Thanks Melissa,
I made a big salad for supper with greens and tomato and feta and some diced up chicken. I usually don't eat chicken but it was so good and I think I haven't been eating enough protein and that's why I have food on the brain.
Laura

I shared a hamburger with the girls (no mayo). I don't think I have ever eaten half a hamburger in my life but you know what? It was enough. Not to mention that eating a whole one is like 9 points and I am not willing to spend them that way. Protein is a biggy. I can always tell if I am low-it seems like I am just starving to death when I know I am not. It was a good idea to give yourself that boost. Years ago I went on the Prism diet but it was just too restrictive for me but the workbooks are excellent so I dug them out and started doing one lesson per day. It amazes me the things I can get done in a day when I am not eating all the time or recovering from eating all the time. I also noticed my son is asking me for more fruit for snacking on. He had the neighbor over today and I swear, I couldn't believe the amount of fruit they ate. They converted one of the rooms in the garage into a boys club. It was great-they were busy all day. Of course now I have wood shavings all over my patio from them making bows and arrows but it was great to see them playing something and not in front of the tv or playstation.
Melissa

Hi all!
Would love to join your challenge! My how you've grown! I've skimmed through, and you are so supportive. I hope I will get a chance to know you all and support you as well!
It's so true, speaking of the light bulb moments, remembering to treat ourselves with care and kindness. How often we forget!
I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!

Hi Jen! :wave: Welcome to the group! We are just getting started on our September goals, so it's not too late to join in. We have all decided that we are going to lose at least 4 pounds and get 10 hours of exercise this month. I've got a lot of catching up to do this week because I fell short last week, so we'll pretty much be starting off together! :)

Hey Jen welcome to the group! The more the merrier I always say. Suzy already clued you into the September challenge. We also have a weekly email Wednesday to chart I losses/gains from the week so if you would like to be included in that also, please PM me with your email address and I will get you listed. Did great today although not much excersize really-felt like kind of a lazy day today and it is kind of the last day for us since school starts on Wednesday and tomorrow is a med check for Josh and then we have to go meet his new teacher too. Her name is Melissa so she can't be all bad right? Keep it going ladies! We are going to surpass our goals
Melissa

oooooo :faint: I would say never again But it could be a lie.. I knew going to the inlaws hungry was a mistake - I ate too much & I ate "bad " foods- didn't plan - just ate what was put on my plate. Like potato salad and coleslaw and cake.. I shouldn't have eaten the cake (chocolate w/ homemade buttercream icing).. pure sugar and now i am paying for it- my sugar is way too high when i checked it a while ago and I am miserable cranky and bloated and feel icky now.. why did I do this??? I am so PO'd at myself... I just want to sit in a corner and sulk and pout..
I was going to give up and was thinking I blew it -But my hubby said hey you have a group goal and you are part of this group, not only are you letting yourself down you are letting them down.. So I figured if I posted how not real smart I was, I can get over it and get some get back on tracks and don't give ups and support.. otherwise I think I would have just given up. thanks in advance :thanks:

Melissa, My daughter's french teacher's name is Melissa and she's great!
Hey Jen Welcome:wave:

well I am off to bed it's early but I am so blah - I will set my alarm 30 minutes early and ride the :ebike: and get back on track.Have a good night all

It's Monday night and I needed a sweet so I dipped the bottoms of 4 large strawberries in white sugar. 16 calories in a teaspoon of sugar. Fitday.com says 22 calories in 4 strawberries. 38 heavenlycalories. It was so sweet and wonderful and I STOPPED at 4. Were I not a summer starter, I would have eaten the whole quart, thankyou.
Laura

Sandisuze-As Scarlett O'Hara would say, tomorrow is another day. I think parents and inlaws cause eating. The minute I go into my mother's house, I open the fridge. I even eat stuff I don't like. I can't stay near her without food in my mouth, and we do get along real good. It was worse with my late MIL, cause she would always make cookies special for me and I would gobble them down like a starving creature. 2 weeks ago was the first time I didn't pigout when I was with my mom and that's because we met in a restaurant and I didn't go to her apartment. I'll never figure it out and it's ok.
Laura

Haven't read through all the posts yet, but I noticed some that I hadn't before, so Hello AllieNVegas, AliLewis and Jen! Glad you joined us!

