Hello,
I didn't get a chance to get online at all yesterday. I was busy in the morning when I was getting ready for work and then yesterday there was a big sales meeting that I had to attend and speak at! My boss came to me on Friday and asked me to give a presentation about the Claims process at the meeting. I was very nervous but I did it and I've had a lot of people tell me that I did a good job.

Went to see Miss Congenatiality (sp?) last night. It was a cute movie. The first Monday a bunch of us gals from the Y and our friends go to a "Chickie Movie night" and then out to Damon's afterwards. It's always a fun time; even if I do have o give up a workout night. I think it's important to be well rounded and not just focused all the time on diet and exercise.

I've got my lunch packed today with some fresh veggies, and also my workout bag so I can hit that treadmill at lunch time.

How's everyone elses day shaping up? The posts for yesterday were great. I hope to have some time today to go back and do more personals.

Holly: I used to use fitday and I'm thinking about going back to it. I'm going to try to look at it again today and see if it's still the same or if anything has changed. I know you used to be able to make it so others could see your info. Maybe doing that (if still available) and providing the link in your signature would help keep you accountable. Just knowing that someone else can go out and look at it might be a key to that accountability?

I've got to run ladies. Keep up the motivation and positive vibes...and if you can't share that as well...we all need a hand up sometimes.

Susie

Today is the first day of my new resolve with taking care of me. I have become a gerbil in a wheel in some ways again. It seems there are too few hours in the day for everything.
I have been giving a lot of time and thought to the Parent Handbook. It is important. It is setting the tone of the next 8 years of my children’s school life. This IS a priority. I spent the whole weekend in the basement and hence housework and laundry are way behind. I did get some stuff done yesterday. Nicer weather = more time outside with the kiddies which is great but less time to putter in here. I am FULL time babysitting these days which is also important and necessary.
These are NOT excuses ,they are the reality. I need to schedule time for exercise and I also need to have groceries available that are healthy choices. I am a little freaked out by the cost of fresh food. We spend almost $200 a week. That includes daycare lunches but still. Gas for our vehicles up to $4 a gallon. It is necessary to drive where we live and having 2 vehicles keeps me from going bonkers being home full time.
8:45-kids on the bus. DD was hysterical again. Just wants to be at home. Apparently I have 2 kids who love home and me so much they have separation anxiety. Sigh.
I have 4 toddlers today. I need to revise and write more handbook stuff. I need to vacuum 2 rooms downstairs. I want to go through the basement shelf and get rid of stuff. I need to finish painting the basement trim. I am going to the church tonight from 6-10 for people to view their portraits for the church directory. Another woman will be there all aft. Tomorrow night is a congregational meeting. I am skipping a turtle days meeting on Thurs. Friday DD starts gymnastics.
I think it has been 2 days since I showered. Ew! Gotta squeeze that in too.
I am not lovin the time change. I was til after 12 last night, tired but not ready to sleep and then I am shocked awake when the alarm goes off. The kids are sleeping later so it is more rushed in the AM.
I had a school council meeting form 7-9:30 last night.
9:01- been up for over 2 hours still need to have breaky. My newest little guys is sobbing. Misses his Mommy. I have had his older bro for 3 years, he is in school with DD.
Okay breakfast, put 1 baby down for a nap, shower, WATP (at least 1 mile), dazzle the kids with my wit and charm.............
9:18 still sitting here reading.....go eat something healthy!

Good Morning, everyone!

Holly - sad to hear about the little guy sobbing. 7 pounds by May 24th is totally attainable!

I made some yummy oatmeal today and added dried cranberries. It was so good. Goal is to try to do that every morning. It's 10am and I'm not hungry but struggling with the fact that I feel like I should be nibbling on something. That is so hard.

DH and I are headed to TN on Thursday evening and coming back Sunday. Gotta get the house in order before then. We'll have my MIL come once a day to feed the cats and make sure there is water in their bowl. I'm such a poop, I always miss my cats when we go out of town for a couple days.

My big thing...eating healthy on road trips. I will consider this 16 hour drive (there and back) a test...in 2 months we take our week-long road trip. I want to be at 220 by Memorial day. That is almost two months to lose around 12 pounds. It is totally attainable, I have to stay focused. If we find a hotel that has a fitness room or pool, I will use it and get in some exercise.

Girlie

Holly: Good for you for recognizing that there was a problem and addressing it. That is really hard to do. Getting those portion sizes under control will really help. I’m sure you can do it! You’re so strong and motivated. Finding time to fit everything in really is hard. I am constantly aware that there just aren’t enough hours in the day. I read a really inspirational thing on skinnydaily.com last night about how hard it is to prioritize oneself, and that really resonated with me. Making yourself and your weight goals a priotiry is hard when it means you have to say no to someone else. Oh, I am with you on the cost of fresh food. Another priority thing. I think it’s sad that in our society, fresh and healthy food tends to cost more than the junk!

