I'm in for the STAR CHALLENGE for the duration. Same calories this week....should be able to hit them because i have an extra fast day in there.

Abigail - thanks for the FULL REPORT on what dances, etc. I've been toying with taking some tap-dance classes. Likely in a couple more years when my kids are firmly in their teen years and don't want me around, anyway.

Took my son to his new junior high this morning....it was pretty traumatic for him! He isn't in a class with his best friend and my son does NOT adjust to "new situations" very well. So, I cried all the way back to my car, because I know he is struggling, and all those tears just hurt my eyeball, which is already super-hurt everytime I put in the damn eye drops I have to put in. Ugh.

Anyway, I know my son will be just fine. I think it's actually good that he and Nolan are split up this year (well, they have math and science together!), because they can find some new friends and grow individually. So, yes, it's all good....but, no parent likes to see their kid hurting.

My 2-week goals:

1. under 9,000 calories per week;
2. walk 6 hours per week;
3. sleep 7.5 hours per night; and
4. try showering. Bathing just sucks when you have to do it everyday - my hair is long and thick and this is just awful.

Oh, and I want to survive Thursday's surgery....I'm WAY nervous about it, now - was better last week when I didn't KNOW what was going to HIT ME!

Put me down for 9500. It's going to be tough, but I can do it! Especially since it's only Tuesday and we already accepted an invite to my brother in laws for barbeque tonight. What goes good with bbq? Beer...... And my ongoing struggle continues..... socializing, food, drink and fun vs. weight loss..... We also now have a couple coming in town the week before South Beach. I'm just going to enjoy my friends and family and do the best I can!

Amy - I should be down for 9,300 - that's true. I'm aiming for 9,100 per week, but gave myself a 200 calorie "buffer", just to keep trying to be "nice" to me (and not "punishing").



PS - my son had a GOOD DAY! He likes his homeroom teacher, they had hot dogs for lunch, and they just did a bunch of "team-building" activities ("just dance" video game, potato sack races, tug-of-wars, etc.). He got a school T-shirt! He's just fine....

...well, I think "orientation day" (which was today, for grade 7's) WAS FUN! But, the real work is about to start....he is in "advanced placement", which means he does BOTH grade 7 and grade 8 studies for science and math. He'll have HOMEWORK like he won't believe!!!!!

Better - I was really jealous of your dinner last night, it all looked amazing. I looked into stronglifts yesterday and it certainly looks interesting. It looks easier than NROL4W... so I may give that a go instead.

Finally worked out last night! Ran 20 minutes and then did some circuit work at home. I'm hoping to get into the gym on Friday and maybe even Sunday but that might be pushing it. A gal can dream right?

Beeps I am with ya on looking forward to getting back to working out hard!

Ram- I would love to hear your opinions on NROLW, I know Beeps loved it. But, I love hearing others POV. I need to figure out a game plan once I am cleared to workout. I do know it will have to be at home though, so my options are limited.

Better-I can't wait to cheer you on through your pregnancy! Plus that will hopefully mean mines over!

Any of the NROL series can be done at home. Chloe, I wouldn't start with NROL4women if you have a choice to do others in that series....the "supercharged" is the newest in the NROL series and there's some good research in there on why the author now selects the exercises that he does, in the order that he does. I'd start with NROL4Abs, frankly, and then do "supercharged" when you're a little more into the D-I-Y mode.

All can be done at home - I'm a gym rat and much prefer the gym....but, I know tons of ladies who do their heavy lifting at home!

Just kidding about not being sore.....not "hurts to sit on the toilet sore", but it just took a bit to set in, and I'm still sore today from Monday afternoon. Did my second series of stronglifts this morning. Sort of rushed it because I got up late, and did the overhead press seated instead of standing. But I tried one rep at the end standing, and my low ceiling does not prohibit me from pressing.

Beeps, I'm with you on the adding 5 lbs. Stronglifts on the website is very geared towards men. I may go buy some 1 pound plates though, just to get a bit stronger, slowly. I do think I'll tire of all these squats. They are in both workout A and B, which means I'll be squatting 75 reps a week. Did 130# again for squats, started with just the bar for OHP, but ended up with 55, and I think I can do more standing as sitting with my equipment was a little awkward. I deadlifted 110.

