Hi jello... I don't remember sending you to the Chippendales thread (probably meant the MAIN Vegas Thread) but anyway, here is the answer to your question. I posted it in Alane's Diary also but since it was originally your question to me, I thought I would put it here as well...
Hope you're having a great day!

Thanks Paula, it's disappointing but hopefully when you guys get back from Vegas and start new challenges I can get on board for something then. I've been looking for a challenge to plug into but alot of them aren't very active or they had a deadline to start date that I missed the boat on because I just joined the forum. Starting to feel like the kid who gets picked last for kickball, lol. But anyway I'm sure if I just keep posting to my journal and wait the right club challenge will come along I know somebody will want me on a team cuz I'm about to kick some major ass in the weight loss dept when I add in cardio to my already awesome healthy eating plan I'm 20lbs down and can't wait to see 299 again!!

Lol don't feel that way! The Vegas challenge is actually the first challenge I've joined and I've been here since 2006. It's fun but, honestly, just challenging yourself and coming on this forum is the best motivator! Getting involved in other diaries (like you're already doing) will get people involved in yours and they will help push you for sure! I saw your pics. You're a beautiful woman and I KNOW you will only get more beautiful as you get closer to your goal!

Even though you can't go to Vegas, you could still "challenge" yourself by doing everything we're doing! Keep track of your points and weight loss and post them! That way, you can still see how you're "stacking up" against the other Vegas people...

Most importantly, keep that positive spirit you have! You're GOING TO REACH YOUR GOAL! 20 pounds down is GREAT! I wish I could say I've lost that much! KEEP IT UP!!!

Thanks Paula If I wasn't buying my first home and had more money I'd start a "Cruise Challenge" . That's my dream is to lose weight and go on a cruise but they do cost a bit. Everyone would have to save at least $100 for a month for a year I think unless we got some kind of group discount.

I do have a different goal though that I do think I can afford. Once I get my weight down ALOT I told my husband I want to go to one of the larger amusement parks like six flags. I love rides but they honestly don't accommodate heavier people at all and now I don't fit on many . I used to LOVE the gravitron. Unfortunately I realized when you put on alot of weight and get on a ride that sucks every inch of you to a wall...including all your fat...its not much fun anymore and very uncomfortable, lol. But anyway I'm looking forward to getting my weight down and getting to go on a big roller coaster for my first time EVER! Yes thats what I said..I have never been on a real deal roller coaster.

So I couldn't sleep very well last night....probably the fact that my husband couldn't sleep and he and the cat kept waking me up, lol. So I slept in this morning and didn't bother with breakfast, I know thats bad. Honestly I was doing really well until I started journaling here, just so nobody thinks I'm always missing the most important meal of the day.

Anyway food for today:

Lunch: taco seasoned ground beef on lettuce, topped with cheese, sour cream,
and one of the lowest carb salsas I could find.

Dinner: I'm going to make grilled chicken and have steamed cauliflower and
broccoli on the side.

I'm trying a new low carb bread recipe and also a low carb no bake cookie recipe so I'm sure I'll be having a slice of bread and a few cookies as well...but I'll keep it within limits.

I'm not really sick today from my byetta shot but I'll say one thing...my lunch is just sitting there and its not a great feeling. I've also been aching all over and in my joints today which is normally characteristic of how I felt before I started low carb eating. Maybe its just because of all the extra activity I did yesterday but I also wonder if I was right before and it IS a food allergy. We ate some low carb pasta two days in a row and wondering if that could be it. Guess I'll take that back off the menu for a month and then see if it happens again next time.

I have a cat that sleeps with me at night, and he will make it quite clear to me when he's ready to leave my room. He licks my hands and feet, and makes sure that he is sitting right next to my head no matter how many times I move. I'm not even sure why I bring him in at night? lol I guess I enjoy the extra company.

Yea it's so great when they are cuddly and stay in one spot. We actually don't have a choice though because if we lock them out they cry pitifully at the door, lol.

Oh and if Maleficent sees this THANK YOU for changing my journal title for me Gonna have to start calling her Magnificent Maleficent

ZOMG YAY!!! I just noticed I finally have some rep power!! *Flexes*

July is a few days a way - and there will be a new monthly challenge starting then...

Oh great, I didn't know that, thanks

Hey there,

Just thought I would stop in and say hello. It looks like your off to a great start, and you seem really motivated, which is good My friend just got GB a couple months ago and now she has hit 299, which was a milestone for her, it had been awhile since she had seen it.

