Everyone! I have to apologize because it seemed like I just left mid May and never posted again but I had some problems..and worked them out..but like I've told so many others-that when you find something you like- you also need to be disciplined- and many have put their "workouts" before their fun stuff.. So for me- I didn't allow myself to come back and post - until I straightened myself and my exercise out. I would go to the tanning salon and then go to the gym that was fine- then sometimes just hit the gym- and although I cant recall how I got off track- I did - and discipline is the hardest thing to learn. I discovered that without exercise- my body felt weird- I even pulled a muscle in my neck- NOT exercising- and then after some steam and sauna treatments, I discovered , the more I exercised the less pain I felt- which I thought was weird- but it worked.It took every bit of 3 weeks (plus advil) to get rid of it..Anyway, Im happy to say Im back to Tanning again and the gym..I picked a salon closer to my house and they are open till midnite, so thats really cool. Anyway- I apologize to everyone who was kinda 'blogging in" on my monthly/weekly posts and sticking to their goals. It just goes to show you- that regardless how motivated any of us are, life has a way of interfering, and its our level of committment + motivation, that gets us through. So having goals and being flexible is important as we move forward. There is a difference between being "tough" on ourselves and being a "tyrant". Dont set your goals so high that you can't achieve them. Everything can be achieved, you just have to be dedicated and expect bumps along the way! Ok- here is my update- I am now 220lbs, wearing size 16/ some 18s and got into a size 14 dress over the weekend! I Keep thinking there is something WRONG with the sized clothes that stores are selling- because I keep getting into ALL of it! Its crazy I know! Its like you get this adrenalin rush and like OMG! I can't believe how great this outfit looks on me! I just love Dress Barn and now am into their size 16s pants and tops are 14/16. I can't believe it- because back in April I posted that I was stuck in 20sville! Oh and I am going to be adding pictures to my online journal- so if you want to see some of the progress I've made- here is my link: www.donnasjournal.photosite.com. Hugs Donna 325/220/145

Hi Bridget- I just had a conversation about hormones with my PA this past week- and I thought it was also estrogen that we were getting rid of- as Im supposed to be peri-menopausal- and nothing has slowed down- in fact- before I was getting it every 28/30 days- now Im getting it ever 21/25 days..and I thought it was due to the reduction in estrogen- when in fact she told me- women gain testosterone and men gain estrogen when we gain weight- so in women- its testosterone thats leveling off! LOL And I know you didnt ask this- but God is it making me hornier than ever! LOL And on a more serious note- thank you for advising about the pills- I never really took pills and being single- didnt really need anything- but I was thinking about getting the patch (seasonale ) or the ring. Im sorry you had so much to deal with and thank you for sharing it with us! Donna

Hi Julie, I was doing the same thing and asked my doctor and it is very normal. I stayed the same for 8 weeks. I was training for a 5k and working out a lot. I finally after the 8 weekss just dropped between 3-5 pounds depending on the day. You are not at the end. Watch what you eat and exercise and you will be able to lose just at a slower pace then before. These are the plateaus that you have heard about and this is the point we are at. I just finally lost that 100 lbs and thought it would never happen but it did. Keep your chin up. Diana 263/160/145

Its like walking on egg shells. If I get too happy about my weight loss, my hubby starts with "You're going to leave me." Or, they pointedly ignore the loss, which I find strange. Torrey

Good Morning Challengers................ How we doing today???? I got up bright & early & did Slim in 6...Start it Up for 30 minutes. It's funny cuz I walk most days & my legs feel like rubber bands right now. Must be all the squats ... Anyway, if I have time, I'll walk later. Trying to get all my work done early today. Got a busy week this week. The weekend was good... didn't walk at all, but danced with the girls for a while on Saturday. They did really good on their Dance-A-Thon (even though it poured all day)... They raised over $200 for their Relay for Life team. The weather is looking much better so far for this weekend. 69 & partly sunny... YIPPEE How's everyone else doing today.... Let's get it going..... We can do this........ Tam