Hello chicks.... can you hear that .... thats right nothing..... complete quiet.... I love nap time. lol. Crazy busy day here again today. The water has gone down alot but still have to turn the pumps on every hour or so as the basement still fills up quick. I am hoping that this week gets over quick... it has been a terrible two weeks sick, water which has caused me to totally stress eat. I am going to weigh in at TOPS tonight and I am not looking forward to it. But I do have my meals planned for a new start once again tomorrow. Hope everyone has a great day, must dash and put the last load of laundry in and finish the lunch dishes while everyone is sleeping. Then it is off to enjoy the sunshine at the park. Have a great day chicks.

Hi, everyone! Sorry I didn't get in here earlier!

Hope everyone's day is going well. I don't think I'll have time to do personals for everyone...but I do read every post.

TK, I read this article today and totally thought of Leo. I wonder if you can find a program like this anywhere in our area. If you're interested, I'll ask my therapist when I see her tonight--she used to be a nurse and has a lot of great contacts in the area.

Cottage, that sounds wonderful! When I studied in Mexico, our host mother fed us breakfast out on her back patio and it was such a romantic, peaceful way to begin the day! I should treat myself to that more often! Do you think I could make the meatloaf recipe into patties? I personally hate meatloaf, but I think I could stomach "burgers" and the ingredients sound yummy...

Nessa, I hope you feel more connected soon. Sometimes, though, I think our mind/body does that to protect us when things around us are overwhelming. I understand how totally frustrating it is when your weight bounces around a number you hate--but stick with it, girl! I would give a limb to be back fighting with 200 again...but I let the frustration get to me (along with other things) and now I'm in the middle of losing the 40 pounds I regained! Thanks for putting me on to the Beck program...I'm really struggling with it, but it's helping me see that some of my problem is lapsed commitment to this journey.

Cat, with the job!

MandyLeigh, please always feel free to vent here! If we don't get it out, we usually end up putting a lot of stuff in! Hope today is much, much better! Congrats on the NSV of a strong upper body!

TDI Princess, I use raisins often (in very small amounts) and haven't had any adverse effects, though I do find them incredibly sweet! I've found that it can be easy to locate unsweetened dried apricots, and they don't seem to set off cravings. You can chop them up easily if you spray a pair of kitchen shears with nonstick spray (PAM) before cutting. Another option is freezedried fruit though I haven't tried them yet in baking, but I like to throw them in cereal. There are two unsweetened dried/freezedried brands I've tried--one I found in a grocery store near my parents in WA and the other is in the Nature's Market section of our Wegman's. The first is the "Just ____" brand (fill in the blank with the name of a fruit or veggie). I really like the Just Apples--they're cut into little sticks and have the skin on the ends, so they are chewy, crunchy, and yummy! The other is Crunchies brand--they sell single fruits and vegetables or a mix. The raspberries are awesome...crunchy and just the right amount of sour. Mmm!

Heather, I'll be praying for Kia...how horrible! So glad to hear that things worked out--but you're right, it'll be a long recovery.

Zeff, I was afraid of the dark for years and years--my parents put in a little shaded lantern-type light and it gave me enough light to feel safe but not so much that I couldn't sleep. When I got older, I got over it, but I can sleep with the lights on--a great talent to posess when you're in college! Don't worry. I'll keep DH in my prayers.

KimStar, I LOVE your new avatar! You're such an exotic beauty!

LC, don't beat yourself up, dear heart. Just try to fit in some exercise...even if it's bouncing around the living room with the kids to a silly song. It'll help with the stress and the weight!

Pearl! That's a wonderful recognition!

Somebody in a discussion on here called Whole Foods a funny name indicating that even though it has awesome stuff, it tends to take your whole bank account to pay for your purchases! I'd love to have one near me, nonetheless!

Me:
Yikes...It's 1:00 and I'm finally finishing this post...

Had a great strength training workout yesterday. I really love that stuff and wish I had more time to do it--everyday would rock! I used one of those half ball bubble things (the kind you balance on) yesterday while doing some of my dumbbell exercises. I saw a big, burly guy doing it last week and wanted to try. It wasn't too hard, but it definitely kept my other muscles working while I did the weights. Fun!

