Mom, when are we invited over for lemonade and finger sandwiches at the new house? Be sure to put your chairs out on the front porch so we can gab while Crone carves. I'm so happy for you!!

Crone, you are one amazing piece of work. If we had four of you, we could take over a whole country. Did your friend The Scale have a loss for you?

I haven't been moving at all on the scale lately, because I'm doing strength training. Just did my 12-week assessment yesterday -- lost 2 inches off the waist, 3 inches off the hips, and my body fat % is down from 46% to 39%. (( whoo hoo! )) So even though it won't be a lighter me at the marathon in 10 days, it's a stronger me.

Reporting on a rather high eating day yesterday, but I am GLAD because I know the extra food is revving up my metabolism, infusing my cells with energy and fighting for the health of my body! Moreover, I am in control of what I eat, and where and when. I am the chief executive of my life! Whoo-hoo! POSITIVE THINKING alone takes a lot of energy.

I second VE's request for lemonade on your new front porch, Mom (or back porch if that's the case). I love front porches. Before I moved here, a friend and I vowed that we'd each have a front porch in a few years' time and we'd sit on it and think of our friendship from time to time. We both accomplished that goal.

VENUS ENVY!! You have lost a total of 5 inches and 7 percent of bodyfat. That's fantastic progress! You'll streak through that marathon so fast they won't be able to see you. Everytime I read about progress such as this, it revs me up to KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING! WOO-HOO!

I'm GLAD there's not four of me, Venus Envy, at least not in one body! Four bodies with one spirit would be neat, though. Think of the POSSIBILITIES! (But I'm not thinking of cloning the crone.)

I religiously adhere to the Sunday-only rule as regards my pal, The Scale, so three more days before I know the outcome of this week of healthy habits and positive thinking.

[COLOR=red]"Full speed ahead and d*** the torpedoes!" ~ John Paul Jones; "Never give up the ship!" ~ Somebody

Afternoon ladies....boy wouldnt that be a treat.....sitting together and sharing our stories in person over lemonade and finger sandwiches allthewhile Crone carves!!!....I have a back porch....which is nice as it overlooks our yard and the boys can come and go as they please since the yard is fenced!!!

I look forward to a healthier me as soon as all settles down here.....You both are doing so wonderfully I ENVY you both!!!

Take care....off to load some more boxes....have a great safe holiday weekend all......LisaL

I'm thinking of changing my name to the above because of its POSITIVE tone! I think it has a nice ring to it!!!

Yesterday was a beautiful day weather-wise and personally in my life as well. I expect today to go just as well and have already accomplished an hour's fitness walk and a bunch of other stuff on my list. I'm sort of parked on the couch studying in spurts and reading a novel in spurts, trying to keep the calories on the low side.

Mom: I'll love sitting (virtually speaking) on your back porch and carving while we all drink calorie-free virtual lemonade! Perhaps we can have calorie-free virtual cookies, too? You are doing WONDERFULLY and IMO all the activity and flurry of starting a new life is a health activity in and of itself!

What I'm remembering to remember today as I pursue my goals:"Do not be desirous of having things done quickly. Do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished." ~ Confucius

P.S. For anyone who doesn't have it, here's the formula for figuring out basal metabolism rate (female) and daily caloric need. It's in a story in July's Oxygen magazine ... and lots of other places:

RMR equals 447.593 + (3.098 x height in centimeters) + (9.247 x weight in kilograms) - (4.33 x age)

RMR (resting metabolism rate) equals the amount of calories per day to just to maintain life at a given weight, so as weight changes, so does the RMR. Height in centimeters equals inches multiplied by 2.54; weight in kilograms equals pounds divided by 2.2.

To find daily caloric need to maintain a given weight, multiply the RMR by an activity factor of 1.4 (little or no activity, couch potato), OR 1.6 (low to moderate activity, lucky to exercise three times a week), OR 1.8 (high activity, e.g., live at gym), OR 1.9 (extremely high activity, marathon type).

To maintain weight, eat at the daily caloric need, to lose a pound, subtract 500 calories from the daily caloric need for a week (500 x 7=3500 calories, e.g., a pound of fat).

