I'm new to the board but so glad I've found this place!just wanted to say hello to everyone and let you all know how inspirational you are! I'm just getting back on track to get healthy and trying to just overall made better choices. In the past 3 days I haven't drank any of my calories...thats huge for me as a 'former' soda/pop/coke lover!

Hi Everyone,

I will be back soon. Thanks for the support. I have just been feeling so, so weak and it is not fun. I haven't been doing much of anything at all just watching TV and reading. I need to get moving but don't have much get up and go. lol.

Welcome to all the new people and I am looking forward to getting to know you all.

Lindy: Big hugs sweetie. Hang in there.

Sorry no other personals right now but just am too tired. I'll be back though.

Oh, Luan: You look so beautiful!

blessings all,
Annie

Hey everyone!!! sorry i have been MIA for the past couple of days... was out of town.... dreadful journey... just got back... anyways will read up as soon as i can and get back!!!

i hope everyone is doing well!!!!!

Sameen

annie! you look amazing

Happy Friday!!!

Welcome Newbies - a big "Hey Y'all" to dear old friends!

Thanks for all of your kind thoughts. I am adjusting to my 'empty nest' and beginning to think about what God has planned for the next phase of my life. Maybe taking care of myself will be my next mission.

My knee is finally getting better. The ice packs did help.
I am actually grateful for my fall as Dear Husband feels so guilty about yelling at me when I got hurt that he is letting me ask for any groceries I want tomorrow, so I can stock up my fridge with healthy food and I will be able to be on a healthy eating plan for the first time - starting tomorrow! :]
I am going to try Doug Kaufman's diet. It is low carb. and allows lots of organic veggies, some fruits, lean grass-fed meat, etc.

My lupus is flaring up - but that is because we are trying to wean me from the prednisone after 16 years. My new doctor believes it will be easier for me to lose weight when I am not on the steroids, but it is a slow- painful process to get off of them after so long. So, I can't type too much -it hurts.

I do want to leave you with a thought that reflects my philosophy:

"I like living-
I have sometimes been wildly despairing,
acutely miserable, wracked with sorrow,
but through it all I still know quite certainly
that just to be alive is a grand thing.
Agatha Christie

Quick post...

Cracking open young thai coconuts and sitting down for a moment before I go back and make a crust, then I gotta blend BLEND BLEND to make the filling. I'm making a raw coconut cream pie with a layer of bananas on the bottom. Perhaps it will be good. Dunno yet. *shrugs*

So far hacking away at coconuts has been a bit fun! I'm tired though...I want to go back to bed and hormonal. Yeah TOM sucks...

Today I'm making a pie thing...if that doesn't work out I have a plan B, strawberry pie..raw. So far it is working out... I'm making a raw corn and cucumber salad with mini bell peppers to add color. Then I'm making a rainbow cabbage (red and green) salad with a ginger type dressing. Dunno on that one yet.

Drew up illustrations for the kids, got presents, treat bags...blah blah. I should take pictures haha. *HUGS*

BF and I are doing "okay" but I think our talk has settled things down for the time being. You all are right, I DO need to move on, but I'm totally not ready yet. I feel a bit trapped right now, but I'm sure we all feel that way at times. I think part of my depression issues stems from this relationship. *Sighs* Now today is "play happy family" which I did for years and years with my parents...I hate that. I'm sure you all know what i mean ,but I'll make the best of it. The thing is I"m too nice. Then I allow people to treat me poorly. I need to learn how to stand up on my own two feet. I used to, long ago, but it is like a distant memory now. Blah...

*SUPER HUGS*

Howdy all...

Welcome to all the newbies.

Jacquie: Cracking coconuts sounds hard? lol I just learned how to cut up a real pineapple lol

As for me: Yesterday had a BBQ at my sisters. My mother and aunt who just got out of prison was there. It was ok. It is so weird now when I am around them. Its like I am there..but not..like I am watching someone elses life. I am so disconnected from them now. It is a good thing..just weird. My brother did have a fit! He took his rock band over and the kids were having a great time playing it. Then everyone went swimming so my brother doesnt swim so he stayed behind to play by himself. Well my sisters lovly husband said to my brother..man its family time..are you just gonna sit there and play video games all day. I was at the dining room table with my hubby. Next thing I know my brother is ripping out the plugs and packing it up and was calling a cab. UGH! We ended up leaving an hour later and cab was still not there so I took him home.

My brother can act like a big ole baby. BUT my sisters hubby can be an *** too. I looked at hubby and said maybe we should consider moving to colorado or oregon again LOL

LAST night I had such bad pains in my stomach again. Hubby thinks it is gas. All I know is for about an hour I was in pain! I really thought about going to ER. Then I had a dream that my oldest died in a plane crash and I seen it on tV!!! Not a good night by far!

STARTING A DIET BEFORE A HOLIDAY....

