Weight Watchers - Supporting Each Other on Our Weight Loss Journey

This is a great thread for those who want support, helpful hints, friendship and a great bunch of people to communicate with. This thread has existed for a long time and we keep re-starting it whenever the old one gets too long. Feel free to stop in and chat, we are not a "closed" group and welcome newcomers. Some of us have been together for well over a year, some only a few days, but we care about each other. We offer tips, we share, we pick each other up of the floor when we've had rough times and we applaud when someone does well.

So, please do stop on by and share a bit, support is what it's all about! We can really do this together.:hug:

Hello ladies,

We are back here. I am sorry I didn't get to read all the posts before the site went down.
I do hope you all have a great day and enjoy your weekend.
Take Care and post.
Ann

Good morning everyone,
What happened to the recent posts? It looks like they are just gone, that's a bummer. I missed you guys yesterday. I just read a thread that was like a search party for Linda in the beginning of May. So you were gone for three weeks? I'm so glad you are back, whenever I have been gone, I have thought about you all often. It feels so good to be back.

Well, I'm going to post more later, I'm going to get a walk in before it gets too hot today. The heat here has been so intense, makes me not want to do anything. Talk to everyone later....

Good morning, all!

I've been MIA for a little while. I had mentioned being out of town for both Memorial Day Weekend and last weekend, for my brother-in-law's wedding.

As much as I wanted to stay OP, I just didn't manage to do it. So I'm up 2 lbs from where I was at my last official weigh in the Friday before Memorial Day, but I'm still down 6 lbs from where I was when I started WW in early April...AND I'm still 10 lbs less than I was 13 months ago.

Now I have the next few weeks to get back on track before we go away again from the evening of July 3 - either July 6 or 7. The first Sunday of July every year is the reunion for my father-in-law's side of the family. Shouldn't be terribly hard to stay OP, and it's out in the country where there is a creek for swimming around, and lots of opportunity to walk around, but we'll see.

We will possibly also be heading BACK to my in-laws' place next weekend, but we'll see. I'm just going to keep trying. That's the best I can do!

Just wanted to say "hey" and talk about where I am right now. I still haven't gotten below 197 at any time in the past 2 years. That should be my next mini-goal, to get down to 196 or lower. 196 would put me at my pre-pregnancy weight for my daughter...I last remember being there for sure in 2004, not so long after she was born (I only gained 8 lbs with her, lost all of that and more with her birth...was 188 for a few weeks, then it crept back up and stayed at 196 for about a year).

What I'm still liking about WW is that I keep WANTING to get back OP and keep trying to, rather than completely throwing in the towel with it. That, and the fact that I know I can eat normal food, and nothing is entirely off limits so long as I can discipline myself on portion control and not mindlessly snacking.

Hope to be on here more now, for the next few weeks, anyway. But it's a bummer about the server crash...wow. I knew something was up yesterday when I tried to get on the website and got a message that it was down.

Hello ladies,
I do hope all is well.
Erica, how was your walk.
Welcome back LoveMyFam.
This is a like a fresh start for all of us. It is a sign I do say. We are all starting a new. We can do this.
Have a wonderful day everyone. I am glad the server is back up.
Take Care
Ann

Hey everyone....just want to stop quickly and say hi. I am up quite early today as I have to do an expo for work today. It should be fun; sitting out in 95 degree weather, handing out melting chocolate chip cookies! =) (I won't be eating them, of course!) Afterwards my boss is having a bbq pool party, so dh and dds are coming down for that. Should be a fun day!

I'm kind of disappointed that my last post got lost...I don't know if Linda got a chance to read it?

Anyway, hope everyone has a great Sunday!

Good morning everyone.
Paige, I hope you have a great day. It is going to be hot here. Enjoy your bar-b-que and pool party. On days like this we sure enjoy having a pool.
I have friends coming over today to go swimming. My DS is like a fish, he wants to be in the pool all the time.
Erica, how are you doing today? I hope the weekend is going well for you. What did you do?
Linda, where are you? Did you go to the cottage this weekend? I hope you are getting some time for yourself.
Jet, good morning, how are you, you seem really busy.
Laura, where are you and how are you. I really hope you are doing well.
Trysh, are you out camping again? Enjoy.
BeachBum, how is your dh doing? I hope all is well.

Hello to everyone else, Have a wonderful day and enjoy.
Take Care
Ann

Hello Everyone,

Well, I've been missing for a while. (I haven't really been on program since last fall). But hopefully I can join back in....

In the process of taking a break/giving up over the last 8 mos I have gained back about 15 lbs. Why exactly is it so hard to take them off and so easy to get them back?????

So today I started back on a tracker, and Friday I'm going to ride over to WW and try out a new class (part of the reason I quit.....), and I will exercise this week faithfully (even if it kills me).

Sorry this post was all about me, hopefully, I can get back to knowing everyone quick.

-Tech

Hi everyone,
Welcome back Tech, I remember you doing pretty well last summer, especially with your bike riding, even during those really hot days!! You'll be back on track in no time, I gained back everything I lost last year, let's do this!!

Ann-my walk was good, in fact, I walked twice today. How was your weekend? I wish we had a pool, we have been talking about getting one, maybe for next year, it would be a big investment though.

Paige- how was the expo? Did you guys have any of those thunderstorms? So hot in NY today. What are some of your really hot sellers at the bakery? I'm looking to try some new things this fall. Our molasses cookies do really well, especially when people are buying them by the dozen at $1.50/each! How do you guys handle people asking for your recipes?

Well, this was my first weekend back OP. Was it perfect? No. Did I try hard? Yes. Weekends are tough for me no matter what though. I'm going to try doing this for awhile w/o a meeting. So if you see my tracker moving, it's because I weigh myself everyday, so when I see it go down, I really like to up date that tracker.

Linda..... miss you...... hope you're hangin' in there. :)

Good morning.
I do hope everyone had a great weekend.

Paige, how was your day yesterday? It was so very hot here so we had many visitors to use the pool.

Erica, two walks that is great. Do you have someone to walk with? I walk and run on my own because people would say they wanted to walk or run and then if it rained they would cancel. I don't mind someone joining me on my walk but my intention is to always walk on my own and then if I have company great, if not that is okay too. Believe me the pool is well worth the expense, if you use it. My friend has a pool that gets used maybe 10 times over the whole summer. Did you find some good snacks for the afternoon?

Linda, how are you doing? Would you be able to post your picture again? It was lost when the system went down.

Donna, it is so nice to see you back. How have you been? Every time I look at my bike I think of you and how I should be out riding my bike. I am still making excuses why I am not riding my bike.

Trysh, how was your weekend? Is your DD done school yet for the summer?

Jet, I do hope you had a great weekend.

Janelle, Kim, Laura, BB, and Patty....hello to all of you and to anyone I missed.

Have a great day.
Ann

Ok it's Monday, another chance to start things out right. My goals for today are to get a walk in, journal everything, stay within my points. Starting out again, I'm realizing again the challenge of not feeling hungry all the time. It definitely takes a while for my stomach and brain to adjust to this new way of

Ann- I walk by myself and with my kids. I have this new route where half of it is on the road and half through a wooded trail, so they really like it. Although there is a very steep hill involved and the three yr. old is on my back during that. Last night the sweat was just pouring off of us. I had an epiphany last night that I should get my bike out with the seat on the back and take youngest dd for bike rides while school is still in sessison and we can go by ourselves. I'm trying to come up with some options for our kids to swim this summer. For the first time in about 25 years, my parents are not opening up their pool this summer. It is a huge bummer because that is where he have always gone every summer. What are you doing for snacks these days? I need some ideas.

Ok well, guess it's time to start the day..... hello to everyone out there...

Happy Monday all!

Yesterday was good. I had to hand out cookies, menus, and race applications to people at a 10k classic yesterday. The owners of my cafe are big runners, and put on a 5k in August. The cafe is in the downtown area, and that area has gone through "rough" times, and is getting better, so the proceeds of the race go to purchase items to help beautify downtown. The race helps to bring people down that normally are too "afraid" of that area because of it's old reputation, so now they see that it's not like that anymore. So anyway, that is what I did yesterday morning...and I won 4 weeks of karate lessons and a uniform from the karate booth next to me! LOL! I have been wanting to sign my little one up for awhile, so I'm excited to get free lessons.

So today is my 7 year wedding anniversary. Dh, dds and I are going out to dinner tonight...our original plan was to go to TGI Friday's, but now I'm thinking that I want to be good. If I go there, I know that I won't. I love their Jack Daniels burger and the chicken strips (fried, with the JD sauce...YUM) so if I go and then be good, I have a feeling I won't feel satisfied. I'm thinking that maybe I will see if dh would want to go to Applebees instead. That is dds favorite restaurant, so they will be happy there.

It is going to be another hot one here in NY today; I believe it is supposed to reach 100 in the city. We haven't turned our AC's on yet; I'm hoping that we can keep from turning them on today, but we will see.

Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well and has a great day!

Hello,

Well, I have one day back on program under my belt :D Today is turning out harder than anticipated because I had to take dh in for a colonoscopy this am and the doctor found a tumor he thinks is probably cancer :( He won't get the biopsy back for a couple of days but he says he'd be really surprised if it wasn't. So now I really want to stress eat. But I'm here instead and I think I might go to the gym and swim laps after I'm done posting just to get out of the house and away from the food. I wanted to go for a ride, but it is just tooooo muggy out, but I may take the dog out later.

Ann - Thanks for the welcome back. Don't worry about the riding you walk and run, that I don't do and we all have feet (at least I think we do).

Paige - Happy Anniversary :balloons: So do I read your avatar right and your at goal? If so belated congrats.

Erica - :T molasses cookies that sounds good and I'm not a sweets eater. I agree, I was really hungry yesterday and couldn't figure out why. But I decided it was just getting back on track. Congrats on getting thru the weekend.

- Tech :swim:

Hey!!! I'm here, welcome back Donna!
Erica, you too, in case you didn't see the post I made about that.
What the heck happened? I couldn't get on here for days and now things are lost? Hope we are back in business!

Ta Da! I announce that I went back to the gym today. It felt good and I earned about 3 points. I am proud of myself.

I did something that I am also kind of proud of too.... I've been driving around with this pair of jeans that I ordered by accident from JC Penny. They came and I found out they were not the usual ones I wear with a bit of elastic built into the sides of the waist-band. I found them "snug" and thought I would exchange them. But, hadn't gone over by JC Penny in a long time and they have been in the back of my car for ages. Well, today, I picked them up and was going to move them and said, "Darn it, I should be WEARING these things... no excuses.
I am keeping them.
I need to keep at this and figure out what to do. I'm back in business, I guess.
I've been really down in the dumps and sinking, but no one is going to make this easy for me and I have to learn to accept what I cannot change.
So, let's get rolling guys!
I'll do better than posting my art photo again, here is a link to my friend Beth's blog:

http://www.quilterb-bethsblog.blogspot.com/

You can go there and read about "my on line friends" and see her photos of my art, she gave me credit and posted them as I have used some of her photography for my art.
I hope to SELL something... need to get to work on finding a gallery.
Take care everyone!

Hello everyone,
Well one thing about hot steamy days, my appetite goes down and my water intake goes up, so overall I was happy with today. I did not do any formal exercise, but i did rent a carpet cleaner and that made me sweat!!

Linda-you went back to the gym, that is awesome, was it hot there? I find a lot of times gyms are not air conditioned which can be rough. When I was a substance abuse counselor, we use to use the term "fake it 'til you make it". I really like this phrase, as I relate it to myself when I'm starting out, not likeing a lot of my "new behaviors" and fighting them all the way. You asked about how many days does it take to form a new habit? (was that you that asked?) It is 21 days. You've already won half the battle when you say, "accept what you can't change", now, you just have to focus on the "wisdom to know the difference". I checked out that blog, love those pieces of artwork. Will it be a lot of work to find a gallery?

Tech- that is awful about your husband, I really hope that everything works out ok.

Paige-Happy Anniversary!! Did you end up going to Applebees?

Ann-How was your day?

Well, here's hoping for another good day tomorrow!

Erica:
The gym is air conditioned and they have big ceiling fans running so you can be quite comfortable there, even on a hot day. I may go again this afternoon, but I may be without a car. My daughter's car broke down and she has places she needs to be. Hope it's repaired and ready today.

Happy Anniversary to you Paige. My 24th will be on the 23rd of June, no plans yet.

I have planned a few meals for this coming week. I'm hoping to stay on track better. Don't know what comes over me sometimes, I just get waylaid from all the good intentions.
One thing that is good that in hot weather salads and fruits appeal to me, so that can be advantageous.

So, here is today's eating plan:

Breakfast:

one slice pumpernickel bread toasted with lite margarine (2 points)
plain fat free yogurt with 1 T raspberry jam
apricot

Lunch:

sliced deli lean roast beef
grilled WW lite hamburger rolled with butter spray on it
salad, oil and vinegar
beets
ff milk

Snacks:
Banana, popcorn

Dinner:
Rotisserie chicken (I have one of those nice counter-top ones)
Brown rice
broccoli with butter spray


Dessert:
If I am brave enough to run the oven on a hot day, I may make one of those cake mixes with the canned pumpkin in it so I can have that with lite cool whip for 3 points, however, I'm not sure I dare heat up my kitchen. It's supposed to be something like 98 degrees today.

Would you all dare put it in the crock pot and see what happens? Could be "interesting" and it wouldn't heat up the house. I have no idea how long to do it for, though. Oh well, perhaps I'll just wait a day to make it and have SF/FF pudding.

Happy Tuesday all!

So yesterday we ended up going to Applebees, but I was quite disappointed with the WW menu once we got there. What the heck happened to it? There aren't nearly as many meals as there used to be. My favorite one (the steak skewers) aren't on it anymore. Soooooo, I ended up getting something else...I got the roasted turkey sandwich that has cranberries, and is on ciabatta. I asked for no mayo, took off some of the bacon, and left some of the bread. I also ate not even 1/2 of the fries, and had one mozarella stick. I was kind of annoyed when I got home because I was trying to find the points, but couldn't. I had 15 pts for remaining for dinner, so I definatly went over, but I could also of done a lot worse. The sad thing, too...when we were done eating I kind of had that "throw caution to the wind" attitude and was saying to dh, let's go get some cake for our anniversary. But then I looked over at the table next to us where an extremely large woman was stuffing herself with a platter of fried food, and thought to myself...no no no, I do NOT need cake. So I ended up having a serving of low fat ice cream at home later on.

After we got home, dh set up the new slip and slide that we got for the girls...he and I went on it, too! OMG! I haven't done that since I was a little girl, and it was SO MUCH FUN!!!!! I'm sure the neighbors got a good laugh out of it, too! Our girls had so much fun on it, and had fun seeing mommy and daddy go on it.

I don't have too much planned for today. I'm going to go get on Wii Fit after I post this. I was showing it to my neighbor yesterday, and I think I figured out the hula-hooping. That is such good exercise, so I'm anxious to get back on it.

Linda-I don't know if you read this in my post before it was lost, but have you thought about putting some of your paintings on ebay? It might be an easy way to start getting yourself out there.
Good for you, getting back to the gym. You are starting to sound a little more upbeat; are you feeling that way?

Tech-Glad to see you back! No, I'm not at goal...my avatar is my high weight (actually it's 10lbs higher than that) and my goal weight...I used to have current weight in there too, but got tired of having to change it.

My menu for today...
Breakfast: egg, ham, LC cheese-4

Lunch:salad-7

Dinner: grilled chicken-4
veggies-0
baked fries-4

Dessert-low fat ice cream-3

Snack during the day-popcorn-3

Total: 25/26

Good morning to Ann, Erica, and everyone else!

Ok, I'm going to go exercise. Hope you all have a great day!!!!

Hello everyone.

Paige, Happy Anniversary. Enjoy. I phone different places around Watertown and they don't have the Wii Fit in. I will keep trying.

Linda, I went to that site and saw you work, it is great. Good luck finding a Gallery to show it. How exciting it all is. Will you remember us when you are famous? Congrats on going back to the gym.

Donna, I am sorry to hear about your husband. I will pray for you. I know it would make me want to eat. Hugs to you.

Erica, I use the fake it til you make it all the time. When I began running I did that and one day I woke up and found I really enjoyed running. I found these snack bars by Russell Stover, they have 100 cal, 5g fat, 6g of fibre and they hit the spot. I buy them at walmart in NY for 2.28 for 5 bars. I have a friend who likes to use them instead of chocolate bars. It is a real treat for her. The have chewy granola, cinnamon bun, apple cinnamon and blueberry. They all have chocolate on them. I find I need to do something between 3 and 5 because I want to eat all during that time and I am not hungry. Also frozen grapes are a great snack. I too love watermelon.

I have to go now I am off to help out my DS school. I enjoy helping out in his class and it gives the teacher time for one on one with the children.

