Good Morning ladies! Happy Hump Day to all.

Zelma- You definitely belong here. I see you and where you started and I say, "Hey, I can do that too!" You may not be 300+ anymore but you were and we all know that you don't lose weight and suddenly don't need support anymore. All the maintainers say that losing weight is the easy part, maintaining is where the real work begins. So please, stick around. I can only speak for myself when I say that you are really my inspiration.

As far as individual posts, I rarely do them. One, because some days I really can't read through all the posts. And two, because it's too much. I give a lot of props to those that write personals for like 10 people but I just can't do it. Half the time it's just hard enough to keep up with this thread.

Hi everyone!!!

Sorry I haven't been around. I have been SO busy this week with running around and being on the phone trying to get items donated for the silent auction that it has used up ALL my spare time. I have been "bad" by making some "bad" choices and no exercise but I just don't see an end to that in the next week or so. I had pizza last night. SUCKS TO BE ME! and it was at....midnight

Zelma ~ Happy to see you are feeling better about posting here. They are right about us being a family! We were worried that you may be involved in the bad weather in Aus. Thank goodness you are safe!

I only do indiv when I have the time. Sometimes there isn't much to say that hasn't been said on a topic so it kinda gets put to the side burner..... sorry to anyone that I may have missed!!

Well there's my flyby for the day. Back to begging and today I have to go and pick-up the things that I have had donated already. Sometimes, going to work is a relief HAHA

oooh fake eyelashes I always wanted to try those!!!

Have a great one girlz!

Brenda

Zelma - So glad you seem to be feeling better...have you talked to your dietician friend about your concerns? She may know what to tell you...if not, I'd say go talk to your doctor...because it never hurts to ask.

Luan - Oh man, your school sounds so much FUN! I dread going to class everyday!

Brenda - Good luck begging! Is this an auction for church or something?

As much as I wanted to keep hitting the Snooze button, here I am. Granted, it's 10am instead of 8am, but I'm here nonetheless. Planning on getting a little bit of a workout in before I head to healthful living. The instructor irritates me, cuz she rides people about their bad food choices, and how we all should be exercising more...and she looks to be about 70 pounds overweight! I don't know...I guess it just bothers me...it's like, practice what you preach.

Hello my little chickies!

I have very little time this morning...in fact, I should be getting ready for a hearing right now. I'll end up taking a break in the middle of this post and by the time I post it six more ladies will have popped up!

Zelma: Hormones stink, don't they? I do think that you sound a bit like they are haywire, which is possible if you've gone years without a period. And I believe you and I are about the same age - I'm 42. Hate to say it...but things start to get "odd" at our age sometimes. I'm getting ready to have some minor surgery on the girlie parts and in the process my OBGYN mentioned that menopause is maybe 5 years away! How dare he think I'm that old! As for your heart rate...that is pretty low! I know that a "normal" resting heart rate is about 60. You were unusual to have it be that low when you were heavy. Very fit athletes, like marathon runners, will have resting heart rates very low, in the 40's, and you do work out a LOT, so maybe it is normal for you...but I'd certainly ask a medical professional - I'm a lawyer, not a doctor!

Nancy: The SCA can be a lot of fun and yes, the do sword fighting. My DH does the whole, full-armor heavy weapons fighting. Basically, the gear up in armor like that worn in the middle ages and fight with rattan swords. They don't use real swords - you only want to pretend to kill your friends after all! They also have fencing in most kingdoms...except mine of course...so we've actually joined another group called the Adrian Empire too, that does fencing. I haven't tried to learn yet, but I think I might. Mostly I sit around in my floor-lenght dresses doing embroidery! Seriously, I do archery, costuming, needlework and some weaving. We've also recently gotten into wine and mead making...but we are very new to that! His armor weighs about 50 lbs - it's a heck of a work-out! But you know, I've just lost weight...I have no desire to strap it back on and try to run around! Women do fight heavy weapons...but I've seen some of my husband's bruises - it's not for me - although it's kinda sexy on him!

