Biggest Loser--SUMMER 2011 Challenge for Losers & Maintainers!

[my3princes]

Hello All. What a day. I barely slept last night, just so off schedule, that of course made my 10 hour work day seem even longer. I arrived at work to a new office mate. Not sure what happened last week, but my team lead was moved out of her office and into mine. My old office mate (who is on maternity leave) was moved in with another coworker who had had her own office All I know is that I wasn't at fault. I can share an office with anyone (even if she only listens to Christian radio which is not all that upbeat, lots of talk).

On a very positive note...I was so good with NOT eating today. No snacks at all, just 3 meals To top it off I went for a walk/run tonight. I did a mile in a half in less than 30 minutes. I probably ran 1/3 of a mile and walked the rest. I know that doesn't sound like much, but I got my butt outside and did it. I feel powerful tonight.

 

[bellebookworm9]

Hi, everyone! I haven't had a chance to catch up yet because work is unbelievably busy, but I wanted to thank everyone for their good wishes for the 1/2 marathon. It was so wonderful to see Maria (worfiedoodles) there. If you've never met her or seen a picture, imagine the prettiest smile and most positive spirit, and you'll know why I felt so fortunate to see her in the starting corral yesterday morning in the torrential rain.

I posted a quick race report/review on the race thread, but it is HERE at post 99, if you want to read it.

I'll be back soon to catch up.

Glad to hear your race went well, if slowly. And that's great that you had such a great friend to stay with you! How ridiculous about the bus though-like someone else said, I think it only counts if you do the whole thing yourself!

Whoa. I fell way off the wagon. Like I can't even see the wagon anymore. I haven't excersized in two weeks.

And lastly, to those who said they are too smart for a boyfriend, poppycock. My little cousin is 13 and "into" boys now, and last time I saw her I gave her some advice that I wish someone had given me and i hope she takes to heart. Boys like smart girls. My boyfriend and I have been together 3 years and he always tells me his favorite thing about me is my intelligence. To which i always respond "I do have a very high IQ" I know I'm smart and I love that about myself, and I would never date someone who was not smart. I consider it one of my qualities!

Hopefully I will catch up soon. My paper is "finished"...well we'll see what the teacher thinks! Wish me luck!

I was just thinking that you hadn't posted in a while, so I'm glad to hear you're still here! Good luck with your paper!

Wow, that must take some getting used to. I guess that's why I work with numbers. Have you gotten used to using the vesting machine?

The vesting machine is actually not too bad. It's just a black vest that goes around the kid, then it has two vacuum type hoses that attach to the vest. You turn the settings on, push the power button, and it's all set! It's actually really quite cool.

 

[liesel]

Good evening everyone!

To help us ease into the week, I'll post another summer QOTD.

QOTD Tuesday August 9
Do you have a favorite beach? Describe your perfect day there.

OK, computer is finally updated and I am off to bed. Good night!

 

[buzz5985]

Evening all,

I just finished Hunger Games and was mixed on the ending. Then I looked up on Wikipedia about the other books in the trilogy and decided that I want to read them as well. I won't give anything away.

TTFN

I am going to listen to this book on our drive down to WDW. It is on DS summer reading list. He read his allotted number so we are not cheating LOL.

We went to HH last year and liked it. DS is only 2 so we'll probably wait and go back when he's older and can go fishing with DH. How do you like VB? Is it similar to HH? We've never been, but I'd like to try it.

It is our first trip to Vero Beach, I will let you know.

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. I had a very nice weekend, I went to a beautiful wedding Saturday. And on my birthday I woke up to find a new chamilia bracelet - with the dangling Mickey charm, Cindy's coach, and a bead that says "Dreams Really do come true". I was very surprised.

Since we are leaving on vacation - I didn't want to go out to eat. So we drove up to Butcher Boy in North Andover. Anyone in MA - it is well worth the drive to this place. We spent $35 for 3 steaks, 1 filet mignon, and 2 NY sirloin ($11.59/pound for the steaks ) The rest of the meal was rounded out by baked potatos and roasted zucchini, summer squash, red pepper, onion and mushrooms. It was a wonderful meal prepared by DH.

