Good mornin everyone,
I made it to curves yesterday. I didn't do as well with food. We had a training session yesterday so they brought in pizza and snacks. I ate 3 small pieces of veggie and 1 cookie. As bad as that sounds. A few months ago I would have done much worse.
Dinner last night was pork chop and 2 fried eggs.


Holly: Big smiles to you :) :)

Dani: Welcome, You are right, It one step, one challenge at a time. Go to user cp and click on signture for the tickers. Where are you moving in texas?

Lilybutt: Keep those steps forward..you can do this.

Curlylocks: I've been going to curves for a couple of months now. The weight loss has been slow, but that my fault for not staying op. I have lost 10". Curves is great for people with health issues and those who are really out of shape like me.
a couple of the women go around more than 3 times, one of them comes when its the slowest time and stays twices as long on each machine. I really enjoy it. I go early and a lot of times I'm the only 1 there. I strongly recommend it.

Spores: Good to hear from you. My hair was also below my waist. It kept falling out, so I got this not so bright idea to try it short for a while. I've alway had very slight waves in my hair, but when I cut it that time I came out with CURLS. It's grown out some now. I going to keep it at least to the middle of my back. Short curly is not a good look for me. Too fat and old! How's was the shepard pie? I love to cook.

Judy: It's really hard sometimes. The goals seem so far of. All we can do is just keep trying. Have a great w-end, then back on plan. You can do this.

Girlie: Have fun on your vacation..Good luck with you new job.

Lynann: Good job working around your soreness. It could be a sign of a virus or something. keep up the great work.

Everyone I missed: Hello!!

This my long day so its off to the showers for me.

BIG HUGS TO EVERYONE

Thanks debbie... I was curious if anyone had seen good results from curves.. I am on a tight budget and just trying to make sure it is worth the cost ( or my best choice)... 10" sounds great ..



Lily... come on lets get our battle gear on .. and attack the chub! ive been kinda slack myself these few weeks and i can see i am not doing as well.... my downfall has been "o ive done so well i deserve a treat" plus ive been to lazy to go to the grocery store! But I am off tomorrow and will stock up on my good food!

Curly: Check with you local curves, They have some kind of special going here. I don't know all the facts, but its like 1/2
off service fee if you and a friend join.
They may give you a headsup on special coming up. Mine told me of a food drive for service fee and I waited for a couple of week to join when the special was on.
If you let them draft your bank account it $10 less a month, but its a year contract that way.. Check it out

PHENOMENAL WOMAN
by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies
I’m not cute or built to suit a model’s fashion size
But when I start to tell them
They think I’m telling lies.
I say
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips
The stride of my steps
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That’s me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please
And to a man
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees
Then they swarm around me
A hive of honey bees.
I say
It’s the fire in my eyes
And the flash of my teeth
The swing of my waist
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can’t see.
I say
It’s in the arch of my back
The sun of my smile
The ride of my breasts
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That’s me.

Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say
It’s in the click of my heels
The bend of my hair
The palm of my hand
The need for my care.
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That’s me.


Nice day yesterday. Ended up with a sinus headache from allergies.
I made spaghetti casserole( family fav) using ground turkey and LF cheese. Still yummy. Leftovers for tonight.
Both kids started baseball last night, on the same team this year.DD’s shirt hangs past her knees, cute.First game is tonight.
DS ha s a BIG trip to African Lion Safari tomorrow. He is very excited.
Saturday they are each going for sleepovers with friends and hubby and I are throwing a mattress in the van and going up north to see some friends. Weeeeheeee. Last time we were out together was last July, before that was the previous Jan. Man, we are dull.

Hope everyone is having a phenemenal day!!

Spores~ happy to see you here. I too have long hair and have suffered from bad haircuts. I am licensed stylist and had a huge longhaired clientelle so when others start to cut my hair*sigh* I know it is gonna suck in the first few minutes!! I have one friend who lives 3 hours away ,when we see each other about once a year we always cut each others hair. I have been cutting my own lately.May not be perfect ,but not dorky anyhow.
It is not even so much about how it looks but about how it feels.
I feel pretty and sexy when it swings against my back.

