Kat will be missing for awhile. Her computer has died and they have to go and buy a new computer. She wanted me to let you know.

Well ladies... I am writing this off line so I will not be replying to any posts. I will just take this time to catch you up on me the last week or so.

I did make it to the doctor about the pain in my leg. He sent me to the hospital to have a doppler done on my veins. It is just like an ultra sound when you are pregnant. They put gel on your body and then press on your body with a device that shows an image of your inner body. The technician would not tell me much. Only that she did not believe I have any blood clots but it appears I may have a cyst behind my knee. She told me the doctor would be getting back with me. And of course... not until next week.
My leg still hurts.. but nothing like it did last Monday. My daughter looked up the treatment for these type of cysts on the internet. One... disappear on their own. Two... doctor drain them with a needle. Three... surgery. So I will choose ONE if given an option...as long as I can still walk. I am a COWARD for any type of treatments.

Most of you know my daughter was home for almost an entire month.
We had a wonderful visit. We saw a lot of movies, and just hung out together.
She had to go back to school last Thursday. She will be "teaching" at Oklahoma University this next semester. She will NOT be a teachers aide.. she is the Top Dog Teacher. It is so strange to have your children in such adult roles. I am so very proud of her.
The only bad thing about her visit is... we are eating buddies. We always are going to be dieting buddies... but we just have so much fun eating out and snacking together. We both gained weight during the holidays. Hopefully both of us will get our acts together now that we are seperated.

I have been busy the last few days working on wedding plans. EVERYTHING cost more than you plan. Ugh !!!!! But once I accepted this is going to cost more than I wanted .... I am starting to enjoy the process. We have the locations set for the wedding and reception.
We have the announcements picked out, the dress ordered, the shoes bought. We are having a hard time getting the bridesmaids in for measurements. I sure hope they get their butts in gear soon. My daughter wants the main flowers to be calla lillies. Do any of you have any good cheap ideas of how to do bouquets and decorations with calla lillies??

I am also working on a photo album online to be able to show all of you my Christmas photos. But don't hold your breath. LOL I am a slow learner.. and I have a lot of photos... and I have 5 pans in the fire too.

I do want to welcome the newcomer. I can't remember your name at the moment... but I am truly glad you have joined our humble group. These ladies are the greatest.

thin... THANK YOU SO MUCH for all that you do for us.
I love our new location and all the new stuff we have.
I sure do miss the "BOOT CAMP" thread.
I know you have it going under a much "nicer" name.... but I needed that mentallity.
It is my own fault for not posting when it was there. Live and learn as they say.

Okay... I think I have you all caught up on my life. I promise to take notes to get caught up on yours. It is just tooooo time consuming to go back and reread all I have missed right now.. so I am starting from today.
It sure is good to be home again.

Hello ladies!

Well, I had an absolutely wonderful two weeks with my husband over the holidays. I had to take him back to the airport Thursday night to send him back to Baghdad. It was sooo hard to let him go again. Especially after seeing on the news that very night about more soldiers killed by mortar attacks. My husband told me about those. They get them pretty frequently where he's at. On top of that there was that transport plane that got shot leaving Baghdad airport, which is where he is stationed and will be flying into. I'll feel better when he calls me and lets me know he's in one piece. His tour is over May 1st, so I only really have about three and a half more months to go. It's all down hill from here.

Anyhoo, I am learning the truth of this surgery for sure. It definately is only a tool. I really let myself go over the holidays and while my husband was here. While I couldn't eat too much at one time, I grazed almost constantly and ate terrible things like cookies and fudge. It is still soooo hard to get back on track when the old habits have crept back in. I didn't go through all of this for nothing though. I have to get back on track RIGHT NOW!

I tried to post some "before" and "current" pics, plus some pics of my trip to the Alps, but it says my file size is too large. Anyone know how I can fix that?

I come here and read a lot, always with the intention of posting, but never end up actually writing anything. Today I had so much in my head that I was going to post, but lost it somewhere along the way. Oh well, at least I finally posted something.

I'll talk at ya all later,
Jen

2Cute - Get your butt back in bootcamp mentality. Its all the same mindset - make the commitment, make your plans, work your plans, and be accountable for yourself. Only its over three months.

Do you need me to yell at you each morning?

Nothing will work if we don't make the commitment to a healthier us. It has to be a lifelong commitment to change bad habits.

Did any of you read the January issue of Oprah yet? It has a wonderful article written by a lady who lost 175 lbs. She said something about deciding what you really want.

Do you really want to be healthier enough to put down the food and start addressing the underlying problems? If you can't say yes, then why torture yourself?

It was a great motivating article.

I need to scoot off to get ready for church. I'll try to get back later with replies.

Have a great day!

