LuvCats, did you end up at Olive Garden? Their menu is certainly do-able on Weight Watchers, just not quite vegan-friendly. For some reason they like to put butter in evvverything, lol!

Hope you had a great night!

Two hour delay for schools here today because its so cold. I will definitely be exercising inside today!

JENNIFER: it is freezing here also, but my kids have school and I have to get to work. brrrrrrrrrrr........

LUVCATS: welcome to the thread, Nice to meet you.

VEGANGYPSY: it would have taken an act of God to make me resist the breadsticks at olive garden....great job!

NEWLEAF: I love your pants story!!!!

SEEMYFEET: I am so sorry you are going through a hard time with self doubt and fear that you will never reach your goals...we are all entitled to our little pity party now and again.....you had yours now get back on the wagon. Stop thinking about how you failed at WL in the past....all that matter now is TODAY....when people make changes they make them one day at a time. You can do this, others have done it, it isn't physically impossible....you need to jump over your mental hurdles......we are here to be your cheerleaders!

MOONDANCE: I can be the queen of lazy and procrastination....I feel so much better though when I'm not......I hate the consequences of being lazy (dirty house, fat arse, bills overdue)....making lists help me and giving myself deadlines too.....

SUM: Countdown to your trip right? Now that is incentive, eh?

Well my head is spinning, son has midterms this week and an unusual schedule that I need to work around. Had a hair appt but i think i'm going to cancel. Kind of sad that I can't find the time to get my roots done.....but it isn't like I have a reason to look good anyhoo...

Happy Tuesday!

Emotions have run amok today (see other post). One day at a time.

Zumbachica: I too work better from lists. Guess I should write one! Stay warm...

Jennifer1966: You stay warm too.

vegangypsy: Like bacon, butter makes everything better. Great job restraining yourself at Olive Garden! Definitely a NSV!

LuvCats: Sounds like you have a good plan in place. Love your story about the kitties. Oh how I would love another one to go with the one we have, but DH is strictly opposed (one of those on-going battles).

newleaf123: OMG, I love your pants story. It is a great visual, every time you see that pile, that what you're doing is working and worth the effort! Your trip sounds fantastic!

MrsTryingAgain: That's what I meant...I'd be scared until he has one. I sure hope it happens soon!

SeeMyFeet: I'm suffering from those same kinds of self-doubts. I don't have any great words of wisdom on how to combat them, but I hope it helps to know you're not alone. I don't like the work drama queens either. Good thing I work primarily with engineers! I hope all the crap settles down soon.

kelijpa: I worked out with a trainer last summer and we used kettle bells. They do have a different feel. Hope you're feeling better.

Gypsy: No, I haven't been to Olive Garden yet. I was going to do it this coming weekend if DH doesn't get home but I'm sort of thinking I'll be putting it off a week or so (hope hope hope hope!!!).

Jennifer:Yay on 2 hour delay. I always love those days where we can kick back and relax awhile instead of heading to school so early. Lol hasn't happened this year darn it!

Zumbachica:Thanks for the welcome. I can relate to weird schedules. DD17 has finals so this whole week is strange. Scheduled an appointment for today and told them not to do 2 instead did 12:45 when indeed today is a half day so 2 would have worked but now she will have to walk home. Oh well she will survive. As for not having a reason to color your roots yes you do! Do it for you!

Moondance:Glad you like my kitty story. I'm lucky things did work out pretty well. I have decided for myself that we won't have more than 2 again and no males. Hope they last quite awhile longer though I'm not ready to lose any of them. Not sure what else is going on will look for other posts but hang in there!

I'm trying to be happy. Went down 1.6 from last week. I'd really hoped for more but I know that is really good... probably about perfect but I wanted just one week that had a large number. Okay last week probably was but I refused to weigh before I started up again so my (around a month) previous number I knew was before Christmas and I didn't watch things and/or exercise at all until I started 2 weeks ago today (that was down about 1.5 also). It's okay though I'm going to keep on. Excited about my vids that are coming. Meanwhile I'll try to get on the elliptical this afternoon and I will eat as I should.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

We had the 2-hr delay today, and there's another tomorrow. My 13-year-old said it's because the bus engines take an hour to warm up in this weather. I remember hearing something a couple of years ago about the gas they used being gel based or something?? So, makes sense...

