need to get on the ball so I can be in new smaller sizes and numbers too! I want to so badly.

I'll talk to you all later.

Kelly- How funny. I didn't even realize I did that again. Well, I was 184 today. WTH??? Can't I just lose weight and stay there?? NO!!! Well, you all know me. I'll just keep working and someday i will be where I want to be,

Hope you ar all doing well. Susie, hope things settle down for you soon.

Hi! I am happy to report a .75 lb loss. I'm happy with it, it was a .25 more than last week so for the 1st two weeks towards my goal I have lost 1.25 lbs. It's in the direction I want to go and I will be changing my tracker.

I just found out that on Friday's (starting in 2 weeks) they are adding another Body Pump class workout at noon....like the one I do on Monday's and Tuesday's...I'm so there!

How's everyone else doing and what are your weekend plans?

Susie- Isn't it nice to see those smaller losses adding up. Progress in the right direction, YAY!!! Keep it up.

I was 182.8 today, down a wee bit. I really waht to be back to that 181ish area. Just did a 4 mile walk/jog. Thought I would pump it up a little bit.

Gotta tell you girls about Kelly. I know she won't say anything, so i will. We went to lunch yesterday and when she walked in the door, OMG!!! Did she look skinny. I want to look like Kelly. You keep it up girl. You really do look awesome!!!

Mindy--Thanks! I will have to make sure I wear that shirt a lot more often! P.S. everyone else...it was a size Small! Who woulda thunk. By the way, Mindy bought a pair of jeans the other day, I think she told you about them. HOT! This is truly the fun part. My body image is slowly starting to change and I am loving it!

Susie--Excellent job at the scale! All that hard work is paying off! Keep it up.

Ward--Hope things are ok with you.

I haven't weighed myself today because I wasn't at home in the morning, but yesterday I was 169 even. I am liking the direction I am finally going. I hope this plateau is over.

See you ladies tomorrow.

Hi Ladies--I went to see the musical Mama Mia this afternoon with some friends...so much fun.

I'm anticipating a very BUSY week at work this week. They are moving 650 in our building starting Friday at noon and we have to have everything packed and ready, plus trying to get work done. I know I'll be working late this week. I've already decided that my lunch time workouts will be the only workouts I get this week.

Kelly and Mindy: I think we need some update pictures!

Ward: Were are you?

Susie- I was thinking about the pictures myself. We will have to do that pretty soon. Take it easy at work. Don't let the busyness derail you. Stay strong and committed.

DS had 21st BDay party last night. I did too much celebrating with him. Spent most of today recuperating. Now it's back to the ole grind.

Kelly- Just called your house to talk and got your husband who was just going to workout. What have you done to him???

I am not happy. My scale is up today and not sure why. 183.8 That is 2 pounds from my low last week. I really hate these fluctuations. Well, I have eaten good today and going to workout here in a bit (waiting for food to digest a bit).

Hope things are going well for you guys. see ya tomorrow.

Hello,

I wanted to get my day started off right and I thought the best way was to to come here!

I am doing well and on plan. Thank goodness that I have a place to workout during lunch at work. It really helps so that I get it done and can still work late and get all that I need to get done this week.

Today I'm packing one of the new Healthy Choice meals for my lunch. I'm going to eat with some friends today. No working out at lunch. I will work too late to get to my Y classes tonight but I am planning a walk around the neighborhood around 8:00 p.m. tonight. The weather has been so nice here in the evenings...I want to enjoy it.

Mindy: I'm sorry that the scales go up and down like that for you. It is my understanding that they do that every day. Do you weigh the same time every day in the same place in the same clothes? If not, I think you should.

Kelly: It sounds like you and your hubby are working out a lot===together. That's so great!

Ward: I need to hear from you. I miss your workouts!

Ok..got to go get ready for work. Have a good day ladies!

Gosh Susie- You really are busy these days. Hope you get some time for yourself somehow. A few workouts will be better than none.

Kelly- you keep it up with that man of yours. You'll be a size 10 before you know it.

I was 183.4 today. So I was up 2 pounds yesterday and 1.5 today. Don't know if it's my mid-cycle gain or not, but if it is, 2 pounds is not bad. Now I just want to get back to that 181ish place. I really want to be in the 170's when school starts. Just did a 2 mile run, running most of it. I need to work my legs. They are not pretty.

Hello Ladies--Just got back from Zumba. I LOVE that class and it's so nice to get it in at lunch time.

Work is still crazy busy. Everyone in my buidling..that's 650 people are moving cubicles on Friday. We have been going through files, cubes, closets and cleaning, trashing, boxing all while still getting the daily work done. That's why I have been working from 8-7 for the past 3 weeks!

I had a wonderful thing happen to me this morning. One of my co-workers was walking with me down the hall and he said--so..how much weight have you lost...you look great! It was so good to hear. This year I've lost about 15 but I've lost a total of 11 inches since June so I guess it shows.

Mindy: I have no doubt you will reach your desired number in no time! Keep up with that running!