Britt,

Thanks for your suggestion, Britt. I'll try OKCupid at least, go look at the website.

I'm still going to be going out to make new friends. I think it's time.

Holly,

You all are right. I thought I had gotten over most of the trauma from last year but it snuck up on me again. Stuff like that is weird, you think you've come to terms with emotional stuff and you turn out to be wrong.

What are you going to do about another car? Are you going to continue to share an automobile for a while?

Sorry, I don't have much to say. I'm in another weird mood.


Much love to you all.

Britt, I joined OKCupid.

I'm sorry if I've missed anyone. I am having trouble concentrating today. Sorry.

Hi friends

Lisa Hi I'm so glad you know some people already at the bar you've been to, that always makes you feel accepted doesn't it? (thinking "Hey Norm" from Cheers, lol) I bet you would also meet dog lovers if you took Elvira around to a doggy play park? maybe.

good for you for doing the car related stuff, license and tags. That sure can take alot out of you!

Coop - When would your charity race be, if you did sign up for that? wow it would be a pain for you to have to wait that much longer for tests for your OH. Yes I like Leslie Sansone, I thought it would be boring but I am willingly doing them. Well because I have no choice, Im still forbidden to use weights.

Hi to everyone else!!

We were given a really nice rental car for the time being, a 2017 Jeep Renegade. The at-fault person's insurance is paying for the daily insurance charge too because we refused. And the adjuster came today, came to our driveway to look at the car...and we got more than expected! still a pain to have to search for a replacement car. We always buy used, no more new or leased cars for us.

I have really been ignoring the weight I've gained, which I know is not that much in the big picture, but too much for me. But I'm not doing anything about it diet wise. Like, I will be thinking of how much I want to be trimmer AS I AM EATING SWEET CRAP what is wrong with me??

well maybe my upcoming time off from work will change my attitude, somehow.

Hi Ladies, happy April

enjoying my day off, even though it's rainy and cold and dreary. The rain is helping get rid of the snow though

I just have to vent a bit. I don't buy junk or sweets, I don't bring it into the house. But if it's here, OMG it is so hard to resist A lemon meringue pie, 2 containers of ice cream, and easter candy was brought into the house. This is why I can't lose fat

Hi,

I'm very glad your eye surgery went well! I am beyond excited for the end of your winter job...any plans for your five weeks off (I know you mentioned having your second eye done).

Kathleen - good for you that your clothes are fitting better! I had a friend once who tracked her workouts on a calendar (I think this was a longtime habit of here) and she found it motivating.

I might consider tracking my workouts on a calendar too...I went twice this week, no days at all last week, and once the previous weeks, three days a week prior to that..

I was proud of myself this week for driving myself there (usually I get dropped off) twice and being mindful of my anxiety while I was working out. It helped to acknowledge my feelings instead of shaming myself for being so broken.

I did well this week with eating. I feel very proud of myself. Last week I did well and then had two small binges (last week). Normally I would have closed out the week bingeing but for once I stopped myself. As a result I only gained 0.4 pounds so I'm proud of myself.

This week I have been mindful and compassionate about my urges to binge...As a result I'm feeling the urge very infrequently. And it's been the most stressful week ever in terms of work. So I'm glad

I am very happy to hear that your son is doing better!!! Have you decided on having him join you at the lake?

I have a few suggestions for books. Related to weight control, I absolutely love The Beck Diet Solution, written by the daughter of Dr Beck...who I believe founded CBT therapy. I have done a lot of the exercises/daily habits and there are quite a few that I practice to this day, after three years.There are a lot of exercises and personally I felt a little overwhelmed doing one new habit a day, but you could do a habit a week or just pick three or five habits and leave it at that. It's an excellent, insightful, and very helpful CBT book.

I also have Mindfulness and Acceptance (an excellent CBT book, not weight related), which comes with a CD with worksheets and meditations. It's excellent; I'm only a few chapters in and I'll pick it up again probably this summer but I highly recommend it.

Lastly, True Refuge by Tara Brach. She is a psychotherapist and her book is what I'm reading now. She has lots of talks on her podcast and YouTube videos too. She is a practitioner of Buddhist meditation. I'm a Christian but what I like about her is that she makes mindfulness and meditation (essential for CBT work I think) accessible to all faiths. I feel comfortable doing her meditations and I've felt that her book and meditations have kept me going this past two weeks.

