Biggest Loser 9 Spring Challenge -- thread closing -- see new thread Part 2!

[kimblebee]

Good morning everyone and happy new year. I sent off my starting weight and all I have to say is I vow to keep in mind that I will never be that number again.

OT question- how can I add the clippy to my signature? I tried to C+P but that didn't work.

Kim

 

[lisah0711]

Happy New Year to all our BL 9 participants!

I hope that your year is joyous, prosperous and finds you meeting all your goals!

Today is the official start of our challenge. It's nice to see so many excited, motivated people joining our group. We're here for each other for motivation and support but ultimately it is up to each one of us to make sure that we meet our goals. We can do this!

Here is our QOTD (Question of the Day): Do you have a goal for this challenge?

And a bonus QOTD do you want to have a group goal for this challenge?

I set myself a goal of losing 20 pounds for this challenge. I lost 19 pounds last year -- a couple found their way back while I was on vacation but I know they will be gone soon. I would be very happy to meet my goal and set another before this challenge is through.

In our fall challenge we had a group goal of losing 500 pounds. At the time we had over 60 people and it seemed like we would blow through that goal pretty quickly. The reality was that as our number dwindled that group goal seemed farther away. We ended up about 45 pounds short which I think was a great showing.

If we do a group goal again, I suggest that we start slowly -- 300, 400 or 500pounds and then see how it goes. We can always set it higher.

Let us know what you think.

Please be sure and PM your starting weight to LuvBaloo today and take a look at the COW that started today. There is a link to the COW in post #4 so it is easy to find and report.

Thanks for joining our challenge and good luck to all!

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Happy New Year!

I'vce really gone back and forth on my goal for this challenge and what I want. I wanted to strike the balance between aiming high and being realistic. So I think my goal for this challenge is to reach my WW 10% which is about 10 lbs from where I am now.

My goal for the group would be to retain 80% of our members through the challenge!

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Wow, I finally read through all the posts! Welcome to all the new members, and great to see old friends among the group!

Introduce myself: I am 41, married to my HS sweetheart, have 2 great kids and started a new job that I LOVE! I have WAY over 100 pounds to loose. I lost 30+ last year and won the BL competition at DH's work. Sadly I gained it all back. this year I am doing the competiton again and plan to win and KEEP GOING!

I also am a high red belt in Tae Kwon Do. Even at my size I do it! I LOVE it! But I test for black belt in June and I have to seriously kick some weight loss butt to be able to survive the testing.

GOALS QOTD:
1. Increase upper body strength so that I can do plank position and push ups for upcoming TKD testing.
2. I haven't decided on the weight loss goal, but I think I will say between 30-45 pounds. (2-3 pounds a week).
3. Be more active and get things done around the house: declutter, play with kids more, and get projects done!

Hi! My name is Theresa, I'm 46, and I want to start by saying I'm pretty intimidated and overwhelmed by getting this started. I will try to figure out all this - 5 pages of posts to catch up on! Anyway, I married the man of my "NIGHTMARES" 10 years ago. Up until that time I had struggled with 10-20 pounds pretty often. I gained 80 pounds while married to him, was left to raise a newborn baby girl on my own as well as another child who had only a part-time dad. The part-time dad passed away a couple of months ago and the devil dad has never been heard from. I am tired of sitting around feeling sorry for my "pooh sized" self and ready to get my life back on track! I think having to confess my weight each week and having a group of determined women hold me accountable may be just what I need!

A heartfelt HUG to everyone and Prayers for each of us to find strength, motivation and encouragement we all need! I hope I will be a blessing in each of your lives as I am sure you will all be in mine!

♥ Theresa

Wow, your story touched me, welcome and hope that you get your life back on track!

I found you.

My name is Shirley and I hopefully will do much better at losing this time than I did the last. I am 57 years old with one daugher and twin grandkids (boy and girl) and never had a weight problem until I hit 50 and then I gained 60 lbs. Doctor's ran all kind of test and no idea why I gained. I am 5'2" tall and any little weight gain looks horrible on me. Even though I don't want to get back to 99 lbs because being older now I think it would make me look a little sickly, I would like to get down to around 110

I am doing this in memory of my dh of 30 years who passed away in Aug 09. One of the things that he wanted me to do was to take better care of myself. Since all the emotions of the holidays will be over when this starts I am hoping to really do some good things.

