Let's just say bad weekend food wise. Today is a new day, I hope to do lots better. That's all I can do is try. Oh, and no more mice this am! WOOT.

Woohoo lemon, maybe it was only two and you are mouse free (let's hope)! Sorry about your weekend. It happens. Just start over today and it's no big deal, though. You can do it!

I'm hanging in at 209 still, and I'm getting excited for Onederland. Have another busy week coming up, but now I know that won't stop my weight loss.

Have a great week, everyone!

Hey violets,

A am testing this thread I have posted 2 times and it has not come up.

LG

Hey violets,

I posted yesterday and this morning didn't come up????

I also am not doing well? Not sure why. Not terrible just not enough to move this weight down the scale.

Lemon hope your mice issues are over.

Les I remember how excited I was when I reached 209. Sigh it seems like such a long way away...

LG

You can do it again, Mam! You already know you can if you've done it before. Don't stress.

Mam: sorry you aren't doing well. Is there anything we can encourage you on? Or is it that you have plateaued? Let us know what area we can aid.

Les: Yeah for you to be so close! I was there, a few times in my adult life, however sadly I have been stuck in the 2s for what seem ever. I'd gladly send it packing however I am having a bit of an issue with it right now. TOM calls my name and my sweet needs. Makes you wonder if this is something passed down to you from your genes as well. I know some women crave salt, I do sweet. ARGH! But I am glad you have figured your window of craziness out. I need to just beat mine back with a big old french roll or some dang thing.

Hello Violets.

AM: I should finish drinking my water today, I should work out, I should eat a salad for dinner, HOWEVER, I don't want to do any of it. I have so much to do right now, those aren't on my list though they should be the priority on my list. Todays one of those days, I am not motivated. Maybe I should hop on the scale. Better yet, I will go fill that tall glass with ice and water and at least get that going. Then I will choose what direction I will turn - exercise or sitting on my duff. Happy evening all!

Thanks Ladies,

Well what is happened I have put on more weight since the operation and I am panic mode cause I know I will be going back to work in 2 weeks.

Nothing will fit my bras I just spill out of.

I feel like such a phony walking big but not following through.

Les I have done this I have lost 119 pounds. I want to do this.

I just need to get back in the right frame of mind not panic.

Like they say Rome wasn't built in one day.

I need to stop being so NEGATIVE. I have eaten really bad today.

I am going to start drinking water and eat no more the rest of the day.

I have connected the scale to my negative thoughts. When I am dong good and see the scale go up in stead of down it really bothers me. I have to see movement down or no movement. As soon as I see a pound go up that's it for me. I need to have my fight back....

I will control my food it will not control me. How do you feel about this?

LG

Mam, definitely try to be easier on yourself. It's ok. The stress will just make you feel worse and eat more. At least, that's my experience. Maybe weigh less often if the scale is stressing you out. And do not feel like a phony! The surgery and recovery were hard on you, and you shouldn't feel badly about your body needing to heal. In two weeks you can probably fit into your clothes again, I hope. Be nice to yourself. And you're right, don't panic. It won't help anyway.

Lemon, I used to always crave chocolate when my TOM came. But this last time all I wanted was salt. Don't know if it's the diet or what, but I just wanted to eat all of the nuts and chips and jerky, haha. Anything super salty sounded great. I'm interested to see what cravings hit next month. Will it be salty again or will I go back to craving chocolate?

I maybe was under 200 in my early 20s, looking at a few old photos. I won't ever know for sure because I was scale phobic back then, as well. But that was the last time I dropped any weight, and it wasn't on purpose.

Since I started this diet, I don't feel like food is controlling me. I actually find planning meals and tracking my my food is finally putting ME in control. Maybe it's because I just started though. I know that weight loss only gets tougher as you go along. But for right now, I feel better about myself than I have in years. I have officially dropped 20 pounds (probably more since I didn't get a scale until later) of the 80 I'm hoping to lose. Crossing my fingers that I can stay feeling good throughout this process.

I hope both of you feel better very soon, and that our other quiet thread members are all doing well!

