Dieting with Obstacles - Fibromyalgia 118

FOUR PAGES! Time for a new thread!

Glad you made it back home, Mima. Wish we could have got together while you were in Nashville. I didn't know you were going to actually BE in Nashville for a couple of days or I would have made an effort to come up!!! I thought you were just going to be passing through on your way home.

As for our "weight" ... after we pass a certain age, we probably need to weigh a bit more, don't you think??? There's that tiny bit of 'flab' that must be accounted for! ;)

Well ... no help from the blood Dr. He didn't tell me anything I didn't aleady know actually. He said the medicine he would put me on to thin my blood would be so expensive it would be much cheaper to take an asprin or two a day if my poor stomach can tolerate them and they would do almost as good a job. As for the anemia, there really isn't anything that can be done for the type of anemia I have. I already knew that. I tried my best to tell my family that but, alas and alack, they never would believe me. They have nagged me to death for years to go to this Dr. and DO something about the anemia. I told them and told them and told them there isn't anything that can be done. He said, "I'm sure you have heard a lot of explanations for what you have and no remedies." I said, "Oh yes, all my life, all I've ever gotten has been explanations." He said, "Sorry, but that's just the way it is." I said, "I know, but my Dr. sent me over here anyway." He did say that my blood was so low he felt he had to keep a check on it often to make sure it didn't drop down to where I needed a transfusion. I already do that, though. He said that could happen pretty fast. I already knew that, too. I get really weak and light headed sometimes and it's pretty scary. It's almost like I'm going to black out but I don't. I'll be in a store and tell my husband, I have to sit. He gets me somewhere fast. He says I turn really white. But, there isn't anything they can do for this except a transfusion and my blood level has to hit a certain low before the transfusion. It's frustrating! I DID pass out when I was pregnant with my son, right in a store, too. Guess he sucked all the blood out of me and they just didn't know it back then! :lol: I've had this all my life. It's a wonder I haven't died from it already as ignorant as they used to be about this stuff. I get it checked all the time now but I didn't used to ... EVER! Here I am sitting in the Hematologist's office Friday after them telling me just HOW LOW my blood is and then in walks the nurse and takes NINE tubes of blood out of me. Then she looks at me and asks me if I'm OK!!! ;)

That's funny-not really-I couldn't get on-line all week so I couldn't tell you that while we were in Nashville we decided to stay an extra day. You will have to come to Fl next year!!!!Listen to this-along with my bachache, the satellite dish doesn't work because the dish needs to be adjusted -Brad will go up on the roof today because they want 70 to fix it-my car battery is dead-Brad has it on the charger-I got an e-mail telling me I had a virus and I deleted the 2 files and passed that info along to other people-IT WAS A HOax-I can reinstall the files though-I took a bath last night and we had a flood-don't know where the leak is yet-Brad has to fix it!!!Welcome home!!!!!! By the way meme-Tennessee is absolutely beautiful!! Well-things will be better today. Where do you go to the doc's Meme-now I know your state and I can picture where you are. Mima

The Dr. I went to Friday was in Cookeville. If you were in Nashville proper, you were probably within a quarter of a mile from two of my doctors. I have one at Vanderbilt and one at Batist. They are both only a few blocks off Broadway. I have to go to the one at Vanderbilt next month. I don't know why, he never does anything. But, they all say they have to keep an EYE on me. I hope they like what they see better than I do!!! I must be looking pretty good 'cause they keep me coming back to look at me all the time!!! :lol: One of these days I'll die and they'll all gather around my casket (I now have SIX) and they'll say, "Yep, we KNEW this was going to happen. Good thing we were keeping an eye on her or we would've missed it! :eek:

:lol: Meme you are so funny! I hope they are keeping an eye on you.

Linda - welcome to our little corner of the world. Most of us are over 50. I think only Ally is still a baby. Hope you come join us.

Ally - you sound happy and that is the main thing. Those kids can drive you nuts if you allow them too.

Mima - glad you made it home safely. Sounds like your homecoming wasn't the smoothest, but Brad will fix it all up for you. Too bad you couldn't have met up with MeMe. That would have been awesome.

Well, I am having to go out and buy some groceries if we are to survive for the next week :) I have just been so busy, I haven't had the time to even come and post! Now, maybe my life will slow down to a dull roar.

I am glad that everybody is feeling at least a little better. Meme has a way to go, but she will get there. Hang in there, Meme.

Candice - I hope things are better for you this week. Some weeks are just better forgotten :dizzy:

Anagram -I know you have been busy running to Drs. Hope you both get to feeling better soon.

Joanne - hope you got out for your walk. I would love to do that and will make an effort to do so. My feet have just been so sore since the day we moved. The muscles in the feet just throb and walking sure doesn't help them, but I will give them a couple days rest and get started.

