Jen -

Yeah being sick at this time of year stinks...:*( I hope to bounce back quickly. Moving into my apt. at the end of the month and don't want to still be sick...ugh!

Thanks for the advice about the vit. C...my Mom told me that the other day too. :D

Great to hear that all is going so wonderful for you and to reflect back on the positive times is great..helps w/ moving forward I think. :D Great to hear about your Dad being more healthy too! :D Cheers...to the two of you and your 50 mile bike ride! :D

Emily - We'd love to have you here! :D As you will see...this group of ladies is just great....a very positive and motivating bunch!

Good luck with your goal! :D Do you have a particular date set to reach that goal? Just wondered...

Have a great rest of your day everyone! :D

Ttyl.

-Margo

I havent gotten the hang of wednesday weigh ins yet...Im used to weighing myself on Friday mornings.  Thats just b/c i know I am terrible on the weekends, so i give myself until friday to loose whatever weight the weekend brought on.  terrible i know.  Its really hard when you live with your significant other...my fiance can eat all day long and he is in FANTASTIC SHAPE.  the military trained him to be a maniac at the gym.  Anyway, still chugging along at 129.  waiting to get to 125.  It feels like an impossible goal.  Im sure you all feel like that at times. 

I didnt go to the gym today and feel bad about it now.  I just felt like i needed a break.  Im student teaching, taking a class, working part time and doing wedding stuff.  im sorry, im just venting. 

I hope you are all doing well, Tomorrow is Friday so thats good right?!...I will let you all know how tomorrow mornings weigh in goes. 

wonderswhy - I think that your goal of 129 is totally attainable by May 9th.  If you are having a probably with sweets than you just need to pick it up at the gym.  You can always try to balance things out between gym and diet.  But I do have faith that you can get to the goal and your pic is hot :)

margo - so sorry to hear your are feeling sickey.  When I had my bout of a brochial infection a few weeks ago, I was so gung ho about keeping my weight loss going that I went to the gym throughout my sickness.  I am not sure if that was the best thing, but I didn't have to worry about "climbing back up" to where I was at when I got sick.  I hope you start feeling better.

burnyh - I completely agree with you and don't want to constantly watch what I eat and work out like a banshee, but unfortunately to stay thin I have to be willing to change my lifestyle i.e. eat healthy and workout and it's not so bad, I do feel much better now than when I was eating crappy and not working out so much.

emily - Welcome!

jen - congrats on all you have achieved and enlarging your fitness circle!

hdubs - no worries, sometimes you just need a break.  Do you work out with your fiance?  Seems like he would be a good workout partner...

Jen - I am so jealous you feel like your gym is your bar.  I wish it felt like that for me.  My husband hardly works out (as if he needs to, how come guys have that magical ability to look amazing without changing hardly anything?!).

I live in the town I went to college in.  I met my husband here and he was born here but my hometown is over four hours away and in a different time zone.  I have a hard time feeling at home here.  I don't really know anyone.  Funny thing, after working at the piano store I've run into someone I know at least twice a week.. so apparently everyone I know is a musician.  Anyway, it's hard for me because I  have to drive several miles to get to the gym and even though I'm quite self motivated once I get there I wonder what it would be like to recognize people there.  On Tuesday night I saw one of the guys I work with at the gym, for the first time I saw someone I knew there since I joined last summer.  It was weird.  I hope he didn't see me.

That was for venting since I needed to do it, and some of you have shared your vents as well.  I guess what I'm saying is.. I just have a hard time getting the energy up to get dressed and change, drive over there, all the while thinking about all the other things I could have been doing in my free time, but then at the same time when I am not working out I'm wishing I could.  So I can run a mile now, I guess I'll just push myself harder so I don't wish I could have done more after I leave the gym. 

Does anyone else understand or feel the sameway?

I want to know about burnyh's question too, will it be easier to maintain?  Gosh I hope so.

Happy Friday everyone! :D

I think we are all entitled to vent now and again.  We are here to get healthier and maintain that health, right? So, what could be healthier for stress and frustrations than venting those feelings to a group of wonderfully supportive, positive, uplifting and real women!? So, I say....go ahead! :D

mrseric17 - Good luck and cheers to your 125lb. goal! :D It's attainable I think and you just have to do what you can to not let the negative outweigh your positive attitude about the gym, getting healthy, etc.

