First up,
thanks Beth, for the delicious sounding alfredo recipe! We both love alfredo sauce, and you had me sold on the garlic. I have to admit, I don't think about adding meat to dishes we can both enjoy.

I guess it's alien to me. I'm definitely making this one. To answer your question, I make stuff Lean Meaner style for me, but DOOD loves (and can eat) the full-on meals. I've been using ready-made chicken for the reasons you mention, but I'm trying to shift to organic chicken. The
Master Your Metabolism book has strengthened that resolve, so I need to get over the cooking of the chicken issues.

I'm looking forward to trying all your tasty suggestions (okay, DOOD is looking forward to it, but I most certainly appreciate it).
Jeanne: Thanks for posting here on (and on 'Ohana) with a hello and update on the wedding planning for your DD's wedding to the Greek. It sounds like it's going to be a par-tee!

But between that, work, and training for the NYC marathon I can imagine you've been too busy to think about anything else, let alone DO anything else. We all know it's a delicate balance between fueling for training and losing weight--was just reading some forums on it at the
Runner's World site--but keep up the good fight. Every pound lost is a little bit quicker on the road, or so they say! (Just don't cut down so much your energy level suffers.

)
Amy: I do the same thing with my training plans. A plan really keeps me sane--or sane as I can be, anyway. I start early because I know that LTO/WTO will affect my LR schedule eventually. But then I'm not as panicky when that happens. Congratulations on going back to work--wearing running shoes to work is a substantial job perk, to my mind (or is that feet?)--and getting Miss D into a fabulous pre-school. And I'm jealous of your trip to WDW and SSR, but you deserve it!

And a big

to the SIL and your decision to work. You're doing what you need to do for yourself and your family!
Cindy: Oh, Cindy!

We all get the summer doldrums (or fall, etc.). I tend to do the same thing, too. Skip a workout, or a social appointment, or something else that I enjoy but which makes me the slightest bit anxious. And it's not worth it, so then I beat myself up. I think it's pretty common, too, especially this time of year. DOOD is going through it, and has skipped/shorted a couple of runs too. No advice, although I think your racing plans--with the marathon and then Goofy with a focus on Boston--will help a great deal. There is a sense of accomplishment in doing those training runs on a regular basis, isn't there?, and I find that it helps pull me back into the light. And people asking you about your upcoming events--that's got to feel validating!
Oh, and maybe this will make you smile a bit, too. I mentioned on another thread how you were swimming because of the fabulous shoulders and arms it gave you.

(Seriously, it was Maura's thread about XT.) Keep that in mind--that you're an example to others. Plus, you're wearing a smaller-size, (slightly) more revealing dress that shows off what your DH's been bragging about (waggling my eyebrows here). You've earned every one of those compliments and successes, baby! I know, I've seen the picture and you look hot, hot, hot!
Beth: Mmm, peanut butter and apples. I love that combination, and it's a good way to get in your protein with a little sweet-tooth reward. Yummy idea. I especially like the ideas about using wraps for multiple purposes, as I tend to think of them just for sandwiches. You chose really well for your dining-out option by focusing on the steak and veggies. I'm sure your weigh-in will go well!
And I bow to you and Cindy

for getting up early for your workouts. You're absolutely right; it's a choice we have to make, and it's NOT easy. You're trading off sleep time in order to have your WOs. And it IS worth it, but definitely not effortless.
What's this about the dizziness, btw? I think I remember you having a spell not so very long ago--a year? in addition to the original problem. How long does this last?

It sounds really rough and dangerous. I assume you had a whole battery of tests the last time: CAT, MRI, etc., and to have more tests will be a last resort? Anyway, sending PD your way in hopes that the dizziness is done by the time I post.
Oh, no one thinks you're huge at all, Beth. We're all super-impressed with how you've been hitting all your marks. And the weight goals you have--that we all have--are tied in to where we're happy and comfortable. My are always being tweaked for that life/lifestyle I mentioned to Shawna (below). I think of you exactly as you are: a leader, a motivator, and an athlete. Oh, and have I mentioned friend?
Maria: "Beard the dragon in her den?"

