thanks

too bad I am broke

Hey Everybody!!! Sorry I didn't have time to post this morning. Also, I have barely had a chance to catch up on old posts..actually, I have not had a chance to go to the bathroom yet today. Things at work are beyond crazy and I have been on emergency schedule since this morning...I need a break. Anyway, I missed chatting with you all, but will try to post later.

Hi Dips', I'm glad to see you're OK. Thanks for writing and I'm also glad I made you feel good. So, you're a broadcast journalist. That sounds like a lot of fun. I work at a newspaper here and there is a radio station in the same building. I used to compile the news from the wires, then read that on the morning news programs. Just two 90 second reads. They used to use people from the paper to do that since we had the best access to all the stories. It was a lot of fun. Unfortunately, the station cut the whole thing out because of a lack of funds (or so they say). So, were you on FEN while in Asia? I don't know how that works. What we hear here in Japan is broadcast from Japan it seems. You know, I do miss the times at Stripes. At that time the dollar was strong, about 260 yen. Now it's only around 115 yen to the dollar so people from the bases don't come into Tokyo like they used to simply because it's too expensive. Anyhow, when I was at Stripes I met some really great people. There are a lot of strange foreigners in Tokyo and the people from the bases were, generally speaking, a breath of fresh air because they were REAL. It was my first exposure to anyone in the military and I admit I probably had some preconceived misconceptions. But I learned that there are a lot of genuine, warm and simply good people in the military. It's a shame they all too often, like Americans in general, get a bad rap because of unpopular administrative policies. The people, like the soldiers, are not the government and it angers me when they are exploited by the government as a means to certain interests' ends and then suffer for it.

Ê Ê Hi Kempyd, yes, I understand the not wanting to juice everything but if I didn't I would never get the minerals and vitamins from the vegetables. I just don't have the time with my schedule to prepare foods, especially raw foods.

Ê Ê TonyaS, that IS a great thing to fit into clothes you previously couldn't. It feels like magic, doesn't it!

Ê Ê Noelle, what are you doing, posting this gorgeous hunk!!?! First, we're talking about obscene tree peepers and then this! This is too much. This place is just heating up like you wouldn't believe! I love the thighs on this guy and those taut biceps. I'm a real thigh gal though and am always pressuring the guys on the sports desk at work to include beefcake shots of rugby and baseball players showing some thigh to balance out all the pix of female athletes and girls in the stands in tiny T-shirts cheering, or whatever all they are always putting in the paper.

So, you're going to Thailand? You should stop over in Tokyo and we could meet up? No chance of that though, huh? I'm glad to hear you're heading north as well because Bangkok is a **** hole. Be prepared for major air pollution, heat and traffic jams all the time. The little scooters that whisk people around, tuk-tuks are pricey for foreigners. I was there and learned to read the Thai numbers and hopped buses, which are dirt cheap. But it is a very interesting place and the countryside is great. If you're flying local flights be in for some scary landings and takeoffs. Seems they've got a lot of ex-fighter pilots who are used to zooming in and out off of short runways. No worry here about bumpy landings and the jets seem to take off practically vertically! Well, that's the way it was when I was there.

Ê Ê angieME, sorry to hear you're having a lot of pain this month. At the risk of sounding like an evangelist, I want to say that the two best things I did for myself after quitting smoking was cutting my caffeine intake to nearly zilch and then cutting out sugar. And it was in these areas of female problems that I saw the biggest improvement. No more sore boobs for one! Honest. I couldn't believe that I had gone through years of that. If only someone had told me. (of course I probably wouldn't have listened, but heh, it's the truth!) If you're tired of all this agony, give it a try, and remember caffeine lurks like sugar does, all over the place!

Ê Ê jackieO, jbbm, hello there. How are you doing? jackieO, I'm sorry to hear things are so hectic for you. What kind of work do you do?

Well, that's about it from me here. OK, bye for now!

Ciao Ladies!!

Today is a great day!! I love hump day! Justa a couple of days until the weekend and I can't wait. I fly home mid October. I booked the flight and everything! I'm so excited

Okay now for the personal messages;

Angie- Peanut Butter? Yuck! I hate the stuff, though it isn't really all that bad for you so don't get upset. Just eat it in moderation. remember what we said. September is the month to get results! I sure hope you feel better soon. When you hurt, I hurt.

Red Balloon- I love the Stars& stripes. It's like our bible over here. I was a part of American Forces Network (AFN) in Korean and here in Italy. It's a lot of fun. I hear ya about the misconceptions of the military. It hurts me when I see americans protesting in front of our bases, not fully aware that as soldiers we just take orders from our superiors. We are not the decision makers we just execute our mission when we're told to do so. We may not agree with it, understand it or like it but that's what we swore to- to obey the orders of those appointed over us. But as you said, we're a strong and caring bunch and we take care of eachother when others don't understand us.

