Hugs to you car. I know what you mean about stress. I am an emotional eater and always find it hardest to stick to my plan if I am stressed out, or angry, or whatever.

Tonight was not exception. We've all been sick, my daughter, my husband, and myself. Despite the fact I have known lung problems, I have been pushing myself so that my husband and daughter are as comfortable as possible. That means, I let my husband have the last of the cough medicine and I went out and bought more. It means I called out of work and later in the day decided to go in anyways because it meant my three year old, who is feeling tons better, could be out of my husband's hair at daycare. It means I have been cooking him meals when all I want to do is curl up on the couch and sleep. It means that I have been coughing so hard that I haven't had a dry pair of pants in four days (TMI, I know) but I still did all the laundry, changed the bed, and allowed him the shower before me. I said "Guh-I wish I could breathe" under my breath, once and he let in on a five minute rant on how he wishes when he is sick he didn't have to tend to everyone else. Excuse me?! All he has done is yell at our three year old and play freaking video games ever since he got sick yesterday! I've been sick for a week now and I haven't taken a single break one! Love the man to death, he really is a dear, but right now I am so freaking ticked at him I can't see straight. And I ended up spending the rest of the evening pacing around, staring at the pantry wanting to rip down a bag of pretzels and gorge. Or that ice cream that was bought two weeks ago that is still untouched in the freezer, yeah, that tempted me too. I didn't, but man I wanted to.

Okay...that turned into a vent somehow. I guess I needed to bemoan to someone, and my husband is in the defensive state right now where he just agrees with everything I say which only ticks me off more so. He can be such a whinny baby (and an @$$) when he wants to be.

Aw! I'm sorry you feel so bad! There has to be a bug going around. I was sick a couple weeks ago. I'm just now getting over the stuffy part. I hope you and your family feel tons better soon! It's a known fact that guys are HUGE babies when they're sick. Could you imagine tacking on menstrual cycles and birth? They wouldn't survive.

Zoesmom I hope you feel better? I honestly think that often men don't realise how much we do for them. They are not being awful, just a bit blinkered! I worked with a lovely serene lady who had been married for 25 years, had 4 children, elderly parents and she and her husband still acted like a pair of honeymooners. When others would rant about their partners she would just smile and say "You just have to let some things go over your head!" I am so blessed with my hubby but he ain't perfect and this saying comes to mind when I want to rant about little things that in the grand scheme of things don't really matter as much as my love for him.
Sorry if that sounds a bit preachy but it has taken me til the age of 45 to learn that!!!
Take care of yourself

Im struggling to keep from over eating. My daddy passsed away monday night after a long time of suffering. The funeral isnt until sat and this in between time is awful. I live an hour away from family and im trying to continue to run my daycare this week and its really hard. My wonderful neighbors are bringing in food and its so tempting to just sit down and eat it.
Guess I will just try and keep busy today and tomorrow try and make good choices. I know there will be lots of food around this weekend.
Have a great day everyone!!

Devnet...welldone on under 300 my lovely!
cuterwithcurves I was an symbicort for asthma and it was REALLY effective. I kept getting oral thrush so am now on serevent. It is worth double rinsing your mouth out when you have used the inhaler and using live fat free yoghurt almost like a mouthwash as it does help.
Now my weight is reducing my asthma is improving. The other thing that really helped in allergy season was starting to take cetirizine ( antihistamine) in Feb wayyyyy before hayfever season. No steroids at all this year for the first time in a few years.
On the subject of loose skin.....gotta be better than fat surely?????

dgrammie you must hav eposted at the same time as me. I am so sorry for your loss. Please take care of YOU at this difficult time.
God Bless

Oh dgramie!! I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my thoughts. mountain is right, please take care of yourself. And don't beat yourself up if you do slip. You are human, you have a lot on your mind and heart right now. Worry about getting through the next few days and then worry about your plan. If you make it, awesome. If you don't, well, there is always tomorrow. Right now the important thing is you and your family.

car & mountain - You are right. My hubby is a big baby. I know he is grumpy because he is sick. We've been together almost 7 years and to this day still act like when we first met. Just last night I wanted to ring his neck. Thank God he doesn't act like a teenager often!!!! He really is a good man, just last night he pushed every one of my buttons quicker than Superman shooting a laser beam. Still love him to death though

And back on asthma...it REALLY sounds like I need to talk to my doctor about symbicort.....

car - I live in an apartment too, but we grow veggies in pots. The balcony is full of it. We'll even start on tomatoes next year. This year we got plenty of lettuce, some carrots, sweet potatoes and some green onions. We, of course, also have our herbs. It's amazing what you can do with only a little balcony.

dgramie - I'm so sorry for your loss Take care of yourself and as others have said, don't beat you up too much if you slip. Losing is not about falling down, it's about staying down when you fall. Big hugs for you.

