Morning Peeps - I had a stressful work day yesterday even though I was off. Earlier this week one of my staff brought me an very offensive, explicit e-mail that had been forwarded by a long term employee. As a member of the senior management staff I had not option but to report this info (or else I'm then the one on the line). Yesterday the long term employee was fired for sexual harassment. My work line rang all day long. It is hard to see someone lose their job but as a company I understand there were no options.

And what did I do to handle this - I went promptly - without passing go and collecting $200 - to eat Mexican. WHY??? I am back OP this morning and heading for my 90 minute yoga class - I definetely have much to release this morning. Interestingly enough I had thawed fish for dinner last night. OK - rant and binge over.

More later - move your bodies, drink your water and SMILE.

Hugs,
Carol

Nancy: I just want to tell you how wonderful you look with your new haircut. I finally made it over to the pic page and you look so beautiful. Your before and after photos are also amazing. Great job sweetie.

Heather: I don't have those particular clothes anymore. I do have a shirt just like it though and a pair of pants that fit me just right at my largest and a jacket that was very snug when buttoned. Thank you so much for your comments.

Battle: Maybe if you are needing to keep your calories near 300 more a day for a while you can ramp up your exercise to burn 300 more for a bit? Sorry that the internet was being a poo yesterday. I hate it when that happens at work and most of your work is internet necessary. Hugs.

Zelma: I looked at your new pics that you posted last week or so. You are so beautiful. I loved the outfit with the little white jacket thing. You sure are a snazzy dresser! Hope that the picnic was a wonderful time. Thank you for reassuring me about how long it took you to see a difference in your weight loss. I honestly feel there is something wrong with me sometimes. I mean, I relate what I look like way more to the 510 pound picture. I see myself every day but in photos I think I look more like the bigger person and it is just so weird and it does make me sad. The photo of me at 510 pounds I looked all squishy down and stuff. Like hunched or something. I don't know. lol. Thanks all the same.

Alison: Yeah to getting back on track! Thanks for the comments on my before and after pics.

Jeanne: Hugs.

Sugarcoati: Welcome to 3fc. I know that all of us could be your budy right here if you post here but as far as a one on one person, for me right now I just recently went back to work after 8 years off and I am trying to adjust to that still and I think I would flake out on you more than be a good budy. I would love to do my best to keep up with you on here though if that helps at all. I just wanted to say welcome and I am looking forward to getting to know you much better. Post as often as you like and don't feel any pressure to "keep up" with everyone. Just post as you like and as often or not as you like. Welcome.

Carol: Hugs on your day yesterday. It seems that some people think if it is a forward or something that it makes it okay to send nasty things in email. I have a sister who does that to me. She sends me things to work and home. I don't like them at home anymore than I do at work. But, at work I just delete them. I will only get "surprised" by her emails at home. lol. So sorry for the work thing. I know you are a dear heart and that must have been very awful. You'll see there will be a time that you don't automatically reach for comfort food when you are stressed. It takes time. I know that occasionally I will have the desire to eat something when I am stressed. I have gotten it down, so far, to grabbing a glass of water if I'm at work at home I try to stop and pray then get on the bike. lol. I guess anything I can to replace that old food friend. Huggies my friend.

Well, my day off and my dogs woke me up to go potty at 5:30 a.m. It is now 6:32 and I may just go back to bed. I'm hoping to have the get up and go to drive to the gym today to swim. I have been working out at home only lately, nothing wrong with that except I am paying for the gym membership and not using it. lol. Hope you all have wonderful, water drinking, op days.

Blessings,
Annie

Good Morning Everyone

Well, I'm off to a pretty slow start on a pretty busy day I planned on getting up around 8 and doing all this work, all this exercise, and all kinds of sewing (making 4 poodle skirts, fun!) However here it is 10:40 and all I have done is had my eggs for breakfast. But of course I had time to catch up with you folks

I really have to get moving but before I go....

Annie~ You are lookin like one sexy momma!!!! Of course we see a bigger difference than you do. I'm still looking at someone who is 417 when i look in the mirror!

Ammi~ Good to see you back 100%

Julee~ Welcome back!! I am so happy that you had a wonderful wedding! I too like you gained back some weight. Almost 30 to be exact. Onward and downward!

ok, i REALLY have to go... lol I am so far behind I have to doubletime to catch up... where do I start...

