WHERE IS MICHELLE??????  I hope you are doing well!!!  Let us know.  We're checking in on this thread for you!

Damage:  so glad you are seeing what we all are.  We are so hard on ourselves.  I still don't see in the mirror what I see in those photos...but pictures don't lie.  Thanks for the compliment, but once my kids are grown, I'll be in my 50's...kinda late for a modeling career (ha)!!  My Dh loved the pictures; they were totally a surprise.  I can't believe I pulled it off.  I had to lie to him about where I was on Monday, and I am not a good liar.  Felt like I was having an affair or something...

Boston:  You go woman!!!  2011 champions here we come!  I would encourage anyone/everyone to do photos. It is so hard to gauge your progress without them.  Are you going to share them with us?  Glad you are excited about this next challenge.  You are gonna do great.

Brick:  Sounds like you have a crazy day planned.  Good luck with that.  I hear you on the overindulgence.  I think it is probably part of the process..to teach us that all that we thought we were missing was never worth it to begin with.  I am writing this with an upset stomach from indulging in sugar a little while ago.....

Staats:  Glad you are enjoying AR.  You have earned it.  I am sure you have met your goals..so what do you plan to do going forwad in this new challenge?  You are gonna have to eat more, probably and maybe not hit HIIT so hard...what are your thoughts!!!  Just re-read your posts, and guess you kinda already answered this..sounds like a good plan.

Parson:  Have fun "playing" at the gym today!

Have a great day, everyone!

Hey, BDMom - two words: Tosca. Reno. She's strong, 50-something, gorgeous, and a role model for so many!

Yeah Brick...I love her!  I have her eat clean books here.  But, she is also married to the editor of Oxygen magazine, so she has an in there...ha!!!

How is your day going???

Tee hee - and lots of surgery. She freely admits to it. But I love her. Oxygen is one of my favorites. My day is so-so. I'm still icky from the weekend's uhhh... festivities. I willingly send hubby to the gym for his LBWO without me. I hoped the little one would want to go, but she's happily watching a Christmas video in her bedroom. Where is that Michelle anyway?

Good Morning!

Looking for Michelle!!! Where are you girl? I am starting to worry. Hope you are ok and working on your last week! Check in soon.

OMG I HAVE MISSED YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am finally at home and back in the swing of things. I cannot believe this is my last week - what a ride!

I had the best time at the conference. It was a great experience even though my BFL suffered a little. I got some Saturday evening around 8 and tried to go to dinner with my husband (grilled Salmon, shrimp, and steamed broccoli) but I couldn't eat because I wasn't feeling very well... Turned out it was a prelude to Sunday: I couldn't keep anything down but water. I threw up all day. Isn't that just hilarious after everything else? Really makes me laugh. I think it was a hangover motion sickness from all the elevator trips followed by the plane ride. Even on Sunday I kept feeling like I was swaying (like you feel in an elevator) even when I was just standing still. I felt much better but was still woozy yesterday so I'm doing my UBWO today NO MATTER WHAT. I am not letting anything get in my way, by golly! I don't know if it's from being unable to eat Sunday but I am definitely slimmer. My scrubs today are very loose (and they're one of my skinny pairs - hehe).

BDMom - Holy moly! You are one hot mama. Your pics are so, so, so, so amazing!!!! You are a true inspiration! I can't wait for my next challenge so I can get more of this fat off to see just a fraction of the definition you are showing.

Staats - OMG! Look at your abs. Incredible! Way to go the distance. You look amazing!

Damage - how can you not see the changes??? They are plain to me! You will keep losing weight too as long as your diet stays clean because your metabolism will be so much higher with all your new muscle.

2Conquer - thanks for hanging in there and checking up on me.

In fact, thanks to all of you (Cuervo, GG, Brick, Parson) for hanging in here and checking up on me. It seems to me like y'all's AR has FLOWN by. I will take my AR, but I don't really feel like I need it so much since my mini break of last week. Ha!

CANNOT WAIT FOR GYM TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michelle

Hi Michelle:

Soooo very glad that you are back home and feeling better.  Try to hit the weights & cardio as hard as you can this week, but don't overdo it with being sick.  You were missed.  I think if you take next week off for AR, you could join the group the following week, and only be one week behind.  See how you feel, but really try to take one week, or you may get burned out.  Your body is tired and needs a break.  I am sure scrubs are a little looser due to the vomiting, but also due to the timeframe of your challenge.  It is happening this week!!  You are sweet; thanks for the compliments.  I truly hope to inspire anyone who is thinking about this lifestyle. There is a woman at my gym who stopped me and asked me what I eat and what I do to stay fit.  I loaned her my copy of BFL; she has now ordered her own.  And, today I brought in my pics for her to see.  I think she is ready to get started now.

Keep pluggin along.  We will keep this thread open until you cross that finish line, and then we'll meet over at the Warrior and 11/22 threads.

YOU GO GIRL!!!!

I did it y'all. My arms are shaking!!! I kicked my UBWO's a$$!!! The veins on the inside of my forearms were even popping out a little on my drive back to work. Hehehe. I'm a machine! :-P

SOUNDS LIKE YOU ROCKED IT!!!!  WTG!!!  Since it is Tuesday, I'm not sure how the rest of your schedule is playing out....Do you have one more LBWO & one more UPWO and two HIITS?  Let us know, so we know when you are officially done!!!  Keep it up, and keep that eating clean this week!

One more UBWO, one more LBWO, and 3 HIITs. I'll have to do my last HIIT on Sunday. So, I will officially be done then. I am on call Saturday so it really is the perfect ending. My gym is very near my hospital so I'll be nearby during my last UBWO. I'm excited!

Michelle-your BFL family was worried about you.  Sorry to hear that you're not felling well, but that's not doing to stop you.  After all you've been through, that's no problem.  Thanks for the compliments on the photos.  I am happy with them.

I'm due for a workout.  Plus I could use one as a stress reliever.  I have a job interview in a couple hours.  I had to go and get a new suit.  I didn't like spending the money, but I know that I look much better in this than I did in my old jackets.  I had my wife take my pics in my new suit.  I don't think she understands why I want to keep taking my pics.  She just doesn't understand that I was NEVER fond of my appearance, (even I have a long way to go), I feel much better about my appearance now.  

Have a great day.  

YEAH MICHELLE! Glad you are back and in full form! We will be cheering you on until Sunday and celebrate with you. We wont leave anyone behind!

I do agree with BDMom, may want to take that 1 week of AR. But, you will know best if you listen carefully to your body. I know it was tough. It took all I had to take one week of AR and even then I was pushing hard and had to back it down.

Damage,

Good luck on that job interview! I bet you look great on that new suit.

It is sometimes hard for others to see what you see (or feel) about yourself. Especially those who love us unconditionally. But, the fact that you are feeling more comfortable in your skin (or new suit) is what the journey so worth it. Relish the feeling and use it to get you through that second challenge! So very Happy for you.

Wow!!  lots going on today

Michelle-glad you are back and it sounds like you are giving it all you've got til the end-yeah!  I know what you mean about the structure...I miss it now.

Damage-good luck at your interview!! Sounds like you are dressed for success!

BDmom-best of luck with that packet-wish we could vote like DWTS!  I am really loving Emily Alvers blog and that is where I am getting some of the new recipes.  As for exercise, I have started trying to swim for my cardio-it's a flailing event but you've got to start somewhere right?

not sure who is still on this thread-it is a great thread...will miss it when, Michelle takes it home! God Bless.

Damage - hope the interview goes super!