Hello Everyone,

A quick one here. Trying to get some housework done. Yesterday was busy as we went to Costco which always means driving to Charlotte, NC. We are thinking about finding alternatives to what we purchase there. With economy as it is, we suddenly realized yesterday that it is probably 30 miles from our house to Costco. Either will find alternatives or just not go as often.

Yesterday was not my best for eating OP, but I did get back OP last night. I had given someone else on another site the advice that if she ate something and found it had something it we were not supposed to eat. I told her not to worry about it just get right back OP the next meal or snack. Strange how when I got off plan that advice rang in my ear. So I took the advice I gave her and got right back OP last night with a legal tuna salad.

Jane I hope you light the highlights and hair cut. I'm having mine done next Tuesday. I am beginning to think that I need to look for a new hairdresser. I hate to do it as she has always been so good, but she seems to leave one side longer than the other or cuts one side too short. I'm not sure my perm was very good this time either. I just love her and she has done it for the 3 yrs I've lived here and I hate looking for a new one. I will have to see how it goes.

Linda So sorry about the basement. The years I worked out of the home, I never felt I really had a day off. I spent most of my days off working at home to get ready for the next week.

Carol I hope your trip has been a blast of fun.

Everybody else reading this

Y'all have a great weekend.

I'm glad to see someone joined the YMCA I've been debating joining for the past 3 years. I want it for the water aerobics because I have arthritis. They have a special rate for government employees that is great. My DH is the gov employee but they said I could still use it.

The one thing I really dread is putting on a swimsuit. I have so many figure flaws and stuff it's insane. But I'm at the point of I don't care I need to take care of myself.

Good morning,

Linda - the lunch was very nice, and Mary was able to join us at Katie's work for a few minutes. As we sat there eating, we saw the flower delivery truck pull up, and the deliveryman had a beautiful bouquet and balloon for Katie from her hubby. Yep, you're right, I did have layers in my hair, but had let it grow longer, with less layers. I would LOVE to visit you someday. Maybe we could meet in Philly. Last time I was there, I didn't get to do the touristy thing, and I regret that. One more thing - guess what I found at Walmart? The book Firefly Lane! I've begun it already, and really like it. The mention of all those old tunes really takes me back, lol.

Trish - yes, it does sound like you need a new stylist! My hair is nearly the same color as before, even though I asked for "quite a bit lighter". I'd just get a box of color and do it myself, but I'm afraid of how it would turn out, lol. Yay for you, getting right back OP. That's what it's all about! What's that Chinese saying, "Fall down 9 times, get up 10".

2feelbetter - to our little group! Carol has been in Disneyland, but should be checking back in anytime. Don't feel bad putting on your swimsuit! At least you will be in there, doing something positive for yourself, and you will not be the only one there who is overweight.

Coralee - I hope you find this, and join in! You'll be very comfortable here, and will get lots of support, encouragement, and friendship here.

Carol - hope you made it back safely, and will share your adventures with us!

Hello to anyone else reading this.

I've got a lot to do today, because we're having a birthday party for 4 members of my family tomorrow. I can't wait to see all the grands!

Weigh in today was a loss of 1.2 pounds this week. That makes 10. 4! I have a long way to go, but I'll get there.

Have a good Saturday!

Yup I found you! Thanks for the big welcome. I will be posting here regularly. I need to figure out how to insert my post into the main body. Will reread Jane's message and hope that it sinks in.
Glad to have the support. Together we can do this.
Coralee

I want my ticker back. anyone know when this will be finished?

Hi Coralee! Glad you made it here, with your post right where it should be. That wasn't too bad, now, was it? There seems to be a problem with the tickers and I have no idea when that will be resolved. The fastest way to see if it's fixed is to keep checking daily. Tell us more about yourself.

Happy Birthday tomorrow!

Coralee and 2feelbetter glad to have you here. Look forward to getting to know you.

2feelbetter It is great that you can go to the YMCA for exercise and the water aeobics. The one we have here is for both men and women and I won't wear a swim suite with both genders and it is held at the high school so as much as I would love to do it, I just won't. I admire you deciding to do it. Everyone I've ever known who do it loves it. Maybe when I get some weight off, I might change my mind.

Jane Enjoy your family and the birthday festivities. I'm sure you've planned it around your woe so it will be fun and OP for you.

Hope everyone is having a nice Sunday.

A little about little ol' me.
I am a 64 yo retired mental health counselor, who specialized in addictions and GBLT issues. I made a career change in 1994 to this field and put myself through graduate school by working in a call center for a major airline. I liked the call center work, and kept with it until I retired in 2007.

my weight loss/gain story is posted on the 100 + subgroup intro thread. Suffice it to say, I am like many here in an ongoing struggle with weight and body image issues. My big self beat up is: I have all the head knowledge, and am successful in helping others get to goal. I just cannot seem to do it for myself. This web site, and these forums are providing me the inspiration and motivation to stay on track.
To date I have lost 46 pounds and hope to hit goal some time in the future.
I focus on mini goals rather than long term. the long term considerations are too overwhelming.
if you got to the bottom of this, thanks for reading
coralee

pattygirl63 I haven't join yet. I was saying I want to join.... Just a matter of making up my mind. It's not even that expensive especially since you get the gym/pool/ and exercise classes.

