Julia - I hope your friend will be okay. :/ I know how those kind of accidents can be. I had a friend a long time ago get into one, total his motorcycle, but he recovered after a long while. I'm sure he is back on his motorcycle today. *rolls eyes* lol.

Torister - Awesome on the 3 pounds!

Carol - Awww...poor Gracie. I hope she'll be okay.

Annie - I hope you had a good Monday. Yes, new day and new week! I'm trying to get over some left over feelings from the weekend, mostly I'm lacking friends and feel a bit lonely at times.

Planning out exercise, I think is a wonderful idea. I've never done that fully, but I should. Like today I'm sore and achey...this would be a perfect Yoga day. Plus it is really wet outside...not like I can go out walking in that today...it wasn't as wet yesterday!

dgramie - I'm sorry to hear about your neighbor friend. Awesome though for the size 7 !!!

Catherine - Where I am spring is here, but sometimes it still feels like winter. I feel like it is going to jump soon and be hot and miserable again. lol I miss blossoms and things...it is too wet for blossoms to flutter through the air. They just sort of...lay there all icky like. haha.

Sharon - Awesome news on your Aiden. That must feel really good! Totally celebrate! As for your diet, I'm not sure what kind of diet it is. Personally, I'm raw and vegan, lately I've been eating more cooked foods and carbs and feel sluggish and tired somewhat. When I eat veggies I feel great...I'm currently merging into raw food, which is a slow process for me. I will say that when I eat cooked veggies, I tend to not feel as good as when I eat raw veggies. That is just how my body works though. Is your body craving anything?

Debbie - Helloooooo

******

Well, I didn't get up today, but no worries I will tomorrow! 5am wake up call! lol. I pushed myself hard yesterday, today I can tell my body needs to just be for a bit. I shall push myself tomorrow though, with the goal that I do this every day if I can. I hear that you should have one day of rest though, but I kind of like the idea of being active every day.

This morning I'm fixing to go get something something to eat. I think a green smoothie, spinach, strawberry, banana. Easy...maybe I'll add some flax seed to it as well. Does the body good!

I'm trying to get a handle on my diet. it is difficult, mostly because of my apartment. It is really cramped and leaves me being frustrated. So, I'm working on ways to handle that with organization and proper planning. I love it when I eat raw foods, but my problem is it becomes boring to me to have salads every day. Preparing some foods just is too much, too time consuming. So, I'm working on ways to keep my interested with quick meals during the day and something more interesting in the evenings when I have the time.

Just a quick pop-in to say, as of this morning, I've lost 100 lbs! Only 100 more to go...but hey, I'm psyched. A Very Happy Tuesday to everyone!!

morning all...

Julia: Hope your friend has a speedy recovery!

dgramie: I am sorry to hear about your rfiend passing. (huuuugs)

as for me: Now my youngest son has whatever I have. I do feel a little better today. BUT I took benadryl last night so in the am I feel a little better til it wears off. I am going to the dr today. I might call and have him seen as well. I hope that everyone starts feeling better soon. Hubby is coming home tomorrow!! I am sooo happy!

DCHound: That is AWESOME!!! You are at your halfway point. That is just great!! You are gonna make it!

Sharon: Have you had your thyroid checked? I have to say that the *only* time I am tired on Atkins is when my levels are off. Low carb is really working for me and I am loving all the salad and veggies I am eating. Its something to check into, especially if the plan is working otherwise.

Another early morning at the gym for me. I have to say, that 5:00 AM is the only time slot that works for me to get my exercise in...so off I go every morning!

Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!!

DC Hound - yay!!! I'm so happy for you! What an accomplishment!!

As for me, I've been struggling since the weekend. I had a bit of a naughty weekend, and I haven't really recovered. Now, I'm set to go to San Diego tomorrow for 2 days with a girlfriend, and it's going to be real hard to stay on track. My other problem is getting out and getting exercise. It's been rainy and muggy here which makes it no fun. I tell myself every day that today is the day I will get out and take a walk or ride my bike, but then I get home and have to clean the kitchen, make dinner, feed the dogs, yada, yada, yada. Next thing I know, I'm pooped from the day and just want to relax. I know I should just get my butt up early in the morning and go for my walk and that would mean getting up at 5:30a, which equals, no fun. But it's for me, right? This is all for a better me, and I should do it if I really want it, right? Then why can't I? *sigh*

Anyhoot, thanks for listening to my rant. I hope everyone has a happy day!