Happy- I can relate to the sore feet. I have arthritis in mine. I did get out to walk today.. It takes about a mile before the pain goes away.I guess when my legs warm up and the blood starts to flo better.
Meme- I hope all the Dr.s know what they are doing. I can tell you are sick to death going to them and not having the results you are hoping for.
Mima- I remember when my hubby went on the roof to fix something. He got in a panic when he tried to come down. I thought I was going to have to get help to get him down.In fact that has happened a couple times. I just yell at him now and tell him to keep his a-- off the roof. I'll get our son up there to do what he wants..I can just picture calling the fire department to get him down. Maybe that would keep him on the ground. All the noise would draw so much attention he would never try it again. :lol: :lol:
How is everybody else doing? I hope well.. Joanne

Well-the satellite person is coming this morning-my car is ok-I got a lot of cleaning done yesterday but a way to go. It's still gorgeous for one more day-Hey Meme-did I tell you how beautiful Tennessee is?? That is without the snow!!Feel better. Hi everyone. Cassidy is so funny-he keeps slipping on the floor.That is when he is not tracking mud!!!Bye for now Mima

Meme, dh's last H&H #s were12.1/38.1. He's tested monthly and Procrit dosage adjusted accordingly. Even so, he hasn't had much pep but he did cut grass yesterday and plans to play golf tomorrow. I have my fingers crossed on that.

Things have still been hectic here - or is this the story of life in the "golden years"? Beautiful new grandchild, Mima. And I know your "catchup" story. I think I'm finally about back to where I was before we left but I was behind them. In some ways, it's slightly more relaxing. I finally finished up Mom's stuff (for the most part). I haven't lost any weight but then I didn't gain in two months of a lot of eating out. Walking the beach is what saved me, I'm sure. Things were cold where we were. Dh wants to try to go to west coast (of FL) next year and try to find a place there even if it turns out to be for less time. Just so it's further south so he can be warm enough. It was 70 here today and he was fine out in the sun but sitting here in a sweatshirt once he came back in.

I belong to the sore feet club too. Had a terrific flare that only subsided a week or so ago. We had so much rain and gloomy weather since we've been home. My sister who lives in Alaska and winters in Texas is in the area so I'll be joining her and another sister for lunch tomorrow. They drove up from Texas and will be going on to Maine to visit one of their children then coming back here for a few more days in May before flying on to Alaska for the summer. I just get such a kick out of the fact that they're so far north and then so far south as they have a place down in the little pointy part of Texas. They used to drive all the way back and forth - aaagh! I couldn't take it.

Trying to get back to walking. Had notice the indoor pool I use will be reopening May 3rd. Has been closed for repairs since Dec 1st. I've really missed the good exercise and warm water relief I get there. Will probably be getting the epidural in cervical spine to ease the discomfort/pain in my left arm. Not looking forward to it but dr. told me not to try to tough it out because permanent damage could be done to the nerve.

Little granddaughter making her First Communion this weekend. This will be the fifth consecutive weekend we'll be with them. I luv 'em all but that's at least ten days I got nothing done plus all the extra packing and unpacking or cleaning up after they've left here. I think we all need a break from each other but I guess that'll come. Also have seen son and wife a few times in their as well. Just been busy with catchup, weekends, doctors. But happy as a clam that all's going as well as it is.

I would be really happy with a 12/38 count. My count last month was 11/33 and that was the highest it has been in over 2 years. It's usually around 9 or 10 and between 29 and 31.

I went back to the 'ankle' Dr. today and he took a scapel to my ankle again. :eek: He has allergies and his nose was running. He was bent over my ankle with his little scapel cutting away and just killing me and sniffing his nose. He said, "Sometimes I feel like just cutting my nose off." I told him to give me the scalpel and I'd be glad to do it for him. :s: He just froze for a minute and looked at me. Then he started laughing. He said, "I just bet you would, too." :lol: I'll be so glad when this thing is GONE! When he finished cutting on it was bleeding all over the place. By the time I got home it was hurting so bad I had to take some pain medicine and go to bed. I only had a couple of hours until I had students coming so I had to work in pain (and doped up). I told them they probably wouldn't learn much today!!! I had taken 2 Darvocets, an aleve and 2 Mortin by 3 pm. :dizzy:

Oh Meme, that sounds so painful. Didn't sleep well last night=was driving around all night in the camper. Anagram-it got cool where we were but most of the time, it was gorgeous. Fort Myers is where we stay-actually Estero-the weathe changes from Sarasota up. The rain doesn't even come down there half the time. But the traffic does!!It's very busy and you can't go on 75 from 4-7 in March and some of Feb. But I definitely like the area-course my 2 grandchildren are there. After breakfast, I'm going back to bed. Been working too hard. Mima

Well, the grandkids would do it for me, Mima. We had noted the amount of traffic in the area when we were there two years ago. He had liked the Naples area but it seems so costly when we look for places on the internet.

Meme, that sounds more like torture. Hope pain is easing. Yes, we're very happy with his last reading. While in FL in Feb he was at 10/29. They upped his Procrit to get it back up. His has been extremely low at times including a reading when he was hospitalized (after the kidney aneurysms ruptured) that my RN sister told me is "incompatible with life". But he was transfused, etc. and after a long haul and a complicated balance of meds, etc. he is doing reasonably well though not his old steamy self. The golf game today will be a good indication of how it's going. Hasn't had the old interest. He's cold all the time and sleeps a lot in the daytime (he says because he doesn't get enough sleep at night which is true but I think it's all because he's moving around so much less than he used to).

