Hi Petra! We cross-posted! I'm sorry you are feeling funky. I guess we all just have cycles we go through. Take some time this weekend to enjoy something interesting in New Orleans, if time allows. I'd love to visit there someday. I'm looking forward to Memorial Day myself. Although my boys will be with their Dad, I am looking forward to an extra day to spend with fiance.....as well as not working that day. Hope you feel more like yourself soon.

Ange-I've often thought about getting one of those, but not sure if I would like it. Guess it would just take getting used to. Nice hubby! SMOOCHES to him for being such a nice guy to get that for you!

Kitteh-you go, girl! Rock that gym! And great job on making your food work and resisting the opportunity to go off plan.

Lola-WELCOME! The nicest chicks are here. Glad you can join us. And lucky you to be over 1/2 way to goal.

Petra-HUGS to you, twinster! I'm sorry you are not feeling perky, and I am almost positive it is just a break and achange of scenery you need to feel more betterer. Hnag on just a little bit longer.

Annie-no more blah blah, then. Glad you are feeling better! It's amazing how much it makes a difference when every bite is precious. I wonder how many times in the past any of us would have just mindlessly eaten the okra and not even noticed that it was yucky. No more food slobs, hello food snobs!

So today we just went for a walk down at the river behind the house. There are a few geocaches hidden there, which we snagged on our travels. We saw mallards, Canada geese families with babies, a doe and her last year baby and this year baby, and an osprey nest which has been oin top of a power line for the last few years and the occupants are back. No porcupines today. Buster the dog went along so he and I played int he freezing river water, 0nly the knee deep area. And he found an old leg bone from some kind of animal that made his day worthwhile. He's completely crashed now. It's about a 2 mile trip from here, down 2 big hills to the river, along the river and then back up the big hills. I am definitely geting my exercise as much as possible before it gets too busy or too hot.

Barb

Hi everyone. I'm doing a little better. I'm cooking myself a good dinner tonight. That was a little lesson last time I felt like this-eating well seemed to really help.

Glad most of you seem to be doing well.

Good morning, everyone.

I've been exercising and eating right, but the scale is proving fickle. I hope it's just some water weight, but I'm up a pound this morning. I'll keep on and hope to break through this.

I had stirfried veggies with chicken again last night (because it was so good the previous night), but I got careless and poured in the oil with a heavy hand. After I ate my dinner, my brain caught up with my actions and I could have kicked myself for using too much. Next time, I will put a small amount in the pan, then spread it around with a brush. (I use cast iron, not non-stick, so I need to use some oil--but it doesn't have to be that much if I work it right.) I guess my lesson was--be mindful of food prep at all times, don't zone out because you're busy doing or thinking about other things.

I did weights yesterday; today I'm off to the gym for an aerobic workout. My gym offers Zumba classes a couple of evenings. Anyone familiar with Zumba? I thought it sounded interesting, and I find I'm less likely to get repetitive motion injuries if I do a variety of exercise regimes instead of the same one every day.

Just a quick hello today! Doing well here. Just bracing for more potentially horrible weather tonight. We'll see what happens.

Kitteh-I've not done Zumba, but from what I hear it is very fast-paced, fun and high impact. I like the fast and fun part, just not the high impact. Hope you enjoy it!

I need to get my exercise mojo back. I'm just not into it right now. I'm hoping I'll do a lot of walking this weekend in New Orleans. Also, would like to do some yard work but the weather has not been cooperating with that so maybe that will all come back together over the next couple of weeks. I know I will probably also feel better if I get some exercise. I just have to push a little.

Thanks to all for the birthday wishes! Monday was actually a very ordinary day. Tonight's the celebration, and this is a VERY planned splurge. We have a fabulous restaurant in Holly, MI called the Holly Hotel. For 5 days each year, they do a "Morel Mushroom Fest". It's an EIGHT course meal devoted to celebrating the morel mushroom, which is the pinnacle of mushroomy delight. I will not even try to estimate the calories. It'll probably result in some tummy upsets - and I really don't care. I'm gonna eat it. Slowly and blissfully. And then back to business on Thursday.

