Take care, everyone-looking forward to a great couple of days off. Had a couple doughnuts this morning, so I realllly need to get some good exercise this weekend.

Dean

The Qigong guy was so personable and fascinating, I'm going back to see him on a weekly basis for a while. When I drew my little map of stages -1 through -7 of my depression, complete with the verbal labels I've made up for them, he got very excited. I could tell he was making all kinds of connections between what I've been able to observe about my internal energy flow in those various states, and the energy patterns he knows from Qigong. I think he has a lot to teach me, starting with some exercises in getting myself better grounded. Only time will tell if Qigong can help me be less depressed and on fewer medications, but his fee is quite reasonable, so what have I got to lose? Ubee, you're not the only one who's going to be reading up on Qigong in the near future!

Ubee ~ I didnt make the egg rolls we had yesterday, I bought them from Walmart but I bought veggie egg rolls.

*waving at everyone*

Ubee - Yes, I'm really happy about this move b/c (fingers crossed) it means we will stay here for several years. In the last 2 years we have moved 6 times! 5 of them were in 1 year b/c I tried to be an "accompanying" wife instead of the "stay-at-home-to-maintain a home base wife", which I had been doing previously. (My husbands' job meant he traveled constantly - he'd only be home 4 or 5 days a month so I was alone a LOT.) It has been this way for almost all our marriage, & I was used to it, but those 6 moves just burned me out! So now he made this change to make me feel better, & I think he actually is liking it too, lol. No more airports, lol!

Terra - I love egg rolls, & I've just started making my own at home. I also finally tried sushi this year & some of it is really good! Have you had any?

Fi - That new discipline you're trying sounds very intriguing! I hope it helps a lot!

Shinesgirl ~ I love egg rolls too, I wouldnt mind trying to make them on my own, Thats cool that you have just started making them at home. Yes I've tried sushi and I dont know care for it, I would probably like it better if it wasnt held together with rice, I dont like rice, The only kind of rice I like is Fried rice.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I woke up at 2:30 a.m. cause I was hot so I just decided to go ahead and get up cause I was gonna get up at 3:00 a.m. anyway so mom could work on my heels. Anyway I'm gonna walk outside this morning and my goal today is to walk for 30 mins, Last time I walked for 25 mins. I'm also gonna walk at noon today as well and at 6 or 6:30 tonight as well. I'm gonna do my laundry today too and give Clyde a bath. Those are all of my plans for today

Fi I find Eastern approaches to complex issues so fascinating. I was a Physio but also did Acupuncture so kind of had a foot in both camps. It sounds to me like your Qigong practitioner will be really helpful for you.....please keep us posted.
VW Deano.....I love your signature! My heart is with dogs! Every minute of every day I miss my soul mate, a Golden Retriever who I lost suddenly last year. The other quote I like is " The more people I meet, the more I like my dog!"
Terra You sound really positive about your exercise....I hope that it goes well today and your heels cope OK. Keep us posted!
Well my eating has been pretty good this week, not perfect but I am slowly realising that that's OK! Exercise wise I struggled to do a mile uphill yesterday so am going to a local reservoir which is pretty flat and is a good 3 mile tester! Better still I will be accompanied by my wonderful daughter!
Have a loovely day ladies,
Donna

Yes, Ubee, I still have my ultra-dark chocolate bars on Very Special Occasions (VSOs). My current schedule of VSOs (starting at the top of the year) is my birthday in late February, the Blood Binge movie festival with my friend Mary in August, Hallowe'en, and Yule (pagan winter holiday). I absolutely always have good champagne on New Year's, so that's enough of a treat then, and I don't celebrate Easter. So that's four times a year. Plus every once in a great while (like six months apart, at least), I have one vegan peanut butter cookie (convenient that the organic food mart sells them one to a package). They have a whole lot more peanut butter than sugar in them, so they don't bring on additional cravings.

But today... today! I did something really naughty. I hopped in the car, motored over to my favorite 7-11 (the starting point of so many binges in the past), and got a six-pack of Diet Mountain Dew. I gave up aspartame last fall, but jeeeez, every once in a while a Texan gal's gotta kick up her heels and bust loose! =laugh=

They did have my former (I stress the word "former") favorite binge item, right there in piles in the basket at the cash register: multiple 3-packs of my former favorite cookie. I wasn't even close to being tempted. I knew darn well that if I ate that crap, my energy levels would plummet, my mood would go to h*ll, my gut would act up, and soon I'd need an appointment with the dentist. (I had like 50,000 cavities in my former sweets-addicted life.)

