Love it.  I have 8.5 left for this month too.  Looks like you have a good plan laid out already too.

I am having good success with this.  I have lost 2 lbs so far and look forward to next week when I can get back to playing hockey.  That will help, since I have not been excercising at all this past week (minus the snow shovelling).  The food tracking on myfitnesspal.com has been instumental in helping me stay on track.

good luck with you goal...always one that we would love to accomplish, but some of us have more of a challenge then others. I like the idea of the tracking...I am going to check out the link for sure.

I also like to use positive words when I am talking about weight...rather than "lose" a # of pounds, I like to say "release". If someone loses something...there is a conetation that you want to find it again, where as if you are releasing something, it is to give it back/give it up for good.

I continued to track my food today, and according to the site, am staying on track to "release"  my weight, and achieve my goal.  Weigh-in is on Tuesday, so we will see what the results are. I think my positive word phrase will be "to achieve my healthy weight" . 

 Best of luck on Tuesday with your weigh-in.  I can't wait to read about your progress.  My weigh in is tomorrow morning. Love your positive attitude.

I am excited for my weight check tomorrow too Andrea.  I am on my way to pop over and see how your day went today.  The question is, do I weigh myself before or after I play hockey tomorrow morning? lol

Another great day of tracking my food.  It really helps me to see what happens when I input my food, and it automatically tells me how many more calories I can consume for the day, as well as things like fat, carbs and protein.  It helps me make choices for my next meals more thoughtfully.  By having the information right at hand, I feel more in control.  

Absolutely before.  First thing when you wake up.  Before drinking or eating anything.  Yes, tracking your food helps to keep you on track.  I think that's the number one tool I need when I'm serious about making progress with my weight.  Sounds like you had a great day.  Happy popping, lol.

Just getting in on your goals - so many of us have the same!!  I'll have to check out the myfitnesspal.com - so do you just tell it what you're eating and it gives you the calorie count to keep you in check? 

As for weigh-ins, absolutely, first thing in the morning, after you pee, before you eat. Definitely before exercise.  And, make sure to do it the same every time. 

Drummm rollllll xxxxxxxxxxxxxx   I lost 3 lbs in a week!  I am very excited :-) and off to play hockey now and release a little more me. 

Awesome, awesome, awesome (one awesome for each pound, LOL). 

Enjoy your game feeling a little "lighter".

 Best of luck with your goal.  I know you will do well with that kind of progress to begin with.

 Robin, 3 lbs??  That is so awesome.  Congratulations to you.  Very excited for you.  Keep up the great work.

Thank you ladies :-)  It certainly does give me some renewed determination to see results.  I still have a big goal ahead of me, 2.5lbs a week for the next 2 weeks.  No letting up now.  I have meetings this morning with our capital campaign committee.......always lots fo sweets and high carb foods there.  I have to just remember to stick to my herbal tea, and  I will feel satisfied. 

I really need to try to get more activity in as well.  I play hockey twice a week, but I am going to try to push myself to get the dog out for  a nice brisk walk everyday for at least a half an hour.  It will do us both a world of good.

Just in your writing, I can hear the momentum building.  Great work Robin.  Herbal tea sounds wonderful.  What's your dog's name?  I'm sure he'll love the added attention and exercise.  Your heart will thank you as well.  

Sally,  she is a big puppy.  Well yesterdays plans were derailed with a phone call from the school at 10:50am that my kindergartener was sick.  Picked her up and, spent the day fighting a fever and cleaning up..... yuk.  Lets hope this goes quickly. 

Still having great success with keeping track of everything online,  I just want to kick it up a notch when time allows.

Life does get in the way sometimes, but you're motivated and even if one day you can't do everything you want, you'll make up for it.  2 weeks is plenty of time for that 2 1/2 pounds.  Work it out by cleaning a little extra, scrubbing a little harder and those are all calories burned, too!  Gotta love dogs to keep you going!

Oh, those days are such a challenge.  More kids equals more of those days as well.  Hope your kindergartener is feeling better soon.  I like Zin's suggestion - working it out by cleaning a little extra. Put that music back on and dance around again, lol.

