Hey violets,

Feeling much better now. Pity party over. Focus in action.

I went and bought a fitbit for myself so I will know how many steps I take heart etc. The kid that waited on me has lost 100 pounds 23 years old. He just drank water and ate sandwiches. Peanut butter mostly he said. Now he is engaged living with her and put on 20 pounds. I said to him let me give you some advice from an old wise women. Don't keep putting weight on catch it now. It is going to be a battle the rest of your life.

Oh well just can't help myself always wanting to help others.

Thx to both of you for your words of encouragement.

LG

Glad you're feeling better, Mam! And good for you on the Fitbit, that should help a lot! I want one and may get one for Xmas. I'll be smaller by then and hopefully exercising more often. Hopefully the guy at the store takes your good advice.

Lemon, good for you for digging up that plant and getting in some yard time. I haven't done anything outside but have gotten some major cleaning done inside so that's good at least. Glad you are noticing some changes, even if they weren't the ones you'd hoped for. Those will come soon as you keep going. I can't wait for us all to have some huge changes!

I'm at 197.2, same as yesterday. I felt bloated all day yesterday though, so I'm glad I didn't gain this morning. Looking at happy scale, this week should have some gains, so I'm expecting it soon.

I hope you all have a great Sunday!

I am tired. I worked in my yard for three hours. DHs been to the compost heap twice and could probably make 3-4 more trips. I trimmed plants, pulled root crops, prunned trees etc. I have no feeling left in my hands as I deal w a mix of tendinitis and carpal tunnel or so they say. It didn't begin to bother me until I was almost done. Now I sit here barely able to type so this will be short. Not sure where my weight is today. Forgot to weigh. Trying to be good have more calories since yard work but not going to eat them back. At least that's my plan. More tomorrow hopefully feeling will return by then. Happy Sunday.

Lemon,

I hope your arms are feeling better soon. Take it easy on yourself, your arms are already hurting. I know something has to get done we can't look the other way. It sounds so easy to just slow down.

Glad you are noticing changes there will be many more to come. Just be patient with yourself.

Les 197.8 great.....Keep up the great work. You are out of the twos, I want to get into the twos. I can't wait for that.

I know I have about 135 pounds to lose. I want to lose it all NOW. But I have to look at the big picture. In a year from now with a 2 pounds a week lose I will be down over 100 pounds. I can do this and I WILL do this.

I figured out that by next summer I can be down 60 pounds boy would that be nice. So that is what I am aiming for. I know 2 pounds a week sounds like nothing but when you add it all together that's a lot.

Patience!!!!!!

LG

Mam, 2 pounds a week is amazing, and it definitely adds up. 100 pounds in a year would be totally awesome, imagine how great you will feel. I want to lose all my weight right now also, haha, I think we all do. I thought I need to lose over 100 to be healthy, but my starting weight was a little lower than I thought it would be, and my goal weight is at the top end of a healthy BMI, so it worked out to be 80 pounds. But once I get to 150, I may need to lose more, just depending on how that size feels/looks. Since I have never been thin, I have no idea what will be a good weight for me. I know it will take a long time to lose 80 pounds, but I'm shooting for 2/week and hoping it works out that way. Also, I'm trying to see this long period as an opportunity to learn how to be healthy so that I can keep the weight off for good.

Lemon, so sorry about your hands/arms/wrists. I get carpal tunnel symptoms sometimes and it can be so painful. Mine will come and go, aggravated by anything that taxes my hands or thumbs. I sometimes wear one of those wrist braces on whichever hand is acting up and it helps a lot.

Here's hoping we all have a great week!

Les: oh the braces - they make my fingers go numb when I wear them at bed, which is what i am suppose to do. HATE IT! But I do have some feeling back in them today, so typing thus far is ok.

I have the cookies to do this week, can you point me to your royal icing recipe, or one you know is good. I have used the pourable but it always is so messy unless I have them up on drying racks to decorate. I can't do piping due to my hands this week, but if its something I can easily do spreading, then if you don't mind sharing - I'd appreciate something new.

Yeah for you on the downward trend! Fantastic work - keep it up and be happy and excited to meet the thin you!

