Well I am certainly back on track, lost the 3.5 lbs. gained on vacation plus 1 more, hopefully it will continue on the downward trend.  That is my goal, although my days at the gym have decreased from 6 to 4, I am making sure I walk on the days I take the bus to work.  Hope everyone is doing well and will check back soon!  Sorry I missed the Olympic challenge games.  Dolly

The time has come to get my buns in gear again.  We had a fantastic trip to Crescent City and it really was an experience camping in the redwoods and exploring the land.  It was a great family vacation but it is good to be home again.  I am really focusing on getting myself back on plan and begin to loose weight again.  I gained 3.5 lbs. back which after the last two months I consider not too awful bad.  Today was Day 1 for me so I will be weighing in on Wednesdays.  I will be making adjustments to my workout schedule since I will begin to take the bus right now 2 days a week to work to try and save some $$$, it is costing me around $75 per week in gas and it keeps climbing so its a start, unfortunately I will have to forego the gym on those days.  There is another option I am considering by going to the gym earlier and catching the bus near the gym which will be about 1/2 way.  I will try both methods to see which one works best, but after taking the bus today I will be lucky to be able to get on the bus near the gym since it filled up at that stop today and not everyone could get on.  I will try and get around to read some of the posts in the next few days, I also posted a few pics from the trip.  Hope everyone is doing well on their journey.  Dolly 

Hi Everyone!  I know its been weeks since I have posted but things have been rather crazy.  The house is done, we are completely moved back in, just have two more boxes which one of I do not know what I am going to do with yet since it has alot of my nic nak stuff and alot of them heirlooms so I am not willing to part with, I lost my big glass entertainment center which held alot of that stuff so it will be either finding a small curio cabinet or some kind of shelving.  Also, work has been almost unbearable, but I won't even get into that.  Went on a few side trips in the last two weeks, and this weekend we have a party to go to where we have to travel about 300 miles then next weekend we leave for Oregon for a week to visit the kids.  Soooo I have definitely not done well in loosing any weight.  I have played with the same 1 lb. for over 2 months now, either loosing it or gaining it back, but thank goodness its been only that one pound and nothing else has revisited the ole bod.  I really really seriously need and want to get back on track but I don't see me getting too serious until I get back from Oregon.  I have been very consist in my exercising so that hasn't changed.   Not that I am going to go crazy but I will be satisfied right now just to maintain the whopping 15 lbs. I have lost since the beginning of the year.  My friend Robin, is just about at goal, I believe she is about 4 lbs. from reaching her WW goal weight and looks absolutely fabulous.  Hopefully when I get back in mid July we will be able to resume our weekend hikes and I will be able to get pictures.  I have cancelled my WW monthly membership, although I do plan on going to weigh in there at least once a month since I am a lifetime member and still have 20 lbs. I would love to see vanish at some point.  Hopefully I will be able to visit some of your spaces to see how everyone has been doing.  Good luck to you all on your journey!!!!  Will check back as soon as I can.  Dolly

Had to face the scale this morning and wasn't happy, had a .6 gain, the WW leader was pretty encouraging even though in the PAST MONTH it boils down to having not lost anything since I was exactly the same weight on April 23rd.  She seemed to think that with all that is going on in my life I have done well with not gaining.  The one good thing is that we know I am good at maintaining even though I still need to loose 20 lbs.  I am still in home remodel hell, which I hope will end early next week.  The movers are to come on Saturday to move the heavy stuff back in.  The painting is done, the carpet is in, the tile work in the bathrooms turned into a slight nighmare and the guest bathroom still needs to be done after a plumber had to jack hammer the foundation out to reset the toilet then repour the foundation, the new living room furniture was to be delivered yesterday didn't come, called them they said today but they never got our entertainment center in, say what I ordered the thing 6 weeks ago, someone dropped the ball now I have to wait till the end of NEXT week.  The electrician hasn't finished his job yet, hopefully by end of week.  So the story goes a lot of frustrations with the contractors we have hired.  The painters and the plumber were the only ones who completed the job when they were suppose to.  So my friends, I am still here, still no computer at home (thats another story I won't bore you with) but will keep plugging along, the exercise routine is going strong with a early morning class at the gym and 2-3 evening hikes and walks every chance I get.  Had lunch with Robin yesterday, she is looking very slim and trim, will have to take my camera to the next meeting to get some shots of her incredible progress, she had a slight .2 gain this week.  Been trying to check up on some of you when I get a free moment at work.  Have a GREAT WEEK!  Dolly

