Linus~ I saw a news story about the floods in Oban this morning. Hope it is not too terrible in Edinburgh.HUgs to you. Dont give up on the not smoking!!!
Teel~ thanks. The last 2 days have been better with DS.

It is raining. We went out for the bus. It didn’t come. Drove DS to school as per his wish( HUH!).The busses are cancelled. The back roads are a sheet of ice. We are on a paved road and it is clear. DH just came home.Cant use power tools in all this rain.
I was hoping for a nice quiet day. It is never quiet with DH home. The kids get all wound up and he is noisy and messy!!!
I have decided I will weigh myself once a month, in the morning, right after my period, for my “official” weight. I will still weigh in at TOPs because the weekly accountablity and info is good.

I had a funky sleep last night. I had picked up Cold Mountain at the library. I started to watch it at 9. I was soooo tired at 10:30, I shut it off and went to bed. I tossed and turned till 12. The DD came in at 1. Poked my in the eye a few times. Anyhow, it was a fitful sleep. I am tired today.
I did NOT eat after supper yesterday and I did NOT eat cheese all day. I DID WATP. 2 for 2!!!!! I did 10 min upper body weights. Fisrt time since the hols that I have pulled this off.
Not much going on today. The usual tidying and kid stuff.
I might have to be a B*tch and bug DH to tile.
I firmly believe that he is an inteligent adult and I should not have to nag him. But he also is a procrastinator. Something that I am most definitely NOT.

There seems to be a lot of rain in the world these days. Hope everyone is keeping dry!!

Aaaah it is so nice to be home and listen to you lot ***** than to be in Sydney and listen to that lot ***** twice as hard.
Sounds like you are all going well on the challenge. Afraid I blew the last two nights of weights but the eating has been okay and no cheese or bread - well one bite of a cheese and some biscuits that when you read the label contain pecorino cheese - d'uh how many times do you have to be told to always read the labels? Anyway I was just too tired last night to post and this is short 'cos I should be on my way out of the door. Still tired and now 2k heavier than when I left, but I expect that to wear off shortly. It will mostly be fluid I suspect.
Catch you tonight.

hi im here but having just spent two hour on msn talking to my sister and my freind so im too sore to sit here now so sorry but ill be back tomorrow and hopefully better than i feel right now
kirsty

just got in the house. Been everywhere today. Went for my photo ID so I can cash checks etc. since 9/11 things are tightening up around this area. got back after lunch and had already missed 3 meals and water!!! then the someone in the office had to go to a funeral and stepped in for her.The last straw was poor Clara. She was in bad shape and I nust got done with her. She got hit with a lot of renewals for govt. programs and she just found them in a bag she forgot since before Xmas. We NOW have a new box to put things in as soon as she enters the apartment and NOTHING will be thrown out before I read it! LOL
Been just one of those days. So it's off to supper and bed!
Sorry I haven't read anything today and hope all is well.

How are we all going? I've had a look at the posts to make sure you are all doing as you said you would.
Meadow you are doing so well. Four for four. Way to go girl.
Linus, sounds like you are going okay with the weights - don't sweat the food just yet. One achievement a week is good. We will get onto food again next week.
Teel, well done, warm and cosy house coming up. Good on you.
Holly I am so with you on the weird sleep patterns. I had a terrible night last night. Will be in bed very early tonight. Just got to clean up the kitchen and I'm off for a shower and early night.
Rosie, I guess I didn't read your post well last night. I've been back to see if my eyes are confusing me. What a loss. Way to go girl.
Diane, are you okay - just busy or are you having a quiet time and lurking like Happy does????
Hello Tig????
I didn't do weights while I was away and I didn't eat bread either. Steve, my travelling companion went and got me a snack at the Qantas Club yesterday and put lots of lovely cheeses on the plate along with a bit of dip and a bit of spicy sausage and some crackers. I succumbed to just a wee bit on the fork and then gave it up and left the rest alone. I was quite proud of myself.
I did go for a run while I was in Sydney. We stayed at Cronulla and there is a walk/ jog track along the seafront. I went for a run but I got nowhere near what I do on the treadmill and am suffering for it yesterday and today in the shins. Must be something to do with the concrete pathway and also the fact that it was late in the day (I like to workout early) So I didn't go to the gym today and will probably not go tomorrow morning. I'm going to just rest for the rest of the week and then start over on Monday - apart from Pilates on Saturday that is.