I hate WI day! Both Monday and Tuesday I weighed 244.8. Today I step on the darn scale and see 245.8! It happens every week! Even the 244.8 was up...but not a whole pound and a half! I usually drop a bit between 8 a.m. and noon - so we'll see what the final result is... scale!

Well all, I have to run! Late, late, late and other places to zip off to before I really get to working.

Oh! That reminds me - the boss came in today to his 40 black balloons, a personalized funeral wreath on his door (I made it - it was a hit) and crutches - he loved it! Makes me glad we did this - forget about his stupid surprize party!

Later ladies!

Still here girls, just lurking, Not much to report, OR better yet, I dont feel like reporting, I will still be checking in everyday, Will report when I feel like it, Staying OP,,, Found out how to make NO BAKE COOKIES the SBD way,, yummmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Take Care All

Oh and Tasha, hope you find your way back to us. I wasn't here for all the misunderstandings but reading back it seems like it was just that. Please don't be too proud to come back. I always enjoyed reading your posts.

Good Morning chickies, I am bone tired. There is so much to do here, and so much of it is mentally taxing as well as physically taxing. I do go to read half my emails most days, so keeping up on the threads is impossible. I always feel like I can’t post if I can’t keep up. It is important for me to try to post something just to remind myself every day that I still need to stick with this. I just wish I could get things in order so that I could start keeping my food diary again. It has just been too much for me to maintain right now.

I did want to share two stories that were in the Edmonton paper. Standards Australia, a non-government group that sets safety standards, is considering recommending sturdier toilets because of Australia’s increasingly heavy population. The current standard is 45 kilograms, and they want to increase it to 150 kilograms. That’s around 100 pounds increased to 330 pounds. The second story is about a report from the US National Transportation Safety Board on the cause of the capsizing of a water taxi in Baltimore in 2004. They concluded that excessive passenger weight made the boat too unstable to withstand a sudden gust of wind. Safety regulations on how many people the boat can carry are based on 140 pounds. The actual weight of the passengers on the boat actually made it 700 pounds over weight limit. I also saw a health report on TV that obese accident victims take longer to extricate from vehicles, longer to transport, and are therefore much more likely not to make it to a trauma center within that “golden hour.” We often talk about how hard it is for us to deal with doctors – how embarrassing, uncomfortable, or down right painful. It is just as frustrating for ER doctors when dealing with someone whose life they are trying to save, but can’t because of our size. Just something to think about when tempted to head off to McDonald’s.

I was thinking that maybe we should have some sort of buddy system or something where two or three people share their email addresses and then if we don’t hear from someone in awhile there is someone who can check in.
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Ok...I haven't ben able to read since yesterday morning and again I missed about a thread and a half...

But here are my 2 cents. I almost quit the board for good recently. My work schedule has become more hectic than ever and I don't have time to read, post or catch up on a lot of days. I didn't post for close to a week...and nobody even commented that I wasn't around. Other people get noticed to being absent after a day or three...and I felt slighted. I wasn't going to say anything until Zelma opened up about her feelings and the above was posted. I've posted on here for over a year...really relied on people here for support and encouragement and tried my best to provide it in kind. But I really was hurt that my absence went unnoticed. I'm not all that narcissistic...I'm not that hard up for attention...but when the only people you know who really understand your deepest issues and struggles forget that you're around (or not around)....I'll just leave it at that.

I apologize for not being the best at responding when people talk to me in messages. I actually skim them to first se if someone has addressed me so I can hopefully make an effort to reply. Sometimes I get it right and sometimes I don't. I apologize if my posts have come off as self-centered rants.

We are in dress rehearsal week for our show. Tonight is the last rehearsal and we open tomorrow night. I have been at work until 10:30 every night this week and am really exhausted. I have to run now and meet someone for coffee and then run errands. All of this comes while I am trying to do my actual job as well and have a life. I spent most of the weekend as an emotional puddle whch Jason sadly has no idea how to mop up.

Hopefully I will have more time in the weeks to come to make more thoughtful and coherent responses.

