Hi all.

Karen - I'm so sorry to hear about Jen's ankle. I'll keep my fingers crossed that she won't need surgery and that the break heals cleanly and quickly. Poor thing. I remember how difficult it was dealing with just a sprained ankle; I can't imagine navigating with a broken one. I hope, too, that you're feeling better. Whatever got to you certainly was nasty.

Judy - I'm sorry to hear that you've caught a cold. Good idea to call in sick and rest up. Take care of yourself.

I had a bad weekend, program-wise. I won't get into the gory details. Suffice it to say that ribs were involved. I'm back on track today and will be hopping on the bike shortly. Gosh it's so hard getting back on track.

Talk to you all later.

Carla

Carla - sorry to hear about the ribs and the weekend. As you know, the most important thing is that you get back on program (which is exactly what you are doing). Ribs happen. It's in the past so count it and forget it. Double kudos for hopping on the bike - one for getting another workout in and one for doing it after a tough weekend! We're going into our second full week of the year and you are doing great on the workout challenge. Keep it up - I don't want to have to tell you to "drop and do 20" ;-)

I had a pretty good weekend. It started with a 2.6 loss - not a bad result for Fast Track. I decided to get back to Flex Points and use Fast Track for when I'm slipping and I need some more structure. I did nosh a bit on Saturday night but I counted it and I still have 25 or so FP's for the week. The cold has been kept under check - I think that Zicam stuff is pretty good. I did a little yoga yesterday and just did a little today. I'm going to keep the workouts easy this week and see if I can kick this cold to the curb (I really don't feel badly otherwise I would skip the workouts).

Have a great one!
Judy
7/240 workouts (I'll have to add the weights stats later or tomorrow. I remembered the loss but I don't remember the number on the scale.)

Good Morning -

Carla - jump back on track! You're doing well, a few ribs aren't going to break you!!

Judy - terrific loss! I'll email you tonight, as I only have a second before work.

I still have awful sinuses and ears, and going full tilt all weekend didn't help. Thanks both for your concern about Jen, she won't need surgery, thank goodness! I got home from work just before 7 last night and was in bed at 8...one of these days I'm going to feel healthy again!!

Have a good day, (cough, hack, wheeze!)

Karen

Hi all.

Judy - Congrats on your loss! That's terrific. I'm glad to hear you're feeling better. I'll have to remember to give Zicam a try next time I feel a cold coming on. So how are Yankee fans reacting to the news that Roger Clemons (sp?) came out of retirement to pitch for the Astros? If I were the Yankees I'd go confiscate the Hummer. Not good news for the Cubs, that's for sure. We'll have to keep our fingers crossed that we land Greg Maddox. And on the flip side, perhaps the most disliked man in Chicago sports, Jerry Krause has gone to the Yankees to scout. Woo boy. Actually Krause does have a good eye for talent - he built the winning Bulls teams after all. And since he won't be handling the talent after he scouts them, all should be ok.

Karen - Poor dear, I really hope you feel all better soon. You must just be wiped out about now. Can you manage a couple of days off of work? I'm glad to hear that Jen won't need surgery. How long will she have to be in a cast?

I had a better day yesterday. Not perfect, but better. I must be comng down with something weird though, because today I feel like all the energy has been drained from my body. I'm not feverish or anything, just feeling very worn out. I guess I'll go take a nap for a bit. No workout today. No housecleaning either. I'll have some catching up to do this week.

Talk to you later.

Carla

I've just kinda stumbled upon this and am wondering what its all about.. I'm trying to do the WW without meetings due to $$ and time restraints, and am looking for external support other than my family. Any suggestions?

Paragoddess - we're a small but great group, most of whom are doing WW without going to meetings. You are welcome to post here - we're good at giving support, sympathy, suggestions and info.

Karen - I'm sorry you are still feeling so rotten. I'm glad that Jen does not need surgery - thank goodness! Here are some more get well {{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}} since the last ones didn't help enough!

Carla - I'm glad to hear that you had a better day. Sorry to hear that you are on the verge of coming down with something. Try that Zicam. I really think it's helped keep this cold manageable (and out of my chest!) It hink it's a good idea to rest - and I hope you feel better. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. That's how the Yankee fans are reacting to Clemens. George Steinbrenner *really* blew it when he didn't snap up Andy Pettit. I think our recent "glory" days are over and I'm very crabby about it! So is Tony, BTW. I really don't know anything about Jerry Krause - what's the scoop on why Chicagoans dislike him so?

I had a pretty good day yesterday although I snacked a bit too much last night. I did a short step workout 'cause I felt a bit better but I didn't want to press it too much. It felt good but boy, do I feel out of shape. I'm getting my hair cut after work but I'm still going to try to squeeze in something workout-wise afterwards.

Have a great one!
Judy

Hi all.

