Just popping in to say hello a little early because my internet is down at home, and I probably won't be on til saturday. I was looking forward to catching up with everyone from Team Mickey, but guess I'll have to wait. (unless I can sneak on at work tomorrow

)
Very excited to have the whole gang together. Have a great, healthy, happy friday everyone!!
Glad you got to pop over to our new "home" before things here get crazy! Have a great weekend if we don't see you before Monday!
Good Friday morning Biggest Losers We not only made it to Friday but made it the joining of the two teams. Congratulations for hanging on this long. Whether you have been successful so far or not we still have 8 weeks to make something happen.
I am Dona from Team Donald. I am a 55 (almost 56) year old married mother of two boys 26 and 20. I have been married to my college sweetheart for almost 33 years. We are both math teachers. I teach AP calculus and dh teaches 7th grade math. My older son and his dog lives with us. He is working 2 jobs hoping to get a full time position teaching at a local community college. my younger son is at college studying engineering but is only an hour and a half away. I love all sort of needlework and am looking forward to retirement in 4 years to get some more of done.
I am usually the first one on in the morning. I sometimes do some yoga, get on the computer while I eat breakfast and then get to school by 6:45.
Can't wait to meet all the new Mickey people. There are a lot of great people on Team Donald.
Have to go. Just found out that I need to drive dh to work since his car has a problem.
Have a happy and healthy day.
Everytime I hear that you teach AP Calc I get SO intimidated! I have absolutely NO BRAIN for math! I have struggled with it since 4th grade.... as soon as they hit the times tables, I was SUNK! I'm definitely STILL learning.... every time I have to teach 3rd or 4th grade math, I think I learn something new!
That said, DH has a Math brain and (fortunately) the kids inherited it. The kids KNOW not to even ask me about homework. But in addition to DH, I have two SIL who teach HS math, so we are all set for tutors!
Glad you made it on here today for the move!
Hi everyone! Ilost 2.2 pounds at my weight watcher4s weigh in last night so that means I have now lost 25 pond since we started. I am so psyched that I found the support of all of you. I have to go change my weight loss ticker! Excited about the merge and meeting new people. I am 48, a teacher and mom of 3 girls. I need to lose 80 more pounds so I have a long way to go but I am on the journey!
That is just great!
Good morning.
I'm Dani from Team Donald. I'm 28 years old and have struggled with my weight since graduating college in 2004. I worked full time and went to school full time and put on nearly 30 lbs in 2 years. In 2009, when I got married, I was 8 lbs up from my college weight. I was in the "healthy" BMI range and would like to get and keep my weight to just a few pounds after that. By the end of 2009, I had gained 20 lbs back. I joined a gym when I realized what was happening. Twice, during the past year and a half, I had gotten to within 10 lbs of where I needed to be, but went back up.
Starting this challenge, I made it my goal to get back to that weight from the beginning of 2009, which meant I had 13 pounds to lose. Today, I'm 10 lbs down and am so excited to get that last 3.
I have a vacation coming in exactly one month. I would LOVE to be under my short term goal weight before I go on vacation. I always ruin my journey on vacations. If I could come back just 2-3 lbs above it, I know I'll lose it right away.
I believe my ideal, long-term goal weight is about 5-10 lbs lower than my goal of this challenge. My plan is to make that my goal in the next challenge and then become a maintainer. My first challenge was in the fall and I started strong but then died down and went back up after the challenge. I wanted to take on something I could achieve with hard work for this challenge so that I would make changes that I could maintain forever.
My exercise consists of going to the gym 2-3 times a week, walking whenever it's nice out, and doing 30DS another 1-3 times per week. I'm on level 2 for 30DS.
Thanks to all of you for your support. I will do my best to provide support and motivation for as many of you as possible!
HI! Glad things have been going well. I haven't done 30 DS in months! Maybe I should pull it out again??
good morning everyone! just sat down to the computer with my coffee and hoping i can finish this entry before my son wakes up!
very excited about the merge! looking forward to meeting the donald team. i'm nancy, recently joined the mickey team and having a good time getting to know those gals as well as getting some helpful and healthful hints from them!
i live in the bronx, ny with my husband of almost 5 years, 21 month old son and 3 year old bulldog. i ran my very first half marathon (the princess half) and intend on running a full marathon one day. i signed up for the january wdw race but god has other plans for me apparently. on saturday i hit my goal weight (well, my first goal weight - my wedding weight/pre-baby weight)! awesome! then on sunday i found out i'm pregnant. i need to change my weight loss and training goals but the goal to stay healthy and active remains the same and i'm going to stay with the BL group so i can make sure i keep the weight gain under control.
it's chilly here today which stinks because i was hoping to go to the bronx zoo with my little guy. i may still bundle him up and go anyway. it IS sunny and beautiful!
have a great day
HUGE CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
YOu must be so excited! I'm sure your eating and running plan will have to change.... but this is NO REASON to go nuts..... glad that your goal is to STAY HEALTHY and ACTIVE! You are doing yourself and your new baby SO MUCH GOOD!!!
Good Morning! Welcome to everyone from both teams!
I am Kelli and I will be your coach this week! Well, it looks like some of you have already gotten a head start on today's question, lol!
QOTD 3/25/11 Friday
As we start to get to know each other again, please reintroduce yourself and tell us about your journey so far.
I am 34 and married, no children. I work retail, so my schedule can be all over the place. We do have 2 pets, Jazz is my dog and is 14 years old while my cat Boo is just over a year old. I started gaining weight right into my 20's, and it just kept going up. I finally changed my lifestyle last summer and have lost 63 lbs so far. Since the beginning of this challenge I have not been as successful as I'd like. I hit a huge plateau for the first two months partially due to lack of exercise. Now with a new gym membership and reevaluation of my calories (I needed more!) I have finally started losing again. I believe my total loss so far this challenge is 12.6 pounds.
Good Morning Kelli! Thanks for being the coach for our first big week together! I'm sure it will keep you busy!
I totally understand the plateau and the need for more calories! I think that has been part of my recent issues.... not eating enough! I made a conscious effort to eat a bit more this week (and work out a bit more) and it definitely helped!!
I do my re-intro after my responses here!
QOTD 3/25/11 Friday
As we start to get to know each other again, please reintroduce yourself and tell us about your journey so far. <<
I'm -em or emily if you are mad at me (or I'm at work) and I'm tired of being a statistic in the 63% of americans overweight category so I'm fixing that- Only 4 more lbs to go till I have a "normal" BMI then 10-15 more till I hit my 'goal' weight
I've picked up the running bug and have the Everest 5K, the DLR 1/2 and the Wine and Dine 1/2 all in my future-
I call Orlando/WDW/Contemporary Resort home-
-em
Hi Em! DD and were considering doing the Everest 5K, since we will be in Disney at that time.... but decided not to for various reasons. Have you talked to Buffy? I know she and her DS are planning on it! Maybe you could meet up! Part of me wishes we were running it, but after talking and evaluating our schedule, etc, we decided not to dedicate the time to it. Maybe another time though?? I'd love to hear all about it when your done!
[QOTD--I am Rose, 43, married with a college sophomore who goes to school 500 miles away. I mostly enjoy being an empty nester, though I do look forward to my visits with my DS. I work part-time in fund development for a non-profit. I have gone up and down with my weight since my 20s. I was thin in high school and college, but always thought I was fat. (I have some issues.