Anyway, I've had two good days in a row diet wise. Maybe I can make it three. I always get thrown off when at dds and I'll be there Friday/Saturday. Have to get over that.

Anagram- It is nice to have you back.. I hope you get your health back on tract... We have a large retirement area here in the west central part of Fl. Ofcourse the traffic is not what we would like ,but, the beaches are nice. I live in Tarpon Springs and am able to walk to the beach most days. I am onli 1 1/2 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. I walk to Howard Park beach and it gives me a good 3 mile walk.
Meme- If I was in your place I would be wanting to take a long vacation. Bless your heart,I don't know how you do it.. Take care of yourself.
Mima- It is always hard getting back to what we think as normal when we are gone from home for any length of time.. I read where it is normal to be depressed when people return from a vacation. It usually takes me a day or two to get back into a routine.
Have a good day everybody....Joanne

My tulips are in full bloom so of cousre now it is time for spring storms so that they do not last very long in the wind! Tuesdays storms tracked just north of here...feel so bad for those poor people who lost family members and things. It always seems to storm on my BD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek: I had DH bring home a subway sallad and they forgot the chicken!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So we get a free one next time.........

Meme hope you do not end of losing your leg.....I had a friend who had that happen due to a sore that would not heal but she was diabetic too and is no longer with us.

Glad to say that Meme is not diabetic. Naples is very expensive but Ft Myers and Estero are less but still more expensive than north of Sarasota-but warmer and less rainy. It's a toss-up. You will have to meet us next year if you are on the west coast-we'll get everyone down there-including Anne!!!!!!!!!!!!!from the north. Lots of people from Canada in FL. I was sick yesterday-lots of sinus, dizziness. I took 3 naps and didn't get to take girlfriend to lunch for her bd. Another time. Feeling better-eye doc at 9 and condo inspection and appraisal at 11. We are going to sell it. Bye for now. Mima-I think Cassidy is depressed=all he does is lay out in the yard!!!!!

Hi. Not much to report. Hope all of you are doing ok. Meme, the ankle business sounds horrible. I feel so bad for you. Wish they could do SOMETHING to get you better.

Candice - hope the tulips stick around for a little while. They are such "happy" flowers. I love the colors.

Mima - Florida is a looooong way from where I live! Most of the Canadians that go to Florida live in Eastern Canada. Most of the Canadians from Western Canada seem to go to Arizona. I probably will never do either of them, except for maybe a couple of weeks. I am a homebody and miss it very much after a month or so. I miss my kids and my friends.

Hi Anagram - hope things get back to normal for you soon.,

Joanne - Did your son get moved in, then? I find it a lot of work when they come back, as they get older. Oh, well, maybe it won't be for long.

Everybody have a nice day.

Went back to have the ankle done again today ... the Dr. wasn't there THANK GOODNESS!!! The nurse took a scalpel and just 'scraped' it instead of actually cutting it so it didn't hurt quite as bad. I told her I HAD to get some groceries in so she went easy on me (she's really nice). I haven't been to the store in two weeks and we are out of everything. Hubby had to bring home BBQ and buns last night and didn't get home from work until after 8 pm so it was a really late dinner. But, by the time I went to the cleaners and all the other stops I had to make it was pouring rain and I was hurting so bad I got some lunch and came home. Some people called and said they wanted to come see a trailer we have for sale, too, so I needed to be here. I guess instead of 'dinner and a movie' tonight it'll be 'dinner and WallyWorld'! :p We only have one trailer left, I sold 2 yesterday. We're supposed to get another load in tomorrow. At the rate we're selling them we'll need another load by next weekend. I'm just wondering if he's going to be able to keep us supplied! Between doing the trailers and teaching yesterday ... about wore me out. I'm not sure I can handle a business and piano lessons, too! My sweet husband may have bit off more than I can chew! ;)

It's storming here ... and I'm aching!

Tell us again about the trailers, Meme. I must have missed that. It pored yesterday, Only 3 boxes left to put back and then all the stuff in the trailer. Went out to eat last night and then poor Brad waited for me an hour while I got a showere gift. I tried to call him but I left my cell phone at home. But I did get 2x as much because things were on sale. Even though it wasn't on the list. I am down to 120 because of all the stuff I'm doing. That won't last-taking my girlfriend to lunch for her birthday. Then the shower tomorrow. Gynocologist Mon-rheumo Tues. Used the tennis balls on my back last night, Candice. That works good. Bye for now Mima

Mima..120 that is weigh to thin for someone your age;) I was sickly looking when I got to 120 so I gained some of it back and I think I'm still going! too many cookies I guess..gotta start being better.

Only 2 pieces of BD cake left but I have been to some cookies I bought! I know..so what's new????????? LOL

Meme..trailers??????????
Spring bulbs look really nice and lilacs smell wonderful! Been working outside a bit so some pain but that is expected!


