[SunnyD57]

Hello Plump girl from Southern California... Here is the thread I told you I would begin for us Do you know that I am originally from California... too cool that you would search me out to be your buddy I am from the desert - 29 Palms - have you heard of it?

How are you doing today? Feeling any better? I do hope you are. What food program have you chosen to go on? Are you married?

I am sorry I didn't get back to you sooner then this, but I was plum tuckered out from hosting the evening bible study last night and we were up and out of the house at 8:00 this morning. The study by-the-way was a total success, if I do say so myself I was sooo concerned that we wouldn't have enough seating for 14 people --- but it all worked out beautifully. The Lord has a way of working things out... doesn't He

I do hope to hear from you again... please know that you are in my thoughts and my prayers.

*God Bless*
SunnyD
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[SunnyD57]

Good Morning

Well... I really don't know what happened to Plump-Girl but if anyone else needs a place just to vent frustrations or if you need a little *pick-me-up* because of your spirits being a little low... do stop in. I will do my very best to lend a shoulder & and encouraging word.

I see that at least 20 of you have checked in on this thread So do stop in... I only began this thread for plump-girl because she sent me a PM looking for a buddy, but I haven't heard from her yet. P-Girl... I am here if you still want to chat.

Here's a little tea for the spirits --- just as cleansing and comforting:

"My friends, you will have many kinds of troubles. But when these things happen, you should be very happy. You know that these things are testing your failth. And this will give you patience"
James 1: 2-3

[lbsbgone]

Sunny D. were you with a military family as 29 Palms is almost all Marines, with the base there?

I've been trying very hard except have not gotten my exercise in and I show a gain on the scales at home. So could use some encouragment. Well, I only had a minute to post.

Take care and happy weight loss and healthier eating to you.

lbsbgone.

[SunnyD57]

Hi Lbsbgone, Yes, my father is a retired Marine officer and he met my mother in 29 Palms... I am their first born I grew up all over the U.S. but was mostly there in 29 Palms. I still have some family living there not far from the base.

I used to weigh 235 lbs. at my heaviest years ago & had lost over 95 lbs. I kept it off for almost 8 years and then after some deaths and trials in the family I went to my old ways of comforting myself with food... it didn't take long in finding myself back up to 216 lbs So... ... I began to walk again that I may get this weight under control before I got all the way up to 235 again, in the year and few months I have back to walking and just recently really watching my diet I have dropped 27 lbs. and feel that I am well on my way to reaching my goal.

You can do this too, but it takes daily talks with our Lord for strength (& to yourself)... you have to look at your food program like you are making better choices for your health and well-being, not that you are depriving yourself... just that you are making better choices. I have tried just about every diet, but the best program for me is to go *low fat* *no caffeine* *no dairy* & smaller portions 6 times a day & getting off of sugar as much as possible (I use Splenda). I have had many surgeries after a pretty bad auto accident in 1976 and now cope with severe IBS flare-ups if I don't stick with this food program... when I make good choices I have very good days. Basically am doing this on my own at home and with the support of my hubby & all my buds here at 3fatchicks. I try my utmost to stay upbeat because it does help so many others, and in that process, it does help me to keep going each day too.

Can you tell me a bit more about YOU???

(((Hugs))) to you Lbsbgone & to all of you trying so hard to make it a better day, everyday!

Always,
SunnyD
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[lbsbgone]

I am not from a military family, I just happen to know where 29 Palms is because I live in the desert of California. My husband and I are both disabled. We live on a very small income and share a house with my 85 year old widowed FIL. I have been a Christian since the mid 1980's, but because of alot of health problems I wasn't always active in a local church body and found my Christian life a little stagnate. Dh is a Christian, but had an experience at a church which left him discouraged so he was backslidden for a large period of time. I am happy to say that we are both now growing and walking with the Lord and that we are members of a local church and as involved as our health will allow.

I was not overweight as a child nor in high school (but thought that I was because I wore a size 9 clothes and I am 5'8" tall.) In about 1989, dh had a desire to lose weight and wanted my help, so we both joined Jenny Craig even though I was only 20 lbs. overweight. We were much more financially able at that time to be able to afford Jenny Craig and became lifetime members. I kept the weight off for a year. During that time I was told by my doctor that I should quit work because of my health. So between adjusting to being at home and the fact that at this same time dh became very sick also and had to leave a well paying job, we started to suffer physically and financially and these stresses made my weight climb to 228 lbs. About a year ago, I lost 42 lbs. on a low cholesterol diet and kept it off for a year, then got bored with that food plan and went back to eating more sugar and also eating out with FIL on a regular basis at his favorite restaurant which does not know the meaning of low fat on their menu. Therefore, the pounds crept up to 218 lbs., I now hover around 208 lbs.

