Hello all!

Its almost Wednesday and I am glad - The 3 day holiday weekend snuck up on me -- What a nice suprise!! and even better- so far, no plans!!

I have a little mediation here. It is designed to calm you.

Here's a tranquil scene that is sure to calm you.

Imagine yourself at the edge of a beautiful lake. You can hear birds singing. You can feel a soft breeze on your face. Its just wonderful to be here at the edge of the water, as you are holding your annoying (fill in the blank please ) 's head under the water!!!



Meant to be funny - please don't be upset if you don't think its funny--


I'll check in later !!

UMMMMMM.............
UMMMMMM.............
UMMMMMM.............
UMMMMMM.............

It's working Maybe that's just the image I needed to help me stop thinking about all that stupid food, because who really needs food when I have such a lovely image of XXX head's held under water????? LOL

(Obviously I find it amusing, Kaylets)

I've been a VERY bad girl ever since school started & I'm actually up in weight (I just haven't wanted to post it - think I'll wait until next Monday to update). I'm trying to get back on track. I am reading the posts daily & drinking my water, just making some bad choices at lunchtime (2 hourse between practicum & classes) & after the kids are in bed at night :hypno2: BUT, I will get back on track & get this weight off. IT CAN BE DONE.

Good luck girls.

Hi Ladies
Well disappointment reins for me tonight not only did I not meet my 5# challenge I also did not reach my 60#'s tonight. I thought I would have at least met that one, however I did not gain I stayed the same. I think now that I've been off the medication for 10 days things should get better the last time they took me off I had a big loss and then the next week nothing, samething this time. So hopefully next week will be a big week so if it is ok I would like to change my date and so I won't be overly disappointed next week I would like to set the date as Sept 9. Now my daughter did lose .4 so she is 1 down.
I tried so hard this week I did my walking and I stayed on programe, oh well if I do the same again this week next week should be a good one. Well time to go walk the dog.

AMARANTHA, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 1, DOWN .5

ANAGRAM, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 11, DOWN 3.4

BABETTE, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 15

BYRD, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 16, DOWN 1

BOBSGAL, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 1, DOWN 2

DOLLAR, FIVE DOWN BY, SEPT. 9, DOWN 2.6

DAUGHTER, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 3, DOWN 1

DUSTCATCHER, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 13, DOWN 4

GTERA, FIVE DOWN BY AUG. 30, DOWN 3.2

GUINEVER, 2ND CHALLENGE, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 14

JUSDOIT, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 9, DOWN 2

KARENA, FIVE DOWN BY AUG. 26, DOWN 1

KAYLETS, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 9, DOWN 2.5

MARUSHA, FIVE DOWN BY AUG. 27

PUNKINSEED, FIVE-PNT-FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 9, DOWN 4

RYCHERBABE, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 2, DOWN ?

SARAHBELLA, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 23

SWEETMOM, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 1, DOWN 3

UPANDAWAY, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 11

WSW, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 18, DOWN 1

kaylets-- that was a funny "meditation." it made me laugh and that was just what the doctor ordered!

i always read such helpful posts from all of you and it really does make a positive difference. you are a great group!

take care, all.

wsw

Yes, Kaylets! That's just the soothing meditation I need!!! :sheep: Thanks for reposting.

An updated list is posted above. Just wanted to point out to all how, looking at this list, everyone is making progress (even me). If Amarantha may climbeth on a soapbox for a sec she'd like to say (to herself mostly) that it is not how long the journey takes or how many sidetracks there are on the road, it's that the journey continues. Weight loss/maintenance is a long, recursive process and we should be proud that we NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NO, NOT EVER!!! WHO'S BETTER THAN US?

NEWS O' THE DAY: Dollar MAINTAINED her weight this week and is continuing her dedication to her program. Daughter LOST .4 to make for a round 1 pound down on her challenge and that is one pound she won't see again!

Byrd, you are doing great!!! Update when it pleaseth you!!! Amarantha hath had a high calorie day but her 21-day challenge is to AVERAGE 1700-1799 calories per week so she's still got time to be cool, be there or be square. She hath something like 80 minutes of exercise in today and will do weights after the sun goes down!

