Thanks everyone for the dancing birthday things. I don't know to do that stuff. I started the day by giving myself a hair cut. My mother was a beautician so I didn't pay for a doo until I was 26. Then no one could please me, so I do it myself. I prefer to say that I believe in simplicity or self reliance than admitting that I am a hard core tightwad.

As I was picking up after my dog this morning, I remembered a bit from Seinfeld where he said that if aliens saw us, one doing the pooping and one doing the picking up, which would the aliens believe was the "owner." My dog goes to the beauty shop, but I don't. So who owns who here.

I'm going to allow myself to buy something today just for fun. I'm not sure what yet.

Catherine

ANGRY! PERTURBED! LIVID! IRATE! TICKED OFF! MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD!

I WAS GOOD! I TURNED DOWN COOKIES! I WORKED UP A SWEAT THREE TIMES! I HATE TO SWEAT!

Obviously, the WI didn't go well! I didn't lose a frickin' OUNCE! In fact, I may have GAINED a few! This does NOT please me!

(sigh) This is really disapointing. I really wanted to lose another 8 pounds before Vegas, which is now in 2 weeks! So....back to the drawing board! I suppose I'll be good, good, good next week and see what happens! I'll be a diet saint!

I knew that 4 1/2 lbs last week was too good to be true! But I've made the 2x2 for March, so I suppose I can't complain too much! (Buck up Lilion and quit being a wimp! )

So, now I can be yelled at for being disapointed about no loss when I go around telling everyone not to get discouraged! This'll teach me, huh?

And it - I'm Hungry again! This has just GOT to be PMS!

Disapointed Lilion

Well, it's been an OK morning, aside from this cold that I'm coming down with. My nose is stuffy, I have crap in my throat, and my ears keep popping, ick. I don't think I'll be able to workout today, I've been really lightheaded and tired all morning I got a call from my boss, and they're finally looking to arrange an interview with Danielle about the alleged "hair pulling." They better repay me for all this missed time because I didn't do ANYTHING wrong *edit*...and now I'm REALLY mad because half of the replies I made have been erased..grrr....I made sure I responded to everyone and now the replies I typed have been deleted. If I missed you, I'm sorry I just can't be bothered with typing it ALL UP AGAIN.

Shopaholic - You bring up such a good point, a lot of people who are overweight have a high blood pressure...the thing is, how are we supposed to concentrate on low carb, low fat, THE RIGHT carbs, AND beware of sodium too?? Grah, it's so hard, since a lot of the lunch meats and cheeses (the things that you go for on a low carb diet) are PACKED with salt. Like Julee had said (I think it was her), I'm sorta hoping that losing this weight will put my HBP under control...

2Cute: Hey, DITTO!!! Ha ha...but hello!!!

Lilion: Oh my, I am so sorry that your WI didn't go well I guess somtimes we need these wake up calls though, because even though we may feel like we were good most of the time, things tend to sneak in...that's why I write everything down now, I hate it but i have to or i go OP.

Well I gues that's it for now, the damn internet doesn't seem to be able to stay connected.

Its okay Lilion you can do it we're rooting for you!!!

Not to sound all holier than thou but....I lost another five pounds (more or less, i have one of those scales that move when you shift weight)....

...so that makes about 15 pounds in the past couple weeks!! yay

Hey Gang!
Oh my, so much to say, so many replies, but such little time. Threrefore this is going to be a quickie. Yesterday I read all the posts but just couldn't write. It was a crappy-*** day! It would have been my mom's 69th birthday, it was pouring rain, I hassled with the pharmacy over my IVF meds, fought with DH over stupid stuff. All in all, I'm just happy the day is over!

Today I feel much better. The sun is trying to peek out, tomorrow is going to be a quiet work day, it's almost the weekend....things always look better after a good night's sleep. I accidentially slept on DH's pillow last night - I can't believe he didn't swipe it when he came to bed - and it made me realize that I need a new pillow. I slept great on his. I'm going to try to find the same one.

Lilion - I know you are mad right now, but don't let the WI discourage you. Our bodies do crazy things sometimes. Keep up the good work and the weight will come off! It's great that you have found a sport you like to do. It doesn't matter what you do, it just matters that you do something!

Catherine - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

2Cute - My Maxima is a 98 and I just hit 100,000 miles. Soon it will be time for a trade. I keep telling myself I want to wait until I have to deal with baby seats and then get a new one. We'll see. Anyway --- the question I asked was about gas mileage - how is it on the Murano? I drive ~80 miles a day so I have to find something good on gas. As for Spring Fling - if anything changes that enables me to sneak to MI for the weekend, I'll be there with bells on!

