Ahhh, over by the college and hospital? I thought it looked like the building in town in the back ground, that's why I was thinking East. My aunt use to live up that way, more behind the college. That is a very nice neighborhood. Congrats! And I'll help ya decorate, if u come over and help me drywall and paint, sounds even to me :D

Nope, that's the hospital in the background, and we can see the entire campus from our patio too! It's actually a pretty nice view. And yeah, it's a pretty decent neighborhood. We were lucky to find something there that we could afford.
As for a manual labor exchange :lol:, sounds good to me! I love to paint! And I can even drywall in a pinch--and it's good exercise!

~Elisha

:wave: Hi everyone :D

Julie - sounds like you've been keeping yourself pretty busy. Remember to take care of you (sit down and rest when you need to).

Lisa - I'm afraid the mower isn't new - but fixed just "like" new. But I'm really glad to have it back. The points counting hasn't been too successful yet. Probably start monday. Look for my totals on my post (that will keep me honest). I would love to see some before and after pictures of you - purely selfish motivational tool :rofl: The new thread is here on the "chicks up for a challenge forum" it is called the "habit formers 12 week challenge". Hope to see you there.... it's all about building and creating attitudes and habits that will stay with you for the rest of your life and keep you successful.

Elisha - I just love the house - it has so much character ..... I can envision it with a country garden in front.... white picket fence and babies.... :lol: I'm sure you and Steve will be very happy there.

Well that's it for now (I wont fill you on the "gorry details" of today....but once again tomorrow is a new day).... and hey were having a giant picnic at the lake.... pray for sunshine for me .... nevermind wasting your prayers.... I was just kidding :crossed: crossed fingers and toes will do.

Take care - and thank you for being here.
Joy

Hello All!

Really, I posted here Friday, but my epistle (which was sooo creative and intelligent and inspirational, by the way ;) ) was lost somewhere in cyberspace and you know I can't do that twice in a row, so the following will have to suffice:

I am down 3 pounds.....or at least I was on Friday AM... :) ...haven't really exercised too much or eaten properly this weekend, but hope I haven't undone all my progress. Journalling seems to be doing the trick......being accountable, as Jennifer would tell us!

Lisa.....You are soooo close to your goal. I am excited for you! GOGOGOGOGOGOGO! :bravo:

Joy.....Glad to hear your new regimen is working for you. Isn't it strange how one thing will work for one person and not another? I am going to check out the new thread.....I need everything possible to keep this motivation going:cb:

Julie.....It is too hot recently to eat.....or cook either. For me, this leads to snacking instead of a proper meal, and, well, :( we all know where that goes!

Elisha.....French silk pie? I think I would have caved too! Glad to hear you had some extra points banked so you could enjoy a small slice. I am soooo slow at decorating.....in the past, I have made mistakes and had to live with them, so I take things very slowly. when we built our house....15 years ago.....I could not handle all the decisions that had to be made *now*, so I painted the whole interior of the house white.....and then after we moved in, decorated one room at a time.

Jessica......You have been one busy chickie! What did you pick out for kitchen cabinets? Therre are so many styles and finishes available now! Don't worry..:sunny:..when it is all done, the excitement will return because then you get to enjoy it!

Yesterday, we were supposed to take the old car on a car tour.....but, wouldn't you know, we could not get it started! DH was soooo disappointed! (And the first words out of his mouth were "now, honey, this is why we need TWO cars" :rolleyes: )We went on the tour anyway....took our regular pickup......and had a good time. We went to an air museum....everything from biplanes to the Lockheed Blackbird. Today,the kids are coming down and we are all going to the lake...:beach:...doing some boating and sea-dooing and diving.....what do you want to bet we will all come home tired?

Monday MOrning!
 

Oh my....where did the weekend go? Geesh!

We went to Detroit in the heat and sat and watched "The Tiger Game" in person! It was hot but it was kind of exciting. Maybe some of you caught the highlights on TV...a fight broke out! I guess they figured the game was not exciting enough so the St. Louis pitcher took some hits toward a couple of Tiger players. By the 3rd time, when the ump didn't give a warning, the Tigers had had enough and one of the players started to go after the St. Louis pitcher...which led to a brawl! Oh my!!! It prolonged the heat for about 20 extra minutes and the Tigers ened up losing anyway. 5-0 Too bad!

I'm pretty sure my eating yesterday did not help my cause, but I did try to keep it somewhat healthy and I could have done so much worse. Didn't have any of the junk at the ball park. Just nibbled on some popcorn and drank diet soda and had one of those frozen lemonades. We did stop for breakfast and I filled up on protein for the day. I packed some fruit in a cooler and brought a few strawberries into the park (along with a bazillion other things in my bag!) The heat makes me not want to eat, also MsRD! But I did quite a bit of drinking water yesterday. I could not get enough of it! I hate this humidity! I sure hope it cools off soon!

Our refrigerator has taken a dump so we have to get a new one which will be delivered today! The freezer part of it was still somewhat working (kind of like the fridge temps) so we put as much of it in there as possible yesterday morning and crossed our fingers! DH says they only last about 12-15 years...it was 12 years old! Never a dull moment!

My heel still hurts (in case anyone wants to know) but my back is much better. I am trying to remember to do my ab exercises as often as possible during the day! But walking doesn't sound like much fun to me! I don't know how this hiking thing is going to work out...we shall see! I'm being kind of pessimistic right now about it. Maybe it's the heat!

OK chickies. Again...I am so proud of all of you who are doing something with their weight this summer! Choosing to make it happen! You go chickies!
Keep sending positive vibes my way...I plan to lose it...some day!

Hugs to all!

Good morning ladies!

