300+ Chat Thread: August, 2014
 

WELCOME!!

We are a group of individuals who weigh or have weighed 300+, or near there. This group was formed to provide a place for others like us to find support, inspiration, and hope. We are aware of the distinct problems that come with weighing over 300 lbs.

We want to invite everyone (roosters as well as chicks!) to join us in our journey. We share laughter and tears, heartaches and fears ... joys and celebrations. We also share what works for us and what doesn't.

We have found this thread to be more than just a support group... we have found it to become a home. We invite you to join us!

Fiona & Betsy - Thank you for the welcome back!

A little about me...I'm 28, just celebrated 4 years of marriage to my best friend (and almost 10 years of being together!). We have are childless by choice....well, at least human children. We have a 1 year old pug child named Winston. I work at a social services agency & plan to return to college to get my Bachelor's in social work. I went to school to be a paralegal, but I dislike the work, and after years of soul searching, I finally found my calling!

Besides the morbid obesity, I've always been active...I love to exercise! And I never had any significant health problems until this year. Right now, I'm suffering from a bulged disk in my neck, which radiates pain down my shoulders and into my hands, making everything much more difficult. I am also getting over a 4 month battle with pneumonia, and right now I have one heck of a case of laryngitis (I've been without a voice for 4 weeks now). However, I'm keeping positive, and working towards getting these problems sorted out!

Sam I am so very sorry for your loss. Please take care of yourself during this time of grieving. *hugs*

Ubee ~ Thanks, Im looking forward to starting my women's fitness group this Thursday

Sam ~ I hope the women's fitness group goes good too, I'll definitely tell you how the first session goes

Kayley ~ Welcome back

Tiffany ~ I hope you enjoy your time on the forum and on this thread

Betsy ~ I agree anything we can do to keep us on track is a good thing.

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I woke up at 5:00 AM this morning so chances are I'll definitely take a nap before we go run errands at 2:00 pm today but anyway so far today I've done my everyday morning duties and now Im just watching t.v and posting on here and on 2 other forums while ripping cd's to the computer so I can put them on my MP3 Player and thats all Im doing right now. I'll get my 30 min outside walk in this morning and I'll get my 5 mile walk in tonight as well.

Whoa! It is August already!
Terra my aren't you up early today. A nap sounds so good. I have one scheduled for August 10th.
Kayle I am so envious that you like to exercise. I love how active so many of our group are and I hope it is contagious. What kinds of exercise do you enjoy? No negativity about WLS here. Whatever it takes to get healthy is the right choice.
Betsy time to stop worrying about everything that is broken and needs to be fixed EXCEPT for you! My friend we have got to dig down and get serious. We have a lot of living to do!
Fi I love your evil advice. From now on I will picture all of us chanting "Evil, Evil..." together when I am near that poison. Oh and on a side note, my daughter did not ask for the chocolate chips until I called her from the store asking if she wanted to put them in her cookies. Sugar is evil and it makes me evil. She is getting so trim and healthy,I will not lead her astray!
Angie I know you are busy with work and family but take care of yourself too.
Tiffany how is it going?
Sam sending you even more love and hugs.
Jane and Silent do I need to call the mounties?
Busy weekend coming up. I will stay on plan. Hormonal week from heck has passed and I feel stronger again.
I must be learning because the scale stayed steady the whole week. Going to get some off before the next hormonal sabatoge. (Is blaming my hormones not being accountable for my actions?)
Stay strong on this journey my friends and thanks for being here.

Ubee ~ Yeah I know I got up way early but I couldnt go back to sleep when the alarm went off at 4:30 so I just laid in bed until 5 am and then decided to go ahead and get up. Yeah I love when Im able to take a nap. Why do you have to schedule a nap? That sounds pretty funny.

Sam, I know that nothing we can say will help you with easing your pain, but hopefully knowing that we all love and care about you will provide a sense of warmth for you. I am so sorry about the loss of your friend. Losses that seem so senseless and preventable seem even harder to cope with. But your decision to not let this be a reason to go on a binge eating spree reminded me that we've each in our own way overdosed only for us it was food and the harmful effects take much longer to show up.

I don't know if it helps, but maybe your friend's last gift to you is your realization that he wanted you to get healthy and your ability -- even though every part of you is in pain -- to understand that you need to mourn his passing and allow your own grief to come through, but that it doesn't have to be through doing something that will hurt you. Please take care of yourself and DH. And understand that there's going to be a large hole in your spirit for what will seem like forever and that it's ok to feel that way for now.

Today is my nephew's birthday -- he's turning 38......that seems impossible as so many of my memories are of a freckle-faced little boy. He's grown into a fine young man.......now I just need to find him a wife!

Kayley What does loving to exercise feel like -- physically and emotionally? ;) I'm trying to think of a physical activity I enjoy and realize that there are none -- mainly because moving is so hard. Sounds like you've got a busy life going on right now with deciding to return to college and working on getting back to a healthier life style. Good for you!

Terra I love naps. And any day you wake up before the sun is up means that you're entitled to a nap.

