300+ And Ready To Try Again #1024
 

Amy - you always crack me up. thanks for the laugh

Luan--The committee you're heading up sounds really awesome! Geez, you do have a lot on your plate right now! It all sounds so exciting, I am so happy for you. It sounds like you are really happy with what you are doing and that is what is important. And hey--WE all want you! Yeah!! :love: :yes:

Melissa--:goodluck: on your weigh in! Lets see some of this: :goodscale! You are kicking butt on the excercist girlie!! Keep up the awesome work!! :running:

Sharon--Thanks for all the kudos! It really means a lot to me! I am really trying and working hard to make this a lifestyle. That will be a great day when I have to buy a smaller size. I have been this size for so long I wont know what to do w/myself!

Wow, Wranglers are like one of the most inexpensive brands of jeans here! That is crazy that they get so much for them in the UK! :dizzy:

Yeah, I just dont understand why my friend has such an attitude about buying cheaper clothes. She says she only buys a few things for each season for her kids and then she ends up getting the rest as gifts, but that doesnt mean that if you only buy 1 pr of jeans they should be $14 when you are about to lose your house! :rolleyes: And its really strange because she tells me all the time how I could make this or that cheaper than I could buy it for and how thrifty she is, etc. Weird.

Kim--Hey, we all let our house get embarrasing from time to time.:o I bet its not as bad as you think it is. ;) But in your case I dont think its so much letting it get embarassing--its just that there's only so many hours in a day! Dont shortchange your efforts--there are many people who would use a busy schedule as an excuse not to change thier eating/excercising habits.

Wow, that could've been some accident! :fr: Geez, you're right, you were really lucky. Thanks for the advice, I think I am going to rest this week and try to get over this cold. I know excercising lowers your immune system too, and I have a feeling this cold has the potential to get really bad (I've heard my co-workers coughing and it sounds BAD) so I need all the help I can get! I've been taking my Echinacea and Vit C in addition to my regular multi-vit and cacium so hopefully that will help, too.

Yes, that could be true about the lady at Curves, but she just comes off to me as someone who is snoopy and just weird. I think she asked me how much I lost because I told her I had just weighed myself. And I know she asked me what plan I was doing because I had signed up for the Curves diet class and then cancelled. She is just a little...well, different. ;)

Zelma--Oh, that was really sweet of one of your ex-students to chase you down to say hello! Now I know you're having a lasting impression. Awwww...!! :D Speaking of your video, I tried to watch it when you originally posted about it and it wouldnt work. It took me to the article so I read that but when I tried to view the video it said it was no longer available. Are you able to email it to me if I PM you my email address? I was bummed I couldnt see it on the website and I would really love to see it.

Yeah, I thought that's what that manager lady was driving at--like if I hadnt lost anything or only lost like .5 or something then she could convice me to go to her diet class. Arg. She gets on my nerves. She's an ex-aerobics instructor so she is always going around the circuit showing us different moves we "should" be doing, when I just wanna get my heart rate up. She is kind of annoying, to say the least. :D

Nelie--Yeah, post some pics! :jig:

Katt--Thanks for all your kudos! Yeah, I dont understand people like that, either! :rolleyes: :lol:

Good to hear that you did definitely get the house for your dad! :carrot: That must be a big relief for you.

Good job on getting your excercise done. I love that Richard Simmons! :love: Your lunch w/your sis sounds nice and I wish you luck on your weigh-in! I agree the weeks seem to be going faster--maybe its because I keep myself busy counting points and trying to stay OP! :joker:

Good luck to your daughter reaching her Christmas goal. That is neat that you two are doing this together! :cp:

Amanda--Thanks for the congrats. Yep, people constantly amaze me with thier Foot-In-Mouth Syndrome. :lol:

You do LA Weight Loss, right? Or am I thinking of someone else? :o

Maybe you should ask your friend Jake to go for coffee or something after your meeting sometime. Or just say "Hey, we should hang out sometime"...:o :D Or maybe he will just recognize you on here and see that you are nuts about someone and it has to be him because he was the only one you were talking to that evening! And then he will profess his undying devotion to you and....Ok, I'm getting carried away. :joker:

Lavandel--I dont mind compliments on my weight loss, but I prefer someone to say something to me privately, not to be all loud about it like "Hey Janie! Look how much weight Amy's lost! Remember how fat she used to be???" Well, maybe not quite like that. :joker:

Good job getting some excercise in. I always feel energized after a workout, too, but I workout right after work so when I get home I eat dinner and relax and by bedtime I'm sleepy. :D I dont know if you have that much time in the evenings, but that might help you.

As for me, I am doing well today. All OP all the time, baby! :D I have been absolutely ravenous yesterday and today so last night I had to use 2 of my flex points already this week! I thought maybe I just wanted to eat because I was bored, but then I realized no, I am really hungry! So I went ahead and had my usual ice cream bar :D after dinner, even though I didnt work out.

I am trying to get my dinners (evening meal) under control. I always stay OP but I dont feel like what I am eating is as healthy as it could be. I think I need to get more protein and veggies in, but by the time I get home I want something that I can make fast. I printed off a recipe from WW Online that makes like 12 servings so I think I will make that and freeze the leftovers and then have like a salad with it.

I am still feeling pretty yucky today. My ears are plugged and I feel all sleepy. I havent really been coughing that much but I am soooo tired. Earlier I was feeling kind of crampy too so who knows. TOM is supposed to be coming this week so that could be what is causing the lethargy and my OOC (out of control :lol:) appetite. But I am pretty sure I have this cold. The coughing, etc isnt so bad, its just the fatigue and the lightheadedness. I had this weird thing last year where I felt naseous and really super tired all the time for like a week but it just ran its course and went away, it never got any worse. I wanted to stay home today but I am sure I will be worse later in the week so I will save my time off for then.

Tomorrow at work we are supposed to dress up like we are from the 80s for Customer Service Week (its an employee appreciation thing they do every year). I have my outfit all planned out. I am going to dress like a punk. Its going to be pretty cool. I still havent decided how to do my hair, though. I wanted to do that today because we were supposed to dress like the 70s today and punk actually originated in the 70s, but I think most people think of punk as an 80s thing. But I'll look cool tomorrow! I'll have to get some black eyeliner from somewhere....:lol:

I'll check back in later, babes! :grouphug:

Hey guys!
Thanks for all the comments on my pics. A model I am not :lol: although it was a fun day and I guess that showed in my expression :)

Trying to talk myself into going to the pool tonight. Its water aerobics and running night although MAN, it eats up my whole evening with my hubby. Eats is the key word here and the reason I am trying to talk myself into going. I will only munch if I stay home.

Speaking of which, eating today so far has been good. I am still up 5 lbs but I think its due to TOM coming and all the extra sodium that I have been sneaking in. A little water and a few more days and it should go away on its own.

OK I have to clean. grrr... tomorrow the maid comes and I have to have the odds and ends picked up so she can do her thing. It is also payday which sucks but I will leave work early and get groceries first so I will be ready.

Talk to you all later....
Brenda :wave:

Misti- when is your cruise? Where are you going? Sorry if you already said and I missed it. I love cruising, it’s my vacation of choice, as of now I have been on 5 cruises, and loved every minute of each of them. Coincidently one of my favorite features has always been the endless supply of good food—I wonder how I would fare on a cruise now? I never have gained weight on one because I always take the stairs everywhere I go—it’s my excuse for eating whatever I want—not a great method but it has always worked in the past. It’s a shame they don’t have parasailing as it is so risky not to stick with the cruise line- I’ve been on a couple cruises where people were left behind—once when the person was traveling in my group-it’s a very difficult situation and what our friend had to do was just meet us back home, missing the last 2 days of the cruise. Do they have something similar, just under a different name? Cruises can be trying to be original and in the end it’s the same thing.

Zelma- yeah- I don’t like my method of waking up too much either. The jug did in fact survive, only dumping about ¼ a lot, but at least not the whole thing- especially considering how expensive milk is. I have been very clumsy today, in fact just minutes ago I dropped a glass in the same spot that I dropped the jug of milk this morning, it bounced of the floor onto my foot (which hurt a bit) , but thankfully it didn’t break either. I think I’m just so tired that I’m getting clumsy. I did fall asleep today once I got home from work trying to read for my government class. Between the boringness of the material and how tired I am, I guess my body just gave up…see your normal, we all get tired mid afternoon.

