Julee -- Rant away, hun.

And do what makes you happy with the money. (though I agree about those credit cards).

Thank you all for your support...

Battle..ITA?

The credit cards are a given. The car is a given. DH has already been told that if I take us to Vegas then he gambles with his own $. I don't do it and I won't support it. He does it the "right way" with a gambling budget and not reinvesting the winnings...but nonetheless...casinos scare me and I'm just not into that type of risk. I'll go to the spa and meet him for dinner.

I must say that ranting a bit helped me to clear my head. Battle you said something so key though...we have to remember that we deserve health. We don't deserve less because we weigh more..whether that weight is our fault or not. We have to own it and move on...we have to own what the scale says..good bad or other...we have to own our efforts...or lack thereof..and we have to own our lives.

Either extreme makes us slaves....not doing anything and saying heavier and unhealthy makes us slaves and being manic exercisers/food measurers/self-deniers etc also makes us slaves. The only master we need to please is ourself. For those of you who are more faith based...my personal belief is that we please God by taking care of ourselves in the right way and using the free will that we have been given in the right ways. But that's my 2 cents worth.

ITA = In Total Agreement

Julee - hooray for you - I feel the same way and know many others who post here do also. I have posted other places on 3FC but I get frustrated with attitudes so I mostly stay within this group now.

They are predicting severe storms here in southern Missouri tomorrow - great day to be driving north. We actually cancelled all installations for tomorrow due to weather - in 15 years I've never heard of that. I'm stewing a little about getting home.

Need to go find a bite out somewhere - see you soon.

Hugs to all,
Carol

Hello all! Not a good day here. My daughter calls me from school to say that she got $50 stolen from her billfold. Of course do you think she would have the common sense to take her purse with her when she left the room! NO! Or lock it in her locker! NO! Last week she left her cell phone (razor phone, not cheap one) in a locker room during track practice and didn't put a lock on it, and what do you think happened to that! TAKEN! Do you think she would have learned after that. Obviously not! But this was "her" own money so maybe it will soak in a little now. She was starting to save up for a new phone because we bought the first one. Oh well, she thinks I hate her because I am showing no sympathy to her. She is "16", does that say it all. She just left to go to a christian rock concert at church tonight so I hope she comes home in a better mood. My day was alright until an hour before leaving work I got a call from my area supervisor stating that someone else who is also an OIC/PM is still waiting for his office to be rebuilt from a tornado will be coming down to take over in about 2-3 weeks. So that will leave me back to a PMR instead of an OIC/PMR. So maybe they will get his built soon and I will be back to a lot of hours again. I should look at it positive because I will get more time ("summertime") to be off with the kids and camping with family. But it will suck not having all the $$$ I had. So instead of working 6 days a week I will be back to 1 and occasionally 2 a week. I need a little break but the $$ was nice. Then when he leaves then I can possibly be OIC again or permanent PM. We will see. I just get tired of being yanked around. I live 1/2 block from work and know everyone in town and what they do. He will know nothing and probably tick people off. His wife was the PM here 2 yrs. ago and no one liked her. Can't wait to see what he does. Pray for me. O.K. enough of that.

I did come home and feel like eating everything in the house but chose a few grapes and a blueberry flax waffle since my younger daughter was eating one. I put a roast in for supper and it should be done soon.

My ARMY son is stuck in Dallas/Fort Worth as the airlines are down. So this will be the second night there in a hotel. He is not excited about it. They told him he should have a flight at 9:35 in the morning. But if that plane is not ready it will be 1:15. So another day at airport life!!! I was kidding him and told him his personal stuff the movers picked up would be in El Paso before him!

I better get some laundry and cleaning done. Yeah to everyone staying on track today!

Carol - my younger daughter saw your picture on here and said, "Mom, are you talking to that lady on the biggest loser show". She said you look like her. She thought I was "cool" cause I knew a celebrity!! I told her that you were not on the TV show but, you were a "big loser" in our group, so that made you special! She thinks you are all cool as so do I. I then showed her some of all your pictures and she said cool and wanted to know if there was a group on here for kids her age. She is 8 almost 9!

Penny - how nice of your daughter - I've had a couple people tell me that - I guess I should watch to find out.

carol_ are you going to send the storms east to me?? I dont want more rain.I got so spoiled after just being outside on monday.I felt so fresh and alive that evening. Be careful on your trip.

Penny_ hugs to you for dealing with teens, tough love is hard but at times they need it.

