Been meaning to ask: Usually I can click on the little arrow on the left of the thread name and it will take me to the last time I was here/read. Since June started it no longer does that. It takes me to Bobbi's first post. What happened?

Hi Gals. Having DH home is messing with my schedule, LOL. He goes back to work next week for the last week of school. I don't know how he'll be once school is out. He still can't do any heavy work for a few more weeks so I expect he'll be at home a bit more than he usually is during the summer. He's usually out in the yard, shed or at his mother's doing something for her.

Dee, hope you are feeling less stressed and you and your DH can get things figured out for his treatments.

Rosey, You're a good, strong woman.

Bobbi, you've got your work cut out for you, getting ready to sell. I guess Karen31 can give you lots of hints and good ideas.

Karen31, is your DS doing better?

Lynn, are you running or walking the 5K?

I'm doing this from memory, OH MY!

Mary, I remember when you first started posting here and you sure have changed your lifestyle. You're doing great.

Marie & Rie, I remember long days and weeks when I worked. It was as if you got up on Monday morning and didn't get to bed until Friday night.

Gayle, glad that tooth is not giving you troubles. Walking up and down the halls seems like a good plan in hot or cold weather.

Hi to Freda, Karen3, Cajun, Amara, (think, think, think, think, think) Donna, and to You Whom I Cannot Recall.

Have a good weekend and stay away from the junk.

From 100 Days of Weight Loss (paraphrased by me)
Author recommends a "magic" notebook - write your personal thoughts, an outlet for emotions and struggles around weight-loss efforts to help you track your thoughts and ideas about food and eating if you like writing. If you don't like this, at least keep a notebook handy to jot down ideas about managing your eating patterns. (I am trying to do this in MFP as there is a place for notes and I keep it set to private).

Eat it another time - Just because you think about a food doesn't mean you have to eat it. (novel thought!) Instead of eating it right then, plan to eat it some day and write about it in your notebook. Anticipate the pleasure of eating it at a later date.

Practice the skill of observing food cues...for instance if you smell popcorn, tell yourself that smells good but I'm not going to eat any right now. I'll have it another day.

For foods you prefer not to eat for weightloss/health reasons, try stretching the times further apart for eating this food. You may discover that after a while these foods don't seem as important to you as they once did. (I have done this with some foods and it does work).

From If I'm so Smart, Why Can't I Lose Weight (paraphrased by me). I'm a little behind in this book as the current chapter is long.
No one has time to work out. We have to MAKE the time. Realize your health and psycological well being must be a priority in your life. You are sending a message to yourself that you matter and that you have worth. Set a minimum of time for your exercise...you can do more but you must do that much no matter what is going on in your life. You can do more if you want but you don't have to. Being committed to this minimum baseline will build your self-esteem, your motivation and your sense of control in your life. Eventually this will lead you to want to increase the amount of time but you must start with this minimum (my thought too is that even if you never increase it, you'll be healthier than if you never start!). Start at 5 min, 3x week if you want and work up from there. Write it down and schedule it as an appointment.

Hi GG's,

Lovely day, but didn't do much. Washed all the throws and hung them outside. Later tonight I'll curl up under one and smell it while I read. I love the smell of sunshine on things when I hang them outside. Went to some garage sales with DGD. She is very serious about looking at things, and figuring out what to buy. Did I mention that DH and I went to Sears yesterday and made an appointment to have our eyes checked and get glasses. He is due, ive never gotten prescription glasses before. But I have problems reading with my reading glasses now (they are 2.75, OTC) and get the large type books and still use my reading glasses. So, we made an appointment for Monday, which they said was the first appointment they could get us in. Got home and realized that we had a conflicting appointment and called and changed it to Friday. Got home today and got a phone call from them that we were late for our appointment. I THOUGHT I had made an appointment for next Friday.

Bobbi, We make our fried cabbage out of just plain caggabe, like you said. But I do use sourkraut too, and like it a lot. And cole slaw. I guess we just like cabbage.

Gayle, Your swimming suit sounds fine to me. I really don't think you would get any hassle if you wore it to the pool. Didn't you guys join?

Rie, When is the scope? If you are having stomach pain, it won't hurt to have it checked out. Sorry to hear about your friends mom.

Carol Sue, We have the same shopping habits! That's exactally what I do. And I do buy ahead, make sure I keep a good stock of the things we use all the time. I hate paying full price. I am so cheap. My husband has had a fat wife and a thin wife also. He never said anything about either. Although, he is Southern to the core and has always said that he "likes a little meat on the bones".

