Hey all!  Sorry for my absence.  I think of you all everyday.  Taking a few minutes from work to post!  I was so excited the first couple of weeks, but the buzz wore off a little, although I have dropped a great deal of fat from my thighs that really bothered me.  Not bad for the first couple of weeks.  I have slipped up slightly the past couple of days, not keeping my 5 meals (haven't felt like eating) adding in a martini.  I am dealing with serious stress am sabatoging myself.  Not sure where to go with it. I guess just acknowledging that I've screwed up and getting back on the wagon is the only way to go.  I'm going to struggle through the rest of this week and continue with the program, but I am sure I'll be a little more refreshed on Monday. Just need to vent a bit!!  It's all good.  Keeping my goal in mind.

Welcome to all you new folks!  So excited to have you here.  Stick with the program.  It works!  I'll be back to my normal self on Monday!  Have  a great weekend.

Hey Aphrodite - Thanks for posting your stuggles.   We all have them.  I'm confident you'll be back on track tomorrow!  I ended up going out for some Mexican food and a couple of margaritas on Saturday night.   I was proud of myself I just changed my days and counted that as my free day.  Today I'm back on track.  Was so happy to see that I lost the most body fat yet this week.  In three weeks have gone from 36.1% to 33.5% today!  I'm so excited!  My weight has dropped but not to significantly from 148.6 to 143.8.  Actually now that I look at that I am impressed as well.   The very best thing though is I have energy and feel good!   I'm so happy to have made it this far in the program and can't wait to see what I will look like and feel at the 12 week point.  Get back in the game Aphrodite - You can do it!  

Yeah - that's encouraging.  I already see changes so I can't wait to see what is in store in the coming weeks!  This was in response to someone who posted that the biggest changes occur in weeks 6,7.8.  

Hey all,

 I know how you guys who are gaining weigh feel and Aphrodite, I know how you feel about loosing some steam.  I've been doing some thinking this week and am reminding myself that with every other plan or approach I've tried, this is about the time I quit.  I'm determined to prove to myself that I can do this 12 week challenge.  I'm determined to push through this roadblock for the first time and see what changes I can really make.  I wasn't as disciplined this weekend and started my cheat day Saturday night and continued cheating all day today :(  

 Fresh start tomorrow.  I did go shopping, planned all my meals and prepped a lot of food for the week.  My meals are planned and packed for tomorrow so I hope to be back on my game tomorrow.

Good luck, everyone.  Hang in there.  My personal plan is not to weigh or measure my body fat too often.  It totally ruins my momentum when I have setbacks.  As we all know, weight fluctuates like crazy.  Body fat can fluctuate too and can be off by some as well.  By the way, Mariposa- how are you measuring your body fat?  Are you using one of those hand held machines?  I've heard those can be very inaccurate.  Either way, I think the changes will come in time.  The program has worked for so many people already!!!

Let's start week 4 strong!!!

Vicki

Hi guys,

After my downer last week, I'm back on track this week. Thank you for everybody's kind words. Although I was thinking of quitting, I haven't, and I haven't deviated from the plan either. I decided to just really enjoy my day off yesterday, so I had a Chinese takeaway with my husband last night and half a can of Coke; these things taste so great when you deprive yourself of them! Back to the gym this morning for the leg workout.

Yesterday I decided to measure myself instead of weighing. I've actually lost a whole 6 inches off my body, which I'm quite proud of now. Incidentally, Vkschoch, I was using some WeightWatchers body fat scales I picked up in Costco. I should have done some online research before I bought them because it turns out most everyone complains that they are inaccurate. So I'm going to toss them.

Good luck on Week 4 everybody

Si

x

Hi everone!

It seems this board is getting a little quiet :)  I myself had a rough week! May is so busy with end of school year activities and I have been so off with workouts and diet.  BUT I am not quitting! Just going to get back on track and pick up where I left off.  This is a lifestyle for me now.  I can tell so much in my attitude when I workout versus when I dont.  I feel so much better and have a more positive outlook when I am getting some exercise in.  I am trying really hard to feel better about myself but I can't help but feel so inadequate sometimes! At least when I exercise, I know that I am working toward feeling better about myself both inside and out!

Have a good weekend!

