Alright guys...I'm reaching out to you for some support and a kick in the rear. I have set a goal to get to 175 by April 30, 2008 (my one year bandiversary). That will be a 100 pound weight loss. So...last week I hit 185 then I went back up to 187...UUUGGGHHHH. I am desperate to get to 175. I haven't been eating really well and Easter didn't help. I have slacked on my exercise. Stick it to me...tell me like it is...don't hold back!!! Tell me how stupid I am to not be strict with my diet and exercise at this point. Tell me how dumb it is to not back up from the table and call it quits when I get that first "full" sensation. Yell at me and remind me that I need to work hard at this and not blow it. Give me some suggestions of FUN exercise so I will actually do it. OK...it's up to you now...lay it on me... (thanks):thumbup:

Hmmm... I don't think I can be so harsh.... BUT what I want you to think about is how lucky you are to have the band... I am still waiting and let me tell you this waiting game is not fun... I would LOVE to have the band today, I would love to not have gotten so upset this week getting ready for work because I couldn't find anything to cover my growing hips, tummy and thighs... I wish I was in your spot and I promise I wouldn't take it for granted... I don't think you should either! Do you know how many people are wishing they were in your shoes right now??? Pull it together if not for you, but for all of us who wish we were ten pounds away from our goal! Be our inspiration, be your own inspiration... You made it this far, why give up now! You can do it! Suck it up and give it all you have got... You have the tool, you have us as support, now suck it up and give it your best shot!

Shannon:w00t:

Thanks guys and Jack...that cracked me up. OK...I think that I have posted these pics somewhere on here before, but I just got motivated when I was going through pictures on my computer and I thought that I would share. Here's a picture of me in the summer of 2006 on a fishing trip and the other is of me in Vegas two weeks ago. I feel better now...going to go have my Smart Ones for lunch. Thanks!!!

Alright guys...I'm reaching out to you for some support and a kick in the rear. I have set a goal to get to 175 by April 30, 2008 (my one year bandiversary). That will be a 100 pound weight loss. So...last week I hit 185 then I went back up to 187...UUUGGGHHHH. I am desperate to get to 175. I haven't been eating really well and Easter didn't help. I have slacked on my exercise. Stick it to me...tell me like it is...don't hold back!!! Tell me how stupid I am to not be strict with my diet and exercise at this point. Tell me how dumb it is to not back up from the table and call it quits when I get that first "full" sensation. Yell at me and remind me that I need to work hard at this and not blow it. Give me some suggestions of FUN exercise so I will actually do it. OK...it's up to you now...lay it on me... (thanks)

Come and join us at our "low carbing it" thread...maybe you just need a new way to kick start and get going on that last 10lbs. Come on over!

Mum...forgot to add...you look wonderful. You are a cutie pie!

Are you in the Sydney Harbor in your top photo?

OK here goes!

You need to get to the gym! Burn off some of those calories from Easter. PUT DOWN THE BUNNY! lol

The funnest excercise I know of is Dance Dance Revolution.

Super fun. And a great cardio work out.

But besides that I think your doing great!

Thanks everyone. And...you're right...I do need to get my big ol' butt in the gym. I am registered to do the Breast Cancer 3 day walk in October and I need to get hopping on the training. I'll be walking 60 miles in 3 days and it's not going to be easy. Alright gym, treadmill, you name it...here I come!!!! Thanks again and don't let the yelling stop...let me have it...it gets me going. Oh, and by the way...thanks for the compliments...that gets me going too......

You are looking fantastic! To maybe get back on track towards hitting your goal - have you been journaling your food? If not, why not start journaling until you get to where you want to be. That way you are accountable to everything that goes in your mouth! Use fitday or daily plate. It's easy to lose track of bad calories when you arent' consciously paying attention. You are doing fabulous and can do this! Dust off that saddle and get back on the horse! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!! Maybe make a little chart and committ to doing some sort of exercise everyday even if its just going for a walk for 30-60 minutes. Print it off, put it on your fridge where you will see it and once you have completed the days exercise initial that you have done it. Now you are accountable to yourself too. You don't want to be staring at your chart realizing you are skipping days when you KNOW you are wanting to make that 100 lb goal. DO IT! Heh. Good luck, you know what they say- kick ass and chew bubble gum and well we aren't allowed to chew gum so you have some extra ass kicking to do!

When I get bored with the exercise routine I try doing other nontraditional types of exercise, for example:

1. Painting a room (you would be surprised how much stepping up/down and squatting you do, not to mention the back and shoulders)

2. Rearranging furniture or cleaning out my closets

3. CLeaning out the garage (BIG chore!)

4. Yard work, trimming trees/shrubs, cleaning out flower bed, raking leaves (it's that time of year), planting flowers (I want to plant a veggie garden at some point).

When I am in a rut and tired of the routine these activites help me feel good about myself, I guess it is enjoying the fruits of my labor so to speak, there is nothing like walking outside my door and stepping on a clean freshly swept porch with clean flowerbeds and trimmed bushes. I work full time and have three little kids so these type of chores dont get done often but I have started reserving them as my "change it up workout routine". This may not be your cup of tea, but I enjoy activites like these.

Those 2 Brittish ladies on TV that go in and clean peoples houses say that "organization and cleanliness is good for the soul".

I tried tennis and Basketball with my hubby. I totally suck and have not played these in YEARS, but that made the workout all the better.

Hope helps! Sorry so long.

forgot to mention, these also keep my mind off food and prevent me fron eating because I am bored.

I second a couple of the other recommendations: write down every last little bit of food that passes your lips. TheDailyPlate.com works great for this and is free. Count even a miniscule nibble of chocolate -- it adds up!

And then: it's time for spring cleaning!! That's some exercise to do on top of any "formal" exercise like going to the gym, and it'll keep you drinking lots of Water and too busy to nosh on cute widdle bunnies.