Liliann: I've been here for a week with this group. Very nice people. I tend to chatter a lot and hope others don't mind. I love a good message board that supports the whole person not just the weight. I know I have lots of emotions that go with this journey....lots of issues with family and work... I like to chat about it all and get peer review or help out of these chats. I like to give my support and love to others too....no one can have too much support.

Temps today here in Midcoast Maine are supposed to hit almost 50 hopefully spring is on it's way for real. I'm tired of all the snow we've had this year.

I told you all I tried Kale for the first time the other night. Does anyone else eat a veggie that is out of the norm? Fresh veggies and fruit are so damn expensive. I really think people would eat better if they could afford to. You go to work and bust your a$$ all day long and go to the store and they take it all.

Easter Sunday we are doing dinner at my in laws. I love my in laws! My job is to bring carrots and yeast rolls. So...easy enough. Already told my mother in law I'm trying to behave myself. She is making me a sugar free strawberry something or another pie...I'll let you all know how it is. She said sugar free but I think she means fat free? Strawberries have natural sugars in them too and with diabetes it all counts.

OK I guess I have chatted long enough...time for someone to respond or write something about themselves so I have more to chat about. Everyone had a wonderful day.

My Easter fun starts today, Im having an egg hunt with the little kids I keep. It should be lots of fun for us all. I am so excited we will be 60 today.
I put on capris this morning and hubby commented on how much smaller my waist is. what a perfect way to start my day!!!

Im cooking for Easter on Sat and maybe again on Sunday. My son and family are coming on sat. We will have an egg hunt. My granddaughter who is 4 is coming friday to spend the day and night. We are making a bunny cake. I will also make a couple of chess pies. They dont tempt me at all.
I will eat whatever I want at one meal each day over the weekend. Im not fixing alot so I should be fine. Im having smoked turkey and ham, green beans with new potatoes, corn and mac and cheese. My daughter in law is bringing homemade rolls and deviled eggs. I think I will stick with turkey and green beans and a deviled egg. Planning ahead is the key for me!!!

Whos cooking this weekend??

Hah. I have NEVER been worried about losing my boobs, but I'm so glad you're feeling better about the way yours look, Jane. I remember (a few pounds ago!) when you were really concerned that you were only losing from them, and its awesome that further loss has equaled that out.

sandy - both of your dishes sound awesome! I really like kale, I actually made some kale this weekend. If it is fairly fresh and local, you can even use it raw the way you use spinach in a (well) chopped salad. Maybe with raisins and sunflower seeds.

I don't usually buy it in the grocery store, but if it is fresh in the co-op or the farmer's market, then I buy it. I really like trying different vegetables and often make stuff up with them, but lately I get the same ones. I go to Aldi b/c it is cheap and buy a head of cauliflower, a package of broccoli, some artisan or romaine lettuce, green onions, and uhm. Cucumbers and crimini mushrooms virtually every week. That will definitely get more varied over the summer when more fresh stuff is available.

Do you garden in the summer? Even just a couple of cucumber bushes and pepper plants and tomato bushes can really produce, though I expect your growing season is really short.

So awesome that your mother-in-law is on board. I bet she DOES mean sugar-free. She is probably going to use a sugar-free glaze on the strawberries, so you'll still have the sugar from the fruit to account for, but no ADDED sugar, is I think the proper term.

Melody - thanks for the congrats! Hah, I am cold all the time these days, but it is mostly from being at a calorie deficit for so long. I hope you get good news from your doctor, and either start treatment that helps or get the all-clear.

sassyangies - I totally get it. I had potato chips with dinner last night! It wasn't disastrous, I skipped bread since I wanted potato chips, but then I added an extra handful. And an extra handful. And a couple of extra almonds. Once you start it is hard to stop, and as always its not so much the moment or even the evening, but the next week that really matters.


Heya Raqsmomma! Welcome!

Welcome Liliann! I wish you all the best as your start your new plan. It seems daunting at first but is totally worth it. Keep coming back here and sharing, it helps!

dgramie - awww, that is an AWESOME way to start the day. The bunny cake sounds adorbale, but I'm not sure actually what chess pies are! Your menu sounds lovely and I agree that planning like that is really important to making good choices.

I usually celebrate Easter with my parents but they are going on a vacation in Europe. They left today and are in DC right now, their TEN HOUR layover before their flight to Amsterdam. They are going to the Netherlands and Belgium. I've been to Amsterdam before, but not really out into the Dutch countryside, or Belgium at all, so I'm jealous.

So hmm, my Easter will be quiet and I will not be tempted by chocolates. I have a busy weekend, though. I want to get the house clean, I'm volunteering Saturday, and I'll need to work since I'm taking two days off mid-week next week for a quick trip to Columbus. I'm going to a concert, and will maybe shop a bit too. Still deciding on the itinerary since I want to hit the Jeffersonville outlets as well!

I will fix myself something spring-like on Easter, though. Probably involving asparagus. Maybe asparagus and grape tomatoes with pasta.

Sandy We eat Kale, and yesterday I cooked parsnips, which were totally out of the norm for us. We also like brocollini.

This is my last day of work until Tuesday. I have tomorrow to put my house back in order (it really needs it), then Saturday is dinner at my inlaws, Sunday a few hours away at my aunt's and then Monday I'm going to the city to shop with my bestie. (Our first trip was postponed by blizzarding).

I haven't lost enough to warrant a new wave of clothes, but I need some more underwear. It's getting to be a desperate situation!

Hey everyone!

So, this is my first time saying hello in the chat thread! So, I tell you about me. I'm 30, I have a three year old. I'm a work at home mom. I've struggled with my weight all my life. My parents are obese, and I don't think they really raised me to eat well.

