CD, that is a beautiful tree! I'd like to have one in my front yard here! But they might not like the climate. Perhaps a flowering dogwood...

Today was a strange day that has left me disgruntled. I agreed to help my friend go computer shopping over in Tampa, at the closest Apple store. The appointment was for 11, so we left around 10:15. Naturally we have a blustery, rainy day today. Well, to make a long story short, it took all day. We didn't get home until 5. This was not what I had planned (or what she had planned, for that matter).

She got the system she wanted, and all the bells and whistles needed. But gee whiz! First of all, we didn't eat lunch until 1:00, and by then I was about to faint, even though I had eaten a snack when we left. So, where to go? Food court. I did pretty well--got a plate of cajun style chicken with double vegetables--mostly cabbage, which I love. OK, so then it was back to the store... and more talking and pricing and explanation blah blah blah. Got out of there, famished again. Starbucks. Chai latte and an old fashioned doughnut... What was I thinking? Way too sweet. I drank 1/3 of the tea and ate half the doughnut and threw the rest out.

So here we are, home again... and I'm under my calorie count for the day, but way over on percentage of fat... Bleah! Dinner this evening is going to be a drained can of water packed tuna with hot sauce and some crackers, and then I'm done. Chalk it up to a successful if not ideal strategy.

And I'm a day behind on my work now, which makes me very irritated, but what can you do?

Are you feeling better, Laurie? I hope so!

Jay

Jay You are AWESOME! Great job on the food - under very difficult circumstances! Throwing out food at Starbucks is a major accomplishment!

I hope your friend appreciates all of your time and effort! While a day away from the routine is nice, it does come with a cost

I am feeling much, much better. Finally! I went bra shopping after work. Something I have desparately needed to do and not done for way too many lbs. Unfortunately, this small town does not have much of a selection in my size But, I did find a couple nice Hanes ones at Walmart that will work.

I gotta fly - I still have to pack for the trip. I probably won't be back to post again until Monday or Tuesday.

I hope everyone has a fun and safe and ON PLAN weekend!

Laurie

Sure is lonely in here. No Jude, No CountingDown...

Sigh. Once there were many more. I wonder when they'll ever come back? I wonder how they are doing...



Jay

This is my first visit, I am so looking forward to meeting new people and a support team in losing those extra pounds. I have lost my discipline and I'm eating without control. Being single now, one can read a lot into this. But, I really don't want a larger wardrobe. Wanting very much to get this reset button operating. Looking for all suggestions.

Hey perkins22!

Nice to see someone here! I guess all the other active folks are off being active!

Suggestions... well, first of all, I'd ask whether you have lost weight in the past, and what method (or methods) you have used. More information might help folks come up with ideas!

If you feel like your eating is out of control, make one small rule that you decide not to break today. Not sixteen rules--just one. It could be, no full-sugar soft drinks today. It could be, only 1 slice of whole-grain bread per meal. It could be, eat baby carrots as a snack food today. See what I mean? Don't try to solve everything at once, but do start with something.

Cheers!

Jay

Hello! I'm new, and looking for a place to belong. Since I'm over 50, and ya'll seem like such nice people, this might be a good place to start!

I've been on my diet forever - but started in ernest last Summer when I got back from vacation and was shocked that I gained so much in such a short time. Over the next 6 months I managed to lose about 6 lbs - then my daughter got married. Nothing makes you wake up and smell the coffee like mother of the bride pictures~! I got busy, and since January have lost 32 lbs. I feel like asking everyone to gather back together, and let's take those wedding family pictures again!

The diet I've been is one of those where you eat their packaged food and can't eat much of anything else. I've decided I've gone as far with them as I can, and recently joined WW online. I'm loving being able to eat fruit again! And I've actually started losing weight again.

Mainly I'm looking for encouragement and support from people who know what I'm going thru. Being over 50 makes everything harder, from exercise (I'm trying to get enthusiastic about pilates, now that I'm able to get down on the floor - and up again) to losing and keeping the weight off.

I hope everyone is having a good Memorial Day. Hope to get to know you soon!

Val

I finished my quilt... can you tell me how to load the picture?

Hey Jude! Sorry--I'm not sure! Perhaps send a PM to one of the mods, like Suzanne 3FC?

Jay

Perkins and Val
Glad you joined us! We LOVE new folk!

