To Lani and whoever else wishes to join.
Let's journal our progress for the next 6 weeks as we reach those mini-goals we set for the month. We can keep each other motivated. We can do it!
Nat

YAY
GO NAT GO LANI
ahahahahahah
ok....
since I last posted...not sure when, think it was earlier in the week...i have lost half a kg....in like 2 days...so happy
basically what i will do is tell u my weight every tuesday....cant guarantee that it will be really regular now ans i am leaving my job on thurs and will no longer be on internet...will use my bfs
ok...so are we going to the end of Feb???
3 kg here we go...
so i need to be 76...
we can do it!!!

I've been eating well on JC for the last few days. I had to - I have a weekend down the coast with meals provided this weekend, so I needed to leave myself some extra room for indulging a little - if need be. Breakfast will be the hardest I feel, with all those hot greasy offers, but I'll have to head straight for the fruit platters I think! Wish me luck! I have my journal with me to keep me in line, and remembering that Monday is weigh-in and I NEED a loss so I can't sabotage my efforts. I also plan to go for a walk along the beach in the early morning or evenings for exercise, and this shouldn't be too hard as it will be so nice!
Will sign in after weigh-in on Monday! Good luck to you!
Nat

Hi there
Wendy from Canberra here. I'd like to join your challenge also. This is my 2nd week on JC. I stayed the same last weigh in so I'm hoping for a loss this week. As you know we've had a few dramas over the last couple of days with the bush fires, so I haven't been sticking to the diet at all. I'm going to try to lose 3kgs also by the end of February.
Good luck to everyone in the challenge.

Hi everyone!
I have just made an appointment to go back to JC this afternoon as I have 10kg to lose, having put it on over the past year.
Four years ago I joined JC and lost 30kg, reaching my goal weight in 10 months. I maintained this loss but unfortunately I have now crept up 10kg.
Can I join your group incentive...may keep up the motivation!
Sara J

Sara & Wendy, welcome!
Sara - congratulations on being able to maintain that 30kg loss for so long! And good for you to come back before it all creeps back on and takes longer to lose again. You'll have it off again in no time! Good luck!
Wendy - you and the rest of Canberra are in my prayers. Hope you haven't been affected directly by the fires. But on a lighter note, welcome to JC and hopefully we can all help motivate each other...
I have finally seen a loss - which is something I haven't seen in about 5 weeks. I guess I was a little naughty over Christmas & New Year. But I'm finally back on track, and saw a loss of 0.7kg this week, which is good considering I had a weekend away at the Gold Coast, and TOM (time of month) is hanging around. Hopefully next week will see a better loss, but I'll have to pick up the exercise a bit. It's just been so hot up here, which is no good for motivation at all.
How are you all going?
Nat

Well done Nat!
Like Wendy, I am also in Canberra so it has been more difficult to exercise with all the smoke for the past week.
We had planned to go away for the long weekend but with the fires still around we are staying home. That will make it easier for me to stick to the JC program over the weekend rather than staying with friends and being faced with temptations.
Will try and swim each day for exercise. There is a great aquarobics class I go to on Sundays in deep water so look forward to that.
Keep up with the weight loss. I go to be weighed on Wednesday. I am on week 1...chose to be more restricted than the ultimate choice, worried that with too many choices I may be more tempted to stray!
bye for now....Sara

Hi guys,
I've also just returned to JC (2nd attempt!) and just completed week 3.
I'll be happy to take part in this 6-week challenge so here it goes:
Start: 106.1 (kg) - 2.1.03
Now: 103.4
25/1 102.2
01/2 101.7
08/2 101.5 (grrr....)
15/2 101.1
22/2
Goal: 99.9 kg or thereabouts by the end of February.
Have fun e'one and stay strong!

Welcome Loonia,
My, we are getting quite a little group together here - I didn't realise there was this many Aussies around. Glad you've all spoken up! Where are you from Loonia?
Let's all get to know each other a little... I'm almost 21, and studying to be a teacher. I have a 2 yr old son and am a recently dedicated Christian. I enjoy basketball, going to gym classes, going out with friends, meeting new ppl, reading and doing crafty things like scrapbooking.... Tell me some more about you guys!?
JC-wise, I have been a little ungood (sounds better than bad) the last few days. Went out with friends and ate too much, and then was sick yesterday so ate too many carbs - was all I could stomach. I must be good over the weekend so I can still have a loss on Monday, hopefully .5-1kg this week.
Keep up the good work guys!
Nat

