Catherine....we were posting a tthe same time....WOW....have an awesome day tomorrow, sounds like a blast! I can't wait to read tomorrow how it was!
cheeriooo
rainbowsmiles

Afternoon everyone!

Just popping in to say Hi from cold, icy, soggy New England! Blech! I am usually a glass half full kind of gal, but this winter is really making me think its half empty! Enough already..Uncle! I am crying Uncle! I can't take this weather anymore! <whew...that felt good!> Seriously, I am here at work and wondering just how much water can seep into my basement before I get home at 5:00 Pm <sigh> Oh well...can dryvaccing and mopping consititute exercise? I sure hope so!!

Rainbow:

Thank you for such a booster!! My feelings towards my step-sister have really subsided a lot...she is who she is and I am who I am...and I have accepted that. I know that I am blessed and loved by my family unconditionally...regardless of what comes out of her mouth..she is a twit. What cracked me up was after I had lost a lot of weight on WW the first time around....her grandmother came to ME to ask ME how to get her to lose weight. I wasn't touching that one...no way!

As far as goal setting...another thing I LOVE about my WW leader is that she doesn't talk to us about goal weights. She has us set 5 lb. goals. And after each 5 lbs, the next goal is 5 lbs less. Shorter smaller goals are easier to attain and we feel less like failures trying to reach them. My current goal is to be able to wear a cute top I got at Target and not have it be stretched to the limit when I wear it (which is why it still has the tags on it). I want to be able to wear it comfortable and look cute in it and not feel crammed in.

Sigh....

BE GOOD TO YOURSELVES!!!

Carol, yum that sounds so good!!
The DDR is going fine. We have unlocked some of the different venues, and with each one, it gets harder and harder. We are still on Basic, but with unlocking more stuff, it also puts more steps in, even on basic. I doubt we will ever be good enough to get to difficult. Those look super hard. My brain doesn't comprehend some of the moves when there are arrows going everywhere. I hope you get one though, it's truly fun and it does make you work up a sweat. Just go to beginner, go to options and turn everything off til you can get your feet moving. Then slowly add things back in.

Ah Ratkity, I'm sorry you're feeling so low. I would of thought your sis losing weight would of really made you get up and take action. With everything going on in your life right now, maybe it's just best to try and maintain til some things pass. my friend!!

Annie, YAY for you on your teaching the class. I'm sure you did a great job and people learned alot. I hope your company gets the contract. It would probably be alot less stressful for you all when you find out.

Catherine, have a good time and get as silly as you want to. You deserve it!

rainbowsmiles, YAY! on the 4 lbs gone forever!!!! I used to not set goals because I would always sabotage myself, so I just started doing what I could and not totally focus on the goal, but on losing the pounds. I've been doing this since last April, and I made a few of my goals, I'm on my 4th now to get to 275, but I don't put a time limit on myself. I just make it that I want to get there, ...sometime. I made a goal of 1200 minutes of exercise though, and I'm determined to make it. I DID make my exercise goal last month, and if you ask anyone here, that was huge for me. I actually didn't even really start exercise until this year. I just wasn't ready for it until now. So goals are good, just don't set a time frame. At least that is what works for me.
My WI is on Friday, and I expect to move it BIG TIME if I keep up the results I've seen this last week. I can't wait til tomorrow!!! Wow, did I say that??? Things are pretty much good here. My son is still writing me emails, trying to make me say I'm guilty of everything. I think he would blame me for world hunger if he could. I just write back, in a calm way, explaining things. Someday I hope he will realize it was how I felt at the time, I had to talk about it to someone, and that's just how it happened.
Thanks for asking though.

Well I'm gonna go get some stuff done and then do my DDR. My hubby has pooped out on me the last couple of days, so I do it alone but that's ok, I'm still movin' and groovin'.
Debbie

Rainbow-I've been looking at the same two sentences on my report pretty much all day. I keep coming back to it, and then getting up to go do something else. I'm going to get out of the house instead. Looks like there is a break in the snow, so I'm going to the mall to walk around. I'm in an all out PMS rage, and if I don't get out soon, they will be finding dead bodies under the snow come spring thaw.

Just a quick hello from me! My husband is back on Friday - he is away for 12 days so I should have a bit more time to read & post after that.

Rainbow - I like setting goals but am nervous about setting a timeframe in case I get disappointed. My target this year is to maintain a 2lb per week average loss. I started out on my birthday so am aiming to lose 100lbs on time for my next birthday. (I have rounded down the 104lbs to 100lbs) I am looking forward to being able to have a ticker on here so I can see the slider move. This is what helps keep be focused and aiming for that 2lbs each week, which I suppose are my short term goals. I will not, however allow myself to be disappointed if I don't reach this target. 1st priority is to stop gaining weight, any loss after that is a bonus. I remember reading about setting goals (apologies if you know this already) they need to be SMART

Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Time-based

Congratulations on the 4lbs lost – great result. Good luck with your ‘birthday’ target, I will look forward to celebrating you getting into the 200s for it!

