julia_ I had always kept older kids for the most part. I might have a toddler during the day and kids after school. Two years ago I sent all three of the ones i was keeping off to school. It was so sad. Well within a few days i had tons of calls from people with newborns or having newborns. I took the summer off and started with 2 newborns and agreed to the other one as soon as i could handle 3. Well she was 15 months old when i finally took her. I will cry when its time to send these off to school....but im sure they will have siblings to follow.
I will be a grandma in oct and it kills me i live an hour away from my son and wont be able to babysit for them. They live in a larger town and daycare for a new born is 175 a week.I am too cheap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hope everyone is having a good day....im having a hungry day...i think its because breakfast was cottage cheese and fruit and it didnt hit the spot. I think i will make a salad for lunch and add some chicken.

hope everyone is having a good day.
debi

We are having a wage cutting issue around here when it comes to day care. Going rate is $30 per 8-9 hr day. Some girls are pulling off $15-20 just to get a full house. Sorry. But if you want quality care. You pay for it! It does cost to feed care kids healthy, do a craft/reading program etc. But I guess if the kids are inside watching TV only...so much for child development eh?

My new fave for hungery days are froen grapes! IT works!

debimitch: hope your hubby feels better very soon.

CAtherine: As always you make me :)

Sharon: so glad that you got to spend some time with Ammi. Sorry that your weight is up. Perhaps it is water weight. I think if you go to work anywhere they will be lucky and blessed to have you!

Rainbow: lol. I would love to be a motivation to someone but a trainer. I just don't think anyone would want to hire someone who weighs 278 to train them. Unless it is 278 mostly muscle. lol. Thanks though for the thought.

Julee: I hope you feel better soon but could your tummy issues be a baby on the way?

Anne: congrats on the good math test score. I'm sure once you are studying you will do much better.

Well, I have so much to do today. DH and I are having a yard sale this weekend. It is supposed to be sunny and 60-68 degrees. Perfect for getting rid of junk. lol. I have tons of clothes to sell and lots of other stuff. DH already sold a turkey fryer at work for $50 yesterday so if that is any indication of how our sale will go then yipee! I have so much to price and organize. Oh well, It can wait. I am also thinking about going into Spokane today to Lane Bryant. It is the last day I can use my coupons for 50% off and I need some new undies bad! I think I will shower and get going soon. Tonight is my group meeting for weight loss surgery. Hopefully it will be a good one too.

I hope you all have a wonderful op, water drinking, butt moving day.

Blessings,
Annie

Sharon-Thanks for the update on Ammi. Tell her we miss her.

Debbie-I swear I can put on 20 pounds in one week without really trying. It is so frustrating how hard it is coming off in comparison to going on.

DMPLS-I’ve never gone with green hair before, but love the cartoon. The main reason they won’t let me is that the choir “loft” is actually a small stage to the left of the altar right behind the ambo. It’s kind of conspicuous.

Heatherdw-When I hit plateaus, most of the time I have broken them by increasing my calories. That will make your head hurt.

Rainbow-My husband is an everyday kind of guy, so headaches wouldn’t do. It’s no longer balmy here, in fact, it is -3 and snowing. Spring better get here soon, or I’m going to lose it. I have limits. I always loved Charleston this time of year. Is Poogan’s Porch still open? We used to love sitting on the upstairs porch in the afternoon getting drunk and eating fried green tomato BLT’s. We were so messy after working in the swamp, that they’d make us go up the back way.

Julee-The best sexual harassment training I ever had was , Don’t touch theirs or yours, Don’t look at it or talk about it. He sounded like he was talking to a bunch of kindergarteners.

Annie-I think I’m fine too, but I really don’t sleep enough. I startle easily, I have trouble in crowds, can’t use the phone, and have invasive flashbacks. I’ve lived with it so long that it seems normal to me now. They just never had any decent treatments for PTSD before. I can barely remember that confident extrovert I used to be. The one who took risks and thrived in court. If we could merge the young and fearless person I was, with the wiser person I’ve become, that would be scary. Don’t go to Lane Bryant for undies, it’s time for some Victoria’s Secret!!

Julia-I have unlimited long distance to the US and Canada, and 1000 minutes a month international. I could get into really big trouble. I wonder if I could get away with crank calling the Vatican or Windsor Palace. Those would be historic cranks.

I am determined to work on my term paper today. At least until the Yankee game this afternoon. I have my limits, and don’t want to overdo it.

catherine....yes poogan's porch is still open and still serve delicious fried green tomatoes! ocassionally nigel and i splurge and spend the night downtown...even though we only live 5 and a half miles from downtown! we usually stay at the elliott house inn which is 2 doors down from poogan's porch....we like to sit and dine upstairs as well, and they still have the little upstairs outdoor terrance....nothing much about poogan's has changed in years. sometimes we walk to justines kitchen....for those fried green tomatoes as well....but our fav place to dine for dinner is snobs. (slightly north of broad) i love charleston, and still pinch myself for being able to live in such a lovely, historically place with so much to do. how blessed i am.

Annie - I think you would be a fantastic trainer - I found my trainer by an article in our local hospital newsletter. He weighed 450 and has lost 183 lbs - still has about 80 to go - he decided, like many of us, that he wants to help people who "normal" trainers don't understand. Even though I have only known him for 3 months we have a shorthand between us - it's like talking to all of you - he understands - he's been there and still on his journey. He's 27 and so funny - wanted to know what Ed said the first time I put jeans on. If I think about it I will e-mail you the article about him if you like.

The scale was up this morning 1.5 lbs - I will change the ticker this afternoon. I can take this little elevation from the meds as I am starting to feel a bit more human and I have 10 days of steroids and antibiotics - I will continue to be diligent in my eating and it will come off - while the tooth was so angry I didn't eat at all - just lots of fluids. Fortunately the gain did not put me back over 300 which was a glorious moment - I'm not going back there.

