**CLOSED SKINNY CHICS & A ROOSTER CLIMB THE SEVEN SUMMITS CH

Oh my! JJ you don't know what you have done for us!! You remember earlier this week when I replied to Becky's challenge that I was going to get up early and head to the gym to ride the ironman triathalon distance on a bike today. I did it!!!! No kidding 112 miles in just under 2 hours on the recumbent bike. I kid you not they guy working at the gym kept coming to check on me. I could literally wring the sweat out of my shirt when I was done. And eventhough I wasn't intending to go to Curves and workout I had time to kill before picking up the U-Haul since I was faster on the bike than i thought I would be. So with the gala I should also have lots of dancing minutes to log tomorrow. Yay. Okay so I am tired and am going to log my info for today then head to bed. Love you all.

Staci - You are an energizer bunny - you just keep going and going and going!

Thanks Steph! Today, I definitely felt like the energizer bunny on the bike at the gym. I kept saying to myself "Okay how are the legs? Can I keep going? " And I could!!!

Here's my start tonight... I have been a little unavailable since issuing my challenge within a challenge. But not for lack of effort towards the challenge. Things have been busier than ever and I was under the weather for a day or two. However, I am here and plan to put in some serious compliments and acknowledgements tonight. So, here's my start. This... is my acknowledgements! But first... first, I just want to proudly proclaim that I think that I have acknowledged every compliment that has been given to me in this challenge -- AND -- please note that this... is a big, BIG and -- AAAAANNNNNDDDDD I think that I have acknowledged every compliment given to me in Real Life. Not only acknowledged but really worked to NOT downplay or downgrade it... I didn't excuse them away. I am proud of that - because I'm not so good with the build up to me or being the center of attention. So, count that as my second compliment for today (and this is still my Friday!), cause I complimented our amazing Staci on her -- OMG 112 miles on the evil bike! He, he, he, he!

Becky, girl you are tenacious, and I love your competitive spirit in not wanting any of our challenges to falter! You've been having a bad week, and yet you're still here pushing the rest of us.

THANK YOU BOBBIE... I do have a commpetitive spirit. While not always a good thing - it has been here. And, that's what keeps pushing me to continue on this pathway! Thanks!

you have always pushed yourself hard and never have given up on a challenge that we have been in together. You give me strength and the extra push while I read how hard you are moving and giving to the challenges.

THANK YOU LINDA... I truly appreciate this and am gonna accept it. I do try and push myself on these challenges especially at the end, because I don't want to miss the goals! Thanks!

Okay Becks. I see how you are a challenge within a challenge huh? I love that there is another person who, like me, was checking out what needs to be done to complete this challenge.

THANK YOU STACI... I am checking it out and trying to help everyone out. I am sometimes overly organized but I love that about myself and I will always probably take better care of others than I need to! Thanks!

Becky, I want to compliment you on your honesty always. I love that you always let us know how you are feeling whether its good, bad, sad angry, happy or whatever. I often wish that I could be so open and honest with how I am feeling. I think if I could my cookie binge might not have happened last night.

THANK YOU (AGAIN) STACI... It's sometimes hard for me to be honest, because it feels very vulnerable to me. So, I appreciate your notice and recognition because I was honest and it was hard. I am proud of myself for that... I guess it's not the honesty (anyone who knows me will tell you I can't tell a lie) but the publicly displaying where I am at and how I feel that I am most proud of. I am emotional... and I am proud of that. I feel every feeling... EVERY feeling! Because in knowing the lonliness... I will also know love and belonging. In feeling the frustration and let-down... I will also know pride and accomplishment! Thanks!

Becky, like Staci, I admire how honest you and that you let us all in on what is going on in your life. It is very admirable. In you I feel I have found a kindred spirit, someone who understands the journey and all its pitfalls. Your sharing makes it easier to realise this is a life change and I thank you for that.

THANK YOU STEPH... I agree... that I feel as though I have found a kindred spirit with you. I appreciate that you say my sharing makes it easier to realize that this change is life long. I have been honest to a point that it does hurt for me at times. But I am proud that I am doing it because I believe that I need to be more open with other and accepting of those pieces of me if I am going to be successful with this journey. Thank you so much for your acknowledgements.

Becky - I love that you are realistic, are quick with both the butt-kicking and the compliments when we need them, and always have a plan to get the job done!

THANK YOU EILEEN... Ahh... blushing here. I don't know that many people would typically call me realistic - but I am accepting that for this and proud of that. I am realistic at times... a dreamer all too often! I strive, though, to be that person that can love you and push you in a way that at the end you think - Gosh, how'd she do that. I don't know how I am doing with that very often... but I am gonna hold on to your compliment. Makes me all warm and gooshy inside!

Becky - My compliments for your time going over the mountains and collating the information for us. I have been riding the bike and adding some strength training so I hope this helps. You as well continue to share so much of yourself with us that it is motivating as well. Thanks.

