Holy mole', it's been the busiest week for me - last minute gigs, long planned gigs, auditions, high holy day rehearsals, singing the national anthem at a karate tournament, a new church singing gig - and to top it all off, I started a new temp job on monday. I'm thrilled to be busy, but the idea of sitting down at the computer on some of these days was just too much.

BUT - I have been successful with a new challenge - no chocolate. I have complete 2 days. Now, the thing about me and chocolate - I used to be a total fiend about it. But since I have changed my eating habits completely, I end up not eating much of it, and I don't even realize it or miss it. Part way through my last challenge, I realized I hadn't had chocolate for 6 days. However, when I get a craving for it, I would almost kill for it. So this challenge may be easy for most of the time, but then the couple days the yearn will hit, that will be tough. Especially because this temp job has free food in the kitchen, most church gigs offer cookies at coffee hour, the temple rehearsals have cookies during the break. If anyone ever wonders why opera singers are fat, this is the reason!!

Best wishes for everyone today!

Day 5 done and gone.

Food pretty good. Well within range
Exercise - 40+ mins in the gym on weights and resistance.
Water - could have been better but hey it was better than this time last week.

Red, so sorry you have had a rotten day. Thank heavens for the wallet being safely watched over by the cricket. Bless the critturs (well some of them anyway)

It's late, I too have a 4.ooam start. Last day of gym for the week tomorrow - yeah, yeah, yeah - Thursday and Friday, I can rest from my great labours.

Ok, I'll try to catch up now. If I wait till tomorrow there may just be too much. Also...there's so much interesting stuff going on!

Sweet -- Congratulations on getting through Day 3! You really hit that eliiptical, don't you? Keep it going!

mez -- I liked the Bubba quote. So sweet. Glad you were able to get a cheap elliptical. I hear you on the getting bored with the workout. Heh, stay away from those fries! Think trans-fat. Gross stuff! carla, stop with the food porn!! mez, I like you talking to yourself in the mirror. That's the girl. I want you past this block with the 200 mark. Just BREAK ON THROUGH! Go listen to the Doors song of the same name, which is, by the way, on the Forest Gump soundtrack! I can send you the file if you have itunes.

....We chased our pleasures here
Dug our treasures there
But can you still recall
The time we cried
Break on through to the other side....

....Made the scene
Week to week
Day to day
Hour to hour
The gate is straight
Deep and wide
Break on through to the other side...

vanessa -- Allright! Back up and kicking A! Good for you! And adding water and a food journal. You rock!

curly -- hmmm...seems carla has us pegged, eh? Well, the idiot men have been many...but I'm still hooked...

Good going on the challenge! Day 15 notched! Yowzah!

carla -- Glad to hear you were able to stay focused on your challenge despite all that. Wow! Poor you. And I for one certainly don't mind the blow by blow of the dull day...it makes me feel not so alone! And...I'm just going to ignore those fries...

As for the idiot men, yes, I said to curly, there have been more than what should rightly be considered my share. I have a way for finding 'em...must be something, probably the idiot part, that speaks to me!

marble -- Okay, any friend of carla's is a friend of mine...I think...cell phones separated at birth?!?! sorry, don't have that here...and I thought Japanese commercials were weird...but whatever...I understand... Anyhow, welcome aboard! Heh, I know Maine coons but is the Akita a dog or a cat? I know the dog breed from here. Waiting for the pics!

Apple -- uh-oh, more food porn..I think...actually I have no idea what Mojitos are but they sound yummy! Heh, I hear you on the comparing yourself to others. You really got to stop that...I know it's hard but try to think of all the things you are doing and experiencing with the kids....could you get a sitter in long enough to run?..maybe a freebie...artistic urges..hmmm.. maybe just a bit...try to think of just doing a wee little bit of something you love, it can really help. The house-cleaning part I think you can just forget about. There's really NO need to bother with that. I certainly don't...right, carla?!

Oh, and Zack is beautiful! Sorry to hear about Peter. One of mine died this spring. I love what your daughter says about him...so sweet, so touching

Fish -- Yo! Great going on the pushups. Love your dog!! They are so pretty. Is the smaller one still a pup?

friends -- Yes, Gage is a cutie. It's hard to see but he kind of looks like mez's grandson, that cute little bean under her name. I wasn't sure if that was your baby picture or not...well, as it turns out it isn't but it IS!

Chaps -- Good to see you! I was wondering where you were. Wow, singing the national anthem. Now that must be tough! Glad to hear you're busy. I know it's hectic but....better than twiddling your thumbs wondering where all the work has gone...like I've been doing...Chocolate sounds like a toughie. I am like you. Don't usually eat it but when I want it I want it, if I'm eating any sugar at all. Staying off sugar totally and I can do it....Going moderate is a killer for me. Good luck!

Shad -- Just caught your post! Thanks for the sweet words. Actually, because the wallet was found the day turned out great! I was whooping with joy and relief! But, yeah, it looked bad there for a while. The cricket pulled through for me...the Japanese say that when you save someone's life, including an animal's they are indebted to you for ever...now, that little cricket was weird, I mean, I've never seen a cricket in a convenience store before...but..heh, I rescue worms drying in the sun on the sidewalk and turn over cicadas struggling helplessly on their backs.... if you're a critter in need..Red is here!!!

Yep! That's day seven and I'm finding myself thinking more and more about this challenge which means I think more and more about my program whoooo-hoooo!!

Mez & Red-Thank you for the compliments on Gage. When I have more time I will post a better pic that isn't so far away.

