Juls thinking about you hope things calm down soon in the medical area.
Penny sound like your really busy with your social events. Thanks for the fiber info. Bear must be feeling better he is in rare form this a.m. too much energy for this early in my day.
Did the white square this a.m. no big loss here just .5lb should I even count that? I think with my menopause junk this is hopefully some silly temporary side effect. Thank goodness my clothes still fit okay and I don't feel I have gained the few lbs. I actually bought a new shirt, and two pair of pants last night still a size 10. Now that I am pleased with but not the overall wt. thing. Still not perfect with my intakes but trying to make better choices and ensuring I am drinking my water. I have been a bit up in my coffee intake guess that could be a possible problem. Today I will start to have only 2 cups a day then switch over to herbal tea and water only. Just so tempting to have a nice cup of tasty coffee. But I have read the caffeine can be a prob. with wt. loss so lets see if this makes any difference? Take care girls I am off to work a few min. early going to stop at the store for a few items. I hate doing it after work.

Help, I've fallen off the wagon and I can't get up....and the wagon is rolling merrily down the road without me! Seriously, I'm very disappointed with myself this week. The conference was busy and a bit stressful. I didn't work out at all, and I ate too much. I feel fat and stiff. Yesterday I saw the PT about my knee. She was nice, but whole evaluation of my flexibility, strength and range of motion only added to my feeling especially lumpish. I did a good cardio workout this morning, and I'm trying to cut back to my usual level of calories (especially carbs), but my body is just tired and sluggish.

I will catch up on the thread as soon as I can. It's good to see everyone here!

judy

Judy, I've seen that same wagon leaving me in its dust. The cardio workout will help you catch it and jump back on. The lumpish feeling will disappear with one good day on plan.

Carol, I have a mocha every morning. 8 oz of unsweetened Almond Breeze (40 cals and wonderful - I learned about it from the Hungry girl newsletters I get everyday - BTW and excellent source of information), 1 T. unsweetened cocoa and decaf expresso. Then I added 4 packets of Equal (almost D-I-L uses splenda which I hate but she loves). It makes it about 85 cals and delish. You don't have to give up the coffee, just go decaf. I get the Costco Starbucks beans and DH gave me a grinder for Christmas last year. It's just as good (better as I don't feel guilty) as going to Starbucks. they're skinny mocha isn't nearly as skinny as mine. And mine's cheap. I love me expresso maker and coffee grinder. I can feed the addiction.

Juls, you made me realize how lucky I am. My hubby has never sabotaged me before. If I want to lose weight he'll do anything he can to help me. I don't know if I could succeed if I didn't have him. I never could succeed as a kid/teen because my mom is the queen of taking a lo-cal food and making it unhealthy. My thoughts are with you. Would reason work??? He knows you're in pain, right? Can you calmly explain you need his help so that you don't hurt anymore. The weight makes us all in pain. I hope it works for you.

Miss Penny, I love my soap. Have I mentioned that before??? My mother is the seamstress among sewers. Her retired life is in sewing guilds, quilting guilds, etc. All her daughters learned to sew and they all are good seamstresses. But to her dismay, none of us LOVE it. I do it when I can't find an article of clothes that I want and to make my roman shades for my house. More out of necessity, not out of fun. It's funny that you said you couldn't do it - I've always wondered how someone couldn't sew. Cut out the pieces per the pattern, follow the pictures to slap it together. OK, occasionally read the directions if it's not making sense per the picture. But you, the non-sewer make the best soap!!!!

I'm so glad it's Friday. I have been riding the wagon and been on track this week. I'm starting to feel better about myself - lack of guilt. I've yoga'ed twice and walked everyday. So I'm doing good. But it's Friday, my favorite day of the week.

