I am new to the site.....

I am finding that my stress level is incredibly high which is probably why I started ww on sunday morning..... I find that I have some control issues (I am a doctoral student and we all have control issues) so when I am feeling stressed watching what I eat becomes a bit all encompassing which gets me thinking about something other than Durkheim and Marx.....

So here I be. I planned on starting walking today but its pouring out absolutely pouring and my dogs don't seem to interested in being outside with me.

At this moment however, I started this weight challenge on the spur of the moment and at this time I have none of the staples in my house. I have no vegetables to speak of (nothing I will eat) I have no shrimp, I have no things for lunches and no fruit but whats good is I have lots of coffee and fat free creamer.

I got on the scale yesterday (after buying batteries for the darned thing) I hadn't gained I am where I left off last from last time so that is positive.....

i am a bit concerned about lunches and quick breakfasts that I can eat on the go.... once the semester starts.... I got myself sucked into teaching an 8am class..... the university is about an hour from home..... I am not a morning person and have a pile of dogs to take care of.... Plus if I eat to early in the morning I feel sick....

so I need to figure out breakfasts that I can eat at around 9:30 during my office hours.... that is easy to grab and take with me.... that is not mcdonalds (I love mcdonalds breakfast) and doesn't require refrigeration....

oh and the same for lunch.... I had been bringing soup in a cup things.... like the campbells ones.... but it does get pretty old pretty fast.....

so thats my contribution today.....
I am really glad you all are here
s

Cournie - I hear Mindless Eating is a helpful read. Let us know how to find it. Have fun in Vegas!!

Faerie - Wow, what a trip! I can't even imagine what an experience that must have been for you. I agree with LeeAnne, if you have anything else you want to share I would love to read more about it. I imagine the celebrity of your skin would get kind of uncomfortable after a while. That is interesting about the way young men interact over there - I remember seeing similar behavior when I was in Italy, it was so interesting to note how unafraid they seemed to be of touching each other. It was actually kind of nice, it seemed more genuine than the awkward arms-length relationships between males here in the US.

LeeAnne - Glad you had fun with your busy weekend! Wolf Trap is a gorgeous venue, and I hear NIN concerts are usually awesome. Glad to hear your Tex Mex was so fulfilling Sometimes it's just worth it.

And you and Faerie, learning how to haggle! I don't think I am up for that task.

Tarah - That's pretty lame. I always have DH test my fountain sodas if I get them, to make sure they are diet. I don't need all that sugar.

Chey - Well, they finally called yesterday afternoon. So they are at least in the process of checking up on us. They are being crazy thorough - my address from when I lived with my father was on my credit report, and they wanted to call him to verify - verify what? That I was a good tenant? I'm his daughter! I've never been checked up on to this extent so it's a little unnerving.


Not much to report on here - just wanted to pop in and say hi.

36paws!

I'd suggest taking a look at our menus threads for some great meal ideas. I think there have been some quick breakfast idea threads too. My favorite on-the-go, no-refrigeration-needed breakfast is a 1 point wrap spread with some PB and a banana rolled up inside. It's very filling and easy to grab and go!

First things first, definitely go grocery shopping. You must set yourself up for success, or this is going to be unnecessarily difficult! Stock your fridge and pantry with healthy foods that you love, and there won't even be a second thought about that McD's breakfast.

Paws - to the group! What good news that you were able to maintain! I agree with Suite. Shopping. Now! Get those vegetables and fruits on hand. Sandwiches are another thing that don't need too much refrigeration. Just a lunchbox with insulation will do ya. And don't forget a thermos for water during the day!

LeeAnne - Thank you for sharing that! And now I know.
While I visited a few temples and enjoyed them from the exterior, I never ventured inside. (When I return to the Taj, I believe I'll make some time to do that, but being in India for the first time, and being that temples are religious, I most certainly didn't want to do anything improper that may offend.)

Suite - Just glanced about and realized you're moving! I hope all goes as smoothly as moving can go

So I didn't have anything to say this morning, but I do now

I was thinking about our new place, and what a hassle it is to move, and how stressful it can be, and how expensive, and yadda yadda yadda. Been bothering me since we signed the lease last week.

