300+ Chat Thread February, 2016
 

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!

Good day Chicks!
The weather is so nice today. The calm before the storm. I will go to the store later with the rest of the town to make sure I have a variety of healthy foods so I won't be tempted to binge when I get cabin fever.
I am so excited! Today was my first weigh in since recommitting last week. I am down 6 pounds. One more pound to go and I will be below that NASTY 300 AGAIN!
Betsy did you read my post about moving even closer to the kids and not buying a house with too many stairs? Just my 2 pennies.
Fi sending you a hug. Keep posting if you can.
Donna I think the new lady at church was looking for a friend. By you breaking down and admitting you needed help it opened a door for her.
Porthardy did you get a swim in today? I think I am your opposite person in the universe. Everything you say is opposite of me. It is giving me great insight onto my issues. Thanks!
Tootsie I asked my husband to get his fill of junk food at work. He should be eating healthier and he will. He always let's me pave the way. Does your husband like some junk food that is not tempting to you? Maybe he could keep that in the house.
Sam isn't it always the occasions we dread that turn out to make us feel good for going? I am a huge fan of Keep It Simple Sweetie.
Hi Terra and everyone else.

Arghhhh today i want to throw my against a wall and then beat it with a hammer and quit this diet NOW!!! I am trying with all my might to not quit this diet but seriously not having fun right now. I was 227.8 for the first time after yo-yo ing up and down the same pound. Yesterday i was 228.0 and now today im 229.6 What the flip is this??? Yesterday was even a day off from swimming and usually i drop but today i gained again and i swear i am not due for my TOM for another 2 weeks. I dont get it.. I am 100%on plan and i count every macro. The past 2 dys ive averaged 12-1300 cals and 15.5 net carbs. So whhhhyyyy? Yesterday i was depressed..today im just plain angry!

End of Rant...kind of

We're going to Orlando again. My spouse's work is paying for the hotel because he is doing training. The children and I will be vacationing. (I still technically have to work, but I can do my job from anywhere.) The last time we went, I remembered ladies in beautiful summer dresses. I was looking at cute dresses on the Simply Be website, wishing that I could fit in them and look ok. Not beautiful, not perfect, just normal. I don't wear dresses because I never feel feminine in them. Wishing isn't getting me anywhere.

I was hungry this morning, after already eating a banana and peanut butter crackers. I was looking at the junk food around the house. Did a mile of my four mile Leslie Sansone workout video instead. My left foot, the one that constantly hurts now, was on fire by the end of that mile. I wasn't hungry after that... Just extremely thirsty. I got ice water. It's great how sweet that water tastes when you're really thirsty. This is a small victory, but a victory anyway. I beat a craving.

Hi everyone.

Well I'm back after gaining weight and determined (again) to lose it. I was completely out of control over the holidays and it showed. Not just on the scale, but in my clothes and most importantly in the way I felt. I was stressed about Christmas and about my job ending, so I did what I always do - I ate, and ate some more, and here I am.

I've been out of work for a month now, and so far it's great. I went to So. Carolina and Florida for 12 days with DH and his son to visit his other son (in SC) and his sister and various other friends and relatives in FL. I had a great time. The very best part was walking on the beach and feeling the sand and ocean between my toes. There is just something about the ocean for me. It really makes me want to lose weight, if for no other reason than to feel comfortable in a bathing suit again, so I can go to the beach in the summer.

Since Wednesday I've been working on eating better and have lost a few pounds already. I updated my tracker to reflect my weight as of yesterday morning. It hurt to have to type in a number over 300 again, but I need to be accountable and honest. I will probably still weigh daily but will most likely only update my tracker once a week (if there is a change).

I saw my PCP today for my annual physical. Usually she is on my case to lose weight, but today was different. I think it was because she believed that I lost weight last year (before gaining a bunch of it back) and was working on it again. It has been over a year since I've seen her. Now she wants to see me again in 3 months to see how I'm progressing. That will help me stay accountable.

I realize I'm rather chatty today but I feel like I've been away forever. I read most of the January thread and I'm glad to see you all still here. I know I do much better when I'm here. I have missed you, but I felt rather guilty posting here when I wasn't trying or even thinking about trying to lose weight. I know I shouldn't. We all struggle, and we all need help. It's good to be back.

I hope you all have a good day.

Hey Ubee...sadly no swim today..my dh injured himself at work and had to go to the ER...Turns out he has a fractured wrist and might need surgery...but its hard to tell cause he has to have a CT scan first. We live 3 hours away from the nearest CT machine so we must wait for a call.

Hi! Nice to meet you. Sorry your back here with regain but better now than never. One step at a time.

Evenin all!

Trying to get a post in every day...Slowly but surely :)

Betsy Sounds like you had a nice weekend with the family. Moving closer to them sounds like a good idea. What will Bill do when you move?

Port Don't take this the wrong way but stress can cause your weight to fluctuate upwards. I know this is a do or die time in your weight loss journey..Boy don't I know it! But you can't let the scale not moving get to you...or seeing it go up. This early in the game you are setting yourself up for failure by doing so. Yes, it's ok to be a little bothered by it, that's normal. But you can't beat yourself up to the point of stressing to the max about it, and to me that's what's happening. Take a step back and take a breather. It will get better just stick with it. <3

Donna So glad you found a new friend! I think I'm with you and Betsy on this one, I hate asking for help. I'd rather be out living in my car then to have to ask someone to help pay a bill or if I need to use something, or what not. This lady sounded like she was looking for a friend too :)...Hope it all works out!

Tootsie I know what you mean about not feeling pretty in dresses. I used to feel like I was wearing a tent when I'd wear a dress. Find something that you like that's comfortable and work it girl!!! As long as you like it don't worry about what people with think. Great job on beating that craving! Those things are monsters sometimes!

Ubee I am really glad that I went. It was nice to get to spend a little more time with her and get to talk with her family. They all were really great. Hope you had a great weekend! And uh, HELLO!?!?! 6 pounds go girl!!!!

Cindy Welcome back! I've missed you too dear. Glad you were able to have some fun over Christmas visiting family and such. I live in S. Carolina so I know what you mean about the beach. I like it here about as much as I love the winter in the mountains. Hope you'll stick around it's not a party without you here!

Had a good Monday. I've had no problems with sticking to plan and got my workout in. I did some cardio and back exercises tonight. Wanted to do some shoulder work but I was pooped after all the back work. There's always tomorrow.

Have a great night lovelies!

Still a dark time for me: pain in my chest from depression, plus gloomy thoughts. I'm unsure about whether I should post because I know my emotions come through loud and clear when I do so. I don't want to be a bummer for anyone.