You bet....doing the barf bop.  Carpet cleaner is heavier than the vacumm too, so that should count for some extra calories.   I am off to hockey this morning, and then Amanda's birthday party........I will try to keep the slice of cake for me very thin :-) 

Fell off the wagon a bit last night......stress eating...BAD choice.  Chocolate calling my name, but I kept it to a "smaller" amount than usual, so there was some success in that.

Did anyone else notice that the date on our entries is off by a day?

Yeah, ours weighs a tonne too.  Why do they make them so heavy?  Stress eating - maybe that's why I'm finding this such a challenge this year?  Oh well, I guess it's supposed to be a challenge - hence the name, right?  Good for you for keeping it to a smaller amount.  Sometimes, the chocolate therapy is absolutely unavoidable.  Absolutely success there.  

I have some tips for you from an article.  I'll try to post a few each day:

1. Burn fat with fruit. Blue and red foods block the storage of fat, plus switch on the genes that signal cells to burn belly fat for fuel. Aim for 1 cup daily.

2. Use BLUE dishes: studies show that blue stimulates the brain's appetite-control center. (Red promotes eating!) And better yet - eat diner on a blue salad plate instead of a dinner plate and cut calorie intake by 33%. Fill the plate, enjoy slowly and be a member of the Clean Plate Club without overeating. 

3. Take a half-hour "happy" break. Spend 30 minutes relaxing and laughing and you'll burn 20% more calories for the next 2 hours! Laughter reduces levels of cortisol, the stress hormone that fuels belly fat. Laugh yourself thin! 

4. Step outside in the morning. A 15 minute blast of sun can cut overeating in half and help you burn fat.  Morning light revs the production of appetite-taming serotonin. 

5. Sleep 30 minutes longer. An extra half hour of zzz's amps up appetite control, and dampens carb cravings. Zzzzzzz. 

Thanks for the tips Irene!   Blue food?  

I like the idea of more sleep, and I had just read an article supporting this, saying that you actually burn more calories during the day (metabolism wise) well rested, opposed to tired.  8 1/2 vs. 5 1/2 hrs sleep increases your ability to burn calories by 20% I believe.   

We use small dinner plates (9inch) instead of the standard 10 or 11 inch plates already.  It helps portions look filling.  A full plate makes me feel more satisfied, so it must be a good mental trick.

I had to go to the Dr. today, for some antibiotics, and had to get weighed.  xxxxxxx one pound closer to my goal!!  That puts me at a total of 4lbs, and my official weight check isn't until Tuesday :-)

 Hi! Wahoo! Congrats on your progress so far! Smaller plates are so necessary! It's a constant conversation with my husband about which plates to use...smaller, better, and filling it up with delicious veggies and smaller cuts of meat = success! I'll be rooting for you on Tuesday! :)

Those are great tips, Irene, I'll have to put some of that to work myself.  R - that's great on the continued weight loss.  Keep it up!

Some more tips for you Robin.  Blue food:  blueberries, blackberries, eggplant.  Those pop into my mind off the top.  Keep up the great work.

6. Whet your appetite. Sip 2 cups of water before eating. Water boosts cells' ability to convert food into energy. 

7. Set your kitchen timer. Set a timer for 15 minutes when the munchies hit. Most of the time hunger urges will disappear by the time the bell goes off. If not, eat a protein/carb combo (like peanut butter on crackers).

8. Make one meal automatic.  Limiting the variety of foods you face each day reduces hunger pangs and cuts calorie intake. Pick one meal and choose a fast, healthy dish to have every day.  Breakfast is a good choice for this.

9. Confuse your muscles. Change up your exercise routine. If you stick with the same exercise for more than 3 weeks your muscles will burn fewer calories. Dance, do yoga, go for a walk, ski, jog, skip rope, swim, try some different work out videos.

10. Take a deep breath. Spend 5 minutes a few times a day practicing slow, deep, relaxed abdominal breathing and you'll burn more fat than when you breathe shallowly! Deep breathing signals cellular mitochondria to amp up calorie burning in as little as 3 minutes! 

