*Chirrrrp* *Chirrrrp*

Where'd everybody go? The MF forum looked to be hopping last week, not so much this week. How is everybody doing?

Hey Sweetie. How's it going. I started on the program yesterday morning. I started training for blast crew Monday. I have not walked this much in about 3 years. Holy cow I'm worn out, but, it does keep me from wanting to eat out of boredom. The plan also seems to keep me from getting hungry.

I accidentally popped a french fry in when I went to get my daughter some food on the way home from work, but I realized it right away and moved the bag to the back seat of the car. I'm going to have to be more careful about habits. Yesterday she had a chicken salad from my preprepped stuff. Hopefully I can get her to do that more. She liked it. She had already been asking for salads when I went after food so we should be able to save some money this way. If the MF works she wants to check out the teen program.

Well, I just wanted to check in. I have got to get a quick nap. I'll check in again later tonight.

Hello!

Operator, are you getting enough calories with the exercise? I don't think they have you add much exercise for 3 weeks. Just be careful!

Yeah, I know. But there isn't anyway I can avoid it. I won't get this kind of opportunity again, especially if I turned it down. Plus, I've been really pushing for these backward bozos to give women the same chances as the men to train. I make sure they know my job has been sedentary and to just give me a little time to build up. The ones I'm working with now are pretty good guys who also can't understand the stupid attitudes.

I may add another half serving of L&G if I lose to much energy and to help with muscle mass, but so far I've been OK. Some how I've always seemed to have an all or nothing presence in my life.

Blast crew sounds exciting! I think you mentioned something about a mine earlier...is that right? What will you be doing after your training? I think as long as you feel fine and you are still losing you'll be okay. If you do have any questions or problems with it, you might ask Medifast nutrition support. They seem to be pretty good with questions like that and will probably have some good suggestions.

I did the same thing you did with the french fry the other day. I was cooking dinner for me and my bf, grabbed a noodle out of the pot to check if they were done and popped it into my mouth without even thinking about it. It's strange how many little things like that I've noticed lately. Like when I was in the supermarket the other day, there was a guy passing out samples, I almost picked up one of the samples out of habit, but at the last moment remembered and said no thank you. That actually felt really good to say! I felt empowered...for about 5 seconds...until I saw the Little Debbie Cakes on the next isle.

I think it has been a busy week for everyone! I always look forward to spending an hour reading and responding. Haven't been able to do too much of that. I am a child protection worker and my job is extremely stressful and difficult. I have felt so stressed out and not sure how to manage that stress... since my coping skill is now gone... EATING LOTS OF FOOD. How do you guys handle your stress??

Oh, wow, I admire you so much for being a child protection worker. My parents were foster parents when I was in jr. high/high school and it really opened my eyes to how lucky I was to having a loving home. I bet you do have a really stressful job!

I'm also trying to adjust to new stress relievers. (Yeah, food was my outlet too!) Once I get to the point I can exercise again, I hope to take up some sort of martial art. I've always wanted to take a karate class or something similar and I think that would be a great stress reliever, not to mention a good workout and build up my self-defense so I'll feel more confident running outside. (One reason I think I've gained so much weight is because I don't feel comfortable running outside in the city. I used to run all the time when I was in college.)

In the meantime I've taken up crocheting again, which has helped a lot. Also, giving my bathroom a good scrub helps, take out all the anger and frustration on the soap scum on the shower walls! As soon as my kitchen is finished (remodeling right now) I plan on starting on our landscaping. I think gardening should be relaxing. I'm also thinking I might try painting or drawing. It's amazing how much free time I have now that I'm not preoccupied with food...and sitting in front of the TV eating it!

Yeah, I'm a miner. I worked in construction before this so it really doesn't seem nearly as exciting chewing up dirt and ore as it is to build things, but it's decent. Blasting has me excited because I will get physical activity and learn alot of new things. Sitting on a haul truck for 12 hrs. is boring as all get out. Even the size of the trucks was kind of unimpressive because my ex worked in a different mine and I had been to it and got to play with the equipment on Family Days. He even let me try out the Dragline which is about the size of a city block and has a 350ft. boom. You can put two pickups side by side in the bucket and it holds 80 yrds. of dirt.

I waayy respect child protection. I couldn't make it a week without breaking some sorry piece of 's neck. I've come close to losing it on people within my own sphere of influence. The stress level must be crazy.

I'm hoping to find a yoga and meditation instructor. I've tried to get it from books, but I really feel I would do much better with experienced help. Keep up the good work everyone.