My RD and the Winner of "I Won ... You Win!"

Well, what do you think??

Just messin' with ya. It's a wig from Kristin's hip hop dance.

Don't worry; I will never, EVER do this for realsies.


1. Tell me something about your favorite teacher.

My 9th grade English teacher inspired me to get a teaching degree. I saw the way she "did teaching" and thought, "I would love to be a teacher if I could be one like her." I did earn that degree (BS in English, 1985, Ball State University) but never taught because I married three weeks after college and began a family the next year. There were a few other good teachers, but she was stellar. She certainly outshone all my professors at BSU. And it is because of her that I use "outshone" and pronounce "when" as "hwen" and not "wen." My kids think it's hilarious. But I don't care because I am correct. I do break some rules here on the blog that she taught us, though, such as not beginning sentences with conjunctions and writing fragments.

2. Tell me about one pivotal moment in your life.

Going back to BSU for this one. Jorge had broken up with me (I know, readers, but you must forgive him. That was a long time ago, and I have made him pay for 24 years, so it's all good.) and I was bereft of any desire to go on in life. It was at that point, though, that I really decided, as an adult, that come what may in life, I would not turn bitter against God but follow Him more intently, not just because I was reared in a Christian home but because I wanted to. I have not always done this to the best of my ability, but it is my goal in life.

And I can thank my 9th grade English teacher for "bereft" and for "reared" instead of "raised." Hogs are "raised." Children are "reared."

3. About favorite colors--a lot of people will ask you what it is, but I want to know why it is. What feeling or memory does it evoke?

I love a shade of lavender that some might call orchid. When I see it, it takes me back to early childhood, looking at the light coming through the stained glass windows in our little church. It's one of the few early memories I have.

4. What's a sure sign that you're getting older?

Good night, Nellie, what a question. I heard once that you can always tell a woman's age by her elbows and upper arms, and I would agree, generally speaking. But I could start from head to toe and describe from experience the mudslide called middle age. The effect I'm hating most right now is the sagging jawline. Check back tomorrow, and it might be nose hair. Friday's answer might be the stupid gray hair around the temple area that is so resistant to color.

Also, I'd like to thank my English teacher because I just edited that last section to exchange the phrase "to tell you about" for "describe" and the nondescriptive "one" for "effect."

5. Please don't sermonize, but Halloween--is it a yes or no for you? Nope, in spite of the black wig..

6. What's your favorite musical?

What? Is this another set-up by myself to stump myself in this meme? Yes, yes it is. I don't have a favorite because I don't like musicals. I started to link to a post or two about this subject but decided I couldn't choose from the 35 posts or so on the topic, so I'll just leave it at that.

But if you tied me down and yanked out my middle aged nose hairs one by one until I chose one, I'd say Oklahoma.

7. Are you more of a city mouse or country mouse?

No "suburban mouse?" I'm a country mouse who likes space and a view with all the amenities of a city at least nearby. I was just thinking last night that I'll never get tired of looking across a field and seeing a barn on the other side. That is my Midwest perspective of beautiful America. But I'm not into well water or gravel roads. It's a fine line for me.

8. Did you know that it is possible, for a small fee, to name a real star after someone? (It's true! Google it!) If someone were to name a star for you, would you appreciate it for its whimsy and romance, or would you say, "Are you kidding me? For $19.95 we could have gone to the movie and actually bought popcorn."

My first response would be the one about popcorn. But as I thought about it, it might depend on who it was and the occasion and how serious the person was about the gesture. After all, a gift is a gift, and one should be gracious even when taken aback by the gift, right Ann Landers?

This question comes from Paula at His Ways Are Not Our Ways.
9. What's the craziest thing you've ever been doing and texted during it? I only thought of this b/c I was about to try to text during my walking video but I didn't.

Paula, you do know that this blog is rated G, right?

I don't text a lot, but once I was stuck on a plane and gave my closest friends and family the play by play in case I never made it out alive. It was terrible!

10. "It's not a party unless _______."

Oh, this question is so loaded. There are a handful of people (tiny people? ha) in my life who are walking parties. The party is wherever they are.