Oh..Re: Stephen King novels....Flagg is also the bad guy in Eyes of the Dragon. I'd advise starting wayyyy back at the beginning with the Castle Rock books (Cujo, Christine, etc.) and work forward chronologically until Needful Things. The Bachman Books were also excellent. He reuses characters and names and places a lot until he switches to a totally different theme in his books.

Lillion--I've read "The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger", too (I forgot to add that to my list earlier ) but I listened to it on CD (I usually listen to audiobooks rather than music when I am cleaning, etc) and I got kinda lost at the end. I should just check out the book and read the end again. The Man in Black (the bad guy in The Gunslinger) is also named Randall Flagg? Or is his last name just the same? Hm. I always thought of Johnny Cash when they talked about The Man in Black... Sounds like the balloons, etc was a hit! I'm sure this will mean a lot to him. You really put some thought and effort into it and that is what means the most! Oh, and I'm sorry to hear about the fluctuations in your scale! Stupid scale!

Valerie--I hope you puppy slept ok! I enjoy reading your posts and I dont think anyone begrudges you for not being able to keep up w/all the posts--there's a lot to wade through sometimes!

Leann--aka "Human Guinea Pig" ! Lots and lots of tests, whew! I wish you the best on everything, and congrats on the 5 lb loss!! Yeah!

Melanie--GOOD JOB on going up the stairs! Dont ever slight yourself on ANY accomplisment like that! 6 floors of stairs? That's enough to bring tears to ANYONE'S eyes! I cant say I wouldnt have taken the elevator--that is quite an accomplishment! And good for you for resisting the sweets at that confrence. It can be really difficult sometimes, and even if you did make some off-program choices, at least you did what you could.

Nancy--That is a wonderful idea to have some way to contact each of us. Maybe we could name someone has kind of the top of the "email tree" and give all our emails to her, and then if one of us needs it we can ask that person... Or we could just email that person and have her forward the email to whom we're trying to contact...? Any way we do it, its a good idea. I really dont blame you for getting upset at the gym when they start vaccuuming. I get like that sometimes for weird reasons, too, like if some kid is screaming at the grocery store or something. Sometimes I can tune it out but other times I just have to get out of there NOW or I will just go nuts. I also cry about weird stuff that I consider to be kinda petty sometimes, too. I think you are giving them a good compromise--if they have to start vaccuuming before close then they should be able to adhere to a block of time you agree upon that you can excercise and they WON'T start vaccuuming till you leave.


wyllenn--I LOVE psychology! Maybe that is what I should major in...? I'm taking a break from school right now and I thought I wanted to get my teaching license but I am really interested in psychology. Maybe I could be like you and teach psychology, and then I'd be doing both things I like! What really interests me is the psychology behind body-image issues, like Body Dysmorphic Disorder (I think that's what it's called...?). I find that really interesting and can relate to it on a lot of levels.

Kayley--Your psych teacher sounds like a real bear! I agree w/you, sometimes teachers can make you do too much in a class, like they think you are going to make this your life's work when really you are just taking it to fulfill a requirement. I was going to community college just to fulfill my pre-req's and a lot of the teachers seemed to forget they were teaching at a community college, not a university, if you know what I mean . I had a cool teacher for psych, she wore all sorts of different clothing and jewelry--she almost looked like what you would think an art teacher should look like ! I did my presentation on sociopaths, although it had a different name when we studied it (they've re-named it now, they dont call 'em sociopaths anymore ). I started it out w/ a clip from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, where Sigmund Frued is analyzing Ted...I dunno, maybe that movie is before your time and I'm completely confusing you . Anyway, it was a fun class.

honiangel--It sounds like you are doing well on your plan, even w/all the label-reading you have to do. I was vegan for 8 mos last year and I had to read labels on EVERYTHING. Being vegan, you cant just trust something doesnt have animal products in it because they give 'em all different names! I had to get a list of all the technical names for all the different animal products (glycerin is a big one) and check for all those in addition to checking for eggs, milk, and meat!! For example, one would think frosted shredded wheat is completely devoid of animal products, right? NOPE! It has gelatin in it as like the last ingredient! It was a nightmare until I got certain products memorized. On the snow, Greeley, NE got 30 inches! That's 2 1/2 feet!! Whew!