Of course it doesn't help that I am watching a show about a six layer coconut cake, yum and I don't really eat sweets. I could work on this.

So good luck everyone.

Sorry about your DH, we are here to help each other in many ways, you'll love it here!

I got finished reading all the pages of the thread and realized it was time for me to stand up and introduce myself. It was as though I was at one of the AA meetings you see on TV. I would have to say my name and admit I had a problem. It almost brings tears to my eyes.

My name is Lynne (and I am an aunt). I'm 48 years old. Single, never married. Never dated much, either. Realized the other day that the last date I had was 11 years ago. Not much before that, either.

I am a stay-at-home daughter to an 80 yo dad. Mother passed away this spring after several years of early Alzheimer's; her death was actually a surprise. Never thought she would go first. For her last six months, we got pretty house-bound and sedentary. Amazing how 20 pounds just crept on. And dad has a clear mind but an arthritic body with an S-shaped spine, so movement is difficult and painful. So, here we go again with sedentary. The difference is that I can leave him to go to the gym. But I don't. And the Y is 5 minutes down the hill. Need that nudge - mother and I used to go together; maybe that's part of the problem.

I have been on an uphill weight gain all my life, with only 2 times of significant/noticeable loss: high school freshman, didn't eat lunch (not the healthy way - but it was less calories - and not intentionally for weight loss) and mid-20s by walking at lunch (and probably hormone-related nausea). And I was the skinny child in the family until I was 7. All I wanted to eat was half a grilled cheese sandwich. Now I'll eat my sandwich and half of yours, too, if you are not going to finish that.

Someone else was feeling bad for not losing weight in a prior session and was reminded that they could be heavier? It's true. Over the past 6 years while living with/taking care of my parents, I realized I could have lost one pound per month and be at least 72 pounds lighter, rather than the 40 pounds heavier that I am now.

You know the question people always ask, "How did they get so heavy?" Yep, one pound at a time. It goes off the same way, just seems a lot slower.

Eventually, I'll have to go back work - uggh! Never wanted to work; find it to be a rat race in every job I've had - why can't people play together nicely? The last job I had was hard because I was carrying so much extra weight - and now, at 280, I am basically the healthy weight of 2 women my height (5'9"). People don't believe me when I tell them that; but I see it in photos (not in the mirror).

Anyway, positive side - I am going on a bunch of Disney cruises over the next year and a half - DCL April 2010 EB Transatlantic (14 nights) back-to-back with an 11- night Med; Jan 2011 Panama Canal 15-night repo to LA; Disney Dream and then Jun 2011 Alaska for my 50th b'day. I want to be healthier by that mid-century mark. Slow and steady. Time to change my life to what I want it to be, not the routine I've fallen into - I am still breathing.

Years (years!) ago I attended an Outward Bound course, where we stated five things we "couldn't" do. Then we replaced "couldn't" with "wouldn't" and found that was truly the case for most; we are our own self-limitations.

...Was there someone who said she would share so much? I think I have found a soulmate.

Sorry about your mom's passing, and I think you are an angel for taking care of your parents. Now it is time to take care of you!

Hey everyone - Happy New Year's!!

I'm not sure if everyone knows, but Chris Downie the creator of SparkPeople, just came out with a new book. I've been using Sparkpeope for a while, and when I track I lose. I decided a few months ago to pre-order the book since it was so cheap and figured that since it was coming out around the first of the year it might be a great motivator to get me back on track. My book came in today and I've just finished reading Part 1 (chapters 1-5) and that was all the motivational stuff before you get to the actual losing weight chapters.

WOW WOW WOW is all I have to say. I've never read anything like it. It's not like any typical diet book, but more written like a good motivational how to succeed in life book.

