Support Groups - 10 Lbs at a Time: #163 'Tis the Season to Lose!

Hey guys! Thanksgiving is over, so I thought I would start a new thread. Day 2 in the zone went well. Got a party on both Friday and Saturday nights (little concerned about both).

Work is busy, which is nice for a change. And my husband is dieting to, so we are all on the bandwagon!

Here's to everyone reaching their goal - and staying OP for a minute, an hour, a day, a week...we can do it!

Talk to you soon!

Meg

Hi ladies,
Just checking in to report.. they changed son's surgery from today to yesterday, so it is all over now... but the pain and healing for him.... the operation lasted 7 hours, he is now in intensive care for several days.. I just called the hospital, as it is 2 hrs away, and he is still in lots of pain and being given massive dosages of pain relief,, I believe its morphine.. which is making him nauses.. poor guy... I tell you I held out well yesterday through all the waiting, but after the doctor came out to tell us he did well thru it all, and showed us the before and after pictures, I broke down... happy tears I guess, relief it was over and sadness to see what he has to live with the rest of his life.. his spine looked like an ess curve before, now he has a metal rod up his spine from the 4th vertebrae at the pelvic to between his shoulder blades... they had to build up his back on top cause it was caved in... they had to take bone out of his hip,*(of course they take it from the side that was giving him the most pain before) to fuse around the rod along with metal pins, which are in reality real metal screws...and they also had to use cadaver bone to help shore it up... to see all that in the xrays was horrible.. BUT the good news is he has full movement of all his extremities and the feeling is normal also..

He has not yet been out of bed,, still to much pain.. and he has to wait till they get his brace ready.. but that should happen later today... I still feel very concerned, I cannot stand to see a loved one looking so pale and in such pain and not be able to do anything about it.. as I am sure you all know what I mean...

I am sorry to lay all this on you guys.. but my husband (who by the way is getting along well now since his surgery 2 weeks ago.. he can now walk on his leg again... whooooopppeeee... but still cannot drive, can't bend it to well yet.) is very squeamish about such things and will not let me talk about it.... so I am using you guys again as my sounding board.

My sil went with me yesterday to help sit out the long wait, she is an angel from heaven...

My eating has been sporadic... but hopefully once I get my son home and settled in, things will get back to normal and I can do better.

Hope everyone is having a good op day.. and thank you all for listening.

Dahlia

Dear Dahlia,

I just wanted to tell you that my thoughts and prayers will be with you and your son all day. Thank goodness that everything went well. Stay strong and try and get some rest. We are here for you!:grouphug:

Meg

Dahlia, hugs to you! What a time you've been through the past few days. We're here to be your sounding board anytime and prayers to your son and of course you!

Take care,
Pam

Dalhia,

I just had to write and let you know I am praying for your son, I personally know the kind of pain he is going through, because I had simular surgery 18 years ago. I fell off a horse and shattered a vertibra near the waist. They operated and took out all the bone chips, then using bone from my right hip, they fused three vertibra and put in 2 stainless steel rods. That is why I know he will do just fine - They will have him up very soon and he will begin the recovery. Every day will be a little better. Just tell him to hang in there and do what the doctors tell him. He may have some limitations, like finding it difficult bending and twisting but otherwise he should be able to do everything he wants and after healing the pain goes away completely. At least it did in my case. I feel so fortunate to be able to walk and be pain free! I am glad your son's surgery is over and went well. I know his surgery is'nt exactly the same, but I pray that he too will have a complete recovery and eventually be pain free.

Also I am glad to hear your husband is doing well too. I know husband's aren't always the best patients, but just hang in there and vent whenever you need to. We are all here for you anytime.

Well I am finally getting back on program after the thanksgiving holiday. I didn't do very well for a few days, but I have my motivation back and am eating right and have started working on the treadmill, so I hope to see that scale moving again soon.

:cb: :cb: Come on everyone, lets all get going, WE CAN DO THIS - EXERCISE, EAT ON PROGRAM = LOSE WEIGHT=REACH OUR GOALS

:wave: Hi to everyone I missed, may we all have an op day.

Happy Friday Girl!!

Just had to pop in and say hi and wish you all a good weekend.

Went to my weigh in last night and was down another 1.4 bringing me to.....drum roll please.....152.8!!!! I'm almost there!

Well I better get back to work. We're babysitting tomorrow for the boys (4 and 2) so it'll prove to be a fun night as I'm going to try baking cookies with their help. Should be an adventure LOL.

Have a good one.

Pam

CONGRATULATIONS PAM! what a fantastic achievement :D 54lbs!!! of fat..gone forever..YAAAAYYYY!!
I have very little or no motivation at the moment :( that is the reason i'm not posting very much these days..but..i'm working on it..think i'll find it easier once all the christmas festivities are over!
Have a great time with the boys and take it easy on those cookies ;)

Ladies,

I am tired so going to make this quick. Spent entire day with son in hospital and going back tomorrow and staying over, its a 2 hr. drive so I can spend Sunday also.. hope by then he will be stablized enough to be alone a day or two... they still have him in intensive care, they did get him to sit on bed and to stand by it today... they were going to get him to take a few steps but his heart rate is way to high, he is asleep and his heartrate is pumping around 150,, not good.....and he is anemic... he gave his own blood so he got that back plus his brothers... so far so good.

In the bed next to him was a lady, *whom the nurses told me used to weigh aroudn 450 pounds...* she was now quite thin.. so I asked her about it. She told me she lost 380 pounds in 18 and a half months simply by watching what she ate and drinking gallons of water.. she ate mostly poultry and fish, lots of veggies and she used mayo on her tuna and real sour cream when she ate it.. but she cut back on everything, but didn't give anything up entirely. And she said you have to expect to cheat. She didn't say what kind of exercise she did,, if any.. just emphasized drinking water... She was in for brain surgery, and she had had
a stomach blockage surgery a few months ago... oh she lost the weight back in 1982 and she has only gained back 20 pounds she said,, which she lost with her last surgery..

