Hi all. Welcome to Week 4 of the July 15th Challenge. The chat thread is the place to talk about your triumphs, struggles, day-to-day issues, and to well, chat. You can post your WI numbers, losses, and g-d forbid gains here but please post those numbers on the "results" thread if you would like me to track your numbers.

Just came back from my WI and I am officially out of the 170s!!! I felt like I was trapped in the 170s forever!!! I now weigh 169.5. It feels great to say 160 something and not 170 something. I had a tough time fitting in my three workouts this week but I pulled it off. I had to go to the gym on WI day in order to catch up. I am going to Orlando this Friday on a short trip with friends and am looking forward to making some smart choices. I will post my weight loss on the results thread once it is up. Good luck everyone!

Good Morning Ladies -- Yesterday was my anniversary and I am very happy with my choices. I cooked dinner to avoid not knowing what I was really getting at a restaurant. I wanted to eat out on the deck but weather did not cooperate. We did eat in our dining room on our good dishes which usually only seems to happen when we have tons of family over for a holiday so it was nice. I did not have wine but decided instead on a fancy dessert. I saw someone suggest this under food ideas - I took the chocolate cake and sliced in half and put partially frozen cherries mixed with a tsp of no-sugar jelly to hold it together inside. I warmed the cake up first and topped with FF whip cream. Waaalaaa - one black forest cake. It was heavenly. My JCC will be on vacation next week and I made a deal with her that on my next Monday appt when she gets back I will be under 130 so I have re-motivated myself to following the plan 100% and measuring everything again and writing it all down. I hope this will finally get the scale moving for me.

Ready - How did the b-day party at school turn out? Congrats on being under 140 at home. I hope your WI has similar results today!!

Sue - Sorry it has been such a rough few weeks. How are you doing? I completely understand the one bad choice leads to another and if you come up with the answer to why it is so hard when we know what to do right; you will be a millionaire. I like the one bite at a time and brushing your teeth. Sometimes a quick 5 min walk works for me. Get up get out walk around the yard, up and down the street, etc. I am feeling for you on how easy it is to get out of shape. I do think over time the body bounces back faster even if you are sore at first. I went to a new weight lifting class last Friday and Saturday every muscle hurt - even to laugh. Ahh - the loss of the afternoon nap. I do remember that day even if it was many years ago. Maybe some quiet time looking at books so Mom can still nap. Hang in there and you will be completely back on track before you know it.

Oscar - How are you doing on the 1200 plan?

FutureMommy - Congrats on being under 170 - Whoo Hoo!!! Have fun in Orlando.

Chris - How are you doing this post-birthday week? I am right there with you on the -.2 lbs sucks. If I find something that works, I will definitely share. I am still in awe over the yoga pose. I am thinking I need to look into the yoga classes at my gym.

Linda - Hope you are having a great time in Disneyland!! Drink lots of water.

Karmen - How did you appt go on Sat at the new center?

Donna - How are you doing? How is the walking vest working out? I do like the mental part of it.

GoBrowns - you must be close to goal - how are you doing?

Hope everyone is having a fantastic JC day

Hey everyone,

One step forward, one step back....I ended up back at my doctor's today, chest x-rays, CT, etc. Now I have to go to this institute for Asthma and Allergy assessments - no one really knows what is wrong with me! But I am so doped up on every drug imaginable, STILL coughing, can't sleep for the wracking cough, can't get a full breath without wheezing, etc. I think I went back to boot camp too soon b/c it seemed to make the wheezing worse. I am really hoping this is a temporary condition - I feel like I've been sick for a month now - I'm sure you're all sick of hearing about it -I am sick of hearing myself complain!!!! ARGH!!!

Ready, thanks for reminding me about that resistance muscle. I am feeling more in control today. I really need to stay there since I can't count on exercise to help me tone and burn calories. I can do some toning work, but no cardio for awhile. We will have to always be there to remind each other of those resistance/giving in muscles!

