Thru Thick & Thin is a group that was formed to give and receive support on our journey to take off the excess pounds and to keep them off. No matter who you are or where you are from, you're welcome here with us. We'll stand with you while you're losing and stand by you if you're not. We all have ups and downs and we need support in both.
113 is the correct number for this group. I put the first 50 back in after someone decided to take it out and start over in Jan. of 2001!!

I had no wee one's come to my door tonight. I got this attachment in email today and wanted to share it. But at las you all are in the bed. I had to go and make it smaller. I had to start a new thread. I couldn't find our logo. I'm putting in this attachment anyway...I'm also turning out the lights.

Hey ladies, just wanted to pop in and say HEY! I have had a wild week. We have been working short staffed and today the client had a party. I did good not one piece of candy. Honestly they did not anything that I really like anyway. So I guess I wil have to wait til next year and get me some.
Well as for my weigh in Monday. I guess I will have to stay with the trend. I lost 2 pounds also. And I exercised so much today, they just about daned my legs off. Tonight I am so sore. I barely made it through to take the little one trick or treating. She had a great time and came home and went straight to bed. She was give out.
Well I'm gonna run and get me some sleep. Busy day tomorrow. Talk to you all soon.
Teresa

Hello~~I need to know something. What keys is it that you hit to keep two screens up on the web. I used to know, but I have forgot. Hope you all lived through all the trickers and treaters last night. I didn't see one at all. I haven't had one in about 3 years. The kids out here go into town where the doors are closer together. Boy did I buy myself a treat yesterday. I bought for the first time in my life ff and no sugar added ice cream. I couldn't tell the difference between it and the real thing. I must say I was thrilled to find that. I also have got to where I can drink Mt. Dew without making a face, it's beginning to taste good. I haven't had any sugar in almost a month.

Tobey~~I must say your cake was the best attachment of all for Halloween. Is that worms sticking out of that cake?

Jen~~You and I was posting at the same time last night. I always buy a bag of candy, but as always, it wasn't even opened. Grand kids will be glad. I need to run to town today and buy candy that was left over at walmart, it will be marked down this morning. Oh somehow I thank Tobey's cake sounds better than the kitty litter one. My Daughter thought about going to Texas to work, Nurse's make $43 a hour there.
Teresa~~Sounds like you've had a fast moving week. And a great big Congrats on the 2 pound weight loss. I'll take it any time.

I'm going back to bed ladies. I'll get up just as tired, but I'm going anyway. Hello to everyone else.
I just got our Tobey a album made and got a picture in it. Go take a look girls, this is what we are shooting for. Your a cutie Tobey. Send more pictures. There is some new things in PictureTrail. I'm going to update our albums one of these days.

Morning Ladies,
Sorry I missed you all yesterday. I have the curse of the sinuses lately again....I'm about to go and hit the aspirin bottle here in a minute. Sounds like most everyone had a quietish Halloween. Ours went to a school carnival, and came home and went around the block. We had about half the usual trick or treaters; my oldest took the leftover candy and dumped it into her caldron when she got home. Little Piggy! Well, she's nine and only weighs 53 pounds, so I guess she can afford to let it go to her hips!
Mama, sorry you missed your camping trip; I think we're about done for this year--getting too cold, even with the camper. I think I will spend the weekend cleaning house this weekend. Oh hurray. Our yard is the only one on the block with leaves in the yard; Jeff likes to wait til they all fall before he grinds them up and puts away the mower. I don't mind, though; it looks sort of autumnal.
Skeeter, find any knots for your sticks? How're the fishies and Cody doing? I didn't know til the other day that you had a bird...I've never had one. Are they a lot of trouble?
Tobey girl, almost the weekend again! I need to get my walking going again after my headaches stop--I was up to about 3 miles a day for a while.
Teresa, looks like you're back on track again, too!
JoJo, hope the back is better; Carol, hope you can check in; Jen, I'll let you know if I lost 2 pounds too, on Monday! I may have gained all the weight you all have lost (Hope not!)
Sorry if I missed anybody--my head is about to explode!
Love you all, and I'll talk at you tomorrow.
Love, Sally

Ok girls...you got one guess what tha attachment is....and no it ain't me.

