oh i get it...i think...do we have to explain our goals to everyone and see how we are in a month? Aug 1 - Sep 1 is what I would like but I am game for anything right now. I just want to stop feeling so squidgy.

I am so behind ! eessh! hehe

Well I will join the challenge for August. Thanks for all the words of encouragement. I have been so busy!! I am back to work today, so back to the grind, which I think is a good thing, I eat better at work, and drink lots of water.. my daughter started school.. so as soon as the shock and business of that calms down, I think I can concentrate more on the subject at hand here :)

Hi everyone!

I am in for the challenge, I NEED a challenge! The VCR monster ate my new exercise tape yesterday, so, I had to buy a new VCR, and ended up walking 2 miles and doing Pilates at 8:30 pm last night, after working all day, and being out of town :stress: . To make things worse, we ate at Old Country Buffett last night. I skipped all the yummy desserts, and only ate one plate of food, but, probably still ate too much. I have such a hard time with losing weight. I will lose 3 pounds, and gain it back in a cheat day, even if the only cheat is a brownie or two. I just don't understand it!! It's like I have to push myself to the max, and practically starve to lose any weight. UGH! I think maybe the eating disorder I had for 10 years severly messed up my metabolism, even though it has been 3 years now. I keep going to the store and tempting myself to purchase diet pills, Hydroxycut, more specifically, but, have not purchased them. I just don't know if I can lose this weight on my own.

On the up side, we are trying to but a new home. It is a brand new 2003, 2077 square foot double wide with vinyl siding and shingled roof. 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, stone fireplace, whirlpool tub, dining room, living room, family room, laundry room, den with french doors, dishwasher, side by side refrigerator/freezer, gas range, chandelier in dining room, island in kitchen. It is sooo beautiful, I hope we can finance it. We are going through SONYMA, so we won't know for 5 weeks or so.

Angie,

I looked at your before and after pics on the other thread, WHAT A POSITIVE CHANGE!! Great job!


Hi to GEM, Summer, Kempy, Noelle, Sandy, CG, Tonya, anyone else I missed.


Holly

I think a challenge would be just what I need to jump start myself. I go more by inches on myself than pounds, but it would probably be easier for everyone if we did it by pounds. Just give me the details...I'm in! Summer :flow2:

How about if we all decide what would be best for us(inches,pounds,etc) and just keep track. This way everyone is happy and doing what they want to do but we are all still together.

Holly, you sound just like me. I remember when I hit 130 pounds after a year of NO fat or junk then at Christmas I decided to bake cookies with the kids. Well, I ended up skipping all of my meals that day and just nibbling on cookies. The next day I was up 11 pounds!!! I was so depressed because I had it in my head that when I hit my goal the weight would come on slowly too so I could go up like 2 pounds and get it off and keep maintaining. I was so sore and swollen that day. I was really depressed to think that I could bloat up that easily because I didnt actually eat that many cookies. I also have to stick to a very low calorie diet because i wont lose anything otherwise. I hate that.

Good luck getting your new double wide. That is what we have and I love it. I paid to get sheetrock throughout instead of the wallboard that is papered. I like to paint my walls every so often so I knew I would hate the wallpapered walls. :lol: It sounds BIG and beautiful. We havent had any problems with ours but watch oput for the salesmen, they are just as sneaky as a used car salesman.

Thanks for the compliment on my before and after pics. I was surprised myself as to how different I looked then and now.

Tonya, I cant wait until my kids start school again!! I will be doing a happy dance. :lol: They start on the 26th and the 25th is my anniversary so it is a good present. :lol:

yeah, I was super stressed about it.. but I know it will get better, she started first grade. And it's a brand new school, and it's a huge school too, and she has to get used to all day school. The other thing I was all worried about all day was her riding the bus.. lol. I was so scared she wouldn't be able to find her correct bus for the ride home, I had horrible visions of her getting on the wrong bus, or getting off at the wrong stop, or something. Do other mothers worry as much as me ? haha

I want to see your pics Angie!