It is past my bedtime – good night everybody!


Róisín

Hi everyone,

I think I am coming down with a cold. I hope it's not a flu or anything...but the sneezing and dragginess are happening now. Ugh. There is so much to do...can't be sick.

My weight is still up, and I've had a couple of good and a couple of whats-the-use days. Could my body weight really be stuck here? I am way too big to have my body settle in at this weight. I don't need to be thin, but I'm still very obese, or whatever it's called! I've been here for almost 2 months.

The company I interviewed with on my trip is still pursuing me for the next steps. I'm flying to meet with the CEO in 2 weeks. I just sent some writing samples to the hiring manager, as well.

Peggy, have fun (haha) in your basement. I hope the problem isn't as big as you fear.

Julee: Accepting my family members for who they are was a freeing and wonderful thing. I stopped expecting them to be different. We're all happier now. I have pretty strong boundaries, but other than that, my expectations of them are in line with who they are.

Debbie: you're inspiring me with your devotion to exercise and your eating plan lately.

Ratkity: Hugs, hon. I'm sorry you are having a bad time of it. I know how a terrible boss can make life miserable. I hope your mother can get her BP under control. Have you done anything fun lately?

Catherine: Some days the words don't flow. I hate that. Other days, they spring forth like a volcano (or something). FInd a good target for your PMS rage.

Annie: You seem to be doing great at your job, handling negative people and taking on new responsibilities. I bet they love you there.

Seven: When I coach my clients to set financial goals, I use the SMART guidelines with them.

Rainbow: congrats on the loss. I, myself, do not set time-delimited weight loss goals. I focus on what is in my control. Eating and exercise are within my control. If I had set a time goal these past two months, I would have been a failure, because I have not lost any weight, despite my efforts. However, I have been successful at eating well and keeping up with my exercise so I feel great, even if the scale isn't cooperating. Had my test been x lbs., I would have missed out on the successes I did achieve.

Having said that, if setting date goals works for you, go for it.

Carol: Glad the scale is moving again. I don't consider 2 or 3 weeks a plateau, because I regularly go 2-4 weeks without a loss, but I know how frustrating it can be to try and try, and not see progress for that amount of time.

Hi all,

I feel rambly....so watch out.

I got my tooth fixed Monday, so that was good. Had a sore jaw yesterday, it's better today. But, now a cold has started to take root. Poo stick. I am tired of being miserable though...so I am done with that. While at work today, I was thinking "I sure wish I could get healthy and lose weight". Then it hit me. I CAN be healthy. Is someone holding a gun to my head, making me eat? (as a note, the answer is no) I was doing ok for a while, and had a yummy treat on occasion. The occasion has turned into every minute of the day. To the point that I don't even really enjoy it as a treat, because I eat it bad things all the time. So, I am done with this crud. I can control my eating, I just need to be more responsible. I can be responsible for so many things in my life....why is it I would think I don't have to be responsible for my actual life? Duh. So, I truly hope this news flash (to me anyway) gets me up and going. It could be helping that it got to 60 degrees today. Tomorrow we are expecting snow, but I am enjoying the brief warmth.

Now, let me try some personals....

Ratkitty...you have been an inspiration to me for a long time now. Remember, take care of yourself while trying to care for your mom. As far as your boss goes....in your mind say "you are a poo stick" everytime they annoy you. Note....say this in your head only, because bosses don't really like being called a poo stick.

Battle...your life is surely moving. And at some point, so will your weight. I look at your weight and think "I sure wish I weighed that"...but I don't, and you do. And do you know why you do? Because you worked you butt off for every pound. Even if it never moves again (and it will...in the downward direction)....you have come a LONG way baby.

Annie...I hope you get the contract or don't....whichever it is you want to have happen. Getting up at 4am to work out? At 4am, I am still inspecting the drool on my pillow with my eyes closed.

Catherine...good luck with the PMS. From one tooth breaker to another....avoid the chocolate.

Debbie...you are a DDR queen. Not sure if I ever told you, but my in-laws live in WA. It's beautiful there. They live in Poulsbo. The back of the house looks out over Puget Sound and you can see Mt Everest. What beauty. Congrats on living in such a lovely place.

