Man, what took me so long today!?!?!

Been one of those days- I checked out a few journals between crisies, but never got my butt over here. Sheesh! What fun is that?? I'll tell ya- none at all!

I didn't get the same fuzzy 2pm feeling as I did yesterday. Don't know where that came from, but heck, since I'm down almost another pound, even after this weekend, I'm going to chalk it up to fat burning off you makes you dizzy. LOL- Or should I be worried?

I'll peek in tonight from home- it's been a day, and tomorrow it's going to be more of the same. Sigh!



Hugs to all my chickies!

We finally got to making the taco meat tonight! Hubby did it for me...I was busy being a miserable lump, playing a game on the computer.

Brown the 97% lean ground beef, drain it, rinse it in hot water to get all the fat out of it, then simmer with the spices & stuff from the packet. Warm the tortilla for 20 seconds in the microwave, add 3/4 cup taco meat, and sprinkle with about 1/2 oz of shredded cheddar cheese, and voila- I'm stuffed, it had a nice kick, and I've got baggies of meat to do this 4 more times! I think I'll bring that for lunch tomorrow!

I got in a lot more water today- 4 full 24oz glasses. I need to get 5 in tomorrow, and it should be a better day for that. I haven't done any exercising tonight, and now that it's nearly 8:30, it's getting to late for me to do anything really active. Maybe spend 30 minutes with the resistance bands doing upper body. Yesterday around 2pm I got tired, and now today I'm just not motivated. I gotta kick this tomorrow morning- I have worked too hard to make exercise a part of every day, and it's too important to me to just sit back & say "well, what's one more day off."

Someone prod or tazer me- seriously. There's no reason for this.

I posted this in my journal, but thought I needed to put it out here as well- some good things, some stupid things...I wonder sometimes what's up with my head...I say I don't want people to comment, but then I get ticked when my little shadow feels the need to undermine what I'm doing.

Warning...this gets a little long & convoluted.

Today while having lunch at my desk (too much poop, too little time) one of the younger girls (she's 22 or 23) was asking me about working out, and is it safe to do legs every night at the gym. She does the bike for 10 minutes, the treadmill for 10 minutes, and then spends an hour doing her legs every single night. I showed her a few upper body moves from what I do (had to use a can of diet coke to show her....lol) and suddenly she looks at me like I'm Charles Atlas. I showed her the tricep kick backs, french press, overhead press. About a week ago I showed her some of the leg moves from the ShortCuts video I was using. Now, today, she tells me I should be a personal trainer. Sure- who's going to take health & fitness advice from a woman over 300 pounds? Come on...seriously. I just kinda laugh it off & say "I'm not there yet."

More people at work are noticing the weight loss, and I'm still really obsessive about not wanting them to say something to me, or to each other. It's like if saying it out loud is going to make is less real, and suddenly all the weight is going to immediately pop back out- like the Nutty Professor- I'm instantly going to bulge out 10" in each direction by someone noticing what I'm doing. Are extremely overweight usually this hypersensitive about their self-image, and the way others perceive them?

And, maybe this makes me a bad person, but when they ask me how much weight I lost, I tell them "I don't know...I'm really not keeping track" in order to avoid the whole topic. Sure, I got the working scale on 3/5- I know what I was then, and what I am now, and that there's a nice difference, but the last thing in the world I want these people to know is how much, where I started, etc, etc. It's so damn personal, but since it's visible, I guess they think that gives them the right to ask. Sigh!

Since I'm whining, I'll also mention my shadow...the one who feels the need to yap at my heels all the time. 2 things with her, actually.

First, she's one of those people who always has to be at the center of attention, or outdo someone else. If you stubbed your toe, she's got a broken foot. If it rained at your house last night, there was a hurricane directly over her house at the same time. If you've got cramps, well, she's been dragging her uterus on the ground behind her for the last 3 days... Nuff said? Well, the same 23 year old asking the questions complements me on the changes, and I said thank you....my shadow immediately pipes up with "And I lost 8 pounds & didn't have to do all this stuff Jennifer did" looking for the attention. She's full of crap, of course- she eats dinner out every single night, orders in for lunch, and to hear her talk, she's a medical marvel because with all her medical problems, she can't exercise, she can't do this, or that, but she can swim & use the recumbent bike. Whatever. I'm wrong, she's right. I'm apparently just doing this to tweak her, not because I don't want to have a stroke for my 32nd birthday, or end up with diabeties in the next year or two, or have knee surgery like my mom had to. I know what family stuff I'm up against, but crap, I don't go running around saying "I've got knees like blown glass...if you listen closely, you can hear the arthritis settling in & cracking things to pieces. Yup, medical marvel. Why isn't there something wrong with her damn mouth???