We all need breaks now and again from working out/the gym.... I'm doing that right now myself b/c of my cold and stress of my life right now too...so I hear ya! :D

It sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now as well, so just take things one day at a time.....we're here for you! :D Hope your weigh in today goes well too! :D

I weigh in at my house on Mondays b/c I am doing a BL challenge w/ my stepdad and then I try to weigh in for this group on Wed....so I hear ya about trying to fit in 2 weigh ins a week....though it's doable. :D

Jennifer - Thanks for the support and wishing me better. :D *hugs!* Glad you are doing better too! :D I have a lot going on right now on top of my being sick, so as I told mrseric17, I too am just doing what I can to take things 1 day at a time. :D Thanks! :D

Burnyh *and the rest of the ladies on here* -

My opinion for losing weight vs. maintaining the lose.....it seems for some ppl. that the battle to lose weight seems harder than maintainance, for the simple fact that for some ppl. the will and the motivation to 'never go back to their heavier weight' sort of mind set is stronger than their desire for the foods and the lack of exercise, etc. that got them heavy or more unhealthy in the first place.  It all depends on the sort of person someone is I guess. :D

At the same time, it seems, for someone to change from one type of lifestyle to another is harder than finally meeting your goal(s) and then vowing to never/or work your butt off to not get to that previous weight, etc.  I am one of those ppl. that has always had a sweet tooth, big time, and loves food....so to try and train myself through exercise and learning new ways to eat healthier foods that still taste good to me is a huge hurdle to get over.  I have always been the 'bit chunkier' girl compared to my sister/cousins/some of my friends, etc. and a few yrs. ago I got down to a size/weight that I had NEVER been (in my teen/adult years) but I got that way by accident really....not sure how it happened. I wasn't consciously watching my food intake or exercising so it's not like I was striving for a certain weight and size to be able to be one of those ppl. that could say 'hey I'm 'skinnier' now and I won't let myself get bigger'...as I mentioned before...so b/c I didn't have that previous mindset, I did end up 'letting myself' go though now I am working at my exercise and calorie intake more so that this time when I do get down to my more desired weight/size I can then say, I want to stay healthy and not go back to being 'size such and such' by being lazy, etc. 

So, after all that....I want to encourage you...keep up with your goals! You're looking great already...you can do this...for yourself (& for whomeever else you are looking to 'impress'. ;D ) to be able to enjoy life to it's fullest w/o guilt/pain..etc.

Working toward the goal to get healthier for a lifestyle change and not just to lose weight is the difference.  It's choosing to not allow yourself to feel like a slave to watching calories/exercise, but having the 'healthier lifestyle' become a natural part of your life, so you don't think of eating healthier and exercise as 'chores' or 'I have to's..' etc.  It will and should all eventually become 2nd nature to you so that you can go on and enjoy life as intended w/o that additional stress/worry.  

A lot of this whole notion is a psychologcial thing..right?

If you are mentally/physically ready to allow yourself to achieve these goals and not let fear and whatever else overcome you....you CAN do this! Reflect for a minute, as one example, how the ppl. on 'The Biggest Loser' show end up at the end? They started out w/ the 'I can't' attitude at being 'such and such' weight...and by the end of the show they have really 'transformed' themselves into being the ppl. they felt inside to show outside...mentally and physically. They were able to let go of the 'I can't' and embrace the 'I can, I will, I want' type attitudes and were able to learn from the right types of people how to change their previous behaviors with better eating habits, ways of doing exercise, etc.  Playing w/ your kids or running outside with your pet are forms of exercise that some may not think of as exercise, but it is....that's the 'enjoying life part' of working out.  So that there are more options given that there are more ways to work out than only being on the inside of a gym, etc. :)  

Make sense? I hope I didn't alienate myself in anything that I said above...?!

Just trying to remind myself and you all of these things that sometimes we may tend to forget or take for granted that we already know....:D

 Simi -

As for not knowing a lot of ppl. where you are currently living....I feel your pain in that. :/ (hugs!) You aren't alone...

