Good Friday morning!

Did anyone watch ER last night? One of the characters said something that really hit home.

She was confessing a secret that she keeps hidden from others:

"I can't follow through - on anything. If I don't finish it, I don't have to be hurt or disappointed in how it turns out."

It made me wonder if all the struggles to stay committed and focused and actually lose the weight, is that deep down, I'm afraid of what happens when I get there.

Something to ponder.

2Cute - Great start on the thread. And yes, focusing on taking care of your, and our, health is more important than gossip. Not necessarily more fun! I'll buy the book at Wal-mart today.

I guess I should get up and go to work. We're supposed to have thunderstorms today so laying in bed is more appealing.

Have a great day!

Terri Yes I saw that on ER,[B] and like you it really hit home!!! I'd like to think that is not my problem, but....if the shoe fits (of course if you go to DSW too many shoes will fit )

I was down another pound this morning. I just hope I can continue this determination.

Well, since it's FUN FRIDAY, I'd better find something fun to do!

Good Morning!

Coffee's on, I'm off to do some reading...I will start with Dr Phil, but I did buy two other books too. I'm a sucker for a book store....

I just got back from lunch with hubby. He was out running errands for the boy's camping trip this weekend and asked me to meet him for lunch, my choice. It's such a nice day, I chose this little fish place down by the bay. We got some take out and sat by the water, watching the seagulls go berserk, as they waited for a handout. At least my french fries didn't go to waste, but I wasn't sharing my crab cakes, no siree!

Michelle, how about a day in AC? Which is what I had originally intended. I don't want you dipping into your Disney fund! I am NOT a big gambler, at all! I'd be happy as a clam, just strolling the boardwalk, chatting with you girls...as a matter of fact, it doesn't have to be AC at all, just some place we can meet for the day, since we're within driving distance from each other. Maybe down the road we can plan for an overnighter in AC.

Lucky...so what have you planned so far? Did you order the lutefisk?

Thin, the women's Expo sound fabulous! Now THAT'S a FUN FRIDAY! Have a great time!

2cute, wonderful insight on the book thread, already! I'm going to enjoy this, really! I've already started highlighting stuff in the book!

Okay, I really have to get moving around here. I don't want to fritter away the day inside when there's so many things to be done outside!

see you later...

Michelle & Kat -
A day in AC, or anywhere for that matter, would be great with me. If we do AC Jeff would probably tag along and hit the blackjack tables. Then after we do the girl thing I'd probably catch up with him. Any weekend in May work for you?

Maybe we can plan an overnighter for the fall time.

I've gotta go grab some lunch. I'll be back later.
Barb

2Cute said:
"I am going to stop myself everytime I catch myself calling myself hopeless, stupid etc"

AH HA - pay your Spring Fling jar everytime you mess up!!!!! I think that would be a good one for me to do too.

Terri: Your ER quote "I can't follow through - on anything". Interesting, for me I follow through on everything and everyone BUT myself.

We are going to eat at the nursing home. They are having pork chops and steak so everyone agreed to eat there. I have cake and my aunts are bringing cookies and bars. I bought the decorations today so I am pretty much set until Sunday morning. Then it's set up time.

For part of the decorations I decided to have M&M's in crystal bowls on the tables. Good grief WHEN did M&M's get so complicated??? I just wanted plain old M&M's and there were many other kinds. What is this world coming too???????

I will be mowing until 8:30 and then clean the house just in case that snow hits tomorrow I want everything done.

I am excited about reading Dr. Phil. I believe sharing it with all of you will make all the difference.

Hello all,

I tried to post on Thursday, but after typing everything and hitting submit, I got some funky message and lost the post.

I have been trying to read, but unfortunately I am still behind.

Food has been really bad, but I am rededicating myself once again. Tomorrow, my hubby will be taking my picture and I will weigh myself. I am going to display the pic on the fridge in hopes of stopping my binging.

I am also going to finally read my Dr. Phil book. I have had it for months now and haven't gotten past the first few pages.

