300+ Weekly Thread #1139
 

We are a group of individuals who weigh or have weighed 300+, or near there. This group was formed to provide a place for others like us to find support and hope. We are aware of the distinct problems that come with weighing over 300 lbs.

We want to invite everyone (roosters as well as chicks!) to join us in our journey. We share laughter and tears, heartaches and fears ... joys and celebrations. We also share what works for us and what doesn't.

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:newyear:

Good Morning all,

Just about to head out for work but wanted to stop in and say Happy New Year to all of you!

Xena: Welcome back. I hope you enjoyed your time in Iowa.

Catherine: We didn't end up going to Olive Garden. I really like Alien v. Predator but Part II was um... not so great. lol. It only cost us $4.00 each to see as the matinee on Sunday's is only $4.00 each. So, it was worth that pice at least. I love Predator. He is such a bad @##. lol. Thanks for the info on the salad at Olive Garden. I wouldn't have known as I've never eaten there before. Hugs to you and I hope you get to go swim soon so you can chase away the depression.

Debbie: Glad you had a good time out yesterday.

Carol: I will pray that your hubby's surgery goes well.

Val: Hi doll! Have a super great op day.

Jeanne: Thanks for sharing the ww article.

Helen: Hi, and good morning to you.

Everyone else: Good morning and hope you are all staying op and drinking lots of water.
Well, off to work now.
Blessings,
Annie

Catherine Congrats on getting out and walking so far. It must make you feel good to get out of the house.

Carol I'm feeling much better actually. Still have a few coughing fits, but it's a lot better. Hope you're feeling better. We've only gotten rain. :( I heard we may get snow on New Year's Day, but who knows.

Battle Don't ya just hate how pms and the draggy tired feeling when it's tom.
It's just horrible. It's like I become someone else almost. One of my friends says she hardly eats anything too and she's heavier than me, poor thing. I don't know how much she eats, but she eats crap! Lots and lots of fatty foods, sugary and bad bad carbs.
Maybe that's why she says she doesn't eat a lot. She just might be eating high empty calorie foods.

Sorry I can't do more personals, but I'm making a Turkey dinner tonight & I have to get started.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I'm gonna go back to South Beach. I found my South Beach Cook Book, but I can't find the book itself. We need shelves so I don't lose my books. I remember I lost well the last time I went on it and Andy has lost 90 this year by doing it. I did great on Atkins, 35 pounds in 6 weeks. BUT, I got so sick. I got diverticulitis while on it. It was horrible.
Big Hugs to all, we're going to have a great & successful 2008!!

good morning everyone and have a happy new year. i will be bacj here tomorrow Totally committed to losing weight and exercising.. no bad knee excuses now since i got a Gazelle!

Jar,

DDR = Dance Dance Revolution. A game that can be played on all the major gaming systems, including the PC (called Stepmania). My DDR is on the xbox360, but there is a game for the Wii, xbox, nintendo, gamecube and PS2 and 3. There are more disks for the PS2 and more songs on the PC. The basic concept is...as you listen to a song, you are shown arrows on the video screen and you step on the corresponding arrows on a floor mat. There are 4 levels and the last 2 are impossible!! hehe. Deb is now addicted (as her DH is). Nancy has the Wii version. I've got the xbox360 version and the PC version and my sisters have the PS2 versions. It's a blast to play!! Great exercise. Most versions can track how many calories you expend as you play.

Hugs and Luv,
Rat

Hi everyone. Just a quick one as I am off work today and have lots of errands to run.

I enjoyed my time in Iowa. It was so cold! I keep forgetting how cold it gets up there. So it was very nice to get back to TX and our 60 degree weather. Two things to report from Iowa. One, lots of politicking going on there with the caucuses just a couple days away. Both Barack and Hillary made stops in my hometown. I got to see Barack but never made it to Hillary. My brother shook his hand which was very exciting for him to think he may have shaken hands with our next president. The other thing is less exciting....I slipped on the ice and really hurt my wrist. It was badly swollen for a couple of days but I could move it so I decided not to go get an xray. Since the swelling is down but has started bruising. It feels better than it did but I still have a hard time lifting anything of any weight with it and this morning on the spin bike it hurt just to have my weight leaning on the handle bars. I guess I will give it another day or two and I may have to cave in and go to the doc.

:newyear: everyone! If you have party plans for the evening, be safe! I look forward to all our successes in 2008!!!!!!