Inspired by Kaylets, here's Amarantha's meditation: It is twilight in the forest. You are walking through the cool forest on a path strewn with fragrant pine needles. You reach a grotto deep in the woods. There is quiet pond in the center of the grotto. It is surrounded by gently glowing candles. A shadowy figure emerges from the forest. As she/he comes closer, you see it is a kindly attendant in soft light robes of blue handwoven cloth. She/he smiles gently and leads you to the pool in the center of the grotto and helps you settle in; you lie back in the soothing water with your hair billowing out softly on the surface. The attendant says something so softly you don't catch it. She/he has something in her/his hand and he/she holds it out to you. What is it?

Everyone is doing very well on this challenge. I'm down 3 pounds!!! I'm getting nervous that I won't make 5 pounds by Labor Day. I may have to amend my target date.

I know what it is Amarantha!!!!!

IT'S A LOAF OF SOURDOUGH!!!

can't tell where my mind is huh? Actually, my first thought was "it's an axe and he's gonna kill you!". Shadowy figures in the woods generally aren't friendly are they? Unless they have copious amounts of carbohydrates, I'm avoiding them!

Dollar - You just keep up the good work! It'll happen eventually, look at this week as practicing maintenance. Congrats to your daughter!

Rycherbabe - Congrats!!! You go right ahead and change your date if you need to - you're doing awsome!

I'm so thrilled with how this challenge is working! It's not the span of time we give ourselves that's important, but the fact that we've all got our eyes on a simple goal of 5 pounds regardless of how much we have to loose and we're making it!!!! Eventually, all those 5 pounds are gonna add up and we're going to have to start a maintenance thread!

Sending cyber hugs,

Terri

"It is morning, Senlin says ..." That's all I know of that poem but it always makes me happy to say it! Don't know the author! Amarantha hath had a heavy eating day yesterday and never got to weights either but feeleth she will still be in the running for her weekly averages re the 21-day challenge. She is going to order some new Leslie Sansone tapes, too, and use her numerous old ones and start adding Leslie back into the rotations, as she enjoyeth these tapes more than any other. Pole walking must be mixed up with other stuff, saith Elbertine Pep!!!

GOOD NEWS!!! RYCHERBABE HATH CHASED AWAY THREE POUNDS OUTTA THE KINGDOM!!! GREAT WORK, RYCHERBABE!!! DO NOT BE NERVOUS!!! DATES CAN BE EXTENDED AND EACH PESKY POUND GONE FROM HERE IS A POUND THAT'LL NOT TROUBLE US MORE!!! I'll update the list presently!!!

Punkin o' Friday!!! Ah, sourdough!!! Indeed, that revealth much about thy inner psyche. Ummm. Dunno if shadowy figures in woods are ALWAYS scary, though ... maybe Kaylets' open, sunshiny beach is a place of much more menace ...

Guru Kaylets: I've been thinking about your meditation in a different way today and I thank you so much for getting my mind into this place ... at first, it just seem timely to me as to what was going on in my life ... just a funny way at looking at things ... but thinking about how this month I am being Artemis the Huntress and stalking down the things that are bothering me, the beach scene becomes even more vivid ... I see that it is not aggravating PEOPLE that are bothering me, it is my own negative feelings and reactions whose heads I need to hold under the water on that sunny beach. That is why I say it is a scary beach, because it is scary to let go of negativity and failure, to choke off the air that it breathes and to let it float off to the Island of Fear and Failure that is far offshore where we can't see it. It is also hard to just let people and friendships go in peace when they no longer are helpful to us (or to the departing friend). I think all these things are related to our health and fitness and our ultimate success in the weight loss/maintenance journey!!!

Well, Amarantha must work out and then work to support her imperial lifestyle!!! Later. List followeth!!

AMARANTHA, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 1, DOWN .5

ANAGRAM, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 11, DOWN 3.4

BABETTE, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 15

BYRD, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 16, DOWN 1

BOBSGAL, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 1, DOWN 2

DOLLAR, FIVE DOWN BY, SEPT. 9, DOWN 2.6

DAUGHTER, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 3, DOWN 1

DUSTCATCHER, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 13, DOWN 4

GTERA, FIVE DOWN BY AUG. 30, DOWN 3.2

GUINEVER, 2ND CHALLENGE, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 14

JUSDOIT, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 9, DOWN 2

KARENA, FIVE DOWN BY AUG. 26, DOWN 1

KAYLETS, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 9, DOWN 2.5

MARUSHA, FIVE DOWN BY AUG. 27

PUNKINSEED, FIVE-PNT-FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 9, DOWN 4

RYCHERBABE, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 2, DOWN 3

SARAHBELLA, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 23

SWEETMOM, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 1, DOWN 3

UPANDAWAY, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 11

WSW, FIVE DOWN BY SEPT. 18, DOWN 1

Well, I have happily been reading all of your posts this morning and one of the many common threads among them is that no one is willing to give up, NO MATTER WHAT. We all acknowledge that it is the journey that's important. Thanks for all the great insight and inspiration this morning.

