NCInkSlinger: :welcome: Sounds like you are getting the pieces of the plan together. Good luck getting started, from there, just don't stop!!!;)

Yes, we do have a state of emergency declared here. Besides it being dangerous out, this also prevents price gouging by businesses to take advantage of the situation. I think it was a smart move. We got a total of 12 inches of snow....not counting the snow drifts. People are still getting out and getting stuck, though. I believe a girl was killed today riding a sled tied to the back of a pickup truck.:( I won't be going in to work tomorrow. Two of the docs plan to be there and see patients (but will the patients show up??) and one of the bosses called me today and told me she didn't want me to try to come in. Even one of the other bosses who said, "We NEVER close!", called and said he wasn't sure he can make it. I don't live very far away, but I honestly don't want to wreck my car or get stuck in the cold. Supposed to be down to at least 0 degrees tonight. BRRRRR, have been able to get Tootsie to go outside a few times. She barrelled right through a snow drift coming back into the house. I should have gotten a picture.:)

My headache is a bit better. Going to try to get some exercise in tomorrow sometime.

Hi, NCInkslinger! So glad you are here with us. I think it sounds like you have a plan and are ready to take off! Join in, we have lots of fun here!:carrot:

Fruitlady-I agree with Barb. You have set your standards very high for yourself. I hope you don't plan to lose so much that your periods stop again.:hug: That is a danger signal and I've heard that this happens to anorexic women alot. You're doing great!

Ange-Stay hydrated if you get out to run.

Everybody stay safe in the blizzards and HOT temps!!

I did a late workout 30min TM 2.5mph/4-7%. 7 was just too high today.

Annie, stay home and be safe! and warm! Hope your head is better soon.

Barb, most of my cleaning sounds more impressive that it is. I just pulled everything out from under the cabinet, weeded out the garbage, and replaced the alluminum foil I use as a cabinet liner. {<---Heloise Hint} Hubby found a loose pipe and tightened it, so hopefully crisis averted.

NC, nice to have you join us.

Marie, the recipe says 'sourdough' but its more of a sweet bread. I got the 'starter' from a friend, who gave me some hints. It makes 4 loaves each Tues so I usually give one or two away. This time I made 2 regular loaves, one blueberry, and one cinnamon pecan. Just mixed the extras in the dough before the second rise. I tried cheese bread last week but it ended up in the garbage, but I'll try again.

Ange, my eating over the past few days could be better also. :dizzy:

Happy Groundhog Day! My Brit husband used to have no idea what I was talking about, but about two weeks ago the movie was on TV and this morning he asked me about seeing shadows today. LOL/

Kitteh, I hope you are feeling better.

Annie -- snowmaggedon, LOL! Actually, I shouldn't laught, even in three letter acronyms, I've been following the storm on the Internet and that is one scary blizzard! I was talking to one of our clients in Missouri and she said she's got enough supplies laid in to wait out the storm.

Ange -- how's the summer treating you? I know Queensland is about to be hit by the giant cyclone, it's not going to affect you at all all the way in Sydney, right? I have an Internet friend right outside of Brisbane, she is not a happy camper. And here I sit in my drought, wishing I got some of the snow and rain the rest of you are all suffering with...

NCInk, welcome to the group! Having an immediate goal to get started is a great method of positive thinking.

I guess I've made the wrong food choices, since my weight has been creeping up, not down. I managed 13 kilometers between last night and this morning, and a friend who hasn't seen me for a while told me it looks like I lost weight. I guess the blobbiness is just being redistributed to different spots.

I'm going to a cooking class tonight, lots of soups and other winter foods. I'm looking forward to some new ideas. Here's one of the dishes that is going to be demonstrated:

THREE CHEERS FOR CHUTNEY SIMPLE SPICED CHICKEN

1 kg chicken pieces
12 baby onions, peeled OR 3 large onions cut in chunks
1/2 cup mild, fruit chutney
1 cup fresh orange juice
2 teaspoons curry powder
1/2 teaspoon each cinnamon, ground ginger and turmeric
1 teaspoon salt
3 cloves (optional)
1/4 cup yellow raisins
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 cup water

1: Brush the base of a baking tin with oil and place chicken on top with onions placed between the chicken pieces.
2: Mix remaining ingredients together and stir well to ensure there are no lumps of flour then pour smooth sauce over chicken.
3: Cover chicken and bake covered at 160 for 1 hour then remove foil, baste chicken with the juices, and bake uncovered for a further 25 minutes.
4: Discard the cloves and serve with turmeric-tinged rice and broccoli or green beans for color.

Here's the blurb for the class:

Originally Posted by :
From a warming vegetable and grain soup through to home-baked bread....slow-cooked, beef....Mediterranean chicken...vegetarian mains....fragrantly, fresh salads....and the last word in chocolate desserts....'Winter Comforts' covers it all!

