Hi all, I've been MIA for quite some time. Someone inspired me to come back though, so here I am. I have also been going through quite a few things in my personal life, so that has a little to do with my absence as well.

Welcome to all the newbs (AlexxusMich2, Chklithunder) and hello to the "old heads" (Matilda, Phat Girl!)

Jasonslea - nice of you to look out for a few friends, especially now. Jobs are scarce.

Cakebatter, congrats on finishing your race!

Bablou, I'm really really close to going natural. How did you come to your decision? Are you using any "special products"? The thing with me - I've tried to go natural twice in the past and ran straight back to the creamy crack. :(

Okay I guess my post was never saved.

Mustang - Thanks. I am glad you are back!

ChklitTHunder - I do WWs too. I have lost 50 on the program. It has taken me 13 months to do it, so I am slow but steady as well. WELCOME

Alexxus - Breakups are tough, but the girls here are so supportive we may be able to help you along the way. I am so excited that you get to follow your dream. that is awesome.

I lost 5lbs over the last two weeks...YAY. I at least on my ticker now. I actually started 3lbs above the ticker but i refused to change it. Anyway 3 more pounds back to my original goal and I will go from there.

With the holidays coming, I am going to have to work extra hard to be focused. I want to weigh in after Thanksgiving and actually lose a pound or two. I am doing a turkey that morning so hopefully that will help.

What you alls game plan for the upcoming holiday???

Hello ladies, I hope everyone is well. Im just waiting for the semester to end so that I can get the ball rolling again. Been off plan for the most part just been so busy with life in general.

Cake- I love the profile pic. Very inspirational.

I hope all is well with everyone. I think in Jan we need to get some challenging to get us back on the ball. What do you guys think?????

Matilda, I like the January challenge idea :)

:wave: girls.

Just popping in to see how yall are doing. :)

Sure if that is what it takes to get people posting and on track again! I have WI tonight...so wish me luck. Everyone have a great thanksgiving.

:wave: Hi Everybody! I am afraid this is long, but I get talkative when I am at work and bored... :comp:

Grneyed and Cake - Thanks for the warm welcome.

So a whole lot (but not much newsworthy) is going on in my neck of the woods. Trying to get prepared for the holiday, and working. I'm almost out of vaca time for the year so I have to be in the office right up until Thanksgiving. Off Thursday and Friday though...Yay!!!

I haven't even started cooking yet. Although all I am really responsible for is a side dish and a dessert to take over my mom's house, I still do a full dinner to have at home cause we usually have company and this year is no exception. Plus my husb and boys will want to eat at home throughout the weekend...So I will be doing my cooking tonight!

Went to Zumba last night - great as usual. I just found out that they are adding a 3rd class to their weekly schedule so that's great for me. Do any of you do it?

Cake - I love your pic too! Way to go...you look great. My plan for Thanksgiving is to go and allow myself only the things I really really want to have. These would be the turkey, a little dressing, cranberry sauce, a LITTLE bit of chitlins and I'll even forego the rice under them. I won't have any dessert - and then when we are all sitting around drinking and playing pictionary and cards I will have Merlot spritzers made with Sprite Zero. I also bought up a bunch of broccoli and baby carrots. I plan to make a veggie tray with those and the leftover celery from the dressing to take w/ me so that after dinner while everyone is grazing off seconds and thirds I can set that out. My fam will look at my funny @ first, but it will be all right. That is my game plan.

Mustang - I am facing the same dilemma...It's been about 7 or 8 months since I cut all the relaxer out of my hair, and now I have a sew in. This is my first go at natural and I really don't know if I will be able to stick with it, because I have a big head and I don't like myself with short hair. I don't think my natural hair would grow very long unless I loc'd it but I don't want to do that either...I like the Ms. Jessies products but it is a lot of work for a style that I would sweat out during working out.

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all...Cheers!
Carm

Hello everyone, I havent been on here lately but after the holiday season I am going to get back on track. I hope that we can get some challenges going so that we all can get sexi for the summer. I would really like to stay on plan and stop with the on and off thing. I would like to get moving toward my real goal.

Enjoy your holiday!

Hey all I too have been MIA and plan to get back on track.
Some of my co-workers and I have decided to take on the Broad street run in philly (which is a 10 mile down hill race). The race is May 2, 2010. I am not new to running, however, I have never done a 10 miler before. I know for me running is purely mental.
Cakebatter-If you have any suggestions on how to increase distance, (I am not looking to have a smoking time, Im just looking to finish) it will be helpful.