Hello There Ladies!

Yes, Angie I want to see your pictures too!

I am working on a site to contriubute to diet recipes and such if you all have a digi, please jot down your recipes and take a snap shot! The site will be finished soon!

Let`s see for the challenge, how about a two mile walk everyday regardless of how tired we are or the weather!

he he he

Hey everyone! I've been so darn busy today, cramming for the end-of-month fiscal stuff...tax extension deadline coming up, etc etc. I am up for a weight-loss challenge, I guess. I've been gaining and losing the same 5 lbs for what, 3 mos now? :lol: OK, so it's not a laughing matter, but I'm game.

If you gals would like to see the amazing Angie's transformation, just look for the "4-week Challenge" thread on the support forum. Those pics are truly inspirational. Let me tell you other ladies something. Angie and I began this weight loss journey a few weeks apart back in Oct 2002. We weren't that different in weight. She has totally blown me away with her efforts and it shows! I am still hovering between 177 and 182--I've stalled and lost my mojo. She however, is almost at goal. I am truly amazed at her progress, her dedication and am inspired by her success--now, to get off my own butt and get some success of my own :lol: .

Tonya, I think all mothers worry about their little ones--I think it's justifiable. Catching a bus and getting off and on at the right stops would worry me too. I'm sure she'll be fine. I had a girlfriend who's 5 y.o. got on the wrong bus after the first day of school because the teacher put him on the wrong one. They had to send a posse of 14 teachers in their private vehicles to go looking for him. It was scary! Luckily, he followed one of his classmates and got off a few stops down the road. He was happily playing with them in their yard. So, a happy ending thank gawd!

Holly, at the risk of sounding ignorant, what's a double wide? Is that a modular/prefab home? I'm not familiar with the term. :shrug: Prefab homes are something that haven't exactly taken off here in HI. There isn't much land that isn't already developed by those tract type homes.

CG I am a girl of convenience. My "recipes" consist of opening a box and throwing a meal in the microwave :lol: .

Kempy, I am OP so far today (it's 3:10 pm here). I plan on a walk this afternoon, than staying up for most of the night doing laundry. Tomorrow I'm going to a candle party, then Thurs. I may take my boy to the Farm fair. THen Friday, it's off to Maui for the weekend.

:wave: Sandy/Emily/Jen...hope you're all having a wonderful evening. Gotta run.

Angie, OMG, the first picture did not even look like you, I could see your facial features in the last one with the Main tee-shirt on!

Now, that weight took off about 15 years!

So tell me how long did it take you? What did you do, what did you eat?


That is just awesome!

You Go Girl!
 

Lets See some new ones now at your goal weight!

What inspiration!

:wave::balloons:

:hun:

:cheers:

It took me 11 months to lose 135 pounds. I eat lowfat and low calorie and I was actually exercising 2 hours every day of the week the first time. I hit 130 pounds and then I started to creep back up until I hit 206.5 pounds in October of this year. That is when I came here and met everyone and since October I have lost 65 pounds. Maintaining is my problem. I realized that this week. :lol: Now I am just going to try to get back down to where I want to be and I guess I have to learn how not to overeat when it is something I love. (Good Luck there Angie. haha)

We sold the 4 wheeler last night so now I guess I can get denied for the loan on the RV. We looked it up on the NADA websight and they are asking $23,000.00 but it books for $34-$37,000.00 with all of the extras that they have in it. The lady when she got her asking price went to that sight but never punched in any of the extras so she just went by the basic price and knocked a couple thousand off from it. It would be an awesome deal if we can get it.

I got on the scales this morning and they said 142 so I am not doing too badly. Just 7 pounds until goal and then I can decide if I want to go to 130 from there.

Sandy, How have you been doing this week? I bought some of the skinny cow sandwiches but all I could fing is Chocolate with chocolate and chocolate with vanilla. Jay had the munchies last night so he had a couple and he loved them.

Good Morning all!