Julees congrad on the money and follow your heart with what to do with it. Paying off credit cards is smart. I agree about the gambling part also. Hubby loves to gamble and I hate it. I work to hard to throw money away!!!
You can have alot of fun in Vegas without gambling.

anne_I had to give a lesson in sharing today. It was no fun for anyone. Being 2 is so hard!! I dont really blame you for not wanting to share your treadmill. I dont like sharing my computer with my youngest because it always seems to act up after she has been on it.

dmpls- did you get your clothes gone thru?? Find anything exciting? I pulled a pair of capris out of my summer clothes bag ( that is still sitting in my bedroom floor) and found 14 dollars. I was happy.lol

Talked to my sister who lives away from here tonight. She didnt know that I have been dieting and she was so happy to hear about my loss...then i got the lecture about keeping it off this time around. She was such great support before when i was loosing and then kinda upset with me for gaining it back(90 lbs). I told her this time im eating real food 4 or 5 times a day. She is a big ww person and has stayed slim by doing it. She wants pictures as I loose. Made me feel special just talking with her!! I hate that we live 7 hours apart.
well im going to go and watch some tv and try to get motivated to work on my bedroom piles
debi

Julee - congrats on the $$$! I agree pay credit cards off then cut them up! maybe vehicle, then you HAVE to get something for you! YOU deserve it.

Debimitch - I know how tough it is being away from sister. I live a couple hours away and sometimes it seems farther. Keep your chin up! I love it when I find $ in clothes. What are you going to do with your $14?

Catherine: I did buy some undies from Lane Bryant cause the kind I get there are so darn comfy. They are microfiber ones and they feel great. They were also on sale and I had 50% off coupons on top of the sale. I am so amazed when I get things to try on in a size 22 and they fit like a charm. I still don't see myself as any smaller. I mean I do in pictures but daily I just think I'm still the same old size and it amazes me to fit into smaller clothes than 5X's. I have never even been into a Victoria's Secret store and as a matter of fact whenever I see one at the mall in the past I have actually crossed the mall to not walk in front of it. I realized this yesterday when I was at the mall and saw Victoria's Secret and almost crossed the mall. I made myself not only walk past but I took a good looooong look inside. I guess I always thought that nothing in there would fit me and I have no business even looking. I don't know. There was some real fear there. Hopefully next time I go to the mall I will make myself go into the store and look around. I'm so proud of you Catherine for going to the counselor and trying to get past PTSD or at least get through some of it. Huge Hugs to you.

Carol: I would love to see more on your trainer. What an inspiration. I was thinking about approaching the pool manager at the pool that I love to swim at and ask her if she would ever be willing to let me teach a class or two of water fitness. I would love to do that and hopefully inspire someone else just like me last year that didn't think it would ever be possible to feel better about themselves. Have a safe trip!!

Walrus: Now my friend, the sky is the limit on exercising without your cast, within reason I'm sure. Have a blast and enjoy your movement. Remember, if the scale does say that you have gained, it is okay. It is just a number that you are starting back at.

Debbie: Sorry that your water heater is acting up. That stinks. It makes me smile so big that Sadie is happy again! Hugs and cheers for Sadie and her mom! I think sometime this summer I will plan a trip over to meet you. I have never been west in Washington much past Spokane or the turn off on the road South when I am driving to Boise through there. I am really considering planning a summer weekend trip and maybe we can hang and have lunch or something. Provide gas doesn't break me that is lol. Hugs.

Anne: Wow, I didn't realize you could do so much more with the turkey fryer than.... well... fry. lol. You are so creative and talented. I'm glad that you are not having to job hunt right now while you are trying to do school. Good for you.

Bernice: I have to say, new clothes are kind of fun. I must have tried on 3 outfits before deciding on a pair of dress pants and a blouse for me job interview today. Most of the things I have in my closet are pretty new to me. Before I would try so hard to keep my clothes as long as possible because it was soooo difficult to get clothes in my size that I felt looked decent. I mean they really didn't look so great looking back but, I thought they did back then. Now, I can't be so attached to clothes and I feel so blessed that people are ahead of me on the weight loss so they are passing their clothes to me. We are having an exchange on this next Tuesday and I'm sure I will have plenty of clothes to give to others like they have given them to me. Great job on all the cleaning you have been doing by the way.

Brnadnewme: Hi sweetie. SO sorry things are not the best right now. Hugs and more hugs. come back when you can. I miss you.

Johnnie: I hope that your body starts feeling better very soon. Hugs.

Julia: Woohooo to you on -11.5 pounds. You are doing so awesome. Congrats hun.