MychoiceSusi: Congrats on giving a great presentation! Speaking in front of others can be so nerve-wracking. Sounds like you knocked it out of the park! I jus purchased the fitday PC software and really like it so far. I like how it calculates everything for me. No math to do makes it eaiser for me.

Girlie: Your trip sounds like fun. I agree, eating healthy on the road is really hard, especially when fast food seems to be the only option. Whenever I go on a road trip, I pack lots of snacks. Clif bars (those keep me full for a few hours), grapes, carrots, mixed nuts with raisins, stuff like that. Maybe you could also bring some of those organic dried noodle cups for quick meals – you can add hot water at a gas station and have a healthy meal. I also like those Campbell’s Soup at Hand things – just heat in the microwave and a gas station and you can sip your soup in the car. Yoplait makes some drinkable yogurt that is good too.

Well, I did really well yesterday. Today I am feeling all out of whack, though. I slept in more than two hours later than I had planned, so I am feeling behind and rushed. Also, I have a job interview (just a little part time thing to help make ends meet), and I am nervous. My fear is that I won’t get my workout in because of this. I will probably get home from the interview right before BF gets home, and I have yet to tackle the challenge of working out when he is home. So I am going to try it tonight. I am just going to tell him that my workout is important and that I feel self-conscious doing it when he is around. I’m sure he’ll be supportive and make himself scarce for half an hour. I have got to conquer this silly embarrassment.

Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday!

Hi, ladies!

Jodi, I like your plan--it's short, sweet and reasonable. My plan was so complicated at first that it was too much to focus on. I'm better off with a couple of mantras, like "make good choices," and a simple framework to work within. I tend to get cranky if I feel too boxed in--and when I'm cranky, I eat --but if I have too many choices, I head towards the slippery slope of not enough boundaries....oh, it's so hard! At any rate, good luck with the interview. I hope you get the job!

Spores--I made the mistake of letting my pride get in the way of working out in front of my ex. It was crazy, here's a guy who knew my most intimate nooks and crannies, so what if he saw me hopping around in spandex? Your BF will probably tease you at first, then he won't care. Who knows, if you got a weight-lifting or Tae-Bo tape, he might end up joining you.

Holly--good luck with your portion control. I'll bet that's the key. They say if you stick with any one behavior religiously for two weeks, you will see results. Have you seen the book Volumetrics? It has lots of tips for gauging the amount of food you're eating--who wants to whip out a scale at a restaurant

Susie--I like your girls night out. I'm trying to figure out when to pull a bunch of friends together, and a movie is a good idea.

Girlie--I feel your pain about eating on the road. I pack portable snacks, but if I'm bored or stressed, I'll eat them all on the first day I'll be in Seattle for a few days around the middle of the month, so I'll focus on eating seafood. But i'll be back in New York at the end of the month, and tend to be really undisciplined when I'm there, meeting friends for drinks and going to my old haunts....

It's bee-yoo-ti-full out, gotta gofor along walk before the sun goes down.

Bye--judy

Hey everyone, This will be quick. I just got in from work and ds1 need me to come a rescue him from car trouble. I made curves yesterday and today, and am doing better on food using my crystal light. No sugar in my tea for me. I'LL post personals later. HAVE GREAT EVENING

Hello,
It's going to be another beautiful day in Ohio. 75 and Sunny! I've got on the cutest little black skirt and pink top...feeling good.

I've also packed my lunch and it's got fresh veggies in it.

I'm hoping for another loss at those scales tomorrow night. I've been doing very well with the sweets, but today and tomorrow I'm not going to have any. Don't want to tempt those scales to go up.


Holly: How are you doing on the "Taking care of Holly Plan"

Debbie: You are doing so great with the Curves...keep it up

Judy: Did you get that walk in before the sun went down?

Jodi: How's it going?

Girlie: Pack your snacks for the car, that way you won't be tempted to stop for those fries, and such on the road.

Spores: Did your BF let you have time to exercise? You will loose the embarrasement as you loose the pounds....so keep exercising.

I've got to get busy at work ladies. Have a great day!
Susie

HOWDIE, HOWDIE. Happy Hump Day from Sunshiney Indiana, 75 today, and walking is good!

Sounds like everyone is doing a great job...HURRAH!!