I only have three more days here in **** and then I am off to the beach! I can't sit still. I am so ready to go now. I know the condo still has people in it right now but I am willing to sleep in my car until Saturday. :lol:

I have posted a question on one of the other threads that I am on about you guys. I am asking if anyone has any suggestions about the weight gain for only changing the diet slightly. I am worried about you guys and I want to see all of you succeed. Plus, I don't want you to have to starve yourselves just to get to goal. There has to be an easier way to get there. I am going to do some research and see what I can come up with.

Angie any word yet on Cappie and what you are going to do with him?

Cappie has been an angel since that day. My mom thinks he may have woken up on the wrong side of the bed. :lol: I dont think I could ever get rid of him so I am oping he straightens up. I make him sit and down for treats etc. to reinforce that I am his alpha.

I GOT THE RV!!!! YEAH!!! We should be getting it this weekend. So we can clean it up and play with it.

Kempy are you talking about SBD? I just started it. Its hard! I give you kudos for trying it.

Angie amazing before and after pics. Way to go. Good look on the RV loan - I am sure you will be fine just the waiting is the kicker...

Noelle you have done well too! Don't belittle yourself but I soooo understand about losing and gaining that same 5 pounds over and over - I joke that it's the great chemistry we have! My husband keeps me laughing by saying if you love it let it go - so I am trying to love it right out of my system and scale

So that challenge - let's set up parameters. 5 days a week of exercise for 30 minutes or more? loss of pounds or inches (TBD by individual)? and start Aug 1 - Sep1?

Hello to everyone else!

GEM/Summer

Sounds great GEM. I weighed in this morning at 142 so I want to lose at least 5 pounds this month so that will be my goal to get to 137 pounds by August 1. I usually walk about 5 1/2-6 miles every day so I will stick with that. I plan to do 45 minutes on my inside equipment every day when it gets cold outside this fall but I am hoping that wont be for quite a while. :lol:

Kempy, that is a great idea. I am starting to think maybe 120 is just not possible.. I mean 120 with my body style, thicker bone structure, etc. is pretty much not going to happen unless I am always hungry... I just dunno.. I also think I would be happier if I just gained some muscle, to get rid of all the jigglies, and maybe lost inches.. who cares if I weigh 127 - 130.. right ? *shrug* The two times I have gotten to 124, I felt SO HUNGRY at all times, and I can't stay there.

Hi everyone!

Hey gals. I'm sick today, with a cold I probably got from my manicurist last Friday. I have a major headache :headache: and general bodyaches. I just wanted to pop in and say hello. I'm going back to bed. Have a great day.

Noelle, I hope you feel better before your trip.

Thank you dahling, I do too. It's weird, I get the chills, then the sweats...ugh! I told Rick I was leaving work early since I didnt' feel well, then went home and took a long nap. I feel better right now, the headache has subsided a bit. In fact, I'm going to a candle party tonight :sssh: . I'll keep up with the zinc lozenges and vitamin c and whatnot...

Hey, Congrats on the RV--sounds exciting! Now when you're not making donuts and whoopie pies you can actually cross state lines and go somewhere farther than New Hampshire (just kidding, sort of) :lol: . My sister's boss was away for 7 weeks. They started in their RV in Las Vegas then worked their way across the states, finally ending up in Minnesota. How's that for a long drive?

Kempy I know what you mean about being ready to get up and go! Do ya think the people in the condo now would notice you loitering around outside their window in your car? :D

GEM, what's the saying, "if you love someone/something, set it free, if it comes back it's yours, if it doesn't, it wasn't meant to be?"... :lol: gosh, I hope that's not the case. August will be a new month for all of us to do great and get the weight off :strong: .

Well, I need to head out the door real soon, have a great night the rest of y'all fine ladies.

Kempy and Noelle, I know you both will be getting ready to go on vacation so I want to wish you a good trip now!!(In case you are too busy to log on tomorrow. Have a great time!! Kempy, are you going for the weekend or the whole week?

