Hope you are feeling better! Glad you stopped in!
Things can only get better...(ooh, a Howard Jones song!) Bonus points if you are now laughing!
Do you get negative points if you are

wondering who Howard Jones is????
I have not done all that great this challenge so far. I did loose a few inches but only a few lbs. I really looked back and noticed I am not being as conscious of what I am putting into my mouth. I am also only running 2x a week on average and I have not been getting in any real long runs. My day started off by going into the basement for the kids clothes and seeing half of the basement flooded.

I tried to sop up as much as I could and I turned on the dehumidifier. I am hoping all the waiting means its a really big pay increase.

wishful thinking.
Maybe you could ask him?? How awful about your basement! Hang in there. Glad you sound more positive this weekend!
Tracey, Jeanette, Taryn, CC, Lisa, Cam, Dona and Maria - You guys are all the best. Everything you all posted did make me feel better even though things are still just hard right now. Thanks for always being there when I need it! Taryn - Thanks. Like all the others...your post means so much to me. I really needed to read your post several times. I know that you have so much going on right now too so remember....YOU ARE AMAZING as well!
Jen, I know sometimes these wordy cheer posts don't do the trick, because they can help us feel a bit stronger mentally, or at least supported. I know that only a change in the circumstances that make us down will truly bring us back up. Since I can't do that for you, just know that we are here to support each other, vent to each other, and hang in there together until we all have our happy places again!
Down .4 today. Even though its a small loss, Im still happy about it because I didnt exercise as much or as long as I normally do. I am scared of going up past 140. I dont know if its really being scared, but more like I refuse and hope to not go back to the 140s. I worked so hard to get to the 130s. Im 138 right now. So my challenge is to still weigh under 140 when I get back from WDW. I have printed out menus to know what I will be ordering. I plan on having fruit for my "snacks" and drinking nothing but water. I plan on taking healthy snacks with me so I wont be hungry and make bad choices.
Sounds like you are setting yourself up for success!!!! Great job on being in the 130s!!!
Caught up with reading, but just too all in to do replies. I know I should, but it's been a hard day. Finances just keep getting worse & worse. DH is employed & makes good money, but with 2 in college & 3 at home, there is no money.

to you. There's just never enough to go around!!!
For those of you who asked here's the recipe I used for the spicy chicken dip.
That sounds really, really yummy! How is the fat free cream cheese? I've never bought it, it just didn't sound appealing!
We have 2 kids in daycare, actually my older son is in kgarten but before/after school care cost more than my younger son who is in daycare all day They are singing in church tomorrow with their sunday school class so I have to make them look good.
Bet they'll sound like

. I can't believe before and after care is more expensive than all day care? Are they at the same facility? No chance of a family discount?
How do you plan for a successful weekend?
Ummm.... well...... I guess having good snacks on hand, and no bad snacks are my two biggies right now. We've had so much going on on the weekends (VT games, Brad's reunion, AK's b'day) that I just have to be careful, and decide if I really want something. KWIM?

to our newest BL challenge participant, CrystalS! Who just had a baby six weeks ago -- was it a boy or a girl? Thanks for joining our challenge!
AWWWW... I smell the baby lotion! Welcome Crystal!
I am so excited to report that my mom woke up on the right side of the bed today!
I wonder how many times AK thinks that???? I love your spreadsheet! You have a lot of time on your hands now, huh!

How much longer in the boot?
The exercise is definitely working for me this time. I do feel that I am pretty much on track the majority of the time, but those old eating habits are tending to creep back in, and I need to get them under control. I was the same this week, and am down 3.6 for the month. I know what you mean about perspective. I don't think I ever felt thin, even at 135 right after high school. But 2 years ago when I hit the 180s again from 229, I felt pretty good. Now, I'd just like to get back to the 180s again.
Taryn, this was so nicely said, and I totally agree with it 100% for Jen, and the same could be said to you. I hope you are doing ok this week, and know that we are always here for you, too.
Thanks honey! (Boy, did that sound Southern.) I'm hanging in there. On the yo-yo that Jude mentioned! Perspective is amazing. I have to share this, b/c it made me feel good and I want to remember it. Someone commented Fri. night at the Homecoming game about how many of Brad's classmates could wear what the clothes they graduated in, and it was remarked that I couldn't, they would fall off. And you know what, they are right! I love not being recognized!
I got up today and did 4.3 miles. They were dissapointingly slow but they are done.
Great job! Do you always work on Saturdays?
Two weeks from today we will be on the Magic with four night at wdw after. It's going to be great but different. We had it paid for before I got laid off so DH insisted that we still go!
Enjoy every minute of it. Those are memories that last, and are restorative!
I'm finding that not much is working for me. I just can't keep my head in the game, between juggling kids, activities, 2 part time jobs and searching for a full time job the stress has really knocked me down. I start off each morning strong, but lose it somewhere during the day. I am even toying with switching to Atkins which I was very successful with years ago. Maybe a short term switch would give me the loss I want, then I could switch back to ww for maintainence.
I have the same thoughts! I want a "quick fix" for my last 11 pounds. I'm not sure I could do atkins again, though. It's pretty expensive....Hang in there babe!
DS now has a mohawk. Lovely, right. I'll post a picture when we get home. He said he's shaving it on Monday. We are having a fabulous time. I will say I am really glad this night 1/2 is not my first half, because I think we are going to be very slow.

