Hi Linda, It has been a bit quiet here over the weekend, I guess some people have alot to do with family commitments etc, and don't always get online as much as they would like. Unlike me, I do tend to be very addicted now to this thread and check on what's happening whenever I'm online. I haven't looked at your piccies yet, but I will do so as soon as I finished typing. It will be fantastic if neither yourself or Jamie have gained during the vacation, and very rare too, but like you said, the exercise does pay off, and burns off the extra goodies we gobble up while away.
I feel as if I'm pigging a bit today, not in a going over my points sort of way, I am journalling everything, but I feel very full, and if I am not careful, I will have to go without any dinner tonight, as I won't have enough points for anything more than an apple. I'd better slow down a bit, get out in the sunshine away from the fridge (the sun did finally appear about 1 pm, earlier than I predicted!), and I may take AJ for a walk.
I would love to send you some piccies of my little family, I'm not sure how to set up a link to do that, but I guess I could e-mail if anyone was interested. If not, I don't blame you, not always a pretty site!
Anyway, the sunshine awaits, back later.

Linda, had to come back and let you know I checked out the photos. You have a GORGEOUS family. You can tell Jamie from me, that shes a stunner and looks as if she's having a great time. She doesn't look from the photo's to have any kind of weight problem at all, I know they can be deceptive, but she looks great. Your son Jeff(?), also looks as if he nothing to worry about! Hope he's a bit more relaxed after the vacation. I couldn't quite make out the rest of your brood, but if your kids are anything to go by, the rest of you have no worries at all!
Anyway, just thought I'd let you know.

Hello everyone! Burrr…. They keep it waaaayy too cold in my office! It’s summer! I should be able to wear a knee length skirt without goosebumps!

Linda – I’m glad you had a good trip. Great pics. Jamie has gorgeous eyes! What a lovely girl. How is your son? Is he adjusting to the new meds? Quite the handsome fellow too. Great work on the exercise! I have been trying to workout more. I did a 20 minute video Saturday night and this morning. I thought working out in the morning would help wake me up and start my day with energy, but I have been wishing I had slept that extra 20 minutes! Maybe if it is a regular habit I will keep my eyelids off the floor!

Dawny – Step away from the fridge! One of “those” days huh? I had the munchies Saturday and had trouble staying out of the oatmeal cookies I baked. They were only ½ point each, so I seemed to think that I could eat half the batch! Photos would be great. I will PM my e-mail address to you. If I remember how to use the scanner, I will send some too.

I have trouble posting on the weekends because my home PC is begging for the junkyard. It will pull up the forum page, but some times when I click the particular site, it shuts down. Urgh! One out of 10 tries will work. Maybe soon we will get to upgrade.

WW has new treats out now, don’t they? I think I have heard about some crunchy snack like crackers or something? Have you tried these? I am thinking about going to the local meeting this week to check out the products.

Hello all!
I'm really sorry I haven't posted here in a while, I've been reading all the posts though! I had my ups and downs the last week, I was good some days and slipped some others, but I hope it won't be much damage. I really wish that on Wednesday I won't have put on much weight, keep your fingers crossed for me!!
Sadly, there aren't any WW products here, and I feel like I'm really missing out on something, since you say the greatest things about WW desserts or snacks. Well, I found at the supermarket a Weetos cereal bar which is totally covered in chocolate and it's delicious! And only 2 points per bar.
That's all from me, "talk" to you soon,

Natalie


PS. Linda, the pics were lovely!