Just a quick good morning to everyone. Everyone is home today and my daughter has a major project to finish for school... She had to make a pizza out of cardboard and the toppings are accomplishments of the scientist she has to write about etc etc lol what a fun project for someone obsessed with food. We are having fun though, waiting on glue to dry. I am doing well have been on points for yesterday and so far today. And FYI, I would have probably eaten an entire bag of PB cups the other day if I would have had them. Four was all I had in the house thankfully.

Have a great weekend and think positive.

Tina

Hi All,

I pity my family sometimes I really do, they have to put up with my moods, and today for who knows what reason I am pretty moody! Does anybody here just wake up on any given day and be really grumpy for no particular reason? I know I have depression, and I take meds for it, but if the bad moods are down to being depressed then why aren’t I moody every day? Oh well, not to worry, the kids are both out, and Hubby is keeping out of my way so maybe by the time I’ve caught up here I will have cheered up a bit

Annie – the first smile of the day I have to say came from seeing your photos. I, like all the others think you look AMAZING. I’ll email later with all I have to say about it

Julee – I have never ever had a problem eating all my points for a day. My problem has always been not going over them I am now on 26 points, and I’m doing OK, as I did at the start of last year. But OH BOY, when I got down to 24 points, don’t ask me why, but I felt really deprived!! I hope I cope better when I go down to 24 this year

Thanks for explaining about what the Singing Bee competition was, did you just have to say the answers, or did you have to sing them? You must have an OK voice at least to sing in public. In fact, am I confusing you with somebody else, or do you have a love of Karaoke? Anyway, you still did brilliantly and I hope when you eventually get the money you will enjoy spending it

Kayley – oh rats, your neighbours are too quick aren’t they? I like the idea of those snow blowers, I think I’d have one if I lived there. I have to say that I am so glad that I don’t though, it sounds way too cold for my liking, brrrrrrrr!

Heather D – yep I agree with everybody, move away from those scales When I was tempted to weigh more than I should when I first started my diet I had to give my hubby the battery from them so I wouldn’t be tempted. He gave it back to me once a week for my WI. Now I wish I didn’t have to weigh ever, I hate the scales.

As for how much water I drink, I guess it’s a minimum of 5 litres a day. I am always thirsty though, so it’s never a problem for me to drink enough.

Alison – I LOVE Pizza Hut pizza, I normally always make it my treat of choice when it’s a birthday or some other reason for me to allow myself to eat something naughty. I can also eat an individual deep pan Hawaiian pizza as part of my diet, its 12 points.

Debbie – well done on the 1 lb loss. I know you wish it could have been more, but a 1 or 2 lb loss a week is a good thing to aim for, and like pennies, they all add up

Oh yes it is an amazing feeling to be back in control. Last year I’d start a good day in the morning, and be binging by the evening. Nearly the whole day would be spent convincing myself not to go eat something I shouldn’t. Now I don’t have that problem at all, and it is SUCH a relief

That’s cool that hubby has decided to lose weight too, I just hope those lbs won’t just fall off him like they seem to off my hubby. I love him, but I still think it’s so unfair that the more he eats and the less he does the more weight he loses Every time he eats something I can’t, I say, oh there you go, there’s another lb off for you

Lindy – I was just about to say welcome to 3FC, but as you have written 792 posts you certainly aren’t a newbie Instead I will say to the 300+ thread

Kimmie – thanks for the heads up about the signature thing, I went to find out why that happened, and it seems it’s because of spammers. They make me so angry, they fill our inboxes with garbage, and now it seems they cause problems on message boards like this. They suck! Anyway it won’t be long til you hit your 30 posts and then you will have your lovely ticker back

on losing 12 lbs since the end of December, you are just 2 lbs away from losing what we in the UK call a ‘stone’ That’s pretty good going

Thank you for your compliment about my posts

Dusty – ah I see you have the same experiences as me, knowing a man that will say he wants to lose weight and then next week he’s skinny I want to be a man

Val – I am so happy for you that now your ‘boys’ are where they belong everything is just falling into place for you. You sound so much happier. It’s a shame you had to move them in the first place, your friends boyfriend sounds like a real waste of space. It’s a shame she hasn’t realised that yet.

