I'm just popping in for a minute :) -- much easier to read than to reply :) but I wanted to add my $0.02...

Kayley, who knows where you'll end up or what you'll end up doing?! I never talked to anyone when I was growing up and spent much of my time alone. I was so painfully shy and didn't know how to make friends and was afraid of looking foolish. It got worse and worse as I got older -- thru high school, I was pretty much totally isolated and suicidally depressed. Fortunately, I had two big things going for me. First, I'm insatiably curious, and couldn't stand the thought of "not seeing the end of the story" by prematurely ending my life. Secondly (and I'm only just realizing this), I'm pretty persistent. I try something, fail, lick my wounds, eventually (this could be years later, mind you), try again, etc... Another thing I've done that with is being shy and relating to people. So, even though for many years, I couldn't talk to anyone and thought the only thing that was positive about me was my I.Q., now I have this fancy schmancy management job :). And, sometimes I still feel like **** and totally inadequate and like I should just crawl in a hole. The difference now is that I know that is just a feeling and it will pass and it isn't reality. If this doesn't resonate at all for you -- sorry -- I just wished so hard when I was in the **** as a teenager & young adult that I had a glimpse of what life would be later so I could decide if it was worth it to keep going. I'm going to be 45 this month, and honestly, my life is so much better now than I could have ever imagined at 18 when I really didn't think I'd live to 21.

The other thing I wanted to comment on before I dash back to work :) is multiple pound swings in weight in a day. I weigh myself 1-2x/day (my unofficial scale at home every a.m. and the official scale at the gym when I am there and remember). The good thing about weighing that often is that I've learned that TOM, eating an off plan meal, or just randomness can cause 3, 4, or 5 pounds differences on the scale. I get a sense of what's "normal variation" that way, so I don't freak out. I tend to get excited the first time I see a new "low point", but not too excited until it happens 2 or 3 times. I figure that maybe for a 125 pound woman, 3-5 pounds is a lot to get excited about, but for a 300+ woman, it is maybe in the noise :).

Ok, back to work. Have a great OP day all! :)

How to make yourself "go"
My dad swears by the Metamucil wafers (his special cookies)..the apple cinnamon flavor. He was taking them for something else but it helped both problems. Jason opts for 3 of the sugar free reeces cups..the sugar free chocolates state on their packaging that "excessive consumption may cause a laxative effect". There is no MAY about it...it does....as does anything made with Olestra.

The female roomie...she lives there, stays in her room, pays her half of the rent and bills and that's it. They don't talk. At the beginning it bothered me until I met her...than I didn't care. Flowers...no decisions yet..but a lot of good ideas. I want fall colors...with purple...something bold and very elegant looking but fun.

Three hour diet....what is it that they say about if soemthing is too good to be true?

I have been purging my closet on a fairly regular basis. Right now I have 2 bags waiting to go and I need to get some more stuff out. I was giving first dibs to my friend A, but she has sadly put back on ALL of her weight from her GBS (it's so sad) and all of my really big stuff is long gone. I have a few coats, a dressy dress and a few other dresses and probably a couple skirts hanging in the closet that need to go. Only Luan is local to me...but I'd be willing to ship stuff to someone stateside if they would be willing to split the shipping costs with me.

Let me know...I can try to take pictures of what I have left and what the sizes are.

I also have some bathing suits too I think....although I might have gotten rid of them..I don't remember.

Happy Thursday...

Well, Julee, I would definately be interested! lol...I'm always on the lookout for clothes!

kayley - i totally agree that free is better!! sometimes tho the clothes are so close to free i cant help but by them :) the old navy stuff is great. i would even try looking at the old navy website and seeing if there is a store in your area that carries the womens plus. even if they dont tho, try going anyway. if you search, especially the clearance, you never know what you will find. ive found plus sized stuff at a normal old navy all the time. there is a really cute dress on the website - its a strapless tube dress for like 30.00 - i got it for 6 dollars because its not something they normally sell.

Ammi - i thought about that after i posted, but i figured i would at least offer :)

GarnetFairy - i hope that you took my "keep up" challenge as a joke. it most definately was :)

Nancy - WAY TO GO!!! listening to your body and getting what you REALLY want rather than the easy answer. i bet you felt great after for getting the veggies AND making a consious positive decision! WAY TO GO!!!

so i had a little bit of a downer today. i found out that i wasnt approved for my loan for school. even with a co-signer. anyone have any suggestions?