It's officially August. ARGH!! Trying to make a list of stuff I need to get for the camping trip. Discussed whether the girls and I should go up w/my family on Thursday and DH come on Friday after work or if they wanted to wait---they decided to wait. So he'll take my car on Friday and I'll keep his truck and start packing things up and that way when he gets home we can get out of here. One less day of temptation Surprisingly the scale didn't go up during my weekend indulgence. Doesn't mean it STILL won't but I'm not going to worry until a month or two then work on getting right back to this I got an early birthday present yesterday.....a new digital camera. I can't wait to really learn all it can do. It makes my old one look like a toy!! It's got a zoom and everything!!!!! I'm so excited!!! lol
Hope you all had a great weekend!!!

Good Morning

Brenda, good going on the scale !! and a new camera to boot, how fun. Enjoy it, I know we enjoy ours.

Nothing much is new, SOSDD!

Weekend was nice, got lots of family time in.

Whats new with everyone.

Good Morning.

Brenda, have a great camping trip. Good for you that you have maintained. Happy Birthday. I hope that you have a great, successful year.

Leenie, I am glad you have a great weekend with the family.

Well I didn’t lose any weight this week. I was hoping to lose one more pound so that I can switch my aviator to show 20 pounds loss. But I can wait until next week I suppose. I am really proud of myself for increasing my exercise in July. I have been biking all over. I am hoping to continue the same trend this month as well.

I came across a training schedule for a half marathon so I started it yesterday. I have no plan at this point to run a half marathon. It is just I used to be a runner and I love running, so I thought a set schedule would be good for me at this point. I run 5 miles yesterday and it felt good.

Have a great week everyone.

I have been gone for a long time, but I have returned. I went off of the low carb plan around Thanksgiving and kept thinking I would get back on. Wow, that was a long time ago. I just can't seem to kick start this on my own. I think I need help. I lost 25 lbs on this plan last year and I think this forum had alot to do with it. I always felt inspired after reading everyone's post and found encouragement when I felt despair. So, here I am again. Ready to give this another try. I remembered this morning how much better I felt when I was on the plan. I had more energy, slept better, and didn't have the horrid heartburn and acid reflux that has returned. It is hard though. To have to think every meal out and plan ahead for each one. I work full time, attend college, and have 3 kids...so life is just busy. I am sure many people on the forum experience the same hectic lifestyle. How does everyone plan their meals?

I do remember how tired of eggs I got last time. Any good substitution suggestions for mornings?

It's nice to see some of the same names and I look forward to reading everyone's posts!

Good Morning!

I am back from the gym! I feel really good too! Got in my run and weights today. i hope to get there tmo too!

Eating this weekend wasnt bad, not great but not bad. I was OP but ate a few too many peanuts. Between the salt and the extra carbs Im up 3 pounds, but I am fully expecting to see that off in a day or two.

Wednesday is my 1 year anniversary on Atkins. I am pretty thrilled with what I have done so far. I am hoping by this time next year, i will be at goal and have even more to reflect on!

Brenda! WTG on the scale! Have fun with that camera!

Leenie - Good morning!

Racheal - That pound will be off next week! I just know it!

Well, Off to get some breakfast now that the coffee has hit the system!

Later~

Good morning.

Brenda: I got a new digital for christmas and I love it!!!!! It is so much fun. I can't believe the pictures it takes. I have been taking pictures of my perennial garden so I can make a scrapbook page on the computer.

Leenie: Glad you had a good weekend. I had a good one too. Got some stuff done around the house. Hubby got to putz....he loves that.

Rachel: I want to get a bike! I took my ratty old bike out for 4 miles this weekend. It was fun. I have to ditch that bike but want to get a cheap good second hand one somewhere. You will be down that pound I know you will

Turtle38: Welcome back! I don't do eggs for breakfast....got real tired of them. After the first two weeks I switched to cottage cheese. Now I have added one slice of low carb bread or Atkins cereal. But I didn't do that for quite some time. I have been on this WOE since Sept of last year.

KarenW: Good for you getting in that exercise! It amazes me what you can do considering your asthma and all. How did the convention go in NH? Did I miss the update?

Eating was HORRIBLE yesterday. But back on plan today. It amazes me how easy it is. And also that I WANT TO!
Got some work done on the blouse that I am making. Just waiting for the lace that I ordered to come in then I should be done with it by the end of the week. It's been fun using my new machine and seeing all that it can do.
Bought a jacket pattern this weekend because when I am done with this blouse I want to make a wool silk blazer. I saw the fabric and I am really itching to make it. Should be interesting...haven't done any tailoring in years!

Hey everyone!

Herb - Congrats on the amazing progress you've made so far!

Brenda - Happy camping!

Leenie - Are you feeling better?

Rachel - 5 miles! I've never been a runner, but I've been thinking of giving it a go. Maybe that will be the thing to get me past this set point.