But Diet Mountain Dew....ahhh! An indulgence well-earned, I think. =grin=

Hi & thank you for the welcome Fiona W & Terra1984! Does anyone ever use their facebook or similar social networking site to acknowledge their weight loss journey? Every month on my WLJ begin date anniversary (February 13, 2014) I do this. I worry about being annoying to some of my friends, but I think some of them get it and are super supportive.

When it comes to being very overweight sometimes it can feel like you're in a tunnel and the the only way out is through, to keep putting one foot in front of the other. In doing that you will eventually see light and smell fresh air, and that is what keeps me going.

Donna ~ Yes my heel did okay while I worked out today, I'm gonna work out again at 6:30 pm.

Candidcamster ~ Your welcome, I didnt know there was away you could track your weight loss on social networking sites. But I am on facebook and twitter

Hey Terra I don't use an app, I just do posts about my journey, and I have a photo album w/some pictures to show progress. I was hoping to move that over here w/a blog but I missed the boat lol, blogs aren't being offered anymore, so I made one on Wordpress and linked it in my signature. Still trying to get the hang of Wordpress, but it is better than nothing.

How was your day today? I'd love to add you on MFP.

Candidcamster ~ Oh okay, Yeah I post about my jounery on facebook and I have a weight loss in progress photo album too. That sucks that blogs arent offered here anymore. My blog is on blogger but its about everything not just weight loss.

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I woke up at 5:00 a.m. when my alarm went off but I fall back asleep for 25 mins and then I got up, Its now 6 a.m. and I'm gonna go walk outside in an hour and then I'll do my first 2 mile walk at noon and my 2nd one at 6 or 6:30 tonight. I'm gonna finish my laundry this morning also. I cleaned the bathroom on Friday afternoon, I dont know if it will need cleaned again before Tuesday when my mom and I go get my aunt. My vacation from school started at 3 p.m. on Friday and My mom starts her vacation from work tomorrow after 2 p.m. and we both go back on the same day which is the 24th. We are going to the buffet Tuesday night cause my aunt's city doesnt offer snow crab legs at their chinese buffet and then on Wed. we are going to the ZOO!!!! So that should be fun. Its gonna be alot of walking but I'm up to the challenge.

Hi everyone!

Checking in...considering I haven't been to the gym in almost 2 week I lost 3.6 lbs this week!!!! So happy to have finally pushed through my plateau!! I am really realizing I need to up my cardio so I'm going to go back to walks with DH more frequently again. We always had a good time with that and I think DH needs the extra push to get back in the game...he's ben struggling since our friend died the end of July.

Today is the wedding!! I won't have a photo until tomorrow though since its still several hours away till we have to go.

Betsy So glad to hear that BIL is coming home andbdoing well...I hope the rest of his recovery goes well even though I know it will with you by his side.

Fi So glad to hear you are doing better amd that your doctor has helped tremendously!!

Ubee I hope you had a good week!! I so can't wait to put this dress on!! :)

Terra I hope you foot gets better soon! Cracked feet are no fun!

Dean All this coffee talk makes me want to go make a pot! Hope you an the doggies are having a nice weekend!!

Donna I'm so glad that you're back!!! We all really missed you! This group has helped me so much on my journey I don't think I could have made it this far without the awesome people I've met here!

shine Glad your move went well!!! Hope your DH can spend more time with you now :)

Candidcamster I post on my facebook every now and then but I worry about annoying people with it too so I stick to Instagram. I've met a lot of cool people and found awesome pages there that have been helpful on my journey. Most of the time people are very nice and encouraging because they too are trying to be healthy. If you ever check it out my instagram name is SamEatsClean26.

Well I'm off to make some coffee and enjoy brunch. I hope everyone had a great day!!!

Hiya SamIAm86! I just added you on instagram (same name as here), congratulations on your awesome weight loss, you're doing great!

Terra that sounds like a lot of fun @ the zoo, I haven't been in so many years. I hope you get some pictures. Exercise for me is the hardest thing, I am able to move I just don't know where to begin, but I want to start w/free Zumba videos on youtube soon.