It's actually a little better than it was, because Bob listened to me as I talked about what I'm learning from Mike (instructor/healer in Chinese medicine) and understood how meaningful this process is for me. That is, it's not just the rehab and getting my legs back; it's a whole new way of thinking about body, mind, and spirituality. I'm frustrated, though, that he's so dense. He's only just now getting it. This is not the man I married.

Another good thing is that I read Peter Matthiessen's The Snow Leopard over the past few days. Marvelous book! Thrilling in so many ways....

I see Mike tomorrow. =whew=

Fi...I am no expert on men( Heaven knows!) but is Bob having difficulty with the Chinese medicine because it is so very different to our Western way of interpreting things? I know when I studied acupuncture that the complexity of the Chinese approach made my brain boggle and I was studying only the relief of pain from a Western..ie evidence based ....perspective. Give him time...if you can. And enjoy (if that is the right word!) your time with Mike.....he sounds wonderful.
Hey Sam my heroine......you truly inspire me! Every time I think I cannot dream of losing the weight I need to I look at your ticker and it cheers me on!
Betsy.....I know that alot of British speech has been modified by American TV....that isn't a complaint, I think Americans have the most wonderful way of expressing themselves...but us Welsh types cling to the sing-song accents of our forefathers....we also talk VERY quickly! So I type as I write....in my Welsh accent!I am glad I entertain though!!
Cindy....welcome back my lovely!
Ubee.....way to go 6lbs!!!

Well Sam and I both managed 22 lengths at the pool last night. I put Argan Oil on my hair and wore a swimming cap ( yes I looked ridiculous!) but if it saves my lovely new hair colour then it is worth it! I am debating going to the gym later in the week to prove to myself that if I have a coughing fit...the sky won't fall in. I get a bit embarrassed about my cough....not the size of my butt on the treadmill you understand......just the coughing fits I have!
I also managed a dog walk completely in the DRY today!! It is quite chilly here today but dry dry dry........oh the joy!
Well...big hugs...must go and check my chicken soup!
Donna

It ate my reply.

My scale moved down-didn't expect it because my food choices haven't been the best. I assume that it may be broken, so I ordered a new higher capacity scale.

Trying to get my spouse to get different fruits and veggies-need to replace current food options with better options.

Want to teach my kids better eating habits. I'm worried about their health.

Don't understand why others think that weight loss is all about eating less and moving more. You can eat the same quantity of healthy food options vs calorie dense options, but get a lot more calories with the calorie dense options-so it's not about eating less-but making wiser choices.

Good morning from the absolutely gorgeous Pacific Northwest with blue skies, bright sun, and a glowing white mountain. Maybe I should rephrase that -- sounds like she's about to blow!

Ubee -- Thanks so much for starting up the February thread. And, yes, of course I read your advice. I always read your advice and sometimes I actually follow it! ;) I'm only looking at houses that are one story and hopefully about half the size of my current one. Of course, I still want a big enough yard that my neighbors can't see what I'm cooking for dinner and that is fenced. It will be a year at least before I move -- just trying to figure out where I want to live at this point. The kids seemed much more receptive to it at this point, and Bill is almost never home any more now that he has a girl friend. Now for the most important comment: 6 POUNDS -- WAY TO GO!!!!!

Porthardygurl -- Ditto on what Sam said (she is our official guru on weight loss!). Hope your hubby's wrist is ok -- these emergencies definitely are always a challenge for me in terms of staying on plan.

Tootsie -- A working vacation -- sounds like so much fun. I'm with you on dresses. In my case, both shins have venous stasis (blood pools under the skin because of extremely poor circulation) and they look like I have some horrible disease. People have actually grimaced when they see them. So I totally get this thing about wearing dresses. Have a great time and just enjoy being with your family.

Cindy -- Great to see you back here. Several of us have gone through the regain phase of trying to lose. Fortunately, none of us gained it all back and I think that says something good about us. I love the fact that you're having such a good time while on hiatus -- maybe not working any more would be a good thing?

Sam -- Glad you're posting every day (or trying to). Just having you report about staying on plan and exercising helps so much with making me realize that this way of eating needs to be a habit and not a temporary event.

Fi -- Please don't stop posting. You're not a bummer for us and I think all of us feel great sympathy for you for what you're going through both physically and emotionally. I'm glad Bob is beginning to see the light in terms of understanding what you're getting from Mike. Hopefully Bob has gotten his prescriptions by now -- could that be causing some of the changes in his behavior?

Donna -- Please do keep typing as you talk as I'm enthralled by it. And I'm to an age where getting enthralled doesn't happen much! 22 laps in the pool -- and walking! -- wow! Good for you. Hope the oil and cap helped to protect your hair.

I went in for my bone density scan yesterday and am happy to report I still have bones. Then I went to Costco for supplies. The most amazing thing happened. I was over in the fruit and vegetable section and that is where I got excited about shopping. Normally, I have to almost close my eyes and rush past the candy and chips, but just passed them up and hit the fruits and veggies. They even had cut up butternut squash so I can roast some and make soup. I realize I could just buy one and do it, but man, peeling one and cutting it should count as a workout!

Off to the gym and then home to work on the photo album project. Bill is headed up to the kids to help with child care while my niece is on a business trip. I was kind of surprised I didn't get asked, and then it dawned on me that the trouble I have with their stairs and the fact that they don't like Toby's size (silly people), that they figured that Bill would be a better choice. Actually, I was glad not to have to spend the rest of the week up there. Have a great day!

Well today is not a good morning...up and up and up the scale goes. I actually had a melt down today. Couldnt deal with another gain. I dont understnand what im doing wrong anymore. Am i just on the wrong diet? I did low cal for a long time and it worked great but i tried low carb and i love not having an appetite and not bingeing at all anymore but i just dont get it. 227.8 up to 230.6. It doesnt make sense anymore. I think whats worse..is that these gains are bringing out all this repressed stuff from my teen years and all of the reasons why i gained fat on purpose as a teen and its causing me to struggle with my past disorered eating. I also admitted today that the pastors comment about the frumpy women in ou church, has caused me more hurt than i originally thought. Im struggling to find balance right now. Right now i want to hide away from everyone and every thing to protect myself. I amafraid of being hurt but from what? I dont know. I just feel like im trying to protect myself by hiding away just like in the past how i hid from people through food. I have no words of encouragement today..im just really stuck today..pushng myself to swim even though i dont want to. I would rather just go to bed

Computer acting up making it hard to do longer posts.
Reading and thinking of you all.
I am doing good.
Welcome back Cindy.

Well..pushed myself to the pool today. I didnt want to but i did. When you feel like somthing is not working or your failing..the last thing you want to do is push yourself to exercise when all you can think about is "whats the point". I guess it helped somewhat. I was able to take my pain and my anger out in the pool.

