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 and hope. We are aware of the distinct problems that come with weighing over 300 lbs.
We want to invite everyone to join us in our journey.
We share laughter and tears.
We share what works for us and what doesn't.
We often use a "Topic of the Day" for discussion.
Motivational Monday
Tuesday Tips
Wednesday Wish List .. and What you are doing to obtain it.
Thankful Thursday
FUN Friday ... don't wait until you lose your weight.
Sit-up Saturdays - any physical activity
Share your Success Sunday
These are not required topics ...just ideas to share. We often find them very helpful. We also share heartaches and fears ... joys and celebrations.
We have several extra threads going on simutaneously such as Monthly Challenges, Weekly Weigh-ins, Recipes, Bios, and more. Please feel free to check them all out.
We have a bi-weekly 2x2 Challenge.
Our goal is to lose 2 lbs in 2 weeks.
We have a long term goal of losing 300+ lbs within our 300+ group in 2005.
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.
WELCOME!
I know you'll all agree that we are really thankful for the free services here at 3FC. The sisters offer all of this support and information with no charges to us. There are a couple of ways though that we can help out.
If you are thinking about buying anything at Amazon, why not help out 3FC at the same time? You can do this by clicking on the button for Amazon on any page in the forum, or by clicking on the button on the main 3FC page at www.3fatchicks.com . A portion of your purchase price will be given to 3FC by Amazon. It doesn't increase your price at all, but it does help out 3FC. You can use any of the Amazon.com links that you see on the site in order to help contribute to the site.
Also, BTW, in case you didn't know it, you can view the message boards "ad free" for a minimal charge. I think it's like $15 for 6 months. A very small investment to be rid of the annoying ads and make your pages load quicker.
Last edited by Angela_aka_Alice; 02-08-2005 at 10:22 PM.
Sorry for no cool formatting... I'm working on my laptop, because I've got no internet connection on my work computer, and I'm not used to using the site on this Mac. Just a quick check in. Four Toyotas today, so I should be happy. A friend gave me a bracelet she made in honor of meeting my latest short-term goal. Tomorrow I'm getting my hair done and I'll go a lot blonder, I think.
BarbPA--Great news!!!! Congrats!!!!!
Togger--Hang in there!!!! You deserve to be healthier, and the only way you can do that for yourself is ONE MOMENT AT A TIME. Just remember that--you can't control the past, you can't control the future, but you can control this moment RIGHT NOW. It's the only time you have to make decisions in.
cd--This might sound crazy, but... my mom gets heartburn from cinnamon. I don't, EXCEPT when it's in oatmeal. Something about the combination of oatmeal and cinnamon gives me terrible heartburn. I can eat all the cinnamon I like in anything else, but not in oatmeal. Plain oatmeal, instant or otherwise, and oatmeal flavored with anything besides cinnamon--those don't bother me at all. Weird, huh?
Last edited by Angela_aka_Alice; 02-08-2005 at 10:53 PM.
Hi all! Hope you are all doing well. I had a very good day today. It was dreary but warm. Snow is coming again tomorrow. It's supposed to start about 7:00 AM just in time for rush hour. Isn't THAT special!!!!
I've got another busy day tomorrow. On the road most of the day. I LOVE sloppy weather. NOT!!!
Ruby: Glad to help out. "I have to learn that when I don't want it, I shouldn't eat it, even if it is a once-a-year thing." Boy, that is quite the statement. I wish we ALL could learn that one. How many times I have had a couple of fries, and eaten them all just because they were there instead of just acknowledging that I did really want them and they weren't making me happy. Maybe it's being brought up in the "clean your plate" mentality. You know the one, "there are starving children... in fill in the blank " It takes a conscious effort on my part to put a stop to that behavior. I'm working on it.
SueMarie: Howdy! What's California up to today????
CD: Maybe insomnia is contagious!!! Can't help you with the heartburn. Don't think I've ever had it. But I am still some concerned that you're not getting any protein. If what you wrote is all you ate, I didn't see mention of ANY protein. BTW, they do have a low sugar instant, flavored oatmeal that is very good and lower in calories than the regular stuff.
Iwillbe: Geez, now you're keeping my kind of hours. What's this about?
Marcie: 70 DEGREES!!! I'm catchin' the next plane. You got room????
Susie: Glad your dad is doing some better. Seems like too much of a coincidence with your dad's surgery and now this. Sounds like somethin's fishy.