Ubee I don't schedule my naps any more.....I seem to have reached the age where if I'm sitting still for more than about 10 minutes (such as in a parking lot waiting for someone), my head just bobs to the side and I'm out like a light. I know I take these naps due to the drool stains on my tees when I wake up. So attractive! Congrats on getting through the hormonal blitzkrieg without any weight gain. I've got to try that some time (the no weight gain, the hormonal blitzkrieg's are over for me......of course, that leaves me with no excuse for being cranky other than I feel like it!).

Today I've got to go to Costco and the grocery store. That was supposed to happen yesterday but I took a friend out for her birthday lunch (stayed on plan!), and then ended up running endless errands for her so she could make this dumb apricot chutney. First we went to the Farmer's Market -- ok, that was on the schedule, but ended up having to make 3 trips back to the car with stuff because she's making pickles and stuff. Then to a spice store to get candied ginger. Then to a grocery store to get red peppers. By the time I got home, it was already 4:00, and it's another 30 minutes into town and I wasn't in the mood. So, today I'll do that and hopefully get the floors done this afternoon. Tomorrow is either finish cleaning or yard work. Sunday is the Arts Festival and the family birthday party. My other nephew and the grands will stay here overnight, so Monday will be clean up. Who knows what exciting thing will pop up the rest of next week! Have a great day.

Sam— I know you're probably crying a lot (I would be), but I hope you're hanging in there OK. If you didn't see my message to you at the end of the July thread, please read it, because I was really feeling for you when I wrote it. It's important to let yourself mourn your friend, and remember: grief is hard work. I am super impressed with you that you are not going on an eating binge. Is your husband being supportive? I would expect that he is feeling a lot of grief, too. Please know that I am thinking about you and wishing you well.

Kayley— My husband and I are childfree by choice as well: we made that decision nearly 20 years ago (I am 59) and have never regretted it once. I think pugs are wonderful, and I've heard that they have great personalities! As you may have gathered from my recent postings, we are on the verge of being parents of felines again, after a sad year and a half during which we've had no cats in the house. We are into oriental shorthairs, a cat breed that is related to purebred Siamese—very long, tall, & skinny with long faces and big ears. Orientals come in a wide variety of colors and patterns—basically all the ones that regular American shorthairs (the cats most people have) come in. We have had two consecutive pairs of orientals—brother-&-sister littermates—and are about to get our third pair. Their names are Oscar (for Oscar Wilde) and Nénu (short for nénuphar, the French word for water lily): here's the most recent picture that our breeder sent us. We pick them up on Sunday, so my husband Bob and I are getting super excited! By the way, I agree with Ubee: you are blessed for being someone who likes to exercise. I'm sort of in the middle these days: I like to exercise some, but not as much as I should.

Ubee— I'm glad you and Betsy are picking up on the "Evil! Evil!" chant for when you walk by sugary treats in the grocery store. =smile= I literally say it aloud, sort of under my breath, even after being basically sugarfree for a long time. I know this isn't the Tough Love thread, but I have to say it: when you made that phone call to ask your daughter about buying chocolate chips, in the back of your mind you were planning to eat some of them yourself. Isn't it frustrating how our minds can trick us by justifying doing something that is off plan? I know I've been having that problem myself recently, using the last-minute push to get our house ready for the kittens as an excuse to not do my leg exercises. =sigh= Are you ready to make the commitment to being sugarfree except for very special occasions?

Betsy— I agree with Ubee: you appear to have a habit of "fixing" other people, when you need, for health reasons if nothing else, to focus on "fixing" yourself. I think that one of the rewards of being retired is that we can put our own needs front and center. Yes, that tendency of yours means that you are a good person, a person who reaches out and gives of your time & energy to other people; but if you neglect your own health needs, you will not live as long, and thus will be less helpful to others in the long run. I'm a "fixer," too, or I wouldn't have become a doctor. But in the last couple of years, I've been trying very hard to think about the future, and remind myself of how devastated Bob in particular would be if he lost me at a relatively early age to complications of obesity. And now I have my niece Margaret and my great-niece Grace to think of—as well as my sister Lee Ellen, whom I don't see very often but am very close to, thanks to the phone. Your loved ones need for you to live as long as possible, and to be mobile & active in your old age!

Speaking of Grace, yesterday's get-together with her was quite an experience! We started out, as I mentioned earlier, with a focus on mail art. I told her she may or may not want to get into mail art, but I was going to give her an in-depth introduction to it, so she could make a well-informed decision. She already, at just age 14, considers herself a collage artist: a lot of collage artists find mail art a rewarding way to improve their skills and find out firsthand what other collage artists, and artists of all kinds all over the world, are doing.

Then, after dinner, I gave her my iPad2. Since I'd built it up as a surprise, I started by just saying flat out: "I'm giving you my iPad2." She looked both puzzled and a little distressed—she's a very empathetic gal—and said, "Why??" So then I explained about the pain I've been having in my left thumb joint and my need for a lighter tablet. And I voiced my strong concern that if I were to buy the iPad Air and pass my iPad2 onto someone else, I would want it to be someone who would use it as I have—as a wonderful tool for creativity and learning, not just something to play games on. The more I talked about my love (I used the word "love" more than once) for my iPad2 and my mixed feelings about giving it up, even in the face of good reasons to upgrade to the iPad Air, the more Grace began to smile and smile, her eyes getting wide with excitement. She could really tell what a compliment I was giving her, to choose her as the person to inherit my iPad2, which I have cared for well and still has many years of life left in it.

