Morning you glorious chicks!!

Ok i have missed os much i am..like..what??when where???who??
Raven..so you went where chachee lives..to see your family...and your father is out of the hospital room..right..please forgive me if i am wrong...did you um take any wiggling cute little puppies wiht you??Lol I bet it was hard to resist. Did you call your hourse??i bet he missed you madly!!

Chachee..very cool on the money..it is great especially at this time of year...kinda like another littl bonus to get you through!! Where are the pictures of the little guys??

Hippy..now we all kow that whne we talk about the animlas..i have to have a pictue.. I want something warm and fuzzy..nad my outside fish do NOT cut it..lol pictures/.

Jolly what the heck happened to you foot. Oh sure I am gone for a few days and boom.. What is going on...hhmmm...do i have to come up to Wisoconsin and give you a Mommy lecture about taking care of YOUself!!???

On Dr. phil..ugh..i used to think he was the bees knees...wait do bees have KNEES?? But now..get a life..like he is skinny!! SOrry...but watching him do an interview lately..he has NO compassion

OOps went on my tirade..lol I will save that for the journal..lol

Love ya all!!

Tracy

Good morning wonderful ladies. So good to hear from you all. Hippee, hope your weekend was well. Your dog sounds cute. It is funny how hooked we all are on our "fur children." Raven, so glad to hear from you. I am glad your trip turned out well, if emotional. Can't wait to hear more from you. Tracy, I always miss you. You have to remember to post, or email. I like to hear from you. HOw are your classes going?

I had a busy but good weekend. Have been a bit ill, so haven't worked out like I should, but plan on getting back tomorrow. My foot is starting to feel better.

Take care and have a great day.

Alright. I'm back. Now what? My boyfriend is going to the doc Wednesday because he's concerned about mild numbness in his left arm, and once in a while his chest feels a little heavy. Enough to make me really nervous.

Jolly - I'm glad to hear your foot is starting to feel better! I'll shoot you a horsie e-mail from work tomorrow.

My little hedgehog Harley passed away today. My daughter let me know. I had him for around 8 years. I cried, my daughter cried, my son cried, and we buried him under the butterfly tree.

My brother gave me a video camera, it's the kind that tapes directly to a vhs tape. I'm amazed at how good the pictures are. I love it. My kids horsed around with it today and took some really funny videos. I love it! OTOH, I look HUGE! Perhaps that was the inspiration I need to get my butt back on track.

My alarmingly huge butt. *sigh*

I was still feeling kind of out of it today, but I'm slipping back into my life. I didn't go see the horses today, because I was just worried enough about Richard to decide I'll stay home in the evenings till we find out what's going on, if anything. I bought my healthy choice lunches, got bananas and yogurt, some balance bars, and made an attempt to drink more water. All this went to **** in a handbasket when I got home and drank 3 glasses of wine, made chicken parmesan with a disgusting amount of cheese and texas toast, and had two really wonderful chocolate chunk cookies for dessert with milk. *rolls eyes* THEN I saw the video. *cry*

I guess I need to get my mind around the motivation issue. Going to go to bed a little earlier tonight, perhaps that will help my mindset tomorrow.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Hello ladies!

Had my follow up with the doc regarding my sciatica. He is sending me to physical therapy for the next two weeks. He is keeping me on the muscle relaxer and taking me down to Vioxx for the next month. I am feeling better, but he said to just ease back into things.

Started SBD today. I had to have peanut butter with my celery. Didn't care for the Laughing Cow too much. I am full, but still have my snack/dessert for later. I didn't make the ricotta creme, but I did bring the sf jello and the lite Cool Whip for my dessert.

Raven: I'm so sorry about Harley. I know how much he meant to you. It was so good to meet you and your daughter. We definitely need to schedule more time next time, whether it's here or in Georgia. You were a riot and I want to let all the ladies know what a fun and sweet person you are! Your daughter was so cute with the puppies. I know Peanut has a home if we ever want to get rid of her. (Like that's going to happen!) Please keep me informed on how Richard is doing. I'm glad your dad is all settled in and it's a nice place for him.

Jolly: How is your foot? Have you seen the doc for it yet? Have you made it back to the gym?? So many questions! The puppies are housebreaking relatively well! They are a hand full, though!

Hippy: Did you have fun at Holiday world?? It sounds like fun to me. I love going on roller coasters!!!!

