Sonja - Whenever I get to that point where I'm praying for Aunt Flo because I'm not thrilled with the alternative, and I go buy a HPT, she ALWAYS shows up the day after I take it. It's really bizarre. It's like there are gremlins inside waiting for me to get just freaked out enough to go spend money on a preg test before it lets TOM come. Stupid.

I'm at my dad's house and don't have the desire to spend a bunch of time here but wanted to check in. Went for a really good wog this morning but it was HOT outside. My dad has this kind of icky well water that I'm forcing myself to drink because I need it, but I sure don't like how it tastes.

Hahaha, my husband's outside spraying the orchard with fruit tree stuff, he's got this yellow backpack of liquid on and is covered head to toe in white material so he doesn't get covered in it... He looks like a HAZMAT worker at the apocalypse

Well, enjoy your Saturdays, I'll be back with better responses tomorrow!

Well, I am at work again and still tired. I really need more sleep, hopefully can sleep in tomorrow morning. Actually had breakfast (a smoothie) this morning though, first day in quite a few days, so that is a good start to the day. They had hummus on sale for a buck each, so definitely had to pick up a few. I should seriously not be allowed to shop at 8am with not enough sleep the night before, as it takes about 10 min for my brain to catch up with my body.

modkittn: Congrats on the weight loss and being closer to your goal!

BB: Glad you had a good time with the senior party and that Core is working for you. I've thought about it, as I hate journaling, but not sure I would like all the foods. Maybe after I've been doing it for awhile. Right now, just trying to eat more whole grains and veggies on Flex.

Shrinkinglizzy: Sorry you're having such a problem with Aunt Flo this month, I know how you feel. I've been so crampy and bad lower back pain this time. Hope you can sleep.

Suitejudyblueeyes: I know exactly what you mean about the HPT. That has totally happened to me before. LOL, love your description of your husband in his yellow backpack.

I just planned out all my days through Thursday. No excuse not to stay on plan while I am traveling!

BB - I hope you continue to be successful on Core!

lizzy - I hope you feel better!

suite - Have fun with your dad!

library - mmm... hummus....

Mod thank you for taking the time to detail your story and share your experience on the subject, I appreciate more wisdom being added to this topic! This is obviously a central issue for me in my weight loss journey...aside from actively getting these pounds off currently, how do I keep them off? That is the part I've never been successful at and what I am trying to learn that will carry me thru the rest of my life. The last sentence is the zinger...gonna think about that today!

Thanks for the great OP input! You guys rock! I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing since it's working for the time being. I'm trying not to be naive but I do not want to go back to where I came from weight-wise. I am praying that this was the kick in the pants I needed and that I am able to maintain for the rest of my life.

Jaime: have fun at your dad's this weekend! I hope you took pics of DH in his fine outfit!

Edited to add: We're suppose to go to a Montgomery Gentry benefit concert tonite. I'm not sure if we'll make it. DH is busy in the yard and has a huge bike ride to attend tomorrow. I'm going home tomorrow to spend some time with my dad. Any special plans for all of you for Father's Day?

Jaime -- you know, I think it might really be true about the HPT thing. Figure this -- you know that stress can make you late. So, if you're stressed that you might be pregnant, it might make Aunt Flo stay away. Then you take the HPT and find you're not, and that stress disappears. Or, maybe it's gremlins.

So, I spent the day at the Chelsea River Revel, a town festival thing in a town fairly far from my own. John was working there so I went. Oof, that was a mistake. Cramps, general ickiness, not to mention the slight hangover (I have cut down on the drinking a lot, but succumbed last night), it wasn't the best scene for me! But it did save me from sitting around the house, worrying about all the stuff I have to do to get ready for camp (notice I didn't say I would have spent the day actually DOING those things, just worrying about them!).
But, I'm home now, just had 1 serving of my tub of liquid sugar corn syrup (if you didn't read my post about that, it's actually frozen yogurt), and turned on a pot of water to make macaroni, my all time favorite comfort food, but then changed my mind and instead made a fresh juice of carrot, apple, celery and ginger. Soooooooo good.
Oh, and I also want to report that I have the biggest zit ever, right in the corner of my mouth. It's really something to behold. Anyone have any magic zit zapping tricks?

Kim -- see the above for another example of a potentially non-OP day. Macaroni would have sent me over, and then it would have been all down hill from there. We'll see what happens now...I still haven't had dinner, unless you count the frozen yogurt, which I just might do.


Library -- so glad you're still posting -- you're a great addition to the Flexer group! I can feel your pain on the early shopping. It is hard to make good decisions before coffee!

Mod -- back to boston, huh? maybe we can catch up!

Manick --

First I want to hey HI to all the new people that have posted this past week! Wow.. this is so awesome - I look forward to getting to know each of you as we continue to post more!