MariaLucia--Thanks for asking that question, I had wondered that too!

Thinthinker--Thanks for answering that question!

Brandnewme--ANY 12 hr shift would be kicking my butt! Sheesh! I commend you for keeping up at all!

Luan--I think at some point, if you keep talking about all this fun makeup stuff, we're all going to have to have you do ours! I'm so glad you're enjoying your studies.

Jillybean--I agree, I am thankful for the lack of drama we have here! I've been on other forums before that displayed such a level of immaturity that I just couldnt cope w/it anymore. I'm really glad my sister turned me on to 3FC.

Zelma--Aw Zelma, you are too sweet!! Sometimes I relate to what everyone is saying here so well its like I wrote it myself! I, too, can get really crazy during my cycle. I get so bad sometimes that there have been times when I have had to appologize to people (mostly Nat) for things I have said! Eeek! I agree that your heart rate may be too low and that may be causing your fatigue. But then again, I dont really know what I am talking about, either! But I would definetly bring it up at your next doc visit.

Brenda--I really admire you for asking for donations for your silent auction! I think I'd be WAY too nervous to approach people! I didnt even want to sell yearbook ads when I was the yearbook editor in highschool! Eeek!

Crockett--I LOVE no bake cookies! I need to find a 0 point recipe for them !

Tasha--PLEASE please please dont stop posting! Get your buns back here, lady!


As for me, I am still sick today . I woke up this morning and felt really dizzy. I thought I should at least try to go to work, so I ate breakfast and showered to see if I'd feel better . No go . I called work and told them I wasnt coming in. I just hope I am not in too much trouble because they are really cracking down on absences. Stupid work.

My head, neck, and back hurt and I just feel tired and stomachache-y and dizzy . I'm sure its just a 24 hr thing, I've never had the flu for any more than 24 hrs. I kinda feel bad having stayed home because it seems like it comes and goes. I feel better, then I feel 10 times worse . But I cant imagine being at work today. I felt better yesterday and barely made it through the day.

My neice is sick too, poor baby ! She is just burning up! I went up to my sis' apt this morning (she is on vacation all week because the kids are out of school) and poor baby was laying on the couch in her underwear. She's too hot to even wear clothes, poor thing! I picked her up and her body is just radiating heat . She just turned 4 but she is very small for her age, she looks like she just turned 3, so it can get pretty serious when she gets sick. She wont eat (and she's tiny to begin with) and she just lays around. She's already on antibiotics for an ear infection so we're really at a loss as to what the problem could be. My sis is taking her back to the doc today. It makes sense now that I am sick because she and I seem to pass sickness back and forth between us.

...Don't I know it!! Hey Melanie - Good job on the stairs!

Nancy, I vote for decking someone: It's better cardio, less stress, and they pay closer attention to the warning growl next time.

Kayley, sorry that prof is such a weinie. If she's not gonna do a curve, then maybe she should do Curves - it would improve her attitude and self-image so she wouldn't hafta pick on defenseless undergrads! I'm with Wyllenn on the importance of general Psych to dayly life. I wish high schools would give basic courses that would teach things like child rearing and self-respect. Basics like the importance of keeping your word to a child, not threatening punishments or rewards you have No intention of delivering, or how to recognize forms of abuse besides violence and how to counter or escape it. Life tools. I think the most valuable course I ever took was Behavior Modification. *** As for the healthful living instructor, perhaps you could ask her when was the last bad choice SHE made (since it's obvious she's made one or two.) None of us is perfect!