For those of you who follow my collages, I just made a new one: "to a land without blue". As always, if you click on the image, you'll get a larger version.

I'm having a good day. Any day when I both write a letter (did that this morning) and make a collage is a good day. =smile=

Checking in briefly since I'll be out of pocket tomorrow on an On-the-job visit with one of my employees.

Doggies have gotten a couple walks around the neighborhood today, and on Saturday we escaped to wears valley/townsend and wandered around some of the little antique shops, etc. Had a nice little getaway and avoided the rod run traffic in Pigeon Forge. We also got in a nice bike ride today. The temperatures have been GREAT! Finally cooling off a bit.

Take care,

Dean

Ok so I couldn't wait until tomorrow!!!
Here's the dress!! http://instagram.com/p/s8tN_Xp3P2/

Sam - You look great, that color is just right for you! (& those are very cute shoes!)

Sam ~ Yeah my heel is getting better every day so thats good

Candidcamster ~ Yeah I'm definitely gonna take our digital camera and I'm glad when we go there are usually new animals to see. Oh I just saw your question about how my day was and that you would love to add me to MFP. My day went good and My name on MFP is Tera_1984, Its Tera_1984 cause I was typing too fasted so I miss-spelled my name and you can only change your name once so I wasnt able to fix it.

Sam you look amazing.....that colour is fabulous on you.....and that smile???? Gorgeous!
Well my weekend has not been the best. Went for a walk with darling daughter and one dog and my knees and chest really struggled! Then I had a really rubbish day yesterday. I woke with the most awful migraine....worst in ages. I don't get them anywhere near as often as I did when I was working but when I do they are humdingers. The pain was bad enough to make me cry. So took all the meds I am prescribed and didn't get up until lunchtime still feeling delicate and groggy from the meds.
I was really looking forward to a long walk yesterday as I need to increase my mileage before the walk in 3 weeks' time. My eating went slightly off the rails but not too awful as I felt nauseous. I get so frustrated when my body lets me down!
To top all of this both of my dogs have come in to season so I can't really take them out and the puppy is too young to do more than half a mile or so.....so my walks will have to be solo.......it doesn't feel right walking without a dog!
Oh woe and thrice woe! Sorry for the moaning ladies!
Here's to a great week!
Great Welsh Hugs
Donna

Fiona W

YoU LOST 70lbs !!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!.I am jealous but happy!!
KEEP IT UP!

mountain walker
so true.i crave a lot..........sometimes it feels like a beast inside!!.........but hopefully with this forum i will get some support.....to get RID OF THAT BEAST!

Ubee
hi.no sugar is RUFF (difficult).the weekend was not good..........so i have to try again .........my biggest challenge is start the exercise as I am ALWAYS TIRED! so i need to fight that feeling and do it..........when doing exercise u never know that you were that heavy!.........lol........but i will start this evening

sam
nice dress
look happy too!

And for those of you following my endless parade of kitten pics, here's some new ones I took on Saturday: one, two, three, and four. Plus two more I took this morning: one and two. Oscar and Nénu (he's the paler one with blue eyes) are five months old now. Amazing how much they've grown in one month, isn't? They almost look like miniature versions of oriental shorthairs now, but they certainly still act like kittens. So demanding... but so much fun!

Great looking kitties!

Starting with my protein bar and some autumn blend, but with a touch of cream and a touch of sugar-free hazelnut syrup. My weight seems to be staying steady, even though I'm watching portions and exercising quite a bit more. I may have to adjust a few more things.

Have a great day!

Dean

Sorry it has been a while since I have posted. *sigh* I hurt my foot and now I need an MRI but I have to jump through hoops now that new changes are in effect for my health insurance. And my kiddo has been having SOOOO many issues in Kinder. I have thought for a while, if I am honest, that something may not be quite right. I have an appointment with this peds doc tomorrow. I think there is a chance that he has ADHD or possible Autism (like his half brother). Just a lot to take is all. I have had 2 days eating way too much but thanfully I didn't go over my usual calories.

Fiona: Those are some cute kitties.

did exervcsie this morn ..i was so HEAVY doing it....but i did it!!