2beslim, happy anniversary! Love how you made conscious choices - dessert instead of wine. You should feel so proud of yourself. You can do this for the rest of your life

Futuremommy, congratulations! I can't wait to be out of the 170s. Hope Orlando is fun.

Everyone else - keep up the great work and keep posting!

Best,
Sue

FutureMommy81- Yea!!! 160's!! Congrats! I totally hear you on being trapped at a certain weight for what seems like forever! I am hoping for a breakthough this week also. Yea!! {{doing the happy dance for you}}

2BeSlim- Happy Anniversary!! Good for you for cooking on your anniversary. I don't think I would've done the same even if it is a better choice. My scale at home has me all over the place this week up a lb down a lb. Well I guess we'll see what happens at my WI tonight.

Sue- Aww I'm so sorry you're still not feeling well. It really is tough when you can't seem to catch your breath. I hope they find out soon what is going on w/ you so that you could breathe normally and actually get some sleep.

As for me, I have been doing a lot of lunches on my own since I had so much grilled chicken left from my bbq. I been making my own little chicken sandwiches w/ a salad for lunch. My JCC thinks I am doing all the right things and she says she is not worried at all about me, which is a great compliment I guess. I seriously hope that this week is the week I enter the 120's before it does start messing w/ my head. On a side note though I wore a bikini on Sunday and sat on the beach w/ just the bikini on!! This Sat I have a black tie wedding to go to and I am gonna be non-stop from 7am until I get home at night. I am thinking of packing a cooler w/ everything I will need to eat that day so that I can keep to a plan of action. We'll see what happens.

I'll let you guys all know how I did today at WI later!

Chris

Hi everyone. Been crazy busy with work right now, and home, and activities, well you all know.

The 1200 plan has not been an issue , I always had a hard time eating all the extras on the 1500 anyway.

I need to up my exercise now, I am starting to notice floppy skin, ewwwwwwww

I was down 1.2 this week for a total lost so far of 45.6 and we did measurments today

21 inches off my body, almost all from hips and abdomen. That makes me feel good, very good.

Hi ladies!

Sorry I have been MIA. Work has been super busy and then in the evenings we've been going to the gym or to the pool so I haven't been online much.

I had a shocker last week when I went for my weigh-in. I was up 3.2 pounds! I was like, holy crap!! I weighed in at a different time (end of the day) instead of at lunch, so I had been drinking water all day, plus I'd eaten breakfast, snack, lunch, snack. So, I knew it wasn't accurate. But it still peeved me off! LOL! Anyway, I went and weighed in today at lunch and was down 5 pounds... so lost the 3.2 from last week plus another 1.8. Yippee!!

I also had my measurements done last week and was down an additional 6 inches. I can't believe I've lost 44 inches! Craziness!

I'm not sure if I told you guys about the 24 hour relay that we were participating in. Anyways, we did it last weekend. It started at 10am on Saturday and went until 10am on Sunday. There is a 3 kilometre track and you have to have someone from your team on the track at all times. I ended up walking the course 8 times! Thank goodness, too... because I needed to work off all the beer I was drinking! hahahaha! It was a really great time and for a great cause. The money raised all goes toward sending children with disabilities to this really awesome summer camp.

I'm still tired from the lack of sleep... still trying to catch up on all my housework and laundry too! LOL!!

Well... off to read the boards now. Hope you all have a fabulous week.

Chat soon,
Lisa

Oscar- Great job! Wow look at all the inches lost! Congrats!

Lisa- Wow a 24 hour relay? I don't think I would be able to do that! Good for you! Definitely catch up on your sleep.

Well OMG I had the biggest loss I've had in weeks! AND I am now in the 120's! I hope that this means I've truly broken through this plateau and I hope i will have a nice string of losses going forward. Lets see what happens.

Good luck to everyone else who has to yet wi!

