morning girls,
how is everyone doing? hope all the colds and bugs are better.
it's pissing it down here in london. the rain was so heavy it woke me up during the night and i ended up not going to the gym before work this morning cos i needed more sleep. ah well. i'm going tomorrow and i think it's good not to get too obsessive about exercise. but i am going to get obsessive about my points cos i've been quite lax. mon - thurs i'm good then it all goes pear-shaped (literally!) at the weekends. i'm not going out much this weekend cos BF is away so i'll be good - i promise! any of you lot in florida? he's flying over there to see a rocket launch at cape canaveral. so if you spot a good-looking (i'm not biased!) english bloke say hi!
becky - welcome back, it's good to see you again.
jenl - hooray on hearing the heartbeat - that's so cute!
gotta run and do some of this work thing. but i'll be back later on to natter to you all i'm sure!
ooh, before i go i finally got some black knee-high boots yesterday! managed to convince the shop assistant the toes were a bit scuffed looking (but they polished up grand) and ended up getting about 25% off (they said they'd take 10% but i don't think her maths was very good!). £85 to £64 (about $140 reduced to $96). yippee! they fit fine (in fact they may even be a little big for me) which is amazing given my slabs of meat (feet).
laters,
Kirsty

...and aren't you sounding chipper this morning? Must still be the high you got from the deal on your boots.

Since I've got to to up to Duluth (northern MN)for a conference today for the rest of the week, I found another WW meeting to go to last night. They have a recipe exchange going there...very cool. Everyone makes copies of their favorite WW recipes, and brings them in. Then everyone is invited to go through and pick up recipes that interest them. I also lost 1.8 pounds! I was thinking it was probably water, but the leader told me that 1.8 sounds like the real deal, and you would expect to see 3-5 lbs on a water loss. Especially since I wasn't doing "nothing" before (did that make sense?). So it was a nice thing to see the scale finally moving back in the right direction.

I am posting a few of the recipes I picked up last night on the Yum yum thread. I'll put more of them up either this afternoon before I leave or when I return on Friday. Either way, we can all benefit.

Kirsty, I'm very proud of your bargaining skills. I think you're right...I believe her math was a bit (a bit?) off in the percentage off department...I wonder how long she will remain a shop assistant. I'm also proud of you for keeping the balance - knowing when you have to either keep the points down or bump the exercise up a few notches. Good girl!!!!

I'll try to check in after work. Later, gators!

Wow, quiet in here this morning so far. How are you all? I was away this past weekend & really busy thurs & yesterday so I missed lots here. The weekend went very well. Usually when I go home to visit I end up eating like crap & go way overboard. This time I banked up a bunch of points first & when we got there I picked up a few groceries (my Mom always has crap to eat in her house). I managed to eeat within my points everyday. I didn't even dip into the ones that I banked up. I am so amazed at myself Then when I had WI yesterday I saw the fruits of my labor-I lost another 4lbs so I am down a total of 8lbs in three weeks I'm so happy with myself. This week will be a little bit of a chalenge b/c my grandparetns are staying here & my grandma loves to cook & her version of healthy cooking is still unhealthy! I have most of my week planned but it will be hard to make them all eat what I have planned. Especially b/c knowing my Grandma when I get home from work she'll already have supper ready. Should be interesting. However I feel very determined & ready for the challenge! Bring it on Gran!

I was really hoping that my new sibling would be born when we were home this weekend but it wasn't. My Dad's wife was due Oct. 31st. She said they will probably try to induce her today. It sucks though because we won't be able to afford to make the trip home until Christmas & then they might not even be there b/c my aunt is having Christmas at her house 4 hours away from there. We have to go to my inlaws so we won't be heading that way. Sucky!

So my BIL finally made a decision about life. His plan is to move back home & go to a really small college for a year then transfer to university here & take education. He seems much happier now. I just hope this is the right thing for him. I mean how can a person teach when they are super shy & hate being in the spotlight & in general dislike people? Also this little college at home has caused at least three of our friends problems who took education. All three had to retake at least three classes (one as many as 6!) b/c the university didn't accept them in the transfer. We've told him this & our friends have told him their experience but he doesn't care. I think for a shy person it might be better to be in a small school but I don't really know. Plus I figure if he's transferring here in a year anyway wouldn't it be better to start school with the same people rather than join them after they all know each other? Oh well. I also wonder if he really wasn't ready to move away from Mom & Dad even though he is 20. His plan is to move out in late December. It sucks for us b/c with Dallas in school we really need to share rent with someone. I'm going to look for a second job to supplement our income. It will suck though b/c I'm already tired so much & Dal & I already have conflicting schedules. Oh well ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Anyway I've babbled enough already!

Kirsty, You'll do great with points this week-you've done it before you can do it again

Jayne, what a great idea to exchange recipes at meetings! That pumpkin one sounds great. I've got a few holiday ones that I'll try to share sometime this week.

Becky, glad to see you're back! Wow your wedding is coming up fast! My day was the best day ever meven though I didn't lose the weight I wanted to I still felt beautiful! If you want to see pics there is a thread from last weekor the week before that tells you how to see them.

