Oh bother.....I figured out the tracker thing......lets see if this works......(why did I do this????)
Ginny

Figures, I would be the only moron to set up a tracker and it does not show up!!!! (keep smiling, Ginny) I will try again.

Ginny,
On the last page of the tracker site, all I did was copy and paste my tracker to the signature page. After I copied it, then I went to edit signature and pasted it on there. Hope this helps. Getting ready to sneak out the house with my one stepson to get a slice a pizza. I have been craving pizza for a couple weeks and decided to give into the craving today. Before it really gets out of hand. Talk to you all later.
Kerry

I going to work backwards here:
Kerry: cheese pizza, with thin crust, is a healthy choice. One slice is between 140-160 calories. Some places do whole wheat crust, which is fantastic, and most places use part-skim mozzarella: it melts better.
Ginny & Robyn: Thanks for the support. I can't call any agencies: I don't have power of attorney nor do I want it. I think I've mentioned before that he and I don't get along very well. He won't listen to what I tell him to do, and has never listened to me before. He LOVES to brag about my degrees and that I'm working on my doctorate and that I work for a major hospital system at a rehabilitation hospital's school program (because that IS what I do, I just don't usually phrase it that way because it sounds egoist). But when it comes right down to it, he won't listen to me. Last night I told him he needed to call the following agencies this morning: Veteran's Administration (which he refused, saying they aren't accepting new patients, and I reminded him that he is an established patient because he gets his eyecare there! So then he said he couldn't drive there, and I reminded him that the local Red Cross chapter has drivers that drive people to the VA hospital!), Meals on Wheels (because he can't cook or grocery shop for himself, and there are no grocery delivery services in my hometown, because I think he could handle microwave meals), Office on Aging (to find a home health care aide), his primary care physician (why is he having all these issues suddenly? Is there something else wrong?), and perhaps a lawyer. He's going to let the surgeon who operated on his knee twice already do another one next Thursday. I don't think he was a good candidate for the procedure anyway: I do not at all believe that he has lost 50 pounds in 8 weeks (that is more than FIVE pounds per week??? If he HAS lost that much, I want his metabolism! Because he hasn't been exercising beyond ordinary PT!), and now weighs less than 300 pounds. NO WAY! And my understanding of the procedure is that it is proscribed in patients over a certain weight, and over a certain age. I also found out that they didn't do any type of physical therapy or exercise program prior to surgery. That would have been my FIRST stop: I would have started with aqua therapy with him given age and weight.
Okay, enough of that. I think I'm going to find somewhere to hide this weekend.

Evening Ladies,
I got my slice of pizza and it did the trick. That should do me for a few months or more. I even went upstairs while my dh, his twin boys' and his brother were watching the Ohio State vs. Oklahama game and rode the excersise bike for a half hour. Got through a really good part in the book I read while riding the bike. I could have ridden a little longer if my butt was not getting sore and I wasn't so thirsty.
Mouse, I am so sorry that your dad doesn't seem to want to listen to any of your suggestions. It must be heartbreaking to offer advice and it go unwanted or used. But he sure seems to want to pull you into his life. Hope things tend to get easier for you. What are your plans for this weekend?
Ginny, I hope you can get the tracker to work for you. I had to mess around a few times before I got mine to work. Good for you to get your workouts in too. Sounds like your family had a fun time playing Clue last night.
Robyn, so have you warmed up from your winter weather? The winter weather has seem to skirt around my area of Ohio. It sure did hit the people in Columbus which is an 1 or 1 1/2 hour away from us depending on traffic. They are still without electric in some places a week later. It bad weather hit close to 25 miles from our house. We just had some ice on Thursday morning from the rain we got last Wednesday. That was it plus some really cold temps. over the weekend. It has been in the 40-50's here the last few days.
Summer, hope your playdate went well over at your friend's house today. So do you have big plans for the New Year's weekend? My dh and I are going to go visit my parents for the weekend. I am hoping to squeeze in a visit with my best friend. I don't know if my dh and I are going to go out Friday night or not. Or if we might just order take out and spend the evening at home with my parents. My dad has bronchitis really bad right now. So he really hasn't been out anywhere for a week. He did go to the lung specialist today and he upped his one med. and gave him another med. to break up the junk in his lungs.
Well I think I am going to go look up something for my TOPS group about Open House Ideas and then go to bed. Talk to you all tomorrow.
Have a great Thursday!
Kerry

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr..............................Dd' s former bf just called to say that he is dating someone else......anyone got a baseball bat?????? Strangulation is not too good for him.
See ya later.
Ginny

