Mam, I am in my mid-30's. I looks like we have all the decades covered, especially if Amberkkski comes back since she is in her 20s, haha.

Lemon, I am trying not to be frustrated by being so close to Onderland for so long haha. I was dropping 3.5 pounds per week at the beginning and now I am losing 1.7 pounds per week. But progress is progress, and I am trying to stay positive. Also, the new pair of jeans I bought now fit without being tight at all, so that is helping me feel good also. 28 pounds down, and down 2 jeans sizes is pretty good for 3 months. Actually, it is more like 2.5 months without soda, and 2 months of food tracking, because I just got my 8 week badge on Lose It. I need to focus on what I've actually accomplished, instead of focusing on the 58+ pounds still to go. This is a lifetime change, and it doesn't have to happen quickly, as long as it happens.

As far as Halloween candy, my neighborhood is dead on Halloween. My last place was super busy on Halloween, so my first year here I bought a ton of candy, and we didn't get a single trick or treater. Guess who ate all that candy? Hahaha. Since then, I don't buy any and I have never had one kid show up. The only hard part about Halloween for me is all the candy in the stores. I try really hard not to go down those aisles.

Hey violets,

We get no kids so I buy no candy.

Lemon I was unable to have children. Your almonds in the micro sound good.

Les what is Lose it? Sorry if you have explained I forget. hehehe getting old.
You are right focus on the 28 pounds lost for good. Not what you need to lose. It will come off in time.

I am making a veggie chili in the crockpot today. I need to make something for the week for lunches. I am so over salads. I also bought shredded broccoli slaw. I am putting Paul Newman Asian dressing into it and some protein and that should also do for lunch. Fingers crossed I like them.

LG

Mam, Lose It is the iPhone app I use to track my calories each day. It made it pretty simple for me. It asked my weight and height, and you pick how many pounds you are aiming to lose each week (up to 2 pounds), and then it tells you exactly how many calories to eat. Each time I add a lower weight, it takes away a few calories. Right now I am barely under 1400. Plus it has a community of users and they comment on all your exercise or weigh-ins, it has been really helpful for me.

A lot of people use My Fitness Pal as well, that is the one I see recommended the most, and I think Lemon uses one called Noom, but Lose It just happened to be the first one I tried and I love it.

Les: Yep - I am a Noom user. I can speed up or slow down my weight loss and it will adjust my calories accordingly. I think I am currently at 1360. It tracks calories, weight and exercise and adjusts for all. I also use the happy scale app you recommended for weight loss to cheer me on instead of paying attention to the Noom one.

I do hope 199 finds you in the next few days!

Mam: I am sorry. That is wonderful though you can share your time w/Marley though! What a fantastic way to pass on your likes, knowledge etc to the next generation. Enjoy all those times. How is your weight loss today? I see you took the chili to heart. I did too! Mines been in the slow cooker all afternoon and the house smells good. I sure like a loaf of bread to make w/it, but unless I can make it zero calories butter included, then I am not having the bread How'd your scale look today?

AM: Almost have the quilt done, I need to bind the edges, since it's not big it shouldn't take forever, however my carpal tunnel/tendonitis is kicking in since I have been doing a lot w/my hands. Caveat of being a creative type. That and having kids who are heavy when they are small. Alas, I will work on it as long as I can w/o trying to aggravate the hades out of it all.

Well, my scale was indeed 2 lbs up but I had had breakfast, so I am hopeful it's just a hair over tomorrow morning. I am doing well w/my calories today and am on bottle number 2 of water which will bring me to 66. Depending on who plays tonight on football (can you tell I am really into it?!) I may work on my quilt there and drink my water.

So hope continues in this daily battle to loose the pounds. A little at a time is better than none at all. I aim for little at least.

Les,

That's right you told me that LOL oldtimer here.

Lemon you gave me the idea to make the chili. I made a vegetarian one. Butternut squash, carrots, onions black beans. I like to put meat in as I eat it. I can measure it out, and make sure I don't gip myself. I find protein helps me with hunger.

The scale is up and down lately. So I try not to think about that as much as trying to just eat better to feel better. No sugars or white products. I find I am hungry all day after having them.

Yes not having children was a downer but I just looked at it this way. I never took any contraceptives it god wanted me to get pregnant I would if he didn't I wouldn't. But I would have loved to at least have had one child. My DH would have been a great dad. He is so great with Marley and also when her dad was younger he followed my DH everywhere..

LG

Mam: how was your chili? Ours was really good! Just the right amount of fire for my mouth! I need to get more black beans though as I'm out and I like to throw those in w the kidney beans. I did have one slice of bread w it as well but was able to stop at one. Granted it was commercially made.

I'm glad you have a dear hubs. There are other ways to share his love and experience w his family. Same for you. I had an aunt who never married that did a lot with and for us. Thank you for doing that w your Marley.

