Hey everyone

I'm back!

This shopping trip felt like such a triumph! I stood and walked around for 1.5 hours! There was a crutch and brace involved, but I was out there. It felt so good.

I was tired last night and didn't share a big disappointment for the day. I went in for WI, and it was a maintain. I was beating myself up pretty bad, then I remembered that I had been to work all the night before. I eat 2-3 meals while I'm there. Of course the scale was a maintain! Normally I weigh in the mornings and haven't eaten or had anything to drink since the evening before. Still, I was hoping to see something down. I've been working so hard at staying OP, and I guess I was looking for my reward. That's what I get for looking beyond myself for approval, eh?

Have a question to ask of all of you, because I'm not entirely sure how to deal with the situation and could use your suggestions. You all know I've been going to a place called Decision Weight Loss for my food plan. It has been working for me, and I'm really happy with the program. Just over a month back, I was surprised to see one of Adam's relatives working at the desk there. It hadn't ever occurred to me that I wasn't going to be really anonymous until that moment. Still, I counted on her to maintain a degree of privacy where I was concerned and with Adam's side of the family. She hasn't. I got a call from my MIL saying she has heard I've lost a bunch of weight and wants to know all sorts of details. I can't think of a person on the face of this earth I would like to share those details with less than her. She has been nothing short of tortuous through the years when it comes to my attempts at weight loss. She has driven me to tears and helped push me into severe depressions. I should be proud and want to tell her all about this, but I don't. I also don't want any more information leaked to her in any way, shape or form. Adam tried to talk to his relative about it, but she doesn't seem to get it. I don't want to take it over her head because she would probably lose her job. Do any of you have a suggestion for me short of finding a new place? Am I just making a mountain out of a mole hill?

Kat, that is the cutests image! I can just see you sitting there with eyes drooping and a book wobbling in your hands while your cute little children wait for the next silly thing to come out of your mouth.

2cute, hope you have a wonderful time out to dinner! I love how you have your plan and put it in writing so there is no going back. Still, I'm hoping you leave room for something fun if you want. Sometimes food is fun, let's admit it. Glad your scale is moving down! Nice to see it going that direction this time of year.

Michelle, we want to hear all about the new job! Hope it is a great day. I'm sure you are going to fit right in.

Leanne, how's the thesis coming along? I totally related to your story about picking at things while you think about what to write. I can unconsciously down an entire bag of pretzels or whatever is handy when I'm struggling in writing mode.

cd, sending good finals vibes your direction. I was happy to hear you survived your toughest one.

BarbG, just for you...

Holly Jolly Christmas

Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
It's the best time of the year
I don't know if there'll be snow
but have a cup of cheer.
Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
And when you walk down the street,
Say Hello to friends you know
and everyone you meet.

Oh ho
the mistletoe,
hung where you can see;
Somebody waits for you;
Kiss her once for me.
Have a holly jolly Christmas
and in case you didn't hear,
Oh by golly
have a holly
jolly Christmas this year!

Ok, that wasn't just for you. I love that song as well and can never remember the words.

Now, to nearly finish off our other song

On the tenth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Ten Lords a-leaping,
Nine Ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking
Seven swans a-swimming
Six geese a-laying
FIVE G---o-o-o-l-d Rings!
Four calling birds
Three French hens
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!

Have a great evening!

Andria

I am exhausted! Today was my first day and it was a long day too. From 6:50 am to 6:15 pm. But we have a 2 hour break from 1-3. They usually have a staff meeting on tuesday from 12-1 but today the doctor ordered us lunch and we all decorated the Christmas tree. It was a real tree too and smelled sooo good! On my 2 hour hiatus I went to the post office to mail off two packages of gifts and to Carrabbas Restaurant to get a gift certificate for my mom and dad for Christmas. Now to wrap up the rest of their stuff and get it in the mail to them. Tomorrow we work 6:50 to 1:00 - short day! I'm liking the short days but not so sure about the long days! I'm sure it will all work out.

Today was Andrew's first day at the daycare center. When I dropped him off he wanted to leave and started for the door. One of the aides took him by the hand and comforted him so I could leave. I think he was scared because another child was laying on the floor screaming bloody murder at the top of his lungs!! It scared me! I'm sure my little guy was upset by it! John picked him up today and the teacher told him that he was a little upset for the first hour but then started playing with the other kids who came in and he was fine! At least tomorrow I get to pick him up early!