Dh's dr. put him on disability about two years ago. I'm always hoping that he will walk with me for exercise, but he very seldom feels well enough and I cannot find the motivation to do it on a consistent basis on my own. My church is in another town, so I do not live close enough to a church member to walk with them. Although, I am following the TOPS plan pretty much, I am not a member of TOPS. I just have their books which I am reading to try and get insight on this weight loss journey. The book that I am currently reading deals alot with success stories. It is great, but I really need a structured diet to follow and am hoping that the 2nd TOPS book that I got as a Christmas gift will address that issue.

My goal weight is 140 lbs. I would like to lose 40 lbs. between now and September when dh and I take a professional portrait for our 20th wedding anniversary and then go from that point to goal weight. I want to do this for life as I want to make the best food and exercises choices that I can within my limitations of health.

Without going into my specific illness, I just wanted to say that losing weight would only help my cholesterol it would not improve my disabiling illness, but it would greatly help dh with some of his ailments to lose some weight although he would still have his disabiling illness no matter what his weight...

Well, that is probably more than you wanted to know about me. Thanks for listening. By the way we try to only eat Splenda sweetened products and drink no carbonated beverages.

lbsbgone

[SunnyD57]

Hi Lbsbgone,

Sorry I haven't been back till now... I just felt like taking a break from the computer yesterday is all

Monday my girlfriend, Peggy, and I were suppose to go shopping at the Craft Ctr. and then go to lunch together. Well... ... we did go to lunch together, but the weather has gotten so crummy here we didn't dare go further then the "in town" diner for lunch. We just felt it best to stay close to home, so spent the whole day here visiting with me leaving just for our lunch out. All-in-all we had a great 'catch-up' visit with one another. By the time she left it was time for me to make dinner & my hubby came home. Sorry I never made it back here. As for yesterday I just got into watching some Classic movies that I have on DvD & the taped shows I wanted to see so I could use the tape again to record *American Idol* for my hubby...
so I vegged all day

Did you happen to catch *American Idol* last night?? Do you watch it? Just too funny for the most part!! Some of those people... I really felt sorry for, though... they really thought that they had a shot to become a good singer. Something what you think you can do verses the reality of what you can do. Simon & Paula even made the statement that these parents should stop telling their kids they are good at things when they aren't cuz they are causing more pain for their kids in the long run... I think there's some truth to that. Because Joe & I are interested in music and sing we both enjoy shows like this.

Same here Lbsbgone, I don't drink anything carbonated either... and I only use Splenda. That's a great start for us both, not to mention that I am from the desert and you now live there. Nope, I didn't mind you sharing at all! In fact I liked that you did... share away

You know, come to think about it... I wasn't overweight as a child or young adult either... I just thought I was when I was a teen, but I really wasn't. Boy, do I wish I weighed now what I weighed then funny how different things really were when we take that look back. I put the weight on after my car accident and surgeries...

I was just wondering something Lbsbgone... you are 5' 8" --- do you think that 140 is a little low? I am 5' 5" and I was told by my Dr. that 155 is a good weight for me. I'd like to be 140 again, but I need to tackle one goal first. Maybe your bone structure is different... so that's why I asked? Please don't be offended. I will support you in any way I am able to --- we'll support one another

Time for me to go now...
Hope to catch you later and that you haven't left,
sorry I was gone so long.
(((Hugs)))
SunnyD
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[SunnyD57]

"Let your patience show itself perfectly in what you do. Then you will be perfect and complete. You will have everything you need. But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. God is generous. He enjoys giving to all people, so God will give you wisdom. But when you ask God, you must believe. Do not doubt God. Anyone who doubts is like a wave in the sea. The wind blows the wave up and down."
James 1:4-6

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[lbsbgone]

I totally understand about wanting periodic breaks from the computer. Sorry, I watch no tv, so have not seen American Idol. I find that when I do not feel like being on the computer then I will grab a good book before watching tv. I usually do not use the library because sometimes it can take me several weeks to finish a book and when I get a book from the library and know that it is due on a certain date, then I feel pressure and do not enjoy the book as much as if I own it and read it at my leisure. I buy only books that I want to keep on my bookshelf and reference back to. I find them inexpensively through the internet or ask for them as gifts for my birthday or Christmas.