I definitely have got the bull by the horns now, I just have to get past that first week when I’ll see no loss on the scales. I know it will come, and I know that I’ll be really miffed about it, especially if hubby loses that week and I don’t! that he will live to tell the tale

Zelma – oh you have brought back so many memories with your post, I LOVE sausage sizzles, and I really really love Aussie hot dogs. I’ve never ever been able to find a ‘sav’ (red sausage) over here that tastes half as nice as an Aussie one. If I ever get back over to Australia I am going to have to make sure I am underweight by at least 14 lbs so that I can happily stuff myself silly on all the gorgeous food I miss and no I won’t end up being overweight again Chiko rolls, and spring rolls from chip shops, oh and gorgeous Aussie hamburgers with a fried egg and beetroot, I miss them all. Now I am going to shut up before the drool on my keyboard electrocutes me

How did the open air concert go? It sounds like it was going to be a really nice night. What kind of food did you have in the picnic?

Sugarcoatit - You are looking for a weight loss buddy, well look no further, you can have dozens of them right here. I’ve never come across a more helpful, friendly, supportive group of people, and we’ll all happily help you in your weight loss journey

Carol – I’m really sorry that you had the chore of reporting that employee for the very offensive email that was sent. I think things like that are one of the reasons I would never deal well with a management job. I can totally understand why you went along the comfort food track Good for you for getting straight back on track

Brenda – how are you enjoying following a WW diet now?

Sharon – before I forget, please do email me your ‘story’ I keep forgetting to ask you when we chat. I can read it and then nag you like everybody else to submit it to a magazine

OK I better go now, I have to get the washing in from the line, yep it’s January and I’ve actually got washing outside to dry. It’s not a warm day by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s dry, and very windy. So I’m hoping that the clothes will have dried. If I leave them out any longer though they’ll just get damp. Aren’t you all so glad I shared that with you OOOH look, it seems I really have cheered up a bit now Bye for now,

Hugs,

Ammi

Good Morning!!

Boy, it looks like the board here is as busy as it is here at home!!

It seems like I am doing alot of running around again lately. Sammi had a project due yesterday and of course when she went to print it out the night before, all the ink and paper were gone. If she had done it before it was due, she would have known, but of course leaving it to the last minute made me have to be at Staples at 8:30 am to get ink and paper. All part of lovely motherhood!!
I tell you, this kid really has the "Luck of the Irish" ...every time she enters a raffle, she wins!! Last night she was at a HS concert for a local band, and they had a raffle for 100 kids to be in their national debut commercial and of course, she won a spot. Which really means I have to shlep her 20 mins to be there at 8:30am tomorrow! I am just worried that I wont be allowed to stay with her...she is only 13 and I want to make sure it is all on the up and up. I am sure it will be, but this kid looks at least 16!! It may seem silly, but just mama lion protecting her cub.
We also had a little incident with Scott's ex-girlfriend. Well, we think it was her, we have no proof. She has been calling him all hours and wanting to get back together. He wants nothing to do with her anymore. He had eggs thrown on his car (and it's still half mine!!) and knew she was hanging out in this area that night. So he has now quit the job that they were both working at...the owner was sad because he likes him, but he can't be anywhere near her anymore. I hope this doesn't go further. Teenagers...SHEESH!!!!


Annie: Thank you for the news about Catherine and Austin...that poor woman doesn't get a break. Send my love if you speak to him again. Also...You are one smokin mama!! You look fabulous and your progress is amazing. I wish you knew just how inspirational and special you really are!!!

Nancy: Love the new "do"!! You also look great and have come so far! Another terrific woman that inspires me!!

Battle and Moosegirl: Sorry, it's Papa Johns that does it for me!! It is my major downfall and the one food I just cannot live without!!!!


Big to everyone else!! It is just too hard to keep up these days!!! But I do read all the posts and am sending to everyone!! (Heaven knows, I need some!!!)

to all newbies and returnies!!


Have a Great Day!!

Kayley: you will have just as interesting stories driving kids around. Trust me!! LOL

HeatherDW: Happy Birthday!!!! Hope you had a great day!!

