Hi everyone!

Ratkitty, wow, what you said is so true. As a child, you do whatever you can to help yourself cope and then as an adult when your life is finally together.. well, you're still doing the same things! It's something to think about and something I should remind myself if I ever want to cave-- I don't need these unhealthy coping mechanisms anymore!

Ags-- CONGRATULATIONS on the weight loss!! That always feel so good, doesn't it?

Annie-- Good luck at the interview!


This thread moves so fast, I usually only pop in every week or so but I always get so much out of reading everyone's posts. So many times people take the words right out of my mouth!

I have been doing well, steadily losing weight. I am down over 40 lbs now and hoping to make my mini-goal of losing 50 lbs by my birthday (in a couple weeks).

Last night, my SO brought take-out home from my absolute favorite Mexican restaurant. She finished off a huge plateful and then had a whole platter of nachos (my favorite) left over. I resisted! Probably the hardest temptation I've had so far... but it wasn't worth it. I could have had some but then I would have been bloated from the salt, tired from the spiked blood sugar, and mad at myself for caving. Better to stick with my meal plan!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Ronnie

Hidi ho everyone,

Happy to be here.

Annie, excited you are dropping TOM weight and hey I just know in my bones that that job is yours. I'll be a prayin' for you.

Cat, great news about your book, please tell me about it? The name and all? We are readers around here. You really enjoy taking care of those crowds, don't ya? Doing what you love is a wonderful thing.

Kayley, glad you are begining to feel better.

Cyn,
you are on track staying focused on getting the weight released, boy will you be surprised and you will feel such a difference. As far as your son, it's just life and we all go thru it one way or another. It is what it is and he will be fine cause I am sure you raised him right. Lots of love in order.

As for me, my day is going great. I am staying on point with all of my eating and it has been good tasting stuff. Lunch today was a Spicy Turkey burger with a delish Broccoli salad I made fresh today. All is good and so I shall proceed with caution, as one of my friends says GUARDRAILS UP!!

Love to all,
Ags

Happy Saturday all,

I got up super early and after time with God I went and helped my friend move. She is such a sweet young lady. I used to work with her and if I get this job that I will be interviewing for on Wednesday I will be working with her again. I get so nervous that I'm not smart enough or good enogh and I have to literally talk to myself and tell myself that I am smart enough to learn a new thing. So, self dobt coming in. We got finished helping her move quickly. Her dad and brother in law were there and I brought Joel's truck. He had to wrok at his regular job today but it was overtime. He should be getting home anytime now. My friend gave me an eliptical. It is such a nice one. She said if I don't want it I can sell it in my yard sale. I do want it. I at least want to try it. I have never done one and if I like it I may keep it and sell my Gazelle since they are pretty close to the same things.

Cyn: Glad that your Dr. is on top of things. I hope you feel better soon. Congrats on becoming a grandma even if they ciurcumstances are not perfect. I am so glad that you are supporting them.

Maple: Congrats on sticking to your guns on the Mexican food! Congrats on being down 40 also!

Catherine: Woo hoo on the book. Way to go hon.

Aggs: You are so sweet. I hope you are right. I found out today that the job pays even more to start than I thought. We need the money and it would really help us catch up and save some money eventually. I appreciate that prayer.

Kayley: Hi there.

I think I caught up. Joel moved the cute dressing table into our bedroom that he fixed up for me and he is very anxious for me to put my stuff in it. I don't want to disappoint him beacause he worked very hard on it so I better go and put my makeup and stuff in it. I hope you all have a wonderful day. It is crazy busy around the area I live in as it is "Ironman" competition tomorrow. Most of the roads will be closed for the bike and running section of the race.

Blessings all,
Annie

Hello Everyone

I am really feeling the summertime Blues and my weight loss has stalled. Consequently, I am trying to mix things up and re-examine what I am eating. I count calories but I eat a lot of convenience food so I am getting overly processed stuff devoid of real nutrition but filled with all sorts of fat etc. So I am cutting out sugar such as diet ice cream bars and the like. Once a week, I can have one single serving of a high quality chocolate. A girl's gotta have her chocolate sometime, ya know I bought some high fiber cereal so I will be starting off the morning right

Talking about self-worth and the role it plays in losing weight has made me realize that I am still putting a lot of junk into my body and trying to find ways of making it legal. I feel run down and depressed. So I am going to start eating foods that have not had every ounce of nutrition pummelled out of them even though my body currently craves that


Thanks all for listening to me ramble about my struggles I know that it is not scintillating reading! I love having a place where I am at home to talk about my diet and what's it like.

