Oh my goodness, Susan, you're making me melancholy! I've never been to Paris, but you make it sound so much better than I could have imagined!!
Congrats on the job Alaina! Sounds awesome!
Stress is getting the best of me again this week, and maybe for a little while to come. Out of the clear blue sky...we're buying a house! We just looked at it last weekend on a whim, but they are offering us the kind of deal you just can't walk away from. We'll be paying about $15 more/month for our mortgage than we pay for rent now and the house is MUCH nicer. So I have about 6 weeks to paint and clean the new place (we're getting it as-is, that's part of the awesome price), and pack and clean the old place. All while I work full time, DH works 70 hr weeks, and the two kiddos stay underfoot. I should definitely lose weight...I won't have a chance to eat!
Thanks for all the well wishes.
Susan, that just sounds like the trip of a lifetime. I love to just watch old movies filmed in Paris, everything is so beautiful. The shops, OHHH! OK, I am officially jealous. lol. I know by now your already there and having the time of your life. So happy for you to have been able to return one more time before you leave.
Shelly, how exciting for you. You just never know when these opportunities will show up. I know how stressfull it can all be. Can you take any time off? Maybe hire a neighborhood kid to help with the kiddies, and pay her off with videos you don't want to pack, or through together one of those cookie mix gift jars and let her take your kids to her house to bake them. Just remember you have to take care of you too.
It's alfull quiet here these days. Where is everyone?
Hope all is well with you all, have a great weekend.
Thanks for the suggestions, Alaina! I am very lucky to have my mom&dad and sis & her family all living nearby and they've all offered to help as well. I'm going to shame my 13 yr old neice into babysitting for free, I think. I have a few days I can take off work here and there, too. We'll get everything done, but I'm just a bit overwhelmed now.
I've been feeling very fat all week, just kind of disgusted with myself every time I catch a glimpse in the mirror on my way in & out of the shower. Luckily I realized today that it's just that time of the month and I'm bloated & cranky. I did weigh in this week with no change, but that's better than gaining!
I'm feeling like MamaLaina here. Where is everyone?
Shelly, know you must be packing and painting and running like crazy,
Karen, a walk on the beach.
Susan strolling around in Paris.
Casey, school?
Connie, hope your feeling better. Michelle, Sonia, Michelle, Merissa???
Not sure, 
who is the cheerleader this week. Well, gotta get to work.
No idea who the cheerleader is this week....someone claim it quick and make me get off my butt and work out!!! 
No idea who the cheerleader is this week....someone claim it quick and make me get off my butt and work out!!!
Shelley, dear, I think it was you!!! LOL!!! You need to get OUR butts into gear!
Sorry I haven't been around...I wanted to, but we've had no internet access for 3 days. No idea why, it just stopped, then just started again!!
I'm not doing very well. I haven't weighed, but the 6 lb I lost a few weeks ago, I'm sure I've put back on! And I'm the same as you, Shelley, feeling very fat and horrified whenever I look in the mirror! Actually, what has really depressed me is when my Mum showed me a recent photo she took of me....I don't have photos taken very often, so this was a real eye opener!!! I must get moving and lose some lbs before summer hits, and that's not far away!!
Sorry I haven't been around had a very busy weekend this past weekend and well I haven't really recooped yet! I ate horribly the entire time of course so now I MUST try to get back on track!
I don't remember the last time I did any form of exercises (although I felt like I walked 10 miles at the airshow on Sunday) and the day before we went to a farm type thing w/ the kids and walked a bunch then I sure got my share of 'fresh' air this weekend LOL
Shelly, get out your pom poms, my list says its you too.
Sonia, pictures are the worst, or best depending how you look at it. That got me going after seeing a pic a neighbor took of my family at our block party. Good God, why does it look worse on paper than in the mirror.
Connie sounds like a fun weekend. Even though it wasn't the usual crunches, sometimes a little mix up in the routine, like just walking alot, makes a big difference. how are you feeling these days?
I am working my butt off (I hope) at this new job. Going in today to do the cakes for a photo shoot for all of our menus, signs, and website. Nervous, nahhhhh, NOT! Wish me luck. Just smelling all this bakery stuff all day is making me feel fatter. Forgot to weigh in last week, but the jeans still fit, so guess I am still ok.
High Ho, off too work I go. 
I had a great time in Paris, it was amazing. I walked and walked and walked, even with taking bus tours every day. One day I walked 18,000+ steps. The weather was gorgeous, we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful climate.
We went to the Eiffel Tower both daytime and nighttime. Because the president of France is taking his turn to head up the European Union (it changes every 6 months), the Tower is now lit at night bathed in blue (to represent one of France's colors) light, it was wonderful. We went to the antique market (wish I had a million euros and a truck!), to the Orsay museum (in a stunning huge old train station), to the Monet museum (in a huge old beautiful home), to the Rodin museum (saw Rodin's "The Thinker"), did lots of shopping, ate our weight in creme brulee, took the hop on/hop off bus with 4 different routes around the city, went in Notre Dame, walked along the Seine and bought original street art...it was a wonderful trip. I posted a few photos on my Sparkpage.
