I have about 5 minutes, no 3, and then I need to get going. I am heading to the gym and then I have a family bbq this afternoon.

I had to come and confess that I had a bit of a brownie batter incident last night. I have a package (or should I say had) of No Pudge brownie mix. Well, I decided late last night that I really wanted some. So I mixed myself a bowl and ate it. Rinse and repeat.

The thing is that I really enjoyed it. I have a certain mental wiring that makes me feel rebellious and naughty when I eat certain things. It makes me feel like I am 5 years old and pulling one over on my mom.

I ate about half the box, which is about 700 calories. :eek: It could have been worse, and honestly I don’t terribly regret it. I really did enjoy it. I wish that I didn’t, but I guess if I am going to spend that many calories on something I should. That said, the remainder of the box went into the garbage and I will have to be a bit more careful than I had originally intended to be at the party today. I am also heading to the gym before hand and getting in an hour of cardio.

Have a great Saturday everyone!

Hi everyone. Good golly it is hotter 'n a biscuit down here today (to use one of my granny's signature phrases)!!! The fence people came back today to respray my fence so as it dries we'll see if it has improved the situation any.

After that I had a hair appointment and got my hair cut into sort of a short bob. My avatar pic is from over a year ago when my hair was short short. Then I let it grow about shoulder length and I finally just decided I hate having longer hair. It's hot and it just doesn't look that good on me. Anyway, so it's back to shorter hair for now. Then I went to Sprouts to pick up fruits, veggies, and yogurt. It's usually a madhouse on Saturdays and today was no exception!!! Now I am home and ready to relax a bit.

Oh, I bought my books for school yesterday. I was able to buy them all used but they still cost $400!!!!!! :eek: Thank goodness my company is paying 80% of my expenses.

I started trying to plan my travel to Boston in October for the wedding. Oh my gosh. It is so expensive. Right now the cheapest flight I can find is $500 plus the hotel where the wedding is at is $265/night which would end up close to $300 when they add taxes. And that is with the group rate for the wedding! I checked other hotels nearby and even the Days Inn is charging $400/night. Apparently there is some big event in Boston the same weekend as the wedding (a Regatta) and the hotels have jacked up their prices accordingly. I had originally planned to go up on a Thursday and come back on a Sunday but that 3 day weekend could end up costing me close to $2000 when you include airport parking, dining out, a new outfit to wear, and a gift for the couple. Jeez. That is really just more than I expected and now am in a bit of a quandary. I really would like to go and see everyone and share in the day, particularly since I was asked to play a role in the ceremony by signing the ketubah as a witness. I feel horrible I am even considering backing out but $2000 is ALOT of money. I think it if were another weekend when the Regatta wasn't happening I'd probably be able to find cheaper lodging. I am sick to my stomach about this. I don't know what to do.

Ammi - I am sorry you are having ups and down. I wish I had some really profound words of advice for you but I have been fortunate so far and have really not ever lost anyone close to me. Take care, my dear.

Nancy - Have fun at the BBQ. I admire your attitude regarding the brownie batter incident. I wish I could be so sensible whenever I have an "incident".

I haven't posted in ages. Lately I just do these drive by posts and then disappear. I hope not to disappear again. I just start feeling overwhelmed and under confident. Some of you might remember me, others may not. That is okay. But I'm stopping in to say hello and I hope that you will all see more of me again.

Hiya all,

Nancy, I'm glad you told us of your brownie incident. It's through your struggles as these that I learn that I can have "an incident" and recover. On top of that, you hopped up and went to the gym!! You go girl. If you can do it, so can I.

Ammi, those ups and downs will level out a bit, but it'll take time. I'm glad you have Daren as support. Yay for a good time at the beach! Enjoy that sun.

Xena, *faint* at the cost of your books. I sure don't miss those days. I'm glad your company is paying some of it. It still hurts!! I understand your quandry about the money. That's a LOT when things are tight. I've never used priceline, but perhaps you can try it? Anything is better than those prices.