The second issue with this girl, is she insists on referring to this as "Jennifer's diet thing." Like she somehow doesn't understand that this has to be a permanent change in what I do- this isn't to drop 175 pounds and then go back to the same crap that got me here. I will not go out to lunch at sit-down restaurants every day. I will not be going to the pizza parlor & having an individual pizza & garlic rolls doused in olive oil. Or 6 Olive Garden breadsticks and fettucine alfredo. She doesn't understand, and I'm tired of repeating myself to her. This is who I am now. I eat right. I exercise. I make the best choice possible when faced with a situation that I'm not prepared for. I will order the chicken breast with nothing on it if I'm forced out, and no, I'm not going to plan a "cheat" day once a week so you can have your fix. If I'm going to have a bad meal, it's going to be planned in advance, and be with my husband, celebrating something like an anniversary, birthday, 1 year at my job, etc...not "Yay, it's Thursday!" Not doing it. I really want to tell her that if she doesn't like the "me" she's seeing, bail now, because this is how it's going to be going forward. I'm not looking back...I don't like who I was. I'm working on liking who I am now, and looking forward to enjoying who I am working hard to be. Is this little freakshow ever going to get it through her head? (Note- this woman is 42, she's 5', and 260 pounds. She's as round as she is tall, her face is so round from the added fat that you can't see her features- it's like she's overinflated...hard to describe. Know how men do that "tuck the pants under the gut" waistline? She does this, but insists on wearing tunic tops with that, or skin-tight button down ones that leave a nice white expanse of fat roll sticking out when she lifts her arms, or messes with her pants.)

Am I horrible because I'm fed up with this? I mean, jeez, I'm not her best buddy in the world- she clung to me when I started because everyone else was a relative in the office, and I've been nice to her for 1 year and 7 days, and she's sucking the will to live right out of me.

Ramble, Ramble, Ramble. I shouldn't wax philosophical before bed, when everything is getting a little muddled. Thanks for reading this mess, chickies. I'm glad I have you all to vent to. I'm going to go read in bed & see if that doesn't distract me. I promise, you'll have the better side of this Gemini tomorrow.

Jennifer, I did the taco meat thing again tonight! Is that sad or what that taco meat can make me so happy????? Gotta love the taco meat.

O.K. Gemini (AKA Charles Atlas), first of all, I want to applaud you in front of everyone. Yes, you deserve applause. You are not stuffing down all the emotion, and instead are getting it out and venting. That is SOOO healthy. I have found that stuffing down my emotions leads to stuffing down a bunch of food.

Additionally, I want to say that a lot of people would want fitness advise from you (me for one). And, it does not have a thing in the world to do with what # is on your scale! It has everything to do with the fact that you are genuine, caring, committed, knowledgeable, and just plain nice! I would love for you to be my fitness trainer (although you would probably kill me for being so stubborn and lazy ). You have made a lifestyle change, and you stick to it DAILY. You exercise, drink your water, and keep exercise committments even when you are sick. You take extra time to encourage each one of us. You are going to lose this weight; I know it in my heart, and I would bet my next paycheck on it. I'm not just blowing a bunch of smoke either (Just ask Kitty and Julie - they will tell you the same thing I am saying)

But, if you don't get your butt back to exercising tomorrow, I am going to give you the triple tazer, just see if I don't!!!

Now, as for the shadow in the tunic...HMMM...she sounds very interesting . Maybe you could tell her to "talk to the hand cause the face ain't home; leave a message after the tone" or you could inform her that life is like a bridge, and that she can either get over it or jump off. Good grief, lets all pray she gets a transfer to another state or something. She sounds very annoying.

Sounds like you have had a rough couple of days. I think you need a nice bubble bath and a good book. p.s. You were asking me what I read - everything except horror. I love a good romance, legal thrillers, some of Oprah's picks...What authors do you like??