Hey Everyone

I got really busy taking care of a lot of little jobs that have been piling up. I started making a list of them and was able to scratch a lot of them off yesterday. I ended up not writing on here though and then fell asleep early.

Jen~Knot hunting is what we call it when we are out in the woods looking for the limbs in the short needled pines with the deformity called a knot. My husband makes walking sticks and canes with them. He peels, sands and varnishes them. We even took some to a craft show and sold about 8 or 9 of them. I just love the hunting part. I pack a lunch and some snacks and drinks and we take off on the 4 wheelers for hours. The dogs love it too. While he is cutting down the limbs and cleaning them up a little, me and the dogs walk on ahead and then have to walk back to get the 4 wheeler to go on. It is a great way for me to get in a lot of good exercise. The woods are pretty thick in a lot of areas and we can't even get back into them very far. I really enjoy being in the middle of those woods though with no one else around. As usual we had no beggars last night but hubby is sure working on that candy. I'll be glad when it is gone.

Tobey~That cake looked so good. Chocolate is my favorite and it sure got my taste buds going. I had some pumpkin fluff with a piece of the s/f angel food cake to satisfy my sweet tooth. I have made that pumpkin fluff twice and I just love it. My husband didn't care for it so I make the s/f puddings for him and I stick to the fluff. I checked out your picture in the album and you are so tiny and cute. I can say that to another woman because I am a grandma. How tall are you? My guess is about 5'2". I am so proud of you for finishing that marathon. I think that you should have that picture enlarged and frame it.

Marlana~I guess knot hunting does sound really strange to most people. We started using that name for it after got stopped by a couple of game wardens a few years ago. We had a couple of friends with us at the time. Now picture 2 overweight older ladies with 2 older men and a fat little poodle. When they asked us what we were up to, my husband said that we were not hunting (it was during deer season) and they could see that we were only riding around so let us go on. We all got to laughing so hard about not (knot) hunting and have called it that since then. Did you get headaches when you first gave up the sugar? I have gotten so used to my caffeine free/sugar free Pepsi that it tastes wonderful when I get thirsty. I also like that Crystal Lite Raspberry Ice. I started using Splenda in my hot decaf tea and it taste good now too. It is hard to get hot stuff sweet with some of the other products. I have looked at that attachment several times and just can't figure out what it is. I kind of looks like the knuckles on my hand when I make a fist, but mine are in a straight row. What is it? I'm glad that you put the number of the post back where it should be.

Teresa~WTG on losing the 2#. That is so cute that we lost the same amount for the first week. I've made myself stay off those scales every day and it has gotten to the point now that I will forget to weigh myself. I haven't been on those dang things since Monday and I really need to check myself once in a while. Glad that you stayed out of the treats. I'm sure it was very hard to do. I'm not sure that I could have resisted.

Sally~It must be that time of year for sinus problems no matter what the weather is like. I have been sneezing for over a month and have a "nose" thing too. It isn't too bad but kind of aggravating. I used to go from this to bronchitis though when I smoked. This aggravating condition sure is a nice change. I have been so healthy since I gave those things up. I have to be honest and say that birds are a lot of upkeep. They require a lot of time cleaning and attention also. Stick with fish if you don't have a lot of time for one. I have to clean my bird's cage every day or it would get out of hand. I clean it really good about once every two weeks. At that time, I layer newspaper in the bottom and on the top tray of her cage where she spends the most time. Then I can just fold up layers of messy papers and leave the clean ones that were underneath. And then there is the area around the cage. I have a cage with a very good design for containing the mess but you wouldn't believe what goes on the floor anyhow. That area has to be swept up daily also. I actually leave a dust buster under her cage because I use it daily.

I have done two loads of laundry while I have been typing this. I kept getting interrupted during both. Now I need to take care of some more chores. Y'all have a good day. We haven't heard from Marybeth in a while. I hope she is okay.

Happy NOVEMBER to you all!

Can you believe that November is here already? Well it is finally done; I have finally gone the dentist. The good news is that I had very little plaque build-up – it only took them 15 minutes to clean my teeth. Okay are you read for the bad news? I need to have a root canal, 4 wisdom teeth pulled, get an implant, and oh yah have a few cavities filled! THANK GOODNESS FOR INSURANCE! I had to break the news to my boss today that I would missing quite a few days from work for these darn teeth. Guess I should be grateful that I decided to now before it got even worse. My root canal is scheduled for December 19th. I am glad that I found a really nice dentist. In fact the entire office was really nice. Dh has to go back to finish having his teeth cleaned – he had quite a build up and some problems with his gums. He will then also have to have some cavities filled. But all in all not too bad for him.

A big CONGRATULATIONS the losers in our group. Sounds like the weigh ins brought some good news!

Jen: Congratulations on the 2 lb loss!! Way to go! A peanut butter cookie candle sounds soooo good. Hmmm when I go through these candles I think I will have to hunt one of those down. Yes I do get up at 5:30. I normally get up and do a quick 20 minute work out. Normally some free weights, crunches, etc… Then I get ready to go. Since we only have one bathroom I try to be ready for when dh gets up (about 6:30) and the we are out the door by 7:00. I am really much more a morning person. So when you are getting home at 12:15 from work, I have already been fast asleep for about 1 ½ hours. My cake was a Graveyard Dirt Cake. I have seen the Kitty Litter cake and wanted to make one but didn’t know how well it would go over at work.

Jojo: I’m not normally a big fudge eater – but you can send about a pound of that stuff my way! I think sleep apnoea is so scary. When dh isn’t snoring, I catch myself checking to make sure he is still breathing. I’m not sure why – he has never had any problems like that. I think I saw a show a few years back that made me paranoid.

Skeeter: Sounds like knot hunting was fun? Did you catch any? I am still interested in order a walking stick for my mom. I was thinking maybe for her Birthday (which is in February) so that your hubby doesn’t feel rushed for X-mas. That story about the little boy being shot is so sad and senseless.

Marlana: There is a lot of nasty bugs going around right now. I heard the other day that the flu season has started early this year. My boss’s husband has already had the flu. It was really nasty and lasted for several days! I have arranged a flu shot clinic for our office and will be getting my shot on Tuesday. Did you get into to see your dentist? I think it is great to use the actually thread number. I think it has meaning to it. Don’t you just love finding new legal treats? That why I have started to do a lot of my own baking. Especially since I can’t have artificial sweeteners. Those are worms sticking out of the cake. For the life of me I can’t figure out what your attachment is. I won’t tell you what my one guess is!

Teresa: You have been doing really well on resisting temptations. It sounds like you are able to tune into that little voice inside that is saying – Hey I really don’t want/like this. That is hard to do. It much easier to tune him out and go for it! I thought I would be in trouble with all of the baking I did for work. I made about 40 cookies, 4 dozen cupcakes, and that cake. I really well – the only thing I ate was a couple of crumbs from the cookies. I found that after doing that much baking, I was really just sick of looking at stuff and didn’t even feel tempted. Good thing – because all of the stuff I made was LOADED with fat and sugar. Congratulations on being a loser as well. 2 pounds seems to be the magic number this week.

Sally: Sorry to hear that your sinuses are causing you problems again. 3 miles a day is amazing! Were you doing this on a treadmill or outside? Congratulations on your loss as well. Sure is an amazing group this week!

Well I think that is all for now. Hope that you losers have a great OP day!

Tobey

Skeeter: You snuck in a post while I was sending mine. The cake went over well – it was a marble cake with fudge icing, and crushed Oreos for the “dirt”. The tombstones were made from ladyfingers and there were some gummy worms. Can’t tell you if it tasted any good because I didn’t even have one bite! But I did have fun making it. Thanks for the compliment. I wish I were the whopping 5’2” that you suggested. Alas I am 5’ even. Just a little shortie! I think I am going to order a copy of that picture. I would like to have it on my desk at work as inspiration but I don’t know if it is too vain.

Tobey

Skeeter, You will have to wait until everyone else has a chance to guess what the picture is. I've had the biggest laugh about that.

Marlana- Ok, I've been staring at that picture and I think it's some sort of an animal with a thong on, but I can't figure out which one, so I'll say a camel.

Tobey- Oh, you're poor teeth. I think I would much rather go through my hernia repair than all of that, even though I've been putting off my wisdom teeth and a crown!

Teresa- CONGRATS on your 2 lbs!

