Hi--

Not much to report lately, just thinking a lot about summer plans and transitions....

Paige, I hope you enjoy your vacation, it sounds wonderful! Send postcards!

Lori, congratulations on having a problem spot--I'll bet this time last year you thought of your entire body as one big problem spot, now it's jsut a strip a few inches wide across your belly, good for you.

Kerry--Maybe you can get one of those reality shows to adopt you and trail along behind you..and maybe pick up the tab for repairs....

judy

Where is everyone???

I'm doing better the past couple days. I had a couple chocolate moments yesterday. Darn stress. Then today I couldn't refuse a chicken biscuit from Chic-fil-a. Crappy way to spend 420 calories, but oh well.

We looked at houses last night. I think we're going to make an offer on one. I can't believe it, but it's a BRAND NEW house. Who'd have thought. But it's in an established neighborhood with big trees. The lot was vacant and the builder decided to build. Nice house, smaller than we wanted, but it's so nice and shiney - we can't resist. I'll let you know! Looks like we're moving. There's some good exercise

Hope to see some of you around soon.

Kerry, this is exciting! A shiny new house sounds like fun.

I didn't work out this morning, but woke up feeling refreshed by the extra sleep. I had a lunch meeting at a soul food place, which limited viable options for healthy eating. I had baked chicken, collard greens and yams. I only ate a bit of the yams, which I love but were swimming in butter. Even so, I've felt stuffed all afternoon.

I hope everyone has a great weekend! A friend wants to go to the BBQ festival, but I will try to distract her with movie options--there's no way I could stay on program surrounded by fired-up grills....I saw Crash last week, and it was great, I gave it two big thumbs up. There are several good documentaries out now, so I'll try to check one of them out. And I'll be getting my hair done on Saturday. I have dreadlocks, so it's an expensive, half-day proposition. But it's fun to hang out at the salon, this particular place has a smart, fun clientele. I'll have to remember to pack a war bag of water and snacks, though. And do an extra-long workout at Curves, to make up for the stray calories that are bound to jump down my throat at some point over the weekend

judy

Hey all!! We made it through another week!!

Kerry, sounds like fun!!!! Did the old landlord ever give you a price?

Judy, man 1/2 day at the saloon, I truley think I'd fall apart! I keep getting all mine cut off!

I fell last night and slammed my knee into the dresser, it is super sore. It hurts to bend it, but it didn't swell up. I think I brused it pretty bad so I didn't work out yesterday and I think I'm going to wait until tomorrow to resume.

Ok, I have a cat issue! My littlest cat won't burry her business in her litter box, and she is super picky. I have noticed that she picked a spot around my dinning room table to use for her extra bathroom. (we don't use the dinning room) Well besides wanting to give her a dirt nap, the kids won't let me toss her out. Is there anything out there that will make her use the box??? I have experimented and I have a great solution to get the smell out of the carpet, but she whized on the kitchen floor while I was scrubbing the carpet. I don't know what to do, her box isn't full! What the heck is her problem??? Any ideas??? The dirt nap sounds best to me, but I guess I should try something first for the kids sake. My older cat has her own box and would use it if the crap was stacked to the top, so it appears I have a cat with a personality problem! I told the kids the next step will be a cage if we can't get her to stop. And she isn't young either, I've had her for over 5 years and this is a constant on and off problem. Well I've got to go, chat with you all tomorrow!

Hi all, Lori, I would go nuts if an animal of mine did that. I don't have any solutions for you but you do have my sympathy. I'm not a cat person, I'm a dog person, but right now I'm not too thrilled with two of my three dogs. Kodiak, yes the infamous dog, ran away yesterday when we took him hiking. DH found him last night and he stinks to high heaven. At 5:30 this morning we gave him two baths and it hasn't made the smell go away. It's better, but nauseating. Then there is Goldilocks with her broken foot. She won't leave the cast alone and has forced us to use the elizabethian collar. She looks like an idiot and keeps crashing into things. BTW, the third dog is Blizzard, and she's an angel.

Kerry, go for the brand new house. I love mine and it was worth every penny. That's just so exciting. I'm glad you kept looking. The sewer problem sounded bad.

