hello.

I went .5 over yesterday - it was the darned chex mix I made for ds to take to school. We have parents weekend this weekend - should be fun, always enjoy it. Hard to believe he is a senior.

I should check in here tomorrow before I leave. Then I'll probably be gone until the 22nd. We get back on Sunday but I'm leaving on Monday for Orlando to open a store and will be gone for a week. Hope to control the food while I'm gone, it's tough eating out all the time. I usually do a continental breakfast though and try to make a smart choice for lunch.

La - sorry about the house situation.

Karen - spending the day reading sounds excellent!

Rr - glad you are feeling better.

Greek - congrats on the game.

Lauren - Enjoy your sleep while you can! ~ Interesting info - thanks for sharing.

gotta run - Rabbit

almost forgot - today is my 4 year anniversary of quitting smoking!!

Hello!

Lauren, I have exactly the same problem. I’m not the world’s most famous early bird anyway, but when it gets dark I get really depressed when getting up. When I still lived in the Netherlands (which is much more to the north than Greece, about where NY is), I HATED getting up when it was dark. Here down south it’s better but still…
For RR I think there are special stockings for people with varicose veins, that help “massage” the legs and stimulate circulation. They are also good for swollen legs. Here we get them at the Pharmacist’s. I think there are even different “massage” gradation. Plain massage also helps, massage from the foot upwards (or better still, find somebody to do this), + peppermint foot spray
Yeah, Fitday is free and it’s an awesome program! It even calculates how many “good” and “Bad” fats you eat, + fiber etc and all the rest. It has stats per day, week, month, to show you overall calorie intake, too (so you can see what the overall picture is). Now I can do without, I can pretty much calculate what’s what myself, but it was really helpful.
Easy proteins for snacking by the way include: cottage cheese, plain low fat (preferably not fat free, some vitamins are only soluble in fat and if you eat fat-free you miss out on them, + not much calorie difference anyway) yoghurt, low fat cheese, soy mincemeat (tasteless when cooked so can be added to anything, from yoghurt to fruit to spaghetti), slices of low-fat deli ham, turkey, chicken, whatever (about 3 oz, 3 slices), protein powder mixed with skim milk, etc.

Tech, yeah on the point! As far as I was able to figure out, 1 point equals about 50 cals (if you can have 30/day, that would equal 1500 which sounds about right), so you didn’t do bad there! Hope you have that furnace fixed soon!

I had THE most amazing evening yesterday. I thought I knew Athens very well after 7 years, so my friend took me to the center and into the “Metaxourgio” (“Silk factories”), hood, which is comparable to Harlem (but lots safer). It is a run-down neighborhood, with very ugly buildings, and really nice ones that need doing up, though. The people living there are basically foreigners and lots are here illegal, like Kurds, Chinese, Pakistanis, Bangladeshi’s etc. I never felt threatened for one moment, everyone was really helpful when we asked the way etc., and we must have walked about through there about an hour at least. There was music coming from a lot of places and kids were still playing on the streets (22.30 night!). And it was warm, too!
We even stumbled on a Gypsy street wedding, complete with live band and all the young women dancing in the middle of a circle together with the bride (classical gypsy costume in white!). She looked very happy and about 15-16 (that’s how young gypsies get married here), and all the people were standing around were cheering and clapping. It was like something out of another world.
We didn’t stay (that would have been considered rude, gypsies tend to like to keep to themselves, as they are very low on the social ladder and resent being controlled in any way).
We continued our walk and finally had dinner in a redone old stone factory, which has been made into a very cool party center (bars, restaurants, a theater) in the same area (!). It’s a really cool place in the middle of this old rubbish waiting to be done up, and has absolutely AWESOME interior & exterior decorating. Talking about falling from one world into another! Got home at 02.30 (again) well, it was well worth it! I feel a lot better! The wine was perfect also! Oops…
I love this country, you fall from one extreme in the other. Keeps you on your toes!

Tonight will go see my cousin and namesake niece and nephew with my sister. She is SOOOOOOOO cute! Like a little (sly) doll! Wish I had one like that!

Well, have a nice weekend all!

Lauren-They are called TED hose...MY oB ordered me the JOBST brand cuz they are stronger and have more compression...My problem was the leg cramps at night not any swelling..Havent seen that one yet..I guess nose bleeds, higher sugars, leg cramps, BH contractions, sinus congestion was all the fun I could handle!!!!

GG--U lead too exciting of a life!!!!I think I burn calories just reading about it!!!!!