I feel like I really let myself go this weekend, which sucks after what I thought was a really good start after Friday's workout. I'm going to be really busy through September and trying to meet my challenge goals will be harder than I thought. All my in-laws commented on how good I look, which was great, but everyone kept urging me to try different foods, which was hard. lol--that's family gatherings though, huh. I am 100% back on track now though and I will have to try to get in extra exercise this week to make up for myself.

Sandisuze-I'm in the food doghouse with you today :( I'll push you out, you push me!!! I canned some salsa this morning and ate A LOT while I was making it. That wasn't that bad but then I had some cookies that were calling me, then we had a large dinner. I ate a big salad first but then I ate a big serving of beans with little smokies and sauteed mushrooms and onions. I feel terrible and icky right now, too! I should get on the treadmill and walk it off but I don't think I can get out of this chair! :( Oh, the scale will tell on me Wednesday!!

Welcome Jen, this is a SUPER group! Just jump right in!!

Theresa-I'm so glad you didn't eat the junk food! My hubby would like to have a motorcycle too, but I am SO afraid of them! My dad has always rode Harleys(and my daughters name is Harley) but I am still afraid of them! I think I would eat and eat :ink: just so I would be too fat to have to ride on one!

Well all you lovely ladies-I must wrench my behind out of this chair and force it onto the treadmill!:tread: I hope you all have wonderful evenings and great Tuesdays!

Catcha all tomorrow!

Kathy

glad to see y'all are all ready to let go of past mistakes and get back on track. definitely an inspriation for me. i was thinking of the wrong part of gone with wind tonight when i had an extra taco that called out to me from the kitchen. that is, i recalled miss scarlett saying "as god is my witness, i shall never go hungry again!" ;) although i did fix my guacacream more low-cal by adding more onions and less avocado, with fat-free sour cream instead of regular. it was good, but of course, i love onions.
welcome to the group jen!
woohoo! i wore my size 10 skirt today that i bought at my lowest weight three years ago that didn't even fit back then (i always thought ahead while clothes shopping in those days.) as i lose, i acquire new clothes to wear without even having to spend money. awesome.

fancyfrog~I saw that you're sticking to your soda goal; great job!

cadwell~glad you now have a "new" skirt-congrats and i'm a little jealous!

melissa~that's great your son was being so crafty and active instead of watching video games! now where's he pointing those arrows? :)

theresa~on the motorcycle--this will sound silly, but if he's getting one, suggest he read a book called "A twist of the wrist"--I don't remember the author but you can google it, probably. My husband has a KZ1000 and it's a big fast bike and he credits that book with helping him be a much better rider. He says it should be required reading for any motorcyclist. I still worry when he goes out on it, but I've also seen him ride and he really knows how to anticipate other drivers and handle weather stuff. He was a pretty good driver before, but he said that book showed him some tricks to understand the bike better--not tricks like you see some of those morons pulling on the highway, but handling and stuff. And I had to chuckle at your mention of the biker babe stuff--if my dh had his way I'd be wearing leather and fringe. I. Think. Not. :)

I'm worried about weigh in tomorrow. I think I have a lot of water gain and I had no exercise for 3 days, despite my promise to myself to work on abs and back. I'm going to workout today and try to get in an hour's worth of work. I made wrong choices on food this weekend, some out of opportunity and some just for convenience...I was in the studio all weekend and would just pick through picnic leftovers occassionally. I never counted calories, but I'd bet I went up to 2000 on Sunday, at least. I did better on calories the other days. I made up a big salad though and plan on just grazing for the next 2 days at least to make up for it.

This is so very true Melissa, thanks for sharing it. I realize I eat things that i would never give to my children. I actually used to hide from them so that I could stuff down the bad stuff and they wouldn't ask for any....because i didn't want them to have that bad stuff! I think this is why late night eating became such a habit for me...they couldn't see me and I felt I wasn't passing it down to them. So, if I wouldn't give this stuff to my children, why am I so willing on giving it to myself? Obviously I value myself a lot less than I value my babies. That is really sad because they will never have all of me until I am happy and healthy. And they deserve a happy healthy mama, not one tired and cranky because she was up binging all night.

I will think about this next time I want to stuff a few quick cookies before they come into a room.

Theresa

Welcome to the group, Jen! It can be hard to keep up at times, but just do your best and you'll get a lot out of this group.