So glad it's wonderful!!! Enjoy your run! So sweet of DS to give you a hair update!
Until reading this thread I didn't realize how many of us there are out there. I don't have any answers but the support from everyone out there really helps. Alot.[Ran the Race for the Cure today. 30 minutes for a 5K. My half marathon is next weekend so I was afraid to "race" it and injure myself. To you veteran half marathoners out there - I am totally freaked out. I am not a natural runner. I trudge through my 10 minute miles with a naughty mantra in my head ("what was I f***ing thinking, what was I f***ing thinking??"). I did 12.3 miles last Sunday and ended at the start of my street. I was totally wiped. I looked up at the last 20 yards to my house, then the 10 feet to my door and actually thought about crawling. And that was only 12.3 - what am I going to do when I add the rest to get to 13.1?? I am going to do one more long run tomorrow before I start my taper (and the thought of what I can lose during the taper also scares me...)
sometimes, knowing we aren't the only ones, takes away a bit of the fear and isolation doesn't it! You will rock your half, young lady!!!!! I can't do 10 minute miles, mine or 10.5 or 11!!!
Lisa- I do have a mtg monday again with my boss. I am thinking of asking then. Just a simple question like "have you gotten any closer to a date when my position will be changed yet?" I guess it cant hurt to ask. One day Im like oh were ok and the next Im afraid we are going to loose everything we own.

I thought it was just my mild anxiety disorder I have self diagnosed myself with but I guess its all normal feelings when you are having financial difficulties. It is so sad that this is what the economy has done to us. I did get in my 5 mile run. It took me 60:10. I was pretty happy with that. I have a 5mile race on 10/16. Its a women's classic. Supporting women's cancers and women's health. Its the first race I ever ran in. Well I did the 5K then.
I'll have to check out your race review. You did great on your 5 miles! I totally understand about the yo yo feelings.
Just wanted to say hi. I feel a migraine coming on, so Im going to try to go to sleep. I survived class today and the 5 page paper due. Just need to survive tomorrow and I will be at Disneyworld! One day left.
Hope it goes away! Have a fabulous trip!!!!!
Oh rats our spooky train ride got weathered out. We will go back in 2 weeks. It'll work out and maybe I won't forget my camera that time. .
That sounds like fun, but my girls would have nightmares for months!
We are off to ccd this morning, and then are going to checkout a new bike path. It's about 30 min from here, in Lexington but I've heard it's great, and then we might check out the battlefield down there and some of the historical sites. I'm have such a bad memory for history, and I need to work on that as michael's growing up.
HAVE FUN!!!!
QOTD Sunday- Since we're all disney fans, when did your love for all things disney begin? Did you get the disney magic from the first time you entered a disney park, or was it a love that gradually built up?
I was obsessed before I got there. I told DH he had to take me for my honeymoon! It was great, wonderful, etc. but the true love came after taking the girls for the first time. You know, the kool-aid, crack reaction of "I need this more often".....
Dh is in the shower, using the soap!

Just wanted to share a few things, quickly, and catch up!
Great fun at the reunion! I had a lot of friends in DH's class, and we danced for hours. My obliques are feeling it. I actually came home for a second (less than a mile from the party last night) to put shorts on under my dress so I could really boogie!
Want to share something sweet AK did. I had told her that money was extremely tight. (I was having one of those moments, and was a horrible mommy and actually told her that making the house payment was going to be hard this month. Yes, it's going to be hard, but I shouldn't have burdened her with that). Anyway, she has an overnight, charter bus field trip to Jamestown and Williamsburg in November. Its' $150. I thought the next payment was due tomorrow, but it was Friday. She told me after school that her payment had been due that day, and she used her birthday money and paid it herself.

I was so proud... I will repay her. I had told her to hang onto her birthday money for spending money for the trip, so I'll make sure she gets it back before then..
Off to get ready for church. We're having soup and sandwiches after church, then I'm not really sure what we'll do w/ mom later. SIL mentioned mexican restaurant tonight. Saw a funny card that said "Mom, for your birthday, I thought you should have a feast. so, what are you cooking?"
Have a great day! Connie - hope you are okay!
Taryn