Patty,

It looks like you and I are the only ones posting these days. I hope our other ladies come back and join us. I am really having some stomach problems so I hope this test tomorrow will shed some light on what is going on. I watched Oprah yesterday and it was about Greene's weight loss program. I have his book and it does make a lot of sense. In it is a 7-day diet that Oprah follows and perhaps I might just try it. What I am thinking is you almost have to be ready, willing and able to change your eating habits once and for all and get in control. We all know what is good for us and we definitely have the wisdom to make wise choices.

Take care and I hope to hear from the rest of our ladies sometime soon!

Anita

Hello Anita,

I hope they find something (but not to serious) when the do the test. I know it's frustrating when they don't find anything yet you still feel bad. You are so right about having to have the right mind set so start eating right. I have been exercising for several months now and I know in a moments notice I would skip and go back to my old habits. It is hard, BUT I have to say, that I truly do feel better. I too am always looking for that miracle pill, YOu know one that doesn't cause side effects. But there is not one.

Hello ladies,

The weekend sure goes by fast when you have a list of things to do. Still trying to get the house in order, after getting the floors put in. I'm trying to clean out closests too. Maybe someday I"ll have a garage sale. Took the weekend off from exercising. My plan is to get five days this week. Oh, don't know if I had mentioned... I took a kickboxing class on thursday night and I hurt my shoulder/arm, so I have been taking easy with my right arm.

Nita - Have you gotten your results yet?

Hope to hear from you all soon.

Hi Patty,
Sure is quiet around here. I've not been posting since it is hard and sometimes expensive to post from hotels and internet cafes. I will be ringing you sometime in the next four days before I go home. I'm flying to California tomorrow and will be in Monterey tomorrow night and then I have 3 days in San Francisco. I'm at the end of the trip. It's been good, but I am getting very tired maybe it's been a week too long. I have your number and Nita's number and will try for a short conversation with you both probably from SF since I will be on my own there for the 3 days. I don't know anyone there.

Nita, I am so sorry that you are still having problems with the stomach. I do hope that it gets sorted out soon.

Patty, I'm glad to hear you are getting the exercise in. It really does do wonders for the mind and body. It may seem hard and you have to keep pushing but it will remove the fat and flabby bits quicker than anything else. I don't believe the exercise removes the weight too much. I haven't lost much on it, but I have gone down at least 3 dress sizes. I just wish some of the flab would disappear from the stomach and abdomen. Mind you I will have to start my exercise regime again when I get home.

I've had a lovely time in British Columbia. Vancouver is a relatively easy place to get around and Victoria is just lovely. Those Butchart Gardens are magnificent. I was in heaven. I also went on a harbour cruise, long walks, the Butterfly house and garden and had a seaplane trip back to Vancouver this afternoon. Just stunning.

So with that I had better go and get some sleep. I have a 4.30 wakeup call booked for the morning. Reporting time at the airport is 6.00am. I'm an early bird, but this is ridiculous

Hello Ladies,

Shad - It was really great to talk to you last night. Now I have a voice to go with the pictures I've seen of you. Sounds like you really had a exciting vacation or Holiday as you say. Have a safe trip home and looking forward to reading up on your adventures.

As for me, same old stuff. It's that TOM and I really don't want to exercise. I feel blab!!! I have really been slacking on my food and i'm going to get back on track next week.

Hope everyone is doing ok.

Hello Ladies,

It's so hard to get back on track with my eating. All day I did great, then after work ran some errans which took longer than expected. I was starving, so what do i Do? Run into fast food and get a bit to eat. Of course, I didn't pick the best choice. I"m frustrated....with myself...

Hope everyone is doing ok...

Hi Shad and Patty,

It's great to hear from you both. I called the doc's office today and they said the report had come in but the doctor had not seen it. Supposedly someone will call me tomorrow morning with the results and then they will send me some short form. I still didn't receive the report about the blood test that came back normal. However, since the test my stomach has been acting pretty well.

I am thinking very seriously about going to four sessions with a hypnotherapist. I already had over an hour of a "free" consultation to see if we clicked. And, yes, we did. She is board certified and can help with weight management, as well as other aspects of your life. I have already discussed this with Gene and he has no qualms about me trying it. The four sessions will cost $280, a lot less than Jenny Craig or LA Weightloss. Her name is Nancy and she told me she can also teach me to hypnotize myself. I do know hypnosis works for people who want to give up smoking. What do you think? Am I again looking for that easy fix. What she told me was once I change some of my thinking the weight will just drop off--sounds like a plan. I also told her I am a pack rat and need to get rid of a lot of stuff I have accumulated over the years. She said, that too, can be dealt with!

To tell you the truth, I am really excited, and I do believe I can conquer this weight problem once and for all!

I tried to get on our website yesterday and was unable to do so, so I am happy to see you ladies are posting.

Looking forward to hearing some of your responses to this post.

Take care,
Anita

Hi all
I'm back in Aus and have started back at work at a place called Gemco - The Groote Eylandt Mining Company. It's a long way from home, but I wanted to do it because I'd like to be able to come back here from time to time and this will give me a nice in. It is the start of cutting back my work hours to the point where I only work about 6 months of the year. I'd be quite happy with that.

Nita - I can't comment on the hypnotherapist, but I would be willing to give it a try. It's not that expensive - cheaper than some of the diet companies at least. It may also solve several problems on the run. I hope you get some results about the stomach problems shortly. Seems you have been having those problems for ever.

Yes I did have a lovely holiday. It was very busy tho'. I have come back with a cold in the nose. It seems to be going away again so that makes me happy. I was all over travelling and trying to make sense of things on Sunday and Monday.

I have little access to the computer at the moment so I will be in and out quickly most days. Hope to catch up with you soon.

