I'm going to make this today.. I'm excited about it. Hopefully, it'll taste decent. It sure was chilly this morning! I didn't wanna get out from under my warm electric blanket. BTW, this is a WW recipe from their website.

Luv,
Rat



Creamy Sweet Potato Soup

makes 4-1 cup servings. 4pt per cup WW (200 cal per cup thereabouts)

Ingredients

* 2 large sweet potato(es)
* 2 cup canned chicken broth, divided
* 1 Tbsp reduced-calorie margarine
* 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
* 1/4 tsp ground ginger
* 1 cup fat-free evaporated milk
* 1 Tbsp chopped pecans (roasted brings out flavor!)

Instructions

* Preheat oven to 400ºF.

* Pierce potatoes in several places with a fork. Bake for 45 minutes, remove from oven and allow to cool. When cool, remove and discard skin; chop potatoes.

* Combine sweet potatoes and 3/4 cup of broth in a blender or food processor; blend or process until smooth, about 1 minute. Set potato mixture aside.

* Melt margarine in a medium-size saucepan; stir in flour and ginger, and then add milk. Cook, stirring, until slightly thickened and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Cook 1 minute more and then stir in sweet potato mixture and remaining 1 1/4 cups of broth. Cook, stirring, until heated through, about 5 minutes more. Pour into 4 serving bowls and sprinkle each with 3/4 teaspoon of pecans. Yields about 1 cup per serving.

Notes

For an extra flavor boost, consider adding a dash of curry powder with the flour and ginger.

Rat - sounds interesting - let us know how it is.

Yes, please let us know how it turns out!

Cyn: I love your new haircut and Avatar photo. You look beautiful!

Catherine: I hope you have so much fun at the Gala. Our own little Cinderella! How exciting.

Ammi: I will be praying that the Dr.s are able to find something to help you sweetie. I sure am glad you get and appointment at least.

My appetite should be small for at least a year slowly growing. lol Hopefully slllllllooooooowwwwwwllllllyyyyy.

Zelma: Congrats to you on the chorus! I know that means a lot to you so I hope you throughly enjoy it. Jerky is just dried meat. Very, very dried meat with spices on it.

Ratkitten: Yep. I have 3 sisters. There were 6 of us all together now just the girls are left. I have two older sisters Suzanne who is 10 years older than I am, Patty who is 8 years older than I am then myself and my sister Terri who is 1 and 1/2 years younger than I am. They keep me going too. I adore my sisters but at times I want to kick them in the butt. lol.

I will have to try the meatloaf venision for sure. I may like it.

Carol: Yeah for no surgery! I am so happy for you. Have fun with the belly dancing dvd. Thanks for the thought about hiring me. Hugs.

Debbie: Stay warm and kiss your doggie on the nose for me. Hope she feels better soon.

Heather: Hi there.

Well, It is coooooolld today! I want to go for a drive to the apple farms above Spokane but I don't know if my DH Joel and my Dad are up for that. He will be leaving tomorrow morning for home. It will be sad to see him go. It always is but Joel and I will be going down to his place soon to take his venison once it gets done being cut up and wrapped.

Everyone please have a very happy and safe day today.
Blessings,
Annie

Hi all!!

Its been a while but I'm still here :D

I have done did it now. Its been a stressful few weeks(month) and I haven't been eating the best or working out like I should. So I went to see what the damage was on the scale. I'm 329.0 !! I was dancing in the kitchen. People have been telling me how good I look but most of them hadn't seen me in months but I'd also been having issues with pants and then becoming baggy. Well I guess I know why now. lol

I had be stuck at 331 for a while had even gone back up to 335 so this was a total shock.