Well it was a emotional roller coaster weekend for me eating, with the final move out of the house complete, too much eating out and snacking the nerves away.  I was really dreading weighing in yesterday and had briefly thought about not going but since I missed last week I went to face the music and lost .5 lb.  I was pleasantly surprised and will forge ahead this week getting back on track.   I have the exercising down pat but need to do better with my eating portions.  There will be several days of eating out again but will try and make wise choices.  Robin also lost .5 lb.  The weather is to be really hot the rest of this week, oh boy can't wait, NOT!!!!   We were not able to do a hike this weekend with me moving and Robin is house and teenager sitting for the rest of the month.  It will be hit and miss for me also since I have lots of weekend travels forthcoming.  I have been trying to do a hike 2-3 times a week after work with a co-worker, we have been hiking for about an hour each time so between going to the gym in the a.m. and the evening hike I figure I am doing enough exercise and I know the consequences if you don't keep it up, so I am trying not to get too crazy with the exercise.  Hope everyone has a great week ahead eating healthy and moving those bodies!!!!  Dolly

Since I won't have computer access after I leave work, just wanted to stop in and say Happy Mother's Day to all of you Mothers out there!  Have a great weekend!  The real maddness begins for me once I get home tonight from work since the movers will be at my house early a.m. tomorrow to move the heavy furniture out, then it will be picking up and boxing the odds and ends and moving some clothes into the trailer.  On Sunday I plan on making dinner for my mother and hopefully being able to relax some.   Until next time.....Dolly

Back from my 4 day vacation and gosh did us 4 girlfriends have fun in Laughlin, NV.  The eating wasn't bad but all the different cocktails were disasterous I'm sure.  I haven't made it to a weigh in yet and probably will pass this week on the scale and try to redeem myself if possible by next weeks weigh in.  Robin weighed in on Monday and had a 2 lb. loss, yeah Robin, she is turning into a skinny minnie and looks fabulous!!!  We had lunch today since it was her birthday...Happy Happy Birthday Robin.  I arrived home just in time to finish up the packing, remove the window coverings and vertical blinds and spent yesterday washing them all, the movers will be here Saturday morning, can't wait, NOT!!!  I will be without a home computer for about 3-4 weeks but will try to report weigh ins and check from work when time permits, but if you don't hear from me I will still be plugging along and will be BACK checking up on you as soon as I possible can!!!   Good luck to you all on your journey...and until the next time...keep those bodies moving!  Your all inspiring me to get back into running!  Dolly 

OK so I went to the WW meeting Monday since a friend from work wanted to check it out and decided to weigh in instead of driving back on Wednesday, so I had a loss of a whopping .2 lbs.  I am just grateful it wasn't a gain after the terrible week I had.  Robin lost 3.6 lbs.  I leave for my Laughlin trip tomorrow and am quite busy so this will be short.  I wish you all a fantastic week!!!!  Dolly

Gosh there certainly has been some drama in this here community.    Not sure I fully understand it all or even want to attempt to.  I have tried getting to some spaces to no avail, oh well!   Have we been banished????  I am certainly going to stick around so hopefully I will be able to still visit some of your spaces.  I might not be able to spend everyday on the computer but I do try to check in a few times a week.   It has been a very difficult week for me on the eating front.  Did very well until staff appreciation on Wednesday, then its been downhill from there.  Friday night there was another work party with loads of appetizers that were just too tempting to not try plus lots of wine, yesterday I got home from a hike and my hubby had a burrito waiting for me, and to top it off after picking my mother up from the airport last night it was off to a Mexican restaurant, yikes is about all I can say.  I did exercise 5 of 6 days so  far, so hopefully that will help some.  Since I weighed in on Wednesday last week I will weigh in again this Wednesday instead of Monday and will report our results then.  This Thursday I am going to Laughlin, Nevada with some gal pals from work so another challenging week ahead, but will try to do my best.  Robin and I went on hike yesterday to Bishops Peak and had a great workout, it was blazing hot outside so the sweat was pouring off.   Today I am packing again.  Most of what I can pack with the exception of clothing is almost complete.  Upon my return from Laughlin a week from Monday it will be full speed ahead in getting everything out of this house so the painting crew can start their magic.  After a month of looking, we finally found our new living furniture yesterday, yahoo since I was very frustrated in finding something we both agreed upon.    I truly hope you all are doing well on your journey and until the next time eat healthy and keep those bodies moving!!!!  Dolly

