First of all, thanks for all the comments yesterday!!  After I posted I kinda stayed off the computer, and by late afternoon it was nice to see so many cheerleaders in my corner – you guys rock!  So despite my 4.2 weight gain last week, I still feel like I had a great week.  I am becoming a better runner, getting my breathing in check – and I in my 31 miles last week, I biked almost 20 miles. 😀

Rome wasn’t built in a day and I will just have to keep my eyes forward and not let the scale get me down.  I think this challenge is just what I need to keep me focused – my hope is to lose 23 pounds by January 1 so I can become lifetime and not have to pay anymore! 😀

And especially on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 – my little blip on the scale means nothing in the whole grand scheme of things.  It’s all good. 😀

So who’s with me on this challenge?

First up, Pam of Empty Nest – I’ve recently discovered her blog and she is such a great writer.  She’s the Mom of 4 grown girls.  Oh, and did I mention she lost 44 pounds this summer and was looking for a new challenge to continue to get to her goal?

Her goals are: I have several goals: post daily food and exercise and weight on livestrong.com; lose another 30 pounds; keep my calories between 1200 and 1400 every day; walk 5 miles/week day and only 2 on the weekends-recovery days…that’s all I can think of at the moment! WAIT! Keep drinking 64 oz of water/day. AND post results weekely—unless you do this differently.

Next up is Roz of Weighting for 50 – she is such a funny blogger – having little mascots sitting in/on/next to her food – and her one girlfriends hands are always in the picture when they meet for coffee.  And I will cheer her 3.4 loss even after a weekend indulgent weekend. 😀  I like having a Canadian friend too. 😀

Her goal are: HI Vat.  I’m in on the challenge.  My goals are to track my w w points EVERY day  – I slacked on this during most of August and drink LOTS of water!

Next up is Tyler of Life of Ty.  I like to think of myself as Ty’s blog momma – she’s had a stressful summer – her husband was deployed, he came back, they moved – it’s been a challenging summer!  I love her spunky attitude though. 😀

But she’s ready to get back in the game – her goals: I always say this and I will continue to do so until I make the magic happen- Drink more water! I also need to get my sweat on 4-5 times a week, and stop worrying about what my husband is eating and eat for me! You are my inspiration on that one since you’ve said that Tony doesn’t eat everything you cook. The kid is missing out!

Next up is someone I am sure all of you know – Erica from Itzy’s Kitchen.  She is the proud new momma of a beautiful baby girl, and she was probably the most fit pregnant woman I’ve ever known!

Her goals: The bread looks SO awesome! <3 baking. I am SO in on the challenge. My goal is to be back to my pre-pregnancy weight by Thanksgiving. That means losing the remaining 8-ish pounds. I think its do-able! I am going to accomplish this by limiting sweets, increasing protein intake, continuing to workout.

Next up is Aimee of Amazing in Motion.  She has caught the running bug and is currently training for a marathon. 😀

Her goals: Count me in on the challenge. This is exactly what I need to lose those last 20 pounds to get to my goal. Enjoy the cool weather. I can’t wait for fall. It’s my favorite time of year too. Bring on the pumpkin!

Next up is Jen of Jen in Real Life.  She’s married with a 10 year old daughter and a fellow WW.  I used to follow her when her blog was called Bookworm on a Mission – a long time ago!

Her goals: I’m in!! I am just challenging to lose I would love to lose 12 pounds between now and new year.

Next up is M.J.  She is a loyal blog reader from just outside of Seattle – love it that she visits me every morning as part of her routine. 😀  Seattle is on my short list of places I want to visit.

Her goals: Count me in on the challenge too! I need to lose 30#, and need to start by exercising. (instead of just thinking of it!) I also need to stop eating potato chips!

Next up is blog reader Joan.  She was part of my 101 Days of Summer Challenge. 😀

Her goals:  I’m in for your holiday challenge.  I must do better than I did with the summer challenge.  I’m going to have the same goals; track my points daily, walk 2 miles 5x a week, lose 1# a week.  I had to laugh about your bread baking, since last Friday, our temps have dropped 30 degrees – and this morning, I baked bread.

Next up is Errign of Errign’s Adventures.  (pronounced Erin) 😀  She just moved to a new town where she knew hardly anyone and is hitting the books back in school.  She is totally cute – a workout machine lately and I am glad that she’s starting to make new friends.  Sucks that her roommate didn’t move in with any silverware or dishes – WTF?