Les: drum roll this morning? Did your scale drop? I went up .4 but Thursday is generally my weigh in day. So though my ticker here does not reflect the up I will change it this week dependent on that day. I'm happy it did not inflate so much from the weekend.

With the holidays coming does that mean you are gearing up to do a lot of baking for your customers? I have to make Halloween cookies for school. I'm going to do sugar cutouts of pumpkins and ghosts. I picked up spider web bags the other day to put them in. Then it's off to plan the baked goods for the Christmas season. Let's just hope I can maintain and loose during this time. I'm finding sweets are getting a bit too sweet for me. I think that's a good thing.

Hello violets!

AM: looking for some good lower calorie dinner recipes so that I don't tire of what I have been finding and preparing. Plus it's grocery day. My freezer is now loaded w pork so I have some of that to figure into the recipes as well. Any sites you have in mind let me know so I can peruse.

Almost have the quilt done yeah! Just need to find a box and it can go too. Then it's on to Halloween costumes. I'm really behind! But I enjoy making my kids outfits so that's where my fun is w it all. I make different but cool! Last year I had a stay-puft marshmallow man and an Elsa. Who wasn't Elsa? But mine didn't not look like everyone else's. Both unique and for that is where I find some of the fun in creating them.

So the day is moving. I hope to find some other soup recipes that have both protein and lower calories. I make a mean potato soup and my others are good but the same-o, I can tire of them like everything else that you eat heavily in rotation. Got to keep it fresh and interesting.

Hope all goes well for you today.

202.8 this morning, but TOM started in the middle of the night, so it's fairly expected. Maybe after TOM, Onederland will be waiting, haha. I will stop in later tonight for a longer post, have a ton to do this afternoon. Hope you both have a great day!

You know - if I kept up w/what happy scale is projecting - I will weigh 200 lbs at the new year! Lordy, that means I have to be beyond good the next three months w/all the holidays and birthdays in between. I aim to get there. Help keep me going Violets! I haven't been 200 since my first year of marriage. It would really be nice to see that again. And then only 48 more to go thereafter. I didn't do well at lunch, but will be doing a light supper and hopefully get to cycle tonight. I still have groceries to put away but was taking a break after hauling them in the house up stairs before I need to put a bunch away downstairs. I am counting this as movement today!

Les: Sorry, but it will move quickly in a weeks time. Hang in there and by then you'll probably have skipped right on down to 195. Hopefully your day settles some. I still have a ton to do here. But will keep motoring in hopes I get it done.

Hey violets,

Les sure don't miss my TOM. Lots of pain and getting so sick. I'd sit on the toilet with a trash bucket in front of me not knowing which ways it was going to come out.

You will definitely get a good whoosh after you are finished with TOM. First week after was when I always felt the best.

Here's some help to get you into wonderland....

Lemon your quilt sounds nice.

I use LaaLoosh site for a lot of different things. Also I like Linda's Low carb Menus & Recipes. Her recipes have no carbs. I especially like the cream of mushroom soup it's delish. On LaaLoosh I use the WW zero point Asian soup. If all else fails I google what ever soup I want to make. I make soups a lot cause they can be changed up a lot, veggies, beef, chicken ,pork, sausage, kielbasa.

Today was a little better at work not so tired just a sore back. A little at a time.

I am now following MyFitnessPal to track my calories. Thx Les for the suggestion.

LG

Hope these help you.

Mam, I am so sorry you didn't have a child. That is tough when you really want one. I don't think I will ever have any, but I do think about adoption sometimes. Far in the future though, especially now that I'm single again.

I have always hated my TOM; horrible cramps, bloating, and stomach upset. To be honest, it is one of the things I look forward to most about getting older, the fact that this will stop forever at some point, haha. And that was before I was weighing myself everyday. Now I hate my TOM even more haha.

Glad you're tracking calories, it certainly helped me. I always thought I didn't really eat that much, but boy was I wrong.

Lemon, I don't have a ton of recipe sites, I just google whatever I'm looking for and pick whatever sounds best. I have found some good low calorie ideas on reddit though, in a subreddit called 1200isplenty. Lots of ideas for meals and snacks, with their ingredients and calories listed. That's where I found the zucchini pizzas and they were amazing. And they have convinced me to buy a veggie spiralizer so that I can make zucchini noodles.

200 by New Year's would be a pretty sweet way to start the year! I hope you have smooth sailing all the way. I love seeing where my predictions hit on happy scale (which by the way says I will hit 199 a week from today). I even paid the $5 so that I could add in my own prediction date. What will I possibly weigh on Thanksgiving, Christmas, my birthday, etc. Even the slowest prediction gives me hope when I look at those numbers.

Thanks to both of you for the Onederland encouragement and will power dust, haha. I don't even know the last time I was that low. At least 10 years, because it was ten years ago that I was wearing this pants size. And I've never been much below 200 as an adult, because I've never been below this size. So right now, I am about as small as I ever have been. Everything from here is totally uncharted territory. I'm excited to see where it takes me. And you both make it a little easier.

