Diane: So so sorry to hear about your daughter. I am glad she is doing better. That had to be SO scary. I had one VERY bad accident and I managed to come out with just a concussion. It is definitely a blessing to come out with no major injuries. And I am so happy for you and the 240s much deserved!!!! Do you think it was the logging issue?

Uber: Gas is always so expensive in California. I dread when we cross the border. I am glad you are doing well. I think 210 and 200 are a major milestone for me. Well for one I have been there in just about 10 years. But that is when I actually start feeling like I am getting somewhere with my weight.

Lemon: I am glad to see you are in the downward trend. That always feels nice. I have been slightly afraid to step on the scale from my bad weekend last weekend. And I tend to only lose every 10-14 days. We are having a BBQ at my moms house for Mother's day. My dad is doing the cooking. It should be fun. I am going to try and stick with steak and salad. I have been really trying to be good this week. I have even thrown in a couple 24 hour fasts to make up for my over indulging of last weekend.

Hello everyone else. We grew so big and then we shrunk!!! I am feeling about 75 percent better. I have been using CBD oil and CBD rub, taking long baths every night, using my pressure point massager on my neck and shoulders at night, getting in my water, getting in at least 7000 steps, and fasting a longer period (this has helped my IBS). I have also been mindful about taking my vitamin D, fish oil, and magnesium supplements. I have added some cranberry into that for my reoccurring UTIs. All in all I am feeling like I am doing better. I really think last weekend of over indulging put me into that flare. I was so tired of eating bland I lost control. So just being mindful of not going overboard.

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Lemon: Well, that sounds pretty cool for the liners. I love birds, but boy they can make such a mess. Glad to hear that you are getting your mojo back. I think your NSV is perfect! It is too easy to dwell on scale issues, but there are good things happening in our lives that call for an NSV!!

Uber: Sounds like a little bit of paradise where you are! So, when do you start a new project? Just as it comes up or do you plan things in advance?

Jenni: Glad you are feeling better. I'm sure you were just so excited to have something that tastes better, that you jumped right in. Oh well! Lesson learned!! For me, I do think that more diligent logging has helped, and I also think that the stress from my daughter's accident gave me an extra push down. For the first time ever, I didn't feel like stress eating. I felt more like I had a big rock in my stomach. I was just so freaked out.

As for me, I had a bad food day yesterday. As much as I was not stress eating over the weekend, I kind of had a day of it yesterday. I am struggling with getting past the freaked out part. I think it will just take some time. A friend of mine at work told me yesterday to just not beat myself up for any excesses or bad choices, at least for one day. So, I took that to heart. Today, I am back on track and will be fine. I think that I probably shouldn't have taken a rest day yesterday, since I kind of need my workouts right now.

Anyway... I went to spin this morning and I definitely felt better. I have Body Pump tomorrow morning and then I might try to get a hike in after work too. I don't want to lose the 240's, and I'd love to start thinking about the 230's. But not yet.... :)

Jen: a bbq sounds nice and since your dad is making it all he can help you out with your dieting ways I’d think! How’s DH recuperating? How long will he have to Take things slower or do they bring him right back up to snuff?

Diane: I’m sorry you are filled with worries. Hopefully it all settles easily and quickly and life gets moving again for you without these additions.

Lemon How nice that the scale is moving in the right direction! And good for you for being up with the robins. I'm not much of a morning person myself, but I love the idea of it! My oldest son is coming for Mother's Day, but I'm not sure what we are planning to do.

Jen Really glad to hear that you are doing better. Flares do not sound like fun! But so great that you have found things to manage. And yup, California is just insanely expensive. I'm really torn about staying here long term. I moved out to help out with my parents and then when my dad passed away, my mom was rattling around in her big old house and since she's blind, we just stayed on with her, but being that I'm a writer I can live anywhere and I'd love to live somewhere cheaper!

Diane I'm happy to see that you are settled well below 250! Good that you did not beat yourself up about an off day. I'm sure the aftermath of all that stress was a let down, and I think it's pretty normal to be out of sorts when the adrenaline starts to wear off. As for me, I always have the next project teed up before the last one is really done. Book publishing is really slow, so I usually finish a book a year to eighteen months before it hits the shelves, so I'm usually well into the next one by then. So, the one I just finished the last stages of editing is done, but I've already started research for the new one. That being said, I still kind of can't believe that I don't have to work a day job any more. I feel super lucky that I answer to no one but myself!

So, I had a pretty good day today, except really hungry all day, I don't know why. I was having a TON of trouble with heartburn for a while there and so I've been being really careful about what I eat-- basically, cutting out anything spicy or oily-- and I also took the NPs advice to take my omeprazole on an empty stomach as it would work better, and I've been really relieved that it has really helped! My weight still hanging out at 233 (after seeing 232 for a day) True confession-- I am STILL having trouble with mojo for the gym even though I paid for it. I'm trying to really motivate myself because my son and I are going to visit Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons and I really want to be able to go on some nice hikes without getting exhausted, so I'm going to try to use that to motivate me.

Morning!

I’m trying to not weigh daily and see if that helps my outlook. It’s a slippery slope for me because if I don’t weigh I creep up the scale. But I’m trying something a bit different.

Uber: how lucky for you that you found a fix to your issue w your med. and going on your trip sounds fab! Have you been there before? Sounds like a fantastic time for the both of you. Do you camp or do you stay at an old style lodge? I think a lodge would be interesting. In the summer is it just nutty busy? Or do you still feel like you are the last person in the park? Weve talked about a road trip but we think the kids have to get a bit older to appreciate it. Until then we’ll explore our state.

Diane: hope the stress and after stress worries have dropped for you. I agree w Uber - coming off the areemiline rush of worry is the WORST because as that leaves you get the what if’s and start a whole new way of your body responding in not so kind ways. The exercise will help you but beware the food because I know for myself that’s what grabs at me with its long fingers!

Jen: I hope you are feeling better today and can get that body out of flare! Does doing something low impact help that settle for you? A swim? Or even a hot tub sit? When my joints are yelling at me I find heat makes it feel better and sometimes a moister heat is the key. And the swim is just less stress on the joints all over the place.

