Day 19 finished, only 2 days to go. Tonight I really had the urge to go nuts - was clearing out some old papers and stumbled onto a series of "Love always" cards from my ex. I did snap out of the ensuing funk fairly quickly, but didn't lose the urge to self-medicate. Knowing I have only 2 days left in the challenge got me thru the evening! So thanks to you all, especially Red for starting the thread and being so supportive to us all. Go Red!!!

Good for you, Carla! Don't let past hurts keep hurting you!!

Red, stay away from the sugar! You can do this. You're already halfway through, it's all downhill from here. I don't have soda daily, so I think I can cut it out if I just make that my only goal. I need to, I feel so much better without it in my body.

1ceagain, I don't even have soda daily, that's what kills me. It's not something that I depend on daily. But if one of the kids is up late or if I'm up late (like tonight) and then I have to get up really early the next morning, I'm just dragging. I just want to get it all out of my system though. I went without soda for 2 1/2 years and then made the mistake of starting to drink it again. I don't know how tall you are but I bet within about 10 more pounds, you'll see a pretty big difference in your body. I'm 6 feet tall and right around 25 pounds or so is when I noticed - hey, I have collarbones again! At 35 or so pounds I could fit into size 18 jeans and that's when EVERYONE started commenting on my weight loss. It felt like it happened overnight for me, and I bet that all of a sudden you'll start seeing major differences, too.

dkkrf, I missed the post about your friend before. What a horrible, horrible thing for her to go through. I can't even imagine what she must be feeling. How awful.

Marti, cutting back is a good start. Maybe you need to "wean" yourself off of the cigarettes a little bit. Going from smoking a pack a day to not smoking at all is a pretty big shock to your body, I'm sure. Good luck on your new challenge.

curlylocks, bedroom workouts count as workouts, too . A long distance relationship sounds so hard! My DH and I were a whopping 20 minutes apart while dating and it felt like hours and hours, I can't imagine being in different states. That takes some serious devotion. Good for you two for making it work.

Carla, congratulations on being SO close to ONEderland. Won't you feel incredible when your weight starts with a 1 instead of a 2? I can't wait for that. I'm sorry to hear about your troubles with your ex.


Today was day 15, and I'm done! I came mighty close yesterday though, but I stayed under (by about 10 calories!) so it counts. I have gotten in some nice workouts this week, too. I did an hour on the bike yesterday, and today I did 50 minutes on the elliptical and then 25 minutes of weights. I just increased my weights on some of the arm and shoulder machines, and my arms feel like noodles right now. But, I've also got some pretty great muscles showing up, and that makes me so happy.

Day 4 - Stayed in my Pts. No activity pts used,

Day 5 - Stayed in my Pts. No activity pts used

dkkrf - I'm sorry to hear about your friend.

gray eyed girl - Thanks for the well wish on my 3rd day. I had a chance to buy a realy nice elliptical but did the usually thing.. I'll wait til next week. Well someone else go MY good buy!! Darn I didn't know much about them till I started reading the great reviews on 3FC's.

1nceagain - I'm finding SBD a great tool to help me make better lifestyle choices. It sure make a person think about what they are putting in their body!

Red - Yea all that hopping is getting me ready to the the Easter Bunny for my grandson!
Sorry for getting this in late. Thanks for the words of encourgament.

Wrapping up Day 13 here. Just another week to go. Gosh, it seems like the days are passing sooooo slowly!

mez -- A big hand for the next two days down! Hurrah! What, by the way, are activity points and why are you not using any? Wouldn't it be good to get them? I don't know the rules. This is Weight Watchers, right? I am glad to hear you are learning from South Beach. As I said before, it's a very healthy eating plan and one that you can live with the rest of your life, I think. Are you still hopping? Good luck and keep up the good work!

gray eyed girl -- Thank you for the encouragement. It means a lot to me! Good luck on giving up the soda. Take heart in the fact that you were able to give it up for two and a half years and think that you can do it again. on getting to Day 15! And all that exercise! Great going and keep on keepin' on!

carla -- Wow! Only two more days! You are almost there. I bet you feel great about yourself. You better! What an incredible save too that was with those damn cards, huh? You showed great strength and resolve in being good to yourself and not letting something like that hurt you further. I like to call it self-abuse, not self-medicating because the latter makes it sound okay and it is NOT an act of love, not when we are trying to get the fat off. You didn't do it, beat yourself up and I am proud of you! So glad you're finding the thread helpful and thank your for thanking me! : Also, thanks for the support from you! Yes, I put down the sugar thing, I guess, because I've done it before quite a few times. But, the thing is, no, it's not easy and perhaps having thought of it as such has deprived me of the pleasure I could get from the sense of accomplishment I could get each day I am off the stuff. As for the red hair part, I don't have fair skin, not the alabaster type at least. I have dark brown eyes too so it's a strange mix. As for standing out in Tokyo, I used to, but nowadays virtually every Japanese dyes his or her hair, so you see a lot of redheads! They especially like auburn tints to it and surprisingly it suits them.