Couple interesting things. Earlier this week I was starving after work and looked at the usual temptations and so I wouldn't goof up I CHOSE (not even reluctantly) some tomato wedges. Another time, I had a string cheese for a snack upon near starvation. I'm making good choices again. My dear boss called and was getting me a coffee from Dutch Bros. (like starbucks but better) and asked what I wanted (I'd done her a personal favor and she wanted to thank me - by the way I have the best boss in the world but she's retiring next June ). She remembered the decaf and I said skinny. I wasn't planning the treat, but I have a lo-cal lunch so it will be fine. And lunch today, I had nothing to bring and I thought of going out. Instead I pulled the foreman grill out and grilled a chicken breast as I got ready for work. More tomato wedges on it and I now had lunch. Pretty amazing that I'm making good choices!!!! I might be getting the right mindset back. And as I'm not traveling till February, maybe I'll be safe.
Marie

G,day all you lovely ladies Marie I had a talk to DH and he said that it was because of the pain I was in because of my health he came home with the comfort food he wanted me to feel better being of Italian decent his answer to everything is food anyway I told him he knows I like grapes so if he wants to get me something then to get me some grapes instead of the choccy and chips so he did a 2kg or about 4lb bag he means well and he is a sweetheart .

Hey Judy sounds like you had stressful day all round sorry that the evaluation on your knee wasn,t better but how about you chuck out words like FAT, STIFF AND LUMPISH and replace them with PLESENTLY CURVED, JUST ON PAUSE FOR A SEC, AND I,M AND DOIN FINE.

Hi Carol things have calmed down the injection I had as given me a bit more mobility so I was able to get out for a walk today Doc said just because I feel a bit better not to get carried away so I,ll take it easy he isn,t sure how long they will last between shots but just glad that I,m almost pain free to the point where I can handle it anyway and be more active. I,m like you I love my and I was drinking up to 6 a day with 2 teaspoons of sugar so I cut back to 3 and saved myself 96 cals for those 3 and I switched to equal for the other 3 and saved myself about another 70 cals they sure add up. Hey .5lb yeah you count it a loss is a loss and all those .5 add up.

Hey Penny hope your well, all in all I,m doing I,m very to have such a DH a wonderful family and all you lovely ladies I have met here it is so great that you can go away for awhile and pick up where you left of and still feel so welcomed. Well you all take care...JULS

Judy I know how you feel the few extra lbs. and I aren't to fond of each other either. We work so hard to make a difference and so fast we make a bit of a wrong move and doesn't take long to put it back on. Good for you catching yourself pretty quickly. At least we recognize whats going on and can adjust ourselves to make a change to save ourselves. Good luck!

Marie hope you rub off on us with the good choice making. I am trying but yesterday had chinese with the girls for lunch. I did make homemade pizza with the grandkids last night but not too unhealthy as I put veggies on it etc. Coffee idea sounds great. I just had my second cup and now am away from the pot. I made some poached eggs this a.m. and had some sunflower toast with them. For lunch I will be really careful as I am making dinner for friends tonight. We are grilling steak and mushrooms, onions, baked potatoes and a nice salad. Apple Pandowny for my friends hubby as I owe him one from last months birthday. So I will have to try a little slice and then some wine. I am going to fit in some walking today.
Oh girs I have to brag I got my eval unexpected yesterday afternoon with my supervisor. It was really good and she wrote and told me how much she appreciates me and what I do for the company. Stated that I work with one of the top families in the area and my work performace stands out there in the public eye etc.... The company is very pleased with the outcome of this case etc... I was a bit surprised at the good review a few little improvements needed otherwise exceptional across most everything else. But they always have to have a few things to have us work on. Also they are doing things to improve out work environment and thats so nice. We are all pretty happy with that except one that can't see beyond the goodness I guess. So vino tonight to celebrate is in order. Good thing I stayed I guess huh? Nice raise and now this etc.
Juls I drink it blk with nothing most of the time sometimes I like a little flavor added in with the creamers. But sometimes just add cinn. or a spice to the grounds before the brew.
Well I enjoyed the evening with the kids and we had a lot of fun. They made carmel apples, applesauce and hm pizza. The kids made some really cute halloween crafts to take home as well. It was a good time for everyone and these special times they will have in memories as I do of my grandparents. Take care and have a great weekend.