Thanks for that book Melra, I will try to get a copy. Steve is an OTR truck driver, has been driving since he was 18 so he is a really good driver. He also owned 2 motorcycles before we married so he knows how to ride them. I'm not so much worried that he will do something stupid, just that accidents can happen even with the most experienced, safe riders. Especially because a lot of people in cars aren't so safe around motorcycles. Just another thing to worry about.

Cadwell, congrats on the skirt!

Sandisuze, you can't give up over one piece of cake---are ya nuts girl? That's nothing compared to slip ups I've worked through, just get right back on track. Give yourself an extra workout, get the water flowing a bit more, and it will work itself out. Don't give up!!!!! Just come to us for a kick in the rear!!! Same to you Kathy, no giving up ladies.

Laura, those strawberries sound so yummy!

Okay, I did my AM workout after dropping Allie at school and it really got me good. I did the AM Yoga (30 min.) and then the belly pilates workout (10 min) and then the Kathy Smith lift weight/lose weight upper body workout (20 min). It didnt' get done in an hour since I had to change diapers and fill sippy cups between them, but I did get it done. The weights are not my favorite thing to do, but I got through it, yay! Still love the yoga...and love pilates though not so much the belly one. Tonight I will watch Big Brother and get 4 miles in on the gazelle and be set for exercise.

I'm feeling more on track now and over the emotion thing, even though hubby has picked out which motorcycle he wants...or, he thinks he's decided lol that might change. There are a couple he likes, and he's been researching them and trying to decide.

Theresa

The Labor Day weekend is behind us all so we can now focus on our goals. The next big deal is Thanksgiving and that's far away. Sorry, I forgot about those with little ones who have to deal with Halloween, which was always a true horror for me cause of all those tiny wrapped up things that add up to a zillion calories. But let'sjust deal with September now, the loveliest month of the year.
I am trying very hard to not incorporate my grownup kids issues into my life. What always happens is that one of them tells me a problem. I feel terrible and am in despair worrying about how the problem will be solved, what are the consequences etc. I feel paralyzed and unable to function in a good way, including eating. Then several days later I discover that they have taken care and all is well and my life feels like it returns to me. Crazy huh? i have been in this pattern for a long time and it's hard to break, but I am trying. Oh for the days when they were little and their problems were contained in the house and not jobs and girlfriends and wives and children and other outside influences.
Laura

Thanks all!!! I was feeling sorry for myself because I ate so really bad yesterday.. But got up and EXERCISED today and I am back on track with water and food.

My oldest daughter had a melt down this morning while I was taking her to work so she ended up having to call her self in and I brought her with me to my job- she was able to finally calm down - she has found a place to move into that is a good place with good people so I don't have to worry about her being on the streets. Do we ever stop worrying about our kids?? Laura, I just read your post and I understand- I look at my younger kids and think please stay little - don't grow up too fast. I keep trying to let my oldest go but then she runs to us when things go bad and we of course help and are there for her, so we get involved again. I will be glad once she is out of where she's at now and away from not so good situations.

OHH Halloween- we solved the halloween issues a couple years ago- the kids go to local stores that they can trick or treat at and there is NO CANDY given out- they get apples , cookies and popcorn, balloons etc. 3 grocery stores in our area do this on halloween and it's great- they go to different departments deli, bakery, produce and they hold out the pumpkin and they get goodies.they get tons of stuff.. for me I will buy the mini bags of goldfish and teddy grahams and popcorn to give out - that way if we don't have a lot kids come by I won't eat the leftover :mad: candy like last year.. sometimes we get lots of kids and last year we had maybe 10-12?? We always have the same meal every halloween for dinner: pigs in a blanket,tater tots and dirt cups- and orange soda.. it started years ago and is a very weird tradition we have ,but a fun one.
Thank you all for fussing at me :lol: ! it 's great to have this support!

OH MY GOODNESS I have just gotten a emergency weather alert.. we have JUST now been put under a tropical storm warning- They expect 15 inches of rain over the next few days and I guess Ophelia is going to turn into a hurricane and she's right off our coast.I am gonna watch the alerts and then I am off to get bread and peanut butter and see what else I can do before the winds start up.. we never know what is going to happen, she could fizzle out but I'd rather be safe than sorry-chat with ya'll later

Hugs to you Sandi! How much more can mother nature dish out??? Please prepare the best you can and stay safe!

