Never Give Up in 2009 Challenge

[alykat06]

So here it is guys, the new challenge for 2009. This is the first weight loss challenge I am starting so bear with me . This challenge is for anyone and everyone! The thing about this challenge is that it will last for quite some time, at least the summer, if not til 2010 rings in. There will be mini goals in between, our first goals will be set for Valentines day and the next will be Easter/Spring...and so on. Who ever wants to join may do so, just tell us a little about yourself and what your first goal for valentines will be, and what your long term weight loss goal is. We will be weighing in every week on Wednesday, seems that is a great weigh in day because it might keep some of us on track on the weekends. Also if there is a calorie limit/max you are eating please let us know about those as well. That way you can check in and make sure our sticking to those. I would like to come up with ideas for motivational goals in the weeks and months leading up to the mini goals, such as certain exercise goals etc. Everyone can chip in and bring forth any ideas they may have. As the challenge progresses others may always join, considering this is going to be a long challenge. I figure the longer this challenge is the less likely it will be that members will drop off the board and/or fall off the wagon. So please let me know if you have any weekly/monthly motivational ideas.

My name is Alyssia but everyone on here calls me Aly, which I like . I am 20 years old and I live in Maryland with my boyfriend and cat. I am currently a data collector for a contractor that is through the army. I am also going to College in order to get my associates degree in business. I weighed in at 195 lbs this morning and my goal will be 185lbs by Valentines day. My bigger goal is to be in the 160's by May when i go to Germany, hopefully by my birthday in October I will be happy and healthy . I stick to at least 1000 and always try to reach 1200 calories a day. i stick to low carbs because my body just cant process carbs very well and it doesn't seem to like sugar either. I try and get in 100 oz of water a day and at least 30 minutes of exercise every day. I am probably going to increase my exercise to 45 minutes a day because that was what was recommended for an insulin resistant regimen, but I will be asking my doctor first of course.

Lets get the challenge started!

[sweettart]

Yay ! Ok my name is julie I am 28yrs old wow did I say 28 I don't feel that old but I guess I am.n e ways I live in a very small town in ks. I have been married for 10yrs but we have just been back together for a year. I have 3 boys 13,8,7 and one baby girl she will be a year old jan 23. She is my everything !! I started phen nov 7th at 203lbs and now I am 185lbs I would love to be 175lbs b4 2-14-09 and over all I would love to be 130lbs b4 july 09. My dr has me on 1200 cals aday and I do 30m work out 6 days aweek. I would like to find the time to workout longer. I also teach asl to songs 2 to 3 times aweek and that's a BIG work out and its no stoping for 3 hours. If anyone wants to see what I do u can find me on utube by looking under signing4thedivine/forgiveme. Any how good luck to u all !!

[tazgirl31]

WoW I am so excited about this challange!!! My name is Mary, which I go by Taz!!! I am 32 and have been married for almost 10 years!!!! I was also blessed with 2 beautiful stepdaughters!!!! My other kids are my frienchbulldog Luki and my little girl Roxie....shes a long hair chawahuaw...ugh...I no I spelled it wrong!!! Anyways when I first started here on phen I weighed 272 pounds! And after 2 months when I stopped phen I was weighing 236 pounds! So, Now this morning after being off phen for over a month I am weighing 228!!!! Lost 8 pounds on my own with just eating right and exercising!!!!! 6 pounds to go to the 50 pound mark!!! YEAAA!!!! so my goal is to lose that 6 pounds by Valentines day!!! 2/14/09!!! I have set bigger goals in the past and just felt overwhelmed and discouraged so I will be happy with the 6 pounds!!! and of course even more happy if I lose more!!!!! I No this challange is going to give me that xtra little push I need!!! And Aly by OCTOBER we are both gonna look beautiful and skinny!!!!!!!!!!! So lets get buzzzzzy!!!!!!! Good luck to EVERYONE!!!!!!

