The Lords blessing is our
Greatest wealth.
PROVERBS 10:22



Tazcat

Good morning! I am still here, just not had time to post or read alot. Life has been all work no play this past month. I am on a very slow but steady losing streak, so hopefully I can keep this up. I think the less computer time has helped that...I hate saying that to myself, but it is true!

Have any of you Gazellers got any ab exercises? Yes, I am finally on the Big G! I don't feel it in my stomach though, and thought it would be good to find something to do on it that would help that.
I have more weight in my stomach than anywhere.

I have to go to bed now, but I will try and catch up this week reading old posts. The next two days are going to be busy, but hopefully after that I will be back online more.

Miss you all!

ANNE, I am so sorry about your Dad. It seems as though he's been through quite a lot in these past few months. Personally, I know how stressful that can be for everyone. Please try to take care of yourself. My thoughts will be with you.

nikki, that's good your kitty returned. Has she stayed around? The poor little thing.

Jennifer, it's nice hearing from you. Do you like your gazelle? I really like mine.

tazcat, is it still cold up your way? We got some snow Fri., and are due for some more tonight into tomorrow.

Take care and have a good Monday.
Aleka

Hi everyone,
Jennifer, so nice to hear from you again. I have an ab exercise tape that came with my gazelle, but I haven't looked at it yet. I still want to be able to do the first tape for 30 min before I move on. Guess I might as well just move on, cause I never try to go past 25 min anymore. Have you tried leaning forward, standing on your toes? Grab the bar between the two handles, lean forward and get up on your toes for a min. Then go back to the bars. Then, holding on tight to the 2 handles, lean back for a min. then lean forward, holding onto the bars for a min. This works my back and my arms a lot more, a little in the abs. I really don't rely on the gazelle for an ab work out. I'll look at that other tape and let you know what's on there. I sure do have weight in my abs to lose too. I've seen these extra tapes for sale on the gazelle website and also on ebay.

Aleka, the kitty is very happy. Much nicer than when she was here last and she's making a real effort to get along with the old female cat. She is soooo grateful to be back. I don't think she will leave again for a long time, but who knows.

Anne, I sure hope things are starting to go smoother for you today. Still keeping you in my prayers as always.

Tazcat, words to live by.

Later, Nikki

We're back into the freezing temps again! We didn't get any snow out of the storm that hit last night. We did have a snow squall go through in the wee hrs. of the morning that dumped an inch or so on the ground, but that's all we got. They're talking about more snow tomorrow....light snow this time around.

nikki, the kitty must've realized it's a terrible world out there and she was better off at your house. Hopefully she's learned her lesson

ANNE, how is your Dad doing? I hope he's feeling better.

Hi Tazcat, how are you doing?

Have a great day.
Aleka

Hi everyone,
Aleka, sorry to hear about the cold. I don't know why, but for the longest time, I thought you lived in Ohio. I looked and saw NH last week and was kinda surprised at myself. I don't know how I got that idea.
I won a couple of VCR tapes on Ebay last week the 2 body flex ones for 3.50, s&h of 3.25. I haven't got them yet. I figure it's a cheap way to try them and if they don't work or I don't like them, I'm not out much. I would like to get her body bar too.

We went out last night to celebrate our anniversary (it's Friday). DH has to work and also goes to see the ENT guy that day, so there will be no celebrating. I was going to ask DD to go out with me for Valentines day, but she has other plans. Guess it will be me and the cat again. I ate way too much last night. When we got home, I was also feeling tired and in a lot of pain cause I over did it yesterday. I still had to go get DD at 10pm and by then I was also PO'd-felt sorry for myself, was ticked at DH for going to sleep and not helping, etc. So I stopped and got McD's and ate about 1/2 of that too. I sure didn't feel better for it. That has always been my downfall with food. I eat to make myself feel better emotionally and it never works. Most of the time, I can control it, but once in awhile, I just don't even try. At least I'm not singing the old song of "Well I blew my diet, so I might as well eat whatever I want now." I'm back on track today and I'm not feeling guilty about last night, but I have learned from it. No matter how much I eat, I can never make myself feel better with food. I already knew that, but I guess I had to learn it again. It's an old habit.

Well, got to go exercise. Later, Nikki

Hi Everyone!

Thank you all for your prayers and concern. My dad seems to
be a little improved but it is going slow. He is scheduled for
his bronchoscopy on Monday, but I think he will have to rebook
that one. I just can't see him being well enough.

It is freezing here in Toronto.

Nikkic, an anniversary on Valentines day!! How lovely. How many
years have you been married?

My husband and I will be celebrating our 25th in October.

Nikkic, you have been doing so great on your diet and exercise
program, you certainly deserve a little treat!

Aleka, I sure know how you feel about the weather, I am soooo
fed up with it.

Have a great day ladies. is away today so I can relax
alittle.

Anne.

Hi everyone,
Thanks Anne for your sweet words. I am not doing very well this month. In fact, I've gained 2 lbs since the beginning of it. I think I'm stressed out about the surgery coming up. Plus, this impending war that looms over us all. Now with the government telling us to buy plastic and duct tape to seal our houses up against poisons gas (like that would really do anything), I'm just flipping out inside.
I went to see the Dr. today for my presurgery physical. She asked if I had any questions and I said I felt pretty good about it. She said she could write some perscriptions for some things that would make it easier for me- a hospital bed and an over the bed table! I was like, for goodness sake what am I getting myself into. I declined the offer and may take her up on it later. One positive thing, she said I could get on the Gazelle within the 1st week. That it was good for me to do it as long as I don't use my arms. It helps to prevent blood clots and they are the biggest concern.