Ram, I watch youtube videos. I've been lifting in some capacity for a long time, but it's only been in the last year I feel like I'm really doing it right and getting my form down. I feel like just in the last 4 or 5 months I've learned to deadlift properly. I used to rely heavily on my back. It's a wonder I never injured myself.

Chloe, we're not going to start trying till October, so yes, your pregnancy will definitly be over. I secretly hope it takes at least a couple months as we have a family vacation planned for Hilton Head next June and I'd rather not be 8 months pregnant in the care for 10 hours and 10 hours away from home. My sister got prego her first try with kid #2 so.......

Ris, I meant to tell you how cute you look! You truly are ALL belly. I see you're still lifting. I did not lift at all during my pregnancy and am pretty bummed to omit it completely once I do get prego. What types of things are you doing? I was told no heavy lifting by my dr. last time.

That's all I can see. Hellos to everyone else!

Today is my Friday. We head out for St. Louis tomorrow afternoon. I hope to get a walk in tonight and probably another run in tomorrow. Doubt I'll get my 3rd stronglifts in, but I probably could use the extra burn instead of lifting for the weekend. Oh, and I'll be trying my friend's Dailey Method class Saturday morning too.

Have a great weekend all!

Ashley--thanks! I've been pretty happy with the with the weight gain during this pregnancy. For weights, I just use dumbells and my kettlebell at home (I generally use my kettlebell as a dumbell or as a barbell). My routine is generally to do bicep curls, triceps extensions, overhead presses, upright rows, kneeling one-armed rows, dumbell bench presses, lateral raises, squats, and romanian deadlifts. I start with 20# dumbells and then eventually switch over to the 25# kettlebell. So rather than increasing weight (which I can't really do without getting more equipment or going to the gym) I'm working up to all three sets with the 20# dumbells. Eventually I'll have to add weight, but I'm okay with waiting until after the baby's born to do that.

Beeps--I hope the surgery went well!

Amy--great job on staying within your calories! Hopefully yesterday went well too.

ramalem--I love that feeling after getting in a good workout! And great job restraining yourself at bookclub! As for lifting during pregancy, I think that as long as you have good form and you use common sense (i.e., make sure you're not dropping weights on your bump or anything) you can keep up your pre-pregnancy routine. I haven't been adding weight (see my response to Ashley above), but I know people who have. The things you have to be most careful of when exercising are not to get your heartrate up too high, not to get overheated, and not to get dehydrated, and at least for me lifting doesn't really trigger any of those risk factors. I've had to change my running routine pretty dramatically over the course of my pregnancy, but that's really the only thing that I changed.

I've had a pretty good week so far. I've been within 100 calories of my goal every day, and I've gotten in at least a little bit of exercise every day. I have a pretty free weekend coming up so I'm hoping to get in some long walks and a run or two.

Yay Beeps! So glad to hear it went well

Ris - thanks for the tips. I need to get my routine started to I can keep it up!

Happy Friday everyone.

Thanks! Reading now

HI Ladies,

My name is Jane, looking for a thread that can motivate me to get my butt widdled down to where I'd like it, where it was before I moved cities four months ago! This seems like a good start That's only 10 lbs away!!

About me - I'm 31, 142 lbs, 5'6, no kids and not married, living with my boyfriend. I eat at home and leftovers for lunch most days of the week, and have been logging with MFP for 30 days, and have LOST 5 lbs (feel like I have to shout that cause I keep getting so down on myself when I should be proud!!). I do Jillian Michaels videos at home (30 mins) 5 days a week, was a former runner but am contending with a leg injury - which is super tough for me bc I found it so easy to shred weight when running!!

I seem to have stalled out of late even though running a 600 calorie deficit but don't want to lose my resolve just cause that number isn't budging!!!

Beeps - can you tell me how the *star* thing works?

Nice to meet you all and good luck with your goals!!!!