Hey violets,

I too am impatient. I want immediate results. And any time I get on the scale I too say what the heck this is just so hard.

But I have to remember that phrase.

Being heavy is hard, being skinny is hard you choose your hard.

I am just in a place that I am so discussed with myself I haven't put on regular clothes since before the operation. Now I am wearing them at work and I feel I am busting out at the seams. I worked so hard now I am right back to were I started and then more.

So Lemon my advice to you is you have already got the scale rolling down don't choose the path of the scale going back up. It is so hard to start again.

Well today I am exhausted. So busy at work I don't know how to take it easy. Well this to shall pass.

LG

Well for dinner tonight I am making us all a frittata and I will have mine without toast, I moved my calories down for a bit to see if I can handle it and then also if the weight will follow. I have loaded it up w/veggies and will sprinkle cheese on top once it's fairly well set and done (doing the oven and then broiler method). I'd kill for a piece of sourdough bread. I don't have any and no plans to make it either!

Have done pretty well with it today. I feel like a ding-a-lling always feeling good if I get through the day eating under or to calories prescribed by my app. But I think because my day started somewhat crappy thats why I am making my proclamation. I can do this but sometimes it just feels like the himalayas I am tackling.

I got the one set of baby gifts done but now I have to find a box to fit, the ones I got are about 1/2" too narrow. DRAT. No creative wrapping will get it to fit, the more I think about the box maybe I can. Who knows, it's like my weight and meal planning, I think hard enough maybe I can do something about it!

Happy evening to you all.

Today I was extremely snacky. I ate tons of snacks (and lots of sodium). Still under my calorie limit, barely, by eating small meals. Trying to drink water now but will probably still have a small gain from all the salt. Salty snack foods have really been my weakness during this effort. I always thought it would be sweets (which I do still crave, but not as badly). On the plus side, I no longer have any cravings for soda. Coffee and water only has been totally fine.

Lemon, glad you had a good day. Glad you got the baby gifts done but that stinks about the boxes not being the right size. A frittata sounds good, I may have to make one soon. Since it's just me, I may make them in cupcake tins and stick them in the fridge for quick meals.

Mam, don't feel disgusted with yourself. It's not your fault you had to have surgery or recuperate. Plus, now that you are so active at work, you will fit in those clothes in no time.

Hoping we all have a great Thursday!

Hello Violets!

It's pouring here today - just as the leaves were turning red - which generally means they will all fall off the trees rickety split and then we'll only have the yellow displays. Well, they were pretty while they lasted.

I did pretty well yesterday all things considered. Today I am already armed w/baked chicken breast to put on my salad which I still have to make. I have a house to clean as we will be out of town this weekend and its nice to come home to a non-mess. Believe me, two little ones can make it look like the path of a lazy tornado quickly. Throw in dad's big size 14 shoes, well you have the picture of my own personal obstacle course! Granted it doesn't keep me in the finest shape, but it does make me move.

My frittata was good warmed up this morning, I had 2 pieces left over so had one for breakfast. I do like a lot added w/my eggs on the veggie front and a bit of ham is always nice too. I broiled a bit of cheese on top for the finale. It was good. I recommend this for a breakfast if you have time, or as Les said, for making into cups (those are good too, I did that when I was single) and freezing.

I hope to get to the gym tonight so I can move some more. What are your views on exercise? I am finding I am not as sweaty when I am done - does this mean it's getting too easy for me and I need to challenge myself more? Maybe that's it. Tonight I hope to lift some weights as well, I didn't the other night as I am having an arm that keeps catching in the elbow area. I had it before, it's from lugging my little one when I should have him walk (he's 40 lbs). You'd think I'd have the nicest arms on the block w/that type of daily lifting. NO SUCH LUCK!

Well, my dear Violets I do hope today is good for you all and have a wonderful weekend. As I am traveling - I will give my best wishes for success today. I may pop back on tonight for a bit, but then incognito the rest of the weekend. I hope I can stay on diet fairly well, but I know visiting my family always brings out the food and some drink.

Les: Did you drop onto Onderland yet? I am here cheering for you! Maybe by Monday if you aren't already! Have you met anyone new w/the new you? Or maybe it's too soon for you to feel like looking. Irregardless, you have a new you to continue to celebrate. When are you going shopping again? Have you found a swanky pair of heels? Boots? (do you really wear those in FL?) New leather jacket? What's the new article of clothing besides your t-shirts that you are eyeing? See, I didn't even ask about a dress for you. How about a pair of black skinny leg cigarette pants? Did you take a new photo this week? I still need to get DH to do so. It's been crazy here to think about doing. I am interested to see how my waddle under chin is doing. Straight on I think it's diminishing but I could be wrong.