Chapter 1 - His story. He tells about how Sparkpeople came to be. How he started as a shy kid who had anxiety, his life in college and into the work field. Fascinating story of how and why he started the company.

The next 4 chapters are about the 4 cornerstones of the Sparkpeople Philosophy. See below for a breakdown. Each Cornerstone has building blocks within that cornerstone and each cornerstone and building block criss-crosses with other cornerstones and building blocks (example- if you don't sleep well, you won't be able to exercise well, if you don't eat proper nutritional foods you won't be abe to have the fuel to exercise, etc.)

Chapter 2 - Cornerstone - Focus
Goals: Dreams with Deadlines
Building Block - values and beliefs
Building Block - Purpose and vision
Building Block - Goal-setting (Breaking them down, seeing it)

Chapter 3 - Cornerstone - Fitness
Building Block - Exercise
Building Block - Nutrition
Building Block - Stress Management (Emotional eating, Stupid Stress ** This is me**)
Building Block - Sleep

Chapter 4 - Cornerstone - Fire
Building Block: Personal Leadership
Building Block: Consistency and Momentum (Getting on the right spiral -upward or downward spiral), Setbacks (learn and get back on track)
Building Block: Motivation

Chapter 5 - Cornerstone - Positive Force
Building Block: Coaching
Building Block: Public Leadership
Building Block: Community Service

One of my favorite getting organized books is by David Allen called Getting Things Done. This book changed my life with getting organized in work and personal life. This book was written like that. It's not like most books that deal with the figure out why you overeat, and books that have you do exercises that might work for some people but not others. Chris Downie seems to be an exceptional business man with some serious abilities to break it down in a business motivational way of organizing your life, making you a better person, paying it foward, avoiding stupid stress (procrastination - Story of my life). It felt like a motivational speaker just spoke to me in a way my brain can understand. At first when I was reading I was thinking - ok this is so business like, but by the end of the first part of the book I was on a feel good high and you just want to run out and help other people feel it too!

I'm sure there will be some that would read it and not like it - like as with anything, different things motivate people in different ways. I just had to tell you all that I highly recommend this book as it might be a great way to motivate you at the start of this challenge. I'll let everyone know what I think of the second part of the book. Hopefully its as good as the first.

Thanks for the info on the book! I am going to go check it out. Right now I am starting Ali Vincent's book, and then I think I might get that one.

 

[tigger813]

QOTD: My goal is to lose 21.8 pounds and reach 145! I don't remember the last time I was 145 but that is my ultimate goal.

BONUS: I think we should try again for 500 pounds total. It seems we have a lot more people this round and we were only 50 pounds away last challenge and this one is a few weeks longer! I hope to reach my goal by the end of February.

Just walked 1.87 miles with my mom. Time for my BL Protein drink. Wii Fit and WATP later today. Also plan to drink lots of water today and less RUM! LOL! Glad I didn't feel the after effects this morning!

 

[lisah0711]

Hi all, I am Sarah married mother of 2. I work full time plus and this will be my3rd BL Challenge. I started out with 134 pounds to lose and I am over half way there! Today has been a not on plan day to say the least and ya know what....it is New Years and I am deciding to not worry about weight today and start fresh tomorrow. I haven't had even one day since I started back in May that I have said that...I have stuck with it through thanksgiving and christmas, birthdays and anniversaries but today...I am just not going to worry.

Have a safe new years all and I will see you on the other side!

Sarah

Hello, Sarah! Happy New Year to you, too. Good job giving yourself a day off and not worrying about it. I know you'll get right back on track tomorrow.

Hi, everyone! I haven't done a BL challenge since the 2nd one (I think...). I'm really looking forward to this one!

My name is Tasha and I will be 29 in Feb. I have been married to my highschool sweetheart for just over 10 years and we have 2 absolutely wonderful kids together. Our dd is 4 and our ds is 18 months. I work full time for a group of Internal Medicine doctors and love my job most days but I don't have much free time in the evenings as a result anymore. I will try to get online as often as I can to check in to this thread but that could sometimes be once a week, if lucky. I'll definitely make a note to send in my weight every week though!

