Well guys I actually have a sec and had to say a great BIG howdy!!!!!!
I miss you all SO much!!!! But I will be on as much as I can, until Christmas I am gonna be MIA LOL, Just had to drop in and send a BIG TOPS HUG!!!

P.S The job is good, but the hours are long, so please remember me guys

Hello everybody!
I am painting my kitchen this week, 4 tone on tone green glazes and a morning glory stencil. Why? Because my Mom is coming for Christmas!!!My Mom is coming for Christmas!!!My Mom is coming for Christmas!!! YAhooo!!! I love my Mom!! I have not told her about loosing weight, she is going to totally flip. She will get of that plane looking for me, and not recognize me initially. Then she is going to be soooooooooo happy! 'cause no one loves you like your Mom!! My Mom is coming for Christmas!!!!!!!

So If I don't post for the next couple of days, you'll know what I'm up to.

Christie, You may be MIA, but you are in our hearts! Good luck and I hope you get some real relax time before Christmas!

Sherri,
Way to go on the walking!!!!!!!!Way to go on the crunches!!!!!!!!!!!! They will make a difference, especially the lower ab ones. They are very hard to do in the beginning, so preserve, girl. We will be ultimate babes again!!!

Hey, some guy checked me out a Safeway(grocery store) It was TOOOO WEEEIRD! I haven't been checked out in about 5 years, and I look over and catch this guy staring at me. I'm thinking I have toilet paper stuck to my shoe or I forgot to put on pants etc.. then he smiles at me. I clue in then. (Nobody said I was quick on the uptake) I didn't know what to do. I turned beet red.
Still, it was kinda nice, even if he probably had glaucoma.

I think I will have lost this week, I weigh in tomorrow, so I will let you know. My scale says 1.5 lbs. I really wanted to make it to 188, so I will be just shy of that, oh well, always next week.

Bev
Way to go on the crunches!!!!!!!!
Some really easy low fat/ low call dinners can be whipped up using those Sidekick noodle packages. I really like the Singapore Curry one. Make as per package direction, EXCEPT LEAVE OUT THE BUTTER. As it is cooking pop 2 cut up chicken breasts in a non stick pan and fry it up, again NO BUTTER OR FAT. Load the breast up with your favorite spices (mine are garlic and fresh ground pepper)Once it is browned add a little water and toss in some veggies, peapods, onion, mushrooms,whatever floats your boat. Just as they start to reach the tender crisp stage, your noodles will be ready. Toss the contents of the pan into the noodle pot and mix together. Let it stand about 5 min. then serve. You can do this with any flavor, any meat and any veggies, best of all it is quick. about 12 minutes start to finish. Serves 2.
Most bookstores carry cookbooks by the Canadian Diabetic Association.



Nita,

We are going to keep talking about those crunches, so give in. Join the Crunch Bunch!!! LOL

Seriously, I would love the pumpkin muffin recipe, they sound too yummy.

Well Ladies, Have a blast!!!

CC

I'M BAAAAAAACCCKKKK.....and I will give us all those wonderful, positive {{{{{{{VIBES}}}}}}}} that has this board flowing. Sounds like everyone is doing well and had a nice holiday. My eating wasn't too bad, but as typical, it could have been better. I really need to start moving the body more. Just need to start...and that can be the hardest part. I really enjoyed the raking of all those leaves, plus the weather was so nice..50's. Would have stayed one more day, but we knew a storm was coming in...and it sure did!! The ski resorts are ecstatic. It's almost 1pm and it has made it to 10 degrees!!!! OH, BOY!!!

Sherri, GREAT GOING on all your activity and the loss that you had!!!! WEIGH TO GO!!!! Thank you for the e-cards!!! What would we do without you here???!!!!!

