Hi gals,

Sorry for not getting back in here to post more last week. Just a sucky work week and I let it get to me. I am mentally just "done" with my work environment. My boss is acting like a three year old because we had a disagreement. Mainly, it was me not reacting well to him being so disappointed in the quality of work. He didn't like my comment about how you can't overload people with work and then treat them like idiots when they aren't perfect. He didn't like my other comment that he didn't need to keep a copy of something because I knew he was going to hold it against us anyway and he didn't need the evidence. For once, I'd like to hear, I know you guys are working hard and are really trying to keep up and I know that when things get better, your work will too. So I've really been fighting the "what's the use" mentality. Especially since he's pretending like I don't exist now. I need a really good vacation and we all really need for the work to slow down just for a bit.

So I kinda fell off the wagon. I didn't exercise for a few days last week and got a little lazy with food. I didn't go overboard but I definitely got in too many calories. However, this week, I'm not going to let the stress keep me from improving my health. That's how I got in this condition in the first place. It doesn't help that the body is holding on to a few pounds of hormonal retention which also has a negative impact on my mood. Again - I've got to get a grip on that and focus on the long haul.

to all! Hope you had a great Mother's Day. I skipped out on seeing mine this weekend but I plan on going down to see her this week. Guess its more like over to see her since she's close to St. Louis.

Good Morning Ladies!

I had a wonderful four-day weekend! I was an absolute SLUG! Well, it was raining for most of it so I didn't sleep in the sun, but I did pretty much just sleep, eat and watch TV. I did get ambitious enough to plant some petunias and scatter some grass seed. That's about it. I don't think I cooked a single meal that was more complicated than frozen pizza and salad (with fresh-from-my-garden spinach and lettuce). I had two library books I finished on Thurs, Fri and Sat. We went to see Iron Man on Saturday and Sunday my Mother's Day gift was the new Dresdan Files book (my all-time favorite series of books) and Season One of Supernatural on DVD and the Firefly series on DVD. (No, not into Sci-Fi/Fantasy at all. ) Sunday I literally watched Supernatural for 10 hours, while reading my new book and went out for Chinese food. My brain was so relaxed it practically dribbled out my ears.

But now I'm back at work. I SO didn't want to come...but DH tells me that if they stop paying you it isn't retirement, it's unemployment. Imagine that!

So....I'm not going to mention my WI this morning except to say I brought a salad for lunch. Things are fast getting out of control. Although I'm sure four days of pizza, burgers, popcorn, breakfast foods and Chinese did me harm, I'm out to fix it now. So...back on track. (Really! )

Got to run! to you all!!!

Hi Everyone...

Well, here I am, back again. If I want to lose this weight, I need to post here daily. I'm probably 20 lbs. or so heavier...dang it. Still having issues with this leg wound, but looks like I'll be having a skin graft in a couple weeks. At least, I hope it's that soon. I hope that soon after that I'll be able to start exercising again. While I was exercising, I was definitely losing weight, but it interfered with this leg healing so I had to stop. Hopefully, the skin graft won't interfere with vacation in June, but it very well might, so I don't know what we'll do. We've already paid for the rental house, and also fortunately bought trip insurance. I just hope I don't have to cancel, because I know everyone else will back out, too.

I've started baking my own bread--I guess it's really a way to honor my mom, who always baked her own bread, even while raising 5 of us and my dad!! But, I'm thinking that's my downfall--I try to stay low carb, and this is certainly NOT helping! So, back to buying store bread which I don't even like, but I have to figure out what the heck happened, and I think this may be it. Severe lack of self-control.

How is everyone? Terri? Lilion? Val? Ruth? I've only gone back one thread so far, so I don't know who's missing and who's new. I'll try to catch up later today.

Missed you all.

Charlotte

Good morning ladies, How is it going today so far?

Angela and Charlotte, so good to see both of you back with us. We are a little slow these days, but most of us old timers are still around. I can't brag and say I am doing well with weight loss and that really bites! If I were to only post when I am 100% on program, I would never post! I can't seem to hold it together for more than a week or two.....really frustrating. I can't believe I am my mothers daughter, she had more self control than anyone I have ever known. ARGGGHHHH! I must take after my Dad. LOL! He was not overweight though.

Terri and Lilion, I was happy to see the bad weather didn't get to you. I always worry when I see that Mo. is getting it. It seems like the entire states got some horrific weather this last week.

