Michelle: Really? In San Leandro? I had no idea they had outlets there! That's way closer than either Gilroy or Vacaville. I'm definitely going to have to check it out. And wow about living in South Africa! How exotic? Did you like it there?

Baffled: Don't get me wrong, I do plenty of shopping, but I end up doing a lot of it online. I'm short and even more short-waisted (I have oddly long legs for a short person) and there are a lot more size options online, so that's part of it. Or I shop at full price places. You can see from my message to Michelle that it's mostly because I haven't figured out where the outlets are. Good for you on quitting smoking. Just stick with it; it will get better.

Shane: It is weird that a piece of jewelry in your nose would be so threatening to people. No one is threatened by earrings; why are noserings such a problem? I wish people were a little more threatened by my tattoo. I look so non-threatening that strangers are forever asking me for stuff (directions, help finding stuff in stores, how to use things, to watch their stuff, etc. etc.). I fly Southwest a lot and it would be great if my tattoo would scare people into sitting in another row! Maybe I need to put it out there a little more.

Originally Posted by BlueToBlue:
Michelle: Really? In San Leandro? I had no idea they had outlets there! That's way closer than either Gilroy or Vacaville. I'm definitely going to have to check it out. And wow about living in South Africa! How exotic? Did you like it there?

The outlet mall is called Marina Square. It is fairly small but they do have an Ann Taylor, Talbots, and a few others. I did quite well at Ann Taylor today-- it was fun! I could have bought even more but I had my two daughters with me and they were a bit bored with the store.....

South Africa was the most amazing experience of our lives. It was incredible experiencing another culture and we were able to travel and go on safari! It was almost like being on vacation the whole time. We miss it a great deal!

I can't possibly catch up, but I just wanted to stop by and say hi to everyone! Welcome, michele, and welcome back, Shane! We missed you!

I spent the past week in my hometown (I was off for spring break), so I ate too much and didn't exercise, but I got to spend some time with my family, so that was great. All we could talk about was the pregnancy -- everyone's really excited about the baby. He started kicking this past Sunday. I'd felt him move and flutter about, but now I can feel kicks. He keeps me up at night already!!

HI GALS ~ :wave:

Well I got back home a few days ago...kind of...I am working only 180 miles/roundtrip from home! The bonus is my brother, brother in law and buddy are riding with me and we have 90 miles each way, pretty much, of carpool!

I spent most of this morning un-packing my gear from the last 2 months of hotel living, not expected to have to be staying away for awhile, other than a day or two. By the time Angie is :barf: sick :barf: of me I will be "on the road again" ;)

I was able to see some March Madness basketball games in Anaheim with my son, nephew and :p son in law :p....way fun watching our UCLA BRUINS win a couple!

Going to my ex-wife's and her S.O. for a family dinner tonight then Angie and I are doing a 5K with our goldens tomorrow morning...we did this one before and it is quite fun...just a walk with our dogs and a few hundred of their friends....and oh my...the poop! :fr:

I don't have time to catch all the way up but for now ~

Originally Posted by baffled111:
.....................
(And seriously. What is it about quitting smoking that makes it seem as though all the sunshine has been sucked out of the universe??!?!?!?)

BAFF ~ I totally understand...only a smoker or ex-smoker can relate...but in reality THAT is the opposite! You are adding the :sunny: back to your life! :hug:...it is tough....but you are tougher!!

SHANE!!! SHANE!!! ~ Kid...you could write a book!! I know you will be fine when the dust settles :hug:

LISAMARIE ~ Just wait until those :kickbutt: kicks turn into :love: kisses and :hug: hugs...just wait!! Just the:yes: GREATEST FEELING EVER!!! :yes:

ALLISON ~ Congrats on your daughter becoming a TITAN If you want I can keep an eye on her when I travel the 57 to jobs from time to time ;) See if she can get a picture of Ashley Force for me...;) Oh and have you forgot any expenses?....:lol::rofl::lol3:....:love: love it :love:...have I forgotten anything....just start saving as fast as you can for an "emergency ...Boyfriend/I gotta come home/ I forgot/ I need/ I'm going/ I entered/ My friend/ my cell phone/ my laptop/ my clothes/ my car/ my books/ my.... account":)

MEGAN ~ :hug: I am not fond of roommates either!

LILY ~ I think I missed your birthday! Sorry :(

Well Angie is home from "school"....gotta go....

Take Care Ladies ~ Gary

Hey Maintainers!

So, I tracked my food this past week and then I ran the report to give me the averages. They covered last Monday to yesterday. I didn't include today since I went for lunch with a couple of friends and it was my splurge meal. I was thrilled that I did well most of the weekend and I treated myself at lunch. I couldn't even begin to guess at the calories so I'm just leaving today blank and it's back to work tomorrow!

I'd say the numbers are definitely not terrible, but there's room for improvement. My average calories were 1175, and the breakdown for protein/carbs/fat was: 26/52/22. It's interesting because my protein was lower than I'd like but then again, so was the fat! I've dieted for so long that I don't know how to add back some healthy fat yet! It was a very interesting experiment though and we'll see how it continues.

The other interesting thing that happened (and I repeated this in another thread so ignore, if you've read it before) was regards to the whole shopping/size thing that Robin and I discussed last week. I went shopping with a couple of good friends, in a store where I've bought recently, and took my usual size 8 pants to try on. I thought they fit quite nicely and come out to show them and they both insisted (quite strongly) that the pants were too big. I've never worn a size 6 in my life and told them that I wouldn't be able to do them up but I said I'd try and you know what, they fit!

I wasn't just being one of "those" people, you know, who say "oh no, I could not possibly wear that little size 6". I was completely serious. When I thought about it, I think the answer is simple. I associate pants that are at all tight with gaining weight so if my pants are a bit loose, I feel better because I must be "losing weight". It was a very strange experience and now I wonder if I have to check out the other size 8's that I just bought!! They still have the tags on so who knows.

This losing/maintaing journey is an eye opener.

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

:D