I had stayed up till about 3:00 the night before and then got up around 6:30. It's that TOM, which is draining in itself, and then before I got too heavy (TOM) I decided to go ahead and do my 3 mile and the day just kinda slid away from there. I made an amazing discovery yesterday. I can now stop eating when I'm full. Don't get me wrong. It's hard, and I'm still learning, but last night I made a big ol' pot of homemade vegetable soup (only I add ground turkey and macaroni noodles too) and cornbread. I haven't had cornbread in such a long time, so I cut myself a reasonable sized piece and ladeled some soup over it. As I was sitting there about halfway through my bowl, I could feel myself getting full. (I had eaten an apple also about 20 minutes before my soup) But I kept on poking it in, and then the voice of my WW leader rolled into my head and I remembered her words from my last meeting. "I used to be a member of the "Clean your plate" club. Even as a small child, my dad would line me and my brothers up at the end of the table after a meal and poke our stomachs and say, "I believe I feel some more room in there, " and we'd go back and finish cleaning our plate. It took me a long time to realize that being a member of the "Clean your plate" club was not necessarily a good thing. Now, I stop eating when I'm full." She even gave us some helpful hints on what to do if we're full while we're eating out somewhere. She said she used to put people's trash on her plate, you know...like napkins, wrappers and things like that, but before she knew it, she'd see a fry poking out and she'd eat it or something like that. She told us that once we're through eating, we can douse the rest of our food with hot sauce or salt (you know, really RUIN it) and that would help her not eat the rest on her plate. I would like to think that one day I will be able to just have the willpower to not eat the rest of the food on my plate, but for now, those tips sound helpful. At home, I can just rake the rest of the food into the trash. ANYWAYS.....geez, I got off track there for a minute.
The words of my leader came into my head and even though I had to hear them a couple of times, they finally clicked. I handed the rest of my bowl to my dh as he was heading into the kitchen and said, "I'm full." He looked at the bowl and said, "But you're not finished." I said, "Yes, I am. I'm FULL." He just grinned at me. That was such a happy moment for me and a proud one too. 
This morning we were standing in the hallway giving our daily hug. This is not something we schedule or anything, just something we always do.....hugging is a very important thing around our house. Anyways, he said, "You are so very thin." That absoulutely cracked me up. ME....THIN? At 270 lbs? Yeah...right. However, I suppose I am thin compared to being 346. 5 lbs. not so very long ago and I actually feel thin this week. That idea just cracks me up!
Donna: First of all, you must remember, that you are not the soggiest fat woman in Tennessee. I am so sick of this frappin rain. The lightning and thunder kept me awake all night long. Also, I AM very exicted about going to see Tony next month. I have met him twice before. The first time I met him, he looked up and smiled at me and I absolutely FROZE. No kidding. I could speak, I couldn't think. I just sat there and stared at him. He grinned at me and then I melted into a puddle in the floor. My dh still laughs over that one. The second time, I had to step up to the plate. I am an administrator on TonyStewartontrack.com and the webmaster of the website was having a birthday, so I emailed Tony's mom, Pam and asked if I made a sign for Karen saying "Happy Birthday" could Tony hold it and let me take a picture? She got in touch with Tony and his PR guy, Eddie, and told me everything was set up and when they arrived, I went up to the front of the line and hollered to Eddie and let him know who I was and he had us come up on the stage and wait for Tony to finish racing the kids (it was a the Nascar Speedpark in Pigeon Forge, Tn) and we would be first. That's how I got my picture taken with him, instead of having to lean over the table. You have never seen a more nervous woman in your life as I stood their with my arm around him. I was freaking out! I also found out that in addition to seeing him at the Bass Pro Shop on March 5th, he will also be in NASHVILLE at the Home Depot on April 10th, and guess who is off work that day too?!! Looks like I'll be heading your way!!!
Sandy: Congrats on doing the 3 mile! I bet you were totally pooped, but felt great, I bet!
Now, a word of advice.....don't push yourself. I started out slowly and worked up to the 3mile. I have all three of the tapes. I did the 1 mile forever and then worked up to the two mile and am just now doing the 3 mile. If you feel like only doing one mile, then just do that one mile and fast forward to the cool down. That doesn't make you weak. It makes you smart. Know your limitations. There are days that I feel really good and the three mile is the thing for me, but there are some days that the most I can do is the one mile, but no matter what mile you are doing, you are exercising and that is the important thing, ok..sweetie? Ok, dh is bugging the crap out of me, so the next replies have to be really fast, but I wanted to include them.
Sara: We have missed you sweetie. I know you're busy now with your new life, but don't forget us. What you said in your last post was absolutely inspirational and we need to hear things like that every now and again. You are leading the life that we are looking forward to. Everytime you give us a "glimpse" into what we can expect when we get that weight off of us, it gives us a little resurge of power.
2cute: Hope you have a wonderful time on your trip. Aren't those the best kinds to take? I just love getting in the car and driving and ending up wherever you end up. Seeing as you're not going in any particular direction, you could head SOUTH. I know at least a couple of little girls here that would LOVE to see you. just an idea.... Be careful and we anxiously await your return. Love you.
Ok, I have to get out of here for now.....he is tugging my leg as we speak.
Please come out and post......Thin, Lucky, Michelle, J-ann, Mary, Duckie, Baylee and whoever else I might have missed. I love you all and hope to see you soon! 
A word of encouragement from someone who has "been there/done that" can mean the world to someone who is suffering. By the same token, to be the person offering help is also therapeutic...by helping others, you help yourself. If I can make someone laugh or smile or just feel good about themselves with a pat on the back, I feel great. 
Hurry back!
??? Well the lady did not give me a cup holder and my car only has 1 built in one, so I had to hold one of the drinks in my hand and drive and I put the bag of food on the floor on the passanger side!!! OH MY GOD, the smell, I could have
but 
, I did however have to roll the window down to drown out the smell of those lovies calling my name. So I came home and grabbed a bocca burger and ate that for my lunch on a roll with some lett/tom....good stuff. Yet another Victory for me.
all day yesterday and the snowpack has dropped about 4"s. Changed to light snow this morning. Man, the driveway is like a bobsled run. I'm not taking a car down that hill til I have to go to work tomorrow morning. Turkeys are still here. Numbers are down a bit. Only about 20 of the gobblers arrived this morning. Can't remember who asked but we live on the edge of a village in Central NY. We're surrounded by woods and farm fields. Really neat unless you're home alone on a dark, stormy night.
I hope you get the job. You deserve it!
I'm impressed.
If I did it more often I'm sure I could go farther. We'll just have to keep plugging away. Someday we'll catch up with the race walkers we have for friends here. 