Hi,

We've been having really nice weather these past couple of days, it's been in the 70's with no humidity.

Last night we were invited to a cookout at our neighbor's brother's house, who doesn't live very far away. Had a good time. There were a lot of young people there. DH & I couldn't believe how much beer they consumed. I don't want to be them this morning. We did it too at that age and don't know how we did it.

I'm on my way later this morning to meet a cousin for lunch. I'm going to miss our occasional lunches when we move. Hopefully we can get another one in before Sept. 20th.

Did either of you happen to see this week's issue of Womans World? In there diet of the week some people lost weight by making small changes one step at a time. Here are some sites if you'd like to read up on it. It really sounds like a good strategy. www.smallstep.gov www.dietsimple.info

Have a great day.
Aleka

Good morning,
I am having hot flashes and TOM at the same time. Is that just some kind of bad joke or what? I hate when I feel like this. I had a hot flash last night and for the first few minutes, I thought some thing was really wrong with me. Then I realized what was going on. I ordered a womens menopausal formula that has black cohosh and some other herbs in it that are suppose to be helpful. Of course, I still have soy every day.
You'll have to excuse me if I ramble today, I'm not myself Or maybe, thinking back to some of my posts, I am
Aleka, the party sounds like fun. Glad you had a good time. Also, thank you for the links, I'll check them out in a little bit. I think making little changes really does help. Like last night, I made taco salads for supper. I just buy the regular taco shells and we crush them for the base of the salad. I only used 2 instead of 3 (La Tiara they are good and have 40 calories each) I decided to forget the sour cream and added extra salsa. Went easy on the cheese. That way, I had a regular taco salad, but because I made better choices, it was lower calorie. I think doing that with every thing will eventually make a big difference.
Anne, hope your enjoying your vacation, when do you go back?
Lynne, how are you doing?
I better get off and get busy. Have a great weekend, Nikki

Nikki,

Hot flashes??? All I can say is, WELCOME TO MY WORLD!!!!! The only advice I have for you is to dress in layers, especially in the winter. The only time I welcome them is in the middle of winter and it's 40 below zero. When I'm living in FL where it's hot most of the time, I won't be able to tell the difference. I'm on the lowest dose of Premarin and still get them a few days a month. I heard somewhere that when you're in menopause they come right around your TOM. Have you read Suzanne's new book about women's health? I have it, but haven't read it yet. Her's is all about bioidentical hormone therapy. I do believe there is a chapter in her book for women who don't have the resources for specialists in that field or who live too far away to contact a specialist. Maybe when I get settled I'll read it.

Aleka

Hi Everyone:
Nikki, I go back tomorrow What can you do? I haven't had
hot flashes yet.....but I am waiting for this any time now. Like I have said
I am experiencing some irregularity in my cycles.....For the last 6 months they
have been like clockwork again.....Its nuts

Aleka, I love Womens World Magazine....Its excellent and I did read that
article! Makes alot of sense to me....

Today we are back to summer. Its a lovely sunny day so I am not going
to complain too much

The haunted house was in Conneticut (my mistake), I don't know what exact town it was in but what a story!!!

In a nutshell.......The family moved in, the kids were seeing people in their
rooms at night. The father was becoming increasingly annoyed with the
oldest son (about 15 years old) thinking he was scaring his two younger
siblings. A voice kept calling the 15 year old and he finally went to see who
it was.....It was a demon. The boy was put in the hospital. At this point in
time the parents too began to have weird experiences. The house had to
have an exorcism done after much investigation by the Catholic Church.

I'm telling you...I woke up in the night too scared to go to the bathroom. They had the actual family on although their faces were
blacked out so they could not be identified. There was several experts that
had been to the house confirming their story. It was wild.

It is called a haunting in Conneticut if you ever see it listed on Discovery Channel.

Do either of you ever listen to Coast to Coast at night with Art Bell?

Anne.

