OK this is the biggest multi-quote I've ever tried... I hope it turns out...
I've been saying for years that i want to loose weight but instead it just kept coming on. I'm not overweight, meaning I don't LOOK like i should be trying to lose weight, but over the years my clothes have stopped fitting and my stomach has been getting too big for my liking. When i started the summer challenge i weighed 165 and i was in a really bad place body image wise. I hated myself. I would cry in the shower because i couldn't stand the sight of myself naked. I've learned through the wonderful people on here that weight loss is a jounrney and its not easy but its so worth it. Since june i've made the decision to live healthy, not just to loose weight but to live a happy healthy life. I'm glad im starting young. If we ever get married (when haha) i dont want to rush to lose weight, or if we have kids i want to be living a healthy lifestyle already. There are days when i want to give up, and days i fall off the wagon but i've come so far, i cant stop now...
Most of all, i want to work on how i view myself, im getting better but there are times when i still hate myself. Which is sad for me because i've always really loved myself. I want to view myself as gorgeous and sexy again, and be able to not only love my personality but love my body as well.
Trina-- I had tears in my eyes when I was reading this, it sounds so familiar to me. Although you have so many health problems I've never had to deal with, of course, but yeah, I completely relate. I have to say, though I'm really glad that you felt so blissed out after yoga. That was my experience the first time I went a few years ago. I haven't gone in a couple years because I don't belong to a gym anymore (and I'm lazy?

) but getting into a more consistent yoga practice made me feel so much happier about myself, and I think it could do the same for you! Just keep going! Coming back after a long break feels like you're working with a whole new body--very frustrating.
going to a friend's wedding is a huge motivator. i was in a wedding a couple years ago for my friend and i was determined to not be the fat bridesmaid. took me a year but i lost 40 lbs! i just refused to walk into david's bridal and feel like a fatty!
Thanks--that's exactly how I feel. When I told one of my friends I was losing weight for her wedding, she said, "but I don't care how you look!" Sweet of her, but I had to tell her "Well, I DO!!!"

Also, great to see you're in the Bronx! I live in Queens, but worked up there last year and have some Bronx-pride. The Bronx Zoo is one of my favorite places in the world, I think.
Sorry forgot to do my intro yesterday.

I am Lisa. I am 51 and celebrating my 18th wedding anniversary this week-end.
I hope you have a great anniversary, Lisa!
One of my goals this challenge (deja vu) is to be exercising consistently! (without excuses and grumbling)
Nice to meet you all, and good luck!!
This made me laugh-- I'm sure my DBF would be thrilled if I made "less grumbling, complaining, and whining" (about exercising, dieting, and chores) one of my goals. Maybe I should go add that to my goals right now, actually....
Going to try to plan my meals every Sunday for the following week. I usually stick to it!
I hate doing this-- it is so time consuming!! I can only imagine how much harder it is planning for a whole family! But yeah, every time I do it, my week just "happens" to be on-plan...

Imagine that...
Were you a runner before? Cause that's a brutal amount of training in 10 weeks! I don't think I would like running anymore either. Hopefully you will find something you like to do this fall.
Hi Rose-- your pics and story are very inspiring! Congrats!!! Umm... I had a base-- I was a XC runner for a couple years of high school. But the furthest I'd ever run was about 5 miles. I was never terribly fast, or at all consistent after XC ended. When I started training I hadn't run in a year. I was trying to stick to my schedule of running the WDW marathon in 5 months... My best friend is a marathon runner and she kept convincing me I could do it, and I was really proud of my speedy progress! But when she convinced me to run my 2nd half the weekend after the 1st half, I did it and really regretted it. I was able to run straight through the 1st one, but had to walk a lot in my 2nd (although I was faster overall,
of course). I wanted to turn around after 2 miles, but couldn't figure out how to do it! Hahahha. I don't think this is the end of running for me, but I need to get a lot less obsessive and goal-driven before I'll be able to take on another challenge like that.
I hate cooked vegetables. I have always HATED cooked vegetables. And there are quite a few that I don't enjoy raw either (broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, onions to start with). I do enjoy salad fixings and fresh fruit. Anybody have any tricks for getting veggie servings in without the cooked ones?
I agree with others on roasting, but I also am wondering if you enjoy or have tried marinated vegetables? If you allow broccoli to soak in a marinade with vinegar, the acid "cooks" it just a little bit so that it gets more tender, but stays very crisp and decidedly uncooked. You can marinate mushrooms this way, as well, with rosemary and thyme, and it's really quite yummy and low-cal (as long as you measure the oil). It's very yummy added to salads or with toast. If you want some recipes, just ask me here, on my WISH Journal, or PM me.
I teach History and am in charge of special education at my small (60-80 kids from grades 5-12) non-profit school for disruptive youth (court ordered children who live in a group home and children who are removed from their public home schools due to behavior problems). So needless to say, my days can be stressful, but I enjoy my job very much! My afternoons are hectic with both my boys being in school now, after school activites, plus a DH who just started back to school FT during the week and working FT (three 12 hour shifts) on the weekends (midnights). Yikes!! What are we thinking?

...
5. Limit the Dunkin Donuts spiced pumpkin coffee (my favorite season) to 1 a week

(this will be a huge challenge for me)
!!! I worked for a summer at a school like that. It got me into nonprofits (I work for an org. that does alternative to incarceration programs now), but I realized I could NEVER do direct service work like that again. It is SO tiring. I am in awe of you and your family!!!!
Also, what is it with the fall and pumpkin things?? I haven't had a food craving in like, two months, and then the pumpkin cream cheese muffin at Starbucks had me thinking about it for hours!!
My plan for today is to spend some time catching up on things. I need to wash my sheets, my blanket, and my comforter, so a trip to the laundromat is in order. I'm also planning to spend some time grocery shopping (again

) and then hopefully get to the gym. I also have to have blood work and go to CVS.
I was happy to read that the new Healthy Habits format is appreciated!

Belle is definitely one of, if not, my favorites. I did all 4 yesterday and started working on the 2 mini-challenges. I really want to make some wheat/rice-free bread, in general, and for the meal, hence, the trip to the grocery store. I drank all my water and then some. But, I do feel good!
Have a great day everyone! Welcome!
Hi CC! I do love Healthy Habits. I'm already planning my meal-- it's going to be French themed in honor of Beauty and the Beast! Also, I have to say I was a little bummed to read about your trip to the laundromat. When I read the Clean up the Clutter challenge about washing your sheets every week on the same day, I thought, "oh, well, that must just be for people with their own washers/driers.... surely I can't go to the laundromat EVERY WEEK. No excuses!!!! Hahhahahah 
But then I also had a couple chocolate glazed donut holes, two "pumpkin" peppermint patties, a "pumpkin" reese's cup, and a slice of chocolate cake with cookies on it. But, it's now 3 hours later and despite walking up and downhill for two hours, I am not yet hungry. But whatever I do eat will probably be fruits and veggies, because until I go grocery shopping later, that's literally all I have in the fridge.
Again, what is it with the pumpkin flavored foods??? Maybe I really love fall or something, but they seem so much more enticing than other, normal diet-busting foods...