Morning everyone! I'm at work (school) and the first class is coming in soon, so I need to rush.

Nothing exiting happening here. Weather looks beautiful though, so that's reason enough for a great mood. Ate a strange breakfast of cold meatloaf and spinich w/ dijon mustard on flatout bread this morning. Don't laugh...it was good! Got in an hour of fluidity and the world looks good so far. I have been doing "yogilates" in the late afternoons with a program that is now on "on demand". Really like it so decided to go ahead and order the DVD's for when it's removed from tv. VERY relaxing!

Have a wonderful day!!

Good morning, everyone! Sorry for being MIA yesterday and Sunday. I hope the start to your week was nice.

Cottage: Great job being prepped for Curves! I really do admire your determination and consistency. Enjoy your day and I hope Jake enjoys his hot dinner!

Loriann: Hope everything falls into place after Thursday! Getting a new floor must be exciting!! I remember you posting before that you really needed it! I hope everything works out for Joe. I know a lot of people are uber-pro college, but try to keep an open mind about it. Sometimes continued education isn't for everyone and it ends up being a huge waste of time and money to get a degree and then end up living a happy and fulfilled life at a job that doesn't require one. (I've actually had friends take their college degrees off of their resumes to land their dream career because it made them look over-qualified!)

Ruth: I don't know if Hershey would go on that paper route without you! Might be a good way to get some exercise in! I hope that you find some good contractors to get all your work done.

jandaman: 28?! I'm fairly certain my parents would have killed me if I hadn't moved out until 28. Hope the spring cleaning brings on the spring!!

Cyndi: I hope that everything goes well for Luna! And that you enjoy and get to keep your massage appt. this afternoon. After I was in a wreck, it took 3 years for my insurance company to admit that it was medically necessary for me to have 3 months of physical therapy afterwards. They didn't reimburse me for another year after that!

Kara: Wow! You have a lot going on right now! I'll be thinking about you as I'm sitting here at my desk! When it gets dreadfully boring, I'll think of you in all that dust and cobweb-iness and remember that everyone has their "not fun" days! Good luck getting everything done!

Nessa: Congrats on hitting the below-25 mark! Hope everything is okay with DH.

tkglenn: Enjoy your morning with your kiddos!

Schmoodle: I've been following his method as well. With the craving situation, the negative sensation does tend to wane for me after a few days, but I just sit down, re-imagine the scenario, and things seem to work great! Haven't wanted or had a diet soda in weeks!

, Gonna! Have a great day!

Fluffy: I hope you have a great day! I certainly hope it's not your pump. When we had to replace ours back home, it was $1500 for the pump itself, not to mention what we paid for the labor!!

Stephanie: You are an inspiration to me and I want you to know we're all here for you! I'm sure things will improve! Just keep coming to say "hi"!

Me: Things are still going pretty well here. I busted tail this weekend to get the house clean and laundry and bills done. The payoff should be a very relaxing weekend this weekend if I can keep up with the housework this week.

I started doing the TransFirmation series again last night. It was one heck of a workout! I'm going to do my best to keep up with it. I love WATP, but I think it's time I revved up my intensity and my strength training a lot more! I'll probably do a 1-mile walk on my off days just so I don't forget about Leslie!

Well, time to see who was simulposting and get to work after that! Have a great day!

~Kim

Cat: Enjoy your day and your students! Your breakfast sounded like it was good - but I'd probably eat it for lunch!

Whew! Just got an estimate of $20K for a metal roof! I think I'll pass. There's no sense in a "last a lifetime" guarantee at my age! I'll check out asphalt shingles later. Not to worry, Cottage. My scam antenna works really well!

Hey, Fluff! Come on up! It's only about 4½ hours. My cool neighbour Moel is going to do my trees for me. What a guy! He and Art, another great guy, will be saving me a bundle. Art collects from me via home cooked breakfasts a lot. Moel is out of firewood and I have extra so.....the underground economy flourishes in the country! Too bad it isn't hot enough for them to take off their shirts! I live vicariously.

Nessa, yes! It's official. Change that ticker and enjoy. You deserve it.

Pacergal, please do stick around even though you are at goal. This is a lifestyle, not a diet, and we need your support.

Cottage, I just made that baked oatmeal from the Phase II Breakfasts. It smells wonderful. Too bad I've already had breakfast.

Jandaman, Hershey appreciated the extra cuddles.

Kara, you sound soooo busy. I am trying hard not to think of all the stuff one would have to do before that type of move. Hang in there!

Gonna and Tkglenn, be sure to come back and share your day.

Schmoodle, I think I may get the book. I'm afraid there is something about the TV show that bugs me. I guess I've ODed on reality TV since my operation.

The lads (including Art and Moel) have just started moving the heavy pancake grills into the Fair Hall for the Syrup Festival on the 19 and 20. I have a huge beef stew in the crockpot right now and need to throw together a salad and thaw some rolls. Apple crisp is already made (Thanks, Claire!) and sitting in the oven at the hall. Country lads sure like to eat - good thing I like to do large quantity cooking.

Time to get off my butt and continue with my day. Lots of things are being ticked off my Niggle List!

Major simulposting happening today!

Cat, I like different things for breakfast too. Kim, missed you and your lovely pink hibiscus!

Ruth, let me know how you like the baked oatmeal. It's one of my favorite breakfasts!

Schmoodle, I love getting up before dawn and watching the new day break! Early mornings are my special "me" times, when I do my devotions, meditate, and gather my thoughts for the day. I'm really intrigued by this "squeezing your fingers together" thing for cravings. I've never heard of this McKenna guy, but I'll have to check him out!

to everybody, and make it a great day!

Ugh, I missed my early alarm clock because I had my cell phone on silent. My darned politeness carried over from last night.

Ah well, I still got to work on time, and am still not doing any of the work I should be doing....

Schmoodle, I tried the Paul McKenna thing too, and it does work, weirdly enough. I'm pretty good about cravings now, but if I squeeze the fingers on my left hand, I feel like I want to throw up. So I have another tool in my arsenal of dieting.

I ate too much whole wheat pasta last night, but I don't care too much. I'll work hard today and limit my breads.

Hiya girls just stoping in to read any current post - sooo busy at work so no time to stay. Hope your day is going a okay!

Ruth, the show he's got now is a five part series on TLC. I've only caught one but I'm sure they'll re-run them. They are actually pretty annoying to watch, but the basics of his program seem simple. There are four "golden" rules, which are things we've heard before and are really common sense -
1. Eat when you're hungry.
2. Eat what you want.
3. Focus on what you are eating (put down your fork, no distractions, etc.)
4. Stop eating when you are no longer hungry.

Other than that, he's shown two techniques - one for avoiding emotional eating, which looks complicated and weird and I haven't tried it - it involves humming and tapping and other strange stuff, and one for fighting off cravings, which is very simple and seems to work for me so far. I think there are video clips on his website that demonstrate the techniques. I've heard the books are very expensive right now, since he is the latest sensation from England.

Anyway, I am PMSing, and yesterday I had a couple of cravings and used the finger technique and they did go away.

I haven't caught the Paul McKenna show about controlling cravings. I'm hoping to catch a re-run. I saw the first show that he did, about being a conscious eater. That made a lot of sense, and I know that I should....sometimes I just don't do it. I've been working on really asking myself if I'm really hungry, or if I'm just thirsty. I've found that I'm really thirsty most of the time. I've been drinking so much more water on this diet.

Anyway, I'm having a bit of a downer day. My husband is at work, and I actually really need him home. We had a fight last night, and both of us were too tired to really resolve it. We both got what we needed to say out, and we both apologized...but we never had the make-up part. I guess I need that to really be done with the fight. Alex(husband) is in grad-school getting his PhD in Math. He's working on finishing his dissertation by the September deadline, but his adviser keeps adding things to the list of things he needs to do. He's extremely stressed, and I guess his past relationships have taught him that he can't bring his stress home, and if he does....he has to keep it all bottled up. It was pretty obvious yesterday that he was stressed, and I offered to talk if he needed. He didn't want to, so I left it alone. It finally came to a head when our [almost] two year old son was doing the typical almost two year old stuff and he lost his patience with him. I told Alex to go in the other room and I would finish putting Calvin to bed. He got huffy and left the room. I could tell his ego was hurt, but our promise to eachother is that we will take over duties if the other person cannot handle it. I feel like it is my responsibility as a parent to make sure that nothing is said to Calvin in anger. Well, I came out of the room and he was gone. I noticed his shoes were gone. An hour later, he came back home...said he had been walking. I was upset that he made me worry like that. I guess I should have known though.

marriage is so difficult sometimes! He really is a wonderful father and husband, but sometimes these little argument ruts that we get into make it so dang difficult!

Sorry, I needed someone to vent to.

Zeffryn, I am running out the door for lunch, but PM me. My DH is also getting PhD in Math. It's an insane time. Maybe we can keep each other sane?

I will be in and out the next couple of weeks. I am in the process of moving for one thing so my free time, including my thoughts, are on that. I spoke with my Mom last week and she was beginning to sound really good--much like her old self. On Saturday, my DH and I went to a seminar regarding medical power of attorney (this was an issue about 2 months ago within my own family). It was emotional for me to sit there and listen to the different speakers since I had just been through so much of this. I feel so fortunate that Mom is still alive. She has been through so much. Now, they are trying to place her in a nursing home.

Today begins the thirteenth week of Phase 2 for me. I have found that this food plan has become so automatic that I have to remind myself that I am dieting. Again, I did decide in mid-February to begin counting calories. If it weren't for that, I would not even know that I am dieting. It has just become routine.

I am wondering if I am done with my periods for good! I have been having erratic periods for the past several years. Yes, I am passing through menopause. I still get PMS, ladies, as my Mom told me you still do. It doesn't seem "fair" but I guess some things just "never die". I was craving delivery pizza last week. I just scheduled it into my daily calories for that day and had leftover pizza both for breakfast and lunch.

I knew it would affect my weekly weight lose (it did) but I got 1.5 lbs out of this week (my ticker rounded it off, why?) anyway. I credit it with all the moving of our stuff I have been doing every day.

I am grateful to say that emotional eating is a rare occurance these days. I work my 12 Steps diligently and it shows.

All I think about is losing 2 lbs a week. That is where my focus is these days.
I explained to my DH, who is having reoccuring bouts of depression, that I am determined that I am going to stay focused on the things that I can change. Or as another 3FC Chick quoted "Just keep swimming". Yes, I love "Finding Nemo" too and I am an old lady. LOL

How long does Phase 2 last? Until you've reached your goal weight?

I need to go buy a scale today. I've been using the one at my gym, but because the weather has been so nice, I've been exercising a lot more outdoors. Plus, the gym is a drive with gas so expensive.

Zeffry-me and my hubby were fighting also. I guess we are both in the same boat. As you all know, yesterday was my birthday. I was extremely tired for some reason, TOM and the stomach bug I guess. Well, I barely had the energy to even fold some laundry. He left to the gym when he came home from work and left me with 4 very young kids. I just wanted to sleep. Well, he comes home, I realize that I needed to go to walmart for stuff for dinner. I asked him if would be alright if I could go to get some stuff for dinner and he was fine with it but I had to take our 2 year old. I just kept asking him if he could keep her because I was tired and I just needed a break away from the kids. I needed time alone or whatever but he made a big deal about it and ended up making me take her. She's not a difficult child, it's just that I have at least 2 children with me at all times...don't I deserve a break after all, he goes to the gym by himself-no kids. And he's gone for 3 hours. So I take her, come home and have to start dinner at 730 at night. I had to make dinner for my 3 children that eat table food, dinner for my father who came to visit, and dinner for DH. Then do the dishes, put the two youngest to sleep, put some of the dishes away for the next round, feed the baby his food, and still make DH food for his lunch for the next day. What did he do? Put the two oldes to sleep (the easiest). On top of everything that I had to do, I was extremely tired. Barely could keep my eyes open. So I get home from walmart with bags in hand and child in arm and he's sitting on the couch with the laptop not asking if I need help. I walk back out to get the rest of the bags and go in the kitchen and start dinner. He comes in the kitchen and asks if I ordered his refills for his meds and I completely forgot...I do have 4 children and a house to run. He mumbles under his breath "Man, I can't depend on you for anything!" Tell me that didn't hurt!!!! What a frustrating night. And the least he could do was just watch my 2 year old for 45 minutes, after all, it was my birthday and he didn't even get me anything. That was the smallest thing he could've done. And I've been married going on 7 years. Yeah, we talked about it before we went to bed but just like your situation, we were both so tired that we didn't do the "real" make-up part and that leaves me feeling like it is unresolved. You are not the only one that feels like that.

girl, I feel your pain. First, I'm sorry that you didn't get to have a break on your birthday. I didn't know you had four children! Wow! I don't know why I'm whining about my one 21 month old!

Are you a SAHM?

I feel like sometimes my husband doesn't appreciate everything that I do during the day. The only reprieve that I get is when my son takes his nap. From the time I wake up until I go to sleep, I'm doing something for my family. Whether it be folding clothes, cooking meals, cleaning toilets, changing sheets, making beds, picking up toys (THERE ARE SO MANY!!!!) or doing dishes...I'm always doing something. Hubs comes home from his 3 hours at work, and is like "I really need some downtime" and goes to take a nap. 2 hours later, he emerges and plops down to play some video games.

Mind you, he does tell me that he appreciates what I do....but sometimes I just wish he would take Calvin once in awhile so I could get some stuff done without him (it's SO much easier cleaning without a child!)

I did just talk to hubs on the phone. He called and asked if I was ok, because I was a little quiet this morning. I told him that I was feeling like we didn't really have a resolution last night, and he promised that he would make it up to me tonight. I guess that is a step in the right direction.

I just have to remember what my dad told me on my wedding day, "Nothing that is really worth it is easy". Boy, I didn't believe him at the time. We were newlyweds and it was easy....but, I see where he's coming from now. It isn't easy, but it's so worth it.

*hugs*