This thread is a sub-set of the 300+ thread.

This group is for those dealing with the challenges of having a significant amount of weight to lose and being fit which becomes harder after age 40. If you're an old or new friend and not over 40 and feel this is the place to post, jump right in.

Good Morning Peeps - looking forward to a day of digging in the dirt after a long and noisy day of pool happenings yesterday. Also a day of better choices nutrition wise.

I will be finishing planting some annuals today. The first time I've ever planted them in the ground and not containers. I was a little nervous that I'd screw something up, but it just can't look worse than the weedy mess it was before.

I hope to get to do some gardening today also. We had rain for 2 days already and more suppost to come today. I am excited to find tiny tomatoes on my plants and tiny bell peppers and my zuc are blooming. The grass is going crazy out there also. We will have to spend hours weeding it this week.

I ate to much yesterday and feel miserable.Isnt it funny how fast we forget how eating bad makes us feel. Today I will make better choices.

Hi ladies,

It wouldn't be Memorial Day in Missouri if it wasn't raining. I won't complain as we really did need the rain.

I had such a good day yesterday. DH's cousin called up and invited me to come riding with them. I haven't ridden Spanky in several weeks because we've been working on the ground with the trainer. I also haven't had him out to ride on the trail in months. I was a little freaked because the last time we rode at this place he shied twice, bucked once because of a horsefly, and rushed the horses in front of the whole ride. We rode for 2-1/2 hours. He did fabulous and I was so proud of him and happy. He was so relaxed. We had a few tense moments about going down a steep hill and a few ditch crossings but all in all, he acted better than Bill's seasoned trail horse. I feel very confidant now to be able to go by myself at a closer place just to get more miles on him.

I'm a little sore today but not too bad considering the length of time in the saddle. We're headed to NKC this morning to finally meet Carol and pick up some periennels that she is so generously sharing. Guess I'll be planting this afternoon!

This ride did show me that I have to get focused and get this weight off and in better physical condition. Not just for me but for Spanky too.

Not sure what else is on the agenda for today. Menu planning for the coming week. Exercise. Laundry. Outside work depends on how long it rains today. There is always inside work to be done.

to everyone! Its time to get DH up and about.

I'm writing to you from Hollywood, CA. So far, other than the Flight of the Conchords concert last night (which was so fun!), I've seen loads of odd people (tourists, I think), Wonder Woman, but no celebs. Today we're off to Malibu after breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express (processed cheese omelets, far too much bacon and a coffee).

When I'm walking around real America, I see that quite a lot of us have been indulging in far too much food. I don't feel like the biggest woman in the place. Then I wonder about my level of self-consciousness about being fat, and why that's always on my mind when I go out. I would really like to get rid of that habit and just go out and enjoy myself without all the self-talk.

I'm looking at my son now...he needs all new clothes! OMG! He's pitiful!

Oooof! Now I sound like my mother...

Georgia

PS) I caved! A breakfast of 547 calories...I had scrambled eggs at the hotel breakfast bar, of which I only took a minimal amount because they were nasty. And two strips of bacon that were pitiful. And because I didn't like the choices, I took a biscuit. Then later sent my son to get a cinnamon roll for me. And that was entirely on impulse. And I don't know why, because I've had their cinnamon rolls before, which smell marvelous but are not really quality, and they give me a stomach ache every time, and I still ate one. And now I have a stomach ache, again. So, I've been able to avoid doughnuts for many years because I always have heartburn. Today I'm officially adding the Holiday Inn Express breakfasts to that list!

For lunch, I'm going green and vegetarian!

PPS) So now it's eight hours later and that cinnamon roll is still reeking havoc in my stomach! I had a nice, gentle salad for lunch and a lovely walk all around the gardens of the Getty Villa. Such a beautiful day! They have a gorgeous herb garden, with three or four kinds of mint, a few varieties of thyme, oregano, sage, lambs ear, grapevines growing over a rough arbor, fig trees, pomegranates, citrus. A truly beautiful place, and Mr. Getty never got to live in it.

Broccoli from my yard! I just ate broccoli from my yard!

I just steamed it and tossed some soy sauce and a bit of olive oil. It. Was. Excellent!

I am liking growing vegetables and trying to figure out how to build a raised bed in my yard!

And this morning I planted a bed of annuals for the first time. I weeded out our front bed (hadn't really done it in 7 years) and then enlarged it. The flowers look pretty -- though we'll see how they last.

Hi again ladies,

DH and I made it to the city to meet Carol. She is a wonderful lady with a very nice DH. She sent me home with lots of periennels. I am very happy to say that I have planted them all except for the iris. She has given me a wonderful start on my "garden" around the pool and some color to the front porch area. Hope it all makes it!

I have made a special point while doing the gardening to throw in some exercises too. Like dog pose stretches; squats; and lots of walking. I've restarted my calorie log in Calorie King and even included the McDonald's that we ate after seeing Carol. I am still okay in total count as we didn't have any breakfast; but that is definitely not something I want to do again soon. We're having a healthy BBQ chicken (no skin) and steamer broccoli for dinner.

Heather - How fun that you had your own broccoli! I have a picture that Lilion posted a while back of one of her rasied beds. I use that as a guide for mine. I love mine. The fruits of your labors can be so rewarding and as you said, keeps you out of the house and away from the food.