Jet, Trysh and beach bum, and anyone else out there. How are you ladies, I hope your day goes well.

Have a wonderful day everyone.
Take Care
Ann

Hi Paige, we were posting at the same time,
The slip and slide sounded like so much fun. What a great way to make memories for your DD's.
I too found the last time I went to Applebees I was disappointed. It was the one in Binghamton and I thought maybe it was just that Applebees.
That is great you figured out the hoolahooping on the WII. It sounds like a lot of fun.
Have a great day.
Ann

Hey all...I just wanted to share this recipe that I just found on allrecipes.com. I haven't made it yet, but it has a lot of good reviews so I thought I'd post it. It is ONE (!!!!!!!!) point per serving.

No Crust Strawberry Pie

INGREDIENTS
24 ounces fresh strawberries
1 (2.1 ounce) package sugar-free cook and serve vanilla pudding mix
1 (.6 ounce) package sugar-free strawberry flavored gelatin
2 cups water

DIRECTIONS
Rinse and hull strawberries. Distribute evenly in a 10 inch pie pan.
In a medium saucepan combine pudding mix, gelatin mix, and water. Stir well and bring to a full boil. Pour mixture over strawberries and refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours. Top with light frozen whipped topping prior to serving, if desired.

The reduced fat graham cracker crusts are 2 pts per serving; 3 pts for a piece of refreshing pie wouldn't be too bad. Even without it, I thought this recipe sounded nice and light on a hot day.

Good morning everyone,
Paige- I remember seeing not too long ago a news special on all of these restaurants that claim to have low-fat/low-cal menu items. Well these scientists/nutritionists actually took these menu items to a lab and analyzed, did all the tests etc. and discovered that they were inaccurate and had way more fat and calories in them than what the menu stated, including WW items on the Applebees menu. So maybe that is why there are missing? Did anyone else see that special? That turkey sand. sounded good though, was that on the WW menu? The slip and slides sounds like so much fun, I totoally forgot about those, I thik I'm going to get one, where did you guys get yours?

Ann- I'm going to have to check out those Russel Stover bars, they sound really good. I always struggle with the whole sweet/chocolate thing. I find that when I bake something, even if it is low points, I always go overboard in the serving size dept., and it stinks because I really like to bake. Lately I've been having the 1pt. peanut butter/choc. chip rice cakes, they are pretty satisfying, especially for a rice cake.

Linda-any luck with the cake in the crockpot? I did not exercise for the past two days, I used the heat as an excuse, well, the scale hasn't moved either, so I guess I can't use that excuse anymore.

Well, I'm off for now, hope everyone has a great day!

Erica-We got our slip n slide at Wal-mart for around $8.

Off to work...will post this afternoon. Have a great, op day all!

Good morning.

I do hope you are all having a wonderful Wednesday.

Erica, At my meeting one time this woman who is a chocoholic said she drinks a slim fast chocolate drink in the afternoon as her snack. She mentioned it was 3 points and it kept her full as she prepared supper. I find if I snack on an apple and 1 tablespoon of peanut butter it fills me up. It is also 3 points.
What about sugar free fat free jello for a snack? I will pick up the pb /choc chip rice cakes next time I go to NY. I haven't seen them in the stores here yet.
Are the girls done school for the summer yet?

Donna, how was your day. I hope you are doing well.

Linda, did you make the cake in the crock pot. Is the weather really hot there? Yesterday it was so hot here but then we had some rain and it cooled off a bit.

Paige, have an awesome day at work. How is your hula hooping? I think it would be so much fun.

Trysh, Jet, Beach Bum, Laura, Kim, Janelle, how are you ladies.

I need to run as it will be getting warmer soon.
Have an awesome day everyone.
Take Care
Ann

Hello All,

Well, 3 days on program and today is looking good :D I'm debating if I want to go back to a meeting Friday or not. I know I do better when I'm accountable, but....maybe I'll try it and see. I wish the Saturday meetings weren't so full (50-80 per session) I just feel over whelmed there, but I really like the leader...

Had a hard time Monday, but I made it thru. DH is supposed to call the doctor for his biopsy results today and to schedule more tests before the surgery to remove the tumor :crossed: that the news isn't as bad as we fear.

Haven't been on my bike in over a week :( It was just so darned muggy. The weather finally broke yesterday, but I was lazy, we did take the dogs out in the evening. I was going to go today, but I usually meet my parents on Tues but it was raining so we postponed to today. So I walked yesterday and today, and we're supposed to go to the gym for weight training tonight. Hopefully tomorrow I can ride, I think I might actually set the alarm.....

Laura - It's great to hear from you too. I liked your paintings they were pretty. I've gotta get my web page updated.....

Ann - How was your run?

Erica - I saw a clip on the news about that, it was pretty scary. They said what they did was compare the posted nutritional data with the actual tested food and it varied from restaurant to restaurant w/in the same chain but they were sometimes off by as much as double the fat and calories :eek: Made me even more determined to eat out less.

Paige - the slip and slide sounds like fun. A couple of years ago we got my nephew a sit and spin wet for his birthday. It was like the old sit and spin but you hooked it up to a hose which sprayed you. My sister said he loved it.

Well I should go make my self some lunch. DH is picking up Sushi for dinner so I don't have to do anything there. But I think I'll make the menu for the next couple of weeks so I can go shopping tomorrow.

Have a great day everyone.

-Tech :bike2:

Hey ladies, I am new to the WW program. Actually I'm not officially on it as I've not paid for anything but I've done a little bit of research and have a rough idea of how it works and about how many points I am allowed at my weight.

Here is a question I have for anyone who's lost a lot of weight with WW. As your weight goes down, so do your points alloted for each day right? Was that hard for anyone to deal with? In my mind it seems like it would suck, but at the same time I'm sure that my mindset will be different once I get to that point.


Oh boy I need to go to bed. It is late.

Goooood morning all!

Another busy day planned for me at work today. I've been making a lot of new things, so it has been a little more difficult not to "taste test" lately. Today I know of two new items that I want to make, so I will try to be good. At least usually it's just a small bite or spoon, not a bowl full or whole piece.

Last night was a little crazy; I hadn't even gotten out of my car after getting home from work and my neighbor was walking up the street to ask me to make a cake for TODAY for his wife's birthday. He had asked me to make one for a few weeks (it's her 40th) for a party, but I guess today is her actual birthday, so he wanted another one as well. It killed me to turn my oven on, but I am too nice to say no! So after baking all day long, I had to bake that, be with the girls on my own since dh is out of town till tonight, and then I stayed up to decorate it after they went to bed. I had some extra batter left and made three cupcakes as well, planning on giving one to each dd and then having one myself, but I ended up giving mine to the neighbor girl that dd was playing with instead. I did have just a bite of the cake trim, though...it's been a long time since I've had my cake!

playfullyme-Yes, your points do go down, but only by 1pt for each 10lbs you lose. It's not a huge jump; I personally didn't miss it too much. I acutally still count at 26, and should be counting less, but I find that if I eat less than I don't loose. You will love WW; stick with it and it is a sure fire way of learning how to eat the proper way.

Erica-I promise I will pm you those recipes; I just didn't get a chance last night.

Gotta run...hope everyone has a fabulous day!

Good morning everyone,
Well yesterday didn't go as I hoped/planned. I ended up being at my in-laws during lunchtime, and I just wasn't careful, didn't know the points of everything I was eating, and it just set me up for an unproductive mindset for the rest of the day. So, lesson learned was this: while I only have a week under my belt right now, I can not take chances with "guess-timating" and taking little bites of things, thinking I'll be in control. It's not so much that the food is bad, it's what my mindset ends up being for the rest of the day, like, "oh well, I messed up at lunch so who cares now, I'll just start again tomorrow..." All part of the journey, learning all along the way.

Paige-you are way too nice, but your passion is driving you, and that is awesome. It sounds like it's becoming a lifestyle for you, and not too many people can say what they are passionate about, and how it becomes a way of life too! I think it's hugely admirable that you are able to have that restraint with not taste testing. Last year when our bakery opened up for the season, an employee of mine was also doing WW at the time, and we tried to come up with a game plan for not eating a lot of the goods while we were baking and selling. The game plan didn't work so great. Don't worry about the recipes, I've got more than enough work ahead of me right now, before I can get to testing new recipes. I am excited about them though!!!

playfullyme-my take on it is, as your stomach shrinks (and it most definitely will) it will adjust to less points.

Tech- i just got an email yesterday from hungrygirl.com about these chicken burgers from Trader Joe's that were discovered to have more fat and calories in them than was stated on the box. Hungrygirl takes a lot of things to labs to have them tested if she thinks things might be "too good to be true". She was saying that if you're eating something and it seems to have more fat/calories in it than stated on the box that you should do things like blot them with a paper towel etc. Not sure if I would do that or not. :)


Ann- I never thought of doing the slim fast.... I guess I just shutter at the thought of slim fast, as I think back to some of my whacky "dieting days". But I bet the protein in it is pretty satisfying. I try to have protein in the forefront of my brain all day long with I'm making food choices.

Well, gotta get this day going.... talk to everyone later.

good morning ladies, and lurkers

Today is such a nice day so far. It is cool so running should be good.
I have to get out running but will post once I get back.
Hello to everyone and have an awesome day.
Take Care
Ann

Well, I had a pretty decent day today. I went for a bike ride with 3yr. old DD in the seat behind me, she loved it! A lot of the ride was uphill, so I'm expecting my legs to be sore tomorrow. Then I was able to walk tonight too. My weight loss is completely dependent on how much exercise I get. If I slack, the scale will not move, I'm just at that point in my life. And it's all the extra workouts that I get in that is really going to get the scale moving down. There, just my thoughts for the night.

Good Morning everyone,
Well I can't believe that it is Friday again already. Friday's would always worry me a bit because of my relaxed attitude about eating right and exercise over the weekend. So I need to come up with a game plan. First I need to get exercise in at least once a day. I also have some yardwork ahead of me and our garlic needs to be weeded. So hopefully those things alone will keep me as active as I need to be. Second, we tend to eat out more on the weekends. I need to make wise choices and show restraint. Ya know what I did yesterday that was really good? I bought some Tahziki cucumber yogurt dip, chopped up some cucumbers for dipping, that was really good, and I don't even really like cucumbers that much. I also had half a baked potato with FF sour cream and salsa for lunch, I haven't done that in a long time, and it was really good. Well, I am excited this AM because I busted into the 180's (189.5) so I can't update my ticker yet, but I am so happy about that. The weight comes off slow, but... I'm doing it for good this time. Hope everyone has a great day!

Happy Friday to all.... it's graduation day here for my daughter. Time sure does fly, it seems like just yesterday that she got on that school bus for the first time. I know I will cry. Oh well.
I went to the gym twice this week and will go again today. I'm hoping to get back in the habit, but it's still hard and I totally lack motivation. But, after I go I usually feel better about it.
Eating has been haphazard. I want to do well, and then keep straying off. Paige, I was proud of you when I read about the good choice you made about dessert at Applebees. That kind of behavior is what makes you a winner! Hmmm.... a winner who is a loser, that is!

I have tried that crustless strawberry pie recipe and it is quite good, just so you know.

I did not get brave and try the cake in the crockpot as I have no clue how long to cook it and weather to do it on low or high. Is there any kind of formula anyone has about timing these things? If I were to cook the cake (just my estimates based on previous cooking, not read off the box) for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F, if I put it in the crock pot for 3 hours on high, that might transfer correctly? However, would it be too dry, should I add extra water? Will it end up a huge crumbly mess? No way to know unless you try, though, so perhaps one day I shall. The chocolate fudge cake mix and the can of pumpkin are still sitting on my counter. It's much cooler today, so maybe I'll bake it later on.

Welcome to playfullyme, hope your weight loss journey goes smoothly.
My own journey has been taking a detour lately and I am trying very hard to get back en-route. Posting here helps me, to some degree.

Oh yes, one more thing. I did try to contact an art gallery yesterday about selling my art. We'll see what happens.
Thanks for the e-bay suggestion, but when I looked pastel works of art on there, no bidders and lots of stuff. I need to find a venue where people actually buy things and have money to spend - tourists perhaps?

One thing that is good for my weight loss efforts is that doing art work keeps my hands busy!

TGIF!!!!!!!!!
Has it been a while since I was here last? I've read about the site going down and every stuff.....the things you miss when you're away,huh?.....
Well....I've had an exciting/boring/busy/irritating/tiring/everything else......slash...... last couple of weeks....whew... starting with exciting....we're doing Pigeon Forge for vacay on the 4th-13th of July,can't wait!!boring..ah it's just been boring...busy,well let me tell ya,I have worked my hiney ho off,day and night,redoing the rail canvas on a house boat,sewing up party tops,and I still have an enclosure to repair,THEN we've bought a golf cart and it's a Harley Davidson to beat all,so I've been redoing that in black and orange for DH for father's Day,I told him it should be worth about 300.00 anyway!!LOL!!irritating......everything has irritated me from DH to DD to the neighbors,just everything tiring,just the working from about 8 or 9 in the morning till 9 at night,Lord it's been one heck of a ride the past couple of weeks!!!!!!!
Ann~ Yes DD is FINALLY out for the summer,she was supposed to get out on the friday before memorial day and ended up going back 2 days on tuesday and wed,them schools have to have that money LOL!!
Erica Luv Paige Tech Linda BB HIIIIIIIII!! Playful welcome!!
gotta go DS is waking up and I have a ton of housework and laundry to do!!

Oh yea I forgot to tell about my weight loss journey,before memorial day I went up to 201,then last week I went to the pappy doc and I weighed 197 so I came home and weighed,....naked like I always do and I was actually at 196 so I was excited(included in my excited part of the last 2 weeks) but this week has been so hectic I've slipped into mountain dew **** for 1 day the a coke frenzy one day I just screwed the pooch bad this week so now I'm up to 199............again,and all the walking I did at the docs going to that houseboat 3 times this week,they were good walks too,it would take me about 11 minutes to get to it then back to the car,you'd think that I wouldn't have gained but anyway that's life.......I fell off the wagon and I'm running my legs off to catch back up with it to get back on again!!!!!!!! See Ya'll

Good morning everyone,
Just wanted to say hello
Busy days for me but I wanted you all to know I am thinking of you and I hope you day is wonderful.
Take Care
Ann

Good morning everyone,
Linda- how was your daughter's graduation? What an emotional time that must be. You've probably already mentioned this, but does she have any plans for the fall? Linda, you are right about ebay. I think it has changed so much from what it started out to be. Now when I'm looking for something (good deal) I usually go on Craigslist. Good luck with finding that gallery. I totally think trying to sell to tourists is the way to go. Or what about being a vendor at some different art shows during the summer? I'm not sure how many paintings you have to sell yet, but maybe it's something you could work up to?

Ann-what are you up to today? Our girls have to go to school until the 26th, which is a real bummer, I wish that they were done now.

Shelbysmom-wow, sounds like you're having a lot of fun these days! We are raising a little fawn right now and the girls have named it "bucky kentucky", I thought of you!

As for me, I am down another pound, yeah! I love changing that ticker. We even went to dinner last night at our favorite fish fry, but I was oh so very good. I made sure to eat before we went, which is really key for me. There is no way I can survive walking into a fish fry starving. I am so happy to see this weight slowly creeping off, it represents a lot of baggage for me, a lot of crap that has happened in the last year, so I am shedding that as well. Hope everyone has a great day!

Good morning ladies,
How was your weekend.

Paige, I got the Wii Fit this weekend but was too busy to try it yet. I hope to try it today. DS was using it and he seems to like it. Of course he is so active I am sure he doesn't need to use it.

EricaCongrats on losing another pound. That is a great idea to eat before going to the Fish Fry. I find if I go some where and I am hungry I have a greater chance of making unwise choices. The fawn must be so cute. I like the name.

Trysh You sound so busy. You seem to really enjoy life. I like reading all the energy in your posts. Thanks

Donna How is your DH, have you heard any thing yet? I will keep you and DH in my thoughts nad prayers.

Linda How was your weekend. Is it hard with your daughter graduating? Your baby has grown up. Did you find a gallery for your art? I hope you are doing well.

Laura How are you doing? I often think of you and hope all is well with you.

Have a wonderful day everyone and hello to anyone I missed.

Take Care
Ann

It looks like it will be a beautiful day today.

Hello All,

I can't believe it's been almost a week since I last posted. Things have been pretty blue and stressful around here. DH's biopsy came back positive for cancer. He went in this weekend for more tests. The surgeon he originally saw doesn't do rectal (sp?) surgeries, so he referred him to another who has a two month waiting list, but with the test results will bump him up if it's urgent (which it probably is). So DH will take him the results and hopefully get an apt for this week (or next) then depending on the size of the tumor they'll decide if he needs chemo/radiation before surgery or if they can wait until after. So we're just kind of waiting right now. It's pretty hard but we really don't have a choice.

