Good Monday Morning Ladies!

I hope you all have a good week! It's nice and relatively cool here in MO today. It was in the 60's this morning and should be no more than about 84 later today! That's good weather for August! I actually took a little walk with the family and the pups last night - not long, because I'm still babying the back. Actually, I don't feel too bad today, although last night right before bed I was regreting so much activity Sunday. The walk was preceded by some yard work, weeding, laundry, cooking, etc. But I slept okay and feel better today, just not well enough to do my 1/2 mile walk to work, which was disapointing since I'd planned on it.

Ruth - I have days when I don't want to post - and I don't. But I do later in the week. Don't feel bad about being uncomunicative. We all do it on occasion. But you are right. I already miss Terri and I miss Donna and Barbara and Thin. Wish they'd never have stopped posting. Good luck staying OP today!

Heather - Good for you for catching the 10 lbs before it got to be more like ME!

Ammi - I think the "all or nothing" attitude is quite normal. One of the reasons I like WW so much is that I CAN eat what I want, I just have to account for it - and I need that. I need to sit down and say, "Okay, I ate alfredo and look how fattening it was. So I have to compensate for it by eating a very light dinner - or being extra good the rest of the week." If I don't do that, it becomes a downward spiral, which is why the weekends "off" when I'm at some event or taking a short trip is so hard for me. I do think your idea of eating "normally" is a great one! In the end, we all have to learn to maintain - clearly I wasn't very good at that and now have to relose those pounds. Thank you for your opinion about my trip. I do have guilt about it - I guess it's the whole "Mom goes without so the kid gets whatever" mentality. I suppose if we were taking him with I wouldn't have any guilt, but the fact is, then it wouldn't be much of a 2nd honeymoon, would it? Not to mention adding about 1/3 again the cost! And off-season is when he's in school, so I need to get over it.

OH! Nearly forgot! I found the most wonderful recipe for Sugar Free Bread and Butter Pickles on-line. You make them in the microwave of all things. I made them yesterday, because the one thing I have plenty of is cucumbers.... If anyone wants the recipe I'll post it.

I have to run - hearings wait!

Morning all!! I posted in the other thread that I feel like I'm getting back on my routine -- finally.

Like so many people, I find it really hard to get back on plan when I've been off plan. I'm finally realizing that the way for me to get back on track is baby-stepping. I seem unable to go from overeating and not exercising much right back on... BUT... I find that if I take a few days to get my eating to maintenance levels before going to deficit that I can mentally deal with it much better. Same with exercise -- first start with less intense workouts and then move back up to more intense/more frequent.

So, that said, let's see how today goes. The obstacle du jour? Going to White Sox/Red Sox game later today... At least I got in 60 min on the elliptical first.

Heather, have fun at the game. Coincidently, I had this in my Email today:

www (dot) weightwatchers (dot) com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=54941&sc=3030

It's Hungry Girl Goes To the Ballgame!

Hi all!
Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Mine was kind of boring. I was in school all day Friday and all day Saturday. I did something to my hip last week -- I think I did too much on my leg extensions. Anyway, it hurt. I couldn't cross my left leg onto my knee. By Friday, it was really bad, so bad that I skipped out of class and went and saw a dr. She diagnosed groin strain, gave me a prescription for Naproxen, and recommended ice, rest, and elevation. So, that's what I did the rest of the weekend. The pain med helped quite a bit, and I'm feeling good today but I didn't work out this a.m. I have an appt with a physical therapist a week from today and I'm going to review what I've been doing with regards to aerobics and weights with them and get advice on how to keep this from happening again. In the meantime, no more lower body strength training -- just upper body and aerobics.

Along with no exercise, I ate crappy food this weekend -- went and got a bunch of BBQ on Sat nite and that is what I ate yesterday. At least it was just one day and I packed my normal healthy lunch.

Hey, on the "eating normally" discussion, you may want to check out "The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain To Think Like A Thin Person." She goes into a lot of information about what "normal eating" is for "normal folks". I found it useful -- just looking at what people eat in public isn't really the whole story. She probably has a website too -- I don't know.

On the good news front, I am done with my MBA program in less than 30 days! I am so excited! Our last class ends around 4pm on Friday, June 5th, and then I am taking off for 2 weeks of vacation. I think I have my backpacking trips all decided -- three days in Yosemite NP, four days in Ansel Adams Wilderness, and then three days in Kings Canyon NP. I have a bunch of high-res pix from these places that I use as backgrounds on my work computer .

I will have to do personals later, but thought I would check in and 'fess up .

