Carol: I loved, loved your pics. You look so beautiful and amazing. It is so great when you wear clothes that fit. I think I should try it sometime. lol. Hugs.

Lindsey: Hi there girl. Glad to see you are doing well. Congrats to your Jed! Your hair looks so adorable. I love it.

Penny: I think DH and I should have another talk a longer and more serious one about the whole "kid" thing. Thanks for the input. I truly appreciate it and it gives me more to think about instead of an immediately answer of "I'm too old".

Anne: I missed you and am very glad you checked in. I understand though. You have been quite the busy lady. Can't wait to see the new pics of you.

Kayley: Yep. I remember when Andrew isn't it? Had the visectomy. As I mentioned to Penny above I will have to give it a lot of thought.

Catherine: My Dad was so active growing up and still is. He is now 73 and still doesn lots of hunting and horse back riding etc. My mom was what is considered a young age when she had me but growing up she was not active and never did things with us. I guess it depends on the person. I am going to give it more thought and lots of prayer. The most important thing to consider and I honestly haven't done that yet. Thanks for reminding me what I need to do. Hugs. How was the soccer game? Did you see Becks? Did you kill anyone with a frozen hot dog?

Well, time for bed all.

Blessings,
Annie

Cyn – Another thing that I like about the YMCA is that they have a scholarship program. Since I don’t make very much money each year, they look at your W-2 forms, and judge how much you get off each month, between 10%-80%. I ended up getting 70% off a month, so I can go for $12 a month….which is much more do-able to me, instead of the $40 a month it normally costs.

Annie – Well, I am definitely keeping you in my thoughts, and I hope you two are able to come to a decision.

Okay, it’s off to work for me! I have a field trip today; taking a bunch of 7 year olds to the zoo. Luckily, I just have to drive them, I don’t have to watch them! I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to go in the zoo, or if I’m going to do some shopping! I’m thinking the latter might win.

Since I have the field trip, no gym between shifts, so I’m going to try and go after work, although it’s usually insanely busy around 5. I might go do all my running around, and then try and hit the gym. Have to exchange that scale at Walmart, and pick up the cake for the Bridal Shower;

Also, yesterday, I veered off plan. I had a piece and a half of pizza. But it’s alright. Back on plan 100% today.

Have a great day, all!!

Right I've 'caught up' with you all, lol, but there's no time to reply to you all. After the few days my parents visited there's tidying up to do, laudry AND I still have a migraine, it's been on & off for three weeks now and my meds aren't stopping them so I may have to visit the Dr's AGAIN (they ought to reserve me a seat, poor pathetic wretch that I am, LAFF!!)
Julia, so sorry things are rough at home, me & hubby have been together just over 13 years and we love each other BUT argue & have fall-outs/bad patches, I hope things improve or that you can get help to find out what's BEST FOR YOU!xxxxxHUGSXXXXX
Annie, I read a while ago about a young-ish woman who like you HAD to have the gastric bypass due to health probs, she wanted children & was warned she MUST NOT get pregnant within 18 months of surgery, well less than a year later she WAS pregnant AND had a healthy baby a few months after that. There is hope, but I KNOW Joel has your best interests at heart, have a good long talk & find out what you can both do. I had my youngest at 38 & 300+lbs, it didn't stop me from playing with him, loving him and caring for him. Friends of my parents adopted,(being unable to have children of their own) having a boy my age & a girl my sister's age, HEY PRESTO when I was expecting my oldest son so was the MUM!!!! Going through the change (or something, lol!) gave her what she'd always wanted & at 48/50(not sure?) She played hockey, basketball etc with her daughter, age is a state of mind, not a number. I know 30yo OLD people & 70 yo YOUNG people! HUGSxxxxxx (sorry to go onxxx)
Debi What a c*w! I hope Suzanne BANS HER, you know we all love & respect you, that is her problem, not yours, she must be sick with envy at all your friends & real SISTERS-On-Line.xxxxxx
Carlo/gg I will check out your pics in a mo, congrats on the loss.xxxxxx
Kayley, hey look forward, your friend WANTS YOU, ok if you lose some weight GREAT but remember how SPECIAL you are. I kNOW you can do this.xxxxxx
My weight was UP on Friday, I was so angry as I knew I should have lost BUT I've been good & hope it's just hormonal (grrr) fluctuations causing my puffy hands & legs. It has been VERY hot here (for the UK, lol) 80+ or 28-odd & we had a bbq on Sunday, it was lovely, my two youngest boys playing with their three (boy) cousins, my sis, her hubby, my oldest son (21) & his GF AND my parents, I loved it & got tons of exercise going up & down the garden with food, drinks, napkins etc, I was worn out at the end of it! lol I had a couple of home made chicken, red pepper, tomato & mushroom skewers (marinated in dry sherry, worcestershire sauce & stuff) pretty low cal!lol
Well housework calls, sigh...
xxxxsharon
xxxxxsharon