More later, move your bodies, drink your water and SMILE.

Hugs,
Carol

Hi everyone!

Sorry to have disappeared so abruptly, but we're having a great time with my parents in town :) It's nice having the cast off -- I can scratch my leg, for one thing! -- but it's also felt like taking a couple steps back, as my leg is so sensitive. I've been doing more moving since my parents have been here, which is great! But then by evening, everything's all swollen and sore -- not because I'm hurting it, but because it's being made to move around in ways it hasn't been able to for a couple months, and because I've been religious about keeping it elevated during the day, and I haven't been doing as much of that this weekend. It's still a small victory to be able to walk around, cane and all :) And I know that it will not be long before I'm wearing regular shoes and moving like a real person! (But who ever thought I'd miss the cast, right!).

Foodwise...well, we won't talk about that, as we're sharing some of our most favorite restaurants with my parents and are thus not exactly eating on plan, though I think we're all being a little more thoughtful about what delicious decisions we are making, which is a fun change.

Thanks to all of you for helping me celebrate getting the cast off!!! It was so nice to log in again and read all your posts :D

I'm going to weigh myself for real after my parents have gone, and I'm hoping that I won't have to revise my ticker -- at least not up! -- but we'll see. I have a flight to Europe at the end of May, and I just cannot deal with being that uncomfortable for 8 hours, so it's time to attack the issue with both hands (and legs!).

Have a great week!

Penny, I hope you had a great time with your son and try not to stress too much on him leaving again. He's in our prayers.

Debi, Sorry to hear that hubby is getting what you got. I hope it doesn't last quite as long for him. Get him to the doc!

Bernice, I don't look at what you said as being mean, but a form of encouragement and thank you for that. I did look at the last couple of weeks and do see some things I could of made better choices, but not enough to gain 9 lbs in a week. I also got out some of my old journals from when I first started this and am planning on using some of those meal plans to get back in sync with things again. I still think it's TOM coming though to at least get rid of some of the weight. I just feel bloated to the max.
Thanks again!! My chin is up and I joined in on the 5K and TBL threads.

heather dw, I think alot of us saw a scale movement when we upped our calories. We need more since we are bigger, that way our bodies don't hold on to the fat because it thinks we are starving...weird huh?

Susan, thanks so much for the will power dust, I need it!

Annie, I wish I lived closer so I could come to your yard sale. It's fun to go rummaging around in other peoples stuff. Have fun picking out some new undies. Get some sexy ones!!

Catherine, glad to hear I'm not the only one that can gain that fast, although I'm sorry to hear that it happens to you too. All we can do is just try again. I just hate that it takes so long to come off.

Carol, so glad that the mouth is feeling a bit better and really happy to hear you didn't go over that dreaded 300. So that deserves a big :congrat: just on that. I'm sure your little weight gain is definitely from the steroids. Those are awful for weight gain. Take care

Today is a bit better. The water heater is still leaking. Jim has to keep replacing couplers as they keep breaking if moved too much. We have well water, and it's so full of rust that it's eaten away at the plastic connnections, and only in 5 years, since that's how long we've been here. I wish we could get city water but we live down a private road about 1/2 mile from a water line. It would cost a fortune to have it piped in. We have a filtration system, but I still don't drink the water and just use it for cleaning and washing. One of the not so fun perks of living in the country.
Sadie is doing alot better and even seems to be back to her old self before Marilyn came to live with us. She seems more bouncy and alive. I really didn't notice how she was before. I guess she got depressed when another dog came to live here. But her leg is healing up pretty well.
Keep movin' and groovin'
Debbie

Debbie-I'm the only one I know who can literally eat nothing for a week while sick, and be on broth for a week after that, and gain 20 pounds. I can gain weight on air alone. Maybe I'm part mistletoe, some kind of air plant that can get nutrients just hanging around.

I'm glad you took it as motivational Debbie....I was worried cuz after I posted I re-read it and thought hmmmm that could of come across as being a tad bit rude.

Catherine LOL sounds like me too......didn't realize mistletoe grew that way though!

Good afternoon all,

I'm stealing a little part of my post from the 40+ thread, well, since nothing has changed in the few minutes since I posted it!

So I actually walked outside this morning. The drive to the college took me less time than I expected so it left me with a ton of free time, so I did a circuit of the campus and the parking lot for 30 mins. It also didn't take as long as I had planned (booked time was 9-12, but I was out by 10:30), so I managed to get in my treadmill time when I got home.

I did a nutty thing that I hope I don't pay for later (or tomorrow). I really just walk on the treadmill to keep myself active. I usually just walk at 2mph, but at about a 5% incline. This breaks a sweat, and raises my heart rate, but I noticed that I'm not needing to put in as much effort recently. So this morning I did a combination of walking intervals with 4mph 1-min jogs in between 2-min walks. It was fun (ie. almost killed me) and I definitely broke more than a light sweat! As long as my knees are okay (specifically the left one), I'm going to start doing at least one of these each day. Of course today, I've likely overdone it as I did it 3 times, 20 mins each time. :)

Since it's still quite early and I've done my exercise for the day I'm going to try and catch up on personals (well, from Monday at least). Just don't think I'm nuts if they end up a little disjointed.

Bernice - big congrats on the 5 pounds lost. I obviously drink way more water at night as my night to morning weights are quite a bit different than 1 pound. That's why I eventually set a specific time to day to measure (for consistency). I'll give you a tip though - buy (or alter) your clothing. When I first started to lose weight only some people noticed (ie. the more observant people). I was still wearing the same clothes to work. When I finally replaced some of them I was really surprised how many more people noticed. It made sense though, as I have a bad tendancy to wear loose tops to begin with. I noticed today that my winter coat is just getting huge on me. It was big to start with as I bought it that way to wear a vest under it when we were away last winter. So today, much lighter, and with no vest, it's just way too big.