We then took it upstairs to plug it into one of our desktop computers, wipe it clean of everything I had on it (which I'd already transferred to my iPad Air), and turn it into a brand-new iPad that would be her very own. That iPad2 has a white "bezel" (the frame around the screen), and I had outfitted it, just for Grace, with a silicone wrap-around back cover in blue, her favorite color. I also gave her a blue Alu-Pen stylus, my favorite brand (after much experimenting). She was absolutely delighted with the color scheme and especially with the stylus.

She had seen other people's tablets and smartphones, of course, people who just use their fingers on the keyboard, etc., and could really appreciate what a huge difference it makes to have a good stylus. I explained to her about how our hands are an extension of our brains, and what are our hands strongly trained for? Something that feels like a pen or a pencil! She got the hang of the triple keyboard very quickly, and I showed her a few non-obvious special features it has. After that, there was very little I needed to do: she was off and running, holding the iPad securely in her left hand, with her right hand holding the stylus and punching out URLs, etc., at high speed. I gave her a few suggestions for art applications she might want to get right away, and that was it!

As I was driving her home, I asked her, "Well, did I blow your mind tonight?" She said, "Yes! Yes!" with tons of happy enthusiasm in her voice. She was already brimming with ideas about how to use the iPad, and tickled that the passcode meant that her 10-year-old brother would not be able to swipe it from her to play games on.

What else can I say? I love Grace very much, and it was a fabulous experience for both of us! I can't wait to see her next Thursday, and she is really looking forward to meeting Oscar and Nénu. (She adores all animals, and wants to be a vet when she grows up.)

Good Afternoon!
Fi I almost feel like I am getting new kitties! Your Grace story was so touching and reminded me to not cling to anything. When it has served it's purpose with us it needs to go to others. Just what I needed to hear. As for tough love it is always appreciated. Yes, I was setting myself up. I am ready to be sugar free unless it fits into my strict rules. I do not hate strict rules. I need the boundries it provides.
Betsy once again your post cracks me up. Drool keeps us honest. I think I need more coffee. I live in a small ranch. If I do the floors that is my work limit for the day/month/year. Ick I really need to work on just doing what needs to be done instead of talking myself out of it.
Terra we have to take care of our daughter 24 hours a day. Hubby helps but if I lie down for a nap she gets worried that something is wrong. She is full of energy and a nap is not even on her radar.
Sam we are all thinking of you.
Today we went to lunch with a large group of people. Hubby and I had huge salads. Someone came up and told me how she wants to sit by me from now on. She said she was lying in bed thinking about how she was going to be strong and not eat junk and order a salad. She said our salads looked so much better then what she had. I think I had the best dish served too. I would never have thought I would fall in love with salads. Maybe there is hope for exercise.

Ubee I'm here!

I have been pet sitting and it's already cost me $450 and my sanity. Long story. But I have not had time to sit down and post.

the edema was PMS related but I got on the scale and I have put too much back on. Today was perfectly on plan and I got my swim and a lot of walking in. HAD TO make sure today was perfect because it's my 2 year dietaversary. Not perfect like my one year, but I certainly didn't gain it all back so that's something.

Hoping to be around more over the weekend!

Gosh, I got so involved in writing about Grace, I forgot to say that I made a collage about friendship—which is also a collage about two cats. Be sure to read what I wrote underneath it. Here it is.

Good Morning!
Fi as a fellow kitty mama I love your collage! How long does it take you to make something like that? You must be very patient. Have a safe trip and enjoy every precious moment.
Happy Dietaversary Jane! your post made me smile as I thought back to when I first started. I went through that honeymoon stage and according to my calculations I should be in a bikini right now. It is a journey. I have so much mental/emotional work to do so I am on the slow road. That is OK as long as I keep traveling and don't give up. You were one of the main posters that made me believe I could do this. Thank You Jane!
If it is not too painful I would love to hear the dog sitting story.
A while back I was so happy about how my husbands blood work had improved. Well his EKG showed blockage. After more tests it turned out to be all clear. Boy has that changed his attitude. I think he thought he was going to die first. Now, that he knows he may be around for a while he is worried about me and is being even more supportive. I'm loving it.
Have a peaceful day!

Ubee - I love to hike, work out on my elliptical, weight training, Zumba, bike riding, and I also enjoy Geocaching...while that's not a workout, there can be quite a bit of hiking involved at times, and I've gotten a good sweat on hunting for hidden treasure! :)

Betsy - I've always been active, ever since I was a small child, even though I was always overweight then, too. Lately, my knees have been hurting a lot, and the stress of carrying around an extra person (an obese one, at that!) is putting a strain on my activity level. Totally jealous you have a Costco (random, I know). We are FINALLY getting one here, and I've been anxious as all get out for them to open since the announcement!

Fiona - Hubby & I made the decision about 2 years into dating that we didn't want children. I've always known I didn't want children of my own (the earliest I can remember having those thoughts is being 11 years old). He actually got a Vasectomy about 8 years ago, and you would have thought the world was ending, according to some of my friends and relatives. At that time, we were quite young (19 & 21 respectively), but it boggled my mind that people thought they knew what was best for US. We are 28 & 29 now, and no regrets. Honestly, our pug child is enough to handle! lol.

