Good question about how the race outfit went over, Shellbells!  Did a lot of people wear something fun or unusual, LacyJ?

Shell, did you figure out why you couldn't focus on Friday?  Good that you took it in stride and put it off until you were conscious.  2 hours of cardio, then lower body workout?  When is that crazy idea ever going to occur to me?  I keep putting my workout off later and later.  Tonight I have to be finished before 10 PM.  Tomorrow I have the required University biometrics tests and there is a12 hour fasting period.  I always have a protein shake after a workout, so there has to be time for that before 10.  

I have to stay motivated on exercise, and my newest motivation is a 40th birthday party for my son.  (Sorry if I told you this before.  Can't remember who has heard the story!)  I ordered a GORGEOUS silk sari and blouse from India.  The price was ridiculous - $30!  The shipping is just under $30.  What a great deal.  Now I have to hope it gets here on time, and that I don't look disgraceful in it!  I can email you the photo of the sari on regular email if you are interested.  Silk shows every freckle and goosebump so I really need to knock off the pounds!  I need someone to work out with!

Hope you two had an awesome day.  Have a peaceful, BFL kinda week!

Ai yi yi...just got home from the hospital...I am beat.  My Husbands aunt (identical twin of his mom) fell and fractured her hip and pelvis....she just had surgery to pin it all back together.....she's resting fine.  My mother in law is a basket case...they live together.

I ran out today to be wtih her and didnt get a chance to work out.  OH WELL, there is tomorrow....

would love a pic of the Sari....

Talk to you guys in the AM !!

How awful.  Can't even imagine what she went through.  Hopefully she is a healthy woman and will mend quickly.

You had enough exercise for one day - aerobic anxiety counts, right?!  I woke up at 2:00'ish and couldn't get back to sleep so logged on here.  It is unusual to see a message from you written at 2 AM, so I wondered about it.  Hope you are able to get some sleep.

I will send the picture via email.

'Night Shellbells.

Good morning Ladies!  OK - so I got on the scale and now my total scale weight loss is 10 pounds.  I know I have lost much more fat and gained muscle.  I have my fat measurements. body measurments, etc....so I am going to figure out how to get those numbers.  So I feel really good.  Tom is now putting on a few pounds...it's all muscle.  He is building like crazy and just went down a size and a half ( not quite 2 whole sizes) so clearly he is losing fat.  OMG he has the best legs and his abs are starting to pop out...nice!

It's weird.  This time around the eating is like No Big Deal to me....I dont know why.  I still make good creative food, just on program.  For instance, Last friday I made a great ginger hot and sour soup.  Tofu, tad bit of chicken, cabbage, bamboo shoots, woodear mushrooms, etc....IT WAS DELISH!  I served it with a bit of brown rice.  YUMMY.  

Free days?   I love them and use them WELL....last weekend PIZZA and pasta.....this coming weekend?  May Indian now that I am in the mood!  LOL

The workouts are getting very normal for me to do.  I get very edgy and resentful when I cannot do them.  Yesterday was a great example.  with being at the hospital, I couldnt get it in so I was irritated...isnt that stupid?  

So I thought I would share some of the little foods I have found recently that I love:

Daisy brand cottage cheese (so much better than everyone else) - dont know if you have that one.

Kashi Go lean crisp (toasted berry crumble) High protien cereal

Dannon lgith and fit FLAVORED greek yogurt (80 calories!)

Fresh or frozen blueberries (cannot get enough)

Smuckers sugar free preserves (all flavors)

Rye crisp crackers called crisp and light - SO YUMMY

Cabot brand reduced fat cheese

chipotle flavored low carb wraps

low sugar heinz Ketchup

Just thought I would share......

Hope your days are going well.....

Lacy, how's traffic stud doing?

Sorry about the spelling errors...I was lazy and I have NO IDEA WHY the lines seperated the way they did.....OH WELL, rushing too much today...

Hi SB!  TEN POUNDS AND GORGEOUS LITTLE MUSCLES - HIGH FIVE!  You and Tom should get professional muscle photos!

I don't think wanting and needing to work out is stupid.  I'm just sayin' ...

Thank you for the list of goodies!  I love crackers and found whole wheat Triscuits!  I thought crackers were a no no, but figured whole wheat ones would be ok.  What about the rye?

Cheese.  Mmm, cheese.  Do we get to have a slice of cheese that is as big as the palm of our hands and as thick as our hand?  SIGN ME UP!  That Kashi sounds good.  I haven't seen that before.  I'll be sure to get the Daisy cottage cheese because whatever I have been buying is runny and not very tasty.  Yech!  Indian food.  Where'd you get that idea?!

Hello Ladies !  Congratulations Shellbells and Hubby on the great BFL outcome so far.  You still have 4 more weeks to go!!!  Amazing results for you two!  

