Melindam--Welcome! Sounds like you are on the right track, in my opinion If you need to have someone to keep you accountable you are welcome to post your food log here or you can even email it to me if you want. There are people here who are starting out weighing more than you (ahem, ME) and we will take it off together! I cant say I agree w/surgery, but that's just me

ThisGirlsLosing--Welcome to you too!! I'm excited for you being down 20 lbs! You will have to let us know what they say on Thursday! About your working out, can you do it in the evenings? Man, if I had to get up at 6 to work out it would never get done, for real! I go after work and I really enjoy that.

MsCrockett--Yaaaaay!! 2 lbs, that is great!!

TeaHoney--Good job on your 6 lb loss!

Luan--Oh, the day you have planned sounds so awesome! Enjoy!

Hi Violet,

Thanks for the warm welcome. I understand what you are saying about having to wake up early...but that is what works for me. I found that it's either I wake up early and get the workout out of the way, or I get to the end of the day and I find all sorts of excuses not to go to the gym. If i were stronger in my discipline, I could do as you do. Since I'm not, I got to bed at 9pm and wake up at 6 am. Hard to do, but worth it! :-)

I will keep y'all posted on the results of my weigh-in on Thursday. Till then, have yourselves a great week everyone!

Maria Lucia

I'm the complete opposite! At least we figured out what works for us early in the game!

TeaHoney- Way to go on the 6lb loss, woooohoooo!!!

Crock - Congrats on the 2lb loss!!!!

Melindam - Welcome!! I'm new here too but we have a great little support group. As for the surgery, that is a decision that only you can make. Keep in mind, that if you do have the surgery, you are going to have to eat a certain way anyhow, so why not chose to lose on your terms and skip the risks of surgery? If you try and give it your all and you know in your heart of hearts its the only option for you, make sure you talk to a lot of people who have experienced it and hear both the good and the bad. But it sounds like you are already off to a great start and working in the exercise. If you don't want to walk outside, you could try the Walk Away The Pounds video. A lot of people have great results with them. Anyhow, I'm really glad you decided to post here, please come back often.

ThisGirlsLosing - Welcome!! I'm glad you are here. I understand about wanting to get your exercise in early so you can't make excuses later. I'm going to try to start doing that very soon, but I'm hoping to be to the gym by 8am and then back home to shower depending on my schedule on any given day. I am not good at very early mornings. I'm glad you've found WW, I know of several people who have had much success with it and like any plan if you follow it, it works. I know you must be very excited at the thought of being down 20 pounds, that really is just incredible!!! Just keep posting so we can get to know you better.

I wasn't going to get on the scale until Monday but I got tempted this morning and I'm down another 3 pounds. I'm going to wait until tomorrow to make sure its "official" before I update my stats. I'm very happy about it It kept me from being tempted today when Hubby and I were at the Civil War Reenactment. He ate a funnel cake, strawberry shortcake and a pulled pork sandwich (he is naturally thin) and I drank water and ate a South Beach bar I brought along because I knew I'd be tempted. Tonight I'm having salad and pizza made with whole wheat crust, I'm hoping the sodium doesn't bounce the scale back up tomorrow?? but I have been wanting pizza.

I just wanted to send a welcome to all the newbies, and invite you all to join us in the exercise thread -- thisgirlslosing already has, I believe! It is a great way to keep accountable. We set goals for the number of minutes we want to exercise, and post on the board. In addition to recording our own time, we keep track of the minutes the group has done. This month we have already done over 100 hours of exercise (6000 minutes). Please check it out, set some goals, and join us! Melinda, it may be just the thing you need!

Congrats to the losers!

Thanks for all the warm welcomes. Just to clarify, I definitely don't want to have the surgery, but my Dr.s keep pushing the subject, and my husband has now joined in. It's not the way I want to go at all. I've realized that this is going to be a life long change that has to be made. Which is why I haven't really picked any specific "plan" or diet, per se. It's about the time someone tell me, "you can't have ANY of that anymore." The little me on my shoulder says, "yea right, buddy, just watch me." It just doesn't work for me, at this point in time. But, I am eating better. I'm eating fish, a lot of fresh veggies, and trying to cook things in a better way instead of the frying and so on and so forth.

As for a food log, I am keeping my journal online (I'm working on getting to the point where I'm updating it every evening, lol.). I will get the link posted to my signature, though. I did really well today, considering I fought with the little voice inside saying "you need to eat something" all afternoon. Mid morning/ afternoon are killers for me with that little voice. (I don't know what else to call it, lol, I'm really not crazy, promise!)

