Starting the topic - be right back

Good morning - Happy Monday! It's amazing to me that I'm not at all sorry that I'm back at work - what a change from my last job/career!

I'm posting a 0.4 loss for the week - not as much as my sneak peeks had indicated but it's a loss and I'll take it. I have to really step it up though if I'm going to be in the 140's by my birthday. Tried to get up early this morning to exercise but just couldn't do it - I'll do something when I get home.

Have a great one!
Judy
163.6/157/135
32/240 workouts

Super loss considering all the stress you're under! I think today has been THE longest day in my life. The clock keeps ticking but I think it's ticking backward instead of forward. I did ok last week... I'm still stuck at 222... down from 228 I started at... My water consumption has improved, my points are consistent without very many FP's.. and I have increased my activity... I'll give it this week and if I don't see a change I'm going to fast track it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! They had Arby's for lunch today.. not much there I can have so I had the sesame chicken lean cuisine.. it was VERY good and 7 points. I was pretty content afterwards... I highly recommend it! Good luck for the rest of the week!

Jessica

Hi all.

Judy - Congrats on your loss! Definitely a step in the right direction. And congrats for a) being able to get a step workout in and b) doing so well at Red Lobster. Your Purim pastries sound good (sorry, I couldn't remember the spelling of their name and if I had to go back to the last thread, with my PC being so slow and all it would take me an hour :-)). It sounds like you've made good progress on your paper. Good for you for getting it done early. The queen of procrastination envies you. And yes, I remember well white out and the correction strips. I remember when I was working and got one of those self correcting typewriters - I thought it was the best invention since sliced bread. Who knew?

Jessica - I'm sorry to hear that the scale is stuck on you. I know it's discouraging to not see results on the scale, but take heart in knowing that you're improving your health. Hang in there and your body will give it up soon. And in the meantime, you might want to eat a few more of your flex points. It may help.

I had a pretty good weekend. I depleted my flex points again, but it was still ok. Today has been kind of snacky, but dinner will be low point. John finally gave in to his cough and fever and went to the doctor today. He has asthmatic bronchitis again and is on four different kinds of pills. I went with him, so that means I'm out of my routine yet again, not only with the bike (which I did not get on) but with housework, etc. I'm starting to feel really out of control. Funny how dependent we can be on routines. Ah well, there's always tomorrow.

Have a good evening.

Carla

Hi Everyone,

Major apologies for not getting here sooner. Last week was so busy I didn't really get a minute to call my own. I had to fire someone last week, and while it was something that needed to be done, it still felt pretty awful. I had to do 10 days of investigating on top of all my regular stuff. We took off on Thursday night for a few days up at our property - we actually stayed with Mike's cousins who live nearby. We want to build a cabin up there in the spring. There's around 2' of snow on the ground - we went trekking through the woods on snowshoes trying to pick out a building site. We're going to have to defer any decision making till the snow's gone in April. It was wonderful to get away. Unfortunately, though, Mike's cousin is a wonderful cook who made us huge breakfasts and enormous suppers. I didn't count a thing and almost died when I got on the scale this morning. Anyway, that's my last week in a nutshell.

Judy - so nice to be missed! I missed you guys too. Great to hear that you had a loss this week! You're a March birthday, aren't you? Not too far away. Way to go getting that paper done!

Jessica - hopefully you'll break your plateau very soon. It sounds like you're doing all the right things, so you should be losing again. The LC sounds good!
I should take something like that for lunch. I get behind on grocery shopping and then end up going out for lunch at work, which invariably means not very good choices!

Carla - sorry to hear that John has been sick, and hope that he'll be feeling better again very soon! I know how easy it is to get thrown off track when the old routine gets thrown out of kilter. I know you'll be able to get it together tomorrow.

Have a great day!
Karen

Judy, what does "32/240 workouts" mean? Do you have a certain amount of working out to do? I loathe workouts!

Even .4 is good because you're losing and going in the right direction. Nothing worse than having gained I've been on both ends and I'd rather have the smallest loss. You're doing well!

Jessica -- mmm Arby's! You're having your water which is excellent -- it was hard to drink water when I started but now I haven't had sodas in about 2 years. Better for my teeth, too, hee hee. Good luck for this week

Carla, I'm new so I don't know who John is but asthma is pretty messed up and scracy -- I had it as a kid. I hope he gets better soon. About routines, I know what you mean. But you sound like you have a good attitude because tomorrow can always be better. As Anne Shirley says, "Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it."

Karen, ack -- firing people is no fun


As for me, I need to go get weighed properly so I can start the next week right. I've been sticking to the points which is amazing since I've fallen off the wagon so much.

Dazzled – good for you for sticking with points. Sometimes it can be hard – we’ve all falled off the wagon so many times we’ve lost count but the important thing is to get right back on which you have. The 32/240 is the number of workouts I've done so far this year/the number I plan on doing by the end of the year. Keeping track like that helps keep me working out.