Katt- I love kickboxing, although there are times I find myself looking at the clock- thinking is this almost over? That’s the only class I do that in- my dance class is usually over before I want it to be, and the weightlifting class is always over when I can’t take anymore, but no sooner. I have never tried Richard Simmons, is he fun? It always sounds like you enjoy it- I typically get bored with tapes---I really get bored easily, that’s why I take the classes that are different every week. I’m so excited that your dad’s house is final!!! What fun that will be! I’m really glad you’ve been able to help your daughter while she’s still in school- god love ‘em my parents tried to help me, but I was too stubborn that I didn’t need help- not that I didn’t want to lose weight, just to proud to like other people realizing I needed to as well, and especially to except help. I think I was embarrassed, whereas now I’m comfortable with myself and I’m doing this for my healthy. Before it was about my looks, and I think that’s why I couldn’t do it. She will be healthier and happier that she’s in good shape younger.

Amanda- well I guess today I really stuck to the motto “no crying over spilt milk”, but it did through my day off- it took me longer to get ready which means I had to skimp on my hair and makeup and still barely ran into work on time, and by time I got on the floor (term at work for actively taking care of my groups-as opposed to at my desk) I was 12 minutes behind, so it did throw a wrench in my day. Good luck with “jake” sounds like you guys are pretty good friends to be talking so late on a regular basis. I’m crossing my fingers for you!

Amy- thanks for the encouragement about my house/cleaning habits- I do get down about it sometimes- it makes me feel better to know I am juggling a lot and doing fairly decent. I hope you get to feeling better soon- I think with all those vitamins you have a good chance of not getting badly ill. I didn’t know that exercise lowered the immune system, I always figured is strengthened it. I guess you learn something new every day. About the lady at curves- I bet she was being snoopy, seeing as she was the teacher of the class which you cancelled—probably wanted to know what had beat her out, and wondering if it was working. Wouldn’t be surprised if you had said you didn’t lose that she would have put a line in for diet class- I retract my statements based on that updated information. :lol:

Melissa- here's hoping the FFM vists you next week- you defintetly deserve it!!!

Boy- I am so tired today! I actually fell asleep while I was doing my government reading. I have to run because I have more homework to do before class- but I am happy to report that I am 99% OP today. the minus 1% is because I got really hungry at work, and still wasn't going to have time for a break (after 6 hours of work) so i grabed a pastry. I grabed the smallest one on the tray and then walked away before I grabbed more- I hope it doesn' t hurt me- I had to get something, I was starting to feel really weak. I then ate a sensible lunch and took into consideration the pastry and used fat free dressing, since I usually use regular as my fat for the day (it tastes better). Well gotta run- talk to everyone later!

Hey gals--check this out:

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...54#post1426154

I'm sure none of you will be surprised by this, but its interesting news.

Hello All,

I am late writing today. Beth is off school sick, I think she has the flu so she will be off all week. My schedule for this week is out the window now, but at least I am making sure to still exercise for an hour a day :D

Lilion – thanks very much for that recipe. I know you were aiming for it to be for Caleigh, but yum, those muffins sound so delicious that I am going to have to try them myself. I am not sure what Brownie mix I can get over here, do you have any idea of the nutritional value I should aim for in a like product? If they are as nice as they sound then it’s the kind of thing I could make on birthdays etc.

I am sorry that your son had the same problem as Caleigh, it gives me hope that he outgrew it though. I hope Caleigh will do the same.

Here I am getting all excited that I have got 20 lbs to lose before I reach 100 lbs lost. Then I noticed that YOU only have 11 lbs to go!! That’s so brilliant, and I can’t wait to be here to give you lots of :cheer: for hitting such a wonderful milestone :D

Zelma – I am so glad to see you posting, though just reading all about what you have been up to lately made me exhausted! I especially loved hearing about the Royal Show. It sounds like the Royal Easter Show that we used to have in Sydney. I only ever got to go to it once, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the goody bags :D I was only a kid when I went, but would love to go again as an adult.

By the way I never think you write too much. Your posts are always so interesting and I love to read them.

I am sorry I can’t offer any advice on your problem with dehydration. That in itself could be a big reason you are feeling tired a lot. That and all the running around you do :lol:

I know the kind of tops you mean, I have one similar to that, it’s the black and white one I wore in London and took a picture of myself in the mirror :lol: It ties around the back, giving me some more shape, but hides the ostomy well. It’s a bit dressy for day to day wear, but if I can find some similar less dressy tops I am definitely going to have to buy a stash of them :D

I am glad you liked my photos, now when I have as huge a difference as you have that’s when I will really be jumping for joy :cp:

Jen – so glad you got a laugh from the fat arm story :lol:

That’s a worry about you possibly having a parasite or bacterial infection caught from one of the kids you teach. If it turns out that you do will meds get it sorted?

How did your WI go, did you officially make it to 30 lbs lost in 3 months? It will be awesome if you did :bravo:

Nancy – thanks for the compliments on my photos :D Much appreciated.

Oh is that who Kevin Smith is, does he have something to do with Jay and Silent Bob. I have only ever seen them in the film Dogma, but I thought they were so funny.

Jelly Fish salad, boy oh boy that sounds gross. My only experience with a jelly fish was when I got stung by one when I was swimming in the ocean in Australia. Hmm maybe eating one would be great revenge :lol:

I hope your visit to the doctor goes well, what did he have to say about the implant?

Annie – I can’t wait to see photos showing your first milestone weight loss. I want to be here to give you plenty of :cp: for doing so well!

Amy – you were so lucky that you had that preferential treatment when you were in hospital :lol: I know it’s always rotten to be in hospital but it sure must help when you are being spoiled :D Funnily enough I didn’t give any thought to suing anybody when I had such rotten treatment in the hospital. The cleanliness of the place left a LOT to be desired too. I nearly got on TV to talk about that, but that’s another story :lol: I guess I never thought of suing because in the end I came out of it ok. And I guess we all expect NHS treatment to not be any good. I learned that the only time the nurses answer the call button is when you press it three times quickly. It’s their sign for a real emergency. I never abused the knowledge, but I did have to use it once when I heard a man fall out of bed in the next room. He had been calling for help for ages, nobody came, so he tried to climb out of his bed, that’s when he fell. I think I could write a book about how bad it all was :( Maybe I could write a magazine article and make loads of money from it :lol:

Thanks for the compliments on my pics. Finally after 80 lbs, it’s good to be able to see a loss. I am 42 lbs lighter now than I was when I first met Daren, so this is the first time he has seen me looking this size. He thought I was sex on legs before even at 329 lbs, but the more I lose, the more ‘excited’ he gets :lol:

Brilliant news on your 3 lbs weight loss :bravo: :cheer: half way to your first 10 lb goal :cp: :cp:

Sorry that you are still feeling unwell, I hope it won’t spoil your fun of the 80s day you are going to at work. I love the sound of your punk outfit. I hope you get a pic taken of yourself and let us see it! I dressed up for an 80s night once and wore a Choose Life t-shirt, a neon pink sock, a neon yellow sock, a white skirt, and fingerless gloves. I felt like a twit, but hey some guy pinched my butt, so I must have looked ok :lol:

Luan – with every post that you write lately you really seem to be getting a handle on your upset over ‘him’. I am glad you haven’t let it keep you down :hug:

Missy – that sucks that you didn’t see a loss today. Come on FFM where are you. Missy needs a visit :hug: Keep on doing what you are, all that exercise and commitment to your diet is bound to pay off SOON :D

Sharon – if you come across any good brownie mix you will have to let me know about it. I bet you will try that recipe before me, so let me know how yummy they are :D

Glad to hear you are feeling much better now, apart from a sore tummy. Beth has a sore tummy too from throwing up a load last night. The joys of being ill NOT :lol:

I am SURE you will see a loss on Saturday too, how much would you like this week, how about a nice 3 lbs loss, or maybe more. Nothing like aiming high!!

