Lisa, I am sorry to hear about your job. Usually when one door closes, another opens. I hope you find another job, perhaps one that is not as physically hard, soon. Did you ask for a review?

I am struggling with my weight again - back up a few pounds, and now I am back up over 150. My moods are directly related to the scale, unfortunately. But, for some reason, I cannot seem to control my eating this holiday season. I think I need to cut out all sugar. That will be my goal starting after the holidays. I cut out all wheat more than a year ago, and that is what got me down to my normal weight.

Holly, the veterans must have been thrilled to see your group arrive!

Kathleen, how are you?

I wish Fi and Lil Turtle and some other old friends would drop by to let us know how they are doing.

Take care, everyone.

Lisa, glad you feel better about your job situation. I am sure you were a wonderful caregiver.

Holly, your advice about taking small steps is very helpful. I am sure the veterans were appreciate.

Social, going to your husband's work party was really something positive!

Feeling more hopeful which is a good thing!

hello to blessedat48 and :welcome:

Easyspirit sorry to hear of the scale being mean to you ...booo to that! it is a huge feat that you eliminated wheat for so long. best wishes for kicking the sugar, that is huge too.

Hi Lisa, oh gosh sorry you had such a draining day, but you are a good daughter :)

bonnie, I'm so glad you are feeling hopeful!!:carrot:

Liz (socialworkmama) it was brave of you to do so well at the party.

and HI to everyone else :hug:

I did go to Walmart yesterday but we have a small Walmart, not alot of selection, nd I just did not feel like trying stuff on :( so all I bought was new underwear :devil: I MUST get my self-consciousness under control.

today is my Monday, booo :devil: I hope you all have a good day!!

Hi everyone. Just wanted to say have a great evening! Thought I would start mentioning a few things I am grateful for. It seems to make one feel better.

Heat
Hot water
My dog
Family
Friends

Hi guys!

I'm checking in on my phone, and it's not easy to remember who said what on this thing...

Welcome newbies!

Sorry to hear about the job Lisa, I hope something new comes your way.

Very mild here for this time of year too, I've only seen one frost, which is unusual.

I've been bonding my rabbits this week, it's a lot harder than you'd think! We spent 3 evenings in the bathroom doing initial introductions, and I spent half of last night on a camp bed next to the run for their first night together (got to make sure they don't fight). It was a lot less boring when my OH was here, but he's back at his dad's now.

Two posts back to back, i know! Bunny sitting is a bit boring... I am boredom eating.

My diet has gotten pretty awful lately in general, having a terrible case of self loathing because of it, I think my anti-depressants are lowering my convictions, as it's been a "diet starts tomorrow" year! How do you guys enforce restraint?

Sorry, I haven't been posting much. I'm a little down.


My tennis elbow is really bothering me and the pain is getting to me. As I've said before, I don't handle getting sick well and this has been an extended illness. There is no end to the pain either. I think I'm going to have to go to the Dr again.

Ladies, thank you for keeping the thread moving. It's great to come in here and read your posts.

I'll post more later.

Hey Lisa, I am so sorry you are down :( of course you are, with that darn pain, I think also you should head back to the Dr. and see what they can do for you!! :hug:

Coop - I had no idea that one had to bond critters, I have lead a sheltered life! You are a great bunny parent to take such trouble to do the right thing :cool: As to your question about 'restraint' - argh, I have had NO restraint for months and the subject of my next paragraph!!

so I have let myself eat pretty much whatever for months now. And back in May, let up completely on my regular exercise. These two actions have made me gain, to the point I am just always unhappy and thinking about it :( I have tried VERY hard to adjust my thinking to not loathe myself, I am trying very hard to focus on my good qualities, and I do know that one's appearance is not the sum of their whole selves; but I just cannot go on with this torture. I have had great success with the South Beach diet before, and this is crazy to attempt it right before CHristmas, but I have to do something. So at least for today, i have had NO sugar or flour, that will be my goal for as long as I can stand it.

I have to learn to live with feeling a little empty in the tummy. Not necessarily hungry, just not full. Which is hard for me because I love that slightly full feeling, not the stuffed uncomfortable feeling, but just not empty.

Vermontmom - we didn't realise about bonding until we started reading about rabbit keeping. It has been quite rewarding though - our first rabbit had bunny depression when we adopted him (we could sympathise), and it's just been lovely to watch him come out his shell now he has a lady to impress!

I could have written your paragraph word for word. But dieting before Christmas is not a ridiculous idea. You could say "sod it, that's what new years resolutions are for", but at least this way you can damage control and have an easier time after christmas! I could do with following suit on the sugar ban, but I need to find a way to remember I'm supposed to be avoiding it. I come up with weight loss ideas all the time, like no sugar, but they go right out as quickly as they came. I think I might bring home some post-its from work to stick on cupboards to remind myself...