Jay goes up and signs the papers for the RV this morning so hopefully the people staying in it will be moved out so I can bring it home and play with it. :lol: The people are from Florida. I looked up RV Classified and found a 2002 Bounder with half as many miles as mine on it and it was for sale for $74,000.00!!!! YOWZA!!! It is amazing how expensive something like that can get. We have been talking to alot of older couples who RV full time and they would rather have the fifth wheels because it is just as easy for them to stop to camp but for a person with kids the RV you drive is better so the kids can be like they are home while you are driving down the road but yet they are so expensive that most people cant afford them. Heck, I can barely afford this one and they sold it to us for 15,000.00 less than it is actually worth. We are going to go car shopping tomorrow and see if we can find a small cute car to trade the Durango in on so we can have a smaller payment and so we have something light to tow behind the RV so we dont have to rent a car in Florida. (I know I said I didnt want to sell it but that was before we found out what the RV payment was!!! :lol:

Food is going great!!! My tummy has flattened back down so hopefully with the kids gone I dont fall into the binge trap. I am going to see how small I can get by January and then I can go on vacation and still eat and not do too much damage.

Wow the last day in July. It went by so fast.

We are going to be in FL from the 2nd - 9th. Joe and I were talking last night about what we are going to do for dinner Saturday night though. Since it is our anniversary we didn't really want to spend it with the parents. I think we are going to try to find a place that we hadn't eaten at before. I told him I want to find a place that we can sit and drink a bottle of wine in peace. I don't think that will be easy to find since Destin is a family place and I am sure there will be lots of families out to dinner that night. I would even take getting a dinner to go and sitting out on the beach.

I am going to state my goal for the challenge starting tomorrow. I am going to stay on track with this plan that I am on. I am going to lift weights 4x's a week and I will eat the required foods each day. I can't say how much I am going to be down to b/c my body composition is changing now so I am putting on muscle. I will just add up the inches lost and post those.

I got an e-mail from Chris yesterday and she said that she is back on the site. I told her where we all were so hopefully she will find us today.

Where are all of you guys?

Name that Challenge
 

Morning all!

Okay to tell you what kind of dok I can be if I get up too early..I figured a name for our challenge - The Move and Lose it Challenge! maybe not original but I got a chuckle out of it. :lol:

Kempy I hope you have a wonderful trip with Joe to Destin. My business partner is there so I will ask him about a nice restaurant that you can eat in peace. :cheers:

Noelle I hope you are feeling better and that the candle party was fun! As for that quote - I don't know where the **** I was going with that....:rolleyes: Kind of like that Dorthy PArker quote "I might repeat to myself slowly and soothingly, a list of quotations beautiful from minds profound - if I can remember any of the damn things."

Angie congrats on the RV!!!! :cp: I am so happy for you and your family. Now you can take those vacations that you always wanted with everyone comfortable and not on top of each other. Could I tell you stories and we had a Conversion Van! I would of died for an RV when I was a kid with my sister and 2 brothers - my Dad didn't beleive it was vacation until you drove at least 10 hours. As I said - Do I have stories.

Hello to everyone else!

:cb: Summer/GEM :cb:

Hello everyone!! I changed my profile a little. I am setting a goal of 140 now, maybe more realistic. My lowest weight (when I had a problem), was 133, so, if I can be healthy and weigh 140, it's a start. Good news is that my clothes are getting looser :cp: . My size 12 pants are getting loose in the rear, and legs. My husband even commented that my stomach and butt look smaller, and he NEVER compliments. A good sign, even though the scale hassn't moved much. I have been exercising religiously, 6 days a week for going on three weeks now. I have decided that I cannot allow myself a cheat day with food, my body gains weight too easily. Last week I was down to 152, then I ate what I wanted, which the only "bad" food was 2 brownies, and on Monday my weight was back to 155.5, UGH. So, I have been really good all week, and really moving, and am currently at 153. My cheat day is not worth having to beat myself up all of the next week to get back my loss.

My computer at home crashed yesterday, so, my only access is at work.