Annie - just found out that my aunt who is 42 had her tubal lit undone 6 mos ago and now she is pregnant. Have the talk with DH and see where it leads. Miracles do happen every day!

G'morning Peeps!

Annie, I'm glad you are reconsidering "oldness". My mom is 75 yrs old and rides circles around me on my bicycle. I ride at a pretty good clip, mind you, and she's a pistol!! She's had foot reconstruction so she doesn't do weight intensive exercises, but does weights and swimming and bicycling.

GGG, my pups would LOVE a pool for themselves. I'd have perma-wet doggies hehe. Tops of your feet? I would think that you were tensing your foot as you stepped or you added more incline. when an odd muscle hurts, I try to imagine the opposing muscle. Did I work it extra hard? The pulling on the opposite muscle usually makes the other one hurt too. Of course, this is my odd body's experience. Your mileage my vary.

Wow, Anne! Your potting and planting just made me tired reading it! hehe. You are busy too! I have to weed my 2 remaining blueberry bushes and few strawberries. My cherry trees have itty bitty green cherries on them!!! The birds will prolly eat them, but it's fun to see this year. This is the first year they have fruited.

Kayley, your gym motivation is inspiring. I hate going there at 5pm too. It's so busy!!

Cyn, sorry about the sick family. I hope you don't get it. Too Funny about your friend.

Catherine, I've always been told if you wanna make God laugh, tell him your plans. I suppose it works the same way if you ask about His plans. I would appreciate a hint now and then, but that doesn't happen either.

Sharon, your bbq sounded divine!! I love family get togethers. The food sounded healthy and made me drool. Of course, all food makes me drool.. hehe. My family is getting together on Memorial day and want me down there. My mom is resorting to guilt now.

Well, time to get moving. Looks like I'm gonna be late to work if I don't get going! BikerChick is itching to ride to work. I have a salad packed and diet sodas so I don't get tempted to wander into the vending machine room for a "soda". Snacks are packed too!

Hugs to all,
Ratkitten

Good morning all,

I'm waiting for my breakfast to settle and then I'm going to see if I can finish up with that new bed from yesterday. The rain hasn't showed yet (now forecast for the afternoon) so maybe I can get it done this morning. There is a tea party here at 2pm which I was hoping to avoid by working outside. I might just hide on the computer instead though.

Sandy - personals are optional. I know when I first came I felt like if I wasn't doing them I shouldn't post. In the end it's more important to post about what's going on with you. I usually compose my messages in a small window in Notepad with the website behind it. Otherwise I couldn't keep people straight at times.

Kayleystar - okay, but just be careful. I know firsthand how an obsessive diet can mess with your health. I was doing quite low cal (<1400), with lots of heavy cardio, and very little sleep (4 - 5 hours a night). I did end up affecting my health badly. This doesn't mean it will happen for everyone, but rapid weight loss does affect you in ways you might not think of. Good luck on your goals.

Cyn - I've always found that exercise buddies do more harm than good. Maybe other people have different experiences, but everyone has a different level of commitment. What sounds like a great idea in theory sometimes becomes more difficult in real life. In the end you go when you plan to, and if she ever joins you, then that's better (and you will know that you've affected her in a good way).