Juls - I admire how you keep upbeat even though you're going through a rough time. I'm glad the shot has helped you with your mobility. I had bursitis in my shoulder for quite a while but it eventually got better. I had some massage therapy and that really helped (felt good too!) Your hubby is sweet bringing you the grapes you asked for. I love my coffee too and I just read that women who drink 3 cups a day have a better memory as they get older. I can only have one cup of "real" coffee or I can't sleep the next night. I do enjoy one or two cups of tea as well.

Carol - Congratulations on the good review! You deserve all the praise. I don't know how you stay so slim with all those 'eating opportunities' you are surrounded by such as chinese lunches, apple pandowny, pizza etc. etc.! You must have great willpower. I hope some of it rubs off on me.

Judy - Sorry you're feeling a bit down and stressed . This too shall pass and you'll be feeling better again as soon as things start to even out with work, etc. I hope your doc has some answers for your knee pain. There's bound to be some bumps in the road on our weight loss journey, but we just have to kick the tires on that wagon and jump right back on!

Marie - I'll have to try some Almond Breeze in my coffee - I never thought of that. Thanks for the nice thing you said about me being talented in other areas than sewing. I tend to dwell on the things I 'can't' do sometimes, instead of concentrating on the positive things in my life. You're making some good food choices - it sounds like you're back on track.

I was a bit bummed this morning to see that I haven't lost any and in fact have gained another pound . Now that we're entering what I call the "carb season" I find it more and more difficult to eat healthy (or at least smaller portions). I need a good . Sometimes it's like climbing a ladder and sliding back down again aaaarghhhh! Thanks for letting me whine - I feel better now and will shake myself up and join Judy jumping back on the wagon!

Exactly Penny, it is like climbing a latter and flailing back down. But if it's only a few rungs, then it's probably ok. A couple years ago, I gave up. I could not lose weight (thank you bipolar meds) and I decided to just accept that I was to be fat. Got rid of the meds and about 8 months later tried "one more time" with Nikki here. 1.5 years later, I'm down 42 pounds. Not bad. But I do feel it's a struggle and sometimes it's not. The latter analogy is great.

Juls, I'm very happy for you that the shot has helped you feel a bit better. And I really glad your DH understood the difference between comfort and comfort foods. You cam up with a great idea for him to comfort you. I too just love grapes. But my stomch isn't too thrilled with them - very stinky if you get my drift.

Carol, way to go on the eval. I'm glad that you employer is still valuing you. The co-worker situation still needs to be resolved but at least you they they very much like you.

I did it. I started a fire in our wood stove. DH isn't home from cutting wood in the forest and I returned from an excursion to and fro over the mountain, (BTW Judy, I thought of you while driving about the little gnomes and stuff as I roared in my little sports car at about 75 miles per hour over the mountain pass). Anyway, I've never started a fire before (except candles). DH taught me a couple weeks ago and I sort of remembered. The house was chilly so I decided to take the plunge. I think I probably used a bit more newspaper to get it going than DH but it's toasty right now. I grabbed my laptop so I could surf and keep an eye on it while it took. I'm not sure it should have taken so long to start, but I don't care. My house is heating and I DID IT not DH.

Food was so-s0 yesterday. I was doing great. Dear Boss brought me the correct skinny decaf mocha and 6 bags of Dark Choc M&MS and flowers. I gave 5 of the bags away and the 6th is in my drawer at work. Then DS2 came at the end of the day and we decided to go to Starbucks till he had to go to work. So I had a THIRD coffee. I have one mocha per day. That threw off the cals as I still had my reg dinner and small cone. Oh well. I'm doing so-so today but the eating was planned so I'm ok with it. I took the Dear Doggies for a 1.5 mile walk in the dark. It was 32 out. Brrr. Snow has stuck on the mountains and higher elevation. If it keeps going, I'll have a great ski season this year.