Hello all - pop back in all you who are living life!

AM: watched the news this am and the men’s return from being held overseas. I can’t begin to fathom the thoughts going through their heads.

I woke w they birds singing again and came downstairs to bake - I’ll be trekking to my moms soon and I refill her freezer of sweet treats as she no longer bakes for herself and this gives her something good without it being from the store or bakery. I still have a few other things to make (cookies and sweet rolls) and of course the cake to travel with to celebrate. All temptations. Yesterday I had a sample of one of the breads and hit one of the bitter areas of a nut that shouldn’t have been there! Horrible! I swear I was eating something poisonous. Killed my need to put other things in my mouth during the day.

I have really been pushing vegetables for dinner - my family is noticing! However last night it had gotten cool and damp with rain and I just felt a bit of comfort food and warmth was needed so I made a spring risotto in the pressure cooker and added chicken to it when it was done. Oh was it good - but rice -not exactly diet friendly as I used arrobia but it did go over well with everyone even my quasi picky youngest.

I see we all are struggling w keep up the exercise - do you all harbor the same thoughts I have that it’s just a time eater w our days? That’s partly mine - I have lots to do and then when I see 45 mins for a walk as time where I could be sitting doing something else and in the end I have ended up online or watching the tv or just not what I had planned for that time! How do you get out of that thought process? It kind of reads we all struggle with that. Maybe there is something we can do to help each other out so we each get exercise on in daily.

So the day has begun and I best get into the day and deal with it. Happy day all!

Diane: I so understand the stress. I had that big rock in my tummy with my hubby and what he went through. It's funny how stress can make us eat one time and make us not eat another time. Sounds like you are keeping on track with food and exercise even with the stress. I am glad the scale is moving in the right direction.

Uber: I don't know how people survive in California. Granted, jobs probably pay more, but everything is expensive and driving anywhere is so difficult. Where would you want to move? That is so cool you can live anywhere!

Sorry for double post my computer was acting weird!

Lemon:. Good job on not weighing daily it's difficult at first but you get used to it! My husband just has to rest when tired. He is on full duty now he just needs to pay close attention to how he is feeling! I think my dad is BBQing steak. I'm just gonna have a salad with it.

I was up at 2am today had to take my son to the airport he's going to Atlanta to compete in a gaming competition. I'm still getting bloated but my flare from fibromyalgia has eased. Lots of Epson salt baths and stretching and CBD oil did the trick! Someone told me to try biofreeze. Anyone used this before?

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Uber: That is awesome that you can do what you love, without having to work for someone else!!! The discipline that you must have to keep on task with research and just doing the writing part is impressive. Good for you! Oh, and Omeprazole saves my life! I never have problems with heartburn and acid reflux since I've been using it.

Lemon: That risotto sounds so good! Sometimes you just need something other than the veggies and good-for-your-diet food. I think that you and Uber are right about coming down after the adrenaline rush. And I needed to get out of my own head for a while.

Jenni: Oh, I can imagine the stress you felt with what your husband went through. The effect on your mind and body are astonishing to me. As for the biofreeze, a friend of mine uses it and swears by it, so it might be worth a shot!

As for me, I'm doing much better today. I didn't go to body pump. I actually slept really well last night and when my alarm went off, I just decided it wasn't the morning to get up and go. It felt good to sleep a little longer and ease into the day. Such a pretty morning, too. I'm going to go on a hike after work. I think that will be way more beneficial for me right now. I feel really hungry today, but I think I can stay on track anyway. I would like to push a little lower before the end of the week. We'll see how it goes.

Lemon Oh that risotto sounds delicious. I've never made it but I sure do love to eat it! I've never been to Yellowstone/Grand Tetons so this will be the first time. We are planning on doing some whitewater rafting, hiking, and horseback riding. Fun!

JenSigh, that's the trouble. I don't really want to move anywhere. I love SoCal, but I can't live with my mom forever (she's 83) I lived back east for 20 years and I didn't really like the weather and the people were kind of uptight but it was just a lot more affordable... so, I fantasize about different places, but nothing concrete. Not familiar with biofreeze but I do love a nice epsom soak. Do you use the lavendar? That's my favorite!

Diane Glad to hear you are feeling better, sleeping well and enjoying beautiful weather! All of that will probably help you lose more!

I don't know what is up with me, but I'm was sort of antsy all day... I hate being between projects and having too much down time, but I didn't really feel like getting started because I have a lot of filing to do which I ended up not doing... didn't have the most productive day and skipped gym again. NO GOOD! And really, the underlying reason I didn't want to go swim? Pure vanity because I got my hair done on Saturday and I've been nursing along the lovely blow dry that I got, so I didn't want to get in the pool. Food wise, nothing much happening. Weight stuck at 233 and I haven't seen 232 again. I dropped from 240 to 233 really fast, but now the pay back is I'm sure I'll have to sit here for a while.

Uber: I’ve known quite a few who have moved to TN - you get all 4 seasons in small parcels on the extremes if that’s your thing. And from what I understand it’s not hot humid like Florida in the summer nor troubled by hurricanes. Fairly close to lots of points. I’m sure there’s something tax wise too - these people tend to be somewhat shrewd with their monies but live well as a result. I’d have to think though you’ve the ocean and all and that would be hard to leave. I read Vancouver is lovely temperature wise (never been either). Oh you are unlimited. I suppose you could even go overseas!

As for weight, you’ve done well and I can’t offer great tips on exercise because I’m more an avoider then hurry up let’s go for two hours and do HIIT the entire time and still at high school weight - introducing my sibling who doesn’t understand why I don’t do something like that daily. I’ve never liked working out even when I was in sports. Per their thoughts I should love the endorphin release and feel totally stupendous. I tend to feel beat up when I’m done with a catch in my craw and then my big joints hurt something fierce. When I swim I don’t have the joint ache but we know a pool is not an option.