Catherine - when you travel, do you always travel together? I'm thinking that maybe being a foster parent might be an option. You might do good instilling your attitudes onto a young impressionable mind.

Annie - I miss you ladies when I'm not here (although I am usually lurking in the background).

Sharon - I was that way with water last week. I literally went up more than 3 pounds in 2 days. I know it was nothing I'd eaten, but it was just plain odd. It took about 3 days for the water to come off, but it did eventually. Sounds like you had a nice bbq on Sunday. I'm still waiting for our first 25C+ day, but not yet. Of course, we have central air conditioning for those really hot days. I know that hot temps in the UK are usually a problem because most people don't have it. Or at least our relatives in Scotland don't (old homes without any kind of forced air heating system).

Ratkitten - it makes me tired thinking about it as well. We always look at the pots in the spring and say we have too many of them (my mother has more in the front, although not as many), but we still continue to plant them all. We've got a few that eventually need to be retired, but I looked at them and decided they would do for another year. Yes, it's official, I'm hopeless. It's not so bad once they're planted though. Some daily watering and a little clipping (which I'm usually bad about) and that's it. Oh, and we have little cherries as well. I agree, the birds will likely get most of them, but I'll probably try tying nets around a few bunches just so we get some.

See, that wasn't so hard. I've still got about 30 mins to when I planned to go outside. I will try and make a daily visit. I know that it doesn't take long to pop it, but once I leave it a couple of days it seems insurmountable. Hope everyone is having a good, on plan, day.

Anne- I am so jealous of all the outside time you are getting and all the planting you are doing!! You go girl! It makes me want too! I have a couple of planters on the front porch but have nothing in them yet. I so wish I had a space for a garden too. But teen daughter works at a market/restaurant so she can get discounts this summer on veggies!! I told her we were going to can alot this year as last year I did very little.
Sharon- Please send some heat this way!! It sounds like you had a nice day with family there! Cherish those moments.

Hi Ladies,
I'm off to work in a few moments so thought I would pop in here and say "Good Morning"!!!
I've packed a ham and cheese sandwich, with diet coke, fiber 1 bar, and another kind of bar, I forgot what it was, but it's healthy. It's one with yogurt in it. I had cereal, milk and a banana for breakfast. Ick! I hate eating breakfast first thing in the morning. I usually wait a good hour before I even feel like eating.
I'll take my water, but still unsure about how much I'll get to drink.
have a great day! We are suppose to be getting into the 80s the end of the week!
Debbie

good Morning everyone,

I want to thank everyone for the wonderful support i got yesterday,I truly felt violated!! I have protected everything so all she can see is what i type here. I think she is jealous!! I hve wonderful friends here and she cant seem to keep friends( wonder why)

I am a little bit nervous this morning..son and daughter in law may find out what the baby is today. I just pray the baby is healthy!!she is having her dr visit right now....needless to say i have my cellphone right beside me!!LOL

Carol_ I love the new pictures. You look wonderful!!!

dmpls_ know we are thinking of you!! Tell your son we are proud of him and his love for our country!!

anne_ i had missed you!!! Sounds like you are working really hard!!

hugs to everyone.
I will be back later and let yall know if its a boy or a girl. son jokes it twin!!

Good Morning...

I decided last night that I am not going to weigh in today. I know that I was off all week and I was also PMSing. I got TOM last night and I just do not have the energy right now to deal. I'm not going to totally blow off today either...I'm staying focused and starting a new week fresh tomorrow.