Good evening,
Anne, I've had a couple of hot flashes and each time, I thought something was majorly wrong with me. I not only felt hot and was sweating, even though the fan was pointed right at me and it was in the 60's in the house, but I felt weird. Kind of disconnected. Aleka, is that what happens to you? I haven't read Suzannes book. I did read on the HSN boards that it would cost and arm and a leg to buy all the stuff she says to. After you read it, please let us know what you think about it.
Anne, that show sounds very scarey. I have to use the bathroom several times a night, so maybe I shouldn't watch it I do get scared at night though as it is. DH is at work and we live out here with no close neighbors. I still have really bad dreams sometimes and it's hard to sleep. Maybe I really shouldn't watch it.
Hey, have you started Body Flex again yet? I feel so much better since starting back again. It might not be the most strenuous exercise a person can do, but it does make me feel like I'm making some progress.
I better get off of here, DH is complaining he's a comuter widower, Nikki

Happy Monday Morning All

Nikki, I have not started my body flex program yet. I really need to get
back into it. I love the increased flexability and the face toning exercises
and God knows I need it. I was counting how many weeks until Christmas
in my calender if you would beleive it. I am going to buy a journal and
record my food, exercise, moods etc. to try to get a handle on myself. I
know I could feel alot better than I do it I would put some effort and
organization into my schedule. Like Aleka was talking about yesterday
little steps........ I can't beleive I am back at work. I am sitting at my desk
shaking my head

Hi Aleka, weather here today is going to be hot. In the morning it is quite
cool though, I still can't beleive we are nearly in the middle of August!!!

Hope you all have a great day.

Hi Lynn, hope all is going well with you and you are enjoying your summer.

Anne.

Hi!

ANNE, hopefully you'll be one of the fortunate ones that won't have any hot flashes. I remember my mother telling me that she didn't go through a lot of stuff other women went through. I don't think I will watch that Discovery show either. It's way to scary for me. It sounds like a book I read 30 some-odd-years ago, The Amityville Horror, which supposedly was a true story.

nikki, I do get awfully hot when I'm having a hot flash, but don't recall ever feeling disconnected. Everyone experiences something different. I get really hot where I'm throwing the covers off, and if it's winter stripping down to my T/shirt. After the hot flash passes, I'm freezing, and sometimes covered with goosebumps. I think if I wasn't taking hormones, my hot flashes would be a lot worse than they are. I was talking with an acquaintence recently, who is a lot younger than I am, and has just started experiencing hot flashes. One time she felt kind of weird while shopping and had to stop for a bit until she felt better. She really didn't go into detail, so she could have felt disconnected like what you're experiencing.

lynn, have you given the puppies away yet? If so, it must have been really hard for you. Hope you're having a good time at the campground this summer.

Have a great day everyone.
Aleka

Hi,
Anne, I'm also counting till Christmas, but only to try to figure out how much longer I have to save for it. Or rather when I should start saving for it. We still have one more car to fix up and we have to buy tires for the convertible, so I'm thinking about just giving the kids some money. I know it's not a very good present, but when I buy presents, I get carried away and spend way too much. This way, it's a set amount and they can buy what they want at the after Christmas sales. I know it's kind of a let down for them though, they like to open presents. Wish I was a crafty person, I'd make something for them.
Aleka, I got those goosebumps too afterward. The way I felt was like I had more blood rushing to my head, it seemed like I had tunnel vision and I couldn't hear as well. I was driving once when this happened and I thought I'd have to pull over. Maybe I should next time. I didnt' even know what the heck was going on.
I read the Amtyville Horror and saw the movie. Remember when the Exorcist came out? We went to see that in a theater and it scared me for years afterward. I read the book when I was a teenager and it had first come out. Even worse that the movie, as far as being scarey.
Oh brother, I hit some button and erased half of what I wrote. Well, I don't have time to do it again. Mostly all anyway
Talk to you all later, Nikki