NOttheCheat: I love Jillian’s book!!! It makes sense! I don’t go to the gym, so some of the exercises I’m going to have to try something else. But I am making these big ole posters with the exercise on them and how many times. They will hang in my room. Not very pretty but it will make it easier I think. I am starting her exercise on Monday.


Juliee: WELCOME BACK!!! Yes your raining is coming this way!! I am in Arizona..keep sending it!!! I love the rain..not the cold but love the rain!

Dogpal: Love the new pic!!! I can see the difference!! You look great. You know when loosing weight we even seem to carry ourselves different! WTG!!

Sugarcoat: There are lots of people here to be buddies with. I am 350ish lbs. Just jump in!

Carol: Sorry about your work and then eating Mexican food!! Mexican is one of my weaknesses! Don’t people understand now that most things you do like email can be tracked??

Ammi: Mood swings are my specialty!! I think mine is my frustration with a lot of things..including my weight!

I have started leaving my cubical..for more then going to get a soda. I know that I have to get up more in the day at work cause by 530pm I am draggin! I am planning on cleaning today and getting some sewing in!! see yall in the thread!

Thanks so much everyone for the comments on my pictures. I actually wore makeup every day this week for the first time in forever.

Now it is your turn! Let's see some more pictures!

Annie - You are looking FABULOUS!!! Wow!!!

I am totally exhausted right now. I went out dancing last night at a club with someone I met at the gym. We had a great time and danced for almost 2 hours straight. I only had one short break to get something to drink. I also had an amazing NSV there. One of the women who is a friend of the person who invited me came up to me towards the end of the evening and told me that she loved my energy. She said it to me again when she was saying goodbye to everyone. You know - that really touched me more than I can say. To have a total stranger, and a very thin person tell me they love my energy is amazing.

Then this morning I went to my regular Nia class, but instead of yoga I went to a Zumba class that they were holding in a local gym. It was a blast, but I am now totally worn out. I want to call a friend to go to the movies tonight, but now I am not sure if I will make it! Maybe I just need a nap.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Annie....HOTTIE! Love the pictures!! Seeing ourselves in pictures is always difficult...and a lot of it had to do with our brains. Did you ever have a day that you looked in the mirror and thought that you looked fine and dandy and then you saw a photo of yourself taken that same day and wondered "What the...!!!" That's your brain. In the mirror, you see your mirror image (duh) which isn't totally accurate. When we see ourselves in photos (or on TV) we see what the rest of the world sees...and that's not something we are as accustomed to seeing. It's a different angle and it can be a little off putting sometimes. PLUS...when we see something day after day after day...we see it all the time even if it's not there. That's why a lot of times we don't notice little things 9or we get mad at the menfolk for not noticing them) because when we see the same thing all the time..little changes (hair color) don't register so quickly.

It's hard for us to see ourselves in thinner bodies because it's such a process. None of us who have lost weight went to bed one night at 350 and woke up the next day at 180. We know what a painfully slow process this is...and as a result, we don't always see it...even if the scale says it's there.

Oh our brains....

Um...I know I have ben gone for a while...and that's my own fault, but can someone PM me and tell me what happened to Catherine? I am seeing all the references but am now worried and confused.

The Singing Bee...yes...had to sing everything!!! And I am the one who loves the Karaoke. I was sort of amazed that I didn't choke or get stage fright...but I think I was jut on such an adrenaline high that nothing registered about being nervous. The show I was on was a special 1-hour TV Theme Songs episode and they brought out all sorts of former TV stars at differnt parts of the show. They hadn't told us about any of them so it was one surprise after another. It also upped the presure a little bit but it was very cool.

I POSTED SOME WEDDING PHOTOS ON MY BLOG!!!
www.3fatchicks.com/diet-blogs/juleecees

Sugarcoat...welcome. I am happy to be anyone's buddy for help and support. My one tip is this....if you're going to do it..then DO IT. Don't be "um" anything. if you're going to do low-carb...then own it! WW...own it! There are a million ways to make it work for you..but you've got to own it and do it.

