Leslie: Great job getting to the gym.

Julia: Woo hoo for camping and new nail polish. lol.I hope you get to wear your wedding band very soon.

nancy: congrats on the -1. It is a great start! Have fun at your sci fi thing.

Catherine: That is a cool device. I will have to check into it. It is amazing how much weight my hands have lost. When I got married almost 23 years ago I wore a size 7 wedding ring. I am less than an 8 right now so perhaps a 7 and 1/2. I haven't been measured. The cheapy that I bought yesterday was an 8 but it spins and spins on my finger. lol. I should get myself one of those ring size things.

Angie: woo hoo to 11 more miles on the bike. You are so inspiring. As soon as I move the water in the back yard again I am going to head out on my bike too.

Mizm: Hugs.

Debbie: Great job with all the moving. Maybe you can pawn off some of that food to your guests tomorrow. You are so creative and crafty perhaps you can come up with some recipe to make with it. lol.

I had a very emotional time today at Lane Bryant. I grabbed some size 18 clothes just to see how far I have to go to get into them. I have been able to wear all of the 18's that I have at home so I thought might as well try. Well, every single thing fit perfectly! I was so in awe of it I started to cry. I am not a cryer at all but that just got to me. This time last year I never would have thought I would be able to get into Lane Bryant Clothes let alone a size 18. I had to purchase everything from the catalog because the store didn't have big enough things. I pulled it together and bought 3 cute blouses and a pair of leggings all on sale all for under $30 total.

I hope everyone is doing well and having a wonderful evening.

Blessings all,
Annie

Annie...wow and good for you. I totally get it and probably did the same thing when I lost my weight the first time around and was wearing size 18's at Old Navy...telling myself I wouldn't have to go back to LB again. Congrats!!!

LitChick...thanks for the encouragement. I love ATL. I used to live in Bham and told my hubby (we're in LA now) that the only part of the south I would ever live in is Atlanta.

Well..I realized something tonight. There is nothing quite so wonderful as the smell of dinner cooking when you are walking towards the house. I knew I was going to be running late tonight at work, so at DH's suggestion I got the crock pot out and made what I like to call "experimental chicken." The base is always the same...a cut up onion, some garlic (about 5 cloves) and a package of boneless skinless chicken thighs. The rest is the experiment. Tongith is was a package of taco seasoning mix (dry), a yellow mustard and some chilli sauce (Heinz). I left it on low all day and since it was in the kitchen near the open window..I could smell it as I got closer to the door. It's almost as nice as having someone else cook for me. In the end, a few tiny pieces were dry but the vast majority was so moist and it just pulled apart at the touch of a fork. It was almost like a BBQ chicken sandwich or a sloppy joe...I thought about getting out either a 1 pt english muffin or tortilla but decided not to. In the end I realized that if I had added in some beans it would have been chili. Maybe next time. DH loved it and it was better than going out.

I packed a nice lunch today and then didn't eat it. one of my youth group kids spent the day in my office to work on a major project and I promised her lunch. So we ended up getting some sushi...which wasn't too bad. I had no chips, no fries and no junk today. I had a Yoplait light and a banana for breakfast, lots of water, a light string cheese as a snack and a WW 1 pt bar. I bought a nutrition bar at the store...it looked interesting and it wasn't too bad on points...but after one bite I tossed it. The flavors were just off and I didn't want to waste the points.

Thus endeth another day.

Oh Catherine...sometimes the other shoe doesn't drop loud enough for us to hear it...so we just let it pass.

Julee,

Are you sure I wasn't eating the other shoe? Sometimes I put them in my mouth (not intentionally!). hehe.

Luv,
Rat

Hi all,

I made my 100 mile goal!

And NO cookies find their way to my mouth. The rest of them will go with DH to work tomorrow, so I won't be tempted. AND we went to some friends house this evening and I was offered ice cream and I said "no thank you". Yahoooooooo.

Admittedly, I lost NO weight this week, but I feel like doing the right things must pay off at some point. I would be pleased to have that point occur soon, to perhaps show me I am doing the right thing.

On that note, I am off.

Take care and be well,
Angie

Sorry guys, didn't get a chance to pop back by to do personals quite yet, but I should get an opportunity tomorrow. The floor is finally fixed, and my landlord was actually fairly decent about it.

Hope you're all doing well!

Well, it's been a busy week and i haven't had much of a chance to post- hope everyone is feeling great today!

I had my second weigh-in this morning and only lost a pound. I must admit I was a little disappointed. I did everything I was supposed to do, and I just thought it would be more. So Jess, I kinda know how you feel. Hopefully we'll both see some more movement next time! I've been looking at wedding dresses and found a gorgeous one that I printed and taped to the fridge, so if I feel tempted to cheat...all I have to do is think of how much I'll hate looking at my wedding pictures if I'm as fat as I am now!

Here's a picture of it:

Well, sorry girls I didn't get on today..........but my key issue was solved by a VERY loving hubby! He told his boss he needed the day off(explained about the keys and the bills that had to be paid in person today) and surprised me and came home an hour after he got to work........well 2 hours since it takes him an hour to drive home LOL

We went to lunch and he even dropped me off to get my nails done........while he took DD to the mall to fill out applications. We stopped at the petstore and had our fish tank water analyzed and found out we needed to fix some things in the tank.........so once home I syphined out 30% of the tank (55gal tank) and treated the new water I put in it...........got the fishies some new foods that they gobbled right up! LOL Cooked a simple chicken stirfry with brown rice...........and now I'm heading to bed.

