Okay, in response to the comments regarding Diets Don't Work, from 694 (I haven't read 695 yet):

Thin: I didn't say I was doing the same thing I always did, just that I'm eating whatever I want, whenever I want, as much as I want. You're right, something does need to change to effect change. What has changed is that I'm not over eating anymore. As brandnewme said in her post (she's reading the book), the idea is about not dieting. It is dieting that is detrimental to our health and that causes us, ultimately, to overeat.

For example, yesterday, I visited the University of Texas at Austin because I'm transferring there. While visiting, it became lunch time and I hadn't packed any food. I was with my husband. We went to the food court and found a pizza place that offered a meal combo of two slices of pizza and a 32 oz. soda for $5.69. We each chose a slice of pizza. Because the slices were so big, I asked them to cut mine if half and give me a box. I sat down, enjoyed half of one slice, some of the diet soda we got, and was satiated (not full). I then still had some pizza to enjoy later.

brandnewme: Yay for reading it! I will keep you in my thoughts that you are able to finish the book and choose to be naturally thin for life! You'll know more what I'm talking about when you finish.

Andrea

Well everyone, I think I almost feel like a member now. I don't think I've been here long enough, yet, but I look forward to the support the group offers. I'm presently enjoying a sunshiney Saturday sitting in front of my computer, but I have yard work that desperately needs done, so I'll be off to do that soon.

2 cute: Good luck on the garage sale!

Esmaraude: I would definitely look for a reason behind the depression. Do you have insurance through your employer that you can see a counselor? Sometimes an objective person is helpful in seeing what's right in front of our noses.

I will be: I hope it stops raining long enough for you to do your yard work, I seriously need to do some, too.

j-ann: I'm sorry for your regain, I know how difficult it is. I'm thinking now that I've changed my lifestyle with the help of Diets Don't Work, that won't ever happen to me again.

Terri: enjoy that auction!

Mel: I too, need to work on cleaning litterboxes and vacuuming up kitty hair, I agree, gross!

Barb: I hope your day goes well. It's a good idea to not let the scale stress you out. I weigh myself about every day, but I keep things in perspective...

I didn't lose any more weight today, but I suspected I wouldn't. When I attended the transfer session at UT yesterday, I had some Hawaiian Punch, which has high fructose corn syrup in it. For whatever reason, that stuff makes me overeat. I think it's probably because it jumps my blood sugar, then when my blood sugar drops, I'm hungry. So, I ate four meals yesterday, plus a full-on dessert. I gained a half pound today. It's okay though, I'll not overeat today, and will see the decrease again.

Also, I stopped by Catherine's last night to try on smaller pants, mine are getting quite roomy. It turns out I'm not yet comfortably in a smaller size, the 28's I tried on squeezed my tummy. I'm still happy, though, because my 30's were squeezing my tummy at the beginning of this year. Just another week or two, I think, and I can officially say, "I've dropped a pant size!"

Of course, where my fat is coming off is around my rib cage (the tightest fastening of my bra is still loose), and from just above my ankles. I have skinny feet (and hands, forearms, and head), but fat legs. Typically, normal socks won't pull up past my ankles, because I'm so fat, but now they're pulling up just fine.

Well, my husband has finally gotten out of bed (we've been rather sleep deprived, so I let him sleep in), and I should get going.

Andrea

Leak under kitchen sink....need basin to put underneath it..nothing fits...not totally sure where it's coming from...landlord says plumber came YESTERDAY...of course. ARGH.

It's Saturday morning...let's see if I can wake up.

KJ: The liver problems have never been officially tied to anything. Her liver and everything were fine pre-GBS. Then a year after she had her gall bladder out. 3 days post-op she collapsed and spiked a fever and they found she had a horrible infection...they had to open her up do drain it properly and the original gall bladder surgery had been done laproscopically. In doing the scans at this time they found the lesion on her liver. So there was never any connection between the two, but it's just so sad to see her like this now...and there is no indication of when any of her problems will stop. (She is in constant pain).

