Hello, everyone. Welcome to all of the new people! Our group just keeps growing and growing It will only make us all stronger.

Thanks to all of you for your questions and concerns about my WW meeting. It went really well, I absolutley love the leader, she is really energetic, outgoing, and a little loopy (just like me ) I think I will actually look forward to going to the meetings! I found out that I was not doing my points correctly, so mabey that has been a problem with my weight loss. I didn't know that I was supposed to have a certain amount of veggies an fruit and milk, I was just eating my alloted points. Whoops! I am OP now that I know and will use my Flex points over the weekend! I love the idea that I have these "extra" points, in case I mess up. It isn't really that expensive, I had a free pass to join. All I had to buy was the books ($25) and pay the $12 weekly dues. It is worth it to keep my butt in line Pretty sad that it takes this for me to be held accountable for my weight. But, at this point I am happy with whatever works!!!

I just wanted to tell you, Kandice your little undies and shirt sound so cute, I know Chris will love them! that is also so good that you are going to couseling, I am sure that you will have a very happy marriage.

I am glad that everyone is feeling better and keeping on track! I will be traveling with work next week to Savannah, Hilton Head, and Valdosta area so I don't know how much I will be able to post. I will try to keep in touch! Everyone have a wonderful and healthy weekend!

Flora,
You live in Goleta? And your son lives near Patterson? I lived near of Patterson and Hollister! Wow, what are the odds is right!! I'm glad you are all doing better. I can't believe that this has happened to my lovely little Santa Barbara area. I used to work and went to school at UCSB. Isn't it a small world! Take care.
Hugs,
Dena

Dena,

My husband and I are both UCSB alumni. We came here to go to school many, many years ago and never left. We still make it to a lot of Gaucho basketball games.

For all the terrible loss, sorrow, and disruption that the heavy rains brought, they have also turned the area into a beautiful jade jewel. Today, all the plants and trees seem to be sparkling. The mountains and hillsides that were brown from two years of drought are now deep green and lush with growth. The sun is shining. The sky is a brilliant blue. The air is crisp and clean. The birds are singing. It’s one of those amazing days in paradise. I’m sure you know what I mean.

Take care,
Florafae

Hello to all Dewcan surprize to see you say -40 I thought I was the only one from Canada But for you ladies that say that is to cold well there is nothing better to go for a walk on a snowy winter day and thats what I did to day 2 miles and it was wind chil -26 really feld good ......It is better then all that rain we were having .Well did good to day hope I can keep it up for the week end ,,I have a hard time keeping up with all you guys it is nice to hear that I am not alone with wanting to eat for the fun of it . I dont keep any chunk food in my house so if I feel like piging out I have to have freash veggies but I think I am on my way I hope three meals and snacks all planed and marked down ,,,, Healthy eating to all Jean

Hope this finds everyone doing well. I did 50 minutes on the ellip. last night, was op and met my water goals. I'm getting ready to go for a walk. It's 25 degrees here at my sister's house in IN but I'll be bundled up! They are not members of the Y or a gym or anything so it's walk outside or skip it today. And skipping is not an option.

Kandice-love the panties/t-shirt idea. I'll bet he loves it! That's very sweet and thoughtful of you. We were already going to church so our pastor did our premarital. He won't marry anyone who doesn't have premarital w/someone. It doesn't have to be him but someone. One of the hardest decisions we had to make about getting married was what church to attend. We both attended somewhere and were very active. We ended up at Bill's church. The deciding factor were how my kids responded to his church and were they wanted to attend. It's been the best thing we ever did. Karen, my oldest, sings w/the praise team on Sunday morn. and night (she has an awesome voice!) and Ashley, my youngest, is becoming involved in things as well. Overall, it was a good move for all of us.

Jean-I'll be thinking of you when I'm walking around in the cold today. I don't know if I could walk outside in weather as cold as what you've got!

