HI LADIES

:merry:

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE...I pray all is well with your families. Glad your home and better TEEL.

PEACE, Gary

Good morning to everyone!! Its -1 degrees C here as I begin to to you all. I hope sincerely that you all had a very Happy and Blessed Christmas and that SANTA was good to everyone!
I had a lovely Christmas day spent with friends from church and then the evening with my neighbours. Yesterday was a quiet day spent at home with the dog!! I have been invited to another of the church family for dinner tonight along with some other singles although I think I am the only female in the group!!
SUNNY no electric in this freezing weather??!! I hope you have an open log fore to give some heat in the house or I imagine you all to be huddled together under the duvet. How did you cook or make coffee??
MITCHYPOO I hope you have a super time with Doug and all goes well in whatever you plan and do.
I am sitting here on the also listening to a new cd I recieved from a freind who is 4 days older than me. It is the DISTANT LAND cd from JOHN RUTTER. I have tried to get it for ages but have never found it so I am extremely happy to now be the proud owner.It is largely instrumental but does include some singing right at the beginning.
I am enjoying a book at the moment be ADRIAN PLASS called AND JESUS WILL BE BORN. It is a collection of short stories and poems and reflections all centres around the Christmas season. It is a good book although I have to confess AP IS one of me favourite Christian authors. I have met him, a long time ago! But now friends of mine actually live in the same area as him and I don't think he has changed much! He is a "real gentle bear of a man!" and I think I like him more because he has sufferd from a severe depression in his former years and has come out the other side whole. Despite his fame he is a very humble man and I love him as a sister in Christ.
Ok thats enough from me for this morning! And yes! It is still just this side of noon here in England. Time to go shower and dress and try make myself look beautiful for this evenings dinner date.
GOD BLESS everyone. Take good care.
Love from TEEL xx have

Good Morning! I've missed you all. I haven't even had time to check the postings lately. We had a wonderful Christmas. My sister came out - it's been years since she's been able to so that was special. We went to my parents' on Christmas day. Lots of laughter and fun. Then I had 3 days of R & R plus fighting off the beginnings of a cold. I still feel a little weak but hopefully will be able to fight it off completely.

This weekend we're going to visit friends where we used to live. I'm excited about that.

After that, it's back to finishing our project. We just have a bit of plastering and painting to do but only being able to do the work on weekends makes the job last so long. I wasn't complaining about the dust GARY (okay I was) I just didn't want it floating around over Christmas. We're doing our own work and we get to clean it up too. We got our new light fixtures in and I love them. They're a light weight wrought iron and look really nice with the colours we've picked for the walls.

Gotta get to work. I just want to wish everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR and all the best of health and happiness in 2005.

Happy Holidays All!

I'm here at work...the last day this week. Friday is holiday for us government workers.

Let's see...
Christmas was good. The girls and their significant others came over Christmas Eve and we had lots of snackies and a few gifts and then we played dice...wild ones we are.

Christmas Day...
Some friends came over for about an hour.

Nikki with "to get a boyfriend" last night but it turned out that she's not ready yet. Needs a couple of more days. Poor pup laid her head on my shoulder all the way home. She knew something was different with that other doggie and how he "played." She's been a momma's girls this morning as well. Now she has to go back tomorrow noonish and spend a couple days there with the "stud muffin."

I am going to the "Healing Room" today with a friend of mine. I have so many issues and baggage that I've noticed since I do not take the prozac any more...I'm not sure I want to accept me the way I am. It's not a mentally healthy me. I was reading in a prayer book the other day and I found just about all the issues I need healing for and then I added some to the list. Geesh...

Well, I hope everyone is having an enjoyable holiday season...Michele...CA? Warm?

Bunna? Working too hard?

Wilma...too exciting about the kitchen

EZ?
Teel?
Sunny?

Everyone else?

Signing off for the weekend...

Mary Kay

A quick post to see what everyone has been up to over the last week or so...gosh where IS everyone? I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season whatever you are all up to.
:sman: HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone! I dp hope and pray that the year will be a peacefull one for us all and that with it will come health, wealth and happiness in all it's disguises.

I will be back soon to post longer!
Peace and joy and God's Blessings to you all.
With love, Teel xx

Why is Drinking Water so Essential to Weight Loss?

