Beeps, I know easier said than done, but don't be so hard on yourself! I think having 6 "good days" and one cheat day will be helpful. I know personally if I restrict restrict restrict, I WILL binge. But for me it's like I can do a 3 day cycle of low calorie and then I'm just hungry and need the food. Good luck with it all. We all have that problem area. For me, it's my midsection.

Amy, I like the dress! You look thin. But I think you always do in your pics.

Hey Shander!

Hey Shanaber! Close names..... Nice work on the star challenge. Good luck to all you challengers!

That's all I can see.

I am enjoying not logging my food. I suspect I will start again after I have the baby to drop the weight. I do hope that sometime shortly after that I can quit. I just don't want a life of logging everything i put into my body. I still have a hard time not counting almonds as I eat them. I hope to cut back the drinking after baby (obviously I'm not drinking now!) and that will help a lot. I drink (when not prego) a lot of calories......

I did not run last night. It was hot and I straightened up a bit before and after dinner. Parents come tomorrow. I made a really yummy pasta salad. I had the last cookie and a popsicle for dessert. And some cheddar pretzels after dinner. I was just hungry. I woke up hungry. I'm just listening to my body, so that's that. My turkey veggie wraps for lunch have been really yummy. May be a new lunch for work. I estimate it to probably be around 400 calories. I pair it with an apple with soynut butter and there's my lunch!

I just learned my husband's car has to be towed tonight so I will miss my pilates strength class. Boo. So I am for sure going to work out during lunch tomorrow. Also will try to get out for a run or walk (most likely as it will be hot again) right after work while Eric meets with the steam cleaner and contractor that is adding onto our house. Oh well....life happens ane I'll do that best I can!

Ugh fall semester seems so close and I seem to be getting further and further away from how I want to look for school. Plus, I still have no idea what kind of workout routines I will do. It is either run around town, or the school track, but I would really want a heart rate monitor to better track my calories since I know MFP is so inaccurate. I just want the most accurate information possible. Or I could join a gym and see how high tech their machines are. I am spoiled at home, the stationary bike I use tracks my calories burned and seems pretty accurate since it takes my age and weight into account. Plus, I will have to go grocery shopping and stock up on all the food I am used to eating here. I only bought junk food and snack food to keep at my place down there because it stores better. Ugh, I just want this week to be over, but only if next week is better. I can't imagine more than two weeks gaining water weight. Does anyone know how long it takes to lose water weight? Or how I can slow it down? And this is me assuming it is water weight I am gaining. I really have no idea or how to tell.

I have a few minutes so I will try to catch up with everyone!
Abigail - I missed your post before! I hope you are ok and not too sore from your run!

Shander - I will add you back into the Challenge

Beeps - I agree with Ashley, I think you are being too hard on yourself! It would be nice if we could 'spot' reduce but our bodies seem to only lose from where it wants and usually that isn't necessarily where we want to lose. Besides I have seen pictures of you and you look fantastic! Your hips or saddlebag area may look big to you but you look great in every dress you have posted!
As far as tracking progress... I would use your measuring tape. That seems like the best way too me but then I am the one who is always looking at the scale and complaining about it!

Amy - I think you look beautiful in that dress!

I am off to the gym for some strength training and then I am going to get dunked for a body fat measurement at a friends cross-fit gym... I am a little worried about what the result is going to say but I would rather have the information!

1 day into the new week and doing well so far

Amys303- I think I made those chia cups too! But I didn't have almond milk but had some whip cream I had to use up (yeah not too healthy LOL) and they were really good. I froze a bunch of the cups and if you let them thaw a bit they turn into a ice cream type of slush

Yesterday was a good day! Food came in about 100 cals over my goal but I also got my 5 mile run in and felt really strong and then quick showered at the gym and headed to my running group meeting thinking we were just going to go over stretches and running form...well it turned into going over running form and then practicing said running form for about 30 min...oof. I got home and hubby had made some yummy pizza balls with bacon/salami/cheese/lots of veggies. I was so wired that I tossed and turned most of the night and woke up all puffy faced, allergy, cranky...not good for morning workouts. Ok, a word on morning exercise...maybe they just aren't meant to be? I have been trying now for nearly a month and succeeded once...and they actually made me tired the rest of the day. I just don't have enough time in the afternoon to do all I want to do!

Might jump on the scale tomorrow...IDK. TOM is coming so might not be a good idea. Not sure what is going to happen since I am now 30 days off BC (after 15 yrs) and going all natural, well sort of...I got the copper IUD. One thing I have noticed so far though is I have way more energy. I had the same thing happen when I stopped when hubby deployed for nearly a year, and I thought it was just b/c I was running more and I was having trouble sleeping and walking up at the crack of dawn ready to go! But now it is happening again so I wonder if that fatigue was hormone related. Now to translate that morning energy into workout and not just lay there....especially since Saturday training is 0630 start time SIR!

So on track this week. Sculpting today...rest of the week is iffy b/c of the two tropical storms coming in...but I will roll over dead before I do a 9 mile treadmill run LOL.

Shanaber - I hope the dunk test went well! I would like to find a place that does that.. kind of nervous on the results though!!

Beeps - You have looked fantastic in every picture you've posted. I'm sorry you aren't seeing the results you want though, that can be extremely frustrating. You'll get where you want to be though! Hiring the stylist sounds amazing though!! I hope you get there so I can hear about your experience!

Amy - Could you send me the Vacation Body Blue Print?? I'm thinking that might be helpful to have right before my boudoir shoot! And for the wedding for that matter! You look great in that dress by the way!

Chelneal - Those pizza balls sound amazing!! I'm sorry you woke up with allergies though Morning work out definitely aren't for everyone, find what works for you you!

Smarie - Those goals look great!!

Has anyone ever read into the Garcinia Cambogia thing? My friend just started taking it and she asked me if i had heard about it. I have, but I don't know if it's safe or not. Have any of you read into it??

I'm trying to get back into the swing of things and eat healthy again. I turned down my fiance to go to a beer night, which was hard to do, but I think turning over this leaf will help my goals and my wallet! I just want to see some results, not seeing any movement is getting to be very draining! I'll keep trucking though and hopefully I'll see some results at some point!

Hi Beeps I totally feel you. I can't seem to stay under 160 here today gone tomorrow....The struggle is real..

Oh yeah. It is. Especially after 40....it is just an endless cycle of lose 2 lbs, gain 3, lose 5, gain 1. Rinse. Repeat.

Sooooo... the dunk test was quite a shock. I thought I would be in the 20-24% but was much higher - almost 30% :noway: Looking at my body and trying to figure out where exactly that fat is hiding. Between the running and strength training I consider myself pretty fit and pretty muscular but I guess that is really not the case :frown:

I have to say I was really upset last night but now I am determined to change it - from a health perspective if nothing else. My daughter wants me to talk to a nutritionist and may set me up for a consult online with someone from her school. She is convinced I am not eating enough calories and that is part of the issue - we will see... Also meeting with my trainer tomorrow to discuss with him as well.

@shanabar omgoodness that does not sound right at all. But I have always heard the dunk test is the most accurate. Dang numbers...
Today, is going to be a good day. I can feel it. Last night I put the most effort into strength training that I have done in awhile, so it felt good and I think it paid off. This morning I felt great, and it didn't hurt that the scale was also feeling great. I got my car fixed, there were cute guys working at the dealership, my mom is bringing home healthy groceries.... Gosh the list goes on and on.
Happy hump-day!