Sandisuze...where are you at again? Hubby is in Florida today, so I'm hoping this isn't going to hit him? Guess I need to turn on the TV before I start worrying. Get yourself set, and I hope it loses it's steam before it gets to you.

I don't know what I am doing for Halloween yet. This will be the first year I don't want to eat the candy, so I have to come up with a plan. I don't get any kids at our home since we live on a busy country road (guess that's why) so we usually take the kids up into the mountains to a resort we have a membership at. It's a huge mountain and all these people who travel in RV's and visit there give out candy. Then they have a big costume contest and my daughter won 1st prize in the infant category her first year...she got a little ribbon. Last year we didn't want to drive all the way up there, so we went to a local church then up just one street and back to our car. They didn't get a lot, but they were so tiny they couldn't even eat what they did get. I split it all up with MIL and ate the rest myself :( I don't wanna do that this year. If we go to the mountains it's safer because it's a closed community, you have to have a membership to get in, but then they get a TON of stuff...3 bags full the first year and Allie was only 1, yikes. I might have to skip that this year and check for something else around here.

Theresa

I took the kids to the mall last year for Halloween. They ate McDonald's first of course but it is just so stinking crowded I don't want to do that this year. I live in a very residential area and now that I have the double stroller and the girls are a bit older, may just go around the block with them-it would be plenty of houses. Used to be that josh would dress up and answer the door and give out candy but he finally figured out that he could go outside at night and get candy so there is no turning back now. As long as I don't see the candy, I am usually ok with it so if we keep the trip short and there isn't much there, then it should all be ok. The scale went down finally for me this morning-I got on it again just make sure I was reading it correctly-lol.

Sandi keep us posted if you are able to-this weather is just nuts this year and reaking havoc! My son in law is on his way to Louisiana right now with a truckload of water. He was going to come home today but went with the load instead. I am so proud of all he has accomplished for himself. He is a good kid.
Melissa

:grouphug: Thanks for all the warm welcomes! :grouphug:

well this storm popped up outa nowhere and we are waiting for the 5:00 update to see what is new. I grabbed stuff at the grocery store ( what a mad house- and I am cooking a chicken and a ham now- great for sandwiches or wraps in a power outage. They are saying that the storm will bring us possible 70 MPH winds for 2 days and up to 12 inches of rain if it stays where it is. and right now it isn't moving which is bad- gives her time to build up strength. I have tons of ice , water and food ,a safe place to evacuate to if we need to leave our house- too many trees around our place and the end of the street floods too if we get that much rain so we will be fine.It just scared me to see it pop up out of nothing. I stay on pins and needles during hurricane season.People laugh at me because I prepare but last year I was the only one on the block with flashlights and food.
Theresa I am about 20 minutes south of Dayona Beach on the east coast like 5 miles from the beach area (after 2 bridges and a roundabout way LOL) it's really raining and windy now and I am getting all my laundry done just in case.
if ya'll don't hear form me I am without power but I'll check in as soon as I can.

Sandisuze, I'm a planner too. Better safe than sorry. I hope all will go well for you. Too many storms this summer down there.

I'm exhausted today, but I know I have to exercise. I know that is what I need to do, and after I do it I will feel so much better.
OK! You all heard me. Here I go...

Thanks for welcoming me into your group. I need you!

Well Ladies Welcome and Congrats
My puter crashed so havnt been able to get on, puter should be fixed tommorow so I will fill you all in tommorow on what I have been or have not been doing. ;)

Hi all -
Went away for the weekend - so I had 6 pages to catch up on!!
Welcome to the new members of the group!!
SuzyMc - I'll keep your son in my prayers - he'll be home before you know it!
Sandisuze - Good Luck with the storm - geez what is the deal with Mother Nature these days!
Laura B - Where are you from? The Northeast?
I had a rough weekend too - BBQ's everyday at our camp - UGH!!! Glad the Fall is coming and we shouldn't be entertaining as much.
I did get in a walk with my hubby and dog and cleaned the place one day - so I think I can add some exercise to the ticker for that - We also started back walking at school today - and the feet are feeling great! I guess expensive orthodics and sneakers are worth it - :D
Godd Luck to all on weigh in tomorrow! I know I certainly need it!