My short-term goal is to lose around 50 lbs for this challenge but my long-term goal is to be close to maintainer status by my 30th b-day! I want to bring in my 30s much healthier than I'm leaving my 20s! My biggest problem is that I LOVE food! (Who doesn't!) I will have to get my butt in gear to make better choices that still taste good but I'm hoping that this is my year!

Thanks to everyone who organized this and good luck to all!!

Sounds like you have a great plan to make this work for you!

Am I reading 6-8 ounces of water each day or is it 6 8 ounce servings each day?

I see that donac and BernardAndMissBianca both answered this for you -- 6
8 oz glasses of water (or coffee or tea). Did you know that green tea is supposed to help boost your metabolism along with all the other good things it does for you? I think I'll try some on this cold, foggy morning.

Hi I'm Catherine. I'm 40 and starting a new job on Jan 4 2010. Perfect time to start a new healthly lifestyle. I have been married for 17 years and have DS 12 and DD 14. I want to lose 40 pounds.

Good luck with your new job on Monday!

Wow.... how did this thread get SO long so FAST!!?? Guess I will have to work at keeping up with it when it really gets going next week or so!

Just a quick note to say HAPPY NEW YEAR to my BL 8 friends and my new BL 9 friends! ...............P

Happy New Year to you, too, pjlla!

Please add me to the biggest loser weight loss side. I will need to lose a few pounds before I go into maintainers.

Looking forward to the challenge

Chrisula

chrisula!

Smooth sailing to you, too, auntlynne!

Hey everyone - Happy New Year's!!

I'm not sure if everyone knows, but Chris Downie the creator of SparkPeople, just came out with a new book. I've been using Sparkpeope for a while, and when I track I lose. I decided a few months ago to pre-order the book since it was so cheap and figured that since it was coming out around the first of the year it might be a great motivator to get me back on track. My book came in today and I've just finished reading Part 1 (chapters 1-5) and that was all the motivational stuff before you get to the actual losing weight chapters.

I just picked up this book on Wed night and skimmed it yesterday. I too like the motivational aspect of it. I have some ideas of what I want to do today to start this program. I have tried sparkpeople before but hated looking around for everything. This lays it all out without hunting through a website. I think the book is a good addition to the website for those of us who don't have time to do all the navigting. My time on the computer is limited in school but I can read the book on hall duty. For me this is a big plus.

I have been thinking about my three goals for this week.

Have a nice day everyone.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on The Spark. Be sure and let us know what you think as you read more!

Wow. That is awesome. How did you do it? Did you join a program like Weight Watchers or Jennie Craig.

So I sent my weight in this morning. I did not gain it all at once so I guess I will not lose it all at once. I did get on the TM for 30 minutes and did 1.5 miles. Going to lunch with my mom, sisters and aunt today but it is a buffet so there should be lots of veggies to choose from. Have a great day. Happy New Year!!!!!

Looks like you are off to a great start!

Hi- My name is Kelly and I was on BL8 (first time on these boards) I lost a little and have only gained back a little so I'm ready to go.
I'm 52 this year, single and (sadly) no children. Last year my older sis and I realized our dream of living in the country and bought a most beautiful farm property. We still commute to the city -I'm an Animal Sevices Officer at a great, caring shelter but I spend 8 hours a day in the truck doing investigations so not much exercise there!
I have been overweight since I was 13. My main motivation is to help my high blood pressure, ease the strain on my back and knees. Nice fitting clothes would be great too!
Sadly, on Christmas Eve, I lost my 18yr old cat "Magnus".
He has been my confident for a lot of my adult life, thru some very hard times, the understanding that I wouldn't have the fairy tale husband and little ones, loss of my Nana and many other difficult times. I haven't really had any support, Magnus being "just a cat" that's him below with my Dsis.
Sis and I love Disney but cannot get there as often as we would like. Last trip was a surprise 50th birthday to CSR from my Dsis. What a great time we had.
I'm hoping to exercise more, eat better and lose about 12-15lbs.
Thanks to everyone who designed this challenge and those who run it!

, mullysisters. I am so sorry to hear about your beloved kitty. It is so hard when our furry family members leave us behind.