Thanks for the compliments on the family photos. Jamie's face was the first place to show her weight loss, by the way, thankfully! Most of her weight is in her stomach, butt, hips and thighs (she sure is MY daughter!). She is beautiful, yet she doesn't think she is. Jeff is doing "ok", though I am keeping a close eye on him. He will be returning to the doctor soon. I think they both need to get back to school and am thankful that they now have less than a month left before school begins. They are bored and missing their friends, who seem to all be rather occupied over the summer. I have noted that Jeff is in a better frame of mind, yet no antidepressants work miracles, ever. He needs to get out and do things, be outdoors and be active.
The rest of my "brood" was my husband on the sailboat, and on the dock overlooking our sadly broken outboard motor was my father in law, mother in law and son. My inlaws visited for a few days while we were up north. Our cabin is right on the water and quite a quiet and peaceful place, my inlaws love to come when we are there.
I think that was all?
Dawny, you can use that same web site I used and send photos to it, it's really "user friendly". All you need do is register and that is all I think, it's free. But, it's hosted by Kodak (as I recall?) and one can purchase photos made from the digital images that you "upload" to them. You can also buy photo gadgets, frames, keychains, coffee mugs and all sorts of things with photos on them, I think. I think it's a fun place! The pics of the kids did come out pretty well, so I am thinking of ordering some prints. So nice to have the ability to do that, as I hardly ever review my digital photos and kind of miss having real pictures on hand. Nice to be able to pick the BEST of your digital photos and only have prints made of those. I know one can use one's printer and that special paper and make your own prints, but I think the quality if significantly higher with this kind of web site???
I'll try to get a photo of ME up there at some point in time as well. Would be kind of fun to share those with each other as well. Yet, I kind of like our anonymous feel as a group. Here, there are no nationalities and racial predudices, we are all a group of people who care and are all experiencing similar issues and goals. It is nice, in a way, not to know, yet fun to put a face and name together as well! My attitude remains the same, though, in terms of non race/nationality, that is so great when it comes to the internet. We can all come together. Would be so cool if we had more nationalities represented here, yet I guess the language issues can't really help with that kind of thing?
So, this morning is my ww meeting. Jamie and I will weigh in. I hope we, at least, weigh in the samem though we would both love to have a loss. Hard to tell, my scale and theirs can differ.
New WW products? Will have to check out what is available when we go! I do love their 2 points bars, the creme caramel especially! I love the candies that are chewy and only one point for the whole package as well! I hear they are coming out with a new cake that will be frozen and available in the grocery stores soon, just one point a slice, a chocolate (just for me!) and a ginger/spice cake. Supposedly they are very good, but the portions are very small. There are times when I just crave cake, and nothing else will do, so I can't wait for these to become available!
I tried their Smoothies that you mix in the blender and wasn't impressed, though. Yet, several people at my meetings rave about them.
Oh yes, Jamie's eyes, Melanie, are quite deceptive! Her natural color eye is green and as she wears contacts, for an extra $5.00 for a six month supply we could get her the special blue contacts that make her eyes blue. She just LOVES this look. Also, just last week she got her hair permed to make it look wavy all the time. I think it makes her face look less "round" and gives her a thinner appearance. I do think she is a very pretty girl. As I said, her face is deceptive, as she still needs to lose about 20 more pounds according to the doctor's office and ww. She was 162 pounds and only 5'1 1/2" and should be about 135, at least, especially for a 13 year old. She is looking so much better, though, even with just exercise to tone herself up. She has stopped wearing those baggy oversized clothes to cover herself up with as well. I do hope, as our budget is very tight, that she will be able to do what ww calls "shop her closet" soon. Have you all heard that phrase? It means being able to go through one's closet and actually wear clothing that one hasn't worn in a long time that has been hanging there, unused! I have some of that stuff to wear as well!
Well, will post after the weigh in!
Also, on the old thread there was a newcomer right before we switched after running out of space, has anyone heard from her? Don't want her to think that we left becuase of her.
Linda

hi everyone!

Well I have got back from my weekend away in London at my neices wedding. And if shedding tears counted for anything, I would have lost about 10 pounds! However, I more than made up for it with the excesses of gorgeous food and free alcohol! The wedding was amazing, truly beautiful. It was set in a huge georgian mansion house: here.....



http://www.activehotels.com/hotels/i...UAGE=en&subid=

and the wedding took place outside just in front of the white pillars, the bride and groom standing just inside them, and luckily the weather was perfect for the day. And as soon as I saw my neice I bawled!

Anyway, like I say - lots to eat and drink so for the next 2 days until the weigh in I am on damage limitation!