Good Morning All!! :coffee:

I am excited that tommorrow is the start of a new year! :D I have a feeling that it is gonna be a good, successful one. I have been so off on my program and feel really bad physically...like a real slug. So the positive, wanna-be, :cheer2: in me is finding all my WW paperwork and getting it together for 2008! I have to. There are no more excuses left!! :rofl: Even though I flew after tripping (on the floor protector thingy that you put under your office chair) this morning and landed on my knee...the one leg that has the bad foot of course! It was sight, but my loyal kitties (Oreo and Jack, the other 2 were upstairs) rushed to see if I was ok. They were very cute. Of course the rest of the family slept right through it...even the lazy-@$$ dog!!! I always end everything with a bang. :lol3:

Oh and I just want to let everyone know that the last accident that Scott had turned out not to be his fault. I feel I need to clarify that...I guess the overprotective mommy in me needs to let you know he is not such an airhead after all!! :rofl: He has also taken a second job to help pay for the deductable, which makes me feel that he is becomming somewhat more responsible. I hope!!

:welcome3: to all our newbies...I hope we can help you here in any way you need!!

Debbie: Sorry to hear about your FIL's passing. Big :hug: to you!

Catherine: The weather here for Christmas was around 44 degrees. I only like snow on Christmas and missed it, but not the cold! I think you probably overdid it on your outing, but I bet it felt great to get out!! Take care of that foot and you will be getting back out soon!


We also got DDR(Dance Dance Revolution for the Wii) for Christmas and it's a hoot!! My daughter is awesome at it, and I stand behind her just to get the exercise, not the points. This way I don't have to worry about if I step on the correct arrow, just want to get the booty movin!!
We also got Guitar Hero, but my children say I really suck at it, so I have to practice when they are not here!! :p

I have to go make some dip and other noshes for for our guests tonight, so I must run!

I want to wish everyone a very :newyear:, and Here's a :cheers: to a
Healthy, Happy, & Successful, 2008!!!

mamab same here for me i am gathering all my ww materials together and am actually looking forward to it and i dont intend to get derailed again by my knee!

HEY HEATHER! WHERE'S OUR JUMPIN' IN JANUARY EXERCISE THREAD?

SANDY – Me too – I’ve bought 2 copies of The Beach and can’t locate either one. I’m tryin’ hard to hit it again myself. Glad you’re feeling better!!

ANNIE – I hope you’re lovin’ that new job! Luv ya!

Hi there, TOFATFORU! I’ve only done a gazelle once. Fun, but definitely a workout! Congrats on that new toy, and let’s DO THIS THING in the 2008! I hope the worst of the grief from that knee is already past, and it’s all improvement from now on!

XENA – Mend quickly from that fall – Ouch! Ahhh- 60 degrees – this is definitely the time of year I most miss Texas!

Ouch, DONNA – Hope you’re OK after your spill, too! Silly dog – I bet he’d have come running if you opened the frig – mine sure do!

Last night when I got home from Western New York, I threw the makin’s in the crock pot for chili to cook over night, including ground turkey instead of fatty beef. This morning I grabbed one of my divided lunch containers, scooped chili in one end, frozen veggies in the other, and sprinkled some shredded cheese on it. [Shredded cheese is one of my best friends. ;) ] Wa-Lah!

Those divided plastic meal containers from the dollar store are one of the best investments I could have made. For those on a tight budget, consider that given the cost of buying ANYthing “fast” or pre-made, the containers paid for themselves the first or second time I used them.

Also a great investment that I considered a “treat” when I bought it, is my super-chopper thingy. Pampered Chef makes a great one, but I found mine somewhere for half the price. Whack things like peppers, celery or onions quickly into chunks, bang the chopper down on them a few times and you won’t believe how fast & easy it is to dice things – fun even – and it cleans up in seconds.

I need to plan more quickly, easily packed meals ahead of time. In the interest of eating healthy without cheating or depriving myself, I’m going to pick up some shrimp & cocktail sauce. That with veggies and an appropriate dip would be a great lunch at work. I have some more chicken to bake, too, and yams that are easy to pre-nuke, slice, pack & go. I also have some small containers, great for SF Jello, with mandarin oranges! Or even SF pudding perhaps. Why pay $1 a cup for the prepared stuff, when that will pay for 3-4 servings if I take 3 minutes to make it myself?

Shopping: I also need to add easily carried fruits to my shopping list. Is turkey still on sale from the holidays? It’s often cheap enough to make it well worth cooking it up for supper, then freezing leftovers for later – BOTH healthier and tastier than any prepared ‘turkey loaf’ you can get in a deli or packaged in the grocery store. WHAT ELSE? My personal plan is staying away from processed carbs, so for me pasta & breads are out, even tho those are great and easy to take along for lunches at work. ANY MORE IDEAS? C’MON, HELP ME OUT!