Karen – that’s just awful, having to fire someone. I remember when Tony had to fire a number of people – the place was “downsizing” – he was just sick about it. It sounds like the long weekend at your property was just the ticket. Boy, Mike belongs to one super-cooking family! The good thing about the scale is that what goes up can come down – and it will. Hang in there!

Carla – I feel so badly for John. I have had bronchitis with asthmatic complications and it’s just awful. I remember it well ‘cause it was right before 9/11 and I was sucking on that inhaler as often as I could – another reason I was thankful that I took off that day. I hope he’s feeling better soon – there’s nothing worse than feeling like you are not getting enough air. Sorry to hear that you are out of your routine but I know you will get back on it soon – I know how good you feel when you are “on it” (well, that’s the bike, I don’t know about the housework ;-)

Jessica – (by the way, I love that name) – good for you for having all the pieces in place to see a nice loss soon. Maintains can be a bit frustrating but if you are doing all the right things (and it sounds like you are) it’s probably just your body re-adjusting – taking a break before letting go of some more weight.

I am having a very rough time with the PMS monster who arrived at my house this week. I didn’t exercise when I got home from class yesterday but was doing OK point-wise until later in the evening. I wanted to see if I could do the one piece of chocolate a day thing I’ve heard some people do so I asked Tony to buy the new Hershey’s kisses dark chocolate since they are 2 for 1 point. Tony of course bought some mini dark chocolate Milky Ways too (it’s convenient but dangerous when he does the weekly shopping!) Well, I had him store them in the cabinets about the refrigerator – hard to get at. I did OK with them over the weekend – had a couple of each – all of 2.5 points or so – not bad. Well, the PMS monster was stomping around the house last night and needless to say, he doesn’t care where the chocolate is stored. I now have one, count it, one FP left for the whole week and after having popcorn as well, my rings are tight and my sneak peek this morning was awful (water, I know). Oh well, at least it got me out of bed early this morning to earn 1 AP doing pilates and I plan on doing an cardio/weights workout when I get home from work, before I continue to work on my paper.

Have a great one!
Judy

Judy- Hopefully you'll be able to put that moster back into the closet soon. He'll probably come see me when he leaves you! I've heard chocolate is good for you... I guess those small doses it what I don't like to hear!

Carla- I hope John is feeling better and you're able to get back on track here soon. I agree with you about routines... This past holiday season was awful.. I am so used to my daily routine of work, home, bed that being home all day threw me for a loop!

Dazzled - Welcome to the best place around! Congrats on sticking with your points. Its easy to fall off.. its the fact that you're willing to get back on that is impressive!

Karen- Sounds like a super weekend for me.. I miss the snow originally being from New York state... My MIL was going to box some up and send it but she said it kept melting before she could mail it.

As for my week so far, aside from being the longest in history, its going rather well. DH and I went and worked out last night.... I did 15 min on the treadmill at 4mph and then 20 min of upper body.. so at least I was active.. I would have walked more but my son got a little impatient in his pack and play.. he wanted out! Points were pretty good too... 2 points for BF, maybe 8 for lunch.. 6 for dinner and a few snacks in between.. I just made some fat free/sugar free chocolate pudding... looking forward to that!

Hope everyone is having a good week!

Hi all.

Karen - So good to "see" you again. I was getting worried about you. I'm so sorry that you had to fire someone. I've had to do it twice, both times with good reason, and it is so hard to do. But it's behind you now at least. Your weekend away sounds terrific - and much needed, probably - despite the downfall of the good cooking. Ah well, just hop back on track. How exciting to be planning to build a cabin on your property. That will give you something pleasant to look forward to when work gets so hectic.

Dazzled - John is my husband. Good for you for sticking to points! As Judy said, we've all been off the wagon more times than we care to think about. But with each day you stay on program it becomes easier to get back on program when we have those inevitable falls. Same with workouts - I used to loathe them too and would find and use any excuse not to do them. But a combination of signing up for Judy's virtual boot camp and an order from my dr. to get my butt moving (although he said it much more nicely :-)) has gotten me in gear and now it's much easier for me to resume my workouts when I get off schedule. Give it a try - you might like it!

Judy - Sorry to hear about the PMS monster. He's a dastardly creature, that's for sure. But you know what? You're a stronger person than he is and you CAN kick him to the curb. I'm sending you "be strong" vibes. Good for you for getting up early to get your workout in.

Jessica - I well remember how having some time off at home when I was working could throw me. It sounds like you're having a great week - good for you! That chocolate pudding sounds good. I have to remember to getting some pudding when I next go to the grocery store.

I'm pleased to report a 1.6 pound loss. If I behave myself this week, I may even hit my first 10% with my next weigh in. I got in my bike ride yesterday and went back up to 35 minutes. Right now, thanks to my family's germs, I'm battling a killer head cold and feel pretty yucky. But I think I'm going to try to get on the bike in a few minutes. It may make me feel better and if it seems like it's making me feel worse, I'll just get off. Since today is Ash Wednesday, it's a day of fasting, so I should have no problem staying within points today. We just made plans to join my BIL, SIL and MIL in Mexico (Playa del Carmen) this Thanksgiving, so now I have all kinds of extra motivation to get this weight off. I won't be at goal by then, but at least I can be thinner and more toned.