Angie,

Congrats on the RV! I hope you enjoy it!! You seem to have a metabolism like mine, eat a cookie, gain 5 pounds, lol. Though not really funny!

Noelle,

A double wide is a mobile home, the one we are looking at is 28x80. I hope you get feeling better BEFORE your vacation! Have a good trip!

Kempy,

I hope you also have a good vacation, and enjoy your dinner. Having 3 children, I understand how difficult, yet important it is to have a quiet and peaceful dinner. Have you thought about finding a restaurant that has a take out menu, so you could eat on the beach like you mentioned? Here we have Applebee's, that's not a fast food restaurant, and you can order to go.

Tonya,

You are about 1 1/2 inches shorter than I am, but, started pretty close to my weight of 153. How long did it take you to get to 124, and what helped your success? (What kind of plan were/are you on?) I also have a larger frame, my shoe size is 9-10, so, definately big boned!!

GEM,

I don't think I could do the SB diet, too restricting. How is it working for you though? I have heard you can lose up to 13 pounds in the first 2 weeks!?

Hello to everyone I missed.

Holly

Kempy, I think eating on the beach sounds like a fun night and romantic. I'll bet you will have a ball either way.

GEM, I remember when I was younger we would all go to the White Mountains for a week(a couple of years anyway) we were so cramped and uncomfortable. Every pic of me I am scowling in it. :lol:

Holly, Yep we definately have the metabolism of a snail!! :lol: It bugs me so bad sometimes. I can pig out on fat free Blue Bunny and not bloat to badly but if it has an ounce of fat in it I will be so swollen for a week after. Maybe I am allergic to fat. :lol:

Today and tomorrow are going to be so fun. They are the busiest days of the week and It is going to be majorly humid. I love working in the kitchen and sweating all afternoon. YUCK!!

OH YEAH!!
 

I almost forgot...THE KIDS ARE LEAVING TODAY FOR THE WEEKEND!!!!!!!:cb: :cp: :hat: :dancer: :cloud9: :high: :cheers:

Is it bad to be so happy? :lol:

I also called my hairdresser and told her that I am getting my hair cut short and layered and highlighted. Dont let me talk myself out of it!!! I want it but I chicken out every time so this time I want to actually go through with it. August 13 is the day so dont let me back out. I shouldnt be too ugly with short hair (I hope) plus it will grow back before winter is over if it looks too bad, right?

Angie-

I think a new hairstyle goes with a newlifestyle and new look and can only help! The worse case is that you don't like it but hair grows. Cut it! Have fun with it.

GEM/Summer

Hi everyone!

Holly, from 165 to 145, which was my initial goal, took me about near 2 months... from Aug 21, to about Halloween last year. then from 145 to 135, my next goal, took me about 2 1/2 weeks, by Thanksgiving, I was close to 130. then from Dec until now, I have slowly either maintained 130 - 133, or dropped down to the 120's. Today I am 126, then I hit 127 some days, and I have been to 124 twice in the last 2 months.. but have a hard time staying there...

I wear a size 9 shoe too =)

I did a combo of WW, and fitday.com. My secret.. I still don't know, haha. I was going through a near divorce, which has since changed, but we were apart for 1 1/2 year. I think maybe I was feeling the effects of being single again at age 26, and that was part of it, plus just being angry about life, and a lot of anger towards how I looked... I used the anger in a positive way instead of negative, and I was SO motivated. I worked out 3 times a week, and I was a total stickler about food. I don't think I screwed up on the diet for over 2 months straight at first...

Noelle, I hope you feel better today.

Angie, I think a new hairstyle can do wonders. I have been comtemplating cutting my hair off.. I have hair to my waist, which has taken me so long to grow! I never thought I wwould have the slightest desire to cut it, but lately I am wondering. There is a charity called "locks of love", and I could donate at least a foot of hair to them if I decided to do it.. but this will definately take alot of thought! I just dunno.