Stilltrying
I'm about 90 miles north of NYC, in the Hudson Valley, in a tiny little town called Town of Clinton. The weather here now is crystal clear and there is only the slightest bit of color. My brother is in Cambridge MA. Where are you?
I stayed OP today, but I'm not sure if I will WI tomorrow. First I need to try on a pair of pants that were tight, and if they feel better I will WI. I just can't face disappointment when I have been OP almost all the time, and my transgressions were just a few calories at most.
Laura

Tomorrow is WI and I am going to have a gain. I can only cross fingers for staying the same again :( I overcame binging one night, but I just feel fatter...and TOM is over so that isn't it. I haven't been counting out calories, just kind of guessing and that is NOT working for me! Back on the ball of actually writing it down come tomorrow. I'm just not ready to go without the little paper to keep me accountable I guess.

I haven't done my gazelle tonight because the kids were extremely fussy and not wanting to sleep tonight and I was about to pull all the hair out of my head piece by piece dealing with them both :^: Now I just feel drained and just want to go to bed, but I will stick with my goal of 2 workouts a day and just get on and do 1 mile. Only 14 minutes, it won't kill me...came here first to declare to everyone that I'm going to do it, then I have to :lol:

Night everyone, catch ya on the scales tomorrow.

Sandi **hugs** stay safe and dry.

Theresa

Theresa-Fitday is really good for counting calories. If you want to plan ahead, you can put everything in in the morning. Then if you have calories left over, you can plan a treat for the evening. It helps you to know where you are as the day goes by.
Another way is to go from supper to supper, and go easy on breakfast and lunch to bring your numbers in line. I am so good a deceiving myself, that I find that fit day keeps me honest. I can't forget that little snack of 20 sugar coated peanuts, or a spoonful of peanut butter when I am making the boy's sandwiches, and I have to account for it someway.
Laura

Newbie
 

Hello Everyone,
I am new to this as of today, my name is Michelle and I am a 29 yo mother of 2 who is married and work a full time 2nd shift job. I am looking for some motivation to take off the weight. I have been about 20 lbs overweight for a couple years, since the birth of my child. The latest thing I have tackled however is that I quit smoking 4 weeks and 2 days ago. It has made the weight loss very hard. I need some online buddies to keep me motivated. I currently go to the gym twice a week (most weeks), and I have recently started riding my bike to work 2-3 times a week. The problem......can't quit eating the horrible food, and dont push myself hard enough at the gym. I'm looking forward to someone to talk with.

Hi Michelle and welcome! Congrats on the quitting smoking-that is something I still need to do. We are a very active group and very supportive. I truly don't know how I would get along without these gals! We also have a weekly email that I send out so if you would like to be included in that also, please PM me with your email address and I will include you next week as I have already sent it out for this week. We are here and from all time zones, so you should get a response quickly regardless of the time. Looking forward to getting to know you.
Melissa

I'm going to log back on later to catch up with you ladies, but I just wanted to let you know I am over an hour into September's exercise goal (30 min. Mon., 35 min. this morning). Hopefully, I'll be able to at least double or triple that by the weekend.

I am still struggling with bad food choices, but hopefully once I have the exercising under my belt, things will get easier in that area too.

Gotta grab a shower for now. I'll be back later to read some of the recent posts.

First of all, great big hellos to all the new posters on this thread! I gotta say again that I am so thankful for this group--even when I'm not posting I can just pop on and read something and it helps me to stay focused. Yay us!

melissa~you might just take me off the e-mail list-I've only been checking it like once a week and you wouldn't believe how many I have piled up in there now. I think it's just easier and more fun for me to jump on the thread. I hope I'm not missing too much with the e-mails!

WI today...down 1 pound so I'm happy, but I also don't trust that scale. I moved my ticker anyway and I'll doublecheck it later in the week--hopefully to confirm the loss!

I had a great workout last night and I was really proud of myself especially after the weekend sloth I had become. I really pushed myself on cardio and I also did strength training--my minutes are added on my signature.

Can't wait to see how everyone else is doing! :lol:

Good morning everyone and welcome Michelle!