Mam: Good for you on the fitbit - use it well. I must say, I see a lot of people in this area including a sibling who have them, and still eat and eat. Keep your's moving downward too, every step you take is another calorie burned. Were you able to get DH to go for a walk with you? I pretty much did the yard work myself - as it was football sunday and my DH is really lax when it comes to the yard. Ok, who am I kidding he's lax on anything he doesn't want to do in a timely manner. GO MAM GO! You can loose this weight - it takes time and perseverance. I am finding that to be the case, there are ups/downs, you just get on the ride and do your best. Kind of like a roller coaster, hang on and enjoy.

Hello violets!

AM: I have to call the copper in town - seems there is a person new to the area who keeps banging on our door and neighbors seeking a loan for some "medicine" - she keeps telling people she starts a job today, however her place of employ in town keeps changing depending on the person asked. I have young ones who don't need to be approached by this person and we have a lot of widows up and down our block, and they don't need this either. So the copper and I will have a friendly chat asking him to look into it. What the heck is with all the odd ones coming out of the woodwork lately?

Maybe I am the odd one?

I haven't been on the scale, just because of all the hubbub in the mornings at my house and then when I do get it on, it's usually after 2 cups of coffee and my breakfast, so I kind of guess where I am. I do hope tomorrow am they can leave me be to disrobe and check. I need to my happy scale is screaming at me w/TODAY??!! to log my weight. Why bother logging a guess, if that were the case, then I would really like to put in what it's seeking, but that's not how this game is played. I need to be accountable to myself and my darn phone. A phone - too integrated into our lives.

So - my shopping list is healthy, less DHs salami, I've got a lot of fresh items. I am going to try something new - a chicken sausage. I keep seeing recipes in the magazines for root veggies w/a chicken apple sausage, and they look well styled (which I know, just to tease you mainly) but I thought I'd try it out and see how they were. I aim to get some beets (mine died), squash and brussel sprouts - all roasted w/an onion. And yes, my kids like veggies - only sometimes do they do the yuck face (LO is w/broccoli right now - the texture bothers him).

Ok - my best to you ladies. I will hopefully have a good scale today, even w/the food I ate this morning. I won't use that but will continue to march it on down.

Hi my name is Melissa and I am new here.
I have tried to lose weight many times all the way back to my teens. I am sick of being fat and out of shape and have decided to do something about it!
I have been following my Dr. suggested diet and walking at least a mile a day, trying to work up to 2 miles a day.
My biggest obstacle in losing weight is making time to make me a priority and giving up when it slows down. I have lost 30 lb so many times, that seems to be the magic # where I give up and just slowly gain it back plus interest.
So this time I am concentrating on exercising and getting healthier, I walked 1.5 mile this morning it is getting a little easier after 2 weeks.

Giggles: welcome to the Violets! We are in all stages of loss, frustration, happiness etc. Glad to have you join us - we do a lot of cheering each other on, even for .2 lbs lost. Hop on in!

Hello gals!

AM: Well, the person seeking funds stopped by again this am, I called the police on the non emergency, because we don't want it to escalate in any manner. I was polite to her, told her that if she could get to the city office they could get the police to get her to the hospital for care. They intercepted her on her way and got her in touch w/those that could help her out. I am hopeful that this is the last time she stopped. I think because she was asking for money for "meds" and her story kept changing, this is what made me leery and unsettled in my own abode.

Diet - what diet today?! The stress of the gal, then going to town shopping, it was a quick cheeseburger which of course is 269 calories and I am beat and had a darn soda. Not diet - that crap gives me instant headaches. So I expect unless I am super good this evening the weight will be about the same as last week. I know better, I really do, I did convenience over smart choices as I ate while driving. Excuses excuses = pounds and a scale going upward not downward.

So girls - give me something to shoot for! Do you think maybe we can set our own mini goal as a group - like 5 lbs by election day or something on that order? We don't have to account for our weight daily unless it helps us along, I will already state I usually don't have the opportunity right out of bed to do so these days, but maybe if we can do it twice a week I will make the time. Let me know.

Must finish unpacking, start the laundry, clean the house, feed the fish, get feeling back to my hands and begin sewing. Oh and cookie making for school this week! I am ready to sprint! :bro: Too bad just thinking lots could burn a few hundred calories!

I'm making my roasted veggies and sausage, anyone else try something like this and does anyone here have a good recipe involving beets? Not adding them tonight - but looking for a good recipe - they looked good at the grocery today.