Happy I love your little chicks!

Hey Candice, I forgot to wish you a happy birthday. Hope you had a nice day. Gee, Lilacs already!! We still just have buds filling on the trees. I guess if we get a few days of really hot weather they will pop. Going to be up in the 70's on Monday and then on Wednesday, SNOW!!!! I sure hope they are wrong, but we often have snow playing games with us until May.

Mima - glad you got that trailer cleaned out.

Meme - what trailers is that you are selling?? I don't think you ever told us about this.

Hope everybody has a good day.

Meme- Trailers? I too don't think you told us about that venture.. I sure hope you get your anke well..As far as the allergies. I seem to have one all the time lately. I can relate to your Dr's runny nose. I have a kleenex in my hand most of the time.
Happy- No my son hasn't moved in yet. He is in the process of buying another house. He may ask for an extension to stay where he is for an extra week or so since the people who bought his isn't moving down till July.It would make it easier all around.
Candice- I sure am glad those storms stayed away from you. I bet your flowers are really nice. I keep trying but my garden is not doing as well as I like.
Mimi- -Don't lose anymore weight. It is in the 80's now and I guess it will be that and more now till next fall. I try to walk as much as I can. I have been having a stomach upset so haven't gone for a couple days and probably not today. I did walk a little in the mall though.
Hello everybody...Joanne

Mima ... the 120 being too small would depend a lot on how tall you are. I weigh 167 now but I'm also 5' 9" and wear a size 14. I'd like to be about 150 ... then I'd be in a 10/12 and that would be about right for me. But ... I'm not really 'dieting' so I'm not worrying about it ... if it happens fine, if not, that's ok, too. I think we just need to be 'comfortable' with our size. If we aren't, then we need to either try to lose (or gain ... such as the case may be!) I'm not really too big at 167 so I'm comfortable ... but I continue to lose a little along and that's ok.

If you are reading this, and all diets have failed you ... ALL you need to do is EAT LESS FOOD. It sounds simple I know but for most people DIETS DON'T WORK. There are a few who can do well on WW or Atkins for awhile but most people fall of the wagon eventually. We have a few here on this board who have stuck with programs really well and done great ... kept the weight off. I'M JUST NOT ONE OF THEM! Diets don't work for me, but I HAVE found that just not eating as much food DOES work. I can eat what ever I want but just not ALL I want. By cutting back on the amount of food I eat, I have found I don't WANT as much food anymore. My appetite has decreased enormously now. I drink A LOT of water and herbal tea, too. I eat more protein than most people because I am anemic. I cut my carbs down quite a bit and have salad several times a week but that is by choice ... (I just like salads). OK... I'm off my soap box. Just wanted to share my strategies. If you would like more help with this way of losing weight email me ... I'll be glad to share with you. ermaxwell@hotmail.com Also, I have a 12 week self-improvement program on the net that you can do if you want! I've been through it 3 or 4 times (even though I can't do all the exercise) and it makes you feel pretty good by week 12. :D

http://www.memeart.com/12weekhome.html

Hope that was alright. :)

I thought I told you all about selling utility trailers. I guess hubby decided I didn't have enough to do already. We get them from a manufacturer in AL We only have one left from the last shipment but have another shipment coming in tomorrow. It was supposed to be in Sat. but didn't make it. We put in another order last weekend so we actually have 11 more ordered ... I think I have one of those sold already. We're making pretty good on them but it's time consuming ... people tend to stand around out there a long time 'deciding'! :p I want to say, "Alright already ... hook it up and drag it off."

Wow Meme-I totally agree with you about portions but it's also about choices of food and exercise. Well-I went to the shower and had a great piece of cake-talk about choices-also pasta and meatballs/ I couldn't go to docs yesterday because I had an attack of diverticulosis. Probably seeds in spaghetti sauce. Better today I am not trying to lose weight and I am not skinny by any means-I am small boned and 5 feet tall so any extra is a lot of fat. I still have a lot of fat but last dress I bought was a 6 petite.I am proud of that. I haven't walked since we were on the road but Thurs I am going with auntie. Going to the rheumotologist today. I think Brad's mother's house is sold. 198,000 for a house that needs fixing up but it was built in 1795. Cheapest house in town-that's the Northeast for you!! Now we can pay off our trailer. which is not empty of clothes but everything else-and filthy dirty. hAVE MANY MONTS TO CLEAN IT. Caps locked!!!!Going to Target to get clothes for grandaughter who will be 14. She has outgrown everything. Brad and I have been reading a book called the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. It's great.Check it out on their website www.thepurposedrivenlife.com I think. Bye for now Mima

That's not it-do a search instead

Holy cow...somewhere along the way I picked up 5 pounds...that would make me 5 over goal, this is the first time in 4 years that has happened, so I am not a happy camper! I still joural every day and get in my water but my activity level is down due to hip pain and has been all winter but I never thought going over goal by 5 pounds would be a problem. Last year I was over by 2 and lost it before fall. I guess the aging thing and my tummy meds and the lack of exercise has caught up with me! Oh dear.. dear...gotta start the losing mode again at 18 pts and get this gain nipped before it turns into 10!!!!!!!!!! The good thing is I can fill my bras again!
(but most of it is in my tummy, my waist is hudge!!!!!!!!)

