[GrammyL]

Well today was a good morning. I am back down to 173, I was so excited. I thought, OH I get to change my ticker back but I forgot to move it up. I must have been really bloated because I was 177 on Monday. HMMM! Could it have been the pickles and potato chips I ate on Sunday? Nah. LOL! Just kidding it probably was.

Wow, Peek and Zuess are really transforming into new buddies for DD and I. Zuess has opened right up and comes running when he sees us and is a true pocket pet. Peek just loves all the attention and is settling down. Without the mean boss around these little guys are becoming good buddies with each other and us. Everything is just so laid back now.

Went for a nice relaxing pony drive last night. The nasty blood suckers are out already, ARG! Can't say as Peek was happy about working two days in a row but he will get used to it.

Stayed in my calorie count and at the foods I was supposed to. I did my upper body sculpting yesterday but didn't go out of my way to get any cardio. Does grocery shopping and cleaning house count? LOL!

I want to share that I found that Tyson's organic chicken is very tender and juicy. I bought another brand last week of organic, free range chicken and it was just the opposite. DH said it was probably because the were cage free and allowed to build up stronger muscles. Not sure but it really is a big difference in taste and texture.

Well I better get going and I will talk to you all later.

[GrammyL]

Still ~ My fingers are crossed!

[GrammyL]

I forgot to mention I did a big chicken breast bake last night is why I know that the Tyson is so much tastier. I love having lots of protein cooked up and ready to go. I just put pepper and garlic powder on the chicken so it can go with any dish I decide to put it in. The nice thing about the Tyson is it stays juicy even on the reheat which hasn't always been my experience.

[Tinky009]

Good Morning all! Yay Wednesday! Almost there!

Shy- All I can say is YOU ROCK! You are very inspirational, and hearing about you overcome those obstacles makes me in awe. Those people are so lucky to have a lovely and warm person such as you come into their lives. There are some people here at my work who come in and just do the job and go home. To them it's just a job. There's no heart or warmth. It's sad.

GrammyL- I will give your meatloaf recipe a whirl too. I need to pick up the onion and garlic powder though. LOL! I also need to do the sculpting part of the program too,I did get in some cardio this morning before work. I am down some lbs! Woohooo, and will change my ticker too. I am losing even with TOM...that amazes me!

Cookie-mmmmmmmm strawberry shortcake, is making me drool! LOL~

Still- WOohoooo! I am going to cross my fingers for you too!

Well giong to make my oatmeal, see u all later!

[Tinky009]

Hoping your laid back atmosphere is here to stay for a while GrammyL!

Free range chicken is a bit tougher, because they get a good workout running around. LOL!

[zenor77]

Shy~WOW! You've got some determination that 's for sure. I'm always skeptical when doctors say things like that. It's like doctors don't trust the human body to heal sometimes. I'm glad you were able to over come such an obstacle!

Grammy~DUMB QUESTION ALERT! Can you explain to me the difference between a pony and a horse? Zuess is what I think of when I think pony, but Peek looks like a horse to me. I'm confused.

I'm still stress eating. I'd almost gotten back down to 150 and now I back up a few pounds. I'm sure some of it is water, but still!

I have a short work meeting this morning and then I have the rest of the day off. I don't know of I can get everything done today. I have cleaning to do, I need to bake bread, I have to go to the laundromat to wash something that is too big for our washer, and I should start going through stuff. We are planning on having a yard sale next month and I need to ruthlessly cut back on our stuff. I hate this part of moving.

[StillTryin]

Grammy-that is a good idea, I never thought about cooking up a lot of chicken and keeping it on hand for a quick meal.

[gaia3]

Shy you should be very proud of what you have accomplished. Doctors so often misjudge and don't allow for the "human spirit" in recovery, do they?

Grammy, would love to see Peek do his paces? Do you have a vidcam and can put it up on youtube--if you don't you can buy a cool kodak camera with video for about $70.00. The video I put up with Merlyn was taken with it. Does pretty darn good!

I'm thinking of getting a Welsh pony--it will be large enough for my grandson to ride to adulthood, but small enough not to be intimidating--and if I get the fat out, I'll be able to ride it some day, too..

[Shy Moment]

Grammy
I call my kids each others names. HEY they both begin with a K so when you hear the K sound being yelled just come running. I don't want to hear it wasn't your name I was yelling lol. Mom you didn't want me you wanted him, oh well you are here now you can do it lol. That is one thing I always do. I keep a package of chicken cooked up and in the fridge. That way, if I don't feel like cooking or everyone else is having something I don't want, the chicken is right there ready for me. There are just so many things you can do with chicken. I found some that is only 1 gram of fat for 4 oz, can't beat that with a stick lol.

Tinky
I think there are so many people here at this site that have remarkable story's. They just never think to share them. Each of us have problems. Some are so big many of us would drown in them. Other problems are of our own making and we have to pull ourself out of our self made problems. No one, that I know of has a perfect life. We have to make the best out of what we have. I sometimes think people that work at places with elderly people or very sick children make a shell around them selfs to survive. It would have to be hard to deal with pain and suffering and death day in and day out.

gai
I think many doctors don't account for the will of God and the power of prayer either. God gave me a son that needed a ton of encouragement, a lot of watching and a mother who would stand up to the school system for him. I am not sure I could have been the kind of person to do all that if I had so many problems of my own.

