Hi there! Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Mandey - It was only when I had children that I only truly began to appreciate what a wonderful woman my Mom was. My Dad was career Air Force and my Mom raised us as a single Mom many times while Dad was deployed. My husband helps me tremendously with the kids, cooking, laundry, etc. I just couldn't imagine doing this without his help every day and just not having his companionship. Thanks for being there for your Hubby. I know its must be rough sometimes.

Melissa, how is your Hubby?
Southern Momma - Congratulations! 4 pounds lost is amazing!
Oolong - I also can't wait for the next challenge to begin!
Purple - I envy you for being able to work on your flower beds and landscaping! That is my dream for my house...Hubby couldn't care any less about the outside of the house. My neighbor surprised me today with a gift of a pink crepe myrtle tree that he didn't want. He even planted it for us. This is my first planting at my new house and I'm one proud Mama! Hubby thinks all of this money saving stuff I'm doing is so that we can get out of debt and take a trip to Florida to visit family and friends. It doesn't know that I'm also planning on re-doing my front flower beds and creating an "island" in the front lawn this fall.

Yesterday, I finally went to the doctor and got on some antihistamines. It seems that the cold and sinus medicine I've been taking has too much decongestant and not enough antihistamine. Taking too much decongestant makes the stuffiness even worse...kind of a rebound effect. If I take a good antihistamine, it will stop the process at the beginning. So, I doled out the money for the anithistamine...almost $30! He said that the pollen counts can get as high as 4000 for April and May and we've only reached 2000. He also recommended I close the windows and turn on the air conditioner. Nope...uh uh...not gonna happen. I'm saving much more than $30 by turning the air off.

Our new puppy is sick. We got him from the Human Society two weeks ago and he started showing signs of kennel cough within 3 days. Last night, I noticed that his breathing was very labored and he's dropping weight. The vet was able to fit him in this morning...Thank Goodness! Looks like the kennel cough has triggered a secondary infection around his lungs. They gave him an antibiotic shot and a B12 shot and I have antibiotic pills to give him for the next two weeks. The vet said that he's seen dogs with this kind of fluid that passed away two to three days later. I've said some major prayers over this little guy and I'm happy to say that he seems a bit better. He's eating a lot today and is up a bit more. Hopefully, he will make a full recovery.

Tonight is Ladie's night in the neighborhood. I'm not sure what I'll be having for a "beverage" but I guess I need to be extra careful with the anithistamines. Darn! Last time, we had something called Electric Lemondade. That was some pretty delicious stuff!




Well, I'm quite the chatty one today. I better go get ready. I'll check back in tomorrow.

I will weigh in next Saturday morning too. That's as close to a month between weigh ins as I can get with the deadline. I think I've maintained. I'm okay with that because I've finally realized I can't drop weight fast anymore. I used to lose weight easily but now my body is holding unto this weight for dear life. Also why I know I need to really get off my lazy a.. and exercise. I'm working on a game plan now. It includes possibly actually utilizing my gym membership *gasp* *what?*...

HRM ladies--I'm thinking of getting the Polar F6. Thoughts? The F11 looks too fancy dancy for me. Too much complication and it will catch dust. I was actually looking at the F4 until I noticed that the F6 chest strap is coded and good for using at the gym and also the ability to be able to go to a website for your all of your complied info.

Hi I am still around. Will be back as soon as I can to try to read up about 10 pages, lol! Hugs, Selina

ps just tons going on, but im still in on the challlllllenge!!!!

Hello Bluesers, Blacksters, Redsies and Newbies! Hope everyone is having a great Saturday!

Blues
Sorry that I disappeared towards the end of the challenge. The old Blue chat thread has the details, but the important part is that I'm back. Been back on plan for 5 days and am ready to start the next challenge. I think I've managed to come back with most of my sanity, but we'll just have to see how it goes.

Newbies
You will find these ladies (wait, were there any men left after the last challenge?) a most supportive and inspiring group. Together, they are a bevy of beauty, knowledge, experience and empathy. I've missed you all these past 4 weeks.

This thread is 37 pages in, so there's no way I'm going to try to do any personals, but there was so much chatter about hula hooping in the first 7 pages that I'm thinking of getting one. Between that and my belly dancing, I can whittle away my middle while having loads of fun! I sound like a cheesy infomercial.

Anyway, off to Starbucks for my daily Tall Soy Sugar-Free Something or Other Latte. I don't think it's possible for me to order coffee in 5 words or less anymore. So very sad, ain't it?

Have a beautiful every day all!

Sonja, I read what you said in the other thread! I'm so sorry you had to go thru all that, girlie! My life has been hectic and trying all last challenge so hope that during this one, life goes easier on me. Glad we are both back for this challenge tho! Love everyone here!! Biggg hugggssss to you.

Rhonda, sorry to hear about your baby puppy. Hope its better soon. So sad when they are sick, it's like having a sick baby. You just gotta get them better!