I have also begun to "clean my closets". I have found that I am really becoming a major pack rat. I am going to try and simplify some of my life, but getting rid of "some" of the junk in my house. Maybe it will help keep my mind off of eating, and once I have a garage sale, make me some money.

Well, I have some more emails to rifle through before bed.

Susie

Good evening gals. I am writing this off line because I have a couple of things I want to share and once I get online and start reading I forget what I wanted to share. LOL

First... I have been haunted with a topic we discussed at the Spring Fling.
EGG YOLKS Yep.. egg yolks.
Several of us said how they eat egg white omelets and others use only one whole egg and two egg whites. Others said how they cannot "waste" that egg yolk. It is ingrained into us oldies not to waste.
Well, ... that has bugged me ever since. So I am here to try and persuade some of you to use your egg yolks in other ways than you eating them.

First... a dozen eggs cost between $1 - $1.50 so lets average that out to $1.20
That averages out to 10cents each. If you eat the egg white... then the yolks value is only a nickel.... 5 cents.
Now who here in this thread is NOT worth 5 cents ?? If you cook one whole egg and 2 whites you are only throwing away a dime in exchange for LESS CALORIES, LESS Cholesterol, LESS points for those in WW. A DIME !!! YOU are worth a dime !!

Okay... now for anyone who said they are not worth a dime.... what are some other uses for those 2 egg yolks.??? Hmmm Let's brain storm here. How about using it for your pets. It will help their coats shine. OR .. how about your plants. Mix it with some water and use it as plant food. Add some left over milk too ... plants love milk. If they were hard boiled egg yolks you can add them to your husbands egg salad. LOL My dog loves the yolks of hard boiled eggs.

And for a last resort ... if you still can't waste those 5 pennies ... keep a track of how many you wasted in a week and I will mail you that 25 cents. You are worth a quarter to me.

Okay... now for topic two.
Not liking Dr. Phil.
I am one of those that hate looking at his photo on the book cover.
There are several options to take here.
One.. remove the cover. Duh !!!! LOL
Two... reverse the cover...turn it inside out.
Three.... make a new cover out of pretty wrapping paper or paper bags like we did back in school.
I think he has some wonderful ideas but looking at him irates me.

Okay... no time for replies. I had a third topic and I wrote a lot about it but finally decided to delete it after much contemplation. I am now out of time for replies.

Also, now research says eggs aren't as bad as they once thought!!!

I hurt my right arm yesterday while mowing. I think I really strained my forearm muscle. It shakes and doesn't let me use my hand. I have to baby it today.

Good morning ladies!

Its gloomier than gloom here today. It was supposed to be a nice weekend but I don't see no frickin' sun. A cold front came through and its been rainy and very cool. Unless the gloom moves out, no fishing today. Which bums DH and I once again.

I got up early and went to WW for WI. No matter how much I think about spending that $13 once or twice a month and how I could do this on my own and save the money. I am not going to. Something inside me just won't let me quit going because I'm afraid that I won't follow through and continue losing. I let DH do his WI at home but am making him dig $13 out of his wallet and put it in the vacation jar. I have joined and quit WW so many times in the last 10 years, I just can't quit one more time. So, I won't talk about it again and if I do, tell me to shut up.

I had a good WI. I lost 3.4 pounds. Part of that is what I had gained at TOM so I moved .6 into new territory. I'm .6 on my way to the next 25 pounds! I was very happy to see the number considering all that I ate last weekend.

The message of the meeting today was about what we believe about ourselves. Do we believe the truth about ourselves or do we believe what we think others think about us? Think of Cinderella with the stepsisters who always told her she wasn't good enough and that is what she believed because that's what she heard. Do any of us have a preconception of what others are thinking and therefore we live up to it? Is there anyone in our lives that gives us messages that lead us to think we are worth less than we are? She also talked about getting to goal. Getting there takes having more good days than bad. Not every day is perfect. Not every weekend is perfect. Its getting the bad days stopped and having good days that makes us successful. Its saying that we're never going to quit.

HERE THAT LADIES! DON'T EVER QUIT even if you've fallen off the wagon. Don't let that despair of feeling out of control make you actually out of control.