On a good note: I haven't been eating everything in sight (its been tempting tho). I even refrained from buying spinach dip at the store on Saturday, which is one of my favorite stress foods. And I lost 1.2 lbs last week :carrot: It felt good to see the scale move in the right direction for a change.

Erica - :congrat: on the loss. How did your weekend go? I know you say you have a hard time with them.

Ann - You make me smile. You must try every new exercise on the planet. Let me know how the wii works I've been thinking about it myself. Thanks for asking about DH.

Linda - Sorry I called you Laura in my last post. I've been pretty scatterbrained lately. How was the graduation? Those have to be mixed blessings.

Shelbysmom - Yea on being below 200 (I'll see onederland some day). Your post tires me out, you are so busy.

:wave: to anyone I missed or who is lurking.

Well, I've gotta get moving. I'm gonna eat lunch then hop on my bike I haven't been in a couple of weeks, between the weather and stress and what all. Never going to be able to make the 39 mile ride in July if I don't get moving. I'm trying to talk my dad into going with me since I don't think DH will be up to it.

Have a great day everyone.

-Tech (Donna) :bike2:

{{{Donna}}}

I am so sorry to hear about your husband. He will be in my prayers.

Yea I got my ride in :D 9.25 miles not too bad. Can someone tell me exactly why it is that it takes months to get in shape and days to get out? It just doesn't seem fair. :lol:

-Tech

Donna~ I can definitely relate with ya,it takes me a whole month to lose 3 lbs and a week to gain it back!!LOL.....or day who knows,because I just weigh once a week.....and also I'll be thinking about you and your DH,it seems like cancer is popping up in everyone,it must just be in the air we breathe and the water we drink....it's very upsetting....My sis had breast cancer,she's fine now,but because of that I need to start having mammys and I'm just 33,I had my first one when I was 29 and I haven't had one since because I had such a bad time with the insurance company not wanting to pay because the radiology place didn't turn it in as a mandatory/family history mammy,I told the insurance company "Look I'm 29 and it's not like I decided hey I think I'll go have a mammogram today" anyway it got a little expensive on my part....so I haven't had one since..my doctor told me the other day I needed to start having on I guess every year in the the next couple years at 35,because sis was about 45 when they found hers and I need to start 10 years prior to her age,so yey me.....
So..........how's evrybody else? I'm doin........just doin......I think I'm kinda in.....idol mode right now,neutral,park,what ever you want to call it!! gotta get DS and DD up so I can go to work and earn my keep around here,gottalotta sewing to do today........AND....Our golf cart is pert near finished,it's orange and black like Harley Davidson,well it is a Harley like 70 something model,it's pretty cool........well my fave sissy has called......gotta go...........

Hey everyone!

Not much going on at the moment; been hanging in there at the same weight lately. It seems like I will do that for while, and then drop 5-10 lbs out of nowhere.

The heat finally broke here; I think it's only supposed to be a high of 70 today. I got a cake order last night for Saturday (short notice...grrrrr,) so I'm thinking of taking advantage of the cooler weather (and my day off) and bake the cake and throw it in the freezer. I really (REALLY REALLY) didn't want to do this cake, so I decided to charge "normal" prices for once, $4 a slice (fondant, slightly carved 1/2 sheet) plus they need another small, plain buttercream cake which I'm charging $3 a slice. Almost $200, so I figured I couldn't say no. It's not that difficult of a cake; but it's not an exciting cake. I don't know the people, either...a woman that I used to work with told them I do cakes. I'm done with giving people (other than those that I am close with!) breaks on prices!

Anyway...!

So that's life here. Hope everyone else is doing well...

Tech- I'm really sorry to hear about your DH's bad news. So they don't know the size of it yet? Is it early stages? You sound like an incredibly strong woman.

Paige-it must be annoying when people give you such short notice, you're a good person to have said yes.

Ann-did you try the Wii Fit yet?

I need to get my motivation level up this week. I'm making myself nervous with all of the baking I've been doing and making bread. Paige-I made those black and whites you described and they were a big hit. I also made this "No Knead" bread that is really good today. I need to put it in Mastercook to see how many points it is.

Hope everyone is doing well....

Good morning everyone...

I got to thinking this morning; it's supposed to take 21 days for something to become a habit, so I'm challenging myself to menu planning and points counting for 21 days straight. Anyone want to join me?

Breakfast-WW bagel-2

Snack- Quaker breakfast cookie-3

Lunch-pb (weighed for accuracy) on ww bread-4

Dinner-Grilled chicken
potato-2
veg-0

Dessert-low fat ice cream-3

Total=18/26

I think tonight I'm going to do some research for some new dinner ideas. Dh and I have been ordering in a lot lately; I know we are both really bored with our current menu options.

Anyway, I need go get dds up for school. Hope everyone has a great day!

Alright Paige, as I read your post I felt like, oh man she's right, I really need to do that. I'm just allowing the day to get away from me, and by day's end, I'm eating whatever I want. So here it goes....

Breakfast: Coffee with FF 1/2 and 1/2= 1pt.
1 cp. FF plain yogurt and 1 cp. strawberries=3pts.


Snack: 1 small apricot, 1 small plum= 1 pt.
1 lowfat cheese stick = 1pt.


Lunch: Spinach salad with roasted mushrooms in olive oil = 2pts.
Homemade bread=3pts.

Snack: 1 apple=1pt.
popcorn= 2pts.
1 lowfat cheese stick=1pt.

Dinner: Grilled chicken= 3pts.
1/2 baked potato with FF sour cream and salsa= 4pts.
spinach with roasted mushrooms=2 pts.
Dessert: Stawberries: 2pts.


25/27

We'll see how I do!

So far today my actual has been pretty good.

Breakfast-WW bagel w/4 extra thin slices lean turkey-3
Snack-Quaker bf cookie-3
Lunch-pb sandwich-4

Right now I'm having a quick snack of 2 pts worth of fat free pringles, and for dinner I decided to make brushetta chicken. That is only a 7 pts dinner. I believe that brings me up to 19, so that will leave me pts for the low fat ice cream, and some left over.

So far so good!

me, not so good, dinner was not as planned but everything else was....

Hello ladies,

I hope everyone is doing well.

Donna, I will keep praying for you and DH. You are a very strong lady.

I have had very busy days lately. It has been crazy. One thing after another. I know every thing will slow down. I feel good that I have not let food control me but instead I have been in control of my eating.

I will try and post more in the morning, I am exhausted so I think I should go to bed.
Good night all.

Have a great day.
Ann

Paige great job staying on plan.
Erica, It was only your dinner that wasn't as planned. That means for most of your day you did well. Yeah.

Hey all!

Here is my plan for today (most of it a repeat of yesterday! I felt quite satisfied yesterday.)

Breakfast-WW bagel w/4 slices deli turkey-3
Snack-Quaker bf cookie-3
Lunch-pb & sugar free jam sandwich-4

I'm not sure about dinner yet. I have to start that cake tonight, so it needs to be something quick and not "kitchen-consuming." I was going to have dh bbq frozen burgers, but I just checked the pts....holy crap, 8pts each! And they aren't even that good. Soooo, I don't know. I have to think on it today and get inspired. I will have 13 or so pts to work with, if I save 3 for dessert.

Anyway, sorry not to be personal; I have to skip along to work! I have been getting in early Th and Fri so I can learn how to open and set up the cafe.

Have a great, op day all!!!

Good Morning all,
The scale is being really whacky for me right now, but I'm trying to not let it get to me. I know it definitley has something to do with my cycle, because there is no way I can gain 3 pounds over night after having a pretty on program day yesterday.

Paige-I love that your DH cooks for you, I'm so jealous! What do you do for childcare these days? You are inspiring me to get my butt in gear and open up our "bakery", I need to start just treating it like a job and going out there every day at a set time, just like a job. Have you heard from Linda at all?

Ann- great to be so busy isn't it? Summer vacation days are just ahead!

Well, I'm going to the zoo today with DD's class. I'm bringing our lunches.

Here is my plan for today so far:

coffee with milk - 1pt.
yogurt with strawberries-3pts.

snack: Apple and cheese stick- 2pts.

lunch-crab meat sandwhich-4pts.
plum-1pt.
strawberries-1pt.

snack-popcorn-2 pts.

Like Paige too..... I have 13 pts. for dinner and desert, I have no idea what that will be yet, the end of our days are just too unpredictable right now....
hope everyone has a great day!!

Hi All,

Not much going on here. I've been waaaaay off plan the last couple of days. TOM came yesterday and I've been eating poorly. But today I am back on plan. I'm going to go for a ride before lunch, although it may be a short one, and so far eating is ok (I know it's only 12:00).

OK I'll join in the menu maybe it'll help keep me accountable.

Breakfast - egg/soy sausage mcmuffin - 4pts
oj - 2 pts
diet coke - 0

Lunch - wheatberry/chicken salad w/roasted veggies - 7
nectarine - 1 pt

snack - fiber one bar 2 pts

dinner - lasagna - 7
bread 2 slices w/evoo - 6
salad w/drsg - 1

total 30/28 I will earn 4-5 ap's for bike riding and the gym.

Have a great day everyone.

-Tech

Hi guys. Sorry I've been away. I keep saying I have to do better and then I lose control and off I go....

Donna, I am so sorry about your DH. Any more news? I am glad to report to you that I know more cancer survivors than I do those who have not made it. Keep eating healthy! I saw a TV segment this week about cancer and how some people have reversed bad situations through diet. Dr. Dean Ornish was interviewed. Check him out on line, perhaps that interview (I didn't see all of it) might have been becuase of a new book or something on this?

Sounds like everyone is moving along well and a good path.

True confessions: I've been off track. Not sure if I will do well this weekend, either, as Monday is our wedding anniversary (24th). We plan to go out to dinner to celebrate.

Hugs to you, Donna, I'm so sorry about this news.

Well...........It's Friday...which means clean the house,do the laundry,vacuum the pool.......let's see what else? the stuff a woman has to do to earn her keep,I tell ya!! Anyway,I'm not planning on weighing today,I know I did bad this week except for the past couple nights we've took advantage of our grill. There nothing much that beats grilled food,but the one thing I hate about it is the way you smell after you cook on one.......ekkk,but I love it still!!I might get curious about 9:oo and breakdown and weigh,who knows? I just don't want to see it go over 199(I was up to 199 last week from 196):mad:........
Paige~ Amen sister on cutting your prices on your cakes for friends and family,that's what happens to me with my upholstery business,but I do have to say,if it wasn't for them,when I needed the money,I would have been up the creek,ya know what I mean? I really don't mind cutting prices or giving the "FAMILY AND FRIEND" discount,but what really ticks me off is when they actually expect you to do it for nothing,zip,nada,...zilch,I have a brother who wanted me to recover a couch for him and my base price is 400.00 labor,not including the fabric,but I told him I'd do it for him for 300.00,it was an antique couch,worth recovering,and then he would had about 150 maybe in his fabric,but NO,he said dang that's high,and I told him my real price and I think he had a seizure!!lol I told him I couldn't do it for nothing,that's alot of candy for a nickel,as my MIL always says.....so I didn't do it,and one time( I'm on a roll here) a doctors wife called me wanting patio cushions made in a hurry,and I was busy I had work up to the ceiling, but she still wanted me ti fit her in,my policy is,if you can't wait until your turn,then I charge more so it was like for cushions I had to make and I told her it would be 175.00,she asked me how long it would take me,I said a few days,and this was just "fitting her in" while I was still working on my other jobs so I would have been working on hers about 3 hours in the evenings,for about 3 days,well let me tell ya she said "let me get a piece of paper and a pen,to figure up what you'll be making off of me" I told her that was my policy,if she didn't want to wait until I could get to her it would've been cheaper on her,she was just a real turd about it,I thought you know your hubby is a doctor and charges people out the nose for what he does and I what I wanted for my services was too much? she never called me back,but I do remember her name and if she does call back,the price will be the same if not more or I'll just tell her I'm too busy.......can't stand people like that..
now that I'm through reliving that part of my life......lol.....how is everybody else??????!!!!!!!!! well my dryer and washer stopped,and DS is moving around in his crib,so I better go,my keys on this keyboard are a little loud and his room is just like 15 ft away so it must disturb him,so I'm off and everybody have a great weekend!!!

Good morning everyone.
Busy days still ahead. It is the last day of school. Yeah.
I do hope everyone is doing well.
My eating and running is going well. I still have to try out the wii fit, DS loves it.
I am off to get ready to go to school.
Have a wonderful day everyone.
Take Care
Ann

Ann, so glad it's the last day of school for you. It was always such a relief for me when we could just RELAX for a change and perhaps get away with not setting the alarm clock once in awhile.
I went to the gym again today, am proud of myself for that!
Linda

TGIF,

Just wanted to pop in quick and post my day's menu. Broke out the wine last night so I went over points a bit, but I still think I was better than the previous 2 days.

breadkfast - cereal/soymilk/banana - 5 pts

lunch - grilled cheese w/tomato - 5 pts
carrots - 1 pt
grapes - 1 pt

dinner - pan fried fish - 6 pts
baked potato w/lt sour cream - 5 pts
green beans - 0 pts
iced tea - 0 pts

Total 23/28, leaves me 5 pts for snacks.

Linda - thanks for the kind thoughts. :cheers: Happy Anniversary :balloons:

Ann - Have fun with DS now that he's off school.

Shelbysmom - Have fun cleaning house that's this afternoons task.

Erica and Paige - How's it going?

Well I'm off for a bike ride before lunch. Didn't make it yesterday, although I did go to the gym with dh before dinner. The new veggie lasagna :T mm-mm-good.

-Tech :bike2:

Firstly, I get a newsletter from Dotti's Weight Loss Zone and she had this motivational thing that I wanted to share with you all, it's really so very good:

40 Ways to Live a Better Life ~ this was sent to me by a dear friend of mine. Sure makes you think, doesn't it? We really do have a wonderful life.


Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'
Live with the 3 E's—Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
Play more games and read more books than you did in last year.
Make time to practice meditation, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
Dream more while you are awake.
Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
Try to make at least three people smile each day.
Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, OR issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
Smile and laugh more. It will keep the negative blues away.
Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
Forgive everyone for everything.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Remember God heals everything.
However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
The best is yet to come.
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
Do the right thing!
Call your family often.
Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for _______. Today I accomplished ____.
Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can't change.


Again, I did not do very well yesterday. I keep saying I will do it and then I don't. But, I am dragging myself back here to be part of this group and I am hopeful that I can conquer this.

Today there are two things happening. Firstly, it's my church's annual Strawberry Festival with food and a craft fair and yard sale. I will try to steer clear of the homemade Strawberry Shortcakes. Last night, after we got home from dinner, I had a big bowl of fresh strawberries with lite cool whip and hopefully that will keep me from going crazy over the shortcakes?

As this is our wedding anniversary, we are going out for a special dinner this evening. I may be tempted. I will try hard to keep a clear head and focus on my goals when the menu is in front of me. It's really hard when eating out for me. I always consider it a "special occasion" (and my 24th wedding anniversary certainly is special) when I eat out, but not ever time we eat out is special. Yet, it's like a trigger goes off in my brain that tells me "It's OK to have special treats, you are eating OUT!". Yet, if a person eats out every week and maybe as much as 2 or 3 times a week, then those occasions are just ordinary meals, why can't I get that through my head. I know it, but I still lose control.

Linda

Linda I struggled with that mentality of Dining out for years. It was ingrained from childhood. When we were children and our parents took us out to eat it WAS a treat. We even changed our clothes and everything back then. :lol:

When we were newlyweds and money was tight, we only went out ON special occassions ( Birthdays, anniversaries. ) treating ourselves to a splurge.

Small children, again... lil splurge aka treat at a sit down restraunt. :)

I dont think I will ever, EVER quit thinking/feeling it as a treat.

Soooo, what did I do. I'll tell ya. ;)

I changed my thinking on WHAT the treat was!

No longer is it the gravy ladened, fried, high caloric foods.

