Ceejay, we're at almost the same weight - my binging seems to have left me two pounds up at 181. But I'm not back on the no-indulgence wagon until after the long weekend, and I'll adjust my ticker then.

Happy, I do realize your thyroid is what's keeping you out of the pool and not laziness, and hope I haven't managed to seem insensitive. I have a teensy problem with being a bit of a bull (heifer?) in a china shop around other people's feelings... Maybe you need one of those thinskin wetsuits the triathletes wear. It would keep you warmer in the water, and you'd probably burn off a pound or two every time you tried to wiggle in or out of it.

Madcat, I'll repeat to you what people tell me: just because you don't want to do something kind doesn't mean it doesn't count. Some people even feel you get extra halo points for helping out when you do so reluctantly. But I agree with you that we sometimes have no choice if we want to sleep at night.
I can tell you're a true Canadian - brave, hardy souls who swim in our chilly lakes with pride. I actually find the water can be less pleasant in the heat of summer when it's often warm on top with a cold, patchy layer underneath. Eek! Of course, having said all this, it's been a little cooler here yesterday and this morning, and there was no way I was swimming when the air temp's under 20... Especially with no internal ethanol assistance.
As for tying one hand behind my back, I think they'd have to tie them both back there for it to work when I'm on a tear.

Ruth, I'm so sorry about the bad news with Lucy. I do hope you'll still have plenty of quality time with her before she has to leave you. I know that in some cases dogs don't have pain from tumours, just a gradual decline in energy and appetite. Whatever the outcome, please accept a huge and all the : there are.

Mel, I hope the eye is letting up a bit. What a pain that you have to stand in for John, although if he's good to you you may not feel it's an imposition. I hope that's the case. As for the auditors, whenever you mention them it reminds me of a tv ad where a woman calls an exterminator, who concludes that she's got... bankers. Nondescript little men in suits and glasses leaping out of their holes in the wall and throwing themselves on bills or coins tossed on the floor... It's gotten much cooler here since the big storm on Wednesday, much less humid and still sunny and pleasant. I hope you're sharing the fine weather!

Shad, what an awful flight home! At least you made it... I can't say I've missed flying all the time, and at this point my next planned flight is just to Toronto in November. Are you still awash in all that healthy water you've been drinking?

Well, I may have to change my name to Daniel, cuz it's back into the lions' den this weekend... I shouldn't complain, I'll only be there two days and will be staying in a motel (yay!). And the SM is doing much better, so should be a little less awful.
The weather channel claims the ragweed is at a moderate level, but my nose and eyes sure don't agree with that! Last night and this morning my left eye started feeling like it had something scratchy in it, which I think is just part of the allergies, but it did give me a tiny inkling of what our sweet Mel has to put up with on a daily basis. So instead of whining, I got out some eye drops and my big-girl panties, popped an actifed, and voilà, a little better.

Gotta go

Yipes. Summer seems to be departing with a nasty streak.
CJ-- hope you are feeling better... and that the cleaning doesn't exhaust you.
Ruth: So sorry about the news from the vet. It is so hard to wrap our minds around mortality-- especially in regard to those creatures (human or not) who love us so unconditionally.
Madcat: The problem with Sainthood (or Martyrdom, for that matter) is that you have to be dead to collect on it. But I certainly hope you'll accept the admiration and acclaim from the crowd for your kindness, steadfastness etc. Glad you survived the "head on collision with some chocolate." Boy, isn't THAT an apt way to put it.
Mel: Keep making yourself #1, OK? Seems like nobody else is doing that for you. I'll cross my fingers that people (or elves) show up to whom you can DELEGATE!!
Shad: Your flight sounds horrific. DH's flight home last night was cancelled. Allegedly there was bad weather here. Um... I didn't see any problems. Got up nearer to dawn than I prefer to go pick him up. But at least he avoided broken glasses, sick bags, and in-flight jostling. glad you are home safe. Hope to see your orchids.

Best to all.

Here's a recipe I thought might come in handy for the clean eating challenge. I made it today, and now have so much that my freezer is full and I'm giving some away! Everyone who has tried this loved it, even men and anti-dieters. You can add more "free" veg as desired (cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, etc).