I guess my real answer is "It's not a party unless everybody's laughing." The food and drinks, music, place and reason for being together are all secondary.

11. When you're stuck in traffic or a waiting room, what do you do to pass the time? PS: There are no magazines available.

Well, I usually have something in my purse to entertain me. It's like an adult diaper bag. If nothing else, I'll start writing on a scrap piece of paper. Sometimes I write in my head. (And sometimes I wrong in my head. HA!) For instance, I'll think of questions for this meme. Or I might strike up a conversation or just sit there quietly and count things. I love to count. It's soothing. Why am I sorry I told you that?

12. If you weren't yourself, would you be friends with you?

I've been thinking this question over, and I have come to the conclusion, and I say this in my best Bill Cosby voice in my head: "Theo, that is the dumbest thing I've ever heard."

But my answer is "yes" because I would give myself space to be alone (not clingy) and because I like to laugh. If I delve too deeply, though, my answer is probably no because I don't work at relationships, and I'm pretty selfish. So I would like me as a superficial friend, I guess. Ouch, that hurts. So here I am with myself just doing superficial stuff like going for a bike ride.


The winner of the "I Won ... You Win!" is:

Dana at Bug's Eye View

Thanks, Robin! Congratulations, Dana! Happy reading!

A Fun, Unique Carnival & Preview of This Week's Random Dozen

My sweet friend Robin at Be Still and Know came up with one of the most creative blogging ideas I've seen in four years of blogging.

The carnival is called "I Won ... You Win!" (subtitled "The Gift that Keeps on Giving") and the idea behind it is that once you win the "prize," you pass it on to another winner. In this case, the main prize is a book called Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes by Robin Jones Gunn. What's cool about this is that we are sharing this book literally and figuratively, since Robin and I have both made a couple of notes in the margins about things we like on certain pages.

Here's how Robin explained the concept:

As I finished the book up the other day I began to think about the two women the story centers around.

The story begins with two pen pals in elementary school and they continue with there friendship for many, many years through letters and emails, but they have never actually met, not until things change for the main character. Her life takes an unexpected turn and she finds herself face to face with her long time pen pal.

I began to think of the similarities between the two women in the book and all of you, my fellow bloggers.

As members of this unique internet community we enter into each other lives as we read each others posts, as we comment, share encouraging words or just a well needed giggle now and then.

But what I enjoyed as I read this book was the depiction of the friendship these two women shared. They had been intimately involved in each other lives but had never been in the same room with each other, never shared a cup of coffee over the kitchen table, never wept in each other arms. Yet they still shared in the deep bonds of friendship.

The relationship the two women in this book have is a real friendship, as real as friendships get.

I found the simulates between the book and the blogosphere to almost mirror each other.

The idea for “I Won…You Win” is two fold.

Once a winner is chosen I will send the book out into the blogosphere.

My hope is that whoever wins it will keep the “I Won…You Win” giveaway going.

The second requirement is once you have finished the book place your blog address on the inside cover, as well as the date you finished the book and then continue the “I Won…You Win” Giveaway on your blog.

Link back to me in your giveaway. Let’s see where this takes us.

I also want to encourage everyone who reads the book to mark your favorite chapter in the book with a note in the margin telling future readers why you enjoyed the chapter. Use your imagination, tuck a special note in the pages or a pretty bookmark, but put “yourself” somewhere in the pages of the book.

I am so excited to send this out into the blogosphere.

Let the giveaway begin!

When I received the book, I found that Robin had tucked in some sweet surprises that really blessed me, and I want to do that for you, too. (Secret!)

If you'd like to put your name in the hat wooden shoes for the drawing, leave me a comment today.

Thanks to Robin, the patron Saint of Blogging Patience (You don't know how hard it was to resist paintshopping a halo into this pic) who has been waiting for me to finish the book and get on the carnival ball. She's probably thinking, "Did Lidna really understand that she's supposed to pass this gift along?"

Anyway, I do think this is a great, fun idea for celebrating our unique relationship as bloggers. If you're in, let me know!



