Good afternoon!
still at 246...

Still doing OK... wearing a blouse that was snug doesn't seem to be pulling as much

LT.. god bless your control... Don't know if I would have been able especially since I have been so irritable.. I really wonder about people sometime in regards to manners especially in shared spaces. But so pleased about the great success you had yesterday and today!
I am short, thick and apple shaped so I stay away from dresses... I envy that you can pull it off. They say you can never go wrong with a dress that gathers on the side of the waist.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...64d7439caf.jpg

LGF and PF how are things in your worlds?

And are there any lurkers out there?, please jump in

So for me... able to be in the store without buying candy...or baked goods. talked myself into keeping my commitment to the treadmill this am. Have increased the speed but need to hang on less. Increased my fitbit steps goal. and logging 100%.

The weekend is coming though...

Have a great day all!

Pat: Apples can wear dresses, you just need to find a classic style that works for you and doesn't make you too boxy on top. I'll research for you in my research for me. Thanks for the link. I have made wrap dresses before, I just need to add to the pattern as I am also blessed w/a long torso. Good for you on walking and increasing - hey small steps on finding what's comfortable. The thing I hate about treadmills is that my stride gets wonky quickly and then I feel like I am compensating for short strides and it all goes horribly wrong. Keep it going!

AM: Survived the insurance just fine hopefully there are some answers there for us. Getting some extra things done today which has been nice, and taking it at a leisurely pace as LO is not with me but w/his grandma so I didn't have interruptions during earlier meeting.

I think I need to snack here soon - I keep thinking up all sorts of bad food items in my noggin. Best go have my string cheese and almonds and call that quits.

Jump in ladies - I need more conversations today, one thing I miss about staying at home all day.

Good morning all...Had a horrible nights sleep.. have no idea why.. Hope the fibro isn't rearing up.

Glad you had a good day yesterday LT and thanks for the dress suggestions. I think I said before great you can sew.

So its Friday.. yes food fantasies in my head as well.... so far so good.

Pat: food fantasies - oh dear! Keep to the steamed ones (instead of steamy - hehehe) and you'll do fine! Good on the blouse, that's such a nice feeling when we fit in something we currently own w/o the gaps. Good for you! And sleep - well that may be because they are giving us fair warning that there may be a groundhog day snowstorm. Yippee, maybe but usually when they start mentioning so early it usually fizzles out or that's what it seems to do of late. Perhaps it's more weather than anything else. Or maybe you and my LO had the same issue - he was up at 415 today but he was full of zip and vigor and forget this mama sleeping until 6!

Morning Violets!

AM: I am in my size 18 jeans today. Funny thing is there is no lycra in them - so this is all stretch free. Woot, and there is room where I wouldn't expect. Well hades, I didn't expect any room! Are they the most flattering? Probably not to others, but I got them because they were something different and a size smaller. AND THAT HAD MADE ME FEEL GOOD.

Still trying to figure out a good time to exercise - either the meatheads at night or the old crows in the morning. Neither seem especially appealing as the meatheads tie up the weights and though they are probably harmless, they do kind of creep me out. Maybe it's w/their hoods up they look like the unabomber? Who knows. I need to find a time and stick with it though. I want the weight to go and I need to move.

Traveling this weekend, hopefully I do ok - I will heed your advice Picture, I am going armed with my big water bottle and will turn to that as my days go. At least that's my plan as of this fine moment. I will try to avoid the sodas, sweets and crappy things that call my name when I have a weak moment.

Wishing you all well and have a wonderful end to January! Rock on!

LT: Way to go on the jeans!!! That feels so good.

Pat: Not buying junk is half the battle!! And good on you, tracking 100%. That's how we're going to get there - slow and steady.

Girls I am SICK. Head cold, fever. Ick. Not much to say - I'll be back when I'm feeling better!!

So Monday a new week! Thanks goodness as from Friday to Sundays are clearly a challenge. UGH still no candy though. But definitely higher carb choices. My fibro is flaring up yesterday very bad day..Sleep is awful..

Anyway LT how was the traveling? Hope you had a good w/e. As to the exercise buddies not sure which way I would go...

PF so sorry about you being ill, take care and thanks for the great support

LGF how are you doing?

So off to the treadmill, hate to step on the scale today as I am sure picked up some water...

Pat: weekend went fairly well - thanks for asking! Good for you on avoiding candy. Hey, if we can make strides in any little thing then do it, soon maybe you will just look at it and it will be another thing on the shelf that isn't important to you. But I understand when it can call your name, maybe those cat-calls will slow down greatly. Hope the treadmill kept you going and your fibro stayed away.

