Uh oh, Ammi, I didn't mean to bring up a "sore point." I know what you mean though as I too am trying to get rid of a double chin. Yours is definitely going away!

Lilion – Sorry to hear you have been so busy. When you come back from your trip I want to hear ALL about it.

Julee – That is cool you are taking that class. Sometimes I think it is so ironic how many hours we spend in classrooms studying things we will never use again and how little information we have on some of life’s biggest issues (personal finance, relationships, children).

Patti – I only lost 1 pound for the entire month of March and I was doing everything right. Don’t give up – sometimes out bodies need a bit of adjustment time.

Annie – Thanks for sharing that story from Catherine, although I wish she was here to share the story herself! Hope she is doing well and will check back in with us one of these days.

Brenda – Thanks for checking in. I was wondering where you had gotten to!

Idril – Hope you have a good trip!

Sharon - Sorry to hear Gareth is still ill. Congrats on the 3 pounds!

Zelma - Good to see you. Sorry to hear you have been so cold, but your scarves sound really lovely. Too bad you can’t exercise more (from the doctor’s orders) – that really warms you up too!

Crock - WOW - 7 pounds in 2 weeks and when you were traveling - that is fantastic.

Dusty – That is what it is all about – making those small changes, not having the drink and breadstick, etc. It is amazing how talking about something (including tasty sweet cakes) can help break their power. Hmm . . . an ode to cake? Maybe that could be your next poem.

Kayley – I hope you had fun shopping today and got yourself something really nice with your b-day money.

Ammi - You can DEFINITELY see a difference.

Bea - Welcome! I have never been to a Chuck E Cheese, but there is one right near my house. Hope your party went well. If you don't like the pizza there isn't it better to save your pizza points for some pizza you really want to eat? Just because it is there and you are there doesn't mean you have to eat it.

Xena - Congrats on the (almost) 4 pounds this week!


I got up early today and did a bunch of chores, which felt really good. Then my BF and I spent several hours going over his budget, and let me tell you it isn’t pretty. Without his overtime he is just barely scraping by. With it he has a small amount of excess, but only $2K MAX (we all know how things always come up that you don’t budget for) to put towards his credit cards. That is not going to put much of a dent in what he owes and is really unacceptable to me. I started getting a bit “hot and bothered” about the whole thing so I suggested we recess until later and we should both have a think about what parts of the budget could be cut out (expense wise).

I need to go get my workout in – going to do weights tonight. I hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Ammi: I LOVE your new avatar...you look just like my friend Staci and everytime I see your picture I think of her.

Quiet weekend so far...it's been about 95 here and it's soooo yucky. We went to the movies tonight and saw "Keeping up with the Steins." It was so cool to my synagogue so prominently featured..and the movie was good too.

Tomorrow we're going to try to get work done and relax....try anyways.

Hope you're all well.

Good Afternoon All,

I have had a busy day so far, I cleaned my kitchen and have got 3 loads of laundry washed and on the line. I love this spell of dry weather we have been having. It means we have been able to get the garden sorted out, do all the washing, and have some walks! Very nice.

Oh and to clear up any misunderstanding when I say do the garden it doesn't mean the lovely stuff like tending flowers or plants and vegetables. We live on a hill so our front and back garden our mini hills with the front hill being so steep it's hard to stand up on it. We also have hedges as borders on most sides, so it's a job and a half cutting the grass and the hedges. That is what we spent 4 hours doing the other day. We still haven't painted the fence, but I am sure it will get done some time this week

Misti - oh no, you didn't bring up a sore point, in fact I was thrilled that you noticed that my chin is getting smaller. It's only in the last 3 years that I have developed a double chin, no matter how fat I have been my face hasn't looked fat. So it's odd now to see it, and as I said, I HATE it But it's going now

Nancy - thank you for saying you see a difference in my photos. I feel so proud of myself for such a little difference, imagine how I will feel when I can see a huge difference!!

I am sorry you got a bit hot and bothered when you sat down and worked out your bfs finances and how much he could pay off his debt. I wish we could all just wipe our debt clear and start afresh learning how to live without the wicked credit cards and loans etc.

Julee - thanks for the compliment on my avatar photo, I am glad that I look like a friend of yours because I know another woman who says I look like an EX friend of hers and I hate to think I bring back bad memories!!