I went back and tried picking out another set of table and chairs for my kitchen area. Maybe this one will work better for me. I can't beleive that they expect people to sit with a post almost up their ---. Oh well, I don't think anything is made in the USA anymore.

By the way, Charlotte, I can't handle the homemade bread either. Love it, eat too much of it with butter when it is fresh.

Gotta run, Dh just yelled for help with something or other. I should just hide probably. Later, Ruth

Good morning.

Lovely day today. Should get up into the 70's today, then tomorrow it will go into the 80's, 90's on Thursday and 100's on Friday - yuck.

I had a lovely Mother's Day with my kids. Took me for lunch to Applebees - had a very nice shrimp salad - then to the movies to see Made of Honor. Kind of fun.

Yesterday, I met my friend who lives in the high desert, and she and I drove to Stateline to play at the casinos for a few hours. We were supposed to go with a group on a turn-around bus, but the bus didn't show - I have a feeling she had the wrong day but it worked out fine. We had a lovely salad bar at one casino. I lost most of my money there, then went across the freeway to another casino where I found a machine that gave me back all the money I lost at the first casino. I only play pennies and nickles so I didn't expect to win much, so I was happy to break even. Her husband has Alzheimers and is still at home, so it was a nice break for her to get away. Her birthday is next month and I plan to take her back there again. We had such a good time together.

The weight is stopped at around 300 so I need to find out how to nudge it to go down some more. I am eating OP, but I think I eat too much.

Today is a kickback day - I have a few things to do around here but mostly will just relax and enjoy the cool weather while it lasts. Lots to do the next three days or so.

Take care.

sheepishly peeking in... Hi girls. Just wanted to let you know that 'NoLife' lives. I've been gone so long, not even lurking lately. But I can never stay totally gone. I miss ya, it's just that things have shifted into High-Busy gear for the summer.

I've been approved as a 4H advisor, fingerprints, criminal background check and all. In the meantime, I was booted out of on club I was working with. I didn't realize that suggesting that the kids actually be included in their own plans and then inquiring if there was a treasurers report were grounds for a lynching. Turns out the head advisor & her DH have been running the club funds thru their own pockets for teh last couple years, and when I brought it up all the parents went "hey... yeah, where the $$." HAPPILY, myself and at least 2 of the other families moved to another group as of last night. Parents and kids were both thrilled to see how a 4H club is SUPPOSED to be run. Now all I have to do is deal with the bad advisor... who had to move her horses this weekend for AGAIN not paying her board for 4 months.

Moved my office out to where therest ofthe department is, but they still haven't hired me. Been riding Gabe, but not enough. Started the garden and hoping to get the Liquid Fence down tonight to keep the bunnies out.

...Oh yeah, and have been working actively on getting back to a healthier lifestyle again. My starting WI was 283, and after a week of behaving well I was down... er, UP to 284. Ya gotta laugh. I know it will be better next week - just had too much sodium or something.

I'll try to catch up with you all soon. I'd say tonight, but when I make such promises, I break them as well. I just really hope you are all doing well. You're such a great bunch and I really do miss y'all!!

Morning ladies,

Gosh, wish I could stay home today. But I've got too much work to do to play hookey. Plus, I'm taking of Monday and Tuesday to go see my mom. I didn't make it over the weekend because of the work stress.

Not much else is new. I did a maintain this week on weigh-in which was okay since its TOM.

Valerie - Good to see you posting again. I've missed hearing about you and Gabe. What is it about some horse people that they are just totally unreliable and stir up crap? I saw that when I was boarding at that one facility. And its okay not to pay the board bill for months on end. Good for you for becoming a 4-H advisor. I'd love to join 4-H since I didn't get to growing up! What fun! And good activity for you!

Kathleen - The casino sounds like a fun day. How was your kickback day yesterday? Do you count calories or track your food intake? I hate doing that part but do find myself doing better when I'm more vigilant about it. Good luck to getting past that milestone! You can do it!

Charlotte - Good to see you back as well. I'd love to do the bread thing but I'd be heaping it with butter and applebutter; especially when it was warm from the oven. Sorry to see that you're still dealing with the leg wound. Hope it gets healed and over with soon!

Ruth - When do the new table and chairs arrive? I was glad that the bad weather passed us by too but guess it was terrible in the southern part of our state. We had rain again yesterday but looked like we were on the north end of a bad thunderstorm. I like thunderstorms but hate the tornadic type.