1nceagain -- A big hand to you too for getting through this far. I find it hard to believe your 21 are almost up. It seems like just yesterday you were starting out. Wow. I wish you luck on the scale but we know how that can be, especially since you've been exercising a lot. I did South Beach for a few weeks and I didn't lose weight and my clothes weren't feeling too different but there was some difference and the fat had seemed to redistribute itself better. Good luck!

curly -- What more can I say, you are our star challenger!

dkkrf -- Heh, thanks for filling us in on the accident. It certainly sounds freakish, doesn't it? like it was almost determined to happen, him not feeling well but getting in the water, not being able to get the life jacket. I am thinking maybe he had a stroke. Will they do an autopsy? But, oh, so, so tragic and traumatic for your friend to have been trying to find him. God, I hate to think of what she went through and is going through. And dkkrf, you ARE doing something and you can continue do something. Just be there for her. She will have to get through the grief and your being there can help her through it without her doing harm to herself perhaps. You really mustn't have a guilty conscience about going to your concert and missing the memorial service. You are right, there will be so many people and you need to get away and enjoy yourself too. Pleasure mustn't be put on hold. No matter how tragic death may be, it is still part of life. Today was the 22nd anniversary of my mother's death and yesterday the 20th anniversary of a jet crash here that killed 520 people. I remember it well, how the plane was out of control, couldn't steer and it did this big looping circles for hours before crashing. Afterwards, because the rescue teams couldn't get up the mountain where it crashed for 16 hours! a lot of people who could have survived died. There were only four survivors. At work today, I was reading a story on more tapes being released in the World Trade Center on 9/11. It brought back a lot of memories and certain thoughts closer. Let's remember how precious yet fragile life is.

I am glad to hear you are still determined to restart your challenge when things calm down a bit. We'll be here for you. And have fun at that concert, you hear!

mezmerize, I love the elliptical. It's a tough workout, so it can be hard to get myself motivated to do it sometimes, but I always feel great when I'm done. It's right up there with running as far as calories burned - not quite as good, but very close. And it's easy on your knees, which is a big deal for me. Maybe you'll get another chance to buy one - they're great.

red, well done getting through day 13. I have to admit that part of the reason I was able to stay away from soda is because I was pregnant for most of those 2 1/2 years. But if I could do it then, I can do it now. You're absolutely right.

I'm through day 16! I weighed in today and I was still at 208, but that's okay. I'm still losing 1-2 pounds a week, it seems, and that's what everyone seems to recommend. Fine by me, as long as it keeps coming off. No exercise today because of the torrential downpour outside - I'm not going out in that! - but I'm going to go tomorrow.

i got my day 10 done !

Can you say . . . MACUDADONUDASU?

Day 20 done, today is the last day of the challenge! I'm just so excited I can't sleep. (Actually, I think it was the delicious - and large - cup of coffee after dinner. What was I thinking?) Oh well, I can sleep in or nap tomorrow. Scary to think on Tuesday I'm flying out west to WORK for a week! I'll have to get up early EVERY DAY!

Red, Grey, Curly - you all seem to be doing well, just chugging along towards success. Good work.

!nceagain - Will we graduate together, or did you take a free day and pig out at Macadonodasu (or however you spelled it - assuming you mean Japanese MacDonalds???)?

I'd also like to thank you all for your kind words about my marital disaster. My apologies for going on about it. For some reason, every so often my ex just gets into my head and won't leave. But he's gone now, and I'm fine. In fact I'm better than fine. Losing weight at last, two rambunctious kitties to keep me on my toes, Flylady to make me shine my sink... does it get any better?

I really should get some sleep. If I'm still awake at 6:30 maybe I'll boogie on over to my little gym for a quick elliptical. Maybe a swim too if the pool is empty. (Do I get points for good intentions?)

Hello, all! Sure gets quiet on the weekends here. Hope you're at least out having fun! At least there's some action here still. I'd get awful lonely if there weren't... Well, I'm getting through Day 14. I blew it here last time around, the furthest I'd gone before blowing it. But I'm determined to get through this one so I can have some sugar again....though I'm going to limit it, I think.

curly -- You're reach the peak! Momentum should pull you through from here!

