Royal Fresh Start Express... all aboard!

[wsw]

kaylets-that video really gave me a lift, and made me smile. it made me want to email or call my best buds, but before i even got a chance to do that, my best friend called and we had a nice phone visit, and laughed a lot. after that, another friend called to ask if they could visit tomorrow afternoon with their adorable almost 2 month old baby. all was done almost as if on cue---which made me smile even more.

andria-woohoo on fat loss!! and for staying off the scale!! very impressive!!

kat-so neat about your choice to make this a positive day!! must be frustrating dealing with what's going on with sister. good for you for going back to ww!! glad to hear you have a good leader at ww, and that you got a good haircut today too.

anagram-hope you are having a grand time on your elderhostel adventure!! you continue to inspire me to try more and new things in my life.

arabella-i agree with kat-the story about your sister and knowing your dad is listening also took my breath away. things like that are always so amazing, and reassuring.

ceara- how are things going in your part of the palace?

hello janga, and warm greetings to all our lovely royals.

had a pedicure and manicure yesterday, which was fun. i tried on some clothes in my closet, and weeded out a few more things, which i took over for donation. usually in the past, i have always kept my larger clothes, but have been giving away my older, larger things as they become larger these past 8 months. sometimes, it feels like i'm getting rid of my security blanket, but at least up to this point, i have been glad i am doing it this way now, and kind of proud of myself for taking this leap of faith too. well, as always, even when i am having "ms technical difficulties" and can't always post as often as i would like, please know i am thinking of you, and missing you when away. hope everyone has a good evening, and remainder of your weekend. take care, all.

[wsw]

i had such a lovely visit yesterday from my little friend who is 7 weeks old, and her mommy and daddy, yesterday! she is soooo cute, and a little sweetheart! one simply can't be cranky when holding a sweet little baby.

stayed op and exercised. some days sure are harder than others to stay on track. last night, i really wanted to overeat, but kicking and screaming, i did end up eating a dainty dinner in spite of myself, and glad that i did. (191 now.) i have been staying on course pretty consistently for these past 8 months, and that feels very good. well, take care, dear royals. thinking of you all.

[katrinabgood]

Oh, wsw! You are the woman!! So inspiring to hear about your progress! Consistency, as we all know of course, is KEY to this whole process! Consistent dainty-ness? Well, look what it's done for you! Thank you for continuing to inspire me... even with your bouts of 'technical difficulties,' you are doing it, girl!

I'm having a good week, despite a few challenges. This past weekend, I had two different gatherings to attend: a barbecue and a beach outing, both with friends from work. Both were already scheduled, but came at a particularly difficult time for all of us... one of our co-workers lost her son last Thursday in a car accident, he was 21 years old. There is nothing sadder in this world than seeing a mother grieve the loss of her child. This woman is such a ray of sunshine at work; always a smile, a compliment, a joke... just an all around sweetheart. It hurts to think that some of her light will be dimmed forever. She didn't want anyone to cancel any parties because of her, so they went on as planned, without her, of course. It was actually good to be together as a group after such a tragic event. Of course there was a ton of food at both, and while my choices were not completely stellar, they weren't half bad, and have been duly logged and accounted for. My weekly 35 points extra points are used up but good! No guilt! I've exercised both days and I feel good, staying on track. I'm thinking I need to get my hiney into bed soon if I want to make the 6am Power class that I was contemplating... If I don't make that, I'm definitely going to take my tried and true step class after work... Why, Oh WHY is it so hard to GET to the gym? Once I'm there, I really do love it!

I hope you're having fun, anagram... I can't wait to hear the tales of Elderhostel!

Arabella? All well in your corner of the castle?

Kaylets... keep that seat belt fastened, and those bumpy rides will be a breeze!

Andria...How are the scale wars going?

Okay, my head's a'bobbing: it really is time to say goodnight, kat...

[qsilver]

Scale Wars: The Saga Continues...
Kat, you crack me up!

I've managed to stay off the scale, but this morning it was a struggle. I was seriously trying to convince myself that it was okay to give in because I have been good for so many days. It hit me hard that my scale issue goes a lot deeper than I had imagined. I thought I was doing so much better because I'm not off and on the thing all day long anymore, but even once a day was becoming too much. Besides that, it was really becoming two or three times a morning, and each step on that little thing was another chance to be horrid to myself if the numbers weren't what I wanted to see. Who needs that?! Evidently, I don't. I'll return to the scale when I am ready to control my impulsivity as far as it is concerned.