I had a great time over the Holidays with family and totally eating things that are usually a "no no" but without stuffing myself. Plus I kept up my exercise througout. I did a Turkey Trot and I totally beat my goal time and finished in 32:41. I was so stoked. Then I ran back for my big sisters and pushed them the rest of the way. It was awesome!

How was everyone elses holiday???

Hey Unstoppable! First off I am so flattered you even asked me? I am so blushing rt now. I have a few questions first.
1. How many miles are capable of running at this moment
2. How many day/hours per week are you able to commit to running?

I can help you sooooo much better with these answers.

CakeBatter- Thanks for responding. Currently the furthest I have ever run is a 5K. I plan to start training mid Dec, as I am currently in the process of moving. I can dedicate anywhere from 4-5 days per week to train. I am willing to spend at max 2 hours per day if needed to run. I plan to do my longer runs on the weekend. Thanks again, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Unstoppable Okay assuming you can run 3 miles consistently. I would increase something similiar to this:

3X's/week 3 miles and a 4 mile long run. Repeat for 6 weeks increasing your long run by ONE MILE every two weeks.

Rest every other day. Rest is as important as running for two reasons: one you don't want to overtrain, injure and get burnt out, two: a rested runner makes a better performing runner.

I have just given you a guide for the next six weeks. At anytime if you feel it is too much take a walk break, but get your miles in if you can. Also please don't increase your long runs by more than one mile at a time. It is soooooo easy to get burnt out. I will give more advice on increasing as you go along. But I am going to write you up a complete plan and PM it to you later this week. Oh one more thing YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME to make this distance so take it easy and HAPPY RUNNING!

WOW that sounds really cool running! I really think that I am going to dedicate my workouts to running. I had done the C2k running program before and I actually shed a lot of lbs back when running was a part of my workouts.

I just need a kick in my butt. Ive been op for sometime and eating like crazy. Ive made a promise to myself to start working out again after my finals because its just been that crazy.

Just dont let this thread die I need the inspiration badly lol

Mind if I join you?
 

Hello Ladies,

I've been reading up on your posts and would really like to be part of your group. I've been a member of 3FC for years and I'm thrilled to see a thread of beautiful sisters who understand my struggles a little better than most.

About Me: My name is Angela, I'm 28, Veteran like Alexxus HOLLA! (But i was Army, not AF) I live in Harlem NY with my BF of almost 2 years, no kids, a yorkie and about 40lbs I'm dying to get rid of.

I'm a foodie for real! I love food in large quantities and i was getting away with it when i was active but since my BF moved in with me I've been eating out more, moving less and now here I am, not fitting my clothes, not wanting him to touch me and ready to make a change.

what triggered my motivation was the other night while watching the BET awards, Keri Hilson came out to perform and my BF said "Mm" . I want him to look at me that way. He works out religously and his body is amazing. I sometimes feel too unattractive for him and it has affected our sex life.

Anyways, don't want to babble too much. Look forward to getting to know all of you. Carmen, can't wait to see the pic.

:wave: Hey Y'all!

Angela - welcome from one Newbie to another...About the girls on those awards shows, isn't it depressing? I know what you mean about intimacy...sometimes I feel so bad about myself that I don't want DH touching me either. But then I know its not fair to him for me to push him away because of how I'm feeling about myself. So I figure if he likes it then I love it and then I go ahead and get me some activity points! ;) No, seriously when we met I was overweight but not as heavy as I am now. I was maybe 220 and I was a LOT firmer in some places than I am now. As I have aged this weight on me has moved to some ungodly places, but I digress...

Well, Thanksgiving is over and I'm DOWN baby! A little over 2 lbs and I'll take it. I pretty much followed my Thanksgiving plan but I did have dessert, then I somehow let it slip my mind that Thanksgiving lasts from Thursday through
Sunday with my family. BUT I tried to watch it and ate mainly turkey and vegetables whenever someone (including me) served up some bird with all the trimmings.

I also managed to make it to 2 Zumba classes and walked with my work buddy so I was hoping the activity points would finally be on my side. Normally when I earn activity points I try not to use them because if I do use them I don't lose. So I just stay away from them...

So...ladies...plans for the weekend? Me? Aside from my GF coming to dinner on Sunday, not much on my plate, which works for me. I'm tired of all the running and would like some time to relax. I'd like to go see "Precious." I did read the book and it was pretty good, dark, but that's life for ya too.

Oh well that's it for now. Talk to you all soon!
Carm