Hi all.

I hope you all had nice weekends (or are still having a nice long weekend for those of us in the US). Mine's been pretty good. The weather is glorious and I'm looking forward to a nice bbq today. And now off to make breakfast. See you later.

Carla

I lost 3 lbs this week!!! YAY!!!!!!!! The plan is working!!!!!

Carla – congratulations on the maintain – under any circumstances that’s a victory and especially when you’re so stressed. I’m so glad to hear about Ana’s improvement in reading! That’s such a hard decision for you, I know. Refresh my memory, if she goes to public school they want to retain her or at the Montessori (I think at public school)? Mixed 1st and 2nd grade classrooms would certainly be good. I know what you mean about being given ultimatums – it gets my back up too but I know you are going to do what you have to do – whatever is best for Ana. While I’m in no way qualified (nor would I) to make the decision, I would suggest you send Ana where she can get the most resources to help her progress. Early intervention is so key and you’ve started that already and will want to continue to have Ana get the resources she needs. Have you thought about some kind of a reading program during the summer (if there’s anything available)? Good for you for slowing down. That’s something I always have to remind myself of – and it really does help your body let you know that you are full! Good luck on your challenges – I’m sure you will do fine. Just remember, potato salad isn’t going to help you with your decision ;-)

LKBAngel and chocalatecatz– congratulations on your great losses!

I went to my meeting this week and had a good weigh in – down one pound. I decided to stick with flex for this week (and probably for the next few). While I do find myself having some snacks like 2 point ice cream sandwiches, I’m still basically eating healthy things and am enjoying the “flex”ibility of it without the feeling of drudgery about points as I did last summer. I guess the discipline of the weighing an measuring is helping too.

We’ve had a fun weekend. The weather has been glorious here too (about time!) Saturday my parents came with Tony and I to Anthony’s Little League game which was a lot of fun. Afterwards, we bar-b-qued chicken breasts and had corn on the cob and my mom’s bean salad (pretty point friendly). My exercise this weekend has been gardening – 4 hours yesterday and 3 hours today. Between grad school and cold, rainy weather this spring, the place got really overgrown with weeds. Tony and I went to the garden center yesterday for some perennials, annuals, tomatoes and herbs yesterday morning and I spent the 4 hours yesterday weeding and getting the garden to look like someone cared about it! This morning, I finished weeding the flower bed while Tony prepared the vegetable bed and then we planted everything. I really feel it all in my legs and upper and lower back (and have counted the activity points accordingly). The good news is that my knee is feeling a little better – enough so that I’m going to continue resting it this week (doing yoga and upper body weights) and maybe I won’t have to make an appt. with the orthopedist. My eating has been pretty good – a little snacking yesterday evening but not too bad. TOM is almost gone and I’m looking forward to losing the bloat. I just finished writing up some test results for grad school and am going to stretch out on the lounge and do a little reading for school.

Have a great one!
Judy

June 2nd: 149 Lbs.

Tama25 - welcome!


Jeez, it sure is quiet here this week. It's been a busy few days but a good one. I found out that I don't have a make-up class tonight (to make up for Memorial Day) which is very good news. I did a new workout - mostly strength - yesterday and just didn't do the moves that bothered my knee. It was good to workout and sweat a bit but I'm still bummed that my knee is not better. My eating has been pretty good - not stellar - a bit too much snacking for that. I'm out of weekly points as of last night and I want to be sure that today, the day before weigh-in - I don't go over. We have a field trip today at school - they are fun but I find them pretty tiring - I went to bed too late last night and between that and the field trip, I really have to watch myself tonight. I don't think we have anything planned for dinner - that's not a good thing, but I'll be sure I stay within points.

Carla - how are you doing????

Have a great one,
Judy

Hi all.

