Chloe - I'll run the STAR challenge until the last week of May - then I'm done with the posting/reporting because I'm going to las vegas and then, in June, I'm doing a "maintenance" month, so no contests for me through June!

Anybody else can either:

a) start a different challenge; or
b) continue on with a challenge - just take over the rerporting/gathering data part....it's not too hard!

Dinah2, you can post here every Monday with what you'd like to accomplish in the next 2 weeks....it's pretty informal.

On the *star* challenge, just report in how many calories you ate from Monday - Sunday. And, of course, how many you were SUPPOSED to eat!

Hi Ladies! Sorry, been crazy! Got home late Sunday night, had to work Monday (I usually don't), had a dr.[s appt and soccer game right after school. My car got hit, with the boys in it on the way to the appt, (we are fine, thank goodness!) game ran late, no food prep time, equals a total fail yesterday and today. This week is a wash as I pretty much have something every night and into the weekend :grumble: I ate my way through Chicago and enjoyed every minute of it. I will be crazy busy wrapping up school this week and next week as I have to do lots of paperwork and pack up my office. No tracking this week, but I will be back to it on Monday! (Sunday is Mother's Day with my mama!) Have a great one ladies and I will be ready to kill it in next week! Those going on trips, if I miss it, have fun!!

Work is so busy! I decided to catch up while drinking my morning coffee. I finally logged again yesterday. It felt good to take some time off, but now I have to kick butt to get my legs ready for shorts. It's bin the mid 80s this week! The weather changed quick.

Chloe-I actually gained the least during the 2nd trimester with my first. I had a significant weight gain during my 3rd trimester- like 5 lbs a week - due to preeclampsia. It really messed with my head. I los all but three pounds. For my second, I avoided the scale. Not worth the stress. If your working out and making mostly healthy food choices, don't stress about the weight. Everybody is different with their gain.

Beeps- have I told you how amazing you have been doing? I posted much lately, but you are going to be rocking Vegas, sexy Mama!

Amy- I drink coffee to wake me up. It's probably mental. But I do have friends who have added coffee for different weight loss reasons. It is a diuretic and gives a short boost in your metabolism I don't know if that is all caffeine or just coffee. I drink ine with fate free milk.

Ramelem- I wold love for you to keep the challenge going! I have a hard time in the summer since I don't work and my schedule is off.

I'll post more later. Time to workout!

jenomaha - bummer about the car accident, but I'm glad everyone is ok!

Alicia - Sounds like you have a ton going on!

kclynch - get it girl! If everyone is up for keeping the challenge going, I'd be happy to take it over!

Beeps - I hear ya. Dinner time is where I want to spend all my calories too. Something about being home and where all the food is makes me want ALL THE FOOD. Keep your focus, you'll kill it!

This has been a rough week, not gonna lie. I started lifting again on Monday and am STARVING all the time. I haven't been eating my calories back because I am saving them for the weekend... sigh. I upped my 1,260 cals a day to 1,300 (not that 40 calories is really going to help) so I'll likely be off on my net this week. Not sure if I need to up more, I'm worried if I do, I won't lose.

Anywho - hope everyone else is having a good one!

Hey ladies!

I am having a pretty good week. Staying within my cals for the most part. I think I went over Monday, but was under Tuesday, so that made up for it. I got a new Jillian Michaels DVD this weekend that I did I Tuesday called Hard Body, basically light weights with some cardio. I had to do the easier modifications for some exercises, so I didn't get too crazy, but overall I really enjoyed it. Tonight I am getting a mani and pedi after work and then I think I will take the pup for a walk once it cools down later, it has been pretty hot here this week.

Ramalem- Lifting always makes me hungrier too! Since I have been at maintenance for a couple months now I cant even imagine going down to 1300 cals a day! I dread the day I have to start dieting again!

Beeps- I am with ya! When I got pregnant I started drinking a diet coke a day because I couldn't stand the smell of coffee. But, now I can drink iced coffee (still not hot though for some reason). So I have given up the diet coke for the most part except for the occasional one on the weekends and I feel so much better! That is a good habit to get rid of!

Ris- logging definitely helps me keep myself on track, it makes me think twice before putting something in my mouth knowing that I have to log it

Amy- I got some swimsuits from Target for vacation. I got a couple tankinis and couple bikinis (the mix and match ones so I could wear what I want depending on what we are doing) I know I have a belly, but I still plan on wearing my bikini. People can just think its a beer gut....haha!

So I am officially done logging after tomorrow! I am excited for the nice break and I plan on eating lots of yummy food! At least I wont be wasting it on booze calories (haha who am I kidding I would love to waste it on booze!)

Oh I am only done for the week while I am on vacation....I will start again next Monday!

And I wanted to tell you all this so I actually do it, I already told my husband this morning. It has been so hot after I get off of work that I don't walk the dog, and then I workout and eat dinner and say I am going to do it after and I never do. Sooo when I get back from vacation I am going to start getting up 45 minutes earlier and take the pup for a 2 mile walk every morning. This way I can concentrate on my workout after work and not have to feel guilty while that cute little face stares at me

I got my TRX group class in-and-done last night. I really didn't push it, AT ALL. Wanted to save my DOMs for today's lifting session, lol. So, it really functioned more as a VERY HARD stretch than a weight-training session. Although, we did do LOTS of elevated planks (feet in stirrups) and I aced them all and I really pushed myself on the planks. Otherwise, the bicep work the instructor was doing was REALLY bothering my left bicep, and I tried it on the right bicep and still didn't feel too "comfy" in the move.

I think I have some sort of "injury" on my left bicep (front) area - may even be rotator cuff. Unsure. But, if I hold my left arm out , bent at the elbow at 90 degrees, that does NOT feel good - a STRONG twinge is going on. This has been going on for at least 6 weeks....I should be putting ice on it, but I always forget.

Means that I can't really "push" chest work - because that hurts it. Even lateral raises, I've had to back off the weight, otherwise it hurts.

I think I need to take a "lifting" break, myself! So, I'm going to do that....next Friday, i won't lift, and then, the Friday after that, I'm in Las Vegas - might take a "rest" week the week I come back from Vegas.