Tracy: How is the real estate world? Isn't that what you are doing now, right? I really need to get pictures of the puppies, but the computer is still not running. Modem is blown, so now we have to fix that.

Ladies, time to hold me accountable. I am going in January to have a consult with a plastic surgeon to have a breast reduction done. I need to lose 50 pounds by then, that's a big goal, but I know I can do it if I stick to a plan. I'm asking you all to hold me to that and to check in as often as possible. A kick in the butt? Yep, that's what I need and I need to get serious and quit messing around with the loss of weight.

Thanks and check in with you soon.

Chach

Welcome back Raven! Those little rat terriers are about some mischevious little poochies aren't they! Buffy is little, about 10 pounds. I call her my show dog reject!! Her ears are too big and her tail is too short!! I didn't get her to show anyway...tome she is beautiful!! My mom and brother have one and they are really tall. Jordan is going to show me how to put her picture by my name over in the corner.I have no clue! DUH!!!

Holiday World was fun. We got rained on 3 times and hailed on once. No lightning so they continued to run the rides. It was suppose to get in the 60's but never made it out of the 50's. I had to buy a sweatshirt because I was freezing. The boys ran around soaking wet from the rides and the rain and thought that it was great! It didn't rain all day so we made the best of it between showers.

Let me tell you about my eating..........AHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I had a sausage biscuit for breakfast, loaded nachos for lunch, pizza and french fries for dinner, was that enough? NOOOOOO!!!!!! I also had a big chunk of fudge and a chocolate dipped waffle cone filled with rocky road ice cream. I'm soooooooooooo ashamed to tell this about myself!!!!! It felt so good to be eating great food and having a great time! I'm back on the program today. I haven't weighed and think I will wait a week or 2!!!!!

Talk to you all later!!!!

Good morning everyone. So much to read I am glad to hear from everyone. I am glad you are back, Raven. I am sorry to hear about your boyfriend, though. I hope it turns out to be nothing serious. I am also sorry about Harley. It is always so hard when you lose a pet you love. I hear you on the picture thing. I see pictures of myself with the pony, and I look just huge. I hate it! Chachee, I am glad your pain is better. Now just follow doctor's orders. I am glad the pups are doing well. I can't wait until you can post pictures. I bet they are adorable. Beagle babies are so cute. Of course that grown up hound voice can be a killer. I had a wonderful beagle mix when I was growing up. I taped her howling once and played it back to her. Scared her under the bed Hippee, I am glad you had a good trip. Back on track now. We will definitely hold you accountable.

I am dealing with several things right now. My foot is still sore, but manageable. I did make it to the gym this morning, which I think was amazing. I helped a friend move last night, and there were just 3 of us. Late night, lot of work, and I was dreaming we were still moving all night. And we were vampires ( I just finished an Ann Rice novel, don't ask.) So I was very proud that I made it to the gym. I am going to go to kickboxing tomorrow night too. ONe thing I need a kick in the butt about. When I rejoined the gym, I was told I had 3 free personal trainer sessions. I want to use that to have someone look at what I do, and help me set up a work out schedule, including weight training. For some reason, I have had a real hard time asking about this. I don't know why. Every time I get ready to do so, I don't. This is not really a difficult thing. What is my problem? There is definite room for improvement with my eating. I have become addicted to McDonald's new Sausage McGriddle. Not really the best start to the day. Plus, been busy so not eating healthy. Sigh. I have started reading Bob Greene's book, and there is a section in there about identifying our emotional eating triggers, and what to do about it. Woo hoo. Lastly, I am considering applying for a higher up position that may be opening up. It is something that I have wanted, but it is scary.

Anyway. I will check in later. Take care everyone, and have a wonderful day. Does anyone want to start a challenge through the end of the year? I need some motivation. I would really like next year's show pictures to look better, and not like I am bigger than my horse.

Good morning!

Sharla - I'm so glad you had a good time, in spite of the weather! The only time I've really been to a big park like that was when we went to Six Flags, and I rode a roller coaster for the first time. I was scared out of my MIND, but I have to admit it was fun! I screamed the entire ride.. well, aside from the very beginning when it was clacking its way up to the top, then I was chanting "oh no, no, nononono." *ahem* Yes, I'm a weenie. I'll have to see if I can attach some pics of my dawgs. I know I have a few of the Rat all grown up, but the last digital pics I have of the dane are when she was about 4 months old ... or at least where I can get to them, anyway. I know we have more. I'll have to look around. Those two are great buddies. From what I can tell about the Rats, there are (like your Vet said) two types, one is closer to the Jack Russell, and the other is more like the Fox Terrier. Mine could easily pass for a Fox, if you weren't sure what you were looking at.

