Flying by this morning..

Arizona is cold and rainy yeah!! Also Northern Arizona got its first snow this morning!! YEAH!!!

I am going to drink extra water today for everyone!

Americaninuk: Welcome back. I'm looking forward to getting to know you better. Glad that you came back. I hope you feel better soon.

Ammi: Hi sweet friend! I miss you. So happy to see you post. Glad that you are enjoying your gaming though.

Val: Woo hoo to having a good eating day. Way to go!

Purple: Your Rizzie sounds so cute. Doggies sure do make messes. lol. Go to the store and get yourself some new underware. lol.

Debi: I am glad that your brother had a baby step towards health. It will be a long road but one step at a time he can get healthy. I love you too and I am so sorry that this happened to your brother. I really feel for you. I have to say that when I lost my brother John in 11/06 it hit me so hard that is when I started really trying to get healthy and loose weight. Thank you for reminding us that it really is all about health. I'll continue to pray for your brother's health. Hugs.

They asked me to work late today to run a machine called a sorter. I don't want to learn to run any machines. I am going to concentrate on getting a job after the first of the year. A job that I enjoy and I don't have to get up so early for. lol. I have been up since 2:30 and I am sleepy. It is so cold in the building where I work that those DVD's felt like ice cubes. I am happy to be home where my furbabies are glad to see me and where I am warm.

I am down another 1/2 pound today which is so wonderful. I have been trying so hard to get to my next goal and now If I continue on the way I have been this past week, I may just make it very soon. I couldn't have done this without all of you pushing me and encouraging me along the way. So, thank you one and all.

Blessings,
Annie

dgramie: I'm happy to hear your brother is doing better. I hope he is on his way to recovery and even though it may be a long haul, you and your family are in my thoughts.

***

TY for the avatar compliments. I have since updated with a recent picture in my new duds lol. I went bathroom mirror picture taking crazy today...though I didn't take a full shot of my body, I'll do that soon. I guess I can post some pictures in the progress section, but they are just waist up shots lol.

I'm happy to report my jeans fit, I got them at Old Navy (plus size online) for like $12 bucks. WOO! I feel a bit sexy in them...aside from my tummy...god it is huge.

TOM is moving on, but I've been doing a lot of research into PMDD and I think I fit that. So, next month I finally go to the doctor and ask about what I can do. I also have a few other issues I need to get looked at. I'm thinking I can ask about that Yaz pill as it does birth control and PMDD/PMS...

Just a fly by before a VERY busy day at school. JUST TWO DAYS TO GO!!! I am moving out of my two rooms (IT and Music) and am not really wanted in the two rooms I am supposed to move into, which feels REALLY good. We have a few staff members who are acting a little selfish lately and it is kinda a downer.

Just an update on the latest health 'things' with me. On top of being on depression meds, and still getting over my FIFTH bouth of laryngitis for the year, and being on strong antibiotics for a UTI... I now have THRUSH from the antibiotics!!!! Yes, you can all chuckle now. When I told people at school yesterday they just laughed. I suppose I was a 'little' dramatic when I told them. Sort of like "what ELSE could I want huh?" Still, if I didn't laugh about it I may be tempted to cry, so I'll just keep giggling and make people think I am going insane on top of everything else. I suppose at least it is ONLY thrush, so it can be easily treated. When I first got the pain it felt as though someone was sticking a knife in my abdomen, so I went into major panic mode.

I can't believe the number of medicine packets I am getting ready to take on holiday. With all the pills and creams, I am not sure what customs is going to think. They will mostly go in check in luggage, so hopefully it will be OK. There is nothing illegal in there, just LOTS of it!

Someone (I think Cyn, but am being lazy and not going back to check) asked if I was just going to Hawaii. We are spending just over a week in Hawaii, just on Oahu, then just over a week in Las Vegas, then about 12 days in Southern CA, going to Disneyland, San Diego and Los Angeles for a few days each. We then go back to Honolulu for a couple of days before flying home. It is a long trip home - 10 hours to Sydney, a couple of hours in the airport there, then 4 hours home - so I think I will be VERY happy to get home after all that. But I can't WAIT to actually be on holiday after all of this mess at school and with my health. I want my mind and body to be able to just rest and unwind.