I will definitely hop over to the exercise thread, for sure in the morning, after my walk. Oh, and I got my stability ball today, so I will be doing some ab work after my walk tomorrow morning. I'm waiting on two videos in the mail, the Biggest Loser DVD and the Celebrity Fit Club Bootcamp DVD. Then I can alternate those on days I can't get outside because of weather and what not. I don't always enjoy being outside, but my son does, and I can stick him in the stroller and go, so it's much easier than trying to keep track of him and pay attention to a DVD, lol.

Anyway, I'm going on and on, it's just so good to have others who understand, lol. I have to be heading to bed now. Gotta get up early, another Monday.

Melinda

Teahoney-Even better than the 6 pounds, welcome to the 200’s. May you have said goodbye to the 3’s forever. I can’t wait to do the same.

I am back from my weekend trip, but need to get some cleaning and stuff done before I can sit down and write responses.

Just one thing on the surgery issue, there was a great thread awhile back when someone else brought up that subject. You can find it here:
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74267

Hopefully I will be back later once I have gotten some stuff done, otherwise I will catch up with everyone tomorrow. Hope everyone had a great weekend and enjoyed the nice weather if they had it.

Just checking in I've been so busy the past few days, but I've been eating well & exercising. I joined Curves Saturday- I'm still feeling it from my first work out there, yet I can't wait to go tomorrow-lol. I've got to head off t bed- I was up way too late last night & didn't sleep well at all.

I'll try to post more tomorrow~

Thisgirlsloosing and melindan. We are glad that you are here with us to take this journey to health.

Kayley: You my dear are so very close to being under 300! I am so excited for you. Go Kayley, Go!

2Loosinit: Yea on your minus 2! Especially for being at Disneyland and traveling!

MSCrockett: Congrats on -2! and on passing your math test!

Tashabella: That is wonderful that you were able to take a long walk with your hubby! It looks beautiful where you were. I am proud of you for getting out of the house.

Countess: Congrats on -3! I also want to tell you I'm so sorry about your family friend's passing Hang in there.

Catherine: What a great party that would be when you reach a million! I have been doing the eliptical as long as I can every time and today was my most time at once. I made it to 1 minute and 22 seconds before having to hop off. I know I will get there If I just keep after it.

Teahoney: Yea! Congrats on your -6 pounds. That is awesome. Also, what does your new couch look like? I love new furniture.

Ammi, Sharon, FutureDiva: Where are you guys? We miss you all when you are not here. My hubby and I took a lovely long drive to Bonner's Ferry, Idaho. We were 23 miles from Canada but it was getting late and we stopped at an Indian casino to use the potty. Of coarse we gambled a bit. We are both very much tight wads. we don't like to throw money away so my hubby put in $20 and won $45 and I put in $5 and won $58. We cashed out and got back on the road to home. Next time we will leave our house earlier in the day and go into Canada. There is an old Calvery Fort called Fort Steele that I would love to take a look at. I love horses and my Dad and my hubby have been there a few times and the pictures they took with the video camera of the draft horses were so beautiful. All in all it was very nice to get away from home. For all of you who pray, please pray for my oldest sister as she is having heart surgery tomorrow. She has a small hole in her heart that they will be fixing and possibly putting in a pace maker if necessary. I would appreciate your prayers. Thanks all Hope everyone is blessed and doing well.

Blessings,
Dogpal

Hi all - Just checking in since it's after midnight and I still have to clean the truck out. Didn't want to do it in the day time since for once it was too HOT(88 degrees), rather than too cold (-18). (Some people are never happy!) At least the clothes are washed.

Catherine, once again you have a great perspective on things - Counting the number of calories already burned to lose the weight that's gone. I'll have to figure that out as another positive marker. I'll be looking forward, too, to your 1,000,000th calorie party!!

Dogpal, congrats on the winnings, and I'll keep your sis in my heart and prayers. Best wishes to her for a quick and complete recovery!

WELCOME to all the newcomers. I'm already enjoying your posts, and I'll look forward to getting to know you all better. Hopefully someday I'll be off this dratted truck and have more time online. Sometimes even when I have the time & opportunity to hook up the computer, I just don't feel like it. Sadly, I'm lapsing back into the TV stuper when we're off the road for the weekend. Not the way I'd like to live my life.

