Mike weighed in at 233.2 and I weighed in at 189.1. hmmmm. Frustrating.  I got a stability ball yesterday and am doing crunches at home as well. The kids are having more fun with it than I am. I can't believe there's only one more week left of the contest. I need to post progress pictures before then. How's everyone else doing? Drop me a line and let me know.

Well, we lost weight. It's not as much as we hoped but it is a loss. Mike weighed in at 235.7 almost a 2 pound loss and I weighed in at 190.4 a 2 pound loss. Almost 4 pounds total. We are breaking through the plateau hopefully.

The end of the challenge is drawing near. Do you see the glass as half empty or half full?  For us, yes, the challenge is about to end, but that is the only thing that's ending. You see, we found ourselves through this journey and to be fair and faithful to ourselves we must see it through to the end, which is... till the end of time. This has become a lifestyle for us. we found what will keep us young for our children and ourselves. It's not a secret, although it seems that not alot of people claim to know this prized posession. Simply put, it's health.  A way of eating that was meant for all of us since we were created. Yes, I love to eat rich, fatty, processed foods just like the rest of you. There's just one thing....my body can't handle it anymore. Pizza from the best places doesn't taste the same. My favorite food is Chipotle, and yes, I have tried to indulge in it a few times since this challenge, simply because my body actually craved it and I thought, well there must be something in it my body needs. Everytime I got it, it didn't taste right. I still ate it, but the next day.... I felt awful. Lethargic and depressed. Depressed because I gave in to my desires and because it made me not want to exercise or continue to eat right, and just down in general. I actually have been craving something good for me for about a week now. Last night I finally bought some. It is wild salmon. I don't know why, but I just want that, steamed asparagus, and organic brown or wild rice.  My pre-health self would just look at me and say"ewwww."  I want water immediately upon rising, apples(have to get those still), and for my sweet tooth skinny cow ice cream sandwiches or ww cookies and cream ice cream bars. I have hit a wall of sorts with my weight-loss but, I have gone down in inches, so that tells me I am still on the right track. It's only going to get better. I am looking forward to summer and a smaller swim suit, hopefully a better, more trim bod to go along with it. I feel that this race for us has just begun. I am focused on seeing the Michelle and Mike we once knew, the ones our kids have never met. They won't know what to think. The old us were very athletic and always active and on the go. Our kids are at the age where they can play ball (tiffany can learn), start going on hikes as a family, etc. Yes, I have a long way to go. I still cave in sometimes to food I shouldn't. I still reach for food when I'm upset, just now, sometimes I can recognize it and walk away. (yes, I said sometimes, this is new and I'm human.)  At least i am being honest. What would I gain from lying about my weight, food choices, etc? It doesn't benefit me, or anyone else. It doesn't hurt anyone else but myself by lying, so I have to be true to me. Someone once said(don't know who off hand ), "Begin, with the end in mind." See that finish line, the final product before you start. Count all the costs and decide if it's worth it. For me, I can see it, I can taste victory, it's sweet, and I want more of it. I am not just putting healthy things in my body, I'm choosing better quality whole healthy foods as well. I won't get into the whys, some of you may never eat again. That's the curse of reading books, trying to learn about health and healthy foods, you learn things that will make to never look at your favorite foods the same way again, and the resturaunts the same way either. On a different note, I can't wait to be able to run a race without stopping. I have been training, I am not where I need to be yet, but I am getting there. I have come so far from where I had been though. Tommorow is weigh in day, hmmmm, sigh. I am getting ready to take my measurements to see where I stand, can't wait till march 2. to see the results.  I hope everyone is seeing results in their own lives as well. Remember, it doesn't just have to be at the scale, an improvement is an improvement, you just have to find it, recognize it, embrace it and OWN it!!! Have a great week!!!