Sounds like everyone is so busy again this week! I haven't been on to post much if any, but I have been checking in and reading what everyone is doing. Kudos to everyone who has stayed OP all week!

We have had a lot of bad weather here again all week. If you guys have been catching the news, you know that over half of Iowa has been underwater for the better part of 2 weeks now. From the last reports I have read 54 counties (out of 99) have been declared federal disaster areas. It is heartbreaking how many people have lost their homes - and our small community of 2,500 residents lost one of our most loved residents in a flood related car accident.

We haven't personally lost any property or suffered any damage to our home - we are situated pretty nicely on a bluff in the country, but DH dad's house had 4 ft of water in the basement plus a large tree branch came down.

In regard to that, I haven't been exercising my 30 minutes every day as I think that all of the other stuff I have been doing (clean up, sandbagging, etc) is making up for that and my lose of 4 lbs this past week is showing that. I have managed to stay OP all week, but that has been hard.. "hey honey, I have to go eat, so I have to stop sandbagging." LOL

It has been really hard to not get discouraged this past week too. There seems to be a lot of other people around me who decided to diet and lose weight and they are losing weight really fast. DH's sister has lost close to 50 lbs the past month and a half. I am so jealous of that and feel like I am not doing well. She isn't very tall and is very petite in frame. Her starting weight was only about 10 lbs higher than where I want to end up. I had to keep reminding myself that I have twice the amount of weight to lose than what she has lost, and that I am doing this in a more healthy way than she has done (they are eating only fruit and veggies & shakes - very little meat) and exercising like maniacs. Don't get me wrong, I am happy for her, but I truly don't see how she is going to sustain the loss since she lost the weight so fast and plans on backing off of the fruit/veggie/exercise thing when she gets to her goal. I guess it isn't fair of me to say that as I am not her. I do know that if I were to do that, the weight I lost would come back plus more.

I have to keep reminding myself - slow and steady, that is the way to do this. I want this to be a lifetime thing, not a 'flash in the pan'. Next year at this time, I will be at my goal and I will be able to sustain it the rest of my life because I learned how to eat the right way - eat to live, not live to eat.

But I still can't help being a little jealous.

So I'm back at work again, even though I'd much rather be at home doing just about anything else. Can't complain too much though, as all I've had to do is correct mailing labels, and put them and stamps on application packets. Well that and assist customers and answer phones, the usual crap. Finally finished reading the last couple of pages of Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut, which was definitely one of the weirdest books I've ever read, but I really enjoyed it. So will have to ask my friend if I can borrow more of her collection of books (she just got about 6 Vonnegut paperbacks online). Either that, or try to tackle Tolkein's Silmarillion again, though I need to be really focused to understand it.

Lizzy: Sounds like you had fun at the town festival, minus the hangover. Good choice with the fresh juice over macaroni & cheese. The last time I made it from the box, I split half of it with my hubby so I wouldn't eat the whole thing and added chicken and steamed veggies so I didn't instantly feel my arteries clogging up.

Chey: I've heard about all the flooding in Iowa, but didn't realize it was that bad over there. It's good that your family didn't sustain much damage with the storms. Congrats on the 4lb loss! I understand what you mean about trying not to get discouraged. There was this woman in my WW meeting that weighed about the same or maybe a little bit more than me, that started about 2 months after me that lost like 45lbs in about 2 months and I was like, why can't I do that? I don't think she was exercising that much either. I'm just a slow loser, as far as weight goes, which is why I'm trying to pick up the exercise. But yes, i'm a little jealous too. My mom was on Atkins and kept losing like 30-50lbs, but as soon as she stopped she gained it all back. Now she wants to join WW and be on the Flex program like me. So I believe that I'm doing it the right way, and a way that I can maintain for a lifetime, rather than a quickie diet. I hope that helps you.

Today was a VERY nice OP day, even though TOM arrived and I was crampy. I'm happy I planned the next 4 days out. If I just somewhat follow them, I think it will great and I will be able to stay OP while on travel. The gym at the hotel will help a lot too.

I am putting my weight tracker back to what it was last Tuesday. I forgot I can weigh myself tomorrow morning. That will be my official weight for this week.

Paint - I'm happy that you are able to stay OP now. Just know we are here for advice if you every need it!

lizzy - If you can't tell, I'm not in Boston tonight. I have to catch a plane early in the morning and I was too tired earlier to choose to be in Boston until 1am. I'm glad I chose to come home. I'm going to bed soon - tired! WTG on your healthy choice tonight!

Chey - I'm so sorry for your town's loss and hope your father is able to recover quickly from his damage. You are so right about how to lose weight and keep it off - slow and steady wins the race! Don't get discouraged!

library - Silmarillion is on my list of books to read. I'm a HUGE sci-fi/fantasy fan.

