good morning chicks, sorry I wasn't on at all yesterday.

Tammy I am sorry you are sick!! I sure hope you are better today.

I am feeling a little better overall but still have tons of pressure in my head, you know when you feel your sinuses burning and filling up and then the pressure shifts from one side to the other..I guess that is also what is aggravating my teeth, my whole mouth feels so tight. Well enough complaining, I couldn't be riding anyway with back to snow yesterday and cold and gray today.

Didn't work out Sat. or Sunday of course, I am debating about today. You'd think my appetite would have been down but I always feel hungrier when I have a cold. I hate losing days of working out because I need to burn every calorie i can!

Hi Wildfire, hi CChick, hi Colleen!

As you know I'm on the countdown of the icky winter job!! (today means 23 more days) and even better, the boss has been out of town from last Wednesday, to next Wednesday it truly makes it so much better without him there.

going to put on my workout clothes and see if I can get through something. Have a good monday chicks

Good Monday Morning - well I only have a 4 day work week this week and then I am off on Friday, Sat, Sun and Monday - I have 2 days I have to use by March 31st or lose them and I sure am not going to lose them

Anyways hope you two get to feeling better soon

Holly only 23 days left before you get to go to your fun job that is awesome and will be here before you know it - nice that the boss is gone and when he comes back you will be off work

Well girls better get off computer and get to work so talk to you later

Oh ya got to go for a ride yesterday it was only 48 out but I rode with DH and it got me out of the house for a couple of hours

Good Morning Ladies.

I am a bit better this AM. My back still reminds me it is there. I did get up and go to boot camp this AM..... even though I did not really feel like it. I did not want my first day of "maintenance" to be anything less than successful, so I know I HAVE to continue to exercise. Maybe not quite as much, but I do need to continue.

Holly, I hope you are better. Surely knowing you are within a month of leaving the dreadful winter job makes it better. Especially if the "butt of a boss" won't be there until Wednesday, then you get a couple days off.
With your exercise, I really think you should take a day or so off. Maybe correlate it with your days off b/c you stay pretty busy?

CC- I am glad you are back on a normal shift! I bet you are too.

Hi Colleen and Wildfire

Well, it is rainy and nasty here (it is Spring Break, what else would it be. Lol), but Wednesday they are projecting 70s. I may have to ride to work! I don't have boot camp that day so..... I don't have to wear work out clothes. That could be my first riding day of the year (to work).

DH is at home in bed. He has horrible allergies and he had a bad attack last night. He normally has to get an injection and sleep the next day. I hate this time of year for him..... but love it for me.

Well, I am going to get busy.

Tammy

good evening chicks Tammy I'm glad you're a little better, hopefully your back will let you forget its there, if you know what I mean I'm glad you were able to Bootcamp today. You did great for your first official day of Maintaining! Sorry to hear that your DH had such a bad allergic reaction.

Reda, woohoo for 4 days off in a row! and I"m glad you got to ride with DH, though it must have been cold.

I did work out this morning, did 30 Day Shred level 3. And my head didn't split open! though my sinus kept burning and made me sneeze alot.

and even better about my job countdown - after 23 days from now, I have off for almost 3 weeks...and since I'm technically laid off, I won't be paycheck-less. Then about the first week of May is when I go back to the Club Last year, during that time off, I was able to do outside work, worked out every day, and tried to do 'damage control' from the winter weight. Hopefully I can do that again!!

Tammy - aren't you a kettlebell user? can u tell me more about it? I read some stuff online..and I am intrigued and interested.

have a nice night and talk to you tomorrow!

Good Morning ladies.

Holly, I hope your sinus stuff goes away soon! Yay that you get 3 weeks off (with pay--sort of). I bet you can do some damage control. You know, if I can just stay away from the kitchen when I am home and find things to do.... I don't focus as much on food.
I did do the Kettlenetics DVD (I sold it on ebay). I was not into the "dance" stuff she was doing. But I think you can get the DVDs with the kettlebell in WM. But, I would think if you just "swung" in front of you and around your head (they call it a halo) a few times a day it would be good. They also did a lot of figure "8"s around the legs like in basketball, or using it to "row" like an orr in a boat. Other than that, I did not get much use from the tape. I am thinking you could also use it in when you are doing crunches.

I don't have much to gab about this AM. DH is a little better. My back is good... (knock on wood).

Hey Colleen, Wildfire, and CC!

Tammy

Hello girls sorry just getting on but Had a Garage Party tonight at our Harley Dealership 30 miles away so I attended it was good plus we got 20% off any riding gear, boots, coats, helmets, chaps, gloves, eyeglasses so of course I bought my helmet that I wanted and what a deal got it for $65 bucks and of course they measured my head and I needed an XS and they only 4 helmets in the XS and 2 of them were still to big, who would have thought I had a small head??????