Hello to everyone, glad to see you all posting!!!!!!!!

Good Day Everyone :flow2:
Ive been here awhile but now just finding these wonderful groups.
Im 34 Married mother of one who is now 90 pounds overweight im sitting at 240 trying to topple that over and get below 200.
I would love to be way below 200 and Im working at it everyday.
Im on my own change of habits diets.
I eat right and move more. I have been at this my whole life but I think I got it right this time. I have lost more than I have ever lost and all my trigger foods have been shot down every time they have been offered to me .
My husband and I are both working at this and he is doing really good to.
I cant wait to get below 200. I know its going to take alot of time and effort and im more than willing to put in the effort.
My intrests are Gaming computer games, Working out :ebike: and having fun with my family just enjoying life Im a shy person but very goofy and fun natured.
Good to be here. :wave:
Pics .. I have to update these as these were a couple years ago but it will show some of my starting weight pics.Cindys Pics

Thanks everyone for the support!

I woke up at 9 am today, have a few days off, and felt good, no more sick tummy, felt well rested and relaxed, AND on tp of feeling good, it is a nice sunny day! So it is a package deal today!

I am doing an all about me day today...watching the View, then going to run a few errands, get my nails done, get a hair cut, and then watch Oprah! WoooooHooooo. Tomorrow I will do some things around the house!, Today take care of me!

Tonight I am going over to my boyfriend's. He is making dinner, so I will eat light all day, he is a great cook!

CurlyLocks...I feel we are soooooo alike LOL...single, 40 something, a kitty lover, and fighting the good fight!


Holly......Love that poem....thanks for reminding us!

Everyone else...Thanks for the support and throwing it back at you!

Lilybutt

Well...started WW this week...next weigh-in is on tuesday. They've got me set at a goal of 23 lbs to lose {10% of weight}. Gonna work with that, and then try to go another 10%, which will put me at 191 lbs.

Curlylocks: Hi, nice to meet you! I have not tried Curves yet, but I have heard from other people that it is a great program to get you started doing strength training. Some have said that they outgrow the program after a while, but if you don’t currently do any strength training, it is a great way to get started because it’s very simple.

Lilybutt: Hi! Glad to meet you! I know what you mean about all the little parties. It’s so hard to find a good balance. But then your system reminds you that sugar and butter are painful!!

Dani: Welcome! Wow, moving is such a huge deal – it must be hard to stay OP in the midst of that. What is the Firm? How does it work?

Debbie: I had wavy hair too, and now it is majorly curly! I have been trying to weight it down with product. Ugh. I think this bad haircut is a good motivator to lose weight – being a fat girl with great hair was tolerable, but now I am just a fat chick with a bad haircut. Good for you for not pigging out on the pizza at work. It is great to recognize how far we’ve come – even if we’re not yet perfect! Oh, the sheperd’s pie was great – all veggies, too!

Holly: Thanks for posting the poem. I taught that last semester and it really seemed to connect with everyone. Wow, being a stylist must make you extra-aware of how your hair looks. Now that I work with a bunch of stylists, I get the impression that most of them really prefer to cut hair short rather than long. Hard to find a good one.

Morticia: Welcome, glad to meet you. Sounds like you are doing great!

Well, the stylist who chopped my hair was in today, and when she saw me, she said, “Oh, why do you have your hair pulled up? I’m sad, I wanted to see it.” I usually avoid confrontation like the plague, and just smile and keep my mouth shut, but I am sick of feeling like a doormat, so I told her how I felt! I didn’t completely unleash and tell her how angry and hurt and sad I was, but I let her know that I didn’t like the cut and that it was too short. It felt good to be honest and say what I felt.

Food is good today, but exercise is...well, not really happening. I had planned to do the treadmill, but every fibre of my being is resisting it. I just don’t wanna. I don’t know how to get motivated to move again. Anybody have any brilliant ideas?

Hi to anybody I missed!

