Hi everyone, today is a much better work day. I was with Judy on the workday woes yesterday. I have a pile of stuff and more gets dumped on my desk and that's more important. My boss dumped something more on me and I said I was working on her project that teachers have been clammering for - so which one did she want. Apparently the project won. But by that point I'd had enough. I hate the "drop everything, my stuff's the most important" mentality.

Yesterday's stats: 1225 cals and walked 1.5 miles. The store I stopped at discontinued carrying exercise DVDs - is that another sign of America's obesity problem??? So I still don't own one. I may go to KMart as Walmart is the only other option and I hate them. Maybe I'll do Amazon and just wait. Both the marts are evil. Today lost the .4 of yesterday's gain but not the .8 yet. C'est la vie. It'll go when it wants.

Jaya, try evening those calories out more through the day. From what I've read, skipping meals is a great diet downfall. I hope for you that your dinner was good cal-wise (and taste of course).

Judy, I hope your day is going better today as mine is.

Carol, where did you go?
Penny, I hope your trip is wonderful.
Nikki, where are you?
Emma and Jennell, I hope your diets are going great.
Marie

Thanks, Marie, today went much better than Monday, I still feel as if I'm running behind a train. Re videos, I've bought 'em online from Collage Video. You should try Googling for the site where people swap their old fitness DVDs. I wonder if anyone on the fitness threads here know of the site. Some cable networks now have FitTV, which is an on-demand channel with a library of videos. I just found out today that the yoga studio that I went to a couple of years ago, for "gentle" yoga, has reopened. It's in my neighborhood, and I really like the owner, so I hope to check it out soon.

Hey, Jaya! How's that treadmill? I wish I could go all day on one meal, but I'm a grazer, especially if I'm in one place (like the office). Bagel, cream cheese and lox . I can't eat bagels (problems with gluten), but sometimes I have lox, sliced tomatoes, and string cheese for b-fast with some other veggie. Your motivation is good, keep it up!

I ate on program today, a small b-fast 'cuz I was running late (one chicken sausage and a glass of kefir), half and apple and a string cheese for a snack, a big salad and mixed nuts for lunch, and celery and sliced ham for afternoon snack. I didn't work out this morning (running late) so I'll bike for half an hour after work. I wonder how long I'd have to ride it to lose another 1.5 pounds?

Hope everyone is doing well.

judy

Oh, what a beautiful day we're having! I wish I could spend more time outside, enjoying the sunlight, instead of sitting behind a desk. I'll be running around this afternoon, though, dr's appointments and getting my hair done later on.

Jaya, I don't know if there's a set amount you're supposed to drink. Once I read that you should aim for at least 8 oz for every 20 pounds you weigh, but I've also read that 64 oz is a plenty for anyone who isn't out running in the heat or something. So I aim for at least 64 oz, and usually drink closer to 80 oz. Plus eating lots of fruit and veggies also adds to your water intake. At first I was rushing off to the bathroom every few minutes, but now my body complains if I don't stay well hydrated. Mostly it keeps me full between planned meals, and helps me tell the difference between thirst and hunger. Sounds like you're on top of it .

I did a cardio video this morning, had a protein shake and a couple of slices of ham for b'fast, and a slice of smoked tofu and half an apple for a snack. I'll have veggie soup for lunch. My weigh-in is this afternoon, so I'm not taking any chances!

Hope everyone out there is having a great day!

judy

Judy ~ I agree with you on the water, 64 oz is plenty. Good luck with your weigh-in, let us know how that goes

Jaya ~ I've never had fresh artichokes but I love the canned ones. I usually chop them up in salads, on pizzas and in pastas. Sometimes just like to eat them on their own with a squeeze of lemon. I think your doing well on your diet and exercise, keep it up!

Marie ~ I always get my videos off Amazon, they have a wider collection and I remember visiting a website that lets you see snippets of the videos, can't remember it now. I got my beginners yoga video off there, the best yoga, stretch and pilates videos I've tried are by gaiam.

Carol, Nikki, Jennelle ~ Hope you guys are doing okay!

I got my exercise in yesterday with my buddy. We chatted the whole time we didn't feel that a whole hour has gone by. I did elliptical for 20 mins, treadmill for 20 and the recumbent bike for 10. Don't know but my knees started hurting when I was on the bike so decided to go easy until I got used to it. Food wasn't bad considering that it was my birthday and we had double chocolate cake! I think the worse thing was that everyone had a huge piece on their plates while I had a 1x3 inches piece. But I'm glad I didn't indulge

Will post later ~ Emma.

thank you all ..... !!! I am really trying... Do you ever get in a darn stand still where the scale is not moving..hehehe... ...I want it to move..I know that I am not giving up I am bound and determined. I hope everyone is having a good day.....talk to you all laterz .....