Well glad everyone is feeling better today that is great-
Holly that is great that you will be getting somewhat of a paycheck while off work for that time period and I do remember how much work you got done last year while off, you are such a go getter

Well girls it is 10pm and I just got home but I have a few things to do before going off to bed

Good Morning ladies. I am off work today. It is spring break and 70, so I made a deal with another co worker (b/c I figured she would call in anyway)... so I am off today. DS and I are going to ride bikes to see a movie when he crawls out of bed at the crack of noon. Lol.

So, my boot camp trainer told me to maintain aim for 1500 calories a day, 35 fiber, and no more than 35 fat. That seemed like a lot of fiber to me.... but I got to looking and for the most part I was already eating a lot of fiber. I just have to add a few more grams.

CC, I went from a L helmet to a S.... who would have thought you would lose weight in your head. So, was Jillian Michaels at that Garage Party at the HD dealership? I hear she has partnered with HD for women's health and riding.

Colleen, we miss your humor!

Holly, can you tell the new step is making a difference? Are you using ankle weights with it yet?

Hi Wildfire and Hopeful8, How are you two?

Well, I am going to get off here. Jake is begging for a walk. I am going to run a mile after walking him..... then see if DS is ready to get up.

Talk to you later.

I've been busy. Sorry...don't think I forgot you all! Not too busy to forget about eating, just too busy to get anything else done!

This weekend DH and I are going to take a couple of days for us. We are taking the HD to LaCrosse for the night. Staying in a hotel and spending a day of fun and car shopping.

Last night I was at my Momma's house for supper. I seldom go, it was nice. I terrorized their little mutt-pug dog that bit me last time I took care of him. I got out will all of my fingers intact!

Monday we had the plumber to our house for some changes that needed to be made, and for a kitchen faucet that doesn't leak! Who-hooo! It's the little things that make life grand!

Over the weekend we took the cycle out for a cruise to nowhere (that's the best place to go!) and ended up visiting with some friends.

Saturday we had taken my daughter and her SH to pick up a bunch of building supplies for a kitchen remodel project. We also got my stove and microwave, and installed them. Lots of new buttons! So far I have only ruined a Hot Pocket. My old microwave was not nearly as powerful as the new one!! Yikes...the Hot Pocket wasn't on fire, but it tasted like it had been!

Last week was all a blur. I'm sure something good happened to tell you about, but I can't really think what that would have been right off the top of my head! This week, I'm off on Friday through Monday.

I have been searching for a leather cycle jacket for fatties. I'm having no luck. I did have a catalog from Woman Within that had one, and now they are out. I move too slow on things like that I guess! What I do have is an awesome new set of small HD chaps and a HD (mens) $400 coat! They are very nice, but I'm afraid I'll never get to use them in my lifetime! I haven't worn a small since 3rd grade! Anyone have a need for these items? I would try to sell them for 1/2 price I guess. They came with the cycle. The owner of the cycle bought the garb for his wife, but she never rode. She's a tall, thin gal. His matching stuff is half worn, and DH loves the coat! It is nice, but the chaps are a little tight! Told him it looked like he was trying to show off his package in those! He didn't wear them for long!

Hope you are all having good days.

we just love your posts, Colleen! I wish I could offer to buy the chaps, but I guess mine are still acceptable. Hope you can find a buyer! Congrats on the new appliances and watch out for that powerful microwave LOL @ you having all your fingers safe from the pug

Reda congrats on a great deal on the helmet!

Tammy thanks for the info on the kettlebells. I will see how they are priced around this area. I am still groovin on the Big Step - maybe today I will try it with the ankle weights and see if I

so you are able to follow those fiber/fat guidelines the trainer suggested? is most of the fiber from veggies?

I truly do need to stop obsessing about thinking about eating! because when I am involved in doing something else, I don't think about food until I am actually hungry (what a concept). It is just an unfortunate fact that even if I am not hungry, as soon as I enter the store,(work) the aromas just immediately kick up my appetite (I don't even like the smell of raw onions, but they are an appetite stimulator big time for me)

Yesterday, as it was total thick cloud cover and cold, I chose to just curl up on couch and watched two movies (The Sixth Sense, and The Fugitive). Today I need to tackle laundry.

hope everyone has a good day

Welcome back Colleen! You are such a hoot! I am not in a small..... sorry, I cannot offer any help. Lol at your torturing the dog. My boys would love you. They torture my boston terrier. I am glad you are going to have a little fun after your being on the brink of death with pneumonia.

CC, what kind of helmet did you get? Mine has little flame like things on it.

Holly, I totally understand about thinking of food all the time. I did not count fiber/fat yesterday b/c my DS and I had a day out together. He told me to leave the diet at home. Lol. But, even this AM on the way from boot camp to work, I was wondering how I ate before when I was at a normal weight...... I mean, I did not think of food all the time, but now I do. I know not to eat sugar b/c that starts the day of bingeing.
As for getting in fiber and stuff, I have found whole wheat tortillas that have 8 grams each and they are 1 point..... so they will be a staple in my diet. I will let you know tomorrow how I get it in.... if I do. I know I have always eaten more fiber than the "normal American) b/c most do not get more than 10g a day..... but I don't think I am hitting 35.