Well, this weekend was a caloric mess. Let's just say that Friday I ended up eating out 3 times, and again on Saturday morning. Yesterday wasn't too bad, but only because I slept through breakfast. Steve made me work out yesterday too, so that's good. The scale says 207.6 this morning, so now I have to work to take off the same pound I lost last week. Eesh. When will I learn?

But all I can do is climb back on the horse and pick up where I left off. I'm going to do fabulous this week, chicks! I plan to be at 206.0 or lower by Saturday! I can do it! I've got healthy food packed for lunch today, breakfast was good, dinner is salmon burgers on the grill. And I have every intention of exercising tonight, probably WATP Walk & Jog. I need to focus on making exercise an everyday habit. I can do it!

OK, it's Monday morning and I've got a ton of email to sort through, so I'd better get moving. Have a great day, chicks!
~Elisha

Good Morning! :)

Last night we spent a pleasant evening picking blueberries...you know, there's something so satisfying about eating fresh, warm blueberries right off the bush! I plan to pick some every day, and then freeze some for us to have throughout the winter. The bushes are just behind our house..really convenient!

I'm down another pound..must be all the water and all the veggies. For some reason, I am wanting a cup of coffee this morning! It has been well over a month since I had a cup....it's looking like I might just cave in and have a cup! Then again....maybe I WON'T! Decisions, decisions!! LOL!!!

My back had been quite sore and inflammed after our vacation, and I have had to take some prednisone for it..and I am better- so I am going to start my walking back as of today. I'm planning to walk outside..but this heat may get me- I may have to wait until later tonight. We just THINK it's hot here now...Georgia in August is a sauna!! My hair will be growing like crazy!! Someone asked me yesterday if I had had a hair cut, and I said no..my curls were just so much curlier due to the humidity! :)


I need to run, and so comments will come later!! Hope you all have a blessed day!

Hey, Just another quickie today,

This weekend has been crazy and went by way to fast. Friday Jesse went to some concert a couple hours away, so I made plans to go to a little house party at my friends house, Jesse was suppose to be home later in the night and he was gonna come pick me up so, I could stay there. I couldn't get ahold of him ALL night, I was so worried, I couldn't go to sleep cause I didn't know what happened to him. Then about 6:00am, he answered his phone. They supposely got blocked in at the concert and couldn't find the owner of the vehicle blocking them in, so they were stuck there til they found someone to tow the other car. Why he didn't call your asking? I don't know, but let's say... he's been paying for it.

Then Saturday, the manager at Cracker Barrel called and wanted me to come in for an interview and she wanted me to be there in an hour... So I had to run home and get ready.. It went pretty well. Then I went and got my nephew and spent the rest of the day with him. He's getting so big and cute. I wish I could adopt him, lol. Jesse is getting really attached to him, He held him for about 2 hours straight and rocked him to sleep, it was really cute. Jesse would make a great dad, the thought of it scares him tho. I'm thinking in about 5 years we'll be about ready.

Now, on to Sunday, not much happened, it was really rainy outside, I took my mom to the mall and bought her a new outfit and Jesse took me to Bob Evans for dinner, then we watched Phantom of the Opera. The manager at a local pizza place, called Colosseno's called me and wants me to come in for an interview on Tuesday, yay! AND the lady from Cracker Barrel called me to see if I could come to oreintation on Wednesday. I told her that I have an interview on Tuesday, and I would like to see what they are offering also, and If I could let her know, she took it pretty well and said just to call asap to let her know. I think I'll take the job at the pizza place, if I'm offered the job... I'd be guarenteed 40hours, I'd be off SUnday and Monday, I'd work day shift and be off holidays. Cracker Barrel on the other hand... I'm NEVER guanteed hours, it's all based on work preformance, They are open EVERY day of the year except christmas day, and shift would change all the time. So which sounds better to you???

Wow, this didn't turn into a quickie, did it??
Well I have to get going.. I'm planning on working all the over time possible the next few weeks, so my last paycheck there will be NIIICCEEE!!
Later

Miles -
7/15 - 3.27
7/16 - 2.7
7/17 - 3.93

Oh, yea, I think me and Jesse have finally set a definate date for our wedding
September 1, 2006
and I think I found where I'm having my reception, I'll take pictures of it and post them one day! Byez!

Good News: I HAVEN'T MELTED IN THIS HEAT!! Goodness..it is so hot here..it is making me grumpy- Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!! I worked in FIL's garden for a bit tonight..gathered corn, squash, tomatoes, okra, bell peppers, and jalopenos! I am planning to make salsa- DH loves it, and I made it once years ago...gotta get ahold of that recipe!

I said I would come back and comment, but it's crazy here..kids are bouncing off the walls, and I am going to get them ready for bed. I have gotten in some walking, but it keeps getting interrupted. Maybe I can do some short bursts of exercise, or wait until everyone is in bed. I hope you all had a good day :). Talk to you all tomorrow!!

Evening all!

I came home from work today, fixed a little supper, sat down in my chair and slept for TWO HOURS! :tired: Oh my! DH got the old car fixed (something minor), so we went for a test drive, came home, and worked in the garden until the mosquitoes drove me inside.

Julie....Sounds like you really had fun at the ballpark! And good for you for not giving in to the ball park food! And I really am glad that your back is feeling better...:)...sometimes healing is a long process....the exercise must be helping!

Elisha......Get back on that horse, chickie! :ebike: That is the one thing I like about this group.....we never give up! Backslide occasionally, but never give up!

Lisa.....Mmmmmmm blueberries! I want to get some picked this year too.....they will be on soon around here, if not already! You are so near your goal......are you planning anything special to celebrate? :hat: You deserve a special reward for this!

