SoulBliss -- I really do work hard and needed the time off. I'm at the office now, and my gym bag is PACKED. I am ready. Now I just have to make sure I get myself there!!!

Xena -- WTG on the GMAT!!!! It will be a challenge balancing school and job, but you are also in a different place than you were as an undergrad. Use your time management skills wisely!

One thing I am learning is that while I sometimes resist taking the time to exercise, that me exercising actually seems to make me MORE productive in the long run. Not to mention, I feel better! Remember that YOU are important in this journey!

As for the hotel, I'm with SoulBliss, why NOT book your own? And don't be surprised if someone else joins you!!!

Just a quick note to say hi and hope all are doing well.

Ammi-Your new pic is beautiful. I love it. Keep me posted about Daren. Hope Beth's day went well.

I haven't been off program, but my scale seems to be stuck. It's ok cuz I know I haven't gone over calories or anything, and then last week I'd lost like 2 pounds a day. So, it's time it start evening out. I really wanted to be in 2 town by 6/1 after I met my 5/31 goal so early. But atlas, it'll come. I'm only 4.2 pounds away from it.

Mi ds is coming into town from Utah. She has some business she needs to take care of here in Indiana. She should be here later today. I'll be glad to see her, but I'm also glad she'll be staying in a hotel. I'm not up to THAT much company. SD is due home this evening for two days, the last 2 days of school, and then she'll be at her mom's for the summer.
My oldest daughter came by yesterday. The one who USED to live in Ohio.
It wasn't a confrontational as I was afraid it was going to be. She and her hubby had been fighting for a very long time. She came here for a week's
"vacation" cuz she needed the "break" from my 19 month old grand daughter. Whatever. Makana, my grand daughter has been at her other grandparents house for over a month cuz my super wussy daughter hurt her foot and supposedly couldn't take care of Makana. The facts are, my daughter is a crappy mother, never ever has put that baby over herself, my sil is a much better parent than my dd. While dd was here, he filed for divorce and got an emergency restraining order. Which he's gonna need. Dd threw a fit, but he just got it done before she did cuz she was telling me she was going to do it. I've kept in contact secretly with her in laws and my sil, cuz that's the only way I'd get the truth of a given situation. DD has been banned from a local hospital, unless she comes by ambulance, cuz they finally figured out she was just coming there to get pain meds. I'm so disappointed in the lack of motherly instincts my daughter has. And very disappointed in her behavior in general. Everthing is always, always, someone elses fault. She's not been able to hold a job for more than 3-4 months in the past 5 years. She'll probably end up going to Wisconsin to her dad's where he and his wife will just feed the "it's someone elses fault youpoor baby" disease. She needs to go to therapy and stay with a therapist who will hold her accountable. She's been in therapy, but keeps changing therapists when they start to tell her what SHE needs to do to improve. I don't know what it'll take, if anything can get through to her, to make her understand her part in dynamics of all her relationships. It's very, very sad. BUT, it is NOT driving me to eat! Hooray for me. All I can do at this point is my part to make sure my dear little grand daughter is in the safest and healthiest place. And, the fact is, it's with her dad or her other grand parents. They're very good people and have gone way out of their way to help dd and sil. (paying their rent, utilities, etc for more than a year.) as well as taking care of Makana so sil can work and dd sleep til 3 every day. Like I said, this is now about just Makana. I know my dd will get what's coming to her and it's not going to be pretty. SIL and his folks have had a baby cam and tape recorder set up on dd when she was alone with the baby. It's ugly. She should be glad she's not going to jail for some of the things she's done. It's pathetic and I'm embarassed she's my child. (although you can't tell it by the way she acts)
This has all come to a head the past two weeks, with the legal stuff started last Friday. It'll get a lot uglier in the months to come. I'm just grateful sil and folks are good people and will make sure I still get to see my grand daughter. I'm very sorry to have hogged the board about this, but it's a pretty emotional issue around the house. Andy wants to solve the problem and gets as upset at my daughter as I do, so sometimes it's counterproductive to talk to him about it. My sons don't want to talk about this sister at all cuz she's burned her bridges with them. My dd in Oklahoma is so hurt by the whole thing, she's struggling like me. Plus, it's worse for her cuz their dad is supportive of and even sending $$ to the dd, Wayna, who has the baby and her dad refused to come to Nomer's wedding last fall. (the daugher in Oklahoma City). BUT, like I said, it's not driving me to eat and that's a huge NSV! Thanks for letting me ramble on and on. Sometimes I don't know what I'd do without all of you.