Lucy - Girl, I am glad to hear you are better! Go Lucy! Did you run that marathon?

Julie - I hope you had a terrific day!! Keep up the good work.

I had a good day. It was stressful, but I didn't turn to Chips Ahoy. Yea!!! I am actually a little under points today (did you hear that??) Yikes!! And BTW, I did not give in to the munchies last night. I exercised on the bike for 30 min. instead.

Good night everyone! Talk to you tomorrow!

(((((hugs))))),
Queen E. (Queen Excuses)
AKA Lisa

I feel like I am a day behind everyone! I just don't have time before now to post! Mornings are rushed and by the time I get done with all the stuff I need to do at night, well...here I am! Whine, whine, whine!!

Lucy, glad things are going better for ya! ...What? Only 500 situps? Go run that marathon, girl!

Lisa...you are awsome girl! Below points? How can that be??? Go find something to eat!! LOL! Way to go on resisting and following your better instincts and exercsing!

Jennifer, Bike Hussy, Ms. Atlas, whatever...you are MY hero and heros don't disappoint their fans with NO EXERCISE!!! What???? Challenge time, chickie! Lisa and I are going to come on down there and tazer your a** if you don't get up and do your bike in the morning!!! And I will do mine for 30 minutes and come home tomorrow and do my weights! And if I don't (and I promise to be truthful) you can come tazer my a**...Lisa can help, too!


My Day!

Exercise: Only 15 minutes on the bike this morning and ONLY because DD said "but Mommy, you HAVE to ride the bike this morning" because she wanted me to go downstairs withher so she could play!!!
I also "danced" with my cognitively impaired/wheelchair bound residents during my Julie's Jewels low cog group! We danced to the sounds of Big Band. It was fun and they really come alive when I do this with them. I did a lot of "running" today at work! AT one point, I felt like *I* was running a marathon and just sat down in a chair and vegged for a few minutes! LOL!

Water: Probably only 64 oz. today, if that! I tried drinking whenever I remembered, but I was pretty busy all day! Had water with all meals and in the car and a few small 4 oz. glasses during the day! Yikes, Need tow ork on that, too!

Food:
B-fast: 2 crackers & 2 string cheese
Lunch: salad w/ a bit of rasp. vinagrette, 3/8 bagel and all the fixin's from the inside of a club bagel, bite of Mac CHoc cookie, 1/8th brownie, Diet Coke
Snack(s): 2 thin mints (tsk, tsk)
Supper: Bowl of crabmeat/cauliflouer soup, ham & 3 cheese sandwich...way too many carbs & fats!
After supper: sugar free vanilla Latte, piece of leftover SF cheesecake Imade last week!

I'm done eating now, thank you! I am pretty sure this is all the result of two things: 1) I don't feel well and am feeling the sore throat coming on and dripping of the sinuses and 2) TOM is approaching any time now!

On a positive note (then I'm going to bed!) I was at a jewelry party tonight at a friend's who I haven't seen in a month or so...she told me I was "looking skinny" but I know better. It always feels good to get compliments even thought we don't want to hear it! I don't know...I'm kind of with Jennifer on that one...whenever people start to notice, I seem to always either gain it back or start doing bad habits again!!!! So, with that said...

Goals for tomorrow:
1. Drink at least 80 0oz. water
2. Try to stay within the Zone
3. 30 minutes bike in the AM and weights in the PM!

I'll let you know how I did tomorrow night!

Have a great Friday!

Julie, take care of yourself! We don't want you to be a sick chickie! I know what you mean about the cravings near TOM. Gosh, mine are dreadful.

I got tears in my eyes when I read about you dancing with the residents today. I know you just made their day! It takes a really kind person to do something like that. Kudos to you girl!!

I know what you mean about posting late. It's 11:22 now, and here I am still chatting away, because I didn't get to check in at all earlier.

O.K. don't make me tazer your a** tomorrow!!! I want to hear about 80 oz. water, the Zone, and exercise/weights!!!

Talk to you tomorrow!!!

