Thanks so much for the tips! I hate being scrunched up!

mnemosyne- posts like yours, that remind me how much I have in common with people here, and that are so welcoming, reinforce how glad I am to have found this site!

Re: plane seats and bathrooms- I've flown long distance on Continental, British Airways, Emirates and Qantas, all at 300lbs and a UK size 22 on the bottom, and have had no issue with fitting into seats or doing up the seatbelt or fitting into the bathrooms (I think the bathrooms are a bit awkward for people of any size!). If you're my height or taller, the aisle seat gives you more leg room, or try and get the row next to the door. And if you want a bit more width in the seat, I've found the window seat to be ever so slightly wider.

The only issue I've had at this weight is on short haul flights, which seem to have narrower seats and smaller belts. I have to do up the belt, uh, above the bikini line, rather than at my waist, which is uncomfortable but liveable for a couple of hours.

Thanks for all the tips and open conversation. It is wonderful to talk to people who understand these types of concerns.

Mnem- My students are mostly locals, and then some students who have come from other countries (Syria, etc) We have a few staff member's children who attend, but they are all in elementary.

I will gladly share my Business class experience, I am looking forward to it. British Airways does it right, especially flying through Heathrow (which I am)....


Today I went grocery shopping, bought some fruit and veg that look good, have to wash them super well so I don't get sick but I have some peaches (imported) granny smith apples (imported) and Pomegranates (local) and I bought a mix of carrots, zuccini and beans for boiling and mixing with pasta/other dishes and I bought some green beans.

I also found sunflower bread that I am trying out, and I bought some frosted mini-wheats for breakfast (eaten dry because I dislike milk here in egypt) and of course yogurt to assist with stomach safety.

I plan on cooking all of my lunches this week and at least 2-3 dinners...

to all the Newbies ~ who have been dropping in this week. I don't travel long distance hardly ever, so can't help out with that but the other ladies have given some great tips here.

We've had a bit of this week; and the streets were clear of snow & ice today, so I braved some cold winds and went for a good walk this afternoon. My eating has been good despite some stress this week (DH has had some upsets this week). Dealing with things one day at a time right now, but am glad that I am not turning to food anymore.

We got a lot of stuff done this week: shopping, bills paid, fall cleaning, odd jobs around the house, regular cleaning, etc. Keeps us busy and gives us a bit of added exercise too.

Hope you all have a wonderful OP weekend ...

so I talked to a friend last night about my plans, she is super healthy and works out all the time but also like realistic and non-judgemental. I asked her to buy me a scale because although I am loving living in Egypt, and the people are really nice, they are also very blunt...and the last thing I want is to be seen buying a scale.... so she said she'd get one for me, and we are going to do some cooking together.


On that topic, today a different friend is coming over and we are going to do some cooking together too... I haven't told her about my plans, but she knows more about how I am feeling (since she is trying to assist me in getting together with a guy I like)...

so I have a support here too, and then this website.... because niether of these two ladies know how much I weigh nor will they ever. But I will update my goal when I have a scale... and actually sharing that number will be a huge step for me, and I might even be sick when I do it, but I have to do it.... I need it to stare me in the face so I can conquer it.

not likely off to a good start today, woke up and cleaned for my cleaning lady to come... skipped breakfast, will eat lunch though, when she leaves.

I have had a good week. I am going to a family meal this evening in my hometown with alot of my daddys family(whats left of them). I know it will be fun but yet sad since we have lost so many members this year.
I am going to dye my hair this morning and make a cheeseball for a shower tomorrow. I am excited to wear my new jeans and top tomorrow. I plan on these jeans not fitting for long.
I am down over 2lbs this week. I plan on decluttering my house next week and losing some more extra baggage.LOL Wont be long till the tree will go up. I love christmas and cant wait to just sit and enjoy my tree.
Looks like I am cooking for my kids on Thanksgiving. Tree will most likely go up the next day.
Is anyone done shopping?? Im getting closer.

I also love Christmas and can't wait to get a tree and will start shopping soon. I want to buy a wreath for my door this week. That will be a start.

Well, I do have my Christmas Tree on its table in thelivingroom. It has lights on it becuz we store it that way. The decos will be another thing as DH says he can't find them ... Okaaaaaaaaaaay, here we go again. Will have to catch him on another day -- one with more clarity of thought and patience.

Eating went well this week; and our weekend went pretty good. Only a few moments of stress, so that's not too bad really. WE had some ***** fall, but it has almost all melted now as the temps came back up today.

Hope you all have a great week coming up ....

Just spent three days in the city Christmas shopping with my mom. Came home to a blizzard from hades. There's four feet of snow now bad when I left Friday there was bare ground! I haven't stepped on the scale but I'm not freaking. I cheated but I took all my supplements, drank water and walked til my feet ached. Best part? Presents all purchased and wrapped!

