General Diet Plans and Questions - Doing our own thing #7

Well for crying out loud, can't you guys get a new thread started, or were ya waiting for me to come 'round and do it for ya? :D

Well, I wanted to apologize for not being here much. Little by little I felt the diet slipping away. Stopped journaling, stopped counting calories and before you knew it, I was at McDonalds eating double quarter pounders. When I started this diet in May I was 265, I had lost 35 pounds and was at 230. I am now up to 247. Sad? You bet. Mad? Oh yeah. Disappointed? That sums it up. I stopped being accountable to myself and that makes me so sad and upset with myself.

I need to be here and I need to at least check in once in the evening. As long as I come here, dieting and lifestyle changes are always in the back of my mind. When I don't come here, I put it all aside and don't even think of it.

I will basically round my weight up to 250, and after eating all day today, I imagine that is where I am. I am still 15 pounds down from my highest, but, oh when I think of where I COULD be....the tears roll.

I have not yet read all the back posts, but I will. I need to get myself back into the program and stay with you all. I am going to work on a page of goals and things that I HAVE to do every day whether I want to or not. Like exercise, drink water, eat healthy, check in with my friends, etc. That isn't too much to ask of myself.

Anyway, my love to all of you. I can say, honestly, that I am SO glad Thanksgiving is over and I can not wait for Christmas to be done.

I'm back girls, for whatever that is worth. :cry:

Tiffany
265/250/150

I knew I knew I knew it. I knew if we kept the thread long enough you'd get pissed and know you would have to come take over and get us back on track.....:p

Actually I was going to start one on Dec. 1st but was really waiting to see if you would come back to us. I just had this feeling you would show up today and I am so excited I was right by waiting. We really missed your posts so much and your enthusiasm and spirit. :^:

Anyways, we need a December 3 point challenge desparately, my food has sort of stunk the past few days because of the holiday and I don't want to give up one pound of the 10 I lost in 3 months.

Please, please say you'll join in with me...and if you join everyone will follow.

Again so very glad you're back with us.

Love,
Carol Ann

Ok. I need a three point challenge. Especially to stay on track through the month. I have had WELL over a month of being naughty, and I think I could REALLY get back on track with a challenge. Tomorrow is the 1rst and I will start then.

Thanks for the warm welcome Carol Ann, I appreciate knowing that I was missed.

I have a friend at work that gave me a free pass to her gym for 7 days. The only thing is...we would meet there at 6 am, work out for a while and then she leaves and goes home to get ready for work, and I would have to take my clothes, makeup, deoderant, dryer, etc...in order to work out and then get ready for work. I am afraid that working out that early in the morning would KILL me by about 10:00 am. I am used to doing my workouts in the evening. But no one will go with me in the evening and I am TERRIFIED to work out in the evening by myself. (big scaredy cat) I need someone to go with me, so I can be accountable. But MAN, I hate the idea of getting up at 5 in the morning instead of 6:30....so I am thinking about that.

Well, Carol, I will start a three point challenge thread.

Talk to you tomorrow,
Tiff

I work out in the morning and it's not so bad once you're up and have your coffee or tea...really by the time I have my tea I am awake...and the nice thing is after the first few days you're OK well into the afternoon....try it....and at night you don't have to think about it til the next morning and by the time you're awake you're at the gym!

Happy Sunday morning! Last day of the long weekend and I am looking forward and dreading going back to work both at the same time. I've pretty much been a bum this weekend. Eating Thanksgiving dinner was no big thing, I didn't even have a slice of pie but the rest of the weekend I have sat on my big butt watching movies and eating. I am definately up for the 3 point challenge! Haven't gotten on the scale but I have a feeling it ain't gonna be pretty so I have chosen to stay away from it for right now.

Hey Tiffany - sorry to hear you've been having a rough time, it's good to have you back.

LJ

Good Morning All! Well, my Nashville Kids just left headed for home and Hubby took off to the coffee shop to catch up on the local gossip and here I am. You know I feel as if you gals are part of my family and I have to see what's been going on with all of you.

I have just been drifting and not really trying to eat right but I think the 3 point challenge will be of help.

Tiff, glad you're back, we missed ya.

Well, I have a ton of laundry to do so I'll see ya'll tomorrow.

Hey, YAY!!! It is 12:32 in the afternoon and I have had some water and a yogurt. Gonna have a sandwich pretty soon. I try to eat VERY light through the day, because at night is when I want to get crazy with my food.

Do any of you have a cutoff for when you stop eating food in the evening? I am thinking after 7 in the evening....NOTHING. What do you think? Does that have any merit?

I am going back through my first posts for my information on Susan Powter. I am doing my charting again, and I am back to doing the "food with less than 30% fat or I am not eating it" thing. Susan Powter says she eats between 3 and 5 thousand calories a day, but it is all veggies, whole wheat foods, etc, and that she gets a lot of exercise. Well, DUH. She would have to.

Anyway, I am going back to my initial plan, which worked wonders for me. I just have to commit myself to charting my food again. I write it all down in my notebook that lays on the counter, and then put it into the computer in the evening, and after I chart it, I can check in here and say hello. Killing those 2 birds with one stone. Love it.

Talk with you later, I'm off to figure out what I am doing for exercise today.

Good to see you again, Semo and Huntress. I admire you both so much, even when you have problems staying on track, you are always here. I need to take a lesson from you.

Hugs,
Tiff

I have committed to not eating after supper Tiffany, since I am like you and like a good hearty supper. But if I am really hungry I try for 94% Fat Free popcorn or I whip up a Strawberry freeze of frozen strawberries and Splenda with club soda and a little Fat Free Half and Half. This makes about a quart and a half and usually that really fills me up. You can freeze it a bit too and think of it as sherbet. I think the calorie count for this enormity I drink/or eat is about 2oo with the Half and Half or about 150 calories without it. It has saved me many a night from doing the dirty eating thing!

I also swear by Fitday.com because it has kept me rigorously honest about the amount of food I am eating, even when I overeat or eat junk I put it in there cause I refuse to fool myself any longer.

For food during the day I generally eat oatmeal in the morning (or peanut butter on a rice cake) and then chicken for lunch broiled with veggies. I try to stay away from too many carbs cause they make me retain water, but I do have macaroni once a week and pretty much a large portion (measuring eight ounces dry and then I cook it) 'cause the Sicilian in me just could not bare no macaroni at all..forgettaboutit!! Suppers are usually protein and veggies or some such thing. Also once a week I have cheeseburgers with no fat cheese which is icky if its not melted, but very good melted.

Hey ladies!!

Just a quick note to let you all know that I'm doing fine. A little frazzled from our 12 hour drive home from Utah, but fine otherwise. I have a Dr. Appt tomorrow and don't see any reason why I can't go back to work. Bummmerr. I have so many posts to read and will try my best to get through them tomorrow, since I have a lot to do before returning to work!!

Thank you all for your kind thoughts, prayers and caring. I hope to be posting regularly again tomorrow. Have a great day!

Hi Dyan - Glad to see you back and that you're feeling better. Hope everything goes well with the Dr's tommorow.

Tiffany - don't beat yourself up too badly, we all stumble along the path sometimes. You will get that extra weight off along with many more pounds so just keep trying.

Brighterdays - come back! come back!

This has been a totally boring day, just doing household chores and trying to get rid of the extra people that have been around here for the weekend........I know I'm horrible. Most of them are my sons friends and he left to go out of town yesterday and they are still here playing games on his computer.

I've been reading the Dr Atkins book I bought and honestly just don't think I can follow that program. I am going to make an effort to cut out sugar, etc but I cannot stomach the thought of eating mostly meat for the 1st two weeks. I bought a bunch of fresh veggies and fruit this weekend and made some chicken vegtable soup so I think I'll just concentrate on eating that stuff. I'm afraid that if I try to go too far I will crash and burn, you know, go hog wild eating junk food and sweets if I give up too much.

Guess I'll go work on the laundry some more, can't figure out where it all came from!

LJ

Hey...hey...hey.....it's a brand new day and month and we have a new 3 point challenge thread going for December if anyone is interested.

Tiff: Hope you get through the rest of the afternoon without too much trouble...and I am thinking about how psyched you keep us all the time and on track..keep doin' it!

Dyan: Sounds like you are doing great. Did you love Utah? I have only been to Bryce Canyon as part of a vacation some years back and also Powell Lake, but I was very impressed with that part of it. Tell us do you still want to move there after this vacation?

Semo: Hi there. I have an amazing amount of laundry myself and there is just Deadnurse and me. I wonder if someone dumped theirs in my basement and didn't tell me :chin:

Huntress: I don't recommend Atkins only because it's really hard on your kidneys with all that protein. Also going to the bathroom could become a real struggle after a few days if you know what I mean :lol:

Tiger: Did you get through T day without too much hassle?

Brighter: Speak up young lady we can't hear ya :^:

As for me...it is so cold in Jerseyland today. It feels like deep February. I mean lips turning blue weather. I went for a walk and my legs were numb by the time I got home. This weather is so unusual for us. We haven't gotten cold days like this so yearly in the year for literally years. :(

The leftover pies and goodies are just about gone. Instead of cooking I have been nibbling and staying pretty close to calorie range. In any event I have just about had it with the crapola food anyway. Looking forward to uncomplicated eating except for two days this month...oops...make that 3...I forgot New Year's Eve. :dizzy:

I know I sound like everyone else but I am astonished it's the end of the year already and I haven't really done much Xmas shopping....I am going to be so screwed if I don't commit to buying one present every lunchtime for the next two weeks. I hate crowds and we have have so many of them out here. :mad:

Love to All!:)

Hey all,

Glad to see everybody on here this weekend!

Tiff--welcome back, girl! Been there on the food thing....I think we all have...we will get thru December together though, ya hear? I've been wondering if a cut off time at night would work for me, also, since evenings are also my problem (have the fuzzy slippers/flannel pajama syndrome after I get home---its so warm and nice and I like to sit and watch some fav programs and snack). I've changed some of the snacks to low cal but it still adds up to WW pts. that I don't need. Been thinking about 8 pm...

DNW---hey girl! I'm here. Made it thru Thanksgiving and I'm looking at Christmas/New Years Day as just two more days to get thru, also. Had a family event this weekend that threw my eating into a tizzy, also, but I think I danced it all off, I hope!

Huntress---I'm here, girl. I'm ready for my first 3 point challenge today. I may not be able to post every day but I'll try to keep track and post as often as possible (kids on the computer in eve, and no way to post during work time). I can't do Atkins either, my body just doesn't accept that as healthy eating! Some people do very well with it, though, and they are starting to study it more in the medical community, so we'll see... I see more men doing well on it than women, have you noticed that?

SEMO---I have 1/2 my laundry done and it just keeps multiplying!
Some out of town family gone home, also. Great to see everybody but little sleep!

Dyan---Hey girl! Great to hear from you. Hope all was well with the trip and you are feeling better.

Tiger, Cafe, Kayla, Jello, and everyone I missed: hope you had a nice holiday!

Ready, set, go.....we are now entering December.

Caution: Curves Ahead :cookie: :m: :cheese: :chockiss:

'Night all,
"Bright"

Monday morning all.........

DNW - I'm not a doctor and I don't know about the protein thing but I've been reading the book and some of it makes a lot of sense. The typical american diet consists of way too much fast food and processed stuff. To me that is the major focal point. I simply can't agree with anything that recommends you cut out most healthy fruits and vegtables with the exception of 2-3 cups of salad greens and berries a day. While he does note that further along in the plan you increase carb consumption it still doesn't seem to me that he encourages eating of most fruits. I haven't read the book in its entirety and I'm certainly not saying that it is a bad plan just not for me. I definately agree with the cutting out of sugar and white flour products and since diabetes runs in my family I am simply going to make an effort to eliminate a lot of those foods the best I can. Sorry to write so much, reading the book kinda turned on a lightbulb in my head that I can't seem to turn off.:lol:

Brighterday - Hey! It's good to see you, how in the world have you been doing? Don't know about you but I'll be glad when all these holidays are over.

OK, I didn't want to get up this morning, lazy I guess from the long weekend and I'm running late...........

LJ

Wow, 2 cups of coffee worth of posts to catch up on. Now that's what I like to see. :D

Monday Funday isn't feeling so fun. Think it's gonna take all week to recover from the Louisville trip. I'm exhausted. Don't know how DH dragged his peanut butt to work today. I couldn't wait to send the boys out to the bus. relief. relax. i wish. My brain wont let me relax. Too much to do. HOLY LAUNDRY! Sounds like it reproduced at everyones house this weekend. I have a mountain of it.

Tiff, welcome home honey!

I'm gonna try NOT to weigh in today. Try to have a good week, weigh myself next Monday.

I try to quit eat'n 2 hours before bedtime when I'm OP. Sometimes it's really hard with the kids sporting schedules.

3 point challenge sounds good to me, I need it.

:df:

Just a quick hello, I'm so happy to see everyone posting!

Youngest son is moving back home, he is graduating from college on the 14th. OMG I have to make room for more stuff!

I'm cutting back on purchasing so many gifts for Christmas and in making that decision I have cut back somewhat on stress. I am still doing the FlyLady thing, and all I can say is WHY didn't I know about this years ago. I am organized at work but just couldn't seem to do it at home. Can't tell you what a relief just knowing that I am slowly working on it and getting there has been for me. Here again I think that there are a lot of the same principles that apply with trying to be healthier too.

I haven't put up the tree yet and hope to get that done this week. I did manage to do some crafting yesterday tho and it was fun.

Talking about Adkins diet not working for you Huntress, you might want to look at Suzane Summers. On her diet you do not mix carbs with protien/fat foods, and when you do eat carbs you should eat whole grain. Just a thought that you might want to look into it. But then we all know how to lose weight it's just the sticking to that's the down fall.;)

Gotta run, work is backed up from being off.

Puff, puff, puff!! Whew! Tryin' to catch up with you all now. Just getting back in after my vacation and reading all the posts. I'm glad to have found you on Tiffany's new thread and....

.....Tiffany!?!? Who!?!?! Wow!!!!!! :D Sooooo very good to see YOU girlie!!!

Well, I'm finally back. Even though DNW said in a past post that EVERYONE was already back. Humph! :snooty:

Anyhooo, Thanksgiving was OK. I did good and I did bad. The actual turkey dinner was no biggie. Ate a little white meat, tried just a spoonful Rich's mom's stuffing and filled up on spinach, carrots, broccoli and the littlest baked potato on the serving plate. Oooh but then later when we were all sitting around, watching football and movies, talking, etc. and there were platters of chips and cookies and M&M's and mixed nuts and.... Well, you get the idea. Yikes. :( All was lost.

At one point on Friday, Rich and his dad and 2 brothers decided to play pinochle. OK, fine. I can survive without any attention for an hour or an hour and a half, right? How about 7 hours!?!?!?! :mad: I was fuming!! Hardly spoke to him for the rest of the trip. Sat there twiddling my thumbs, surfing through the channels and picking at the candy dish while they all laughed and had fun. Grumble. Men!!!!!

Oh, I didn't mention the good news though. Last Tuesday at weigh-in, I'd lost 3.6 lbs.! :smug: Sadly, tomorrow's weigh-in will not be nearly as good. In fact, I've certainly regained at least some of that. But I guess I'll endure. I'm going from here to the 3-point challenge thread to sign up even though I'm off to a rough start. Just a point for exercise yesterday. Thank goodness for my treadmill at home.

Sorry about this me me me post. I'd better go before the boss gets out of his meeting and comes after me. I did, after all, have the audacity to take a day off last week. How dare I? :p My in-box runneth over.

More later!

P.S. (Silly singing.) Tiffany's back, Tiffany's back, Tiffany's back back back. Tiff is back and back on track. Tiffany's back..... Seriously, good to see your face in this place.

Hi everyone!

Woo-hoo! A new 3 point challenge - just what I need. Of course I get zero points for December 1, LOL. It's nice to have the whole group together in our pretty new thread.

I'm very busy at work today, putting the finishing touches on a largish meeting that starts tomorrow. Travel, agenda, meeting room, catering, gifts, nice dinner out... With a 3 point challenge I don't feel so bad about not going to that restaurant I booked. :) Anywho, I'll be dropping by soon.

Nice to see all your smiling faces!!!

~Cafe

Hey everyone! Yesterday was nice. I was on track, all three points present and accounted for. Today was Monday, what else can I say. I think I will salvage 2 points today. Not the start I had hoped for, but hey, any points are better than no points!

Got some shopping to do tonight, so I am outta here. It sure feels good to be back.

Off to get those last 2 points!
Tiff

OK big hello to all just lost a huge post...because of too many images...I just don't know why they can't let you go back and take some out and then repost...what a pain...and I said such nice things to all of you....oh well I'll make it up to you all tomorrow...I gotta get up 5:30 AM to go to the gym...

Hi Everybody!

DNW - I also get up early, 4:00 but there's no way I could drag my lazy butt to the gym before work! I am in awe of you and the others who have this kind of dedication!

I can barely get to work on time much less do a workout. I have to have my caffeine in the morning, even though I recently switched to the "lite" coffee that supposedly has 1/2 the caffeine of regular. Let me tell you I do not like it one bit.

Jello - Glad to see you made it back from Thanksgiving!

SEMO - Thanks for the tip, although I doubt that I would do the food combining since I think I've mentioned how extremely lazy I am. Anything that concerns journaling, counting or lots of brain power is out of the question for me, but I appreciate the info.

Tiffany - Good to see you posting again, please don't leave us again.

Cafe - Looks like you and I are in the same boat, 0 points for me on 12-1 also. How about some friendly competition? I'm gonna beat you, tee hee hee............

Where in the heck is Dyan? She must still be too tired from her trip right now.

I am glad to leave Monday behind! After eating like a pig all weekend yesterday was pretty rough for me. Things were quiet all day at work and I kept going into the kitchen, BUT, I just turned around and walked back out. I did well limiting carbs yesterday, only had 1 cracker and one of those WW eclairs that I had left over in the package. The rest of the day was grapefruit, homemade chicken/veggie soup, a cup of yogurt and an orange and some cashews. I did OK on food but didn't get my water in and didn't get any exercise unless you count shopping at lunchtime (which I don't). Dang it, I've got to get to the gym and sign up, I was going to wait until the 1st of the year but now I'm thinking why wait. They have a 2 week trial membership so it will practically be January before I pay the money anways.

Well I've rambled long enough...........

LJ

PS......Got on the scale this morning and I was relieved to see that I didn't gain over the weekend. How in the heck did that happen?

Hello
Huntress, you are braver than me getting on the scale. I'm not going anywhere near it until next Monday...and it'll probably still be scarey.
Did anyone get to see Dr. Phil yesterday? He did a show on weight.....why we eat....eat to medicate...yadda, yadda. I didnt get to see the whole program. Had to rush off to a basketball game. Think I'm gonna check out his website today and see what kind of chatter he's created.
Later Taters!

Huntress, you sweet thang you, just what I need - a little friendly competition. I'm not getting a great start but I'm going to get stronger... and then, watch out!

I don't know about you guys, but where I live (the frozen North) it's cold as a witch's t!t outside! I ate TOO MUCH last night. Today I'm thinking about the conversation yesterday - about stopping eating at a certain time... that's what I need to do is set a time!

Things are nuts @ the office again. Signing off for now...

Hello Girlies, well didn't get off to a very good start yesterday but think that I have it together better today. Exercise and half my water already done for today. It is soooooooo hard to drink water when I'm cold and right now I'm FREEeeeeezinggggg. Chatter, chatter.

OK, now this is getting just annoying. :mad: I haven't been able to check in first thing in the morning like in the past. I NEED you guys to start my day off right!!! :^:

Well, it's going pretty good so far today. I called my trainer and told her I wanted to finally set up an appointment for weighing and measurements and some new exercise ideas. And I made an appointment for next week to get my hair cut. And I've decided that if I put just a tiny pinch of Crystal Light lemonade mix in my water bottle, it goes down much easier. Just tryin' to get my life in order, one thing at a time....

Last night, I was a woman possessed. I couldn't get to the gym but, in the true spirit of the trekking class I took a couple weeks ago, I decided to use one of my treadmills preprogrammed courses. YIKES!!! :yikes: Shook up the rafters, I did! Had to grab a dish towel out of the laundry basket a mop up the sweat when I was done. Boy did that feel goooooood!!!! Anyone know anything about endorphins and how exercise is supposed to make you feel really good and upbeat, etc? It works, it seems. :D

Sorry, rambling again. About the Atkins diet. I've heard lots of good things and lots of bad things about it. Personally, I don't know if I could give up my pasta and breads. And since I never really ate much red meat, I don't think it'd work for me. But if it does work and it isn't harmful, I say go for it!

Dyan, how ya feeling these days, honey?

Cafe, freezing cold here too. Not supposed to get above freezing for a few days, it seems. This is just not for me. :( I've heard the expression as "cold as a witch's left t*t" because that's where her cold heart is. :lol:

Huntress, whatever you did to make that scale happy, would you send some of those vibes my way? Ain't nothin' gonna save me now.

Well, everyone think of me fondly tonight as I step on the WW scale. I'm sure it won't be good news but I'll take it and move on. I'm going to consider it a challenge for next week!

More later!

Hey there Ladies!! :D

Not exactly sure what the heck is wrong with me. I just can't seem to get things together. Work has been one problem after another. I was actually looking forward to getting back to work on Monday. Okay.....maybe not work it's self but back to a routine. I haven't been OP in over a month and I bravely stood on the scale the other day and saw that I had gained back 10 pounds. I wasn't upset though. I knew I had gained. It was inevitable. I got the okay from the doc to start exercising again yesterday, however she said to take it easy. Even though she said that I'm healing fast and am healing nicely, that typically people should wait a month before doing strenous exercise. So starting in the morning I will start getting up at 4:30 to get my workout in.

My kids are driving my freakin nuts!! The two youngest are fighting constantly ALREADY!! Right now the baby is crying away. She seems to be the most unhappy child!! I don't know if it's from teething, that she's sick, or if she's just a whiny pain in the butt! I am more than ready to pull out all my hair and to be fitted for a beautiful white jacket and to sit in that nice QUIET padded room!!!!

Work has NOT been a joy either. The past 2 days I have not been able to get into the building, I don't have a phone or computer. Which is why I haven't been on lately. It's very difficult to get on at home.

All the kids are fighting...I really have to go :cry: . I am so tired and at my wits end. I just want to cry..... bye

Good Morning Girlies!
Dyan, I hear ya on the kids fighting. I am so sick of my boys fighting. This morning, I told them to keep their hands off each other...the youngest says, "she didnt say feet"...and starts kicking! Then I said hands and FEET off each other....well, that lefts their heads. aRrrGh! What's up with not being able to get into the work building?

