I finished the first draft of my article (finally) and now I'm waiting for the comments from my coauthor and the two internal reviewers at work. Hopefully I'll get them soon and it won't be too bad. I want the article to be good but I really need to get it out the door in May. For now I have moved on to other work. It's a good feeling to feel like something has been accomplished.

Tuesday I ran at lunch. I was only out for 27 minutes (a little walking but mostly jogging). It's hilly at work and I haven't run in so long that I'm out of shape. I am planning on going again today in about 45 minutes. It's a pain to get back to work after running but I'm going to try and put up with it 2 days a week for now. If I can get running in at home great, but for now I need to start taking some serious steps toward weight loss and health.

Things here are plugging along. How is everyone? Renee - how often doyou have softball games? Are you still helping with the horses? mette - do you work right through summer?

I just wanted to let you know that I went running yesterday at lunch. I did the same route as Tuesday but jogged the whole thing. It was very hilly though (I swear there was more uphill than downhill ) so I think on Tuesday I am going to try and go the other direction. It's not a long route so I need to venture soon to somewhere else.

I'm also thinking of incorporating some Slim Fast products into my diet. Opinions?

Hey everyone!

We got creamed at softball, but at least this time I wasn't the only one who made mistakes. The whole team did! Hee.

I started rollerblading again this week and my legs have new spots to be sore! It's kinda interesting how complex the body is and how one small difference can change what and where you are sore.

Today they are bringing in pizza for lunch, and since I get angry when someone limits the amount of pizza I can have (they aren't, the diet would) I have decided to not have any of it. I don't feel deprived about it- more I feel proud that I can chalk this one up to will power and wisdom. I'll head out to lunch with my sister and get a chicken whopper for 7pts, instead of two pieces of pizza for 10.

I had an enlightening experience this week. A girl friend of mine, who I see as : pretty, skinny, right sized, right shaped, better looking than me etc. - Well she borrowed a pair of jeans that is loose on me, and they were TIGHT on her! I know that my mind is behind my body on where I am - but that was a really good way of sorta kicking me in the pants and saying, 'You see her as attractive and skinny.... why can't you see yourself that way?'

Alright, so work is getting busy now. Congrats on the running Ang, just keep at it and soon you'll have a habit formed again! I sometimes need to go to the warehouse at work, and lately, when I do, I run. It feels good. I wish I could run more than 30 seconds at a time though.

Way to go Renee for not eating the pizza!

Thanks also for reminding me about rollerblading. I have the pads and should go get some blades and use that as a means to workout and get some variety. Do you truly consider it a cardio workout?

Keep working at your self image and you will get there. If you want to run you need to stay with it regularly so you can build up your run time versus walk. The first time it takes a little while but you can do it. I'm back to around 2 - 2.5 miles even though I used to run 4. I'm mixing the walking in though as I build back up.

Sorry about softball - hopefully it was fun. I'm doing a Realy for Life walk tonight to raise money for cancer research on behalf of my mother. I'm supposed to walk around the track for an hour. At least I'll get some exercise today.

Welcome to a new week!

Hey Ang - man this weekend flew by! I didn't even exercise. I was a total dork and stayed in all weekend and played on the computer.

My sister and I are going to try the Friday night Weight Watchers meeting to see if we can find a group of meeting-ers that we better fit in with. If you are going to get support from it, you need to feel like you belong ya know?

I think on my next weigh in, I will make my 10% goal that they start you off on, and end up having lost 16lbs since March. Slower than I'd like, but really I guess it still adds up pretty fast.

The morning scale on Sat. read 143- and I still can't believe that number actually belongs to me.

What do you suggest for starting a running routine? I'm a little afraid I'd get bored with it - but I like the feel of running. Plus it'd help for softball! Could I do sprints? Like, sprint, walk walk walk, sprint?

Hmm, back to work now. Here's to a good week for everyone!

The weekends always go too fast. The bad weather isn't helping. I got out a little to work on my garden/yard but no sun so my mood wasn't the best. No real exercise for me either. Have you worked out this week yet?

I know exactly what you mean about being with a group of people that you mesh with. I think it is one of the reasons why I stopped WW in VA during grad school. I just didn't feel like I fit in with the ladies there. There are too many mothers in my age group - WW and in my community. I really feel left out.

Renee - I think your weight loss is great! Remember that it gets much harder as you get close to your goal. You must look awesome!

Do you run at all now? There are lots of routines. The best is to get something regular and THEN add hills and interval (sprints) training. For now I would recommend going out for 30 minutes.

Walk (warmup): 5 mins
Run (jog): 1 min
Walk: 3 min
Alternate back and forth for 20 minutes and then 5 min cool down walk. As you feel comfortable with this reduce the time you walk and increase the time you run.

Does this make sense? I'd be happy to give more details if you want and I'm always here as you get going. Right now I am trying to get back into it and I jog 20 minutes, walk 2 min, and run another 8 with a couple of walking mins for cool down. When you can do 30 minutes straight let me know and you can add in intervals and hills. Good luck.

It looks like bf is close to selling his house, which means he will be moving in with me. I think this is great but of course still a little skeptical (always skeptical when it comes to relationships of all kinds).

I should get back to work. mette - I hope you are doing well and come back to us soon. Renee - how is your week going? Work still crazy busy?

Where did everyone go? Any plans for the holiday weekend?