[scatanafas]

I'm Scat and I"m here to offer support and guidance to Alykat as she leads her first challenge. I'm so happy that she agreed to do it and I'll try and be here as much as I can. Just for the record I am no longer on phen. Phen helped me lose ten lbs out of the thirty that I lost altogether, but I realized that I need to go the distance without phen.

I'm forty something (somewhere after forty its all a blur...LOL), a mom of two kids and a research assistant/study coordinator at a nursing school. I also was a jazzercise instructor for years up until May 2008 when I gave up my business to take care of my father who had a long and complicated illness. A result of this was me coming to know Jesus and some other personal epiphanies which i refuse to share on here...I also made some of the best friends I've ever had in my life from this board.... So out of the hardship came some good things. I am now ready to get back into the saddle and look forward to becoming a gym rat again and paying closer attention to my diet. My goals for this challenge:

Get to my goal of 130 by Valentines Day
Start a healthy low carb lifestyle again. no pasta, no rice and very little bread.

I am joining a gym near me that has a special 8 week program where they monitor you closely and offer alot of guidance and support. I figure that is a good place to start. I'm also taking zumba classes and hope to be teaching zumba by March 2009. I'm a busy lady but always make time for the people and things that I love an I have learned to ignore drama and venom, no time for the negativity, I'm much too busy and happy for that! I hope this thread helps others on their journey and you all support one another.

Lets get this party started. Aly, do you want us to log in our weights one day a week? Which day should that be? I vote for Fridays.

[alykat06]

I had posted we weigh in on wednesdays but its really up to you guys, I weigh less on the weekends for some reason lol. Probably because we stay on track during the week
Wohoo Im looking forward to it!

[scatanafas]

I had posted we weigh in on wednesdays but its really up to you guys, I weigh less on the weekends for some reason lol. Probably because we stay on track during the week
Wohoo Im looking forward to it!

Okay, wednesdays it is then.

[sweetpurple]

Hi my name is gerina am 32 and have four kids 2 boys, 2 girls ages 14,12,10, and 8. and a fiance.I started phen in september my starting weight was 278 know 264, i had lost almost almost 20 lbs. But i fell off so yes i need this challenge so glad alykat started this one. My mini for 2/14/09 10lbs. over all 78 lbs. I will push myself to eat better and exercise much more. My problem is i cant bring myself to eat breakfast so i have to find away. But am going to loose this weight trust and believe that. Good luck to everone.

[elemteach5]

Hi. My name is Tammy. I go by elemteach5. As you can guess, I'm a fifth grade teacher. I live in a tiny town in West Tennessee. I am 41. I've been married 22 1/2 years. I have 3 sons 22, 18, & 14, plus I have a 5 month old grandson which is the apple of my eyes. Due to a lot of extra stress over the past few months I've managed to pack on 22 pounds. My out of whack thyroid, low iron and low vitamin D didn't help much. Now that I have all that under control, I'm looking forward to the challenge. I've been trying to get pumped up and motivated so maybe this will help.
I just started back on phen yesterday so I'm sure I'll be going through sugar withdrawal for the next week. Thank goodness for my students I'll be on break for another week.

My goal by Valentines day is to loose the 22 pounds I gained, then work on the rest.

Aly--- you look fantastic in your picture. You look so skinny. Do you really weigh 196??? Girl, you carry it well!!! You are a beautiful young lady!!!!

Oh yeah, will we just post our successes on here every Wednesday, or do we go somewhere else to post???

[Glenna M]

I am Glenna, I guess I might as well say I am 50, since tomorrow is my birthday. I have 2 sons, one 30 and one 15, a daughter-in-law and a grandson due in 2 months. I have been married for 17 years this coming May.

I am not taking Phen and haven't since about 6 to 8 weeks in. Like Scat, I figured on my own was the way to do it. This morning I weighed in at 150. My goal for 2/14/09 is to be 143 and by 6/1/09 I want to be at my goal of 135. My goal may change though since I now fit into all of the clothes I had in the back of the closet! I want to firm up and see how I feel after that. I don't feel at 50 that being a certain weight is what matters, it is being healthy. Right now I can fit into clothes anywhere from a 10 to a 6, depending on the store and brand. I just want to be less jiggly! I bought myself a new scale for my birthday (from hubby LOL) that tells me my BMI and if I am hydrated enough, I can't wait to use it!