). Anyhow, I have been maintaining for a while now and feel like I am finally, for the first time in my life, in a good place with my body image. I still have my moments, but I actually enjoying posting pictures of myself and family, so I see that as progress.

I joined BL in January of 2010. I hit my goal in September, though I have continued to lower my maintain weight at a very slow rate. I am within 4 pounds of my high school/college weight.

I am a runner, though I'm currently on the "injured reserve list" with itbs.

I am a HUGE baseball fan, and VERY excited about opening day. Oh, and I am also a vegetarian and gluten-free.
I will be back later today. Don't forget to INCLUDE YOUR TEAM NAME along with your weight. Today is also a WIN day--if I remember correctly. And don't forget those HH points as well!
Good morning Rose! I'm so happy to be back here with you! I've missed you!
Things got crazy here so I never got to make that Vegan Bean Taco filling, even though I bought the ingredients. Maybe another day. If/when I do, I'll let you know what I think.
Sorry again about your injury. Maybe you could let this be a time of super ARM building! I've been using a rowing machine for the last few week and I am hoping to have some FABULOUS looking arms and shoulders for the summer! I might have an old saggy mid-section and a chest heading south, but I"m gonna ROCK the shoulders!!

Good Morning!
I am LTS-- quicker to type and less chance of getting that darn s in the wrong place.

