Good morning chickies!!!
Had a busy weekend, took my son to see the Wiggles and then we had his cousin's birthday party to go to right after. Sunday my husband had a family reunion on his mom's side. My husband's mom died when he was very young, so he hardly knew anyone there, but they welcomed us with open arms and lots of food It was great! Hubby had a good time as well as his brother and wife and our kids. Unfortunately I ate like mad!!! When I get around my sis in law I tend to over eat! We parked ourselves right at the chip and dip table and didn't leave for like an hour and the desserts OH MY!!! I did the best I could under the circumstances oh and I had a couple of beers too to help break the ice ...oh well you only live once...I had fun! And I made up for it yesterday and today, I exercised a bit more. So we'll see how weigh in goes tonight.


Marie- I'm sounds like you are doing great! 6.5lbs gone after going off meds! That is wonderful! But I'm with Kerry....there are some things you still need to have like your asthma meds!

Kerry- congrats on the loss! Hope that chair is comfy! How did dinner go?

Lori- You're almost there! You know I understand about the belly flab...I have so much of it myself. My in laws made comments about me looking too thin this weekend...I think I look ok right now, except my gut of course, but I certainly don't want to lose any more anywhere else, unfortunately you can't dictate to your body I wish I knew what to do as well....I have been trying sit ups, crunches, twists side stretches etc. it does seem to at least be helping some...since I am currently in a size 6 pants and it only took about two weeks of doing those excersises more religously, but I still think I look pregnant

Wish me luck at my weigh in tonight!
Cya girls.

Julie, it sounds like your weekend was fun. I know that in a social situation, eating is the greatest comfort - especially when you don't know many people. You'll be fine weight wise, you got back on track immediately. That's a big WAY TO GO!!!

Lori, a half pound to go. You and Julie have me very jealous.

Work was crappy yesterday and then DS and GF were here for the evening. I wasn't in the mood to entertain but I survived. Today I have a bunch of icky stuff to do including teaching a 1.5 hour class (it should be only 1/2 hour long so I have to talk really slow or BS a whole lot). Work is really driving me nuts lately.

Weigh in was this morning and I didn't lose anything - stayed the same. That's good but I admit I was a little bummed. I'm doing better at staying off the scale except Tuesdays and Fridays. I was weighing every morning. Anyway, I was a little bummed. I really wanted to see another .5 or 1 pound come off. Regardless, my clothes are fitting great or are loose. So I know I'm making progress.

The asthma is recovering okay. I'm still having a little problems and am having to use the abuterol occassionaly. Usually just the Advair and Singulair are enough but I made my bronchial tubes made. So Kerry and Julie were right. There are just some meds I can't do without. I am still trying to do without Allegra but I don't know how long that will last.

That's about it. TTYL.

Hi ladies. I know I've been MIA for some time. I just wanted to let you know I'm still hanging in there. If you all remember I had gotten back up to 165 after my vacation, but am back down to 149 again. I started doing a Bible study called The Lord's Table. Someone recommended it from this website and it has helped me so much. It's at settingcaptivesfree.com if any of you are interested. Anyway, I'm super excited about it and have a totally different view of food now. I haven't had a binge since I started and that's a big deal for me. Anyway, I wish you all the best and will try to check in from time to time.

Hi there everyone. Just a quick note to say hello. Kerry, I thought of you today. I was teaching an inservice and I used my inhaler right before starting since I was a little wheezy. So I'm going along with the class, having to use lots of lung power to talk non-stop and it wore off. I had to apologize for broken sentences by the end, etc. Anyway, that should teach me from going off the asthma drugs in the future. I'm hoping that I can get rid of this problem time soon or I'll have to go to the dr. for prednisone - i.e. a drug that's great for gaining weight. Stupid me.

Today was okay. The inservice minus the asthma problem was good and I was well prepared. There weren't any questions I couldn't answer. That was pretty cool. I knew my subject completely.

Food I did really good today. Exercise I didn't do at all. I was totally wiped out from work and took 2 naps this evening and am just counting the hours till bedtime (only 1/2 hour left).

kimberlydrn, I remember you. You are doing just awesome. Drop by more often. I'm glad you found something to alter your thoughts about food. That's very cool. I will check out the website.

Well, have a good night.

I started to post yesterday, but got distracted. Work has been busy, which is good I guess. Annoying, but good.

DH's birthday was good even though we ate like pigs. I made his favorite breakfast of biscuits & sausage gravy. Then we went out to dinner at a place called Firebirds. I had bbq ribs & chicken and DH had ribs & steak. We couldn't resist the lobster spinach queso dip for an appetizer either. But we had fun and he had a great birthday, so that's what matters!

