... can you dig it? I knew you could

Good title Annie - thanks for doing the thinking. Since it's near to the flip of the calendar page and I'm up and none of you have your little eggs lit - I will do the honors of the set up.

I agree Shad - can't believe how quickly the days are flying. I see touches of spring in the air which probably means we are due for another 20 inch snowstorm soon I suppose Shad you greet the onset of autumn much like we do - with a bit of melancholy for the passing of summer but also a big yippee for the eventual departure of the mossies and summer bugs.

Anyway let me finish the set up and wrap things up.

Again a welcome to anyone who might like to join us - we are a group of fun loving ladies who have opinions on everything and lots of hugs and shoulders to share as we journey through life. Let us know if we need to slow down the wagon a bit so you can hop aboard.

Ceejay - sorry you could not find anything you liked at the store. When I was working I bought most of my clothes from JC Penney or Coldwater Creek. I ordered a few things from Penneys and was disappointed with them too. Some t-shirts that seemed great for yoga at first turned out to be the kind that rolled up on their own after you wore them to class - just like a lampshade. And I understand your hesitation to get something you would only wear once. I felt that way with some of the fabrics - liked the print but figured they were not the most practical. It's hard to find things for vacation but keep looking as you have time yet.

Annie - there is lots of cracking and popping in my class. The one thing that always made me giggle was one lady dragged her poor husband into class. We would lay on the floor prior to class starting, get quiet and relax. Then the teacher started with some guided meditation and invariably this guy was soooo relaxed he started cutting down forests sawing logs. He was a snorer AND a snorter. And in the senior class we had several "tooting" ladies if you get my drift. Because I am immature I always started laughing but tried to do it quietly. We were told not to be embarrassed by any sounds our bodies made in yoga. I'm glad you and Sissy had a moment or two to smile at each other - it enhances the fun I think.

Laura - I'm glad you had a nice, vigorous workout just like you enjoy - well maybe not enjoy but it's the kind that makes you feel like it was well worth the effort. I hope you don't get that winter storm they are talking about.

Terra - that's funny that your mom loves to pop bubble wrap. Isn't she in retail? She will have to tell the people who unpack stuff in the stockroom to save her the packing

We didn't really get out to get glasses today. DH got stuck in an awful roundabout with the insurance people - Feb 1 he transitions from regular insurance to medicare and I am to stay on regular insurance. Everything is mucked up. They did not send the premium payment coupons for his prescription drug plan although he admits a part of owness on that one. The regular insurance people don't know about his transistion and the transition support center keeps telling him he has to deal with his ex-employer to get things settled as their hands are tied. I am happy he kept his temper down. After 90 minutes of being switched back and forth, he still has to wait until Monday and February to go through this again. Hopefully no one gets sick this weekend.

DH sent off parts to get our 10 inch (85 pound) telescope repaired. Will be a pricy sum but as DH said, if we don't get it fixed we just have a very expensive piece of mirrors and metal wasting away in the garage. It would be nice to use it again - particularly since we moved here and have darker sky conditions. Maybe he can take pictures again. You can't believe your eyes when you look through a telescope and see Saturn with it's rings with your own eyes - just like in the picture books!

We tried the buffet at the casino - they supposedly hired a new chef. I think they just promoted the guy who used to cook before as the food was not so lip smacking good. I did have snow crab which was a lot of work to get at the meat but was tasty and DH said the prime rib beef was good but other than that the food was just ok. They once had this fabulous chef who made the most amazing food and they did once a month specialty buffets that were delicious. Sadly he left. DH and I both played for a while - me on slots, DH on the craps table. We played for about 2 hours - lost money the first hour and then made it back the second hour. Walked out of there 10 dollars ahead of when we walked in so it was an enjoyable night out. Came home, talked to my sister for a while and then called Mum for our usual chat.