Picture: I rocked the jeans - well, hey they are shamrock green - and a size 18 - so you rock them no matter what. I had a moment of feeling daring when I found them at the goodwill. Oh well, it did make me smile even if they did look a tad ridiculous on my butt. Butt is smaller, that's the good thing! How are you bringing it all back to moving since DH returned home?

Les: Girl - where'd you go? I hope the 150s are looking at you awfully hard. Have you been baking and how do you refrain from sampling?

Fire: How are you?

Hello Violets and Lurkers! Jump in if you'd like - it's a good place to encourage and seek encouragement and of course read our ramblings from everything in life besides diet!

AM: Lordy - well I didn't eat super well this past weekend as my mom doesn't really cook anymore and she didn't have tons of fixings at the house, so we did the restaurant route, but I am happy to say post breakfast i was still at 235, so that does mean I didn't hurt myself too bad I guess. I was trying to do more coffee or water than anything else like juice or soda (yes - soda).

We are bracing (whatevs really) for the big snow that should start tomorrow during the day and get heavier during the afternoon. I am half expecting school to cancel for the next two days as we are to get between 8-15" of snow. And since most of the kids are bused in, and we live in a craggy high and low region, I suspect that this will be the case for everyones safety. I have items to bake/make if they are both home. I kind of have to do a bit of planning just in case otherwise I hear the I'M BORED - which then gets sent back w/my toilets need to be cleaned. Kills the boredom instantly!

So I aim to keep on track as best I can. I'd like to workout, I may opt for the night crazies instead of the old crows in the morning. At least the night ones though odd - are fairly predictable, they are just creepy. But if I go and ignore them and just move, I am one step ahead of the game.

Can I ask - what's the allure of the stair stepper? I get via the nordictrack commercials it can burn so many more calories in a short time - but really - does it work anything other than your legs/hips? It's always busy when I am at the gym by women hanging all over it (also incorrect posture - but who am I the gym police?).

Alright - have a good start to your week! Lets get our albatrosses off our necks and move on to the next decades please!

Hi, Violets. I'm hoping my post works this time. It seems whenever I try to post I'm told I'm not logged in (even though that's the first thing I do) then my post disappears because I have to log out to log back in. *sigh*

I am still stuck in the 260's. I had 3 teeth pulled and was on a soft diet, mostly protein shakes and yogurt and got down to 263, but have jumped back to 267 since I've been able to chew. I just don't seem to have the motivation to lose the weight again. I'm kind of feeling alone. We've had a tight budget since the new year and last week hubby decided to look over my grocery list to "trim the fat". He trimmed the foods I had added for my diet. I admit they are more expensive but really! So I took the list, went to the store and proceeded to trim the chips and M&Ms and other crap that I get for him. He was not happy but oh well. Maybe next time he'll be more reasonable .

On the plus side, my son finally bought a car so just in time for the 30 inches of snow last weekend I have my car back. No more hiking up that hill and risking life and limb to go to work.

I'm going to try to post every day. Maybe I'll find my motivation if I keep talking about it.

Fire: For a few years we had a very tight budget - i.e. making the list and calculating how much down to the penny. It gets depressing really quickly. Are there other areas you can trim the budget? Yes, most of his snacks can go - does he need to diet too? I know I supplemented our budget by doing a lot of second hand clothing (my kids are growing like weeds constantly) and using coupons on those more expensive items. It's kind of a pain, but the grocery I frequent (family owned and large) is fairly consistent with their pricing and I could estimate week to week. I rarely bought at places like Walmart or the like because they are notoriously higher which is sad because they are so large, you'd think they'd get better buying power that they can turn to the public (I guess coffer lining is more important for the heirs!). Once a quarter I'd get some dry goods at Sams but those were more the lunch/snack variety and my laundry items. It's hard when you are trying to diet and stretch a dollar because all the things you should be eating cost more and feed less - even if it's fresh veggies/fruits and lean meats. I know I also had luck on the produce in the marked down area for peppers and bananas other fruits if you don't mind using them quicker than you normally would, you just have to look them over fairly well. Will you do a garden this summer to try and supplement your budget? Any friends or family you can get garden goods from? Some things I found that also helped, if you see meat on special and you can focus one paycheck on, get that when you can and freeze. Frozen veggies are a good one to have in the freezer you can throw in soups, steam them for any meal etc. I wouldn't buy name brand, but would watch for country of origin - sorry china but i am not buying your broccoli or beans when the good old US can grow them. I got into the trap of using pasta -hey it's a good budget stretcher not so good on the waistline, though economical - be careful of it's pitfalls. Find recipes for those snack foods you enjoy that are diet friendly and make at home, ingredients may be cheaper, its usually more your time. Heck, for a while I was even making my own yogurt, but because I am into greek yogurt, it didn't make a lot - but you can do a quart jar easily and doctor it how'd you like. Just don't get frustrated with the reduced budget, it will make you bluer and make you eat more (that was my issue - always trying to find ways to squeeze blood out of a dead turnip was my saying) was I was sad/worried constantly and I'd eat to get through it. To this moment I still hold my breath as the checker rings up my food hoping I have enough (I do, it's just the previous feeling of going over even a few cents because I might have found something that looked good).