I knew I was way off track when I started saying I was on "Core-ish" on WW. There is no such thing. Small steps are key...and not expecting everything all at once is as well. My WW leader talkes a lot about how we get it into our heads that we're supposed to be "perfect" all the time. And when we slip, even a little, we just abandon ship and head straight for the food. Going over your points/calories/whatever on Wednesday does not mean that Thursday-Sunday also have to be a wash. Lots of other people also start thinking down the road and planning out their failures..

"Valentine's day is next month and Super Bowl is coming up and there's that birthday party...so I can't possibly be on track until...March."

It's an easy trap and we all step in it. Perfect is a hoax and a sham. 80% on the other hand...that's pretty reasonable and attainable. We ALL have to reemmber to give ourselves permission to be less than perfect and to keep on going.

Ok...rant over. Coffee calling..and laundry...and lunch...goodness.

MWAH!!!
~Julee

Dusty, yes I probably will get the sports pak too. It looks like a lot of fun to have those to make it seem more "real". I hate how men can just lose so quick. We try and try and they try for a couple days and it falls off of them. O well, just keep trying is all we can do.

Val, I hope it all works out for you and your babies since you told your friend why you moved in the first place. How dare that man be mean like that. He sounds like a wuss! I'm glad to hear how much better you are doing since they are so much closer to you now. Sounds like it was a great relief.

Annie, ok lady, go get yourself some pants that fit!!! You look amazing, my friend. So pretty! Isn't it strange how our minds see us so differently? I hope soon your perception of yourself will see just how well you are doing. You look so happy. You're doing beautifully.

Battle, glad to hear you got it all straightened out at work. Do you have your own office? We used to have a little ceramics business but we worked out of our home. It had alot of ups, but alot of downs too. Trying to drum up business was tough, but rewarding. I really miss it. It's such a great feeling knowing you are helping others. You should be proud.

Zelma, sounds like you are one busy lady. What fun the sausage sizzle will be? I hope you raise all kinds of money! To me your bp sounds a bit on the low side. But they've changed the level so I don't know anymore. I know mine was a wee bit low last week and felt dizzy, so to me, it was telling me it was too low. Good idea to check with the doc when you go.
I hope the outdoor concert was fun. I bet it will be so relaxing.

Alison, sounds like you are doing great. Were there a lot of great recipes for some yummy juices in that book you got? Ya gotta share.

Hi sugarcoatit07, You've come to the right place. We're all here for you so just post away. We are all close to what you weigh too, or started out at what you weigh, so we know where you are in your journey. We're just glad you took the first step, and that's coming here and wanting to lose. Lots of recipes on a different thread from here and when you start to exercise, post your minutes.

Carol, that would of been tough to do. Especially a long term employee. But this day and age you have to watch yourself. Sorry you had to be the one that reported it, but better them than you. Sorry you binged. I did too for no reason whatsoever except to eat stuff I shouldn't have. I had two big cookies and a little over a half bag of pretzel sticks. And boy did I pay for it. Couldn't sleep, and retaining water like there is no tomorrow. LIve and learn. Why do we do this knowing the consequences?
Back on track today though. We'll get thru it.

Ammi, I have my days too like you. Just wake up and for some reason, in a pissy mood. Hormones...that's all I can say. Hope your day goes better and you overcome the mood.

Donna, that sucks that some old girlfriend would do that to his/your car. She needs to have a good talking to. And that's terrible he had to quit the job to get away from her too. He's probably so much better off finding out now how she really is instead of later. At least he had the good sense to drop her. It doesn't get any easier as they get older, so hold on! Good news on your daughter being in a commercial. Maybe she will be a big star someday! What commercial is it for? Will it be locally shown or all over? Let us know so we can keep an eye out for her if its all over.

Nancy, I gotta tell you, I love your energy too! You are so full of movin' and groovin' that you wear me out and I don't even have to move. All the classes you take sound so fun and exciting. Keep it up, it will pay off big time!

Today is just a lazy day. It's drizzly out and wanting to snow. I'm back on track after eating a bunch of pretzel sticks and a couple of big cookies. I don't know why I do it. It was there, I ate it. Then I hate myself for doing it, then realize it's all part of the process. Something I have to overcome. So, now I just have to get passed it and carry on.
Everyone have a wonderful weekend.
Debbie

Julee~ Absolutely beautiful!!! You and hubby look so happy! Congratulations!