Having moved around every 2.5-3 years in my life..a.f. brat.  I haven't found my niche yet. Yes, I've been here in the state of Mass. for just over 2 yrs. now, but that really doesn't say 'I've found my home yet' considering my life...even w/ my moving in w/ my boyfriend, etc. that's coming up....I think it may take me this year or maybe next to finally feel I can build a foundation somewhere to start to call a place, 'home'.

So with that, :)  chin up, Simi. :D It's great to hear that your new job seems to create a 'common bond' for you.  Maybe that's a start to build some friends/getting to know people.  It seems if you go to the gym more, as I've found, you see the same ppl. more often and it gives you a better chance at chatting w/ them and possibly building more relationships that way.  :D

Also, great and that you are able to still push yourself at the gym and that you can still keep yourself focused, regardless of how you are feeling about things. :D Do what you can...but don't burn yourself out....  Part of exercise is finding things you enjoy, right?, so that you don't let things become too 'boring' and end up stopping....  :D So, keep up w/ the running, if that's what you like. :D

Okay, I've blabbered on wayyy too long here...sorry ladies.

Well, ANYWAY, hope you all have a great day! Looking forward to the weekend, as I'm sure you all are as well. :D

Thanks again for everything, ladies....:D  I guess I had a lot to voice today....hope you don't hold that against me..... :/ :D

Ttyl.

-Margo

Well, I'm running a little behind on the WED weigh in.

I'm happy to report:

Starting Weight: 140

Current Wt: 130 (lost a lb)

Goal Wt: 115-120

Short term goal: get to 122 by May 9th (that's 2lbs lost per week)

I'm sooo excited about this one lb lost! Just seeing the scale move is fantastic for me. I've tried all kinds of "diets" but only once before had I tried it CC's way, which worked by the way. I'm so mad that I didn't think about it before. But oh well, it took my graduation dress not fitting for me to wake up about my health and fitness. What a wake up call.....

I can't help but to think.....What if I never tried it on again until the day of graduation.....That would have been devastating. Well, I'm putting that out of my mind and I'm enjoying the extra room in my clothes.

120's will be here soon and I am sooooo excited (haven't seen that number in years!)

Morisht - Congrats!!! :D It is a great feeilng when clothes fit right...good luck on your May goal! :D Way to go with allowing yourself to revel in your dress fitting well than focusing on negative thoughts. :D whoohoo! Keep it up!

Let that excitment live on....hehe..cheesy as that sounds......

-Margo

Smiles - thanks for the words of encouragement.  I really do want to reach my GW, and once there I want to maintain...not necessarily just to stay the same weight but for the whole healthy/strong aspect of it all.  You're right about not focusing on the scale and to remember to not being a "slave" to the calorie counting ...I don't think I'm quite there yet.  Saying no or just have small portions of all of that delicious unhealthy favorite foods out there is still very much a chore.  I'm hoping that by the time I do reach my GW, a healthy diet will be 2nd nature. 

On a good note, the scale was friendly this morning....getting rid of those few extra pounds from last weekend's splurging....I took measurements just to see if there were any changes since the scale isn't doing it for me.  Eveyrthing is the same except for losing .5" off my chest.  Not the ideal spot to be losing inches, but I'll take it.  I'm hoping that it was some of the back fat rather than "boobs."  hehe.

Anyhow...happy aloha Friday everyone!

Burnyh - I am glad that my words were helpful. :D

Oh, believe me, I'm still not 'there yet' either when it comes to overcoming my sweet tooth, etc. :D It may take a long while, but little changes to start (esp. w/ the eating habits) is a good thing. :D I feel I'm much more 'gungho' about the aspect of exercising (sometimes it may just be in my head b/c I don't follow through as I should lately). :/ Though all in all, the whole 'losing weight' and getting my head wrapped around 'WHEN I get to my maintence weight' vs. 'If...' is all a daily battle..

So, I'm there w/ you....though keep it going. You're doing great! Those beach pics. look great too!

I wish I was in Hawaii right now! :D

Ttyl. 

-Margo

Thank for the input Jen and Margo.  It's good to know you were a loner the first few years, that is def. where I am.  My husband does work out with me some but I don't get nearly enough done while he is there.  He'll lift a few weights, run a really fast mile and then say, ok let's go.  He never stretches, he never does reps, and he never pushes himself unless it is lifting more than his max only one time.  That drives me crazy.  If he runs with me he always tells me that I am going too slow and I just tell him to pass me already.  So I really like being alone sometimes, sometimes being the key word.