Hi Spores,

Motivation for me on my treadmill, I found a great CD I love to listen to, I only can listen to it if I am moving on the machine. So, before I know it, the CD is over, and I am sweaty, and glad I did it. I have finally gotten comfortable with closing my eyes and just trying to relax while I do it, and funny, it is working. Maybe you could try that. Glad you are back to posting. I know what you mean about a bad cut. The gal I usually go to is leaving the hair business, she is going back to school to be a nurse. So, I am in search of someone new after 8 years. In the 3 cuts I have had, all three were not good. I am beginning to think it is me. But why could the other gal just do exactly what I liked? That is coloring also. I am still on the search. Good Luck. I am proud of you for saying what you thought. I have a hard time doing that also.
Post recipe for sheppards pie. Sounds really great.

Lily-Great job on the ME day. Sounds fantastic.

Morticia-- welcome

Debbie--((hi)) just wanted to drop you a note.

HI HOOOOOLLLLLLYYYYYY. Glad to see you are doing great.
Will do more personals later.

ttfn

Sandi

Good morning, good morning, good morning!!!!
Yowza, the sun is so bright I need shades on in here!!
Calling for rain today but none in sight so far.
DS is off on his big school trip to the Lion Safari. He is one excited little boy.
I have 9, yup, count em, 9 kids here today til 1pm and then 4 go home. I offered to take 2 extra for a friend and then 2 Moms changed their hours. Yikes. I hope the rain holds off so the 5 olders ones can stay outside. I can do meals out there too.
Lots of cashola,$180. Not a bad days pay.
The Avon rep is coming today to sign me up. Should be fun??!! with all these kids.
Went to bed early , had a good sleep.
Not much else going on. Feeling freespirited and happy.
Oh, the fat on my back is going away and my waist is noticeably smaller.
Had a lovely dream about Kalan. Lol!
Treated myself to the new Jann Arden cd, for a nice non food reward.

Have a groovy day!!

I am down .02 lmao i will take that its better than up! but i am kinda stuck at 265 .. maybe next week.. I am off today and have a bunch of running around to do.. Tomorrow I am driving 4.5 hrs each way to meet a friend and spend the day at the zoo!! so lots of walking tomorrow

I am going to get layers put in my hair tonight eeks my car looks like a trash can inside so i better get that straightened out...

hopefully i will have some time this afternoon to catch some rays! on these chubby pale legs.. hahaha

have a great day all!


Oh Lilybutt u mentioned kitties did i ever give u the link to my pet page? http://www.geocities.com/my_tabbies

ha ha we are a lot alike I'm just missing the BF... but im working on that!

On the road again!!!!!
In my former life as a really cool chick I went on road trips almost every weekend.
I LOVE road trips. It used to be to festivals and concerts etc with other groovy people but a bday party in the woods with good friends is okay too.

The kids PUMPED about going on sleepovers with their friends. I must confess Mom is pumped too. They are fed and 1 is in the tub, 2nd to follow, bags to be packed and then bye,bye.
I will have a few kidless hours at home to putter and then up to huron county we go.
We dont need to be back til lunchtime tomorrow. I am hoping to plant the veggie garden tomorrow aft.
Yesterday was a good day. All the kids were great. DS had a wondeful time on his class trip. He just glowed with a calm radiant happiness when he got off the bus.
Took DD to gymnastics.
Oh, I signed up to sell Avon yesterday. I did some networking at the gym. I am the queen of networking!!!!LOL!! Look out town, you are next!!! Weeheee!!!!!!!
I bought and ate a chocolate bar last night. Weird for me, yummy, and it wont be repeated.I was super tired, maybe I needed the boost. An apple would have been better.
Oh well, best go tend to the kids. 2 1/2 hours til semi freedom.

Congrats Curlylocks!
Hi Saaaaaaandi!!! LOL!
Madly waving HI to everyone!!!!!

Hello Everyone,
Remember me? I hate not having time to get here and check the board. Only two more weeks of my crazy schedule and then I will get back to being a regular.

