I just wanted to stop in to say hello. I ended up taking friday off from work and just relaxing as best as I could. I had to shovel my drive because of the snow but otherwise it was restful. It hasn't been the best weekend, however. I have a big family/lawyer meeting tomorrow in CT (4 hours of driving) that is causing stress and bf was going to go with me, but my farmer friend Rhody died last night. It is adding to my stress. Since bf is his nephew there are family obligations he has for the next few days so he cannot join me tomorrow. Of course I am sad about Rhody, but I am also upset that I will not have any support with my family and I have to do all the driving alone and we're supposed to get more snow tomorrow. When will the winter ever end?!!!!

Mette - You're right that this week is not the time for me to try and lose weight, but I can't afford to gain anymore either. I barely fit into the big clothes and I have NOTHING nice to wear for this funeral. I just want to crawl into a hole right now.

I don't know how internet accessible things will be for a couple of days but I'll try to check in and comment more on what's going on with everyone. mette - I hope you enjoyed your weekend. After a stressful week you deserve some R and R.

Renne - When I did WW a couple of years ago I had to count points. Is that basically what they are doing now? I still have all of the books so if I didn't want to go to the meetings I could still try it again. Good luck and keep us posted.

I don't keep up with any other forums right now. If I ever start running again I would go back to that forum (or some exercise forum). Same if I started WW or some other diet plan. mette - the books you mentioned sound interesting. I think I'll have to check out the Anne Fletcher book. When do you find time to read? Renee, do you read much?

I'm off for now. I'm trying to be motivated to do something but it's not working very well. I haven't even taken a shower today yet and I'm not sure I want to. I really need to go grocery shopping though. Ugh!

Take care of yourselves.

Ang, best of luck with your meeting and drive!
So sorry to hear about your farmer friend. These are truly stressful times for both you and your bf! I just hope you’ll be doing OK these next days, Ang!

Tomorrow – on March 1st – I’m officially back on another (and hopefully my final) “losing weight period”. I did sort of a test-run this week, and it was surprisingly hard to get down from 1800-1900-2000 calories to 1500 again. Funny, it didn’t feel like such a difference when I increased daily calories last fall!
My goal weight – I have no idea if it’s completely off or not – but I had to put something down. Guess I’ll just have to see, right?

Anyway – here’s wishing everybody a good and snow free week!

Hey ladies!

Things are going well for me here. I haven't situated riding lessons yet, but that's okay. I want to find the perfect place and that may take a while. I also might end up having to take English lessons, which would be even more of a work out, but eh.. posting is so hard on the legs. (Good leg work out)

Weight Watchers has two plans. Core and Flex. Core is surprisingly like South Beach, and doesn't count points, except for foods off the core list. So it's like 'eat healthy foods till you are satisfied' - but you're allowed to have non healthy foods but no more than the 35 flex points per week. Flex is the point counting one, which is what I am doing. At my weight, I get 22 a day. Then you have 35 points for the week that you can use anywhere. If you plan right and eat the right foods, 22 is plenty. I usually end up HAVING to have dessert to meet the minimum. I saved my flex points for the Hibachi steak house on Saturday, and didn't even use them all. And yesterday, since my breakfast was light and I chose light snacks, I even had Dairy Queen after my meal. Course, I couldn't have my large shake, but I was surprised to find that finishing off a small sundae proved taxing.

Since the week being back on a 'watch what you eat' plan -(as opposed to a, 'beh, whatever plan') I am back down to where I was when I stopped following SBD. That feels so great. I feel like I am making progress again. I'm a little nervous about my weekly weigh in at the meeting though, since I weigh myself first thing in the morning, and that meeting ends up RIGHT after dinner! >.< I'll have to plan a light, non-salty day for meeting days so that I am at least not retaining water. Haha.

Ang- Hang in there hon. Maybe just do as best as you can eating wise until things calm down. Try to make the healthier choices, but don't ride yourself too hard. I bet that once summer (even spring) comes, everyone will get a boost of feel good and get going! We haven't had the snow the northeast has, but we have had no sun all winter. It really really wears on you.

