Hi Everyone!
It feels so great to be in control again! I've planned my meals for today and have already exercised...1/2 hr. on the treadmill, 1/2 hour with my weights. I also went to the dentist this morning to get a crown on my back molar. (I was eating dinner and somehow broke my tooth.) Other than that, everything is back to normal, and I can't wait until Friday! Yay! Hubby and I have made plans to go out to a restaurant for dinner. (I promise to be good.)

Aqua, Isn't that Denise Austin DVD great! I checked it out from the library and was surprised that it was easy and I ended up doing a great workout for my arms. (Just the upper body took 30 minutes.) I think I'll renew it!

Paperclippy, I know what you mean about missing certain activities that you enjoy. When I hurt my knee and couldn't use the treadmill for a few weeks, I was actually saddened because treadding came easily to me. All I have to do is turn on the TV & go. Hope you feel better soon!

Alinell, So glad Buddy is doing better.

Blue. sorry about the cheese from Trader Joe's. They do have some great finds there.

Mel/Meg, thanks for understanding that I got a little confused. :dizzy: I am impressed with the both of you!

Megan, what workout are doing? Sounds pretty tough. You go, girl!

Better get going. Have a super day!
Hugs, Dena :cool:

Hi everyone!

This is just a drive-by post. I seem to have become very busy this week: I think it's the post-spring break scramble. Nonetheless, I have been excellent with my exercise and pretty good with my food.

Megan, I'm glad you're loving the NROLW workouts! We're talking about them quite a bit in the weight training forum--perhaps you should come visit with us.

:hug: to all, especially those who need them most.

Hey baf- I just noticed that you are about a month and a half smoke free!!! :bravo: Great job! Do you notice any more changes?

Mel

Hello hello! :D

I've been through quite a lot since last posting here. Remember the city job I got? Well, it only lasted a month. :( I was dropped (not fired) and given the excuse of, "You're not meeting our expectations in customer service," which was utter bull. I exceeded their expectations in so many ways and heard that from several people. What it came down to is this: the fire chief is a narrow minded person. He knew I had facial piercings and didn't like them. I wore plastic retainers in them for work, though he kept insisting I was wearing a diamond in my lip. I went to a live training burn and got permission from one of the district chiefs to wear my piercings, but then I found out the fire chief thought this was an "act of defiance."

I was dropped without notice, warning, or direction, so I fought quite hard to get my job back. I wrote a letter to all the equal opportunity officers, the city commissioners, the fire chiefs, the office employees of the fire department, and even the mayor! :eek: I went to quite a few interviews with the aforementioned equal opportunity officers and even one with the assistant city manager. Then, the city decided to cut that position since it had become vacant, so I couldn't possibly get my job back.

One of the deputy chiefs liked me and offered to start training me as a firefighter, since the city was looking for those. I passed the written exam, the video exam, and the physical exam, just to find out the fire department had an epiphany and realized they had no money. :mad: I'm working for myself right now and am trying to find another job so I can have the benefits. Not having health insurance costs me around $600 a month.

I didn't post here for awhile because I was going through some rough crap and while I know you're a very loving and supportive bunch, I didn't want to be a continuous downer for anyone here. :)

On a more positive note, I've gotten pretty hardcore into strength training, I am still maintaining my weight loss, one of my old friends came to visit me a few days ago, my relationship is (for the most part) good, and... well... I'm still alive and unscathed! That's always something to smile about :p

I've read all your posts and don't have time to comment on everything, but... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LILY!! :D
Oh... Warlock, Meg, Barbera, and all other protein addicts... count me in! A meal isn't a TRUE meal without MEAT (or a meat substitute if you're vegetarian/vegan)! ;)

Shane, welcome home! I can't tell you how much you've been missed around here! Gosh, if I had a dollar for every time someone asked about you ... $$$ :carrot:

I'm so sorry that things have been so rocky for you on the job front. They're flat out crazy to let you go!! But you didn't need to leave 3FC -- we're here for you (and everyone!) through good times and bad. Don't ever worry about being a downer!

:high: on the strength training! We have members here and in the Weight Training forum who are following the New Rules Of Lifting For Women and liking the workouts a lot. Check it out if you need some new ideas. ;)

Woohoo, I'm so glad you're back! :dance:

Dammit. Just wrote and lost my post!