Well, that gave me incentive and encouragement...it can be done... and we are all here to prove it. So I'll check back in Sunday evening when I return home.. please keep my son in your prayers, we appreciate them.

take care and have an op weekend

Dahlia

PS Congratulations Pam.. you are an inspiration to all of us..:)

Dahlia, Sweetheart, hugs to you and a prayer sent for things to settle down for you and your darling son. He is so lucky to have you for a Mom. Please take care of you too!

Cathy, thanks for the celebration! You are my cheerleader! I know you will find your motivation and when you do, we'll be celebrating! Please don't give up on you!

Hope the rest of you gals are having a good time...the board is sure getting quiet again.

Take care and I'll let you know how babysitting went :)

Pam

Good morning everyone!

Dahlia, what a time for you and your family. I am glad that the support and care from this board help make things just a little bit easier.

Pam, thank god for you, hanging in there and proving to the rest of us that it can be done. You are so close. It really can be done! That is the motivation I need to keep hearing as I ride through this up and down place.

Cat, I hear you. I hope to at least maintain as we head into the Christmas season. I have such good intentions every day but for some reason my motivation is not what it was last year.

Grandma, I went to my bead class yesterday and am very pumped about getting back to the torch. I made an agreement with the studio to be able to go there and use their equipment for $10.00/hr rather than try to get organized to set up my own bead equipment before Christmas. I am cooking and at least it is not in the kitchen. I will post pics when I get the first bracelets done.

Meigg, Great to hear that hubby is serious about dieting too! It is so much easier when a partner is working with you. Good luck.

Will try to pop in here more regularly.
Have a good OP day everyone.

Karie

Hey everyone! Well, I lost the 5 pounds that I gained in Florida! I have been eating very little this week - but unfortunatley no exercise.

We thru a FABULOUS party last night for 40 people. Really got me in the spirit.

Now I am printing out our holiday cards on the computer - a picture of Dan with his cat "Sneak". I am sure all of our friends will think we are total freaks, but what can I do - the cats keep him sane!

Dan has lost 10 pounds this week. He is doing his own version of atkins/eat nothing/don't believe me when I tell him it is all water weight diet. :dizzy:

Anyway, apparently by us just cutting all carbs that can't be found in nature from our diets, and limiting those that do, we both seem to be doing well!

Talk to you soon!

Meg

Hello ladies,

Well, I am home tonight... and feeling much better about son.
They have removed all his wires, he was put in a regular room yesterday afternoon, and he is progressing well. They are weaning him from the narcotics unto pain pills, and he is walking, with assistance, but that is the first step. We will probably get to bring him home middle of the week if he continues to progress..... and I don't see any reason he shouldn't.. he is responding to the medication and his heart rate is still higher than it should be, but it within safe perimeters and going down.... :)
So all prayers and positive thoughts are truly appreciated and
I thank all of you who offered them....

As for me.. I don't have a clue,,, I will wait a few days before I weigh myself.... haven't eaten normal most of week... to stressed out... just grabbed what I could to sustain my energy....

Hope all are doing well, take care,
Dahlia

Hi Ladies,

Dahlia, I was so happy to hear about your son, it sounds like he has really started on the recovery process. Just take it one day at a time. The worst is over now, it is all a matter of time. I hope your dh continues to get better too. I will keep them both in my prayers. REMEMBER TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. If only for their sake. And never forget we are here for you!

Pam, it is wonderful that you have lost 54 lbs. What a great achievement. You are such an inspiration! And boy right now I need inspiration. All these Christmas parties and banquets have been very bad on my diet. Yesterday we had a family Christmas party and my sister in law always brings lots of homemade candies. I can resist most of it but the peanut butter fudge gets me every time. I HAD 4 PIECES - where has my selfcontrol gone - WHERE- WHERE. It seems to have disappeared completely!
Also, I seem to be taking larger portions when eating. I am not doing so good. I still make many good choices but too many other bad ones too. Plus, I am not exercising like I should. My motivation is in big trouble. - If I can't get back on program quickly, I fear, not only will I not lose the last 21 lbs needed to get to my goal, but I will start gaining back what I have already lost! :( :?:

HELP - I am not going to stop posting - Cat, I don't think that is the answer - We need to keep posting and keep inspiring each other. This board helped us get this far, and I know working with everyone is the only way to get us motivated and inspired to get back on plan. Believe me - I have not given up, I will never give up. Hearing about others successes, makes me know I can do it. I just have to push myself more. It can be done!

Karie, I feel your excitement about your project and I know your are ready to create. I get that same feeling when I am into a painting. And yes it does make you too busy to think about food, so maybe that is where I should start motivating myself. I have a painting in progress, but haven't been working on it lately. I will get it out and see if that helps. When you post the pics don't forget to tell me how I can view them, I am anxiously waiting. Remember I am a novice at this computer thing!

Meg it sounds like you and your husband are doing just great! Good luck to both of you. It does help to have two working at it. I wish I could motivate my husband to get started. He is under doctor's orders to lose, but just can't seem to start. Eating out and going to so many christmas parties isn't helping much either.


:cb: Hi to every one I missed. Good luck to all of us!!

Grandma G, please take a deep breath and center yourself. Remind yourself why you started on this journey and what you have to gain by staying the course and maintaining your new healthier lifestyle. You have done an amazing job and I for one am quite proud of you. We all struggle with our motivation and determination...it's just part of the journey. What counts is that no matter what kind of day you had remember that your next meal is ALWAYS A FRESH START. Think about the choices you made and move on. Dwelling on a past choice can often times make us think more negative thoughts. Don't feed the guilt anymore, just get right back on track with your next meal. I promise you we will all get through this holiday season.

Karie, your project sounds great and I'm so happy you were able to work out a deal for the studio time. Awesome..