Dancing Queen - stay on program and stay focused!!  We want to see the pictures from the 40th birthday party for your son and we also want to see the sari . . and by the way, what color is it?  I'd love to see the picture!  When is the birthday party?  You can DO IT!!!!  

I am doing well, however, it seems like the closer I get to bikini photo shoot time, the hungrier I am becoming and I feel like I can eat a HORSE plus the hoofs!!!  In my mind I want to cut back to be as lean as possible, but my mind says differently - I think it is betraying me now!!!  But, I am strong and I can override my brain (so very easily - HA!).

Street Stud and I are doing fine. We are going to a concert in a couple of weeks - of which I am really looking forward to.  It is called "Concert on the Green" and will be soooooooo romantic . . .. . . . ..(not that I have any hopes and plans for that night!!!).

Thanks for the food tips Shellbells.  I really want you to start a BFL food line - I really believe it would be a hit!!!  Your meals sound fantabulous!!!

Okay ladies - got out there and KILL it!  With BFL love - LacyJ

"With BFL love - LacyJ"  That's just frickin' adorable!  LacyJ, the kindly cheerleader.

I can send you a photo of the sari if you send your email address - it is teal and gorgeous!  Gotta look purty in it!  I can't wait for this party.  It will be in Seattle on October 13 - only 3-1/2 weeks!  Eric's birthday is on the 15th but that's a Monday.

Isn't that interesting (and frustrating!), getting almost there and now you get hungry.  You could eat a horse plus the hooves - NOW THAT'S HUNGRY!   Maybe you actually need more food if you are really pushing the exercise.   If you cut back too much, you will start burning muscle, at least according to what I have read on the Forum.  Or your mind is trying to sabotage your hard work and dedication, as you said.  Either way, you will find a balance and get to that bikini with flying colors!  YOU CAN DO IT!

So glad to hear that you are enjoying Street Stud.  Outdoor concerts really are romantic, aren't they?

I think Shellbells should start preparing and shipping meals.  You would make a killing on just BFLers alone, SB!

Time to get some work done.  HIT IT, LADIES ... the gym, that is!

Just a short one tonight.  

Work was so busy, and I was SO tired...then I got my fingers and toes done....my toes are LEOPARD HEHNE  I love them...it's my first leopard toes!  THey look very "autumn like"  

So I did a very quick upper body...couldnt get off the darn phone and then had appointments....I just got back from the hospital.....Tom's Aunt is doing well, but it's like a friggen family reunion...all her grandkids came from San Diego...we havent seen them in YEARS.  SO just got home and it's super late again.....getting up at 4 AM will be a killer.  I BETTER GET MY CARDIO in tomorrow or I might be violent...Im getting irritated.

Hmm.....wonder where I got the Indian food Idea?  all this darn talk about SARI's!!

Mary.....ARE YOU CRAZY???  Professional muscle photo's?  NOW??  LOL  I almost fell over laughing.  But I'll make you a deal.  After about 3 challenges and all weight off, I WILL get those photos!

Lacy, I feel very comfortable already with your relationship with traffic hunk.  I am really happy for you....YOU SHOULD HAVE HOPES AND PLANS FOR THAT NIGHT and MANY OTHERS !!!!  OH!!  Go to Barenecessities.com and get a cute little sumpin sumpin for your cute little body!!  Hasnt it been like 4 dates now?  (im not sure of dating rules...LOL)

I cant wait for the bikini photos - Your'll be FINE.....

OK - going to bed now....SOOOO TIRED.

I want leopard toes!!!  I am going to get a spa mani-pedi on Thursday.  Maybe we will have matching leopards!  What is 'hehne'?  

Autumn like.  You're just gonna fake it out there in the sizzling heat, aren't you.  I like that kind of spirit!  (Psst.  LacyJ.  It was autumn cool out here today.  Just don't tell Shellbells.  She's right on the edge as it is.  This will be our little secret.)

Ya know, I have threatened to lodge a complaint at work because the stupid work keeps getting in the way of my fun.  I can see that's happening with you too, Shell.  We should strike!

Hospital woes.  I can't imagine what it is like with all these people there at one time.  At least they showed up and she probably feels good about that.  So glad to hear Tom's aunt is doing well.  ... Wait.  You just got home in the middle of the night from the hospital?  Visiting hours are over by then.  Did you say night-night to all the relatives and drop by a bar on the way home for some therapy?!

Well, ya got me.  I am indeed crazy.  Somebody told, didn't they? Okay, I'll be patient, but I do want to collect on those photos.  They will rock!

I had a Subway whole wheat bread, egg whites and shredded cheese sandwich earlier, and took a nap because I have slept much in 2 nights.  Woke up feeling queasy.  Sure hope that passes quickly!

Night-night y'all.  Gotta get some work done.  

FINALLY!