Here is a picture of the bracelet

This is a picture of our girl Bonnie - she passed away 3 years ago. She is 16 in the picture and lived to be 2 weeks shy of her 18th birthday. With DS of course. LOL

This is a picture of Patches we have had him for about 1 year. It took us close to 2 years to feel we were ready to commit to another pet. I found him on Petfinder. He came from Arkansas, he weighed 2 pounds when I got him and he nows tops out at about 11 pounds - of trouble. I have to watch this dog more than I every had to watch Connor as a toddler!!!! Your unloading the dryer - he sneaks up behind you and steals a piece of clothing usually socks - and he is off on a run. LOL

What was another question?? Oh water parks - I have been to Typhoon Lagoon, and plan to visit Blizzard Beach. I loved the wave pool at Typhoon Lagoon, after I figured out you can't just jump over them. LOL I tried that and ended up head over heels, twirling in the water until I was beached. LOL Not a pretty site. Lucky I didn't take out multiple children, guess they have learned to stay out of the way!!!!

That could go with the other question what has your weight kept you from?? It probably should have kept me from the Water Park!!!! Oh, and I just remembered - I went into that shark tank you swim accross?? First - it was freezing - so I went very fast accross the tank. But the only trouble is I couldn't get my leg up to the first step out and haul myself out. I was going into panic mode when I thought of poor DH trying to shove me out and I found the strength to lift myself out. LOL I won't be going back to that tank again.

Janis

 

[my3princes]

Good evening everyone!

To help us ease into the week, I'll post another summer QOTD.

QOTD Tuesday August 9
Do you have a favorite beach? Describe your perfect day there.

OK, computer is finally updated and I am off to bed. Good night!

I guess my favorite beach would be in Cozumel Mexico. The water was a beautiful turquoise and so warm. There were plenty of chairs for lounging around as well as inflatable iceburgs, trampolines and other things to play on. They had a bar/restaruant on the beach for refreshments. The kids enjoyed climbing a palm tree. I tried paddle boarding too. Lots to do, warm water and great fun. Wish I was there now

We are definitely looking forward to the Hawaiian beaches next summer too

 

[JacksLilWench]

QOTD Tuesday August 9
Do you have a favorite beach? Describe your perfect day there.

All the warm ones, hahaha! I don't care where the beach is, as long as it's warm. I don't care for Myrtle- too many drunk people and high school kids acting ridiculous. I wish I had a travel partner to go to beaches with, but alas, I don't! It looks like I'll have to do some more research and let you know!

 

[tigger813]

QOTD: I'm not really a beach person! I'm hoping my favorite beach will be at Castaway Cay next June!

Went out for my morning walk with my neighbor. We did our route backwards today which allowed me to stop at the wellness center to get some water with aloe! I can't wait for my shipment to come in. Not walking again until Thursday as it's supposed to be raining tomorrow!

Girls and I have a few errands to run this morning and then we'll probably work on the walls again. Ash also wants to get sewing our lounge pants.

Slept quite heavily last night right until the alarm went off. I guess I was wiped out.

Guess I will go shower so the girls and I can head out at 8:30 to run our errands.

TTFN

 

[mikamah]

Good morning! Only had time to skim the posts this morning, but hope to read thoroughly later tonight.

I have been to both TL and BB, and liked them both. DS loves the wave pool at TL, and we laugh every time thinking back to our first trip. We were in the wave pool, he was 5, and he got knocked over by a wave, so we sat down in the very shallow water at the edge of the pool, ds in my lap, and when the waves started again, it was the huge wave, and I figured it would just brush across us, well it picked us up and threw us back and under water, and luckily ds was on my lap, and was fine, and I just skinned my elbow, but my brother and sil said it just looked hilarious. I did have to go to the nurse for a bandaid, and thought that would be a great job for me one day.
I like the waterslides with tubes only, and will watch ds do the other ones.

Sue- I hope your sister is doing ok.

Congrats Cam and Maria on the half marathon in the pouring rain sunday!! You both ROCK!!

Janis-Happy belated birthday! The bracelet is beautiful.

Have a great day!!

 

[lisah0711]

Good morning all!

Deb, nice job on the OP day!