I have actually gone and sat their and watched the class. It's just sometimes when I come home I know I'm just not going to feel like going back out to take the water class. But I need to just do it.

What do you wear if you don't wear a swimsuit?

Good morning, ladies,

Trish - I did plan ahead, ate one slice of cake, and then sent all the leftovers home with the kids. I don't really like to spend my calories on junk food, but once in awhile won't hurt. We all had a great time together, and I hated to see them leave.

Coralee - long term considerations are just too overwhelming to me, too! I have to think of losing in 5 pound increments, or else it's all just too unthinkable. You are doing wonderfully, so keep up the good work! Do you have family to cheer you on? I know what you mean about head knowledge and not being able to apply that to yourself. As a past human resourses director, I dealt with employees' problems, and made policy decisions on a daily basis. So why has it taken me so long to apply basic nutrition guidelines to myself?

2feelbetter - in such a small group, you wouldn't have to bother using the quote option. I think you would really like going to the Y, and you'd be amazed at how much better you're going to feel! Our local Y will let a person join in a class one time to see if they like it or not, and maybe yours would do that, too.

Linda - I hope things are moving along with the basement fiasco!

Carol - ok, it's time for you to come back now, lol. How was your trip?

Hello to anyone else reading this.

Well, as I told Trish, I was able to stay OP through the birthday party yesterday. There was a dessert for each of the 4 birthday people, and it all looked good, but I planned calories for my favorite and stuck to it! Then I sent every bit of it home with the kids. You can't overeat what you don't have!

Today I'm going to begin the transformation of the family room. Lots of "stuff" to wade through and organize.

Have a good day!

Hi Ladies,

A quick one here. A busy day ahead and I need to call my Daddy which could be a 5 minute call or an hour call depending on his time and if he wants to talk. When my step-mom is not real alert, he gets lonely and will talk a long time. If she is doing well, it will be a short phone visit.

2feelbetter I don't know what you wear if not a swim suit. I haven't worn one in years nor have I had a reason to do so. I just started wearing shorts about 3 years ago around the house especially when I exercise in the summertime. Other than that, I wear pants.

Jane Good job with the dessert and sending leftovers home with the kids. You are doing great. Have fun with your new project.

I hope everyone else is doing well. Hope everyone will check in soon and let us hear from them.

Have a good day.

Hi Trish, sorry to be awol, but I have been so busy! Yesterday I got all the border off the walls of the family room, which is no small feat! Then I began hanging the new stuff, and also ran some errands. Today I finished the border and put up all the wall hangings, and sorted through some things. Tomorrow I finish up, thank goodness! So far, the room is looking pretty good. How was the talk with your Dad? You are so lucky to still have him!

Hello to all others.

I sure do miss my hubby while he's in Florida! The daytime isn't so bad, but evenings are just too quiet.

Later,

Everybody! Sorry to be MIA for a while, but we're trying to get the basement cleaned out while we still have the dumpster here. We don't want to have to pay for another week! It's very sad and depressing to go down there now and see my lovely family/playroom reduced down to cinderblock walls and cement floors, but at least I have the peace of mind that there isn't any nasty, dangerous mold growing. We're not sure just what we're going to do with the basement for now. We're afraid to rebuild, just in case we'd get water in there again. It's strange, though, that this is the very first time we've had water seepage in there since we built the house in 1985. I guess the extremely wet year we've had, plus the huge amount of snow this winter, was just the breaking point.

I'll be back in regularly to chat and catch up with you all once we get things settled. Take care!

Hi there! Where is everyone?
I am enjoying my brief, but welcome Spring. It usually lasts for 4 weeks in Tampa. I saw a robin on my walk yesterday, and sent him north with good wishes for all of you.
The test roses from Jackson & Perkins arrived Thursday. It was finally dry enough to plant them in the garden.
How many of you are retired? I found that retirement has made it so much easier to stay with my food plan. What about y'all?
Have a good weekend folks!
Coralee

Hi, Coralee. Yes, it has been pretty quiet in here the past several days. What is your winter like in the Tampa area? Do you get many days of freezing temps? When I think of Florida, I always think of balmy weather, but I guess that's not so. It will be fun to see how those test roses turn out. When we first moved into our home, we ordered a lot of our shrubs and bushes from Jackson & Perkins, and most of them have matured into lovely plants. I'm not retired, but I do enjoy my job as a nanny. Some days I'm on the run all day long, and that can make it somewhat challenging to stick to my meal plan, but I've learned to be prepared and keep a cooler in my car filled with healthy snacks to keep me from being tempted to stray off plan. With warmer weather coming, though, the girls will be wanting to stop for ice cream often, so I'll have to come up with a plan for that, lol! Enjoy what's left of the weekend!