Back to work and the real world tomorrow...
I feel like I am echoing everyone else...sorry I havent been on in awhile.
It isnt like I havent been thinking of you all. I just sort of have other stuff on my mind.
I have been working on starting up my business, so my mind has been on that. Also my tooth is infected again! So this time I need to have it removed. A front tooth. So I will need an implant...a whopping $4000 it could cost me. I am kind of upset about it. Plus there is a boy in the neighborhood who just had a brain tumor removed, been thinking of them a lot lately.
I have still been going to the gym and been so-so on the eating. I dont' think I have been too bad really, I just havent made it a priority lately. I have maintained my weight pretty much the last couple of weeks. I will be going to FL next weekend, so I should try and lose a couple of pounds before then. I am sure to gain a couple.
Your trip sounds amazing!
Glad the MRI was normal!
Congrats on the new job!
Oh Lordie, I fell down on my cheerleading job!! I'm sorry ladies!! Well let me throw something out there for all of us before I pass off the pom poms...an old challenge.
When you're reaching for a snack...put it down, drink a bottle of water and wait 15 minutes. I've found more often than not that kills the craving for me.
And I'm working on a pep talk for myself about exercise so I will share it here. Maybe it will work better for you guys than it has for me so far!
I want to be strong. I want to be healthy. I will not be strong and fit by losing pounds alone. I need to strengthen my body and allow it to reach its full potential. I will feel better and look better. The only thing preventing me is ME. I will not sabotage my health with excuses.
Oh, that sounds nice, but here I am on the computer instead of in front of my Tae Bo DVD. I will have some time after work tonight, I WILL do it then.
I weighed in today and am down 1 lb, which is nice, but I could be doing so much better if I get my dedication back!!
Let's finish out the week with a bang, ladies...DIE FAT CELLS, DIE!!!!!
excellent challenge. Really a basic fundamental peice of advice!
That's ok, Shelley, we've done ok without a cheerleader. I shall post the list as a reminder, and extend it:
16 Oct - Connie
23 Oct - Karen
30 Oct - Merissa
6 Nov - Susan
13 Nov - Sonia
20 Nov - Casey
27 Nov - Michelle
4 Dec - Alaina
11 Dec - Shelley
Your holiday sounds great, Susan. What an experience!!
Merissa, you obviously have lots on your mind!! I hope your business preparation is going ok, and you can get your tooth fixed at a reasonable price!
Congrats on the job, Alaina!
OK ladies so offically it's my turn to be a chearleader and well I'll try not to be a hypocrite since well I don't recall the last time I worked out (I'll have to look back on my posts here to see when it was.
I have been in a downhill spiral lately, I haven't been working out, my eating is OK not great but not HORRIBLE either, money is TIGHT,need to plan my daughters 5th bday party, my dh's job had there 1st layoff of the expected 3 or so THANKFULLY we survived the first one THANK YOU LORD! My headaches are still here oh my allergies have kicked in also now so it's both I feel like my stress level is thru the roof and I have no where to go, I don't want to vent to my husband b/c he has enough stress as it is between his two jobs and my mom whom I normally vent to is worried about my dad since his recent shoulder surgery and is on short term disability so I sit here alone in a since. I know I'm not alone but I hate to be the complaining type (I know as I sit here complaining to you) I can literally feel the knots growing on my shoulders which is a weird feeling let me tell you, I'm constantly tired but I don't sleep well (w/o the help of benadryl).
OK sorry for the rambling I have a point (I THINK) I have spent my day doing a deep cleaning of my house - like dusting and everything. As much as I HATE cleaning and I do mean HATE cleaning it also puts me in a little better mood to walk into a room and it be clean! SOOO our goal for this week not necessarily today since I know alot of you work is to do a DEEP clean of ONE room you don't have to do the whole house like me (well I did living/dining room/kitchen and bath no bedrooms). So pick one room, put on your favorite tunes so you can dance your heart out and CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN THEN once you have showered yourself LOL sit and relax (either in the shower) or in your favorite chair or bed and relax and soak in your accomplishment and realize that YOU are in charge of YOU and your surroundings and only YOU can make those changes! THEN I want you to make just 1 small goal for yourself be it to stop eating m&m's at 9pm (that's mine) or take the stairs instead of the elevator to work or do lunges to the mailbox everyday just little things...
Good Luck in your challanges and DIE FAT CELLS DIE!
sorry to hear you are so stressed! Just take one day at a time.