Heather - I've always been a restless sleeper. My mother is as well. Those nights when you toss and turn, you just can't seem to shut the brain off is the worst. I used to find that audiobooks helped. I should load up the iPod and see if that helps again. I hope your bad night's sleep is only a short term thing.

Debi - but lifting sore is a good sore. I can't believe how much I'm enjoying it. I get the line 'pumping up' though. In a couple of weeks I'm going to max out my weights on a few of the sets (top I can do with what I've got is 75lbs). I really never thought I would come close when I purchased them. It's either the weights, or the coming spring, or both - but my general mood seems to be very up recently. It's amazing when you compare what you've lost to everyday things, isn't it? I remember a couple of years ago (at 290) when I did about 140 or maybe even more on the leg press at work. Some of the guys were so impressed (they were coming over quickly to tell me I shouldn't be pressing that much). I didn't want to tell them that since I was down about 130, that 140 shouldn't be too hard on my legs.

Annie - I do wish you the best of luck with the job search. After some looking at the finances, and some discussions with my mother, I'm not going to look for work until my first school break (ie. next summer). After working so hard to be active I don't want to do a desk job. And I'm not physically quite there to look for a temp 'plant worker' job (pays a little better as well). So we'll watch our finances, I'll dip into my savings a little more, and we'll cross our fingers that the truck keeps going. (The mechanic says it's in great shape.) Of course this means that the jobs we wouldn't normally do (moving part of the garden to the other side of the yard) are perhaps on tap for this spring. Oh, you sold your turkey fryer... (boo hoo). I really wanted to buy one a couple of years ago, but didn't. Now, I can't justify it. No, not to fry a turkey, but to cook the salsa and vinegar based canning items outside. I borrowed one a few years back from someone I didn't keep in touch with. It was so nice to cook down the salsa base (I do a charred tomato base, then add the fresh stuff at the end). I sat outside, charred the tomatoes on the barbecue, and even took the blender outside as well.

Rainbowsmiles - I'm so jealous of your warm weather. My geraniums need to be cut back, and the other seeds are coming on well. However, we're probably 6 weeks away from our frost free time. I think our May long weekend is quite early this year, but that just means it's possible we'll have a frost after it. I should go look at the calendar some time soon. It will depend on when the full moon is about that time. After such a lousy winter we'll all have the tendency to push it, which is good for the garden centers (ie. replacements after we lose them to frost). Today feels so lovely and warm, but I see it's not even 45F. :)

Catherine - okay, I feel less sorry for myself now that I see you had snow. Sorry. Although it sounds like you got snow, where we got rain. It was up at 11 and 12C the other day, but we're back to 5C today with sun (hooray). We're almost snow free here. It's just the few places where it's been piled up that it still remains. And that's really only in the mall parking lot that I've seen it. You didn't find a body yet to go with the clothing you found earlier, did you? :) I am glad to hear that your therapy went well (okay, my words, not yours). Although I'm sure it will be a longer term thing, I do think it will help in the end.

BattleAx - I get the impression that perhaps the date was comfortable, just no sparks. It does sound like you got along well. Who knows, something may grow from that. I do hope that you get what you want out of it.

Carol - ouch, ouch, ouch (on the root canal). I'm a huge wuss when it comes to the dentist. That's a wonderful keepsake from your family. I've gone a pair of copper vases that my grandfather made in 1918, while waiting to come back to Scotland (from France). He was a blacksmith by trade, and these are made of shell casings (yep, ammunition). He melted a billet of lead, poured it inside, and hammered a pattern on them. He made about 200 sets and sold them to soldiers returning home. It was how he started his business when he returned. We have some other decorative pieces he made (wrought iron), but the vases are special. It's the stories behind these things that make them special.

Tina - my bedroom closet has double, sliding glass doors. I've always wanted to replace them, but I haven't. I just avoid them (which is harder than you think).

Julia - I've come to the conclusion that any loss, or even a 'holding' weigh in is good. I managed to avoid the TOM gain last month (no idea how), but I've at least got used to seeing that one. So, congrats on the loss! And I couldn't do it for $30... of course I couldn't do it for even more! The woman behind me used to do daycare. I'm not sure what they did in the winter, but I'm pretty sure in the summer all she did was sit on the back deck, yelling at the kids occasionally to keep them in line. (Either that or little Johnny was a holy terror. After hearing her yell no at him all afternoon I was about driven crazy.)

Debbie - issues with homes always seem to come together. I suppose the only good thing with that is that we now have a new kitchen, a new roof, and a new furnace - all less than 3 years old. And the air conditioner was about a year before that. I'm sorry about Marilyn, but I'm glad it's a no kill shelter. Two years ago (just after I got the kittens) I was in a pet food store and they had a beautiful 14-yr old cat. After the time I'd gone through with our last two (died of old age) I couldn't think of it, and especially with the two kittens. The shelter that had put her in the store is a 'try not to' but not a no kill. I was so happy to find out that someone did adopt her. I'm sure Marilyn will find a loving home.

Lauren - you reminded me how much I love mexican food. Time to find a few recipes that won't put me over. Although right now my issue is keeping the protein levels up, which creates different challenges. We open the pool to swim, which makes us slightly certifiable. We have an in-pool winter cover and right now it looks like it's open, with just very dirty water. A couple of our neighbours have been draining water off their pools as they were overflowing. Wow, I just realised that the guy is coming a week today! (Swimming probably 3 days later.)

Penny - we all have things we should be doing instead of sitting at the computer. :) Just drop in when you can. You sound way too busy for me...