It's getting down to the wire. What we once had in terms of on fire dertermination and motivation gave way to results in whinch we were all proud of. Somewhere along the way our regime fot comfortable. A little too comfortable. I can see Jillian in my face yelling at me to move, push until it hurts, push until you feel you're going to break and then... push some more. I have hit the wall, a plateau or something. I need to go back to the beginning, back to where it was all fresh and new. I need to readjust my weight set point. Everybody has one. A weight at which your body keeps going back to. It can be reset, you just have to push your body hard enough and far enough to where it won't go back to that old number. Mine evidently is 189-190. I've tried lowering my points, raising my points, more exercise, less exercise, no meat, all veggies. You name it. I know that I am making progress because of the inches lost, and the fact that for two days out of the week I weigh 5-10 pounds heavier than what I do on thursday(weigh in). Then on sunday for the 212 weigh in, the weight seems to go back up. Not cheating on the weekends, but I have been eating late all week for three weeks. Befroe I would stop at 7 pm eating, only chewing gum and drinking water, to eating up until 10 pm and going to bed about 11-12. Right there are two things I shouldn't be doing. Eating late and staying up late. I also have reaquainted some of my daily points back with pepsi. I do understand that even though it's in my points, it doesn't make it good. Too much sodium, sugar, and extra empty calories. I have ordered some tea that will help eliminate cravings, eliminate toxins, and cleanse my system. It's called essiac tea. It's not a weight loss tea, it's a blood purifier, liver,kidney, lymphatic,etc. cleanse. It helped me before(when I was doing weight watchers) to eliminate wrong cravings and I wanted to eat better. It helped with digestion, created enzymes I needed to digest my food(eliminate bloating) and I craved more natural, unrefined food, whole food. I had more energy, I felt better, which made me exercise and hence look better. It oxygenates the blood and helps fight disease. My cholesterol normalized, my heartburn and acid reflux dissapated, my brain fog lifted, I slept better, etc. So it's not for the weight, it's for my body which helps me improves my body functions so I can make the best choices possible. It's organic and all natural herbs like, burdock root, turkey rhubarb, slippery elm bark and another, I can't remember off hand. The site is www.ojibwa.com  I am going to the gym tommorow and trying some new machines. I have been drinking green tea for the antioxidants, it helps get rid of excess water.(trying to get the pop out of my system again) That was a poor choice to introduce it back in. I have headaches again with it.(that's where the essiac tea will help, it gets that crap out of your system). I am getting rid of junk throught my house I have been holding on to for forever. (since I was a kid.) It's hard to do that, you think of when you were a child, then it goes to "my kids will play with it." then to "It might be worth something." I have been to that one, you save it for ebay and never put it on there, figure you will give it away, now I'm to the point where it's easier to pitch it than to save it. I'm tired of clutter. I have heard over and over that if you hold on to clutter, you tend to hold on to excess weight, tend to be disorganized in other areas of your life as well. I'm tired of this weight, this clutter, this disarray. I'm letting go, and finding myself. I am 33 years old, I am tired of hokding on to things because I was told as akid to keep my toys so my kids can play with them one day. Guess what? They don't want anything to do with them. Punky brewster, who's that , mom? Rocky Balboa who? Care bears? Ours are better, G.I. Joe? we've got new ones, mom,dad. I even have old sesame street figures from before I was born and fisher price castle from 69'. I was born in 74'. I'm more attatched to them than they are. My grandma says they'll be worth something someday. I've checked my lunch boxes, the castle,etc. At one time they were a hot item about 4 years ago. Now they're ok, but you have to know how to put them on ebay and etc. I just am to that point today that I want to get rid of everything and start over. Yeah, right. But you get my point. I've rambled, so I'll stop. Going to get back to cleaning. Hey, it's a form of exercise. Have a 212, B.L. week!

Well, good news and bad news. Good news is that the inches are going bye bye. I (Michelle) fit into medium and large that I haven't been in, in years. So, the workouts are doing their job. Mike is looking trimmer in the face and his gut isn't as bulging as it was. The bad news... Mike is at 237 and I am 192.4. This is weighing in at 10 pm, usually we weigh in at either 5 am or at 5 pm. We had just eaten too. I can't really explain it other than, muscle being built?? It can't be a plateau because we are losing inches, can it??? It's frustrating because I am hung up on getting below 189. Every week I hit that number, the next week it goes up. We have less than a month to go, I want to succeed so bad I can taste it. I do know that we are doing something right bacuse of the clothes fitting better and people are commenting on how I look slimmer in the waist. I have a bad ear infection starting, I have sharp pains in the side of my face, by my jaw and my ear feels like there is a ton of pressure that needs to be relieved. I hae had it before and my ear drum perforated and ruptured. (same ear) It wasn't pleasant, I had vertigo for a week or more. I hope that doesn't happen, I can't afford to be sick, I have kids to care for, spouse, exercise, diet, blah, blah, blah. Something's gotta give with this up and down at weigh ins. I don't know. Have a great weekend everyone. Do something everyday to enrich your life and the lives of others.