I don't know if I told you all that my back was giving me problems a week ago. It was really painful. I'm finally getting better. I have been having regular adjustments and I have exercises to do for it, to help keep the spaces in the spine opened up.

My x-ray showed that I have a disk that has thinned (it's the L5) and I have a bone spur on it. That's why all the pain when I was out of align (sp?)

I'm doing ok in the weight department. Haven't lost, but haven't gained.

I'm going to try to get a lot done this weekend, but also relax. I'm going to try to catch up on my emails, read some magazines and I want to get some flowers planted.

I miss you all and I think about you a lot. If there's something that someone thinks I should know or you want to share with me, would you please PM me? I wish I could go back and catch up on the posts, but right now time doesn't allow...however a quick PM would keep me up to date.

Ladies, it's the start of summer! I know that I dreamed of being thinner but I'm not going to let that get me down. I'm going to take advantage of how I want to eat less in the summer (I guess due to the fact that there's so much more to do?)and that I get out and move more. Let's let it work for us and at the end it could add up to a few more pounds off.

woo hooo!
 

ooooooooooo my aching body! let me tell ya'll what i did yesterday! Im so proud of myself! First let me explain that where i live is at sea level and everything is flat....

I hiked "the star trail" in roanoke it goes down the side of a mountain... and it also goes back up!!! the elevation is 1800 foot!!

in total @ 6 miles id say but the climbing up was the killer! and I am asthmatic.. But took our time.. rested along the way

And i did it!!!!!! on my way home I stopped and had the regular cheeseburger at mcdonalds cuz I earned that bad boy!!!!!!

and yep I even had the bread!!! hahaha


the pic tho not real clear shows how high up we were!

Good time had by all.
It was fun and relaxing. Got pleasantly drunk in the aft, laughed lots. Had a yummy free range grilled dinner(including caribou) with salads at 9pm,campfire, more laughter, in bed by midnight and had a peaceful sleep.
Need to weed the veggie patch then DH will till it. Gonna get some plants and seeds when I go to get the kids.
Life is WONDERFUL!!!!!!!

Helloooooooo????? Am I the only Canadian here...working hard today!!!!
You chicks must be out enjoying the sunshine eating low fat yogurt and fresh salads!!!!
Happy Memorial Day!!!!

Hi everybody,

199...SIGH...will I EVER get there. I have been stuck for quite a bit hence my recent arrival and discovery of this site. I really, really want to get to ONEderland. I am 41, divorced...or can I just say single...single sounds nicer and I just recently finished my first college degree. Sooooo next project...get that stupid weight off!!! So I'm in on the quest to 199.

I've spent quiet a bit of time catching up on all the posts, and it's been great 'hearing' all your voices! I've been moping around this weekend, doing chores, catching up and paperwork and trying to wrap my mind around how difficult (not impossible) it will be for me to shed all this excess weight. I really have to grapple with why whenever I'm angry, worried or stressed (which is a constant state lately), I decide that eating something will make it all better :stress: I haven't been sleeping well lately, which only makes me more sluggish, and gets my days off to a bad start.

So I've been keeping to myself this long weekend, reminding myself of my priorities and putting things into perspective. I can get into some of the clothes I wasn't able to wear last summer; I'm still going to Curves three times a week--and looking forward to it!--and I haven't been porking out, jut not sticking with The Plan. The job situation has been a major energy drain, but I will get another job--maybe soon--and at any rate, that's not a good reason not to take care of myself.

Re Spores' question about motivation: I go to the Success thread and look for women who started out my size or bigger, and have taken off 100 pounds or more the old-fashioned way.

Be well, everyone--judy

Hello all......yes it is a nice long weekend....and actually I took off last Thursday and Friday so I have had 5 days off.....it has been great. Today I spent the entire day cleaning my windows...taking off the storm windows, washng them, washing the outsides and insides, and then putting them all back together. It is a nice job to do, because I always looks good after winter! Wreaked havoc on my nails though!