Paragoddess - I'm one of those doing this at home. I started with purchasing the At Home Kit several years ago. A few months ago, I subscribed to WW On-line. If you can afford it (it's about 14.00 a month) I would highly recommend joining on-line. It's really helped me stay on track. And stick with us. As Judy said, we're small but we're a great group if I do say so myself.

Judy - I am feeling better, thanks. I think I just needed some sleep, so the nap I took yesterday afternoon, taking in easy the rest of the day, and the good night's sleep I got did the trick. Good idea taking it easy on the workouts until you're 100%. As for Jerry Krause - here's the condensed version. He never had a good relationship with Phil Jackson and the players, especially the high profile players (read Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen). It's commonly perceived that he's the reason that Phil Jackson left the team, followed by Michael Jordon. Most people think the Bulls had another championship season or two in them had all the players remained in place.

I'm happy to report that, despite my wicked weekend ways, I'm posting a 1.2 pound loss this week. I'm going to work very hard this week to resume the downward trend. I found myself today making up all kinds of excuses on why I couldn't hop on the bike: I already took my shower; I have to catch up on my housework, I have to buckle down again with my job search. And then I stopped myself and thought, no, darn it, exercise is important and I have to make it a priority. So in about 1/2 hour I'm going to change into my workout clothes and get on the bike. I'm also going to try very hard not to use my activity points or flex points this week. Kind of my own fast track.

Have a great day/evening.

Carla
269.6/258.6/145
6/208 workouts

Cece- I'm very proud of you that you said "no, I am going to exercise" ... I was the same way last night.. I got home from work, played with my baby, got him fed, my husband and I ate and it was too late to take the baby outside... so I was going to bypass the exercise... but I had bought a tape at WalMart - Paula Abdul, Get up and Dance.. hehe It was more comical to see the early 90's outfits but it actually was fun.. my husband tried to do it with me and he has the grace of an elephant.. but we did it and had fun and I felt so much better afterward... It's the encouragement of others that help people get through tough times..

I'm so glad I found y'all!!

Paragoddess - I'm proud of you too for popping in that tape. What fun that you and your husband did the tape together. I don't often pop in an exercise or dance tape, but when I do I have to be alone. I can only imagine what I look like. Grace is not one of my strong points. :-) I'm glad you found us too. How old is your baby? I have a five-year-old and am currently a stay-at-home-mom due to losing my job a year and a half ago and not being able to find a new one.

Hey Judy - speaking of jobs... so your former employer bought the only national bank headquartered in Chicago - Bank One. Big news. We'll be down to 2-3 national banks and a bunch of community banks in no time.

I had a good day yesterday. I did end up eating a couple of my activity points, but hey much better than being off program. It's sunny out and I'm tempted to do a walk, but it's also very cold (although not as cold as out east), so I think I'll hop on the bike again. No plans at all for the weekend, which is fine by me.

Have a great day.

Carla

Good Morning...

Hi Paragoddess - welcome! I'm the lone Canadian in the group. I hope you'll stay with us to give and get support! My DH would die before dancing to a workout tape in front of the TV! That's great that he's getting into it!!

Carla - Three cheers for an OP day yesterday! And of course for your marvellous loss! You're definitely in the groove when you can talk yourself back into exercising when you've talked yourself (almost) out of it!

Judy - Hope you're keeping that cold at bay...may you not end up like me! You and Carla should take an interest in a REAL sport, like hockey.

I was told in the nicest possible way yesterday to take myself home from work and not to darken their doorstep again until I'm all better. This has it's good points. On the downside, my sinuses are awful and now I have chills. I'm heading straight back to bed.

I was up 2 lbs yesterday, but am attributing that to weighing after breakfast and in my pj's. No hope of exercise until I'm all better. This has been going on since Jan 3!

Have a great day!

Karen

CeCe - My son is 10 months... He is a mess. I probably could lose weight staying at home with him since he is so active... he's not to the pulling up, standing by hisself, let me get brave and fall down stage. He is so much fun. That and he loves to be outside so once it warms up and he's walking, we'll have a lot to do playing and running.. As for my DH, he's a firefighter who has gotten in his mind that he's not like he was when he got out of rookie school and he needs to get back in shape. I guess as long as he and I do it together it will be a lot easier!


Merrylegs - nothing wrong with Canadians.. My husband is 100% Canadian on his moms side.. most of his family still lives near Plattsburgh, NY - hop skip and a jub to the border!

Carla - Way to go on that loss, getting back OP eating and waaahooooooooo on your phenomenal attitude on the workouts! Yeah, it is unbelievably cold here - it hasn't gotten out of the teens today and the wind chill tonight is going to be -30. That is NOT NYC weather! Yup, my former employer is out swallowing up another company. Boy, am I glad I'm not there to deal with the next round of merger-related system changes!

