Good morning. Happy Monday early! Crime girl, thanks for the new thread. You are so efficient, putting in the link and having the old one closed.
Crime girl -- I'm glad to have you back on the thread. We miss you greatly! So the ipod has won out over us, has it?!!
Well, can't say I don't blame you. . .
I haven't seen Supersize Me but I agree with whoever it was said it, I'd buy it and share. It surely is educational and maybe it'd be good to watch over as a reminder if you start slipping. Fast Food Nation I think too is a must read though I have it and haven't finished it. That reminds me, I will get it out. It's not an easy read but it is extremely informational and I think we all owe it to ourselves to inform ourselves about things. This book also talks about how workers are exploited and how these jobs are really deadend for people. People don't realize the exploitation of workers that is going on right in their own country, not just in Chinese factories. Definitely, read it CG. I think you're the type that likes to be informed. Hats off to you!
Send your boyfriend to Japan for a while. He will be astounded at how "tiny" the portions are and the jolt he gets from that may make him realize how huge the portions are in the States. Not in some cities, like New York, but elsewhere I've been, I am shocked now to see them. It actually makes me angry because it is almost insulting to be shoving this amount of food on people, so many of who have weight and health problems. It's like giving candy to a kid with diabetes. Also, the baskets of bread that come out are unbelievable. I get upset when I see my father eating piece after piece as we wait for the meal. Not only is it unnecessary, it's bad for you. When he came to Japan he said for the first time he didn't feel uncomfortable after eating and during the day from heartburn, gas etc. Overeating is so not just about looks and fat. Ok, offa my soap box! Morning caffeine kick!
Thanks for the congrats on my weight loss. I am feeling so much better now that I'm seeing results of my efforts. I have confidence back that I can whip this once and for all, or even for a while for that matter. Your help has meant so much. Thank you as always!
Ah, you saw my Clooney dream. I was wondering why no one commented on that. Of course, he looked much better in my dream than he did on TV. And yes, though I was playing it cool on the outside, I was all a giggle inside. Don't I have great dreams. And that was just one part, the Clooney part. There were others! ;lol3; Heh, if you don't have a real life, it helps to have a great imagination! In fact, when I was a teen and starting the battle with my weight, I remember for a while there I would just totally imagine eating pizza or so and I would be satisfied with that. I was always kind of a trip. Don't need drugs even. Cheap and not dangerous!
As for the job front, I'm still stalling there. My heart is not with the publishing. I'm not a publishing type. It's all too serious for me. I love books but the people who tend to make them tend to be far too serious for me. I can be very serious but I need to have my fun too. I'm really torn and I'm afraid the publishers will sense my hesitation and decide against me. And I'm thinking I may be kind of happy. At the same time, I'm thinking this is an opportunity to expand and do more things later that will help me to really have the life I want, not just in my dreams, not just in my head! Tough one. But one thing you said really hit home, that the people who are real friends will keep in touch. I don't really need many real friends. I like the camaraderie of the guys at work. It's mostly just jesting and joking and shooting the bull over beers afterward (or in between deadlines even!) but I suppose, as I've said before, that's no reason to stay at a place. And sometimes I do start to think something more might develop from just a friendship and it's easy to allow yourself to just keep dreaming with all the banter, which sets you up for a letdown when you realize there was nothing more. Making a break is perhaps the best. I understand why guys get into their circles of friends, especially in countries like England, Ireland and Australia, where pub life is a big part of the culture. It's easy and it feels good and it's easy to just never go anywhere your whole life except between your house, the office and the pub. Not a good thing.
Speaking of Ireland, the Irish fellow at work brought me back a jar of Irish relish made with Irish stout. You can definitely taste the beer! It's neat. I put it on sandwiches. Relishes, mustards, spices, they're lifesavers for keeping the calories low and yet not having things so boring.
What kind of facilities do you have at school to cook if any? You say you want to freeze things but is that for eating once you get home or can you zap some things in a microwave during the day and eat? I do that at work. Freeze stews and curries and brown rice, bring them in to work and heat them in the microwave.
stormy - three pounds!! Great going!!
