You guys are so funny. I love it Michelle, as for meals, I need regular feedings to avoid being crabby as h*%%. I usually have cereal or oatmeal before going to the gym, fruit or a granola bar or pretzels mid morning, a sandwich, soup, or salad with veggies, fruit and a sugar free yogurt for lunch, fruit or pretzels mid afternoon, and then supper. Of course, this is on a good day. We won't go into a "bad" day. That is what works for me, though. Hurray for good angels. Way to go chachee on the workout.

Gosh, I am hanging my head in shame.... I already have gone two days without excercise. They have been exceptionally busy days for me, but that is no excuse. Tomorrow, for sure though. A meeting I was supposed to attend tomorrow morning has already been cancelled due to snow/ice.... so I have a "clean slate". I can also fulfill my own back to basics wish of making the "famous" Weight Watcher's Garden Vegetable Soup, this is a true mainstay of my diet at 0 WW points and helps to fill me up on a cold winter's day.
By the way, a very good tip from me.... when you make veggies to go with a meal and have some leftoever in the pot (not off plates please!) scrape them into a gallon sized zip lock bag and keep the bag in your freezer. Keep adding to the bag and when it's full - it's time to make soup or stew! You have ready made mixed veggies all chopped and ready to go!
A huge time saver.
I haven't lost any more of my "holiday weight" that I know of, but I "felt" skinnier today. I've been pretty good on my eating and drinking water, which is my goal as well.
Now.... my own "back to basics" plan for the month of January......
1. Journal like crazy, being really intelligent and planning meals ahead
2. drink all my water every day, without fail
3. exercise at least 5X a week (have to really work on this one)
4. Make sure I'm getting 5 servings of fruit and veggies a day (another thing to work on)
5. Make sure I get at least 2 servings of dairy a day (another thing that falls by the wayside with me as well)
6. Do not allow other family members food choices to get in the way of my success
7. Order sensibly when dining out


This is the true magic formula for me.
I'm so sick of regaining back weigh I work so hard to lose. I have to get this right this time....
Wishing you all success in the new year!
Linda

Good morning all. Just a quick post from the Jolly Snowman. I think I should get to count a double calorie burn, for getting my butt to the gym this morning. I even did lower body weights. We are buried up here. I had to "find" my car, before I could even get to the gym. I almost stayed home, but decided since I was already up, I should just go in. Now if I can just avoid the hot chocolates that are calling my name . . .

Derry, those sound like very sensible goals. Good luck. And here's to all the rest of you wonderful women. Have a super day!

Good morning, some of you snow bunnies! Welcome to my world!

Oh, I forgot to say that shoveling snow is one of the biggest workouts you can get, so for those of us who are doing it on a regular basis, count it!! I haven't ever worked up as big of a sweat as I do when we get a bunch of snow and I have to shovel it. Hmmm..actually now I have a snow blower, so um, guess I need to stay up with the walkway and the yard, huh?

Things are good here. Had a nice big bowl of minestrone soup last night. You know, I forgot how much fiber is in that soup. Not too bad on calories or fat, but the fiber is so high that it figured out to only 4 points for me. (for those of us doing WW) I decided to have two slices of toast with it, as the bread cravings were getting to me this week.

I was going to have myself a nice big SF fudgesicle, but then got so involved in my computer game that I forgot. FORGOT TO EAT??? What is happening to me??? (Now I sound like Raven.)

I did have a nice long walk with my treadmill this morning, 3.15 miles. Felt like torture at times, though. That dang mental arguement was right there with me again. Makes me think of a comic a friend sent to me. It says this:

They keep telling us to get in touch with our bodies. Mine is not all that communicative, but I heard it the other morning when I said, "Body, how would you like to get up at 6:00 am and go to the vigorous toning class". It said back to me, clear as a bell, "Listen up, fatty, do it and die!".

That makes me laugh so hard every time I read it. It's up in my office because its such a reminder to me that we shouldn't always listen to our bodies, we should be doing what we know is right!

Linda: Don't get so down on yourself about the exercise. I think we beat ourselves up too much at times. You are close to the end, just keep doing waht has worked so well for you already!

Good luck to all of you snowed in. We actually had 40 degree weather up here this week!

Happy Thursday!

Chach

Hi everyone --

I'm still doing pretty good with my eating, and last night, I did a Richard Simmons video and got a good workout. It was only a 20 minute tape, but it was still a good workout, so I'm pleased that I did it. I'm just starting back up with exercise, and I think this was a good start. This morning, we awoke to about 7" of snow. So DH used the snowblower to clear the driveway, and I brushed off the cars and shoveled around them. Because of my asthma, my ability to help is limited....hopefully that will improve once I lose weight. The roads where we live were pretty bad, so DH drove me to work. Good thing because I lost my keys....I had them this morning because I moved the cars so DH could snowblow around them. They're probably in the house somewhere. Aaargh!!