*PREVIEW* Write your post, publish tomorrow and link up tomorrow.

1. Tell me something about your favorite teacher.
2. Tell me about one pivotal moment in your life.
3. About favorite colors--a lot of people will ask you what it is, but I want to know why it is. What feeling or memory does it evoke?
4. What's a sure sign that you're getting older?
5. Please don't sermonize, but Halloween--is it a yes or no for you?
6. What's your favorite musical?
7. Are you more of a city mouse or country mouse?
8. Did you know that it is possible, for a small fee, to name a real star after someone? (It's true! Google it!) If someone were to name a star for you, would you appreciate it for its whimsy and romance, or would you say, "Are you kidding me? For $19.95 we could have gone to the movie and actually bought popcorn."

This question comes from Paula at His Ways Are Not Our Ways.
9. What's the craziest thing you've ever been doing and texted during it? I only thought of this b/c I was about to try to text during my walking video but I didn't.

Paula, you do know that this blog is rated G, right?

10. "It's not a party unless _______."
11. When you're stuck in traffic or a waiting room, what do you do to pass the time? PS: There are no magazines available.
12. If you weren't yourself, would you be friends with you?

Come back tomorrow ready to link up! Don't forget to let me know if you want in on "I Won ... You Win!" Have a wonderful Tuesday.

Friday's Fave Five--You Must Read All the Way to Number One or I May Burst

I'm jumping back into the Friday's Fave Five carnival hosted by Susanne at
Living to Tell the Story.





#5: Kids Who Cannot Resist Being Goofy in Pictures Even Though They're Not Eight Years Old Anymore















Being fed up with the antics, I commanded them, "DON'T smile. Don't!" Thus the look of confusion on Katie's face below and the normalcy of the other two due to shock value of their mother screaming "DON'T SMILE" in a crowd of smiling people. Kinda like "Scared Straight." Score.















4: The new dress. It's official 90% of everything I own now from furniture to wallpaper to clothing to dishes is black or white or black and white. Who says I'm a trend follower? Also, official count: the bookstore manager ordered 100 books, and we sold 55. People are nice.




















3: I have been drinking 80 oz. per day. I have been evacuating 80 times per hour, too, but what's a little inconvenience compared to ultimate health? It's a big pain, that's what it is. But I'm committed. So a-flushing we will go.







2: The season finale of my favorite TV show: Charlie's Angels.












1: I won the grand prize in BooMama's Amy Grant Giveaway which has as its main thrillapolooza factor a phone call from Amy Grant.

If you think this anxiety-ridden blogger isn't working up a post over this impending event, then who are you and why are you here.

Because: Seriously. Amy. Grant.

There are no words.

And that could be a problem during a phone call.

Coming Soon: Phase 3!

If you are new here, please go to the original 30 x 5 post so that you can be up to speed about this topic. I don't want to lose you! (How romantic of me.)

Very soon I will let you know the super-secret, totally organized plan for phase 3. I would tell you today what the changes will be, but I'm projecting the totally organized part into the future. Therefore, it is still technically super-secret today.

But have no fear, I'm still all about this. I recovered from the conference and jumped right back onto the elliptical horse.

It helps that I've wanted to look half-way decent for the pics today, Katie's college graduation day. And for the (gulp) book signing Sunday. Notice that's "book" in the singular.

I hope you've been sticking to your movement plan, as well.

One thing that I do plan to do is wipe the slate clean of the participants there on the right unless you leave a comment telling me you're still in. (Spring cleaning?)

In the meantime, you can add the button and proclaim to the world that you're committed. And you know, you definitely should be committed.

HA. That's a joke.

Just copy this text and place it in your gadgets widget in your blog layout.

<center><a href="http://2nd-cup-of-coffee.blogspot.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235990291736284738" border="0" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJM_4pevHw9SJJEuDLchc9xFw_IIJczDRs2o6RfxuCznpgMt7PR5VbQiWIrPVNEUBg9B6F4HJ8Q9KqGhjKcPO9dwMtKP017anZMrQQOUofAdCAMO_g0FzVNelISEs9nZ6egyetw/s200/blue+circles2.png" /></a></center>

O Baby!