Good luck to everyone else, Linda - nice to see you back, when I get a bit more time I shall look forward to looking at your holiday photos.

will be back soon,
take care all
Fiona

Fiona, that place looks incredible! What a wonderful setting for a wedding! At least you've got a few days before you weigh in!
I went today and did gain .2, not too bad for a vacation week and I plan on taking all that off asap!
Will post more later on or tomorrow.
Linda

Hi, Fiona, that place looks fantastic, why, oh why thought, do weddings have to always have so much fab food on offer. Can spoil a wonderful diet very easily! I'm sure you will overcome all though, and any gains will soon be losses.
Linda, .2 is nothing. Over here, It wouldn't even count as a gain. Just consider yourself the same as before you went, and next week it will be gone, and more besides. How did Jamie do? She does great to be wearing contacts at 13. I am a dispenser in an optical practice, and very rarely do people as young as that go for lenses over here - not always responsible enough to look after them properly is the usual excuse. I do have a few patients that are the same age as Jamie, and they are usually the ones with old heads on young shoulders. Good luck to her. I couldn't bare the thought to be honest. I teach people to insert and remove lenses every day, and I couldn't wear them. I can do it, but I'd rather not, if you know what I mean. Give me Spex any time!
Anyway, it's my WI tomorrow evening, but I will be back before then. See ya later.
Oh, by the way, Natalie, don't worry if you have put on a little, it's only natural at times like these, but just don't see it as a setback and give up. Now you have started keep going. Things do have a habit of righting themselves eventually.
Ok, I really am going now. Bye.

Hello Everyone! Just taking a moment to pop in. But I only have a moment to spare. Gotta get some paperwork ready ASAP.

Linda - Wow! .2 is really nothing. Just means you had some earwax or needed to blow your nose! I hope Jamie did equally well.

Fiona - The mansion is beautiful. I would have liked an outdoor wedding, but couldn't imgine not being married inside the church. Mmmm... Bet you did get some yummy food. Oh, well. You can get right back on track.

I saw a picture of Dawny! If anybody is wondering, no third eye! Real cute gal right there! And AJ is an absolute dollbaby!!! He looks like a very happy guy.

Oops, time's up. Gotta go.

More later, I hope.

And where was that photo of Dawny, Melanie? Enquiring minds need to know!
Yes, Jamie did well. I could have sworn I mentioned that, sorry!
She lost another 1.4 pounds and now is up to 5.6 total loss. She's looking so much better and is quite proud of herself! I am so proud she was able to do that on vacation. For those of us who are not in our teens, like her, the weigh comes off ever so much more slowly, doesn't it? : )
Over here, it is not uncommon for kids Jamie's age to have contacts but our doctor won't prescipe anything other than disposables at her age. She has no problem with inserting them and cleaning them, etc. I used to wear them myself, for years, but can't any longer. I'd need bi-focal contacts, which I think would be a pain!
Also, I had Lyme Disease years ago and somehow my eyes have changed due to that, not sure why, though. I wear glasses and put up with them, though I love contacts. Nothing like buying sunglasses "off the rack" and also going out in the rain without getting one's glasses all wet! Oh well.
Had a decent day yesterday as far as eating, but today may be harder. I have a quilt meeting this morning and baked a blueberry coffee cake (a 3FC recipe, by the way!) to bring along. It's 5 points a serving, so I am going to try skipping breakfast or only having one thing (maybe fruit or cheese?) before I go so that my breakfast points are using on this yummy looking thing! I'll let you guys know how it comes out, but the recipe in here on this web site, I just printed it out and made it. It uses non fat sour cream and only egg whites.
Well, off I got to exercise!
Linda

Hi all, another WI day is here again, can't decide how I have done this week. I've been pretty good I think, doesn't always mean I've lost though, so we'll find out later. Just having a light lunch at the moment, some melba toasts, 1 point for 6, some extra light philadelphia cheese, a little wafer thin ham, and a special K cereal bar - and lots of water of course. That should keep me going until tonight after the meeting. I get in about 7pm, then sort AJ out at bedtime, then cook dinner. Hopefully, I won't feel too starving by then, otherwise I could well either eat the entire contents of kitchen fridge and cupboard, or order a take out! A baked potato would be far healthier.
Hi Linda, Jamie lost on vacation. That is just amazing. She is obviously getting into the WW thing now, and as she can now see its effects, she should be able to keep going, no probs! Bifocal contact lenses are not really any different to wear than standard single vision, they are weighted usually so you automatically look through the correct part of the lens. There are other alternatives too, I find though, that generally, whereas some people will very easily settle into these complex lenses, others can't cope with the difference in vision. Can be good for social wear though.
By the way, the photos that Melanie saw, She asked me if I'd email a couple - I totally see your point about liking the anonymous feel to posting on here, I like it too, however, curiosity does get the better of me sometimes, and as I am somewhat of a nosey person, can't resist taking a little peek. Sometimes it can be nice to put a face to a name, sometimes its good to let the imagination run riot instead. Thanks for the compliments Melanie, I asked AJ if he was a 'dollbaby', he didn't look impressed! I was though. Thanks.
I went through my closet this morning, and am proud to announce that a very old, grotty pair of jeans that I wore when I was 18(I don't know why I've kept them that long, the style is not one I would wear now at all!) I managed to get them to fit. They didn't fit well, a little over 'snug' perhaps, but they fastened and made my tummy look very flat!!! I don't think I will wear them in the near future, but the smile it put on my face this morning was one to see!
Oh, before I forget, just thought I'd mention that I have been persuaded by one of my friends to do an abseil for charity! I've never done it before, I'm scared to death, but It's in aid of the Marie Curie Cancer Fund, so very worthwhile. I think if she had asked me a few months ago, I wouldn't have had the confidence to accept, but now I feel much better about myself, I just thought WHY NOT? I think it's at the end of september, so I have time to psych myself up. The last time I lost alot of weight, in 1997, I did a tandem skydive for charity. This was the most frightening day of my life, and I swore I wouldn't ever do anything like it again, especially as I now have AJ, but earlier in the year, I lost a dear friend to cancer, and my granny is very poorly with it too. How can I not do my little bit to help? Wish me luck.
Anyway, I'll go and finish my lunch, and will see ya later.

Hi all!
I'm not doing well. I eat more than I'm supposed to, and don't count points. I really don't know what's wrong with me, I stay faithful to the program for 2 days, then binge, then healthy again. It's not about the loss of my friend, I know that, and it's no excuse. I should get back on track. I really avoid weighing myself cos I'm so afraid that the weight has crept up back again. I'll probably weigh myself on Sunday morning, before we leave for vacation. I'll be good until Sunday and be extra careful during my vacation. Sorry for the rant, I really need to get my motivation and enthusiasm back. I know I can do it, cos I really, really want to lose that weight!


Natalie

Hi, quick note only, as dinner is on its way! .5 off tonight, maybe a little unexpected this week, as although I've been good, I didn't feel as if it had done much. pleased though.
Natalie, keep going girl. As for motivation, just think what you had already lost, and why you decided to do WW in the first place. Put your possible gains down to experience and just move on to the next phase. It's never easy to lose weight, but it can get easier. Stick with it, we're with you every step of the way.

Anyway, gotta go. Back tomorrow.

Linda – Wow! Jamie is doing well. I bet she was thrilled to have made that much of a loss while on vacation! Super! Super! How was the quilt meeting? Did you stay in control of your muchies? How was the cake?

Dawny the Daredevil – I did not recognize the term “abseil,” so I looked it up. Oh, my! It looks like something I would absolutely love, if I wasn’t deathly afraid of heights!! I would be tempted to just give them a check! And skydiving? You are going to be one sassy grandmother! Though, I am one of those people who could not fathom jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. You can tell AJ that “dollybaby” is a strong compliment where I am from! You never know what will come out of a Southerner’s mouth as a term of endearment. It is great to lose weight and not even feel like you were trying! Good job!

Natalie – I’m sorry that you are having such a tough time staying on track. Do you have a certain routine that you use to journal? I usually eat at home, so I grab my journal after each meal. Have you tried planning your meals a day in advance? Have you though of trying a WW points tracker bracelet? If you could narrow down the reasons for your slips, you could guard yourself against them. But it is great that you want to keep trying. If you want to reach that goal, you can do it!

