It's very quiet in here - I'm hoping everyone is very busy and doing great OP.

Yesterday I accomplished nothing - not a single thing - have to make up for it today. I need to feel like I've been productive each day - so off I go.

Have a great day,
Carol

Carol - Sounds like we were on the same wavelength yesterday. I had grand plans for all that I was going to get done yesterday so I could have a lazy, restful Sunday but I ended up doing almost none of it. So now I get to do it today!

One things I did get done yesterday was buy some awesome tickets to the Bon Jovi concert which is coming to Dallas in April. Our seats are going to be very near the stage. Jon Bon Jovi.......

Hello all. I wanted to do personals but I am just too simultaneously exhausted and excited. Yesterday was a huge NSV for me. I went to my Nia (dance) class in the morning and then decided to stay for the yoga class the same teacher does right afterwards. It is an hour dance class and a one and a half hour yoga class, so I was in classes for two and a half hours! But my day was far from over since I finally decided I wanted a specific bed from IKEA and I headed there in the afternoon. I went alone and not only did I walk all over the whole store (which is huge) I bought a bed, mattress, bookcase and several other items. I got them loaded onto my cart by myself and also loaded into my car, again by myself. I came home beyond exhausted and fell into bed shortly after, but I did it! I remember when just going to IKEA would tire me out so badly I could hardly stand by the end. This time I was tired but it was a good tired, not a painful tired. Now I just have to get the stuff out of my car and into the house!

Then this morning I dragged myself out of bed at 7am and headed over to Target by 8am to pick up a Wii. I was back and forth about it even as of this morning, but I have been talking about that being my 100 pounds lost reward for some time and I decided to do it. I am going to order DDR from Amazon as I have several gift certificates there, and I am really excited about it. I will no longer play games that don’t involve action, and getting in that extra bit of movement on a regular basis should help me push forward in my fitness and weight loss.

My big dilemma though for the morning is whether or not to assemble my bed. I realized that I probably should have done this in a different order since I am painting my bedroom. I would hate to set up my bed and then have to worry about getting paint on it. At the same time, I haven’t slept in a real bed since I moved here.

Argh! My landlord just called and he is actually on his way over. I better run and do a few things before he gets here.

How exciting - Bon Jovi is coming to KC too - tickets go on sale on Monday - we're hoping he will do more than one show since the new arena has been selling out quickly. We're in the middle of the nine shows Garth Brooks is doing here now - the city has been on fire. The arena opened a few weeks ago with Elton John - Billy Joel is in a few weeks. I hope the entertainment line up stays as good as it has started.

Carol - My friend from KC who is coming down for the concert mentioned they are playing there later the same week.

Nancy - Wowza on the 2.5 hours of exercise class! How are far you have come. And clearly it is translating to functional fitness as evidenced by your trip to IKEA. And that's what all this weight-loss biz is about, making our lives better on a daily basis. As for your bed, I'd put it together. When it's time to paint, slide it to the middle of the room, cover it, and you'll be fine. You deserve to be sleeping in a real bed starting now!

OK, need to quit goofing off online and get to doing something productive!

Okay, I have to pop in and say hi. I've been reading but it's too busy for me to post. I'm actually working all day today!

Anywho... I've been doing better with stress eating (for those who asked, I seem to NOT stress eat for personal, emotional reasons so much, but when I get overwhelmed with work. I have realized I need to a) try not to get to that point and b) if I do, have food strategies in mind, like bring lots of veggies to eat and tea to sip on)...

Anyway, I miss you all and will be more chatty soon!

We made it to Banff in one piece. The trip was boring just like I like them. Just took this picture out of our window.

just wanted to drop in and say hi. Hope everyone is doing okay and staying on track.

Xena & Ggg ~ I too had great plans to get lots done yesterday and not one thing got done. Today however has been very productive. ......until
sd got home, It's just been one argument and back talk after another.
On top of it, I think I'm pmsing. My cycle hasn't been normal since my mom died in August. And I"m so edgy and she's so argumentative. And, I can't even let myself think of work. What a nightmare there. I've started researching other employment. Maybe I'll find something, I would like to make it til February to collect all 3 weeks of my vacation time. But, I do know I have to start the process now. Everything takes longer during the holidays.


Annie~ I wish you the most success in your job hunting too. That in itself is stressful isn't it. How is Ammi. Would you mind instant messaging me her email address? I thought I had it in my address book at home, but it's not.


Nancy~ What a wonderful NSV! I"m so proud of you. It is truly a
tremendous victory to be as active as you've been this weekend and not be sore or be worn out.


Heather~ Way to go on having strategy on keeping stress in check.


Catherine~ You do indeed live in a beautiful area.


