Hey Kylie I just realised I didn't answer your question about books. Sorry! I love Jodi Picoult - I interviewed her once a few years ago. Have you read My Sister's Keeper? If you haven't, you MUST! My book collection is a mixed bag - from Kathy Reichs to Michael Connelly, and I'm currently hunting down books by European authors… as if I need more books

I think it's awesome that you're involved in AESIC. I admire people who put themselves out there and make a difference to this global village of ours! I've done work with a few really great organisations over the last ten years, and I love it. You get to meet some great people who actually care about the world and the people in it. And that's really refreshing because sometimes the world feels over-populated with self-involved 'it's all about me' types - and I have zero respect for that rubbish.

My Purple team weighed in tonight. Most people lost weight - yay us! One woman managed to GAIN 2kg - who knows how.

OK - must sleep. Got to have my kittens to the vet before the sun comes up tomorrow to get them sterilised and microchipped before we move house.


Ani

Hi ladies

Sounds like most of you are still doing really well. Congratulations!

I wish I could say the same. I'm really low at the moment, have just had a day and a half off work with a cold and now that's on the way out I'm starting to feel really depressed.

I don't have anything to be depressed about, it's a chemical thing with me and at the moment my usual medication doesn't seem to be doing the trick. My dad is bi-polar and depression is rife in my family so it's something I do need to be watchful of. Back to the doctor for me I think.

So with the depression, I don't want to do anything - I'd love to just go home, get into bed and sleep for a week or so. Going to the gym is pretty unlikely as I've got no energy and no motivation.

I got rid of both of my personal trainers this morning, I just can't afford them so it's going to be totally up to me to work hard and at the moment that's not happening.

Sorry to be so negative but I just thought I should keep in touch on here.

Morning!

I've woken up this morning feeling totally icky!! It's TOM, but I have never felt this bad with it! I feel like a huge half deflated beach ball!!! Ugh!!!

Yesterday was another good day! Did my step-ups, even with my sore legs, and a few other exercises, I drank 2L of water and again, ate just under 1400cals! And I think I feel even more motivated than the day before!! Yay!

LittleKiwi! Sorry you are feeling a little down, I agree you need to get on top of this before it drags you down too far - go see that doctor!

When I started out on the weight loss thing I was not doing any exercise, in fact I think I lost the first 15kg on diet changes alone. Do you watch your calorie intake? Thinking maybe you could start with that for now until you feel a little better and able to push the exercise thing more? I'm not saying exercise is not important, but just maybe starting on the intake to get the ball rolling again? Then maybe you could push for an evening/morning walk later on.

Ani! I just love your subtilty

Go the purple team!! Even with the 2kg gain! Maybe she'll lose 4kg next week? I said 'maybe' ok!

I read Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult recently, I really enjoyed it, her way of writing is different and very capturing! I keep meaning to read more of her books - I should! I am into the psychological thrillers! Karin Slaughter, Tess Gerritsen for example - great page turners! A book has to catch me in the first few pages for me to be able to sit there and read it!

Kylie, thankyou for your encouragment! I was reading your post thinking '80's'? I am in the 80's what the heck is she on about? But I realise now I made the same mistake up there too! I WANT TO BREAK INTO THE 70's!!! What am I doing giving myself an extra 10kg to lose???

Reading your day exhausts me! How do you manage study and gym before going off to work a 10.5hr shift! It is all I can do to get up in the morning to face a 7.6hr shift!

Alright enough dribble from me, I must move!

Have a good day all!!!

Hey Lindor, have you read anything of Alex Kava? If you like Tess, I think you'd like Alex too. I have to say that The Surgeon is one of the best books I've read.

We're obviously in for a great day in Perth. The radio is full of experts telling people to cancel appointments and stay home - they're also warning people that the trains are unreliable today because they have to slow them down (from the extreme heat). This is Day Three of 42ºC+, and I'm sick of it.

LittleKiwi I am glad to hear you're planning to go back to the doctor. Mental illness runs in my (birth) family too, and I believe it's important to jump on top of depression early. Are you living on your own at the moment?

Lindor how bloated can you possibly be? A half-deflated beach ball… that made me laugh! How's your exercise going?

OK - I'm off to shut the house up, close the curtains and turn the air-con on. Stuff exercising today … I think I'd melt if I tried to walk out there.


Ani

Hey Barb, those Celebrity Slim ads are a bit misleading. Cat lost all that weight while she was on the show (and then training for the finale after she was eliminated). What the ads don't tell you is that if Cat can lose 5kg using Celebrity Slim stuff, the company is going to pay for $30,000 worth of surgery for her - tummy tucks etc.

Do you know what kind of work you'd like to do? Maybe your husband is feeling the pressure of not working at the moment - and a little time and perspective might change things for you both.