Hello Nat!
Thanks for the warm welcome!
Yes, us Aussies should stick together more.
Actually, I was just thinking of an Aussie vs. US challenge (maybe a JC Olympics! - Aussie, Aussie, Aussie...oy, oy, oy!) but further thinking suggests we might be outnumbered a little?!
I'm actually in Sydney. My birth certificate shows that I was born in 1968 but to be honest, I don't look a day over 25 * wishful thinking *.
As mentioned b4, I first joined JC in January 2002 and lost 20 kgs but went a bit astray in August and quit. Since then I gained back 5 kgs so I'll be glad when I lose that and go back to where I left. My first goal is 75kg and I may adjust this goal when I reach it.
My little reward this year (July) is going to Germany for a little holiday. I was born there but haven't been back since 1994 so I'd like to lose a considerable amount by then so that my friends and relatives can recognise me! But first and foremost is my goal to be fit and healthy and if I achieve that, I will be VERY happy!
Which city are you from Nat ? What have some of your JC achievements / challenges been?
My main issue has been exercise. It's also been very hot in Sydney which doesn't motivate me very much. I think come cooler weather, my activity level will change for the better. If I had the money I'd build an air-conditioned gym in my backyard....

Hey Loonia,
What is your real name if you don't mind me asking? I'm from Brisbane. It is also REALLY hot up here at the moment - I think it's hot and dry all over the country at the moment! I'm sweltering. Exercise has also been a challenge for me with the recent heat, I've been really slack. I guess even getting back on the wagon and losing some weight again is a great challenge at the moment. I just can't seem to get focussed on it properly. But I'm trying. I know that God's strength sill show me the right way. I know I can do it, I just need to get back into a bit of a routine.
My goal for the moment is to be 73kgs. I'm 6 feet tall and this may be thin enough for my body type. But I'll see when I get there (am 82 atm), ultimately I'd love to be under 70kgs - my dream wieight 69kgs.
Hope all is going well, hang in there!
Nat

Hi Nat!
My real name is Monika (just click on my profile to go to my homepage!).
Exercise: I've set the alarm this morning to 6.30 but.... So will go after work!
You are very tall (I'm 5'8") so I have a lot more to lose than you! But I also understand that if you don't have that much to lose it's quite harder and when I get to your stage I will probably run into a few more challenges than I am now. But I think you're goals are very realistic and really think you can do it!
Must admit I'm not a "believer" so will have to rely on me, myself and I to lose the weight....and of course JC!
On what day is your weigh-in?
Also, looks like there are 3 new meals this week!

New meals?? Cool, what are they? I missed my consultant this week because of Aust Day public holiday, so I'm skipping a week and will weigh in again first thing Monday morning. When is yours?
Have a great week,
Nat

Well, I had my first weigh in after week 1 back on the program...I have lost 1.8kg...yippee!
I started on 22 January at 84.1kg
29 Jan 82.3kg
My goal is 70kg and I have broken it down to more achievable short term goals each few weeks to make it easier for me to maintain the enthusiasm.
Good luck to you all...
Sara J

I think some of the new foods being introduced this week are:
Spinach & Ricotta Wrap
Pavlova with Strawberry Coulis
Oat & Wheat Crunch
Honey Mustard Lamb
The pavlova sounds devine!
I'm not so sure how I went this week. My weigh-in is Saturday but as I've done hardly any exercise this week the results may not be what I am hoping for. Any loss is a good loss though.

Hey Sara,
Congratulations on your first loss! That's fantastic! Keep up the great work. How are you going with exercise? What do you do?
Also, its great that you are being realistic and setting yourself smaller, more acheivable goals. You and I almost weigh the same and have similar goals. I am currently 81.6kg and my goal for the moment is 73kg. Let's keep each other accountable as we work toward this goal together. Keep up the great work, you're doing great!
Nat

Hey Monika,
Ooh, that pav does sound devine? Have you tried any yet, or will you this week? I might have to myself...
Good luck for weigh-in.
Nat

Thanks for the encouragement.
Nat, regarding exercise, I have been walking each day and go to aquarobics on Sundays. The walking is easy for me as it is my mode of transport to and from work. I also try and go for a swim on Saturdays with my 10yr old daughter who loves swimming. Luckily I actually enjoy exercising! I also take my dog for a walk when it is not too hot. This week has been very hot and smokey in Canberra so not conducive to walking for long. I suppose it is hot where you are.
Good luck to you all with your goals
Sara J