Hilta: Overcast and drizzly here today too. They claim more snow tomorrow morning. *Thanks for the directions for the scented animals. That sounds like a really neat project and a great gift idea.
Judy: "Write it down before it passes you lips. That will give you time to think about whether you really are hungry or are just eating to put something in your mouth." What a GREAT tip!!!!
2cute: Hope that Dr. appointment went well. [[[hugs]]]
Togger: "Why do I look for any reason to eat and postpone getting healthy? Is this an issue with anyone else? " You betcha!!!! Daily!!! But once the "click" hits, it does get easier. Hang in there.
BarbPA: I can't tell you how happy I am for you and Jeff! That is great news about the embryo!!! I'm also glad that you and your dad and brother are able to have some time together to celebrate your mom. I'm sure she is smiling down on you all and seeing all the love that you have for her and each other.
Angela: "you can't control the past, you can't control the future, but you can control this moment RIGHT NOW. It's the only time you have to make decisions in." Wise words, woman!!!!
WOW, what a bunch of great wisdom shared today! I love all this good stuff! As much as I would love to stick around, I've got to get some paperwork done so that I can go to bed. Talk later.....
Thought I would share this with you. It was from the Discovery Health Challenge page.
Thirteen Ways to Kick-Start Your Weight-loss Program By Pamela Peeke, M.D.
Editor's Note: Below are Dr. Peeke's top tips for getting your weight-loss program off to a rock-solid start!
Many of my patients ask me: "Dr. Peeke, what's the best way to start a weight-loss program?" It's a great question because there's sooo much information out there that it's easy to become overwhelmed and confused, especially when it comes to the question of which diet is best.
I recommend keeping it sublimely simple (KISS). Watch the quality and quantity of what's going into your mouth. Then get up and move to burn it off and get fit.
The only successful way to fight fat and to lose weight is to make healthy lifestyle changes. Make that mind-body connection! That means developing physical fitness, incorporating more fresh and whole foods into your daily diet, and reducing the stress in your life. Yes folks, stress can make you fat!
So let me help you get started on the path to health. Here are 13 tips to help you kick-start your weight-loss program as you prepare to join the Discovery Health Channel National Body Challenge.
1. Make a formal commitment! Write a BODY CHALLENGE contract to yourself. I ______ will commit to try to the best of my ability to get in 30 minutes of walking every day that I can, and to focus on eating healthy and nutritious foods.
2. Get real and be specific! Write down three to four goals, keeping them to one sentence each, and be realistic. Here's an example: "I will try to shed 1/2 to 1 pound of extra body fat each week. I will walk for 30 minutes at least five days a week, although I'm aiming for every day. And, I'll try to chill out and stop letting stress get to me." Avoid what I call fantasy-land goals (i.e., "I will lose 60 pounds in a month and still eat all the foods I love!). They will only frustrate you and send you back to self-destructive behaviors.
3. Get prepared! I always say: "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." De-junk your house right now! Give away or throw out any "bingeable" foods, as well as all processed foods. Fill your fridge and pantry with fresh, whole foods (that means lots of fruits and veggies!). Buy that new pair of walking shoes and put out your comfortable walking clothes. Buy that relaxing CD to listen to during the day. You can't shed weight and get fit if you're not prepared.
4. Get support! No man or woman is an island out there. Whether it's your best friend, spouse or pet armadillo, it helps to have some nonjudgmental and nurturing support when you're trying to lose weight, especially during challenging times.
5. Become a master regrouper! Don't let life's obstacles derail you. You're supposed to stumble around and make mistakes. It's all part of the learning process. Expect mistakes and learn to refine your "regrouping" skills. Flexibility is key. Be willing to switch from Plan A to Plan B. Above all, keep a healthy lifestyle despite life's tough times. I know that can be tough, but healthy habits will yield far better dividends than stress-induced ones!
6. Measure your progress! It's not just about the scale. Get out your tape measure and check out your progress. Use a clothes-o-meter (belt, jeans), which is my concept — a piece of clothing that within five pounds or so will fit better. Try your clothes-o-meter on once a week. The best reward is FIT — not WEIGHT. The ultimate prize is fitness and health.
7. Make a note! Research has shown that keeping track of your daily exercise and food intake — even on a simple spiral bound notebook — will increase the likelihood of your success. Keep it simple or, if you're so inclined, write a novel. Just hold yourself accountable!