Had a wonderful long weekend.  Now its back to the grind stone once again.  I weighed in today instead of Monday since my watch stopped and I wound up missing the meeting time at the WW Center.  I did have a small loss of .8 lb. which is better than nothing or I should say better than a gain after my wild weekend and then today at lunch they put on a big spread for all of us worker bees and I did indulge in a small piece of carrot cake.  I would like to say it wasn't worth it but it certainly was, but hopefully I am cured from any sweets for a very long time.    Robin weighed in on Monday and had a small gain of 1.2 lbs.  I have some pictures to post of the trip but don't have time tonight, hopefully tomorrow.   I am hoping to get some computer time tomorrow evening to check up on some of you.  I still have to go and see the pictures and stories of the teams that went to LA for the finale.  I also saw briefly some info about the reunion which is now a cruise, will check into that tomorrow also, I just love crusing!   Until later...have a great rest of the week everyone!  Dolly

Yes I was tickled PINK with the results of the show, Ali rocked the show!  She looked smoking HOT!!! As did the others, but to finally have a female biggest loser was the BOMB!!!  And a Big Congratulations to Marcus & Amber being the Winners of MPM challenge, you two rock and so deserve the prize, I am very jealous, how cool it will be for you both to have personal trainers for a year, your going to be the envy of the community!  I just wish they would have spent more time on the show talking about the MPM challenge, jeez it was way too quick!  Really looking forward to hearing about all the winners trips to LA.  I have had a good start to the WW Core plan so far this week.  My real challenge will be starting tomorrow when we head down to Santa Barbara to camp at the beach for 4 days.  We really should not be doing this trip but feel we both need the break from all the packing, and the rest of the work can just wait.  Hope you all have a great weekend and will catch up when I get back on Sunday!  Dolly

Weigh In today resulted in a .8 loss for Dolly, and 6.4 lbs. for Robin.  Robin finally took off her heavy weight boots to weigh in, not sure why she has weighed in with those boots since August but nonetheless a big loss for her this week as a result.  Oh and Robin received her 60 lb. loss award today from WW, Way to GO ROBIN!!!  It appears I am the only one posting to this page anymore so I will probably be going solo like some of the other teams, ACTUALLY I think I have been solo for some time, LOL!  I am really discouraged with my weight loss progress right now and will plan on doing the WW Core plan for a couple of weeks to see if that jump starts anything for me.  The weeks I am really good I have small losses and the weeks I think I will gain I lose?  I really can't exercise anymore, well actually I could if I want to get a divorce, but I feel a hour in the early morning hours (5:45 to 6:50 a.m.)Monday thru Friday at the gym doing group power 2 times a week, spinning 1-2 times a week and then some other type of cardio like the elliptical or stairmaster once or twice a week, a walk at lunch for 30-40 minutes usually each day but Mondays and a 20 minute walk at break most days is sufficient enough, plus every Saturday a 2-3 hour hike.  When I lost weight several years back I would exercise every morning 1 hour and then again in the evening 1-2 hours, the weight came off nicely but once I stopped that schedule it poured back on very quickly.  I will post some progress pictures taken today of Robin and I at our WW meeting, 15 weeks later!!!  I am so looking forward to the finale tomorrow and seeing our winning MPM friends on the show, I am actually going to watch it live since I usually tape it and watch it on the weekends since I can't stay up that late but will force myself tomorrow, hopefully I will be tickled PINK!!!  Have a great week everyone!  We are still packing up the house here but will go on a camping trip to the beach this weekend for some rest hopefully.  Dolly

Oh was I ever so excited to see that so many of our friends are the MPM winners going to the finale!!!  I am feeling the excitement for you all and hope you all have a super marvelous time and takes lots of pictures!  AWESOME!!!!  DOLLY

Hello MPM friends, jeez its been a week since I blogged, so sorry but life has been very very busy.   Still in the process of packing, working each day, working out every day at the gym and a weekend hike was accomplished.  Saturday, Robin and I did a hike called Dairy Creek, it was a beautiful day, beautiful scenery and boy did I ever need the great outdoors, it truly makes me feel so good to be out in the fresh air and it was a much needed break (pictures posted).  After hiking, we did some shopping and had a great time together as usual.  She needs to get on here and tell about all her recent adventures.

 

Weigh In:

I think those Easter droppings finally caught up with me at weigh in today.  I had a gain of 1.8 lbs, yuk is all I can say and I really need to refocus on my eating portions once again, definitely no more chocolate candy for this lady.  Robin lost 1 lb. and is looking mighty slim and trim these days, I really wish I would have had my camera today at the WW meeting so I could have gotten some progress pictures, I will try and remember to bring it next week.

 

Sorry, I haven't stopped by to visit your spaces much lately but the next 2 months will be crazy for me but I will pop in when I can.  Have a wonderful week everyone.