Debbie, I hope you find the niche you need to fire up your exercise program. A bicycle might be the ticket! hehe. Just don't use the stock seat. I am going to professionally fitted next Friday and was going to wait to get a woman's seat then.. ACK.. ow ow ow.. I could only manage 5 miles this morning on the new bike's seat. I couldn't get that seat off my old bike fast enuff to swap with the torture device on the new bike.. When I sat on my tried and true old seat, I just went "ahhhh, much bettah".

Speaking of my new purchase, of course I had to accessorize. I ordered some new bike shoes. Since my right foot swells a bit, I wear sandals. There's only one company that makes sandals for clipless pedals. I'm excited at getting new shoes. My old shimano sandals are 15 yrs old (as old as my last bike). Old bike and shoes are in pristine condition, just a little frayed at the edges (like their owner). I transferred over my odometer (gotta know how far I've gone!) as well. I'm ready to do 10 miles tomorrow.

I mowed and edged the lawns, rode 5 miles, destroyed the old tile soap dish and toothbrush holder and put in new ones (long story in bathroom.. but it's done! yay). Tomorrow, I grout those. Then I napped... after getting up, I forced myself to the grocery AFTER I ate. I got salads and stuff for a crockpot recipe I'm going to try that my mom sent me. WW recipe.. I'll let you guys know how it came out tomorrow evening. OH!! and I ate some zuchinni last night. Was all in all, a very OP day.

Hope everyone's day went as well as mine today (except for the tailend ouchies),

Luv and hugs to all I didn't get a personal in to!!! I keep up with you all and you are all special,

Ratkity

I just have to say that I went to the fair today and didn't cave in to any of the fatty treats that were beckoning!! :) I am very pleased with myself. I was there with a skinny-minnie friend of mine who can eat and eat and eat and never gain an ounce, so I was very tempted to join her when she ordered an ice cream sundae. But I had packed my own diet lunch, and I stuck to my plan, so I'm a happy camper tonight!

Hey everybody! Have missed you all so...

You probably didn't notice, but I've been AWOL for a couple of weeks. LOL

I've been on my holidays and have been busy busy busy doing a big kitchen makeover and reorganization. It's something I never would have, never COULD have tackled a year and a 125 pounds ago so I've been really happy (though sometimes STRESSED!!). Also got up to the cottage for a few days in there so did have some traditional holiday time too.

I have so much to catch up on here...Nancy- you're in the 260's!!!! That's great.

Will try to be more regular again soon...thinking of all. :)

Debbie - also keep in mind you dont have to back-pay yourself, but start it as a new incentive. it might be a bigger motivator to start at 0 and watch it climb :)

Teahoney! welcome back!!

Jill - they arent expecting a lot of people because the show isnt on the air right now, but you are totally right, there is nothing wrong with sending in a tape too! if you do go to an open call, and you happen to get a piece of paper for anything, you have a little piece of me, because i ran off all the copies for everything :)

Ammi - im sorry things have been up and down but it sounds like you and Darren had a lovely day!!

so yesterday was not such a good day. i went to get lunch (at weinerschnitzel - a hotdog place) and when i was leaving i fell and hit my head and cracked my ankle and bruised my knee pretty bad. after taking a few seconds to get up, i went and sat in my car to get my bearings, and i guess i blacked out because i fell out of the car and hit my head on the ground again, but i dont remember it. i just woke up on the ground. so they called the ambulance and i sat in the emergency room for 4 hours, and after all my sucky friends wouldnt come pick me up, i had to to take a cab back to my car with a concussion and a fractured ankle. so that was fun.

thats been my life. hows yours?

Tracey -- Welcome back!!!! We definitely DO want to see more of you!

