Hi Vermontmom! I'm up to Old Fashioned #11 and that person stop posting way before that. I am enjoying reading about you Aphil, tryin'hard, Kim and Silence. So far those are the only people I see still hanging around. By the way Aphil, I know it was awhile back, but those were great Star Wars Costumes.

Anyway, this week was my week to start running, but we're in a blizzard! I live in Colorado. Its so funny to see my dog hop around in the backyard. Its 2 feet +.

I decided today is a splirge day. Usually, I try to work out a little extra, however, the snow is making me incredibly lazy. I just want stay under the covers with the electric blanket and watch movies. But its early yet, I may get motivated.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Hello Everyone! Tryin' hard, I'm so happy to hear that the test results came back okay! That must have been so stressful. Sometimes the hardest part is not knowing. My mother has gone through a couple of biopsies in the past because of lumps in her breast. That waiting period is the worst.

Nancy~hope you enjoying your precious time with your husband!

Holly~I know what you mean about the weigh in thing! Hopefully this will keep me more accountable knowing that someone else is doing the same thing, the same day!

I've been doing pretty good this week. I have stayed within my calorie range. Last night I had about 300 calories to spare (don't ask me how) after dinner. So for a snack I splurged and had a Little Debbie snack cake. It was one of those swiss rolls with the creme filling. It was so good!! I know it wasn't the healthiest choice but we can treat ourselves every now and then right?

I have been adding in tons of veggies this past week so hopefully that will have positive effect on my weigh in as well. I don't feel like I am carrying around all of the extra water anymore, so that is definitely good. I'm going to the gym tonight. It's funny because I find myself actually looking forward to it! I am beginning to see the benefits of the weight lifting with my legs, so that pay off alone is enough motivation for me to keep going.

I have to get back to work but I will check in later. Everyone have a wonderful day!

Oh how frustrating! I just lost my whole post!
ANyway.... thank you Jacklyn for the good wishes. The hardest part was not knowing, but I do feel back in control of my body!
Holly, I don't know about everyone else, but I'm going to live vicariously through you when you go to Ben and Jerry's!! I want DETAILS! Seriously, this is one of the best things we are teaching each other. In order for us to do this for the rest of our lives, we've go to be able to go out and have ice cream once in a while. But that doesn't mean that it has to turn into a 30 day eating binge and a 10 pound weight gain. Think of it the way a thin person does--she will eat lighter during the day knowing she is going to have extra calories and probable step up her activity level for a day or two. One of the best things I have learned from my husband, a man who has never had a weight problem, is that his weight flucuates. Once, for an experiment, I asked him to weigh himself every day for a month. It was always higher on Mondays and by Friday, it was back down. This is a man who wears out his jeans--not grows out of them!!
My dd comes home in two days--the house has been too quiet while she's been gone! But, it has allowed dh to walk with me in the mornings and we've taken walks after dinner as well!
Well, ladies, I hope you're all having a great day. Snowey--how's the packing going? You're in my thoughts as you prepare for this next chapter in your life!

Hello everyone!
Class was great last night-we learned a new rhythm and a few new steps-we also had a vendor come in after class with hip scarves and some accessories-and I brought in some silk dance veils-and sold 3 of them-not too bad! I have been emailing with my teacher a lot, getting patterns set, and talking fabric, and getting prepared so I can get started on the troupe costumes. I am pretty excited about doing it, but a touch nervous. All of the costumes I have done have been for myself, my husband, or my kids-things for other people have been pretty basic-shirts, etc. So-I am hoping they turn out well, and that they all fit right and everyone is happy with them. Wish me luck-and I will get pictures when they are all finished.
Today is my Pilates day-and I am adding in a little extra bun and thigh work...I will get that done as soon as I get Raiden down for his nap.
Everyone sounds like they are doing well-Holly, that ice cream sundae sounds like the steak in the movie "The Great Outdoors" anyone remember that? :lol:
Nancy-I hope your move is going well...and that you and Bruce are getting "reaquainted." :devil: (I am so terrible-and no you can't count that as your daily workout. :lol: )
Well, everyone have a great day, drink your water, try to avoid too many "treats" in your daily calories and points-aim for more nutritious fare, and get that exercise in! Spring is almost here, and we are going to have to bare our legs soon!
Aphil

Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls.....Too good to be legal!!! Jacklyn -- I just wish they'd sell those individually. I simply cannot have the box at home. I buy my husband and son the Crunchy Star ones because I'm not tempted to eat those.

Doing okay with the exercise and eating. Planning on staying as good as possible in anticipation of our upcoming trip. I'm still finding that writing down what I eat is so very helpful to me. I'm just not too good at guessing how many calories I'm consuming otherwise...I usually underestimate it quite a bit or forget something ( a snack) that I ate.

Planning on preparing a special dinner for tonight but I'll control my quantities.

Hope everyone is doing great. Talk to you later!!

Thanks to everyone, I have been on the exercise band wagon! I walked with my son (pushing him in a stroller) for about 20 minutes, then did 20 min. of stretches before bed and 20 sit ups. Hey, you gotta start somewhere. Tonight after work, I am going to try Curves and do a run at the steps in the office. Good luck to everyone, and thanks for being so inspiring.;)

Georgia Lady--share with us your special dinner! I'm always looking for ways to make dinner a little bit more special, especially on the weekends.
Good for you Idealperson! Every little bit counts and you're off to a great start! Don't forget the little things you can do--park further away, stairs instead of elevators, that kind of thing!

