I'm so glad you are feeling a bit better.
I doubt I'd spend a WW point on a water, even if it did include some protein in it, sadly.
I am not a fan of some of the flavored waters that seem to be "flooding" (get it?) the market lately. Most of them are overly sweet for my taste, but I see tons of people drinking them, so I guess others really like them?
I made it to the gym today, and was proud of myself. It's 97 degrees here today and it was so easy to just say I'd pass on it and sit in my air conditioned house. But, I went and I felt really good afterwards.
I hope you will be able to do some form of exercise at some point.
Take care of yourself,
Linda

Linda, congrats on getting to the gym! Way to go! I know hot weather is a powerful demotivator. Did you end up going to the cabin?

I'll be able to start walking first and then be able to do light aerobics. Sit-ups and serious ab work are a long way off... I have to be careful not to create scarring (adhesions) by over doing it or I will have problems. I can't wait to be able to get back on the horse, so to speak. Daytime television is chock full of commercials for diet pills, Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig-type diets, and workout videos. It's hard not to feel like a blob as I lay on my couch, even if I am legitimately recovering.

I agree about the flavored water and extra points but my diet is pretty unbalanced right now and liquids are an absolute necessity. Anything bland is my friend... I never imagined I would get this excited about dry toast. I usually reserve this kind of enthusiasm for expensive dark chocolate.

Can I jump in here as well.

I think you should! Welcome!

Hi, My name is Mary, I have been doing WW on and off for what seems my whole life.This time doing at home and saving the money for gym fees. Which I must admit have been a bit like my diet (Hit and miss) lately.Not putting on weight just staying the same. I am here nearly every day but tend to be a bit of a luker. Am asking some of you lovely people to back up the bus (don't run me over) just so I have enough time to grab hold and hoist this lazy butt on board. What sort of programmes are you doing core, Flex etc.
Exercise etc

I am not a fan of some of the flavored waters that seem to be "flooding" (get it?) the market lately.

He He I like this, not a great fan of water at all unless it's mixed with Hops.lol
Lafayette, sorry to hear you are not well, but sounds like you will be up and about soon
Must go walking DD to work since I didn't get my gym into the day.
AGAIN!!
Have a great day
Mary

Welcome Mary. Good to have you aboard.
Lafayette, sounds like you are well in control of your recovery and all will happen in time, be patient. I have no excuses not to be doing the exercise, so perhaps I need to do it for both of us?
Where's Elan been lately?
Mary, a brief intro from me....
I never had a weight problem until after having my two children. Then, it seemed like all the in between meal snacks I was giving them, as they were growing children popped into my mouth as well. Then, when they wouldn't finish everything on their plates and the table was cleared, guess who was popping all the leftovers into her mouth? Guess who was not exercising and being more concerned about baking the family cookies (eating the dough) and more concerned about providing flavorful meals the kids would like vs. making healthier choices?
Well, all that is changed. I've been on WW so many times and have come back many times, but I have proclaimed this to be my last time. I'm in this for life and in this to win. I hope to be a WW leader, one day. I hope to be lean and in good health so that I will have a long and active life. Time to be more intelligent and less "in the moment" with my eating.
I have learned, especially, that eating out is not always a "special occasion". I realized, and it was a true light bulb moment for me, that my family eats out 2 - 3 times a week, on average. It's not my birthday, my anniversary, a holiday or anything all of those times. I was making excuses and saying to myself "Oh, I can have what I want today, as it's a special occasion - we're eating out!" Well, if you eat out that often, it is NOT an excuse. That is a turning point.
I have also learned that planning ahead works wonders. I try to sit down at the beginning of each day and physically plan out all my meals. I figure out my points ranges for everything and when I have a plan, I stick with it!
Good luck on your weight loss journey!

Mary, my weight problems stemmed from quitting smoking and settling into the suburban lifestyle. Dating and the requisite desserts didn't help either!

I've struggled with losing weight and, while I don't recommend major abdominal surgery as a remedy, I admit to feeling relief knowing that poor diet and lack of exercise weren't the only things making me feel so exhausted and huge. I found I could eat right, exercise and still gain thanks to the fibriods, endometriosis and cysts. I've lost 14 pounds since the surgery and I already feel so much better than before I went in. I plan to use weight watchers to help me develop healthy eating habits and to get back in shape the right way as I recover.

Today is the first day I can have salad! I'm finally getting sick of toast and white rice... I had some chicken last night but my appetite is still kind of wimpy. Exercise is still a way off but I'll start back at Curves as soon as I get the green light.

Welcome and good luck!

Thank you so much for the lovely welcome.
You both sound a little like me lol.
Derrydaughter,
I too cleaned the plates for the kids, and if you have seen my profile you will understand how I got this big. Why waste food right! Back at that time I used to make cookies every Saturday, made my owm jams, pickels etc. Grew a vege garden Now I just buy them, not really sure if it's cheaper or I am just lazy now. AHHHH the good old days when I was young.seems so long ago.
Even got DH trying to lose weight with me now (Trying being the key word)
But at least now, he is not working against me and has stopped bringing home fried chicken.

Lafayette,
I think I will pass on your weight loss programme,sounds too pain full.
14 lbs wow.and Ouch!!!!! Last surgery I had was when I had my tubes tied after I had my last girl, I refused to leave the hospital until I had it.lol
When you get up and around again you won't know yourself.
Just take you time and don't rush. You may do yourself some harm.
MMMMMMM I have just finished taking off the 22lb that I gained giving up smoking over 18 months. Then i got stressed out when one of my boys got into trouble. And started again. Have been thinking about giving another go. But it will happens, when it happens.
Got to go hubby is hungry. Have a great day.