Jello, how was WW? Full of inspiration?

I wonder if I shouldn't start weighing myself in front of someone. The thought of DH knowing how much I weigh mortifies me. Maybe my oldest son could handle the task. I need more accountability.

I MADE vegetable beef soup yesterday. Big 'ole pot. I couldn't believe my kids wouldn't eat it. They aren't usually picky. DH and I liked it. Darn it anyway. I need some more healthy supper ideas that the whole crew will eat. think, think, think...
I have a friend that fixes 3 different things every night. Meat dishes for her hubby, vegetarian dishes for herself, then kids food. I just can't do that. I wont.
I'm still not OP. Thinking about it though.:^:

Ah well. :cry: The weigh-in was just as I expected. Gain of 1.4 lbs. But I'm thinking that if I wasn't going to WW, it probably would have been 6 pounds! So I'll accept it and get back at it. It made me even more determined when I got on the treadmill and did another program, huffing and puffing and sweating like a little oinker. :ink:

Actually, when I went to weigh-in there was nobody there except the receptionist, leader and a weigher. Strange. I asked if there was a meeting and they said "yes, if anyone shows up!". I guess it was too cold or something???? Anyway, I got to sit down with the leader for about 10-15 minutes and have a nice one-on-one about the program and staying OP and problems I was having, etc. It was actually kinda nice. I was telling her that this one-on-one was nice like when I would talk to my trainer each week at the gym but with the WW leader it was even better because she had once been overweight and had used the WW program and understood a lot better than my trainer could how I feel, etc. Anyway, I felt better leaving there.

The exercise plan for tonight is bundling up really good (supposed to be about 10 degrees tonight with snow) and walking the 2 miles or so to pick up Rich's car at the mechanic. That's the plan anyway. I may chicken out when I feel the temperature for real.

Dyan ... {{{DYAN}}} Hugs to you. You sound a bit overwhelmed. But I'm glad you're healing nicely. Take the doctor's advice and start in slowly with the exercise. And tell those bozos you work with that you NEED a computer to get your work done ... and to talk to us. :lol:

Tig, I have a friend like yours. Makes different food for each of her kids and her husband. For a while, her MIL was living with them too and she had to have "special" food too. Yeah right. I would have handed her the phone and the take-out menus. Me, I'm like my mom was when I was a kid. She made what she made and you either ate it or you didn't eat. The end. P.S. Think REAL HARD about being OP. ;)

Gotta go. I think I'm going to tell the boss that I have to leave a little early tonight. No real reason. Just cuz. :p :devil:

Talk to you all later!

Good Morning, I finally had a three point day yesterday...I really needed it too. Hopefully, I'm getting back on track and each day will get easier.

Dyamn: :grouphug: It's gonna be okay. Just take a deep breath and regroup. Everyone has an off day, kids too. What about your house guest, she still there?

Jello, you sound as if you are on the right track. You sound happier too, think it's because you have a plan?

Tig, when my boys would fight, I would threaten to make them hug and that usually broke up a fight. :lol:

DNW: :cp: Lost the poundage of one cat, tooooooo funny. It's in the twenties here and I'm freezing, don't know how you could walk in your temp. Burrrrrrrr

Huntress, how's the house hunting going?

Cafe, Bright and Tif Hello.....what's going on with you today.

We have bad weather here today, so I'm going to get my work done and get out of here by noon and taking a vacation day tomorrow. Bye for now.

SEMO - I have a hard time drinking water when it's cold, too! My solution has been to pop my big mason jar of icy-cold water from the fountain into the microwave until it's slightly warm.

Jello - You've convinced me. All that sweating sounds GOOD. I'm conditioning myself to get up earlier to make room for the gym. Today it worked a little too well - I woke up at 3:15 and couldn't get back to sleep!!

I'm in the same boat as others. I have to wake up freaking early or no gym. It's like an hour or hour and a half earlier. I know it works for me when I do it - I just have to do it! It's so hard to wake up in the morning. But so worth it. The endorphins, the accomplishment - I feel like a million bucks all day. I find I have more energy when I exercise than when I get those extra ZZZ's.

Dyan, Dyan! I'm crying FOR you. :( Please accept my long distance {{{hug}}} too. You'll get your household whipped back into shape, just look for the starting point and unravel from there. How's your houseguest situation?

Tiger - sorry about the lukewarm response to your soup. Kids don't appreciate how special homemade soup is. I remember everyone raving about my mom's turkey noodle soup - I was like ugh! It's made with carcass! Now I'm sure I would love it too. They will learn to like what you like, eventually. :)

Yikes! Work to do piling up. I'll have to finish my greetings later.

~Cafe

Hey there!

Today's a new day! I was able to get into the building, I have my computer back and a phone. YIPPEE :p . My boss didn't update me inthe system and I was marked for "termination" on Nov 30th, while I was out on medical, so when I came back I was not in the system. That should tell you the kind of moron I work for!! ARGH!!

It's so much easier to get on here at work. No kids under me or fighting. AAAHHHH...... Now you know that's sad. When your happy to go to work, just for some peace and quiet.

I still haven't been able to go back to the last thread (#6) and get caught up, so I apologize for not giving any shots out.

As far as my roommate situation, she moved in w/ my sister on Monday. They invited her to stay in thir "computer room". They have a futon in there, plus she can shut the door. Not sure how long it will last, as my sister called me yesterday, saying that she didn't get any sleep, because Julie was up all night, coughing up a storm. My sister thought she was trying to cough up a hair ball! :lol: . She was like that at my house, but I guess it's worse over there, because she's allergic to cats, and my sister has some in her back yard. Oh well, can't deal with that right now.

I only have a bazillion things to get done. We found a house that we fell in love w/ in Utah. 6 bedroom, 3k sq ft, pool, spilt level, hugh master bed, w/ walk in closet, jetted tub in one of the bathrooms, sky light in another.....I could go on, and on....

I also want to let you all know that I am sorry that I haven't been very supportive lately. I promise to try and get back into my cheerleading outfit soon!

Dyan - Glad to hear you're doing better! Cheerleader-Schmeerleader! We're here to lean on each other and be who we are. If we none of us admit to struggles how can we learn from each other? It's not easy to keep focus on a long range goal - we refocus each other. No guilt.

Now that you have a little place to yourself (at work, LOL!) you'll be able to see more clearly what's needed to make you happy.

It's snowing pretty, fluffy flakes today. I was thinking how much I want to go out for a walk in them! I wonder if I can leave early today - Jello's bug has bitten me.

Who did I miss when I was here before? Tiffany, Carol and Bright. :wave:

OK give it the kicker Dyan...:mad: and the house is only $100,000 or less right?

It does sound fabulous, and I hope you all are taking it. Here in Jerseyland my neice just bought a postage stamp size Cape Cod two blocks from me for $275,000. This is why Deadnurse and I still live in an apartment.

Oh sigh........:(

Dyan, we're just happy to have you back on your feet, honey! :grouphug: That house in Utah sounds wonderful! Jetted tub! I'm so jealous. Rich's mom has one and I had to try it out while I was down there. They had to come knocking for me - thought I'd drowned I was in there so long.

Cafe, I made sweating sound ... gulp ... GOOD!?!?! Who me? Wow. I guess I'll have to learn to listen to myself when I talk. :lol:

Semo, I definitely feel better when I have some kind of a plan. Now I hope I can follow it!

Girls, I'm tired of working for today. I wanna go home. My boss has been sniffling and sneezing and is starting to hint that he isn't coming in tomorrow. Whiny man. :bb: Sure, first he comes in and infects all of us and THEN he stays home. Grumble.

Ah well. Such is life here in paradise....

Take care all!

P.S. Tiffffffannnnyyyyyy!!! Miss you!!! (See? You can't get any rest from us. Now who's got "whiny kids"?)

There should be some kind of rule...if your coffee has grounds in it...ya get to go back to bed.

Make it stop! Make it stop! Make it stop!!!

That was sung to the tune of Let It Snow. Noooooooo!!!!! It's not good girls. I rode in with Rich this morning in his 4-wheel drive Bronco. Cars are crashed and in ditches all over the place. It's coming down at the rate of almost an inch per hour and getting worse. This place is a ghost town! No one on phones except me it seems. I'm hoping the old *itch doesn't show up because then I'll be able to leave my desk long enough to pee without being harrassed. I'm very stressed. :stress:

I think anyone who actually showed up today should get paid double-time for the day, don't you? :yes: We're all sitting here like little kids hoping someone in authority will say we're closing down and we should all go home. Problem - no one in authority bothered to show up either!! :mad:

So I'm here thinking about comfort food. :^: Hot chocolate I can do. My diet Swiss Miss has only 20 calories, no fat and I make it with decaf coffee instead of hot water. Yum. But what about my other goodie cravings!?! I want cookies. I want other forms of chocolate. I want a big gooey slice of pizza with lots of "stuff" on top.

... and it's only 8:45 in the morning....

Hm... well, at least it's not making me crave snow cones.... :rolleyes:

Jello ~ You are so funny!! I love it.

Cafe and all you other wonderful ladies, thanks for your kind words.

I'm sick. My kids are FINALLY starting to feel better and now DH and I are getting it. Mine, however is all sinus and his is in his chest. My face is killing me!1 (No comments from the peanut gallery) :dizzy: .

DNW ~ The house is actually almost $200k, but like there, in california the prices are outrages. 2 blocks down from where we live now they just built a 1600 sq foot, 3 bedroom home and they are asking.....are you ready for this? They are asking for eight hundred thousand dollars!!! Can you stand it?!

Sorry got to run, as my nose is doing the same......

TTFN

Dyan: A little under $200,000 for 3,000 sq. ft., and 6 Bedrooms, a walk-in closet :yikes:...oh be still my beating heart :faint:

I'm movin' to Utah...I will get used to seeing only blond, blue-eyed Mormons with many wives..as I live in the NYC metro area nothing shocks me anymore except the price of real estate.

Jello: It's offical, I say you can go home! If your boss gives you a hard time just tell him "Deadnursewife told me to go home". He will be so taken back by my name, he will just walk away shaking his head :lol:

Tiger: :yes: Yep coffee grounds in the coffee is definitely a sign you can go back to bed...I read it in the Enquirer!

Cafe: fluffy snowflakes...woman do they not have any roads filled with slush where you live:?: I am very jealous if you are looking out on a calm pastoral scene...mine is sort of Jersey grimy...

Semo: I know you're home takin' a vacation day...lucky dog...I came in because of a VP I support...and the ba$tard didn't come in 'cause his street was icy. :nono:

In a pig's a$$ as my mother used to say. He only lives a few miles from me and there is no ice!!! :s:

Tiffany: Are you still in the driveway diggin your car out...heard Illinois got it bad :eek:

Well..I'm beatin' outta her before 3 PM since none of my "folks" bothered to come in today....love to all and keep safe. :grouphug:

There's a little frost on the inside of the windows on the 15th floor today. We've just had some fluffy flurries the last few days but it's clear and COLD for now. Our bathroom here is on the south side of the building... The glass in that room is privacy-frosted but on mornings like this it's just flooded with golden beautiful light, and about 80 degrees.

Jello - I hope you get your snow day!

Tiger - go ahead, go back to bed - for all of us. :)

Dyan - man, when it rains, it pours. I hope you get the house.

DNW - I'm in a similar place. We bought a little condo/apartment in 5.5 years ago, it's only a 1 bedroom, while still being roomy. These days, I could not afford to pay rent in my neighborhood, let alone buy a house! I'm glad that it's improving so much (it's still rough around the edges on some blocks) but... ? I secretly want a house. Oh well.

SEMO's probably posting right now and it will show up after I hit reply. :)

LOL@ DNW! Yeah, it gets nasty, but in my insulated office building all I see is the snowflakes and the cityscape. Up here it all looks good. It's once you're down in it that it's nasty.

Well, I didn't go back to bed. My brain woke up and I ran the coffee through a clean filter inside a funnel. I'd do anything for my caffiene....and chocolate. :)

Snow'n here too, but not heavy. We could use a good inch or two to cover up the muddy stuff. But, it can't come until I'm done taking the kids to the mall this afternoon. :p

I've ate a decent breakfast and lunch. Still no exercise, but at this point I'll take any progress I can muster up. With that said, I should go get a bottle of water.

All this talk about houses....I want a new one! But, think we'll have to finish remodling this one before we can sell it. phewy.

Oh, cat's locked in the bathroom today. It hasn't been pretty. He keeps piss'n on the rugs. I'm not a happer camper.

this was suppose to be a "quick reply"...rattle, rattle

I guess I'm the only one that doesn't have to deal w/ snow :s: , but hopefully in the near future :smug: . My aunt and her family came this summer from Minniesota, and she said she would out here just for the weather alone. We haven't even seen one drop of rain yet! :rain: , What's that all about? News says there is a "chance" of rain tomorrow. Yeah.....don't see that happening.

Well I got a lead on another position w/ in HP. Not sure that's the best thing, but hey, it's near home and it's a job for now. I emailed the manager and will follow up w/ a call. Advice needed:
Should I call him back this afternoon, or wait until tomorrow? :?:

Did I mention the house also has a pool and hot tub? :devil: . You guys, it's just perfect for us! I'm keeping all crossable body parts crossed. It's near a big park and the neighborhood had plenty of kids (which is a total plus). We saw kids playing, and running home, etc... it was just so wonderful. Out here I won't let my kids go outside and play in our apartment complex. To many weirdos (believe there is a sex offender living on the premesis). A while back they put up a notice stating that they had to advice us that a sex offender was living in the neighborhood. Didn't say where exactly, but we all have a pretty good idea. Also, most of the kids out there are unsupervised and get into all kinds of trouble. My kids are still really young, but it breaks my heart when my 3 year old is crying on her bed and when I ask her what's wrong, she says "I don't have friends." :sorry: . She has friends at school, but none near us. And although it breaks my heart, I refuse to let her get mixed up with the bad asses that live in our complex.

Right now the house is just a dream as one of has to "Actually" live in Utah, for it to be considered our primary residence. The loan guy suggested that DH move out there first, and that they would use my income to quailfy us, as I make the moola :sssh: , Haha.... So he's got all kinds of feelers out there ad all we can do is keep our :crossed: , and pray. I told DH last night that if we don't get it then it wasn't meant to be. It would break my heart, but the reality is the reality. Realtor didi say that people don't usually buy houses, etc.... during the holidays. But people aren't usually hiring at that time either, unless your work retail or something.

It feels good to be back here. I missed you guys alot. Didn't REALLY realize until I was back.

Jello ~ hope you get to hit the bricks soon. If my face doesn't start feeling better, I'm just hit the bricks myself! Besides DNW already gave you permission! hehe

Ha Nurse, you're funny! :lol: You don't really think my boss would show up at work today, do you?? Not! What a wimp he is!

The good news is that our HR manager was in touch with the company president (another stay-at-home-woosie) and he told her to close the place at 1:00. Another hour or so to go. :cp: Now all we gotta do is make it home in one piece.

The bad news is that the few of us here somehow decided to send the poor maintenance man out into the snow to the deli to fetch us some breakfast sandwiches. The bacon, egg and cheese thing is still sitting in my stomach like a rock. :( OK, I learned my lesson. I've got to eat real light for the rest of today to undo this damage.

Hm, how many calories do you burn shovelling snow? I'm gonna find out! :strong: Expecting about 10 inches before all is said and done.

I'll talk to all of you guys (yes, even those of you in warmer climates - I'm not terribly terribly jealous of you or anything :p ) later!

I'm at work after all today. Our electric when out last night at 9:30 and still was not on when I left for work this morning. Figured why waste a vacation day when I can't do anything. Wouldn't even be able to vacuum or fix a pot of coffee. We had a lot of ice yesterday and last night, there are tree limbs down everywhere, limbs hitting power lines causing the problems with the electric. I would have much rather had the snow. We're far enough south that we get a mixture of sleet and rain or sleet and snow and rarely get the pretty snowfalls.

Seem to be doing better as far as eating. Whew, I was beginning to think that I would never crawl out of that hole.

Daymn, now why is it that your moving to Utah?

Girls, gotta jet, have a couple of major things to get done before I leave.

TaTa

SEMO ~ I guess were hoping for a better life for our family, and we really need a change. We have been talking about it for years now, and have finally decided that it's the best thing to do. We'd NEVER be able to afford a house around here. I want my kids to have a house to go up in. I never did. I have ALWAYS lived in an apartment. I want them to have a front and back yard to play in. I want then to come home one day and remember running up and down the stairs. I want them to say, this is were I grew up, this is my family's home. As it is, the people who own our apartments are going to be relocating everyone in April to remodel, and then want to move us back in paying 3 times the amount we're paying now. We live in low- income housing and once they kick us out, we won't be able to afford anything else. I figure why pay $1800+ a month in rent, when I can pay a mortgage. According to the loan guy our mortgage would be around $1100. But I'm not exactly sure. My brother and his wife live in Utah and I would love to live closer to my nieces and soon a nephew. I lived in Utah for about a year and a half, and it was okay. Funny thing is we lived by a temple, in Logan (A college town ~ Utah State) and sometimes on Sunday we'd drive over to Idaho to get beer. All these people would be walking by our house gives us "the evil eye", because we'd be out on the porch, BBQing, drinking, smoking and playing loud music. So the year I was there, Halloween fell on a Sunday. So my brother informed me that the kids would trick o treat on Saturday. Oookkkaaayyy :dizzy: , so I went out bought candy, had the house decorated and not one single kid came to our house!! I just thought, good think I didn't buy candy that I ACTUALLY liked! :lol: I also worked w/ some mormons, I find out alot of interesting stuff. I once asked one of the guys if Mormons got married young so that they can "get busy", I mean you can only pet for so long. I swear, he just 'bout fell right out of his chair. He says, I'd like to think not and got all snotty! Me and one of my other co-workers (not a mormon, obviously) just about peed ourselves. I know....I'm evil :devil:

Tiffany::drill: Front and center young lady....now hear this: We do not care if you are eating your face off at this moment...we love you and we miss your wit and your warmth...just write and act as if you have the weight issues under control and you will...of course if you are just busy today then ignore me, everybody else does :lol:

Dyan: I hear you on the issues about wanting your kids to have a "home". Having grown up desparately poor, all I want is a home somewhere, far away from everyone. Actually I spent the first 10 years of my life in a three room house (there were 5 of us in one bedroom) if you can believe that...we rented it though, right next to a gas station...charming...no??

I do not want anyone above, below, to the left or to the right. I want to become a foster mother in my old age and bake cookies (for the kids of course), and make homemade jams, and of course since I am Italian, plant tomato plants and can them to make "gravy". We do not call it spaghetti sauce, forgettaboutit, it's macaroni with gravy...and I want a dog...and I want a room with my exercise equipment...and a snowblower...cause I think we're goin' to Vermont...of well I can dream can't I.

Tiger: About the pissin' cat...I think you can probably find out from the internet somewhere how to deal with that...I have heard it has something to do with the cat's feeling disoriented...and it also happens when you introduce a new animal into the house. Also the cat could be sick. I have had cat's for years but they only did that when they were very sick. But the cat could just be...oh forgive me...pissed off :lol:

Jello: Alot of calories are burned shoveling snow...alot..I shoveled for 4 hours today. We got about 8-9 inches here in Jersey, and I think I definitely qualify for that exercise point today. ;)

Semo: Glad you are out of the hole...I knew you would be fine..we all have our time in the barrel of despair and desparation, but we are women, and we are strong. We always do the right thing eventually.

Cafe: How far north are you? You always talk about the cold north.

Huntress: Where are you today...shoveling the rest of the snow?

Gotta go...DN is wailing about something..did you ever see a 5'10" baby with a beard and a mustache...not pretty :nono:

Tiffany! Hurry back!! I live entirely too close to Nursie to have her spitting! I could lose an eye or somethin'! Um ...
:o ... you're not really eating your face off are ya? Gross! :lol:

Yeah Nurse, we got about the same amount of snow that you guys did. About 9 inches. Anything more than ZERO inches is too much! :mad: But you had a good point about exercise points shoveling the :censored: stuff.

Tiger, I'm going to ignore Nurse's really bad pun (pissed off cat ... honestly Nurse! :rolleyes: ) and I'm going to agree with her. There might be something medically wrong with him. Maybe ask Dr. Vet?

Well, girls, we made it home in one piece yesterday and then Rich pried my fingers out of his dashboard and we went to work shovelling. Of course the snow was still falling so once you finish, well, you just start all over again. Good cardio workout!! :strong: Then we decided to trek the mile down to the VFW where they had a fire in the fireplace. Ahhh! Then back out for the walk home after the darned temperatures had dropped half a dozen degrees. Yikes! But climbing over the snow banks and trucking through almost a foot of snow must have burned off some calories, right?

I'm tryin' desperately to look at the bright side of this snow thing here. Work with me! :^:

Sun's out today but the cold won't allow for much melting. Bummer. I'm ready for spring time, how about you guys?

TGIF! Hope you all have a good one!

LOL @ Dyan. Let's be honest, people who choose to remain celibate until marriage DO get married younger. It is what it is.

Yikes - ice, snow... Saw it all on the news this a.m. Hope you are all staying warm and have your power on.

Happy Friday to all!

Just checking in before going out to shovel snow, also. Off today for a vacation day and got some of that lovely snow and ice as a present too for the past few days.

Haven't been on the post for the 3 point challenge yet. Bad weather changed my lunch time weight lifting schedule this week and all I can count is snow shoveling for exercise.

Weighed in Tuesday and was down 1 1/2 #! That was good considering that I was not always OP all of those days. Going to shovel snow and walk on Treadmill this weekend and see if I can drop a few more by next Tuesday. I went up 3/4# during TOM two Tuesdays ago but that's better than the usual 3-5 I gain at that time each month....

Huntress---still reading the Atkins diet? I have tried to incorporate some of his info (lower carbs) and some of the principles of Michael Thurmond's diet (lower carbs, low fat meats, veggies and fruits) into my planning. I still eat the same breakfast I ate on the Michael Thurmond's diet---2 egg whites scrambled with minced onions, mushrooms, (occas. green peppers and you can chop these, and the onions up days ahead and put them in sandwich bags in the refrig), 1 svg. fat free shredded hash browns, and for flavoring I add 1 thin slice of ham, chopped, or 1 tbs. imitation bacon bits. It makes a nice omelet for breakfast that is, at the most, 4 points and takes me thru to a midmorning snack at 9 or 10 am ( I eat early at 5-6am). I'm a person who likes bacon, eggs, and toast for breakfast so it gives me my kind of breakfast. Now....if I could get supper under control.....

