Hi everyone~

Shortrich~ It's nice to have you with us.

Cheryl~yay for meeting your St.Paddys goal- I was just teasing with the green hair color Nice that you're enjoying your dance video workouts. I love to dance too, and I've ordered a video Salsacize with Rosemary Conely- she's british, so you guys probably don't know her. I also have Pump it up, a dance video with very young gorgeous girls, high impact and really tough, so I guess the Salsa will be more the tempo for an oldie like me.

Freda~Only one lb. to goal. You are an inspiration~ you revived my motivation.

Jill~I love your new avatar , hey I've been meaning to tell you that your avatar in the Cruise forum is just fabulous~ looking so fit . Have a great time at the Caymans.

Gail~ 6.4 plbs. WTG.

Meowee~ Nice that you've fixed your Excel program, however if you're looking for a software I can highly recommend Performance Diet Pro. This program is very great for people who have health issues. There are 5 Dietary program files, 2 of which is low Glycemic Diet and Diabetic like diet- which I guess is what is suitable for you. There is a medical section where you can enter your blood sugar, BP, Insulin, Cholesterol, and a medical graph. This medical section is not available on Fitday, or some of the other programs. I have 4 diet softwares, I don't use this program since I don't have health issues and besides it's quite complicated, but if you can build your own program I guess you'll not gonna find this program complicated, but will probably like it. You're probably wondering what I need 4 diet softwares for, well I love computers and softwares. I have a huge collection of softwares, for almost anything!

My ankle is better, I tried to exercise on my stationary bike yesterday and I sill have pain if I put some resistance, so I could only do easy, no resistance setting. So can't walk/jog on my treadmill yet. Oh yes, I've been doing free weights in the meantime, so actually it is only the cardio part that I'm missing- but for my case this is what counts if I want to see the scale moving in the right direction. I'll try my low impact videos today and see how it goes.

Have a great day everyone.

Hang in there, itsforme!! I am sure all of us can identify with the pity party mentality for sure! Right... don't let it last too long and just get up and keep going!!!! You can do it and we are right here along with you!!

top of the morning to you lassies,

Yes, I am IRISH, along with about a dozen other nationalities! Hope evey one is doing well this morning.

Jill, have a wonderful time and we'll be looking forward to seeing pictures. Sit on the beach and have a strawberry daquri for me! Are you SURE you don't have room in that suitcase for one more person?

Gail, Glad to hear that you're back on track! I'm like you, it's hard for me to get back on once I fall off. It takes me awhile. I'm better off just staying on. But you are losing girl!!!!So you know it's working.

Cheryl, I think you have to have your mind set right before you can be successful. It's not easy, changing old habits and starting new, healthy ones. You did well at the restaurant! There is always the temptation to get order something you know you shouldn't have "just this one tiem" Well, you know that one set back is going to cost you.

It's for me, I'm having problems getting the icons this morning, so insert a big hug right here!!!!! We all go through that "pity party" stage. But just come in here and talk to us! I'm happy to hear that you're getting back on tract now.

Elun, Glad to hear that your ankel is finally feling a little better. Be careful, don't start out too strong and injure it again. It will get there, takes a long time. And you'e doing your strength training in the mean time. No flabby arms for u!

Every one have a good day, and may the luck of the IRISH be with you!
Freda

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY. He's picking his way through the snow here in Nova Scotia. Not much of it though, just enough to remind us that Spring has not yet Sprung.

Have a great trip, Jill. Sorry we can't all be with you.

Congratulations on the loss, Gail. Don't try to belittle it. Any loss is a good loss. Enjoy it.

That was a great NSV, Cheryl . . . planning for your dinner so well. Keep up the good stuff.

The bad stuff happens, sometimes, itsforme. Just pick youself up and get things moving in the right direction again.

Thanks, Yorkie, I'll have a look at that program. Glad to hear the ankle is on the mend.

Hi to Slim and Dance, too, and anybody else I might have missed.

Nothing too exciting planned for my day. Have to get out and do a little shopping, so I'd better get a move on. Keep doing the right stuff, gang.