WATER suppresses your appetite and fills you up - so you eat less.

a.. Water helps metabolize fat. The more water you drink, the more reduced
your fat deposits become.
b.. When you drink water, the kidneys function properly without help from the
liver so the liver spends more time doing its job: metabolizing fat into energy.

c.. Drinking more water actually reduces bloating. When your body needs water,
it switches to 'survival mode' and begins retaining water in spaces outside your
cells, causing your skin to swell. When you replenish your body's natural water
store, the excess water is released.
d.. Sometimes the body retains water to dilute an overabundance of salt.
Drinking water also rids the body of excess salt, flushing it out through the
kidneys.
e.. Water is the secret to healthy, resilient skin. It helps maintain muscle
tone, improves skin elasticity and buoys shrinking cells for clear, glowing
skin.
f.. Water cleanses waste (metabolized fat) from the body. The more weight you
lose, the more water is needed to flush the waste out.
g.. Water relieves constipation. Constipation is caused when the body,
desperate for water, siphons it from the colon.
Tricks of the Trade

a.. On average, drink eight (8) 8-oz. glasses of water per day (2 quarts)
b.. Increase water intake with brisk exercise or in hot, dry weather.
c.. Cold water is absorbed into the system more quickly than warm water. Some
studies have also shown cold water helps burn more calories.
d.. When your body gets all the water it needs, you achieve breakthrough: body
fluids are balanced, water retention is alleviated, the liver metabolizes more
fat, endocrine gland function improves and natural thirst returns. When your
body fluids get out of balance (you experience fluid retention, unexplained
weight gain and loss of thirst), drink more water to force another breakthrough.

Amazing But True Facts About Water

We all know that water is important, but did you know...

a.. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (This likely applies to half
of the world population as well.)
b.. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often
mistaken for hunger.
c.. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as much as 3%.
d.. One glass of water shut down hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters
who participated in a University of Washington study.
e.. Lack of water is the number one trigger of daytime fatigue.
f.. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could
significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
g.. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble
with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed
page.
h.. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by
45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less
likely to develop bladder cancer.
Are you drinking the amount of water you should every day?

10 Changes You Can Make Today
Are you looking for some simple, no-nonsense ways to increase the amount of
exercise in your life? Here are some helpful tips to get you started:

1.. Use the stairs instead of the elevator. Start with one flight of stairs
and gradually build up to more.
2.. Rake leaves, mow the lawn, trim the hedge or pull weeds.
3.. Sweep the floor, wash windows or vacuum the carpet briskly.
4.. Go dancing instead of seeing a movie.
5.. Take your children to the park and play with them - don't just sit on the
bench and watch.
6.. Take an activity break. Get up, stretch and walk around.
7.. Park a few blocks from the office or store and walk the rest of the way.
If you use public transportation, get off a stop or two before your destination
and walk a few blocks.
8.. Take a walk after dinner instead of watching television.
9.. Park at the back of the lot at the supermarket and carry your own
groceries.
10.. Hide your remote control and get up to change the channels on your
television.
(Source: "Physical Activity in Your Daily Life," American Heart Association.)

Do You Get Enough Exercise?
Most Americans get little vigorous exercise at work or during leisure hours.
People usually ride in cars or buses and watch TV during there free time rather
than be physically active. Evidence suggests that even low- to
moderate-intensity activities can have both short- and long-term benefits.

What are the benefits of regular physical activity?

Feel better

a.. Gives you more energy
b.. Helps in coping with stress
c.. Improves your self-image
d.. Increase resistance to fatigue
e.. Helps counter anxiety and depression
f.. Helps you to relax and feel less tense
g.. Improves the ability to fall asleep quickly and sleep well
h.. Provides an easy way to share an activity with friends or family and an
opportunity to meet new friends
i.. Increased stamina, strength and flexibility
j.. Reduce risk of heart attack
Look better

a.. Tones your muscles
b.. Burns off calories to help lose extra pounds or helps you stay at your
desirable weight
c.. Helps control your appetite
You need to burn off 3,500 calories more than you take in to lose 1 pound. If
your goal is to lose weight, regular physical activity can help you in either of
two ways.

1.. First, you can eat your usual amount of calories (stabilization and
maintenance clients), but be more active to maintain your weight.
2.. Second, you can eat fewer calories (weight loss phase) and be more active
to reach your weight loss goal.
Should I consult a physician before I start an exercise program?

Most people do not need to see a physician if they start a gradual, sensible
exercise program which will have minimal health risks. However, some people
should seek medical advice.