To be honest..i found out that someone i know well..is dying of liver failure. He is an alcoholic and he did this to himself and he owns a very lucrative weight loss company and health business and most of his clientelle have been lied to about the true state of his health. You are as sick as your secrets..he had lots..so did his wife. I dont blame them for not wanting to be honest with their clients cause i know it would probably have tanked their business in the ground...but still. Now he is near death..wont be out of the hospital and his wife is putting on the brave face and all i can think about is how mad i am. I am just as peeved at him for drinking his liver to an un-repairable state causing him to die at the age of 56 as i am angry at myself for my liver issues.

When i was 18 i was diagnosed with somthing called "Mono- Hepatitis". Its rare and i got it and my liver swelled 10x its normal size. I was very ill and on steroids and an all carb, no fat no protein diet to reduce inflammation. Ever since then it gets out of wack and they have to monitor it closely. Well in 2013 when i had my weight loss surgery..the Drs discovered that my liver was beginning to fail and it was way too big to be normal. Thats when the Dr said "you have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease". They told me to either turn my life around, lose weight, eer ise and reduce stress or the liver was going to continue failing. So..i lost 100 pounds..eercised my brains out..stopped taking as many meds as possible and reduced my stress. Well..in 2015 when i had my gallbladder removed..they(drs) said there were issues. My liver was hugging my gallbladder and it was waaaaay too big and there was evidence of fibrosis(scarring) on my liver. When i met with a bariatric specalist for follow up, he said he was concerned about it and i asked him "well how do you fix it?" and he replied "you dont". You just monitor its size and do bloodwork to check enzyme levels. The liver is a fast healing organ. If 5% of it functions..it can regenerate new liver cells. However you can not undo the scarring and damage of years past.

So thats it..im peeved..im mad that this guy killed his liver by drinking his life away just as much as i am angry at myself for eating my liver away. It would never have gotten so bad if i had only found control over my body an eating and had lost weight far sooner..so yah..thats why im angry..

Sorry for venting. For the first time in my life..im actually writing out how i feel instead of eating. Its a breakthrough i think. Feel free to ignore my rambligs if its too much to read..cause like Fi..i dont want to burden anyone.

Fi Don't ever think you shouldn't post here....Post regardless of what you feel. We are here for you. We're here to listen to whatever you have to say...Sometimes talking about it will help. No one judges here so you are always safe to post as you wish. Glad to see DH is finally opening his eyes lol...Hope everything went good with Mike today.

Donna You are always too sweet. Thank you. Glad you were able to get to the pool last night and it didn't ruin the new 'do :)...Dry weather can be good where you are I suppose right? Weather was pretty nice here today, cool but not too cold.

Tootsie Sounds like a win to me! You're moving in the right direction. Definitely need to get the kids in a good place before it's too late for them. I'm living proof of that. You're in the right mindset girly you can do this!

Betsy Really trying here!!! I know how much it helps me for sure...I think I have my head right in the game, just having a hard time fighting the sweet cravings. So far nothing has won me over yet this week so there's progress. Glad you still have bones :D...The weather was nice here today too but I think we're due for rain tomorrow. I'm just not ready for the crazy humidity that will be here sooner than I know. My hair always looks like crap during that time of year and end up wearing it up most of the time lol

Port Stop going by the number on the scale!!! That does not define who you are!!!!!!! It's just a number...it's going to go up and down...that's part of this whole process. Is it discouraging at times? Yes!!! But remember that is not the only means to check your progress. Are your clothes getting looser? Do you feel like you aren't as out of breath as you once were? Have you been able to enjoy more things lately? Take a step back and assess everything and not just what you read on the scale. If you keep doing this you are going to move farther back instead of moving forward. Get a tape measure and keep a log of your measurements as well. I will lose in inches faster than I will see the scale move. This is all out of love. I'm sorry you aren't seeing the brighter side of things today, but you are doing fine. You can't truly judge if something is working for if you haven't given it at least 3-4 weeks to test. So before you shoot down what you're doing give it enough time and then switch it up. Hope tomorrow is a better day <3.

Ubee HAII!!!!!! Glad you at least dropped in for a second...Talk with you tomorrow dear!

Welp last night DH wasn't feeling too well. Sore throat, could barely talk. Today he's even worse. He's been drinking his fluids and sucking on cough drops. He can't figure out if it's allergy related or a cold. He knows it definitely isn't the flu, so he's taking it easy. I decided not to go to the gym tonight and work out at home instead. So I did Turbo Fire's Fire 60 video today. DH and I were talking about it last night and he thinks I should keep doing these videos more often then lifting weights all the time. He thinks I've seen the most progress by doing these videos. Maybe he's right...I just worry that if I don't lift weights that I will have even more loose skin. I'll find the balance eventually.

Haven't had any trouble eating on plan despite my food choices being very limited until I get paid tomorrow. We made a huge pot of turkey chili on Sunday and have been munching on that for dinner the past few nights. I made some grilled chicken tenders with collard greens for my lunch. I've been on a collard green kick lately. I guess that's a good thing since they have a good amount of fiber. So ready to go grocery shopping tomorrow so I can stock up on everything and have a good supply of healthy snacks. I've been having a hard time with wanting to eat sweets at night so I've been sneaking raisins at night lol..I know not the worst thing I can eat but sooo many carbs lol..I wouldn't be surprised if I gained this week but I'm working hard not to. Trying to get more water in and I need to cut the diet sodas out completely. I've cut down but I need to move back to the flavored waters that don't have anything in it...I think Deer Park and Polar make them. I'm sure that's not doing me any favors.

I'm sweaty and need a shower. Need to put the chili on and see if I need to get DH something else to eat for dinner tonight. Be well friends!

Not feeling great. My spouse decided that Chinese sounded good. I'm horrible with Chinese.

I feel like a failure at everything that I'm supposed to be good at. I can't cook very well. I'm not an awesome mom. I'm not a good housekeeper. I'm not a good wife.

My husband, along with other people assume that I'm smart. I don't feel smart. I'm socially inept and feel awkward in most social situations. I never feel like I fit in anywhere.

How am I supposed to change when I'm not in love with myself? I don't even like myself most of the time.

I lack patience.

I can't teach my little girl how to be feminine. I never learned how.

I'm not a fan of doing chores because my mom and dad beat me to get them done. Hence the reason that I don't make my kids do anything. I should, because they need those skills, but I don't want them to feel like I did.

I don't want to be affectionate with my spouse. I just feel gross. He thinks that it's because of him.

Hi everyone.

Porthardygurl, it's nice to meet you too. I'm sorry that you are having such a hard time with the scale. Don't you just want to throw it against the wall sometimes and watch it break into a million pieces? Seriously though, listen to Sam. She knows what she's talking about, and only judging your progress by the scale will drive you crazy and stress you out even more.