Sue – thank you for telling me about your scar and ‘hole’ in your neck from having some of your thyroid removed. I can understand exactly how you feel. I didn’t have a cancer scare but life without Ulcerative Colitis is a life where I am not chained to the toilet and in constant pain. So yes I should be a little more grateful for my ostomy, just like you are of your ‘badge of honour’ :hug:

Nelie – hey, don’t just think about posting some pics of yourself, DO IT :D You have lost over 100 lbs and I bet you have some awesome before and now photos!

Katt – I know Luan has given some great info about carrots and veggies etc and having to count the points. I always thought that I only had to count the points on frozen or canned veggies, and on potatoes and parsnips. I eat a huge plate of veggies every other day and am still managing to lose. So I don’t think I need to change what I eat. Thank goodness. The veggies help to keep me feeling full!

My SD, Caleigh is 15 next month, and Beth my DD is 15 now. I know she would LOVE to have coco pops, but like I said it’s a bit awkward. She has agreed to try to eat things like porridge, scrambled eggs and toast. The main problem is that she hates to eat in the morning, she says it makes her feel sick. But as long as I get her to eat a little, it is bound to help. Thanks for your advice, it was much appreciated :hug:

Thanks too for the compliments on my pics, me have a stubborn chin, NEVER, lol. Well ok, maybe :lol:

Poor you having to sit in that hospital freezing for all those hours, only to be told you could have gone home first :( I am surprised you didn’t end up with pneumonia sitting there for so long. In our ER over here you aren’t seen on a first in first serve basis. You are seen in order of what your problem is, so if you are there getting a tight wedding ring cut off you will wait hours :lol: On a ward, well you just get seen when they get to you. It’s like when they did the tablet run. You might be due your meds at 10 pm, but they start on the ward down one end of the long corridor and by the time they get to you right up the other end it could me midnight or later before you get your meds. I was often the poor sucker who was last on the list. It wasn’t much fun when it was pain killers I was waiting for!

Brilliant news that you have officially got that house for your dad. He is very lucky to have such a loving daughter like you :hug:

Amanda – ooooh a budding romance, just what I love to hear about. I am going to keep my :crossed: that ‘Jake’ will grab you during one of your lovely chats and give you the most gorgeous passionate kiss you have ever had :D

Lavandel – great news that you have had another 100% OP day, one more done, and the next one on the way.

Great that you are going to have some photos taken and that you will put a pic for your avatar. I love to see who I am ‘talking’ to :D

Brenda – I hope you go to the pool, anything is better than staying at home and having a case of the munchies. I have had a rotten case of that today. Right now I am fighting it, but if I don’t go to sleep soon I might just give in :yikes:

Ok time to get some sleep now and keep from eating what I shouldn’t. Take care all and I will catch up with you all again tomorrow,

Hugs,

Ammi :grouphug:

Thanks for all the lovely thoughts and good advice, ladies. It means a lot.

I have to run off to my weight loss/diet challenge meeting in a minute, but wanted say :yikes: eeek, I have a job... try out? tomorrow. I have to do something I haven't done in eight years... drive a semi. I drove semi for 2 years before Bill & I got married, but he isn't licensed for the Big Rig, so we've been driving a straight truck. It's a semi tractor with the sleeper & stuff, and with a stretched frame and a permanant box on the back instead of a trailer. But I haven't 'pulled a wagon' in 8 years. At 9 am tomorrow I'm trying for a tanker job pulling what we laughingly? refer to as a bomb - a gas tanker. With OT it will pay $50k a year... more than the truck we OWN pays us after expenses... and hopefully there are insurance benefits too. But FIRST I have to GET the job. At least the trailer is shorter. I was used to pull a 53 foot wagon, and tankers are usually only 35-45 feet, which is a big difference when you're rounding a corner, believe me! Cross your fingers for me - it might not be my dream job, but it pays well, and it's PHYSICAL :D which would be a good thing! Bill pointed out that it's good I've already been working out and am in so much better shape to do such a job (which I'll take as a compliment coming from him.) I like that I can burn calories on the job. I better spend the night reminding myself that I can back any thing! any where! (which I can, but not necessarily at any Time.) Please Please Please Lord, don't let me grind a gear with MEN watching!!!!!!!!!

Off to do the diet thing..........

Okay- i have a quick question (5 minutes before class begins-has to be quick). I was on my way to class and craving something sweet, and decided to stop at sonic. I got a Fat-free fruit smoothie. It has pinapple, and orange, and fat free yogurt in it. I don't do calories with my diet I do type of food. so i figured fruit and dairy- but now that i've had it (and it was so good) i'm wondering if maybe it was a bad choice---do you think maybe there is a lot of sugar or something? I'm hoping one of you calorie experts will know if it was a good choice or not- because if it was okay, i might use it a bit more often as a sweet craving- it was really really good.

Thanks ladies!

Greetings all,

Zelma, I don't have much advice on drinking more water, as I struggle with consuming enough. However, I have heard that you should drink small quantities frequently instead of large quantities a few times a day. The kidneys can't handle a lot of water at once, and hence the frequent bathroom urges. Maybe a cup an hour would be a good method?

Kim, ah house-cleaning. I'm sorry you felt bad after the unexpected guest. I think everybody has their "trigger" points that bother them the most. For example, I keep my sink and table clean and my bed made everyday, but only sweep the floor once a week. This may not sound bad, except I live in a small apartment with a big black constantly shedding dog and a medium haired cat. Hair is everywhere, especially on the one rug in the place. It doesn't bother me, but a friend of mine was always disgusted by the hair. Oh well. I figure, like you said, that there are more important things in life than brushing my rug with a lint brush. :)

Katt/Ammi, the more you talk about Richard Simmons, the more intrigued I become. I may put it on my Xmas wish list.

Amy, congrats on being OP today. Dinners are hard for me as well. Actually, whenever I'm home it is a challenge. When I'm out and about, I stay busy and focused on something other than food. When I'm home, I obsess about how much can I consume within my limits. (This is new, though. I used to just consume, with no limits.)

Melissa, I'm really hoping the FFM comes next week. It sounds like you are doing so well this week!

Ammi, yeah! I did lose this weigh in. I'm officially 31lbs in 3 months. Only 1 more pound before I meet my first 10% goal.

Valerie, I hope your job interview went well. I am impressed with you semi drivers, especially when you make those sharp turns.

Well, not much new to report. Still waiting to here the diagnosis from the doctor. I hope everyone does well tomorrow.

Hello ladies. I have not been OP today. when i got home I had a twinkie and about four oreo cookie. I don't feel bad about it. I really enjoyed myself and am somewhat proud of myself that I was able to limit myself. I do know that this can't be something i let happen again anytime in the near future. :) Have a great night

Grrr. . . just had an entire post and the computer died. . . oh well, here we go again :)

Melissa - Nice job staying motivated even though the scale isn't being nice. My consultants tell me that when I hit a plateau, it usually means that I'm losing inches instead of pounds, so think of it that way. If we weren't losing inches too, we'd end up baggy :)

Amy - I'm going to Metabolic Research Center. I'm told it's similar to LA Weight Loss. The thing about "Jake" is that he really could end up on here randomly. His mother is the one who recommended this site to me and she's an active poster on another support thread. If she's browsing someday, she really could see this and tell him about it :) I suppose it wouldn't be all bad, but I guarantee he knows I'm interested and I'm told he is as well, so I'm just letting things happen as they do.

Brenda - I find myself trying to talk myself into exercising too. Did the talking work? Hope you got in whatever you needed tonight!

Kim - Thanks for keeping your fingers crossed for me. He's am amazing guy and if I end up with him eventually, I will be a very lucky girl. He doesn't seem to think he's desirable in the least, but I think he's incredible. I checked the Sonic website and it looks like the smoothies have a significant amount of sugar. You can check it at www.sonicdrivein.com. Smoothies seem to be very misleading. It's frustrating, isn't it?

Ammi - Thanks for the good wishes. I would love to get one of those random passionate kisses from him. I'm hoping for one sooner rather than later. :)

Valerie - Good luck with the job interview! I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't be able to drive a semi. I think I'd run over something or someone. Let us know how it goes.

Kenya - Sometimes we just need something sweet. :) I can completely sympathize. I'm craving something sweet right now.

I don't have much to say tonight. I made breaded pork loin for dinner tonight. I breaded it in melba crumbs and parmasean cheese and baked it. It was awesome! Now it's time for Gilmore Girls. Tomorrow is my first water aerobics class and I'm looking forward to it :) I'll let you know how it goes. Until then, have a great night ladies!

