130/120 Club?

Wonderswhy -

Humor is so great, isn't it!?! :D Oh..yeah...well yeah, thanks though. I've been trying not to let the speed bumps in my life get me tooo down....I'm stayin' positive as much as I can...

Hey all, I've found my new fav. thing to try baking with....canned pumpkin! :D

I guess I like pumpkin flavor lately....pumpkin coffee....using it to bake with, etc. :D

Oh well, it's fall, I'm allowed! hehe. :)

Last night I tried a sort of recipe I found on hungrygirl.com and it mentions to use a 15 oz. can of pure pumpkin and mix it w/ any cake mix, then bake as the cake mix directs, but minus about 5 mins. baking time. :D

I used spice cake.....it turned out pretty good! Now, the only thing is, since I didn't add anything else except those 2 things....the cake came out not very sweet, but pretty pumpkin/spice tasting..hehe. :D Though I thought it was good as is, if you do want a little more sweetness...as is always good with cake..haha..

I made up a little sort of frosting for it...started with about a cup of powdered sugar (with some water of course) and maybe an 1/8" of a tspn. of vanilla extract and that consistency was fairly thin and to amp up the tast I mixed in about 5-6 white chocolate candy melts..well melted and it made the mixture much more like a thick frosting.

So..have fun and try it out...

I also saw the recipe for using devil's food cake mix and a can of pumpkin..which I will bake this weekend and post my findings later...:D Also, on that same website (hungrygirl.com) and saw it aired on Extra TV the other day about taking a can of diet soda and mixing it in with a cake mix and baking those 2 as is....so going to try that too with a diet light colored soda with a lemon cake mix I have.

Yeah, I took a cake decorating class at my local Michael's Arts&Crafts last Oct., so I have a couple mixes still kicking around and figured this time of the year is a good time to use 'em up! haha. :D

Anyway....blah blah...

As for measurements...good goin' girls! You're all doin' great! Oh...yeah...I mentioned just posting them once a month, but by all means post each week if you'd like...I was just suggesting. Keep up the great work!

Simi - hahaha...well candy-aholics aside....I was just saying that about indulging on the candy, since Halloween gives more than usual. :D

I love my sweets too! As much as I'm trying to tell myself I shouldn't eat them, I honestly, don't think I can cut them out completely....(that goes for everything like candy, cake, ice cream, chocolate, flavored coffees, marshmallows, etc.) so I'll just have to figure them into my day that's all..cuz otherwise I may ruin my progress...right? I certainly don't want that and knowing the major sweet and food holidays are coming *Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas...* I have to keep that in mind!

ANYWAY!!! Have a great night ladies! Talk to you tomorrow....Halloween Day..whoohoo!

-Margo

Happy Halloween, ladies!

Okay, quick update...

Well last night I mixed up the brownie mix (it happened to be a chewy brownie mix) with canned pumpkin and added mini marshmallows to the batter before baking....ummm...not sure what happened, but NOT a very good idea.

The marshmallows made little holes in the brownies and just all in all, it didn't turn out so well...so my next attempt at brownies...will be to make them 'regular' without using pumpkin or marshmallows in the batter....

Okay, well hope you all have a great day and night...with whatever Halloween festivities you have going on. :)

Take care and ttyl.

-Margo

Haha Margo you always give me a good laugh. brownies and pumpkin doesn't sound very good, but it's always fun to be creative:-) I never weighed in or took measuremnts this week. Life has been pretty crazy because ive been moving into my ne wapartment (i had to move form the basement apartment to the top because we had MOLD. Ew) I've had a sinus infectoin the past two years and finally decided to do something about it.

Anyway, I had a fabulous halloween. it was nice to just be silly when i was stressed. I'm going to post some pictures.

My goal for next week is to WEIGH IN!

Does anyone else have some halloween pics?

I don't really have any pictures for halloween, wish I did :) I went as Ms. North Dakota.. well Mrs. since I'm married.  Wore a pagent dress, sash and I got the awesome northern furry hat :)  It was creative.  My husband also almost got in a fist fight with some weird guy that came to the party I went to.  That was weird.

I think I ate candy for a full day on Friday :) It was actually pretty nice to do whatever I wanted food wise for a day :) Now I just have to get rid of the left over candy ... :)

BUT we went grocery shopping and bought lots of fresh veggies and fruits.  I even made a chicken stew/soup for the rest of the week, we also pulled all the meat off a roasted chicken and seperated it into dark and light (the dark meat kinda freaks me out) and set those aside for the rest of the week.  I feel so good. 