Well back to work tomorrow.....I only have 4 days left until the end of the year! then I leave for Europe the next week! I am so looking forward to being away and seeing things I haven't seen before.....I has been a difficult year, all starting a year ago, so good to go away on "anniversary days" and celebrate my new life! I am having a terible time with sticking to a diet right now, so trying real hard to just keep it in check and not go crazy! I can do that and be ready to really hit it hard when I get back!

(((HUGS LILYBUTT))) Sounds like you had a great 5 days off. You trip plans are exciting. What parts of Europe??
Hi Judy~ quiet reflective time is good for the soul.Hope you found some clarity and a new resolve!!!
Welcome FlannelAnnie~ anyone who likes flannel is cool in my books, lol. I love my flannies and flannel sheets!!!! I was stuck a 235 for a few years but seem to have broken through.Keep posting. The support makes a BIG difference!!

Yes Judy.....I truly cherish quiet time to myself.......If I don't get it I find that I get very difficult to be with!

Holly....I am going to London, Paris, Florence and Rome. It is a tour group thing, but going 2 days before the tour and staying 2 days after, so plenty of time on our own to explore!

Good morning everyone,
Hope everyone had a great w-end. Our weather wasn't great so we just rented movies and stayed home. I've had all the rest I can handle. I plan to go to curves as soon as they open. I didn't do to well with the kinds of food I ate, but I kept portion sizes down. Not a total failure.
I picked my 1st tomato of the season. YUMMY. I had forgotten how fast zucchini grew. I had 2 that had gotten over 11" long. I'll have to check it more often.

BIG WELCOME TO EVERYONE ONE NEW

I'll do personals later. I have several errands to run early... After curves.

wahhhhhh today was my weigh in day... the scale is still not moving!!! lol i am looking at the scale and saying to myself... I climbed a a dang mountain saturday and still didnt lose any weight .. grrrrr mumble of bad words!!!

lmao ok maybe next week!

Keep up the momentum Curlylocks it 'll show next week!!!!
Lilybutt~ sounds wonderful. So much history and art and good food!!!!!
Mornin Debbie~I find it very hard to do nothing for more than an hour, let alone a whole weekend, LOL! You will be well rested for the gym!!!

Great day yesterday. I got half the lily bed dug up and some stuff planted. I am alternating lilies with other perrenials.Right now I am dividing mature plants from in front of the shed.
7 kids today. DS is off to school.
Allergies are quite bad in the mornings but Claritin saves the day!!!! I fell back to sleep this morning. One of the downsides of working in your home- I can literally roll out of bed in my pj’s and still do my job. It is much nicer to have a shower and coffee first. For everyone involved.hee hee
Gonna do Grandma’s hair tonight. DH is lovin the new job. He even got paid the right amount, on time!! It is physically easier because it is mostly renos.
Baseball was good last night.
I should go entertain some young folk!!

Hi Ladies,

Just in from the weigh-in. Down 2.2. I will take it. Was worried it was going to be nothing because of great loss last week. I am definately OP!! but more importantly, I am surviving. I am not feeling the resentment of not having a rhubarb bar, or sour cream raisin bars that my neighbor lady brings over. Yesterday, I did yard work for over 9 hours, and was a little pissy about it to begin with, but then decided, "You know what, I am burning calories the whole time, quit belly-aching".
DH got to race his car on Sat. in the sprinkles, we survived, but it was very chilly, 49 degrees. I had on 4 coats. But the awesome thing about that, is the top coat was one that used to fit me when school started in the fall. Now it is way to big. I loved every minute of it. DS wants to go fishing, he has a freind here from out of town, so they are at times driving me crazy. Just boy stuff, gotta go, gotta go, gotta gooooooooooooo.

