I only got 75 minutes in the pool today. There was a school group in there right before my class. My instructor showed her before pictures today. She's lost over 100 lbs. She's probably 140 tops now. That makes me feel better than someone who doesn't get it.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE

dinner is ready... the coffee table all decorated...candles, wine, ummm...mini red velvet cakes...with pink raspberry frosting...(i did use splenda lol )...mini cheesecakes... irish stew....presents ... balloons ...strawberry marshmellows for roasting....i know i know...i'm soooooooooo bad! so i be back later, .... maybe .... if not them tomorrow! hahaha time to go get dressed.... errr...undressed....whatever! <blush>
hugsssssssssssssss

personals later...have a fabulous night...if you are going out be safe, if you are staying in, get naked! (did i say that??)

rainbowsmiles

I know I have been MIA here. I have been struggling a bit with knowing that I need to step things up again and not wanting to do it. I love my body, but why the does it have to adapt to new things so quickly? I can dance 5 days a week and eat 1750 calories and nothing happens? I have to change what I am doing constantly or things seem to stop working for me, and that is hard work! I like finding a routine and sticking with it. Oh well. Time to deal.

I have also been letting this dating stuff suck up way too much of my emotional energy. Maybe I wasn't quite ready to split my attention like this. I am getting way too sidetracked by stuff. I am seeing one guy again tonight, but I am pretty sure that is it. I wasn’t feeling the connection and a couple of the things he said to me in email really irked me. I might be overreacting, but then the spark isn’t there those things are a LOT harder to forgive. There is another guy I am interested in, but connecting up with him has been fraught with difficulties. If things don't move forward there really soon I am closing that door entirely.

I am taking an extra long weekend this week. I am off tomorrow and Monday is a holiday. I am hoping to use that time to refocus and do some planning on what I need to do to move forward again.

I hope everyone has a nice V Day!!!!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!


Whew...glad this week is comming to an end!! We had a snowstorm(first big one of the year, of course!) Tuesday and naturally I wound up driving into Manhattan in the thick of it! We got in ok and saw the Broadway musical "RENT", which was AWESOME!! Then comming home my stupid new GPS system gave us totally wrong directions, and even though I am pretty good at driving in the city, it kept telling me the wrong way to go. It took an extra hour to finally get out of there, and we were home by midnight.
Then 2 days of OT, and just tomorrow left...I am SO ready for next week's winter break...we get the whole week off from school.
WI was good...2 more "holiday" lbs gone. Only 5 more left until I get to change my ticker again.
Our new treadmill is comming tomorrow...Doug is really excited...I just hope it doesn't bother my footie too much. We will have to see.

Gotta run...the heart shaped pizza from Papa John's is here!!
Have a great V DAY!!

Nancy-Your fat knows you are trying to kill it, and it is fighting back. I have to constantly change my diet. I can't really change my exercise up because I can really only physically do water stuff.

Hi everyone,

I'm sick, there is no getting around it. Ugh. I hung in today because I had appointments, but am ready to crawl into bed and get some rest.

The 64 million dollar question is why has my cold/flu NOT affected my appetite? I still chowed down on all my food today. At least I stayed on plan, and had some delicious homemade chicken soup in the freezer waiting for the day I needed it.

----------
Catherine: 75 minutes seems like a decent amount of time to me, but I suppose it depends on what you were shooting for. It's nice that your instructor has BTDT.

Rainbow: You are in for quite a night. Have fun!

Nancy: I'm impressed with how quickly you've jumped into the dating scene. It's all good, even if you decide not now for dating after all. It says a great deal about where you are that you can even entertain the possibility of meeting someone.

How have you changed up your eating/exercising in the past? I'm looking for ideas myself to blast through this darned plateau.

Donna: Great going on the loss! Have a happy Valentines Day.