Chachee - OMG don't think it was just Peanut! *lol* Buster was a handful, but you know we couldn't take one without taking the other! Lordie but Nickie was bugging me all the way home about getting a couple beagle puppies. Even if he has this obsession with my leather jacket. I'm so glad your sciatica is subsiding, but yes, definitely don't rush things. It probably wouldn't take much to re-aggravate it, and I know you don't want that! I just wanted to let you know that the time we spent with you and those puppies really did help me. You were so sweet, and those puppies were such little bundles of puppy smell, warm, and love. I could have spent all day with you and been quite happy talking and chasing those little boogers away from my coat.

Tracey - Yep, my Dad is out of that nasty hospital room and into his beautiful new house. His room is wonderful, and he actually likes the place. I know he'd rather be at his house, but there's no way that can happen, plus I think he's better off where there are people to chat with. Now he has a reason to get out of bed and get cleaned up, and it's a LOT less depressing. How are your classes going??

Jolly - I sent you a horsie e-mail. Chachee's little Buster was already starting to try out his bay, it was the cutest thing, this little teensy weensy 4 pound smidgen of a dog baying his little head off. I hope my BF is ok too, personally I'm thinking it's probably his blood pressure. He's under a LOT of stress at work, and the drive doesn't help, and I know money has been really rough this last year. I'll feel a lot better once we know what's going on.

Ok .. it seems like we all need to get back on track and need some motivational kicks in the rear. I'm not sure exactly how I'm going to approach this phase in my weight loss, but I do know that I need to do something. I think a challenge of some sort might be in order - I'll have to think about what I'm going to do. I know I'm not going to make any specific number goals, because with the weights, the numbers on the scale just don't work. Perhaps inches? A huge issue with me has been time management, and I really need to focus on how to fit everything in without burning myself out completely. I need to be realistic, and not make goals which will simply NOT happen. I tend to set myself up for failure. So lets all think about where we want to be, and the best way to get there, and get our tails in gear, eh??

Onward and upward!

Hello Ladies!

Alright, so yesterday I did pretty well on SBD. I woke up this morning and recognized the face in the mirror—it was Miss Sabotage!! She took over my body as I stuffed three Oreo cookies in my mouth for breakfast. She left for a little while and I had a healthy salad for lunch, just as set forth in the menu. That b**** came back and fed me an ice cream bar. You think she would have had enough, but then she’s staring me back in the face as I pop spice drops for my afternoon snack.

Why do I do this to myself? I want to lose weight and I want to be healthy. I know it’s not easy, but dang, it shouldn’t be this hard. I guess I really need to look inside myself and discover what the problem is and why Miss Sabotage comes into my life.

I honestly believe the only time she didn’t appear was when I was on WW. I think “diet” makes that part of me appear and be so self-defeating! With WW I didn’t feel deprived and knew I could have something if I wanted it. I could save up for it. I still have all my stuff from WW and am thinking about doing it.

See, I am already writing off SBD. It’s the thought that I “can’t” have something that makes me want it even more. Last night I could have had SF Jello/Cool Whip for dessert. NOPE! Had to have an Oreo. It was the thought that it was on the list of “no’s” instead of “acceptable”.

Am I the only one feeling like this? Why is it so hard for me when I know it’s the right thing to do and want to do it? Some people say fat people are lazy. I don’t believe that. I think overweight people, myself included, are very stressed people. If I was fat because I was lazy, then why don’t I have any time to myself? I’m fat because I can’t control the stress in my life, therefore controlling life, so I can control the food I put in my mouth. Up to this point it’s been bad food, and that’s one thing I need to change. I also need to change my control issues. Use them for a benefit, rather than a derogatory effect.

Sorry I rambled. I needed to share with you ladies and get myself back on track.

Here are my goals for the end of the year:

1. Lose 25 pounds. (I want to lose 50, but 25 is an attainable goal.)
2. Maintain a food log and track what I eat and when.
3. Stay on WW program starting Wednesday, October 1. Weigh-ins on Wednesday and report them here.