Hello my lovely ladies....and gent!
Just when you think........I did the most dumb thing yesterday. Having forgotten something in the house I rushed back in to get it...twisted my ankle on one of the puppy's toys and fell headlong in a sprawl, making sure I landed on my worst knee. I laid there in an undignified heap snivelling for a bit but managed to reassure myself there were no breaks and stood up. Owwwwwwwwww!! I have "jiggled" (proper Physiotherapist word honest) my already arthritic knee and now it won't bend past about 50 degrees.
My eight mile walk in 2 and a half weeks' time gets ever more unlikely!
I am going to swim later to see if that will loosen it up.
On the plus note, I did manage to hobble to puppy training classes with my 4 month old cocker spaniel Maisy. who did really well........shame I wasn't as good as her!!!
I will have to be so mindful of food choices as I find exercise the key to it all. If I exercise I don't want to overeat...it's as simple as that!
Have a lovely day. I will try to attach a photo of Maisy but not sure if it will work!
Big Welsh Hugs,
Hwl Fawr ( Goodbye in Welsh)

Good Morning!
I am back after days of being cruel to my body. Sugar and gluten make me gain weight, act a little crazy, and feel ill. Not posting on here makes me not feel so good mentally. I am back and so happy to see all of you.
Donna I hope your knee is better. That is great that exercising can keep you from overeating.
fightbrave I know what you mean about exercising and feeling heavy. I so want to feel light and not like a blob. Exercise makes me extremely tired. Like in bed way too early. I now try to do 15 mins., because some is better then nothing.
Natasha our daughter has profound autism. Some days eating is my main coping mechanism. I hate hoops. They just make them to discourage us from using their services. (In my opinion.)
Dean will your new meds effect your weight?
Fi it sounds like you are doing better! Love the collage and kitty pictures. I love kitty bellies.
Terra I love the zoo! Are the zebras your favorites?
Sam you look amazing! The dress and shoes are great but YOU look fab!
shinesgirl how are you doing? I am glad your move is such a positive one. How is all the extra time with hubby?
Candidcamster I LOVE your tunnel and one foot in front of the other. So true.

Glad to be back. Thanks for being here and have a peaceful day!

New meds shouldn't affect weight too much, I'm just on Xarelto and metformin (I know its possible for the met to affect it a bit). Although they DID affect the taste of my coffee, LOL. Its odd, when I started the blood thinners, my coffee tasted off, and still hasn't quite come back to normal.

Oh well.

Everyone have a great day. Stay healthy-no tripping on doggie/kittie toys!

Dean

mountian walker - i hoe u feel better and if not u need to visit doctor

Ubee - i do feel like a blob or BIG MOMMA!.lol!.but i did it again! this morn and was proud!........trying to be more organised though in food preparation and daily chores

Good morning all. It seems like it's been forever since I got a chance to chat with you all. And when I don't chat with you on a regular basis, I don't eat correctly. I have decided that our little group should just move into a commune together until we all reach goal! Guess I'll have to settle for our virtual commune.

Bill announced on Monday that he was moving home (which is only across the street). We're definitely having a bit of male/female communication challenges since he communicates in declarative statements (for example, "I'm moving home today") and I communicate in questions (for example I would have preferred "Would it be convenient for you if I moved home today?"). This, too, shall pass. In the meantime, I've got about 3 more weeks of going over to his house to put on his compression hose which he has to wear until they release him, remind him to take his blood thinners twice a day, and haul him around to all of the doctor and PT appointments.

As a reward to myself, I ordered an Ipad Air (Fi, I may call upon you for good app advice!). Have wanted a tablet for a long time and just decided what the heck.

On the diet front......well to be honest there is no diet front. So, I'm getting back on that band wagon this morning as well. I've made out my list of things that I need to get done around here which include fixing me. Time to stop using every little thing as an excuse to have an emotional eating moment.