I love it, but have never heard the phrase. Where does it come from? I still use the "fluff in the nutter sandwich" all the time. I do hope your meeting went well. You've had a very well-rounded streak of exercise days. Congratulations! And although you're right--no winners in the Mommy Wars--I think all you Mommies here are winners!
Shawna: Gloaming. Love it--yep, a word nerd here! I also love planning & taking trips to keep me motivated (even though I'll complain about the schedule disruptions

)! I always want to have the energy to move, plus new sights, and sometime the new clothes....

Having a trip to D.C.--love the Smithsonian--and to see friends in MD sounds like just the thing! (Plus it's cooler.) Getting the kids ready for both D.C. and Disney is smart strategizing, too. I want a stroller in those places...for me.
As for the weight--man, I'm no good with those things. I tend to go with body fat % on my scale, inches, overall energy level, and general appearance. Maybe that's because I'm taller than you and have no real sense of how that translates? I know I have friends my height who have 40-50 pound range in weight and all look terrific?

Different body types. Me, I'm a definite pear-shape (a fruit I'm not even that fond of.

) and carry my weight in my thighs, so I look much smaller on top than on the bottom and bigger than some friends who are the same weight but shaped differently.
Anyway, I think 125 sounds good--especially if you can maintain it with relative ease and feel good about how you look. I've gotten way skinny before in the previous attempts, but I could only maintain if I stopped having a life, plus I was hungry and tired a lot. Not worth it, not at all. I want to have a life with my lifestyle, kwim?
P.S. Love the lunch with strawberries, blueberries, apples and walnuts. It's not seemed like summer here either, but at least there's fresh fruits! Yummy.
Vicky: I was going to answer your question about the duck tours when I uploaded pictures, but at the rate I'm progressing that might be never....Anyway, Duck tours are motor vehicles that operate on both land and water (not fast on either), so you can see the city from the streets and the rivers. Very good for places like Pittsburgh and for people with limited mobility!
What, you're not an angry boxer? Giggling just doesn't have the same Rocky-esque effect. Although I do think it would probably disarm your opponent long enough to get a good punch in.

Good to hear you're getting your 769s for a good discount--it's so crazy how much running shoes can cost! I need to look at the Running Warehouse site more often myself.
I'm with Beth--no worries on the M&Ms and the skipping a workout. The first was a bit of a treat--with some nuts, at least--and far less than a full bag. And you were paying attention to your knee's needs. A day of rest was probably better for it, as you determined. Instead, concentrate on the wonderful news of deadweights at 115 pounds. Fantastic!!!
Sarah: Good news, hopefully, on Bailey's update, even without the confirmation from the doctor. I think an energy increase is a good sign and maybe it'll show up in two weeks. Yeah, I guess I tend to go with your observations and Bailey's overall behavior.
I'm sorry to hear about the budget cuts, but it sounds like you're mentally prepared for whatever happens. I'll cross my fingers and send PD that you don't get laid off. I know you're strong enough to handle whatever comes.
I love it when people notice my/our weight loss, comment on how good I/we look, how I/we take care of ourselves. I thrive on it, both when it happens to me or whenever I hear of Lean Meaners getting noticed for their good work. Or maybe I'm just comfortable swimming at the shallow end of the workout pool.

I mean, I like it when people compliment my hair--and I do nothing to earn that (it's all the stylist's work). At least I've (intentionally) sweat and done things for the weight loss. Revel in the compliments that you get and take full credit for them. You've been doing great!
As for me: Short workout for me today--a little elliptical and circuit training. I'm trying to sync up my WOs with DOOD, and this is the awkward transition week because it's also my "easy" week for October's half-marathon.
My Garmin arrived, but we're not opening it until Friday, our alternate anniversary. (It's our dating anniversary and not our "secret" wedding anniversary, so it's a good substitute. My parents were here for the anniversary, and we weren't celebrating with them.) Now if DOOD's present would arrive on time...
And tonight it's salads--because of your suggestions today and the hot, humid weather. I think DOOD will have meat on his, chickpeas on mine. I love those things. And sometimes hard-boiled eggs for protein. Always on the lookout for adding protein sources to my meals!
Thanks for the recipes--those posted earlier and those to come!