Shane: Welcome back! We've missed you. Sorry to hear about all your troubles!

Den@: I don't think we've 'met' yet. Welcome to maintainers! Congrats on your loss.

Mel, sadly, I'm not the poster child for the positive side effects of quitting smoking. The initial, dramatic fitness bump was cool and I feel like a rockstar having survived 6 1/2 weeks without a single iota of nicotine, but other than that, my feelings about quitting smoking would probably be more of a disincentive than anything else. :nono: Still, at least I'm starting to get the weight off. :)

Many on-plan days in a row. My scale loves me.

:wave:

Hey! Shane is back!!! We WERE worried about you girl.

Real sorry to hear about the job woes. What a bunch of idiots. I'm sorry that you had to/are going through all of this. I know you will perservere though. You're one tough cookie. Still not fair though. :hug:

Baff, I've finally (after 20 years) realized that the scale ALWAYS loved me and was my friend. It was ME the whole time who was, well, ummm, UNfriendly TOWARDS the scale. I didn't do right by it and it in turn didn't do right by me.

Regardless, I'm thrilled for you that you have been on plan and are reaping the benefits. Also thrilled to hear you've gone soooo long with out nicotine. You really ARE a rockstar. :hug:

I went shopping today. Haven't done that in a while. Gosh, it's sooo much fun. So much to choose from. And do I dare say it's hard to pick when there's so much that actually looks good on me. I bought 2 really, really nice jacket type shirts. Belted, very fitted and really cool. In a junior's store I might add. And one really nice light weight sweater from Macys. Not as much to choose from there, there clothing runs large. I swear if you ever would have told me that I would enjoy shopping so much and have difficulty narrowing it down because there's so much that I fit into, I would have thought you were all cuckoo. :dizzy:

I hope everyone is well and enjoying their day. :smug:

Hi Shane !
It is so good to have you back! I am very sorry to hear about the bumpy ride you had with the jobs. I hope you will find something soon. In the meantime, don't quit the board because you feel you might spoil the party here!

We are also here for support, not only for the victories but also to help each other hang on in rough times!

Keep posting Shane, I like to hear how you are doing!

Rabbit

Shane: What a bunch of idiots! Some people are just obtuse. I have a tattoo on my left wrist and I give a lot of educational presentations in my job. The tattoo is visible if I wear a short-sleeved shirt (which, when I was overweight, I did a lot because I was always warm, especially when presenting) or if I'm waving my arms around and my sleeve slides up (which I also do a lot--I talk with my hands, especially when I'm presenting). Most people are complimentary about it but someone once wrote on an evaluation form (anonymous, of course) that I was a great trainer, did a great job conducting the course, etc. etc., but that I had to lose the tattoo. And I thought 1) How did my tattoo interfere with your learning experience and 2) umm, it's permanent, I can't just wash it off. :lol: Luckily for me, none of my employers have ever had a problem with my tattoo (at least, not that they've told me). I'm sorry such a narrow-minded person had such control over your job :mad:; hopefully that won't be the norm for you. At least out here in CA, people are pretty accepting, enthusiastic even, of my tattoo.

Hello, all,

Another week with no real news. It's my TOM, so I'm trying to avoid the scale, but I just can't seem to break the daily weigh in habit. It's been ok. I am up a bit, but I think I can pretty much write it off to water retention. I'll be glad when this week is behind me. I continue, like most of you, to journal what I'm eating and to exercise almost daily. Am trying to get back into walking at work, but it's not showing up on the scale as it did a month ago. Even had one of my co-workers ask to walk with me. I thought I was going at a good clip, but she walked me into the ground. We walked for an hour, and it was fabulous! Am looking to put some variety into my work outs as it's starting to feel like I'm doing the same thing each day. Don't want to get bored. Here, it's too cold to walk outdoors for the most part though it does feel a bit spring-ier :) I am committed to exercising, but I really want to enjoy it, too!

Hey Everyone!

Shane - I don't know that we've met but I am so sorry to hear about the problems you had at your job. It is just so wrong and sad that people are still judged on these types of things. My DH has quite a few tatoos and, because he was worried about the type of reaction you received, chose to have all his tatoos on parts of body that are normally covered, even with a T-shirt and shorts. But that was his choice. You shouldn't have had to deal with that and I hope things get better soon.

