Good morning, all!

That's one of my goals too -- to be able to wear boots (or even those sexy over the knee boots) once I'm at my goal. I am pear shaped and have huge legs so I might not ever get there, either. I hope so.

I saw a crazily low number on the scale this morning. I'm hoping it shows up again for my WI next Monday.

I will be starting a new job soon. I'm excited about this. It will take me off of night shift and into a more human schedule. I will be working 3 12 hours shifts and one short 4 hour shift per week. Every Sunday off and one short shift only one Saturday a month. This definitely beats what I'm doing now -- I have a nice, easy schedule but I do have to work every other weekend and I work night shift (7p - 7a) so I'm tired all the time and have next to no social life. I'm hoping this change will be good for my weight loss/fitness goals, too.

Everyone have a great day! Any plans for St. Patrick's Day tomorrow?

I followed you. I am humglum there. My tweets are protected but send a follow request and I will add you.

Thats so awesome mmel! absolutely wonderful!

Kimberly, i work as a nurse... i have 3 tattoo's. 1 is a band around my ankle, 1 takes up the entire size of my left calf and the 3rd one is on the back of my neck. I also have a nose ring. Which is usually what my patients comment on. "Ohhh did that hurt? i just noticed you have a ring through your nose" lol. I think tattoo's and peircings have become much more acceptable now then they were. As i have always thought about tattoo's, i would never get one in an area i could never conceal. You just never know when you dont wish for them to be seen. So you can stil get them, think about somewhere you can hide it, if you think you may have to for your job.

Hi everyone!

Great thread! I would like to join.

First, I would like to congratulate everyone on their successes, both on the scale and non-scale victories. Your stories are so inspiring.

I can relate to so much that has been posted here. I started doing Zumba about 2 months ago and now I am addicted. I go 5-6 times a week, and would go more often if I could fit it into my schedule. Not only are the participants all shapes and sizes, but so are the instructors! It is amazing how much energy some of the queen-size instructors have, and how well they can move. I would encourage everyone to at least try Zumba. It does not matter if you can do the steps perfectly. You can modify the steps to your own level of health and fitness. I love Zumba and it is now my primary form of exercise, but I also do the elliptical machine, and some yoga.

I totally relate to the boot thing. I have always had big legs, even as a relatively thin teen. I have worn "wide-calf" boots as long as I can remember. I would dearly love to own a pair of thigh-high boots, but that is a dream that will probably only come true if I can have them custom made.
Maybe I will win the lottery. LOL.

Good luck to us all as we travel on this journey.

Good morning all!

I'd like to join in as well! I hear ya on the boots even though it's not something I'd usually wear. I guess I'd like to be able to say yes I can wear that if I wanted to, lol but like LitChick and Spooky- I've always had a pear shape and big calves so we'll see when I reach my GW.

Kim- I wouldn't worry about tattoos because I've seen a lot of younger nurses with sleeve tattoos and it seems not to be a problem but of course it depends on where you work and live like Mercury said because here in Phoenix, I guess it's generally accepted??

Spooky- Yuck, I remember when I had to work graveyard (12a-8a) with deaf and mentally ill adults in a group home. It was so easy but no social life and I was tired all the time even when I bought good drapes that is supposed to block out light, ya kw? For St. Paddy's day- No actual plans yet but I do know I will be making my cabbage rolls with ground turkey, homemade marinara sauce, etc and MAYBE some beer.... lol. What about you?

Congrats on all of your progress and NSV!

I usually weigh-in at the Monday morning meeting. But had a colour class at work that day, so I went to the Tuesday morning meeting. And absolutely hated the leader. It was like nails on a chalkboard to me. I ended up leaving halfway thru. Which I usually don't do (it's kinda rude) but I was really about to scream- this woman was soo annoying.

I was up one pound even this week. Which was a little disappointing. I was close to my 10%. But I can't really be upset with myself bc last week I really went overboard. Cheeseburger and fries. Cheese pizza. Crab tempura. And a giant Irish coffee on Mardi Gras morning followed by a couple Bacardi & cokes. Sooo all in all, I did okay.

