Good morning everyone . I am weighing in @ 174 this morning, which means 2 lbs down from last week . Amazing considering I had a meltdown last Sunday and ate til i was stuffed to the gills. I stayed on track during the week and got my exercise in so maybe my body's just ready to shed some fat. I'm not complaining .

Venetia, 3.5 #'s gone! Go Granny Go . Yeah, let's watch our fat run to some skinny person's thighs for a change .

Choci 2.5#'s gone & 2 workouts in 1 day. You go girl.

Yoyo I love eating sushi too , but I usually have it as as main course since I can easily eat 8 pieces of nigiri. Still, for the calories it's relatively low in fat and an excellent soure of protein. I know what you mean though about being blindsided by some foods that you would've normally thought "legal" . Well as the saying goes, knowledge is power. More power to ya. 1.5# is great.

jjules, i jump out of bed EVERY morning and can't wait to jump on the scales (a sick addiction I know ) . Hooray for any and all downward movement. Keep it up!

Di maintaining is great. TOM'll be over soon and next week you'll have another awesome loss. You're doing fabulously.

Angie you just keep moving forward and don't look back. We all have to 'let loose' once in a while (even though
I do it more often than I should ) and you've made so much progress already. Thanks for waiting up for me .

So Shimmers, what's the low-down on this guy friend? You didn't tell him about Ben & Jerry did ya? Good luck on the weigh in today.

Gen thanks for keeping this going.

Everyone else (sorry if I didn't mention you ALL by name-- this challenge is big, it's GREAT) congratulations on all the efforts--losers, maintainers and even gainers. We're all trying and we rock! have a great weekend.

Hi everyone! Been crazy busy here this week! It was nice most of the week so I took my walking outside. It's been lovely! Now, however, it seems winter is back. Ugh!! I'm glad to hear that everyone seems to be doing well! I just keep plugging away. I mess up all the time but just start over again! Yesterday I had Panera Bread AND Taco Bell. IN one day!! I probably would have had a 2 pound loss if not for that! As it stands, I'm down one pound this week. I got my bike out this week and my friend and I went riding. We did 11 miles the one day. It felt so good! I forgot how much I love it. I also forgot what rude buttheads (edited!) most drivers are. I swear I almost died three times, on one ride. Anyway, I've got laundry calling my name. Take care everyone!!

Ciao Ladies,

Just checking it really quick.

I don't remember who asked ( I think Kempy) but Yes I am a deejay for an army radio station

Melekalikimaka- Its not at all selfish that you're happy about your hubby being home now instead of the gaurd, he gave many years of selfless service and I salute him, I know he still supports us and I appreciate that. I'm happy that during this time you can be with him.

Grizzlychick- WHAT'S UP GIRL!! HAven't heard from you in a while. Good to hear from you agin too.

Well, Everything is still good with me. And I see a lot of you are doing good so keep it up. I gotta go now but I should be back soon

Ben & Jerry are no friends of mine -- lost only a half pound. (Maybe since it's only been six days since my last weigh in, tomorrow morning and a nice round 7 days will be kinder to me.)

JJules, Deborah, Amy, Venetia, Noelle and Serina -- you Rock! Do you know you lost 10 3/4 pounds last week??

Di -- I've never liked TOM -- a shady character who always shows up with chocolates and makes me feel cranky and tired.

Angie -- good for you, saying no to the scale! If it's not going to be a friend, you don't have to bother with it. Hope you feel great next week.

Well, I guess I should go get in a walk if I'm going to hope for good things tomorrow. (Oh, and Noelle, as for the friend-o-the-friend, he has my number -- so we'll see :"> )

1257 calories in a meal with a whopper no-cheese, regular fry, regular drink ... did I hear someone say "Subway?"