That is a challenge I need! Actually since my DH and I are leaving for our trip on Thursday, my MIL is coming here to stay. I have to clean so she doenst think I am a slob! LOL! I am good at making my house APPEAR clean, but if you open closets or drawers it can be another story!
Hang in there Connie...it sounds like you are dealing well with the stress even though it's trying to get the best of you. As long as you stay in control of you, you will come out stronger.
Love the challenge...and I badly need it, since we're getting ready to move. This weekend I want to go through every room and trash all the stored up crap that we're not taking. (I still have sippy cups in my cabinet and my youngest is almost 7) I'm a terrible packrat.
As far as the small change, I will have to think on that a little bit. Obviously I need to work out more often...
You can vent here anytime, Connie! Life gets very stressful at times, but we get through it! I'm glad you feel you can tell us your problems!!
The challenge sounds good. I certainly have rooms that need a deep clean!
Hey, where are all our missing members??????? Michelle, Karen, Casey ..... ???????
Great challenge Connie. just what I need today. I am picking the smallest room, my mini bakery in the basement. I will have to close my eyes to the rest of that floor, cause I could be down there all week,lol. Kind of a two-for cause I have to bake my youngest daughter her 21st birthday cake for tomorrow, 
Time sure does fly by. Busy week for me so thats probably all I will get done. This back to working 40 hrs, is not as easy as it was when I was, ummmm, younger, lol.
Anyway, try not to sweat the small stuff. Sometimes it's just eaiser on you, if you don't let yourself worry about the things that are out of your control. After years of migraines and an ulcer, this has helped me get a grip, and ultimatly, the migraines are almost non-exsistant, and the ulcer is under control. HTH 
DIE FAT CELLS DIE!
Thanks ladies I am ATTEMPTING not to stress out but well that doesn't really work LOL... My back and shoulders are so full of knots its just not even funny! My husband told me over the weekend that I haven't been myself in a few weeks (I'm ya you think thanks for noticing LOL)...
OK today's challenge!!!!!!! While you are doing your daily exercises that I hope we are all doing (including myself there) we all get to the point that we are like ugh I'm done or you just don't want to do anymore or you don't feel like it well I want you to push yourself for more be it for 15 more minute or 15 more crunches or 15 more push ups. I'm not talk one or two I mean a real effort to get more out of yourself. Then once you get to those 15 if you aren't burning try a few more we can up our numbers girls!!!!! I KNOW WE CAN DO THIS!
DIE FAT CELLS DIE - NO INCINERATE FAT CELLS
I'd love to, Connie, but I'm having trouble with my thigh splints. Had to call off my personal training today because the only way it will get better is by resting
Umm...how about 15 more seconds?! Does that count?
There is absolutely nothing exciting going on in my life. I was sooo stressed yesterday because I had car problems, honestly, I get crazy when that happens, I feel so out of control. I had some repairs done 2 weeks ago and I think they didn't tighten something or didn't completely fix something. I worried and obessessed all evening about driving it to work this morning because it just sounded so terrible. I even dreamed about it! I got up at 5:10 and left my house about an hour later so I could drive on the streets without much traffic and enter post at a gate that's close to my house and open at that time. It groaned the 2 miles there, but I made it safely, drove it right into the garage, dropped it off, walked to my office, and called the repair people at 7:30 when they opened. Haven't heard yet but hopefully it'll get fixed today. Whew! Can you tell how stressed I am just by the length of my complaining story?!
Sonia, I'm sorry about your thighs (honestly, I'm sorry about my thighs too, but for a different reason!). I hope you feel better.
Connie, you need a massage!! If there's a massage school near you, call them because they usually offer very cheap massages with their students. I am also a massage therapist and I think when I attended school 10 yrs ago in San Antonio, they were $15. In Dallas, they may be more like $25, but still a bargain compared to $80 or $120.
OK, back to work and livin' life...
OUCH Sonia hope you are better soon!
Susan I hate car trouble I hope they fix it for you quickly!
As for the massage every spare dollar we have is going to my daughters birthday party so far I've spent $25 on her party LOL I've done really well at keeping it at a minimum but still need to get plates and napkins (dollar store here I come!) I'm trying REALLY REALLY hard to keep this party looking like a normal party for her but yet be a 1/4 of the price for us so far I'm doing well LOL... The games I've selected are cheap but fun HOPEFULLY will take up time to do LOL.
OK so today's challenge! Since we pushed ourselves yesterday I want you to do it again b/c now you've proven to yourself that you CAN do it and it was only you that was blocking yourself..... Make sure you remember to drink your water and don't push TOOO far but I want it to be in an area you don't normally focus on! Like me I tend to only focus on my abs so like today I'll push myself on my legs. Lets shake things up a bit ladies...... We can do this!
Hi ladies,
Sorry I have been MIA lately, so many things going on!!!
First Sonia, hope that thigh gets to feeling better soon!