Hiya Kim .. I went to Calorie King online to look up a sonic smoothie ... a regular tropical smoothie (which I think is what you had .. was the only one there I could think would have pineapple in lol) ... here is the run down ....

Calories 500 (kilojoules 2090)
Sodium 170mg
Carbohydrates Total 124g
Dietary Fibre 4g
Sugars 98g
Protein 1g
Calcium 1400mg

It didnt define as whether this was a fat free choice or not cos I dont know if there are fat free and non fat free options??? But I hope that helps??

Valerie - good luck on the job, but I'm confused...I thought you hated driving a truck? Still, busy, physical work, no doubt about it!

Ammi - I haven't actually made those brownies, but I know the no pudge brownie mix is 110 calories and no fat and 1 gr of fiber per serving. I'd say any kind of low-fat or fat-free brownie mix will do. BTW your 80 came way faster than mine! You have every reason to be excited. I actually think I may break 90 tomorrow! We'll see! :D

Kenya - MMmmm Oreo's! (With milk? Gotta have milk!) I must say those sound great! And what's the use losing weight if it means you can never have what you want? You're doing so brilliantly!

Kim - I don't know where you got your smoothie, but I looked up nutrition information on Sonic's website and their FF fruit smoothies run 79 to 98 grams of sugar.

Got to run ladies! Hope you all have a great night!

I only have a minute because I got home late and dinner should be ready in just a few, but I just wanted to say that I had a great session with my trainer tonight. I talked to my doctor this afternoon and she said that as long as I didn't hold my breath while using weights I could do anything besides squats. I was very careful not to push down on my diaphragm and to breathe continually and everything was fine! I am so relieved. I will start using one of the machines instead of doing squats, so everything should work out. I will try to check back in if I can, but tomorrow is a big day because the CEO is in town. I need to get to bed on time to make sure I am at work bright and early.

Okayl...everyone answered Kim's question! :lol:

Nancy - So glad you got good news from the Dr.!

Hey guys
well it didn't work. I talked myself into not doing anything and now I am SO mad at myself and I am going to go to bed. I have been in a fowl mood and I know why, but I just didn't want to go alone tonight. One of my friends that usually comes with me is sick and my husband, well, I couldn't guilt him into going. I just am making excuses cause I have went lots by myself. I just didn't go and will have to pay the price tomorrow because of it. errr why do we do this? ok, I am going to bed now before I soothe myself with food.

Until tomorrow....
Brenda :wave:

Hi everyone! As usual I am rushing through. Tonight is my second week of my weight loss group at church and I am looking forward to it and getting to know the women better.

Zelma, you are probably right that the "hole" is more noticeable to me than others. LOL one day at work I was talking about it to some of my coworkers and showing them and they were laughing and saying well if you don't go around pointing it out to us we would not have noticed. :) However, I am surprised you say you can't see it in my pictures as it is very obvious in my avatar photo. :yes: But I really don't let it bother me a whole lot.

Luan, hope you are feeling better; that's quite a blow. I was thinking the same as Zelma though... it seems as if perhaps he intended for you to see that email. Anyway, sending a hug and my prayers.

Nelie, thanks for the info about the parasailing. LOL I am scared to death of heights too but crazy enough to do it anyway! I found out on my last cruise how much cheaper things are if you book on your own... LOL there was one walking tour the ship charged $35 for and we found it downtown... FREE! :) At least I am familiar with Key West so I know I can find my way around and we will have to dock close to the city. But in Cozumel it sounds like they dock all over the place -- but the only excursion I was interested in is also not listed for my particular cruise. I will have fun whatever. :)

Oh! Nelie... how was the landing? The site I saw said they would give you tips for a smooth landing. LOL I am such a klutz I will mess it up if possible. Was the landing scary?

Amanda, I am going to Fort Lauderdale in February to visit my best friend there and leaving on 2/5 for a four night cruise on Carnival. I looked up a website about Key West and parasailing and it was advertised for $35 in the morning. So I don't think it is all that expensive. I think it was the cruise line where I read maximum 300 pounds. But I am quite a bit under that now and plan to be down more by then so I think I can do it.

Lavendal, congrats on your OP day! Yippee for you! You too, Violet. Way to go.

Melissa I sure know what you mean about that Fairy Fat Mother passing you by! Yeeks I think she has totally forgotten me here in Seattle! Keep it up though! I know what you mean... I told someone today that I really DESERVE it... a lot of times I don't but now I DO and the weight is not coming off. :)

Brenda, thanks for the pictures. Looking good! All of you who shared pix look fantastic and I am so glad you shared.

Kimpossible I answered part of the cruise question and then saw yours... so I am going 2/5 and 4 nights Key West FL and Cozumel Mexico... then spending a few days in Fort Lauderdale tooling around with my best friend. My cruise last May was my first and oh wow did I ever get hooked! What a way to travel!!! I lost two pounds too as I took the stairs and also spent endless hours on the promenade deck... also walked into the towns instead of taking taxis. And ate tons of wonderful fruit and veggies. I have time to decide about the parasailing... I will only do it if we get there on time and there is plenty of time for me to get back on the ship. Oh and congratulations on being OP!!

Ammi... glad my thyroid "story" helped. As I am sure you know I can't always say it does not bother me, especially when I think about how much "baggier" it is likely to get in the future. :) But yes, we need to be thankful... 100 years ago someone who got something like we did would either have died or lived miserable lives! So I just praise God for His healing and giving me life!

Kenya, LOL I am cracking up at your twinkies and oreos. :) Good for you! You limited yourself to an amount that is not going to hurt you, and you enjoyed it! Good for you! I admit I would not dare as I would not trust myself. :rofl:

Everybody hang in there... and send that FFM back my way!!! :dance: Gotta run and get ready for group.

MELISSA – Good luck with your ultrasound tomorrow – cool that the clinic is within walking distance for the exercise! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for your WI, too! …Oh. Sorry that it didn’t go as well as it should have. As for BOP (back OP) 100% - GO GET ‘EM this week!!! I’m sure that silly thing has to give up the pounds soon! FFM?? Where are you??? This girl is a-waitin’ on ya!!!

AMY – I somehow misstated something cuz Bill & I have only been married 7 years, not 30. I meant I wish I’d had that book 30 years ago, before I made a lot of the stupid mistakes I’ve made… not that it would have stopped all or even most of them, but it might have saved me from a couple of WHOPPERS! You’re right tho, counseling would be a good idea. I’m glad you escaped those ‘tata wedges the other day – OUCH! I hope that cold or whatever it is clears up too! ** That freezing stuff ahead of time and having it ready is a great idea. I even cook a bunch of burgers up & keep ‘em frozen and keep one in the fridge at a time. I can grab one of those cold with ketchup (sorry if that’s gross) for a quick protein snack. Of course, a normal person could just nuke it or something, but anytime I don’t have to wash a pan, it’s a good day! AWESOME of you to be staying SO O.P.!! *** Whooaaaa, really interesting post on that drug/brain thing! It makes SO much sense!

Ooooo, LILION – I’ve gotta switch to WW now! That Breakfast Brownie recipe sent me over the edge – yum! Even the NAME “Breakfast Brownie” – and I can add coconut???! ** Actually, I hate driving BILL’s truck – NEVER being home, NEVER having any money of my own, working like a dog to live dead broke and in isolation. I’m not excited about driving a truck, but going from $0 to $50,000 – THAT I’m excited about. Unfortunately, himself is excited about it too. He doesn’t know yet that he isn’t getting it – the check, let’s remember, will have MYYYYYY name on it! :D ‘Scuse me while I do a little money dance…

ZELMA – Good to see you again. The Royal Show sounds like wonderful fun! It sounds like your vacation days lately have been just lovely! Good luck finding lots of info for your kids on endangered animals. I bet there’s tons of it. ** As far as the drinking, this is just off the top of my head, and I know that water is THE thing to drink, but what if you took more fluids in in other forms, perhaps diluted juice or something that would require your body to slow down and process it? That’s probably silly. ** About the 30 year thing – I meant I wish I’d had that book 30 years ago before I made some of my landmark mistakes. I’ve only been married 7 years –sorry to mislead. Thank you for sharing that story with me. It gives me great hope, even if at this point I feel so strongly that if I get out of this relationship I Never want another man around, gumming up my life. But at the same time, I’m a people person, affectionate and sharing, and perhaps I would hate being alone. I guess I don’t need to worry about that bridge until it’s time to cross it.

