Yes, that is what I have for sure. I have been sick too long, which is letting me watch too much CNN and read too many articles online. I am now convinced the potentially tainted Clif bar I ate has infected me with Salmonella. Nevermind that I have no diarrhea, and that it is the main symptom. I am such a paranoid freak! In my defense, my belly is hurting SO bad. I got dressed in my running clothes today, but haven’t felt up to running quite yet. I hope I get there :( Today is my son’s 10th birthday. Man, I am getting so OLD! He got a new bike ($125 later… when did kid bikes get so expensive?!) so if I feel better hopefully we can take a ride together tonight, even if it is only around the neighborhood. I miss our alone time!! He’s such a great kid.

So I have had an issue weighing on my mind since I spoke to my Mom the other night. My little sister is getting engaged Friday. We all know it, but she doesn’t yet. (YAY!!!) So, here’s a little background on my Mom… she was always thin… without doing anything. She was 5′9″ and about 110 pounds. She never exercised and she ate crap. 3 kids later, she was still the same. Then the dreaded 4th kid came. She lost most of the weight (she was like me and gained a TON everytime she was pregnant… we’re talking almost 100 pounds and actually with me she gained OVER 100!) and then it stopped. And not only did she stop losing, she started gaining. And gaining. And before she knew it, she weighed about 300 pounds. And that is how I always remember her. She hated it. HATED it. But, she had no idea how to change it. She would starve herself and lose weight, then go back to normal eating and gain it all back. Then she would repeat the process again. It was horrible. It set a horrible example for us kids… we all have body issues except my brother, who inflicts them upon all the women he dates (ass!!). I think my middle sister had eating disorders. My youngest sister probably did too. I didn’t have enough self control to have one. Although, I do remember going on a pickle only diet once, and I managed 3 pickle only days, which culminated with a pickle green foamy barf fest. YUCK. Anyhow, my Mom kinda gave up trying to lose til a few years ago. She actually started working out, doing aerobics in the house twice a day, and though she was on a severely restricted diet, it was better than what she had eaten in the past. She got down to almost 200 and then over the last 2 years has gained it all back (seriously, you can eat 2 lean cuisines and an apple a day to lose weight, but I’m here to tell you: you will NOT keep your weight off!). So, now that my sister is getting married, my Mom is feeling on insecure and weird because her fiance’s mother is gorgeous. I mean, gorgeous. She is also older than my Mom. I know, ouch. Which brings me back to the beginning… Mom is on another “diet.” And, she was bragging to me about only having consumed 800 calories in the past two days. ARGHHHHHHH I am so frustrated with her! She started at 300 and is already down to 290. For her weight, she should be eating around 2000 calories for a nice loss. But will she listen? No. I try to tell her, but what do -I- know? So, I wonder what the long term effects of this are on her health. I also wonder just how far she’ll go to be thin at the wedding, which could be as early as this December. I’m so worried…

And, in other news, I’m gonna be the Maid of Honor in my sisters wedding! I need to start losing weight!!! ;-)

Hope all you chickies are having a great day!