Oops - did not make it running yesterday. We walked to dinner but that was only 2 miles. I start off okay in the morning and then I get totally unmotivated about eating right by the end of the day - does that ever happen to you guys?

Dance: Happens to me all the time, especially with all the Halloween candy laying around the office. Ugh. I heard that studies show more people gain weight around Halloween due to the amount of candy laying around than Christmas and Thanksgiving! Crazy! I'm still trying to get back on track from my 2 weeks off. Hard to jump on that wagon when your back won't let you!

Things with me are crazy. Therapy twice a week, work is INSANE - I'm out for 2 weeks and all of a sudden, I'm getting dumped on with no assistance, and I still have to do my 2nd round interview. The sucky part is that even if I get the job, I have to keep doing my old job on top of it until they hire someone, and then I have to train them. I'm hoping they'll give me overtime, but no guarantees. We're implementing a global program in the next couple of months which means I have a lot of prep work to do. So, I won't be able to check in here at work.

Other than that, not working out, will start walking per the therapist's suggestion. I'm doing the PT exercises, but they don't seem to be doing much. Guess time will tell.

Girls we gotta snap out of it. I do good until the evening too then its all downhill. The munchies set in and I cant stay out of the kitchen. Havent been able to walk the past few days cos of the weather so I know that has some to do with it. Plus I have been kinda lazy and only turned the wii on once last week. Not good not good. I was hoping to be down to 186 by the party. I have 4 days, gotta do it. Bouncing back and forth from 187 to 188. GRRRR.

Looking on the brightside, since I've had to sit so much, I am now putting all of my old clothes on ebay! LOL i've posted over 60 items, 30 have bids on them. Using the money for personal training and new clothes when I need them. Plus, I want the room back in my closet!

maddiesmom - that's great that you're getting rid of your old clothes! What an amazing feeling - and even better to get some fun money in return. I was so anxious to get mine out of the house that they went straight to goodwill - I don't think anything was cute enough to sell Glad you'll be walking soon - you can burn a lot of calories that way and it may help you handle all the stress you're under. How's the numbness?

burgundy - okay, we gotta turn this around. I'm afraid to get on the scale and see where I am.

I'm going for a run this morning and will come back and post that I actually did it. If you don't see a post later, feel free to give me the world's hardest time!

I hope all our old buddies are doing well - it would be great to get an update on tifftiff, lindy, aj, staccie, katylil and mygrits.

eta - got out, but only for a walk. ok, I guess.

morning, girls!

Add a bunch of cinnamon to my oatmeal today - incredibly yummy. That's going to go into the rotation, for sure.

I have 30 more budgets to review today, aargh. Not my favorite time of year. I'm going on a run at lunch and am going to stick POP today, no matter what.

Here's my food plan:
B: oatmeal and skim milk
S: apple, peanut butter
L: ham sandwich, fruit salad
D: rotisserie chicken, broccoli, tomato salad

Girls, I wish you guys lived next door so we could get each other out for walks and cook up big batches of healthy dinners Hope you're all doing well...

Dance: It WOULD be great if we were closer to each other. Shame that we're stretched so far apart. How was your run? Knees doing ok?

Halloween candy has been my downfall this week - really gotta stop. I know it's the stress that is doing it to me (3-4 major projects to do this week, and one is for the company on a global scale - lots of pressure). Tons of deadlines and no option for overitme - so I eat chocolate. I know I gotta stop - haven't been on the scale since the surgery (I was at 196). Almost scared to now. Never want to be over 200 again.

Therapy is ok, I'm doing the same things I did before, so I feel like it's a waste of time (and money). They should just give me the exercises and let me go home. Still no feeling and still have the weakness, but at least the weakness is lessening.

Nothing else exciting, I'm going to ARP on Saturday with Jeff (therapist said it couldn't hurt, but ARP is pretty advanced and it seemed she never heard of it), so I'm hoping that it will help strengthen my muscles faster. Gotta start walking more as well...I feel so lazy because I'm not doing my 3-5 day a week workouts.

Any exciting plans for the weekend?

Vicky-I wish I wouldve thought to put some of my clothes on ebay. I took most to the thrift stores and gave some away. STEP AWAY FROM THE HALLOWEEN CANDY!!!! Could you do the therapy exercises at home? Hope ARPing helps you out.

Dance-the scale is still holding steady for me at 187, thank goodness. I just need to get back to working out more(dont I always say this) It would be great to hear from our other buddies.

Well I had fun plans for the weekend. We were having the costume party with one of Chris' cousins but yesterday she called and said she had to cancel it. It would have been ok if it were her party alone to make that decision but it seems like I was the last person to know. I spent a lot of time and money planning this thing. So we decided we are gonna have it at my house with whoever wants to come. Cant imagine telling all these little kids there will be a party and then just up and saying nope not gonna happen(yea I am a little mad) So now just trying to get my house decorated and goodie bags made(gonna stay away from the candy)

Gonna get out for a walk later. Need to go to my SILs sometime today and clear a spot in her garage to put Chris' motorcycle for the winter. Her garage is packed, that should be fun.

Happy Friday.

So we had our party yesterday. One here at my house then chris' cousin felt bad so we played some games at her house too. It was a fun day. Im trying to upload some pics on facebook. Did some grocery shopping today. Walked a measly half a mile. It was so cold out today. It snowed for a while, I am not a fan of the cold. Then I played a little soccer with the dogs, when I could get the ball from Bandit.