On saturday I went with my friend shopping. We usually try on clothes(I usually put them back), and I say I'll get some when I get to the next dress size down. I saw a top that was on sale for my friend( it was too small for me) and showed it to her. She said,"try it on". I told her that it was 2 sizes smaller than what I wear. (yeah, good luck with that.) To appease her I went in and attempted to try it on. It went on effortlessly! When I moved my arms however, it was begging me please to stop. She told me to get it if I was going to keep losing weight. (it was a price no one could pass up.) Getting it off was a event in itself. But it was a medium!!! At the next store I had a tank and a pullover. I went in and tried them on, she told me that the pullover was too big, I told her it was a lorge, couldn't be too big-I wear x-large, have for 9 years. So she gets me a medium. it fits! I'm not use to form fitting clothes(baggy is me). So I get the clothes I don't want together and the pullover I originally had wasn't a large, it was an x-large. If I would've known that I probably would have got a large! This is a small moment, but it shows me that I have changed my body, I have to change my mindset, because I am uncomfortable in smaller clothing that shows or accentuates feminine features. I am used to hiding everything, fat and all. I wanted to go up in size, she said if I did it would be easier to gain weight. (is this true?) Usually my x-large was showing my rolls, and the medium wasn't.(go off my plan and I could see them rolling out.) I'm not trying to sound mean(I'm talking about myself) and I'm not trying to sound vain.(far from it) I just have never since I have been trying to lose weight went down in dress sizes exept last year when I went from 16 to 14 jeans(they're stretch, about same size)so I am happy because you see yourself everyday, you gain,lose, etc. workout and don't see results. Besides measurements(they're just numbers until you try on smaller clothes, then it hits you). That's all I am trying to say. With eight weeks until finale show, I need all the incentive to keep going I can. Is there anyone else out there who feels the same way sometimes? I wish I had Jillian right here pushing me to move ahead. In a way it's blessing because if you succeed, it's all you. You did this, you proved yourself. I want to be a trainer and nutritionist so this would be a huge motivator to me, the knowledge that I can push myself beyond what I ever knew to be my limits? wow. I'm not there, yet. All 3 of the trainers are awesome. They all have qualities I would like to have and motivate others with. Right now, where I am in my fitness, I need Jillians no excuses, move it or I will move you attitude, approach to exercise and healthy eating. And besides...look at her!!!! Look at Kim and BOB.....yeah bob( oh, that's another story)lol. My hubby is all I need, he'll have a rockin' bod soon, too. I'm sure I would hear no complaints from my hubby if I looked like Jillian or Kim. Jillian looks like she could kick your butt in an evening gown and still rock doing both. Oh, well. They all 3 work hard to acheve the results they need for them, so I need to do the same for me. I'm sure everyone has had that wow moment in some way. What's yours????