Jessica.....Wow! You are sure in demand......offers coming in over the phone at all hours! Got my fingers crossed that you get the job you want! :crossed:


Well, now that I am......ahem.....so well rested, guess I better go get something done..:lol:...before bedtime !

Morning Chickies!

I'm feeling a bit...depressed this morning and last night! Not sure what's going on but I think it has something to do with NO EXERCISE and not working on those endorphins! :cb: I also watched "28 Days" last night...it was on TV. It was kind of depressing to me and made me start to think about my life. Anyway...

I really have no reason to be depressed. Yesterday I came home to a new refrigerator...AND a new oven!!! DH bought me a convection oven/stove top. It's very nice. I even baked a cake in it last night!

Last night DD and I went to check out the blueberry place (they are soooo good, huh Lisa) across the street from our house. They will start picking next week, so I'm taking Monday off for my birthday and we are going to go picking some blueberries. We love them around here! I have one partial ziploc baggie in the freezer that we have been nibbling from in the last month! Yummy!

Food was ok yesterday, but I know I can do so much better! I need a kick start which is why I keep thinking about WW. I seriously need to get going on it. I weighed myself yesterday and it wasn't pretty! That also might be contributing to the depression...that and the fact that working out on my feet really causes me pain!! :(

Sorry I've not been commenting! I've been writing these things on the fly and I do need to get going again this morning! Know that you all inspire me, still! I just need to find my "mojo"!!!!

Hugs to all!

Morning ladies!

I had every intention of doing my WATP last night, but I feel asleep while we were lying around playing with the cat! Must have been a sleepy evening, huh MsRD? :)

And calories yesterday weren't good. Well, they were fine until dinner, when Mom fixed homemade spaghetti, garlic-cheese toast, salad, and chocolate cake! Eesh. Mom has made it her personal mission to make dinner every day, and she's not exactly the healthiest cook in the world (though I've told her to try to cook healthier foods).
I just can't seem to get back to where I was, even last week. I'm going to keep trying though. Never give up, right?

Anyway, I've got a big project on my desk right now, so I need to get going. I'll be around later. Have a great day, chicks!
~Elisha

Hellooooooooooo?

Well, slow day here yesterday.

Glad to report that I am inching closer to where I want to be. Calories were still high yesterday--I don't remember exactly, but somewhere in the neighborhood of 1875--but that's much better than Monday. And I did my WATP Walk & Jog last night. And somehow I am still up this morning. If I eat more than 1700 calories in any given day, I do NOT show a loss the next morning, no matter how much water I drink (yesterday, about 130 oz) or exercise I do (35 minutes). So my focus for today is to keep my calories down, 1650 is my limit. Mom says she's fixing salmon burgers and mac & cheese for dinner. I'll do fine as long as I limit my mac & cheese portion. If I don't go overboard there I should have a perfect day of eating. I don't know what vegetable she's planning with dinner, but I'll find something.

And once again I'm saying that I'm going to start planning my menus. Perhaps not right now, but definitely once we move. I'm always hungry when I get home, and I don't want to spend a lot of time cooking every evening, so I want to start making things ahead and then just throwing them in the microwave when I get home. That would make life so much easier. And I'd have time to cook fun, complicated dishes on the weekends and finally use some of my cookbook collection. Not only that, but I'll have my calories all figured out (for the most part, anyway), so it'll be easier to eat healthy. Right? Right.

Anyway, lots to do today, so I'd better get moving. Have a great day chicks.
~Elisha

Hey,

I don't have much to say today.. I got my job I wanted Yesterday. I start the 9th. I'm so happy. I put in my 2 weeks notice yesterday at my current job.. I hate it there. I can't wait til I don't have to go back there ever again!

I got in 9.99 miles from Monday til right now. I'm going to reset it as we speak. I can't been doing to bad with eating, considering it's TTOM. Well, I have lot's to do today so I better get going. Later.

Hello All! :wave:

DH just turned the A/C OFF in the house...:)...yes, it is that nice this evening. I really don't like A/C, and view is as a necessary evil on these hot and humid days. We have turned the whole house fan on, and it is so nice to have fresh air in the house for a change!

Food today was ok......breakfast was Special K & milk & iced tea.....mid morning was half a bagel......lunch was a chicken salad wrap at Arbys and a turnover(oops).....dinner was steak (very small) and fresh corn on the cob & baked beans. It comes in just under 1500 calories, so I guess there will be no snacking tonight! That means I will have extra time to do some WATP, right? :dancer: My exercise routine has been sporadic at best.....maybe my focus should be exercising EVERY day?

Julie....I sure understand the depression you are feeling......you get depressed because you can't get this diet thing under control.....so you eat to make yourself feel better......which doesn't cure the problem......and then you don't feel like exercising......so you have another snack......and you know what you have to do, but it is so hard to get up out of the chair......I go thru this vicious cycle all the time! When it is beginning to look impossible, I focus on just one thing.....anything.....but something that I can do well.....like drink 64-oz of water a day. And that becomes my goal.......my only goal......focus! Once I get that aspect under control, I add another.....baby steps.....you know the drill. You are strong......and I know you can do this! Never forget, we are always here for you. :grouphug:

Ellisha......It is so hard to eat healthy, :hun: when someone else is doing the cooking. (I always say things taste better when somebody else cooks!) You should start gathering healthy recipes for when you get your own place......have you ever subscribed to the magazine 'Cooking Light'?..... great recipes and exercise programs!

Jessica.....Major congrats on the new job.....and you got the one you wanted! :balloons: WTG chickie!

Oh, dear...what a day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We "thought" we were buying a new car today, and, in the end, we felt this dealership was giving us a bad deal (I just DETEST car salespersons that insult my intelligence!). I put this experience as a 10 on a scale of 1-10 in the high blood pressure elevation category!!!! LOL!!!