2Cute - You've got some great insight and motivation going. Keep it up because it helps others. We've got to love one another for who we are unconditionally but we've also got to help one another NOT remain as we are. For our health and wellbeing, we have to be tough for each other. You're doing great. I bought the book yesterday and yes that is an ego pose if there ever was one. I like your ideas of book covers. And great ideas about the egg yolks.

Susie - Good for you for taking the steps of being accountable and getting started again. I've moved twice in the last five years and learned about throwing stuff out. I work on removing pack rat stuff all the time. Next time I move, packing will be a breeze! Keeping busy like that will be a good way to get your mind on other things.

Lucky - Geez, that doesn't sound good about your arm. Take it easy and don't let it go on too long without seeing a doctor.

Barb.G - Good job for having a good week. How are you enjoying the meals?

Kat - I quit going to the bookstores because I buy too many. I also can't shop at Amazon very often but who ever heard of buying just ONE book? I was planning on trying the bike this weekend but right now the weather isn't very appealing.

Thin - How was the expo? I might keep my eye open for one in this area. I just finished reading my second Stephanie Plum book. I love it! Wouldn't that make a great movie? They are so funny.

Hello to everyone else. I have to go help DH do something in the garage.

Have a good day!

Hello ladies. First let me introduce myself. My name is Julie and I have been overweight all my life. I saw this thread and thought I would pop in and say hello and offer some encouragement. I hope I do not affend anyone by being so forward. In january of 2003 I weighed 340 lbs. Since that time I have lost, through a diet my mom and I made up ourselves, 170 lbs. I know how overwhelming it can be to look at all the weight you have to lose and think "can I really do this?". YES you can! Dont get discouraged if you have a stall, I get one every 3 weeks and will actually fluctate back up a few pounds. Its ok if you slip up once in a while it wont make you gain all you have lost back as long as you get right back on track! I have a website with some before and after pictures if anyone would like to look at it and I even have another site that has pictures of what the excess skin looks like after a large loss. The skin still needs a year to shrink up but the way i feel now is soooo worth the excess skin! That can be camouflages with clothes. I can run and play with my kids, I dont feel like my son is going to picked on because of my size, I can buckle any seatbelt i sit in now! Here is my website incase anyone wants to take a look.

http://www.geocities.com/dowsx4/index.html this is the one with the before and during pics. Move the mouse over the family pic to see our new family pic.


http://www.geocities.com/dowsx4/skin.html this is the one with the skin

Hi Everyone -
I am only here for a minute because it is way too nice of a day to be inside.

Dh and I got up early this morning and drove around to garage sales. Only saw one thing I was interested in - an old dresser I would have loved to refinish - but it was sold. Oh well, we took our little dog with us and had fun. Then I potted a bunch of flowers. Now I am headed back to the store for some more. Rain is suppose to come in later and tomorrow so I want to take advantage of the sun.

I hope you are all having a marvelous day!!!

Julie - It was nice of you to peek in. Congratulations on your extrodinary loss!! I remember seeing your posts on other another thread last year when you first started losing. You look wonderful!!!


More later!
Barb

Happy Saturday!

I don't want to stay too long here...it's nice out now, but you can tell there's something brewing in the background...gotta get out and plant stuff! I'm with you, Barb!

I had such a fun "Fun Friday" yesterday! The boys went camping this weekend, so here I'm thinking, "Well, I'll be all alone, I'll get a lot of stuff done around here." My daughter had other plans for me! She came home from school and told me that she wanted to take me out last night because she wasn't going to be home on Mother's Day. awwww... One of the high school's in our area was doing Les Miserables this weekend, so we decided to check it out. (Anyone that's been here awhile knows how much we LOVE this show...having seen it about 6 times on Broadway!) Putting on this show is a HUGE undertaking, but seeing as this school is a performing arts school, we figured it had to be goodl
Were we WRONG!!!