Oh goodness! Your new babies are precious! I love orange cats. My Mom has one, and he's quite a lump, at 20 pounds, but he has such a personality, even more so than the other two cats she has. I hope they bring you absolute joy! :) By the way, the collage is beautiful!

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Although I knew on Tuesday that my surgery was approved by the insurance company, I got the actual letter from them yesterday, which made it all the more real to me. It also included a tentative hospitalization date of September 29th. I don't know if that will be the final date of my surgery, but I assume it will be around that time. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared....I've never had surgery of any kind, nor have I ever been put under via anesthesia. I have no doubts about my choice to have gastric bypass, however the surgery itself just scares me. I just have to keep reminding myself that I chose one of the best Bariatric hospitals in the midwest, and the top program in Indiana, and that my type of surgery (RNY) has been performed for decades.

Betsy ~ Yeah I agree if you are up before the sun your entitled to a nap.

Ubee ~ Oh okay well thanks for answering my question.

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I woke up at 10 AM this morning which I havent done in a long time I usually get up anywhere between 7 am and 9 am, I usually cant sleep past 9 but I sure did today. So far today I've done my morning duties like always and I just got done eating breakfast, Now Im just watching t.v and posting on this forum and on 2 other forums, I havent didnt do my morning 30 min walk this morning since I didnt get up until 10 am and Its too hot already at 10 am but I'll still get my 5 mile walk in this evening and I'll make sure I get up at 6 am tomorrow so I can go walk by 8 am tomorrow morning.

Hi everyone...

Just wanted you all to know I'm still here. Things are hard for me right now so I won't be posting as much. I haven't binged but haven't been completely on plan. I'm sure I'll have a bit of a gain when I weigh in tomorrow but I don't care. I'll make up for it next week. Haven't exercised since Tuesday. Its been raining today so DH and I weren't able to go on a walk...maybe tomorrow. We're just trying to keep busy. Being alone with my thoughts have been the hardest time for me because all I can think about is my friend.

I want to thank everyone for the love and support you have given me. It had meant so much and I've read all of the wonderful comments you all have left for me. I am so thankful to have all of you as my friends. My heart still hurts very badly right now but give me time and I'll be back to my happy encouraging self...I just need time to grieve and feel all of these feelings. Silviu was the brother I never had so it really is like losing a family member...maybe worse. I know he wouldn't want me to make a big deal of his death but I don't think he knows just how special he was to me and to others. He never gave himself enough credit for how awesome of a person he was and how nice he was to everyone. I'll never forget him for as long as I live.

Managed to drop 15 pounds this week. Always love how quickly it comes off in the beginning when doing low carb. If I can get another 30 or so off before my surgery, my surgeon will be very pleased. It wasn't a requirement by him, but he did suggest losing 50-60 pounds pre-op.

Even happier that I'm out of those scary 4's!

Welcome to the 300's and i agree it is a good feeling to get out of the 4's.

Good morning on. It's another scorcher here (ok, it's in the 80s, but for the NW having day after day of temps in the 80s is considered an assault on our senses). The whole family will be here for dinner tonight, and the older nephew and his family will be spending the night. So that will be 5 adults, 2 little kids, and 4 dogs. Yep, now I remember why I have this big house.

Fi Yep, I'm a fixer, but I think a part of me would literally die if I gave that up. BUT, do need to fix me, too. Hope by the time you read this the babies are home and getting acclimated. And your day with Grace sounds perfect. Your collage is beautiful -- this one is one of my favorites.

Ubee I think we should write a book together -- "Justifications for Avoiding Housework" -- as I'm sure it would be a best seller. The floors got done.......sort of. I did the Swiffering to get all the mulch and dirt and junk that Toby brings in out from under furniture and at least in a pile. Then I vacuumed upstairs and down. Then I decided that with all these people and 4 dogs that actually scrubbing all these floors was dumb. So I put it off until......Have you noticed that when you pass by some food and say Evil Evil out loud that the aisle miraculously clears? Wonder if that will work at the checkout! Congrats on the salad and I know what you mean about salads becoming a favorite food. I'm trying to broaden my horizons -- as opposed to the broadening of the back end horizon -- and make lots of different kinds of salads like 3 beans, cucumber and onion, etc.

Jane Ubee and I want to be in the know on how your doing pet sitting ended up costing you $450.....aren't you supposed to get paid for that? Or at least get a nice hostess gift when it's for a friend? But, I digress. Happy Dietaversary (that's wrong....). And, again, so glad you're back among the peeps.

Kayley I'm in shock over losing 15 pounds in a week. I've gained that much before (just last week in fact), but it's never come off that fast. Way to go with getting down before the surgery!

Terra Did you get your 5 miles evening walk in? It would have to cool off a lot before I could do 5 miles!

Sam Just take care of you and DH. And know that we're all here for you.