Hi guys. Remember me???
I’m sorry I fell off the face of the world there for a couple of weeks! I was completely stressed out by finishing my practice and patients, writing reports and trying to find a job for the summer. I’m very sorry I disappeared so completely, but it was nice to read up on how well you are doing: lots and lots of exercise!

I have big plans for this summer too. And I start tomorrow, Monday the 30th.
It’s my own private 12 weeks challenge to lose the rest of the weight: eating right and exercise more.

For the next 12 weeks I will:
-eat about 1500 calories a day (lots of vegetables, lots of low-fat-protein-stuff!)
-do weights 3 times a week (keep on the program I’m doing, try to get stronger)
-do cardio 5 times a week (I’ll start jogging twice a week this summer too)
-get down to 160-165lbs during these 12 weeks

I’ve just ordered “Body for Life for Women” by Pamela Peeke for inspiration and some new input. Looking forward to that. As for “The Pact”; I’m planning on reporting in daily – just to write down and share it with somebody: what and how I’m doing.
I need to focus on losing weight again, and I’m ready to lose the rest of the weight now.
And it's good to be back!

See you tomorrow!

Good morning girls!
I’m doing my first “Summer challenge” daily report. I went out jogging this morning. And even though I have been jogging on the treadmill in the gym this winter; it really doesn’t compare with outdoor-jogging! Really! The hills alone are quite something else...
I now look forward to getting better at jogging *up* the hills!

But at least I have started. I’ll be back again tomorrow, hope everybody is doing well!

Good morning again!
Don’t mind me; I’ll just keep posting until you all come back to work and get online again…

Yesterday was a good day: I drank lots of water, slept enough, ate 1.554 calories, and jogged for 30 minutes.

This morning I went to the gym to lift weights and do cardio: I did my leg-program first, and then 30 minutes on the elliptical machine.

I’ve been thinking about where the key to success lies (duh!), and I think one of my keys is to write down everything I eat, so I need to find a way to keep writing every day. It’s not as if I fall off the wagon when I stop writing, but I stop losing weight because I eat (a little) more. I want to keep writing and monitoring my calories for these 12 weeks.
I also took before-pictures (in my underwear) today, mostly because everybody (at least Renee) says it's a good thing to do!

Have a good day, guys – talk to you again tomorrow!

Welcome back mette! You have return with quite the resolve. Good for you. Were you able to find a job for the summer? How did everything end up with your practice?

Your plan sounds good. With your history it seems like all of your goals should be attainable. I am also trying to find some resolve. I am very tired of the way I look, feel, and the whole clothing issue (don't even get me started). On Sunday I jogged for 30 minutes and yesterday I went for a short bike ride. I also did a few hours of yard work over the weekend. I have been better about watching what I eat but the weight still keeps coming on. I don't know what I am doing wrong. I am hoping to run at lunch for 30 minutes (couldn't get motivated to do it before work) and really concentrate on increasing my exercise, but it is so frustrating. Maybe I should come up with a summer plan for June-August too. Renee - do you have goals for the summer? We could each have our own challenge.

I'll get back to you later with something mapped out. Back to work right now.

Good morning!
Ang, I think that to get smileys in the heading you have to choose from the smiley list below the message-box (where you write): They’re called Post Icons.
Good to hear that you’re jogging and biking and doing yard work - summer is nice, isn't it??
I’m sorry you’re gaining weight, what do you think that’s about if you’re watching your eating and exercising more?

I’m on my third day today. Yesterday I did weights and cardio, ate 1.545 calories, drank lots of water and started reading "Body for life for women" – I’m not sure what I think of it yet. I have to read a bit more of it before I can have an opinion or take something useful from it, I think.
Today I also did weights (back, biceps, and abs) and cardio (bike), I'm going out jogging again tomorrow morning.

And yes, I did find a job – I’ll start June 15th – document control and some accounting I think (It’s stuff I used to do before I went back to school, it’s easy work to find and do for a short period of time, and it pays quite well too) I’m not too enthusiastic about it, but I think it’ll be fine. I just need to earn some money…

Talk to you again tomorrow – have a nice day, girls!

Good morning again. I went jogging this morning, and even if I’m a bit sore from my leg workout on Tuesday it still went a little better than Monday morning. My breathing was a little bit easier.

I also tried for a little pampering yesterday: I had my eyebrows waxed (ouch!) and bought two new work-out tops. So I’m all set for spending summer afternoons in the gym…

Yesterday I did weights and cardio, drank lots of water, took my vitamins, and ate 1.638 calories. It was a bit over plan because even though I eat 5 meals a day (at around 300 calories), I have 6 meals on my going-to-the-gym-days. I have to have something nutritious *before* I go to the gym to lift weights, so I have a shake: skimmed milk, protein powder, banana. Which means I have 240 less calories for the rest of the 5 meals of the day. And yesterday I got hungry and had an extra 100 calories – not exactly a disaster…

I’ll do better today, I think: I’ll stay within the 1500-1600 range.
Have a nice day guys!

I think Mette and I share the same line of existence, only one of us can be around at a time.

Sorry about that. I've been awful.

Work and life is so hectic, and for the past two weeks, I seem to have reverted back to my crappy eating and no exercise habits. It scares the crap out of me!

I keep telling myself that I hop back on the horse tomorrw - then something happens 'tomorrow' and it gets all back to craziness.

Ill try to start coming in and posting - I know it helps! HUGS!