Hamburger Soup - Original recipe

1 1/2 lbs lean or (better) extra-lean hamburger
1 medium onion finely chopped
1 28-oz can diced tomatoes
2 cups water
3 cans beef consommé
1 can low-fat tomato soup
4 carrots, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 bay leaf
8 tbsps barley

- Brown meat and onion, drain well;
- Combine all ingredients in a very large pot (I used my stock pot);
- Cover and simmer at least 2 hours.

Makes at least 12 servings.

Some changes I made:
instead of tinned soup, I use a packaged non-fat dry tomato organic soupmix I found;
I add a tin of green beans;
I add a couple of zucchini, diced;
I add an extra carrot and extra stalk of celery;
I use a one-quart tetra-pack of lo-fat beef stock;
I make sure there is a total of 56 oz of fluid; the 32 oz stock, the liquid from the beans, and the balance in water.
I may have added 9 tbsps of barley - lost count.

With these changes, I ended up with 17 cups of very hearty, thick, soup = 17 filling lunch-size servings.

That's all for now, although we do need a smilie of a witch stirring her cauldron... Bon appétit!

CAN I GET ANY "TIREDER"? BUT LIKE A FOOL I AM SITTING HERE READING, LAUGHING, CRYING AND TYPING AND TAKING NOTES THANK GOD FOR FRIDAYS. THESE WERE THE 2 LONGEST DAYS I KNOW. IF SOMETHING COULD GO WRONG IT DID. I WAS LEFT WITH ONLY 1 MAN AND THEY TOOK HIM AWAY TO DRIVE A SCHOOLBUS!!!
AND ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE, FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS ARE REACHING INTO OUR TINY TOWN. GEEZ!!! I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT EVERY APPOINTMENT WAS KEPT AND ON TIME BUT THE END PRODUCTS WERE NOT WHAT ANYONE WANTED OR EXPECTED. LOTS OF RE-DO STUFF FOR ANOTHER TIME. I DID MY BEST AND GOT NO HELP FROM ANYONE (OF COURSE) AND NO ONE RETURNED CALLS I MADE. SO I TOLD THE WORKERS, SCREW IT, WE DID WHAT WE COULD WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORIZATION AND I SENT EVERYONE HOME WHEN THEY WERE DONE. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 60 YEARS I DIDN'T HAVE ONE GUILTY TWINGE OR BONE IN MY BODY. FELT VERY GOOD I CAN TELL YOU. ALMOST STRESS FREE. MADCAT, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION...YES THIS WAS A FREEBIE. JUST A FAVOR FOR JOHN. BUT I CAN GET "stuff" LATER ON DOWN THE ROAD. THE MEN ARE GOOD THAT WAY. JUST GLAD IT'S OVER. I AM DOING NOTHING THIS WEEKEND BUT RESTING!
HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYS THE HOLIDAY OR THEIR RESPECTIVE WEEKEND.
***HAPPY & SHAD~ WOULD YOU BOTH MIND WAITING FOR A CALL? MY BROTHER AND HIS FAMILY HAVE LEFT MESSAGES FOR CALLS THIS WEEKEND AND THE KIDS MADE PLANS FOR US ALSO. THEY HAVE DECIDED WE DON'T NEED TO COOK OR GO ANYWHERE AND SET UP A DVD WEEKEND. SORRY GIRLS BUT I DON'T WANT TO ASK THEM WHAT TIME I AM FREE! ESPECIALLY AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN GONE FOR 3 MONTHS.
THEY EVEN GOT OUT THE BLOWUP BED AND RAN UPSTAIRS TO GET SOME STUFF.
OK GALS I AM OUT OF HERE. HAPPY WEEKEND

RUTH I AM SO VERY SORRY AND WILL BE PRAYING FOR THE BEST FOR BOTH OF YOU!

SHAD~ SORRY THE FLIGHT WAS SO PATHETIC!! AND I PROMISE WE WILL TALK NEXT TIME.

CARLA SEPTEMBER IS HERE SO DON'T MAKE KILLING THE SM ON HER BIRTHDAY THE FIRST THING YOU DO FOR THIS MONTHS CHALLENGE!

HAPPY HOPE YOU CAN EAT MORE SOLID FOODS THIS WEEKEND. YOUR POOR MOUTH!!

MADCAT I AM SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT THE BLOD TESTS BUT IT COULD BE A BORDERLINE THING. DRS LIKE TO RUN THEM AGAIN IF THEY ARE CLOSE. DON'T WORRY TILL ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY!!!

