Mack got called out last night so we will spend the day at the pool today and hike tomorrow. Here is the hike we have planned:

http://sevensummitsofbigbear.blogspo...-mountain.html

This will be #2 of the Seven Summits.

WLW - I've thought about going red but never had the nerve. My sister goes red every couple years and it looks great. Maybe next time I'll give it a try. Hope your stomach is feeling better this AM.

Maggie - my sister is a 3%er also. The last time they put her under she told the doc that she was aware of most of what was going on and the doc was like "no way" then she proceeded to tell him names used and events.... he believed her.

I did foster care many years ago and what these kids have experienced can be very difficult to deal with. I'm glad that you have a good case worker that is helping your family move forward. Ours came by the house maybe once a month. I spare you the details but the system more often than not fails these kids and that is why I stopped.

Jacque - OK... tell me what is fun about spinning. The seat issue is enough to keep me from trying.

Another day!
 

Good morning everyone! Can't say I was Perfect last night but getting better.

I am going to "officially" weigh in today and figure out where to go from here.

I hope you all have a great day and stick to it. Thanks all for the support and welcomeing!

DMC

dmc2009 - good luck on the weigh in!:goodvibes

CruiseCAT - they didn't believe me on the memory either until I told them about the ambulance that had been called to the building that I had heard them talking about while I was under the twilight anesthetic. It was funny to see the dentist's face.:rofl:

gardenerjoy - good news about the sorbet. I'll keep that in mind. :D About your other comment; there is lots of help for kids with abuse or other issues in their past. Some psychologists specialize in that kind of help and they have some really interesting tools like neurofeedback (we used that for our older son who spent 3 years in an orphanage) and various treatments for PTSD like EMDR.

Jacque - please keep us informed about how the spinning goes. It looks like fun!

weighlosswanted - sorry about your grandson - I hope you can get some clear answers, soon. :hug: I don't tolerate melatonin, unfortunately. It makes me swell up. I've heard it works really well for a lot of people, though.

I wonder if there's anything to seasons for losing weight for some people. Many years ago I remember mentioning to someone that I just cannot lose weight in the summer and he said that he had the opposite issue and he couldn't lose weight any other time of the year. Now that summer is ending, I'm finding that my body is not gaining so easily for times when I'm not OP. Since I have times of the month when it's tough to lose weight, maybe the same is true for different seasons. I have to admit that summer is not my favorite season. Spring and fall are times when I always feel better. Does anyone else find this to be true about different seasons?

Cruisecat - chiming in late to the chorus of oohs and aahs on your new hairdo - LOVE IT!

presmaggie - interesting thought on seasonality - I've never noticed a real pattern myself - curious to hear what others have to say.

Presmaggie, I agree with dancer, I've never noticed a pattern myself but it really does make you wonder.

Cruise, I think red would look great on you!

DMC, Hope your weigh in wasn't too upsetting. Take things one day at a time. If nights are hard you need to plan ahead for that. Save some calories or points for an evening snack.

Marie, I'm going to try getting up 20 minutes earlier this week so I can walk before school. I know I feel better when I start the day with exercise, I just have to drag my big bottom out of bed!

Glad to have a weekend again. Little by little we are getting back into the routine of me working. Work began on our master bath this week also. Let's hope it goes smoothly! I've picked out all of the tile and fixtures. I'm really hoping it is done by next weekend. I haven't weighed in several days. Decided I needed a little break from daily weighing. Have a great weekend everyone!

Not sure I can tell you anything that was "fun" about it. But the fact that it's a great workout...burned about 700 calories in the dark is enough for me to try it again.

Will do...however I probably won't be able to do it again until I return from my mom's...unless there is a class at her gym at a time I can go to.

Well, I am at 145 and that seems to be my average. I have got to get past it.
tonight I am meeting a GF for apps and drinks, so today is kind of shot. But I have had a sensible breakfast and lunch so far. Will try to eat very lightly for rest of day. Probably have a white wine spritzer which isn't too bad.

I will be happy with myself if I can lose 2 lbs by next saturday, I will be very happy. It will be much easier working!

;-)

Cruise, I feel your dental pain. I had two crowns in June. My insurance paid some but it’s still really expensive. Too bad you have to go to a specialist for the root canal. Yuck! And DD had an emergency in Reno so DH went there instead of home. It is a real mess. I’m the only one in the little family not there – she and I are chatting by phone and I’m doing the local stuff.