I went into this week so confident with a food plan. All I can say is I only maintained this week. Better than gaining I guess. I can't seem to keep cravings from taking over. I have no plans for this week. Except oatmeal in the mornings with yogurt and soup for lunch. We have lots of healthy things in the freezer for dinner, so the trick will be remembering to pull something out of the freezer in the morning.


Hope all of you are well. I'll check in later.

Carol, glad to hear you got home safely, and yes, it does feel good to get home after a trip.
I do all kinds of crafts. Just dabble really. We did have a ceramics business for a while in California though. We did everything. The pouring, cleaning, painting, all of it. Then when we moved we sold it all and I started selling clay beads on ebay. I think I've tried almost everything once. Now I'm doing the wood banks. I think I like painting wood the best.

Catherine, I look forward to seeing that article. It sounds interesting. I know, when he brought home those chips I could of strangled him. I tell him to get stuff that I don't like so I'm not tempted....but apparently it didn't work this time.
Glad you made it to Banff. The picture is beautiful...what a view!!

Ratkity, Marilyn did fine on getting spayed. I've never had a dog that actually cried though after an operation. She is so spoiled, she just laid in my lap on the way home and wimpered. She's back to normal now though.
Good for you on counting all your foods. I hope you saw a weight loss on Saturday.
How did the cranberries turn out?

TooFat, my Mom had her knees replaced and is doing so much better. I know it is a long recovery period, but so worth it!

Annie, glad to hear the furbabies fared well at the vet. Daisy is doing soooooooo much better with these meds. She actually ran today!!!
Did you get your cpap cleaned up?
Muffin is so darn cute!!!!
I can't wait for you to tell us on Monday you got the job!! I'm keeping my finners crossed.
How did your company night go? All the goodies sounded so good!!

Valerie, how cute...dating your horse! That's a good way to put it since you both have to get to know each other and bond.I'm sure you guys will be riding as one very soon. Give Gabe a big hug for me!

Story, hope you back is on the mend. Nothing worse than having your back on the fritz. How's the meds going after he upped it?

Lindsay, I'm so glad you found a guy who is supporting you so well! That's hard to find. You two look so cute together!
Poor Jed!! Who would of thought his poor bod would of gone thru a health shock? Hope he's feeling better.

Angie, congrats on the -4 lbs!!!!

Nancy, sounds like you had a lot of fun out there spending money!!! A new bed and Wii....that's one extreme to the other.
I can't wait to get ours at Christmas...and the DDR!!

Hi Midnight, Heather, Ammi, John, Peggy, Sandy, and whoever else I didn't mention!

I started eating from the TOPs menu plan that they have on the site. It's not alot of meat, only 2 oz. at a meal but lots of veggies and fruit. So I will see how this goes for the next couple of weeks. It's also increasing my caloric intake my 100. Maybe it will make a difference. It seems like alot of food to me. I've been in one of my pissing moods again and poor hubby doesn't know if he's coming or going. He's the sweetest guy I know to put up with me. I hope the "change" hurries up and leaves me alone
Have a good evening all!
Debbie

Hi Peeps

Much more productive day today. Sounds like the same for a number of us here.

Catherine - what a beautiful view - helps make up for the cold - seems everything is a trade off isn't it. Enjoy the trip.

Nancy - wow - what a great weekend you have had - 2 1/2 hours of exercise - a new bed - a Wii - bookcase and fresh paint. You have some kind of energy. Great job Nancy.

Midnight - HI - nice to see you.

Sandy - sounds like you've got all the tools in your toolbox - just need to pull out the right one (the freezer in the morning). Maintaining while you have all that stress is quite an accomplishment. I've been have some trouble with cravings too - I mixed up my menu a bit and so far it's helping with the cravings.

Debbie - you are one busy and talented lady. We are the same height and right about the same starting weight - I see how far you've come and it makes it more real for me. I also have a chip fiend in my DH - fortunately his favorite is the one kind of chip I don't particularly like (believe that). I buy him 2 big bags a week usually - except this week - we'll see if he misses them.

Annie - can't wait to hear your news tomorrow - sending thoughts to you that you get the job you really want - is it one of these?

Heather - hope you got a lot done today and feel better.

Xena - did you get anything done today?

Hugs to all,
Carol

Hi everyone,

My friend took a bunch of pics of me in her studio. I told her to take some full body shots with no flattering angles, no photoshop or glamorizing the pics. I want an accurate representation of what I really look like. I'll post some body shots of 50# lost as soon as I can find a "before" pic. I'm still a little shocked at the size of my body even with the 50 lbs. gone.

Battle.....YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!!!

Thank you!

Battle - I'm with Debbie - you are beautiful - you may just have given me the courage to post my pic - haven't had the intestinal fortitude for the full body shots.