Carol, good luck to your hubby!!

Val, I don't know if I would even be able to pass up that even if I packed my own food!! I love it when other people cook and I just sit back and eat. That doesn't happen too often so you would think I would be OP all the time. 2008 we can do it!!!
It sounds like you have a great plan for 2008. I hope you and all of us will be really successful this new year.

Jeanne, Ratkity explains it perfectly, and it is sooooooooo addicting. I even got it out again last night and finally got my A on the first song. The Wii version has a workout mode too..

Sandy, I hope South Beach works for you again. I don't know much about that one, but I think I might check it out since so many have used it and had success. I think I need more of a plan like that to get me going. Enjoy your turkey dinner!!

Xena, now why did you go out and hurt yourself? Sheesh. :rofl: seriously though, I hope it mends quickly and yes, definitely go out to the doc and get it checked out.

Donna, you hurt yourself too? O my goodness. I hope it's not something going around. Take care of yourself. Isn't the DDR fun? You should get on it though and try to do all the steps. I tell ya, I just can't get enough of it. I'm actually posting minutes on the exercise thread which is very inconsistent for me usually, but I've been posting for the last 3 days. Finally, something I think I will stick to for exercise.
Glad to hear it wasn't your sons fault this time and how nice of him to get a second job to help out. Yep, sounds like he's growing up to be a responsible adult. Good for you!

I'm off to the post office and then the store. I plan on making chili tonight....now that someone mentioned it....VAL! It just sounds so good for this time of year...and at least we will go out tootin' for the new year!!! :rofl: Ew....was that gross or what?

Debbie

Val -- I got the January exercise thread going! Thanks for the wakeup!!!

EVERYONE -- we'd LOVE to have you join our exercise thread. We just post the number of minutes we exercise! DDR counts! And we keep track of what we do as a group!!! In 2007 we've exercised over 200,000 minutes and I personally would love to see that INCREASE!! So, check it out!!

We're gonna get SNOW tonight!!!!!
That means I can take Abby sledding!!!!
:cp::dancer::encore::cheer2: :exercise::snowball::snow4::snowfight:snow4:

Val LOL I'm trying to get Andy to run out and get another copy, but I have the feeling I'll be the one to head out in a little while. I've looked everywhere I can think of for that book. I imagine I'll find it as soon as I get the new one.
Happy New Year Everyone!! :cheers: :newyear::newyear:

GO DEBBIE! Toot away! It's high fiber, too!

SANDY, I have my Dr Phil's weight loss book close at hand, and that will get me thru until I get my SB back, or get other reading material to help me focus.

HEATHER - Uh-oh. now that I've opened my, um, 'mouth', about the Jan Exer-thread, I better get with it, huh? I see you still need a few contributions to make 205,000 minutes for the current month. Maybe I can still help out there!

oopsy daisy
 

well i have been popping in and out with out posting. School got really busy so i didn't really have the time. Thank goodness that is over for now but come the 22nd i will be back to it again. I have gained some weight because i wasn't really paying any attention to the issue. My mom and i are looking at diets to see which one we will most likely do and it is looking like weight watcher core plan is it. Now we just have to get all the not core stuff out of the house and get started. This year will I will honestly try my best to loose the weight.

I tried ddr but i am having trouble with the dance pad when i am standing in the middle the game thinks i am standing on the left arrow. Does anybody else have that problem. Other than that i think i have to get used to it some more it was hard when i first tried it.
well let's bring the new year in with success.:carrot:
have fun everyone and be safe.
~carrie~

I chased the blues away today in a traditional female way, I went to the mall. We got a ride, and I was able to walk around to a few stores without overdoing it. I also got to see the sun for the first time in 6 weeks. It may be low in the sky, and only up for about 6 hours a day right now, but the sky was blue, and I could feel the sun on my face. I feel so much better.

Annie-I have visited the area in Mexico where they filmed the first Predator movie many times as a kid. Now they have a jungle restaurant there with a burned out hulk of a helicopter left over from the movie. I liked watching the movie, and yelling, “that’s the spot where we used to go skinny dipping, or that’s where the donkey through me off into the water.”

Xena-I’m still recovering from an ice fall myself. There is something so scary about feeling a loss of control when your feet go out from underneath you.

Donna-We had plenty of Christmas snow. You could have borrowed some.

Val-I like to make pita bread pizzas for lunch, and if you fold them in half, they can make a great take along sandwich. I use veggie pepperoni, and low fat parm for the cheese. I also like making veggie burgers on pita bread.

