Hiya ladies,

Just wanted to say hi, and that I'm not sure what time I'll make it in tomorrow. I'm having 2 friends over for lunch, so I'll be busy in the morning, spiffying up the house and myself, lol. On the menu is a tossed salad that consists of baby greens, slivered carrots, turkey strips, walnut pieces, yellow sweet pepper, cukes, tomatoes, mandarin oranges and then a bread stick on the side. Very colorful, lol. I've got the cutest square Corell plates to serve it on, and some neat placemats I bought in Chicago last year. There's WW raspberry fluff for dessert. Yes, I know I serve that dessert often, but these 2 haven't had it, and it's sooo good. And points friendly, too.

Aww, I wish you JLs could be here! Maybe someday.....

I hope all of you have a really great Thursday.

hey all
Robin...can I see a pic of you...ha ha ha joking. I did show Monte the pic and he was,,,that is exactly what I had in mind! So our plan is to drop the deck to ground level,,,and then make the top...what is that called? Ive called it an arbour. I like the corner and probably will add that...lol I made a bench years ago out of willow so I need to somehow impliment it in too. Ohhh I would be ticked..maybe back track in your genelogy and find out if perhaps you have a ancestor you can use.

Trixie,,,laughed when you said its hard to work for people you can't understand. about 20 % of my customers don't speak english very well. Thats fun....arghhh

Shel, Sweetie we all how down days...believe me you are not alone. I get pretty overwelmed each day over my weight,,,house mess, bills, and horrible traffic. Oh and my favorite,,,kids fighting all the time.

Sue, well thats good that no matter what you will make a profit with the house. I know we would too but ,,,thing is we couldn't afford the other houses either. Hows your back end there? nice colors?

Jane,,,Id love to come for lunch!

Jules, I laughed over the stalker comment, I have a friend from theatre named Trish. We joked about her being a stalker to this hot guy in theatre. Thing is she said shes just too lazy to actually stalk...lol I sometimes follow,,,but ya I normally am too pushy to do that for long....lol

well off to finish dinner...its nice,,,with hockey on the house is almost quiet except in the living room. Its like being home alone...lol

Btw, since this is a weight loss thread, I want to ask how everyone is doing?

There are some of us doing the challenge, but I like to mention it here, too. Right now, I feel strong and in control, but as I know from previous experience, that can change in a heartbeat. I wonder what it is in our heads that make us so strong one week/day/hour and then completely lose the feeling of that the next?

Do you think there is something different with us as compared to people who never have to diet? I mean, genetically speaking, or something? Why is it that I have trouble stopping after one piece of candy, and my skinny friend would have trouble eating more than one? I'm not complaining about the lack of fairness in that... just wondering what it is in us that makes us overeat, especially when we aren't even hungry.

Once, years ago, I was shopping with my skinny buddy Nancy, and we picked up a treat at the checkout. This was around 4 PM. On the way to the car, I opened my candy, and she put hers in her purse, and said, "Jane! You're going to ruin your appetite for supper!" I told her I'd chance it. But, a fat-natured friend would have KNOWN that there was no way my appetite would be ruined for supper. Tamped down a tad.... maybe.... but not ruined. What makes her like that, and me like this? At what point did I start to live to eat instead of eat to live?

Fellow Jaded Ladies, please tell me what you think.

I said I was going to go relax, but I didn't. I ended up doing a WATP tape. Felt good and I needed the inspiration...I have the version that is Christian inspired. The music is so good. You really forget that you are exercising.
It did inspire me to eat clean for dinner. I grilled chicken tenderloins and veggies on my George Forman. Had forgotten how yummy fresh grilled peppers, onions and squash could be. Made DH buttered potatoes, but I passed on those and bread. I am already planning a time to WATP tomorrow as I have to run errands in the morning and get the house picked up for another showing in the afternoon. We plan to get groceries while the house is being shown. Hope I can eat clean again tomorrow...get back on that track.

Angie- Yeah, my back side is going through the green stages right now..Actually looks like someone kicked my a**...you get the idea. LOL

Jane- Hope the lunch goes well...sounds yummy and like a good time. I really should entertain more...got out of the habit when I was working and DH worked opposite hours for most of the years. We usually have family over, but I miss having gal pals in. I belonged to a sorority for years that met every two weeks at someone's house, have started to miss that.

Cristina- I already got miffed, after just one showing. It just doesn't feel right to know someone was in your house when you were not home. I feel that same feeling when we go out West and someone has "borrowed" our house for a vacation. I can always tell some one was there, no matter how neat they are. There is something that they did diff. than I do. And I really do like to loan out the house there, but I can always notice.