Les: glad we are helping you out on this journey. I think it makes it more bearable to share our struggles and our achievements. I know when I tell my DH I am down a pound he's like, um ok. Here it's a cheering section, which I need because when you have 100 lbs to loose it gets daunting. So thank you and Mam and the other Violets right on back.

How did your scale look this am? How are your cravings this time round? I think you said last time it was salt. Hopefully w/time and loss they go away. At least that's my hope.

What would you use for ghost eyes on sugar cookies? I plan to use pourable icing on the cookie, but on the eyes I don't know. I can pipe I guess. But what suggestions do you have. I am using a Wilton ghost cutter so they can't be huge like MMs less they look, well, stoned. Any ideas from the decorator appreciated.

Mam: Hopefully you are settling into work well. The body will tire a bit more easily w/the recovery, but soon enough I'd think you'd get back to normal. Thank you to you as well.

Did you go apple picking at all? I confess I don't pick, I buy the bags at the orchard pre-picked, but there are enough of us allergic to bee stings in this house, that's the reasoning. Cheaper than a trip to the ER or risk anaphylactic issues.

Be sure to track your exercise or moving as well, it will adjust your calories for you so that you can loose. You can do this!

Morning Violets!

AM: It's 34° here this am! My house is cold, I haven't turned on the heat yet but will probably have to do so before this weekend. Hey - the longer we stretch it out, the better the gas bill is. Sounds horrible, but we are warm at night, as the upstairs generally is warmer and I have blankets on the beds for each of us. Maybe it burns off some more fat? Hey, I'll take that as well.

I am down a pound this am! That much closer to 239. Funny how you get excited to see the 230s, I had hoped I would be further, but understand that I am not perfect, not a machine, not something that can be totally programmed to change my ways instantly. So this tortoise has moved a little bit more. I didn't get to work out last night, we visited the new baby in the neighborhood and took our gift over. I can't believe my kids were that small once, I don't think they were!

So my mini goal by the end of the week is to get into the 230s, even if on the cusp of 230 - it is better than where I started. Help convince me I can do this, ignore the halloween candy, the cookies I have to bake soon etc. I am going to turn to making the costumes today and getting my porch winter ready as best I can. I never did get my planters pulled the other day as it stormed and who of course wants to play w/dead plants when that happens. These are my ways of avoiding stuffing things in my mouth mindlessly. I am getting better w.such. I find I now stop myself and ask is it really needed - and then how many calories, is it worth it. Usually I just walk away, which is good for me!

Hopefully you all have scales that went down this morning. We can all do the broccoli dance and celebrate!

Lemon, You can definitely pipe on a simple little dot, but if you don't wanna do that, just use anything small. A mini m&m, a mini chocolate chip, any kind of large sprinkle like the sugar pearls, etc.

My scale was up again. 203.4 when I woke up. I'm not gonna stress, even though I ate a ton of junk food yesterday. I did stay under my allotted calories, but just barely for the last two days. Cravings are all over the place. I'm craving sweets, especially chocolate, which is what I normally do during TOM. Have some small chocolate minis that let me have 40 calories at a time for some fancy sea salt chocolate. And I'm craving salt, too. I just want all the junk food, haha.

Today I am gonna try to drink more water and make better food choices. But I know as long as I stay under my calories, this weight will mostly balance out by the time TOM is over.

Happy scale is throwing me for a loop too. A few days ago it said my current rate of loss was 1.7 pounds per week. Logged my increase in weight yesterday, it brought me to 1.75/week. Logged today's gain and it brought me to 1.85/week. It's the first time happy scale has made no sense to me. But I'll assume it knows what it's doing, haha.

Les: Glad to see you are having issues as well - it moved my loss out by another week, added on weird pounds for upcoming goals that weren't there yesterday (maybe that's for my crazy moments of loss and not hitting my % off when it thinks I should), and now it doesn't calculate the current rate of loss - it's been sitting at - for two weeks so maybe I haven't lost anything in it's mind, but it says it does in the green squares, and it shoved my target weight back another month. I guess that's what going up and down w/stress or TOM bingeing does. I am kind of confused, but know that the scale is going down and the app is a bit cra-cra.

Hey violets,

DH is having an acute asthma attack. First time in 30 years for him. Very scary had to take him to the hospital. Xrays, and tests and breathing on this machine with medicine. Plus put him on steroids.

With us not having children he is all I have and I panic whenever he is sick.
He is 65 plus has had 2 heart attacks so I worry about him.

EAting not good today. But next meal will be spot on.

LG

Mam: How scary! Hopefully all is well and his nebulizer is helping and he heals quickly. Around here they are harvesting corn and soybeans which are huge irritants for most, my family included. Though no asthma in my family it can wreak havoc in crazy ways. Hang in there, try to remember you don't need to stress eat - love your DH extra tonight instead. At least you were there to help him out and get him in for help.