I'd like to update that I really pushed myself today at the gym.  Not only did I up the #'s that I was doing on the machines I also ran/walked intervals for two miles without stopping :)  Walk one lap, run the next and so on.  I've never done that much cardio before, or like that before but I was drenched in sweat afterwards and it felt good.

So maybe part of my complaining was soley because I wasn't being hard enough on myself, I was being a little bit of a brat I must confess.  I just need to man-up and get my a$$ to the gym for crying out loud!

Big deal for me update: I am starting to see some calf definition :)  First time ever!!

While I work out the gym plays these music videos all around on different TV's and I was thinking about it while I was running today, there was some slinky girl on the TV singing about sex or something (all those songs are about sex anyway ) :) I thought, I can be like that, I can look like her if I want to.  That is what I love about this group, all of us can look that good, as good as they do on TV because we are only 5, 10, or even 15 pounds away from a good body and lots of us just need toning and bam, we are going to be hot stufff! 

I got excited anyway, does anyone else think that?  That is honestly one of the biggest motivators in my life, I think.. I'm 23, 129lbs, with a pretty good metabolism, why would I just take that for granted, if I pushed myself a little bit I could have that six pack, I could look good in heels, I could even turn heads.  I want that.  I'm going to have that.

We're all going to have it :)

Original Post by simignonne:

I thought, I can be like that, I can look like her if I want to.  That is what I love about this group, all of us can look that good, as good as they do on TV because we are only 5, 10, or even 15 pounds away from a good body and lots of us just need toning and bam, we are going to be hot stufff! 

I got excited anyway, does anyone else think that?  That is honestly one of the biggest motivators in my life, I think.. I'm 23, 129lbs, with a pretty good metabolism, why would I just take that for granted, if I pushed myself a little bit I could have that six pack, I could look good in heels, I could even turn heads.  I want that.  I'm going to have that.

We're all going to have it :)

 Simi - you're cute...hehehe...and I agree -- we're all rapidly approaching serious hotness.

Thanks for the encouragement, everyone! I've decided not to give up on my 129 goal...maybe I really can do it! It's just going to be a struggle because of the stress, stress, stress that the end of the semester brings. But I'm ready to take it on! I'm going to be more diligent about montitoring my cal intake again, and try to get more exercise in. Today is a great day for my motivation to make more progress in the muscle department, because I HURT. My middle eastern dance class took a "field trip" to see some live musicians last night, and I ended up dancing my little heart out for two and a half hours. I hurt from head to toe (especially my stomach and sides...yay!), and most of it is "good pain"...with just a twinge of bad pain in my back, but nothing a bit more stretching won't take care of. Such fun, and such good exercise! Dancing and walking are my only cardio these days. I actually haven't been to a gym to work out (in the traditional sense) since....June of 2005! *GASP* Wow, that's a long time...

Margo - I hope you feel better!!! I enjoyed reading your comments on maintainence. I've been thinking a lot about how to handle that, given how unstable my lifestyle is. I'll probably be overseas for a month or two this summer, and then back to mostly dorm food in the fall! (that's just crazy to think about...it's like coming full circle and turning into a college freshman all over again!). So, in the midst of all that, how do eating habits and a fitness routine endure? Here's what I've come up with for myself:

FOOD: I'm focusing on vegetables, portion control and eating more slowly. This is #1 priority, and "super health food" is #2, since I won't have consistent access to it in the future.

EXERCISE: #1 priority is sustainable fitness, so that means exercise that requires no gym equipment. Even though it isn't as effective in some respects, all my supposed "weight training" is just me against my own body weight. I decided to do this after realizing how discouraging it would be to lift weights at the gym, make progress, and then just leave and get all squishy again, hehe. So for me it's walking, dancing, yoga, push-ups, sit-ups, and so on....

That's the plan. Sound reasonable?

Oh, I almost forgot to add - I finally weighed myself today. 135. Surprise, surprise. But I'm cutting myself some slack because it was just a random moment during the day when I had plenty of water and some food in my system. So how about we just round it down to 134...  Do you think I might be carrying a little more water weight from all the sore muscles? I heard that's a possibility. Or am I just searching for excuses?

