Hi guys I know last night I said I would post this morning... but my schedule just didn't allow it. I am really busy as of late. The next two weeks are going to be hectic. I have a dear friend getting married this weekend in Nebraska and they are coming to see me and hubby for their honeymoon. LOL It is a second marriage for them and we haven't seen her in like 6-10 years. We can't agree on time. LOL

Plus I have my daughters wedding we are trying to finish up too.
I am starting to feel the pressure. Add in my sisters surgery and I am counting the days until JUNE !!!! LOL

My sister is doing very well. She did too much today and is feeling it tonight.
I was going to go see her in the morning... but I have to go back to the seamstress for adjustments on my daughters dress tomorrow.

Syn.. glad you are doing so well. I too have improved my eating since our Spring Fling. I do NOT want to be the same weight next year. I may steal Terri's name.... "Determined to Succeed".

Terri... "What have I been doing?" Well... Sunday I spent the whole day in the garage cleaning. My daughter moved out all of that furniture into their new (old) house. So hubby and I decided it was a good time to clean. He completed all of his cleaning... and I just spread my mess out more. I feel so guilty. I did throw away about 5 ...30gallons trash bags... but still have a mess to still straighten up.
Monday.. I did NOTHING.
Tuesday... I babysat all day.
Wed... ran errands with daughter for wedding, changed the oil in my car, did one of those lunch jobs like Thin does, ran more errands, watched American Idol results and then 2 hour special about "Friends", talked on the phone with my sister for an hour, .... gee... aren't you glad you asked.
I thought Jasmine would be the one to go this week. I thought George sang one of his best performances Tuesday. I think it is just a matter of time until it is between Latoya and Fantasia. I think they both will have a career singing no matter if they win or not.
Fantasia does have an "original" sound of her own. That is what will make her stand out.
But I think Latoya is a natural born performer. She is consistently good week after week.
I think Diana won't win... but she will be able to make a living singing somewhere.
I know you didn't ask... but consider it a freebie.

Barb... I hope you got my email.
I just want to thank you once again for the package. {{ HUGS }}
I think renewing your vows in Vegas sounds cool.
Crystal.. CONGRATULATIONS on your 10lbs. !!! I think weighing once a month is a good thing. You are bound to lose something and you avoid that weekly fluctuations we all have that can play head games on us. It is cool you have such a great support system.

Lucky... you need to kiss up to your friends fiance. LOL If he is rich.. surely he knows some rich friends. You said you wanted some it to rub off on you... well here... start rubbing. LOL

Barbg ... Congrats on another pound gone. That is super !!!
You definitely will reach that 50lb goal .... one pound at a time. Keep it up.

Andria ... What GREAT NEWS !!! Quote ..."I can zoom up and down stairs now"
That brought such JOY to me. I would kiss those +2" calves. LOL
Another quote I loved ... " I am alive and HAPPY ". Can't ask for more than that.

Okay... gotta go do some paperwork. I know I am behind on my reading... but what I have read has helped me. I am making wiser choices and eating LESS. As soon as I can stand that cold water I will be swimming everyday !!! It is only 73 now... too cold for these arthritic knees. Brrrr

Good morning!

to Crystal, Barb.G and Andria for your losses! Get up all your great work.

I am trying to get to work early this morning. I had a "bad day" yesterday because the only exercise I did was walk the dog and then we were both too tired last night to really care what we ate so it was italian sausages and wow chips. Between DH's nighttime trips and the "are we going to the boat or not" has made it difficult to plan meals and have the appropriate groceries. I was a little perturbed to have left work at 4:30 when I needed to work longer because the plan was to go to the boat only to have DH say its too windy and then comment how we didn't plan well for dinner.

I need to go post on the book thread and then get some of my general conditioning workout done and get out the door.

Have a great day!

I had a REAL reality check - I got pictures back from Sunday - WHEN did I get so fat?????????????

I have to memorize Dr. Phil's book.

Lucky... I am sure it was just the angle or lighting.

I had the same reality check when I saw the photos from the Spring Fling. It was hard to face... but the TRAMA of it has kept me from overeating now for over a week !!! There is always a silver lining in every negative experience. I am now determined to lose at least 2 dress sizes by next Spring Fling.

Oooppss.. almost forgot... THANKFUL THURSDAY !!!!

Attitude of Gratitude that is a MUST for success and happiness.