 Awesome news about being one step closer Robin.  Great stuff.  Keep the focus.  I use the smaller plate trick too.  It absolutely helps.  Hope the antibiotics weren't for anything serious and that you're feeling great and enjoying the weekend.  

Thanks everyone.  I love the tips Irene....keep them coming :-)

Tough day for food, which is typical of when I am super busy.  I had the day planned out to do some major purging before we had to head to the rink for two hockey games.  Unfortunately I had to take my daughter to the walk in clinic......that took a few hours, and was during lunch.  By the time we got out of there we were starving, and I ate way to much lunch.  Then I got down to purging,(my 21 day challenge)  and my kitchen was such a disaster that I decided to get take out after the hockey games instead of cleaning up the clutter to cook.  I didn't make the best decision on the take out either.  Funny how you think something is "healthier" and still packs over 800 calories a serving.  I will refocus tomorrow on better food choices and get the dog out for a walk once I get the paper monster off my counter.   

Monday and a new week.  A fresh page and perfect for all the successes of this day. I find once I get to the `starving`point, it`s so easy to go way overboard at a meal to compensate. Then I end up regretting it.  You`re already at the half way point to your goal.  Just keep taking all those little steps and you`ll get there just in time.  Also... sometimes this consoles me when I`m discouraged with the scale results... apparently, the results on the scale reflect efforts from the week before.  So I always tell myself to make this week count for next week.  One day off track leaves six more days on.  Can`t wait to read you destroyed the paper monster.

A very productive day, and I stayed right on track with my food.  Tomorrow will be interesting to see if there is any difference from my Dr. check weight, and I am looking forward to an hour of sweating on the ice.  I really need to make time for more excercise than just my two days of hockey.  I take that back, it is not time that is the issue, it is prioritizing.  I need to prioritize more activity into my daily schedule.   

This goal is going great for you! How motivating! 

I'm working on the same thing and love how much great info is in this thread. Here's a link I just found this morning about how drinking enough water affects your mood for the better and why. Who knew? http://caloriecount.about.com/can-water-improve-mood-b551388?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_20120124&utm_term=continue1

I think you're doing great, just keep building those good habits! You'll get there!

Thank you Shea, and excellant article.  I have to admit, my water consumption is not ideal, but it was good to read that I am getting an extra glass of water out of my foods :-)

No hockey for me today :-(  I have another sick one home.  Gotta love the season!  I will make lemonade out of lemons and clean the basement vigorously, helping me with two goals at the same time.  Have a great day everyone!

So sorry to read you'll be missing hockey today.  I know you were looking forward to it.  Hope whoever isn't feeling well starts to feel better soon and doesn't pass it along.   Best of luck with the basement.  Hope you'll share some more pictures.  You're doing such a fantastic job.

Robin...congrats on your progress...sorry that you will not be making it to hockey...but I am sure that you will be building up some muscles in the basement...lol! good luck with everything.

Oh ya I forgot to post.....still at my Dr. check weight, so 1lb down from last weeks weight check.

I'll take it!  :-)

I am so proud of myself today.  I met some girlfriends for lunch at one of our favourite "comfort food" spots, and I had the delicious Plough Horse cheeseburger.  Now as the name might suggest, I would look like a plough horse if I ate these all the time.  1/3 lb yummy cheese burger covered with grilled mushrooms and onions, lettuce, tomato and a huge kosher dill.  I just removed the bun and asked for a sliced apple instead of the potatoe wedges.  I was totally within my budget (calories) and left me some room to enjoy a bloody mary :-)   This was a great revelation (and I know I knew this, but didn't believe it) that I could enjoy all the foods I used to eat with just some small adjustments, and still maintain a healthy weight. 

I have made Sheppards pie for dinner tonight, since I am solo parent and all the kids have activities.  That means when we get home, the dinner will be done and I will avoid the hunger snacking while I cook.  Pair that with a big salad, I will come in at target again today :-)

Thanks for all the support everyone! 