Dahlia, I'm relieved to hear your son is doing better and I'm willing to bet his Mom is to :) Take care of you!

Meigg, you and Dan are doing so well. It's great to find something that works for you. Keep up the good work.

Cat, where are you? Please don't stop posting.

Well the boys were an absolute riot on Saturday but I did have a few too many cookies so now they have gone to a far away place where I can't get at them....(my husbands offide) I figure let his co-workers deal with their own demons...I don't want 'em in my house anymore. The boys weren't interested in helping Auntie Pam bake but Devon very graciously offered to eat them while he watched his movie :) Kids, you just gotta love their take on things.

Have a great day and wish me luck on my mid term tomorrow.

Pam

Morning Ladies :wave: Pam..GOOD LUCK !!!! you'll do great :D I'm not going to quit posting :nono: i just meant i have'nt much to tell you :lol: well..at least on the dieting front :(
I've been very busy around the house this week..organising stuff and throwing things out that i no longer need..i threw out my old treadmill the other day..hubby said "leave it at the bottom of the drive with a 'free' sign on it" we did and it was gone within the hour..i'm wondering if someone has put a bow on it and given it to their spouse for a christmas present :lol: My closet is a dream..
everything in it's place..the kitchen too! I changed everything around in my Gym (dusted it off too :lol: ) and arranged everything in front of a huge mirror so i can watch my form when i exercise like they do in some fitness clubs..i figure if i see everything giggling it might inspire me to do more :rolleyes:
I'm just about to get my jigsaw out and cut some wood up to make some corner shelves to store all my gardening bits and pieces..then i'm going to put some christmas decorations up..i said i was going to do it a couple of days ago but never got around to it..but i will today.

I wasn't done and hit the wrong key which posted before its time... read next one....

Hi ladies,

First of all..:lol: Cathy, I got a chuckle out of your post.. you put up a mirror so you can see everything giggling.... I believe you mean... jiggling... but I like giggling.... :lol: that was cute..

We just brought my son home.. after the hour and a half drive home from the hospital he is exhausted.. it was an ordeal for him... he is up sleeping right now... the poor kid has been through a lot, and he is trying so hard to not be a burden... gotta love the guy... the nurses all said he was a perfect patient.. he had lots of patience..;)

Well, I haven't lost anything, but I have remained the same. Am going to be fixing well balanced meals for son, so hopefully it will help us all.

well, better get somethings going here.. have my decorations up, will do the tree this weekend when other son gets home...have a great op day all and take care..

Dahlia

Good Morning Girls.

Just popping in to say hi. My sister phoned yesterday to tell me that she and her boyfriend got engaged! The wedding is for October 2003 so more incentive to make sure I maintain my goal. She's on cloud 9 and just grinnng like a bandit. It's so contagious. I'm grinning ear to ear. She popped in at work this morning to show me her ring and to get a big sister hug. She's so cute.

Have a great day all.

Pam

:lol: :lol: yes..i did mean jiggling Dahlia :lol: it was ME that was giggling :lol: glad to hear your DS is home..hopefully you can get back to some sort of routine and look forward to a wonderful holiday season with your family.
Pam..congrats to little Sis..you're going to look fabulous in the pic's..hope we get to see lots :D
I've had a really busy day..shopping..putting shelves up..and christmas tree lights (outside in the rain :( ) and i'm beat..be back in the morning :wave:

Hi Ladies,

Thank you for the pep talk Pam, it really helped. I did just what you said and I am back with the program. You are right, I still have all the same reasons for wanting to lose weight and maintain a healthy life style. It is as important now as it was when I started. I feel so much better when I stick to my lowfat diet. Both physically and mentally. And although I am not crazy about exercising, I do feel better when I do it. When I first started this weight loss journey I didn't have a treadmill so I used my exercise bike daily and that was when I was losing the weight faster. I am going to try using the bike again and see if that was one of the reasons I was losing faster then. It would sure help my motivation if I could speed up my weight loss!

Congratulations Pam to your sister, I hope she will be very happy!and what an added incentive for you to maintain your goal. I know you will do it and look fabulous in those wedding pictures!

Pam, by now your midterms are over and I am sure you did fine!

Dahlia, you must be very happy and relieved now that your ds is home. Good luck to all of you for a wonderful family christmas. It will be a busy time for you but a happy time too knowing that your family came through the surgerys and are all together working through the recovery. God bless you all.

Dahlia, it is quite an achievement to have come through this very stressful time without gaining weight. You should be so proud of yourself. and now that your are back on a schedule and fixing regular meals I am sure you will get right back op. and start losing again.



:balloons: Cat you sound so organized. You sure have been busy. I see why you haven't had time to post. I love it when things are all in place, but my house is very seldom that way. After reading your post I am inspired to get busy, but I am not sure I would like mirrors around my exercise equipment. I went to a gym in a hotel we stayed in a few months ago and it was like that with mirrors all around and I found it very intimidating watching all that jiggling. However I came away knowing I sure needed to lose weight! So I guess maybe it would help to keep you motivated.

:wave: Hi to Meg, Karie and anyone else I've missed. Good luck to all of us for an op day.

Good Morning Ladies :) I now have my little tree up in the house and a few christmas ornaments (the kind that you put tea lights in) scattered around..i love lighting them at night and settling down in front of the tv..the biggest job was putting lights on the fir tree outside :dizzy: it has grown a lot now so i spent about an hour trying to get it "just so" i did'nt bother wearing a coat as i thought it would only take me ten minutes..i looked like a drowned rat when i came in :lol: i have a couple of 'baby' trees that i want to light up as well as the deck and then i'm done :D it's raining again today but i may as well get to it because
"they've" forecast rain for the next few days :( so there is no point in waiting.

