Beeps, it's interesting you posted this. I just picked the Have Your Skinny Jeans and Cupcake Too book (or whatever its official title it....) last night again. I haven't read it since before South Beach. She, so far, is delving into why diets DON'T tend to work and it's a lot the same stuff: setting specific goals, failing, then beating ourselves up over them, etc. I think we (or me at least) can get so caught up in calories in, macros, calories out, that it almost becomes counterproductive. I can't tell you how many nights I'd eat two popsicles instead of one just because I knew I had the extra calories. I quit listening to my body and started obsessing over numbers. Weight is the same. I am on the high end of my weight now, but I think I look better than I have in a long time. I am liking a more "systems" approach. Like focusing on the whole pictures, not just the bits and pieces. So good luck with YOUR system!

Just got back from my lunch run. I almost thought about bailing, but my co-worker was all like, "well I'm going" so I'm glad I went. My congestion feels better than it has all day. I'm going to wrap up the work day, get my class in, and go home and have leftover chili and spend a nice relaxing night at home and then off tomorrow! Then Halloween. I bought $22 worth of candy yesterday..... :noway: We better get tons of trick or treaters......

Jen, I love your shirt. My daughter would say, "Mo-Mo" so naturally that was my first thought. Sounds like you're kicking @ss and also sounds like you're using more of a "systems" approach too. When do you leave?

Have a great day ladies!

How exciting! And maybe a little scary. :ohwell: Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

Beeps – How did the DEXA thing go?!?! Also, YES!!! The systems thing!! This is what I’m talking about!! I was tired of the micromanaging of everything. The macros, the calories, the measurements. I wanted to feel normal and not feel like it was laborious!! I feel so much better now the way things are going because it is a lifestyle. Again…my results could have been progressed had I logged, but for me, I’m just not there anymore. And having logged for so long, I am aware of eyeballing portions, listening to my body, knowing it needs protein or clean carbs or knowing I can have a muffin, but then it’s back to the foods I know work. Will I slip, yes, will I get back on and continue, hell yes!! I know you will keep us posted as to how your system will work for you!

Ashley – I’m glad to hear and see you are also benefitting from the systems approach. You haven’t been logging either, right?! It just seems to take the pressure off and just lets you keep doing what you know works. Judging more on how you feel and look rather than what the stupid scale says! Fantastic!! And I leave Sat at 6 a.m., come home Mon at 11:30 p.m. I can’t wait!!

Hi Abigail!!

Hope everyone is well this Hump Day!!!

Yeah Beeps....but again it's all just numbers. Look at your photos chick! They're amazing. You have made incredible progress. Don't let any number tell you otherwise. Sorry you didn't get close to the number you wanted, but again....just numbers. You look incredible and your motivation and will are inspiring.

Yep Jen. I quit logging. My sister (on MFP too) quit and suggested that book to me and it's kind of changed my mentality. Shortly after, I took measurements and photos after not for almost a year and saw the progress I've made in my physique even though I weight 4-5 pounds (a lot on 5'2") more than last year. I will never have perfect abs because I will never give up wine and foods I love in moderation. I also store fat in my midsection...always have. But my legs are nice. And my shoulders are nice. And I'm working on my butt. And I feel like I look better than I have maybe ever. I'll never be perfect in my eyes I'm sure. Anyways, that's just what I've been doing through the last few months. And I think I'm happier too. Have a blast in Vegas!!!!

Hi Abi!

Hope everyone else is doing well. Where is ramalen (sp?)? I know she had her honeymoon but thought she'd be back by now. Amy, hope you are doing okay too. And hi to the new moms!

Well, it's my day off so I better get some stuff done. I got an iPad from work so I wanted to play with my new toy and figured I'd check in. Have a great day ladies!

Hi Kelly! Thanks for checking in. Sorry you're so busy.

I ate 2 mini bags of peanut M&M's last night. And a Baby Ruth. I'll be glad the Halloween candy is gone. My kiddo will be DJ Lance Rock from Yo Gabba Gabba tonight. Should be cute. Today she wore Halloween jammies to school. I am simply wearing a skull and crossbones scarf, which is atypical for me. I've won 3 or 4 contests at work and I've been here 7 years. Oh well......

Happy Halloween!

Thanks, Better_Balance and kclynch - I appreciate the support - I really do!

kclynch - when there is SO MUCH GOING ON (in life), it becomes very difficult to focus on a "lost 10 lbs" task....I GET THAT! I hope you are succeeding in the things you ARE focusing on!!

Better_Balance - I ate Halloween candy last night, myself! And, while dressing up at work is a BIG HALLOWEEN DEAL around this company, I actually have professional meetings to attend (I usually get to wear jeans to work....but today, I am in business suit!). When I told my team I was coming 'dressed as a lawyer', they didn't think that was a very good costume, lol!