I have more A,B,C's of healthy living to share with you Robin.  I hope you find something helpful.   F - Focus on the presentation of your food on the plate.  Arrange it attractively on a pretty piece of china, this will help you feel more satisfied.  G - Give new habits time because change doesn't happen overnight.  It may take 21 days to break or create a new habit, but it takes about six montns for new habits to feel natural or automatic.  Make a commitment to stick with your new regimen for at least that long.  H - Hang out with optimists.  The can-do spirit is contagious.  It can bolster your resolve and help fuel your weight loss goals.  I - Inspire yourself with a list of activities that you've put off doing - going sailing, learning to salsa dance, travelling to a far off place - this will provide a built-in incentive to stick to your plan.  J - Join Up - exercise with others, whether it's joining a hiking club, a fitness club or a recreational softball league - all of this offers a sense of accountability and a feeling of community. 

 Hi again.  I hope you are doing well.  I thought I'd share the next installment of the Healthy Living Tips.  

11. Say yay to whey! You'll burn more fat if you sip a whey protein smoothie first thing in the morning.

12. Get inspired by you!   Increase your weight-loss by gazing at a photo in which you look trim - as often as possible, but at least a few times a day. Your brain will get the image of what you want to look like and it'll crave nourishing, slimming foods instead of junk. 

13. Kill cravings with peanut butter. Women who savour a spoonful of peanut butter when they get the munchies eat fewer calories per day than those who don't. Plant fats steady blood sugar levels and ward off cravings. 

14. Spice up your diet. Adding  1 tsp ginger, cayenne pepper, or hot sauce to a meal will boost your metabolic rate for 2 hours. Hot spices fire up the breakdown of stored fat. 

15. Daydream about cookies or whatever it is that you crave. Daydreaming helps nix the brains need to actually eat that which you crave. 

 Hi Robin, hope you're doing well.  Sending you the next intallment of the ABC's of Healthy Living for your enjoyment:

K - Keep Your Focus as you're losing weight, notice what you're gaining as well:  a slimmer profile, better fitting clothes, more confidence, a more restful sleep, a new love of exercise, a more healthier YOU all around.

L - Lighten Up Your Favourites... with new low-fat cookbooks.  Experiment with your favourite Chinese, Mexican, Italian dishes with substitued lighter ingredients.  Or try a different cultures' cuisine.

M - Make Over Your Kitchen and get rid of trigger foods.  Restock with healthier choices to make snacking easy.  

N - Navigate Your Way Out Of Your Comfort Zone and try a new exercise at least once.  Discovering how much you enjoy new activities will help create your new healthier lifestyle.

O - Opt for the 10-Minute Rule even if you don't feel like exercising.  Get moving in some way for at least ten minutes and if, after that, you still feel uninspired, give yourself permission to quit.

Thanks for all the great food for thought Andrea and Irene!  I am battling a nasty cold, and getting ready for a big hockey weekend with the kids.  Still doing a great job tracking my food and and TRYING to drink more water.  This weekend will be tough....lots of pizza and beer, so I will have to make the best of it, still enjoy myself, and get back at it on Monday!

Have a great weekend everyone!

 Hope you're feeling better soon Robin. :-)

 Feeling any better at all?  You probably aren't back from your hockey weekend yet.  Wishing all of you the best.  Some more ABC's for your enjoyment:

P - Push Yourself to try one new fruit or vegetable each week - or try them prepared in a different way.  You'll be treating yourself to a new taste sensation and expanding your culinary repertoire in a healthy way.

Q - Quit the Clean Plate Club and get into the habit of eating only until you're satisfied.  This way, you'll spare yourself loads of unnecessary calories.

R - Reward Yourself with a new 'busy hands' skill to stave off snacking after dinner - take up knitting, crocheting, needlepoint or beading.  Or, give yourself a mani/pedi.

S - Stand Up Food Pushers at the party by politely indicating that you have your eye on another dish at the buffet.  Complimenting the hostess on the food she's offering will distract her from her agenda and help you stick to yours.  

T - Treat Your Body Like A Temple.  Start exercising regularly and taking care of yourself as if you were an athlete.  Fuel your body with energy-boosting foods and plenty of sleep and water.  

 Some more helpful tips for you.  Best of luck.

16. Lose liquid calories. Say no to pop, sports drinks or any other sugary beverage including fruit juice. Choose water, coffee or tea instead. 