Happy Weekend!! And again, thanks for the support! You guys are everything I was hoping for in a support system and more!

Hey Hdub - We didn't hear how your weigh in went?  I bet you are super excited about your wedding coming up.  My husband and I haven't been married a year yet, it's a wonderful thing (being married, not the whole not being married a year yet..)  I totally understand the busy schedule.  I used to work for Starbucks and I was an opener (because I'm just that darn cute at 5am).  I would work from 5:30 to 11 or 12 and then run home, take a nap, shower and start teaching from 2:30 to 8 at night, and I did this 4-5 days a week, while  being a newly wed.  It really sounds good that your commitments are only this semester, you  need all the time you can get with your new husband!  Oh and btw, I don't work that crazy schedule any more, I found out that I could really over extend myself. :)  Anyways... post here girl!  What is your weigh in?!

Wonders - Thanks for thinking I'm cute :)  I'm really excited about seeing my legs look better with running. 

So I'm posting two days in a row :)  I just wanted to share something that made my self esteem go through the roof!

Last weekend (not this past weekend, the one before that) my husband and I went to bachelor/bachelorette parties respectfully.  This past weekend we attended the wedding for the same couple and at the reception the guy that hosted the bachelor party went up to my husband and said, 'I can see why you weren't so interested in going to a strip club (which they didn't do, they went to laser tag).  I wouldn't be that interested either if I had that waiting on me at home'.   :)  I felt like a million bucks, and thought to myself, you're darn right he isn't interested!  I really want to be that hot for my husband, I want him to lust after me, and after this weekend, he proved himself :)

I posted a new pic if anyone is interested...still hovering at the 130 mark, but I guess my body is looking a bit more toned.  Still wanting to lose the "muffin top" and tighten up the thighs a bit....is it possible to get rid of that extra pudge around the middle after having 2 kids?  *sigh* I know, impossible to spot reduce....it's all in the diet..yada yada yada....there is no easy solution is there?.....slow and steady.  I keep reminding myself.

simi - congrats on being the "hot wife"!

magspa - we're twins! well, at least in terms of current stats (I'm 5'7, 22, and 135lbs). However, I must have a larger frame, 'cause even when I was skinny I was 120lbs. anyway, welcome to the club!

burnyh - your bikini pic looks amazing! I see no signs of "muffin top" potential! You do look quite toned. I hope I can look like that after two kids. I hereby declare you winner of the "hot mama" award.

Simignonne, that's awesome! What a great compliment

Welcome magspa!

lol burnyh I don't see a muffin top either. Sorry, no advice here - I still think if I wish hard enough, I'll be able to spot reduce...

On a cheerful note: My boyfriend noticed that I've dropped weight! :]

simi - that is so awesome - kudos to you!

burnyh - great bikini pic, i agree w/ the other ladies - no visible muffin top :)

saucie - it's great when other people notice alll your hard work.  I mean, I feel like I'm making a difference with my working out but I don't really believe it until I receive a compliment from someone else.  It makes me want to get right back in the gym as soon as possible because I know it is working.

margo - biggest loser finale tomorrow - i am super excited!!!  I am also keeping my fingers crossed that you will when your bl bet :)

so, about two weeks ago I was teetering above my goal weight (125) and I think I got a little "cocky" and thought oh i can eat whatever cuz i lost weight and I'm thin now.  Unfortunately, I learned I am not invincible and I am once again fighting with the scale to get close to that number again.  so, i guess i just am a little disappointed in myself for slacking with my diet.  so balls to the wall ladies - especially since i have plans to pranch around in a bikini next month in vegas - no squishy wanted :)

simignonne:  Thank you for wondering about my weigh in...i really love it here (in this group)...its so nice to vent and throw ideas around.  anyway my weigh in was alright, no change.  still at 129, so it could be worse. 

I cant wait to get married!  im so excited.  We live together already but just the idea of being a wife...makes me so happy.  I cant wait for this semester to be over so i can relax just a bit!  Ok, I'll weigh my self on wednesday with everyone, but if i dont like it, i'll give myself till friday!!  ;)