Hi Ladies,

Wow, lots of posts to catch up on.

First, let me say I was a gluttonous pig this weekend. I ate so much chocolate that I probably undid all the good work I've been doing. Don't know what it was, but I could not get enough of it, and the fact my hubby brought home a big bag of it didn't help either.

Finally got back on track this morning. I feel like doo-dah when I eat badly, but while I am doing it, I just don't stop. Maybe someday it will all make sense and sink in! Maybe not!

I did 3.24 miles this morning and got myself off to a healthy start today. I'll never make my 9 pounds before I leave if I don't stop doing that to myself. I did have good weekends so far, just blew it this last one.

Glad to see you all posting so much. I love reading them all. Sometimes I just hang out and read and read.

Linda: Maybe Red was right. Maybe you are so close that all this stress you feel when the scale doesn't move is causing your body to react badly. Maybe take a breath, do what you know works, and let your body work it out. You have done so wonderfully so far, keep it up.

Red: Great job on the loss! I knew you could do it. Just a "mind over matter" thing. Getting back in the swing of things is always good.

Jolly: M&M',s huh? A friend of mine calls those "smart pills". For me, my nemesis is chocolate and peanut butter. Have a hard time saying no to that. I need to, though. Good luck with the part-time job!

Raven: *waves back* Hi my friend. Sorry to hear about your back. Plug along when you can and we'll read the words you write. Nice to have so many friends who care about you.

Alrighty, time for work for me. I brought two tangerines, an asian pear, regular pear, sf jello w/lite cool whip and popcorn for snacks. I'm full already just thinking about it.

Happy Tuesday.

Chach

Raven! Good to hear from you and that you're out there and still sounding determined to make things work for you! When things hit they sure hit hard, don't they? Injuring your back on top of being fired! You poor thing! I'm glad to hear that the pain is better now. I certainly understand your not wanting to write. You're wounded and need time out from the world probably. Just know that we're here for you if you want to sound things out. Sometimes that can be a tremendous help in helping to hear yourself.

Take care and email me if you want. I'm pulling for you.

Hey all. I am in serious trouble on my end. I have not been working out. I have been eating pure junk - to the point I am sick. I am feeling overwhelmed with everything. To top it all off, I didn't go ride last night. I guess it was meant to be, as I was home when my friend called to tell me her mother passed. then later, another friend called to tell me she was rushing home to be there when her childhood horse was put down.

Sigh. I just feel totally weighted down with all of this. My own worries. My friends. I am making poor decisions. Eating poorly, not working out all of this is just leaving me less able to help myself or my friends.

Send Bat. Send kicks in the butt. I need it!

Good morning.

Jolly: Bat is on his way. I express mailed him to you. Don't let him stay long, as I need him here, egging me on. I'm so sorry all these things have come down all at once for you. I'm keeping you in my thoughts and hoping that things settle for you.

I was bad last night. Had four pieces of chocolate. I did walk about a mile outside in the -15 degree weather. I had to go around to the neighborhood houses to make sure people are attending our annual meeting tonight. My cheeks are so red today, that I know I was out longer than I should have been.

I did not work out this morning. I know, two bad things in a row. I had a rough weekend and this week isn't starting out any better. Half tempted to not weigh in on Friday, but I must pay for poor decisions and own up to my actions.

Oh, so goes the life of me.

On a positive note, we are healthy and happy, so life is good. It could be much worse!

Happy Wednesday.

Chach

Jolly, I'm just up. Saw your message. Wanted to get something out to you quick! Come on, Jolly. Have a good cry. Go to bed. But DON'T stuff food in your face!!! It only makes it worse. You know that. Instead of trying to comfort yourself, don't comfort yourself. Feel the pain. Really sob and cry and wail if you have to. You're hurting. You've got to hurt. All your own problems and then your friends sadnesses on top. I'm so sorry all this is happening to you now. Please, please, try to just sit with it and get through it without adding to the pain by eating. I think because I live alone I'm much quicker to cry and I think it helps me a lot. I'll let in to the frustration, the pain, the sadness, whatever feeling is overwhelming me and just have a little cry. It never lasts long and I feel better afterward. Sometimes I even feel guilty about crying when I know there are so many people out there who REALLY have something to cry about. I know this is a pity me, pity me kind of thing but it works and I definitely leave it feeling better, which would NOT be the case if I were to eat and when I say eat you know it doesn't mean a salad.
Sometimes I think a lot of our eating is because we're trying not to comfort ourselves but we're trying to push our feelings away because of feelings of guilt at feeling those feelings. Like I said, guilty that there are people in much worse situations or being told we shouldn't be angry, or shouldn't be *****y and so we try to cover it up with things we enjoy. I'm starting to say, to **** with that, don't tell me how to feel, don't tell me how to act. I will do what I want!! and you know, it feels great and I'm not bingeing. I have much more control over my eating than before.