Well, I need to go take some stuff out of the stove. We were supposed to have around 5 close friends over here tonight, and I basically found out an hour ago that he had invited over 20. I know some won’t show, but himself is in the dog house, a) for not telling me in time to properly clean house, and b) for not telling me in time to do my hair. He is going to be in the corner for days.

It's New Year's Eve, and the house is quieting down somewhat. I'm taking a minute to update my food journal and say :newyear:

Helen, Ratkitten, and Catherine M - I so agree with you on the importance of food journals. Using a food journal was my key to success the only other time I successfully lost a lot of weight. I think it was most important on days like today - Sometimes when I knew I had gone over my calorie count for the day, my feelings of guilt would exaggerate how "bad" I'd really been. That could then become my excuse to either blow it more that night or to just feel rotten. Tonight I entered everything into the food journal - guess what - I didn't horribly exceed my daily caloric limit. :dance: The reality was not as bad as I had imagined and exaggerated.

And to Debbie, and all the other DDR junkies :) - I never thought of DDR for exercise! I love dance aerobics but don't feel quite ready to go to the gym for group classes right now. I've walked every day the last few days - but we get snow tomorrow. DDR would be great for cold, snowy, or icy days!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!
 

:celebrate: HAPPY NEW YEAR, ONE & ALL! :celebrate:

MIDNIGHT CARRIE, It’s Great that you and you’re mom are both doing this together. I’m sure you will both usher in 2009 slimmer and stronger! You have a great opportunity to focus on this, too, before the next semester starts. I’m so jealous of all you guys with DDR – it looks like a blast!

CATHERINE, Wonderful that you got some real sunlight! I go to work in the dark, get out after dark, and have no windows in my office. We got out early on Monday and I was thinking how wonderful it was to see daylight. I know how much I miss it, but at least I have weekends. I can’t imagine going as long as you have without it. Thanks for the suggestions! I had no idea there was such a thing as veggie pepperoni, but I’m going to look for it!

STORY, I hope you have better luck with the doc’s office being more professional. I also really hope they have news that helps you, one way or the other.

Well, I know I’m only 5 hours in to the New Year, but since I was awake with a bit of insomnia, I made good use of it to get off to a good start. I’m active at the barn, doing stalls, carrying water buckets, riding – but my actual EXERCISE program has been non-existent for months. I finally did something constructive with my weights, rather than just stubbing my toe on them, and did a bit of other stuff. It wasn’t a great deal, but it was a defined, intentional start. Now, if I could just get back to journaling…

Happy New Year everyone!!!! I hope you all got to spend it just how you wanted. Neil and I had a very quiet New Year's Eve and a relaxing first day of 2008. We went for a lovely long walk to the beach this morning. I wanted to walk for 80 minutes and it took us around 35 minutes to get there, so we walked along the dunes for a little bit as well. What a lovely start to the new year. I also managed to do 20 mins on the Cross Trainer this afternoon while I watched the news, so I'm even MORE happy.

We had a pretty good week over Christmas and Mum is now moved to her new home. Christmas day was pretty warm, at 40.7C/104F and then it got to 44.2C/110F on Boxing Day. It was the hottest December day on record and it FELT like it!!!! Luckily Mum's house was air conditioned, because that is where we spent most of the day.

Neil and I have been working at the Hopman Cup (major local tennis competition) selling commemorative pins, which also double as a raffle ticket for prizes like diamond necklaces and 'stuff'. The chorus I am in takes this role to help raise funds for disadvantaged kids as well as making a little money for the chorus itself. We get to watch the tennis in between the breaks, and I have been enjoying that so far. I am not a tennis fan usually, but watching it live is actually pretty good. I got to see Serena Williams play on Monday and THAT was a good match! I work again on Thursday and watch the USA vs Australia. I am REALLY looking forward to seeing that game. We are expecting 40C/104F on Thursday, so I'm glad we are mostly under cover and inside an airconditioned building for the day. It certainly must be better for the players to be inside and cooler when they play.

Other than these things, we don't have a lot planned for the holidays. We may go to my old home town to see Mum's new house. We didn't go there with her when she moved because we had spent the week helping her pack and clean the old house and we had to work at the tennis. I wouldn't mind seeing where she is now. She is living across the road from my brother and his family, so I think she will be very happy. My poor brother now has his mother across the road, his mother-in-law in the house behind him and his sister-in-law two houses down. Luckily he has more patience than I do.

We're trying to take it easy money-wise so that we can save to go to Hawaii with the chorus in November. We SHOULD be OK, but you never know what unforseen expenses come up.