8. Create a food-free reward system. How about a hot new workout outfit, a new pair of jeans, or what the heck — a whole shopping spree, a spa treatment or a weekend getaway? You deserve this kind of treat when you achieve your goals.
9. Buy a pedometer! Wear it on your waist every day. At the end of the day, scope out how many steps you took. Your BODY CHALLENGE goal at the end of 12 weeks is to increase your daily step total to 10,000 steps (or more!). You'll burn roughly 100 to 125 calories by taking 2,500 steps (about 1 mile). This means that during the Challenge, you'll ultimately plan on burning 300 extra calories a day and eating roughly 200 fewer calories a day. This 500-calorie daily deficit will translate to 1 solid pound of fat off per week and a healthy boost in your self esteem!
10. Don't skip breakfast! Research shows that the most successful "losers" never skip it. Make sure to include protein, some fat and a healthy carb. Here's a good sample breakfast: An egg white omelet with fresh berries and a piece of whole wheat toast. Or how about a skim milk shake with fruit and yogurt?
11. Nix the late night eating! Hey, I have a poem I made up (my one stab at poetry): If you eat after 8 (p.m.) you gain a lot of weight! If you eat a lot of excess calories after 8 (p.m.), you wear them the next morning! Put a stop to this by making sure to eat a healthy dinner of lean protein, veggies and fruit. If you have to eat dinner later, eat lighter veggies and protein and control the portion sizes!
12. Eliminate the processed sugars! Processed sugars are carbs that have been stripped of their valuable nutrients. How do you identify processed sugars? They are all white: table sugar, pasta, rice and bread, and they're nothing but trouble since they kick up your appetite for more of the same. Steer clear of these.
13. Have a mid-afternoon snack. This will help curb your appetite and fuel you up for your after-work walk or workout at the gym (a snack is especially important for women). The key is to eat protein with healthy carbs and a little fat. This combo will really sustain you until dinner. Here are some great options: Try reduced fat peanut butter on a thick multigrain cracker, or try a couple of pieces of low-fat string cheese and an apple, or cottage cheese with pineapple, or low-fat cheese microwaved in a whole-wheat pita.
You're bound to enjoy success if you incorporate my 13 weight-loss steps into your life. And even if you try just a few of them, you'll be ahead of the game. Just remember that your patience and persistence will always pay off in the end.
I have to remind myself that the scale just gives me number. It's a guideline that helps me figure out how much progress I'm making. I don't usually take it so hard when I make a gain, but when I know I've been doing everything right, well, that's when it really gets to me.
I found out yesterday that I gained back the three pounds I'd lost when I made this new concious effort to get healthy. Granted, it's only three pounds, but, oh. . . I don't know.
And to top it off, my last pair of jeans ripped today. The ones I bought at Lane Bryant that were too small to button that I vowed to slim down into. Well, at least they ripped because they were simply worn out and not because they were too small.
But I felt better after I went to Shopko and found that I was able to fit in the next size down, a 26. So it makes me wonder if any of that gain has been muscle. And if so, that number that means more to my self-esteem than I care to admit. Why do I let it depress me? At any rate, I'm sticking with my plan and staying away from that scale until next week.
* * *
Susie: I've been there, and my heart goes out to you. I know how hard it is when the doctors won't tell you anything. You and your family are in my prayers.
* * *
Oh, here's that recipe for the Thai peanut chicken stir fry:
Add one pre-cooked chicken breast (cut into strips or cubed) into the skillet or wok, and add enough spicy or mild Thai peanut sauce to coat. You can buy pre-cooked chicken strips, but it's cheaper to cook it yourself in the microwave. Once it's hot, add three peppers (I used one red, one yellow, and one green since they had a sale for them at the store), three stems of green onion, and one red apple, all chopped. I also added a handful of sliced roasted almonds, which you can either add in while it's cooking or use it to top the finished product. Stir on high heat until hot, maybe five minutes or so. Add more sauce to taste, but check the label of the one you use and be aware of the fat content and sodium. A little goes a long way, anyway. I failed to do this but it would be great to add a cup of wild rice with it. Sorry if this isn't too exact, but that's how I cook.
Esmarraude: Personally, I'd forget about the number on the scale and take a good look at the number on the pants!!! After all, that's what counts: getting the body in fitter condition than it was before. Thanks for writing up the recipe. That sounds wonderful. If you're interested in it staying where people can find it later, you might want to copy and paste it over on the recipe thread as well.
