Hi Karen, Thank you for the short course in posting photos. I'm trying it here. It's working. You are an excellent teacher!

Hi Ella, I just finished Jodi Picault's new book - 19 Minutes. It's about a school shooting. A VERY interesting book. Happy Birthday to YOU

Hi Joanne, I know what you mean about hearing your child talk about moving & hoping it never happens. My DD is always talking about retiring, selling the B&B, and moving away. Gives me VERY sad feelings.

Hi Theresa, I'm glad I could still find the link for you. Maybe you could teach us how to sell on EBay. I've often thought about it, but only bought, never sold.

Hi Bobbi, I actually spent quite a bit of time in MN when I worked for a testing company - ETS. I was working with the Dept of Ed on a new teacher mentor program. I got to know about "Minnesota Nice." What's Flat Out pizza?

Hi Cheryl, Where did you teach college English? I taught at a Community College in Lincroft, NJ and at Glassboro State College in Glassboro, NJ and at Cumberland County College in Vineland, NJ. I've taught at several other colleges, but those were my English Teacher jobs.

Hi Phyllis, I wish I were in your sunny state. We have yet another cold miserable day here in the northeast.

Hi Openheart, Nice to meet you.

I went to a nearby school to observe a prospective teacher today. She is EXCELLENT! What a joy to see someone who really knows their stuff entering the profession.

Now I need to get into my online course and start correcting papers. I always give the students an opportunity to post a draft paper and get my feedback before they have to submit a final paper for a grade. I have double the work, but I really enjoy teaching, so it doesn't bother me (at least not until the end of the course:-))

I'm following Karen's directions - take a look at photos of my DD and SIL and my SIL's 2 grandsons, me in France with a French tourguide, and my cat - Princess Di.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Lynn

I promise to sit down and read everyone's posts properly but first I have to get this rant out of the way -- WARNING RANT AHEAD!!!!

OK first and foremost my calories for 04/18 1775 another good day -- a terrific workout but before the workout I found myself wanting to jump on the scale. I am up another frikken 2.5 pounds!!! I cannot understand this no matter how many people explain the difference between muscle and fat - I have even seen a picture of 5 pounds of fat and 5 pounds of muscle - more than half the size. I don't give a rip -- I know this month hasn't been stellar - I looked back on my "net" calories since April 1 (yep fool that I am). There were only 6 days that I didn't record my calories - -I know from my eating habits I am basically unable to eat more than 3000 in a day -- the days when I hit 2200 I feel full and uncomfortable - so 3000 would be a stretch no matter what. All of my other days have been on the average of a -300 calorie range -- so that is most likely 6 days of going over by 300 - 400 calories and 13 days of being -300 -- so a net of about -1500 calories. Do I show a maintain?? NOOOOOOO its a frikken frakken fargen GAIN -- of 2.5 pounds.

ITS NOT FAIR!!!!!!!!!

I AM SO ANGRY WITH THE SCALE AND EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS. BUT I WILL NOT GIVE UP!!!! For a few minutes this morning I thought seriously about going on one of those stupid dumb idiotic crash diets just to get my weigh moving down. But I calmed down and decided to just ignore the bloody scale. I did great last year only weighing myself once a month. I don't think I had any upsets at all so to **** with these damn "weigh in once a week" challenges. I am going to keep eating right -- keep going to my classes and revel in the fact that my clothes are loose.

There rant over -- and it feels good to get that out

Back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Hi
Openheart, Nice to meet you


Phyllis
I live about 1 hr. east of Toledo. Little fishing town. Its nice here. Just a little chilly. But… Its not snowing!



Cheryl
You were talking about height and weight.
I am about the same weight as you. But… I am less than 5 ft!
I bet you look good at your height.
Tell me, How did you loose all your weight?
I need some input on this new way of life.
And this week I am feeling like nothing is moving on the scale.
I want so much for this weight to start coming off.
All help will be gratefully accepted!!!