I am glad you got to go see a film, it's been ages since we went to see one. The last time we went we had to deal with rowdy stupid kids and since then Daren hasn't wanted to go to that cinema again. Problem is that by the time we pay for public transport, lunch out, and the cinema tickets we will be spending close to $110 just to go see a film!!! It's crazy. So I guess we will just have to settle for DVD viewing for now!

Boy it's quiet here this weekend, I guess everbody is enjoying nice weather. Well I better go do some online banking, I will be back later,

Hugs,

Ammi

I'd be ticked pink too! That's the way they say to focus on mini-goals. Keep going Xena your on your way and your not to far from the 25 lb. loss goal.

It's all up to us to make the difference for ourselves. I learned that from maintainers.

All the best.

Good morning, everyone! Happy Sunday!

Ammi, I definitely understand what you mean about hating the double chin! Well, be encouraged because your is on it is way out! Bye bye chin! Your garden sounds lovely... the people I stayed with when I was in Wales had one like that and it was gorgeous.

Sharon, congratulations on getting rid of those three pounds. Sorry to hear that Gareth is still sick... hope he gets better soon!

Zelma, good to hear from you! Sorry you are so cold! Glad you have all those scarves you are knitting to help keep you warm! Our weather here has been cooler too... 50s, 60s and 70s... but I love it!! I have a hard time working out when it is hotter.

Crock, woo hoo, congratulations on the 7 pounds!!!

Dusty, wow, glad you were able to resist all the temptations! Yay for you for being so close to you goal! What are card bombs?

Kayley, hope the cookout was great! Wow you are doing SO well on your weight loss. Good job!!!

Luxorbea, hope you were able to resist that pizza... especially if you don't really like it anyway! There is always salad!!! But hey if you had the pizza don't worry about it... I did it too last week when we got back from the cruise and there was no way I was coming in and fixing lunch and dinner for my niece. So went to Papa Murphy's and got us a pizza. I also tried to log into the Lord's Table link but it said I had to log in to view the course. I was able to track around on the site and find a general overview of it though. http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/lords_table/ None of the audio links work for me.

Xena, yay, that's great about the 3.8 pounds. Nice job!!

Nancy, sorry you are disappointed about the debt. Have to admit I don't blame you for this being unacceptable; hope things work out for you.

Julee... ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww I agree... 95 is too hot!!! Must make it difficult to get out and get your exercise! Hope you can find something cool to do!!

Checked out your pictures and yes you can see the difference. I noticed from your chin and cheeks. Keep going chickie.. They say it's the best way to take pictures after so many pounds [can't remember how many between the individual pictures]. Because then you really see how much has gone and it's suppose to be quite motivating.

Ammi, how do you get your pictures on, I would like to try too!
Can you please and let me know it would be much appreciated?

All the best.

Wow, I miss a dinnertime visit yesterday and miss loads. I did a post this morning but 'lost' it, so here goes;-
Zelma, so glad that you're ok and cold, wow, 'hot' here is anything above 60 degrees!!!!!! Though it's around 80 at the moment.
Crock, wow, 7lbs, tha't half a stone in UK weights!!! even over two weeks that's amazing!!!
Dusty, I love your analogy of carrots as bullets, saying no to doughnuts, I can as long as they're not freshly cooked and plain, I hate sugar or other coatings.
Bea, as I'm a Brit I've never heard of Chuck-e-Cheese, and saying no to breadsticks, I would have been dribbling at the table and have had to have given in.
Xena, nearly 4lbs!!! and a total of almost 20lbs!!!! WOW!!! Gareth is actually a Welsh name, it means gentle, Steve & I have such common names we wanted to give our children less used ones, though nothing too weird though!!! I have heard of Serica at his school, her mummmy made it up, I don't understand that at all!!!!!!
Nancy, sorry your b/f's finances are so bad, I hope there can be a compromise so he can pay off his cards without too much of a problem.
I feel a bit cr*ppy AGAIN today, but a fresh start tomorrow, Gareth is ok now and school opens tomorrow so I can exercise & get back into a routine.
xxsharon

Ammi, I forgot to say how pretty you look in your pics, yes that chin is getting smaller!!!!
xxsharon

Misti - our garden may look gorgeous, but boy oh boy is it hard work. It might be ok if the lawns were flat, but maintaining a hill is a nightmare

Elaine - I was so busy in my PM explaining how to put photos on here that I forgot to thank you for the compliments on my smaller face So thank you. That first photo is one I never would have dreamt of letting anybody except one or two people see, but now that it's a 'before' photo I don't mind so much who sees it!!