Great job Mima, do you remember what you weighed in your wedding pictures?????? I thought you looked good there!

Meme, wonderful advice about eating less but I also have to keep real close track cause I can't remember when or how much I eat unless I right it down! It will take me untill fall to losse my 5 if I can do it by then.....I am more comfy in my clothes 5 pounds lighter but am sitll in the same size, just tight in my waist and I can't stand that! The tummy meds I take are constipating me so makes my tummy even bigger!:eek:

Happy did you move into another condo or by a house?

Joanne, so what's wrong with your garden?

Good morning!!!I weighed what I weigh now in my wedding pics. I gained 10 lbs when I slowed down and stopped moving and went on a cruise and ate out. My stomache is on the bum-change in seasons!!!!?????Daughter came over yesterday and did her wash and we went for a walk. Computer was down all day!!!Still catching up on things-walk tomorrow. Hi to all . Mima

Candice - You will just have to bake the cookies you don't like or stop for awhile.. The soil in my yard is sandy.and difficult to get anything but weeds to grow in. I keep trying a space outside my kitchen . I want something pretty there to see while I work in the kitchen. I have put just about everything there to feed the soil. I have zinnias etc there now.. They should be 3+ as high as they are . The area doesn't hold moisture . Drains right out. But ,I'll keep trying. Some places here in Florida are great for growing things. My yard is another story. Now the front is like a jungle. Tropical vines grow everywhere you don't want them. Right up the trees and house to remove the paint!!!I think my son might build me a deck by the kitchen. I will just plant in pots then.
Mima- I plan on a walk today too. I missed yesterday because of the threat of rain. We got a few minute sprinkle. Dry under the trees. This area misses out on the needed rain a lot.. It is getting hot now so I will have to change my time of walking.. Evening will work for me.
Meme- Sounds like you have a good control of your eating.. I slip often and eat the things I shouldn't. But, I don't really want to give up everything. I am trying to control portions. As we all know the "diets" only work for a short time. We either get tired of the routine or our bodies decide for us. I have decided to just be happy with what I am able to maintain. Otherwise ,It just gets too hard. I gain pounds just eating out once in a while or eating anything different . Makes me crazy!!
Hello everybody...Joanne

YUCK ... I hate writing down what I eat. But you do what works for you ... Isn't it wonderful how God made each of us different!!! The world would be sooooo boring if we were all the same! ;) Besides, I don't get hungry often enough to worry about overeating! :lol: That medicine that made me so sick a couple of months ago did something to me ... I haven't been the same since I took that stuff. I don't eat like I used to. I do good to get down 1000 - 1200 calories a day ... and then I feel stuffed!!! :p I drink a 'Boost' every day because of the vitamins, that's 240 calories and I make myself eat a lot of protein because of my blood being low but other than that I just don't stress out over it. I never had to worry about my weight until I was in my late twenties. We moved from MI to TN and I started going to Tennessee Tech for my teaching degree. I was raising two kids (and a husband), keeping house (and I'm a perfectionist), doing church work, and going to school full time one year then working full time and going part time for a couple of years. During that time I started getting fibro and the Dr. put me on prednisone ... the rest is history. I gained 56 pounds. I started having all kinds of other problems, too. I already had knee problems (since age 9), had already had one knee surgery and later on had to have the other knee done. I had been anemic since a child. I had migraines since my son was born in 1966. I finally had to quit school AND my job. Ever since then, I have been on a long list of diets (none of which really worked with lasting effects) and I'm tired of dieting. With 'diets' you have to constantly measure, weigh, count and write down everything that goes in your mouth and that just isn't for me. I have EATEN for so many years I KNOW what I'm eating and I KNOW when I'm eating too much food for my body. I can automatically look at my plate and tell you whether it's too much food. When they bring me a plate in a restaurant I can take a fork and divide it up and tell you how much of that food I need to just leave there (and most of you probably can, too). We went out to eat with friends last Sunday and one of my friends said to me, "You didn't eat hardly anything." I just smiled and said, "And yet I'm full." I had a large salad, half a steak, half a baked potato, half a roll and green beans yet she didn't think I had eaten enough. :eek: I'm telling you, if diets work for you, fine, but if they don't, just making small life style changes will absolutely take the weight off! We went to IHOP Sun. night and I ordered an omlette and pancakes. I asked the waiter to leave the sour cream off of the omelette and to leave the butter off the pancakes and he said, "How you gonna have fun with your food without all that." I said, "Well, I wasn't looking to 'have fun' with my food!" I guess he really freaked out when he saw I left nearly half of it on my plate!!! :lol:

Joanne, I missed your post ... don't know how I did that ... it wasn't there when I read the others before I went to post mine and I know it wasn't 30 minutes ... only about 10. Weird!

