Beeps - glad to hear the surgery went well. Also, I share the same problem with squats. They only seem to work my quads which are already pretty good. I have a really hard time targeting my glutes, so I have to find alternate exercises to get the job done. My favorite is a single leg deadlift with a kettlebell. I did them Thursday and I was crazy sore in ballet class the next day, but at least I know it's working!

Welcome Jane! This is a great group, you will definitely get some motivation here.

Amy - glad you were at least able to get some running in, hopefully you can get some lifting in next week. I did twice this week, but it was not the plan I had. I had to work out at home Monday so I did not have equipment and I was really short on time Thursday so I barely got anything in. I did not get much cardio in except for waling the dog. I forgot to log the last couple of days, but am pretty sure I was under, which I have been every day this week so that is a success.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend.

Hey chicks. I had a great weekend in St. Louis and didn't log a thing and don't really intend on it. I didn't eat a ton, but I know I was way over on calories due to rich foods and lots of wine. I'm exhausted as we got home and imediately had to leave to go to a bar and be in my brother in law's music video. We drank beer, split a burger, got home later than intended, had another beer and was up to late. I'm beat. 2 weekends in a row of traveling will do that. I am so looking forward to my Wednesday off.

That being said, I'm not gonig to go back and log the weekend. I am actually thinking about breaking from logging for a bit. My sister (she's on MFP too) just read Thinside Out and loved it and is going to quit logging and weighing for a bit. It sounds a little refreshing. I've been pretty bummed about my weight; I've not seen any significant loss all summer. Most of it is my diet and I know what I need to do to fix that. So I'll see. I still plan to fast most days till lunch and continue to try to watch the booze. (I have not done will with this lately). This weekend we have no plans, so I'm going to try to rest and not drink much and just have a good weekend. I'm going to continue with stronglifts 3x a week and get at least 2 runs in.

I'm ready to get back on a normal schedule! Have a great week ladies!

I did 9,817 calories this past week. I think I might have to adjust my "star" challenge calories to 9,800 - for the last 2 weeks, even with very strong diet control (i.e. no binges!), I don't seem to be able to slide under that.

Amy, I'll go back and see who's in the challenge and report results - no trouble!

Better - glad you had a great weekend. I'll scratch you *off* the challenge, even though I know you're with us in spirit!

Welcome back, shander! I'll make sure you're totals are in.

Morning ladies! Didn't quite do as well with the challenge as I would have liked - over by 810 calories giving me a gold star for the week. It's becoming painfully obvious that working out is the only way I will be able to keep my calories in check - I can't be trusted to eat less than 1,400 a day on my own The booze over the weekend just killed me, went out to a show with my friend on Friday night and drank WAY more than intended and did the same thing at a wedding on Saturday night.

Welcome back Shander! Hope you had a great vacation.

Better - I feel you on the dissapointment with weight. I know what I need to do, and I'm just not doing it. What is thinside out? Sounds interesting!

I just for some reason can't get motivated to workout or eat better, which is ridiculous! I'm hoping that since I don't have much going on this week after work and I have Friday off, it will give me the time to get back in the gym. I'm also contemplating doing South Beach phase one for the 2 weeks before my vacation - for some reason I do better in crunch time. The only thing that worries me is not being able to keep that "quick loss" off.

For this weeks star challenge I'm lowering my calories back to where they should be at 9,856. Even though we aren't necessarily doing a 2 week challenge with this thread, I'm wanting to at least get these goals written down so that I can feel accountable. I've decided that if do meet star challenge every week and meet the below goals I'm going to incentivize myself with this really cute lace top I found at Anthropologie (yes, I'm resorting to rewards for myself haha).

1. Lift 3 days, cardio 2 (or more) days
2. Water, water, water
3. Calories at or under 9,856
4. Walk the dog 30 minutes+ daily

Have a great day/week ladies!

Beeps I had bronze week 1 and gold week 2

Sounds really interesting, I might have to read it!

I totally want to move to "intuitive" eating, again, as well. But, while I'm trying to lose bodyfat, for me, I HAVE to count calories!

Since I hope to have my "transformation" complete by end of 2013, that then gives me the opportunity to move into/through maintenance while practicing induitive eating!

Thanks for the chart numbers, ramalem and Amy - I've inserted them into the STAR CHALLENGE chart and I will update, again, for Monday, Sept. 9th report-in, once more of the ladies have given me their stats!

I logged yesterday! I am 100% committed this week to counting and rockin the star challenge. I am in the longest slump ever and I fear I was never see the 120's again. I got T25 and did the first workout Sat and planned to hitting hard this week. I thought I would follow as is for a week or two and hopefully add some strength in. Then I didn't sleep Sun night or again last night. I know I sleep better when I workout yet I can't workout because I am sooooo tired. Like I'm talking 4 or 5 hours. Stupid stress. Lol.

beeps- your enthusiasm is awesome and totally motivating. I think you have already done wonders for your body and can't wait to see what you do next.

Abigail- I am addicted to chips. Anytime we go anywhere and there is chips, yikes!

Ashley- there have been times when I am in a better place mentally, workout regularly and can get away with not logging. I will throw in the occasional log, just to see, and I am doing ok. It just depends I guess. I do see the importance of taking breaks though. I know a lot of skin jimmy fat girls and your right, Amy, as they age, watch out. Especially in the lower half.

That's all I see, but I will check in more ( I know I keep saying that!) oh, one more thing. You know how people lose weight and lose boobs? I swear, 4 pounds heavier, my boobs have shrunk. I think it is the lack of upper body. The slump ends now!

Hi ladies!

Just a quick check in. I was 37 calories over my goal last week, so I'm taking a pregnancy-modified platinum star (I'm giving myself a platinum for coming within 100 calories, otherwise I get too tempted to go under my calories, which I'm trying not to do). Last week I had a gold star.

I'd also love to be able to control my weight without logging, but I feel like I've gotten so dependent on it that I don't know if I could do it anymore. For most of the day I just eat when I'm hungry, but at night--when I have a lot more options--I definitely tailor my dinner based on how many calories I have left rather than just hunger. I think I would do okay without logging if I avoided things like desserts and pizza (i.e., things I would eat even if I wasn't hungry because they taste so good), but it's too easy for me to overeat when I have stuff like that.