DS and I went to see "Bounty Hunter" it was a pretty good movie. I have an issue with them using "GD" in it..... but other than that, it was good.

I am going to get busy.

Will gab at you later.

good evening! Tammy, I used the Big Step today, but instead of ankle weights, I tried one pound weights. I kept those up for about 10 minutes, then had to go down to half pounders for the next 20 minutes. It surely was added effort!

Holy cow Holly cant believe you are using weights with that big step- you go girl

Colleen you are to and me I can't help out either no Small here except for the helmet- I will never fit in a small to much of the girls up top that like to hang around and go nowhere even when I do lose weight..... well shouldn't say go nowhere they do like to go downward

Tammy my helpmet is a flat grey with flames pinstripped - I guess I would have to go look but DH is saying get off computer we gotta go- leaving town for the weekend have a bowling tournament to go to and a Motorcycle Swap Meet- we are going to get parts for my bike so I can ride this week

Ok I lost another 2.4 pounds this week - YAY

Well I gotta get off and get going
Have a Great Weekend

good evening chicks - Reda, CONGRATS on being down even more!!

hey chicks, I jogged today!!! I haven't for years. I remember trying a few years ago, but I hated feeling my abdomen wiggling, and it felt like my insides were gonna fall out :shock: so this morning I was about to work out inside as usual, but DH wanted to watch something on TV. He's always very supportive of my working out usually, so I didn't make a stink about it, and just said I was going to walk outside for a change. So I changed into warmer clothes ( it was barely 20 out)

So I started just walking...then thought 'this is not exerting me, I need to be sweating and breathing hard!' and thought..okay, just TRY jogging to that house..and I did, and it wasn't bad at all! so I said, okay, see how long you can keep this up... and I did for 1.4 miles!! Now this was NOT running, it was SLOW jogging, but I was sweating and warm and using exertion, and I was psyched! I slowed down and walked the last .4 miles home.

I went to work and was SO excited with myself, just with that jogging episode. And felt great until my &*%#@!$%^ of a boss made some mean and rude comments about a customer, who is an acquaintance of mine, and yes the customer was a big, shaggy-bearded biker, and I am still just FURIOUS about what turd-head boss said about him when he left. This customer, his name is Sonny, is the kind of guy who would stop in the dead of night to help someone who was stranded by the side of the road. Would turd-soul boss do that? NO.

It is a fault of mine that I allow these things to bother me so deeply. I mean, I was ready to QUIT . I was actually afraid to face him and say, 'I am really angry at you' because I didn't know if I could contain myself and not tell him to go *edit* himself.

And my tooth is acting up again, I guess I have to face that I have to make an appt. to have it taken care of.

And I"m so ashamed of myself, especially on top of my jubilant jogging this morning, that I ate 400 calories worth of chocolate.

well I need a good night's sleep, to get up and go to day 17 of That Place. Hopefully I'll be in a better mood tomorrow morning!!

Made it home- Our team bowled very well and what a work out yesterday we bowled 6 games back to back and I was sweating- went to the swap meet but didn't find parts for my bike but did find some patches for my jeans and DH found a helmet - so we have our helmets bought- oh ya he also found a Harley Coat brand new for $65 bucks - I didn't get my Harley Coat for $65 more like $250 but I love it and it will be around along time
Oh shoot last night for supper I was behaving and had chicken salad and a beer (1st beer I have had in weeks) anyways went back to motel and we all went to hot tub sat in there for a bit (through all this I have had a pinch in my neck causing a headach) but I was sucking up the headache to hang out with everyone but then I decided to go back to room and change well I got to room started not feeling well and then got sick and continued to be sick till about 3am this morning so all my good supper and beer well it all came back up (TMI) darn it. And my girlfriend was in town with us and we were suppose to party together and geez I end up sick go figure..... Darn it
But I felt great again this morning for bowling our last 3 games and right now our team is in 10th and only 2 weeks left so hopefully we will stay in the money

Holly that boss of yours knows you ride and that you probably know Sonny so to make any comments about him would just be plain stupid- So day 17 feels like is it ever going to get here but with only 17 days left it will get here soon
Way to go on jogging - and you do get more of a workout and especially if it was only 20 degrees out- shoot I can jog but i have to wear like 2 bras just to keep the bounce down to some degree.....

Well better get bags unpacked and laundry started so I will check back in later

Hi Tammy, Colleen and Wildfire hope you had a good weekend

Reda, congrats on doing so good with bowling!! and so sorry that you were sick all night could it have been the chicken salad? poor girl!

went to work again all ready to be mad and furious at Idiot-head, but that just takes too much energy I let myself simmer down and will just be kind to my spirit and try not to let him bother me.

Thighs were a little sore today but not too bad! I am psyched to jog again tomorrow!! Oh and Reda even though I am barely like a 35 B, I still wear two sports bras, it just feels nice not to have anything shaking

this morning I did the Karen Voight step/cardio with the Big Step.

HI Tammy, Colleen, Wildfire! woohoo, tomorrow is Day 16