Morinin all. I'm trying to decide if I should call in sick. Yesterday my crew took very good care of me and I could probably make it through the day. and I do have tomorrow off so I should just suck it up and go in.

My laptop should be deivered today I cant wait to start playing with it. I'll have to go by a wireless router to get on line but I am so very excited!

Yesterday was dip day at work and there was plenty to graze on all day. I actually did really well. but I didn't quite get all my water in.

W 80 oz
E probably not much
E 1200 cals
D make it through the day

Morning, happy Monday.
Still not back to 147 but tracking in the right direction. I was at 148.6 yesterday. On a good note, tried on shorts yesterday and they fit again!!
We leave next Thursday on vacation, so needed to be sure I had something to wear. My sundress that would not go down over my hips and gut last year (those are my trouble spots) fits perfectly. I am so excited, I guess even if the weight does not always reflect what we want, the exercise is definitely helping.
W 4L
E 50 crunches now, maybe the elliptical after work
E OP
D Keep on keepin on

Morning Ladies! I'm soooo excited! Down 2lbs since last Monday. Wanna see the 180's this time next week. PLEASE dont vote me off the island!!! JK. Don't know where that came from.

Mission- I shared the Bass info with my BF. You are definitely the fishing girl info winner! He's SOOO jealous that you chilled with KVD, and the Christmas card. Holy moly. I think I saw a tear on his cheek. You Rock! He's actually got me in the local bass club with him. And although the biggest fish don't jump in the boat for me, I'm still beatin 1/3 of the boys. LOVE IT! By the way, I hope the little one gets well very soon

Mother Mavis - Good girl! I love shopping in my own closet. The left side is full my "will it fit again?" stuff. And I am right there with ya on the scale being slow to change but the body shape cooperating. Proud of you for holding your head high!

Jcat - get well already would ya? I can tell you have too much life in ya to let this thing kick your butt!

Jlea - Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for being the den mother on this post. I can't express enough how it keeps me going!!!


My hit for the day (HI, finally got that )

W- I'm with Mission - 72oz
E- Gym after work. 2.5 miles & Arms
E- 1500 Cals
D- Do not look in the candy bowl. Stay away from the candy bowl!

Looking forward to seeing how everyone else did!

G'morning Weeders! I got an interesting call this morning, one of Robert's friends' mom called and told me she could drive Robert to school every morning, she wished she had thought of it sooner!!! So I'm in heaven! For the newbies, this bus thing has been the bane of my existence for the last four months, since our levy was defeated.....apparently we live "too close" to get bussed in, but its too far to walk, and crosses busy streets. Not to mention I work the night shifts so the nights I work, I have to WAIT almost an hour to take him, and I'm falling asleep in the school line, and on the nights I don't work, I have to drag Rachel out of bed and put her in the car. Then she's crabby all day for getting up early....enough whining, I made it work. But its really nice now that he's getting a ride with his buddy. He's excited about it too.

I blew it up this weekend....sorry to hear some of you went down with me!!! Let's take each other by the hand and drag ourselves back up. Thanks for the reminder Shari, a new week AND a new MONTH....that's usually a great starting excuse for me. So I'm excited! But I didn't weigh in this morning. No reason too, right? I drank too much, ate crap and NO exercise. I work this week, Monday, Thursday and Saturday nights. So I should be able to get to the gym Tuesday, Wed, Fri? maybe sat morning? Mike is working on cleaning up our basement, he is putting a TV in front of the treadmill!! Extravagant it sounds, but I think it will motivate me to get on it....like walk the hour over my soap opera? the biggest loser? put a movie on DVD? We'll see.

