Well, here I sit again.
I went out at 8 AM to mow my lawn, and I did that, then trimmed some branches off of two trees and a forsythia bush. That took two hours, and I really did work up a sweat.
One of the trees is in the middle of my yard, and it is pretty, but some of the branches were hanging too low, so I cut them off all the way around the tree, and it really opened it up. I have two little blue tables under it with yellow chairs and white chairs for little kids to sit at when were having a cook out or just when they're outside playing.
The other tree is next to the sidewalk, and the lower branches were hanging down too far and you had to bend down when you walked down the sidewalk under that tree. The forsythia bush is next to my driveway, and some of the branches were rubbing against my car when I drove in and out of the driveway.

I hauled all the cut-off branches out to the back, then came in and took my shower.
Now I just had lunch and did up my couple dishes, and put the chicken breast in the oven for salads this coming week. It smells good too,with thyme, poultry seasoning and cilantro.

Guess I'll go outside for a while. Maybe I'll get brave and attempt a bike ride.
I need to do something to keep busy. Maybe I'll be back later.

Willow....how active are you?? I don't know how you do it. I have a siesta EVERY Saturday and Sunday - have a 30 minute read in bed then sleep for about an hour. I would be bereft without them and so would hubby who can sleep on a clothes line anyway. Hubby mowed the lawns and I did some weeding then I cleaned some windows and cooked three meals but that was all for today so I feel ashamed compared to you. I have to confess that I had some apple pie and custard today too but hope to get back into line tomorrow. All the young ones have left now except lovely daughter who is off on Tuesday to Mexico and Cuba for 2 months. Will really miss this child who rings me every night without fail at 7PM. She is going with another girl and I just pray no harm comes to them. Her brother went to Mexico 2 years ago for 4 months and he was fine and she is far more sensible than he will ever be, bless him. My mother is coming to visit on Wednesday for a few weeks and I just hope I can keep to this routine I'm in, it's so easy to slacken off when you have people staying and I am the type who links hospitality with lovely food so I will have to watch myself or I will be putting the 7lb back on! I still plan to read this every evening though to see how our little group is doing. Your garden sounds so lovely, Willow, and how nice you have a little haven for them to sit down in. xx

Wow, Willow, sounds like you put in a whole day's work just in the morning. Your sitting area sounds lovely, very peaceful and pretty.

Fatpuss, I'm with you on the siesta. I've been helping my dad move. Actually, at his age, that means that he sits on the bed and directs me, and I load up the stuff and take it down to my car and unload it back at our house. He's been in assisted living since August, we moved into his place and remodeled it, and now he's coming back to a brand-new handicap accessible addition.

Today was my day to take my measurements. I started measuring in April, and plan to do it every two months. In the two months I lost 11 pounds and 9 inches. It's still kind of hard looking at my measurement numbers, but looking at the 3 inches lost around my waist and hips is pretty cool.

How was your weekend?
It looks like you two (Sheila and Puss) were busy.

Puss, you know, I guess it sounds like I'm active, but I'm really not as active as I'd like to be. Plus, in between the active times, I'm a slug! Like today, ... Yes, I did 47 minutes of exercise when I got up, then I spent two hours outdoors working pretty hard in the yard, but, after that, I've done nothing! Oh, I did ordinary things like cutting up melon and pineapple for this coming week, cleaning up after myself in the kitchen and that type of stuff, but no more exercise stuff. I've spent a lot of time on the computer this afternoon, and I don't like to do that because I know it can become a bad habit. I was really bored and very lonesome this afternoon, and it got me feeling sad. I went outdoors a couple times to try to find something to do out there, but there wasn't much.
And, during the week, granted, I exercise for a half hour in the morning before work, then 30 to 45 minutes at Curves after work, but, I have a very sedentary job and I sit all day.
I got a laugh out of your saying that your Hubby could sleep on a clothesline.
It sounds like you did quite a bit of work today too.

I bet your daughter is very excited about her trip. I wish her the very best. And you too. I know you will miss her terribly.

I know what you are saying about wanting to keep guests well fed. I think you can do that and stay eating healthy yourself too, don't you? Does your mother know that you're trying to lose weight and are watching calories? She'll probably keep you so busy that you won't have time to do much damage.