THANK YOU CARLA... I am a pretty organized gal - so it is just helpful for me to put the info together in a way that helps me. I am glad that it also helped you. I like that in many senses I am an open book... I hope to continue to do this more and more!

Becky, I adore you. You give so much to everyone, your advice, your encouragement and really, I have no doubt, the shirt right off your back if needed. You are an incredibly generous person.

THANK YOU JJ... I think that I needed something just like that today, yesterday, the day before. I appreciate that you said that you "adore" me. I really do things to encourage others and build them up. I think it is one of my real, true strengths and I am proud of that. Thank you... thank you!

Becky- I know this might sound kind of weird or strange but I just want you to know that you matter to me. I have often just checked in to see if you have posted yet and how you are doing. You are growing and it shows. You will make it girl.

THANK YOU STACI... I just want you to know that this brought tears to my eyes. And you will never have any way of knowing just how much that makes a difference to me today, which as I type that brings even more tears to my eyes! I know that I am growing, I do know it. At least in my head and that is where it starts. So, that is my acknowledgement... but more than that - I want you to know just how much this touched some of the deepest places in my heart! And for that, I will always have you in it. Thank you so very, very much.

Becky - you know I loves you and I know you will be back with us when you are in that place again. That said, you are my bouncy ball, you bounce back no matter what life throws at you and you let us all in on your journey. You are honest, kind and sincere.

THANK YOU STEPH... This made me laugh, out loud. Like seriously out loud! Which is good, in light of having tears for the above comments from Staci! The universe gives us what we need... but I digress... OK - so thank you. Not only for the laugh but for calling me a bouncy ball. I am honest, kind and sincere. I ... ugh, I don't believe in the word "try" so I am gonna have to really own this here, which is hard... I am that bouncy ball. I think because I am fun (I swear, I am... ) and I kinda have that type of personality. But yes - I do keep bouncing back. And, I am proud of that. However, I promise you that I haven't been "gone" really - and what I have been is due to all the craziness just in my life vs that I was down and out mood wise. So, I am hopeful that if I can just finish up a few more things I can have that time for my needed MFP soon... Thanks for giving me a laugh - just when it was so helpful!

to help with compliment summit
i recently posted a pic of my family on facebook from that halloween party last weekend - there are a TON of "you look great" compliments on it, can i include them as real life compliments? i could count them separately or all as one?

i would like to compliment myself for getting up and exercising today, because i swore i was taking today off, i feel so bloated and got to bed so late. but eyes opened and i just got into my clothes and hopped on the gazelle for 45 minutes. and i usually take tomorrow off, but i will make sure i do some cardio/dancing and exercises

2nd question - since you have me logging my Gazelle as dancing - should i double this morning's workout when i log it in? i'll wait for the answer - as technically, it ain't dancing

compliment for JJ
I am so in awe of your persistence, when you say you only lose 1 week a month (i'm a daily weigher and need that .20 of a lb to keep me going!) and this month you haven't lost anything, i'd be whining and complaining and very down, while you seem even more determined. i'm amazed that you can use that determination to keep on going and see the inches loss as a positive.

"Jane, I admire your sense of right when you comment on threads trying to help others. I also admire your sense of self, as you force your body into submitting to your will. Yep, sometimes it doesn't work like you want it to, but you get up and do it again, and then you buy clothes too small to force yourself to get into them! Constantly in awe! "

Bobbie, thank you for this. I don't often feel very confident, or very sure of myself, and I often question my own willpower. So it's interesting and useful to see me from someone else's point of view this way. Makes me realise that I can do this.

"Jane, I love your optimism, enthusiasm and can-do spirit. You are willing to try most anything. Love, love, love it."

Thank you, JJ. Can-do is a relatively new thing for me, so it's good to have that reinforced. :-)

I've just realised I did all my dancing (such as it is) with my daughter. Should that be doubled?

(I'll go do that, but can always change it back if it's wrong)

stephanie: I love your overawing fabulousness. You're just an amazing, beautiful woman, with a smile that could light up a small city.

Jane Thank You :bigsmile: Today I needed to hear this. I needed reminding that I am beautiful. Thank you ((HUGS))

Carla, you have done such a great job with complimenting others! So I am going to compliment you on it! You have made sure to give them out liberally and I really appreciate it!

Thanks for the compliment. It is so nice to be able to acknowledge what others have been doing. We are all making such life changes and a little encouragement will go a long way to keep us motivated, so I am glad that I got in some true compliments.

carhicks: Making it up (and down) Diamond Head? Amazing! That's such an achievement. And building a sense that your healthy choices are integrated into your life is the biggest part of the battle - so well done on that too.

Thanks for the compliment. The Diamond Head trek was really a great test for us to see if we could do it and we did. We wanted to walk both ways but being realistic knew that that was not going to work. It is nice when my husband and I can be active together. Now I just need to work on my daughter. Thanks again.