Hi gang,

I snuck on while at work.

I have been drinking my water (thanks Carol). And it seems to be helping some bad eating from this weekend wash through my body. Yay. Only up 0.2lbs from where I was Friday, so not too unhappy about that.

I have come to the realization that I won't be under 300 pounds at the end of the year. I don't lose weight that fast, and I have to be ok with that. If I make it into the 310s somewhere, I think I should be happy with that. I am hoping the water helps escort the fat to the door, and I am going to try to incorporate a little more exercise (or shall I saw some exercise?) as well.

Here is my question for all of you. DH and I are taking a trip in October. We were talking about it last night and I said "how are we going to eat healthy there?" and he responded with "we're not". I was disappointed. Yes, I want an indulgance here and there. But I don't want to get down to (I hope I hope) 330 before the trip and pop back up to 340 from an 8 day trip. We will be in the car on day one about 12 hours, so I was hoping to bring semi-healthy car snacks. Any good tips on eating well but not feeling like you didn't "taste" the trip? Since part of the trip TOM will visit (yay), I am confident I WILL NOT lose weight, but is maintaining too much to think is possible? Any of you travelers out there, please let me know what you do to stay semi-on plan.

Thanks
Angie

Angie - In the past I've managed to vacation and not gain weight. The most amazing time for me was a 3-week trip to South America (most of it on a cruise ship). I ate wonderful food, just smaller amounts of it. I was also in my vegetarian stage so I had lots of fancy vegetarian meals that I wouldn't have made for myself. If you have some favourite snacks that would travel well I'd suggest taking them with you. I spent 5 months last winter away, where the food was primarily not within my control. ie. menus were set and I could chose to eat it or not. I also came home slightly lighter than when I left (once home my problems began again). If you can do it, order meals with a thought to low-carb. Indulge in a steak dinner with steamed veggies. Decide that you're going to have dessert a certain number of times, then look to something you really enjoy. And try and make your trip as active as possible, that's what saved me both times. Good luck and enjoy. And remember, any serious changes in food will likely cause you to retain water. So when you come home, go back to your normal plan of eating, and that water will come right off.

Hey everyone,

I haven't even read the rest of the thread, but I thought I'd stop in and say hello. I finished up my math upgrading yesterday and today I was at the college getting my student ID and books (ouch, costly). I still seem to be super busy, but other than that, doing well. I also went through the clothing in my closet again and really only have a few things that are two small. Yes, most of the too tight stuff from the spring is perfectly wearable. There's also a big pile of too big stuff, but I've got enough 'will do' things to start school. I figure when the garden work is done I might work on altering some of them. I did break down though and take my favourite winter coat to a woman who tailors stuff for my mother, who thinks she can take it in (and it will cost me $15).

So I hope that everyone is doing well. I'll try and pop back later and catch up with everyone. I just thought I should just generally say hello.

Brenda-my dad once arranged for some soil to even out the front yard. My mom wanted some fertilizer too. He got chicken by accident. It has a lot more nitrogen than cow or horse. He completely burned the grass up. My mom never let him touch the yard again after that.

Julie-I don't mind feeling like I've been to a kegger, if I actually got to go to one.

Carol, yep I think it would be a good idea to do the weekly WI here too. I'm glad you joined TBL challenge. I think it will help us since we seem to be struggling. How's it going today? I'm doing much better.

Bernice, I have two words.....LAZY and TIRED. I'm tired of doing this, but KNOW that I have to to get healthy again. And LAZY because it's so much easier to eat the junk instead of fixing fresh healthier foods. The junk is so much more accessible, but it won't be once we go shopping because the cupboards are getting cleaned out and ready for the healthy stuff!
I'm glad you joined the challenge too!

Penny, have 1 liter down and working on the next one. How's the house cleaning going?

Debi, a mac and cheese cake....ewwwww!!! That would get you out of the mood for cake real quick!

Catherine, sure hope you don't come down with that!! Take care!

Julee, glad to hear you're feeling a bit better. Hopefully each day will be better and better. Prayers to the family and the Grandma. That's gotta be hard.

Brenda, look for the Fitness Thread on the main thread list. It's on that.

Anne and Angie, how's it going?

I've sold a couple more beads so I'm off to make some more! Have a great evening ladies.
Debbie

Hiya peeps - I've had a great day OP. I've also had a headache for 3 days now - we both have eye appts in the morning and I think I'll mention it while I'm there.

