Just to echo things that both Jilly and Xena are saying: we have ingrained habits that helped us gain weight. Not to mention preferences. My preference is to not exercise. I expect that I will have to fight this preference, to some extent, forever. I just hope reason keeps overriding preference!

Anyway, we can't expect these habits and preferences to just disappear forever. We CAN make new habits -- which takes time! And we can find reasons to override these preferences... but we can't expect to be perfect either.

I think when you start at 300+ you have to recognize that this is a long journey (I see it as forever) and that success is not going to be constant. There will be ups and downs. I think the best we can hope for are long ups and short downs... and that we learn from both sets of experiences!

Hi!

Really not sure how many of you will remember me as I've not been around for a long time... but hoping to get back on track with you all!

I went to our shop's Christmas party last night, We all had a real nice time. It's always fun to see everyone dressed up so nice because we usually see one another in old work clothes. Some people are hard to recognize. I won a digital camera with a printer dock in the raffle *my lucky streak continues*. We had a nice prime rib dinner, and cheese cake for desert (I passed on the cheese cake and had some sugar free fudge a friend made for us insted).

Mechelle- I have had the same internal conflict as you from time to time. I found some stuff on the 100lb. club forum and they have a thread called, " I wanna stay fat because..." I found myself laughing at the humor and sarcasm but at the same time it reminded me of why I wanted to change. Check it out.

Patti- I hope your foot feels better soon. I have similar problems with my right foot, If I land on it wrong it hurts for days.

Jill-The mall story is cute...sneaky pete! Or I should say sneaky Jill!!

Well, I've got to get started on my christmas cards so I can get some of them out of the way. That's all for me for now,bye!

Colleen.

Mazarin -- Allison is it? Welcome back!

Melissa -- Congrats on the puppy -- sounds adorable!
We miss you on the exercise thread -- I'm glad to hear you're keeping track!

I wish you could too! Consider yourself hugged back!

Deb: Oh you guys make the Gazelle look and sound so fun. I can't wait until I can get on it.

Jilly: WTG on your eating out choices. I'm pourd of you. I laughed that you got your sweetie pie Jeff to carry his own gift. My kind of shopping. lol.

Mechelle: I mean this sincerely. If there is anything that I can help you with on your moving, research or anything you would like help with information, whatever. Just pm me and I'll give you my email address and I'd be happy to check things out for you. I am real close to Spokane. Keep your head up sweetie. Moving is so hard no matter how happy you are to be getting away from your old place!

Ammi: You are eating like a normal thin person it sounds to me like! Wonderful NSV!

Aliceeep: Your furbaby is so sweet. I have 1/2 Golden and 1/2 labadors 2 of them and they are so awesome.

Sandy: WTG on maintaining. So sorry that your Dear Andy had to get ill before wanting to change his life. I pray that I can change my life before I get ill. Thank you for sharing it reminds me of what I need to do. Blessings to you both.

Alison: I remember you! Welcome back. Stay around this time girl. Hope you are well.

Melissa: So happy for you that you got your puppy. Nothing like puppy love! What is her name?

Sue: God Bless you Sweetie! Hang in there and thanks for the hug.

As for me. I have had a flu bug with fever for the past couple of days. I have done nothing but sleep. I am feeling a bit better right now so hopefully it will last. Blessing to you all and for those gals that aren't posting for whatever reason right now, please know that you are very muched missed.
Hugs to you all,
Annie