Judy, what exactly are dreadlocks? I'm pretty dumb when it comes to hair terms. But a half day at the salon sounds like fun. I love getting my hair trimmed.

Well, I've been so-so on the food part of my diet. Not bad but still could be better. I am trying though and that's good. Exercise I'm doing pretty good on. We went on the full hike last night (yelling for Kodiak the whole time). When DH drove it last night he checked how far we go. It is 1 mile up the mountain and 1 mile back down. So that's not too shabby.

I got my printer yesterday. I won the eBay auction about 2 weeks ago. It's a color laser printer. I paid 200 for it and 225 to ship it here. It's a HP 4500DN. So it's networked and will go perfectly on my home network. I did do the config page and it prints beautifully. The printers, when new, were about 2500 so I go a great deal. Lots of life left in the consumables, too. I also bought Hallmarks Card Studio Deluxe and have been making greeting cards. They look store bought the printing it so nice. So eventually, it'll pay for itself. Right? I haven't set it up on the network yet since I need another ethernet cable. DS took my last one when he moved out.

That's about it. I did make it through a 5 day work week. Two more to go and then I get 5 weeks off. It'll be great, but I really do like my job. In some ways I miss it (but not too much). Did I tell you all that I'm going on an Alaskan cruise at the end of July. My tickets are supposed to arrive any day. I'm getting excited about that.

Talk to you later.
Marie

Judy - YUMMMM BBQ!!! I couldn't resist such either Down here in the south it is on every corner, but the adventure is finding those that do it THE BEST I hope you found a good movie. We STILL haven 't seen Star Wars!

Lori - Sorry about your knee. I did that to my thigh a few weeks ago and had a bruise that was as big as a fist and lasted for days and days. As for the cat pee situation, have you tried giving them separate boxes? I only have one so I don't know a lot about that. There are also things you can put in the spots where they go. Here is a great page that lists some advice and reasons that might help you out.

Marie - Your dog sounds like my FIL's lab. He's always running off and rolling in a dead animal. Then he stinks for weeks. The only remedy is to find the dead animal and dispose of it. It's a pack instinct. Good job on winning the printer auction! Sounds nice

About the house - The landlord has never given me a price. It is now 6 days past the appraisal. I don't think she got the appraisal she wanted. I'm not intersted now anyway. We made an offer of the NEW house yesterday. Should hear something on Monday. I offered just under 4k what he was asking, but with some concessions about him not having to install the remaining appliances (which he had planned to) bc I want what I want. I'm so nervous and excited. If all goes well we'll be moving the first of Aug. Of course this means subleasing the place we're in or breaking the lease. Not sure how that's all going to pan out.

Trying really hard to stay near the eating plan. We went out last night to Red Robin (famous for burgers) and I had to have a cheese burger. OH MY was it delicious. Still not gaining, but not losing either. I need to start exercising again at least Yell at me Lori!
TTYL!!!

Hi, ladies--

I'm having a good day, eating right, working out and listening to jazz, and thinking very hard about cleaning house....and procrastinating by coming here to say hello first.

My appointment was cancelled yesterday, so I got my feet and hands done instead of my hair. Marie, 'dreadlocks' used to be associated with the Rastafarians in Jamaica, but now they're pretty common, or at least in any community with a large number of African Americans (think Whoopi Goldberg, for example). Most black people's hair, when left to its own devices, naturally coils, and will tightly twist around the neighboring strands if you don't comb it or straighten it with a hot comb or chemicals. I locked my hair by training it to twist in neat little ropes, as opposed to those huge things that Bob Marley wore. Once the hair 'locks'--which takes several weeks or a few months, depending--you can't comb it out again. I've been locking my hair since 1992. At one point it was nearly down to my waist, but I've cut it a few times, so it's not so hot and heavy in the summer.

Lori, I hope your knee is better! I can't help you with the cat question. I like animals, but I'm allergic. I do have some red dwarf shrimp in a biosphere, but they're hard to bond with

Kerry, luckily for me, I found out that the BBQ festival is next weekend, so I have another week to gather all my willpower or decide that I can't take the risk. I wish you luck on the house you've made the offer on. This is very exciting!