Lisa - Do you think you might get your some thing special or do even a small fun thing for your birthday? Its ok if you don't...but just wanted to say you could even do something small.

I'm really glad that you are feeling a little better. I really like the previous suggestion to perhaps journal or see a therapist about the things that might be on your mind. Even sometimes screaming into a pillow or crying is helpful in acknowledging what's transpired over the last year.

I've been doing some guided meditations specially for dealing with trauma and it's been helpful. I get so mad because no one understands what I have been going for over the last three years...but doing these short meditations are helping ME understand what I've gone through and to help build up a refuge in myself.

So I'm decidedly taking over this thread today

An update on myself...I have been using mindfulness and CBT to help with my urge to binge and it's been helpful. Its been the most stressful week ever and I have managed to work out twice and eat according to my plan.

My stress is mostly coming from work. I just feel horrible about myself and about my future. I want to have a career, to be good at something, and to move up...in some organization...doing something meaningful.My employment counsellor told me that I needed to go on unemployment to work on job searching because she said she didn't think i could handle working plus job searching. That i was too mentally exhausted to do both. I felt that she was amazingly helpful previously, but I could not relate to this suggestion at all. Yes probably i could get signed off sick temporarily because I actually have one diagnosis (OCD) that is impacting me. But shouldn't it be for me to decide when I can't go on any longer? She spent the whole hour trying to convince me.

My husband said that if anyone tells me I can't do something, that I should refer them to him. He says I can do anything I want and I decide when I have had enough.

There are a ton of changes at work and I'm trying to cope by staying in my own bubble and doing my job. I don't have to interact with people in my office, but I find that things are being positioned more and more that people are in my bubble. I am being intentionally vague to protect my identity...Anyway I think something is going to come to a head today and I've been anxious all week about it. I don't like feeling trapped or backed against a wall...i am a big fan of compromise. Im hoping that will be the case with this issue today. Im hoping that the changes that are being forced will lead I to greener pastures...but im hoping that "they" will be compromising in return. I have never made waves at work, im pretty easy to deal with...so I'm hoping that my past history will help me out.I work in a department where everyone has a huge personality with lots of outspoken opinions...im the only one who is assertive but just goes with the flow, picks my battles etc.

Im going to launch my official job search this weekend. I have an appointment at the end of the month with my employment counsellor and I am hoping to have had some practice/progress applying by then (for my own sake as well as to prove to her that she is wrong).

I'm terrified I won't see postings for good jobs. My counselor is a fan of getting jobs by approaching companies who aren't necessarily advertising. But I don't know how to do that yet so I will have to wait for the end of the month to start doing that.

I'm also a little angry/sad that a good friendship may have come to an end. It's my one friend left but a few things have gone to his head and he is being insufferable. He has a specific type of personality and although a wonderful person with a ton of good points, he cannot usually sympathize with others or be tactful at key moments so I might just be done.

Hey ladies,

I've had a couple good days here. I got a lot done around the house. Monday is trash day so all my trash bins need to be filled and put out tomorrow. I'll finish filling them up tomorrow. I am going to start working on cleaning my car out too.

It was really nice out today, just a little chilly. There were a lot of people out fishing.

Jennifer and I talked on the phone today. It was really nice. I always miss her.

It is so nice living here. Even though there is a lot on my plate right now, it's kinda fun to organize the house.


Anyway, sorry I don't have a lot to say. I'm just in a quiet mood today.

Have a great Sunday.

Hello everyone!

I have been dealing with a pinched nerve and hip issues. Every time I decide to post, I get overwhelmed. So, I will keep this short.

Holly, I am happy to hear your first surgery went well, and the winter job is over! Although the old rat b*stard does sound like he is mellowing. Did you get your $2.00 bonus?

Kathleen, it is so good to hear your son is doing well; he is always in my prayers.

Lisa, it sounds like you are adjusting and enjoying your new home. After the year you have had, you certainly deserve some peace and happiness.

We had a mild winter here, but it did not want to leave at the end! I don't remember a year with as many high wind storms.

Hello to everyone else, and welcome to those who joined after I last posted.

Happy Spring!!

PS - My weight is up a few pounds - nothing sooths pain like chocolate and ice cream!