Happy Monday ladies! :D

Danielle -  haha...well I got the brownie and canned pumpkin idea from Hungry Girl.com website...it wasn't totally my idea. :/ Err....so that idea didn't go over well.

However, making a spice cake mix and only adding in 1 can of canned pumpkin and then baking, I think tastes great! I made that for Halloween time and that was a hit! I made up a type of frosting 2 diff. times...1st time I used powered sugar & white chocolate (w/ a tad bit of van. extract) and the 2nd time only melted up some white chocolate for the frosting - both variations were lovely for a 'frosting'. :D

ANYWAY..haha..I had a bunch of treats at work on Friday...tasting bits here and there of what others brought in. Though I didn't have any Halloween candy Friday *or the rest of the weekend* - but helped my Mom and stepdad pass it out, which was kind of fun....

My treat for most of Saturday and some of Sunday was shopping at Kohl's and buying a bunch of items in a small from the Misses section!!!! (I posted a bit about it on my journal entry - the one that mentions checking for updates/ reaching my goal in 6 weeks...)

ANYWAY - Blah blah.. Sorry, just excited....

So glad, Danielle,  that you had a fun Halloween and that you were able to move into a healthier enviornment for your apt. :D Love to see pics!

Simi - Cute costume idea! Glad you had a fun Halloween too! :D Fun! Glad you had a good grocery shopping day too :D and to hear that you're feelin' good *great idea bout makin' meals ahead of time for the week - I need to do that more often myself!*

Have a great day everyone!

So I did the body pump class... and.. it was a different routine, you know how they like to mix it up everynow and again.  Well. my body is in painful death mode.  I feel exactly like I did last Feb. when I had the FLU!!  lol, I'm really glad I guess because it means I did something right but man.. I'm sore in places like where my thighs meet my torso.. explain that one to me.  Oh and where my knees are.. major soreness.  Didn't even know I had muscles there.

So combined with the several tootsie rolls I had today (someone's gotta eat 'em!) I had a spinach salad with one whole fresh tomato.. cut up. and a cup of yogurt for lunch.  I didn't even use salad dressing, I feel so much more healthy about it knowing that all of it comes straight from mother earth herself.  Plus the dressing we had in the fridge says that is expires this december but I'm not so sure.

I went to this party.. well get together, to give out candy on Halloween and the girl that hosted it is one of my good friends (we get coffee every Wednesday and talk about babies and sex.. one of those good friends!) and she made these cookies from Nutter Butter cookies dipped in almond bark..  She always complains of her weight fluctuating and it makes me think... I wonder why.

Simi - Good to hear you stuck with the Body Pump class...even though you're sooo sore right now. (hugs!)

I took my cardio kickboxing class tonight...and since I missed it for a few sessions...I'm sooo feelin' it tonight! Yeah, I'm sore too. So, I understand at least a bit of where you're coming from..

Good to hear you've got healthy foods to eat too. :D  Yeah, having treats like those Nutter Butter dipped almond bark cookies would be a reason for weight fluctuation....but it's also a matter of balance....

I'm learning more and more...that it really is about moderation. Since I have SUCH a major sweet tooth, I feel that if I cut out sweets totally that I would end up splurging to the point of no return..just about..and I don't want that. So, I'm learning how to include the sweets I enjoy in my day and also practicing will power.  Example: My Mom had these frosting covered sugar cookies at her house today, that she bought from the store, well in the package there were also some mini pumpkin shaped sugar cookies...so at lunch, instead of eating the big sugar cookie, I took the mini one and made that count for my sweet tooth...

Small steps I'm learning is the way to go with me. Usually, I am gunho at the beginning and then taper off...but it's just a daily battle and a balance at the same time. Hope your friend finds balance too. :)

Err...after I wrote that, I'm not sure how that sounds....  My point...I'm just trying to say that it's not easy...of course you all know that...but I guess I feel right now that I needed personally to reiterate that point.  So, hope I didn't say the wrong thing...

ANYWAY...er...

:D Well, have a good night, ladies! Ttyl.

-Margo....................=)  

Happy Happy Wednesday, ladies!

My Weigh In results:

• LW: 130.8 lbs.
• CW: 130.2 lbs.