Hi Peeps - what a wonderful day it was - yoga for 90 minutes with foot massage after. Doesn't that sound like a lovely way to start the day - it was perfect for me.

The fiasco from last night is history. Today was a OP day - although I'm only at 1270 calories - seems like I ate all day.

On top of everything else - the sun came out - I think was almost 50 and quite a bit of the snow melted - go figure - last Saturday it was -5 and 50 today. I so enjoyed seeing the sun and feeling it too!

Hope everyone is doing well. Drink your water, move your bodies and SMILE.

Hugs,
Carol

I haven't had a chance to catch up with the posts, but before I do I wanted to tell you what happened tonight, as it was rather... exciting.

It was the dreaded event I've been terrified of. I was riding Gabe for the first time since Christmas, for the first time at the new barn. As we were turning one corner of the small arena, the girls started sliding the big outside door closed, as I'd asked them to. But the grating of the big door spooked him and yes - he bolted with me aboard. I yelled "DON'T!!" about six times before it crossed my dull brain that screaming wasn't the best way to calm him down. I shut up, sat down, said "Whooooooa" in my deepest calm voice, and BINGO! He stopped. Shelby looked up at me and said "Well, at least you got to canter him for the first time." I said (heart in throat) "Oh? Is THAT what that was?? A CANTER???" not. If I hadn't yelled like that, I bet it would have been over sooner. I think the first yell was at him to not bolt, then to the girls to make them stop moving the door, or let's be honest, just a bit of brief, mindless panic. At least it didn't last, I recovered my senses (if not my right stirrup) and my very very very very very good boy just stopped for me. After a confident sounding "Walk on. Step up Gabe" we were back in business and I had a good little ride.

I've survived my worst fear, and perhaps we both trust each other just a little more for it. I hope so anyway, because I have absolutely no business riding that horse. If I had a brain in my head I'd go buy a nice stout, quiet, little, OLD Quarter Horse with the personality of a turnip, and quit risking my neck on this huge, super-smoochy, happy, fire-breathing, muscle-bound, kissy-faced, goofy BOO!-baby tht thinks everything on this planet is either treat or a terror.

Alas. No brain. Pucker up 'pony'! I'm carrying peppermints and I know how to use 'em!

OMG!!!! ANNIE, I understand how you feel. Our minds play tricks on us sometimes, tho. You are SOOOOO awesome! Just look at your smile in those pics. You radiate the real inner you. You KNOW that you're a fantastic success, thay you're winning the race, and you'll be riding again soon, even if that's hard to grasp sometimes! I love ya my friend!!

Debbie, Zelma, Battle - I don't think she would have believed me at the time that the guys was such a jerk, and I don't think she wants to believe me now, but she respects that I feel that way. I don't think I'm the first one to mention it at this point, and she's seen glimpses of his true colors now, although I still think he intends to marry her and take control of the farm. One of her daughters hates him, her sister was horrified to find out they were together. He's barely 5 feet tall, and is one of those sad guys that uses bullying to make up for low self-esteem. One side of him really wants to be liked, but the other side is an abuser. At least he's not around much.

SUGARCOATIT, BABYBEAR101, Welcome to the neighborhood!! This is the strongest support group, and most dependable bunch of buddies I've ever imagined. I hope you love it here. There's a lot going on all the time and I can't always keep up. I miss stuff all the time, but it's still a joy to stay in touch with people who understand this weight problem. We all have our own adventures along the way.

Best of success and greatest of joy to every body today, and tomorrow. See ya!

Sugarcoatit07 – Hi there welcome to the board….

Carol – You did your job and that’s all that matters, a long term employee should have known better and certainly should have been aware of the working rules!

Annie – Enjoy the gym, I am looking forward to getting back into it later next week!

Ammi – Ummm I shall remember those pizza hut points for the future! Lol

Donna – Will power dust right back at you!

Debbie – I shall be sure to share some with you. I made my own Citrus Zinger yesterday, two oranges, 1 lemon and 1 lime and it really woke up my tastebuds! that one would be nice on a hot day over crushed ice!

Quiet Sunday for me catching up on some things, good luck for the weigh in’s for the coming week!