Well, off to get ready for my second last day at work for the school year!!!!!!!

Take care,

Zelma

More good news on my brother.....if things continue to stay the same they are going to try and start weaning him off the vent. HIs wife said alot of the swelling is starting to leave his body so thats awesome news.

Now me...well I have tried to eat the house today. I know that Tom is close and that exhaustion has set in.Cant go back and change it and was aware of what i was doing. SO tonight i am drinking another bottle of water and then going to bed early. Tommorow is a new day and day 1 back OP.I didnt weigh in last week on sat. SO i am going with a stay the same ...i was the same on friday. I am going to behave myself until christmas eve dinner. I will eat one cheat meal on christmas day. I will get right back OP and stay there until my bday and have a meal out. Then right back OP till the wedding.

Christmas office party today at the new job, and MAN! They know how to party! Oh, did I mention that I work for Pizza Hut/WingStreet? I didn't go way overboard and am reasonably happy with the day.

It's AMAZING how much better, mentally sharper, more energetic, I feel even just greatly reducing the garbage I've been putting in my body. It never ceases to amaze me that I eat things that make me feel awful, time and time again. If feels so good to eat better!

Hi all,

Things here are ok. Worked until about 9pm last night...from 7:30am. Another busy day. But I got my workout in. My strategy for work and workouts is set now. I will work until 5 or 6 pm, come home, eat a little something, workout, and the work more if necessary. I will work very hard to make myself a priority, as well as my work. We will see how it goes.

Happy birthday Carol!!!

That's about it from me tonight.

Later all,
Angie

What are your goals in life? I am not talking about new years resolutions...I am talking about goals. I have been pondering this some lately. I don't have kids, therefore my goal isn't to provide for my kids...blah blah blah. I am trying to find things that I think would help define me (probably to me). Accomplishments. Things to strive for. Here are my thoughts (off the top of my head). I think I need to invest some time thinking about them, to see what they mean to me.

- Climb a mountain (preferrably 14er) in Colorado. I want to do with with DH, to look over the mountains and just enjoy it. Take it all in.
- Complete some sort of "race". Most likely a 10K. Not necessarily running.
- Do meaningful work. I try to remember this, but I forget it a lot. I work for a great biotech company that makes extremely meaningful meds. They help people every day. I am a key to this. I need to know this is meaningful....but it is what I want? I don't know.
- Retire. I don't know how. I don't know when. But I want to enjoy retirement.

I feel like that isn't a lot. I need more goals. But not quantity, I want quality.

Just some pondering for the evening.

Angie

Thank you all for the special birthday wishes - they mean so very much to me!

Jacquie - please take full body pics - you will regret it if you don't.

I will post pics later from my 50th bd as well as my 51st bd today - not as different as I had hope but certainly quite different.

Hugs to all,
Carol

Well, I think im feeling a little better this am, but yesterday sucked lol.. I am on 2500 mgs of antibiotics a day and yesterday they made me so nauseas and all i seemed to crave and keep down was carbs.. nice...felt too blah to ride my stationary bike or lift weights... so im sure i gained some from yesterday but im not gonna let it get me down. one thing i didnt give into is i used to be a big soda freak, and even tho i was sooo queasy and would have killed for a soda, i didnt.. not one swallow..but 7-up would have been so good lol.
the good part, is the pain is gone. my sinus infection was so bad it had gone into my cheek bone.. didnt know that could happen and dont want to ever have it happen again.. feels like your cheek will explode.
my mother was going thru her old pics, and sent me a few of me when i was in my 20s.. i thought i was so fat then.. about 170lbs.. what i wouldnt give to be there again lol.. new motivation
hubbys work breaks up on the 23rd til the 5th of jan so im looking forward to having that time with him. i dont know anyone in this country really cept his parents and him, so i get pretty bored during the day. been looking for a job, but with the economy and xmas, i havnt had any luck.