Skeeter- knot hunting sounds like fun. I would love to go into the woods and "get lost" for awhile.

Sally- I hope your sinuses get better soon.

I've gotta run, get ready for work soon.

Jen

Hello Y’all

I’M BACK! Yes, I made it through year end, a 3 day visit [last 3 days of the fiscal year no less] from the Credit Manager from Mead to see how we do things in preparation for a report to the integration team working on the merger. Then they through in a mandatory meeting with our VP of Finance for an hour and half yesterday morning just to drive you crazy...if you weren't already!

I’VE MISSED EVERYONE SOOOOO MUCH!!!

NOW FOR THE REALLY BIG NEWS, Tuesday at our weight-in I hit 50.6 lbs. loss! Got my superstar magnet and celebrated. So, even with all the crazy stuff going on since I last got to actually talk with you all I’ve managed to stay on program and have even started exercising at lunch. I figured if I got at least 30 minutes on the treadmill at lunch 3 or 4 days a week it would help speed up the weight loss and maybe I could be within 10 lbs. of my goal before the first of the year. If I am it looks like I could get a part-time job in January with WW as a receptionist.

I see some have tried the Pumpkin Fluff, I’ve become addicted to it. Between that and the zero point vegetable soup I’m surprised I didn’t turn into a vegetable or pumpkin yesterday. All the treats around the office yesterday had little notes letting you know how many points things were. I thought that was great and really showed how everyone in the office is supportive of our weight loss efforts. It’s really showing a several people now and I think that makes everyone more aware of what they are eating. On Monday management is sponsoring during lunch a personal trainer that is going to talk about fitness and how to use the exercise equipment in our in-house gym. Now maybe I can add a weight training day or two into my plan for my upper body.

Well, got to get back to work. Will see you all tomorrow.

Marybeth
241/190.6/160

Hellllllloooooo!!!!!

Sorry I didn't make it in yesterday. My back was so sore and I came home, put my night shirt on and laid on the couch with the heating pad. After sitting all day at work, I couldn't take much more sitting once I got home. The work is piling up at home. I've got to get something done this weekend. I can get dh to do the vaccuming and dishes but I really need to go thru the mail and throw out the junk and old paid bill statements. I have a coffee table under it somewhere.

We had a snack day at work yesterday and I did so bad. I munched all day. It was pathetic. You'd think I hadn't eatten in a week. So as far as the challenge this week, well, I'm not doing well.

Marybeth, Its good to see you again. Congrats on losing over 50lbs, that is wonderful. Thats so cool that all the treats had points put on them for all you point counters.

Jen, I'm with you on your guess for Marlanas picture. Other than that, I have no idea. I'll have to look at it some more. I know its going to be something really hillarious.

Tobey, your cake was cool. I just can't imagine making a cake and not eatting any of it. You did good!!!! I used to be 5'5" but now I'm 5'3 3/4". I argued with the nurse when she told me my "new" height. I've shrunk. I wish it was in width tho. Nope, I can't believe its November. I don't even want to think about December yet. Ewwww, root canals. I've had plenty of those. I lived thru all of them but they were not pleasant. What kind of implant do you have to get?

Skeeter, I almost hate washing clothes. The drain pipe has a clog in it in the crawl space and so whenever it goes into the spin mode, we have to stand there while its draining and then stop it really quick or it spills over the top of the drain pipe. I usually have to stop it about 4 times before it finishes draining. Needless to say, I'm doing smaller loads. I have to do more loads but I just spread it out over the week rather than all in one day. Dh is going to have to go down in the crawl space and eel that pipe out. Our washer doesn't have a lint collector so it all goes down the drain. I like the way you all came up with "knot" hunting.

Marlana, the keys you use to bring up a new screen is ctrl & N. It works in internet explorer and probably netscape but that doesn't work in AOL. I just can't imagine what that picture is of. I kept staring at it and I'd think of something and then I'd say no, that can't be it either. I kinda have to agree with jen about it being an animal with a thong on but I'm 99 % positive that that is not it. Tell us, tell us. Oh, I love you halloween attachment. Its so cute. I had one I wanted to use yesterday but since I didn't get in here yesterday, I'll save it for next year.