People in my life are struggling with my decision to begin what I am praying is a lifetime of healthy eating now - right before a holiday.
I have chosen to skip the infamous 'last meal' where I stuff myself with as many fat filled, highly caloric foods as possible before embarking on my 'final' diet. There is always something - a birthday, a graduation, a holiday to celebrate on our calendar and for my family celebrate means food. So, I have decided to go ahead and being eating in a healthy way no matter what the day on the calendar brings. We can still celebrate. We're having chicken breast on the grill instead of fatty ribs. We're having green tossed salad instead of potato salad, green beans instead of baked beans, greek yogurt with fresh blueberries instead of blueberry cobbler with ice cream. I am actually going to sit on a chair in the kitchen and try to help cook. This will be the first time in 2 1/2 years.

JACQUIE - I'm just beginning this journey and if your recipes work I'd love to try them sometime if you don't mind sharing. Hopefully you will have some good times with the celebrations this weekend. Do what you can live with. You will get back to the place where you feel strong enough to move on.

JENN- I wouldn't worry too much about the cake - joining Curves will take care of that - and yes, the long weekend will be enjoyed.

ALICIA - I am bed-bound with lupus and until this weekend could not diet as my family only brought me fast food. I switched soda (Dr Pepper was my drink of choice) with water - and I lost 40 pounds just by cutting out soda and making a few other small changes to diet.

SAMEEN - Glad you are back - hope things are better now that you are home.

ANNIE - Keep resting and get stronger! Love you.

Have a great weekend!

Lindy

Lindy - I always do the "last meal" thing too! But you don't have to deprive yoruself at celebrations - one good thing about being at a high weight is that you can still eat quite a bit and lose. I mean, you can work the odd piece of cake or what have you in, if you find it hard to deprive yourself. If I make myself go without certain things for too long, it makes me crave them which alost always leads to a binge!

Cyn - Your fam sounds stressful! Mine is always a lot of drama too. I dread holidays!

Jacquie - Yum! I love coconut!

Doggies doing well! My wallet - not so much!

I won't be around as much because I have temporarily disconnected my internet. I never get anything done because i'm always on the computer, and it isnt good for my OCD either because I end up looking up thins that make me more stressed! So Internet at the cafe downstairs or school only for now. Eeek!

I made it to church this morning! Felt good.

Hello, all!! It is so busy near the end of the school year!! I've been to the Health Center a few times. Did a yoga class. Our pool is open this weekend and we went yesterday and today. Wonderful!!! We have a lazy river that is 1/10th of a mile long. So, I just walk along and do laps. It is wonderful keeping cool!!

Need to do more specific exercising, but am fitting some things in.

But, the weight loss is great!! I was able to pull two swimsuits out that I haven't worn in YEARS!!! I'm wearing a 24W, now. I kind of want to buy a new suit, but that would just be silly. And, I'm having fun shopping my closet for clothes. Filled my 4th box of donations of too large clothes.

Am smaller than my lowest weight in the last 8 years. Keep it going!!!

Back from a weekend at home, which was better than if could have been, but worse than it would have been if I'd stayed in Ottawa... in terms of eating/exercising anyway. Positives: swam a lot, and not just floating/playing, but laps and treading water too. Negatives: there is so much junk food in my mom's house, and I don't do well in an uncontrolled food environment. Siiigh.

Basket - Congrats on the major accomplishments (re: bathings suits, and being smaller than your lowest weight in 8 years)!!! Way to go

Pink - That is a fantastic idea, though I don't love the idea of seeing less of you around here! I have done something similar, but not to the same degree... since my boyfriend and I broke up (5 year relationship... sigh...) I've been really lonely and somehow my laptop became my bed buddy. I've banished it to the coffee table, it is not allowed in bed with me anymore! I watch too much tv, stay in bed too long, and waste too much time just flipping around the internet. Computer time is computer time, bed time is bed time, and that's that! Hopefully we both see improvements as a result. How's the spare room coming along?

Lindy - I am honestly SO proud of you. You inspire me with how you make the changes you're able to and keep aspiring to make bigger and better ones, and look how great you're doing as a result! Hope you're doing well with your son moving away and whatnot. My mom says she had a really hard time once my sister moved out, and we were both gone. She's also having a really hard time with the thought of me moving to Thunder Bay (20 hours away). Moms are the best...

Cyn - Oh family drama... doesn't it just make you want to throw your hands up? I know it does for me. How you feeling today? No more crippling pains (gas or whatever it was?) I hope.

Jacquie - Just wanted to send you some love. Relationship crap, family crap, self esteem crap... all that crap gets rolled up into a big ball of confusing emotional messiness. I know what that's like. But with time and with learning to put yourself first, you'll do whatever it is you need to do... whether that's fixing the things that are broken, or walking away from that which can't/shouldn't be fixed. Regardless, *HUGS*, and hope your pie was yummy! I'm making a raw blueberry pie next week for a brunch.

Jenn - I think you Americans have it right (in this regard)... long weekends always feel better to me when they're Fri/Sat/Sun instead of Sat/Sun/Mon... so I think I'd prefer this Memorial Day thing over Victoria Day, honestly.