Amber, Let me get this straight. You have ELEVEN children?!?! So unfair! Will you sell me even ONE of them?? I'll take the most ornery you've got - I specialize in adolescent girls but I'm not picky. pleasepleaseplease? I promise generous visitation and will even return him/her when the college bills come due if you insist. Holy ! I can't imagine 11. how do you remember all their names? I have trouble just keeping dog names and horse names straight, and that's only 5 total. Bless you, and kiss as many chubby cheeks and silky heads as you can for me. I have none.

Zelma, Yup, wow, 40's does seem like a really low heart rate... but I'm sure Lilion's right about asking a medical professional - I'm a trucker, not a doctor!

As for this list, I've never been on a list so totally devoid of flaming or persnickityness (Feel free to correct my spelling on that.) This is the most supportive, understanding bunch of people I've ever seen on-line. Like any relationships there are some of us that have more in common like Terri & I are into horses, we have our dog lovers and our cat lovers; our old married ladies, newlyweds, romances & singles; our face artists and our garden artists; our teachers and our students; grandma's and younguns; our lofty judge and our lowly trucker, but every single one of this group is such a positive member, no matter what personal challenges they face each day on their own. We support each other in those challenges, even if we don't personally share each one. I'm glad to be part of it, and hope to continue to be all the way along my journey! - a journey we all share.

I miss those members who aren't posting lately, but I know sometimes time just doesn't allow... or you're off in the desert or buried under a snowdrift somewhere... Drop us a line when you can!!

Max & Simon puppy had their vet appointments this morning. I was thinking of changing vets to one that's closer, but this guy walked in and started kissing Simon's face. Any guy that kisses a puppy's face is a wonderful human being and has my vote for president - how could I ever change vets now? Besides, it was way cheaper than I expected.

Off to the barn. Don't tell anyone, but I was looking forward to a couple of hours of studying at home before heading out into the cold again. ANd Oh My Stars, there are a whole mess of posts since I started writing!!! Later my friends...

Catherine - Good to see you. Very good post and points about doc's & others trying to look after people with weight problems. Sad, but true. Hope things settle down for you up there into a comfortable routine. Found anyplace to swim yet?

Julee, I certainly hope you don't leave us!!! I'm sorry if I didn't notice you were gone right - I just got back into town myself and started harrassing the list about 2-3 days ago. I love your posts and eppreciate you sharing your journey with Jason with us, as well as your WL journey. I hope opening night is a sensation as well as a lot of fun - I'm already sure it's a lot of work and stress. Please stick around with us when you have time!

Amy, puppy is sleeping better all the time, thanks. I hope you and your dear little neice are both feeling better soon! Sounds just MISeralble!

Jilly, I sure know what you mean about "hectic threads". They just move quick these days. ... I still keep thinking you're a moderator for some reason...

OK - now I really have to take off - they're calling me....

I have to do another quick post, my parents have decided, at the last minute to visit at the weekend and with me having been ill the house is a mess. But to the point it was me that put something about being down and Tasha thought I meant it was her fault, I feel awful, I sent her a pm as soon as I saw her post a reply but heard nothing. I hope she realised I never meant her.
On the subject of replies I too have felt a little hurt if no one comments on my posts, but I do the same sometimes, I have to realise we all have busy lives and no one here has ever said anything BAD about anyone else. We all have issues, often mood/depression linked, after all if we had no problems we are unlikely to have gotten to this size and need the support we all get from here. I do like the fact that as Julee says we are all open, no back biting at all.
I have to go now but a big hug to everyone, especially those at a low ebb or struggling to lose weight.
xxsharon

Jill- I sooo agree with you. The turnaround of threads here is too much to keep up with. Once a thread closes I rarely go back to see what I missed.

I have a suggestion because this has been bothering me for a while. Why do we have to start a new thread every three pages? Sometimes it's not even three pages but only two. And on our talkative days it's two and three threads a day. That doesn't make sense to me. I don't have a problem with a thread being pages long but let's have them stick around at least a week. Because oftentimes, I do miss out on the fact that people haven't posted and I'll just assume that I missed them on the last thread.

Oh and Julee, I am guilty of not noticing you were gone. I have missed so many threads that I assumed you were on one of the other ones.