Chachee, don't mean to be ignoring you. I'm just strapped for time here. Will be back. Take care! Look at your weight tracker! Wow! You are really doing well!

Hi girls,

Sorry I haven't been posting. We only have hubby's computer up and running and it keeps losing my sign on for some reason and messing up posts. We should be all moved and settled in after the 10th of February or so and I hope to be back regularly again.

Till then, hang in there - some good discussions going on. Don't let the stress get to you. One day, one step at a time. We can do this together... take care all.

Hi happy, thanks for stopping in. Good to hear from you and glad to hear you've been reading along. Hope to have you back soon!

Well, I've been sitting around because I've had work to do. Didn't get it all done but most and am calling it a night. Just went out to the convenience store, looked over all the aisles of junk, chocolate bars, ice cream, puddings, cakes and realized I didn't really want the stuff. Considered beer but didn't even really want that. SO I left with a bottle of barley tea, which has zero calories! Hurrah for me and a NSV!!

Now, the whole day wasn't that great but not eating so soon before bed has got to be good. Happy, how is your weight loss coming along? Any progress lately. What have you been up too. Hope to hear from you again soon.

Derry, Jolly, Chachee, Jacque, how are you all? Hope to wake up and find posts from you tomorrow (Friday) morning. Here's wishing you all a Happy Thursday! I'm wrapping mine up.

Hey all. Real quick post, as work is really busy. Thanks REd and Chachee for the posts. Happy, glad to hear things are good. So I take it the house inspection went well and you got your house? How is the new job going?

Red, congrats on the NSVs. Chachee, I hope things pick up soon. Maybe we should clone Bat - make a mini beatin'???

Well, I have to positive things to report. I did get the part time job at the phone center I applied for. I am excited, in that I need a part time job, and this one sounds pretty good. I am just worried about doing 16 hours per week. But, I will give it a shot. Also, I did make it to the gym this morning. Only did 30 minutes of cardio, as I also shoveled for 20 minutes this morning. Made me a bit late.

OK. Off to work hard. Have a good day all, and I will TRY to peek in later.

Good morning, Ladies.

Jolly: I'm so happy for you getting your part-time job. Hopefully this will the start of the turnaround for you. I'm so glad it came through for you. Great job on the getting to the gym.

Red: Great NSV. I'm glad you were able to overcome the cravings and handle the store situation.

Happy: Great to hear from you. I'll keep my fingers crossed the rest of the transition is smooth sailing for you.

Not much to report from here. Just plugging along, making the best of things. Guess I had a little bump in the road, but it's better now. I need to get to bed earlier, because I'm very tired in the morning. Just one of those things.

Happy Thursday.

Chach

Hey guys! Sorry I've not been here much this past week.... what a busy time and I am SO relieved that I have a few days to settle down now. I've been running around like a madwoman and I must admit to being stress, cranky and a bit in need of comfort food. It's been horrid weather and it makes me feel like I need to smother myself in comfort food.
I had my weigh in on Tuesday morning and lost .4, I was kind of amazed that I even had a loss of any kind as I thought I was being pretty bad... so I am glad for that! I have been eating like a pig these last two days and this MUST stop. It's all comfort food.
I really react to things on the news and have got to keep the tv/radion to a minimum. All the things going on in the world are stressful and when I get stressed, I eat. I've been really off track, so now it's time to begin anew (how many more "anews" do I get, before I get this right?).
Linda

Good morning. Just up. Quick post here.

Jolly -- Glad to hear some good things happening for you. Especially that job. What don't you like about the 16 hours? Do you want more hours, less?

As for exercise, 20 minutes of shoveling is major exercise. I'd say you did 50 of cardio easy!

Hope you have a good day. You've been having a rough time. Things will pick up for you, I'm sure!