Kayley: One of the things that often derails us when we try to lose (especially when we are fully determined and have a big goal) is perfectionist thinking. This is fresh in my mind because my WW leader did an amazing meting on it recently. In your recent posts you talked about being "awful" and "100%"...sort of like the 2 ends of the spectrum. It's those ends that are the problem. We all want to be 100% all of the time...100% on plan with food and exercise and water and tracking and everything else that goes with it. One slip up and suddenly we're "awful" and we begin to berate and punish ourselves...which surely does not make us want to try any harder. What happens next is that hard step...do we recommit ourselvs the nxt day to being focused and mindful of what we are doing or do we just say "oh well...I was awful today and I know that there are so many things coming up..so I may as well just blow off the rest of the week..." For me personally...that's a big reason why I couldn't do a program like Atkins that is so food-limiting. If I felt like I had to go back to the very beginning each time anything not on the plan crossed my lips, I'd sit around all day feeling like a failure and that would get me nowhere but eating. I'm glad that you are getting back up on the horse but you have to adjust your thinking a little bit...if you end every day thinking you were "awful" you may have a harder time than you deserve getting the results you want so badly. Be kind to yourself!!!

I am really hoping and prayingt hat today will be a quiet and uneventful day. I was pretty hurt yesterday when I foudn out that a co-worker of mine (ok we share an office) who is getting marrid in August is having a shower thrown for her in June...and I am not invited. Pretty much everyone else on the professional staff at work is...but I am not. I found out when someone told me about it assuming I was invited. I know that it is her shower and it is her perogative...but now I feel like I am being invited to the wedding out of obligation and not because she wants DH and I there (we know that we are invited) and now I don't know if I want to attend. I invited her to my wedding and she did not come because she had a family obligation...which was cool...and also at the time we had only worked together for 4 months. But now we have worked together for 2 years and I feel so awkward. Oh well.

Annie-The soccer game was insane. When the FIFA junior world cup was here last year, it was mostly little league soccer coaches bringing a dozen 10 year olds. They wanted hotdogs, popcorn, and nachos. Last night was an entirely different crowd. They were all 16-30 year old guys, and they ate everything that wasn’t tied down. We ran out of everything. We cooked 500 hotdogs, 250 footlongs, 500 cheeseburgers, 30 sacks of French fries, 15 lawn and leaf sized sacks of popcorn, and almost ran out of coke. I didn’t get to throw a frozen hotdog because I had to cook them all. At one point we had to go to the big freezers for footlongs, and they were so frozen we had to run hot water over them, to defrost them enough to get them in the steamer. We had lines 20 deep for over an hour. At one point there were fist fights in the lines to get to the front first. One of the women up front, a red-head I wouldn’t mess with in a million years, got yelled at, and the guy asked her where her boss was, and she pointed to the heavens. He said don’t give me that s%^t, and she said she was there volunteering for her church, and that was her boss, take it or leave it. The funniest thing was that the choir leader, who’s one of my best friends, was volunteering last night, and she told me the lady who coordinates the volunteers that watched me every week all winter, wondering when I was going to be back, and watching me go from two big crutches to two half crutches, to one, etc. just hoping I’d be ready for the season. It reminded me of what the basketball coach in highschool said about watching me after my ankle surgery. It is nice to feel needed. The lady who coordinates the concession stands for the stadium sure had a big smile on her face when I checked in, and promptly informed me that she was assigning a trainee to our booth. The girl was about 12 years old, and spent most of her time flirting with one of the security guards. Her job is mostly to make sure we have everything we need, especially change. So now I’m the official newbie trainer for the stadium. All I promised the coordinator, is that I wouldn’t damage her trainee. We’re in a labor shortage, and any help is hard to come by, let alone good help. I can truthfully say I don’t want to eat a hotdog.

Kayley-I always went to the YMCA on a scholarship. Sometimes they’d even let me work it off volunteering behind the desk. It is so nice to find organizations that actually act like they stand for the principals they say they do. I didn’t get to meet the spice girl. I’m fairly certain that she was up in a luxury box, and I somehow think she’s not the hotdog type.

Sharon-I agree with you about age being a state of mind. I’ve been looking at the new spring kites, and am thinking about getting a new parafoil. So sorry about your headache. I know how irritating that can be. Himself has had one for a couple of days and is just miserable. I think it is because everything is blooming here. Summer is so short, that the growing things just go nuts when they can, and you can almost see the pollen in a fog going by.

Rat-I’ve always been convinced that God has to be an Irishman because he’s got quite a sense of humor. I mean have you ever seen a duck billed platypus? That had to take a great sense of humor to create, either that or it was created on the Monday morning after the Superbowl.