QOTD Tuesday August 9
Do you have a favorite beach? Describe your perfect day there.

I love any Pacific beach -- not that I have anything against the Atlantic, just never been there! I'm hoping to see the beaches at Aulani and Castaway Key some day!

Janis, glad that you had a great and have a wonderful time on your vacation. Can't wait to hear all about VB and HHI. Those are another couple of places on the vacation to do list.

Kathy, when you are a nurse at WDW I'm going to come visit you every year!

Nancy, that stir fry I did last night was very tasty, if I do say so myself. I use the extra-firm tofu. I cut the block in half long ways and drain them blocks on paper towels between a couple of plates for an hour. I added carrots, a red bell pepper, a bunch on green onions, and some premade yakisoba noodles (no flavoring). Then I used a bottled sauce called Wok With Me Szechwan Sauce that was in the refrigerator of the produce section. The sauce was only 10 cal a tablespoon and I used 1/2 a bottle. It came out to a bit less than 500 calories a serving.

'Course then I had three mai tais which put my calorie count off a bit for the day but I didn't care!

Have a great and OP day all!

 

[bellebookworm9]

QOTD Tuesday August 9
Do you have a favorite beach? Describe your perfect day there.

Hmmm....I really hate all our local beaches. Lake Erie is just gross. So, I really liked the beach at Blizzard Beach, and I'm sure I'll like the one at Beach Club in just under two months!

Today was definitely not on plan. We went to Red Lobster for Mom's birthday, and then stopped at Coldstone (something new we've been wanting to try). But I'm back on plan today! Going to see the doctor this afternoon about my throat and ear. I know they can't do much since they already gave me an antibiotic, but I just want to know what the problem is-especially since I had finished a round of antibiotics barely a week before this started!

 

[keenercam]

Good morning, everyone. I am in such a funk this morning. I was here until 8:45 last night and back here at 8:20 this morning and I am fried. I can't believe it has already been a month since our vacation-- I desperately need another one.

I have been so off plan the past few days and I know I'll feel much better getting things under control today. Howard and I bought some whey protein powder at the race expo on Saturday and I am planning to start using that for breakfast, especially on the mornings I go to the gym.

Back to the piles on my desk.

 

[DopeyDame]

Good morning all!
I LOVE all the pet pictures. What a smile.
This has been an exhausting week/start to the week, as my husband is out of town for 10 days, so I'm alone with my toddler. I've never been so happy to go to work on Monday! I truly don't know how single parents do it.

QOTD:
My favorite beach is probably Siesta Key in Florida. My grandmother used to live there, and it's beautiful and huge and WARM! Honorable mention goes to Martha's Vineyard - not any one beach in particular, just the whole island is awesome and a family tradition. (is till can't watch jaws, as it was filmed up there, so it just gives me the heebee-jeebees!)

 

[donac]

Good Tuesday morning everyone.

Last Call Don't forget to send in your weight from last Friday. I plan on doing stats tonight.

Pretty quiet here. Dh is painting the trim so I can't do much this morning. This afternoon I need to stabilize his ladder so I will be standing there for a coupleof hours.

Have a happy and healthy day.

 

[trinaweena]

i just packed my snacks for today. LOTS and LOTS of fruits and veggies. I had blueberry pancakes for breakfast. I'm very tired today and I don't want to work but it is what it is. My teacher looked at my paper and he said as is its a B-. So I wil do a litle more work on it and then im done.

Beach QOTD - I HATE the beacch. The sand is gross, I get bored and i don't like seaweed. There is no beach that ive been to here on the east coast that i enjoyed. I'm hoping i will find a beach in the bahamas that i like! I wouldn't mine the beach if i was DOING somthing but just lying around in the sun, I get bored with that after a few minutes.

I thought i would share some pictures of the pets so...sorry for anyone who doesnt like pets!

this is the puppies when we first got que. we didn't know how sick she was when we got her

someone wanted to see my basset hounds, this is my girl Daisy Dog (or Daisy Dukes) Dolly dog is in the corner

Boots in the dishwaser

my bed looks so comfortable in this picture

boots and the fish tank. I dont have those angel fish anymore, that tank is where the goldish live now

cas the first night we brought him home

And yes i dress my dogs up, these ones are disney themed!