Hi to Cafe, SEMO, Tiger, DNW, Tiff, Jello, and Dyan. Hope you all have a nice weekend and can keep warm.

Gotta go...gonna try to get back in the next few days. A few rare weekend plans.

"Bright"


P.S. Total # lost now since 102902= 6 pounds (about a # a week, I guess) Moving slow.....and got lots more to go.

Ooo! More posts to read.

Bright, the Omlette sounds yum! I'm copying right now. :)

DNW, I guess I shouldn't complain so much - things could be worse, I could be in Canada! >:) (No offense to any friends across the border) But it's a far cry from sunny So CA. I loved it when I lived there.

Jello, your trek through the winter wonderland sounds great!

Tiger, I bet the cat's not the only one who's pissed off! :D I have heard that isolation and gradual reintroduction can help cats who forget their boundaries, too. But I'm kind of a hard-nose about cat pee... I like having them around, but ruin my house? :no:

Good Morning Ladies...........TGIF :dance:

The sun was out yesterday and melted all the bad stuff off the roads but everything else is covered in ice. I must say that it looks so pretty today, like a winter wonder land. Everything is covered either in snow or ice and just twinkles when the sunlight hits it.

Daymn, I was just courious as to why you would just pick Utah. :dizzy: I always wonder, when people make a move without it being job related, why they pick a certain area to live. I grew up on a farm, yes with real animals, and then DH and I moved to St Louis for six year and we both hated it. Don't think it would bother me now to live in a city and would enjoy having so many different things to do. Guess there's always pros and cons to every location.

Cats............Ugh, we have one from H@ll.........I'm not a fan of cats, but my youngest son has loved them from the day he was born...... this is his cat and of course he couldn't take it to college so......... poor thing, she thinks her name is Damn Cat! :lol:

I'll be out of the office on Monday, I have a meeting in Memphis. Well we like to call it a meeting but it's really a Christmas luncheon for all the secretaries.

Gotta run, boss is gone today and I have some invoices to do.

You guys be careful and don't over do it shoveling that white fluffy stuff.

TGIF! I am so ready for a "no alarm" Saturday morning!

About the cat...I talked to the vet a while back. They loaned me a great cat book called Twisted Whiskers. Lots of good info. Unfortunately, I think we have kitty issues that can't be cured. Neighbors have wild barn cats that like to stroll through our yard. I think the cat, even though he is fixed, feels the need to mark his territory. And, once he pees on something...it's trash. Can't get rid of the smell...I may not be able to smell it, but he always will...and he'll go on it again. Five rugs in the trash and counting. The last straw...he went on youngest sons bed. Can't have it. So, that's about the cat.
On the topic of pets, DH thinks the iguana broke his leg. I'm clueless. Wish he could leave too...the iguana, not DH. :lol:

Can ya believe youngest DS wants me to get off the internet so he can receive a phone call. He's 6!

I'll be back.
:s:

SEMO - Damn cat, LOL! I think my cat is bored. He does things when we're (finally, to him) home to get our attention. The latest trick he picked up is jumping on top of the TV and batting the antenna out of focus if I'm watching it!

~drinking my diet coke, needed something on a Friday

Hey all!

Weekend plans changed..Christmas shopping, instead!:smug:
Lots of walking today!

Cafe and Tiger and SEMO--we once had a cat but the pee thing is a little more than I can handle, along with the clawing of my furniture---my sister in the country adopted her.

Just dropped by...gotta go do laundry and vaccum before the shopping trip.

Have a warm one!

"Bright"

Having a hard time since Thanksgiving eating the right stuff. Also Deadnurse and I are going to Lake Placid for 4-5 days starting this Thursday for a small vacation. That means all my meals will be eaten out...oh joy! Will have to go on breakfast, small snack for lunch, and reasonable dinner or I am so screwed. Brighter congratulations on the loss...slow is better.

Hi to everyone else!

Hi All,

Sorry I have been MIA the last few days. My daughter has been on the computer early in the AM when I usually log on. Feels like I've been gone forever.

Gave up on the Atkins diet, too hard but my best friend is doing it and has already lost 10+ pounds. I heard that it works real good but when you go back to eating regularly you gain the weight back quickly. No more trying quick fixes or fad diets for me, never works anyway. For me personally, moderation is the key. I just eat what I like in moderation and I don't obsess about food and worry about what I can and can't eat.

DNW - Lake Placid?.........didn't they make a movie with that name about a huge reptile. Have a good trip but don't go near the water...:lol: Just kidding, but really have a wonderful time!

OK, what's up with Tiffany now! Get your butt back here, don't do this to us again!

It's Monday morning again which means I gotta get going........

LJ

What do ya say we all boycott this thread until Tiffany comes back??? :s: Nah, that wouldn't work I guess. But maybe she'll feel real guilty that I was even thinking of it and come back? Seriously, we miss you Tiff! You were one of the biggest reasons I joined this thread in the first place dammit! Now get back here!! ... please? :^:

Weekend wasn't great. I made the bad decision to go to the mall on Saturday afternoon. Yikes! Me and half the population of planet Earth!! :hyper: I picked up one or two things and got the :censored: outta there! Spent the rest of the weekend tearing down walls and basically demolishing the dining room. Ah, just love this home improvement stuff. :rolleyes:

Nurse, I've always wanted to go up to Lake Placid. (I always think of winter olympic games when I hear about that place.) But maybe I'll go in the summer time, loving the snow and cold as I do. Not!

Huntress, I don't think Atkins would work for me either. Although, like you, I do know someone who's on it and it seems to work for her. Whatever.

Speaking of that, I met a woman yesterday who'd lost ... get this ... 160 pounds in 11 months!! She was doing a combination of Weight Watchers and going to the gym. Wow! Meanwhile another WW member and I sat there grumbling. How!? How!? How!? But we're not jealous or anything. :p

Have to run now. I'm going to the gym tonight. First time in over a week. I really don't want to go. Lost my ambition for it. It must be because it's cold and gets dark so early, etc. I just want to go home after work and stay there. But I'll do it, I guess.

Talk to you all later!

My body is going into shock. I ate an orange with a bottle of water first thing this morning...instead of the cheese danish and coffee I had all last week.:o AND, I did 15 minutes of yoga. There's a program on the Oxygen channel called "Inhale". It's an hour long. I couldn't do it for an hour.:^: But, I'll try again tomorrow. Maybe something different is just what I needed.
Weigh-in was not good. 191. UP! But, I deserve it. I've been a baaaad, bad girl.

Jello, I went to the mall too. What were we thinking? It was horrid. Luckily I was alone. DH was home with the kids. I'm doing terrible getting my Christmas shopping done. The clock is ticking!

Groceries today, and another basketball game this evening. Somewhere in between, the day just vanishes. :wizard:

Good Morning Ladies!

I am trying so hard to get back on the wagon. After reading what Jello wrote about some one losing over 100 pounds in 11 month, I have resolved to get back up no matter what! I had been pretty good. Had lost almost 50 pounds in about 5 months. So I have decided that I need to join the 3 point Dec challenge and be accountable. Look for me starting tomorrow.

SEMO in response to your question. We picked Utah, because my brother lives there and I have a few friends there. We want a change, however don't really know anyone in other states close to California. I have family in MN, IA, WI, TX & MS, but Utah is close enough for my mom and sisters to get to. No other reason than that really.

Have good day ladies.

Tiger: Me too with the badness...and I said it awhile back this is absolutely the worst time of the year for me. But I am back on track this morning because of the 4-5 day trip starting this Thursday and I really have to be good when we are away. I just cannot gain back :nono:any of the 13 lbs. it took 3 months to lose...I will stick my head in the oven and turn it on Broil!!

Jello: When and if you decide to go to Lake Placid, think of staying at the Golden Arrow Hotel which is a Best Western, especially built for the games when they were there several years back. They have these fabulous rooms on the 5th floor that are actually suites and there are fireplaces and little balconies over looking Mirror Lake which is a small lake. DN and I stay there when we go to Lake Placid. Golden Arrow has an indoor pool, suana, steam room, and jacuzzi, and a small fitness room. They also have a restaurant on the premises and you can get a deal that includes breakfast and dinner with the room price. The room prices are very reasonable for a New York State ski area. They have a web site if you want to check it out, but it really doesn't do it justice.

Huntress: Sounds like picking an eating plan that doesn't make you obsess is the best plan for you. I just watch my calorie intake, cause I can't be bothered with eliminating this and adding that. Good Luck!

Semo: Hope you had a great day in Memphis..is that like in Memphis, Tenn. or is there a Memphis in Missouri?

Brighter: Hope your shopping day wasn't overly stressful...I hate shopping this time of the year.

Cafe, Dyan, and the long lost Tiffany: Much love and I hope all is well!

Life is very busy as usual. We got our Christmas tree on Sunday. We decided to only put lights on, for now. Want to see how Kaleigha and Lucas act around it. So far they really aren't bothering it, just fascinated when we put the lights on, but other than that, they've pretty much steer clear. Saturday I wrapped all our presents. I only have a few more for friends to do. Tree ~ done, (will decorate tonight after I put the kids down, so they will be surprised in the morning). Gifts ~ done. All bought and paid for. Wrapping ~ done, just a few stragglers. Christmas Cards ~ done. All stamped, addressed and mailed. House ~ a mess!! Have to find time to clean that bad boy up!!

Got a call from my mother, informing me that my sister "needs a day off" :mad: . Yeah, whatever. Sounds like my mom and sister got into it and my mom told her that she worked 6 days last week and had the kids yesterday ( Hey, she asked and it was only for a few hours :mad: ). Again whatever. I just talked to my other sister and she's gonna come by and watch Lucas and Kaleigha while I go get Cheye. I can't fit all their car seats in my car so I can't take them with me. Can I just tell you how much I HATE depending on other people?

Last week my friend said she would come over inthe morning so that DH could go to storage. Well, called her and she didn't answer. Eventually he got her and she had over slept. My sister had told her that she would meet her at my house so that she could get the house key. Well, she wasn't at my house. When my sister got home, Julie was on the computer!! DH was sitting at home waiting for her and she was on the :censored: computer. She told DH that she had fallen back to sleep. That;s okay though. I didn't say anything at the time, but trust me, when the time is right, I'll say what I need to say. My sister asked me today if I had asked Julie to help out, I told her no, you see how dependable she is. I strongly believe that what comes around goes around. nough said.

Flying by for a late check-in...

I'm shocked at myself! Until I came here and thought about the 3 point challenge I didn't really realize that I hadn't been on a diet this weekend. :?: For the first time in a long time, I didn't think about it AT ALL. Yikes! This is NOT OK.

On an up note, I did put my new pages for 2003 into my planner today, and I looked back over the last year sort of thinking about everything... And thinking about next year and what I want to be the same / what I want to change. I've done a lot this year. Before looking back, I had a humdrum is-it-all-a-waste? feeling that I usually get in February. Now I realize that I accomplished quite a lot this year, even though I don't by any means feel like I've DONE what I wanted to DO -or- AM everything I want to BE... I did a lot of things, and I think I'll make a list of them.

I can definitely see the weak spots in the fabric (of my life) that I'm weaving... but I'm going to move forward with a broader perspective and hopefully a greater strength of purpose.

Oh yeah, and I want to lose weight! :lol:

Drinking my water like a true believer~Cafe

Hey Chickies!
Where is our fearless leader TIFFANY?! We miss ya girlie.

Still no Christmas tree at my house. I did move around the furniture yesterday to make room for it. That was no easy task with the DH big honk'n tv, the sectional and the sofa that is suppose to go downstairs. Just a wee bit cramped, but it'll do for now. I did get the stocking hung big the fire with care. :)

I'm haven't myself a nice cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee...resisted the urge to buy a donut. :strong:

Off to make beds to the joyful sound of a crying cat locked in the laundry room. Maybe I'll put on a Christmas tune...nice and loud. :p

Good Morning Girlies! Had a great time in Memphis, TN. In December all the secretaries from our division get together and have lunch and do an ornament exchange. We usually meet in Memphis because it's a central location for most of us. Some come from Little Rock, AR and I am the most northern location.

Put my tree up Sunday night, now the rest of the house looks like a train wreck. Did some crafting, made some pins and necklaces for DH office ladies. Spent Saturday afternoon with my friend that had the surgery and took off early one other day last week to stay with her. She is unable to stay by herself but at least she is home now. It was good to spend some time with her altho she did sleep quite a bit and is feeling very low. Girls we don't know how lucky we are to have good health.

Still hanging on by a thread of eating better. (doing better but not great) Getting exercise in and trying on the water. Good grief, you wouldn't think that drinking water would be that hard would you? Well, I best get to work. See ya later.

Morning Ladies,

It's good to start feeling like my old self again! Got up 4:30 this morning and walked 2 miles! I'm back and w/ a vengence :s: . TOM started yesterday, but that was to be expected. I actually stood on the scale this morning and it said 267, YIPPEE!! Only 3 pounds up from when I fell off the wagon. Today isn't official weigh in day, but it will give me a starting point. Saturday is the official day, and I feel confident that I can lose something by then.

Got the tree decorated last night, and that feels good. Still have about a bazillion other non-Christmas related things to do. Number one being findind a new job and number two would be getting invitations and what not for my daughter's 4th birthday. Even though her birthday isn't until January, I need to get invites out to her school friends as her last day there will be next Friday. I filled out the form yesterday, and was near tears. She's been going there since she was 2 1/2 and it's good for her. She's learned alot and has made many friends. But, with me being out of work, we won't be able to afford it. I did however sign up for a ballet/tap combo class that begins in January, so hopfully she'll make some new friends. Last night I put on my all time favorite Christmas movie "A White Christmas" and my kids loved the dance numbers. I didn't actually get to watch the movie as I kept fast forwarding to the dance stuff. My kids were dancing around, trying to dance like the people on the screen. It's was quite amusing. Just imagine a 3 1/2 year old and a 1 1/2 year old trying to do all those moves! They kept bumping into each other and what not. Good times, I tell ya :D . I also must admit that I did pretty good on my own last night and my just tell my sister, that I don't need her help. Okay, I may be a little hasty, because now that I think about it, I had a heck of a time trying to use the restroom. The kids were at the door pounding away!

Well, I better start doing some work (only 9 working days left ~ WOO-HOO) . Have a good one and I'll try to check in later.

Hi all from the land of Scrooge and the Grinch. I simply cannot get into the Christmas spirit here. :( Don't know why. Sigh. We don't have our tree up and, since we won't be home for Christmas, I'm thinking of not putting it up. No lights on the house yet. I have to FIND them first! Looking so forward to the big ice storm that's supposed to swing through tonight and tomorrow. Bah humbug!!

Semo, my house looks like a train wreck even without having put up the tree! :o Maybe that's why I'm just not into the decorating thing this year. The house has been such a mess since all this renovation started ... and will seemingly never end!

Dyan, 2 miles at 4:30 in the morning!? :bravo: I was still deep in la-la land at 4:30 this morning. And at 5. And at 5:30. And... well, I was up and on the treadmill by 6. That's gotta count for something.

Nurse, I went to the website for that hotel. Sounds so nice! Maybe someday...

Cafe, I liked your looking for "weak spots in the fabric of your life" thing. That was such a neat way of looking at it, you know what I mean. It created a mental image. Something to think about.

Well, girls I have weigh-in tonight and am hoping for the best. I've been doing OK but I've just got to find a way to be more "gung-ho" about it. Confession: :^: I was on my way to the gym last night and just couldn't do it. I just soooo didn't want to go. So I turned around and went home. The good news is that I got a case of the guilties :nono: and got on my treadmill for half an hour and then did (tried to do!) my Pilates tape and then did some work with my exercise ball. Got in a good workout even without the gym. ... and didn't have to put on gym clothes that had been sitting in a freezing cold car for days. Yikes! :dance:

Have to go now. I'm going to send some brain waves (a tough job for me!) out to Tiffany so she'll get her little butt back in here!! Let's all do the same. Ready ... set ... go........

Morning, ladies! Sounds like you're all busy as beavers...

I don't have much to report on, myself. Seems like I've hardly been home lately and when I am I've slept like the dead. But I'm doing fine.

:)

Cafe, Glad to see your around and doing good !

Leaving soon for WW weigh-in. :stress: Think of me fondly. Then it's off to drop off my little car for an oil change and MAYBE a walk home from the mechanic??? Could happen....

Hi all,

Thought I was doing well but WW weigh-in was not good....up 1 1/2 #. Now where did that come from? Could it be the Christmas Dinner I went to last night? I really tried to be good..no second helpings....no chocolate cake. Maybe it was the fact that the cook told me today just how she made each dish...more calories/ points than I thought! Only exercised one-two times last week and having trouble with snacks at night, again!

Plan B: Need that 30 min exercise each day. I've got to face it..I can't do this without daily exercise. I've been piddling around long enough just putting off the idea that I'm getting older and the 'ole metabolism "just ain't what it used to be". Just got off the treadmill tonight--put in 30 min. Looks like I need to up the exercise to every day to do this weight loss thing...

Dyan---you are a whirlwind, girl! I don't even have Christmas cards made out yet! Please send some of that Christmas spirit across the miles. I need to get up at 5:00am and get on my treadmill, too---you are giving me inspiration.

SEMO---sounds like you had a nice trip to Memphis. Hang in there on the eating....there sure are alot of temptations out there.

DNW---I'm starting to be envious....everybody gets to go somewhere fabulous! Lake Placid sounds wonderful! Hope you had a great time.

Cafe---I need a little more reflection, too, maybe it will help me figure out my weak threads also.

Tiger---way to go on resisting those donuts. That's a tough thing to do especially with a warm cup of coffee at this time of year. Pat yourself on the back, girl. Small victories...

Huntress---how's the weather down there? Are you getting some of this ice/snow or all rain? Either way, I'm sure you look fabulous driving that new car. Know how you feel with your computer taken...first time in awhile I could post in the evening. I was one of those people who tried Atkins, lost weight, then gained it back with a vengence when I tried to eat normal again. There is something very foreign about eating all meats and veggies and not getting any breads/dairy for awhile....

Gotta go. Try to post again soon.

"Bright"

Good Morning........

Jello - Is there room on this thread for 2 Grinches? I can't get into the spirit at all this year, haven't gotten even 1 present bought and I can see myself running around like a mad woman at the last minute trying to do it all.

Dyan - Send us some of that Christmas cheer, maybe you should share some of your little ones cause when mine were small I always looked forward to being Santa Clause.

Brighterdays - Sorry about your gain, it may only be temporary water weight or something so don't fret about it. Bet it will be gone plus some by next week. We haven't had any snow/ice just rain about every 3rd day so that pretty little car is filthy. I too have realized that it's gonna take exercise to get the rest of this weight off. You are right about the metabolism thing. I need to get my daughter to bring the treadmill back so that I can at least be doing that until I get to join the gym.

SEMO - You are so right about being thankful for our good health, I have an Aunt in the hospital right now, she had surgery to remove her female parts and they found more cancer then she developed a blood clot and pnuemonia after the surgery. This poor woman has already had breast cancer, had her colon removed, brain surgery for a tumor and I can't even remember how many other things. She is only 54 and has spent the last 10-15 years of her life in and out of the hospital. I am thankful every day that I am healthy right now and this is one of the reasons why I think is so important for all of us to get to a healthy weight and hopefully avoid some of the disease caused by being obese.

HI Cafe, Tigerlily, DNW!

Think I messed my keyboard up, spilled some coffee on it yesterday morning and it keeps skipping letters. Either that or I just can't type anymore since I cut those long fingernails off.
Have a great day all.........

LJ

:spin: :flow1: :spin: :flow1:

Oh, I'd better stop with the smilies or this won't post! But OK, how about this....

LAST NIGHT AT WEIGH-IN .... DOWN 3 POUNDS!!!!!

One more ... :bravo: I did a little dance, I laughed, I cried. I'm feeling so much better about life in general.

So, left WW after the meeting, dropped off my car, got a ride to the VFW (tooooo cold to walk 2 miles) and then drank beer and ate pizza and ice cream. Oops. Talk about undoing a good thing. But I've stopped now and am back on track! Just gotta stay on track through the holidays.

And speaking of the holidays, sure Huntress, there's room for one more grinch. Welcome to my world. I have to admit I've got most of my shopping done but still have a few important people to buy for (Rich, mom, etc.). I did brave Toys R Us for my 4-year old nephew. Yikes!! What a madhouse! Again I say, bah humbug.

Actually, many years ago, Rich was engaged to a woman who broke up with him right before Christmas. For years after that, he hated Christmas and the holidays. Everyone always called him The Grinch. Even his family would send him Grinch cards and buy him Grinch presents. Lately, it's been my job to change his mind about the holidays.

But boy is it tough sometimes!!!!!! :mad:

Bright, I read or heard somewhere that regular exercise can make you lose 1/3 more weight than dieting alone. Creating more lean body mass and muscle can help your body burn calories faster and more efficiently and all kinds of other good news. ;) But I agree with you about working up the ambition to actually do it!

Well, it's sleeting outside and the temperature's going to have to struggle to get up to freezing today. It's gray and cold and just generally miserable out there. Sigh. This is certainly not helping me get into the Christmas spirit!

But losing 3 pounds is!!!! :cool:

Yippee, yippee, skippee for Jello!!! :cb: :cb: :bravo: :cb: :cb: You go GGRRRLLL!! WAY TO GO!! I'm in awe!

Oh did I mention, I got my Christmas cards mailed out on Monday? Had then ready to go last week, but just couldn't make it the post office...... Hehe, don't hate me :^: ! I'm a doofus, I know..... I'm sure it has a lot to do with the way I was raised. I try to be very prompt when it comes to sending out thank you cards etc.... After every baby shower, after bridal shower etc.... Part of the reason I do it right away (say the next day) is because I will end up putting it off and will never get done, and 2 I need to while things are still fresh in the ole brainer.

Huntress: I'm more than willing to share my little ones. Which one would you like? :smug: The 3 year old girl, the 21 month old boy, or the 9 month girl? Pick a kid, any kid..... Nah, j/k, I do look forward to seeing there reactions. However my son is still too young. Once he opens one gift, hejust wants to play with that one thing and not open anything else. And this is Kaleigha's first Christmas.

Jello & you other hum-buggers here ya go......:wizard: Magicial Christimas spirit coming your way....

gotta go to a meeting....BAH-HUMBUG :mad:

Got this in an email, thought you all may enjoy it .

