Lofty goal...but it's my mini goal for the month. I know how to do it, the question is, do I have the motivation and will power to stick it out? It's a mind-game as far as I'm concerned! Here is my plan:

Mondays: 5:2 diet day (600 calories); 30 minutes cycling & yoga

Tuesdays: 1500 calorie day; 60 minutes cycling/rebounding, weights & yoga

Wednesdays: 5:2 diet day (600 calories); 30 minutes cycling & yoga

Thursdays: 1500 calorie day; 60 minutes cycling/rebounding, weights & yoga

Fridays: 1500 calorie day (maybe a third fast day)/ 60 minutes cycling/rebounding; yoga

Saturdays: 1500 calorie day; 60 minutes cycling/rebounding, weights & yoga

Sundays: 1500 calorie day; 60 minutes cycling/rebounding & yoga

I hope I can do it! And if I can't, i.e. if my goal is too unrealistic, then I'll learn for November and not expect as much weight loss!

Wish me luck!

Dude...
It was my goal to be 170... and... well... I don' think it will happen.

I'll totally take you up on this as a "challenge" though.
Just replace "cycling" with "running" and "rebound/yoga" with high intensity aerobics.

I probably won't kill 9lbs either, but hey, maybe 3-4 in 3 weeks would be spiffy as well.

wondered what happened to you? Everything okay? - Rooting for you!!

Good luck Kurisitaru, I'm hoping I get close to 9 pounds! But I'll take what I can get really.

Hi Sum I dislocated my knee and pulled my neck in a car accident last spring, long recovery but things are okay these days! All that bed rest killed my metabolism though. I have to reboot my metabolism as well as my motivation!!

Because I hit my head on a shelf today and spent most of the day on the couch with an ice pack and Advils, I wasn't able to exercise, dammit. But I have eaten only 475 calories today so at least I stuck to the 5:2 diet plan.

Morning: Caramel Macchiato: 80 calories
Lunch: Pho soup with saltines: 190 calories
Snack: Apple with yogurt: 165 calories
Tonight: Fennel/Chamomile tea with 1/2 tsp honey: 40 calories
I drank lots of filtered water and Pellegrino sparkling water too.

I hope I feel better tomorrow. I'm so motivated right now, it's depressing me that I hurt myself on the get go, stopping me from working out. I know it's just a bump in the road (and hopefully NOT on my head!) and I'll get back on track at least in the next few days, but the last thing I need right now is a set back. Sigh boo hoo...At the least, I can do yoga tomorrow minus the upside down poses.

I have gained 10 pounds as well. It started with a pulled knee injury and I had to take 6 weeks off from exercise...then I just slipped into the old habits. -- We can do this!

I hope to be 140 by Halloween, that is 6.4 pounds!

Following this! I was hoping to be at 179 by Halloween, which would be a 10 pound loss from now. I don't think I'll make it, but I'm going to follow along here and push myself to do as well as possible... continuing to do 5:2, going to be more diligent on my "up" days.

Chardonnay, hope you're feeling better today.

Sum, so happy to see you back posting here. I hope you had a great trip, and now it's time to get back to it!!! Are you still doing 5:2, or something else?

kurisitaru - Right there with you...

Noname. I am still doing 5:2 and low cal. Actually just started back on. -- And now I have been sick for a few days, and diet has been "what ever"....

My trip was FAB!!!! Thanks for asking!

Today, by accident I fell into 5:2 plan -- I have been sick for a few days and stomach was not feeling quite right this morning, so I did not eat anything... then I got busy this afternoon and was out of the house and I did not eat. Now I am enjoying my 500 cal dinner, salad w/grilled chicken. I will have a "normal" day tomorrow and Thursday and fast again on Friday. Hopefully I will show some loss for the week!

Hi Sum, you don't realize how handy your knees are until you injure them huh? That was my problem too, the forced rest then back to old habits. 6.4 pounds...you can do it! You're doing the 5:2 as well? That's great. I love that plan, it really keeps me on my toes. Today is a non-fast day for me.

Hi Noname, thanks, I'm better today but I jogged on my rebounder today and felt like my brain was hitting my skull.. What you said, that's my attitude as well, I'm pushing for 9 pounds, but if it doesn't happen, so be it. I know there WILL be a loss for sure by Halloween. Good luck on your 10 pounds!

What are you ladies doing for exercise?

Also, what do you do when your mind is trying to sabotage your workouts and/or meal planning? That's my biggest challenge. This morning, I wanted to just stay in bed, and I did that TOO many times over the last 9 months. My motivation this morning was my bf actually. I looked over at him and thought that I want him to be proud of me. I know it may sound shallow to some, and others have said I should only be doing it for ME, but sometimes doing it for me alone isn't enough!! I know he loves me, he tells me all the time that I"m very sexy...but I want to have the body I had when we met.

Hi Sum, I love those happy accidents, lol...sickness does a little good sometimes right?

My plan was to exercise 2500 minutes this month...but then I fell sick; first with an ear infection and then some sort of a flu/fever/tummy thing... so I missed many days here. But the plan forward is to walk outdoors 5 x week. Do aerobics 1-2 x week. Lift weights 3 x week, and maybe squeeze a swim in 1 x week. -- If I really get my mojo back, I may add a few power walking sessions on the treadmill. But that would take some serious will power Before my knee injury I was working out min 2 h per day, would be nice to get back to that.

Chardonnay,it is nice to see you here again.We joined about the same time and I often wondered about you.It takes guts to come back after a gain,but I am glad you did.With all of us cheering each other on we will succeed in our goals.

Wooooo

Looks like some people are up for challenge. =)
I am new to the 600 cal some day and 1500 on others. I guess it can't hurt to try.