Sharon - days off plan can appear as huge gains, mainly because of water (and the weight of the food if it's been excessive). On my birthday I was 346.6 pounds and after a very bad day I was 351.8. And even though it was truly a bad day (I estimated later it was probably a 4500 cal day), I went back on plan the next day. Even though I was sick to my stomach (not used to the food I had), I didn't let it stop me. It took 7 days of being completely on plan before I was at 346.4. The only good thing out of it all is that I've been on plan for 93 days (as of Sunday, so 94-1/2 now). Those bad days can send you spinning out of control (I had many before I got back to dieting in December). Somehow we have to decide that that one bad day does not have to become a week, or a month, or a year. It's past, and today is a new day.

Heather_dw - bodies just seem to want to hold onto weight, especially when we're not eating enough. You don't even need to be in what some call starvation levels. Finding out the perfect level at which to eat is hard, if not darn near impossible. I'm glad you're weight is moving down. Just try and remember this the next time you don't like what you see on the scale. :hug: I know I may have asked in the past, but how are you coming to that calorie level? That can be important sometimes. I mean, I know we can eat 2000 cals of junk food and it's technically the same as 2000 cals of more natural food, but even that may affect the body. Some foods make cause water retention (I find aspartame in diet soda seems to do that to me now). I wouldn't have noticed it in the past. Don't mind me, I'm on a clean eating kick recently. Lots of natural (ie. not packaged) foods, even made my own tortillas on Sunday... although I might go buy some next time! (Oat flour was not a good choice.) I realized that I'd likely never be happy eating 100-cal snack packs of (whatever), so I've tried steering away from them more and more.

Julee - I know this is from last week's thread, but on the dessert. I used to make a very nice fruit compote (with whatever is handy), using almost no sugar if you get a good blend of fruit. I would bake it in the oven and make a separate crunch topping for it. I'm not sure what the limitations are but the topping was (off the top of my head) four, butter, rolled oats, spices, pecans. You mix and bake it separately, breaking it into pieces. It always went over well, and with little sugar in the fruit, and just a sprinkle of the topping, isn't too bad on the calorie side. If you're interested, I can look out the recipe (and then tell you what I did for modifications!)

TheWalrus - company can be the toughest thing on a diet. I think I'm well enough along that I'd be able to cook meals that others would enjoy and I can still have. However, eating out, even on best behaviour is hard. Give yourself a few on plan days after they leave before you weigh yourself. I say that because restaurant food always seems to be a little higher in sodium. And if you're having a drink or so, well, alcohol dehydrates you, which strangely makes you retain more water! I'm glad you're having a good visit though.

I was just about to copy this in and saw Catherine's post about weight gained while ill. I've noticed that weight gained or lost when you're ill usually evens out after you're well. My lowest weight (I found it recently) was 282 before going into the hospital in June 2005. I came out at least 15 pounds lighter (in 17 days). It took a couple of weeks, but it all came back on. I couldn't hold that loss, likely because it wasn't a real loss. I held the 282 until sometime after September of that year. By Christmas of that year I was back to 309.5 (when I just stopped tracking it). Fast sudden gains always seem to be harder to address though. Sad, isn't it?

Well, I'm officially caught up on this week's thread... unless someone else has posted while I've been finishing up. I should be able to keep up a little better now, at least until the pool opens and the gardening ramps up a bit. Take care everyone, hope you're all having a good day.

Anne-No bodies melted out here, but the pile next door at the Safeway is still about 10 feet high, so I watch it every time I walk past. It has now stopped snowing, and gone to fog, which I am told is basically the snow converting right to vapor because it is so dry here. Less run off for sure. The neatly folded blue jeans out front are still sitting there like there were when they froze in I guess. I'm supposed to clean up, but I'm waiting until all the snow is gone so I don't have to go back over again. Plus, I've been kind of sick, so if they neighbors don't like it, I can tell them where the rake and trash can are, and what they can do with it.

Annie I think you are correct on the altering my clothes! I now have at least 3 pairs of pants like my NOW picture ones green, tan & black ones.....they are all fitting me like that....they are draw string waisted so I can tighten that up but the whole hip, but, saddlebag area is another issue! LOL but really cant justify purchases right now. DH just told me last night we are splitting (what we affectionately call) "The Bush Money" LOL so I can spend it anyway I want.....I think I will pick up some slacks in the next size down from where I'm at.....which would be 24's but I have enough of those for the time being I think maybe 22's I definately need new undies!!! LOL I can't believe how LOOSE these are......but for undies I always go bigger than I am...hate that binding.....so now these are literally falling everywhere LOL ok ummm guess that was TMI LOL!

Catherine - because we close the pool so late we have very few leaves in ours. The neighbour across the street mentioned that their pool was overflowing, and since they close earlier, very much full of leaves. She made a joke about finding a body in it as you really can't see anything but murky water. Ours is clear enough that I know we're okay. I think she's kind of hoping that her resident skunk is in it (although I doubt it).

Bernice - when you buy a new pair you might be able to use it as a pattern to tighten up the other ones. I'm more successful doing that with tops though. I've splurged on some really great cotton bras and undies over the last years from a company that bill themselves as 100% Cotton Comfort Designed by Women for Women (http://www.decentexposures.com/) The best thing was that when I was slowly gaining they were still good enough to wear. So at the moment they still fit. I know from before that I can take in the bras a bit while I'm losing. I'll likely wear the undies until they're kind of falling off as well before replacing. They're a little pricey, but especially at my top weight, one of the few choices I've had. Now I just like them and am not really comfortable in a standard bra especially. Having said all that, I'm wearing one of the same 6 pairs I bought 18 months ago and they're all in very good shape. The 6 pairs from before (date unknown) are finally starting to get to the point where I should consider getting rid of them.

dmpls_ you crack me up,,,,I can so relate to the pantie falling off thing. Bra's are the same way ...good thing I had kept a few smaller ones. It was nice not having to go and buy them yet.
kids are gone and hubby and i are heading out for our walk
talk to everyone later
debi

Just wanted to check in briefly as I am exhausted and need some sleep! I am dealing with a lot of family stuff currently, so I honestly have not caught up on here for quite a while, nor have I blogged. I am maintaining at this point because I just haven't been able to focus on myself. I hope everyone is doing well and big hugs for those who are struggling.