Shimmers

Hi Ladies!
I've been working the weekends as usual . I didnt get to the gym lastnight ,instead we stopped by the pet supermarket just to get a filter! Well I walked around for a while and fell in love with a new corner fishtank. We have one of the much older tanks that are rectangular 30 gallons. This one I saw is awesome!It's a 44 gallon but it only takes up half thespace since its tall and a weird shape. Ihave to take pics lol
Dont ask me why but we bought it lastnight! The tank,wood corner stand,and all theaccesories including some really nice fak coral decorations....ouch! $300! and today I went to get more fishies Its all up and running and looks gorgeous for the new house, I cant wait!!!!!!!!!
Since I did'nt get a "gym workout" I decided to really wash,wax and shine my suv today. That was a bit of a workout trust me! Then I got brave and offered a free carwash to my husband and of course he said " **** yeah!" lol Dont ask me why I asked lol. That truck is a monster in front of me! lol Here I am a 5'2" woman washing an F150. lol lol

Gen..Goal ..Maintain current weight of 130 lbs

Palm Ba, Granny..Goal 6 lbs..loss 3.5 lbs

Kempyd ..Goal 2 % bodyfat

plb112467 Goal 8 lbs..Loss 2 lbs

Clarita..Goal 4 lbs

mbg..Goal 9 lbs

AngieMe..Goal 6 lbs..Loss 1 lb

melekalikimaka ..Goal 6 lbs ..Loss 2 lbs

Laney1733.Goal 6 lbs..loss 1 lb

grizzlyschick ..Goal 7 lbs

Angel26519 ..Goal 8lbs

Yoyomom ..Goal 4 lbs..Loss 2.5 lbs

Jen519..Goal 6 lbs


EvasiveMarigold..Goal 6 lbs

jjules300..Goal 7 lbs..Loss 1/4 lbs

Choci..Goal 5 lbs..Loss 2.5 lbs

Shimmers ..Goal 6 lbs

Wow, everyone's done really well this week -- and yes, even those of you who didn't show a loss. I think just checking in an being accountable is an achievement in itself. If I hadn't kept that up during my "downtime" who knows where I would have been today? You know???

And yes, TOM is terrible. I sympathize completely... it normally wreaks havoc with my weight, too. I guess I got lucky this time around, but I paid for it in cramps and achiness. I wonder if there is a correlation there?

Anyway... here's to another successful week coming up. We can do it!!!

~~Amy

P.S. I keep meaning to mention, Noelle, that your new avatar is gorgeous! You look fantastic. Very inspirational!

Weigh-in? I'm up 3 stupid pounds. No big surprise. I just need to get back on track. I have NO willpower. I'm not giving up, though. Glad you guys are all here and doing so well, in spite of your own struggles. It's important to me to have a place to be able to talk about NOT doing so well with my eating, water drinking, and excersizing. That way, I won't just decide to completely give in to the food-craving, destructive behavior. At least that's what I'm hoping.
Shimmers, I think it was you who mentioned no fast food. I think in addition to my vow to drink more water, I'm going to aim for that one. I actually bought some good sandwich fixins' for next week's lunches. Then if I can manage to eat ONE serving at dinner of whatever I make, I'll be on my way. I know how to do this! I CAN!
A big congratulations to all the losers this week. Sometimes I feel envious and think, "If only I was that lucky". But luck doesn't have much to do with it. It's determination and hard work and every loss is earned. You guys are great!!!!

Jen

Hi Everyone!!!!

Well I got on the scale yesterday and was up the 1/2# that I was down on Thursday!!!! so that means no gain; no lose.... UGH!!!!

Jen I am with you - there are times that I get so discouraged seeing everyone else going down and here I am the same ole same ole.... I am proud and excited for the others but also wish I was with them... for me I know that I have lots and lots of hormonal problems from a hysterectomy that I had 3 years ago but still I know that I should do more....