Date night this week to celebrate the new year for me - I have nothing to wear. My normal skirts fall off my waist (a good problem to have) and I have one pair of dress pants right now - same issue. The foibles of a SAHM who hasn't updated her wardrobe in sometime because everyone else comes first and I hated dressing fat lady body. I don't know where DH is taking me yet as he probably hasn't figured that out yet either. Maybe I can make something quickly. Yoga pants will not work and I am tired of jeans when out which is the norm in this part of the world sad to say. I'd like to look a bit nicer. Oh ideas needed, and I hope I have something here at the house I can use. ARGH.

Hey violets,

Welcome Melissa to the garden may you shrink with us. Don't think about the times you failed. Think about now that is what counts the most.

I know what it is like to lose and gain the same weight back and forth.

Lemon I don't blame you for being concerned about that lady. I would have done the same thing. We keep all our doors locked all the time. DH says he's getting old and would just get pushed over anyway. So we need to be more aware of safety. Now a days it is better to be on the cautious side.

Sorry your hands are bothering you so much. Just take care of yourself.

As far as weighing myself I only like to record it once a week I find it gives me more of a rush to say 2,3, 4, 5 a week (what I can dream can't I). Then saying 1 today 1/2 pound tomorrow. Just me.

As far as being accountable why don't we try to lose 5 pounds each month. It is very doable also it is a great # that we all can reach.

Well ladies drumroll please are you ready, really ready? I walked 13,669 steps today at work alone. No wonder I am tired after work.

My heart rate is around 90 most the time I am working. I just love my fitbit.
Eating has been great.

Les you are doing this the right way. This is practice for maintenance for the rest of our lives. There is no such thing as lose it and then when you hit goal you can eat anything you want and stop exercising. 2 pounds it is.

LG

Welcome Gigglesnbows! Good luck on losing the weight for good this time!

Lemon, I use Sweetopia's royal icing recipe, it works perfectly every time, and you can split the batch in half if you don't need that much. It is very thick when you make it, and you just add water until it is a good consistency for you to pour it. If you google Sweetopia Royal Icing, the recipe will come right up.

I'm down for any mini goals you guys want to set up. They seem to help me for sure.

Ok -anyone want to join in the Violets Shrinking goal #1 the info below:

Goal date: Nov 11 - Veterans day and about 2 weeks away
Goal to hit: 5 lbs lost

Weighins: up to you, if you want to do it once a week great, twice even better

If you could - enter your starting weight by Wednesday 10/28 morning just in your message is fine.

Lets all see if we can hit the 5 lb goal Violets, should you loose more FANTASTIC! We can adjust from there, either more time to work or more pounds to loose. But maybe this will help some of us (Me) be more accountable for what we'd like to rid ourselves of.

GO VIOLETS GO! Ok, cheerleader going to put her autumn veggies in the oven to roast away. I do hope this turns out well!

Oh and MAM: GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!!!! Keep up this movement and you will be a svelte version of yourself in no time flat!

Yes Mam, that is a ton of steps in one work day! You are getting a lot more exercise than you thought (and definitely more than me)! I would be exhausted, too.

Lemon, I have never eaten a beet in my life. Are they good? You should definitely buy or make yourself a new date night outfit! It will make you feel good and that will help you lose.

Les: beets are good - some are sweet, my preference. One quick way to eat them that my mom likes is to boil them after scrubbing tops can stay on. When the skin splits, run under cold water and slip the skins off, dice and refrigerate - she likes them cold. I prefer them hot more often then not, so I slice and cook and then eat them sans skins of course usually w/a lean meat like turkey or chicken. Beware the red, it can and does stain but w/washing is removable. And they are earthy tasting, but they are a root crop so it's to be expected.

Dinner turned out well! Even DH and DD ate the brussel sprouts - DH *eek* even said he liked the sprouts that way. This coming from a man that shuns fruits and veggies whenever he can - guess what? He married a lady that doesn't put up w/that type of shunning!

Will have to think on an outfit. People up heres version of dressing up is jeans w/bling on the butt. Woot - not my thing for dress up and dinner out. But I will see what I can concoct if time. Maybe a quick skirt, I have to see what my stash holds in the basement. I have some shiny satins and some wools I haven't used, but bought in my thinner days. Hah - that is so long ago! The colors may not be on trend. Will see.