Lynn
I have been doing the Ebay thing for about 1 yr.
I found it so easy. I just followed the instructions. The hardest part is finding an item someone else wants, and guessing what price to start at.



Joanne
I understand how you feel…
“”ITS NOT FAIR!!!!!!!!! “”
That’s how I feel a little too. Although I realize I put me here. its still hard to wait.

I never knew I was so impatient


“”I am going to keep eating right -- keep going to my classes and revel in the fact that my clothes are loose.””

I am going to do the same. Wish my clothes were getting loose!



Nice pics everyone. Love them I am looking for some I can share. We are Not pic people.

Hi Everyone!
First I want to thank Karen for informing me about Golden Girls, and second to congradulate Bobbi on a job well done. This seems to be such a nice place. Thank you again for the invite.
My name is Mary Ann and I live in Northern New Jersey. I am 57 yr. old who married her high school sweetheart in 1974. We have two children, Johnny 31 and Jennifer 28. My son is still single and I do beleive has dated every girl in New Jersey. My daughter has alittle boy Mikey 2 and just had another little girl on Sat, Abrieanna Rose. That make me a Grandmother and I love it! I am a retired kindergarden teacher and now I help my huband in the family business when I'm not busy with my grandchildren. This has to be the best thing that happened to me since I turned into my 50's..being a Grandmother.
The next thing is to focus on being healthy so I can stay around and watch them grow. I need to loose alot of weight, and just started last Mon. on low carb.. Weighed in yesterday and down 10 lbs. I hope to cont.
I really need to do this for me. I don't have any health issues so before I do I need to knock off this weight!
Well I hope to get to know you girls better. Bye


Big Momma

Hi everyone! I'm STILL <sigh> at work, but peeped in and saw Jay's rant and just HAD to say something. Jay, I have been feeling exactly the same way. Why is it so darned easy to GAIN weight - I mean, we work so hard FOR SO LONG to get it off, and then if we let down our guard in the SLIGHTEST, we've gained it all back and more, besides, in about 15 bloody minutes! And sometimes we gain WITHOUT any good reason at all!!!

I've been having a very challenging week for some reason. I haven't eaten OFF PLAN, but I sure have wanted to! And, I'm feeling very sullen about the whole thing - not gung-ho-ish at all. No enthusiasm. I'm eating properly, but very grudgingly.

The sun DID come out today, so maybe all this has been a result of seasonal affective disorder, and I'll start being my cheerful self again

But no, Jay, it absolutely is NOT fair!!!!!

I wish I could offer some magic tip that would solve these stupid glitches, but I guess there just isn't one. We have to just keep on plodding along. I DO think that we're probably better off weighing ourselves less, though. Maybe.

TTFN,

Ella

Hello Girls!
Well, today has been a pretty good day for me. I got my 6 miles walking done with the WATP's this morning and then got some housework done. I am wanting to get out in the yard and do some raking but think I will wait another few days and let it warm up a bit more. Right now we have about 55 degrees and the sun is out but there is a cold wind blowing.

Phyllis, my hubby likes popcorn too! Sometimes I will make it just plain for me and have some but Thanks to Bobbi I discovered Fiber One cereal and it is just good even plain and actually satisfies the desire for something sweet and crunchy!! THANKS BOBBI!! I even made the Haystacks that you mentioned on another thread and they are really good!! You might want to share that here too.

Openheart--- Nice to meet you!! Your little Yorkie sounds so cute! And Chewy is such a cute name!! I posted a couple pictures here the one is Ginger in her pet pocket. This is what she was in when the wolf was following us!! I also have a red "snuggli" for them too. But I didn't have Sissy then so this year I bought the stroller! If you look close they are both in the stroller. That way I can walk and they don't get tired before I do!! I haven't ran across the picture of the snuggli yet but when I do I'll post it. I figured if I can think of a way to use 2 snugglis, then I would be carrying about 12 extra pounds when I walk!! That should do something!! I'm hoping that they start the walking group back up in town this year and I want to join them! They are both pretty spoiled!

