I'll try to limit my talk about chocolate and sweets, but in all honesty in the past three months a day has not gone by that I have not had ice cream or some other form of a sweet treat.

There is no way possible this could be a life change for me without allowing myself these indulgences. I also believe the fact that I always have low cal/fat options of this at my fingertips is what keeps me from going on a crazy binge.

I can give up fried foods and be okay, but sweets ... no way.

My thighs are on fire!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 15 minutes...Stamina is increasing :D MTV 2 helps :D

I have spent the past 2 weeks on a fairly vigorous work out plan. I haven't changed my eating habits at all except I've started drinking at least 52 (I know its suppose to be 64 but my mug only holds 52 lol) ounces of water a day. In the past 2 weeks I've lost 10 pounds. I'm fairly excited about that but I've got my daughter tonight and I will have to take her with me to the gym if I go. Normally her dad is here to watch her while I go but he isn't tonight and I'm thinking about skipping tonight but I know tonight and tomorrow night are my last 2 nights before we go on our anniversary to get in a full gym workout and I really need it. But I'm thinking about not going because I don't want to lug her out with me (she's a rambunctious 4 year old). Getting someone to watch her isn't an option or I would have fully employed it. So...I'm here for some Pixies Power. Help me talk myself into going before I decide to put it off.

You know what the reward is for going to the gym.... get your things together... grab your daughter and whatever she needs to keep her occupied while you are working out. Sitting on the couch won't have nearly the same impact as a good hard workout, and you will only be mad at yourself if you don't go.

Now I know I have to get on the treadmill tonight! I can't dish out that advice and not eat some of my own words.

Lilith, you rock. You are rapidly increasing your stamina and that's amazing.

Thank you kindly.

Galatea, my kids liked going to the gym.

Yep, yep, I'm in awe of her prowess on the elliptical so rapidly, that's for sure. :)

I normally take mine a couple of times a week with me to the gym here at our complex. It's located in the clubhouse, and my kids are old enough that they can sit in the main "game/social" room and watch the big screen TV, etc. while I'm in the gym for an hour or more. However, with a four-year old, that's a little more difficult. I also belong to Gold's Gym, though, and they offer a babysitting deal during certain hours that's included in my package. Just something you might want to look into, Galatea.

I'm amazed at how quickly you can lose your stamina too! Or at least that's how I'm feeling. I've bumped my speed up on the treadmill and now (after my sick breaks) I'm struggling to get 35 minutes (just over 2 miles). The first 20 minutes felt good, after that I was playing games with my mind to keep going.

I had a rare treat today. Apparently when the weather gets nice (and it was GORGEOUS here today), some of the girls at work walk through half of lunch. We did nearly 2 miles in a half-hour, but, of course, it was a little more intense than the pace of the 4.5 miles/gym visit I'm up to, since there were some hills, etc. involved. Stamina-wise I was fine, but I think if I'd have planned to go to the gym tonight, I'd have been hurting. :D

maddy .. I suspect that's really your body saying that you are still in recovering mode ... not that you lost that much stamina that quickly..., but way to keep working at it!

Lil ... wow!!!! I'm very impressed at the amount you are building at ... congrats on that!!!

IAKG ... wooooo hoooo about the meds .... YAY!!! that's so great, a huge jump in the very direction you wanted to go when you started this process .... congrats!!!

Galatea ... yea for the progress you are making ... we are all here doing things that we think will be more healthy choices ... sounds like you are making great positive changes!

Tess ... in case you didn't know this ... it takes about 2 weeks to get the sugar out of your system enough to stop the actual physical withdrawal and cravings ... after that then it's just the mental/emotional cravings ... I feed my sweet tooth with sugar free jello and a bit of fat free cool whip ... also the 100 calorie snack packs help in the really hard moments and you can't do nearly as much damage with them as with many other sweet treats ... way to stick to it ... we're so glad you've joined us and are making the changes you want!

I'm doing much better now that I'm past the worst of my hormone binge stuff ... think I'll make it through til the next one in about 4 weeks ... :)

((((fzzy)))) -- good job persevering (much better than I did) during the visit to the hut.

maddy -- I noticed the same about endurance...mine drops within about a week. You earn it back faster the second time, but you do have to "earn" it. Bummer, huh?

IAKG -- Have I mentioned that I am so proud of you and your med-free ways? :)

Lil -- the elliptical is hard...and IMHO the home ones are *much* harder to use than the "professional" ones they have at the gym. Congrats on your achievement.

Tess -- Big loss this week. Congrats!

And Galatea -- I hope you went to the gym. :)

yay ... I'm ending my day inside my calorie range, it was a rough couple of days before that, but I'm still here and that is something I'm celebrating .. in the past everytime I would have even one meal where I didn't hang tough ... I would be a goner ... learning new habits is a GOOD thing (she said in her best Martha Stewart voice) :)

good job fzzy! It's hard not to get negative when you slip, I'm there, it's a battle I'm waging.

((((((positive Lil))))))

I was down another 0.5 lb at the gym yesterday -- which tallies me at a total of 9 lbs since day 1. Not too shabby! (although not up to you girls' standards)

Yesterday I had the guts to wear a sleeveless shirt for the first time in about 10 years. I wasn't completely happy with the way I looked, but it was an exercise in getting my courage up. LOL

Other than that....1650 calories yesterday, a good gym workout, and an evening eating bruschetta (I stuck to a piece and a half) and beer (I had 1) with Mr Osuche and my officemate. It was fun!

I'm in the HUT!!!!!! Explains so much :D

Grats osuche on keeping your # low. I love bruschetta!