Sheila, congratulations on your pounds and inches lost! Oh, how I wish I were losing something. But, I truly don't feel yet like I have.

I bet your father will be just delighted to be back home. But, I bet you'll be tired and delighted that the packing, hauling and unpacking will be done. So, you worked pretty hard today yourself.

I do like my yard, or as the English call it, my garden. But, I have a lot of things to mow around and also some things I have to move when I'm mowing, but I think it's worth it because it is so nice when it's all done. Looks so neat and tidy, and decorative. I have shepherd hooks with plants hanging, bird feeders, wind chimes, and lots of other stuff too.
When it's not too hot and humid, I love to sit out there in the swing and listen to and watch the birds, squirrels and in the evenings the rabbits.

I have to get ready for bed in a couple of minutes, but I wanted to leave everybody with a couple of questions for us to think about and discuss. Now, I'm doing this just for the fun of it, so I hope nobody takes offense.
I thought it would be kind of fun.

#1. WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES ANY DIET SUCCESSFUL?

#2. HAVE YOU EVER BLAMED ANYONE OR ANYTHING ELSE FOR GOING OFF OF YOUR DIET OR EATING/EXERCISE PLAN?

I'll go first.
I think planning ahead makes dieting successful.
If I don't have my week planned well, I'm more apt to just grab fatty foods instead of thinking of something healthy to eat, and I'm also more apt to not get enough exercise because I get all lazy and sleepy from the fats and sugars.

I have blamed just about everything and everybody for my quitting or going off of my plan, .... many times.
I have blamed being tired. (because I was just too exhausted to prepare something healthy.)

I have blamed a friend because she said all I had to do was just EAT HEALTHY AND QUIT THINKING ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME. I said she wasn't supportive enough. Now, isn't that ridiculous!

I have even said that I couldn't think of anything good because I was too busy.

There's lots more, but, later for them.

Have a good night/day!

I got up at 4 AM and did 2 miles of the 3-mile WATP tape. I had a good breakfast, and now I hope I have a good day at work.
It looks like it's going to be a nice day outdoors today. My thermometer says 62 degrees and the sky is clear.

1 c. Kashi to good friends
1 c. fresh strawberries
1 c. sk. milk

9 AM;
1 c. cantaloupe

1.5 c. stir-fry vegetables with noodles
2 oz. roast chicken breast
1 tbsp. oyster sauce

8 oz. rib eye steak
2 sl. low cal 100% whole wheat toast
2 c. green beans

Total = 1199 cals.

Good Morning All! This is the start of a brand new week. I hope I will get back on track quickly. What is it about weekends that gives me amnesia and the license to eat whatever and whenever I want to? I never have potato chips in my house, but when I go to a picnic, its like my radar hones in on the bowl.
A picnic yesterday, one next Saturday, one the following Sunday, and one on the 4th of July. I have a VERY LARGE family. I wonder what they would say if I just passed out SlimFast bars to everyone. Everyone seems to try to outdo each other on how much food they can bring. I didn't even get on the scale this morning. Too depressing. OK, I have vented enough this Monday morning. Sounds like the rest of you are doing well.

Willow, I wish I had a yard like you. When we sold our house and moved to an apartment, that's the one thing I really missed, the yard and my garden. I do have room to plant some flowers and I have pots with herbs on the porch, but the owners do all the lawn work. I actually enjoy mowing a lawn. Now, to Question#1. For a diet to be successful (IMHO) you have to first of all want to do it for yourself. Not because DH wants you to, or friends or relatives think you should. And on the flip side, we never plan to fail, rather we fail to plan. Doing a weeks worth of meals ahead of time, like you do, is a great idea. I find that writing everything down (and that includes the caramel you grab on your way out the door) helps a lot too. At the end of the day, you see exactly what you have eaten.
Question#2 Oh, haven't we all! Especially the people who stand over us and threaten us with a three-pronged fork if we don't have "just a little bit" of the 3,000 calorie salad or the quadruple chocolate cake that they spent the entire morning making. I can't really say I can blame anyone for going off my exercise plan. It's rare that I don't do some sort of exercise at least 5 out of 7 days. On the other two days, I just make up excuses for myself. See paragraph 1 re: weekends!! Have to give these old bones a rest once in a while.