[MICHMICH805]

OK! MY NAME IS MICHELL, I LIVE IN PHILLY WITH TWO GROWN SONS. BUT FOR THE HOLIDAYS I FEEL LIKE I OVER DID IT. IF YOU WILL HAVE A CHUNKY SORT OF MIDDLE AGE WOMAN, I WOULD LOVE TO JOIN THIS CHALLENGE. BY VALENTINE'S DAY I WOULD LIKE TO DROP AT LEAST 10LBS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A REALISTIC WEIGHT TO LOSE. I AM GOING TO ATLANTA FOR MY B-DAY IN APRIL AND WOULD LIKE TO LOSE AN ADDITIONAL 10LBS POUND BY THIS DATE. I BELIEVE THE CHALLENGES ARE GOOD BECAUSE THIS KEEP US AWARE OF OUR PERSONAL GOAL AND THOSE AS A GROUP.

[KittyVentura]

Yay Aly!

I'm Kitty (aka Jem) and I'm from England. I'm 24 and I just got engaged on Christmas day to my beautiful Danny! I live with my Fiance and our two hamsters. I work in finance compliance!

I'm a bit obsesed with the fifties, I like pretty dressed and skirts. I'm a complete hourglass. As of yesterday I measured bust 42", waist 31" and hips 43". I love to sew on my sewing machine and I love to sing (badly) and dance (better). I love to cook, go to gigs and do peoples hair and makeup. I'm a little vain and I LOVVVVE my camera. Lol!

I am not on phen, I lost my first 10-14lbs on phen, the rest has been just me. I want to partake in this challenge up until I catch the baby bug which Danny and I are trying to catch. I'd love to get to 165 by valentines, I am 183 today.

[donnamex]

Hi my name is donna, im 45 years old, been married for 26 yrs and i have two grown sons and each has given me one grandbaby , boy and girl. My husband and I are missionaries 650 miles down inside old Mexico for the past 18 yrs, and we love it... My husband is also on Phen with me, He dont watch what he eats he just eats it hahha.
I try very hard to watch what i eat and when i eat it.. I dont do any exercise and that is what my goal will be is to start it... i look at all you guys and see your pic and wish i would have started when i started losing BUT HEY i didnt so at least i want to start now...
last weeks weigh in i was 186 and TOM was here, BUT hey HE IS GONE NOWWWWWWW ...
IM so lookin for this new year and the new me... THANKS YOU ALL

[donnamex]

oh yes my goal for feb 14 is 175 ... thats it haha

[HeatherKhemraj]

Hello, my name is Heather, I am 24 years old, I have two sons 5 & 2, I have been seperated from my husband for two years now, I want to divorce, but every time I make a court date, something comes up! Since I left him, I have moved in with my mom, she has been a great help, I love her!! She is super supportive of my weight loss, even so she will be starting Phen in January!! Go MOM!! Anyway this is my second time on phen, the first time I was on I lost alot of weight, but I used Phen as a crutch, and just didn't eat. This time I have learned to use it as a tool, to help me learn a better lifestyle. One year ago I weighed 240lbs, currently i weigh 173.5lbs. I would like to be 160lbs by 2/14/2009.

[Makeithappen]

Hi everyone I'm Christi! I have been awol from the boards for about a mth. I haven't been on phen since the end of Nov and as of yesterday weighed in at 265. I am a 911 dispatcher, which means for 12hrs a day I sit on my butt in front of 6 computer screens. I eat when I am bored and to stay awake (I'm working the midnight shift now), I am going to shoot for 255 by 2/14. I wont have phen to help as my dr will only give a 3 mth script every 9 mths. I am also going to try the whole exercise thing again, for the few mths when I was losing I was running an obstacle course everyday for a job I was hoping to get (which didnt happen which kinda got me down which kinda caused me to backslide!) BUT I know how much better I felt and how much more energy I had so I know I need to get back into it.

