Popping in to say hello, it's getting close to bed time.

Happy
Did you get rain or storms? Thankfully we got rain.

FLYING IN AND OUT TO WISH YOU ALL A GREAT DAY. THE OFFICE IS SHORT-HANDED AND I CAN USE THE MOOLAH!!! NOT SURE HOW LONG I CAN STAY. THE RIGHT EYE IS A BIT WONKY AGAIN. GOTTA LOVE STRESS!
HAPPY WEDNESDAY

Hump Day ALREADY!!!!

Good Morning Chickies.....

MEL....We all deserve a pity party now and then. You certainly do after dealing with the govt. I think you are holding up very well. Yummy food choices at Shoprite. Could you pack my lunch for me?

Michelle...I believe doggies do gossip back and forth. I know Hella Bella puts her two cents in regularly. I think she misses Tony and the boys as she has been moping all week long. She will barely play ball with me in the mornings while I am getting ready for work and she is pretty demanding when it comes to morning ball playing.

Hidee Ho to Shad, Ceejay, Happy, Ruth and anyone else I may have missed.

I am going to an Indiana Pacer's BB game tonight. Not really too psyched about it tho, as the Pacer's STINK. Going with some girls from work with free tickets from Humana. Free tickets usually end up being about 20+ bucks after we get a bite to eat and an adult beverage.

Work was a madhouse yesterday, didn't get out of here till about 6pm. My president/boss has a meeting at Corporate in Cincinnati today and tomorrow. It was crazy getting her ready to go. She did bring me back a lovely summer dress and necklace to match from her cruise last week. They are from St. Kits.

Everyone have a wonderful hump day.

Much love and Many Hugs,

Happy Wednesday -

I'm so glad the work week is nearly half over. I want a day off. Last weekend seems like ages ago! My back is doing a bit better today after PT, then going to the gym for 20 minutes of cardio, 10 minutes of stretches and planks, 20 minutes of abs, and 30 minutes of yoga. I'm planning on going to the gym tonight for cardio, stretching and abs. According to my physical therapist, part of the cause of the pain in the lower left side of my back could be due to tight hip flexors, quads, etc. on my right side, which is pulling and twisting the left side of my pelvis and back to compensate. So I've got all new stretches to do at least twice a day. It's a good reminder to me how important flexibility and stretching are in preventing injury. Seems like just about all I do now is stretching in one form or another. I used to just be able to do cardio and weights....but just doing that started this whole mess to begin with. Anyway, I'm glad I'm feeling a little better today and I'm looking forward to seeing the doc tomorrow.

I'm thinking about talking to my regular doctor about either Alli or Xenical next time I see him. Not sure I'm thrilled with the side effects (oily discharge - ewwwwwwwwwwww), but if it will help me by scaring me into sticking to a very low fat diet and and help me lose weight a little faster, maybe it will be worth it. Do you chicks have any opinions about Alli or Xenical?

Shad - I hope your work is going better. Hang in there.

Mel - We do all deserve a pity party every so often....especially with all you've been put through. Hang in there. Don't work too hard....don't strain your eyes too much. I know the $$ is nice, but your health is WAY more important.

Ceejay - I'm glad you didn't have bad storms. We had some rumbles of thunder last night...but nothing too bad.

Happy - I hope you're having a good day.

Annie - How nice of your boss to buy you a dress and a necklace! And I'm sure she appreciates all your help in getting her ready for her trip to Corporate. Sending a to Miss Hella Bella...so cute that she's missing Tony and the boys. Have fun at the Pacer's game!

Well, I'd better get back to work. TTYL my friends!

Love and big hugs,

Michelle...I have heard some people have had success with Alli, some have not. Yes with the side effects. Ewwwww to say the least.

Good news on the Pacer Game. We get to be in the Humana Suite with food and drinks, only thing I have to pay is parking. whew whooooo!

Hey Annie - The Humana Suite??? SWEET! VERY NICE!! Have a fabulous time!

SENDING ALL MY CHICK FRIENDS A BIG HUG FOR ALL THE KIND WORDS AND GOOD THOUGHTS
I AM BUSHED AND NEED A SHOWER. LONG DAY.
MAYBE A FOOD SHOP IN THE MORNING OR THE OFFICE SO IF I DISAPPEAR HAPPY THURSDAY TOO!

