Hey gang!! Checking in from my phone while waiting at the doctor's office. That is the only time I can fit it in. Worked all weekend, 2 funerals, etc have kept me really busy.

Island- great pics. You have definitely come a long way. Great work!

BD and runner- you two are definitely role models for everyone. I read the posts daily and an inspired by your dedication.

Parson- great progress for you too. In honor of you I have really been hitting my legs hard. I can barely walk for days afterwards. I absolutely hate it, but no pain no gain.

Everyone else, keep on moving along. We will all be better off for our efforts.

My workouts are going great. I am going up in all lifts and haven't missed a workout. My current routine is awesome and really challenging me. I only have about 3 pounds to lose to hit my goal of 30 pounds for this challenge. I will try to start morning workouts this week to see if I can work them in. Evenings are really busy and many nights it is 9 or 10 pm before I finish. Jan is doing absolutely great. She has been more motivated and driven than I have ever seen. She is a true warrior.

Well, gotta head back to work. Have a great week gang!!

Greetings Fellow Warriors,  This is week 5 of my new 4 day a week program with one day cardio and so far I have been able to keep close to the end weight of my last challenge while still adding muscle.  I have been trying out the ABcuts CLA and having some interesting results from it(got it at wallmart)and last week I also tried Cellucor HD and may invest in that sometime in the future as well for about one month. (both work to metabolize problem areas).    BDMOM: You sure have some very busy moments in your daily routine and I am amazed that you still make it to the gym. I hope the foot is getting more manageable. The shoes should help with the problem as well.   Islanddude: Thanks for the video and photos of the kettlebell workouts.  Very interesting but I would probably scare them at the gym if I brought them in  there, they can't handle the dumbells they have right now(I mean the equipment not any of the members by that).  Parson: I am working back up on my squats (no smith rack this time) and on my leg presses due to the higher number of reps and shorter rest time on this program, I had to drop back a little for about a month or two and build up again. Will try leg presses in the to 300lb range tommorrow with the new sets and routine.  (365/375/385/395 ). PS I always use my Weider lift belt when doing these and the other squats as well. Better to be safe on that issue.   Runnermom: Thanks for keeping us updated on your progess.  I wish you the best in all running events.  A guest came in with a Tough Mudde shirt yesterday and I told them I have heard about that type of challenge from our BFL site. He told me no-one comes out clean of those challenges!    Cuervo:  SOunds like you are progressing well. I hope that you will be fully recovered this year so you can enjoy the upcoming holidays without any problems.   MIssU: Hope all is going better for you and that more folks will jump on your support bandwagon at the homefront.  Your progress should eventually inspire some of them, I am sure of this.    Well got to get some Free day type of mild stuff in today, perhaps just some swimming in the LA Fitness  if I can beat the aqua class to the pool there.   Best wishess to anyone I missed as well. Keep Moving Forward!!!

I woke up friday feeling like a rockstar!  Changes are happening, and my tummy is finally yielding.  Had a great weekend at Sleeping bear national park, enjoying nature.  Had a somewhat free eating weekend, not too bad.  Avoided the smores again!  Did a dune hike that was a true HIIT workout!

This is week 11 for me.  I am actually going to complete this challenge.  It will be the first program I have ever saw through.

Too all the warriors, your support thus far has been awesome, and I love following your stories.  Thank you.

Hey warriors!! Just checking in tuesday (deadlift day) great sweaty workout as usual lol.. Took my conventional DL to 315 today then went sumo to finish at 335 for 2 sets of 10 ... super setted some chinups with close grip pulldowns and then headed to work thank goodness I got my workout in this morning.. to say it was CRAZY would have been a massive understatement! I survived though lol.. and am at home thinking about squatting tomorrow :) Cuervo wow great work with your progress man! You are gonna hit your goal guaranteed!!

Miss: You as well Glad you kept your head in the game with all the things you had to put up with during this challenge.. Finish strong we will be waiting for you!!!!

BIll: Thanks for checking in!! Glad you are building some new muscle! Keep on those squats! You are doing it the right way! Keep it up!

Parson: Glad you had a great weekend and good luck on that bulk! Make them GAINS!

Runner: I absolutely enjoyed that day.. My son was a trooper lol.. He was almost sweating as much as me when we were done hahaha.. When I checked he had taken over 300 pictures lol.. all with an ipod touch all that collages were made with an app from the ipod and it was free!! woot WOOT!! I'm thinking a return trip this sturday is in order lol.. keep it up with that KB the more u swing it the more you will feel when you can manipulate it with the slightest twist or nudge! awesomeness!!