I am thankful for the great people in this group.
I am thankful for only a few more weeks until SWIMMING weather.
I am thankful for my family
I am thankful for my computer
I am thankful for my families health
I am thankful for second chances... even 200th. LOL

There are so many replies that I want/need to make and I simply have not had the time. I'm having a slight crisis at the moment. Can I share? I don't know where else to turn. My son is such a sweet kid. He's very shy, but not with his friends or family, actually he's quite funny and a lot of fun... but he has NO self confidence whatsoever. Sound familiar? Anyway, all this past school year, we've been gettng notes from teachers about assignnments not being completed, homework not turned in, he actually failed a class last semester. Literature. Not because he doesn't understand or can't do the work, he just doesn't do it all. No explanations. The thing is, he can hold his own for the most part because he is a bright kid. I'm talking honor roll, two semesters, in spite of all the missed work. I just don't get it. And yet, I do. He won't ask for help (and by help, I mean, "when is xxx due?" "I missed an assignment because of band, can you tell me what I missed?" things of that nature) because he's too shy...or scared, intimidated or whatever. (as my mother would so delicately phrase it, "He wouldn't say 'sh!t if he had a mouthful.')

We yell, we talk calmly, we bargain, we deprive, we restrict, we plead. I am at my wit's end. It's not just the homework..I don't want him going through life doing just enough to get by on....or not. But I don't know how to get through to him. It doesn't help that he's 13. That just adds a whole extra set of issues. I opened yesterday's mail as we were going out the door this morning...taking him to school. There it was, another note from his history teacher about 3 missing assignments. I lost it. I screamed at him the entire drive to school....less than 5 minutes, but still. I don't know what to do. I'm furious with him, but I want to help him. I don't know how. (I DO know that screaming is not the answer...it does nothing but make me hoarse and ashamed of myself.)

So if I'm not around much, it's because I'm on this situation. I want so much to be a part of the book discussion...and I will...just working this dilemma is foremost at the moment. Lack of sleep on my part is not helping matters either.

Thanks for "listening." Any helpful hints on raising a confident, capable boy would be greatly appreciated! A prayer or two wouldn't hurt either.

I'll be around.

Love to all...

Oh Kat .. {{{ HUGS }}}
I feel your pain and frustration. I wish I have the magic words to solve your problem... but I don't. I do know that when my son was 13 I knew I would either commit homicide or suicide. LOL My problems were not the same.. but the worry and frustrations were. The clulessness of what to do to fix everything.
Remember one thing.. NO ONE knows all the answers. Not you, not me, not the "experts" , not even your son. He is probably the most clueless.
I do know one thing. My brother was having a hard time with their daughter in school and the teachers kept telling them not to call this Sylvan Learning Center. After a couple of years of struggling blindly.... they finally called them. It was the best thing they ever did. They say now they wished they had done it years earlier. It has changed all of their lives.
I don't know if they can help you. I am not saying they are for kids who can't learn... they help everyone learn to learn on their own. It might be worth a try. Even if it doesn't work.. you are no worse off than you are now.

Hang in there Kat. I did not kill my son nor did I kill myself. LOL But if I could do it over.. I would call Slyvan and see if they could have helped us. My son was an honor roll student too... we just could not communicate in a sane and rational manner.

My prayers are with you. Get some rest... it is a gift to your family ... no one should have to deal with an overly tired , stressed person.... and YOU need it.

P.S. when my son turned 14 he became that lovable son we had the first 12 years. LOL

KAT Can I sen your post to my sister? She could have just as easily written it. She too has a 13 y/old boy and is going through exactly the same thing! Her son's name is Brian and he too is very smart, just not interested in doing school work. He went as far as to "make-up" a bioblography (anyway the list of reference books you are supposed to include in a term paper) and used people he knew as the authors! I'm not sure I agree with 2Cute that you'll have your real son back next year, it took me until mine were in their twenties to become human again

But seriously I know it's a har job raising kids in this day and age, so you do have my prayers.

Thank you my sweet friends! I had considered Sylvan or something like it, 2cute...Maybe I'll check out their website. He's at baseball practice with his Dad, who I havent even told yet about this latest.


Oh, they're home...I'll be back...

thanks again! {{{hugs}}}

Hey all - don't have a lot of time to post. I'll be gone for a couple of days for Grampa's funeral so I'm sure I'll have a lot of catching up to do when we get back

kat - don't know what to tell you about your son - I have a 13 year old daughter. She's not been getting her assignments in & we found out that she's failing her math class. She, too, has been an honor roll student all year. So, maybe it's the age & the fact that the school year is almost over?? I don't know. . . wish I had some words of wisdom, but she's my first teenager & we all learn as we go! You'll be in my thoughts & prayers . . .

2cute - my 11 year old has been UNBEARABLE - I honestly think it's hormonal. I sure hope that when she turns 14 she turns back into my sweetie again

Barb - I know my mom said that we didn't turn back into her sweet kids until we were in our twenties also. Maybe 2cute got lucky with such a good son Maybe my kids won't be like their mom (probably wishful thinking!)

Lucky - I'm with ya - I went dress shopping today - talk about a reality check! I did find one, though I'm not happy with how anything looks on me right now. Maybe I'll wear it once & bring it back Not that I want to keep the dress that I wear to my Grampa's funeral anyway . . .

Better scoot - gotta get supper on for the family & finish packing. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend (at least it will be better than mine )
I'll be back!