Cajun, Yeah for loose jeans! If you aren't quit into those size 18 jeans yet, you will be soon.

Marie, What kind of eye surgery is DD having. I relate to your comment about not eating when you're hungry. My sister made that comment to me one time. She said she had never been hungry. I was very thin at the time and it struck me as being very strange. Now that I'm older and have a weight problem too, I try to never get to the point where I'm very hungry, because it's too easy to make bad decisions.

Mary, I can realate to many of the teachings from the diet books. I put off eating things too, often. I tell myself "it's not like i'll never see this food again or have a chance to eat it again later".

Have to work the weekend, so I'm wishing all of you a happy weekend.

Freda

Hi Golden Chicks - you are the greatest. Thanks for all your support. I’m feeling better.

Rosey - Men! Have you ever thought of giving old Mr. Cranky pants the finger?! If that doesn’t work, I recommend martinis. I have to learn how to make the lemon drop martinis. I’ll post it if I find a good recipe. I think a lot of men are “self” centered and a lot of women are “other” centered. I don’t know why I keep getting surprised by it. I’m trying to teach DH to be a little aware of what I need. But being mean is different. No excuse for it. I am very impressed by how far you’ve come. The Golden Chicks are proud of you. If you can’t bring yourself to give him the finger - do it mentally. Then go have a martini or two. Worked for me.

Marie and Rie - sorry you have to work so much.

Rie - I hope the stomach scope goes well. Is that the same thing as an endoscopy?

Freda - how old is your DGD? I like to go to garage sales but I’ve stopped because it’s really time for me to start emptying out this place.

Cajun - congrats on the loose jeans! Very fun. As I was going down sizes I actually found some jeans at Costco for a very reasonable price. Gloria Vanderbilt. They fit true to size. Nothing fancy, remind me of my old Levis that will never go out of style. I think they were $16. And came in blue and black.

Hugs to everyone.

Have you noticed how these two books seem to complement each other? I realize there is only so much about weightloss but I honestly feel these books go so well together. I'm glad I'm reading both at the same time.

Just can't stay away from this place! I know that, unlike me, some of you ladies are very crafty so thought you might be interested in this.
http://www.craftynest.com/2009/10/ta...s-or-gathered/

Maryea - I like the pointers in those books you are reading. At one point in time, I realized that I can never say I don't have time to exercise. I watch/tape The Young and the Restless and The Bold an the Beautiful that are on from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM M-F. I rarely miss watching them. I have my exercise room set up in such a way that I can watch TV from any position and I exercise while I'm watching the shows. When I started out I made a rule that I couldn't watch my shows unless I was exercising. My 2 recent surgeries put a damper on that, but I am trying to follow it again, now. Sometimes you just don't feel like exercising. On those days, I set the treadmill for 1.5 mph and walk slowly. Walking slowly is better for me than sitting in my recliner, and most of the time, I eventually speed up and get in a decent walk. I don't walk for 1 1/2 hours...at least 30 minutes. The rest of the time I do some other exercises with hand weights or punch my punching bag. If Rosey would send me a pic of Mr Crankypants I could pin it on the front of my punching bag! LOL

Rie - My hiatal hernia was diagnosed with an endoscope. I was put in twilight sleep and they inserted a tiny camera down my throat. I slept through it, didn't feel anything and felt no different afterwards. For you, they will probably have to go further down since your pain is in your upper belly. I had no pain or symptoms at all, but I had gone to an ENT because I had laryngitis for over a month and when he did a scope on my throat he said he saw signs of acid reflux and suggested I get an endescope done. They gave me meds for the hiatal hernia even though I was not having any reflux episodes. I had to quit taking the medicine when I had a heart stent inserted because the meds interacted with the Plavix I had to take for the stent. I still have no symptoms of reflux, but the hiatal hernia may be causing my chronic cough I have had for years. Anyway, you should have no problem with this. Hopefully they will find the cause of your pain and it will be something that can be easily remedied.

I think what Gayle was referring to was that some public pools do not allow you to wear street clothes in the pool. The fibers from the clothes clog the filters. When we went to the beach the pool at our hotel had that rule. DH never wears swim trunks, he wears cut off jeans. They wouldn't let him in so he could only go in the ocean. No filters in the ocean! LOL

Freda - Part of my problem with eating used to be that I felt I had to "clean my plate", expecially if we were eating out. I paid for the food, so I'd eat it all. Now I am getting better at eyeballing portion sizes. I will cut off a 3-4 oz portion of protein and separate my starch and veggies into portions too. I eat one portion of each item and then get the rest boxed up to bring home. If I get hungry later on I might heat up my leftovers and eat them. All I'm doing is eating the rest of my dinner instead of adding another meal to my day. Most times I save the leftovers for the next day's lunch. I don't feel that I have to eat it all at dinner if I know it will be there for me later or the next day. Sometimes I end up not even wanting it and I throw it out, but it is then my choice to throw it away.