I'm trying to plan my horse back riding vacation. I dunno how to do it, because they prefer 2 persons per reservations, and the few close friends I have wouldn't hanlde a riding vacation. So they have a womens only ride, and maybe I'll do that. But I am soooo shy and withdrawn that I worry I'd be miserable and not know how to socialize.

I'll have to keep thinking on it.

I used to hang out in SB Forum yah. And I may check out WW next time I get bored at work. I always post a few times then vanish and just hang out on here with you guys!

Alright, back to work for me. It's slow, and things are going by at a snails pace.

Popping in to say hi!

Renee – it’s so great to hear that things are going well for you! Your diet sounds extremely nice: *Having* to have dessert to meat the minimum??? Very nice indeed!
How many meals do you eat per day? And do you have any idea how many calories 22 points equal?

And I do agree that once spring and summer comes, everything will be easier food wise! I’m looking forward to warmer days and less clothes too!

Ang – if you’re reading: we’re all thinking of you!

I have to get going. Talk to you guys later.

Heya,

mette- The points figure in fat calories and fiber to equal a WW point etc. So you might have 200 calories, but 0 fat and 6 fiber, and it's going to be less points than 100 calories 15fat and 0 fiber. It's sort of a tricky way of getting you to make healthier choices in order to get ' more out of your points ' hehe.

My first weigh in, showed me having 3.8lbs lost last week. WOW! Not bad. I think I can stick with this.

The sun was out today, so I took my sandwich out to the car. It was soooo nice for a change.

I need advice though, on how I might be able to persuade my bosses to let me move into the spare office that has a window. I know it would get a better performance out of me. I was thinking of having my doctor write a note, but not sure they'd do that. "You want me to write a note saying you need a window office?"

But it weighs so heavily on me NOT having it. It would make a positive difference.

Renee: congratulations on your weight loss!!! WOW indeed!!! Excellent work!
As for the window office: can’t you just ask your boss for it? If nobody else uses it? I remember you talking about your boss before, and if I remember correctly – he’s not always nice and helpful, is he? Maybe you can tell him you’ve got SAD and say you need the light?

Nothing new with me. Just same old, same old. It’s too cold to go outside in the evenings so I’ve started rewatching X-files season 7 episodes: on the coach, under the blanket, hot tea or cocoa, and Mulder and Scully solving weird cases make for warm and cozy afternoons and evenings! I’ll go back to doing social stuff when spring is here!

Ang: hope you're doing OK!

I hope everybody is OK.

I think I’m getting sick again – another round of the winter cold. I’m a bit worried about that; I don’t have time to get sick now! Everything else is… fine, I suppose. I don’t enjoy my practice much these days, so I’ve started counting down and looking forward to when I’m done. I’m also looking forward to Easter, and some days off.

Hope you’re both doing fine too; whatever you’re doing and wherever you are.

Today is weigh in number two, and with it being my TOM, I am so afraid it won't show any progress.

Eating an apple right now. I don't really like them, but I am trying to get more fruits in my diet.

Still waiting for winter to end. We got teased with some 60's on Sunday and today it is 25 again. I need to relocate to someplace that only has 5-6 months of winter.

Work is going alright. Eating is alright. I am staying on plan, though honestly I think I need to vary my points a bit. I am hovering at the minimum too often and the body is setting in to 'this is all I'm getting? Ok, I'll slow down' mode I think.

Tired of weights, but really enjoying the cardio side of things. I might focus on aerobics a little more and tone down the lifting until I shed a few more pounds.

Hang in there ladies!

Not much happening with me this week; I’m still trying to fight off a cold so I sleep as much as possible and drink a lot of tea.
Renee – hope your weigh in went well. Good to hear both work and eating are going well.
Ang – hope you’re doing well too – wherever you are.

I’m looking forward to the weekend! Nothing new there! And if I could get rid of this cold everything would be so much better.
Hope you’re both having a good week. I’ll try to write more this weekend.