Val, You weren't catty by any means. You simply stated the FACTS about the magazine/catalog.

Shirl and sorry to be such a downer on your first day here. I look forward to getting to know you better.

I'm feeling totally overwhelmed with the personals. I no sooner get up to date with the posts , walk away for a couple of hours and I'm already 15 posts behind AGAIN!!! And then on top of that, try to remember who everybody is, I don't know how y'all do this.

hello all... i have learned to just move with my knee as much as i can and listen to it when it says tooo... if i push it i ultimately pay the price.later i will not however let it detour me from my weight loss i just need to find a less knee stressing exercise than treadmill( i hear you Ammi.. i know get a Gazelle!)

catlover-- honestly, don't sweat the personals. If someone says something you want to respond to, just respond to that person (like I'm doing here!) You don't have to respond to everyone!

Or, don't even respond at all! there are lots of times I get on and just read and don't have time for responses.

Over time, you will start to learn about everyone more as individuals, and it will get easier, but I don't think you should ever feel obligated to do personals!

If you are interested in doing it, there are some tricks. Sometimes I keep a word doc open on the side and respond as I get to each one... and then just cut and paste the file at the end of the reading. But, I am usually lazy about personals, unless I am actually managing to read throughout the day! or unless someone says something I really want to respond to.

So please don't let this be a source of stress to you!!!

Good Afternoon Ladies!


I had a whole post typed this morning, but of course it disappeared and I wasn't able to get back to it until now. I made a bad mistake, although I am not really sure which food item was the culprit, there are a few possiblities, and am now walking around with some swollen tootsies!! My poor little toes look like sausages! I have to remember when it gets hot (it's been high 80's here) I have to watch my salt intake.


Catherine: I am sorry that your SIL is behaving like a greedy witch!
I feel exactly the same about toxic people...I have cut many out from my life. Yes, it's a bit more lonely, but the garbage doesn't eat at me any longer. I am not eating the garbage any longer either!!

Sandy: It is such a sad thing to hear, especially when there is a child involved. I have a brother who has been self-medicating(cocaine,pot,etc) since he was in Jr.High, and he had made the mistake of getting his girlfriend pregnant 2 1/2 years ago. They still live together but the situation is so bad...they can't even be in the same room together. What makes it really upsetting is that due to the bad genes they have passed on (she has an alcohol problem) my nephew is Autistic. He is a beautiful boy, but it was obvious from the beginning there was something not right.
It is so great that your SIL and his parents will keep you in Makana's life. At least she has another woman to love her. I have heard such horror stories about grandparents being on the loosing end of the stick when it comes to drugs and divorce. I hope your daughter can find her way...it's so tragic.I am still hoping my brother can, although at this point I am highly doubtful.


Xena: GREAT JOB!!!!!
You should have NO problem with Graduate School!!! Who needs sleep anyway?? Oh, and I am in agreement with everyone else...if you can, get your own room. Trust me, there are times when I am on vacation w/the family that I wished I had one!!


Soulbliss: I hope your daughter's visit went well. I would be big time stressed, but it sounds like your daughter will do ok. Our kids always surprise us! At least the ex realized he was wrong...that's a step in the right direction!

Ammi: Sorry about the gym, I personally feel it's easier to workout at home, but more importantly...YOU LOOK AWESOME!!!! I LOVE your new haicut!!(although I was expecting to see a purple streak or 2!)