Good Morning Everyone:

Aleka, it was a very similar story yet different. In the Amtyville Horror there had been a murder that took place. This house had previously been a funeral parlour. They had the actual people being interviewed (faces blacked out) and a dramitization. It was awful!!! You know how when you are hearing
people talk and deep down you just know they are telling the truth. Several
of the "experts" that had equipment set up to register movement etc. were
also interviewed many of them could not hack it and just left without completing their jobs. Scary Stuff!!! In one scene they showed the dad
opening his electric bill which was right over the top. He was fuming mad
and removed the lightbulbs from the boys room (they were keeping the lights
on at night because they were afraid) Well, a noise woke the boys one night
and it was their younger sister standing there laughing turning the lights on
and off. (there are no lights) The one boy took after her in persuit and when he reached the living room his parents were sitting there. Of course they ask him why he is out of bed. He explains his sister keeps coming in flicking the lights on and off. The parents are furious!! She is upstairs asleep. What the
heck is he trying to pull...... Soo.....this thing can also take the form of other family members..... I felt so sorry for the kids. Of course the parents
eventually find out there is a problem in the house when the Mom gets attacked while taking a shower by some force she can not see

Nikki, anytime know I will begin the process of starting to shop as I see
deals. Problem in our house is the younger boys always want these darn
nintendo games which are a fortune.

Well, I survived the first day back at work. Lets see how I do today.

Talk to you later.
Anne.

A very good morning to you,

We got a phone call yesterday from the guy who looked at DH's machines on Sat. He's coming to pick them up sometime later this morning. At least our major obstacle will be out of the way. Now we can get that area of the garage cleaned up and presentable again. My FIL would like to see them taking the machines out, so my IL's are driving up. Under normal circumstances I would love a visit, but the whole house is turned up side down, and I really don't have the time to entertain anyone. But, I should look at it as a day off from boxing stuff.

ANNE, I think you and I were posting about the same time yesterday. How was your first day back at work? Hope it was a fairly easy one for you. I always hated going back to work after a vacation, maybe because I hated my job. We had a very nice day yesterday, it was in the 70's with no humidity. Today it's supposed to be about the same temp, maybe a little higher, with the humidity started to creep back in. After reading that Woman's Day article about baby steps, I'm going to try and not eat anything when I'm not hungry, especially after supper.

Nikki, the only thing I've thought about Christmas is that I'll be doing my shopping in FL where it won't feel like Christmas and that I'll have to mail a lot of my gifts this year. If you really don't like giving your DDs money, why don't you give them a gift card from the mall, their favorite music store, or their favorite clothing store? Last year a friend of mine gave me a gift card from Walmart and I absolutely loved it. I bought something that I wouldn't have ordinarily gotten myself. Sometimes you can find the cutest things to put the gift cards in and wrap them. Maybe you can also find something small and inexpensive to give them to unwrap. I had forgotten about the Exorcist. I read the book too and gave me nightmares. So I didn't see the movie. I won't even watch it when it's on TV. I also have read a few of Stephen King's books, The Shining, and Christine, to name a couple. I can't read them anymore, they scare me too much.

Hope you have a good day.
Aleka

ANNE, I see we posted about the same time again today. We've got to stop meeting like this!!

Aleka

Goodmorning All: I'm Back!!!!! I am sitting in my desk chair for the first time in 9 weeks. I put it away, didn't want to run over any little toes or bodies. Two of the pups are gone. I found them super homes and they are doing well. They both left on Friday so we are down to 1 pup and Mya. The puppie (Cooper) we will take to DD next week stay for 5 days than they will be on holidays for 3 weeks so can get Cooper used to them. He already knows them as they have been here every weekend for 8 streight. DH is looking forward to a weekend alone. We have had so many visitors looking at pups. We have not been anywere together for 9 weeks. Mya is almost back to normal. She is in the water at least 6 hours a day. I am crate training the pup and he is doing very weel. Yes I know I am the one that is trained not Cooper. Crate training is the only way to go. The crate becomes there safe place and they love to go in and than I know he isn't chewing on something he shouldn't!!!!!! I only close the door at night so he has to cry to get me up and take him out to go to the washroom. He will not go in his bed. During the day I take him out after every nap and havn't had a mess inside for a while. Yes I know I'm the one that is trained not the pup LOL. Well he is starting to stir so must go will read up on postings and now will be back daily to follow the conversations on a daily bases. I have missed you all. Till tomorrow