Drea: OK for starters, UT is an AMAZING place and Austin is so great. I almost took a job there a few years ago but wound up in LA instead. If your scale reflected a 1/2 lb. gain yesterday, that is one thing....but your body fluctuates so much even in the space of a day. Actual measurable weight loss takes about a week to accumulate. One of the things I love about WW is getting weighed once a week, on the same scale, at the same time of day, under the same circumstances. I messed up this week and didn't pee before I ate, and I am pretty sure that it threw my results..but next week is another week. The WW Core program is similar to your book...I can eat unlimited quantities of "core" foods without counting points. I am told that I should eat until SATISFIED...not stuffed. I also do have 35 Flex points for the week to ue any my discretion for whatever. So in one sense I a restricted...Pizza definately is not on Core, but it has made me pay wayyyy more attention to what I eat, how I prepare it, what I buy at the store, and it has made me cook more and eat breakfast. I really have not felt deprived either. I was out lsat night and 2 of my frinds were eating these JUMBO pizza slices (equal to maybe 3 regular slices) and they didn't even look that good to me. I saw an ad for a fast food place that was advertising something new on their menu, and I didn't have the burning desire to go out and try it. But I am really glad that you have found something that is working for you and making you happy.

Rachel: All I can do is implore you not to leave. As frustrating as this whole situation has become, and as much as I do understand your point ( I read your blog yesterday), it's just not worth it. You were making an emphatic point...it was too emphatic for a few people. You keep saying that this forum and the people here have been helping you...so don't go. I'm still here and you know how to find me if you do decide to leave for good...but if you have been getting something, anything at all out of posting here, then DON'T GO. It can be very difficult in life to talior everything you do to the lowest common denominator, which in this case is a language-sensitive environment. Although PG-13 in the movies means one thing, clearly it doesn't mean the same thing here...so we learn and we move on. If you were in the habit of peppering your comments with firey and feisty adjectives all the time...that would be one thing...but the women who are the moderators...this is their job and their creation. Let it be the worst thing that ever happens to you and you'll be doing pretty well!!!!

Hopefully I will enjoy the sun today for a little while...BF has plans and I think we're going to the movies tonight.

Adios ladies!

Hello all, I enjoy reading all of your posts and look forward to joining your group. I would love to know more about this book "Diets dont work"....like who wrote it and where can I buy it.
I've been on Jenny Craig since Jan 1 of this year, but OMG it is soooo expensive!!! I called and told my counselor that I was going to have to take a break b/c I just cannot afford it any more. I've lost 17 lbs but at this rate I'll be broke by the time I hit my mark!! So I need some help b/c I feel like when I'm not on a "diet" that I can just eat anything I want. Maybe this book will help me out. Any information you can give me will be appreciated!!
To everyone...enjoy the beautiful weather...sounds like we're all having it, I'm headed out now to do some shopping and yard work.

Jennifer

Thanks for the reminder on fluctuation, Julee. I only count my weight once a week, on Sundays. I just like to keep an eye on it. A good deal of the fluctuation is directly influenced by how much you eat vs how much you expel (as waste), how much you burn, how much water you consume, etc. I know that if I overeat on any day, I will weigh more when I step on the scale the next day. I know if I don't overeat that next day, that my weight will either drop to what it was the day before, or drop to even less, depending on how much I overate.

Yes, WW core is similar to what I'm doing, but WW in itself, while being the best weight loss program out there, still promotes the Diet Mentality. It is this, the self flagellation for eating "no-no" foods, that causes our failure on diets. This is why I won't ever diet again. I have foods that I avoid because I don't like what they do to my body (read: anything with high fructose corn syrup), but I will not deprive myself of candy if I so desire it. As a matter of fact, since I re-started my weight loss at the end of March, I have only had (maybe) one day that I have not enjoyed some sort of candy. I would die without it, so I don't deprive myself.

That is the other huge problem with weight loss programs, the constant deprivation. That is the advantage to the other WW program, but then they don't advocate eating as much as you want. You see, either way, you will end up feeling deprived. I don't feel deprived, that is the big difference.

I have literally whatever I want, whenever I want, as much as I want. I also recognize that I do not truly want an entire pizza in one sitting. When I do, I feel like vomiting, I feel guilty, and then later, I'm sorry I ate it all and I can't enjoy more when I want more. One slice of a Red Baron's frozen pizza does me just great when enjoyed with some water and a couple Reese's peanut butter cup miniatures.

Andrea

Hi Ladies,

Ask anybody I know. They'll tell you "Judy doesn't eat wings with pizza." Ask me, I'll tell you "I don't like wings with pizza."