Sam, I thought of you when I was in S. Carolina. I was in Summerville for a short time having lunch with a friend who used to live up here. Most of our time in S. Carolina was spent further west in Whitmire with DH's oldest son. I'm glad to see you doing so well still. I hope DH feels better. I don't know about yours but mine is very needy when he doesn't feel well. When I don't feel well I just want to be left alone.

Fi, please don't stop posting because you feel you're a bummer. We're all here to support one another, not just when we have victories but when we're struggling. We're here for you. Oh and I love your abstract collages. I'm so glad that you are able to work on them again.

Donna, I missed you last year when you stopped posting for a little while. I'm glad you're able to swim so much despite the problems with your chest. Your new haircut sounds lovely.

Tootsie, congrats on your scale moving down. Why do you assume it must be broken? I completely agree with and understand what you're saying about making wiser choices, instead of just eating less. Last year when I was losing weight I ate a lot, mostly protein and veggies. No refined carbs, very few fruits and whole grains. I was rarely hungry and the scale moved. or now I haven't really committed to that way of eating. I'm just trying to eat healthy, but not really cutting out food groups except for the junk. We'll see how it goes.

Betsy, not working anymore would be an awesome thing. Unfortunately, unless I win the lottery it isn't going to happen. I'm about twelve years away from retirement age and just can't afford to do it yet. I do love being home. So, when is our Alaska trip? I've decided that I'm coming too. It sounds wonderful. Alaska is one place I do need to see before I die. I am totally into nature and beautiful views as long as I can view the from the comfort and safety of inside.

Ubee, congrats on the 6 pound loss. I'm glad you're doing well.

Now that I'm once again working on losing weight I think about food constantly. I'm always thinking about the next meal, what's for dinner, what I'm having for a snack, or what I'm going to buy when I go shopping. It's not necessarily a bad thing because when I plan I know what I will be eating, and can count the calories or points (currently I'm doing both) before I eat. But it feels a bit obsessive. When I was on vacation I never really thought about food. I ate, of course, but didn't really plan obsessively like I am now. I've probably always done this when I'm trying to eat healthy, but just haven't really been aware of it.

Tomorrow I start walking on the treadmill again.

Have a great day tomorrow.

Ubee ~ Nope we havent had any bad weather yet

Betsy ~ Yes I love Music and Movement class, Working out is much more fun when you are in a group

Porthardygurl ~ Hi...How have you been doing?

I could have written this myself Tootsie. I too didnt have a mother to teach me how to be feminine and i too struggle to teach my daughter how to do that. I understand how you feel. Its so hard carrying around lots of weight. It makes you just not want to care about yourself anymore. Im sorry your going through this right now. I wish i could make you feel better(((hugs))). Even though you are feeling depressed and struggling, i hear care and i hear determination too. If you didnt care at least a little..you wouldnt post or talk about what your going through and you wouldnt desire to teach your daughter or care about being a better mom or spouse for that matter. This is a good thing. Dont stop posting..if you cant do anything else, be it dieting or exercising, at least keep talking. I know it sucks doing it but its good..its healing. Take care Tootsie.

Hey Terra...fighting the good fight even though right now the fight looks bloody. My scale..i love it and hate it.. its like a pet that misbehaves on a frequent basis. I feel comforted by its presence and angry and frustrated by its antics. Slowly i think im starting to feel better. Today was a bad day.Not for eating, just for feelings. I think im finding some sanity by posting instead of eating my feelings. Just glad i have stayed 100% on plan in spite of it.

How are you doing?

Hi Cind..oh i know..a love hate relationship with the scale for sure. I dont think i could give up weighing though. Last time i did that..i decided to get slack with my diet and 6 months late i regained all my lost weight. As much as i hate it..i need it to keep me accountable. I just have learned whatsreal weight gain on my scale and whats fake-ie..time of month or water gain ect Its like i need a body fat percentage scale.

Good luck with the walking. I loveto hate my treadmill. Hate doing it but love how i feel after.

Port Stop going by the number on the scale!!! That does not define who you are!!!!!!! It's just a number...it's going to go up and down...that's part of this whole process. Is it discouraging at times? Yes!!! But remember that is not the only means to check your progress. Are your clothes getting looser? Do you feel like you aren't as out of breath as you once were? Have you been able to enjoy more things lately? Take a step back and assess everything and not just what you read on the scale. If you keep doing this you are going to move farther back instead of moving forward. Get a tape measure and keep a log of your measurements as well. I will lose in inches faster than I will see the scale move. This is all out of love. I'm sorry you aren't seeing the brighter side of things today, but you are doing fine. You can't truly judge if something is working for if you haven't given it at least 3-4 weeks to test. So before you shoot down what you're doing give it enough time and then switch it up. Hope tomorrow is a better day <3.

Ubee HAII!!!!!! Glad you at least dropped in for a second...Talk with you tomorrow dear!

Welp last night DH wasn't feeling too well. Sore throat, could barely talk. Today he's even worse. He's been drinking his fluids and sucking on cough drops. He can't figure out if it's allergy related or a cold. He knows it definitely isn't the flu, so he's taking it easy. I decided not to go to the gym tonight and work out at home instead. So I did Turbo Fire's Fire 60 video today. DH and I were talking about it last night and he thinks I should keep doing these videos more often then lifting weights all the time. He thinks I've seen the most progress by doing these videos. Maybe he's right...I just worry that if I don't lift weights that I will have even more loose skin. I'll find the balance eventually.

Haven't had any trouble eating on plan despite my food choices being very limited until I get paid tomorrow. We made a huge pot of turkey chili on Sunday and have been munching on that for dinner the past few nights. I made some grilled chicken tenders with collard greens for my lunch. I've been on a collard green kick lately. I guess that's a good thing since they have a good amount of fiber. So ready to go grocery shopping tomorrow so I can stock up on everything and have a good supply of healthy snacks. I've been having a hard time with wanting to eat sweets at night so I've been sneaking raisins at night lol..I know not the worst thing I can eat but sooo many carbs lol..I wouldn't be surprised if I gained this week but I'm working hard not to. Trying to get more water in and I need to cut the diet sodas out completely. I've cut down but I need to move back to the flavored waters that don't have anything in it...I think Deer Park and Polar make them. I'm sure that's not doing me any favors.

I'm sweaty and need a shower. Need to put the chili on and see if I need to get DH something else to eat for dinner tonight. Be well friends![/QUOTE]

I know i shouldnt...but i dont know how to be accurate with any other thing for measuring...
Sorry to hear your dh has a man cold. Those suck. My dh becomes like a whiney baby..all clingy and mopey. I hear ya on the diet pop habit. Im struggling to break that one..between that and sugar free chocolate. I jones after a sugar free pepermint patty.