 

[dumbo_buddy]

QOTD: ah, the beach. i love the beach. it's funny - love the beach but hate the sand and hate just sitting there. but now that i have a kid the days of just sitting and relaxing on the beach are over anyway! i have two favorite beaches (is that ok?)
the first is in maui. i mean, hello, a favorite beach has to be hawaiian, right?? this is a picture of thomas and me sitting by the water. the beach is called kamaole I. we had a really nice time there in may. it was our fourth time to hawaii but first with thomas. very fun!

my second favorite beach is the one that's around the block from me. i can walk there in about 30 seconds. it's a really nice place and definitely something you wouldn't think is in new york city, let alone the bronx! i also love it because my dad's whole family is from here. i didn't grow up in this neighborhood but was here practically every weekend to visit grandma and grandpa when i was a kid. so it's really nice to live here now. every once in a while when i'm walking around i'll catch a scent of the salt water and it reminds me of my grandparents. it is both sad and happy - i get that feeling that i'm with them again even though i can't be. does that make sense?

here's my little guy playing down at our beach. it was a little cloudy that day but you can usually see the manhattan skyline. the skyline changed drastically almost 10 years ago but it's still a sight to see!

that was a fun question

lisa "wok this way" i'm going to look for it. where did you get the premade noodles? i wonder if i'll have to go to a fancier store for those. so you just take the tofu and lay it on a paper towel to drain for a while? good to know. i wouldn't have thought of that. when i was pregnant with thomas and working i would go to those places where you tell them what you want in your salad and they'd toss it all up for you. i always got tofu. salad tastes so good when someone else makes it for you. sigh.

trina cute animals! i definitely spotted the dharma initiative symbol on your bed! nice! speaking of lost and beaches, DH and i took a private LOST tour on oahu back in 2008. we got to see a bunch of places where the show was filmed and even got to swim at the losties' beach. it was awesome!

gretchen mmmm cold stone....mmmmm. so good and yet so bad for you. sometimes it's worth it though and good job for getting back on plan!

***

getting ready to put the little guy down for a nap. i really should do some housework but i think i might read a little and then close my eyes for a bit. we just got back from the pool and i'm a little pooped from the sun and from my 5 mile walk today.

looks like it's supposed to rain. glad we got outside when we did! have a great day everyone!

 

[pjstevens]

I have been so off plan the past few days and I know I'll feel much better getting things under control today. Howard and I bought some whey protein powder at the race expo on Saturday and I am planning to start using that for breakfast, especially on the mornings I go to the gym.

Back to the piles on my desk.

You know I love my protein drink, so any questions or if you find it's not what you want, there are lots of other options.

 

[keenercam]

Thanks, Patty.

Hey, I've been meaning to ask you guys whether any of you use wonton wrappers for anything good and if you could make any suggestions. I am going to check the WW website and some other cooking websites for recipes, but would love to know if anybody has a recipe they love. I bought the wrappers when I saw them by chance at Wegmans, and now I have to figure out what I can do with them.

Howard bought a huge canister of dried mushrooms yesterday (I asked him to look at them when I read about them on the WW website), and I am already trying to think of what I can do with them. Apparently I just have to put them in water for 5 minutes to reconstitute them. I want to come up with a recipe that is "gourmet mushroom mix"-worthy.

I am loving the pet pictures and beach pictures. Definitely much more enjoyable to look at than what is going on outside my window today. We've just gotten the all-clear after about 40 minutes of the tornado sirens going off and all sorts of interesting debris whipping around in the wind outside my 14th floor office windows. EEK!

 

[JacksLilWench]

Thanks, Patty.

Hey, I've been meaning to ask you guys whether any of you use wonton wrappers for anything good and if you could make any suggestions. I am going to check the WW website and some other cooking websites for recipes, but would love to know if anybody has a recipe they love. I bought the wrappers when I saw them by chance at Wegmans, and now I have to figure out what I can do with them.

The website www.hungrygirl.com has some awesome recipes that use wonton wrappers. And some awesome recipes in general- you should check it out!

