babybear: yes, it's been raining for two days straight here too. There are some schools south of St Louis that had to either let out early or go on lockdown because of rising water. Some places have gotten 6 inches in 48 hours. We haven't gotten that much here though, thank goodness but still a decent amount.

catherine: oooh, he's getting interviewed? That's exciting! What were they interviewing him for?

ggirls: Any loss is a loss, right? Way to go! :carrot:

rosebud: Welcome to the group! I know when I was starting, the whole picture was way overwhelming. I broke it down into baby steps. One week, my goal was to drink a set amount of water and then the next week, I'd keep the water habit and add something new, like maybe exercising a few days a week. If you keep building on it like that, it's much easier (or at least it was for me anyways)

Real: I know, that Today show thing had me aggravated all day. The segment host had said "200 pounds in a year is almost unheard of" but she never mentioned that 1200 cals for a 437 pound woman was "not advisable" :?:

As for me, I'm hanging in there. I weigh each morning because I love seeing the numbers and the +1 fluctuations don't get to me anymore like they used to. I had been +1 yesterday but today I am back to -12 pounds lost. Yayayay! Last week I was looking at clothes at Walmart and wondering how much weight I need to lose before I can buy smaller sizes. If I remember correctly, it takes alot to go down the first size and then it's faster after that. right?

Debbie-Trafficking is getting a lot of attention because of the upcoming Olympics in Vancouver. Our biggest problem here is the foreign workers being brought in because of the labor shortage. There are Eastern European men being used in construction and oil field that are practically being used like slaves. Same with Filipino women being brought in as domestics. Prostitution follows the oil workers and construction workers too.

HeatherDW-I think it was on mental illness stigma. I didn’t get to watch it. It was on a channel we don’t get because we don’t have cable. He gets in the news so regularly that I don’t get too excited about it anymore. It was kind of like the Canadian Today Show. Then we gave speeches to two sets of social workers, and finished with lunch with a politician. I’m bushed.

Sandy-I’m happy for your daughter. Getting the right coach can make all the difference.

Betty-I couldn’t believe some of the stuff I heard at this meeting. The more I heard the more I got sick and angry. 800,000 people are brought across borders worldwide each year. 50% are children, 80% are women or children. These guys made 3 times as much money last year world wide as Walmart did.

Anne-How did the birdnest come out?

Carol-My father’s family is from County Longford, Ireland, and I didn’t get any corned beef, or cabbage, or stew, or even any green beer. I usually make Colcannon, but I didn’t have the time.

I am wasted. He woke me up too early. I have enough trouble sleeping as it is. I feel like I’m sleepwalking.

Good afternoon all (well, maybe evening once I get it posted),

Not much going on here today. I might be a little scarce over the next three weeks. I have to write a math evaluation test for starting college in the fall. It doesn't affect my admission, but I figure if I do poorly then it's summer school for me. So I found a site that will let me step through some of what I'm probably supposed to know. I decided I'd try a little studying to see if I can avoid the prep course.

Carol - we got some corned beef (although just threw the two of them in the freezer). We've always just made it with a cabbage side dish. I don't think I've ever made it so I'm going to watch my mother put it together so I can get a calorie count. It's just cabbage with a tomato/onion/celery sauce, with croutons. Of course I remember putting lots of butter on it, so that's probably the part I'll skip this time. And hey, .75 is still a loss!

Rosebud - welcome! Worry about the skin later. Being healthy and living longer is definitely a better choice.

Debbie - the doves are really lazy. They won't take the nesting material, they'll likely just nest there. I put a couple of pictures into my blog post yesterday (it's easier than trying to link to Flickr). If you look at the picture on the left you can see the two chicks just sitting on a pile of plant material. The picture on the right is from another year where she's decided that the flower pot was just a ready made nest. We had four baskets hanging up and she picked the one right beside the front door. Everyone would walk past her. It didn't seem to phase here in the least. Every day I would take a watering can and talk away quietly to her while I watered the plant.

http://3fatchicks.com/diet-blogs/realcdn/2008/03/17/

Heather_dw - telling people it's inadvisable doesn't make for good television. I know around here there is a doctor with a set of clinics offering medically supervised weight loss programs. The claim is 16 to 20 pounds a month. There's a great article about it, which covers the overall program. In 1988 someone died shortly after starting the program, so even doctor supervised programs aren't without risks. Sadly I see he has more clinics since the article was written, including a few in the US. I did a search on them using 'gain' and boy are there a lot of unhappy people. I think that's the problem with some diets, they don't teach you how to live once you're done with the weight loss.

http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/f...ernstein_diet/

Well, I should probably go check that the oven went on and that dinner is cooking away. Hope everyone is having a great day.