Good morning Peeps - I am finally starting to feel like myself again - YEAH. I'm actually feeling good enough I am heading out of town this morning on my regularly scheduled business trip - thats a good thing because when I get behind in the schedule I have to travel 3 weeks in a row and that kills me. Plus it's just one night.

I'm trying to drown all the meds right now with water - the scale seems a little happier this morning - still the daily weigher here to keep me accountable - this is actually a time when it works well for me. I have this mindset that I am changing slowly - but a part of it is still there that says - OK - you're taking all these meds, some will not help much in the weight loss area so go ahead and eat - you're gonna gain anyway. So this is a huge victory for me to stay accountable to me.

OK - better get going - I have to teach a sales tax class at the local office before I head out. I'll check in later.

Move your bodies, drink your water and SMILE (in the mirror - can you tell I'm working on this one).

Hugs to all,
Carol

Good Morning Everyone.

I've been reading all the posts, but haven't posted, first because I spent the weekend with my mother and then Monday had doctor appointments. Now, it's springtime in Texas which means we are having round after round of thunderstorms and the unsettled weather really can flare up my rheumatoid arthritis, making me achy and stiff, so the hands are not working real well right now for typing purposes, but I just wanted you all to know I'm still kicking around and will catch up with personals when I can.

In the meantime, everyone keep on with the good work, staying OP and drinking your water.

Well today is going to be a busy day and if you see me on here you need to kick my butt!!! OK deal???

I just wanted to stop in and say that I should never NOT eat anything till 4 in the afternoon!!! EVER AGAIN!!! LOL

yesterday I was busy with doing stuff around here and didn't eat anything till then......I wasn't hungry is why! Well I ate what I thought would be my dinner then......but later around 9pm I was starving......so I took some celery sticks, peanut butter(reduce fat), and raisins(ants on a log yummy) and a Grapefruit....both of these reminded me of my mother(who passed in 2000).....so while I ate I was very reflective LOL (sounds weirder then what I wanted but anyhow) I jumped on the treadmill shortly afterward and did 1 mile.....then around 10pm I was starving again......so I made a bowl of bran flakes with raisins and 2% milk.............then I was up still around midnite and again I was starving.......so I looked for the lightest most filling thing.......I took about 2 cups of frozen strawberries thawed them added SF strawberry jam (tbs) and snacked on those......
before the two hour mark even came close I thought I better get to bed before I eat something totally horrible!!!

I guess looking back on it I probably ate enough calories as if I had eaten them during the day but felt badly because we have vowed to eat dinner before 7pm and only up to a 200 calorie snack in the evening.......but I still think I did well since I could of chosen far worse things to eat late at night LOL

Well everyone I'm wishing you
You first OP day in your journey, each and every day!
LOVE 3FC!!! it has meant the difference in this PLAN!!!
BErNICE

Realcdn: Yeah, I do have a decent number of 100 calorie packs in the house although I am going more for the granola bars with fruit, nuts and whole grains.

I was trying to get 17-1800 calories for about a week. The last few days I've been getting in the 1900-close to 2k and I've had a loss on the day after on both. (-.6 yesterday and -4 today)

heather-I know that feeling of trying to force yourself to eat what seems like so much and thinking HOW on earth will eating more make me lose more weight??? LOL

I've noticed that the weeks I lost only 1lb were the weeks that my calories were low........I average around 1800-2000 cals.....but should be taking in closer to 2100 so I try to have two heavy days a week....to kinda balance things out for the week.

It is so odd that the more cautious you are of the quality of food you eat......the more of those kinds of foods you have to eat to lose wieght! Strange huh?

you are doing awesome!!!

Hi everyone! Have a great day.

hello everyone,
My kiddos are really being good playing today. Its a nice break for me. Lately it seems like they are fighting alot. I think they are in the MINE stage...lol
Hubby is feeling better even though he is still running a low grade temp. He refused to go to the dr ...he goes on monday for his 6 month checkup. I think he knows he is up a few pounds and is scared she willl chew him out. He is truly scared of her!!
Its a gloomy cool day here in ky. Good thing the storms fell apart and we just got a little bit of rain last night. They are saying we might get a large rain maker tommorow. Just what we dont need.
I really need to get motivated and do some deep house cleaning in the next few weeks. Having youngest daughters room so clean make the rest of upstairs look bad.lol I have to get ready for a graduation party in may. I can hardly believe my baby is graduating from high school. I think im in denial.
well they are at it again,,,better go and find something to entertain them.
have a great day everyone eat right and drink that water!!
debi

I have officially passed stir crazy, and am quickly approaching catatonia. I think I am going back to bed, and just start the day over again.

Well I just took a quick break.......DD is helping me with the stuff in the Attic.....I can't wait till I am small enough to fit comfortably up there....I have two attics one is mostly season decor....that one has a dropdown ladder which I can't get on since it only holds 180 lbs!!! DS in the Army usually has taken christmas stuff out in the past......hopefully DH or I will be small enough to get in there this christmas or he will have to come home!!! LOL

the other attic is accessable through a cutout square hole with slip door in my closet....that is where my many "I don't want to deal with you at the end of a move" boxes are! LOL along with clothes from last year........but of course my DS placed all the clothing items in the BACK so poor DD has to manuver here way through the mess to get back there.....my white lab even joined her....I think she knows there are snacks up there LOL (mice) as we open up stuff in the garage...(in case of surprises) my white lab is right there sniffing each thing....LOL I keep telling her I know sweetie I smell those pesky varments too! but we have yet to see any...although DD did see a dead baby one in the attic.