Jen:never have tried the bio freeze. If it’s not hugely expensive and not a med interrupter then try it out. You never know until you try and see what happens. I’m always one who things work differently on. And steak - sounds good! Strangely at this brunch what my FIL loves is the lox that’s available and we always have to go early so he doesn’t miss out on. And no, it’s not something he grew up with - just a late in life love. I pass!;)

Diane: oh the sky I’m sending you is beautiful! Punks and hot purples as I per out the window! I hope your hike went well last night! We are to be deluged in rain today and cold - like a high of 40! I brought all the plant babies in. This weekend I’ll begin planting! How’s your daughter recuperating?

Hello all!

AM: up even before the birds! I’m baking today one of the last few things. I have a batch of cookies and then the cake the day of travel. I love the smell of baking bread with cinnamon. Fabulous!

As I sit here knocking flour off my belly because with that darn thing it’s still ther and it bounces just like the dough as I punched it down. I have dough belly! And it doesn’t feel smaller but that it all slid to make it bigger. This is where I feel our bodies should be self modified like the templates in playdough sets. Presss your body in shear it off! No issues and life goes on. :)

I’ve got a Mom event at school today and my youngest brought me a plant he started. I’ll have to get it out in my garden this weekend. They were so proud of their garden skills. I love it! My oldest will be helping me plant the garden and get it growing well. They have a desire to learn and I will try to teach the things I was taught and some new ideas.

I think my neighbor thinks I’m nuts I was outside taking a picture of sunrise. The sky is so hot and orange and fuschia now. The camera never gets it perfect but lovely nonetheless. They were hopping in their car for work. Here I am on the porch in my pjs. And hair looking like :broc:

Ok wishing you all well! I hope scales are kind to you today. I’m trying not to hop on mine. I don’t know if this is a good experiment. I may hop on tonight to see where I am. So my best to you all for your end of week!

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Lemon I love the image of you out on your front porch in your jammies taking pictures! Again, kudos to you for being a morning person! I don't know why I dislike exercising so much. Funny enough, I was really into sports as a young person, and I wish I had a sports hobby, because just exercising for exercise sake is just not something I find it easy to get motivated to do, even though I do enjoy it when I'm actually doing it. And about Tennessee, funny enough, I was just talking to a friend who moved there from LA to escape the high prices and she said that where she lives is one of places that is getting super expensive really fast... :-) But it might depend on where. She's near Nashville.

Diane I hope you had a nice hike. That is the worst when you are feeling really hungry, but I find that I alway am hungrier before I see the scale move, and then when I sit for a while, I get less hungry again.

So, the scale went back down to 232 today, and for real this time, I think. Plus, in the NSV department, I took waist, hip and bra band measurements, and I was down 2" in each place. Last night, lying in bed, I brushed my hand over my shoulder and it felt weirdly bony to me. So, I like those feelings of progress because I can't clothes shop all the time to get validation and plus, according to the latest size chart I looked at, I'm still a couple of inches away from dropping to a 1X, much less getting into normal sizes.

Uber: I think that with the work you do, I would have the most trouble with the in between time. I think I do better with more of a schedule. Maybe it is a self-discipline type of thing. Ha! I do get more antsy when I'm not working out. But, I also have a desk job, so if I don't workout, I then up sitting lots.

Lemon: How cool! Sounds like a beautiful sunrise. My daughter is getting better. She's still a little sore, so I told her that she could go back to the doctor, if she is concerned. She asked what I would do, and I told her that I wouldn't tell her that, because I'm not feeling what she is feeling. She has to determine that. :) Enjoy your planting!!

As for me, I'm not recording weight today. I got on, and it was going up higher than I wanted. We ended up having fast food last night and I knew I was feeling a little puffy today. I had to run my husband around with getting his truck from the repair shop to the tire shop. He suggested we just grab burgers. Ugh. So, more water today and hopefully some retention will go away. I hope!

The hike yesterday was good, but it was pretty warm and windy. It was good to do it, and I was glad I went. Today I went to Spin. Tomorrow is spin and upper body weights, if I want to keep in my groove. I'm pretty sure I'll be hiking on Sunday!

Hope you all have a great weekend!!

diane: I am glad she is feeling better. I can imagine the jolt to the body. It may take a bit longer if she is bruised some - deep tissue to work it's way forward. If she's worried, then she should go in, unless she fears the bill thereafter - and there is ALWAYS a bill! I am arguing w/mine right now - really the charges are nuts - my kids pt bills about $10-12 a minute!

uber: I think the bulk of my people in TN tend to live in the suburbs or communities within a 30-40 min drive. It keeps them in a rural-ish type setting. I don't know if that would be where I would move, but it seems a lot from WI enjoy it - weather is milder but as I said they still like to see those 4 seasons and this gives them that small opportunity in hurried up windows to warmth!

Yeah for your NSV! Isn't that weird to finally feel bones that have been there all along? I know - I have a collarbone again! Enjoy it! You will probably cruise way past me much sooner than my own sluggish self.

AM: Well today's big baking is done - and they were tasty - but now all wrapped up and in the basement freezer so not in front of my face tempting me by yelling :broc: EAT ME :broc:

I still have the other two items to bake - cookies and the cake. Cake is late next week and cookies maybe this weekend. I will see.

Yes i have been an early bird most of my adult life - but on the flip side that means I am in bed earlier then my DH likes. Oh well - our bodies fire when they fire. I seem to get a lot more done when the house is quiet and asleep - always did too with work - early in for me because of that and loosing daylight to nonsense issues. That I don't miss!

It's been pouring here today and cold - it's been 38-40 all day thus far and all my plant babies are in my front entry - I feel like a ankle high jungle! If I were a tweedleug I'd be happy. Name the show the tweedlebugs were part of?

ANd I just dated myself seriously bad!

Happy start to you weekend all! Please post if you can - I think I will be fighting the urge to just eat this weekend if left to my own devices. AND

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

:congrat::congrat:

Hiya again!

I am a serial regainer. I think its because the amount I need to lose to be a healthy weight is so large that I get discouragd and think I'll never do it when in fact if I had just worked on losing a few lbs (literally 2-3 lbs) every month I would have been at my goal years ago.