I know how to diet; I like healthy food; I am not hungry when I do WW correctly. But, I tend to sabotage my efforts about 4 or 5 weeks in. I want this thread to be my accountability. Thanks for starting this, and I look forward to getting to know you all better as we make progress.

Yep, it's that applying what you know that is the real trick! Welcome to our challenge!

Good luck to everyone. I am very excited. This is my first challange. I am a WW pro that has fallen off the wagon a few times.

We've all fallen off the wagon a time or two but as long as we keep getting back on we are heading in the right direction.

Ok, so I removed my 20 pound stickie this morning as motivation to earn it back quickly! Gained back 8 of what I lost last challenge, 4 just yesterday! Darn Chinese food, rum, and Christmas goodies and chips and dip! It's my own fault and I take full responsibility! But I had an AWESOME time last night with our good friends so that's what counts!

, tracey. I lost my 15 pound clippie so I know how you feel. It's going to be a little lonely at your house when your folks go back home.

We have a great group with lots of motivation and that is what I need right now...a good kick to the butt. I stepped on the scale this morning for the first WI and although I wasn't surprised I was disappointed but the pounds didn't show up over one day, they came from not making good choices and not getting in exercise time. I too had to bump my clippie down but hope to get to change it back soon.

Yep, those clippies are good motivators! For our new participants, there are WISH smilies at the bottom of the smilie list that you can add to your signature. I believe that they don't count on your signature size limit but one of our mods will chime in if I am wrong, I hope.

Hi everyone!

this is my first BL challenge and I am super excited! I am 34 years old and a single mom to my precious 5 year old son. I am looking forward to losing with you all.

Peace and Blessings!

Jordans Mommie! Peace and Blessing to you, too.

 

[lisah0711]

I'm off to a good start. Did my workout and watched BL marathon..that helps!

Printed off the COW. Made a chart to log all my goals. The veggies are a big issue with me so I think I;m going to hit the market and find some good stuff. I need some good veggie recipes! I have no idea what to do with these things beside dip them in ranch

Have you tried hummus? Veggies dipped in hummus is delicious. Also, you can chop them up, toss with a little olive oil, salt and pepper and roast them in the oven. I love roasted vegetables.

Good morning everyone and happy new year. I sent off my starting weight and all I have to say is I vow to keep in mind that I will never be that number again.

OT question- how can I add the clippy to my signature? I tried to C+P but that didn't work.

Kim

Copy this phrase then go to User CP -- it's on the top left hand side of the screen in a blue bar. Once your in User CP click on edit signature in the yellow bar on the left hand side. Copy the phrase exactly as it appears and it should be in your signature -- there is a preview signature that you can check to see if it worked. Hope that helps!

Happy New Year!

I'vce really gone back and forth on my goal for this challenge and what I want. I wanted to strike the balance between aiming high and being realistic. So I think my goal for this challenge is to reach my WW 10% which is about 10 lbs from where I am now.

My goal for the group would be to retain 80% of our members through the challenge!

Sounds like a realistic goal for the challenge, Jessi. It would be wonderful if we retained such a high percentage of folks this time around!

Mullysisters--

DisFam95 I do like ranch dressing!

I forgot to mention earlier, I am a relatively new vegetarian (since July). You would think when you go vegetarian you would lose weight, but when you have cheese with everything, it starts to become a problem! I ordered a new veggie cookbook today, so I'm really looking forward to some new recipes and food choices.

DH and I went to the Y today and I did 40 minutes on the treadmill. I am really sore still from the eliptical yesterday, so I did not push it too hard. I forgot how much I enjoy working out. We have gone to the Y three days in a row!

Hope everyone has a great day!
Rose

Wow! Wasn't it nice that your Y was open today?

 

[Tasha+Scott]

I sent in my starting weight this morning and am hoping to NEVER see that # again!

As for today's QOTD: My goals for this challenge are to exercise, to make better decisions regarding food, to try to do the COW every week, and to hopefully leave the challenge 50 lbs lighter than I am going in!