Subject: Sayings on T-Shirts

1) My husband and I divorced over religious differences; he thought he
was God. and I didn't.
2) I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.
3) I Work Hard Because Millions On Welfare Depend on Me!
4) Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them.
5) I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.
6) Don't take life too seriously; you won't get out alive.
7) You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.
8) Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
9) Earth.... is the insane asylum for the universe.
10) I'm not a complete idiot; some parts are missing.
12) Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.
13) I don't have to be dead to donate my organ.
14) I want to die in my sleep, like my grandfather, not screaming and
yelling like the passengers in his car.
15) God must love stupid people; He made so many of them.
16) The gene pool could use a little chlorine.
17) It IS as BAD as you think and they ARE out to get you.
18) I took an IQ test and the results were negative.
19) Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.
20) Ever stop to think and forget to start again?
21) Beer ~ The Reason I Get Up Each Afternoon!
22) I Must Be a Proctologist Because I Work With A-- ----s!
23) "That's It! I'm Calling Nana!" (seen on a four year old)
24) "Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew Up"
25) "Procrastinate..... Now"
26) "Rehab..... Is for Quitters"
27) "My Dog.... Can Lick Anyone"
28) "I Have a Degree in Liberal Arts - Do You Want Fries With That?"
29) "Party - My Crib - Two A.M." (On a baby-size shirt)
30) "Finally 21,and Legally Able to do Everything I've been doing since
I was 15"
31) "Arkansas: One Million People and 15 last names"
32) "FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION. It comes bundled with the software."
33) "I'M OUT OF ESTROGEN AND I'VE GOT A GUN"
34) "A hangover is the wrath of grapes"
35) "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance"
36) "STUPIDITY IS NOT A HANDICAP. Park elsewhere!"
37) "DISCOURAGE INBREEDING - Ban Country Music"
38) "They call it PMS because Mad Cow Disease was already taken"
39) "He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless dead"
40) "Time is fun when you're having flies"...Kermit the Frog
41) "POLICE STATION TOILET STOLEN .... Cops have nothing to go on."
42) "FOR SALE - Iraqi rifle. Never fired. Dropped once."
43) "HECK IS WHERE PEOPLE GO WHO DON'T BELIEVE IN GOSH"
44) "HAM AND EGGS - A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment
for a pig."
45) "WELCOME TO KENTUCKY - Set your watch back 20 years."
46) "The trouble with life is there's no background music."
47) "The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson."
48) "MOP AND GLOW - The Floor Wax used by Three Mile Island cleanup
team."
49) "NyQuil - The stuffy, sneezy, why-the-heck-is-the-room
spinning-medicine."

Whew Daymn, you were getting kinda close with the Arkansas and Kentucky.......... But we all know that Missiourians are extraordinary....Right Brighterdays!

Well I hate to admit it but I'm in the Grinch Group too. When I was 13 I lost my Dad on Christmas Eve and I still just can't get excited about the holidays. I haven't sent any cards out, but I blame that on having lost my mailing list when my old computer crashed. Just the thought of finding all the addresses does not seem like much fun, so I've kept putting it off. And of course, I feel guilty every single time I get one in the mail...........ugh.


Okay, nuff said.......time to be merry and :flow1:
Oh This Little :flame: of mine, this little :flame: of mine. I'm try'n:D

You betcha, SEMO! Sorry about your Dad. I remember when my Grandfather died close to Christmas....our presents came in a big box instead of at a celebration at my grandparent's house...I will never forget that....he was my favorite grandpa.

Dyan---always making me laugh! I can relate to alot of that....which is scary, come to think of it!

Huntress---Christmas is NOT the same when they are big...I get lists of what to get or it's just money they want. What do I get to use my newest style wrapping paper on? No fun at all! Found a good paperback to read while I'm treadmilling....makes the time pass quicker (since I don't have a TV close to mine) and I don't get so bored. I have to have music on though, also, to keep the rhythm so I'm walking to the music and trying to hold on to my book!

Way to go, Jello! I am bound and determined to catch up with you! Treadmill every night this week and already hit the wts. at lunch today.

Hey to DNW, Cafe, Tiff, Kayla, Tiger. I finally get to get on here thru the week and you all disappear! Hope you are finishing that Christmas shopping (unlike myself) and doing well.

Good day today on all 3 points---I'll take it!

:flow1: " Bright"

He's gone. Jasper the cat left last night. It was so much harder than I thought it would be. Cat was freak'n out, youngest son cried loudly, oldest son held it together but was upset. I couldn't sleep for crap and can't get it out of my mind. Wonder how long I'm gonna feel this way. Don't have much of an appetite anyway....harness the positive.

Dyan, cute tshirt sayings. pms/madcow :lol:

Got a little bit of the Grinch in me too. It started with all the financial stuff...knee surgery, broken thumb, ear infections, glasses...booville! Now the cat. ugh. But with the kids, I've gotta try to pull it together. Tree still sit'n here with no decorations. Will get the lights on today so kids can do decorations this evening....if there is time after the band concert.

Jello :high: way to go on the loss!

Mornin all!

How's life with you ladies? I'm doin okay, and that's good. As yo all know the past few months have been very stressful for me, w/ the job, surgery and just plain day to day life. But I am strong, and will make it through whatever is thrown my way.

I so have not been OP as I had hoped to be. But again, I was up at 4:30am and have gotten in all my water. Now let's see how the eating plays out. I have been eating like a mad woman late at night, and we all know that I'm NOT hungry, I'm just....don't know.....bored, stressed, anxious, lonely, the list goes on. But I have got to get through this without gaining anymore weight! I want the second digit to start w/ a 5, and will try my best to get there before the new year. As of this morning that would be a loss of 8 pounds. I weigh in Saturday and it's TOM, but there is still some kind of hope, if I can just get my arse in gear!

I want to say :bravo: to all the losers and maintainers! ANd for the rest of us, we can do this. We've come this far, and one pound lost, is still one pound lost.

Have a great day.

OK I am going away today on vacation and will not write until late in the day on Tuesday, 12/17/02. Hope everyone does well. I was thinking last night that this time last year I would be so deep into the cookies and all the other crap that is so available this time of the year. But I am only a little into the crap and I am exercising. For those of us who think we are not doing as well as we could…think about where you were this time last year and you will see the improvement. It’s not important to do it perfect it’s important to try and do it, and we are trying. Let’s be proud we have the self-confidence to try at all! I will miss you all…and if I can get on a computer on the hotel I will post!!

Dyan: I think you are just catching up with the food because of how sick you were before you got the GB out. It will slow down, my sister did the same thing, and she is back on program now, it took her a while though. Then again you are going through a tremendous amount of stress right now…give yourself a break, you’re human…..

Tiger: Know just how you feel about having to get rid of the cat...put two to sleep in the past five years because of severe illness, and it hurts and the guilt is enormous...so even if you just left the door open and the cat wandered out...the guilt is still there. The kids will get over it, get ‘em turtles or something that doesn’t pee all over. Hope you get your tree trimmed.

Semo: Xmas also sucks for me since my mother died 7 years ago...she died in mid November...but the pall for me hits nearer to Xmas cause she really loved it. One Xmas my niece and nephew trimmed the tree for her under her meticulous direction for 5 hours, and when they were done, she took it down and re-trimmed it herself. What a woman!! But we laugh about that now and also miss that time.

Huntress: I also have not finished and I really promised myself I would not do this again...nobody has to BS me, I do such a great job of it to myself!!

Tiffany: Please come back...repeat this to yourself until you get it...the women on the thread love me and do not care if I am eating my face off or whatever else I'm doing...they just want to talk to me...now come on...you are starting to worry us and it's not fair!! :nono:

Brighter: You are doing fine, and consider the fact that at least you are making the attempt.

Jello: You go girl…you lost the 3 lbs. I gained back so now you know where they went….but again, congratulations on the hard work!

Ok here is a muffin recipe that I have been playing around with that I originally got from the BFL recipe site, and you girls know how much they love me there!! This has 210 calories per muffin, and the size of the muffin is pretty decent. Each muffin has 8 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber, and 40 grams of carbs. And get this…the best part only 1.75 grams of fat, of which .33 is saturated, which is less than 1/3 of a gram of saturated fat….I love them and hope you will too!. It’s like eating cake, but with practically no flour in them and they are very moist.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2 cups of whole oatmeal (not instant)
½ cup of flour
8 oz. of egg whites. (Use the prepackaged stuff)
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of baking soda
2 tablespoons of almond extract, or an extract of your choice
1 cup of Splenda
1 ½ cups of fresh cranberries
2 cups of chopped fresh “Delicious” apples
12 oz. can of fresh pumpkin


Mix all the dry ingredients together in one bowl. Mix all the wet ingredients together. Then mix both dry and wet together. The batter should hold together well and be the consistency of cookie dough, it should not be thin and creamy like cake batter. If you need more of something to hold it together add more oatmeal. It should stick on the spoon an not fall off.

Spray good sized muffin cups with PAM and bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. I freeze them as soon as they are cool, because there are no preservatives, to my knowledge. They will rise a bit while baking but not a heck of a lot.

Let me know how you like them!

Happy Birthday to Me..Happy Birthday to Me...

Wished I was happy about it, Yipes, guess the alternative wouldn't be so great tho. :smug:

Would have taken today off but my boss and another salesman from here are in Cancun with their wifes. Oh yeah secretaries, you do a great job, work harder next year (pat on the back).......do I sound bitter, not to mention the big bonus they get and I don't, who do they think takes care of everything for them? Okay I'm through whinning. I can only hope to get one of their big raises........ quarter an hour. Dang, I really am done this time.

On to happier thoughts, youngest son is graduating from college this Saturday. Thank God. DH told him that he and I would be standing up, doing the wave when they call his name. This last one was a lot harder to get through than the first. Now if only he can find a good job.

Well, since I don't have anything really GOOD to discuss I'll come back when I'm in a Christmas-merrier mood.

(((hugs)))

:hb: :gift: :hat:

SEMO:

Happy Birthday to ya...Happy birthday to ya....happy birthday....:hb: :gift: :hat:

Happy Birthday SEMO! Happy Birthday to you!

Hi all, just stopped in to say "HI". I'm very tired today, got up at 1:30 am this morning and I have to get my son at the airport tonight. Since I probably won't be here for a few days due to exhaustion hope you all have a nice weekend.

LJ

I am trying again for the umpteenth time this year to drop 100 pounds. I've given up on any kind of strict diet at all. I know whatever I do I will have to be able to eat some of the foods I love and drink an occasional Pepsi. I'm hoping if I just make healthier choices & limit myself to 1 pepsi a day I can do it.
I'm back on my phentermine. I got them a couple of years ago but just took them off and on. The Dr's don't like prescribing them for some reason and I seem to have gotten this silly mentality that I have to "save" them. Therefore I was taking them very sporadically so they never had a chance to work. I do know I develop a tolerance to them quickly so I'm going to make the best of it while I can. For me they work wonderfully and give me the extra will power I need right now. Is anybody else here taking diet drugs? I hope that is not a no-no in this thread!
I am turning 40 in Jan. I am divorced w/2 kids. I've never been one to be hung up on age but I can feel the gloom coming over me with this one approaching.

Hi Jujubee and Welcome!

Firstly, let me say that while I am not opposed to anyone taking meds to help them lose weight.....be careful. If you have drugs that are outdated they may not be safe to use. Our thread is exactly what it means, we are all doing our "own" thing. I approached losing weight similar to what you are considering, simply cutting back but still eating things that I like and that are part of my normal eating patterns. While I have slipped along the way and am currently at a standstill I have still managed to lose 35 pounds and keep it off. You can do it just remember that you didn't gain that extra weight over night and you're not going to lose it that quickly either. You have to make this a lifestyle change and not just another "diet".

So, I just checked and already my son's plane is behind schedule. I hope they can make the time up in the air or something because I already feel like I'm gonna pass out from lack of sleep. This whiny titty baby needs her beauty rest and when she gets woken up in the middle of the night it sure ain't a pretty sight!

Anyways............where the heck is Tiffany? I cannot believe she is doing this again!

For the life of me I cannot figure out what DNW was saying to me, anyone able to share some light on that for me? LOL
Gotta go check on dinner, adios

LJ

Hi all,

Happy Birthday, SEMO! Hope you have had a good day! Cancun---oh, please! I wanna go!

Huntress---what got you up at 1 am, girl? Did I miss a post?

Jujubee---welcome! As Huntress has said, we are all doing our own thing. I'm doing WW points and have lost 6# and gained 1 1/2 lately. I'm hoping my treadmill and my wt. program will get me back in the negative. Don't know much about phentermine but I know there are lots of lawsuits out there re: phen/fen drugs so I'm guessing you are on the drug that is not on the recall list. Err on the cautious side, girl. Especially since you, I'm guessing, have two young ones to take care of.

DNW---I'm getting there....have a nice trip to the Lake.

Tiffany---"ally-ally-outs-in-free" ( Just in case the game is hide-n-seek).

Dyan---it took me awhile to get back in the swing this last time, also. It will come, all in good time.... Give yourself some more healing time---you are missing a portion of your digestive system and your body is probably trying to figure out how to process your food without that stored bile. It may take some time to feel 100%. I've always wondered how we could do without gallbladders. There must be an adjustment somewhere in our bodies.

Hey to Tiger, Kayla, Cafe, and all I've missed.

"Bright"

Things are still sad in cat world. Everytime I go in his room, aka the laundry room, my heart sinks. The room is full of cat do-dads. Guess it's time to redecorate.

I had Captain Crunch for breakfast this morning. When I was pouring it in the bowl I was thinking I should dump it back in the box...but didn't. It wasn't that good, wont eat it again. Shouldn't buy it for my kids either. spank me.

Welcome Jujubeee. I've never tried weightloss drugs either. I just try to eat smaller balanced meals and log my food. I'd like to say I exercise, but haven't been doing it lately. I'm in a rut and wish I could join the gym. Bored with the home exercise videos.

Tree's decorated! Finally. I think my kids were starting to get worried. Now, if I could just finish up the shopping...

:df:

Since I seem to need a good kick in the butt, I was thinking maybe a refresher course in everyones favorite healthy lifestyle tips would be helpful.

My two favorites...and usually easy to follow

QUIT EAT'N TWO HOURS BEFORE BEDTIME
CARRY A BOTTLE OF WATER EVERYWHERE

Help me out here, I've fallen and can't get up.:^:

She ain't heavyyyy.........she's my sister. C'mon Tigerlily, I'll give you a lift. Sorry about your kitty......
Captain Crunch - mmmm I love it but it leaves a nasty sugar film all in my mouth and teeth, GROSS. Just keep trying, that's all we can do. Gotta go now, boss is lurking.

LJ

Thank you all for the kind welcome.

Tigerlily. I meant to include a message to you in my first post. I'm so sorry about your kitty. My cat of 17 years passed away almost 2 months ago. It is still difficult for me. This is obviously my first Christmas without her and maybe another reason I am so down and not quite in the spirit. I always used to say she was my first child and she was the oldest of my pets and kids. It is difficult for so many to understand the bond some people have with their pets. I was constantly told that she "lived a long life" and was "in a better place now". All that may be true but that doesn't mean I don't miss her and still love her dearly..

On to weight loss.......The phentermine I am taking is still good. It doesn't expire until late next year. I go to see my Dr at the end of this month and I'm going to see if he will prescribe me some more. I would feel better being under a Dr's care and him knowing about it. I do have high blood pressure however it is controlled with medication so they were willing to prescribe it for me. I think I'm also taking a lower dosage. Miine is 15 mg while I see alot of them are 30 mg. I also have some Xenical but am reluctant to use it. My job is such that if I have to go to the bathroom I have to call somebody in and there may be a bit of a wait. Not only that but the bathroom is very close by and any sounds could be heard.
I bought a Total Gym last night. A friend of mine was selling it for $100.00. Only problem is she didn't have the manual so I don't know how to use it. I went to their website hoping to find instructions but all they have is a link to their "totalgymworkout" which is 20.00 per month. I'm going to check around the internet and see if I can't find something with instructions on how to use it.
This is day 4 of my healthier lifestyle. I'm still doing pretty well. I've limited myself to 1 pepsi a day and I've done a little more nibbling than I should but overall I'm doing much better.

Mornin......:wave:

Tig ~ sorry to hear about your cat, I've never had a pet, so I'm hoping that it becomes a little easier on you.

Ju ~ Welome! I'm a little slow.....but don't tell no body :sssh: . I told phen phen about 6 years ago, BEFORE all the hoopla. And like Huntress said, we are all doing our own thing. Some are doing WW others, like my self, count calories, but mostly we are all trying to do what we KNOW works. Water, Exercise and watching the food intake.

Brighter ~ Thanks! Sometimes we need to hear that it's okay if we're not 100%. I mean I know it's okay and to be expected, but sometimes, we need to hear it from others.

Cafe, Jello, Semo, Tiff ~ where are ya?

DNW ~ Your probably getting ready or are on your way to your vacation locale. Have a blast, we'll miss ya while your gone.

Hello? 'member me? OK, so it's only been 2 days but I feel like I've been gone forever. Is it possible to be addicted to you guys? :love: Yep. Think so.

Tiger, I'm sorry about kitty. It's hard but it does get better. Like jujubeee, my cat was 16 when she died a few years ago. I'd had her since she was 6 weeks. My child. I cried for weeks and weeks. Didn't know it could hurt so bad. I still get misty thinking about her but it gets easier to handle in time.

Jujubeee, welcome to the best place on the forum!!! :cool: I'm glad to see you're under a doctor's care concerning taking drugs. It's a little scary how many different ones are out there.

Tiffany, it's official. I'm not speaking to you any more. :snooty: So there. Humph! So don't bother coming in and posting here 'cause I ain't gonna be deliriously happy to see you or nothin'.

Dum de dum de dum..... I'm not listening!!!!

OK, I can't fake it any more!!!!!! I MISS YOU!!!!! Sob.

Semo, happy belated birthday!!! :balloons: I'm sorry I missed it.

Huntress and Tiger, I like the Capt'n too. But I eat it "straight". Hate what it does to milk. Yuk.

So yesterday morning I went to evil Mr. Dentist for my 6-month check up. He found TWO cavities!!!! :( Last time I went, I hadn't been for 4 or 5 years and still my teeth weren't too bad. Now, only 6 months after my last appt. he finds two cavities???? Something fishy about this whole thing. Grumble....

Anyway, my teeth got a good cleaning and poking and my mouth was sore for pretty much the rest of the day. It was a good thing. Not much eating involved in my day off! Sadly, my tiny brain somehow decided that cold beer is very medicinal. ;)

Also got my hair cut yesterday, even shorter than last time. Now I have recently-cut-hair remorse. Well, it'll settle down ... I hope.

Have to go now. It's Friday!! Yeah!! Little bit of work to get done and then a weekend! Yeah, this working one whole day in a row is so very rough....

Later!

You guys do realize my cat didn't die, dont ya? I GAVE HIM AWAY, I'm a horible kitty momma and I feel like a terrible person for doing it....on top of missing him. I keep thinking I see him...pillow on the couch...towel on the floor...kids toys...all look like a cat out of the corner of my eye. I know it will get better and DH keeps telling me we did the right thing.
I'm in pet ****. The iguana goes to the vet today. DH thinks he broke his leg. Ernie, the iguana, might have fallen off the shelf in his habitat. Heaven help me. I'd give him away too, but the kids would probably be looking for a new home for me next. :^:
The dog better not even look at me funny. :devil:

Todays snack of choice...warmed apple cider. Yum. Forgot how tasty it can be.

I'm making a new soup for supper...taco soup. I'll pass the recipe along if it's any good.

Jello, addiction is a great possiblity. When my pc is acting up, I have to go to the library to log on! 2 cavities, I feel your pain. I'm about due for my checkup. yuck.

Have a great weekend everyone!
:df:

Hello everyone! I'm still hanging in.

DNW - I copied and pasted that recipe right quick. Yum, and I like the statistics it has.

Jello - sorry to hear it about the cavities! I'm worried about my teeth, but I'm not going until I have insurance again. I'm sure it won't be pretty.

Tiger - Don't let the cat get you down. You will get through the remorse. Be strong and remember how it felt to find that pee - again. I had a similar struggle a bit more than a year ago. I felt awful about the whole thing - and he yowled all the way to the place of course. But ultimately, it was him or me and I knew it. Now I have new carpet in my bedroom, and I don't feel bad about it anymore.

Dyan - I'm in the same boat as you, I think. I'm GOING to revive, I just have to get there. Things are so hectic! But the thing I'm not letting slide is my water and I'm fighting hard for my wake-up-early routine.

Huntress - Singing the 1am blues. Hope you catch up on your sleep soon.

Jujubeee - Welcome!! I'm flaky lately, but mostly I don't bite!

Bright - You're right, somehow we are always hit and miss. Hopefully when I get my rear in gear I can be more spot-on and we'll cross paths. :)

SEMO - Sorry for your loss. Anniversaries are very hard! I can imagine that when everyone is being all extra-cheery that must be a trial. Hang in there.

~Cafe

Oh TigerLily.....I feel so silly. I totally misread that. I'm sorry. Maybe with my cats passing I just automatically thought "gone" referred to died. Well I'm glad he is ok.

Well I've been searching all over the internet for some kind of instructions on my total gym and can't find ANY. All there are is ads and more ads for the blasted things!!! There website is of no help either. I e-mailed them and asked how to go about getting a replacement manual. Darn! I was really gung-ho to start today. Anybody here use one and know of a website where they show some exercises?

I've had a slim fast and iced tea so far today. When I was on Atkins I discovered Splenda sugar substitute. I could never stand to drink tea or anything because I hated the aftertaste of equal or sweet n lo. The splenda is really good though and I'm just sitting here at work drinking the tea. Hopefully it will help keep me off the Pepsi. Just to let you know how big of an addict I was...I used to drink 1-2 large fountain soda's a day plus 3-4 cans. I NEVER drank water, only Pepsi. Every diet I've ever tried I failed because I was DYING for a Pepsi.

Well I'm going to go munch on an apple.

Tiger, I THOUGHT you'd given him away but the way everyone was talkin', I thought I'd missed something. Still, it's almost the same sometimes. Especially when I see how much you're missing him. :cry: Hang in there.

Well, guys it's almost 4:00 Friday and what's that mean? Yes, my boss is about to dump a huge "has to go out tonight!" project in my lap. What a LOSER!!! :mad: He keeps saying he'll get it to me "in a minute" and then gets interrupted by someone or something else. Sure, don't worry about me. I LLLLOOOVVVVEEEE staying here half the night.

Sorry. Venting. I'm soooo ready for the weekend.

Hope you all have a good one.

Hi All,

TGIF! It has been such a long week! Didn't get to the gym at lunch due to the snow...left work a little early though so I'll hop on the treadmill tonight instead.