I absolutely agree with you Puss. The first thing that crosses our minds when people, especially relatives, are coming to visit is what to feed them. And we MUST feed them more than we do our own families - special treats, desserts, etc. etc. We are a nation/world obsessed with food.

I have to start setting my kitchen timer when I go online. The time gets away from me and now its time to get a quick shower and get to work. Sometimes, I tend to talk a lot.
Three cheers for Monday Have a great week ladies.

Sue

I can hear the birds waking up and starting to sing as I write this. My favorite time of day, and I have to go to work.

1 c. bran flakes
1 c. fresh strawberries
1 c. sk. milk

9 AM;
1 c. cantaloupe

Baby Asian salad with roasted chicken slices
oyster sauce

2 Morningstar Garden Veggie Patties
2 sl. low cal. whole wheat bread
2 sl. FF cheese
1/2 c. cottage cheese
1/2 c. fresh pineapple

Total cals = 970
*************************************************

Hi everyone - didn't get a chance to post or FitDay yesterday with daughter and friend preparing to leave. Only had 3 hours sleep last night with getting to the airport for 0500am!! I will join hubby on that clothes line after dinner. Glad you have siestas too, Sheila, I would be a grumpy old boot if I didn't and it sets me up nicely for the rest of the day/evening. Had to laugh at the vision of your dear dad directing operations as you moved all the stuff! My dad would leave repairs around the house until my mother in desparation would ask my husband or son to fix something then dad was like a ballistic missile homing in on the job giving advice on best way to do it. We used to tease him about the number of years the job had been outstanding. Ha ha. You have done brilliantly with your weight and I would love to lose 3" off my waist and hips. Willow, I don't like to think of you lonely and sad on Sunday once your chores were done. I think we all feel like that now and then even when we are surrounded in company. You come across as a wonderful person and I know you would never go short on hugs and kisses if your loved ones were there. - that's all of us ladies here thanking you for supporting us and giving you a hug n a kiss! As to your questions, Q1. You must know I will say a good diet is one where you can stuff your face to busting with cake and buttered toast. Q2. I have blamed everything in the past for breaking a diet - Richard Simmons wearing the wrong colour shorts.....Sue, I loved your radar on the crisps ha ha. I might try giving my son a slimfast bar when he comes home next just to see the expression on his face - it would be too funny for words. I am back on the plan as from yesterday but it will be hard when my mother arrives because although she always says just prior to me serving dinner "don't give me too much" she eats like a horse and because she has no sense of smell at all her taste buds are impaired so she likes very sweet things. See...I am making excuses before I even begin to sin!! No, Willow, I will imagine you standing behind me giving sound advice whenever I am tempted. xx

Today was kind of long at work. Not the overtime, the rest of the day was long.
After work I went for my hair appt. and I'm not crazy about the way she styled it. I hope it's not because of the cut. I'll see tomorrow when I do it myself. I'm sure it's ok because I've been going to the same girl for several years and she always does a nice job.
Then I came home and had supper, then went to Curves for 45 minutes.
Now I just got home and have gotten my stuff ready for breakfast and lunch tomorrow and got my clothes out for tomorrow, so I shouldn't have to rush too much in the morning.

My drivers seat in my car has something wrong with it, so I need to call right away tomorrow to make an appt. I think a bolt is broken or something like that because the whole seat rocks when I move in it, and when I got out of the car, I moved the seat and watched, and I could see it lifting up under the carpeting. I suppose there goes my hard earned overtime money. I need to get it fixed right away though because I have to travel to some appt.s at Mayo Clinic next week for two days.

Sue, I have the same problem with weekends. I always thought that it was my twisted way of reasoning that I worked all week and deserved to reward myself. I haven't had that happen the last couple of weekends though, so we'll see what happens now. I'm on vacation for 5 weeks after Friday.
I've been trying to plan busy days so I don't get bored and lonesome. That's where I run into a lot of trouble.
Also, our company picnic is this coming Saturday. I'm not sure that I'll go to it. I'll wait and see how "vulnerable" I feel that day.
Then, the day after is a big parade in our town and we all get together at one of my sons house because he lives right on the parade route, and there is always tons of food there.
And, the following weekend everyone will be home for the 4th of July, and I'm sure we'll have at least one cookout.
And when I cook for a crew like mine, I cook a LOT! My favorite food of mine at a cookout is my potato salad. I could eat a ton of it.