Noelle- with all the nasty bugs spreading around this forum it sure is refreshing to see you post such a vision of beauty!! I can smeeeeeeellllll what the Rock is cooking, WOO HOO. Wow, 6'5" huh. That's how tall my fiance is but he's only 220 after a good shower! The rock has to be puching 300 with all that muscle.

Tonya- It sucks that you don't have the means to shop til you drop but just knowing that you can fit into nice new outfits should hold you over until you get the funds.

Jackie- we miss you too and we'll still be here when you get back. So take care of your biz-ness and stop by when you can to tell us how you're doing.

Kempy- I'm with you on the solid foods, Juicing takes all the fun out of nutrtion, a girl like me has GOT to chew.

Hello to Holly, Julie, Svelte,and all else. I just ran 2 miles so I'm kind of pooped. I still have a full day of work ahead of me so I'll check in later.

-Dips-

Hey gals! Thank you all so much for the well wishes regarding my foot. Well, I am up to 147 now . My foot is feeling a little better, so, I have walked very small amounts (don't want to push it). I DO NOT want to get to 150 again, and am going to do everything I can to make sure of that, even if it means avoiding the grocery store! LOL, hubby can go.

Chris,

You look Awesome! How long did it take you to lose the weight? How tall are you? You have done great!

Julie,

Congrats on the loss! I always gained a little bit of weight from the birth control pill, usually 5-7 pounds. I remember after I had my oldest, I weighed 133, went on the pill, and went to 141...never been that low since 1997. However, I was not healthy then, and, didn't eat properly.

Angie,

How are ya? My TOM is next week, and my rings are soooo tight on my fingers! Maybe that's the little bit of extra weight I have, fluid.? Sorry to hear about your dogs. Are they doing better? Mmmmm, peanutbutter. I had a craving last night, so I made 1/2 piece of bread with peanutbutter and fluff .

Kempy,

No sugar!? Aaah, I don't think I could live without sugar, lol. It is getting cooler here, but, has been in the 70's the last few days.

Noelle,

Good job on getting back on the band wagon. I can appreciate how difficult that is!! You can do it, 60 days!!

Hello to Tonya, Dips, redballoon, and everyone else!

Dips I bet the count down has begun. Do you have any idea what you are going to do once you get home. Please keep your comment clean.

Holly if you are about to start then I can almost garantee that you extra weight is water. I usually put on 5-6 lbs right before I start. If you are still being good with your food I don't think you have anything to worry about. Just keep at it and I am sure you will be right back into the groove once your foot is all better.

Noelle got any other hottie pictures hiding on your computer? I would love to see some of them. Now do you see why I love hulky men.

Red did you ever get an answer for the question you posted on the other thread about the abbreviations? I am noticing too how I don't get much response from them. I love the thread so some times I just lurk. I didn't offer to help b/c some of them I don't even know.

Hey to eveyone else.

Anige what's up girl?

What's up people??? Finally, I am back to normal..which is RARE for me. HAHA. At least today is not as busy as yesterday so far...but the afternoon will tell as I will be on emergency again. Things are going well for me diet and nutrition wise. I have been eating healthy and on plan and working out daily. I am incorporating more weight training into my routine and less cardio...which is difficult for me because I am still under the mindset that cardio is the only way to lose fat..but folks, I am in recovery from that way of thinking and am trying this new approach one day at a time!!!Fitting in workouts is hard with my schedule but the psychological and physical costs of obesity are harder...that is what I keep telling myself. My trainer says she can definitely notice some serious definition and loss of inches since I began weight training...so I am going to continue..Anyway, enough about me...How are you all doing???

Chickitababe- Hope your foot is healing...maybe in the mean time you can do some upper body strength training...hang in there!!

dips- thanks for all your positive messages...I hope you enjoy your trip home. You deserve a nice vacation..

Redballoon- Hey!! That was interesting what you said about Thailand. I always thought that when I got married (if and when that happens!) I would go there on a honeymoon. But, I keep hearing horror stories about it. Oh well, Greece looks nice. Why and the heck am I planning this already?..I'm not quite sure. Today is less hectic for me. To answer your question about my employment.I am a psychotherapist by day and I tutor (academic) on the side...extra money to pay back those student loans!!!! How are your workouts going??

Noelle- have a fabulous trip. Yes, please do plenty shopping for us all!!!

Angie- Good Luck with your financial issues. I know things can be rough, but I have faith that you will survive any obstacles in your path..

Kempy- how are you doing? how is your challenge going? I am rooting for you!
To everyone else, have a great day..