I would love to write some individual responses, but I am about ready for bed and I should really work on learning the two new songs we'll be working on with chorus in a couple of weeks. I have kinda had a rest from singing since we did the Christmas carols in the city over a week ago. It isn't as though I can miss practicing either, as I'm not that good yet.

I truly hope you all have a wonderful New Year's Day and that this leads you into the most incredible year yet.

Take care,

Zelma

Happy New year Year! I am proud to say i am officially back on track with a diet! i am starting to exercise but will not post on board til i can do more minutes! shpuldnt take too long though i hope!

Patty -- Post those minutes whenever you get em -- even if it's just a few. They really do add up!! And we really do need them! :)

Hiya ladies - well its 2008, last year I did decrease my weight but not by anything amazing and its been this high for about 3 years now, so I aim to get at least 50 pounds off this year....please god and endurance and I can look back in a years time and be 50 pounds lighter and be enjoying my life that little bit more!!

To be honest my life is just so great now and it is totally what I want it to be except that I need to lose weight before my health suffers and also I could do with working on my marriage with renewed energy to keep it working. I have joined the exercise thread again as my job is so busy and active I have let the exercise fall by the way side but I bet it will help to give me more energy and also keep me focused on the job in hand.

I love love love nursing and I want my job to get easier physically so I can continue enjoying my career for years and years to come.

I also want to be physically free to do *whatever* and only my weight and courage prevents me = so need less weight and to work on the courage!!

Heres hoping and wishing we can all work together in this community this year and see some great things happen in our lives.

Love and hope for the new year xx

Happy New Years everyone!!!!! Like many of you I am feeling excited and positive about 2008. I am so looking forward to all the successes our group is going to have this year. :carrot:

Catherine - I am glad you are feeling better. Sunshine does wonders. In fact, I am headed out to walk my dog after this and am much looking forward to the brisk air and the bright sunny sky (my favorite kind of weather, by the way). As for falling, you are right about the scariness of falling. I distinctly remember the thought going through my head that I was going to hit my head on the pavement and die. Thankfully that didn't happen! Good luck with your dinner party tonight. :)

Story - Maybe you should talk to your doctor about his office staff. He doesn't want to lose patients because his staff is messing up. I did that with my gyno once and he took my complaints very seriously. Good luck with it. If things don't change, then definitely change doctors.

FitGirl - Hi, I don't think I've "met" you before. :wave:

Zelma - Wow, you got to see Serena play? I am not a big tennis fan either but I would love to see her. I have always admired her athleticism and her strong body. Sounds like you are really enjoying the chorus you are in. Makes me wish I was actually talented so I could join one too. :) 104 on Christmas!!!! I cannot imagine it! It's hard enough to feel Christmassy in Texas when it might be as high as 60-70.

Patti - I am glad you are back on track. Wishing you much success in 2008. :hug:

Well, it's the New Year and what would the New Year be without some goals? (Not going to call them resolutions this year because my resolutions always seem to get broken). Here are my 2008 goals:

• Become a 100 pound loser (only 67 more to go) by continuing my consistent exercise and following a sensible eating plan as guided by WW
• Finish 18 more hours towards my MBA (2 courses per semester for spring, summer, and fall)
• Make my house the home I would like it to be. This will include both achieving better organization as well as doing a little bit of remodeling. I am getting a nice bonus in January and plan to spend it on new light fixtures and some new flooring in my house.

HOLY SMOKE, ZELMA! 110? Enjoy the Tennis.

EMILYMAY, It's GREAT to see you again.

Go PATTY! Being back on track is such a wonderful thing - FEELing as well as knowing that you really do have control. POST those minutes! That feels good, as well! I'm not starting out as hot & heavy as I did before when I was really 'with it.' Just having SOMEthing to add is the way to start.

I'm not 110% on today, but when your "cheat" is double fiber whole grain bread, you can't feel TOO guilty. Those leftover chocolate kisses simply MUST go in the trash before I do end up wearing them on my caboose.

My fruit & jello is made up in the containers that make them easy to grab & go to work. I cleaned out some kitchen cupboards today that had stuff like Tuna Helper. It was too old anyway, but I just don't wanna eat that stuff. I'm working on getting more prepared for success every day. Plan, plan, plan.

I'm going to go do some clothes shopping on my gift certificates today. I hate to buy clothes that don't already fit, but we'll see what I can come home with. I already have a bunch of clothes that used to fit, even at my current weight, but since I haven't been exercising, my shape has changed back, unpleasantly.