17. Supplement with B vitamins. Take a daily B-complex vitamin and you'll have fewer cravings and burn more calories.  These vitamins convert fat into fuel! 

18. Tone while you tidy. Doing housework is a workout! (Yeah- I knew that already!) 

19. Add 6 drops of peppermint, orange or lemongrass essential oil to three 20-minute baths per week and kick start weight loss. The oils boost the liver's ability to break down stored fat. 

20. Fidget. Squirm, tap your foot, twirl your hair - all these can burn unwanted calories. 

21. Give yourself a hand.  A daily five-minute massage dials down stress and prevents emotional eating. Use a firm kneading motion with both hands. 

Back from my weekend of TOO much yummy food.  We had two team buffet dinners, and while I tried to fill up first with the salad and veggie platters, I love cheese, and dips, and those add up the calories FAST!  The breakfasts were very bad for me......all those breakfast pastries, and no healthy options really.  Then you add a few beer to the mix, and it all comes out to a weekend of added weight I am sure.  I am not at all mad at myself though, because I knew it was going to happen, and I have a plan and a goal, and tomorrow is a clean slate.  I refuse to live my life not enjoying the things I love, what I am resolved to do though, is to limit these times to the odd occasion, and live a very mindful healthy life daily. 

 Yes, those buffet tables can really do someone in for sure.  I'm looking forward to a clean slate tomorrow too as I was definitely off track since Friday.  Absolutely enjoy the things you love.  No need to deny yourself fully.   I'm sharing an inspiraitonal qutoe today.  

"To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there."

- Kofi Annan

  Yes, those buffet tables can really do someone in for sure.  I'm looking forward to a clean slate tomorrow too as I was definitely off track since Friday.  Absolutely enjoy the things you love.  No need to deny yourself fully.   I'm sharing an inspiraitonal quote today.  

"To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there."

- Kofi Annan

Love that quote Andrea.  I need to share this one with my son, who is making choices and not enjoying the concequences of those decisions lol.

Monday is a great day to work that clean slate.  And, if you've been consistent in your workouts prior, then your metabolism is already hard at work chasing away those unwanted calories.  And, now you can get back to working your metabolism. 

Two more days in the challenge.  Let's all WORK IT!!!!

 Hey Robin, now that you mentioned it, I need to share it with my kids too... Thanks for the nice post you left for me on the Believe In Miracles goal.  I'm leaving a few more ABC's for your enjoyment.

U - Use Your Lunchbreak Wisely by walking for half of it.  Taking a midday jaunt can boost your energy, reduce your stress, and give you more time after work with family and friends.

V - View Sweet Treats Wisely - Don't deprive yourself of cravings always.  Find a lower calorie substitue that satisfies you and have that as a reward or as a weekly treat.  Put a limit on rich desserts.

W - Write a Gratitude List - Each day, jot down or journal a few things that you're grateful for.  When spirits sad or when stuck in an especially aggrivating day, reviewing your gratitude list can boost your resolve to stay on track.

Hope you find something helpful.

Had to post this, because I am up and gone for the day soon, and I am soooo excited!!  Weight check  this morning.......Another 2LBS!!!!!  yeehaa :-)  I  fell short of my goal by 2 lbs, but I KNOW I am going to be there on next weeks weight check.  Have a great day everyone.

Woot-Woot!!!!  What's important is the habit created, not the number.  Fantastic Job!!!

 WoOoooHOOOO!! So happy for your two more lbs.  You have rocked this three weeks and it's so awesome that you're sooooo close.  Hope you'll continue on until you go away with your sisters.  I have the final installment of the ABC's to share.  Best of luck with the contest too.

X - Xerox Exercise Moves as you come across them in magazines and books.  That way, when you're doing your workout or putting together a routine, you'll have a bit of a library built up with proper techniques outlined and pitcures to show how to get best results.  Happy strength training

Y - Yearn To Accept Where You Are Now if you get discouraged about your rate of progress or if you hit a plateau and get frustrated, try to accept and appreciate where you've come from and the journey to get to where you are currently and where you want to be.  Enjoy the process.  After all, you are doing what it takes to make a difference with your health and fintness.  That alone is commenndable.   