Tiger---I had to give my cat away, too. Know just how you feel. Have a picture of her and my son up on the mantle---seems to fill the void. However, I don't miss that litter box (that somehow I ended up cleaning all the time,even though my son will tell you it was his cat) and the urine smell, from "marking their territory" someone said.

Huntress-- where are you, girl? Hope you got some rest.

Jello---I got some last minute phone calls before I left the office tonight, also. Made me LATE for my early get-away, awfully frustrating!

Jujubee--sorry, don't know a think about that machine. If it is close to the machines at the gym, I could probably figure it out but you're so right to get a manual. If I spent a 100.00 on something, I'd want the correct instructions, also. Good luck in finding something. I'll try to look it up later, also, in between my taxiing kids around.

Cafe---always good to hear from you...

Dyan---hang in there, girl.

Talk more to you all this weekend. Got a feeling I'll be more indoors than out with this weather.

Take care all,

"Bright"

Well, it is Sunday and I am getting ready to go to work. Have 6 hours of overtime today. This working 6 days a week is for the birds!!!
Speaking of work I believe that is one of my biggest downfalls as far as my eating habits and weight gain. I have a job that fluctuates between really boring and really busy. It is also shift work which rotates every 3 months. For years when I would get sleepy or need an extra boost, I would always hit the candy machine. Also, I don't drink coffee so Pepsi would be my caffeine fix! On the other hand, if something major happened or we had a really busy spurt I would reward and relax myself with a little snacky. How funny that the same foods could do both.
Yesterday was my only day off and I did blow it but not too badly. I did have a couple of large fountain cokes and some not so good food but all in all it was better than I used to be. I guess one day won't kill me.
I finally figured out how to set up my Total Gym. I went to Fitnessquest.com which is the company that markets the machines and they had everything right there. I love the internet!!! How did we ever live without it?
Well a big storm is supposed to be brewing today. I love the rain, I can't wait.
Well I guess I'm off with my SlimFast & Iced Tea.
I'll check in with ya'll later.

Happy Monday morning to all!

Hard to believe we only have one more full week before Christmas, huh? I hope you're all doing well and were just too busy shopping and doing other holiday stuff to get in here this weekend.

Believe it or not I actually made it through this weekend without making a total pig of myself even though the opportunities to do so were plenty. It was that TOM last week and I have been eating a lot of sweets but had a small loss anyway. Can't figure that one out. I'm looking forward to the end of the holidays and the beginning of the new year. I always seem to have a renewed spirit.

I dropped by to see my friend who is on Atkins yesterday. I wanted to see how she was doing, thought it might make me jealous but alas she wasn't home. Last time I talked to her she had lost 14 #'s in less than 2 weeks.

Guess I'd better get up and get moving.

LJ

Hello Everyone! Another Monday Funday, woohoo, can ya hear my enthusiasm? The weeks are just fly'n by. I keep thinking life is going to slow down, but no luck. Maybe after the holidays.:crossed:

Huntress, I'm looking forward to finsishing up the holidays too....Renewed feelings....maybe a little routine to life. Hey, a girl can dream.

I bought some NoPudge brownies. Tiff told us about them a long time ago. Gonna bake them up today. It's the week before aunt flow and I'm crave'n the goodies....could also be stress cravings.:^:

I shopped like crazy on Sunday. Just a few more things to finsish up. Gonna hit the store while junior is in kindergarten this morning.

Taco soup was good...if anyone wants the recipe, let me know.

:df:

Yes, it's Monday already. Blah. Last week of work before we leave for Christmas in Las Vegas. Friday is our company Christmas party. We all come in to work for a couple hours and then head off to eat and make merry. Most of us here would rather they not have the party and just give us the $100 per person or whatever. It's just a lot of hurrying and "getting situated", etc. And the place is so far from here and it's supposed to snow/rain and I somehow got sucked into being on the committee and have to set up and etc. etc. etc. And what am I gonna wear!?!?! Again...

BAH HUMBUG!!!!

Somewhere in here, I've got to do laundry, pack, get my dog to mom and dad's, make sure the house is all secure and all the other stuff that has to be done before leaving for the airport. I've already told Rich, next year, we're just staying home. The holidays are supposed to be happy, not totally stressful. The M&M's are calling!!!!!!!!! :yikes:

This past weekend was awful. It's all a blur of chocolate, beer, pizza and chinese food. I stepped on the scale this morning. More stress. :cry: I've got to find a way to get my stuff together!!

Let's change the subject, shall we? Too much of Jello's whining here on a Monday morning....

Tig, those NoPudge brownies are wonderful! Best part is that you can make them one at a time instead of the whole batch. (Which as everyone knows is ONE serving. :lol: )

Huntress, yeah, I'm with you. Can't believe Christmas is right around the corner. I did spend part of the weekend wrapping and think I'm just about done. A few more little things to buy and/or wrap but I'm not too worried about that. ...Too worried about everything else! :lol:

Better go. I did the smart thing and brought my gym bag into the building today. Nothing worse than getting to the gym and putting on clothes that have been sitting out in the cold car all day. Brrrrrr..... :o

Later!

Monday Funday, eh? I'll work on that. http://www.************/images/emoticons/eyes.gif

Somehow, and this is really pathetic, I gave myself a whiplash injury when the water ran cold in my shower last Friday. This is worse than any car accident I've been in! So my weekend was... subdued. I'm in pain. :(

Still, it's a new week and a new day... Gotta focus on that feeling of renewal and continual striving towards a goal.

Well yesterday at work I forgot to bring bread to make my sandwich. I ended up getting really hungry and eating a bag of Cheetos. I figured I would just make that my lunch and I was fine. Then my kids call and ask me to pick up Krispy Kreme donuts. BIG MISTAKE. I figured I could resist them but NOPE, downed 3 of them on my way home. Then I had way too much Pepsi last night. Oh well, it is a new week and I came to work armed with plenty of good healthy food to get me through my day. I took a xenical to try to offset some of the damage and boy am I paying the price this morning!!!!!
My kids are going to Disneyland today with dad so I HAVE to finish my shopping after work today. I am stumped!!! I have a snooty brother in law I must buy a gift for and am totally clueless.
Time to refill my iced tea. I have another hour till snack time but the boredom is kicking in and I want to munch. I will get through it though.

Cafe, too funny, shower whiplash. Sorry your hurt'n though.

I knocked out some more shopping this morning. I'm on the final count down to being finished. Have not shopped for the inlaws yet.:devil: DH always says he'll think of something...when? Christmas eve?!:dz:

Stopped and picked up DS a happy meal on the way home. Ya know the smell of it in the car made my stomach upset. I'm actually happy about that. :dizzy:

Jello, good luck getting things ready for your trip. I had the same feelings at Thanksgiving. I don't even want to go next year. DH has to go, it's a business thang.

juju, I've never had a Krispy Kreme....think'n I shouldn't ever try one.
I did have a cappicino this morning. It was sinful.:hot:

Morning Ladies....

Tired to post earlier, but my computer started acting strange and it shut down the internet. Thank goodness, I hadn't wrote a novel, otherwise, you probably wouldn't be hearing from me.

Anyhoo, TOM has FINALLY left the building after a full 7 day stay (the rat ba$tard)!! But on a good note, took 3.5 pounds with it! I'm still up 1.5 pounds, since I fell off the wagon, but I have renewed hope, since I know I can lose 2 pounds in a week (if I really work at it). So I'm totally gung ho this morning.

What a weekend. Power was out on Saturday for 6 hours! From noon to 6 pm. Had a terrible rain storm, that's supposed continue until Wednesday. Took my sister to Costco and on the way to pick her up, there were trees and branches EVERYWHERE!
:yikes: , but we did what we needed to. Bought a pizza while I was out, since I wasn't sure when we have power again. Can you say oink, oink :jeno: :ink: . I got a bug up my hind parts and got the kids dressed in the their rain gear and we went and played in the rain. We had a blast. Jumping in puddles and twirling our umbrellas. We had watched "Singing in the Rain" a few nights earlier, so we were singing.

I finally got ALL my wrapping done. No more small gifts to wrap here and there. It's all done. we're having people over this weekend and needed to get everything done.

Cafe: sorry to hear about the pain. I hope it goes awy soon. :goodvibes

Jello: Have fun at the gym! Hehe, I used "fun" and "gym" in the same sentence!

JuJu: May you find all your gifts easily and swiftly.

Tig: Brownies sound so delish right now!

Huntress and Bright: Have a awesome day!

P.S. already got in my water and exercise for the day.

Dyan - fun, gym same sentance... You made me spit out my drink when you said that. LOL!

Aw, that's not nice. I *LIKE* to exercise, really I do... I just don't like tyring to GET myself to exercise. WHY is it hard to get there when it makes me feel so good?

Man, whiplash is a real pain in the neck. LOL! I'm punchy today I guess... must be time to go home.

Hi everybody!

Tigerlily - Be sure to let me know how those brownies are, yum, just thinking about it makes me want one. Could you UPS me a couple?:lol:

Cafe - Sorry about your injury, take it easy. I also feel great when I exercise but can't seem to get myself moving.

Jujubee - Cheetos and Krispy Kremes - fogetta bout it! A calorie is a calorie is a calorie. Just move on and keep trying to eat a little healthier each day. It will sink in.

Jello - Holidays ARE stressful! You don't even have to go to the mall, just get within 5 miles of one and you will have to deal with the traffic. I wish for you peace and happiness on your trip to relax from all the hustle and bustle.

Dyan - You are so together girl! You are an inspiration to me who has only bought 2 gifts and has a whole list to go. Even with working and small children you have managed to get so much done!

Where is SEMO? Did she go out of town or something and I just forgot? I remember DNW was going to Lake Placid but I don't remember SEMO saying anything. I hope DNW did not take my asking about that alligator movie the wrong way, I just did not realize that there was actually a real place named that. Only reason I even remembered about that is because Bill Pullman was in that movie and I think he's a total babe.

Brighterdays - come out come out wherever you are. Make those kids get off your computer!

Did I miss anyone? Hope not. My eating is good right now, working on the water even though I'm still not getting enough and have just decided to forget about trying to exercise right now. Too much stress trying to figure out what and when I'm going to do my shopping. I keep putting people on my list that I forgot. For the most part I am doing gift cards this year but even thinking about where to get those is a chore. Still don't have a tree and at this point it doesn't look like I'm going to get one at all. Think I'll go after the holidays and get an artificial one when they go on sale. Since I got rid of my Explorer I don't have any way to haul one home every year. I wish I felt the same about Christmas as I used to when my children were small. Ever since their dad died I just am depressed during the holidays. Guess that's the real reason I don't do my shopping until the last minute.

Guess I'll close this book for now and get ready for work.

Ya'll have a great day!

LJ

Good Morning!
The brownies are tasty. Even tastier 'cuz I didn't have to make them. My ten year old made them when he got home from school. Very chewy and rich. I had the cappuccino flavor and used plain yogurt with a tsp of vanilla. Didn't intend to have plain yogurt, but bought the wrong kind. That's what I get when shopping with the six year old. I buy the wrong stuff, forget to buy stuff, can't comparison shop....the joy of children.:D

I wrapped and wrapped last night....almost done...except for the inlaws. :bomb:
Dyan, you are just too organized. :bravo:

We have another load of wood coming today, so I'll get my exercise stacking it up. Gonna go get a bottle of water right now so I can at least make an effort drink some of the debil juice.

:df:

Went to the gym last night and practically had the place to myself. It was wonderful! One of the trainers there said it gets like this around the holidays but come January 1, everyone's new years resolutions will kick in and the place will be packed. Funny, that's what my WW leader was saying last week too. :lol: Guess it's true.

Tiger, I like the cappucino ones too. Have you tried the mint ones? They take some getting used to. Funny, I was at Trader Joe's last night and saw them on the shelf and thought of you. :) I have some boxes in my cabinet but the plain fat free yogurt I bought to make them with is waaaaay past its expiration date. :yikes: I'm surprised it hasn't crawled out of the fridge and attacked me. Next trash day, out it goes, I guess.

Dyan, gym and fun in the same sentence. Oh girl you are a funny one. :lol: I usually go and go and go and then look at the clock and think "Whoopee! Time to ... uh ... well, go." Home to my sofa, that is. But it feels better when I'm done.

Huntress, coming home last night, traffic was all snarled up and slow and I thought there must be an accident or something. Nope. Mall traffic. You're right. You can't get within a mile or two of any major shopping without getting swept up into it! BTW, I'm sorry the holidays are so tough for you. But you know, you really don't need a tree. Where's it written that you have to have one anyway? Maybe just some lights and/or candles and a pointsettia or two?

OK, I'm just saying that because ours isn't up this year either. When I got home last night, Rich was outside on a ladder putting the lights on the house. I didn't have the heart to tell him I was going to say we should just skip it this year. We won't be home around Christmas anyway. Having Christmas lights that aren't on is just a way of saying "Hey Mr. Burglar, we're not home, come on in". Oh well. We have a motion sensor on our front light and we can leave that turned on and the neighborhood is pretty safe. ... I hope. :^:

Cafe, hope your neck is feeling better. I do stuff like that too. I once pulled a muscle in my shoulder putting on a heavy sweater. It's true, I swear!

Jujubee, I'm with Tiger on those Krispy Kremes. I'm afraid to try them for fear I'll get hooked. Them and Hagen Das ice cream.

OK, making myself hungry here. Gotta go. Boss just came in and he's sure to kill my appetite. ;)

Talk at ya all later!

Good Morning Ladies!

You guys kill me :D , If I'm so organized, why do I feel like such a scatter brained slug? I constantly feel so rushed and UNorganized. Cheyenne's birthday is 2 weeks after Christmas, so this year I actually got the invitations out already (to the kids at her school, since Friday is her last day there) and sent a heads up to family and friends to mark their calendars. My cousin emailed me back and asked if I thought I did it soon enough. Then she went on to say, that at least I'm giving her more than the usual one week notice. I swear, I try. Every year I think I have it under control, and then I end up doing everything for her party last minute. It's hard w/ Christmas on the 25th, then New Year's which also my wedding anniversary (this is our 7 year anniversary), then Cheye's birthday, and then a week after that DH's Birthday. This year he'll be the BIG 3 0! I think I'm more excited than he is! I'm older and hate telling people how old he is, because my number starts w/ 3 and his starts w/ a 2! But not for long. Hehe :smug: . He looks older and already has a daughter that will be 10. His job was to keep my young! Yeah right. Anyhoo.....I digress :s:

Jello ~ I want to go to Vegas! I need to escape all the family crap. I just keep telling myself that this is the LAST year we have to do this. Next year we'll be in Utah, Babee :D . We're always going, going, going. Between my family and DH's. We trek an hour out to my SIL's house and sit around like slugs. After staying up all hours and then getting up at teh crack of dawn. yippee :mad: . The only reason we do is, is so that the kids can see the rest of the family. My family says that if they want to see the kids, then they could come to us. Well.....a hostess I'm not. Although it would be so much easier on us (Not having to pack bottles, diapers, extra clothes, toys, baby food, sippy cups etc....) Our apartment is too small. Also, I don't really enjoy myself, because I spend most of the time chasing my kids around, making sure they aren't getting into things that they aren't suppose it. It's such a chore.....oops! :o got a little carried away there didn't I? Someday......I'll be able to go to Vegas for Christmas......

Huntress ~ You better get that tree ggrrlll.....Maybe that will help you get into the Holiday spirit. I love the smell of Christmas tree when I walk through the door. I'm sorry to hear that the holidays depress you. Like I said before.....pick a kid any kid! How old ARE your children? Don't you have teenagers?

Cafe ~ Sorry, didn't mean to make things come spraying out of your body! EEEWWWW, gross :eek: . I enjoy working out also, but I surely wouldn't call it fun :jig: , no way, no how ;) . As a matter fact, already walked my 2 miles this morning and drank all my water. It's the late night food eating that are kicking my a s s. Jinkies, did I say that? I'm in a "mood" today. Not sure if it's good or bad. Oh well.

Tig ~ Are you supposed to use flavored yogurt w/ the brownies? I have never seen them before. I know where there is a Trader Joe's, but obviously never go in. I JUST noticed Skinny Cow ice-cream and that's only because it was mentioned here. I can be so slow sometimes. Now I have had Krispy Kreme. Not as good as they were made out to be. If you've never tried them, here's what you do.....take alot of sugar and had a little water. Make a thin paste....then take a spoon and scoop up a big helping of your sugar mixture and insert it into your mouth. YUMMY :T . No but seriously, just thinking about 'em makes my tummy and teeth hurt.

Brighter ~ How was the rest of your weekend?

YIKES, look at the time...gotta jet....

P.S. Don't know where SEMO is.....hopefully off enjoyig herself somewhere.

Dyan - I just saw a pic on the front page of AOL and it's flooded! Are you OK? Stay in out of that weather and be careful. My kids are 22, 18 & 17 and they haven't said anything at all about Christmas or a tree. When I asked them what they wanted they just said nothing, they already have computers, stereos, TV, game systems, etc etc etc. So what else is there? They just want clothes and money so guess what they're getting. I will take all the babies, OK. Then I could really have some fun!

OK, gotta go for now..........

LJ

Huntress ~ Thanks for your concern! :D . It's not too bad in the area where I live. I live between San Jose and San Francisco, and although it was pretty ugly on Saturday, it was no where near as bad as the flooded areas. Actually the sun keeps peeking through the clouds today. We're having on again, off again showers, but another storm is supposed to blow through on Thursday. I try NOT to go out in bad weather. I was a very paranoid driver in the rain. I'm getting so much better, but I had one year where my car kept spinning out. I would go to make a left turn and I would fish tail and be facing on coming traffic , that happend at least 3 times and then that same year, I spun out and ended up smashing into a telephone pole on my side. It wasn't pretty. I even had dreams that I was in a car accident. That lasted a few years, and everytime inmy dream when it came to point of impact I would be startled awake. Freaky huh? Anyway, I'm doing much better. Still alittle paranoid, even though I know that during my bad year my tires were bald. I did get new tires last Christmas, and haven't had a single problem. Now I think, How am I gonna handle driving inthe snow? UGH :(

Hey Ya'll, just finished reading all the post that I have missed..... Oh my gosh, Well Thursday was my 29th (HeeHee) birthday again, Friday. I was the only one in the office, so I had to stay up front, Saturday, was my baby boy's college graduation, Sunday was my side of the families Christmas party and yesterday helped pack up and move my son home............ Has Christmas passed yet???? Thought maybe I had missed it. :dizzy: Must say that all I have been doing is :ink: ing out big time.

Dyanm, you can send all them babies to me... I love kids! Kids just make Christmas SOOOoooooooooo much fun. Even if it's crazy and hectic you'll miss it when they are grown.

Huntress: You go get yourself a tree, even if it's a tiny,tiny one. I took the easy way out this year and it sure has cut down on the frantic shopping. I got my kids, dnl and son's girlfriend a $30 gift for under the tree and then we're giving them money. They can get good buys after Christmas and get what they want. We aren't exchanging gifts with the rest of our family either. We all have everything we need and we always end up asking each other what we want anyway. Who says you can't just enjoy each others company over a good meal anyway.

DNW: Hope you are having a great time.

Jello: Vegas....I wanna go. Only been once and had a great time. Lots of .........:lucky: and we'll keep our fingers :crossed: that you come home with a suitcase full of $'s.

Tig: I ordered some of those brownies but haven't baked them yet.

Cafe: Whiplash in the shower!!!!!!! Oh man, what we could do with that one. Really I know it's not funny but you gotta admit.... well you are one of a kind. :D We love ya!

Jujubeee: I'm usually the cow's tail (last one) of the bunch, but welcome to the group. Look forward to getting to know you.

Bright: You're going to have to whip us into shape around here, sounds as if you are on the right track.

I know I'm missing someone, but hey, I had another birthday and I'm entitled to a slip up now and then......... :devil:

Well girls, gotta get busy.

Boy did I miss all of you...and not posting didn't help with the food either...I was good for about 3 of the 5 days I was gone and then well...I just ate what I wanted. However, owing to the fact that I am part of the December 3-point challenge and also Semo's exercise challenge I did exercise 3 days so I didn't totally bomb out.

It was sort of hard not to eat since we were in restaurants 3 times a day. At first I said oh I am just going to enjoy the trip for the trip's sake and not make food a fun part of it. But then all the restaurants in Lake Placid are really great...I mean really great!!

And also DN and I really had a very nice time together away from it all....after 12 years together sometimes it seems that all we do is fight because we are both so pig-headed and strong-willed. But we love each other madly and when we go away we slow down and have honeymoon time. It works everytime!! So of course feeling all warm and cozy it was just a perfect time to indulge....with everything!! But I am so afraid to get on the scale.

I did,however, write down everythign I ate and stayed true to the last cookie... :o ...who said cookie? Wasn't me I never had a cookie.... ;) Anyhow...

Huntress: I was referring to our shopping not being done...and waiting until the last minute to do it....sorry I was so cryptic!!

Semo: Congratulations Sagittarius...I am one too...celebrated on the 3rd! Also congrats on your baby son's graduation too.

Cafe: Sorry about your neck...but I understand...whenever I put my back out...its always in my sleep..I swear to God...I'll go to sleep fine and wake up a cripple...go figure.

Dyan: Glad to hear that you are not in any danger with all the flooding but I feel the same way about driving in bad weather. I hate it with a capital "H".

Jello: I hear you about the office Xmas party crap. Except at my company they did away with it all together. Now they give us a cheapo luncheon in the cafeteria, whoopeee...whoop....whoop :s:
Also that lasty minute thing with the boss...I always have a doctor's or chiropractor's appointment ;) so I never am able to stay...they got the hint after awhile..and really what can they say...don't go to the doctor..you're not doing it on company time. You're being a good employee and doing after work :lol:

Tiger: Sorry you are still so sad about the cat. Hope I didn't sound callous in my last post suggesting a turtle. I still miss my Addison and he has been dead over 3 years...we had him for 16 1/2 years and he was the best and smartest and most loving cat...the rest so far have been half wits or totally, like my current Rosie...still unapproachable after 2 years...except when she wants more food.

Jujubee: Welcome and as far as the phentermine...there have been many lawsuits against the makers because of irreversable lung and heart damage after short and long term use. Not everyone who took the drug got the damage but many people who took it as directed did. Also with Xenical (my husband works for the drug company that make it) you can't have more than 30% fat in each of your meals otherwise you get oily stools...which I think you have already found out...but good luck anyway. Try journaling your food at fitday.com, I swear it has really helped me not eat my face off for the past 3 months and I have lost 13 lbs.