Good morning everyone,
I am up doing my exercise and getting ready for work. I am happy I actually lost 2lbs and that's pretty good for me. I'm usually gain or stay the same. so I am feeling pretty good. hope everyone has a great day.
rene

I had a great weekend! I'll tell you why in a minute...
Lilion- go on the vacation! You earned it, you deserve it and bills will always be there. As for college, scholarships and grants. There are so many untouched! Start looking and youll be amazed at what you find
Elmay- be careful friend. I hike through you...
Heather- from the time you got serious, How long did it take? How did you get through the rough spots?

for many years I havent felt worthy of being loved. Im nice and all that but...my ex husband had an affair and said it was my fault because i wouldnt lose weight, my next relationship went 6 (yes 6 ) years and then he dumped me for a skinny girl that he had been seeing- again, my fault according to him. So here I am just under 300 pounds and not too active really. I have been dating a good man for 15 months now and this weekend we set a wedding date!!!! Its not an official engagement until Christmasish (when i actually have a ring too) but I have just under a year- August 8, 2009. And Im not suposed to tell but Hello! Im a girl! I had to tell somebody. The reason for the wait/secrecy is serious health problems for his father and we dont want to add stress just yet and to be honest, Im a little scared with my happy and want to give it a bit more time. I am very excited and he is great. he knows about my weight loss struggles and is encouraging and supportive. The thing is, he wants to marry me even at this weight. Its ok if i dont change. Its ok if I do, but hes not asking me to. Isnt that amazing?!?!?!

Annie -- Congrats on the engagement!!!

You asked how long it took. I lost the first100 pounds in 55 weeks. I stayed very consistent with my eating. I didn't starve myself -- I started at about 2000 calories/day and didn't really go below 1800/day. I liked keeping track my food and gathering statistics. I did go "off plan" some, but for nearly a year I think I had some kind of calorie deficit each day. I don't know how I got through the stress and rough spots, because these days it seems anything set me off.

I do know that I had a real clear reason for losing weight -- better my health and get my life back. When confronted with a food I didn't crave, like a brownie at work, I'd WANT the brownie, but I would say "No" to the brownie and "Yes" to me and my future.

These days, the brownie would frequently win, so I don't know what kept my mojo going for that year...

Morning ladies,

Just dropping by for a quick check-in. How nice that you miss me, but I'm not gone! Just regrouping life.

I took two days off the first of this week. I really enjoyed the time, this time around. We didn't do anything special. Just the normal stuff - took Spanky over to DH's cousin's place to ride; laundry; cleaned my office; cleaned the exercise room, did some yoga and strengthening, did some yard work, took a couple of naps. I've just enjoyed getting back to normal. Its felt great to tackle some things that I've been totally ignoring as a result of all the work stress. Like cleaning the office and exercise rooms. I just couldn't bring myself to do anything in there but knew that both were becoming very cluttered. When it gets that way, I wouldn't want to spend any time in the rooms. Might be called - avoidance. However, it didn't take long at all and was very empowering. How silly is that? I've also been doing some studying for the CPA. Its hard with the distractions of DH and the animals.

I've been doing yoga and strengthening type of exercises at home. My body has become so incredibly tight and inflexible over the last several months. I could use a good, deep massage!

Annie - on your engagement! I wouldn't be able not to tell anyone either!

to all! I better get busy.

Happy Friday Ladies!

My! The non-posting bug seems to have hit us all this week!

Terri, I'm glad you enjoyed your days off. My DH and I SO need to take a week and do nothing but clean! My house is a disaster. My sewing/exercise room is the room to do this weekend! I absolutley must get it cleaned up - I can't even get in except to the dog's crate. Hope all those pups of yours are doing great!

Heather, Your "first lost weight" story sounds a lot like mine - it took me 10 months to lose 70 lbs, but then it just crawled by. You definately have more "stick-with-it-ness" than I do.

My WI is tomorrow, and I have to admit, I'm somewhat hopeful. It's possible I've actually lost a bit this week. I think I'll be quite upset if I haven't, but my body is doing such weird things lately! Maybe it's merely the steady advance toward menopause. I suppose the biggest obsticle I'm facing right now to any loss is digestive. As in s-l-o-w! TMI, I know, but I don't understand how anyone eating this much fiber and drinking this much water can have the problems in that area I do!

I'm quite glad the week is nearly over! It's been a bit trying and I can't even imagine what I'd do if I had another day at this office! I really need to work on the weekend - but the next three in a row are pretty much booked with "real-life" things to do! This weekend I have to get ready for next weekend! Next weekend is a medieval event one of my two groups is putting on. The weekend after that is memorial day and I promised my elderly aunt I'd go to Independance to a family function. The weekend after that is my birthday - which I'm "celebrating" by appearing at yet another medieval event - a demo at a local town's fall festival.

