Hello all!

So glad to see you Wildfire! How regal!! Jesse Cook, I am even following him on FB.... I can almost recognize him even when it's a new song.

Still following my 'new' food plan. Most of the time it's still working. Christmas was tougher, I think in large part 'stress eating' .....Instead of the wheat, I had lots of protein and fruit---literally grazed on both and probably had 3 sweet potatoes too but all in all, a far, far different 'binge' compared to what would have happened if cookies, etc, etc were in the house.

I am still feeling slimmer if that is more than just a feeling and a reality. In other words, I guess it's probably what other people call my energy. And of course, I expect to turn sideways in the full length mirror and not see a belly. BUT, it's still there and the reality is that at least its not going to get bigger.

Wood Nymph, the Higher Power concept is hard for lots of us---
The bottom line really is ( and again, only my opinion), that I can't control everything, I can not be perfect ( and why do I feel this compulsion to be?) and I can't handle everything that is going to happen to me much less the entire universe.
For me, letting go, realizing somethings are too big for me ( powerless) has been very freeing. I don't have to be in charge. Doesn't mean I'm not accountable and that seems to be a full time job for me.

Glad to see WSW stop by! Cold weather here on the East Coast. You're not shivering alone!

Empress! As always, inspirational!


Sorry, just see the time and must be off. Until next time.


My royals!

Bah! There is nasty bug on the loose in my workplace and I fear I may have finally lost the battle. I actually banned a sick co-worker from my office yesterday, telling her to take her germs and begone! But when you share a photocopier/scanner, various doorknobs and kitchen surfaces with 140 other people, your odds of escaping the virus is slim. Nevertheless, I had a vitamin packed smoothie when I came home, popped some ColdFx, and am having tea with lemon and honey. I hope to kill it with optimism!!

Arabella, hope you are over it soon!

Kaylets, happy to hear the new eating plan is working for you! Feeling slimmer will certainly keep you motivated.

Amarantha, that's the hard part, isn't it? Controlling how we react to others and unpleasant situations, and taking a step back before lashing out or eating the emotions through food. It takes strength and awareness to remind ourselves that there can be a positive outcome if we control our reactions, not to mention less guilt when we avoid diving into a pint of Ben & Jerry's!

wsw, hope you are well and staying warm!

Happy Friday Eve!!

Just my humble opinion, Amarantha, and please don't take offense - you must do what is right for you. However, as a support group I believe that we must support each other outside the confines of only diet and exercise. Everything in our lives impacts how we feel and how we deal with everyday factors impacts our diet and exercise. We have always been a close-knit group and I think we are comfortable sharing bits here and there. We would not have spent the last 12 years or so (for me) coming back to this place if it was merely a place to log diet and exercise. We come because of the camaraderie and having a place to celebrate, commiserate, vent, and support each other. Don't we?

So if you want to talk about the challenges of job searching or anything else going on, or just want to post your goals and activites, we are right there with you!

Just my $.02.

Thank you, sweet Wildfire! I probably will end up blathering a lot about the job search eventually. Lol, I pretty much whine about it daily offline.

I agree with you about how we've come back for so long to support each other. I just get tired of feeling bad on the career front so need to stop thinking of it.

Would never take offense at such a sweet, supportive comment.

I think 2013 will be a great year for all of us, I just feel it & need to believe it.

Hugs, that's my $.02.

Hello all Royals!

I too agree with Wildfire's notes, Empress, that all parts of our lives influence our eating/overeating etc. In fact, perfect point---
I didn't realize until Thursday morning, I was coming down with something.
I was stressed and in a horrible mood and really not fit for company.

It was impossible to avoid the kitchen.

Whatever I had, was just a brush---I never lost my appetite but had no strength, slept most of it away except when I needed to eat and then, sitting was uncomfortable because everything seemed to ache.

My point, and yes, I really do have one is this: As soon as I started feeling better today, I could feel my mood brighten, and the urge to stuff lessened.

Anyway.

Stress for whatever reason has always been more than a trigger to eat for me. And I have learned in recent years, I had far less control over controlling stress eating than I imagined.

so, don't feel you can't share on my account.


Hope all are doing well tonight.

Take care

Good morning, Ladies!

Amarantha, so glad you understood what I was trying to get across.

I have a confession to make. I don't like fruit. I rarely eat fruit other than an occasional banana. I know this is weird and not at all healthy. I will eat strawberries covered in chocolate, or apple crisp, or peach pie...but that doesn't exactly help with weight loss, does it? Eating raw fruit pretty much guarantees I'll be in intestinal distress in short order. However, I have discovered that I can make fruit smoothies and they don't bother me. Strange, I know, but perhaps the pureeing makes it easier on my gut. I have been using the frozen mixed fruit blends with everything from berries to plums, pineapple, and papaya. I put in some pulp-free OJ, some vanilla yogurt, a spoonful of honey, and they are SO good! I'm thrilled to have found a way to get fruit in my diet because I know I need the vitamins and anti-oxidants, etc., and I have my smoothie while cooking dinner. It keeps me from snacking impatiently and I eat less at dinner. Win-win!!

Kaylets, glad you are feeling better! I did manage to win my battle with the virus and didn't end up sick after all. *knock on wood* There are so many bugs on the go here right now, though. Must remain vigilant!!

Arabella, how are you feeling?

WSW? How are things in your corner?

I'm off for a "tank top arms" workout before the girls arrive for the afternoon. Have a wonderful day!

Lol, well the calorie elevator did NOT go down yesterday but the stress overeating hit a high for the year.

Back on track today. Had a nice day, actually, and calories are where they should be.

Have a good week, royals!

Woot! Queen/Empress Am2 hath sashayed on down to the Sacred Grotto o' the Golden Scale despite the unusually frozen temperatures in her part o' the royal palace AND she discovereth that she is down 1.2 & back in the game to reach the 120s by or on February 10!

Bye for now, kind royals, hope everyone is doing well.

Lovelies, I've started a new thread for the year. I'll come in with a full post soon but just wanted to get us into 2013 so we can leave 2012 behind.

Will say one thing: OMG. I have gained about 30 pounds, yes, from ticker. How many times have I done that? Why do I do that repeatedly? I stopped weighing myself and managed to "not see" how much weight I was gaining. The year ahead will be dedicated to peeling off the layers built from stress and a lack of attention and getting down to my real self.

Here's the new thread: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/supp...ml#post4597105