Take care everyone!
Pennie

Ronnie,
you have been posting as I was typing. Great job on resisting the hardest temptation ever, I know it was hard, but it and you are so worth it. Actions like that, you will surely meet your goal. I will be cheering you on. Big congrats on 40 down.

Annie, (Dogpal)
Give that doubt a good swift kick in the you know what and tell it, doubt does not live here anymore. Trust me, you are smart enough, you are good enough, and definetly worth it. Trust in Him and Trust in you, for you are fearfully and wonderfully made and don't you forget it.

Hey that eliptical sounds great and free, even greater, sounds like some else is paying it forward. The best concept I know, paying it forward, wonderful to be on the recieving end and even greater to be the giver.

I had to smile when you mentioned the Ironman competition, why? Because my girls have been calling their father "IRONMAN" for about 22 years now. That's his handle on the radio (he is a trucker) and his email address, so when the movie came out, I laughed, because I live with the real "IRONMAN".

Now get it in gear and get that dressing table full, I am sure Joel we me pumped seeing you using it so quickly and his craftsmanship being put to use.

Pennie, the best thing of all of this is you realize what it is that you are doing and are setting up a plan to correct it. Babe, that is all we can do,
re-group and try again, and just to let you know, quitting is not an option, Okay. I care about you and I will come and get you and help you stay on track, even if I have to cook for you. (Really I would if you need it) Stay strong, you are going to do this. By the way, no thanks needed, that's what we are here for. Right?

Love and hugs to all,
Ags

Hi all,

Happy weekend. Today was semi-productive. We got a load of mulch put down, added sand/gravel to our flagstone patio, went shopping and I got another pair of shoes I love (again, since 13 makes it hard). Also, we went to lots of department stores to see what I coudl fit into and all of the stores we went to had SOMETHING for me to wear. I am firmly a size 24 at this point. Should I be smaller for the weight I am at? I don't know, but I am what I am. It felt great to think I could wear clothes from lots of places though. OH....(how did I forget)....I can smell things today...it's been coming on lately. I have not been able to smell this way for years....so I got an air freshner for my car and an apple smelling candle from Yankee candles. I can't smell flowery things, but who the heck cares, I can smell some things. And that is better than it's been for a long time.

We also looked at some hydration packs at a local sporting goods store. I am contemplating getting one so I can take some longer hikes. We will see, at this point I am broke.

Admission time....DH and I went to a buffet last night and I PIGGED out. And I was ok with it. Because that isn't a habit in my life anymore. Yes, I gained weight today, so my weigh in for the week will be yesterday's weight. BUT, I want to get to below 285 by the end of next week. And...this coming week is TOM time, so that may be hard.

That's about it for me tonight.

Later all,
Angie

I had a productive day outside too - must be something in the air. By the time I was home from water aerobics DH had about half the ton of sand shoveled out of the back of the truck onto the new patio I dug yesterday. I moved the remaining sand. After the digging and then moving a ton of gravel/lime last night I wasn't sure how I would feel today. Good enough to then move 2600 pounds of stone. Glad it's all moved - now we just have to fine tune the stones - it already looks great. We used quartz flagstone - loving it.

Food has been good too - I've been completely aware of staying hydrated and having enough calories to do the intense work I'm not used to. DH found out last night that he has to take more breaks than I do - he was surprised. I hope this helps him work on getting in shape.

Hugs to all,
Carol

Angie,
Shopping in stores where you can actually buy things that fit has to be a sensational feeling, so happy for you. Now the question is, are you broke but still happy, if so, mission accomplished, good kiddo. LOL

Carol,
YOu are doing great things girl, I just might be able to get you a construction job, cause good help is hard to find, but with your moves, I think they would hire you on the spot!!! Can I come and sit on the new patio with you? I like visiting my friends.

Hey maybe DH will follow your lead, after watching you, I am sure he is all geared up to get into shape.

Hope your water class went well. Have a lovely evening and a beautiful Sunday.

Ags

Morning ladies...

Today I am being lazy..then productive lol. Actually I am working on a new quilt.(no I havent finished the other ones) I think I get bored and switch around. BUt that is ok! lol This one is a red,white, and blue Star quilt! My friend made on and it turned out georgeous! It is all dont by hand with paper piecing. It is nice because I take it to work and while on hold with Dr's offices, I can get a few pieces done.

I am going to try and clean a little this morning. I say a little because I get tired very quickly.

We are goign to my sisters later and i FINALLY get to swim!!! YEAH!!!

Holy crud, food SMELLS and TASTES SOOOOOO good. I am loving it. Yikes!