Julee: I'm so proud of you for standing your ground and doing what ever you think is best with the money that you sung your little heart out for. Cheers to you! I think perhaps on the weight loss things maybe some people just truly don't know that they won't drop weight like melting butter. I mean, common sense says eat less, move more and you will loose. I know that until I was blessed with coming here and meeting all of you that is when I learned that you have to feed your body to get it to give up fat. Maybe they will learn as they go. As far as Queen Latifah. I too was so bummed about her cowing down I felt to the weight loss thing but then I though maybe she is just trying to get healthy. As we all know there are some not so fun things that can go along with obesity. I was on 2 different high blood pressure meds, meds for swelling, potassium etc. Maybe she got news like that and thought uh oh, I better do something. I can only hope that she didn't decide that Hollywood needs her to be slim and trim.

Penny: Hugs to you on your bad day and your job. I hope it isn't as bad as you are fearing.

I swam today for an hour and my arms are sooooo tired. I can tell I have been slacking off in that department. I love the water I'm just too darn lazy to get my butt there and do it. I had a 2nd job interview at the Dr.'s office and he was so nice but the pay is loooooooowww. When I got home there was a letter from the County saying they received my application and they will be calling me for an interview if they want to. lol. and there was a message on the phone from a company here in the town where I live that received my resume and they want me to come in and fill out an application and have a possible interview tomorrow.

I stopped by to see a friend that works where I used to work, the job with the mean boss, and the executive director there offered me a job. She said I could work part time any amount I want, full time anything just come back and tell her what I want to be paid. The mean boss came out and begged me to come back too. I need the money so bad but I just am ugh! I am torn. I am asking you dear friends if you pray to please pray that God will give me wisdom on this one. I was thinking about going in there and telling her what pay I wanted but also telling her I won't promise anything and if the other job does come up in the next week or 4 that I will take it. If they don't like that then I won't come help them out. They are really struggling. I also will make it clear that I don't want the mean boss to be emailing me negative things all the time. UGh! Please say a prayer for me that I will be smart and also that I will do what God's will is for me.

Well, off to drink some nice cold tea.

Blessings all,
Annie

Annie-My last trip to Victoria's Secret was in Florida before my first trip to Canada. A nun took me. It was beyond weird trying on expensive undies with a nun, and she was very naughty on top of everything else. I was horrified, and the shop clerk, when she found out she was a nun, knew she wasn't going to make a sale, so ignored us. That just meant the crazy nun didn't have any supervision. She said she did it because I hadn't had enough "hanging out with the girls" experiences. Now I know why.

Julee-I'm pretty sure I haven't been a size 6 since I was 6. I can't remember the last time I even weighed. I just take everything one day at a time, do the best I can, and try to be as healthy as possible. I did take some twisted pleasure in proving the doctors wrong. You see a fat women come in with any kind of chest/stomach pain, and all they can think about is heart attack. The cardiologist who had to be drug in at 2am to do the angiogram said that he had never seen such a strong heart ejection. I tried to tell them that if I was going to have a heart attack it would have been in the pool trying to outdo the instructors. You can rant all you want. I do.

Julee, I agree with the rest of the ladies. Definitely pay off the credit cards and get the car fixed. And have fun in Vegas if you go. The spa sounds like heaven.

Julia, 11.5?? That is just fan-damn-tastic!!! And the 8 inches is pretty wonderful too.

Carol, hope the storms aren't too bad. Just stay safe and take care.
You do look a little like the lady on TBL, I think her name is Kelly

Penny, boy the airlines are just cancelling every where left and right. I hope your son gets to his destination soon and safely.

Debi, I could imagine it's pretty hard not having your sister closer. I don't have a sister but I always wanted one. My brother and I aren't that close and he lives in San Diego and we only talk once in a great while. Just enjoy the talks and time that you do have with her when you can.

Annie, that would be so fun if you did make the trip west. We could definitely go out and do lunch and walk around. There is lots to do here or just go and sit by the water over in Anacortes which isn't that far. If gas does get too high, maybe we could meet at a half way point.
How did the meeting go last night? I think it's so wonderful that you all trade clothes so they get good use out of them and saves all of you so much money while you're going thru the sizes so quickly.

My seedlings are just growing like crazy. I can't wait to get the area all set up to replant them outside. We need to bring in some dirt to build it up and then bring a good soil or compost to put on top of that. It rains here so much I want to make sure that it's high enough to where things won't get washed away.
The people that live down the road from us have go soooooooooo many new little cows. They are sooo cute!!! They're getting to have quite a little herd there.
You can definitely tell that spring is here.
keep movin' and groovin'

First off I want to say I read through alot of your posts and want to do personals but will wait on it till later.


We went to church tonight and DD wanted to go with the youth (they go to a nursing home once a month) But DH & I felt apprehensive about her riding with other teens and there was only one adult going the youth pastor (YOUNG male) So we spoke to DD's girlfriend's Mom and she decided to go with them and asked if I wanted to go with her.......so I went with the youth and Dh stayed for service. ALL that to say this......