Catherine - just saw your post as I was getting ready to save this. We'll see how it goes. Usually they will use the pile as a nest, but you never know. I think it will likely be May before they actually have their first set of chicks.

I think I am back amoung the living now. I feel alot better finally. I am not going to start back exercise till tommorow. I had stomach cramps all day long again. I called my mom and was talking with her about it and she told me to drink a coke.....so i listened to my mom and drank a reg coke. I dont know how I was so addicted to them. It really didnt taste all that great.....and it really burned as I drank it. I started burping and my stomach hasnt cramped since......yah!!! I am glad mom thought of it...but it sure sucks writing down 140 calories for a coke. I still have a few days left of antibotics so I will keep them handy incase I have more stomach issues.I do not understand how I use to drink 4+ a day.

WE are getting floods here. I got really upset today. I looked into our small back yard and saw all this mud and a man out there digging a trench across my backyard. I sent huby out to see what he was doing and why. Well my neighbor behind me basement is flooding and she had this guy dig along the property line to put an drainage tube in. It messed up my yard bad. The trench is on the line..so i cant complain but it sure has messed up my yard. PLus he only got halfway thru my yard and hit something solid and had to stop. SO I guess the water will just run to that point and then drain into the ground.....yeah right. Hubby said he would deal with it first time we have a lake in our back yard. He felt sorry for the little guy digging in the pouring rain to satify an old lady. All the neighbors have tried to explain that with old houses the basements dont always stay dry.

I just got finished filling up easter eggs to hide for my little ones i keep on friday. I was hoping to have it in the backyard....not now!! Cant you just picture a 24 month old and 23 month old and a 21 month old in all that mud!!!!!

I am thinking of making an EAster basket for my grandbaby-to-be. I have a monkey to go in the middle and thought about putting socks and bibs in it...and maybe a rattle or too. The baby isnt due till oct. I have always done all my kids a basket and told my son he wont get one this year because he is married but it thought it might be a nice suprise to have baby one.

Well have a great night everyone
debi

Hi everyone,

I had a long post with personals to all of you typed this morning, and my computer crashed just as I was finishing it up! Ugh....

I've had a few good OP days, and feel calmer about my eating. Hopefully I'm back in the groove. I keep thinking about the Spring clothes I bought as an incentive which do.not.fit. I thought by now they would easily fit. Got to get cracking!

Angie: I am thrilled to read a positive report from you. Woo Hoo on the 5 lbs. lost!

Carol: I am waiting to bring out the party hats and horns for when you are under 300, so hurry up and get there!

Heatherdw: You know, sometimes it's hard for me to watch others race on by with their weight loss, but 1200 calories for a woman of that size, not medically supervised, is not healthy at all. I wonder how much difficulty she will have keeping the weight off. My goal has always been to keep my calories as high as possible because I am concerned about keeping my metabolism up. It would have been better if the Today Show only featured those who took off the weight in a healthy way and a way that others might be able to follow/learn from. But I guess 200 lbs. in a year makes good tv.

Catherine: You and Himself lead such an interesting life. You give so much to the community.

Sandy: I'm happy that this softball season is looking bright. It's great to think about Spring activities, isnt' it!

Rosebud: Welcome!

Betty: Welcome!

Have a good night, everyone.

Debi - I used to drink gingerale to settle a bad stomach. It didn't seem to make a difference whether it was regular or sugar free. A friend got me on to ginger capsules a while back. They're really just powdered ginger root in a capsule, but easier to swallow than without it! My mother chews candied ginger to settle her stomach, but it's quite hot (if it's not, then it's got too much sugar).

debi - I live in Western KY too! Owensboro specifically and am from Paducah. where are you? Right now i'm just watching what i eat and going to the gym. i'm thinking about joining TOPS. i think i'll try it out this week and see. Thanks! plus you gotta keep up the Easter baskets! my husband and I still get them :) We are getting a lot of rain too, Evansville has gotten over 4 inches and a lot of schools are on a delay for tomorrow b/c of it. that's so crazy!

Debbie - thank you for the encouragement. i needed that.

heather - thanks for the encouragement. i think i'll try to make some mini goals. although i thought 100 lbs in a year was a mini goal! lol

Real - you are right. i was having a pity party. i'm good today. although i need to get on track with my food.


Today was better but not my best. I made it to the gym and had a salad from subway for dinner. I'm really hoping to make it to that TOPS meeting Thursday. Ya'll have a good Wednesday!

:cb: Lauren :cb:

Battle-I’m actually a very boring housewife. Since I don’t have a real job, I putter to keep myself occupied. I have a really short attention span.

Hello my Peeps!

Babybear, I get almond milk at my grocery store. Yogart and cottage cheese and most all cheeses (except soft white) have the lactose already converted in them, so those are safe to eat. Ice cream will get ya, however!