Hi Cheryl, you sound like you are kind of like us here--- wondering if we are done with snow yet!! I'm hoping so but we could still get more and probably will!

Lynn--- Loved the photos.. You look like you were having a good time in France. I've never been out of this country except once I went to Canada when I was young. My Dad sold mining machinery and went up there. So one year he took the whole family with him for a vacation. Most of the time right now we spend our vacations visiting my Dad,and family and his Dad and family. All my family live in MO. and his lives in PA.

Jayjay--- sorry you are having a hard time right now. I know it gets frustrating but we are so worth the effort!! I find soemthing that helps me when I just want to eat all day--- is to grab a piece of sugar free gum. At least it keeps me cheing on something for a couple hours and helps me through that feeling. I used to drink a lot of Diet Pepsi but changes that over to Diet Rite Pure Zero. I couldn't give up my soda all together! Anyway, just keep plugging along and things will start changing.

Theresa, I hope things get better for you too. We have to try to remember that we didn't put this weight on overnight and can't expect it to come off overnight. It would be nice but just doesn't happen that way. Keep the walking going and you will see changes. Keep smiling!!

Hi Mary Ann --- Welcome to our group. I know you will love it here like the rest of us do! Keep coming back and posting lots!!

Hi Ella, Good to hear from you... I'm hoping that the weather here stays nice now. I really would like to get more outside time in. And both my "girls" love it outside. They have some real nice hiking trails around here and I'm hoping to take advantage of those before too long.

I hope everyone has a good evening and anybody I may have missed I didn't do it on purpose!! I'll check back later this evening. Karen

Hello Everyone!
Happy Birthday Ella, are you doing anything special tonight to celebrate?
Phyllis... DH and I have popcorn every night and the 100 calories bags are just perfect. Are you sure you can't work 100 calories in?
Hi Openheart and Big Mama, glad to have imput from our age group.
Lynn... Thanks for the pictures but does your DD or Sil have a grisly beard? You better check out the picture you sent of them.
Flat Outs are a wrap that I couldn't live without. I'm big on staying full on fiber and these big puppies have 9 grams of fiber and 90 calories. They are quite large (oval shaped) and I buy them at Super Walmart stores. ( On a low rack under the deli windows.) You can use them like a regular sandwich wrap with meats, cheeses, lettuce, etc. Sometimes I'll scramble up egg whites with veggies, etc. and roll up in them for breakfast.
But 90% of the time I pop them in the toaster oven to crisp up then top with:
(They have 3 or 4 kinds, be sure to buy the "Light" original for sweet treats.)

• Applesauce & FF/SF Cool whip & Cinnamon
• FF Cream Cheese, slices of pineapple or strawberries, blue berries, etc.
• SF/FF puddings and FF/SF Cool Whip I like to mix in a little unsweetened coconut in the vanilla. Chocolate is really good on these too.
• Pumpkin mixed with spices/Splenda is good with C.Whip on top of the crisp Flat Outs. Sort of like up-side-down crisp pie crust.
• You can spray them with ICBINB and sprinkle with cinnamon and Splenda for a sweet treat.
• I purchase the Italian "Light" Flat Outs for pizza, toast them until crisp and top with pizza sauce, turkey pepperoni and FF mozarella cheese slice. You can add any kind of veggies ingredients too, just pop back into the oven or toaster oven until cheese melts.

JayJay.... I'm confused, are you gaining weight on 1500 calories? You're talking about 3000 and 2200 calories and I'm not sure what your averaging. If its over 2000 I'd say Whoa! Too many! Without knowing how active you are it's hard to say how many calories you should be eating. I'm not as tall as you but I lost at a steady pace on 1200 calories and was never, ever hungry. Of course I eats lots of foods with high fiber and that certainly helps keep you full.
What kind of a program are you on? Let us know and between us we'll try to pin point your gains.