Tryin'hard -- my "special" dinner was in honor of my DH and my 20th anniversary. I prepared a roast ( eye of round - very lean) with onion powder, garlic powder and hamburger seasoning. I made homemade potatoes au gratin using skim milk, velveeta, and crushed garlic for the sauce. The "guys" had huge buttermilk biscuits and I had fresh spinach. I watched my quantities but the fellas sorta gorged but that's okay...made me feel like they enjoyed it. It's not the usual fare around here now that I'm so careful about what we eat but this was a special occasion. I normally would have prepared a dessert but no one even noticed. Thanks for asking!!

Way to go on the exercise IdealPerson!!!

Aphil - I tried your cut up apples with the caramel sauce. I took the little tub, removed the lid and put it in the microwave for a couple of seconds. What an incredible treat!! It was more than enough for a huge apple. At 210 cals. for the sauce, it is worth it!! Great idea.

Time to watch a movie with my DH.

Night peeps.

Hello everyone!

First - Idealperson - hooray to you!!!! That is so great. If you feel a little sore from your sit-ups, that is your badge of honor!

:D and the 20 minutes of stretches is so good, too. Keeping limber helps us so much in our daily lives. Again, good for you!!!

We went for another motorcycle ride this afternoon when I got home from work; took the bikes to the car wash and got them nice and clean; then rode to Stowe, about 10 miles away, for coffee. Coming home the temp dipped to 36, so it was kind of nippy (yes, you know what I mean :devil: ) but invigorating!!

tryin'hard, I found something special to do with boneless chicken breasts - pound them pretty thin, like to less than 1/4"; then spread 2 Tablespoons of an herbed cream cheese on; a few wilted fresh spinach leaves, and for a special touch, a sprinkle of toasted chopped walnuts. Roll it up; then wrap in either a sheet of phyllo pastry, or if you have it in on hand (or like to make it yourself), a small round of bread dough, rolled out. So the chicken roll gets placed on the phyllo sheet, OR the rolled out bread dough; place seam side down in baking dish and bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. My family was like "aaahhhhhh, fancy!" This recipe was in Taste of Home cooking magazine; not necessarily extremely low-fat, but with that as an entree and a steamed green veggie and green salad, a great meal.


Have a great night everyone, and sweet dreams!

Your friend, Holly

"Seeing the light of day between my thighs"
 

I came across this pic that my husband took of our dog Tasha and I, last October, by the lake.

I remember very clearly this day; it was the week after I had bought those particular jeans; they're Lee straight legs, size 6. They were form fitting along the legs, but fit well in butt and thighs - not loose at all, but not tight, either. Anyway, we were walking to the lake, and my husband said, "your butt looks really good in those!" and after I thanked him, I told him that it was the first time I really realized that my thighs weren't touching as I walked...then when I saw this pic, with the light showing between the formerly larger thighs, it was very cool!!

(and I like to show our beautiful dog also - she's a nut, but a member of the family)

What a gorgeous photo!! You look so amazing, Holly!! I hope you've got that photo VERY prominently displayed--like on the frig!!
I am still in search of the 'perfect' jeans! I have very heavy calves and some pants are just way too tight there or I have a major gap in the back! JCPenney has a nice stretch jean, but I feel like I"m cheating when I wear stretch jeans!
Have a great day everyone! I saw "Chicago" last night, so I've got great music going on in my head this morning!!

Wow Holly, maybe I'll hang that pic on *MY* fridge for inspiration! You look fahbulous, dahling!! And what a purty puppy, too!

Holly-you look just great!
Aphil

Hello everyone.

Holly great pic!! I love your dog as well!

Weigh in day is tomorrow for me. I have done pretty well this week on a whole. I have been successful in adding extra fruits and vegies to my diet. I really need to focus on more water. I drink a ton during the day, but I have to admit that alot of that is diet sodas.

We went to the gym last night and instead of doing the ol' faithful treadmill, I switched to the bike. I don't really feel like I got as hard of a work out but I was using some different muscles. Hopefully by doing a little cross training, I will be able to one day whittle down my thighs. we'll see.

I'm going to try walking the dog tonight for a couple of miles. It's been raining alot here though so I'll have to see. Everyone have a great day!

Hi everyone,
I did 40 minutes of dancing today...really working on some harder moves-trying to get good enough at them to where it feels natural. :D
I finished my sister-in-law's wedding flowers finally...bot them boxed up-hopefully out of my bedroom this weekend, so I can have more room for the new projects I need to get started like the troupe costumes, and Jason's costume I am working on.
Raiden grabbed my hip scarf and drug it across the floor earlier, and it caught the door frame and pulled some of the beads and coins off...he just started screaming and crying-like he thought he was "really going to get it" or something. It was pitiful. I wasn't even mad, because it was my fault for leaving it out...but it really upset him. He is a momma's boy, and doesn't like to tear up my "pretties." :lol: So, I have another little mending project to do now!
It has been raining cats and dogs today...I had the windows open listening to the storm while I did flowers. It was very peaceful.
I am really noticing such a difference in my fitness level lately...I have much more cardio endurance...and higher energy levels throughout the day. Now I just need to get these triceps in shape...and my thighs. :fr: (That's how I feel when I look at them now... :lol: )
I bought a couple of fresh peaches today to enjoy tonight for my tv snack...really trying to incorporate those fruits and veggies in whenever I can.
Aphil