Exercise here has been good. I am so proud of myself! I've had 30 minutes or more of cardio every day except yesterday. Yesterday was an errand day topped off with an extremely long doctor's appointment. I was lucky to get in 9,000 steps before I collapsed on the couch at about 8 p.m. My trainer has really been encouraging me to break out of my comfort zone, and I began to realize that all the things that were so hard for me to do last November have become normal, everyday activities. I haven't changed them up hardly a bit. So, I'm taking the treadmill at a 5 incline instead of a 2 now, and we've been finding other ways to get my cardio at home. For instance, we hit a trail park here the other day, and it was a blast! The eldest princess suggested we gather up the dogs, and the girls and I headed out. The trails were almost 100% shaded, which kept the heat down enough to enjoy ourselves, and we got in a really great walk. I was looking wistfully off the paved trails to some that go through the wooded areas, and it made me think of Arabella and her woods woggles. I can hardly wait to go back and try one of my own!

Kat, way to balance friends, fun, and food! Sounds like you have it down to a science. And I know what you mean about the gym. Sometimes the real challenge is getting there, not in working out. I'm impressed you go to classes, though. I'm still too chicken.

wsw, you really have stayed the course, and you are benefiting now, for sure. I am so impressed! By the way, I'm trying to follow your lead and get the closets cleaned out. The bit you said about it feeling like you are getting rid of a security blanket really hit home for me. My old clothes really do feel like some sort of insurance policy, some sort of safety line.

Arabella, hope all is well with you.

Anagram, bet you are still having a blast with Elderhostel!

to all the other royals out there. We're keeping your rooms aired out and free of dust, awaiting your return.

I've got to go get breaky going here. The trainer requested I have a really solid meal because we are going to begin serious interval training this morning, and he doesn't want me to run out of energy. Got to admit, I'm a little nervous, but I'm also excited that he thinks I'm ready to hit it harder.

Andria

[wsw]

kat-good for you for staying on track with the gatherings you attended! that is sad about your co-worker's loss of her son. can't even imagine how someone gets through that.

andria-good job with exercise! hope work with your trainer went well today.

heard from an old childhood friend today, which was fun. it was a lovely trip down memory lane. well, lovely royals, hope your evening is divine. take care, all.

[wsw]

had a nice long visit with a friend today, which i thoroughly enjoyed. i did get to do a few errands too, which in this heat, wasn't sure how much i'd get accomplished, so glad i was able to get the essentials taken care of. have been op and exercised today, and am glad about that. i am starting to think i may have to take a page from your book, andria, and not get on the scale daily, or at least for a while, anyway. i'm getting to a place where i want to be thin NOW. i am still very grateful for the weight i have already lost, but starting to feel soooooo impatient about all the weight i still need to lose. there's nothing new about my losing slowly, but it is getting to me more lately and so i think i need to leave the scale alone for a little while and just keep sticking to my plan and know that if i remain vigilant, i will eventually reach my goal of around 55 more pounds. i know i can do this, because i have been successful for a good chunk of this past year. i will get there eventually---how ever long it takes! i guess today is one of those days where it is feeling awfully far off, though. ah well! tomorrow, i am getting together for lunch with a good friend, which will be nice. it's been a long day for me, so will grab my book, put on some good music, and begin to wind down for the evening. nitey-nite, all!

[qsilver]

Interval training kicked my backside this week! I haven't been that tired and sore since I first started working out with a trainer. But on the good side, I did it! Wahoo! You would have laughed watching me walk to the car afterwards... or should I say creep? I wasn't moving like a champion, but I felt like one inside. I'm going to keep up with a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio a day all this weekend, and it shouldn't be so bad when I return to the gym on Monday for the next session.

wsw, if you are letting the scale add stress to your life, it probably is time to put it up for a while. You have done so well on your plan, and you should be celebrating yourself every day--you have earned that right! Also, I should thank you for providing such a great example with food. I've become so much more successful at taking normal portions at meals because I think of you and your dainty portions.

I have to go get some reading done (trying to get a few more of the suggested novels for my seniors read before school starts), and then I've got to decide what cardio to do for today. My calves are fairly sore from the gym, so I've been putting it off. Thing is, if I wait until my husby gets home, I know I won't do it. Decisions, decisions... maybe I can get one of the girls to play Wii sports with me or something. I bet that would get my heart rate up enough.