The treat for me, is that someone else is doing the cooking, the serving, and the washing up afterwards. All I have to do is sit down and eat, have a ball with whom I'm with, and leave without touching one dirty dish! :D

It gets even better!! Not only do they have to cook it for me ( Its what they are getting paid for and they WANT my money. Thats why they're in business. ;) ) they HAVE to cook the way I want it. Broiled, Grilled, Baked, no oil, easy oil, hold the butter or the dressing, please split my dessert in half and box it for me... Could you substitute half the rice/pasta for the house veg... special requests that only enhance the enjoyment of my meal. :) My tip reflects my appreciation for their efforts. And I always, ALWAYS ask the waitress to thank the chef and tell him how much I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. :D Not only do they make it MY way, they have all the pressure that it turns out Great! ( At home its me making sure it isnt dryed out, burnt, blah blah blah. )

Break through baby!!! :D

If you stop to think about it, asking for those things arent so special anymore due to the fact so many are thinking more health conscious. As a long time waitress I know this. ;) I will let you in on another secret... You would walk out of the restraunt with the biggest smile if you knew how happy a Cook/Chef gets with a thank you from a guest. To know that someone really loved, enjoyed what they preparred. Its a personal touch and one often over looked. We take it for granted that the food will be good. Arent afraid to complain if its bad. And over look a nice nice that can and does make someones day. :)

Again as a once waitress... What is the price of a meal? Normally ranging from 6- 14.00 dollars a dish. Not including apps and desserts. What is minimum wage to middle class hourly pay? I always knew in my heart that my guest had to work at least an hour to be able to eat with us. They worked hard for their treat, I am going to make sure they enjoy it!

I hope this helps you as much as it has helped me.

Good luck Ladies!!

Hi everyone,
Hope you all had a great weekend.
Happy Anniversary Linda!!
I found a great new website that I'm finding myself addicted to, it's called www.sparkpeople.com anyone heard of it? I've walked 5 miles two days in a row, I'm hoping to get some momentum going here.

Hi guys!
Well, I do wish I had read what you wrote, Sassy, BEFORE eating out this weekend, ah well. However, it was my anniversary and we had a really nice weekend. I won't get into what I had, but let's suffice to say that I was not on program at all. :devil:

I did go out in my beloved paddle-boat two days in a row and I went to the gym on Friday, though, so there was at least some redemption in my exercise. I hope to get on my treadmill this morning before heading out.

I was fairly well behaved yesterday. I went grocery shopping as well and I am so well stocked up on fruit. Lots of things are in season and I really went overboard. So, fruit needs to be part of the equation for lots of my meals and snacks so I can justify the purchases and not see my money wasted on things that will go bad before we eat them. Do you all hesitate to buy certain things due to spoilage?

I'm going to make a big fruit salad this afternoon, I think, with watermelon, fresh pineapple, strawberries, grapefruit, orange, plum, pear, apple, peaches and banana. I'm looking forward to it and may have it as a side dish with dinner this evening.

I was even thinking of making a gelatin salad with sugar free Jello, and certain fruits in it, maybe even one with a cool whip in it so it's that lighter pastel color, with crunchy fruit in it. Has anyone got a recipe?

I might break down and go to a meeting this afternoon, it's been about three weeks and I've not been very successful at all. Perhaps I need the mental stimulation? Have any of you been to a meeting in the last week? What was the topic?

I need to regain control, so need to be back here with you guys. I'm feeling FAT... you all know that feeling. I feel like my clothes are tight and I want that energy level back that one gets when one is doing everything "right".

Also, activity/cleaning level has been up a bit. I have vowed to keep my master bathroom "spotless" as if we could have the house on the market and we might have a showing any moment. I need to get into practice for when the time comes that we decide to really sell this place. My master bath is HUGE and it's very hard to keep up with. I'm developing a routine to clean certain things each day in there. I would never buy a house with such a large bathroom again, unless I won the lottery and could HIRE someone to clean it! :)

Today's menu plan:

Breakfast: oatmeal made with Calorie Countdown FF milk, Splenda brown sugar. 1/2 grapefruit

Lunch: egg white omelet with ham, salsa, low fat cheddar with fresh pineapple and strawberries on the side. One slice lite WW bread with butter spray.

snacks: banana, popcorn

Dinner: grilled boneless chicken breast, marinated in ff vinaigrette dressing, brown rice, fruit salad or gelatin salad

dessert: sf/ff chocolate pudding


Also, have you all ever had a cold rice salad made with brown rice, veggies and some kind of dressing? I've heard of it and think it might be good. Any ideas or recipes?

Take care all, I am especially thinking of you, Tech. Keep us posted on how things are going. Ann, how are you feeling? I know you've not been feeling well lately. Paige, how's the job? Erica, are you getting busy with the farm and are you developing plans to work through that this year? Shelbysmom, how did the crib to the bed move go? I know what you mean about people asking you to upholster things free or discounted, too. I'm a seamstress and quilter. I do this for a hobby and people always think I can alter or mend their things, for free. It's annoying in a way.

Just had to add one more thing. I took my camera out when I was in the paddleboat this weekend. I thought you might enjoy this photo.

First of all, belated Happy Anniversary, Linda!

Hope everyone else is doing alright this week.

We had a good weekend. Made last minute plans to go down to my in-laws' house in Northern VA. My sis-in-law's boyfriend invited us to come down because at dh's parents' house they were going to do brats on the grill and watch a movie in the yard, and another time during the weekend they were going to head into Washington, D.C. and check out one of the Smithsonian museums. I had done really well on my points for the day before that, so I was able to stay OP and have the brats, corn on the cob, etc.

Of course Saturday I did alright during the day, then got off track with dinner, and Sunday as well. Sunday was the trip into D.C., and after spending about 4 hours walking around the Museum of Natural History, we drove into Chinatown and ate at a restaurant there. I can't even imagine how many points I ate with dinner, but at least I had earned some activity points, right?

Coming home...BLAH. Our transmission went out on our van...again. Last time was September '06. We weren't able to get the work done until that December, so we got 1.5 years out of the transmission they put in (a used one). This time it started acting weird about 55 miles from home. We nursed it along and thought it was doing better. Then it died on us about 15 miles from home.

UGH!!!! Thank goodness we have an auto club, but we were worried that we would not be able to get it towed home or to our shop, because they usually tow to the closest shop to where you are. I guess since we were on the Interstate, in the middle of nowhere, really, they were actually able to get us all the way home. 15 miles is really nothing. We've had far longer tows in the past with AAA, but we were worried about this one.

It was a relief to get home. The poor tow truck guy traveled about an hour to our hometown...then further to where we were stuck. But he was a heck of a nice guy who got out of bed when he learned there was a family with two children stuck on the Interstate.

Now, not a clue what to do about the van. It's here, but we can't afford new work on it. We're supposed to be buying, for a very reduced rate, one of my parents' cars. The trick now is getting it, since they are about 2 h 20 min - 3 hours (depending on the route) north and gas prices are killing everyone. We'll at least have 2 cars while we're figuring the van out. Darnitall...I love that van, too. But now I want to cry!! Last repair we had on it was in November, and that was for the compressor, which ran us $200-some. The transmission job, because it was a used part, was $1,300 in December '06. We just don't have that, and we can't keep putting money into the thing, which makes me want to cry because we only bought it ('99 Town & Country) in June '06.

*Sigh*

And then explaining to my parents... We're very close to both sides of the family, both dh's and mine. But since we moved here in November '05, we've been to his parents' house many more times than to mine. For his part, it's because for 6 years we lived 15 minutes from my parents and saw them all the time. We'd go as many as 6 mos between seeing his parents. Also, most of his siblings are still at home or are local (only one lives away from home, like we do) and there's always something going on.

But anymore, my side of the family feels very hurt every time we go to VA, especially if the visits are all close together. And in this case, I understand. We went to VA two weekends in a row in May, for BiL's bachelor party weekend (and we cancelled plans with my family because of the bachelor party being planned last-minute) and then the wedding. And now 3 weeks later, we were back down for another visit. In the meantime, I think it's been since April that we all went up to see my parents, and since Mother's Day weekend since the kids & I went (dh had a commitment he had to make).

*Sigh...Sigh*

So my mom gets hurt and I can hear it in her voice. We have the annual family reunion coming up for dh's dad's side of the family, in less than 2 weeks. It's the same weekend every year, so we've very rarely spent the 4th of July with my family. A couple times when it wasn't close enough tot he reunion to be meshed with it, but that's it. We do want to see them, too, it's just the way recent months have worked out.

Anyway. Sorry for my ramble/rant. I'm just stressed now because of the van, and money, and because my side of the family gets hurt every time we make a trip to VA. And this time, we were already on the road when my mom called to say it was a good weekend for my sister and BiL because BiL was off, and we could come up if we wanted.

The GREAT news for me is that when I weighed myself Saturday morning, I was actually .2 lbs below my 2nd mini-goal. Almost 10 lbs lost since joining WW in April...over 10 lbs lost since I set my first mini-goal several months ago (before WW).

I think I need to go for a walk. Actually, I do need to go for a walk. Since we're at one car right now, and I was on the phone with my mom when dh needed to get back to work after lunch, and I need to pick up the mail and get some milk and cereal, I do need to go for a walk. Need to put the 4 y/o in the stroller and walk down one way to the post office, then back the other way to the store.

Hey, at least I'll work off some of the the NOT good for me food I ate over the weekend, right? And will hopefully walk off some of the stress/anxiety I'm feeling.

Good Afternoon All,

Not to busy around here lately, people must be getting busy with summer stuff and kids. This weekend was pretty bad food wise for me, I think part of the problem is I'm not sleeping well so I'm tired and my resistance is down. I know it's a pretty lame excuse but I'm sticking to it. On a good note I finally joined a yoga class last night, I've been meaning to since we joined the gym at the beginning of the year but kept procrastinating. It meets once a week for 4 weeks then you pay again for more, its a reasonable rate so if I like the first 4 weeks I'll keep it up. Last night there was some confusion tho, according to the gym's schedule last night started a new session, according to the teacher's schedule it was the last night of the last session. I don't think I've sweated that much in a long time, and today I'm a little sore.

On another good note I lost .4 lbs last week :D. It's not a lot but right now I'll take what I can get.

luvmyfam - Sorry about the van. What a bummer. The story about getting a new car reminded me of when I was a kid my parents had a car die (they sold it for scrap metal) and bought one from my grandparents, but they needed to get it from them which was entertaining....Have you talked to your mom I'm sure even if she's disappointed she probably understands, and doesn't mean to put pressure on you.

Linda - sounds like you had a fun weekend, since you were in the paddle boat I assume you went to the cabin. You always seem to enjoy that. DH has an apt. with the surgeon on Thurs so we'll know more then.

Erica - glad you enjoyed your weekend. I'll have to check out that website.

Sassy - good words of advice.

Ann and Paige - where are you. In the pool?

Well I should get moving. My goals for this week are to write everything down, exercise 6 days, limit alcohol.

Have a great day everyone.

-Tech

Tech,

I think Mom generally understands, but I do think it's the shift in balance of time we've spent with our families ever since we moved here. She had called yesterday afternoon while I was out, about the car. We were trying to come up with a midway point, but I think it is a concern about gas useage for both sides. My dh got the message and decided to make the call back to tell them we WANT to come up. This month and last have been kind of crazy, that's all. So he told them we'll make it up to their place for the car and a visit. Then she called back and invited us to a minor league baseball game they were hoping to make Friday. The town where the team plays is about 2 hours or so heading up to see them if we take the interstate. We said yes and they got so excited they went the half hour - 40 minutes last night to get the tickets. After the game we'll head to their place and spend the rest of the weekend.

Anywho...All seems at peace again. I do understand their frustration. On our part, it feels good to be in high demand :) but we sometimes feel pulled between the two places. Funny thing is, if our families lived closer to each other, there wouldn't be the struggle. They all get along well...our parents and siblings. When dh's brother was married at the end of May, he and his now-wife had invited my whole family (my parents, my middle sister, her dh & 4 children, and my youngest sister and her 2 children). Only my youngest sister and her girls were able to make it, but the good relationship is there between our families. When dh's married sister got married in '99, my family was all there. When my sisters were married in '99 and '00, almost everyone from dh's family made it. So if they all lived an hour or so apart, we'd be seeing everyone and we'd all be doing some things together.

JennT

:lol: Well Linda and anybody else, its there for posterities sake for future dining experiences! ;)

Jenn, glad you had a loss, considering all those issues you've been dealing with, that is a very good thing. I know it's difficult to have this tug of war thing going on with families. Sadly, in my situation, both my parents died and there is no longer an issue. I am left with regrets that I didn't take time to see them more often, though.
Sorry about your van, I know things like that can be difficult to deal with, especially with a young family. I've been there. I'm sure you will find a way to work it all out, somehow.

Tech, with all you have going on, no wonder you are not sleeping well. I hope you have good news where your husband is concerned. Keep us posted. So much on your mind. I think yoga is a great idea to relax you.

I was at the lake last weekend, and on my beloved paddleboat. What a joy it is to just meander along the shore and see things like turtles, birds, fish, ducks, etc. and get exercise at the same time. My paddleboat has a cup holder and I usually take a diet coke or iced coffee along with me to sip and stay cool with. The boat has a very tired canopy that is held together, right now, with duct tape, but it keeps the sun off me while I paddle along. I do think I shall make a new canopy for it this summer.
Are you still quilting and sewing, Donna? That will help to relax you.

Hey Sassy, your ticker is looking so good! I'm proud of you. I really need to follow your lead.

For all, I went to a WW meeting on Tuesday, first time in over a month. I gained 1.4 pounds. I'm relieved that I went and "faced the music". Now, I can get to work and see what needs to be done to lose what I have re-gained back. One girl there gave me an idea. She was so proud of a one pound weight loss. I recognized her as someone who has been struggling along for ages, she's been in the same meeting as I have been for a year or two. The leader asked her what it was that was responsible for this success and she indicated that she took out that Kick Start booklet from week one and used that for the entire week. I liked that idea so much that I took out my Kick Start booklet on Wednesday morning and used that as my guide. I had just shopped on Monday and don't have all the appropriate foods in the house, but I am kind of using it as my basis. Perhaps this week I shall be rewarded if I can keep in control this weekend. This weekend, there are no anniversaries, no parties, no graduations, no birthdays. I have no immediate plans to even eat dinner out so maybe I'll hang in there?

Today's eating plan:

Breakfast:

Shredded wheat cereal, calorie countdown FF milk, fresh pineapple

Lunch:
Salad with sliced ham and smoked turkey, oil and vinegar
ff yogurt with 2 tsp raspberry all fruit
roll, counting 2 flex points
lite margarine, counting 1 flex point

Dinner:
Chicken on the grille
mashed potatoes (made with ff milk and a bit of real butter, counting the points)
spinach

dessert:
sf/ff chocolate pudding made with skim milk

TGIF,

Just popping in really quick. I need to go out and mow the lawn before it gets frightfully hot. I've been doing so-so on the food, I've quit tracking (need to get back to that) and have been having too many empty calories :( I have been exercising faithfully tho: Monday - Yoga; Tues - bike ride; Wed - walk & gym/weight training; Thurs - bike ride; Fri - hopefully walk; Sat - gym; Sun - bike ride? Sunday's bike ride will be dependent on the rain. I know we don't have flooding, but all this rain has been evil on my sinuses, today I have that foggy feeling.

On the dh front - we went to the doctor yesterday, and pretty much got the results we anticipated from the reading dh's been doing on rectal cancer. The doctor couldn't do an internal ultrasound as planned because of the location, but using a scope he estimated it to be stage 2 and it's in the bottom half of the rectum. This means the recommended treatment is 6 weeks of radiation; followed by 4 weeks off; then surgery w/6-8 weeks recovery; and about 4 months of chemo. This time line takes us to about March or April of '09, so it should be a fun summer/fall/winter.....Now we're waiting for a call from the hospital setting up an apt with the radiologist and oncologist so we can get that timing done and started. Then I need to re-schedule our camping trip from late July when we have reservations to mid-Aug which should be between the radiation and surgery. Just one more thing to worry about.

On a good note dh's new bike seat has a groove in the middle so it doesn't hurt him to ride, so he's been going with me again :D.

Well I've gotta get moving. Have a great weekend everyone.

-Tech

Tech, it all sounds so "fearful" yet promising as well, as stage 2 cancers are usually caught on time, from what I understand. Certainly, this is the absolute best time for both you and he to eat as healthy as you can possibly eat and have the absolute best possible lifestyle. It sounds like you are well on your way to that.
I sure got my share of exercise this morning as I moved an entire wood pile by myself. It is muggy and humid here today and we have ordered wood for the fall/winter to be delivered and I had to get the old wood moved to a more accessible spot before the new wood comes. I was hot and sweat dripped down my body, but it was a good thing as I practically ran to the shower afterwards and that felt so good.
Speaking of wood piles, my best advice to all of you is that if you intend to use wood for heating next winter, due to the high oil prices get your wood now, don't wait. Several of the places that I called were already out of seasoned wood. I am spending lots more on wood than I have spent any time in the past, but at least I have some reserved. There are reports all over about people stealing wood from other people, so I want to carefully stack the new wood and make sure it is screened from view. What a sad thing to have to think about protecting your investment in such a way.
I also scouted out a few of those portable heaters that look like those old fashioned radiators with oil that circulated through them. They are very energy efficient. We plan to use those on one end of the house and use the wood-stove at the other end to save our oil costs. It's going to be a difficult winter, to say the least. So, plan ahead, my friends!
Eating has gone well, so far, today and I hope to be able to hang in there without indulging in a cookie or chocolate this afternoon. The afternoons stretch out so long and I get hungry. I'm going to have to figure a snack out (popcorn?) that will occupy me and make me feel full.
Take care!