ANNIE....HERE'S SOME LEFTOVERS FOR TOMORROWS MICRO-HEAT & EAT





Sausage With Escarole and White Beans

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound Italian sausage
2 small onions, cut into wedges
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 cup dry white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc)
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 19-ounce can white beans, drained and rinsed
1 small head escarole, tough stems removed and roughly chopped
kosher salt and pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
crusty bread (optional)

Directions

1 Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook the sausage, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest at least 5 minutes before slicing.
2 Add the onions to the pan and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the wine and broth and bring to a boil. Add the beans, escarole, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the escarole wilts, about 3 minutes.
3 Spoon into individual bowls and top with the Parmesan. Serve with the sausage and crusty bread, if desired.

MICHELLE~ I AM NOT A BIG FAN OF DRUGS FOR WEIGHTLOSS BUT HAVING SAID THAT...THE DECISION IS YOURS. FRIENDS HAVE TRIED IT AND NEEDED PANTY LINERS, PADS AND AT TIMES BROUGHT UNDIES AND A CHANGE OF CLOTHING WITH THEM TO WORK. NONE OF THEM STAYED ON IT FOR LONG

ANNIE~ WOW NICE!!! THE SUITE??? AND FREE!! GOTTA LOVE ALL THOSE PERKS!!

START MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES WEBSITE:

http://www.startmakingchoices.com/index.jsp


Southwest Spicy Meatloaf with Fiesta Rice

Hands On: 15 minutes | Total: 1 hour 15 minutes | Makes: 4 servings (1 slice meatloaf and about 3/4 cup rice each)
Ingredients
Meatloaf

1 pound ground sirloin beef
2 slices whole wheat bread, torn into small pieces or 1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 can (10 oz each) Ro*Tel Original Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies, drained
1/4 cup Egg Beaters Original
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 cup chili sauce

Rice

1 cup cooked brown rice
1 cup frozen whole kernel corn
1 cup drained, rinsed Rosarita Black Beans
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
Finely chopped fresh cilantro, optional

directions
Make Meatloaf: Preheat oven to 400F. Combine ground beef, bread, onion, drained tomatoes, Egg Beaters and chili powder in medium bowl.
Shape meat mixture into a 4x6-inch loaf. Place into an ungreased 8x8-inch baking dish. Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until done (160F in center); drain excess drippings. Spoon chili sauce over meatloaf; bake an additional 10 minutes.
Make Rice: Combine rice, corn, beans and cumin in microwave-safe container. Microwave on HIGH 3 minutes or until hot, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir in cilantro, if desired. Serve rice mixture with meatloaf.

Nutrition (per serving)
Calories 367 Sugars 6 g
Total fat 10 g Protein 30 g
Saturated fat 4 g Vitamin A 13%
Cholesterol 69 MG Vitamin C 8%
Sodium 712 MG Calcium 6%
Carbohydrate 38 g Iron 24%
Dietary fiber 6 g

Morning all,

I'm so tired, just couldn't sleep last night for some reason. Maybe the endorphins released in my training session came to the fore in the middle of the night - whatever, it did not make for a good nights sleep.

Can I go home yet?? And pass the Vodka. What? It is only 10.47 in the morning??? Arrrgggh.

I'll be back tomorrow.

Happy Happy Happy Thursday -

I went to the gym last night and did 20 minutes of cardio, followed by 20 minutes of abs and then 20 minutes of PT stretches and planks. I was exhausted by the time I got home, so I ate dinner, took a nice hot shower and relaxed. I think I was asleep by 9:15! Today, I'm leaving work early to go to the Sports Med doc. Hopefully, I'll still be able to make it to the gym for my strength training class. I'm finding that my back seems to do better if I combine cardio, stretches and resistance training. On Monday, when I skipped the gym, I was stiff and sore all evening and found it difficult to sleep because my muscles and joints were so stiff. So I guess this is a good reason to keep me active most days of the week.

Annie - I hope you had a great time at the game watching the Pacers WIN! I think it would be sooo cool to watch a game from a luxury suite. What a wonderful perk! Thanks for sharing your friends' experiences with Alli.

Mel - Thanks also to you for sharing your friends' experiences with Alli, and for sharing those yummy recipes.

Shad - Going home at 10:47 am is not allowed....although there have been days when I've wanted to go home by 9 am. I hope you're getting a very restful night's sleep right now.

Happy - I saw you posted on Facebook (on Shad's wall). I hope you had a good day.

Ruth - I know how addicting Facebook can be. I enjoy reading your posts on Facebook and on 3FC, so I hope you're not too quiet on either site.

Ceejay - I hope you have a great day. Are you and Happy getting hit with all the storms that are going through the southern states?

Time to get some work done.