Becky-Enjoy your mushroomy dinner! You deserve it!

P.S. We have, yet again, a HIGH threat of tornadoes/hail/severe storms here in Oklahoma again today. Please send prayers/good vibes to our state. We have had way more than our share of damaging weather lately. Thanks all.

Annie- Sending good thoughts your way. I just saw on weather.com that OK is in the firing line again today.

Becky - Happy Happy Birthday!

Kitteh - I've heard the name Zumba do you like it? Stir fry YUM!

Petra - Glad you're having a better day doll! Here's hoping it continues!

Barb - Sounds like a wonderful walk you had. Yup the headaches were definitely from caffeine withdrawal.

Lola - Welcome!!!! Lovely group of very supportive peeps here. Just jump on in.

Still waiting to hear from the bloodwork. I wish they would hurry up. The caffeine and dairy free diet continues. I'm still amazed about my ankles being so skinny again. Who knew I was holding so much fluid? Anyway, I'm staying the course.

I was having a good day until I decided to eat ice-cream for dinner. I'm not going to have anything else and I don't know what got into me.

Annie-hope all are safe there.

Toomuchmoxie-assuming u have found us, I usually do a bunch of stuff on the wii fit but the ones that make me sweat are rhythm boxing, the running, and the rhythm parade. There are other wii games I play that also make me sweat but they aren't wii fit. I'm having a hard time imaging the obstacle course making me sweat. I've only done it a couple times. Maybe I should try that one again.

Fitday says i've averaged over 1000cal deficit each day the last week. Our bathroom scales however say i've gained 1LB.....

i think those scales must have realised that they actually made me happy for a couple of days, and have therefore taken immediate corrective action and put me back up to 123 lbs. Why????

Anyway, sticking to the calorie counting and just waiting to take a longer term view of where my weight is going before i try and adjust the allowance.

Next hurdles are that i'm out for dinner tomorrow, saturday and next tuesday, and i don't deserve it like Becky does!!!

Hope the weather passes without drama Annie - that must be scary.

Good morning.

It must have been water retention, because this morning, the scale is back down. It's slow going. I'm used to averaging about 2 pounds lost per week, but I'm not getting that this time around.

I tried out my new step yesterday--did some step exercises while watching TV. Much more aerobic than the rebounder, but that could be how I'm using the rebounder. I'll try alternating them to reduce the potential of overstressing my joints.

This morning, I'm going to try the cycle class at the gym. I'm concerned it will be too difficult (I've watched the people in the class), but the instructor gave me some tips to adjust the workout level to fit my current physical condition.

I hate this aspect of being middle aged. Bad attitude, I know, since it's a one way street--downhill. But sometimes, I'd just like to go back to my younger self and ream her out for taking fitness and energy for granted.

Annie--sorry to hear about the nasty weather--take care.

Petra--maybe you just needed that ice cream. But now you've had your fix and you can get back to your plan.

Everyone--have a great day.

Good Morning everyone! A quick drive-by for me before work. I'll be back after school to catch up on personals! Rain here again. I thought spring was supposed to be nice? It's been cloudy, gray and damp here for too long! I've been good with my eating but have not been getting my exercise in. I need a good kick in the a**! Hope everyone has a terrific day! Think positive weight loss thoughts!

Well it turns out the ice cream was not as devastating as I was concerned it might be in terms of calories but obviously my ugly sugar addiction is resurfacing. I need to get a grip on that. I think I'm going to buy some dark chocolate today. At least if I have the urge to eat something "sweet" I can make it healthy as long as I don't go overboard and that will hopefully get me back to my focus on healthy.

Today is my last day of work this week but it still feels like torture. Have a good day everyone.