I'm also an overworked mom - and I've already been down the weight loss road and am out the other side. I'd love to help. I've been there and faced every obstacle you will face. I still do!

Oooh, Farah... I like that. "I don't wanna get back into my chubby jeans."

Thanks. I hope that helps, too! Part of the problem is I'm just physically exhausted and can't seem to do as much, even though I'm in the best shape of my life and have to push really really hard to even get my heart rate up, now. I get a good amount of sleep and eat very nutritious foods. But Im also a mother of two and don't sit down all day.



I do have this motivation: I'm going to be meeting my husband's lifelong "female" best friend for the first time in March at a wedding. I want to be way hotter than her! LOL!

Russ -



The Jillian Michaels book is great for those with a lot of weight to lose. Once you lose most of the weight and have the last 20 lbs or so to go, (where I am and it's VERY HARD!), she has another book called "Making the Cut" that helps get you over the last hurdle. I like it because it's realistic and informative and doesn't have any weird gimmicks attached to it. No grapefruit diet!

I am having trouble with my workouts. I am still going to the gym daily and going through the motions, but I'm having trouble finishing the cardio workouts and pushing myself on strength training. I am hoping something will push me over the edge and help me get my drive to push myself back.



Tom, Patrick, and Farah - awesome work! Maybe YOU'LL be what motivates me to push harder!

It works well. He has a podcast on ITunes, as well - the first hour of his radio show every day. It's great stuff.

This is a recipe I invented one of those days we had little food. It's AWESOME.



Tuna Alfredo Lasagna



1 pkg. Dreamfields lasagna noodles (dreamfieldfoods.com for nutrition info).

2 jars Ragu Light Parmesan Alfredo sauce

6 oz. Roasted Red Peppers

2 cans tuna

2 cups 2% Mozzarella cheese, shredded

5 slices Turkey bacon



Preheat oven to 375 (or according to lasagna package directions).



Cook lasagna noodles and turkey bacon according to package directions.

Coat the bottom of lasagna dish with sauce. Be liberal so sauce doesn't burn. Place cooked noodles on bottom of pan for the first layer. Spread noodles with a coat of sauce. Sprinkle 1/4 of tuna, crumbled turkey bacon, and red peppers evenly across the noodles. Sprinkle with 1/4 of the cheese. Repeat until ingredients are gone.



Cover with foil and cook 35-45 minutes. Remove foil and cook for 10 more to brown top layer.



ENJOY! It's low-calorie and super tasty!

I have a few I'd like to recommend.



For fitness: Winning by Losing, by Jillian Michaels (good for those with diet problems and a lot of weight to lose).



For finance:



The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

Thou Shalt Prosper by Daniel Lepine (sp?) (sounds religious but it's about finance, I promise..)



I'm always looking for motivational books, as well. Nice thread idea!

Hi everyone!



First, I'd just like to say that you're all doing great - it's so nice to see other people like me and read your goals and struggles. There were too many posts for me to reply to them personally, but I read each one and I look forward to getting to know you all.



I'm Kelly from Houston. I work out five days a week, alternating strength and cardio. Lately I've slipped a bit on cardio. I also love to eat bad carbs. Bad, bad, carbs.



My story: After the birth of my daughter six years ago, I weighed 225 lbs. (I'm 5'6 or so). I was wearing a size 20. I lost 65 lbs or so and have kept it off now for 5 years (six in June!), through another pregnancy, a wedding, etc. It's been a constant struggle, but with the lifestyle changes I've put in place, it's been fairly simple to maintain. Mind over matter!



I'm here to lose that last 25 lbs. I weigh 165 and wear a size 6 or 8, depending on the brand, but I still have a lot of flab (and a lot of muscle, which is why my number is so high). I just can't get past this plateau. I am in the best shape of my life and really enjoying myself. I just need a little extra help and push to keep going and get over this hill.

My goal is to complete Couch to 5K, I'm on week 4.

I'm going to take two cardio classes this week: Kickboxing/Hip Hop (and maybe step, which makes three!)

And continue my 4x a week strength training.