Good morning ladies,

Thought I'd start our new thread early since I was up. Today I went to my workout buddy's house and she cooked us brunch and the we went to a 'Southern Women's' trade show. It was pretty fun. I bought a pet hair remover that is like a lint roller but you just wash it off when you're done. I also bought a weighted hulla hoop just for something different. Some girls in TBL challenge on 3fc were using them and liked them. Anyone ever tried them? It rained all day here and I think it is supposed to keep it up tomorrow. I like listening to it while I sleep. I didn't get to workout today and ate too much too. Blah. I'm going to try to do well tomorrow b/c I'm pretty sure there will be some bday cake comin my way Tuesday.

Iris: I use the term addiction loosely. Apparently I conquered that feeling today b/c I didn't get any exercise in!

Jerzy: How ya doin today? Feelin OK?

Sassy: Strawberries, any berries. Love 'em.

Leenie: glad you had an easy day. Hope we get to see you again b4 the weekend.

Heather: We're still waiting for an update. No rush or anything!

What's up everybody?

Good Morning Gang

I had a busy weekend and didn't make it in here. We had Disciple Now at church and had almost 100 teenagers staying in homes and having Bible Studies and having fun and everybody had a GREAT time.

Last nigh I tried to get my laundry done since I wasn't home much. Today I'm draggin a little

Sassy - you mentioned conscious eating. Today I ran off a bunch of daily food journals and I'm back to writing down everything I put into my mouth and counting the calories. I'm gonna try to keep it to about 1200 calories daily. Might take me a couple of days to get back on track. The thing that works best for me is counting calories and the only way for me to really stay on track with my eating is to write it down and add it up.

Hey Hope - you were up late. I hope you get to do a workout if you want to. I slept in til 6 this morning since I just needed some rest. My plan is to get up earlier tomorrow and get a 2 mile walk before work.

What's everybody doing today? I'm suppose to be working so I better get back to it.

Hope everybody has a blessed day!
hugs,
Cathy

sassy, i honestly don't feel like going to work tonight either. 2nd shift is such a bummer - i feel like i'm finally getting my day started and then i have to go to work!

hope, don't overcome the exercise addiction! i think i did and i want it back! btw they have those weighted hula hoops at my gym but i have never tried them. let me know what you think of it, maybe i should.

cathy, sounds like a great weekend chuch event you had!

this morning felt half decent, but i'm trying to tread carefully. last week was a downer for me and i'm very tentative about feeling good right now because i know TOM is going to come and knock it out of me.

Morning ladies!

Just a quick hi and then I have to run to class - only 2 more weeks left! Yeeha.

This weekend I stayed super busy, so I didn't make it in here either. Saturday morning I went and picked up a truckload of sod for my backyard from a friend who was tearing hers out (!) and then we got a winter storm coming through! Boy was I glad I got the sod when I did. I also took all my recycling to the center, which I've been putting off for about 2 months, went produce shopping, altered 1 pair of pants and 2 skirts (I accidentally over-did taking in one of the skirts so I better get back on the stick and lose some more weight so I can wear it! Haha), and cleaned my kitchen. I wanted to get the whole house done, but just couldn't do it! Unfortunately, because of the weather and being so busy I didn't get my run in so I'll have to do it today instead!

Also, this week is Bike/Walk/Bus week in my town (earth day and all) so I rode my bike to work. Unfortunately, this was my week to restock the office fruit bowl, so I ended up riding to work with 22# of fruit stashed in my bike baskets! Oh, the looks I got! And I was SLOWWWWWW.... I am amazed at how much harder it was to ride with that extra 22#. Seriously, no wonder I was so inactive when I was heavier - its HARD.

Hope - a weighted hula hoop sounds fun! Where did you find one? I used to take belly dancing, I wonder if it would work those same muscles? Mmmm.... listening to rain while lying in bed is just about my favorite thing ever!

Sassy - Sorry about the ice cream. I'm super impressed that you can see how it would have been different applying your conscious eating though! That's how we learn, right? Get some relaxing in when you can, Rip Van Winkle-Sassy.

Cathy - your weekend sounds like it was very busy, but very fulfilling! I think it is so wonderful the work you do with teens in your church! You set a wonderful example for those young people!

Ack - class time! Toodles, chickies!

Wow, good to see everybody. I thought I was in last week's chat for a minute!

DF helped me set up a pet pin in the den with a door that leads out through the doggy door. Now they are in an area where nothing can be chewed or pottied on that will get hurt, but they can still run around and play. Whew. Thank the Lord. I had to get some medicine from the vet today because of loose potty issues. tmi, sorry. I think it's the parasite leaving them that they had when we got them. Any dog whisperers on here?

I may go look around at some clothing stores just to get out of the house for a while. My friend is coming to workout around 6pm tonight but I may do a little bit before and try out my hula hoop.

