Good job, M2M, 5.8 miles is impressive! Also, unfortunately, you can never believe the calorie counts you read anywhere. Just take them as a general guideline. The reality is that it not only depends on your weight, but on your muscle mass, body fat percentage, aerobic fitness and many other factors that go in to metabolism. The numbers you read anywhere are based on averages. Very few of us are actually average. But they can still be useful to compare one activity to another, and can be a useful estimate too. Thanks for visiting my diary, by the way, I appreciate the encouragement! Have a great week please, and keep walking!

Hi Everyone
I just got back from my morning walk - I put in 3.3 miles this morning and I feel GREAT!!

Back when I weighed myself at 257 and sat down and cried, I KNEW the weight had to come off, but I wasn't sure how and if.

Now I KNOW!! I was thinking about it during my walk last night that I have not felt this proud of my body since the day I gave birth. It's not perfect, it's still 71 pounds over my goal - but I WILL REACH MY GOAL!!

I don't think I was able to say that sitting in a puddle of tears at 257!

Scarlett, you are so right, I am so happy I got a pair of walking shoes. Bob teases me because I got a cheap pair at Target (men's department on sale), but they fit well and are comfortable, if they last a month or two I'm happy and walking!

Miss P, I agree with you about all that goes into the calorie burned question, there are a lot of factors. I generally look at the miles/kms and that's it, it's so much more then ever before, so calories have to be burned in the process - and I love it - I walk to meet a friend, we walk together for awhile and then separate. It's a good thing

Aussiechick - I'm with ya sister! GO TEAM BELLY BUSTERS!!

I am Busting This Belly - One Day At A Time!!

Have a great day you guys, I'm off to the beach for the day, then to take Megan to swim practice, and then back to the beach tonight for the grunion run. We'll *see* if we actually see grunions

You're exercise levels are amazing. You will win and I just love your effort.

Keep fighting the good fight

Wow M2M, you are kicking ass with the walking! No wonder you are seeing such great results! Keep it going

Thanks T2 and Mrs. B
I plan to continue walking but I haven't decided about toning excercises yet. My original plan was to get to 200lbs and then decide what I need to do from there. The walking is easy, doesn't take time out of my day since I walk before Bob leaves from work, but any additional excercises will have to be "planned".

I'm not sure if I'm ready for that yet

Yesterday was a fluke walking so much - I did my morning walk and found that I was at home and available to walk in the evening, that's pretty rare. I can probably increase my morning walk to 5 miles a day over time, but anything beyond that is kind of hard to factor in to the day.

Megan has swim team practice from 5:45 until 7:45 and we don't get home until 8:00pm (thereabouts) 4 days a week, so any night time walk is an added plus.

I have never in my life believed I could get to my goal - this is the first time I have felt and KNOWN that it is possible, so I'm willing to do what it takes I love seeing the results and my daughter is so excited about going shopping with me when I'm at my goal to get "the really cute clothes" To quote a 9 year old

I leave at 11:30 for the day - I hope everyone has a great one!!

M2M I know what you mean when you say that you didn't think that you would ever be able to get to your goal. I use to feel the same way to but since I've discovered this place and all the supportive people I finally feel that I can get to my goal. I always thought I would have to settle for just being a smaller big girl but I for the first time actually believe that I can shed the big all together.

The walking is totally awesome. You are doing wonderful!

aww i'm so glad your spirits are up M2m! it makes me feel happy also to know that you're so positive!

last night, i watched dmb on VH1 Storytellers, and it was on this High Def channel. Dave looked so big and beautiful (but i'm pretty sure he was intensely high bc his eyes were like half shut and he was acting all kinds of crazy). best 45 min of my life lol.

keep on truckin (or walkin )

You are amazing with your morning walks (and evening walks too I guess!) I need to start getting outside again in the morning... I just need to find the motivation to wake up THAT much earlier.

Anyway- I just realized that we're both coming from the same starting point... and I totally know where you're coming from about seeing 257 on the scale and just crying. You're about 15 pounds ahead of me- which I like because it gives me something to strive towards. Keep up the good work! I'm going to try to start chasing after you

WHOOO-HOOOO! You are doing GREAT, M2M. And I'm so glad you know you can do it this time--I feel the same way (usually), and it's SO much better than the old hopeless feelings I used to have. I know you WILL do it, too. You are working so hard and doing so well!

Hey M2M,

You are doing really great!!!!!!!!!!!!! You give me inspiration to keep working for my goals!!!

I know you will reach your goal and we will do great during the challange!

Go Belly Busters!

Oh I love going on grunion runs!!! Where are they running? I'm in So. Cal ... maybe I could talk my husband into heading down to the beach after dinner. Fun!!

You are doing great! I think you automatically burn calories at the beach - there's just something about it.

Go Belly Busters!

Absolutely NO reason you shouldn't make it all the way to your goal. And I'm gonna needle you into strength training along the way, too.

Hey M2M you're doing really great with your walking. Like I've probably said before I'm afraid I am simply not a morning person therefore I doubt I could do what you're doing! Keep up the great work and good luck in the group challenge (though I cant remember if you're taking part?).

Yeah, she's on the challenge, Crunchie. She's on my team, and we are so gonna kick some booty!

Hi All!
Yesterday was such a long day! We left around 11:30, took the vacuum cleaner in to be fixed, then headed to the beach - stayed until 5:00 pm, took Megan to swim practice, went back to the beach, waited for the grunions to not show up (again!!) and got home just after midnight!

I did NOT want to wake up for my walk!! Anyway, I got out of the house on time (amazingly enough!) and by the time I got home I was SO glad I went!

I put in 3.1 miles. Yesterday's calories were 1410. Higher then normal, and a good 400 of those were somewhere between 8:00pm and 11:00, but I told myself I would be in the 1200-1500 range, so I'm ok with it

Jenn, I so hear ya about having wanted to be the smaller big girl - and now feeling confident about shedding the big all together!

Summer, I've seen that one - and, um, yes, he did appear a little high

SS & Miss K, thanks for the encouraging words - it does feel good knowing we're going to make this positive change in our lives, doesn't it?

Yep Val, we were at the exact same starting point - how tall are you? As for chasing me, you gotta get up early to catch me It's nice having someone on my heals - it keeps me moving forward!

Mommyto2 - I'm in South OC - where are you? We went to Capo Beach south of Dana Point for the Grunion Run, did you go? And um, no, we didn't see the grunions - it's only been our 4th time LOL!

Oh Twin, I know you're gonna needle me! That's your job

And Crunchie, finding what works for you is the only way of doing what will work for you! When I was in my 20's there would have been no way I would have gotten up early to walk - no....not a chance! I generally wake up now, pretty early, so this is a good way for me to utilize that time.

It's definitely about finding what works for you and sticking to it!

Megan and I were looking at the pictures in the Before & After Board of northernmomto3 (I really don't have time to get her REAL screen name, but that's close) Anyway, she wants me to do the pictures in a 2 piece bathing suit so that when I get to my goal, I can take the pictures again.

Urgh!! I told her I would have to seriously think about getting into a two piece to take those pictures LOL!