ALY!! I am so proud of you...I know from the things you have posted that you have been working your butt off to get to onederland.....CONGRATS!!!!!!!!

Everyone else GOOD LUCK!

[alykat06]

Yeah welcome everyone , I am very happy to see so many challengers already..heres to hoping for many more!

sweetpurple- have you tried drinking a protein shake for breakfast? I used to refuse to eat breakfast, which is a very big no no, considering it sets your whole day up to burn calories. I usually dont get hungry in the morning and I dont like the thought of eating something at 6am, but drinking a protein shake seems to work fine for me..plus low carb content and lots of protein sets my day up for a lot of fat burning.

kitty we are so alike, i measured 2 days ago and my bust is a 39, waist is a 31, and hips are a 41. I hate having such big hips..I look horrible in every shirt i try on.

Nice to see you back makeithappen!

Thanks for the comments as well, I know from the waist up I look like I am 160, but once you hit the hips I sort of balloon out lol, I carry that extra 40 lbs in the butt, hips, and thighs ...I am also 5'7 so i have the advantage of being taller.

Just go ahead and weigh in here every wednesday, if you hit a goal early or just want to tell us your weight on any given day dont hesitate to announce it . try and check in every day or every few days, this will keep you on track and i often find that those who drop off for a few days are ashamed of some bad eating habits or not exercising so they just dont come on...(or they are just very busy ) Were all human so just state if you have overendulged or whatever the case may be and well motivate you to make better choices or help you through the rough spots.

[srdmom]

Hi my name is Staci and Im 35 years old. (36 in January) I have 3 children (14,12, &10)and have been married for almost 15 years. I teach Autistic Children during the day and at night I am a manager of a dance studio.

I weighed in at 192 at my last weigh in. Weds. are good for me because that was the day I usually weigh in!! My mini goal is to be 180 by Valentines day. Long term I would like to get down to 135. I am only 5'0 tall, so weigh shows easily on me!!

A challenge group is just the thing I need to staay motivated!! Good luck to you all!!

[Laurachip1]

I'm so excited. My name is Laura, and I love to eat. now I am trying to eat healthier. I am married with two children. I have my own company, and hope to be expanding soon... lots of stress there. I have yoyoed for so many years, it's hard to remember where the journey started. About 6 years ago I got down from 222 to 155 with Phen. I went off Phen and over a couple of years and a few medical procedeures it came back on and then some. In July of 2007 i saw a picture of me in a bathing suit and said OMG is that me?? I weighed in and weighed 252. I went to the Dr and got Phen and started over again. I have been on and off Phen for the last couple of years, just not sticking to it like I should. Seems like something always happens, I get sick, someone dies ect... and really those are excuses. So here we go.

I will exercise 5 days a week.

I will think about every bite that goes in my mouth and consider what the effects will be.

I will take my Phen

I will weigh in every Wed.

I will support my fellow members of this challenge.

I will weigh 205 by Valentines Day.

Did I miss anything? Good luck to you all.

[tinkerbellt15]

My name is Trisha. I'm 23 and in my first year of teaching. I currently teach middle school in a small town in Iowa. I have been big all my life - I lost some weight in high school, but while in college i managed to gain that back and then some. When I started Phen on 12/2 I weighed 244. On 12/22 I went back in and I was at 225. My first three weeks were hard, but losing 19lbs was very exciting! However this week has been awful for me! So many holiday things to go to. The doctor I go to has me on a 400 calorie diet- yeah I said 400. Which is CRAZY. I stuck to it pretty well the first 3 weeks, but this week I have NOT! Even though I ate more I still know I was eating less then I would have before I started Phen. So I'm still pretty proud of myself. My goal for 2/14 would be to be under 200. I'm not picky - 199 would work for me!!!