Marie - Sorry the asthma is giving you so much trouble. You may need to go on the steroids for a brief period of time. I usually only have to do it for a few days in conjunction with my advair to get things straight. Also you might want to go back on the allergy meds as well. I find that not medicating my allergies can hugely affect my asthma flare ups.

Kimberly - good to see you and hear that you are doing well. Keep it up!

Julie - sounds like you had a lot of fun at the family reunion! That's great! You're right, you only live once and there are some times that you just gotta enjoy yourself.

Lori - You are almost there!! WOW! I don't know what to say about the belly flab ladies. I think it is one of those things that is just hard to lose. It's not like you have a lot of fat there right? It's just that little pooch. If you find the secret let me know ok?

Paige - I keep thinking about you when I see the new WW commercials. They're using that Cher song and it is very inspiring/compelling. It's good to see you pop in when you can.

Take care girls! I'll *see* you later!

Hello girls
Well even with my little eating binge I managed to lose .6lbs. I'm kinda glad I didn't lose more since I had that huge loss last week. Only 5.7lbs to go. Hubby wants me to stop now but I'm going for the extra 5 so I have some leeway. My husband talked to a personal trainer for me at his gym. He was going to buy me a membership and 4 sessions with a trainer for my bday, but it is going to cost over $500.00 so I told him I would rather he spent the money on a shopping trip for me. I have nothing to wear to work!

Hi Kim! Good to hear from you! Good job! 149 is awesome! Glad to hear you have found something that you feel good about.

Marie-Please take care. I hope you get your asthma under control. I remember my mom and an old roomate of mine going through attacks. I know it is not pleasant. Please call the doc soon if you don't get things under control. I know the pred can cause weight gain, but your health is more important!

Kerry-Lobster spinach queso??? Drool!!!! Glad you guys had a nice celebration!

Cya later!

Hi everyone!!! Sorry I haven't been around much in the last few weeks. Things have been so insane at work. We have a couple of kids that words can not even describe. Yesterday I got a good workout in around 8am as I followed a student around the neighborhood until we could get him back to school... he has huge issues and then I have one that started today and 2 others that started last week that are a handful and they all happen to be ADD/ADHD one if not two are bipolar and one we like might be borderline mentally ******ed. It is so sad to see such young children with such issues. Two are in kinder, one in first grade and one in second grade. The one I chased yesterday his parents had attempted to drop him off three times that morning before he finally ran away. He screams, crys, and will run the first chance he gets until he finally settles down around noon. Makes for a long day for all of us!!!! Anyway enough about my wonderful job!!

We are starting WW tomorrow at work!!! Yeah! We have 18 people doing it and about half of them did it last time. So I will try and get back to posting more regularly now that things will be getting back on track.

We just got home from swimming lessons so I need to sit down with DS and do homework!!!!

Hi everyone, Paige - and people think being a teacher/school administrator is a fluffy job because you get the summer off. Ha! I say to them. Being bipolar and ADD, I know that I would act like the child you described if given the opportunity. By adulthood, you do get the idea to act normal even if it's a struggle. As a kid, I ate my frustrations and aggressions away.

Julie - smart choice on the $500. At your smaller size you need new clothes and the personal trainer would just torture you anyway. Very nice of DH, though. Give him a big kiss.

Kerry, DH birthday sounds like you had a blast. You know, we only live once so there are times to blow the diet. Sounds like that was a really good choice. Did Bella get to celebrate too? Are you super busy at work because the school year is going to start or are you just a straight medical library? Also, I had the prednisone in my hand but chose to wait a little longer. I think the asthma is better today. I exercised without using the inhaler. At about 25 minutes of the 30 I noticed a little losing of my exhale, but it wasn't too bad. I think it really is better.

Drum roll!!! I was bad in a good way. My weigh in days are Tuesday and Friday. Yesterday I didn't lose anything so I peeked this morning. TWO POUNDS GONE!!!!!!! I've now lost 8.5 since the cruise. I was so pumped that it made me happy at work for at least a few hours.

Work is the bane of my existence these days. People do ask stupid questions and they're all aimed at me. I was so frustrated with one employee that I punched my other hand (I was on the phone with her so she didn't see). I thought I was going to explode while trying to tell dummy how to log into her computer. BTW, that isn't my job - I was just the lucky recipient of her misdialed call. Some people just should never be given a computer. It just isn't fair to the computer people. I exercised when I got home and feel much calmer now. I really need to get DH to move my TaeBo punching bag to my office. I'd use it a lot more there. All I can say is that Friday is coming and many of the staff have it off. YEAH!!!! Then it's weekend.