Seriously though, I am doing quite well, and feeling well..which is a good thing. I am so grateful I am not a car salesperson..I am not cut out for that type of job- I would have a nervous breakdown!

Well, it's late..I have MUCH MORE to say, and I'll come back in the morning :).

Hugs and blessings to you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's Late...
 

and I am soooo tired :tired: , but I wanted to check in withyou all so you'd know that I still love you! :love:

OK, I started my day off doing my stretches and then 20 minutes on the bike!!!!!! YEA me!!!! :encore: :bike: I will try to do it again tomorrow morning but I have PT and have to leave early as it is...UGH!

Food today started out good. Some cottage cheese & strawberries.
Lunch was a quick sandwich, pretzels and package of cookies (4 little ones) as our residents went on a field trip (boat ride around the lake) so had to get them ready. I did waaaaay too much bending & lifting today and now my back is really sore! I'm whining, I know...but I should know better! I did try to ask for help and got help from as many people as I could, but sometimes ya just gotta do the dirty work, ya know? The residents really enjoyed the day. I think I went up and down the steps on the boat (from upper to lower deck) about 20 times and so my knees hurt too! Not to mention that my thumbs are really sure from all the lifting, too! I'm a wreck tonight!

OK, I wont' whine anymore, but just wanted you to kow I did do some exercise today, which I am verry happy to report! Tomorrow is a new day and I hope to recover!!! LOL!

Lisa...a new CAR???? I guess you did have somethings to share with me!!! LOL! Glad you didn't let those nasty salesmen screw you over!!! That's just not right! What are you looking at buying????? I'm happy to hear your eating has been under control. Could you send some of whatever you are taking my way????? ;)

MsRD....thanks for the words of wisdom and for reminding me that you all are here for me!! I sometimes forget that! You are so right with every word you wrote! We won't even talk about how not being able to exercise without pain makes me feel! ;) It's gonna get hot and humid again! Turn that AC back on, girl! It's sticky out tonight here!

Elisha...Wow girl...you are chugging that water~! You will do great with getting all those cookbooks organized and start to cook! It's os much fun to have your own place! Is this the first time you lived away from home? (aside from college) When you get all those slow cooker recipes, send some my way! ;)

Jessica...Have I mentioned lately how proud I am of you??? You have just been a rock here with this group! Keep up the great work! Is the 9.99 miles on your pedometer? I swear I walk that much in a day at work...some days I do!

Hugs to the rest ofyou!!!! Nighty night! :sp:

Morning chickies! Glad to see you all here (well, most of you anyway!)!

Yesterday was ok for me. I was at 1599 calories, then I got some news--my best friend got fired from her new position for something that was completely not her fault. I took her out for ice cream. I had frozen yogurt and didn't eat all of it, so it could have been much worse. I didn't add up the yogurt calories yet, but I'm sure I'm probably on par with my eating the other days this week.

My weight just keeps going up and up this week--210.2 this morning. I know perfectly well that I didn't gain a pound yesterday (I mean, there weren't 3500 calories in that frozen yogurt). I don't know what's up with me. Right now I feel like not eating at all until I'm the weight I want to be (don't worry, I'm not about to try it).

Anyway, I'm feeling scatterbrained this morning, and I have a lot to do, so I should get busy, because things are going to move slowly today. Have a good one, chicks.
~Elisha

Like always, just a quickie again today.

I can't wait to start my new job, and I'll have a little more time to write.

I only got 1.47 miles yesterday. Not good, not good at all. It's hard to get miles when all you do all day is sit in a little cubical and listen to people whin because their cable is getting shut off because they didn't pay their bill for 3 months.

On another note, I'm down 2 more pounds this week, which i'm VERY suprised to see cause it's TTOM and usually I eat like there's no tomorrow.

I didn't get in as much exercise as I wanted today.. I went to my house and washed down the siding and pulled all the vines off that were growing up the side and washed my car.

Welp, back to my cubical for the day. BYe girls

Hello All :wave:

What a day! Things were incredibly hectic at work today......my 'right hand' coworker is off for a few days, so that adds to the workload. Everytime I started something, I got interrupted.....sometimes 2 or 3 times......but I didn't maim anyone, so that is a good thing. After work, I stopped and saw Mom......she didn't know who I was......so I stopped at McDonalds on the way home and had a hot fudge sundae. *sigh*

Lisa.....I hate to go car shopping.....always send DH, who is actually very good at it. The last time I went with him, the salesman came up to us and DH turned to him and said "If you act like an a##hole salesman, I am not going to buy a car from you. Treat me decent, and we can make a deal." And it worked! The salesman was really nice.....and we got a good deal on a car!

Julie......Good going on the exercise! It must be hard to exercise and end up hurting. Hope you have an easy day tomorrow, so you back and knees can have a little rest. (And bless you for being so kind and helpful to the residents.....you have no idea how the families really appreciate you)

Elisha.....It almost sounds like you are getting addicted to that scale.....and letting it dictate your mood for the day. Put some tape over the scale readout for a few days and focus on something else!

Jessica.....down 2 pounds! You are the one inspiring us to try harder. Thank you for being there for us!

Got to get some laundry done tonight......and get some exercise in.....(focus RD, exercise everyday, EVERYday)

Morning ladies!

MsRD, you're absolutely right--I am addicted to the scale. And the funny part is that I have done exactly what you suggest and stuck a post-it over the readout telling me not to weight until whatever day it was. It was the only time I've gone without weighing and not gone insane about it. Honestly, I'm a lot better about not letting it dictate my mood than I used to be, but I still know you're right. Perhaps I will try not weighing again.

