Gary~you crack me up! No, I didn't think it would be right to take photos! Glad you liked the chicken recipe. I've made it 4 times now and promised to make it for my Mom and Dad when they come in November.

Tara~I'm with baffled--I tip 20% regardless of what I get or how it is brought (car side, delivered, or sitting in the restaurant). My DD used to work at Applebee's and she said that the car side tips did vary a lot. Some people just let her keep what ever change was left from the bill (like a $36 bill they give her $40 and say keep the change). Others would give a flat tip of $5 or $10 and others would do 15-20%. BTW, carside also deliver to what ever hotels are really close by (in case you're on vacation and don't want to dine alone).

Baffled~sorry you're getting sick.

Gotta run. Work calls. Take care everyone and have a great day!

Hi everyone, it sure took me a while to read through everyones posts.

DH goes back to work today. Maybe I'll be able to get my eating back more on track. Major plans for me to walk, walk, walk. I forgot to weigh myself this morning, but I'm sure my wt. is up again.

We did have a lot of fun fishing while DH was home.

Lisa, I hope you get to go see your grandfather soon.

Gary, I feel like a football pro now after watching so many games this weekend. Also, last night we watched a movie called We Are Marshall, it was really good.

I'm feeling inspired again to write more on my book. So, plan to write a lot while DH is at work.

Hope everyone has a great day, my treadmill is calling.

Ok, tonight I'm just going to rant. I haven't been in such a foul mood for a long time, and it's not the "I wish to reach for comfort food NOW" kind of foul. It's rather "I wish to reach for the first passer-by in the street, gut him alive with my bare hands, and make a necklace with his intestines" kind of foul. I just found a letter from the taxes office in the mail tonight, demanding that I pay the fee for having a TV--which I DO NOT HAVE, since I have little to no interest in having the right to watch 90% of broadcasts more stupid than each other. Let's just say that shelling out 116 euros out of my *** is NOT an option at this point in my life, so I'll have to battle tooth and nails with the taxes office about that this week. And we all know that it's next to impossible to win with those people--not in France, that is.

Ah well. At least I haven't reached for the chocolate. Though I suppose that being convicted of murder would do me in more than a couple of extra pounds.

And I still have tons of homework to do on top of it.

Kery~you have to pay tax to watch TV? Wow. And I thought the cable companies here had quite the racket!

Lily~yes, you've been quite quiet lately!!!

Yeah. Actually, that's just to own a TV, even if you never watch it. Cable/sat is an extra that you have to shell out as well. Go figure. It's France. We're pressured for money for every kind of crap these days.

Hi Kery,

Too bad abput the TV taxes! 116 euros is a lot! They charge us for the ownership as well overhere, but I believe they have incorporated it into the monthly rate we have to pay for cable. The taxes is just to cover for the 3 non-commercial nets overhere. Nonetheless, most of the Tv is junk & commercials, no difference between the commercial and the public nets at all.

Best of luck against french bureaucracy (sp?)...

Rabbit

Ah, poor Kery! (it's probably a good thing you're a few thousand miles away -- I think I'm afraid of you! )

I'm back from my annual physical. I was surprised to find that I weigh ten pounds less than last year -- that must have been one of the peaks of maintenance and I guess I'm in a valley now. I'll take it! And my resting heart rate has dropped into the mid-40s, thanks to high intensity cardio intervals.

My doctor told me something about bone density that's important to all of us. Apparently one of the biggest risk factors for bone loss is weight loss. And it may not show up right away. So even though I'm five years out from goal, she's still concerned that I may show bone loss as a result of the huge amount of weight I lost. So she's sending me for another DEXA bone scan. We should all pay attention to our bone density, especially when you get to be an old lady like me.

I'll get the blood work done tomorrow -- can't wait to see those results. What a difference from the days of hating to go to the doctor back when I was obese. I always was afraid of being told I needed to lose weight (what a surprise!) and finding out that my blood pressure, cholesterol etc were all too high. No more!