When I say it was bad, I mean it was excruciatingly bad! I'm really not one to put down someone's efforts, especially a high school production, I realize these are not professionals...but COME ON! We almost left at intermission, but I decided that since we had already invested that much time, (Show started at 7:30, intermission was after 9!) we were gonna see this thing through! It was like watching a train wreck! But the music was good. Played at the wrong tempo, but good! We went out for dinner (at 11:30) and had lots of laughs, then we came home and put on the tape we have of a PBS performance of Les Miz and sang along, LOUDLY...the neighbors must think we're insane. That's okay--we are!

Julie! Welcome! Your story is truly inspiring! You look great, saggy skin(don't worry, it will shrink) and all! You must feel wonderful! Please stick around and keep us inspired...you are living proof that what we all want is truly obtainable!!! Congratulations!

2cute...Another way of looking at the yolk 'dilemma:' Eat the yolk, throw away the cookies/candy/junk food/fill in the blank...better yet, don't buy junk in the first place. Lucky's right...eggs are no longer considered to be the 'bad guys' anymore. Moderation is the key here.

About Dr Phil...I left the book on the kitchen table. My daughter came in, looked at his mug and said, disgustedly, "Why are you reading HIM?" I told her the message was good, don't look at him. I think the problem with him is over-exposure...which, of course feeds his massive ego. I will take the cover off the book. I read the first chapter, highlighted some stuff,so I'm waiting for next week's discussion. I'm looking forward to this!

Terri, congratulations on your loss! You are doing so well! How is hubby doing?

Susie...I'm always trying to de-clutter too! Have you checked out flylady.com? Love her!

Okay, time's up for me! Time to head outdoors. Have a great day all! Let's make the most of it!

I feel so rotten, I'm just so disgusted with myself. The temperature has been pretty hot lately, and I've been postponing having to dig out the old summer clothes or even go shopping because I hate the way anything looks on me. I just want to disguise my fat to the world but I can't.

So today my mom asked if I would go out and spend the day with her and my grandmother, and I was happy to. I hopped in the shower got ready and all was fine until i decided to burrow into the back of my closet and look for some spring clothing. I was so disgusted, nothing fit. I've been wearing plain tshirts and black pants with an elastic waist for months because nothing fits me. I've been eating 1200-1500 calories a day for months and i still can't even read my weight on the scale.

For all I know I haven't lost weight and have gained it, despite my efforts. Is it possible for people to be unable to lose weight?? I know that sounds silly. I don't have insurance and I couldn't afford to go to the nutritionist if i wanted to.

So I told my mom and grandmother to go without me, I was so depressed. I looked at myself in the mirror and couldn;t think of a time when i hated myself more. That's a problem, I don't even love myself. I just looked at myself with this contempt and disgust as I marveled at my enormous size. I just stood there looking at myself telling myself: "this is YOU melissa, look at yourself!" And then i grabbed one of my shirts and spread it out on the floor so i could see how big the shirts need to be in order to fit over my enormous bust and stomach.

So of course they left and I locked myself in my room to cry because I couldn't stand being fat anymore.

Ugh, anyways enough depression words. I just don't have anyone else I can really talk about this stuff with.

Thanks for always listening to me.

Melissa...Okay, You've gotten that off your chest...now what?
It is what it is. Do something to make it different. Take the sadness and depression and turn it into determination. You know how you feel today, take steps to insure that you will NOT feel that way tomorrow.

Do something, anything, positive...Don't dwell on negatives.

Take a good long, honest look at what you are doing. Are you exercising? Are you really eating what's good for you? Vegetables? You don't need a scale to tell you that you are losing weight. If you are eating healthy balanced meals, and exercising more, you will lose weight. Period.

Hating yourself will not get you anywhere. Why would you want to help someone that you hate? Think of what you would say to a stranger who is seeking advice about weight loss...better yet, what would you say to one of us to encourage us? I know that you would not use hateful words or put downs. You have to learn to treat yourself kindly and with respect. And if you feel that you can't do that yet, then fake it til you make it!!!!

Now shake off the gloom and doom and give yourself a hug! And get busy...go walk off those bad feelings...

...then come back here and tell us what you did to feel better.

We are all in this together. We all have those feelings at one time or another. Overcoming the self hatred CAN be done...one small step at a time.

The longest journey begins with but a single step...

Go take that step, Meliss. We're right behind you!