Good for you on the car! A big help for you! I still await adding one back to our house as DH killed a deer w/mine and because it was at a time money was tight, well we have one car still as we are still in rebuilding our finances/paying off bills etc and still living fairly lean. Somedays it gets old and DH doesn't understand why I'd like a car even if it sat in the garage all week. At least I'd feel I have wheels that I don't need to depend on someone else.

Pat: How is your pain today? I hope it settled some. DD is finding w/her arm that she can now predict the weather, at least that's what we are telling her. Will I be shoving the snow your way or are you to get rain out of it all? Maybe that's more your issue of late? It had rained here all weekend it seemed. In fact saturday while at my mom's I was doing my errands (i.e. shopping for fun w/o the kids!) it was only 37° but here I was too warm and ditched the winter coat running around only in my long sleeve t. Tell me, I have lived in WI too long to find this acceptable in the middle of winter!

Hello Violets!

AM: Well no school today, hasn't begun snowing yet. If I didn't know that storm was coming yesterday I'd have said it felt almost like a spring thaw - high bright sun, snow melting and about 40. Right now it's gray as gray can be and that 10-15 inches of snow is banging on the door waiting to drop. I don't think school will go tomorrow either. Oh two days of kids home can be a bit much during the week when you had other plans.

Diet - not sure, haven't hopped on scale post sleep. Mornings of late are hard - DH is moving later, LOs are up earlier, I'd just like to sleep but trudge out of bed get them fed, lunches made and then by the time I remember to hop on I have eaten or gotten dressed. I hope maybe tomorrow I can finally hop on. And for moving - HAH!. I had forgotten DH had a meeting last night and who wanted to get up at 445 today? Not me. If it's not horrible, then maybe tonight. But if there are inches of snow, town usually doesn't plow until it's mostly over. So I will have to walk up and down my stairs for a while.

Wishing you all well on this 5 lb challenge. I have my egg boiling as I type. Dinner was fairly lean - chicken breast w/spice mix, mixed veggies and small helping of mashed potatoes. I keep trying to increase the amount of veggies in the meal more for me, but DH is starting to notice I am heavier on that of late. Hey if it fills up longer whats the issue? One day he may learn.

Good morning,
saw 245 yesterday.. very happy with that after my weekend..

Fire... that is very stressful. coupled with watching what you eat and being in the dead of winter. But just show up, ..talk it out. Support is one of the successful strategies for losing and keeping the weight off.. You've made progress Looks like you have lost 25+ already.

PF how is the cold/flu?

LGF How are you doing?

LT - again small steps, showing up taking those small victories. Glad you had a nice visit. How did you do with the snow?

This was on MSN. People do succeed...

http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/weig...now/ss-BBp1uoQ

SO yesterday's victory, had a change in plans late day. I had dinner in the crock pot for DH. Nothing I like. So I went from stopping at Mc D's telling myself that I had cals to spare to frying something at home to having quinoa and steamed veggies. SO beat the mental tango!

I can do this! We can do this!

Pat: good for you on your dropped down number. Hey every little move down is a chance to be happy and want to loose some more! Good for you on bypassing those extra calories. You always feel like you have conquered a mountain at the end of the day when you have done things like that - keep it up!

Hello Violets!

AM: Snow is finally stopping - I hope I would guess somewhere between 10-13 inches but it's been blowing some, so that never gives you anything accurate depending on where people measure. I haven't seen official totals, it can all melt and spring start as far as I am concerned. School is canceled again today - so my kids are watching a pixar and then we'll get them outside for a bit. However that means I need to bundle up because the youngest can't be out there by himself, he'll take off sprinting.

Weight - appears to be be close to 233. Ok, been there and came back to it, but hey it's not 243 - so for that I can be thankful. I did shovel some yesterday, but I know in theory it doesn't seem a lot of calories when you enter it as yard work and because I didn't break a sweat I didn't mark it as heavy for a "workout". Alas if this evening all is plowed out in town, then I will venture tonight to move. All I can do is keep trying.

Does anyone collect anything? I am looking at some new areas of old items - pottery to be specific. I have found some that I have longed looked at, but only know delve into reading on. I have all sorts of small collections - nothing huge, money or time consuming, just things I have found I liked and include in my life. Maybe that's dumb. Interested to know what you all like surrounding you? Or are you the type of ladies that live spartanly and without clutter in your lives?

