Heidi! Heidi is here! Welcome aboard! You're going to love this thread; I have learned more here about how to keep weight off (and re-lose a pesky few) than anywhere else on the board. Shucks, these chicks even convinced me to get up off the couch and try to exercise!

Glad you're joining us, Heidi.

Hey there Heidi! Good to meet you!

Heidi, welcome. And my post yesterday and the loving responses that I got, and am so grateful to have received, should show you how great this place can be and how our first responders handle a call of distress.

I can't tell you how much you all helped when I found a moment at work to check back into this thread.

Finally what worked with the assignment was just reconciling myself to what I'd done, that at least I'd done it, even if it wasn't up to my standards, that it was at least done as well as some others in my dept could do it. And then I had an assignment yesterday that went better, and I also finished that.

My insight is that I bring the same critical eye to my body and my exercise efforts as I do to my efforts in other areas. But I knew that already. Only somehow I forgot.

The scary thing is how black the world got, when it hasn't been like that for a while.

I still have much to do, but now thanks to 10 days straight of work, it looks doable.

I am really, really going to need a break by the weekend, though.

Jen, thanks for the offer of refuge. I think I am going to be okay -- and my therapist gets back from a three-week trip to Europe in the coming week, which will help.

Welcome Heidi! What on earth is Absurdity Day??

Saef-- it is scary that you got to such a dark place so quickly but fantastic that you already seem to be pulling yourself out of it. Hugs to you.

Welcome Heidi! Absurdity day, I'm assuming it's Thanksgiving? It can be absurd with the amount and diversity of foods available that day!

Yes, hugs to you, saef. Glad you're pulling yourself out.

Hugs all round

But what am I thinking of? British people don't behave like this. I'll be joining a beach volleyball team soon!

Back to my abs exercises. Since you asked, they're like concrete, like concrete. Except it hasn't set yet.

Heidi: Hello and welcome!!! We are also celebrators of Absurdity Day in my home. We try to say as many silly things as possible on the 20th, and we look at websites like Cake Wrecks for laughs.

Saef: I'm so glad to see you are bouncing back up from the low point of yesterday. You do seem to hold yourself up to a uniformly high standard - not a bad thing, but "settling" for less than near-perfection now and then is totally OK. Self-acceptance should not be transient, e.g. based on a number on the scale or a particularly outstanding day at work. Of course, I am shaking my head at my own hypocrisy as I write this. But that's why we are here - to help each other through, not to be models of sanity.

OF COURSE you will The offer still stands though!


JayZeeJay - I consider myself a MASTER of "do as I say, not as I do"!!!

I am so touched by such an incredibly warm welcome; thank you! Hopefully I can give back over time. I did read the exercise thread and am really impressed by all the commitment over there! I do exercise, but am a total slacker in comparison.

No need for comparisons! We're all different. If you're moving, that sounds good to me.

I second that!

Good Friday all (when is it ever not - )

Dagmar (just kidding)

Came home last night from doing battle with my mom's new computer and the rather confounding Windows 8 (now 8.1) ... and drove through several short SNOW showers! I am not ready for this!

As Dagmar said - yes, thank goodness it is Friday!

I'm having all sorts of annoying little creaks, snaps, binds and sore spots in my back, neck and shoulders. My guess is that all this swimming is reconfiguring things and there are mini-protests going on. I've got a call in to the masseuse, but she is away, furthering her already considerable skills. I know I will reap the benefits when she gets back, but I am pouting a little because I want relief NOW. Funny how once you get used to feeling good, it makes every "not good" thing magnified!

My sister got a new laptop at work and it runs Windows 8 and she hates it. I'm very happy with my Windows XP at work and hope that we won't have to change anytime soon (because if one of us has to, we all do and that's just too much right now).

I made a wonderful dinner last night and think I'll do it again soon, but with some small modifications. 1/2 a small onion, sauteed. Add 1 cup of orzo and cook with 3 cups of chicken broth and when almost done throw in a cup or so of fresh, chopped spinach. Cook a dozen large scallops and when done, remove to a warm plate and use a couple tablespoons of chicken broth and some vinegar to make a small sauce. Serve the scallops over the orzo and top with a little sauce. Very yummy! The modification is to use much less oil and butter. I don't think the orzo needed any butter.

So a pretty light dinner and this morning my weight is lower than it has been for the past two months.

I need to remember smaller portions. This week I have NOT been trying to diet AT ALL, but am being diligent on servings. I've even been bringing leftovers to work for lunch which is usually a calorie killer but something is working.

Becky-- I hear you on the creakiness! My back is killing me and I have no idea why. Add that to my knees that still aren't 100% and my other aches and pains that I live with and I feel OLD.

Allison-- that dinner sounds so yummy!!!! Seafood can be very helpful with dieting efforts if portions are controlled and butter, etc. is eliminated.

I stopped this morning for a coffee (treat-- rarely do it). I usually get a nonfat sugar free latte but the coffee place had almond milk so I tried it instead. It was different. I don't think I'll get it again.

My weight has been shifting ever so slightly downward. 128.2 this morning. I cringe to think what my weekend with dd will do to it. She is very upset emotionally at the moment so I'm glad I'm going to see her. I hope I can give her some good mommy time and hugs.

My doggies were crazy this morning. They knew what was happening because I had suitcases. Jozi wouldn't eat breakfast and she was farting and her teeth were chattering. Poor babies. Hopefully the pet sitter will cheer them up!

I booked our family to have a family portrait done (just us four). We haven't done that since the girls were little. I booked it for the only day we could do it-- the day after thanksgiving. My dd remarked that we'll all feel extra fat in the photos! I have no idea what we should all wear?? It will probably be outside in a park somewhere local. Jeans and solid tops? Now I'm wishing I had been working on my extra weight!!

Wish me luck in Arizona. I leave directly from work for the airport. Hopefully I packed everything. I come back late Monday morning so hopefully I'll have time to grocery shop, go to the gym, and get my nails done if they're open.