Debbie - I think my struggling has to do with the calendar and knowing that come Tuesday it is back OP in a big way - no more maintenance - back to formal exercise - no more pool parties. I'm not sure what is holding me back from the vigilance right now - almost like I'm looking for a binge. Does that make any sense at all?

That's it for me - everyone have a great evening.

Carol

Heya Ladies ,

I stopped in to visit the 300+ thead.... I am still working hard, keeping on track with my weight watchers points and trying to make the scale tell me things I want to hear each Sunday ... Everyone sounds busy I am going to be picking up a used NordicTrack Cross country ski machine this weekend I bought online. I will add that in with my walking and other excercising starting this next coming week... Funny thing is I ran accross the biggest loser thread and joined and I am guessing it is a competition to see who or which team can lose most during the tv show series?... anyhow sounds fun.

Anne - I am addicted to those Zucchini chips..lol - Now I just have to find more raw Zucchini...back to the Farm/feed store..lol

Take care all,
- Elliott

Evening all...thanks for the warm welcome back!! I have missed everyone!!

Thought I would share a story with ya.. It is titled..."they just dont get it"

Basically the girls at work and i are planning a trip to vegas after the holidays..it is a 4 hour drive for us...

so we are talking and chatting and one lady says we can fly...lol
I said "Im not flying"...and everyone started in with dont be scared and it is safe..la la la la la

so after all the comments I turned and said..im not flying because i am a 340lb woman..and their mouths dropped...they had never thought of that..its amazing when your not obese..how little you think about others that are...

again they just dont get it..that traveling on a plane is not fun for a big gal...

hope everyone had a great day

Carol, I totally get it!! I almost get a giddy feeling when I think of what I can eat next, and I don't mean the healthy stuff either. That's why I think the BL challenge is going to help. I'm doing better each day. I know once you get back to your formal exercise, and not so many pool parties, you'll do just fine!!

Hi Elliott, sounds like you're on your way to a great weight loss!!

Cyn, yep, they sure don't get it!!

toodles
Debbie

Ok so I never got back on to discuss the whole topic of the one word thing and really dont have the energy right now to do it...........so I will bring it up again tomorrow.........

Just really wanted to post my great news!

DH surprised me tonight with telling me what he has gotten me for our anniversary in Oct!!!! We are going on a Cruise to the Bahamas!!!!! It was less than the plane ticket we just paid for my son to come home this weekend!!! and that is for the both of us!!! he got an AWESOME deal!!! We are driving down to Florida so no plane tickets!!! I can't wait!!! He had the teacher I work with in on the secret as well as the principal and office mgr........and all the kids of course! We will be going the week of our school's fall break so no loss of days! And its only a couple of days after our anny!!! I'm so excited and motivated to lose as much as I can!!! I get to buy a new dress for the fancy dinner!!! Now to find my stinking birth certificate LOL too short of time to get passports but they said we can bring our Birth & Marriage Certificates and drivers licenses and that is all we need!!!

So now I'm off to bed since its almost 1am!!! LOL

morning everyone,
Scales are still up 4lbs..and Im confused!! Did great the past 2 days!! I drank my gallon of water each day.I still feel bloated and my rings are tight and they normally slide around on my finger. DO you think I need to increase my water above my normal gallon to flush it out?? I know i didnt gain 4lbs from just one day of eating off plan! I do see its my mid cycle so maybe im ovualting and i have noticed an increase in weight then before ..usually more than with TOM. Any thoughts or ideas ladies???

dmpls_ what a perfect motivation for you just getting back on track! You have a wonderful thoughtful hubby!! Cant wait to hear all about your time with your army son!! GIve him a hug for me and tell him how proud we are of him and thankful knowing he is protecting us!

carol_ hope your head is feeling better today!!

debbie- I loved the last challenge once i decided to do what i could and not try to read all the posting ...the blue team loved to chat!

cyn_ i think there are many issues skinny people dont get...just look at the size of most public restroom stalls...i always use the handicap one if its open and no one is waiting for it.

elliot_ please tell me about the zuc chips..i have 3 waiting for me to eat in the next few days..and its the only thing besides bellpeppers and jalopenas still producing in my garden.

