P.S. Change is good.

Dang, Lost my post........

Cafe, I took your advise, I called my friend when I got home and told him that I had to have X amount of $ and gave him the reasons. He said that he appreciated me being up front with him and he would see what he could do. Said that he knew I was worth the extra and that you never know what you are worth until you try to leave. In other words he wanted to make sure that I would make a move for that even if my people offered to meet their offer. I told him that I would not back out but wanted him to know what it would take before/or if he went out on a limb for me. I really didn't leave room for a counter offer tho, and now I kind of wish I had..... but hey, I'm WORTH IT! If it works out fine, if not, that's okay too! After all they called me.

Thanks again, knew I would find help here. (((hugs)))

YAY, SEMO! Good for you!! I think firmness was good. We sell ourselves too short too often. Hopefully, they will call you back soon!! :

Well, DH wanted us to go out for pie with friends at 9:30 last night. I was tired and crabbly and feeling really bloated and I said, "Why, so I can get fatter?" That sent him back a step, LOL. But we didn't go, and I'm glad for it today. I'll have to call him and say thanks for being supportive.

Hello.
Hump Day...and it feels like it shoud be Friday.

Jello, how's the hair? Wasn't that yesterday? And how about the trip? Did you walk your feet off?

Semo, new job sounds like it could be a good thing. Good luck!

Cafe, no pie I wish I could find my strength. It seems to have slipped away. Dreading weigh-in on Memorial Day.

I'm suppose to get my hair done today. All depends on DS and if he's feeling ok. I've waited 6 weeks, and I might have to cancel. Drats!

I'm off to do laundry. Since the pond digging has started, laundry has doubled...and we aren't doing the digging. Boys, Mud, Magnet.

I'm back!!!! Missed you guys sooooo much! No time at all to post. You should have seen my in-box!!!!! Yikes!!! But I'm trying to plow through it all.

I haven't had time to do more than skim through your posts. So many! You girls are too much! And did I see "Tiffany"?!?!?! Yay!!! But don't you ever say you don't belong here girlie or I'll have to come out there!! So help me!!

Just a quick report. Connecticut was BEAUTIFUL!!!! We had a wonderful time. Yes, I did walk my li'l feets off. No, I wasn't a good girl food-wise.

I'll report more later. But for now, I've got to get back to work. DNW, I waved as we drove through Jersey. Tiger, it's very short and very blond now. Thanks for asking! Still shocks me when I look in the mirror but have gotten lots of compliments. I guess I'll keep it.

Jello: Saw you waving Anyway glad you had a great time and you know vacations are for vacating the usual routine and relaxing so if you got off program it's a vacation treat; not a slip.

Tiger: Hope you can get to the haridresser's. I have been getting regular cuts and color and even manicures and pedicures and it's helped me not look for other ways to pamper myself...like with food

Cafe: God bless your resolve...that would have been a hard one for me.

Semo: I think the fact that you are regretting you didn't leave room for a counter-offer tells me you don't think this move is not worth it for the increase your friend is offering.

By everybody needs at least two weeks vacation. You might want to let him know that upon further calculation the numbers don't make sense. Also is that 20 minute drive in a bad winter going to be hazardous?

For me I would never leave a job for less than $5,000 increase and the exact same benefits as before. Does no overtime mean you don't get paid overtime, or you don't have to work overtime? This also just my opinion. Remember you have years of experience and that's going to save your friend tons of money!!

Quilter, Huntress, Bright, Tiffany: 3 days without a scale and I'm crawling the walls. Also been really good with the food...guess this means I am back on track again.

P.S. Semo: Walked 2x this week.

Love and Smoochies to all

Checking in. Man, it was a nice day. Breezy and sunny. One of those days that make you glad you are alive.

That said, I am going outside. LOL

Talk to ya all later.

Giggling as I think of DNW climbing the walls, shrieking for her scale. "My kingdom for a scale!!"

Tiger - How's the hair? Did you get to go?

Jello - Yay! You're back. I want to SEE the short blonde. Pix! Pix!

DNW - Staying away from the scale is GOOD! I'm proud of you. I get too dicouraged if I don't see progress - and then I get overconfident when I do see progress! Down with scales.

Tiffer - Outside good

I had a very uncomfortable night last night. For some reason I was tossing and turning around 3 a.m. feeling just HUGE in my bed. It was very weird and not at all a good feeling. It was as though in my dream state the last 8 years had peeled away and my thinner self was suddenly present and totally confused and uncomfortable, being weighted down with all this crap stuck to my body. I was discomfited, unhappy and sort of felt trapped.