Have a nice day all!!!!
RR

Hi All,

RR- So do you think it's worth it for me to get a pair? Are they more for cramps, or swelling?

GG- I don't know about anyone else, but I have this awesome imagination, and whenever I read your posts I get this image in my head of where you are, and what it was like!! Last night sounds like it's out of a movie!!

Rabbit- Happy Anniversary and congrats!! arty: I guess I will be hitting 4 yrs. at the end of January!! Time flies when you're having fun! Do you enjoy travelling soo much? Have fun and behave yourself!

Tech- I love apples and I love PB, but actually, I don't think I've ever had them together!! I've had a PB&J with a side of apple slices, I think, but that's it! Hmm, maybe I'll bring that for lunch today...don't have any apples though, they're not appealing to me the past couple months. My mom and I both tend to get a little hypoglycemic at times too.

Have a great day all!! (And where is everyone?! Jul, Nanci, everyone else?!)

Hi everyone.I have made it through day number 4 successfully. I even rode my recumbent bike for 30 minutes( I told myself I would do it for 15 and went longer)
I am having my mom over tomorrow because she wants to start a breadmaking and pizza dough business and I need all the good thoughts I can get since it will be Saturday(my doomday) and all kinds of new products(which I have a hard time not sampling) BUT I think I can do it.I am determinned to succeed at this.
Are you all at your goals or still losing on Here?
I hope everyone has a nice day today!!!

Hey Angie!! Glad to see you here!! Good luck with your mom tomorrow, I don't know how you do it, working in a bakery!!

My trick...although it's not perfected yet...is to tell myself I have to drink just as much water on the weekend as during the week. I fill my bottles just like I do for work, and just put them in the fridge, instead of my lunch cooler. I make sure whatever I'm doing, cleaning, out shopping, whatever, I have a bottle. It hasn't worked perfectly yet, but I am getting in more water than I used to on the weekend, which keeps me out of the junk.

Angie, you can do it.
Try not to receive your mom on an empty stomach, but after a light meal, so you won't be tempted (too much)!
I am losing but SLOOWLY, but continuously. Who cares how fast as long as I feel good and don't go up.

Lauren, that was exactly how I felt yesterday! I wish you could burn calories by running around like a headless chicken(Dutch saying) like I do every day, then I would be around 115 pounds now...

Bye to all,

GG

hello.

Drat the chex mix! And drat my weakness.

Today is a new day though. And I've been thinking of my plan for handling the coming 10 days - hope I stick to it. Traveling is a challenge. But, hey, what is life without it's challenges??

Greek - I'm going to have to check out that fitday when I return. Sounds great! ~ What an interesting evening!

Lauren - yes I do enjoy the traveling. I've been averaging being gone opening a store about one week/month and that is do-able. Then sometimes I have other things thrown in, like a weekend in Chicago at my sister's, a weekend at ds' college . . . it keeps me going! Particulary when they all happen at once! ~ This will be my last store opening for this year though. The holiday season is upon us and it just gets too busy out there to open more stores. So I'll be home for a couple of months probably.

Angie - Hooray for the biking! ~ I am still working on losing. I want to lose somewhere between 30 - 40 pounds.

Have a great weekend and week all! "See you" on the 22nd!

Rabbit

**note - the bedroom/bath is getting painted today (again! ) in the new taupe and I think I'm going to like it.

Hi fellow 30-somethings...I'm just barely getting in on this week! I just found the 3fc website yesterday and I've been enjoying reading many of the message boards, recipes, etc.

I am at the onset of ANOTHER attempt at weight loss. To "gear up" for this round, I have eliminated soft drinks & fast food from my diet repertoire over the past couple of weeks. I have also increased my water intake. My #1 problem is that I HATE to exercise, but that's the only thing that makes me have significant weight loss, sooo let me put this in writing to help me stick to it: I am going to walk at least 5/7 days next week. I will report back on my progress, and hopefully I'll be due lots of congratulations!

I am really looking forward to "hanging out" here--seems like a great place! Here's wishing everyone a relaxing weekend!

Hi all,

I didn't do so great eating today. I did fine until I decided to bake a cake that I've had hanging around in the cabinet for awhile. Even that would have been OK if I hadn't let DH talk me into a second piece. Not that he had to work that hard at convincing me. I did get it more veggies today which is good since I forgot to take my prenatal vitamin today. Lauren/RR: Can you take the vitamin at night and then again in the morning? I have a hard time taking it because of the taste so I usually have to take it on an empty stomach with milk. I know, I'm weird.