Hi everyone: Happy St Pat's Day, did u all wear green?? I was going to wait until Sunday to weigh in but I just couldnt wait - I've lost 2.5 lbs since Tuesday. Course I realize a lot of that is probably water, but at least I think I'm on the right track! I have one of those jobs that keeps me on the go a lot and have to eat as I can, but I've been making wiser choices and it seems to be working, as long as I keep it on my mind all the time. That's hard!

I was supposed to go to the gym tonight, but had a bit of a stomach flu and had to come home instead. I'm really being honest, it's not just an excuse...and i'm praying i'll be okay to make it to the gym in the morning, i even made a date with a friend from church to meet in the a.m.

Yorkie.thanks for the welcome - take it easy on your body...treat it nice and it will be nice back at ya...

Freda...thanks for the support...when I'm in the office i have the same trouble with food...every month we have a morning unit meeting and they bring food...and its always junk...donuts,muffins,etc. and i bring fruit, i'm sure they love that...they do eat them though.

Itsforme...i definetely know where you are at...i have been there many times...in fact i'm not far off just thinking about having to lose 76 more lbs makes me very depressed...but i'm trying to just take it a day at a time...you've made progress...my dr told me even 5 lbs helps...so hold on to that and keep plugging...

Gail...WTG!! great loss...has WW changed much over the years? i tried it about 2 yrs ago but I was sticking to the plan and not losing and i got discouraged with it. i couldnt seem to eat as many points as the plan allowed. I think i didnt drink enough water and ate too many of their frozen dinners. But i loved the meetings and the people connection.

Cheryl..you're my idol...exercise 5 days and plan your points for eating out...i need that motivation..i have to avoid food bars just to avoid overeating...

Anyone I missed!! Hi...as usual i think i am probably the last one on for the evening...i'm a night owl...i dont get up till 7 am, and out the door between 730-800 am but never can get to bed before midnight...sometimes i'm on the computer...sometimes i bring work home...

It took a dip in the weather here in NC...it was 46 this a.m. and it had been up to 80 last weekend...the weather is crazy!! But at least no SNOW!! So sorry for ya meow...

You all have a great day tomorrow...i'll catch back at ya tomorrow night!!

Good Morning Chicks!

Well...I'm outta here in a coupla hours.....off for my week on the beach. I WILL miss all of you...I'm sincere when I say that. You're my rock when it comes to staying on track w/ exercise....so you can imagine I won't be doing any of that this week! I won't have ya'll crackin' the whip! Hopefully I can stay somewhat on plan and take some beach hikes on the sand to keep up a little, but I'm just not going to worry too much about it. When I get back tho....My Myrtle Beach Goal will be LOOMING upon me, so I will be focused on making that goal happen!

Have a wonderful week, Everyone ....and try to get out there and do something outside!!!

I'm so lazy, but I do want to thank all of you for your support, even if not individually. Huge hugs to you all!

My head is in a different place today. I have no choice actually! I physically will not give up and continue to gain. I physically can not change my eating habits, because even doing South Beach and taking medicinal supplements aren't stopping the progression to diabetes. So I do not have a choice. If I do not have a choice, then I must get back on that saddle again...and march forward...regardless of how sorry I feel for my damn self!

I'm so appreciative of any of the support I get from sites such as these ( yes, I belong to a thyroid disease group, a diabetes group and a weightloss group...yikes! lol ) but believe me, it saves my marriage! Even though my husband is right beside me through all of my tribulations and has even joined me on the Beach ( even though he is a weightlifter and only weighs 182 pounds ), but I'm sure it wears him down some days. Sometimes when we become so focused, and especially when fighting with multiple issues, it can become all encompassing. He's a doll to listen and support, but even I get tired of hearing me sometimes! So it's so GREAT to have this outlet where I can come and "spew" to people that not only understand, but can relate!

My dear, sweet grandmother lived with thyroid disease, had a hysterectomy and they never even replaced any of her hormones. I can't imagine how she felt physically, let alone emotionally...and back then I'm sure you didn't talk about "such things". The internet would have surely been her Godsend! I weep for her at times just thinking about her isolation.

Well, sorry for the long drawn out rant. I'm throwing up the shades, letting the sunshine back in...going out to do my 1 hour exercise, planning my meals for the day so I don't go off plan, and even look forward to a glass of wine or two this evening when hubby and I go out on our "date".

Back on that saddle again. I have no choice...

