I'm so glad you're stepping up, Kathy! I LOVED the Herbs & Spices, but I'm good with Spring too. We're actually having a much needed thaw here. I can't wait to get a project started!!! Please post about rules and what is expected. It's winter and I want a project/challenge! I'm not planning to enter the State Fair this year and I really miss my ritual planning. :) PS: mind if I ask about your handle? concreteprimroses sounds a little harsh. LOL! PSS: Excuse me! I see that I have missed reading the 'n' in your handle. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This post was edited by party_music50 on Sat, Feb 22, 14 at 17:05

I just got my butt kicked at the gym. I started taking a boot camp class. Who knew planks were so hard?? The instructor seems to love them. It's been a bit of a rough week for me though. It started with a migraine and vertigo, two 24 hours shifts at work, A brownie meeting (I'm the leader) cookie sorting, booth sales, and unscheduled car maintenance that had to happen- I just can't wait for it to be over. I'm not sure I gained or lost weight, but I have not been eating all that much because my house is FLAT out of food. I feel like my life is a rat race and I can't ever get caught up. OK gotta get off GW and get the laundry now.

Ah, Polly, my plank used to be my pride and joy. I could hold it forever. Do you ever do the plank and leg lifts at the same time? It's a killer!! Now I have more weight to hold up and it's more difficult so it's a work in progress for me now. I have a love/hate relationship with my trainer. He loves doing this "Ready, set, go!" thing with me so I'll squeal "Wait, wait!!" It tickles him every time. Also, I'm totally there with you on the heart disease. My mom had a heart attack at 54 and it's the big killer in my family. When I was younger, vanity was my main reason for losing weight but I guess it wasn't enough motivation. When I turned 40, all of a sudden I realized that I only had probably a dozen more years to live if I didn't lose the weight. Now that is a motivator. Gibby - I'm anxiously awaiting to be where you are now! Congratulations on hitting your goal! I've been curious about something and please feel free to ignore my possibly intrusive question. With a prosthetic leg, how do you gauge your body weight? Did you establish your goal weight on just what feels best for you or did you work off of a table like BMI or something? Bethpen, so sorry to hear about the bicep tear. I know exactly how you feel. You're going along just great, feeling like a champ and then BAM! sidelined and feeling down in the dumps. I eat the worst when I feel sorry for myself so all I can say is that it will heal and you'll be back on top in no time! Hhireno, try to get that weight lifting in your schedule. Nothing burns more calories than having muscle - and it looks good too! Sue, Gibby has great advise about the eating. I'm sure you probably already know what to do - it's just a matter of listening to yourself which is the hardest part of all. If it were me, I would set a plan for the following week to come out of the gate running and start physicing myself up for a great week. I purchased a Bodybugg last year but didn't really get into it - just wasn't in the right frame of mind. My subscription ran out and I remembered that I had it this week. Wow, it's been a great tool. You plug into the program how many pounds per week you want to lose and it tells you how many daily calories to burn (resting metabolic rate + activity) and how many calories to consume. I said I wanted to burn three pounds per week and it told me I need to burn 3050 calories and eat 1550 calories per day. That gives me 100-200 calories more than I have been eating. So I weighed myself this morning and have lost four pounds for the week! I didn't really lose anything last week so some of that is probably left over but I'll take it. Also, I'm winding down the juicing. It really helped me get some control over cravings and I really don't care to eat any sugar. Another benefit, is that I have no desire to eat red meat. We have been a big steak and potatoes kind of family and DH, DS & me are just not into that stuff anymore. I'm going to try to stick with a more vegan with fish sort of diet, it seems to suit us pretty well.

If you are speaking about the pre-existing insurance coverage then yes you do have to be uninsured for six months before you apply. However, if you can bite the bullet and do that (I know it's hard. I just did it), you can get great insurance for a really, really great premium and Low deductible. They cover everything and you won't be denied for anything. It is the best insurance I think I have ever had. That insurance is only available until 2014 when the law goes into effect which says that all insurance companies must cover you no matter what and can only charge a small percentage in upcharge. At least that's the way I understand it. So, If you are healthy and can go six months, do it.Go to the Doctor and get a complete physical first and let him know what you are planning. Six months goes by fast. Even a catastrophic policy (high deductible, minimal coverage) counts as insurance so don't do that. The other alternative is your Husband continues to work for two more years. Here is a link that might be useful: PCIP insurance