Sharon - I know what you mean about getting back into a routine when the school holidays are over. I have a good cleaning and exercise rota that goes to pot when the girls are home How I am going to cope in the 6 week holidays I don't know

That's great that Gareth is better today. Here I am living in Wales and I didn't even know that his name is Welsh. I am so used to hearing ones like Dai, or Morgan, or Glyn etc. As for that poor girl whose mum made up the name for her, hmmm, let's just say no comment

Hope I can catch you for a chat soon, and thanks for the compliments on my photo

Got to go, time to put another lot of laundry on the line. Bye for now,

Hugs,

Ammi

Yah Ammi... I could never keep up with a garden like that! But think of all your calories and fat blobs that are out there floating around somewhere rather than still on your body!!

Just popping in to tell Ammi that I can definitely see the difference in your pictures. Definitely a retreating chin!

I started taking pics every 15 pounds or so. It can be a bit depressing -- you feel like you're losing and then in the picture see that you really are still fat -- but you really CAN see a difference, and that's how I choose to look at it.

LOL Wyllen I have been doing the same thing with taking the pictures... however, I still have not gotten brave enough to actually POST any of them here yet! I was surprised at my last one to see how much I have lost in my LEGS since that is not my problem area or the area of most concern. But I guess with all the walking they are getting toned up!!!

Ammi - Andrew ended up getting me the 2nd season of a TV show I love! Exactly what I wanted. You can definately see a change in your face!!! WOW!

Luxorbea - Ooooh...Chuck E Cheese...I haven't been there since I was about 6 or 8, I think. I guess it's inevitable when you have kids, though...good luck keeping the pizza OUT!

Xena - Woo Hoo!!!! Congrats on your loss! You'll get that magnet before you know it!!! Oh! I heard that movie was pretty funny. Vince Vaughn's in it, so how could it NOT be? Maybe I can convince Andrew to go see it with me.

Nancy - Actually didn't buy anything when we went out shopping...although, I got presents...so it's not ALL bad! I really hope I get this job, so I can resume my shoe buying/clothes buying that I love SO much!

Yesterday was quite nice. Went swimming for QUITE a long time, and then we had a fire in our outdoor fireplace (me & Andrew did), since Mom & Larry left for the evening. He roasted marshmallows, and I didn't even have one! Great day overall!
Today, my dad is supposed to be taking me out. Oh boy...we'll see how this goes!

Weigh in today was good! I'm down another 3 pounds! Hello 286!

Whoo! What a weekend! It’s been HOT HOT HOT!

Kayley – Graduation is on June 18th… Fathers day hehehe… I love scrap booking too! I started so many projects tho… got a lot to finish hehehe. I love your new picture! I also wanted to wish you a happy birthday!

JuleeCees – Marriage class, I remember that. James and I had to take classes if we wanted to get married in the Catholic church. However this was mandated by the church. We graduated heheh however we just never wound up getting married after that. I think we took the classes in 2000. He was supposed to finish his communion as well. Then we ended up buying our house and used all our money up. I am thankful tho that we got the house when we did, otherwise we would never be able to afford another home… not at the prices they are at right now!

DogPal – Very good information! The information you provided about upping your calorie intake and body going into starvation mode. Thanks for sharing!

I had weigh in today… and well… we’ll get to that in a minute!

It’s been a crazy week and weekend. I have finals starting on June 12th. Many of the finals are take home essays which have been given to us early. So I’ve been working on them. Plus there’s the landscaping going on in the backyard. We finished the cement border that goes around the pool to hold in the sand. Now we’re roto-tilling the backyard. Next step is to get a trench digger so we can dig up all the trenches for the electrical wiring to be laid in. It has to be two feet below the surface so definitely renting a trench digger for that. That won’t happen til next weekend tho This is going much slower than I had expected. The cement border took much much longer than it should have. Oh well… I am hoping to get those trench dug, the electrical laid, and the cement poured for the gazebo patio before the 24th of June. That might be a bit ambitious tho. Specially since we have to have the city inspector come in for each step while laying the trenches, conduit and wires for the electricity that is going out to the pool and Jacuzzi areas. Not sure how fast they will come out after we ask for inspection. We shall see how it goes. I’m taking pictures during the process tho.

Okie, about weigh in, last week I had a minor set back, gained a pound back. That put me at 347lbs. I weighed in this morning. I’m at 343lbs. WOOHOO!

I need to get back to my papers now. I hope everyone has had a great weekend!

Take care