Hopefully I'll be back to commenting individually soon. In the meantime, hope everyone is continuing to do well.

my mai problem is............i tend to eat fast............sometimes i don't realise until i finish and i was like "the food finish already?"

how can one take to eat

Betsy— That's so cool you're getting an iPad Air: it will change your life, I'm warning you. =smile= The one thing I highly recommend you get for it, for just hanging around the house, is a silicon skin like this one. (It also comes in pink.) A silicon skin is not at all the same thing as the padded case you will need if you want to to tote it around somewhere: there are thousands of options for those. In fact, your iPad should ideally fit inside its travel case without having to take the skin off: that's how mine works. The point of the skin is that with a minimal addition (hardly any at all) in weight & bulk, it makes your iPad ever so much easier to handle without fear of dropping it. Your comfort with your iPad will be SO different after you get the silicon skin, believe me! I don't understand why Apple doesn't sell the skins themselves. As for apps, I'm afraid I won't be much help: just about the only special apps I have are French dictionaries and art programs—and of course the indispensable Kindle app. You know I don't count carbo grams or calories, nor do I track my exercise, so I'm useless on that front.

I'm not doin' so hot, I'm afraid. This depressive episode is not showing any signs of petering out. I have a good day now & then, but mostly I'm going down into serious -3 or -4 levels of depression pain, even -5 one horrible stretch, every day in every way. The kittens are nice to cuddle with, but mostly I have to medicate myself into a stupor before I get any relief from the pain. And the medication I take (Geodon) makes me crave sweets like nobody's business! I even broke down a couple of days ago and had a mini-binge on raw sugar mixed with peanut butter. =big sigh= Mostly I'm sticking to my diet by sheer force of will and extreme, one might even say Spartan, simplicity of food options. It's not pretty, but it is what it is....

Hey all! Quick check in before bed...

Took the day off of the gym to shampoo my carpets...I hate to admit it but they haven't been cleaned in probably two years...needless to say it really needed to be cleaned. I got the upholstery tool as well and there is a leak in the hose which caused water to spew everywhere when I tried to use it on my dining chairs. I didn't even try to use it on the couches because I didn't want to risk not being able to sop up the water. I placed a call into Rug Doctor and had to leave a message so hopefully they will call me back tomorrow before I have to return the cleaner. I'd really like a replacement and get another day's use for free so I don't have to rush when I get home to get my couches clean. DH is supposed to organize our bedroom tomorrow so I can do the floor in there after work. I'd ask him to do it but he had a slipped disc in his neck that's giving him trouble so I don't want him to make it worse for him.

Thanks to all the lovely comments left about the dress...I had a really good time at the wedding and got to catch up with a friend I had just recently reconciled with. She's losing weight too and looks great!

My friend Ana is coming down from Wilmington again this weekend...I'm really excited and hope to get her in the gym with me. I also have a trial on Saturday to do for one of the weddings I have next month. It's going to be a busy weekend I hope I have enough time to do everything!!

Anyway I'm pooped and my back is sore from all the hard work I put in tonight so I'm gonna call it...

Hope everyone had a great day...check in tomorrow :)

Hmmm, sounds like we're all struggling a bit. Seems to come in waves.

Starting the day with a bit of hazelnut coffee... Mmmm, hazelnut.

Just remember, the week is almost over, so the weekend is approaching and we're also moving into fall-one of my favorite times of year. A nice hot cup of coffee or tea in the morning as you look out on the changing leaves is certainly a good distraction.

Have a great day!

Dean

Thursdays my husband works from home, so it always feels like a lazy day. I have a lot of picking up to do. The puppy, Cupcake (Shizpoo), is chewing anything and everything in sight. Shoes, clothes, anything she can drag from somewhere or the garbage. I have 3 older children so they leave things out. My daughters work shoes are destroyed. I don't feel so bad, because I tell them to pick their stuff up and put it away so she can't get into it. My son vacuumed his room last night and changed the cleaner bag but left it on the laundry room floor. Guess who got in it and tore it to shreds. He said he would clean it up before he goes to work.
I'm still working on potty training her, which causes anxiety for me...I'm watching her constantly (except when she got into the vacuum bag, lol)

I have been doing good with food choices and following my plan. Someone mentioned they eat fast. So do I, I don't savor the food. Then I'm hungry for more to taste and feel the food because I didn't get enjoyment out of it.

I hope everyone has some fun plans for the weekend. I am going to try to read a book. My depression has removed my enjoyment for reading which was my favorite hobby. Anyone have fall activities planned?

Question for everyone: How do you avoid food when you are stressed out or depressed? Last night I was depressed and stressed about the stuff with my kiddo so I ate some ice cream when I wasn't hungry and knew I didn't need it. I only ate half the pint (which was a good thing) but I feel the pull to eat as the situation progresses. I have a desk job and getting up isn't always an option.