Here's an exerpt:
Mum: I don't eat candy very much at all. I have 4 bags of York Peppermint patties here though.
Me: Why so many bags if you don't eat much?
Mum: Oh I only eat a piece or two when my tummy is tipsy. The peppermint settles my stomach. (Completely ignores my question as to why she needs 4 bags in her stockpile).
Me: What about all the candy in the upstairs refrigerator? (Must be at least 12 bags of assorted chocolates up there).
Mum: I don't have any candy up there.
Me: Oh, did you throw it all away then? Good because some of that stuff had to be there at least 3 years. (Not much in the upstairs apartment refrigerator except for 2 bottles of wine that must be very close to vinegar now, 12 bags of chocolate candy, 4 bottles of drinking water and a freezer full of frozen rotisserie chicken breasts and carcasses - she only eats the legs and thighs when she gets the hot chicken and freezes the rest. Last count she said she had 7 chicken carcasses up there). But I digress - back to did you throw away all that old candy?
Mum: Oh THAT candy. Yes I still have candy upstairs. But I don't like it.
Me: Then why are you saving it?
Mum: It's good chocolate.
Me: Might have been once upon a time but after 3 years it's probably all white and icky from being refrigerated.
Mum: It's still good. I tried to give some to your sister but she didn't want it.
Me: Yeah, she is trying to lose weight.
Mum: She needs to - she's getting really heavy. She should not be eating so many cookies.
Me: Well Mom that candy has been sitting up there for ages, it's probably so hard now that it will break a tooth or something.
Mum: (silence)

I think these old bags of candy are her security blanket. When I quit smoking I carried an unopened pack of cigarettes with me for 4 years. Sounds weird but it helped me to deal with quitting knowing I had a cigarette within reach if ever I was so desperate to want one and I knew that if I did open that pack, it would be so stale and nasty I would not want another. Maybe she feels the same way with her sweet tooth. If ever they should stop making chocolate, she has a stash to tide her by. I love her but she makes me crazy!!!!

And that's my story for tonight. Good night all. Welcome February.

Evening all,

Feb is not until tomorrow Happy - did you forget that January has 31 days? And today is the 31st. Not to worry, we will have the extra day in February.

Food tonight:



Pork Steak, Couscous with parsley, dried apricot and red onion and steeped in a vegetable broth and lettuce (almost done with the packet) and the last of the salsa from last night. Might admit that the salsa tasted better tonight.

Happy, I wont be sorry to see summer go apart from the fact that it will take the rain away with it. It's hot, humid, buggy and more flying insect than you can poke a stick at. I like it here between March and October and then after that I wish I had another house elsewhere for the summer.
Love the dialogue with your mum. So reminds me of mine at times and her love for peppermint chocolates which were apparently bought for her by some bloke - oh yeah?

Just noticed that the old thread is not linked. Here you go. Click here to go back. http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/supp...o-january.html

I did purchase a new computer today. It's an ASUS Zenbook. I've had ASUS for years and never had much trouble with them. I guess that I will spend some time tomorrow and through the week setting it up. That should be fun. I bought Office 3023 to go with it and the cheaper one didn't have outlook so I got the slightly more expensive one. New programs don't come on disc anymore, indeed the computer doesn't have a disc drive. You program in through what looks like a credit card. I feel a whole lot of swearing coming on.

Okay, I'm gone - another day tomorrow. Hello to all. Time to sit around and sleep through the tennis!

Hi everyone,

Sorry I've been away so much. Work has been so busy. Yesterday, even though I didn't work, I was on the go from 7 am until 7 pm and got home so tired. Today, I've got two gatherings with friends (although I might skip the one in the afternoon), and tomorrow a Super Bowl party to go to with some friends from the dog park (and doggies are invited). I've been looking online for some bariatric friendly foods to bring to these gatherings.

I had a rough time earlier in the week with some emotional eating. I can't eat sweets but I ate about 150 calories in Triscuits and when I'm supposed to keep my calories in the 600-700 range, 150 on crackers is way too much.

Bob's still doing ok. Hanging in there. At least he's lucid. He's got several friends from out of town who have planned to come see him during the month of February. He just hopes to last that long. So sad.

Bob's dad went into the hospital. He fainted. He has a bad UTI and sepsis in his blood and they're hoping it's not causing kidney or heart issues. I hope they can get the infection under control soon and get him ok to go back home.

