*closed group* Flab to Fab 3 Month Challenge!

On another note, I'm thrilled that my husband and I just started the Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover! I'm all about lists and budgeting, but a lot of time, following through was where I slacked off. I'm a total foodie, (have I mentioned to you all that I'm a Food Network JUNKIE? I've given it up for Lent TWICE!) and I love to bake and cook with specialty ingredients. Believe it or not, my biggest weakness was not shoes, clothes, or purses, but GROCERIES!! So, planning my meals out for the week has really cut down on my calories, and I'm hoping it will do the same for our bank account.

So, just thought I'd share with you ladies. If anyone has considered doing it, it is definitely worth the $25 investment in his book to check it out.

Take care everyone. I'll check back in on Friday!

My friend is obsessed with Dave Ramsey! We've followed his 7-Baby steps, although we don't have 3-6 months of an emergency budget quite yet and we're already investing. But we got out of debt first (aside from our house of course haha). I'm a very very big budgeter. My husband hates it, but I know he's grateful I do it!

Planning our meals has really helped us cut down our grocery budget. Lukas has also just started eating solid food and I'm making it all for him too, which is going to save us a ton, PLUS I know exactly what he is eating and it's not processed.

Anyways, hah sorry I know this isn't a budget form I will stop now

Happy last chance workout day guys!! PUSH IT!!

Hi FABulous ladies! Sorry I've been MIA for a few days. It looks like everyone has had some ups and downs since I last checked in. I hope everyone is back on track since today was hump day.

I have had a really exciting week with my weight. I am .2 lbs away from my Easter goal, so I'm hoping to make it by our weigh-in on Friday. I met my first mini-goal (set for Valentine's Day) really early, but when I went on vacay at the end of last month, it really set me back and I had to re-lose 4 lbs. (I probably would have been well under my Easter goal by now ... grrr!!) I'm stoked to be so close to my next goal, even if it is JUST before Easter.

Of course, today TOM started a little early, so I'm doing my absolute best not to hork down a ton of chocolate. Fortunately, I haven't bought any Easter candy for my kids yet, but I'm taking them to a humongous egg hunt tomorrow, so that is sure to change.

Anyhoo ... I'm thinking of you all, my friends. I hope we're all able to avoid temptation, make good choices and work our butts OUT for the rest of the week.

Oh, and my new challenge wasn't so much the activity that I did, but the time I exercised. I woke up early TWICE this week to work out before my kiddies got up. May not sound like much, but let me tell you, I am NOT a morning person. I rarely go to sleep at a reasonable hour, so I am never up before 7 or 7:30. And even then my kids have to bug me to death for 10 minutes before I get out of bed. (BAD MOMMY!)

The best part is, I really enjoyed the time to myself, and it was awesome not to have to rush to exercise when my kids were at school. I'm going to try to get up early again on Friday morning when my hubby has to work again. He is working until 3 am tonight and will most likely frown upon my turning the TV on at 6 am tomorrow morning while he's trying to sleep. ;-)

On another note, I'm thrilled that my husband and I just started the Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover! I'm all about lists and budgeting, but a lot of time, following through was where I slacked off. I'm a total foodie, (have I mentioned to you all that I'm a Food Network JUNKIE? I've given it up for Lent TWICE!) and I love to bake and cook with specialty ingredients. Believe it or not, my biggest weakness was not shoes, clothes, or purses, but GROCERIES!! So, planning my meals out for the week has really cut down on my calories, and I'm hoping it will do the same for our bank account.

So, just thought I'd share with you ladies. If anyone has considered doing it, it is definitely worth the $25 investment in his book to check it out.

Take care everyone. I'll check back in on Friday!

I am TOTALLY a foodie! I am obsessed with Top Chef, Chopped, Challenges....basically ANYTHING that has to do with cooking shows. I would have died giving this up for Lent! That shows some power. LOL. I love to cook and I'll try any recipe and I try to make my own up as I go.