Not much action here over the weekend, for sure. I hope you are all doing well.
Today is Monday, a day that I like as it represents a fresh start.
I still wasn't as well behaved over the weekend as I could have been, but I think I did a bit better than the last couple of weeks.

Goals for the week:

Journal
When grocery shopping, try to do a better job planning what produce will be needed/used and planning for the long holiday weekend.
exercise at least three times

I feel concerned over the upcoming holiday weekend. I tend to get on this party kind of track and have trouble staying in control during times like this.
I should write out a meal plan or something, perhaps?
I am leaving Wednesday afternoon and will be home on Sunday. We'll be at the lake and I need to consider all the food options that will be available and what I might do to stay in better control.

What plans do you all have for this upcoming weekend?
Linda

Happy Monday,

Well I have my first day OP back under my belt :lol: Today I'm making fresh bread and corn chowder for dinner. As well as some freezer jam, from the strawberries I picked last week. No big plans for the holiday weekend, Fri my SIL and family is coming to dinner, we're trying a new recipe for bbq'd ribs on the grill, it takes 4-5 hrs and serves 6-8 :eek: so we didn't want to do it for just the two of us so we invited them over, I'm also doing a coleslaw that I've done many times, that's pretty light and grilled potatoes, shouldn't be too bad, as long as I stay out of the wine. Saturday my cousin is having a big party, and rolling in the annual family blow out since it's their turn this year and they didn't want to have 2 parties. We probably won't stay too long, and hopefully I can find good stuff to eat, again the beverages will be the issue. I think I'll make a big pitcher of iced tea both days to drink, I bought this tea blend that I like iced and appropriately it's named "red, white, and blue". Sunday we're just vegging. DH is at the dr's now so we'll find out when his radiation can start then plan around that and the surgery....Need to cancel our vacation plans for the end of July....:dz:

Linda - I popped in a couple of times but no posts. Hope everyone is ok. How did the grocery shopping go? That's where I'm headed next.

Have a great week everyone.

-Tech

Well, the past weekend was a very good, fun one, but as usual for a trip out of town, I did not stay OP. I didn't even track, or try to. Usually, my mom & I might try to come up with healthier alternatives, especially since we're all trying to lose weight.

Drank too much diet soda and not enough water, and didn't get out for any exercise. Made some good decisions on foods and others not so good.

Did my weigh-in Friday instead of Saturday, and I was up a couple pounds again. I hadn't done so hot for part of the weak at home, either, and I think sodium intake started me on a fluid gain, then traveling, then not making ALL good choices out of town.

So it's the same ol'-same ol'. When I did the habit profile in my at-home guide, my biggest weakness came up in needing to manage my environment. Thing is, the hardest environments to manage are at our parents' homes. I can do alright when I'm at home, am planning menus well and shopping well. I noticed my weight loss/gain history since starting WW. When I first started, we weren't going anywhere out of town, for about 4 or 5 weeks. In those 4 weeks, I lost close to 8 lbs, and was losing every week. The loss varied, but I lost every week.

Then starting Mother's Day weekend, we started having trips out of town here & there on the weekends. And the fluctuations started.

4/8/08: 205.8 - home
4/18: 202.8 - home
4/25: 201.2 - home
5/2: 200.2 - home
5/9: 198.2 - home...then went out town 5/10-11
5/16: 200.0 - home, but note the gain
5/23: 197.0 - went away, but note the loss after being home again
5/30: skipped - went away, but forgot to WI
6/6: 199.2 - home, but had been away...note the gain
6/14: 199.2 - home
6/21: 196.0 - went away 6/21-6/23, but had been home prior to WI
6/27: 198.2 - went away 6/27-6/29. Ate high sodium foods during the week prior

So most of my gains come following a trip out of town, losses come when I'm home and am doing a good job.

This week is going to be another "good choices week," so I expect a loss by Friday or Saturday, unless fluid retention inhibits that. We are once again going away. Family Reunion for DH's dad's side of the family is Sunday, but with Friday off and it being about 3.5-4 hours away, we're heading out of town Thursday. Gonna work my butt off on being good. And this year we're all trying to coordinate foods better than we usually do, so I'll hopefully know in advance what we're eating. If I need to make a healthy substitution, like 97% fat free hot dogs and lean hamburgers, I'll try to shop for that. Going to try and make Chicken Spiedies: http://www.spiedies.com/spiedies.htm#How_to_Order_ if I can get up to the closest store to us that carries the marinade...and IF the marinade is low-fat. I can't remember, forgot to look at my parents' bottle when we were there this weekend, and am too far to just drive and check it out. It's a regional thing to a certain area near them, and only stores within the surrounding area carry the sauces. So I left them a message and they'll call me back and I can figure it out. LOL. So complicated!

Anyway, if that doesn't work, then I'll try something else, but will try to make recipes that are low points, for my part in the cooking.

And I think if I take the simple measures of getting in enough water (a little more to counteract the fluid retention I always have) and getting out for a bit of a hike each day, it will help me.

I know this is long and probably all over the place. I just wanted to check in, share the concrete proof of what I was thinking is the case with me (gaining after a trip) and share a couple of the things I plan to do to work to change that. Even if I just maintain after a trip, it's better than gaining.

Tech, I want those ribs! They sound wonderful. Might you share the recipe with us? I would imagine that they are not necessarily a weight loss food, however, I can think of lots worse.
What I did was make a meal plan for the long weekend. I don't know if I will stick with it, but having written it all down and made a shopping list that works with it, was a good exercise. Just because it's a holiday weekend and just because we are up at the lake, it doesn't mean I should go wild.
In fact, I am going to make a pot roast in my crock pot on Thursday. I generally don't use crock pots in summertime, but why not? Having made a planned meal in the morning when I am stronger emotionally and feeling more on target is a good thing? I seem to fall apart later in the days and start off with nothing but the best intentions. So, when my intentions are good, I shall peel potatoes and carrots and put them in with a round roast and an onion in my crock pot. I keep an older one up at the lake as I got a larger one for home, so this will be kind of fun to have cooking, and smelling great all day long. Then, dinner won't heat up the house in the heat of the day and I won't be able to make an excuse and go out for dinner. I lose control in restaurants, so often, that having planned some things will be helpful.

Tech, me too with the wine issues. I really enjoy relaxing with wine and appetizers and friends. That is part of life's joy and when you take that away, I begin to feel deprived. Have you tried having wine spritzers? I use seltzer water or club soda and have it in a big glass. I put in about 1/3rd of the glass of wine and fill the rest with seltzer, plenty of ice as well as lemon and lime slices. It is always very festive looking and tastes really good. I can have one wine spritzer and nurse it along and spend only about half the points/calories on something like this vs. having one or two glasses of wine. Towards the end of the glass, I will often add a tiny splash of wine and lots more ice and seltzer, so it's mostly seltzer, but I won't deny myself! I like a blush wine or pinot grigio for these. Also, if you like beer, Beck's lite beer is only one point a bottle. With a frosted mug on a hot evening, it's very good.

Luvmyfam: Great idea to post your weigh ins and you have been doing very well, I think. I think losing weight is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life and it ranks up there with actually having to fire a person on the job. Those issues are momentary but the weight loss and subsequent temptations are so long term. It takes amazing will power.

Oh yes, a helpful hint when having your lean hamburgers is to buy the lite, wheat English Muffins to have your burger on. Use WW American cheese slices (one point each) and have the burger on the muffin instead of a 3 point roll, those muffins are only one point each and they are quite tasty.

As for me, today will be busy. But, I shall plan ahead for my meals.
I made Italian meatballs last night after grocery shopping. I used one egg white along with a regular egg. I used 93% lean beef and baked them rather than frying. They are not tremendously low in points, but they are better than most commercially made meatballs in quality and in points.

I had a few of those with a banana for dinner last night, kind of a haphazard meal to end a very busy and long day. But, the best part of all of this is that I have a huge double batch of these meatballs in the refrigerator. I'm going to section some off and freeze them to bring away with us over the weekend and we'll have some with whole wheat pasta for dinner with a nice salad tonight.

I made pulled pork last weekend and froze that as well. I like to have things all made up and frozen to bring when we are going away. I use lean pork roast to make the pulled pork and a BBQ sauce that probably adds about 2 points to each serving. So, the pulled pork is about 5 points for a nice serving. Along with that will be baked beans and cole slaw, I think.

Do any of you have a low point, but good, cole slaw recipe?
I also have a low fat graham cracker crust and will make an "ice cream pie" with low fat frozen yogurt and a crushed candy bar for our desserts, this will be a big higher in points that I would normally have in an evening, but it will give me that sensation of having a treat and the points will be under control. Serving size will be small.


Linda

:wave: Hello All,

Well, I've had 2 days OP, today is going to be a struggle though since I caved and had fast food on the way to the park to meet my parents to walk. I have walked already and dh and I are supposed to go to the gym tonight to weight train, also went to yoga last night. So even if I'm not eating great, I am exercising, and today the scale was back down (it was up 2 lbs on Sat which I'm not counting) so hopefully I'm doing something right :lol:

DH starts his chemo/radiation next Tues and it runs for 30 sessions (weekdays only) which takes us to mid Aug. so I called and canceled our campground reservations for the end of July. We're going to do something in the 4 weeks between when he's done and the surgery. But my mom had an idea that maybe we could go somewhere local-ish and he could still make his apts but we could still take a break, I think I'll check out the state park reservations web site.

Luvmyfam - sounds like you may be on to something. Changing our regular schedule and letting go of control can throw everything out of whack. You're still doing pretty good and you're hanging in there so that shows determination.

Linda - Sounds like a plan. I love my crockpot in the summer, because I love having stuff done when I'm hot and tired and don't want to cook and it's soooo much easier to go out or order in. The ribs and coleslaw recipe are from "Fine Cooking" here is the link to their 4th of July menu which have links to both recipes: http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/menus/july-fourth-cookout.aspx? I've been doing the coleslaw for a couple of years and it is really good, I use low fat buttermilk and except for that and the olive oil (which I cut back a little but not much) it is all free stuff so it works out to about 2 pts/cup. The ribs will be a new recipe I'll let you know how it goes, I'm not a huge rib fan (like not at all but DH loves them) so even though they're not low fat I'm not worried I'll overeat them. Enjoy your trip :)

My dh is such a sweetie while I was at yoga yesterday he cleaned the kitchen even though I told him to leave it. And let me tell you after making bread, jelly and soup it was pretty scary.

I should get moving, I need to eat lunch then clean house so we don't scare our company on Fri (that's really why we invite people over so we have to clean :lol: ).

Ann, Paige, Erica and any lurkers :wave:

Have a great day everyone.

-Tech

I'm sad to see there are no other posts here... where is everyone?

Tech, must be nice to have someone to clean up the kitchen once in awhile, It's almost always me here. But, I am used to it. I do like your parent's idea about finding a local place for a get-a-way, but I do think you should see how DH feels once he starts this treatment. He may not be up for any kind of get-a-way, local or not. I hope it goes well and that he feel good through it all. You just never know. It sounds like he is being very positive.


Well, I went to my WW meeting late yesterday afternoon and really was bummed out. I thought I had lost weight, but gained .2
I think it was maybe what I was wearing and I wish I could remember what I had on the week before. I used to have an "official weigh in" outfit and I might just have to resurrect that idea? Even a change in underwear could affect a weigh in, I would much rather have had a .2 loss than a .2 gain.

I have to say that I was not a happy camper at this meeting. I was asked to talk about what was bothering me, kind of, and my leader kind of "yelled at me".
Well, I wouldn't exactly call it "yelling" but I got this lecture that was sort of stern. I think she was having a bad day, herself, perhaps. She gave me this little lecture and used the phrase "get over it" to me and also used the word "whining". Once I heard those words, I kind of tuned out and didn't even hear the rest of what she had to say. I truly don't know if I will go back to one of her meetings after this. I was down and this didn't help to build me back up.

I might try one more of her meetings, again, and if things don't change, time to look for another leader, I guess. The location and time of that meeting is best for me, but I needed to be inspired and I was discouraged.

People have no idea how I have struggled and fought with myself over this, time and time again. It's, truly, the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.
Well, I guess some of you know it?

So, I guess I should just "get over it", right? Stop whining, right?
Oh well....

Hey all...I haven't posted in a week or two; how does time fly by so fast?

Things have been incredibly busy here. I keep getting cake orders, and have been trying to fit them in between work, watching the kids, and going away. Last weekend dh and I went to Atlantic City for a long weekend. My mil has a time share there, so we go every few years. It was a great weekend, but it took a lot out of me to get there. I had cake orders, plus it was dd's last week of school, so she had 1/2 days...plus working. Friday I ended up going into work at 2:30am so I could leave at noon and get home in time to get dd off the bus...ended up leaving work 1/2 hr late, scurrying home, barely getting dd in time, then I had to drop off a cake, and ended up picking little dd up an hour late. Then I had to rush dds to mil's house so dh and I could drive to AC, which ended up taking about 5 hrs because of traffic.

This week has been just as busy. I changed my work schedule around so I could have today to get things done (plus two cake orders)...of course things never work out as planned. Dds were supposed to go camp and preschool (same place) but they had a trip planned today, and weren't getting back till late. We are going out of town this afternoon, so I didn't want them to go on the trip. I had them there for a few hours this morning, and had to pick them up by 11am...$75 for three hours. UGH! I figured I was paying it regardless, might as well get a few hours out of it.

So I'm whining now; I'm just agravated at today. I haven't even weighed myself this week. About three or four weeks ago I had gone a whole week being op, and gained about 5lbs. I said forget it, and went back to how I had been eating, and went back down the 5 lbs right away. So I don't really know how I'm supposed to eat anymore!! I ate more while we were in AC, but I did notice that my portion sizes were less. We went to a buffet, and I tried some of most everything but I didn't eat all that was on my plate. If I tried a bite and didn't completely enjoy it, I didn't finish it. I've really been trying to eat like that more lately...only eat things that are really worth eating. If you don't truly enjoy something, what is the point of eating it?

Anyway, I need to get going. It's already 12:30, and I still have to take a shower and pack for me and the girls.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Hi All!! Thought I'd drop a quickie and see how everyone's doin'.
I posted the other day,and it's not on here,that's usually how I find where I left off,lol!! I must have pushed the wrong button...Lord there's no tellin' where it ended up at!!:D
So we're leaving tomorrow,can't wait , but I dread it too,if that makes any sense.... Had to go to wal-mart(joy) that place was a nut house!! but I think I finally got the rest of our groceries. I still think I should have went like at 7 this morning or something!! I don't know about your walmarts but ours is awful.
Gonna try (operative word...try) to stay sensible and smart and make healthier choices this week,I'm crocking some pot roast right now,which I think it's done,it's been in there since 6:30 this morning,so I need to get that out,put some chicken in,so we'll have that on vacay...dangit I forgot carrots:carrot::mad: ,well I guess I'll get them down there,I don't know what made me think of that all of a sudden:?:
But any way I hope everybody's 4th is great and wonderful and I hope you all surround yourself with the people you love the most and then some..lol!! I hope you have awesome parties and fireworks or atleast go to see some awesome FREE fireworks some where(those are the best kind) we're gonna watch the drive in fireworks tonight from our drive way!!we do that every year I wish you all could be here too,but I think it'll just be me and mine this year,everybody else has better things to do ,and that's why I'm glad we're leaving town!!LOL Ya'll have a great 4th weekend & talk to ya'll in a couple weeks!!

:eek: Wow :eek: Sounds like everyone is really busy right now. You probably won't check back, but Linda, Trysh and Paige have a good time out of town. And good luck with those healthy choices.

DH and I are cooking out today for his sister and family, tomorrow we have a huge party at my cousin's then Sunday if the weather forecast holds we're thinking we might take a picnic dinner to the park and have a lazy Sunday. We haven't decided if we want to take the dogs (they'd love it) or bikes (I'd love it) we'd have fun either way.

Well I suppose I should get moving.

Happy Fourth of July to all my US friends :D

-Tech

HELLO, HELLO, HELLO, I finally made it back. For some Crazy reason I could not get on this site.Since like February.......... Well we got a new computer(old one but new to us) and It works......OMG I miss coming here. I was doing very well and since have gained AGAIN......I need to take some time to catch up with you all, reading and finding out who is new and what is happening with the old.. We just got finished with a bike parade and today we have a block party. So I need to run, but as I said I just got a different computer working so wanted to say hello to you all. I will get back to you all tom ....missed you , Have a wonderful 4th weekend. Barb

Hi everyone, Well I have a little more time to post. Wow what a crazy weekend. I try so hard but I am just weak. Glad it is over and today is a new day.