I knew we were having pizza tonight and planned for it. ....No Problem. Well someone ordered wings too. My thought again was "No problem". I had my pizza and salad and we all sat at the table talking. The skinny people were munching on the wings. I munched on 2 wings. HUH????
Glad I stopped at two. They weren't that good. I came up and checked my WW program. Those little suckers are 5 points each!

Nothing like getting into my points allowance on the first day of my week.

Other than that my days been fine. Water's drunk. Got in a little exercise cleaning up the yard.

Off to do laundry,

Judy - I'm sure the reason wings are 5 points each is cause they assume you eat all the fat on the wings...also I bet if you blot at the chicken before munching away, you could save yourself some valuable calories

Looks like I missed some excitement, I have to say I'm not sorry. There's been WAY too much drama going on with the people around me lately. heh. I have to admit that sometimes I get carried away and use some bad language too, so if I forget and do it someone just knock me. Or censor me, feel free! Doesn't bother me in the slightest. Sometimes I swear I'm 90 years old and with no memory.

I hope everyone's doing well, this week has been so busy that I haven't really had time to post. Just read and move on. Prolly won't be back and chatty until after this next weekend. SRD is kicking my butt!!!

Food hasn't been horrible here, but hasn't been good either. Something to work on. And thankfully some stress will be gone next week!YAY!!!

Back to busy-ness. Later gators!
Julie

Hi all! Took mom to a surprise birthday party for a friend today. It was kind of a long drive and I wasn't real comfortable her driving by herself all the way up there. She'll be 84 in July and although she still drives really well, it was a very long distance for her so I went.

The day has been sunny once again. Temps were a little cool, but all in all a lovely day.

I'm going to be a "showgirl" again tomorrow. I have a Coka Cola audit that I have to finish and I figure Honey will be tied up watching the Nascar Race all afternoon so I'll go catch a movie while I'm gone.

Julee: Wouldn't ya know the plumber had just been there? I'm so sorry about your friend. How terrible to lose a vibrant life to sickness. I've really heard of alot of people getting very ill with one ailment or another once they've had GBS. My MIL's next door neighbor is now in a nursing home because she can't shake a very bad case of pneumonia. She's almost two years post op and she's been in and out of the hospital for the past year. I wonder it is about that surgery that leaves people suseptible (sp?) to all these ailments. *When do you leave out for the wedding? I'm sorry your dad just doesn't get it. Ya know, mine didn't either. Out of one side of his mouth he would offer me a car if I lost weight and then he would make these huge bacon and egg breakfasts every morning before I went to school and there was always a "Long John" coffeecake to go with it. They mean well, I guess.

BarbPA: I love that you're thinking of tatooing your butt! Just remember, when your butt is old and wrinkled, your tatoo will be too. Eewwww!

Melissa: Is Winter ever REALLY over??? I know here in Michigan it's kind of a fleeting thing, it fleets in, it fleets out. One day it will be nice "no coat" weather and the next your back to overcoats.

Terri: Ok, can't stand it. Did you buy more horses at the auction? You know, some poor pony you were saving from a terrible demise??? I love that you had a birthday party Phoenix. Was it complete with party hats????

Iwillbe: Did you get the tornadoes by you? I saw on CNN that it was throughout Mississippiand thought maybe you were close enough. Either way, your rain probably came from that storm system.

Itzanil: Welcome to our little corner. Hope you stop by again.

Esmaraude: I hope you've been able to do some analytical thinking and figure out what's bothering you. I'm blaming my "shortness" on PMS this week. I'm sorry you're in a rotten place right now. Hope it gets better soon or that you seek some assistance if it doesn't. There's no need to suffer. [[[hugs]] CONGRATS on the 2 pounds. Keep your focus.

Lots: Glad to see you back again. I went through the orientation for Jenny Craig a couple of times for my job. The program and the support sounded great.....if I was single and had no one else to cook for and if I had lots of money. Guess you can tell I didn't have either. Have you tried something like Weight Watchers? It gives you guidelines, a way to be accountable and a weekly weigh in to keep you honest. And it's probably 10-15 a week. They also have an online version....I'm trying to think......maybe it's Terri? that's using that and that would be cheaper and you could weigh at home and be accountable here. This area is full of threads to help with accountability like the Weekly Weigh In and the Did You Exercise Today? threads.

Judy: Sorry you WI (not Wisconsin) didn't go as planned and was less than appealing. Your attitude is right on about getting back with it. WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE WINGS??? I know, I know, you just had some because everyone else was. Well, if everyone jumped off a bridge, would you jump too????