1nceagain -- Thank God for free days. Remember, the rule change makes it a "pause day" now. Resume counting from tomorrow (unless you have another freebie. I think this is your first round, so you just have one in that case. Well, what was that, anyhow? Mac's? Whatever it was, I hoped you enjoyed it!

gray eyed girl -- on making it clear and through Day 16! You're in the homestretch now! We need to look to you for patience and the scale. I am very proud (and in awe) of you for not letting the scale swing you around by the tail emotionally! And yes, slow weight loss usually means it's true fat you're losing and not muscle, so you're probably not wrecking your metabolism. Good going! Why didn't you drink soda when you were pregnant? Doctor's orders or just thought it healthier? Do you always exercise outside or in a gym? In any case, torrential downpours are dangerous, even in a car. Now, what was your challenge again? Whatever it was, you're almost through it! Good luck with the rest!

carla -- Wow! Great going. You're there on your last day. You're certainly not going to blow it now, are you!?!? I'll BET you feel great. And you'll be finishing your challenge just in time for your trip. Did you plan it like that? You're welcome to all the kind words we can give you and NO reason whatsoever to apologize. It's always good (well not like fun or happy but you know, beneficial) to hear about others' misfortunes. It can put our own in perspective or make us feel less alone..."ah...it happened to her too" kind of thing. With your ex blocking communication like that I can see how you could obsess at times. I've learned to banish them (the exes) from my thoughts (and see, I speak in the plural!) and actually insist on them NOT contacting me. In the beginning, after a major shock, sometimes I would talk a bit just to get over the initial shock, then I would insist they never call me again. Told them flat out I didn't want to hear from them again. We were NOT friends. Only one and there were never kids or anything, which keeps things simpler. I'm so glad you're losing the weight you want to at last. And two kitties are great to have around. I was just outside brushing two of my three. And, oh, yes, the sink is going to get cleaned again tonight. At least there was nothing growing in it. If I ever have anyone come into this disaster area I will just tell them, "just keep your eyes on the sink! don't move them anywhere else!!!" And NO points for good intentions unless it involved some sort of preparation.

Red, if I put on my sneakers and workout clothes, does that count as enuf prep for points? Good going on the sugar, and on reaching day 14. I know you'll make it to 21. I couldn't do the sugar thing. I haven't had a lot these last 3 weeks, but if it had been a tabu I would have craved it. And I'm not convinced sugar is a bad thing anyway. (There I go again, denying another diet "rule".) Of course, in the quantities I'd be consuming without the choc/candy ban, it WOULD be a bad thing.

I had a feeling I couldn't use today as a free day and then be done. Rats. But you're right, I did plan to be finished before the trip. And I'll start again when I get back.

Gotta go - big stink wafting into my bedroom from the cats' bathroom. I think Bigboy has created another little Chernobyl in there. Time to put on my gas mask and flush and deodorize. (Why did I get a male cat? Didn't marriage teach me ANYTHING about males and their noxious emanations?)

I'm going to pat myself on the back with them, that's what. I did put on sneakers and workout clothes and went off to the little hotel gym. A bit disappointed to realize the elliptical they have is legs only, which is way less fun. But I had a good 15 min on the rowing machine, so my arms weren't neglected. Points are very important. I get extra because it was before 7am on a Sunday, and because I managed to squeeze into my sports bra. I decided not to swim because of the difficulty of getting into a slightly too small swimsuit when sweaty. Besides, there were people in the pool, which is very small.

Time for breakfast and a nap.

Hello again

Let me catch up... what day am I on? Monday Aug. 8th was Day 4... so today would be... Day 10. Only I haven't had any veggies or the tea yet... If things go well, I should be done on the 25th (if I don't take a free day). After that I'm planning to finish off the second tea pack, and start a new challenge after the big move. I already have some ideas. Certainly NO herbal tea!!!

Recently I've been counting it by the number of herbal tea bags left. Only one left, and then off to a next pack. It's a different type, so hopefully it will not be as yucky... I don't think I'd mind so much if this thing smelled bad... but it's the TASTE!!! Yuck. So far the tea doesn't seem to be doing anything... I'm getting worried that it was outdated and that all this effort is in vain...


Red, stick with it, you're aaaaaaalmost there (note the number of As)

Carla, wow, it seems like your 20 days have gone by so fast! Somehow I had thought you were around the middle of your challenge, but here it turns out you're almost done! Wow! You go girl!

1nceagain, congratulations to you too!

And everyone else - great job!

day 11 done.. the temp combined with the humidity makes it feel 110 here today ????? how long till fall???