I admire that bike riding Amarie! How far is it to work? I bet you were a sight with 22 #s of fruit in front. I think you did plenty this weekend. Yard work of any kind will kill you.

Cathy: I don't blame you for sleeping in. Sounds like you had your hands full, but I'm sure it was well worth it. You are doing some great work that will pay off in ways you may never know till we get to the other side.

Sassy: So I'm taking it your favorite ice cream is strawberry? It would be hard to say what mine is: coffee, cookie dough, rocky road... Sorry you have to work.

Iris: Glad you are having a cautiously better day. TOM is on his way to beat the joy out of me too. He'll probably show tomorrow for my bday. I guess he doesn't want to miss out on cake! I didn't know you worked night shift or second shift?

Hey Iris - You must have been posting when I was! I'm glad you're feeling better! I think I know what you mean about the treading carefully after an off week - It's kinda like the halo that comes after a migraine - where the memory of the pain is like an echo of the actual headache, and you're afraid to move too quickly. Take care!

Hope - its about 1.5 mile to work - not really much at all, and mostly level. I am just amazed at how much oxygen my quads need to pedal pedal pedal! I may not be fit now, but I'm gonna be! It will be good practice for next year. I won't be able to afford gas on my grad stipend, so I'll be biking everywhere. Good job with the puppy pen! Goodness, I can't even remember how I survived my pup's puppihood intact - I do remember I LOVED a book on raising puppies by the Monks of New Skete - it was very helpful for me. Good luck!

Leenie - zoom!

Alright all - am back from class (with an extra bike ride home and back to work because I forgot my work slacks this am). Need to put nose to grindstone!!!

Hey all..Sorry I havent written in awhile.

I'd been feeling pretty good with my meds and all. I pretty much stopped exercising (except for walking) when dh went on leave. I've been eating non stop too. Which turned into emotional eating when I realized what time of the month it is (and no..not "that" time).

April 27 is coming up, and that is the day my mom went into the hospital. She was there on my birthday too. And that day is next tuesday. I'm feeling sooooo depressed right now. I finally broke down crying last night and started stuffing my face with everything in sight. It only seems to happen at night too. I dont know why that is. Her 2 year anniversary is coming up May 28th..and I'm just dreading it. I'm dreaming about her non stop..and when I'm awake, I keep seeing her laying in that hospital bed hooked up to all those machines. I seriously do not want these thoughts in my mind.

I want to get another tattoo so I can just feel the pain of something different. How weird is that? And I dont really have anyone to talk to this about either. My friends seem tired of hearing about it..and it upsets my dh because he loved my mom too. So I'm just all alone with these thoughts and emotions.

I'm wondering if I should get a higer dosage of my meds. But I seem to be doing okay with the dosage I'm on right now. So I dunno..I guess its somewhat natural to be feeling depressed about this..If the anxiety starts again then I probably will have to get a higher dosage.

Ugh..this all sucks!!!!!!!!!

Francie...It might be worth calling your doc to see if s/he has any ideas for coping through this month. There are some anxiety meds that help quickly when circumstances change...at least I've been helped in the past.

I totally understand the tattoo thing. I loved getting mine and the pain is an escape. My cousin was a cutter for awhile (I should say IS and that she is recovering because she fights the urge constantly) and so I guess the endorphins/adrenaline released from pain are soothing when you feel so terrible...?

Exercising is impossible when you feel so bad. You'll get back into it. Jillian is waiting!

Stuffing your face with food, pain from another tattoo, all ways to avoid dealing with the feeling you might explode if you confront the emotions. I know it well. I also watch A LOT of t.v. to escape.

Def. call the doc so you can get through this.

Love ya babe. Glad to see you back!

Hi Francie -

Sweety, mourning is hard, and its not fast. I'm sorry you're in so much pain right now. I think Jerzy is right - reach out to your doc and see what kinda things he/she can suggest to help you through. And know that we love you, and we understand...
I'm glad you came back to us I've missed you.

Totally Off - Topic here but figured it was intersting:

Would any of you go swimming in the Devils Swimming Pool?

oh.my.god.

That looks terrifying. Just a wall holds them back? EEEEEEKKKK.

WOW Sassy - that's some powerful water!!!!! ok so I don't think I would swim in there but I would love to stand there and look at it. Even the sound of the water if powerful! WOW!

I got home last night and didn't have to cook supper so I put on my walking pants and shoes and did 2 miles

Then I got up early and did 2 miles this morning too

I also pulled out my daily food journals yesterday morning and I'm back to writing down everything I put into my mouth and counting the calories. That seems to work best for me ..... and I'm trying hard to get back on track.

Thanks for all the comments and encouragement about working with teenagers. Y'all are so right - it is important stuff and very rewarding! We love being around teenagers! We have the 12th graders in sunday school - dear hubby has the guys and I have the girls - but of course, for all the youth activities we are involved with the 6th thru the 12th graders. It's great stuff!!!

I hope everybody has a blessed day!
hugs,
Cathy