Amy-Six kids. Wow. I think that's great. I have 4 siblings and, as Diana already already said, I wouldn't have it any other way. There are so many wonderful memories of growing up in a house full of family. Full time student as well? What are you studying? I understand what you said about the days sometimes being long. I used to call the weather update just to hear an adult voice! And that was w/only two kids. But, I loved being a SAHM. It's the greatest, most fulfilling thing I've ever done.

Cole-glad you liked the meeting. I was doing the same thing you were w/my points. My friend straightened me out though and then I started seeing some awesome results. I saved my FP for this weekend as well. I knew my sis would be doing some extra things and I didn't want to have to worry about my points that much. This morning is pancakes. Yum. I haven't had pancakes in quite a while and I plan to thoroughly enjoy them! Be careful on the road next week.

Dena-glad you're feeling better! How's it going for you?

Bonnie-congrats on the loss! You're doing great. Hang in there. I like pedis but, like Kandice, I think mani's are my fave. That's one of the treats I do for myself every now and then. What's next-a facial and a massage?

Florafae-how are things going for you? Sorry to hear about your friends loss. I liked that you try to find some good in things. You spoke very elequently of how beautiful everything looks now. I believe that's called finding the silver lining in the clouds.

Well, ladies, I must go. My breakfast awaits. Have a great health day and a great weekend.

That HHfM post was actually from me. I have no idea who HHfM is or how I got there but it's actually me. Oh, well. Happy Saturday!!

Grandma57, I'm from Alberta. ARe you in Ontario, just a guess, cuz you were talking about rain.

Gotta run, have a good weekend!!

Diana

Hello to all yes Diana I am from Ontario and the rain is over cold sitting in -16 to day I did my one mile out side and Bonnie believe it or not I was sweating I had to many close on .But it feels so good I kind of like the cold but when Spring comes it is nice to get the heavy coats off ....and the mittens .......I dont really know how to make Putine but if french fries dont have enough calories you can add cheese and gravy I think thats what it is ....but not sure is that a Canadian dish ? well got a new Leslie Sansone walk away the pounds "walk and Jog " she must of made this one just for me it is great a half an hour long and the same as if you walked 2 1/2 miles did it to day plus my one mile out side I am on a Roll I will weigh on monday So every one keep going Jean

Bonnie, poutine is something people here really like. I've never tried it because I think it's best if I don't know what it tastes like Congrats on the pound lost!!!!

Jean, is that a new video, because I haven't heard of it? I'm assuming that it includes jogging, hmmm...how do you like it? I'll have to check it out.

Good night ladies
Diana

Hi Diana yes I think it is a new I just got it It is a 30 mni work out real simple and easy to do but I work up a good sweat she gets you moving walking and joging . Jean

I'm originally from Maine- my maternal side grandparents were all from Canada, and poutine was/is a family favorite! mmmmm!!! My grandparents families each came down from Canada to work in the textile mills and set up in Lewiston in a community named "Little canada" where all the frechmen lived who worked in the mill. Later after they befriended each other- they realized they were from the same area in Canada- they describe it as living in the next town over.

finding a church was hard for us too Skinny. I come a very Catholic family and was always very involved in the church. I came to NC and went to church and didn't feel the welcomeness and love that I was used to so I never went back. Chris never went to church. Chris and I found ourselves a Southern Baptist church that we like a lot. We're not allowed to become members yet- because we haven't been baptized (I had been Baptized Catholic and Eph- I forget which chapter- it says, "One Lord, One Faith, One baptism" but the pastor and chairman of deacons say I need to get baptized again). They won't baptize us because we're "living in sin" by living together before we're married. he said they'd baptize us after the wedding though.
Last night with our pastor that's going to marry us, we talked to him about it and he said he would be honored to baptize us if our pastor didn't have a problem with it. Chris and I talked last night and we want to do it with the pastor that's going to marry us. we've come to know and love him and want to share that with him.

weigh in day today! How's everyone doing? (Congrats Bonnie- one the lb lost! )
I'll post my results around lunch time.