~Jenny

Jenny, what I had to do for myself is just make it not optional. There's no "skip the gym" option for me. It's go. So I go. (Well, almost always. Sometimes I have to go to Costco and return a blouse, or go to Comcast and exchange my non-working remote...but those times are rare.) Don't negotiate with yourself, just go! Just put on your tennies and walk!

Carol, glad to hear Ed will be home soon. Sorry about poor furbabie's tail. Ouch!! Ah, those pesky neighbors, gotta love 'em!

Debi, so sorry to hear about your neighbor.
I don't even know if I'm going to attempt a garden this year. It's been cold, windy and rainy still and can't even get out there on the tractor to make it bigger and more level without the tractor getting stuck in the mud. I have my seeds, but just don't know if I'll get them in the ground. Darn it!!

DCHound, on the 100 lbs gone!!

Cyn glad to hear your hubby will be home too! But so sorry to hear your son has whatever you have now. Get better soon! Seems like you've been thru alot with your health the last couple of weeks. How's the crying binges going?

I walked over 6600 steps yesterday so at least I'm on the other side of 500 and closer to 10,000. I'll get there some day. Food was good and so was water so I'm just hoping I can keep it up. It 's such a battle but I know I'll reap the rewards in the end.
Have a great day!

Good Morning all,

Julia: Hi girl I hope that Sally is doing well.

Debbie: Your very welcome for the Avon order. I really liked the smell of that new cologn. I normally don't buy perfumes ect. but that one smells like summer. I love the little lip stick things too. I did get my exercise list started but not done.

Sharon: I'm so happy that you got good news on your son. That is wonderful.

Carol: So so sorry about Gracie's tail. Poor baby and poor mamma. I'm glad that Ed will be coming home soon. Poo to your neighbors on complaining. They know that you are doing work and will get it out of the way ASAP. That is just mean.

Debi: I'm so sorry about your neighbor's passing. Hugs and prayers to you and her family.

Jacquie: I like having a plan. I am such a planer lol.

DC: wooo hooo on loosing 100 pounds. You are rockin it girl. Way to go!!!

Cyn: Glad that you are feeling better.

Jenny: Have a great trip in San Diego.

Well, I am having lunch with an old co-worker today. We are gonig to a Mexican restaurant for Cinco De' Mayo. I may just have salad. I'm not sure. What ever I have I will bring most of it home for Joel. That is how I always do it at restaurants. They serve wayyyyy too much for me. He will be happy. lol. I saw that Michaels has some flip flops on sale for $1 each. They are cheapy ones that you can decorate. I am thinking about getting a few pairs and decorating them for something to do. I am board, board, board.

I ended up bouncing on the trampoline for 45 minutes yesterday. I did it in 3 times. It sure takes my breath away. I thought it would be good exercise but I never imagined it would be such good cardio. I am thinking about buying the Jillian Michaels game for the Wii today. It is on sale at Target for $29.99. I have some left over birthday money and I really want it. I have been reading reviews of it and it says that it kicks your butt. I need a good butt kicking exercise. lol.

Well, If I get it and try it out I will let you guys know. I have my group meeting tonight at 5:30 so if I don't get back on before then I will chat with you all tomorrow.

Blessings and hugs,
Annie

Hello,
Thanks for all your well wishes and concern about my "diet wagon", it is still rolling along, just really slowly.
I am not doing much exercise these, days, my hip and back seem to be bad almost every day. Just walking my steps and doing my bike when the wind isn't going gale force.
I will be gone from Friday until Wednesday to Hope, Idaho to another quilting getaway. Hoping to have some fun and relaxation. (no one to take care of)

Another room tackled and defeated! The boys room is clean and does not smell like dirty little boys anymore! They dont pay well tho. Only found 2cents on my journey thru the room! LOL.

DH has safety awards dinner on Saturday. I bought a new dress since the one I wanted to wear as a goal dress this spring still does not fit right. I think its more of an under garment issue than the dress. But its cheeper to buy a new dress than a proper bra with movable straps that wont be worn often. And the bonus is I now have to find some black sandles that I like.

