If it's not too late to join the star challenge this week, put me down for 9,100 and if it is, I'll just start next week.

I live in Seattle, Wa where according to the rest of the United States it rains all the time and we all drink coffee and wear birkenstocks. I was born and raised here, and left only to attend college in Bellingham, WA (close to the Canadian border). Our weather here is actually pretty mild. We get the occasional snow/cold in the winter and very rainy springs that usually have a few teaser days thrown in (for example this weekend it's supposed be 75+). Our summers don't start until July 5th, no joke the 4th is usually raining and/or cloudy, but they last well into the first week of October. Our falls are much like our springs, but darker.

I will say the summers here are well worth the 8 months of rain and gloom. There is no better place to be than Seattle in August on the water somewhere. There is no shortage of things to do outdoors. Lot's of trails in the city or you are about 45 minutes away from a mountain pass with great hiking. Lot's of water sports in the summer and we are within 3 major ski areas for the winter.

Beeps - that is such an awesome transformation! Thank you for sharing it with everyone. I hope to have some photos like that of my own to share at somepoint.

RisOnTheRun - thanks for all the help/info!

Sure did!

Another good day for me yesterday. Took the pup for a nice 2 mile walk, we would have gone longer, but it was pretty hot out and she looked like she needed some water. Then I went home and did my Pregnancy Project DVD. It is supposed to storm here this afternoon/evening, so it might be a treadmill night, which is ok because then I can get an incline. The scale is down a couple pounds as of today. But, my bump is still getting bigger, so I am thinking the baby is ok :happy: No big plans for the weekend, so I really hope to keep the healthy momentum going. I am just thrilled to be feeling better, everyone told me once you hit the second trimester everything changes and they weren't kidding, I feel like a totally different person from last month!

I work at a University as an Assistant Controller. I have been here for about 2 and a half years. So basically just boring accounting stuff But, I really like what I do. I supervise payroll and accounts payable, so those 2 departments definitely keep me busy!

Welcome Ramalem!

Beeps - WOW girlfriend!! :drinker: Awesome transformation, my friend! Your hard work definitely paid off, so excited for you! Look at the cuts on your abs :wolf whistle: What more can I say, congrats!

Chloe - so glad to hear you are feeling better.

Ashley - the water weight will come off quickly!

Amy - mmmm, gumbo!!!

That's all I can see! Hope everyone else is having a great week!

I have been a speech language pathologist in an elementary school for the last 7 years and will continue to be one for only 3 and half more weeks!! I resigned :bigsmile: I will continue to teach my Zumba classes and will be adding a Zumba Toning class in June (light weights class). I also hope to renew my personal training certificate and get licensed in fitness nutrition.

In addition, I am working on the fitness dvd project with my sister in law. As of right now, we have a music director who has composed some music for us. We will actually do a filming run through with our producer after Memorial Day and then film a demo in June so we can pitch to 3rd party investors. This past week it has actually been a bit of a sore subject with my husband, so I really don't know how this whole thing will pan out (please keep your fingers crossed) It has been a bit stressful but I am trying not to let it affect my personal fitness goals.

Thankfully, my weight has maintained, even with my lack of tracking and binging last week. I've had a good week so far and only Saturday will there be cheats (bridal shower and Cinco de Mayo dinner at my BFF's). Just gonna keep moving forward!

Ok ladies, keep up the awesome work!!

Everyone here has such interesting jobs!

I am a social media marketing manager in the cruise industry, which has been pretttty interesting in the last few months. I work for Holland America Line which is owned by Carnival. Lot's of interesting conversations lately.

I've been noticing you girls talking a lot about higher calorie days, and I've often wondered if that's a good way to go. Do you guys see success with higher cal days, and then shrinking the calories other days?

I aim for 1350 a day with a 2000 calorie cheat day. Truth be told, I usually eat more than that. I find about every 3rd day of "eating light", I get hungry and eat more. I figured out my TDEE with a little Googling, and find that it really does hold true. Other than this week and one other, I have been losing at about my calculated rate as I have been 100% honestly logging.

Wow this thread moves fast! So just three quick things:

Amy--Love Gwyneth Paltrow. I meant to respond to your question before and then forgot. I don't really follow much celebrity gossip (though my husband loves TMZ so I see a lot more of it now) so I don't know much about her, but she's just gorgeous. Though I hear (thanks to TMZ) shes doesn't shave her legs. I don't really know why it should matter but it does detract a little from my image of her as being perfect.

Ashley--I'm a tax attorney. There's probably not too much out there that's less exciting!

My attempt to be good this week has been a failure. I didn't log the snacks I had at a work event until after I had eaten dinner and found out that I was a way over, and was over the night before too. So today I need to be good. I have my day mostly planned and I'm going to make a healthy dinner out of all the random veggies I have at home that will go bad if I don't eat them before I go out of town.

It is SUPPOSED to get up to >20 degrees (celsius) this weekend! The SUN is supposed to shine!

Yes, I have company, but I don't care.....maybe, FINALLY, spring has arrived!

If nothing else, I am wearing capri pants and sandals, today....first time in 2013!