I'm sorry I was gone for so long but I had to suddenly go to CT for my family. I just got back and I'm wiped so I'll provide details hopefully tomorrow. The bottomline is that my mother passed away and my father has been in the hospital for the past week with gallbladder problems (he is recovering from surgery now but missed her death, wake and funeral). It has been a tough two weeks but just give me a little time to refocus and I'll get back to life and hopefully I'll motivate myself to continue with a better life, a fresh start.

I haven't even read any posts but I hope you all are doing well. I'll be back soon.

So sorry to hear about your mother passing away and your father’s illness, Ang. It’s very good to hear from you, and you should – of course - take all the time you need to rest, refocus, and do whatever you need to do. Did the bf come down to be with you?

I’m still sick and sleeping most of the time; I’m off to bed again now. We’ll talk later.

After a tough weekend I am back at work and trying to get back to my life and figuring out how it is going to be different - because it will definitely be different. I'm a little stressed about my 'relationship' with my father but only time will tell what happens.

How was everyone's weekend? mette, are you feeling better yet? Have you been able to adjust to the new caloric level? It is amazing how easy it is to add in calories fast, same with weight in general. It goes on so easily and it takes so much effort to get it off. I have the same problem as you about trying to determine what my goal weight should be. I've never been the 'right' weight so it is hard to tell. I don't know that charts and tables can really tell for people individually. Hopefully you'll know it when you get there. Renee, how did you determine your goal weight?

Renee, what are you eating that you have 'extra' points? When I counting points for WW it wasn't that easy for me. I'm so happy that this plan seems to be working for you. Are your sister and brother-in-law still doing SBD? How was your second weigh-in?

Renne - did you decide about your vacation? It sounds like you really love to ride. Sometimes we have to go out of our comfort zones (I'm shy too so I know what you are feeling about going alone) to get things we really want. I say go for the women's ride. You will be with other women who may be alone so it may make it easier to meet people.

Renee - did you ask your boss about the office yet? You could probably get your doctor to write a note that says you have SAD and would greatly benefit from more exposure to sunlight. We have office issues here too so I know it's not always as easy as asking. You have nothing to lose by asking though, especially if you strongly believe you would benefit in the new office.

Where is spring? I got a foot of snow over the weekend and it's still only in the 30s. It should be in the 40s by now. It's so frustrating. I need to get moving because I have been eating too much since my mother died. I know I'm trying to fill time and the void inside, hopefully now that I am home things will get better and more 'normal' for me. mette - I like your idea of watching t.v. and just staying warm and cozy. Maybe I'll get some dvds and try that. I do love hot chocolate.

mette - why aren't you enjoying your practice? What is happening? Do you have plans for Easter? Will you get a week off for a spring break? Did you do anything fun this past weekend or were you still getting over the cold the entire weekend?

I was very happy to have the support of friends and bf during my mother's illness and last days. My bf came down one day and 'met' my mother before she passed away. I'm not sure she knew he was there but unfortunately he couldn't get there any earlier because of his own situation. He came back down again for the funeral even though it was snowing pretty hard. I really appreciate his efforts. He has been as supportive as possible. Hopefully things will settle down a bit in both of our lives so we can have some fun and concentrate on our life together. We are planning a weekend get away the first weekend of April. Hopefully that will transpire and be fun. I really need a couple of days of doing nothing and not being in my own house. No worries.

I hope you are all well. I'm going to try and walk a little bit and then maybe get some actual work done this afternoon. Take care.

Hey ladies.

Things are going 'okay' for me here. Tonight is weigh in number three and I am just terrified, again, that I haven't lost weight. First week was 3.8lbs, last week was 4.0lbs, so I really can't complain either way. I have this thing though, where if I don't lose at least a little, I think I am doing something wrong and will never lose again. That's what really scares me.