Brenda- how are you today after all that hard work yesteday. We brought in 3 dumptrucks full of dirt when we first moved here to level our yard but a friend had a small tractor and spread it for us.

anne_ after your mention of a winter coat i got mine out and tried on..my heaviest one is a 28. I have a lighter weight one that is a 24. It was a small 24 so i may be able to take it up. I hate wearing a coat but have learned as i have gotten older I have to wear one.

catherine_ hubby is leveling out some..i think meds have kicked in a bit and maybe the time of year is slowing him down a bit. Its so nice to have someone around who understands what we go thru daily..hugs

realist _ hugs to you and keep working at it ..you are doing great!!

annie_ hugs to you hun...let us know how the job is going.

julia- how are you?? got any big weekend plans??

julee_ how are you feeling now?? Hope your energy is back to normal.
well thats it for me this morning if i missed anyone im so sorry!
finishing my coffee and then starting on my water

Good Morning!
Well it looks like we are going to have a rainy day here! So I am going to push myself to exercise inside and drink as much water as I can. My bottle is empty right now. Time to get the girls up and get started!

Carol-I hope your headache goes away! I could be your eyes. Hope the appt. goes well today. Could it be allergies/sinus?

DMPLS- Yeah on the anniversary gift! That will help you get focused on losing!
I just talked to my army son last night and he will be home for Christmas! YEAH! He just got promoted and that training is going well. He really likes it. He talked to his sister for almost an hour last night. I think a little homesick. I got a b'day card from his fiancee yesterday, it was so sweet.

azcyn-you're back! It is amazing that people just don't get it about flying. Can't wait to hear what you have been doing!

Elliot-good luck on TBL!

Catherine-How ya feeling this morning?

Well the girls are up now and the dog is hiding. He does not like the thunder! I better get things going today. Check in later, Penny

I THINK (and I say that carefully) that the day home yesterday really helped and that whatever was in me is out. I should not have weighed in last night though. I couldn't help but be a little disappointed when I was up...but it was likely the dehydration. I noticed that my rings were a little tight. Even with all the water I was drinking it wasn't doing quite enough. last night I went and bought a bunch of Propel and amazingly after 2 I could tell the difference. So thank you all for your many good wishes...they were all greatly appreciated.

Rain: Glad that you joined the BL challenge too. I think it will be helpful to all of us.

Catherine: I hope and pray you don't catch that stuff. Hugs.

Debi: Sorry you are up 4 but you have to know it is water weight and will flush right out soon enough. Hugs to you anyway. I know any gain sucks even when we know what it is.

Debbie: Hi sweetie. Glad that you sold some beads. I haven't had a chance to go see them. I need to. I have the address written on my desk calendar and hopefully before the weekend I will have a chance.

Bernice: Woo hoo on the cruise. Sounds like fun. I think that my word will have to be "Fear". I am having fear that I will succeed at things. I am having fear that I won't succeed at things. I have been at 510 pounds for soooo long now. Well, not now but you know what I mean. I look at pictures of myself along the way and don't expect much from her. I look at a recent picture of myself and think that "she" should have it together. So, I am fearfull. I don't know if that makes sense or not but that is what is swimming in my head. lol.

Carol: I think a weekly wi here again will be awesome. If we had our own challenge here like this past summer that Walrus started I don't think I would have joined the other one. lol. I hope it is fun though. I didn't do it last time so I am looking forward to it and dreading it. lol. Have fun with all the activities and parties that you have planned this weekend. Enjoy yourself. Tuesday will come here soon enough!

Penny: I hope you are getting things done today that you need to do. Nothing worse than having stuff hanging over your head that need to be done and you just don't feel like it. Hugs. Be sure to kiss your hiding dog on the nose. I have one that is scared of thunder too.

Julia: I am so proud of you for doing all of your cleaning and stuff. That is awesome. You will feel so much lighter when you are finished.

Brenda: Have fun playing in the dirt.

Julee: Glad that you are feeling a bit better. Hugs to your friend about her grandma.

Angie: Hey 310's is a great place to be at the end of the year. Just think you can go into the new year with a wonderful goal of getting out of the 3's and it will be that much closer to you! I agree with Anne about your trip. Just do your best to eat healthy as possible and move as much as possible. As far as car snacks go, I take: jerky, laughing cow cheese and mini rice cakes, celery with peanut butter already in it, fruit, raisins, lots of water, almonds. Things like that are protein which fill you up. Good luck hun.

Anne: Woo hoo for the clothes all fitting you. That is so exciting! I have to do another closet sweep myself. I have so many things that I wear and once I am out and about they fall off my shoulders or are too loose on the waist and slide down. It is a great feeling. Have fun getting ready for school. Good luck to you and I know you will do fantastic!