Yes, only less than a lb., but that's okay.  I am feelin' just great! My clothes are fitting sooo much better and I feel stronger when I work out. :D

Good luck to all you ladies in your weigh in today and hope you have a great day! :D

-Margo

Hi ladies!  Margo, sounds like things are going well.  It's so nice when it's not just the scale that is showing your progress!

LW: 129 (TTOM)

CW: 127.8

Glad to be back to normal again!  I would really love to see 125 before my birthday on December 1.  It seems so close!  2.8 lbs and 25 days, that should be do-able, right?  I'm out sick today with a fever/sore throat/etc.  Hopefully I can keep my eating in check since I'll be home all day.  I signed up for another half marathon this coming Sunday on a whim, so hopefully I'll be feeling better by then.

Good luck on your weigh in today, ladies!

132 last week

133 this week.  I think it is because of 1. Halloween 2. The biscuits last night at 10pm 3.  I had some  clothes on when I weighed myself...

Waist - 26" same

Belly - 31.5" up 1/2 inch

Hips - 39" same

We'll see how things go.

WE HAVE A PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!

Ingrid - Well, things are going better (also, I'm feelin better too b/c I have my Jeep back from the body shop! Got it yesterday!)

Yeah, it's great when the scale isn't the only thing showing progress...that's true.

Sorry you're sick, but hope you're better for your 1/2 marathon this weekend! I'd say that 125 lbs. by your b-day is completely do-able! :D Keep up your great work!

I would like to say I could be 125 lbs. by my b-day, but that's on the 15th of this month...so that goal isn't going to happen HOWEVER  if I can reach into the 120 something range by then, I'll be happy with that! So, that's just about 10 days, starting tomorrow...

Whoohoo..so we'll see what happens....I'm hoping to get in a workout at the gym tonight too..even if it's just a 30 min. treadmill exercise. :D

Simi -  Glad to see your progress...no matter what it is. :D Yeah, those points you mentioned probably could be attributing to your gain from the past week...but that's at least good that you are aware of what's going on and that's helpful! Keep up the great work! (hugs!!)

My pov/opinion ~ Yeah, we sure do have a new president-elect. Well, I didn't vote for him...but on the other hand, I'm not feeling bad about him winning either....for the country's sake, I hope that he can make a real difference...we really do need that as a country & just hope too that all the obvious factors of the past don't overshadow or overtake matters.  My main feeling for not voting for him yesterday was more for his inexperience with all that is going on right now (war, etc.) than anything else.  It just got to me. Though, again, I'm not really feeling negative at this moment about the decision America voted on...;D

Well, take care ladies, ttyl.

-Margo

Hi ladies! I feel like quite the observer this week!

A) I couldn't participate in the election because I was registered in the wrong state (I thought I'd be in UT right now...guess again)

B) I can't participate in the weigh-in 'cause my parents don't own a scale! Oh well. I'll be back on the wagon next week. For now, I'm just enjoying my last day of eating my mom's yummy food.

I thought Obama's acceptance speech was like a scene from "The West Wing." Anybody ever watch that show? I loved the first three seasons...

Take care all!

Well.. I don't know about you guys but I live in Alabama so here Obama might as well be the anti christ and believe me I've heard my share of that.  One of my co-workers has even said, well I think I'm over the fact that he's black and I'm not really ok with the muslim part but I think I can get over that too.  Well, I'm glad. (hence the sarcasm)  So it's a big deal here since down in the south the races are still quite divided.  You'd think it was dooms day here in AL.

Wonderswhy -  Aww! Well, that just stinks ~ since you can't do anything about either thing at this point...

However, we look forward to see you weigh in next week....  As for the voting thing....not sure what to say about that part without putting my foot in my mouth...

Annnyywayyy- enjoy your mom's food! :D

As for the West Wing show...hehe..yeah, I used to watch that show. :D

Simi - Oh...that's true...the South is still a more difficult place when it comes to things like, race... 

I have a very good friend from college in GA and she said that the 'anti christ' talk is all around where she is too....

Well, this time we are living in is a very difficult and scary time right now....for obvious reasons that the U.S. is in tough times with the stock market and such and then having to handle people that have problems with race more so than ever (esp. b/c the person for pres. elect isn't white!) That it's a lot to juggle.  Though, for our country's sake...I really do hope we can unite as people and really be able to stand up to our country's name being, The United States of America, and make things work!   <==== All of that was stated generally by the way... 

Anyhow, ladies...

Have a great rest of your Thursday!

Ttyl.