Anyway I've written a small essay here so I should stop now. Talk to you later girls

-Rina

Hey all. Ohhhh, my arm just aches from the flu shot I had. Everyone is laughing at me because this never happens to them. It always happens to me.

Jayne, In the past I have started holiday recipe threads. I think it is nice to share just holiday recipes that we know we will be using in the near future.

Kirsty, Yah on the boots. The bad part of being married with kids is that I know I would never have anywhere to wear cool boots like that. Though, I think they are sexy, so who knows!

Rina, glad things are working out with BIL. Hubby has debated a second job for the holidays just to have extra cash (who doesn't need that) but we don't know if it will work. We would like to have a huge chunk of debt gone before the baby comes. Having kids is way expensive!!

OK, just found out I have to take over a new project which is never ending. I don't know what to do where to start and how to make it work when I leave on maturnity. I hate starting things, giving it to someone else, then getting it back.

Good morning - did everyone have a nice long weekend? Mine was pretty good! I stayed OP except for Sunday - we had a brunch.....And I finished ALL my xmas shopping! I know, its amazing - done by rememberance day! This is the first year ever. And I managed to stay on my budget, how exciting!

Well TOM is today and I chickened out of WI. Yes, I admit it. I was going to go and then I thought - can I really take the blow?? I know it'll be up a bit as I ALWAYS gain water the couple days leading up to and the first few days of TOM so its not worth the emotional trauma. I have done so good this week I didn't want to let myself down - I find if I have a bad week its a lisence to be bad. Like "oh well, I had a bad WI might as well eat that peice of cake". You know?

ANYWAY....on to other things.....

Kirsty - oooo congrats on finding the boots! I still haven't found any I really like and that fit the calves well - either too small mostly, or too big - no just right.

Jayne - Yay! Congratulations on your loss! 1.8 is really good.

Rina - you go girl! I can relate to your Grama Woes. I am so proud of you - wow, 8 in three weeks is radical!! That sounds so weird, your new sibling! Let us know when he/she arrives!

Jen, that reminds me I should get a flu shot - has anyone ever had the adverse effects I always hear about? It makes me scared to take the shot....

Well, off to work....Belle

Hey Girls! It feels good to be back and hearing about how everyone is doing. IN answer to the wedding questions.

Yes, I do have my dress and a lot of things planned mainly b/c I know once the holidays hit I can kiss weddng planning goodbye. Holidays are a crazy time in social work b/c everyone needs referrals and assistance therefore the largest parts of my life are sucked into my job at this time of year. I have the photographer, baker, musicians, reception and wedding site, ummmm basically everything that I need. I will be ordering invites this week that should go out by the end of January. I have decided to have a invitation addressing party with my girlfriend and watch movies order out food etc. It was actually their Idea and such a good one in my opinion So enough about that.

DF has 3wks to go in student teaching and I am sooooo glad. It is hellish right now. I see him a few times a wk and that time consists of us grading papers and basically getting things accomplished for the wedding. Well actually I am not bothering him with Wedding plans until after student teaching but then he better watch out I actually didn't MAKE him help with anthing yet. He actually likes to be part of the big stuff however the details are my forte. Unfortunately the details are the mind bending part of the whole event I am truly going to stop babbling now

It is so good to hear how all of you are doing!

Kirsty-The Boots sound FAB. I have a pair that I absolutely love.

Belle- You may want to buy a pair of boots and then take them to a shoe specialty shop and they will add elastic. A g/f of mine did this and they look great! Just a suggestion

Jen- Uh projects gotta love em'. Good luck!

Rina- I will definitely try and look up the pics. Thanks for inquiring about the wedding. How long ago were you married? I am having a memory lapse

Aaron's mom- As you have heard from all of these girls before.... a loss is a loss is a loss Congratulations!!!!!!

Ok well better work at some point today. I have seen 2 clients and I really would like to go home already. I am unmotivated. Maybe it is the weather. I did work out this am though! As far as OP I did well yesterday and even resisted the buffet breakfast at our staff mtg this a.m. I had a small danish as opposed to what I would have liked to have which was a cinnamon roll and a bagel and the danish and hmm I could throw some fruit on there But I didn't! Lunch may be a problem b/c I didn't pack anything. I think I may grab some soup from the Deli though. Well ladies I will check in a bit later.

