Susie- I have been hitting those calories and have been rewarded with a gain. How ya like that?? It is mid-cycle so I am waiting to see what happens in the next 2 weeks.

Just stopping in to check in.

Mindy: That is frustrating! Hopefully you will see that WOSH soon!

Hi! Where is everyone? Hopefully outside exercising!

I'm getting ready to leave for my 2 day trip tomorrow. I'll be in MN for a couple of days seeing my penpal of 31 years! Her daughter is an exchange student in MN and she came to visit her for a couple of weeks. I'm excited about seeing her.

Of course I wish I were thinner..I keep thinking about all the pictures and how I will not like them due to my weight. BUT, I know I can change that for the future.

I'll see you all and catch up when I get back! Bye

Can I brag for a moment?? I just got back from the gym. Today I got a new workout program and the trainer measured me... Since I joined the gym in September, I have lost:

19 lbs.
3% body fat
2.25 inches from my waist
2 inches from my hips
1.5 inches from my arm
3.25 inches from my thigh
1.25 inches from my calf

WHOO HOOO!!! I am feelin' pretty good.

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

Scraver- Awesome. That must be nice to see. I am happy for you.

I on the other only seem to be gaining. Am I doing the mid-cycle gain again. GGRR!!!

Where has everysone been. So last week I gained about 6 pounds. YEP!!! 6. Not sure how that is actually possible, but it's true. Yesterday I was 181.4, didn't work out and went out for dinner and 2 drinks. Today- 178. WTH???

I really don't have this figured out at all. I surrender.

HEEEELLLOOO!!! Where is everybody??? Sat on my butt all day yesterday. Couldn't find the energy to do squat. Felt good to get up and moving today. Let me know how ya all are.

Just found out jillian has a cookbook coming out TOMORROW.. I think I'll have to get it.

Hi--quick stop in. I'm back from my trip and catching up.

SCraver: That is quite impressive! Keep up the good work

Mindy: When does that cookbook come out?

I ate EVERYTHING this weekend... but I enjoyed it! Then I was back on track on Monday.

I have decided to cut back on my alcohol consumption. I am going to AIM for one weeknight and one weekend evening a week of having a couple drinks (instead of have a few drinks 5 out of 7 days a week). I think this will help me a lot. Alcohol doesn't help with weight loss.

Hi Everyone--I am just about caught back up in my life. When I am behind on things at work and home then my focus for losing weight goes right out the door.

So maybe instead of focusing so hard on just weight loss I need to focus on staying "caught up" and that will help me to feel in control which will lead me to being in control of my food and exercise which would lead to weight-loss...I think I just found a key to unlock my weight-loss door!

I have had a stomach virus for the past couple of days. It wasn't as bad as the one in Feb.--no ER visit this time. I haven't really eaten in about 2 days. I'm having some veggie noodle soup for lunch today and I also had toast for breakfast.

I have TOPS weigh-in tonight. I didn't plan to lose weight this way, but hey, as loss is a loss--I should show a loss...I BETTER show a loss!

SCraver-the calories from alcohol really add up quick so I think you will see a difference with the cut-back. Good job for getting right back on track on Monday!

Mindy: How you doing?

Ward, and Kelly--it's been a LONG time--I miss you!

Susie - That stinks about having a stomach bug!

I haven't had a drink since Saturday... I am saving myself for tomorrow. Tomorrow is the Pub Run... it is 3 miles of running and 6 beers of chugging. (We run to the first bar, chug a beer, run to the second, chug, 3rd, chug, and then repeat the loop. There are 100 people that do it each year and they give out trophies to the top three women and top three men.) I can't wait! We have so much fun! It will be alot of beer, though! Which leads to a lot of eating. I am going to go to bed early tonight... and then plan to get right back on track on Sunday!

:cheers:

Hi-I had a 3.25 lb loss last night! I think some of it was due to the stomach bug and some of it was because I've really been working on my food, hitting my calories and staying within my fat grams.

So, now that I'm feeling better I hope to get back to some real exercise. I did walk to my TOPS meeting last night and then back home. 1/2 mile each way.