Yes, according to the technical support board, there is a problem at amazon.com

Just booked my initial consultation with our new personal trainer at work for next Thursday, she is doing measurements, so I'll use those as my May 1 measurements...hopefully it won't totally screw my numbers up. LOL

**bump** I'm here ladies! Busy crazy week, but on top of it all I've keeping up w/ exercise and healthy eating! :-) Excited for weigh in tomorrow... xx ~Desirae

Weighing in a bit early today
I bought a new digital scale, when my second-hand $1 one decided one morning that i was 8 pounds heavier when i'd been eating well and hitting the gym daily.
But according to this new one i'm 135.5 pounds. I know that it's right, because it's the same as the gym scale, but i kind of feel like i don't deserve it? Like it's the scale and not me!
I will be going with this new number though because i need an accurate measurement, and i have changed my goal weight too, because i don't feel like i'm that close yet.
Hope everyone is having a great holiday, i'm off to the beach with my boyfriend for a few days and there wont be any internet!
And @ Shamrock, i love swimming, it's such a great workout. It's great to change it up once in a while

4/1: 170.8
4/8: 169.0
4/15: 167.0
4/22: 168.0

Gained a pound. Uggh. Not really suprised. As I said yesterday, I haven't been trying at 100% and I got kind of the result I expected. I did minimal exercising this week, didn't drink my water, and probably didn't log completely accurately. But this is good. I think this is just the slap in the face I need to get over this hump. Everytime in the last 10 years I have tried to lose weight I get stuck right where I am and I am NOT letting that happen this time. I will break through and start losing again next week.

I am not checking in with my mini challenge this week as I know I did horrible :-/. My goals for this coming weekend 4/22-4/24
- exercise daily for at least 45 minutes
- Drink 80 oz of water daily
- Stay within calories on Saturday and within 250 calories over on Sunday (being realistic with Easter)

My goals for the next full week Fri-Thu 4/22-4/28
- Burn 3500 cals
- Drink 80 oz of water daily
- Under on Sodium daily and overall cals everyday except Easter

I need to kick it in to high gear this next week. I need to get focus. I am runing my first registered 5K on May 1st and I really don't feel prepared for it. I know I have been running a bunch and training for it and I know if I set my mind to it I can do the distance no problem but I am very self-conscious about running and exercising in front of people. In my mind I am still that fat girl on the treadmill. I still imagine people thinking or whispering "what does she think she's doing" or "look at all that flab bounce when she is running". For me to do this 5k it is more than overcoming my hate for running (which is more of a love/hate relationship now) It is for me to get past these stupid self-image issues I have had for the last 8-10 years. So here is to a great week next week. Thank you for listening. Hope you all have a better number than I did. Have a great weekend!

Weighin in: Same deal, nothing has changed. Believe it or though that is not a bad thing for me. This week has been quite challenging for me and the emotional eating was 'partially' controlled. I'm glad it didn't show on the scale. Very happy about that.

You know what though, I've learned a few things this week:
1) I learned to pay attention to small steps I'm taking in the right direction. A good example of this is having to now take in my bra because they are a bit too big. Love that! Another example is having the hubby recognize that I'm losing weight, which is HUGE for he sees me every day.

2) I learned that I need to work out to be happy. As stated before the studios at our gym were closed this week due to renovation and I thought I would be able to just go to another gym or start a new routine. Well, I don't know what happened but nothing happened. I only went to the gym once this week. I feel as though I got too comfortable following my little routine and just couldn't handle the change. I don't mind changing work out regimes every so often, but not being around the people I normally work out with and not being able to go to the same gym really threw me off. So silly I know, but I can't come up with another explanation.

3) I learned that I need to work out to keep my energy up! I was falling asleep at work every day this week and I'm like, what gives?

4) I confirmed that I cannot be on this journey by myself. I was baffled by this. There was a time when I would go and work out by myself for hours on end, however that's no longer the case. I never knew how comfortable I'd gotten until this week. I need the help of God and others to continue to take steps in the right direction.

5) I also realized that had it not been for this week's challenge I wouldn't have exercised at all. So thanks for the 'extra push' ...

6) I learned that my body is no longer a fan of junk food. Let's remember my emotional/throw in the towel week (I think TOM is around the corner because I've been riding an emotional rollercoaster) ... I went to PANDA EXPRESS yesterday for dinner ... Yes, I know!!! I know!!! AND ... I ate the whole plate, I know, I know!!! Well, a few minutes after eating I sat on my couch and my tummy started feeling sick and (without giving you a visual) it went downhill and let's just say I involuntarily cleared my 'pipes' ... I felt much better after the fact, but what a lesson to be learned.

So ... enjoy your Friday and may we continue to learn more about ourselves and each other ...

Enoguh writing Lucy ... get back to work Thanks for pushing me and encouraging me on a daily basis. You gals rock!

Hello Ladies...Happy Friday!