-Margo

Lol, how PC of you Margo :)  I won't lie, I voted for him and I glad that I did, even if I was the only one in Alabama :) j/k

So I meant to go running today and I didn't.  But I did go to the dentist, I have to get a little filling.. I've never been to the dentist where I didn't have to have something crazy done.

BUT yesterday I did 30 min of cardio, five min warm up and cool down and 20 minutes of alternating 2 min. run 1 min walk.  If that makes sense :)  I'm trying to build up my endurance.  I think tomorrow I'll do 35 minutes instead, try to get more time in.  I'm doing so well with this really.  The run wasn't exciting or fun, but I felt great afterwards, I felt like I could do it again.  Running has never felt like that for me before, never felt that rejuvinating if that makes sense.

Ingrid is that a good thing? Please say I'm on my way to my first 5k!!

Hi guys!  Looks like everyone is still doing great.  Yeay us! 

Simi-  I have just recently started feeling "rejuvenated" after a good run also.  Granted I only run about 2 miles.  But instead of feeling absolutely winded and constantly stopping myself from calling my husband to come pick me up, I actually am enjoying the run and can breathe normally while doing it.  It is absolutely amazing!  A year ago I could only go about 6 blocks before I would already be breathing hard and would have to walk before I passed out!  Anyway congratulations!  I can't believe how out of shape I was back then! 

* Oh yeah...we went as the "wizrd of Oz " gang.  I posted a pic if you guys want to see.  Halloween was so fun!

Happy Friday ladies!!! :D

Burnyh - It's good to see you back on here....and congrats on doing so well with your running. :D

By the way, I have to say, that Halloween photo of your fam. as the Wizard of Oz, HAS to be the most adorable and fun halloween family photo I've EVER seen!!!! You all look great in the photo and love that you went as the lion. :D Appropriate...cuz you're getting more fierce and brave everyday that you challenge yourself in your workouts!!  *Yeah, maybe a cheesy way to give you a compliment, but I thought it fit well. :D*   Keep up the great work!

Simi - Well, yeah, I was trying to be a little PC I guess..not to step on anyone's toes about politics here...since we're trying to focus more on our health and didn't want to ruffle any feathers...too much. :D

Glad to know that you aren't ashamed to say you voted for him either....*hugs!*  Also, congrats to you also for doing so well in your running!

I commend all you ladies that run and/or those of you sooo willing to stick with it - cuz I'm not a runner sort of girl..hehe...more of a power walker I guess.....

Anyway, great that you got your workout in, Simi, keep it up!! :D

Yeah, last night was my circuit training class....it was the 2nd go round of the week that we focused on cardio and I think last night I felt the workouts to be the hardest...but I know it was good for me. :D It was nice after my workout too to chat with one of the other ladies in my class about exercise, body image, etc. too. Yeah, she's a bit older than me and her 'issues' about her body and what she eats is a little different than me, but it was nice to talk about it anyway...cuz the only person on a daily basis I get to chat with about that stuff is my boyfriend....so it was nice.

Having said that...I know that you ladies are here everyday ~ most days anyway ~ to leave messages for and we can have our discussions and I REALLY enjoy and appreciate that too of course! Having as much support as possible I think is good - no matter if you're a self motivated person or not.

Well, I should get going for now...enough blabbering. HAHA! Have a fabulous day all and look forward to hearing from you all soon! :D

(hugs!!)

-Margo

Burnyh- love the Halloween picture.  How fun!  I hope that you ladies have a great weekend... everyone seems to have lots going on but you all still manage to get out there for your workouts.  Way to go!

I'm leaving work early today to head up north for a wedding that's happening tomorrow night and then the half marathon on Sunday (that I am regretting signing up for now that I've been sick most of the week).  I look forward to catching up with everything on Monday.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Ingrid

Good luck in your marathon and have fun at the wedding, Ingrid! :D

To all you ladies - Enjoy your weekend !! :D

-Margo

i am so glad that someone started this club. i only want to loose 8 or 9lbs and i feel like its unfair to be in a club with people who have to loose 50 or so lbs. I'm 18 years old. i'm 5'4, 129lbs. my lowest weight was 114. but i'd love to get down to 120. i'm not really even chubby, but i'd just feel way more comfortable with myself if i weighed just 9lbs less. anyone want to do weekly weigh-ins and weekly work out discussions (where you talk about how exercising is going, and give work out and motivation tips) let me know. :]

-Adrea