Woohoo for medium pjs!

Turns out my measurements now barely fit me into the largest size they offer in the bridesmaid dress. It comes with an addable corset back though so I think I'll be ok.

sassyangies - glad to hear you are back to losing! hope your work weekend went well!

Jane - with the corset back, yes! You should be fine. And it's cool that you have a coworker who has experience as a seamstress who could help. My mom likes to sew. She used to sew clothes but now just makes quilts, mostly. Still, I am going to ask her to take down some of my favorite pieces at some point, in hopes that it will save me some money in the long run. And maybe sometime my awesome corduroy jacket. It is already a bit too large, since it is supposed to be FITTED, but most pieces aren't like that.

What color is the dress you're going to wear? I bet you'll look gorgeous.

KerriLeah - that's awesome. It's interesting, you know, how you have to reprogram your expectations about going out! It sounds like you've done that successfully. I feel like I have to a degree, too. I don't feel 'deprived' if I don't get an appetizer, and I make myself read the nutrition label before I eat most things. I admit that I've been pretty limited with going out lately, though. I will have to work a bit more sociability back into the schedule? But yeah - having a few makes you feel better for sure.

Also, hah, that's such a great story about the crunches. I would probably do that - wait until 5 a.m., no one around before attempting the machine I was unsure about.

dgramie - it sounds like you had a really lovely weekend! I think that you made good choices, too. I will definitely splurge now and then on a slice of homemade pie and just really enjoy it. It sounds like it was delicious.

healthychange - welcome! It sounds like you are having great success with my fitness pal. Congrats!

Rosebud - ahh! That is awesome, you must have been so thrilled! You are going to have so many great options when you go shopping. I know how you feel about having a bit of extra room in your clothes. I don't like mine too tight, but also these days I'm pretty aware that I look better with fitted things. Such a balance to find!

I had a good weekend. I volunteered Saturday doing taxes for VITA. They ordered pizza for lunch (they always feed us). I had packed snacks so if it was pizza I would be okay, but we were working on a bus instead of in a room, and the pizza scent filled the air, so I had a slice. It was good, and not too bad an indulgence, but it did not fill me up, so I had a big salad when I got home too.

Went to the symphony Saturday night. I got a front-row seat and scooted in at essentially the last minute. It was very cold though, and I was wearing a short dress so I had a very VERY cold walk to and fro, since I did not pay to park.

Sunday I went to my parents. They are still out of town, but I watered my mom's plants and did a bit of cleaning. I also did a lot of food prep for the upcoming week. Sunday night, I went to another concert. Saw a bunch of folks, which was great. I was pretty late getting to home and to sleep, and forgot that I had changed the alarm so my morning alarm did not go off. The sound of the school bus woke me from a dream about my grandmother's house, but I still managed to get up and walk on the treadmill for my usual half-hour before leaving for work.

And now it begins. Have a great week, y'all!

Mnem It will be a teal green with a black satin sash. I've only seen it in all black, but judging by the color swatches, I think it will be lovely. I usually have my hair dyed red, and I think it will look very nice with that color.

Hi everyone.. It has been a very busy weekend. I am so glad it's monday. I am so glad my monthly thing is almost gone.. YAY!! I wasn't able to get on yesterday but today I stepped on the scale and and more pounds dropped off. Im so excited about this. Makes my first month OP a great one. I will be alone for the first time in awhile this week. My husband is taking my son and going to see his Mom Wed Thurs Fri and Sat. I'm excited, but nervous about how I will eat ya know. I'm getting to the point though where this is coming natural and easier for me. So I'm excited to start another month of this!!

Mnem sounds like you have allot of fun going to shows. Good for you. Sounds like a blast..

Jane so happy that you found a dress. The corsset is going to work perfect. yay!! It's going to be exciting to get all dressed up.

strange weather here...going to hit 70 today, then bad storms overnight. JOY!!
I say lets just have the rest of winter and be done with it!! LOL

I have a bit over a month before my daughters shower and the scales just arent moving much. Time to kick in high gear...i so want some lbs off by then!!

