Hey,,what is going on with the site. I haven't been able to get on for a few days either. Missed everyone.
Susan, moving sucks. I am sure you are stressed. I know I would be. I have heard how hard it is for Americans to leave Italy. Not like in the States where we let everyone in and out. Kinda wish it was a little stricker here, but what you have to go through is over the top. After thursday, it will be much easier for you I hope.
I am cookin, cookin, cookin, this week cause I am having Thanksgiging for my whole family here. Just want as much pre_done as possible so I can enjoy the family time. Plus, I have a hugh cake order for Saturday, and my son is in a hockey tournament all weekend and the grandkids are all hear all weekend. Ok just shoot me. Stress, what stress, lol.
Well, well, well...my last day in my sweet little apartment. I'll miss this place...a little yard, a 10 minute walk to the center of the city, 2 miles to work...it's been good and it'll be hard to leave. I'm also relieved that tomorrow is almost here because I can't stand all this stuff around me (essentially my entire office), and by this time tomorrow, it'll be packed and possibly out of here, if they decide to load tomorrow as well. After that, I'll walk around corner to stay at my friend's house until the 10th or 11th, then to another friend's house, then to a hotel on the 13th until I fly out on the 16th. So that's my Thanksgiving. I've all but given up watching my calories, I'm just trying to maintain, I'm getting lots of invitations to eat out. So I was treated to lunch today and then tomorrow night to dinner and many more to come. As of tonight, I've so far 14,000 steps,so hopefully I can keep that up.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Thinking of you, Susan! Hope the "moving out" process goes smoothly for you!!
Susan, hope your move goes smoothly for you. Sonia, Yea for you on the 3 lbs. We Americans need some inspiration through these holidays.
Hi everyone! Sorry I've been MIA for SO long, but we are finally settled in the new house. We ended up having to scrub and paint every surface in the place, getting an exterminator, etc, etc. The place was nasty. But now it's our lovely new house and at the ripe old age of 33, I am FINALLY a homeowner!!
The diet has gone pretty much in the toilet for the moving process, I have been too busy and too broke to make too many healthy choices. (Why is a healthy menu so darn expensive!!) But I guess since I have been running so much, I've been losing anyway. I'm down about 4 lbs since I was last on, now at 172. I actually got into a pair of size 10 jeans last week! I have about 7 lbs to go to meet my goal and I think (hope!!) once I get started on my workouts again, it should come right off.
On a somewhat related note, my DH and I saw a commercial for Lane Bryant and he asked me, isn't that a 'big girl' store? Those models weren't big. I said...yes, they were plus size models. Plus sizes start at either 12 or 14, so about my size. His eyes popped open and he said, YOU'RE not plus size!! Bless his soul. Maybe now he understands a little more about the pressure that society places on women about our size.
Sorry I don't have time to catch up with everyone, I hope everything is going okay for everybody during the holidays. Good luck with your move, Susan, that sounds like a nightmare. Big Congrats on the loss, Sonia, that's awesome!!
Congrats on your new home and weight loss! You are doing so awesome!
Your new home sounds great, Shelley! You sound very excited.
So where is everyone?? It's been pretty quiet here lately. I hope everyone is ok. However, I fear it's been quiet because there hasn't been much weight loss, so let's all psyche ourselves up for a great week of eating well and exercising our butts off!!
Good morning everyone.
Sorry I have not been on. I tried when it was down the begining of last week, then things got VERY busy, and I was home a total of 30 hours from Thursday morning until last night. We stayed where ever we were for the get togethers. Better stay when both of us have been drinking than risk a DUI!!!
Susan hope things went well on Thursday and your stress level is now reduced. Good luck on your move. I hope when you get back in the states you come back here and continue with our little group.
congrats on those of you who have lost, I am very afraid to get on the scale after this weekend.
I got up and worked out this morning, so I feel really good about that.
I know that it was my week for cheerleader, sorry I slacked off, my intention was to give challenges before Thursday to last the weekend because I knew I wouldnt be loging on.
So todays challenge is to forgive yourself for your slips over the weekend and make a challenge for the up coming christmas (or which ever holiday you celebrate) to control your eating, wether that be give up something high calorie so you can splurge on other things, or limit all things so you can have a little of everything. But be aware of what we eat for the next 4 weeks.