Hi Kempy, Hi everyone else, I hope you all have a wonderful day!

yay for me yesterday, it was 2 days in a row that I was a good girl ! :D

Hi All! I'm just lingering, and trying to find my niche again. Went away for a while. Back again, and seeing where I fit. Today I'm doing well. I'll be hanging around this time. I need to get the support that I had, to reach my goal. My new goal is to maintain. I started out at 210 lbs. May 2002. Now I"m at 135. Reached my goal Feb 10th, 2003, thanks to 3fc. Now i'm back to stay.

Wow! That is amazing success!!:cp: :bravo: What'd you do? and how are you maintaining? inquiring Minds want to know!

Summer/GEM

grats on your success! welcome back :D

Hey girls! Thanks for the support. How did I do it? By deciding that being fat was not working for me anymore. And sticking to that mantra. Actually, the new mantra is: Nothing tastes as good as thin feels. Period.

I did it by cutting back on carbs, fat, and all the other things I was binging on. Eating less, more veggies at meals, more water. No regular sodas. No pastries of any kind. No donuts. Ever.

I began to substitute the things I love, with lower fat versions. I did not eat only fat free foods, because they take the fat out, but put in more salt, carbs, and other stuff that makes it silly to consider the foods good for you. Lite cream cheese just tastes better too!

I never skip a meal, and eat snacks that are good for me, like fruit, a crunchy apple, or some nuts, trail mix. I don't eat cookies much, but I do have hot fudge sundaes, with fat free hot fudge, frozen yogurt, the lite whippped cream, cherries, and a big banana! Oh, that would make it banana split, huh? It's filling, it gives me the taste I love, and I get to 'splurge'. I do that about once a week. I never feel guilty about it. Ever.

I like whole wheat stuff. I never ever eat white bread. I tried whole wheat pasta, didn't like hte texture. BUt, I did like the spagetti squash, instead of pasta, for spagettia nd meatball dinners. That's yummy!

I never eat fried foods, and if I eat out, I make it good. With a salad, and I dont eat at fast food, and If I have to, it's a chili, or a salad, or potato. No burger, no whoppers, no fries. it may be fast, but it'l be slow getting off my thighs, so it's not worth the gluttony.

I don't eat bread with every meal, like I did when I was a kid. I dont eat bread and butter. But, I love toast, and peanut butter. It' worth the fat, because I love it. Not too often.

I exercise almost every day. I do weights with my aerobics,a nd I switch out what I do, so I have variety. I do a different DVD or tape every time: Pilates, Yoga, Boot Camp Aerobics, Workout Ball, take walks with the dog, I try to stay busy, gardening, housework, anything that's physical, bike rides, hikes, swimming. I never wanna be a couch potato ever ever again. I see people now who have tremendous problems, because they lived a sedentary life, their whole lives. Not me.

I love how I feel, I am trying to get used to how I look. It's a process. That's why I came back here. So, I hope that answers your question of how I did it. And how I'm continuing to do it.

DId you ever plateau for long periods? If so, how did you get out of that rut? That's where I am - that's why I ask.

Your story is inspirational. Thanks for sharing!

GEM/Summer

Hey everyone~
Welcome back (Christy right??) good to see you here and CONGRATULATIONS on your sucess- what an inspiration!! Great job :high:

Tonya and Angie- I highly recommend cutting your hair!! I cut a fun new "do" when I got down to 175 before getting pg with #2...it was so liberating! And I felt so cute. I'm sure it would do wonders for you...You can always go in stages too if you aren't ready for "short" hair...:sp:

Holly- I know you must realize that there is no way (scientifically or otherwise) that you could gain 3.5 lbs of fat from eating 2 brownies!! Please don't be so hard on yourself...you said yourself that your pants (size 12s even!!!!) are getting loose. That is SO the better measure of success than the scale!! You *are* doing it!

Kempy- take-out on the beach sounds awesome!! Have a great anniversary night (and vacation!!) :)

Noelle- hope you are feeling better today!

