I have been hanging in there lately. Food is doing better. For a while I just didn't eat much- but I am doing turkey burgers, grilled chicken this week and some baked tilapia. DD21 will be moving back in a couple of weeks as her BF is moving to Austin. She is convinced her purpose in life is to figure out my wardrobe.DH comes around a couple times a week to work on his Ebay stuff- it's a rather weird thing. I don't know where he is living. He just comes by.He is still paying the bills.
School starts on Monday and I am thinking I need to also do MTC. I don't have a wedding, but my weight is low enough I should be able to do most of the stuff without much trouble. It's like what I said before. I am getting myself ready for the next part of my life.Technically I am now within the normal range of BMI- but I am still carrying some really ugly fatty areas so I need to tone up and buff up a bit more.It's not been a bad summer- I think I totaled ten inches since the eighth of May. I put on a size 8 pair of jeans the other day.:carrot:
Ledom, I am sorry about the house- but really the photo stuff sounds interesting.What does not kill us makes us stronger and this might be the path you never knew about.
Are you ready to rock Cindy ? I'm going to try to read a bit and get in my head about the first week of MTC. Other than brushing horses, mucking manure and mowing the yard it's been a really slow month- but I need to get my head into something again. It's a healthy distraction.
Ride Gina Ride !
Welcome everyone else !

Just a quick post from work here.

Life continues to give me lemons. Over the weekend I had to admit my mother to the hospital for some really scary episodes of being out of her head. She is much better now but still in the hospital for tests.

My boss of the last 12 years who has taken care of me and nurtured me and been my biggest advocate has decided to take the early retirement our university is offering as well as another long time professor in our department. It has thrown our little department into chaos. It is a scary time, not knowing how such a wonderful job will turn out under new direction.

And the house, oh the house. Everything in boxes, strange people running around and making loud noises. I have never craved healthy food so much in my life since I have lost the ability to get it easily. Also, little to no exercise. I think this is one of the times I just have to let things go a little. I know shortly things will improve. But right now everyting sucks.

Wow, sirak - size 8! I'm so jealous of your progress!

I didn't start MTC this week, but the book is on my desk and I'll be reading it the rest of this lunch hour. My time is severly contrained by this new job!

My scale is starting to creep up a bit, so I really need to turn that ship around - if I don't start MTC Monday, it will be Tuesday for sure!

Ledom - :hug: glad to hear your Mom is better, but sorry you had to go through that. I hear you about change - it can be such a scary thing! We are going through a company sale right now, effective tomorrow, so I know just how you feel.

How soon before the house will be back to "normal"?
Cindy

Arghhhh - the cabinets come in the 3rd week of Sept. Not for a while. There is not one area of my life that has not been turned upside down it feels. Hopefully I will meet my challenges and carry the day in the end. Dr. is recommending my Mom move into assisted living. She doesn't know yet - that is the coming weeks hurdle. I am actually losing a bit of weight. At my summer low, maybe not having a kitchen isn't so bad after all. Unfortunately, this not the way I would recommend losing weight.

Go Sirak go!

How are the wedding plans coming along Cindy?

ledom - sweetie! :hug::hug::hug::hug::hug: Geez, girl! I wish there was something helpful I could say. Oh yeah...YOU'RE LOSING WEIGHT...a small victory among many stressful things going on. More hugs for you :hug::hug: It's gotta get better!!

Sirak - has DD21 got you all hooked up wardrobe-wise? :lol: Congrats on all the inches lost!! :carrot: You RAWK those size 8's I'm sure! :D

Cindy - you must be getting so excited - the wedding is getting closer. So exciting (well, and prolly exausting)! :cb:

Things are pretty quiet here - trying to keep cool. It has been over 100 for like 4 days now. :hot: The nifty news is that my favorite Women's gym moved - and the new building is really great!! It has separate rooms for the bikes and classes - before we were in a strip mall. It's all shiny and pretty, too. :cool: Gotta run - hope everyone has a nice Labor Day weekend.

Hey Chick - thanks for the hugs. I need them!

And, I like your new hat!!!! How fun?, is it from your trip to Mexico

Hope the temperatures have broken and that you are really enjoying your new gym location.