"Only 40 years to go until I get my own blog!"

I've always loved animals that do not stink, bite or shed.

Golly. It's a wonder I ever developed the muscles to hold that head up. Look at the size of it compared to my body! Oh well.
Creative genius isn't always pretty.

Thanks, Rachel!

30 x 5 Questions Continued and a Coupla Other Things

Yesterday I asked if you all had any questions for me re the 30 x 5.

Interestingly, only one blogger took that request seriously, or not so seriously, as you will see, and followed my commands like a true and good 30 x 5 minion devotee would. That very obedient blogger would be new blogger friend Shawna at My Girls.

So here's what she said when I asked for Q's:

Ha ha! You've opened Pandora's box!

Shawna, believe me, there isn't much I haven't already shared here at 2nd Cup. I'm pretty much open to talking about anything. You see, that makes me open and approachable to readers. And it makes me real. Really, really, REAL. Ridiculously real. So relax. Tell me, child, what is your first 30 x 5 question?

What do you wear while you work out?

That topic is out of bounds.

Oh, OK. I wear anything and everything. The thing is, my machine is next to double mirrors that serve as walk-in closet doors. They mirrors are big. They are unforgiving. So I have had to get over trying to look "cute" or "athletic" a long time ago. Therefore, I wear shorts or jogging pants and tank tops and t-shirts. One shirt that is a real treat is the one I dye my hair in. It says "Peace on Earth," but I ripped it from the neck down a few inches so that I can throw it off when I have finished the dye job and need to hop into the shower. That way, the neck opening is so big that the shirt comes right off without smearing much of the dye. It's quite attractive with all the staining and everything. It's like homemade cammo wear.

What's your favorite healthy snack?

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, especially ones in pastel foil.

Wait, that is the former evil me speaking. The new and improved 30 x 5 me says:

I'm currently snarfing:

Kashi Pumpkin Spice Flax Bars. Because: 300 mg Omega-3s; 7 whole grains; 4 g. fiber, 6 g protein; 2 bars in each pack, 180 cals per two bars. My favorite way to eat them is crunched in lowfat vanilla yogurt. And I promise you, this is a huge treat that packs a bunch of good stuff into every bar.

I like them so much that I have to leave the box in my car at work or I will be tempted to eat the whole box that day. So I just take in a yogurt and two bars each morning and look forward to eating them in a slightly obsessive, scary way.

What's something clumsy you've done while working out? (e.g., falling off the treadmill, tripping over the cat, etc.)

Shawna, do you have a Jack Tripper fixation?

Probably the clumsiest thing about me on the machine is that since an elliptical moves your arms as well as lower body, I'm used to having those "handlebars" to hang onto. But occasionally, I like to change the TV channel or take a drink of water, which, since I'm not a circus performer, requires hands to do.

So I let go long enough to do whatever while still walking, and somehow, that throws me off, not to the point of falling off, but of doing some very strange moves sometimes to right myself.

The only other weird thing is that I get a little kink in my right groin area (did I just use "kink" and "groin" in the same sentence? Because someone Googling "kink*y" or "groin" is surely going to land on this post and be majorly disappointed.)

If so: Sorry, dude. I'm an overweight, middle aged blogger mom who has a kink in her groinage while on the elliptical machine. Move on.

Anyway, when the pain grows too strong, I have to stop and pull my foot up to my knee, swing my knee way out to the right sight and POP the kink. Then I can continue.

I sincerely hope that did not turn anyone on.

So there you have it, Shawna, all of your wildest wonderments answered right here.

Reader Challenge: Can YOU answer these same three questions?? Leave answers in my comments or post them on your blog tomorrow.

ALSO:


Just a reminder: Today is Red Envelope Day. Be sure to put your return address on your envelopes.







Don't forget this fun carnival tomorrow at Rachel's place!


Also, I'm attending A Woman Inspired On-Line Conference; are you? It's a stay-at-home conference that sounds really fun. For all of the details, click on the button. And if you get tickets before tomorrow, you get a discount. This will be my first time to attend one of these.