Mam: Don't worry about the clothes, you only have been back to work for a short time and you had anesthetic 6 weeks ago. That crap balloons you like no other and besides, they invaded your belly cavity - another area of reseating itself, calming inflammation etc. Just keep trying to move and keep adding water to your day, it will settle down after time. As for tiredness, it's part of post-op and that takes a while. Just be kind to your body as you heal. Clothing will fit as it does. I know you don't want to go up in size, but if it gets too uncomfortable, then find something that at least gives you some room and doesn't make you feel so stuffed in until things start moving off for you.

Thank you for the pep talk and reminder to not go up - just down in pounds. It's a hard battle yet, though I am trying to do my best. It's hard somedays w/how I feel about myself (today is a glasses, no makeup, yoga pant day = laundry house cleaning!) and it's hard when my kids are eating the things I "think" I'd like to be eating and it's hard when you tire of some of your standby foods, but there is a reason I'd like to loose weight. Number one feeling better about myself and reducing aches, but in general just being able to wear something that I think really does look nice on me and not feeling like the beefalo that I feel like in general.

My best to you all!

Lemon, have fun on your trip! It's only natural to indulge a little, but you don't have to overdo it. You can find a happy medium where you can enjoy your vacation. No high heels or boots for me, just lots of tennis shoes in different styles, haha. One pair of dress shoes. Did I mention I hate dressing up? Haha. And no, no one new, and I am not looking! I don't want to deal with anyone else right now, just enjoy being single and taking care of myself and my body for once. I have never worn skinny or cigarette leg jeans, but who knows, maybe I'll try some after I lose some more. I am wearing a slim cut style now, but they are far from skinny jeans, lol. No Onderland yet, today I'm at 203.8, up .2 from yesterday. Not too bad for all that sodium yesterday. Not sure if I'll get there soon because I'm a week or so away from my TOM, and this is the time last month where I started putting on some bloating weight. I'm definitely going to try and watch my sodium and get plenty of water, so we will see.

Mam, I hope you have a good day and that work is a little easier on your body today!

Les: Good for taking time to get to know yourself w/o a partner. I have too many family memebers/friends who have jumped right back into the dating pool before divorces were finalized and end up in the same dang old mess they were in w/the initial relationship. In fact there is one right now that is working on a multiple marriage number and hasn't been on their own EVER as an adult. That's mighty sad to say, as it's this persons whole adult life and they have never known themselves w/o being part of a couple - one relationship to the next and they all end badly. So it's good you are taking time for yourself and really, if you choose, your next relationship.

Keep up the good work - that darnable cycle gets the diet every stinking month. You do well and then wham-o you crave some darn thing. Hang in there. The stronger you are towards it the better off you are. You'll be to onederland before you know it. I on the other hand have a ton of work to do before then. So I guess I can keep picturing myself w/o the rolls and pudge and keep egging myself on.

Hey violets,

Work was still tiring. Today I had such a lower backache. It is better now. So much bending and mopping yug!! I will get through this too. Just getting used of working again.

Maybe I am still bloated from the operation never thought of that thx Lemon.
I am drinking plenty of water. Today I did go to the potty a lot so maybe some is finally releasing fingers crossed.
Eating has ben so so. Not terrible but not like it should be to lose weight. Plus no exercise.

Lemon the frittatas sounds good. As far as exercise I follow Richard Simmons tapes and he has you count how many hearts beats in 10 seconds. Between 17 and 21 is ideal. This helped me lose 119 pounds it's all I ever did.

Enjoy your week-end indulge but be smart about it. Like Les said. You can do this.

Les you must be so excited to be so close to onederland I know I was went losing weight. It took a while to get there. From what I remember you go up and down at this time of your journey. Or it slows right down. I know I would be up a pound then down 2. Up 2 pounds down one. Just be careful and not get discourage. It is only your body fighting back to get heavy again. It may be in shock right now thinking you are starving it.

Someday you will meet someone special when you least expect it. Enjoy being single for now if it's what you want. Better that then to hurry into something and regret it.