Enjoy the baby....your nutrition plan is solid!!

I love reading the 'good sleep' report, Better_Balance. One of the "systems" I am going to put in place, FOR SURE, is around assurance that I am getting good and sufficient sleep.

My husband and I are going to tackle "systems" this weekend - both for my nutrition/fitness goals, and also for household finance goals. With the right systems in place, we can focus on "following the systems" (i.e. focus on the INPUTS) and leave the outputs alone (because, they SHOULD be what we want with the consistent application of the 'system').

What the DEXA did clearly show is that I do NOT have Lean-body-mass of an average woman of my height. So, that really means ALL the "calorie counters" are "off" for me. (Meaning: if they say maintenance = 1,900 calories - not for me - that's too much!)

I think my maintenance will be about 1,600 calories per day. Maybe 1,650. I don't want to go too low in calories because I just end up binge-ing somewhere. And, since this is about a "slight" calorie deficit, I am going to give 1,450 calories, per day, a whirl.

The next "system" I need to work on is how to eliminate late-night snacking....well, actually ANY snacking after supper-hour. Believe me, this is not "junk food" related - we have nearly zero junk food in the house and I'll pick ANYTHING to "snack" on. Yogurt. Apples. Bananas. Bread. Believe me, it just ADDS UP and if I truly figured out a "system" to help me avoid late-night-snacking, those eliminated calories, right there, would be my poundage lost. I KNOW IT.

I am aiming to lose 1 lb per month. In 1 year's time, that eliminates 12 lbs of bodyfat which, frankly, would put me much closer to a 24% bodyfat # overall.

There....my "marathon" plan is in place. If you see me typing ANYTHING that sounds like a "sprint", please CALL ME ON IT. I need some accountability.

Oh, and I'll have to leave "challenges" alone, for awhile - they result in too much of a "sprint" mentality, for me, and I'm really trying to focus on the "marathon" training style just now.

I late-night-snack because, for me, that late-night period, traditionally, is the ONLY time I have taken for "me".

So, in my 20's, I used to use that time to smoke cigarettes! (i.e. son was in bed, I only had basic cable, so nothing was on t.v....I would study my university courses and smoke cigatettes - I felt like a REAL REBEL doing that!)

In my 30's, (I quit smoking by late 20's!) I used to use late-night time for a bath! My babies were in-bed, but likely to be up in an hour or two....and, I could squeeze in a bath, maybe a magazine, before I got back to night-time feedings and, of course, i was working all day.

In my 40's, babies were old enough to sleep (mostly) through the night. I wasn't smoking. So, I think participating in pantry raids became my form of "self-soothing".

I really think that sticking to calorie goals (spread out over a week, actually - I get 10,150 per WEEK to play with!!) isn't going to be that hard....I do think making sure that, if I start "grazing", that instead I CUE myself to go to bedroom, undress, brush teeth, etc., crawl into bed, read or go-to-sleep is just a LOGICAL progression in my lifestyle.

I want to have a Venus-LIFESTYLE....no more diet. It just is exactly how I *live*. Part of that means keeping promises to myself - promises of good sleep, promises of good nutrition, promises of regular work-outs, etc.

My babies are now 26, 12, and 11 - I really can make better decisions about ME, for ME.

That's why "systems" will be KEY! Focus on the "systems" and leave the rest alone...

Hey ladies. Beeps, that's an interesting assessment of your "me" time. My favorite has always been drinking wine and watching terrible Lifetime movies. Abi, sounds like you have a busy couple months ahead of you but fun!

My weekend was OK. We had friends in Friday night and I was up till 3. I loathe staying up that late anymore becuase I was up with Daphne at 7:30. It ruined most of my Saturday. We travelend an hour and a half to Lexington for the UK football game that afternoon. Met a bunch of friends and tailgated and weren't home till 12:30. Yesterday I had a great 4 mile run and then relaxed the rest of the day and made lechon asado in the crockpot. We have a pretty low key weekend this weekend and I'm looking forward to it. September was the month of traveleing and October was the month of house guests. Looks like November should be a mix: my parents are staying with us this Friday night and Eric's BFF and his new GF are coming next weekend. Then we travel to NC for Thanksviging.

For November, I would like to reel in the diet a bit. I'm still not logging but haven't been as mindful with my eating. I'd really rather not start the holiday season out with extra cushioning.

My goals this week:

Run twice (Mon at lunch and Thurs after work)
Tuesday class
Lift Wednesday and sometime over the weekend
Stroller walks
Good sleep
Don't eat till I'm overly full

Have a great week ladies!