Turtle - Welcome back! I'm not terribly fond of eggs myself. I don't really do meals anymore, just eat a little something every few hours. In the mornings I tend to have some cheese, coffee, and a veggie of some sort just spread out across the whole morning.

Karen - You're gonna have to be my motivation! Working out first thing in the morning makes me really nauseated so I do it after work, but it's been so warm here lately that I've just turned into a complete slug. You're doing great!

Well, my weekend was fun and a little crazy (would you expect anything less from me?). We boycotted the bar this weekend. Friday was drinks and hanging out at a friend's house.

Saturday, we got up and spent the afternoon down at the waterfront watching Flugtag. That was a blast!!! It's put on by Red Bull energy drink and these teams build these bizzare, non-motorized flying contraptions and launch them off a 30-foot pad into the river to see who can get the farthest. It was a riot!

Then Saturday night, we were supposed to go see Mini-Kiss (a Kiss tribute band comprised of little people). Well, the tickets sold out amazingly early, so we ended up just going clubbing. Somehow I got talked into wearing my shortest black skirt yet and with fishnet stockings to boot! I kept waiting for someone to ask me how much I charge.

Sunday was lunch with 3 of my girlfriends followed by some window shopping in NW Portland and coffee. I finished out my day by watching a movie called The Magdelene Sisters. It's about these 'asylums' that Catholic girls were put into in Ireland for 'sins' they had committed. Originally, it was supposed to be to reform prostitutes, but the girls that got sent there were more often than not unwed mothers, rape victims, girls suspected of improper behavior, and girls who were just 'too pretty'. It was really disturbing to see what happened to them, but a really excellent movie!

So here we are on Monday again. My contract extension was officially approved on Friday, so I've got till the end of the month to find a new job. That's a relief! Wednesday is my 3 year anniversary with the ol' DH. He's working, of course, but we're thinking of heading to the beach this weekend to celebrate. Anyhow, the plan for the week is to get off my lazy butt and re-discover endorphins.

Have a great day!

Jane - You can sew??? I'm always in awe of people that can do useful sewing (you too, Karen!). I can do cross-stitch and that's about it. DH even sews buttons back on for me

Star: I have been sewing since I was 10 years old. Sometimes I just take it for granted that I can do it. It just comes so naturally to me. As for sewing on buttons!!!!! I hate doing that stuff. I can make something from scratch but DON'T ask me to fix, mend or hem!
Now crossstitch I love and haven't done one in years. I used to do a lot of it. I have a bunch of kits that I got at a warehouse sale over the years. My husband says "when are you ever going to do them" I just shrug and tell him it doesn't matter....someday I will. When I have nothing to do
Sounds like your weekend was fun. Happy Anniversary!

Jane, go for it. It will just change your exercise habits enormously. Since I started biking I feel like I want to do more exercise, hence starting to run more. Actually, you might not be able to find a second hand bike now. I see them around all the time in May, when students graduate they sell their bikes, some of them are very good and very cheap. However, I think you might be able to find a new one cheap. Check out couple of bike shops and see if they have something in the range you want to spend on. You know, I take it back, a lot of people have yard sales in August, you might be able to find a good bike in yard sales/moving sales. I keep my eyes open and if I saw something I will send the info your way. But by all means go for getting a bike. We have about two more months of good weather to ride it.

Star, I find running very energizing. Of course, I was huffing and puffing and cursing myself on Sunday while running and my time was pretty lousy, 55:54. But I felt great afterward with a bit of pain last night though, but nothing to even take Advil for. Start slow, do it in the morning or if you are not a morning person later in the afternoon, when the weather is cool and refreshing. You are going to love it. And don’t let your mental block keep you from doing it. I didn’t think I could go for five miles, while I have been doing only 3 miles at a time. But after 3 miles, I walked for a bit, drink some water and then took off again and before I knew it, I had gone five miles. If by any change you are interested here is the schedule that I am following http://www.oprah.com/spagirl/fit/spa...marathon.jhtml

If you have never been a runner.. the program I found that worked for me is http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

It is very methodical and you wont believe how your endurance will grow!

Karen - that's the one I've been planning on doing. I printed it out months ago - I don't know why I keep wimping out.....

STAR! try it! You will love it truly! (well, maybe not the first week! )

Honestly try it out though. Commit to the 1st 4 weeks. If you dont love it by then, then running may not be for you.. but it is the greatest program. And posting on the boards helps a lot too. I dont know what I would do with out the Pre-dawn Patrol!

Ok, you know what it is? God, this is so embarrassing! I can't believe I'm going to type it. I turn red with almost no encouragement whatsoever and I hate it! I don't want people to see me with a red face (or purple!). How pathetic am I?

I'd rather have a red face then run like an elephant in sneakers! I don't know what it is....I just can't run. I feel like I weigh 800 pounds. Real runners always look like they are gliding....I FLOP along.

Don't worry about a red face Star...I think all runners get that don't they?