Starting us up and putting on the coffee. Canadian bacon OK for everyone? I thought I'd do scrambled eggs with mushrooms and cheese this morning too.

Busy week ahead with appointments, Fair Board meeting, a dance Friday night, party Saturday night and a Church Yard/Plant/Bake sale on Saturday morning. Somewhere in the week I need to get Hershey to the fur stylist, shop for new bathroom fixtures, bake for the bake sale, dig perennials for the sale and get my garden planted. So... after breakfast I'll be in overdrive. Oh yes - physio in there too! And Lucy training and class! AND vacuum - wonderfukl Gail thoroughly cleaned my back room and kitchen yesterday but did not do the rest of the house.

By the way, this is not a whine - just a sort of start on my To Do list.

Hershey has been on low cal and reduced dog food for a month and has not lost an ounce. Big discovery on Friday - rawhide bones are high calorie! She and Lucy have been sharing one every evening during our dinner! That has to stop right away. So if you are at a plateau, check out how many rawhide bones you are eating!

Gotta go. Grab a mug and a plate and meet me in the kitchen.

Good morning!!!

THe secret to success! No more rawhide bones! I love them so! But is does explain why my dachsund is not losing, he loves them.

Ruth you sound like you are doing wayyyy to much stuff!! I am tired just hearing about it!!

Just got back from the Y. Stayed OP all day yesterday without too much trouble, the kids mac&cheese was painful and called out to me at dinner last night but I overcame!!!!

NOt much planned today, work, work work, we are getting ready to move into our new building and it is chaotic!!! But fun!

Hope you chickies have a great day!!!!

Good Morning!

Ruth - PLEASE slow down! I just got out of the shower, read your post, and now, instead of getting ready for work, I am so exhausted that all I want to do is go back to sleep!!!

Today will be a "normal" (or rather, what passes for normal!) one, I think -- my dd is semi-officially in her new apartment, which means that dh and I are alone again----- whoooo hoooooooo! Having a child RETURN to the nest is much more difficult than having them leave in the first place! Maybe now there will be fewer things calling my name, like the box of pastries fromVeniero's (a very famous NYC pastry shop) that is sitting on my counter -- I think I'm gonna have to do something that I was always taught NOT to do - like throw it in the garbage if it is still here when I get home from work and I would be all alone in the house with it!!! After all, I am working really hard to stick with Atkins (5 weeks - 11 lbs: for me, a record!) and I don't need it to be any harder

Well, I better go make my breakfast and get dressed for work - I don't want to scare all the patients at the clinic. Have a good day all..........

my goodness ladies!!! you ARE an industrious bunch!!! ruth... you're wearing me out, but i'll be right over for breakfast. it sounds wonderful!!!!

and scooby, you have no rider anymore??!!! congrats!! and mac and cheese is about the only thing i miss. such wonderful comfort food <sigh> there's just nothing like it, so i'm impressed at your resistance.

sam and rosie's grandma... Veneiro's.. one of my favorites!!! do they still ahve those wonderful fig pastries? my tiny italian grandma used to make them, and they were divine!!!! here, dear. let's make a pot of espresso and watch ruth run around!!!

getting ready to go to work. have to pack my lunch. and i got the most efficient little things over the weekend. those glad semi-disposable containers come in little 1/2 cup sizes!!! just right for my little meals.

a visit to the PCP last night [just a check up so that she can see that i'm still breathing, literally]. the tiny little size 2 blond woman who wears 4 inch heels and a rat in her hair to make her taller...

she actually smiled at me!!! and was thrilled and impressed with my progress! i've lost another 4 pounds over the past week, so there are only 5 MORE POUNDS UNTIL THE 200 GONE MARK!!!!! and 98 pounds due to the surgery.

maybe another week or so.

and the receptionist was telling me about her upstairs neighbor who had the surgery 2 months ago and has lost only 25 pounds. turns out, this lady is actually eating CARBS!!! PASTA!!!! BREAD!!!! huge no-nos at this stage of the game.

so, ageoldie, watch your hubby!!! this surgery really does work, but you have to almost completely avoid carbs at the beginning, especially. we get them back eventually, but not for a year or so. a small treat is one thing, like a couple of bites of potato or pasta, on occasion, but NOT on a regular basis.

have a great day, ladies. ruth, you're my idol for not letting work interfere with your real life.

Hello everyone!

VENT ALERT!