Lookie, lookie.......got the tracker working! Thanks Kerry! (had it all done except pasting it onto my profile)

I don't have big plans for the weekend, since I'm dispatching until 5:00 on Friday night. I thought about going to Virginia Friday night, and staying over, but then decided not to. I have a friend coming over tomorrow (though I think she's a little torqued at me because I talked to her about my issues with the father, and she apparantly talked to another friend that is my boss at the pool... and my boss said that I made her feel guilty. And that makes me feel bad, because I dind't want HER to go with me to his house, I wanted to know if she knew anybody that could. She has two little kids, so I'd never ask her!), while I'm dispatching. I still have to do one more load of laundry (sheets and blankets), and mop the kitchen floor. Also run the dishwasher. I want to vacuum one more time with my potpourri stuff so it smells good in here. I don't want anybody to ever say that my apartment smells like cat.
I went to the library, but all the books I wanted were checked out at the library near the gym. Its more convenient and easier for me to go to that one since its all on one-floor and there are no stairs into or out of the library. The big library has steps all over (to the most interesting parts!), and no elevators... Its also near the Trader Joes I go to, and you have to park in a garage because there is no lot and no street parking.

Okey.........
So here I am again! MissCongeniality! Did I spell that correctly? I'm trying hard to FIX my head! Today I am EATING correctly! THAT is a beginning to fixing my "ISSUES"! LOL Snow is gone. Ground is soaking wet soggy! Today I worked on cleaning the house up! Actually found carpet in our bedroom! (THE last room to ever get any attention!)

Oldest DS is days away from being an official TEENager.... and I'm 16 weeks from turning 40. YIKES!

I'll be back......... to let you know that I stayed OP for the entire day!
1 day at a time!

take care.....
meeee

I updated the tracker....did it work?!

Robyn- ok, you will get thru the teenage years.....although they ain't fun and they ain't pretty (and murder for Dd's former bf becomes a better option every passing moment!) My biggest advice to you (I have 2 teens.....)is take the best possible care of you that you can. Get some excercise, even 15minutes of walking each day can change your mood. It can be SO tough to stay upbeat with teens- they can mercilessly pick all over you......go right for the jugular.....and at times it seems so overwhelming. Great for you with one day of good eating.....that will help too! Smile, laugh......and vent here. And congrats on getting some cleaning done.

Mouse- I was looking for some resources to help Dd (who is presently lower than the bottom of the ocean) and wandered onto www.family.org. OK, it is a Christian web site, and I am not trying to convert you. BUT, there are some resources and articles on caring for one's parents.....I started to go into those articles(remember, my DM is going in for surgery next week and Dd and I will be running back and forth to care for her). Maybe there are some resources that can help you with your dad. Go into Family.org. On the left side, click on Your Familys health (under parents). Then in the text, click on Troubled With. Then click on Caring for Elderly Parents. I went no further than there, as I do not have the time for much more than that. But I did get the impression that there were some valuable links and usually their articles are very helpful. Sorry you were not able to get the books you wanted......can you waiting list them?
Dd, Dh and I actually went for a walk together on the track....I did 2 miles, ran for about 2 laps. It was nice for Dh to join me, he usually makes fun of/won't join me in walking.
Gotta go.....might be back later as I think Dd, Dh and Ds are going to a college bball game tonite.
See ya!!!
Ginny

Hello fellow educators and others,

I'm new to the site and I think just may be where I need to "hang out". Your objective statement is positive "teachers successfully losing weight" so I want to be a part of that. This is my 23rd year of teaching and I currently teach a 3/4 split. I've had 2 weeks off to regroup, and have decided that I need to re-lose the extra weight in order to handle the stress of teaching. Those state tests loom on the horizon and it does add extra stress. My goal is to lose 60 lbs. (again) and I am going to make the eating changes that Bob Greene talks about in his Get With the Program. 1) stopping eating 3 hours before bedtime, 2) drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day - even if the teacher next door has to do some kid-watching while I go potty, 3) eat consciously, 4) no alcohol, and 5) perhaps the hardest for me - eat a good breakfast. I am hoping that this isn't an exclusive club and hope to be a part of your group.