Off to the gym for elliptical after work. I have my Food and Mood group tonight. I'm currently really stuck in my "don't want to feel emotions--must smother them with food" state. I hope to talk about it with the girls and see what I can do to get myself out of that rut. I talked with my nutritionist yesterday (who said I lost some fat...must not have been a pound's worth or he'd have told me, I think) and my therapist about it and that must have helped, because I was able to stick to plan for the rest of the day. The Beck book's Day 3 (sit down while eating) really helped--I sit down for all my meals, but I didn't realize how much picking and snacking I do on my feet!

Hope everyone has a great day! I went across the street to Dunkin' Donuts for an iced latte lite (and to get a cup of coffee for a coworker who bought me one last week) and the weather was amazing!!!

Man, I wish Whole Foods would buy out the Fresh Market here. It is a farce as far as natural food stores go.

YIKES! I can't even begin to think about doing personals. Decided to take a 5 minute "me" break while everyone is out of the office! Things around here are crazy and everything is taking 5 times the amount it used to. This mortgage slump is going to be the death of me! We aren't feeling it in downturn of loans in fact we are the opposite since we do goverment loans but darn these underwriters are getting vicious! Oh and I have my fair share of idot real estate agents (sorry if there are any of you out there I don't mean to offend)!

TOM is here so you guessed it the scales are up, eating stinks and I am rather &*@chy!

Oh I finally have a pic from DD prom to share! Look she is fully clothed!!! Have you seen what these girls are wearing to prom now a days???? Yup thats me before a much need visit to the hair master last weekend, looking better now!

Alright my "me" time is over as I hear the fax machine ringing. Have a great evening chicks!

Wow Stephanie your daughter is such a pretty young lady - love the dress

Stephanie, DD is very pretty and so is her mom. Yes, I've seen, DD1 had her prom just a couple of years ago. It gets pretty icky.

I am back from my shopping trip, lots of fun. We had lunch at a Mexican place, which I used to like but have avoided since SBD, but now I see no need. They now have a section of the menu for lighter entrees and offer ww tortillas. I had a really good salad and some grilled shrimp. Then we spent a couple of hours at Kohls trying on clothes. I learned that trying on pants stinks no matter what size you are. I tried on about 25 pairs and ended up with two that fit me right, although they'll have to be hemmed. I also scored an awesome black Vera Wang skirt from the clearance rack and treated myself to a clear lucite bangle with rhinestones. I know, sounds very tacky and gaudy but it's pretty.

Well, off to get dinner started, yummy Capri chicken, can't wait to try it. Then I've got to go to school for the sex class meeting for DS's class - it was postponed from a couple of weeks ago. I'll let you know if I learn anything. Have a good night chicks!

beachgal-thank you soooo much. I appreciate it.

everyone has TOM. I do too. There are other threads with women and TOM. Is everybody's body tuning into everyone else's?! lol

I wish it would be my TOM. Well....not really, but I wish there was something. I can't figure out why I skipped last month. Pregnancy test after pregnancy test tells me that THAT isn't it....who knows.

DH just got home from his interview. It was only the first interview, so I knew he wouldn't come home with an offer (but a girl can dream, right?). It looks really good! Now we wait for the call about a second interview with the suits of the college. I guess I better pick out what suit he's going to wear and make sure it's drycleaned. Needless to say, I'm a happy camper.

Not so good though, DH and I were invited over to a friend's house. We agreed and then found out they were having rabbit for dinner...ick. Honestly, who serves rabbit for dinner when you're having guests? Rabbit was one of the reasons why I was a vegetarian for so long. Now I need to decide whether or not we're going to cancel, or eat dinner before we go over and "just not be very hungry".

Sounds like everyone has had a busy day. I didn't get lunch until almost 3PM and I still haven't finished my morning cup of tea. Work has been nonstop and Twilight Camp is coming along wonderfully. I just had a large pack pay online so I feel so much better now that we are finally getting registrations.