Quote:
I looked back on my "net" calories since April 1 (yep fool that I am). There were only 6 days that I didn't record my calories - -I know from my eating habits I am basically unable to eat more than 3000 in a day -- the days when I hit 2200 I feel full and uncomfortable - so 3000 would be a stretch no matter what. All of my other days have been on the average of a -300 calorie range -- so that is most likely 6 days of going over by 300 - 400 calories and 13 days of being -300 -- so a net of about -1500 calories. Do I show a maintain?? NOOOOOOO its a frikken frakken fargen GAIN -- of 2.5 pounds.

Ella!! I almost forgot that oooops sorry! I rememberd it this morning and then just totally forgot it when I was posting!! Have a GREAT DAY!!

Hi I am back -- and got caught up on everything.

Bobbi - I will answer you first -- I know I threw a lot of numbers out there. Bottom line is I am trying to keep my calories between 1600 - 1800. I am quite active -- my job has me running most of the day and I take exercise classes at noon three days a week (soon to be four YAY!!). I keep my calories and extra exercise online and when I added up my total net calories from Apr 1 it showed I was just barely in the negative (roughly -1500 total for the 18 days). To me that would mean I maintained -- my daily calorie intake (for no weigh loss) is supposed to be 2100 and since April 1 I barely went over 2000 a day. Once again my rant wasn't that I lost -- I didn't expect a loss -- but I certainly never expected a gain.

So that's behind me LOL I sure appreciated all the support it means a lot and is part of why my loss last year was a success, counting calories, drinking all my water, getting lots of exercise and journalling online -- it will work again I just know it.

Karen - your pictures are awesome. You live in a gorgeous state. What a scary episode with the wolf -- yikes!!! We used to run into bears all the time up the mountain - but my golden was more annoying to the bears than the bears were scary to us.

Phyllis - I agree with the others -- the 100 calorie popcorn bags are great - satisfying and a good snack to help the popcorn craving - just NO butter!!

Openheart - Welcome -- I look forward to getting to know you.

Cheryl -- you have done awesome no matter the time taken. At least you kept going down. You will continue to drop I just know it.

Lynn -- lovely pictures and you got to go to France -- I can only dream about that. I have been lucky enough to do a lot of travelling but never Europe.

Theresa -- yes our lovely impatience for this journey to end. At least with it taking this long I am getting more and more used to eating the "proper" amount of calories and my binging days are getting further and further apart.

Big Momma - welcome -- I look forward to getting to know you too.

Ella -- Thanks and yes keep looking for that magic cure. Until it comes I will be weighing myself less -- its what works for me. And before I forget



Tomorrow is another day and soon enough this rant will be a distant memory.

I just need some more

I did very well at my dinner last night. I didn't do any bread or dessert. I ate the cabbage rolls and mashed potatoes and that's it. I've stuck on program all day today so I feel goos about that.

I haven't written here since yesterday. I have a lot of making up to do. I've read though out the day, but I was busy sewing and didn't want to stop to reply.

Lynn- The Mother's Day Challenge is on another thread. We are supporting each other to lose weight by Mother's Day. I want to lose 5 pounds by then. So far I've just maintained. I have to get that scale to move.
The photo of your sil's grandson looks like my grandson. I had to take a double take because I thought it was Brendan. I'll try and post his photo so you can see what you think. I just tried to find a photo of Brendan, but I don't have one on this computer. I'll have to get a picture of him and then post it. My hubby even said he thought they looked alike.

Karen- Thanks for telling us how to post photos. I'm going to have to try it.
I remember reading about the wolf following you while you were out for your walk. I would have been so scared.
I had to smile when I saw your stroller. I bought one of these for my daughter to take her cats for a walk. She used it 2 times and it ripped. Her cats are a little on the chunky side like their grandma (me). We tried to fix it, but the repair job didn't work. She does have one cat that is leash trained and she takes him for a walk around the neighborhood.

Ella- So sorry to hear about your daughters health problems. It's good she has such kind family members that are willing to help her out.
Did you do anything fun for your Birthday today?