I'm Answering Reader Questions Today

Q. Is it too late for me to join in this effort?
A. No. 1:00 AM is too late for a midnight snack, but it is NOT too late to jump on the bandwagon here. Jump right on. Right now. There is no perfect time with perfect conditions, and this is not a Space Shuttle launch. You are merely launching your rear into gear. Just launch it.

Q. Does jumping on the bandwagon count as movement?
A. If jumping on the bandwagon makes your heart flutter, it counts. And I know that I sometimes do have that heart-fluttering effect on people, like I did on Clinton Kelly and Dave Barry, so it's entirely possible.

Here is my chance to show that you I met Dave Barry. It's a day he'll never forget. He still has the tic he's displaying in this photo from when I charged him over the autograph table for the photo op.

Q. Do I have to do all 30 minutes at once?
A. Nope.

Q. Can you see me when I tell you I'm going to exercise but then I don't?
A. Yes, I'm afraid so. I have connections with a certain man at the North Pole. It's called "networking," you naive thing.

Q. What are you doing for your part of our movement pledge?
A. First of all, we should probably stop referring to our effort as a "movement," lest we are suspected of belonging to a militia OR being a research focus group for constipation. However, I am walking/jogging/ellipticizing. And I plan to get a hula hoop. I forget who inspired me to do that, so please, Miss Hula Hooper, come forth and identify yourself in the comments below.

Q. Could you scare me into exercising like Jillian does the people on "Biggest Loser?"
A. Here is my best attempt:










Q. Is your family supportive of your 30 x 5 commitment?
A. Yes. They say things like, "I'm hiding this bowl of ice cream with chocolate syrup so that you won't want it."

Q. Are you actually watching Mr. T. on an infomercial right now as you're typing this?
A. Excuse me, it's not an infomercial. It's a cooking demonstration presentation. Featuring Mr. T. And the FlavorWave.

Q. Is it true that when you went to Susanne's blog, "Living to Tell the Story" to encourage her in the 30 x 5 Challenge that the word verification for your comment was indeed "rears?"
A. In the words of Sarah Palin, "You betcha."

Q. Are you seeing any positive results from The 30 x 5 Challenge yet?
A. Stay tuned!

ANY MORE QUESTIONS?

Breaking News You Can't Live Without: 30 x 5 is Now Over 60 Strong and What I Had in My Purse

Here we are in our first weekend of the 30 x 5 Challenge!

I don't know about you, but for me, weekends have always been challenging regarding remaining faithful to any eating/moving schedule. It's like suddenly I'm on a cruise and lose all rationality about what I'm eating and doing or not doing. It's "Vacation Mindset" syndrome, and it can really set me back in motivation. And it's only two days!

So today and tomorrow, I'm anticipating some sluggishness of spirit and some distraction from goals. I'm also anticipating the urge to take weekend afternoon naps and dream of chocolate and peanut butter, but I WILL be strong. I'll resist those urges. Do you know why I'll be strong?

Because of you, and that's not just a Kelly Clarkson ballad.

I so badly want to be able to look you in the cyber eye and tell you that I continued to move this weekend and did not lose my forward momentum. As Amrosia said so eloquently in 1978, "That's how much I feel, feel for you, Baby."

Keep sending me your reports as you feel like it because I am really enjoying reading them. Some of you are experiencing very inclement weather and uncooperative muscles, yet you are pushing through the obstacles. And to that I say: Did you ever know that you're my hero? You're everything I would like to be. I can fly higher than an eagle; You are the wind beneath my "wings," which is just my cute nickname for my upper arms.

To help keep us energized and focused, how about committing a random act of kindness this weekend by choosing four people from the list at the right and dropping them a note of encouragement? You could do two today and two tomorrow.

Let's build some community along with building muscles.

Wow. I just made that up, and it ranks right up there with Tony Robbins' stuff.

Tony has a new book out called The Power to Shape Your Destiny. After that great tag line I just made up, I think I'm going to write a book about the 30 x 5 Challenge: The Power to Re-Shape the Junk in Your Trunk.