Ladies,
What is happening, why is our thread so bare..:lol:
we need to post more often.. I have resorted to reading another thread....:s:

Son is doing better, but it's like having a baby in the house again, up every 4 hours to give him his meds.... I am soooooo tired... and stressed out,, other son is home from college, bringing along a ton of laundry,, but I told him he can do his own... and his gf will be here next week,, at Thanksgiving time she was here for the long weekend,, she was so moody and pouting, I hardly spoke two words to her.. she really got on my nerves,, I won't be able to handle that this time... not with what I am already handling, plus son with 2 yr old gs will be here for 10 days.... I hope I won't be a basket case by the time they all go back...
of course recovering son will be here till March, but should be more mobile by the first of the year...

DH and ds went out to get our christmas tree,,, my favorite place to get them is sold out... we noticed last night.. ahhhhhhhh!!!!!
I usually like to go pick it out, but just to tired today.. so hope they get a good one... I really don't care.. if it weren't for the babies in the family I am not sure if I'd even put one up this year.. I am just not in the mood.. I havent' even figured out my menu yet for the family christmas eve party I have here every year... hubby's family comes and all of ours...

Well, hope someone else posts soon... we need to keep encouraging each other specially now.. with all the treats around for the holidays.... not sure how I am doing,, haven't weighed myself in a coupld days... to tired to stand on the scale..LOL
but haven't been eating to bad.. cept yesterday dh took me to see the new Star Trek movie, I am a trekkie,, and I really enjoyed the movie,, and the popcorn.. and then we brought hamburgers home for everyone, cause it was after 7 and we'd missed supper... but today is a new day....

Hope you are all doing well, healthy and getting ready for the holidays... and staying *op*... Grandma G. are you using your treadmill, I haven't even looked at mine since all this began...
and Pam... congrats for your sister in her upcoming marriage.. you will look smashing.. are you a brides maid?

Hello to everyone else... someone write soon.....

Dahlia

Dahlia..i post on 2 other threads because there is so little action on here :lol: I've been doing really well for the past 2 day's and i've lost 2lbs of the 2.5lbs that i've gained :lol: but at least the scale is going the right way at last :rolleyes: I'm going to journal everyday and really track what i'm eating from now on :D i don't think that Christmas will be a problem because we're having a quiet one at home this year..i'm even planning to treadmill on christmas day :lol: You must be absolutely worn out :tired: i hope some of the family chip in with the chores..they don't all expect to be waited on..do they? Could'nt someone "entertain" you this year? knowing what you have to deal with. Glad you got some R+R yesterday..at least that was a little break :)

Sorry girls but it's just been a stupid busy week. Wrote my midterm on Tuesday (76) and have finished my Christmas Shopping the rest of my week nights. Had DH party last night and wore my size 12 black dress. I'm scared right now because I feel my eating slipping out of control and fighting like mad to try and get it back under control. I don't want to gain it back so I'm going to have to be tough with myself and not let chocolate into the house. It's obviously a red light food for me and I had the 1lb. gain this week to prove it. Send good vibes my way. I've also had a few anxiety attacks this week too so hopefully I can get some rest tonight. I don't seem to be sleeping really well these days and am only averaging about 6 hours a night. Please send some positive thoughts my way and I'm sure once I get rested I'll be in a more positive frame of mind.

Dahlia, I'm happy to hear son is doing so much better. You sound better too. Let's be strong together!

Cat, great job this past two days. You rock :)

Take care and I'll post tomorrow....

Pam

ooooh Pam..size 12 :hat: frock :cool: bet you looked gorgeous ;)
as long as you enjoyed yourself that's the main thing..i would love 6 hours sleep..i got up at 4.15am this morning :tired: it's so boring sometimes being an insomniac :lol: Chocolate (as you know) is my downfall as well and i'm trying to keep it out of the house too but it's so hard when i'm surrounded by it at the mall.
I just love those giant toblerones and i know i'll buy some before January comes around :rolleyes: it does'nt help having a hubby that loves it as well..if he can't find any chocolate when he wants some he ask's me where my "stash" is :lol: he really won't believe me when i tell him i have'nt got one!! I'm feeling really good..i've just 'walked/jogged' 3 miles on my treadmill and i'm finally back in the swing of things which i did'nt think was possible until after the holidays are over..i'm hoping i can keep this up and then i'll have a good start with the Valentine's Day Challenge :lol:

Hello ladies,

Feeling much more positive this morning. Finally had a decent's night sleep last night and feel better.

Got all my holiday cookies baked last night and only 3 of them found there way to my tummy so that is progress. I've no more chocolate in the house so that is also one more temptation gone. I sent the rest of it in with Erwin to his work. Better on their hips than mine :)

Sister is coming over on Wednesday and has already asked if we'd lend them the use of our backyard for their wedding ceremony so it sounds as though the plans are coming fast and furious now. I'm sure we'll chat about it Wednesday night. I'll be a Bridesmaid but her best friend has the Maid of Honour duties.

Finished up my shopping on the weekend and now only have wrapping to do. Also got the tree up last night so the house now feels a bit more Christmasy. It's so warm and brown here that I have a hard time believing Christmas is a bit over a week away!

Hope you all had a good weekend and post away if you are lurking.

Pam

Hello ladies,

Pam, sounds neat you have something nice to look forward to.. you'll have fun..

As for me. I have two weddings coming up this spring in the family, both nephews.. would be nice to be slimmer for them..also after this year, hubby and I want to go somewhere nice for a vacation.. maybe another cruise... so that is nice to think about.But we have a lot to do before we even think about it..

Ds is getting more mobile.. he goes in for check up tomorrow.. so is getting a little less stress here, friday other son comes with 2 yrs. old dgs. Can't wait.. Got tree up on saturday, looks real nice, I think it's our best one yet... house is all decorated, baking is done, gifts are all bought and wrapped.. I am downsizing on the festivities this year.. still doing same traditions but decided on delegating more to others so I am not stuck in kitchen all the time.. and I can enjoy the good times too... usually by the time I am ready to sit and visit everyone is gone home already...