Dreasam: I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you that WW "still promotes the Diet Mentality". All of the WW meetings that I've ever attended actually frown on the use of the word "diet" and prefer lifestyle adjustment, eating for life and other appropriate alternatives. As far as "self flagellation for eating "no-no" foods" I agree, we do that, but it is certainly not apart of the WW philosophy. As a matter of fact they don't consider anything to be a "no-no food". They do suggest some moderation, however, I can choose to have candy everyday as well, I just need to account for it. Regardless of what program a person uses they are going to have to wrap their head around the ideas that are given them. In your case, you say you can eat as much as you want, but you only had 1/2 a slice of pizza because that IS all that you wanted. I don't feel deprived on WW either because I've been able to wrap my head around the fact that maybe I can't have "as much as I want" but I also don't want it all and therefore I AM satisfied. Kinda the same difference. The bottom line is LESS calories in, MORE weight off.

2cute: Hope your sale went well today. They are just far too much work for me to get into anymore. I suppose that when we get ready to move I won't have any other choice, but for now.....NO WAY!!!

Lilion: I know you said no need to comment, but you know me (well, maybe not well enough to know that I would comment anyway ) Similar situation for my 25th. We did get a hotel room, but no flowers, chocolates, card or gift. I gave him a 1 Karat diamond wedding band, which he didn't like BTW, but I didn't even get a card either. MEN! Can't live with 'em, can't shoot 'em! [[[hugs]]]

Katie: Where do you work and where are you going to work? I'm sure those 12 hour overnights are not fun. Will you have better hours with the new job?

Scooter: How's your butt feel after a 3 mile ride? I guess that would tell how much you like that bike, eh?

Loki: Sorry the stress level is so high by you. How is your mom doing? Any good news? Hope so. Keep pluggin' away, you're doing fine. [[[hugs]]]

I'm not really sure if I'm caught up or not. If I've missed you I'm sorry but I'm freezing so I'm going to get my blankie and sit, relax and watch my Soap from yesterday. See you all later. Love ya bunches.

Hi ladies,

We pretty much killed the day at the auction. We were there by 9 am and left at 6 pm. I did buy a few small tack items and a very nice small saddle that will be good for the grandsons. They sold so much crap that should have been at a garage sale. It took forever before the horses came out. They had two Belgian draft horses that I wanted in the worst way. And I do mean worst. Magnificent looking animals. But the food bill on one of those would be a bit much. Cherie told me that I couldn't bring a draft horse to the barn. But since DH was still with us, I didn't buy any more horses. This time.

Since I had abandoned the dog again today, I better go walk him. Especially since he's laying down on the landing waiting for me.

Later chicks!

P.s. Yes it is me that is using the WW Online instead of going to meetings. Love it. And it works - WHEN I work then plan.

Alright, I'm taking a much needed break here at work and checking in with the new posts. Sounds like a lot of us are out enjoying the nice weather. I know this week I will be spending a lot of time outdoors trying to get yard work done and enjoying the sunshine. Maybe I'll even plan on grilling chicken fajitas one night this week! Yum!

Anyway...

Judy, you know with the chicken wings if you really want them you could skip the skin which would probably make them tons less fattening. Just a thought in case you end up in a similar situation again. Also, sorry to hear about the 6 lbs wt gain, that sucks, hopefully though you can get right back on the plan and get it off and we'll all pretend it was a scale malfunction

Andrea, I agree with you on being staisfied with less food. One thing that I do to help lower my total intake is measure out what I'm going to eat for a meal and go eat it. If I'm tempted to go get more (since I'm not stuffed to the max) I force myself to wait 30 minutes and go do something else in the mean time. Rarely in 30 minutes of distraction am I still hungry and I end up not eating more. One thing that also helps it that I'm enacted a rule at home for myself to only eat at the kitchen table. No eating in front of the TV or computer, because I notice that I tend to overdo it when I'm sitting around.

Thin- currently I work at a pharmaceutical company near Milwaukee, WI. That is for another 14 hours of work time. After that I'm taking a month off of work and getting married May 7, following that I'm going back to school to work on a second bachelor's, this time in nursing. Thankfully, it's an online program that they find a clinical location near where you live, since in June my soon to be DH and I will be moving to Idaho. Yeah! Mountains!

Well, I hope everyone gets out and enjoys some of the weather!