Feel better, Baff! The squat bar is lonely without you. And Lily, I'm so glad you're going to work on your book again. I was just thinking about it the other day and how I'm going to be the first one in line for my autographed copy. Hey, we'll have a 3FC Book Signing party just for you!! (with healthy fruit and veggie trays, of course)

I'm with you Meg, I actually LOOK FORWARD to my doctors' visits now. I'm kinda sad I won't have one for close to a year now.

Sound like YOU had a pretty decent check up. Quite decent in fact. 10lbs? NICE!!!! Although, you certainly scared me about the bone density. My doctor didn't mention it to me. I guess I will have to bring it up at my next visit. Good luck with that DEXA bone scan, which I've never heard of. Well, I've heard of bone scans, but didn't know they were called "DEXA". I'm sure your blood work will be perfect.

Lily, I too will be waiting in line for my autographed copy of your book. That would really be something. Get to it young lady. It's a guaranteed best seller, no doubt.

Thanks for the responses on the curbside pickup tipping question. It hadn't occurred to me to tip until right after I paid, and then I wondered if I should have. Next time I definitely would. On the other hand, my fries had spilled all over the inside of the bag (which I told her -- and she didn't offer to bring new ones or anything) and I had to request ketchup be brought when I noticed that there wasn't any in the bag! Who brings french fries without ketchup???!!!! Because of that, I don't feel terrible, just somewhat bad for not tipping.

An internet search also revealed that you should tip in general...around 10% for curbside -- less than for real service b/c the work isn't comparable to what a waiter/waitress would do.

Do you guys tip for carryout if you walk into the restaurant and pick it up? I've never done that, but now I wonder!

BTW, Meg, I agree re: the Cheesecake factory. I've been to the one in Chicago and a couple others, and there are definitely a lot of places where you can get better food - it's more of a tourist attraction. This one is super close to my home, and I'd never gotten anything from it before, and I was surprised I liked the turkey burger as much as I did.

Welcome Lo!

Tara, I never tip for carry out, and I tend towards the stickling as far as tipping goes. In my last waitressing job in a shi-shi wine bar in the town where I live, some people did occasionally tip for the (very) occasional take out, but usually it was a regular customer, and I never expected to be tipped.

I've only ever had one thing at Cheesecake factory: the crab cake sandwich. It's rather delicious. Excessively portioned, of course, but still yummy. It's gotta have 8 million calories in it.

Hello and welcome to the maintainers forum PGadDawg!!!

Wow, you've done an awesome job with your weight loss. Congratulations. I give you lots and lots of credit. Losing 50 lbs is not an easy thing to do, especially while at school - and without a scale to boot.

I think lots of us have a slight fear of gaining back the weight. I''m pretty much thinking that that's a good thing. A little fear can go a long way in keeping one accountable and aware and help to keep the pounds off. Keep in mind though, there's no way to gain back 50 lbs in one fell swoop.

Having made a lifestyle change, I'm sure you've incorporated good, healthy habits for well, a lifetime. These habits will help to keep you at the weight you want to be. This is a great place to check in and speak with other people who are also interested in maintaining there weight loss. We all know the struggles and then the joys of keeping to a healthy regimene.

I look forward to hearing more from you and getting to know you better.

Quickly popping in before heading to school (Victorian Scotland at 8 am, that's crazy! ), so I'm just going to say welcome to Lo. And I agree with Robin--a little fear is probably a good thing, and at least it's better and less risky than the dreaded, awful complacency.

Hadn't thought of that 'til you guys pointed it out. It wasn't the blood test numbers that worried me, it was waiting through the entire visit knowing that he'd eventually get around to saying "We seem to be putting on a little weight here, don't you think?" I even planned (but didn't use) mean spirited responses that skewered his use of "we" when he meant "you".

Reminds me of the absolutely amazing trick I discovered. After years of half-hearted efforts, I started actually flossing my teeth on a regular basis. It has made visits to the dental hygienist such a pleasure. I no longer waste time and energy thinking of answers to the dreaded question about whether I was flossing daily. Responding "I'm still consistent," was really limp.

XXXXXXX 7 X|||||| 14 ||||||| 21 ||||||| 28 ||||||| 35 ||||||| 42
Completed Beck Program-day 8. 34 to go. Keep going!

Hmmmm....

Jay