Still
That is wonderful. You are like a Timex you just keep on ticking lol. There are so many people in the world that have real problems. Very sick children, physical problems that many of us would let get us down. I have to remember, I complained I had no shoes until I saw a man that had no feet. Good thoughts really do make for a good life. We have been together from the start lol, you give me more encouragement than you know. I see you going through rough times and you always come through on top. I love to see how great you are doing.

[GrammyL]

Zenor ~ The only dumb question is the question unasked. It really does go by how tall they are. Smoke was a horse, Peek is a pony and Zuess is a miniature horse. Height is the defining factor. Just so you know each h (hand) is 4 inches and that is what they measure horses and ponies in, miniature horses go by inches.

Zuess I believe is either 31 inches or 32 inches at his shoulders, I can't remember which but imagine that is all the taller he is at his front shoulders. He does look like a pony by his characteristics but he is to small.

Peek does look like a horse but that is part of his breeding. He is only 12 h (give or take a little) which is 4 ft at the shoulders. He is a Hackney pony and they are showy, lean built and typically high strung. They are just ready to go constantly.

Smoke was a horse and he was 15 h which is 5 ft at the shoulders and I am only 5' 1".

All horses/ponies/mini's are measure at the front shoulder to see how tall.
Miniature ponies range up to 34 inches.
Pony's go up to 14 h and sometimes 14.2 h (controversial) which is 4' 6".
Horses go from 14 h or 14.2 h on up.

I had one that was almost 17.3 h which is 5' 7" at the shoulders and still growing. I also had one that was 17.1 h. Imagine little me getting on horses that large. I had to stand on things and still pull myself up. They were originally bought for DH who is 6' but he decided he didn't want one.

[GrammyL]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlduI...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kat_bMB_wZQ

This isn't Peek but this is a video of other Hackney's and what he looks like when he is cruising. He was shown roadster which is the second youtube address.

[StillTryin]

Shy, your so sweet. You and I are more alike than you and I know.

When I was 12 I had a bad accident too and the DR told my mom I would MOST LIKELY never be able to walk on my left foot again. Well guess what! 2 years and 10 surgeries and LOTS of pain and suffering later......I was walkin. I am actually going to see about another surgery next week! I am excited about that surgery though, it is to ease some pain.

[GrammyL]

Tinky ~ It will work like a dream if you stay POP (perfect on plan) and there are some people that bloat up like normal during TOM others that never slow down even when TOM is there. Me, if I stay with the program I lose or stay the same during TOM and then drop afterward. I usually snap but for some reason having you there is keeping me in line. LOL! I have been good all week and its paying off. It is fun when it works.

I break my sculpting up into over three days and do it twice a week. So yes its 6 days a week but what is 10 - 15 minutes a day. That is not much and it works. One day I do my upper body, then mid section and then legs. Then I start all over again.

[gaia3]

DUMB QUESTION ALERT! Can you explain to me the difference between a pony and a horse? Zuess is what I think of when I think pony, but Peek looks like a horse to me. I'm confused.

I'll try to answer that and Grammy can correct anything I say that isn't right.
Generally, a pony is under 14.2 hands high and a horse is over that... (a hand equals four inches)

However, not exactly. You can't say "that's a pony" just because they are short--actually, ponies are built differently than horses--their physiology is different than a horse. These are the general differences:

deeper through the body in relation to their height
more stocky build
often rounded withers
short strong back
mostly short in leg (hackneys, though are generally longer limbed)
cannon bone, in particular, short and dense
sturdiness of build
able to carry considerable weight compared to their size
distinctive head - wide through forehead with a tapering muzzle
small alert ears
in winter, has exceptionally long coat
most have thick protective mane and tail
singularly sure-footed
often appear to have more personality than many horses
tend to have a higher knee action than a horse
generally have a placid temperament (cold blooded) which makes them suitable for children
highly adaptable - driving, riding, pulling

That's why minature horses that are only 34-38 inches tall are NOT ponies--they are not of the pony "type"--they present and act like horses.

I know--it can get confusing. LOL Some Morgans are under the 14.2 height--but they are still horses... LOL

Hmmm maybe I should get a little Morgan... Oh,yeah... a Morgan...

[GrammyL]

Gaia ~ Very good description. We had a Morgan and was he ever nice. DH made me sell him because the horse hated men. LOL! He wanted nothing to do with men. Was he smart or what. LOL! He had the original baby doll face because he came from old stock. Just beautiful.

Shy ~ I am also shy in real life. I get names messed up like that and my girls get so made at me because they don't like each other all that much. LOL! My Mom always calls me my DD's names or my sisters name. LOL! We say its a brain fart.

WOW, we have some really strong gals around here. I would say we can do what we set our minds to.

Tinky ~ On this plan lots of people continue to lose despite TOM. I have even done it in the past as long as I stick to the plan. Keep up the good work.

LOL! I went to get my meals out of my bag and I forgot my chicken on the counter at home. I had everything else but the chicken. So I went to Wendy's to get just a piece of chicken and the charged me almost $4. Next time I will go to McDonald's. GEEZ!

Well I am off and I will talk to you all tomorrow.