Okay, that’s me for today. Any feedback is appreciated. I wish you all the best of luck with each of your goals.

Chach

Chachee, I can TOTALLY, completely relate to your feelings of Miss Sabotage (I thought she only shadowed me) and your frustration with SBD and denying yourself things. I too looked at that diet - it probably is the right one for how my body deals with food but I can't tolerate any kind of artificial sweetner (makes me really ill) so to give up fruit and ALL sweets - I just knew I couldn't stay on that diet a week.

In my case, it's a matter of denial (tell me I can't have something and I immediately want it) coupled with when life gets really hectic, it seems that food is that one small area of comfort (and maybe control) in my life. Not binge eating, but not sticking to the things (food, exercise and water) that would get me on the road to losing, slow as it may be. And I have also found that sugar is a trigger for me. If I'm going to have something sweet, it's the last thing I eat at night - like one fresh baked cookie (I get the package of slice and bakes so I can have one portion and no left over temptations) with a small glass of milk. If I have something sugary at lunch, I crave it the rest of the day and don't stop at one cookie.

Like you, I'm feeling geez WHY do I do this? Because, right now alot of things are going on in my life, I am stressed out, bad things are happening each week and as I get over one hump, another is around the corner. I am overtired, not getting enough rest and everyone wants a piece of me and there's no more to give. What doesn't get done so I can spend an hour exercising? And how do I pump myself to do it when I'm dragging my butt already? And let's face it, food takes time. Planning and shopping and preparing and making things that are on plan that are more appealing than the quick and easy and off plan stuff.

So I guess the answer is time and committment. I do like Jolly's idea of a challenge and I am a bit better behaved in a challenge. One of the other threads counts points. Something like this - 1 point for eating on plan for the day, 1 point for meeting your water goal, 1 point for exercising and an extra point for the day if you made all 3 goals. 4 points max you can earn. I like the idea of counting points for good behaviors because it makes them a habit and it prevents the discouragement of trying hard and not seeing results on the scale. If you do all 3 behaviors each day, I would think you'd naturally see a drop in the poundage over time.

Sorry I'm blabbering here. I've been really out of it lately but I just had to respond to your post. I too, HAVE to do something already myself and I'm up for any ideas you might come up with.

Sorry I can't respond to you all individually at this time, I will try and get back here tomorrow.

Happy: Had to respond to your post. I like the points system. I am still under orders to not exercise, but my points would work like this:

1 point for staying within food points on WW
1 point for water
1 point for journaling my food

1 bonus point for all three accomplished!

We can keep track of our points and see how everyone is doing. I like it!

Chach

Hey all! I'm struggling to get back on track since I went on my pig out fest. I am soooooooooo damn mad at myself. I have had so much control for so long and now I feel like that weak, overweight loser is going to win again. OKAY!!!! Time for me to regroup.... I have done well on eating during the day but have to get control over night time snacking. I haven't done my workout since saturday, ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! Time for me to set goals for myself. This morning after I post I will do my workout, I will spend the day preparing some type of sugar free something that I can have tonight if need be. Maybe I will try having a cup of hot orange spice tea instead of food. It's very important for me to have self control. To me this is the key. I control what I eat and when I eat it. I have to be bigger than the person inside my brain and not give in to what she wants to eat. I have to be the one to control it because noone will do it for me. Noone can lose this weight for me, noone can exercise for me. Noone will pay for my health problems that I'm facing as an overweight person except for me. It's all about me girls!!!! I have to do this for ME.

Off to do a workout and make some healthy food!!!

Good luck Chach, Miss Sabatoge is hard to beat but you can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good morning everyone. So much to respond to. I too struggle with why I sabatoge myself. I am always my own worst enemy. (Though I hear you on the denial thing, Happy. I am the same way with money. The minute I tell myself I have no money, and need to save money, that is when I go shop for stupid stuff, or even worse, food! It is that little child in me that just won't give up, or hear NO) For me, anyway, I think it gets back to the eternal question of self love. Subconsciously, I don't think I deserve good things, so I do things that keep me from reaching my goal. NO MORE!

I hopped on the scale this morning, and actually have lost 2 pounds. I also set up my first personal trainer session for tomorrow morning. YEah.