Just looked on the calendar and it's Ash Wednesday already. Lent is going to be early (what's left to give up!) which means we'll be having an Easter egg hunt with coats on.

Porthardygurl -- As others have said, Sam is our resident expert on getting from here to there. You've already done wonderfully well with weight loss. But you are definitely in a love/hate relationship with that scale. Maybe take it over to a neighbor's house, or better yet just give it away and only get weighed when you go in to the doctor. Like Sam said, measuring yourself, noticing how clothes feel, your ability to do things -- these all tell you if you're losing weight. On the health front, yet again I'm in awe of what some of us have to deal with, and quite truthfully, I am humbled by the way some of us have to deal with so much each day. :hug:

Ubee -- Computers -- just like men. Can't live with them. Can't live without them!

Sam -- Hope DH is feeling better now. I know you're taking care of him. I wish I could let you come shop my pantry as I would dearly love to have it emptied! When I built the house, I had a large pantry put in. Well, I have managed to fill it to overflowing and need to just not buy groceries until everything in there is gone. And I need to stop shopping the sales! Don't know which will help with the loose skin -- maybe it's just a time thing.

Tootsie -- I can definitely tell you that you are smart. I was in IT for 30 years. I know what it takes to be able to do what you do. So, you can chalk up smart in your column. May I suggest sitting down and making a list of your good qualities? And if you can't think of any, ask your husband and kids. Write them on note cards and when you get down on yourself like this, read them. Write out some affirmations and each morning look in the mirror and say them to yourself. I think all of us struggle with loving ourselves, but just recognizing that is the first step.

Cindy -- I remember those days when I was ready to retire but the calendar said that I wasn't! Ubee and I would love to have you on the Alaska trip. Actually, I wish that we three could take this trip. Thinking about food all the time might be a good thing. It's when I'm not conscience of food when I gain......and gain.......and gain.

Terra -- Good to see you post. Hope all is well with you.

I've decided that the answer to consistently losing weight is my desire to travel. This Alaska trip and wanting to be able to walk easily and enjoy it is making me stick to the straight and narrow. I'm definitely doing much better on watching my food and staying on plan doing this. Hopefully I'll get to the point where just feeling so much better and being able to do so many more things will be a reward in itself.

Off to the gym and then continue working on the photo albums. Becky is over here for several days, and Toby is in heaven. However, he does want to make sure that Becky doesn't get too much attention, so he spends half the day trying to get his 100 pound body in my lap. He's a lot of dog! Hope everyone has a good day.

Yesterday's meeting with Mike was simply wonderful. I was definitely suffering from full-on depressive misery when I wheeled my wheelchair into the small room we use, misery that had just been exacerbated by something churlish Bob said in the car. My torso felt like a thick block of frozen lard with a ravine hacked out in the center of it, a ravine with vegetation on fire, and I could barely lift my eyes to meet Mike's. He had me try a few different things—changing my breathing, rubbing vigorously on an acupuncture spot on my shin, remembering blues songs I like—and then we just got to talking. I mentioned having read The Snow Leopard over the weekend, and from there we rambled through different pop culture topics until somehow we hit on "Battlestar Galactica."

I said, "Oh yeah—I'm an Edward James Olmos fan from way back."

Mike said, "Oh really? What else's he been in?"

I said he'd been in so many movies and TV shows, from pungent cameos to stellar leads, that I couldn't begin to list them.

For a practitioner of 3000-yr-old medical techniques, Mike is amazingly gadget-friendly: he always starts every session by punching in and firing up a little tab with soft ambient music, plus pulling his all-white laptop out of his bookbag and opening it up. He shows me pages from books on T'ai Chi and Qi Gong and acupuncture and Taoism he's downloaded or scanned, short videos of performances... lots of things... along with googling anything I mention that he isn't familiar with. So when I raved about Edward James Olmos, he pulled up IMDb (Internet Movie Database) and went, "Wow—he's been in lots of stuff! I remember that character..." and so on.

For some reason the thought of "Battlestar Galactica," which I never watched very seriously—not the way Bob did—cheered me up quite a bit, and as we continued to jump through wide veins of pop culture, like my "bad skin club" of favorite male actors (Olmos, Bill Murray, Jurgen Prochnow, Brian Cranston, et al.), and then somehow we were on Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp, but also, because of my mentioning Bob's penchant for science fiction, tracking through authors like Philip K. Dick and Isaac Asimov (when I told Mike I'd met Asimov at Princeton, he was eager to know "What was he like?")... anyway, as we fell naturally into one of those infectious conversations about books and movies—Mike is enthusiastic about a filmmaker from this area named Lavinia Currier, who made "Passion in the Desert" about a man's relationship with a leopard, and "Oka!" about African music, for which Mike showed me the upbeat trailer—as we talked & talked... my chest melted and annealed, and my spirits soared.

We even had a good time talking about "Se7en," which Mike hasn't seen but was most intrigued by when I alluded to the scene in which Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt are in the front of the car with Kevin Spacey in the back, narrating his big achievement in murder in that oh-so-compelling voice of his. Mike talked about a local art cinema that used to do bizarrely appropriate double billings, saying that "Se7en" and "Gilligan's Island" would be a typical pairing for that place, since both are about the seven deadly sins. I'd never heard that about "Gilligan's island," but immediately saw how the sins map onto those characters. (The only one that's a bit tricky to figure out is Mary Ann, who is Envy.) What a great laugh Mike and I shared!

However, I didn't expect it to last... As Bob and I were leaving the Mindfulness Center I was already brooding on how as soon as I got home, or even before that, I was going to lapse back into depression.

But it didn't happen! Despite the fact that my legs were in awful shape, hurting to beat the band, I stayed in a good mood. Bob didn't drag me down because he'd had a ultra-therapeutic massage while I met with Mike, and was feeling much more copacetic. I took a long nap, and then it was time for my favorite Sirius-XM deejay, Jim Ladd, to do his 7-11 PM rock-n-roll show. Ladd was also in a good mood: I love how personal Ladd's style is, how he always shares his immediate emotions with his listeners—a little bit by talking about them, and much more through the multi-song sets he puts together—and I could really identify with what he was relating about experiencing music in the 1960s and '70s, especially with how he always says "the Beatles!" at the start of such paeans.

The kitties contributed quite a bit to the mood: they were both very affectionate—cuddling, nuzzling, purring, soliciting caresses, bringing paper balls for me to throw. They are such a pair! I love how distinct and complex their personalities are—much more interesting, in fact, than either of our previous pairs, how they pick up on what Bob and I are feeling, how bonded to each other they are... 'can't say enough about our cats, but I'll cease and desist. =smile=

This morning I'm more torpid than I'd like to be, because I want to crawl upstairs and make a collage, but other than that, I feel thoroughly reunited with my real, non-depressed self. Maybe I won't make that collage. It doesn't matter, because all is well.