Z - Zero In On Your Body - be sure to listen to the signals your body is giving you.  Treat your body as you would an infant child -  with compassion, patience and love and understanding.  Give it healthful, nutrient rich food for energy only when it's required, quench it's thirst with water freely and give it the exercise it needs for optimal health and fitness and your body will reward you in unbelievable ways.  

Weight check this morning.  1 more lb.  I am switching my goal to reach the weight I want to be by my birthday.  So my new goal is 11lb's in 5 weeks.  Here we go!

Sounds great.  A little refocus and readjustment is just we all need sometimes.  Good Luck with your birthday goal!!!

 Hey Robin, congrats on the next lb!  That's an aggressive goal, but I have no doubt that you'll achieve it now that you've set your mind to it and made a committment.  

good luck robin...with all of the tips and tools that Irene, Andrea and others have shared, I am sure that you will be successful in acheiving your goal!

Thanks ladies!!  I am going to have to kick up the physical activity a notch to get this done.  Now that I am tracking the food consistently, I am very motivated to keep within my limits, but I need to boost the burn :-)

 Awesome!

 Hey Robin! Happy Monday! I'm super motivated to go down another pant size, so I'm completely in this with you! My deadline is March 6th! You are doing so well with the tracking, now move move move that bum! :) (I'm slightly hyped up from my zumba class this evening) Here's to sitting pretty in 5 weeks! ;)

Weight check yesterday....another pound down :-)  I have 10 to go, so Move Move Move!!!  Played hockey yesterday (burned 700 cals)  going for a long walk with the dog today.  

Jenipher, WTG!!  I am looking forward to going down a pant size....nothing really seems to be changing here in that department, hmmmmm......Cheers!

Today is going to be a real test.  I am going to a cocktail party tonight.....lot's of chocolate I am sure lol.  I will make very concious decisions about what I put in my mouth, have a drink or two, and enjoy myself.  Knowing that I will go way over in calorie consumption tonight, I am on my way out to do some shovelling (could have had the kids do it)  and then will try to fit a dog walking in as well. 

Weight check is on Tuesday, and I am feeling confident I will have knocked off another pound or two by then. 

 How did it go at the party, Robin?  I'm sure you were mindful.  It helps to alternate a dring with a glass of water... progress through the evening slowly.  I think you're weigh-in is tomorrow.  Great to hear you're confident and congrats on all the awesome progress you've made.  I'll check in tomorrow for your update and wish you the best.

Party went amazingly well.  I couldn't have any alcohol for the first half of the party because I had to slip out to pick up my teenage son and friends from a party, so that helped control the calories.  I was very mindful, and snacked on the fresh veggies and strawberries (ommitted the chocolate fountain)  and had only a few hot appetizers.  When I totalled it all up at the end of the night I was right on target :-)  Wow, didn't expect that!   I rounded up a friend to walk the dog with in the morning 2 days a week.....and we have another friend who has joined us too!!  This is great motivation to get out there and do it :-)  We do 3-6 miles depending on how much time we have.  That puts me up to a solid 4 days of excercise....woohooo!!  So the scale says two weeks since I last posted my number.......4lb down ;-)   6 more to go.   Best of all, my new weight puts me into the healthy BMI zone 

 Hey Robin, such fantastic news - Healthy BMI??  You're heart is thanking you now.  Plus four more lbs - you'll hit your goal for sure.  Congrats to you.  I loved reading this triumphant update!  Thanks for posting and it's such great news that you've got some company on your walks too - that'll keep all of you motivated.

While I did not make my overall goal of losing 11lbs by my birthday, I was only 4lbs off.  I feel great though.  I have gone down a full size in my clothing, and have established habits that are so good for me both physically and emotionally.  I am not giving up on my goal.  I will get there, it just might take me a little longer.  BMI (Body Mass Index)  as opposed to the "perfect" weight, because everyone is built differently, it gives you a range that is healthy for your height and age.  I am now in that zone, and am working to get solidly in the middle of that BMI range, not just on the top end of it.   

 Robin, you are an inspiration.  I have now doubt in my mind that you'll get there.