Each one of us is on a journey, whether we realize it or not. I have started this journey many times before, only to stop short and quit. My most recent journey began on 1-3-08. It was a journey to reclaim my health, my self and my life. I expected many things along the way. What I didn't expect, but I got anyway were many things. I got to know people that were on the same journey as I was. Many different people with different lives, situations, challenges and talents. What we did have in common were the fact that we all want to reclaim the parts of us we have lost along the way. Each of you have inspired me at some point along the way, and I thank you for that. Everyday is an adventure waiting to be discovered. I now realize that it's not about food, weight, size, looks. It's about choices. It's about making the right choices for you, for your health, life, love, loved ones and for God. On the topic of weight-loss, we all want to see the numbers on the scale go down, and that's great, but it's more than that. It's how you feel in your skin. We need to remember to nurture our hearts, mind, body and soul as well. "What you think, so you shall be." We are what we think we are. Our thoughts are very powerful, as are our words. We have the power to heal and the power to kill with our words. Don't believe me? Try it. One unkind word to another person can change the way they see you, the way they see themselves and the world. Everyone has been influenced negatively by someone a t some point in their lives. Has someone ever put you down about something and you believed it? I was told one time in my teens by a influencial adult that I would never be good enough. I believed it, I played it in my head over and over until that's all I saw. When I gained my weight from having my wonderful children and didn't lose it effortlessly, I played that tape in my head, I thought to myself,"what's the use, I'll never get my figure back, doesn't matter anyway I'm not goood enough." That little phrase once told to me engulfed everything I would ever think of doing. Every accomplishment I did make turned into, I don't know how I did that, someone made a mistake, it's not meant for me, I'm not good enough, never will be. What I didn't see was that by believing that, I put that out into everything I did, everyone I made friends with, saw that I was not good enough and I couldn't understand why they thought that. Now I see it's because I told them that. Not verbally, but thoughts become actions and actions sometimes speak louder than words, sometimes they scream out every negative thought you have about yourself. Do you want to stay where you are??? In that complacent place you have been for so long? Or do you want to climb out of that pit onto solid ground where true change can begin to take place? You CAN do it. YOu are good enough, you will be strong enough and you are worth it! I thank the Lord that he loved me enough to send me a true friend years ago. It's only been recently that I began to stop playing that awful tape in my head and listened to my friends words. She told me that I am good enough to do whatever it is that I want to do. That I have the power to change the bad things in my life with God's help and begin to experience what God has promised to those that will believe. I kept saying "I'm fat", "I'm ugly", "I'm a failure" and on and on...to her. If that's all we see, then that's all we'll be. It's self-fullfilling prophesy. You are what you think. It's in this journey that I changed the way I thought. That changed my perception, and my heart and so on... What I am trying to say is this is soo much more than a weight loss journey. I can see the positive changes in my life now. I see that I don't have to be my own worst enemy, because I have been for so long. I notice that because I hae been treating myself with respect, others are starting to as well. It's a circle tht keeps repeating what you're feeding it. You keep recieveing what your giving. God doesn't create junk, he didn't make "not good enough." We do. I am good enough. You are too. What are your accomplishments so far in this journey? Claim them and shout them for everyone to hear.

What have you done today to make YOU feel proud? This is a challenge to all of you. Tell everyone what it is that makes you feel proud today. Make your voice be heard here, whether it's a comment to this blog or better yet, leave it on my voice comment for inspiration that someone else may be in need of today. It can be anything, whether it's weight related, exercise, motivation, words of encouragement, etc. Live your best day yet!!!!