Sunny, but cold in Atlantic Canada today . . . and we got another little sprinkle of snow last night. The current forecst for Monday (officially the 'first day of Spring') is for 6 to 8 inches of new snow. Oh yeah . . . Hopefully they're wrong.

Yes, Short, I wore a green sweater. How about you? Congrats on the loss. Water or fat . . . all losses are to be celebrated . . . as long as it's not with

I so agree with that sentiment, itsforme. I know I'd never make it through the week without all my on-line buddies.

Have a great day and keep moving and shaking.

Shortrich

You asked me about WW. This is the 3rd time I've joined, but the other two times I never lasted very long.

Last time was in the fall of 2004; I had never tried counting points and was sceptical. After all, I've been dieting on and off all my adult life, I know how to eat in order to lose weight. Counting points is too complicated and time consuming...with that attitude, needless to say, I didn't last long.

Well, I've been slowly gaining back what I'd lost since 2003, and couldn't seem to get a grip on controling my eating. Even starting out here on this website the beginning of this year, with all the great encouragement and support, couldn't keep me on track.

So I'm trying weight watchers again, and so far, it is really helping me. I realize by counting points, I was eating too much on my own, even when I was eating the right foods. I have no problem getting in enough points! Except yesterday, I made some homemade vegetable soup, and was below my points for the day!

I think a lot of joining any kiind of weight loss program (I've been in TOPS also) is the commitment and accountability. When I diet on my own, it's too easy to overeat, and mentally shrug my shoulders saying I'll get back on track tomorrow. Then another occasion comes up, and oh well, I'll eat right tomorrow. that's what I've been doing before WW, and it's been one step forward and two steps back!

Now I have a weekly weigh-in, not to mention the money I've spent in joining, plus a real plan in place to help me control my eating and really lose some weight. I had company this past week, and we ate out all the time, and I've still been losing weight.

I'm as encouraged as I've been in some time, and actually have hope that this time I will be able to lose weight, be healthier, and maybe even become a lifetime member of WW...wouldn't that be something?!

Hi everyone: I'm still hanging in there. I even exercised for 90 minutes at the gym today. Since weekends will most likely be my only exercise time due to my job, i plan on doing 90-120 mins per day on the weekends. It wasnt too hard.

Thanks for the info Gail, so they are still doing points. I'm hoping I can keep losing without spending a lot of money, I swear I've spent a million dollars in the last 10 yrs losing the same 50 lbs and now i've added another 25 on top of that. But I am determined I will do whatever I have to do to lose this weight this time. So I'm not ruling anything out at this point. If my weight loss stops I will join something else to keep me going.

Meow...yes I wore green, I work with teenage foster children, and had to spend 5 hrs with a female teen that day because I had to drive her out of town to a dental specialist, she sure would have pinched me all the way there and back probably if i hadnt!!

Itsforme...i surely know your pain, although not 1st hand, but am constantly worried about getting diabetes....my mother died at 61 and had had several srokes and heart attacks and a leg amputated because of her diabetes, both my grandmothers had diabetes, and both aunts on my mothers side...one aunt lived to 75 but had both her legs amputate. I guess it has decided to skip my generation, although i use artificial sweetner and have always drank diet sodas even since a teen. I'm not a big sweet eater, but I do have a skim milk with choclate syrup at night, that's my allowed sweet for most days. But my doctor says I can get diabetes later in life (i'm 51 now) so i'm ever observant. I imagine we are going to get to know about no hormone replacement in this generation, my doctor wont let me take any, he says he risk of cancer is too high...and i had cancer and surgery for it at 33...so he says i cant chance it. So far the hot flashes havent been too bad. Just keep on trying your best, that's all you can do. Right? Don't be too hard on yourself.

flsunbakd (I presume that stands for florida sun baked??) have fun on your vacation...most vacations have a certain amount of walking or activity in them anyway...Myrtle beach trip coming up? I live about an hour and a half from myrtle beach...me and my girlfriend go to her timeshare at surfside beach the last week of august, its usually great.

Everyone have a great weekend....weather is about 60 in NC right now...sunny and nice...

Way to go, Gail. I, too, discovered the hard way, that I must track what I eat on paper. It's amazing what you can stuff in when you don't pay attention.