So who is thinking about next weeks challenge? Do we want to continue with what we have and add something else, or do we want to go for something totally different? I think I might do the same and add something extra but give myself a treat over the weekend and have some baked product and some cheese.

Anyway, time to get into the kitchen. See you all tomorrow.

Shad~ I would love to do some ab work- crunches????? as the challenge.Maybe add on to the upper body stuff.

I did my 10 min last. I am loving it. It is so simple and easy to do and feels great.Why dont I just do it on my own?? I had cheese and crackers last night.
I know it is not good to reward with food but I have decided to stay cheese free all week and have cheese and crackers Wed night after TOPS.I think of it more as ME time with my favourite food, a little party. Back to no cheese for the next 2 days!!!!
I was down 2 lbs. Back to my pre holiday weight. Thank to Shad's challenge no doubt!
I had a great sleep last night.Woohoo.
I watched the rest of Cold Mountain last night. Enjoyable movie. At first I had trouble with an Ausie and Brit playing Americans from the south but got over it. LOL!
Gotta get the kids off to school. I will pop in later.

Welcome Home Shad, you are so good to keep up with us and help us stay focused thanks for that..... yes I have had a terrific week of watching my food and the best thing is my oatmeal in the morning it has been a big difference. So for next weeks challenge I want to try to continue the weights because just handling them is good for us.... and I want to try to get at least a mile a day done for at least five of the days...... I am sorry your shins flared up....any change of surface is sometimes difficult. I want to be back to a good jog by spring but have to so watch the inpacted on my feet.
I hope everyone is doing well and not suffering too much in pain or frustration or anxiety..... Sometimes the world seems so overwhelming or the people that we have to tend to it..... but here we have a safe place to come and b**ch and to share...... Thanks for that Ladies......
I am going to work on some pillows for my neice and will let you know how they turn out.... I am not a sewer but do like to try once in a while. I am making my third scarf and just so enjoying planning for my trip in April and glad to be setting some mini goals.
Have a great day everyone.... Let;s put some more ideas out there for our challlenge.
Peace,
Nae

im sorry girls but im not allowed to do crunches but will keep going with the weights and the no sweets but will add in one good long walk with the dogs a day as well {me and the dogs need to do this one }and as soon as the weather gets a bit better and lighter ill go back to swimming once a week foods been good staying well away from the sweets but the crisps are proving to be a BIG problem but bought some new diet bars and think they are lovely so will look at the packet and see what theyve got in them{yes i know should have done that before i bought them}and i need to get organised dont seem to be getting anything done fast
back later
kirsty

Having a frappe and typing. One of the seniors came home with a little Starbuck's coffee for me! What a sweetie to think of me. so before the door or phone can ring I will get this done!!

Shad~ So sorry to hear about the legs!! Hope they feel better soon and take good care of them! Glad to have you "home" with us. I have done pedals every day and stretching all but one. Next week...Hmmmm.....Yoga and no office(junk) food! That way it will cover anything that is in that OFFICE!!! Have a great rest!!PS~ When does our week start???? I forget!!!

Meadow~ Loved the new pants! Wear them in good health this year!! if I ever reach a Zen state it would take an effing miracle or for me to move to another town!!

Nae~ WOW! Sounds like you are going full steam ahead! Congrats and keep up the great work you busy bee you! Thanks for the thoughts too. I can read very well between the lines! You are a dear.

Teel~ Hope the house is warmer and you and Holly are snug as two bugs!! So glad it is finally done before it gets any colder out there! Enjoy!

Linus~ If you asked Jen she would tell you that no one WANTED to talk to me for months!!! I was an animal and stayed locked up in my room for all that time. Came out only to go shopping! I even refused to go to the drs for ANY appts and cancelled them all! So hang in there and it will all be over soon! ((((((HUGS))))))

Holly~ glad the DS has had better mornings. Hold on tight! LOL I sometimes don't know how you do it with all the kids!!! You got a lot of guts lady!!!

My life started to get out of control a bit for the last 2 days and others were running it. I grabbed the reins and did my wash then came upstairs. jen and I are going to go through the closets again and decide what goes and what she wants......then I will rearrange them for the last time I hope. I need some things lower so that I don't need anyone to help or won't be pulling boxes down on my head anymore. Getting a wee bit too dangerous now. so that's the plan to take all Winter long. My new project. Very similar to last years....but I didn't do it right.