Guess I'd better get it in gear. We're having grilled chicken and ribs for dinner tonight (don't ask....I spoil them), roasted fingerling potatoes (a specific request from the birthday boy), roasted veggies from my garden (a specific request from the cook), Caesar salad, fruit salad in a watermelon bowl (the little boys will love it!), garlic cheese bread (a specific request from my niece), and dessert. There will be snacks before hand, but I'm going to just eat what I'm allowed to eat and leave it at that. Guess I'd better get it in gear. Have a great day.

Betsy your weekend sounds so lovely. I hope you enjoy your time with family. I know what you mean about cleaning...I am not a fan but it has to get done right? I need to work on my place too.

Fi I hope you and the kitties make it home safe today. My cats have definitely been a big help for me and DH through our grieving process. They know when we're upset and have been cuddling real close to us at night...more than usual since my friend died. Animals are wonderful creatures and I don't know what I'd do without mine.

Well I got on the scale and come to my surprise I lost 1 pound. Last week I had a gain of 2 so I lost half of that. Considering my choice of food these past few days I'm pretty happy about then 1 pound. It could have been a lot worse. I will be back on the straight and narrow this week with working out and eating right. I can't let my hard work go to waste because I lost a friend. I know he wouldn't want that for me.

I woke up pretty late today...just about an hour ago. Its been gloomy and raining for days now but considering my mental and emotional state I haven't minded it much. My oldest cat was piled up beside me when I woke and just gave me a look where I thought if she could talk she'd be telling me everything is going to be ok....and it will be...I just have to remember that my friend is no longer hurting or dealing with the daily mental struggles of being an addict. I just wish he would have had more time with us. He was only a month older than me so I was always his little sister. He was gone too soon but at least he doesn't have to struggle anymore.

I hope everyone enjoys their day and thank you all for being so patient and loving towards me. It means more than you'll ever know and is so helpful during such a hard time in my life...I'm so lucky to have friends like you.

sam I'm so sorry for your loss. I'll be thinking about you.

Betsey you are supposed to get paid. However I'm stuck with a particularly dumb dog. He impaled his shoulder on something (I have no idea what) when he took off after a cat. So it had to be stitched up and have a drain inserted. It's going to be a long convo with his owners when they get home, but he's fine and they're traveling with a month old baby so I wasn't going to tell them and add to the stress.

ubee I was going to be completely done a year ago. At this rate by 2055 I may be where I want to be. I'd really like to know where my momentum went!

Did you know you can buy a weight loss spell on Etsy? 25 bucks. Here I've been dieting all this time. Silly me.

Good Evening!
Jane at this point I am willing to try a spell. Just don't want to pay for it.
Sam I hope you know we feel lucky to have you. There was a very traumatic time in our lives where it felt like we were being kept alive for/by our kitty. Take care of yourself and I am very pleased to see you posting. Hugs.
Betsy what did you make for dessert? How did the self control go? I agree cleaning before that crew visited would have been obsessive.
Kaylee 15 pounds is amazing. Love your attitude about getting as much off before surgery. I would think it would make it easier for the surgeon too. OK not sure if that is true but it makes sense in my little brain.
Terra did you get a walk in today?
Fi how is motherhood?
Silent how are you feeling? I am worried about you!
Angie, Tiffany... how are you?
I need your help. I am going to start a one week POP thread and I would appreciate those of you who feel up to it to join me.

Oscar and Nénu (pronounced "nay-noo") are safely home, and I can think of nothing else but my babies! Yesterday couldn't have been more perfect: when Bob and I first arrived at our breeder's, we were immediately struck dizzy with joy to be surrounded by so many lively, affectionate adult oriental shorthairs. At the door they mobbed us the way dogs do, rubbing against us, jumping onto us, offering us toys to throw for them—and so gorgeous, every one of them....WOW. And then we went upstairs to the nursery (the master bedroom) and immediately fell in love with our dear little kittens, sleeping wrapped in each other's arms, in a cat bed on top of the human bed.

After that, the time went quickly. We had lots to learn about our kittens and all the other cats from Julie, and lots to catch up on since the last time we saw each other. We went out briefly to lunch at a diner, but otherwise spent our time enveloped in the company of many charming orientals. The collage titled "friendship" I'd made as a gift for Julie and Roy was a big hit: they asked lots of questions about how I made it and just couldn't have been more sweet & appreciative.

Then it was time to drive home with Oscar & Nénu! Much to our amazement, they slept through the whole 3 1/2 hour trip, sacked out in the same cat bed we met them in (smelling like home), inside of a small traveling crate, buckled securely in the back seat. We didn't hear one peep out of them, the whole way.

But when they emerged in our nursery, the master bedroom (& bath) of our house, they were full of crazy energy, happily exploring every nook & cranny, finding their water & food bowls, their litter box, their scratching pad, trying everything out as if they'd just checked into a fancy hotel. =laugh= And of course lots of time exploring Bob and me, too, batting at our toes & fingers, snuggling up against our bodies, eagerly participating in games with us....and so on.

We all four slept together in bed last night, despite the fact that Bob and I had provided them with a cushy new cat bed with a warming pad under it. They thoroughly checked out their new cat bed, but when it came time to sack out, they wanted to be with us!

I just took a photo with my iPad: the two are curled up in Bob's lap while he's reading in bed. Nénu's head is on top, Oscar's below. Here's the photo..

