Looking for "COUNTDOWN TO 250 AND BEYOND" ? Well you've found it.

Drum roll please ..... WELCOME TO "IN IT FOR THE LONG RUN". It's our new name but the same group of losers (In the very best sense of the word).

We're still the same bunch of folks who started with more than 100 lbs to lose and are doing our best to attain healthy bodies through weight loss and exercise.

Most of us are using Weight Watchers to help us along this road but we welcome anyone who is trying to successfully change to a healthy lifestyle.

Got a lot to lose? Pull up your keyboard and join us for fun, support,advice and just plain talk. We love to "see" new faces so jump right in.

j-ann

Salutations Ladies,

Speaking of State Fairs; ours here in NY begins Thursday and it's only 5 minutes from home. I used to go 3 or 4 times but now if I get there once it's enough. I like to get there early too. The grounds are clean and cool, the buildings are'nt too crowded and the food doesn't start to smell great til it's time to go home. It is an awful temptation tho to run down for dinner at least once. OOOHHH those Italian sausage sandwiches with peppers and onions. YUMMY !

Off to work. Yesterday was pretty good but not as good as I like stayed within my point range but didn't make great choices so I was hungry. Today will be better.

Hello!

Starting day three of being back OP. I didn't get as much exercise in last night as I had planned. I did do my strength-building and then got distracted by DH. We needed to run an errand and it always takes twice as long as it should because we drive around the world to get where we're going. But I did work in the back yard pulling weeds and starting to take down dead garden stuff.

Nothing too exciting on the agenda for today. We have to haul off tree debris. Right now, there is a big black dog hopping around the rec room trying to catch a fly. He's loving my being home and letting him in "my room". He has more energy than I do at this time!!

Have a great OP day!

We are having a downpour right now! Boy do we need the rain tho.

I've had a couple, not so good food days this week. Gotta get my mindset back from the fast food devil again.

WOW! Ladies have you seen the new smiles. We now have 88!!! My new favorites are:

Where is everyone??

Love the new smilies!

I was over in points yesterday (after I posted) but I journalled every one of them. I'm back within my range for today. The scale isn't budging but this past week has been a hard one between being so upset for a few days, humidity, TOM and too many salty foods. I bought Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds set today at Sam's Club. It was only 17.99 for the set (3 tapes and the balls). I love the workout (tried tape 1).

Sounds like dinner is about ready (pork roast) so I better scoot.

Hope everyone is doing okay. Come out and post!!

Happy to report I've lost 14.5 pounds in the last three weeks! I didn't expect this much of a loss this week as it's TOM and I traditionally gain several lbs.

This little success should bolster my efforts on today's job -- lunch will be catered and while the catering is always good it's ALWAYS something like lasagna. I plan to take an extra high protein low carb bar (150 calories, 15 grams protein and only 2 carbs) and, if necessary, have one instead of the entree. The ditzy boss is also supposed to show up today to sit in with me -- it's been months since she's written and she's expressed a desire to get back into the swing of things. Knowing her she probably won't show but if she does, I plan to give her a couple samples -- I know she usually doesn't eat breakfast or lunch then wonders why she crashes in late afternoon. Even a HP bar that supplies 15 grams protein would be better than nothing!

Feel a bit more self-confident about the possibility of her showing up knowing that I'm looking better in my clothes. My ring is getting loose too -- will soon have to shift it over to my pointer finger.

Happy Friday everyone! Donna

DONNA: WEEHAW!!!! You are on a roll woman!!!! Congrats on sticking to your program and making great food decisions . I'm sooo happy for you. Keep it up.

Well yesterday was better for me than the previous couple. Not perfect but better. We also had a different aquajogging instructor and did she ever give us a workout. I was tired when we were thru but I was able to pop up the ladder out of 10 Ft. of water like a 15 yr. old! YES!

Got to get to work now, ttyl

Did well at work yesterday as far as food. As I'd suspected, the main entree was pasta, but there were a few slices of grilled chicken breast scattered here and there. I ended up with a salad, steamed broccoli, maybe half a grilled chicken breast, then retreated back to the conference room before we resumed and had my bar.

The ditzy boss did not show up, as expected, but "thinks" she will come over today -- her new boyfriend will drop her off and after we talk I'll talk her over to her sister's house. I don't really expect her to show up today, either, but it will give me a little push to pick up the living room and get my weekly home blessing hour (vacuum and dust) done. I know she's got something up her sleeve and also know she won't tell me what it is over the phone. So I'm pushing to meet face-to-face -- I find it irritating when I know there's something going on but don't know what it is ...

Hope everyone's weekend goes well!

Donna

please visit my website!
www.thediet123.com

Hello Ladies...