Use the following checklist to find out if you should consult a physician before
you start or significantly increase your physical activity.

a.. Your physician said you have a heart condition and recommended only
medically supervised physical activity.
b.. During or right after you exercise, you frequently have pains or pressure
in the left or mid-chest area, left neck, shoulder or arm.
c.. You have developed chest pain within the last month.
d.. You tend to lose consciousness or fall over due to dizziness.
e.. You feel extremely breathless after mild exertion.
f.. You physician recommended you take medicine for your blood pressure or a
heart condition.
g.. Your physician said you have bone or joint problems that could be made
worse by the proposed physical activity.
h.. You have a medical condition or other physical reason not mentioned here
which might need special attention in an exercise program. (For example,
insulin-dependent diabetes.)
i.. You are middle-aged or older, have not been physically active, and plan a
relatively vigorous exercise program.
If you've checked one or more items, see your physician before you start. If
you've checked no items, you can start on a gradual, sensible program of
increased activity tailored to your needs. If you feel any of the physical
symptoms listed above when you start your exercise program, contact your
physician right away.

When can you best fit the activity into your schedule?

Do you feel more like being active in the morning, afternoon, or evening?
Consider moving other activities around. Schedule your activity as a regular
part of your routine. Remember that exercise sessions are spread out over the
week and needn't take more than about 10 to 15 minutes at a time.

By choosing activities you like, you will be more likely to keep doing them
regularly and enjoying the many benefits of physical activities.

How do you pace yourself?

Build up slowly. If you've been inactive for a long while, remember it will take
time to get into shape. Start with low- to moderate-level activities for at
least several minutes each day. You can slowly increase your time or pace as you
become more fit. And you will feel fit after a few weeks than when you first
started.

How hard should you exercise?

It's important to exercise at a comfortable pace. You should be able to keep a
conversation comfortably while exercising.

If you have difficulty breathing, experience faintness or prolonged weakness
during or after exercising, you are exercising too hard. Simply cut back.

Happy New Year everyone. Sorry I disappeared on you but busy busy busy busy!!! And, now I have a sinus infection to show for all the hard work in December. I have been checking in the SBD thread but have not done program at all for a long long time now. Ready to get back on the beach and get rid of this weight. I cannot believe it is 2005 already but now is the time for me to take care of myself.

My kids are only a couple of weeks away from moving out. Praise God! Someone gave them a double wide that is nicer than the one they bought that got wrecked.

I am off to the couch for the rest of the day but wanted to say hi and wish you all a Happy New Year. I won't be a stranger now I promise. Might even try to catch up a little in the next day or two.

HAPPY NEW YEAR LADIES :snf:

I have been checking in...but as we know not much happening here.

We had a great Christmas, over 20 family and friends were over for Christmas Eve, then off to candelight service at church, Angie played in the bell choir. Christmas day was pretty much just Angie and I until the evening. We open gifts from friends and family at our house each year on Christmas Eve then in the morning SANTA comes . After Santa came the kids all went to the "ex-spouse's" for the day, then back to us in the evening. Usually we have our "TRADITION" of mexican food on Christmas day but we had so much leftovers from Christmas Eve, sandwiches and salads, that we postponed until Sunday, had a houseful then too.

In the middle of the week I took my son and a good friend of his/mine out for steaks...a new tradition we started when Juan got home from ARMY boot camp last year, I take him and my son for steaks and beers. Prayers for Juan, he goes back to Georgia for a couple of weeks then off to Kuwait and Iraq, he is in the infantry, trained for tanks but there just are not enough to go around.

For New Years Angie and I did our TRADITION of going to an Italian place we love for dinner. My daughter was in Phoenix with her boyfriend at the home of another tennis friend from college, my son went out partying, nephew at his mom's, and step-d at her dad's. We watched YOU'VE GOT MAIL until 11:30 on TBS then went to bed...woke up at 11:50 when the neighbor kids went crazy...so we did see the new year come in for a minute or two...OLD FOLKS

Well the second half of the football game is about to start...I have seen about 100 games in the last week it feels like...well not quite, but ANGIE thinks so .

TAKE CARE, Gary

Never heard of it but I wish all good luck on doing it. Can you tell us a little about it?

Gary, I plan on watching all of the games this week. My Jets are still in it but probably not for long they seem to be fading with Pennington not being able to throw long. But I love them and will root for them all the way. DH is a Pittsburgh fan so he is in pretty good shape. One son is a Cowboys and the other is Seattle fan. Seattle fan is hoping the Jets fire Herman Edward and Giants release Warner so both can come to Seattle next season.

Sounds like everyone has been very very busy through the holidays. Time to get back at it now. My weight is disgusting but I have been playing around too long. I want to lose 40 lbs by my nieces wedding in March so I better stick with program and get in habit of the gym again.

Off to work so I can do the payroll.