Hi maintainers,

Sorry it's been such a long time. I've been both busy at work and lazy about posting, but not keeping up the healthy lifestyle. Food is never perfect but it's there most of the time, and I've been exceptionally good about working out since I joined the gym in January. I even ran a 5k a few weeks ago. Over the past 3 months I slowly took off my little fall gain of about 5 pounds. March 1 was my first anniversary of reaching this maintenance weight. For the occasion I decided to join the NWCR, so I've got my packet sitting at home for me to fill out. It's amazing to me that a pair of jeans I bought last January still fits me properly.

I've been suffering from the winter doldrums but the gym has helped. I'm soooo happy I don't live in any of those places that are socked with snow. I've been bit by the gardening bug and have planted some flowers and a potted herb garden on my porch. I can't wait to have fresh herbs to cook with, mmm.

I visited the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia over Christmas, where I saw a special exhibit called Body Worlds. The exhibit featured real human bodies preserved by plasticity, and displayed each system in the human body in detail. One display in particular that struck home for me. There were two "slides" (head to toe down the center, in profile) of a 135-pound man versus a 500+ pound man. The excess weight on the larger man put an enormous strain on all of his internal organs and systems. You could literally see how everything was squished and contorted. Though my highest weight was not close to that heavy, it was a shocking visual, yet another reminder to me of why I need to maintain my weight loss. It reminds me what we're all here for, and why we're all working so hard.

Meg, glad to hear that PT is going so well. It sounds like you're still working your booty off at the gym. Your workout ethic is always inspirational to me!

Anne, congratulations! I hope your morning sickness goes away.

Rabbit, here's hoping you'll get the fresh start you need.

Airegrrrl, glad to hear you had a wonderful trip. I hate commercials like that too, but I've stopped getting angry about them. I can't tell anyone else how to treat their own bodies.

Hi everyone else! I will be posting more often in the future. :)

I am soooo glad to be home. The bf and were heading back to Denver from Nebraska when we got stranded for 2 DAYS at the holiday inn in North Platte, NE because of the snowstorm. ARGH!

I had no work out attire, but a swimsuit (weird premonition told me to bring my swimsuit- so glad I did!), so I was able to move a little bit. I also tried to eat well, but it didn't go very well until we found the grocery store.

All in all, my first stranded-away-from-home experience was good. Who wouldn't like a couple of days to just veg around in a hotel room? Ross and I ventured out in the white-out and found a bowling alley that had $4 pitchers of Coors Light and 4 very drunken games of "who can throw their bowling ball down the lane with the most bounces" ensued. We learned that we must be right for eachother as we made it through a 4-day roadtrip with lots of stress without killing eachother. It was actually a really good time, but thank God we're home (in one piece).

Hi maintainers,

Robin, Junebug, glad you enjoyed your trips & got back safe and sound!
how is everybody else ??

rabbit

I have a favour. Would you lovely maintainers have a look at this thread about control? Thanks in advance.

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79304

Hi all,

I thought I'd pop in and say hello before March actually ends. Time moved so slowly when I was pregnant, but it is sure making up for it now! DD is still teething with no actual teeth and we are still have some real rough nights. I'm kind of in survival mode. Today's schedule is to get on my bike trainer and ride for a bit, shower/dress and then head off to work, leave a bit early for some physical therapy for my foot, pick up the kidlet, come home and play for a bit, help her to make a ginormous mess at dinner, take a bath with lots of splashing, get her to bed, help DH clean it all up, and then collapse. And this is a pretty easy day.

Susan, I took a look at your control thread and find myself with nothing to say! I have lost any sense of control in my life, and I'm not sure if that is a bad thing or a good thing. I hope you come to some sense of resolution.

My DD taught me a very important thing though that I thought I'd pass along. Every time she sees herself in a mirror, she smiles. And not just a little smile, a huge beaming, light up the planet smile. She can be in the middle of a crying fit, or have boogers on her face or carrots in her hair, and she still just gives it a huge smile. Granted, she doesn't yet know that baby in the mirror is herself, but she still recognizes her as an individual worth a little joy. I hope she never stops. We should all be so wise. Smile at yourselves in the mirror today, girls and boys! We all deserve it.

Anne

That's too true Anne - made me smile, even without the mirror :D