I'm currently 225 lbs and need to be 160 to be under bmi 25. 65 lbs seems like an eternity.

I'm going to break it into chunks and take it a lb at a time. Will try to weigh in daily here.

Vagabond: I’m a serial slow dieter partly because I hate micromanaging and exercise. But I’m still lighter than I was a few years ago and seem to be stuck at a number I was when I was last at a high point in my 30s. Since I’m closer to 50 now - any weight I can get off and keep off I’m happier with. So join in and just keep going as best you can. We all have had issues with the scale of late. I’ve slowed back on weighing daily, though helpful if it went up instead of down so did my outlook. You’ll have to find what works for you too! Good luck!

Am: my family surprised me this morning and took me to breakfast. I indulged in an extra slice of sourdough (it came with the meal) and I had bacon but split it w my youngest. And some vanilla creamer in my coffee. So I’ll have to be mindful the rest of the day. That’s doable I’ll begin planting some things today after DH mows for the first time. We have a ton of long grass as he had seeded and wanted new growth first. And I don’t want an increase in ticks as those things are too prevelant up here!

So this weekend I’ll have to keep on track as best I can and then into next week an awful lot of planting and weeding my yard. So that will be good too! I’ll get exercise under the guise of garden and flowers. I like hidden exercise.

So happy weekend all! Look forward to your daily hellos!

Adding to: I had DH start bringing up the seasonal clothing totes - youd all be proud of me! Every piece that was a 20 is going to goodwill to another lady on the journey! I’m throwing it out there I’m not taking tucks in the too big shorts or skirts, they are going! The 20w tops - going w the exception of one short sleeved polka dot blouse that makes me smile - it’s a good knock around too for rummaging and flower planting! I’m getting rid of the things that don’t fit me well. And perhaps that will help spur me on for more loss! Is anyone else doing this? Actually getting rid of these clothes out of the house, out of totes, out of
Closets OUT OF YOUR PERIPHERY?! I’m doing it and being brave - I don’t want to go back.

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Vagabond Welcome to the loser/regainer group. It is discouraging to look at a big number to lose, but as long as you're heading in the right direction that's all that matters! Welcome!

Lemon Hooray for giving away those icky 20Ws!!! You don't want to go back and having those clothes handy just makes it easier! I love your confidence! I love your "hidden exercise" theory! You're lucky you like gardening. I like the idea of gardening, but when I walk into a garden I have no idea what to do besides smell the flowers or sit on a bench and read a book.

So, I had a great weigh in this morning-- I can't believe the 220s are actually in sight. Also, nice NSV, I took my dog for a walk on a nearby path-- it's downhill from home and then uphill back-- really steep. Last time I tried it I got so tired I almost couldn't make it. Had to stop and pant, and actually sit down for a while. Today. No sweat!

Just a quick check in. Hope you are all enjoying your weekend! Welcome to Vagabond!!

I have off tomorrow too, so I'll check in with you all then.

Diane: I hope you had a lovely weekend!

Morning all!

Am: well let’s just say my DH gave me chocolates yesterday. He kept it to a small package of dark, however I still probably had a good time eating ;)

Mother’s Day went well - I received many complements on my dress I had made that I rewore from the other weekend. I haven’t had something like that in a long time. I was at church and so many of the ladies mentioned it. I had one who doesn’t belong to our parish but a neighboring who waited afterwards until I was done talking w one of the others who stopped to tell me how much my dress made her happy. I guess I did something nice for myself! I told my DH that maybe I should try and wear a dress every other Sunday. I’m not sure I want that many dresses but maybe shaking it up some is what’s warranted. And maybe trying some other out of the box fabrics is where I need to be.

I can’t sleep so I am up. I had been reading on the ring of fire they think is going to take off w the Hawaii eruptions being so much. Evidently an uptick in rumblings all around. How does one prepare for an earthquake? Uber: are you by the San Andreas fault? I know the bottom of my state has felt tremors from the new Madrid fault - I have felt three of them in my life - weirdness only as here it just shakes a bit and the last one the power dipped to off and then it was like someone turning it back on slowly and it felt my bed was moving in a strange way. Alas - I know how to prep for tornadoes or blizzards or even floods but not an earthquake. And from what I know the last one that did anything remotely to the land in the area caused the Mississippi to flow backwards (1800s I think) and the earth doesn’t crack open rather mounds up due to our type of land underneath. I’m not worried about them, however fascinated how the earth changes In that way.

Anywho I should hop on the scale but I’m not going to. At brunch I had a bigger salad and baked chicken and a slice of ham, mashed potatoes and why does everyone have to make green beans in a casserole? I’d prefer the beans on their own. :) However this is old Wisconsin supper club brunch - so green bean casserole it is. Otherwise they always have lots of deep fried, pasta, ribs, meatballs and prime rib. These I avoided - never hard - I’m not a fan of most. It was a good day spent with family.

So today will find me doing blood work to see if my body did indeed return to normal from the od of synthroid w weight loss. Now granted I havent lost since changing my dose and I hope that can begin again as summer rears up. But I do hope they find my levels at a comfortable and well functioning place. I loathe frequent testing ($280- 320 a time) and I hate being stuck (I usually get a newbie who freaks when I say I’m a bad stick - but I am - I get the butterfly needle as a result and of late stuck in my hand:( )

So I send you all well wishes and hope you had nice weekends and really that celebrating w your families was more enjoyable then micromanaging what went in your body. Happy day all it’s monday!

Once suns up and kids on bus then it’s off to clinic and back home to plant! I hope that goes well and the darn rabbits that spite me are out of my garden.

Enjoy your day!

Uber: I just think it is cool that you could live anywhere with your work. Many people don't get that perk very often. So were thinking of being in LA around the week of July 4th. Anywhere you can think of that would be cool to take the kids? Were not doing amusement parks this year. Looking for something different.

Diane: Hope you had a great Mother's day too! How is the daughter doing? Hope you all were able to celebrate.