Hey everyone, well, I'm done with MTC for now. I got sick with a cold (plus coping with some perimenopausal issues) during the last week. I did not do the last 2 workouts because of my boredom issues, plus my schedule got thrown off with being sick. I am so thrilled with the improvements I made in strength (plus some inches lost!) doing MTC. I didn't drop any weight, but I indulged and ate pretty much what I wanted, so I'm pleased with the results.

I've started on a new bodyweight-based workout. It's less of a time commitment than MTC, which will fit in with my fall schedule. I've done 2 workouts so far and I'm sore. Really sore. I'm also trying to really get the hang of doing the intervals that go along with it. I hate the watching-the-clock aspect of doing intervals, but I know it works, so I'm trying to make it a habit.

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend and things are going well for you all.

I have managed to do one day of cardio and one day of weights this week. I decided that something was better than nothing. I kept on wanting to do MTC- but can't seem to define what block of time to do it- so I am just doing some basics and learning to work with a stability ball.Life was so much easier when there was naptime for my little one.

Food hasn't been too bad except for it was birthday week for my son and that always includes cake and ice cream.

Ledom-the cooler temperatures will bring come color changes to the landscape. Get out of the house with no cabinets ! Grab your camera,kayak and paddle.Take some time to get away from the chaos- you need a break !

Cindy-sounds like you are in change mode and things are not going to settle down until after the wedding. Remember-something is better than nothing !

Hey Chick- is that really you in that hat on the avatar ?

Wow Mariposa sounds like you have great commitment to your workouts ! I am glad to hear of your results ( and you got chocolate too ?)

Hey gals - I'm getting a bit frustrated with myself - my weight is up 5-6# and the wedding is in 3 weeks! I can see it all in my face and gut - the two places I don't want it for al the pictures! But my schedule as of late is killer - no time for workouts that I can figure out. And, I'm stress eating, which is the source of the gain! Let's just hope I can do something about it before the wedding.

Did any of you gals watch the Biggest Loser recap show this week? I've taped it, but not watched yet. DF is tying up the tv with baseball and football all the time, so I'm not sure when I'll get to. I'm hoping that next week's season opener will help to motivate me - have you seen that Jillian will be back on? Wonder how they'll incorporate all three trainers - three teams maybe?

Ok, well, back to the wedding stuff - talk to you gals later!
Cindy

Hey ya'll - checking from the insanity which is my life at the moment. Actually today I am feeling good, some resolutions to some problems anyway. The biggest thing really, we are going ahead with moving my mom to an assisted living facility. It is brand new, she knows people living there, and it is going to happen fast. A week from Sat., so this week we're packing her up to move from a 2 bdrm. house to a 500 sq. ft. apt. DD and her BF are moving into her house and have to be out their current apt. by the 30th, and then of course all my stuff is in boxes while the renovation continues. Talk about a reshuffle of life!

A week or so ago lighting struck the utility pole outside my house. Knocked out my internet so I had them out the next day. It was only 4 days later that I finally had a minute to turn on the TV. It's gone too. There is so much going on I can't even think about waiting around for the cable guy to come fix it. So, did I miss the season premier of BL. I am so behind on stuff.

My show opens Oct. 9. Between now and then so much is going to have to happen but I'll try to check in again soon.

Diet and exercise by the wayside though I am doing better this week than last.

I'm thinking of you all as a couple of you are also going through lifestyle changes too - let's keep up the good fight as best we can!

Hi chickies!
I'm totally looking forward to Jillian being back...and what an entrance! Should be an interesting season. I was rather annoyed at the people who were disappointed and only losing 8 pounds in a week...I know I know...that's the way the show has always been...but it's just so wrong! Another thing I was thinking about afterwards was that I don't really think making the workouts so intense is really going to get anyone to try getting into exercising. If I thought workouts like that were the only way I was going to be able to lose weight I never would have tried it. I know there's no drama in baby steps...but at least offer it as a possibility...

ledom...I'm gonna stop saying things are gonna look up for you...I'm afraid I'll jinx it! Hopefully the cable is back up and they have replays of BL for you? The move sounds like a good thing for your mom - that's great that she already knows people there. :cb:

Cindy - you're going to be a beautiful bride!! I second sirak's advice...just try to get a little in here and there.