Oh gosh, Puss, only 3 hours of sleep! I'd be really crabby!

I really enjoyed the posts about your and Sheila's Dads and how they gave directions. Too cute!

Thanks for the support on my feeling down in the dumps for a while there on Sunday. I don't know why that happened. Too much idle time to think, I guess.


about you imagining me behind you with "advice" when you're tempted.
I just know you'll have a wonderful time with your Mother and eat healthy too. I think everyone needs a treat once in a while.

I better get cleaned up and ready for bed.

Hello Sheila! Hope you're doing well! Everyone else too.

Had to laugh at your post, Fatpuss. I can just see Willow sitting on your shoulder when you're tempted.

Willow, how is Curves going for you? Everybody says it's great so I hope it's working out for you.

It was hot again here yesterday. Not as hot as before, but hot enough that my dogs were panting, and I was melting. I hate it when the house stays hot and it's cooler outside. I really need to get some outside chairs for those days--and some mosquito repellent!

My appetite goes down when it's hot, and I can't stir myself enough to make a proper dinner. Today it's a lot cooler so I can turn on the stove. What I should do is go to the store and get some salad makings. Had a great Subway sandwich yesterday, though, with lots of veggies.

Spent a good part of yesterday moving more of my dad's stuff. What is an 87 year old guy going to do with 10 boxes of Tide laundry detergent? He said he got a good deal. It's only a good deal when you use it! The nice part about moving was that the addition we built for him is insulated so it's SO much cooler than our house. He has about 8 pairs of shoes that he can't wear anymore because 1) he can't tie them, and 2) his feet are swollen. I offered to take them to the thrift store, but he said, "No, I'll wear them sometime." Uh-huh. I decided not to argue and left them in the gym bag I'd stuffed them into and put them way back in the closet. He also had a collection of T-shirts he can no longer wear. I put enough on top of the closet shelf (where he can't reach) that it looks like he has a lot, but then got rid of about 2/3 of them. Same with some shirts. He's a definite packrat, so I have to be sneaky or he'd be up to his ears in junk.

Hope everyone has (or had) a great day!

Good Evening Everyone! Only have a few minutes, but wanted to say hello. I have a meeting this evening, so I'll not be going to DW for my weigh-in. After a one pound loss last week, I think I have a three pound gain this week. My slacks were just a tad tighter this morning. June is more than half gone, and my personal goal of a five pound loss this month is becoming more elusive by the day. Anybody know of a store having a sale on willpower??

Another rainy day here and expected to go through the weekend. What a bummer! Willow, I just remembered you love to fish too. My husband has to drag me out of the boat. Thank goodness he loves it too. We joke that if WalMart runs out of fishing supplies, they can call us to check our tacklebox. I don't even care if I don't catch anything.

Oooops, time to go. Sheila, one last thing, I was checking out my closet this morning and I may not be 87, but I sure can identify with your father. Many, many shirts, shorts, skirts, and slacks that I will wear again "someday". Sometimes I look through drawers and such and think "If I died tomorrow, what would the kids do with this stuff (a/k/a crap)? If I think they would toss it, it usually goes! Really have to go now. Have a great day, or night, wherever you are.
Sue

I couldn't get on to the internet this morning, so I had to wait till now.
I thought it was my ISP, but it was my modem. I had to reset it.

I took my car in to have it looked at, and a bolt is rusted out. They said it's safe to drive yet because there is 2 layers of metal. I had visions of speeding down the highway and my seat falling through the bottom of the car. I can just picture my fat butt dragging on cement!
Anyway, I take it in on the 30th.

Today was a long day again at work. I kept wanting to fall asleep between 9:30 and 11 AM. After that, it wasn't quite as bad.
One of the engineers had donuts for everyone for his birthday today, and once again I passed up the treat and had my fresh pineapple at break time. I passed up cookies last week too. I'm so proud of myself.

I did 2 miles of the 3-mile WATP tape this morning before work, and I'm going to Curves when I'm done here. I'm thinking I'll stay for 45 minutes again. Then tomorrow and Friday I'll slack off and only stay for 30 minutes.

My hair turned out nice this morning. I knew she'd do a good job!