Chris

Good morning and happy tues everyone. I'm down -1.2 this week to be officially in the 130's (139.6) even with TOM. I was lower at home in the morning but I'm not sweating the difference. The bday party at school was very nice. I did not have any cupcakes. Took my son for ice cream yesterday and did not partake. Went to the movies last night (sex and the city) and brought my JC snack. Then came home and had a glass of wine and a few chocolate kisses. I have my son's preschool graduation today and then his fifth birthday Sat. I am planning to have a small piece of cake at his birthday party Sat but will forgo the pizza. We're meeting with ped dentists at columbia presbyterian Friday to get a second opinion and hopefully the $$ won't be as exorbitant as the first estimate. I will be relieved when we have the plan in place and taking action on it. My anticipatory anxiety is always worse than the thing itself.

Congrats FutureMommy! That is really exciting. Good for you for making it to the gym 3x.

Happy anniversary Vickie. Sounds like a lovely evening. You are back in the zone and will be back under 130 very soon. The black forest cake sounds yummy.

Hey Sue, I hope you start to feel better soon. Does your gym have a steam room? I wonder if that would bring you any relief. I think you are right to lay off the boot camp and aerobic stuff until you feel better. Maybe just weights and toning exercises - or yoga.

Hiya Chris, I love that you wore a bikini at the beach without having to try to cover yourself up. I'm sure you'll look great at the wedding. What are you going to wear? Congrats on making it to the 120s!!!

Oscar, good for you on the lbs and inches lost. I noticed some extra skin on my stomach - especially when I bend over. I'm hoping that more situps will help with the tone. I saw a picture of Cindy Crawford in a bikini post kids and she has it too. Regardless, I'd rather have extra skin than extra fat any day! Don't let it get you down.

Lisa, so nice to hear from you. Yea on being back down and then some. 44 inches lost! Have you held up a measuring tape to see what that looks like! F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S. The charity relay sounds like fun.

Wow - such great losses this week!

Chris - sitting on the beach in a bikini = priceless! How great you must feel!!! Congratulations on hitting the 120s

Ready - Great loss even with TOM - that means next week will be great too! You sound so happy and very in control with your planning - you are an inspiration to me and I am thinking of you every time I flex that resistance muscle (which I am proud to say I've been flexing these last few days!). Good luck with the 2nd opinion - I hope you get some better news this time.

Oscar - Yeah, floppy skin is a bummer. But so much better than chubby rolls - ha! Have you tried any of those firming lotions? I use the Dove firming moisturizer every morning and I think it makes me feel better - probably it's not THAT much of a difference, but I think it helps a bit on the surface. Other than that, I think toning helps some...and beyond that, c'est la vie. I think my upper arm flab is here to stay (bat wings!), but I still think it's better than fat upper arms.

Lisa - Holy guacamole! I can't imagine a 24 exercise event! I'm too old for that - I don't recover from sleep loss like I used to...good for you!

As for me, it's another day of no cardio...but trying hard to stay very in control eating=wise. I am going to force myself to do some toning exercises this afternoon...I think sit ups, push ups, some arm curls and leg lifts. I hate that kind of exercise - I am really lazy about it and only do it in boot camp b/c it's a group environment and I hate to slack in front of others. I don't belong to a gym, so if I'm going to do it it has to be me, at home. But I hate the thought of getting completely out of shape while I sit out the cardio, so I guess it has to be done (sigh).

Another goal for today - LOTS of water!

Have a great day everyone!

Sue

Chris – WhooHoo – Congrats on getting under 130 and wearing a bikini to the beach!!

Ready Congrats on getting into the 130’s ; you are keeping me motivated. Good luck with your 2^nd opinion.

Oscar and Lisa – You have lost almost 4 feet. Take a tape measure out and look at it – that is fantastic!

Sue – I am sooo sorry that you are still not feeling well. Take Care of yourself and let us know when they figure out what is causing the wheezing.

I had an unexpected surprise today. When I went to work, my office buildings were closed because there is no power and they sent us home. We had terrible storms here last night and power is out all over. Lucky for me we have power at our house as well as at my kids school

I am hoping to join all of you celebrating this week. I am sticking to plan and getting in my exercise.