The gym membership DH and I won starts on Monday, that's when our first contest meeting is, so we haven't been able to go to the gym yet. Also because I signed up for the National Body Challenge, I'll be able to get a free 2 month membership to Ballys (from Jan. 15 through March 2, I think). Ballys is a quite a bit out of the way for me, but if they have classes I want to take on weekends or after work, then I will use it. Otherwise, I'll just go to the gym near my house.

My puppies (okay, they're 3 and 4 years old, but they'll always be my "puppies").....anyway, they have mixed feelings about the snow. They don't like the coldness of it, but usually have fun playing in it. Except this morning I don't think my little girl puppy (Pixie) did her "business" this morning. She just didn't like being out in snow that was almost over her head. I don't think she was able to find a place to go. Hopefully she'll be able to hold it until we get home, which roads and traffic permitting will probably be around 5:30 p.m.

Linda -- Really great goals! And thanks for the veggies tip.

Jolly -- The snow this morning was lots of fun, huh? NOT!

Chachee -- Your post was so funny! First, about forgetting to eat your fudgsicle (I certainly haven't gotten to that stage yet), and then the comic about listening to our bodies -- too funny! Thanks for the reminder about how low in points and great minestrone soup is....especially on these cold snowy days. I'll bet adding the toast made you feel full and satisfied. Good for you!

Well, I'm swamped at work today, so I'd better get back to it.

have a wonderful day everyone!

hershey butt........ do it and

sincerely
sassy who is checking in and laughing to hard to type anything more serious!

Good morning people. I'm trying to turn this day around or rather the remnants of yesterday. I still have not been able to ride this year! because of the frozen ground. I am so bummed and getting increasingly teed! I need to let off steam but looks like I have too much work to do before I go into the office so I'm hoping I can keep a lid on things today there.

michelle -- good for you for doing your tape. 20 minutes is 20 minutes and definitely a good start. Hope you find your keys. I've trained at Ballys last time I was in the States. It was really a nice place. Good luck on your contest. I think you should do great. That really sounds like a motivator.

chachee -- forgetting to eat? isn't it a great feeling, not to be thinking of eating all the time. I need more things like that in my life. good for you for eating healthy too, minestrone is the best. Loved your comic, yes, we can't always listen, or we've got to get some other voices going. This is where multiple personality disorder would come in handy!

jolly -- a hand for your gym workout! you're doing so good with your walking too. I'm impressed!

derry -- yeah, like chachee says, don't get down on yourself, just get back on the horse. great goals, wow, exercise at least 5X a week! that sounds tough. Don't think I will put such a hard goal forward though I should. I've got to get cracking though and you are inspiring. Good luck!

Well, that was short but I'm kind of at a loss as to what to say, seeing that I have not been making any great progress in my efforts, or rather, I have not been making any great efforts. Oh, bummer, bummer. Just get on with it!

Chicks, I can't say that I have much to post because yesterday morning my boss called me into his office and promptly fired me.

No reason given other than the owner of the company called him and told him to do it. So .. two years of work and what I *thought* was a trustworthy boss/employee relationship down the drain.

I feel like I've been hit by a truck. I was just beginning to recover from the last series of layoffs when the bottom fell out down here because of the economy. My guess is that the owner wants to pay someone significantly less in that position.

I can't even quite get my head around this yet.

Raven, my gosh! what happened?!?! I just read your post and couldn't believe it. What goes?! That's just crazy. And you didn't see it coming at all? ****, that really, really sucks. I'm so sorry. Wow, are you OK? I can't believe they didn't give you any notice, any warning and no more reason than those non-reasons.

Wow, I don't know what to say. I wish I could do something. I mean, even if they do want to pay someone less, wouldn't they have said something in advance. I mean, two years, right? Ah, I don't know. You've just got to say "to **** with them!!" Don't let this knock you flat. OK? I'm pulling for you. Hang in there!

Oh my gosh, Raven! That DOES suck!! And with no warning and no real reason! ****! I can totally understand how you'd feel like you'd been hit by a truck.

Red is right. To **** with them! It's totally THEIR loss! Don't let this knock you down. I know it's easier said than done - I've been in your shoes. When it happened to me, it took me awhile but I finally realized that it was a waste of time for me to try to make sense out of something so completely senseless and irrational.

I may be new to this group, but I'm pulling for you too. Hang in there.

Mornin' everyone,

First, Raven, I'm so sorry to hear about your job. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you or your family. I know I could say "Hey, it happened for a reason and things will be better", but I know at this point it just sucks and is so traumatic. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

Friday is my weekly wrap up, so here goes.

Walking: Walked a total of 15.33 miles this week. Hope to build on that next week, even if only 0.01 miles.