She has yet to tell me what her goals are . . . stay tuned!

Next up is Jen from Cooking Aweigh the Pounds.  She is so cute – I know if we were neighbors we’d be the best walking buddies!  Jen continues to inspire me – just see how far she’s come!

Her goals:

OK, I never ever ever do challenges (cuz I have a weird challenge phobia), but I’m in for this one! I’ll just make sure to keep my goals very realistic! And I’m going to personally focus on behavior changes rather than a number on the scale with the idea that doing one will affect the other!

My goals are: 1) Work out at least 4 days a week, 2) Eat at maintenance calories, but give myself 4 cheat days (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Eve), 3) I feel there should be more goals, but that’s all I have for now!

Next up is my duplicate!  My twin sister Jenn.  If anyone needs this challenge it’s her.  Unfortunately, no matter how well she does during the year, for the last few years January 1 comes around and she’s pushing the door to 200 pounds.  Not this year Jenn!  My suggestion to you is to get your ass out of bed before your family – then you get your workout done and you can get on with your day. 😀

Her goals: I’m in!  I would like to be down 15 pounds by the end of the year and another 15 by our birthday!!!

Next up is Sam of A Samtastic Life.  She’s another military life which I am finding out is super difficult – you never know what’s going to happen!  Her husband is about to be deployed again too. 🙁

Her goals: I definitely need to be in on this challenge…I really effed up this summer :/ However with Ray deploying all fall/winter I think I’ll be able to do better with challenge…spending the holidays alone means a loss food temptations!! lol  And she wants to lose 20 pounds by New Years.

Next up is Amanda from Two Boos Who Eat.  I love Amanda and Andy – such a cute couple!  They went to Europe as chaperones on a school trip – loved seeing those pictures – and Andy loves good beer – love reading his Beer Monday posts.

Fall is my favorite too. Makes me happy. The summer heat makes me miserable, sweaty and grumpy.

I want in on this challenge. For sure! I need to dedicate myself to something.

I want to lose 20 lbs and go down a pants size.

Next up is Melissa from Trying to Heal.  I’ve probably been reading Mel for the longest time – probably 2008?  She’s a recovering anorexic, and I’ve enjoyed reading how she’s dealing with life – most importantly how she is going to celebrate her birthday this year!!  Her birthday is coming up and ever since 9/11 she hasn’t really celebrated her birthday – so sad!

Her goals:

And I’m in for the challenge.  I don’t really need to  lose weight, but I have a tendency to overindulge during the time, so I want to keep on with the healthy foods, exercise to train for a race and not feel guilty about any of the food that I eat!

Next up is Tish from Incremental Improvements.  She was part of the 101 Days of Summer Challenge, and while she wasn’t that successful, she’s refocused. 😀

Her goals: Count me in!  You might just think I’d be too embarrassed after my total fail on the 101 days of summer challenge, but no, I’m back.  I plan to be less round and lose the nice round number of (at least) 20 pounds by Jan 1st!  That would get me back to where I was when my Dad died last December.  My plan is WW, exercise 6 days/week, blog, track, and attend meetings.  I am now on day 6 of my new on-plan streak!  Yay me.

Next up is Rachel of Losing it!  She is so sweet – she sent us the nicest note and fuck cancer magnets when Tony was sick – so thoughtful!  And she’s soon to be a newlywed – so exciting!

Her goals:

My goals always seem to be the same story! However, I’m using my wedding as an even bigger than normal motivator.

The big picture: I want to be under 200 pounds by 2012. That means I have about 28 pounds to go.

The little picture: I want to track every day and get to the gym 3-4 days per week.

If I keep the little picture in sight, the big picture will fall into place :-)

Next up is Kristen from Swanky Dietician.  She lives in Las Vegas and I love her point of view – mostly healthy with a few indulgences sprinkled in for good measure. 😀

Her goals:  I think my challenge is just to be consistent with healthy eating and exercising at least 5 days.

Next up is blog reader Jaclyn.  Thanks for joining the challenge Jaclyn!  Her goals:

Yay!  Count me in for the challenge.  I fell off the wagon this summer but I think this is exactly what I need to get my booty in gear.

Goals: 1) Drink required amount of water *consistently* 2) Drop last 10 lbs before Christmas  3) Exercise *consistently* thru/out the week. 4) Reduce my body-fat by at least 5% before the new year. 5) eat my fruits and veggies … evevn when i’m in a rush.