Luan!!! Holy Cow, are you okay??????? Why'd ya go and fall on your head and all, silly! Don't you know that hurts!! :) I don't mean to make light of your injuries, but hope you chuckled at least. You need to be really careful with a concussion! Let us know you're okay!!!! :hug:

heather - im ok. i take it as a sign from god that i should not be eating chili cheese fry burritos - yes. chili cheese fry burritos. they are every bit as delicious and horrible as they sound. ***** - if being fat wont do it, maybe a knock on the head will* lol

Hi All!

YAY SJ-Boooooty! I hope you had a great time at the fair. I'm very proud of you that you stuck to your plan in the midst of all that junk food. You rock!

I missed you Meta! Wow, I understand the kitchen remodel (home.earthlink.net/~ratkity) is where mine is and it was a SMALL kitchen. Glad you got some traditional holiday time in at your cottage.

OMGosh Luan *gentle hugs* oh no about the concussion(s). Let your brain rest, ok? and keep that ankle elevated! *more hugs* I'm glad your new job is fun and rewarding! I hope you don't have to run around too much with that ankle on Monday.

I'm off to ride my new bicycle! I'm hoping my old seat doesn't pain my tush too much today. The torture device that was on the new bike is gone. I think I have a sledgehammer I'd like to introduce to it. Muhahahahaha

Was OP and ate a salad for lunch yesterday. All in all, yesterday was a great day (except the tail pain). HRRRRMmmmm, between Luan and I, we hurt from top to bottom! hehe.

Luv and Hugs to all,
Ratkity

Tracy - Yes, I remember you. I am glad to see you back and do hope we continue to see you posting. :hug:

Debbie - Yes, I tried priceline.com. It's not any lower than anywhere else. At least not for this particular weekend. Since the Regatta is that weekend hotels know they will be booked and we all know how supply and demand works. I am going to talk to Karen (my friend and the groom's mom) about it next week because it can't just be me having this issue. Maybe there are some other single gals going to the wedding that would want to share a room to help with costs. Although rooming with a perfect stranger isn't ideal either. Oh well, we'll just have to see how it works out. As for you, good for you starting to get back into the exercise habit. :)

Ratkitty - Wow, you have so much more energy than I do to accomplish all those things in one day. Yesterday I had a hair appt, did some grocery shopping and just some light work in the yard for maybe 15 minutes and I was just done in for the day. I look forward to being able to go and do like I used to before I put on all this weight.

Meta - I don't think I've ever really noticed your ticker before. Wow, you have done really well with the intuitive eating. :congrat:

Luan - What a day you had! I hope you are OK now. In some ways you can count yourself lucky you fell out of your car in the parking lot. What if you had passed out like that while driving? Scary! I hope you are taking it easy today. And I agree, your friends are sucky for not coming to pick you up from the hospital. :(


Nothing much with me today. Just a lazy Sunday. Later I am going to get my new one hour WATP DVD out and see how far I can make it. I have only tried it once before and was not able to do the full hour. Take care everyone.

Well, I had planned to have a quiet day today. I started by helping hubby get the yard ready to mow (which involved picking up fallen apples and moving the hammock). Quickly it became that plus string trimming, plus a lot of weeding. I think I've finally figured out how to tell a weed from a plant we want. If it's green and thriving -- it's a weed. I lopped and hauled the "tree" weeds and bagged others. So after an hour and a half of yard work, I had my exercise in for the day. (I'll count 40 min).

Then hubby wanted me to cut his hair -- he uses clippers, so it's actually not that tough. He sets the clippers and I just wave them around his head until it looks even. Goof-proof, right? Well, I goofed. I used the trimmer -- which cuts much closer. I noticed right away that I was taking off a lot of hair, but just thought it had been a while. By the time I realized it, I'd shaved well over half his head. We had to pretty much get him bald before it looked decent. At least hair grows back...

I think I'm taking the rest of the afternoon off!!

hi everybody i am back from my road trip... didnt do good at all on my eating but i am home to stay for awhile so i can kick my butt and get back on track congratulations to all who lost pounds and hugs for those of us struggling!