Debimitch, I'm so glad you are feeling better. That flu has sent so many ppl to the hospital. There is an old remedy called Coke Syrup that settles your tummy too (so you don't have to buy cokes). Gingerale does the same thing (as was also pointed out).

Battle, I'm glad you are calmer these days about eating! Hang in there girl!! We both respond poorly to stress in our lives.

Hugs and Luv to EVERYONE.. even if I didn't mention you specificially. You all are special (and not just short bus special :D )

Luv,
Ratkity

Well just popped in to say hi before work! I worked out on sunday.....didn't do a thing yesterday but drive my daughter around to not 1 not 2 but 3 seperate events during her school day!!! I took 1/2 day to cart her around! But her two of the chorus groups from her school (she is in both) qualified for STATE!!! so I guess it is worth it! She also did well at the Foreign language Festival, we wont know that result till later this week. She practically needed to be in two places at once so mom to the rescue...the bus took her to the community college.....but wouldn't be returning to the school till after the bus would leave with the chorus group to go to the festival on the army base LOL so I picked her and a friend up & delivered them to the chorus one......then she had yet another activity at the school so drove her there after she finished singing! LOL I told her I was done for the day.....she found a ride home after that activity! LOL

****wonder how many calories I burned sleeping during the other schools performances?*** LOL

both Dh & I are kinda discouraged with our blasted scale! I will have to look into batteries.....this am it said I gained 3lbs.......and dh gained too....we havn't been off target on our calories so only explanation is the batteries.....oh well....we will pull through!

talk to you all later
Bernice

Well I woke up to screams from my daughter that our basement was flooded at 4 am. She had a field trip and went down to get her suit. We had a 3-4 inches of standing water at that time. IT covered my whole basement. We have lived here 18 yrs and have only had standing water 3 times. We have had a wet basement a few times but not standing water like this. Im worried about my new heater. I went and flipped the breaker to the basement.

battle_ glad things have calmed down for you and that your back on track.

dmpls- Kids are so busy these days..good way to keep them on the straight path. My daughter is headed to WKU today for FBLA convention. Are you getting all this rain?? We are on a delay this morning with school.

rosebud_ so nice to have you. We are neighbors. I live an hour from you.

realcnd-I love ginerale. I just happened to have cokes in the fridg already. My stomach is so much better today.

catherine _ i enjoy your stories so much.

ratkitten_ I am thinking my stomach issues maybe part of the flu bug and not just from all the meds. I kinda spent part of yesterday evening in the bathroom and now feel alot better>

Heather_ I am not sure how many pounds in a size but I was wearing a 26 pants and some were tight and this morning i tried on some 20s i had bought and they fit but dont look nice yet. I think I am going to sprluge this week and buy an outfit from walmart. I love the knit outfits in the bright colors. One new outfit to mix in wont hurt!! :O)

Have a great day everyone
debi

well....when nigel said for me to buy a formal black dress...i have NO idea...what he had in mind...and then the limo arrived!
what an amazing night we had on the town! i felt like royalty!

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...thebattery.jpg

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/k...tthegazebo.jpg

debimitch....uggg so sorry to hear about your flooding problems, that must be awful to have to clean up....at least you'll be "exercising" to gt it done!

bernice...you must be busting at the seam with pride over your daughter! no doubt she is a lot like her mother!...oh and go buy those batteries!! :) hugsss xoxox

catherine...somehow, even though you've said it a few times, I am not buying your story that you are a boring housewife!!! hahahaha

welcome rose :)

angie woohoooooo on another fabulous lost of 5 more pounds! thats INCREDIBLE kudossss to you!

carol.....yes another call...more info sent...omg...this is one of the most amazing thigns to ever have happen! thank you for your encouragement! i'm so over the moon excited! how are you doing....i'm sooooooooooo proud of you for just hanging in there during this mini plateau...and when it breaks, omg, you are going to get rid of that three FOREVER! YOU GO GF!! I'm cheering for you!!! xoxoxoxoxoxox

rainbowsmiles

I got the ISBN # assigned for my book today. That kind of makes it seem more real. I have to finish the last of the editing by the end of April so that it can go to be formatted. I still haven't decided on what I want the cover to look like. It sort of starting to get scary.

Catherine..........how VERY exciting! I am looking forward to seeing all your clever wit on page! Cheerioooooooooooo and DOUBLE KUDOS TO YOU!
xoxo
rainbowsmiles

Catherine_ I am so happy for you. I know you must be so excited.

rainbowsmiles_ you looked awesome in the pictures...That must have been an amazing night!!!

Well my basement has drained now comes the fun of sweeping out the water before I can use the shop vac....fun fun.