And where are you with your weight loss? It's great that you're still hanging out in here - I hope things get better for you soon

Ani

<b><font color="Purple"><font face="Comic Sans MS">Hey Ani.<br>
<br>
Thats a bit misleading isn't it!&nbsp; I knew she had lost a bit of
weight through the biggest loser but I wasn't sure how much.&nbsp; So
do you think if I try it and lose 5kg I'll get $30,000 worth of surgery!<br>
<br>
I have no idea what I'd like to do.&nbsp; I think i need to go and see
a recruitment company and find out what I'm suited to.&nbsp; I'd still
like to be around for my kids so school hours would be perfect.<br>
<br>
As far as the weight loss is concerned I'm still going to the gym and I
try and walk the kids to school when I can, but the eating side of
things is still not there.&nbsp; I'm finding I'm really good till about
4pm then I start to pick at things.&nbsp; After dinner I feel like
something sweet and then I'm eating again at about 8.30.&nbsp; Today i
weighed 93.1kg, so I'm almost back to where I was when I first joined
this forum.&nbsp; I thought coming here would keep me honest with
myself because I was posting my progress, I've never lied about my
weight, and lets face it that would be so easy&nbsp; because nobody
knows me!!!&nbsp; I've got to go see the doc soon for all those nice
girly tests so I might ask him for some suggestions.&nbsp; <img smilieid="5" src="http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/images/smile/wink.gif" border="0"><br>
<br>
<br>
</font></font></b>

Barb - that is hilarious . I think there are nasty little gremlins in our computers, and they have really perverse senses of humour!

It's great that you're still going to the gym. Are you eating enough during the day? I sometimes get that same thing, where I get hungry late in the afternoon, and just can't seem to stop eating all night. Usually when I do that, it's because I haven't eaten enough for lunch, or haven't drunk enough water (or both).

Good luck with finding work - and with trying to find some balance with your life. And be gentle with yourself - you've had a pretty rough time of it lately.


Ani

Gremlins in my washing machine too today!

I think I eat because I'm bored at night, sometimes its because I'm hungry but most of the time its boredom. I'll have to find something that keeps my hands busy!

I've decided not to go back to work till after the Christmas holidays, so between now and then I need to decide what I want to do and how to get there.

Did you hear back from that petrol company? I couldn't believe what happened! Some people are so rude.

That petrol company is trying to tell me their console operator was "only suggestive selling as he is trained to do" - so I've written to the Board of ColesMyer. Not that they'll give a toss, but I've told them I'm going to wage a one-woman campaign to let the world know that Coles Express service stations have a No Fat Chicks policy. They're not happy with me

LMAO. Thanks Barb for the chuckles you gave me while reading your post! Anis right, them gremlins must be invading

VONNI

Bring on the books. I don't have a favourite author, but I read heaps. I quite often buy cheap books by obscure authors from Big W and find they are really good. But I agree with Lindor, if the first few pages are crap, I don't bother. I need to be roped in, but once I'm there I'm hooked (I am often grunted at around 1am to turn light off)

I didn't know we had such a bunch of bookworms! I love it! I also love Jodi Picoult - My Sister's Keeper was the first I read. I don't even know how to say how much that book impressed me. My favourite book in the whole wide world ever is Magician, by Raymond E Feist. And the best part is it begins a trilogy.

I had the crappiest day at work yesterday, and it was all really petty - just useless rude scumbag customers. But I feel better this morning, so I guess I'll just wish that the fleas of a thousand camels infest their armpits and be done!

Also had to stay back late, so I missed the gym. I wont have time to go til tomorrow, but hey - nothing wrong with recovery!

Oh - I found out how much I've changed my thinking yesterday (and how much its still the same). I was feeling so crappy at work, and I didnt organise anything for dinner because I thought I was going home, so I nearly bought a custard filled pecan danish and a block of chocolate and had that for dinner. BUT I didnt. I had 2 tubs of no fat yoghurt and I 'binged' on about 6 'as healthy as I can find but sweet enough to feel like I'm doing damage' jam tartlets. Well, I felt better after, if a little sick! Why do we think that we have to eat ourselves silly to punish idiots for what they've done? I really dont get that. "I'm so mad at you, I'm going to eat a cake?" *shrug* I dont know!

Kylie

Still feeling a tad yuck, but a little less like that deflated beach ball

Kylie if you ever discover the reasons and solutions to comfort eating I think you'd be a multimillionaire!!! I am in a bit of a dilema just now as I need to go buy some bread, milk and fruit. I can only do that in the afternoon due to work. At the moment I am having issues at work and I know if I set foot in a shop all the wrong things are going to bound into my shopping basket! I have avoided that shop for two days now, but I can't keep putting that off!

Had another good day yesterday. 20 mins of step-ups and then some other exercises, just under the 1400cals again, and 2.5L of water!

And I am feeling really good about that!


Barb, you are sounding a little less lost? Has hubby said an outright 'no' to expanding the family, or is it the financial situation that concerns him? If that recovered a bit would the possibility of more children be an option then?

Have you considered part time voluntary work between now and Xmas? Work that can be done while the children are at school? I'm just thinking, like Vonni said, that maybe it will restore your confidence a little and edge your way back into the work force again.

Ani, I did a quick search for Alex Kava...I like the write ups on her books! But not so well known in Australia??? I order my books from one of two large and popular book clubs and neither of them have any titles of hers. I will look further!

Can I suggest Karin Slaughter for you if you have not already read hers? She is very much along the same lines as Tess Gerritsen too. I have also taken a liking to PJ Tracy, I read one of their (a mother and daughter team - who, incidently, manage to write together from opposite ends of the USA!) books late last year and was hooked immediately!

Damn I need to find more time to read!

It's raining just now, just an annoying drizzle, has been since yesterday afternoon, so a great time to be sitting back reading a good book, but instead, I have to go to work!

Have a good day all