Jennifer - Aright, I'm gonna get a nice little tazer and poke you with it!! =) And then, I'm going to poke that little twerp at work with it, six times. I cant' stand people like that -- in my world, they're called 'psychic vampires,' because the suck the energy, happiness, and basically the life out of everything around 'em. You -are- doing a great job, though, and you -are- gonna lose every single ounce of weight you want to lose, my dear. *great big hug* Lisa & Julie are right, chickie. You are an inspiration to us all, and I think we can all take a workout tip or two from you!!

Lisa - WTG with being under points!! I seriously think I need to do this point thing. I'm goin' around in circles here. =) *hug* Good job!! Also... I'm really into Jonathan Kellerman novels. *drool* They're -awesome-. You should check him out, if you haven't yet!

Julie - Hon... first of all... I oughta poke you with that taser for thinking your friend wasn't serious about that skinniness!! :P I'm sure you -have- changed, physically, even if you don't see it. Be proud of yourself! We're certainly all proud of you! *big hug* Also, ya sound just like me at the nursing home where my mom works. I love those folks, and I dance with 'em, too. You have such a great job! I'm sure they just adore you, too, for being so upbeat and goofy with them.

Well... other than posting to you guys.... yeah. Today wasn't -as- nice as normal, as I only did 300 situps (and that's IT for the workout). I just can't get going, and I keep getting uber dizzy every time I stand up/walk, so I called it quits for the day. I'm taking tomororw and Monday off of work, which means no typing for 4 days straight. I'm taking it easy, sleepin' my butt off every day, and healing myself up! No more sick Kitty!

Anyway, yep. I did that whole emotional "oh woe is me, I am such a big stupid goth, bla bla bla" things and burst into tears for 45 minutes tonight. Stupid hormones... But the hubby calmed me down and hugged me a bunch, and I'm way better now. Sometimes I just do that. However much I hate doing it.... argh!

Anyway, food today was ok, but off of my plan.

B - Bagel & vitamins & water
L - Top Ramen & some carrots
S - Granola Bar
D - Open-faced hamburger (basically a chunk of beef, slice of cheese & pickles), and 1/2 cup macaroni & cheese from a box.

I'm definitely under calories for the day, but I'm not going to worry, because I didn't get to work out at all today, unless you count the 300 situps I did. Bah. To **** with it, anyway. Tomorrow is the -chill- day for me, and I'm going to relax and make it a curl-up-with-my-book-and-watch-crappy-daytime-tv day.

You guys are awesome, though. If it weren't for you guys, quite honestly, I'd probably have just eaten crap all day today, and ended up somewhere around 2600 calories instead of the 1300 I came in at. *G*

You guys rule. =)

I JUST woke up! Or rather DD WOKE me up! It's 7am and I don't have time nor do I feel like doing any exercise this morning. I must have slept in a wierd position last night because my right shoulder and my neck are feeling "afunk"! Ouch! I know this doesn't affect my legs to pedal, but there's just not enough time to do what I want to do! So...if you want to zap me, go ahead! I'll just have to surrender this morning~!

I'll TRY to get the bike in after work tonight...we'll see, which means I won't be ablet o check in with you all until late again! Darn! But exercise is just as important as keeping tabs on all of you!

I'm sooooo tired today! Like I could go back to bed and sleep for a few more hours! I;m sure it's this bug...whatever it is...kicking my a**!

As far as the "dancing" with my residents...they DO love it. It keeps them awake to watch me. I just do that group once a week and I don't always dance with them. Sometimes we play with a balloon, I blow bubbles for them...they really like that. I give them things to hold or smell or taste...if you have any ideas for me, let me know! These are REALLY low cognitively impaired people, can't do much for themselves...not even feed themselves. Some talk, some don't. None of them walk! OK...well thanks for the compliments, Lisa...I love that part of my job! And Idon't mind looking like a fool if it makes them happy!

OK chickies...take care and I will probably talk with you all tomorrow sometime!

Big Hugs!

Chickies!!!!! Good afternoon!!!!!! I am having a really nice day. It is supposed to get to 78 degrees here. It is GLORIOUS!! Hope you all are well. Did you know that we are now officially "Spring Chickies!" Yea!!!