Well I gotta run...have to get everyone ready for the morning...we all leave the house at 6:15! TTFN Michelle

Good evening everyone!!

Had my weigh in at Curves tonight. Scales weren't working... but, I lost 8 1/2 inches in less than a month!!! I'm psyched! I've been working my butt off and have had very few cheat moments, but in the back of my mind I didn't think I was really going to see a difference at all... but surprise! It really does work, doesn't it?

Sandy-- Congrats on the Bingo bucks!! I went a few months ago and split a $100 pot 12 ways... LOL... I made $8 and some change!! My daughter won last month $50... not bad for an 8 year old!!

Andria-- Oh, I know how you feel! My family loves to harass me while I'm asleep and tell me what craziness came out of my mouth. And the job?? It has it's ups and downs constantly and after over a year there it's so easy to get burned out, but I always give it another day! As far as your MIL goes... maybe try going higher up... but not giving a name of who it is... maybe call the manager as an anonymous customer and he/she can do a privacy inservice to remind their employees to shut the he$$ up.

Barb-- OMG I saw the score last night!! Hard to believe!! And ABOUT TIME, ain't it?

2Cute-- I like that Einstein correlation... I will have to remember that! And Happy Anniversary! Hope it's a great one for ya--congrats!

HI guys !!! I just got home from my date night. We had a wonderful evening.
First we went to the movies and watched "National Treasures"... with Nicholas Cage. It was pretty good. Kind of like a present day "Indiana Jones". I am not ususally one of Cage's biggest fans ... but I thought he did an excellent job in this movie. We both enjoyed it.
Next we went to a restaurant called Arbellos or something like that. It is mainly Mexican but has the BEST RIB EYE STEAKS. Mmmmmm They used to have it on the menu by itself... but now only offered it with enchilladas. I don't like enchilladas so I asked what happened to option to order alone. They gladly gave me the old option. It was soooooooooo good. It came with a small order of garlic potatoes and creamed spinach dish that is oh so good. I know.. it sounds yuck... cream spinach... but trust me ...it is good. I also ate a side salad. I did bring home about 1/4 of my steak. It was so good I did not want to stop eating it. LOL

After dinner... we drove around and looked at Christmas Lights. This one house has probably a million lights on it. A young mother was killed by a drunk driver several years ago... and her dad puts out TONS of Christmas lights with her son. They add more every year. He has a lighted sign saying "For Tracy" up front. Actually... he had too many lights. You could not appreciate them because they all ran into each other. I am surprised the neighbors don't complain. But then again.. it is hard to complain when you know it is in honor of his daughter. She loved Christmas lights.

I probably will gain a pound or two... but it was well worth it.
I will have it off again by Monday's weigh in.
I had no treats at the movies. No bread or butter... no dessert either.
What is great... I did not feel deprived either.
It was just a GREAT evening overall.

While looking at the lights.. we saw a small train where the wheels look like they are turning... and there are puffs of smoke coming out of the engine. It was so cute. I have seen trains with smoke stack... but this ones PUFFS so cutely. And you know how I love CUTE !!! Anyway.. tomorrow it is my goal to find one for my front yard.

Mornin' ladies!

Like always, it has been crazy here recently and then I was having internet issues so I couldn't post even if I had time.

My mom is arriving for a visit on Sunday and my house is SO not ready!! I have no idea when I'm going to get it ready since I have oober extra hours this week at work plus I'm making TONS of stuff for our battallion Christmas party Saturday.

I SWEAR the day after Christmas I'm putting my garbage can in the center of my kitchen and hurling everything bad into it. My kitchen is oh-so-full of sugar and junk. I do tons of baking and candy making during this time of year. As I said, I have stuff to make for the party Saturday, plus I'm making a bunch of goodie baskets for single soldiers in the barracks, plus a bunch of stuff to send to my baby brother who will be spending his Christmas in Kirkuk. (Sucks! I just get my husband back from Iraq and now I have to worry about my little brother!!!) ANYHOO, the point of the story is that there is so much junk in my kitchen, I get a sugar high just walking in there!! Here's crossing my fingers that I don't eat too much and gain weight.

I have another appointment today with the plastic surgeon to pick out my new boobies UU !!! LOL We've already been over the tummy tuck. I am scheduled for surgery January 24, and have to tell you I am scared to death!! The recovery from this surgery is going to be longer and far more painful than anything else I've had. I hope this is the last surgery I have. I've had too many over the last couple of years. I don't know how much more my body can take.

