The scale has been a bit of a challenge for me on many levels. While I do see it as a helpful tool, sometimes I picture the scale as holding a judge's hammer in one hand and pointing an accusing finger at me with the other. My personal goal has always been to be at 155 pounds, I have achieved this goal! BUT all the charts, etc. say according to my weight I should be 145 at most. Well, I think I may have been in 8th grade last time I saw that weight!!!

I've always been a "big boned" girl; weighed more than anyone would have guessed. I weigh less now than I did in high school. And I have ALWAYS been 60-80 pounds overweight as an adult. BUT, is that an excuse to accept that 155 is OK? I don't know. I'm struggling LOTS with that number right now. I know I FEEL great, I'm very active, eat well.....should I be setting another goal of weighing less JUST because I'm short and should weigh less? I guess I also know it's possible for me to weigh less, BUT I'd have to be willing to cut my calories more and exercise more, and that thought is very overwhelming for me in my life right now.

This is where I am...trying to find a "happy place". I fear that if I don't find peace with where I am now, OR set a new goal and work hard to achieve it, I may stay in this limbo place and that could be harmful.

Melody, you are one of the strongest women I have ever met!! There is no doubt in my mind that you will achieve your final goal! There are lots of excuses for not pushing ourselves hard enough, some legit, some not so much. Sometimes, it's hard to distinguish which is is which, when to push harder, and when to take it a little easier on ourselves in those "seasons" of life. Right now with family issues, homeschooling, yada, yada, it's hard to think of pushing harder than I have already.

Can't wait to see you standing up there at the next finale celebrating reaching your ultimate personal goal!

Mel as you know I did your very first Biggest Loser and had decent results. Though I do not need to lose a lot of weight, what I do need to lose is challenging for me. I have an extremely busy schedule (between family, babysitting, fire department, meetings and all the other things I am doing) getting myself healthy is a big priority for me now. I am making this a big priority because I plan on furthering myself in my career. (The kids are finally getting big enough I can focus more on me!) There are things I want to do but knowing my physical shape at this point I don't see them attainable. So I'm planning on 2012 being the year I work on ME and better MYSELF! I have been journaling for a week now (I began immediately after filling out my packet for Get Fit). I am now getting into the habit of it & it is helping me. I watch what I eat because I know I have to account for it later - which in turn makes me think twice before I eat something I really don't need. I'm actually getting excited about getting started with this program!

I have a LOT of goals to accomplish with this wonderful group. So far since I started getting my body under control I have lost (to date with weigh in info for Get Fit yesterday) 66 lbs (part with Get Fit part before). I have another 70-80 lbs total to go depending on how I feel when I get to those numbers. I have struggled FOREVER with body image and I want to be able to enjoy shopping AND actually not be super embarassed when I go on my 5th anniversary vacation to be in a bathing suit. My first goal is to get to the wonderful 100's! I have a bit to go but I am SURE that I can make it with diligence in journaling and increasing my excerise to more than 3x's a week. I also want to remember CARDIO BURNS FAT!!!!