Heatherdw: I hope you don't mind me saying so, but I have noticed you've been a glass half empty thinker. There are a thousand reasons in a day to feel unhappy and cheated if you look. There are also the same amount, if not more, reasons to feel happy and blessed. I have suffered from depression and negative thinking in the past, and what I've noticed is that the negativity tends to build on itself until you are in a constant swirl of unhappiness. But the good news is that happiness has a way of building on itself in the same manner. Each day is a set of choices for how to interpret circumstances and events, and what to do with them. Again, I hope you don't mind me saying this, but I want to help.

I'm playing catch-up here, so if I miss anyone it's likely because I've simply missed your messages. Or feel that I have nothing of interest to add. Not much going on here today, just the usual 'my weight loss is stalling and I want an answer dammit'. And yes, I know that's unrealistic.

Heatherdw - congrats that you're losing weight, but just make sure that you're eating enough when you're not well. And don't be shocked if you gain a little once you're feeling better.

CatherineM - your evening out sounds like fun, hope it ends up being great. And I hope the weather doesn't conspire against you. We've warmed up just enough during the day that it seems to be dripping everywhere.

Rainbowsmiles - I don't think I've ever set specific date goals. I think I'm the type that would be disappointed if I didn't meet them. I try very hard to set daily goals, such as so much exercise, and so much food. Having said that - best of luck on meeting your goal. On the cruising, I actually like Norwegian the best myself. I really like the freestyle cruising. I just thought that Carnivale might be a better choice for teens. I had a cousin who was a dive instructor in Belize, but I never got down to visit him when he was there. He's now in New Zealand, or Australia (I forget which). He used to find some woman, move in with her, then move on when the relationship was over. Although I don't think there were any hard feelings, he just seemed to be in a different country each year. I think this time he's married to the woman he found, so I think everyone is hoping she's the one.

Torister - I know how you feel about the winter. I'm tired of it as well. We've pretty much decided to open the pool in mid-April (if money's tight, we'll close it earlier than usual). So it's not so bad when I think it's just two months to that date. The only thing to stop us would be the ice not melted. Only one year was it really close (ie. thinking about cancelling the appointment 10 days prior and then it suddenly warmed up). My mother, who is Scottish, says that we don't really get a spring. We somehow seem to go from winter to summer with a very short spring.

BattleAx - I hope you have good luck at breaking your plateau. I think I'd probably go even more nuts if I held at this weight for two months. Of course I'm probably forgetting plateaus from the first time I did this. I remember dropping over 100 in less than 12 months, then 20 over perhaps 3 months (bringing me to 280) and then holding for more than 3 months. I wasn't very smart about breaking through, so this time I'm trying to be more rational. I just don't always succeed on that! I hope that you're feeling a little better, since being sick is just no fun at all.

Realist - yikes, another person possibly coming down with something. I'm checking that I'm getting enough vitamin C...

Nancy - oh, dating, scary stuff. I know I tend to push people away, even when I was lighter. I feel like I want to be finished with the weight loss before I get back into dating. It's probably a bad idea, but for now it's where I am. I hope you work out where you are, since making a connection with someone else can be a wonderful thing.

I think I've run out of things to say... amazing!

Take care all, and hope you're having a good Valentine's day. I actually had a Reese's peanut butter heart today. It was a small gift from one of the neighbours (my mother stopped her from more) who I've been giving some soups and stews to. It's a long story, but her husband died back at Thanksgiving. He was the cook, and the one with the drivers license. Between myself and another woman we're trying to make sure she doesn't always have sandwiches. I'll admit that I tried to get my mother to eat the chocolate, but she's not a peanut butter person. At .3 oz I figured it wouldn't kill me.

Catherine: I hope you have/had a spectacular V' Day. You sure deserve it my friend.

Rainbow: Woo hoo on the -4. Puffs with Vicks? I will have to check that out. Reading your post about your plans tonight made me "Blush". tee hee. Good for you and have a wonderful night.

Peggy: I hope your basement wasn't nearly as bad as you were fearing. Hugs.