Xena, thanks, I know I have done ok with losing weight but when I look back to the times I wasn't OP I get so angry with myself. Don't be too hard on yourself, it isn't a race, it's the rest of our lives!xxxx
Valerie, you are being too hard on yourself too, you got a job, lost it, almost got divorced then started a new job, which you hadn't done for ages, you haven't gained loads, which a lot of people in your situation would have done!!! me included!!!lolxxxxx
Annie I hope you back continues to heal and great on fitting all that biking in! I REALLY must start on mine AGAIN!!!!!xxxxx
Vilandra, your puppy is gorgeous. It must be great to spend such a long time over Christmas with your family.xxxxx
Jilly, it sounds good to me! We went for a meal for my oldest son's 20th birthday but Aiden got earache, so I didn't get to have dessert!! BUT I would have had it otherwise, maybe I need to do what you're doing!! STOPPPING BEING GREEDY!!lol I hope you are able to keep this up, you are doing so well!xxxxx
Wyllen, glad things are getting easier for you, food-wise, it must have been a worry when you've come this far & to hit a 'bad' patch.xxxx
Sandy, if hubby has to diet/watch his food it will certainly help having him as your dieting buddy, lol. I hope he can get his cholesterol (?) lower, I know diabetics suffer with it, as brother-in-law has both & he eats pretty healthily too!.xxxxxx
Misti, I hope the ffm is doing OVERTIME on your behalf! You are so strong, keeping OP when those naughty scales are refgusing to budge downwards!xxxxx
Gotta go out & get walking.
xxsharon
ps Ammi, I hope Weigh-in goes well!!!!

Well done Ammi, thats is amazing to lose that much really it is, must be down to the diet AND exercise and all your EFFORT! Just out of curiosity how many point do u have a day? Do u save any exercise points or not? I have NEVER lost well with WW as I feel I have too many points and tend to lose very small amounts.

I have not weighed myself today as I was away for the weekend and sat went well (food wise) but sunday was full of salty snacks! I know I would gain some (water) and don't need to depress myself, so will carry on plan this week and see how it goes next week. My friends baby was so cute, with a very lusty cry tho! Rich's dad was actually not bad considering how much surgery he had. However we are worried about when he has chemo as he is 55 but has a very full head of hair and they have warned him he will lose his hair, and that will make him look soo different and I know that will upset dear hubby a lot

So ate salad and pasta on sat, cals were ok, but sunday I made some unwise choices that involved salty, carby fatty foods. I think the obvious worry of the day didn't help plus I did all the driving which was 3+ hours then got in late and was worried about work etc, and I'm afraid I nibbled through the day

Anyway today is a new day and a new week so I have lots and lots to do...have made a start on housework all ready and more to do at the end of the day.

Melissa - how lovely to have a new puppy lucky you! Enjoy your xmas break with yr family, how lovely

Dogpal - you speak sense hun, am listening to your words.

Jill - well done on being OP and doing all the work needed to keep it going, you are doing what I need to be doing!

Sharon - I can relate to looking back and regretting wasting time not being OP when you know what others have lost by staying OP. However I think overall to have struggled with feeling low and yet STILL got more than 2 stone off is just AMAZING< I always gain at a time like that. So in terms of the struggles some people have in their lives makes any weight loss even more miraculous and also a sign of your very strong character so well done..

I think something that makes me sad sometimes is that I was so different when I was slim, I loved exercising and used to a lot, for fun. Nowadays I have noticed since my nurse training for last 2.5 years my knees are hurting I think from all the walking etc I am doing, and it makes me a little sad sometimes to wonder why I ever put this weight on and why it is so hard to get it off......ponder......I don't know, I have so many blessings in my life, I am so so so lucky, I hope and pray I can embrace the changes I need to make to live life to the full .....

all of you who are keeping OP at this testing time, thank you for being my guides

EM

Oh and Xena - one of the very WORST problems my weight causes me is seeing people that I haven't seen since my heaviest weight was 150! Argh! I just hate hate it and its so hard to find that inner confidence to deal with the situation. I am seeing my sister this xmas who has never weighed more than 140 in her life and I am feeling nervous about that. Its the kind of thing that like you say can on one hand make you desperate to lose weight QUICK and yet result in PANIC and a GAIN which is the last thing you want! Soo.. I need to do what u say and not panic and get driven off course as will feel even worse then!

Em x

Ammi well done you go girl! gots lots to do today so be back later... foot is better but now i am sick to my stomach what a monday!

Lord, give me the strength to stay AT MY DESK...it's not even 9am, and there's almost an entire frosted carrot cake in the kitchen up for grabs. I will NOT have a piece. I think I can't, I think I can't, I think I can't...

Did I mention carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is one of my FAVORITE desserts, second in line only to cheesecake