SCraver: Your weekend sounds like a lot of fun! I am going to watch my first marathon this weekend. I'm from the Cincinnati, OH area and we have the Flying Pig. Should be fun! My cousin's husband is running it so we are going to cheer him on.

I'll check in over the weekend.

I'm giving up. I don't think I'm going to lose any more weight. My body just doesn't want to give it up. I will still eat right and I'm going to work out, just not going to stress about it anymore. Hormones, age, stress, who knows. Maybe if I stop worrying about it, something will happen.

Mindy - :hug:

I am floundering. Binge, starve, binge, starve ... pull hair out ...

Hmmm....familiar. Mon-Thurs eat fine. Weekends...out of control. Life is crazy busy, and I am not getting home before 8pm any night of the week. I will keep doing my best. Still fluctuating between 166-170. Been in the 166-167 range all week, though, so that is good. Keep on keepin on girls!

Hello! :hug: to all of us. It's a very hard thing to lose weight

Ward: You know that starving will lead to a binge....you can take control and break that cycle-- I believe you can! I also hope to see you here often. I need you here.

Mindy: I think you have a good plan in place--I hope we will see you here often. I need you here.

Kelly: That is a tough schedule that you are keeping--long days. You keep on keeping on--I need you here!

I plan a hour walk in the neighborhood tonight for my workout; it's supposed to be a very nice evening.

Yesterday I watch my first marathon. I had a family member running the Flying Pig in Cincinnati. It was something to watch--and in the pouring ran too! There was a half marathon and a full. I noticed that all of the full marathoners had the same body type and ran in the same way but I noticed that they half marathoners were off all shapes and sizes and ran in all different ways but they all crossed the finish line and finishing was the goal.

I hope everyone has a good "on your plan" day.

Susie- Sounds like fun. I was just talking about my upcoming 5K with a friend, while jogging. This will be the third year and I really want to run the whole thing this time. I can currently run between 1.5 miles and 2 miles without stopping for a walk. I am trying to build up to that 3.1 miles. I have until June 12.

I think that deep down inside somewhere, I would like to think I could do a half marathon someday. HMM!!! Big Dream!!!

Hey, TOM started today.....down to 179.2.......for the twelfth millionth time.

Hi! So, I did great with my exercise yesterday but did I fall off the wagon with the food. It started with a brownie about 10 am and just kept getting worse as the day went on.

Why? I let external things have control over me instead of me taking the control. So today I'm clawing my way back on to that wagon and taking back the control...of what I can and I can control my food..that is something that I do have control over if I will just do it.

With my work situation so many things feel out of control...not a good thing for a comfort eater like me BUT I can choose my reaction.

How's everyone else doing? Did you watch BL last night? I was so shocked that Sam and Stephanie were a couple but I LOVED it!

Looking forward to seeing everyone's posts.

Mindy: I know you can get built up to that 5K so that you can run it all the time. Maybe you should focus on that for a while instead of the weight-loss--use it as your goal and feel yourself get inspired again.

Susie- that is exactly what I'm doing. I am running M,W, (with one friend) Sat on my own, then DVD's with Kelly on T, Th. That is my focus now. Maybe weights on Sun. I am trying not to worry about the weight too much.

I was sas to see Sam go. I really think he is a neat guy. I was happy for him and Stephanie.

Kelly: I think that you have a good plan in place. I also think you should take your measurments now and then again on race day; I bet you are going to see a big difference.

So, had my TOPS weigh-in last night and I had a small gain. I figured I would because I knew that the amount I had lost last week wasn't a true loss but some of it was from the stomach flu I had had. However, not gaining it all back does tell me that I had a 1.5 true weight-loss for the past 2 weeks. I will work forward from there.

Where is everyone?!

I got a walk in on Friday and another one is on Sunday. I didn't get one in yesterday but will tonight. I'm looking forward to watching The Biggest Loser.

What is everyone else up to?

Got a pretty good workout schedule going. MW run with my one friend. T,TH workout DVD with Kelly. Weekend, run or walk.