I made a apple dessert last night that my mom suggested and it was only 3p+ for 1/6 of a pie dish. Not too bad! And a 7p+ baked macaroni with FF cheddar with was so rich I would probably only eat half the portion next time.

Hopefully I'll do better at this upcoming weigh-in.

Dang, Cat- all of that sounds good! Share the apple dessert and/or mac & cheese recipe? 1lb isn't too bad (says the girl who got upset over 0.4lb gain, lol)- could be water from all the sodium since the food you mentioned sounds like they probably are high. Hoping you get a better number in the next WI! Don't forget- h20 is your best friend!

Well, this is going back probably about 12 years, but i used to dye my hair all kinds of colors. This time it was flamingo pink colored... at work, short and all spiked up. My old fashioned nurse manager said to me "Your patients will lose trust in you!", "you must dye your hair a more socially acceptable color!". So i did it, but i wasnt happy about it. My patients loved it actually, they thought it was the greatest thing. I realize now i wouldnt do it, but back then i was still a kid right? right out of school. Arm sleeves with tattoos are gorgeous. I said when i lost all the weight i wanted to lose i was going to get a half sleeve on my entire upper arm done. Which i could still hide with my scrubs, but i have seen people with sleeves done too and they just cover them with a long sleeve under the scrub. it works.

I guess long story short... do what you would like to do! Cause its no ones buisness but your own, and...a few tattoo's do not dictate how you do your job. And thats all that should matter

Kim - I followed you too!! My twitter name is Chele615....I'm really creative when it comes to log ins LOL

I totally jumped off the wagon last night and managed to eat an ENTIRE bag of Reeses Mini's.....so gross, but I kicked my own butt today at the gym to hopefully make up a little bit for it. My WW weigh in is tomorrow afternoon, so hopefully there's not too much damage there. When i weighed on my home scale after the gym this afternoon, the number was down from last week, so we shall see.

Chele - Ohhhh I love Reese's I cannot blame you for eating that bag. But at least you're sucking it up and working out! That is awesome! Keep motivated!

I have been so tired this week because of the time change. It is so dark when I get up at 6:30am. This means I have only worked out once this week. I MUST do it tomorrow night. I would have worked out tonight but I am nursing an incredibly terrible headache. Yuck!

Happy St. Paddy's day to everyone tomorrow! I will be wearing green at work.

i can smell the cheddar popcorn i portioned out, in the kitchen... MUST NOT GO IN THERE... must not......go....

I will be wearing green to my spin class tomorrow. And also eating corned beef. And that is the beginning and end of my St. Paddy's Day celebration.

(This is incredibly moderate, for me. One year I puked in my own car and then had a conversation with a neighbor while lying face down in my front yard.)

Amandie- the apple thingy was easy to make. Here's the recipe- spray a 8x8 cake pan. Preheat at 350. Mix 1 can sugar free apple pie filling with 1/2 cup no sugar apple sauce. Put into pan. Then mix 1/2c skim milk with 1/2c self rising flour and 1/3c sugar. Then mix in 1 tbsp vanilla and cinnamon (more or less if you want) I added just a smidge of salt. Topped the apples with this and bake for 30 minutes.

Thanks so much, Cat- sounds yummy!

Hope your headache gets better, Phae! I hear a few cucumber slices is supposed to help.

Aw, it happens, Chele! I'm really horrible when it comes to chocolaty peanut butter too! But good for you on busting your hump at the gym!

Kim- followed you on twitter.

Jinksie- fruits/veggies or water if you really are hungry! what brand are your cheddar popcorn? I keep hearing about popchips on here- maybe try that if it's a diff brand?

Mercury- Well, I really wanted to be myself when I was first hired to work with deaf/mentally ill adults but I had to strip the purple highlights from my hair because there was a former client who would compulsively dye her hair all the time (sometimes with shoe polish or spray paint if she can't get real hair dye!) My boss was fine with the purple hair but it wouldn't have been fair and triggering for the client, you know? I still kept the lip piercing on tho!

Oh yea- link to my twitter if anyone wants to add me- am protected though. I'm more active on that than facebook.

Just went to previous page- Congrats, Mel!

Also, BrookeLynne and congrats on your progress so far!

Sorry if I missed anyone else.