Welcome Sandi,
We are glad to have another person on board. We are a wonderful bunch of ladies who are very supportive. I think you will fit in just fine.
Your plan sounds like a good one. I just watch what I eat, limit my intake of food and drink lots of water, green tea, iced tea and milk. Plus I workout at Curves 3 to 4 days a week and do WATP tapes. I also use my gazelle and excerise bike too. It has helped me to lose 58 pounds since I started my change of lifestyle three years ago. Mind you I still have a long way to go but I will get there. I just take it one step at a time. You made a wise decision to come join us. So that is a wonderful start.
I am in the midst of doing laundry and packing to go visit my family for the weekend. I was up at 7:30 this morning to go workout with my friend. Then it was off to the county school's office to pick-up my paycheck. Home to pay bills and off to the bank. I tried to go to the post office to mail the bills and got feed up with no available parking spaces the three times I went around the block. So they are still laying on the counter. Maybe I will do that in the morning before hitting the highway. Then I took the stepmunchies out to lunch by myself. That was fun! They were very well-behaved until their food ran out. Then they started to get antsy and playful. Hurried them out the door before they embarassed me. Dropped the boys off with their daddy and then took my sdd with me and took my mil shopping. Ended up not buying anything. But we had fun looking at the clothes and shoes. Picking out clothes that neither three of us would be caught died in. So now it is down to getting things ready to go away for a few days. I can't believe that our week is almost over.
Well I better go and finish packing. I want to have an early start in the morning, but it all depends on if my dh gets up in time and gets moving around. It is a four hour drive up to the Northeastern part of Ohio.
If I don't talk to you at all over the weekend, have a safe and Happy New Year's!
Kerry

Hello Sandi!

Welcome! You've found a wonderful site AND you've wandered into a fun, supportive, varied group of gals! The people here keep my chin up ....even when it isn't!

After 17 years in one school (....heck in ONE classroom), I have left everything and everyone that I have ever known and changed schools AND school systems! (See what losing a few pounds will do to your courage?!) This fall found me being THE new teacher at a school that is in the same system that my children attend! I teach 1st grade...and have for nearly FOREVER! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVVVVEEEE my new school!
BUT.......
I'm working my fingers to the bone at school! What I did in MY SLEEP for the last decade must now be THOUGHT thru....and put on paper..... Stress and emotions...not a pretty combination for ME! Since I decided to INTERVIEW for the new job... (yes, I know it is an excuse....but it WAS extremely emotional after all that time!) ....

I've put BACK on 25 pounds that I had shed......and now have 45 in total to get off my hips. I've been sooooo off track this summer and fall..... but am working on getting my HEAD back in the game! I know from experience that I CAN and WILL shed this weight.....I just hope that once I get it off I can throw my YO-YO away!

I am the mother of two ds who keep me busy with all the usual stuff! (7th grade, 4th grade, baseball, various bands, scouts, etc...) I adore them! (Most days!) I'm married to the guy I went to prom with 100000 years ago! (1981...I was a sophmore! We just celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary....but go back WAYYYY further than that! I adore him! (Most days!)

Your plan sounds like a good one! I'm getting the holiday food crap out of the house! (I swear the junk food calls my name!) I have a horrible sweet tooth! This butt didn't get this big from eating meats or fancy REAL food! I will be working on my plan and will post it here in the next few days! Water, exercise and THINKING before my mouth opens will be included!

Well....as you can tell.... I am THE big mouth! But I am a friendly BIG mouth!
(Shhhhhhhh..........now the rest of YOU don't tell her ANYthing that will scare her away!)

Ginny, WHAT is up with the exbf? He seems to be a real creep! (Did I tell you thanks for the card?! It was a wonderful surprise!)

Kerry, have a wonderful trip! Happy NEW Year to you!

Mousie, I'm so sorry that your father is having such a hard time! (((hugs))) and positive thoughts for YOU!

Summer, hang in there! I'm sorry that your time off from school hasn't been as wonderful as could be! I miss talking with you! .....LOVED the card and note!

Okey my friends....here is my usual quote.........from one of my favorite songs...
"If you want to be somebody else, If you're tired of fighting battles with yourself
If you want to be somebody else Change your mind..."

I've going to...... I've got to...... I did!