Back to kitten-land! =big smile=

Good Afternoon!

Fi they are so precious! I am so happy for the four of you.

Kinda quiet in here...

Betsy ~ Oh no I dont do the 5 miles outside, I would die, I do 5 miles with with Leslie Sansone, I do the 2 miles twice and then I do the 1 mile walk once which totals 5 miles.

Ubee ~ No I didnt :( I got up very early yesterday morning so by the time mom went to bed I went to bed not long after but I'll be sure to get my walk in tonight and I'll walk outside tomorrow morning as well.

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I woke up later then I normally do, I woke up around 10:30 am but I still got my morning duties done for the day, Now Im just posting on here and on two other forums, Waiting for mom to get home so we can go to Dillions. As always the only plan I have for today besides going to dillions is to get my evening walk in tonight.

Hello, I just wanted to say hi and introduce myself.

milliej ~ Welcome to the thread and forum if your new to the forum too. Its nice to have you here

Kayleystar ~ Im so sorry I havent welcomed you to the thread and forum if your new to the forum also but Welcome, We're glad to have you here and we look forward to getting to know you.

Good Morning!
Terra did you buy anything at Dillions? Let me guess purple is your favorite color??? I like your new trackers especially the first one since it is moving down!
Kayley that is so great that you have gotten off the vicoden! You are right you are worth the $ and should not wait until you are older to get your weight under control. I am so glad your hubby is in your corner. I'm so happy to see you in my POP challenge. I just need a week of POP days to know I've still got it in me.
Welcome millie! when you are ready please share more. Mind if I ask what plan you are following?
I had a POP day yesterday which was a miracle. My daughters autism was in full force so I am really proud of myself!
Have a peaceful day!

Hello all. Guess I'll tell you a bit about myself. I am 29, from Ohio engaged with two dogs. I have recently stated over in losing weight. Ubee you asked what plan I am following, I am following my own plan of sorts. I go to WW meetings, but I don't do WW points. It just does not work for me, I am not a fan of the WW tracking app and much prefer MFP (my username is milliejd on MFP). with MFP I really focus on calories in vs calories out. Using my BMR I know what I need to eat and burn to lose the # of pounds I want to that week. That just seems to work best for me, I guess you can see I like control. I know what 500 calories "mean" but not really want 5 WW points mean, if that makes sense.

My motivation is a few things. I am getting married next year and we want to have a baby soon after, and I want to be as healthy as possible for that. Also my mother died when I was in college and I want to make sure I am around for my kids.

Good morning all. I spent most of yesterday asleep after a night that had about 2 hours' sleep due to the 4 month old puppy wanting to play with my one year old dog. It was a great day with the family, and once again I realized how lucky I am to be retired and able to just take a day off when I'm pooped out.

Sam Good for you on losing a pound, and I'm glad that your kitties are helping you through this bad time. Our furry family members know when we need that extra love.

Jane Do you think that there's a group rate for the Etsy spell. And I totally know what you mean about being done a year ago.......The dog accident must have been horrific for you to have to deal with -- in so many ways! Hope they're appreciative of what you did.

Ubee I made what is called Banana Split Dessert -- it has absolutely no redeeming qualities except for being delicious. It was half gone, and I sent the rest home with my nephew to take to work because if it had stayed here, it would have been gone! The self control actually went pretty well mainly because I was so busy getting everything done I didn't have time to sit down and eat the junk. My one nephew LOVES deviled eggs, so I always make them. Made a dozen (so 24 eggs on the plate), and they were gone within 30 minutes as his two little ones also love them. After everyone was here, the stupid house needs cleaning again. Ugh!

Fi They're adorable, and obviously have already bonded with you and Bob. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

Terra Did you know that doing your 5 miles the way you do it is supposed to be healthier than doing 5 miles all at once. That's why Ubee and I clean house the way we do.....it's healthier! Hope the Dillions trip was good. How's the quilt coming along?

MillieJ Welcome and thanks for giving us an idea of who you are. I chuckled at myself when I was reading that you're engaged with two dogs. In the odd way that my mind works, my first thought was that you were engaged to two dogs.....and what a good idea that was! I completely understand what you mean about understanding what 500 calories means using MFP.

Kayley Any involvement with insurance companies is a love/hate relationship. Don't know if your company has a web site you can go to, but I ran into the same thing with my part of what was due after the insurance paid their part. I found the info I needed on the web site in terms of what I owed, to whom it was owed, and the mailing address. I just printed it out and then would send in the payment. I think I got one bill total this entire year. Even with having to pay the 20%, so many insurance companies just won't pay anything for bariatric surgery. And I agree with you that avoiding the problems down the road is definitely preferable!

Guess I'd better get it in gear. I need to call a friend in NC for her birthday which will be an hour or two phone call. Need to get to the gym. Need to get the beds stripped and remade and laundry done and probably should do some house cleaning......Oh yeah, guess I should worry a little bit about staying on plan! Have a great day.

Ubee - Please don't worry I'm just busy is all and not in weight loss mode I've actually gained weight over the long weekend. Friday drinks as usual, saturday went out to the cabin, and a bonfire, and stayed out, got called a guitar hero, silly people need to get their ears checked lol.