Cheers

This wil be quick, as I'm about to head out the door, off to the airport. My weigh-in went well, the last time I was there was when my weight was trending upwards in May, so everyone was really pleased. I felt like a kid getting a gold star in school .

Emma, it's good have an exercise buddy to help pass the time. I also like to mix up the machines in a single workout.

Jaya, don't get me started on the scale! That's when it helps to track your other measurements (inches, blood pressure, energy and other things that benefit from exercise and healthy eating). If you focus too much on the scale from day to day you may get discouraged.

Off to a weekend in Chicago, one of my favorite eating cities . But I will remember my Columbus Day goal, and choose one small treat, at most, a day (Garrett's carmelcorn? yummm) and work every day--including today--in the hotel. I'm looking forward to looking smashing at the wedding!

I will check in when I can. In the meantime, I hope everyone else is able to make good choices!

judy

Hi all, I didn't disappear with Carol and Nikki (we know that Penny is in England and we don't need to worry where she went). It was a long week. I took Thursday off - DS2's birthday - and the rest of the week was so busy at work. But it's almost 6 am on Saturday, so I'm back.

It's TOM and the scale is being mean. But I'm doing really good with the daily fluctuations. It's no longer freaking me out.
Emma!!!! Good job on the cake. I made my DS2 a coconut layer cake. When I was making it, I was pretty sure there were millions of calories in it. I've never made something that just had ingredient after calorie laden ingredient in it. I'm think of putting it in my diet software just to see how bad it is. But it was awesome. Like you, I had the thinnest slice I could cut.

Judy, enjoy Chicago. I like it more than most other downtown cities. I have an aversion to downtown cities because of the one way streets and ridiculously high parking costs. But Chicago has found memories. We'd taken DSs there when they were 8 or 9. We all rollerbladed through the city. People kept pointing at us, look a rollerblade family. It was very fun.

Jaya, I've been told half your weight in in ounces for water. Pretty easy calculation that way. I usually get about 100-125 but I also have a history of UTIs that have become kidney infections. They're horrible so I drink and drink to avoid them. And the scale, I give mine the finger if it's not nice. Juvenile, yes, but it makes me laugh and then it's not as irritating.

No big plans this weekend. DH is working on our wood stove. The base is awesome. Instead of tiles I wanted flat rocks from our year, so we went rock shopping in our yard. He built andn oak base and on Thursday did the cement and rock placement. Today he's putting the white grout between them. It looks awesome. He bought the pipes yesterday (wow who'd have guessed $500 for the simple pipes???) and will be installing the stove the rest of the weekend. I'm so excited to have a hot house all winter and no heating bill with it. Next weekend we'll start going to get wood. DH got the permit from the nat'l forest service yesterday. The woodstove is almost "paid" for with my exercise. Jaya and Emma, to get myself into exercising, I "paid" myself per mile, per tape, laps, etc that would go for a cool prize. I earned a new projector for the home theater, a new iPod and lastly my wood stove. The stove was bought on "credit" as it was on end of year sale last March 31. I have about $200 left to pay (last April 1 I had over 1200 to pay so I'm making progress). Once it's paid for I don't know what I'll walk, swim, bike, etc for next. It was the greatest motivator. I probably don't need to bribe myself after 2 years, but heck, it makes me go when I'm not in the mood and alsom makes me push myself farther. Lately, after the bike accident, I'm not earning as much but I'm still earning. Anyway, I figure I shouldn't have to "earn" the piping. Let DH do that. I'm thinking large screen TV is next but I won't tell DH that.

Last night we use the projector and watched We Are Marshall on pay per view. It was a good movie. And it's so big on the big screen. Better than a theater has I was in my lazy-boy. And no lade with poofy hair sitting in front of me blocking my view.

Okay I guess I've rambled enough. Unlike Jaya, I need breakfast!!!
Marie

A quick hello! I just left the hotel's fitness center. I've been twice so far this trip. No time to tomorrow, tho, I have a flight out very early in the morning. I'm having a great time, revisiting some of my old haunts in Chicago and have a girly weekend with my friend. The wedding's today, so we'll go to Marshall Fields and get free makeovers. Well, sorta free you have to buy something in exchange for the person's time. I want to look great in my dress and heels, but not too frumpy.