Sorry I've been MIA we left last Monday to drive up to Kentucky to visit my dh's family. We got home LATE Friday night then spent the weekend doing laundry, running errands and putting up our Christmas decorations. CONSIDERING where I was this past week my eating was HORRIBLE not not good by all means but I did better than I thought I would! Of course between yesterday and today I've nearly eaten a whole bag of almond m&m's UGH I swear! DANG that dh for being nice and buying them for me....... I HAVE to focus this week DH's company christmas party is this weekend... I HAVE to be able to fit into a dress I already have can't afford to buy a new one. But on a good note that means the kids are spending the night w/ my parents WAHOOO for a kid free night haven't had one of those since the last christmas party LOL....
Good luck on the move Susan
Congrats ont he new house Shelly
sorry I'm missing updates
I'm sorry! I'm so busy and overwhelmed, I can't think straight. You cannot believe how much there is to do in moving from a foreign country, it's making my head spin!
Well, I think (hope) the majority of my stress will be over after today. The inspection of my apartment itself went fine, no problems.
The inspector gave me my final meter readings, and that's when the trouble started...the Italian electric company, much to my dismay and without my knowing it, has been estimating my bills for the past 6 years. Mama mia, that's not good. It's such a bureacracy here...your first utility bill doesn't arrive for nearly a year after you put it in your name. And you usually get 4-6 bills a year, not one every month. And this feels very culture-centric, but this seems so easy to do, we do it fairly well in North America, right?? What's the problem? So when I took in my final readings, I owed $1422! Really, I almost started crying, this was so unexpected. I literally got a headache writing the check. This was from money I've saved for next year...it was so distressing.
I drop my car off today to be loaded on the same crate as my furniture, and then I think the majority of my stress will be finished. I still have quite a bit to do, but the big stuff will be over.
I leave Italy 2 weeks from today...that'll be hard. Once I get settled in next month, I promise I'll be more active with posting!
You're doing great, Susan! It will be all over soon. Sorry about the huge bill - that sucks!
Wow Susan, what a huge bill!! Not being prepared for it is even worse. Soon you will be here and it will be done. Hang in there.
I believe this is the worst I have been as cheerleader!! I am so sorry. I have been busy with family and school work which seems to take up 100% of my free time.
Tomorrows challenge (I will do tomorrow since we are all already up and going for the day) is to get in that work out that you have been promising yourself and not doing. Even if it is just 10 minutes of walking, just get up and do it.
Yikes Susan, sorry about the bill. Keep trying to be tough, your almost on your way home.
Ok, since I'm trying to get myself out of this funk from the unemployment thing, don't know how great Ill be at cheerleader this week, but we'll give it a shot.
This is something I found today that I thought could be something we could all do. Since time is so precious and this only takes 20 mins. we can't go wrong. 
Happier, Healthier You Fast Workouts That Really Work!
Posted Wed, Nov 26, 2008, 1:47 pm PST
80% of users found this article helpful.
Post a Comment View All 165 Comments I love my long training runs, but most days carving out more than an hour to work out just isn't in the cards. And when my schedule is really crammed, shoehorning a sweat session seems next to impossible.
Luckily, the fantastic fitness team at SELF let me in on a little secret: You can get an hour's worth of fitness and calorie burning in 20 short minutes. Yes, I was skeptical at first, but this fat-blasting routine is as ultraeffective as it is speedy, and the secret lies in high-intensity spurts of energy. Here's how to do it:
Pick any cardio you like (running, swimming, the elliptical trainer). Warm up for 2 minutes at a moderate pace, then sprint for 30 seconds at the highest intensity you can muster. Slow down and do 90 seconds at a catch-your-breath recovery pace. Repeat eight times. You'll torch more calories in less time, while you burn fat faster. Follow this cardio session with a few of the following fast firmers for a total-body workout in less than 30 minutes.
Tighten your tummy: Do two sets of 10 to 12 crunches on a stability ball. Research from the University of Auckland, Tamaki Campus, in New Zealand, revealed that using the ball makes crunches 20 percent more effective compared to hitting the floor.
Firm up legs: Stand on left foot, hands on hips, and bring right knee to hip level in front. Trace a horizontal figure eight in front of you with knee. Then bend left knee and hop to right, landing on right foot. Repeat figure eight with left knee, then hop back to left to complete one rep. Do 10 reps, then hop back and forth 10 times to complete one set.
Boost your bottom: Stand with feet hip-width apart, hands on waist. Shift weight to left foot and lift heel of right foot so you're resting on toes. Bend left knee and sink hips back, keeping weight off right foot (toes stay on ground). Rise up. Do 12 reps on left leg, then switch legs and repeat.