Vickie

Vickie - where do you live? I live in Arlington nr. McLean!!!

Sue - That is too funny. We live less than 30 minutes from each other. When you are feeling better, I think we need a shopping trip to Tysons

Vicki - that's too funny - it's a date !

We're off to visit friends at their lake house this weekend. Lots of beer drinking, burger eating, and carousing, I'm sure. I will be trying to exercise that resistance muscle - lots of water and seltzer for me. I'm bringing cut up veggies, some healthy coleslaw with fruit in it and a very light dressing, and lots of strawberries. Hopefully I can stay away from the temptations. Sitting around in a bathing suit will certainly help me keep my goals in mind.

I just got the most fun thing today - a sno-cone machine! It shaves ice into these beautiful fluffy snowballs. I got sugar free syrup and....YUM! Sugar free cherry, blue raspberry, and watermelon. My kids think I'm the coolest mom EVER because I can make slurpees at home. I love this age b/c they're so easily impressed I am feeling pretty awesome knowing the sno cones are only about 1 calorie each (don't even want to think about the chemicals....uh oh). I made a diet coke slurpee for myself today and was in heaven. Ya gotta love Target.

Alrighty friends, have a great weekend and I'll check in with you next week!

Cheers,
Sue

Hi Ladies. It has been another insane week over here. I still need to work on control issues with my snacking. I did get to the gym for the first time in a month (since byopsy). I felt good about that. I have been using the walking vest as well. I get some pretty weird glances when wearing it. It looks like I am wearing a life vest. I was up 3 lbs. this week. I am hoping some was TOM. I had two good weeks back to back so who knows what this week will bring. I would love to get at least 2 of the 3 pounds off. I will be weighing in at home because I am only going to the center every two weeks now.

Future Mommy- Congrats on the 160's. Have a great time in Orlando.

2BeSlim- How is your motivation holding up? Hope you enjoyed that exta day off. I'm so jealous.

Onehotmama- Hope your feeling better. Your always welcome to vent here. Thats why we are here. How are your toning exercises going?

Wishing2bskinny- Good luck at the wedding this Sat. Make sure you dance alot and show off that new body in the 120's!!!!!!!!!!!

Oscar T. Grouch- 45.6lbs and 21 inches WOW!!!!!! You must feel so good. You should be proud.

lisainvic- OMG 44 inches is amazing. I cant imagine how many sizes you must be down. Did you get your well deserved rest you were looking for? Be careful of over eating when you are that tired. Thats one of my big downfalls.

readytochange- Great self control. Hope your second opinion went well.

Anyone I missed have a great week-end.

How did everyone do this weekend? My weekend had a lot of activities but also a lot of food. I tried to make good choices but still up on weight this morning. I do not WI this week since JCC is on vacation. Tonight is DH b-day. I am cooking on the grill so I should be able to control what I am eating. I am okay mentally because I know I made mostly good choices and I got in a lot of exercise this weekend. I joined a new running group and ran with them on Saturday. I also start swim technique lessons this week. I went to the pool yesterday and swam some laps. It is very interesting that I have been running for years but the muscles and aerobic breathing is very different. I was exhausted after a few laps. This might be what I need to shake my body up since it is use to the running.

Sue – How did you do at your friend’s this weekend? Sno-Cone sounds awesome. I might need to look into one of those if this heat does not give us a break soon. I am definitely up for a trip to Tysons once this week is over. Last week of school for my kids. Hurray! I am looking forward to not having to get them out of the house each morning at 7 a.m.

Donna – Glad you are back at the gym. I find the walk vest interesting from a mental perspective. Try picking it up and carrying it around the amount of weight you have lost. It is hard to believe that we did that all the time. I like the show on Biggest Loser each season where they make them put on a body suit with the weight that they started out at. It is eye-opening. I completely understand the need to control the snacking and how hard that is when we are busy.


Hope everyone has a great day!