Judy- My boyfriend is actually enjoying the fact that I go home with him yet other men are flirting with me now that I lost so much LOL.

Hi guys, chitown newbie here; I am on day 2 of phase I so far not too bad; went shopping for staples today; however here is my problem; I work 12 hour nights and its hard to stay balanced you eat because everybody else is eating always bringing in cookies, chips.... how do I stay focused any suggestions? its also my three day weekend to work.

Chitown - Welcome to 3FC! It must be tough working 12 hour nights, especially when everyone is bringing in unhealthy snacks. I think the best thing you can do is to make sure you bring plenty of healthy foods with you so that you don't get tempted. Good luck!

Nikki - Congratultions on your big loss . You're doing awesome! Having guys flirt with you is a great "side effect" of losing weight - that's always good for our egos!

Judy - I hope the PT will help. I love watermelon too and I just read it's very high in potassium, so it's healthy too. I hope "Fuzzy" is doing well .

Carol - It won't hurt to check out the other job - just to compare. It sounds like you'd have a much lighter caseload. Happy Birthday for tomorrow! It will be a nice break for you to have a joyful get together with your daughter and Mom.

Marie - I hope all is well with you.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Hi chitown and welcome. Are you doing atkins or SB?

I do atkins and bring peporoni or some cheese as a snack.

Nikki

Hi everyone, it's been a busy couple days at work so I couldn't post. Work, I suppose, had to take top priority. But now that it's weekend, I'm posting from home. Last night I wanted to swim, sorry internet surfing didn't sound as inviting. Tonight it's too chilly (75) and so no swimming.

Thursday's stats: 1466 cals, exercycle 2 miles, walking 1.5 miles, swimming .25 miles.

Wednesday's stats since I didn't post yesterday: 1636 cals, jogging .5 miles and walking 1.25 miles. Not bad since that was the visit DS1 and they only cook burgers...

Nikki, I'm so sorry about your BF accident and the legal mess with your meds. I always carry my inhalers and one dose of meds in my purse but don't carry copies of the prescriptions. Hmmm... perhaps I should learn something from your BF's problem.

Carol, I definitely agree it's worth doing the interview. Know what you want and what you're willing to sacrifice and perhaps it's a good choice. One doesn't know until it's checked out. One thing to consider is seniority issues - if there are layoffs, last hired usually first to go so I'd ask about that. What is EZTime???? I'm glad you're through with yesterday. Funerals are so hard. And HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW!!! Are you a Leo, too? (I don't know the dates... my BD is in 2 weeks).

Judy, I found a coupld PDA / desktop diet programs. I'm going to try a few out this weekend. Of course I like the most expensive one best. I want one that I can sync to my desktop. I hope your knee starts to feel better. Definitely don't push it. When do you hear about the MRI results?

Penny, our weather is stinky. I don't like clouds in July. The desert is supposed to be sunny and in the 90's this time of year. Your cat stays with you on a walk? Wow that sounds more like a dog.

Judy, I'll be posting a few snippets of my pups and DGS on my website soon. I'll let you all know when I do that.

Marie

Congrats to Nikki that is SUPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go and turning heads is always fun!!! Gotta make a girl feel real good inside and out!!! You go girl!!
Chitown welcome here! I find keeping some healthy snacks at work help me to not get into the other stuff as much. Variety for me makes the difference and being creative with foods trying new things good luck! Let us know how it goes?
Girls I have an 8:00 interview monday. I am going to ck it out do my best and then afterwards think about the benefits of staying or moving on if I am offered the switch. Working with a bit different population could be trying I am sure. I hear different stories as they are brain injured folks they forget easily it could be challenging but what isn't? I heard its a good group of folks over their throught the grapevine. I am not going to make any harsh decisions but thoughtful ones. Balancing things out etc. Being treated professionally would be a nice change. I have 12 more years to work and thats another thing to think about. Being happy and not always having to deal with crazy office stuff. But I guess thats anywhere. Do any of you expereince things like I have on a regular basis? Just wondered how it is other places? If you don't mind telling me. Or maybe its just my small petty office? Well my friend and I went to the Casino last night we had dinner there. Oh so good. I wasn't too bad mostly seafood for me. Little pie only ate part of it in the end. She won I didn't be we had a good time. Then came home a watched a dvd of my daughters wedding my friend did for me with the music background oh so nice and thoughtful. We are going out garage saling and shopping this morning. Just a hang out time. Then I will stop into see my daughter as its her birthday too. Well Judy good luck with the PT hope it helps yah! Nikki I will ck that site and Marie thank you as well for your info. I will go with one of them I think. Marie EZ time is when you clock in and out of your shift at work on the computer. But with our jobs and no lap top to take into the community with us it isn't easy. My job is out of the office in the later parts of the day when folks get home etc. So the boss always ends up adjusting my schedule so far at least. I can't see how it works for folks like us whom are in and out so much and starting and leaving at different times throughout the week. But we are doing it with lots of adjustments from the supervisor. Crazy system just pay us our 40hrs. and let us do our jobs. That would be a perfect world but companies always think their getting cheated. The job was exempt and should of remained that way I think. Oh well. Have a great day everyone and think of me on monday! Should be interesting I think if nothing else I will come away feeling better about my own company and maybe that will be that??? But who knows maybe its a good idea??? Only time will tell!

