HI..wow where has this week gone? I went to the dr on tuesday and I had lost 4.5lbs in the 2 week period. I am just bored with counting calories and writing it all down. I know my calories are right but not always the best choices. We talked about how I might want to follow fat more and she suggested WW.I am going to give it a try.I have family who do WW so they are willing to help me.

Reading about sleepovers make me sad...seems like only yesterday I had a house full of kids and now its just me and hubby here in the evenings.Makes me wonder where time went! Enjoy the kids to the fullest they grow up and leave to fast!!!

I'm in! Seems like forever. Wonder why the site was down?

Well I'm down too! Passed my 5% at WI Thurs. night. Down 17 lbs in just shy of 2 months! There were many times when I lost a lot more in the beginning but I'll take this with a :D.

Oops, there goes the laundry timer. Hope everyone has a great weekend.
I'll try to get back later.

Hey girls! Just managed to open the site...gosh! I missed you all so much!

I got an email the other day from a different support site to which I belong. (You have to pay a fee to gain access.) They do body building, but I've learned a lot from the group about burning fat and exercise. They have started a holiday fitness challenge, to lose fat over the holiday season as opposed to what normally happens.

I don't want to officially join their challenge (I'm not a competitive person...unless we're talking Scrabble), but I decided to recommit myself to a plan, to break past 300 lbs. by my 49th birthday in February. I've been living on a maintenance "routine", not exercising much but eating healthy...very low key. I needed a break from the intense focus on food and fitness while the rest of my life needed more attention. But now I think I'm really ready to push through to the next level and lose the next 10%. My divorce will be final soon, I hear, and I have to be under 200 lbs and have maintained that for six months to get health insurance for myself, so it's really time to get cracking on this or I won't be covered.

I was feeling rather low about my weight one day recently and got myself into a funk, thinking about lapband surgery again. Read up on it, then realized and accepted, again, that it's just not for me. Alternatively, I found this other thing, not liposuction, but a noninvasive laser treatment for subcutaneous fat removal. I'm considering it for the future, once all the divorce bills are paid and I've saved up for it. Their website says the treatment also stimulates collagen production to help shrink the skin, which is what's really interesting to me. I'm interested in spot reduction for my upper arms (aka batwings), belly overhang and inner thighs. But in the meantime, I'm going to keep plugging along on my own.

Julia, you asked me how I "cope with the changeing styles teens want to explore". It helps that I don't have the ex around, who is also conservative and very restrictive, but has no fasion sense at all. It's my passive-agressive nature that's letting my 17-year-old grow his hair out. He's doing it so he can donate it to Locks of Love, which I did a couple of years ago. But when the boys go to Kazakhstan to spend time with their father for Christmas, I know there's going to be a confrontation. I'm preparing Quinn for that. He's got just three more inches to go, and that's going to take a bit more time. He's got to be able to hold his ground.

When it comes to teens, choose your battles. They need to be able to make some of their own choices, even if they lead to less-than-attractive personal style. Remember the 70s? We all lived past the puka shells and polyester Angels' Flight pants! I know that a lot of parents feel that what their kids look like is a reflection on them. And it might be...if a kid is pushing really hard to find some control over who they get to be.

So, I'm chasing boys out of my house now after a second round of gaming sleepovers last night. They cleaned up after themselves! That's a first!

Have a lovely weekend!

No time to chat right now, just wanted to say HI! I haven't been able to get into the site the past couple days. Looks like it's back now.
:)

I fell off the wagon yesterday - gonna blame it on the wine I had. Not fair to but that's my story. The scale is off the charts - lots of water for me today. It's a new day and I need to quit kicking myself, stay off the scale for a few days and all will be well.

Judy - you asked me last week about how I was going to change my water workout. Sorry for the delayed response. I can do many things in the water that just aren't possible for me on land. Because of that I think I have been doing them faster but not concentrating so much on form. My new focus is slower and more deliberate - doing the exercises as if i was on land - using the muscles that are meant to be used rather than feeling the freedom the water brings. I've already seen some added benefits from this.

Glad the site is back up - missed you all!

Hi everyone! Glad to see the site back up! I missed you all.

I had a wonderful dinner out last night -- one of those that would be a LOT less enjoyable if you worried about the calories. So I exercised early in the day, at VERY carefully early in the day and then just completely enjoyed my dinner. It was a 5-course tastings menu with wine pairings. Delish. I don't foresee any problem getting right back on track today, but I will say that I didn't want to get on the scale this morning...

Hi ladies,

I really was here to try to post yesterday but couldn't get to the site!

I'm still dealing with a sick Bud. I'm not sure if we're gaining ground or not. But its Anne's call since I just have him for pasture companionship.

I've done a lot better with food this week. A lot more controlled and no mindless stuffing. Even getting more exercise in by walking with the dogs at night. We're able to let Duke off the leash as long as the front gate is closed and he's doing really well about running and enjoying himself without actually running off. Allows me to walk without being drug or holding him back.

I had a really good lesson with Spanky yesterday. I can feel it in my inner thighs today too! We decided to board Spanky with Anne over the winter. That saves us from having to haul him in the dark or really cold or bad weather. Safer for all. And it allows me to have more opportunity to ride him as I can use her indoor arena. Heated indoor arena at that!

Georgia - I like that idea of challenging ourselves about burning more fat this holiday season. I'm trying to get back into the weights again to get the muscles back in shape.

:bravo: to those who have lost! :bravo: for those that have been able to maintain! :bravo: to those who just keep trying no matter what happened that day! :kickbutt: to those who need it!

Time to get the puppies up. I've been procrastinating that since its been raining this morning.

I have a horrendous work week coming up. Meetings all day for four solid days. I'm going to the store this morning to stock up on healthy snacks and lunches.

:wave: to all!

I did it SURVIVED a mass sleepover...ds#1 & friend both 13 yrs old, ds#2 & friend both 8 yrs old, and dd and her friend both 6 yrs old...wii resort, hockey, pizza and pop. Decided to do it all one night so I would not have to keep track of whos turn it is for a friend over. As well then the house will get super messy once! I will probably do this again over Christmas break. Turned out fairly well the kids all played well together.

Bud took a turn for the worse today. Anne came out and we called the vet. Its been a horrendous morning out in the cold rain. Anne had to make the decision about Bud. We all cried. I am going to spend the rest of the day under a blanket and sleep.

Oh Terri - I'm sorry for your sadness today. Hugs to you.

Terri...:hug:

Oh, Terri! My condolences! :hug: These days suck!! :hug: