Carol, thanks for the heads up on soy. I didn't know that and I too suffer from Hypothyroidism.

Debbie

I went to the pool, then ran downtown to a meeting on human trafficking. That was eye-opening. Now I'm going to make himself take me out to eat.

Hello everyone. I made it through another Monday. Hooray. We learned today we got the coach we desperately wanted for Abby in softball. I'm so relieved. He's a local cop, and his daughter and Abby have played together before. It promises to be a great year of softball.


Plumluvin I can't say enough about how great a site this is. You'll quickly become family.


Sorry no other personals. I have to get busy on my photo files, recipe files etc.


Hugs to all

OMGosh Debbie, you almost made almond milk come outta my nose! (nice visual, eh? hehe). You are so funny about the puzzles. I used to do puzzles and then glue them together. I had soooooooooooooooo many missing one piece!!

Hugs and Luv,
RK

Hi all,

Well, let me say I feel like things are going wellish. I hate to commit to it going too well, as I don't want to jinx myself. To start with, I lost 5 pounds this week. Yahoo!! Second, one of my college roommates I have been trying to "find" found me. She contacted me this week, and we have been sending emails back and forth like mad. It is SO nice to be back in touch with her. Finally, a good friend of mine is coming to visit in two weeks. Just for a few days, but I cannot wait. I miss her so.

That's it from me. Happy St Patty's Day!!

Angie

Happy St. Paddy's ladies...

I almost "fell off program" once again! But it was almost like a light went on and I thought of all the support from y'all here and that kept me going!! You ladies are truly wonderful. I even went to the gym and worked my bottom off at the gym (30 mins on the elliptical~burnt over 400 cals).

Catherine~I saw a movie (made for TV, think it was set in Toronto) on human trafficking. I was bawling by the end. I honestly couldn't believe how humans could do that to other humans...sheesh!

Realist~Way to go on your 5 lbs gone!! It feels so good when you can get a # like that once and a while. I hope you have a great time when your friend comes to visit.

I guess it's too late in the day to say top of the morning to ya. Oh well, happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone.

I popped outside this afternoon to, well, build a bird nest. It's less complicated than it sounds. For the last few years we've had mourning doves nesting in or around our yard. Mostly they use an old platform feeder in the back yard, which they carry bits and pieces of light debris onto to make rather sad looking nests. We usually get two or three sets of chicks in the year. The last year one of them made a nest in one of the hanging baskets by the front walkway. She even let me water the plant, but it's really not the best spot. This morning we watched two doves inspecting one of the hanging pots that we didn't bring in. So I thought I'd throw some nesting material on the platform feeder, hoping they'll pick it instead. It's a little early for nesting, but who knows. The first dove who nested here used to let me hold the camera up to the edge of the nest and let me take lots of pictures. Others have been a little more skittish. You can usually tell how tolerant they are of people.

Since it's 9pm and I'm hopelessly behind already I'm just going to say a big hello to everyone and only do a few personals.

Plumluvin -

Heather_dw - I hate when people are on shows like that. A low calorie diet may work for some, but it can be dangerous for others. I was going through my back-ups the other day looking for some old pictures and found my FitDay log from when I was first losing weight. I didn't track meals for all of it, since at the beginning I wasn't limiting calories. Around the time I ended up in the hospital I was only eating an average of 1300 calories. That's not why I ended up in the hospital, but I had a touch of the flu that I couldn't fight off. My body wasn't strong enough. I really feel if anyone is going to do a very low calorie diet it should be done with a doctor overseeing it. Losing anything, even a little bit, is fast enough. We have to watch that we don't buy into the mentality that tries to tell us that a pound isn't enough. We're not on television, looking for ratings. We're trying to find a better way of living our lives. You're 54 pounds lighter than your highest weight, and 12 pounds down from this start. It's plenty fast enough.

I think that's it for me tonight. To everyone else, have a great day. If you're down this week that's great. If you're not - next week is the one.

Hi Peeps - it's exciting to things moving so fast here at the beginning of the week. Lots of positive energy flowing. I'm not sure I can add much that hasn't been said by this wise group.

Heather_dw - how nice to see you - and less of you - way to go!

Angie - wow - 5 pounds - what a week for you - great to see you too - I've been wondering how it was going for you.

RK - my favorite ratcat - always great to see you - I'm still kinda confused on the almond breeze - I bought it but not sure how to use it - help.

I'm obsessed with my weigh in tomorrow - ya ya - so what's new. It's been a great week and I am so hoping to move the big weight down from the 300. I'm sure you will all be able to hear me at 5 a.m. central time if it happens - better sleep with earplugs.

I suppose I am the un-Irish one here - yesterday I fixed corned beef and cabbage with potatoes. All 3 of these things I enjoy (at least corned beef from the deli). Together I couldn't even eat it. I can now add item #1 to my list of meals I don't particularly care for.

I will talk to you all bright and early in the morning - hope I wake you all! Seriously, thank you all for your support these past months. You all are what has made the difference in my weight loss journey this time. I know it comes from within myself but at times the friendly reminders have been just the right thing to rattle my cage a little and provoke some action or thought. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Hugs to all,
Carol

GGG, do NOT start laughing when drinking Almond Breeze. While it doesn't burn the nose like koolaid or cola, it's still unpleasant!