My eating is strange today. I was running very late this morning, and did not have time to eat, and was starving. I ran through the Burger King for the kids, and I got a biscuit to eat. Well, that is not so good, but I have the flex points for it, and then I had some strawberry Rice Krispie treats with my class, and then had a little salad and spaghetti for lunch. This is ALL of my points (actually a bit over). It's o.k., because I just used my weekly flex points for it, but I was hoping not to do that. Anyway, all will be fine. My tummy does not like eating like this. I get all bloated feeling and feel yucky. But, I am not going to fall off the wagon. I am putting my seat belt on just in case!!!!!!!!!!

I am working on the water as I type. Will get in 30 min of exercise bike and arm workout later this afternoon. To be honest, I have got to lie down for a minute. My Kindergarteners wore me out today They have so much energy!!

(((hugs))) to everyone today! I'll check back in later.

p.s. Julie, hope the shoulder and neck feel better today! I'll save the tazer for tomorrow!!! Better watch out and report to us that you got on that bike tonight , or its super zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt for you girl!

Take care!

Okay, you guys are gonna be proud of me.

Since I got to work out -two- days this week, (ugh I want my other 3!!!) I am going to convince my hubby to go hiking with me tomorrow, on a 5-mile, mostly uphill, mountain hike. *YES!*

Anyway, other than that, food is crappy today, because I can't drag myself into the kitchen to make -real- food, so I've eaten 2 of my bags of popcorn, and had a coke. Ooh, yeah. Nutrition, where'd ya go?!

We're gonna have subs or some yummy nutritious soup for dinner tonight, though.

So, tomorrow we're gonna go hiking, if I can convince him to go, and Sunday night we're going to that Metallica/Godsmack concert and I will have fun. =) And, since I rarely eat in public (random fear), I won't be ingesting any horrible food Sunday night!! Rad!! (Unless we go out to coffee afterwards, in which case, I may end up having some fries or something, but I'll leave extra calories open for that). Then, Monday, back to normal, darn it!

Hope you guys have an awesome weekend, and I'm proud of all of ya!!

Today was a disaster as far as food and exercise are concerned! I feel pretty good otherwise. Maybe the 3 drinks I had after work tonight helped to put things back into perspective. I realize that sometimes ya just gotta blow it and say s***w it! And it was fun to hang out at a bar (which is not part of my "normal" routine) with my hubby and watch HIM get drunk!!! I laughed so hard... it felt good!

I am feeling the tazer now...didn't get the exercise in I had promised! Ate like I haven't eaten in months...chili dog with bun and all the works, a few potato wedges, veggie lasagne, green fluff, ok...I did have some salad and the protein from the hot dog & chili today, but that's about it! Lots of carbs, carbs, carbs! Oh yea, didn't eat breakfast, but had 2 cups of coffee with yummy creamer...wonder if that had anything to do with all the bad eating!? DUH! Not a good food day!


So, although today was awash, I am feeling confident that tomorrow is a new day and I will get my sorry a** on that bike and ride for 30 minutes (or more) and do my weights!!! I know that I will get back on track with food because today really sucked (and I won't even go into the sordid details, but no cakes or cookies, which is good)...

I am just going to bed and not worrying about what happened with all of it today and when I awake in the morning, this day will be erased from my memory forever!! LOL! Now, wouldn't that be nice???

I'll be back in the morning with a vengance! (Did I spell that right???)

Lucy...enjoy your hike tomorrow! I think that will be on the agenda in a few weeks around here...still a bit mucky, but we shall see! Have fun!

Lisa...like I said...I feel the tazer tonight! My shoulder and neck are still a bit achy, but not like this morning! Thank goodness! Glad you enjoyed your warm sunny day today. I am hoping for one tomorrow! DD is already planning the garden! Too funny! She is drawing pictures of gardens (she's four remember?) and telling me what each plant is and where it goes!!! What's up with that? Think she has cabin fever or what??? She wants to know when we are going camping, when we can have a campfire and when we can go for a bike ride???? LOL! She'll keep me motivated this summer!

Where is our fearless leader tonight? Jennifer? Where are you? I hope you have a good excuse. I didn't hear any willingness to take me upon my offer for the challenge, so I guess that's a no! LOL! I do hope all is ok. I read your post on the journals and saw that you were having a bit of a stressful day! Maybe you headed to the bar, too??? Naw! Probably not! You are just too comitted for that! AND...you ARE my hero! Hope your night was restful and wonderful, however you chose to spend it! I know mine was!

Night chickies!! Talk to you all in the morning!