Rainbowsmiles...good lord, you may be the most positive person in all of the land. Personally, I am a pessimist...wait, I am a realist. Just kidding. I cannot imagine being so optimistic all the time. Growing up I always expected the worst, and I could never be disappointed. I still do that some, much to my DH's dismay. He isn't always an optimist, but let's just say I am the contingency planner of the century. We will have a plan to do something and I will always say "but what if....happens?". Poor boy, I wear him out!!

Carol...always good to see you posting. I love your flybys.

Heather_DW...I have nothing I can add to the sympathy everyone has given. The good news is...you can lose the weight, and greatly increase your chances of getting pregnant. The bad news is....there are many reasons for people not getting or staying pregnant. A good friend of mine tried "naturally" for about 5 years, found she and her hubby has some issues, did 3 artificial inseminations, and then 5 (I think) in vitros. What do they have to show for it? Triplets!!! I know it's horribly costly, and they were fortunate to have great jobs that provided fabulous health insurance.

Nancy...we haven't heard from you lately...have we? Or am I just forgetful. Hope the date tomorrow goes well!!

OK, that's a long post for me. So, I am gonna git goin.

Take care and be well,
Angie

Hi all -

I don't post much... but I read often. Not sure anyone really knows who I am though besides Nancy, but I though I'd pop in for an update.

It's been slower going the past few months I think I've lost 10 since the beginning of December, but considering I was up to 232 post holidays I would say things are going well. I'm now into size 16 pants and now weigh less then I have in 15 years so I'm really really happy with where I'm at now.

I began running in the beginning of Jan and now I'm up to doing 3 minute intervals (3run/2walk) and I ran for 30 minutes total today. Who the heck invaded my body? I've NEVER been able to run so even though my 30mins wasn't straight I'm astounded I can manage to do that much.

Rainbow - "How do all of you feel when you set a goal like that?" I'm not a goal setter. I rather not set myself up for disappointment like that because the body doesn't work like clockwork and you can do everything right and sometimes the scale just doesn't play nice... I have goals I just don't have dated deadlines.

Hi Peeps - everybody ready for tomorrow? Historically Valentine's Day has been a rough one for me - all the sweet stuff - not this year. Tonight we actually went to buy either a Wii or PS2 for DDR - HE REMEMBERED - I think neither of us were in the buying mood so we'll figure it out and go back maybe over the weekend. Funny - seems like I am getting a lot of exercise now with my current routine - but it would be fun to do something else at times.

We also are postponing the special Valentine's dinner until the weekend. We always have lobster tail and I want to be able to enjoy the time rather than a rushed, after workout dinner, when he needs to go to work in the morning.

Missing lots of you - hope you are lurking and well.

Hugs to you all,
Carol

I burned off my PMS at the mall without resorting to bloodshed.

Hy guys, I'm still sad about the baby stuff. I am just trying to make a conscious effort to *not* be negative. I actually think I've been in a mild depression for a few years now. I had just thought maybe I was getting more cynical with age, but I think it's something more. A lot of my thinking patterns don't seem normal and seem really negative.

I finished a baby blanket for a worker of hubby's and started on a little wrap shirt. I'm officially down 10 pounds now. It doesn't seem like alot but that's two packages of flour and that's heavy! I'm trying to tell myself that by the time my sister is having her baby, I should be much skinnier and maybe I won't be far away from my own baby. Who knows! When I think one of my negative thoughts, I've been stopping myself and re-directing. I hope that helps me some and I hope I continue to lose weight. I haven't been exercising since I've been sick and I'm eating about 2k calories a day and mostly getting my water in, but I'm still losing so yay!

Good morning Peeps

Catherine - retail therapy? Have a great time tonight - sounds like you will be beautiful, as always. Enjoy your swim today. Not sure if I told you I spoke to my trainer about the water classes you mentioned - the spinning and kickboxing - he is researching - apparently in the spin class only your legs are in the water - I told him I would still need a seat belt not to mention a saddle seat.

Angie - hey great to see you.

Heather dw - good morning and hugs to you my fellow show me stater.

Remember today, on this greatest day of love, to love yourselves. It's the first step - we can't expect others to love us until we are comfortable in our own selves and then we can truly give. I love this in yoga when after the practice is done and you are relaxed, roll on your side and hug yourself. Hope everyone will hug themselves today.

Now - after the hug, move your bodies, drink your water and SMILE.

Guess what? Hugs,
Carol

Remember hugs are very therapeutic.

YAY! -1.6 last night....any loss is a victory so I am happy. Our beautiful warm sunny weather disappeared last night. I left work and it was cold and grey and looked like rain. I of course was wearing "light" clothes for WI so thankfully i had my new sweater...big thick chunky-knit zip-front cardigan...in the car. Whew.

Hubby bought me pink tulips...they are darling and so is he.

Happy THURSDAY!!!