I hope that I sleep tonight because I dozed off after dinner. I hardly ever fall asleep this late in the evening and in general have a hard time napping during the daytime too. I don't sleep well at night though, so I never feel rested.

So sorry to hear that you were involved in a serious car accident and have required surgeries.

I had a 1/2 lb. loss today. Not much, but it is better than a gain.

So glad that you and your girlfriend had a nice day together. Too bad that the weather did not cooperate though.

Other than church activities and errands, I am pretty much a home body. I do enjoy a night off from cooking though and we have so many wonderful restaurants within our area that it is fun to go to one every so often. Our budget usually requires that we choose plain Jane restaurants unless it is a special occassion like an anniversary and then we will save up and go somewhere nice.

I asked the dr. awhile back for a goal weight for me he said 145 and I said well, I think that I can get down to 140 so he said well give it a try. I have spent most of my life between 128 and 140 lbs. Although I was 153 lbs. when I agreed to join Jenny Craig years ago with dh. I carry my weight well for someone my size. However the book that I am reading calculated my current Body Mass Index as severely obese at 210 lbs. and 5'8" tall. What an eye opener that was. I knew that I was obese, but never thought of myself as SEVERELY obese.

Well, one of my cats that looks just like your cat in your Christmas photos is hanging all over the keyboard, I guess that is my hint that she wants attention and not to have me be typing, so I will close this letter for now.

Thanks again for writing back. Take care!

lbsbgone

[lbsbgone]

I totally understand about wanting periodic breaks from the computer. Sorry, I watch no tv, so have not seen American Idol. I find that when I do not feel like being on the computer then I will grab a good book before watching tv. I usually do not use the library because sometimes it can take me several weeks to finish a book and when I get a book from the library and know that it is due on a certain date, then I feel pressure and do not enjoy the book as much as if I own it and read it at my leisure. I buy only books that I want to keep on my bookshelf and reference back to. I find them inexpensively through the internet or ask for them as gifts for my birthday or Christmas.

I hope that I sleep tonight because I dozed off after dinner. I hardly ever fall asleep this late in the evening and in general have a hard time napping during the daytime too. I don't sleep well at night though, so I never feel rested.

So sorry to hear that you were involved in a serious car accident and have required surgeries.

I had a 1/2 lb. loss today. Not much, but it is better than a gain.

So glad that you and your girlfriend had a nice day together. Too bad that the weather did not cooperate though.

Other than church activities and errands, I am pretty much a home body. I do enjoy a night off from cooking though and we have so many wonderful restaurants within our area that it is fun to go to one every so often. Our budget usually requires that we choose plain Jane restaurants unless it is a special occassion like an anniversary and then we will save up and go somewhere nice.

I asked the dr. awhile back for a goal weight for me he said 145 and I said well, I think that I can get down to 140 so he said well give it a try. I have spent most of my life between 128 and 140 lbs. Although I was 153 lbs. when I agreed to join Jenny Craig years ago with dh. I carry my weight well for someone my size. However the book that I am reading calculated my current Body Mass Index as severely obese at 210 lbs. and 5'8" tall. What an eye opener that was. I knew that I was obese, but never thought of myself as SEVERELY obese.

Well, one of my cats that looks just like your cat in your Christmas photos is hanging all over the keyboard, I guess that is my hint that she wants attention and not to have me be typing, so I will close this letter for now.

Thanks again for writing back. Take care!

lbsbgone

[lbsbgone]

I am still half asleep and I meant to hit the back arrow key and hit the submit reply key twice, so if I double posted please ignore it.

lbsbgone

[SunnyD57]

Good Afternoon Lbsbgone, How are you feeling? Is that headache leaving you yet?? I am very concerned as I expressed on the CER's thread.

So you don't watch any TV? I am sorry to say that I am hooked on allot of programs --- I am a big HGTV & CSI fan and they have three nights of shows. I don't watch soaps - haven't in about 5 years now, just stopped watching them, but I do enjoy a good Sherlock Holmes show like CSI and a couple of the reality shows like *Survivor* & *American Idol* Joe & I sing at our church in a small group and so we enjoy Idol and the singers that are good on there. Anyway... enough of me trying to justify my TV watching

How have you been sleeping lately? You doing any better? I find that I sleep better during the summer when I am outdoors more during the day --- I garden allot during the Spring & Summer into the Fall and it keeps me very busy. During the Winter I don't sleep as well... waking up several times. In fact, I woke up this morning at 2:30 and have been up since. Maybe I will sleep better tonight.