Hello all. I'm slowly getting back into the 'eat right, exercise' routine. My sister and I were out walking yesterday and as we were going uphill I started daydreaming about what size luggage I would be bringing to Thailand and what I would buy this time around. The last time I went I packed a small suitcase of clothes (mostly shorts and tees) and put that suitcase into a much larger one. The larger one came home stuffed to the gills with all kinds of shopping treasures. I can't wait!!!! Before I knew it, I was cresting the hill and going down. It sure helps to pass the time in exercising when you think about something pleasant.

Redballoon, yes BKK is very polluted, crowded to the max and the traffic and drivers are unbelievable! 2 of my sisters (I have 6) have gone to BKK each year for the past 5 years, 2 of the others have gone for the past 3, this will be my 2nd time in 3 years.
It was such a grand adventure for me the last time and I loved almost every minute of it. and there's no denying the shopping bargains. Did I mention the shopping? The only thing I didn't really like when leaving the city was the availbility of 'western' toilets. We had a running joke of '10 baht to squat' when going on tours, since in some restrooms you had to pay to use them . I'd love to visit you in Japan but the US dollar wouldn't go very far there would it ? I'm sure I'd have no problem enjoying the cuisine ~~ and there is no scarcity of VERY clean western toilets in Japan, this I know.

Jackie-o, horror stories about Thailand? Are you listening to people who come from the US and expect everywhere they go to be "just like home" . There are some very nice affordable luxury Bangkok hotels + the Skytrain (rail transportation) which is very handy for getting around the city. And the exchange rate is still darn good $1 US to 40 thai baht . I think the experience is what you make it. I really enjoyed the friendliness and warmth of the people. Greece though, sounds much more romantic to me than Thailand for a honeymoon. Good job on the muscle definition--you can flaunt that on any beach, Thailand or Greece!

Kempy I don't have any pictures hiding on my computer, but if you have someone in mind, I can 'google' a picture up I'm sure. Ask away and I will post them.

Holly thanks for the encouragement. Hang in there girl, I'm sure you're retaining water. Once TOM blows by the scales will go down--do not worship the scale and let it dictate your day (hey, I should take my own advice huh?)

Hey Dips, you're fiance is 6'5"? That's a lot of man! That's quite a difference in height, but I guess love knows no boundaries. I love tall guys, especially if they're built well. My hubby is only 5'9" (to my 5'3") and he's a little round in the middle, but so am I .

Angie how are you doing today?

Hello to Julie, Tonya, Chris, Emily, CosmoGirl (where are ya), Summer...everybody. have a great day, gotta run.

Hey Melekali- Thanks for the wake up call about Thailand. Yes, the only people that have informed me are from the states and were probably seeking a Ritz Carlton resort. I guess every Country has their bad areas (dirty,etc). Let me know how your trip goes!

I am so negligent. I actually forget to come here every day. I'm bad, I know. I used to be here constantly. I've been walking a lot lately, and doing my boot camp training tape with weights. It's great, and I feel stronger when I make myself follow through and get it done. I hate to sweat, but thats part of the deal I guess.

I'm 5 foot 5 inches. Someone had asked me that before. Sorry it takes me so long to get back here. It took me a year to lose my weight, and it'll take a lifetime to keep it off. I got a new pedometer today, from Avon. It is a radio pedometer, clips onto my waistband, but i took the dog out, and the reception is terrible. Can't get a good station, and the essence of hte product is that i'm supposed to walk, but the more i move, the less i hear the radio. Whatever!! it sucks, and I've clocked my route, it's only a mile total, this little thins is telling me I walked almost 3 miles. What?

And, I can't figure out how to turn the dern thing off. I read the instructions front and back, how do I get it off?

Well, i'm all for new things, as long as the instructions are clear on how to use it. Tonight we'll walk again, and i think i'll do boot camp also. i need to maintain, especially since i'm pms woman. i feel like my period lasts a month, but it really 4 days of **** ON EARTH!

Hope you're all having a good day. i'm counting down to the weekend already.

Hi Chris. Most pedometers need to be calibrated according to your stride length. Does your instruction manual include how to do that? Isn't it funny how some things are marketed for a specific purpose and they are oftentimes counterproductive to what they were made for? That sucks. I think you're doing a super job maintaining. it's been what, at least a few months right? Keep posting here when you can, you're a great inspiration.

Hey Noelle, I just thought of one. Arnold in his prime. Talk about a nice piece of work. (sorry if I sound crude, but I love that man)

is this prime enough?

WOO HOO!!!

It's hot Arnold!

OK now I am about to get off work and go see my hubby. Boy is he in for a treat!

Noelle, Do you get your Malasadas from Leonard Jrs.? I just watched a show on the travel chanel about donuts and they just showed that place.

Candi goes to the vets in the morning for her appointment. Her knee on her left leg feels swollen. I pray that it isnt anything serious, I am not sure I can afford an operation.