Jane - the teal green sounds lovely. I love shades of green/blue. I bet you'll look great and will have a great time. I can't wait to see the pictures. Well, I know that is a long way off, but still!

sassyangies - I hope you husband and son have a good and safe trip! And that you enjoy a bit of time off. I'm sure you'll do well. Will you have more time to work on your scrapbooking? Or will the daily STUFF take up too much of your time? Oh, and yes! I really love live music, and feel alot more comfortable going out to see it now. You know? I don't worry about inconveniencing the people around me, et cetera. It's brilliant.

dgramie - we have the same weather, probably a day later than you. 50s today and 60s tomorrow, followed by a return of cold and snow. All the birds were singing this morning.

Oh, the ladies who take care of the plants in our office are old friends of my parents. I don't think I knew them when I was a kid but we are friendly now. Usually they have an employee who comes in to my office, but yesterday they were here for the first time in four or five months, and one of them told me I looked like a different person, she was so proud of me, et cetera. It was great.

Hah, then I had a slightly more awkward conversation about my weight loss with the volunteer coordinator for my tax thing. He was complimentary too, he just did not know how to approach it and asked "So what's this diet you're on?" after I said no to pizza for dinner. Then he said that they would be happy to order something healthier for me. Which was really nice, although I said since I only volunteer 2 hours on Mondays and usually have dinner ready at home that I would be fine with whatever they got, or could skip it and eat at home.

mnem that was nice that two people noticed and commented on your weight loss. Yay for NSV. I understand the achwardness. People at my work make fun of me for the smell of my brocolli or whatever else I'm eating. Instead of saying good for you or something nice they always say do you ever eat anything else.. Blah to them. That guy though was really nice offering to order something healthier though.

Dgramie you can do this. You have come so far and are doing great. What do you do to kick things up a notch? I always wonder what I'm going to do when I have to change things up, but haven't figured that out yet. Hope you figure that out.

I will be scrapbooking allot when my family leaves for their little mini vaca. I even took Friday off so I'll have all day Wed Thurs and Fri and sat morning to myself. It's going to be so awesome to be alone to do some things. I will have allot of time scrapbooking. I've kept up with the laundry, my house is clean enough, lol.., and I won't have to cook much just for me. Wednesday I'm having 8 girls over for a 6pm to 3am scrap. I love hosting these because I can get allot done and be with friends too. I have to take my parents to the Dr Thursday, but that won't be bad just a few hours. So it will just be me scrapping and watching movies. I'm going to try and get a new smashbook going for my journal on my weight loss. So that's my main goal while they are gone.

I hope everyone has a great Tuesday. I will definetely be on here everyday seeing what you ladies are up to also!! Have a great Day!

dgramie: gotta love those deadlines! The theme of the bachelorette is "little black dress", so I have 96 days to get into one!

sassy yay for all that time to yourself!

I guess I will focus on veggies alot and make sure to get in extra each day and make alot of my meals veggies based instead of meat based. I also need to start back exercising daily( which is so hard for me, IM lazy!)

sassyangies - such a bummer that people at work make fun of you for eating healthy foods. I haven't had that issue, really. I tend to eat at a different time from most other people, though, as I like to eat later in the day that most. Keeps me full rather than distracted through dinner.

Your plans for your week 'off' sound like lots of fun, especially the house party! Are you serving food at your scrapbooking party? I have some ideas for pretty healthy appetizers, but I imagine you wouldn't want to spend loads of time prepping for your visitors. Anyway, it is tonight! Have fun!

Jane - I can't wait to hear about your little black dress. It sounds like fun!

dgramie - I am also a bit lazy; so I exercise first thing in the morning these days. I have my workout clothes, down to socks and shoes and sports bra, laid out and ready to go, so all I have to do it roll out of bed and put them on. I've done it every workday this month, and I think it has finally become something close to a habit! Try it? You're too groggy to object much. I also find it gives me more energy in the day.


Had a good, if domestic, evening last night. It's raining here; has been storming and we have a tornado watch. It is up to 70 degrees already, but temperatures will drop overnight and we are forecast for some snow. Hard to plan for, for sure.