Next up is blog reader Jo.  I would love to be a size 8 too!

Her goals: I want in!  I want to lose the last 8 or 10 (depending on what day it is) lbs by Dec. 31, and to wear a size 8 everything!

Next up is blog reader Carol.  I also need to pay more attention to my water intake – especially on the weekends.

Her goals:  Track my food everyday, exercise at least  3-5 days a week, drink at least 64 ounces of water and lose 20 pounds.   Thanks for doing this and I love the blog!!!

Next up is Pubsgal – another long time reader/friend and diabetic.  I’ve always been so impressed with how she manages her blood sugar and she’s a great wife and momma.

Her goals:

Hi Biz! I haven’t done any challenges in awhile, but maybe that will help me shape up my habits. My goals are to track my food and keep it to 1800 calories/day or less, get 25+ grams of fiber/day, get 5+ servings of veggies per day. Fitness-wise, continue with C25K, run the Pumpkin Run in October, and do 2 strength workouts as part of my 5 days/30 minutes minimum plan. It’s so easy to let good habits slide, especially this time of year. I want to be physically comfortable in my own skin again…that would be an awesome gift to myself this holiday season.

Next up is Christina of Dinner at Christinas.  She’s another long time reader and friend, and I’ve had the pleasure of meeting up with her twice before she and her fiance (soon to be husband in December!) moved back to her hometown in the Outer Banks of N.C. – Thankfully she and her family survived hurrican Irene!

Her goals: I’m in for the challenge. Goal is to go to Curves 5-6 days a week for the 30 minute workout. Must fit back into my wedding dress and not have chicken flab arms by Dec. 19th!

Next up is blog reader Ann.  I actually like that she has a cheat day – life’s too short not to have a donut every now and then. 😀

Her goals:  am excited to participate in your challenge, I need that accountability. I hope to lose 30 pounds. Exercise 5 days a week and food journal everyday. And limit my food “cheats” to 1 time per week. This will be a great opportunity for loss :)

Next up is Tracy from Tracy’s Journey to Health.  She’s back for another challenge from the 101 Days of Summer.

Her goals:  I’m back in also.  I know I didn’t always accomplish my goals the last challenge but having to answer to this made me more conscious of it.  My goals are to 1) lose “something” each week, 2) to exercise 5 days a week and 3) to track on WW 5 days a week.  Looking forward to a much smaller me in 2012!

Next up is Lori from Fit N Healthy Momma.  She also participated in the 101 Days of Summer Challenge.  Thankfully she also survived hurrican Irene!

Her goals:

I’m so up for another challenge.  I slacked big time too many “things” happened this summer to throw me off & get me discouraged.  I need to be accountable.  Let’s do it!

Goals:  1 new recipe a week.  Workouts – at least 5 times week.  Scale – not going to focus on this, because when I do I set myself up for failure, so I’m going to just hope it moves in the right direction – down!

Next up is MaryBe from Accidentally Vegan – she’s a long time reader and last month was a rough one for her – her father passed away (her parents were married 63 years!) but there was joy because her son got married.

Her goals: I’m in for the new challenge.  I need to clean up my eats – I ate way too many goodies that people brought over after the funeral.  Emotional eating/exhaustion eating is real!  But the summer from hell is over and I’m going to OWN Fall :D
Goals are – get back to eating healthy.  I feel so much better when I do.
Work out everyday.  Get that heart pumping!
Yoga every night.  This is my favorite.  I sleep so much better!

Next up is MB of Why the Weight?  Another good blog friend and 101 Days of Summer Alum.  She’s about 6 pounds away from losing 101 pounds – woot!

Her goals:

I didn’t make much progress during the 101 Days of Summer challenge (http://finallyfiguringitout.blogspot.com/2011/09/101-days-of-summer-finale.html) so I’d love to join your holiday challenge.

My goals are basically the same, to finally reach my goal of losing 101 pounds, figure out a way to get good workouts in now that I’m going back to work and dig deep and figure out why I always turn to food when I’m stressed.

I’m looking forward to reaching 140 with you by the time the new year rolls around.

Thanks for everything Biz.

And then there is me.  My goal is to lose 23 pounds in 16 weeks, so I can be 140 and lifetime at WW.  I am still on track for getting 125 miles of biking/running/walking this month. 😀

Let’s all have a great week!!