Becky

Morning or Afternoon girls I'm just getting into the swing at work mind you i also have lunch in 20 minutes Question Do you guys get ravenous at TOM I'm insanely hungry today
mind u i made the bad choice of getting one of those low carb bars JUST SAY NO JUST SAY NO
it tasted like chemicals
Jayne woman when i'm rich and famous will you be my chef?
congrats on the 1.8 you're amazing!!!
Kirsty the boots sound fab! and good deal getting the 10ish percent of hehe

Rina WOMAN you are getting in the groove! you can win the battle of the gramma tell her you want to cook with her ( and possibly show her some healthier techniques in the meantime?)
Jen hey darlin the same thing happens to me with flu shots and meds and u name it it happens
Belle! can you do my xmas shopping?
Becky you're wedding planning your allowed to babble whats your dress like?
DOes anyone know the numeric formula for figuring out points i still feel a bit conspicuous whiping out the pts calculator
anyway I'm off into the rain for lunch

Hello girls! how are you all? i had off yesterday and am finding it really hard to get back into the working mode. so i (ONCE AGAIN) had to give myself a "restart" today. i did so good the week before last with my points, even lost about 2 lbs. then last week just blew it. and now am finding that i gained the 2 back. so i am officially restarting today.
so far so good. i really think i want to start going to the meetings again.
i was thinking of the last time when i was sooo successful with my "fitness" routine. not just the eating but the working out and everything. i think the reason i must slip back into these old terrible habits of not working out and eating EVERYTHING is because it's easier to just fall back into habit. is that it? i am trying to get to the bottom of this. why is it hard to stick to something i KNOW is good for me and i really want so badly?

OK everyone - small victory but I have now had 1 day officially OP!!! I've been putting it off and eating horribly almost ever since the breakup and then I put my size 14s on and it was NOT comfortable - so back to it. I kinda quit the whole WI at meetings thing cause I was getting more and more depressed so I will get myself back on track and rejoin when I feel like I can't do it on my own anymore. Now that I've committed to you guys, I will hopefully be able to stay committed to myself - On to the recipie thread!!!
Kirsty - nice to hear from you again. It's pouring here too and people forget how to drive in the rain (after all, it only rains 4 to 8 months of the year here)but I like it cause it gives me an excuse to wear my boots.
Jayne - way to go on the loss, you're inspiring me - I'm stealing some recipies too.
Rina - More inspiriation! Way to lose. And I'm glad to hear your BIL is making some decisions. maybe you guys can find a friend to rent a room?
Jen - I got sick after my flu shot - it was my first time. I'm glad I did it though cause there have been some people in our office out for a week with some sort of flu.
Belle - I've been on the licence to be bad for 2 months - I can eat at Tim Horton's today, I'll join WW next week - I ate at Tim's I may as well order pizza for dinner - it hasn't been good. But I will be better!
Becky - Welcome back! Sounds like the wedding plans are on track. My sister did the group inviation night and a group table gifts night and they both went soo fast and were tons of fun. Good luck!
Kier - I get weird cravings with TOM - MUST HAVE CHOCOLATE! Or Pasta or whatever. I cannot get past it until I satisfy.
PJ - you and me restarting - maybe if we combine our willpower we can overcome temptation

Hi to everyone else - I can do this - wow, I really have to psyc myself up for this - I'll check back.
KT

Becky - welcome back! Its good to see you are posting again and re-committed! Woo hoo - the countdown to your wedding is ON!! Yee haw!!

Kier - I do get the weird cravings and there is usually one day where I could eat a horse (pardon the expression KT!). I don 't get it. But the worst of course is I am super emotional and require lots of love. B/f is quite used to it now.

Jihan - if we knew this, we'd all be slim! I don't have the answer but know that you are not alone and that it has been done - look at Kirsty and Ali for some inspiration perhaps. But also know that even with them, it is an ongoing part of their lives. I think that is the hardest part to accept - as you know, I have been doing the WW soul search. I have wondered "what is it all about" "why me" and "how can i Have a life without being obsessive and still realizing my health goals". I have come to the conclusion, this will just have to be an ongoing part of my life and if I want to be healthy, then this is what I must do. Not just counting points, but making a real lifestyle change for good. OK, no more philosophizing.

KT - our liscences are hereby REVOKED!

OK must get to work - I dont' want to work TOO late tonight....AGH!!

Belle

Thanks Belle....I agree with you. I just need to stop looking at it as a quick solution. It is going to be something to work at for life. that'a a major thing to accept....

Quick hello to everyone!

Things are going well. Planning on making my big move - little by little.

I can't believe it's already after 3 PM and I haven't checked my VM yet today! Whoopsie!

Hey
ya know i never knew what a useful tool a convenient pad and pen were Mom gave me this flip pad in a lil "leather" case Kindof like areporter pad and I've been using it to track my points and i have to say its been keepign me on the straight and narrow ie even with my chocofrenzy i'm still under max pts "*knockwood*

Jihan - when you have figured out how to go about accepting it, let me know hee hee... no, seriously. I think its the only thing we can do. Good thing there are so many of us supporting eachother!!

Kier - speaking of chocofrenzy! I had the PMS urge for a chocolate bar, BUT I went for a tall non-fat starbucks hotchocolate with no whip - this way I get the chocolate with the milk (which I really need). Still, I think its about 3 or4 points, but its better than it could be!! I think I need your lil leather notepad!!

OK back to work. (I say that a lot don't I - how bad am I?)

oooh sounds good well my reward will be on thursday after 4 days of being OP I'm going to have a caramel or hazelnut skim milk latte I love fluffy coffee! have fun with work bellicious one I'm getting the heck out of dodge!
Love
Kier