On the plus side, I am down a little today--209.4, which is still high, but it's lower than yesterday so I'm counting it as a positive thing. Calories came in right around 1800, and I'm ok with that too, because again, it's lower than the day before. And I actually exercised for an entire hour last night--25 minutes on the elliptical, 20 on the stairclimber, and 15 on the weight machine. I felt so good! I'm skipping exercise tonight in favor of mowing the lawn. My best friend is coming over this weekend and we're going to splash around in the pool, but the grass is so high right now we'd have to wade through a jungle to get there! It's been kind of drizzley (is that a word? drizzle-y) all week, so we haven't had much of a chance to get it done, but Mom says she'll work on it today, and we can finish it this evening.

I'm set on getting my calories below 1800 today, if only by 3 or 4 calories! :lol:

Anyway, there's work to do before the weekend. Have a great day, chicks!
~Elisha

Happy Saturday!

Last night, I was feeling kinda overwhelmed..:stress:....tough week at work, too much not getting done at home ....and no time or energy to get anything done. So, like anyone with too much to do......DH & I took the day off. We started off early and went to the flea market and thrift shops and then on to find some antique shops. We bought stuff we didn't need (at pretty good prices!) and then then went out to lunch. :cofdate: We just had to take some time off to clear our minds........and now the responsibilities around here aren't so insurmountable.

Weighed in this morning......same as last week. Since my eating has been borderline indulgent, the fact that I exercised saved me! :) Now, if I could just get the eating and exercise together, I could accomplish something!

The garden is starting to produce.......tomatoes and zucchini and broccoli and onions and cucumbers, thur far. Green beans should be on in about a week. I am going to be looking for new fresh veggies recipes...:hun:...will post the ones that look the most promising!

Well.....off to the grocery store to find all the things that DON'T grow in my garden!
Have a wonderful weekend! :sunny:

Super quick check in...we've been just nuts lately. We finally did buy a new car! I am so excited- its a Ford Expedition. I love it. It is finally a big enough car for my 3 kids. We got the DVD player in this morning.

Food has been just o.k. I am maintaining, and not losing. Well, actually the scale says I am up a pound. I am weighing too much. This is what happens when I have a scale in the house. I want to lose that last 5. I am getting in a bunch of water, but sweets are creeping into my life again..gotta stop that! Moderation is the key-deep down I think I know that.

Exercise has been slow. My back is still feeling "touchy". I don't want to irritate it.

I need to go- Today is Dh's birthday..we are leaving to go out to eat.

Blessings to all of you!!!!!!!!!

Saturday PM
 

Evening all...

First a few comments since I have been so negligent lately!

MsRD...I saw your comment about your Mom not recognizing you. I'm sorry! :( That's such a hard place to be, but I do understand. Remember the person she used to be, not who she is now and that might help the whole process to be a little less painful. Maybe you already do that! You have to deal with that loss...just as a loss, because that is what it is. Greive the loss! Also, thank you for your sweet words about helping the residents. I feel blessed to be able to do that job, truly! :) They are such a blessing in my life!

Lisa...So excited for you, girl! A new car! Woo Hoo! Don't you start worrying about that little gain. You will surely lose it soon as well as you have been doing. Just a few more pounds and you are there! I hope you have been healthy about how you got there! ;) If not, I may have to make a trip down there to shake you up a bit! :D

Elisha...Remember how good it feels to exercise next time you don't want to do it! Good for you. Just keep working at it!

Jessica...2 more pounds! Girl! You are gonna melt away!!! Be healthy. Don't cheat yourself! It sounds like you are doing all right, though! Good girl! :bravo:

OK, well here's my saga of the day! We went to the Air Show last night (it was just enough planes and such for me) and again today! We were there for about 5 hours. Lots of bad food, but I tried to control myself. They had some really awesome brownies which I ate several! :( Did lots of walking...and then when we got ready to leave...the parking lot was just a log jam! So since we only live a few miles away, I decided I would walk. Surely I thought DH would eventually catch up to me! I got home in about 40 minutes. Called him several times on the cell phone. We left there about 5pm and he didn't arrive home until after 7pm. He was just fit to be tied!!!! OMG!!! I had dinner made and everything, but he was not kind to me at all! I just wanted to slap him back into reality! Grrrrrrrrrr!

OK, so the good thing about today is that I walked probably 4 miles...and the not so good thing is that I ate poorly and my foot is killing me! Oweeee! Too much walking, for sure! Ah well....if I didn't have something to complain about, you would think something was really wrong!!!! Right?

Have a good weekend everyone!

Hugs,

Good afternoon everyone! It is hot as the blazes here, but a nice day nonetheless. We went to church today, and then to a family reunion, and we are just now getting home.

Julie - How's the foot feeling today? I hope o.k. :) Thank you for your concern about my health. You can join DH and the rest of our family..they have all pulled me aside "privately" to discuss my weight loss, and the fact that I don't need to lose more. Even my silent FIL talked to me very seriously the other day. He is never serious about anything...he was so upset. I think I look fine, and my BMI is still way up there. I think I was gone on vacation for so long that everybody forgot what I looked like anyway. They are used to me being heavy, and I guess they can't get used to me..I don't know. Anyway...sorry for the ramble. I miss you Julie!!

MsRD - Your day off with your DH sounded like just what the Dr. ordered!! I need a day like that myself. Hope you are having a good day today!!

Well, I need to run. I've got a million and one things to do today. I'm thinking of you all, and sending you lotsa good vibes.