So keep at it, and always remember, when you're in Target and your purse feels entirely too heavy, it may be because you forgot that you put a grapefruit in it before work yesterday.






The winner of the book in which I'm a contributor, A Cup of Comfort Devotional for Mothers and Daughters, goes to new blogger
Kathy at KLS'S Korner. Congrats, Kathy! It's always fun to see a new blogger win something. I would autograph it, but my signature would be bigger than my actual contribution, so let's just leave it at that. Thanks again to Five Minutes for Moms for hosting this annual extravaganza.

30 x 5 Update and What Happened When I Kissed My Son

All I can say is, "Wow!" What a great start we had yesterday! I couldn't get around to visit everyone's site, but I sure would love to. And I was so excited when your reports started rolling in. You are all my new heroes.

I'm sharing this picture of a budding tree to make a trite point that millions of people have made before me, but what the heck: We are this tree. We look kinda sketchy just getting started and all, but we hold promise. You'll notice that the one bud in the crook of the limb is kind of more advanced than the others. That would be those of you who exercised AN HOUR on the first day. You have a halo. Or, that bud could represent those of you who simply worked up a sweat, excuse me, I mean "glow."

At any rate, you did not disappoint. Please try to visit a couple of people on the list at the right so that we can encourage each other and build community.

And now I move on to another topic because I just can't be all "leader-y" all the time. I need a break from me.

As I'm writing this, it's actually 10:28 pm Thursday, and I'm sitting with a blanket wrapped around me because I'm cold (this happens a lot at night, kind of like reptiles cooling when the sun goes down).

I'm really wishing I had a Snuggie right now because I'm rolling all over this blanket in my desk chair and tolerating make-do sleeves, which now that I've been enlightened that blankets with sleeves exist, I know I should not have to do without one. Did I tell you my college son and his dorm mate ordered Snuggies? Just because they think they're ridiculous.

Oh, my son. He is a piece of work. When he was here for his birthday, as he left, his dad said, "Hug your mother." So Jordan stopped, and I hugged him, and he tolerated me like I was a blanket with no sleeves. I mean he was just waiting for the moment to end, while I was hanging onto every moment and remembering how sweet he was when I would pick him up from his naps, etc.

Anyway, something possessed me to kiss the boy, which I haven't done since, like, 1992, and when I released my hug hold on him to back up slightly to kiss him, he juked me. Yes, you read that right.

For those of you like me: "Juke" = mislead, distract the opponent by making a planned diversion (in football); fake, perform a diversionary tactic, feint; move in a zigzag manner.

He zig zagged to escape and ended up with a big ol' kiss planted awkwardly and yet precisely on his right eye.

He said, "Oh, ugh! You kissed my eye!"

Immediately I remembered Lucy's rant, ""Auugh! Get hot water! Get some disinfectant! Get some iodine!"

But I checked the sarcasm and said, "If you hadn't been in such a hurry to ditch your mom, you would've had a kiss on the side of the face, like a normal person."

We are a warm and happy family.



But from now on, I'm going to treat Zoe with a little more respect when she kisses me. Even if it's on my eye.

Pop Goes the Starting Gun

*EDIT: We are now over 50 strong. Go us!

Fill in this blank: "Today is the first day of the rest of your ___."

" ... life?"

Nope.

Your two weeks.

Because that's all this is.

Sure, we know it takes a lifestyle change to effect big results in fitness or weight management goals, but we're sticking to two weeks for now. So unless you have the life cycle of a fruit fly, we're talking about a tiny piece out of your big, big life, and we're talking that way on purpose.

Because how do you eat an elephant? No, not sauteed in garlic butter with a sprinkle of lemon. You eat him one bite at a time. And that's how we're approaching change--in attainable, small increments.

Pin a rose upon our noses on this very momentous day, for we have "gotten a clue," like that great smart-lady feminine icon of the 20th Century, Jessica Fletcha.

We are doing this without pressure, without angst, without guilt and without Oprah, believe it or not.