Sally, well, my back feels better today than it did yesterday. I didn't even think about it being Halloween last night. I don't know if there were many kids out or not. I heard there wasn't. I hope your sinuses are better today.

Teresa, congrats on losing 2lbs, that is great.

Well, I'm going to get off here now. Take care and I'll talk to you lighter. I'm not sure what I'm attaching if its halloween or something else. If its a halloween attachment, well..., oh well.

Morning Ladies,
How're you all doing today? I'm okay; I have a bit of a headache this morning, but not like yesterday. At least I'm armed with my sinus pills in my purse now. I hate to be painkillerless, don't you?
Mama, where are you this morning? You usually beat me in here--are you snoozing in that chair again? I can't go back to sleep when Jeff leaves, or I don't get up again for work! I don't know what that picture is either, and you need to get in here and tell us! Spill, Mama, spill.
Tobey, you're vertically challenged, too! I'm 5 ft. 4 if I stand up really straight, and I'm the tallest female in my family--my sister is 4 ft. 10, my niece is 4 ft. 11, and my mom is 5 ft. even. I think one of my daughters will be taller than me, but my youngest is teeny tiny--she's only 8 and already about 6 inches below everyone else in her class. We look like a herd of midgets. Oh well, somebody's got to do it! I don't mind being short except I have to use tongs and stuff to get things out of the kitchen cupboards.
MaryBeth you skinny thing you! Congratulations!!!! You're doing soooo good ! I'm afraid I will have a gain Monday at weighin--maybe I can redeem myself over the weekend and pull it out at the last minute. I don't want to get started going in the wrong direction again....done that too many times!
Jen, you'll have the day surgery for your hernia repairing? My mom had that done a few years ago, and she got to go home that afternoon. It wasn't too bad for her; hope you're back in shape for the holidays. I've not had a root canal before, but they don't sound like something I would want to do! They need to give them another name....something a bit less graphic. I've been very tooth-lucky so far; I've had 4 cavities in my life, and I don't have any wisdom teeth, at least none that ever showed in xrays.
Skeeter, how is the Animal Queen this morning? I thought I was Animal Queen with 5 dogs and 3 cats, but I think you may beat me after all! I could scale down a bit and it wouldn't hurt my feelings, but they get to be like kids. Most of them certainly don't think of themselves as animals, anyway, and would be appalled to know the truth!
JoJo, how's that back? I hope it gets better soon! Tell your hubby he must do all cooking and housework since you're having back trouble....and let me know if it works. Hope you're feeling better.
Hi to everyone if I missed anybody, and I know I did....I need to wear my contacts when I post this stuff.
Mama, come tell us what that thing is, and could somebody please tell me what pumpkin fluff is and where to find the recipe posted? I must have some, and it must have been posted while I was internetless.
Love you all, and I'll try to sneak in here over the weekend...stay out of the snack tins!
Sally

Marlana- What's in the picture??? Good for you with the sf & ff ice cream. It's pretty good. Especially in the summer I'll slice some fresh berries and bananas on top.

Tobey- I get the peanut butter cookie candles at a Hallmark store at the mall. There are also a bunch of other yummy flavors. I would love to be a morning person. When i started working on my unit 2 yrs ago and had orientation on day shift for a month, I especially liked it on my days off when it felt like 7:30 was sleeping in! Maybe sometime soon....

Marybeth- CONGRATS!!!! You must feel so good! It's cool that your work is taking all those steps to improve the health of their employees. I work for a hospital and they don't give a hoot. I would like some wellness classes or even a volleyball team, something!

Jojo- I'm sorry your back keeps acting up, and that you are THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING WOMAN! I actually had a similar argument with my doctor, but it was because he had me an inch taller at 5'9"! My mom might be 5'1". Go figure!

Sally- yep, day surgery, outpatient. It really is a minor procedure, but the last time I had this done I had a terrible reaction to the anesthesia and couldn't stop vomiting. Of course they sent me home anyway. So I ended back in the ER that night for IV fluids 'cuz I was so dehydrated and still couldn't stop wreching. Of course, this was done at the hospital I work for. When I spoke to the manager of that unit she basically told me "too bad" so now I'm workers comp and going to the competitor!

I've gotta go, just realized that it's payday! YIPPEE!

Jen
149.5/147.5/140