Paragoddess - Way to go on popping in that tape. The girls can tell you that I am big on video tapes for exercise. I never used to use my gym membership and I found a website, videofitness.com, that has really changed my life when it comes to exercising. I just finished a strength tape today. I'm with Carla on the dance tape and my husband - no way he would do it with me!

Karen - LOL about the *real* sport! I'm so sorry you are still feeling sick but I am glad that they sent you home from work. This way you will rest and get better. Don't worry about the exercise. I was thinking that rather than get discouraged with trying to "catch up" once you are better, we should take 20 workout off your goal - that would take care of not being able to work out in January. What do you think? Don't even think about the 2 pounds. Between eating breakfast, weighing with your PJ's on and medication - yhou probably lost!

I had a pretty good day yesterday. A little more snacking in the evening than I'd like but I still have some FP's left for the week (my week starts on Saturday now) and I just finished a good strength workout so I earned a couple of AP's. Today was my first official "snow day" at school - we had about 6 inches or so I guess but it is brutally cold (never got about 16 today) and I think the concern was that there was ice underneath the snow. Good thing too because I used the day to take the ornaments off the tree (Tony still has to do the lights) and now I can use Monday (a holiday) to study for my exam (which is only a month away - aaacccckkk!) Tony made a pretty low point soup today - perfect for this weather. We are eating out with my parents on Sunday but I'll have new FP's to use then. We are babysitting for Anthony tomorrow night so that should be a lot of fun.

Have a great one!
Judy

Hi all.

Paragoddess - !0 months old is such a fun age as they are always doing new things. And, thinking back to that age, you're right, you could get a good workout just chasing after him. I think it's great your husband is working out with you. Mine would rather eat nails than do a dance workout.

Karen - Well, I'm glad you've been ordered to stay home until you're completely well. You need the rest. It's a wicked, wicked virus, or whatever, that got ahold of you. Take it very easy and get better soon. I agree with Judy, you should knock 20 workouts or so off your goal. And don't worry about that gain. With breakfast and P.J.s and all, I'm sure it's a false gain. As for hockey, it isn't gonna happen, sister. Just not my sport.

Judy - Yeah, that system merger between Bank One and JPMorgan Chase is going to be a b**ch. This will probably have an interesting impact on my former industry as well. Keep yourself warm and enjoy your evening with Anthony tonight and your dinner with mom and dad on Sunday. My soup maker is making soup tonight - cream of avacado. I ran it through the recipe builder and it's actually a lot less points than I thought it would be - 4 per cup plus a point for the croutons you put on top. (He's using fat free 1/2 and 1/2, which is a big help.)

I had another good, OP day yesterday, although I did use my activity points and 10 flex points (made one of my favorite dinners, nacho bake, and just couldn't pass up a second helping). I didn't get in enough fruits and veggies and milks, though, so I have to be careful with that today. I did my 1/2 hour on the bike today (and yesterday as planned) so I have my four workouts in for the week. Next week I'm going to add some strength training (hand weights) to my workouts. And I'm still planning on a quiet weekend with no eating challenges. Except for maybe lunch after church if my MIL is with us. In which case I'll request Einstein Bagels, I think, so I can easily count the points.

Have a great day and a terrific weekend.

Carla

Good Morning,

Up today after two days in bed. I spiked a big fever Thursday afternoon and felt a bit like death. Dragged myself into the doc's yesterday afternoon; he said I've got hideous sinusitis and now I have a steroid nasal spray and antibiotics, so hopefully I'll be on the mend any day now.

Carla, yay for you for getting on the bike again! I'm very proud. I keep looking at the treadmill wishing I had enough energy to turn it on. I'm sure I'll be back to it soon, and NO, I'm not going to shrug off twenty extra workouts for the year, I'll fit them in (OMG - send her back to bed - she's delirious!!!). When I get moving, I'll be doing it in a big way! (Thank you and Judy for offering though). Here's a great recipe for your soup maker:

Roasted Winter Vegetable Soup:

Bung into oven and roast for an hour at 400 degrees: 1 butternut squash (cut in 1/2 minus seeds), 1 large sweet potato, 1 or 2 parsnips.

While they're roasting, sautee 1 chopped onion & a couple of diced carrots in a bit of olive oil. Add chicken stock (I used about 1 1/2 tetrapaks) 1 teaspoon of curry powder, pepper, and simmer till the carrots are tender...

When your veggies are roasted, cool a bit, peel, mash into the chicken broth, then puree the whole works in the blender. Reheat till hot and enjoy.

It's seriously delicious. (You can see why I don't write cookbooks for a living though).

Have a good weekend, all.

Karen

Karen- So sorry you're feeling so ill.. Tis the season I guess.. I hope you're feeling better! Keep eating that soup.. it'll kill all that ails you!