This week has been okay so far. Got bad news yesterday: a prof asked me to redo completely a paper that was fine to begin with (it's a long story). So I did it again yesterday and I also managed to be almost done with the very last paper I have to do before Thailand. I should finish that tonight after work

Today was weigh in day. I wasn't expecting good news because I had weighed myself yesterday (I usually force myself to only weigh in same day, about same time [morning before eating anything], especially that I used to have eating disorders in the past so weight is always an issue; I don't want to obsess over it). Anyways, I still weighed in this morning because it's my day to do and guess what? I lost 3 pounds! It's not 5 like the past two weeks, but it's good enough for me. I am not complaining! It's also the last weigh in before I leave for Thailand so I'll only weigh in when I get back. Hopefully, I'll be under 300 (first mini goal) with all the swimming, the hiking and the heat. That would be an amazing news just before starting the fall semester!

I'll still be around for the next couple days, but barely (with all the excitement around the trip). In case I don't have time to come back, I wish you ladies a very nice two weeks. Take care of yourselves and I'll post some pictures when I get back for sure!

dgramie - I am so sorry for your loss. That is really difficult and I think it is so hard to carry on with normal life after a life-changing loss like that. I think you need to give yourself time to grieve; hopefully the funeral and time with family will give you that space that you need.


I really, really, really (really) love pistachios. Perhaps my second favorite nut (after hazelnuts). We have a tradition of buying pistachios for Christmas stockings in my family. They are another nut I have trouble controlling. At some point I want to start bringing nuts back into my diet because they are so good for you, but I'll wait a bit longer. Though! my local Kroger's has had very small packs (1 serving size, 100 to 150 calories, I don't remember) of pistachios in the past. I haven't noticed them recently, but I haven't been looking.

I love that sort of weather, Rosebud. High 60s, low 70s, ideal. We are in the high 80s and low 90s - which is fine when it is less humid, but sticky otherwise. I am going to get out and do yard work this weekend. I should have my lawn mower back today, so I will be able to start there. I have never raised beans, but I might try that next year. I am getting a lot of little tomatoes now. Some from an heirloom plant producing purple tomatoes. It is fun.

watchoutforthatcar - ugh. I hate work stress. I'm sorry that you are in an apartment (gardening helps me with work stress, too. We went through a really unpleasant dispute between some of the owners a few years ago that was ugly and unpleasant for all involved. I got through it by restaining my deck. Oooh, and you can get some of the pleasure of a garden by going to farmer's markets at this time of year.

I eat dinner really late sometimes, too! I know there are people who are nearly religious in their opposition to late meals, but yesterday I did not get home until quarter to nine. And, moreover, I think it is fine. A later meal keeps me from evening snacking (which I think is the worst part of eating in the evening? The potential mindless snacking in front of the TV). Most Europeans eat dinner much later than we Americans do, and they tend to be skinnier than we are, so if I were you I wouldn't beat myself up about that. You're doing so great!

zoesmom - congrats on resisting all that temptation! And I am so sorry you are sick and things are so stressful. No one ever really pampers women, do they? Except on Mother's Day, when you end up doing much of the work behind the scenes. You are more than welcome to rant here, but I want you to remember to take care of yourself. You have asthma! Getting sick(er) would not benefit you or your kids in any way!

amalexia - congrats on the loss! and on the trip. I look forward to stories and pictures. Take care of yourself and enjoy! How exciting. Oh, and I have noticed that I retain fluid after international flights? So sometimes when I get home it takes me a few days to shed that water weight. I always weigh myself right away and am all aghast, but a few days later all the extra weight + extra is suddenly gone, so keep that in mind if you want to weigh yourself right when you get home!

dgramie -- I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost my momma when I was 19, 6 years ago, and it was the hardest time in my life. I was depressed, stayed in my room, and did nothing but eat. My thoughts are with you and your family. I echo everything everyone else said...you worry about you. If you stay on plan, awesome. If you don't, there is always tomorrow.

amalexia -- 3 Pounds? That's aweeeesome! Way to go!!!!

mnemosyne -- Haha, that doesn't make me feel so bad then! And you're absolutely right...eating later in the evening definitely helps me to not snack or feel like I'm hungry and raid the fridge for no darn good reason.

And thanks! I definitely want to get where you are. I can't wait to never see 300s again.

dgramie please accept my condolences for your loss. *big, gentle hugs*

mountain walker I am really lucky... I *knock on wood* have not ever experienced any of the yeast related issues most women have. In any sense. I have friends who get thrush, I have friends who get it on their skin, and needless to say other areas. I credit it to rising, and rinsing again after the inhalers, and how much garlic I consume. Garlic is a win win for me... I never get eaten alive by mosquitoes either (save the 1 summer I didn't eat it at all).

zoesmom it never hurts to talk to them about it. It wasn't an inexpensive option but it is a darn good one for me. I was actually cautioned it is pricey when the script was being written and I shrugged and said that was why I have excellent coverage. Then again I got use to picking up the full tab for advair, etc. at one point. *cringe* I looked symbicourt up. It is one of those ones that seems to be similarly priced north or south of the border.