My eating choices haven't been too bad. I introduced my friend to the addictive Garrett's carmelcorn, and I had a couple of drinks at a jazz club last night. But all in all this is a healthy trip. I would like the scale not to jump up on me Tuesday AM.

Marie, it's good to hear from you. Hope everyone else is doing well!

judy

Hi everyone. Sad but Sunday's coming to a close and that means the weekend is almost over. This week will be long. I have car traveling from my job on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. As I don't like sitting in a car, it's not a pleasant week that's upcoming.

TOM got me today. I'm about 250 cals over where I'd like to be this far into the day. But a lo-cal dinner is on the menu.

My Green Bay Packers won today!!! It was so awesome. They beat a GOOD team. So now they're 3 - 0. I'm really glad I bought Sunday Ticket on DirecTv to watch Brett Favre in what's probably his last season. So it was fun. I did work through the whole thing, but I will take the time back later in the year. The work is almost over except proofing all the data. DH said he'd help (he's a sweetie).

Yesterday's stats: 1350 cals and 1.5 miles walking.

And I laid around in bed this morning for 3 hours. I haven't done that in years. It was so decadent.

Judy, I hope the wedding is fun and the cals stay within your guidelines.

Carol, where are you???

Hi to everyone else!
Marie

Judy ~ Yay for exercising during your trip, I'm sure you'll look great for the wedding. I'm glad that you're having fun, keep up the good work

Marie ~ Yay for the stove! I've tried paying myself for reaching certain exercise and weight goals but it never worked, I guess I'm not that patient, when I want something I want it now!

Jaya, Carol, Nikkie, Jennelle ~ Hope you guys are doing okay!

I've been to the dietitian yesterday and I'm up 1 lbs. I am not surprised because I did go over my calorie limit for the past weeks and did skip a few days of exercising. Its also TOM this week so it could be water retention.
However, its reality check time, need to refocus and recommit.

Will post later ~ Emma

Emma, good luck on the re-focusing. I find when I deviate off course, it takes a good kick in the butt to ge me back on track. My kick was in the from of my scale 3 weeks ago. It's funny, I never deviate from exercising, just the food. I like exercising and in the same vein, I like eating. I hate being hungry (as I am right now and it's 3 hours till lunch). I'm thinking of making a lite decaf mocha but I'm trying to wait a bit.

Carol, I'm getting worried about you. What's going on???

When does Penny return from England? Does anyone know.

Judy, I hope your trip is still going great. Too bad you didn't head a little north of Chicago and land in Green Bay where my Packers had a glorious day yesterday. I'm still enjoying seeing a glimpse of what their great mid 90's were like.

Yesterday's stats: 1350 cals (considering I'd been on a course to go about 300 cals over my 1200, 150 wasn't bad) and 1.5 miles walking.

I guess I should work now.

Marie, congrats to you and to the fine people of Green Bay...I was in Bears country, but most of their focus at this moment is on the first-place Cubbbies.

Emma, I'm with you! I'm too undisciplined to wait for my rewards, I have to use really, really short-term goals--like earning extra fruit today or oatmeal in the morning--to treat myself. I'll have to refocus, too. I'm spending my says this week in a seminar, so I'll have to get up earlier than usual, have working lunches in restaurants, and attend evening events. If I don't focus, i'll skimp on my exercise and load up on the food....

The wedding was beautiful, at a local conservatory. The ceremony was held outside just as the sun was setting behind the couple. I had a glass of wine and some mashed potatoes, but otherwise ate close to program...except for finishing up my carmelcorn .

I think our Penny was abandoning us for a few weeks, so maybe she'll be back in another week or so? In the meantime, Hi Jaya! Nikki and Carol, what gives? Your voices are missed here!

Marie ~ That 1 pound served as my kick in the butt. My problem is when I deviate its from both exercise and food. I was in control yesterday which is a good start. How's the wrist?

Judy ~ Good luck with the lunches, if you stick to broth based soups, salads and grilled protein you'll be doing okay.

Yesterday wasn't bad, food wise went okay. got a whole hour of exercise in, treadmill and elliptical 30 mins each chatting the whole time with my exercise buddy, her foot is better so she was able to work out with me which is great for my motivation have serious cramps and a headache from TOM, wish I could go home and nap for a while but have development plans to write for the staff today..urgh..

Will post later ~ Emma