I find it odd, and quite interesting, that some of y'all are talking about femininity. I'm more feminine than some people—like my good friend who's a butch dyke =laugh=. I do like skirts and dresses, and have been through big makeup and nail polish phases. But wanting to be feminine? Naah, no way. I can't help being womanly because I'm hetero and have a big heart—plus I have an hourglass figure, even when very heavy (not to mention naturally blonde hair, big slate-blue eyes, and full lips)—but it's not something I consider a key part of my personality. If I had the physical appearance for it, I'd be androgynous. My mind is definitely androgynous.

Anyway, that's my long ramble.... I'm sending good vibrations in y'all's direction....

Oh Fi ...it did my heart good to read your post!I am so glad that the sun has come out a little....I hope that it is the start of feeling better physically, mentally and spiritually.
Well today has been a very positive one. I had an appointment with my Psychotherapist and that always makes me feel nurtured and listened to. Directly after that I had an appointment for a Physical check by the Psychiatric Care Team. There has been some issues in the past with Mental Health and Physical Health being too separate so every year I have a physical exam prior to my Psychiatric review in a couple of weeks.
My heart rate, Blood Pressure and ECG were all normal! Hooray! The other good news is that their scales weighed me 4lbs lighter than my scales at home but I am going to stick with my numbers as 4 lbs isn't a massive amount in the grand scheme of things!
The other piece of excellent news is that the external wall insulation work will be started on 15th Feb!!! I only rang them Monday to express concern I had had no news so I am really pleased with that!
Had a moment of complete panic today. I was out with the 3 dogs in our usual park and the little one went wandering off. She can't quite keep up with the others so tends to paddle her own canoe but comes back or I send Molly, the big one, off to find her. After 30 minutes of frantic searching and "running" around.....face as red as a radish of course!....... A lovely chap brought her in to the park under his arm....he could hear me calling and she was following him and his spaniel. She had gone some distance up the road in entirely the wrong direction!! There have been a lot of dog thefts in an area not too far from here so you can imagine my thoughts? And these wicked people use little dogs as bait for dog fighting. Oh the relief when I got her back!
Anyway...off to feed them now!
Take care all,
Donna

Got on the scale again. Another pound down. 291. I don't know why it says this. I haven't been trying. My choices have been the worst. I got up to drinking 3 sugar laden 16 oz cups of coffee a day and one soda. I have only been drinking one cup of coffee a day, without even thinking about it. That's the only thing that I can think of that changed.

I forced myself to do a mile of the Leslie Sansone video. I can't believe how quickly the body weakens. Last year, I walked up five floors of the Bromo Seltzer Clock Tower, effortlessly. Not even a year later, and the mile seems grueling. I'm carrying extra pounds now though, so I'm trying to be easy on myself.

I'm trying to take someone's advice about faking it until I make it. I don't have the motivation right now, but it's what you do when you're not motivated that determines whether you succeed or fail. We can't sustain motivation for a long time-so most of the time, we are unmotivated-that's why what I do now is so important.

Thanks, Betsy, for telling me that I seem smart. I think that my spouse has it correct, though. He says that I'm persistent. If I put my mind to something, with the exception of weight loss, I do it so long as I don't get discouraged, because I just keep trying. Weight loss seems nearly impossible because there is so much more going on than calories in vs calories out.

Fi: I feel so bad worrying over little things. It makes me glad to hear that your mood has lightened. Have you been playing favorite music throughout your house? I hear that it helps with depression to have soothing music playing-like something from your high school/college days.

Tootsie I'm terrible with any type of ethnic food..Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Indian, Vietnamese, Korean,...you name it so I feel you there. What makes you think you aren't a good wife and mother? As far as teaching your daughter to be feminine, don't worry about that. I was a tomboy for the majority of my younger years and still am to an extent. I think that's why I don't get along with ladies lol...Teaching your kids how to clean and take care of themselves does not have to be a grueling experience for them. If they are young, make it something fun to do to help mom around the house. You know how not to do it with your experience with your parents, so just turn it around :)...Sending you love and hugs my friend.

Cindy Summerville is about an hour or so away from me, not too far. Never heard of Whitmire lol....Glad you had a great time. My DH is the same way...wants to be babied...Sometimes I have a hard time and tell him I'm not his mother LOL...We are alike I want to be left alone when I'm sick, unless someone wants to play with my hair while I lay in bed though! :D...I think in the beginning of going back on a weight loss plan being obsessive can be a good thing to an extent to help get you back in the game. Great job for taking that first step :)

Port I got a measuring tape at my local Michael's crafts. They have ones that were big enough to measure me around with room to spare when I first started. They're only like $2. If you aren't sure where on your body you need to measure to get your correct measurements I'll be happy to help you with that. I have a chart that I write mine down every week that a friend of mine sent me. I would be happy to send you a copy if you'd like.

Betsy DH isn't doing better. Even more of a baby lol...I didn't even bother asking about running errands with me today. When I got home he pretty much slept the whole time yesterday. I tried to get him to eat but he wasn't hungry. Luckily today he is able to talk a little better. I'll be getting some things for him to help with his throat when I go shopping. The thought of Toby trying to get on top of you made me chuckle. It's always the big dogs that think they are tiny little things LOL...

Fi I am so happy everything with Mike went well...I'm a BSG fan too...DH got me into it years ago...Your evening sounded exceptionally well too...I hear hope in your voice....Just keep pushing mama...I'm cheering you on!! I haven't heard about the kitties for awhile...Made me smile when you talked about them. I can relate about my own cats. They definitely pick up on mine and DH's feelings and are always there to cuddle and tell you it's ok when you're down.

Donna Sounds like things are turning around for you too!! So glad to hear! Glad someone helped finding the doggie!

Wanted to address everyone so I don't get behind on personals but this is a short post from me. I'm still at work but didn't want to miss posting today. I have a bunch of errands after work so I don't know what kind of way I'll be in when I get home. I may just want to pass out. I ordered a new hair color line this morning and bought a tube of my usual just in case this one doesn't turn out. Hopefully it doesn't take forever to get here...My roots are showing bad!! Couldn't get comfortable in bed last night so it wasn't the best night's sleep I had. Woke up at 4AM ready to be up for the day but managed to fall back asleep before I had to be up at 6AM.

Back to the grind...take care all!

So good to see everyone posting.
Another good day for me.