Weigh in: Lost 9.0 pounds, down to 229.5. Now, remember, that this is my first week back on the wagon and I have a lot to lose, so I have a bigger number the first week. Nothing to compare to, just a big number. I'm glad I'm out of the 230's now, and hope to be out of the 220's by the time I go on vacation mid-February.

Goals and plan is still the same for me: work out 5 times a week, eat on WW program and stay within points.

Have a great weekend, everyone. Hope those of us that have been buried in snow are able to dig our ways out of it! I'm going bowling on Sunday with some friends and my family. Should be fun! I am working on going out as a family or group of friends once a week. That is another goal this year--include those people I really like and love more into our social life.

Happy Friday and I'll be checking back on Monday!

Chach

Good morning, everyone. Not much action around here, is there? Raven, where are you? If you stay away we're all going to be awfully worried. Do you feel any better? Did you go out and get sloshed last night? I probably would have though.Whatever gets you through this. I would be ripping mad for one thing as in ready to rip someone's throat out! Jump on here, will ya?

Chachee -- Hurrah for you and your weight loss. 9 pounds?!?! What have you been doing? That is amazing. Well, you've been up to a lot of walking I see. Is that all on a treadmill or can you walk outside at all or is everything snowed in and iced over? Yes, you should into the 19s soon! I bet that will feel great! and then you'll be making that breakthrough into the 100s! This will be a great summer, I just know! Good luck to you Chachee! You've got great and doable goals. Keep it up and I hope you have/had a good weekend!

michellez -- Thanks for your support for Raven. Being new is no different. We need all the help we can get from everyone!

How are you doing with your weight loss plans? Are you still new there too? I see your weight tracker is still at the start, as is mine. I thought I'd been good this past week and would see a loss but I don't know. Got on the scale yesterday (I do Sunday weigh-ins over on the Battle of Bulge thread, well plan to . . ) and I'm afraid I may even see a gain. That would tick me off for sure but I started working out and it could have something to do with it. Also, I haven't been watching total calorie intake so maybe I just think I've been good. At least I've been eating much healthier and recently even that was a problem, which is rare, so I definitely fixed my act up a little. Good luck to you and write more if you can.

Wow Raven, I am in shock. but sadly isn't that so typical of the working world today? And if you suspicions are true - that they want to pay someone much less for the same job - that's exactly why I got out of management 4 years ago. Been there. Too often. I am truly sorry. Take some time to recover. Don't go beating yourself up over it as the others have said. I wish I had an answer to the paralyzing fear of "how will I provide for my family" - maybe take the weekend to do some calming down and soul searching. Go for a ride on the horse and do some calculated thinking. Let us know if there's anything we can do.

I have finished what was a very hectic week. First week on the new job. I will be one very very VERY busy person. We put a bid in on a house and it's contingent on a home inspection which will occur next Tuesday. I doubt they will find anything wrong as the house is immaculate. If all goes well we will be homeowners again the end of the month.

I don't like this apartment - don't feel very safe as the lock is quite flimsy. Heaven knows where half my stuff is as it sure didn't come in the boxes marked "apartment" from the movers. I have a can opener but am using odds and ends for silverware that I found in the box marked "junk drawer". We've decided we can live this way if it's only for 1 more month.

On the positive side it will be in the mid 60's tomorrow and even if it's cloudy, it's a heck of a lot easier to deal with than 12 inches of snow and ice that greeted the midwest this week.

I've been lurking here just because it's been a terribly busy week and I haven't been able to stay up very late. I am with you in spirit tho and I swear next week will be a better eating and exercising week.

Take care all.

Hey all. Happy, good luck with the home inspection. I can imagine it is hard living out of boxes, and not having the right ones at that. Though, you do need to change your info, as it still says you are in Illinois! chachee, congrats on the loss, and having a good week. Good luck with your goals for this week. Raven, I agree with everyone else - 1) To **** with them, 2) Let me know if there is anything I can do, and 3) No lurking!!! Lurking is bad. We are all here for you.

I did not make it to the gym yesterday, but as it was the only time all week, I still met my goal of 5 times. I will be out there today, but may not make riding. I have friends coming over later, and need to clean.

Have a great day, everyone.

Oh my gosh, Raven. I hope you are ok. Do let us know. That totally sucks. I was fired once a long time ago, and it STILL hurts - 17 years later and I have dreams about it, still. I never thought I deserved it.
Sassie, welcome back - it's been ages? What's going on? Hope all is well. Nice to hear from you.
To all, my thread tools that send an e-mail each time someone makes a post here have been not working, just went to the 3FC help thing and was told to "re-set my cookies" and I did.... so hopefully, I'll be able to keep up with y'all?
Chach, I could be counting some points soon as I sit here looking out at tons of snow piling up! We already had lots of snow on Thursday... oh joy.
I worked out the last three days, by the way, so am feeling back on track. I've running a bit tight on flex points though for the end of this week, will have to be extra good!
Linda