THANK YOU TO YOU ALL FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT.

ARE YA ALL WITH ME?????? LETS WIN THIS CHALLANGE GIRLS

GO TEAM ATHENA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheryl

GO ATHENA!!!

PS missed ya tonite went for a walk to Stop & Shop alone cause i didnt have a walking partner.

PSS took the Long Way.

I walk all day at work and do 5-7 miles daily during week and sometimes 9 miles daily on weekends. Its all good.

This week I've gotten LOTS in! It helped that I was in Chicago Sunday and Monday and was able to walk. Still, it would've been easy to get a cab or take the bus, but I chose to walk! Sunday I think I walked around 13,000 steps, and Monday was mostly spend driving, but I got in around 7,000 steps. The rest of the week I got about 9,000 a couple of days, and the other days I got over 5,000 in. It stinks having a sit-down job. I got over 8 hours of exercise in though, so that made up for it!

Believe me, I know how hard it is to get steps in, but even doing little things like parking farther away at the store can help! Just think the extra calories you're burning! Plus, with the prices of gas, you're saving yourself money by walking places nearby. Just last week I walked to the salon rather than drive. It only took me 10 minutes, too, but that's an extra 20 minutes of walking/steps I got in for the day!

wow didnt think id get that many and if it doesnt rain, im going for a walk in about 30 minutes ill log extra milage soon as i get back

Hmm what have i learned about myself this challange: I have learned that I am capable of doing more things than I had ever thought I could do. I was always the type of person who made up excuses for things that seemed hard for me. I was a couch potato for the longest time and when I started this challange, I was motivated to do more than I ever thought I could such as all the walking im doing and hitting the gym on a regular basis, creating optional workouts when unable to get to the gym, my self confidence has grown so much that I feel really good about myself where I hadnt before. No more self pity, only moving on doing more and keeping up the work ive been doing.

What can you take with you after this challenge has concluded:

The knowledge that I am somebody and that I can do what ever I put my mind to. No more what-ifs for me, this challange has taught me the "I Can" attitude. If I have an obsticle, i work around it no more saying its not do-able. What I take with me is Self Confidence and Self Respect.

I have learned that when i try i can. Encouragement is a good positive motivator, Amping up the workout means i can do way more than i ever dreamed or imagined and see positive results and M means i have developed a new lifestyle that i can manage the rest of my life because its fun and its doable and its healthy. I CAN. You can too. Go team athena and thanks for helping make all this happen

I have learned that I cycle between highs and lows, but with a little support and a lot of determination, I can work through it and get to where I want to go. I have learned that being part of a team is not just about motivating others and supporting them, but also about accepting help from your teammates. I have really enjoyed being a part of this team and getting to know my teammates just a little better.

From this challenge I take away some new friends and an old friend too. I take away the knowledge that I helped my friend gain some self confidence and start to exercise and get healthy. I take the fact that even when things don't happen as quickly as I would like, that I still need to keep my eyes on the prize. I will get there eventually, no matter how slowly I go.

I have actually learned lot about myself this challenge. I've learned that I AM capable of doing this. I've learned that it really is A LOT of work. I've learned that to see results you have to work for it. I've learned to eat healthier. I've learned that I HAVE to exercise....I can't just think about it (that darn persistant procrastinator that I am). And most importantly I have learned that when I am slipping up...I can come here for a soft place to fall. There are so many wonderful people here to motivate, congratulate, give support and a shoulder to lean on when needed. There are so many wonderful experts here that give amazing tips, answer any questions (no matter how silly.) And then there's the great people behind diet.com that make this place just plain awesome. I love it here. I plan on being here long after I reach my goal.

There is so much information that I can take from here and apply to my everyday battle to loose the pounds. I would never have been able to do it without this place!!

I've learned that 9 weeks is a long time for me. It's enough time to be on top of the world at day one of the challenge and run through the cycle of motivation to be grasping at threads to hold on by day 63. I've learned it's enough time to go from perfection in daily eating, tracking and exercise to becoming comfortable enough to think that I can do this without the consistancy that comes with being on this website daily. I've learned that my personality test pegged me right on the button and that I can slip back into bad habits as a swing eater and an all or nothing exerciser in 9 weeks.