Lilion - Your four days off sound fantastic. I need that so much. The dogs don't allow me to be a slug. I tried last night and had one laying on me on the couch and one beating me on the head with his tree trunk of a tail. I have got to get the rest of my garden planted. You've inspired me to try new things. Tonight for sure!

I've gotta run now. The dogs are being noisy this morning and I need to move four of them out to the kennel for the day. Then there is that work thing that must be done.

Have a great day!

Good morning all,

Oh, I've been so busy, and so absent. The good thing is that my garden is getting lots of attention. I've got slightly more than 40 pots ready to plant (in a week or so once I'm convinced that our frost date has passed). I also dug out some kiwi vines yesterday (almost no fruit) and have started improving the bed they were in to plant maybe some veggies.

Terri - sorry work is so bad. I've been there, with bosses who don't understand how to deal with employees, and it's not fun at all. Sounds like you need a vacation day... or a sick day (mental health day).

Lilion - sometimes it's nice to be a slug. I'm hoping in a couple of weeks once the pots are planted to just spend some time relaxing on the patio with a book (or an audiobook). I found a decent no-work meal a couple of weeks ago. It was posted elsewhere on the site, but I've modified it slightly for my tastes. Take some boneless chicken thighs (orig recipe was breasts) and brown lightly (this is optional, might not do it myself next time). Drop into a crockpot with 1 cup salsa, 1 can corn (drained), 1 Tb chili powder. Let cook on low for 6 hours, sprinkle with a little cheese and turn up to high until melted. The original recipe called for a can of black beans (drained) but they aren't my favourite and I didn't have any. I used white beans as well, which work nicely. I used dry, but I suspect any canned bean would do. Oh, and the original recipe called for 2 cups of salsa, but it seemed too much for a dinner for two people.

Charlotte - welcome back. I found that the first time I was here (years ago) the first sign of being off plan was that I would stop posting. This time I've decided no matter how things are going I will try to post. Of course the last couple of weeks I've been too busy, but still on plan. I bake my own bread as well (this morning had cracked wheat oatmeal bread with my breakfast). The thing I've found is to not slice or eat any of it when warm. I'm pretty much done if I start into it when warm. So I usually just let it cool, slice it, and pop it into the freezer. Of course, I'm using it to toast so that just kind of makes sense.

Ruth - I've really never found kitchen chairs all that comfortable. I don't know if it's my weight, or just odd designs. The ones we have now aren't bad, but they are at least 20 years old, just recovered. Luckily they're a steel frame, so they will likely last forever.

Kathleen - how long have you been stuck at the one weight? I ask because I tended to panic a little when I stalled, but decided if/when it happened again I would wait 5 weeks before I tried changing anything. The last time at 3 weeks it just started coming down again, and I had changed nothing. Sometimes I think the body just likes to pause a little to catch up.

Val - glad to see that you're doing well, and not really surprised about the club leaders. It doesn't seem to matter where you go, people in charge seem to think they aren't really accountable to anyone. Good luck with being back into a healthy lifestyle. A pound is a minimal change, so next week will be better.

Well, I think I should head out to the garden before it rains. They claim that we have until about 2pm before it rains, but I'm not so sure....

Good morning, everyone.

Another beautiful day - supposed to get up into the 80's today, then the 90's tomorrow, and the 100's on Friday - maybe cool off a little by the weekend. But I get to turn on my new window air conditioner finally - not that I really want to.

Today, I have to take the dog to the groomer, then water the new plants. They are blooming and are so pretty, but with this heat, need lots of water.

Anne, I've only been stuck on this weight for a week or so. I'm not discouraged but just wish it would drop. I know I am doing two things wrong - no exercise and eating too much of the right stuff. I am on a low carb diet so no bread, wheat, sugar, etc., etc. I feel good on it but don't have a lot of energy but that's due to the lack of exercise. Gotta start walking. My pup is almost 8 months old and is starting to get fat so we both need to get moving.

Having horses seems like a lot of work, but so much fun. I haven't ridden since I was in my teens. Being a city gal who always had to work didn't leave a lot of time to do fun things like that. And I didn't know anyone who had horses.

When I was about 12 or 13, we moved briefly to a small town in New Mexico where we got involved with 4H. What a fun time that was. Of course, my dad had wanderlust so we didn't stay anyplace very long, but I never forgot my time there. I wish we could have stayed, but anyway, here I am. Good luck with the club. Sounds like they need your honesty and hard work.