Happy - I enjoyed reading about your conversation with your mom. My mom was very much like that. Sorry about all the insurance woes. I hope you can get it sorted out. When you wrote "can you dig it? I knew you could." I remembered that phrase from a comedian...but couldn't remember who. So I Googled it. Ah, Billy Crystal. He's a funny man.

Shad - I hope the new computer works out. Office 3023? Do you mean 2012? Or does office come in different versions in Oz?

I'll have to go back to January to see what I've missed, but Santa and I need breakfast and to get on with the busy day and somehow this weekend I have to get laundry done.

Love and hugs to all,

Happy ~ Yeah thats true she should tell them to save the packaging for her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Good Morning Everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its 11:19 a.m. here right now. I've been up since 7:30 this morning. I'm currently out of caffeinated soda so I'm still trying to wake up at 11 a.m. but oh well I guess. I hope mom and I go to both walmart and dillions today. Dillions cause I need some more Cherry Coke Zero and I want to get some Zucchini to go with dinner tonight. I'm about to do my 40 min. chair workout and then at 1:00 I'll do my 2 miles walking dvd. Then at 8 p.m. tonight I'll do my 1 mile walking dvd. I would walk outside today but its rainy and I dont like walking in the rain in order to work out. I hope everyone is having a great Saturday.

Hi there chicks,

My deepest apologies to January 31 - I did not mean to slight it. Have no idea why I am rushing February in since it's my least favorite month of the year (mostly because by then I am totally over cold winter weather). Anyway... let's enjoy January one more day. Salute to January

At the beginning of the week they were predicting a deep freeze for us - looks like it eased up a bit - I will take 11 degrees for a high over the minus 2 that they predicted for tomorrow's temperature this past Monday. I am debating about whether to go to the store today - they have some sale items I would get but nothing over the top or wait until tomorrow when it will be much colder but they might have better things on sale in anticipation of the big Super Bowl (footy Shad) game tomorrow. Avocados today for 99 cents is a good deal. I'm wondering if I want to bet they will be on sale again for the same reason (guacamole) tomorrow.

Terra - I like a casual walk in the rain but like you, not for a work out. Hard to get a good one in when you are holding an umbrella

Michelle - maybe you need to trim back on some of the social activities if you are tired. Give yourself time to heal and rest. As for the emotional eating - at least your recognized it. Use it as a learning experience and try to figure out a Plan B for the next time - because life is always going to be filled with emotional moments and next times I hope Bob's dad will be ok - sepsis is a very serious problem. I can relate to Bob's hoping to hang in long enough to see his friends. We felt that way with my brother - marked time hoping he would last until Christmas, then his birthday, then Easter. He didn't make it to Easter. I don't know if I could cope with it myself. Very sad situation. The phrase "can you dig it..." I was thinking of was actually said by John Travola in Saturday Night Fever when they played a trick on Donna Pescoe. I didn't realize Billy Chrystal said the same thing

Shad - by giving us pictures of your food I have a better idea of what to feed you should you come here again I would agree that salsa would taste better the next day when the flavors have had an opportunity to blend. I have learned to make it and let it rest for at least an hour before serving. Now you have me wanting some corn, black bean and mango salsa. That is interesting information about the new computer sans hard drive. DH was saying everything is going to the Cloud technology. You can buy a disk with Office on it but if you want the Access Database package you have to do the yearly subscription. I guess I am getting old - some of this seems foreign (and I am slightly skeptical/resistant to it) Of course I also live in a land of spotty cell phone and Internet service so what works for the people in the cities is not so great for us rural folk.

Not too bad outside right now. DH is practicing an new photographic technique and is about to go out and take some shots. I think I will do some cleaning. Still debating about shopping - if I wait until tomorrow mid day people will be shopping for snacks and since it's Sunday they will have fewer cashiers which makes for a long wait. However I'm sure tomorrow they will have the soda I want on sale. Argh.

Anyway - happy weekend chicks.

I've been back to Blytheville to take back the clothes. I found another top which was an Alfred Dunner xl. It almost fits and I like it. I will need to lose about 5 more pounds before I feel comfortable. Bought gas for $1.77 per gallon.