As for foods. I am hooked on the Weight Watchers cereal or oatmeal for breakfast. Both of which are 2pts. I do yogurt snacks or smoothie snacks, again 2pts. My fat free bologna sandwich and fat free pringles, gives me a 5pt lunch and then I end up usually short for dinner. I am working on getting some more healthy points in through the day.

Hope things continue to move ahead for you. It's always hard to just turn around and jump back into routine after big, stressing events. Keep loving yourself though and make sure you do things that are good for you. Physically, and emotionally. (Even if that means not being too strict on diet issues yet)

I may go for the ride if I can get enough courage to do so. But boy would that be a big step for me. HUGE. Heh. Window office. Bleh. I'll wait till after reviews. If I don't get a raise, maybe I can use it as a 'well since you couldn't do raises this year, can we perhaps reward my performance with giving me the spare window office'.

Well. That's all for now I guess. Hang in there gals.

Hi girls! I’m still barely hanging in here – I have some kind of bug I don’t seem to be able to get rid of. I still go to work, but I’m not doing much more than that: I’m still sick. I’m feeling exhausted all the time. The weight loss thing is going nowhere right now: I have to wait until I’m well again I think.

Ang – it’s so good to have you back! And you know, that feeling you’re describing; trying to figure out how your life is going to be different now – I recognize it from when my brother died 5 years ago. I remember coming back home after the funeral, getting ready to start my everyday life again, and everything had changed – so I needed to change my everyday life too. Strange. I had forgotten about that. I wish you the best in getting your life back together again, Ang. And it’s so good to hear that you have gotten a lot of support from friends and bf.

I’m going to have next week off, so I’ll go visit a friend for a few days. And hopefully have some productive days at home too. Right now I’m doing nothing productive at all – I just get onto the coach and stay there until it’s time to go to bed again – so that I can get up the next day and do the same thing over again: get up, shower, eat, go to work, get home, eat, sit on the coach, go to bed.

Do you guys have plans for Easter?

Renee – it’s great to hear about your weight loss and how well you’re doing with your eating. Your fear that you’ll stop losing forever if you stop for a week – is that something you think will go away if you actually experience that it isn’t true? Sooner or later you’ll probably have a week where you don’t lose any weight, but if you keep up the diet you’ll probably lose again the week after. Or is that where you usually fall off the diet? I know that most of my irrational fears (and it is an irrational fear, Renee! ) go away when proven wrong. So that next time they pop up, I can remind myself that they aren’t true.

Renee - your progress on WW is amazing! Congratulations. How did the most recent weigh in go? It doesn't seem like you eat a lot of food. Are you ever hungry? Do you get used to eating less? Are you making dinners for yourself or buying prepared food? Keep up the good work! I really hope you go on your ride and/or assert yourself to try and get the window office. You deserve to have these things and you need to go get them. I have definitely learned that nothing is given to you if you don't speak up. I know it is hard buy what's the worst that could happen?

mette - I'm so sorry you still aren't feeling well. Of course the weight loss stuff has to wait while you take care of yourself and give your body what it needs to get better. Are you getting enough sleep? Don't forget your vitamins. I hope you get better soon. A week off sounds great! I hope you have some fun and don't worry too much about not being productive right now. Your energy needs to go to you and not your home. The home will still be there later.

Things here are moving along, albeit slowly, but still progressing. I'm back into work and starting to get moving again on house projects. The family stuff is there too but I try to compartmentalize a little so it doesn't drag my whole day down.

My nephew's birthday is on Easter so I am going down to CT to see them. It will also mean that I can see my father and help my brother do so more stuff regarding my mother's stuff. mette - what are you doing for Easter? Big dinner somewhere?

I'm trying to watch what I eat a little bit better now. A couple of days ago I ate too much and disgusted myself. It is about time I realize that the immediate benefit from eating what I want doesn't outway the horrible consequences. I still can't exercise though because my foot hasn't healed. I'm wondering if I broke a bone when I fell. It's been over two weeks now and there is still some pain. What do you ladies think? Right now I'm able to walk and just doing the waiting game.

Back to work for now. Take care.