Okay, time to start busting' suds!

judy

Good Morning Chickies !!!

I've only got about 10 mins. so I'll make this quick! Wow slow weekend over here at 3FC! The cats each have there own liter boxes, the little one is way to picky to share so who knows. I rubbed her nose in the business on the kitchen floor, swated her butt, and tossed her in the bathroom where her box is. She hasn't gone on the carpet as of yet, so I hope she got the picture!

Kerry I'm soooo excited about the new house! You may have to do a drive by and send us pictures!!!

Judy, I'm glad your back! Your mood seems so lifted since the new job! Sorry about your appt. getting canceled, but I like to get my nails done! Everybody craps when they see my nails, I never take care of them and they are crazy long on their own.

Ok Kerry, here's your boost and my confession! I have eaten like a total hog for two weekends in a row and skipped working out a few days last week over the bum knee, which by the way is still a little sore. I have put on 2-3 lbs. I was 139.5 lbs this morning. I almost fell over, so I did my weight part of my Monday work out routine this morning and I'm planning on ridding bikes with my kids tonight, they just don't know it yet! I'm seriously afraid of falling in a rut and quiting, which by the way seems to happen to me way to easily. It's like a domino, once one thing goes I'm just laying all over the place! So I must force my butt to just do it!

Ok, I have to get a shower, I'll check in later! Hope everybody starts to pour out of hidding!!!!

Hey everyone!! Just wanted to let you know that we made it to Phoenix and are having a blast. We got here Friday evening and the kids have done nothing but swim!!!! We leave to go to California tomorrow for a few days. We have a reservation at one of the Disney hotels for Wed-Fri and then we will head back to Phoenix. The great news is I got on my dads scale on Friday (it said the same as mine at home) and today it was 3lbs less and that is even with TOM starting today!!! Maybe I should do this vacation thing more often!!!! Kerry- good luck with the house, I hope he accepts your offer!!!!!! Everyone else hang in there and keep it up!!! I will try and check back in this weekend when we get back to my dad's.

Good Morning!
Been crazy at work still... I guess there is not much hope for a slow down.
Doing ok with my eating, but had a few obstacles this past week. We had a cookout with my inlaws for father's day...I did ok, but I don't think I ate enough (because I am not comfortable yet planning my own meals) which is almost as bad as overeating, but what can I say....I'm trying!

Kerry- A new house sounds wonderful! How exciting! Good for you maintaining your weight through all this! I know I ate like an animal last year when we were going through all the house buying stuff...which is part of the reason I topped out at over 170lbs!!!! Let me be your example!

Lori-Sorry about your knee! ouch! Just get back into the excersise a little at a time! You'll be ok! Stuff happens. Don't let it take over all the good you have done! As far as your cat goes....I can sympathize! The two litter boxes should definately help! I had the same problem years ago, and that is what we did...I use to work for a veterinarian and that is what we would tell people to try first. The other thing to consider is urinary tract infection, but if it is a kitten this is unlikely. Hopefully the second litter box will help, and you may even have to change it completley on a daily basis. Now if I could get my own dog to stop pooping and peeing on the floor!

Paige- That's great! Vacation and weight loss!!! You go girl!

Judy-Sorry your about your appointment being cancelled, but nice that you got your hands and feet done! I love getting my nails done too!

Marie-Alaskan cruise! That is great! You are the third person I know that is doing that this year..unfortunately I am not one of them LOL. Congrats on the printer!

Hi everybody, I'm at work and it's pretty slow so I have time to write during the day. So far today, I've been pretty good. I weighed in today and have maintained for the last three months. Not quite what I'd like, but when you eat, you can't expect to lose weight. Maintaining is okay with me for now.

I love my new printer. It's absolutely incredible. If you can afford one, I highly recommend buying a color laser printer. The pictures are awesome.

Goldie is home from the doggie hospital (again) and is doing okay. We changed the dressings on her foot last night and it looked pretty good. She now has a splint instead of a cast since she had an allergic reaction to the cast material and it got infected. Anyway, she's okay - drugged beyond belief since she's not supposed to move much, but that does make caring for her easier.