Tama - Welcome

Judy - I'm doing ok, but it's been an emotional couple of days. We checked with an law firm that specializes in educational law and the school district is within their rights to apply a different formula to children not in residence at the school. So we really have no choice but to send her to the public school next year. While there's a really good program nearby staffed with reading specialists, we simply cannot afford to pay the tuition at the montessori school and pay for outside services. We had the IEP review yesterday and told them we'd be placing her at the school. They were all happy to hear she'd be with them next fall, so I guess that's gratifying. We told Ana last night. She's sad, but handling it well. This morning I told the director of the school and her teacher. We all cried. I keep reminding myself that there are far worse problems to have than having to move a child from one great school to another (the public school is, truthfully, a good one). Our next big decision - what grade to start her in. We want to start her in second, they all want to start her in first (they being the special services team and the principal at the public school). I mentioned that this morning when I was at the montessori school and her current teacher agrees wholeheartedly with starting her in first grade, so we'll probably end up going that way. Luckily the mixed first and second grade classrooms at the public school will allow for grade shifting if she catches up. Right now she's at a beginning first grade level. I'm going to be working with her over the summer and I hope she'll make some real progress. I've bought workbooks and the LD resource teacher has given us a lot of stuff, so we have plenty of materials. And John found a grea website that you might want to keep in mind: starfall.com. It's a phonemic based program, developed by a guy who was LD and who now has a PhD. It's all on-line and free. Coincidentally, the first grade teacher at public that tested Ana and sat in on the review to represent the classroom mentioned the website as a great place. She actually bought the supplemental story books and gave them to us to use over the summer. They really are great people that we're working with at the public school. It's just that we have really strong ties and a great love for the montessori school. Ah well, the decision is made and we can move on. Ana asked if she could go back to montessori once she didn't need the extra help and if that's what she wants, that's what will happen.

As for food - eh. Not bad, not great, haven't really thought about it. No weigh-in as I had my period and I was retaining water like a camel. The only upcoming challenge - we're having a cook-out after Ana's ballet recital on Sunday for our family and friends that are attending. I'll handle it. And now to get cleaning said house.

Have a great day. I'll check in over the weekend.

Carla

Carla - I'll write more later but I just wanted to send some {{{{{HUGS}}}}}} to you (and Ana) - I'm sure it is very hard but I think Ana will do well. I also wanted to let you know that my sister's best friend has a nephew who needed to repreak kindergarten. At first, the family wasn't sure it was the best for him, but it turned out really well - it boosted his confidence and that goes a long way! I also think it's great that there will be a mixed 1st and 2nd grade class and that they can grade shift when Ana is ready. It really is so important to get the first grade skills down - that's where the most intervention (like Reading Recovery) is focused).

Thanks for the website - I will check it out over the weekend.

Judy

Judy - Thanks! Keeping her in first seems to be the way to go. We just need to sit on the issue for awhile and then we'll come to the correct decision. It just about broke my heart, though, yesterday when she said so proudly "Mom I'm in second year now." I'm also concerned that parts of first grade won't be challenging enough for her, especially as she catches up on her reading and math. In the long run, though, it will play out the way it is supposed to. Thanks again for being a shoulder to cry on.

Carla

Carla, we had our son repeat kindergarten. Studies show that having kids start later, or in our case repeat, tends to make them more of a leader later. We have never regretted it. Let's face it, it does not matter how smart your child is, physical and social maturity come when they come. Intellectually my son was above most of his classmates......and then some, but he just was not ready in other areas. We do the IEP thing with him, too.

I am at 184 now. That's....ummmm.....let me take my socks off so I can use my toes.......17 lbs? Anyway, down from 201. I need to add the exercise back in again. Now, I am wondering if I already reported this week's weigh in?

Hello all,

I hope everyone had a great weekend! Just wanted to drop by and let everyone know I lost 3lbs again. Thats 12 total!!!! I'm soooo loving this!

Angie

Hi everyone! I am trying ww at home too, not going to meetings but hope weighing in here will help.
My starting weight last Monday was 220. I will post my new, hopefully LOWER, weight tomorrow.
A brief synopsis of me:
Been overweight my whole life, but now at age 32 weigh more than when I delivered my 2nd child. Not good. I want and need to get healthy. Not looking for a model's figure, but wouldn't mind having a waist again. I did have one for a brief period in my early 20s.
Also, the fact that I am a nurse makes me feel like I need to be more of an example to my patients and society in general. And my girls need a healthy role model too. My father died at 42 of a heart attack, don't want that to happen to me! My job is also very physical, on my feet for 13 hours a day, lots of lifting and pulling, all this extra weight doesn't help. I am so exhausted by the end of the day.
My hubby is a firefighter, so our schedules are crazy which is not always conducive for good eating habits. Also, he likes the TV a little too much and potato chips too. Sometimes he sabotages me without meaning to. I guess I let him. I also get irritated that he can lose weight SO easily. Not fair.
But not his fault either.
Anyway I have to work tomorrow so I better get to bed! Happy to be here and cant' wait toget to know you all!!