sandy, i'm so sorry about you being sick. hope you feel better soon.
good luck to y'all with little ones going trick or treating. i haven't really celebrated halloween since i was tot age but this year i am getting into the spirit because i have been explaining halloween traditions to my students (they are really interested in halloween since they don't have it in korea.) but i will skip the candy part in my celebration this year
i was doing great on calories today until i demolished a pint of b&j tonight. at least it was light. oh well, only 1700 calories today. not too bad.

Congrats to all those who have lost. Keep up the good work. Theresa and Melissa, hats off to you both for sticking to it with all that has happened this month. You two always seem to get a handle on things somehow. As for me, I'm joining the Blah choir. This has been the worst month yet. Chocolate came knocking and I opened the door WIDE!! TOM came and brought a week long migraine with it. Also major blues and general hormonal upheaval. I don't weigh til the end of the month at the drs ofc, but am already dreading it. I didn't even try to exercise. I just can't seem to shake this funk I'm in. I know some of it is related to work issues, but not enough to be this bad. Also had 3 unexpected expenses that are killling our budget. One I am going to question today. My dh counselor sent a bill for 1st session for the lovely sum of $1300.00 for 45 minutes!!!!! I can't believe that the amount is correct, that's more than 10 visits to a regular dr. Then dh dentist said it will cost 5100.00 to fix the damage done by his old dentist that cost over 3000.00. (hmm... maybe the problem is dh---he's falling apart!!LOL). Anyway, it's all added up to me having no energy, no will power, and very little sleep. I guess I'm feeling overwhelmed by it all. I started taking trail mix to work to help with the munchies, but am eating too much of that. I've got to figure out a good snack that doesn't need to be refrigerated. I eat before work at about 5:30 pm, get to work at 6:30 pm and don't have a lunch break until 2:30 am. I get off around 7:30 to 8:00 am and am starving but too tired to eat well. Plus if I eat in the morning I am not able to go to sleep very well and end up feeling exhausted when it's time to get up and do it again. DH complains that I'm always working but I've been trying for over a year to change my schedule; my manager won't approve it because she doesn't want to look for someone to fill my spot.

Enough of the bellyaching, sorry guys, I guess I just needed to unload somewhere as I can't do it at home and I have no friends as a result of the job.

I do try to keep up with everyone's post although I don't post often myself. This site is always an inspiration to me, you guys are truly great.

Keep up the good work everyone and Happy Halloween! (my nephew had gotten it confused with Christmas and keeps asking everyone what present are they getting for halloween. Just wait til he finds out what TOT is all about!!!)

I know it doesn't help much when you are in the middle of things Theresa but there are days just like the one you had when you have small children. It doesn't make them any easier to deal with but truthfully you will look back on these years with the sweetest of memories and the days like yesterday with laughter. I speak from experience as I have one child who is now 22 and I really don't remember the awful days, only the wonderful cute things she used to do.

Between work, hormones, and money I can see why you are in the blahs but this too shall pass. The whole group went through about a week of them and I can't speak for everyone, but mine finally went away even though most of the things that were causing mine are still there and I am back on the wagon and working hard to reach my goal. I know it is hard, but fix what you can and just let the rest of it go. It is wasted energy. I know easier said than done.

We can do this ladies!
Melissa

I have discovered some neat things yesterday and today that I want to share:

1. Nonfat vanilla yogurt is just like eating ice cream! I swear! I always skipped that kind, thinking it would be bland, but I they were running low on yogurt so I had to get some...and OH MY IT WAS WONDERFUL. I am stocking up

2. South Beach Diet frozen pizza is really good as well, and has less calories, less fat, less carbs and WAY more protein than the little mini pizzas we used to eat (over 20 g compared to 9g). I just wish these weren't 2.50 a box.

3. My fav blue jeans that I wash about every night so I can wear them about every day finally got a hole in them in a very obvious place and I kinda freaked out this AM, wondering what else there is to wear. Yes, I know this is pathetic but for a long time those one pair were the only thing besides sweats that fit me comfortably, but weren't too baggy either. I pulled out a pair that just a few weeks ago I had to lay on the bed to button, and then were shor ton the bottom because it took to much to cover my belly I was so afraid they were not going to fit....BUT THEY DO!! and they are just as comfy as the other pair, and they have EXTRA ROOM in the belly now. I was just jumping around the house and smiling all the way through the grocery store. Then I forgot about them and it was just like wearing my old fav pair, no difference at all. They aren't even short on the bottom because they fit my stomach right, even a bit loose. YIPPPPEEEE!