Well, I can't do replies because
A. I didn't read the past threads and
B. I gotta go get ready for work

I'll talk at ya later though!!!
Jen

I was really wondering whether to post this or not, but I guess I wonder if anyone has been there, done that on this list.

Today (8th Dec here) would have been my wedding anniversary. I am happily single - 6+ years ago I asked my ex to move out due to abuse issues (and then found out he had been cheating on me with someone I had known for around 4 years), and I have never regretted that decision.
But every year, I find the anniversary thing hard to take. I guess noone gets married expecting to get divorced.

Things were made worse this year by a combination of things. My kids dragged out an old video of the Christmas before we broke up. The kids were small and cute and happy - the twins and Bethany were in the nativity play, Josiah was in this little item as well (he was 3) ... and I was in the choir. I was fine watching the video, until it panned across to me in the choir, and Julie (the "other" woman) standing right behind my shoulder. I don't hate her, I don't even dislike her .. but seeing the video just catapulted me back to that time, and how miserable I was, and how trusting I was as well. It stirred up a hornet's nest of feelings, that I have since been putting aside for the last few days while I'm pushed myself to work on this thesis. And meanwhile I've only had one day where I've been able to stay on track foodwise, since the beginning of the Christmas challenge. Coincidence?

So today all day I have felt awful. I kept telling myself it was fine, it was just another day, I am happy we are divorced and all the bad stuff is behind me and I needed to work on my thesis NOW ... and then heading to the fridge/pantry. After the third trip, I realised I was just stuffing my feelings down with food. I have never seen the correlation so clearly before.
So instead of eating, I just sat down and tried to write out my feelings about the whole thing. I wrote about my grief over lost expectations - the expectation that I would have a life partner that would be supportive, caring, and share the responsibility for our family; and the expectation that my children would have a father that would be loving, supportive, directive, and encouraging.
It helped (I didn't stuff my face anymore!) but boy it was so hard. The really difficult thing is ... it only helped a little. I even cried today, over something really little - but I don't feel 'over it'. I also have pms so its a double whammy for me this year. I didn't go swimming this morning "I have to work on my thesis!" so its two "naughty" marks for me today

I need to find a way of dealing with this - I don't want to use food to handle feelings, but I don't know if the other methods (writing it out, mostly) I use help? Any comments would be much appreciated.

good morning all , i am just as glad i did not go out to a meeting last night i had to do early late bus i am home by 5 pm most nights the roads were mainly just wet but i had a few that was slippery, and ice covered. and i did not get home till going for 6 pm nasty out there last night it was misty rain and fog i hate fog and then i was on an interstate with the bus and the big trucks going by made it even harder to see . oh well got home safe and got the kids home safe so that is all that matters. had a good on program day cant eat drive and consentrate on the weather at the same time .
Andria- i hope the mouth is feeling better .
barb- i love the cowboys also
2cute- i am glad to here i am not the only one that is up at those ungodly hours i hate getting up early and now that i have been doing if for over 3 years i am up early even when i dont have to be (weekends) and i think that has to be one of the bad things thinking that i can sleep in and wakeing up early anyway oh well

I never knew bananas and cinnamon applesauce could taste so good. I am still on my soft food diet. Mouth is hurting but not as much. I decided to stop taking the pain meds and just take an over the counter thing so that I could concentrate at work today. I really have to get my butt motivated to go to work. I also need to find something I enjoy doing. Work, depresses me. I find I eat a lot there.
Anyway, I have not exercised the past two days as I have been doped up that I have just slept.

Sandy, Congrats on the money hunny.

2Cute, It sounds like you had a wonderful anniversary.

Hippy, I have been there. Even though I am now remarried to the most wonderful man ever, I still think of my ex sometimes and why he was such a jerk. I am an analyzer and I always want answers. My main thing was why on earth did you waste my time and make these promises if you couldn't keep them. You have wonderful children from your experience. And maybe that is all you need. It is going to take time to get rid of your hurt and anger towards your ex. Talking and writing are great things, so is beating up a pillow. Write your ex a letter, don't send it to him. Write it and then burn it. It will make you feel better getting out all of your feelings. You have to release them or you will just continue to smother them with food. Good Luck.

Andria, I would talk to the person that works there along with her supervisor and express you concerns. Explain that you don't want to see her fired for this issue, but that you believe that there should be some sort of confidentiality here and that you don't want her to tell the family about it. If she continues, then you will have no other choice but to leave and find some place else to do business. Her supervisor will make sure that she understands that she can not speak to people about individuals that come there, even people she knows. And that they do not want to lose clients over her blabbing. This way she will know that you are serious and realize that her job may be at risk if she goes and tells everyone about your business.

