Checking in to say HI!! Schools are closed here again and another city over closed them for tomorrow too, just out for the week. Hm. After watching drivers fishtail down the street here, I decided to work from home - finished up one project now and will get started on another. I will head out for a break, though, and hatchet more of the ice up. I need a pathway to the front door - normally not a priority at ALL - but with the pet/housesitter coming on Saturday, we need to have an access point for her to get in without killing herself.

Eating has been above normal on misc junk but have been chopping ice for about 2 hours a day and that's burning something off, I swear :) my hands are SORE, my arms/shoulders and knees are, too. (knees because sometimes I'm kneeling down to really GET to it. Will be going into the office tomorrow - got a lot done this noontime on it. Hubby went out for sand and put that down by the street so we can make it into the driveway. He's working tonight. I'll check in more then with decent catching up notes!

But before I forget - Ashley - that position sounds like it's meant for YOU. About time some good karma moved into your path! :) GOOD LUCK!

Really wish i could ship some of this heat over to you snow-bounders.

We're on the longest heatwave on record at the moment and it's due to last til sunday afternoon.

The city temps don't look much but in the suburbs it's 10 degrees higher.

108F forecast again tomorrow, but it's the high temps (80+) all night that make it worse. Oh, and the humidity's going to be higher tomorrow too. 100F today, so not quite as bad...

Exercise tally for the week so far is:
Monday - 36min run
Tues - 50 mins weights class (Pump)
Wed - 34 min run then 42 min cycle class
Thur - 50 min Body Attack class (lots of jumping around - hard work!)
Fri - planned Pump (away next week so won't be able to do it then)

Don't think we're really counting exercise any more, but felt like posting the weeks progress anyway. Not as much running as normal due to temps!

And the scales say i've lost 2lb this morning, but that was from a ridiculously high starting point, so hopefully this is the 'real' number and i can work downwards from there....

The other good news about today is that DH finishes his TB medication after 6 months and doesn't have to go to the hospital 3x a week any more. Hurray!! He still has to be checked up every 6 months for the next 2 years, but is hopefully clear. And he'll be able to drink alcohol again which he's looking forward to (but i lose my chauffer)!

For those wanting a fix of summer, here's the view from my office window at the moment (working from home today). There are 25 rainbow lorikeets on our deck! (and a pic of me from friends wedding from last week).

Attachment 37905

Attachment 37906

Attachment 37907

Attachment 37908

Thanks, Ange, for the pics! I don't know which is more gorgeous....the birds or you!!:) I love seeing images from other friends' worlds....wherever that may be.

Office was dead and I got off a little early. Went by the bank and came home and did some more exercise: 2 miles with weighted vest and 3 pound hand weights.:carrot:

Now for a healthy supper, a little housework and American Idol!!:cool:

OMG, my lucky little devils got another day off today :devil:!!! I don't ever remember having more than two days off in a row when I was in school. And to top it off, they already have Monday off for a "professional development day". Ugh. So I slept in, not even close to getting my workout in, and my house is still a mess (excuses, excuses...). I do like having my kids home and under my wing though, must be a control issue ;). DH is leaving today for his 6 day trip so I am a little bummed out. I will definately get my workout in sooner than later, that will make me feel better.
Beautiful pictures Ange!
NP, boy, that ice sounds like a pain in the @ss! Hope you fly out on time!!!
Ashley, fat is good for you contrary to popular belief, just try to make sure it is good fat. Have you ever tried taking fish or krill oil for your joints? Has to be good quality, but does wonders for many things, heart, joints, even mild depression, etc. I'm sure you have heard of it or tried it. I take it when I remember.
Annie, Idol was a bit of a let down last night, I thought. Seemed short, but I wasn't giving it my full attention so maybe that was why.
Anyone have any plans for Valentines day?
Anyone watching the superbowl, and what are you eating?
Have a great on plan day chickies!

Hi friends! I am trying VERY HARD not to freak out. Yesterday and today my scales showed 156....that is almost a six pound gain since last Friday!! I'm hoping it is just my body adjusting to the medication change. I asked one of the docs I work with (urologist) and he agreed that I would even out, but I did call my doctor just to be sure this was normal and that I would drop the weight. Meanwhile, I plan to continue to drink my usual 64-80 oz. of water daily and add to that. I will definitely exercise this weekend although I usually take the weekends off. I just feel HUGE and even though we were allowed to wear jeans and boots to work today (weather), I wore scrubs because I felt so fat in all of my tops.:(

Did 3 Mile Boot Camp w/ resistance bands this morning. 45 minutes.

Jo-No big plans for Super Bowl unless my fiance decides to come into town to be here on Sat/Sun. Even then he may have to get home....long story...he has to get up for work at about 4 a.m....has a dog....roads still bad out his way....I'm a bit bummed I may be watching alone. At least if I do I won't be fixing all of the high calorie food I would prepare if people were coming. Still....bummed.

Hope you can fit in a workout today! Enjoy your kids being home. My younger son is out again, but he is at his Dad's for the weekend.

No big plans for Valentine's Day either. I had thought about making a pan of fudge for everyone, but maybe just buying them a small bit of chocolate might be a wiser choice for now with me battling this sudden gain.