So today I am staying OP so I can go into the attic next time I need to and organize it!!!!!

ok back to the grind.........

Catherine, we must be a special breed, because I can do the same thing....heck...I just did!

Bernice, nope, it wasn't rude, just a kick in the pants that I needed. :rofl:

Anne, how are you feeling after your walk/jog time on the treadmill? I think it's great that you are incorporating jogging into your routine. Pretty soon you'll be running like crazy.

Carol, Have a safe trip and have some fun while your gone.

Johnnie, good to see you posting. I hope the arthritis isn't getting too much for you. My Mom has it and I see her suffer so much with it. She's always tired because of the meds she's on for it. So take care of yourself, but enjoy the springtime.

YaY! We are suppose to have a day in the 70's this week. I'm hoping the tulips will be all in bloom and we will go to the fields to check them out. I want to walk all the way around them this year. We went two years ago and I just looked and said no way. This year I'm looking forward to it.
I'm doing good OP wise. I think part of the problem with the weight gain is, when I was sick and ever since, I haven't exercised at all. So with me still eating the amount of calories I was, and not exercising, it just came back on. At least that's what I'm thinking it is besides the salami and cheese.
I'm sitting her at the computer and my crazy Matilda cat is falling asleep on the desk with her head on the printer. Goofy girl
Well, keep movin' and groovin'
Debbie

Just a quick hello to everyone!:wave:

grrrrrrr its gloomy outside.....off and on drizzling rain.....I am working steadily on the attic......already went through 4 bags of stuff........


while we were working....we hear the tornado sirens!!!!
I ran upstairs to turn on the TV and see what the heck is going on.....nothing.......no news ticker on the bottom of the screen....so I called the police station (non ER line) and asked .....they said ohhh yeah the town next to us is testing their sirens.........!!!!!

Can you say NO WARNING about this.....LOL
Normal scheduled testing is on the 1st friday or Monday of the month at noon! So my heart is now in my stomach! LOL I really truly hate Tornados!!! even more so since I saw the one that tore through town right outside the school I work at!!!! grrrrr

OK think I will go eat something and then get back to work! GOSH distractions!!!

Ok girls I had an awesome WI today! Total 11.5 lbs gone and 8 inches! I have hit my first 10lber goal and only 16 twn puder goals left to go!

We are actually having sun with a cool breeze today. We were suppose to have thunder showers. So I will go and walk to get the kids from school. Give poor bessie the pickup a break! Specially with the fuel prices! argh!

So excited I had a message full of typos LOL

Good day all,

I just finished my lunch, so I'm waiting until it settles to do my afternoon lifting. I'm actually surprised that the knee is not bad after yesterday's jog intervals. I decided to reign it in a bit today and just did a 20-min session of walk/jog intervals. I really didn't think I was going to make it to the end, but I did. Then after I recovered I did my usual 30-min walk. Although the total time is lower by 10 minutes I really do think I got a better workout.

Becky - when life gets really tough, maintaining is a great thing to be doing. That in itself is a victory. I know in the past that emotionally rough times have been an excuse to gain weight back. So give yourself a lot of credit for maintaining. And I do hope things get better for you and your family.

Carol - glad you're feeling better. And you're right, any time we don't use things as an excuse to eat, it's a victory.

Johnnie - I got that way over the last few weeks. In the end, saying hello and catching up on how you are is more important than the personals.

Bernice - when your schedule changes is really easy to get off track. Yesterday I had a light breakfast (toast, peanut butter, protein shake) at 7:30 (this is about 2 hours before I normally eat), and headed off. I took almonds and an orange since I didn't think I was going to be home much before 1pm. I did get home earlier, but I'd already eaten the almonds in the car. Lunch ended up being a little early, but I pushed my time in on the treadmill to keep myself from eating. I tried to keep my afternoon busy, but still took my afternoon snack early. Dinner was at 6:45 (I don't know why, but this is our usual time). The after dinner snack (which I usually take at 10) ended up being 9:30. I just couldn't get away from that hunger. It seemed like such a minor change to my schedule, but it made a huge difference. I figure by the time you go back to work you'll have days at home down pat, and will have to work on the work day stuff again. :)

Heather_dw - I did the same when I started in Dec. I bought baked snacks (crispy minis, flavoured crackers) although I have weaned myself off them over that last month or so. I was just eating them the same way I ate the full fat ones before - fast, and mindlessly. I've been finding that less processed foods seem to fill me more, with less cravings. I would weigh out an ounce of crispy minis (a fair sized portion) and it just wouldn't be enough. I'd always want more when I was done, didn't take it, but felt deprived since I didn't take it. I still think your daily weighing gives you more pain than pleasure. Sorry, couldn't think of a better way to put it. Looking at your loss the last two days (assuming that's not a typo) you say -0.6 and -4.0. Well, nobody loses 4 pounds overnight (although it would be nice). So you're happy today, but if you don't lose weight for the next 5 days you're probably going to be unhappy again. Yet, even if you gain a couple of pounds, you would still be down overall. I still think you need to look at the big picture - that you're 57lbs lighter than your starting weight. Get into a routine for whatever level you pick and box up the scale for a couple of weeks.

And Bernice made an excellent point. I've seen some people say that calorie cycling can be quite effective. That's kind of what she's doing. Taking a weekly number (2100 x 7 = 14700) and dividing it up into different levels each day. As long as they're consistent (ie. sticking to the numbers chosen) it should be just as good as the same daily number split evenly.