Elliott: Hi there. Nice to see you again. It sounds like you are plugging along and doing well.

Cyn: Welcome back. Glad to see you again hun. I hope that it makes your co-workers think about things more carefully for next time. Good for you.

Well, I am not working anymore to those who asked. I will be working, hopefully with Vocational Rehab going to school and I can't work with Voc Rehab and have clients who are with Voc Rehab at the same time. It is a conflict of interest. I will see the Voc Rehab counselor on 9-3 in the afternoon. The things I am thinking/praying about are: personal trainer school, physical therapist aide school, massage therapy school. The last one is the most expensive of them and there seems to be a high demand for massage therapists around here right now at chiropractor's offices and physical therapist offices. The personl trainer school is another that I am very interested in. I will have to talk with her and together we will decide. I just need to get a note from my Dr. saying she has been treating me for panic disorder/depression and agoraphobia. I see her this Friday for my first pap exam since 1995! The last time I went for a pap in CA at Kaiser, the gyno told me I was too big to do one on so that is the last time I went to one. She didn't offer any help or advice just that I was too big for one. I am a bit nervous about it but it needs to get done and my Dr. now won't settle for later. I have my one year check up for my surgeon today! I didn't make it to the 230's like I was hoping but I am close. I weigh 240! lol. I am going to talk to him about havin the skin removed from my tummy and when to do it because it is causing my back to hurt bad at times. My insurance will pay for that but not for a tummy tuck or lower body lift. That will have to wait a few years until I get ahead financially or until I win the lottery or publisher's clearing house. lol.

Well, I have another part of the house to clean. I do love my Lindsey, who went home yesterday, but she is a bit of a slob like her mom. lol. I decided to do one section of "Spring" type cleaning a day in my house. Yesterday I did the laundry room and kitchen. I also made some zuchini bread for the freezer. Today it is the livingroom, dining room, computer room and hall bathroom. I am also hoping to mow my front yard. It has been raining and raining and it needs it today on our first sunny day in a while.

I hope you are all op, move your bodies, and drink your water. Hugs to those who need it and a swift kick in the pants to those who need that.

Blessings all,
Annie

Hello all,

I should be outside doing something, however, it's kind of icky out. Not actual rain, but just enough moisture in the air that it's not pleasant. So I thought I'd check in and see how people are doing.

Debbie - sorry that you're struggling. I know my best defense on the 'I don't feel like cooking' is to make sure I have a couple of go to meals in the freezer that require zero preparation. Tonight we're having one of them - prepared pork souvlaki done on the barbecue with a big side of broccoli. I do the same for lunches as well (today it was a little pasta with sausage sauce). Knowing I have lots of tasty (to me) things that can be made with little effort helps.

Carol - it seems odd that summer is almost over, doesn't it? I wish we could have at least one nice week to end it. We're only in the mid-60s today and it's disappointing. I'm hoping that we get the usual warm weather next week as my classes don't officially start until the 8th!

Elliott - glad the zucchini chips were successful. I thought of buying more at the market, but I think I'll just plan for more next summer. Today's zucchini ended up in a bread that I'll likely have for breakfast.

Cyn - your experience with your friends is fairly typical. I think that's why I like this section of the forums. People here understand.

Bernice - that sounds like a great trip!

Debi - water bloating is generally something that is hard to control. For myself, yes, more water will often get rid of it, but not always. I'd suggest drinking a little more than usual and just keep on plan. I suspect it will sort itself out.

Penny - I find rainy days pretty hard to get motivated. I realise that I'm really very much affected by the weather. Good luck on getting into the swing of things.

Julee - glad that you're feeling better.

Annie - good luck with the counselor and sorry about your conflicts with the work. I hope you find a new path that suits you. I can see you as a great personal trainer, however, I see the wisdom of the massage therapy (especially with an aging population).

Catherine - I hope you're feeling better. It's a horrible situation that Maple Leaf is in at the moment. I do hope this is not what you have, although if so then definitely the antibiotics are a good thing.

Well all, I should go off and do something. I just haven't decided what. Hope that everyone is having a good day.

Anne - I missed the zucchini chips I think - how do you do them?

Great day here in the midwest - water, OP and weatherwise. What more could I ask for!

Annie - sounds like you have some fantastic options to choose from. Sorry the excess skin is hurting your back. Take care of yourself please. Hugs my friend.

Hugs to everyone,
Carol