I write down all my choices on a little log-slip and then I enter the day into my excel program which tracks a week at a time and then transfers the weekly average to an annual spreadsheet. It really keeps me going because if I don't enter a single day, it will also screw up my log for the week, which will also screw up the annual sheet, too. So even if I slip over my max one day, I still enter it.

Have a good day. Keep on tracking your points.

Hi Everyone!

Shortrich...WHOOHOO on 2.5 pounds gone!

Elyn...I bought Auburn hair coloring with red hightlights yesterday and shocked my husband when he came home from work today I had mousy brown hair with lots of grey, but not anymore!! I think it makes me look 10 years younger.

I also like WW and counting points, but I totally blew it with Hardee's yesterday.
Yes! The fries and chicken sandwich were sooooo gooood But, it came to 32 points when I got home and looked it up. YIKES!!!! So it was back on track today with proper eating. That's why I exercise 6 days a week. For my occasional CHEATS

~Cheryl

Good morning all. I am reporting in this morning! It's my weigh in day and I wish I didn't have to report a GAIN! But I do. I gained a pound! i don't know why, I haven't over eaten and I've exercised. But, these things happen and we have to take it in stride and remember that we're in this for the long haul.

Meow, I am a great believer in journaling too. It's way too easy to miscalculate the amount of calories you eat. And portion size!!! I still have to get the measuring cups and spoons out occasionally and make sure i'm not being too generous with some things.

Cheryl, I bet you look TOO KOOL with your new hair color! Nothing like shaking hubby up a bit occasionally! I got my hair cut and colored too. Just my normal blond streaks but it looks sooooo much better. I love grey hair, but on me it just looks mousey and dull. I'm glad you got back on your diet plan. It's so easy to say "i'll start tomorrow". But tomorrow never comes and it just gets harder. Just think about where you would be if yu had started this a year ago. That is a wasted year and you don't want to be in the same place next year, looking back and thinking of all the weight you could have lost.

Short, 2.5lb. is great!! Keep up the good work! I hope you're feeling better. That stomach flu is not fun. I had it last week and it really took me down for a couple of days. And you're right, with the diabetes that runs in your family, you really need to keep yourself fit. Exercise and diet can be such a help and can controle a lot of type 2 diabetes. But eating sugar doesn't cause diabetes, you know that, right?

It's for me, I, too, can't imagine what our grandmothers went through withought the medication we had today. For so many things, like menopause and thryroid disease. You know how hard it is to deal with even with medication. I remember my grandma (now 96) telling that her mother went "crazy" during memopause!

Gail, WW is a great organization and they have a good system. I know it will work for you if you let it! Actually, most diets work if you can stict to them. The problem is finding one that you can follow in the long run. I like WW because it teaches you portion controle and encourages healthy eating with a few added "treats" thrown in there. It gives you choices but encourages you to make good ones.

Everyone, go make it a good day, Freda

Good Morning . . .

Nothing very exciting in my world today. The sun is shining and it's cold but it looks like the heavy snow they were predicting is going to miss us; at least I certainly hope so.

Congratulations for doing and thinking and planning the right stuff, everybody. It's very important that we all realize that one day does not make or break our long term efforts. If we just keep moving along in the right direction we will reach our desired destination.

See you all later. Keep a-moving and a-shaking, just like little carrot-kid.

Another Monday morning and I'm happy to report a 2.5 lb loss! That is all new weight loss for the year, so I've lost 12.5 lbs. this year.

As I said that big WW loss included a few pounds I had gained back this year already, so I'm more happy with this 2.5 pound loss.

Freda You've got the right attitude about taking a small gain in stride, especially if you know you've been doing everything right. Besides aren't you almost to goal; it's sure a lot harder to lose those last few pounds I hear. (I wouldn't know personally!!)

I was just thinking this morning if God had made me taller, I could weigh more! Also, the less I get to weighing, the less I can eat. Pretty soon, I'll be down to 22 points a day, instead of 24. Oh well, I'll take the fewer points, with the fewer pounds on me!

Meeow I forget how to spell you, but I sure hope the snow storm we're supposed to get tomorrow misses us too! I'm so ready for spring...which officially starts this afternoon!

Have a great week everyone...where is everyone anyway???