Big hugs for you too... I'd tell you to breath but... Well I know how that feels. Reading that makes me remember when my hubby gets sick. I am a spoiled princess most of the time. I will admit it. When we are all sick though it is just not pretty. Early on in our relationship it happened that all 3 of us were very sick. I was struggling through and trying to do for everyone. He looked up at me from under his blanket and asked me why I was stressing over it. He told me that when we are sick... All bets are off. Then acted like a whiney baby for the next 3 days. *giggle* So... Over the years we've learned that when he is sick... He is to go to his room, or the basement. The little one and I get the living room, or her room, or the office. *looks innocent* It works a lot better then me wanting to find a large stick to beat him senseless with.

I am so thankful for all the meals that have just showed up at my house. I am also so thankful no one brought dessert!!!!!!
Its going to be a rough couple of days but I plan to get back at it hard on monday. Lots of eating is planned for t he next few days.
I worry about my mom and then also how hard it is on my children and neices and nephews.

thankfully we have some much cooler weather..mid 80s for highs. woohoo

Sooo. The TOM devil has gotten to me. It's 1:10 and I haven't done so hot today. Had a cupcake at about 8:30 this morning and a handful of reese's pieces. Besides that I haven't done too bad. Still ate my regular scheduled lunch. And I'm walking after work so hopefully it won't be so bad. But I was crying this morning and of course the cupcake made it better. My feelings about food are sooo screwed up.

dGramie ~ Condolences on the loss of your father -- this is a tough time I know, although I'm sure it is somewhat comforting for you to know that he is at peace and not suffering anymore. As for the eating, give it some time; it will get better ... & ^prayers^ for you & yours.

LOST ~ somehow I missed that post; it's so busy in here, it's hard to keep up. I hope you find your groove soon too. I work at strategies to help me stay on plan -- removing those that don't seem to work; adding in what helps and so on. I try to share them here as I go along.

MNEM ~ Loved the pistachios but also glad I limited how many I bought in the first place. Yes, serving sizes are the best for me too. I can limit almonds & hazelnuts as long as they are not salted/flavored in any way. My cherry tomato plant is really producing, esp now that I am not competing with two catepillars I shook off the plant way back in June. I seem to get at least 4-6 a day now.

I find eating later on helps me not munch at night as much too; many people find that a "helpful" strategy (esp Europeans). Maybe this continent could learn a thing or two from them.

CAR ~ it's the hormones that are screwed up for us really. I know the cupcake felt good for a few minutes, but the victory is that you only had one -- that's great!!!

AMALEXIA ~ Yes, it will go down as you go along; and you will see some fluctuations along the way, but congrats on those 3 lbs!!!

I threw some junkies in the garbage yesterday to remove the temptation; although I had only "one" on two different days (a NSV in itself) and stayed well within my plan. I didn't want them there endlessly just in case. Why tempt fate? Another NSV. Don't miss them one bit ... really gotta watch what stuff gets into this house (another NSV that I'm workin' on).


Have a fabulous Friday and weekend, everyone ...

dgramie - it does make things easier; I'm glad they've avoided dessert, too. Definitely spend the time with your children and nieces and nephews, and do not worry about your food. This is how I feel about most family gatherings, but funerals are so difficult. I hope your mom is coping well, how difficult for her. My thoughts are with you, for sure.

car - aww. One cupcake isn't bad! the important thing is not having more, right? I really think you have to allow yourself real food while also beginning to pry away from the traditionally bad foods as treats. I now try to think of fresh veggies or new salads or HEALTHY THINGS or - a new veg I have never tried - as my treat food. I am not always successful, but it helps.

Wait, Cuter - garlic keeps mosquitos away?! I will have to eat more. They bite the heck out of me, honestly. I need to eat more.

Rosebud - throwing out food that I am tempted by is SO hard for me to do. I keep EVERYTHING, but I have managed to do that more recently. Congrats! You will be my inspiration next time I have to try throwing something out.

This is the last weekend of the Olympics. I will be so sorry when it is over. I have really enjoyed the track and field events. I cannot get over some of the feats these athletes manage, like Manteo Mitchell, who broke his leg half-way through his leg of the men's 4 x 400 and kept running. I also love seeing all the great women athletes. When I walk on my treadmill I can think about them.

Just for fun, here is a youtube link to a video of a post-race interview of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce from 2009. She's the Jamaican who won the 100 Meters and silvered in the 200 Meters, and she is so adorable, so thrilled with her victory that she's squeaking. Plus, "I realized I'm a champion for a reason, do I decided to get out there and - " heh. I am using it as inspiration, too. Every victory, non-scale and otherwise, right? Makes us kind of champions. I mean, we focus so much on where we slip up. But sometimes we have to celebrate.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

(I cannot stop watching that! She is so, so, so cute and the fastest woman in the world!) I guess I am the target demo for the Olympics, as I don't pay much attention to sports the rest of the time, but I really enjoy the Olympics!