JEN – I hope your WI went GREAT! ** The way I learned to make a right turn was that it takes the lane you’re in… plus 3 more. New England is SO much fun with their crowded traffic and narrow streets. But I won’t be going there anymore. I will only have to weave my way in and out of gas stations with their customers. No sweat.

NANCY – Yeah, don’t you just hate it when you can feel how junk food has sapped your energy and strength? ** Good idea to keep your trainer aware of what’s going on. I hope your doc can put your mind to rest and give you a safe, doable activity list.

ANNIE – Good deal on keeping up with that exercise, even if you’re not having your peppiest day. I hope your DH’s hearing is improved with those procedures.

LUAN – you are SO together and have such a full life. I can’t imagine being in the industry you’re in, seeing the things you see, the places, the people. It’s sucha way cool career and life you’re chiseling out for yourself!! I love your attitude: you’re getting on with it and YEAH! Let ‘em work to get your attention. My big sis told me when I was about 14 that the best way to get a man’s attention was to turn around and walk away from him. I DEFINITELY works. Best advice I ever got… or at least it was a lot of fun when I was younger, I just should have kept on doing a lot more walking away. Do you suppose it was my IRresistable tush that kept ‘em coming back??? :rofl:

No, SHARON, he won’t talk. That’s the biggest problem. Oh well. I’ll figure it out and quit whining at some point. In the meantime I’m very happy to be off the truck and home, and I’ll be even happier when I have a job! I hope your tummy soreness is gone by the time you read this. Great that your getting that walking in, and I’ll keep my fingers crossed for your WI on Saturday.

KIM – I can’t agree with you more on what you said about not pushing too hard and driving. The world lost a very dear person that I knew years ago. She was working or volunteering in so many places, and very early one morning fell asleep and drove under a truck. She had one of the greatest most generous hearts I’ve ever known. It’s too tragic for those left behind and no one wants to leave a void like that. * Good for you staying so OP!!! That one little pastry won’t kill you. It’s history anyway, and you’re just burning it up now.

Yes, KATT – September really DID fly by! Great that you had that energy burst when you needed it to make your exercise goal! What’s your secret??

AMANDA – Sounds like even thought you’re very busy, you’ve got your eating all planned out for success with the fruit and veggies! WTG! ** Oh, breaded pork loin! You’re making me hungry.

LAVANDEL – OK, first off, I don’t believe you. No way is English not your first language! :D (Or am I thinking of someone else – busy list, and I’m easy to confuse) ** I know what you mean about people being TOO pushy about asking about weight. My MIL asks specifically how many more pounds I’ve lost every time she sees me. It isn’t like she’s commenting on my success, it’s more like she’s pointing out just how fat I am. I got her last week though – in return, I asked her if she’d been riding her stationary bike again (she hadn’t) and she didn’t appear to like the question one bit. :D :D :D :lol:

Hey, BRENDA – water water water and I hope that extra couple of ‘visitors’ leaves soon! Between the sodium and TOM, they can really mess with the scale! Don’t beat yourself up over not going tonight – just go tomorrow night. You’ve come a long way, and it’s not like you’re turning back now. You’re just going tomorrow night, right??

AMMI – I’m so sorry your lovely Beth is feeling poorly! I hope she’s up and at ‘em again soon, and I hope you can keep up with your exercise in the meantime. After all, you’ve got a date with the ‘100 club’!

KENYA – You had WHAT and 4 WHAT???? Those things aren’t on my menu yet. Maybe when I’ve lost over 110 pounds like you, I can afford a treat like that. I’m proud of you too, that you could limit it like that. Tell me, was it yucky and sweet, or was it… wooooonderful?

Hi MISTI – I’m glad you’re having such a wonderful time with your group! Having a 3D team to work with is so great! Just don’t forget us, ya hear?

Off to bed now. Had another really good day, although once again I didn’t get my second 10 minutes of exercise in. You’re fault. I was stuck here writing. (Thank goodness I have you to blame, since there’s no one else here but the dogs… Uh-oh. That means I can go jump on the treadmill cuz there’s no one else trying to sleep, either.) Anyway, this challenge thing is keeping me really on target. I did have a sweet craving myself today. I indulged in a 50 calorie, 10 carb tootsie roll. Talk about things that better not become habits!! But I counted it in and was still in a good cal range for the day.

Wish me luck tomorrow on my drive test. It’ll be too embarrassing if I mess up. Besides, I’ve already got my first 100 paychecks spent. :D

Hi all -- I have been SO busy, I've been doing fly-by's here. Mostly reading and posting exercise.

I am doing well -- liking our new 24 hour gym and got a trainer. I think I'm going to learn a lot AND get fit.

I am 6 pounds away. 6 pounds from not being obese anymore. I have decided to set another goal beyond that -- I think I can get there working with the trainer! My new goal: 165!! I can't believe I'm thinking of going there. What's more: I am beginning to believe I can DO it!

valerie -- good luck tomorrow!

Ammi--What is NHS? Is that kind of like in Canada where the gov't pays for healthcare? I guess I dont know much about it. We have pretty good healthcare here but that's only for those that have insurance. There is a larege percentage of people that do not have insurance and if they cant pay then the dr doesnt have to see them unless thier condition threatens thier life or the life of an unborn child. So if you have like bronchitis or strep throat and just need some pills, too bad so sad unless you have insurance or cold hard cash. In fact, my pregnant friend doesnt have insurance right now. Her unborn child does because she meets the low income guidelines so can get Medicaid thru the gov't, but after the baby is born that's it. Luckily there are some free clinics and clinics that go on a sliding fee scale around, but then again good luck getting an appt or else they give you a prescription that you cant afford to get filled anyway. So I guess nothing is ever perfect. But I digress...and digest, I just finished dinner! :o :joker:

I'll bet your DH is getting excited the more weight you lose! Most of all I'm sure he is just so happy to see you so happy. That is really great. You are doing so awesome!!

Hey, I love the outfit you described! I laughed at the "Choose Life" t-shirt!! Yeah!! I plan to wear a Social Distortion t-shirt, jeans, and a bunch of like studded cuff bracelets, jelly bracelets, a bandana wrapped around my wrist...that type of thing. Oh, and I have a pair of silver skeleton earrings I thought would be cool! I am going to tease and spray and spray and tease my hair until it is REALLY big!! :D I am going to wear black/white Converse Chuck Taylor shoes, too. I will be sure to have someone take a picture of me full-length so you can get the full effect. :joker:

Glad to hear you are still able to excercise your 1 hr/day even though your schedule has been throw off. I hope Beth feels better soon!! The flu is no fun, that is for sure!! :(

Valerie--I laughed out loud at "Please please please Lord dont let me grind a gear with MEN watching" :lol3: I laugh because I am sure in your proffession it is SOOO true. I know from experience with my highly critical dad and older brother that if you screw up ANYTHING on a car they are right on your butt and its all because you are a woman--not because you, ya know, made a mistake or anything.:rolleyes: I will really keep you in my thoughts, girlie, cuz $50k isnt anything to sneeze at, and even better with benefits, that's for sure!! And it being physical would be great for the life changes you are implementing, too. And I'm sure doing the physical things 59 lbs lighter will be a lot easier, too!! :cp: I wish you :goodluck: :goodluck: :goodluck:!!!

Kim--Yeah, I would think something like that would have a lot of sugar in it, but who knows? I'll bet you could go to Sonic's website and get nutritional info which would tell you the sugar content. Let me know what you find out because it sounds really good to me, too! Oh, I love their Cherry Limeade, too....but we wont talk about that!!!! :tape:

Jen--Thanks for the congrats. I do better when I'm at work, too. I think that's because when I pack my lunch and snacks I know that is exactly what I am eating that day--no more, possibly a little less (if I dont eat everything I bring). But when I get home there are so many choices and I want to eat a big dinner and then when I realize I cant I end up feeling deprived. But once I eat an OP dinner I feel full and satisfied. I just need to get used to the fact that what I am allowed to eat in a day IS enough to satisfy me. I dont NEED to eat 3-4 cups of pasta or 1/2 a pizza to feel satiated and satisfied. I think it will just take time for me to adjust. ;)

Kenya--You know, I've never eaten a Twinkie before in my entire life. But I read somewhere that they have shelf life of like 70 years or something. I'm not exaggerating! Isnt that hilarious??? :joker: Hey, as the older lady at my Curves says "You gotta have something once in a while". Well, here's your once in a while! ;) Good for you for limiting yourself. If I would've went off plan I probably would've just been like "what the :censored:" and ate the whole dag gone bag of Oreos!!