Love and hugs to all,
Michelle

Hi all,

Sorry I didn't get here yesterday. Turned out to be a very disruptive day. I have tomorrow off - going to tackle cleaning out the garage. If I decide to do the cardiac caterization next Friday, I will have to be a bit careful afterwards for a while and my Mom is coming to visit on the 22nd so I want to start getting the house all spiffy. The procedure will cut into some of my house cleaning time so I have to plan around it. My azaleas are blooming out back - they look to be as pretty as the first year we moved here. Last couple of years have been a dud.

Shad - I think there was something in the air yesterday with major sleepiness. It was going around here too. Maybe it was Zombie Day and we just forgot to check the calendar! Hope you got some extra rest and are perky again for the weekend

Mel - I'm sorry, I know I am immature but there's something about that sausage picture that borders on obscene. I hope you are feeling better today.

Annie - enjoy the suite at the game. We have a suite too at the FedEx Forum that I hear is very nice. They routinely raffle tickets to the employees for suite and courtside seats but I'm not a big sport nut so I don't throw my name in the hat (figures the one thing I'd win is what I don't really want ) BUT people said even if you're not into the game, go if you have the opportunity to the suite. So I hope you and the crew have a wonderful time!

Michelle - I think alot of our physical issues have indeed to do with tight "innards". Or weak ones in the case of abs and spine. We tend to forget about stretching and such until we are hurting. It's a good habit to do a few in the shower each morning when your muscles are warmed up. As for the Alli - my own 2 cents. I don't take the stuff but I have similar issues with the glucophage and I tell you that it's no fun at all. People who take it say they are TERRIFIED not worried, not concerned but scared crazy to eat the wrong stuff and suffer the consequences. And it takes some time and experience (ie. accidents) to figure out what may trigger a problem. Studies show that the Alli boosts your weight loss by something like 20 percent. So is it worth always having a change of clothes and wearing dark things all the time to lose an extra half pound a week? I think if you eat reasonably now, that won't help you much. However I guess if maybe I was addicted to fatty things like baked goods, fried foods, butter and such and was looking for a way to kick the habit - that might be something that could make me scared straight. As I said, just my opinion. I wish we didn't fight our head so much with eating the wrong stuff in the wrong portions. I still want to eat things like the clam chowder at work that taste so good going in but give me such grief afterwards. Good luck with whatever you choose


Good morning Ceejay and Patty!

And with that, I need to get out of here.

Oh one more thing. I used to have the paid subscription to 3FC which was not only ad free forums but allowed me to have more PMs in my mailbox. The sisters are making some changes right now and I can't renew so I am over my PM limit and can't receive any more messages until I spend some time cleaning my mailbox.

See yah...

You're right Michelle, I looked at Facebook yesterday and today my computer is acting funky. So I am done with that site. There's alot of worms and spam and such targeted there.

Good Morning Everyone from Indy........

Had a great time at the Pacer game last night. Drank 2 glasses of wine, ate veggies and salsa. Wings, hotdogs and subs were offered, however I did not partake. I no likie wings and hotdogs and too much bread on subs. Yes, the Pacers actually won!

Michelle...looks like you are getting back into the swing of exercising. Don't over do it and get your back in a bind.

Happy...cleaning out the garage, always a major chore, but it is kind of neat finding stuff we forget we even own. I might drop by to help you, I like cleaning out garage. I will add you to my prayer list of good results for your cath next Friday.

Shad...I am with you on going home early. I came in late this morning. Didn't get here till 8:15 when my normal start time is 7:30. Just couldn't get with it this morning. Shad, you have the vodka and I will have the tequila-in my margarita, of course. CHEERS!!

MEL...The meatloaf and rice recipe sounds so good. I may have to whip that up this weekend. Tony likes mexican and italian food a lot, so this will fit in nicely for Sunday.

My nephew's (35 yrs) wife called me at 11:00 pm last night, as he had emergency apendectomy surger. Last month he had his gallbladder removed. Not sure if he still has his tonsils or not. He did ok and is on his way to recovery. Eight months ago he had bariatric surgery. He is just worn thin (literally) He has lost like 130 lbs, is building a new house and doing most of the work himself then his wife is due May 1st with their first baby GIRL...Yes I will be a GREAT AUNT, again for the second time. She can just call me GREAT tho.

Hello to everyone, gotta go, my Avon is in the lobby for delivery.

Love and Hugs,

SORRY THIS IS ANOTHER FLY BY. HAD TO LEAVE THE OFFICE EARLY. MY RIGHT EYE WENT NUTS. THE DR SAID TO USE THE STEROIDS THIS TIME AND GET THIS IVER WITH!! HOPE THEY WORK. LOVE TO ALL. I JUST CANNOT READ. I'LL BE BACK IN A FEW DAYS