Curlylocks--awesome trail hiking. Didn't you really feel like you had "climbed a mountain" and lived to tell about it. Awesome. Great job.
Holly--nice getaway. Caribou? Never ate it, what is it like, how did they cook it? The wine sounded nice. I am a huge lover of wine, but have really laid off of it since I am trying to lose this weight. But I really enjoy a good wine, and a book, and my fireplace going. Happy you got that.
Flannel Annie--Welcome. Single definately sounds better. Sounds exciting. Sounds intriguing. What degree did you just earn? I am in school right now too. I am at UND. Where in MN are you from?
Judydc--Down in the dumps huh? Reflection is good, but remember it is JUST a reflection, you can change your day one minute at a time. Your outcome too. Heads up and look at the clouds. I am cheering for you.
Lilybutt--EUROPE>>>>>>>>>YIKES< I am SO jealous. Me and DS, and his godmother are planning a trip to Rome when DS graduates from HS. A few years away. We are going to go for a month. I told my son, I cannot possibly send him out in the world, unless I show him some of it first. So, we have been saving for over 3 years now. I can't wait.
Debbie--TOMATOES!!!!!!!! Good for you. I was wondering where you had wandered off too. Glad to see you back here with us.


Going to try and hit some laundry. DF came over to drop off hand-me-downs for my DS, one question? Are they hand-me-downs if the price tags are still on them? She brought 7 pairs of jeans, 3 had tags still attached, 3 shorts, 1 had tags, and 5 shirts and 1 had a tag on it. Her son is Picky, picky, picky, and she hates to return clothes. My son is happy, happy, happy. He loves every peice of clothing.
Having some drama in my life right now, and it is making me miserable, cranky, and overall crabby. I wish it would go away, but I know that it is going to linger for a while. YUCK.
Happy day to you strong women.

Sandi

Ive spent some time in MN ... My X was from MN ... ive been there many times, just outside minneapolis, actually ive been to a lot of the towns surrounding minneapolis.,.

Are we all up for a June challenge??????? HUH??HUh???? It's been a while.
Something like lose 5 lbs in June, exercise 3 X's week.

Sandi~ HUGSSS. Sorry about the drama, it can suuuuck the life out of you.
The caribou was cut into pieces like pork chops and grilled. Very tender.Stronger than deer. Yummy.I would consider 9 hours of yard work a gift.LOL!! Congrat on the loss. You are doing very well!!!!

I'd definately be up for a challenge!

Hello all…..
I would love a June challenge but…and here comes the excuse ;) I will be gone 2 weeks to Europe and since this is a once in a lifetime thing for me…..I don’t want to dwell on food while I am there…however, with all theexercise I will be eating, I would not be surprised to maintain or actually lose!


Anyway…good to see everyone…….I had a blood draw for work today…all very good news! YEAH!!!! Blood pressure: 128/2, Triglycerides: 58, Cholesterol: 144, Blood sugar: 90, HDL: 64, LDL: 68…all very good numbers for a 43 year old…….I laughed though…with good numbers like that, I have little incentive to improve my diet……but part of the Wellness plan at work is to get emails from a health counselor to follow up on goals. I set my goal to lose weight of course…..so that may help…..the counselor did talk to me about calorie intake and exercise too…so for a free screening…all good info!

Debbie….I am so jealous too! Nothing better than a fresh tomato…..I buy “spendy “on the vine ones at the grocery store because the actually have a taste…but still not the same as fresh! We get them in August here….I rely on my friends to bring me some, or hit the farmers market!

Curlylocks……think of the muscle you built climbing that mountain!!!! You He-Woman!

Holly…..I have a perennial garden too….love it…so easy to maintain, except when it comes time to separate everything!

Sandi…… :balloons: Thinking of you…..drama is never THAT much fun!!!!
Have a good one everyone!!!

Lilybutt

ok, I am definately up for a challenge. Lets do it. Holly do you want to organize it, or should we quickly get some imput and go for it.
Let me know

Sandi

Okey dokey!!!!

The JUNE CHALLENGE!!!!!!!

lose 5lbs this month
exercise 30 minutes 3X's a week
each week try some thing new eg eat 5-10 fruits and veg ( go wed to wed starting today!!)

My starting weight is 225.