Its pretty quiet in here..hope everyone is out shopping and getting ready for the holidays...so far am maintaining.. think I'll just do that thru the end of the year.. then hit the exercise after the first.

Have an *op* day everyone.. and may the spirit of Christmas be with all of you.. I am trying to get the spirit.. its coming slowly.

take care all,
Dahlia

Hi Ladies,

Dahlia, I was very pleased to read your last post. Glad to hear your ds is doing so well and you are looking forward to future trips with dh. It really sounds like you plan to enjoy the holidays. Good! Let everyone help you. I do that now too. Except for our daughter's family in Florida our kids and grandkids will all be here Christmas day for dinner and gift exchange. But it will be an easy day for me. My daughter in law is doing a prime rib and fruit salad and the others are all bringing things too, so I just have to make pies the day before and the vegtables on Christmas day.

Its cold here this morning 0 degrees F, and we have about 3 or 4 inches of snow. I have my shopping all done, wrapped and under the tree. Well I thought I did, but yesterday we went to town to get a few last minute things when my dh got carried away and started buying tools for our sons, so of course I had to buy some more to even things up. He loves to buy things for our sons but doesn't get into the spirit until late. I should remember that and leave them for last. But I never do! The house and tree are decorated and I am really into the spirit. Sunday at our church we had a Christmas cantata with really beautiful music. I taped it so I can listen to it as I clean my house.

Cat and Pam it sounds like you are both doing great and keeping op. I am doing much better. I even resisted cake yesterday, my favorite kind. My eating has been pretty much op the last few days, and I have started using my exercise bike again. I had to move my treadmill to make room for the Christmas tree so I am not using it, but I guess I could by plugging it in with an extention cord.

As an incentive to help with my exercise motivation, I started posting on another thread. It's an exercise challenge. I started out by pledging to do at least 10 miles a week with a combination of bike and treadmill. A small beginning but the challenges have helped me keep op with eating and hopefully will do the same with exercise.


:wave: Hi to anyone I missed, I am going upstairs and do a mile on my treadmill now:cb: :cb: Good luck to all of us for an op day!

Morning Ladies :wave:
I entered my last 5 day's food intake into my food journal and i have'nt done as well as i thought :( even though it does'nt look like i've eaten much the actual calorie and fat gram count tells another story :( up to 2500 cals and 65 fat grams on some day's :eek: it was the chocolate that did the most damage though :lol: so i'll have to cut that out :faint: i'm sticking with the treadmill faithfully so that will help..off to do 2-3 miles now :wave:

Good Morning Ladies and Lurkers :) Just popping in to say hi and wish you all a wonderful day. As you know I've been lacking a bit in the motivation department so last night I pulled out my journal that I write in and re-read entries during the past year and also organized my progress pictures. I feel better today and am recognizing that although I slipped I did not stay down and I will carry on today in the manner that is fitting for my healthier body and lifestyle.

Have a wonderful day all and I'll check in later tonight.

Pam

Hi Everyone,

I am winding up my four courses this week and getting grades in etc. It is so nice to be at this end of the term. Students are way less stressed and fun to be around.

I have been struggling with motivation too but today feel really strong. I hope that this mindset stays with me through another 60 lbs :^:

Pam, Congratulations on your midterm. Good job! Wow, you are so close to your goal. I really appreciated your pep talk to Grandma last week. It really spoke to me too. I you know that we are there for you too.

I am so impressed with everyone being so organized around Christmas. Kudos to everyone who has been able to bake and not eat the goodies. That is still too dangerous for me so I just don't wrestle with it.

Grandma, I hope the painting helps to keep your mind and hands busy. I find when I have a creative outlet, things are much easier and I feel better.

Cat, Sounds like a bit of a soggy Christmas happening for you but I bet it is nice and green. We are like Pam, awfully brown around here the holiday. I think we will be taking the kids to the park for a break on Christmas day instead of sledding.

Dahlia, Although there has been so much going on for you the past few months, it sounds like it will be kind of nice being surrounded by family new week.

DP is working Christmas day beginning about 2:00 pm so I will be hanging out with my mom and dad, sisters, partners and nephews. I am looking forward to that.

I am off to be a Christmas elf and try to complete some of the jewelery I have started as presents.

Have a happy day,
Karie

Good Afternoon Ladies..it is an absolutely beautiful day here :D the sun is shining i have no heating on and if i did'nt know better i would think it was spring :dizzy: :lol: i simply can't believe it is only a week off christmas day it just does'nt seem like it at all to me even tho' my home looks like a grotto and every tree i can get an extension cord to has lights on it :lol: I am doing pretty good I have absolutely no chocolate in the house apart from low cal choccie puddings in the fridge..hope i can keep it up :wave:

Good morning ladies,

The sun is shining, there is no snow, it is already 39 with a promise to get into the high 40's... my house is so Christmasy with the stockings hung on the mantle, the tree all aglow and I found the holiday spirit...

DS#4 is doing so much better, he may be coming down to join us for supper starting tomorrow.... he can't sit for more than 20 min. but that is enough to eat and join the family for a little bit... course he can't sit at the table, but the recliner in the tv room is better than being secluded upstairs... course everyone tries to get up to spend time with him as often as we can.. I watched a movie with him late yesterday afternoon... was good to hear him laugh...his whole attitude has been so great despite all the pain he is in...I am very proud of that guy..
:bravo:

Tomorrow ds#1 and #5 are driving to Chicago to pick up ds#2 and dgs#1 from the airport and also ds#5's gf who is going to school in Chicago.. when they return, the whole clan will be home.
Everyone will be here except ddil who is still in Okinawa till next month... we will have to make a video tape of the babe opening his gifts for mommy...this has been so hard on her....and him. he is only 2.

This afternoon I am going to town to get a few little stocking stuffers, it's to nice to stay home... yesterday dh and I went grocery shopping and later he took me to supper... he is such a sweet man...