Andria

[wsw]

wahoo is right for that interval training this week! you are a champion, andria!

had lunch with my good friend today. nice to have a chance to visit with him, which i hadn't gotten to do in a while, since he's been so busy at work. the heat is wearing me out, and normally i just dash in and out of the parking lot to get back inside to my a/c, but this afternoon, i ran in to a neighbor who lives in the next building. she is so cute, and elderly, but has a lot of energy. she loves the bench in the courtyard, which her son had given her one year for mother's day, and when i got home from lunch, she was sitting on her bench, and asked me to join her. believe me, i wanted to invite her in to my nice and cool home, but she loves sitting on that bench of hers, so i stayed out there with her for a while, which she seemed to enjoy, and of course, i'm glad i could do that for her. i'll tell you, though, i was one happy camper when i got inside and could cool off with a delightful huge glass of ice water, and my a/c blasting away. she didn't even break a sweat, and i felt like someone had thrown me in to the sauna while we were outside. the image of a limp dishrag comes to mind. ah well! ok, hope everyone has a good evening, and weekend. take care, all.

[katrinabgood]

Happy Sunday, s!

It's kind of a drizzly, dreary day here in my neck o' the woods... which works for me, I can get some much needed housework done without staring longingly out the windows, wishing that I were outside!

I went to WW yesterday morning, logged in a 1.8# loss, which I'm perfectly happy with. Probably would have been a bit more, but hub surprised me with a surf & turf dinner Friday night; steak and lobster tail, complete with fresh steamed green beans, scalloped potatoes, corn on the cob and garlic bread! (a little carb-laden, no?) Not to mention the apple strudle for dessert... {Enable much, dear?} I passed on the corn completely, had a small bite of the taters, more bread than was necessary, and skipped dessert altogether! So, yes I'm happy with my loss! I've pushed the exercise buttons pretty well all week... got some swimming in, took a class at the gym I'd never taken before, (cardio/strength combo) walked more this week than I have in a while, and I even got my old rebounder out of the garage and have been using that as well! This morning I put FitTV on, and followed along with a boot camp session-- mostly kick boxing moves, some weights, and used the rebounder during commercials. Feels good, having exercise done first thing! Keeps me motivated all day long!

This past Thursday was my (our) 26th anniversary... Seeing as it coincided with our two brandy new car payments coming due, we decided that a low key celebration was in order. I stopped at the local farmer's market, looking for some yummy nibbles for a picnic. I found some freshly made gazpacho, which I thought was appropriate, seeing that the first time we ever had any was on our honeymoon in Cancun! Got some nice bread to go with that and a big bag of cherries and we were off. It was a gorgeous afternoon, so we put the top down and cruised to the park that we frequented when we were going together... we sat by the water, watched the boats go by and spent a lovely summer's eve. The end.

Traffic's a bit slow 'round the castle of late...

wsw, Another soldier in the SCALE WARS! You said it best:

i think i need to leave the scale alone for a little while and just keep sticking to my plan and know that if i remain vigilant, i will eventually reach my goal of around 55 more pounds.

Let's give that scale a much needed hiatus from the dictatorial control it has over our minds! I love the image of you sitting (and sweltering!) with your elderly friend on her bench... that was very kind, I'm sure she loved having your company! I love me my AC too!

andria... I love this sentence:

I wasn't moving like a champion, but I felt like one inside.

You are a champion! You are doing it, girl! Teacher, please tell me what books you are reading... I was just cleaning out a bookcase and found a PILE of Cliff's Notes which I started browsing through... As a result, I decided that I'm going to the library tomorrow for The Divine Comedy, which I "read" in high school, but, you know, just enough to get by... My goal is to actually read all the great literature that I skimmed through back then!

Hi to everyone else! Hoping you are all well!

I'm off to vacuum... (hey! more exercise!)

[wsw]

kat- congrats on 1.8 lbs down! woo-hoo! ---and for skipping dessert on friday. not so sure i could have done that. all your exercising this week---pretty impressive too! a belated happy anniversary. sounds like you had a lovely celebration!

nice, quiet sunday afternoon here. watched some old movies, which i always enjoy. i love the fashions and interior design from the 30's and 40's too. wrote a few letters also---speaking of "olden days." well, royals, thinking of you, one and all. take care.

[Arabella]

Good morning, Lovelies! I spent the weekend at sound yoga/ voice camp, which was mostly good but left me feeling disturbed. I don't know whether that was a reaction to my performance or some of my deep stuff getting stirred up. I thought I was so ready to perform in front of everyone (you have to sing a song solo and then she helps you work on it) but then found I was VERY nervous -- shaky voice. Maybe more practice would help? Maybe if I had my technique down solid it wouldn't dessert me. I intended to practice more...

Right at the start, she talked about people crying and having breakdowns and how that often led to breakthroughs and I felt like crying then and there. But I'm very resistant to breaking down in front of a bunch of people. And then at the end, again, I was this close but resisted. Then, driving away I could feel that ache in my chest and it keeps coming back. I guess something needs out.