Have a great afternoon/evening.

Carla
279.6/252.8/145
25/208 workouts

Hi Everyone!

Carla - that's an extreme way to get out of cooking a turkey! Your holiday plans for Thanksgiving sound great - added motivation for sure. Congratulations on your great loss! No need to worry about me - just in busy, busy mode. Not quite time for the annual meltdown yet. We're really looking forward to getting a cabin built - it's going to be rustic - i.e. no running water, so that we don't have to worry about freeze up in the winter. We won't be there much in the cold weather. It will be great to have our own little retreat in the woods. How's John feeling?

Jessica - hooray for you for getting on the treadmill and doing some weights! I'll be very surprised if you don't have a loss this week. You're doing all the right things. LOL re boxing up the snow! We don't get a lot of it here - usually one good dump in the winter, and then it's gone in a few days. The Vancouver area is beautiful, but it rains way too much.

Dazzled - good for you for sticking to your points. You need to find your starting weight so you can have a point of reference for how you're progressing. Probably the best indicator is how your clothes fit. After my last two weeks, things are feeling snugger.

Judy - Hmmm...I guess your experiment proves that under no circumstances should Judy keep any quantity of chocolate in the house to be rationed. I've taught myself that lesson many times over. Sorry to hear the PMS monster ate all your flex points. Jessica is expecting him to visit Alabama soon...make sure you send him south, not west, okay? Good for you for getting your workout in this morning.

I got up at 5 this morning and took the hounds to the beach for an hour. They had a wonderful time, and I got an hour's walk in. I totally forgot it was Wednesday and forgot to weigh, which is just as well, because I know it won't be pretty. Will do penance at the scale next week instead.

Have a good one!
Karen

Jessica – Sounds like you are doing really well. Good for you for working out. I really enjoyed the fat free/sugar free chocolate pudding and have to make more this weekend. I wish I had had more of it around last night!

Carla – Congratulations on that great loss! I’ll be pulling for you to reach your 10% - I know you can do it. Way to go on getting back on the bike – you really do get back to where you were quickly once you establish it and you had proof of that – 35 min – way to go! I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you win the battle of the head cold. Mexico in November sounds like a great incentive to stay OP!

Karen – Way to go on getting in a n hour’s walk with the pups. 5:00 am?? Wow, the best I’ve done so far is 5:45. Yeah, I guess you are right about the experiment. At least I know I can’t keep it around during PMS – thing is, I did do it once successfully a few years ago but I’m sure it wasn’t around PMS - and I think it’s best not to try again for a while! I’ll be sure to tell the monster not to head west – I’d like him to just jump in the ocean.

The good news is that TOM arrived so the PMS monster is gone from my house. Unfortunately, as he was leaving, Tony and I had a big (political) fight and while I did get more work done on my paper, when I was done, and my hands weren’t busy, I ate myself into a small FP deficit. I did do a cardio/weights workout before dinner though and tonight is class so I shouldn’t have too tough a time with snacking tonight.

Have a great one,
Judy

Hi all.

Karen - LOL about getting out of cooking the Thanksgiving turkey. The thing is that since I'm not going to be with my family for the holiday I'll probably want to host a dinner with them before I go. Maybe since it won't actually be Thanksgiving I can get away with doing a pork roast. Anything but the dreaded turkey. A rustic cabin sounds great. What a good get-away that will be for you and Mike. John's starting to feel better, but it's slow going. Thanks for asking.

Judy - Hopefully the monster will just move to a different country. Most likely though, when he's done with Jessica down in Alabama, he'll move up here to Illinois for awhile. Sorry to hear you had a fight with Tony. 'Tis the very long season for political fights. John and I are pretty much in step with our politics, which helps keep the peace around the house. Unfortunately, I still find plenty of other reasons to snack.

Well, ladies, I've lost the battle of the head cold and I'm afraid it's starting to show signs of turning into a sinus infection. I hope not because I know if it does, I'm in for another week or so of feeling crummy. I did get on the bike yesterday and it did make me feel better for awhile (I just imagined I was sweating out all the evil toxins in my body). But today I was changing into my workout clothes and realized that I didn't have the energy to get myself downstairs, let alone on the bike for 35 minutes. So I took a long, hot shower instead. And now I'm off to take a nap.

Have a good day.

Carla

Hi all...just a fly-by note wishing you all a good weekend. Carla, take care of that cold.

K

I lost 3lbs this week!! Now down a total of 10lbs! I'm so excited!!

Good Morning!

Patience: CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR LOSS!!! What a thrill for you to get out of the 300's. That's really great. Keep up the good work!

Today will be a day of the dreaded housework. I'm hosting my parents' 50th Anniversary party next Saturday and am feeling the pressure big time to get the place ship shape. We're having it catered, so that will eliminate the food related work. I have some decluttering to do and intend to dig out some stuff to donate to charity as well. Better get at it!

Have a great weekend, all.
Karen