I hope after the holidays you all can post more. I miss reading how everyone is doing. So far I am maintaining,, I decided if I can just do that during the holidays it will take off some of the stress....then in Jan. kick off to a good start, get more exercise in.. can't use my treadmill as its in ds#5's bedroom... and while he is home, I don't want to invade his privacy, but when he goes back to college, I'll hop back on it... plus I'll be going back to active work at the greenhouse later in february, that always helps.

Ok. gals, take a break in your busy days and post a word or two in here. Hope everyone is staying healthy and enjoying them selves.

Dahlia

Good morning Ladies,

Dahlia, it is so good to hear the joy in your posts again. I'm so happy for you and DS. Wonderful to hear how he is progressing. Hugs to you and yours and I'm so proud of you anc your resovle during all of this. Great job.

Karie, I'm glad to see you posting again. Sounds as though you've had an awfully busy time of it. Isn't this winter something else? I can't believe I'm saying that I wish it would snow, snow, snow. It's so hard to believe it's less than a week away and it looks like March here.

My sister came over last night and we wrapped some gifts. She's still over the moon over being engaged and she's set the date as Sept. 13/03. We're going dress shopping after Christmas and I'll tell you her excitement is contagious. I wish for her this glow always.

Hope you all have a great day and I'll pop back in later.

Pam

Hello Ladies..Pam..wishing for snow :?: not me!! i'll take the sun anytime :lol: I went to the Superstore earlier and a couple were looking at some toy dancing/singing mice..one of them sang "let it snow..let it snow..let it snow" i did'nt buy him..but..they were so cute i ended up coming out with one that sang Jingle Bells :lol: he's sat next to the telephone.
Still not doing to badly with eating although the "christmas" butter cookies have gotten to me the last two day's..i'm treadmilling faithfully and completed day 8 today for a total of 21 miles :D my goal is to be able to run on it eventually :wave:

Hi Ladies,

A quick post to let you know I am still here and still op. I have really got my motivation back, my goals are clear again and I am working toward them. Thank you Pam for that pep talk, it really helped. Keep strong with your resistance to chocolate! You can do it, I know you can. You are so close to your goal. When you see chocolate, think about that bridesmaid dress you will be wearing for your sister's big day and how gorgous you will look in it!

:lol: Goodbye chocolate!

Cat, you are doing great with the treadmill. 21 miles in 8 days. Wow that is fantastic. I am doing good (at least good for me) on the exercise bike. I started on an exercise challenge and pledged to do 10 miles a week on the bike or treadmill. I have only been doing 1 mile a day but hope by doing it every day, I will soon be able to do more. Surprisingly, if you stick to it every day the miles do add up even if you start out as slowly as I have. And the challenge helps to make me do it daily!

I have to do something to get off this plateau and get that scale moving downward faster:( I am eating right again and exercising so I know I will begin to make some progress, right?

Well is everyone ready for christmas? It's warmer today, 33 degrees F. and we are getting rain, so we may lose our snow. I am just about ready for Christmas, I think, decorations all set, gifts all wrapped and I have been working on getting my house cleaned. Getting busy cleaning the house has helped me get back op. I think when I sit around being lazy, I tend to eat more. Even if it is the right things, it still isn't good to overdo on them.

I have a few more cards to send. I've sent out nearly 70 and still keep getting cards from people I didn't send to! Isn't that always the way:?: Having the computer has been so much of a help with cards. I can print the address labels and write the many letters so much faster then I used to when doing it by hand!

:wave: :dance: Hi to Karie, Dahlia, Meg and anyone else I missed.

Where are you Meg, how is everything going with you. Are you lurking! or just too busy to post.

Well it is time to get on that exercise bike. Goodluck to all of us for an op day!:)

Hi Ladies, it's me again

I just had to share something! I decided to do the treadmill this morning instead of the bike. I hadn't been using it since I put the tree up because I had to move it out of the living room and into the gallery folded up. However I decided to plug in an extention, unfold it and use it in the gallery. It was great, I think I will leave it there.

First I put in a Tom T. Hall tape -"Old dogs, children and Watermellon Wine", then I started walking while looking at some of my paintings. The first was a painting I did of our Hawiian vacation in 1994. It was a beautiful warm night with a light breeze and I was at a lu au, probably not spelled right, but its the Hawaiian version of a beach party, with my dh, my sister in law, our daughter and our son and dil who were stationed there in the service. There was a good meal and a great show and the scene I painted was the ocean as the sun was setting and reflecting on the water with the rays spreading up into the clouds. A small boat was floating in the waves as the water lapped against the shore and the palm trees swayed in the breeze. Just a perfect night and a wonderful memory. I walked for 25 minutes and went a mile and I didn't get the least bit bored. There is a memory with every painting. This is the place for me to walk!

Well just as I predicted earlier, the temperature is up to 49 degrees F. and we have lost most of our snow! We may not have a white christmas after all.

Hi Ladies..Grandma..what a lovely description of your vacation in Hawaii :) i don't have any paintings so it's the Bold and the Beautiful for me or "the young and the restless" :lol: i need something to look at too so it's the old t.v. :lol: i did another 3 miles today but so far its not making an impact on the scale..i'm still eating too much of the wrong thing :( i'm not too worried about it because i know i'll be 100% in the New Year :D

Hi everyone,

Grandma, what a great way to make walking fun! You really are walking down "memory lane" :lol:

Pam,what a great start to a New Year. Things are looking great for you. I just know that this is the year of the goal for you. I am right there with you!:high:

Cat, it sounds just gorgeous where you are. I picture your yard much like Dolly Parton's house in the movie with all the women like Julia Roberts and Sally Field (I can't remember the name right now). It sounds fabulous!

Dahlia, what a house full and how much fun!

I am wrapping presents and finishing off my decorating. My sister is having a Solstice party tonight so I am organizing a veggie tray that will keep me in good stead with the metal monster.