Yesterday was my youngest son's 20th birthday. He's in California getting ready to deploy to Iraq and hubby had a business meeting last night, so I was home alone and feeling pretty sorry for myself. I had to go to the office and pick up a file and before I knew what had happened I was in McDonnald's drive thru ordering a M&M Flurry. :^: (Icecream is like frozen Prozac, ya know? :lol: ) Anyway, I could hear Scarlett saying "Fiddledeedee, I'll think about it tomorrow...because, after all, tomorrow is another day." ;) Well today is here and I'm proud to say that I jumped out of bed and put on my walking shoes and walked for a whole hour! I feel better and ice cream is no longer on the menu! :lol:

Goood job brushing off and getting out for a walk Suzy. Got your mind back in the game, all you can do.

Welcome to the group, Michelle. You'll find lots of encouragement and support here. You can say absolutely anything on your mind, this is a great group to vent or scream out in excitement, whatever is in your head.

I didn't WI this morning :^: I didn't want to know how much I gained, then I was late getting Allie to preschool and forgot about the scale and ate breakfast and drank a bunch of water, and by then it wouldn't be fair to weigh. I will just wait and do it next week. A gain would put my head in the wrong place anyway, so it's probably best.

I am totally back on track, gals. I feel like my brain has magically been plugged into my body and I am focused again. I just felt "blah" the last week.

I am having pain in my lower back on the left side and don't know if I twisted something or if something else is wrong. I am kinda taking it light today, but am about to go do my yoga. That is gentle so should be okay. The rest of my AM workout is WATP 2 mile dvd, but I'll see how the pain is when I do the yoga. I was fine last night, woke up in pain :( I hope it gets better soon because I get cranky without exercise. I'm going to add up my minutes so far and put it in my signature.

Theresa

Gotcha off the emails Melra and congrats on the pound lost!

Suzy-good for you-get back on that wagon and go go go!

Jeanne good job excersizing-the food choices will come-determine to do it!

I was thrilled to move that ticker down! Exactly 100 more pounds to go LOL. Today is Joshua's first day of school. I took him to meet his teacher last night and he even hugged her when we were leaving-which is a huge biggie. She actually wrote down things I told her. His lunch is really late, like 1240 or something and this child eats at 11 come **** or high water. So she said they would have their snack at 11 to help fit into his schedule. I was very impressed with her. I think he is going to do really well here and that makes me happy.

I am off to make pancakes for my little man's first day of school and look forward to reading your emails.
melissa

hello from the wind and rain capital of the world. :lol:

Melissa- i am so glad that your son has a great teacher. a good teacher can mean a lifetime of good experiences in their students. it makes them want to learn. Congrats on moving the ticker down- that is awesome!

Suzy- i think you did good by exercising and Not ordering 3 mcflurries! or fries and a mcflurry! with all of the GWTW references I think I will dig out my copies and either read the book or watch the movie depending on power - we have power at work but my house is dark for now- should be on in a hour or so. GWTW is one of my all time fav movies.

Welcome Michelle :wave: I couldn't be where I am today with out these wonderful ladies!

Jeane YAY! you exercised :dance: and I agree food choices will come -1 day at a time.

Theresa- I had the worst pain in my lower back on the R side for days and thought I had pulled something But I went to the dr's for my monthly check up ( yes I have to go monthly for my liver check) and he said to test me for a UTI and I said But it doesn't hurt to go and he said well maybe it will soon and sure enough I had a raging UTI and I feel great now.

Hi to everyone I missed!

I am not weighing in today either. I am so stressed over this stupid storm-it's just kinda sitting there getting stronger right off the coast where I am and ARRGH I mean is it going to turn and Hit us or what kinda rain are we gonna have? things can I work tomorrow??-do the kids go to school?? :dizzy: I know it's little compared to N.O. or Miss. But I hate not knowing what this storm is gonna do. Storm surge is around 4-6 feet now and it's gonna get worse. I am glad I do not live on the beach.
I had 2 hot dogs for breakfast- Healthy choice ones but still :p - and a banana- I am drinking lots of water , stressed and I just want this to be done and over.
Thanks for all the hugs and best wishes-I'll keep checking in as I am able to.

good luck with the storm, sandisuze--hope you stay safe and sane!
theresa~The minutes you've already logged exercising is inspiring! I know you don't want to get on the scale, but is it possible you've lost inches and can measure? (I don't remember your last posting for measuring, so it may be too soon?). In any case, hang in there because if we all stay focused that ticker will move!
melissa~so glad your son's got a quality teacher. I'm so happy for you on your loss! :woo:
suzymc~I'm always most vulnerable for cheating when I'm alone--there are dozens of drive-thru temptations within a few blocks of our neighborhood too. Shake it off and get back on track! :drill:
michelle~I love that you have already quit smoking and are riding your bike to work! I wish I could, but I wouldn't be presentable after all the sweating and panting! If you want to push yourself a little, have you added any weights or anything to your gym workouts? :wl: This is the 3rd week I've been doing regular routined strength stuff and I have already noticed a difference in muscle definition, endurance and inches.