I did great this weekend. I skipped dinner last night because I had no idea how many calories were in the finger foods at the shower yesterday. I did skip the cake table!!
We had rain overnight and I heard that snow may mix in this morning. I think Im ready for the excitement the first snow brings. I also made a pot of chili yesterday so Im ready. lol I dont expect a flake to stick.

Ferris & pluckypear - Heh. No kidding. Before every flight I stew about fitting, and it is NOT a fear I can comfortably share with anyone else. This summer on vacation one of our activities was a canopy walk - over connecting rope bridges from platform to platform on trees in the rainforest. I have a bit of a fear of heights, but was also scared that I would be too heavy for these things. I was going to skip it, but had already skipped an earlier activity (Wellies were required; they didn't have any that fit over the calves of a relatively skinny friend and she had to roll them down. I knew they wouldn't fit me.) so I went. And was okay. It was terrifying and we were too loud so did not see any sloths or ... much of anything, really. But being so high in the canopy of the rainforest and getting through that on my own power was neat.

Melissa - I am so glad you have friends there to whom you can open up. That is lovely, and necessary, I think. I know exactly how you feel about the scale. EXACTLY, heh. I know you have the strength to get through it, too.

Rosebud - so glad you had sun this week. I am far, far to your south, but after having snow two weeks ago, we had a gorgeous weekend. 70 degrees AT LEAST both days. That weather is disappearing now, it is supposed to drop from the 60s to the 30s today, but I took advantage of the weekend, cleaned up the vegetable beds, cut back a butterfly bush that had grown into a virtual tree, cleaned out a bunch of flower beds, and planted four flats of pansies.

Well, three flats of pansies and one of violas. They are so pretty, and I will be even happier with them in the spring when they bounce back. It was the last weekend my fav greenhouse was open. I used to buy my pansies at Lowe's or Home Depot, since I plant them so late in the year that they will have them on clearance. Now I pay full price, but the ones at my fav greenhouse are so much pretty. They have these really great color mixes. The biggest problem I have is that I cannot buy every single color that strikes me.

dgramie - I love shopping and Christmas, too. Though I usually decorate a bit later, and then leave the decorations up at least through the Epiphany - January 6. I noticed that some people around here took advantage of the good weather to put up outdoor Christmas lights, while I was planting pansies. I am nowhere close to finished shopping. Congrats on skipping the cake table!

Jane - four feet of snow? Did I mention that it was seventy degrees here this weekend? Okay, that was cruel. I hope you had fun with your shopping weekend. For the last several years I have wanted to do that some weekend in December, but something always comes up. Really, we have enough shops around here, but I like getting away, finding unfamiliar things, too.

Warmth!!! I miss that!!!! We live in an area with a distinct staffing shortage, so there is nothing on the shelves here. It's nice to have an excuse to get away

WOW, JANE ~ four feet of *snow* -- hope that doesn't come here. We had temps in the 50's F (10 ish C) the last two days, but it has dropped down to about 0c or 32 F now. Becuz of the high temps, we had all day long -- yeah! I may be able to walk a bit tomorrow if this sticks like they say it will, but we'll see.

MEM ~ you must be far, far south alright -- to be still putting in your flowers for next year. I have seen perennial pansies grow here, esp if you put them in the right place. Blue Violas are pretty, if I have the right flowers in mind. They had some on sale here this year.

dGramie ~ good for you skipping the dessert table! You did great ...


I wanted to put up some lights, but DH hasn't been in the mood to hunt them down right now. Maybe later this week, if I can talk him into it. We'll see ... I do have a box of mini-lights that I can put up myself, if necessary; and I have them hidden upstairs, just in case.

I have only a few Christmas presents bought; usually I have lots by now, but I am late this year becuz we've been busy with other stuff and so many appts and such. Still lots of time left for that though; not to worry.

Eating is good. We had leftover roast chicken and veggies from yesterday. I made a nice rice-barley pilaf with spinach & veggies to go with the chicken today. I made myself a pumpkin custard and DH has his pumpkin pie, which always makes him happy.

Have a wonderful week everyone ...

Has anyone tired the DASH diet? a I am from MN and the Mayo Clinic recommends it? Well I just started my weight loss journey again. I have been up and down losing almost a 100 pounds in many tries only to gain it back never making goal. So back up to the max I have been and am looking for some support. I have been mindful about what I have eaten and feel in control for the first time in a long time. I usually do really well at the beginning and then get bored because I have so much to lose or something happens to upset my world. Recently, forced retirement at 54 and no longer attending WW. I have been in such physical pain and know that just a few pounds will help that.