Welcome to December, April Bandits! We've made it through the November holidays and managed to keep up our exercise, now here's to December. We can do it!

We're holding steady with our challenge for the month and looking forward to stepping up the challenge in January. The December goals are as follows:

(1) Complete 17 or more exercise sessions (counting only one session per day, if you're the type to do more!);

(2) To count, each session must be at least 35 minutes in duration; and

(3) Consume at least 64 oz of Water (or whatever your personal goal for water intake is) at least 6 days a week.

We can do it! December is such a challenge in itself, but let's stay focused to meet our weight loss goals despite the extra temptations. Exercise will help us with that.

And we're off!

Sorry to hear about your friends dad Kat, she must be so thankful to have you for support. That is what life is all about, good friends. Sounds like your family had a lot of fun Christmas day. I think the new year can't come fast enough, so we all can get back on track!

Worked out today...went to a party on Sunday and woke up with a migraine. Haven't felt too great since then, but feeling a lot better today.

Roberta

Kat..........it is so much fun to watch the grandkids open the presents......remember when ours were little like yours...........our babies are now 8 1/2..........and the big ones are in High School.........enjoy those babies...........the time goes by so quickly.

Well, with our planned walk to Breakfast tomorrow I will have met this month's challenge..............hopefully will get in a couple more NIA classes on Friday and Sat and maybe even Sunday morning.........that will make it 20.........................I'm going to do it!

Yep, like the rest of you..........I want this New Year to start already.......back to the "simple" life. We're having a gang of friends over for NY eve and then I'm back to being a tee totaler...................I'm not a "drinker", but the past month has been a challenge............from going to not having anything in more than 6 months to a glass of wine with dinner out once in a couple of weeks, to party-time month of December......those empty calories are not needed - along with all the other temptations that I had not put in this mouth for so long.............go away goodies! So, those extra couple of pounds that found their way onto my butt will be leaving soon.............back to basics. Any other year without the band and it would have be 10 or 15 lbs or more. All the exercise has been such a help also................just think about any other year in December...................would you have believed it...........thru all the holidays and we've kept up our challenge! Yeah, for us!

I'll update my signature line (including the NOW weight on Friday) yikes.....it's fess up time. I think I'll go back to weighing once a week again....that seems to work best for me - getting on the scale with Alan watching!

December

1 - 1 hour NIA

2- 1 hour NIA

3 -

4 - 1 hour NIA/1 hour strength training

5 - walk back and forth to breakfast approx 1 hour

6 - off to my 1 hour NIA class - talked 2 friends into joining my gym and so have partners in my NIA class

7 - 1 hour walk to breakfast (approx)

8 - 1 hour NIA (posted in advance - meeting friends so no excuses!)

9 - 1 hour NIA (on my way over to the gym!!!)

10 -

11 - 1 hour NIA

12 -

13 - 1 hour NIA (planned - done!)

14

15 - 1 hour NIA

16

17

18

19

20 - 1 hour walk

21

22 - 1 hour NIA

23 - 1 hour NIA

24 - 1 hour walk to breakfast

25 -

26 -

27 - 1 hour NIA

28 - 1 hour walk to breakfast (planned)

Kat, I'm so sorry for your friend and her father. Those are hard, hard days. You're all going to come through it fine. I'm glad your friend has this time with him, as awful as it is. My mother sat with her mother for 10 days in the hospital in the end and they're some of her most bitter sweet moments. I hope that for your friend feels the same way in a few years. In any event, I will definitely keep them (and you) in my prayers.

Thanks for all the sweet words...her Dad died this morning around 5. Services will be Friday...all but one family member is already here. My friend, Becky, is pretty tore up---which is to be expected. I will be in and out as things take place.

Today I did take the kids and pull them around the football practice field on their toboggan sled. Connor, 10 months, is justa giggler--he has fun, but is just along for the ride. Kinsey at 2 years, is an absolute riot! She anticipates the turns, and slides, and screeches, and yells "Run Granny!!!"!! With the walk to and from the field, I definitely got my time in today!! Tomorrow is Curves, and we have plans to go bowling with friends on Friday night...I may make this!!! My lungs are super tight tonight---it feels like I am relapsing with this stupid cold/infection. I better not be!!!

I'm sorry I am not catching everyone in personals---I am reading and following---I appreciate you all being there!!

Kat

Dear Kat............so sorry for your friend's loss. I'm sure she appreciates your friendship now more than ever. As we get older and start to lose our grandparents and then our parents, we realize what is really important in life..............we give away all the "small stuff" or rather, try to give it away...........................sometimes we forget!

Again, a happy, very healthy New Year to all.

Life is precious! In our worst times, we can find our best friends. You are a good friend, Kat.

Went to Curves - 40 mins. six more pounds to lose and I'll be in onederland!!!

Roberta

Roberta.............you are soooo close! You'll be in onederland in no time! It's a great place - I love it!

December

1 - 1 hour NIA

2- 1 hour NIA

3 -

4 - 1 hour NIA/1 hour strength training

5 - walk back and forth to breakfast approx 1 hour

6 - off to my 1 hour NIA class - talked 2 friends into joining my gym and so have partners in my NIA class

7 - 1 hour walk to breakfast (approx)

8 - 1 hour NIA (posted in advance - meeting friends so no excuses!)

