Well, the fickle winds o' fortune hath once again sunk the :cruise: carryin' ULTRA GOAL by July 15 to the Lighthouse Maidens Who Will Weigh 125 (sometime) as to do so on our magickal number o' 1550 with an occasional high day isn't gonna work out too well.

NOT that the average cargo carried by any given maiden hath increased accordin' to the Ceremony o' the Golden Scale o' Dietary Justice. On the contrary, each and every maiden lost .10 this week by dint o' ENORMOUS effort to watch cals and increase running. And in fact, the total loss for this two-week phase has been 1.4, an average of .70 per week.

But ever practical 'n ready to seize the moment for a new initiative, Diet Wise Woman called an emergency Maiden meetin' 'n pointed out to the assembled cadre that a three month goal date from here would be good as it happens that the 29th falls on a Sunday in July, so things would tidy up nicely.

"What say ye lass?" saith DWW, "shall we call for a referendum on extending ULTRA GOAL to July 29 and renamin' the cadre "The Secret Society o' Lighthouse Maidens Who Will Weigh 125 on July 29?"

"Yea," shouted the maidens as if of one voice, "call fer the question."

And the vote was unanimous and so moved.

If any members o' the Lighthouse readin' public feeleth that ESAthletea be worrit o'er this slow :cruise: down to the wonderful land o' ultra goal, see Q. Victoria quote on sig line below.

We reiterate: "Please understand that no one is depressed in this house. We are not interested in the possibilities of failure. They do not exist."

Film at 11.

''Please understand that no one is depressed in this house. We are not interested in the possibilities of failure. They do not exist.'' ~ Queen Victoria

Welcome to your next journey. Hopefully your ships at least had life boats and everyone was able to get off safely onto the next ship.

Congrats on the new ship I am sure it is bigger, better and stronger than the last and will allow you mate to reach the shore even sooner! Godspeed!!!

P.S. Don't forget to throw out a few life jackets for us who at the moment aren't swimming too well!!!!!!
By the way thanks for telling Jack Sparrow about me o' mate! lol

Bon voyage -

Great job on the weight loss, Athletea! :)
Have fun with your new journal...

You've done an awesome job, Athletea..... your stats are very impressive! I'm sure you'll get to your goal, no problem!

Thanks be fer all the nice visitors that signed in at the Lighthouse Visitors Center whilst the MWWW125OJ29 were out gadflyin' on Sunday.

Note, the icon on this post does not denote "warnin'" ... it represents a Lighthouse! :laugh:

Smallfri: Yea, thanks, lass, all MWWW1250J29 safely hopped aboard the July 29 Initiative :cruise: 'n all are doin' fine. They had to go to work today, though, in Non Virtual Village, but they'll be back.

Sunnymiss: Ye are as welcome as the :flower: s in :spring: to a life jacket whenever ye want it, lass. Ye will do great, though, 'n find yur way to the Shore o' Success, no doubt 'bout it!!!

JoJo: Thanks, mate!!! Ahoy!!!

Queen Aria!!!! Ahoy to thee to, comrade!!!! :wave: Thanks fer the Good Wishes!!!

Dj: It be so nice to "see" thee (in the virtual sense) aboard the Good Ship New Initiative!!! Thanks fer the visit. :wave:

Huzzah to all!

Because it beats thinkin' 'bout work in Non Virtual Village, the Lighthouse Maidens Who Will Weigh 125 on July 29 were all in the library this a.m. readin' a mag story 'bout the Comrades Marathon in South Africa. Now, this intrepid race is 55 miles and participants have to finish it in 12 hours or they don't even get a finishin' time and basically are declared non-finishers (chopped liver?).

"Ahoy," said Maiden Athletea, "let's have a race event like that here on Lighthouse Island! I bet WE can all run 55 miles in 12 hours, right?"

"Of course we canNOT!" saith her dismayed maidenly comrades. "But a race event would be fun nevertheless. Let's appoint a committee to figure this out!"

It may be noted that whenever something needs to be figured out on Lighthouse Island, a committee be appointed.

SO, in due course, a committee was appointed and the start o' the MAIDEN MARATHON was declared.