Lemon: Sounds like you got a whole lot done! I am still needing to get my butt in gear and finish painting. The demo fort he countertops in the kitchen is on the 23rd so I need to get in gear!

Vega: I am right there with you...been hanging out in mid 220s.....I am beginning to hate my body it hasn't been cooperating with losing but on a bright side even if it is slug slow I am still losing! You got this!

I hope everyone had a great Mother's day. I went on a 3 mile walk with the kids well they rode their bikes. Then we went to my parents and had a BBQ and the steak was SO good!!!! My diet is once again bland, calling the doctor this AM because I met my deductible with my hospital stay and now I can get referred to a gastro! Happy Monday!

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Lemon I love that you got so many compliments on your new dress! I think you should definitely try out wearing dresses more often. Nothing cheers up my mood like wearing an outfit where I think I look sharp! And it does help motivate to keep working on weight loss! I think LA is right on the San Andreas fault. I've felt lots of earthquakes in my life, but I live in a one-story house and we've never had any significant damage.

Jen One of my absolute favorite places is Huntington Gardens in Pasadena! It's just these giant gardens of all different kinds. My kids liked it when they were younger and they still like it now. The other thing my kids found interesting was the Sony Studios tour-- it's not as exciting as Universal Studios, because it's more like a traditional tour and there are no rides, but it's interesting to look behind the scenes. Griffith Observatory is fun, and Venice Beach is a great place to walk around. It is kind of a cool perk to be able to live anywhere I want to live with my job, but really, I love where I live now...but I also like moving around.

Diane How was your Mother's Day? Did you get in any nice hikes this weekend?

Everything pretty good on my end. I've been really headachey since yesterday, which I hate, but otherwise, I'm doing fine. Had a pretty cool NSV which is that I have this pair of jeans that I bought during my great weight loss of 2009. I saved them because I really loved them, but they were just TINY. Size 38, but a brand that is very much not designed for plus sized ladies, but they looked especially great on me because they are designed to give you a nice little "thigh gap" and my legs are my best feature cuz I carry mot of my weight in my middle. So anyway, tried them on a fews months ago, and I couldn't even get them up over my butt, much less even think about zipping them. Tried them on about a month ago, and I could get them over my butt and lying down on the bed, I could actually zip them, but I mean, it was ABSURD because they were low cut and there was so much me hanging out over the top of the jeans 360 degrees of muffin top. So, tried them on yesterday and they are still too small, but not ridiculously small-- if I wore a loose top I could probably wear them now and I'm sure that they're going to fit pretty soon!!! It's a great feeling bc when I used to look at them next to my size 22s they just looked impossibly tiny. So, I'm definitely hoping to see the 220s soon! I've lost 12 lbs in the last 5 weeks, which has been awesome! But I'm sure I'm due to slow down again soon. I just hope I don't skid to a stop before I get to 229. :-)

Lemon: How nice that you had some nice comments about your dress! It's probably good to shake things up every once in a while! That said, I never wear dresses and I probably should, too.

Jenni: Sounds like you had a nice weekend. I hope you can find someone who can give you some relief!

Uber: Getting close to wearing a small pair of jeans is awesome!! You must be so excited. Very awesome!

As for me, I had a great weekend, and very nice to have off today. I've not been as productive as I should have been, but I'm ok with that. It's been nice to be a little relaxed. I didn't weigh today, as I was off my schedule and forgot! I went to spin though. Back to work tomorrow, so I'll get back on my schedule.

No nothing!

Uber: oh to have thin legs - never have so you are lucky! The worst thigh gap story - I was at a local landmark that has lots of visitors and here was a college gal who seriously looked like she had wrapped each thigh with ace bandages to achieve her thigh gap. It was weird and sad at the same time. But enjoy those skinnier jeans! Mine yesterday were uncomfortable. In fact nothing felt like it felt well including a loose jacket I threw on for a school activity last night. Tomorrow is my weigh in. I’m sure I’m up.

How’s the pool working out?

Diane: I’m glad you had a delightful day off yesterday those are always good for the soul. And I’m sure a little bit extra to recuperate from all your worry last week. Enjoy the settling down of your emotions! Maybe if you can do a bit more often or once a month.

Jen: what’s up with all this bland food need? Is it tied to your AI issues? That would be horrid to have picked up another issue in regards to. I certainly hope not you are too young to keep having issues.

Hello all!

Am: I didn’t get anything I wanted done yesterday and you know all the baking I did? There was something in one of the ingredients that I used. I had that horribly bitter taste again last night as DH made pancakes for dinner and we called the poison center. They advised us to dump all baked goods and ingredients that were common. We sifted the dry ingredients and found some weirdness in one of them. I emailed the manufacturer to inquire what the heck it could be. It was super bitter in waves getting stronger once it was out of my Mouth, hard when I bit down (but small size) think like you broke a tooth, and then my tongue went numbish for over an hour again. UGH! What the heck is in my food stuffs? The nurse at poison thought maybe it was old ingredients. Look I know you don’t know me but this gal rolls through her ingredients monthly and hasn’t had this issue but recently - that’s how I manage to keep my svelte shape. ;). Anywho - I’m so disappointed I had to throw so much out and now I have no baked goods to take with me. :( maybe I’ll do a marathon bake on Thursday and not go to bed until it’s done. And I’ll avoid the brands of who I had for the baking before and hope to never have that issue again.

I’m just sad over it all.

And it makes me wonder what the heck it was - it was nasty like if you had put a coated pill in your mouth and bit into it unknowingly and released the nasty.

But I’m alive and ok and I’ll get over it all. And all storage has been emptied and washed and awaiting new ingredients.

As for my weight - probably horrid

As for my gardening - discovered I was short a bunch of plants. So the youngest and I loaded up and out to the greenhouse which was seriously picked over from Mother’s Day - so the colors I wanted were gone but I got what I could that would work with my plants on hand. Hopefully today I can get them Planted in the pots and plan to do the garden tomorrow.

Well my best laid plans out the window - and I’m now not thinking of my diet and if I were bad I’d go scarf down some big old fatty food stuff. As is, I’m having my coffee and trying to fast and get on with my planting as the kids go out for the bus and move some today.