9 - 1 hour NIA (on my way over to the gym!!!)

10 -

11 - 1 hour NIA

12 -

13 - 1 hour NIA (planned - done!)

14

15 - 1 hour NIA

16

17

18

19

20 - 1 hour walk

21

22 - 1 hour NIA

23 - 1 hour NIA

24 - 1 hour walk to breakfast

25 -

26 -

27 - 1 hour NIA

28 - 1 hour walk to breakfast (planned & done!)

29 - 1 hour NIA

18 Sessions to date - want to do 20!

I broke my nose! It hurt too bad to run the last three days, but I refuse to ask Julie for another pardon. Two more days to get in two workouts. The swelling is down so running tonight was fine.

Gotta learn to stay out of those barroom brawls! :boxing:

(actually, a box hit me in the nose at Target)

OH NO Lisa---I know how bad that hurts. Mine were courtesy of my a$$hole ex-husband, but it hurts all the same. You poor thing! Is Target going to take care of it?

I had started a post yesterday, had to leave the computer, come back and finished it, and it would not post. I had lost my connection---could not get on line all night. Woke up intending to call---and it was better. Not going to try to re-create the post.

I got in my workout shoveling snow, for myself and a neighbor. Today I am going to Curves, and then getting ready for DH's company holiday party. Which most of my post was a rant over!!!!

We have about 8 inches of snow, and more expected today...guess I will wear boots tonight!

Will check back later...found this and wanted to share it with y'all!

'Twas the month after Christmas, and all through the house,

Not a garment would fit me, not even a blouse.

The cookies I'd nibble, the eggnog I'd taste,

At those holiday parties went straight to my waist.

When I got on the scales there arose such a number!

I walked to the shop (less a walk than a lumber),

And thought of the marvelous meals I'd prepared;

The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared,

The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese,

And the way that I'd never said, "No thank you, please."

When I put on my extra-large husband's old shirt,

And prepared once again to do battle with dirt,

I said to myself, as only I can,

"You can't spend the winter disguised as a man!"

So away with the last of the sour cream dip!

Go, fruitcake! Go, cookies! Go, cracker and chips!

Each last bit of food that I like must be banished

'Till all the additional kilos have vanished.

I won't have that ice cream, not even a lick,

I'll chew only on a long celery stick.

I won't have choc biscuits, or white bread, or pie

I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.

I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore

But isn't that what January is for?

Unable to giggle, no longer a riot,

Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

Kat

Oh Boo! You poor thing with the broken nose. No running for you -- just walk for a few days. You'll make the goal. I'm sure of it. Broken nose -- that's the pits.

Kat, where's your ex. I'm going to put the whoop on him for hurting you. Grrrrrrrrr. I'm so glad you got out.

I'm ready to go HOME! I've enjoyed my time down south, but NYC is calling me. Tomorrow, but it's supposed to rain all day, which means ATL flights will certainly be delayed. Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting started on the trip home.

I've done OK with the exercise while here. I did great in Mobile where I had a treadmill. Here at my Mom's house, it's SO DARK at night -- scary dark. I've gone walking most nights, but running outside is too much to convince myself to do, since I'd already met the challenge. I stayed in my target heart rate zone for at least 35 minutes, so I did ok. I'm looking forward to January. I'm going to kick January's tail! Yall come along and kick it too, ok?

Talk soon,

Julie - you rock...........26 days to date! I'll sign up to kick January with you................only going away for 3 days next month......so no excuses.

On my way to the gym for my 19th..........and I promise to do tomorrow to get to 20 this month!

Thanks for the condolences! A heavy gust of wind just outside of Target was to blame. There is no way I would go after them for my nose. Oh well...maybe a tummy tuck AND a new nose for me!

Gosh Julie, 26??? That is awesome and inspiring.

Kat, I LOVE your poem. It is great! I still can't believe what you have been through. Good thing you had the self-esteem and strength to get out of a nightmare! Your g-babies don't have to see the jerk, do they?

I am READY for January. My workouts are usually 50-90 minutes, but I'll have to be diligent to get in the 20. It is amazing that working out makes every day so much brighter. I know all about endorphins, but feeling the difference in mood alone is motivation for keeping the exercise mandatory.

Boo.........Sounds like you are on the mend!.............Hope it is not toooo painful.............ouch.............are you black and blue? Brave lady to pick up and continue with your exercise - just think, I bet last year it would have been a really good excuse to get into bed............our lives have greatly changed with this band of ours!

Wow, you don't check in for a while and people break their noses!!!:faint: Boo, what a freak accident:omg: ....glad your starting to feel better. Are you going to need surgery to fix it?

Kat, your poem was a riot:biggrin1:

Julie hope you get home safe. It is nice to visit, but there really isn't any place like HOME!

Went to see Dreamgirls last night with a few girlfriends, it was very good. Jennifer Hudson has some voice! We are invited to some friends house tomorrow night. I hope I don't wake up with a migraine Monday like last week.

Did 3 mile walk with DH.

Roberta