Great day here. I have the afternoon off.
I am trying to get the whole house clean all at once. It has only ever happened once in 5 years,about a month ago. A big old two story house is hard to keep clean. I tidy all the time and half of the house is always cleaned, either up or down but never at once.
If i get this done today I can clean the upstairs windows tomorrow!!

Lilybutt~ my health stats are much the same. Actually healthier than most people I know my age. I am just fat....arg!! I guess it would be too much to bear if I was beautiful, clever, witty, a dynamo mom and wife and thin too, LOL!!!

Hello everyone, I'm back :dancer:

Not too much time for personals, so just an update on what I've been up to (shamelessly copied from another thread for those who don't hang around there, apologies if you do :o )

Very very good holiday. Summary, to be split into the good, the bad and the cheese...

The good:

Our studio was in a typically Greek village on a cliffside. This meant lots of steps, hills, a nice walk to the main town along the cliffside (downhill going there, very much uphill on the way back). Boy did that work my legs. :tread:

Walking up volcanoes. Also good for working the legs. I was one of the first of our (big) group to make it, and very proud of myself. :tread:

Ditto walking up to mountainous headlands to see ancient Greek remains. :tread: Admittedly we parked at the end of the road and only walked the rest, but that's because I was with my mother. I was up for walking the lot, but I can't kill her off just yet. She has many medical conditions and wasn't exactly as keen on the exercise as I was (she didn't do the volcano either).

My thighs. Not even the tiniest bit of rubbing on the days I wore skirts and dresses. The first time I've escaped that on a holiday since I was about 12. Admittedly I mainly wore shorts if I was walking a long way, but one day I must have walked for over an hour without any rubs. And I swear that when I looked in the mirror they almost looked as though they didn't touch under my skirt.

The bad:

Beer. Ouzo. Wine. :beach: I went with a vague idea of only drinking in the evening and drinking water until then. Well, that didn't work then. My resolve crumbled within the first 24 hours. Oops...

Not drinking enough water. See above.

The size of the swimming pool. I say swimming pool. I mean jacuzzi. We were on a cliff side. Just about the only thing they had space for was a tiny little dipping/jacuzzi pool. You could touch both sides at the same time. Not exactly going to get me much exercise. In truth, it wasn't really swimming weather. Lovely and sunny, but more walking around sunning yourself rather than needing to cool off every 30 minutes. So my idea of swimming lots while I was over there kind of didn't happen.

Birthday cake. :hb: Not a Greece thing, although it was my birthday while I was over there (cue Greek birthday cake). But this morning I had to do the buying cakes for people at work thing. Why did I choose cakes I really like? It struck me later that the sensible thing to do would have been to buy cream cakes which I don't really like eating rather than little chocolatey bite things from M&S. Then I wouldn't have been eating them all day.

The cheese :hungry::

My nemesis. Feta cheese and bread (my other holiday nemesis) for breakfast. Peppers stuffed with cheese for lunch (well, at least there was some veg there...) Fried cheese (saganaki is one of the most wonderful foodstuffs on earth. Shame it's essentially fried cheese in batter :nono: ). Baked cheese. We went to one taverna quite a lot (mainly due to the quality of its saganaki :hungry: ). They noticed we liked cheese (my mother would have cheese sauce on her meat. I wasn't that bad). So instead of the little glasses of sweet wine at the end with the bill. They brought us a slice of cheesecake. This cheesecake was seriously the most delicious cheesecake I have ever eaten. Ever. And I've eaten a lot of cheesecake. :hungry: So we had a few more slices over the course of the week. I think I ate more cheese in a week than I have done since Christmas. A lot more.

The damage:

2lb on this morning. I'm quite pleased with that. I reckon I must be retaining some water as I've been drinking nowhere near enough of it (trying to persuade myself that anyway!), so I'd steeled myself for about 2lb of fat and a bit more water. So no worse than I expected, and possibly a bit better if there is some water there. And I trust myself to get it back off again, which is why I let myself do what I want in the first place rather than trying to diet on holiday.

I'm in.

