Hi there! I had a rough day yesterday girls. I only have 18 more work days to work; the unemployment compensation amount is depressing! I just let it all get to me yesterday and it showed in my food. However, I am happy to report that I did drag myself to Zumba and doing that helped me lot with my frame of mind.

It's HOT here in Ohio so I will for sure be on the treadmill tonight instead of walking outside with my workout partner, also have a upper body weight workout planned.

Kelly: You have done well managing your weight--the important thing is to catch those small gains and get it right back off and really there is no other way but to count those calories to get back on track. Keep it up!

Mindy: I don't know how you are working out in the heat! Please be careful.

Kelly: Can't wait to have you back posting with us.

The scales stayed the same at last night's weigh-in! I feel like I got a reprive...going to make the most of it by giving this all my attention this week.

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

I'm going to get my hair colored and cut Saturday morning--I'm going to get out and take a walk on Saturday--most likely in the evening. I've got some house cleaning to do and I want to start pricing some items for a yard sale that I'm going to have in August.

Well for me life is stressful. Nobody is working, or not enough, and all of this falls on my shoulders ultimately. It is getting to be too much to bear. My son applies for a job almost everyday and is calling daily trying to get the ones's he has applied for. Nothing is happening. My ex (currently on unemployment) isn't doing much of anything. My daughter works part-time and isn't getting anywhere near enough hours. AAHH!!!

Weight is just holding around 178. Not bad, not great. I was hoping to join a gym for $20.00 a month. There is no way I can do that now. I will just have to keep doing what I've been doing at home. Hopefully it will be enough.

Did a 3 mile walk/jog with sprint intervals last night. It's funny how quickly 3 miles goes by these days. It used to seem so long. Tonight I think I need a good long 5 miler, just to have time to clear my head.

I've had a pretty relaxing day, but I should have done more. I just didn't have the energy or the heart. I had applied to a company I would like to work for and I thought the interview went well, but yesterday when I got home I got a rejection letter. *sigh*. The good news is that I didn't turn to food for comfort, instead I just slept.

I got my hair cut and colored today....I feel so good when I get that done. I took a long nap this afternoon and now I'm cleaning house at my leisure; it feels good to not have to go anywhere for once.

I just can't seem to get motivated to work out consistently. I used to love to work out...why can't I just get moving? I'm not giving up though.

Mindy: I can't believe that you said "3 miles go pretty fast these days"...I"m so proud of you.
I'm sorry that you are feeling the stress of "not enough money"...it's no fun for sure.
With all that is going on with you, you are doing very well with your weightloss.

Kelly, Angela, Ward--Mindy and I miss you.

Ladies,
I'm back. Well, actually I've been back home for almost 2 weeks, but have been busy. Vacation was nice, especially the weather. I tried to stay on track while I was away, but it was pretty difficult, since we ate out A LOT! I was just happy I didn't come home 5 lbs. heavier. I'm still hovering around 207-208. I didn't get much exercise in as we were constantly busy, but hopefully that counts for something. I did go for 1 nice, peaceful walk while I was there. Since coming home, it hasn't been much different. We had company the first week,(an aunt and cousin came back with us), and last week I babysat the neighbor kids all week. It's been in the mid 90's here with humidity making the "feels like" temp at or about 100, so needless to say, not going outside much. So, all in all, I can't be too upset, since I haven't had a major gain, but I've got to get back on track tomorrow. Glad to be back here with you ladies and looking forward to all the successes from everyone.

Kelly- Love you and thanks for the kind words. Great to see you.

Susie- Good idea with the short term goals. I wish you luck with them. I've given myself a goal, too. Although my ultimate goal is 150, I've given myself a goal of 190 by my birthday in September. And I'm thinking some other short-term goals like you've come up with could really help too.

Mindy-Take good care of yourself. Stress can get in the way of your goals and your ultimate health. Don't let it take over your life.

Not much to tell. Still working out at home. I put in a lot of miles during a week. I either walk, walk/jog, or do intervals. I really can't afford a gym right now,:( wish i could. Weight is hovering around 177. Hopefully after TOM (in about a week) it will go down a bit more.

Hi Ladies,

I woke up with a headache this morning; I think it was a sinus thing, we had storms move in overnight and I made a decision that I was going to take a sick day. Just didn't feel like going into work. The end is drawing near and I needed a mental health day as well. It felt good to stay home.

A friend of mine is moving and she has a bunch of old dolls that she gave me to put in a yard sale. I washed them up in the sink and washed their clothes, they are all clean now and ready to be sold. I'm planning on having a yard sale the middle of August. I thought it would be good to get those dolls taken care of..kept my hands busy so I could snack while I was home.

I have made a promise to myself that this is the last Monday that I will skip my exercise. I just don't feel like going out of the house today...and it's HOT! So, this is my off day and tomorrow I will be back in the game with exercise.

Angela: I think you have done very well since you have been out of your routine. Now that everything is getting back to normal, just jump right back in and give yourself a whole week until you weigh again.

Mindy: 177...is that the lowest you have been in awhile?