CC, no I was never a cheerleader....would have never fit in the uniforms! LOLOL!!! I was an introvert with very low self esteem...nothing like now. Thank goodness!!!! I'm living those days that I missed out on through my oldest daughter. She is off at college, so her HS pom-poms are here for me to shake......and....boy......I've got them going!!!!! Yea for your mom going to see you. That will be nice. What a nice surprize for her to see the 'new you'. How in the world have you kept it quiet from her???? I would have never stopped talking about it. Plus, getting 'upped and downed' by a guy in the store...um, that is one of the best compliments to get when it has been a long time. I love your way with words in your notes.

Christie, glad you enjoy the job....but I still don't know what kind of store it is. Do miss you here....you are remembered!!! Hope your eating is doing OK, sounds like your plenty active.

Nita, I'm in your corner about the crunches. They are not one that I can do with out back or neck discomfort, and my docs have nixed that one for me. More power to those that can do them. My tummy has always been my trouble area.

Bev, WELCOME to our board!!! So nice to see new people. I like the tips CC is giving you and Sherri's suggestion of web surfing. I am a very basic, simple cook and I rarely use recipes, so I would be of no help in that area. Glad my family is not picky.

Eleni, I like the new family pics you posted. Can't really remember, but did you say that your daughter is cooking the next meal. That is nice so there won't be any leftovers. I left a few of mine at my MIL's. How is work going? Haven't heard too much about it lately.

I think I'm coming down with something that DD brought home from college. She had a miserable cold for the holiday and went back looking just as bad. I don't mind me too much, but I am terrified about the other daughter getting it. My first hint is that she is needing more oxygen since we got home. Say a prayer for her to avoid this, please. Planning on making my meeting Wed, but if I'm sick, I won't. I've done that too often and just feel awful about exposing others.

Hope everyones Monday is going good and here are some more {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{VIBES}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} to keep us going! Let's raise our water bottles to good health!

TOPS Hugs,
Summer

CC Sounds like you are going to be busy for awhile. I am very happy for you that your Mom is coming for Christmas. You will have a great time. You sound very excited about showing off your weight loss. Good for you. You have a lot to be proud of.
It is great that you guys are doing all those crunches.
Christie-You make sure you get plenty of rest. You are really working some long hours and you need to take care of yourself.
Sherri You are doing some great walking. And out in the cold to boot. My hats off to you.
Summer-- You and I need to go into hibernation or something until all the Christmas candy is gone It is so hard because the candy just screams my name. You know what I mean.
Donna- Are you keeping warm??
Marie--How is your new chapter doing? That is great that you started a new chapter
Nita- Are you having beautiful weather like I am. Isn't it great?
Wendy How are you doing???
Myme- Welcome to the boards. There are some great ladies here.
I know I missed someone. Rack it up to a senior moment.
I did not do as good as I had hoped the last few days. I actually did badly. Which means I have to start over again..One step forward and 2 back. Sound familer?????
I had a guy come to my window at work that has lost 100 pounds.So it can be done.
Oh Well-------- Hope you are all having a good day

You guys are all really great. I have come to the board every time I feel like eating something I shouldn't and so far it is working. TADA

I have come up with some Weight Watchers menus and am wondering if their exchanges are the same as TOPS exchanges. Does anyone know?

Going to the crunch floor, before my SO gets home from work.

Hello All!
Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are ready to get back on track! The candy called my name, so I gave it away. The chocolate pie called my name, so down the disposal it went! My DH didn't need it either. The sweet potato pie went in the freezer for another holiday!

I don't have time to write each one, but do want you all to know that it helps me to read all the posts. You are all so much encouragement. It helps to know that you are not alone on this journey!

I am going to lunch tomorrow with a couple of friends. Say a prayer that I can eat sensibly!

We are supposed to have snow, but it won't be much and won't last. It has been so warm that it will melt as soon as it hits the ground. I would love to have a nice big snow, but my husband hates cold weather, so it's just as well that we don't have much.

My best to you all, have a good Tuesday. Watch thoses snacks and drink you water. And do those crunches and walks.
Mickey