Christine - I hope you enjoy Curves and it works really well for you. It's sweet that my girlfriend who goes with me at home told me they've been asking about me at my home Curves. Mike, who owns it with his wife & is everyone's best cheerleader and coach, says he knows I can do this and just hopes I can get off the truck. It's nice to hear him speak so positively about my determination and that he EXPECTS my success. I know that's his "job" but he makes me feel like he sincerely means it.

Time to potty the puppy... to the stairs again. I don't know whether to be glad or regret that we're on the second floor instead of the third.

Amy--Thank you, I hope it turns out decent. I'm not much of a seamstress, but I can embroidry and cross stitch, I just haven't in a long time. I am doing this all by hand and it's a long process. I beaded for half an hour tonight and got two strands on the fringe done LOL. But, I am not in a real hurry for it, and it's something I am doing for myself, so...I can take the time and make it look as good as I can. And for the moment I am only bellydancing at home for exercise, although I would like to eventually take classes and learn to do it correctly. And yeah, Michael's lovesss when I come in there, I went to look at the prices for the stuff and wound up spending $30 for the beads and sequins and pailettes and ribbon lol. I could have bought a pre made one for that...although I can't find one to fit, so....

Countess--Thank you, I really can't wait to see the results of my designing jewelry. Although I design my own, but that's beads and wires. I've never designed a piece of fine jewelry, even if it is just a name....
I'm glad your brother liked the card, it sounded really cute.

Tasha--It's a beautiful picture, thank you for sharing it. And your day sounded fabulous! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

melindam--Welcome to the group, and you sound like you are off to a great start!!
_________
As for me, I had a pretty good day. My brother and I took the girls to church with my grandmother for her 72nd birthday. Then we went out to lunch with her, my uncle and his son. We had bbq, so salad and meat, with only a little sauce and trimming the visible fat was what I had. It was wonderful, even if probably not completely OP.

I weighed today, very skeptical, considering the past few weeks of weigh ins, but I showed a 6 lb loss. I noted that in my tracker, but I am still putting most of my faith in my measurements.

I started work on my hip scarf today, an exploration into virgin territory for me. Virgin in that I have never worked with sequins or embellishing a garment of any type with beads. I've made some really cute jeans by adding inserts of lace into cutouts in the leg to make flared leg jeans, and they turned out really good, but denim is quite a bit more sturdy than the chiffon I am working with. I started a straight line of sequins and discovered I didn't like the effect, so I took that apart and am considering my options about the sequins for the time being. So, when that didn't work out, I started the fringe. I am hand beading a four inch long fringe to go along the bottom of the hip scarf. Thirty mins work resulted in two four in long strands. sheesh I might be done with it before I reach my goal weight LOL.

okay, midnight means I should have been in bed a long time ago LOL. I hope everyone has a good day tomorrow.

Melindam & This Girl .... You just found the right place, everyone here is really nice, we are all here for each other, through good and bad times. If you want a rant about a bad day, a round of applause for an achievement we are here for both. WOW on the 20lbs!
Dogpal, I have not been posting coz I had nothing to say!!! Things are pretty boring here. Thanks for missing me though! Great for coming out of the casino RICHER, I am the same, could never waste money on gambling, rather give it to charity. I will keep my fingers crossed for your sis.
Violet, love your photos, you look MUCH better with your hair down, younger & prettier, did you have it in a bun in your avatar pic?
Tea Honey congrats on the loss! Congrats too to you Crockett! I weighed in today, I was up a pound, got on again I was the same, so I kept my weight the same, not bad considering how I've been this last week or two.
If I forgot anyone sorry, time is creeping and I have loads to do, keep well and OP.
xxxxsharon

Mornin' Chickies!

Thisgirlsloosing and melindan Hope you like it here...these ladies are the BEST! What's not to like! Sounds like you have both committed to getting healthier and slimmer - you'll fit right in!

Teahoney! Welcome to twoterville! Great loss - goodby to the 3's!

Crock: on your loss too! WTG!

Honiangel! WOO HOO! -6 down!

Countess: Another big WTG!!! Lookin' good!

Okay, darn it! I know there were more people showing losses....but I lost track! You are all doing so well!

I had a busy weekend! Cleaned my house and garage for FIVE HOURS yesterday...not that it needed it or anything! The garage had rummage sale stuff still set up from last fall! How lazy are we! Took the threat of golf-ball size hail and tornados to get us to clean it up to the point of getting my hubby's car in! (I always have room for mine - a perk of being the lady of the house! )

I really have to run...sorry for the quickie post. I'll try harder later, but really need to get my butt in gear at work! TTFN!