Not sure what brought this emotion to the fore. Don't like it. However, maybe I can use it.

Girls, I am tired of being busy all the time. I feel like I can never catch up! This must be an illusion. There must be a way to cut out more unnecessary activity from my life. I think part of what's holding me back is that feeling that my schedule is out of control and all I can do is try to keep up.

Cafe, maybe thinking too hard again...

OK Tiger. You must have sent vibes through your ‘puter to mine. Monitor died yesterday. Grumble. Fortunately the very nice MIS guy was able to get a quick replacement. Brought it in, hooked it all up and then my boss says “oh, does our department have to pay for that?” Big dumb dope … mutter mutter mutter... Uh yeah, boss, if you want me to do any work, you do!

DNW, the pollen’s bad here too. In fact, I’m starting to suffer – itchy, puffy eyes, sniffles, etc. I never used to have allergies or hay fever before. Am I getting old? Nah. BTW, thanks for the info on getting the Nature Valley bars at Costco. Actually, I have a Sam’s Club card. Maybe I’ll check there for them.

I think DNW has a great idea not having “trigger foods” in the house. I had to do that with peanut butter. I used to be able to sit down with the jar and a spoon and just chow down. Yikes. So now I don’t keep it in the house. I had a friend once (skinny) who insisted that I could “just buy the small jar and you won’t have any trouble”. I just couldn’t get through to her that that wouldn’t work for me. I’d just eat the entire jar and go out and buy another. She just didn’t get it. Grumble. Darned dumb skinny people....

Brighter, I’m with you on finding a plan that doesn’t include “tracking” all your points or calories or whatever. I guess it’s supposed to become second nature to me but it hasn’t so far. If you find that easy way out, let me know!

Tiffany, Tiffany, Tiffany!!! I’m here to once again scold you for saying to “know you don’t belong here any more”. Shaking my fist, wagging my finger, rolling my eyes, sticking out my tongue…. We love you here!!! Anyway, it sounds like you’re approaching this gastric bypass thing the right way. Doing all the research, asking all the questions. I know that this isn’t something you just woke up one morning and say “hey I think I’ll do it”. Just do what’s right for YOU! Interesting that you found yourself eating a salad when you started thinking about the surgery. See, it’s working already.

Oh BTW girls. Tiff said we ALMOST made her cry. Hm, we’ll just have to try harder next time.

Quilter, thanks for your “last straw” story. I’m am still so impressed with how far you’ve come. What a life-altering change! My last straw was shortly after I’d graduated from college. I was working in the mail department of a big corporation. There was this big scale to weigh the mail bags and people used to weigh themselves just for fun. Now, I’d always been 180-something. All through high school and college, I was 185 or 186 or so. So one day, no one was around so I decided to get on the scale, expecting to see 185 or 186. It was 219!!!!! Heart attack! Got off the scale, got the yellow pages and called WW. Joined (for the first time) 2 days later. Let’s see that was 1986 or 1987 or something like that. Almost 20 years I’ve been doing this!?!?!? OMG!

Brighter, one thing in your last post hit me. You’d eaten more points than you should have so you decided to go for a walk. What a great idea! I find myself saying things like “oh I’ve had too many points already, might as well give up for today and start over again tomorrow… where’s the pie?” Good for you!

Cafe, the chicken on the grill sounds tasty! I do that kind of thing with turkey cutlets marinated in BBQ sauce. Actually, when I buy the cutlets, I put them in ziplock bags in the freezer along with the marinade. Don’t know if it actually does any good while they’re frozen but makes life for “non-cookers” like me a little easier. I like the light buns and fat free hot dogs too. One WW point for the bun and one WW point for the dog. Problem around here is they only sell the Wonder Light buns in the summer and they don’t freeze particularly well.

Semo, how’s the job situation? I’m curious to see what you decide because I’m sitting on the same basic decision. Well, almost. An old coworker has started up his own company up in Massachusetts and has been talking about how well we worked together and how much he thought of my work and how he could use a person like me. His company is very new so the actual offer may not be for another 6 months to a year but it’s going to be a tough one if/when it comes. There are times when I really hate this place but at least it’s familiar and fairly “safe”, etc. Anyway, I hope you reach a decision that works best for you. Good luck. :

Well, I’ve rambled on and still haven’t said much about my vacation, have I? The trip was great but as I said, I fell completely off the wagon. Best laid plans and all that. I’m back on track now but I was really in vacation mode and decided to really indulge and made some not-so-wise decisions. That cute little ice cream place right next to the hotel certainly did not help at all!