:)

Hi! :wave:

Just checking in....kids were out today, so I made a big Sunday dinner.......pot roast, mashed potatoes & gravy, fresh corn and cukes and tomatoes from the garden, applesauce and butterflake rolls. Dessert was pecan bars and brownies. And, yes, I overate......and drank too much diet coke...:hun:....but tomorrow is another day and I will be back on track again.

Lisa.....glad to hear you got your new car......and I bet you look good in it too! Instead of worrying about your family's reaction to your weight loss...:idea:....ask your doctor if what you are doing is ok. Families are just 'too close' for any objectivity.

Julie......Thank you for the kind words about my Mom. She sometimes knows me, sometimes not.....I don't press it, just enjoy our visits as much as possible. :) Since I knew the day would come that she would not know me, I guess I was kinda braced for it. The unexpected things are the ones that come like a kick in the gut......."What do you mean my Mother can't dress herself anymore?" Just gotta take it one day at a time......

Gotta go unload the dishwasher......and then load it again!.....and then 'paper plates' on the grocery list.......:lol:

Sunday
 

Hi everyone...
Kind of quiet here today, but glad to see some faces! I wonder what happened to Joy and Jennifer and Donna....and the rest of them???????
Must be summer, eh? Well, I gotta admit that I almost took off the rest of the summer but here I am!! Not doing much about the weight issue (except gaining) but at least I'm here, huh?

I didn't do much today...church, grocery shopping, laundry, cooking, dishes, more laundry, more dishes...I guess when you put it all down in black and white, it's more than I thought! My foot doesn't hurt as bad today, but I've been sitting a lot today. Working on a church directory project! Woo Hoo! I'll be glad when this one is done...then on to something else...always!

I didn't eat much today. It's really hot here! Temps in the 90's and humidity at 70%. I am craving some ice cream, though! I made a wonderful pasta salad, but it's not low fat or I would share the recipe with you! I used a whole bottle of Ceasar's Garlic dressing...a few veggies (onion, gr. pepper, celery), some pepperoni, black olives and a bunch of parmesan cheese! Yummy! But that's all I've eaten today, along with the creamy cucumbers I made! Not much in the line of protein! Tsk, tsk!!! I will be paying tomorrow for that! Gotta drink some more water tonight!

I am taking tomorrow off (for my birthday) and have PT in the morning, but mostly a free day. I tried to get most of the housework done today, so I would have all day to do what I want. DD and I may go to the beach...depends! Maybe some blueberry picking...get my hair cut, go tot he mall!!! You know...mother/daughter stuff!!! :D

I am thinking a lot about my upcoming trip and how disappointed I am in myself! I keep wondering if I hadn't hurt my heel and my back if I would actually be getting in shape for it! I wonder! :chin: I'm trying to think that I would, but that's just the optimist in me!! Afterall, I have really been a slacker this summer! And it just sucks! I think I will be able to do at least one hike on the first day. It's 4 miles round trip, so that shouldn't be too bad. I really need to get going on that bike and get some conditioning in, though so I am not huffing and puffing all the way up the mountain! After the first day, who knows! :shrug: Maybe I will just sit around and read a good book (or two) and do some shopping and local sight seeing! At any rate, I am glad I am going...whether I hike or not! :smug:

Well, I am just rambling now.

MsRD...your time with your family sounds wonderful. I have always longed to have that connection for a Sunday family dinner. My ex husband's family did that every Sunday. My Mom lives 3.5 hours away, so it's a pretty long drive for just a day...that and I probably wouldn't even go there if I lived in the same town! Sad, but true. :(

Lisa...hope the cool air hits both of us soon! I plan to get on that bike in the morning before PT. You gonna join me for some exercise tomorrow??

Hugs to all.

Hi!
 

Hi everyone! I know there is only 6 days left of July... but I need to CHALLENGE myself to do something really important! I CHALLENGE myself to not eat out, get takeout, get pizza or get fast food for 6 days!!! You see, this is a big problem for me. I just wrote out a declaration for myself to not give into the apparent convenience of eating out, which can't be really all that convenient because it takes more time to go drive, park, sit and wait for a waiter, order, sit and wait for the food, then finally eat and still have to drive back home. I mean, there are people out there who don't eat out, maybe a few times a year, or once a month but not everyday! I know there are places that don't have Red Lobster's, and Sushi Bars, and fast food drive throughs! Those people do just fine eating at home! I know I can do it!

But anyway, hi y'all! Hopefully I'll be able to focus on other things for August then!!! :D

Morning chicks!

Welcome SunFlower! We're glad to have you! We all need to challenge ourselves from time to time. Come to think of it.... I need to challenge myself to quit eating so much junk! :lol:

I hope you all had a good weekend! Mine was busy busy, too much bad food, but I did manage to exercise some. I didn't weigh this morning (can you believe I forgot?!?!), but I know I'm up. Yesterday morning I was around 211. Ridiculous. This has got to stop. I know, I say that every Monday morning. Seriously though, today I just feel... sad about it. I can't believe I am doing this to myself. I know better than this.

I want to be in shape for my wedding, and even though I don't know when that will be, I do know that I need to start working on it NOW. I don't want that little bulge above the top of my dress and the flab hanging from my arms. I have to start now. I have to do this now.

Someone get out the tazer.

Now that that's said, today will be Pizza Hut day (probably), if not Pizza Hut then eating out somewhere else. And tomorrow I told my dad I would take him out for wings. But the rest of the week I am eating as healthily as possible. I'm going to the store after work to get the rest of the ingredients for my lettuce-less salad--tomatoes, cucumbers, black beans, corn, green pepper, chick peas, onion, avocado, a little mozzarella, drizzled with red wine vinegar, a splash of olive oil, and whatever seasonings I feel like throwing in (it's also good with light Italian dressing). I'm planning on bringing that and a boiled egg for lunch for the rest of the week.