I already started today. Walked for over hour with GF, and went and lifted weights this morning. I will use my Tues. weigh-in as my goal. I like the nutrition part too. I am struggling with the veg's. since I am not in school all day. Will definately work on that.

I have tried to get in 2 containers of yogurt a day, and I think that has really helped my sweet-tooth, and plus the extra calcium is always a plus. Ok, Holly and Curly Let's get it going.

Sandi

Oops, forgot to say, I'm up for the challenge. I'll even go with my hypothetical starting weight of 226 rather than my actual Greece induced weight of 228...

challenge sounds great i am starting at 265

Howdie Howdie.....

I have been MIA and I apologize. No excuses, just shame. I have not been to TOPS in 4 weeks. Yes, I am up for the challenge. Starting weight 256.

Annie

When I had my blood draw the other day they gave me was a weight range that would work for my body....they said 199-179, given my height and body composition, would be a good weight for me.....this made me feel good because that is what I would say I want to be too! I have been down as low as 140 and had a terrible time maintaining it and being healthy....at 170-190 I was healthiest.....so NOT that far away! I can do it!!!!

So for the challenge......sine I will be one until the 21st of June on vacation.....I will say I will be down to 235 by the end of the month....I don't expect to gain weight in Europe....lots of walking involved......but to be realistic...that would be a major success for me!

I leave tomorrow am for an overnight trip for work....so all have a good few days!

Lilybutt

The charts say 165 for me, but i can tell ya when i got down to @ 185 i was looking like a scare crow i was so thin ( wearing 10's & 12's) and i am 5 foot 6......... but I would be dancing in the streets at 180!!!!

Good morning everyone,
Count me in for the June challenge. My start weight will be 274. I've been doing the mindless eating thing again. Don't want to slip back into that bad habit.

Curly: we have about the same build. I'm also 5'6 and look and feel good about 180

Annie: Good to hear from you.

Yp1: Your vacation sounds wonderful.

Lily: The first time my Dr did lab on me.
He was shocked. They were very good. I told him there can't be any fat flowing in my veins, it's all on my hips. At 50, I'm 100lb overweight. I am not on any meds. I always am very thankful for that.

Sandi: You're off to a great start!

Suzie: Hope all is well with you.

Holly: :) Morning.

Hello to everyone I missed.
This is my long day got to go get ready. I'll try to check in tomorrow.

Mornin'!
At my thinnest, working out 5 x's a week ,when I was 24 ,I weighed 170. Flat tummy, toned, bikini. The BMI charts say I should weigh 145. When I weighed 190 I was fit ,happy, not stressed about food and working out. That is my ultimate goal.

4th Glorious day in a row!!!
I LOVE this weather!!! 21C, sunny, light breeze.......aaaaaaaaah.
Yesterday was great!!! puttered in the house all morning. Washed bedding and hung it out. I had the afternoon off. I cleaned the whole house except the bathrooms!!
I will do those and the upstairs windows today!!
I had a good visit with Grandma. Everything is fine with her.That is what
matters. Every time I go I dig up some perennials or herbs from her yard. I
will always have a bit of what I consider my “home” here with me. I brought home some mint and lemon balm.
2 little guys and DD today. Quiet again!!
I have 6 Avon orders already. I am feeling super pumped about it!! I am an entrepeneur at heart. I LOVE networking.weeheeeeee
The cool thing is I haven’t gone anywhere or done anything out of my normal routine. I just pitch it in my daily journey. It sells itself cause people know the products. I may even make some $$$$$ at it.
Baseball tonight.
I was the loser of the month at TOPS , a 6.5 loss. I gained a bit in Apr so now I am back to where I was in Feb.
I LOVE my life!!!!!!

we are missing a few...Spores? Susie? Jody? Girlie, back from holidays yet???

Glad you popped in Annie, stay longer next time!
YP~your trip sounds devine!!! If were on a deserted island there is a good chance I would choose cheese over my DH!!
Deb~ no mindless eating today, okay??
Curly~how's today going?

HI everyone!!!! Let's get moving!!!!!!
30 min of yoga coming up!!