Holly, you have inspired me! I have been on a crazy sugar - mostly candy- binge since Halloween. After reading your last post, I decided now is as good a time as any. I threw away some m&m almonds that I had planned to crush and use in place of chocolate chips in cookies, but had somehow opened the bag! I had absolutely no sugar today, and I am feeling smug! I gave up wheat a year ago, and it made such a difference - my weight, sleep, attitude, skin,,,,all improved. And, I was doing very well dieting until Halloween, when I had NO trick-or-treaters, but plenty of Hershey bars!!

I am so, so glad you posted that you were starting to diet NOW. It just makes so much sense! I was going to keep right on going until the New Year - totally disgusted with myself, frustrated as it it tough to squeeze into jeans that had been a bit loose.......you know what I mean!

In other news, I went to a neighborhood party where there was a $10 Yankee Swap, and I ended up with a $10 scratch ticket, and I WON ! ! ! $10,000 ! ! ! I did not scratch it until after I got home, and decided not to tell anyone at the party. I brought it to the bank and put it in my safety deposit box - - I will cash it after the new year for tax purposes. I never buy lottery tickets and was disappointed when I got it - I had gotten a cute wooden reindeer, but someone took it away from me and left me with the scratch ticket........

Hello to everyone else. I hope you are all doing well and surviving the season.

OH my gosh CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!:dance::flow1::dancer::high: that is so fantastic!!! I think you did correctly in not telling anyone, it would only result in hurt feelings or resentment. Lol at being disappointed at first!!!

Today was Day 2 of no sugar or flour!

Meant to comment that this is a great thing for me to do also!!

Hello friends! I have today, tomorrow and Christmas Day off. I have not had these 3 consecutive days off in 30 YEARS. Yup :)

I was so worried yesterday because I could not find my watch, my Dad gave it to me almost 20 years ago and I treasure it, it is a Tudor which is like a poor person's Rolex :devil: it is fully insured but I would hate to lose it. Ransacked the house, had to leave for work, felt naked without it, then found it :) when I got home, it was in the bathroom, YAY.

At work yesterday, I got so furious at my dumb young co-worker again, she received a forty dollar tip from a wealthy customer, I guess he felt sorry for her because she was doing her pathetic dumb act (which isn't really an act :devil: ) Good for her for being able to beg tips from people but what got me furious is that she tells me about the tip..and then splits the meager $5 we earned together and gave me $2.50. I would have been so happy to not know about the $40, ignorance is bliss sometimes, right. Oh well..I have so much more going for me than she, I guess I will dwell on that :)

I have completed 3 days without sugar or flour!!!! :carrot::carrot: and been working out at least 4 times a week for a month now. Wish me continued diligence please :D :dust:

Easyspirit! Congratulations on the win! It's good of you to keep it quiet, whoever swapped it would be gutted!

Vermontmom, my old housemate used to waitress and would come home bragging about the big tips she'd get, so I know your pain. Hope you enjoy your days off!

I'm now at my dad's for Christmas, going through Christmas cards to find which old family friends don't know mum is dead. Someone sent us a card hoping we have a 'fun day', and someone else sent us a card hoping we had achieved all we set out to achieve in 2015. The kind of statements that are perfectly normal any other time, and I hope were just ignorant. There were some kind people who seem to have gone to extra trouble to find cards that avoid words like 'merry' and 'happy', and I'm very grateful for their considerate approach.

Hope you all have a lovely break over the coming days.

Hello,

Holly, if you always share tips, shouldn't you have gotten a share of the $40?? Oooh! That dummie would get to me.

Lisa, have you considered going to a food bank? I have volunteered at my local one, and there are many hard-working people that come in occasionally just to make it to the next pay check. I believe all you have to do is show a driver's license and a utility bill proving you live in the town.

Today I am grateful that Holly got through my thick skull when she announced that she was starting South Beach. I am ending Day 3 with no sugar!!!! I know I won't make it through Christmas, but just knowing I have a few days under my belt will help.

EasySpirit, things are ok now. I got my check cashed. I am blessed.


I'll post more later tonight.

I am sooo glad Lisa got some money!! that was a worrisome post :?:

EasySpirit, I bombed on my diet yesterday :( but I will TRY to get back on board today. I am really glad though I attempted and got 3 days under my belt also.

Hello to everyone else!!

Well, Jennifer and I had a fight. Merry Christmas to me.