Went to visit him yesterday at the Hospital. He was crazy. He doesn't have the same hard time breathing, but now the alzeheimers seems to have kicked in. He kept saying he was at work yesterday (he hasn't worked for 3 or 4 years), and then he started getting kinda evil/mean. He tried getting up out of the bed and I had to keep telling him that he can't go anywhere since he has the wound vac on and if he moves it will rip it out. The nurse also told me that he ripped his IV out and took off the oxygen tubes. It was crazy. After about 35 minutes, I had to leave. I don't like hospitals or nursing homes as it is and I couldn't take it anymore.
If I go tonight, I am going when someone else is there too. Yikes!!!! Is this what I have to look forward to in 30 years?
Anyway, food is a little better, exercise and water are still great.
I am taking off work tomorrow and Friday, just because I need to get so much done this weekend.
BarbPA: Congrats! Hope we can both have some good news soon, as I believe that I ovulated again, so maybe there is still hope for a future baby in the months to come. I guess the stress really did screw me up over the last few months. Now we just have to get DH going to his part.
Hello to everyone. Hopefully I will have some time soon to really post.
Thin-
Plenty of room...pack your bags! It has been in the 60s all week so far...even got up to 70. I think they next week or so it is going to be in the 50s and 60s. I am soooo enjoying this NC winter!!
Togger – I feel EXACTLY the same way. I feel like my mind is a record with a big scratch in it, and when it comes to the part where I should remember my program/health/goals/commitment it just skips. After the deed is done and the offending object digested, then I say to myself “Oh, yeah….I wasn’t supposed to have that, was I?” I feel like I have a mental problem….
CD – I know what you mean about doing this “naturally” although I still haven’t ruled out WLS. I need to be sure that I will stick to the program after the surgery is over. If I can’t stick to it now, what makes me think I will stick to it after surgery?
BarbPA – wishing you the best of luck with your IVF.
Thin – It occurs to me that filling in the blank for “There are starving children in ….” Can tell someone how old you are. My mom’s answer was China. Mine was Bangladesh. My children’s was Ethiopia. Ironic that some kids are starving while we are all 300+.
Esmaurade – Thin is right, listen to the pants! I don’t know about you, but the scale has never been my friend.
Susie – Wow, such stress for you. Wishing you the best.
Here's a Tuesday Tip, which sounds really strange now that I write it out, but it works for me: when making my shopping list for the grocery store, I put names of diseases/conditions in among the items I need to buy. So when I am in the store, I read milk, bread, eggs, diabetes, chicken broth, bananas, knee replacement, apples, cheese, gallstones...etc etc. I almost never have a moment of weakness in a store because of this and leave the junk food on the shelves where it belongs. Geez that sounds bizarre.
Good afternoon to one and all. Today is still overcast and drizzly
here in OH.
Thin-I hope the snow goes somewhere else but I know its still only
February. Thanks also for the weight loss hints. I always say
learn one new thing a day to keep your mind alert
Susie-Hope your troubles are short lived. Your in my thoughts and
and prayers.
therubyslippers-a belated birthday I think I missed saying it
togger- I agree with ruby I think sometimes we all have mental
blocks when it comes to staying OP
CD- We have two girls in my TOPS group that had the surgery.
I think you still have to have your mind made up to loose
weight to go this route. At first the lose is great but
it soon wears off and sometimes your back to old habits.
Barbpa- I have several relatives that had IVF Good luck with
yours.
esmarude- The others are right about the pants. The scale
for me can show 6-7lbs gain by just drinking my water
for the day. HOW DEPRESSING.
jibble- We have had a nice winter also. But I have to keep
reminding myself its still FEB. MARCH to go.
I know I missed lots of folks-Iwillbe-2cute-angela-gmalil-Leanne-gizmoV
Dimples78 -craftymom-only1specialk-dommie-michelle-grannie-
ThinThinker – Hey there… things are slow, been really busy with work and school. Midterms this week and next and the stress is piling on! Just gotta hide all the food in the house, because stress and food seem to go hand in hand for me… I enjoyed reading those13 ways to kickstart your weight loss program! Excellent information! Thanks for sharing.
