Laurie-thanks for your prayers and kind words. I've been frozen all summer with worry, and now I can move forward to figure out what I will do next.

Jay- thanks for your kind words too. I'm so glad your test results turned out well.

DH and I are with my Dad and sister in NY, and we're having a good visit. We've talked a lot about my Mom's death last Dec. a hard topic ,but important for my Dad to talk about. I really appreciate being able to spend this time with him. He'll go back to Florida in the fall and we'll visit him there.

I really need to get back OP

later...Lori

Lori - glad you are having a good visit. Do the best you can while visiting to stay OP. Bump up the fiber, water, and veggies as much as you can.

Prayers continuing, and I know that it is tough, but things will work out!

A good day here - work was very productive, and I'm glad the week is over. DH is working tomorrow, so I'm hoping to get some cleaning/organizing done. I really need to clean some closets. We have had rain here, so the roofers are hoping to work tomorrow. It will be noisy, but that means they are one day closer to being done.

Have a great weekend all!

Hey!

Laurie, I hope that roof goes quickly and smoothly!

We have been getting a lot of rain here, and I'm hoping that soon the drought restrictions will be lifted so I can finish pressure washing without the interference of the nosy neighbors.

We went to see Julie & Julia yesterday--very nice movie, and Meryl Streep was great as always. I got really hungry though--I didn't bring enough snacks, and I don't buy stuff at the theater. Better planning!

You know, I was looking at my test results again, and I realized that my total cholesterol has dropped even more. Two years ago, after I had lost most of my excess weight, the test gave 209, and now it's 192. My HDLs are up as well, almost to 60. And this is even with some weight regain. My body has really changed!

I'm still contemplating what to do about the arthritis pain in my back, though. I guess like anything else, consistency is going to be a big factor. I'm going to consult with my chiropractor tomorrow. (My MD is not opposed to chiropractic.) And yes, CD, core exercises are recommended by my MD as well. I had been doing some, but I think I was overdoing them, and then when the pain started I stopped completely. Time to ease back in...

Lori, I'm sure I've asked you where your dad stays in Fla.--am I right that it's near Ft. Myers?

Football pre-season has come at last... heh heh!

Where are all the rest of our posters? Don't tell me they all fell into a vat of chocolate somewhere...

Jay

Jay - I look how far you have come with your health and it IS a huge accomplishment. Particularly at our age, it really is HARD to make those numbers go in the right direction.

My cholesterol is down now too. I must have some genetic pre-disposition, since I was actually over 200 a year ago, and that doesn't make a lot of sense given my healthy diet (this was AFTER I lost my weight and changed my lifestyle) and my 26 years of being a vegetarian.

Stress can be a trigger though, so I worked this year on moving to reduced fat cheeses and stress management. It seems to have worked.

Today was busier than the usual Sunday. DH and I had to work both church services today, then shopping, then getting stuff done around here.

I have been craving lasagna all week, so I made a big pan of WW spinach, mushroom lasagna. It is GREAT!
DH wanted me to make cookies, and since the oven was already heated, I made walnut, pluot, WW and bran cookies (with Splenda). The recipe calls for extra NF milk powder and soy flour - and of course I substituted the okara (soy sludge left from making soy milk). Healthy little things, and quite tasty

I called my mom and chatted for two hours (normal for us).

Hope everyone comes back soon - we miss you!

Laurie

Hi everyone, just checking in! I've been out of town and then really busy with work, and the time just slips away.

DS#2 and and I visited family in Indiana for a week. I fell off of the diet wagon - HARD! I was almost 10 pounds over redline today and really have to get back on track. I have about 2 months to get back to optimal running weight for the fall and winter racing season. My first half marathon is in November! I just have to get back to basics. I know I'll lose it in a few weeks.(But I sure did enjoy those mid-western desserts)

School started back today, where did the summer go??

Hey MBN! I have no idea where the summer went. But they do start school a lot earlier now. I'm sorry about that for the kids--seems like their "free time" just gets more and more taken away. I think it's so great that you're a runner, MBN! I don't think I'll be running anytime soon--not until my back gets better. Besides, I need new shoes again.

CountingDown, thanks for the reminder that I have accomplished something good with my health. It's easy sometimes to look at the areas that maybe aren't so improved and to overlook the good things. How unfortunate that is!

My new computer is really great, but I've only got it about halfway set up. I keep having to actually do work, imagine that! But soon...

See ya!
Jay

Hi all - just a fly by. Not much new here - too much work, and a little bit of play leaves not much time to be online.

Have a great Thursday!

Laurie

Jay

Here it is the last day of August already!

I'm trying to get a Time Capsule (Apple backup device) set up, but alas, it is giving me fits. Grrrrr! Sometimes I really hate network devices... This morning I'll give it another try. It has a terabyte of storage on it. Good grief. Things have sure changed since I first began with computers in the 1980s.

Anyone been to Mendocino? I haven't been there in over 20 years, but it's one of the side trips planned on our trip to California in October, which is getting closer!

Food has not been great, and I'm still struggling. Having difficulties with the evening munchies and not sure what to do about it. The gym stuff is still being adjusted because of my back difficulties. I'm feeling kind of frustrated!

We're going to take a short trip to Tarpon Springs later this week--just an outing to see what's there--at one time it was a center for sponge harvest, before sponges were synthetic. I think they still do some small-scale sponge fishing.

Well, happy September!

Jay

Jay Maybe try some volumetrics tricks with your evening munchies. I snack on Fiber One cereal, broccoli slaw, etc. Lots of bulk and filling, without much damage to the calorie count. 100 cal bags of popcorn work well for me too.

I've never been to Mendocino, so I can't wait to hear about it when you return. Glad you are getting a trip this week too. It might be just the thing to get you back in the groove when you return.

Crazy busy week here - teachers are all "officially" back tomorrow - 3 days of training ahead. Which is usually exhausting! Thankfully, I'm caught up and spent the day preparing so it should go OK.

Laurie

Hi, new person here. My name is Joyce and I'm 53.
I'm a teacher too, going to do some shopping this morning and then bring it all to school. I can't afford to have food delivered (I'm a home Ec teacher) so I buy it and get it to school. With 12 blocks of Foods and Nutrition I do tend to spend a bit of time in the grocery store. Budget has been cut again, I have to be very creative in designing my course. Students are great though (grade 8-12) so I'm looking forward to the new year, Sept 8th is the first day.

Nice to meet you

Joyce Glad to have you join us! Feel free to share recipes - we LOVE new recipes

We have the same problem with our school budget. VERY creative financing and scheduling going on right now!

I am new here, 53 years old, struggling to lose 50 pounds, I will be thrilled to be in one-derland even! (under 200)

Cindy - Glad you joined us! You absolutely CAN drop those pounds! I was 50 when I started my weight loss journey

Post often so we get to know you!