Tiffany we love you and miss you...please let us know you are OK..and if you are not let us know...we care alot!!

Love to anyone else I may have missed. I need to go to bed..I am exhausted and need to be at the gym at 6:30 AM tomorrow...

Hi DNW! It's so good to see you back and that you had a good time on your trip. I am the worlds worst about waiting until the last minute to shop and do it every year and swear I'll never do it again. I just have a hard time figuring out what to get everyone especially my mom. We went shopping on Friday and the whole time she was saying she wanted this or that and was buying the stuff for herself. Geez, give me a break mom..........
Oooops, sorry about that I got carried away.

Gosh I can't believe it's already Wednesday, this week is flying by. This weekend is going to be a crazy one with shopping I have to do and parties to go to. Monday is our office party and then we will be off Christmas Eve and Day. At least I already have the gifts for my sister, her husband and my niece.

Anyways, I am still doing well with my eating but I did have some of those individual Mounds candies yesterday. I crave something sweet every day after lunch and decided to buy a package of miniatures so I could have one ( it was supposed to be 1 single one) every day. Stupid idea, nuff said. At least my scales are moving down a tiny little bit, this morning I'm at 187. My friend is nagging me to do the Atkins with her after the 1st of the year, she says it gets easier as she goes along, but I doubt seriously if I will. Don't know why I keep bringing this up except that she keeps talking about it and shes doing so good that I am jealous. I am simply too attached to my snacks and things and would rather eat whatever I want in moderate portions than give up the things I like.

Hope you all have a wonderful day...........

LJ

Hi girls, I took a vacation day today and haven't decided what I will do. If I don't get my shower and get dressed this may be it for the day!! The weather is very warm and windy, a good combination for storms to brew. Like most Missourians say "If you don't like our weather today stick around and tomorrow it will be different." We had ice storms last week and at 9:00 am this morning it's 57 degrees.

DNW: Happy that you had a good get away with that DN of yours. Think it good when you can indulge in one anothers undivided attention.

Well, not much going on so I'm heading for the shower.

Morning!

DNW: SO glad yor back! Missed ya so much.

Huntress: I hear ya about the whole Atkins thing. I've thought about and thought about it....Yeah, it would be glorious to lose weight quickly, but in the long I can see it ALL (and then some) coming back. I too, love my foods. Personally I count calories, which means if I want 1/4 w/ cheese I can have it. I just try to stay within my range. If I want a candy bar, I go for it. All within range. While pregnant w/ my son, I was borderline diabetic and was told no bread, pasta, rice, etc.... I was like WTF? Without bread, it's not a sandwich :mad: , it's just meat and cheese on a plate. No crackers, no tortillas....it was crazy. I finally convinced my Dr. to let me have my starches and what not. I promised to do it moderation. Funny thing.....Once someone tells you you CAN'T have something, you crave it. W/ my last, it was full blown. Had to check my blood sugar 6 times a day and inject insulin into my stomach! (I have a terrible needle phobia, if ya remember) It was just awful. I still cry just talking about it. I'm such a baby. And EVERY TIME (I had to give myself 2 shots a day) I had to concentrate on my baby, to get through it. Thankfully we are both fine now. And let me tell you, AS SOON AS SHE WAS OUT, I was like someone PLEASE get me some chocolate, NOW!! :devil: .

Okay....don't cha just love the way I go way off topic? I am getting more and more excited about Friday. I'll be here for 4 hours and then I'm threw with this pit! BBBUUUAAAAHHHHAAAAHHAAA (evil Laugh) :devil: . Got some leads at another site and expect to hear from the Manager the week of the 30th, so :crossed: . If I get it, I'll start on Jan. 6th. So I will apply for unemployment on Friday and try to enjoy the next few weeks off.

Gotta go, peoples are coming....

Ooh Semo! A day off with nothin' to do and all day to do it? Sounds good to me! I've decided that I'm going to do that at least once a month next year. Take a vacation day from work with no plans in mind. I'll spend the whole day in my jammies if I wanna! :p

Nurse, good to see you! Sounds like a great trip. Not that I'm jealous or anything. But I'll bet it was darn cold up there, huh? Guess you just had to cuddle up to stay warm and all. Oh what a shame. :lol:

Ah man, Huntress, now I'm craving Mounds bars! Love those stupid things. I'm like you. Can't buy a bunch and limit myself to one a day. Nope. Not gonna happen. It's easier not to have any at all. Not nearly as much fun though....

Well it's already noon Wednesday. Week is flying by. We had a meeting at the VFW for next year's parade last night. They'd originally scheduled the meeting for ... get this ... 7PM on December 31. Yeah right. That's gonna happen. Most of us were able to get the powers that be (who apparently have no lives) to reschedule it for last night. So that's one more thing out of the way while I gear up for this weekend.

Oh yeah. Weighed in last night too....

In other news.....

Oh, OK. I confess. It wasn't great. Gained 1.4 lbs. Guess it'll be a challenge to undo that over the holidays. Since our class is Tuesday nights, we don't have to come in for the next two weeks because it'll be Xmas Eve and NY Eve. But I cannot possibly skip two weeks and stay on track!!! :yikes: I'll have to find another day. And since it'll have to be AFTER Christmas (I'll be in Vegas before then) I'll have to be VERY VERY good for Christmas.

Yes, Santa, I'll be good. I promise! :crossed: ;)

Gotta run. Boss approaches....

Hey, welcome back SEMO and DNW!

Jello - WTG on the gym time! And Huntress - congrats on the loss. I'm proud of you both!

Dyan, I want your energy - right now! LOL.

Tig - Hows the woodpile? I *love* wood fires.

Well, on the 5th day of constant pain I broke down and decided I needed some treatment - NOW! I went to the chiro so that's good. My muscles are still sore, of course, and will be until they heal, but I had to do something. So I'm still hurting but I want to sound more hopeful, LOL.

Was just sittin' here thinkin'....

Next weigh-in will have to be Thursday, December 26.
One after that will have to be either Monday, December 30 or Thursday, January 2.

Should I weigh in the Monday before New Years Eve or should I wait until after and be brave and (hopefully) stay on track at any NY festivities?

If I go Dec. 30, it'll only be 4 days after the one before it. But if I wait until after New Years....

What do you guys think? You'll note that not going at all for 2 weeks is NOT an option.

Either way, my mini-goal for end of 2002/beginning of 2003 is:

Current 184.2
Mini-Goal 181.2 or less

Hi Everyone!

Wrestled my computer from, not only kids, but a family member who needed to do some scanning.... sounds like everyone is busy!

Cafe--so sorry about your neck! Hope the chiropractor helped! I did "something" to a muscle in my lt. arm and had to live with ibuprofen, ice packs, a sling, and total rest of my lt. arm for several days....not fun. Have you tried any of the above or heat packs? Hope it is better soon.

DNW--sounds like you had a wonderful time! way to go on the 3/5 days staying on track! what a challenge to overcome!

Jello---my weigh in is Tues. also. Guess I better call or see if our noon meeting is canceled. Never thought about them not being there on Xmas eve since I have to work!

Dyan---you whirlwind, girl! Sounds like so much fun to splash in the rain....you are such a fun mommy! These are the days your kids will remember! Good luck on the job leads.

SEMO---you got it right on that weather thing, just wait and see....we'll probably have that white Christmas, also, or some dreaded ice storm! Happy Birthday and congrats on baby boy's graduation--quite a milestone for both of you.

Huntress---I know what you mean...took me a while to get any Christmas spirit. I just started pulling out the things last weekend and I usually start after T-giving Day...got some cinnamon-y candles---and put lights in the windows and over the porch and I feel better. My teenage daughter, who is never home, put up the tree last week on her own for the very first time. I think she was actually nudging me along.... Got alot of presents bought but the traffic is so bad, as you know, and I don't like going in the dark so I've had to sacrifice a few lunch hours for shopping. Oh well, getting it done is getting it done. Gift certificates are the way to go for those hard to buy for people, for sure! Find those old Christmas videos, some cocoa, and snuggle on the couch for a night....you'll feel better, guaranteed!

Tiger---good for you on the wrapping, girl! Don't have a clue where to get those brownies...we don't have that trading joe's place 'round here. Love to have the taco soup recipe when you get a chance. WE are eating alot of crock pot soups lately with the weather being colder.

You know people....I just keep thinking: this is one single, solitary day that we are doing all of this for! And it is smack dab in the middle of the week! I go back to work on Thursday, as if nothing had happened that week. What a reality shocker when you are not a kid anymore and you don't get that "Christmas Vacation".

On a lighter note....I lost 2 1/4 # at weigh in this week! Can't believe that I am actually going to have to continue to exercise more for this to work! The realization has hit, after I increased my exercise time with my treadmill this week, that this is the only way for the weight to come off for good...

195/188(current)/176(-10% goal)/135(end goal) total lost=7#!

Good Morning!

Brighterdays - Congratulations! 2-1/4 is fantastic! You are right, exercise is the key. I've never liked to do it, but have also come to the realization that if I ever want to get slim and healthy I'm gonna have to do it for the rest of my life. Come on down to Texas and enjoy the warm humid weather with me and escape that freezing cold snow and ice! :lol: Of course, you won't be able to do anything with your hair because as soon as you walk out the door and that humidity hits it it'll be a gonner.

Jello - Just a suggestion but why not weigh-in on Jan 2, that way you'll have a beginning weight for the new year. I was just thinking yesterday that May 1st will technically be 1 year since I started doing this with you all and I'm anxious to see what the result will be.

I am currently 1-1/2 #'s from a milestone. I am hoping to reach the 40 # mark by the end of the year. That would start me off in the new year at 185. I'd hoped to be smaller by this time, but hey I'm just thankful that I'm not back where I started. I've made a promise to myself to not ever let this happen again. Gotta run, lots to do this morning..............

LJ

Bright, I get it! "On a lighter note" she says. :lol: Congrats on the 2-1/4 lb. loss! You ARE lighter!

Huntress, I'm thinking January 2 too because it'll also keep me a bit more "careful" on New Year's Eve. Actually, Rich and I are probably going to spend a nice quiet one at home anyway. Hey, what's a little champagne? BTW, good luck in your goal for the end of the year. You can do it!!!!

I came in early today and left little presents for some of the people here on their desks. It was fun going into dark offices and empty hallways like Santa's little elf. :sssh: Just a little something for some folks. Oh and you'll be proud of me. I bought a gift for the old *itch!!! Tis the season.

Tonight I'm leaving here to drive 60 miles or so to drop off my dog at mom and dad's so it'll be one less thing to worry about before we go to the airport. I'll miss him. :cry: I'm also taking all the presents for my family up. We're all supposed to get together on the Saturday after Christmas and this way the presents will all be there already. Oh ain't I little miss efficiency?

BTW, Bright, my WW leader told me that all classes stop at noon on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. At least in my area anyway. Did you check to see if you still have your regular class?

Well, I'd better get to work now. The boss is going to want me to finish up everything since I'll only be here for a couple hours tomorrow morning before I leave to start setting up for the Christmas party. I'm thinking it's going to be a long day.... :rolleyes:

Good Morning Lovely Ladies!!

Brighter~ You go GGGRRRLLL :cb: :cb: !! CoNgRaTs on the loss!! That's a wonderful christmas present. I try to be a good mommy. Sometimes it's not that easy when they are on your last nerve.

Huntress ~ You CAN DO IT! You are sooooo close......I want to lose 3.5#, to make my grand total a 50 # loss, but alas I'm not sure I'll be able to get there. :halfempty , but I refuse to go down w/out a fight :jig:

Cafe ~ Man, I'm sitting here hoping that you'll feel better soon. Nothing worse than being in pain. So I am sending you feel better vibes :goodvibes

Jello ~ You always seem to be on the move! When are ya leaving for Vegas again? It seems that alot of people this year just don't seem to have the Christmas spirit. Like everyone has said, Christmas is for children, and I'm trying my best, for their sake.

I went to Mervyn's last night to get the kids' Christmas outfits. I usually dress the girls in matching dresses. This year I saw bupkiss! All the stuff, IMHO, was hidious, gross, yucky, poo poo. SO I ended buying MYSELF 3 pairs of jeans and 3 tops. Hey, it was a 1 day only sale. Oh yeah, and a purse. The purse is kinda cool. It has a light inside. When you open your purse it comes on automatically!! Who would have ever thunk it? Boy the times we live in! I did also buy a few other things for the kids, my sister and my friend. Not things I needed to buy, but they were a good price and I knew they would enjoy them. After paying for my purchases I thought, AW crap!! Nowt I have to wrap this stuff :mad: , Then realized I have a butt load of gift bags. Wrapping? done. hehe.... So anyhoo, I am too excited. When I started this journey in June weighing over 300#s I was squeezing into a size 28. I knew I needed to go to the next size up, but refused. Well I wanted to buy some black jeans and bought the biggest pairs I could find in two different styles. The Gloria Vanderbuilts (Can't believe those are back) were a size 24 and strechy, so thought why not? Then the Levi's (Which I may have owned 1 pr as a teenager) were a size 22. They were a super good deal so I bought them, thinking that I can wear them eventually. Well ladies....BOTH pair fit!! The Levi's, a little snug, but DH sure liked them. I had only bought 1 pr, but he got all excited so I said I'm gonna go get another pair, and he was like OKAY! They only had 1 more pair that size so I snagged them up! WOOHOO. Yesterday was a great day for me! Not only the jeans fitting, but my inlaws sent us $300 for Christmas and we got a Reward cert at Costco for over $50. I am so estatic!

Oh, hehe, my co-worker took me to lunch yesterday. Her husband had invited her and she grabbed me and said we're going. I told her, your messing w/ my dieting efforts.....But did she have to twist my arm? (What do you think?) So we're at the Mexican resturant and I order a chicken chimichanga. The waiter asks if I would rice & beans w/ that, and I'm like of course! Then he says would a like a salad? I just looked at him and said, No thanks, I'm on a diet!!

On that note I better get some work done. Talk at cha later.

Bright - congrats on your loss! You are so right about the exercise - one thing I have learned this year is that I must have BOTH diet AND exercise CONCURRENTLY to lose weight. There is no substitute for this tired bod.

Heat really helps - esp in the morning.

be back in a bit...

OH! That's what I get for not reading all the posts.

Huntress - you can do it!! You've already come a long way. I'm proud of you.

Little Miss Efficiency - I mean Jello - :D I do think you're doing awesome. Believe me, I know the effort it takes to get things done ahead of time like that.

And Dyan! What a great clothes-buying story! You're sooo close to that 50# mark. Regardless of the scale, you will look back on 2002 and say "that's the year I lost the first 50." :)

Well, I haven't accomplished nearly so much this year. :LOL: However, it's been a fairly crappy year for me and I'm proud of the efforts I have made, the things I have learned, and the determination I have built NOT to let myself drop out of the race, so to speak. It's something, and I know I worked at it, so I'm grateful.

Hope you see my notes since this is only an edit...

Just pop'n in to say HI. I'm in a bit of a "lurking" mood...or is it "lerking"? hmm...
Stressed, tired...in a bit of a funk. But, I wont disappear.
DS has a friend over today....going to be a long afternoon.

:p

It's been a couple of days and I haven't been doing very well. I start out with the best of intentions but be days end I've blown it. I figure my worst day is still better than the way I was eating and drinking (Pepsi). I'm still drinking my iced tea all day and having my slim fast in the morning. From there it has been going downhill.
As for the phentermine I am taking.....the part of fen/phen that was bad was the fenfluromine (i'm sure I misspelled that) which I believe was taken off the market. Phentermine is relatively safe and has been around forever.
You guys with your Christmas parties are lucky. We don't get any type of holiday bonuses, parties, gifts nothing! As a matter of fact the department I work in has to work all holidays. I'm fortunate that I managed to snag vacation next week but I have worked my share of Christmas's, Thanksgivings, New Years, etc... The only downside is I'll be missing out on all that wonderful holiday pay but it's still worth it to be home with my children.
I'm still not all the way in the Christmas spirit this year. I've got my tree up and a few decorations. No lights on the house (first year without any). I still need to buy my snooty brother in law a gift and can't find anything. Once I have that out of my way I think I can relax and enjoy the season. I'm actually looking forward to shopping this weekend. I just love to go out and be in the crowds, it always makes it feel Christmasy. That is as long as I don't have to buy anything!
To those of you who are traveling, my heart goes out to you. I don't think I could stand to do that. I am fortunate, my mom lives 20 minutes away and that is where we spend Christmas Eve. Christmas morning it is just me and my kids, afternoon they go to dads and I am left along. I usually take down the tree and get everything put away. I think it is depressing once Christmas is over.
Are any of you single? Do you buy yourselves Christmas gifts so you'll have something to open Christmas morning? My kids are just barely at the age where they can buy me a gift but they used to always feel sorry for me because I didn't open presents with them. I started to buy myself a couple of little things to put under the tree and mark them from Santa. I kind of liked doing that but now if feels kind of stupid.
For those of you still managing to lose weight among all the Christmas cookies laying around; you are my inspiration. Congratulations.

Dang, just lost my post from too many dancing bananas.......

:df: :df: :df: :df: :df: :df: :df: :df: :df: :df:

Looks like 10 is the limit.... I just tested from 20 down eliminating one each time.

Sorry you lost your post, SEMO.

Juju - Hang in there! You're forming new habits and the Pepsi thing is huge for you. Focus on what you're doing right and don't give up.

SEMO ~ Why so many dancing bananas? I take it something good happened or your very excited something. Spill sista...:D

Cafe ~ Your right, I will back at this year and think, I did pretty good. I had to start somewhere right? I am slowly but surely getting back my determination. The other day baby girl woke up about 4am, around the time I get up to exercise and DH went and took care of her and got back in bed. I was on my way out of bed, when he decided to get frisky :o . I had to smack the hands a few time and let him know that I just back OP the day before and I didn't want to blow it on 2nd day back on the wagon! He understood, and let go! It was actually quite funny. He still cracks me up, even after 7 years!! He thought his way would burn more calories, than me actually working out! Okay, yeah....was that just too much information? :s:

Tig ~ sorry to hear your in a funk. Been there, done that, and only you can get yourself out. Easier said than done, I know.

Before everyone started leaving on vacations and what not I just wanted to wish everyone...

A HAPPY HOLIDAY

:smug:

Dyan - RE: Too Much Information? Naw, I just think it's cute. Now maybe some old fuddy duddy's might say they don't want to hear it but hey we're all friends here. Heck, I've been single so long I think you young married couples ARE cute.

Jujubee - Hang in there sweetie, I know it's tough. I'm single too and sometimes it is depressing. You're under a lot of stress and we can't all be perfect you know.

SEMO - Come on back and redo your post OK

Jello - Hope you have a wonderful time in Vegas!

I too want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays before everyone gets too busy. Lots of Love, Peace and Happiness to you all throughout the holiday season.

LJ

Well all the dancing was for you guys............ You have done an amazing job! Between Dy, Huntress, Bright and DNW, you all have lost a small person.. Hey, hey (dancing bananas for all of you!)

I don't know what to do about Christmas Dinner.... this year my oldest and his wife are spending Christmas Eve at our house then going to DIL's mothers on Christmas Day.... well youngest girlfriend can't be at our house on X-mas Eve but can on X-mas day... my sister and her family usually come on X-mas Day and can't come on X-mas Eve. I'm thinking about baking a turkey and I already have a honey baked ham and My Daddy's sampler cheese cake in the freezer, and then making potato salad and slaw and having a veggie tray. That way all I have to do is pull everything out of the refrigerator and waa laa anyone that is hungry can eat........ what'da think..... is that too tacky? I don't want to cook two big meals back to back. (you know I don't like to cook in the first place!)

I've been eating everything in site and am so ready for the holidays to be over so I can get back to a normal life, boreing as it is it will be welcoming. I'm still exercising, guess that's the only reason that I've only gained five pounds instead of fifteen. I made a promise to myself that January I'm getting back on the train and I'm keeping my b@tt there. I'm really sick of this, I don't feel well and it's because I'm eating everything that goes by.

JuJubee: Beating youself up over something that happen yesterday is a big waste of time. All you can do is go forward from this point on and try to make improvements along the way.

Cafe: Hope your feeling much better........(((huz))) to you.

Tig: Take some time out for yourself. Turn on some music and start singing... you'll feel better before you know it.

I want to express my Christmas Wishes to all of you... May you find Peace and Love throughout the Holidays. You are all such Wonderful Ladies and I have come to love each and everyone of you! Merry Christmas and Be Safe.

Well I gotta jet........ speaking of Jetting, I wonder how Kayla is, hopefully she will get a chance to check in while she is on Christmas break.

I'm really going this time. Chow

Semo: Your Xmas day spread sounds great to me...the important thing is your willingness to serve your hospitality two days in a row...that is amazing. I love company and I love cooking but no one but the good dancing and singing Lord himself could get me to do it two days in a row. You're the bomb wisdom sister!!

Tiger: I am sorry you are feeling so low...I have been thinking about how I am not feeling "Xmasy", and was pondering that thought this morning while doing the 2 mile walk. I came to the conclusion that while I do believe in the spirit of Xmas, I do not buy into the commercialism of it any longer, and maybe, just maybe, this is what some of us are feeling. We are grown up now and see the holiday for what it has unfortunately become...a feeding frenzy (literally) and a buying frenzy...and thanks to Madison Ave. advertising the beat goes on.


Cafe: I love what you said about learning things this year and also not dropping out of the race. The fact that we all come here to talk to each other and actually worry about each other, even though we haven't met and live, in some cases, thousands of miles apart, is the best Xmas gift ever, at least for me. I feel like I finally have soulmates in my struggle to be free of my weight demons. You all really understand what's its like to struggle to actually learn to love the bodies we have been given and to try to take care of them. This is a monumental feat, since really, if you think about it, did anyone ever show you how to love your obesity enough to do something about it. All I ever got was grief!!

We deal with the big white elephant in the living room...otherwise known as our "weight problem", every day, and just posting here is the beginning of the changes we are making and continue to make. We are all doing great, regardless of the "loss", what we are gaining here is self esteem, and learning to lose our self destructive behavior, and that will make all the difference.

Dyan: You are amazing, I would have exercised in bed, for a good (no pun intended) half hour at least....boy are you determined...I am in awe of you....and it's not too much information...even this old fart got the good stuff a couple of times in Lake Placid, and I am not talking about the food!!

Jello: Sounds like you and Rich are going to have a great holiday...and don't work too hard at the office party..you're there to have fun too. Yeah...weigh in after Jan.2. Because I do believe all us girls are goin' straight for "boot camp" after the 1st of the year. Am I right everybody? H-m-m-m? I can't hear you!!!!!!!!

