CAFFIENE1V ~ glad that you came over to visit us here; I think you'll like it here. We all know what it's like to have several challenges while trying to lose weight. You definitely have had some problems for sure. I think the key thing is to just keep on, keepin' on ... you are already down to 180 lbs; so you only have to go another 60 to meet your goal, and that is very doable. Our PURPLE and VAL (short for VALDINE) are doing fantastic. Both are doing a low-carb type plan with VAL eating less meat, but she still eats fish, poultry, and bit of lean beef now and then.
I'm on a lower carb (not no-carb) but more balanced plan because I have had trouble with my sugars, which I'm proud to say are back in the normal range. I am also on METFORMIN so I have to make sure to eat enough or I have the opposite problem and get sick from low blood sugar. I have lost only 3 inches this year; and been on a long stall, so I have been making some changes lately to try and help.
For one, I have increased my walking to at least one short walk each day, plus 2-3 longer walks each week; plus I have my rowing maching set up and available again. I am going to get DH to set up all my equipment for me just as soon as we find out where we are going to be living for the next year. I also lift hand weights and do Chair Aerobics, which I have added some TAI CHAI and Belly dancing arm movements to for variations. I also have Leslie Sansones WALK OFF THE POUNDS dvds which I want to use more this winter.
I hope these changes will make a difference for me. I heard someone say recently, "That all is not lost, as long as you still have the courage to dream the dream!" He also said that having courage is a choice ~ you can choose to have the courage to keep on trying; and courage isn't something that you can lose: no-one can take it from you. This was a spiritual message that really lifted my spirits this week ...
MEOWEE ~ Hope that your PC gets fixed up real soon; so that you can actually use your new laptop. I have also heard some of the concerns that CAFFEINE has mentioned; maybe you could put a pad of some type under the laptop if it gets too warm.
About my PC UPDATE ~ ... well I got really fooled this week. Every time I couldn't get onto the net, I would do a bit of research then call someone (ie a tech support guy or a friend or relative) to find out what was wrong. Each time it would turn out to be a loose wire or connection; or my modem was gone. On Tuesday, I couldn't get on the net all day, then I remembered that I had a back-up modem in my older PC (DH tried to say I didn't, as his memory was playing tricks on him that day, but thankfully I pressed the issue).
I hooked it all up and here I was a happy camper back on the net again; so I thought that's the proof I needed: my modem is gone for sure (after all, it was only a second-hand one). So the next day, DH and I go into town and I pick up a new one. Then I read the paper today with shock: apparently some saboteur cut some large cable that supplied the internet to all of Northern Ontario. The only reason I was able to get on with my older PC that evening was because the workers had replaced the cable by then. So my techie support was in error; it isn't always the modem!!!

So now I have an extra new modem for spare, as technical components for PC's are non-returnable here. Oh well, if I ever need one in the future, I have one right handy ~ LOL! Did we learn something this week class??? LOL! DUH ...
HI VAL ~ I bet you will be really busy over the next while; and I bet you are tres, tres excited too! I'm sorry to hear that you've also been having some PC troubles; I guess it's the week for PC problems ... LOL!
HIYA PURPLE ~ Hope you all have a wonderful trip over the next week (?). Enjoy yourselves. See you when you come back. BTW, I went to the doctors and we found out what kind of rash I had; I picked up a special salve for it and the one on my hand is completely gone now ... yeah!!! Most of the scap on my ankle is also gone; last one came off last night; now I'm just putting some more lotion to get rid of the dryness. It took a while, but we are winning ...

We had rain here all day; so we went to town to get a trailer hitch for our car: no-one had one, so we had to order one. DH found a place that had one for $120.00 less; then he has to attach it, but then we won't have to keep paying others to move around all our stuff. DH likes to be independant and not have to rely on others: and I understand that!
Oh and BTW, my DAD and SM arrived here last night and my DAD came by to chat for a while this morning; and I'm so happy that he looks better too. I don't know if I told you that he got bit by a snake (a Mississauga Rattler) and some red ants while working on his camper trailer recently, and had a very bad reaction, but he's doing much better right now.
Well, that's all the news from here for now; hope you are all feeling well. We also went out for lunch today (had chicken); so we will have a lighter dinner tonight. Take good care ladies; and I'll try to hold down the fort over the next few days while PC's get repaired and folks go on vacation ...
... Bon Voyage!!!I think I wrote a book ...
ROSEBUD 

I am really excited! And stressed and busy. My appetite took a vacation and I'm having trouble sleeping... so I'm cutting out caffeinated drinks for awhile. (kinda sad because a community group person I work with saved a coupon for a free starbucks for me and I have to wait till atleast next month to use it).
caffeine1v
hee hee I thought you name was caffeine IV. Caffeine gets me into all sorts of trouble... but it's latest usefullness is causing a lot of pain when I get silent UTI's. I'm on immuno-modifiers for MS so I'm prone to a lot of infections without typical symptoms. Sorry I missed the plan you're following?
I am so torn between quitting my weekend job and sticking with it. Weight loss is much slower now.. I have 37 pounds to go till goal but I plan on taking the next year to do it. It's buying new clothes that is going to break the bank! I'm going to have a talk with the manager at Reitmans where I work and stop her from giving me 4-9 and 5-9 shifts on Fridays. Maybe onlly 6-9 or nothing on Fridays! 
The encourgement about finding a place lifts my spirits too. Dh has been panicking, so I have to try and get him out of that negative frame of mind. We are not buying a place (can't afford that) becuz we are going to build one on our lot; we only have the foundation done and it will take us about 3-4 years to finish it one-stick-at-a-time ~ LOL!


