Battle_ so glad to see you back.Glad you had a wonderful vacation. sorry you came home to problems. WE have missed you!!! You can do this diet thing...just one day at a time!!!

cyn_ sorry things are rough for you right now also. HUGs

nothing really going on here. daughter has gone back to college and youngest is working.

Hello everyone!

In Feb, March and April I was reading very regularly and posting occasionally. I've been MIA since then, and I hope you all will have me back. The camaraderie and support on these boards is fantastic, and I know it will help me stay on track.

Life just got a little crazy for me in the past 6 weeks -- I took several out-of-town trips and had some major problems with a very close friend, and I lost focus on my fitness goals. I haven't been journaling my food or doing much "dedicated" exercise, although I have tried to make reasonable food choices and be active when an opportunity presents itself. I feel very fortunate to have drifted down a couple of pounds during this period. I have a history of really fast regains when I lose focus, so I guess something must have changed in my mindset this time around - and I'm grateful for that.

I've realized that allowing the relationship problems to distract me from my fitness goals is foolish. I think I'll be better able to cope with the emotional fallout if I feel better physically and have something positive to focus on. So, I'm back, and hope to read and post every day.

merksie_ welcome back. good job on the weight loss during a stressful time in your life.
debbie- i had to delete my link and redo it. It kept bring up website not found.
dmpls- lets get our bottoms moving and lose some more weight.I jsut noticed my inches havent changed in a while. I know its from the lack of true exercise. gardending is hard work but I know i need to lift those weights and walk. Also you mentioned freecyle.I LOVE IT!!! we got a 52 tv from freecycle. Its awesome. The people lived only 5 blocks from us. I have given away beds and box springs just sitting in my basement. Its such an awesome thing to be part of.

battle-welcome back from your vacation! Sorry things are in disarray upon your return.....know that we are all here for you to vent to!!

Cyn-Sorry to hear things are stressful right now....prayer does at least calm my nerves down so I think it's a good thing. I commend you and DH for your dedication to this young man's life! I know that it can be hard to raise someone else's child. As for your Brother......we had DH's sister here for a short time.....doing the same sort of thing.....we gave her 6mths to get on her feet and find a place of her own.....she was from CA .........she came here and didn't give KY a chance.....she complained about the $$ she was being offered for jobs that in CA paid 5-10$ more an hour.........we tried to explain to her that the cost of living is less in KY than CA.........but she didn't even try to relate to people here......she thought of everyone as hicks and hillbillies..........so each month DH told her "you have X amount of months" she assumed he was joking.....we took no money from her.....she bought things for the kids & house even after we insisted she save her money..........then about 4 weeks before her time was up......she picked a fight with DH that was the "icing" on the cake.........and DH asked her to leave now........to this day she tells his brothers that SHE helped us.......she paid for our bills.....she bought groceries......that we borrowed money etc...etc....poor DH just wanted to help his sis out.....and believe it or not this was his OLDER sister by 6 years! Hope everything works out for you with your Bro!

Ria-I think I have been around since Feb.....Glad you are back! I know that this place has been a boost for my WL! The girls here have been soooooooo helpful and encouraging!!!!

Debi-Yes I need to! I plan on starting all over on my exercise Monday morning!!! Yes I've been an avid freecycler for years now!!! I just love it! I've gotten and given so MANY things its amazing to me how simple an idea it is!

Ria -- Hun, we ALWAYS take people back!!! Glad you're getting back on track!

Battle, good to see ya!!! We miss not having you around. Your vacation sounds like it was so much fun and relaxing. Europe IS beautiful! Have fun at your job and visit us once in a while.

Cyn, Man,it sounds like you are really having a hard time. I sure hope things iron out for you and you get the fostering license soon. Just hang in there, that's about all you can do.

Heather, I think just the thought of going scuba diving and on vacation would get me motivated!!! Now that all the school stuff is done for the year, you'll get back into the swing of things in no time. We believe in you!!!

Ria, Hi, and glad to see you back. Now get focused!!!!

Debi, Yep, that's exactly what I had to do too!

Today I'm going to get outside as soon as I have my breakfast and get my new plants in the ground....providing it doesn't start to rain once again. It's dark and cloudy but not wet yet....so keep your fingers crossed for me.
The old cars in town yesterday were awesome. I love looking at those. Brings back good memories of my Grandparents.
Today I plan on walking outside too if the weather holds.
Well, off I go!
Debbie

Hi Ria - this is a great group - Welcome - I look forward to getting to know you.

Seems quiet around here compared to last week - hope you are all doing well. Chores for me today after I worked outside planting and transplanting.

Enjoy your day,
Carol

well since it was so quiet around here today......I went surfing the net for inspiration on my weight loss journey...

Here are a few sights/quotes that I found inspirational to me! Hope they help someone else as well!

the next two links are to articles from the Mayo Clinic
Weight-loss help: How to stop emotional eating

Eating habits: To lose weight, explore why you overeat

The next four links are all from the same sight.....they are trying to sell you something but, I found their free articles very inspirational!

Interesting article here is a quote from it....

“Ladies, try to exercise within the two weeks before your period. The hormones oestrogen and progesterone are at peak levels, and they encourage the use of fat as fuel. Even though you’ll probably not feel up to it, this is the best time to exercise to burn more fat than usual.”

Exercise, Stress and Lack of Sleep can Affect your Metabolism

How to Lose the Last Few Pounds of Abdominal Fat

I found this paragraph interesting never really looked at it like this but the article is a good read as well.
“To shed a pound, we need to burn 3500 calories. This means that if you can cut 500 excess calories out of your diet every day, you can safely lose one pound each week. For example, have one egg instead of two at breakfast; have one tablespoon of dressing instead of three or four on your salad at lunch, and have one cup of pasta instead of two for dinner. There’s 500 calories gone just like that thanks to reducing portion sizes.”


I know that I need to read sometimes of new ideas....not necessarily new information just a new way of thinking about this journey......some of the info on these sights is nothing more than all of you guys have been saying for all these months to me........in a different way......maybe that's why it hit me differently......so thought I would share the info.....

Bernice

Well I have to get back on plan. We had a tornado come through here yesterday and the power was knocked out. I sat around here for hours in the dark then I finally just went to McDonalds and got something to eat. I wish I wouldn't have because I've been sick all day, but by the time I finally ate a salad did not look appealing to be at all. The tornado was a very scary thing, it went pass my street and ripped the roofs off some stores that I shop at. But thankfully everything is ok.

Southerngal -- Glad to hear you're okay. We all go off plan from time to time -- get back on plan... and what better time than now?

Heather: I am working in billing and collections. Not my ideal job but right now I need employment and when I get back home or maybe after summer I will start to look for another job that suits me better. I am so blessed and happy to be bringing in a paycheck though. I hope you have a fantastic summer vacation. Glad the school year is over for you.

Anne: If you read ever, I want you to know that you will be missed. Take all the time you need and remember you can come back any time. Hugs.

Debi: Congrats on -1.4 and on weighing the same as your DH. I sure want to get there. lol.

Bernice: hugs to you on the job front. I will continue to pray that they hire you.

Storey: Great job going to the new gym.

Carol: hi and hugs.

Sharon: So sorry that you are not having a nice time of it right now. I know how stressfull financial things are. Hang in there and good luck to you on the job front.

Catherine: Hi there. How is the book signing going? I will purchase one as soon as finances afford. I can't wait to read it.

Debbie: Sounds like you had a great time yesterday. Hope this rain will stop sometime soon for both of us.

Southerngal: Congrats on the -12! Way to go. Welcome and glad that you are safe from the tornado. Hugs.

Battle: So happy to see you post. Glad that your vacation was wonderful. I'm sorry that you came home to a mess at work and of coarse in your family. Hugs. Come by when you can and let us know how you are. You will be missed.

Cyn: Sorry that you are going through family stuff. I hope that you are able to get licensed in foster care very soon. Too bad if you brother is mad. You guys have helped him long enough. It is good that he knows a date when he needs to be moved out by. I had my brother live with me one time and put a time limit on him too. He also took advantage of it and I ended up having to kick him out due to his using drugs in my house. I hope it goes much better for you. Hugs.