Hi everybody! Can you believe that I still don't have my Christmas stuff taken down??? Actually, I have not packed away even ONE thing yet! Can you tell that taking it down is NOT one of my favorite things? I'm seriously considering putting some red ribbons around and calling them Valentine's Trees. What do ya thinK????

Lucky: Thanks for letting us know about Kat. That's too bad about her computer. Geez. I don't know what I would do without mine. * I have to say though that I thought the next time you posted you would satisfy our curiosity about your party Friday night. You're such a tease, you left us thinking you had one GREAT time, and then you didn't tell us anything. Spill, girlfriend.

Jen: I'm so glad you had such a wonderful time with your hubby home. I'm sorry he had to go back. We have an base right near us and they've been showing the guys (and gals) leaving constantly since Christmas. Seems like a whole bunch are shipping out. * I sent you a PM about re-sizing pics. I hope the directions work for you.

Terri: When you mentioned the Oprah magazine, I went right out and bought a copy. The fact that she and I are both turning 50 this month caught my eye. The problem is, I bought it before Christmas and in the process to clear off tables and other horizontal surfaces, I have proceeded to lose the issue. I'm sure it will turn up. That article sounds like it is really good. I'll look forward to reading it.

2cute: So glad you are back. It sounds like you had a wonderful time with your daughter. Isn't it terrific when your kids are getting older (not that I didn't like them as kids) and you see that "gee, I guess we did a pretty good job with them"? "The baby" has matured so much this past 6 months, I can't believe it. And some of the things he has said to me this past week have just made me melt. Something like, geez, he's finally getting it. I don't know, I'm just babbling here. But it's fun to be proud of them!

Well girls, I'm heading out. See you all later. Love ya bunches.

PLEASE NOTE: If you did not see the memo at the top of the page, the site will be CLOSED from 8:00 PM EST tonight (Sunday) until 8:00 AM EST Monday morning. Suzanne is trying the upgrade again.
She has added new servers and does not expect to have any problems.

Hey everyone

Good morning! It is a beautiful, sunny day outside, and those always leave me feeling perky. As soon as it warms up a bit more, I'm dragging the girls (to include the dog) outside for a good walk! Church is at 1 all this year, so I got to enjoy sleeping in and have even made a killer breakfast for myself. The girls were asleep, so I made it just the way I like. Slow-cooked oatmeal with cinnamon and clove, raisins, bananas and a titch of brown sugar on the top.

Breakfast is one of those meals that can get hard for me when I'm doing low carb. Low fat, you can have things like old fashioned oatmeal and put raisins in and all. Low carb that is about a total no-no. But lets face it, carbs are cheap. So, I'm focusing on where the simple carbs come from. If I keep processed sugars to a minimum (need to replace things like brown sugar with honey or maple syrup) and the same for processed flours, I know I lose weight. Still, low carb was a nice treat for a while. I hadn't eaten things like blue cheese in so long, and they were encouraged! Yeah, I know that sounds kind of whiny, but I'm still working hard to get my head wrapped around the old eating plan.

I'm coming to this realization that there are lots of plans out there that will work for me, but it is up to me to do the work!!!

Terri, I read that article. It was so good and honest. I have to admit, I opened the magazine to that opening page and couldn't read the article for two days. I just kept looking at her before and after pictures. I have a real problem seeing myself as the same woman everyone else must see. To me, I imagine myself looking about 225-250. Well, she is taller than me and weighed in at the same exact amount I did when starting. I have to look more like her than I want to admit. Right after reading the article, my daughter found two pictures of me on our computer. Realization moment. Painful Aha. Probably just what I needed.

Jen, good to hear from you! I am so glad the vacation went well. It must have felt like a dream to have him back. What did your DH think of your new bod? You are right about getting back on track. I think we are all in that frame of mind!

2cute, thanks for the leg update. I'm glad to hear it probably isn't a blood clot, even though the cyst sounds painful. The wedding plans for your daughter sound like fun. My youngest brother just got married over the holiday and wants to have a reception here on the 30th. I'm supposed to come up with pretty, edible centerpieces for him. Run across any ideas in your travels so far?

Lucky, thanks for the update on Kat. Now, how about the update on you?

Mary, oooh, low carb wraps sound good!

Thin, have I said thank you for all your hard work getting our thread back together? THANK YOU!!! Also, your susie homemaker comment just cracked me up. I do what I do out of necessity. For around here, I don't even begin to cut the mustard as a susie homemaker. I need to learn how to bake bread, quilt, can, craft, etc. By local standards, I'm barely a woman!

Sandy, has it warmed up yet? Glad your car is behaving itself now.