I am up for a group challenge as well. I am okay with whatever goal the majority wants but I think it sounds fun!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Here is our QOTD (Question of the Day): Do you have a goal for this challenge?
10% weight loss and to be comfortable in a pair of jeans.

And a bonus QOTD do you want to have a group goal for this challenge?

I like the 80% group retention. Makes me accountable for my part of that 80%.

 

[cclovesdis]

Happy New Year to all our BL 9 participants!

I hope that your year is joyous, prosperous and finds you meeting all your goals!

Today is the official start of our challenge. It's nice to see so many excited, motivated people joining our group. We're here for each other for motivation and support but ultimately it is up to each one of us to make sure that we meet our goals. We can do this!

Here is our QOTD (Question of the Day): Do you have a goal for this challenge?

And a bonus QOTD do you want to have a group goal for this challenge?

If we do a group goal again, I suggest that we start slowly -- 300, 400 or 500pounds and then see how it goes. We can always set it higher.

Let us know what you think.

Please be sure and PM your starting weight to LuvBaloo today and take a look at the COW that started today. There is a link to the COW in post #4 so it is easy to find and report.

Thanks for joining our challenge and good luck to all!

First off, Happy New Year to you and everyone! To answer the 2nd QOTD, I think 500 pounds is fair. I'm new to the BL Challenge, though. For the 1st QOTD, I'm not really sure. My ultimate goal is to reach my goal weight, which is 117 pounds. However, that means I have to lose at least 25 pounds (depending on how I weigh in tomorrow morning). I binge eat at times, which doesn't help my weight loss goals, and my ultimate goal already equals more than 1.5 pounds per week. I know that may sound like a lot, but I really think that that's what I want my goal to be. So, I'm hoping to get down to 117 pounds by the end of BL 9. I'll post tomorrow how many pounds that means I have to lose. I have a feeling I've gained quite a bit since my last weigh in, so I'm likely looking at 25-30 pounds to lose. I will do it! (I love the part about can't/won't btw.) Again, Happy New Year! Here's to a great year and BL 9!

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Here is our QOTD (Question of the Day): Do you have a goal for this challenge?

And a bonus QOTD do you want to have a group goal for this challenge?

This is my first challenge so my first goal is to just stick with it. My second is to lose 20 pounds. It took me just 6 months to gain 20 pounds, and I think it's not unrealistic to try to lose 20 in 15 weeks. That is just over a pound a week.

I can lose some just by cutting out the snacking and the soda. I'm a coke addict (as in COCA COLA, not that that other stuff!) and I'm trying to cut it out completely. I figure I can save money and lose weight at the same time! Synergy at it's best!

Goal for the group? Since I'm new, I don't really know. I like the suggestion to retain people, as well as the suggestion to aim for 500 pounds again.

 

[kimara]

i am SO glad i found this group!!!!
i love the motivation and the wonderful suggestions.
thanks to those people that mentioned sparkpeople.com--i love it and i think it will help me meet my goals.

QOTD: my goal is to lose 20 for this challenge, which i will be able to do if i don't give up.

group goal: ?? i'm new too, so i will support whatever goal is chosen)

 

[Sabrina_Mouse]

Wow, so many posts already. I think I've definately joined the right group!

Here is our QOTD (Question of the Day): Do you have a goal for this challenge?

My goal for this challenge is to lose 25 lbs and just get back into exercising again.

And a bonus QOTD do you want to have a group goal for this challenge?

I think having a group goal of losing 500 lbs is a good one. I know I would definately want to contribute to that.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Sabrina

 

[my3princes]

My goals for the challenge

1) reach 130 lbs (lose 12 lbs)
2) add exercise to my life
3) fit into a bikini for our Caribbean Cruise

Group Goal:

500 lbs sounds like a reasonable goal. My husband should be good for 30 of them

 

[sahbushka]

Totally off plan day yesterday ugg. I think I gained 7 pounds overnight! Back on track today. My goal is to lose 10% of my current body weight by the time the challenge ends.

