Good Morning Ladies!

Welcome Back Renee!

Rain is on it's way here. Very mild though. Sun comes out once in a while.

I have some tulips on in my living room to look at in reminder of how close Spring is.

If it doesn't rain tomorrow I might hobble down to the farmer's market..only a few blocks away... and get some more fresh flowers to celebrate Friday!

Cruisecat... Poor Mack.. once Hip Dysplaysia sets in.. the arthritis is right behind. But I bet he is the most loving puppy.

I understand the special needs issues and not being able to go away. My Dobie has sever separation anxiety and I cannot put her in a boarding Kennel even for a day. She stops eating, her fur starts to fall out immediately, she becomes destructive, such as trying to claw and chew through a door to get out, go through plate glass windows... sooooooo I don't go away, unless I have someone she knows well come and stay at my house for the weekend.

Cats are so much easier!!lol

My first job? Collecting eggs on a farm during the summer when I was 9.


Clothing Item I cannot live without? A good pair of riding jeans. They can't have the double seam on the inside of the leg or they will rip the skin apart on your knees and calves.

Pet Peeve?? I have to say the same on my way. I resuced two little dogs in the middle of a busy street the other day... found the owner.. she didn't say thank you... just grabbed the dogs and said if I ever touched her dogs again she'd call the police on me. OK..next time I'll leave your dogs to get hit on a 4 lane one way busy main street.

LessOfMaur - Good memory; yes, I leave for Florida tomorrow morning! I'm looking forward to it. It's very rare that I go away without my boys, the last time was 2 years ago. So it's a welcome break! I love that feeling of coming home again and seeing them for the first time. Although I don't think 3 1/2 days will be enough to make them miss me. Last time, I was gone for 2 weeks.

CruiseCAT - have you considered training for hills? The way I do it is to put my treadmill on the highest tilt possible and walk for 5 - 7 minutes. I put the speed pretty low. It really does a good job of simulating going up hill, and my heart is really pumping.

1. First job was as a waitress at a diner. My sister and I both worked there and it was a real awakening as to the "real world". We grew up pretty sheltered... I was probably 15. I also babysat a ton.

2. Clothing item - my wicking underwear. I got them for my 4-day hike in Peru and they are AWESOME for exercising!

3. Drive me nuts - people that are completely self centered. That, and from a work standpoint, people who literally NEVER answer their phone.

lol...I feel for Mack (DH) too but it's Tucker that has HD. Don't tell my son but I have been known to call Tucker... KARL:o

The weather here in the desert is PERFECT; upper 70's yesterday and it's suppose to be in the upper 80's today. At this point we won't see rain until fall. It was so nice yesterday I even let the pups take a dip. WAY to cold for me. They would swim year around if I would let them.

Here is Hogan taking his first dive of the season.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ftheSeason.jpg

Well at least Tucker and Hogan would swim year around. Tyra just hangs out on the baja splashing and the little boys (Scooter & Luke) stay as far away from the water as possible.

OK on to the questions and then I have one of my own.

What was your first job?
My first "real" job was at DonutsNStuff in Tyson's Corner

What clothing item can you not live without?
Even though I would never leave the house wearing them I LIVE in sweats at home

What drives you nuts?
Unfortunately a lot. More than I can cover here. I am a very intolerant person and have difficulty keeping my opinion to myself. That "lady" with the dogs would have gotten an ear full.

I posted this on another thread but wanted to hear what tools other people use to stay on plan or help facilitate a lifestyle change.
I log EVERYTHING I eat on FitDay, check in with the folks here, take weekly pictures and monthly measurements. I have also been weighing daily but would like to stick with once a week but can't.

I keep a spreadsheet that I log my daily weight and exercise in. From there I have a graph showing the daily loss as well as the 7-day moving average loss. I also give myself a grade for eating for the day, and have a little spot to put a comment.

I also check in here frequently and take monthly measurements.

Cruisecat, I check in here often. I track WW points but do not attend meetings. I also weigh everyday. I can't help it. Besides, I think it keeps me on track.