Well you know what? I'm actually very excited to move. It's bigger, it's nicer, it will have WAY more sunlight than our current basement apartment. There is a dishwasher, a pool, and a gym. It will cut about 10 minutes off my walk when I choose to walk home or to work. We will no longer have anyone living directly above us!

By some wonderful coincidence, the bus routes are changing the weekend we move, and my favorite bus driver has been moved to the route I will now be taking to work. This is strange as a perk but he always brightens up my morning a bit, just one of those really genuine people who are hard to find.

We will be within walking distance to a great local non-profit bakery and a local whole foods kind of store with a giant wall of bulk bins for grains and legumes and organic snackies and all that. (This is *very* exciting!) Also around the corner are a great little coffee shop and the SPCA rummage store, for great Sunday morning meandering.

It just occurred to me that I should be thrilled about the change Here I've been stressy and moping about the hassle of it all, when really, it is SO worth it. Talk about increase in quality of life!

So that's it. Not all that interesting for you guys but it makes me happy!

Jamie the new place sounds simply amazing! I don't think it would get any better!!

Suite - Your move sounds exciting I'm so happy for you & your hubby! And the busdriver moving to your route? FATE!

Good & Happy Wednesday Morning, Flexers!

Well, I'm rather proud of myself. I made it through the whole week. I wrote everything down. Everything! Even the things that I probably shouldn't ever eat. (Like 10 points worth of merengues... who does that?? Me, that's who.) I even walked during my breaks.

I'm not going to pretend I'm not curious about my weigh-in tonight, but it's not looming over my head.

So, on the personal life/wedding front. The fiancee and I have found an apartment, and we'll be moving things in all throughout September while he rents his apartment and the new one. He'll be there in October for 2 weeks before I officially move in. The greatest part is that it's only a few streets down from where he lives now.

I made an appointment to have alterations made on my wedding dress on the 30th. I still need flowers, and a hair appointment.

We got a photographer, a justice of the peace, and a cake. The cake we got will be assuredly cute. It's a small two layered cake, the bottom part is set up like a green hill, the top is set up like a castle tower. So it'll look like a castle on a hill. We're searching for the right knight & princess topper for it.

Plenty of other things to do to keep us busy for many weekends.

Oh, and my end of work countdown is now 42 days. *glee* I cannot wait to quit. The only problem? I'm getting restless. And I can't bring myself to care about things that need to be cared about for one more month.

Ah well... speaking of the devil, better get these reports audited.

Hope you all have fantastic days

PS - This is kinda strange, being that Halloween is like 2 months away, but I already figured out what my Halloween treat will be. S'mores. I haven't had s'mores in forever. I will be enjoying a few come October

Hey all. Jaime, the new place sounds great. Faerie, good news about the wedding plans.

I don't have much to say today. One of the members of my favourite band passed on yesterday. Music and travel are the two biggest passions in my life so it's not hard to understand why I'm taking it a little harder than some other folks would. I feel a little emotional today, plus it's TOM so I'm likely to be a little crazy anyway.

For anyone wondering, it was LeRoi Moore of the Dave Matthews Band. He was the saxophone player. He had an ATV accident towards the end of June and, due to a number of complications, he passed away yesterday. He was 46.

Faerie - Your cake sounds wonderful! I love cakes that look like things You have so many exciting things coming up!!

LeeAnne - Oh, that's so sad about Mr. Moore. You know, on my way into work *every* station was playing DMB, and I thought it was just a coincidence. I guess not. The town is going to take it hard, I'm sure, seeing as how they're pretty much the best thing to come out of Charlottesville since Thomas Jefferson...


Tonight I'm going to a meeting of people I found on meetup.com. We're going to play Settlers of Catan Playing 2 player games with DH is fun, but I really want to a) meet people not attached to the university here (all of my old Cville friends moved away after finishing their MAs) and b) play more board games! So on meetup there was a group called Cville Boardgamers who meet once a month. This will be the first meeting for us. I'm pretty excited! We're meeting at a coffee shop so I will have to save back a few points for a drink while we are there.

That's about it, hope everyone has a good day!

LeeAnne - Ah man. That sucks. So young to pass away. :/

Suite - Oh so exciting to meet new people! Something I definitely have to do when I head up to MA. I don't want to be dependent upon the soon to be husband for all of my companionship needs.