Sarah

 

[donac]

QOTD I don't know what kind of goal to set yet. I think it should be 25 pounds. I have not lost that much in a long time but I think I am in a better place that I was the last couple of challenges.

As for the group goal. I like the 80% retention but I am a little pessimistic about that. I like the 400 pound goal. If we retain a lot of people then we can increase it.

 

[Colleen27]

Wow, HUGE group for BL9! I'm joining in, coming from a less than stellar finish to BL8. The holidays totally derailed me, but I'm not going to complain; I'm starting the new year 14lbs lighter than when I started the BL8 challenge, despite being off program pretty much since Thanksgiving. That's a good start, even if I did fall 11lbs short of my goal for the challenge, and I'm hoping for even better things in the New Year!

 

[mikamah]

Good afternoon, and Happy, healthy new year to everyone. It's great to see such a big group with so much motivation. I'm Kathy, 45, a single mom to an eight year old DS, a nurse in endoscopy, and I found wish about 3 years ago after our first disney trip which started my disney obsession. I've done about 4 bl challenges. My weight has been up and down, my high of 229 about 5 years ago, about 185 two years ago, and back up to 212 right now. I started BL8 at 212.8, so I'm happy to have maintained over the past 4 months. I've found over the past few years, I need to exercise, in order to lose weight, and keep it off. I'm doing ww again, and really like the support and motivation I get from the meetings. I've had an emotional 7 months, and though i struggle with emotional eating, I've had some better times when I've realized that overeating is not going to take the hurt and loss away, though I struggle with it. The support I got from the past 2 challenges, for my weight loss, and emotionally has been so helpful for me.

Hi! My name is Theresa, I'm 46, and I want to start by saying I'm pretty intimidated and overwhelmed by getting this started. I will try to figure out all this - 5 pages of posts to catch up on! Anyway, I married the man of my "NIGHTMARES" 10 years ago. Up until that time I had struggled with 10-20 pounds pretty often. I gained 80 pounds while married to him, was left to raise a newborn baby girl on my own as well as another child who had only a part-time dad. The part-time dad passed away a couple of months ago and the devil dad has never been heard from. I am tired of sitting around feeling sorry for my "pooh sized" self and ready to get my life back on track! I think having to confess my weight each week and having a group of determined women hold me accountable may be just what I need!

♥ Theresa

That is so much for you to have been through, and I like to think that our challenges help us to become stronger to face the future. Looking forward to losing some of our emotional weight with you.

I found you.

I am doing this in memory of my dh of 30 years who passed away in Aug 09. One of the things that he wanted me to do was to take better care of myself. Since all the emotions of the holidays will be over when this starts I am hoping to really do some good things.

Of course it doesn't help that I am watching a show about a six layer coconut cake, yum and I don't really eat sweets. I could work on this.

So good luck everyone.

great to see you here Shirley. I'm sure the holiday's were tough for you, but I hope some good memories of your husband brought you some smiles.

My name is Lynne (and I am an aunt). I'm 48 years old. Single, never married. Never dated much, either. Realized the other day that the last date I had was 11 years ago. Not much before that, either.

I am a stay-at-home daughter to an 80 yo dad. Mother passed away this spring after several years of early Alzheimer's; her death was actually a surprise. Never thought she would go first. For her last six months, we got pretty house-bound and sedentary. Amazing how 20 pounds just crept on. And dad has a clear mind but an arthritic body with an S-shaped spine, so movement is difficult and painful. So, here we go again with sedentary. The difference is that I can leave him to go to the gym. But I don't. And the Y is 5 minutes down the hill. Need that nudge - mother and I used to go together; maybe that's part of the problem.

So sorry about your mom. It is such a special bond we have with our moms. I lost my mom in june, and the support I received here from my friends in the Bl challenges has been amazing. We are here for each other with our weight struggles, and all the things in our daily lives that influence that too. It's looking like a great group of people here.