I guess I ranted enough. Thanks all for listening. Usually my job is stress free and a little boring. Right now it's nasty with the start of the school year (not to mention the stupid budget cutbacks that have made everyone's job harder). Oh, the damn servers keep crashing too (that is my job). EEEKKKKKKK!! Marie, Friday's coming...

TTYL.

Good Morning Chickies !!!

The house is almost clean, wow was it bad!!!!

Marie, I understand about work frustrations! One of my co-workers can make me completely batty!! If you get in the least bit irritated with him he feels the need to explain, explain, and explain some more. I have PMS so i'm irritated about everything in general, get him on the phone and I want to jump out the window! Friday is calling my name this week! We are always making changes at work, but it still seems we are still lacking in comunication and I'm not sure it is getting any better!

Kerry, DH's birthday sounds like you guys had fun, sorry I missed the biscusts and gravey! My B-day is in Nov. can you hook me up? That is one of my favorite meals too!!!! And who cares, you only live once, but just remember not to have that food attitude every day, only on special occasions! Wow just noticed can't spell worth a darn this morning!

Paige, regular kids are frustrating enough, add in some home issues and medical problems and nobody gets any piece. I had a kid on the bus one time that screamed the whole way to school, and on occasion rode on the steps beside me (must have thought he would escape or I wouldn't drive) wrong, when I pulled into the school the staff was waiting, the doors flew open and he jumped up to run to the back of the bus and they would pluck him off before he could get away. It lasted for about a month then he realized that he had to go to school no matter what.

Julie, I think the shopping spree is a great idea, don't waste your money on the personal trainer! I'll help you find some great home work outs that are so cheap you won't belive it. All you need to do is tone up and stick with the healthy eating and you'll be set! Between my last measure in, I lost no pounds but lost a few inches every where, it was such a boost! The belly is ever so slowly pulling in and shrinking up, it is going to be such a long processes but it has already shrunk so much I can't believe it.

Kim, great to see you! Glad your still hanging in! Way to go on finding help with your binge issue! Keep checking in were still here to help!

Ok I have to get a shower and go to work! I can't wait for this 3 day weekend! I so need an extra day off!!!

Wow! It sounds like everyone is having working struggles I LOVE my career/profession and even love my library, but I hate hate hate the old bitties I work with. My boss is completely tuned out and I just got an email this morning (it was to the whole staff) about following dress code by ALWAYS wearing nylons. It's 100 degrees outside and I HAVE to wear nylons! Plus why the he!! should it matter that we follow dress code when senile incompetent people who are a hazard are allowed to work here. OK, I'm done, but it really has me riled up today.

Marie - You know you can take just one prednisone to fix a flare up and it helps better than anything. Just wanted to let you know that. Glad that things are clearing up on their own. I can relate to needing a punching bag in your office. BTW, my library is a hospital library and also a education library bc we support all the residency programs (16) here. We wear many hats.

Julie - Yay for you on the shopping spree!! I told DH just last weekend that I'm going to have to buy some things for the fall bc most of what I have is size 12-14 and much too big Have fun with it and buy stuff that shows off the slimmer you. That was a huge adjustment for me to buy things that are fitting instead of baggy!

Paige - I don't envy you with your job hun. Sorry it's been so rough. I hope that it calms down as the school year progresses. It sounds like you have a great WW group. I hope it goes well and you lose hit goal ASAP!

Lori - Sounds like you're having a rough week too. I can't wait until Friday and I think I've been saying that since Monday! Do you have any big plans for the long weekend?

So how are gas prices and supply holding up for all of you? They've told us not to travel in the Carolinas and conserve. I saw prices up to 3.09 this morning. What a bad state of affairs. I think the govt needs to do something about the energy issues in this country. One little thing goes wrong and we're all hurtin. Anyway, we don't have any big plans for the weekend. DH is playing out on Friday so we'll be back up on Charlotte, but that's it. He doesn't have Monday off school, so I'll be having a lazy day to myself. I'm looking forward to it.