LG

Violets:

I shrunk! Ok, well finally it looks like I lost one pound, but between my TOM binge and my sad small binge, I have gone down now to 242.4! So almost 15 lbs gone. That's 3-5 lb bags of all purpose unbleached flour. Woohoo! I guess thats a good way to look at it. Maybe if I keep focus on my 5 lb bags the weight will fall easier?

Mam: Yes - remember a lot of things that weren't common can be connected to your surgery. If it persists, ask your doctor. Whats your followup w/your diagnoses? Today is Friday so you will have some time to recuperate this weekend, you may find yourself napping for a chunk of it.

Les: New shoes are always good. I'd love a new pair of my old fashioned clogs - yes the ones that harken back to the free 1970s, the ones I currently have I split the leather w/a fat foot during pregnancy, though repaired, they are almost 10 years old. One of the most comfortable shoes I have found (ok, so I am standing on wood) but yes - I like my troentorps. How do people place orders for your baked goods? Do you have a small commercial site you use or do you just do word of mouth? What would be your ideal for your little business in the future?

Hello violets!

AM: I haven't left yet. Yes, the scale moved ever so slightly. YEAH. Now I will have to be good this weekend, even w/donut sunday at my moms. I will try to do a lot of salads in there which seem to help and my water of course. I am also allowing myself one mixed drink (my mom's the only one who will drink a SoCo old fashioned sweets w/me) because I haven't had one since April and that one was HORRIBLE> My dad taught us how to make a really good one and my DH isn't a huge fan of SoCo. Otherwise, that's my meal game plan.

I got up at 5 to work on cleaning my house some before we go. My kitchen/dining space is also my craft/sewing space and right now it's about ready to burst because of my projects for the babes and my ongoing projects that I keep giving myself. Time to put it all away at least for the short term. I have 1/3 of it picked up but thought I'd take a break to say hello. It also dawned on me I have to get the halloween costumes made yet and the candy bought and plan what I am making for the kids at school as DC has treat bring in for halloween. She did want decorated sugar cookies. Will have to see.

Speaking of DC, I have been popping over to school because of an ongoing science project, and I see some of the same kids in her room that she started out with. I feel badly for some of them. This district makes sure the kids have snack time in the afternoon before they come home (lower income families abound). We are asked to provide snacks for our own child. Do you know there are about a 1/4 of her classmates the parents won't provide? And on top of it, these are the same kids who are struggling to learn to read and write? Why set your kid up for failure when they have their whole life ahead? It really gives me pause and makes me wonder if I should volunteer to work with one or two of them on their reading skills. One kid in particular, I think he might be a sweet one if someone worked w/him. No one does at home. The only interest his mom seems to have of him is posting selfies w/him to fB or twitter. Sad.

Sorry for being on my soapbox. It's just something that's been creeping in my mind lately. Sorry too for being wordy but not on my diet. I just needed some other adults to talk to this am, hence my ramblings.

I aim to do well this weekend. I will chat with you all on Sunday to let you know how it all goes! My best to you all and keep on shrinking ladies! You can do it!

Mam, I hope you're feeling better and getting some rest this weekend. I hope your second week back at work is easier on you. I would say that you are actually getting plenty of exercise with all the activity your job entails, so don't even worry about that part. Just eat better where you can.

Lemon, yay for losing 15 pounds. Great start! Yeah, thinking about the weight in terms of grocery items helps me get an idea of how much I lost, too. That's a shame about some of the parents of those kids, and if you feel like you should work with them, do it! You never know what a difference you could make. I have tutored kids before, and as a bonus, it always makes me feel awesome about helping out, too. Yeah right now my business is coming from word of mouth. I will set up a website soon with some of the best photos. Eventually I would like own my shop, but that would be years in the future. But a great eventual life goal to work towards. I hope you are enjoying your weekend trip and I really hope you enjoy having that drink with your mom. Worth the calories for sure, haha.

As for me, I have been super busy, but now I'm done for the weekend. Haven't slept much the last couple days, so I haven't seen much of a loss. After a nap today though, I was down to 202.8, so that's not too bad. I'm gonna drink a lot of water tonight and try to get a good night's sleep, and hope for the best.

Hope you are both having a really great weekend so far!

Hey violets,

I had Marley for a sleepover and yesterday it was scarecrow making, and a pumpkin festival. Fun times.

Friday I left work early I was exhausted. I had had enough. Come home took a nap before Marley got here. Then she craved her pumpkin came out great.