LeeAnne - I am sorry. That sucks. Always makes me sad when I read stuff like that. Like that Vancouver Canuck player that was killed a couple months ago - this was supposed to be his year too

So this morning I went and had my blood work done. They are testing my Thyroid, Iron and for Diabetes - If I dont get a phone call then I am all good! haha

My eating has been SLIGHTLY slack, just a bit. I will end up going over points for today... but Vacation starts in about 24 hours! yay! I don't plan on counting points... just try and eat superfoods when I can. IE salmon burger versus beef burger, salad versus fries... I probably wont save a lot of calories but at least they will be superfoods! haha

I am sitting here wanting a frap so bad! I think I might have to to finish up a few things and go get one! LOL *smacks head*

Morning, Flexers

Courtnie - Best of luck with all the blood work! May your vacation be splendid! Have a ton of fun while in Vegas, and seeing that concert

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So here I am. Almost back to routine. The last thing to do is get back to my regular treadmilling. I was able to shed 5 pounds since last week. A lot of that was most likely water retention and whatnot from having traveled, and eaten a bunch of things I'd like to have... well that I'd like to have not eaten.

I'll continue on the same until this weekend, when I'll be taking a few walks with the fiancee. I can grab my workout gear (which I left at his apartment) and start my treadmilling up again on Monday. (I miss watching Charmed re-runs anyways )

I'm listening to music online and a few Celtic-y ballads keep coming up. And everytime one does, all I want to be is outdoors in the woods... makes me feel... content.

May everyone have a blissful day!

G'mornin!

Courtnie - Fingers crossed for no phone call! And hurray for vacation! I'm sure you'll do great, and even if you come back with a small gain, 1) it will have been worth it, right? and 2) it'll come back off in no time. Enjoy your vacation!!

Faerie - Exercise is always the last to fall into place. I think making sure your eating is cleaned up is more effective at the beginning of getting back on track anyhow. Have fun on your walks, I hope you have a nice woodsy area nearby to go be happy in


Well, my gaming group meeting last night was actually really fun. This group has a history of not showing up for its meetings, so I took along DH and brought a game that we could play 2 player if no one else showed. Well, three other people came out, all of us first timers to the group - and I sure was glad I brought my game, as no one else brought anything - the organizer himself didn't even show up!! (which is pretty stupid, why organize a group if you are not going to show?) We played for a couple hours and chatted for a little while over the best soy latte I've had to date. We've arranged to meet again next week even if there isn't an official meetup, which is exciting!

Anyhow... not a whole lot else going on... It occurred to me that if I lose 2 lbs this week and 2 lbs the next I will hit 30lbs lost on my 25th birthday - which would be awesome - but I don't think it'll happen. Nice to dream though, right? TOM's got me maintaining my weight from last week so far and we're about to move which generally means take-out and little intentional exercise... ah well At least I hit 25 lbs before I turned 25!

hey everyone!! i'm back!! I've missed you guys...it's been a wonderful summer, out in the woods, constantly active...but it's nice to be home, too.

so, not too surprisingly, i've shed weight while at camp. it felt miraculous -- the truth was, I could honestly eat whatever I wanted and I still lost. This is partially because the things I wanted were healthier, and partially because I was active at all times. There were no couches. There was no TV. I became the cook partway through the summer, and that kept me moving all day. And, with the planned meal times, it was so easy to stay on track...despite the fact that every item of food was at my fingertips at all times, I was busy busy busy, prepping food, cooking food, serving food, and cleaning up food, sometimes I didn't even have the time to eat.
Anyhoo, I am really going to have to work to maintain my loss now that I'm home. On the plus side, it's not a crazy amounts -- I have lost about 5.5 lbs in the past two months, bringing me to 130 this morning. It was a slow loss, and I think I built a lot of muscle (I'll have to take my measurements today) that feels easier to keep up. I plan to walk A LOT, and really just cook for myself a lot of veggies. I would love it if I don't have to measure everything, don't have to keep records, as that's how it was over the summer. But, we shall see, we shall see...
I haven't had a chance to read up on everyone, but I do see that Faerie is back from india!! I"ll have to read all about it. I need to get a move on my day, lots to do!!
Love love
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