Debi - I'm still in a MINE stage. After trying to convince my mother to use the treadmill a little (to keep her active in the winter), she's decided to start now. It's kind of driving me nuts, so I've started giving her window times (ie. use it now or leave me alone). I'd just rather keep an eye on her. This is a woman who isn't the best with electronic devices. She's also on her spring cleaning kick and she's making me feel like I should be as well. I'm just not feeling it yet.

Catherine - I woke up to a rainy drizzle this morning and just pulled the covers back over my head for a little while. The sun came out briefly, but not for long. I've got some sad looking plant stalks outside the back window. I think I'll go cut them back tomorrow. They're starting to depress me. (I leave them so I'll know where the plant is under them as I believe it's a late starter.) Hope the day gets better for you.

Debbie - the funny thing is that my arms were the only thing that were sore this morning. I don't normally hang on to the treadmill. I did notice today that during the jogging I am in fact hanging on for dear life. I'm sure I'll get over that. I suspect once the pool is open that I'll try some higher intensity stuff in the pool. Well, depends on the weather too I suppose. Although your exercise level has dropped I wouldn't drop your food too much. Bodies need to heal, so perhaps just cut back a little and your reward for getting back into the exercise (when you can) will be to up your food.

And a big :wave: to everyone else. I'm either going to start the afternoon workout at 3pm and shoot for a nap after (okay, collapse), or 3:30 - which is kind of sounding really much better.

I'm going to decide what to do with this post as I type it....I might reread it and just not say anything at all...I've got a huge rant inside me but do not want to offend anyone...so here goes nothing.

Today was supposed to be a great day. I went to the production office from the game show that I was on to pick up my check from the show that aired. So I've got a check for $50,000 with me. Everyone has an opinion about what I should be doing with it. Everyone assumes it's going to be a condo downpayment...but it's not. The priorities right now are my paying off a few credit cards, fixing DH's car and maybe going to Vegas. I'd also like to buy myself something I've always wanted to get for myself..like a really nice purse or some great shoes...and everyone has a comment on how shallow and materialistic that is and what is my return on that kind of an investment? Then DH (yes I do love him) starts talking about things that he wans to do with the $...things that have to do with his comic book efforts (aspiring writer)...and I was blind sided.

In case you were ever curious...money does not buy happiness. I almost had a good mind to go back to the offices and give them back the check.

(here comes the real rant....I assure you, this is not a personal attack towards any of you....this is just eating at me)

I'm also getting tired of seeing posts like "1st week OP and no loss". It seems like the goals are instant gratification and not long term results and health benefits. The simple fact is this...we can work and work and give life our all..and still not get what we "deserve" and we then are faced with teh choice...do we quit because we didn't get what we wanted when we wanted it...or do we persevere and try to create new habits and behavior patterns that will benefit us down the road.

Weight loss is not for wimps. It is hard. It is unfair. It is a daily battle. It is maddening at times. It is a life change. I'm not talking about 10 lbs. to be ready fot the beach vacation...I'm talking about serious, significant weight loss. For those of who who have had surgery and are here...I salute you....you didn't just assume that everything would be hunky dory and you'd be rail thin when you came out from under the anesthesia. You're still working at it and committing to a healthy lifestyle to support what was a medical necessity for you. For those of you who have been here year after year and still don't fit into a size 6...I salute you....you get it. You know that it takes EFFORT to get the things that matter most and that the things we treasure most are the things for which we expended the most effort, sweat, tears and time.

If I run into one more whiny person who doesn't understand why they aren't losing 3 lbs a week when they are eating 1000 calories a day and exercising 3 hours a day on top of that...I may eat them.

I apologize if this touched a nerve....it's not you I am mad at. It's a society that wants to be rewarded every minute of every day whether we deserve it or not...and at a society that tells us that we can only be good and thin and perfect and beautiful through total sacrifice and denial.

I was furious with Queen Latifah when she decided to be a Jenny Craig spokesperson after her People magazine cover claiming she was 200lbs and happier than ever. Then I saw her commercials...unlike her predecessors, she doesn't talk about dress sizes or pounds lost. She talks about losing 5-10% of her starting weight for healh purposes. She doesn't show her "fat jeans" in fact the outfits they have her in on the commercials are hideous. It's a smart tactic..and the fact is...what she is doing is the best thing that anyone can do for themselves..start with a goal of 10% of your starting weight and then just go 5 lbs at a time. This can be done with or without a fixed regimented program...it all depends on the type of structure you feel you need and the financial resources you have at your disposal.

I get so angry when people refuse to help themselves succeed because they care what people will say. Each of us has had that person in our lives who either makes the snarky comments about us dieting and do we really need that cupcake...or has ignored our success and been cold...or who wants to tell us how to do it better and faster than we are doing it.

IF YOU ARE DOING IT FOR YOU...TO LIVE...BECAUSE YOU MATTER MOST...THEN HERE'S TO YOU.

I'm done now. My apologies. I'll be fuming in the corner if you need me.

Dearest Julee I agree with you on many points. What we do takes contant concentration and much thought. We are not able to freely go and munch away anymore. That is a choice we have made. Do not allow anyone to make you feel guilty for any of your choices. May it be a money issue or what you choose for dinner. Loosing weight has been the hardest thing to do, next to step parenting a son with ADHD. I too was hurt when Queen Latifah made her Jenny Craig choice. Mainly since she was my goal. I would love to have a Queen Latifah like body only shorter. Thanks for sharing your feelings. It makes me feel less alone in how I feeel.

Bravo, Julee, I'm ITA with your post.

Especially for us up here in the weight chart stratosphere, it is important to realize that this journey will last a lifetime. The losing phase can take years. But regardless of how long it takes to lose, we have to treat ourselves as if we deserve health, because that is the ultimate goal, the ultimate reward. Some days, some weeks, and even some months we will not lose...but we will gain the benefits of learning how to give our bodies what they need, and not what our broken parts want to give them.

