OK, so maybe yesterday wasnt the best day for everyone...
Back on the wagon? Happy Friday?

I had wine last night, I'd not been drinking at all during the week but I gave in last night with very little fight. I'd been drinking a LOT of my calories, including a full gallon of 2% milk a week!, so liquid calories are big on my hit list. It's a TON better than it used to be, but I'm calling that a fail.

I'm doing a tasting/judging at a beer event tonight, so I'll mostly starve and drink hot tea all day today, then have a big meal before hand, otherwise I'd get too tipsy. I think I can still make it a calorie neutral day.

Two nights in a row w/o any nightsweats/hot flashes... calling that a major win. I can tell that I eat better after I've had a full nights sleep. I'm doing early Meno, so the sweats/insomnia have really messed me up. Only got 2-3 hours of sleep Sun-Wed of this week

Everyone hang tuff!

Hi everyone, we had a great Labor Day weekend, but by Tuesday night there was no doubt what so ever that I have the flu. Bad case of the flu. So I am just stopping by to wish everyone a good weekend, and when I come back from my near dead state I will be back.

I promise I did not breathe on the keyboard or the screen, any precaution that I could take - would hate for you all to catch any germs.

onaboat - so sorry about your flu - that's the worst. Lots of clear soup, tea with lemon and popsicles are my flu remedy. Feel better soon!

blueflower - you are brave to be a beer judge - I know I'd have a hard time with temptation at an event like that.

ICU - congrats on the new family member! I love the idea of you playing video games with a bunny on your lap. Are they cuddly or pretty independent?

jackiechan - sounds like it's a tough time right now. You may be different but I don't do well if I try to be too perfect at everything all at once - I'm bound to fail and to want to give up. If eating perfectly on plan and exercising like a mad woman seems too much to stick to right now with the other distractions in life, could you make some small incremental changes that you could completely live with? Like only buying a small bar of chocolate instead of a bag? Or committing to going for a walk 3x/wk?

kitteh - so what's your 'allotted treat'? We all have such different weaknesses - I'm curious what you save up your calories for

heading out for a lunchtime run but a little nervously as I've mainly been walking this week and haven't run since Sunday which seems like a really long time ago. yikes! Hope you all are doing great...

Yep, but I need to work my beer calories into my lifestyle. I'm a beer geek, and I've always wanted to do judging. I've only judged a few events, I'm an 'apprentice', but it's fun as **** and I occasionally even get paid for it!

Hi Chickettes

Blueflower - you're a beer judge? That's very cool! Are the beers you like best the best beers, or do you have to recognise that some are 'good' even though you wouldn't choose to drink them? And my other question is, is there a correlation between good beer and expensive beer, or not?

Dee - sorry to hear about the flu. That's no fun, get well soon!

ICU - lol on your Picross addiction. Got to the next level yet?! Got another q for you too - will you post a bunny picture for us? I'm a total sucker for anything fluffy. Great to hear he'll be a house-rabbit.

dancerindever - how was your run? People who don't run won't understand the drama about missing a week! It isn't a drama really, but i totally understand how you feel.

I just did my first running race of the year this morning! I know, September is a bit late in the year for getting started! 8km, which was 2 laps of a riverside track. Beautiful weather. Did it in just under 45min which is slow by running standards, but then i am slow, so i was happy with it!

I enjoyed it so much i'm now planning to do another one in about 4 weeks time (which is just round the corner from my house so it would be rude not to enter that one). Except it's hilly and 10km so i need to up the training!

Jackie, I can totally relate to this:
I don't think you're lazy, you probably do 101 things every day for your hubby and kids and everything else, but there's something about the food issues that, for me at least, creates this AVOIDANCE that keeps me from facing it head on and doing what I need to do. So, be less hard on yourself and just do 1 little thing one day at a time and don't forget to congratulate yourself or post and we can do it for you!

Congrats to the runners, and hope the beer tasting went well, blueflower. I am also going through the 'pause, and have horrible night sweats and days sweats and hot flashes like crazy, and I noticed that they are worse when I eat a lot of sugar! Think there's a connection?

Anyway, per my caption, I made a pound cake yesterday, had it for dinner - what?!? I didn't eat the entire cake, yet. Yes, not a good day for FoodFighter2000.

Wow, I can't reply to all the posts but I want to say that you are all doing great and take pride in that!

Welcome to the newcomers, this is a great place for support not to mention the comfort, the recipes, the healthy living tips and the encouragement! I stuck pretty much to plan this week, drank plenty of water, got some light but regular exercise and I am down to 218.5!!! Bye-Bye 220's, good riddance. Have a great rest of the weekend everyone!

Just popping for a quickie

Beckie--your bunny sounds adorable (and a bit headstrong about getting what he wants--prepare to be taken over).

blueflower--those liquid calories really add up. That's why I try to only drink water, but I know some people would find that borrr-rinnng. (Personally, I like water, but I live in the PNW where we have good water.) My non-water choice of liquid calories is chocolate milk. Yeah, why do things by halves, when you can jump in with both feet. (Pardon my mixed metaphor.)

Dee--sorry to hear you have the flu. Feel better soon.

dancerindenver--my usual treat is a pair of bakery cookies--peanut butter cookie with bits of peanut butter cups baked in. Heaven!

Alas, I strayed on Friday and overdid the treats. And then, all day yesterday, my subconscious kept piping up with, "Let's go get a treat." I had to keep remembering that I'm trying to eat better. Seriously, it kept slipping my mind! Something Freudian going on there.

Today's challenge is dental in nature. I can hardly wait for the dentist's office to open tomorrow. That's saying something.

Have a great Sunday, everybody.