Hi Lori and Kerry, well another long day at work is finally over. Eleven hours on top of not sleeping last night. By the end, I just told my co-worker I was oging home, my brain was dead. It's livened up a little since getting home. I had to go to Super Walmart for some graceries. I'd have put it off if we weren't totally out of milk. Cool hting was that I had Lean Hot Dogs at home and no buns, so I bought fresh buns and had a hot dog and potato salad for dinner. A whopping 450 calories. It sure did taste good. My co-worker wanted ice cream when the Schwan's man came today at work, so he bought us all a brownie a la mode. Oh, it was good. Another 270 calories. Add my lunch of a cheese Schwan's pizza for 450 calories and my 200 calorie breackfast, I'm at about So for the day I'm at 1370 calories. Considering I had plenty to eat and nothing but the hot dog was diet, that's not too bad.

Kerry, I decided that I would take the prednisone starting this evening. TOM is coming so I won't lose any weight anyway. I've been using the abuterol every 2-3 hours so I've given up. Hopefully just a dose or two will right the bronchial tubes. On the way home form work the gas prices were up to $3.09. I paid $2.99 this morning. $55.00 later, I had a full tank. Eeks, I hope this lets up pretty soon. What amazes me is that they blame the huirricane, but what the stations paid for what is in their tanks and going into our cars at the moment didn't cost them more since they bought it days ago. I think that the gas stations are robbers, pure and simple. When they pay more, then I should pay more, not just because in a few weeks there will be a shortage. It seems wrong.

Lori, enjoy the clean house. I have to vacuum tonight since the sheddy dogs have big bunnies of fur floating in my house. Without carpet, they just roll around. Hang in there - it's a long weekend in less than 24 hours... I'm so sick of work I could scream. I hate the week before and the week of school starting. It's hectic and people are just so demanding. I know they're busy, why can't they make the same conclusion that I'm busy too? The phone rings this weekend from work, I'm not answering. 4:00 tomorrow, I'm off. Okay enough whining.

I've been reading about the lawlessness in New Orleans and wonder what planet some people come from. Shooting at rescue helicopters, raping people, setting fires, stealing without conscience... every time I read more, I'm dumbfounded at the horror these people are going through. Our government should be ashamed of its response. Get the troops out of Iraq and restore law to our own country. Okay, enough of my soapbox. I'm just so darn mad that we're letting these people suffer.

tonight I'm going to ride my exercycle and watch David Letterman in a half an hour. We get west and east coast feeds for the network TV stations so I don't have to wait until 11:30 to watch Dave. Since my nocturnal surfing last night, I'm a bit tired and plan to go to bed at a decent hour. So I will chat with you later - hopefully not in the middle of the night again.

Morning all,

Paige, good to hear from you! Sorry work is so difficult right now. You must have alot of patience! I don't think I could do it. Sounds like you have alot of support with your WW group!

Lori-AAAHHH the joys of a clean house! What is that like ...even when I think I am done, there is always more to do! Guess it comes with the territory when you have an almost 3 year old. Glad you are making progress in the belly area! Everyone else I talk to says to forget about it, that I will never lose that last bit, but I am up for the challenge! One thing about me is don't tell me I CAN'T because I will set myself to prove you wrong every time .

Kerry, Nylons in the heat??? Ughh! That is just gross! At least winter is almost around the corner, but I'm not sure how much relief you get living in the Carolinas. Hang in there.

Marie, sounds like you did pretty well with your calories. You need to eat what you like sometimes otherwise you will never stick to it. And 1370 cals is excellent!

Yes gas prices here are horrendous! The last gas station I passed was at $3.01 if I remember correctly. I filled up the other day when it was at $2.59. And I thought that was bad! I swear they do this so when it drops to something like $2.30 we will all think it's a bargain. I hear groceries and utilities will be going up as well.Things just keep getting crazier and crazier. What is a person to do who is living on minimum wage?
It is a shame what is going on in New Orleans, I feel horrible for anyone who had no means to get out of there and aren't doing anything wrong. I can understand looting for food, meds etc. but the idiots taking things like tv's and vacuum cleaners...and shooting at people etc...whatever happens to them. OH WELL! I did hear this morning that they have declared martial law down there.
The government really needs to get the families with children and elderly out of there. Ok I am done ranting.

Good evening ladies!!!

Yea it's FRIDAY and I could kick myself for not getting gas last night or this morning, it was $2.99 but on my way home up to $3.19 so I didn't stop. DH was laughing at me he said do you think it will get any cheaper? You need gas!

I hate panty hose in the worst way, I swear Kerry a man must have invented them!!!! Go for the knee highs and to HE!! with them!