I used to be fisher too!!! I grew up on my dad's boat or fishing from the shore/camping all hours...married an absolute city boy, no outdoors stuff for him. So it fell by the wayside. I used to still go once in awhile, but it's silly to pay for a fishing liscense to use it once a year. And I'm too chicken to sneak and do it without one. LOL, I don't know how to cast an open-bale (sp?) rod, I still have the kind with the button. I think casting was my favorite thing to do. Plus I love to watch the bobbers, I never did the sinker thing. So I guess I'm still amateur hour. Not to mention I don't know any of those pro fishers you mentioned....now if you want to talk pro poker players, let me know. LOL

Hope you all are feeling better, and your children. Sounds like some gunk is going around. I've been lucky (KNOCK WOOD. KNOCK WOOD) so far, I haven't gotten anything and it's been AGES since the kids have been sick. I've had lice around here THREE times, and we all have bad allergies/sinuses, but we've been pretty healthy. I think working at the hospital makes me immune to all the crap that goes around. I must have the immune system of the hulk. Plus I'm a Purrell freak too.

W- 4-5 liters...1/2 one already done!
E- no gym today...treadmill in basement? walking squats/lunges at work? stairs? (I work on the SIXTH level!)
E- Hmmm...planning, planning, planning. Oatmeal/orange for breakfast, SB wrap lunch with soup? dinner.....???? Snack, apple/string cheese....work lunch, salad and soup? depends on what the cafeteria has tonight. Need to work on the plan.
D- Rest up today. Work tonight. Get the WEE on.....

Oh I forgot to mention my trip last week to the casino!! I played some slots, won a little here and there, but I really couldn't wait to play the poker tables (they just got table games there) So I went down, the min buy-in was $75 (yikes!) so I got in for 100, sat down at a $1-$2 no limit game....sat there and folded hands for about half an hour....finally caught pocket jacks, and hit a set on the turn, went all in and made about 350 bucks!!!! So I played up and down awhile and cashed out a few hours later for $390. I went and tried blackjack, I know the concept but am not really familiar with how to really play, and the table only had two people at it, one of whom I knew from up here at the club I play poker at. So I sat down, asked lots of questions. I put $20 down it was a $5 table, made it to $45 and decided this would be my last hand either way so I bet the whole 45 and made it into 90! So I've got the bug! Luckily the casino is an hour away so that deters me from going too often.

Well Rachel isn't up yet, so maybe this is my time to get a little more sleep. Love too all! xooxxoo Michelle

Hi again. obviously I called in sick and I feel terribly guilty because I could have made it. But after a really nasty couging fit I just got back into bed. It took about an hour for me to stop coughing but with all the body aches I just thought forget it.

I kept the kids home from daycare because I am well enough to care for them. and they will let me lay in bed all day (as long as I get them food and let them lay with me).

Jen...trust me....you need it. You wouldn't be doing anyone any good if you were there sick. I should've stayed home a third day a few weeks ago instead of going in to work and then sleeping an hour at lunch instead of just the short nap I intended on taking. Your body needs rest....and chicken soup.

Wish I was nearby, I'd make some like my Grandma used to and bring it on over

Nchelle: I have a dvd player and tv in the garage just for that. I bought them both myself You should've seen me trying to put that big box for the tv in my car LOL

I'm tired girls...tired and i need to rest and prepare food. But I'll do that tonight I guess.

Hey, ya'll! Presley has Roseola; so the worst is over, no big deal. My mom'll keep her half the day and DH will take off early tomorrow so I can go to work.
WEED is the same. I weigh in at WW today, I'll write more/rant about that this evening!

Have a great day everyone!

okay....okay...i'm back. sorry i've been mia lately. My bf finally started working during the day so i feel like it is time for me to start hitting the gym again. So...tonight will be my first night in like 3 weeks!!!! But...i can only go for about 30 minutes because i have some errands i HAVE to get done before i get home and i don't want to be too late getting home to my little ones.

okay...I am up two pounds from my ticker and that's not too bad. So..my weed for today is:

W- 64 ounces (i think i may be just about there and the day is not even over)
E- 1200 calories (off to a good start)
E- 30 minutes of cardio at the gym....maybe 10 minutes of weights...and definately 7 minutes of abs. (Yeah...i know it's not much but it's what i started out with yesterday and I am FEELING it today!!! lol. )
D- keep my eyes on the numbers of the tape measure and not so much on the scale.