I maintained this week...good enough for me considering I started a new job and have a new schedule. Adjustment is always interesting!!!

Week 1: 145.6 lbs
Week 2: 146.4 lbs
Week 3: 144.8 lbs
Week 4: 144.8 lbs

Challenge Goal ~ 135 lbs

...good luck to everyone, keep pushing forward!!

Cheers! :drinker:
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Ladies, ladies, ladies! Today is one of the happiest days of my life. This morning I went to the gym to weigh in and I literally cried when I got on the scale. This morning I weighed in at 151lbs! This is the most amazing news for a number of reasons...

1. I am NOT OVERWEIGHT for the first time in my life. (Reason enough to cry with happiness)

2. I have a healthy BMI! Woohoo!!!!

3. My Easter goal was today and was set for 153.9lbs.... I beat my goal by 2.9lbs! YAYYY!!!!

4. I have lost 19lbs since I started MFP

5. I FEEL FLIPPING FANTASTIC!

I hope I help with the group loss total this week! A whopping 6.4lbs since last Friday (note I had TOM last weekend aswell)

Here are my stats :

Week 0: 156lbs
Week 1: 155.8lbs
Week 2: 157.4lbs
Week 3: 151lbs!!!! (Still cant believe it :noway: )

Sorry if Im going on and on and on I just cant contain myself right now, I feel like I've climbed Mount Everest! And it is most definitely ALL down to this site and everyone in this challenge I had been stuck at my starting weight for 2 years and couldn't lose anything and now look at me! Whoop!

Who's on for the weekend pact?! We are going to NAIL it this weekend! I cant wait!!!!!

LOVE YOU ALL! xxx

Ladies, ladies, ladies! Today is one of the happiest days of my life. This morning I went to the gym to weigh in and I literally cried when I got on the scale. This morning I weighed in at 151lbs! This is the most amazing news for a number of reasons...

1. I am NOT OVERWEIGHT for the first time in my life. (Reason enough to cry with happiness)

2. I have a healthy BMI! Woohoo!!!!

3. My Easter goal was today and was set for 153.9lbs.... I beat my goal by 2.9lbs! YAYYY!!!!

4. I have lost 19lbs since I started MFP

5. I FEEL FLIPPING FANTASTIC!

I hope I help with the group loss total this week! A whopping 6.4lbs since last Friday (note I had TOM last weekend aswell)

Here are my stats :

Week 0: 156lbs
Week 1: 155.8lbs
Week 2: 157.4lbs
Week 3: 151lbs!!!! (Still cant believe it :noway: )

Sorry if Im going on and on and on I just cant contain myself right now, I feel like I've climbed Mount Everest! And it is most definitely ALL down to this site and everyone in this challenge I had been stuck at my starting weight for 2 years and couldn't lose anything and now look at me! Whoop!

Who's on for the weekend pact?! We are going to NAIL it this weekend! I cant wait!!!!!

LOVE YOU ALL! xxx

GIRL! I am so proud of you! You keep it up you hot chick you!

Good morning ladies, I am a little disappointed about gaining a pound since I have really been active this week with my cardio. I think it is most likely pre-tom bloating but still disappointing none the less especially since last night was the most calories I have ever burned since starting this journey in January.

Anywho, I am super excited to see the losses posted so far!

wk 1: 208
wk 2: 204.6
wk 3: 204
wk 4: 205.4

hugs and smooches all

Down .4 this week. Very fgood considering I was up earlier this week by a pound.

I was able to get to my first jazzercise body sculpting class today, so I'll use that as my challenge accomplishment, something I hadn't done before.

Off to take a quick shower and take DD to her 3 year old check up.... This should be fun. She now knows she will get a shot at this appointment. :-(

Down .4 this week. Very fgood considering I was up earlier this week by a pound.

I was able to get to my first jazzercise body sculpting class today, so I'll use that as my challenge accomplishment, something I hadn't done before.

Off to take a quick shower and take DD to her 3 year old check up.... This should be fun. She now knows she will get a shot at this appointment. :-(

Hey Lori - which office did you visit? I was in the car taking Logan for a recheck on his ears for the walk in hours at the office on Telegraph...and I didn't realize it was already 9:30 and hours ended at 10! Blah. So I'll be taking him on Monday. It would have been fun to see you though! LOL.

My weekend challenge = no dessert.

Great job ladies! Everyone is doing so well ...