Katie

BarbPA .... I think it is a GREAT idea to tatoo your butt with bullseyes.
I have a question though.... when you lose weight... does your tatoo get smaller with the smaller butt ... or does it look BIGGER because your butt is littler. ???

I am too tired to reply to others tonight. I worked my butt off on that garage sale.
Well I wish I had "really" worked it off. LOL
My knees and legs were killing me. Three days on those hard concrete floors did a toll on me. I should have started cleaning up earlier than I did.
I did great. I did not have a lot to sell... but I sold almost all of it. I have one small box to donate.

I sure hope I lose something for all of this hard work.

Hi all--This post is off topic. I've been awol because of a sad, sad event. Some of you who've been around a while have heard me talk about a dear friend with whom I was in love. He died, suddenly, unexpectedly, and under questionable circumstances, at the age of 46, a little over a week ago. Since then I've been involved in grieving with other dear friends, helping to find his family (states away), trying to get them information (he was involved in a long-drawn-out divorce from a very insane woman who nonetheless is his legal next of kin and the only one who gets info from the police, etc.), helping to arrange a memorial service, and so on. His poor mother had to buy a suit to bury him in, since "the wife" took over all his effects immediately and refused to cooperate. Oh, she was willing to sign over the rights to bury him, since that would cost money.

Sigh. I won't take up a lot more space or time talking about this. Suffice it to say, we had a memorial service Thursday, and the reality of it all is just starting to sink in for me. Planning my eating, etc., has all gone by the way side. I'll probably try to get OP in a few days.

I've not caught up with threads--though I see I missed some controversy. I probably won't be a very responsible thread reader for a while yet. Life is a bit crazy. I'm now teaching an extra class for the rest of the semester--I took over one of his--and a dozen things of my own that need catching up on. Hope you're all well and staying as OP as possible.

Angela {{{{{hugs}}}}}
I'm so sorry you had to go through the unexpected loss of a friend, and then have the added extras of the insane soon-to-be-ex-wife, and arrangements on top.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Leanne

Good morning chickies, durn, they moved my coffe cup. Whatta ya know it isn't raining today!

Thin, I live in middle Georgia, and no the tornados didn't get this far, or at least not around here, Thank goodness, but we did have some rather severe thunderstorms. For a while we couldn't travel some of our highways because the water had washed the foundation from under some making them dangerous.

Dreasam, No, It is still much to wet to work in the flower beds, and I really don't love to weed. I am trying to convince my hubby that HE DOES like to do the weeding, so far he isn't buying that.

Julee, I hope the plumber gets to you leak problem soon. At least you found it before it could do damage. (?) We had a tiny little leak under our kistchen cabinet and by the time we found it, it had soaked all of the boards in the bottom of that cabinet and done a lot of damage, and it didn't smell so good either! . Major repair job.

Lots2lose, You nailed the reason I have never tried Jenny Craig...way too dear for my pocketbook! I always thought that I would like to try it though.

Judy, I wish I had a nickle for every time I have eaten something without really wanting it or even knowing why I ate it. I sure do like the chicken wings though, and I would have probably fallen victim to them. Nothing like regrets for what is already done is there?

Loki, I am glad your stress will be less soon. Just hang in there in the meantime. You will get it back together.

Terri, Do the auctions tire you out? When I had a store I would attend some of the merchandise auctuions, and by the end of the day my backside was numb and so was my brain. I am sure there is a lot of difference in that and your horse auctions though. Yours are probably more interesting.

2cute, We are all better off without a tatoo on our anything! Just what is the bullseye for anyway Barb? Or is that a question I shoudn't be asking?

BarbPa, All jokes asside about the bullseye, I wish you the very best luck with the treatments.

Angela, I am so sorry about the loss of your frined.

Leanne, How are things going with you?

Jill, How is it going with working two jobs? Haven't you heard that old saying about burning the candle at both ends? Anyhoo, I hope you can find time to rest a little this weekend and pop in here to say howdy.

Meliss, Katie, and anyone else I missed I hope you are having a super weekend. I know this post is getting LOOOOONG, but just one more thought.........................

Diets, I live for the day that someone will come up with that magic potion, pill, voodoo, or whodoo. or whatever is going to make this fat pack up and leave... all on its own without my having to do one single solitary thing to make it go! . Sorry, ain't gonna happen. SiGGHH, just one way girls, you gotta want to make it go enough to WORK at it. See Ya later, Iwillbe