It's very hard for me not to set deadlines as well as goals, but I'm going to try really hard this year to avoid doing just that. Yes I have goals, but they aren't written in stone. Deadlines, specific time goals just seem to make me self-destruct. For 2008, I just want to get back to exercising, planning my meals for better health, and getting stronger to ride my goofy horse better. I just want to be better off this time next year. It's going to take some doing just to get me back to where I WAS, this time last year - that's how much good all of 2007's deadlines did me. Smack me if I start obsessing on time frames and deadlines again.

Good health to you all this year!

Happy New Year to All!

So here we are - a new beginning. I’m sure there is much introspection going on with everyone. My plan is very simple - to take care of my physical and emotional health. The solution is also very simple - eat right, exercise more, get enough rest - those 3 things will keep me healthy both emotionally and physically. I don’t know why I have made it so hard in the past but today is a new day and today feels good.

Catherine - I’m glad I didn’t know about your “editorials” before our trip. We went on a lovely outing to Las Caletas , the only electricity on the beach was to keep the food warm and then a hike up the mountain for a very native show describing the local rituals via dance and music - no spoken word. I probably would have busted out laughing thinking of your comments. Don’t be too upset with Himself - he knows you can handle anything including spur of the moment guests and you are so beautiful he doesn’t even know you haven’t fixed your hair. Remember - they are coming to see you - not your clean house and your hair.

Annie - you should definitely take an excursion to see where Predator was filmed - if you like I can e-mail you some pics - it is indeed beautiful. Big hugs to you - I smile each time I think of your dedication.

Sandy - have fun playing in the snow. Isn’t it refreshing to know things change with a flip of the calendar. You’ll have to start sharing more of your wonderful recipes as you get back to the beach.

Patty - way to go on the Gazelle - is it not hurting your knee at all?

RK - what a gorgeous Christmas card - I always leave one thing out all year to remind me of the season - this year it is your card.

Xena - sorry to hear about your fall. Don’t mess around too long if it’s still giving you trouble. Glad you had a good and safe trip - do you head straight up I-35 through KC? We are about ½ mile off 35 if you need a break next trip.

Donna - a big HOORAY for the new year! Glad you weren’t hurt in the fall. If I fell the pups would come running thinking I wanted to play.

Val - your enthusiasm bubbles over making it contagious. I was already pumped for the new year and even more so after reading your posts.

Debbie - surgery went well - he’s not so excited this morning about the exercises he needs to be doing though. Did you celebrate last night dancing the night away? So glad to hear you have found a fun exercise. I’m thinking that would be a great Valentine’s Day gift. HINT HINT

Carrie - HI - great to see you back. Hugs to you and your mom too!

Story - you need to get your results timely - what’s the deal? Hope you have a great new year!

Kimmie - welcome and good luck - keep posting.

Zelma - what a wonderful new years celebration for you . Our original trip was to be to Australia instead of the cruise - now I wish we could have done both. Love your 2008 wordwork.

Emily May - you accomplished so much in 2007 both personally and professionally. Here’s to a great 2008.

Hugs to those I missed - Heather welcome back. Everyone have a great OP day. I lost 5 lbs this week - I will say that it all due to drinking water because I wasn’t completely OP. Everyone have a wonderful new year.

Carol

ggggirls no the gazelle is not hurting my knee at all... i just cant stay on for a long period of time which i am sure will soon change. i am hoping to post minutes on it soon too!

Happy New Year everyone! I hope this year brings health, happiness, and smaller bodies to all of us.

This is going to be a year of big changes for me. It's amazing to think that I could pass the 100 lb. threshold some time this year. Today is the first day of a very promising 2008.

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Story: Good job getting rid of the holiday weight. I'm still struggling. Some good days, some bad days.

Zelma: my, those are some hot temperatures. I would die without air conditioning when it is that hot. It rarely gets extremely hot here, and because of that, no one has air conditioning. We really suffer on the extreme days.

I hope you can achieve your goal of going on a nice vacation. It is wonderful to travel.

Toofat: Great job getting back OP. Keep it up for the New Year!

Heather: I hope you are enjoying your vacation and you return renewed (and not with a lot of extra pounds to shed from the experience).

FitGirl: Good work on journaling your food. I keep a running record of my eating just about every day. It helps tremendously to stay on track for the day. Otherwise, I tend to over- or under-estimate.

Catherine: Sorry himself sprung surprise guests on you. I'm not that understanding. I'd ask him what his plan to feed them and provide a clean environment was. But I'm prickly as a pear.

Emilymay: It's great that you love nursing so much. I think the exercise will help.

Valerie: Yay on using your weights, and on being active and productive today. It's a great way to begin the year.

Zena: You are doing amazingly, and I have every confidence that you will achieve your goals in 2008. Post pics of the remodeling you do. I love changing up the space every now and then.

