Debbie that is such an interesting comment about the rewards they use for injury-free days. My guess is that it is cheap and easy and works for the people who might be the most accident prone. I was watching a local newscast yesterday morning and they were discussing the fact that their vending machines are full of junk but there is no perk offered anywhere for gym memberships....and that they have a lot of empty studio spaces so it would be nice if the company would install a gym. I was a long term temp at a company one summer and they were doing a big contest and there was food to be had every week. We were given lunch weekly and they did other stuff as well. It certainly does send an interesting message. Maybe you will get "lucky" and not have to work on those days...or maybe you can bring something from home that is in the same vein...like a WW ice cream bar or a skinny cow ice cream sandwich...or make a great turkey sub wrap without all of the cheese and mayo?

I have a lonnnnng day ahead and I woke up earlier than usual today becuase I just couldn't sleep...so agitating.

Debbie & Julee - I was thinking the same thing. And when I think about it there are quite a few overweight people at my closest Walmart. So maybe the corp needs to send out a healthier message to staff, benefit & incentive wise. Say like a gift card or get a corprate rate discount at the closest gym

Hello everyone!
HOpe yall are having a great OP day. Mine is going Ok so far! Been working on the planning for graduation party. Trying to plan out food that will suit everyone and also give me something to eat. I got the cake ordered we are going with a full sheet cake. I pray they eat it all! White cake is a major weakness for me.
Its raining here again and gloomy. Hopefully the sun will come out tommorow!!My poor plants need some sun!!
daughter just called and they had a health screening at her job today and her bone density came out really low. SHe doesnt drink milk or eat much dairy at all. Hopefully she can improve this with a calcuim pill. She is only 22 and her levels were the same as the 60+ yr old women.
Well my kidos are playing so i think i will sneak off and do a load of laundry.
have a great day
debi

Rat-That’s the way I am, trying to be anonymous, so why on earth I wrote a book, I’ll never know.

Debbie-Well it is an Arkansas company, so food as reward makes sense to them. Ask them what kind of alternatives they can offer.

Debi-that’s scary about your daughter’s bone density. You might want to get her hormone levels checked too. My grandmother never drank milk, and she ended up stooped over in half. With the injuries I’ve had, calcium isn’t a supplement, it’s a necessity.

Still waiting on deliveries. Got the call that my couches are finally ready for delivery, tomorrow. My birthday was 7 weeks ago, so better late than never. I can’t complain because the reason I had to wait was because of the style and color I chose. Now I just have to get rid of old couch and chair, and make room for 2 couches to replace them. The last I heard my box of books is supposed to be shipped tomorrow also, so maybe Monday or Tuesday to receive them. It’s not like I’m not already nervous, having to wait makes it worse. They had to redo something because someone forgot the UPC code on the back. I guess I will get them before the book launch on June 9th at the very least. I only agreed to the launch because they are going to hold it at my favorite café. It’s run by a Nigerian couple who are friends of ours. I thought it would be good for their new business to have a lot of people go in there and sample the food who might never give it a chance otherwise. It’s kind of an internet café with a business conference center that’s good for meetings. The food is Nigerian like jellof rice and fufu, but she can also get a pretty decent scald on her fried chicken. I’m going to make sure I eat before I go.

Hiya Peeps - I'm home safe and sound although there was a bit too much rain for my driving comfort. I always hit the local greenhouses and nurseries when I travel to see what I may find that I haven't found here - the back of my vehicle is overflowing. I actually found hardy banana trees good to -20 - so I bought 2 - when I talked to DH later he wanted to know why I didn't get 4 - so on my way back through town from court in the sticks I picked up 2 more. Along with an azalea that blooms all summer, mosquito plants and more annuals - and something else I can't remember right now. Tomorrow I'll be digging in the dirt - YES! I'm hoping this is close to the last of the things I needed (didn't take my list with me as it was pouring as I was wandering) since next week is the first of the big pool weekends for us. We normally have about 75 for Memorial Day Sunday but if it doesn't warm up it will be much smaller.

I'm so happy to be back home in my comfort zone. I didn't/don't drink enough water on the road is the biggest thing. I did make good restaurant choices but it's not the same. I also miss my bed - not to mention DH and the pups.

I think I'll take a little nap before I go work out tonight - my goal tonight is to beat my previous best in a 5k - I think.

Move your bodies, drink your water and SMILE.

Good evening all,

I got a late start this morning (had to drive my mother to the train station as she was going into Toronto for lunch), and so I really only did 30 mins on the treadmill before I really just wanted to have lunch. I kind of sat there doing a back and forth and decided eventually to have the lunch and then swim for 30 mins in the afternoon. I changed into my swimsuit (with the HRM on) and went outside. I did a little watering and since I had my runners on I decided to do a little walking first, then make it up with the swimming afterwards.