Had my first weigh in at TOPS last night. DOWN 2 LBS! YIPPIE! I was a little dissappointed at first cause the scales showed more at home all week long. Then thinking to myself, decided it was a great thing, be proud, work harder this week. When I woke this morning, Auntie Flo dropped in overnight, I really don't like her much, however I figure the next weigh in will ROCK, even MORE!! I walked EVERY DAY, except one last week. I am so proud of myself, that is the longest I have stuck to something in a great while. TOPS is helping me stay OP. Counted my calories and wrote EVERY single morsel I ate, on paper. I have a great log sheet I created, if anyone would like me to send it to them, PM me. It really does help to write it down. I am so jazzed! We did this really cool thing at TOPS. We wrote down 5 things that help us stay OP, then put them in a basket, each then drawing out one piece of paper. We went around the group, reading them out loud, then guessing who wrote them. Now this week, we are to apply the 5 things on the paper we drew out of the basket, to our OP week.

My 5 items were....

1. Walk everyday.
2. Drink a glass of water BEFORE each meal.
3. Eat oats for breakfast to stay full.
4. Eat at least one piece of fruit a day.
5. Be kind to ourselves, look in the mirror, say out loud how wondeful we are.
6. Journal our food. Keep cals low.

I had six, however I was on a roll.

Holly - A challenge is greatly need here, what type do you want to do? The basement sounds like a fun place for kids. BTW- you sound like a great mom and babysitter, I can tell from your posts.

Susie - Girls night out sounds like fun. We should have more of those. Congrats on the great loss!

Girlie - glad to hear your Unc's surgery went well. Great choices at Bob Evans also.

Jodi - Way to stay OP, and having several successful days in a row, not it will become a habit.

Chocolate and Xena - welcome to the club, dive on in, you will love it here, the support is awesome!

Judy - love the mantra....I have a little prayer...that I posted back in the fall here...

God, please put your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.

Spores - great job on exercising, even if in front of the BF, have him jump in there too!

Debbie - glad you are sticking with Curves....you deserved to be good to yourself.

Best be getting back at it. Have a wonderful, OP, delightful day!

Hugs to all...

Annie

Good morning everyone! I've got an internal interview in a little bit, just keeping my mind preoccupied.

Spores:
How did the interview go - and the exercise session? You know, I am proud to workout in front of my DH...because he congratulates me. Once I got him to get on the elliptical machine next to me and I kicked his butt And once your BF starts to see that this will be a regular thing and sees results, maybe he will get on the bandwagon as well!

Judy:
I am with ya, I will probaby eat all of my snacks on the way there! I will pack some raisins and things...I'm going to try to do well on this test! I hear ya on going to the city, like NYC and not being able to resist all of the eating temptations. It's like a part of the city experience! That's how I get when I go to Chicago or Philadelphia - gotta have hot pretzels and cheese steaks and such! But I love Philly because in the summers, there are fruit stands everywhere, and you get to choose what you want in your fruit salad. Very yummy and quick. I just love the city!

Debbie:
How are you?!

Susie:
You sound very upbeat, and your outfit sounds cute! The weather IS beautiful here in the midwest, isn't it?!

I'm struggling with every little decision. Keeping my liquid down to only water and sugar free tea. Was running late and didn't have time to have breakfast and it's almost 10am and I'm HUNGRY! I have a soup bowl here that I might break out after my meeting, or I have low fat microwave popcorn that I can make and nibble on as well. Trying hard to cut down calories. Saw that Dh made cookies while I was in bed and I didn't even have one this morning, as hungry as I was. I'm going to try not to have any at all.

I may not be going on the road trip this weekend...gas prices are so high and we're just going to see how things go in the next day and make up our mind then. If I don't go out of town, I'm going to do some spring cleaning. I am going to get rid of old stuff I can't fit into, I have so many bras and undies that I've outgrown, socks with no match, etc. I want to totally economize - get down to enough undies and socks for one week only, make a "workout clothes" drawer so I am always prepared with that, and do a better job of keeping my work clothes hung up and organized.

I think it's a great first step to keeping my life and routine organized. I'm excited. Now I'm kinda hoping we don't go out of town! You ladies would be amazed at how much STUFF I have. I'm going to be selling some of my older nicer/name-brand clothes on ebay and giving the rest away.

Spring cleaning is in order!

Girlie

Anne,

You posted just before I did so I didn't get to see your post - but I wanted to say that you sound GREAT, congrats on the loss and your five goals look AWESOME. It is true, the oatmeal keeps you full...I find that eating regular whole oats with some raisins and light pancake syrup keeps me much more full and satisfied than instant oatmeal. There's a huge difference. Good for you Anne! PS - are you anywhere near the IL border?

Girlie

I am 10 miles west of Indy. I used to live within 25 minutes of the border, but moved after the divorce and sale of home. I am acutally just outside the west side of Indianapolis, but willing to make road trips!! My kids are 16 and 19, and have lives mostly of their own.

Judy: Yeah, it’s silly to be shy about working out in front of the guy who sees me naked on a daily basis. And I knkow it’s all me: he’s told me time and time again tht he thinks it’s sexy when I work out! Just have to get past my own hang ups. Mmm, Seattle seafood, sounds like you are in for a treat!