EAting has been so so. Lots of walking yesterday. Took a nap after I brought Marley home and I passed out...

Today will be a little bit of cleaning rest and football.

My plan right now is to do my aerobics type today. Maybe a beef stew in the crockpot.

Les You are doing great. Word of mouth is sometimes better than advertising. I will go on someones advice before just randomly picking out someone.

Lemon hope your trip was good. A drink with mom is worth any pound you may count on. Those are precious moments that will stay with you forever. You can lose that pound quickly.

That is so sad about those kids. Our country needs to start taking care of our own. There are too many hungry kids right here in good old USA.

Teaching those kids to read is a great idea.

LG.

Les: Word of mouth is a great way to build your base and grow from there. Just keep up nice work and good cookies and you will go far! Hopefully things settle some for you to get back to your walking daily. I know mine has been crazy in trying to fit my exercise in with all these projects I keep assigning myself. NUTS! I think we should burn calories just by thinking these things all up!

Mam: Sounds like you and Marley had fun. Is she a niece or great niece? How often do you have her? Oh the weight will come and go as time goes on. There always seems to be a bit of hiccup at least weekly for me, but if I can manage to get the scale to keep in a downward motion, I am doing fairly ok w/that. I know it didn't go on all at once and I know it won't come off like that.

Hello Violets! Hope you all are doing well, we seemed to have a lost a few of you, but I know how life gets in the way. Hope you are all enjoying Fall!

AM: Weekend went well. Fun was had by all, we did a halloween fright night (well afternoon so the LO wasn't scared) and we visited so that was good. Got back this evening (later then our usual return time) so dinner was drive thru, did I make the best choice, no but I made a choice that was doable in a car going 80. However I am currently paying for the fast food in my system. Lordy! Haven't been on a scale since Friday, will check if time/kids permit tomorrow morning.

I think tomorrow night I will make a chili for dinner. Do you all have a special way of making chili? Certain ingredients to spice your concoction up or follow an age old recipe? It's to be terribly windy tomorrow and cooler so chili sounds like a good fit.

Here's hoping that this weekend wasn't too horrible w/weight. Oh, and the drinks were delish, but I won't be having those again until maybe thanksgiving time. I am not a huge drinker, but why loose myself in those type of calories each week?

My weight app is saying I need to be at 235.6 by Oct 25. I am hopeful I can do that soon enough. what is that, 6 more pounds from Friday's weight? Slow and steady wins the race right? Isn't that the morale of the tortoise and hare? Well I will apply it to myself this week and see if I can move some more off.

Wishing you all well!

Morning Violets!

This week I am going to focus on what's really going into my body and make the best choices possible out of the budget I have for food. I do need to replenish my salad makings. I splurged yesterday and bought a new jar of Penzy's fox point seasoning. I usually put 1 tsp of olive oil on my salads and then sprinkle the heck out of the seasoning because it tastes good and not much associated w/calories. it's not economical however, so I try to stretch my jar out over a few months. Do any of you do something like this on salads?

Today will be catch up from the weekend so that means laundry and working n my forever growing list of sewing projects. I need to finish the baby gifts and get those in the mail this week. I need to finish a few for the new babe next door as well. It's been hard because I'd love to be really excited but since I had been dealing w/my loss it's a hard row to go from being sad to excited about someone elses babe.

I have yet to hop on the scale today, granted I had breakfast, but I don't think it's going to add more than 2 lbs in what I ate. So at least for the moment I can get an idea of what I am at before tomorrow mornings weigh in (if I can get that done quickly w/o my LO hopping on the scale w/me). I am trying to keep it to once a week, it's only after traveling that I usually do it a bit more often. I find I remain saner and not so focused on numbers that don't want to move AT ALL!

Happy day to you all! Look forward to your replies.

Oh- does anyone do any silk flower arranging? Specifically I am looking for guidance on making a head wreath for a first communion and would like a bit of insight. If you all have any ideas of what/where I can go look, send me a PM.

Mam, glad you had some fun with Marley this weekend. I love pumpkin carving, even though it is always a huge mess, haha. Hopefully work and your eating are both much better this week!

Lemon, glad you had a nice visit with family. For chili, I have always just gone really simple with a bunch of canned beans and tomatoes, some ground beef, and one of those chili seasoning packets. Simple but full of sodium, so if I made it now I would do things a bit differently. Rinse all the canned beans, use my own spices instead of the sodium filled seasoning packet, add in a bunch of chopped zucchini, etc. Actually that all sounds pretty good, haha, maybe chili should be on the menu soon.