-----
Michelle
I think you need to slow down some and rest. You've hit the road running since the doctor gave you the okay. Hope Bob's dad is doing better.

Happy
I had to look on the calendar to make sure what day it was, then turn on the tv to see who won the super bowl. I have to Sunday. Whew. Had to laugh at the Yoga experience. Think that's why I don't do classes. I'd be one of those people.

Every one have a good one. I may watch Gone Girl tonight.

Morning all - happy February

Today was officially weighin day. I do weigh myself every day but only one day a week is OFFICIAL. Sunday is the day. Anyway yesterday I saw 81.9 but today was 82.2. So that is a loss of 4.4kg or 9.11lbs since last July/ Aug. I'm pretty happy with that since I was stuck for ever previously.
It's not huge but it is moving. And no thank you I don't want them back, so I had better carry on doing what I am doing. More or less.

Michelle - don't know what Triscuits are but we better keep you away from them. Are you allowed yoghurts and fruit? If you are down to 500-600 calories per day then you can't be eating much. Will the amount increase somewhere down the track.
Poor Bob, he and his dad are having a really bad time of it. Thinking positive thoughts for them both.
And of course I meant 2013. Damn fat fingers

Terra - don't tell your mum but I have a whole roll of that bubble wrap in my spare room. Yards of the stuff. She could lose herself in there for weeks.

Happy - let's just remember that February is the shortest month. Then march will roar in and the winds will blow and the bears will wake up with a food shortage headache and life will carry on. Lets hope for a better summer for you.
Good advice to Michelle re the socialising v working v rest.
The new computer has a hard drive - well I assume it does, it just doesn't have a removable disc drive. It has quite a few ports of all different shapes and sizes. So my new Microsoft Office comes on a credit card sort of thingy with a very long number on it. I now have to fathom out putting all the stuff on it from my old computer. It will be a chance to clean up some of my files I guess.
I saw one of the photos from DH's new technique - it looks pretty good. Hopefully one day I may have time to concentrate on some photography myself.

Ceejay - pity the clothes didn't fit and of course they didn't have the same thing in a larger size. It really is difficult to find something that fits well these days. I'm seriously considering going back to sewing or getting something made if I have a special occasion to go to.

Well that's about it. Coffee is done, vitamins in water are now done - that's a quarter of my daily water intake down. Time to go clean up the kitchen.



9.11lbs

I brought my tablet to work this morning. Our work computer is on the blink, literally blinking.
We are having rain and some wind. Tomorrow ice. ugh.
Rode the bike twice yesterday 10 minutes each time and posted my food in mfp. I determined this time.

Morning all,

Happy REAL start to February here.

It's cold here but at least we are not in blizzard conditions like Laura. Not sure if Annie is also suffering but probably. Be careful with those backs ladies! At least it hit today which gives people a chance to clean up before the commute but I think it may run all day long into tomorrow morning.

I do have to run out to the store today. Cleaned some drawers and made a bit of headway yesterday so I feel good about that. One bite at a time

Ceejay - did you watch Gone Girl? Good for you for sticking with the bike. Make it a habit. Plug away is all I can say - me too I like the Alfred Dunner line of clothing too - well made stuff compared to the ultra cheap stuff now a days.

Shad - congrats on the pounds down and keeping it off. Pity we have to work so hard at it but I suppose that's what makes it so important that we stick with things instead of random attentions in and out. Thank you for the comment on DH's photography - I am VERY glad he found himself a hobby as he was driving me nuts - everyone needs something to occupy themselves with. At least it keeps him busy and out of my hair. And he's got a pretty good eye for things.

Today is Super Bowl Sunday - no abundance of fatty snack foods here although DH will be watching the game. Not me so much - I have my other Sunday TV shows to watch.

Not much more to say so I'll sign off. Enjoy your Sunday ladies.

Morning all.

