Hi Gaylyn, we did miss you. Glad to see you back.

Jenfrus ... you have to get a couple of things for the wedding DONE DONE! And go to sleep thinging about what you've accomplished. A couple of weeks ago I dreamt that I missed hair, make-up and the ceremony. I showed up part way throught the reception. DH didn't even notice because he was supposed to say "Her mother nad I do" but forgot and just said "I do."
My daughter was mad! She didn't want me in the pictures.

I got shoes yesterday. I love them!

Today we should get the last of the decorations. The columns are painted. I think we have table favours to fix up. We're actually pretty together here.

And I WILL eat better today (no bud light).

Well my dress is almost done done, my shoes are done done, my earrings are now done done thanks to ebay. The cake is in hand (just have to ring her up to confirm), we've got our photographer sorted and the band and the venue + food... I know what I'm getting my bridesmaids as thank-you gifts! I just need to get their dresses, and I can't do that till I've been shopping with at least one of them! It's coming together but these bridesmaids are stressing me out! I think I'm worried about buying 3 dresses at £200!! I can cope with 3 at £100 and one at £65 but I think I might be pushing the budget at £200. I suppose I'll just have to put my foot down!

That must be British?!? Steph bought the girls (costume) jewelry but they have paid for their own dresses.

OMG that must be a British custom for the bride to buy the dresses! ... a hundred years ago when I was a maid of honour, I didn't even like the girl she didn't particularly like me either, she chose me because I had the $$ to buy the dress ... I paid for everything, I was 19 and naive, I don't know why I said yes ...

I am off and going to the gym now ... BAck later TTFN ...

Mornin ladies!!! Well, yesterday was fun fun fun!!! But very tiring!! We took my 6 yr old to her school zoo trip!! Then drove as fast as we could back home to pick up our 7 yr old from school. She had Bicycle City yesterday, so she could not go with us. :-( It was a close call!! I got to her classroom about 30 secs before the dang bell rang, lol. Good thing too, because I really dont think they wouldve let her bring her bike on the bus!! hahahaha Anyhoooo, I ate well yesterday, and my monthly is gone!!! YESSSSS!!!! I am down 3 lbs., whew!! Only 3 more to go to get back to where I was before my weekend of blissfull fun!! LOL. Not too bad I guess. I would like to be on target, but ya know, lol. Gonna try to eat well again today, and drink lots of water!!
Lucky......when I detox from my binges, I cut out all junk food, no fats at all, except for salad dressing and cheese. I eat nothing but salads and slim fast shakes. Plus I drink tons and tons of water. Like so much water I have to potty every 5-6 minutes!! It cleans out my system of the bads, and helps me lose what I had gained. Once my body is clean again, usually takes 3-4 days, I go ahead and eat small meals again with fats and carbs. But, this time will be different. I cant go back to that old routine again!! It wasnt helping me lose anymore weight, it was just helping me lose gained weight. SO, Now, I will cut fast foods out completely!! And I bought my foods for lunch and dinner, lasting me almost 2 weeks. I will not eat anything at all, thats not in my diet program, until the food is gone!! Hopefully this will give my body the right booster to put me back in the "losers" bracket!!! hahahaha I am tired of being in the "gaining vs. maintaining" brackets!! Wish me luck, lol, I will need it!!
Oh and 2frust..........Thanks for the dust!!! WOOHOOO, Hope its working, lol!!

Glad things are going well for you cha.

About the bridesmaid dresses, at least one was expecting to pay for her own - the mother of one is contributing some money. I just think it's a cheek asking your friends to be bridesmaids then getting them to stump up for the frock they wouldn't have needed if you hadn't asked them... I'd also like them to choose a dress that they'd wear again, so it's not just a wear once thing, more like a present they could wear again... Just the logistics of getting everyone agreed on the dresses and ordering them all will be hassle enough, the money will just be secondary!

Anyway, maybe I can suggest to go halves. They are buying their own shoes though!

The sun is shining here, I don't want to work, I want ICE CREAM and I'm looking forward to going to the gym!

Well, yesterday worked out just fine. I did end up a little over on calories but nothing horrid. It certainly could have been a lot worse considering how I was feeling.

Last night on WE I caught and episode of "The Secret Lives of Women" which followed three women with eating disorders. One was a compulsive overeater, one anorexic, and the other a former anorexic who now binges. I have to tell you, it was really hard for me to watch but I'm glad I did. I saw a little bit of myself in each one of them. They showed a clip of the comulsive eater going driving through Burger King. I actually felt anger towards this woman and then, while wathing her eat, my anger turned to disgust. Now that isn't like me. I really am a very compassionate person and not usually at all judgemental. The it hit me - it wasn't HER bringing out those feelings it was knowing that I used to be that way. I was angry and disgusted with MYSELF. It was real eye opener to see exactly what these behaviors look like, something that was easy enough to avoid when they were MY behaviors. If you have WE, I highly suggest trying to catch it.