I'm in a much better mind-set this week. I've been eating well (not much junk) and getting some walks in. Baby-steps I know, but I'm determined to be in this for the long haul. I can either go forward or backward you know??:doh: Duh- I know :)

Well, my sister is visiting us this week - better get back to "hostess" :wave:- hi to everyone else!!

Emily

I plateaued in Oct 02 when I came to 3fc. I coudlnt' get the last 20 lbs off

The way I fought off the last 20 lbs, and then some,, ( i actually kept losing past my goal weight of 150, to my now weight of 135) by increasing my weights. I went from 3 to 5 and then to now 8 pounds. Hey, i'm no heavy weight, i know, but it makes me sweat and i get winded with the 8's.

I upped the workouts, with more lunges, the boot camp training tape, that was what got me pumped.

I also kept up wiht my journaling, and was here every single day. that helped me tremendously, with Noelle, and Kempy and Angie, and Peekaboangel.. they all got me here. I couldn't do it alone, that's for sure.

very nice advice Svelte. :)

do you find it's hard to maintain.. ? some days are a piece of cake for me, and some are hellacious ...


anyhow, to the subject of hair. I dunno how to explain this and have it come out right... but for a very long time, I saw so much bad about the way I looked. and through it all, I have always at least had one thing that I liked a lot about myself, what I have considered for a long time now to be my best feature. My Hair. So to me it's more than just a new haircut, or a new style.. it's like giving up something that defines me so much at this point....

anyhow, here's a few pics of it :

this is me at about 133 pounds, around January time:

http://www.gwells.com/sass/Tonya1.jpg

And this is me at Christmas, my dad begged me to do a picture alone, since I always do pictures with my kids and I ... about 135'ish pounds... not sure exactly.


http://www.acrealplayers.com/gallery...thaw/tonya.jpg

I usually wear it straight most of the time... I just dunno if I am ready to give it up haha, that's why I say I need to really really think about it.. does that sound dumb ?

the other thing is that I can't do the gradual thing...

I have always said that if I do cut it, I am butting off like a foot so I can donate it.. I believe they need at least 8 - 10 inches... not sure exactly.

but I would love to donate my hair, if I can get the guts... that would at least make me feel like I really did something good for someone. They make wigs for children with diseases that cause baldness. they need the hair off like 5 or more heads for just one wig!

Tonya you are a beautiful woman. I love it when we all finally get to put a face with a name.

:wave: Chris I am so glad that you are back! We missed you! :wave:

hey Kempy! Thanks for the warm welcome. Tonya, about your hair, it's georgous! I think if your hair defines you, and you've changed your body so much. Am I right? Then, you oughta change what defines you, and cut it all off. That's my input. I've had friends that had long hair, and it seemed to be like a security blanket. Men loved the long hair, it's so feminie and all. Then, one day, they wanted to 'free themselves' from all of it. So, they literally chopped of fall their hair,a nd just lived with that decision. After a while, and they ended up with shoulder length for life, after a while, it was freeing. They felt less wegihted down, less like they were hiding behind their hair. Their personalities came out, and they were more energetic, and bouncy. It chagned their lives, and they were so happy to let it go. Let it go, like you let the weight of your body go. Start fresh,a nd define yourself b something different, like your resiliency, and your stregnth, Not your hair. It's only a part of the shell we carry around. The true you, the you that those around you love, is inside. Not on the outside. Even though we tend to obsess about the outside, it's soemties about health, and not necessarily about vanity. But, I think, if you're considering it this strongly, then you oughta just do it. Cause you spend your life considering, and never follow through. My two cents. Forgive me if I sound brass. I don't mean to.

no offense taken :)

thanks for the suggestions.. I am just one that has to think about stuff for a long time, and when the time is right, I do what I feel I should. Like my tattoos, I have 2... both of them were contemplated for a year or so before I actually went and got them. And to this day, I still love them , the first one I have had for 9 years now too :)

when I am ready, I will do it, I have been thinking that for a while, and when I do, it's getting donated for sure! =)

Thanks Kempy, you are gourgeous too! as are all you ladies! :)