Ladies,
Not much to say, but wanted to check in. I'm trying to stick to healthy eating. It's tough to walk by all the sweets and snacks in our house and not indulge, but I'm making a concious effort to avoid the temptation. Unfortunately, I don't buy the groceries and I can't afford to buy a bunch of separate foods for myself, but I do ok. Susie, I'm trying your advice and waiting until Mon. to weigh in again. I think checking every day is a little depressing because you don't really see a difference every time, so maybe that will help with the motivation. Thanks! Mindy and Kelly, what do you think? Do you weigh yourselves everyday, every other day, ...?
Until later....G'Night all!

I have been giving my job situation to much control over the rest of my life. I am waiting to hear from another company that I interviewed with and I haven't heard from them however, I saw the position posted today on a job board! You would think they would tell me first that I didn't get the job. So, I called and left a message that I was checking on the position. I've still not heard from them! Talk about leaving me depressed.

Then today I spent some time thinking about it and you know, I'm doing all I can do. I am sending out resumes, I'm making connections. I have plans to go to all the sessions that will be available to me after July 30 to help me find a job. I've got our budget worked out with unemployment...tight ladies, tight but we can manage and I have 4 months of health care before I have to look at Cobra or a private policy..that's better than a lot of people have it, so I'm pulling myself up by my boot straps and I will work harder to not stress eat over this but rather exercise and post when I feel like that. Afterall, I need to be sure that I can fit into my clothes (no money coming in alloted to buy new ones) and when I lose weight, I still have smaller clothes I could wear from 6 years ago...they aren't to much out of date...I usually by classic pieces.

I had a great workout tonight on the treadmill and the weight-room and while I'm job hunting and not working, there will be time for me to get more workouts in...I can add yoga and also some more cardio. My new motto is going to be "use what you got and what you can".

Angela: stay strong and don't give in to that indulgence pulling at you..it will pass.

Mindy, and Kelly: Hope to see you soon!

I am experiencing the same ole, same ole blues. One day just runs into the next and they are all pretty dull and boring. My ONE big change for the day was...I got up and did my workout early this morning..7:30. During the summer, that is a record. I knew it was getting hot today and it did. 4 miles..run/walk.

I went to try a different gym on Tues. Arms and legs are still a bit sore. TOM is approaching. 178 today!!!

Susie- Hang in there and don't give up. I am the only one employed in my hose right now and it is tough. These "boys" need to find jobs.

Hi there. I'm so glad it's Friday. We have a family reunion and I know it will be a bit tough with all that good food. I know pretty much who is bringing what so I'm planning now and will stick to eating only what I planned. Also, we have two new babies in the family and I've just made up my mind that I will hold them a lot so I can't eat!

I had a surprise at the scales last night. I lost 1.25 lbs! I was amazed and shocked because I hadn't really worked that hard on it. So maybe I need to relax a little bit and that does help? What do you think?

Mindy: I'm sorry that you are blue and I can empathize with the unemployment situation in your house and how it is effecting you. Last year I was the only one employed in ours..my DH found a job pretty quickly and I'm thankful for that. I just wish it had health care benefits--that is my biggest concern.

Good job getting up early and doing your workout. I know that I always feel better and more in control when I do that.

Did you like the new gym better?

Susie- I'm not sure I like the new place any better. Snap fitness was really nice, this one is more like a guys gym. However, the price is a WHOLE lot better. It is only $20/month. Now I just have to convince myself I can afford it. I feel guilty spending that $$$ on a gym when things are so tight in our household. We'll see.

TOM should be here any minute...but I have a sneaking feeling it is not going to be here when I plan. I think my body is getting very close to menopause and it is getting really wonky right now. 179 today.

I hope everyone had a good weekend. I did pretty well with the food despite the family reunion. My workouts didn't really happen..one day I swear I'll get it all going at the same time. :D

Mindy: how many free sessions do you get at the new gym? I hear you about feeling guility to spend money when things are tight. Can you figure out where you might be able to save $5 a week? Maybe if you look at it that way you won't feel so guilty.

Angela and Kelly: Where are you guys? We miss you!

Susie- I only got one free session. I haven't been in well over a week. I did a DVD last night night for the first time in forever. My arms are sore today. Running and walking certainly doesn't do it all. You are getting it together. hey...you lost weight this week. YAY!!!

TOM should be starting today, but I just know it's not going to. It is going to mess with me. Probably from now until I'm through menopause. NICE!!! 179 today.

Ladies,
I weighed in Monday and the scale said 206. I decided to try weigh-ins once a week for awhile, instead of every day, so we'll see how it works. The slow weight loss lately is depressing, but I know it boils down to not trying hard enough, so I just have to work harder. I'm not gaining, so at least there's that.
I've got a b-day party this weekend for a friend's daughter. I'm making the cupcakes. I'm going to be careful and hope for a loss on Monday when I weigh in again.
On another note, there's a Tropical Storm likely headed this way, so we're in for a wet and windy weekend. Maybe I'll get some good workouts in while I'm stuck in the house. :) Wish me luck!