Rat: Yes, my area is very hilly, but there are relatively flat areas as well. I shoud be able to do some flatter rides without too much trouble.

Debbie: You sound like you're having a great time with the DDR. I'm so uncoordinated, I'd be a hot mess with that thing, I think! Maybe sometime in the future I'll try it out for myself.

Midnight: Hi and happy new year.

Sharon: I'm happy that you and hubby are doing better now. I hate shouting, too, and will do almost anything to get away from it.

Ammi: If you're reading, Happy New Year to you.

Carol: Congrats on the big 5 lb. loss!

To everyone else, have a great first day of the year.

Hello everyone!!
Guess what??? I found my South Beach Diet book!!! It was in a cubby above the desk, standing up in the corner just like a good book should. LOL
So, far so good today on SB. Except I'm finding it's really hard to eat breakfast. I did start of with a glass of V8 and half cup of coffee. More coffee to follow in a little while. I'll have some turkey and a salad in a little while. I'm happy I have the SB Cookbook. It's got some cool recipes for salad dressings. I've found some of my favorite recipes in that book. I hadn't realized where I'd gotten them from. One thing is for sure, I have to watch my portions of rice when I add rice back in. When I have rice, it's been too much.
I've updated my tickers. One to show from the very beginning and one starting today. One with the short term goal and THE long term goal.

Heather, is it ok of I just add minutes to the exercise board? I'm afraid of setting that goal and not achieving it yet again.

In fact I was scared this am when setting the goals on my tickers. I'm back to not being able to handle looking at the big picture or the big number in pounds I need to lose. I'm trying to focus on how I FEEL, both physically and emotionally.
Eating the SB way and moving my self will affect both in a positive way. I think my goal for January and February is to eat well and exercise enough to not have a major depression break down again. Last winter was really rough.
Good new is I only gained 2-4 pounds during the holidays. Weird, huh? Gotta get that water in today to help wash out the alcohol from last night and the night before.
Well, Like my dear friend Val, I'm going to start portioning out stuff for lunch and snacks this week. I guess I should do that now. Tomorrow I go back to work. It'll be good to get back to a regular schedule again. I love the holidays, but am always ready to go back to a regular routine.
Take care everyone, have a wonderful OP day.
I'll try to check in later.
Hugs

Hi Battle! I too hope to hit the 100 pound loss this year. I just realized I'm actually about half way there! I think we can both do it this year!

sandy -- yes, yes! No need to set goals to post on the exercise board! I need goals or I won't do it, but others don't like the goals! I really would love to get more people posting regularly!

Happy New Year!

I love the enthusiasm and Zelma's great rhymes :)

Just for you DDR fans and wannabes.. this is a great link with DDR information about what you need: http://infoddr.com/

I'm writing things down in my spanking new journal (new for the new year) and starting off de-cluttering the house. I really really hate housework.. hehe. I've gotten a new 40" HDTV and new TV stand, so cleaning has been a MUST. BTW, DDR looks great on it!!

My golden retriever dust bunnies are passed out on the floor. Things are pretty good.

It's been such a nice relaxing day!! I don't want it to end.. Just like Zelma's wonderful beach walk.

GGG, I'm so glad you liked the Xmas card!! I had the worst time finding ones I liked. I'm honored you will set mine out this year :) :) :)

Ladies, my brain is mush right now as I watch my goldens get up and to the Golden Retriever Smackdown, then lay down in the sunshine and immediately start snoring. What a life!!

I've skimpped on personals, but I have read everyone of your updates. Keep posting!!! Your joys, sorrows and successes are very important, even if I don't address each one.

Hugs and Luv,
Ratkitten

Carrie, sometimes when I think I'm directly on the center part of the pad, my DDR goes crazy too. I just step off of it and use the controller to get what I want. Sounds like you and your mom got it under control on figuring out what diet to try. WW's is a great lifestyle change.

Catherine, how wonderful you got outside for a while and visited the mall. Did you find any good deals? Did you treat yourself to something special? I think Himself should be buying you something special to make up for all the inexpected people he invited. :rofl: Is he ever going to learn?

Sandy, have fun in the snow. I'll be thinking of you out there having all that fun!

Today I started my day with a perfectly portion controlled bowl of oatmeal, a 1/4 cup of 2% milk and a couple of teaspoons of splenda. Feels good to be back on track. Later I gotta see if hubby is willing to get the DDR out again...lol...I'm keeping up with him pretty good! We did 3 hrs last night but I'm only going to take credit for 90 minutes of it.
Hope everyone is having a safe and lovely New Year's Day.

