Good morning ladies!

Leanne - Complain to someone about that person at Curves. You don't have to be mean about it but tell someone how insensitive she was. Good for you for joining in spite of her. I hope you have a better experience!!

BarbPA - Thanks for sharing about your cruise and the pics. Loved it! And its good to see you back. Good luck with the bike decision!

A word on the bikes that I had PM'd to Barb - Go for the hybrid. Its a lighter frame than a mountain bike but that makes it easier to ride and less stress on the body. I rode 100 miles in a bike ride on a hydrid so they are good for riding on paved surfaces.

Thin - You asked about Star. We sold her late last summer. I hated doing it but she was down at mom's because the big horses were beating her up too much up where we board. Had I know then that they would abandon us, I would have kept her up there. *Sigh* Apparently me telling the fiance that the whole family can just has settled down a lot of all the turmoil. Folks are now trying to get along. Although BIL has become a raving . DH and his mom went to see him yesterday and all he would say is F*** you, F**** that, F**** you - to HIS MOTHER. It made her cry. DH won't go back - it really broke his heart. But the BIL is so unhappy about the nursing home that he's become hateful. We're not sure if he really knows his behavior or not.

I'm out of time now. Off to work. Have a good OP day!

Good Morning Ladies!

What a lot of posts since I posted last! I doubt very much I'll address everyone, but I'll try to hit the high points!

Jill: Sorry about your car! Unexpected expenses are always awful, especially when it's something so essential! As to the veggies...if you find a way to "acquire" a taste for them, tell me and I'll try it on my son! Seriously, I managed to acquire a taste for vodka during college...veggies should be easier! I finally got my Y membership, but I don't have any plans on using the fitness room. I can't stand working out next to a lot of skinny minnies. I plan on racketball, walking the track, swimming laps maybe...if I can get past wearing a swimsuit in public. Our Y used to have a program for folks who were shy about working out with the already fit crowd...but it's been discontinued since I quit a few years back. It's a pity too, because I was so much more comfortable there.

Tracy: I know what you mean about the amusement park rides...I had an embarrassing moment at Six Flags last year when they had to change my seat to one next to this really skinny young man because a "regular" sized person couldn't fit with me. I just wanted to die!

Julee: I have clothes ranging from a 16 to a 24. The 16's are ones that I just love too much to get rid of, mostly nice dresses that I have no place to wear anyway. Last time I seriously lost weight I went from a 22 to a 18 and either gave away my fat clothes or had them altered to the smaller size. Of course I'm a 24/26 now...but I still think keeping them would be admitting defeat. I'm considering a sacrificial bonfire when I move down a couple sizes! But more than likely the Salvation Army will be the beneficiary of my fat clothes.

Leanne: I echo the sentiments of the other ladies here when I say "what a !" You have a lot more patience than I for joining anyway...I'd have walked out when she made me repeat my weight once! I was so confused when you mentioned it was moving to winter there until I noticed where you are from...I can't imagine winter in June and Christmas in the summer.

Thin: Glad your honey got home safe and sound. I'd just miss mine something awful!

Catherine: I didn't know it was possible to have LOW cholesterol. What harm does that do???

Terri: Do I understand that you rode 100 miles - at one time? Wow! When did you do that? I don't think I could go a mile these days. Maybe on a horse...then it his legs getting the work-out! Sorry BIL seems to be taking a turn for the worse mentally...it's got to be extra hard, but I'm happy folks are starting to try to get along otherwise. That's gotta be a stress reliever.

Well, I gave yoga a try last night. Yeah - not an impressive sight! I was so sore from the racketball on Saturday and the gardening on Sunday that I needed to stretch or something, so I tried this little 11 minute yoga work out they have on my free cable chanel. You know, I used the be able to put my hands flat on the floor! And positions where you put your weight on your hands like a push-up...Forget about it! (Imagine a 300+ lb woman being unable to do a push up.) The chick on the video keeps saying "sholders and neck relaxed...breath easily" - riiiight! Aw well, with much groaning and grunting I did get through it, mostly. I must remember that these things will improve over time. I learned my upper body strength is nonexistant so I dug out my little dumbells and worked on my arms for about another 10-15 minutes before bed. On the up side, I'm not nearly so sore today, so maybe tonight will be better.

Ate OP yesterday. I've been craving fish so got a huge salmon fillet and grilled it on the Foreman grill...you gotta love the Foreman! Looking forward to WI on Thursday with some nervousness. I lost so many lbs unexpectedly last week that I bet this week is lower... But any motion of that scale downward is better than none!

Off to work now...Have a good Tuesday!

Lilion

Hello, ladies! And how are all my little chickies this morning???

Anybody watch The View?? They're having a beach party today. They have the cast from a NY musical and they're doing Beach Boys songs throughout the show. I really love all the personalities that Barbara Walters threw together in that show. Oh well, I digress.

The sun is shining in Michigan. It's supposed to get to the mid 40's by 2:00...a real heat wave! Then of course it's supposed to snow tonight. Who knows???