Good Monday morning ladies!!!

I hope you all did great this weekend! I was so proud of myself. Yesterday at church I was given a cookie, AND a candy bar and I didn't eat either. On Saturday my family made some cupcakes for the neighbors across the street and I didn't have any of those either! Then last night at a meeting they were having cheesecake and I just had ice water! Hooray! I never thought I could have such self-control!

Oh, ladies from Canada, I MUST move there! I constantly tease my husband that he needs to move me to a colder climate. I LOVE the winter, especially snow. It gets cold where I live, but not cold enough for my liking. It averages about 35 for the high here in the winter with the lows in the teens. Still, it hardly ever seems to snow (although it DID snow yesterday and there's some on the ground!) I was so excited about the snow that I decided to walk home from church in it (it was the HUGE, beautiful flakes and I just couldn't resist). I was so pleased that two different cars stopped and asked if they could give me a ride. I turned them both down, of course, but I was pleased with the reminder that people can just be so GOOD. You know what I mean?

So, is Monday officially weigh-in day? I started on a Wednesday, so I have had that as weigh-in day, but I can switch it. Last Wednesday I weighed 192 and today when I weighed myself I weighed 188!!! Yippee!

Well, I have yet another question for you all! How often should I exercise? I enjoy exercise and will exercise as often as I should, I am just not certain how often that is. I was not exercising at all before I started. I thought that I had read that you should start out exercising 3 or 4 times a week and then when you hit a plateau then add a day. Is that true, or just something weird I have in my head? It seems that I also read that I don't have a need to exercise every day now. What are your opinions? Exercise every day or just 4 times a week? I'd love advice to maximize my long time weight loss goal!!

Thanks ladies!

Amy

SW: 192
CW: 188!!!
GW: 140

48 pounds to go before it's baby time!!!

Congrats Bonnie on your * new* weight- 199 you're in Onederland! wait until you get to like 190-195 and that really settles it- it'll feel great!

My grandma isn't a cooker but they do make their own french fries- just cut up a potato and fry it... then chicken gravy- the lighter color gravy- and topped with shredded cheese. is how they made poutine.

Yup- I don't understand that about the SBC- I could go on forever... Chris and I are in a committed relationship and can't be baptized but a college friend who is single and sleeping with different guys, theoretically could get baptized because she's not living with anyone. It would be on her conscious I know, but to my knowledge they don't ask if you're having pre-marital affairs they just kinda assumed with us since we're living together. But when we moved in together, we had intentions of marrying someday- we weren't engaged yet, but in the talking stages. I had never lived with anyone and Chris only lived with the Ex, so right there, that tells you this isn't a "bed-buddy" situation, it's for real.

I agree with most of the other views though, which I guess is the important thing because I doubt anyone could find a church where they believe everything the church teaches- I was catholic and still didn't believe everything they said either.

off to Curves!

178 down 1 lb this week- 3 more lbs to go until valentinies goal

Howdy everyone,

I weighed in this morning, and I was down 2 pounds. Hurray!

The ground dried out enough for me to work outside this weekend. The yard and garden were a real mess after last week’s storm. Our neighbors lost a tree that borders our property. There were branches and debris all over the place.

Amy, congratulations on your 4-pound weight loss. I’m so impressed that you were able to pass up all those goodies. Sometimes it seems as if calories are flying at us in all directions. It can be so tempting.

Bonnie, I share your love of salty things, and they certainly can send the scale temporarily in the wrong direction. But as you know, in a day or two, it will drop away, and you’ll be back in the 90’s. I think you’re wise to listen to your body and scale back a bit on the exercise when you’re feeling a tad tweaked here and there. Better to ease off than a risk an injury that could put you on the sidelines for weeks or months.

Kandice, you’re one pound closer to your goal. Good for you. From everything you have written over the course of the past few months, it is obvious that you and Chris are “living in love”. I know you will have a wonderful life together.

May we all have a good week,
Florafae