Well... let me just say, a mental breakthrough and no hike tomorrow. Good and bad. But mostly awesome.

First, the no-hike. I'm still a little woozy today, so we're gonna just rearrange the furniture, clean the carpets, and do a whole-house deep cleaning tomorrow, together. Workout for both of us. =) Yay! Plus, it's s'posta pour all day tomorrow, and I'd really rather not be stuck in the mountains in the middle of a storm. Hah!

Second, my mental breakthrough. Well, I only have 33 lbs left to go, until I'm to my goal weight, and to my old body. The one I had when I was 18, the one that I loved and respected and took care of. *sigh* I was talking to my hubby today, in the car on the way back from our shopping trip to the bookstore (fun!), and he could not believe how much I've done so far. I have lost 74 pounds, and counting. SEVENTY FOUR POUNDS. Omg. *blink* Whoa, ya know? That's a lot. Half of a person. WHOA. Over half of what I used to weigh.

I only have 33 lbs left to go, and 2 sizes to drop, in order to be at an acceptable place for myself. TWO SIZES?! And I am letting myself slack off?! Major switch flipped in the brain today. If I can just turn down a couple of little things in my diet, and try to run a mile or 2 with hubby every day, for a month or two... I'll be there. In no time at all. I've thought about it, and I've decided some choices for myself. Some choices that are very small, very simple, and very easy to adapt to.

Change 1: Diet.
For breakfast, I am allowed to have either granola, eggs, or cream of wheat, any of these is accompanied with 1 piece/serving of fruit, and a bottle of water.
For lunch, I am allowed to have a sandwich (meat, cheese, bread), a salad (w/ meat), or a bowl of soup. Any of these is accompanied with some veggie sticks, and cottagecheese/yogurt/etc. With a bottle of water.

Dinner will be a normal, balanced meal, with a bottle of water.

This is a simple, easy change. My workout change? I want to go get an exercise tape tomorrow. Probably from my mom, since she has 2 Susan Powter step videos. I will do either 30 min on bike, or 1 tape, every day, accompanied with my stepper & weights for 8 min, and 500 situps.

At least 3 times per week, I would like to go on a 1 or 2-mile jog/walk with my husband, so long as he can slow down enough, and so long as my athsma/allergies don't end up making me go into an attack. (I do not need that!)

I am serious. How could I just give up on myself, metnally? I've plateaued for a couple weeks. BIG DEAL. That just means kick it up a notch, dammit. And a notch up it shall go, starting tomorrow!! I intend on doing 30 min on the bike, 8 on stepper, and 500 situps tomorrow. (he takes 1/2 hr in the shower, so there's my bike time. I'll do the 8 min of stepper while he's mopping the floor. I'll do the situps while we're watching tv or taking a break, because those don't bug me to do in front of him). In addition, we'll be moving furniture around and doing super-duty cleaning tomorrow, which will burn a ton of calories.

Meal plan for Saturday:
B - Cream of Wheat OR Granola w/ mango, and a bottle of water (& vitamins).
S - Granola bar OR yogurt
L - Salad w/ tuna and low-fat, low-cal italian dressing.
S - Veggie sticks w/ ranch (I don't do low-fat ranch, it tastes icky. I'll allow the cals)
D - Shrimp Pasta w/ salad on the side
After-dinner snack - I'll allow chips & salsa, if I really need 'em.

Total calories for tomorrow: Somewhere around 1450, if I do the chips & salsa.
Total calories spent in workout tomorrow: Somewhere around 900, I do believe.

Now that ain't too bad, if you ask me. And I'll be drinking ONLY water tomorrow.

You guys are awesome. *huge hugs* You make me happy, you inspire me, you kick my butt into gear, you don't let me wallow in my ickiness. You are truly beautiful, talented, wonderful women, and I love ya all.

Lucy - hope you have a great cleaning day today! Sorry bout the rain!! Yes!!! for the mental breakthrough. Reading your post really motivated me! Go Lucy, Go!!!

Julie - I had a bad day yesterday too!! Yuck! I am sick. I knew I was awful tired yesterday, and now I have NO VOICE! You guys are the only ones I can talk to literally!! I thought it was cute that your daughter was designing the garden. She sounds like a very creative and smart little girl

Jennifer - Well, Miss- you get the tazer for not checking in and worrying the chickies! If you do not check in today, you will get the double tazer!! I mean it!!
I hope you have a super relaxing weekend, and that you can sort of re-charge after the crazy week you had. Let DH baby you!!