We sang songs room to room & prayed for the elderly....the last room we went to was "Granny's" room EVERYONE in the building calls her that....she will be 98yrs old at the end of this month.....she was crocheting a blanket and had tons of yarn on bookshelves. She loved us singing and after about the 5th song she starting singing "You are my Sweetheart...." to the tune of "You are my Sunshine..." The other mother and I and my daughter joined in.....and Granny got so excited.......she asked us to sing it to her.....well we told her we only knew it as sunshine........she said thats fine.......so we started singing and boy it flooded me with memories of my own mother......that was the song she sang to all of us as children and to her grandkids......my DD turns to me and looked at me cuz she knew how this song makes me feel.....well just then Granny looked up at me and smiled the sweetest smile and the water started pouring from my eyes.....I couldn't stop it! the other youth probably thought I was some silly ole mom crying like that.....but it just touched me, I could see my mother in the elderly lady even though she didn't resemble my mother in the slightest.

ok........so after church we went to grab coffee.......the couple that went with us ate diner and we had just coffee (YIPPEE) lol I didn't even want anything!!!

after this DH said lets stop by walmart.....we need vegies....so we picked up some things and DH asked if I would like some new pants.........he knows my pants are fitting me loose well I looked around and ALL they had was Jeans or capris (I have alot of vericus veins and spider veins so do not like to ware them to much) I did find some kaki colored jeans that I thought were cute....so I took a 24 into the dressing room.....a tank shirt with a summer sweater to ware over it.....tried everything on the pants fit perfect the tank was a 16/18 and it fit! the sweater fit but I thought it made me look prego so decided against it........but my tummy has issues......I have a scar from surgery and it is a HUGE crack from belly button to pelvic.......so these pants are lower waisted and my crack is petruding on the top of the waistband.....it isn't because the pants were to tight and my flab was hanging over the waistband.....its just the way my tummy is now after the surgery!!!!!!!!!!! DH liked the way they fit everywhere else........and he even sugested maybe another shirt with them..........but I saw them as very unattractive.......so i didn't get them.......he went and found me a 26 and I wanted to cry.....I DONT WANT TO BUY ANOTHER PAIR OF 26's!!!!!!!!!!!! He was so sweet he didn't get upset even though I snapped at him and said I dont need anymore 26's ..........so he went and found me another top in a 16/18 and said try this on.......well it fit perfectly...........so I got it more to let him know I appriciated him trying than really wanting the shirt......

It may be because I was emotional over "Granny" already and disappointed that the pants didn't fit the way I wanted them to.....I don't know but in that dressing room I thought how can I have lost 32lbs already and STILL can't fit into ONE size lower pants????

OK I think Im through my vent sorry but I just know that you girls have been through this and you would understand better than anyone!!

I said it before and I want you all to realize what I meant by it.................we call our brother's wives sister-in-laws........because we have a connection to them through our brothers.............or through our husbands......well I truly feel I have a connection with each of you .....a connection through LOSS...........weight loss............ so my new term for each of you is SISTERS-IN-LOSS!!!!

Your sis-in-loss
BErNICE

Morning Peeps - Bernice - how lovely of you - the song floods me with memories too. My dearest aunt was having her last visit with one of her great granddaughters and she asked her to sing the Haley song - which is You Are My Sunshine - I misted reading your post - reminds me so of Aunt Lou who sang along too. You are much braver than I am - I will not try clothes on in a dressing room - rather take more time - take them home and return them as needed. How sweet of DH - glad you got the shirt.

The storms started early last night and still storming bad here. Flood warnings are everywhere. I am a bit worried about the trip home - it's about a 3 hour drive. When I drove down yesterday the water was already lapping the highway in places.

I'm celebrating a big NSV for me this morning - normally when I am on the road I get something to eat and bring it back to my room. Last night I sat in a restaurant and ate dinner. I won't go so far as to say I was completely comfortable but it is certainly something I would not have done 50 lbs ago. Next time I will take a book.

OK - time to pack up, get to the office for the morning and head the boat north.

Move your bodies, drink your water and SMILE.

Hugs to all,
Carol

Down another -.2. I guess my body likes being at 2k calories.
I think what I will do is go at near 2k most of the time and then throw in a 1700 or 1800 every once in a while to throw it off, see how that goes

I tell ya.. weight loss is trial and error for me.

Up one last night..oh well..could be anything...not eating enough with my stomach thing...a little constipated....TOM coming.whatever

Bernice...DH sings that to me sometimes at night when we are going to sleep. What a lovely story.

Happy Thursday....and yes I feel better post-rant.