DGRAMIE- Im glad your brother is doing better. it can be so scary when someone you care about is that unhealthy.

PURPLEORC- i am going to take it easy and not worry too much, but i am going to try to get on my bike for at least 15 mins today. my biggest downfall to losing weight is when i do go off plan for even a little while, i cant seem to get back on forever . i had been doing so well, i just dont wanna lose all the headway i made. i put my cals for the day into daily plate, and it came up 1825 counting dinner tonight, so thats not too bad. hubby, bless him, bought a tin of celebrations the other day and i had a couple pieces yesterday. this am i made him take it to work and put it in his locker lol. he is usually pretty good about bringing junk into the house, but with xmas season, oh well lol.


i dont like 'christmas pudding', hot crossed buns, or any of the other christmas stuff over here which is a plus i guess, so i wont be tempted by any of that.. now if pumkin pie with cool whip was on the menu i would be soo in trouble lol..

i hope everyone is having a good day and staying op.

Very Quicky as I am heading out to work.

Carol: Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday sweetie. I see a huge difference in your last year pics and your this year pics!!! You look so amazing and beautiful!! I love the blouse you are wearing in your this year pics. So pretty and such a wonderful cut. Sexy!

Hugs and blessings to everyone. I will be back later today after work. We are expecting major SNNOOOOWWWW today.

Annie

I cant believe its Wed already. Kids are out of school here today as we got another layer of ice over night.I will be suprised if we have school tommorow by the way things look and knowing we are not getting above freezing again today. I wasnt ready for winter yet!!!
I woke up this morning and scales are up 7lbs...YIKES!!!! I had to get up last night and takes some tums..(they are hard as rocks because i havent had to use them in 11months). I dont want to feel like that again!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been doing alot of thinking...about changes in my life;
This year I have lost 80lbs...I have gone from a 28 to an 18.
I have became a mother in law...(son got married last newyears eve). I have became a grandmother(awesome feeling).
I have 2 college graduates..my daughter finished yesterday
My baby started college and did great this semester.
Hubby has made it thru the year to this point without a hospital stay. Last year he had 3.
I have attend church pretty regular and grew closer to GOD.
I had a big garden and enjoyed working in it.
I am eating healthier and getting more exercise(not enough now that the season has changed).
My blood pressure med has been cut by 3/4 this year.
I feel like my outlook on life is better.
My cabinets are clean...
I enjoy my job..I play with the kids more than i use too.

my goal are: to get to my ideal body weight...i dont want to be skinny just healthy.
To get more exercise and maybe someday do a 5k . I would love to get to the point i can jog a mile straight.
Have a closer relationship with God and do my daily bible study.
Be the best mother and mother inlaw and grandmother i can be!!
Get our house paid for in a few years.
Keep my hubby healthy and maybe get his meds staight so that he can be level.
encourage him to exercise daily and lose weight before the wedding.
Get off blood pressure meds completely.
spent more time with family..coming close to losing a brother makes it seem silly that i dont see him more often.

Today is day 1 back OP.
Carol_ awesome pictures..You look amazing. What a difference..you look so much younger now!!!! Your whole posture is different!!!

hugs to all those who are sick..
off to drink my water..and jump on the minitramp.

Okay, I am going to be quick today.

Annie, I looked at you pictures updated and wow you are doing great! Keep going!

Carol, Yes, I can see a big difference. So confident and beautiful. Keep up the good work! Hope you had a wonderful birthday!

I am off to eat breakfast and then get the girls out the door for school and get ready for an interview today. Yucky weather and have to drive an hour for it today. Not in the mood either. Just really been blah with Christmas so close and haven't really been able to get anything yet. Hubby has a few things bought so that is good and we know what we have left to get. Well, I better get moving. Penny