From what you have said before, I don't think you need to lose anymore weight ... do you? Just maintain. You shouldn't have to give up any foods you like. I don't have a problem with eating out. (It's a good thing, too, because we eat out at least 3 times a week and sometimes more!) The important thing to remember when eating out is to ASK for what you need. If you want something fixed a certain way TELL the waiter and tell them to leave off the butter, etc. That's why you leave them a tip! I don't like butter so I have always told them to leave the butter off EVERYTHING! Almost all restaurants have 'light' menus and 'low carb' menus now ... even McDonalds. If all else fails, get a salad and if you have stomach problems and can't eat salad, just order whatever you want and leave half of it on your plate. If you're afraid of what others will say, just tell them you're not really all that hungry or something. You don't have to announce to the world you are on a diet. Ask for a box and say you'll eat it later. My mother had diverticulitis and she wouldn't eat out ... I never did understand that. The restaurants had the same foods she ate at home, she just wouldn't order them. She would take in peanut butter and crackers and order a sprite. I finally got her to see, the last few years of her life, that she could order a plain hamburger, a bun without seeds and get mustard on the side and it was just like what she had at home ... she could get a plain baked potato with nothing on it or french fries at certain places and they were just as 'dry' as what she had at home. And she got to where she loved Captain D's country style fish, too, because it didn't have all the grease in it the regular fish did and they would let her substitute something else for the slaw. It's all about choices.

Meme, what you ate was great. People seem to eat too much. Everyone I know who was on a "diet" has gained their weight back. I don't think no carbs is good but I do agreee we eat too many-me included. Going for a walk with my aunt today and it is going to be nice out. Warm. I had an e-mail from my son about the baby and I got very sad because I am not there. And missing it all. When I left, he was a week old and not awake yet but now he's starting to smile and do other things. I told Mike I want tapes. Getting house back together-the living room is almost totally done construction wise. A couple of plugs, a grille cover for the heat, it's pretty. Next Tues is our second anniversay. If you saw this place when I moved in, you wouldn't believe it. WE figured out we spent over 30,000 on it. I think it's more than that. Not done yet. We'll finish just in time to sell because we will be too old to take care of it. Bye for now. Mima

Joanne-geraniums grow good in sandy soil.

Mima ... I'm confused ... (which is not unusual for me) if you sell that, where are you going to live??? Are you going back to FL?

The condo is a rental-I used to live there but we rented it out when we got married. We live in a big house 30 minutes away in the country. By the way, I am really enjoying the living room. Anyhow, we have been discussing what we should do and decided we wanted to stay here and buy a park model in FL for the winter. However, next year we will still be in the 5th wheel because we alraedy rented a pad for it to sit on. And then we will have lots of time to look around. By the way Meme, the churches in the South are so much better than the North. We really miss the church in Ft Myers-Brad's that is. I like my church here, Starting to work on the yard a bit-can't plant yet but I will get some pansies. I am going to grom some lettuce on the decl. It's so expensive to buy. Bye for now, Mima-ps-it's in the 70's today.

Mima- What makes the churchs in the south better than in the north?
It is hot now..I walked to the beach and almost got a burn.. I have been wearing sleeveless shirts as my shoulders were almost white..I like a tan..
Hello everybody..Joanne

We're friendlier! (And we like to eat!) ;)

Well in the north, they are friendly and like to eat. There seems to be more spirit and , Of course, we went to that huge Baptist church with the orchestra and the huge choir. Brad's church is small but there sure are wonderful people there. Threre was so much going on at the big church and I suspect your church is like that too. Meme. We got the appraisal for the condo-144,000 and I paid 66,000 4 years ago. I don't think we will get that much but we will get enough. Prices in the Northeast are skyhigh. WE do have to pay capital gains on the money -not all-just the difference in what I pd and the selling price. We are starting to fix our yard-have to put drainage in the front and driveway and then pave. It was gorgeous yesterday. And today. Kids are coming tomorrow and I will meet Suzanne's new boyfriend. Bye for now-Mima

It looks like it has been a quiet weekend for all of us.. Monday morning as usual is is looking like a standard.. Breakfast dishes and laundry is waiting for me.. My weight is staying the same.. I need to lose a few more pounds.. I am at goal and that isn't good enough.. I need that safe zone..
It has been raining for a change.. Maybe I will get out to walk if it clears up.. Bye for now...Joanne

Stop worrying about your weight Joanne and eat healthy and walk-that's it and congrats that you are at goal. Did I tell you the cndo appraisal came in at 144,000-I bought it for 66,000 3 and a half years ago-that doesn't mean we will get that. Maybe I will advertise on I sold my house.com-rainy day here.Bye for now Mima

My scale may have been wrong cause I found out that DH has been weighing and my scale only likes one person, I guess it gets used to that weight. (it always messes up when someone other than me uses it) I will know when I weigh this week, been pretty active since my anxiety level is up right now and all the yard work.

DH droped 20 pounds just do to stress in the pass few months!