Mam: You just lost organs, your system is acclimating to the upheaval and you dealt w/a cancer diagnosis. Your scale shouldn't be your worry right now. For work just do comfy if you can. Heck I've worked w people who'd come in braless not the best look but I do hope I got you to laugh. Don't forget anesthetic can also make you puffy for a while it's a nasty thing to have to get out of your system. You have been walking and you have been making decent sounding meals. Just be kind and forgiving of yourself. Having done a cancer route myself it's a hard thing to process from diagnoses to surgery to treatment and the thereafters. If it were me: I'd eat as best as I could, drink water as often as I could and walk or swim when you can. The weight may plateau or it may not don't forget too you still might be holding water as the body heals. Hang in there. Just heal yourself first that's the important thing.

Les: yep it is quiet here. I thought I might have scared people w my mice saga. It's a nice feeling to see the weight go. I found I've lost some girth of all places on my foot. It was funny how I saw it. Just keep those pounds whittling down.

AM: my youngest is at the er. He got into the med cabinet by climbing and they are waiting to do more bloodwork to determine if he got into one of the items we found out of place. This one is my try anything guy. I'm awaiting updates as the other offspring is sleeping and has school tomorrow so we are both here. Hard to do the wait here! Wait by the phone for updates. Well here's hoping my little one does ok. No need to eat and worry through this.

Good news: He turned out to be ok and doing well this am, has more energy than his dad and I combined. Dad went to work today and is really dragging.

Mam: Again, just allow your body to heal. If you need some interim items, and where you work allows a bit more relaxed dress I'd find some pants that were easy and comforting on the belly area especially if you sit and the waistband will pull on any scar/incisions. I'd find some long sleeve t-shirts that were a bit nicer in looks and then I'd just do either scarves on top to dress it up a bit or throw on a cardi as well. That way you are still in some sort of comfort wear as you heal. I don't think anyone expects you to be in spanx and hose, unless of course that's your office attire. The weight will go, keep that in mind, you have done it before and you don't know how much your current weight was affected by your diagnosis or what the mutant cells were doing to your body. We are here to cheer you on, hey - if my scale can be stuck forever and a blue moon, and then finally move, your's will too! GO MAM GO!

Les: Whats your ideal piece of clothing you'd like to get into once you hit onderland? And you can't say hoodie Find something that flatters your body, and a color that brightens your eyes. It does a world of good when you feel nice and good about what changes are happening to your body. And then when you look at yourself in the mirror that is a color that works with your coloring - EVEN BETTER! You may even feel closer to goal weight then not.

Hello violets!

AM: Making my last batch of salsa. My MIL left me a basket of roma tomatoes on my porch, and since we are going through a can a week of salsa right now, well, it's not even winter, so I will get this last batch done - between 8-10 pint jars. So what are they at the store right now, about $3? So I have what 36 jars? I did well I think. Sure it takes some time, but that's doable and I hate cilantro and make mine w/basil - even better! I am one of those gals that find cilantro tastes like soap. Yuk. So basil it is and then when you open the jar it smells like summer and sun.

Weight - haven't hopped on the scale yet this week. Did better yesterday, but still not great on food intake. I had yogurt and 1/4 cup of my granola for dinner to make up for not making a salad. I did have 32 oz of water after I posted earlier yesterday. And i was good and didn't eat while worried about my dear boy. OI brushed my teeth and laid in bed awaiting news.

I do hope tonight I can get to move at the gym. I am finding I am having issues when I don't so perhaps it's good I get there and pedal my tush off. Hey, I actually am, it's shrunk some so that's good.

Happy day to you all!

So glad your little one is ok, Lemon! Your salsa sounds great. I am also in the cilantro is gross category. It's not exactly a soap taste for me, and I can eat it if it's just a little. But if there is a lot of cilantro in anything, I cannot eat it. Yuck! Hope you rock it at the gym tonight and get some great weigh ins soon.

I have no idea what clothing I'm looking forward to. I'm really a jeans and t-shirt kinda gal. So far I'm just looking forward to smaller versions of those (and hoodies haha). But who knows, maybe I will like shopping more when I'm thinner and can try on more options. Maybe I'll find a new, more adult look. Maybe not though, because I sure do love jeans and t-shirts.

Les: Aim for different for your clothing wise! Even if it's a more fitted shirt - show your weight loss off to people, be proud of the new shape you are making for yourself on your own terms. Or, add a fitted button down that you wear open on top of your t-shirt or cami. You may find you like something other than the hoodie! Wear the hoodie when it finally snows in FL I think we should put a challenge forth in this group to try a piece of clothing you'd never a) thought you'd wear b) a color you never tried before c) clothing that fits you to show your new shape - not the tunic, big oversize tops w/no shape that often grace the ladies plus department. Who the heck decided that bags were the way to go? Though we are working on our weight, I think bigger gals like figure flattering clothes too. I know I do. I hate tunic t-shirts, shirts or dresses w/the drape or rusching that looks like a curtain swag on some nasty curtains put out by penney's in the 70s, black, black and more black, elastic pants, pants only in petite or medium (do you know what's it like to find plus in tall?), things that are too long, too wide, too ugly REVOLT against it.