Hey guys!  I'm still here with you!!!  I've been hitting the gym and pushing harder than ever.  I've got some personal crap that I am taking out in exercise, but unfortunately, the lack of journaling has led my diet a bit astray!  I've been mostly good, but have a weekness for a martini in the hot tub on the rare occasion that my husband is home...  I'll try harder.  The stress of some personal issues has made this challenge especailly difficult, but knowing you guys are still here and I am accountable does wonders for me.  Love you all.

How is everyone doing so far? No news from anyone for three days. I have dropped back a week because I was ill last week so instead of this being my 5th week, it's now my 4th again.

I'm sorry you were ill, Mariposa.   That would be a set back I'm sure.   I have had my daughter here visiting since last Thursday so haven't been nearly as diligent with my eating.   I'm happy though that when I weighed my weight was the same as last week and lost 1% body fat.   I'm not looking forward to her leaving today, but am looking forward to getting fully back into the program once again.   It's hard to believe we are a third of the way through and if others are right this is when you start to see big results.  I hope so.   Hope all are doing well and continuing despite minor set backs.  

Hey guys!  Sorry.  I was away from my computer for the weekend.  Busy holiday weekend, catering a pizza party for 200 and an intimate dinner for friends.  I'm a real "foodie," so I struggle there!  I did pretty good though.  I took off Saturday as we were having friends over.  I went to Louisville on Sunday to prep for the pizza party and did a good job taking food with me, so that I would have healthy things to eat.  I did pretty good, with the exception of a couple of glasses of wine and a few desserts.  I would have liked to be stronger, but felt pretty good about the weekend.  I did get up a 6:00 this morning to lift arm weights and will do my HIIT tonight (since I didn't get to do it yesterday).  I still think not journaling is setting me back a bit.  I hope you all are doing well and Congrats Maiposa for continuing with the program!  Good to see you FutureandaHope!  Looks like we are in it for the long haul!  Let me know if I can help!  Have a great Tuesday!

So how many are still here and doing their best to complete the program?   I'm in here for the long haul and would love to help support others who are still here as well.  It's a challenge but one that I am more committed to finishing each day.  I started running at the beginning of the program for my cardio.  I am doing a couch to 5k program.  In the beginning I was running for 1 minute then walking for a minute, etc.   Today I ran for 20 minutes straight- outside!  That was a first for me.   It's so great to see and feel my body getting stronger.   Hope others are seeing and feeling changes as well.    Hilary

Hi Hilary. Pleased to see you are still committed. I certainly am. Although I'm technically a week behind you, the 30th of April was my start date. I'm definitely feeling a lot better. So far I have lost 7 inches in total and 11 pounds. I'm so happy about this. I'm also fitter and stronger and I'm beginning to see what could be a set of abs underneath the blubber! What about you?

Hey Mariposa - I know exactly what you mean about the set of abs under the blubber.  While laying in bed this morning I started sitting up and could feel my stomach muscles.  I pinched the fat on my belly and though when this is gone I will have some great abs.  My legs are looking very toned as well.  I'll measure this weekend on Sunday and let you know the results.  I was going to do it last week but my daughter was here and I went off the program a bit for a couple days.   I've been good this week again so hope to see some nice results.  I did figure last week that I had lost 7 pounds of fat!  I have seen my body fat go down each week.   Looking forward to a nice run tomorrow morning before work.  Then school work on the weekend but that should keep me good and following the plan!   Hope you have a great weekend and congratulations on the lost inches and pounds.  I'm proud of you!

I made the mistake of weighing myself this morning and I still have not lost any weight.  Week 4 was a total write-off for me, so I started it over this week, and did okay.  I have been working out really hard and following the diet about 80% of the time.  But on days like today when I see the scale has not changed, I feel as though I have made absolutely no progress.  I am feeling very frustrated, but I know I just need to stick with the program and keep going.  

Plus there was cute bikinis at Costco today, but I am definitely not feeling up to buying one if the scale hasn't even moved. :(

Hi Dobegirl -

You know what you need to do "just stick with the program and keep going".   For me too when I quit a program it is because I'm not seeing results.   Are you seeing any results even though the scale isn't being nice to you at this point?   I'm sure is you look hard you are making progress.   Are your pants fitting and differently?   Stick with it and try for 90% compliance this week and see if that helps.   You know you can do it and you have made it this far.   Keep your chin up and I bet next weekend you will see some concrete progress!  

I'm not even going to attempt bikini shopping until week 10, but that's just me.   I want to see some real changes that make me feel positive trying on bathing suits which is usually very depressing for me!

Keep your chin up and keep on trucking!