 

[tigger813]

Hi all,

Been a very sad day in our little town today. A 10 year old girl got run over in her driveway by her mother last night. She was lying in the driveway looking at the stars and her mother pulled in their curvy driveway and didn't see her. She was going to be on Ash's soccer team this fall though she had been moved to another team last night. Brian recognized the name immediately. She went to a local private school so Ash didn't know her though I recognized the name. She has an older sibling in high school. Ash was pretty upset that something like that could've happened.

We're starting to gather food and other items for the family. I'm going to make some brownies and chop suey tonight and deliver it to them tomorrow. It's just so awful.

Heading over to tennis lessons in a few minutes and to pick up a few more things at the library. While the kids have lessons I'm going to run to the grocery store to pick up a container for the chop suey so it can be frozen if necessary.

Hug your kids extra tight today!

 

[Disneywedding2010]

The last 48 hours have been a whirlwind of emotions for me. Sunday night a traumatic event left me reliving the night my husband & daughter were killed by a drunk driver.

Alan was working this weekend on getting the garage organized and figuring out what we were keeping and what we were getting rid of. He was going through boxes and such and came across one that was on the top shelf (we have shelves in our garage on one side). He went to open the box and found something that he forgot we even had (I knew nothing about it).

He came inside and I knew something was wrong when he had this serious look on his face and he kind of stammered trying to come up with the right words, "Um, honey I found something and I'm not sure what to do with it." Puzzled I asked him what he was talking about. He asked me to follow him to the garage, so I did. He pulled the plastic bag out of the box and said "I found this. I forgot it was here." I took the bag from him and upon seeing the label that said "ME's office" I instantly got lightheaded, dizzy, and thought I was going to pass out.

"OMG"...

I walked into the house and sat down in the middle of the living room floor, Alan followed me. I opened up the bag and took out the shredded up bloody clothes. Upon inspection I realized they were mine. The only reason I knew was because the label was on the jeans and I only wore one brand of jeans back then. Then I pulled out a peice of sweatshirt that had blood on it. I didn't recognize it as something of mine so I'm assuming it was Josh's.

I put everything in the bag and just sat there in shock and before I knew it the tears started to flow uncontrollably to the point to where I was sobbing. After somewhat composing myself I got up and went out to the garage with the bag in my hand. The knee jerk reaction was to throw it away, I couldn't. I couldn't get myself to do it. Alan asked me if I wanted to throw them away and all I could manage to do was shake my head no.

He pulled up a chair and I sat down and started crying harder. I started rambling about how I know my mom has Josh and Maddie's clothes from that night because she had told me over a year ago. Then I told him how my dad wouldn't ever go to the cemetary to see them because he was the one who had to identify them that night. I can imagine that haunts him and understandably so.

After sitting outside for a few minutes I went in and sat at my desk. It was around 10pm TX time and I started to panic. I needed to talk to someone, anyone. Then I realized it was to late to call any of my friends so I did the only thing I could, I called my mom.

She answered the phone and as soon as she said hello I just lost it and started sobbing all over again. Bless her heart luckily she was able to figure out what I was saying between my uncontrollable sobs. Once i had caught my breathe and was able to take a few deep breaths I could hear her crying on the other end. "I'm so sorry honey. You weren't suppose to find those. Alan was suppose to put all of that away somewhere that you wouldn't find it." I told her it wasn't Alan's fault. He had hid them a way pretty darn well (on a shelf way above my 4'11 head). I told her they would of never been uncovered had we not been in the process of getting ready to move. They could of stayed on that shelf forever and I would of never known.

After getting off the phone with her a texted awhile with a friend and then went to bed. I didn't wake up til almost 3pm yesterday and honestly just didn't care. I spent the whole day in a fog and zombie like state. I was in that I don't care about anything or anyone and for once in my life I'm going to worry about me and no one else. Every time I get in an emotional funk I always "jump out" of it so to speak in order to be there for friends and family. Well screw it for once I was only thinking about me.

I started feeling somewhat better around 11 last night. I told Alan I wanted to go to wal-mart and drown my sorrows in Blue Bell ice cream. So we went up there and I stocked up on pints of ice cream, lunchables, and Gatorade.

Just when I think I can bury the events of what happened that night they always find a way to sneak up on me and knock me on my butt.