Today I was 178.2, for the millionth time.

Did anyone watch Biggest Loser last night? I thought it was really good. To see their videos of when they came to the show and watch how they reacted when they saw how they looked then.

I'm also happy with the final 4 and I would love to see Darius win it. I like Michael, and he has come so far--hopefully they will bring him back again for the next season.

I did a 2 mile walk last night in 45 min. I also decided to start trying to get to 10,000 steps a day. So, I put my pedimotor on yesterday at lunch (didn't get it until lunch time) and by bedtime I had 4366 steps in. I didn't think that was to bad of a start.

Mindy: That workout schedule does look good. Keep training for that 5k!

Where is everyone else. It's lonely here!

Susie- Good job getting the pedometer. When I would wear mine, I was surprised how hard it could be some days to get 10,000 steps. Other days were easy. Keep walking.

My Gruve keeps bumping up my calorie burn for the day. It started out about 580, then 630, 660, now 704. It is getting tougher to burn 704 calories everyday. And that's on top of the 1429 I burn just being alive. It tells me to eat about 1650. I just don't know.

Yesterday for my workout I did another 2 mile walk. Right now I just feel so depressed and tired and all I can really get myself to do is a walk but I know that is a good thing...because after about 20 min I feel my depression lifting and my mood coming up and then I have energy afterwards for a while....so I"ll just keep walking for sure.

I wore the pedometer all day yesterday and got in 7026 steps. Not at the 10,000 yet but moving up.

Mindy: Why would it bump up your calorie burn?

Susie- When I consistently meet my burn total, it bumps it up a little higher. I know, it's getting tougher.

Yesterday's pizza with my students resulted in a little gain. Well, bak on track today.

Good job with the walking. Keep it up.

We had a company picnic and I was on the planning team and so I was pretty much on my feet the whole day but I forgot to put my pedometer on yesterday so I don't know what my steps were. Oh well.

I didn't make it to TOPS last night for weigh-in so it will be next week until I get the weigh-in number--It seems that numbers are eluding me! ;)

Mindy: "Consistently meet my burn total" that is a great statement! Keep it up.

Susie- It's getting even harder. It just bumped me to 736 now. I have to be moving AND get in a workout to keep hitting that. I did a 4 mile walk/jog today. Got some new shoes. YAY!!! They are my first pair of running shoes.

It's weird. They are super light and I can feel air coming through them. It's cool.

Bought a new book- The Spark. You may have heard of Sparkpeople. I am reading it currently and trying to figure out what they say I should do. Hopefully I will find something that works this summer.

Hi,

It's raining here in Ohio AGAIN! uggggg!! I guess I should be happy that last Friday and Sat were so nice. I got in some nice walks on Friday and Saturday. Friday my steps were 8,435 and on Saturday 9,726. I think the increase on Saturday was the housework that I did.

I still need to hit that 10,000 step goal..but I'm getting there. Today I will start logging my food and calories again. I'm fighting everyday to stay focused but I'm doing it. Right now with all the uncertainity surrounding where I will be working come August 1 is a distraction and I constantly want to comfort myself. I'm trying to do it in other ways than food!

Mindy: I have heard of SPARK people. Have you checked out the website? In fact I keep my food diary on it as well as a "reflection" diary. They send me an email everyday on a topic and then I journal about it. I like the guidence of that topic..it opens me up to write about all differant things.

What brand of running shoes did you buy? LOOK AT YOU!!! Buying running shoes...because you ARE A RUNNER! I'm so proud of you!

Where is EVERYONE? Mindy and I are missing you here!

Who watched BL last night? I can't believe that Michael and Ashley are in the top 3 for sure! Who would have thought that? But I think it is awesome.

I haven't been motivated this week to workout at all...it's so wet, damp, cloudy here...but I hear the sun is coming out this afternoon and then it's sunshine on tap for days. Looking forward to feeling a bit more "sunnier".