Here's where I spent the weekend. If you click "gallery" there are lots of neat pictures of the place. We had a couple of hours for the beach on Saturday and a bonfire Saturday night. Sunday I was up early and back into the water before we started up again. There's nowhere I'd rather be. At high tide, I'm going to check out a beach about 10 minutes from my house. Before that, though, I've got my woods woggle to do.

WSW, I'm SO proud of you, just diligently plugging along. And your progress looks speedy to me, time being relative. You embody fabulousness! How sweet of you to stay on the bench with your friend -- she probably would have needed a parka to enjoy your AC.

I always feel right at home with old movies too -- we must have been there in a former life.

Kat, thanks for the reports of those lovely dates with your DH. Beautiful! Congrats on 26 years. Also, congrats on ... well, two pounds, really, I say!

Andria, can it really be getting on for time to go back to school? I hope you've still got some time left yet. Seems like it just started... Interval training is the shizzle, from all accounts. I do think it's working for me.

Kaylets, how are things in your corner of the palace?

K, Dollings, if I don't go I won't get back. Let's make this a good one!

[Eydie]

Hello Royals! Remember me? I just happened to be in the neighborhood...It's so good to see that you're all still here. I've been reading up on some of your adventures!

Things are okay with me. I have a new job working at a natural foods store and I love it; also, I recently became certified as a fitness instructor and that's been fun--but I still want to lose 15 pounds!

[wsw]

hi eydie! sooooo nice to hear from you, and glad things are going well for you!

arabella- sound yoga/voice camp sounded so interesting, and also very emotionally intense. you do so many fascinating and creative things, and hearing about them always inspires me!

this sounds so dorky when i say it "out loud," but this morning i tried on a couple of blouses which i had bought a while back (and did fit in the store), but shrank up in the laundry, unfortunately. anyway, i kept them because they were not ruined otherwise, and have tried them on intermintently to see how many buttons i could actually close. at one point, 2 buttons from top, then 3, etc. each time i got one more button down, i felt encouraged. well, this morning for some reason, i tried them on. well, i not only got them entirely buttoned, but they also looked well on me. i wore one, today, in fact, and it felt like a fun, private little victory which made me smile.

i have been getting estimates for getting some things repaired in condo, which will also help when i eventually put it on the market. i will be getting a new shower in november(!), which is the biggest ticket item, although there is a lot to be done. i wish the shower could just be done now, and get it over with, of course, but just knowing that i have made the decision feels pretty good. i just hope once i go through the upheaval and see the finished product that it will turn out to have been worth it. i also got in a re-decorating kind of mood, and rearranged some of my pottery, china, etc. which always makes things look new and fresh to me, plus i have fun doing it. i have to say, it looks quite lovely, in fact. (i think i must have been a decorator in another life. lol!) well, i had a busy day, and not enough sleep last night, so i must away. hope everyone has a pleasant evening, and weekend. thinking of you all, dear royals!

[katrinabgood]

Happy Saturday, Royal Ones! It is a Glorious Summer Day... what am I doing on the computer? Only came in for a minute to find out what the heck to do with the bunch of beets I just bought from the farmer's market... had to check my favorite "cookbook," allrecipes.com (love it!) and since i was here anyway, thought I'd pop in quickly... I did find a recipe for grilling the beets and sauteing the greens, so I'm psyched to try them tonight... will report results.

Arabella... your experience with sound yoga/voice camp sounds very intense, very cool. I'm with wsw: always inspired by your adventures!
Wsw... I don't think it sounded dorky at all... I've done that myself with thinbs that I've shrunk, or just things that were a bit snug to begin with: I I love to give them a "check" every so often... the results are thrilling when the piece finally fits! Good for you
Eydie! Hi! Glad you stopped by, sounds like things are going very well for you! Come see us more often!
Anagram... did Elderhostel keep you hostage? I can't wait to hear all about it.
Andria...How is the interval training going?
Kaylets... What's new?

Quick story: My daughter bought me a bike for Mother's Day... a side of the road, $20 purchase, nothing fancy, but it's in good shape. I've been putting off using it, wanted to get it 'tuned up' at the bike shop... this past Thursday, dh and I were both off, so we packed up the bike, got it checked out (it's fine) and went in search of a bike for him. Yada, yada yada...for a bit more than was spent of mine, he got himself a new bike and we were off... it was so much fun! I'm so glad to find something we can enjoy together! (he's not a hiker, I'm not a golfer!) Later today, we're heading to a nearby park with a ton of great bike trails. A healthy hobby is born!

Okay, I gotta get moving here! Have a great weekend all!

[Eydie]

Kat, that's very cool about the bikes! How were the trails?

Beets, I love 'em, but always hesitate to cook them because nothing stains like beets---how silly is that? Guess I could wear an apron...