Sunday went to the cabin again after coming into town to get more food/shower/etc. And stayed out and then came into town to pick up supplies to paint the outside of my cabin we have to go back tonight after work to finish parts we couldn't get to (bought telescoping thingy...). Just generally being irresponsible and not doing most of the things that I SHOULD be doing.

The painting is only getting done because my friends organized everything for me up to and including picking the paint colours, providing enthusiasm AND free labour I just had to pony up the cash for the supplies. I am sore from the painting we did yesterday (about 4 hours) so tonight should be interesting being sore and commencing round two lol.

Anyways sorry I don't seem to make the time to check in lately. I'm okay just... distracted.

Ubee ~ I bought a bus pass for 68 dollars and a bag of salad and alot of diet soda cause it was on sale, Yes my favorite color is purple, I went ahead and took off the other two trackers, I'll just post them one at a time but Yes they are all purple.

Betsy ~ Nope I didnt know the way I do my 5 miles is suppose to be healthier then doing 5 miles all at once. Yeah the dillions trip went good. The quilt is coming along nicely.

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I woke up at 7:00 AM, I let Clyde outside and then Mom and I went to her doctor's appointment and then we left her appointment around 10:00 AM and then we came back home to pick up my boyfriend Scott to take him to CD Trade post so he could try to get money for 2 dvd's but He forgot to put the dvd in one of his cases so he only got money back on one of the dvd's, We're gonna go back next Tuesday so he can get the money for his other dvd. I tried to get money from a dvd I had but they were only gonna pay me a dollar and some change when I bought the dvd for 15 dollars and some change so Im gonna keep my post on craiglist to try to sell the dvd for 10 cause I know I wont get 15 for it but oh well, If I get 10 back I'll be happy with that but I wasnt gonna give it to CD Trade post for a 1 and something when I paid 15 dollars and something for it. Anyway after CD Trade Post we came back home and cleaned house and then we made lunch and thats all we did today. I still need to do my 2 mile walk this evening which I will do for sure.

Hey everyone just wanting to check in real quick...thank you all so much for continuing on showing me so much love during this hard time. Things are starting to get a bit back to normal but I am still hurting. I just need to get back into routine. I went to the gym with my friend tonight...I haven't exercised in a week so it was nice to get back at it. You guys know not exercising for a week is not like me so I'm trying to keep pushing. The exercise has helped.

I'm pretty tired so I'm on my way to bed early but just wanted to let everyone know I'm still here and not going anywhere...and thanks again for being here for me. It means more than you'll ever know.

Hi dear weightloss family...

just wanted to mention I'm still around, reading you all.
Just haven't had the strength to talk, to participate, to be active.

I talked to my doc who made a lot of tests and I start hoping he finds something, so that I don't have to think it's psychological and ask myself if I get a depression.

Yesterday the exboyfriend came over and we talked, because at the weekend he just had some kind of weak spot for me that cried he missed me. But he still doesn't see a way we could have a contact that's good for us both. I'm fed up with all this stuff...what should I do with a statement like: if it weren't for her (his actual girlfriend) I would try again and be with you.
He thinks it shows his affection, I think it shows I'm second best.

I will never be that again or feel like that.

I cut my hair last week, never had really short hair since I was 12 - there is a change going on inside..I feel like I'm waking up and trying to find my life again.
I lost it somewhere on the way,long before the desastrous relationsship, with all my dreams and strengths - and it's hard to understand that and find a new way. It is as if I gave up - on myself, on life.

But I crawl, I still crawl, and soon I'll stand up.
Started to make a meal plan for the week. Planned some trips, did some clean up in my flat and read you all...

will do personals later as my boss wants my attention again.
(you see, I seem to be in a habit to surround myself with bad guys)

Kayleystar ~ Oh okay well thats great that your back

Sugar2go ~ Glad your back

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I woke up at 5:00 AM so I would be awake and ready to go on my 30 min walk outside this morning. I just got back inside from my walk. I have a meeting to go too at 9:30 this morning. I'll be sure to get my evening walk in tonight as well and thats all of my plans for today. Of course I got my daily duties done this morning also.

Good Morning!
Terra good job getting up and out of bed and just doing what needs to get done! $68. for a bus ticket sounds pricey. Is that for a month?
Sugar so happy to see you! If you notice my signature line it shows the day I "Woke Up". That is exactly what happened. Baby steps my friend and we will get there. Everyone deserves a happy life. I am so proud of you. I know it takes a lot of change to take care of ourselves. I know I have a lot of mental work to do with my weightloss but I will get there and so will you.
Kayle I think it is very wise of you to focus on your testing first. You must be getting so excited. I know I am for you!
Sam here is a big ol hug for you. One day at a time. Keep posting, exercising, and eating healthy. We are here.
Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in. Hi Silent! you know how much you mean to me so of course I am going to worry. What color is the cabin? I don't think your friends are the silly ones. They chose you for a friend and they know good music when they hear it. All right go back to enjoying life and I appreciate you letting worry wart me know you are fine just busy partying!
Betsy I LOVE that banana split desert! Good thing you sent it on it's way or I would be ringing your door bell for coffee and desert. I know you will understand but a day dozing in the recliner sounds lovely. Have you decided where you will take your RV this fall?
Millie I am sorry your mom passed so early in your life. A wedding and a baby is a great motivator. I so understand the support of WW but prefering 500 calories instead. It is like balancing your checkbook, it just makes sense.
Nice to see it so busy on here. I am off to a good start this week and fighting the temptation to step on the scale. You know me two good days and I want to be down 20 pounds!
Have a peaceful day.