Bare amazing arms: Holding a dumbbell in each hand, stand with feet hip-width apart. Raise arms, palms down, out and slightly forward to shoulder height. Slowly lower them behind you so weights almost touch. Do 12 reps.
Slim all over: Stand with feet hip-width apart. Keeping legs as straight as possible, bend forward and walk hands out until they're under shoulders. Do two push-ups, then walk hands back and stand. Repeat twice, doing four push-ups, then six.
Ready for more tested toners? Check out Self.com for tips, tools and trimming tricks.
Alaina some of those sound great! For the tummy exercise I have the ball and that's how I do my crunches (only way my body will even let me) and its GREAT I LOVE my ball (now just to fish it out and use it again!)
I hope y'all have a great weekend. My kids are spending the night at my parents house tomorrow b/c dh's job is having there Christmas party at a hotel in Dallas and as our christmas present to each other we got a room a the hotel also. Should be nice to be able to sleep w/o worrying about kids and wake up whenever we want to! My parents even want us to bring the kids over MEGA early tomorrow b/c they have activities planned for the kids so Matt (dh) and I can get some christmas shopping done and just hang out together should be SO nice I'm really excited!
Again I am borrowing from the net, but these all sound great. Let's try to all get some of these in in the coming week. Hopefully we can get another jumpstart on the metabolism b4 the next round of Holiday fair hits the hips. DIE FAT CELLS DIE.
You've heard it again and again, so I'm not going to lecture you (again!) on the importance of eating a big, healthy breakfast, even though 53 percent of you say it's the meal you're most likely to skip, a recent Self.com poll shows. Instead I'll let research give you the nosh-in-the-A.M. nudge. A 10-year study in the journal The Lancet shows that people who eat a morning meal take in fewer calories overall and less saturated fat throughout the day than serial (or should I say "cereal") skippers. What's more, breakfast lovers also have flatter abs and a lower risk for heart disease.
Faced with these facts, it's hard to argue against the rise-and-dine approach. My favorite breakfast is nonfat Greek yogurt with fruit and a handful of granola, which is easy to grab and eat on the go. Of course, there are lots of other options, depending on what you're craving. Why not whip up one of these fast, easy ideas from 15 Minutes to Your Best Self, each of which supplies about 400 calories, the perfect number to get you and your metabolism humming.
Yogurt waffles: Top 2 whole grain waffles with 1 cup plain lowfat yogurt, 1/2 cup raspberries and 2 tsp honey.
Smart spoonfuls: Mix 1/2 cup high-fiber cereal (such as Fiber One) and 2/3 cup shredded wheat; top with 2 tbsp nuts and 1 cup skim milk.
Fruity oatmeal: Top 1 cup cooked oatmeal with 1 cup raspberries or 1/2 cup blueberries or a sliced apple, 2 tbsp chopped nuts and 1 tsp brown sugar or honey. Serve with 1 cup skim milk.
Speedy sandwich: Toast one whole-wheat English muffin or 2 slices whole-wheat bread; top with 1 tbsp peanut butter. Have with 1 pear or apple and 1 cup skim milk.
Super smoothie: Blend 3/4 cup skim milk, 1 frozen banana, 1 cup frozen berries and 1/4 cup apple juice.
For additional tips on eating healthy without hating it (and shedding pounds in the process), check out SELF's Eat Like Me blog, by Cristin Dillon, R.D., or sign up for the Recipe
I'm going to work out today, I'm going to work out today, I'm going to work out today, I'm going to work out today!!
I've still been losing slowly, but I'm all flabby & it's grossing me out. I'm going to work out today!!!
Thanks for all the great tips, Alaina, you're a great cheerleader!!
Some great ideas there Alaina, thanks!!
Connie, I hope your weekend was fabulous!! It sounds like you deserved a night away with just DH!
I'm doing ok..... My BIL, SIL and family stayed for the weekend and brought bags and bags of lollies, so that wasn't so good....but I'm back on track today. Had a long walk with another SIL this morning, and arranged another one for tomorrow.
Laina, you're so right about breakfast! I think it has aided me so much in my losses so far, and I rarely ate it prior to trying to start on this journey. In the winter I eat 2 servings (yes, 2!) of steel cut oatmeal...I love it, it's packed with fiber and absolutely keeps me full til lunch. I add 3 packages of Splenda to it and it tastes great. In the summer I eat 2 servings of Fiber One cereal with fat free yogurt on top. Let's eat breakfast!!
Hello...my apologies for not being around. I guess I just wasnt into it. I have cookies and cakes on the brain.