Mandey, I truly admire any woman who can raise their kids and miss their hubby for that many months at a time. I bet it helps to stay busy!!! Glad you joined us here. Tell him we all said Thank You for the important job he does too.

Melissa, hope ur dh is better. Sending you a big hug.

Chellez, Imma go make sure me and dh are signed up! I know we did but better make sure!!!

I have been slacking and am off plan last two days so I KNOW it's up but will prolly weigh in early anyway. Needa get this party started!!!

Imma be doing WATP all the time. I might hafta do it late at nite or early in a.m. but I WILL DO IT!!!!!!! I am soooooooooooooo excited it's finally here!!!!

Hugssssssssssss, Selina

Made a great Easy Chicken Alfredo of sorts tonight. The sauce was 1 c milk, 1 c FF cottage cheese, 2 T flour, 1/2 t garlic powder, minced onion to taste, 1 clove garlic, S&P to taste all blended in a blender and then add 1/2 cup Parm cheese to it. Fairly low in calories compared to the original version. Whole family loved it. Mixed in cubed chicken, steamed broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, as well as fettuccine and topped with thin slices of red bell peppers. Everyone loved it. Definitely not the rich, buttery, creamy stuff you'll get at Olive Garden, but we thought it was good.

Oh Nori that does sound good and easy enough that even I can't jack it up. I've been teeter tottering close to that binge line but BF is here now he can keep me occupied !

I am planning to slowly work my way through Jillian's podcasts. I can't figure out how to subscribe to the feed without subscribing to all of the Sunday shows. Oh well I will just keep the link on my favorites and download it on Mondays. Simple enough.

i have my treadmill that hubby bought me off craigslist....but i also have several WATP dvds, as well as her upper/lower body & abs workout dvds and the pilates dvd. my friend in GA has been doing pilates since having her son two years ago, and she smaller now than before having him.....need to find out which pilates she has been doing?! i want it
think i might do some WATP miles during the week as well as my treadmill miles but only when no one is downstairs, i'm self conscience about ppl watching my do the WATP...lol dunno why?! might be a good way to bump up my weekly miles and also burn more calories, so can do one in the morning and the other later in the afternoon when i get time

Mandey - do you sell Part*Lite (not sure if that's a censored word here) candles? I love their stuff. I just noticed the line by your pic. You're so pretty, BTW. As far as pilates goes, I like Winsor Pilates. I haven't done them for awhile now, but when I do I feel and see results quickly. I especially love her Bun&Thigh Sculpting DVD. And my girls do it beside me on the floor - it's all floor exercises.

Shay - stay strong!!!!!! You're an inspiration to me. I have the same demons. It makes a huge difference when someone else is around!!

no i dont...i sell heather's Home candles (formerly known as Bittersweet Candle Co), but still do carry the bittersweet candles, as well as max chandler (luxury soy) candles.....i've been doing it for over a year...it also helps with my candle addiction LOL

Thanks for asking girls! My dh is doing so great! Got the feeding tube removed yesterday, tolerating his food pretty well. He's getting his last antibiotic treatment this evening then they just need to watch him for 24 hours to make sure no fevers break out and then they think he can come home!! Today is 21 days in the hospital I think we are all ready for this nightmare to finally be over!

Melissa--That's great news! I know everyone is ready to have him at home.

Mandey--I agree with Nori. Winsor Pilates is the way to go. I have a few of her dvd/vhs and I really like them. You can feel them working. My mom is very fit and enjoys exercise and did Winsor Pilates and lost 12lbs even though she was only wanting to maintain.

Nori--Thank you! I made it through the night.

Hi everyone! I keep meaning to stop over here before the challange starts and well, I'm running out of time!

I look forward to getting to know everyone!

Hello everyone! I'm new at this challenge, really looking forward to do it. I only have 24 pounds to lose, but it's so hard, hopefully I'll do it better when I have to get god numbers on the scale for a whole team =)

Oh, Hun E, honey, that is great news.

Well, I have not been paying close attention to what I eat, and I have a feeling I am going to start the challenge up from where I ended the last one. Too many unchecked grains. I also got a new scale which has somehow made me fatter. Mine old one was closer to the one at the doc's office, so I may keep using it. Can't decide.

In other news, a new book is out called The Green Food Bible, and the author pretty much echos what I say around here all the time: Stop putting money into the pockets of people who are poisoning you.

Great food books for your challenge:

The Writing Diet by Julia Cameron

In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

Omnivore's Dilemma by Michale Pollan

Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

What to Eat by Marion Nestle (OK, ANYTHING, by Marion Nestle)

Food Fight: The Citizen's Guide to Food by Daniel Imhoff

Remember, you also can buy these at audible.com and put them on your iPods!

Websites to help you with food choices:

http://www.themeatrix.com/

http://www.localharvest.org/


Happy healthy eating!