JuJubee: Honey you are not eating enough...and that is undermining your efforts...if you want to do this for the long run...you have to do a food plan that you can live with...and from what little you are eating you are setting yourself up for failure.

If you are around my weight which is 260, you can eat 1,900-2,000 calories a day and still lose 1 and 1/2 lbs. a week. In a year you are talking 80 lbs. of weight loss. That's no small bubkas!! If you walk just 3-4 times a week, it will increase the weight loss and speed up the loss also.

A reasonable 1900-2,000 calorie range is doable and you won't feel deprived. Also I have found out when I do screw around and eat what I shouldn't once in a while it doesn't show up in a huge gain. Just a 1/2 lb here or there unless I am a glutton for days on end. Also try diet Pepsi instead of the sugared stuff...you will get used to it after a few days...my husband was a confirmed Coke drinker...and swore he would never drink diet coke...until he was diagnosed with Diabetes...now he drinks it by the gallon.

Also...this is just a suggestion, try to leave the tree up a bit longer...remember you are building your kids' holiday memories too...and I think you should continue to by yourself presents from Santa...you deserve it and your psyche needs to know that you value yourself. When I was single I took myself out to dinner on a regular basis and also made myself candlelight dinners at home...and I did feel better eating that way...it was rather nice. By the way, love didn't come 'round by me until I was 43 so don't give up hope...it was worth the wait too...cause Deadnurse and I are still crazy in love with each other...even though we are both so old we can barely walk and talk....however, we do manage to fight a bit...but Deadnurse says that's because we are so passionate about our love for each other...bulldinkies...I say it's pigheadedness...of course not mine!

Huntress: A 40 lb. loss and you had hoped to be smaller. I envy every last pound you lost...you are the weight loss goddess...I am humbled in your ever diminishing presence, oh ever tinier, and tinier one. :lol:

Brighter: You too are the co-goddess of thinness, and share the throne with Huntress. :queen: What determination you have and what big eyes you have grandma...uh sorry wrong story!! :dizzy:

I love all of you, you all make me feel wanted and cared for and what more could I ask for Xmas.....and Tiffany wherever you are you have a place in my heart, please come back!!

Love to All and To All a Good Night!!!!!!!!!!!!!:smug:

DNW - Thank you so much for putting into words what I have been feeling this year about the holidays. You are such a sweetie, it give me a warm feeling all over to realize what great friendships we have developed here. I agree with you that just being able to come here and be with you all is the best present of all this year.

SEMO - Your dinner sounds wonderful and I'm sure your family and friends will all appreciate the hard work you have put into planning and serving it.

Tigerlily - Cheer up hun, the hard part is almost over with. Santa will be here in a few days and hopefully things will get easier for you.

I wish I could figure out how to do the picture thing and I still haven't gotten around to remembering to ask my son about it. Wouldn't it be neat if we all took Christmas pics and shared!

Gotta go, have a great day all!

LJ

Good Morning. So nice to have so many wonderful posts to read this morning. It's a nice way to start the day. :goodvibes

DNW, think you are so right about the commercialism...I'm sucked into it and want OUT. Every year I think...next year we are cutting back spending. I'd like to do more things of value with the family, not just rip open packages. Yep, definately need to re-vamp the holiday.

YES! to boot camp first of the year!

Huntress, you should buy yourself something. DH and I dont usually buy each other gifts. But, for the sake of the kids I try to pick up a little something for them to wrap their dad...then give dad something to tell the kids is for me. We usually go after Christmas, hit the good sales, and buy stuff for the house.
I'll work on getting a new Christmas pic to share.

SEMO, you said what you were making for dinner...but what are THEY suppose to bring? Put them kids to work, make it easier on yourself.
We're going to my parents house Christmas Day. All my Mother asked me to bring is a cheese/meat/cracker type tray. I got off easy.:D

I could be MIA quite a bit the next couple weeks with DH on vacation. We aren't going away or anything. But, will be working on the downstairs remodel, running the roads, and sure DH will hog the PC. So, just know I'll sneak in when I can.

Happy Holidays Wonderful Ladies!:balloons:

Bright, here's the recipe....

Taco Soup
1 to 2 pounds lean ground beef
3 cans diced tomatoes
2 cans water
1 chopped onion
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
1 can kidney beans (I used Brooks Chili Beans)

Cook meat & onion. Add rest of ingredients, mix well and heat thru. Serve with corn or tortilla chips, sour cream and grated cheese.
The toppings really MAKE the soup.
I used baked tortilla chips...then there is ff sour cream and ff cheese if you use those. I even bet ground turkey would be ok in this recipe.

:df:

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! :love:

I just wanted to say that. Was hoping to post and send personal messages to you all this morning but there's no time!! Too much to do here before we head over to set up the party "stuff". Won't be around after today until after we get back from Christmas celebrations.

But I wanted to be sure to come in and wish you all a wonderful and happy holiday. Merry Christmas to all of you, my wonderful friends. :) I wish you all peace and happiness and love.

Let's all plan to make 2003 OUR year, shall we? Hm, maybe we'll even get our Tiffany back!?!?! :cb: :?:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Love, Jello

Good Morning Wonderful Women!

Just a quick post, to say YYYYAAAAHHHHHOOOOO this is my last day in the pit!!! We have to work hours today, so I'm outta here at 10am pacific time. Got some loose ends to tie up first. I'll try to get on later, from home.

Hi Girls, just a quick stop in to say "Hey". We're having our Company party at 11 and hopefully we can cut out after that.

Tig: My kids are coming from Nashville so I don't want them to go to the trouble of bringing food and I'm just so thrilled to see them and my youngest son now lives at home. And my sister, well I have rather spoiled her. She lived with us for five years after my Mom died, and even tho she is only three years younger I let her get by with being the baby of the family. Family is very important to me so I want them to visit even if they don't cook. ;)

I am so ready for BOOT CAMP....... Never thought that I could get sick of junk, but think that I have reached that point.

DNW: You crack me up...... 'ol fart........ DH and I have been married for thirty three years and I am still amazed at how lucky I am to have found him. (at least on most days):o

Gotta run, have a great day! And don't let anyone steal your Christmas..... be thankful for all the wonderful things that you have in this life. We are all very lucky to have food, shelter, family, good friends, and good health, when so many people don't have our good fortune. Love you guys and take care, my friends.

Will you all think I'm terrible that I love the frenzy of Christmas. I love buying gifts and going shopping. I guess I've been sucked into that whole picture. Of course I don't forget the true meaning of Christmas and I always try to explain the relation between the religious and the commercial aspects of the holiday. The part I really don't like is when you're buying gifts for people that don't appreciate it and you do it just because you have to. I have a sister who does not have much. I love buying for her because anything she gets is so wonderful to her and she is so excited. I love that feeling.
Deadnursewife: You're right, I'm going to buy myself a gift, maybe a few. It feels silly and kind of selfish but maybe it is one of those traditions I will pass on to my kids. As far as taking the tree down on Christmas day, don't you find it depressing when it is all over. I guess there is such a build up that when it's over it's just sad. I guess that is why I want everything down. Plus it just takes over my house which is small anyway. Diet Pepsi, Diet Coke, Diet Rite, nope can't do any of them. I've tried and tried to force myself. Everybody tells me I will get used to it but I don't I have gone for weeks trying to force that crap down. I finally decided I would rather drink plain water than that swill. And lastly....I've been divorced for almost 10 years now, I said it then and I'm still saying it. I have absolutely no desire to ever, marry, have a boyfriend or so much as go on a date with anybody!!! I think psychologically that may be a reason I hold on to my weight. The way I look now nobody even notices or bothers me. The few times I have taken off weight I couldn't stand for people to tell me things like "just wait until your x see's you, he's going to regret ever leaving you" or pretty soon I'll have men knocking down my door. I know they think they are encouraging me but boy I RUN and pack that weight back on. Stupid huh!
To everybody else, thank you for your encouragement and have a wonderful holiday and enjoy your families and most of all relax a little and have fun.

Dyan- Congrats on being DONE with that job! Yay! And I'm proud of you for resisting the temptation to stay in bed. :s: It's the small choices we make that add up to the big results.

Jello- I'm with you! 2003 will be OUR YEAR, ladies!

Tig- Thanks for the taco soup- I'm always looking for something new.

Juju- I like to go out in the crowds, too; I just have to be ready for it.

DNW- I had to laugh at the white elephant in the living room - I thought you'd seen me walking around in my underwear! :o But seriously, you're right. We can't pretend the problem isn't right there with us, all the time.

SEMO- Boot camp! You're not going to yell at me, are you? :drill: On the other hand, maybe that's the kind of kick in the rear I need!! Okay, I'm in for boot camp.

Huntress- You big softie. You started a love fest here. :love:

What you all said about how fortunate we are is so very true! I'm grateful for all of you and honored to be be part of such a great group. I hope you all enjoy your holidays.

~Cafe, looking forward to next year~

Well, it's almost home 30 ladies and boy am I ready! Hope you all have an enjoyable weekend doing whatever it is you have to do.

LJ

Hi Everyone,

It's the weekend and I have Mannheim Steamroller on the CD player, a candle burning, and I'm cleaning house. I'm going to try to fit in a walk later on today---the sun is shining out there today!First things first....just wanted to talk to my good friends.

It has been wonderful to share with you all these past months. I am so fortunate to have such genuine people to write to. Just wanted to tell you all how thankful I am and how much you have helped me begin this weight loss journey.....

Huntress...you sound better, sweetie. Way to go on the weight loss! You are :queen: indeed! Love and Peace to you and your family, also.

Tiger--Thanks for the taco soup recipe! My kids will love it...I'll fix it this weekend. I'm waiting for the right time to go to the store..maybe when everyone is home eating supper:idea: The traffic is even a mess in our small city locally! I think I miss the specialness of Christmas due to the commercialism of it, also. One thing my family does differently is "gag gifts" at Christmas. It is hilarious and everyone looks more forward to that time than to the regular "drawing names" gifts part. My mom and dad are usually doing something funny during the year to warrant a funny gift or picture and everyone gets in on the fun!

SEMO--Hope all goes well on the food...the buffet sounds wonderful. You are just like me...I just love to have all my kids home with me...I am so thankful we are all healthy and have each other. On the diet front, I'm ready for boot camp, sarge!:drill:

Cafe-- feeling better, lady? Hope so. My daughter was just in a fender bender last night but she's okay....has a sore neck and back from hitting the lady who pulled out in front of her. I'm just happy she's not seriously hurt and no one was hurt in the other bigger car. Her car is a little crunched but I don't care as long as I have my little girl....

Juju---One can of Pepsi is 3 points on the Weight Watchers system. Ever thought about trying that? It's wonderful to be able to eat what you want but takes some motivation to stay within those points that are designated for your weight. I have to stay within a 22-27 pt. range per day for my weight. This 3FC site home page has a link to the fast food points you need to watch,etc, so that is helpful and the WW place you sign up at gives you all the details. It's something to think about.... (P.S. I don't work for Weight Watchers or anything! I'm just sharing what has worked for me and something I did for myself.) Others on this board watch calories and fat intake and try to eat balanced meals per day, along with drinking plenty of water. As for your ex, just remember, " The best revenge is living well" :s: and it sounds like you are like me and many others who have to learn to do just that!

Bye Jello! Hope Vegas is fun for you and Rich!

Dyan---congrats on finishing the job! Now you can concentrate on the holidays and on your leads for the new job. Some of us will have to live vicariously thru you to enjoy the bed stuff....that was so funny! Hope Santa is good to you...

DNW-- Amen, Woman! :cp: I will gladly share my throne with all (and hope not to knock myself off this coming week)! I'm sure I'll be ready for Boot Camp come Jan 1, along with everyone else. Thank you for the words of wisdom, it was inspiring.....

:grouphug: Merry Christmas to all who will be leaving soon for the holidays. Be safe and warm. I wish you all a nice, quiet time with family and friends during this Blessed season.

:angel: May your angel be with you, and your loved ones, on the roadways!:angel:

:cool: Peace,
"Bright"

Good Monday Morning Ladies!
DH had to go into work for a couple hours....so here I am. :s:
I am soo ready for Boot Camp. Maybe our new 3 point challenge should be named after it...."3 pt boot camp" :D

I made the mistake of opening a bag of Christmas Candy....just to have one piece. Yeah right, like that was going to happen. I need a *banging head on desk* smilie.

I saw where some recommended a book on another thread, The Fat of the Land: The obesity epidemic and how overweight americans can help themselves...by micheal fumento. I'm going to hit the library...see if I can find it. A good book always gives my motivation a boost, helps keep me inline.

Happy Holidays!
:df:

Hi girls, just stopping in to say hello. I'm at work and hope to get out of here in a couple of hours.

JuJu: I think when I started drinking diet soda I would pour just a little in a glass and then fill with regular, then I kept adding more diet and less regular until I became accustomed to the the taste. Of course it ruins you being able to buy a soda out anywhere. I did the same with de-caf coffee.

Hope you all have all the BLESSINGS OF THIS HOLIDAY!

Happy Monday!

For a week when hardly anyone is going to be around, this is starting off like a serious Monday. Phones ringing off the hook!

Sun is shining here but it's cold and windy. Brrr! I saw on the weather this a.m. that most of the country is going to be getting some weather over the next 2 days so stay safe, you all.

I had a great weekend! You know, looking back, it wasn't that I was feeling just marvelous or was out doing anything exciting. But I feel renewed. Maybe it was all the time I spent in my kitchen? I think I love to cook. :)

I'm really proud of myself because I made profiteroles for the first time. Add whipped cream and you have cream puffs. Okay, this is not helping my diet but they're my dad's favorite. Anyway the feeling of accomplishment when you're standing by the oven looking through the glass HOPING that they puff and then they do... It's a good thing. I'm no pastry chef but I was impressed.

~Cafe, slugging down the water and thinking happy boot camp thoughts.

Happy Boot Camp Thoughts:high: Me Too!

Merry Christmas Eve!

I'm snowed in so it will definitely be a White Christmas around here! I think it might be sleeting right now...I hear something hitting the windows!

Tiger---thanks for the taco soup recipe---we are still eating it!

Cafe---what are profiteroles? Sound yummy!

SEMO---got any snow, girl? Kids making it in okay?

Jujubee--- how are things? Christmas is in the middle of the week and one day so boot camp will be here before you know it..hang in there.

My scale shows I have lost again this week but I don't trust it--my WW scale is about 1-2# different than the home scale. Hopefully, I'm just maintaining.

Off to shovel snow and sleet off this sidewalk!

:wave: "Bright"

Hi all.

I seem to be one of 5 people on my floor at work today. It's a ghost town! That's okay, I've completely decluttered my office. Now I have 5 items I've got to figure out a way to get rid of, but other than that things are looking pretty spiffy around here. I could dig deeper in my file cabinet and clean that out, but who's looking?

Bright, the profiterole is the puff pastry part of a cream puff. You can fill them with lots of things, but I like whipped cream and a little chocolate sauce over the top.

I'll probably check in again on Thursday.

Merry Xmas to all and to all a good night...I really love you all for always being here and making me feel like one of your own...it's nice to make new friends after all these years...and when they are as great and as open and kind as you all are...well what can I say...hope you get all your wishing for....I have!!

Good Morning, I hope you all had a nice Christmas and Santa brought you everything that you wanted.

I'm glad these holiday parties are over for the most part since I gained a few of those lost pounds back. Just gotta get through New Years Eve which shouldn't be too difficult since I don't have any plans other than I have to work all day. This is kinda neat though, only have work for 2 days then another weekend. Think I could get used to that! We also have several birthdays right after Christmas, forgot about that so I guess that means birthday parties. Now if I can just get the wrapping paper trash out and my house cleaned up I'll be a happy camper. Well I've rambled enough, better go get ready for work.

LJ

Happy Holidays!

I'm home with a sick one today.... she barely made it thru present opening yesterday before having to lie down. Must be viruses going around. :headache:

We made it thru, girls, but I know I ate too much yesterday. My family bakes alot and points went out the window for a day! :nono:

But....boot camp starts soon. :drill:

Huntress---you are such an early bird! Hope those parties are fun. Jan. 2 will be here soon. Hang in there, girl! We got cute shorts and tops to buy yet for the summer after we lose these pounds!

Cafe---is that what we call cream puffs that some bakeries put delicious pudding and stuff in? Oooh...I love them! Can barely eat a whole one these days but I bet they are scrumptious!

Hey to everyone else: Tiger, SEMO, DNW,Tiff, Kayla, Jello, Dyan, and JuJu...I know you all are either traveling or visiting. Hope all is well.

I missed my WW weigh- in Tues. due to the snow. I guess I've got to weigh later in the week? I've never missed so I'm not sure... Would have rather did it Tues. before the massive over points day.:^: But , oh well....

Gotta go....will stop by later :) "Bright"

DNW- You're right. We are blessed to have our little support network here. I think that calls for a hug. :grouphug:

Huntress- You sound like me, I love having people around and I like getting things whipped back into shape right after they go - before I have a chance to give up.

Bright- Yes, that's the stuff. You can use lots of different kinds of fillings in them... not necessarily sweet. And you make eclairs with the same puff pastry shaped differently.

I've gained a couple of pounds, too. I'm going to challenge myself to go ALL-OUT in January. I can do anything for 31 days. I need the kind of re-energizing boost that some SUCCESS will give me. But I've got to jump back in with both feet. You're right, Bright, summer clothes are just around the corner...

Well here it is the 26th and I gained back 6.5 lbs. in 3 weeks, so I had a bowl of oatmeal with a banana and some raisins this morning, and was very glad of it. We were by my inlaws yesterday and I had the last of the sugar and fat that I am going to attempt for this year...had a literal stomach "ache" all day. All that sugar and fat the past several days has done me in and I will be glad to get back to healthy clean food and exercise! My body doesn't really want this crap anymore. Also I worked so hard to get the 13 off, putting 6.5 back really sucks big time...on to boot camp!!

I had a nice Xmas. Deadnurse got me a gold locket, among other things, that has a mother and child in a blue and white stone, on a gold heart. Now you would think this would be odd because I don't have any children. However, my DN told me he knows how much I have been missing my mother this year, even though it is 7 years since, she's passed away. This year for some reason has been particularly difficult, and I don't know why. So he made photos of her (that I already have) very small, and put them in the locket...it was a beautiful and thoughtful surprise. He said that now I could have her close to me all the time. Oh well just thought I would share that...

Glad to see that Semo,Tiger, Cafe, Brighter, Huntress and JuJubee are all ready for the new January 2003 Challenge. Where's our Tiffany though!

I was thinking we could also work on changing one eating behavior, just a small one and make it an additional point, and add that to the 3 points of the water, food, and exercise, because if we can change one behavior with the food, then that is very good. Mine would be having a no-fat, no-sugar yogurt or some cottage cheese on one rice cake at night when I have hunger pains instead of cheese and crackers. What's your's?

Good idea, DNW! I'm trying to think of which thing I would want to change! I think it would still have to be....no food after 8 pm. That's a toughie for me. The locket is precious---you've got a great guy there...not many of those around anymore.

Cafe--I think I could use a 31 day "wake up", also. Seems like I should at least be at -10 by now. Maybe that would help! Today has not been a very good food day....being at home with this much food around is never good!

Oh well, looks like off to work tomorrow and back on track!

Talk to you all later...

"Bright"

Sorry ladies, I just have a minute but I wanted to say "HI" and tell you to all have a nice weekend.

LJ

I'm at work today, but won't be back until the 2nd..... WooHoo.

Okay, so we're all geared up for Januany 1st, right? I'm starting just as soon as I eat my blackeyed peas and hog jowl...... I've had lousy luck lately but I'm afraid that it could be worst, so I have to eat the peas..........

Gotta run, you gals have a great day.

DNW - the whole locket thing is so touching, what a precious gift!

I love your suggestion about changing one behavior. I just can't decide what to choose! I'll be giving it some thought.

I'm getting a lot done here with no one around, so I'm not going to linger over my post.

But first, I'll add a little pre-bootcamp cheeriness, since I'm thinking about it.

:drill:

What are YOU going to do this weekend? I'm going to write my bootcamp-readiness list and check it twice.

- plan menus
- buy healthy food at grocery (do I need a new water filter?)
- find my work out clothes & shoes and get them ready to use
- find/buy workout videos
- dust off scale, which hasn't seen my behind for a while
- make motivational messages to stick where I need them
- clean the grunge out of water bottles or buy new ones. fill them up and put in the fridge.
- figure out what I need for car/office to keep me going ( healthy non-perishable snacks? some bottled water for the filing cabinet for when I'm too busy to go fill up? extra workout clothes?) and put it by the door to bring the next time I'm going.
- decide what one behavior I'm going to change
- gather whatever I need to keep track of my daily points
- find headphones, batteries, tape/cds to keep me going and put them with my workout gear
- brainstorm about non-food treats to give myself so I don't feel deprived. good-smelling lotion in the pantry to put on instead of grabbing a snack when I don't need one? a grab basket with toenail-polishing equipment by the TV to give me something to do besides eat while I'm watching?

What did I miss???? I'll keep adding things...

Cafe - You drill seargent you! Go girl go!

As the new year quickly approaches I am feeling melancholy. I didn't lose all the weight I wanted to this year, but I did lose some so that's OK. I've managed to gain back the couple of pounds that I lost before the holiday parties began but then again that means no holiday weight gain either. I am going to do my official weigh-in on Jan 1st and just go from there and not look back. I have decided to get myself a journal, not so much for writing down daily food intake, etc but just to keep a track of what's going on in my life. I figure that way at the end of next year I can look back on what I've done in writing instead of depending on just memory. Maybe it will also help me form some sort of pattern of behaviors that either are beneficial or detrimental to my weight loss efforts.

Going shopping with my sister-in-law today to look for her wedding dress. I'm so excited for her, her husband to be is really nice and will make her happy I'm sure. She deserves it too after all the years she put up with that jerk she was married to before.

Hope you all have a nice weekend.

Brighterdays - are you still snowbound?

LJ

Huntress: Remember what I wrote about some time ago that my therapist told me....about if you didn't lose that wasn't a negative, it was positive, and if you lost it was a positive, and only if you gained more weight than when you started out that was a negative. So from where I sit you are still working in positive numbers. I did gain back some weight over the holidays and I don't see how anybody who entertained did not...although we have some amazing women on this site and these threads, so if you lost over the holidays...God bless you and I wish I had the discipline and self-love to be that strong...but everyday I am getting better and better. I still weight less this Dec. 28th than I did last year this time and for that I have a lot of gratitude.