I feel I should hang my head in a little shame this morning becasue I'm supposed to be at work. Why not you ask? I quit on Friday. I've just had it with them. I would have to say Friday was the last straw. On the heels of the conversation about "keeping myself available" I get a phonecall from someone who works there (not the manager) to come and get my child's game CD's I lent to the senior room. I asked why? and the answer was "well, I guess they don't know if they can still use them" I mean, what is that supposed to mean? That I'm not working there anymore so that's why they don't know? I was really angry--talk about a slap in the face! The teachers in the room seemed grateful that I brought them in and the kids liked playing them, so what was that all about? I decided that enough was enough and I just took myself out of the situation. Picked up my final cheque, my CDs, and wrote a note to remove my name from the call list. And later that day the manager called me back and asked me why! DUH!!! Gee could it be that you treated me like crap? I just brushed her off and said I was employed elsewhere (not an entire lie, I do have an in at one center for the summer possibly).

Well, enough venting this morning--drinking my protein shake and getting ready to mow the back lawn!

Just a quick hello and a hang in there to everybody! Have a great OP day! Liz

Morning all you early birds!

I have done carpool and been to Home depo for the new funky tiny halogen lights thant the medicine cabinet takes. Boy are they expencive... I hope they last. The bathroom is about 95% done. i have to wait for the shower door and the tile man to come back, and a little fixing of the baseboard but I think we are in busness! Just a little over 3 months.

Today my stepfather turns 90. Mom sent an e mail to remind us. He said he didn't want anything so I didn't but if it sounds like he does I will be in NY next month and lie that I will bring it with me.

All else is well. I seem o be alone today so I will do a little graphics work and finish cleaning out my bedroom from all the bathroom stuff that has been stock piled. I have been exercizing for 1 month and watching what I eat....not a pound gone! Off for a physical tomorrow and I will see if the dr can do anything to help me get a jump.

have a great day all to come and to those that have been and gone.
-L

Morning Ninnies,

SOSDD !

I NEED COFFEE !! Ruthie slap some of that bacon over here and some eggs over easy please w/buttered rye toast and some home fries fried in bacon grease, extra crispy HEY I CAN DREAM.

Congrats Jiff on the weight loss, thats teriffic !!!!

Have a great day everyone !!
Love, Leens

they only last 24 hours!

Ruth I thought you were retired?

Pooky, good for you! Sometimes we just have to remove ourselves from situations we have no control over. You'll be better off in the long run...less stress and most definately some great opportunity that was just waiting for you to become available. Good Luck and God Bless you in your new adventure!

Now for my own little pity party...I ate 119 carbs yesterday in the form of mexican food. And the culprit behind this carb fest was none other than my DH! The very man who nearly quit making love to me because I was so fat said, and I quote, "GO AHEAD AND MAKE THIS A FREE DAY, I'LL LET YOU. EAT WHATEVER AND GO BACK ON THE DIET TOMORROW." And I did! Either I have lost my mind or he has. He must have felt a little guilty for leading me down the brimstone path because he got up and made bacon and eggs..no starch...and decaf coffee. I am not really blaming him...entirely. I should have stuck OP. I just love mexican food. It's like mother's milk filled with chocolate! I did not even feel bad after I ate, but like the hang over following an all night margarita binge, I woke up feeling like sh@#. I filled in my journal and starting counting up the carbs...119. That is more than I eat in a week! I have to find something positive in this, so here it is...for those of you with weak stomachs, skip this next line.

The positive thing that came out of me splurging on mexican food yesterday is...I had the best BM I have had since starting the Atkins diet.

That having been said, I woke up this am and got right back OP. I have not weighed in yet, but will just to remind myself why I don't eat like that everyday, anymore. I hope you ladies have more willpower than I. Watch out for a man approx. 6', 230, brown hair and green eyes..It may be my DH and he's out to feed the whole world carbs .

Everyone have a great day!
The remorseful but diligent,
MB

MB,
I'm TOTALLY telling you what I heard when I went on my freaky carb binge....it's OK!!!! I know it stinks and that all over feeling of ickyness sucks but hey, we are human and sometimes mexican food is NEEDED, if not wanted. Jump back on the train girl-I'll see you there.

Oh, and Karate Chop your husband for me.

Kisses,
Amy

Wow I slept good last night. The first night since starting this low carb thing. I woke this morning feeling like a new person,

Also let me say the "induction" s@#ks. The main thing is no coffee. I drank coffee last week and did okay, but I was going to try especially hard to follow all the rules this week.

Samsgram: Just wait till they come back with a spouse!!! I was used to my two boys coming in and out, but when one brought a wife with him one time, that put an end to that.

Jiffy: DH is being VERY careful what he put in his mouth. That part of the reason I decided to try the lc WOE, it makes it eaiser to just the same thing for both of us.

Sherrie: Hope today is better for you, too

Ruth: you make me tired just reading about what you are doing. I have a sister just like you, only she has a 14 y/o daughter and 12 y/o son and each of them are in hundreds of different activities. In fact, so many that my mom has to help her by chauffering the kids on a daily basis.