Accomplished Wednesday's Goal
 

After watching the BL on Tuesday night I felt like something was speaking directly to me. It was saying "Susie, now or never" now or never make that change". I told my husband that I was tired of trying I was going to start DOING!

The first thing that I decided to do was to tackle my "eating for comfort" habit that I have been in for a long while now.

So, I packed snacks, like grapes, apples, carrots and such to put in the mini-fridge in our office, so when I felt like I just needed to eat something I would go for those instead. Also, I set a rule for myself, wait 20 min and then if I still felt I needed to eat something, I could eat my planned snack.

So, yesterday...I heard it..."I want a Peppermint Patti" and I said no, waited the 20 min and said no some more during that time. I did have a piece of cheese and some grapes after the 20 min were up. I was really proud of myself because I accomplished what I set out to do...and TODAY I am doing it again! Once I get this comfort eating signal under control to where I manage it without really even thinking about it, I will find another behavior to change so that I continue to move on this weight-loss journey.

In the meantime I'm walking, walking, walking and I have set up a weight room schedule for June so I can get back in there routinely.

How's everyone else doing?

Susie- good for you. Getting started in the right direction is half the battle. Sounds like you are headed that way. Keep walking....and eating those grapes. Sorry peppermint patty!!

I am going to hit 1600 calories everyday for a month. Kelly bet me I can't do it for a week. I am fearing gaining weight, but we shall see. Scale just doesn't want to move down at all. Gotta try something.

I've got my walks in for the weekend and I feel great that I did them. I find that when I workout I don't want to snack or overeat...don't want to undo what I have worked hard for.

I took a vacation day tomorrow; I'm looking forward to a day off...at home with nothing scheduled. I do plan on getting my home office organized.

Mindy: Have you started the challenge from Kelly yet? How are you doing?

HELLO?!! Where is everyone? I really miss you all!

I have been doing pretty well with my food and exercise. I got a bit off track on Monday but not to badly and I just got back on.

Who watched BL last night? I thought they all looked amazing and I was so happy for Michael...he and Darius really turned out to be babes! Of course Sam was very HOT!!!

I hope everyone has a good day and I hope to see posts from Ward, Kelly, SCraver and Mindy soon!

It's going to be a challenge for me to get my 2 mile walk in today--I have a program I need to be at tonight, so I'm going to be sure I get out of work on time and hit the pavement as soon as I get home. I must take care of me first! That is my mantra for today.

Susie- Good Mantra!!! You are doing great getting those walks in. Keep it up.

I did 50 min walk/jog today. I did no workout last night. My Gruve didn't even hit blue, let alone green. That's okay. My goal is getting a little too high. I have been sticking to at least 1600 cals for over a week now. I am determined to stick with it for a month and see what happens.

Those of you out there lurking....at least stop in and say hi.

HI. How's the challenge going Mindy??

Hi! I'm excited for a 3 day weekend. It's a little rough at work today..the first wave of lay-offs are happening. It's sad to see the business dismantled and friends leaving. We have all worked so hard together over the years.

I have good news about my weigh-in last night. I lost! It was small but a loss...that's two weeks in row for a loss and I'm happy with that. It's progress.

What is everyone doing this weekend?

Hi. How did everyone do over the weekend? We had a lot of "food events" but I kept on plan..and I got up Sat, Sun and Monday and got my walk in before attending them. I wish I could workout every morning--doing so seems to help keep me on plan.

Susie- Sounds like you are sticking with that walking. Good for you. Keep it up and I'm sure some pounds will come off.

I am still eating 1600 cal/day...even though I am up to 182.6 today. I feel like a fat, bloated whale today. TOM finally started today, so maybe that will help. I actually ran 3 miles straight today. I might not be losing weight, but I can run.

Hi--I made it back to the weight-room last night. It felt good to start strength training again. I also made it back to Zumba on Tuesday and I'm still doing my daily 2 mile walks. I will increase that in the next few weeks.

I have my TOPS weigh-in tonight. I hope the scales show something for my efforts.

Mindy: Look at you running 3 miles! I think you will see good numbers now that TOM is here.