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/prt/article.aspx?articleID=10811

Joanne, you plant all the succulants too...like chubby finers, we have very rich black topsoil here, prime growing ground but if the weather does not cooperate then nothing will grow right!

Mima, I did not know you lived int he country. Nice huh? No wonder you have mice too. None have been in my attic since I started cleaning. Just reboxing now and going through the kids things they made in school..so many fond memories!

Meme, I gained my weight when I went on the high doese of elavil for Fibro to help me sleep. All medicines make me gain, no matter what it is, right now it is my prilosec for my stomach. I eat very healthy all the time except for the occasional cookie! :D

Anxiety level is high so have lots of energy to get things done..hope I can get some sleep tonight!

Son lost his cell phone...so we cannotl call him!

Good morning!!!It's our anniversary-2 years-but we are not going out til tomorrow night. We have had a gift certificate for 2 year to this really nice restaurant and we are finally getting to go there. It finally stopped raing: getting my hair frosted and cut today. That will be nice. I was doing some yard work last week and I hurt like crazy so be careful guys. Bye for now. Mima

Mima-I know what you mean about worring about my weight. But, I have to stay aware. I gain so fast..I walked today..It was not so hot,but windy. They are predicting 90 by the weekend. If I were you ,I would ask at least 5000 or more higher than you will take for your condo. They always try to price you down.. Two years annivarsery. Good for you. Have fun.
Candice - that's a good one about the scale.. Do you really think the scale knows who is on it? :) You have so much will power ,I wish you could send me some..What are chubby finers?
Meme- You are right . We are friendlier down here. I have been in the grocery and spoke to some of the what we call "snow birds" .They looked at me like I came from MARS...No reflection on you Mima..
Hello Happy, Ally...How are you?
Bye for now..Joanne

Joanne..that would be chubby fingers!

Mima..Happy 2nd anniversay! Give Brad a big kiss from me! Who mows your lawn? You said you are in a country home..is there a lot to mow? WE have 2 acres..too much for us!


Ok, DH has been down (kind of depressed and stressed out) and got behind on the mowing so while he rode I walked and pushed the little mower and it is not self propelled and very heavy. I have not done this since my arms have been bad with my tendonitis so it was a real challenge, I do not think I will be doing it again! Took me two hours of continuous mowing!!!!! I will just have to get the weed wacker out I guess. But that hurts my arms too and now I have to use the trimmers around stuff, get to my weeding, get the veggie garden planted, and my flowers...no one helps me when I get behind. I cleaned the whole house yesterday by myself, my gal had a sick kid home so she cancelled. I think pusing the sweeper is easier than the mower but I would rather be outside!

I'm hurting and pooped but my anxiety has kicked in so no rest for the weary!

We have a tractor to mow-it's fun to drive but hurts my back so Brad does it, We are not way out in the country-I grew up in the city and then moved to a busy town so this is country to me. Actually my house growing up was next to a farm and the rooster used to wake me up every morning. I have had the munchies lately and haven't walked -it's so easy to slip. It's more fun to walk in FL. Had my hair frosted by a new girl-frosting is nice but haircut isn't. I guess I'll have to crawl back to my other girl when I need a cut. massage today!!!Bye for now Mima

Hi gals. Hope everyone is doing ok.

Snowed here today and the weather has turned cold. Hungry as a bear!! I wish it would settle down. Went out for dinner tonight, and twice last week. Not easy to be good when you are eating out.

Joanne, hope you are getting your walking done.

Mima - pictures of your living room, please. Happy Anniversary by the way.

Candice - busy as ever. Hope you are not hurting too much from doing all that!

Not much to report from this end. Just busy doing a lot of nothing, but it takes me forever :lol:

Up in the middle of the night again (no, this is not Candice). Been lurking occasionally but not getting to post much. All the busy stuff.

Had shot in cervical spine last week because I was having pain and numbness in left arm (may have mentioned that in Dec when they were doing heart tests). Hurt more for a couple of days but doing better now.

Rehab pool finally reopened after five months for repairs. Went Tuesday. Felt good. I have lost a couple of pounds (finally). Seemed like I was plateauing for forever. Have had some decent weather but oh, so changeable.

Dh and I went to a summer theaer today and saw "Smoky Joe's Cafe". Some real talent there and good music. DH as usual didn't like it that much (I really thought he would this time).

I sure hope to be able to fall back to sleep before daylight. Slept 3 hours, woke up and am wide awake. Hard enough to get things done w/o sleep grogs.

Hope all have a good Mother's Day weekend. I suspect mine will be very quiet (my choice). Spent five of the last six weekends w/daughter and family (and saw son on at least two of those weekends), enjoy it but tiring and that many days I fall behind. Enjoyed last weekend at home.