I've never done any flower arranging, so I am no help there. Good for you on the baby gifts, but I am sure that is very difficult with your loss. I applaud you for doing it anyway, it will mean a lot to those new parents. We have a ton of new babies coming soon in our family, so I better get on some baby blankets quickly haha.

As for me, I am at 202 flat this morning. I'm grateful to avoid the TOM bloat thus far. According to Happy Scale, I should be in Onederland in 7-10 days. Fingers crossed.

Lemon,

Marley is my great niece. I have baby sat her since she was a newborn. So I am very close with her. In between mom and dads works schedules.
I always have tried to make things interesting for her. We take her to different functions and I do a lot of projects with her.

By the way I know you said you don't belong to Pinterest. But I would highly recommend it. It is free and you can find all kinds of ideas on anything there.
I have found many great projects for Marley there.

This year it is glass ornaments with her finger print and then paint on nose and deer antlers. For her aunt that has a small son it is his foot prints (In paint) and she decorates the canvas and we write out Misteltoes. Very cute easy and inexpensive.

This week my DH helped her crave a pumpkin.. She loved it and was so proud of it.

Sorry for going on so but it is fun for me also. And I want her to remember coming to Auntie Mary's and always having fun.. Soon she will be in her teens and will no longer be interested in coming over here so I want to pack everything in while she is still young.

Plus she is one of the reasons I want to lose weight I always have DH go on rides with her. I don't want to embarrass myself if I don't fit. The other day I just barely got out of the train (kids size). She just loves to ride that.

Les hope your doing alright.

I have to learn to be patient. This weight is going to come off slowly. Being past menopause and 57 years old it will take a while. PATIENCE is something I have very little of when losing weight. I want immediate results, which I know isn't possible.

I forget how old are you 2 violets?

LG

Mam: I am in my mid 40s. Yippee skippy. So working on my weight now is an ok thing for me. I hear you on the patience level. I am one who has that issue throughout all facets of my life it seems. I am glad you had a good time w/Marley. My DD did something similar w/the white handprint on a globe ornament - except her fingers became snowmen. Enjoy your time together. I hope you don't mind me asking, do you have children at all?

Les: Oh, I always sneak in zukes in my chili. This is the first time my garden was not prolific w/them. But I still have last years crop. I chop and throw in my freezer for use in soups and what have you. I thaw, drain and then run them through the food processor so no one is the wiser. You end up w/a thicker chili w/green flecks. I never used the packets, always preferring to use what I have on hand in the spice/herb department. Sometimes I do use a bit of cocoa powder in it. Of late, I haven't, but there are sure some good ways to jazz up the chili. I am always looking for ideas.

That must be a bit frustrating- good for you for not going up on the scale but hanging on the cusp of the 190s - ARGH! Would drive me bonkers. I think I prefer to just slide into a new decade - not .5 this way, a few pound slide is always fun to give you hope you can do it some more like 246 to 242 - nothing close to the 0s I guess. That makes it seem like the decade moved quicker I guess!

AM: I am out of string cheese until tomorrow, so it's almonds to stretch me through my proteins today. I have been putting them on a plate in the microwave to "toast" them, what's funny is that they pop and get fat as they get heated. It gives them a nuttier flavor, which sometimes is nice. I am using I guess what they'd call a raw almond. No flavoring or salt, just the skin on the nut.

I used to look at pinterest, until they started putting that crazy screen on top of everything. Like why hold it proprietary? It's not like the things on their site are from their company - it's people pinning ideas from all over the web. Any who - I hate the control that people like to put on others. But that's a whole other subject I won't pontificate on .

QOD: Halloween candy - when are you bringing it into your house for trick or treaters? What do you do so it's not under your nose daily and tempting you to have just one piece?

I haven't bought ours yet, precisely for that reason. Our town does indeed have it on halloween and since it's a rural community as are the towns surrounding - we get a ton of kids, we usually go through 4 bigger bags. Of course we tend to be a bit generous as well when we hand out. I plan to decorate our porch some the day of w/my chinese lanterns/globes and our carved pumpkins. But I digress, I better hide the candy out of my daily eye site, in the big tupperware bowl w/the lid and hide it on a shelf I don't look at much in the pantry. That should help. And leaving it in its closed bags - perhaps even better!