Today is the day! Happy Birthday and hope Himself has a GREAT party!!

Kayley, go girl! A pool would be soooo nice.

Hugs,
Ratkity

good morning everyone,
have a great day...keep it cool and hydrate....It's hot hot hot...I am going to get some exercise in before I go to work.
rene

Cyn - I bet you would like it. If you want to give it a go try the Sabra brand. It does have a bit more calories, but it tastes really good and there are many flavors. Otherwise there are plenty of healthier options out there, but the calories are always pretty low anyhow. I have a few food allergies, many intolerances (which I suppose are not considered allergies as I don't have full body reactions to) and things like hummus make me happy as I can enjoy something that isn't salad lol.

Catherine - OHHHH! I hope the bday partay goes wonderfully well! Sounds like you are busy busy preparing and now celebrating!

****
BAH! Still on my TOM lol. I have this desire to get out into the sun today...but it is like cloudy. lol Maybe it will clear up later.

I'm going to make some mango salsa in a bit, and cut up a few things. Going to have loads of healthy foods today. Doing an experiment with a raw food recipe. Sort of making a dip thing out of almonds, but we'll see how it turns out. Sometimes with these recipes I think "ohhhhhhh that sounds good" and then the taste isn't...what I would expect lol.

I hope everyone is well! *HUGS*

morning all...

Jacquie: I just might try some.

Catherine: Hope teh Bday party goes well!

Kayley: GOOD LUCK!! Girl if you get on the show give a shout out to us 3FC!

Seems like everynoe is having hot hot hot! Arizona is no exception. They say our monsoons should be starting which last year they were a mess!!That is when the roof at my work caved! I went to my councelor this morning. Talked about my son ahving a baby. She said that I am calm when I talk about it. I said worse things could happen. I did cry a bit yesterday..TOM is comming could be that. But I think eventually being a 36 yr old Gma will hit me. Today is cleaning time for me..I have avoided it all week.

Have a great day yall!

It is high noon here now, and the party is to start. We've already had 5 early birds. The chili is hot, and the cake is calling to me. Anyone who wants to come, and can get here before midnight, are certainly welcome.

Hello girls

I'm back...but I'm so fat and ashamed :'(

Cyn - *HUGS*

Catherine - I hope you have a blast!!!

Bazz - *HUGS HUGS HUGS* Don't feel ashamed. We all understand and are here for you! You know sometimes I get upset that I feel like I haven't lost enough weight and then I start feeling bad about myself, but in the end I have lost weight and I am doing it. I just am doing it at my own pace right now and that is okay. *HUGS* Hang in there!

Hello all! Been reading doing great on exercise but way off base food wise. I dread my wi tomorrow. But saying prayers that it is not so back. Kids were done school on thursday and I have some new kids in babysitting care. So that means a healthier paycheck for me. Which is a blessing since things are getting tight. I am setting up the kids to learn some new life skills. Meaning CHORES. But when I use the term life skills they get excited! LOL. Sometimes I feel guilty being so sneeky...NOT ;-) Will post my wi tomorrow in the spring challenge. Since I missed last week completely! Got myself hooked on shutterfly today. Now I have 4 photo books for 2009 in the works. One family then one for each kid. Then I will probably do one for my mom for Christmas. Well gonna get the kids bathed and off to bed as dh got work for today and will sleep in the rig tonight since he got some more hours for tomorrow. Which is good since he was of Wed/Thurs. Have a great evening everyone! Hugs!

Gee, it's been so long since I've been here I feel almost like a stranger! I just got back from a very wonderful weekend with my TOPS group and am feeling motivated again. (finally) It was SRD (state recognition days) where we recognize all the accomplishments of our division winners and crown our state queen or king also. I won second place in the state of Montana for my weight division. That means I lost the second most amount of weight (89.5 lbs.) in the year 2008 for my division. (200 to 300 pounds) Now I am in a different division since I am below 300. It starts over every year and I am excited to go next June and see everyone I met this year! I will post some pics when I get them from the photographers.

morning ladies...

I am headed to the grocery store this morning...oh how I hate shopping. LOL When ya live on a budget it is no fun at all.

Yesterday I did get my kitchen cleaned. Today I plan to get the livingroom done.

My brother says that even if his boos/roomamte can't find a house to by in Sept, they are going to move anyhow and rent something. I think that means we will be able to move in. That makes me EXCITED.

I got alot of pieces washed and cut for my star quilt. hehehe I might finish this one!

Thanks for the cool story and picts Kaylee!!! It looked all very exciting.

Hugs,
Ratkity

Cyn - Please please show pictures of your fab quilt? I love quilts! I always wanted to learn how to do that kind of stuff!

Bazz - The bad days are the worst for us big girls lol. We're girls, which could mean hormones, and we are like on a weight loss journey. EEKS! *hugs* TY for the avatar comment, yours is so lovely too! I love everyones pictures...it is nice to see our faces!

Gaining the weight back is hard to handle. I know the emotion that comes with it. Feeling like a failure and feeling shamed, but you know we all struggle and it is okay in the long run. I mean even when I gained my weight all the way up to possibly 350 pounds at some point, you know it was okay. I did something about it, even though it has taken me a long time, I'm still doing it. We just have bumps along the way and sometimes we have rather large bumps.

What can we do to help support you more? If you need a buddy, via email or chats, I'm up for it! Would love to get to know you. I'm also hoping to visit the UK in a few months, you're in Wales?

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Well today I'm tired...lol. I keep sleeping late, but I gotta get up and get moving. I struggle so much with the exercising. God! lol. Everyone else is like "weee I did this" and I'm like "um, I got up today" lol. I really feel a bit closed in lately and want to be outside.

Bazz asked about my hair, yes I did grow back, however, I still have the skin issues and that includes the scalp. Itchy, red patchy, and the lovely hidradentitis or (HS) to deal with. Basically my body is attacking itself, head to toe, so I'm going to put up with it for the rest of my life. Hopefully with more weight loss and surgery in the future, I can get rid of the scarring and wounds that won't heal. However, most of that junk doesn't affect my hair, so my hair is now thicker and more shiny. I still go through periods where I flare up and loose hair, but not like it was!!!! It was getting really thin and I was freaking out about it. So, I'm learning how to be patient lol.

*HUGS*