I have WI tonight. At about 3:30 I had a McDonald’s Fruit ‘n Yogurt and small dt. Soda to help me wait until dinner (about 8:30 tonight). Do you think that would affect my 6:30 WI much? If I don’t have some little snack, I am miserable during the Bible Study and just thinking about having dinner. We WI at about 6:30 and then do a class from 7 – 8. I try to start cooking dinner before I go and finish afterwards.

Well, I’ve hit the 1 hour home-stretch. Lots of stuff to wrap up each workday that makes the last hour a breeze.

I’ll report my WI later!

Good evening everyone!
What is abseil? Dawny, just be careful!
So good you got into those jeans, I have a pair of Calvin Klein jeans with no elastic waist that are just about ready to zip up all the way on me - Couldn't get them past my hips a little while ago, so it will be soon. Another NSV (non scale victory! for you Dawny!
I have two seperate NSVs today. Two different people at the quilt group spoke to me seperately and commented that "I looked good" and "have you lost weight", wow two in one morning! It set me off for the day on a positive note.
I did well with the blueberry coffee cake, it is a 3FC recipe and people didn't know it was low fat! I got asked to share the recipe!
Here is a link to the recipe if any of you would like to try it:
http://www.3fatchicks.com/cookbook/viewrecipe/553
It's really good, 5 points is high, but I made it my breakfast and had nothing to eat before going to the 9:00 am meeting. Eating that cake was great, everyone cut pieces of it and sat around chatting with coffee and kept exclaiming about how good it was! My kind of morning to be sure!
I just love when women get together for a good cause (men too I guess, but in this case we happen to be all female) and are from all walks of life, but find a common bond with their charitable works and bond! We are all friends who would never have met if it weren't for our common interest.
Our meeting went well. I am the leader of this group and we make quilts for homeless people and we also make quilts for children with cancer. I feel so good when I go and my own problems seem to dissapear when I do this great work. I am "honored" to do this work, in fact, if that makes sense. It feels kind of "holy" when I deliver these quilts and know the positive effect that they can have.
Natalie, I wish there was something I could do or say to help you get back on track and feel better. Just keep on posting here and don't give up trying! If you slip, come right back to us. WE as a group have all collectively been right in the same place you are in, I cannot tell you how many days I have started off right on program and blown it, big time, as the day has progress. You are human, forgive yourself and don't give up! You can do this.
I don't think you realize this, but I think the loss of your friend is still very much with you, it's only been a couple of weeks. Try to do something physical each day, get out in the sunshine and be around people - experience life! Your friend that passed on would want you to do that, I know! Losing a beloved friend is something that doesn't pass all that quickly, this wound is still quite fresh. I find that emotional eating is really a HUGE thing for me and I don't even realize when I am doing it. It makes you feel like you are failing as well, but please don't think that. I have thought that way too. I have kind of trained myself (and am totally not sure if I'm there yet, either) to recognize what triggers emotional eating or boredom eating. Sometimes, when I want something sweet, I am almost ready to "jump out of my skin" and am almost frenzied, like a drug addict or something. If I get this feeling, I have on a few occasions gone and brushed my teeth and drank a big glass of water. The minty taste of the toothpaste and the water seem to make me feel the craving a bit less. If about 10 or 15 minutes go by and I still am going nuts, I have something that I am craving, as I know I just MUST give in to it.
Try very hard to find low point substitutes for the things you crave, though, as well when you get the urge to binge. Take it one step at a time! You'll get there, I know you want it very badly! A good example of a low point substitute would be sugar free hot cocoa mix if you want chocolate and a chocolate rice cake. I think that would make only a 2 point snack, but you would feel satisfied. I Hershey chocolate bar might be 6 points, but if you ate it maybe you would be beating yourselp up for it later on? If you had a 2 point alternative, even one of those ww bars or a slim fast bar, you would feel better that you found something that was a treat, but made the better choice????? Good luck, we are cheering you on here!!!!
Melanie, good luck with the weigh in! Hope it goes well. I think it's harder weighing in when one goes to evening meetings! I always weigh more in the evenings, but I suppose if you always weighed in at evening meetings you would be showing losses, but just at a higher point during your day?
Linda