Fenton

Harley! You're almost 70% of the way to goal!!!

Just popping my head in with a premature weigh-in result. I checked this morning, and I've now hit - 101 pounds - I GOT MY CENTURY, CHICKS!!!

And now we see exactly why Lynn is 3/4 of the way to goal!!!

Sorry: it's 45:33. That's the duration of the first mix, but if you download it from Amazon now it has a few extra songs on it to make it longer. The original has slow buildup, sustained pretty fast speed, then slows down towards the end of your work-out.

Yes. It's easier to walk without hanging on - the arm movement stabilizes you. Start slowly. 1 mph, 1.5 mph, increase it by .1 every minute, stop when you get to where you want to be. Listen to music (might I recommend LCD Soundsystem's 43:55, or something - a mix they did for Nike which starts off slowly, builds up, and keeps you moving. It's designed for runners, but I find it works well on the treadmill). Listening to music helps me move. You've certainly walked at 3.5 mph during your regular days. Just relax, breathe, walk.

Anyway, it was nice to start my day off with 2.35 miles already traveled, even before I start my usual 3 mile walking day.

What the heck??? Is EVERYBODY hungover or something? It was a great game, I thought. I watched by myself, while working, and didn't really indulge in anything much. That said, this month is going to be a tough one - it's the annual City Bakery Hot chocolate Festival, with a special flavour on offer each day. Saturday's was banana Peel Hot Chocolate, yesterday's was Beer Hot Chocolate; since I don't like banana and chocolate together much, and don't drink beer, it wasn't that hard, but SOME of their flavours are amazing. I only get the small serving - a "shot" of hot chocolate - but it's so rich I assume it's about 150 calories. And I'm actually OK with that. Today I went to the gym for the first time in forever. I met with the training manager, have been assigned a trainer, and will start soon. I did cardio, 45 minutes at 3.5 mph on a zero incline treadmill; I'll stick with that for a while before making it harder. One thing I'd say to exercising bandsters: make sure when doing cardio that you take enough time to slow down and cool down naturally. If you're running or jogging, you want to slow down gradually - I use the last seven minutes of my session to slow from 3.5 to 2.5, then there's a five minute cooldown period during which the speed drops to 1.8, then to 1.3. Although I gave up at that point - at that speed, it almost takes more effort to stand still. But really, be careful with the cooldown. Big people tend to have big hearts, and big hearts need to be looked after.

Here's a good article from the NY Times on PS after obesity surgery: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/03/fashion/03skin.html I think we should all bear in mind that a "tummy tuck" is a major procedure, no matter how cute the name.

Well, it seems like THE CLAW will go hungry this week...

I'm definitely going to have surgery - can't figure out how the hell I'm going to pay for it, but I will. So, SuperBowl... you guys behaving? I had some Trader Joe's chili for lunch (310 cals, 27 g protein), and may have a TJ's chicken enchilada for dinner, but I'm not going to be really doing the snack thing. Indeed, maybe I should go have a couple of apps at my favourite restaurant - some braised cauliflower and then a little beef carpaccio would hit the spot...

Ha! I had some Trader Joe's chili for lunch (310 cals, 27 g protein), and may have a TJ's chicken enchilada for dinner, but I'm not going to be really doing the snack thing. Oh, weight, wrong item for this - this belongs in the main thread!

Whoah! SpecialK! Less than a pound to the half way mark...

Great numbers, all. And I forgot to say earlier: OMG!!! SCRAPPY! YOU ROCK!!!!

Wow, Scrappy! I can't believe you'd sick THE CLAW on me! I can't weigh in today because I'm not at work, where the large scale is! Not my fault! I think THE CLAW will be OK with me this week - I think I'm down...

Wow! Nice work Christine and Amanda! After last night's slip, I'm not weighing in today - I have the day off and will not be able to get to the scale. I'm going to use my weight from yesterday - down two for the week. I'll weigh in again tomorrow at work, and, if I've gained, I'll add that. If I've lost, I'll wait for next Friday's. Either way, I won't hit the century... aJoneen.......................-3 evelas5000.................0 Desdemona..................0 Fenton.........................-2 HarleyGirl..................0 Hopeinapril................0 Lynn1215.....................0 NurseNiki...................0 Nycm00.......................-3 Yippee Potatie.........................0 100 POUNDS LOST Scrappy_Friend........0 SpecialK......................0 Sugarbean..................0 100 POUNDS LOST Sharona......................0 Tess415......................0 Thin2bme...................0 WestCoastMom........0 Wishin4......................0 __________________

Arrgghh! The last day before weigh-in and a friend who's been having a rough time called to ask me to have dinner with her! Too much food! Damn.

Good! I really have come to believe that exercise is even more important than diet in this process, for a variety of reasons. And, at the end of the day, a fit fat person can be healthier than an unfit skinny person. When my gym membership kicks in on Sunday - WATCH OUT!

TWO MORE DAYS BEFORE FRIDAY WEIGH-IN! You have all been warned...

Amanda, will you be able to join us for weigh-in on Friday? I know you've got a lot on your mind, but you (foolishly!) admitted that there's an accessible scale in the hospital. For most (probably all) of us, stress-related eating has been a major problem in the past. I'm hoping you can convert your pain and your worry into action, harness that energy to make you move, to help you make the right choices. I hope you can respond to the pressures on you by being good to yourself. So weigh in with us Friday, or as close to Friday as you can. Keep us in mind, because we have you in mind. And keep Friday in mind, and exercise and eat accordingly.

Which reminds me: I need new shoes. And some resort wear - next month I'm going to Hawaii for a crime fiction conference, and I don't own anything loud enough to pass for a Hawaiian shirt. My clothes are getting bigger - belt down another notch, will need to go back to the cobbler to have more notches punched.

Next time, I say we all line up to kick Lynn! It's more fun when we're all kicking. An OK day, yesterday. I'm writing at a writers' retreat - a group office with lots of cubicles, reference works, wireless internet etc., where strict rules of silence are enforced, so no one can do anything but write - and got a little snagged in the free M&M's dispenser in the break room. As we say in England, M&M's are just so more-ish - you have a few, then a few more, then a few more, etc. But I pushed myself during the day, and walked over 6 miles. Hip a bit sore today, though.

NO! You must weigh in on Friday, when your body has become rehydrated! No cheating! Seriously, though, I'm glad you had that unfill - it sounds scary...

Lynn! Snap out of it! Before you put anything in your mouth, ask yourself the nutritional value and the calorie hit - is it REALLY worth it? You've got three or so more days before weigh-in. You know what you have to do, you know we'll be watching your performance - don't disappoint us! You can absolutely do this.

Well, it might be that I'm too lazy to track like that - I wished they'd let you just enter calories per meal, but I dn't think you could. It's probably too powerful, rather than too weak.

I bet you can get back to Onederland really quickly, btw... Let's see how long it takes you.