I got a check from Financial Aid yesterday and gave my mom some money for Christmas. Jennifer rolled her eyes when she saw how much I gave my mom. I was pissed. When we got home, I told her I didn't appreciate her attitude. She then laid into me about how much money she had paid out last month in helping me pay bills. I pointed to the tree and told her that she hadn't even checked the tree yet and I hoped she was happy. There was a Christmas card with money ($150) for her under it. Then I told her to just leave and go be with her other more important family.

Did I mention I was pissed? I am even more hurt. I don't even want to be around her. Just because she has issues with hoarding money, don't lay that on me.


So now, I've turned on the tree but I'm still sad. I hope she sees what a huge mistake she made. I admit I'm not perfect, I never have been.

I was able to put some money away in the bank too, I didn't give it all away. I am not as irresponsible as she makes me out to be.

Oh Lisa, I'm so sorry to hear that!!! You did NOT deserve that at all. and how rotten for it to happen on Christmas Day :(

BIG hugs and support to you :hug:

Thanks, Holly. The thing is she asked for money for Christmas, so when I got my financial aid the day before Christmas, I was thrilled. We will never see eye to eye about money. She is selfish. She is never here with me anymore. I am hurt. I feel like everyone else is put before me in her life. I won't get over this anytime soon, she has hurt me a lot.

Sorry to hear ghis Lisa, I know money can always be a tough thing at this time of year! Any time I hear of family fall outs on Christmas, it is usually two things: hunger or money.

We had Christmas dinner with our aunt this year, it was a nice day. With the weather so mild, it really didn't feel like Christmas. In a weird way, I knew today wouldn't be a bleak and horrible day spent missing Mum, as we have had 10 months of knowing it was coming. But I did miss our christmas traditions. And there is a bit of me left feeling guilty for not spending the day with my head under the blankets in a dark room, crying lots. I feel future christmases could end up tougher than this.

On a good note, my dad gave us a soup maker today, and I ca look forward to some nice healthy soups in the new year *starts looking up the soup diet*

Hope you have all had a nice day.

Lisa, I am sorry you had such a difficult time. Please try to think back when you were your daughter's age. Looking back, I find it was a very selfish me-me-me time of life. You are right out of college, with your first job, meeting new people....you must be on your best behavior. So, when you are upset, when you are frustrated, who do you turn on???? the person closest to you, your mother! I am sure she feels miserable after giving you such grief. But, I do believe it is her age and life situation.

Holly, I ate cake, cookies and candy for two straight days. I am SO happy I have those three days of no sugar behind me, and I am starting again this morning. We can do this. I have gone without sugar for many weeks in the past, and felt so much better.

Hello to everyone else.

Take care.

I read a statistic that people are generally self-centred until the age of 31. I reckoned 31 is an average age to have kids, but who knows! When I think back to my teen years though....

So my weekend:

"I hate being so fat, this is awful, I need to lose this" Get up, go to kitchen, open fridge, "hmm, cheese and crackers" *stuffs face*

"I really need to take care of myself and get more exercise and STOP EATING" *finds chocolates*

"I'm going to write a diet plan, research some diets, find some home exercises" *eats entire tube of pringles*

I'm just getting very mindless about my diet, but I'm struggling to drill it in that I want to stop eating. No idea if this is a depression thing or an anti-depressant side effect thing. However, my anti-depressants are used as pain management and not for depression, so I can't alter the dose at all. I'd like to come off the pills altogether to be honest, but I ought to wait for an appointment with the pain clinic, which will hopefully be soon! Maybe I can get OH to padlock the kitchen after dinner to stop me going in there?! Although that might be putting himself at severe risk!

Some friends and I do secret Santa every year, but with money a bit tight, we set a challenge to make gifts this year. I was presented with a lovely chocolate cake - best I've had in a long long time! And time with people has cheered me up!

For when I've finished the cake, I have been creating a diet plan. I'm going to find ways to encourage myself to stick to it - a diary, reminders, and motivational blogs.

Hope you're all still enjoying your break!

Coop, thank you for keeping up with postings here! :) so, you lost your Mother 10 months ago? :( I'm very very sorry :hug: reading those Christmas cards that don't mention her (or even worse, DO mention her) must have been very difficult.

I did have to giggle at your description of your well-intentioned goals and then the nibbling afterward...I go in the kitchen, take some Christmas cookies and savor them while thinking 'this is why I am miserable' but finish them :?:

I am not sure I understand about your anti-depressants are your pain management? but that sounds like it could be a quandary. That if you need them for pain relief, you shouldn't be off them.

Lisa, how are you??? do you expect your daughter to call and apologize, or isn't that the way she does things? I hope your hurt has faded a little..but wow our kids can hurt us sometimes!!