Here’s hoping the weight takes on off! Hah - who am I kidding?

Lemon: No, its all the GI issues. I made an appointment with my primary. I am going to push for a referral to a gastro, endo, and dermatologist. I want to find out what is causing all my issues and I still have no answers other than fibro. If that is causing all this than ugg, but if it is caused by something else I sure want to know.

Uber: thank you for all the suggestions, I will def look all those places up. I am excited to try new things as we always go to the same places. I am sure we will spend one day at the beach as they are warmer than Oregon's beaches. I echo Lemon on the leg thing. I have always had super thick legs and a bigger booty.

Diane: I am glad you had a great weekend. It's getting so niche here it has been in the 70's ore. That alone makes you have a better attitude about things. I guess it has really helped my mood anyway.

Well I got in another workout yesterday. Light weights and I made all my steps. Today I am going to try

My work computer sucks. It makes my typing so slow! Today I'm going to try for another walk. It's my mom's birthday so I may meet her with the kids for frozen yogurt too.

I had an okay stomach day yesterday. I took my nexium and a pepcid and stayed to foods that don't bother me.

Have a great day!

Lemon: Oh no! I would be sad, too, throwing out a bunch of baked goods! Bad enough the money that is just wasted, but the time involved makes it that much worse. I'm so sorry! I know what you mean about the lack of flowers after Mother's Day. I noticed that there definitely weren't any to choose from on Sunday night. I didn't need anything, but I was at the store, and saw the bareness.

Jenni: Yeah, if you have to find out that it is all from the fibro, then at least you would know. I hope they can help you find some relief. No fun dealing with all of that.

As for me, no weigh in today. I guess getting back in the groove of things, I just didn't make it on the scale. Sometimes taking off a day just messes up the routine. I'm trying to get caught back up at work now too. It isn't horrible, but could be better! Ha!

I am still taking a rest day today. I'll go back to spin tomorrow.

Hey there! :^: It's me...the woman who disappeared on page 4 and never came back until page 13. I believe my last statement was something like..."my day is shot, I'll try again on the weekend." Yeeeaahhh....:no:

So, here I am, almost a month later - fatter, of course. I'm back up to 281. I could tell my clothes are starting to fit differently...time to halt the upward climb.

Husband and I both just seemed to fall apart for a bit. He's had horrible allergies and has been on and off serious drugs for that, most recently a 2 1/2 week course of Prednisone, which makes him STARVING. And when hubby is starving, only junk will do. On top of being tired and crabby and just ... blah ... we've done a whole **** of a lot of not cooking, not eating right, ordering pizza, grabbing fast food, or hitting a restaurant. There have been cookies and pastries and chips and ice cream. There's been NO exercise, except for a couple weekends of hard yard work...really hard...which unfortunately was what caused the hubby's allergies to get worse.

All in all, we've been little :ink:'s.

So, here I am crawling back. Attempting today to log my food and actually took my lunch-time walk. Topless lunch (so named because I lock myself in my office to cool down after the hike) has ended...clerical staff warned. We have obstacles this week...a picnic tomorrow night and a office night out at the pub Thursday...but if we limit ourselves to those single meals off plan I guess we'll live. We'll still be leaps and bounds ahead of what we've done the past month.

Anyway...that's me. :dunno:

So I'll start this off with a question too. We really are awful at cooking...we end up going out so often. We're thinking of getting an Instant Pot. Do any of you have one? Do you use it?

There's NO WAY I'll catch up on 9 pages of posts, so I'll just say, HI! :wave: I'll try to see what's been up with all of you.

Lil: welcome back! I loathe allergies - my youngest is the hardest hit and they look just simply miserable so I can relate. I don’t have an instapot but a Bella. The insta has a yogurt setting and I don’t know if the interior pot is Teflon (mine is) but I’ve read for other mfg you can order all metal ones no coating. I’m not super adventurous but I’ve enjoyed the things I’ve made since figuring out was wrong in the first place (missing floating valve and defect in injection mold at steam release) they were good about replacing my unit. I am not so adventurous because when I was little my mom had a stovetop pressure cooker and the darn thing exploded twice. I’ve been scared for life ;). I enjoy mine for really good risotto, liked it for chicken breasts to shred for the fridge or freezer. It’s suppose to be good on tougher cuts of meat (round steak isnt one of them, it was still chewy) but it’s a time saver some nights. The only thing you have to wait for is to pressurize before it really cooks. Depending on frozen or thawed there is a difference in time. I say try it! I found it easier to find recipes online for the cooker - my SIL uses hers daily. Just beware using potent onions - my silicone ring still is aromatic!

And the weight - honey we are all struggling w regain! I’m still in the 220s!

Diane: did you get your geraniums growing yet? I have scale duty tomorrow too:(

Jen: man all of those - ugh! My Endo is great - I hope you have ones that can work well with AIs make sure you have one to act as a point person that can work w the others. That is always a big help!

Am: I have 2 planters left to get done! Well really one and overseeing the eldest to plant their flowers. Then tomorrow is working on the yard. I have to get things in my beds and weed so I’ll be a hurting gal by end of day. I hope DH can help me get some of the things ready tonight that I will need out there ie rabbit proof fencing on new tenders.

I think I might make the risotto for dinner - solved - not the most diet friendly but sounds good for a busy day.

230:carrot::carrot:

LEMON LOL about my "skinny" legs! ;) You have to understand that my legs are only skinny in proportion... like my legs are sort of normal-sized while I have the stomach to end all stomachs, LOL. I'd rather have bigger thighs and booty than walk around looking pregnant all the time! Every time you mention risotto it sounds SO GOOD!

Lil Hey Lil! Welcome back! Sounds like you've had a lot to deal with. Prednisone is the worst-- it really makes people cranky! I bought an Instant Pot for my daughter and she does like it, but she also said it's not quite as quick and easy as she thought it would be.

Diane Hope you enjoyed your rest day and feel like you're back in the groove tomorrow. Still having gorgeous weather?