Julee: Yeah, you are 1.6 pounds closer to your new cute top! Way to go.

Debbie: I wana play on a ddr. lol Have fun.

Battle: I hope your cold gets better very soon. Sorry you got it. I am so excited at the prospect of your new job. I hope everything works out for your very best! I don't think I am "loved" by my supervisors much at my job with the exception of they probably love that my work is always pretty much done and done right the first time. I don't stand for meaness and negativity quietly. I am a Glass Half full most all of the time and negativity really irks me. I think more people should say more nice things. The world would be such a better place. Most of the other people I work with all just mumble to each other about the negativity and don't speak their minds to the bosses for fear of loosing their job. I guess I don't have that fear and I also just recently regained my voice to stick up for myself so I am using my voice now that I found it again. Hugs to you and I hope you feel better very, very soon.

Angie: I am proud of you realizing that treats are not actually "treats" anymore if you "treat" yourself to them all the time. I did realize that too and I find for me when I stay away from treats for a looong time then when I do take a taste of one I really feel like it is a "TREAT" Great job learning that for yourself sweetie. I hope you are able to hang in there and stick to your guns.

Ideal: Hi. I remember you and glad to see you around again.

Carol: I hope your V Day celebrations whenever you celebrate are fabu. . I hope that you have fun on your new Wii or PS2.

HeatherDW: Think positive thoughts hun. I remember back to when I first started my journey I really had to look in the mirror and make myself say something positive to me. I am good at being positive to others but really struggled being positive to me. You need to love yourself and even if you don't feel the love, say you do and pretty soon you will! Congrats on being down 10!!! Way to go.

Nancy: Hi and hugs. Glad to see you. I hope that you have fun on your dates.

Donna: Woo hoo on the -2 more pounds. Great job. Glad you had fun at Rent. I love musicals and I'm sure it was great.

Well, the company where I work was supposed to find out about the contract today but we instead got news that there is a small hold up with some of the other companies' references. So, to make it fair they have to be sure to complete the references before they make a decision because it is all points based. Each item they asked for is scored and then the highest score wins pretty much. The company I work for is so sure they are getting the contract that they are making all of us go to a mandatory training on Sunday from 2 - 7 p.m. and again on Monday from 8 -4. I don't mind the Monday one but the Sunday one away from my DH irritates me especially when you throw in they are not offering any compensation for it because we are salaried. UGH! Oh well, Maybe it will be okay. For all of you who say they hope we get the contract or not because of my attitude I appreciate it. I really don't care if we do or not. I am still looking for something different or at the very least I let the Executive director know today that I am plannig on applying for another position that would be a promotion and where I wouldn't have to meet the clients face to face. It would all be phone work and the position I am applying for would actually be for the Boise Screener. I would still live here in Northern Idaho but I would take phone calls from the Southern Idaho district. They are an hour ahead of us time wise so I could have hours that would work better for me, going in at 7 and getting off at 3! All of this is moot if we don't get the contract. lol. I don't forsee us hearing anything about that silly contract until late next week if we are lucky. lol.

Well, time for me to hit the hay. I am tired out tonight. Hope you are all enjoying V'Day with a loved one.

Blessings,
Annie

Well, after the emails sent back and forth from my son and I, he's decided he doesn't want to see me. So rejected again. It's like it happening all over again. He cut his Dad out of his life so easily, I feel he's going to do the same to me.
My DIL is the one that wrote and told me how he felt, which was a total surprise to me because I didn't think she would ever talk to me again.

Sorry for no personals, this just hit me so hard again. It took me til this month to finally feel like myself again, and now I feel I'm being dragged back down. I hope I can recover sooner than last time.

Debbie

Debbie

Debbie: I am so sorry that you have to go through this all over again!! I just hope he will realize one day how much he has hurt you and find the love in his heart to reconcile. And I just hope he will finally see your DIL for what she is. Big 's to you!!