I know, if feel sooooo bad for those people down in the big easy, things are looking pretty tough right now! I'm ashamed at the US, it's been almost a week and they are just now getting them supplies! Who ever said they would be evacuated in 24-36 hrs. must drink or need glasses! I'm a terrible bleeding heart and I could cry everytime I look at the situation, I want to fly down and take care of it myself. And remember I don't fly!!!! Get off your D_mn high horses and get those people moving, stop driving by and start loading up every vehicle, wagons, and anything that will move and get those people to saftey!!!!!! That pig president flew in looked around and flew out, whats the matter with him can't he roll up his sleeves and hand out water and food????? I dislike the oil guy can ya tell???? I'll stop, I don't want to offend anybody.

Julie, the bus races are next Sat. if your still interested! I've been doing Tony Little's old abb roller and I'm seeing some slow but steady progress! Next week when TOM and the bloating are gone I swear I'll get a snap shot for everybody!

I need to get rolling, the kids are over at my mom's and it's getting dark so I better feed them something!

Lori!!!! Pig President!!! You said it better than I ever could have. I wish I had any money and I'd donate it. I bet they'll still need donations on payday - then we'll make a good donation. I can't believe the pig flew over the top and left. He's such a jerk.

Julie, I love your determination. I hate when someone tells me it can't be done - especially a damn computer. I hate when they think they're in control - I have to prove I'm smarter. My motto is to never let a computer get the best of you.

TGIF!!!! Three whole days away from he!! Can you tell I'm happy????

I started prednisone Kerry. I feel better already. No abuterol so far, but I haven't exercised yet and I will. I think I'm going to use my Gazelle - I haven't used it in months. My left knee didn't like biking yesterday so I thought I try something else.

I've been good food wise, water wise and exercise wise. I'm like an angel. Just call my Angel Marie. This dieting is easy once off the meds and I see progress. What a difference losing weight while eating 1350 calories is compared to eating 1350 calories and gaining. My motivation is much stronger now.

Okay, I'm being a little sarcastic today. I'm just so happy it is after 4:00 on Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

I'm still an insomniac and was up at 2:30 this morning. I think I'll take my allegra today to help with the allergies and see if it'll make me sleep through the night.

Oh yeah, I'm ready for the school year to start. We got through all the problems and things are ready. I made it by 3:55 today. What a relief. This weekend is still remodeling for DS, GF and grandbaby. So it won't be fun, but it'll be better than work.

And, I hate ditech.com. Our damn loan has been approved for a month, they got the appraisal 2 weeks ago and they're sitting on their hands on closing. I can't get a straight answer from them. I swear I'm going to tell them to go to he!! next week if they don' do something. Don't ever use them. Okay enough venting but it is really making me mad. I had to pay another monthly installment on our credit cards at a high interest rate and I should have had to do that. Makes me MAD.

Well, if you read this whole thing, you're probably just as nuts as I am.

Hey ladies!!!

First of all just that me say that this whole Katrina thing is just so overwhelming!!! I can't even imagine how these people are feeling. We have alot of people on our staff that have family in Louisianna. I have several teachers that have up to 20 family members staying with them. We have been trying to help them out with food and other things that they need. We are all cleaning out our closets this weekend and we are going to fill up a bunch of our gas guzzling SUV's on Tuesday and take the clothes to a donation center. We are also collecting books and things for the kids. One of the things that the shelters need the most is underwear!!! We are also trying to get a team together to volunteer at a local shelter.

Last night DS made me so proud to be his mommy!!! It is amazing that a 6 year old could be so compassionate. I didn't get home from work until around 8:00 and when I got home he ran up to me asking if I had any jobs for him to do this weekend. He then asked me for a dollar if he spelled his spelling words for me. He did so I gave him a dollar and then he asked me for a bag to put it in. I told him to just put it in his piggy bank and he said I can't mommy I have to give this to the families that don't have anything. It brought tears to my eyes that this little man was mine!!!!! So he has made a list of jobs he is going to do this weekend to earn more money to donate at school on Tuesday. Although DD is holding on to her money!!! She can't quite figure out why she would want to give her money away. DS was very upset with her!!! Kids....don't we just love them to pieces!!!

We have enrolled 6 kids in the last 2 days but I think the next 2 weeks we will see alot more enrolling. Right now they are just arriving in town and once they get rested and settled (as much as they can be ) I think we will start seeing more of an increase. Our PTA is donating school supplies and backpacks to all new students affected by this tragedy.

It is just heatbreaking... but it is good to see our city and state stepping up and helping out.

We started WW at work on Thursday so I am glad to get that back up and running. Oh, and our gas prices today on the way home ranged from $3.39 to 2.75 a gallon. I'd say most stations were around 2.99. Yikes!!! And I paid $2.40 just on Monday.