Jen SoCal beaches are nice! Another place I've heard is really cool but haven't been in ages is the Getty Mansion. They just reopened it after it was closed for quite a while for reservations. There is an art collection inside, but the view is AMAZING!!!It's up on the cliffs overlooking Malibu and then you can head to the beach. Hope you get your fibro/?/? issues cleared up! How frustrating!

Well, can you believe I joined the gym only to start avoiding it? But I'm going for a swim tonight! Was very pumped at my weigh in this morning. I really can't believe I'm almost in the 220s!

Lilion: Welcome back! So good to see you back on here. No need to explain at all, just glad you're back. It is so hard sometimes when there are issues or events, so you just have to forgive yourself and move forward! Easier said than done, but just know that you have been missed! Oh, and I have nothing to offer on the instant pot. I don't have one.

Lemon: Well, I had two geranium plants that I took through the winter. The one is ok, but the other one died. I think that's on me. I cut it back and may have taken it back too far. Oh well! I bought a couple of new geraniums, so I might try it again next winter. Have fun with your planting!!

Uber: Yay you! You are so close to slipping down into the 220's. That's so great! You better get yourself to the gym, lady!!!! Go enjoy that swim!

As for me, I didn't weigh again today. I don't know why, but it is off my radar. So, I might just wait until next Monday and see how it goes. I feel like I've been a little off on food lately, so it may be more about avoidance than forgetting.

I went to spin this morning. It was a good workout. The weather is great right now, Uber, so I'd like to go hiking. I really need to get a load of laundry done tonight, though, so I think I'll go hiking tomorrow. I also plan to go to Body Pump tomorrow, too.

Never weigh yourself the morning after pizza that your DH brings home!

228.6

Oh joy! oh rapture! Oh &;&/“-“-!;!:&//****£* yes I kept it clean for the mods.

So today my ILS took the youngest and I planted and weeded for 6 hours! And I still have 3/5s my beds to finish. I’m sore and cranky and I smelled to high heaven! But my front beds and small bed near the garage look good, my tomatoes and basil are now in the ground, the rabbits ate what few bean plants came up as these were old old seeds so I’ll have to be buying some new this weekend and then tent off from those buggers. I’m all about sharing but not a my new produce with rabbits.

I wonder if and what calories I burned?

I moved like a snail so probably not much.

Maybe I’ll weigh tomorrow and see where I’m really at if I can remain mindful the rest of today even though I’m jonesin’ for a soda. I’ll get a big glass of water and pretend.

Uber: well - I think we are our own worst critics when it comes To our shapes. My granny gave me my arms, butt (good birthing hips she always said!) and my dad my shoulders and swarthy legs that won’t let me blow over in a wind storm. Did I mention my ankles? Bigger then my brothers. So yes - I hear your grumbles! As for the gym, that is precisely why I canceled our membership. We never went and if we did it was just me DH was just too busy - sitting on the couch here in front of the tv. I said the treadmill is in front of a tv at the gym for your same show. :broc:

Lil: how are you doing? Did you get the cooker? How’s your walking going?

Diane: I thought of you as I was outside. I saw others walking and that reminded me of your hiking and how I’ve been avoiding the walks but doing other things instead.

Jen: my tsh turned out just fine. Yeah! Well w the exception I haven’t lost weight since adjusting the med. for some odd reason my body is super excited to stay in the 220s.

Hello all!

Am: I’ll just say I’m not dieting currently in these few minutes - I’m daydreaming of fatty foods and a soda. The good news is I’m with out a car today and I’ll eat a pbj as I need to go to the grocery. Or maybe a string cheese. And maybe I’ll cook chicken in the cooker and shred for dinner and serve with something.

Happy day all!

No nothing

I’m running quick so just a pop in to say hello! Youngest to the doctor today allergies out of control - eyes are horrible.

You know I need to thank you gals! I once was on another weight loss forum and the people were rude and condescending when I’d ask questions or lament. The whole mean girl culture is horrible - and I thank you all for being kind and generous with your thoughts and shout outs and compassion. So thank you for that :broc:

Happy day all - I’m off to try baking again with a whole slew new bunch of different mfg of ingredients. May today’s work without the issues of the last batches!

230

Lemon Good luck with your baking, round two! Yeah, you're right about the body shape stuff. My fat has definitely shifted around through the years and babies. I used to be a real hourglass, boobs, hips, and smallish waist, but now I keep a huge spare tire around the middle. Such is life.

Sitting at 230-- went for a nice swim yesterday and the pool was empty, which I love. Trying to get into gear to start my new project, but I'm kind of dipping my toes in the water. Not much else going on. Hope ya'all are having a good day.

Hello all! It's been a crazy couple of days!

Lil: Welcome back!!!! Good to see you!

Diane: Yes, wanting to know the answers is all I have been asking for months and months! Ugggg dealing with doctors sometimes is impossible.

Lemon: I can't get my doctor to refer me to an endo for the life of me. She says since my TSH is fine I am fine. Well I know for a fact from other family members that have hashimotos that your TSH can be fine....oh the struggle of the doctor world. I sure hope your body start cooperating you deserve to see the 2 teens!!!!!

Uber: Thank you for all the great ideas. We will be spending a day on the beach for sure! Oregon coast is SO cold and the water is freezing....its beautiful but you really can't play on it until mid summer because it is so cold. I am so happy for you almost seeing the 220s!

So I went to the doctor, she did refer me to a gastro and seeing if my insurance covers an autoimmune specialist. She is referring me to a lady that does hair analysis to see what your metobolic condition is and what vitamins you are low in and what foods your body is resistant too.....sounds interesting we will see. She wants to try this before an Endo....I have no idea why she is so against endo's! I am doing great in my steps today I have almost 10,000. I am trying to get in more walks at work and trying to take the girls at night.

I am hoping this starts the weight loss to go a little faster. We will see!!!!