Hi ladies.

Sorry I haven't been posting but I've been so overwhelmingly tired that I haven't spent much time at all at the computer - at least after working hours. And they are very strict about Internet access at work - not going to risk that. I am trying very very hard to learn my new responsibilities, have all these new procedures, terminology and what we're doing and why we're doing it rules sunk into my overloaded and sometimes misfiring brain. I have mastered a bit of what I learned over the last 2 weeks and next week I go to a new location and try to learn a whole new set of things - the big SAP monster Shad, whilst not forgetting anything learned this week because after all, the baton has been passed and I am now the (sole) support person for one application on my home team.

I am gone 10 hours a day, come home, make dinner and crash. I sit in a chair vegging in front of the TV and can barely stay awake. I go to bed early and 2 minutes after I hit the pillow I am wide awake. I do fall asleep and within 30 minutes I am awakened by either stupid or frightful dreams. Last night I dreamed I was alone in a dark public loo when a sliver of light came through the door and 2 men that represented great harm to me started to come into the room. I dove under the stalls hoping they wouldn't find me and realized that my coat was sticking out and might give my hiding place away. It was one of those dreams where you wake up and your heart is pounding with fear. I've been sleeping fitfully for the last week and wake up in the morning with my jaw sore as I suppose I am clenching my teeth at night. Thing is, there's no real reason to feel this way. I am concerned about learning and doing a good job but most of the pressure I put on myself. It's a place where you have to figure out what you have to know and figure out how to get yourself educated tho the whole team is nice, particularly the bloke I've worked with this week. I'm just wiped out and haven't had the energy to sit on the computer at night.

I am back in the corporate world of wishing my life away and eagerly awaiting Fridays each week. Weekends are filled with looking for furniture for the new house. We're just shopping for ideas right now. Decided we shouldn't buy anything until we are in the house to measure, even if that means we have to wait several weeks to order it. Looks like we'll try and actually move into the new digs around February 5 or 6 in time for DH's birthday. I think my family would like to all come down to our place to celebrate Easter and that would be nice. Heaven knows I'm over due for hosting a holiday - we had a cat that everyone was allergic to so I cooked but didn't host the dinner.

Food has taken less of an interest in me. I have been trying to cut my portions in half. Take less food if I make it myself, eat only 1/2 the meal if I'm at a restaurant. So far it's been working. I think I've actually encouraged the scales to move a bit. I am definitely doing more walking than I used to. I take the long way to the loo - all the way around the floor and if it's not raining, I go for a walk around the office complex.

Catching up - Diane, congrats on the new grandbaby to be. You must be very excited. Perhaps Nae will give us lessons on knitting/crocheting/sewing baby blankets? I can't think of anything more fun than a bunch of us sitting on the porch, admiring the Rockies and having a quilting bee. Mel, glad the peepers are better and you're back to Fly Ladying the closets again. Can't have you pulling boxes on your head. Linus you get those dogs going for a trot. No ciggies ok? I won't if you won't but I understand your frustration with the weight gain - I am right there beside you. Suck on an empty straw like I do. I well rather DH joined a billiards league they have at my office. He plays on Tuesday nights and was trying to teach me afterwards. The pool hall of course is smoky - everyone around me was smoking - even people who "only smoke in pool halls". It took ALOT of strong will to resist temptation. Not sure if this will be a good thing. Did notice on the way home how much our clothes stunk tho. Holly - congrats on the weight loss and cutting cheese back to an occasional treat. Keep up the good work. Shad - well done girl on just a nibble on the cheese and crackers! I know that's a particularly strong temptation for you. Do a soak in some Eucalyptus bath salts, gentle stretches and water to pull the pain of those achy shins. Teel, I hope you are nice and cozy and warm with your new heater. I daresay she's asleep all warm and comfy, don't you think girls? Hellos to Meadow and Tig too.

It's high time for me to crawl into bed and try and get a good night's rest. At least tomorrow's Friday and I know I can sleep in a bit on Saturday... well maybe. Rest easy chickies and good morning to you Shaddie.

Happy~ so good to see you but would understand you're taking a break from the PC. Your plate is really loaded and the nightmares are only unventured territory scares. Just recognize them for what they are and they will probably go away. I get them too...heart pounding and all. ((((HUGS)))))) Love the walking and portion control. Good luck with the house! More (((((((HUGS))))))) My NEW Southern Friend!