Just wanted to share. :)

Hello my friends. I missed a whole week. It's been insane. Let me start by saying there is no way I can get caught up on personals. I'll try to stay caught up from now on as much as possible.
So, here's the news
My step daughter called last Sunday afternoon.....she was in labor.
I was at the hospital from 2pm Sunday until 5 pm Monday evening.
She had a beautiful little girl at 1:48pm. Her name is Alexis Renee.
(Andy and I aka Poppie and Grams) call her Lexi.
Her "boyfriend" is a real pig. I helpled her with her breathing while he spent most of her labor playing games on his lap top computer. He's a total baby himself, makes everything about him, and blames everyone else for anything bad. Andy's oldest daughter came over yesterday to pick up her duaghter's birthday cake I made and decorated and told us about seperate events since the new mom, dad and baby have been home. Apparently Mr Cry baby, gets mad, yells, slams drawers and kitchen cabinets while preparing a bottle. (she tried to nurse her, but has inverted nipples, got blood blisters and now pumps til she heals up) One time he got up and screamed "URHG!" cuz Lexi started crying. Another time he didn't want Lexi to get fed cuz "she'd just take a couple sips and fall asleep."
We always knew he had violent tendancies and tried to point it out to Rachel before. The poor kid spends too much time defending him
Once I told her to ask herself to consider why she feels the need to do so.
Last night Andy tried to talk to her about Mr Cry Baby and the potential for abuse. Mr Cry Baby took Rachel's phone and started yelling at Andy.
Then, he called me on my cell and told me his problems with Rachel and the baby were none of my business. ..........gotta tell ya, I lost it.
Then he tried to tell me he has problems with depression and has anger issues. I was really offended cuz he used depression as an excuse to be an a$$. I believe he may have an issue with depression, but I almost bet it's more like Bi-polar. He's never ever missed work due to depression. He ALWAYS wants to do the "bad thing", something most people with chronic depression can't even think about. And, he can't shut is freakin mouth. After he hung up on me, he called Emily, Andy's oldest daughter.
All this time, Andy is back on his phone with Rachel on her cell phone and Rachel didn't know Steve was calling her family. It got worse from there and Andy ended up going to their apartment with the police so he could actually make sure Rachel and Lexi were safe. I called her today and asked her to come stay for us for a week. That way Mr Cry Baby can go to the doctor (like he hasn't said that before) have no stressor and she can have a break from him and taking care of his emotional needs constantly and just focus on getting better (she tore in 4 places) and Lexi. Then when she went back home, she could see if her stress level increased again.
She said she'd seriously consider it. So, late this afternoon I sent her links regarding signs of an abuser. Then, I basically begged her to come stay for just a week. I hope she does. I'm really, really scared for her. Did I mention he drove her car too hard and it's broke down after his car broke down and only needs an alternator that he hasn't replaced in six months.
I guess we just have to wait now.
So, this week has been very eventful and I used it as an excuse to be off program totally. I'm back on as of yesterday but can't bring myself to get on the scale. I ran out of my water pills so I'm all puffy again. I'll restart the water pills tonight and weigh myself hopefully not til Friday.
In the mean time, Andy has offically lost 90+ pounds. He looks freakin' amazing. He looks about 10 years younger and weighs about what he weighed when we met 15 years ago. I'm so proud of him. (I think he ate out of boredom and not comfort) His birthday is the 29th. I got him a Red Sox watch and an elliptical that was on clearance from $349 to $87. Couldn't pass that up. I'll use it too once I get below 275 cuz that's the max weight on it.
I think I'm goona go read some of the week's happenings. I wish you all a great and successful week.
:hug:

Hi everyone~~:wave:

Just a quick pop in visit to say hi and I've been having it really tough this weekend. I'm recovering from Friday night. All I'm going to say is that I had my operation on September 6th. and it has been a looonnnngggg 6 weeks. :o;) I still have one drain in and I am sore as anything. My draining also went up to 184 ML from 60 and today it's going to end up being around 100 ML which means the doctor won't take the drain out on Monday or Tuesday. :( Part of me thinks it was worth it though. :D

Really quick cuz I don't have much time:

Cyn--I love the new avatar! You look great. I saw your thread about the anger.

Sandy--:hug:good luck with the step daughter. That's a tough situation and my thoughts are with your family.

Okay, I've got to go. Sorry about being so brief.

:grouphug: Vicki

John: Welcome back. Glad that you are down on the scale. Good job.

Sandy: Sorry that things are so hectic and scary with your stepdaughter. That is a shame especially with a new baby and all. I hope everything works out good. Congrats to Andy on his 90 pounds lost! Hugs.

Vicki: Sorry that you are still draining but, better to have the drain in and not have it and find it necessary. Hugs.