DMC, you’re right on the morning munching. I log it all and have to make up for it in the evening. I’m able to adjust the eating and not go over on calories. I never thought about it like that. I guess the morning munchie monster is preferable. Also I’m a big whey protein powder user. I don’t like meat much, I’m allergic to peanuts and I don’t like eggs. Protein has always been a problem for me. I buy GNC’s powder French Vanilla Crème. It has 120 cals for 24 grams of protein. I put a half scoop in my magic bullet with about 2/3 c frozen berries (blue and marion berries are the latest) and 1 c. of Diet Pomegranate Cranberry juice. About 100 cals and 12 grams of protein. My smoothie is my normal breakfast, after work snack. I also add the ½ scoop to my 100 cal iced mocha. It has mad a gigantic difference in my elliptical workouts. My quads no longer feel like they went through the wringer and dead tired. I wouldn’t trade the stuff for anything.

Presmaggie, my knees don’t travel straight up and down in their grooves when bending them. They both rotate outwards. So all the muscles needed to be strengthened around them so that the ligaments would tighten and hold it in place better. I can still occasionally feel them run out of track but the PT also gave me ways to get them back in place. I loved my physical therapists (I had two working together). That referral was amazing. Not to mention they’re the ones that made me warm-up on a scary elliptical. I was like “no, no, no” and they insisted I try it. By the end of the warm-up I was so hooked. I adore my elliptical. And never wait until you are “fit enough” to start something. If it looks fun start doing it. No one says you have to do a whole class. Start slowly and build. When you find the right exercise, it is a great tool. Also spring and summer – I lose more than due to the much increase in sunlight and me going and going and going. I do so much more in the spring and summer that I find losing easier then. Not too mention the produce that abounds.

WLW, I love red hair and used to dye my blond locks red. They faded within a week. After a while I was torturing my hair and gave up. I look forward to the day they can give you a shot and the hair grows the color you want.

OMW, “I just have to drag my big bottom out of bed!” HA!!!!! Your bottom is way smaller. You’ve lost 55 pounds. You are a gorgeous chickie!


Dancer, are looking forward yet??? I saw the small post and was glad you're hanging about. Know we're rooting for you!
Marie

Hey all! Hubby and Dad went to Arkansas to pick up a '68 Mustang that my dad is buying as a project/toy from a friend of Hubby's, so Mom took me to lunch and my first ever IMAX movie! I havn't wanted to go before because I figured I would be missing more than I saw with my vision. But it was fantastic! {i'm glad I waited until after the surgeries} We saw Under the Sea, which was about the Great Barrier Reef, etc. I thought it could have been longer. Mom says they go to a theater in FL which has a much bigger screen and the seats recline. I've got to get Hubby to go sometime, hes' never been either.

Even bigger news! I found the SHOWER CURTAIN! It was in the attic! My Mom helped me hang it up, and it looks very nice. Its burgandy to match the towels. I promise, pictues soon!

I walked two miles with Leslie last night, but am unsure if I'll workout today, mabye just work in the backyard. I saw a monarch butterfly in the front when we came home from the movie! He fluttered around us for a few minutes then flew away. We get a lot of the little yellow ones but a monarch only every few years.

Marie, interesting idea about the protein powder. I have a hard time getting enough protein. I don't each much meat or eggs, although I do eat cheese. I've been worried about trying it because (1) I'm not sure where I'd take the calories away to add these new ones and (2) it always seems to be sold in such huge tubs that I worry about the commitment. I try to remember to eat a can of tunafish every once and a while, but normally I just gravitate to fruits and veggies. Sorry to hear about your daughter and your diverted husband. I hope you get to see him soon and the emergency passes quickly / easily.

CruiseCAT, your hike tomorrow looks awesome; enjoy!

WeightlossWanted, I hope everyone can come to agreement and figure out soon what is going on with your grandson so they can start implementing next steps...

ICUWishing, how are your new pet fruitflies doing??? We got them last summer and it was so hard to get rid of them! I trapped them using red wine, but the whole thing was just gross. This year I've been lucky, so far.

Presmaggie, you are such a good mama to your boys :hug:

DMC2009, I'm so glad you loved the banana concoction!! I make it for my boys, too. Substituting peanut butter for almond butter, and chocolate syrup for honey. They love it!

PatchworkPenguin, congrats on the curtain find!! Glad you enjoyed the IMAX, sounds like you are loving your new eyesight!!