I am on a journey to be a thinner and better me!

As for me Easter plans- We have Easter at my husband's family's. I have to bring green beans and mac and cheese. They tell me that the ma c and cheese I make is great. I don't like homemade mac and cheese so I've never had it! I haven't done my "easter bunny" shopping yet, I really better get on that!

I hope you all have had a great day!

Hi there Workinghardatlosing. Pull up a chair and make yourself comfy...that's what I did. You have to jump in somewhere.

Jane: Hope you enjoy your time off and your shopping trip with your bestie. I have a few besties I shop with...and the conversations alone are enough to go for.

mnem: I wanna go to Europe with your parents. Happy Easter to me!! I love asparagus...just bought a bunch to cook with something...haven't decided what to do with it yet.

dgramie: Happy Easter egg hunting. Enjoy your family time and your meal plans. Sounds like a plan to me.

Ok, off to work...I can check in from work, so will post more in a while if I get a break.

Hey gals,
working hard welcome and like sandy said jump right in. You have to start somewhere. Glad your here.

Jane go get some new undies. I hate shopping for under ware, but I can't wait until I can guy the cutesy ones.

Sounds like everyone has great Easter plans. Well, I work, but we usually do it on a day where everyone can be here, but my Mom is sick, my husband works until Tuesday and on the weekend we have opposite shifts so I only see him maybe an hour of that. Soooo... Saturday I'll take my son to do an easter egg hunt and see the easter bunny and do some other activities. Sunday we'll probably go to the park and just hang out since it'll be just me and him and Tuesday we'll give him his easter basket and color some eggs with him so Daddy can do it with him. He normally would go to my Mom's on Sunday and she would watch him and do eggs and other stuff, but since she is sick we can't do that. Yesterday was such a hard day with them (mom and dad) I'm glad I can take a break from going over there. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed when I have to be there for everything they do. They don't have car, they're terrible with their money, just so irresponsible altogether. I drive them every where, I pay their bills, I pretty much do everything. I got mad at my Mom yesterday because it seems like she wants me to be her best friend and her therapist too. I know it sounds harsh of me to say this, but I don't want to be her friend. I want her to be my Mom and be on her own two feet. They are not old. My Dad just turned 60 and my Mom isn't even 60. I told my Mom yesterday I can't be everything to her. She has to get out and find friends, do stuff on her own. It can't just be me. It gets so tiring, mentally and physically. So that's probably why she is "sick" now because she's mad. I have to put myself first and I don't always know how to do that with them because they are so Dependant on me.
OK sorry for the rant. Going through some stuff with my parents right now. I hope everyone has a great Friday.

Dear Jane~I feel for you about the mom and dad story. My mom, I love her dearly...has severe COPD, she smoked for years. I am the primary person to do all of her stuff. When you have a family of your own to care for too and work 40 plus hours a week...you get tired...so..I do understand....your not whining..your tired my new found friend.

Tonights dinner I found over on sparkpeople. Flatout bread used to make pizza. I used left over spag. sauce from the other night for the sauce, sprinkled cheese on and then turkey pepperoni...it feels and tastes like cheating.

Hope you guys are having a great Easter Weekend. I'm going to spend some time with my parents and then off to work again. Last night was so bad. I thought my back was going to give out all night. I'm not sure why it's doing that. I didn't have back problems until I lost some weight. What the heck is that all about.
Good news though the scale is moving or me I'm finally down to 278. I will not let today ruin in for me.. hehe...

HI EVERYONE ~ I just finished my second round of chemo this week and am doing great! I have had several side effects from it, but they have been mild and/or didn't last very long. I am so grateful for that.

I was able to get some walking in and that always makes me happy; gotta keep this weightloss in check. I have had the munchies but am doing much better at it this month. Still have some improvements that I can make, but I am doing better ...

Hope you all have a WONDERFUL EASTER WEEKEND with your families and friends ...

Well the weekend is over and I ate to much on saturday but was able to stay POP today!! We had a great time with family!

sassyangies: Hope your back is feeling better. Excited for you that the scale is moving again. Keep up the good work.

dgramie: Saturday was my little off what I had planned (not too far off a good plan) and Sunday I didn't do too bad either. Glad you had a great time with family.

Justwant2B: I'm new here and didn't know you were going through Chemo, my prayers and good healing vibes are being sent your way. I'm glad your side effects are tolerable and not too horrible. Glad you got out for a walk too.

I went to my mothers (2 houses away) Saturday and cooked a roast, mashed potato, brussel sprouts and Asparagus....I did this because I was feeling bad for knowing we were going to hubbys parents Sunday and she would be alone.
Sunday: I had to get up early and start making yeast biscuts, also made hubby and kids 6 cinnamon rolls (yes, only 6..because I can't be trusted yet) We were at my in laws by 10:30 to have the kids egg hunt (my mother in law still does the kids in high school too, after high school you're on your own) they had a blast, the grand kids range from 3-22. And if I had my way would have had my grandson there who is 7 weeks old, but that's a whole other story for another day.

Food wise I didn't do too bad for the weekend, the scale is still showing down 1 lb. I'm sure by tomorrow it will show more when some of the salt from the ham is washed out. Dessert that my mom in law made was pretty good, I had a very small piece. It was just sliced strawberries mixed with some splenda and cornstarch to thicken the juice and you put it in a graham crust.

It's raining here today in Midcoast Maine...I hate rainy days..they make me tired. OMG I just looked up to the TV which is on the morning news and the girl has a black and yellow striped shirt on...she looks like a bumble bee...I can't believe they put he in that.

See you in the April thread!