I had a great day today. I went to a place that sells pumpkins and apples well, many many things. It was fun and I bought 2 goards to paint and decorate and make into litttle night lights. I thought I should come on and report my exercise for the week.

Hope everyone has a great Sunday evening.
Blessings,
Annie

Vicki and Annie,

Thanks for such kind thoughts. We'll need every well wish.

Vicki I'm so sorry about your drain. I had a super pubic tube after
my two surgeries this summer. I only had it in for about 7-10 days each
time, and it drove me insane. I sympathize with you regarding your drain. Hang in there and it'll be worth the wait. Nothing worse than having something like that removed to early.

Annie Ya gotta tell me how to make night lights out of gords. I'm
always looking for neat little crafts to make for family members.
A night light would be really cool for at least 2 grand kids and my
own dd.

Gotta go watch my Sox.

Hello all!

Just a quick note...

BigJ - dang! good to see ya again! Stop being so scarce. We need our rooster's input.

Sandy, hang in there with the stepdaughter and baby! I have no words of wisdom. It seems like you've done everything humanly possible up to this point. *hugs*

Vick, sorry you are still draining! Better out than in! (in the words of a wise ogre) hehe.

The sweet potato soup was bland. It was a great creamy texture. Just.. bland! I added more ginger and that helped. I wasn't thrilled about the pecans in it. I think it needs some more *umph* but not sure what. The curry I have isn't the right kind. I'll figure it out! Meanwhile, it was very filling and I'm sure I got my daily fiber requirements for the day hehe.

Hugs and Luv to all!
Rat

Annie - I wanna know how to make the night lites too!

Sandy - was missing you - hopes and prayers coming your way to sort the situation out for everyone!

I did 25 minutes of the bellydance video this morning - needless to say it was interesting - I felt like my knees needed a day off from the treadmill. I'm guessing I will feel something tomorrow as I moved things on my body I didn't know moved.

Another first for me today - I roasted sweet potatoes for dinner - yum yum.

Hugs to you all,
Carol

Ammie i am sorry you had to be special lol! it sounds very painful too. me i am not doing well at all i think my cold has turned in bronchitus... but dont faint i am actually going to the dr. monday and am actually looking forward to getting a shot... i am so sick of being sick1 hello to everyone else and i will be back when i feel better hope its soon.

I am done...
 

Good evening all,

I am sure I have said it before, I am pray I will not say it again. I am tired of feeling bloated, fat, cowlike, disgusting, and everything else. RK mentioned in a previous post that she had been successful in almost everything in her life except weight loss (by the way RK...you have been successful at that from what I can see). Well, me too. I am not looking to be skinny...I would be pretty darn happy with merely "overweight". That is about 140 pounds from where I am.

My mom called me tonight and said they are having a 90 year birthday party for my grandmother in March. Honestly, I won't go if I am not under 310. And I am pretty sure I am 370 now (I will weigh tomorrow morning). 60 pounds in 4 months? Unlikely, I know. Definitely not at this rate (i.e. no forward progress).

My DH and I have decided to make one change that should help some...both financially and healthwise. We are not going to go out to dinner until after Thanksgiving. We have been doing BAD about that...and at about 50 bucks per pop...it's STUPID!!

So...I am going to shoot HARD to get to 360 before the end of the month. Yes....about 10 pounds in less than two weeks. The house isn't put back together, but that's too bad. I need to get it in gear. Argh, sometimes I hate me.

Fear not, it's not self-pity, it is a little self-irritation (I almost said self-hatred, but that's harsh). As a note, the Steelers are losing and I ticked about it. I am a BAD loser. In weight and sports (and everything).

Annie, I am so sorry about your brother. Divine intervention was a bad thing for me to say. I never want to cause someone emotional pain...so I am sorry for bringing up those memories.

That's it from me tonight. I think I just kicked my own butt....hopefully it takes.

Angie

Red Sox Win!!!!!!!
 

self-sabotage
 

hi all, so i did SUPER all during the 'week', but when the weekend got here it all went downhill. I am so upset with myself right now. I will be starting back from square one tomorrow, but at least I am only one week in the hole. I gained every bit of what i lost this week over the past 2 days. I need to figure out how to make good decisions when i'm away from home and away from my kitchen!
hope everyone had a good weekend. nite nite all.