I quit smoking for two years and restarted again with all this mess. It's probably not the healthiest thing I could do for myself but, then again, I know how to quit and I know I need to be ready to put that much will power toward my efforts. The stress is reduced but the boredom is excruciating. I'm glad I won't be doing this again!

I am surprised to find myself looking forward to another two weeks of recovery. I expected to feel much better by now. I just can't stay in the same position very long or I start to ache. Yuck! There's no way I could sit at my desk, even for 4 hours. Ah, well. Thank God, I saved for a rainy day!!!

I quite smoking about 20 years ago, before getting pregnant with my son and never started again. I'm afraid that I'd have trouble quitting.
I'm feeling awfully sad tonight, I go through these times. I miss my mom and dad (MaryL, I lost them both within 4 months of each other) this time of year is awful for me, as my dad passed away on 9/15 this kind of weather is exactly like when he died. It's really lonely now and then and I so with that I could go back in time and just BE with with. Oh well. I have to carry on.
But, days like this are dangerous. I had a cookie today and I had two beers with dinner that I didn't plan on.
I need to get to the gym and find my positive attitude.

Hey Mary!!!! Welcome aboard.....Linda move your skinny behind over so Mary can sit by you! hee hee...

Elan has been away..dating! OMG it is GREAT! Anyways I have been watching what I am to eat. I have lost a bit more, not as much as I want, but I am taking it one step at a time. I figure if I eat in moderation and choose wisely..and drink my water it will all come off...slowly.

Me....was a Weight Watcher's leader...then got divorced and all that went to H-double hockey sticks! I was a smoker when I was ww leader..and then quit..some of it came on after that and then of course the divorce pretty much blew it! I did come back though and have had the most wonderful support on the Bus!!!! This bus is HUGE so we have loads of free seats and the more the merrier! Nice to have you here Mary!!

Girls! carry on! (ps...my stomach is getting smaller! yeah!!!!)

My mom passed along some great advice for coping with the down times when mourning the loss of a parent. She "stumbled" after her father died until a friend told her any actions she took to mourn him should also honor him. With that in mind, she found it easier to back away from food as consolation (he died of a heart attack at 46) and do something healthy for herself instead. I hope this helps, Linda!

Lafayette, your advise is sound and good. In fact, on the anniversary of his death, I will be making a donation to the American Cancer Society in honor of him.... hmmm, how ironic that you just took up smoking again recently and here I am donating towards cancer research.... could be your own special message from above? Just kidding in a way, but I do worry for you.
I can honor my dad in many ways, but it just gets so darned lonely. I do think I set myself up for this the last few days, but I still need time to be myself and be alone.
I go home today and finally, three members of my family will be in one location after the last 8 days, my daughter arrives home from Maryland about 2:00 am on Sunday morning. Then, all four of us will be at the house for two days before my husband leaves for NYC and school starts. But, with our routine beginning over again, I shall be less at odds with myself.
In self examination, this last week, I am really trying to figure out what it is that I should be doing with the rest of my life. Should I push myself truly hard, get to goal and finally be a WW leader? Should I go back to college and maybe re-start some sort of career? Should I give back to the world and immerse myself in charity work? Being a mom is a full time job, but now suddenly it's becoming a part time job. I really envisioned that I would be taking care of my aging parents at this stage of my life, but they died and now where does a stay at home mom for 20 years fit in to the world when the chicks leave the roost? Life isn't over, I still want to have a fun and meaningful life and surely hope to be around for many more years. So, along with all of this pondering, a new me shall arise. Who will that be? No wonder I was sad and lonely last night. But, in the fresh light of day, I am a bit more positive at least. I'll figure it all out, it will be interesting for sure.

Linda, I'm glad to hear that you're pondering your future! It's a difficult set of decisions but what an exciting time! There's so much you can do!

I know the church festival was a challenge, but have you ever considered working for a charitable organization? I had a career crisis and started working for a nonprofit children's literacy organization- I love it! I work for so much more than a paycheck and, while my pay has decreased, my benefits actually are better. Plus, my "soft skills" like caring and being supportive are very valuable to this job. You can start by volunteering with an organization to see if you like it and build your resume while you do it. It can be a great transition.

I can take a little ribbing for my smoking... I'll quit as soon as I'm ready again. Right now, I'm gearing up for it... honestly!

So, Elan, what's the skinny on the dating?!? Are you just enjoying dating or have you found a special guy? You've been kind of quiet..

Lafayette I wanted to pop in here and let you know that I had been thinking about you as well. It does my heart good to see your recovery progressing so nicely. Do yourself a favor and really take it easy for the next 2 weeks. These 2 are the crucial ones due to the fact we are feeling better, stronger, perhaps even a little excited ( to excited ) to jump back into eating and moving again.

Baby yourself! You'll be glad you did.

Derry I'm feeling ya. I know these crossroads of life all to well. They just happen a lot more frequently for me. My ten year old son and I decided that once a month we would go to the Hospital's children ward dressed as clowns. He would do his card tricks for them and I would make balloon animals, lill things to brighten their day. My older daughter is a bit unsure ( 14 ) go figure but I know she will come around find her nitch. My 12 yr. old is gun-ho to read to the little ones. ( I feel its important to give back, to give period. My hope is to instill that into my babes. )

Elan you rock!! I am living vicariously thru you! Just be careful of the slippery slope.

Mary welcome!! Your going to adore these ladies! You wont find a more supportive, caring, be there for you when you need it group. Good luck on your journey.