Alicia - Not drinking your calories is a huge accomplishment. I truly blame Starbucks, and living alone (well, and myself!!) for the 40 pounds I gained over the last two years (which took me from 290 to 330... so it wasn't like I was thin to begin with). I had flavoured lattes and mochas every single day. And don't forget the frappuccinos! We each have our own poison. Good on you for working to kick that habit.

Sameen - Good to see you around again

Annie - I hope things look up for you soon and you feel a bit better. We all love you!

Lindy- I always did a "last meal" too and this time I didn't do that either. I just decided I was going to make better choices and eat things in moderation so nothing is off limits and so far it is working great! I even enjoyed a big breakfast this morning guilt free!

Pink- I so need to unplug my internet and get my butt away from the laptop! Although I will say that since I joined this place last week, my motivation just keeps going up and up so for now I'm staying bc I love it here

Basket-Congrats on the weight loss! Doesn't that feel so great to shop from your closet?! I woke up this morning feeling lighter so before hubby got out of bed I went in, turned on the light, closed the door and just tried on a bunch of shirts that didn't fit before and they fit now! I was so excited!!!

Everyone else-sorry I'm still learning how to reply to everyone and learn who everyone is but I hope you all have a great Memorial Day!

I changed my weight stats today bc our stupid digital scale is way off. I thought it was (it kept saying I weighed 312 but my Drs office was 296 a couple weeks ago) so today I ran out to my Drs office (my mom is office manager and it is only 1 mile away) to get on their scales and sure enough I am down to 288! So I had Dh get on their scale then get on ours at home and just like I thought...the thing is 20lbs off! My scale at home has been defeating me without me even knowing! I am done using that scale and only going to weigh at the Dr now. My heighest weight at the Dr. was 320 last year and I started changing my eating habits but wasn't really serious about it until recently so now seeing that I am officially out of the 300's and 8 lbs less than a couple weeks ago is such a huge relief and even more motivation to keep going!

So, this is my first post on the weekly thread, I'm jumping in!!

Wow Alicia, that's crazy about the scale! Haha, no wonder your new shirts are fitting now! You are skinny, girl! It's all so relative, huh? I have always been way-overweight, but spent most of my adulthood from 250-280. Then this last couple years I just SHOT UP to a high of 350. I can't tell you how much worse I feel with that extra 70lbs on me. I'm sure getting older doesn't help, but I can't WAIT to weigh 288 again. In fact, 288 is going to be one of my mini-goals. Sweet! I'll feel like a million bucks! Congrats!

OMG, my daughter had to march with her dance school in our little town's Memorial Day parade today. For most people, I'm sure that sounds like a good old fun time. I was actually dreading it, and it is so sad that I have gotten to the point that I'm worried about whether I can physically handle what's involved in such things. I thought I had a good plan, I was going to drop Lily off where they were meeting up, then go park at the end of the route to get her.

WELL, I found out while I was dropping Lil off that all the parking lots at the end of the route were closed off for the veteran's memorial celebration afterward. OH NO! And I HAD to get Lily at the end, I couldn't just have her meet me back where we parked. I wouldn't do that anyway since she's only 9, but I sure was bummed that I couldn't drive to the end -- had to walk it. I don't know how far I walked in terms of miles, but it was FAR to ME -- much farther than I have walked in a WHILE, I can't even believe I made it. But I DID!

Oh, did I mention that it was POURING rain, thundering and lightning almost the whole time. I can't even believe they didn't cancel the dang thing -- and let me tell you, there sure weren't a lot of onlookers. The parade participants outnumbered the crowd by at least 3-1. This was mandatory for all dance team members, and since we are "rule followers", we sucked it up. Blah! I will say that even though I felt like every minute of this parade was torture, I had a BIG smile on my face and waved my American flag proudly the whole time -- for the veterans and for my little girl who was so proud to be in her first parade. My knees are pretty PO'd about the whole thing, but I guess they'll get over it.

After that we went and saw the new Shrek - I LOVED it! I'm a bucket of popcorn with the fake butter grease kinda gal, and I did have some. But I bought the smallest size they had and only ate a few handfuls. Coulda been worse -- I know that stuff has a million calories, though. Oh well, I probably walked at least some of it off!

Sorry so long, gals! I had to vent about that parade since I'm trying to let Lily believe I had fun!

Shannon I spent my adult life/the last 10 years between 230-270 for the most part and when I got up to 320 and since then...I have felt terrible. I honestly cannot believe how terrible I feel at 30. I was always overweight but always very social and active so the past couple years have been terrible for me. I was so glad to see 288 today but I will tell you what, this girl is getting this weight off once and for all! I cannot live like this anymore! I was getting to the point where I didn't want to be active in our church, didn't want to take my daycare kids on walk and just didn't really want to leave the house...something had to give!

I'm sorry you had to walk in the rain today, that had to suck! Although it is good that you got out and walked...even when we don't want to our bodies need it! We just got home from the waterpark again so I was glad to get some walking in there too. I want to go see Shrek so bad, I'm glad it was good because I am going to go see it soon!