Hi e'one in this room!
Well, had my weigh-in yesterday and didn't do too bad after all (0.5 kgs) - better than nothing!
I was a bit disappointed that the new meals weren't available yet as I was informed last week that they would be. So I have to wait another week to try them. Nat - you should get them tomorrow when you weigh in! So, you can tell me what they are like!
Anyway, I hope everyone will have a great week and that they are at or near their goal for this Jan-Feb challenge!
PS: I've recently joined this other MSN group called "Losing Weight With Friends in Australia" and it looks pretty informative with some before and after pics, etc. http://groups.msn.com/LosingWeightWithFrie...tralia/home.htm

Well done Monika!!
I wonder whether we will get the new foods in Canberra this week. I haven't heard anything about them here.
All the best
Sara

Hi, I am in week 5 I think. I have lost track already. Can you believe it?
I am having my weigh in on Friday and after losing only .1 of a kilo last week I am looking for some results. My start weight was 72.1 and I am currently 68.3kg I have a goal of 58.0. I am only 5"4.
I like your challenge and I am also in Canberra. Like everyone else I was having trouble exercising with the smoke around the place but I am getting out there and loving the clear skies that have arrived. I am going to set myself a goal of 4kgs for Feb.
Cheers, Rema

Hi girls!
We are getting quite a crowd - isn't this great! I knew there were more of you out there somewhere....
I may reset my goal again, as I had a great loss for the last 2 weeks. 1.9kgs! Yay!! I have 1kg to lose before the end of Feb, so if I can do that I'll aim higher. I am back down to halfway again, thank God! 8kgs gone, 7 to go. Yay!
I do have to pick up the exercise though - am being a bit of a slacker. Firstly it was too hot last week, and now its raining, but that's good weather for the gym I guess. I think I'll hit it tomorrow. I'd love to see another loss this week.
I haven't been able to get the new foods yet. Yes, they are available now, but unfortunately I had NO money to buy ANY food this week, so I'll have to wait until next week - the pavlova looks damn good!
Keep up the great work girls, we are moving towards these goals we've made - we have 3 weeks left, let's make them good ones!
Nat

I received a letter from the MD of Jenny Craig yesterday wanting to entice me to return to Jenny Craig ! Hello !! ;-)
This week has been a bit of a struggle ‘cause I had two dining outs (one tonight!) and I exceeded my alcohol level for the week. I don’t drink much alcohol full stop but boy, did I pay for it. Plus it was a week night so I suffered immensely the next day! I will have to be extra extra good the next three weeks so that I can achieve my little goal!
I was getting so frustrated with myself for not exercising that I have now signed up for aquarobics once a week! Perhaps this will lead to more things.... it just can't stay the way it is.
I feel a bit iffy guys as you seem not to have a lot of weight to lose, ie. what you are weighing now is my goal ! But I guess at the end of the day, we are all here for one thing only: to be healthy!!

You're right Monika, we are all here for the same thing, no matter how much each of us have to lose. We are all in this same battle, and we will all come out the other side. Hang in there, there's no difference if you have more to lose. We are all here to be healthy, like you said, and we'll all meet our own goals in our own time.
You're doing great. Work your way up to exercise, aqua-aerobics sounds like a great start, and fun! Unfortunately my gym doesn't have a pool... but I have other classes to go to... when I get the guts and time, I am going to start a Belly Dancing class... that will be fun, one day...
Nat

Hello everyone!
I thought it has been a bit quiet in here lately. I guess we're all just happy dieting away, eh? ;-)
The last two weeks haven't been as good as the first few weeks on the diet.
I am losing less and probably in between a plateau. I'm still very positive about the year ahead and happy to move along which is the main thing! My consultant was changed the other day which takes a bit of getting used to. I hope there are no more changes like that in the future.
I have a few personal challenges to deal with at the moment. My mum's just been diagnosed with recurrent cancer (2nd time!) after only 4 months since her last chemo (last time she was free for 2 years). That is very heart-breaking to say the least. But hopefully they found it early again.
How are you going Nat ? And everyone else? Have you tried some of the new foods yet?
I recently subscribed to "Slimming" magazine which has some great tips and success stories. I can only recommend it!
Ok, better finish off my lunch now. Just had the Instant Pasta sour cream and now munching on some snow peas....yum.
Take care,
Monika

Hi everyone
Sorry to hear about your Mum, Monika. Hope it works out for her. Any crisis like that takes over anything else happening in your life. Good luck with sticking to the program with the extra challenges you are facing.
I have been pleased with my steady loss. I have lost 4.5kg over 5 weeks which is pretty good as I have had at least three eating out days each week. I have increased my exercise to compensate for the extra wining and dining...and it seems to have paid off!!
I hope you are all on your way to achieving your goals.
Have a fun weekend
Sara