Well, the fire seems fine so I'm going to go sew now.
TTY tomorrow.
Marie

Penny I am so glad I that my body kind of hides what I weigh at least it appears to. Because I am so active with daily life itself not much time to really do nothing nor is that my way of life most of the time. Busy busy helps me. I have gained over the past few months and not comfortable with the scales reading. Today I lost thank goodness another half of a lb. Wish it were more but its a start and I am not giving it back. Keep up trying and when we slip we can't stay there so lets go! Together we can all make a difference!

Marie you are right about the coworker I only hope in time she either stops her business or leads her to join the other two. She took off friday as a sick day thats unusal for her as winter is coming and her sick time might be needed for bad weather days. Maybe she is trying to use it up incase she leaves. Oh wishful thinking huh? I think the company has figured out and now understands when things were bad why etc. They won't let it go back to that neither will I. I have my boundaries and will keep them. Snakes as I refer to them can never be trusted much.
My day is starting off with oatmeal, dried cranberries, walnuts a dash of br. sugar and some apple pie spices. Oh so good. My girl friend whom had the stroke went to the drs. yesterday her blood pressure dangerously high stoke level. She needs to lose wt. and get that pressure down. The doctor said no eating past 6 p.m. unless its veggies or fruit. She came to ask me about healthier eating and of course I do have info. but sometimes forget to inforce its use on myself. So together we are trying to make positive changes in our health. It surprises me how people really don't have a clue about foods and fibers or no how to read a label. Guess its been something that over the years I got interested in because I had to and now enjoy learning more. Well together maybe we can all make a positive change in our wt. and well being. Have a great day I am off to a Folk Art Show at the fair grounds. Maybe a few christmas things to get.

Hi all, I've had a nice weekend. Jeff Gordon won the nascar race, the Packers won and so did the Vikings. A clean sweep! So at least sport wise it was good. Food wise, I've been ok but not good. Within reason. I brought the doggies out this afternoon and did a 2 mile walk. It was in the 70's and beautiful. Too bad so many of my neighbors are jerks about their dogs. There's a leash law here and they don't obey it. Only 3 dogs to contend with. I nearly let Kody loose so he could kick butt. I'm tire of stopping him. Truly, walking in the dark is easier but the warm weather was too hard to resist.

I cleaned and cleaned today. My floors, bathroom, kitchen and the dusting are done as well as the clothes. Now I'm just being a bum. To yoga or not to yoga is my pondering now.

So do you all think that true desires can ever really change? You know how you read that people that have lost loads of weight have made "permanent lifestyle changes". I don't believe it's possible. I do believe it's possible to continue to fight the natural desire to eat but not that it becomes natural. Penny got me started with the ladder thing and I chatted with DH about it. I pointed out how good I am 90 percent of the time, but 5 percent I'm battling and 5 percent I'm just plain bad. Like yesterday, I bought paper coffee cups. I wanted 20 oz but they had 24 oz cups. I had them in my hand. I talked myself back to the 20 oz knowing that my mocha recipe barely fits into 16 oz and I wanted room. If I bought 24 oz I'd make more and have more calories. I wanted the bigger one but I did end up buying the right size. Anyway, just shows me that the 18 months of good eating habits is not cemented. Since experts say it takes 6 weeks to cement a habit, I decided it would never be cemented. I like food and I like lots of it. What is cemented is that I want to keep fighting. It was one of those epiphanies. But then I argued with myself that the exercising is cemented. That habit has become part of me and that I really like it. OK I really like the endorphins and the eradication of bipolar meds. But I don't fight myself to do it - I just enjoy it. So what do you all think?
Marie

G,day ladies it sounds like you all had fare weekends, AND on your great eval Carol you are remarkable with all that you do you give me inspiration but then again all of you lovely ladies do I think it is great that your friend is concerned with her weight and health and has looked to you for support and and help with her food choices I know it can make a big difference when we can ask others for help and not feel judged because they have been where we are and know how we feel. I,m glad the scale was you friend today keep it up.