Jude - to attach a picture Edit your post
Click on "go advanced"
Click on "attachments" (the paper clip)
Near the top is "upload a file from your computer"
Click the browse button
Locate the picture on your computer
Click "upload" button
Close the "manage attachments" window
In the message, click on the attachments link again
Your picture will be listed, just click on it.
It will insert a link in your post.

Please note that attached pictures can only be 100 kb or smaller.

If your picture is larger, resize it, or upload it to one of the free photo sites like Photobucket, Flickr, or Imageshack - then use the link from that site.

Jay - hope you had a fun weekend! Congrats on day 10 on target! You are doing GREAT! Three lbs. down is fantastic!

Hi ALL - I'm Baaacckkkk!
Just a quick post to say that we made it back from Chicago safely. AWESOME trip - more details to follow, I'm sure!!!!

Needless to say, I will be joining you all in your new June ON PLAN resolutions. Given the phenomenal restaurant choices we had in Chicago, I will be thrilled if the scale only creeps up a couple lbs. (which is what I planned for).

I will 'fess up tomorrow and put together an accountability plan. Given my summer of "company" (6 weeks of visitors), I need to make sure that 120 is a real number

Catch up with everyone tomorrow.

Laurie

Hey CD! Good to see you back! Tell us all about the restaurants, etc.!

Aw, thanks for the congrats, CD... but I know by now that it's not the first 3 pounds that matters. Those are the easy ones.

Jude, where's that pic of your quilt? We want to seeeeee!

Jay

OK, I've got an extra lb. to lose. My weight was up 3 lbs. this morning - two of which I had already planned for. Back on plan this week!

Chicago is the BEST for vegetarian fare. Lots of strictly vegetarian restaurants, and so many others that have a great selection. Back home we usually have the choice of one or two items on the entire menu.

My favorite restaurant on the trip was Karyn's Raw Cafe. They had a Sunday brunch that was absolutely amazing. Pricey - but we had a $25 certificate that made it worth the splurge

Karyn's Cooked also had some wonderful food! We really enjoyed both locations.

The surprise hit was Handlebar which is a "biker" (as in pedal type) bar/restaurant. We had an amazing asiago penne veggie dish - one of the best pasta dishes I've had!

The Chicago Diner is a favorite - good old fashioned comfort food - vegetarian style. The avocado tostada was scrumptious!

Of course DH's absolutely favorite part of the trip is ALWAYS the Triple Chocolate Stout Cheesecake with an oatmeal stout to chase it down. (There is the extra lb - right there - even though we split it

Thankfully, Chicago is a WALKING city. We barely used our transportation pass and chose to walk almost everywhere. We averaged 9 miles a day

The plays were good - with "Twelfth Night" at the Shakespeare theater on the pier being our absolute hands-down favorite!

We rounded out the trip with a trip to the zoo and several parks, the Beer Garden on the end of the pier had different bands each night, and fireworks on Sunday

Hi everyone, Sorry I've been gone so long. Lots of things are going on. I got pinked slipped at work. It was a real shock, and I've been working through all my emotions. I'm back to exercising and calorie counting and hope to stay on program.

Lori no actually
It WILL be OK. Hopefully, the state will use the stimulus money to get most folk back in the jobs where they belong and where we need them. Things are pretty grim up here too!

You are in my prayers, chickie! Hang in there!

Lori, I'm glad to see you back, but sorry about your news. Yeah, that would be a shock all right!

Listen, hang on! It's a boulder in your path, but you can keep going even if it trips you up a little.

CD, thanks for the rundown on vegetarian fare in Chicago! I've never visited the city--just zipped through the airport. I have to say, when I read things like Triple Chocolate Stout Cheesecake I am soooo glad that I'm not fond of cheesecake. Well, there has to be something I can pass up!

Oh Juuuuuuude, where arrrre youuuuuuu...

Jay

Hi all - hope you had a good day! I'm still trying to get caught up after being gone. Back at it with the shape boxing today!

DH signed me up to be on his "team" at work for "Let's Get Moving Northern Michigan". It is a wellness competition among the cities/towns up here. So, in addition to getting rid of those couple of Chicago lbs., we are trying to help out the hospital pharmacy team. All the walking in Chicago counted, so we are actually helping the team quite a bit