This is solid proof that this is possible. I can really do this. I have jeans in my closet in every size from 22 (now) to 16 (pre-kids). By end of next month I should be in the 20 and discarding the 22 and I am hoping by next summer to be back in a 16...wow, this would not be possible without you ladies

Theresa

WAY TO GO THERESA!!!!! All your hard work is paying off! Keep going girl!
Melissa

Good for you Theresa. I agree with Melissa. Enjoy every moment now that you can, cause it goes so fast and then they leave and the concerns are all different and Moms don't have the final words anymore and they make their own mistakes while you watch.
Do you think it's the change in the weather and the hurricanes and the earthquake in Pakistan and the 2000 fallen mark in Iraq that is giving us all a case of the blues and general malaise which leads to falling off OP? I do worry about all these things and feel there is very little I can do to change things, and then it adds to my everyday stresses about family, work, money etc. I am trying to eat more protein and less carbs for the same calories so I know I'm not really hungry. It worked out ok yesterday.
Laura

It could very well be. Went from sunny and cheery to dreary and gloomy and some parts of the country now cold and it has to have an effect on us. The sun is out here today but it is cold. I am going to go outside in a bit anyway and do some cleanup from the storm we had the other night and burn some calories while I am at it. Truthfully there is little we can do to change the world. I just try to limit how much of the bad news is out there, do what I can to help and pray when there is nothing I can do physically about it. I am getting better about doing that. Both world and personal circumstances used to constantly eat at me literally so now I try to catch myself and ask if there is something I can do. If there is, I do it and if there isn't, I pray about it and just let God handle it. I still sometimes slip and let things get to me but I more often now either catch myself or I don't stay in that place nearly as long as I used to. I am glad the change in foods is helping so keep going. Like all things in life, this too shall pass-it is just the waiting part that hurts.
Melissa

I really agree Laura, there is so much in the world to worry about besides personal problems. I am finding that it is getting much easier now to recognize when I am really hungry and when something is just bugging me. It's getting easier to pass things up that I normally would suck down with no thought whatsoever. Even TOM this month was easier. i still had the week of wanting to eat everything, but passing a lot of it up wasn't impossible and I actually lost weight during that week, which is unheard of. Things are feeling more natural, like a normal part of my life rather than something I'm struggling and forcing myself to do. The more normal it feels the easier it gets not to go back...plus, I felt so horrible last month when I was barely exercising and not eating right, and I think feeling that has made me know it's not worth doing that again.

Theresa

I am not MIA just not myself, I guess all the stress is finnally catching up to me. I need to vent. I am not sure if I did the right thing, or doing the right things. Life is just so blah right now. I figure a month or so and it will be all good, or I keep hoping. I know life is hard right now, and em starting to feel down on myself, and the ex anit helping. He is playing head games and used me the other night for sex, *******. I just called him and he said he was wokring out and piss me off, cause I know he will lose faster then me, and I was the one who was supposed to look good. I could always use this to my benifit I guess use my anger to make me skinnier. Just pisses me off him being all mighty and crap. Sorry about the language and all the blah blah blah. Just need to vent, need to get back on program, start dieting, start excerciseing daily, I know the endorfins* will make me feel better and look better. well next month I should be more active on this site, after I move of course. which I'm hoping will be next weekend. If everythign goes good tommorow. Thanks for listening, and good luck to all, and I will be back to my good old self soon.

Ice, I know this is a very hard time for you but he can't be the reason you are doing this. YOU have to be the motivation, forget about him and if he is losing or not. If you told him what you're doing, he is probably just trying to get to ya...and it's working! DON"T LET IT WORK, DON"T LET HIM HAVE HIS WAY! Focus on YOU, that is the best thing to do right now. Your life is no longer about him, it's about feeling better about yourself,finding yourself again. YOU YOU YOU are what matters, so forget him. I know that is much, much easier said than done, but I think if you can just focus on yourself and feeling better, and not on being thin to show him something, then you will find more peace and happiness. Plus, just showing him you can be thinner is not going to push you all the way through, it never does when you do it for someone else. Doing it for yourself is what will push you all the way through. We are here for you, and we care about you, not him, so we are a good influence right now.

Bottom line, it doesnt matter if he is really working out or just trying to get under you skin, because your journey isn't about him. He can be thinner quicker, but you will be thinner for the long haul. Just remember, he's an EX for a reason, right? You don't want him back, you're moving on, and he no longer matters.

You're not the only one with the blahs, seems like all of us are and I bet it is the change in seasons. We are going from bright sunny days to winter coats in most places, so that has an effect on the moods. IT WILL PASS, you are very right on that, just hang in there and do NOT give up.