Sirak - the avatar pic was from a kid's birthday party...it was a clown pinata...I just couldn't resist a new hat. ;)

mariposita - WTG with the interval training...I don't do well with the watching the clock stuff either. But it sounds like you are seeing good results! :cb:

A check in post. How is everyone? Lightening struck the power pole outside my house a couple weeks ago. It blew out every TV in the house. Just wanted to get that latest disaster announced before going any further. Never in my life have I been such a "lightening rod" (pun intended) for disaster. You know, I care, but not really. So much has happened to me in the last month in just seems the very least of my worries. But I won't be watching Biggest Loser for a while. I will replace one TV but it seems pointless now when the house is torn up and I have no time anyway.

Now for some better news. My mother's arrangements are turning out very well. We got her into the assisted living facility that we wanted to. She is not resisting at all and feels that she will be content there. We'll move her in next Sat. DD and her BF are going to move into her house. This is a good thing. It'll help them and she can come back and visit there if she wants to. The fact that all 3 of us are in boxes and displaced at once. Well, just par for the course.

My life will return to normal. I feel it coming, just taking it one day at a time now though. Kitchen cabinets arrive tomorrow so maybe the construction to install won't take too terribly long.

I feel my butt getting bigger. I just MUST have everything back soon before I do more damage to myself.

Okay - enough with the tales of disaster. I am through already!

Going to try really hard to get a grip back on my diet. Just looked up those McDonald's parfaits that I have become addicted to recently. Well over 300 calories - and yet they are so small!

I still can't cook, but I picked up some Amy's frozen dinners that are tasty and have a reasonable amount of calories - I can pop those in the microwave.

I don't think there is time for workouts this week, but I could at least squeeze in an evening walk.

So though it may be a bit of a weak plan, it is still a plan and I am going to really try to stick with it this week.

Hey there guys - Ledom - wow, you sure are having a rough time of it lately.

I'm right there with you in feeling like things are growing - not good for a bridet-to-be!

Less than 2 weeks to go - I'm ready on some stuff, not so much on others. Now is the scramble to find some clothes to wear for the honeymoon - luckily it's just 9 days, so I won't need too much - it's the formal/dressy dresses that are killing me.

Gotta run - talk to you guys later!
Cindy

Things have been going reasonably well-given the circumstances. DH has a polyp in his gallbladder which has me a bit off course. I want to care and sometime that makes things really confusing inside.
Eating has been a bit off. DD21's bf came and stayed the weekend- which was nice. We were going to get some really good breakfast burritos and ended up going to sonic which about made me puke.
The " Anything is better than nothing" attitude toward exercise is good. It's working. No more guilt trips over not putting in a 45 minute session. I might do ball work, weights or cardio in several mini sessions during the day. I have sore pecs again.I want to see 140 something by the end of the month.

Morning-Hang in there Sirak. I have no doubt you will see those 140s. You have done such an amazing job of getting the weight off. Sheesh, is life ever complicated. I crave human relationships and yet they can be so unsettling. Hey, and I am just talking my mom, daughter, and friends. Get men tied up in it and watch out.

Anyway, I did fair yesterday. I did do my walk. Not happy with the food over the course of the day though.

Yep, I feel like I have paid a lifetime of karmic debt I might have accrued over the past month. I finally can see the end to some of my troubles, but what a month of wear and tear I have experienced. And still, everyone is relatively healthy and so I can't let it get me down. I know a lot of people could make my spate of hard luck look like nothing with their sicknesses and injuries and health issues.

I am barely keeping my head above water at work too. I mean you have students paying money and expecting you to perform your best. As I expect the same from them. So far so good but I'd like a little more wiggle room to get my work accomplished. I do see myself becoming more efficient though. Hey, maybe at some point I can apply some of that efficiency to getting the weight off!

Cindy, how about a picture or something? I am so excited for you. You can hold the line for your big day. I am rooting for you.

I'm not sure how late everyone is staying up but jillian's live chat blog is on NBC.com at 10 pm est / 7 pm pst

I missed TBL last night and am SO peeved about it! Stupid DF and his baseball!

TBL was really nifty - Jillian's team won the weigh in! Poor Bob...he SO wanted to be the first team to ever win the first 2 weigh in's...the Red Team go their butts whupped...Blue Team did well, just not quite well enuf for the rebel Black Team. :s: So enjoying Jillian being back. I'm gonna have to try to log in for the chat next week.

Did anyone else see we are on page 100? Cheers to us!