[ethanangel]

YAY Aly...so excited about this challenge. I'm Angel I am 32 but still act all of 12 at times I have been with the love of my life Ethan for 2.5yrs and he finally proposed on Christmas day- the 3rd greatest day of my life so far. I have a son 7 & daughter 8. I live in WA State(yes seattle is in WA and yes it rains a ton). I am a Commercial Insurance Underwriter for a large corporation- A hint is Red Umbrella! My weight today is 142.5 . My 1st goal is to be at 130 by V-DAY. To get there i will keep cals under 1100 , get in atleast 100oz. of water and lay off the salt and do cardio 4x wk and WIIfit yoga every other day

[lilredz326]

Hey my name is Kristy and Im 23 years old. I live in South Carolina with my boyfriend of 6 years and our Chihuahua. I don't know what I weight today, but last week i weighed 196 so I am gonna say that for 2/14 my goal will be 180. I did terrible this week with Christmas and all. But im looking forward to getting on track again!! I will be student teaching starting in January, so hopefully that will give me a steady daily routine. I have been on Phen since Dec. 2 2008 and I am combining it with weight watchers so I don't lose as much weight as most people. But thats ok cuz its doctors orders...as long as the weight comes off!!!

[scatanafas]

I'm LOVING the positivity of this challenge so far and we just got started! We are all different shapes, sizes, races, from different parts of the country (I'm an obnoxious New Yorker by the way..... but what we all have in common at this very moment is the desire to improve ourselves. Whether it be by losing lbs, toning up, changing our diets.....

Aly are you going to keep a chart? LZ will show you how to do that, I think she used to do it on other challenges. Sometimes when we see our progress laid out for us it really gets you more motivated!!!

Tinkerbell: Good luck on your journey. Getting to 199 is a big deal on this board..we call it getting to ONEDERLAND and it is cause for a celebration! You'll get there girl, I just feel it.

Laura: Nice to see you again. Yes, life really sends us some roadblocks, doesn't it? A woman that lost over 100 lbs told me that she had to stop and start over many times...it is part of being human,,,but finally she got that weight off and kept it off.....it took two years but she got there...I found alot of inspiration from her and when she talked about "starting over"..well I think we've all been there.

STaci: how I wish I had your night job! Being around dancers is so exciting....then again alot of them are TINY so It hink that would give me a complex...LOL....anyhoo you're going to do great. I can relate when you say weight shows up on your more, I have a small frame so I don't carry weight well AT ALL. This is why I really am trying to stay at this weight or smaller......I am also trying to avoid breast reduction surgery but if I don't get my self smaller I may have no choice since the weight of my hooters causes neck and shoulder pain.

Kitty: I wish you could do my makeup. I need to meet up with you if i'm in England this summer.....I wish that I could sew..you really impress me.

Gerina, I hear you on the breakfast thing girl. I totally have to force myself to eat in the mornng. I'm simply not hungry. try and get something down...the protein shake is a good idea, and in my case I will have a fiber one bar on the way to work and then eat an apple when I get to my desk. On the days that I don't go to work I try and have a hard boiled egg or some oatmeal. Once you get in the habit of having breakfast then it will come more natural to you.

Heather, divorce HAS to be one of the most stressful things to deal with next to a death of a loved one.....so trying to lose weight during it is somethiing I totally commend you for doing. How great that your mom is going to be doing it with you..good luck to both of you.

Donnamex...Missionaries are COOL.....good for you for losing weight and maybe your husband will follow suit and do the same.

MichMich: yes you can lose ten lbs by valentines day, it is very possible....you will have to work hard at it but the reward is so great.

Glenna: Girl I talk to you every dang day, I have nothing to say to you...bahahahah...seriously girl HAPPY BIRTHDAY a day early! FIFTY never looked so dang good...for real. You and my boss are two of the most beautiful fifty year olds I have ever seen..and you hit it on the mark when you say its about being HEALTHY...I spent enough time in a hospital the past year to know about that. You are an inspiration to others.

Tammy: a out of whack thyroid makes things difficult but weight loss will improve your condition....take care of yourself !!

Tazmatazz: Keep on keepin' on.