The Oxygen piece points out that you can opt to add five pounds of pure muscle in five weeks by adding 500 calories per day to the daily caloric need, provided you strength train three to five days a week. That sounds good in theory, anyway!

I hope Oxygen doesn't mind my quoting from their piece (should they be looking at this thread for our POSITIVE inspiration). There's lots more in the article, which is sort of a condensed "Business Plan for the Body" type thing.

Peace, soon.

Nipped from the branches of several threads to decorate the Pollyanna League Hall for Memorial Day! Proof positive that positive thinking runs throughout this website. People here are pursuing and reaching goals every day and that encourages me to keep going on my fitness and life journey, too. I tell myself sometimes that things aren't going all that well, but then I remember that as long as I am alive, I'm doing ok, so IT'S ALL GOOD! When I think of those I remember this Memorial Day, I remind myself how much I celebrate their lives and am glad that they lived. I take care of my fitness and health for their sakes, too, because I want to live long and be happy. (Hope no one minds my stealing their inspirational quotes, but I'm POSITIVE they won't mind!):

"Life is always good, but mine is going to get better! My goal is 150..and YOU know I will get there...with a little help from my pals!!!" ~ TallTracy88

"OK time to get out and practice what I preach! I'm going to have a wonderful day! What's left of it, anyway!" ~ Katrinabgood

"I'm so proud of my self!!!!! I went out today and bought a YOGA set! Not knowing for sure if I would even ever open it. ... Well I am proud to say I just finished my first session! This is a HUGE step for me. I have not exercised for about 3 years! I can not believe how out of shape I am right now. I can barley do any of the poses but I know that if I stick with it and keep it up I will feel soooo much better!" ~ Feffyy

"Hey girls! Today is my 30th, and I'm celebrating! My girlfriend took me to breakfast this morning, and soon, I'm going to settle on the deck with my new book and a tall glass of iced tea while the boys are napping. I have to work tonight, but, hey, that's life. I am not at all sad about turning 30... in fact, I think it's exciting! Like a new stage of adulthood is just beginning." ~ Gemini

"Just did my 12-week assessment yesterday -- lost 2 inches off the waist, 3 inches off the hips, and my body fat % is down from 46% to 39%. (( whoo hoo! )) So even though it won't be a lighter me at the marathon in 10 days, it's a stronger me." ~ Venus Envy

"Hey gang...I feel truly wonderful today....even if I dont follow plan 100%...I havent felt this relaxed in a long time.....now the fun begins of redoing a new home ." ~ Momto2Boys

"Woo-Hoo!" ~ Crone

Crone: Your anewed sense of inspiration is a real big motivator for me. I was sitting with my mother at the diner last night. We were talking about life. Yesterday at work the girls and I were talking about how unhappy we are with ourselves and our relationships. We barely got any work done all day! So at dinner I was telling her the stories that we shared when out of the blue the word pollyanna popped in my head. It was so wierd. I decided to go for a run when we got home and I felt so much better! I am starting to realize that I cannot let weight loss govern my life and hold me back from the things that I want to do. Instead, if I do the things that I want and be satisfied with my life and the things in it, losing weight will come natrually. There is so much more to life than having the perfect body. Not even models have perfect bodies. Those Victoria's Secret Models are all airbrushed. Who are they kidding....everyone has cellulite! Did you know that Janet Jackson's abs are cosmetic? She had lipo on the area around her stomach muscles to make them look so perfect. Now in a perfect world we would all be airbrushed each morning and we would have lipo every night. But when you think about it, this is totally unrealistic. What is realisitic is that we all deserve to be happy! We all deserve to feel great about ourselves. And most of all we all deserve to achieve our goals without anything holding us back. We should not let what we see dictate how we feel. After all, weight is just a number.....it doesnt mean anything! I have to get back to work now, but I hope that I have brighten someone's day. I sure feel a lot better.

Echristo

Hey everyone!!!

Not much time right now....boy I have been busy busy busy.....love the new house......life is GREAT....and you know what....even those times that I find to sit down and put my feet up.....I HAVEN'T BEEN SNACKING....YAHOOOOOOOOOOO....I think my biggest problem at the apt was that I was so bored and it was so depressing being somewhere where I hated being....that I would eat out of sheer misery....LOL

We have the house almost all unpacked and then I get to start doing outside work.....

Well, I cant stay long for now...just hoping your all doing well.....and crone.....that virtual iced tea and finger sandwiches are coming upon us soon.....LOL....huge hugs to ya.....LisaL

First time posting anything TO message board ever. So I can't follow some of the abbreviations.Have been following this thread and enjoying everyone's positive inspirations, and have wanted to jump in to throw some of the positive messages that help me through a day. SO here goes

Be good to yourself! If you don't take care of your body, where will you live??

Hey girls....how are you all doing? I finally have some time to sit and relax.....the house is just about fully unpacked and in place.....now comes the part of doing things to it...like painting the living room is our next big project.....we painted the kitchen and dining room already and the boys room.....but the living room/hallways are all done in colonial yellow....which is ok...but kinda sickening after a while....lol...I am thinking I might paint a very light lilac color!!!

So, I am doing pretty well....I havent been snacking nearly like I was nor doing any overeating....I feel full and make a good attempt to stop at that......so I think I am doing OK for now!!!

So, where is everyone??? Enjoying iced tea on their porches??? LOL...we are finally getting some nice weather here in new england.....about darn time......so.....maybe next week Crone and VE we can do iced tea and finger sandwiches on my VIRTUAL back porch and Crone can amuse us with her words of wisdom and carvings.....ha ha

Gotta go....take care all.....LisaL

PERLE...welcome aboard,,,glad you came to join us.....and I so love your quote...how true is that?!?!?!

Well, Mom, I followed in your footsteps and closed on my new house this morning. Wowwwwwwwwwww! It feels AWESOME!!

Unfortunately, I won't get to spend time there until I get back from the marathon in San Diego. I leave tomorrow before the crack of dawn, so it seemed pointless and a little risky to try to move a single thing before then. But I do plan to stop by my new home after work and bask in the ownertude of it all.

I feel exuberant today, and I just KNOW I'm going to nail the heck outta that race on Sunday.

I lost 5 pounds this week just from sheer happiness. (OK, maybe my commitment to daily workouts had something to do with it .... The exercise was a great way to channel all that anxiety into excitement.) In any case, I feel great and I'm gonna feel greater when I cross that finish line.

Thank you all for being such positive energy givers. Honestly, you've made a difference in my life.

YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOW EXCITING...AND YES I AM SHOUTING.....LOL....Isn't it the most exciting rush when you have the key in your hand to YOUR own home......!!! I know I have been in such a different mood since moving and my nights are filled with more peaceful sleep since not hearing the jerky landlord hollering to his dumb little yapping dogs every morning to come inside....lol......I am glad to be rid of landlords!!!!

Well, I cant stay long...I just showered since Kail is napping and I need to get myself ready to go pick Jesse up at school....boy this ride is getting tiring.....its a 20 mile ride each way and there is construction going on either way I go....and then I hit every single school bus I swear.....LOL

I am POSITIVE for sure though that I am definately eating a whole lot better since moving out of my depressing apt.....I dont find myself snacking hardly at all.......although I will admit...tonight I am celebrating with hubby alone.....LOL....we are going to have some drinks and snacks after the kids are fast asleep and sit and enjoy our new home!!!

Take care all......LisaL

Crone .... why you so quiet girl??? I havent seen a darn POLLYANNA POSITIVE POST from you yet today.....*sighs with a pout*...LOL...hope all is well with you!!!

Mom: Just got back from the mountains ... camped a few days and it was a very POSITIVE experience fitness-wise, plus nice and cool. Kind of short on time today, but that is GOOD! Congratulations on finally escaping the clutches of your landlord!

Venus Envy: Congratulations on your house closing, too! It's great to own your home ... there are so many POSITIVE benefits. I know you WILL nail the heck out of the race ... but you are already a winner because you're there and with the program, actively engaged in a healthy activity. San Diego is the greatest. Have fun! AND CONGRATULATIONS ON LOSING FIVE POUNDS FROM HAPPINESS! That's the best diet, ever.