Have a lovely day.

Kathleen - I wouldn't worry about holding steady for a week. Although I would likely work out how many calories you're taking in with your low carb. Terri mentioned it as well. Sometimes it's better to track to see if you're eating more than you have been. It's easy enough with some foods (cheese, nuts, etc.) to grab just a little bit more and then find out it's double what you were aiming for. Even though I'm pretty good at taking an ounce of cheese (I use shredded) or an ounce of nuts, I still measure them.

Just a quick hello this morning. I have another Drs. appt. early this morning. I will be so happy when she is through with me. Ha! One more visit this year should do it. My eyes are healing very well, I think. I know I am tired of running back and forth for exams.

Next comes the dentist. Oy! I don't like that any better than the gyn. Always something!

Nope, they haven't delivered the dinette set yet. Maybe this afternoon. They will have to call first and make sure I am here. In the meantime we are eating on the card table. That is ok, but it is kind of shaky when you bump it and I keep waiting for a glass of tea to go sailing. My DH knocks it around ever time he sits down or gets up.

I still have to shower and get ready to go, so I am cutting this short for now. Take care, Ruth

Just dropping by to hello. Worked in the garden and outside chores last night for two hours. I hope it doesn't rain today so I can do so again tonight. Lots of planting to do. Stupid UPS man keeps bringing me stuff to plant. Darn him!

Gotta run. Have a great OP day!

Good morning.

We are in the midst of a heat wave - 80's yesterday, but supposed to get up into the 90's and 100's by tomorrow. My new air conditioner got it's first workout yesterday and did quite well. So, I should weather this heat okay - not that I am even going to be home that much.

Yesterday, I took the dog to the groomer for his monthly bath, and then went to OSH for plant food and a new sprinkler head. I also got a big bowl of mixed flowers to put on my little patch of dirt. I have gophers so am just buying bowls of flowers so they can't get at them. So my little yard got a nice soaking last night. Today, they are talking about water rationing soon on the news so we won't be allowed to water during the day. With this heat, that isn't a good idea anyway.

Today, I go to the psychologist in the morning and my voice class in the afternoon, and tomorrow, I go to my holistic doctor about 40 miles away followed by lunch with my son. So, I won't be sitting around in this heat.

Anne, you are right about the calories. I think that's part of my problem - I stay away from most carbs, but get hungry and eat too much of what I can have. I had brussel sprouts and a couple pieces of chicken for dinner last night - so good. I have another piece of chicken left over for lunch today. My weight dropped under 300 again today so maybe this is a good sign.

Take care.

Oooo, Kathleen - I love brussel sprouts. I've been debating on whether to try growing them this year. Like Anne, I'm hoping the frost is past, since I put the first plants in the ground this week & want to do lots more this weekend. The and are absolute musts - bunnies beware! You won't get my veggies this year!!!

As far as the 4H goes, the vast majority of the organization is composed of terrific people - especially when you consider that all of them are volunteers. We had a few years with an evil dynasty running it, but they've been pretty well flushed. I can't speak highly enough of the integrity, time & effort that most of the people involved now are contributing now. But tonight is the advisor's monthly meeting, and I have to deal with the wench... and SHE has to Deal with ME. Above all, I need to be polite, civilized and rational. (Note to self: Leave all weapons at home.)

I've been doing pretty well diet wise - I'm so busy I don't have time to over eat. My new 'cube' is much farther from the lunchroom, where all the snack wait to tempt me. The next day or so might be a bit rough tho - my FAV niece & I share a B-day and she's coming home from Memphis to celebrate. I'm also going out with a friend tomorrow night, which I rarely do, but I'll indulge in a beverage or two that I'm SURE aren't on the list of "Good Diet Food" choices.

Hopefully I'll be riding the big guy tomorrow night after work. I SO wish I had health insurance. I'm so cautious because an injury could cost us more than I want to think about. I've started riding in the small outdoor ring, but I haven't even ventured out around the pasture. He's deathly fearful of wasps and big stinging things, and if one of those HUGE horseflies comes after us, I'm DEAD. I really ought to sell him and get a half dead old nag, but I just can't.

Back to work! Hugs to all you great folks! Have a beautiful Thursday PM, and a fabulous Friday as well!