Debbie: Good for you for finding a sweet tea subsubstitute. Hooray!

MychoiceSusi: Good for you on those sweets. I’m sure it will pay off at the scale.

Annie: Congrats on the loss! Sounds like TOPS is a great place. I love that idea of listing what helps you stay OP. I will have to try that one.

Girlie: I know what you mean about struggling with every little decision. But just take it one thing at a time. You can do it! I hate having to skip breakfast. I like to keep Clif bars and some Kashi shakes handy in case I am running late. That usually helps me not get too hungry. Sounds like you will have a great weekend no matter what you do. I too am in spring cleaning mode – I wanna get rid of all this extra crap in the house. There is just no reason to have 20 fondue forks.

Well, yesterday kinda sucked. Ate Chipotle for dinner (I chekced – 1500 calories for just one burrito – yikes!) and did not work out. Was tired and grumpy. But today will be better. I have a poetry reading tonight and am really nervous, so I am going to do my workout as a way to release some of that tension. And I know that heavy foods before I perform are a bad idea, so Im going to eat a light and healthy dinner. That’s the plan.

DS is off to school. I have been practising some of the techniques from the workshop and I must say I am having results. HE was WIRED this morning, agitated. I used some of the language and he defused.
I am feeling relaxed BUT I did have a heck of a time getting to sleep. A busy evening followed by putting away groceries, tidying, folding laundry......
I watched Idol at 11 and did some stretches and then I read til 1. Up at 6:45. Darn alarm was startling.
The 5 toddlers yesterday were dreamy. It got up to 17C. Lots of time outside. I was busy around 5 when the Mom’s came and then DH showed up at 5:45 and needed a ride to go get his car form the shop. Dinner was ready but I shut everything off and away we went. I unladed the kids and headed to the church. They enjoyed the dinner I cooked. LOL! Interestingly I was not hungry all evening. Hmmmmmmmm.
I have started my period and it just doesn’t seem possible that a month has gone by. I had a godd argument with myself bout it last night but the fact s are overwhelming. Wowza. It explains the eating frenzy the other night and the 3 lb gain.
I did well yesterday with food and I DID the WATP in the aft!!!!!!! Going for the same today.
I popped over to the grocery store last night too in between appts and got stocked up on fresh stuff.
I have DD and 4 others today. 2 go home at noon. I think I will unload more stuff at the thrift shop and then look there for a couple of things for the basement, then take the kids to the park.
It is already +6C. Wooohoo!!! It is enjoyable. I like these temps. I don’t appreciate the temps above 20C(70F).
Been to the park for 2 hours kids have flopped in front of a movie.AHhhh! DS comes home in an hour. Dont have time for personals but i am thinking of you all!!!

Hello everyone. Just another afternoon update. I went home for lunch, STARving. I heated up a Healthy Choice meal and ate a whole package of frozen broccoli with lowfat cheese sauce. Um yeah, I was hungry...but I felt like I made a good decision. That broccoli probably had as many calories as two sugar cookies that DH made...and a ton less fat. I also did my best to strain the broccoli from the cheese sauce so that I was mostly eating broccoli and little cheese. I tell you, the FIRST thing I saw when I walked into the kitchen were those cookies DH made! I didn't go anywhere near them!

It's late afternoon and I had a no sugar added pudding cup and I'm full. I know there is no reason for me to eat anything else until dinner!

On another high note...I had my internal interview today and wanted to cry when I got out. I didn't feel like it went well enough. And then I got another meeting request with the marketing manager. YAY.

Anne:
I live not too far from Bloomington-Normal, IL. So we're around 2.5 hours apart.

Spores:
What are your fav Cliff flavors? I have never had one but know they are larger than Luna bars!

Holly:
I'm always amazed at how much you accomplish in a day! I'm with you...any temperature above 75F I'm not fond of. I think 60F-75F is perfect. I could never live in a warm climate! How hot does it get over there around London in the summer?

Talk to you all later!

Everyone update and say something GOOD that happened today!



Girlie

Hey everyone, I made it to curves mon and tues, but have been very busy at work and won't get to go back til sat. Thats when I get weighed and measured. Hoping for a loss.. Still drinking my crystal light. I haven't done too bad on food, not quit dieting but not binging. Trying to watch portion size even when eating bad food.
Dh forgot his phone so I was running it out to him and tripped in the gravel drive. I torn 2 chunks out of my hand, and bruised my left leg in 3 places. I bet I'll be sore. Too old to take falls like that. I work 10 hrs today, maybe I'll walk the soreness out. I'll have to do personals later, again. Have to leave early enough to stop by store. These bandages won't stay on well enough for work. Everyone have a great day

BIG HUGS