Ya know, I should get a tape measure too. I'm sure there is even one around here somewhere. The scale watching is too much for me. That's why that little you-know-what is in the closet. Plus DH has been working out too and not seeing pound loss, but his clothes fit better and his man-boobs are squaring up a bit. LOL

MMMmm homemade chicken noodle soup.....would it be sacreligious to post grandma's recipe? I'd LOVE to make a really good, famous recipe but seem to only come up with oily, bland recipes. Plus I wish I could make homemade noodles, my aunt does and YUMMO.

Lumi, get thine buttocks back to the gym. I KNOW you'll be glad when you do. Sounds like you're up and at em for this month! Interesting that you mention the BF going back to work in the daytime means you'll be back on track. Just because Mike is home on the weekends and every other friday, we go nuts too. I don't even clean the house or do the chores as much as I do when he's not home. So we definitely don't eat as good. Almost like our time together is that special occasion excusable to eat out/snack away/ have a cold beer. Now he's turning into a bit of a gym rat too though, so maybe we'll do better?

Mommy, Got my fingers crossed for your weigh in tonight! OMG I don't think I could go weigh in the evenings...I'm way too heavy in the afternoon/eve. Does that factor in for you? I like to weigh first thing after the morning pee and in the buff. (as "buff" as this naked form is, that is) I can't wait to hear about it! Be sure to tell them you're on WEED now, too, just to see the looks you get!

Shari....are you moving again? What's going on over there? Did you ever find out for sure if your friend is pregnant or not? Now I have to worry about your brother too!???! I lose enough sleep worrying about YOU! I can only imagine what it is like to be 13 nowadays. Let us know how you're hanging. Do you still go to your WW? your gym?

Jeni, trust me, no one can be that mad at you for calling off work. They saw you the day you dragged yourself in there. I know, though, I get the guilts too. Of course, MY colds could make patients sicker than they already are, but we still have a STRICT and limited call off allowance. I love the ages my kids are too, whether I'm sick or just have to lay around b/c I work that night, the kids can pretty much police themselves and play nicely, and we can still rest and know they're okay. Robert tends to play too many video games though. Just get some rest and feel better.

HolyT, I don't know whether to celebrate or worry about the DH leaving for two weeks. Normally we would be lonely without them, but YOU seem to thrive being on your own. I see you losing about 5 pounds in the next two weeks. You'll be on your own time, your own schedule, eating your own foods and taking time for yourself. Not to mention no fighting or stress from dealing with him when he's in his moods. You got your pup to keep you company.

Hey Nix! Great job on the loss!! Keep it up! Wonder what worry and stress will do for ya, all that worrying about the boy last week. Have you had a chance to talk to him about his late nights yet? Can you even talk to an 18 year old about curfews or boundaries? How frustrating. Or how sad letting go if he's taking the first steps out of the nest. Trust me, a mom will never stop worrying....I just made fun of my mom...my brother (he's a 29 year old, drinks too much, parties too much, no drivers license from too many DUIs, has yet to choose let alone work towards a career, etc) still lives with her and usually he depends on her to drive him everywhere, well the other night he didn't come home from work (waiter position) she worried and called me all upset about it...here he closed and had to open the next morning and so did a friend of his so he stayed at her house so she could drive them. Well I guess the stories weren't all that similar but the point was that moms still worry. But worrying over an 18 year old is more reasonable than a 29 year old who SHOULD BE LIVING ON HIS OWN! Still.

MM how fabulous to be wearing (and even loose fitting) clothes from last summer! I can't bring myself to do it yet. I bet you ROCK that sundress!! These legs do NOT look good in any dress. I hope to change that soon. Just to echo what Lumi said above, its nice that our bodies change even if that damn number on the scale doesn't budge. We've GOTTA get tape measures! Good for you Mavis.