Michelle, sounds like your job turned out ok. Good Luck, and enjoy your half day.

Ok, that is it for now, I am late,

Skitt

Hey everyone! Tonight is my last final!! So I'll finally be able to catch up and get on track. I'm very upset that I haven't worked out since exams started (last Thurs) and I haven't been drinking all my water - food is 50/50. My doctor's appointment is a little more than a week away and I really wanted to try hard to improve a bit before I go (not him, for me - to see more loss). Oh well, I'll just jump right back on track tonight

I just wanted to pop in and let you all know that i'm lurking around once in a while and am still alive.

Take care everyone!

Hi all! Just checking in quickly. I have not read, just scanned. Glad to see all of you holding down the fort while I'm gone.

We're staying at the Monte Carlo. Our friends are at the Bellagio. When they checked into their room and went up, they opened the door and other people were in the room. Oooopsss!!! I guess even 5 ***** hotels can have snaffooss!! We went downtown last night and saw the laser show. It wasn't what any of us expected, but at least we saw it.

This place is loaded with COWBOYS!!!! I mean the authentic kind. It's the national rodeo finals and the place is just crawling with 10 gallon hats!!!! YUM!!! The other great thing is that most of the casinos are playing country music!!! Not that anyone I'm with appreciates that!

Honey and I are headed to the Nascar Cafe for lunch. We'll meet up with the others at 2:00 to go to the Luxor for dinner, King Tuts Tomb and a performance of the Blue Man Group.

Well ya'll, I'm outta here. Talk to you later. Love ya bunches!

Hello Everyone, remember me?

I have just finished 2 months of budget preparation and submitted it today. Not only did I have to do cuts for 2005/2006, but I had to do the mid year cuts for 2004/2005. All totaled, we had to cut $9 million from our budget and possibly more to come. I am wasted (brain wise), but so happy to be done that I feel exilerated (sp?).

Food: It sucks!

Exercise: What's that?

About the only thing that I have been doing right is drinking all my water.

For all that don't know me, I am Susie and I am 35 years old. I am married to Jim for 8 years and have a Son, Andrew who will be 5 in January, and two stepchildren, Eric 19 and Kristina 17. I am an accountant for the City of Detroit, and currently weigh around 306 pounds. My highest weight was 347 and about a year ago, I was able to get down to about 264. Unfortunately, I have gained it back, but I am not giving up. I have been a member of Weight Watchers on and off since the age of 12 (207 pounds).

I was fortunate enough to get to meet many of the group at Spring Fling 2004 and see them again at Spring Fling 2005 and meet others.

2Cute: Thanks for checking on me!

Thin: Hope your vacation is going great.

Well got to run.

Susie

Just a quick hello. I still don't know the 12 days of Christmas... hope someone knows the 11th day. LOL At this rate it may take 12 days to get it done.
Also... the only one I knew was the 5th day. But isn't it Golden Rings ?? I really don't know... but we keep posting Gold Rings.

Susie... good to see you again. I am glad you came and reintroduced yourself to all the newcomers. They will think you are some stranger at the Spring Fling 2.
Susie has one of the cutest little boy.

Leanne... {{{ HUGS }}} My heart goes out to you. I can totally relate.
I am not willing to write about my simular experiences on an open forum... but I wanted to say to be patient with yourself. Some wounds heal.. but leave permanent scars. I was changed permanently... but not beyond healing.
I think the writing is a wonderful tool. I also recommend it. But I would add to share it with an understanding friend before you burn it. Someone who is not affected personally. DO NOT mail it.. just like Skittles said. Just write out all of that pain, anger, fear, and any other emotion you are feeling. Write it with pen and paper. Somewhere I read we use a different part of our brain when writing long hand and that part is what you need to use. I will be happy to be an ear to talk to or a shoulder to lean on. But I know these ladies would all be. We care about each other and are more than willing to be that ear.

Just had to add one more little tidbit.
Every time you share those feelings it removes half of the power it has on you.
So when you wrote the other night... half of it was removed. But that still leaves half.
When you share about it again.. it will remove half of that half.
Eventially you will feel better.
BUT... it may pop it's head up again. That does NOT mean you are not recovering from this relationship. It just means you need to let go a little more. We are a work on progress.