Susan: I am so sorry to hear about your bill. I hate unexpected expenses like that. The way of life there sounds crazy though!! I hope your move goes without a hitch.
Congrats to everyone who has been sticking to the program, especially during this season!
I did get up and work out 3 days last week and this morning too. I am quitting my gym though in a couple of weeks. I think I will likely join another facility that is closer and cheaper (but maybe not right away..I need to check the bills!) I am sad because I wont be able to go with my gym buddy anymore. Her mom owns the gym where we work out, so it isnt likely she will want to get a membership at the other one!! LOL
On Saturday night I was laying on the couch watching tv (or should I say sleeping 
) I reached over and had my hand on my side and goodness...the rolls of fat! I was disgusted. I know I was sort of scrunched up, but it's gotten me thinking seriously again. I don't know why I can't stick to this when I know I am so unhappy with the way I look. I am feeling in the groove today though! Good luck to me.
Happy Monday everyone!
I had a FABULOUS time w/ dh on Saturday night. it was SO nice to be w/ hubby w/o kiddos (although we did christmas shop for them) then go to the hotel room then the party. It was a great time for us BOTH to be able to drink and have fun even if neither of us even got a buzz. Even though my corset bra thingy was KILLING me by the end of the night... Which made NO sense to me - I've LOST weight since wearing it last and I don't recall it being that tight previously but sure makes me want to hit the ball again!
I hope everyone is doing well.
Shelli, it is good that you are losing slowly, that way it stays off. Smart that you are trying to tone as you go.
Sonia, having a walking buddy is great. Maybe you can help each other stay motivated
Susan, you are smart to have the 2 servings of such a healthy food for breakfast. What ever gets us thru to lunch without feeling hungry is a bonus.
Connie, what a nice start to the holiday to spend time alone with DH. Knew you were gonna have a great time. I am gonna have to invest in one of those balls. Arn't there different sizes. What do u use?
yes, there are different sizes and i THINK the size I have is a large if I remember correctly (my mom bought it for me).
Connie, your night away sounds great. Glad you enjoyed yourself!
Susan, how are you coping living with limited supplies, and in someone else's house?? Enjoy your last few days in Italy!!
Merissa, I know what you mean! I feel exactly the same as you do! Keep working at it, we'll get there one day!!
Happy weekend everyone! I hope we're all doing well. I think I'm up for cheerleader, is that right? I'll try to come up with some good stuff and check back in later. Let's stay strong while the holiday approach!
Hi everyone! Just checking in. Nothing really exciting to report. I did pretty well this week with eating. I did go out for dinner last night, b ut I did get a salad. It was a BIG salad, but I am sure better than burger and fries!
I'm doing well with my eating. Down by aother .9 this week.
How is everyone else going??
well, I have gotten back on track w/ eating my eggs for breakfast BUT dh keeps making me a bowl of ice cream and well once it's made I can't waste it - like throwing money down the drain!
I only did my crunches once this week - UGH I really need to get back in the groove on this! My schedule is only going to get busier. not helping that I am feeling a lil blue UGH I need to learn to kick that too.
OK, did anyone else have trouble getting on this site during the week? I tried 3 different days and could not. Anyway, it's nice to be here today!
I swear, my eating and exercise is totally out the window. I have every intention and plan to recommit as a NY's resolution, it's what I did last year and it worked, to a degree. I think it also helps that I'm starting everything anew, it'll be easier that way.
Well, I had my going away party last night and it was lovely and oh-so-fun. There were about 50 people there, it was at our psychiatrist's house, and we had a casual potluck dinner. I just hung out and visited with my friends, we laughed, and had a blast. I got some really nice, thoughtful gifts....including...a
KITCHENAID PROFESSIONAL 600 SERIES 6 QUART STAND MIXER IN NICKEL PEARL!!!!!!
Can you believe that? What an amazing gift, I have great friends.
I'm happy to start a new chapter in my life, but it's hard to turn this page. I'm at the hotel, I like it here, and I leave for the States Tuesday morning.
How is everyone?
ugh, my willpower is non-exsisstint (sp). I've been making cakes, and candy for orders and the holidays. Have to make sure that they are good right. Havn't changed sizes though so not too bad I guess.
Oh my Susan, what wonderful friends. I'm sure it will be hard to leave, and exciting to start new at the same time. But at least you always have a great place and friends to visit. 
Maybe I can find a more healthful recipie for like a trail/snack mix and put that in jars. A lot of tthis stuff is for gifting.
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