With only 25 days in the challenge left, I want to tell all of you that everyone here is an inspiration to someone else. We all have the power to encourage, inspire, motivate and challenge eachother. We all know someone from these sites that have reached out to give us that little extra push we needed, to say, "you are not alone", to tell us to push forward and don't ever give up. There have been days in my journey, even hours and minutes that I just felt like giving up. It's when I log on here that I find exactly what I need at that moment in my life. Whether it's a message someone left me, or a blog on someone's site that seems like it was meant for me. Whatever the case, this site has meant so much more to me than just a contest. It's been a journey from mundane and ordinary, unhealthy and toxic lifestyle to a freeing experience that has been a privilege to be a part of. This is my new life. It's a second chance for all of us to embrace what we have experienced on the way... to love life again, to love ourselves again...and for some, to love ourelves, truly for the first time in our lives. To look at that person in the mirror and to feel things that you neer thought you could anymore. The success of knowing you did this, you made your life healthier. To feel an attitude of gratitude to God for all that he has freely given to you, the health, knoweldge, friendships, support, words of encouragement, healing, a multitude of gifts have been bestowed upon each and everyone of us each day... THIS day, because after all... this day is all we have right now, at this moment. So, welcome it with arms wide open, embrace all that you have achieved and know that we are all changed through this experience even if you haven't lost any weight, you are changed. You now have the knowledge to make better choices. You know what you need to do, what works and what doesn't. I do hope that none of us thinks that this is just about losing pounds. It's not. It's about being there for our kids, our loved ones, eachother. It's about finding who you are and making you the very best that you can be while you are on this earth, because it's only for a while... make the most of it. I have made mistakes on this journey, I don't think one of us hasn't, that's what makes us human, but the milestones I have made far outweigh the negatives. My children are active in my journey and my husbands. They want to workout with us, they are always asking if this or that is healthy, my son told me the other day that a little debbie brownie is not a good choice for me and that he doesn't want them anymore because he wants to eat good too. These little moments, they're gems. The things we teach today, is the life they will lead tommorow. I am sooo tired of talking about how fat and out of shape I am. I am only teaching them that I don't love me, and that if they want to be happy they have to llok a certain way. That is not the message I have been trying to convey, I have never said that or believed that, but the media, magazines and our self image, they link all this together and get that they aren't good enough. My son has asked if he was too fat. He's 8 and a bean pole. If anything he's under weight. I love my children and they have a genuine love for me and their dad. If they can love us, then why can't we love ourselves? I am learning. I have found things about my body that I now like. I am also learning to like the things about my body that haven't changed yet. I am learning to like me now, this day so that when the improvements come, it just makes the work a little sweeter. After 3-11-08 it's not over either. This is just the beginning for us. I enjoy being active now. I'm not tired like I was before. When I try on clothes now, even if it is the same size I have been, I look at myself differet. I like who I see first, not just what I see. I have focused on being featured on the biggest oser every tuesday, and want to be on the finale. I still do, but I have found a level of comfort in my skin that I have not had in a while. It just motivates me even more to be my healthiest. You are not here by acciden You all have made a promise to yourselves and to your partner to live a better life, to be healther, happier, active. What have you done today to make you feel proud???

Mike weighed in at 233.1 and I weighed in at 189.0 for a loss of 5 pounds this week. We're getting back on track. The kids have been sick last week and this week, so workouts have been pretty much taking place at home. I can see definite chnges in both of us with regards to our bodies and our habits. We're starting to make permanet decisions that have and will be lasting ones for us and our families.

Well, last week's weigh in, I was discouraged and frustrated. I couldn't understand why I had gained weight when I worked out harder, more often and longer and ate core without using points. I got so frustrated that on thursday night I ate food that wasn't on core, but on flex and friday did the same. On saturday I stepped on the scale and I was back down to the week before's weight of 189.6. On sunday I weighed in at 189.0 and I lost another 4.5 inches this past week, in one week! That's a total of 11.5 inches. The thing that tells me that the workouts are working is that it took me one month to lose 6.5 inches(1-3 to 2-2) (just basically dieting and cardio, with basic weight training) and one week of stepping up everything and adding all those crunches with weights at the gym and 212 at home, no weights) and I lost 4.5 in. Needless to say I guess I wasn't eating enough because I added extra food and the weight just came off. So I went back to flex on saturday. Thank you to those who sent words of encouragement and education. Everyone have a great week!