 

Dolly

Good results for us both at weigh in yesterday, Dolly lost 2.4 lbs. and Robin 1.8 lbs.  Way to Go Team!  All is well in our world, we are still plugging around here in CA.  I have been knee deep in packing up my house for a remodel of paint, tile and carpet, which is becoming a nightmare.  After 20 years, the stuff has built up, one big garage sale on the horizon for sure.  Looking forward to hearing who the big winners are of the MPM Challenge, Good luck everyone!  Dolly

WOW is all I can say about the hike Robin found for us to take today called Reservoir Canyon.  It was so awesome with beautiful waterfalls, creeks winding thru the canyon which we had to cross a few times and didn't even fall.  It was quite a steep trek at one point and we kept climbing and climbing keeping our heart rates pretty elevated for some time, both of us were soaking wet, but it was truly worth the effort.  I am now especially feeling much better today after taking the hike, just what Dr. Dolly ordered, LOL!  My trip to the doctor yesterday proved to be practically a waste of time, since I wasn't experiencing the vertigo at the time there was no need to do the procedure on me, so basically was told you will have to wait and see if it happens again and then come back, there is no specific cause for Vertigo, although they believe it is possible I am picking up a virus which is attacking my inner ear, so see ya the next time is bascially what I was told, very frustrating to say the least.  Anyway, I am delighted to be feeling better.  I am in the process of packing up my house for a remodel of new paint, new carpet and a few other enhancements and it is becoming quite the project after living here for 20 years.  The good news is I will purge everything I don't use especially closets full of clothes I haven't worn in years, I just hope in a few months I can get into my size 11's again.  I am back in the 14's but have a long way to go.  Will be reporting back on weigh in results early in the week.  Have a Super Weekend!!!  Dolly

A quick hello to everyone!  I haven't had much time to check up on you all this week but still thinking about you and rooting you all on!  Tough week with the vertigo issue although it has cleared up some since Wednesday, but I am still going to the ENT specialist today to see if we can find out what keeps causing it, although with my experiences with the medical world this week I am not to hopefully.  Have done just OK with eating, had a few downfalls but hopefully I can get myself refocused.  Been exercising through this but not as hard as I would like.  Hoping to go on a hike tomorrow with my absent MPM buddy Robin. I have seen her everyday at the gym working hard and she is definitely becoming the incredible shrinking woman!  Hope to get some pictures this weekend.  Have a Great Weekend everyone, keeping working hard and making good food choices, your friend Dolly!

We both had a loss this week, yahoo!!!!  Dolly  -1.4 lbs. and Robin  -1.2 lbs.  Both of us were happy with a loss of course.  Still not feeling well, have an appointment with the ENT specialist next Monday, from the sounds of the conversation if this doesn't clear up by then it appears they might have to do the epply procedure on me again which would mean I would have to sleep sitting up for 2 nights, not looking forward to that at ALL.  Today has not been a very good eating day but I will get back on the wagon tomorrow.  Dolly

Just a quick check in!  Hoping everyone had a very Happy Easter and that you all warded off those Easter Bunny droppings.  I did fairly well with only indulging in two dark chocolate solid mini eggs.  We had Ham, green bean casserole and mashed potatoes for dinner, so did fairly well there too.  It has been a tough week for me, a long time good friend called and her 23 daughter died suddenly in her sleep which was very shocking news, they still don't have a cause yet, autopsy revealed nothing now they are waiting on toxicology results.  Then Thursday morning in a Group Power class I started to experience dizziness again, its been somewhat mild but I haven't felt right since, not sure if I have a sinus infection, ear infection or what is going on but my blood pressure is really low also.  I had a bad case of Vertigo from Sept. to Dec. of last year so it is really scaring me since I don't even want to go down that road again.  If the feeling continues I will be visiting the doctor since I spent most of Saturday in bed therefore, no hike this weekend plus Robin went out of town.  Will report back tomorrow after weigh in, hoping for some good results!  Have a great week everyone, hopefully we will be posting some more pictures next weekend!  Dolly

Well the good news first, for me (Dolly) is I measured myself Monday morning and lost 6 inches since Feb. 1 for a total of 11 1/2 inches overall lost since January 1, 2008.  Bad news is I had ANOTHER slight gain this week .4, yikes is all I can say,  although its another small one, it is quite devastating.  I have committed to no more party time until a trip I will be taking May 1st with some gal pals.  Robin had a loss of 1.4 lbs., your the bomb Robin!!!!!  She is certainly showing me how this is done.  Oh gosh just got a very sad devastating call, will check back another time! Dolly