I'm back - going to read back a few pages. I was on/off while away. Some good choices, some not so good -- we took a nice walk each day so that was good. Tonight I have to do a 6 mile run...otherwise, just settling back into my regular schedule again.

Yvette, I'd recommend c25k - it's a great way to inch by inch increase your running...takes your lungs and legs into account and is where i started - i run slowly and focus on my core...my knees do not have a problem, but it's about finding a good stride and form to suit your body and not overdoing it...will keep your joints/legs healthier

Jaqueline - I'm sorry to hear about your daughter, that must have been an incredible thing to have to live through...((hugs))...blogging and learning about yourself is a very healing thing...you may also like books by Kaye Sheppard which discuss food addiction

Annie, how fun about finding the apple tree - wow, that was really cold and immature of your coworker...I'd have been frustrated with that -- I love what you wrote here: "It is so encouraging to see so many women wanting to reclaim their bodies and their health! WOW!"

Welcome CGracia, Samantha and Joplin

Maddie- congrats on the losses - you're doing great

Becky/MomofBoys- hang in there, just take it one day at a time and know you're trying to be healthier, and maybe focus on that instead of weight right now - baby steps

Kathi- look at how good you felt inside...look at the progress you've made in eating healthier..look at the positives, focus on the good (hugs)

Becky/ICU- yeah for a great sticking point...and being lower than you were last year - that's where I'm at...instead of getting obsessive about it, I know that one year ago I weighed more..and today i'm healthier - enjoy your bunny!!!

Blue- enjoy your tasting/judging and yeah for no hot flashes

Nan- glad to have you wth us...you can do this! Time to check in and be accountable - don't give up

Dancer- glad you're enjoying your walks. We took a few down at the shore - and it was lovely

Cindy - I have to reform the habit of checking in too...it was so automatic for awhile, and now i go...oh yeah! 3fc

Jackie- sometimes i get frustrated thinking about food/exercise a lot...and i just go...ahhhh, forget it for awhile. sometimes that break is just what i need to get remotivated - i hope it helps you

Dee, sorry to hear about the flu

Ange- yeah on your race! my race is coming up (half in 3 weeks, and i'll show you what slow is haaaa, old people walk faster than i run...like pokey slow - i still smile, because i can keep going) - GO!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck with your 10k

also somewhere a food journal was mentioned...i forget where - sparkpeople.com has good free food journaling...

Great to see so many posts while I was gone! I find this group so supportive,even when you feel like you've had a really bad day, there is someone who tells you to pick yourself off and start again.

My cyst drained on its own (hallejujah!) so no doctor but I am on antibiotics for the next 10 days. That is playing havoc with my anti-candida as the meds kill all the good stuff in your body as well...so...I am popping extra probiotics,taking garlic oil supplements and tomorrow I will start some oil of oregano. I will say I am feeling incredibly better than I have for a long time.My only problem is I'm starting to turn into a reformed not so healthy person....kind like a reformed smoker once they've quit. Still not missing carbs at all and trying to get up to 1200 daily calories...it's hard when you only eat nuts,seeds,meat and veggies. Never thought those words would come out of my mouth..."trying to get up to 1200"

Maddie

Good Monday morning.

I'm running late, so really fast--I didn't eat so great this weekend, but I packed my food for work with care today, so I hope I will stay on track. I'm off to exercise, now.

Have a great day, everyone.

Hello friends!! I didn't do any posting this weekend. It was a wonderful time at home with my boys. GORGEOUS day on Saturday that included a win by my Sooners!! Had a lovely rainy morning yesterday and made pancakes for the boys. I ate too many myself and ate other things I wish I hadn't, but today is a new day and I'm back on track. Here's the biggest news....

I BOUGHT 3 PAIRS OF SIZE 12 PETITE JEANS!!!! So, so excited about that! I tried on a 10 petite and could get them on, but they were not comfortable. I'm hoping by the time I get to goal that a 10 will fit and be comfy then.

Ange said: "... planning to do another one in about 4 weeks time (which is just round the corner from my house so it would be rude not to enter that one)." That made me smile! So proper of you, Ange. Seriously, you and the others that run for fitness are awesome! I've never been a runner myself and I can appreciate how hard it is. Keep it up!!

Foodfighter-I hope you were able to resist the rest of the pound cake...it's called that for a reason.

Hydra-Congrats on going "down"!!

Kitteh-Yep, I hear that "let's go get a treat" voice sometimes, too. Luckily not as often as I used to. Hope you are able to get in to the dentist quickly. I've had dental issues and I know it is NO fun. Good job on getting the exercise in first thing this morning. I have to do that myself because I know I probably won't do it later.

Deb-I meant to tell you that I am so glad you are back to posting with us. I missed you! You are such an inspiration also with your running.

Maddie-I hate taking antibiotics, too. I always ask for a dose of diflucan to go with it because I always get a yeast infection from them. I have started taking acidophilus daily in an effort to keep myself from getting them, too. It seems to be working.

Everyone else-Hope this week is a happy and healthy one for you all!

Annie, congrats on your jeans!!! and thanks for the kind words.

annie - woohoo for skinny jeans! Just curious - do you ever buy the next size down (as well as what fits you now) when something's on super super sale as a motivator? I didn't do that at first as I had a whole closetful of clothes that were too small that I could work my way through but I've been doing it lately as I'm at the bottom of the range of clothes I kept.

hydra - way to go on making it to the next decade!

maddie - so impressed still with your carb discipline. Glad you didn't have to have anything too painful done after all.

lambchop - good for you for getting in those walks - it can make such a difference.

I ended up being sort of under the weather for most of the weekend (and not eating so well as some kind of a pity party reaction I guess) but am hoping to get fully back on the wagon this week. Anyone want to join me for sticking to POP Mon-Fri?