Hey Marie, wish I could get the cleaning bug I agree about the desire issue I think we can make changes to our life but I think it takes a lot of will power to make them permanent I think we are creatures of habit nothing just becomes a natural we have to keep focus and make sure we are aware that at times we will have slips. You don,t have much luck with your neighbours and their dogs some people just don,t give a dam but I bet if you did let Kody loose they would have something to say it makes me at some peoples thoughtlessness but it is good you had nice 2 mile walk WOW I wish I could get that far Congrads on the fire it is the little things we accomplish that make life goooood. LOL

Thanks Penny and Marie, the shot helped for all of 3 days the Doc says looks like Op inevitable Oh well it,s all good maybe he can slice some fat while he is at it Well DH is home today and made me a nice bacon and egg brekki dry fried I,m not sure about the rest of the day but I,ll try to be good hope your feeling better Judy catch you all later take care bye for now..JULS

Girls its not easy for any of us thats for sure when it comes to perm. cementing in our brains what should life be like without the effort behind it. The deciding what we should eat, drink, portions and last of all the exercise. Too bad it wasn't just natural for us like it seems to be for others. For myself I don't think it ever will be. Between my back problem this year and the hormones going crazy with menopause its close to a losing battle sometimes. I currently am helping my friend cause I do feel I know what to do but need to put it to practice more myself. The scale doesn't show it too much right now. So I need to get serious and kick some butt. Yes kick my own butt too! I have done better with my water intake, better food choices but still have managed to slip to much. I shopped yesterday for some foods of good choice making at Target. They had flaxseed pumpkin granola bars so I purchased them but decided to have them as a snack but only eat one. Tape the other up for the next time. I bought some dried aprcoits , cranberries etc. So I am trying to make the right choices but as you said it takes effort. I personnally think its a life time effort and we just need to learn that if we take a day off from it the next day we need to get right back on track. Cause one day leads to two days then a week etc. thats where I know I get in big trouble. I have to add some yogurt or dairy to my diet also as I am not a milk drinker. I love cheese but have to limit myself there.
Does anyone have a gazelle exercise machine. There suppose to be wonderful and work your whole body. I am thinking of checking the played again sports store and seeing if there are any used ones. They run between 180 - 290 for a new one. LET ME KNOW?
Well off to work and then for a walk after work today.

Caorl, I have a gazelle machine in my shed. I spent about 450 on it and it irritated my lower back. Not as I was doing it, but after using it a while, I would move doing something else and it would strain it. It took about 4 months of work to undo the little movements straining my back. I highly wouldn't recommend one. Now that you mention it, I should put it in the local newspaper for the Christmas shopping season. Sic it on someone else. I probably have a weak spot in my left lower back, but you couldn't pay me to try it again. On the bright side, it did not hurt my joints...

I had an ok food day yesterday. Certainly there was room for improvement as there will be today. I didn't yoga yesterday as the cleaning really irritated both wrists. But I walked the doggies this morning (in the dark even though I'm not going in to work until noon) without irritation of the neighborhood dummies. Then I practiced yoga. Now I'm sitting in front of another fire in the fireplace. I'm toasty warm. I did a better job starting the fire today - I cleaned out the soot stuff and voila, easy fire.

Juls, I'm sorry the shot didn't last longer. Go for the operation if it will have longterm relief. Life is too short to be in pain.

Well, that's about it for now. I'm going to sew then I suppose get ready for work. I have to teach a class this evening so that's why I'm home this morning. I refused to work a 13 hour day. Did it enough in my past - no longer when it can be avoided.
Marie

Hi, everyone! I was away this weekend (yes, again!) and so I'm missing a lot of the chatter on the thread. I'm taking my computer with me on this long trip coming up, so it should be easier to stay in touch. I can do some of this on a Blackberry, I guess, but it's not as much fun on the tiny screen!

Marie, your question about "true desires" is an interesting one. I think we can change some things--I know longer feel compelled to smoke cigarettes or indulge in other practices that were necessities back in my misspent youth. However, eating is different, 'cuz we gotta eat a few times a day, at least, to live. I could avoid most people and situations that I associated with the habit of getting plastered, for example, long enough to rewire my brain. But it's awful to hard to avoid the food traps and temptations that surround us all the time. So yeah, I'll probably always lust after baked desserts, although I've barely eaten any cake or bread since going gluten-free last November.