That makes no sense that they made you hourly Carol. Your job is exempt just by the work and the FLSA law that defines it. Silly people. Up until last June we had a problem worker in our office of 5 - she's thankfully moved on (and is annoying others as the rumors have it). I think that there's bad eggs everywhere, but the amount of their stench is probably different. Your egg is rotten. Happy Birthday!!!! too.

Judy, I've been busy with my Wing - I downloaded Pocket Quicken and have been playing with it. I love it and even DH didn't wince at the 40 buck price as it would have been so handy on vacation. I downloaded a program for calories and will play with it next.

We went to the mountain and let doggies run. Blizzard now has a weird sore on her foot and we're watching whether to bring her to the dr. (even the er doc tomorrow if necessary). Other than that, they had a blast. Got a 2 mile hike in. Then we went to a road district meeting at a neighbors and we road our bikes there. Tomorrow we're going to take the bikes into town and ride. DS2 wants to join us even at 7 am. Our favorite diner has re-opened after being closed for construction for a year so we're biking then having breakfast. Calories be damned for that. I will work on making up for it the rest of the day.
Marie

Hi, Chitown, welcome to our little thread . It will be nice getting to know you. I'm a former Chicagoan, lived in Evanston and on the Far North Side for many years. I don't know what to do about the munchy workers. If they aren't pushing you to indulge, or for everyone to stop and eat just because one person did, you're already ahead of the game. I can hear my mom's voice: "just because everyone else is doing something, that doesn't mean you have to do it, too!" If you keep your goal front and center you will be fine.

Carol, it sounds like you had a nice b-day weekend. Good luck with the interview. It's good to have choices. I think that wherever you have people, you'll have a some nuttiness. The trick is to find a place that handles it well, and nips anything toxic in the bud.

Marie, you weekend plans sound healthy and fun. Sorry about poor Blizzzie, though. I will call about my MRI next week. Unless they tell me something startling, like my knee is falling off, I'm not going to start making appointments or anything until after vacation.

Penny, I have named my diet log "Coach," and am trying to give it a personality like that mean trainer on Celebrity Fit Club. Fuzzy just wasn't intimidating enought to be motivational.

Nikki, your BF sounds like a treasure. I hope you are done with the legal unpleasantness.

I have had a good weekend, chores, working out and eating on target (except for microwave popcorn last night). Today I did cardio and weights for an hour, had Eggbeaters with salsa and broccoli for a late b-fast, and a chicken and spinach Lean Cuisine with green beans for lunch. I was going to have quiet contemplative afternoon, but it sounds like new neighbors (with kids ) are moving in down the hallway, so I will knock a few things off my to-do list, and play home spa this evening. I am back to the scale and the tape measure today, and feeling good about things.

judy

Hi All,

Judy sounds like a good weekend for you, like you're motivated to go with your coach. I did buy diet software for my Wing and desktop but I'm having trouble synching it. I think I'll like it when I get it to work...

We biked 12 miles. My butt is SO sore but it was a great time. Breakfast was good and I didn't overeat. I have to figure out the calories so I stay on track.

I forgot to post the previous day's stats yesterday so here are both...
Friday: 1611 calories, 1.2 miles walking, .3 miles jogging and 2 miles exercycling. Saturday: 1562 calories, biking .33 miles (itee bittee...), .25 miles swimming and 2 miles hiking. So far today I'm doing good and way too much exercise.

I've been busy today. We did the grocery shopping after the morning adventure, then laundry, clean the bathroom and floors, clean the bathroom and made fat-free banana bread. It'll be interesting to see how the changes effect the taste.

Well, have a good start to the week. We'll be thinking of you tomorrow Carol.
Marie

Hi Ladies-

Judy- My boyfriend realy is great. We have to get a trial date for all this business but we are donr for the time being. Way to go on your eating well Judy

Marie-You are doing awesome so much exercise you go girl


I had a good weekend. However, I did not get all my water in I will get it in the rest of the week though.