Hey gals - just one week until the wedding and I'm majorly stressing about about all there is to do (perceived or real).

Then, I've had a major computer catastrophe - last night while trying to clean up my full hard drive, I some how managed to delete my email program and all my email files saved from the past 10 years. I'm quite freaked out about that - for one thing, all my Jillian emails are gone!

Whatever - I'll deal with that after the honeymoon - supposedly computer gurus can still somehow retrieve that kind of stuff - at least I'm hoping. A lot of it was garbage, but there was a lot of stuff there, not to mention all my email addresses!

Hope you gals are doing well - I leave for MI on Wednesday - lots to do before then!
Cindy

Oh, btw - anyone who wants postcards from our Europe honeymoon, or who wants to give me there email address again should PM that info to me.
Thanks!
Cindy

The " anything is better than nothing " plan is working out.
When you get to a lower number the weight loss really shows. I think I lost two inches in my waist over the past month which is incredible.
The only thing about the "anything is better than nothing" plan is that there is no organization or structure to the workout. I have to think about which muscle groups I have done. I need to make me a cheat sheet so that I remember everything for weights.
Food has been ok. I have kept my calories up. Tuna is my friend. I am trying to do a fish or chicken meal every other day. I didn't bake this week other than the little "rise and shine" cookies. I did some Salmon on the grill with a balsamic ginger glaze that turned out super.
Cindy !
I am really jealous now- not only are you having tablefuls of pies at your wedding- but you get to go to Europe also ?;) Good luck and have fun !
If you end up in Northern Italy I would not blame you for not coming back home.
Ledom I know you are busy with school and the show. Things have really come down on you lately. There were two owls outside my window last night having a conversation. They made me think of you and the lake. You should try to take some time with your paddle and get in the water. I know it is hectic- but you have to replenish your basket somehow.:hug:
Well Chick in the Hat- We went to the last Auto Swap meet of the season. No good looking scooters-but bunches of classic rides. I wish I had my camera. DH won't set up until spring at Pate..Since it is Fall I bet you are taking some nice rides.

Sirak - Man alive girl. You must be so tiny now.

You are so right about getting out to the lake. On Mon. and Tues. my department is going on a retreat to plan for our future. We are staying at cabins on Lake DeGray. I am going to take my boats for the evening. I can't wait. My new boat has not even been in the water yet.

Things are looking up. I'll be cooking in my own kitchen by the weekend. It has been promised me. My mom is more or less settled and this evening and tomorrow I am matting and framing my show.

I have two camping trips on the calendar. One mid-Oct. and one early November.

I have something else on the calendar. Starting the minute I am given the go ahead to use the kitchen I am counting calories and starting up exercise again. A stronger person than I might not have let those things go the last 6 weeks, but like I said they would have been very strong. I am exhausted, exhausted, exhausted, and my diet and lack of exercise aren't helping. I am ready to feel healthy again.

Thinking of you Cindy. Have a beautiful wedding day and I can't wait to hear all about it.

i worked out this morning. i did some exercising on the bike and then jogged for a bit.

:bravo: shygrly!!!

As for me I've been freaking myself out with the 170's on the scale. I need to buckle down and get at least 5 pounds off. Pants are getting a little tight. This morning the scale said 170. I've been working out just fine. But the food....not at the calorie level it should be.

ledom - Hope your kitchen is in working order! Contractor promises...not always something to hold ones breath over.

Cindy - :woohoo: it must finally be wedding time!! ENJOY!!!! And congrats!!

sirak - That auto swap looks pretty :cool: The weather here has been beautiful - I have been getting some nice rides in. :carrot:

Well - I'm off to the gym for front day! :D

Haha on contractor's promises. My poor contractor is beyond wonderful. And still...he got hit with a stomach bug yesterday. He's my neighbor and he has busted it to get things right and ready. I do have a counter top, I do have a stove and sink, and yet there will be lots of dust created in the finishing up. He still has to grout the tile and do the finish trim. So, while not able to move back into the kitchen (and everything is still in boxes), I did purchase a cheap cutting board and paring knife. I made guacamole for a get together last night and think I'll be able to manage salads over the weekend. It is coming together beyond my wildest dreams. The prettiest most stylish kitchen I have ever had or ever expected to have.

So, have a good weekend all. Things are starting to look up for me. The cool fallish weather is making me feel great today.

Time for a new thread :)