What do you do for a hobbie? I enjoy making my cards for friends and family, they take allot of my time, but it's fun! I also enjoy taking pictures with my new digital camera.

Do you know how to post pictures?? I'd sure enjoy seeing you and your pets if you don't mind sharing...

I hope to hear from you soon --- let me know that you are okay

*God Bless*
Your net friend,
SunnyD
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[lbsbgone]

Your e-mails always brighten up my day. There was one Christian exercise show that I used to really enjoy years ago called "Beverly Exercise." However, when we moved from the high desert to the low desert we changed cable companies and could no longer get the show. I've tried finding a web-page for them on the internet, but it really looked half done and as if they were no longer broadcasting the show. I do know that when I watched the show the exercise hostess often talked of her husband being in ill health, so maybe that is why she no longer produces the show.

Neither my husband or myself are very musical. I love to sing to the Lord even if it is offkey and I think that He is pleased that I am praising Him whether on or offkey.

The books that I like to read are budgeting, frugal and simple living and fitness books. I do read Christian books like "The Purpose Driven Life" and "The Prayer of Jabez." The Boundaries in Marriage series by Dr. Townsend and Dr. Cloud is an excellent bible study. What even made it better is that our associate pastor has a doctorate in psychology and has a psycho-therapy practice along with being a pastor and his insight as he lead the study was absolutely great! I have quite a few cookbooks, but I tend to wing it in the kitchen instead. I find that recipes generally increase my food bills.

I am not very computer literate. My dear husband is very computer literate and is the church digital photographer and newsletter editor. This takes alot of his time, but I find that when he has a day when he feels good (which is rare as he is disabled) and he is caught up on his church obligations, he will post pictures for me. So one of these days, I may just may surprise you with a few pictures of me, my husband and the cats. Although, my husband is generally behind the camera taking the pictures so he seldom gets in the pictures.

Taking care of my 85 year old FIL takes alot of my time as he knows nothing about cooking, laundry, cleaning...

Although I haven't done it in a long time I used to do latch hook rugs and embroidery on kitchen towels and pillowcases. Both of which my dear grandmother taught me. I really don't have the room to do alot of crafts as we live in one bedroom of FIL's house and the rest of our things are in storage sheds in the back yard. I do not know how to sew and really am not too crafty.

I send alot of cards too, but I buy my cards every July from Current, Inc. that is when they have their year end closeouts. I also send greeting cards from church to the members.

My headaches come and go. However, dh and I are going to get a memory foam pillow each to see if a good supportive pillow will help some as we have neck pain too. We currently have down pillows.

I never sleep well, no matter what time of the year. My new doctor is hesitant in prescribing anything for me for sleep because the last doctor to prescribe anything for my sleep left me with fainting spells because it dropped my blood pressure to 80/50. My blood pressure has always been low. Too low at times. My dh envys my blood pressure readings as he takes meds for his blood pressure.

Well, I had better close this novel for now. Take care!

lbsbgone

[SunnyD57]

Good Morning Lbsbgone!

I am so glad to hear that I brighten your day... you made mine by saying that. Thank-you If I can bring some Sonshine into someone's life it bring more joy into mine

My how the time just seems to get away from me! I usually don't post often on the weekends, but this time I got all caught up in some early Spring cleaning I began on Monday and just haven't been on the computer long enough to post - just checked in once in awhile.

How have you been? My goodness you live in a very small place from your description... I don't know how you do it. I give you allot of credit! I need space... I too took care of my FIL - he has since passed, but I did it for about 6 years... he was 87 when he passed on two years ago now. I use to go over to his apartment and do his laundry, did some cooking and cleaned for him & helped him with his finances. But his last 3 years he was in a nursing home and they cared for him & Joe & I visited often. They took such good care of him too. We could not have done it... he just needed too much care with his meds and all. Is your FIL in good health?

Oh my goodness... Current! I use to order from them all the time, but haven't since I have begun making all my own cards. Now you have given me the urge to check them out again I enjoy their products allot!