Since I have been unable to get on this site I have totaly went the wrong way. You all have no idea how nice it is to just pop in and get back on track. I have to tell yah I tried another site that has some really cool features but this group is the best. I would go back to the site for the info but not the group of people.

Anyway, in March I sprained my ankle...Clutz! So I was out for some time. JUst prior to that I measured myself and I had lost 5 inches in my waist and 2 inches in each my arms, thighs and waist. So I was so pleased because it was not showing on the scale. Well by the time I could actuyally start my workout again, school was in full swing with the end of year programs....we had a family wedding and we were also planning for a big party at our home. 30 people came from out of state for this......So I really put it on the back burner. I worked out but not daily and as hard. So here I sit July and i am still trying to get it all pulled back togeter. I have been walking but that is all. I am not reallly watching my intake so toay I want to pull out my old ww stuff and reread it. Maybe that will kick me in the butt. I will weigh my self tom morning and maybe check on my measurements. I just do not think I can honestly handle the fact that I am sure I have gained some inches....So maybe that will wait.

I also am starting a job this fall. I am sooo nervous only because I have not worked in 11 years. Not sure how this will play out. It is actually a very easy job. 3 days a week from 9-1:30.....I can get the kids off to school and be home from work before them.... I will work out on the 2 days I have off and than one day during the week go after work and my older boy can let himself in before I get home. I am hoping it will only be a few minutes. I am sure you all are saying this sounds all very simple but.....3 times aweek after school I need to take the boys to programs. My oldest has a form of dyslexia and he will be tutor 2 times a week and the other is a reliougus class. But I still need to fit in sports and homework. Plus my dh leaves for work early like 5 in the morning and is not home until late. So that is why I am scared. NOt sure if I am able to juggle the household chores, banking, shopping, homework and most inportant good food choices for dinners. I will use the crock pot and be looking for help from all of you in this area...My dh is a meat and pot man.So They need to met his needs as well

So That is about it. I am going to clean my computer room . It has been a drop off center in here and I can not handle it anymore. It is beautful outside so maybe I will walk tonight. Hello to everyone.

Hello All,

Well made it thru the weekend. The bbq here went pretty well, except my sil brought brownies and they were really good so I ended up eating 2. Went to the gym Sat morning and then out to my cousins the party was insane there was soooo many people besides just our family I had fun people watching, plus her husband hired a yo-yo/juggler/jokester and a face painter and they rented a huge blow up slide and bouncy room thing, everyone seemed to have a great time. We left before the bonfire, but we got a chance to see family so it was fun. We went out to lunch before we went and then for some reason I wasn't really hungry, so I didn't really eat too bad, just a small plate of salads, there was sooooo much food. Yesterday we went to the park after church and lunch, it was nice we just kind of vegged. I took one of the dogs for a short walk it was warm and the path was sunny and I hadn't worn the right shoes for walking (how do you like my excuses?). We'd made a chicken and soba noodle salad we like that you eat cold, so we had that and left over watermelon salad that I'd made for Sat, pretty light dinner. Today I wanted to go for a long bike ride, we signed up for the ride on Sat, and I haven't been on my bike in a week and a half, and tomorrow it's supposed to rain, so I wanted to go today, but my tummy's been upset so I haven't gone. I may still go this afternoon, and yoga is tonight. Sorry I seem to be rambling today.....

Barb - welcome back. And all I can say is relax and breath and remember what your priorities are, you'll be able to handle it. And don't beat yourself up about backsliding, we all do it the key is to stop the slide and get back on the wagon.

Well I should get moving. Have a great day everyone.

-Tech

HI Tech, Sounds like you had a great 4th. I have started to ride much more. My boys love to ride to the pool at night, so we have been going a lot. My thoighs were hurting yesterday.. What a great feeling. Where is everyone????

Happy Hump day everyone,

Didn't get any exercise in Monday, but I did go to the park with my parents to walk yesterday and then to the gym to weight train w/dh in the evening. It was a hot and humid one, even at 9:30 am I was sweating like a stuck pig when we walked. Did you ever wonder where that phrase came from :?: Been eating pretty poorly :( I really need to snap out of this soon. Today is supposed to be beautiful so I'm hoping to get a ride in. Saturday we're signed up for a ride, we plan on doing the 30 mile route. Hopefully I do ok.

Barb - I think a bunch of people are out of town, plus things have been pretty slow here for a month or so....Remember to shift gears, we don't shift nearly enough. That's something I have learned with time.

Have a great day everyone.

-Tech

Thanks Tech for the advice....

I am doing core and so far I am liking it. I just made some Banana muffins and am loving them. I am really trying to plan ahead this time around. Hopefully this helps.

We are planing a trip to Florida so any weight I lose will make me happy. We plan on going in October so not much time but enough to lose a fair amount. I just need to remain focus.

Off to swim lessons with the little ones. Everyone enjoy your day....Barb

Newbie here... dropping by to say Hi...

Hi, Kim! :welcome2:

This is a wonderful, wonderful place full of very supportive people. Please jump in and talk with us whenever you want!

Hi guys,

Things are going pretty well here. Finally got on my bike and went for a 10 mile ride last night. Tomorrow is a 30 mile ride I've signed up for, hopefully it doesn't kill me. I need to go out now and take the dog for a walk before it gets too hot and humid. Glad I don't live in N CA, I don't think I could handle the smoke, kudos to those who can.

Not doing well on my eating tho, I am such a stress eater :( I need to find another outlet.

Kim - :wave: Welcome pop in whenever you can.

Barb - How'd the swim lessons go? I grew up (we moved when I was 10) on a lake and love swimming. Need to go more now.

I should get moving. Have a great day everyone.

-Tech

HI everyone......Jusyt booked a trip to Floridia..Whahoo, can not wait. Taking the family for the first time. Wanted to wait until they were older to remember. Found a great place for a great $. Another reason to lose some weight.

Going ok. Ate a lot of oreos...need to not buy them anymore. Tried to do core but failed I will try again next week. Chat later

Welcome to all the newbies.

Tech hope your bike ride goes well.

Hello everyone,

I hope you guys remember me, it has been so long since I have logged in I have missed you guys. I guess between the end of the school year and the beginning of the summer I just overlooked loging on. Anyways, I have continued to excercise, eating has been a little off, but I have been working this week on getting back on track. I then remembered that I hadn't been on this forum in such a long time. So I think this will be a good begnning. As for my weight I gained maybe 3 pounds since the last time I was one, but part of that was being out of town recently for 2 weeks. I am currently training for a half marathon and getting my eating back in order. Anways, it's good to be back on here. I hope everyone is doing well!!!

Hi everyone.
My apologies for disappearing for a period of time. Guess I've been just licking my wounds.
I keep doing this to myself, blowing and and eating wrong and then I drag out my WW materials and am good for a few days until I blow it.
I'm angry with my WW leader, still. I'm angry with myself.
I have been evaluating myself and do feel that I have been whining and not applying myself to this properly. I keep thinking that I will do this and I can do this and then I eat onion rings or something like that.
Where is my will power?
My leader is human, so I guess I can forgive her.
I need to be here and be back on track.
Tomorrow is a new day, I should try again.
Hugs to you all!
Tech, how is your husband?
Ann, how are you?
Paige, are you staying on track?
Haylo, good to hear from you!
Hi to everyone else and welcome to you, Kim!

Good morning, again....
Just a quick posting.
I need to plan.
I am heading to a meeting today and we are all having lunch from a BBQ place. I'm going to try to order the foods that might help me stay in control, best. Not sure what that will be, but wish me luck.

I shall start the day off with my treadmill.

HI Linda, First I want to thank you for trying to help me get back on this site a few months back. I just got a newer computer from my sis and it had everything already for me and I got on right away. Surprised to hear you are in the dumps. That is not the Linda I remember. You have to remain positive, We all are human and you are going to have times like this. We did not gain this weight overnight either, so it will take time. Summer is always harder, more going on , more choices of food. Just take one day at a time. You will find your groove again. Now if I can only do as I say to you.

I made these AWESOME buffalo chicken patties. OMG. Not sure of the points, I found it on the core site. You will have try them. I am addicted. This is what they have.

1 1/2 pd of ground chicken ..I use lean turkey
salt pepper to taste, a clove or 2 of garlic. 2 tbsp of ff ranch dressing mix.
mix make a thin patty, put tsp of blue cheese on top, make another small patty and put on top. Grill you can put Hot sauce on it or blue cheese dressing. I use Kens buffalo sauce. TO die for .....yummy I think I have the amounts right. You ,may want to check on the site it is on the last page of dinners.

Going camping this weekend. Looking forward to it. Hope I make some good choices.

Welcome Kim and glad you are back Haylo. I was gone for a Long time as well. Need to go eat. chat later.

Happy Hump Day Everyone,

Sorry I haven't posted all week, TOM has come with a vengeance and I haven't wanted to "talk" to anyone :^:

The ride last Sat went pretty well, unfortunately the scattered showers decided to dump on us about 1/2 hour into a 3 hour ride :rain: So the rest was pretty wet (it took the whole day Sunday to dry out my shoes). I was feeling wet and crampy (pms) so I decided we needed to cut the ride short, my dad was feeling pretty whipped and I wanted to save him some miles also because he's the never admit you can't do something type :rolleyes:. We ended up doing 23 miles, still not to shabby. I felt bad for my mom though she had stayed by in the park with our dogs, she had a lawn chair and a book and was going to sit and read, but when the rain came she put the dogs in the car and sat there the rest of the time. I am pretty excited that I've crossed the 100 mile mark finally, I changed my goal to 400 so that hopefully I can still make it.

I also went to yoga again on Monday (I'd skipped last week with an upset tummy) and man my abs are killing me, I feel like I've done 10000 sit ups (ok maybe not that bad), some of that could be tom but still.....

Linda - :hug: glad you're back. Remember to be gentle with yourself, we can't be perfect and you need to forgive yourself or you'll develop an "all or nothing" mentality. Maybe you need to work on something more than just the diet, find out mentally what's holding you back, because clearly somethings blocking you subconsciously. About DH, he's doing OK. The anti-nausea drugs they gave him to take with the chemo, make him really tired, but if he doesn't take them he's nauseous :( I told him to talk to the dietitian they have on staff at the clinic to see if maybe there's something he could eat that might help the nausea w/o the drug. He said he'd talk to the dr. when he sees him tomorrow (chemo pills/radiation m-f, blood work and dr visit every thurs) whatever, as long as he talks to someone.

Barb - That burger sounds yummy. You sound like your doing good. How's the bike riding coming? When do you start back to work? Have fun camping :beach:

Haylo - Welcome back. We all take a break now and then. Training for a marathon :eek: I'm impressed.

Well it's hot and humid out, I should get something done. Took the dog to the park to walk with mom this morning. Dad brought his bike, Scooter (dog) was not happy, usually my dad walks him.

Have a great day everyone.

-Tech :sunny:

Happy Thursday everybody!!:D
Well we made it back to REALITY last Friday!!LOL!! That's the only thing I hate about vacation....."coming back"....don't get me wrong,like Dorothy said,"There's No Place Like Home" and surprisingly the next morning I said to myself "Self,it's finally over you can now exhale" Sad really.......atleast I didn't answer back....but sometimes I'd really like to move,I guess it's just the thought of being somewhere other than where I was born and raised for a change...Anyway... I did....alright......on vacay I did have some slip ups....Is anybody familiar with the word Krispy Kreme????????? Well,if so, just use your imaginations..I was and am still a little disappointed with my self,but I'm STILL...STILL staying positive I wans't planning on weighing tomorrow but I think I will just to see how much damage I have caused..OH and this past Monday I had fried green tomatoes for supper,oh lord they were delicious,but that's the only big cheat I've done this week,so,you know!!..Our tomatoes are coming in and that's like a HAVE TO think here in Kentucky,lord they were goo-ood!!
So now back to the grinding stone,I spent like 6 hours bent over and on my head yesterday cutting out canvas for a houseboat I'm contracting and today even my ears are sore!!LOL...like when I swallow I feel the soreness almost like I'm trying to get sick or something,but I feel like I spent 6 hours in a gym,I tell I'm sore everywhere,and it hurts my knees worse to be on them so standing and bending over is easier,plus it helps me go a little faster.and not having a table long or wide enough to accomodate 60" wide canvas sucks,when you have to cut it 50 ft long.......sheesh..so I use MIL's driveway.....and that's where the soreness steps in.....love my job!! Speaking of jobs,Dh is switching jobs,he got a hefty pay increase,and thank goodness he won't be working in the houseboat industry anymore,he'll be running an upholstery shop kinda like what I do now,except I do everything else besides just boats,and he's happy,and I'm happy for him,he so deserves it,I love him so much!!:hug::love::drool:
I'm really glad to see some of our chicks back!! and some newbies,I read you posts and it sounds like Tech is gonna need some new tires for her bike pretty soon!!LOL I need a bike but I can't find one that I like real well..but I keep looking!!But anyway I'm glad all are doing well,and still pressing and Derry Daughter you'll make it through,if you let your WW leader get to you that's just a cocktail for failure,especially when it's your leader,just let it roll keep positive and I wouldn't give flying rat's butt about anything anybody said or did,because that's just the devil rearing his ugly head :devil:to knock you off your path to success,let me tell ya,once I finally figured out that I could actually do this,I was fine,I may not be losing weight at record speed and I do slip up every single week,but I'm staying on my path and slipping up is just part of it for me and anybody else,and if you ask me,that's just part of the fun,like those fried green tomatoes..........;).....girl they were worth it,I can't as say much for the Krispy Kremes,yea they were good too!!LOL you know what I mean? YOU CAN DO IT!!!!
I'll see ya'll Do you all think this post was long enough to get me caught up for the 2 weeks that I've missed??!??!?!?!:D

Trysh - Welcome back :) Sounds like you had a good vacation. Just put new tires on the end of last year so it'll be a while before I need them again :rofl:.

Have a great one.

-Tech

Tech~:lol3: That's too funny!!
Hey all,on here early today,but I'll probably be back,waiting on MIL to come over to watch the kids so I can go to customer's house and measure for some drapes!!It's funny,I ran into her at wal mart Tuesday and she was asking me about it then she called last night wanting me to come over at 8 this morning!!I fell really blessed,because most of the jobs I've had this year have been call backs from former customers and that makes me feel good:smug:,the only problem is,I don't trust my measurements as well as I trust DH's.......lol!! but it's just a roughy so she can get her fabric and she wants me to do some cornices and recover 2 chairs and a loveseat....yey me!! Then I got a call on recliners,them things make me crazy,I priced it high,hopefully they won't call back,I just got done with one and it took me 2 weeks:dizzy::p,yea that long,But anyway,I love my job!!even though sometimes I say to myself I hate this job,but I really do love it!!for right now anyway!! well I better go it's about time for MIL,she was going to the neighbor's yard sale across the street from me first before she came over,so I guess I'll :blah::blah: later!!:D

Good Morning,

TGIF :D

I just got back from walking the dog down to the farmer's market they just started in my town. It's about a mile away so it makes a good walk, usually we try to do 2.5 - 3 miles but it's just too hot and muggy out right now. I haven't had my bike out all week :( Tomorrow we're having dh's family over for summer b-day's so there won't be any exercising then, and Sunday I'm hoping to go to a winery we like in Canada they have their annual customer appreciation picnic and it's usually a lot of fun, we haven't been this year at all.

OK I just have to vent here, ignore if you want. I just don't get dh's brother and his family at all. Dh's sister is having a picnic for extended family and wanted a date so this spring, she asked everyone to pick days that they'd be available in July and Aug. So we did, there were two where everyone was available, one this Sat and one in Aug. She chose to have the picnic in Aug. Everything ok so far. Usually we have everyone over for summer birthdays around that day, so since we were all going to be at sil's I thought hey let's have it in July, and sent out an e-mail invite. The only reply I got was from my mil, no biggie it was still a month away. A couple of weeks ago my sil e-mailed and said they'd come what did I want here to bring etc....But still nothing from bil. So I had dh call him early this week it took 2 days to reply to say "Sorry we're out of town we won't be coming." It's now 2 day's before they're supposed to come over, couldn't they have let me know sooner? Would that be too much to ask? There's a thing at the village that I'd like to go to on Sat but we'd already invited everyone over, I would have postponed it but I knew it was the only day bil and family were available (they're the one's with the busy schedule), if I'd known they weren't coming more than a day in advance......UGGG I just don't get some people....

OK I'm done with that.

Trysh - Yea on being busy, sounds like you love it. Have you ever done fitted slip covers? I have a chair I want to do but I'm nervous. I do sew, I used to sew clothes but now I mostly quilt and make bags....

Linda - how's the plan coming? Are you ready for the weekend?