Ceejay – Good for you getting your taxes out of the way nice and early. I just received my w-2 this past week. I will need to gather all my tax docs and make sure I have everything. Some banks don’t mail anything anymore, they just tell you it’s available online to download. Congrats to your niece with a baby on the way. Sorry the shopping trip didn’t work out. Yeh, I have many things in my closet that I’ve only worn a couple times, mostly dressy special occasion clothes. Waste of money and closet space...Good job with the bike. Keep it up!!

Happy – Thanks for setting up our new thread. Re exercise - yes, it’s tough to get started back on anything once you’ve been away from it. And to use another metaphor - or simile, since I’m going to use the word “like” - exercise is like housework. You have to keep at it to keep reaping the benefits. And the more you let it go, the more work to get the results. But the good thing is that our bodies will respond – muscle mass can be re-built and flexibility can be increased. Just takes work. Wow, you’ve got the critters back at your place huh? That’s a lot of turkeys!! I have to get some new eyeglasses too and it’s gonna take as long as it takes me to find a frame I like. Bleh. My sympathies to you with the insurance nonsense. What a PITA. Sounds like it’s worth getting that telescope fixed – must be fantastic to see some of the planets when you look through it. Bummer about the casino buffet. It’s a shame when a restaurant becomes inconsistent or the quality goes down the tubes. One of the Italian restaurants in our area was run by an older couple and the quality took a downturn - they really just wanted to sell it and retire. Luckily, another restaurant owner in the area (with a successful restaurant) has bought the business and hopefully will bring it back to what it was. And retain some of the popular menu items, I hope! ...LOL re the conversation with your mom. All that candy sitting around! Too funny. And the chicken carcasses!!! I can relate – my mom’s fridge and freezer are stuffed to the gills, and her pantry too! She could just buy dairy, fruits and veggies and live out of the freezer and pantry for a long time, I’m certain. Stay warm. Yes, we’re getting a LOT of snow here!!

Shad – That photo of your steak dinner looks so wonderful. I’m jonesing for some steak now. It’s sort of a tradition to prepare a small steak for doggy each year at his birthday, so I know we'll (all) be having steak sometime around the 15th of this month. It will be Coal’s 12th birthday. Looking forward to it. Your pork plate looks appetizing too – love the fancy cous-cous presentation, lol. Hope you enjoyed the work at home week, but now it’s back to travel and being able to perhaps be more effective when you can get in someone’s face, LOL. Has the assignment been extended for you yet – it sounds like you’ve been ultra busy on this one. Congrats on the new computer, and good luck getting everything set up the way you want and need.

Dee – How are you feeling? So sorry you took a bad fall. Feel better soon!!

Annie – I’m so glad you liked the yoga class! One thing about group fitness classes is some people compare themselves to others and feel bad about their current state of fitness, flexibility, etc. Don’t do it! Just take your time and worry about yourself. I’m glad you’ve got a good teacher who will help you modify the moves. Getting hurt or too sore and having to miss class impedes your progress. Just take it slow. Cool beans with the walking – are you teaming up with co-workers? Good to have someone to buddy up with. I like the name of tighter assets too – yup, makes me giggle.

Terra – Yum, the cooking class meal sounds tasty. LOL re the bubble wrap. I think everybody enjoys that to some degree. Are you also getting the snow that we're getting here in IL??

Michelle – I’m with the rest of the girls – you sound like you’re running yourself ragged. Please slow down and give yourself some downtime. Good you’ve recognized the emotional eating – that’s the first step to dealing with it. I hope Bob’s family and friends get to see him soon. Oh, how awful that Bob’s dad is also suffering medical problems. Prayers for both of them.

Hello to Susie!
--
Very snowy out there. Next door neighbor has already been out with his snowblower. Probably a good thing – we’re in for a lot more. I think 12 inches is forecast. Bf is more the type to wait until the snow completely ends so he only has to do it once. Good luck with that...

Woke up at 5 am yesterday and just stayed up. Finished my book. Went to jazzercise. Stopped afterwards to pick up some soda on sale. I try to drink mostly water, but I do drink diet soda several times a week. Bf is the bigger soda drinker now, surprisingly - Pepsi is his favorite. But he also drinks a lot of seltzer water. I think I’ll try to transition out of the soda and move towards seltzer. The chemicals in diet soda cannot be a good thing for anyone.