Pam, I think that is the first weight gain you have reported since you started. Are you back on the bandwagon yet? If not, do you need a little Terri styled drill sergeant action? All kidding aside, I have been so impressed with your steady progress and the incredible amount of progress you have made already. I'm styling my next few months after you! (no pressure there, sorry)

Ok, better get myself outta here. The interruptions keep coming, and I'll never get out to that walk if I don't. BTW, I walked a mile yesterday, and my knee didn't hurt at all after!

Andria

Just popping in while the game is on (Chief's defense looks pretty bad.

I posted a few recipes and a picture of me on 1/1/04. It sure is obvious where I carry my weight - right in my midsection.

I have to go work on laundry and bills.

BBL!


P.S. Thin - I have that article I posted if you want to start up the article thread again.

Me again!!

Thanks Thin for the lesson in posting pics!! I just posted a bunch!

It's so strange how I can look at myself in the mirror and still see myself fat. I can look at a picture of me and still see myself fat. It isn't until I put the pictures side by side that I can actually see the difference. I posted a "before" and a "current" pic. I only have about 3 pounds to my doctors goal, but I really want to lose another 25 or so.

Hope you like the pics!!!
Talk at ya all later,
Jen


256/163/140ish

Good afternoon Chickies!! Where is everyone?

Jen- You are so BEAUTIFUL!! You really can see a difference in the pictures! You have done so well! You are going to be my role model now!!

Tracy...where in SC do you live? I use to live in Rock Hill. But that was back in the 70's! And I have a 3 yr old too! Aren't they just sooo much fun! You would think I would be stick thin just chasing after him all day long!

2Cute...glad you went and got checked! I have to make myself an appointment to have a physical. I haven't had one in years. I did schedule my gyn exam but couldnt' get one till June 17th. It will be here before we know it!!

Terri I would rather carry my weight in the middle than at the bottom like I do! At least you can wear shorts!! I wouldn't be caught DEAD out in public in shorts!!

Andria...I can't do that low carb diet thing! I HAVE to have those carbs to feel satisfied. I try to keep them to a minimum.

Lucky...do spill girlfriend!! You're being awwwfully quiet!!!

Thin thanks for doing all the work you have for us on this site. We all really do appreciate it because we know it takes alot of time! You are the best! And your pics are beautiful...even your king cat!

Mary...did you get to wear your dazzling outfit yet?

Sandy...me too in high school! I passed with a D and the only reason I scraped out a D was because on one test I got a B and would you believe the teacher thought I cheated on that one? Heck they were all multiple choice and I just got lucky on that test. The rest I got D's and F's! I just can't retain the information it is soooo boring! I will settle for a C in this western civ class! Though I am hard on myself and require all A's!!

OK Pam...the holidays are over and you and me are going to kick butt this year and stay on program. When we see food that we know we really really don't care for like cookies and cakes and ice cream and pastry and candy and all that bad for you stuff we will turn our nose up at it! Just think of all the artery clogging compounds in all that stuff! We will act just like those skinny little girls who wouldn't DARE put that stuff in there mouths! OK?? I gained 6.6 lbs over the holidays too but now I am on track again as of today!!

Welcome back Aradia!

BarbG good job on getting in the exercise this week. That is my downfall. I am going back to the "Y" this week and using the treadmill and the pool! My son loves to swim so I have no excuse now!

Well I bit the bullet and went back to WW and got weighed today. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. You get a disc with exercise on it now too and the fast trak plan where they give you foods to choose from for each meal and the total comes to 20 points a day. Thats for two weeks to give you a boost. Also, they have two sections one for the people who like and need carbs (like ME) and then one for mostly proteins.

Oh one other thing. Has anyone ever eaten a Pummelo? Its like a great big giant green grapefruit and the inside looks like a pink grapefruit but its SWEET not bitter like grapefruit! I love it! I fell in love with it! I can't wait to go get more!!

Ok I better run and get some more housework done before John gets home from work. He wants to watch the game this afternoon! GO EAGLES...GO PATRIOTS though I know they won last night! I want the patriots and the eagles to go to the superbowl together this year!! They almost made it a couple years ago but the giants beat the eagles and the patriots went on to win the superbowl!

OK enough babbling. TTFN Love ya! Michelle

Hi Gals,
I have been lurking around reading for the past few days but just haven't felt like posting. However I figured I would at least stop in and catch up for a few minutes.

It's just been a rough week. As I told you, I am leaving on Tues. morning for FL due to my dad's surgery. In addition, I have been major PMSin, feeling lazy and depressed. I think you know that we really want to have a child, and we've been going through some testing because we've had no luck for several years getting pregnant. We got bad news regarding DH's test and the next stop will be a fertility specialist. My Dr. didn't call me directly, she had the nurse call and she was vague with the info so I am going to call back tomorrow and try to understand more what our options/next steps are.