Well, my day is packed. My oldest son has his first baseball game today! And I can't even cheer for him because I have no voice I am going to eat so well today, you guys won't even recognize me tonight when I check in!!!

I agree with Lucy!! ((((HUGS TO THE AWESOME CHICKIES HERE))))).

Hey! No jumping at me with the tazer! LOL

I was stuck at work until 6pm last night waiting for the realtor to bring me what I needed. Then, got home, hubby had made dinner for me after hearing me complain from work. Then, I finally got to share what happened over the last 2 days at work, which took the better part of 2 hours, while we were eating. At that point, he was taking pretty good care of me- rubbing my back & cuddling with me while watching TV, so I couldn't bail on him to come pop in here.

Fell asleep early, got up briefly in the middle of the night because the cats were running amock & the big guy jumped onto the middle of my chest. Owwie. Back to sleep, and got up at 9, went to check on hubby, who is working, hung with him for a few minutes, and then came to peek in here.

I'll be back in a little bit- no realtor called back yesterday, so we're probably not going to get to look at anything this weekend.

Julie- you're on for the exercise challenge....when do we start? LOL

Alright, I'm back on track today, so far! I've done my 30 minutes on the bike and kicked some serious butt...9 miles in 30 minutes! I think that's my best time ever! Doesn't sound like much to some of you...ahem...but hey, it's great for me! Did my toning/stretching/weights also. That is done for the day! I'll be doing some serious cleaning around here today...gotta get the weeks worth of cat and dog hair out of the carpet and into the vacuum! LOL! I hate pet hair and now with DD being tested for allergies and probably will have a diagnosis of pet hair allergies, it's extera important I keep up with that! Oh well!

Food so far:
Oatmeal w/ 1 tsp pb, 1/2 cup milk, 1 oz. deli turkey & 1 oz. mozz. cheese
I did have 1/4 bage with some cr. cheese too because I was still hungry!

Plan for the rest of the day:
Lunch: My homemade cabbage soup (a lot of it), whole grain cracker, cottage cheese.
Supper: I want to make that raspberry/cranberry chicken but don't know if I'll make it to the grocery story to get some chicken by then, so maybe just hamburgers on the grill and salad with oil & vinegar dressing.

Lucy: Have fun cleaning today and when you get done, I have a ton of stuff around here that needs to be done...maybe you and your hubby can come over and work on my house! LOL! Your plan to "tweak" your routine sounds great! Now stick with it, girlie! (Yea, like I should talk!!!)

Lisa: Enjoy your kids baseball game today and take care of yourself. have some chicken soup/broth...that might help! Whatever I had seemed to have gone away, so I am happy about that...and still not sign of TOM! Hmmm! I'll keep you posted! And yes...I think DD is very smart and creative...as I'm sure all your kids are, too! If I talk about my daughter too much, it's only because she is the light of my life and she is worth talking about! Hope you all don't get too tired of hearing "Kaleigh stories"!

OK, now Ms. Jennifer, chickie poo: You are off the hook for not checking in yesterday! I guess your wonderful husband deserves some of your time now and then! But don't let it happen too often because then we would all be floundering here without your daily words of inspiration and motivation! (OK that's enough flattery for one day!) Now for the nitty gritty: The exercise challenge. And it's gonna be ME who is going to have to work hard to keep up with my end of the bargain! I am thinking that, since the end of this challenge is coming up rather quickly, we can wait to start on Thursday...or we can start right away! Either way...since I seem to find excuses in the mornings (wake up too late, don't feel like it...) let's see about some sort of morning exercise challenge...every day! Maybe (just an idea) at least 20 minutes of SOMETHING each morning until EASTER! Since mornings are my best time to get in my exercise, this should not be a problem time-wise! How about you? Anyone else care to join us in this challenge. But...we need to have a reward or something for our efforts...any ideas?

Alright chickies...hugs all around to each and every one of you! I wonder where the rest of our challenge chickies are! Are we thinking about our goal and ideas for the next challenge? It's coming up soon!