Well I hope I did'nt leave anyone out.....Just wanted to greet you all proper....Alykat do your thang girl.......

[alykat06]

Oh yeah I am planning on keeping a chart of everyone who has joined and of everyones weigh in's each week, no big deal if you dont do it on time, but I will relay the weigh in progress each mini goal we get to so you can see where you were when you started

[scatanafas]

Oh yeah I am planning on keeping a chart of everyone who has joined and of everyones weigh in's each week, no big deal if you dont do it on time, but I will relay the weigh in progress each mini goal we get to so you can see where you were when you started

Ay ay Captain....

[calicofrog]

Hi everyone, i'm ready for a little push in the right direction. I live in Florida and am 36 with two teenage sons. I try to take in 1200 calories a day. I recently went to a medically managed weight loss center, I am considering starting it again. I am 170 pounds at 5'3". Busty and curvy. And not in all the right places. Look forwrd to meeting everyone. Happy Holidays

[Phoenix19]

Hi, my name is Phoenix, and I will have been on phen for two weeks as of this coming Tuesday. My last weigh in was Friday 12/26/08 and I weighed 258. When I started on 12/16/08 I weighed 265 so I have lost 7 pounds so far. Yippee!

My goal for Valentines Day is to be in the 240's. My overall goal is to be 155, which is my fighting weight. I know it is over what the charts say but I have a very muscular build. I love this sight and all the support that everyone gives.

My plan to achieve my goal is to continue to work out 6 days a week and stay between 1000-1200 calories per day but I plan to increase my cardio from 1 hour which I currently do to 1.5 hours everyday.

Good luck to everyone!

[tazgirl31]

Okay one question lol? So we start this today and this wednesday is our weigh in day? and we post here right? oops....sorry more then one ? I no hahah.....just making sure im doing it right!!!!! thanx......

[scatanafas]

TAZMATAZ: Our first weigh in day will be this wednesday. That will be your starting weight for the challenge, then you post your weight every Wednesday until valentines day...Valentines day is on a friday I think so i guess we'll do our final weigh in that day.....Alykat will keep a chart but you may want to keep your weigh ins in your signature for your own incentive......its pretty easy....you cant mess this up and if you do then I have permission to smack you, okay? just kidding tazzie....

Phoenix: what kind of cardio are you going to do for one and a half hours????

[hmhuntr]

Thank you Aly for taking on such a task!!!! Here we go.......My name is Heather, I am now 33 (eewww) and have 3 kids 8.5, 7, 4. I have been everywhere from 250+ down to 150 in the last 6 years...I'm a yo-yo and am trying to learn healthy habits this time around. I passed my national boards for Occupational Therapy in October and am now working in Early Intervention; Birth to Three. I started phen in September and was a ball of fire....then my flame went out. I am here to get back on the wagon and yell FULL STEAM AHEAD!! I am 176 lbs and my goal for VD (haha) is 164 lbs. This will be the hardest twelve pounds I have ever lost. Thank you in advance for the support you beautiful women will offer.

[scatanafas]

Hop on board hmhunter...so nice to see so many people joining this challenge and it is nice to see the board going back to the purpose it was intended.

[tazgirl31]

TAZMATAZ: Our first weigh in day will be this wednesday. That will be your starting weight for the challenge, then you post your weight every Wednesday until valentines day...Valentines day is on a friday I think so i guess we'll do our final weigh in that day.....Alykat will keep a chart but you may want to keep your weigh ins in your signature for your own incentive......its pretty easy....you cant mess this up and if you do then I have permission to smack you, okay? just kidding tazzie....

Phoenix: what kind of cardio are you going to do for one and a half hours????

Thank you Scat!!!
That was funny lol ok, so I promise not to mess this up!!!! I am so lookin forward to losing this next 28 pounds scat!!! wow The day I hit the 200 pound will be so exciting for me....I cant even imagine...I am so mad at myself for getting in this shape...I will never let this happen again once I get it all off....So Im gonna try to work my butt off on this challange....Its been hard to walk on my treadmill cause we just moved and theres no room now in my bedroom for it so its in the cold garage...But guess I will just have to put some warm clothes on and go and walk and make myself warm lol..cause walking helps me alot......