We did go to Foxwoods Casino. We’d heard so much about it – biggest casino in the world and all the talk about how wonderful it was. I personally was very disappointed. It was … big. But that’s all I can say for it. It was dark and cramped and cold and impersonal and the attendants were rude and there weren’t enough bathrooms and the only restaurant in the place had a line out the door and the parking was terrible and…. Well, you get the idea. Jello didn’t like it. But the next day, we went to the Mohegan Sun Casino. Girls, I’m in love. What a beautiful place!!! Lots of Indian sculptures and lots of light and space. Friendly people. Restaurants and shops. We’ve decided that we’re going back there and staying at the hotel which just opened recently and is all new and pretty. I highly recommend it.

I also recommend Mystic Seaport, CT. Lots to see. Lots of really cute shops in which to spend lots of money. Lots of restaurants. And very pretty and relaxing. The weather even cooperated for us. I’m retiring to Mystic!

One quick story. I went to a seafood restaurant and ordered calamari. I love calamari. Of course, I usually get it and it’s little pieces of …well, you know … all breaded and cooked and ready for dipping in the sauce. This time, it was breaded and cooked … but shaped like little squids. Little round head, lots of little legs sticking out. Oooh, just couldn’t bring myself to eat it. Now there’s a diet! Let the food completely freak you out and you won’t be able to eat it!!

And on that note, I have to get back to work before the boss returns from whatever meeting he’s in. This morning, the old *itch complimented my hair. Huh? What? End of the world’s coming…???

Later!

P.S. Cafe, I'll see about pix but being the camera-shy gal I am, well.... Suffice it to say, I'm gorgeous!!! LOL! Interesting dream there. Seriously, sounds like something to think about...

Hey Girlfriends!
My monitor is working, for now. Maybe it just needed a break.

Yep, got the hair cut/colored. It's short in back with long layers...if that makes sense. For color, she used foils and gave me lots of light strips. And, DS got his hair colored! He's only six. Was scared DH would scalp me when we got home. But, it was a hit. Everyone loved it. The stylist even took his picture!

Cafe, think'n too hard. I hear ya. Sometime I feel like I'm chase'n my own tail trying to figure stuff out.
Like, I know I need to loose weight...and I know that means I need to eat less and move more. It should be so darned simple.
I'm uncomfortable in my body, I'm embarrassed of my body...it should be a no-brainer.

So, here I sit with a banana cake in the kitchen. It didn't grow itself in my kitchen. I BAKED IT! Those two sad little bananas were turning brown. I had to do something with them.

hugs to all!

Yay, Jello! Story time to go with lunch. I'm glad you had such a fun trip!

Yeah, that Bright is one smart cookie! I thought the same thing: when I know I went over on pts, that seems to be a cue to give up for the day. WRONG thinking, need to think like BRIGHT!

Eliminating trigger foods from the house is very good, but for me I also really need to make sure I have the RIGHT food around, and easy to get at, too.

For instance, if it takes too long to cook what I planned and I'm totally beat, I'll order pizza and there I am, 45 minutes later, staring at that slice that will put me over my range and wanting it. Setting myself up for hard times.

Sometimes I have lots of patience to cook - sometimes very little?

Tiger - I'm in the same place as you - it's there all the time but somehow I must have some blocked synapses. I want to feel the urgency, but somehow I don't???

There are always 5 things more important to be taken care of than my body, I guess. But I don't feel like a martyr about it, I genuinely think it is more important to focus on THIS at this moment. And THAT the next moment. And then when the other moment comes - well I'm tired and I just want to go to sleep and start it all over tomorrow. I don't feel depressed about it - I enjoy the peaceful & beautiful & funny moments - but that is how I live. I know I'm probably ruining my health but I just can't fix that problem right now. Anyone else feel that way? Edited to add: I don't LIKE this, mind you, I just can't figure out how to change it! And I want to change.

Hey all,

Just popped in to read some posts and catch up....

Ruben won.....Clay was a great 2nd place wasn't he, Tiger? I thought they drug the whole thing out and I didn't like that at all!

Cafe...sounds like some soul searching going on, girl. I've been thinking that I need a change, also. They have always offered yoga classes, spin classes, etc. after work at the gym I belong to, but I always had young children to pick up, take to games, etc. Now that my kids are growing up, I'm looking at those class schedules again. My children have been first and I have forgotten how to come to the front of the line! It's only when I'm sitting in an empty house EATING, that I realize I could have been doing something else! Maybe something that would keep me distracted from eating and busy.....I'm not sure what 5 things are keeping you from doing things for yourself, but I have a hunch you know where I'm coming from.