Good morning all.....I need to rant and rave....Let me start by saying I live in a lovely small nice town with mostly wonderful friends and neighbors. BUT yesterday the dog pack attacked again. DH was out front spray painting my porch rockers and Dash was asleep under the palm tree and the pack of H*ll Hound Dogs attacked him. He ran to the front door where they cornered him and bite him around the neck and ribs. No broken skin only because of his wirehair. Dh ended up kicking and screaming them off Dash. Only then to be verbally assaulted by the neighbor. Animal Control was called and charges have been pressed by them against the neighbor. We had pictures taken recently of the pack on our lawn.

All this was witnessed by 2 other neighbors who were shocked. By not only the dog attack but the verbal spewing. New neighbors who have 7-8yr girl were incensed and scared. Turns out that he, the grandfather, who I had thought to be a outlaw biker type is actually a retired homocide detective.
How's that for a witness.

I just don't understand why somebody would be so mean and foulmouth when it is totally something they should control. We have done nothing to be exposed to this vicious attack. There's no reason for those dogs to be in our yard. Dash trembled for hours afterwards and the dog warden sat petting him.

k3

ps I got edited for H*ll Hounds even though that is at literary refernce...not a cursing! Gesh great week....edit me and delete me from bio's

Been playing a bit of catch up today...do that a lot on Sat when I realize how much housework I have put off! Finishing up the laundry, did some cleaning in the bathrooms and kitchen etc. besides the daily. This afternoon we are going to our dd's for a BBQ in honor of Princess Claire's 3rd birthday which is actually next week. I got her a cute dress which I hope she will like...multicolor sundress with lots of ruffles. She's a very girly girl with a big personality.

Donna/Rie - I was that way with my kids and thank you notes, Rie. Wanted them to think about the person who gave them the gift and express their appreciation. So many do not do this anymore and it is one of my pet peeves! Occasionally we get a phone message or a call but not always. The ones local are good about hugs and thank yous in person at least.

Karen3 - Poor Dash!! I'd be scared too...I like dogs but not in packs and I'm even very careful around ones I don't know. Bad experience as a child. I'm glad you had plenty of witnesses and hopefully the filing of charges will help. Glad neither Dash nor your dh was seriously hurt.

Slmn11 - You inspire me with your exercise! I have never been consistent when I worked out at home which is why I go to the gym. I don't have any workout equipment here at home anyway...I just exercised to videos. I like the idea of doing it when watching TV. Sometimes I lift weights for a few minutes at that time but not recently. Need to get back to that.

Slmn11/Rie - Glad you are enjoying the excerpts from the books. I can't say I've lost weight since reading them but I'm learning and it's gotta help. When I stick to my schedule (like yesterday and so far today) I do so much better and have more peace about it. The number on the scale is certainly not what I want it to be but it doesn't both me. I'm learning what I have to do and slowly incorporating it.

Need to go get ready for the party girl...take care you all and have a wonderful weekend. Hi! to all I missed in the personals.

Karen, sorry to hear about the attack on Dash.. Hope he is feeling better tonight. I sure wish people would be more responsible with their pets...are the courts going to do anything about them this time or wait until they grab a child? Grrrr!!!

Rie, our 6 foot wooden privacy fence will be going up around the first of July. Depending on weather. When we signed the contract last week they were about three weeks out. Glad we have the small area chainlinked for the girls right not. even though there is a leash law there are still dogs that run around without any leash or owner in sight!

We found a nice hot tub on Craigslist today and bought it. We will have to get some movers to move it for us but should have it here next week. I was pretty excited.

Bobbi, moving is such a job! I told Tim if he ever gets the bug to move again I'm calling movers in to pack it all and move it all, then I'm going on vacation and they can call me when it is done!! We are still not completely unpacked yet but most of it is garage stuff that should start falling into place now that we have the storage building. He is putting shelves in it right now and a lot of stuff will have new home soon!

Donna, give Sam and Sabrino hugs from Ginger and Sissy. Glad that things are moving along for GM now. Gosh, why do people have to make things so difficult???

Well, been a busy day so guess I'd better cut this short tonight. Hello to everyone I missed and have a Happy Father's Day tomorrow.

Happy Sunday!