Hello to everyone else :hug:

Had to go to a first cousin's funeral today, she died of ovarian cancer at age
59, too young, her parents (my aunt and uncle) are of course pretty devastated, we are not supposed to outlive our children :( I was not that close to my cousin so I am kinda embarrased that I didn't even cry :o

We are getting our first significant snow tonight/tomorrow, and I do have work tomorrow, so I hope my new-to-me car does good in the snow, wish me luck.

good night all

Vermontmom - sorry to hear of your cousin, it's not an easy time of year to lose anyone. It will have meant a lot to your aunt and uncle to have had you there - these things are also about showing support to those left behind, and whether you cry or not, the sentiment is there.

The pills I'm on came to the market as anti-depressants, but they discovered they're good for pain management if taken at half the anti-depressant dose. Just enough to mess with your emotions, but without the same benefit. They aren't helping the pain either, so I'm fed up with being on them!

Things here are tough. I won't be here much, please keep the thread going until I am ready to come back.


I wish I could explain but I don't really feel like going into the whole thing.


I'll post again when I am up to it.

Sending kind thoughts and hugs x

More than enough going on here, don't worry about us at all...

Coop, I worry about the thread dying. You all mean so much to me.


Jennifer and I had an argument on Christmas. We talked on the phone last night and made some positive process but she texted me today and said she wasn't coming home until tomorrow night. I am feeling all kinds of feelings about the whole thing. I feel like she loves and respects everyone but me.

anyway, that is what is going on here. I am just down and disappointed.

Holly, I once read that a person should never be judged by how they act at a funeral service. We all mourn differently. And, I can tell you from personal experience. unless someone acts really bizarre, the immediate family will never remember what you said, whether you cried, what you wore - they will only remember that you came to pay your respects.

When my father passed away, a thin young man with a long scraggly beard came through the receiving line, grabbed each of our hands, bowed, never said a word, and walked out. Later we checked the names, and none of us knew who this guy was. When my mother passed less than three years later, and we were all sitting making plans, one of my brothers said, "I hope (the guy) shows up!" Well, it cracked us all up, gave us a good moment of fun in a tough time. Bottom line, do not worry whether you cried or not.

Lisa, I am sorry things are so tough for you. Take care.

Lisa, we are thinking of you!! and hoping it works out and that you feel that your daughter is giving you the respect you deserve...that she loves and respects you is a certainty but she needs to let you see it! :hug:

EasySpirit, thanks :) and I love the unknown stranger story :D

I didn't describe however, the 2 hour car ride with my sister down there :eek: she might be 6 years sober but she is still bat-crap crazy!! Really on-edge and gets irrationally, quickly upset about really trivial things. And totally selfish about the conversation, turned every topic back to herself. Well I will know to continue to keep my distance from her.

Now that we have received some snow, work is crazy busy again, it will be a long busy day tomorrow.

Hey even though I still eat like a horse, like a sugar-crazed horse, I've been keeping up with working out (about 3 to 4 times a week) and after shoveling for TWO HOURS yesterday, I am not sore today!! :carrot:

have a good night and we really are pulling for you Lisa :)

oh and here is a perfect example of why I don't want to be around my sister...you know how when you worry about what you think you look like, and people say 'other people are never as critical or interested in what you look like, as you might be worried about" ? Like about going to the gym and being embarrassed about not being in-shape, or whatever...well one of my cousins has put on some weight, but so what?? So we are leaving the service and we are not even off the front porch when my jerk sister says 'wow "Jane" has really gotten huge!" Jerk.

(this is not to disrespect what you said, EasySpirit, about me wondering if it was bad not to cry and wondering if it was noticed...this is just a concrete example of what a mean spirit my sister is)

I am up in the middle of the night because my dog decided he had to go outside - raw and rainy out, and now I cannot get back to sleep.

Holly, you and I could play, "Can You Top This?" with our sisters. One of mine is fine, the other is a total nut - odd, socially inept, self-centered, paranoid - and, here is the best - she is a PSYCHO-ANALYST with a thriving practice.

On the diet front, I have started to eliminate all sugar by following the I QUIT SUGAR eight week detox. I started Sunday; thank goodness the first week is cutting back, etc., as I just this minute realized the almond butter I have been using has sugar. AGH! I can't believe it. I usually buy Trader Joe's all natural, nothing added, but this jar was on sale elsewhere and I bought it. It is going to get tossed!

Lisa, let us know how you are doing. We are worried.

:eek: and :rofl:

congrats on your determination to kick the sugar!! I know every day is a fresh opportunity, maybe today will be the day.

Takes one to know one?

Just popping by to wish you all a happy new year :) hope the year ahead treats you kindly.

Feeling down again. I jogged for 45 minutes yesterday and walked another 20. I've been eating well. And yet here I am. Haven't lost a single ounce. I think I'm panicking.