Jello...I am writing down all the pretty places to visit. Sounds like you had fun. Good for you!

Hey Tiff...good to hear from you. How's the research going?

Good to hear from you, Sarge! Keep up the good work!

SEMO: you are such a smart cookie to weigh all the benefits/pros/cons...way to go! You are definitely worth it....I'd hire you in a heartbeat if I were them!

Huntress: I know you are having PC problems....get here when you can, girl!

Gotta go....way, way, way, past my bedtime! I'll be yawning tomorrow pm for sure!

Night ladies!

Bright

Hey! Research is research. Lots of reading and hunting down things on the internet. I want to go into my consultation with my Primary doctor very well informed, so he doesn't totally blow me off.

The biggest surprise, was that this isn't a "fix". You aren't magically skinny. You really have to WORK. You have to really work to get the extra protein, and nutrients and every bite counts, which means, is it a bite of chicken, or a bite of something fatty? You will always still have the choice of what goes in your mouth, but this will help so that I am no ABLE to stick 6 candy bars in there at one time.

Darn binging. Brought me down.

Well, I have a meeting tonight at a local bar, (WHOO HOO) with another woman in my town that had the surgery and she is bringing her journals, so I can see the ups AND downs, which I really appreciate.

Well, it's a holiday weekend FINALLY. I can sleep in on Monday. I LOVE that!!!

What is everyone doing for the big weekend???

Love,
T

I'll echo Tiff's question. What IS everyone doing for Mem. Day? We have no plans. The weather here is supposed to be all weekend. I wanted to work in the garden some. We'd planted some tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, etc. right before we left for vacation. While we were gone it seems that something got into the garden and ate almost all of the plants!!! Very strange. We do have gray squirrels that love to dig and bury nuts and have pulled out plants before. I blame them! Unfortunately, the weather probably won't cooperate for outside work but we have plenty to do inside. One of these days, the renovations might actually be done!

... or not.

Anyway, I'm sure there'll be something done on the grill sometime during the long weekend. Men just love to cook with fire (Danger! Danger!) even if it is in the pouring rain. Hm, grilled turkey cutlet soup!

BTW, I'm working on a plan for June. That is, I'm thinking that maybe I need something more structured as far as food and weight-watching is concerned. So I thought maybe I'd plan an entire month in advance. Menus for each meal of each day, food shopping lists, exercise times and activities, etc. Just for one month. Just to see. I'm still working out the kinks in this plan but I've got a week to work on it.

Hmm......

Bright - Yes! I don't have kids, but I know where you're coming from. It seems like things have been so linear for so long - one thing to the next to the next and so on without much letup - that I have forgotten how to prioritize taking care of myself. It's one thing to push on when things are critical - it's another thing to get yourself trained so that is always last, without a second thought.

I definitely don't regret learning to have the strength to persevere when things get tough and do the things that are truly meaningful when the chips are down.

On the other hand, those stress patterns have adapted themselves into a lifestyle - and the fact that it may be one many people live does not make it better. Flopping down for some escapist entertainment to decompress/unwind/relax and be able to let the emotions of the day wash away without thinking through them. Rushing around continually, eating not because it's what I want or need but to make sure I'm fed so I can keep going longer. Finding enjoyment in the in-between times with really GOOD food being part of good times....

I've gotten to the point where it feels like WORK to try to change that around - to do something healthier. Where's the time going to come from, where's the energy going to come from, where's the motivation going to come from?

Well, it's dawning on me - I can't live like I'm in a crisis for the rest of my life! I'm not sure how it happened but it's become a self-perpetuating cycle.

I mean, I'm glad I'm tough enough to handle it when I need to - and I get better and better at dancing faster and faster - I'm still not perfect but my house is getting cleaner and I get the Krispie treats to the church on time these days, LOL...

But it is now time to take away the things I think of as my rewards and replace them with activities that really do reward me and make me feel better. Instead of tring to ADD more actvities PLUS restrictions to what I've already got going - NO - what I need to do is create a space for them in my life. I need to take a hard look at everything that claims my time and energy and question its value.

WHOA! OK, back to regularly scheduled programming...

Tiffany - What a neat lady to offer up her journals! That will be an excellent source for you. I have heard this, too about GB surgery - that managing the diet is tricky. 2-3 extra bites can put over the edge from satisfied to hours of misery. But you are right, there IS no binging - the consequences are immediate. Interested to hear what you're thinking.

Jello - a new plan, sounds like fun! Make it something you can actually succeed at!!

Now that I wrote a book, I've gotta go!