As for me, I had a literal feast for dinner! I made this Layered Mexican Chicken from the WW website. It makes 12 servings, 6 points each. Good for a singleton like me--I'll have lunches and dinners for at least 6 days now! :love: With my serving of that I had low-fat tortilla chips with guacamole and salsa. I also had a nice sized salad. It was all really good and totally OP and I am totally satisfied. I am happy I found a way to have something that not only tastes good but has plenty of protein, dairy, veggies and carbs as I had been worried about getting a balanced meal at night. And instead of eating in front of the TV or computer I ate at the table....while reading a celebrity trash-mag, of course. :lol: I have to have something to read while I eat! :D

WARNING: POSSIBLE TMI Well, I am thinking of performing minor surgery on my thumb. :rolleyes: It really isnt healing very well, as the flap of skin that is hanging (because I cut it off) isnt healing back on to the rest of my thumb. So I think I am going to cut it off. The flap, not the thumb. :lol: But my friend's kid lost my fingernail clippers. Dangit. Anyway, do you think it will get infected if I do that?

Oh, I have a funny story to tell you about my friend's kids. She has a 3 and a 1 yr old. They came over Sunday evening and we had dinner here. Well the kids were totally freaked out by my cat. My cat would just walk by the 1 year old and he would start screaming bloody murder, same as the 3 yr old.:rolleyes: My friend keeps them VERY sheltered and she herself doesnt like cats because supposedlly she is "allergic" (I think she is actually scared of cats as she gets very freaked out whenever Wilhelm comes near her but I've never seen her so much as sneeze when he's around) so its no wonder. Anyway, they never really warmed up to him, even though he never did so much as meow at either of them. Anyway, tonight she stopped over and Wilhelm was laying on the back of the couch. The 3-yr-old immediately lays on the couch and starts petting Wilhelm, saying how nice the kitty is, etc. Then when they left she says "Bye kitty, bye Amy". :dizzy: Kids are SOOOOO weird.

Well, I'm off to bed. I have all my 80s punkster stuff laid out for tomorrow--I'm so excited, hee hee!! :D

Jen- It’s sounds like you do really good with your housecleaning to me! I think we all have our weak points- mine is that I hate cleaning, so I let things get a mess and then I do an overhaul, vow to keep it clean and 3 days later it’s a mess- how many things can I change about myself at once right? I’ve decided my priority is my weight loss- once I get healthy, I start thinking about cleaning habits: lol:

Kenya- I’m glad you are beating yourself up about your sweets- after all, there has to be some wiggle room- this isn’t a diet this is a new way of life, and you won’t go the rest of your life with a few treats occasionally. The key is, you knew how to control it- you should be proud of yourself!

Amanda, Katt, Lillion, Amy- Thanks for all the help with the smoothie- how smart you all are with the sonic website and Calorie King (never heard of that before-awesome site) I never even thought of that. I guess that’s why this thread is so great!! How disappointing the amount of sugar in it- I saw fat free and figured it was okay, but 96 grams really is quite a lot, isn’t it? I’m not sure about calories, is 50 a lot for a beverage? I wonder if I could get away with it every now and then, it really was so good, but I don’t want to get myself in a trap of this is healthy when it’s not really. What a bummer.

Nancy- I’m so glad the doctor gave you such a good report- and was so specific. Good luck!

Brenda- I’m sorry you had a rough time tonight- we all do that occasionally. Maybe if you can look at it as a learning experience, of why didn’t I go without someone when I’ve gone plenty of times before? Maybe by doing that you can prepare yourself for next time- but don’t beat yourself up, life goes on, and you will still be successful in the long run.

Misti- you do the same thing as me on cruises, except the eating—well I’ve never been on a cruise when I was truly committed to this being my new way of life, so I pretty much have a history of gorging myself- but at least I do the walking (exercise has always been the easier part for me). Have fun!! I’m excited for you- I can’t wait to see pics- I’ll feel like I got to go!

Valerie- wow! Your story about your friend really hit me. Ever since my situation I’ve been so careful, and known I was lucky, but never really took it that far—but now that I think about it, if it hadn’t been so early in the morning, there could have been so many more vehicles on the road, and not only would I have still hit that guy, but since I had so little control, all my swerving around would have caused a serious wreck, and worse could have killed someone—I’d rather have died than live with the possibility that I hurt someone else- took me to an all new level….

Heather- :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: I am so excited for you- 6 pounds from being no longer obese!!!!!!!!! That’s awesome- I can’t wait to applaud you when you get there, and I know you will make your other goal too!!

Amy- kids are too funny! I love the picture of them screaming when the cat just walks by! My dad’s half of the family are terrified of cats- they grew up in a rough neighborhood, and they always have claimed that where they grew up the cats chased the dogs, thus the fear. Well my dad is okay, not scared, just doesn’t like them. My mom on the other hand loves cats- like hasn’t lived more than 2 weeks of her adult life without one. Before my parents got married my grandfather told my dad “you know if you marry her, you get the cat” anyway- long story short, whenever relatives have visited, most of them stay in hotel- claiming they don’t want to intrude-at this time my parents had a 10 bedroom house and just me and my brother-so it was clearly the cat. When they did come to the house they dart there eyes around terrified and keep newspapers in their hands because cat was afraid of paper and they could shake it at her to make her go away- pathetic for 30 & 40 year olds, but pretty funny to watch!

Ok- I had planned to log on quick to see if anyone had replied about my smoothie delema (thanks again), and ended up writing a book. I have to get to bed, and fast (i was supposed to be asleep 30 minutes ago). Good night!

Hello everyone! Just reading a bit before bedtime!

Valerie, not a chance I will forget all of you! Wow you are sooooo supportive and caring!!!

Kim I should add... about the cruise... when I first planned the first one my plan was to eat everything in sight. :) But by the time the cruise got here I was into the health and weight loss so managed to do very well. LOL I am NOT usually that strong either. :) But I was not about to mess up all my hard work!

God's blessings to all of you!

OK... I feel sick now. Just tension sick, not throwing up sick.

I got an email from the editor of the magazine... well, I think I'll just copy and paste it...

This email is also to let you know, as some of you have been asking,
that I have had confirmation from Today Tonight that the will not be
running the Slimmer of the Year story. I think you can all guess why,
unfortunately due to a certain person being fooled by Today Tonight's
competition into giving them her story, Today Tonight completely pulled
out and in fact were really quite angry about the whole thing. As was
I, as we lost a brilliant opportunity to get all of your stories on
national TV and also lost hundreds of copy sales and thousands of
dollars in publicity. I hope you are not too disappointed that you
didn't get to be on TV.

So I'm sorry to have to tell you that but wanted to let you know incase
you had been watching. It's a lesson for us anyway for future Slimmer
of the Year events. Look out for Debbie's follow-up story in the
November issue and I hope you are all enjoying your success, well done
to you all!

As you can probably guess, I am the "certain person". I do NOT feel as though I was 'fooled' at all. I wanted to get my face on TV, to show people that this could be done. I also didn't even think twice about it, because it was the magazine's publicity people who started everything rolling by contacting local newspapers. I truly didn't even consider that the two news shows were competing with each other. How was I to know that????

Anyway, I just feel really awful for the other girls. I can't see why the other show couldn't have put the item to air anyway. My item didn't spoil it in any way that I can see. Oh well... I have emailed two of the other finalists and apologised. I have the other girl's email address somewhere else, so I'll have to contact her later.

I'm feeling a little 'down' right now, but I have a feeling that this numb feeling will pass soon enough and pure rage will take its place. I want to write back the editor and let her know exactly how I feel about the whole thing, but I may say something I regret, so I'm going to leave it for a while.