Tomorrow I'll post the things we made and let me know if you want any of the recipes.

Have a wonderful Groundhog Day! I guess with all the bad weather lately there's not change the little guy is going to see his shadow, so I suppose that's good news.

Morning,

Loads and loads of snow.

I went to bed last night with a sore throat and this morning I have a fullblown cold. Yuck! Everyone around me has been sick, I guess it caught up with me.

I EAT like mad when sick, I don't know why. I guess I felt off all day yesterday, tired, and I felt I was lacking will power.

Mirj, I love your blog!! I enjoyed reading it and all those meals. I was drooling!

Patch; I wish we could have some of your heat! Do you live in the are where the big storm is heading to?

NC; Welcome!

FL, I am your height and I could never sustain 108 pounds. Maybe let your body guide you...I bet you would settle around 115, which is still very thin. My body loves 120-125, but I can maintain 115-117; under that I have to starve myself. just a thought.

Annie; I was hoping to make your lasagna today. But I guess it has to wait for a day or two.

Everyone else, have a FAB day!!

Sum, sorry you're sick, rest up, don't eat tooooo much and feel better soon! I think the saying is feed a cold... though right?
Mirj, I think it is safe to say the groundhog did NOT see his shadow today! Here's hoping for an early spring! :carrot: Taking a cooking class is on my to do list, but don't know if I will ever get around to it. I think it sounds fun. I consider myself a pretty good cook, (as evidenced my mine and hubby's waistline), but I would like to learn more. Maybe I could find a healthy cooking class.
Annie, I heard the "thundersnow" last night! Woke me right up around 4:00 with a big crack of thunder.
The wind is a howling and the snow is still coming down something fierce. Good day to cook, do crafts, play with the kids (maybe the wii?) and maybe workout. This is my optional day off to myself, but I don't feel sore or as tired today so I may still workout and take a weekend day off.
I think I will go enjoy a second cup of coffee and watch the snow! :coffee:
Stay on plan and stay safe/warm (except Ange, stay cool ;))

Work is closed again today - we got the ice they predicted and they've been working nonstop to keep the interstates cleared as we're a major thoroughfare, but the secondary roads are skating rinks. Spent nearly two hours in two shifts outside trying to break up and shovel the 1.5" of ice/sleet that was frozen on the driveway and have hours today to get to work on as it's all built up again. They said it's just going to have to melt off the secondary roads and the temps won't be above freezing for days, so ... not sure WHAT we're doing about italy! Wait and see if we get out in a couple of days. Ate terrible yesterday but at least got in a lot of activity. Got back on track this morning with my raisin bran - no junk :) Hopefully didn't do tooooo much damage.

Welcome, NCIS :)!! Hope you're feeling better soon, Sum! Annie - glad they didn't have you come in today!

Petra - liked the idea of a weekly thread as the monthly one is so busy now - maybe that'll make it less bulky. Or else I learn how to navigate it better :) ha ha.

Snow is now coming down really steadily - wish we had just gotten dumped with snow instead of this ice. Grr. :) such is life. If I weren't heading out on our belated honeymoon, I would not care at all - ha ha! Selfish, I know!!

Hello ladies!! Ugh, I do not like this vegetative state I find myself in here. As soon as I write this post I will go do some exercise. It is 9 degrees here at 1:10 in the afternoon and the roads are still awful from what I hear. I am going to attempt to get into work in the morning because I do NOT want to use my vacation time right now. My patients cancelled for tomorrow but maybe someone will need me, so I'm going in.

PP-Your bread sounds amazing! I've never made bread or owned a machine, I would probably eat way too much bread if I did. :D

Mirj-After the snow melts we will actually only get about 3/4 inch of water out of it.....we need so much more to get out of our drought AND fill fiance's pond.:mad: Hope you get some rain soon. The cooking class sounds like alot of fun. I may look around here and see if there is something similar I could do....maybe a "healthy" cooking class or something. Love the 200 cal. link!

Sum-Sorry you are sick! Just drink lots of water and try to eat as healthy as you can.:hug: Stay warm, too.

Jo-Hope you get to do something fun with the kids. I had planned to, but mine have both been glued to their laptops.:(

NP-Be careful out there breaking up that ice. When are you supposed to be leaving on your trip? I hope you will be able to make it. I know you have really been looking forward to it.:smug:

Off to exercise!!:carrot:

Good morning, barely.

Felt better this morning and went to the gym for a good workout. Not as bad as I'd been expecting, considering I hadn't exercised for several days. Weight is unchanged, so that's something at least. I hope it will start going down again now that I am exercising again.

Annie--hope your headache is better soon, and that the blizzard blows itself out soon. Yikes! Keep warm and safe.