All participants, which in this case seem to be Maiden Athletea, Maiden ESA, etc., agree to run, walk, jog, crawl or otherwise cover by nonmotorized means a marathon distance of 25 miles (ok, a marathon is 26 miles more or less but 25 is a nice round number).

Unlike the very dedicated folk who put on Comrades, the Maiden Marathon Committee has declared NO TIME LIMIT on our race and it can be run in segments. A roster has been placed in the Lighthouse parlor for participants to add their miles as they complete 'em ... the first maiden across the finish line gets a prize. Everyone else gets a Ribbon o' Participation, a T-shirt and a hat!

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Good luck with your race. for me making it to the end of the 55 miles would be the accomplishment. Those must be some die hard runners.

They are, indeed, Smallfri. I really admire folk who can do that. Mayhap I'll go there and do it someday.

Or maybe not. :)

This is the official log o' the Maiden Marathon, no blather, just the facts:

Start: 25 miles to go

April 30: One mile completed, 24 to go

One mile down...good personal challenge. Keep your spirits high, and your sails trimmed! Come to think of it, even modern sailing burns lots of calories. Lots of hard work to do on a sail boat. Kayaking and rowing a scull also burn lots of calories, and are sea/pirate like. hmmmmmm.

Greetings, Maidens -

I like the marathon, and may have to purloin the idea for meself. . . uh, adapt it to my situation.

May you have favorable winds with no storms!

Purloin ... er, adapt ... away, Eljay!!! :wave: :) ... BTW, I love your quote re dogs ... I know any afterlife without my Olde Dogge (who is currently chasin' bunnies 'n soarin' with eagles where I can't see her right now) would not be an option fer me!

Fagan!!! :wave: Yea, they say sailin' be a fearsome workout ... too bad fer me that I actually live in the desert, not on Lighthouse Island! :laugh:

My spirits are high, truly, although my head hurts and I want to go back to bed (worked on the job ALL day without leavin' the house except to run ... this is not good for me).

Anyhow, cals yesterday went above the 1550 magickal number but in the new plan this is ok dokey. Stayed in the 1700s.

Must away fer now! :cruise:

Great start. Keep working at it. You will get it.

Thanks, Smallfri!!! :wave: :cheer: :wave:

All MWWW125OJ29 (Maidens Who Will Weigh 125 on July 29) are wanderin' the Lighthouse grounds in a daze this a.m. whilst the Calorie Control Police do a search 'n seizure o' some cal contraband that was found yesterday, causin' the Maidens to not reach the happy magickal number o' 1550. However, due to the fact that the new plan does not REQUIRE compliance with said magickal number in order to stay at the Lighthouse, no one is being evicted and as Diet Wise Woman said, "Tuesday's level of 1720 is perfectly acceptible, but the police are bein' called to remove any illicit cals found on the premises so they will not trouble our noble maidens today."

Film at 11.

This is the official log o' the Maiden Marathon, no blather, just the facts:

Start: 25 miles to go

April 30: One mile completed, 24 to go
May 2: 2.5 miles completed, 21.5 to go

Hi, Athletea:

The best of luck to you on your marathon. You are off to a great start.

Forge on ahead, and keep smiling -

Thanks, JoJo!!! :wave:

I am SORT OF smilin' as I officially announce I registered to RUN (not walk, they required a declaration of walk or run) a 5K in August.

Have done a 4.2 mile race, a one mile race and now the 5K and I think that MAY be it for the year!

Must go rest up for work now, though.

The Lighthouse Maidens Who Will Weigh 125 on July 29 did NOT have a good cal day yesterday but are back on track 'n declarin' a 1550 or less streakarama game fer themselves for Thursday, Friday 'n Saturday. The Lighthouse Streak Committee hath decided to keep it EZZZZZ, though, with no pressure fer maidens to comply, just participate, 'cause as Yoda did NOT say, "Try? There IS try ... try is good."

And if anyone thinketh that a cal setback spelleth diet disaster, refer to Wisdom o' ESA's Diet Plan Number 101,000 which specifieth that sometimes the bod needs a break in order to shake itself out of a plateau or stagnant metabolic somethin' or other!

And if anyone thinketh that success will NOT appear on the Golden Scale o' Dietary Justice this week, think again: "Please understand," saith Queen Victoria, "that no one is depressed in this house. We are not interested in the possibilities of failure. They do not exist."