Well, I ended up doing the entire 30 mins walking in circles around the pool. If the cat thinks I'm crazy walking on the treadmill I'm not sure what he thought watching me walk around and around in circles. I kept going because I realised that my heart rate was keeping up higher than on the treadmill. It really didn't make sense. I felt like I was walking around the same pace as I do inside, although I thought perhaps I was going a little faster. On the TM I usually walk at 2.5mph with a 5% incline. Some days I'll do really short jogs (like a min) at 4mph, although at the same incline.

Anyway, after I finished I got out the big measuring tape and decided I was doing roughly 33 meters in one circuit (slightly more but I'm rounding down). So I timed myself walking it (20 secs), and the light jog I tried (15 secs). Now, I know I likely didn't maintain that pace (even the slower one) for the entire 30 mins, but still. It didn't feel like a real push. Well, the jog did, but that's mainly because it pushes my heart rate up. So doing the calculations:

3/min x 33m x 60min = 5940m = 3.69 miles
4/min x 33m x 60min = 7920m = 4.92 miles

I seriously cannot walk at 3.5mph on the treadmill, and jogging for a minute at 4mph just about kills me. Yet, I appear to be walking faster in circles on a flat surface. And it was a lovely day out, so why not. According to the HRM I burned more calories doing that for 30 minutes than I did earlier on the treadmill. So, I suspect this means on the nicer days maybe I'll take the walking outside. Tomorrow though it's back to the weights. In a way, I think the HR monitor has helped a lot. It's given me an idea of how I can change up the exercise routine, while still getting the same basic effect. I suspect as long as the weather is nice I'll repeat the outdoors walking in the future. As it gets warmer I'll likely do what I did today, wear my swimsuit so I can take a dip when finished.

Julee - it's funny, but usually I make the jam and either my mother eats it, or I give it away. Now that I'm counting my calories I just work it in. Kind of odd. I've also been making breads (cracked wheat oatmeal and a semi-sweet type using an Amish starter). Somewhere along the way I decided that I'd find a way to work things in that I liked (on the way to a lifetime eating plan). The sweet breads are made in mini loaf pans and then sliced into 8 or 9 pieces. A single slice with 1/2 Tb of jam comes in just under 100 calories (depending on the slice size). It's a great way to feel like you're having something indulgent, but it's really not. And besides, it's so small you really can't put more jam on it, so that's a good thing.

Penny - I've heard other people talking about PB2 - you'll have to tell us what it's like. The picture of you and your daughter is a good one. Your cat went easily? I'm just dreading the annual vet visit this year.

Debi - I somehow think it will be nice to find out when the baby is born. I know people love to plan, but it seems almost to take away from the anticipation (and everyone telling folk tales about what gender the child will be). On the sheet cake, make sure you have some paper plates handy and give people pieces to take with them. That happened at my mother's birthday party (although I never had the cake, and I avoided bringing any back). The woman across the street make cookie/cake plates for most people when leaving. I do daily calcium tablets on the doctor's orders because I'm not a milk drinker either. She's young enough that it should be easy to improve.

Kayleystar - I tend to be an all or nothing type. It can be bad for dieters. I'm really working on not doing it that way this time. I hope you find your balance as well. And you mentioned why I could never go completely low carb - fruit. I can give up bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, etc. - just not my fruit!

Catherine - I've still not learned how to take a compliment. I suppose it's another thing I have to work on. :) I'm reading about your deliveries. We do fairly well with the couriers, but I remember having a hissy fit at the local Canada Post office. It was back when I worked at home. They never attempted to deliver anything - just stuck the card into the mail stream. At the door they take plastic and in the office they told me I had to pay cash (or debit card), even though the 'cash only' box wasn't checked. I put up enough of a fuss that they eventually took the card in payment.

Ratkitten - sleep is good, so that's wonderful.

Cyn - I hope you have better luck with your brother tonight. It can be annoying when you don't get your exercise in. I was really lucky at the last place I worked. Both of them had a fair number of vegetarians so there were usually better choices (not always great, but still better). They did do ice cream cakes sometimes for people's birthdays (well, in the group I worked in), but they would honor requests for really small pieces.

Debbie - if you have a suggestion box, add in the bit about maybe group memberships to the nearby gym. They will usually negotiate better rates for big employers in the area. I agree with you, food items are easy, but junk food is a really bad message to send to employees. Subway isn't such a bad choice unless they're pre-made with lots of mayo or something.

Carol - I'm so jealous. I'm restraining myself from buying anything until Tuesday. I'm taking my mother to the train station (different one from today) for a short trip she's taking. I'm more than halfway to a nursery I really like, so I'm planning a stop by on my way back. I'll make a point to put the seats down and clear out the back so I can get lots!

Well ladies, I think that's me caught up. See, daily visits are a good thing! Hope everyone is having a good on plan day. I saw a really good number on the scale this morning. I'm thinking Sunday's weigh-in will be a pretty good one.