Sheila, Curves is going wonderfully so far. The time seems to fly by when I'm there and so far I haven't had that feeling of dreading going. I wonder if it's doing anything though. All I know is that it's certainly not doing any harm so I'm staying with it unless my arthritis acts up from it.
I really feel for you with a hot house. I know I couldn't survive. I guess in a way you could consider losing your appetite from the heat a blessing in disguise, but I just hope you don't get sick from the heat.
Instead of cooking meals all week, I wonder if it wouldn't help to make a big container of garden salad and some broasted chicken and some tuna salad, then just have cool meals instead of hot ones when it's so hot. Maybe do that a couple times a week, in the evenings when it has cooled down some. I have an Italian pasta salad recipe that I make in the summer that keeps really good and it is delicious. It goes really well at cookouts and parties. I'll post the recipe sometime in the next couple of days.
I get such a kick out of your Dad! I'm a pack rat too. I think we get worse as we get older. Believe it or not, I was seriously considering putting a large plastic trash container downstairs by my washer and keep buying extra laundry detergent when it's on sale and keep pouring it into that container. I don't want to be left without laundry detergent if I ever lose my job or have to be off work because of illness.

Hi Sue, Maybe your pants feel a tad bit tighter because of retaining fluids. Well, if you can't go to your meeting tonight for weigh in, then you have another week to do it.
I don't think it's called willpower, I think it's called "WON'T"power. I WON'T eat this, I WON'T eat that, .....,
Sorry you've been having rainy weather. It's suppose to be nice here until Sunday, but it sure is HOT!

I better get going to Curves. Hi Puss! And everyone else!
Have a good evening All!



1 c. Kashi GOLean
1 c. fresh strawberries
1 c. sk. milk

9AM;
1 c. pineapple

fresh herb salad
1 tbsp. 3 cheese ranch dressing
2 oz. roasted chicken breast

1/2 chicken breast with Bar-b-que sauce
Baby Asian salad
1 Tbsp. light, done right salad dressing
2 sl. low cal 100% whole wheat toast
2 tbsp. butter

Total Cals = 1095

Hi, Ladies, this is just to let you know I am thinking of you and reading posts but visitors arriving has kept me away. miss you all - really! Hope to post tonight. x

I am sooooo going to enjoy this vacation too.
I did 2 miles of the 3-mile WATP tape this morning. So far this is making me feel great.

1 c. cheerios
1 c. fresh cantaloupe
1 c. skim milk

9 AM;
1 c. fresh strawberries

Baby Asian salad
2 oz. roasted chicken
1 Tbsp. Light, done right Garlic ranch dressing

2 Boca Grilled Vegetable Burgers
Fresh Herb salad
1/2 c. mandarin oranges in the salad
1 Tbsp. Light, done right Ranch dressing
2 sl. low cal 100% whole wheat bread

Total Cals. = 990

Gotta go to work. More later!

Just had to add this;

You have powers you never dreamed of. You can do things you never
thought you could do. There are no limitations in what you can do except
the limitations of your own mind.

Darwin P. Kingsley

Hi girls, mum watching tv with my hubby so quick post here I go. Willow, I am glad your hair 'settled in' - I never let a stylist dry after cutting, i prefer the unkempt look because the first sign of damp weather and the frizz monster takes over. I hope you totally rest up during your five weeks vacation, Willow, with long lie-ins and hour-long siestas! You must have a mini-you on your own shoulder for refusing your colleague's dough nut at work, little saintly thing, you. Sheila, I have a confession here, your dad and I are secret soapowder chums. I go across the channel a couple of times a year to France to shop and never come back with less than six huge boxes of soapowder. Sue, you may be wrong about your jeans feeling tight and even if you haven't lost this week tomorrow is another day and remember, you didn't fail, look at the success you have had already. I leave you girls with this thought: picture if you will Fatpuss doing her grocery shopping in unfamiliar store and all of a sudden over the tannoy comes music straight from Richard's video. not sure of the title but something like "na na na na na na, baby
shake? it up, baby shake? it up, everybody wants my babe..." I so was about to break into the dance routein in the vegetable isle and couldn't concentrate until the record had finished! This has happened in a video called the Full Monty to a bunch of men but it is so easy to just automatically start doing the dance/exercise moves.
Take care girls, x