I realize this doesn't sound like the motivational answer that anyone is looking for from a person who was lucky enough to take part in this challenge from day one. But, this is something I've learned about me. I can't turn my back for one second because my personality, my nature, is waiting to sabotage me at any minute and I still have a lot of learning to do.

I've been fortunate enough to maintain the past couple of weeks but it wasn't doing things the right way. I started skipping meals again and have allowed my work and other things to take over my life that I should be devoting to my health.

More in moderation is what I'm taking with me along with the support of a great group of ladies. Moderation in eating, moderation in exercise and moderation in spending time on this website. I can't allow one to take away from another.

I look forward to continued support and friendship on the blogs and in the groups outside of this challenge.

Thank you team Athena for being there for me.

This challenge has forced me to "get back in the game" and re-evaluate what I've been doing. Although I've gone up and down a few pounds and haven't lost like I had hoped to, I've made some great friends and learned a lot about what I'm capable of. Being on a "all-star team" has been great, and the people on my team have been so awesome! I feel honored to have participated with such a great team and to have been chosen in the first place to do so. Everyone accepts each other, whether we lose weight or not, and we're always there with words of encouragement. I feel like we have a great bond and have really pulled together!

I've learned that it's not just about losing weight. Even though I feel like I've let my team down as far as my overall weighloss during the challenge, on the other hand, I feel like I've made up for it with my participation and "teamwork". It isn't about just me, but my teammates as well. With their tips and encouragement, I have really started to get into a routine that I've been able to stick with instead of making excuses not to work out or eat well. It hasn't been easy, but with the help of my team, I feel like I can do it!

With what I've learned, I know that I won't give up until the weight has come off, no matter how long it takes! I have to make this committment to myself and follow through so that I can live a happier and healthier lifestyle. Thanks team Athena for being such an awesome group of ladies! You guys rock! And of course, thanks to diet.com for giving us such an awesome challenge. It gives us that extra boost we need to keep going with our goals! I hope to participate in another one real soon!

What can you take with you after this challenge has concluded? The biggest thing I will take with me after this challenge is all of the people I have met here along the way! Whether they are on team ATHENA or not, they have all helped me along the way. I have learned that its easier to lose weight if you have support from your family and friends as well as from a group that is in the same boat as you are. There have been quite a few things that I never could ask my friends because they are not in the same weight situation I am in. I asked people on here and come to find out they had some great advice because they have been or are at the same point I am. Doing this challenge and being active on this site has been one of the biggest reasons I am still sticking with things!

The thought of exercise, Oh, such a drag. The team picked me up, No one will lag!

Five minutes on the treadmill It quickly turns to ten. 10,000 steps a day?!?! Hell yeah, I can!

Doubts in the air, Didn't think we could do it, Friendships formed, And we pulled each other through it!

Jumping through puddles, Running through fountains, Dancing in the kitchen, On this team we move mountains!

Go team Athena! Only on the team for 2 weeks, If only I found it sooner, More pounds would have leaked!

Thank you team Athena! You ladies are great! You taught me not to give up, To get healthy, it's never too late!

wow i did alot of walking this week. today alone at work i did 8354. guess i walk alot at work between boss calling me to front of store and in and out of backroom getting stock wow i walk alot lol

wow didnt think id get that many and if it doesnt rain, im going for a walk in about 30 minutes ill log extra milage soon as i get back

go Team Athena

Cheryl

Creativity plays a big roll in my approach to fitness. with my busy lifestyle, i am constently trying to find new ways to "fill in" for exercise's i am unable to do at the time. ex: at work i do alot of lifting so now when i have to lift items to load a hand truck to bring stock onto the floor, I start with the lighter boxes and make sure im lifting properly and work my way up to the larger, heavier boxes with in turn gives me the workout i would not have been able to do that day due to my work hours. (i usually do this on thurs. & saturday because i work till 9pm)

As for new and interesting activities, well fishing is not new but it sure is interesting. Since I started fishing again this year, I have found myself climbing, hiking, walking, using lots of balance(standing on rocks to cast out) And the best part is i am now interested in trying other sports that would have never interested me in the past ie: rollerblading, golf, tennis and more. And before this summer is done, I plan on doing each one of them at least once. (must use caution due to knee problems)

Cheryl

I think it's very important to be creative concerning fitness. I tend to stick to the same old thing...but then after a certain amount of time I loose motivation because I'm bored with it. Trying different things makes fitness seem like less of a chore and more like fun. I love hearing other peoples way of working out. It gives me so many ideas and then I put them all together to make a workout of my own.