I am gonna turn the wii on later and workout. I am maintaining at 187 but need to get back into a routine. I have 3 weeks til our trip to Alabama so I gotta get into gear. I'll have the boys Mon, Wed and Fri, gonna try to get them out for some walks.

How was everyones Halloween?

burgundy - love your costume pic! How fun!! Glad you had fun at your party.

Sorry I've been so MIA this weekend. I took Friday off to hang out with my aunt who's in town and go discount shopping with her and my mom - such fun. I got in a good run and a walk on Friday, ran with a friend yesterday morning and got in a short walk yesterday so doing okay on the exercise front. Yesterday was more fun than I expected - we went to a friend's house to see her kids' costumes then hung out on our porch with my neighbors chatting, drinking wine and handing out candy to adorable kids - how can that not be fun?

Hope you guys had fun too - would love to see pix of Maddie in her costume!

Today, I'm meeting an old high school friend for lunch and am planning on getting in a run as soon as it warms up a little. What do you guys have in your plan for exercise today?

Food plan:
b: oatmeal, strawberries
l: brown rice, chicken and veggies at chinese place
d: leftover salmon, veggies and ww pasta
s: apple, almonds, string cheese

Will check in later....

Still no working out for me - but I did walk around our block twice yesterday when taking Maddie trick or treating (of course I gained all those calories back with the Halloween candy!). Allison, just can't stay away. I NEED MY WILLPOWER BACK!

Went to the gym on Saturday and did an ARP strengthening for an hour! IT doesn't hurt, just works the muscles. Must be working, I'm starting to feel stronger. Nothing yet in the numbness department, still there.

Dance: How was the lunch with your HS buddy? I just talk to my friends via FB, but I know I'm smaller now than I was back then. Some of them want me to drive to our home town to see them, perhaps I should make the 90 minute trek to get there.

Anyways, just letting you know I'm alive - and not on plan very well!

maddiesmom - wow, smaller than high school! You rock! I have a long, long, possibly not achievable way to go to get to HS weight - I think I weighed around 115-120 back then. *sigh* It was nice to catch up with my buddy though.

Hang in there with the recovery process!

ETA - Yikes! Big changes afoot at work. My mellow schedule of working from home and writing lots of reports has just changed totally. Lots more travel, no more working from home looks like how it will be now. I'm a little concerned with how it will affect my ability to stay on a good food and exercise plan. Any good advice? I'm panicking a little. I don't want to undo all of my progress in the last year and a half just because I have to adjust my lifestyle a bit!!!

Dance-did u find any good deals discount shopping? I am going to buy a winter coat this weekend. Old Navy has theirs on sale or there is one at Burlington that I love. Think I might hit up some of the thrift stores for some jeans. I wore a size 14 yesterday and Chris said they looked horrible, he said I need some tighter ones, LOL. Guess its time to get a few more 12s and get rid of the 14s and 16s. That sucks with your work situation. Just make sure to take your lunch and keep planning out your meals. Do you work in a office building with stairs. If you do, on breaks or lunch, go up and down the stairs. Just keep moving.

Vicky-what was Maddie for Halloween?

Finally getting back to a walking routine. Went 2 miles yesterday(had the boys, they rode their bikes) Also did some ab exercises yesterday. Today I did a power walk/jog and shaved 8 minutes off my 2 miles. I need to get batteries for my WII remotes so cant do that until I do.

I had a moment last night of "is this journey ever gonna be over?" Then I had crackers and peanut butter. Not the worst snack in the world but I didnt need to eat it at all. Today I feel better and know that going slow(even though its way slower than I want) with this process is the best thing to do. Just wanna lose a few more lbs before we leave for AL on the 19th.

Ive been thinking about buying one of those kymaro body shapers. I saw them on tv a few weeks ago then noticed they have them at Kmart for $10. Might pick one up later this week and see if it helps camo the muffin top. Has anyone seen or tried these?

Dance: Sorry about your work situation - it's tough going from one to the other. The best advice - plan plan plan! Matt and I plan our dinners every day and I pack my own lunch. I have the same thing, that way there's no choosing. For lunches, I know you're used to jogging, but perhaps you can go for walks? When it's cold, my coworkers walk around our huge building.

Allison: Madeline was Minnie Mouse for Halloween - still have to post pics to FB. Kinda behind since ebay'ing has taken over my life! As for body shapers, I found some at Kohls, one was a tank top that went from my chest to past my hips and it works really well at "sucking it all in." I don't wear it all the time, but when I want to smooth everything out under a dress or dress shirt, it looks nice.

So, the first round of ebays are done. I sold 50 items (not even half of what I need to sell) and I made $320! Not too shabby. Now I have to ship it all! Did better on meals today, really can't complain. Candy situation is better too. Starting to get my willpower back.

I know it seems that this is never-ending, I was thinking the same thing. Was also thinking - why can't I be happy where I am now? I've put a lot of work into myself, but I know I can lose more. I did have a random person in my office say that she's seen how much I've lost and thought I looked good. Made me feel good, but I know I'm only about 30 pounds from goal - and I really want to do it. That's why I'm still here - you guys help me so much!

maddiesmom - how cool about your ebay sales - you internet mogul, you!

What good advice from you guys. I'll try to start fitting in stair-walking and will work on meal planning. Sounds like I need to start cooking for the week again on the weekends and bringing lunches. I'm bringing breakfast this morning - berries, grape-nuts and yogurt - so at least I'm off to a good start.

Hope you all are having a good day...