I feel like screaming from the roof tops!!!!   I GOT TO WORK OUT - ON PROGRAM - ON SCHEDULE TODAY!!!!    YAY!!!!!  Boy did it feel good....great cardio and foam rolling - even got 10 minutes on my spike mat (accupressure) and got to meditate.  WHAT A BIG DIFFERENCE THAT MAKES!  I am so relieved.....so no irritation today.  I MIGHT go do a stretching after dinner is on...

Yeah....we dont go anywhere as cool as a bar, but we stayed outside the hospital (nice grounds) and talked for hours.....someone brought roasted chicken and fixins....we ate and talked and got home late (second night in a row) and YUK!  My tummy was NOT GOOD today...so Ive barely eaten...but the workout portion was good.

YUM your subway sandwhich sounds good!

Hope your bustin a move Lacyj!

I gotta get stuff together for the Chili cook off ( I have won 6 of 8 years) which is saturday....these days I cook with my nephews and let them win the prizes....they are 14.  so we are making traditional RED and non-traditional green (pork and tomatillo chili - so good)

I want to get to bed early.....have a good evening girls!

Oh yeah.  forgot to mention.  YES Mary.  That's exactly what I am doing....

FAKING it, WILLING it, PRAYING for it, and MAKING it autumn DOES WORK!  LOL!  IM gonna turn my air down to 60 and make butternut squash soup and PRETEND it's actually cool enough to have it!!  LOL

If you read my posts on my blog, Last year I talked about making soup in "less than fall" weather....it was funny.

and oh yeah!  I changed my sillk flowers above my front dooe to all autumn and thanksgiving colors already!!  A girl can hope cant she???  

Ok - NOW i AM DONE.....HAVE A GOOD ONE.

Greetings Oh Motivated Ones!

WAY TO GO, SHELLBELLS!!!  Such a relief a workout can be, eh?  ... No.  It's just something I do when I can summon the initiative and live to get it over with.  When am I going to grow up and be just like you and LacyJ?

Gotta tell you, there is nothing cool about a bar, at least not to me.  Much better that you got together and had a good time with family you never see.  Must have been fun if you stayed out that late!

How wonderful that you enter the chili contest with your nephews!  They are learning young, and from a pro!  Top prize 6 out of 8 times - that's awesome!  A friend of mine in Wichita, Ed Parks, does chili contests all the time and does win.

Faking it is a good idea ... just don't let tom find out.  Oh.  You mean fake fall!  I think you should turn your air conditioner on until you can see your breath, turn on a fireplace, and have some soup!  Yes, that entry in the blog was funny!

So I have some good news, in spite of the fact that I am not exercising enough.  Yesterday I wore a sweater that didn't fit me as recently as last week!  As a matter of fact, I've had it for a couple of years, and the tags were still on it.  YES!

BLOW THIS BFL THING OUTTA THE WATER, BFL BFFs!

WOOP WOOP WOOP!!!  THREE MORE POUNDS GONE!  So happy about that.

I did run on the treadmill last night.  The 3 pounds were a reward from the universe!

Hope you are both having a great day.

Hello Ladies!!!  Here I am blogging at work again!  CONGRATULATIONS Dancing Queen on the sweater fitting now!  That is the BEST feeling.  When I first started I had four boobs - the two originals and then the two that rose above my bra line and  now I only have the two originals left and I LOVE  THAT!!!!  CONGRATS!!!!  You say you don't exercise much, but remember playing tennis and dancing are exercise too . . . and much more fun that grueling regular exercise.

I must admit that I was tired today and struggled thru cardio.  I gave it up at cardio today and hope I have more energy tomorrow.  I just woke up tired today :(  Anyway, I am down to 6 days til bikini shoot and the end of my 3rd Challenge.  I must start thinking of new goals for Challenge #4.

Shellbells you just freakin' rock!  Cook, exercise, bring in a paycheck and then exercise some more!!  You go girl!

Since you both are my BFL BFF's - I have to tell you my "street stud" has turned into a toad :(  Yup it is true.  I talked to him last on this past Sunday and everything was fine.  Then I called him on Monday after work as he told me to, he didn't answer so I left a voice mail - of which he didn't return my call that night or the next night. So on Thursday, I texted him and asked him if he was okay or had he dumped me and he never returned a text or a phone call.   So . . . I am assuming I am dumped.  My heart is saddened as I really liked him and felt so comfortable around him . . . like everything was meant to be.  So, I am licking my wounds and trying to recover from this one because I wasn't expecting that from him at all.  Geez , didn't even have you know what!!!  However, I have to stay focused and on program. I have to work this weekend so I will be busy and hopefully not have time to wonder what the he - - happened.

Okay Ladies - stay focused and stay strong.  We are determined, dedicated, and disciplined and we can do this!!!  In BFL love, LacyJ