Thanks for 'listening',

Zelma

OH Zelma, I'm SO SORRY. If things were so SECRET why didn't they WARN everyone NOT TO TALK to anyone unless THEY OKAY-ED IT???????BIG HUGS I really think they are being childish (the TV programme) and if I were you I'd be tempted to tell the other show how childish they're being, another 'news story' might shame the other one to review their decision! Does it make sense or just sound garbled? lol. xxxBIG HUGS xxxx
xxxsharon

Oh, Zelma- that is so frustrating! I would be so angry- I mean why does big business always have to behave so childlishly. It goes to show that everything is just about money- because if they were doing it for the right reason, they would be happy you got that extra exposure, because the whole idea should be to have as many people as possible see that it is possible to make these radical changes in their lives for the better. Seriousy, they should feel guilty for their greed winning over a good cause! plus- the story you told was one story, whereas the story they would tell is several stories- so even from a monetary stand point it would get more attention anyway. Oh- I could go on forever I'm so frustrated for you! Don't feel guilty- they should, not you!

As for me, didn't get much sleep last night- I know I was still awake at 11p, probably fell asleep a little after that, and awake again at 4:30a. I just wish I could quit working and do what I'd reall love (write). Wouldn't it be great to work for yourself? Some of you probably already do- and I know it has it's ups and downs too- but I hate having to report to someone, especially in my current situation- where I have more knowledge and experience than that person. Anyway- i'm in a blabbing mood I think, and I could simply set my head down right now and go to sleep- so i better get moving and get dressed or i probably will fall asleep. have a great day ladies!

Thank you Sharon and Kim. Your kind words mean SO much to me at the moment. What you are saying is what has gone through my head over and over again, but it seems to contradict what the magazine is saying.

Anyway, so much for waiting to cool down. I just decided to write back to the editor, while things were fresh in my mind. I'm going to post my mail here, so you can tell me whether it sounds OK or not.

I am also sending this mail to the other finalists, to explain a little to
them, as I don't want them to think that I, in any way, meant for the Today
Tonight item to be affected by what I did.

I have been tossing around the idea of whether to write to you or not, and
receiving your email showed me that there are some things that needed to be
said.

Firstly, during the luncheon, I was constantly told that I should have
contacted your office before I did anything with A Current Affair. Now, I
truly don't know why you would have expected me to do that, as I was told,
during the first visit to Sydney, that someone from your PR department would
be contacting local newspapers and television stations and I should
hopefully be hearing from them. It was through YOUR contact that I got the
original item in the local newspaper, and the other media just flowed on
from that. I had NO idea that it would cause any problems as I had been
told to expect to hear from them and had not been given any guidelines of
who I COULD and COULDN'T talk to.

I was made to feel like dirt at the luncheon, and I was feeling so
uncomfortable that I had to leave early. I hope that no future contestants
are made to feel like this.

I am sorry that you feel that I have cost you so much revenue. I had a
feeling that I was in the 'bad books' when I didn't hear anything about the
flowers that were going to be sent to me. Please believe that this is not a
problem in the least and I honestly don't mind you saving money in that
respect. I would also like you to not worry about giving me the finalists
prizes that I have not yet received, as this will save you some more money.
I am truly alright about that.

I do hope that my publicity, in two local newspapers, interstate papers (at
least one in Melbourne that I have heard about), Melbourne talk-back radio,
local news and the national current affairs show, will help you to recoup
some of the lost advertising and sales that you mentioned. I promoted the
magazine in all of the interviews I had.

I would like to thank you for the opportunity to 'get my face out there' and
show people that they CAN lose weight in a healthy way. I have received
many emails, cards and letters of congratulations and requests for help and
advice. That was my aim when I originally wrote to you, so I can not regret
being a part of the competition.

Yours truly,

That was about as calm as I could possibly be, considering the mood I am in at the moment. I hope it doesn't come across too badly. I would appreciate any input you may have, in case I have to mend some fences.

I did consider telling them that I felt that the other show was being 'petty' and 'childish', but I tried to not be TOO personal. I'm not sure I've managed that anyway.

Now, I may just wander around here for a while, reading to try and take my mind off this whole thing.

Zelma

MELISSA - Sorry your ticker aint able to move .. BUT at least it doesnt have to move up :) Im sure you are feeling a lot healthier than say .. 2 months ago?? So keep racking up those NSVs and the scale will eventually catch on to what is supposed to be happening at your house :) Its great you arent letting it stop you keeping OP too :) Definitely a star!

AMY - Its most definitely a relief getting the house for dad ... although last Friday I started having panic attacks while I was on my own realising how big our mortgage is about to become .. small by a lot of standards .. but still a heck of a lot more than I imagined we would have at this stage lol .. but I managed to get them under control and only then did I ring my sis to talk to her (not about the panic attack .. just to hear another voice lol). Lunch was lovely today (as always at Subway) .. I had the 12" Roast Beef (under 600 cal) my second fave lol .. I like to chop and change em so I dont get bored. It was a really nice lunch with the family tho (dad, my daughter, sis, her daughter & grandaughter and "our" son and me of course lol).

I tried to get Ash to join me with Richard tonight ... but she didnt want to do that .. instead she is at this moment doing Turbo Jam Learn & Burn .. she prefers that lol .. which is fine by me .. as long as she is getting in some exercise lol. It is fun to be doing it with her tho :)
Whatever is making you ill doesnt sound good .. have you gone to the doctors?? Or do those sorts of symptoms turn up with TOM for you? Its good you arent denying yourself and even better that you asked yourself why you wanted something to eat ... so many times ppl just go and grab something without wondering if its boredom or something else .. so kudos to you hun .. well done! Hope you get better soon tho .. never good to feel like c**p (not sure if I should put that word :D)

BRENDA - I LOVE your new Avatar piccy .. you look gorgeous! I think youre model material by the way :) Good job staying OP .. and I hope the FFM makes a nice visit your way soon :) Would love a cleaning lady .. wanna ask if she wants to make a flying visit my way?? lol Dont beat yourself up too much about the exercise missed tonight ... whats done is done .. good luck on making up for it tho :)

KIM - Richard Simmons is great fun ... took a couple of goes to get the moves .. and even now I mistime ... but a few of the songs I know off by heart so that makes it easier to learn the other ones Im still struggling with lol. He is my fave workout dvd .. would love to get some of his other ones cos he sure does make me feel good ... and always seems to know when Im just thinking about stopping rofl. I want to help my daughter in a way that wont make her the same way I was ... My mother constantly told me I was fat and needed to lose weight etc .. in the end I became bulimic and hated myself so much ... and I really dont want that for her .. so Im going to try to make it fun while still letting her have her treats and time out .. but I would like to get her a little closer to a safer weight and where she is happier with how she looks (at the mo she has those bumps in places that make her stand out and she doesnt like the bulges that came along with em lol .. ) But she has been flowing around with 7-8kg (up and down) in the last 2 months .. and she has her target set .. so I will support her in reaching it ... but if she doesnt I wont make a big deal of it either ... even if she just maintains her weight that will be a big plus I think :) Hope you get a good night sleep!!

AMMI - I hope Beth gets well soon .. never nice to be stuck at home sick .. although if it was Ash she would love it cos she still hates school rofl.
I dont think Im gonna give up my carrots tho either lol .. at the rate Im finding out about foods I would be giving up eating rofl .. so Im going to stick to enjoying what works for me :)
If you can come up with a way to get your daughter(s) to eat breakfast .. let me know lol .. the best I have been able to do is things like the cereal bars which she will eat on her way to school .. I do ask her why she can eat one of those and yet putting it into a bowl and adding milk is just something she cant face .. the logic of teenagers .. I give up rofl.
Good grief about your hospitals .. tough luck if youre in pain for the meds huh? I have never had to stay in a hospital long enough .. well .. let me rephrase that .. I have always checked myself out before I have reached that point (even when I had my tonsils out when I was 21 .. was supposed to stay 3-4 days after the op ... I left the next afternoon .. a Tuesday .. then went singing on the Friday ... and was in agony on Saturday rofl I hate hospitals!)
I am very happy about the house now .. and Im just as lucky to have dad as he is to have me ... I didnt know him from the age of 7 til I met him again when I was 15 .. then we really started building our relationship after I turned 21 .. he wasnt the best dad ... but I couldnt ask for a better grandad .. and he is a great dad now :)

VALERIE - Good luck hun on the job!! My sister drove trucks for years as did my stepfather .. I LOVED going for rides on it .. especially the long haul ones .. although in NZ I suppose that isnt really that long rofl .. about 8-10 hours from one end of the Nth Island to the other lol. But I do miss gettin in the truck and just driving :) Dont think of the men watching either hun .. Im sure you will do great .. will be thinking of you :) Im darned if I know where I got my energy from for the late night exercise .. BUT I went and did it again tonight!! I think my clock got mixed up with daylight saving lol .. go forward an hour and turn the day completely upside down rofl. I actually feel quite good too .. ready to go to bed soon (almost 1am again!)