Jules- We have farm field on two sides of our property...so the dust is just a daily fixture. Makes it hard to keep the house clean though.

Oh, I forgot to post my new pictures....I will see if I can get that done.

Jane, like you,,,I can turn on a dime with my eating. I struggle each day...some days,,,all day. The white sugar almost beat me a couple of times but right now I have the control. I do find that I am wanting more carby foods...not the good kind either. I crave breads even more then I did before. Im training a woman at work and she had heard that I don't eat white sugar... she asked me how I got so big then if I don't eat white sugar? What to say to that.
I have no excuse to not exercising,,,I have nothing on my agenda in the evenings...perhaps house work or bad weather but I have a bike,,a gazelle, a total gym. No reason not to work out. Except I am lazy.

Tomorrow I go see Dr. McKenna, I need to update my food diary. Im craving creamy white stuff again...so Im going to go make a protein shake. Lots of fruit.

Oh Jane, you posted while I was taking my good ole time typing.

I wish I had something profound to say about your questions. I certainly know what you mean about being so in control and doing well and then how it can change in a heartbeat. I can even plan a meal in advance if we are going out...and I have such good intentions, then I see the menu and it is like I am dumbfounded! I just order whatever I want...with no regard to what I NEED to eat. Then I beat myself up afterward.
I am one who HAS to eat all the candy even if I buy it and say I am going to eat one piece a day. So I know that I might as well buy a small amount, eat it all, and then stay away from candy for a long period again. I don't do sweets often, but if I have them I eat 'em until they are gone.
I don't know if there is something genetically with us...but it sure seems like it.
But, speaking of someone who used to be "the skinny friend" I also had my addictions then. I gave up smoking and caffeine and replaced it with food. I was 103 pounds at both of my weddings. I put on weight over the years, but was normally 115-120. After my DS was born when I was 32 it was harder to lose, but I still was in the high 130's. Quit smoking, quit working and had a hysterectomy at 42 and the rest is history.

I don't know what makes one person one way and us a different way. I do know that I am glad I found this group of "US."

Hi Ladies.

Just popped in to say thanks and back. Just one of those days. I went back to bed and stayed there for hours. I needed it not only for the sleep but just time alone to think and be with my own thoughts.

I just felt so defeated And what did I do when I got up? Ordered a Pizza. I guess old habits die hard. At least I know what I do when I get down and bummed.

So tomorrow is another day and back to work at that. Guess I needed today so I can make it through the "work week".

Anyways. Maybe by tomorrow I will feel more like "myself".

Thanks for listening and caring.



P.S. -- Well there you have it ladies my new avatar is one of the many pictures of the Smokies, so enjoy!

Sue,,,thank you! you have written a part in there of how I feel. Ok two parts.... 103 lbs? How tall are you? Im 5'6 before I was pregnant with Brandon I weighed between 132 and 135. When I walked in to the delivery room I was 100lbs more. And that part that gets me ,,,I weigh even more then that!

Shel, sleep is just as important to weight loss as eating right.
Love the pic. I need to do that,,,I have such beautiful scenes here and think man I need to take a pic of that. But never do. That needs to change.

Jane,,,I like your question,,,this is a good digging into our minds/souls/hearts I don't share my feelings too often. Alot of times I just am writing about nothing. Alot of times I want to write about how Im feeling but feel shy/scared. Thank you for the question,,,Thank you Sue and Shel for sharing your struggles too. Makes me know I don't struggle alone.

Angela - You are very right. Sleep is SO important! It is an essential part of a healthy life and without it I'm a big crabapple! lol.

Thanks. I have tons as well as video footage. Everytime we go back I have to take more pics. Last time we went it was really neat as there was still snow on the mountain!

Hi All!

Trixie & Cristina... Yes my Dh designed the Pergola - the deck was already there BUT it had 6 foot walls all the way around it - we knocked those down & started all over. We built it too - my Dh is pretty handy with tools AND cars so I got a bonus with him LOL

Angie... This is me, well it was me at 197. I actually have to have my pix taken now, my face is really different. LOL You are a total riot!

Jane... Hmmm if there was any chocolate in my reach, I ate it. Ruin an appetite? NOT, oh did I love food (ok I still do but I am better at it) -- I still get my omg I need a sugar fix from time to time too. Oh that & fresh warm bread and a ice cold pepsi. Those 3 things were killing me.