Did a short jog for the marathon this a.m. and will do weights in afternoon before work tonight.

Start: 25 miles to go

April 30: One mile completed, 24 to go

May 2: 2.5 miles, 21.5 to go

May 3: .5 miles, 21 to go

The Lighthouse was a'runnin' a special on Lighthouse Island gym memberships so each Maiden Who Will be 125 on July 29 was treated to a six-month sign-up~!

Huzzah, translation, I joined a new gym today. Have been very happy havin' a gym in my house and will continue to use that also and keep up with the race training, but wanted some heavy machines and things and maybe a class or two and the price was right so decided to spring fer it ... will maybe only use twice a week but it'll be nice to have it when I want to use a gym.

I feel guilty about spending the money, though.

Oh well, need a nap. Had a nice workout whilst scopin' out the premises and machines all on my own ... I declined to sign up for a trainer as to be honest and not to sound snooty but I know more about exercise than most gym trainers I've met lately. :jn:

Good day to you Miss Athletea,

Congratulations on the gym membership. I have never managed that since the gyms around here are so far away, even had I the funds to have a membership, paying for the gas to get there would bankrupt me! LOL But I remember when I went to PT after having my knee replacement. The gym they had was great, and once I had come along well with my PT, they had me working on the machines too, with my legs, and I loved it. I'm glad you are doing this for yourself. You deserve it.

Have a great Friday. :)

Thanks fer the visit and encouragement, Sandie!

I'm enjoyin' the idea of having the gym again. Hope to check out a yoga class tomorrow! :wave:

Havin' once again been viciously attacked by the Stress Eatin' Demon on their way to and from Non Virtual Village to work last night, the LMWWW125OJ29 had an emergency meetin' with Diet Wise Woman today.

"Bleech," said the Maidens (who tend to all say the exact same thing at the exact same time), "how will we cope with this week's weigh-in on Sunday if it goes UP when we are already losin' so very slowly, yet feelin' that overall we are makin' great strides towards health, fitness 'n inevitable weight loss that will follow. Yet if actual weight is UP because o' a few high days (and it probably will be), we WILL become discouraged and continue the lose/gain cycle forever and NEVER reach ULTRA GOAL in this lifetime. Oh sigh, oh wail, what will we do in this horrible crisis?"

"Well," soothed DWW, "that IS a very positive attitude recognizin' that ye are really feelin' rather strong, Diet Maidens. And congrats on joinin' the gym and I hope ye get in there for a yoga class tomorrow instead o' runnin' 'cause though runnin' be the goal, ye need to stretch 'n soothe 'n breathe sometimes."

"Anyhoo," she continueth, "my plan would be to NOT do a weigh-in this Sunday, instead to incorporate these past few days of good exercise but higher eatin' inTO the overall scheme o' things as ye needed to break away from that 1550 magickal number idea anyhow. It was too strict for the healthy maidens ye are and for your lifestyle. Despite what anyone says, ye really need more calories than that on some days, with mayhap that being the ideal average, yes, but ye were stickin' to it a tad too obsessively and that just doesn't work for Lighthouse Maidens."

"HUZZAH, Diet Wise Woman," shouted the Maidens as if one, "ye have hit the nail on the head as usual 'n we will follow yer plan and regroup and rethink our plan and reschedule the next official Lighthouse Ceremony o' the Golden Scale o' Dietary Justice to take place on Sunday, May 13."

And the Maidens decided to go run and then head for work in Non Virtual Village.

Film at 11.

Start: 25 miles to go

April 30: One mile completed, 24 to go

May 2: 2.5 miles, 21.5 to go

May 3: .5 miles, 21 to go

May 4: 1 mile, 20 to go

I sure am glad you have those lovely maidens to help you find the right path to reach goal's end. I think they have a lot of good advice, and you are wise indeed to pay heed to it. :up:

Hi, Athletea:

I'm just stopping in to wish you and all the maidens a happy and profitable weekend.

Keep smiling -

Thanks fer the visits to our humble Lighthousey abode here on the Island, Sandie 'n JoJo!!! :wave:

Ahoy! The Lighthouse Maidens Who Will Weigh 125 on July 29 have embarked on a voyage o' EIGHT DRAMATIC DAYS IN MAY duration 'n each day will participate in this super streak by declarin' 'n meeting a diet/fitness related goal!