Being open to new and different things helps to keep me going. I struggle more with the fitness then I do with eating healthy...so switching it up and making it fun is a plus!!

Cheryl

I can remember when I first started weight training, I was doing it with soup cans in grocery bags. It wasn't all the rage back then - girls bulking up, but it wasn't long before the fitness craze offered so much to all of us.

If I don't keep it fun, I am going to get bored. I want whatever I'm doing to call me back and become part of an exercise rotation. Since I have slowly built up a gym in my garage, just switching things around or finding a good movie/series to watch will keep it new and motivating to get me in there.

I think creativity is very important in leading an active lifestyle. You've GOT to change it up to see results!

Before I joined the gym, I did many different exercises using DVDs, the treadmill, playing badminton, etc. I guess I've kind of fallen in the trap of doing the same old thing at the gym and need to get creative again!

A lot of the time I would compile my own little workout from exercises I got from my workout DVDs. I did lunges, squats, pliat (sp?) squats, jumping jacks, jabs, kicks, crunches, bicycles, leg lifts, plank, modified push-ups, stretches, weight moves like the butterfly, bicep curls, overhead extensions, and some other exercises I can't remember the names of. I was always switching it up. I also did the treadmill, walked, played badminton, and recently started playing tennis. I was always in search of fun things I would enjoy doing, and I need to get back to that more! I've found that when you do things that you enjoy and have fun with, you're more likely to stick with it than give up because it's too hard or boring or whatever. I kind of feel like I have to go get my money's worth at the gym, so I've been slacking on other things I enjoy doing. That's something I need to work on, because if I get stuck always doing the same things at the gym, I'm going to get bored fast (which I already am starting to). The gym is a great tool, but becomes repetitive!

Like I said, when you find what you enjoy doing, it's much easier to stick with it. I know I actually look forward to exercising when I know I get to do fun things that don't feel like exercise! I'm always in search of new DVDs, because I really enjoy some like Turbo Jam, Tae Bo, dancing ones, etc.

When I first started, what I needed was to take the bag of chips away from me and get my butt of the couch. Didn't matter how I did it, I needed to start a fitness routine and start forming some serious habits of 'dieting' and exercising. Anything would have been good, since I wasn't doing anything to begin with, I pretty much didn't care about being creative, or making it easy, I just worried about if I was going to do it or not. Now, almost 9 months later, creativy and trying new things are proving to be very important in my workout routine! In the beginning, everything was new, because heck, I've never done anything before!! but now? I need to change things up or else I either get used to the routine, and that's no good for the body, or I end up getting uninterested because I've been there done that for the past month.

This past couple of weeks a friend and I have started trying out a Yoga class, and a hip hop dance class at the gym. We've incorporated these fun classes into our weekly schedule to vary up our routine, and get our bodies to not get used to the same exact thing. I think it's really important to constantly work out different ways to get your body to respond and never get used to doing anything. I've been getting some really good soreness, and burns from these new additions, and I'm sure that's all due to changing things up a bit!

We ROCK thats for sure

Go Team Athena

Cheryl

Go Team Athena!!!!!!!!!

C'mon there's only 2 weeks to go. We can look at this like a mini challenge within the challenge. TWO WEEKS! That's nothin' - we can rock it the rest of the way!

Cheryl

WOOHOO!

Welcome to the team Cheryl - we are so happy to have you!

Tracey

Cheryl

I try not to let it stop me and keep my claritin close at hand. Today my eyes are pretty swollen so it's time to get out the cold compresses too - by July 4th it usually dissipates for me and I'm good until the ragweed of fall.