I love the name of your group... Let me begin to tell you a bit about myself... I recently got back on the WW at work program after being on/off for a while. I am 27 yo and live in the new england area. I hope to be at my goal weight of 145 (that means a weight loss of 96 pounds) by the time I am 29 which gives me 33 months - do you think it's possible??

Ladynredd - that is an amazing weight loss in 3 weeks!!

Talk to you soon I hope....

Merri

WELCOME MERRI,

Glad you stopped in. I( and I'm sure this could b a "We") have found that expressing myself to the group helps me mentally face the challenges of going from a large, sedentary, woman to a healthy, active woman who knows how to meet food issue challenges and make the right decisions. We also have an ongoing "Challenge" Thread and of course you are welcome there as well.Now is the time for you to do this , while you are still young. DON"T PUT IT OFF!
YOU CAN BECOME A SLIM, HEALTHY PERSON. and, if you are true to your goals I'm sure in 33 months you will have succeeded.

Stop in and post often. We seem to have lost some members over the summer. Hopefully they will return with the onset of Fall and once again, we will be a busy lttle group.

Donna: CONGRATS on the loss. What a great to yourself. Keep it up!

Gotta get this house cleaned before I type another letter ....

Hi ladies,

Not much happening here. Went to church and had lunch. DH made a wonderful roast with knoefles (like a dumpling). I won't feel bad about it because we didn't have breakfast and will have a very light dinner if anything at all.


Merri - Welcome to the group. Looks to me you've set a very reasonable goal. Definitely "long run" goals!! Good luck as you begin this journey with us!

Donna - Way cool about your successes! You're taking herbalife right? Looks like its working great for you. I'm curious about your work and the "ditzy" boss. You've probably told it before and if so, I apologize for my lapse of memory.

J-Ann - You're doing great with the exercise. Too bad about the pool. Maybe we can encourage each other to doing video workouts. I *mean* to do them a lot more than I actually get them done. Something always distracts me.

Bunny - Where are you and whatcha' doing? I read a little blurb in the current People magazine about the 450 mile garage sale. Did you find cool stuff? How's your daughter? Hope she's doing okay. Drop back in when you can. We miss you!

Just stopped in for a quick "Good Morning",

Didn't get to WI last night. Actually was so busy I forgot to go. Food could be better. I'm going from here to the Challenge thread to print out my challenges and post them where I can see them during the day. Everyone here, at work, thinks I a little nuts anyway, so they just smile at my reminder.

Hope you all have a great day.

Ditto what Terri said: BUNNY WE MISS YOU .... PLEASE STOP IN AND VISIT.

Good morning, ladies.

We left for Florida middle of last week - my husband spent his time smartly curled up on a sofa in the AC reading and watching the telly. I was out helping my father rebuild their sun porch - there was a roof leak which has led to rotted wall support wood and the fun began. Per his scale, I lost a pound a day. Much of that was water weight, I'm sure - we went through gallons EACH of water every day but its hard, hot work in the Florida sun.

Els had her first appointment yesterday and today my job is to find a physical therapist who accepts our insurance. She'll be going three to four times a week, for months and months. This beats all to heck the idea of surgery, though. I'm hoping the closest PT on the list I was given takes our insurance though - she's 40 minutes away. The furthest is over an hour and a half from our home. Yikes!

I'm glad to read and see everyone making progress, checking in, doing well. I feel like I'm drifting - bad, bad, bad.

Found this quote in "Sacred Contracts," by Caroline Myss, and thought it applied extremely well to all of us on our long journey:

"You have to give up the life you have to get to the life that's waiting for you."

Donna

Hi ladies,

Just checking in with my new cable access. Woohoo much faster than AOL.

I've been so busy this week with work and catching up from being off on vacation. Been in meetings all week with catered lunches and cookies! Yesterday's meeting was so negative and grueling, I succumbed to the sugar rush just to get through to the end of the day. Ever sit in with a bunch of salespeople who are unhappy? Talk about a bunch of whiners. They are very vocal in their opinion that home office staff are stupid and lazy and try to avoid them as much as possible. Of course, we think they are a bunch of whining prima donnas only looking for a money ride! Another day of that today so I'll steer clear of the goodies.

Tonight is a jewelry party at my SIL's. One where you go make your own necklace or whatever. Monday night was a pampered chef party. I got conned into doing a book party for that. I might consider doing a kitchen party - one way to get the whole house cleaned all at one time!!

I better get ready for work. I'd love to sleep more or just lay down on the floor in a daze.

Donna - Love the quote.

Bunny - Good to see you back. Manual labor is great for burning calories. Also good for working out stress.

J-Ann - Keep those goals close at hand so you can keep out of the fast food places.

Have a great OP day!