Hello Ladies,

Nita - I believe seeing a "hypnotherapist" will help. I tried one out a long time ago, but it was very expensive and could not really start the program. It was one of those free sessions to see if I could go under. I think the key is to continue after your program finishes. Can she provide you a tape to listen to? I also tried that "Smart technique" that was sold on tv, but I got mine through ebay and I know it helped, it's just having to listen to it daily for confirmation. Let us know how it goes.

Shad - I'm sure you were exhaused with all your travels. What does GEMCO mine? At my job I purchase parts for some of the mining companies.. mainly dragline parts & buckets. They mine lignite to burn in the power companies.

I feel like it a sunday, but it's not. Did not exercise today, but will be back at the gym tomorrow. OH, did I mention I'll be leaving soon to vacation in Montana. Can't wait.

Hope everyone is doing ok. Hope everyone had a Happy 4th of July.

Hi Patty and Shad,

Hopefully we will hear from our other members soon.

I did get a call from the gastro office telling me my biopsies came back normal. That in itself makes me feel a whole lot better.

Also, I did something today that I'm not quite sure was the correct thing to do--I went to my Buick dealer because I needed a repair to my door--the leather had cracked. While I was there I made the mistake of looking at the newer cars. A salesman came up to me and I told him I was just looking but that next year I was going to trade in my 2005 for a 2008. The head guy started talking to me about leasing a car for two years using my car as trade and paying only $196.00 up front. All the maintenance work for the two years would be totally free and On Star would be paid for those two years. At the end, I had several options, one of which was to buy the car for $16,500 or something like that. Well I did it and at first my husband was really upset with me but then he, too, thought it was a good deal.

Patty, I also went on E-bay and found several Smart Technique items for sale. I did put a bid on one for $5.50 and shipping is I believe $6.00. It comes with 13 cd's and a whole lot of other booklets. I have not ruled out the hypnotherapy but I also paid $5.50 for a self-hypnosis cd. I guess I am just looking for anything to help me get started again.

Thanks for being here. You ladies are great and Patty, I noticed you and I have about the same amount of weight to lose. Perhaps we can motivate each other more than we have in the past.

Take care,
Anita

Hi Patty and Nita,
Quick check in as I am in the training room (and yes it is Saturday) waiting for some students.

If you are looking for a challenge to help you both, might I suggest you pop into my other thread (Worldly Chicks) and several of our older members are challenging themselves and each other to lose some weight and stay healthy. I think they are stating what they want to give up and for how long and what ever else they want to start a habit doing. Some are two weeks, some are for the entire month. It may help you along and you will also get some much needed support from others. Doesn't mean we have to abandon this thread. I just thought it may help both you and me. I will be joining the challenge when I get settled in Perth.

Gotta go.

Hi Shad,

Sounds like an excellent plan. I will check out these Worldly Chicks. I also have a self-hypnosis tape coming. I do believe our minds have a lot to do with how we conduct our everyday living. I used to have this real positive attitude and lately I have benn less positive. Even though I am a caretaker that doesn't keep me from doing great things for myself and others. Thanks Shad, it's people like you and Patty that help me check out different techniques to get back in control.

Have a "super" weekend!
Anita

Hello Ladies,

Nita - So glad to hear your test results came in ok. I know it has to be somewhat frustrating, cause your wondering "then what is the problem." Not sure on the car leasing. I hear both pro and con sides to leasing. If it works for you then that's all that matters. You know you'll be driving a car, that should have no major breakdowns and that inself makes me feel better. WTG on ordering the tape. I know when I did listen to it, it seemed to help. I don't know why I haven't listened to it lately, I think i'll look for it and start listening to it again.

Shad - Sounds like you got settled in after a long holiday. Working on a saturday.. That for suggesting that other site for the challenge.

As for me, I'm getting in that vacation mode.. I don't know if i'm ready to start a challenge, BUT I am going to continue my exercise up until I leave. When I get back I will definitely start a challenge. I've gone too long without any more weight loss. I am ready to lose........

bringing us to the top!

Hey Girls!

I've been reading your posts and am glad to hear you guys are all doing well.

I have been out of school since June 6th, the seniors graduated on the 10th. Almost immediately I came down with an upper respiratory infection that knocked me for a loop for a good 10 days. After that, or possibly because of that I had an allergic reaction to a new hypertensive med I began taking almost 3 months ago. I had initial signs of extreme dry mouth and lips to the point I had sores develop and used the Abrevia product to help it out - twice! My doctor did not think this was enough. A few days later I developed a fierce dry cough, yet another symptom of a reaction to this med. With that news, my doctor took me off the med, and said it would be 2 to 3 weeks before the cough would be gone!!!! It will be 2 weeks Wednesday. I am happy to report I feel better and the cough is nearly gone. I don't trust the new meds out these days, do not trust them.

Diet is good, I think. I've not been to WW for 2 weeks, but as of 2 weeks ago I was holding on to my 15 pound loss. My nephews have been here for a week and I've been cooking some decent breakfasts and dinners that I normally would not. They are so a appreciative, you have no idea. They are 7 and 13 years old. We have been walking lots, so hopefully that will burn a few of the extra meal calories. Tomorrow we will visit an aquarium which will involve a few hours of strolling also. I am so happy to have time to enjoy my family and relax.

Did any of you catch Oprah's show last week with the new weight loss program and people that will be losing weight on the show. It was pretty interesting. Bob Greene is directing the program. He seems very firm. He said flatly, if you are not willing to exercise, you are not sincerely interested in losing weight or maintaining a weight loss. Hummmmmmmmmmm....!

Cat, OneDay and Shad, thanks so much for keeping the thread alive. I read another thread on the Skinny post site and the authors are taking the summer off from posting also.... sometimes a break is a good thing. I remain dedicated and appreciate you all.