I am sooo frustrated. I have stepped up my workouts. I go to the gym daily and sometimes twice a day. I do weight training three times a week, I have added the swiss ball and the bosu to my crunches, I now do 100 reps on the abdominal machine at the gym with 50 pound weights, I've upped my weights every time I work out to where it is almost impossible for me to lift them without screaming after two. I have switched to core, I don't use my activity points, or weekly 35. I am sticking to my 1200 calories only. With the core I actually use less than 1200 cal. The point to this is I have gained weight this week! I told all of you that I'm out of the 190's for good and here I am back again, at 191.0. That's 1.4 pound increase from last week. Actually that's better than what it did say all week, On saturday I switched to the core and up until yesterday it automatically said up to 198 pounds fluctuating all week. I was so depressed. I still am disappointed, what happend? The only things I can think of is: I keep switching from flex to core every week, back and forth. I have upped my activity alot. I thought with weight watchers that as long as you eat your daily points, you don't have to eat your weekly points or activity points. I figured if I worked out and not ate extra, my fat reserves would be forced to burn the stored fat, that's how(or so I thought) you get the stored fat off of you. That's what I've read in several books. Soes anyone have any insight into this? I know 1.4 gain is not much to whine over, but I really needed to see under 189.6 this week to make it real to me that I can fo this. Because as I have said before, within the past year I have seen 189.6 exactly, before but not under it in almost 5 years. I guess it's psychological, but I think everyone has that one number or size they initially need to se so they can believe that they can and will change for the better and for their health. This makes me want to eat anything and everything. I almost ordered pizza about an hour ago, I still want it. Not one but two(I always have done this since I have been married) and there's just two adults and two small kids.(I know, I know) However, I told my husband that I was going to make what I bought at the store instead. Steak, baked potato and corn with a salad. That comes to a grand total of 5 points for my husband and 0 for me.(core) This sounds better to him than pizza, but I wanted a stuffed crust pizza and a pan pizza from pizza hut. I know, cheese in a crust....no no. I have checked the points and they would've ranged from 7-9 points a slice, I already had my mind made up I was going to eat 3-4+ pieces. I guess I am an emotional eater. Nonetheless, I didn't. I have my dinner baking right now. I am going to eat and then groan and moan while watching grey's anatomy and then go to bed wanting pizza. It's a step up because I would usually give in and get the pizza, eat it, then feel bad and say what's the use and eat the rest. If anyone can tell me about using the activity points(if I have to ) or what they think happend this week please comment. Until next weigh in....good luck and keep up the good work.

We are starting to see results not just in the scale but in other ways too. I have seen it with my flexiblity and on the eliptical, as well as with my weight training. Mike is feeling alot better, more active and just a more positive outlook on life as well. I have noticed that he has remarked to the kids that there will be no more junk food in the house. That was a wow moment for me because I just went to the store and bought what he asked for last week, he added some things to his points allowance, now he doesn't want them. I am thinking of going back on core, that's more like the biggest loser plan. It just allows me to eat more natural foods without worrying about going over my points and fills me up since I have been working out about two times a day and not taking my activity points. Today I bought a large t-shirt, for exercise. I like baggy shirts xlarge, my friend said the large was fine and that it would be loose in no time. I finally feel like this is a lifestyle change that I / we can live with and be happy about.

Well, here it is, weigh in #4. We're feeling great this week. Michelle is under 190 this week, that was her goal. I am happy that I lost 2.2 pounds, I thought it would have been more, but maybe next week. Michelle and I are having fun inventing ways to keep eachother motivated. We have a weekly competition to see who loses more weight. We also have a ultimate weight contest goal to see who loses more weight at the end. It's pretty much neck in neck, although I have a slight edge:0). She is at the gym (her second home for the last two weeks.) She says that even though she can't tell a differnce yet in her weight, she can tell she's making progress because she can work out longer and has more flexibility than before. I can feel that I've lost weight, I can breathe easier, but that's about it so far. Until, next week....-Mike-

Yesterday I did the eliptical and improved my time. Tonight the family went to the gym togther. The kids and MY hubby and I walk/ran a mile. I went on to do my stretching which I need to improve on. Mike and the kids went to play in the blocks. Mike is such a big kid, it's so much fun to watch him play and forget that he's an adult. I think we all need that. I went to play with them and got winded very quick. I am progressing, I have to keep reminding myself. My legs still ache constantly, I am hoping that this will subside. Tommorow I am lifting weights. I think I will increase them because I am more sore doing the eliptical and running(it's more like a slow jog) than I am doing leg presses and etc. My muscles are getting fatigued doing the weights because My legs shake so bad and try to buckle midway through the regimen. How is everyone else out there doing? Great I hope. I have been very impressed, motivated and inspired by so many of your sites out there. I think we all need that sometimes, to let you know that this is not impossible and that we have to keep going and not give up because this is our lives, your lives and it's all we have. So with that said, everyone have a great week, tune in to the biggest loser tommorow night, and keep working toward your goals.