Ria: Welcome back. Jump on in whenever you feel like it.

I cleaned my house today spotless. I only have the hall bathtub to clean but I am going to take a bath in there first then I will clean it. lol. I enjoy taking a book in there and relaxing now that I can fit in there with no problems.

The room where my computer is looks a fright with all the things I am gathering up to take with me on my trip to CA. I bought 3 new blouses to go and a new suitcase. I feel like I will be gone forever. I am hoping and praying that TOM will show up today or tomorrow so I won't have to deal with it while I am on my trip.

I have a list of things that I need to accomplish this week each day to stay on target for my trip. Silly things like packing up some protein powder and I am going to measure out some soy nuts in single servings so I can keep track of my calories. I want no excuses to eat things I don't need to be eating. Hopefully I will come home lighter than when I left. lol.

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful week. I will try to get on each day after work or before If I get up early enough. I am really excited about getting my braces off on Tuesday!!!!

Blessings all,
Annie

Annie - how long has it been since your sisters have seen you? Do you send them progress pics? Being out of our comfort zone at home certainly created some challenges for me - you are heading in to it with the right plan - PLAN. I am so excited for you - I feel like I'm going on the trip with you. I am also going to see my sister on Thursday of this week - we both live here in the city but will meet up at her lake home in Arkansas. I have to represent my company in court in southern Missouri and will head to her home from there - it's really nice they will be there on a Thursday. I'll come home on Friday - mainly because I miss my home but also because 24 hours is enough of us being together without my DH as a buffer. I've shared a few things over the months that she has said to me about my weight loss. Mainly I want to spend some time with them and enjoy the lake. Beaver Lake is one of the 7 clearest lakes in the nation and I do so love it there. I've also been looking for a large hanging piece of stained glass for many years - she found one she thinks I will like close to the lake. I have Catherine's book, a swimsuit and a pair of jammies all ready to go.

Bernice - thanks for the links! It has been quiet around here hasn't it. How was your day?

We have been invited to a wedding at the end of July. Several weeks ago my niece gave me a dress in a size 18 - fits OK - mini-goal - have it fit great by then. The last time I was in the chapel where the wedding will be held was when my best friend told me her leukemia was back full force - I can remember exactly where we were sitting. She lost the battle with the awful disease shortly thereafter. This is a full circle display of God's love to me. A new beginning of a life shared. You just never know when the pain is going to pop in for a visit - the tears are flowing. DH asked why - when I told him he said "Debbie would be so proud of you". All smiles again.

OK - that was an emotional roller coaster - enough of that.

Hugs to all,
Carol

Greetings all!

Battle! It's great to see you. Sorry you had to return home to chaos. I know you will get back on track even if it's in baby steps, cuz you are so much like me. Hang in there!

Welcome to the unlurking lurkers!

Cyn, you hang in there too. You are doing the right thing. Hugs to you!

Deb54, did you get your plants in the ground? Is it horribly hot there too? I went bicycle riding at 8:30 this morning and it was still hot and humid!

GGG, I did chores today too. Did you finish your planting stuff?

Thanks for all the new info, DMPLS!

Southern, I'm glad you are ok. It's tramatic when a twister hits so close. The grease in the fast food joints upsets my tummy.

Wavies to a flyby ProfHeather ~~~~~~

Annie, the last time my house was spotless was before I moved in.. hehe. w00h00 for getting your braces off! I had them as a kid and rem how oddly smooth my teeth felt.

I got my June minutes up for this past week. Been doing chores most of the day. I bought some rotisseri chicken from Costco and my 19 yr old cat has been helping me eat it.. hehe. He's so spoiled.

Hugs to all!
Rat

Hugs GGG! We were posting at the same time. I hope you have a great time at the lake. I wish I could go with you there.

Luv,
Ratkity

Cmon Rat - there's plenty of room - and lots and lots of hills to challenge you in bike riding. I would even stay an extra night.