Nikki

Good morning girls well I am ready as I will be for my interview its been like 9 years since the last one. Then I was leaving a job I was at for 10 years too. But to continue to grow with an education that I finally accomplished. I figured out last night what I would need in order for it to be worth the change. Also want to hear more about their company. I ck'd it out online and its not so big in our area but is around in lots of states. So that is interesting its a contempory company maybe up to new thoughts and ideas? Not so mind set? But who knows? So I will go do the interview and then ask some questions they may not beable to meet what I need. But we will see nothing lost nothing gained etc. At the least I will of learned something more in life. Maybe in the end I will find the present company isn't so bad to work for. My caseload is important to me but in this field someone always could use your help. Vacations are so important to me at least to beable to have 2 weeks to go to see my kids. We will see I will fill yah all in later on. I feel pretty good this a.m. not nervous etc. But it will pass like wildfire as my coworker that I share an office with works at this place and is the person leaving to move out of state. Oh well never hurts to look right? Little late to think about that now anyways! I am a firm person that if you start something you should always follow through with it.
Today is the start to my new lifestyle being healthier. I am going to take my good friend with me on this journey. We are starting to exercise and eat healthy together. I am ready to make a difference and she is too. I will ck out the sites and come up with one that meets my needs.
Marie 12 miles wow I couldn't do that I don't think. Must of been rewarding in the end. My daughters new hubby bought her a nice new bike for her birthday. Really cool looking. I think thats nice. I need one too.
Nikki glad you and the boyfriend are doing so well. Thnks for the site.
Judy sounds like you so motivated and on a role. Now are you still doing south beach?
Penny you always are so up beat keep it up!
Off to do my hair and nails have a great day. I am off!!

Carol - I hope you had a good birthday celebration. Good luck with the interview today. I'm sure you'll do great!

Nikki - I hope things go well for your bf. Sometimes difficulties of one kind or another bring us closer to the ones we love - kind of reminds us of our priorities.

Marie - You're doing great with the calories and exercise. How did the low cal banana bread turn out? Yes, our cat are more like dogs. They like to fetch and are very affectionate. Burmese cats are sometimes called "people in fur"! Teddy is pretty good about staying with us when we walk him round the house. He can't go out on his own because we have coyotes and big nasty feral cats around here.

Judy - Sounds like you are feeling upbeat and back on track. I hope the new neighbor's kids aren't too noisy.

I had a busy weekend with volunteering at the British Tea Tent at the Portland Highland Games. We were swamped with customers for our traditional baked goods and raised several thousand dollars for our causes. I was a bit bad snacking on the "rejects" so I'm going to have to be extra good this week to make up for it. The weather was cool (mid 70's) where it's often close to 100 deg. this time of the year.

Have a great week everyone!

Carol- Good luck on your interview


Penny- That tea sounds lovely. I have been craving sweets lately. a nice homemade bread sounds divine. Anyway, sounds like you had great success in raising money. Way to go!


Nikki

Carol, I hope the interview went well! And how nice to have a good friend to be your healthy-weight buddy.

Marie, didn't you get the memo about Sunday being a day of rest?

Penny, I enjoy hearing about your cats. I fit the profile of a cat person, but alas, I have allergies. Plus most of my family members are violently anti-animals, they would never visit me. The British Tea Tent sounds like a ripping good time.

Nikki, I'm noticing how close your little froggie is to that lily pad on on the far right....

I earned a gold star yesterday. The hardest is convincing my tongue that my stomach isn't hungry in the evening, but I managed. Today I didn't have time for b'fast, so I ran out the door with a couple of slices of ham, and had half an apple and a cheese stick later on. Lunch was a cup of homage veggie soup and a chicken and spinach Lean Cuisine. I have almonds and carrots for the late afternoon crunchies. Tonight I'll have a salad and a beef patty for dinner, and maybe berries and cottage cheese for dessert. I'll confess if I stray from the plan. I did 50 minutes of cardio this morning, yaay for me.

judy

Hi everyone,

Carol, I hope the interview went well and that you sit in the driver's seat on making the choice.

Judy, good job on the tongue lashing to the tongue. I find convincing my tongue it doesn't need more is difficult. And the 50 mins of cardio is great. I did miss that day of rest memo. I always figure that I rest M-F since I have a desk job. I'm always exhausted by Sunday evening.

Nikki, I really can't believe they're pushing to a court date. If you could prove the meds are yours then what's the big deal??? You think it's because you're not married and he had them in his car? Regardless, that's just dumb.

Penny, the tea sounds wonderful and if you didn't know, baked items that are broken let all the calories escape and they're free. Oh how I wish...

Blizzard is having surgery tomorrow. The vet visit ($$$) was that she has a fox tail stuck between her toe and it's traveled up. They have to knock her out to try to dig it out and it's infected. My poor soul doggie...

I've been a lousy mood today regardless of the exercise whiched I'd hoped would knock me up. I felt better after the vet, knowing Blizzie will get better, but perhaps I was a bitt too worried???

Yesterday's stats: 1955 cals (but remember the bike ride and the restaurant... not too bad considering). 12 miles biking and 1.5 miles walking.

Today is looking very good stat wise.
TTYTomorrow.
Marie