Anne-We usually do travel together. My way actually gets paid most of the time in order to accompany him. I’m supposed to have the rhino trank gun handy in case he gets out of hand. It’s kind of a standing joke that I’m supposed to be his escort, but he’s the one holding my hand and tranking me. I have been a foster parent, one with fetal alcohol, and one with chemical exposure. It was so difficult at times. I was much younger then. They both turned out to be really good men. Most of the foster kids here are either serious fetal alcohol or meth babies. I don’t think I have that in me anymore. In a way, I feel like I’ve raised my kids, but I do feel bad that my husband never had the experience. Although with his illness, I’m not sure having kids around would have been good for him anyway. To say you want to have a child, and actually dealing with the crying and then banging that goes on for the first 5 years, are two different things. We’re the age now that we should have college age kids. Maybe we should adopt a couple of those without extended families. I don’t have to tell you that kids don’t stop needing their parents when they hit 18. Oh, and as to strange passwords, I use the birthdays of former dogs. My mind is kind of swiss cheesed since the head injury, but there are some things I can remember that I shouldn’t be able to.

Debbie- I hope you have a great day at work. Maybe eventually they can put you back in one of the departments where you aren’t tied to a register so you can get your water and pottie breaks in more regular. That’s great about your dog being adopted. I was very relieved that my dog got a good home when I had to leave him behind in Florida. I didn’t care about the material possessions I had to leave, but he was different. He still goes to the ball park to watch little leaguers everyday, so I know he’s happy.

Debi (and her cyberstalker)- So tell us about your sister in law. Does she have self esteem issues that she has to live vicariously? Is she the type that is unattractive, or just unpleasant? Wanting to create that kind of unnecessary drama may be a sign of her having borderline personality disorder. Does your state have an involuntary commitment statute? In Florida we have the Baker Act where someone who acts so outrageously can be held for 72 hours for examination. Perhaps she needs a vacation of that sort to re-boot her brain enough to understand that having appropriate manners is not something whose time has past. I can’t imagine people tolerating such boorish, offensive behavior. In my circle of acquaintances, someone acting in such a manner would have been ostracized and shunned. One doesn’t see such behavior outside of 12 year old girls normally. Make sure you lock your diary, or that may be next.

Carol-Pounds and inches at the same time would be so nice. I think you’re right that we could take the evil sister in law. That would be worth getting on to an airplane for. We’d look like a professional women’s football team descending. I’ll bring the frozen hot dog projectiles, and will leave the frozen oranges to you.

Bernice-Enjoy your son, and give him an extra hug from each of his fat chick aunties. Tell him thankyou for his service, and to stay safe.

Sandys-Welcome. I also married my soulmate. I can be cranky, prickly, and generally eccentric, but he goes along with all of it unconditionally, without complaint. I love to pull practical jokes, but rarely do to him. He has a mental illness, that although it is well controlled by medication, there’s no point in putting stress on a bridge that isn’t up to code in the first place.

Lindsey-Welcome, and don’t be a lurker. You are at a point in your weight loss when it gets really hard. The weight loss slows down and gets harder. You’re also close enough to goal weight that you can almost taste it, and feelings that you can start eating like a “normal” person might start to creep in. The losing is the easy part in comparison. I figure I’ve lost several tons over the years. It’s the keeping it off that takes the real work, and I have yet to master it. I remember when I first got out of lawschool. I literally didn’t know how to not be a student. I ended up going to night school to get another bachelors in theology this time. Now I’m working on a masters on class at a time. I hope I’m still taking classes when I’m 90. I’ll be the most over-educated housewife in Edmonton.

Julee-Sometimes it takes something like this to find out how someone really feels about you. There could have been a number of reasons for not getting invited. I was once excluded like that, and found out later that she had a limit that she was allowed to invite, and felt like I was the least likely to start hating her for not getting invited. Maybe she is going to be serving pork, or some really fattening finger foods and didn’t want to sabotage you. Give her the benefit of the doubt, and go to the wedding. Marriage is hard, and lending support to the beginning of a new one re-enforces your own covenant.