Hi Anagram-hope you got back to sleep. We went to this very fancy restaurant-bill was 110$ and we had a gift certificate for 60. Food was absolutely wonderful but my stomache still hurts. Good thing I'm walking today. And it's going to be nice. Going to NY Sunday and Mon-we have tickets to the View to be in the audience and we will take in a show Sunday night. Love my sister-in-law-we have such a great time together. Oh yeah-a little shopping too. Finaly bought some pansies. Bye Mima

Good Morning- Happy- SNOW!We are in shorts and t-shirts down here. I get the hungry days too and it doesn't have to be cold for it.. I try to walk as many days as possible. Today may not be the one but as it stays light till 8.30 I may still go. This time of the year the beach is the place to go.. Sunsets are nice.
Mima- I stayed on goal this past week.. I gave the program last night . Maybe I got to a few..I try to be educational and not boring. Pancys are winter flowers here. Going to get my hair cut today..
Anagram- It is nice to be able to go to a pool whenever you want. If I ever hit the lotto I may give that some thoughts. But ,I only live a mile from the gulf of mexico so that is where I might go to walk in the water.
Hello everybody. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! My son is coming over and we will probably cook out,,Watch it rain!...Bye, Joanne

Supposed to be 90 here tomorrow. And supposed to be pretty on Sunday ... no rain in the forecast. Going to eat out with 'All My Children'. :)

A HUNDRED AND TEN DOLLARS!!! Where in the world did you eat woman? Was that just for two people? My daughter and I ate lunch at Red Lobster today and I thought $32 was bad enough. But, of course, since she is doing WW we didn't get dessert! ;) She's lost 16 1/2 pounds in the last 4 weeks!

I picked my daughter up at the hospital where she works today at 12 and on the way to Red Lobster she said she had a tape she wanted me to hear. She put the tape in and the group singing was really good. When the second song started, I asked her if I could borrow the tape and copy it (it was a gospel tape). She started laughing and said, "Sure... you do know that that is 'us'!" I just looked at her ... baffled ... for about 10 seconds ... then I realized I had been listening to my own children singing. :lol: They are really good!!! (My son, daugher and daughter-in-law) I told her they could go professional if they weren't all so busy. They had made the tape while singing at their church. I'm going to see about getting them to come to our church sometime soon. I have to sing at a Women's Conference next month ... for about 30 minutes straight. My mouth gets so dry when I do something like that. I have to get my songs lined up in the order I'm going to sing them and then hubby will burn the tracks all on one CD for me. My kids used to sing with me ... we went every where and sang as a group for years but they grew up and started doing other things. I'm just glad they are back singing now. I wish you all could hear them!

I lost another pound this week ... 22 down since around Thanksgiving! :cp:

Meme..if a wind comes up you will blow away;)

Got my hand trimming done today.....and have a new cookie recipe I want to try, it only make 12 so I should be ok Still working on getting the garden ready, potted some pots of pansies and now need to get the rest of my flowers bought. We had a big wind storm go through again and I had to quick get everything in the gargage.. Mother nature is just not cooperating and I'm getting tired of it!

I have those hungry days too!



......now if I could just give up my cookeis!

http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/portion/ This is a slide quiz........

I am so sore fgrom gardening-hope I am not so bad tomorrow for the trip to NY. Meme, the prices in the Northeast are much higher than the South, But I would never go to that restaurant without a gift certificate, which we had to use up. Houses are at least doubled. Best bet, sell your home here and buy one in the South. Oh yesh, that's what we are doing. We will sell the condo here, pay off our mortgage, and have some left to buy a park model in FL. But those prices are going up too. Bye for now. Mima

Oh nonono!!! :nono: I have a loooong way to go before I'll blow away! Trust me! And why on earth would you want to give up your cookies (or anything else for that matter) as skinny as you are? That's what keeps you sane!!! Here have a few on Me-me! :cookie: :cookie: :cookie: :lol:

Mima ... hurry and move ... then I'll have two friends to go visit the next time I go to the ocean!!! What fun!!! I don't think we are going to make it down this year. We have planned too many 'mini' vacations. I really like doing that, though. It gives you lots of little breaks during the year instead of one big one. Maybe next year. We have been going to Gulf Shores but I'm thinking it's time for a change. We just might make it to FL one of these times and who knows ... I may arrange to meet up with you and Joanne. Wouldn't that be cool???

We're going down to the Boat Dock to eat with friends tonight ... there's a floating restaurant on the lake ... catfish and hushpuppies ... oh boy ... look out ... I just may not fit in that new outfit I bought for Mother's Day tomorrow morning!!! ;)

Meme- Come on down to Fl. It would be great for the three of us to get together.. Wonder who else we could get down here. My sister would more likely be with me and we would have a great time.
All you great girls have a WONDERFUL MOTHERS DAY.My son is taking me out on his boat in the Gulf for half the day and then we are going to cook out in the evening..
Bye for now- Joanne

Happy Mother's Day-yeah, we will have a reunion. Went out to a chinese restaurant and my son ordered everything in sight-lots of leftovers-he paid the bill-not used to these kids working-my daughter gave me a gift certificate for a facial/ It'sa my grandaughter's birthday today-14. She says she will meet us on Broadway-she loves it so much/ Haven't even put my stuff in the suitcase. Bye for now. Mima

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