Hi ladies..
Feeling a little blue today!
My baby is graduating from preschool tonight. Then he'll officially be a kindergartener! Hard to deal with1
Got to keep my friends new baby. (The one she just got from Russia) this morning. Thought it would kill a few baby cravings. No such luck! Isn't it strange how God decides who gets what? Why are there 13 and 14 year olds having babies they don't want and I can try for 5 years and not get one???

Oooookkkk, enough of that...
My neighbor started LC yesterday!! Nice to have someone else to do this with! I feel a little stupid telling her how well it works when I have over 60 lbs to go...she didn't know me before I lost and gained back the first 30 two years ago...

Ok, I'll stop whining now....

I'll be better tomorrow!!
Stacey

Hey guys just checking in post-exercise, pre-grocery shopping.
I feel like such a sloth though next to Ruth...

I love coffee. More than food I think. I especially love espresso drinks loaded with frothy milk. My DH makes the world's best latte. I am really mourning the loss of hot milk and coffee drinks. The heavy cream is really great but a full on cappuchinno even on my OFF days is like a whole dessert in carbs. Maybe i'll try making one with a little heavy cream. Now that sounds decadent.

I found a tiramisu recipe using splenda and cultured yogurt that I may try for an OFF Day dessert.

Well I have a child stirring from dreamland.

Off I go.

SunDrop

(Note: This post should be sung to the tune of The Brady Bunch)

Here's the story, of a lovely lady.
Who's been missing from this very busy site.
She's been down and out and seeing many doctors,
'Til she found one that's right. (buh, buh, buh, bum)

Okay, okay, you can stop singing now - just thought I'd get that tune stuck in all your heads!

Anyway, in case anybody wonders where I've been, here it is in a nutshell.
1. Bled like mad for a very long time.
2. Got poked and prodded where nobody should ever have to be poked and prodded by Doc #1. Biopsies just fine.
3. Received a sitting with an ultrasound technician and experienced a photo shoot where no camera should ever go!
4. Discovered I am very anemic, saw Doc #2. Iron poor blood (which is a phrase only us old people remember) pretty much explains my complete lack of brain waves for the last month.
5. Dinked around with iron therapies and finally found dosage that makes me human again.
6. Oops! Arthritis decides to go haywire. Have to go back to Doc #2 for referral to Doc #3. Have appointment next week.
7. Then, yesterday, while planting beans, I broke my toe! Just when I was starting to feel like a member of the human race again, I broke me stinkin' little toe for cryin' out loud! Just for the record, it's ridiculous how much a little toe can hurt. I mean, really, what good is the silly thing afterall? It's a goofy little appendage that has no discernable function, yet can hurt like all get out when provoked. I feel like screaming out loud that I need a break, but the last time I did that, that's exactly what I got - a break, just not the kind I was hoping for! Oh well, two steps forward, one step (ouch!) back.

Til next time,
Chickadee the Clumsy

Chickadee! Give me my body back, that's what's wrong with you!! I too bled like crazy, had forbidden photo shoots, iron therapy, along with hormone therapy and finally surgery. Then, I too broke my dang toe! We've been switched! Anyway, I hope you feel better real soon!

Sundrop, please pass me one of those cappuchinno's, they're my absolute all time favorite stay up all night drink!

McMom, you and Pooky can have any and all babies that I may have in the future. I have learned that as soon as you stop trying, you get blessed. Good luck to you!

Barb, see I told you I'd be in a good mood today! I agree that induction sux but congrats on the full night's sleep! I'll be joining you in induction misery come Friday, so good luck to us both!

OA, you didn't save me any Mexican food?????????? I am so hurt that I'm going out straight away to Olive Garden and I'm going to eat ALLLLLLLLLLLLL the bread and I won't save you any either! Hmph.

DCH, please don't karate chop me for that last catty comment!

Leens, I looooooooooove home fries. At least the bacon would be o/p, huh??

L, a whole month and no loss? I'm sorry! I bet you lost 2 pounds of fat and gained 2 pounds of muscle

Liz, come back and chat with us!

Pooky, you go girl! Quit my job for me? Please?????

Jiff, I bow to you! You are amazing, and tell us all what you've decided to reward yourself with on the 200 gone mark?

SamsGran, I agree on the married couple moving in thing. My sister and her hubby lived with me for 18 months and I was ready to kill everyone!!!!

Scooby, I am proud of you for turning down mac&cheese, it's hard for me to do that! You go girl!!

Ruth, whew! I finally got to the end of this post and I'm as tired as you are. Slow down and enjoy some "me" time this week, ok?

Ya'll have a wonderful night, I'm going to ice my hands now!

PS I loved seeing all the posts this afternoon! I love when this forum is busy