I keep telling myself that things could be worse and I should stop throwing this little pity party for myself, but I am in a funk right now. I feel confident that once I see my parents and once Dad's out of surgery then things will start turning around.

I don't know if the hotel has a gym, but I am taking my workout clothes and am determined to get some exercise in every day. I think it will be a good mental/physical break for me. I am also taking a journal to write in and a Dr. Phill book that I bought - not the weight loss one, but one on Life Strategies.

I'm not going to catch up on replies now, but I do want to tell JEN --- You are beautiful, thanks for sharing your pictures. I am so happy to hear that you had a wonderful time with your DH, hopefully the time together will help you both get through the next few months. I don't think you told us....what was his reaction when he first saw you?

Wishing you all a wonderful day. I'll try to stop in tomorrow.
Love to you all!
Barb

Jen: Oh my Gosh! What a difference since the surgery! And what great pics of the Alps. You guys must have had a wonderful time. Glad the resizing tips helped.

Michelle: Good job going back to WW. That will put you back on track.

Andria: "it is up to me to do the work!!! " That really sums it up. I have not done the work in a very long time and it's time to get back at it. Honey's been digging through my office for the past couple of days and he unearthed one of my "before" pictures. He handed it to me saying, "boy, you've come a long way since then." It was nice, but I've been at a standstill for so long that it could have been a much longer way if I'd have been paying attention.

Terri: I forgot all about the Article Thread. I'll work on getting that one back up and running to.

Barb: [[[[hugs]]]], honey. It sure is a rough time for you guys. Hopefully some of your stress will be relaxed once your dad is taken care of. Limbo is a terrible place to be and once you have a handle on exactly what's going on with him, you'll be able to relax a little bit. It's awful trying to care for a parent that is so far away. My folks used to be in Florida too and it's so much nicer with mom up here.

Gonna run. We're fast-forwarding through shows that we have taped through the week.

Hey sweeties....

I didn't want you guys to think I was ignoring you again.... far from it. I have been super busy though. Only having one car has been crazy. We had to drive all the way to Chattanooga yesterday to get the alternator after I got off work and dh didn't get it on till almost 9:00 last night. Now it's leaking water from either a head gasket or the water pump. It's killing me, I tell you.... just killing me.

Dh just got a raise at work, so I'm majorly thrilled, although he still hasn't heard about the position he interviewed for. Things have been moving so fast and furious around here lately, I just can't stand it.

I only have one day off this week and today was it and I've used just about the whole day trying to get it clean. I've got dirty laundry out the wazoo and even though I've done a million loads, I still feel like I haven't even grazed the surface.

Dh is at work right now so I'm trying to do it all. Oh well, at least he's not here to mess up all the good I'm doing. He's as bad as the kids.

If I sound really negative, it's not you. It's me. Things have to slow down soon. If they don't, I'll have to die to get some rest.

I love you all and I'll be back in the morning.... from work.

Tina that sounds like my house! Things are constantly moving and its mostly me! Dishes, cleaning, laundry, work, school, Andrew..John...he tries to help...well at least he THINKS he is helping! BUt heck instead of stepping over something why not just bend down and pick it up! Geeessh! And my biggest pet peeve today is...the clothes you take off on the other side of the bed need to come over and hit the basket or they ain't gonna get washed cause I'm tired of hunting down clothes...oh and this is even bigger...he MADE me buy two hampers..one for the bedroom and one for the bathroom...well...what the heck for...the hamper is RIGHT there beside the tub and he takes his clothes off and leaves them on the floor and the hamper remains empty. Men...can't live with them, can't live without them! Whats a girl to do?? And YOU have three!! Lucky you! LOL

Barb...my prayers are with you and your dad!! Please keep us posted ok Sweetie??!!

Well we just got back from dropping John's truck off to have it inspected tomorrow. Its only 11 months old so I can't imagine anything needing to be done to it. I gave Andrew his bath before we left and put his blanket sleeper on him with the footsies cause I knew he would fall asleep. I bundled him up snug as a bug and warmed up the car and he was fast asleep about 5 minutes down the road! John carried him in and layed him in his bed and I took off his jacket and hat and he rolled over and went right back to sleep. Little guy worked so hard outside for 2 hours today and it was COLD out there...he didn't care! He loves it outside!

OK its my turn to go hit the shower now! Catch you all later! Hurry back Kat!! Where has Syn been? And Tracy..and Duckie! And Steph! And I know there are more of yous out there that are hidden in the recesses of my brain!

TTFN Michelle

The board dinner is this coming Fri night I'll try to get a pic

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR THINTHINKER
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUuuuuu !!!!!