Esmarraude – I get the same way with my scale at home. I’m still waiting to get one size down! Congrats on that! Love the recipe. Thanks for sharing. I have a bunch of thai recipes myself, my mother is Thai. Whenever I ask her to show me how to make a meal, she goes you do this and this and that. Hehehehe… no measurements, just a little bit and this and that.
As mentioned earlier, it is midterm week (this week and next). Although this term is MUCH easier than last term, it seems the stress is still the same. I’m having a hard time remembering to do the things I need to do, and a hard time controlling my eating. I haven’t done much to my cross country map because I haven’t been getting enough water or eating right. I got one stick yesterday for exercising right which gives me a total of 10 stickers… I hate times like this, even with the classes being easier, it’s like a bad habit for my body to stress out during test taking.
I’m just not getting the exercise I need in. I gotta better organize myself.
I haven't posted much recently because I really didn't have anything to say.
I have been kind of down because of my continual failures. I would tell my self ...." Negativity BREEDS more negativity... and a Positive attitude inspires more postitivity" ... But all that knowledge wasn't changing a thing within me. Just more to feel bad about. I KNEW BETTER and I still failed to do what I KNEW I had to do.
BUT ... when SueMarie posted about her failure to earn cars and get her water in, etc ... I saw what I needed to do. I needed to use this Cross Country Challenge as a TOOL ... not a challenge.
I have not been getting in my 64 oz of water. I felt like a failure.
BUT ... I have been getting in at least 40 everyday.
When I used this challenge as a "GOTTA DO IT PERFECT" challenge... I would say to myself... well I am not going to earn my car today... might as well drink a diet pop.
BUT when I use it as a TOOL ... I say..." ONE MORE GLASS ."
It is a reminder to me to drink more water. PERIOD. I need to drink water for better health.
Be it 20 oz or 40 oz or 64oz. More water is good for me. Less pop is good for me.
I need to focus on the goal of MORE WATER.
It does not matter if I earn a car or not....
It is to my advantage to drink more water.
It is to my advantage to eat healthier whether I earn a car or not.
It is to my advantage to park and walk rather than get the closest space everytime.
It does NOT matter if I get a car or not. It is to my advantage to "improve" myself ... not "perfect myself"
Now I can put the Cross Country Challenge in it's proper place. Not as a record of my PERFECT conduct.... but rather a fun activity to do while I work on improving myself.
I am not a failure because I did not drink all 64 oz.... I am a growing success because I am drinking 40 oz of water EVERY DAY. 40 oz is better than 8-20.
So maybe some of you are only at the 8-20oz .... is it better than the 0 you were drinking ?? Then that 8-20 is a SUCCESS !!!!
If any of you are giving this challenge power to make you feel bad about yourself ...then STOP IT RIGHT NOW !!! Go back to the main CCC thread and re-read how this challenge is to help us develop better eating and living habits. Focus on it as a tool to help you remember to improve your life one day at a time
Hi everybody. Just got in from working. Nothing terribly exciting today. Tomorrow I'm off because we're short a car and it's Honey's turn to drive carpool so I'll be stuck at home.
We got some snow again today and I thought I heard them saying we'd get some more tomorrow. Like the rest of you I'm having to remember it's only the BEGINNING of February and we certainly could get ALOT more snow before THIS Winter's over.
I'm so ticked right now. For all of you that I have addresses for, I sent Valentines out on Monday, 18 of them. Yesterday I got 11 of them back for additional postage because I put a little treat in them and they can't be run through the machine. Then today, I checked and there was one more. Who knows what has happened to the rest of them. I'm guessing I will get them back one by one and they will ALL be late getting to you. The best laid plans. BTW, if you'd like to be on my happy little card list, you need to send me your address via PM and I will be happy to send you snail mail whenever I get the urge.
Susie: Oh, honey, I'm so sorry for what you're going through. [[[hugs]]] Been there, sweetie! If you need someone to talk to, just holler. I'm off tomorrow. With the Alzheimer's any stressful situation can turn the patient into a downward spiral. That's why consistancy in everything they do is so important. The only trouble is that some things, like surgeries, are unavoidable. My heart goes out to you because I know exactly what you're going through....including the "is this what I have to look forward to in 30 years." [[[hugs]]]
Marcie: I'm on my way. I still have friends in Kernersville, High Point and Winston Salem. And our old NC neighbors that moved to South Carolina so I can make the rounds.