And at this moment I'd like to KILL MY BOSS! I swear, I can't work for the next four weekends in a row, I'm incredibly far behind and I just KEEP getting cases assigned that he says "I want YOU to handle because it's REALLY complicated!"

I hate him.

Obviously, I've got to run!

Hi Ladies,

I am here a lot, and I have a blog where I post most of my info, I guess I am just not that active a typer. I am happy that everyone is doing well... everyone is an inspiration to me here. My weekly weigh in is tomorrow and I am not sure if I am down from last week (since they are weekly) I have to police myself with the scale though I am very good with dieting and exercising!....I figured I should throw a post here too cause I started in June at 394 pounds and ... my Birthday was in July and it made me 42 so I believe I qualify for this thread, heck I even feel at home I think my last weeks weight was 338... and I am working hard to lose weight (I know it is easier for me...still not easy though, lol... ) anyhow I hope everyone has a pleasant surprise when they weigh-in next!...

Take each day at a time and never ever quit!

- Elliott

Elliott,

OMG, you are doing fabulous! You are an inspiration to ME! Thank you for dropping in to share that! Drop in again 'cause we've love to get to know you more!

We've gotten quiet this week. Time for all of us to maybe have a break.

I've been concentrating on getting back to a happy place since my work stress has diminished considerably. I've really enjoyed the last two weeks and finding that I can be happy again.

I haven't been the best with food or exercise but I've been working on overall mental wellness.

I downloaded FitGirl from Itunes and am rethinking where I want to go with fitness; more to how I want to get there. It like having a personal trainer without paying for it. One of her topics was about dealing with stress. She talked about how to reduce stress. One of the things she talked about is not procrastinating because procrastination only leads to added stress. That sure is the truth. She talked too about how energizing it is when you tackle things that you have been procrastinating. Very true, its almost like an endorphin high that you get from exercise. I've been trying to keep that in mind and when I'm feeling sluggish, I've tackled a few things that I've been ignoring. Today it was trimming the shrubs and pulling weeds around the front porch. I had a great time and it was very therapudic.

On the dog front, my babies are growing up! Thank you, Lord. As you probably remember, and may not want to, I've posted several times about dogs getting away from me and running off the place and me having to chase after them. This morning, I let Dixie out of the back yard thinking she would run the fence and everyone would chase her (i.e. they'd run themselves silly and tired). She had a ball just running around the house, barn and horse pasture while I worked outside. When I went in, she was happy to go with me. This afternoon while I as out, I took Ruby out with me. She has been the worse about taking off and not coming back for awhile. She too just ran around the place and then laid down in the shade under a tree. She was just as happy as she could be. It is nice to be able to have a dog running around out in front while I'm out. I don't like that they are confined to the back yard or the kennel. There is hope that they will become porch dogs yet. Ruby has even been feeling comfortable enough to come lay under my desk when I'm studying. Right now, they are all laying together on the floor snoozing; even Ruby. Yay!

Lilion - Hope you had a good WI and a successful weekend.

I'm curious. Why do you think the women's beach volleyball teams wear skimpy uniforms while the men wear tank tops and bike type shorts? Also, he women's track also wear skimpy outfits where the guys don't. The men don't run in bikini speedo's so why do the women?

to all!

Terri, that's so funny! We were just talking about that this week! My DH is of the opinion that men wouldn't dream of watching women play vollyball without women in skimpy clothes, but everyone watches the men! Men are such JOKING! Personally, I think those guys should at least have to take off their shirts! Now THEN I'd watch men's volleyball!

WI was GOOD! I was SO glad to see that scale move! 2 lbs down, one to go and I'll have 5 lbs gone. Not so great for 8 weeks trying - but I think I may be on track - finally!

I took Mac to see a concert on the capital lawn Friday night. Suz stayed home, because DS didn't want to go, but didn't want to be saddled with two dogs. Mac was SO GOOD! Apparently he behaves much better without Suzie around. I impressed people with my well-behaved doggie. We took them for a long walk last night and should tonight, but I haven't decided yet. It's the last day for the public pool and so they have Hot Dippity Dog day - where you can take them - it's usually really crowded and we like taking them - so we'll see. Glad your pups are getting all grown-up!

Elliott - You have done an amazing job so far! TWG!

Off now, to see what I can get accomplished around the house - or maybe for another cup of coffee!

Good morning,
I am trying to wake up and get ready for work after having off the weekend.
MONDAY-yeck-
My friend at work and I are going fri. to be hypnotized for weight loss. Has anyone ever done this. I figured I have done just about everything else so why not.
I hope everyone has a good day.


Rene