:welcome: HEALTHYCHANGE ~ yes, we are all making some awesome progress here. Looking forward to getting to know you better ... :)

SASSYANGIES ~ congrats on your great success for your first month .... :carrot: I have the same problem as you -- I've been shrinking so I have to buy new clothes in smaller sizes (including bras). Thankfully, I still have something left so a good fitting bra will help too ... ;)

MEM ~ I tried to go back to find where you all were talking about the "fry tax" -- what is that? Is it for real? I know our government is/was thinking about increasing the taxes on all fast food; not sure if they have or will do it though. About the clothes, I still have a little pouch left over from the tumor/surgery that I hope to minimize with some good fitting undergarments but have to find the right size (medium or large maybe). Will have to guess at first.

I am supposed to have another minor corrective surgery for that "little pouch" some time in the future but that must be delayed for now, as my surgeon wants me to do 6 rounds of chemo therapy over the next while (starts in 2 weeks for 18 weeks). Some microscopic C-cells showed up in one of the tumor biopsies so he wants to be on the safe side and I agree totally.

dGRAMIE ~ good luck with your veggie-based plan; I know people that have found it worked for them.

JANE ~ that "little black dress" can be a great incentive and motivation for sure ... good luck!!!


We have had really mild temps here too; and an unbelieveable :rain: storm all last night with winds and lightening. We can even see grass outside again; and it's late January. It's starting to look like spring out there. :D

Rosebud - hahah, no. My dad was a collegiate debate coach. He took college students to debate tournaments all the time, and each student and teacher on the trip had a per diem for meals. My dad saved a bit from his per diem by ordering just a sandwich and instituting a "fry tax" on his students. He would take a couple of fries from each of them rather than ordering his own. So whenever someone in my family takes fries from someone else's plate, we call it the "french fry tax."

It is SO looking like spring, but I noticed that I had tulips coming up at the end of December. Haven't gone to look for the tips since we had such frigid temperatures last week, though!

Oy, sorry to hear about the results of the biopsy, but it's really great that your surgeon is being protective and proactive based on the results. I remember when my mom went through chemo years ago. It was not an easy process, but it is not as traumatic as it used to be since they have some really great medications to help support your health, to minimize nausea, et cetera.

Some forms of it do not even cause hair loss? But if yours is likely to cause hair loss, contact the hospital and/or the local chapter of the cancer society, as I recall that they had a 'wig room' where you could get 2 wigs from wigs other patients and people had donated. Even if you want to buy your own, it gives you an idea of what you like.

MEM ~ cute story about your DAD and the fry tax.

This is something that my sister was very upset about. I have very, very long hair and it took me at least 5-7 years to get it this long (down to my buttocks). I really hope my chemo doesn't do that as I know others that have not lost theirs; but I will have to accept it if that happens.

Thanks for the tips and words of encouragement ... :hug:

Heh. I know the feeling. My mom had very very long hair, and had had long hair all her life. So losing her hair was really hard on her. We knew that her chemotherapy would cause hair loss, so before her first sessions, we went and got it cut shorter and colored professionally, as a treat. She has never colored it because it was so long and that would be tough to maintain. Then when it was coming out she asked me to cut it for her, and that was pretty tough.

Here's the good news: her hair's back now, as long as it ever was, and as healthy as ever. Not easy to think about when you're facing it, I know, but you are so strong that you've got enough in you for this, too, I'm sure.

HI ladies.. I hope everyone is doing great today. I am barely getting on because my scrap party last till 330 am and then I was back up at 730 to take my Dad to the Dr. The scrap went so good. We don't eat lots of food. I put a veggie tray out with ranch for my guests and spicy mustard for me to dip in. Brownies were brought and cookies which I had one of each. I am pleased that I did not overdo it. I spent the rest of the day redoing my scrap booking wall. I only have 1 wall in my room I can give up for scrapbooking so it has to be organized well, or it doesn't function. Now I'm gonna spend the rest of the night watching movies and scrap booking.

I hope everyone had a great day!!