TODAY'S GOAL BE TWO FOLD: 1) Keep calories below 1600 and 2) Go to check out Saturday mornin' at new gym and hopefully DO somethin' whilst there!

Tempus fugit!

A nightly Eight Day Streak Committee meetin' will take place in the Lighthouse Library for the purpose o' recappin' 'n reportin' on this challenge.

The MARATHON COMMITTEE reminds all maidens that the MARATHON is still on 'n they should continue to make progress towards that finish line! Huzzah!

Diet Wise Woman reminds the populace in general that despite all that conspires against us in the nonvirtual world: "Please understand that no one is depressed in this house," according to Queen Victoria, late o' England fame. "We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat. They do not exist."

Ibid.

Ending cal day at 1585. Did go to gym and took yoga class followed by treadmill mile, but now not feeling well at all.

Later ...

Hi Athletea, hope you are feeling better! :wave:

Hello, maidens:wave:
Hoping you are feeling a bit better (or a whole lot better). I hate being sick in the spring. Fair skies and following winds!

I also hope that you feel better. Did you get dehydrated? Did you do that Bikram's yoga, where they turn the classroom heat above body temperature, and THEN get on the treadmill?

You are doing great. I hope that you have a great week, and feel better today. Take care.

Hi Athletea,

Did you go to the gym and then try and do too much at once? I do hope you are feeling better.

Thanks be fer all the nice visits here from kindly folk on shore or :cruise: -ing by.

The maidens 'n Diet Wise Woman will be back when feelin' a bit more positive. They did go to new gym today and did weights just to keep things from saggin' ...

I refuse to turn this into a "poor me" type journal but things aren't a'goin' all that well right now. It is most likely more perception than anything else.

But will be back.

ARRRRRRRRRH mate! Your ship will be arriving at shore soon I saw Captain Jack just this mornin' and he said you where just off shore and paddling hard. Don't walk the plank just yet hang on help is a comin! Here I'll throw you a life line :hug: now hang on as we all paddle to the shore. See Captain Jack is standing just in sight well sort of he is still digging for the lost case of rum. YOU CAN DO IT I KNOW YOU CAN!

Ahoy! It's been blustery on the Great Lakes, so we keep getting blown off course. We just get back to our line and another little squall comes up and pushes us to the side again. That's the problem with sailing as opposed to power boats - emotional storms are apt to swamp the boat!

:laugh: , Sunny, Cap'n Jack stole all the rum and left pom juice (extremely healthy) instead. He's a bad character, he is!

Apologies fer lack o' personal responses today again and not visitin' folks' journal. Thanks be to all who've checked on us here at the Lighthouse whilst we were away ... and actually, we are still away with this dumb combined flu 'n emotional squall or whatever. It lingers, but we have to go to work in Non Virtual Village anyhow as there is no one else who can do our job. So much for exclusivity.

Re food we are not off course 'cause we can't eat much :laugh: ... will do a weigh-in on probably Sunday that won't be a true one as could go up or down because of illness ... we'd prefer down, of course, and if it IS down will take that as a sign we should try to maintain that despite it's unhealthy origin.

No exercise today!

MARATHON REPORT: 17.25 to go! Have been exercising and even going to the new gym (which is our guess of where we picked up at least part of this illness)!

After that, we shall see about long range plans again.

We CAN report that we are having the Lighthouse painted ... a good and bad thing totally unrelated to weight loss.

Ahoy, mate. I am sorry that you and the maidens are under the weather, and hope you are feeling better soon.

Emotional duldrums suck. I'm glad that you are popping out of them. Row, row, row your way to breezier environs...

Keep us posted on the marathon and such. Take care.

Oops, a funny thing happened on the way to the Lighthouse this morning. The Maidens Who Will Weigh 125 on July 29 have all been hijacked (we suspect Cap'n Jack), but that's not all bad as the Lighthouse itself has been found to have been destroyed (no one hurt) by a tidal wave. Diet Wise Woman has escaped in a convenient dinghy she kept for just such a contigency and she has been seen disembarking on a deserted island, unpacking a glowing "scale like" object from a large silken pouch ...

The Lighthouse Project has been scuttled (translation, tired of this story line) and this journal will be replaced anon by another.