[scatanafas]

well walking in a cold garage is no different than if you were walking outside so just think of it that way...and you'll work up a sweat as you walk. Our treadmill AND elliptical are in pieces since we moved and i'm in no hurry to put them together again, i'd rather work out at the gym...I always preferred that for some reason. Stop beating yourself up for putting on weight. Focus on today and the future...yesterday doesn't matter.

[tazgirl31]

well walking in a cold garage is no different than if you were walking outside so just think of it that way...and you'll work up a sweat as you walk. Our treadmill AND elliptical are in pieces since we moved and i'm in no hurry to put them together again, i'd rather work out at the gym...I always preferred that for some reason. Stop beating yourself up for putting on weight. Focus on today and the future...yesterday doesn't matter.

Yep!! No excuses Im gona do it!!!!! Oh I would love to join a gym!! I am going to check on this one not far from my house its called anytime fitness!! open 24 hours a day..think this would be cool....this way I can work my entire body...I used to go to curves for women and LOVED it but then they closed it down and moved to far away....But IT always made me feel good going out and working out there!!! It made me go cause I knew if I didnt I was wasting money haha....I never thought I would be so excited about working out!!!!! I could work out free at the hospital I work at in there fitness room but I just hate to be there more then I have to be.....well see ya wednesday!!!!!!! Im off to bed i think!!!

[anipsed]

WOW--I had no idea my original post would have such a huge response! Im glad I wasnt the only one out there looking for a challenge

My name is Dessie and I am 28 years old. I am a psycholo gist and in my spare time Ive been enjoying the heck out of my new Nikon D60 in my spare time...LOVE taking photos---especially of kids and nature.

I will be attempting to lose some weight without the use of Phen---took phen back in 2004 and lost about 30 pounds. Those same 30 are back now and Im ready to tackle them using my own willpower.

My starting weight is around 169 (will weigh in on Wednesday with a final starting point).

My goal for Valentine's day (6 weeks) will be 10 pounds off---pushing me into the one fifties! That will be achieved by calorie counting - striving for 1200-1500 per day, drinking 64oz of water, and doing cardio for 45 minutes 4x per week.

My long term goal is to be 139 by late July---(my 29th birthday). I will achieve this by making necessary changes to my caloric intake (maybe more like 1200-1300 per day) and increasing my water intake and cardio---also adding weight lifting after V-Day


And my long long term goal is to look hottier at 30 than I did at 26-28 (body looked pretty good before that).

And my long long long term goal is to develop a healthy lifestyle that includes making the right choices and PORTION CONTROL!

Look forward to getting to know each of you over the next few months!

[ethansmommy23]

i am danielle. i live in western ky with my husband and two beautiful babies. ethan is 3 going on 20 and kaylee is 5 months. i've always kept my weight under a pretty close watch b/c most of the women n my family r overweight with several even falling into the morbidly obese category and at a young age i vowed i would never let that happen to me. i got pregnant with ethan at 20 years old and 136 lbs and gained about 80 lbs with him. i busted my butt and got down to 160 and was going full steam ahead toward my pre-pregnancy weight when i got baby fever again and got pregnant with kaylee. i did better this pregnancy and came out of the hospital weighing 185. with an almost 3 year old and a new baby and all the stress that came along with just having a c-section and all this responsibility i gained another 10 lbs. in sept at my six week check up i saw that number approaching 200 and got the go ahead to start light exercise and that's when i knew it was time to get rid of all the weight. the first 35 came off so easy but now it's going slower. i'm eating better and i'm working out like crazy and even though the scale isn't showing much i feel fantastic.

my goals for 2009:
v-day- 145
easter- 135 <goal>
my b-day <6/24> toned up enough to b comfortable in a two piece swim suit.
MAINTENANCE

i'm so excited about this challenge.