I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the evening!

Hi everyone! Thanks for all of the welcomes. It's kind of like being Norm at Cheers!

michelou - I'll gladly buddy up for the 25 by the 4th mini goal. I, too, could use the extra incentive.

catlover - I'm with you about the keeping up with the personals. Maybe it's like a soap opera - it takes a while to get to know the characters! Once we're here a bit I bet we'll catch on.

michelou - forgot to ask - is it ok if I add you to my buddies list?

musictchr- sure. but, um, what buddies list? lol I'm new here so maybe I'm missing something?

me

Hi everyone... WOW it took a long time to get caught up. I couldnt get on all day today and part of yesterday because of the server and I was a couple of pages behind before that happened LOL

Just have a moment to let you know that in case anyone is interested, tonight on TLC there is a new series starting re. obesity and weight loss surgery etc. I think it will be interesting even though I am not planning on WL suirgery but am planning on skin removal surgery in a year or two. It is on at 9 eastern time.

Anyhow, I have to run, supper is calling. I am off work now till November so I have to make sure that I do the treadmill thing tonight and start things off right! I'm going to be posting my half way mark pics tonight or tomorrow. What a difference in my face!! *L*

Have a good night!
Brenda

michelou - I'm new too, but noticed there's a buddy list in the user page. Figured it would help me remember your name, if nothing else!

Hello All,

I finally did some exercise today, so have been able to increase my personal total on the exercise thread. I was trying to talk myself out of doing it, saying I’d have a fresh start in June, but decided that was a cop out. So I did my hour and feel great about it

Lesley - wow you are so close to you first 50 lbs lost Well done on losing another 6.8 lbs You must be so pleased!

Thanks for the compliment on my new avatar, I decided it was time to have a smiley pic again. That was taken on Beth’s birthday, she and I were mucking about, and I was genuinely happy, not just smiling for the camera

Thank you too for reminding me that I don’t need to go to the gym to lose weight and keep in shape. You are right. I have a good selection of exercise DVDs and of course I have my Gazelle Rider. I’ve done well with them up until now, so I will just carry on using them

Patti - has your determination stayed strong so far today? I am really happy that you woke up feeling so great and ready to get back OP. I’m glad that I’m not the only one who’s not done great on the exercise front this month. We’ll both do so much better in June, do we have a deal?? As for the exercise that’s gentler on the knee, I see I’ve nagged you enough about the Gazelle, I needn’t say more

Heather - thanks for the compliments on my new pic, I looked too sad in the other one. The only reason I wasn’t smiling is because I hate how my eyes go so small when I do LOL. Anyway, um, I did lose 2 lbs when I weighed two weeks ago. I didn’t weigh this week, to afraid lol, so am not sure if I had a loss or a gain. My resolve to stick to losing weight again is so fragile that I have decided to keep away from the scales until my birthday in July. I’ll just do my best til then and hope a great WI on the morning of my birthday will be my best birthday gift!!!

Cdncatlover - no I don’t think I can find anybody else to go to the gym with, besides Daren and I really enjoyed going together. He is trying to convince me he is well enough to keep going, maybe starting one day this week, but I can’t see it. It will be a shame to give up, but I managed OK before going to the gym and I’ll manage again I’m sure

Don’t panic about trying to keep up with personal replies, sometimes this place is just jumping and it’s really crazy trying to keep up. It’s always nice when somebody gives you a personal message, but nobody expects it.