I tend to agree with jjeane that exercising seems to make it easier to avoid bad choices on food. I work really hard to burn a couple hundred calories, so why do I want to make it harder by snacking? If I'm having a really hard time, I think about how many minutes I have to workout to get rid of that donut or whatever, and it helps. It also helps to just never buy the stupid things in the first place! I still haven't pinpointed what it is that makes me cheat or makes me want to cheat, but I'm working on making those moments fewer and further between.

Sorry I don't have enough time right now to respond to everyone! Won't it be rad at the end of the month to see our collective weight loss?! :cool:

Sandi ~ Gone With The Wind is tied with The Wizard of Oz for my all time favorite movies...I'd be hard pressed to choose between the two!
I just saw the weather and Ophelia is starting to sound like it could be a very nasty storm. Stay safe!

Melissa ~ Sounds like Joshua is off to a great start...I hope he has a great first day of school! Congratulations on that one big pound lost! You're getting there...keep it up!

Theresa ~ Glad to hear that you're back on track and feeling better...hopefully your back will start feeling better and you will be 100% soon!

I've pretty much figured out that exercising in the morning is the way to go for me. I seem to have a lot more energy and I know get more accomplished on the days that I get right up and go for a walk first thing.

Melra, I was surprised when I added up my minutes as well. I have a personal goal of getting through milestone 5 of my virtual walk, so need to go a bit over 100 miles this month. So far I have done 19, and it hasn't even been a week! I am happy with the exercise, but still the weight is coming off so SLOW. I only lost 3 lbs. last month and I walked exactly 100 miles :( Shows how horrible my eating must have been.

I am noticing a trend where I stay the same the first 2 weeks of the month, then lose the last 2. Don't understand it, but something hormonal must be going on...and that is when I have TOM, first week usually. As for measuring, I am doing that the first of each month. For august, I lost 2 inches on the waist, 1 on chest, and 1/2 inch on thighs and hips. So, not bad I guess for only a 3 lb loss?

Melissa keep us posted on your little man. I hope he does well and that school is a great experience for him...and for you!

Sandi, ummmm I don't want a UTI :lol: I hope that's not what I have. I think I just slept wrong because Tyler woke up at 4 and when I got him in bed with me he was laying crooked so I just laid crooked too...what hurts now is the side that was down and twisted just a bit. I'm an idiot and didn't put it all together until hubby said "maybe ya slept wrong?"

I'm doing good so far and feeling good. I haven't exercised because even the yoga hurt a little :( I'm going to try to do the gazelle tonight and excuse myself from the second workout...don't want to make anything worse. If it doesn't ease up I'll have to call the doctor. I am known as the one who never goes to the doc unless absolutely necessary. I have been in NC almost 5 years and have seen my "new" doctor only 3 times! Twice to confirm pregnancy and get referral to the OB/GYN and once for an ear infection.

Theresa

theresa~just curious, are you doing anything with weights? you could add a couple of sets of low weight -like 3-5 pounds--for biceps / triceps and work on some muscle tone to boost up your metabolism.

Sorry you guys--I feel like I'm just saying the same thing over and over, but I'm really trying to control myself from totally dorking out over how excited I am! I started this "exercise boot camp" thing 3 weeks ago that mixes 5 days of cardio with varying intensities with 2-3days of weights/strength training. I gotta say, that adding those weights in there has made an incredible difference in the way I feel. I'm using light weight, but I increase the repetitions or number of sets. I can't see my muscles (yet!) but I sure can feel them and I've only had one day when I thought I overdid it and was sore. I had been doing 2 days a week, but now I'm moving up to 3 days of strength training--it's a 10 week "bootcamp" to kind of get my engine revving and then it tapers off into a maintenance thing.
Okay, I'll shut up now about the weights... :p