BD: Hope the schooling went well.. and also hope you keep that bug away!!

Technology I tell ya! hahaha my son is the self proclaimed "camera boy" lol.. I had to laugh and said "your hired buddy" Yeah I had soo much more pix of the "not so good ol days" lol.. but lost most of them were lost when my HD pooped :( I had a few shirtless ones that were hideous I hope I can find some later my aunt is like the archiver of the family tons and tons of albums.. she said to come over one day to find some.. I will very soon :)

OK it's nearly bedtime.. .Have an awesome day tomorrow all short week let's do this!! aloha

Hi Warriors!!!

Very quick post for accountability.

I had a SUPER workout this morning. I ran outdoors for intervals, and then had some boot camp in my driveway with my kettlebell and jumprope. It was fun!

Nutrition is packed and clean. Busy day today with work, dentist appointment, and kids sports practices. I will try to write more later for personals.

Have a GREAT day Warriors!!!! I am thinking about all of you!!!!!

Good Hump day Warriors!!

I will be heading out to train with my trainer in a few. I am then going to Chapel with Delaney at school, then for my follow-up foot appt. Food is clean and ready for the day.  I can't believe after this week, I will only have two weeks of this challenge left.  I guess I'll have to go spray tan for my after pics, since I was already tan for my befores..ha.

runnermom:  sounds like a busy day for you.  Glad you got your workout knocked out.  Keep that food clean!!

Island:  Wow, you are in beast mode; nice lifts!!!  It's nice to be able to look at photos to see how far you've come.  I know I used to hide from the camera a lot.  Yes, I think your son may have a future in photography. So far so good on keeping that bug away (fingers crossed).

Miss Understood:  You are looking so Awesome!!!  You are almost there; the elite 5% who actually finish a challenge.  Way to work through all those obstacles and make it happen.  We are all at the finish line waiting for you!

WPBill: Glad to hear you current program is working well for you.  I do think CLA is one of those supps, if used properly, may actually be worth some of  the hype.  Let us know how you do with those supps.  How many weeks is this program you are doing?

Cuervo:  Wow, I can't believe you are so close to your wieght loss goal for this challenge; you are going to kill it.  So proud of you.  Sorry to hear your week was consumed with funerals; that is never anything any of us wants to deal with.  Hugs!  Glad Jan is staying motivated and kicking tail!!!

K....I gotta run....busy day calls.

Have a good one!

Hi Warriors,

Sorry for being awol. Have been reading the post you guys are getting me motivated. I have been in sort of a slump here. My long weekend turned into a salsa fest. lol. Linda and I ended up gathering all the ingredients on Sat. chopped a case of green peppers. By this times the natives were getting hungry so off to Boston Pizza. Came home made salsa until about 2 or 3 am. Then bed. Sunday Julie and I spent part of the afternoon shopping for ingredients for mango salsa. We ended up going across town to buy Linda an autographed picture of her fav. Hockey Player Carrie Price the Goalie for the Montreal Canadians. Go Habs Go ! Our team. We ended up shopping for about 3 hrs. while we were out Linda wanted to know where the heck we were. So a little white lie came into play. In our area they ran out of Red Bell Peppers go figure and the ones that were left weren't worth buying. Since we were at Costco we picked up some Acient Sweet Red Peppers. She didn't know we were there told her we were at Super Store and the lineups were just crazy.lol. By the time we got home I had to cook dinner. Made more salsa and called it a night. Apparently the salsa I made is too spicy for the crew so will have to make a new milder version to can and I'll eat this one. Made about 36 1L jars. Should last for a couple of months hopefully all winter until next fall some how I doubt it. This is the prefered salsa by all. Better than that stuff from New York City you know that one. hehe! I know what in it and how it's processed. Haven't been getting to the gym either. Will be going tonight with Chris. Kids are back in school now so routines should get easier. My heels about the same and standing up  making salsa didn't help. We had a strangte occurance here last night at 5 pm. a car fell into a sink hole on the main highway. T he driver was able to get out with the help of some witnesses thankfully. Julie was coming home on the bus and all the buses had to detour. So Julie said that she has never saw so  many buses on one street as last night. About 20 or more. They all had to go through a roundabout/ traffic circle that never happens here. So much for smooth sailing as Julie thought she was on schedule to get home early. You guys may be able to go online CBC News is carrying this story. The car was swallowed into a sewer pipeline and is currently 20 mtrs. along the pipe heading towards the river. The car was a Hyundia Accent. This is going to take days to fix. I finally picked up Julie at 7-7:15.