I took my 11-year-old to the dr this morning, and afterwards we had lunch at Whole Foods. I had the most wonderful Citrus Chipotle Tofu and took a picture of the ingredients list to try to replicate it at home. It had black beans in it and a wonderful sauce. Yum! My son had the curried tilapia. I was impressed by his choice.

Got my exercise in. And have somewhat successfully fought off some afternoon munchies. Did have some nuts and a candy cane. Dinner will be roasted chicken drumsticks, roasted potatoes & turnips, and salad. We'll see what the scale brings...

Hugs to all of you starting to enter menopause... it sounds complicated, variable, and out of your control. I went through surgical menopause a couple of years ago (uterus & ovaries & fallopian tubes removed) so it was a very different beast. Not pleasant, to say the least -- totally fine one day, zero hormones the next -- but at least its all behind me now. Good luck as you learn to navigate...

*SIGH* Went to the dr with H today. I almost had an episode that would have put me in the national news & not in a good way. H's heart monitor results were NOT forwarded to his primary physician NOR the cardiologist. Don't know WHEN he'll get his pacemaker. If we don't hear from the cardiologist in a day or 2, I'm calling! His low heart rate is 34, his high was 194 & on top of that he has some sort of fluctuation that occurs while this is all going on. Definitely can cause a stroke/heart attack.
My TOM kicked in at about 4AM today. Whatta lousey wake up call! So my emotions have been something like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride! I was quietly crying in the drs office as he was reading results that they had to have faxed over while we were there. Dr. wasn't thrilled that the results were in "limbo". Hopefully his pushing & my pushing will get him a pacemaker in the next couple of weeks! GGRRRrrrrrr!!!!!
Okay, TOM is here. Eating has been good. Went for a long leisurely walk in the park. Plenty H2O. Going to do my hand weights tonight, tone my flappy arms.
Love & hugs to you all! I sprinkle you with I'm battling cramps & a headache..."Thanks TOM!" (she grumbles under her breath) Think I'm going to curl up with a blanket & watch an old movie or something.

BE HEALTHY! YOU ARE WORTH IT! GO!!! GO!!! GO!!!

Hugs MrsTryingAgain, I am so sorry you are having such a hard time getting your hubby the treatment he needs. If I were in your shoes, I probably would have made the national news. I don't control my mouth in those situations.

Welcome to all the new members! So glad to see how many wonderful 40 plus women there are here working on our health!

I have been MIA for a while because I have been so discouraged with my weight. However, (jumping for joy here!!) my scale FINALLY showed a 2.5lb loss today. I am so excited!!! I have been tracking my calories and 95% of the time I have kept them between 1200-1400 daily. Exercise had been on and off and is something I need to get stricter with. I was to the point of desperation with my weight loss efforts so I cannot tell you to see how happy I was to see a loss today.
I am making a goal for limiting my carbs - bread is a huge problem for me and I am trying to limit my alcohol intake. A drink or two on the weekend is okay but I need to quit having one or two a couple times a week as I know it is affecting my weight loss efforts.
I hope all you wonderful women have a great day!!!

Happy Wednesday!

Was late coming in to work today...my cramps have been awful this month. With that and the hormones, I probably should have stayed home. But what the heck, I'll spread my "joyful attitude" all around. hehe

Did much better with my eating yesterday...avoided the leftover cheesecake as well and the birthday treats in the office down the hall. I had 12 calories to spare...

NEMom: Nice to see you again. Congrats on the scale moving again. I'm glad you haven't thrown in the towel and are continuing with your eating plan. Your carb reduction plan sounds like a good one!

MrsTryingAgain: I can't imagine your frustration and fears. Keep on them. Its too bad we have to fight so hard to get what we need, so you gotta do whatcha gotta do! Hang in there... Hey, I was up at 4:30am with cramps too . Early to bed tonight for us, sounds like! That blanket and old movie scenario sounds divine!

newleaf123: I've heard something like that about the bus gas too. Right now, I'm envious of your surgical menopause. I'd do it if I could...but with my family history of breast cancer, the doctors do NOT want to put me on hormones before it's absolutely necessary. Do you have to take any?

LuvCats: My last kitty was almost 20 when I had to put her down (should have done it sooner, but it's SO hard!). They sure are a blast, aren't they? Mine likes to come in the bathroom while I'm in the tub and have me dribble water down the outside so she can lick it off as if falls. She meows and paws at me until I do it. Try not to get too wrapped up in the numbers (how big, how small). I know you've heard it before...it didn't go on overnight and it won't come off overnight either, plus, it didn't go one linearly and won't come off linearly. Hang in there...you're doing GREAT!!!