Just checking in quickly this morning before I run out the door. Serving SnowCones at the High School at lunch today with the PTA then taking DD to a dr appt.
I am a SAHM of 2 girls ages 15 and 11. I substitute teach occasionally and volunteer with PTA and our Pool Association/Swim Team. I have the most wonderful and supportive husband who has been on this weight loss journey with me and that it makes things so much easier since he does most of the shopping and cooking! I have lost about 37 pounds since about the middle of last year, 20 of those since Jan 1st in this challenge.
I am using the South Beach plan and really find it very easy to plan for and follow. I am a meal planner and like to have several weeks of meals planned out ahead of time. It makes it so much easier to keep on track for me.
Looks like I have a "maintain" for this week, which is okay. Wasn't a great week for me--not time to shop and we are out of veggies and other things so as long as it didn't go up I am fine.
Have to go put my face on and get some breakfast. I look forward to reading other intros and meeting the Mickeys!
Oh, Donalds (and anyone else interested) , I did finally get photos up but they are at the end of the Donald thread. You will have to hop over there to see them. (page 156)
Everyone have a great ON PLAN day!
Checked out the photos and responded! Thanks for sharing them. GLad you are okay with your maintain this week.
HI everyone
Looking forward to getting to know all the people from team Mickey

as well as keeping in touch with all my Donalds
I sent my weigh in today. I was down to 226 this morning and I started this challenge a few weeks ago at 233.4 so that's something
Hope you are all having a great day
LTS I saw your pics in the other thread and you are doing great. and I LOOOOOVE the haircolor

we match lol
WOOHOO! that is a great loss in the past few weeks! You are doing it!!
**Happy Friday morning to ALL of my BL friends... new and old!! (Not that you're old.... you know what I mean

)
First of all..... here is a brief re-intro...
I share a name with a famous BayWatch babe.... initially are P.A.... can you guess??
I am 40-something (hate the number... don't want to say it)..... mostly SAHM with two kids (DD 15 1/2, DS 13), married to DH for nearly 19 years now. We are both originally from MA, have lived in NH for our entire married life. Hate the winter, but I'll have to tolerate it, at least for the next many years. I don't anticipate going anywhere at least until retirement time. Plus most all of our family is in MA and we wouldn't want to be too far away.
I have struggled with my weight, in some fashion, since I was about 13.... usually struggling to keep off 20-30 pounds. But of course, after marriage and babies, my weight topped off at 219 pounds.
Without going into my long story of yo-yoing, suffice to say that in 2008 I decided enough was enough. I was returning to WDW for a family trip and I wasn't going to be fatter in the pictures than I had been previously. I pulled out the Weight Watcher info I had in the cupboard and got back on plan.
Since that day (Jan 2, 2008), I have lost about 85 pounds. I've been struggling to hit my ultimate goal of 128 for over a year now.... but haven't gone above 136 during that entire year, so I guess I consider myself sort of on maintenance. Whether I see that number EVER, I'm not sure of, but I know that as long as I am trying to reach it, I am at least not getting bigger.
I LOVE scrapbooking and do it whenever I can. I also substitute teach at our local K-4 and occasionally at the middle school. I am putting my name in to sub at the HS this week. We'll see how that goes!!
DD is a full-time competitive swimmer, which keeps me busy all year round. In fact, we are driving to Harvard this afternoon for a championship meet!
DS is our "engineer" and DH and I help coach his FLL Robotics team. That doesn't take as much time year round as swim, but still keeps us hopping from August to December!
For exercise.... well... that has been all over the board.... but for a positive, I must say, I've kept up with it for the full three years (+) now and I'm super proud of that! I started out just walking on the TM (both here and at the Y)... moved on to WATP videos and 30DS. A year ago this past January I decided to give running a try and I kept up with it regularly through this fall. By the the fall I was running consistently 5-6 miles several days a week. But honestly..... I didn't like it. And I found by this winter the thought of running was making me skip workouts all together! I was just dreading the running! So I gave myself permission to NOT be a runner! And you know what?? I've done a good workout every day SINCE that decision!
If I have a day when I feel like taking a run.... I will! But NO PRESSURE! And that has really changed my outlook on exercise.
When I'm at the Y I use the Treadclimber, the rower, the bikes, the elliptical, and the free weights. I try to mix it up to avoid getting bored.
At home I use my TM plus a variety of workout videos and free weights. I also wrote up a few home workout routines doing calesthenic type exercises like squats, lunges, jumping jacks, push-ups, overhead presses, stairs, crunches, tricep dips, wall sits, planks.... you name it!
Okay..... so that wasn't too brief, was it!!??
Well friends.... I had an EXCELLENT weigh-in today!! I can't tell you how encouraging that is! I've worked hard for it and I got it! I think it was a combination of two weeks of super eating and exercise, plus hormones have probably leveled out! Fingers crossed to another good week next week!!!
Well.... I gotta get in my workout, hit the shower, and get organized and packed up to head to Harvard this afternoon! I might be on here again at lunch. If not, see you tomorrow!....................P