It's great in cereal, but I got the unsweetened chocolate one to try when I am craving choco milk. It's ok with splenda. Regular/original might be worth the extra 15 calories a glass because I get an aftertaste with splenda sometimes. I use it to cook with so far. I'm still experimenting!!

I also did 10 min treadmill yesterday and did stairs at work today. My calves are sore!! lol

Today was a quiet day at work, but I was clearly nervous that something was going to hit the fan because I'm the only one there with nuttyboss. I still got lots done. I even ate creamed spinach!! Yes a veggie!!

Hugs to all,
RatKat

Hi all, I'm new to this thread and could definitely use the support. I want to know how you ladies all do it. There are several times when I just feel like ok, i'm comfortable with who i am and i love myself and my hubby loves me no matter what so why take the effort. then i think about even if i do loose a lot of weight then i'll have loose skin that i won't be able to afford the surgery to have removed... but then... i think about the family that i so desperately want and how i'm not ready to go be with Jesus (although that would be totally AWESOME!) and how i want to grow old. I won't be able to do those things unless i do loose the weight. but being 323 it's super hard. ugh... sorry for this being my first post. didn't know what to say and then it just came out. i'm looking forward to making friendships.

btw, i saw a reply about a burrito recipe... what is it please?

Lauren

Good morning Peeps - your sleep is safe - no early wake up call. The body only wanted to get rid of .75 lb - hitting the 300 lb mark square on the nose. That's one pound in the last two weeks but 15 in the last 2 months so I'm good with that. The main thing is I am OP, drinking my water and moving my body - I keep reminding myself patience is a virtue.

Everyone have a great day! Move your bodies, drink your water and SMILE.

Hugs,
Carol

Good Morning everyone,
Way to go carol at getting to 300. ISnt it funny how easily it is to get caught up in what the scales say for one week when if you look at the past weeks you see the bigger picture. 15 lbs in 2 months is awesome!!!
Lauren_ welcome its nice to have others from KY here!! I live in western and this site has helped me so much. What are you doing to loose weight? I count calories.
dmpls_ you ready for alot of rain...here it comes!!

well hubby is asking for food...lol and im still in coffee mode. Have a great day everyone
debi

I am up wayyy earlier than normal. Himself is being interviewed on a morning TV show. God forbid he should set his own alarm clock. Not that I would be able to sleep through, "where's my new tie, where are my black socks." I had to get up anyway. I'm giving a speech downtown to a bunch of social workers on how to deal with their mentally ill clients. For instance, you can't leave a message on their phone on Friday for them to call. They will spend all weekend scared or paranoid that you age coming for them, or are going to cut off their disability checks. By Monday when they get ahold of their worker to find that they just forgot to sign something, they may be certifiable. Leave detailed messages so they know what you want, and that it is no big deal. Never put stress on a bridge that wasn't up to code to begin with. All I've got to say is that they better have some fruit on their breakfast table. I don't play well with others when I haven't had my breakfast, and it is just too freaking early to eat before I leave.

Good Morning everyone.... it is a rainy rainy day here in Ohio. We are suppose to get rain for 2 days straight.

Ratkitten and anyone else who can help-- tell me about the almost milk and where to get it.

Plumluvin--welcome welcome welcome

Lauren--welcome welcome welcome

I went all day yesterday without any dairy and guess what!!! my stomach is not hurting at all. Ermm my gas was little to none last nite. I cannot believe for so many years I have lived with this and thougth everything else under the sun was wrong. Now starts the search for things I can live with.. I love cheese and milk and ice cream so please please give me all your suggestions. I went through the store yesterday and even some of there products marked vegan have milk or cheese products in them.

Well, off to work have a good one.
Tina

Catherine, did you have a nice time out last night? I bet that human trafficking was shocking. It's amazing some people have no value for human life.

Ratkity, so you're the one that sent the puzzle piece stealin' ghost over here!!!!

Angie, wow!! Great news on the 5 lbs gone forever!
I hope you and your friend get to meet again. It would be great to be in touch with old friends.

betty grrl, glad you didn't give in to the urges and even turned it around and went and exercised. Good work!

Anne, did the birds start using the nesting supplies you gave them? I think that would be so fun to watch them build and then have babies.

Hi Lauren, and welcome! I think the way you feel, is how most of us felt when we started. And sometimes still do. It's something that doesn't go away. Some of the people that have made it to goal, still have issues...BUT....they are so much happier for going on this journey. It's not going to be easy, but with help and encouragement, you'll do fine. Just hang out here when you get the urge to eat when you know you don't really want to, and it will help you get past it. Start drinking water, move your body and then the weight will start to come off.

Carol, man...I was hoping to get that wake up scream....um...call. You're so close. I'm sure next week it will be below 300. Just hang in there, you've done so well. Be proud of what you've accomplished.

Tina, so glad you found out that the problem is, your lactose intolerant. I'm sure you'll find things that you can eat that will satisfy the dairy craving. They are coming out with new things all the time.

The sun is finally shining.....for now. It's suppose to be off and on rain all week. We've gotta get to the dump but right now it's so soggy out there, we can't even get to the trash bin to load up the truck. I'm hoping for it to stay sunny at least for the rest of the day and then we can try and get back there.
Not much going on here. I'll probably get the DDR out again today and get some movin and groovin in.
hope all are having a great day!
Debbie