Tomorrow we are driving down to the town where our oldest goes to college.........they have a store in their mall that we don't have here and going school clothes shopping for youngest DD..........then stopping by the college to turn in some papers for oldest DD that they need to finish up her transfering there for next semester.
(found out I don't have to attend class tomorrow just CPR on sat!)

As for rings fitting better I'm there with you girls! Walmart has ring gards that help hold your ring on better.

As for those smacking themselves in the head to get back on the ball and recommit, I'm right there with you ALL!!!

I have discovered without working through the summer my routine went out the window!!!! So since work starts back up on Monday my routine will start as well!!!

I am typing this next commitment so that I will follow through with it...........LOL

tonight is my last night of smoking!!!!! DH & I have been talking about quitting on the 1st of August for over a month...........well tomorrow is D day LOL We have two cigs left.......I am going to smoke one before going to bed and that will be it!!!! I have quit cold turkey before and I'm hoping that I will be ok with it this time too! Don't ask me why I started up again LOL and after 7 or 8 yrs smoke free too!

OK so there its out in the open! I will let you know how I'm doing in that department daily I guess LOL

Monica lovely gown!!!! I have a goal to be at my goal weight by the time of my Son's wedding in summer of 2010 but I haven't even looked at dresses for the mother of the groom yet LOL I just know I want to look ravishing in my dress LOL so keep that picture handy to keep yourself motivated!!!

good nite ladies

Monica , dmpls- I was so miserable at my sons wedding in Dec . I felt fat and even though I was told by everyone how beautiful I looked I didnt feel it!! That was my final straw...I decided that night that I wanted to be healthy and feel good when my daughters got married. I hate the pictures from my sons wedding..even though its a good reminder why Im doing this!!
My daughter is talking about getting married in 09 and i want to be at goal by then..I know i wont be skinny but I sure want to be healthy and happy!!
Great idea to print the dress to remind you of your wedding day!! I think I would need a copy on the cabinet more than the frig ...my frig has the healthy stuff in it...its my cabinets that have the junk food.LOL
hugs

Another day. I woke up early filled with energy. I had forgotten how much better I feel when I am sticking to the diet. I wish I could remember this feeling the next time I am tempted to cheat. I'm in less pain, which doesn't make a lot of sense. My youngest foster son used to come over and grab me, and then say that he needed some 'dorphins. That's the only thing I can think of that would be easing the pain I'm normally in. I know that losing a lot of weight will certain take the strain off things, and make me feel better, but I haven't lost that much in the last week and a half. I'm trying hard to just enjoy it, and keep it up, rather than dissecting it to death.

Hi, everyone. I hope you are all having a great Friday.

I had a bad day, yesterday. I was feeling too good about myself and got a little big headed, I guess. Spent the day in a feeding frenzy. I am back on track and slugging a ton of water, to help flush my system and banish the bloat. I think about how I felt yesterday and last night, as I went to bed and I want to hurl. Seriously. It is such a yukky feeling and I am not used to feeling like that, any more. And I don't like it. At all. I can't believe I used to live my life feeling that way, every single day. Ew!

DMPLS, good luck, with quitting smoking. I have been there. It is the hardest thing. But, so worth it. The health benefits alone make it worth it. It is so wonderful to draw big lungfuls of clean, healthy air. To smell the scents around you. To be able to taste your food properly. If you need support or encouragement, feel free to PM me.

Annie, what a great feeling... To go into the store that way and have everything you tried, fit. I am looking forward to that day, myself.

I hope that everyone has a terrific weekend.

Hey all,
I just thought I would check in as it has been a few days. Not really up to personals right now, but knew I had to check in. Been a lot of stuff going on in the last week and whole month. So not up to anything right now. Yes, I know I need to take care of myself as my body is telling me that right now. I was up until 4:45 this morning and then back up (actually in the livingroom chair that time) back awake at 7:30. So long day yesterday and long night. Something has to change and get better. Thanks all for being here for me. Penny

Hiya Chickies,
Not much to report here. Just going to get ready to go shopping and make healthy choices to bring back home. Plan on getting a salad while were out and about.
Then have to come home to get ready for Jim's party. It's very windy here, but at least the rain has stopped for now.
Hope everyone has a great OP movin' day!
Debbie

Annie - What a wonderful day of shopping you had, not only going into size 18s but getting some bargains along the way. Thanks for sharing your emotional reaction, I think I will probably be crying too when I can fit an 18.

Angie - Great job completing your 100 mile goal. And you resisted not only cookies, but also ice cream (probably my biggest weakness), great accomplishment. So what if you're not showing a weight loss this week, just keep up the good work, stay the course and you will see results soon enough.

Monica - Beautiful dress - great way to keep your eye on the prize.

Bernice - Good luck with quitting smoking. I know how hard that is, but you've done it before, you can do it again.

Catherine - Being a fellow sufferer of chronic pain, I think maybe sometimes it's just the positive attitude that makes us feel better. Your feeling better about being back on track must be telegraphing that better feeling to the rest of your body. I'm so glad you are feeling better and more energetic.

Rain Dancer - It's only 1 day, the most important thing is that you stopped at 1 day and got yourself back together. Let yesterday go and continue to move forward today.

Not much going on here today. Following Carol's example and cleaning out the fridge before going grocery shopping tomorrow. The thing I have too much of is too many open jars of sugar free jams and preserves, trying to determine which to toss so I can make more room in the fridge door.

Wishing everyone a wonderful OP, water drinking day.

I refuse to throw away my open mustards!! (sez the condiment queen) Yes, I have tried honey mustard. There are many varieties of that as well.. I'm always on the hunt for a good mustard... especially sweet-hot ones.

Back to work

Luv,
Rat

Rat-I also have a smorgasbord of mustards. When you can't have fat, it has to have flavor.