Newleaf, enjoy your time away. I took a cruise last summer with a friend. It was on of the best vacations I have ever had because I only had to worry about me!

Welcome Velveteen and sindy9001:welcome2:

What was your first job?
Babysitting, Paper route, and working at local department store ..Caldor.

What clothing item can you not live without?
Much to my hubby's dismay...Nightgown (Flannel in Winter, Light in summer)

What drives you nuts?
People who ask you to do something at the last minute!!! This happens all the time to me at work. There is a saying for this...Your lack of planning doesn't constitute an emergency on my part! I have to set up speakers, Powerpoint projects, Microphones, TVs,..all at the last minute. Then I look like the fool when something doesn't work right. ARRGGHHH!!
I also have no patience for bad manners!

What tools do you use to stay on plan or help facilitate a lifestyle change?

I write everything down in a pocket size notebook. Food, exercise, location, what if anything was special that day. I also have told a lot of people about my new life plan which keeps me accountable to myself both at work and at home. I try to log on here everyday which goes along with the accountability. I also have a reward bracelet that I award myself with a bead every 5 lbs I lose. (11 beads now) It helps to see the progress everyday...especially when the scale is slow moving.

First job: babysitting and in high school I was a camp counselor at a YMCA day camp.

Clothing I can't live without: ugh tough one. It would have to be my fleece pullovers.

Tools I use to stay OP: I use my weight loss coach on my phone to keep track of food intake. I wear my pedometer. Try to check in here daily for support and try NOT to weigh myself everyday

Hey, ladies.

I'll be gone until Sunday and probably won't be checking in from Florida. Talk to you all when I get back!

Heidi - I know I probably have missed you but here is wishing you a fabulous time in Florida.

Enjoy your trip, New Leaf!

Good morning Ladies,

Down a pound. I think it's the fact I've done any binge eating. Hurt too much to hobble to the store to get chips!lol

Sunny here today... but COLD... not gonn hit 45 today!! What a change from yesterday. But it's still sunny so I am happy.

Physio guy is due to be here in about 20 minutes...so just wanted to pop in and day hello!

I'm falling behind - darn job! ;)

1st real job (that generated a real paycheck?) was the summer I spent working days for my dad, detailing CAD drawings, and working nights at our local music venue (called Pine Knob at the time), pouring beer.

Clothing I can't live without - camisoles with shelf bras. I've been blessed with flatness - I say that because a) they NEVER interfere with exercise, and b) at 41 and overweight ... only 4 pounds left before I'm "normal" ... they're still exactly where they belong! I think I've just about got one in every color, but now I have to look for the spring pastels. :)

What drives me nuts? Holy cow. There's not enough characters. However ... the pet peeve is people who think that what they think is what everybody else should think - and that goes for evangelists, activists, lobbyists, politicians, etc, ad infinitum. My motto: mind yer own f%&*g business. :club: I'm not quite kidding ... I love the sharing and the support here, but every now and then I run across some posts that read like the poster has solved the obesity problem for everybody, and if we'd just do exactly what they did, we wouldn't have any problems. Nutrition and exercise is so ... unique to the individual. (climbs off rant box)

And ... lastly, I'm doing things the old-fashioned way with my Franklin planner and a good calorie-counting book.

Just a quick post to all that I won't be around for a bit. My father-in-law is dying and we are leaving in about an hour to go see him in North Carolina. I just wanted to let you all know why I won't be around and that I didn't drop off the face of the planet. I will check in when we get back.

Beemer - you'll be in our thoughts!

Newleaf: Have fun in Florida!

Beemer: I am so sorry! :hug: You and your family are included in my prayers!

Tomorrow is FRIDAY!!

Beemer... my thoughts are with you and your family.

Good morning everyone... First day of spring!! Bright and Sunny here... but only 30 degrees!!!

Another good day of eating yesterday. Today will be good also!!

Hope everyone enjoys Spring Equinox..don't forget to eat an egg... symbolizes new beginnings, the start of spring, rebirth, and all the wonderful things associated with Spring!!


Eat well, Ladies!!