Hello everybody!
Betsy...I know what you mean about losing weight to enjoy trips more. Sam and I went to the Harry Potter Studios last year and I really struggled to enjoy it after a couple of hours as my knees and back were aching. It was wonderful though...especially for two Harry Potter nuts such as ourselves!
Sam...how is the hair colour? I am too nervous to do my own at home so I go to the hairdressers. I am sooooooo grey! Or would be but for the magic dye!
Port......difficult though it is to stay away I only weigh myself once a week as I know how much my weight fluctuates day to day.....if I was doing it every day my stress levels would be in the stratosphere!
Hi to everyone else...Tootsie and Fi hang in there!
I made it to Mums and Toddlers today for the first time in ages and then I went hunting for suitable doggie blankets in the charity shops and found a corker for £5 which I can cut in to pieces and will last me a while! I don't wash them as it wrecks your washing machine...I just throw them away when they get too muddy!
I managed to walk around the town with less pain today which pleased me greatly, so I think the gentle exercise is helping. Sam and I are off to the swimming pool again after school .
I might sound a bit retro but Sam and I have rediscovered the Wii Fit! It had been gathering dust...cast aside for the Xbox.... and I set it up to have a go at Wii dance which I love. Well, as I have mentioned before, Sam does not especially enjoy exercise but last night he did a solid hour of aerobic exercise and stretches and balance stuff which he needs...and he LOVED it! Hooray.
Have a great day,
Donna

Good early morning everyone..

Well..me and dh are away visiting friendsdown island. Tue scale did not come wth me and its driving me nuts. Good news though- im 100% on plan. I know this because i offered to make all the meal while we are visiting. So they are eating everything i make so i know its safe to eat. I feel lime im gain ing weight but i actually have no clue cause i cant weigh myself lol. Nice thing i guess is that i bought a new pair of pants..and they fit well.. size 16s. My size 18s were tight a month ago and now my size 16s are fiting my muffin top so perhaps im losing inches after all...

Anywho...gotta run..busy day today

Tried a star fruit today. I never had one before today. That was an adventure. The store display said that it tasted like an apple. I thought that it was more like a sweet cucumber. I like cucumbers, so it's not off-putting to me. I hope to try more exotic fruits/veggies.

My scale is officially broken. I couldn't weigh myself this morning.

How nice to read such cheery posts on such a gray and gloomy day!

Fi -- I started off the morning reading of posts with yours and realized that I was sitting here smiling and nodding my head. So happy for you to have had such a positive day and feeling more like Fi!

Donna -- So glad that your little one was returned. They are members of our family, and it's so scary when they go missing. Great news on the physical part of your checkup and on getting the insulation work going. Add getting Sam moving more (along with you) and it sounds like things are looking up. Even when you have a down day, you sounds so much happier now. I'm so glad for you to have made such a big change in your life and have it be so positive.

Tootsie -- Don't you just love it when you aren't focused on weight loss and lose! Smart, persistent, whatever -- it's ok to know that you're doing something that only a small percentage of people can do. Love that you're losing. I am so looking forward to seeing that first number be a 2 instead of a 3.

Sam -- Hope that DH is beginning to feel better by now. I was in pre-med for a semester in college when it dawned on me that I didn't like being around sick people! Not the best candidate for being a medical provider! Hope the hair color goes well -- new color or sticking with the purple/lavender?

Ubee -- Yay -- staying on plan and having a good day helps make it into a habit.

Porthardygurl -- Have a great time with your visit with your friends. And you just got proof that Sam's right about using other means of determining weight progress. Being able to fit into a smaller size of pants regardless of what the scale says is great!

Last night I had a sudden onset of bad back pain over my left hip. Had trouble walking and thought that the sciatica had returned. I was able to sleep in my bed, so the night went fine, but I was still sore this morning. Then I just noticed that it's all gone. Don't know if I had a pinched nerve or a muscle spasm or what, but I'm so glad that it's not going to be several weeks of sciatica pain.

On the diet front, I'm finally stringing days together and losing. Still a long ways to go, but at least I feel like I'm in a groove. One thing that has helped is having my main meal of the day at noon instead of the evening. Before, it would be time to fix dinner and I didn't want to so would end up eating badly. Now, I don't mind cooking at noon and will fix a salad and small sandwich for dinner and am happy. I've also been trying new foods to shake things up -- making roasted butternut squash soup for lunch today and made a Chinese salad last night that was yum.

Guess since I'm not in pain I'd better head off to the gym. Hope everyone has a great day.

Hi everyone.
I hope my computer will keep behaving. I did a sweep and it is better.
Betsy I am stringing my days together and it feels good. It feels good to be in a groove. I am trying not to look to far ahead. Right now my goal is to get below 250. More then that seems to be too much to think about.
Tootsie my scale broke once and I found out I weighed less then on my old one. Here's hoping the same for you.
Porthardy I have to chuckle about your scale. That is me with my computer. Why can't our obsession be we can't go a day without eating healthy and exercising. On second thought that might be just as stressful.
Donna my heart missed a beat when your dogie went missing. So glad you found him and you are starting to sound like your old self again.
Sam thanks for taking the time to update me on your new sizes. I look forward to not wearing tents and I needed to live through you until I get there.
Fi glad to hear you had a better day. I am always glad to hear from you and never feel like you are a bummer to our community.
Cindy welcome back. Sorry you haven't found a job yet but glad you are enjoying your little break.
Terra I miss your posts. Is something going on that you don't post as often?

We had two snow days and I did great!!! Usually off days and weekends are my trouble times so I am pleased.
I am afraid to say my life is getting to a nice little happy rut because WHAM that is when something happens. Yes, I am superstitious.
See you tomorrow!

My 5 year old girl was upset the other day. When she got off the bus, a child had told her that I probably couldn't fit through a door. This morning, one child stated that my family is a bunch of losers, and that upset my daughter as well. I go and wait for the bus with my children every single day, rain or shine, because I actually love my kids and want to ensure their well-being. Meanwhile, these parents are teaching their children to be bigots. My daughter is beautiful, inside and out. She's average weight and height and has huge bright green eyes. She's very kind, and easily hurt. I would hate to see this world take that kindness away from her because of people's cruelty. It upsets me that my children have to deal with people putting me down because I'm morbidly obese. I didn't exactly ask to be this way. Noone wants to be huge. I've been tempted to leave several times so that my spouse could marry someone more socially acceptable.

I faked it again this morning. I'm not motivated, but I forced myself to walk another mile.