Ruby: You're right about it aging you. Tell tale signs. It IS such a shame that we're all fat and sassy and those kids are barely making it. Maybe that should be what our heads focus on when we're grabbing that next burger. * I loved your idea about the shopping list. That could certainly work to keep you on the straight and narrow while grocery shopping.
Hilta: We ended up with about 2 inches of snow, how 'bout you??? It wasn't even deep enough to fire up the blower. The "baby" came home from work and shoveled.
SueMarie: Don't let the stress overcome you. Keep your head on straight and just trudge on through.
2cute: I'm glad you figured out that your perfectionist little self is what was putting you in your funk. At least now you know the cause and hopefully will be able to work through it now. You've always said "challenge" and "tool" in the same sentence, apparently YOU weren't listening!
Well, girls, my van is still parked in the street because of the shoveling going on so I better go get it and put it in the garage before Honey gets home. I think tonight is left-over night. I have about 5 grilled chicken breasts in the fridge, a serving of taco soup, a container of plain noodles and a sandwich. I think maybe I can feed 3 with all that on hand. It's a good thing Honey isn't picky. I'll have to beg the "baby" to eat left-overs, but I'm NOT cooking something new and that's all there is to it.
It's Wishful Wednesday. My wish is that we can all take a minute and find something good about ourselves. I think that as large women we tend to think of ourselves and our actions more negatively than we should. So we need to remind ourselves that we are "normal" human beings who love, lounge, teach, play, and make mistakes and correct them just like the rest of society.
I'm reminding myself today that I am a good communicator and my ability to express myself is a big plus.
2Cute: I like that TOOL idea. It puts a positive spin on our challenges. I'm glad your feeing better.
SueMarie Stressing about tests is the pits. Try to remind yourself that you're well prepared for what ever they toss at you. Take a deep breath and junk the junk food. Eating healthier will help you handle the stress.
Hilta: I love your dancing hearts. Someday I'm going to take the time to find neat gifs and learn how to load them.
RubySlippers: Belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOOO YOU!
SUSIE: Some of what's happening to your Dad may be caused by his meds. Please talk to his Doctor and ask if his meds are causing his dementia. I'll say a prayer for both of you. Good for you to not let your worry reflect in your eating.
Esmarraude: I'm with Thin. You're doing something very right if your down a size. The h**l with the numbers. Success shows itself in many ways. WhooHoo!!!!
Thin: Snowing yet? It is here. We might get a foot. But then again we might get 4 inches. Who knows? I liked the info from the Health Challenge. Food for thought there. Thanks for posting it.
Gotta run. I'm sorry I didn't get to everyone but I'm rooting for you all to have another great day.
2cute-I am so glad you gave us this challenge. I use this
challenge as my tools to stay on plan. I keep the map
beside my computer and it reminds me what I have to do
to get across country. I guess I'm still a kid at heart and
like the competition even if its only with ones own self.
I told my husband last night If I have to drink one more
glass of water I'm going to drown. Then I see the map
and I won't get my car so it encourages me to drink, drink,
and drink some more. If I didn't have this tool,
I know me, and I probably wouldn't drink-journal-exercise or
read Dr Phil. This gives me the extra encouragement
I need to be good. Now if it only shows in weight loss I'll
be so happy.
thinthinker-it has'nt started to snow here yet, but its supposed
to start this evening and overnight 1 to 2 inches into tomorrow.
j-ann- thanks for the compliment I had a good teacher
Sue -Tests can be very stressfull-take one day at a time and I'm
sure you'll do just fine.
300+ And Ready To Try Again #650
Hope you are all doing well. I had a very good day today. It was dreary but warm. Snow is coming again tomorrow. It's supposed to start about 7:00 AM just in time for rush hour. Isn't THAT special!!!!
NOT!!!
"I have to learn that when I don't want it, I shouldn't eat it, even if it is a once-a-year thing." Boy, that is quite the statement. I wish we ALL could learn that one. How many times I have had a couple of fries, and eaten them all just because they were there instead of just acknowledging that I did really want them and they weren't making me happy. Maybe it's being brought up in the "clean your plate" mentality. You know the one, "there are starving children... 
As much as I would love to stick around, I've got to get some paperwork done so that I can go to bed. Talk later.....
ya bunches!!!
The best laid plans. BTW, if you'd like to be on my happy little card list, you need to send me your address via PM and I will be happy to send you snail mail whenever I get the urge. 
This gives me the extra encouragement