Yesterday, I read something on the internet that I thought was soothing.

Happy moments,
Praise God.
Difficult moments,
Seek God.
Quiet moments,
Worship God.
Painful moments,
Trust God.
Every moment,
Thank God.

Take care everyone, Nikki

Nikkic:

That was beautiful. I loved it so much I wrote it down.

I am scared too about the current conflict. I was looking at
flashlights today. I have a couple but they are tiny. I keep
thinking and getting scared. This weekend I am going to get
a couple of cases of bottled water just in case..........

We all must trust God and live each day to its fullest.

You will be so happy (and relieved) when the surgery is behind
you.

Anne.

We're back in the deep freeze again, and it's only going to get colder. BRRRRR! Yes, I am getting very tired of it.

nikki, a Valentine anniversary! That's fantastic. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Sorry you won't be able to celebrate on Fri. How long have you been married? DH & I celebrate our anniv. in a couple of weeks. We've been married 31 yrs. I saw that story about how to seal your house up with duct tape and plastic this morning on GMA. It nearly scared me to death. It reminds me of when I was growing up with the threat of nuclear war w/Russia and everyone was building bomb shelters and they were showing people how to stock them with provisions. That also was a scary time. Gaining 2 lbs. isn't bad at all. I'm sure it from all the stressful events. You go for your surgery the 19th? In a way I bet you wish it was already over with. That is a very good saying and it is very soothing in these trying times.

ANNE, glad that your Dad has improved a little, that's always a good sign. I'm sure with everything that has been going on with him these past few weeks, his resistance must be down and it will take some time for him to recover completely. Glad your having a good day at work.

Have a great afternoon.
Aleka

I forgot to say we will be married 5 years this Friday. We've been together much longer, but neither one of us remember how long it's been. We met in 1989 and I think I loved him right then. It's my 3rd marriage. I was so lucky to have found my current husband, he's my favorite person in the whole world and I'm married to him.

Hi Everyone:

Nikkic, I couldn't agree with you more. So many people have
asked me what the secret is to a long happy marriage and I
always say My husband is my best friend and he is. I was
21 when we first got married and I haven't regretted it yet

I was watching Connie Chung last night. Scary, scary, scary That is so awful about that young woman Lacy
Peterson. Such a tragic story.

It is freezing in Toronto STILL!!!

I have to get ready for the commute ladies, have a good day.

Anne.

It is sooo cold. It's 2 below zero and with the windchill it's really brutal. I heard that some places may se 40 below overnight tonight. I hope we're not one of them.

I'm meeting my GF later this morning for an early lunch and then we're going to see a movie, How to Lose a Man in 10 Days. Hopefully it's as good as what we saw in the previews.

ANNE, I've married my best friend too. Since day 1 we've been so comfortable with each other, that on long trips it could be hours before we say anything to each other, and I like that. So, I would say the 3 of us are very lucky. Yes, the Lacy Peterson story is very tragic...but I have my opinion on what happened.

nikki, that's wonderful that you married your best friend too. I honestly think that's the key to a lasting marriage. My DH & I got married 5 months after we started dating. I'm sure people said it wouldn't last...but we're still together. I hope you have a great anniversary tomorrow.

Have a great day and try to stay warm.
Aleka

Morning everyone,
I agree completely, you have to have all the ingredients to have a good friendship first-respect, admiration, just enjoying that persons company and then add in love and you have a great marriage that is solid. I was missing those things the first 2 times. The first time, I was too young to get married and had no idea what I was doing; the second time, I was 35 and thought I was getting old and decided it was my last chance. At least I learned from my mistakes, it just took a few.

Today it's suppose to be in the 40's, but tonight it is suppose to turn to rain, then ice, then snow. It looks like a big storm. It's the one that has caused all the flooding out West. A couple of days ago, we had a storm move through that had thunder in it, then it turned to sleet. This time of year the weather is so unpredictable. We already have a winter storm warning out for tomorrow.

I love that mini stepper I got. It makes me pant and sweat and it's all done in 7 minutes. It has some of those rubber cords that you use to do movements for upper body strength. I'm still waiting on the Body Flex tapes to get here. My weight is the same, but on the bright side, it hasn't increased. And my muscles are looking a lot better.


Talk to you tomorrow, Nikki

Happy Valentines day ladies, and Nikkic a very happy
anniversary to you and your husband

I sound like a broken tape recorder but it is so freezing here
today you wouldn't believe it. brrrrrrrrr

I bought my kids a box of tim bits for a treat, but I will stick to
my sugar free chocolate balls I made from a recipe in my
Atkins book. Man are they good I am a big lover of
chocolate and these really hit the spot.

Nikkic, it sounds like you will be in great shape for the summer!
You are doing just awsome!!

Aleka, how was the movie? It looked like it was really funny from
the previews I saw on T.V.

Stay warm everyone!!

Anne.