Steve and I are definitely exercising tonight. We're getting better about that, and having him exercise with me makes it a lot easier. I didn't really expect that, but it does. I'm glad that I have him to exercise with. When we move though, I want to get up in the mornings and do some additional exercise--walking, jogging, or using the bike--whether Steve does that with me or not, even though he says he will.

I read somewhere over the weekend (I think it was on Discovery Health) that your body burns more calories if you take no more than 2 days off from exercise. After that it's like starting all over, theoretically. And I say once again that I want to work out a schedule where I work out 2 days, then take 1 day off. That worked for me before, it can work for me again. Steve says that sounds decent.

Anyway, I have a bunch of work to do. I'm working on a major project that we're launching on August 1st, so I'm going to be busy this week. Ugh. Better get to it. Have a good one, chicks.
~Elisha

Evening all! :wave:

I started out the week by bumping up the WATP to 2 miles.......it feels great! Now, if I just have enough strength to do it two nights in a row :lol:

Julie.....Happy Birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day! Of course, you would have been in shape had it not been for the back/heel thingy......you can do anything you put your mind to! A 4-mile hike the first day should be a snap for you......don't lose the faith!

SunFlower.....Welcome! We always love to see new faces! This is a great place to come to challenge yourself in whatever manner you yourself need! No eating out and no fast food.....that is a great goal! I have been working on the same thing......and have it down to 1 lunch per week.....sometimes 1 dinner also (Yeah, I let DH spoil me a little!) Even though it is the end of a month, someone will most probably set up a new challenge for August.....keep your eyes open!

Elisha.....That lettuce-less salad sounds soooo good! I think I will go out and raid the garden patch and make one!

Jennifer, Donna, Joy, Mary.....how you are having a great summer! :sunny: We miss you!

Morning chicks!

OK, so yesterday was not good. There was the aforementioned Pizza Hut, then there was a run-in with my old friends Ben & Jerry, then Mom made banana nut bread (which you have to smother with the Amish butter my mom keeps on hand). Not pretty. And there's wings tonight. But I did eat an ok breakfast, and my salad, a boiled egg, and a plum for lunch. I'm not going to worry too much about dinner, because if I do I'll just beat myself up about it, and that's not good either.

I don't know. I feel like I'm in some kind of holding pattern right now, and that's not where I want to be. I sure hope I snap out of it soon. The scale said 211.6 this morning. Eesh. Up and down and up and down and up. I'm not weighing again until Monday. Honest. I'm putting a post-it on my scale when I get home tonight.

Someone tazer me already.

OK, work work work. Have a good day, chicks.
~Elisha

Happy Birthday Dear Julie!
 

:woo: :woo: :woo: :woo: :woo: :woo: :woo: :woo: :woo: :woo:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.......HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR JULIE--HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons:

Post Birthday Depression!
 

I am just in a slump! I weighed myself today...after lunch which is NEVER good and it says I am up to 176!!!!!!!!!!!!! UGH!!!!! I am livid!!! What the heck am I going to do? I need a trainer, a chef and a cattle prod to get my *** moving!!!!!!!!!!! Grrrrrrr! That scale had better not hit 180 EVER again! And I mean it! I can feel the clothes starting to get tight on me. Some of the ones I bought last summer don't even fit anymore, so I know the FAT is back and I am soooo out of shape!

Yep...yesterday was my birthday. I'm still a bit sad. DH did NOT even get me a card...told me he was sorry about a gazillion times, but it doesn't change how I feel! He's just on my **** list right now and I can help it! He said "It's not like I didn't ACKNOWLDEGE your birthday" The rest of the day was ok. I did have the day off and spent it running errands, basically. Met DH for lunch at a Chinese place. He did cook me steak for dinner. Oh well...maybe I'm just too ungrateful!

I keep thinking that I need to do something about gettting off a few pounds before I leave for vacation, but I probably won't hike anyway, so maybe I should just go and enjoy and be what I am and who I am!!! I'll worry about it when I get home and maybe it will be just what I need to get me focused again! Someone please send me some prayers, quick!!!

My plan for the rest of this week is to do my PT exercises, eat sensibly and drink more water than I have been (which won't be hard to do!) I may even ride the exercise bike a couple of times!

Well, I've got work to do...end of the month, so I always bring it home!

Hugs to all!

Julie, dear, the prayers are going up for you. I am so sorry you are feeling yucky. I think you are just wonderful, and I know you're going to be just fine. I honestly thought today was your birthday- I don't know how I got that all confused- please forgive me for being such a flake! Goodness, I am losing my memory (seriously!).

I can't sit here long. My back is just hurting something awful. I have a history of back problems...it is just an on and off thing. I had to go today and get a shot- that's how bad it is hurting. I got Decadron..I'll probably not sleep a wink tonight! I could just howl at the moon- I am soooo frustrated!!!! I don't have time to be injured!

Hope you all are well..I'm thinking of you!

Lisa...I'm sorry you are in pain, too! It's just no fun! I have lost not only 2 months of training, but also my dream of hiking the Adirondacks because of my "injuries", so I totally understand your frustration! It's totally frustrating! Sounds like we both need lots of prayers. I'm just thankful for friends who pray! :) And don't worry about my birthday date. It was just nice that you thought of me!

And be careful with that back!

Hugs!!!!!

Morning chicks!

OK. So here we are. And I'm ok. I'm glad this month is almost over. We can start a new challenge! I'll get something set up over the weekend. If anyone has any ideas, let me know.

I'm at 209.4 this morning, which is surprising, since we went out for wings last night. I'm actually down (a tad). I figured with all the salt I'd be way up. But I'm glad I'm not. So my goal for the month of August is 205.0. I remember saying once upon a time that 5 pounds a month is easy. Well, it doesn't seem to easy now. But nonetheless, I'm going to do it.