Food trigger warning:

I'm having tomato soup for lunch. It's the weird kind with actual tomato in it. I used to eat the completely pureed stuff. Unfortunately, when I have tomato soup, I usually want a grilled cheese sandwich and lots of crackers with it. It doesn't actually taste bad without crackers, which makes me worry about the sugar content of this brand. I'm not having a cheese sandwich. Maybe later on, when I can stick to a half of a sandwich and half a cup of soup, I can have that particular meal.

well i think im hanging by a thread on this diet today. Really struggling. A cross between wanting to eat my feelings and cravings for chocolate. Its a bad combo. I so dont want to give up on this diet but do you ever just 'feel fat"? I mean..i have been 100% on plan but today i just feel fat.

Hi everyone.

Fi, I enjoyed reading about your visit with Mike. You sound so much better and happier than in your other recent posts.

Donna, I'm so glad that someone brought your little dog back to you. What a horrible feeling when you can't find one of your fur babies. I'm glad Sam has found some exercise that he enjoys. No doubt you are setting a good example for him.

Sam, no one has ever heard of Whitmire LOL. It's a tiny town in the middle of nowhere. They are happy there and that's all that matters. I hope your hair color arrives soon. I hate when my roots are showing.

Tootsie, I'm so sorry you and your daughter had to go through that. I want to say kids can be so cruel sometimes, but kids are not born cruel, they are taught that, and it's sad. I'm sure that your daughter was upset because she loves you and the hurtful words were about you. I find it interesting that you are able to fake it when you're not motivated. I know sometimes we do force ourselves to do things we don't want to do, but exercise is never one of those things I can make myself do when I'm just not feeling it.

Betsy, I understand about wanting to lose weight so you can walk more easily on your trip. One of the reasons we got a treadmill was so that we would be able to walk more easily while we were on vacation. Then we had to move it over the holidays to make room for the Christmas tree and it ended up in a corner and we stopped using it. Even though I had gained weight I was still able to walk pretty well so it did help.

Porthardygurl, enjoy your visit with your friends. I'm sure you will do fine since you're doing all the cooking.

Ubee, I'm glad you are doing so well. It feels good, doesn't it?

I have decided that for now I'm going to use weight watchers as my "diet" of choice. I have kept my online subscription and really like the idea of being able to eat everything, in moderation, of course. Moderation is a struggle for me. I don't do well with portion control so it seems to be a good teaching tool for me now. I did pretty well on it four years ago, so I'll see how it goes.

Possible food triggers ahead...

I went grocery shopping today and bought a box of my favorite snack crackers. Because I have no internal sense of portion control and consider a serving to be the whole box, I portioned out the correct servings into individual snack size bags in order to curb mindless eating.

Saturday DH and I have a fundraiser to go to for a local police officer, who needs a liver transplant. The dinner will be baked ziti. Normally when I'm trying to lose weight that would put me in a state where I wouldn't even want to go. Now I'm trying to view it as manageable. We shall say.

I have a big pot of chicken barley soup simmering on the stove and it smells so good. DH is at a meeting and I wanted to wait for him to get home to eat, but I may not be able to wait.

I hope you all have a good day tomorrow.

Donna Hair needs to be done again LOL...It's faded a lot. I just ordered the color online yesterday so it should be here by Saturday. The brands that I use I have to order online because they are only supposed to be sold to licensed cosmos and the only store that has them around here you have to be licensed to even enter the store. Trying a new color line this time so we'll see how it goes. Glad that Sam liked Wii Fit!!!!

Port Enjoy your visit and worry about what the scale says when you come home. Sounds like you're doing something right if your clothes fit looser! :)

Tootsie I've always wanted to try one!! I've had dragon fruit before. TBH it's not worth the money. It basically tastes like a kiwi and is much more expensive lol

Betsy Will hopefully get my color in the mail by Saturday so I can do it on Sunday. My girlfriend told me I needed to stop bleaching my hair because it's getting really damaged. I've only been doing the new growth but I need to give the ends time to heal and I'm working with some good products to help the damage. She suggested I use a pale blonde hair color on my roots. Since it's virgin hair the purple that I plan to do should stick. Worse case scenario I'll have to bleach the new growth and color it again but I think it will be fine. Once I get my hair a little more healthy I want to try and add in a few colors other than just the purple to give my hair some dimension.

Ubee Anytime sweetie! I'm always here to help! Glad that you are doing so well and sticking to plan!

Cindy Tiny towns can be good sometimes! I've always wanted to live close enough to the city but far enough out to where I can feel like I'm in the middle of nowhere. My apartment is just outside the city limits...Not far enough away LOL!!!! Enjoy your time at the fundraiser!!

Going to keep it short and sweet today. The rain is coming down hard and don't want to worry about my computer blowing up lol...Stayed on plan no problem...Went to the gym and worked my legs. Got a nice hot shower and DH was late starting dinner so I have yet to eat but it sounds like it's almost ready. We're having our quick and easy sour cream/salsa chicken with green beans.

Be well!

Well...i survived our last night away from home. I came in at 1.5 carbs higher than 20. Considering most of my carbs came from veggies..its not bad. Today i was so freaking hungry...i bought an avocado from the store..got in the car..peeled it half way down and ate it like it was a plum. I kept eating till i no longer felt hungry. Ended up eating the whole avocado. You know..avocados are like the earths natural butter. Its so buttery delicious..i love those...but cant say the same for the calories. My calories came in at 1,700..yikes! My highest yet. I think its the roasted almonds and the avocado doing it. Will scale back for sure when i get home. Also..starting to eat at 9 am vs eating at 2pm..means im consuming a lot more during the day..especially when i havent done exercise. Exercise totally blunts my hunger..thank god i can return home to the swimming pool on saturday.

Hi there everybody!
Sam....ooh purple how nice! The problem with reds and purples is that they fade in the pool.....I really wanted purple too! So I have gone for copper-ish and the preventative measures!
Port....I am exactly the same....if I can exercise I don't feel at all hungry...which is why I get so frustrated when I feel too unwell to exercise!
Tootsie....I have had children make comments about me.....mercifully not Sam's school mates but in the pool when I am getting changed and once on a coffee shop when I knocked someone's table accidentally. I apologised but the woman made not-so-subtle references to my size which her 8 (ish)year old daughter chipped in with! Oh it hurts...it really does....and even more so if it is your children who are on the receiving end of it. The only thing I will say is that children will tease and bully other children no matter what....glasses/speech problems/ginger hair.....so a curvy Mum is just another stick they use.
Well Sam and I went swimming last night and swam 24 lengths. I could only swim breast stroke and not backstroke as the pool was too busy so my left knee was really grumpy last night and is stiff today but it is a small price to pay! Sam and I have decided to buy a waterproof MP3/4 player for Easter instead of chocolate. We will share it when we swim then. I get a bit bored when I swim for too long! We are aiming for 40 lengths then increasing our speed.
Eating has been on plan this week with minimal effort....the weekend is coming which can be a danger time for me so we will see how I get on!
Have a great day
Donna