Paige, enjoy your trip to visit Mickey. I would have married him, but Minnie stole him away from me.

Julie, I wish I could say that I haven't been eating enough, but that isn't the case. I have terrible trouble with the munchies. I don't overeat, per se, I just munch all day. But I do know what you mean about not eating isn't good. Eat the good stuff and enjoy it. You're doing great.

Lori, sorry about your knee. Isn't it easy to backslide on exercise when given a reason. I'm really good about that - not something that I'm proud of. Here's hoping it feels better and that you get back on track.

Kerry, did they accept your offer? Having a new house is great. I love mine.

That's it for now. I will talk with you all later.
Marie

Where did everyone go? I hope you all are doing ok.
Just checking in real quick...not too much going on. I did go for my weigh in and am down another 1.1lbs...for some reason not real excited though...I think with work pressures and Aunt Flo on the way I am not real excited about anything....hope I snap out of this soon.

Marie, good job on maintaining for three months! That is awesome! I have a color laser printer too with a scanner that we bought a couple of years ago. I am always scanning pics of my son...I love it!
Sorry about Goldie...I must have missed the earlier post and can't find it. What happened to her foot?

Hope to hear from you guys soon.

Hi Girls!!! I've been busy! Still just maintaining my weight and eating ok. I feel like I've been 141 forever, but I also feel like it is a good weight and I am happy with how I look. I fit into all of the clothese I wanted to wear again

But I've been VERY distracted trying to make a deal and get our NEW house!! Here is the link to the website I made. I can't believe we'll be living in a brand new house! So I have lots of paperwork and packing to do. Maybe I'll get back to losing weight sometime, but for now I'll be happy if I just maintain.

Julie - That's awesome that you lost another pound or so! I had a terrible AF this month that lasted for 9 days. So I can totally understand how it can put you in a bad mood and make you care less about losing. I keep hoping that went it's finally over I might lose a little.

Marie - It sounds like we're on the same page about not pushing ourselves to lose lose lose. I'm happy with the changes I've made, how about you? I hope Goldie is doing better

Paige - I am SOO glad you've made it to Phoenix and you're enjoying yourself. You're probably at Disney RIGHT NOW!! You lucky girl! Have a blast and enjoy!!

Lori - I hope you can maintain!! Please don't fall into old habits or beat yourself up for not losing. I think you're at a wonderful weight right now. We can't beat ourselves up for not losing the last 5-10 when we could be celebrating our maintenance at a healthy weight! And you're awesome for sticking to the fitness the way that you do! Way to go!

Judy - I'm jealous of your manicure/pedicure! I need some of that. You're hair sounds divine. BTW I think a good BBQ fest might be a place I'd be willing to splurge a little, but that's just me there's some things not worth resisting. Of course I wouldn't eat anything else that whole day!

I'll try to check back more often and stay on my plan and not gain. I hope you're all doing well. We've been at this awhile eh? Way to go ladies!!

Hello ladies. I know I've been MIA for a little while. I guess I've been doing O.K. I guess I've just been in maintenance mode. I'm in week 3 with the trainer and it's kicking my butt! It's so hard. This week I'm doing 1 hour cardio on Tues and Thurs and 2 hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of circuit training.....and it's all hard stuff. I do 2 different weight rotations, then 2 minutes of cardio, then repeat....and the cardio changes. For instance, one of the cardio parts is the treadmill at 5mph with 5% incline. It's hard to explain, but it's definitely the hardest workout I've ever done. I'm not doing too great on the eating. I'm eating healthier, but eating more than what I should. I guess it's the workouts. I'm starving all the time. I've been eating 1500-2800 calories per day. I won't be able to post for a while. My son and I are leaving tomorrow to go to Fairfield Bay, Ar, then leaving from there to go to Branson. I'm so excited. I don't have to go back to work until next Friday night. Hope you all have a great week!

Where is everyone? I think the summer bug has taken us down I hope we're not all falling off the wagon.