Diane~ We almost sent the Mounties after you too!! good luck sunday with the weigh-in!!! I am very interested in seeing how the Eat for Life plan works for you. Good luck. Hope the DN is still doing fine.

Our hot water is now officially off. got a shower and hair wash just in time!!! LOL Put some water in pots and bottles for JIC! Today is NOT a good day for the runs!!!
I feel so strong in my "head" that sometimes I am almost afraid that something will go wrong. I know it may sound strange?!
Oh well, hope that feeling goes away. Poor Clara will have to do without me today as the rug men are on HER floor today! will this job ever get done??? check in at the same time next week on the same Bat channel!
Can't do the wash today so I should go in search of a box to put all the junk I am supposedly going to toss out!!!
Hope you all have a great Weekend and sweet dreams Miss Shad!!!

Morning all,
Geez where is everyone. Hello to Happy, Diane and Mel, seem to be missing Holly, Tig, Meadow, Nae although she was around earlier, Teel, Linus and Suz. Teel is probably thawing out, hey maybe she is also doing the happy dance naked!!!! Getting her exercise that way!

Okay it is Saturday morning here actually 5.45am and the end of last weeks challenge. I don't seem to have done very well really. Score:
Weights for 4 nights only
No Bread
Small hunk of cheese.
Well that's me, now I'll wait for the others to come in and report before we decide on the prize.
For this weeks challenge, I think I might do 10 mins of stretching, bending, pilates type stuff and carry on the no cheese, no bread bit. The stomach muscles could do with a bit of work. That will start Sunday morning as I have a little treat for me today. My friend Chris (of the kangaroo in the back paddock fame) has given me a little cheese board to try. It's a series of tiny amounts of gourmet cheeses from around the world. Nice wee treat, I'm going to enjoy that this afternoon with a glass of a nice Spanish red.
Other joys on the horizon include a siesta with a new Dan Brown book that I picked up in Sydney and since it is not going to be too hot today, a session out the back with the roses. Other than that there is a mountain of washing to do, wash the car, water the plants out the front and harrass the DS about the lawnmower. Just another one of those days. Oh yes and I better go get some fruit and veg a well and look for some new trousers for work. The old ones are very baggy in the butt area and need replacing. I need to do a MEL as well and go through the wardrobe chucking out the bits I really no longer fit or like. Dust should fly, some of that stuff has been there 5 years or more!!
Well before DB2 appears on the scene for his Saturday cuppa (usually around 7.00am) I had best go get dressed and ready for the day. Have a good one.

Shad~ I looked over my written journal and found I had made an error. I din NO exercises for last saturday and Wednesday!
But I had NO soda or bakery stuff!!
This week is going to be no office food of any kind! That means all junk food is verboten! Eat only the plan food and exercise every day by switching them each day. This past week was a bit too hard. Your day sounds lovely! Think of me while you are out in the sun smelling your beautiful roses. Have a great one! Enjoy the book!

evening all, how are we all? good i hope ? well im not too bad getting a wee bit more organised {i think} eating has been great im filling up on the things im allowed so im not eating the things i shouldnt !!! .Right the nope challenge well i did weights all week granted only thrww days at 10 mins and the rest at eight which seems to be the right time limit for me as i dont feel sore afterwards and i didnt cheat on the sweets at all so this week it has to be crisps the buggers just seem to jump in my mouth all by themselves .So im making an appointment to see my physio om monday to find out if there is some sort of exercise program i can do at home cause it seems to be that the minute i look into something im toln NO not for spinal patience especially as all my discs are in grave danger of popping
MEL glad your feling a wee bit better now why have you no hot water???revamping the building if you keep cleaning out those cupboards theres going to be nothing left to clean out
SHAD if my family came to my door at seven theyd meet the bride of frankenstein im not a morning person at all well done on the plan
ROSE you are doing so well keep it up kid enjoy the wildlife
HAPPY take it you actually got the house ??? if you are mentioning moving in dates ??
TIG where are you doid you really forget to stop running again???
CANDLE glad your feeling better im staying away from the scales till monday
MEADOW how is the clan ???
HOLLY glad youve got all your little people back to keep you busy
TEEL imtalking to you on the phone
and hello to all who are absent
bye for now
kirsty