Kat (or anyone else with a teenager!)

I just read your post and I wanted to ask you something about your son. Now, don't take this the wrong way, but does he have a lot of friends? Does he go to other houses to hang out, or does he invite friends over..etc?

I ask, because being 13 is just so vivid in my mind, and I know what it's like to go through life (which at 13 is school, i mean let's face the music) without a lot of friends. Your son is going through what is for many THE single most difficult time in his life. And in retrospect, I can safely say that between the ages of 10-15, I was utterly miserable in a social setting. I was a very bright child, but my grades did not always reflect that until I started to gather some confidence.

Now your son is shy and you say that is the reason he won't ask - but for ME...it was more like: "i hate school, it's dumb, the kids make fun of me, and the teachers don't care." It wasn't until I started to learn to NOT care about being a loner, that I started to 'fit' in and make friends.

In college I had soooo many friends and it was great! But grade/middle school is hard for overweight children (meee!!!).

I just thought I would share, because yes they're too young to realize that there is life (and hope!) after school..but they are NOT too young to be embaressed. He could be too embaressed to bring it up to you (any social concerns he may have).

I know this advice was probably fruitless if you have a popular son (lol) but perhaps someone else on here will read it and start to take notice of these sorts of things...

Kat - I had two thoughts even though I don't have kids. One is that he isn't being challenged at school and therefore its bor schooling so why bother. Two is something is going on that is weighing him down. Have you talked to the school counselor?

I'm really wiped out tonight. Work has been very grueling so I'm about half braindead. I'm watching Survivor now.

Later chicks!

I was thinking (scared?) and realize my biggest issue is change. I don’t like it. I have changed my whole life in the last three years and think I am REALLY resistant to changing my eating, relaxing time etc.

Ya know what really make me mad!!!
My secretary at work is tall, very slender and I guess you would call it “willowy”. And NO that is not what makes me mad. It’s that she is forever talking about how hungry she is and how she wants to eat. (Apparently doesn’t but wants to) I don’t want to switch the “fat” monkey on my back for a “consumed with food” one.

Jen where are you???? I worry about you since you haven’t checked in with us.


Kat: Maybe it's just hormones; water; or the air. My nieces and nephews have gone through the same thing. I hate to give you bad news but 16 through 19 were WORSE!!!! Isn't this why all parents wish their kids have kids of their own as a payback?

Hi ladies!

I've been lurking. But I saw my name and decided it was a sign that I should get off my a$$ and post.

Things have just been very hectic the past few weeks. I can't go into detail now cuz I have to hop in the shower. Have an appointment for my son at the hospital in Landstuhl and I've never been there and it's raining cats and dogs so it's not going to be a fun drive for sure. ugh.

I already have my plane tickets to go home to Boise in June. We will stay for six weeks. Hopefully it will make the time fly by. My husband is now supposed to be back August 15th. They are swearing up and down they the troops won't be extended again. But then, they promised the deployment would only be one year. And of course that was after we were initially told only 6 months. Keep your fingers crossed. I just want him home in one piece.

Anyhoo, I gotta run. I WILL come back and post later today.
Talk at ya later,
Jen


256+/152/140ish

Good Morning Everyone!
TGIF!!!!


Jen - I was so happy to see your post. I've been worried about you. Hopefully the trip back here stateside will be a nice way to pass some time this summer. I am hoping and praying your husband arrives home on schedule!

Kat - I wish I had any words of wisdom for you with your son, but I don't know what to say. I'll just give you a big hug!


Geri - You still in Niagra enjoying your getaway?

I'm happy to report that I got up this morning and went to the gym!!!! YAY!!!!

What's everyone up to this weekend? We are going out with some friends tonight to a little Mexican retaurant. Tommorrow is our neighborhood Green Day - we all get together and clean up the common areas of the neighborhood. We are going to finalize our trip plans this weekend as well. All in all should be a nice weekend! Hopefully the weather will cooperate (but it doesn't look like it will).


I'll be back later with more replies!
Barb

HEY JEN !!!! Good to see you!!!! I hope you got my card I snail mailed you. I have been worried abut you too. Good to see you posting. I hope your son is okay. We are all praying for you, your husband and family.
Barb ... WAY TO GO exercising.
I am hoping to get to swim this weekend. I have improved my food.. now to get in some exercise.

I slept late this morning so I have to run. I always have to peek in before i do anything else.

MissMeliss... "bite the bullet" Yep.. that is exactly what I have to do. LOL
I HATE having to go there too because of parking .. and then you have to walk 3 miles within the hospital too. But somehow you find a way for loved ones.

Lucky... Change I hate that word more the older I get. LOL
When I was young I was more flexible. But.. there is a side of me that only dislikes change in my eating and exercising.

I really have to go...no more going back and reading and writing... Plus... this is the last post... someone needs to start a new thread. I just saw it... but I really don't have time.