Now I am off to take Emily to school then tackle the laundry that needs folding.

Good Morning all,

Wow, so quiet around here.

Toni: I hope you have a great time at the quilting retreat. Sounds like fun and you do such wonderfully beautiful work!

Julia: Woo hoo a reason to buy shoes. lol. Have a blast and I hope you take some photos.

I had a great day yesterday and am hoping that despite the cold gloomy weather today will be a good one as well. I have been usuing the heck out of the trampoline and I tried out my new Jillian Michael's game for a tiny bit. It will kick my butt I think. Last night in group support we exercised with bands. They gave each of us a piece of rubber, like bands and we did all of the exercises together. It was fun and I loved that I could get on the floor and do everything they wanted us to do. Having a protein shake and then gonna get started on exercise for today.

Blessings all,
Annie

Haha look at me blame the dress instead of my body! LOL Its my body that needs the undergarment not the dress!

Just popping in to say hi!

I've only been on my diet for 3 days and I had to go work at my Uncle's restaurant today over the lunch hour. I thought I was going to crack, but I resisted the cake and buttery croissants and just had some roast beef, cottage cheese, and veggies! I really didn't think I could not eat bad while there and I proved myself wrong... I love that!

I was also bummed at the scale this morning. I know it's only been 3 days, but I thought I would be down more then 2 lbs. Oh well, keep truckin' along!

Well hello ladies, just thought I'd drop in and say hello. The semester is over and it's time to get back on track. Although everything was going well up to that point, April was a complete nightmare. Hard to believe how fast you can can weight when you're not paying attention. So I adjusted my ticker this morning (up-yikes) and off we go. I've actually been back on the straight and narrow for a couple of weeks, surprisingly I've already dropped some of the weight. Gee, you think.

School went very well (mid 90s average) and I'm really enjoying myself. In that all or nothing mentality of mine I admit that I put pretty much 100% of myself into it, which left time for little else. That's something I'll have to work on next year. So, I'm off for the summer, and looking for work. It's probably the worst time to be looking for work of course. On top of that, the Ontario gov't kicks back $2/hr to anyone hiring a student for the summer. Oh, did I mention that they have to be between 15-25 in age? I saw something recently that was adding more money to the program and widening the age range slightly... to 30. Big deal! If it's for students, it should be anyone who was enrolled and eligible for enrollment next fall, shouldn't it? Okay, rant over.

So, I really have little going on. I started walking with one of my neighbours but switched over to walking with my mother this week. The neighbour is too fast, my mother is too slow. It works out well though, as I jog away from her and then turn around and job back. It's good for me as I can control my heart rate a little better. That, and my mother is happy to have someone to walk with. She used to walk with the neighbour but couldn't keep up. I'm back to my strength training three days a week. Oh yes, and then there's the early garden work as well. I've just spent days cutting and sawing branches for firewood, and today I raised the surround stones on the vegetable patch. Last summer every time I watered I ended up with water all over the patio.

Oh, and we have a visitor in our backyard. A mama raccoon moved into our old change room / shed (our fault, we took the doors off the storage unit last fall) and had a litter of kits. We spent a few days trying to drive her out and then we decided we'd just leave her alone until the babies are bigger and then try again.

If anyone's interested - pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realcdn/3494181912/ (mama)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/realcdn/3507971014/ (babies)

Wow, that was a long post considering I was just going to drop in a say hello. I'm going to try and keep up a little during the summer. I should find a little time unless I find work. Just adding a couple of personals before I go.

DCHound - congrats on the 100 pounds lost! It's also a great thing to get past the halfway point.

SmilesIowa - congrats on eating a reasonable lunch. Just one thing though, please don't look for 'Biggest Loser' results. 2 pounds in 3 days is far more than most people see. Unrealistic expectations can really derail a diet fast. Trust me, we all know how it would be nice to lose the weight 'all at once', but those one and two pounds lost eventually add up to a very respectable loss. You will get to your goal in the end!

To everyone else, I hope things are going well. I'm looking forward to catching up in the next little while. Take care.

Welcome back, Anne! Join us on the exercise thread for more accountability!