Tina - WELCOME BACK! It was great to see you here. Don't leave!

Thin - I have to laugh everytime you say you are doing a "bank job". I always picture you with a a bandana wrapped around your face holding the place up! I'm assuming the work is a little more legit!

Susie - You around? How are ya chickie?

Michelle - You are doing such a great job managing work, Andrew, exercise, etc. I'm proud of you!

Terri - I started looking on the internet last night at bikes and got so overwhemed. I may just have to go to a store and get some help. I'm still debating with myself about whether or not to buy one - can't hurt to go look.

Shop - Good Job getting yourself back OP!

Jill - Wow! Great workout your first time back! You go girl!!!

Ok, I know I have missed many wonderful folks, but you have not been forgotten, I just realized what time it is and I have to get back to work.

Oh - has anyone ever had Biscoff cookies? They are so addictive and such a downfall of mine. I have some at home, but they are individually wrapped so I am going to enjoy them in moderation!

xoxoxo
Barb

Awww Shucks! I'm over it now! Sorry for the explosion!

My temper is the stuff of legends...but it blows over quick and then I feel stupid.

I wish I could say I haven't been good. But I honestly have. I do write down every single thing I eat. The only time I ate bad stuff was when we went to the movie last weekend and I had popcorn. But even then it was without butter and I was low on points that day, so I doubt I went over. And there was the fried shrimp on Sunday...but I never eat all the points I'm allowed, so I should have enough left over to be bad once or twice....Ah, well.

Meliss: Good for you!!! Maybe you lost some for me! Hope you get to feeling better soon. And I hope you get back to work with a big apology and a paycheck!

BarbPA: My husband's pillow is ALWAYS more comfortable than mine...as is his side of the bed. Even when we buy the same pillows at the same time and flip the mattress! Drives him nuts!

Anyhow, what's done is done. I've now had my lunch...and my grapes I had for afternoon snack...and I'm not really hungry at the moment and my headache is gone. Hopefully the constantly hungry thing will go away soon.

Lilion

Lilion - A few thoughts -

Are you drinking your water? Sometimes thirst masquerades as hunger.

How much are you exercising? Are you counting the activity points?

Are you eating ENOUGH points?

I remember my old leader telling another member to be sure to eat her activity points to see if that helped. The lady was earning quite a few activity points a day but was not eating them so therefore she was not eating enough food for her activity level. She did the next week and lost.

Also, what's your maximum point range? If you're eating at the max of the range everyday, try shaving off a point each day.

I'm watching an old Calamity Jane with Doris Day and Howard Keel. Its a far cry from the Deadwood series on HBO.

I'm going to have a little nap. We got a bunch of errands taken care of this morning. Its cold and wet so its not very inspiring.

We did get to see the grandsons this morning. The middle one (SS#2's first child) looks just like DH did. Red hair and blue eyes. He warmed up to me so that made me feel good. This was only the third time to have seen him. He's a big boy though - 38 pounds and he was 2 in December. The baby has the biggest blue eyes. I got to hold him too. The oldest is her's from a first marriage. He's six. He jumped on me so he's not shy either!

Later chicks!

Terri: Glad you're having fun with the grandkids! God I LOVE little boys...really little like under 5. Love my DS too, but all the other 10 year olds make me scream! As does DS to be perfectly honest! But I miss the days when he was little.

As to your questions:

I'm drinking lots of water. At least 48 to 62 oz per day, sometimes more, and 2-3 caffine-free, sugar free sodas on top of that. In fact, I just finished a liter, and now I'm hungry again. That's why I keep thinking this MUST be PMS. I always did eat like a horse before my period...maybe I just never realized I would be physically hungry if I didn't, because I always did. Did that make any sense?

I admit, I'm not exercising every day, although I've exercised WAY more this week than any of the prior ones...and I'm not counting activity points. Cause, really, I sit on my butt ALL DAY. I wouldn't think a couple of days of racketball would stall me out.

I think I'm eating enough points. Granted, I'm following the old "Winning Points" program, that says I should eat between 27 and 35 per day, and I'm eating about 30. Sometimes 27, sometimes 35, but I probably average 30. Does anyone know off-hand what my "Flex" point range would be?

Maybe I should watch the fats more? I've been eating within points, but I'm sure this week I've had more fat in my diet than previous weeks....I don't know....I'm going with PMS until I'm proved wrong.

Only time will tell! Onward and downward!