Cuervo,

Thanks for dropping by and you will meet your goals easily no sweat right.lol Glad Jan is cruising right along with you.

Miss,

You are a rock star nice pic BTW. You are going to finish strong you are in the right place.

Island,

Nice pic's and yes you have come a long way and the end result keeps looking better. Thats great that the kids are there with you. Did your son fire your daughter as official photographer or did she resign so she could wo with daddy.lol

Those getups are fun but you have to keep your eyes on the prize.lol/KB.

Parson,

Keep going for it nice gains I'm sure there is more to come. Glad you had a good weekend.

BD,

You are always going 100 miles an hr. I just can't do that all the time. You even get those wo in. Hope you test went well. Will try and get back to mfp soon again.

WP,

Nice of you to pop in and great job on those leg presses. WOW! Seems like your program is working for you. I liked the thing about your club and the people there not being able to handle KB. Maybe thats what you need to do.lol Keep it going.

Runner,

Change is good but holy crap your all over the place. Whatever works for you. I'm trying to adjust to my new schedule as cheif cook and bottle washer. Linda is up to her neck in Scouting registrations this time of yr. I have to start eating cleaner so I too can harness some of that energy. This time of yr. with the lack of sun and cooler weather makes me really tired all the time. I think I'm still recovering from that bug I had. Linda had a relaspe on the weekend she seems to be ok now. Keep going girl as I know you will. Never a dull moment with you.lol

Back to work now.

Claude.,

Dogs want to be fed, and kids will be home any minute...just a quick update:

Doctor was able to do a diagnostic ultrasound in office, and pretty much determined no stress fracture...that's the good news. Bad news is I have a tear and fluid build-up on the fascia. So, still supposed to be off my feet as much as I can, and no weight-bearing exercise...UGH! They did give me a cortisone shot in my heel. I never thought a shot in the heel could be so painful, but OUCH, it was! Thanks for your support and encouragement!

I think I need some intervention.  I am feeling totally depressed & ready to hang up this challenge & eat lots of terrible stuff!! I am so sad & frustrated!!!!!  Help!

BD I may not be on as often as I used to but I still get emails and I'm here to tell you to keep your head up!!!! Sh*t happens itson us as to how we are gonna handle it.. you have been a real pillar of this thread and I know you re bigger than this.. I BELIEVE IN YOU!!!!!

MY 2 CENTS MY 2

Natalie - You will not let this set you back!  You are a warrior!!!  A few weeks away from the gym does not determine the final chapter of your story.  When this "challenge" is over another one is waiting....I'm not even sure some of us should use the word challenge any more.  This is part of our life, so we have goals...short term and long term.  Your short term goal is to get that foot healed up!  You can and will do it!  Control what you can and don't worry about the rest.  You can control your diet ...in the mean time do what you can for the rest.

Get up in the morning and take it one day at a time...

BD! I am sorry the Dr. didnt have the news you wanted to hear.  I understand frustration, and feeling like your life is out of your control.  Truth is, Life is out of our hands.  Have faith that this has happened for a reason, and that we may not understand now or  ever why.  Good news is, you are a pro at handling what life throws at you! This is a set back for your challenge.  but 2 weeks in the grand scheme of life?  A drop in the bucket.  Eat what is good for you, and maintain what you have gained in progress so far.  You are so upbeat and kind, It breaks my heart to hear you down.  Let me know if ya need to talk.  Smile! Look at your blessings and rejoice!

BD,

You can still get some exercises in with weights just sit down or lay down for UBWO. Did the doc say or did you ask if biking was ok. 80 % is diet anyway so try and keep it clean. A break isn't a bad thing it may even be good for you. take care of the foot. The rest will follow. This is for life and this is out of your control for now. I know you won't give in and if you do correct it right away. It's now time to practice what you preach. You will make it through this as always. My 2 cents.

Claude

Great photo and update,  you are a rockstar to all of us here on the site, keep up the good work(outs) and enjoy your free days. Remember we are routing for you always!