Better get going or I will be taking water to the party! Have a good weekend everyone. DP is off for the next three days so I don't know if I will get to the computer. I'll be thinking about you all.

Cheers,
Karie

Hmmm..not sure which movie you're thinking of Karie..at first i thought it was Steel Magnolia's but i did'nt think Dolly Parton was in that..or maybe i'm getting mixed up..the one where Julia Roberts died..Sally Field played her mom..anyway..it does'nt matter because i don't know what the place looked like anyway :lol: I don't really have a yard..we're on top of a hill just imagine a house on top of a hill surrounded by fir trees overlooking a valley with the ocean to one side and the Olympic Mountains in the distance :) was Dolly's house like that? :lol:
Almost 3pm already..hubby is cutting firewood and i said i'd go help :o so i'd better move before its dark :wave: Enjoy the Party!

Hi Ladies,

I should be sleeping but I can't, must have been regular coffee at the senior citizen's christmas dinner and party last night. Does it every time:( Boy did I get my exercise yesterday. In the morning I walked on the treadmill for 25 minutes, in the afternoon went grocery shopping, then last night out dancing to the "Old Timers Band"! Boy what a band. We didn't plan to do much dancing because my husband's back has been bothering him and my feet were hurting me after all the walking, but we just couldn't resist when the music started. Strangely enough both his back and my feet felt better after the dancing:dizzy: Boy do those senior citizens know how to party! My dh was santa claus:lol: I stayed op with my eating at the dinner only turkey, no ham for meat - no rolls - no desert and no cheese, crackers or pepperoni later in the evening. Only water and coffee with equal for drinks. But I still had plenty to eat. It was a buffet and I had one helping of everything except the ham and peas. I don't like peas!

Cat, it sounds like a beautiful area where you live - it would make a great painting. You must really enjoy the view. We don't cut our firewood any more. We order it cut, split and delivered then hire someone to put it in the cellar. But some of our childrens best memories are of going to the woods and cutting our firewood. We used to contract with the state on state land along with other family members and we would all go with several families of cousins, take a picnic lunch and spend the day in the woods. The men would handle the chainsaws and wood spliter, our oldest boy would drive the tractor, the mother's and younger children would drag the brush and load the split firewood. Not many kids have that experience today, yet my kids look back on those times as really happy family memories. And so do I!



:dance: :dance: Hi to anyone I've missed - Good luck to all of us for an op day

Afternoon Ladies...Grandma..sounds like you and hubby had a ball :D i was out with my hubby too..went out for dinner :) was'nt good either had eggnog cheesecake for dessert..it was yummy!!
Hubby does all the cutting and splitting of the firewood..it's usually me that does the hauling and stacking..it's good exercise.
Last year we did'nt have any seasoned wood down so we ended up buying from a "friend" NEVER AGAIN..it was so expensive and the pieces were cut so big that they would'nt burn..hubby had to split it all again..i let the friend know and he said "i thought it would be!" you know what they say "with friends like that" etc.
Did'nt exercise this weekend :( hope to get back in the swing of things tomorrow :wave:

Hey Cat and Grandma,

Steel Magnoiias was the movie. Dolly Parton was the hairdresser. Her house seemed to be in a pretty treed area but not like what you describe. Your home and area sound beautiful.

Good woods workout for you.

Heres to the dancing Grandma! Sounds like your motivation is back. I am hoping to just maintain until after New Years and then get serious for the Valentines Day challenge.

Went shopping today to get some last minute surprises and tonight will stay cozy at home and wrap presents. DP video tapes a dinner theatre tonight for a local theatre company. We get 8 free tickets in return so in January we will have a little treat.

Only two more days til Christmas. Enjoy everyone.

Karie

Good morning ladies,
Just want to wish everyone a blessed Christmas... enjoy the next two days and have fun with your families...

Dahlia

Good Morning Dear Friends!

Just wanted to say good morning and wish each of you a very Merry Christmas. Enjoy the time with your loved ones and friends and let's be good to ourselves.

Take care and I'll talk to you all after the holidays.

Pam

Hi Cat, Karie, Pam, Dalhia, Meg, Floridachick, liza, and anyone else I may have missed

It doesn't matter where we are with out diet and exercize program. We have all worked hard at losing and we have all made some progress. So we should be proud of ourselves for what we have acomplished, and make a new commitment for after the holidays to keep on the program. We can do it together. We've proved that, all it takes is perseverance!

Here it is Christmas Eve day. We have snow or not, depending on which window you look out. Much of the ground is bare. This is such a beautiful and special time of the year. I look forward to our Christmas Eve service at church tonight and then Christmas dinner with most of our family tomorrow afternoon.

I PRAY YOU ALL HAVE A BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

:wave: :angel:

Hi Ladies :wave: been on the phone most of the morning talking to relatives in the U.K. :D will be doing the same in the morning.
Everyone had plans to go out enjoying themselves :) time's like this i wish i was there :cry: never mind will probably visit them in the summer. Hubby had a hospital appointment last night and i was bored at home so i went out and bought everything i said i would'nt buy..including a turkey :lol: so i know what's on the menu for the coming week :rolleyes: started eating chocolate last night too..i'm a little :devil: Bad Girls is on and i'm fixing to start making a trifle for tomorrow and then go out and see what hubby is up to :wave:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Hi Ladies,

Well here it is Dec. 26, the day after christmas. Wow that went fast. It was a wonderful day. Although one dil was sick so she and no. 2 son couldn't make it. But we had two sons and their families here and several other family members stopped to visit throughout the day. We all talked to our dd and family in Florida, watched some great old home videos and had too much to eat and a lot of laughter and family fun.

I just let myself go and ate anything I wanted, including pie and chocolate:devil: I was bad, but it was fun. Now the challenge will be to get back with the program. I still have pie left and our kids gave us chocolates. I will have to do something about all that temptation because I can't afford to have any more off days!