Connie, great challenges, and I am behind so today I have to deep clean a room, push myself 15 minutes longer on my workout, and then push again. I do hope you are feeling better soon and not so stressed. How are the head aches coming? Have you gotten any news about what is causing them?
Susan, I was in Paris way back in 1982 or so when I was in high school. It was a quick tour as I was staying with a family for a month in Marseille. It was amazing and wish I could go now when I would appreciate it!!
Alaina, congrats on the job, how exciting and fun!!
Well I dont believe I have posted since the very begining of Oct if even then.
School is gruling, my team stincks and I hate it. they do not work like I do to get everything done the day before it is due so I can get ready for the next week. They like to work right up unitl the last minute!! UGH
My foot doctor finally released me to work out so I started this morning, gosh things can go down hill fast, it has been 2 months and I can now only go for about 15 min on the treadmill at 2.1 HOW AWEFULL is that!!! Well I just push to get back to where I was, I am just glad I can finally do it.
Lets see where have I been, other than studying my behind off (I wish that were true LOL) I had a bachelorette and bridal shower, a see you next time you are here party, went to Laughlin NV, and just went to Disneyland. I think that about covers the three weeks I have been missing. OH I forgot the emergency business trip to Las Vegas NV. There I think that covers it.
Everyone have a great day and put that extra effort into your work outs. I know I will be doing this so I can build up to where I was!
Michelle
welcome back Michelle - sorry you have a stinky team this time at school. Glad you finally were released for your foot - just take it slow and steady...
OK I wanted today's challenge to be fun!
It's supposed to rain here today and well franly that always makes me sleepy but I thought of this challenge yesterday so I better follow thru huh!
I want you to pick 3 of your favorite songs must be kinda fast moving songs and play them in your house and them I want you to DANCE YOUR LITTLE HEART OUT! Bending/twisting and just moving! My kids LOVE it when I do this and really it's only like 6 minutes of movement but so sad of how much it wears you out! So lets get those hearts rates racing and HAVE FUN!!!!!
Sorry to be short but I am literally running out the door to take dd to school and have a ton of errands to do after that but wanted to give you y'alls challange before I left or else you wouldn't get it until this evening...
Good morning all
I got up and worked out this morning, Connie I pushed myself to go longer than I wanted AND I pushed myself to use the incline!!!
Hope everyone is doing well
Michelle
Morning all
Good for you Michelle!
I hope y'all enjoyed y'alls dancing! LOL I am now officially passing my pom poms over to Karen!
Hello! I have been very busy cleaning and getting ready for my trip. I havent worked out at all this week! oops. Unless you count all of my cleaning. Anyway, I leave for my trip tonight and I get back Monday night. I am excited, but I didnt anticipate so much work to get ready! LOL. I am sure I will be all gung ho when I get back because I'll probably gain 5 pounds!
sorry to hear about all the aches and pains ladies. I too, hurt my thigh and it has taken a long time to feel better.
Everyone ready and hyped up for the weekend? I'm back to eating my morning 2 servings of steel cut oatmeal, which helps me in 2 ways. First, it sets the tone for my day. If I eat a healthy breakfast, then I'm not starving mid-morning or lunch and not so tempted to eat off my plan. Secondly, I find if I eat it slowly (like over an hour or two while I'm sitting at my desk or doing other things), I really feel full and get the benefit for the rest of the day. It's loaded with fiber, which also helps with the fullness.
So now...if I can just get my nighttime eating under control! I'm going to look on Sparkpeople today for dinner recipes. One thing I've been making lately that I really like is baked sweet potatoes. Slice them into thin rounds, put a little spicy salt on top, and bake at 350 for 20 minutes or so. They're SO good! And very low cal.
Merissa, have a great romantic weekend, I can't wait to hear about your adventures. Who's keeping your kids?
Michelle, I'm impressed with your exercise! I need some of that! I'm glad your foot is better.
Connie, you did a GREAT job of cheerleading, I could take a lesson from you.
Not much going on for me this weekend, I'm on call so I have to stick close to home. I'm baking a chocolate cake tonight and decorating it like a bowl of spaghetti, so easy to do. It's for an Italian friend's mother, they think she'll get a kick out of it. I'm having out of town company from Tuesday-Friday, so I guess a bit of cleaning is in order. Have a great weekend!
I agree with Susan: Connie, you've been a great cheerleader!!!! I'm afraid I haven't been able to do much about the exercise, though, because I have to allow my thigh to get better. I've been on a couple of slow bike rides this week, and a couple of easy going walks. The dancing to music sounds like fun.....I'll give that a go tomorrow with my kids! (only read it this evening....sorry!)
The sweet potatoes sound good, Susan! Must try that sometime! What is steel cut oatmeal?? Is that what we call porridge????
Have a great time away, Merissa! And yes, I would say a week of cleaning is considered a workout!
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