Sum--sorry to hear you've been sick. Take care of yourself.

NCink--welcome

Ange--Wow, that's hot. I'd be a puddle at those temps. You'll get your eating under control, just give yourself a chance.

Fruitlady--take it easy on yourself. Hang in there and good things will happen.

Everybody having bad, really bad, and horrific weather--be careful! Hope this storm system blows out soon.

Lunch is most over (cottage cheese and carrot and celery sticks--all of which I actually like ;) ), so I'd better get going.

Spent time with the hatchet, trying to break up about 4" of ice/crapola on the front walkway. Made headway with about one foot of it cleared - that's IT. We did clear the back porch, but I want to get that front walkway cleared so the house/petsitter can get in the first time to get the garage door opener, etc. Temps won't get back near freezing until we leave ... no melting when it's 5-20 degrees out. And we have only a little ice melt left, so ... will head back out there to try to break more up. I'm not eating well - though today hasn't been as bad as yesterday :) lunch was grilled cheese and tomato soup and have been earning a lot of activity points.

HOPE hubby doesn't go in this evening - we're under a travel restriction now and the side roads are still sheets of ice.

Hard to imagine how warm it is in the summer when we're so cold now. Ange, enjoy it for me if you can :) ha ha.

Annie - how far do you have to travel to get into work? Is it safe to get there tomorrow?

Just did 5 Mile Weight Loss Walk!! Feel great, but now I stink! Shower time.

Kitteh-Isn't it great to actually enjoy healthy food??:carrot:

NP-I have about an 8 mile drive is all. If I can get to the highway I'll be fine.

Today I did UB high rep/low weights ~ clocking in at 40min.

Its cold here but just a few snowflakes so far, nothing much predicted until Thursday night.

Annie, if I were making chocolate bread I would have a huge problem. :D uh oh, maybe I shouldn't give myself ideas! :o Great job on your walk!

Storms, heat waves my goodness some dangerous weather going on everywhere, hope you are all keeping safe and warm. We went from -31 to -1 in two days, that really messes with a person and for some reason drastic weather changes make me feel exhausted for a few days, hopefully i will feel better tomorrow. It took the city two weeks to get our residential street cleared afte two feet of snow, life just goes on here unfortunately, they focus on main roads and bus routes first and if you get stuck and we did, too bad, up to a 36 hour wait for a tow luckily my nephew is a mechanic and has a big truck.
I am slowly working my way out of my slump and looking at the bright side!!!! The good I have done instead of the bad!
My son is being a grouch and that is getting on my nerves, he owes people some money and bought some things on credit and is now upset he has to pay the money back.... lesson learned for him, control your money don't let it control you. Just like control your food don't let it control you, I do not want to be pushed around by some lousy food anymore, food is not the boss of me so there.

Hope everyone stays safe, warm, or cool if that is the case, 108 man that is hot! Happy eating and exercising.

Thanks everyone- thanks for all your concern. I know I'm hard on myself, it's the only way I can stay away from junk food, sorry for venting on here all the time. I don't have any friends other than online, my husband doesn't understand or pay attention. He's been thin his whole life, never has to watch what he eats & binges on chocolate & junk every night after work. I think I'm jealous that he can do that and weigh 170lbs, he's 6'1.

Sum- thanks, I have a feeling 115lbs. at 5'3 is about right too. I'm never hungry at the calorie range I'm in now though, so I'm not suffering. I'm too scared to let my weight go that high. My clothes won't fit for sure. Hope you feel better soon!

We got 4 in.of snow, then last night & today we got about 3 in. of ice on top of the snow. We lost power today at 9:15, it was off for 45min. It was getting mighty cold in the house. I ate breakfast while covered with a blanket, I was still cold. I'm so glad it wasn't off for hours, that would be terrible. Just got done with my cleaning, I do it everyday after hubby leaves for work(he's so messy). I do different parts of the house everyday so I don't have to do it all in one day, takes me 1 or 2 hrs. At least I don't have to spend 10 hrs. cleaning the whole house one day a week. I'm a clean freak, so I'm at it all the time, I don't sit from the time I get up at 6:30am to 8pm. At 8 I try to be on the couch watching T.V, sometimes it's later though. Sent 2 bags of junk food with my husband to work, it's been a week since I had any, I don't want to blow it. I tend to get cravings even though I don't feel any actual hunger. It's just cardboard calories!
Rode the bike for 31min. & went 7.5mi. Did good with calories, did go over by 35, not bad. Again, had to have like 45 grapes, I love my fruit, eat at least 10 servings a day. Yesterday my weight went up 8oz.& today it dropped 1.5lbs. Don't know what that was all about, but at least it came down.

You chicks are great, I'm happy to have a place to post that has all such wonderful people. Have a great night!