Good Morning Peeps - happy Friday. Valentine's Day is behind us - hope all did well. Mine was good - one of my bosses gave me a small box of chocolates - I gave it to a co-worker - unopened. I knew if I brought it home to DH he would eat one piece - then another in maybe a month - not realizing how loud it might call me. We didn't get in to celebrating much this year - I got him a card - I thought I would have a card when I got home from the gym - he says - I didn't get you a card - I made you a rock - he had gone to the garden, moved snow - found a rock, cleaned it up - and wrote on it "You are my rock". Isn't that awesome - and here I was feeling sorry for myself as everyone at work was getting flowers. I'll take the rock anytime.

Annie - you are something else. It's been so great to watch you as you've gone back to the workforce - found your voice - kept moving and losing. How fortunate I feel to be able to see you "grow". Hugs to you.

Battle - hope you have more soup for today - the thing that is going around here is lasting over a week. Try to stay in and take care of yourself if you can. Don't forget your water too. Isn't it funny how we can feel so horrible but the appetite is still going strong.

Angie - hugs to you and all those at your alma mater. Glad to hear your brother is OK.

Nancy - Hi girlfriend - hope you at least enjoyed the night out - if not the company. Gotta kiss a lotta toads - YUCK. Good for you for recognizing the qualities that may not mesh with you. I always had a tendency to overlook those and become the person the guy wanted me to be. It's so refreshing to find someone who (for me) is a great communicator - looks me in the eyes - and doesn't have alot of prejudices. I was 34 when it happened for me and had pretty much just decided to enjoy my life and in he popped! Boy am I glad now.

Susan - I had to smile at your plans. Made me think about how it was to be a newlywed. Next year I will do the same - he won't know what hit him. I'm sure with Nigel being gone it was doubly sweet for you. Homecoming and Valentine's Day all at once.

Catherine - so how was the shindig? Wow 75 minutes in the water - that's a lot - are you spent afterwards or energized? The water always has a way of taking it out of me - land exercises usually energize me. It will be interesting to see if this holds true Sunday - water first for and hour and then land for an hour immediately following.

Debbie - there are no words I can say - just hugs. This pain is so unfair!

Hugs to all - thinking of you!

Move your bodies, drink your water and SMILE.

Hugs,
Carol

Greetings my peeps!

Just wanted to update you on my funk. I took GGG's VD advice and tried to love me and let go some of that work anger yesterday. I thought it was corny sounding, but kept saying "time to let it go". By the end of the day, the sun was shining and my mood was 1000x better!! By golly, it worked!

I am feeling way better today. Thank you all! I get scared when I get into a funk because I'm so prone to depression. My committee says "here we go again" and the eeyore personna says "time to get ready for the long haul, might as well eat it all". My downs aren't lasting as long as they have in the past.

Now it's time to add good habits in my baby steps again. I seem to start over a lot, ya know? It's better than listening to eeyore and the committee, right?

Rainbow, your energy is contagious!! I hope your Valentine's night was spectacular!

Annie, you deserve a promotion and a job that doesn't make you have to counter negative energy/feelings constantly. That gets old very fast.

Debbie, I know this new wave of communication is hitting you hard. Hugs and a warm blankie! He's miserable or he wouldn't keep bringing it up. She's bringing it up because it drops the focus off of her to a common enemy and allows her behavior to slide. Her fear is losing him to logic and love. Hang in there girl.

Hugs to all my plateau struggling peeps and everyone else that lurks!!! Remember, I read EVERYONE's posts and get special things from all of them, even if I don't mention you specifically.

Luv,
Ratkitten

GGGcarol, one big AWWWWW for the rock!!! Your dude is special!!

Luv,
Ratkity

RK - your words to Debbie are so right on - it takes the focus off of her - great insight.

Glad you "hugged" yourself. Glad you're here too! You have no idea how much I gained from you when I first came here - I'm just giving it right back to you.

Enjoy you today!

Carol