Zumbachica: Take the time to color your hair! If getting it done makes you feel good, then that's reason enough.

Jennifer1966: Still in the deep freeze? You probably don't want to know that we're having unseasonably warm weather...it was 43 degrees at 6:00am with an expected high near 70. The down side is we're experiencing high fire danger...in January.

Newleaf:WTG on the exercise. Also wonderful that your 11 yo is making such healthy eating choices.

MrsTryingAgain:I'm sorry things are being so difficult in getting H his pacemaker. I hope they get it taken care of very soon. I hate those terrible emotional days. Hang in there!

NEMom:Thanks for the welcome. WTG on the loss! Ha ha only around here can we say that and have it mean something good.

Moondance:Thanks for the encouragement. You seem to be a great cheerleader. Uggh I hate cramps too. Hope you feel better soon. Lol Tiger comes into the bathroom sometimes and I will turn on the water in the sink to a trickle for him. He loves to drink straight from the spout.

Well time to get myself up and to the elliptical. My new vids should come today (a beginner walk away the pounds and some 10 minute solutions) but I figure the first couple days I might not get much actual exercise from them. Plus until DH gets home (he has been out of town since the 2nd) I'm stuck watching them on my laptop. Not sure how well that will work to exercise to.

I guess it makes more sense to give a background.... DH is a heavy equipment mechanic... he works for a company that makes huge cranes (the ones the railroads use to take the containers (semi-trailers) on and off the flat rail cars. He is the senior mechanic on the west coast and with the economy the way it is the company hasn't hired more mechanics so he is out of town more than he is home. It is really getting old. Yet how can I complain because it means he isn't at home laid off (plus his hotel is paid and he gets a meal allowance he manages to save as his "slush" fund). Of course this time he left the 2nd and the car broke that day... then the big TV broke the next day. Can't complain though because I have another car to use and another TV to use... just can't use it for DVDs. Anyway now I really am getting off and going to the elliptical and cleaning the kitchen. Have a wonderful day everyone.

Moondance I don't know whether you have researched this or not, so forgive me if this is old news to you. Removing the ovaries reduces the risk of estrogen-driven breast cancer, which is part of the reason why I did it. The main reason was to (essentially) eliminate my risk of ovarian cancer. Many, many gynecology-oncologists believe that it is okay to take hormones after having your ovaries removed, because the amount that you replace with is FAR lower than the amount that you remove. It's considered even more reasonable to take them if you have your ovaries & uterus removed. So, if you were to need to have your ovaries removed you likely could still take hormones. My gyn-onc wanted me on them immediately after surgery and every breast oncologist that I spoke to assured me it would be okay despite my extremely strong family history of breast cancer. But, no, long story short -- I don't take any.

I didn't know any of this. Honestly, It's only been the last year, presumably as I approach peri-menopause, that my TOM has been difficult. I assumed they wouldn't advise surgery because of the hormone thing and my family history. Hmmm...I may have to make an appointment and look into things more. I can't take repeated months of what I've been through the last couple of days. It's been Heck. Thanks so much for mentioning it!

Moondance I just pm'd you more information. But will add - I've never heard of anyone having their ovaries removed to make menopause more tolerable, but who knows? Going into surgical menopause is actually considered a much more difficult way to enter menopause than naturally. Purportedly, natural menopause is "easiest," then having a hysterectomy is "worse," and finally having everything removed is "the most difficult". Granted, I don't think its fair to use these terms. Going through menopause is a very individual experience, someone's "worst" route could be more tolerable than someone else's "easiest". Who knows... no fun any way you look at it. The info I pm'd you was more about family history, etc.

Hi everyone....hair is colored....had a collapse at the salon and ate some apple pastries they had out.....poor planning on my part, I went there straight after work and forgot my snackies......much better today..no workouts today I did a bunch of housework...did some squats and lunges in the kitchen while waiting for water to boil...

No time to address everyone but I will be reading and catching up with you all.....

We are in a deep freeze right now! It literally HURTS to go outside....I thought my nose was going to fall off this morning....stay warm everybody...

Good morning all, good weigh in today, finally cracked 170, 167.6.

DH's dear sweet Gramma passed away this week, so we have viewing and funeral today and tomorrow, sorry I haven't been able to keep up but will get my reading/catching up done this weekend for sure!

NEMom~congrats on the loss, great feeling, isn't it?!

best to all