Hoping I can dig myself out of this funk....I don't want to be grumpy all weekend.

P.S. It's snowing here again.:mad:

Annie - hang in there - you know you haven't eaten an add'l 21,000 calories to account for that, but perhaps the diuretic in the other meds was limiting the fluids your body retained and it'll take a while to get that regulated to what your body does typically?? I know it's easier said than done, though!!

Sun is out here - but still cold - hoping the sun will help melt the ice. Schools are closed again today here as well.

Having a HARD time getting back on track today - I have the "better eat it before we leave" mentality - does anyone else get that? Let's use it up. EVERYTHING. Even things that don't go bad! Argh.

Planning to walk it all off, though :)

Thanks for including the pics, Ange - to echo Annie - both YOU and the birds are gorgeous!!

Can't eat, can't shop, can't drink, what is woman suppose to do?????? Exercise and have a lot of sex?????

Ange – awesome pics all of them are gorgeous!

Jomatho – I have taken fish oil in the past and even have some at home but hate burping up the taste with it. I have tried a few different brands too. I mainly use olive oil, almonds, peanut butter, I even measure out and put some real butter on hot air popped corn. My joints are sore per say, cept if I spend time outside when it is -10 -30. I just noticed I felt better adding more fat. I was on a low fat kick years ago cause someone said it was the best way to eat and then wrote a book. What about ‘just don’t stuff your face’ as a better way to eat???? I wish I had learned all this stuff years ago then I would not have to relearn how to eat. Sometimes it just makes me feel so dumb, like good grief I don’t even know how to feed myself. Now just need to stay ON PLAN….

NP – sorry but you made me laugh at your having to eat everything before you go, sometimes I think we just need to laugh at ourselves….. not always but sometimes.

I made it through the day yesterday and then at 9 at night I ate two sausages that are already cooked in the store you just heat them 260 cals and 23 yes 23 grams of fat…. Who does that at 9 at night. I usually never buy the stuff but they were marked down and I thought the ‘men’ in my house could have a quick easy lunch… dumb they don’t need it either.
Annie – hugs for the process you are going thru with your meds and weight right now. Hope your weekend goes well!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Hubby and I have been texting each other about going out and doing something 'fun' tonight. Our problem is neither one of us can think of anything fun to do other than eating out. I was looking forward to last nights Sit and Knit all week to show off my completed socks but it was cancelled because the shopowner was sick.:( I should get Hubby to post a picture.:o

I'm eating leftover potroast {not homemade} and a can of Carrots for C week! :carrot:

Ange, thanks for posting the great pics. Nice to see you!

Annie, No freaking out! :dizzy: At least you had someone to ask what was going on!

Marie, no sports fans here. My dad who follows football isn't even planning on watching. {I think all his teams lost early:(} Hubby is having a routine colonoscopy on the 15th so nothing exiting planned for the 14th; he's going to be on a liquid diet.;)

Ashley, hang in there with the interviews etc. The new job sounds great!

My doctor's office called back. He wants me to go back on the diuretic and halve the dose of the blood pressure medication....:?: I assumed he would just say, "Don't worry, your body will adjust." I'll discuss it with the pharmacist, too. Just not sure I want to be dependant upon a diuretic....But hoping this 6 pounds comes off over the weekend in the meantime!

Oh Annie. That is so depressing! I hate nothing more than medication weight gain.

I was on Prednisone, and it made me balloon like mad.

I hope your six pounds will be gone soon. Stay close to potty :)

Hi - I am new to the site as well. I just came across it yesterday while looking for atkins relapse info. I had lost 50 lbs and gained 10 back since Nov. It is time to start fresh and I am hoping this site and the encourage of those that frequent the site will help me stay on task.

Hi Grammie!
:wel3fc:

I am quite new here as well. I find the support and just being able to unload incredibly helpful.

Congrats on your weightloss! WOW!

Hey, everyone. Work has been hectic, and messing up my schedule, so I missed posting yesterday, but I'm back today.

Well, after nearly a week of my weight plateauing, the scale finally moved--half a pound upward! Grrr. I know I've been getting lax on the counting and portion control, so now is the hour. I WILL count and measure and exercise. Got in great workouts yesterday and this morning. Need to have a great workout this weekend.

NP--Burn those calories!

Ashley--I'm going to adapt your words as my mantra--control my food, don't let it control me!

Fruitlady--Vent away. We're here to help each other.

angelskeep--congrats on the clown pants ;)

Sillycat--sounds like you're making progress; the scale will reflect that, if you just keep it up.

Annie--I would have thought your body would have adjusted; sorry to hear your meds are being played with again.

Ange--Yay for DH. Nice pics.

Grammie--Welcome.

Time to go. Have a great weekend.

Thanks, Sum, I hope I can get back to normal soon. I'm not a fan of steroids myself. Do you still have to take the prednisone?? It is one powerful medication.

Grammie-:welcome3: So glad you are here! Wow, 50 pounds....that's awesome!! Hope you can get back on track and get to goal!!

Kitteh-You go girl!! I know you can get right back at it and say buh-bye to that half pound!!:carrot: Good job on working out!