Kaylets, congrats on the 2 pounds you sent packing! And thank you for sharing your "bad relationship" story (to put it very simply). I'm sure most of us can relate to similar situations where self-esteem is sought after in all the wrong places.

Dollar, you have the perfect attitude for success re your maintain. Just stay the course and next week you will reap the benefits. Glad to have you aboard the 9/9 goal train.

Anagram, I hope your colonoscopy was purely preventative and nothing more. With that kind of week, I'd call a maintain a huge success. I'm sure you'll do fine.

Terri, I better get cracking if I'm gonna catch up with you by 9/9. You're doing great!

Sweetmom, HURRAH HURRAH - YOU DID IT!!!!! Congrats on your awesome effort and success

Guinever, I hope you had a GREAT workout at the gym...adios cookies !

Byrd, I'm right there with you (also thinking I may be up in weight ), but grab my hand and we'll jump back on that track together. We CAN and WILL do this .

RycherBabe, You only have 2 pounds to go, that's great! I predict you WILL make your goal by Labor Day no problem

Empress A, please thank Elbertine Pep when you see her for being such an EXCELLENT cheerleader. This journey would not be nearly as fun without you...er....I mean, her. As for your meditation.............hmmm, I believe she just handed me my beautiful newborn baby (hoping it happens in 2003 ).

Ah, the meditations! HE has offers me his heart and lifelong devotion (and I accept)



Thanks, jusdoit. Yes, the colonoscopy was a "routine" one. (I lost a brother to colon cancer so I do what I must because I don't want his death to be wasted by not being prudent.)

And I, anagram, am pleased to announce that I have once again tamed the dreaded bloat and at my official weighin today I am down another 1.6 pounds, thereby achieving the magnificent loss of a total of 5 pounds on this challenge. Oh happy day - and yesterday, believe me, I showed I had gone up a whole pound or more. Oh the vagaries of the scale!

ITS HERE!!!!!!!!!!

It was slow in getting here (always seems slower when a 3 day weekend is coming) but the morning will bring Thursday.

so many congrats are in order!! Those who have lost, those who have maintained, those who have restarted, what the heck, we're all pretty amazing for JUST TRYING.


Glad my sure fire stress reliever was so helpful to so many.
Empress A, you're so right- What's that quote about every action is influenced 99% by my reaction?? I murdered that quote for sure but its all about perspective. For instance, I was suprised at how slow traffic was moving tonight. And then I realized it was because of the rain. Before the drought, a rainy day was a negative-- We are so grateful for the rain now that even the possibility of flash floods isn't drawing the usual reactions.


What is he passing me? My first thought was something chocolate but I don't think I'm right. I think upon closer examination, he is not passing but showing me an empty book.
Its my future and only I can write it.

I'll try and check in later, I hate to admit it but I'm hooked on Big Brother so I know I'll be awake.

Oh that's a good one, Kaylets. Like the open book idea.

Congratulations anagram! That is just awesome for you - 5 pounds that you'll never have to lug around ever again!

So I think I hit a breakthough today! For the past month and a half, I have been journaling my food DILIGENTLY at fitday.com - I'm talking every bite, every taste, every morsal of food that has passed my lips. I did it because I couldn't trust myself to limit my intake - in fact, one day when fitday was down, I actually freaked out and ate about 400 extra calories. Anyway, today I stared out entering my foods as per normal, but about halfway through the day, I just stopped. I stopped recording my diet, but I ate when I was hungry, and I stopped when I wasn't. It was just amazing! I even went to a birthday party and ate 2 bites of cake, and then stopped when I realized I didn't really want any more. I think after so many days of being glued to this computer punching in every food I ate, I have finally taught my brain to see food like a normal person. I finally feel like I can go back to school and put up blockers against all my old habits and friends who invite me to eat like a pig with them.

I'm so excited to get back to school now that I finally feel like I have some control!

Genevieve