On the spur of the moment we planned to have breakfast tomorrow morning for the whole family. I am going to use the occasion to celebrate no. 3 son's birthday which is on Sat.

On Friday night is the Town Board's Christmas party, another banquet and another challenge!

Yes, life is challenging but we are not going to let that stop us - RIGHT - we can do this, together - we can stick to the program. I will now start the Valentine's day challenge. Everyone join me! IT IS TIME FOR A NEW COMMITMENT!

:cb: :cb: Come on everyone, and I am talking to me, come on and get with the program, eat right and exercise. AND START POSTING - WE MISS YOU AND NEED YOU!

:wave: Bye everyone! Time to get to my treadmill - at least a mile!:dance:

I'm in on the challenge Grandma :D i won't be starting until the New Year tho' :o it's nice and sunny here :) i'm glad about that because i'm going to the mall to spend hubby's hard earned :lol:

Hi Ladies,

I was bad yesterday, instead of walking the treadmill I ate chocolate, lots of chocolate!:devil: Bad Bad girl!

Well we had our family breakfast this morning, and everyone was here, even the dil who was sick on christmas day. She is feeling better. It was fun and we celebrated No. 3 sons birthday. Then he surprised us with a present of good news! He and his girl friend became engaged for christmas! I wasn't too surprised however. I knew she was the right girl for him! I am so happy for them:cp:

Then dh surprised me by doing the dishes while I cleaned up the kitchen! Wonders will never cease.:?:

We sent a lot of chocolate home with my dil. She loves chocolate so we made her happy and got rid of a lot of temptation. Now I have got to get back with the program, before I do some real damage! It's been a couple of days since I walked the treadmill. I will have to do it today, right now!

:grouphug: I hope every one is having a great holiday. :balloons: In spite of my chocolate attack, I am feeling very encouraged, I know we are all going to lose a lot of weight in the new year. We can do this together, so enjoy the weekend and get ready to start this new challenge. No more goofing off!
Right?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I'm having a choc-fest too :lol: in fact i've been on one all morning while i browse the board :o and :nono: no-one's taking my chocolate from me :lol: i have'nt been on my treadmill for a week :( and i don't have a good excuse apart from laziness :lol: it's grey and raining today and i don't feel like doing anything apart from couch potato-ing..with a bar of chocolate he-he :wave:

Okay,
Does it all balance out if you eat chocolate on the treadmill? Just a thought!

I am cleaning out a ton of stuff today. Start the new year the way you plan to go forward they say....

Just a quick note to say I am in for the Valentines challenge as well. Even if I lose 1/2 of what I lost last year, I will be a happy and skinny bunny.:cb: :cb:

Great to talk to everyone! Let's get going!!!

Karie

Hi Ladies,

Cat I just had to laugh when I read your post yesterday because I was having exactly the same kind of day. I was being a lazy couch potato while I indulged in chocolate and I too defied anyone to take my chocolate away! And I haven't been on the treadmill for many days. :lol:

And I got into some chocolate tonight too, so I should be very discouraged, but I am not. I think it is because I know I am not completely out of control or ready to give up and gain it all back. I am just taking a break and indulging in some behavior I haven't allowed myself for months. I kept it up longer then I planned but now I am ready to get right back on program for diet and exercise.

:cb: :cb: Tomorrow is a new day and a new beginning. I will start the day with a mile on the treadmill and that will get me started in the right frame of mind. I am not worried about this break, because I know I can do it now. I know we all can do it. No more chocolate for me. I've had my fill and I no longer feel deprived because I couldn't have it! If anything I think taking this break will help me be stronger in the long run. That may sound crazy to some but it makes sence to me! :dance:



:wave: Hi to everyone and good luck for an op day tomorrow

Hi Ladies,

It's me again. Well I did it, I sent the rest of the chocolate out of the house this morning to remove the last temptation and got on my treadmill. I walked 1 mile in just over 21 minutes. I feel great and ready for the new commitment.

I know this sounds crazy but I think the last week helped me. I was beginning to feel deprived and having trouble sticking with the plan, cheating every now and then, a little here and a little there. It was messing up my weight loss progress so I just let myself go and ate crazy for a while. It took the deprived feeling away and at the same time made me realize all the reasons why I have been working to lose weight and why I want to stick with this liveit for the rest of my life. I also want to lose at least another 20 lbs. before I go on a maintainance liveit. LIVEIT - HEALTHY LIFESTYLE DIET.

This approach may not work for everyone, but I think it will for me. Because I feel more committed then ever today! and starting the day with exercise helped me to affirm my commitment. I know lots of others have been having the same problems during this holiday season and I hope it will work for you the way I believe it will for me. I did find out one thing
ITS A LOT EASIER TO STAY COMMITTED IF I GET RID OF ALL THE TEMPTATION. So I understand better what you people with children in the house are up against. It's not as easy is it?
:cb: :cb: Come on every one, it's time for us to get busy again.
:wave: Hi to you all and good luck to a new year of losing!

Hi Ladies :wave:
Grandma..you don't need kids to have chocolate in the house :lol: me and hubby are just like a couple of kids around that stuff :lol: and i think i use christmas as an excuse to buy lots of it :?: the thing i found odd this year was that i've gone off one of my favourite chocolate bars..Toblerone :?: i bought one of the huge 400g bars and i've had a few pieces and for some reason i just did'nt enjoy it like i have in the past..maybe my tastebuds are getting old :lol: it seemed to have a "coffee" aftertaste and i hate coffee...this does'nt mean i'm sending the rest of the chocolate off anywhere i'll just let hubby get more of it..usually the ratio is two thirds mine and one third his :lol:

Has anyone seen the new Jenny Craig ad? it has got me really stoked up at the moment...those women look great! i don't think i would use the plan because i don't fancy the idea of pre-packaged food but i could live with the results :D it's got me in the mood to do it!

Let's close this one up and start a fresh one :)