Hey everyone

This has been a good day! Physical therapy added in yet another exercise, and even though it was scary to do, I got through it. So, 30 minutes of what I'm doing is really good cardio work now because I can move enough, and 11 minutes is spent in 3 different strength and stability exercises. It feels so good to be moving!

After pt, I had a doctor appointment. The doc said I could ditch my brace! Wahoo!!! He wants me to be very cautious for another two months, but after that, he says I can take up jogging if I want. Oh, and he said they could add in the bike to my therapy regimen. More cardio! Oh yeah, I can feel the weight melting off already.

I decided to do one more thing today. Since I was so disappointed over my WI on Monday, I decided to go back in and try it again on a day when I had been asleep instead of at work all the night before. I was down 4 lbs.! YesYesYes! I also shared with my counselor how disappointed I had become with myself since this injury because my weight loss had slowed down so much. She helped me to check my last WI before September 1st, and we found out that I have dropped 10 lbs. since that time. Now, that isn't a record breaker or anything, but 10 isn't anything to be ashamed of either. It would have been just as easy for that to be a 10 lb. gain. Progress!

Joyce, thank you for continuing our song! One more verse to go.

2cute, thank you for your words to Leanne. They helped me as well. I remember how much it meant to share my story after my baby boy died. Every telling took away a little more pain until what was left was manageable. Now I've had a couple of opportunities to talk with mothers in similar situations, and I'm able to repay a small portion of the debt I owe all the caring people who listened to me in my time of need. *I'm glad you and DH had a great evening out. Adam and I went to see National Treasure yesterday as well, and we really enjoyed ourselves.

Susie, so good to see you! Glad to hear you've survived the budget cutting experience. Now, please, please get back here more often.

Thin, sounds like you are having a blast! I don't think I've been in the Monte Carlo, but we rarely go to Vegas without stopping in to see the gardens at the Bellagio. They are so beautiful. I'm a little jealous, have to admit. Now both you and BarbPA will have seen Blue Man Group, and I've been wanting to see their show and any of the Cirque shows for ages. Oh, did you go on the roller coaster by the Nascar Cafe? Speed is so much fun, and the ride is something like 11 seconds. I scream the entire way and Adam and Tony tease me for hours afterwards. Oh, in case I forgot to tell you before, don't waste the $30 on the buffet at Bellagio. It is good, but it isn't anywhere near worth the charge, IMO.

cd, Congratulations on surviving your finals! Hope you aren't feeling too after all that hard work. I also just realized something cool when you were writing about how you wanted to do really well with eating and exercise before this doc appointment. You get a new WI! Yeah, I'm a little slow on the uptake there but I was really happy for you when I realized that.

Skittles, bananas and cinnamon applesauce... that does sound good! I haven't had any fruit today, so I'm going to head into the kitchen after posting and scout out some for myself. I know both are in there somewhere. Thanks for your suggestion on how to handle that situation.

MaryB, sounds like it really was a good thing you didn't try to get out to WW last night. Glad you made it home safely.

Leanne, *HUGS* I am so impressed you decided to sit down and write out your feelings. It blew me away that you came up with such a brilliant solution in the middle of your crisis. I can understand the part about not regretting your decision but it still making you feel incredibly sad. One of my church leaders suggested I see a therapist to deal with some similar stuff going on in my life. Being able to talk to someone safe and understanding has made a world of difference for me. The therapist has also suggested writing out my feelings and then releasing them. She says it can be inside a balloon or over a bonfire, whatever frees my heart and soul. And, like the others said, she expressed that it is important to write it out longhand.

Jen, sounds like things are going well for you. You must be really excited over the tummy tuck. A friend of mine is getting hers as well, and they figure she will have a 19 inch waist afterwards. I can't even imagine that!

Kerri, WOW on that inch loss! I can hardly wait to get back in to Curves and get my inch loss moving again. I think I've lost just over 80 inches now? Can't remember exactly. Our owner did this cool thing once and put up kites all over the walls with our names on them. She attached tails to the kites that were as long as our weight and inch loss combined. It was so cool to see how well we were all doing. I also appreciated your suggestion about the Decision problem. Thanks!

Michelle, that was one heck of a first day back at work! Sounds like everything went well, though, even for little Andrew.

I think that is everyone since my last post. I'm off to start on dinner and to see if I can get someone to help me get out to the car so I can attend my daughter's symphony concert this evening. She has a performance with just her middle school orchestra group tomorrow night, but I would really love to see both. Take care!

Andria