JEN - I hope you do join in with Richard .. Im actually a member of his clubhouse and its fun there .. he is a really inspirational guy ... only bad thing is that I cant buy any of the things from his store cos they dont send to NZ .. ah well lol .. I will save up on Paypal and buy some more Richard on Ebay I think.

KENYA - Well done hun on your "treat". I know its not something that should be a regular occurence .. but I am really pleased to hear that you enjoyed it!! I know so many have a naughty moment and then regret it or kick themselves ... as far as me .. if Im gonna be naughty I better enjoy it and not regret it otherwise that naughty nibble was really a waste of time and then I really should have regrets lol. Great job!

AMANDA - Your dinner sounded scrumptious!! What are melba crumbs if you dont mind my asking lol .. joys of another country lol... how long do you bake it and what temp?? I think I might have a look for some Pork Loin .. lol .. sounds delish! Hope you had fun at water aerobics!?

NANCY - Great news on your workout success :) Its a great start Im sure to getting your system back the way its supposed to be .. just remember to follow doctors orders and not overdo :)

MISTI - I know Im almost blind hun .. but I think I must have missed the post about a hole?? lol .. you look lovely hun hole or no hole .. wherever its supposed to be :) Glad to hear your new group is going so well :) Im sure it makes everything more fun for you ... well .. even more fun :)

WYLLENN - WTG hun on your new goal .. and after all the weight you have already lost I am sure you have it in you to reach your new goal :) Nice to see you on the boards too!

ZELMA - What a load of bollocks!! Promotion is promotion .. if they wanted to restrict it then they should have made that clear in the competition entry etc. I do feel for the other women .. but good grief . I agree with above .. contact the TV show that you were on and tell them what the other ppl have done .. maybe they will get the other women on their show and really show them up rofl. Hope you dont beat yourself up too much for it hunny .. I think when it comes to these sorts of things that the companies that run these competitions really need to make rules and regulations clear for everyone (I mean you often see on things about a silence agreement or whatever its called dont you?). Big Huggies neighbour :) Oooh .. glad I refreshed the page before I posted lol .. just read your reply .. hunny ... you are being very polite as far as I can see .. I would have been a lot more umm .. personal rofl Well done!

Well today has been a good day .. I went for a 20 minute walk in town with my dad (and the whether today is MISERABLE!!!! I think Winter has come back!! Eeeeek!) was very happy to get back home cos I was freezing and wet lol .. tonight I did my Richard Simmons again too .. I am determined to do Richard 4 times a week minimum ... 2 days this week so far :)

I have stayed OP today .. in fact my calories are a little low so I might go and get a treat before bedtime (which I am way past lol) ... I have had a good day today tho and dad has stayed an extra night as the weather is so bad and I didnt want him driving home at night in it (he lives over an hour away at the moment).

Have a great day everyone .. Im off to bed to do a little sewing before sleep lol.

Huggies

Zelma... I am so sorry for what you are going through. I would definitely stick up for myself; however, I would take out the part about saying it is okay not to give you the prizes... it is NOT... and I would NOT say you are sorry you cost them money and you hope they recoup some of it, etc... THEY told you people would be contacting you... they did NOT caution you who not to talk to, etc. This is THEIR fault; not yours. You won those prizes and you deserve them. I agree it is good to be kind and polite in your email... but not THAT nice! Stick up for yourself! It is just a bit too convenient for them if now they can avoid giving people all the prizes they won! I would not let them get by with it. Personally I would be a whole lot "straighter" with that bunch!

They humiliated you at the luncheon? I must have missed that part in all the threads flying around.

And what about the other show they mentioned... the competition? Are THEY going to run your story?

And you STILL won big time!!! :hug:

Me again... :) Zelma, I was thinking more about this while I was in the shower. It sounds to me as if you may very well have a case against them for slander. If you have an attorney a good letter from him/her is in order IMO. Also... you should go public with the story of what Slimmers World did to you.

It sounds as though you have already sent your email though so if that is the case guess it is best to just put it behind you, as you have already absolved them of responsibility. Hang in there!

Morning everyone!

Just time for a few replies before I get moving at work!

Brenda - :hug: Sometimes you just don't want to go exercise – alone or with others – and there's nothing unnatural about that. I'm glad you went to bed rather than eat – I find that is a good way to keep from having the late night munchies myself. NOW – get right back on track today and quit beating yourself up over it! :nono: You are doing well and skipping one night won't hurt!

Misti – I looked closely at your avatar photo – Is the "hole" you are talking about the deep hollow at the base of your throat? I thought it was natural! I've seen lots of people with indentations like that! Your coworkers are right – it is more noticeable to you I'm sure. :yes: Just as I'm sure Ammi's colostomy bag is more noticeable to her and my many imperfections are more noticeable to me! You are lovely!

Valerie – Yep, truck drivers work hard, but they make good money! I deal with them in my hearings rather frequently and while OTR is rough, it know it pays well! I think it's great that you'll have decent income of your own and be able to fix up at least your own financial situation. :)

Heather! 6 lbs! :high: :cb: AWSOME!!! :cheer: :carrot:

Amy – It would be so much fun to be able to dress up for work! We don't even get to for Halloween. But then, I suppose one wouldn't want to walk into one's hearing and see the judge there dressed as Satan! :lol: I've been wanting to make that Mexican Chicken recipe! We usually take left-overs from dinner for lunch the next day and with DH and I both on WW that would be great! I know it is supposed to last five days in the fridge and hear it freezes well too. I definitely have to try it now. Ewwww on the thumb! How much is it hanging on by is the key question. If just by a tad of skin, I'd probably snip it off too, but sterilize the snippers first and use antibacterial cream on it after! (Yep...I'm a mom!)

Kim – I think 500 cal is a lot for a drink. In WW that would be like 10 pts and I only get 28 a day! But then, I also think you can have anything you want, in moderation. So maybe you could split it with someone or just enjoy it every now and then. No reason you can't have a treat every once in a while. I feel your frustration with your boss. I certainly have more legal knowledge in my field than my current Director and yet I have to change my decisions if he doesn't like them…It's wrong and makes me just HATE coming to work some days.:headache:

Zelma – that's just awful! For heaven's sake, if it was to be some kind of exclusive they should have had you sign a confidentiality agreement or something! It's outrageous that they would BLAME you when they didn't tell you NOT to do other shows! :mad: I'm so upset they treated you badly at the luncheon – I think I must have missed that part! That's terrible! Don't feel too bad, I'm sure the other's know it wasn't your intent to do any harm. I think your letter to them was very calm, but frankly, a little TOO nice! I'd probably have to emphasize the fact that they didn't tell you NOT to talk to other shows. If they didn't tell you who NOT to talk to, then you did nothing wrong at all and shouldn't be made into the bad guy here! :hug:

Well, time to hit the files and try to actually get something done here today! WI around noonish! I'll be back then! :wave:

Amy -- This has been exactly my experience. Retraining myself as to what "enough" is for me is a big part of this process... and as you lose you really DO need less, so there has been an ongoing readjustment. Lately, I've been trying to retrain myself again about what is "enough" as I really don't need quite as much as before!

Zelma -- If I followed this, the magazine's main story won't get aired on TV because you already went on TV and told your story???? I don't get it either.... And then to pound on all the "lost sales" !! Sounds like you need a :hug:

I just read your response and think you did an excellent job of checking your anger! Like the others, it sounds to me like they are the ones at fault here.

And feel free to explain about the luncheon! (It might help you get it off your chest! -- I recall you saying something about it but don't recall the details!)