Oh did I mention my jury time has ended?! Yea, again! It is OVER! I called every night, holding my breath.... and was NEVER called to go all the way over there to the actual court! Yahooo! OVER! Citizen of the YEAR again for the month of December! Whooohooo! LOL

Ya'll take care! I'm off to read a REAL not school related book! WhoooHooo!

meeeeee

Morning Ladies,
Just a quick drive by from me this morning. I am already to go to see my family for the weekend. I am just waiting on my dh to wake up. I think if he is not awake by 9:15. I am going to wake him up. I got up this morning and got in my excerise. I did 1/2 hour on the gazelle and 1/2 hour on the bike. I am hoping that while at home with my family, I can squeeze in sometime with their skier and bike even if it is 15 to 30 minutes.
Well I need to go and put my suitcase in the van. Talk to you all later. I might be able to visit you all if I can use my folks' computer. If not, I will check back with you all on Sunday night.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Kerry

Hi!
Welcome Sandi!!!!! I think you will love it here...no this is not an exclusive group at all, they have actually let me in and I am a lowly student transportation expert.....aka bus driver! I have a BS in chemical engineering, did that for 10 yrs, then retired to mommyhood - but also became a part time technical writer for 10 years. Then for a zillion reasons, and the lack of a student friendly schedule being one of the biggest (and a generally non supportive Dd and kids , as mom was burning the nite oil technical writing....taking stuff with me on vacation as I was self employed) decided to take myself out of the private sector and find something that was close to home. And I love kids....and I was always one of those safety nuts (safety commitee at work, wrote safety procedures etc....) so I thought that maybe I could handle driving a bus. The HR person in our district tried to offer me a substitute teaching job when I applied to be a driver....but I am way too much of a burnout to go back to college and I would have to commute at least an hour to get to the nearest state school. SO......it ends up I rather enjoy what I do behind the wheel.....but found I really needed the companionship of others who deal with students on a daily basis. This wonderful group has been kind enough to put up with me, and my ranting and raving. We do have a lot in common. So, lets see, I have 3 children Dd 18 (freshman in college), Ds 15 (sophmore in HS) and a Dd 9 (3rd grade) and their dad- not sure what grade he is in, but he is an engineer with a large corporation (pharmaceuticals, the same company I used to work for).
Your plan to lose sounds great.....the only thing I would suggest is some activity. Even a 15 minute walk once a day can make all the difference.
Good luck to you!!!!!! Can't wait to get to know you better!

Kerry- sounds like you have gotten a lot of workouts in.....good for you! I hope for your sake that you can get a wee bit of excercise in this weekend too, that really does seem to be boosting your weight loss these days.
Have a safe and fun trip!!! We'll miss you while you are gone.

Robyn- You are my favorite friendly big mouth!! Just had to tell you that. What book are you reading???? And how did your eating end up yesterday?
It sounded as though you were off to a good start! Stay out of the kitchen and chuck out the junk food! I am glad that the cards all got there.....(everyone here got one) I wanted to be a bit more personal than a web page can be and hopefully cheer up someone's day. There are days when this board is such a safe haven for me, and I am VERY thankful for each of you.
I do regret that I did not get personal in each card, but time was short and I thought it was better to send something than nothing. So that is what I did.
Well, Ms Jury Chairperson.....congrats on being free!!!!!!! I am sure that you too found the Peterson murder jury comments a bit more interesting, having just survived the jury process, as I did too. I know my family had a tough time understanding how you can isolate facts...trya case according to instructions given by a judge....and it can be done and is exhausting. I am so glad that you are relieved from that!

As for me, I actually got Dh and our 2 Dd's to walk to town and get some errands done with me. Last nite I did a pilates DVD that I have done- sort of interesting.....and I am not too sore today. Ok, my eating was horrible- stress eating with all this stuff that poor Dd is going thru with that miserable creep former BF pulled. I told her NOT to answer his cell calls (he likes to torment her at all kinds of stupid hours) and let his calls go to her voice mail.
And then take great joy in deleting his messages (you did know that I was a vendictive b**** didn't you?). She has to get out of the loop of him tormenting her. So last nite she left her cell here......which I hid in a linen drawer so we could not hear the ring. On our walk to town we bumped into a friend of hers (nice kid, also Christian, nice family....attractive.....outgoing personality, not Mr Clandestine, like miserable former Bf who deserves to be beheaded) who just happens to be doing nothing this evening. (they also saw each other at Ds's baskeball game a week ago, just after despicable former Bf dumped Dd......yes I am trying to find every rotten adjective I can find for the louse!) He says he will call Dd later. No, I do not want to marry my daughter off.....not the case at all, just have her have some fun and a life without her manipulative,selfish, slimy, former Bf. And because I do not want to get the thesaurus out.....guess I will end this post because I am running out of choice words for the jerk.
Going to sneak in a WATP tape. We are going out to Chilis for dinner tonite- and I have already picked out a nice low points entree (BTW, Sandi, I am on WW) that will be within the points range I have for the rest of my day.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!!!
Ginny