Lilion

Lilion

The flex point range is

32 for 300-324
31 for 275-299

Then there are 35 flex points that you can use throughout the week.

Sounds like you've got it all going the right direction. Just hang in there another week.

I don't mean to sound preachy about it - just sometimes asking questions helps me figure out what I might be doing (or not doing).

And yes, when that scale doesn't move or even goes up, it is very disappointing.

Now I'm off to the horses.

Omg, I had the MOST HORRIBLE DREAM, that because my scale isn't accurate, that my weight was really like 500-888 pounds...(it changed everytime I stepped on it). I know this dream stems from my fear that even after faithful dieting for five weeks that I haven't lost a pound, (I don't know because I don't have a correct scale...I can't afford a $50 scale right now, and I'm too embarrassed to go to the doctor, even though I think that's what I'll do next time I get a chance).

I was going to make a diet breaking tempter Easter dinner because my sister and her kid are coming over for Easter, but since I'm on a diet, I'm making OMELETS. And I told Jay if she doesnt like it, she can go buy her own dinner. Because if I'm going to be off program for my birthday celebrations (3) then I shouldn't break my diet for Easter, plain and simple.

Oh, I know a few threads back I was talking about my sister's kid's birthday cake I made for her.

I found a picture....


Much cuter than the kittylitter cake huh?

Rachel - I totally understand weight anxiety. I remember last year freaking out because my scale didn't go past 300 lbs, and i didn't know HOW much above 300 I weighed, so i sorta just had to 'guess'...mind you when i finally found out i was floored, and upset. but now that i'm facing the number, i feel so much better about myself. i just signed up for Curves and found out. i don't want to alarm you, but i found for myself personally, that i needed a scale to keep in check. Is there a gym around? Maybe you could go in and pretend to be interested and then sneak a step on the scale during some sort of calm hour. or even the doctor, i think you can pretend you're a patient and just say you are monitering your weight on their scale, i've done that before

Good luck!

Melissa~My scale isn't accurate over 300 pounds either. It tells me I'm 345....so I don't know if it's right, or more, or less. It also says I haven't lost a pound but I'm going to work on getting one, in the next week or so.

2cute~ I guantee I'm not drinking enough water, it is so HARD. I'm trying my best but I just hate it. Seriously, I'm like that girl in Signs or something =P. Maybe I'll try lemon water.

Jill~ Thanks, if that's the case, I'm about par for the course. I used to eat a lot more sodium than that, but now with SOME kind of guideline, I'll be able to know what's WAY too much, what's too much, and what's just right, or under just right, thanks sweety!

Other than that:
I've gone back and looked at my calories for the day I was non-program. I've decided that I wasn't off-program for 4 days because that one day in question I was under, if anything and the other day I looked at was 2,390 (over but not horribly over). So now I can actually live with myself =)

Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well, I've got to get this place cleaned for Easter. My mom always told me th Easter bunny doesn't come to dirty houses =O

Rach:

I make an omelet about twice a week and it is OP. On Core, eggs are core, so I got this microwave omelet maker (cause i don't cook so well when it's real cooking) and I mix up 2 eggs (egg beaters for BF), some skim milk, and some seasonings...then once it is halfway through, I add FF cheese, or mushrooms or even turkey pepperoni (very low cal and low fat) and voila!
p.s. 17 slices of Hormel Turkey pepperoni in the "pillow pack" (resealable) is only 2 points. YUM!

If you like them fluffier, then go stovetop and mix them with a handheld milkshake maker.

But it is VERY easy to make eggs and stay OP. It's all about regulating things like butter and oil and fillings.

On another subject...I am now wiping away tears, because as I type I am listening to the "Father-Bride Dance" station on Radio AOL and one of my all time favorite songs just came on that can reduce me to tears in any situation. *sniff*

I was soooooo good at lunch today. I went to Panera with 2 of the ladies from another office and I had the Low Fat Veggie Black Bean Soup (core) and a salad...I had NO BREAD and when the owners were walking around the restaurant with fresh-baked cookies (grrrrrrr) I said no thank you.

There better be a reward somewhere for being such an

I'm still in search of a costume for tomorrow night...perhaps inspiration will strike soon.

Have a good night!!!

Oh I applaud your restraint, I LOVE BREAD.

I was planning on making Ham lunchmeat (they're not very high in calories at all, and I only have a slice or two) and cheese omelets. Strange, I don't think we usually use milk when we make our omelets, I know it's something everyone does. We just haven't but I think I will have some FF milk with my omelet, because I love milk.