I checked Kohl’s for snow boots, but I might have seen only one type of snow boot – the rest are “fashion” boots. And not on clearance yet. Haha, I guess I thought the store would be rushing the seasons as usual and have bikinis and sandals out already...

I was totally whooped by jazzercise. And after my circuit class on Thursday as well, my knees felt a bit sore too. Once I get stronger again, they will be fine. I think focusing on low-impact types of cardio will also be better for me. My feet get a bit sore after Jazzercise. I know I can modify my movements, but a lot of the time I don’t. Duh. Anyway, now I’m down to the last month of Jazzercise, so really just 4 more classes for me. Anyway, I managed a couple loads of laundry yesterday, but was dragging on the dogwalk, and was yawning when bf and I went to Chili’s for an early dinner. (My early wake-up was catching up to me too.) I didn’t get to the library for a book to read, but ended up slothing out in front of the tv.

That’s about it for me. I have the fixin’s for my middle eastern lentil soup, so I will make that today. Bf installed a new water filter on his mom’s faucet yesterday, and on the way home he stopped and picked up groceries. He bought what he needs to make his chili recipe. We don’t have to go out for anything at all today. Doggy will want his walk, as always. We’ll see how far we get – I’m anticipating a very short distance. He went out in the yard a couple hours ago and it was already pretty deep and difficult for him to get around.

Glad to have taken tomorrow off work. Give time for people to get their sidewalks cleared, and the plows to get the streets in order as well.

That’s it for me. TTFN!

Hi Everyone. It's cold, wet, raining and snowing in Ohio today. They have down-graded the amount of snow we were to get and I'm so glad I don't have to deal with a lot of that tomorrow going to work.

I have been paying bills and answering my own email and cleaning it up. I'm about to finish the housework that didn't get done yesterday--so today it is the kitchen and the bathroom, between the two of them I have about 1 hr of cleaning ahead of me.

I will watch the commercials and half-time show tonight..but not much of the game...I will be working on work stuff..but it is nice to sit on the couch and do it. A lot of what I have to do is pull stuff into folders for those things I need to keep emails about. I was really busy last week and I just flagged a lot of things after I worked on them but still needed them as references but they are all sitting in my in box and it makes me crazy.

I am happy to report a .8 lb (almost a pound) loss at TOPS. I have successful had a 4 lb loss for January. My 2015 goal is 1-2 lb loss each week so it all averaged out.

In PT yesterday they upped my reps and some weight or resistance on my exercises....I was tired when I got home.

I need to get to moving. I will try to come back for personals later.

I LOVE the title for February!

Laura
I use the short form so it was not big deal. So Coal is getting steak for his birthday. He'll be happy.

Happy
Didn't watch Gone Girl. When I got to sit down it was to late. I went to bed before 10.

Shad
Guess I should keep a photographic journal of my food. Maybe I would over eat. Doing a lot better after I got my mind set on some things.

Susie
You were typing above me. Congrats on the loss. Keep up the good work.

Well crap...going to try this again. Just lost 3 paragraphs.

My son's tests came back NO CANCER. He does have to have surgery to remove his testicle. Doc is calling him to scheduled some time in the next week or so. I will take that day off to be with him out the hospital, strangely it is an out patient surgery. They put him on meds for sperm count and DIL has to go to a specialist as she has issues too, hopefully in the next 6 mos or so they can try to reproduce.

My brother Michael, came over for dinner last evening and watched the first half of the Superbowl with us. My SIL was at work. I made pizza with a pesto sauce base rather than tomato, to be food friendly for C. It actually tasted pretty good, added black olives, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and turkey sausage. Learned that actually my brother Michael is on the 3rd round of treatment and not the 2nd as I thought. Time is getting shorter.

I had the boys overnight Saturday night. Both were pretty good. Royce woke up at 3 am, but I just patted his back and he went to sleep. They both got up at 7am. A lot of fun but now know why older people should not have children. Yeeee, so tired last night.

Posting this much and will come back.