Julee, I would love it if they offered a gym membership instead of all the food. I did it though!!! I didn't have ANY ice cream or any of the toppings that went with it....and it was there ALL day long!!! :woohoo:

Julia, wouldn't that be great??? There are alot of heavys at my Walmart too. Even the ones that do the contests and provide the food for special occasions. I'm not telling a soul that I'm trying to lose weight. I don't want them to be staring at me to see if I'm losing. I see that you are soooooooooo close to 300. You'll make it by Monday!!! O and Happy Birthday!!!!:bday2you:

Debi, geeze, I hope your daughter takes those calcium pills. She needs to incorporate some dairy into her diet!!! Has she just never been into dairy?

Carol, are you running the 5K? I'm so glad you made it back home safely and have all those great plants to play with tomorrow. Have fun!!

Kayley, is the shower tonight? YUM!!! on the kabobs!!

Anne, that's too funny about the cat thinkin you're crazy for walking around the pool. That's how my dogs were when I had set the timer for 15 minutes for arm exercises and I ended up walking the last couple of minutes around the dining room table and the kitchen island. They kept following me and barking at me like I was nuts....so I can relate!

Today was another day on the computer doing learning modules.My butt hurts!! I'm having trouble learning the meaning of some of the keys and which senarios to use them on. So I'm going to review it again tomorrow to make sure I get it. I have about 4 more modules to go and hopefully they won't add anymore for the time being. I feel sorry for the guy that is going to the lube and tire dept. He has like 19 more modules. He's got to deal with liquid and solid waste and all that fun stuff. You can actually go and choose a career path that the computer will put you in for if you have the qualifications. Pretty neat!

I didn't touch the banana splits they had either, and they were out all day long!!!

I'm tired so I think I'm going to go relax. I'm doing some more laundry and have to keep washing my lone one shirt that I have for work. I need to get some more!
toodles
Debbie

Debbie - yep - I'm doing the 5k - I did another tonight - took 4:59 off my best time - couldn't believe it. Are you doing it?

Hello PEOPLE!!!!!!

I'm still in OK..........we get one more day with our son!!! He was suppose to leave for his next training this morning early....but there was a mix up with his ticket so he leaves tomorrow! So we have another day with him! His graduation was very emotional! LOL to say the least! Unfortunately I didn't remember my cord for my camera so I will have to wait till I get home to post pictures.....we should be home late Saturday night early sunday morning sometime!

on the road I was not on plan LOL and for the first day.......then yesterday I did much better we went to olive garden for lunch and I had soup/salad and 1 1/2 breadstick!!! LOL

since we are staying later I went to walmart and picked up some food so we wont have to go out to eat.....sandwich stuff & yogurt.....I even picked up some hummus dip it is very good! never tried it before.....I don't think the girls liked it but my son did!

well I'm going to get offline now....will post pictures when I return home! OHHHHH and thanks for the prayers for safe travel and gas prices....they actually got a little cheeper than KY on the road!!! but pretty much stayed within 10cents +/- than what we were paying so not too bad of a change!

ttyl
Bernice

Greetings my Peeps!

Day 3 without my "unreleasing foods" wasn't as bad as Day 2. I want to describe them as unreleasing instead of bad because there is no bad food, just bad amounts. I'm trying to get away from that "good vs bad" food mentality because in the end it labels me as "good" or "bad" depending on what I eat that day. My goal is to eat healthy and fill my allotted calories with nourishing foods. In the end, losing weight is all about what goes in and what energy is expended, but I can do it healthier.

GGG, you go girl!! Almost 5 min improvement? That's phenomenal!! It's raining again today, so I might do DDR or rollerblading in the basement.

Anne, it's interesting about the TM and then walking around the pool times. Is it because of incline on the TM? My dogs are funny when I do the TM. I finally moved it into the back room where they can watch, but not try to get on it when I'm on it. My cats have seen it all over the years (they are 15 and 19 yrs old). They basically roll their eyes and go back to sleep in their special heated bed (yes, they are totally spoiled).

Debbie, sounds like the Walmart you are working at is pushing to keep the turnover of it's employees low. If there's a suggestion box, that would be a good way to give more options to the management. Ugh, laundry.. *peeks at the pile in the bedroom* yep, I gots lots of it! The laundry fairy didn't appear last night, so I guess it's up to me this weekend. I don't trust the dogs to do it. Charley would steal all my socks and Buffy would take my undies and bury them in the backyard.

DMPLS, I'm so glad you arrived safe and are enjoying your son and family time! Hugs to your son from me too!

Well, time to do some actual work today.

Hugs and Luv,
Ratkitten

Kayley,

Drive safe and have a great time at the shower!!! Your menu sounds fabulous and I hope everyone appreciates the hard work you've done.

Hugs,
Rat

Kayley wow you have worked hard! I hope all your efforts are appreciated sweetie!

I had a great day at work, there are some days when nursing is just the best job in the world!!

And my dad said, 'have u lost some weight' to me today which was also nice :)

Hi to all of ya and have a great weekend xxx