Georgia - Have a great time! What colleges are you visiting this week?

Charlotte - I missed your post earlier this morning. Great to see you back and even better that your leg has finally healed.

I'm wiped out so I'm going to go throw myself in the recliner.

to all!

Ladies - Terri is wonderful! I'm glad I was able to share with her as that is gardening at its best - the best part was meeting Terri.

Yeah Heather!!! How rewarding for you! Homegrown is always the best. I'm looking forward to homegrown tomatoes soon...in a turkey bacon BLT!

Terri, I'm picturing you doing your poses in your garden...and I'm laughing! What fun!

We've got appointments to see UCLA, USC and CS Monterey Bay. Quinn will apply to five or six schools, but we really don't see him going to UCLA or USC just yet. I thought it would be of value for him to get his brain wrapped around where to go for his master's degree. When he gets the vision of what he wants to do, he's in it heart and soul. He wants to do so many things, but at the top of the list is to go into video game development, working on the concepts, planning, digital artwork and software, as well as how to run the business. And only a few colleges and universities offer that as a degree on the West Coast.

At first I thought it was a teenage gaming obsession, but he admits that he really sucks at playing the games. However, he loves creating ideas for games and actually having them used in educational settings and as therapeutic tools. Just yesterday he was telling me about planning games based on classical literature that not only tells the story but helps users understand concepts like plot structure, theme and character development. It could similarly be used to visually teach geometry and calculus. And he's 17! When I was 17, I just wanted to learn how to do the Hustle without tripping!

I have to go to bed now to rest my brain...

Georgia

Hi Ladies, boy I came back to join you and then I couldn't go anywhere! Darn thing kept freezing up on me. Now what was it one of you said? Foxfire? What is that? I am computer challenged as you all should know by now. LOL!

I haven't lost another lb. in a couple of weeks now, darn it! It will happen though. I think it takes the body time to catch up.

Our garden is growing very well. Now if the rain doesn't wash it away, we should have tomatoes soon. yummy!

MTM, good to see you made it back too. Good news about your leg.

I won't try to do personals this morning. I have a ton of cleaning to do. Good exercise! The three day week-end put me behind on chores.

When I get back in here (if I can get back in here) I will try to put my ticker back on. Everyone take care and happy gardening! Ruth

Ruth -- If you're having issues with the site, try installing the browser Firefox!

Back to work today... but first a workout with my trainer! Actually, I'll be working (grading) from home after that...

Morning ladies,

I'm off for one more day. Its been nice to have a five day weekend! I will hate to go back to work tomorrow. I'm kind of enjoying the afternoon siestas and then coming back to life at about 5:00 to do more work. Not quite sure I can get away with that at work. I think I need to try to work in more at-home work days this summer.

My big agenda item today is to get back to the fitness center. They were closed yesterday but I have no excuse not to go today. Also getting a menu planned for the rest of the week; including healthy lunches and snacks.

When we were at Russell Stovers outlet store on Saturday, I bought some of their Weight Watcher mint candies. One point for two pieces. That has been my after-dinner snack and very satisfying. I haven't been checking out the chocolate I got for DH. I think I am going to get more so that I can pack them in my lunch for that afternoon mental "I need chocolate or die" attack I have each day. That and a fruit would be a great, healthy snack without guilt.

Okay, ladies, Carol and I were talking yesterday about how we get ourselves focused back on what we're wanting to achieve. Planning is a huge key to success. And where most of us don't put in the time and effort. Planning can be overwhelming. I am going to work on a plan for the week that includes more than just foods - what must be done this week; how to work in exercise; back up plans in case weather throws in a kink or if anything else comes up. Its the back up plans that I forget to think about. That's my goal for the week.

Ruth - Good to see you. Here at home, I haven't been having the freeze ups the last few days and I'm still using IE for my browser. Frustrating, I know.

Georgia - I had to laugh about your comment about the hustle. I always wanted to learn that and didn't get to living out in the sticks. Sounds like your son has a plan for an amazing career. I always wonder who comes up with those games and such and how can they. Have fun!

I need to go get doggies up and DH; make the grocery lists and get us moving around. We're headed to Sam's Club this morning. If not, there will be a dog mutiny later on today as we're just about out of dog food.

to all!

Hey all! Before I forget...

Charlotte! back!!!

Heather, I just ate the last of my broccoli for lunch today! I so wish there were more, but I had harvested my three heads some time ago and was down to the side shoots. Now it's all gone. I still have one head of cauliflower in the fridge. I bought some broccoli and cauliflower seeds this weekend, so come late July I can get them in the garden again and hopefully get a fall harvest too! This was my first year growing broccoli and cauliflower and they did so well! I can't wait to do more.

I also spent some time over the three day weekend cleaning up, cutting out the broccoli plants and planting more lettuce. I'm hoping with the cooler weather and rain this weekend I'll get some before it gets hot enough to bolt. I so love my tiny garden!

Food has been so-so and walking also so-so. The rain kind of cramped my style, that and just being busy. Hopefully the yard work made up for it.

A big to all my 3fc friends!!! Gotta run...work is calling...again!

Lilion -- I will have to try from seeds next... that sounds good!!!