Every day I treat myself well by eating nutritious food and moving around is a victory. It is a victory that probably won't result in immediate scale results on most days.

--
Congratulations on winning the $50,000. It's yours to figure out what you want to do with it. Pshaw on anyone who feels they have a say in it.

Good afternoon all,

I'm sitting here, too tired to move, so I thought I'd catch up. :)

Julia - I missed your post earlier. I suppose I was still typing mine when you posted. Congratulations! I can't believe that we're at 15C today. I was out earlier and it sure didn't feel like that. I suspect it's because of that cold wind. We had heavy thunder this morning, about 8am I think. I was trying to pull the covers back over my head and it was rattling the windows.

Julee - rant away. I something surpress things I want to say (not just here). I think sometimes that's not such a good thing. I agree completely with your position. On the money... I have a friend who many years ago (probably 10 now) won our lottery's Encore (250,000). It's now 1 million, so it was many years ago. In Canada you get it in one lump sum, no taxes. She struggled with a lot of the same things you did. She bought the ticket, with money she earned, and yet everyone seemed to feel they deserved something from it. Or, that she should do (fill in the blank) with the money. Yes, even her husband. She sat him down and told him that although they were a partnership (and had been for more than 20 years at that point) that didn't mean that he had a say in what she did with her winnings. Anything she decided to give to him was out of love, not obligation. Then she went and bought him a truck (such a tease). Unsolicited advice - pay your credit cards (that just makes sense), fix the car, and yes, take a vacation. If you go to Vegas, leave the money behind! The hardest person to deal with will likely be DH, so good luck on that.

Julee -- :hug: Rant away, hun.

And do what makes you happy with the money. (though I agree about those credit cards).

Thank you all for your support...

Battle..ITA?

The credit cards are a given. The car is a given. DH has already been told that if I take us to Vegas then he gambles with his own $. I don't do it and I won't support it. He does it the "right way" with a gambling budget and not reinvesting the winnings...but nonetheless...casinos scare me and I'm just not into that type of risk. I'll go to the spa and meet him for dinner.

I must say that ranting a bit helped me to clear my head. Battle you said something so key though...we have to remember that we deserve health. We don't deserve less because we weigh more..whether that weight is our fault or not. We have to own it and move on...we have to own what the scale says..good bad or other...we have to own our efforts...or lack thereof..and we have to own our lives.

Either extreme makes us slaves....not doing anything and saying heavier and unhealthy makes us slaves and being manic exercisers/food measurers/self-deniers etc also makes us slaves. The only master we need to please is ourself. For those of you who are more faith based...my personal belief is that we please God by taking care of ourselves in the right way and using the free will that we have been given in the right ways. But that's my 2 cents worth.

ITA = In Total Agreement

Julee - hooray for you - I feel the same way and know many others who post here do also. I have posted other places on 3FC but I get frustrated with attitudes so I mostly stay within this group now.

They are predicting severe storms here in southern Missouri tomorrow - great day to be driving north. We actually cancelled all installations for tomorrow due to weather - in 15 years I've never heard of that. I'm stewing a little about getting home.

Need to go find a bite out somewhere - see you soon.

Hugs to all,
Carol

Hello all! Not a good day here. My daughter calls me from school to say that she got $50 stolen from her billfold. Of course do you think she would have the common sense to take her purse with her when she left the room! NO! Or lock it in her locker! NO! Last week she left her cell phone (razor phone, not cheap one) in a locker room during track practice and didn't put a lock on it, and what do you think happened to that! TAKEN! Do you think she would have learned after that. Obviously not! But this was "her" own money so maybe it will soak in a little now. She was starting to save up for a new phone because we bought the first one. Oh well, she thinks I hate her because I am showing no sympathy to her. She is "16", does that say it all. She just left to go to a christian rock concert at church tonight so I hope she comes home in a better mood. My day was alright until an hour before leaving work I got a call from my area supervisor stating that someone else who is also an OIC/PM is still waiting for his office to be rebuilt from a tornado will be coming down to take over in about 2-3 weeks. So that will leave me back to a PMR instead of an OIC/PMR. So maybe they will get his built soon and I will be back to a lot of hours again. I should look at it positive because I will get more time ("summertime") to be off with the kids and camping with family. But it will suck not having all the $$$ I had. So instead of working 6 days a week I will be back to 1 and occasionally 2 a week. I need a little break but the $$ was nice. Then when he leaves then I can possibly be OIC again or permanent PM. We will see. I just get tired of being yanked around. I live 1/2 block from work and know everyone in town and what they do. He will know nothing and probably tick people off. His wife was the PM here 2 yrs. ago and no one liked her. Can't wait to see what he does. Pray for me. O.K. enough of that.

I did come home and feel like eating everything in the house but chose a few grapes and a blueberry flax waffle since my younger daughter was eating one. I put a roast in for supper and it should be done soon.

My ARMY son is stuck in Dallas/Fort Worth as the airlines are down. So this will be the second night there in a hotel. He is not excited about it. They told him he should have a flight at 9:35 in the morning. But if that plane is not ready it will be 1:15. So another day at airport life!!! I was kidding him and told him his personal stuff the movers picked up would be in El Paso before him!

I better get some laundry and cleaning done. Yeah to everyone staying on track today!

Carol - my younger daughter saw your picture on here and said, "Mom, are you talking to that lady on the biggest loser show". She said you look like her. She thought I was "cool" cause I knew a celebrity!! I told her that you were not on the TV show but, you were a "big loser" in our group, so that made you special! She thinks you are all cool as so do I. I then showed her some of all your pictures and she said cool and wanted to know if there was a group on here for kids her age. She is 8 almost 9!