Debbie

Wooohooo! Ratkitten - thank you sooooo much! I just checked out the info on the ddr and called my daughter, who works at the mall, and she is going to run over to gamestop and see if she can get me one for my ps2! I'm sooooo excited! Thanks~! I'll let you know!

I missed a bunch of posts somehow, so here goes some more....

TTFFU, good for you on being OP again and great news that you are starting to exercise. We can do this!!

Emilymay, I'm so happy for you. It's not too often that we get a job in something that we just love. You're very fortunate. It sounds like you are bound and determined to get yourself back on track and lose that 50 lbs. Good for you and we all know you can do it.

Xena, Sounds like you've got some great goals for this year! I plan on setting one of being a 100 pound loser too. I've got a ways to go, but I think it is totally achieveable for both of us. It's so much fun to get the house fixed up too the way you want it. Just makes it so homey. And finishing those courses too, you've set some good goals for yourself.

Carol, yes we danced like crazy! Too fun! Glad to hear hubby's surgery went well. Now just make sure he keeps up on the exercise. Congrats on the -5 lbs. That's just wondeful!

Battle, I'm as uncoordinated as them come, but you get the hang of it pretty fast. I'm lousy at the slower songs, but can do the quicker steps...which I find weird. Check it out when you can though, I think you would really enjoy it.

Sandy, so glad you found your book! Those darn things...who would of thought to look there? :rofl: It sounds like the goals you've set are good ones. It's not so much to lose the weight as it is to feel good about how you're doing it and also to improve your health along the way. That is the goals I set for myself as well, not so much to lose but to be healthier and happier and if I lose along the way, even better.

Happy New Year and Good things to us all in 2008!

For everyone who is recommitting or starting new Health programs, Cheers and You can do it!

To those of you who have taken a recent tumble or a recent past one, (Catherine) I hope you will heal quickly and not be in much pain.

Hugs to you all and Keep on moving your bodies, drinking the water, posting here and eating healthy.

No time for personals now but will catch up with you all again tomorrow hopefully. I have set my exercise goal at 1300 again this month as I missed the it in December by 190 minutes!!! I don't like to be defeated. lol. It is a beautiful sunny day today. The snow is sparkling and making everything brighter. Hopefully I can get outside and play or walk or... whatever.

Blessings all,
Annie

Hi Everyone!

Well I'm back with my tail between my legs. I havent been a good girl :) And I did it knowing what I was doing. I have gained almost 30lbs in the past 2 months. My only saving grace was knowing that as soon as the holidays were over that I could come back here, climb back on the wagon and lose it again.

Needless to say, the holidays were good. I ate what I wanted. I ate without guilt. That was the scary part.

Thankfully Christmas Day I got the flu. :lol: Today hubby came down with it. If it wasnt for that, who knows how much we could have gained.

Anyhow, here I am. Back in action. Ready to face the world and reflect on what I have accomplished. I am still down my 100 and soon to be 110...115...120... well you get the picture.

Part of my recommittment is being back here with all of you. I see so many numbers rising.... Nancy... Annie... wow, everyone is doing well!!

One thing has been in the back of my mind.... I left the program I was doing and went to WW. My old programs nutrionist emailed me the other day to check up on me. Her parting words were....

"Remember to fill the tank with Supreme."

I think that will be my new motto. I am done putting garbage fuel in my gas tank.

Welcome back, Brenda. That's a great tag line!

hey hey! Ran up to the mall (5 min. from our house) and bought the ddr! My sweet, healthy, athletic, bouncy, dancy 16 year old daughter is going to town! I......tried! lol! Seriously, it is fun! Can't wait for my older daughter to get home and try it. Looks like we will be playing with it all evening.
I love that you can pick beginner, put your weight in and then see how many calories you burned. Shameful so.........only 23 cal. burned here and I feel like I worked like a beast!
Well, just wanted to add my 2 cents! Have a great night and talk to you all soon.

Happy new year all!!!

We had a good time last night at some friends, and finally I slept well...even though I didn't drink. OK, I took a sleeping pill, but oh well. In addition, we bought a ... DDR. Holy cow is that FUN!! We played on it for about 3 hours today, but I will call it 90 minutes. I love it. I doesn't even feel like exercise. As a note, I have size 13 women's feet, and DH has size 15 in mens. We could use slightly larger pads...but oh well. He is better than I am...at slow songs. I am better at faster ones. I have the same issue you have Debbie. I think this board may get renamed "Losing it with DDR"...seems like we are all doing it.

I am excited to find my way out of the 300s this year....hopefully I will do more than that. But I miss the 200s. Oh well.

I hope we all do well this year.

Angie