Happy day all I am off to make some scrambles!

Hey everyone...
Thanks LT.. Sorry about the weather as you are getting quite a bit.

I collect pottery as my grandmother did.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Mountain_Pottery

She was born in Canada and lived close to where this was made. It comes in many colors and I have blue pieces.

I also collect royal Winton chintz ware china also carried on from my grandmother https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chintzware

I don't respond well to clutter makes me anxious, so I keep a few pieces in china cabinet.

I think anything that gives a person joy is pretty cool

Hey good morning... Weather here yesterday was 55 degrees most of our snow is gone.. pretty weird. now if only it had been Saturday .. Scale had me at 243 yesterday so I was pretty happy. Did exceed my cals yesterday though. So while I have made some better choices still need to work on planning and changing recipes so they are more cal friendly.

Oh well baby steps..

So how was everyone's day yesterday? what worked what didn't? Hope you all had a great day and are ready to tackle the day!

Pat: What worked, I ate pretty well all day though my LOs didn't have school. What didn't DH bringing home a pizza. Granted it was the thin crust, and I did have my ok serving size, it's the premise of it that it can be higher in fat. So it was good I kept it in my calorie range, bad that I thought it tasted really good.

The pottery is lovely! I am looking at some made in the US from the 1920-60s. There are some pretty pieces of all the houses that I am looking at from Frankoma to McCoy. Sure, I am sure I will find big prices, but I am looking for those smaller priced ones in the colors I enjoy. I too get overwhelmed when there is too much clutter. I have met women though that decide one day to rid their lives of everything they have hung onto and say they are much happier because of it. I don't know - there are some material items I find in life that just make me smile. I try to keep an even balance. It used to be that way with shoes when I was working. However many pairs I donated to goodwill, I could buy up to. All things in moderation. That's nice you and your granny could share an interest.

Les/Picture/Fire: I Hope you ladies are thinner and smiling with your weight loss. I have to hop on my scale (drat, post breakfast kids were up early and hungry!). I hope all is going well for you - jump in and say hello!

Hello Violets and Lurking Violets! Jump in Jump in!

AM: Snow is finally done - I shoveled for 15 mins this am clearing our front walk and porch of drifted snow. Though it's pretty when it comes down, and loads the branches just so I like it. When I have to clean it up, go out in and hear the crunchy noises under my boots - not so much. Lets just say I AM READY FOR SPRING!

My breakfast - I don't do this daily, but I just thought today it sounded good and I went for color: a hard boiled egg sliced open, 2 tblsp of homemade salsa, 1/2 an avocado, string cheese and 1/2 a whole wheat bagel. It reminded me of spring as I looked at my plate. Sure the calories are higher, but I should be full long enough to get to lunch w/o a morning snack. I certainly advise adding color to your meal planning! Oh, and it was tasty

Need to measure myself today and see if those numbers have decreased, I am noticing extra fabric in my jeans as I sit - like I can pinch about what folded would be at least an inch. Here's hoping that front looks good.

My best to you all! Hopefully no one gets my weather from the past few days!

QOD: Anyone planning any trips or gardens for the warmer months? Flowerbeds? Any of that? I am always looking for ideas to add to mine and my life. I made a list the other day for places to go in state with the kids this summer. I am actually kind of excited by what I pulled together because I have never been to 1/2 of them. I also found a cool idea - there are a lot of wineries in the state these days and I found one that offers a couples package - you get to pick a bottle of their wine, they load you up a picnic basket, blanket and sun umbrella and put you out on their property for a couples lunch. I thought that might be a fun way to celebrate our anniversary this summer. Have any of you done something like that?

PS: Weighed in, scale down! YEAH! Now of course, I have eaten my breakfast so tomorrow if I can hop on right away we will see where I really am at, but I did record where I am currently at less 1 lb for my coffee and breakfast give or take.

Helo!
So pleased to say I stayed at 243...very happy about that. treadmill done and eating lighter today to make up for yesterday..

LT I too am a gardener and I was eying the snowless raised beds out back this am. No trips planned but we too have many wineries here and your idea about the anniversary sounds awesome.. All I have seen advertised is a bus trip to visit. One of the wineries does have the ability to do brunches on Sunday.
DH and I have been doing work vacations where we pick a project.. I am hoping we can do something fun this summer.

LT WOOHOO on the scale and weight friendly choices! I do wish others would join our happy group.

As to clutter my husband is a hoarder and I am a minimalist. I try to get rid of stuff as new stuff comes in the house and this year I have made a commitment to purge more. I came to the conclusion if I was surprised to have it because I forgot I must not need it.. He an I don't see eye to eye but for the most part he keeps stuff in the garage..

Anyway I enjoy out time together and get support from you all
see you tomorrow!