Valerie - I’m glad that the wedding wasn’t as horrendous as you thought it would be. Preferring two root canal jobs is better than saying you’d rather have had all your teeth pulled out The wedding is done now and you have one less stress in your life now. That’s too funny how you pulled the ex up about having the Victoria’s Secret catalogue sent to your house. I have to ask though, why is it something she wouldn’t own up to? Is it because she got it sent to YOUR address, or because of the stuff it sells? We get the catalogue regularly lol because Daren buys me the Love Spell toiletries from there. I am sure the post man enjoys delivery day that day

Good news about finding a new company too, life is definitely looking good for you right now I hope things keep looking up

Catherine - your poor husband certainly doesn’t have a family he can be proud of does he. Well not a blood family anyway. I’m sorry that things are a bit rough right now, I hope you aren’t turning to food for comfort

Nancy - you are right, I have made great progress without the gym. Going to one was a novelty, and I did enjoy the assortment of machines on offer. Maybe one day we will go again, I hope so.

Thanks for the compliment on my photo, I did realise that my last couple have been ones where I’m not smiling, so I thought it was time for a ‘happy’ photo

I’m sorry you’ve had a bad weekend re staying OP. Sometimes it just seems so difficult doesn’t it. I think we all go through bad stages, but we just have to keep trying and hopefully we’ll have more good stages where we stay in control and lose the weight Good luck getting back on track Nancy

Shirl - Hi and Yep we sure do ‘get it’, and we will enjoy sharing your joy as you carry on losing the lbs. Well done on the 11 you have lost already. You certainly sound full of determination and feeling like that will definitely help you reach your July mini goal

Soulbliss - thanks for your message, and in case I haven’t done it already My hubby suffers with a condition called Costochronditis, it’s an inflammation of the cartilage between the ribs and the pain that brings can sometimes mimic a heart attack, it really is that bad. Once you get it you never lose it but it does calm down. The slightest thing can make it flare up again, even a sneeze, and definitely things like using weight machines at a gym will cause more trouble than it’s worth. So that’s why we’ll be giving up the gym. Daren is feeling a bit better today, he’s been able to take less pain killers, so that’s good news

You have a great attitude to your day off plan when you went out with your friends. We are allowed days off now and then, and having no guilt is an important part in helping us get back on plan the very next day.

It’s also wonderful that you are not letting the stress over you daughter’s dad and his side of the family cause you to eat. How long was it that he had nothing to do with your daughter? Makes you wonder why all of a sudden he’s had a change of heart! I hope today’s visit with them all goes OK without too much awkwardness. How old is your daughter? I hope she can deal with all of this without too much confusion to you both.

Xena - what a fantastic result you had on your GMAT, you should be so proud of yourself. All that hard work and studying obviously paid off. I must tell Beth about you when I am trying to make her see how important studying for exams is. She has GCSE exams next week and getting her to revise is a real nightmare. She’s at her dad’s now and promises she is doing some study, but I don’t think I believe her

That’s wonderful that you raised far more than you thought you would in sponsorship for the walk, I hope the weather stays nice and that you enjoy the walk, not to mention lose some lbs doing it

I bet you’ll have a great time at the Grand Canyon with your friends, though I’m sorry you have that worry about sharing a room with 3 girls rather than just the 1 as initially planned. Why don’t you just book a room of your own. Tell them that you snore like a pig or something lol and that it would be best for all concerned if you didn’t share with anybody? It would be a shame to lose any of the enjoyment of the trip because of the sleeping arrangements.

So AI is over for another year, are you happy about the winner? I still want Melinda to have won, but out of Jordin and Blake I think the right one won. I thoroughly enjoyed the results show, especially seeing Taylor perform, he was great.

Michelou - what a shame that you are up 3 lbs, and that you seem to be on a plateau. I am in the same boat, I seem to be losing and gaining the same 7 lbs over the last few months. I am getting fed up with it now and today is supposed to be the day I finally take control again and lose that 7 lbs and keep it off. that you can do the same with your 3 lbs

Sandy - thanks for the compliments on my pic, it seems everybody loves to see me smiling