HI & to all & all that I didn't get a chance to write to

Hello ladies...

ROBIN...thanks for sharing your picture with us! You are a beauty! and you are a lucky lady...getting a hubby that fixes both! I keep DH away fromt he cars, lol! He knows the basic's but other than that, I am taking my vehicle in.

SHEL...beautiful avatar...but then the smokies ARE beautiful! I love the mountains! DS went to college in Wise, VA and I fell in love with it up there. Hope you are having a better day today!

JANE...have a good lunch with your friends today!

SUE...can't wait to see the newest pictures. Your dinner sounded so good. I hear ya about people being in your house. When we first listed the house I was excited at the first few people coming in. Then started thinking about it and it went downhill from there, lol. I didn't know they had a Christian inspired WATP...haven't seen them. Will have to check it out because the music played on the ones I have is icky, nothing special at all so when I do them, I turn the radio on.

Busy morning this morning but it was nice out. Got my walk done, just 2 miles today and then had grocery shopping and errands to run. Supposed to be hot later but wasn't bad this morning with the wind blowing like it is. Anyway, hope you have a GREAT day!

Cristina- What a small world. My neighbor and walking buddy is from Wise, VA. She goes home several times a year and my youngest DD went many times to Wise when she was growing up. (best friend with the neighbor's DD) I have never been, but I know by photos that it is lovely.

Robin- Thanks for showing your face... You are beautiful..love your smile.

BBLater...

Morning Ladies......

Having a moment today. I had a hard time sleeping. Woke up at 3:00 am in so much pain and in tears. My left side was just pinched! Still walking w/a limp. So I'm not much for being bright eyed today!! Pretty whiny really.

I'm thinking that I'm full of stress and I'm bunching up all my back muscles! I tend to feel the weight on my shoulders on things that I can't control and should have no control over. Don't know if that's good or bad!!

I need answers at work. Too much stress!! Needless stress too. Wish I could just go to my cubicle and do my work and not answer any questions! That'd make me happy!

Sheesh....sorry for that rant and rave. NEEDED to let it out. Driving me nuts. It was so much stress yesterday that I even asked someone if he had a cigarette that I could bum off him....he didn't, which was a good thing because I would have smoked it!

Which leads to my struggles on weight loss. If I'm stressing all the time, I don't have motivation in me. And if I don't have motivation I don't move. And I know exercise for me is KEY to losing weight. Right now, I have to force myself to get on the gazelle. And I don't feel great afterwards like usual and thats not right.

Boy....I'm SO ready for my vacation. I just want to get away from it all.

Thanks for letting me cry this out.

MARTI... I'm so sorry for what you're having to go through at work right now. I can totally relate though with the day/night shifts being divided! I worked nights for 12 years, and we were always blamed for everything and looked down upon. I know also what you mean with not having any motivation in yourself when you're stressed! It seems like everything just comes to a complete stop with me with each stressful situation, and if I keep doing things this way, I will never lose my weight!

Well I'm getting ready to take my DD for her dental cleaning/x-ray appointment, and then we're going out to lunch and then to Walmart to get some pictures printed off of my new camera. Hope everyone is having a good day and I'll be back to talk again later.

Hi again...

MARTI...I thought at first you were talking about this site! But...I am very sorry that you are in the middle and having to deal with that. Been there, done that and it is not fun at all. I think it's sad that grown people can't work out their differences and especially sad when they put another in the middle of it. I am so sorry that you are so stressed about it all. But also, I don't think that you can just ignore it. I don't think lying about it either would be good...they always say that if you lie it will come back on you. Plus you will have to remember that lie and I think it would just be more complicated. But too, who's to say what is right or wrong for you. I think as hard as it is, you are the one who has to make the ultimate decision about the right way to handle it. And you NEVER have to apologize for a rant or rave! We are here to supposrt each other and help each other the best we can. Sorry you are in pain too from a pinched nerve...know ho wbad that can hurt. Sometimes though working out can make it feel better. Or at least get a massage from James

SUE..how funny! Too bad you haven't been though, it really is BEAUTIFUL up there. I didn't want to leave! We made a vacation out of touring the college with a stop in North Carolina to visit my brother and SIL. I so wanted to move up there after visiting there.

Okay, outta here for now. Going to visit a couple other threads before starting a load of laundry.

Have a good day ladies!

EDITED to say HI to MICHELLE! hope you have a nice lunch with DD and trip to Wal-Mart. And hope her visit to the dentist is a good experience for her. I so hate going but need to soon!