Barb - Looks like you've jumped to the core chat, got tired of talking to yourself eh?

Haylo, Ann, Paige, Erica, and everyone, where have you gone????

Have a great day.

-Tech :cool:

TGIF!!!!
Tech~ I'm feelin' ya on the get togethers,it got to be such a hassle,that we pretty much stopped ot,the more people ya have,the harder it is to get a date set where every one can make it,and I have a brother..........he gets on my nerves,it's usually him doing the planning so naturally he plans it around his & his boys(sons)schedule,and if you can't be there..well..tough s*%@ as he says,he's very selfish,but we don't speak anymore and that is a long long looooooong and totally different story,But anyway I know exactly how you feel,what I always recommended and bro would never do because it didn't benefit him or maybe because it wasn't his idea in the first place and someone else's,is set a certain date every year like July 4 weekend or like the 2nd Saturday of every July or August and that way everybody could mark their calender and make their plans around that day,kinda like a family reunion or something,seems simple enough and everybody's happy.........well maybe not everybody,but you get my drift,so when you have your get together get everyone in the same room and say " Look,if we're going to do this every year we need to set one date/weekend aside and do it on that date/weekend every year" then email the one's that didn't show and tell them what the family has decided to do and tell them to mark their calender cause it's goin' down on that day a year from now so they shouldn't have any excuses,kapeesh? :D Oh and yes occasionally I do slip covers,there's really nothing to it,I just don't like to do them alot because some chairs are just hard to make a pattern for, but a straight back chair,kinda like what you'd see at a dining table that has the fabric on the seat and the back are pretty easy,it would take me a while to explain it so if you want me to explain it,let me know in your next post and my next post will be a quickie how to do slip cover session!!LOL But I do love my job especially right now cause I got a little money coming in,but it's so unstable,I'd hate to know it was our only means of finances because it does get slow from time to time and that's the main reason me and DH haven't went out on our own with it,I do my work in MIL's basement so there's no rent or anything to pay,so I consider myself lucky on that part but thar's why I'd like to have a basement myself so I don't have to wait on my kids to wake up get ready,blah blah blah,sometimes it's 10 am before I get to work,I just hate to wake my kids up,especially DD ,it's her summer and school is starting in little over a week,so.... it would just be better to have my shop here at home,then I could get up and go to work and have at least 2 hrs of work done by the time my kids wake up.
Well I didn't weigh today...TOM is here,got here Wednesday,so I guess I'll wait till next Friday,so I guess I'll talk then or maybe sooner!!I don't what my week's gonna be like next week,so see ya'll later!!!

Hey everyone,

Well getting a chance to post, just slipped by once again. I was in the process of buying a new vehicle!

Linda: djmommy is so right on track when she said, that summer is harder to keep up with. Also, I know you can get back in the game you have always been able to.

Tech: sounds like your ride had some extra adventerous in it.

It seems pretty quiet in here, where is everybody?????????????

Hey everyone...

So I'm feeling a little renewed tonight. I had a weekend of eating like crud, and have made the decision to go back to meetings for a little bit and see what happens. I have been maintaining my weight, which is much better than going up, but I need to get the scale moving down again. I need the accountability again, and I feel that facing the scale at meetings is going to be the way to do it. There is a 12:30 meeting tomorrow, so I'm planning on attending it.

How is everyone else doing?

Hi Paige,

I'm with you on the feeling like crud I've been on a junk food binge for a while, and was going to go back to meetings on Fri since I can't seem to do it on my own, but I didn't make it. So I started doing core yesterday and will go back this week instead. I decided no more procrastinating.

Good Luck.

-Tech

So I didn't end up getting to a meeting today; my little dd woke up with a fever this morning. I've done well so far today with eating, which is good, considering that I've been a little bored today. I've been trying to get my water in, too...I haven't been drinking it much lately, and I can feel how tired I am because of it.

I'm not too sure what to make for dinner tonight; I printed off some recipes from dwlz, so maybe I can get inspired to make one.

Hope everyone is having a good day!

Good morning everyone!

I did well yesterday. I didn't actually count points, but I know I stayed on track. I ended up making a homemade spaghetti sauce with chicken last night, and having it over ww pasta. It actually was really good. For dessert I had strawberries and a sliced banana with some ff cool whip. It was a satisfying day. =)

This weekend will be interesting. On Saturday we have a pool party to go to at one of my co-worker's house. She is Chinese, and is going to be having a lot of different style foods there. I love trying new foods, so I hope I will be able to pick and choose what looks the "friendliest."

Hope everyone has a great, op day!

Hello everyone,

Funny that you guys were talking about going back to meetings, I was just thinking that earlier today that maybe I needed to go back to a meeting. Actually what I need to start doing is journaling again. Since I am already off today I am going to start that tomorrow!

Have a good day

Hi all...

I've done pretty well again today. I haven't gone back to a meeting yet; I ended up taking little dd to the dr today...she has double ear infections and strep throat. Ugh! Dh and I have to re-arrange our work schedules this week as she cannot go to preschool till next week. I'm keeping an eye out on my older dd; she has been coughing non stop. She has cough variant asthma, so it's really hard to determine whether it is the asthma acting up or if it is something else.

Anyway, that is all for now. Hope you all have had a great day.

When you do your weigh in do you ladies weigh in every 2 weeks? When you do is it in the morning right when you get out of bed?

Honestly, I usually weigh myself every day before I hop in the shower. I know my weight fluctuates, so I don't freak out if it's up a lb; I just don't like surprises, and will know that I am doing something wrong if I see a large gain and it's not TOM!

When I attended meetings, I weighed in there every week. I would still weigh at home, though, too...that drove me a little crazy because many times my scale at home would show a loss and then at the meeting I would stay the same or have a slight loss.

Hi everyone!
I've been away, a 10 day vacation. It was nice to be away and I confess that I didn't care to watch my eating while I was away.
So, Monday morning, I started with a work out and have worked out each day since (and will today too, though am not feeling 100%). I have been using that WW "Kick Start" booklet and eating pretty much from that this week, with a few exceptions.
Trying hard to get back in the swing of things.
Linda

MJluva~ :welcome: I usually weigh every Friday around 9 am after I've been up for a couple hours,usually by that time I'm not swollen and I've took care of business with john if ya know what I mean.....lol:D
So it's been a couple weeks for me.we got a new laptop from walmart,it was pretty cheap and so we had to get a router and everystuff,then I couldn't my other puter on the internet,and I didn't have email set up on this one,sooooooooooo,I didn't know my password for fatchicks and it just been a long 2 weeks ya'll,I missed ya'll!! I weighed last Friday and I
m back down to 197(thank goodness) and now I've pretty good this week except for last night,I had a big ol' mountain dew,but I was working and sweating like a hog!!LOL So it's back to the usual and I'm glad;)
My little girl has been wanting to go on weight watchers,but I have to take her so we can find out how to do the points,because I believe points are different for kids....you guys, her weight is getting out of control,and I don't know what else to do,I'm afraid to know what she weighs....she's not HUGE,but she's starting to get that wabble about her ya know and she's got a double chin,it really makes me want to cry,I'm not completely innocent,but I blame MIL she just let's her help herself then talks about how fat she's got,and in the past she's fed her till she throws up that night....and now she's talking about DS "He needs to put on some weight" ,"he doesn't need a sippy cup,because he won't eat while he's got a sippy" I'm about to get sick and tired ya'll and I'm gonna tell her,DH already has told her that we don't want him fat it's hard on them and he told her " look what you've done to her"(our DD) and she told him not to blame her......I want to move,but you know what she said to me the other day? I think DD had told her I had been talking about wanting to move again and anyway she said that if we moved we might as well look for a house that had one for sale next door because she'd be moving too,I thought " Somebody slap me" I feel so trapped and helpless when it comes to that woman. maybe it'll all pan out later,I think she's just in one of those moods,she gets like that from time to and it drives me bonkers!!
DH has a new job!! he got a pretty good raise when he left that awful place he has worked for so many years,good enough that it knocked us out of WIC and reduced lunches at school!!LOL he said we was too rich now!!LOL I thought that was pretty funny..but I guess I'll let ya'll go and go do something,maybe watch some free tv or something and do some laundry..

Hey everyone....just checking in.

I've done really well eating wise this week! Yesterday I did really well; I even skipped dessert at night. Hopefully I can carry through the weekend. Tomorrow night we are going out to Chili's with some of dh's old friends; they have the Guiltless Grill menu, so I'd like to try to eat off that. Dh and I have been splitting meals a lot, too, so we could even do that. Sunday is the pool party I had mentioned before. I usually do pretty well with not over eating when we are at things like that...as long as I'm not drinking! When I drink, I eat. I can't see her having much in the way of alcohol there, though, so I should be good.

My dds seem to be feeling better, thankfully. They both went to preschool/camp yesterday, which was good because dh and I only had had to switch our work schedules around for one day, not the entire week.

Trysh-I think that taking your dd to WW is a good idea. WW teaches you the right way to eat, and it sounds like that is what she needs. I was a fat kid, and developed bulimia in high school...I wish that I had had the opportunity to do a program like WW when I was young.

Anyway, I'm off to work. I always like to work on Fridays...I usually try to get the "boring" baking done earlier in the week so I end the week with exciting things.

Have a great, op day all!

TGIF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I weighed this morning and I've lost a pound!!!:carrot: YEY ME!!
I'm happy now,what a great start for the weekend,which is gonna be a drag by the way...but that's another story..lol.....
Just checking in to see how everyone is doing,and I hope all is well!!
I've got a ton of things to do today...laundry,clean up the kitchen,scratch that,let me rephrase...I have to give the kitchen a bath.....DH cut a cantaloupe the other night and got juice everywhere,counter,floor,stove,etc....and it's been tracked on my bamboo floor in the living room(needs a bath too) whew,I didn't realize just how busy I'm gonna be today,I knew a had a ton of stuff to do,but I believe it just turned in to a boatload,like 2 ton....oh well,that's when I do my best thinking,I can really come up with some good ones when I have time to think about 'em!lol then DH gets to hear all about it,he usually knows too,because if I pop off some idea,he'll ask me.."You been cleanin'?"..."Why yes,why do you ask?" Does it smell good in here or something?..:D Just wonderin'.......
Anyway,I better go and clean and think and take of DS,I think it's about time for him to wake up......Bye:D

Happy Monday everyone!

So I didn't end up doing the best this weekend. Saturday we went to Pizzaria Uno's instead of Chili's. I ended up ordering one of the individual deep dish pizzas; I only ate 1/2 of it, and didn't even take the rest home (it wasn't that good.) I also had some cake, too. Yesterday I didn't eat that much at the bbq, but she had made a chocolate rum cake, and I had a piece of that. I definately could of eaten better this weekend, but it's on to a new week.

I don't have much happening this week. My little dd is having "Hippie Week" at preschool, so I'm making tie-dye cupcakes for her to take in probably on Friday. Saturday is the 5k race that my bosses put on, so I have to work. The store is opening an hour early, so I have to be there about 5:30 to open. I'm not looking forward to Sat...it's going to be a busy day.

What's new with everyone?

Welcome to our newcomers!
Shelbysmom: In order to bring a kid to WW, you need to have a doctor's note/permission and a doctor's verification of a goal weight. They need to protect themselves, of course.

Someone forwarded an e-mail to me with pre-WW2 photos on it of "society", it was meant to be one of those sentimental things people send around (who has time for all this stuff to send stuff like this, by the way???) and I did take note of how all the people looked THIN in those pictures.
What has happened to our society that we are all so overweight? DH and I went to the local mall on Sunday afternoon to pick up a few things and I was looking around at people, with big butts and jiggling fat walking around. Lots of people were lined up in the food court to get stuff and walking around eating while they window shopped.
What has our society come to?
I say NO! No way, not me!
My convictions are strong today, and I shall get off line right now to have my healthy WW breakfast and then do a workout before I start my day.
Is it that people are no longer caring what they look like? Are they hypnotized by TV and video games and don't MOVE anymore?

Overweight people are everywhere. Next time you are out in public look around and truly SEE them. Observe what they are doing and steer clear as far as you can from what they do, as obviously that is not the best choice. Yikes!
I really was amazed at the pre-1940 photos. Not one person's stomach hung over their belt. The object of this photo study was not people and their weight, I just happened to take note of how people looked so different to me.

Time to get to work...
Linda in NH where it rains still and there is much flooding

Hey everyone...

So I'm glad today is a new day. I did so terrible yesterday; it was one of those days where you just can't stop yourself from eating. I wanted to eat everything in sight. I'm not normally like that, so I'm not sure what was up. But like I said, today is a new day, and I will do better. I've been trying to drink more water again, as that has been a really big downfall for a long time. I can feel that my body is tired all the time, and I know that is from not drinking enough water.

On a side note, many of you "old-timers" here probably remember that my family organizes a Cystic Fibrosis walk every year. Our walk in May raised $10k! That's not bad for a town of only 1000 people. Anyway, I am putting together a cookbook (like the church cookbooks) for a fundraiser for our walk next May, and I need recipes. ANY kind of recipes...drink, appetizer, soup, main course...everything! I have a lot, but I need a lot. If anyone has any that they'd like to share, please pm me for my e-mail. I would really appreciate any help! I'm trying to get the cookbook done by the end of Sept so that I can have copies back before Christmas...and I'm stuck right at the beginning! I can't come up with a name! Our team name is Joey's Angels, so I'd like it to be something that has to do with the name. The only idea I have so far is Cooking with the Angels, but not everyone that has donated recipes is on our team. Anyone have any other ideas???

Linda-Thinking about what you wrote, I think part of the reason that people were thinner back then is that they didn't have all the processed junk. You couldn't walk into a store and buy a bag of Doritos and a carton of ice cream. Everything was fresh. And, I don't think there was an emphasis on being thin like there is now. I really believe part of the reason that people are so overweight now is because we think about it too much. I know with me, the more I think about being thin, the further I get from it. Instead of getting up and moving, my tush is sitting here in front of this computer. It really is no wonder that we have a hard time getting motivated to exercise. I'm sitting here right now, watching my 3 year old play on her OWN computer! It still amazes me that at 3, she's able to easily navigate around the sites they are allowed to go on.

Anyway, on that note I should get up and do something. I hope you all have a perfectly op day!

Paige, I do think there were not that many processed foods. I think there was ice cream, but you only maybe had it after Sunday dinners. I think there were not many cereals, perhaps corn flakes, oatmeal and things like that? I would like to do some research on what did exist for products in those days. Maybe that is partly what is wrong with our society.
Plus, when was TV invented and when did most households have it? People were not sitting on their read ends as much, for sure.
I remember my mom getting a dishwasher in the mid-1960s and it was amazing to have a device that washed dishes. I remember seeing an old washing machine at my grandmother's with a wringer that you had to turn the big handle and wring out clothes by hand. Certainly things were much more labor-intensive.
So, if we perhaps things about going back to a simpler lifestyle, we might do better! I'm ready!
Also, Paige, are you looking for original recipes that we have made up or ones we have that are family favorites that are passed down? I have a few good ones that are NOT low fat, for sure, but they are reserved for special occasions.
Also, I have days that I want to eat, eat, eat all day and I know how hard it is. Popcorn is always my solution on those days, I take a long time to eat it and it helps. I also will have a sugar free hot cocoa before or after the popcorn that helps me to feel like I've had some chocolate, which is a weakness of mine.
Linda

Good morning and I am wondering where everyone is?
I think, but not an official WW weigh in, that I might have lost a pound in the last two weeks. I might actually be brave enough to go to a meeting next week. But, we are going away for the weekend and that always causes me trouble.
Paige, I have one recipe I will e-mail to you privately, it's something that is old but I love it and when I have brought it to pot luck things, people always ask for the recipe. But, if you want more things, I might come up with a few.
Linda

Where is every one? Anyway, Happy Saturday!!! I hope all is well with everyone,me not so good,I'm behind on my work,or atleast I feel like I am,and both arms have been hurting or aching..last night I took an advil,DH thinks it's where I washed the car yesterday,but this morning my left is still aching a little,and my neck,I don't know if it's stress:stress: or what, AND something bit a couple nights ago on my back....no clue, btu it itches like the devil and there's 2 spots,one just looks like a mosquito bite and the other is big honkin' welt. And to top things off I weighed yesterday and I'm up 2 pounds:mad::rollpin::tantrum:
But I can deal with that,no biggie,I ate like a pig this week anyway so I know it's my fault:nono:.....lol, 2 months to lose it and gain it in a week!!!That's hilarious!!:dizzy::dizzy::dizzy::dizzy::dizzy::diz zy::dizzy:
Anyway,I just thought I'd come in and unload!!I feel better now except for my arm and neck...........you know what would be nice? a day at the spa,I've never been and like to go..especially today...It'd really be nice to get a massage without having sex afterwards!!LOL:lol::rofl::lol3:

Trysh - you crack me up :rofl:

-Tech

Hello everyone,

Just wanted to drop in and say hello. For some reason I still haven't been able to get myself back on track eating wise. Excercise I am definatly doing great in that area. This week is back to work after having off for the summer, so in a way that is good b/c that usually kick starts my better eating habits. This is going to be a tough week for me b/c next weekend i am taking a test. I was thinking of going back to school to work on my PH.D but I have to take this dumb test first. I am not a good test taker so we'll see how it goes. Anyways if I don't do well I can try again. Today my plan is to get ready for back to school/work. So I am going to try my hardest to kick start better eating by at least writing everything down.