I am so proud of you for not hitting the comfort food right now. You sure do have a lot of stress happening with regards your daughter and grand daughter. It’s so sad to have to admit that your child is anything less than perfect, and I’m sorry that your daughter is the way she is. It’s so sad that she can’t accept any responsibility for the problems in her life, and that she won’t stick with a counsellor. You are right though that the baby is the most important person in all of this, and hopefully when she is with her dad, or grandparents she’ll be settled. I’m glad your in laws are so friendly with you and will still let you see the baby, that must be a relief to you. You know where I am if you want to vent any more about any of it

Apart from all that, how are you doing? Are you feeling better, less pain etc? I bet you are SO looking forward to having your SD go off to her mum’s I can feel your sigh of relief over here

Donna - Beth did tell me to not use all the purple die on her hair so that I could give myself some highlights If I were a few years younger I might just have done that, lol, as it is, I’m happy just sticking with my dye that hides the grey hairs and looks natural

You are right, it is easier to work out at home, I just wish we had a bigger house so I could at least buy a cross trainer or a tread mill to work out on. Oh well, I shall stick with my darling Gazelle, she’s been an amazing exercise friend for nearly a year now

Musictchr - a belated from me, I guess with that nick name you are a music teacher? Good luck with your mini goal for July. I like to set mini goals but I don’t like to put a time on them. I get too disappointed if I don’t reach the goal in time. So I make my goals but just enjoy hitting them no matter how long it takes

Brenda - looking forward to seeing your pics, I am sure they’ll be great

That series you mentioned sounds great, I too am not going to look into WLS but I would love to see a show all about what they do with all the excess skin as I really do hope I can have that surgery done hopefully next year If they show it on the series you’ll have to tell me all about it

Annie - I hope your WI today goes well, I am sure it will, I can’t wait to hear how much you’ve lost

Sharon - not sure if there is a PC at your mum’s, but in case there is, just wanted to say hi and I hope you are having a nice time there. The weather sucks, but it is supposed to improve over the next few days

Ok well time for me to go and write a few emails before Heroes starts. Take care all and bye for now,

Hugs,

Ammi

Thanks Ammi!

Ammi, on getting to almost one-third of your goal and losing 2 more pounds. in achieving your June exercise goal.

Lesley, WOW!!! Down 8.8 lbs. That's remarkable. WTG girl. Keep racking up those to your signature tally.

toofatforu, with your exercising goal for June. I hope your knee doesn't bother you too much. Don't overdo it. What happened to your knee?

Valerie, the wedding was so hard for you. At least it's behind you now.

Catherine, I hope you can get things with the house settled soon. Your husband's sister is some piece of work. I can't imagine how much this must hurt your husband. to both of you.

Nancy, I know you feel frustrated, I'm sure you'll get out of that funk in no time. Just take it one day at a time.

Shirl, to 3FC. I'm new here too. on losing 11 lbs so far. I'm at the beginning of my quest too. in obtaining your mini-goal by July 4th. It's certainly obtainable, YOU CAN DO IT!!!

Soulbliss, I commented on my plan at the very end of the last thread. Maybe you missed it. Sounds like you had a great time with your friends. I can never understand how parent's can walk out on their children's lives. for both you and your daughter.

Xena, on your excellent GMAT score. Looks like you're gonna have a full plate with going back to school and working at the same time. How exciting to be going to the Grand Canyon. I know how you feel about not wanting to share the hotel room with 3 other girls. I wouldn't want to either, for the same reason you stated. I agree with the others, get your own room. If you're looking for an excuse, tell them you snore and you don't want to disturb their sleep. WTG, on your Race For The Cure donations. How long is the walk?

michelou, Sorry to hear about your gain. Don't crash diet, whatever you do. It'll only send your metabolism spirally down the toilet. Have you tried decreasing your calories or upping your exercise a bit? Sometimes we inevitably hit a plateau no matter what we do. The key is to persevere. I know it's really hard. You might have to remind me of this when I hit a plateau.

sandy, I'm sorry you're going through so much with your daughter.

wyllenn, I think after this post, I'll take your advice about the personals. Otherwise, it'll drive me