Semo: What are hog jowls?? And are they really good? I mean I cook pork neck and shin bones in my italian gravy, is it something like that?

Cafe and Brighter: Thanks for your kind words about the locket...I didn't mean to brag I just thought it was amazing that the man who drops his socks and underwear right next to the clothes hamper could be this thoughtful...somehow the locket balances out some of the major annoyances of being married. I lived alone for 22 1/2 years before I got married at 43 1/2 and still I am not used to living with a man, or anyone else for that matter.

Tiger and Jello: Hope you guys are OK and having a ball over the holidays.

Tiffany: We still long to hear from you no matter what shape you're in...we care about you!!

Jujubee: How are you doing?

Happy Weekend to all!

I'm ready for the boot camp philosophy but concentrating this weekend on preventing the horrible 3 day hormonal headaches I get (which are due this week, by my calculations). I'm adding a bit of caffeine to my days (which is tough since I have decaffed myself months ago!) to see if it is the magical solution. For some reason, I do not seem to have them really bad every month....just trying to experiment with foods/drink and find something I can live with....

Cafe---I like your list....I started one myself and I will print it out on my computer later:
*organize and type out a grocery list that follows the aisles of the store (borrowed from Cafe)

* return to my 2-3 days/wk gym workouts (haven't been there for about 2 wks now!)

*change that one behavior (borrowed from DNW)

*set goals and non-food rewards

*finish that afghan that sits half crocheted by my tv chair

*journal my thoughts (borrowed from huntress!)

Huntress---not snowbound right now but there are mountains of the stuff on each street corner! Should be melting today....

SEMO---my black eyed peas will be cooking on Jan 1rst, also.

Missed my weigh in this week---stayed home 3 days due to snow, sick child, holidays and they said I need to use my missed meeting voucher for this week. I hope I haven't gained but who knows? It's been a rough week and my home scale is much kinder than the WW one!

Off to make goals official in black and white!

Take care all,

"Bright"

Also...by the way, are we starting a new thread on Jan. 1st? Should we call it the January 2003 :drill: Boot Camp Thread

I will star the thread if no one minds, or someone else can start it...I don't want to overstep my welcome here.

Good Afternoon Ladies, just thought I would stop in and see if anything was going on. Looks as if you guys have some good plans laid out for the New Year. I haven't put my list together yet, but I do know that number one on my list will be 'BE KINDER TO MYSELF" I've been unhappy long enough about not meeting certain goals that were near impossible to reach in the first place. So going forward I will be happy with any results that are Positive no matter how long it takes to get there. I read somewhere "It's not the destination that makes us happy it the journey."

DNW: Hog Jowl is sort like bacon but in thick slabs. I don't know where the eating blackeyed peas and hog jowl would bring you good luck came from, but we had to eat them even when we were children. (so it goes back awhile!) I put a little of the jowl in with the peas when I cook them for seasoning. It's very salty and fatty meat. Oh BTW, hug your DN for us, he sounds like a terrific guy, and no it did not sound as if you were bragging. And even if you were we like to hear about good things that happen to our friends. ;)

Hope ya'll are having a great weekend.

Chow.

Good Morning Ladies

DNW - Thank you so much for the kind words. You are right about having a positive attitude. I need to do away with the negative. I think your idea about the thread is great and please by all means start the thread. No one will feel like you are stepping on any toes I'm sure. Were you an only child? Your locket sounds beautiful and it was very thoughful of your DH. I guess men do surprise us after all. I have always had black eyed peas as well as cabbage for New Years. Don't use hog jowl in mine just some bacon. My best friends mother also cooks new potatoes, she says for new beginnings. I like that.

Brighterdays - Glad to see that you're out of the white stuff for now and can get out and about. Have a safe and happy new year.

SEMO - Can I steal your "be kinder to myself"? Think I need this one, I have way too many negative people in my life hence me always being too hard on myself.

Did ya'll hear about the 71 car pile up here in Houston on Saturday? When I left to go shopping with my SIL it was pretty foggy but I didn't have any problems where I was going. We heard about it on the radio later, sounded pretty bad. Thank the lord no one was killed but there were many people hurt.
We ended up walking the mall for 4 hours and boy did my feel hurt after that, stupid me wore my boots instead of tennis shoes. LOL, guess I got some exercise anyway. Hope it was enough to walk off that huge breakfast we ate before we went to the mall. Worst part is I still have some gifts to return/exchange and will be going back in the next few days. Surprisingly there were hardly any people at the mall. I was shocked because I expected it to be packed with people.

Anyways, guess I'd better get moving have to go to my niece's 10th birthday party today and I have a million things to do beforehand.

LJ

I was so fortunate to have the whole Christmas week off, and I do mean OFF!!! I went off my diet and everything. Not too bad, I tried not to 'Make-up" for all the good food I missed while trying to be good. That is what I usually do. Still I'm sure I gained a pound or two but now I'm back on plan with a VENGEANCE!!!! Heck, I'm not waiting for the 1st to start BOOT CAMP!!!!

Deadnursewife: Your husband sounds like a sweetheart. Although I have no desire to ever have a man in my life again, I do sometimes miss those sweet gestures that can just make your heart melt.
I also feel the same as you. Sick of the sugar and fat!!! Mind you it tasted great but I was so sluggish and felt just plain crappy! Also, eating so much fat made me have to ummmm, stay close to a bathroom......really close. It was awful.

Cafe976: I love your list. Here is a quicky one of mine!
*Plan menus. Not just for myself but for my kids. I was really bad this past month getting them fast food and crap several times a week because I can never think of anything to make, or I can think of something but I'm missing the ingredients, or they're frozen.
*Buy more fruits and veggies and include it with every meal. 5 a day from now on!!!!!
*Take my dogs for a walk everyday. They need it as much as I do.
*Finally get around to figuring out my tiny mp3 to take on my walks/workouts.
*And I know this one isn't diet related but it is another of my New Year's Resolutions......GET OUT OF DEBT.

Brighterdays: Hope your little one is doing better. My son was a little sick. He is usually a huge faker so I tend not to believe him. He will say he threw up when all he does is spit in the toilet. I kind of blew him off the first day until I saw him throw up. Boy did I feel bad. I made it up to him with lots of babying.
Thanks for the info on the number of points for Pepsi. I have often thought if I could find a plan that would allow me these indulgences I could make it work. Unfortunately there are no weight watchers meetings in my area. There on line thing seems kind of expensive for what it is. Maybe I'll look into buying the supplies on ebay or something.

Semo: There are two sayings that I have found to be literally life altering. One of them is your "It's not the destination that makes us happy, it's the journey". I remember when I first heard it, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I would always say I will be happy when I lose weight or when I get this or that. I never lived for today. I try to be aware of that now but sometimes I do find myself delaying my happiness until I reach a goal. I think I'm going to add that one to my list. The other saying was when I was grieving terribly over my divorce. I just could not get over it and go on with my life. I remember watching an episode of Frazier where he gave some advice to a caller. He said you're not mourning the loss of your husband, you're mourning the loss of how you thought your life would be (not an exact quote, but words to that effect). Boy was that right on. I had always dreamed of being married and raising my kids, being a stay at home mom. When my husband left me not only did I lose him but I also had to go out and find a job and support my kids. Anyway, thanks for the reminder of that important message.

I go see my Dr. on Tuesday and I'm hoping he will prescribe me some more Phentermine. It has really helped me tremendously.

Well everybody take care and have a wonderful New Years Eve. I have to work New Years day so my butt will be in bed at midnight. I feel bad for the kids but what can I do. Oooh, I need to add that to my list too, stop being consumed by guilt!!!!

Hi Everybody!

DNW: what an excellent idea! a new thread for a new year with a new name... Sounds like a winner to me!

Huntress: didn't hear about the accident but I'm sure it was horrible... mall walking for 4 hours had to burn off that breakfast, girl! Got a few returns myself but haven't got the courage up to try the mall yet. Hope you have fun at the birthday party!

JuJu: I've got alot of the same goals as you. I stopped beating myself up for not being able to be two parents a long time ago....the kids know I'm here as much as I can be(working full time and commuting) and I love them all, try to be fair with them all, and try to support all their dreams and ideas. That's about all you can do....when they get older it is a little easier to figure out if they are sick or wanting to get out of something or needing alot of attention. My youngest was in the school nurse's office often when he was little but he's better now... one time last year. That sucks that you have no WW in your area....I'm not sure if the online is worth it either but all you need is a good scale, a day each week to weigh in, some WW winning points books, and YOUR FRIENDS HERE and you've got a running start!

SEMO--I was taught that you make foods that SWELL up double their size to represent a prosperous new year ( beans, black-eyed peas, etc.) I'm thinking the hog jowl is for seasoning since we use ham.

"Stop and breathe...this moment is temporary"

"Bright" (member of the Jan 2003 Boot Camp Team)

Good Morning!
Lots of reading to catch up on this morning. My head is still spin'n.

Been working like crazy on the downstairs. Building walls and starting to take shape! One more wall....some more electrical....then insulation....starting to see the finish line! DH is working his butt off...I'm moral support. :lol: Really, I help whenever he tells me to do something...hold this, move that...

I also think I've hit the sugar limit. Run down and tired. My body is telling me something....hmmm

DNW, DN sounds very thoughtful, locket sounds nice. I hear ya on the socks NEXT to the hamper! men.

DH and I didn't buy gifts for each other this year. Putting all we can$ into the downstairs and buying a few other things for the household.
Kids got way too much stuff. All the more reason to get the downstairs finsished!

Cafe, I'm working on my list!

Someone told me about a website called allrecipes.com.
I haven't tried it out yet. Hope I got the name right. It's suppose to be a really good site.

Off to clean the kitchen before the kids wake up.
:df:

Wow! So many posts over the weekend.

Myself, I got a lot done around the house this weekend, so that feels really good. However, the way it turned out DH and I were doing some cleaning and decluttering together so I only did some of my "packing" for my trip to bootcamp. But I loved what I did and that makes all the difference.

We had done a major remodel in the 2nd half of '01... [btw - I'm thrilled for you, Tiger, to see things come together at last!!] and can you believe that it wasn't done on time? We had stayed with my parents for a couple of months, but we had to move back in when everything was still a shambles. (80% of the walls painted, trim on but not painted, no doors hung, a thick coating of construction dirt on everything...)

With DH in school FT and me working FT... A year later we're unpacking the last of the boxes that we threw things into when we moved out and we are finally (!) beginning to put on last touches, like hanging the first picture back up on the wall yesterday. :)

This morning we were up at 5:30. I would have gone to the gym, too, except that I had a massage yesterday which stirred up a lot of soreness in my poor neck. [Still, it's better to work it now than deal with scar tissue later.] But I needed to lay in a hot bath, not hit the bricks. However, this waking up early is part of my MASTER PLAN!! Mwahaha.

I like that "Be Kinder to Myself," SEMO. That is a great way to look at it. Myself, I don't make new year's resolutions, but my goal for 2003 is to Try to Live Each Day with Spiritual Consciousness and Balance.

Looking back on 2002, I had to be impressed with the amount of effort I put into many different schemes to try to better my life... But I still felt I hadn't accomplished anything specific and lasting... Overall I feel I could have been more effective if I had focused on the CORE instead of over-focusing on one facet of life at a time... With balance I could do all these things and more - a little bit at a time.

Weight loss will definitely be part of 2003 for me. That's why it's so important to take a little time and get organized and stay organized for it. Then it will be easier to just do something positive to contribute to my goal at any given time, without disrupting everything else.

That's why all of you are so important - besides the fun we have, you keep me thinking about what choices I can make TODAY that will make a difference!

Hm. Looks like I wrote a book. Guess that's enough for the moment, LOL!

Happy New Year!! Well, almost....

I'm back. I'm not rich but we had a great time in Vegas! Won a little. Lost a little. Weather was collllddddd!! It surprised us. So we just had to stay in the casinos. :p Unfortunately, I didn't do all the walking that I planned to do. I also completely lost track of points, calories, water, etc. Ah well. It was a vacation after all, right? :^:

One big mistake in planning. Our flight home didn't leave Vegas until around midnight Christmas Day. We had to check out at 11 AM and just bum around until flight time. We were exhausted!!! And I never saw so many people in one place in my life!!! I thought it wouldn't be busy on Christmas. Wrong! We ended up going to the airport about 6 hours early for our flight and, when we checked in, the lady at the desk felt sorry for us and bumped us up to first class! :cool: Too bad I couldn't enjoy it. I fell asleep just as we took off and woke up upon landing! Still I could get used to travelling like that.

Well, enough about all that. Time to start planning the next vacation, right? ;)

Also time for li'l Jello to start getting more serious about this weight loss thing, eh? 2003 is going to be the year I finally reach my goal weight at WW. In fact, I'm was hoping by summer but have decided to be more realistic. As long as I can go to next year's Christmas parties wearing something black and "slinky".....

Meanwhile, I'm going to work on a few short term goals. First day of spring is March 20 or 21 or so. Let's call it 11 weeks....

I'm thinking.... I'm thinking.... :chin:

Have to go back and read all your posts now! Hope to check in again soon. If not, I'll see you all on our new thread. BTW, I think there's already a "boot camp" group???? We'd better be careful....

Love to you all!

Hello, Hello, Hello......

Wow! I've missed so much. i have been one busy camper. Already got all the Christmas stuff packed up and back into storage. Christmas was actually nice this year, all up until we went to SIL. Long story short, I was ready to leave before we got there. Dh surprised me w. so very nice gifts, including an electric shaver (I guess he'll benefit fromthat too! :o ), a palm pilot and for an Anniversary/ Christmas gift, a 3 stone diamond ring. The whole, past, present, future thing. I love it and he was so excited that he had to give it to me early. He was just so darn cute. Our anniversary is tomorrow (New Year's Eve), 7 years, sure have flown by. We don't have any plans, except to stay home and bring home the New Year w/ the kids.

Oh yeah....real quick, cause I am pooped! I got a job!!! I start on Thursday the 2nd. It's super close to home w/ flexible hours and lots more moola! YIPPEE.....
I promise to try to get on more, but it's super hard from home. But know that I've missed you wonderful ladies!

I too am ready to start boot camp!

Hi Girls and let me WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Okay, back to posting my list for the New Year.

1. I will only be weighing myself on the first day of each month.

2. I will take measurments on the first day of each month. (sometimes you have inches lost and not weight)

3. Will do the best that I can at each meal. (Going back to what has worked in the past)

4. Will enjoy a free night out once a week.

5. Be forgiving if I slip and fall.

6. Exercise, exercise, exercise.

That's all I can think of right now, I will adjust as I go along.

Well I went for my 4 month check up with my Dr. In the last 4 months I lost 3 pounds (actually lost more, gained back, lost more, etc...). I did get a nasty scolding about my cholesterol which is over 300 and my triglycerides which are 800. Yikes!!! He is going to put me on glucophage. Does anybody know anything about this stuff? I'm about to do a search on it now. He said he didn't want me to go on the phentermine and to wait. He also referred me to their weight loss program that is starting in Jan. It costs 200.00 and you go to weekly meetings. I'm thinking of doing this instead of weight watchers. I don't know, it seems like such a waste of money. I KNOW how to eat right and all the nutrition stuff. I know all about exercise (I worked at a gym for years in my younger days). I just can't get myself to do it.
Oh well, any of you that has info on glucophage please please pass it on.
THanks

JuJu, girl we've got to get those numbers down girl....... I have trouble with my cholestrol and triglycerides too. I did get mine way down last year by eating low fat and exercising and then fell off the wagon. I find that if I really don't want to exercise, and I can make up the best excuses not to, I just say to myself I'll do this for 15 minutes and then if I don't want to anymore I'll quit. 9 times out of 10 I'll go ahead and finish the 30 minutes or finish out the mile, etc. Getting started is the hard part. I've started an Exercise Challenge thread for January, I would love for you to join us, you would be suprised how much it helps.

Dyanm, congrats on the new job. I sure hope you can make time to post, I've missed you. Gosh all these Hubbies are doing a great job with you gals. And HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, AND mannnnnnyyy mooooooooorrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeee!

DH and I are going out to eat and then to a movie tonight, I know, I know not very exciting but when you're my age that's a BIG NIGHT! :lol:

Jello, we were hoping that you would win big time and then remember all your buddies with a trip back to Vegas! I've only been once and had a great time, and it was cold then too. It was in August but they had a cool snap go through and we nearly froze with only summer clothes during the evening hours.

DNW: Hope your feeling better. Any plans to see the New Year in?

Bright, raining all day here what about your area?

Cafe, Oh man a massage......... that sounds so goooooood!

Tig, hang in there, it will be so nice when it's all done. (Then you can thow those youngens down there and shut the door.) :o Oh did I say that??????

Huntress: Did you find any bargains on your shopping marathon? I haven't been out since Christmas, and you know what, I sort of missed it. My sister and I usually go after Christmas and look for bargains but we decided not to this year. All day Christmas we kept asking each other are we going, are we going. I think we wanted the other to give in and say we should go. It's terrible to be broke.

Sorry if I've missed anyone, think I'm going to head home. Oh did I tell you that, out of the kindness of my heart, I volunteered to work today? Boss was about to spaz cause no one was going to be here to run the computers......... need I say more? I'll be taking two days off in the place ot this one worked tho. heehee.

Nice to see you, Jello and Dyan!!

I don't have time to say much because I'm TRYING to leave work...

Tomorrow a couple of sets of friends are coming over and I'll have 4 kiddies under 5 in my place. I'm excited. But I'm not going to eat much, oh no!! Relaxing at home, cooking up a storm... regardless it's still BOOT CAMP, baby!! Time to get my rear in gear and lose some flab.

Exercise, Diet and Water!! I'm so ready. I'm pumped. The next (what did you say Jello?) 11 weeks? are usually hard for me each year. Like I just burrow down and survive them. But this year - OH NO. I'm dreaming of Tahiti, Fiji and Hawaii. I'm thinking of swimsuits, suntan oil and summer clothes. I'm getting READY for the warmer season, not just waiting for it. Summer - here we come!

Probably missed all you other "working gals" today. Yes, I'm still at work at 4:40PM. Just about the only one. This sux!! :p But I'm scoring a few brownie points with the boss at least. Reviews are coming next month and I've got a few things to say!!!

Until that time, however, I want to wish you all a very happy happy happy happy New Year!!!! :D

Much love to you all!!!

(Even you Ms. Tiffany!!!! Come "home" soon!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I'm ready for boot camp, just gotta get past the next couple of days.

Hey Cafe - I hear ya', I'm thinking about summer clothes too and I think we've got a head start on this thing. Last year I waited unil the end of April to get going but not this time.

Juju - I know you think that the classes are a waste of money, but you know what maybe it's just what you need. Your doctor is only trying to help you and with your cholestrol so high I would think that itself would be a tremendous motivator since you have little ones to raise. I don't know anything about the medication you were talking about but the last time I had mine checked my triglecerides were over 200 and my doctor told me to cut back on starchy stuff. Basically sweets and white flour products. I'm sorry if I've come off a bit harsh, but being a single parent I know how important it is to take good care of yourself so you can be around to watch your little ones grow up.

Jello - Sorry you had to work so late on New Years Eve, try to go out and relax and have some fun today.

SEMO - We were basically looking for my SIL's wedding dress and weren't bargain hunting. I'm not much of a shopper like that.

Dyan - Congrats on your new job! It sounds like you will be much better off there than the old job, hope everything goes great for you.

Tigerlily - Don't work yourself so much that you forget about us OK.

Brighterdays - Hope you survived all the holidays and are doing well. Kick those kids off that computer.........LOL

Tiffany - If you're out there somewhere lurking, come out come out wherever you are. It's a brand new year, so come start fresh with us.

I'm starting at the gym next week and my mom and I have decided to jump start our weight loss efforts by doing a modified version of the cabbage soup diet next week then it will be back to what I know works for me. I figured it wouldn't hurt me to do it for 5 days. I forgot to get on the scale this morning when I got up at 2:30 am (go figure) so I'm gonna have to do my 1st weigh in tommorow.

Hope you all have a nice New Years Day!

LJ

Happy New Years to you all!!!!
I spent my New Years sleeping. I have to work today!!!!
I have another question for you guys.....
In general...how much weight do you have to lose to go down a size. I'm barely breathing in my 24's and wonder how much I have to lose to get them to fit, then to go into 22's etc? I know everybody is different and it depends on where you lose it etc... but I'm just talking in general. Also, I carry most of my weight in my belly. Very embarrasing to be mistaken for pregnant all the time.
Semo: Good idea about the way to get myself to workout. I'm going to try that tonight. My adorable little Beagle could really use a good walk. I'm also going to "try" stopping by the gym on the way home a couple of days a week. Got to get the weight training in too. My kids go back to school on Mon so maybe I can start doing that then.

Dyanm1: Congrats on the new job!!! How exciting for you. How flexible are your hours? I too have all my Christmas stuff down and packed away. I couldn't wait to get my house back. Your hubby sounds sweet, a real keeper. Count your blessings.

Cafe976: Hope your having fun with all those little ones. I miss that age!!!

Huntress: You're right You're right!!! I'm going to go to the class at the medical center instead of weight watchers. It will actually be cheaper because WW is 14.00 a week now, YIKES!!! This is 200.00 for 6 months. That's almost half the price! I do want to be around for my kids and grandkids. I seem to take after my dad, medically as he has all the same conditions I do but without the weight problem. He was recently diagnosed with Diabetes (type 2) and is really struggling with his health. I really want to take care of this NOW. Not only that but my kids are getting older and much as I hate to think this I believe the day will come when they will embarrassed of how I look.

I'm ready for boot camp!!!!!

Hi all,

Heading to the boot camp thread today.....
"Bright"

Good Morning everyone!

WOW, I love this work a day or two have a day off, work another day then the weekend! I wonder if I could talk my boss into some kind of permanent schedule like this........nope, not gonna happen:lol:

My official starting weight for Jan 2003 is (drum roll) 190.

Has DNW started the new thread? I didn't even look just went right to my familiar place, will check after I post this.

Juju - Congratulations on making your decision, I know you will be glad you did. There are lots of health problems in my family too, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. Those were my main motivators especially since I gained a lot of weight a few years ago and began experiencing lots of aches and pains and had some problems. My mother takes a purse full of pills everyday just to manage her problems and I don't want to find myself in her shoes a few years from now. I know that if she lost some of her weight some of those problems would ease up but even though she tries she just can't seem to stick to it. It makes me angry with her because she is shortening her life span . I don't want my children to feel this way about me especially since I am the only parent they have since their dad died a few years ago.

Gotta go get ready for work, I have to get in early to do some backups on my computer. Have a great day all!

LJ