I did low-carb a few years ago, like some other posters on here. I lost a good amount of weight but eventually hit a wall. I think it will probably be great to help you get the bulk of your extra weight off but there might be a time where you have to re-introduce some healthy carbs back into your diet, I might be wrong, that is just basically what happened to me... I do kind of watch my carbs some now... I only eat pasta maybe 5 or 6 times a year without really realizing or missing it...

I think riding on a rollercoaster is a great goal to set. I actually just became "open" to them a few years ago. I was always such a wuss, and once I did one I loved them. Some scare the hell outta ya but they are so fun! I don't really have a weak stomach as far as rides go either, so I guess I'm lucky. I can't wait to see you reach your goals

-Sam

Thanks so much for your encouragement. I definitely know what you mean about hitting the wall low-carb. I'm definitely trying to do it the healthiest I can now. I really haven't felt too deprived and I've just learned to cook differently and try alot of recipes at home instead of eating out. I make bread at home and basically my biggest changes are no pototoes, no sugar, and I haven't had pasta until the last few days when we tried dreamfields. I don't really miss pasta that much but I miss hashbrowns, lol. Found a recipe to make them out of zuchini I may try but I know it won't be the same.

But if I find I do hit a wall again I know I have support here from other people who have and are doing the same thing .

I posted this earlier in a thread about whats your motivation to lose weight and why. While I was writing it I honestly almost started to cry. This forum has made me do so much thinking about not only what I'm doing now but what I've done in the past and why.

I know I'm not the same person who was on self destruct and constantly sabotaged herself in the past. I don't hate myself now and I definitely know that I deserve to be happy and healthy. But while the reasons I got this way to begin with are no longer there....the damage remains to be undone and that's an undertaking.

So I'm reposting this here in my journal as a reminder to myself for the days when I'm struggling...thats when I'll come back and make myself look at this before I let myself give up.

I could post so many reasons here why I want to lose weight.

I could say it's because I'd like to actually find some clothing besides T-shirts and stretchy pants that didn't look like it was made from drapes or a circus tent. But then seeing as how I've been this size this long I don't think thats my motivation, although I will be SO happy when I'm into jeans again. I have a full closet of size 18's and 20's brand new to get into.

But honestly my motivations are these:

I want to be able to get up in the morning and finish my day and have the energy to do it all. Heck, I'd like to just get out of bed not hurting from head to toe.

I'd like to be able to go to a restaurant and not have to worry if I'm going to fit in the booth or not, or going anywhere and not worrying about fitting into a seat for that matter.

I'd like to be able to climb the stairs at my apartment with my arms full and not feel like I'm dying at the top.

I used to go on hiking trips even though I was heavy. Now I worry whether I can make it to the back of the bigger grocery stores without collapsing in pain.

After having a car accident 8 years ago that put me in a wheelchair for a year and knowing I was never supposed to walk again, I'd like to lose enough wait so I can stop being afraid I'm going to end up back in that wheelchair.

And even if none of these reasons were enough, I'd like to get my weight down so my husband and I can have children and I can be a mom before time runs out.

It's no longer just about how I appearance anymore. I walk around every day carrying the weight of two other people on my 5'1 tall body.

I'd like to live my life without worrying, without fear, without pain, without limitations caused by the weight.

I've already missed out on so much, vacations, having a real wedding....I'm determined that I am not going to miss out on one more day of my life.

And honestly if I hit a wall and what I'm doing isn't working I'll change it. If I have a day I screw up and lapse, well it's over and I'll start fresh but I WILL NOT any longer allow one day to turn into a week and then months of "I'll start again tomorrow" that never comes. Looking back I see all the little things I let get in my way and this time it's not going to happen. I'm here for my final weightloss countdown!

I didn't even know we COULD change the titles! That's awesome! Mal really is magnificent!

A cruise would be a fun challenge! But, you are correct, probably expensive for a lot of people... I've been on one cruise and it was the most relaxing vacation I've ever been on... good stuff.

Six Flags would be alot of fun and if you've never been on a roller coaster, that would be a FANTASTIC accomplishment! YOU GO GIRL!!

As for the house, I hear ya... homes cost money lol but they are worth it. My husband and I are actually looking at down-sizing. Our main home is 6000 square feet and it's just us and two kids! I feel like it's not worth the money we spend cuz we only use about 4000 of it lol... anyway good luck on your home! That's really exciting!

Reading your motivations is very inspiring! If you ever get down, go back and read them!

Having more energy on a daily basis, going to restaurants without fear, climbing stairs without running out of breath, hiking trips, roller coasters and CHILDREN... and you're walking after doctors said you wouldn't!? Girl, you better get that butt in shape and enjoy EVERY SINGLE STEP YOU TAKE! There are people who can only WISH they could walk. God gave you a miracle hun... don't waste it! You are off to an awesome start! Keep it up!