Robin - it was interesting what you said about clothes shopping and how it's hard having so much choice. Do you still ever try something on and it fits and your instinct is to buy it just because it fits? I remember when I used to just pray to find something that fit and would have bought anything and I think those instincts are still with me sometimes.

I'm still logging daily with Fit Day and it's going well so far. It has opened my eyes a bit to some of what I eat and helped me be accountable. Thanks to my diligence, and Fit Day ;), the scale and I are friends right now.

I'm just hoping to keep it together for one weekend!

:D

Hi!
I'd love to jump in and join you all.

I just returned from a shopping trip to the mall. I was hoping I would find lots of cute new clothes, but I returned with lotion from Bath and Body Works. I think it will take me awhile to find what stores I should shop at now. I found that the stores either seemed too young or too old for me (I am 41). I liked a few but they were too expensive! So, I might try an outlet mall tomorrow and see if I have better luck.

This is my Spring Break (I am an elementary school librarian) and my week has flown by way too fast. I've been good about exercising each day and most of my food choices have been good so I'm hoping to have a good weigh in at WW on Saturday. I get a little nervous with weeks like this that are "out of the norm" and have to try extra hard not to blow things.

Looking forward to getting to know you all more!

By the way....Shane and others.... One of the things I wanted to do after losing the weight was get my first tattoo. Now I have no idea what to get or where to get it. I think I may buy a book on tattoos for inspiration. I looked and saw there is a tattoo convention nearby this weekend but I think that might be a little much for conservative me!! My problem is I don't want to get the tattoo anywhere that might sag or is too noticeable. I thought I might do it on my hip area but I have stretch marks there from having my daughters and that just seems like it wouldn't work...Anyone have any tattoos or any suggestions?

Michele

Originally Posted by elisa822:

Robin - it was interesting what you said about clothes shopping and how it's hard having so much choice. Do you still ever try something on and it fits and your instinct is to buy it just because it fits? I remember when I used to just pray to find something that fit and would have bought anything and I think those instincts are still with me sometimes.

I'm still logging daily with Fit Day and it's going well so far. It has opened my eyes a bit to some of what I eat and helped me be accountable. Thanks to my diligence, and Fit Day ;), the scale and I are friends right now.

I'm just hoping to keep it together for one weekend!

:D

OMG. That's exactly what I did. I bought things just because they fit and for fear that I wouldn't find anything that I liked better that would fit. So I took the first thing. Yeah, it took me a while to realize that I could be more particular. And yes, I still do forget sometimes. Crazy. Glad you and the scale are buddies! Keep up the good work. I'm also hoping to keep it together this comiing weekend. I have no functions planned, so it's the perfect opportunity to do so.

Hi Michele. Come on and jump in with both feet!!!

Originally Posted by traveling michele:
My problem is I don't want to get the tattoo anywhere that might sag...

That's exactly the reason I got my tattoo on my wrist. I figured I better get it on a part of my body I wouldn't mind drawing attention to for the rest of my life. :lol: But it is definitely out there; it's hard to hide (I was also into that aspect). If you want something more discreet, your ankle might be a better choice, depending on how much you like to wear skirts and dresses. Even if you were wearing a dress, you could hide it with opaque tights or knee-high boots (the only time that wouldn't work would be in the summer). Or the top of your foot. There's always the center of your upper or lower back (but then you can't see it). My sister has a tattoo on the inside of her knee and that has worked out well for her.

What outlet mall are you going to? If it has an Ann Taylor, I highly recommend that. My sister and I went shopping at an Ann Taylor factory outlet over Christmas and got a ton of really cute stuff and it was cheap--like $10 for a sweater, $20 for pants. I'm about your age, so it should all be age appropriate for you too (unless I'm dressing inappropriately for my age ;)).

I have a lot of trouble shopping. When I went my sister, it was a ton of fun and I got a lot of stuff but I don't do well on my own. I really need someone to encourage me. I'll spend hours trying to find stuff and come home empty-handed. I can't even explain what the problem is.

Barbara,

I've thought about the top of my foot..... also maybe on my back. Since I work with elementary aged school children, I don't necessarily think it is appropriate, however we do have several teachers with them.

I'm not sure what mall we will go to. I went to one with a Nordstroms Rack recently and really liked it, so we may try there again!

We've only lived in CA for about 2 years and I'm terrible with directions and areas, so I'll do some searching.....

Michele