I really like the idea of using points for our challenge. We can each set 3 goals for ourself for the end of the year. I would suggest keeping this thread for general support, and start a new onefor the challenge. I need ot post my food and exercise on it, so you all can yell at me for making poor food choices (LIke the PMS induced bag of Reese's minis yesterday). What do you think???

(1 free point to whoever comes up with a cool name???)

Good morning, ladies

You all are so motivating!!

Chachee - don't feel alone.

I too live a daily battle with Miss Sabotage. Stress, fatigue, lack of time - all those things make it easier to give in to comfort and/or fast rather than planned and healthy. Last night for me it was tapioca. I made some for the first time in maybe 20 years, but you know, my Mom used to make it all the time, and after that trip to Alaska, I was craving tapioca. For whatever reason, food equals love and caring. And the more fattening the food, the better. Sometimes the "treats" I give myself are the only thing I get in the way of special treatment. And like now, with Richard heading to the Doc today to find out what's going on with his arm/chest, and having just come back from the emotional stress with my Dad, and having the kids kind of reeling from their visit with THEIR Dad, plus having to bury Harley - there isn't really anyone to comfort me, so ... I guess I'm comforting myself. I know if I could get out to the stables, it would be better, but I can't because I want to stay near Richard till we find out how serious this is. What I guess I don't understand is why is it that HEALTHY food can't equal comfort?? I mean, rationally I understand that eating a healthy meal is BETTER for me, but it just doesn't hit those emotional comfort buttons.

And just like you and Happy, I too can't stay on a restrictive plan. The minute it's "off limits" is when I want it the most. I do much better if I know I can eat pretty much whatever I want, as long as it is in moderation, and I know exercise is truly the key. And Happy, boy can I relate with the time issue. What do I NOT do so I can exercise? How little sleep can I live on before I collapse? Am I never to get any "down" time? Time to just sit, to think, to not have to move? I think we all need that down time, but how often do we get it? I feel guilty if I sit down for more than 15 minutes with my kids or my boyfriend to do nothing but watch a movie or some TV or play a game. Because there is always something that needs to be done. Several somethings. Way too many somethings.

Something about the points idea makes me happy, but then immediately I think "Ok, so what do I get for all these points??"

Maybe I do need to institute a reward system. For a long time, I didn't need that, but maybe now just seeing the scale go down or the clothes fit better isn't enough. Maybe I need something to look forward to. I'm still thinking.

Jolly - Congrats on the loss!! I found them. I gained another 5 pounds while I was up in Alaska. *sigh* That's nearly enough to make me cry right now. I was doing SO well! This has to stop, or I will gain it all back, and I can't have that, I simply can't.

Ok, now I'm babbling too. Shall we all just babble together?

I'm doing well while I'm at work. I eat right, and at the right times. I need to increase my water, but I think that's a pretty easy one. I think once I'm able to go to the stables again, the evenings will be ok, too. My big huge monstrous issue is the workouts. I'm too tired and too short on time. I need to examine that and get real. If I don't exercise, I won't gain muscle (which is really important to me) and I won't lose the fat as fast. I know this. I *NEED* to figure this out.

Ok. Work. I need to do that, too.

OK. Here's a quick thought. I know most people say to set mini goals, and reward yourself for meeting them. Sometimes, however, you have to reward the effort. Soooooooo. Maybe, we could all set 3 goals for ourself. Get a 4th point each week for meeting all three goals, and a 5th point if we have a loss for the week. Then, set rewards for ourself for every so many points. This way we are rewarding more for healthy behavior changes, and focusing less on just hte weight loss. What do you guys think????

(I know two rewards already I want to set for myself when I reach goal weight. One - jumping lessons. Two - new clothes of course, but most importantly a classy pair of leather pants )

I was thinking about this while I ran to the bank today. I think you have a great approach, Jolly. At least for me, anyway. I think I'd like to make the rewards something not money related (because I'd hate to get all these points then not have enough money to get my reward). But I don't want it food related, either. I need to figure out if there is anything I want that doesn't fall into one of those categories.

I was also thinking maybe even of cascading rewards. Or choosing whether to accept the reward, or try for the next goal, sort of like betting all or nothing. It's kind of fun to be thinking of this stuff. Right now it's keeping my mind from tearing itself into little pieces with anxiety because Richards doctor appointment is at 2 and it's 1:30 now. *wrings hands* I am trying SO hard to stay away from the vending machine!!!