Lisa--Sorry to hear about your back! I get back problems occasionally too, so I know where you're at. It sucks! Feel better soon!

Julie--At this time last year we were both doing so well--remember? And now we are both up! You wanted to be hiking in the Adirondacks, and I wanted to be lying on the beach in a bikini this summer, but apparently neither of those things was meant to be. I think it's about time to whip out the questions/quotes again for the next challenge, what do you think? Come join us on Joy's 12-week Habit-Forming Challenge. We'll get through this, and one day all of us will be thin and fit and we'll all go hiking in the mountains and lounge around by a lake together looking fabulous!

Anyway, I've got work to do. Have a super day, chicks.
~Elisha

Hello! :wave:
I went shopping at the mall after work......had to pick up a birthday present for a friend :gift: and a present for an upcoming wedding.....successful on both counts. There were a lot of summer sales going on, but I didn't feel like trying on clothes......caught sight of myself walking (waddling?) down an aisle on a closed-circuit camera.....wow! That was a wake-up call!

Elisha......Get that post-it on the scale NOW, chickie! No reason to torture yourself any further. Better yet, take the scale and put it away for awhile..:eek:....let how you feel and how your clothes fit be a guide to where you are.

Julie.....So sorry you are feeling down. A vacation is just what you need...:sunny:...a good break in routine might just re-align your priorities.

Lisa....I hope your trip to the doctor has helped your back. :) Being in constant pain drains the chemical in your brain (serotonin?) and that can lead to depression. No reason to suffer when you don't have to!

I am really lookng forward to a new challenge......renewing old goals and forming new healthy habits. These last few days of the month, I really do a lot of thinking.... I don't seem to be making any progress, and it is soooo easy to get discouraged. I have to do something to get this turned around, but what? :?: Hopefully, I will have an answer by August 1!

Kinda sore today......been walking with Leslie and she has been a real knee-lifting slave driver! :lol3: Maybe I should take tonight off? OK OK! Gotta do at least a mile!

Evening chickies...I'm feeling better today, thank you! ;)

Had a nice dinner tonight with my Uncle and my cousin's son from Las Vegas. They drove my sister's (spare) car from Oregon to my Mom's in Northern Michigan and then met us today here in West Michigan. That's a long run on sentence and I'm sure you don't care! But the point is, it was nice to see my Uncle (he's a funny guy and very generous!). We had dinner at a restaraunt on the Grand River overlooking the docks where all the REALLY expensive boats are docked! Then we walked the docks and checked out all the boats after dinner. My sister and her 3 boys and my brother, DH and DD were there also. The kids had fun together and my sister and I got to chat for a while!

When we got home, I decided that I wanted to go for a bike ride, so DD and I rode a couple of miles around the neighborhood. It felt good to move! I think my body is craving that! And the fact that the heat and humidity is down considerably the last couple of days doesn't hurt!

There were more calories and carbs than needed to be for today, but I did make some healthy choices (like fruit and eggs for breakfast and veggies at lunch). I didn't have the fried perch for dinner (like everyone else did) and had a really yummy Quesadilla with cheese & veggies. Of course, there was a bit of sour cream involved! Oh, and coffee with Kahlua! :T

MsRD....Glad you got some good deals shopping. Those cameras should be outlawed!!! I hate them!!! Thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I DO appreciate it! Hope you are enjoying this beautiful weather!

Elisha...Didn't you say you weren't weighing until Friday...and that was just yesterday, wasn't it? Silly girl!!! I'm with MsRD....get those post it notes out and use a bunch if you have to!!! Or give Steve that scale of yours and tell him to HIDE it!!! :D Maybe that is a habit you can start to work on!!!

Alright chickies. I'm heading to bed! Wonder where everyone is????????????
:?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?:

Morning chicks!

OK, so I completely (and conveniently) forgot about the no-weighing thing. I'll tell you what, though. I've decided to do my 6 Day Body Makeover after all, just because nothing else is working for me right now. I have most of the food I need, I just need to stop and get a few more things tonight. I'm going to start Saturday and prepare most of my food for the week. I'll weigh in Saturday morning, then not again until next Saturday. Does that sound OK to everyone? But just for the record I'd like to note that I read an article on the Maintainers forum yesterday (I forget where it was taken from though) that said that about half of all successful losers and maintainers weigh themselves daily. So :p :p :p :p :p !

Yesterday was bad. Pizza Hut again (just for the record, that new cheesy twist crust pizza isn't very good), and Ben & Jerry's again. I was planning to exercise, but I fell asleep right after dinner. I am so tired all the time (including right now)!

OK, I've got to get moving. Lots of work to do today. I'm so glad it's almost the weekend.

Have a good one, chicks.
~Elisha

Evening all!

We just got back from a Classic Car Cruise Night at a ice cream shop near us......what fun! They had old cars like ours, muscle cars, hot rods, motorcycles.... DD & SIL & DGS met us there......also found some of our friends there too.

Today was a mess, food wise. I hopped on the scale this morning.....up a pound!.....so frustrating! That put me in a foul mood and I proceeded to eat everything in sight......ending up with pizza and ice cream for dinner! *sigh* That didn't solve anything, so will have to try something different next time!

Julie.....The cooler weather is wonderful! I really need to get out in the garden.....weeds are taking over! Glad you had a good visit with your uncle and family....and good job on the good food choices!

Elisha.....Good idea to start a new program.....obviously Pizza Hut and Ben & Jerrys just aren't doing it for you :;: ?

Really tired tonight.....brain has stopped functioning......so will say good night.....