Liam Neeson, huh, Arabella? That wouldn't be so awful. But no, my Irishman sports a clean-cut look, with hazel-green eyes and black hair, 6ft tall and slim, muscular build. Also not so awful. We are set to meet December 9 if the universe decides not to interfere! I know exactly what you mean about the time wasted "being fat". Sorry to hear about the taxes. Ouch.

I've made a decision, girls. Seems my weight loss has stalled yet again at the 12lb mark. How many times has this story played out? Talked with a co-worker last week about her Atkins journey. She lost 35lbs and has kept it off for almost two years now. She did it healthily, not using it as free reign to eat bacon and cheeseburgers at will, but making sure she followed the plan and getting in all the veggies and later, good carbs. She has never been one to push the whole Atkins thing, just said it was what finally worked for her after trying all the other things. So I'm going to give it a go. I bought the book and have read it, and am mentally prepared for those first few awful days of withdrawal. I'm going to give it the two weeks for induction and if I see results then I'll keep going. My co-worker, we'll call her M, has offered her support to keep me going. Some day this week I'll start. I'll know when I'm ready.

Also took a HUGE leap this morning. You will remember how I love to skate, but hadn't for many years. When I ventured out onto the ice last year I could make my way around without falling, but the confidence I once had is gone. So I e-mailed a local skating club this morning to inquire about their adult classes. I've missed the current one, it started the first of October, but another starts in January and runs until March. If there is still an opening, I'm going to sign up!

Laundry calls...back later.

Quick me-me postie as I still have lots of work to do only to get to the place where deadline day is manageable ... no hope of getting actually DONE today as I have too much and don't feel well.

Lost .80 and am happy with that ... details on journal in land far far.

Arabella, good idea about the black bean brownies ... I just saw some recipes on another board. They used Splenda. I don't use either Splenda or stevia ... just a tiny bit of liquid saccharine ... oddly, it's the only sweetener I think is safe ... splenda puts dextrose in it ... and well, sorry, but I can't stand stevia.

Wildflower, congrats on your decisions re Atkins and the skating ... you will succeed, I know.

E, I don't know if I congratulated thee on the three pounds down so will say it again: ... you're doin' splendidly.

Ceara: Thou art really rackin' up those punkins!!! Great stuff!

Gotta go ...

Arabella, please share the stevia brownie recipe?

Congrats to Kaylets and Amarantha for their 'releases' this week!
That's strange about the dog, wsw? I remember getting in my car to go home once and there was a big dog huddled on the floor on the driver's side and then there was a dog that was hiding behind our hot tub on the porch and seemed paralyzed there. Maybe that dog was just spooked by something--very odd behaviour.

Wildfire, good luck w/ your new adventure!

One more day on our challenge---stay away form the candy corn, all!

And, I did not mean to be a downer on stevia, Arabella ... ... just never have been able to acquire a taste for it. But I would like the recipes also.

My brownie recipes were made with stone ground whole wheat flour and cottage cheese as a base, not beans. Beans are a good idea.

Just popping in to note my seatbelt color choice for the day. Feeling fallish. Loved catching up on the posts and will add more anon. For now, it's back to bed for a while.

Last day of the challenge. Expect to get in walk with OT here. Such a doll to think of letting me out for a breather. I forgot I had also made a promise to me to finish off a huge bag of frozen broccoli. Made progress but not finished and too much salad, fruit etc in fridge to gorge on the broc today.

And with tomorrow being start of new month (ergo, new challenge) I'll be working up a few more promises to me. But first, there's today andthe end of the Halloween challenge.

Hugs to all s!

Congratulations on your weight loss, Athletea!

Thanks, Ceara and Aria for the weight loss congrats and thanks Arabella for the stevia advice. Maybe I will give 'er another go.

And Wood Nymph, congrats on the seven pounds lost this challenge!!! That's excellent.

Have a great walkabout, Anagramatic.

I am late, must go ...

hello alll....

Just came back from my weighin and the 2lbs are evidently back....

ah well....
could be much worse.... The minute I knew I was above my goal weight I've been like a basketball bouncing across the floor... Hitting bottom once wasnt enough, I just wallowed around .....

just ate a sweet potato now hoping to being detox....

As for the avoiding the candy corn.... ah....well...
nope...
all that was avoided was what fell on the floor...

it was just one of those things... I found it in the office kitchen and lo and behold... hand was quicker than the eye and had that bag opened and in my mouth...

and so on....

Danger danger Will Robinson... danger. danger....

Congrats Eydie, and Empress on the losses....

and to everyone for participating which really is the important thing....

I need to email my resume to an ad I saw....

Cross your fingers for me!

Didn't lose any more weight at the end of the challenge, but wasn't expecting to. I'm still at 137 pounds and am ready to throw myself into the next challenge. When do we start?

Didn't lose a thing! Didn't gain a thing either so it all works out in the end!

So shall we discuss the starting of a new thread for a brand new challenge? I personally am looking forward for the trek towards turkey day. I have high hopes for a loss this time

to all who made their goals for a since past challenge (or have at least lost something however brief that loss was!

Brevity-mode pop in: I think that was the first sugar-free Halloween in history. Last year was the discovery that I don't really like sweet chocolate any more. Nevertheless, I continued the experiment long after I'd gotten results. This year -- well, I had a big bowl of mini-bars that began their siren song (despite feeling quite firm in my lack of desire for them). Resolutely ignored same and carried on SF.

K, don't forget where you are -- you're already a MAJOR success!!! Sending good vibes for the job

I volunteer to start a solstice thread. How does the palace feel about that? I'd be inclined towards a Solstice big goal with weekly challenges...

K -- work and DGS beckon. Love to all and kudos to all who made progress during our Halloween push. All right, now -- let's go!!!

Oh, and -- if anyone else wants to look after the next thread, I'm more than happy to bow out!

Tomorrow is the big day...starting Atkins induction...so wherever we go, and whenever is our next goal is good with me. Just leave breadcrumbs...er...nope, not allowed...how about a cheese trail? It's going to take everything I've got to get through these first few days...having my last cup of coffee now... I'm in the right frame of mind...have a LOT of chocolate and candy left over from Halloween and I don't want any of it. I'm more concerned about the coffee and weird cravings I know I'm going to have. M told me that on her third day she sat on her kitchen floor crying because all she wanted was cookies, and she didn't normally eat cookies to begin with!

Arabella, I wished we lived close by, then we could skate together! I've been asking around and can't find anyone brave enough to join me on Saturday nights for the adult-only skating.

Okay, ladies...we're all warmed up and ready for the new challenge...let's go! I love fresh starts!