Carol, I'd ask folks on the exercise thread about the Gazelle. I've haven't hard much positive about it, except that it's cheap and lightweight...the negatives I've heard is that it's cheap and lightweight .

Jules, I hope you're feeling good today! It's not nice thinking about needing surgery, but it would be great to look forward to being more mobile and not in pain . Thanks for your words of encouragement.

Penny, I'm climbing back onto the wagon. This time of year always challenges me the most. It's so dark in the morning, before the time change, and dark in the evening, too (!), and cooler. I mostly want to sleep....I need to pull out my trusty slow cooker and make healthy soups and stews to appease the carb beast.

I'm still not on my game, but this morning I did a cardio salsa video, and that got me off to a fun start. Today I had a chicken b'fast sausage and oatmeal, later a little cottage cheese with strawberries and flaxseed, and for lunch a big salad with tuna.

Okay, back to work!

Marie - Your fire sounds so cozy and warm. I'm tempted to get our old wood stove checked out and use it this winter. It's in our family room and puts out so much heat with even one or two logs makes the room too hot (like 100 deg.!). I'll have to try some of the birch wood we have from a tree we had to take down last spring. Maybe that burns "cooler"?

Juls - I hope you're feeling better. That's funny about asking your doc to throw in a bit of lipo if you get your bursitis surgery. I think I'm a bit beyond lipo - I don't think they'd know where to start!

Judy - I'm going to follow suit and get my old crock pot out and make a few soups and stews. It's comfort food time (healthy kind).

Carol - That's good of you to help your friend make good food choices. Hey I'll kick your butt if you'll kick mine!

I had a busy day with a doctor's appointment in the morning for a small surgery and teeth cleaning in the afternoon with office work and a workout sandwiched in between. My dentist said I had "the gums of a 20 year old" - now if only the rest of me would get in line! .

Today was one of those days when everything just fell into place. I found a gorgeous grey sweater at a store next to my dentist's. The traffic was low, they played 5 in a row of my very FAVORITE oldies on the radio so I cranked it up, my mini-surgery didn't hurt much, my gums look good, I didn't have any urgent messages when I got home (DH is out of town so I'm minding the fort) and I bought some unusual bulbs that I got planted just before the rain started pouring down. I also put grass seed on all the patches I killed with the wrong weed killer (the bag had exactly the right amount of seed in it). I just made myself a nice gin and tonic and all is right with the world. Hope you had a good day too!

Marie thanks for that info and I respect your input highly. With my recent back issues maybe this is a no no for me as well and I do not want to risk it. I did manage to go to the lake after work and walk for appox. 40 min. part of it was even a little jog in two different areas. I feel pretty good tonight and was proud of myself for going today. Didn't go with anyone just said this is it and did it. Lots of other folks there etc. I felt the time went by pretty quickly for me. Then came home and made dinner with some of the dreamland protein healthier for you pasta and made some quick sauce and meatballs. So a pretty good day except for a piece of dark choc..... I did the stairs at work and walked hurray I broke the ice maybe I am on a roll. Lets hope so. I am feeling pretty good tonight and thought I would be really sore etc... We have more walking weather coming our way. I still have to stop at the gym the gazelle sounded good but not worth hurting myself again. With the gym I can use the pool and do equipment and classes. So it is a yes I am going to do it.
I guess the scale got me this a.m. and I just decided okay this is it!!!!! Time to kick this menopause crap in the butt. Sorry ladies but I have had it with hot flashes and feeling yuk!
Judy thanks for your input too. Boy glad I ck'd with you girls as I was thinking of not joining the gym for awhile but checking it out. Well now I know what I have to do. The ins. is giving me 300 towards the price and 15 a month is what I was paying before I am going to sign up this week with my nice buddy and coworker. It will be fun having a buddy system maybe we will get each other motivated at least 3 times a week. Glad you are taking your computer you are such a wandering lady I am jealous I love to travel. Have a safe trip!!!