Perle: Welcome! I love your message: "Be good to yourself! If you don't take care of your body, where will you live??" Good point! Sometimes people are so neglectful of their physical selves ... either thinking that it doesn't matter or not knowing how to care for themselves. But it's GREAT to be fit and healthy and makes life so much easier, I think.

Who said, "Wherever you go, there you are!" Might as well enjoy the trip feeling GOOD, huh?!

Echristo!!! How neat that our friend Polly inspired you to go for a run and feel better! I know that "ah hah!" moment comes for me often, too, when I remember I am now a POSITIVE THINKER and shake off whatever is bugging me at a given moment and telling me not to exercise, eat some cake, whatever, because everything is futile anyway so why even go there. I remember that against all odds, a POSITIVE THINKER at least has ... well, positive thoughts, right? Then I exercise, which helps so much and there I am.

You are right, Echristo, in my opinion, also, we all deserve to be happy! When I talk about having a fit body, what I mean is "the fittest body I personally can achieve." I think in a sense you are correct: "There are no perfect bodies," but then I think, "There IS at least one perfect body in my world and that is MINE!" I guess I think we should love the bodies we are in and continue to strive to make them the healthiest ever. And, who decides what is a perfect body anyway? What is so WRONG with cellulite? Who decided it was an imperfection? Sometimes people have illnesses or functional problems with their bodies, but those bodies are as beautiful in my opinion as any other.

Hmmm. I'm getting lengthy and philosophic and that isn't my intent. My intent for the rest of my life is just to HAVE FUN, BE GORGEOUS, get approximately 26 pounds off my knees and graduate from this school thing I've committed myself to so I can have a socially useful career and also support myself in the style to which I'm not accustomed. Quite enough for an aging crone such as me!

I am KNOWING the scale will be my friend tomorrow! (It'd better or I'll throw it out the window ... but that is a negative thought, so I won't).

Peace.

Hey girls....hope you all have enoyed your weekend!!
Mine was long and tiring as usual....I tried to get in a nap with Kail but Jesse kept coming in and waking me up for snacks/drinks....and then hubby came in to tell me he was going to get an oil change.....OOOOOOKKKKKK.....LOL

You know something...I think we as mothers....should be the top paid people in the WORLD....I mean come on....lets be real...who has the crappy hours we do.....365 days a year....24/7 and even if they are away from home...your ALWAYS on call....LOL....!!!

So, Crone, how was your friend the scale to you this morning??? GREAT I hope.....!!! Your camping trip sounded fun and relaxing to get away from the real world!!!

I weighed myself the other day just for $%#@& and giggles...LOL....and I actually showed a loss of @5lbs....how is that possible....did I truly shed that much weight moving all last week and unpacking...?!?!?...I mean I didnt snack much and I tried not to over eat so maybe it is possible.....!!! Will do a more official weigh in tomorrow like I used to do before!!!

My positive thought today is that if I have truly lost that much weight....than I must being doing pretty good and will continue on the way I have been doing......I must being doing something right.....LOL

Take care all...LisaL

Crone: You are such a big help for me. You cannot stay away from this site. I want to hear how you are doing. Personally, I can see your dedication to this goal and I think it is wonderful.

I am writing in red because I just bought a shiny new red car. I also have being working out and watching my portion and as a result I have dropped 3 pounds. My car is too cute to have a fatty driving around in it. I have to stop being so critical of myself. It's not healthy.

Anyways, I have been enjoying this weather lately. It about 70-80 degrees with a nice breeze. The flowers have bloomed and the trees have grown back their leaves. The cycle has begun again. On that note: We all have the chance to start again. We all have a winter, where we feel cold and bare. But, rest assured, spring will come. We will once again be warm and beautiful. (This philosophy works best with warm weather lovers....LOL).

MOM: Congrats!! I am so gald that your move has produced such a positive effect on you. Most people I know become so stressed out that they gain five pounds while moving. Keep up the good work. I hope you enjoyed your celebration with hubby!!!

Got to run...Dinner is here. Mom wanted Chinese. I was a little hesitant. But I orded my food steamed with sauce on the side. I am so proud of myself. Oh yeah...I just came back from a run too!