GG: Sounds like an exciting night you had. Keep it up so we can live vicariously through you!! Good luck on your job/house hunt.

RR: Sounds like you are having way too much fun there with that list!!

Lauren: We use TED stockings at work for swelling and circulation. I think they would be good for you too. Well, support stockings anyway.

Angie: I'm not actively loosing right now because I am pregnant. I'm just trying to keep from gaining too much with the baby. Good luck with your Mom tomorrow. Eat a huge salad before she comes so you won't be so hungry .

Rabbit: Good luck with the trip. Hope the eating goes well. If anyone can do it, you can.

Sunshine: Welcome to the group. Don't wait til next week to check in. We can offer support on a daily basis.

Hope you guys have a great Saturday!!

Karen- I usually take mine in the AM, when I get to work, because at that point, it's been more than an hour since I had my OJ. (My Dr. said don't take it within an hour of OJ, or other acidy drink.) If I forget, I usually don't take it if it's after 1-2 pm. I don't know if there's any hard and fast rules about that, that's just the time I picked, figuring I shouldn't take them too close together. If the swelling gets worse, I may get some of those TEDS.

Now, for the cake, missy, did you make it like a regular cake, icing and all, or did you just make it in a 9x13 or something? I usually just make it in a 9x13, and eat it plain, or with cool whip...I figure it's slightly better that way! My weekness while PG seems to be pie. For some reason I was craving peach pie for the longest time! I made one, bought one, and have eaten quite a few peach fruit cakes, you know the Hostess ones that are like a turnover? I know, horrible for me... Now it's pumpkin pie...another downfall. The one in my fridge is store bought, but I plan on getting to the farm market by work and getting a nice milk pumpkin like I did last year and cooking & freezing that for pies.

Sunshine Welcome!! Just jump right in and join us, post as often as you need/want!! It's great to have you, hope we can offer you some support.

Well, gotta go, Monk's on! We love this show, it's like modern day Columbo! Have a great evening all!

Hello all!!!!
Lauren--I say-get the TEDS or Jobst...I would send U a pair but we have those sexy hospital ones with a hole in the foot at the bottom which would make U nuts!!! The Jobst has more strength..She ordered me the 20-30mmHG ones and they are great..They are $125 a pair but the insurance covers them...I got the sexy white to wear under the uniform!!!!

Karen- I take my vitamin in the morning and my Iron tab with breakfast and my Aspirin at night..I cant have fruit juice or milk anymore with breakfast cuz of the crazy sugars...If it is better at night, just keep taking at night...

Sunshine-Welcome to the post!!!!

Angie- I reached goal through WW in 1999 then met Mr Right and got married..gained 5 lbs or so..Then got preg in Oct 2001 and gained 10 lbs before miscarrying and then lost 5lbs and now I am 30 weeks pg again and have gained 10 more...Sooo, I think I am basically about 20lbs over goal weight(where I was in 1999)I will diet sort of(gonna try to breastfeed) after the baby arrives in Dec..Welcome to the boards!!!!!

Well, I took Tootles to a hockeygame last night..I think the loud music and yelling made her wild..She drove me crazy all the kicking and squirming.I ate supper at 5pm and nothing else and had the sugar from this morning...I guess if U dont provide the baby sugar, that darn placenta will get it somehow!!!

Have a great day all!!!I am heading to a Breastfeeding class in 2 hrs..DH is sooo excited about it!!! (NOT!!!!!*L*)
Hello to all I missed!!!!
Vicki

Hi all. Well, we got the darn school project pretty much whipped today. I only have one page to fix which shouldn't take long. Yippee!! The next thing I gotta do is work on the presentation. I hate giving presentations. Especially on something I'm as shaky on as this Java stuff.

Lauren: The cake was a yellow cake with chocolate icing. My absolute favorite dessert in the whole world. I don't usually keep them in the house because I will make and eat them!! DH loves pumpkin pie. I made him fresh ones a couple years ago. He likes the canned stuff just as well. I make them without a crust. Just put the mixed up stuff in a pie plate and bake it. I'll check with my grandmother (I have to call her everytime I make it!!). I think it's a can of pumpkin, the spices, two eggs and a can of eagle brand milk. I use the FF one. I'm pretty sure that's it but I'll check for sure.

DH wants us to watch a movie so I guess I'll go for now. Have a great evening!!