Well, I need to get some work done. I'm not sore after last night, I'm more rubber legged, like all my muscles are full of silly putty. I just found out that something I ordered (a pink breast cancer awareness Yankee ball hat that was for a mother's day fund raiser) is coming by Purolator. I'm preparing myself for battle again. They will deliver this time, on time without hassle, or there will be trouble. I do so love trouble.

Kayley: Have fun today whatever you decide to do!

Sharon: Hugs.

Julia: Thanks

Debbie: Have a super day at work my friend.

Anne: Have fun in the sun!

Julee: I have to say, although it may not help you feel better right now but honestly it truly is her loss to not have you at her shower. Hugs sweetie.

Catherine: I'm so proud of you for not hurting anyone with a hot dog or any other food item. Hope the delivery company is on it's best behavior.

Well, I had a tiny quick talk with Joel and he said we will sit down this weekend and talk things over before WE make the decision. I feel better already.

Blessings all,
Annie

Ratkitten- I think GOD must continuously laugh when I tell him my plans!

Catherine- You always make me smile. You are so positive! Still laughing at frozen hotdog throwing. That would be fun! Maybe you could start practicing on the delivery drivers!!!!

Good afternoon,

Well, I got my outside chores done and, of course, it hasn't rained. According to our weather channel it's raining out... nope, no rain. Of course that's at a local airport (where the weather station is) that's about 30km/20miles away. I've now got a lovely vegetable patch, although still just a touch more clean-up to do in that corner. It's been hidden usually with all the vines that it now needs to be tidied up. No rest for the wicked. I've spent my time wisely this afternoon - looking for liquor! I was posting somewhere else about my favourite summer drink (Pisco Sour). It's a blend of key lime juice, water, sugar (substitute), and Pisco (Chilean/Peruvian brandy). Of course we're making it with a Croatian plum brandy since our lcbo (liquor stores) don't sell Pisco anymore. Then I discovered that they do, but not in our city. So at the moment the local store is trying to see if they can order me some (gotta save that driving time if you can). My mouth is watering at the thought.

Penny - I'm actually enjoying myself in the garden this year, so that's a good thing. We normally grow tomatoes and peppers in pots, but it will be nice to grow them in the ground. Next year I'll get more organized and perhaps do peas earlier in the year, followed by the tomatoes and peppers. Our backyard has no real garden. It's a pool and a patio, with some side borders and one old rose bed that now has the raspberries. We're definitely doing the intensive gardening, with trees grown up against a fence and lots of pruning. Canning is something I have a love/hate relationship with. I love the results, hate doing it. For the first time in years though I'm actually eating the jam I've made (often I just give it away). Since I've started eating breakfast I manage to work a little touch of jam in about half the days of the week.

Debbie - hope you had a good first day at work. Although like most people you'll likely spent it looking a little like a deer in the headlights.

Julee - sorry about the co-worker's shower. Sometimes people don't think. She must have realised that you would hear about it. Look on the bright side, at least you won't have to buy a gift... and avoid eating too sweet cake!

Catherine - now that you mention it, I think I knew about your foster children. Funny, but I've never been a kids kind of person, and I feel that people who aren't good with kids shouldn't have them. I remember doing some temp work for Children's Aid when I was in college. Mainly just typing transcripts, but boy did it open my eyes. And I suspect things aren't any better 20 years later. Anyway, it sounds like you had fun at the soccer game. I suspect that the longer you spend making and serving junk food the less you'll actually want it.

Annie - no sun today but that's probably a good thing. I'm hit and miss about using sunscreen. Partly because sometimes I'm only going out for a few minutes and it turns into an hour. I realised today that my arms are quite brown (althoughthe underside, especially the upper arm flab, is fishbelly white). I need to find some time to try and tan (just a little) the backs of those arms. I think taking some time to discuss your options is a good thing. Good luck.

Anne-my hubby would love the raspberries! He would want jam out of them! So what kind of jam have you made?