Yesterday I started sorting, packing & cleaning at around 9am and didn't finish till 7:30pm, but I sure got allot done I have been sorting through old boxes trying to figure out what to keep and what not to and that isn't easy for me --- I hold on to everything. But I thought while I was in the mood I would begin to do it. It all started with me buying new bins for the Christmas Decorations and now it's gone into major cleaning and sorting. I must say... it feels pretty good (now) to purge things I would use or look at again. So... while I still feel this way I want to finish up Well, I really must be going... I have another very full day ahead of me and need to get started.

Hope you have a Wonderful Day, Lbsbgone!!
We are having sunshine again today, day #5! But very cold! 15* this morning. How about you? How's your weather? It makes all the difference in the world to enjoy the sun! I feel so much happier

Hope you have a Wonderful Day!!
*God Bless*
{{{Hugs}}}
SunnyD
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[lbsbgone]

Hello Sunny D! How are you? I wrote you a long message a few days ago only it wouldn't go through because dh had accidentally erased the cookie for the site and then I tried to log on and had forgot my password, so I see that my message is floating in cyber space somewhere.

We've had a busy week too. We have done some deep cleaning and making meals for a friend who is losing the battle with cancer and will be in Jesus arms soon.

Dh is at the churches Superbowl party for men. I will pick him up when the game is over.

Yes, we do live in a small space and it is not easy. Especially for a person who is organizationally challenged like me. I'm a visual person so I want things on desk tops... or else I forget about them.

Our weather has been in the mid 70's. Just what you wanted to hear when your weather has been so cold. I like our winters and spring, but HATE our summer and fall weather. It's like baking in an oven.

Well, my cat is all over me wanting attention so I guess that I will close this letter for now. I hope that this letter goes through this time and that it finds you doing fine.

lbsbgone

[SunnyD57]

Good Morning Lbsbgone,

So good to hear from you Sorry you lost your post again... now that I write in my e-mail first (just as if I were sending one off) & then just do a copy and paste to the forum when I am finished - I don't worry about that anymore. I lose the post all the time here too, but then I just go back to my e-mail page & do a *copy and paste* again and 'tah-dah' ~ not nearly as much frustration. I think they are having problems at this site, allot of people have been losing their posts lately... Wishing you luck.

I am so very sorry to hear about your Dear Friend dying of cancer - what is his or her first name? I will be honored to add he or she to my prayers, either way I will do that, but it's always nice to say their name in my prayers. On that note... Lbsbgone? What is your first name (if you don't mind me asking ) - mine is Donna... but I enjoy being called SunnyD

I have been sooo very busy too... but have gotten so much done & it feels so nice!

Joe & I had our friends over yesterday to watch the Super Bowl... what a nice day we had! Especially since our team (The Patriots) WON!

Have you ever begun one project to find yourself up to your neck in another... it's like a Domino effect It all began with us buying storage bins on Monday for all my Decorations... Joe had the day off for our dental appointments & we went shopping afterwards. Tuesday I began cleaning things up to store them and then went into another project and into another and I had to get it done so things would be in my hallway or in my living-room... I am still not finished, but gone enough done for the moment to give it a week or two of rest before I begin again. I also had a deadline today to e-mail everyone with the music lists - I am in charge of selecting music for the musicians at our church for each month and I was way behind in getting started. But I did get it finished and even got it done for next month too! So now I am all set till the end of March What a relief!

Joe & I also got our taxes done Thursday night too - so I was so brain dead by 9pm. We mailed that off Friday morning - nice to know we'll be getting a bit back this year. Oh... and I had to make a couple cards too... a friend is moving and another is ill. That took me a bit of time to do too... I enjoy embellishing them.

I still haven't paid my bill's this week! I usually do that each Thursday, but with so much to get done this week I have neglected *us*. I will squeak in a couple hours today... I have too!

We went out to dinner with our friends Saturday evening to celebrate my 48th birthday together... we always have the best time out with them!! We went to Longhorn steakhouse My birthday is actually this Tuesday and my hubby is going to take off that day too We will probably catch a movie out being it's going to rain and then that evening we are going out to dinner together at our favorite family restaurant... you know the kind of place where everyone knows your name

70's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so jealous!!!!!
And here I was gloating over reaching the 50's
Enjoy it! I sure have been...

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Well, I really must be getting my day started... I have allot to clean-up from the Super-Bowl party we had here yesterday.

{{{Hugs}}}
SunnyD
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