Afternoon check in
 

Marie, I was hungry but didn't want to eat much before I went to the gym, so I had some protien powder and I did okay, my legs felt pretty strong. I don't usually do treadmill/elip but today I missed my class and wanted to go anyway so I did that. I burned the protien powder plus some. I am just hoping it fills me up more! Do you think it will?

Newleaf, def. gonna make the banana concoction for dd. I can't have chocolate syrup in the house - I will eat it! She liked the agave nector, she said it didn't leave an aftertaste, so it is a hit!!!

I just got back from the gym, doing pretty good on my calories so far today. Going to the movies, I hope not to buy popcorn! If I do, I will eat it slowly and suck on each piece... or I will just take in my water and sucker candy and then save the calories till after the show for a cosmepolitian! Gesh, that sounds so good, it is soooo hot here in so cal.

Happy saturday:D

onmyway - I live near Cincinnati! And congrats on your progress!

I hope everyone has a good day today. :grouphug:

CruiseCAT: hope you had a good day by the pool and a good hike today -- the trail sounds lovely.

Marie: I hope the crisis with your daughter is soon and satisfactorily resolved.

patchworkpenguin: yay for finding the shower curtain!

dmc2009: good job on the gym workout! What movie did you see? Did you like it?

Onmyway: good luck with your earlier rise time and walks!

Everyone else: :wave:

I ended up with two walks as well as playing around with DVDs yesterday, so I think I'll try a nice healing yoga workout today.

Happy Sunday
 

Hi all,
I went and watched Julie & Julia, it was very cute! Afterwards went for a glass of red wine and had a small salad as an appetizer, it was a good choice. I probably could have passed on the wine, but it was SATURDAY NIGHT! :p So I went for it.

When I got home I didn't let the munchies get me, I cut up some cauliflour and munched that. Why am I so munchie? Maybe its time to find a boyfriend??!!!

Today, plan on staying on track, I just missed the morning workout class, but can go later and do with I did yesterday, treadmill and eliptical, or just eliptical, it really burns lots more calories. Just woke up, so I am not sure yet.

tomorrow sould be much easier as I am back to work and can plan my meals. I grilled up lots of chicken for salads too!

Penguin, I bet you’re discovering a whole new world out there. Sounds like the movie was fabulous.

Newleaf, I hated protein powders in the past and the one I use was really pushed at me by the GNC salesman who promised it was great and he used it. I can’t use soy based ones because of allergies and he promised the French Vanilla Crème was innocuous, that he loved it in his mochas. Well as I’m a mocha addict I gave in and bought a small bag. After the first mocha, I was sold. It doesn’t taste icky like others I’ve tried. It adds a subtle vanilla flavor. Then I tried it in my fruit smoothies. Hmm, that was good so I was sold. When my little bag started running low I bought the big honking tub of it. Finding the cals to take away was easier as I wasn’t pushing myself to eat yucky eggs.

DMC, I really can’t say if the powder keeps me full longer. I just know the results on my quads and stamina. That has been tremendous. I hope you held out for the cosmopolitan. Sounds needed in the heat.

Joy, thanks for the good wishes. I don’t think there is a good solution to DD’s problem. It involves child custody and alternative lifestyles and broken hearts. But that said, she’s doing pretty good presently. She found a new apartment and DH and DS are getting her moved today. Tomorrow we’re sending her to a lawyer. Enjoy your yoga. I bet the walks yesterday were fine.

This morning I took the donkey dogs for a long walk. OK, only Kai was being a donkey after the first two blocks. We went for 3 miles. Today is a non-elliptical day so I usually add more exercise to other routines on those two days. It was beautiful out this morning but I’m so angry it didn’t make a dent in my brain. But if I hadn’t gone, I’d probably be more angry and depressed. The DD situation really is unconceivable. No one would have guessed her partner would have done what she did.

Now on the bright side of my day. I created a stained glass panel for a charity function that is today. They just picked it up and said it might be their grand prize instead of in the silent auction. That was cool. I did take a pic of it this morning. Of course it was created of my huskies (since wolves and huskies are similar). One was Kai Bear and the other was my first husky, Teddy Bear. I’m going to make a few changes to the design and make it again for myself. But at least I can add this image to my doggie website that has a placeholder for Kai’s stained glass. Right now the site has Kai Stained Glass coming soon. I think I’ll get the pic added today. I think instead of wallowing in anger today, I’ll go to the charity function. It’s a fundraiser for my dog behaviorist’s animal refuge.

The other good part of the day is that my TOM weight is gone and I’m back to pre-TOM. I always like that. :D

Marie