I did ok on SBD yesterday for my first day. I didn't eat anything prohibited, but I think I ate more than i should have of the allowed foods. I was really craving sugar badly. To make things worse TOM visited my first day of dieting too. I was cranky to say the least. LOL!

Have a fun day,
Lisa

Sweetloml - 1 hour on the Elliptical !!! I so looking forward til I can do that!! Do you go 1 hour straight? I'm ony up to 20 minute but that is an all day thing of hopping on/off. I'm sure feeling the burn form it!

curlylocks - LOVE your Bama nickname very cute how it came to be!

redballoon - I'm so happy you found your wallet! That cricket was very lucky you seen him/her! Just think he/she will be able to tell his grandkids how he was saved by a very sweet human! That is the story I tell my kids when they wanted to squash bugs with friends. I told them they had families also. Made them think! I also think it teaches children compassion. They did see me swat a mosquito of course they asked. So we went into the illness thing. Geez kids sure can keep a person on their toes.

Good deeds don't get overlooked just at times it take awhile for it to catch up with you. Just think if EVERYONE tried to do a good deed whenever possible how wonderful this earth would be. Keep up the good deeds your making this a better place for all man, beast and insects!!

I have the song you mentioned! That was so sweet even brought tears to my eyes! I'll listen to it and I'll beat whatever head game my mind is playing! Thanks so so much!!!

Chaps - I bet your having a time sitting at the computer with all that is on your plate right now! I'm happy to hear work is going well and your chocolate craving are going as well!

Shad - Congrats on day five.

friendsforfitness - These challenges do make you think about what you want to achieve each day! I love them! Aww that stinks TOM and the cravings. I know you can do it! There are lots of SBD P1 ( or whatever Phase your doing) On 3fc's some tastes so good you'd think your cheating!

Hooray for me! I did another six push-ups this morning. Y'all know I am only doing them for the kind words I get from this forum

Redballoon - the smaller dog is still a puppy (8 months old on saturday) but she will never get as big as the male older dog.

You all are doing so great on your challenges! maybe by the next challenge I will be ready to try something tough like giving up chocolate! It's funny, i love chocolate, but i don't eat it every day, but if i were to say - i won't eat choc. for 21 days, i would be craving it every second!

Wow, lots of *action* on this thread, that Carla really knows how to pick an exciting bunch!!! Thanks so much for the warm welcome and support....I feel better already and am ready to jump back in before I do damage.

Oh Carla, I'm sorry for the "bad karma" day....yes, those cats just LIVE TO EAT...I have spoiled mine with freshly shaved purdue turkey breast....they are now ADDICTS

OK I did Day ONE of my first 21 Day Red Balloon Challenge!!!! RB, you are also on my kitchen calendar where I keep track...I did 5 mins. of urban rebounding and 5 mins. of weight work, step-ups w/ 8 lb. dumbbells on my waist,(a la FIRM style) 2 sets. lat. pulldowns and Billy Blanks punches with 5 lb. wts. to firm that bra-overhang spot. The time went by very quickly, so it wasn't a big deal. I am actually looking forward to some small accomplishments like finishing a challenge!

(I also vaccuumed the rugs and walked my 92 lb. Akita. Yes, he's a Japanese long-haired dog, but he's not overly aggresive, he gets along with the cats)...The cats are HUGE, Slim weighs in at 22 lbs and seems to be the size of an untrimmed filet of beef....Wylie-Coyote is 16 lbs. looks very *thin* because he's so long. They both have 17 inch tails and my house can be called "The house of Hair"!!!

BBL...work calls me...

Hi to everyone else, as I acclimate, I'll answer you personally, feel free to tell me if I forgot something important.

FishWoman - You are SO right. As soon as I tell myself I can't have chocolate, I think about it more than ever. I think I was this way in high school with reading. I would read any and everything, but as soon as I was assigned to read for class, I couldn't pick the book up. Perhaps this is a behavior I can address.

Redballoon - Love the Doors quote! Now I can have that in my head for a while as I crunch numbers on spread sheets!

visions of chocolate and french fries are dancing in my head..........

Marbleflys - what is "urban rebounding"?

Hi fish:

It is a mini-trampolene with heavy-duty springs and mine has a stablizer bar (because I'm a clutz and could fall off). I can do high-energy aerobic work and get my HR up to the *sweaty-zone* without pain in my knees or back at my advanced age of 48. I mix it with wt. sets like interval training.

Day 18 done - no beer I STILL haven't inspired myself to start up with the stepping video/situps. I have to!!!! Exercise is SOOO important if I plan on losing weight. OK, tonight, I will do it!!!

Hey Carla, I've had my gazelle a few months now but only really started using it everyday when i started mt last 21 day challenge. I love it, its really easy to do and its fun. I put mine in front of the t.v and do it while im watching a show i like.Yes it is possible to for it to fold up and slide under a bed, usually i just fold mine and stand it up against the wall lol.

Yea, yea, yea, yea - the hard gym exercise is over until Saturday morning when it all starts again.

Today I worked out on the stationary bike 5 mins, the elliptical cross country 15 mins, the stepper 15 mins as well. By that time the legs were gone and the brain in autopilot. So here I am bright and early back in the office. My one treat for the week was a bacon and egg muffin, no sauce, no salt no oil - hold everything else. The egg was just right not exactly runny but soft. Yummy. Now its coffee time and into the work on my desk. Day 6 has begun

Day 2 done!!, exercised 35 mins today, stayed within my points, drank lots of water, and wrote down everything in my food journal. Keep up the great work everyone!!