Good morning,
This weather is really weird. It's literally cold (it's 59, I know it's not really that cold, but it is a shock). I mean, this is August and it's Iowa for heaven's sake. It should be hotter than and humid. I'm not complaining, but I'm really starting to wonder what in the heck is going on.
I did the Total Gym yesterday and again today. Have done BF every morning and either some treadmill, gazelle or stationary bike everyday. I can already tell I'm feeling stronger. Had a back slide on eating last night. I had some toasted low cal bread with peanut butter and low sugar jelly. That tasted so good, I had 2 more pieces. At least, it wasnt a bag of chips or a dozen Krispy Kremes. I didn't lose any weight either this morning, so I'm more water. You know, I never realized how much water I wasn't drinking, until I started to keep track. I'm trying to drink at least 120 oz a day and it's been a real struggle to get that in. I still drink several cups of coffee a day too besides, so you can guess where I spend a lot of time
Today is DH's birthday and guess what, I forgot. Since he didn't do anything for mine or get me a card, I don't feel so bad. He reminded me last night when he went to work. He said he was going to stop and get a Krispy Kreme doughnut to celebrate his birthday and I thought, OMG, how could I just forget that? I offered to make him chocolate chip cookies for his birthday, but he says he'd rather not, since he's trying to eat healthier. We have no money to go out. He's over at his dad's today, putting in a new bathroom floor for him. I suppose when he's done, he'll go up town for a birthday beer and eveyone will buy him one, so he won't need any money to have a good time tonight.
Better get a shower and get my day going, Nikki

Hey Lynn, welcome home
We were posting at about the same time. That seems to be the thing to do today That's great about the puppies. Sounds like you have a new grandchild (Cooper) It will be great that you can see all the pups so much afterward. So glad your back, Nikki

Hi,

I'm up early. Had to let Lacee out, which is unusual for her. DH has been up since 2:00 am. He's all wound up with everything that is going on.

The machines went out of here without a hitch. It didn't take them very long either. My IL's came up to see them go. I have to admit it was a treat to take some time off. Back to the ole grind this morning.

I got a pleasant surprise this morning. I decided to get on the scale, as I haven't been on it for a while and I've lost some weight, appx. 3 lbs. I thought I had possibly gained.

lynn, WELCOME BACK!!!!! I really missed you. How do you feel now that the puppies are gone and how did Mya react when the puppies went home to their new families? It must seem rather quiet around your house now. Glad that Cooper's training is going well. Looking forward to hearing more from you.

nikki, a happy belated birthday to your DH. I don't drink enough water either. I never think of it because I'm hardly ever thirsty. I usually drink a glass of ice coffee or diet soda in the afternoon. You're exercising is going well and you're getting I found these soups at Walmart, called Carb Focus. They are really good. We had the Southwest Creamy Chicken Soup the other day and it was delicious. If you like spicy foods, it was spicy. We also had a beef flavored soup, it was kind of greasy, but tasted good. I'm going to get some more this week.

ANNE, that program does sound scary and I definitely don't want to watch it. Glad that you're first day back to work went well. Hope you're having a good week. We're supposed to be back into rainy weather today and it's supposed to last until Sunday. It seems more humid today than it has in a while. Yesterday was a perfect summer day.

Today I'll be helping DH clean up the side of the garage the machines were on. Hope you all have a wonderful day.

Aleka