I'm happy to report to you that I have indeed graced the elliptical machine already, thereby allowing myself to face you.

I also took some before pics of myself wearing shorts and a tank top in my bathroom so that I could share my progress with you visually, but then:



I got ANOTHER clue, which was this internal siren: "Are you crazy?? In those pics, you look like one of those trees that someone built a house around. In this case, they built a bathroom around you. DO NOT SHOW THOSE PICS."

I had better listen to my inner Jessica.

So there you have my first 30 x 5 report: 30 mins. on my elliptical this morning, with my little dog, Zoe, watching me. This is my view from the machine.

Just so you know, Zoe thinks I am absolutely wonderful on my elliptical. It's like I'm a rock star. If she could talk, she would be saying, "How are you so wonderful on that big thing? You are amazingly, incredibly wonderful. I cannot take my eyes off of your wonderfulness." But in the interest of full disclosure, she also does this when I go to the bathroom. That is, when I am on the throne, she worships at my feet, much to my chagrin.

So what is your 30 x 5 plan/report today?

More on the 30 x 5 and Commentary on Biggest Loser

Guys [Translated: Y'all]-- There are about 40 + of us doing this, and I anticipate we'll add a couple more! Imagine yourself sitting in a full classroom right now. Everyone sitting at a desk would represent a person doing the 30 x 5! Woo to the hoo!

So, yeah, this starts tomorrow. Not Monday. Not April 1st. Nope, right smack dab in the middle of the week, this week. Because you know what? If we keep waiting until the right time, whenever that is, we might put it off until the economy bounces back or until we're all living weightless in space, which we know is not realistic. I mean, we're talking trillions.

Anyway.

Remember: All it is is 30 mins. of any kind of movement for at least 5 days per week for two weeks. Then we're going to link up and talk about it. Because that's what we bloggers do. We talk about it. I think we'll learn from each other and learn more about ourselves. But I don't want to plant seeds.

Here is a list of participants. You should go say, "Hi! I'm doing this, too!" *EDIT: I'm now adding people to the sidebar list.


Biggest Loser Notes











OK, so, Tara, in the green there, I thought was a bit cocky in the beginning. My respect has grown leaps and bounds. The woman is a powerhouse. A brick house. A wrecking ball. And last week and this week, she took some hard hits from teammates and kept on ticking ... like the bomb she is. Go, Tara. You may have a potty mouth at times, but you deserved that $10,000 that you were robbed of.


Which brings me to this one. Helen. Initially, because of her age, she was a sentimental favorite of mine. Favorite no longer. A teensy bit mean-spirited and over-confident. Annoying. Helen, just because you say something with a smile doesn't make it OK. And you were mean to Tara. Now she is going to eat you alive. And she will probably giggle like you when she does it.



Running a close 2nd for Most Annoying Contestant is Filipe, who makes strange noises and swings from over-ebullient to King of Meltdowns at times.






This is Kristin. She is the first woman to lose 100 lbs on the air on BL. She's a hoot to listen to and seems to be genuinely nice. She's my other fave.






This is Ron, the dad of Mike, an 18 year-old who has lost over 100lbs. However, the usually affable Ron did indeed jokingly call Mike an idiot tonight for choosing the wrong trainer for the rest of the season. Harsh, Dad! And what I still do not understand about the show is why Ron was chosen to participate because although he certainly is a compelling contestant, his weak knees and shoulders hinder every. single. challenge. This is not the show for him, in my opinion.

These are my yogurt lids that I'm mailing in to the Biggest Loser Pound for Pound Challenge. When I started saving them, I didn't even register the link with BL. I was just eating a ton of yogurt and felt guilty every time I'd lick the lid and pitch it. The guilt got to me, and I saved them up and sent them in. So I guess Yoplait donates $.10 per lid to hunger relief or something. I'm not sure. I just succumbed to guilt, that's all.

At any rate, I am totally into this show, pulling for all of the people, laughing at crazy Bob and scary Jillian, and wishing I could get away for a month or so and work on my bod. But that's not gonna happen. So tomorrow, it's the 30 x 5 for me!