Ok Les - find something that looks nice on yourself. You can do it!

My jeans are a little loose again, not enough to drop another size, but I think I'll be going to get a new pair in a few weeks. I'll use that shopping trip to try and branch out a little and at least try on some other clothes. I've always hated shopping and trying on clothes, and I am looking forward to actually enjoying it one day. So I'll accept this different clothing challenge, haha, but no dresses!

Hey violets,

Thanks Lemon and Les for your support. I forget I just had surgery 7 weeks ago.

I am just too hard on myself. I am a perfectionalist at a lot of things. Though not as bad as I use to be.

Can I say and you will understand I am just sick and tired of worrying about everything I eat and what effect it will have on me. I am not giving up I just feel this way now. I guess it's a little poor me attitude.

One mistake I have done is tried so many different programs read so many ideas that it is just so hard to decide what is right and what is wrong.

I guess I just have to find what works for me and just stop looking for that miracle cure out there.

Lemon the dream outfit for me when I get to goal is a light purple(everyone says it looks good on me) shirt tucked into a pair of jeans with a leather belt. I have not worn a belt in my pants for as long as I can remember.

I have an hourglass shape when thin. So I look pretty hot in this type of outfit.

As for work I work in the housing maintenance department at Umass, so I don't have to worry about what to wear. Just something that fits and is comfortable. I do a lot of bending and lifting, stair climbing in my job so my clothes need to be loose.

Lemon glad your son is alright. Although I did get a chuckle how he kept getting into things.... HEHE (sorry)...HEHEHE

Les your my kinda gal jeans and tee shirts, that's me though and though. I hate dressing up. Only at weddings and funerals. In the winter it's jeans and sweatshirts.

Do you have any big fairs in your area? We do the Big E google it to see how big and how many exhibits are there. I will be going this Friday with my niece.

LG

Mam: Well then, you don't have to worry about the spanx! Always a bonus! I think I agree with you to quit chasing the diest that might work, find the one that works for you and your lifestyle. I am finding that the calorie counting this time is helping me be more accountable and I can see the results. I don't mind doing low-carb but I was also finding I was eating a lot more to fill my day. What I am finding works for me best is still a work in progress, but I need to have an egg to start my day and I need to make sure I have the two snacks during the day, and of course my protein with each meal. If I do this, then I am able to keep most of those cravings fairly quiet. I also find them movement helps me a ton.

And for your body - let it heal, it takes longer the older you are, its just a fact of the matter. You may find you are still tired months later, same stupid anesthetic. Give it the rest it's asking for when it needs it.

Your happy sized outfit sounds great and I love how you say you look hot w/your hour glass figure as your goal - great optimism for this journey. You have in your mindseye what you will achieve, and thats whats lovely about that statement.

Les: Now, no one suggested a dress. Do you have a color that looks good on you that you know of? Do you need help in that area? Sometimes that can be a reason people are afraid of color. When I met DH, his favorite colors were navy, black and gray. Maybe some burgundy. He sounds like the color selections for men's sweatpants. Since we were hitched he now wears oranges, yellows, reds and greens. I find the tones that work well w/his olive undertones and get him to branch out. Let me know if you need help in looking at different colors. I know XL mens hoodies aren't that colorful well, maybe in FL they are, aren't South Beach or Miami fairly colorful towns? Hey I have to go by what I see on the First 48! I have only been to Orlando for the rodent with my family. I don't count that as colorful - forced colorful: yes, colorful: NO.

AM: No mice again today, so I am reloading my cabinets. Yeah.

I hopped on the scale after canning - sure I had eaten two meals and my morning snack, but I was curious - thus far it looks like my during the day weight, so I am guessing I am holding close to the weight I got last week Wed or Thurs. I will try to get a good one tomorrow morning.

So far so good on the diet today. YEAH! Almost done with my second huge glass of water. I can do this - well we ALL can DO THIS!

Happy evening. I am off to get dinner started and think about hemming my DHs pants.