Oops late to pick up Robert from school....Rachel got her ears pierced yesterday!!! She's four and I was worried, but she was TOUGH, only one tear and it was quickly forgotten when she saw the nail polish tree at Claire's...she picked some neon green polish, that girl is going to have some style! Love you all.....Michelle xoxoxox

it's not chicken NOODLE soup per say but it does have some pasta....well i started putting brown rice in it. Gimme a while today and i'll try to get it posted. Usually I just throw everything in the pot and let it cook

I have always been pretty good about thriving on my own. So DH being gone isn't something that I worry about. If I can get going I will get on track and get moving.

Why is it that when you start a new diet (when you haven't been really dieting) that you lose the weight (water mainly) but in the situation like me, where I've been trying to stick to healthy foods....and working out at work...but the weight stays on? Why is that? I've been hovering around 200-204 lbs for a while now and i just can't shake it. I mean, I know I do better when I cook for myself and know exactly what's in my meals. I've BEEN doing better by staying away from the fast food.

I guess this week I could make my own "fast food" meals every night...but a lighter version. Oooh you know what I *should* do???? I should make them for the next day's lunch...so I don't feel like I'm missing anything when someone brings in a burger......and then perhaps eat a big healthy salad (like what i have for lunch today) with a bowl of veggie soup in the evenings.....What do you girls think??

Also, I *must* get back on the treadmill. When I did atkins a few years ago I was on the treadmill walking 45 mins every day. I dropped 52 lbs and stalled...(about 25 lbs away from where i'm at now) and when I got going on other machines i stayed stalled. That's when I gave up.

But getting on that treadmill will help. c25k 3 days a week, walking the other days. 12 second sequence on those 2 days where i'm not c25king...and the usual workout at the office during lunch.

I have this great plan. Why can't I get it in motion?

Hi again!! I DID IT! I got on that treadmill in my basement (no TV yet, but still) but let me ask you tread girls.....I think it's harder on my TM at home because it is narrower than the nice wide space to walk on at the gym. Maybe I have a wide walking stance....I usually fluctuate between 3.5-3.8 mph at the gym but on the one at home I struggled at 2.6 and my hips were killing me! Plus I kept stepping on the sides. But I was sweating and my heartrate was up so I guess I did pretty good. I definitely prefer the gym cardio equip though! I did 30 minutes and only got in like 1.4 miles!

Off to shower, make dinner and off to work, I'll pop in from there if I have a good night! xooxo Michelle

I met all my WEED goals today. I'm feeling burned out from journalling what I eat so I'm trying to concentrate on eating until satisfied and not following any specific plan. I got all the water in and did WATP 3 miles.

WEED for the next few days:

W- drink
E- mindful
E- break tomorrow, something the next day
D- this too shall pass

Hey girls - I'm here. just got done w/ the workout. I had to FORCE myself to drink water and to push play today! it SUCKS! I'm in a complete funk - feel depressed - not motivated. UGH!!

Lumi - I'm with you! I've decided to watch the measuring tape and not the scale as well. I want to be a size 8 (single digit clothing - WHO KNEW??) so last night I looked up the "standard measurements" on about 10 different sites, and let me tell you they aren't so standard.. but I wrote down the most common measurements for that size, and determined how many inches have to come off to reach that goal. I figure the pounds will come off with the inches.

Which also means that I HAVE to keep working out.. even if I only get in10 minutes a day - I HAVE TO DO IT EVERYDAY!!!

I'm also going to look up foods that increase your muscle and metabolism... I'm about 99% sure that Reese's pieces aren't on the list

So my WEED
W - DRINK IT!!!
E - cut out so much pop! (everything else is going good)
E - I have to move my butt to lose my butt!
D - Journal - thoughts, feelings, accomplishments etc...

And my NEW thing - because I DESPERATELY need motivation right now to get out of this FUNK:"You must take personal responsibility you cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself." ~ Jim Rohn