CEEJAY HAVE A GREAT TIME IN PARAGOULD!! NICE HOW YOU HAVE BEEN STAYING ON TRACK!! ALSO CONGRATS ON THE 182!! I THINK I KNOW WHERE YOUR WATER WEIGHT WENT TO THOUGH!!

PW~ NOW YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT OUR DOINGS....HOW ARE YOU???????

Morning all,
Mel has been in and out while I have been thinking about what to write. It's fine Porangi, I was going to do the ringing but as you say, another time is just as good. No juicy tidbits anyway, just chatting and whingeing no doubt.

Carla - soup recipe sounds good. I'm really into soups at the moment, but I guess the recipe would need to get cut down. I'll be through with soups before I finish 17 cups of the stuff.
I've been a bit bad with the water this weekend so far. I'll go get some in just a minute - when I get off here.
Oh and before I forget - be careful what you wish for on here, or Happy will come up with a diabolical little witchypoo cackling and stirring the pot - the fact that the face may look a little like mine is completely beside the point!

Painter - the flight wasn't all that bad and gave me the giggles for quite a bit of the time, especially when the big burly steward put the bloke back in his seat and told thim that if he didn't sit down and shut up, he might get asked to leave the plane. Maybe it is only me who can appreciate that sort of sense of humour - I laughed out loud. No one else did - although it might be difficult to laugh with an oxygen mask on I suppose. Sorry that the DH had a rough time of his flight. These things happen.

Ceejay - isn't that sort of cheating? Not eating stuff before you go for the check up. I just go and do it anyway knowing that the Dr is going to send me a letter to frighten the daylights out of me, even when it is only a slight glitch in the sugar level. We have a running battle over the wording of that letter every time. I know that my sugar levels rest on edge. They have always been that way and he should know that by now. We have been through enough tests to prove the fact.

Happy - the wetsuit is not a bad idea of Carlas. It just may mean the difference between keeping off those yo yo pounds or not. It's really good exercise for sore feet and knees as are aquarobics classes.

Madcat - I've met you and I know what a nice person you are. I don't believe you are a saint, but don't you have to be dead to prove that? You are a really good friend, that's what you are.

Ruth - howya doing friend? Make the most of your time with Lucy, but don't dwell on the decisions. I found with both my two that something happens that makes you know that they are ready even if you are not. You don't really make the decision, they do. You just know the decision is coming and they don't. Meantime, just get on with enjoying the living.

Okay, with that I gotta go. I have things to do, a cat to appease, DS2 is up and running so I'd better do the same. These 3 day weekends are something I could get used to................zzzz Hammocks and sunshine spring to mind.

Carla - forgot to mention earlier. I went to the nieces 18th birthday party last night. She loved the handbag. So did her mother and her mothers best friend.
Phew - we chose well.

I SEE SHAD HAS BEEN AND GONE TO SLEEP
I FEEL LIKE DOING THE SAME. A LOT OF DREAMS AND NOW I DON'T FEEL REALLY RESTED. LATE LAST NIGHT THE KIDS NAND I DECIDED ON A QUIET DAY TODAY AND WE'LL BE TOGETHER TOMORROW. GOOD THING BECAUSE THE ALARM WENT OFF TWICE. ONE BURGLAR AND ONE MEDICAL. NOTHING SERIOUS. I DECIDED TO MAKE A SMALL MEATLOAF....JUST IN CASE THE FOOD BROUGHT IN ISN'T TOO HEALTHY
HAPPY SATURDAY

HELLO SHAD!! GLAD THE PURCHASE WAS SO APPRECIATED!! SOMETHING LIKE THAT MAKE YOU FEEL SO GOOD INSIDE OUT! SWEET DREAMS.

Morning Mel.

I'm just sitting here, swearing at the computer or rather the external hard disc drive that I bought and which seems to have a power fault. So I've had to sort of hold it in one hand and attach it to the power and the computer before it has a chance to blow the surge protector. My wee IT Tech is going to get a bit of a phone call shortly!!!

Just finishing my coffee and reading the weeks posts from everyone. HUGS!!!!

OK GLAS LET'S GET OUR CASTINETTES OUT AND SING AND DANCE OUR WAY OVER TO THE SEPTEMBER THREAD
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...52#post1836952

ARE YOU ALL READY FOR THE SEPTEMBER CHALLENGE??
BRING YOUR PLANS AND EXERCISE CHARTS AND LET THE WEIGHTLOSS BEGIN!!