Theresa

AMEN AMEN AMEN! He probably was really sitting on the couch eating a bag of chips. He is trying to get under your skin is all and Theresa is 100% right. You do this for you and forget about him. Time for some nice ICE time so you take it.
melissa

((( HUGS))) ice- everyone is right- you need YOU time . and ex's ALWAYS go to the extreme- ( mine used to tell me about all his wonderful women he dated after me and I found out that he was dating this really strange lady who later got arrested for selling drugs...)


Oh i am so in agreement - vanilla yoghurt yummy- try it with blueberries .
YAY on the jeans- i am going into my room in a few to see if mine fit -it's too chilly for capris anymore seems we got COLD (to me anyway ) I mean we had Wilma on Monday and temps at 7:00a.m. were in the 80's and by 2 p.m. we were in the 60s and it's been in the high 40's mid 50's at night- that is not normal for us. I don't want to get a pair of jeans if they are gonna be too small in a month.

IMHO I think October should just go away-can we start November early???

since i get so tired so fast with being sick, i have been blessed by being able to write some in my journal while resting. I am looking forward to seeing what i consider accomplishments not pound related. i am trying to find 6 things that I have learned this month about myself and my weight loss journey.

I am wanting to get back to exercising SOON -i am not looking forward to hurting REALLY BAD again after working out- it's ok to feel a burn but i hate the ugh i exercised again and the i can't move feeling.

well i am going to go try on jeans- read some more recipes and crash-
I am becoming addicted to flavored teas- and really like the sleepytime tea.
Everyone thanks again for all your support and WE CAN DO THIS!
Sandy
PS THE JEANS FIT hubby even said "wow!! whistled and said " you in zip ups- Nice." ( he is sooo bad)

That is a good idea to write down accomplishments that aren't food related-may even be a better gauge of how you are doing. Personally Odessa is lucky I love her as she just broke my glasses that I have only had for about 6 weeks. Now I need to go find out how much to fix them. If it is over 30 then I am just getting my prescription and ordering them online. I can get a whole new pair for that. She even bent the frames. Just irritates me because she knows better. She is back to messing with my computer again too. I took her outside to today and she jumped as I raked up leaves. There were alot more out there than I thought and it took me about an hour or so and there are still leaves there. A guy from freecycle is picking them up tomorrow for some garden project he has-fine by me. I also rode my bike for a good 30 minutes today too and I think that has to be all time record for me. I made the kids popcorn tonight and used butter flavored spray instead of the butter and Josh thinks it is delicious! So now there is another way I can skim some calories off him and he is none the wiser. I am happy to see the scale going down again and one of my goals for November is to not go crazy that week before TOM. I even marked it on the calandar as it seems to always sneak up on me and I have eaten an elephant wondering why I did it. Ok I have rambled now and glad to see more of us back too.
melissa

Go, Melissa, Go! **Insert somersault and toe touch** a half hour on the bike is great, push yourself and you'll get better and better. Where do you order glasses online? The cheapest I've been able to get them is like $200 or a bit less, and Allie needs a back up pair and we can't afford that. Her new ones she just got 3-4 weeks ago are bent already, courtesy of Tyler, and they keep falling loose and we get them tightened, then they fall loose again. Very frustrating, but I think it's because they're bent I need to find somewhere to get a couple pair so she can run without them falling off.

Sandi, I get the flavored yogurt as well and blueberry is one of my favs, right after black cherry. I'm thinking of trying almond slivers in the vanilla...yum. Congrats on the jeans fitting!!! That feels so wonderful and is one of the biggest accomplishments you can get, because it's actually what you're aiming for, not just a number on the scale. And the whistle, well you better reward that fella

Well, tomorrow AM is the halloween parade and I'm tired, but can't get myself to go to sleep. I think because it's WI and I'm anxious. I want to lose just one more pound this month and break the slump of just 2 a month. Going to bed really is what I need to do...good night skinny minnies!

Theresa

Not overeating means...

Actually having leftovers in the fridge!!! I used to never have leftovers because I would eat it ALL, including whatever the kids left on their plates sometimes.

Not overeating means...

I don't have to cook 3 meals every single day because when you open my fridge you see little bowls and plates with plastic wrap over them with actual food that I didn't eat, that can be eaten at another meal by me or the kids, and that make the food last longer so that bill is not costing as much so we have money for other things. Some meals can be thrown together completely out of leftovers with no cook time at all! See how great leftovers are?

Not overeating means...

I know that food is not going to be wasted if it doesn't make it into my overstuffed tummy and turn itself into buckets full of lard. It can be saved by the fridge, that wonderful cold chest of drawers, and nourish our bodies at another time in a healthy, fulfilling manner. I never knew how wonderful leftovers could be!

By: ME

Now I'm really going to bed, but I really truly love leftovers and I might never overeat again just for the ease they bring into my life.

Theresa