2frus, that wedding of yours is going to be just fine. And, Susan, so is yours! Of course, I'm glad it isn't ME dealing with it all! LOL.

Lucky~~I watched a show similar to the one you watched. I too was horrified by the binging. Then I realized I am the same way(if I let myself). The binging is the whole reason I have gained and relost the same 8 lbs over and over again. I recognize the cycle now and vow to break it. Just thinking of the show is motivation enough.

Glad everyone seems to be doing really well. I best run and make lunch for the kiddies.

Gaylyn

Everyone seems to be in good spirits!! and so am I... It's a gorgeous day here... I've just finished a 5k hill run, before that I went to the gym to do some back and biceps but the biceps took the back burner because for some reason I have a sore elbow. This started the day after biking 15k, so I'm thinking that it may be because I was leaning on my arm that was overly extended? I dunno, but it's a PITA when you really really want to do bicep curls ...

2F -- PLEASE REPORT BACK THAT YOU DID NOT HAVE THAT BLOODY ICE CREAM Remember your own moto.... " Eat rubbish, FEEL rubbish! "

I think our Jenfrus is just a really nice gal. Generous with her friends

I think I hit a wall today gals. I can hardly keep my eyes open. My neck and shoulders are killing me. Enough driving for errands! The children have given me the go ahead to nap and they seem to have supper underway. I can already feel some of the tension ebbing away.

Take care of that elbow Ilene.

Ilene I did NOT EAT THAT ICE CREAM! I had oats with cold milk and a pear and Splenda - lots better And yes, take care of your elbow, it might be from the biking

It's SO here today - I'm actually HOT in the office! I'm usually the one bundled up in 3 jumpers but I think I may have aclimatised to my lower-fat body

I did chest and tris yesterday - but my bis are still aching from Tuesday

Just for those gals who love cereal in the morning, but can't justify it because of the high-carb/low-protein. This morning I had 1/2 C oats, with 1/4 C dried skimmed milk and 1/2 C skimmed milk. Gives you about 260kcals and 25% prot and tastes soooooo creamy! I suppose you could do the milk + dried milk on any cereal to boost the protein. Just a thought! Anyway I have a nice musli this afternoon, oats, dried milk, dried cranberries, raisins and pumpkin seeds

I'm feeling less stressed about my bridesmaid frocks, I have agreement from one on the nice frock I was looking at, so I just have to talk one round, then I'm sure another will be happy with whatever, she just about said so! Hurrah!

Jen for not eating the ice cream

Happy Friday Eve! I've been in an annoyingly good mood this week and I'm lovin' it! I really think it has to do with the increase in my exercise..."they" were right all along about exercise helping with depression. We had a lot of rain yesrerday evening, so I just hung out at the gym and did some extra time on the treadmill. The last two days my food has been excellent too. Tomorrow we are having a retirement party for a co-worker and there will be cake involved...must resist cake....then on Sat. eve, I'm going to a going away party for a friend....So, some challenges coming up.

I hope everyone is doing well. It is so great to read about everyone's challenges and successes!!!

Elizabeth

Hey Elizabeth!

Who knew about that exercise stuff actually making us FEEL good! Wierd eh?

Friday Eve, that's a good one! I'm still thinking it's Tuesday for some reason!

Hello Ladies!!!

I am pretty new to posting here but have been reading posts for about a month or so. You gals are all GREAT! I love reading your posts! Anyway.. a little about me.... I am 32, 5'4", I have two beautiful kids my son is 4 1/2 and my daughter is 2 1/2. When I delivered my daughter I went into the hospital weighing about 185 (Oct of 2003). I was somehow able to get some of the weight off and down to 156 pounds by March of 2005. Then I took another 10 pounds off from March of 2005 to May of 2005 to put me at 146. I did that by watching what I ate. I managed to keep it off all year and then I started really exercising and tracking what I ate this March of 2006 and I am now at 137 pounds.. but I have been bouncing back and forth between 137 and 139 for about 3 or 4 weeks.... So I am wondering... how long have you all been "almost there"? How long have you stayed at the same weight and how many pounds are you still needing to lose????
I keep my calories at about 1200 - and I am thinking that based on what I used to eat that is about a third of what I was consuming. and pretty much maintaining my weight.. I also did not exercise at all.. and now I try to exercise about 4 days a week 30 to 45 min a day .. and I do some weight training about 3 to 4 days a week.. and I walk 38 flights of stairs to my office 5 days a week... and it seems that I should be 20 pounds less by now..not 9 pounds.... is it this hard because I am getting so close to goal now???
HELP!!!!
Hugs....