I thought I'd be better at this running thing. I have had shin splints in the past and I don't really know alot about that, I just know they hurt so bad you don't even want to walk much less run. I have heard that the more I weight train and exercise that I can strengthen the muscle and the pain will go away. I hope this is true because I want to run a race. Beyond that my cardio strength is not good. I get out of breath fairly quick. That will get better I know that. So, that is why the running goal is not coming along too quickly, but I am doing it. As I get stronger and lighter I know that everything else will follow and fall into place. I am determined to meet my goals. I will meet my goals. I am working on getting my weight out of the 190's for good. I have been battling with those same ten pounds for a year now. The lowest I hae come to in the past four years since the pregnancy and birth of my second child was 189. That has been in the last year when I started weight watchers. I would get to that point and stop attending meetings, then stop following the plan because I was still losing and I got cocky with it and thought, oh I can do this without meetings, support, the plan, the exercise. Yeah. I have to see this through for my health, for my family and for my life. So, I have been working on my walking and running. I only count my walking and running miles that I actually run on the track and the miles I walk on the track and the treadmill, not step or regular daily activities. Until next time, everybody have a great weekend, and keep up the good work!

Mike played racquetball with me today, and didn't even bread a sweat, much less huff and puff like I was. He played with the kids, running around chasing them, just being a kid himself. Last night he went to the clubhouse and rode the bike 7 and a half miles. He's doing great with the food plan. I don't want to call it a diet, because it's a lifestyle change for both of us. We are becoming more active and loving it. Mike has to watch what he does a torn ACL and sometimes just walking triggers pain. I am so proud of him for even taking this step toward better health for himself, and his family.

The other day I was on the eliptical and just to get to 5 minutes was burning in my legs, I was about to cry. All I could think about was Jillian standing there in front of me yelling, "don't you dare quit, you take it to 5, don't give in!" I did my 5 the other day and my thigh hurt me for two days, more than actually doing my weight training. Tonight I went back challenging myself to do 6 minutes. I still was hurting, I got to six and I was ready to quit, when I looked down and I thought, " gotta go to a mile", so I pushed through, then I swa Jillian in my mind, I could hear her saying," now take it to 10 minutes," I thought, "OH, I can't." Then I remembered what my grandma always used to tell me when I would say I can't. She would say " you can't means you won't." I have always found everytime I said I can't, I pushed through it and I did. Needless to say I did my 10, then I noticed the calories said 70. I wanted to go to 100. Then I'll quit. I Imagined again Jillian saying that she was proud of me, because I was in pain. Then I had to close my eyes to get through, and my mind shifted to myself. I could see myself standing in front of me saying I'm proud of you, I thought, I'm proud of me. That's really what it's about. You have to do it for yourself in the end. Ultimately I did the eliptical for 32 minutes, went 2.13 miles, burned 210 calories(more because that's based on 150 lb user, I have 41 on top of that.) I know that's not that long, that far, or that many calories or that fast, but it's a big thing for me. Tommorow I plan to push beyond that.

Today was our third week weigh in. Mike is doing great with his eating and writing it down. I am doing well also. We are starting to feel a difference, just waiting to see one. He is starting to get the flu though.we are collectively down over 17 pounds now! Next week I am going to be out of the 190's for good!!! Hey, it's a small goal, but a goal nonetheless. Tonight for dinner we had Ham, green beans and potatoes. Just three points per serving. MMMM good. Keep up the good work everybody!

I decided to step up my game this week. I want to be the best I can be. So I went to the gym this morning and tried to play racquetball. Tried is the key word here. First, let me say that I don't know the first thing about racquetball, but it seemed fun. It was. I was to say the least out of breath in less than five minutes, more like two. After about ten minutes I thought to myself, "I hope nobody's laughing at me chase after this little ball." Then I thought I don't care, I'll get better or it'll kill me, whichever comes first will be fine. Well, I survived. I feel more energized than just doing regular cardio. I'm tired, but it's a good tired. My friend and I are going back at 6:00 tonight, so needless to say I'll sleep good tonight, sore but good. The show was good last night. Shout outs to gayle and stephanie who was on there, very cool. I hated to see the pink team go, thought it would be the purple team, twists and turns each week.   Racqeutball is a good way to get out frustrations...just one thing to remember, when you hit that ball with all your might...it will come back at you the same way!!! lol. Have a great rest of the week everyone, tommorow is weigh in day for us, so come back and see us change.