Happy Monday...............:coffee: Just enjoying a cup of coffee and I'm getting ready to get my butt in gear to go to work..gotta eat my cereal,get DS up,dress him,dress me,:dizzy: ...my day starts out busy..anyway I got 5 cornices to get covered and a big honkin' bay window cornice also to cover by this evening so DH and I can go hang them...Their not so bad,it's just that they have this design along the bottom that makes them a little worse to cover and a little longer to cover......:rolleyes: oh well if I can just get my sorry you know what over there and get started...as dad always said "My lowly butt" If I had been DH,they probably would have already been done!!LOL he's like a cat on a hot tin roof!! Me on the other hand, I'm the tortouise who raced the hair,ya know,I don't beleive I could get in a hurry if you lit a match under my rearend!! And I have a feelin' I'll probbably be late for own funeral!!LOL....when that day comes anyway!!
But I was just wondering how your weekends went..we stayed home Friday and DH worked on the cars...I think they're getting tired..he put breaks on and changed the oil on the Yukon Thursday,Friday he had to put a new master cylinder on his mustang GT,it had NO breaks,but the break pads were new,hence the new master cylinder AND he put new rotars on my cobra,and it needs an oil change too,he didn't notice that 'till yesterday,when we had to drive it to wal mart because the Yukon wouldn't start because the battery was bad!!!I think he was about to lose his religion by last night!! So I think they're all good except for my oil change,whew....it's good to have a man who knows his way around a garage,I can imagine how much MORE money we would have been out if we had paiod someone to do all that stuff,good grief.........
So hopefully next weekend will be better,it's our car show and we like to go mess around and sit on the side of the road and watch the cars cruise up amd down the strip,yeah I know it sounds exciting!!just kiddin',but it does give us something to look foward to.:D Well I'll go and talk later!!

Well I had a so-so weekend. We had my family over for a bbq on Sat and I probably did ok food wise (although I did make a blueberry pie and ice cream from cooking light), but I had too much wine. Then yesterday we had a thing at my sil's why can't people bring healthy finger food? Or maybe it's just that I don't like the healthy stuff . Anyway I counted everything yesterday, and today is a new day. Next Sunday we leave on vacation, so I want to make particularly good choices this week.

Trysh - My dh does most of the work on our cars to. It does save $ I have to admit, but sometimes I'm not sure it's worth the stress/swearing he goes thru (of course once he starts a job he won't give up no matter how long it takes).

Haylo - Good luck on your test :crossed: and on getting back on track.

Have a great day everyone.

-Tech

Hey all...

I have definatly been off track the past few weeks. Luckily I haven't gained anything, but wish I could just stop maintaining and lose. The cafe is closed this week and next for employee vacation, so I'm hoping I can keep it together here at home. This week I'll be home with the girls, and next Monday we leave for vacation.

Tech-Your dh sounds like mine...I am so thankful that 90% of the repair work on the car, house, etc he can do, as it saves us SO much money. Last week we did have to take one of our cars in for some repair work that he wasn't able to do, and that cost us almost $600. Our other car needs some work done to the "blah-blah-blah" (all I really hear is the amount that it costs to fix it!) and he isn't sure he can do it himself. He did get a quote on it...another $600...so yesterday he spent a few hours with the car jacked up taking the "blah-blah-blah" apart to see what he needs to fix it, and if he thinks he'll be able to do it himself. I'm so thankful that he is self-sufficiant in the handy-man area. I probably would of traded him in already if he wasn't. LOL, j/k.

Anyway...it looks like a pretty boring day here. I'm going to take the girls outside in a bit so they can ride their bikes in the street. We live on a very quiet street and most of the parents let their kids loose...not me. They can be right around the house by themselves, but in the street? No way! Unfortunately it's the only place for them to ride their bikes.

What is for dinner everyone? We haven't bbq'd in awhile, so maybe I'll have dh throw some chicken on the grill tonight, and I'll put together some veggies in aluminum foil packet to go on the grill, too. I need some inspiration.

Have a great day all!

Hi Paige,

We had a really good dinner yesterday. Fajita Burgers: You saute 1.5 C bell peppers and onion, add 1/2 teas fajita seasoning and salt, cool. Mix onion mixture, 1.5 teas seasoning more salt, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 1 egg white, 1 cup fresh bread crumbs into 1 lb ground turkey, form into 4 patties and grill. Serve with tomatillo salsa mixed with avocado and cilantro on a ww bun.

I actually had mine w/o the bun it was really good. Along with a salad with the extra avocado and tomato :T

I've been trying new stuff lately. Most of my recipes come from Cooking Light and now their web page is open to everyone even if you don't subscribe. So log on and search for something.

Have a great weekend.

-Tech

Tech~ Them fajita burgers sound awesome!! Me, I'm a fajita nut,that's usually all I ever eat at the mexican restaurants,minus the tortilla shells,I like to just eat them out of the skillet,man I love 'em!!:D I might try that on DH,he loves mexican too,but I don't know how he'd feel about the turkey burger...(what he don't know won't hurt him though!!LOL) I think I will trty that next week,I'll go get the stuff today after I meet him for lunch..
Weigh in day for me today ladies and I'm back down to 197 from 199 last week...My body really likes that number,197.... I'll slip down to 196...then back UP!!LOL... I've just got a few weeks 'till my Bday to get to 190...I don't know if I'll make it or not:) I just gotta do a little more of this :carrot: and a little less of this :stress: and this :eating2:
But any way if I could just get the coke out of my system....cola not the powder......thought I would clarify there....lol!! I've had 2 this week,I've been working out in the hot garage and MIL just has pop and I'm too lazy to walk to the house to get any water!!MY FAULT!! Just trying to stay positive though..it's hard sometimes...:) just keep smiling!!
DS woke up early for the 3rd day in a row,usually he'll sleep until atleast 9:30-10 but NO he's been getting up at 7 and Fridays are when I clean and talk to you guys and everystuff and I just can't get it done for watching him...now he won't take a nap until after lunch:dizzy: But he's in his play pin playing with his toys and being good.....well except for throwing everything out of the play pin into the floor...FOR ME TO CLEAN UP!!!!! It's true a woman's work is never done...never......well I guess I better jet and do something...See Ya'll

dropping in to say hi.. I am getting ready to start my new lifestyle. Hopefully thinner by New Year's Eve- Good Luck to everyone

Welcome ShrineladyKim!! Good to have you and you'll so love it here!!!

I'm new here and would just like to say Hi....I'm hoping to be down at least 40bls by Christmas..Totally doable I think! So far i'm down 10.6lbs. I weigh in tonight and I'm hoping for at least a 1 lb loss. :)

Shaanon~ Welcome and I think you'll love it here... I think 40 lbs is definitely doable!! Good luck!!:D
As for the rest of you,where are ya? you haven't given up on me have ya? Please don't tell me I'm gonna have to go to another forum,because I don't like talking to myself ya know!! Sometimes it's ok,because here lately I'm the only one I can get along with!!LOL:D:D
Well I beleive I had the "BEST WEEK EVER" last week....Monday I worked my hiney off to get some chairs done so I could leave with DH for Destin Florida on a service call. We drove down Tuesday,got there about 5:30 pm,looked at the boat,went and got us a room...ON THE BEACH!!!.... got all romantical and everystuff,you gals know how it is,lol!! went out to eat...got up the next morning and went to work on te boat finished about 3 pm..then we drove to Panama City where we stayed....ON THE BEACH AGAIN!!!.... and we just had an awesome time,it was so beautiful ya'll...I want to live there...not Panama City,but Destin,oh my Lord,that place is like heaven to me...Any way we drove back Thursday,DH got off Friday,we took our camper to a buddies house where we had a pig roast on Saturday,stayed Saturday night too,then took our camper to a local campground and stayed there Sunday night,it was alot of fun,this past week,big bunches!!
I flubbed my dub on my diet,but it was worth it,so I'm back on track...AGAIN.... Anyway,gotta work extra hard this week,I did pretty good yesterday,I stayed..how do you say it? OP all day,I was pretty proud of my self when I went to bed last night!! which reminds me I've gotta have me some cereal here in a few....But I just wanted to let ya'll know what I've been up too,which was a little of "no good" ,but I've straightened myself up this week!!LOL I'll go and hopefully see a post or two tomorrow or Friday!!

I've been MIA for a while. After dh's family reunion, things just got busier & busier. In August, we were either away or had company almost every weekend. We went through a lot of stress, trying to get ready for company, some school-related stress for dh.

Well, I'm suffering PMS now, but even without that, I've regained weight. Not happy about that. I do NOT want to do the weight-gain thing through the fall & winter months like usual. So, trying to get back on track again!

One thing will help is that my mom signed up for WW Online. I wish there was a registration fee waiver for the online program, because $16.95/mo is pretty cheap! Either way, if I get back on track doing it from home, and have everyone at 3FC, plus my mom for more one-on-one accountability, it should help.

I'm back...Have to go change my tickers now b/c I'm up around 5 lbs more than I was just a few weeks ago. Not just a pound or two shift back & forth. *SIGH*

Welcome back Luv~ We've....let me clarify...I'VE missed you,don't know where everybody has scattered off too..Must bee with school starting and everything..but anyway Thought I'd check in on everybody....
WHERE IS EVERYBODY???!?!?!!!?!!!? I feel orphaned......!!:D

Hey everyone!

Welcome Butterfly!!

How is everyone doing today? I'm off to the mall to buy myself a bra (since my mini goal was 10 inches) and I lost almost 3 inches from around my bra-line!!!

Way to go butterfly,I can't seem to get back into some of my bras,but I will eventually,I usually just wear sports bras,they seem to keep the sisters at bay better sometimes!!
Well I'm home recovering from a weekend in Pigeon Forge,we went there for my birthday,it was pretty fun,we had a lot of laughs only to get home and recieve a call from my dad telling me that my brother had passed away,they found him at a car wash sitting in his car with the door open,he had a massive heart attack,I think the viewing is Thursday,the day after my birthday,which is my nephews(his son) birthday.Lord Lord...I hope my brother didn't suffer... and he was all alone....:( I know he had to be so scared...I would've been and I sure don't want be by myself when my time comes..
Anyway I'll go

Happy Birthday :)

Good afternoon everyone. I haven't been around here for awhile so am not sure who some of you newcomers are. Welcome, though.
Just stopping by.
I'm trying hard to eat healthy and stop worrying so much about my weight. I'm wondering if I might do better if I take the stress off a bit? Not sure how that is going to work, by the way, but it's worth trying.
Tech, how is your husband doing?
Ann, are you here?
Paige, how's it going?
Shelbysmom, good to see you are here and continuing to work hard.

Shelbysmom - :hug: Sorry to hear about your brother. Hang in there. And :woo: Happy Birthday.

Linda - DH is doing fine, he finished radiation and his surgery is scheduled for next week.

I'm hanging in there too. Hopefully I can avoid the junk food while I'm at the hospital and driving to/from next week.

Have a great day everyone.

-Tech

Thanks for the birthday wishes everybody!! I had a pretty good b-day we had a cookout lastnight all my brothers and sisters were here except for one that had to work over and was stuck in Lexington....some of us haven't been getting along I really don't know why,just hate I guess,or the devil and probably a little bit of both and my brother that passed away was always kinda the "black sheep" so to speak and the rest of us kids never trusted him much..he tended to have sticky fingers and I think all of his problems had to do with his health,he wasn't right in his mind and alot of times I think he didn't know he was doing it....he was sick and I do believe that God knew that and he's in Heaven now..speaking of which,the viewing is tonight and the funeral tomorrow,I dread it really, all of his kids I haven't seen in years,to be exact,like 9 years,since mom passed away..it's awful when half the time you see part of your family is when someone dies,but I'm sure that happens with every family......but what's so sad about my family is,everybody lives here in town,it would be different if half of us lived out of state,then that would be understandable,but to live within 10 miles of eachother and never see one another....it's sad,really sad....and I don't want to end up not being social with 2 of my other siblings,until someone else dies,ya know?...but I never have figured out what I've done to them,sometimes I think it's jealousy,because I have a house and they don't,I feel like they think since I'm the youngest of all the kids,that I shouldn't have more than they do...I felt guilty enough when we built this house,mom always was one to pop off something like "getting above your raising" because I lived in a trailor all my life that had holes in the floors and was ready to fall over the hill...so naturally I did feel guilty when I moved into a brand new home,something I knew mom and dad never had,and never would...I just can't help but feel the same about some of my siblings...because THAT'S the way they make me feel most of the time....sorry to unload I'm just beside my self this week,and I pray to God that things will get better...or a little better anyway...I'll go...

Well.....it's been a week and no body...so I guess I'll find somewhere else to go...I mean I can't talk to myself!!LOL I do that enough here at home...:(
Bye it :(was good while it lasted;):wave:

Oh no.......... I am sad to see that no one is here. I have been meaning to check in but things have been so crazy. Well I will check back in hopes that people have checked in. If not, I guess I need to find somewhere else to post.

Janelle-Maybe we can see if we can get this thread going again? I have gone up four or five lbs, and my jeans feel tight right now! UGH! And the holidays aren't even here yet!!!! Part of me feels like I'm not eating that badly, but I guess I KNOW I obviously am. I need to get back to journaling; if nothing else, to get back to knowing what and how much I'm consuming. I think I've just been "floating" for so long (maintaining, I guess?!) and have now started to get lazy.

So anyone else out there?

Hi Paige, Janelle, Donna, Linda, Shelby and everyone else there.
I am back. I have been missing in action.
I hope everyone is well and that you all start posting soon.
Take Care
Ann

Happy Tuesday everyone!

After a big shopping trip last night, I finally feel like I have a WW friendly kitchen again. I went with my points calculator in hand, and stocked up on low point, high fiber foods. I really am feeling positive about my weight loss journey again.

Eating at work is a difficult hurdle for me; it is really HARD when you have awesome food surrounding you! When I'm making something it is definitely hard not to sample, and I think that one major place I've been faultering lately. A spoon of this, a spoon of that...it shouldn't add up to much, right?! Five pounds later...I guess it does. Often my boss will split a panini or wrap with me, so I can't do that anymore. I will be bringing my lunch and healthy snacks from home.

My menu for today...

Breakfast-WW bagel-2
WW cream cheese-1
deli turkey-1

Snack-yogurt w/benefiber-1
water

Lunch-turkey sandwich-4
apple-1
ww cheese stick-1
water

Snack-Progresso light soup-0

Dinner-??-13 pts

Dessert-Snack Away peanut butter bar-1
light pudding cup-1

Total-26/26
Ann-How have you been? It's funny, because it seems like we all went MIA at the same time.

Hello to everyone else...hope you have a fabulous, op day!

Paige,

I think it would be great if you could this this back up and running. I too have been back and forth with my weight actually. I have maintained by not lost. I am trying this week to really get back on track. I am just having a hard time figuring out a points range b/c I lost the pamphlet that tell us how many points we are supposed to be getting.

So far today:
Breakfast: Cream of Wheat
Yougurt
Lunch: Ham and cheese sandwich
Cranberry Juice
Strawberries

I still need to go back and figure out points

Ah-ha!
Here is our old thread and I am here to try to re-group and re-think what is going on in my life.
I'm facing a week's worth of eating/holiday/gatherings and that is OK, but after next Sunday it is back on track for me! How about YOU?

I'm back here again.
In case any of you are looking for a few of us, you can go here:
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=154676&page=5

However, I hope to post here again. I feel like I need all the help I can get right now.
I have an extremely busy week ahead and keep looking at my schedule trying to figure out where I can git in attendance at a WW meeting. I'm afraid to go back, in a way.
Walking back in that door is always so hard. Also, money is tremendously tight right now. How are the rest of you doing?

I keep coming back here in hopes that some of our old group are out there, lurking, and need a push to come back. I miss you all.
I feel as if I can't get back on the wagon. I keep falling off.
What is working for anyone? What is giving you the proper motivation?
At least I am HERE, that means something at this point.

Here I am again. I keep starting out each morning with the best intentions and and then blow it by the end of the day.
In case any of you are looking for support, you can find a few of our old group here, we welcome anyone:
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=154676&page=5