You've beaten me and you deserve to. I don't think I even deserved to lose 2.2 lbs this week. I was out drinking twice and even though I was exercising and eating better when I wasn't drinking I wouldn't have been surprised if I'd stayed the same. I'm going to try to be much better this week.
I understand your picking 142 now. 140 sounds kind of boring, doesn't it? The ravioli incident!
It sounds like a crime case. Amazing that you could work out the next morning after being sick the night before. You see what you can do when you put your mind to it, eh?
little grasshopper -- I am reminding you of what you told us to. You will gain because of the water gain because of your detox program. So, DON'T forget that!! I'm really glad to hear you seeming to take this gain so easy. You've got your sights on the right things, the jeans fitting better. You know this only a temporary thing and doesn't reflect the real picture. Good for you!
You are really doing well with the gym, aren't you.
How much more weight are you looking to lose, or are you just going by how much fat you have on you. Numbers are hard to gauge unless you've been there and can keep muscle tone constant.
My week is looking so-so. Got an interview Wednesday which always make me kind of nervous because I have to be "up" for them. (I'm doing the interview not being interviewed.) But it's in Japanese and with an older man and I'm often worried about "getting the story" and hoping he'll be talkative enough and say interesting things, which makes my job later of writing the article much easier. That's Wednesday morning. Hope it goes well.
Jacque -- Congratulations on your loss!! Three pounds! Hurrah!! Hurrah!!
You SHOULD be proud. You've done so well this week and you really, really deserve to have this victory. Well earned. Well done. I'm so proud of you!
: Yes, actually, I thought you would have lost more and you probably have. It'll show up later so if you're at all disappointed, although three pounds is nothing to sniff at, just hang in there and keep it up. Don't slack off as I would tend to do when I'm doing well. Good luck!
Michi -- Good for you too! Looks like whatever you're doing is working for you. Your goal sounds very doable. 210 by Valentine's Day. You can do it! Yes, I was wondering about the rain. Seen some really bad pictures coming out of there, houses washed away and all. Have you been affected at all? I hope not.
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Well, I had a great day Sunday. Walked over an hour to the gym because I got a little lost, then took a longer route to stop at a store and the library. Went to the gym, and it's all without coffee this days! Amazing how my body is adjusting. It's definitely harder without the caffeine boost but I can do it. I just realize that I won't be as revved but the energy is still there to draw on if I just get going. In fact, it seems much more stable, more dependable. I am something of a workhorse, have incredible stamina and can just keep going and going once I DO get going and that can take some doing. I'm learning to just jump in, kind of like jumping into the pool instead of going in inch by inch because it's oh so cold! There's a big bookstore under the gym and I'd been stopping in there, losing momentum for the gym but recently I've been forcing myself to just get in the elevator and get up to the gym and jump on the treadmill while I'm still warmed up from walking there. I get the cardio out of the way because I know I tend to blow it off and then I do the weights, which to me are like no work at all. Sitting down, lying down, I could just work out all day with weights, especially because in between sets means chatting up all the cute guys! I give lots of compliments to the bodybuilders, especially those with great thighs! my weakness! They love it. I also give form pointers to the beginners. Yesterday there was a cute Aussie I know there. He's obviously gay (the dolls usually are!) but since I'm not looking to pick the guys up, just enjoying myself and them! I had a great time. In fact, it's fun with the gay guys because when I say something like, "now that guy's got fantastic legs," and look on admiringly they're more likely to readily agree with me!
The women aren't such unabashed flirts as me and also, most of them down in the "heavyweight section" (and there aren't many) are not too friendly, either kind of scary themselves like I wonder if they're on steroids or something because they look so mean or they're the ones looking quite scared of all the moaning, groaning, and grunting going on around them. Those type usually flee back to the cardio machines pretty quickly and never return.
Anyhow, when I'm in form I am totally in my element in the gym, admiring the boys and working up a sweat myself.
So, then I took the bus home and actually made a salad with hot brown rice on it. Delicious. I definitely feel the fat disappearing from my mid-section. Now, to just KEEP it up!!
heading into the new week. . .
But at any rate, I'm stoked. Now I'm at 8.5 pounds lost, moving along on that journey!
Yeah!!! Anything new is GREATLY appreciated 