I'm all drenched in sweat and my heart is beating fast, so I'm taking a brief break from the final stage of the BERP to check in. The pressure is really on, because tomorrow (Thursday) is the day when I pick up my 14-yr-old great-niece Grace at her house at 2 PM, and she has dinner with us and stays 'til late. We have a special treat planned for her: not only is she going to get to meet the kittens for the first time, but while she's here, we're going to take the big step of letting Oscar & Nénu out of our bedroom and into the rest of the house. As someone who wants to be a vet when she grows up, but has never had a cat, she will learn a lot about cats tomorrow.

We're probably going to close a couple of doors in the upstairs—not so much that those rooms pose any hazards for the kittens, but because we want to encourage them to take the big trip downstairs and explore the main level of the house. It's fortunate that the wooden stairs are still covered with the ugly beige carpeting we ripped off the floors all over the rest of the house, because they'll be easier for the tiny kittens to negotiate.

The dining room, which was my art studio until I transformed my writing office into a collage studio, had accumulated a vast and bizarre array of trash and mail and art supplies all over the table and floor. I've been gradually working my way into that huge mess of stuff all along during the BERP, but I always knew I would have to save the bulk of it for the end, simply because I didn't know yet where I would put the things I wanted to keep—or even what I wanted to keep.

But now I just about have places for everything I'm encountering there. All the same, it's a lot of hard physical work to pick up things like jack o' lantern stickers & Marcel Duchamp postcards & rolls of packing tape & unused postage stamps and put them all in their appointed locations—like the Hallowe'en box, for example. And then I have to finish the 3-D jigsaw puzzle of squaring away all the labeled boxes onto shelves and into stacks on top of each other. Some of the stuff is going upstairs to my collage studio, of course, and those things go either in stacks on the side of the stairway, or into the small & large unsorted clippings boxes that Grace will have to deal with some day. I also separate out clippings & stickers & other miscellany that I think Grace might like in a small box and a manila folder that she'll take home tomorrow. =whew=

I tell you all this not because it's important, but because it's what I'm doing. If I worked this hard every day of my life, I'd certainly lose weight faster! Tomorrow will be a big fun day, so I'm strongly motivated. Best wishes to all of y'all!

Good morning everyone. It's a nice cool morning here, misty with low cloud cover which will burn off later in the day.

Silent Please send your friends down to visit me (you can come, too and we'll invite Ubee out). My house needs painting, but none of my friends have volunteered. Of course, almost all of my friends are in the "senior" category.....in other words we're all older than dirt and the thought of getting on an extension ladder sends me into hysterical laughter. What a great way to spend the weekend -- got something done, socialized, and got exercise in as well! Glad you responded to Ubee's plea for an update.

Terra Neat idea to have a buy back place for old CDs and DVDs, but I agree that their offerings seem to be on the low side. Hope that bus pass is for at least a month -- nice to have, but that seems expensive (of course, gasoline and wages for the drivers aren't free!).

Sam :hug: Just keep on putting one foot in front of the other. This is going to take awhile and the important thing is to allow yourself to go through the grieving process.

Kayley Oh, I so well remember getting those "helpful" retirement statements and going home depressed thinking that I had to work for what seemed like an eternity. Being retired is a wonderful phase of life in so many ways. Laughed at your weight loss approach of sweating in the theater with no AC -- I use that approach/thinking, too. Doesn't work, but I use it! :dizzy:

Sugar Wow! I remember one of your last posts and worrying about you, and hope you know how far you've come in such a short time. Sometimes we all get lost and re-finding ourselves is hard to do and sometimes very painful. Sounds like you're making great progress. And you're right -- the ex-boyfriend.......well, (I'll just stop because what I'm thinking isn't something that should be put into writing.)

Ubee My nephew called and said that the dessert was a big hit at work. He told me that I'm helping his popularity immensely because I always send him home with dessert (as well as anything else that isn't tied down), and he always takes it into work. No definitely plans for the RV trip -- just SOMEWHERE. Got a bad case of the need to get behind the wheel and go.

Fi Have you thought about what you'll do with all your free time (other than work on collages and play with the kitties, of course) once the BERP gets finished? The bond you've formed with Grace is wonderful -- what a special treat for both of you.

I'm setting up a new schedule and including an hour of housework in it each day. Maybe that way I'll stand some chance of actually keeping some semblance of order around here. Just made out my food menu for the day -- nothing exciting, but good to know what's on tap. Toby is going to get a bath today and a hair trim -- he's getting a little shaggy so some of my exercise will come in the form of wrestling a 90-pound dog while I trim around his parts that he'd prefer not get cut! (Not to mention that I'd feel awful for hurting him). Hopefully tomorrow we'll go in and pick up the RV.....maybe....they're still having trouble getting the window to seat properly so it doesn't leak. Have a great day everyone!