Another newbie, I'm Mary (another original screen name ) and am 39. Hitting the big 40 in June. I am a SAHM to 2 wonderful little girls 5.5 and 3. I volunter in both their classes and drive them around to all their "stuff"
I just want to fit back into my clothes. We have lots of trips planned for this summer and I want to feel good. I have done WW and lked it but just got tired of counting points. I want to loose 10-15lb.
So many inspirational people on this thread. I really liked the changing the "can't to won't" I also lost my mom 6 months ago, my dad died when I was 5. Going to sign my hubby up too though he won't post. Looking forward to getting to know and chat with you all.

So sorry about your mom too. It's so hard at times, but it is a new year, and we'll be getting healthier this year.

Hi all, I am Sarah married mother of 2. I work full time plus and this will be my3rd BL Challenge. I started out with 134 pounds to lose and I am over half way there! Today has been a not on plan day to say the least and ya know what....it is New Years and I am deciding to not worry about weight today and start fresh tomorrow. I haven't had even one day since I started back in May that I have said that...I have stuck with it through thanksgiving and christmas, birthdays and anniversaries but today...I am just not going to worry.

Have a safe new years all and I will see you on the other side!

Sarah

You are such an inspiration!!

Sadly, on Christmas Eve, I lost my 18yr old cat "Magnus".
He has been my confident for a lot of my adult life, thru some very hard times, the understanding that I wouldn't have the fairy tale husband and little ones, loss of my Nana and many other difficult times. I haven't really had any support, Magnus being "just a cat" that's him below with my Dsis.
Sis and I love Disney but cannot get there as often as we would like. Last trip was a surprise 50th birthday to CSR from my Dsis. What a great time we had.

I'm so sorry about your kitty. Our pets are such a comfort and big part of our families.

Happy New Year to all our BL 9 participants!

Here is our QOTD (Question of the Day): Do you have a goal for this challenge?

And a bonus QOTD do you want to have a group goal for this challenge?
]

My goal for this challenge is to lose 13 pounds, which brings me to 199 again, and to stay there this year!
I'd like to have a group goal. I'm thinking we were so close to the 500, and with january 1st being such a big time, that 500 might not be unreaasonable for the group goal. ( plus, I'm planning to at least lose some weight toward the goal this time.)

Lisa- thanks so much for organizing this challenge. Glad you had a wonderful trip over the holidays. 20 pounds last year is fabulous.

Dona- glad your son got his visa.

Love hearing some of you talk about scrapping, and thinking this challenge might get me back on the scrapbooking wagon too.

Have a great day everyone, and here's to a wonderful, losing year.

 

[50sjayne]

Hi- My name is Kelly and I was on BL8 (first time on these boards) I lost a little and have only gained back a little so I'm ready to go.
I'm 52 this year, single and (sadly) no children. Last year my older sis and I realized our dream of living in the country and bought a most beautiful farm property. We still commute to the city -I'm an Animal Sevices Officer at a great, caring shelter but I spend 8 hours a day in the truck doing investigations so not much exercise there!
I have been overweight since I was 13. My main motivation is to help my high blood pressure, ease the strain on my back and knees. Nice fitting clothes would be great too!
Sadly, on Christmas Eve, I lost my 18yr old cat "Magnus".
He has been my confident for a lot of my adult life, thru some very hard times, the understanding that I wouldn't have the fairy tale husband and little ones, loss of my Nana and many other difficult times. I haven't really had any support, Magnus being "just a cat" that's him below with my Dsis.
Sis and I love Disney but cannot get there as often as we would like. Last trip was a surprise 50th birthday to CSR from my Dsis. What a great time we had.
I'm hoping to exercise more, eat better and lose about 12-15lbs.
Thanks to everyone who designed this challenge and those who run it!

I'm sorry about your beautiful boy. People don't understand very close relationships with animals sometimes, especially cats. The picture I have of a cat in my sig was Bobby, he died last year. He was an old guy too. I'm sure you've seen this around but here you go anyway...:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

 

[jennz]

Here is our QOTD (Question of the Day): Do you have a goal for this challenge?

And a bonus QOTD do you want to have a group goal for this challenge?

My goal is to lose 2 pounds/week, for a total of 30 pounds for this challenge. Just weighed myself this morning Why oh why doesn't it come off as easy as it comes on?!