Jen: she’s not referring you because she “knows enough” to be dangerous in regards to endos. If it were me I’d say I need a referral, I’ve other concerns and if you cant I’m looking for a new GP. I hate ones who think they know all about Endo. Yes your tsh May be fine but has she looked at your T3/T4/thyroglobulin/etc? There are some additional tests that can also indicate issues and yes you are correct thyroid issues run in families for generations often changing it up along the way. AND what may be normal for most MAY JOT BE NORMAL FOR YOU. and once you have one autoimmune you will generally have 2-3. Ok soapbox put away. I’ve dealt w my thyroid for 20+ years, heck I’ll advocate for you! I hate doctors that don’t listen.

Uber: yeah for swimming in an empty pool! I loved those moments a pool to myself. I’m glad you found fun in it. Good for you for finally getting there. Swim for me please!

Hey! It's the same page and I'm back again!!! :D Thanks for the welcome back.

So...haven't weighed and haven't really walked, though this would be a good day but I'm kind of stuck at the office. Vacation (another medieval camping thing) in three weeks and back to playing catch-up on the work darnnit! But it is what it is. At least, other than the stupid desserts that were at my house since the picnic, I've managed to be better. Not good, but better. No cooker yet...still thinking about it.

And I'm swamped and have to run but wanted to just stop by!!!

:wave:

Well, ok. I guess I didn't come here yesterday. That was weird....

Lemon: Good for you with all of the weeding. That definitely will give you a workout. And, I will say that this is the only forum that I will make comments. I've seen some of the others and I don't like the lack of support. Don't need nasty people in my life!!

Jenni: Oh definitely, you need answers for sure. What a pain! You can deal with it, as long as you know what it is and what you need to do!

Uber: Dipping toes is always good! No need to jump in! Ha!

Lilion: Well, there you go! Posting again! Yay!!!!

As for me, I went to Body Pump yesterday and also went for a hike after work. I have this great hiking loop I take after work. It is about 40 minutes, and it has a great steep section that continues to kick my butt. My goal is to be able to make it to the top without stopping (about 1/2 a mile). So far, I'm not there yet because it does make me breathless. I'll keep working on it. Today I went to spin. It was pretty difficult, and hot. Tomorrow I'll go for spin and upper body work.

Still haven't weighed yet. I might try tomorrow, or just wait until Monday. Have a good weekend!!

230

Diane Good to take breaks from weighing! You must be building muscle with all the working out! I love your hiking loop strategy! I'm trying to get ready for hiking in Yellowstone, and so I've been hitting the trails with my dog. I live in a very hilly area, and at the top of the hill, but we have a lot of gorgeous trails, but I got really discouraged when I got up to my higher weights, I was getting so pooped walking up hills that it was kind of scary-- I would get to a point where I literally could not keep walking and had to sit down. And since I live at the top of the hill, I was never sure how far to walk down (so easy on the way down, right?) So I'm just heading down the trail a ways and then turning around and walking back up, and I'm STILL not too good on steep hills. If I walk straight uphill for more than about five minutes I start having to take panting breaks, but I'm definitely much better than I was 60 lbs ago, and I figure I can go a little further down the hill every day!

Jenni So frustrating about your doctor not wanting to send you to an endo! I don't know why they can be like that sometimes. Frustrating!

Lil Nice to have you stopping by! Sounds like you're busy but it's nice when you pop in!

Lemon You're right about those auto-immune diseases going in clumps! My mom has diabetes, vitiligo, and hyper-parathyroidism, and her endo says it's only a matter of time until her thyroid goes! I feel so lucky (knock on wood) that I haven't gone in her direction.


As for me, I'm sitting at 230, and I know I shouldn't complain because I was dropping quick there for a while and was bound to hit a stall, so I'm trying to be patient!! Getting excited about leaving for the big trip to Yellowstone, etc coming up in 3 weeks.

Re-baking accomplished! Tired now that I finally sat down! Trip to moms tonight. Maybe I can snooze as DH is driving and maybe my kids are willing to remain somewhat quiet. Who knows. But then it’s up super early to get my moms house planted for the season.

Any one watching the wedding tomorrow? I remember when di and Charlie got married - watching in my youth and grumbling at the tv because NOTHING was clear and everything in a fog! Now we can see people’s pores and scars and thread count. Oh well! Though I’m not super interested in them - I do like a wedding as there is always freshness to a blooming relationship (unless of course you know the person and they are at the bottom of your excitement list!). I was about the same age then as my eldest is now so maybe we’ll watch together. I don’t know if there is interest but I’ll see.

So happy weekend all. I’ll do personals maybe later if my hands work after all the weeding and planting. Wishing you all a wonderful weekend ahead!

:carrot::carrot:229:carrot::carrot:

Just popping in to say WOOT WOOT!! I didn't expect it, but I cracked the 220s this morning! Very happy-making for me as I have pretty much always weighed over 230 since 1991 when my first child was born, except on very rare occasions.

Feels Great!

Lemon I'm a total anglophile and we taped the royal wedding so I can watch with my mom. I remember Princess Di's wedding too!

Haven’t weighed, had water or exercised unless planting and weeding counts

Hello all!

Have to run to the grocery this morning and get my fridge loaded again and arm my days with produce that helps. But my family tends to eat me out of the things that are a help for me protein wise. Doesn’t matter if I have 1 or 5 they’d still all be gone in the same time frame and I’ll be sticking my nose back in the fridge not finding anything.

Anyone else just feel they are going through motions half heartedly?

Uber: yeah for finding the 220s! I’m sure you’ll fly through them. I’m hopeful I’m still not in them in the next year. I probably will be. Just keep that hill as your challenge and it will be toppled over soon. You can do it!

Diane: how did your hiking go?

Well I best get my day going and see what I can find and maybe find some answers and a better outlook. Thus far I haven’t found that yet. Nor the mojo.

Happy day all! I watched that wedding - interesting how they kept zooming in on relatives faces. I think they were making stories where there aren’t stories. But they had a lovely day. And the thing I enjoyed besides all the hats and fascinates were the bells tolling. So very English! We have bell towers and they are so rarely used (at least in my area). Anywho - hope hose who watched had fun too.