Bobbi- All Red Hat groups are different. Our group meets at a different members home each month to plan what we are going to do in upcoming months and we go out to eat once a month. If someone wants to go to the movie we post an email and see if anyone wants to go along. It's really just a bunch of ladies that get together to have fun and wear hats while we do it.

openheart-

Joanne- You can't always go by the scale. How are your clothes fitting? Have you taken your measurements? Maybe you are retaining water? I'm glad you came to your senses and didn't give in to the idea of a crash diet. They don't work. As soon as you start eating again you just gain it back. You have to do it the right way.

Mary Ann- I'm glad you decided to join us.

Theresa- You must be a hottie when you walk.

Paula
Good for you!!! stayed on plan when you went out. Thats not so easy sometimes.
So... What are you sewing today? I saw some of your things you make. I might just have to remember you later this summer. It will be my dgd first Halloween.

A Hottie...mmm Its been a while since I have been called that... Unless I was mad. You know how it can be when you have the temper to go with the red hair. LOL
I am not really a hot tempered person. Most of the time.

I finished walking 1 more mile today.
Total 3.5 miles.
Plus yard work. Not to bad.
Definitely better.

well its been a long day.
sleep well.

Lynn- Here's a photo I found on my daughter's my space. These are all my grandchildren. Brendan is the pirate on the far right. I'll still get a recent photo of him, but this will show you what he looked like on Halloween 2 years ago.

Paula

Great Pics
It is wonderful being a grandmother. I Just love it.

Hi Everyone!

I just finished re-reading over all three pages of the thread! Lots of interesting information on those three pages, ladies!! So much fun getting to know you all!

Looks like a lot of us enjoy the outdoors! There are going to be many great veggies and beautiful flowers grown by this bunch this season! Today I planted my red raspberries. I took out our old bushes from thirty years ago after they were overrun with some wild rose bushes planted by (I think) the resident birds!!!

There's quite a few of you relatively LIGHT weights here! Tell us chubby ones some secrets of your weight loss! I have always been a big eater and have had to eat A LOT less in order to lose my weight. I also exercise an hour or two every day. I realize that what I'm doing is NOT a diet that I finish and then go back to my normal routine! If I do that, I will be back to 275 quick as a wink!

I notice that there are many diet and exercise plans represented in our group! I'm a walker, but I added a bunch of other exercises a few years ago when I needed to up my cardio and push my body to KEEP losing weight. I am a non-athlete in a family of athletes, but I am holding my own now that I have lost a bunch of flab!

Anyone ready to talk about troublesome areas of the body that are just plain STUBBORN? I'll start! My areas of anguish are my upper arms, my thighs, and my belly. My thighs are MUCH smaller than they once were thanks to the walking I have done over the years, but they are NOT thin by ANY stretch of the imagination. I've lost 13 inches off my waist but still need to shave off three more inches to be in proportion. My biggest surprise is that my rear end is now almost non-existent! Sure do wish I could paste some of my ARM FAT back on my REAR!

There are quite a few grandkids in this group of grandmas! It's great to hear how excited you are about them! I'm not a grandma yet, but maybe in a few years...

I think it would be nice to have a list of birthdays so we don't miss any of them! I read that Ellabella is celebrating today! Happy Birthday, Ellabella! Also Happy Belated Birthday to Lynn (11th) and to Paula sometime earlier this month!

Any night owls out there? I stay up late and also get up early. I have never needed more than five hours of sleep. My husband could sleep 16 hours. He never really gets much of a chance to do that, but he's quite a sleeper nevertheless! (It's now 8:40 the next morning, and he's been sleeping for FOURTEEN HOURS already!!!)

What weight loss challenges are you facing? I'm trying to weigh at our son's wedding what I weighed at our own wedding. I have 31 more pounds to go. I have until August 18th. I also want my mother-of-the-groom dress to fit looser in the arms. It's beaded and NOT stretchy at all.

I'm headed to see what's going on with the 100 lb. Club now, my first bunch of good buddies here at 3FC. This is an awesome site!

Have a great evening everyone and a super day tomorrow! Type to you soon!

Cheryl