Hi everyone!
How is it that the scale can vary so greatly from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning? I'm not complaining -- it dropped another 1.5 pounds -- it just makes me distrust the darned thing whenever it does that. I'm waiting for it to pop back on, as it has done a time or two.
I have to say, I find the scale to be the least reliable and least rewarding measure of my successes. I measure myself regularly and look for each quarter inch lost. And then I celebrate. I feel more comfortable in my jeans one morning (or better yet, discover I've dropped a size). And then I celebrate. I hear a compliment (and it often includes fitness side-note benefits like glowing skin or bouncier step). And then I celebrate. I notice that I have more energy, and celebrate. I reach the end of my day feeling positive about myself because I got in a walk or drank my water, and celebrate.
The scale sucks. And considering that muscle weighs far more than fat -- the scale misrepresents your success. And considering that fitness is far more than weight loss -- the scale just doesn't do it. I walked Kenji, drank lots-o-fluids, and posted to my fitness friends, so that's success.
Night All,
Shimmers

Hey Shimmers, what a great, positive post!!! You go girl!!!
I hope I can relish each little success just as you do and consider it a step in the right direction. My scale might not even be working right (I think I weigh more than it says I do) so I'm going to make a mini goal of not stepping on until Thurs morning. And it's going to be a great week!!!!
Think positive and pray for peace.

Well here is my Monday morning check in since my home computer is down.

Anyway I first want to congratulate all of the "losers", and say hang in there to anyone who didn't show a loss or crept up a lb or so!! I was so discouraged last week, because I went up two lbs from my challenge starting weight of 205 to 207. Well now this week I am down to 203!!!! I guess it was only water retention last week!! Anyway I am taking the 203! I got off the scale and back on just to make sure I wasn't crazy!!!!

So I guess I have a two lb loss for the challenge so far!! Who knows what the scales will show next week????

Take care!!

Hi, Folks,

Shimmers, your're right on about the scale. That's one reason I have an alternative goal (to log 14K calories lost) in case the scale doesn't deliver for me. The pounds come off so slowly that when you throw in natural weight variation a weigh-in can really ruin your day. I like the month-long challenges because they are *usually* long enough to show some progress if the timing isn't lousy (TOM, etc).

Congrats to everyone checking in (losers or not) and thanks for keeping this thread a happening place. It's one of the things that helps boost my motivation. A recent week of warm weather also helped me because of thoughts of summer clothing (even though it's cold again now). Getting a physical and have the doctor recommend I lose weight (oh, *that* was a surprise, but somehow the reality still helps). Feeling good about what I've accomplished so far (which isn't very much yet, but it's the right direction). Anyone else want to share some motivation boosters that maybe others can share? I'd like to here them!

Thanks,
-Deborah

Hi everyone. Something happened today that has put a smile on my face. I had a doctor's appt with a doctor I had never met, over that seizure I had in January. Turns out it wasn't a seizure. I blacked out and had a convulsion. Anyway, what made me smile is the doc asked if I had any body changes last year and I told him I had lost 166 pounds in the last year. He refused to believe that I had ever been big! He looked at me and kept shaking his head. He said, " I'm sorry but I can't believe you were ever that big." I didn't know whether to be insulted or flattered. I told him that I had my license picture to prove it ( I'm not changing it until I hit goal). He said that looking at me it was hard to believe I could ever be over weight I showed him my picture and he just kept shaking his head and saying how incredible it was. It sounds stupid but this is the first real time I've actually realized that I'm not as big as I apparently keep thinking I am. It was like one of Oprah's light bulb moments I had gotten so used to having docs tell me I was fat, when I was bigger- yes they used that word. That to have one actually tell me I am thin was just a shock. I am literally on
So many losses last week you go girls Those of us who didn't have a loss or even gained- here's hoping for a loss this week Well gotta run- laundry's calling my name! Take care all. Di

Congrats! and Applauds! Go to you Di! You are amazing and a wonderful inspiration! I am glad to be able to know a real life success story!

Big hugs to you!

Hugs & Smiles,
Kina

Wow this thread has been busy. I can hardly keep up! I am maintaining right now. But I have just started a new workout program so lets see what affect that will have. I went to my first private Pilates lesson on Saturday. It was a lot of fun but tough there is so much to think about at one time: Breathing, flexing, moving, posture. Phew! I was so sore the next day, in fact I still am. I have signed up for 4 private sessions and 4 group lessons over the next month. It will be an exciting change from my usual routine of cardio & resistance machines. I hope you are all doing well!
Claire