Chach -- Hello. Yup, just plugging along. That's the usual way of things and it's just as important. I like your attitude, making the best of things. How much sleep do you usually get. I need a good 8 but can and do sleep 7 a lot, not adding in the times I wake up. Are you an early riser? Friday morning here. Already nearing 6. Darn. I wanted to get to the gym. Very hard in the morning recently. Gotta take too much stuff with me when I go before work and I have to carry everything. No cars!

Derry -- remember what they say, showing up is the most important thing. You can't get anywhere if you don't show up and that's what you're doing started over and over again. Don't be annoyed at that. Give yourself a pat on the back for having the persistence to keep coming back even though you do slip up. And look at you, you still had a loss! Congrats! You worked so hard for that so don't pooh-pooh it. At your weight every little bit means a lot. The news is horrible. They only show the bad things and there are good things out there. I watch a bit just to see if the world is still out there and I turn the TV off!!

Hello there. Everyone, where are you!? I had to go to page 2 and bump this up. I just got in, Friday night after work. I had a great day as far as exercising went. Eating was ok, could have been better but still wasn't bad. Exercise rocked! Walked to the gym in the morning before work, jogged 5K there and did chest and back weight training. Then after work I got on the train 1 stop later and off 2 stops earlier despite the fact that I was tired, had a heavy pack and it was cold and windy out. But I did it and now I'm home washing the gym stuff and hoping to get there again tomorrow, though not before work because it doesn't open early enough on Saturdays, but after work. Hurrah for me!

How are you all doing? Sure is lonely here these days. Have we lost direction with out Raven? maybe, huh. Come on, you guys, let's get back to the basics like we said we would. Well, I guess we are, we're all just busy in one way or the other. 'cept for me. No, really, I'm busy too but am just pysched to finally be coming out of my four months of ****. It feels good to be kickin' A again!

Hey all. Sorry you have been so lonely, Red. Work has been so busy, I haven't had a chance to check in. Then, last night I was at my friend's mom's funeral. So sad. I wish I could carry some of her sorrow for her. Good job with the exercise, though. Hurray for you!

Derry, you get as many "anews" as you need. Each day is anew day. Each meal is anew chance to make a healthy choice. It's not about a win or lose competition sort of thing. It is about healthy choices. It's not all or nothing either. So, each time you have a choice to make, it is anew. The more healthy choices you make, the better.

As far as the job, 16 hours just seems like a lot to me, with my primary job, the horse, the dogs, Church, etc. But, I am kind of excited now that I have thought about it. I can't wait to start. And to be able to buy the training martingale for my horse. And to get electrolysis for my eyebrows. And to be able to get a new vacuum cleaner. And to be able to pay off bills. And save money.

I will try to get back on later or tonight. I have a whole bunch of family coming over for a meal tomorrow, so no promises. Have a great day.

Good morning, Ladies!

Whew, another week in the books for me. I weighed this morning, and was up 0.5, but that was okay considering chocolate was my friend this week! I plan on getting rid of that 0.5 and then some next week.

I walked a total of 11.09 miles this week, bringing my total miles for January up to 42.65 so far. I hope to hit 50 by the end of the month. I know I can do it!

Red: Excellent job on the workout. That made me tired just reading it! I try to post daily, but I take the weekends off. Work is just too busy for me to be on here a lot, and once I'm home I don't get on the computer. I deal with two computers each day. Ugh....

Derry: I agree with Jolly, you get as many anews as you need. You can do this, you are so close to the goal you can see it!

Jolly: When does the new job start? I love that you already have a plan for the new money when it starts arriving. Good for you!

Alright, ladies, my husband meets the promotion board today and he will be promoted to Senior Master Sergeant by Feburary 1. This is a big deal, especially since he is only 35. I didn't mention it, but he also received a national award last week that is a very big deal. I'm very proud of him.

I made 40 snowman ornaments last night. I have knitted about 4 hot pads and have about 4 more to go. I plan on quilting, knitting and working with my clay some more this weekend. Hubby will be at work all weekend. Pajama and craft weekend. Gotta love that.

See you all on Monday!

Happy Friday!

Chach

Well, looks like we might end up getting snowed in here..... possibly up to three feet of snow expected tonight, with massive power failures, etc. Our pipes are also frozen right now. I have SO much to do, can't take the time to be "here" chatting, but just wanted you to know I am still here.
Will be back later, Linda