Wow, been away for a while, will need a few days to catch back up. Hi and Great Job to all that stayed OP all week, and welcome to all the new Flexers who joined our group, you will Love it here. To all that had a tough week, or weekend, right there with you. Hope this week is better for all.

**************
Well, it's been a long time, had a very busy week, and my DD's Bridal Shower was wonderful, she had the best time, and that's all that matter. Did not get to stay OP Friday or Saturday, but it's not that I went overboard, completly the opposite, did not eat enought, so busy and stressed and just plain forgot to get in all my healthy guideline foods, but it all worked out, she loved her shower. Sunday got right back on, even though it's so easy to slip back into that "very naughty eating patterns". Brought home some goodies and leftovers for my Kids. When I woke up Sunday, those goodies were calling my name....and I allowed myself, one, not easy to stop at one, but I know if I didn't "allow" myself that one cookie...well I bet you can guess, how my day would of gone.{and that coookie was so worth the points, I enjoyed it so much, and was great the rest of the day} Lucky for me it was Father's Day, and all that didn't get consumed, was sent home with family. New Week, and have a month until the wedding....Oh boy, almost there.........

Have a Great OP Week Flexers

good morning all,

well, it was not a very OP day for me yesterday. My parents came up and we went out for Father's Day, to a steakhouse that I'd never been to. I was really curious about it, as I pass it every time I go to the gym. Well, as it turns out, it was pretty bad, but I ate plenty, anyway. John and I agreed, it left us feeling very full but still unsatisfied. Probably the worst kind of full!

Well, I have to get packing today. I am planning on leaving for camp tomorrow, and I haven't packed a THING. I think it's a consequence of having very mixed feelings about going...there is a lot of heaviness about it, as it is a "break" for me and John, and I'll be moving out when I get back. I keep getting waves of sadness about it all. And then there's the stress of starting a new job at this camp, and it seems terribly mismanaged/disorganized -- I still don't even really know what my job is! But I know I'll figure it out.

Meanwhile, my huge pimple is still there, RIGHT in the corner of my mouth, looking like something much more sinister than a pimple, if you know what I mean. Grrrrrr.

Be back later for personals.

S

Good Morning Ladies

Hope you all had a wonderful restful weekend. I doing fine, I think I dropped 2 lbs since starting th core,but I can't tell for sure,as my scale & the WW scale is 2 lbs + different.

I haven't switched over to the core thread as I like posting to your gals,is it alright and i can still post here. We still all part of WW even if I'm on another plan then yours.

LIBRARY GIRL-The only thing I like about the core is not journaling and looking up every point. I miss the other foods I used to eat,but for me I need structure,and if I really want something like I did yesterday, with the mini cheese cake I used my WPA's. I know what you mean about shopping when tired or hungry,the whole store is in the shopping cart.Being human,I go for that sale also.

MODKITTN-Thanks I hope this plan works or where to to to next I have not idea. Planing for the next 4 days will be a + at the end. WW has a saying [if your fail to plan you will plan to fail] That one alway stuck with me.

CHEY-I'm so sorry about all you had to go though having to live like that day to day with all those storms hanging around you.I must be terrible,having water or floods in your basement & all the expense to clean up the places.Sending your {{{{Good Vibes}}}} for you & your father to hang in there . When it come to weight loss, remember every one is different. My MOM was 30-lbs lighter at my age than I am & my sister is 40 lbs more. Its amazing to think we're from the same family but we're still all different.By the way Big congrats on your 4 lb lose.

SHRINKING & IN STITCHES-HI hope you both have a great day


Hugs BB

Hello ladies! Not very talkative today, hmmmm???

I was completely OP today! I made VERY healthy choices and I'm giving myself a pat on the back for that. I even went for a jog at the gym in the hotel when I got in. I realized that I REALLY need to go back to physical therapy because I've been limping the rest of the night I'll stick to the recumbent bike until I can get back to PT.

I weighed this morning, and was at 152.something. I was upset because I thought I would be less (um wasn't I 163.4 on Saturday?) but then I remembered that TOM came Sunday and that was why. So I'm just waiting it out. I won't get to weigh again until Friday because there is no scale in the hotel room or the gym here!

stitches - I'm glad your daughter liked her shower! Was there a theme? for getting back on track the following day, even with the

lizzy - What steakhouse was it? Was it good? I'm always interested in good food in Boston! I'm sorry you're not feeling completely happy about your transition to the camp, but hopefully when you get there and get organized you will feel better about it.

BB - Of course you can still post here! I'm so happy I planned these days while traveling. Just wanting NOT to screw up my planning kept me on track today. Even though I went somewhere completely different for lunch today and had to skip a snack, I only ended up 1 point over what I had planned.

Hi Heather

No worries, you just take care of yourself. Glad to see you again.