Julee: So true that Curves employees have no real training. They are NOT personal trainers, merely babysitters for the store-front. Sadly, I guess you get what you pay for, although $30 a month isn't cheap either.

Shop: What does your calorie counting book say about the pancakes? I don't have a "calorie" book, but here's what my Weight Watcher points book says. Keep in mind that 1 WW point is approximately 50 calories. 3 fast food pancakes without margarine or syrup are 6 points. 1/4 cup of aerosol whipped cream is 1 point. 1.5 cups of strawberries (which I'm sure you didn't have that many berries) is 1 point. So converted to calories that was probably around 400 calories for the whole thing. You can judge from there what you think you ate. "you can never really tell" Yes you can if you're journalling.

Iwillbe: I was computer illiterate when I first got here too. Not that I'm MUCH better now. I keep my bigger clothes too. I had gotten rid of them at one time and then when I found myself putting pounds back on, I had to buy all new. Now I just keep them for awhile, it's less expensive.

Jill: You athletic club sounds awsome. Once, I thought I might actually use a pool if I could find one that was far enough away that I was assured I wouldn't run into someone I know!

Terri: I'm sorry you had to lose Star....the big bullies!!!! * I'm glad that DH's family is settling down some. Sometimes you just have to say enough is enough. It hurts, but there's a survival issue for you and your hubby at play here too. Way too stressful! That's too bad about the BIL's attitude. Can you determine if there's some dementia involved since the stroke? Sometimes dementia patients get very angry because they don't know what's happening to them. Is he recouperating any with a possibility of going home, or is this pretty much the rest of his life? Very sad. * When does your stepson move his family to Missouri? Is that soon, or did I miss it and it already happened?

Lillion: The GREAT thing about last night is the your persevered through the entire yoga tape. Perfect? Not, but you got through it! It will get easier and easier the fact that you didn't quit halfway through it is a HUGE accomplishment!

Well girls, I think I'm going to head out to work. Those "bank jobs" are calling me. See you all later. Love ya bunches!

Good afternoon friends. I have been sooo busy and missed the entire last thread I think. And I don't have time to go read it all now either. I started ... but felt overwhelmed by so many posts so quit... and decided to just say hello instead.

I am so far behind in here because I have been going to bed at 10:30pm.
That is not normal me. I do my best reading and writing after midnight.
Since spending my evenings with DH and going to bed early... I have not gotten here.
I need to establish a new schedule. One that allows me here a little more often.

Okay... I am out of here again. My love and thoughts are with all of you.

Good afternoon, One of the advantages of eating lunch at your desk, besides being more healthy is that I can sneak in here for a few minutes, Nothing much to report on anything, everything is pretty much status quo! I do go back to my new doc Thursday to get the reports of all my tests and to see what she' oing to do with me!!

For those of you who do not read the exercise thread, I did start the private session of the Performance Pilates workouts, and start taking the class on Friday, It's what they call a "core workout as everything is centered around your abdomen.

I can't believe 2 cute is going to bed at 10:30!! What about you Thin, are you still keeping up your early to bed routine?

And Jill: VODKA is an aquired taste? I though Vodka came naturally. Tequilla might be considered an aquired taste!!!

Well, may salad is gone, so I guess I need to get back to work.

Weeeelll...I panicked this morning when I couldn't get on the internet, darn thing can NEVER
seem to stay connected for a period of time. Food's been good today, still on program and counting in
the calories I've eaten (I'm up to about 900 already, but I sorta lost it around lunchtime because I was STARVING).
In case any of you have been following my job woes, I talked to my boss today, she wanted to know if I had heard
any news yet, and of course I told her no. She said she went to the Center to complain about how one person
can jeapordize the employment of another like this, and the director sorta calmed her down and said he would
"take care of it." She's going out of her MIND without my respite hours! I've taken this "break" as an opportunity, and I've
sent my resume out to a few places, and also set up a job interview with King Arthur Flour for a "Product Development Information
Specialist" read: clerical job (I think). Who knows, it requires a ton of computer exprience and familiarity with a
bunch of programs, so we'll see. Now on to reply to the people who've posted since I last did:

Julee - Thanks for the sweet post, it's nice to hear it when people
are as grateful for this message board as I am. Also, I wanted to CONGRATULATE
you on your triumph at Lane Bryant! I usually avoid LB because I'm still a bit too
big for most of their clothes, I don't wear my clothes tightly, I like them baggier
and the shirts only go up to a size 28, and I take about a 32 with this bust. Do not
worry so much about replying individually, it's hard to get used to, most message boards
that I visit don't do the individual reply thing.

Leanne - I CANNOT BELIEVE you had such a bad experience at Curves...I had a GREAT
experience, but just stopped going because it was seriously so boring, and I couldnt stand
the freaking cover songs being repeated OVER AND OVER again. The girl who weighed me in and
measured me had lost over 200 lbs, so she weighed in the 300's and then lost all of her weight
by dieting and exercise, so it was really cool...I was also really friendly with the owner. That's
so mortifying, you really should complain to somebody about that.

Thin - Glad to see that your hubby is back safe and sound!! Yes I like the View, except they keep changing one of the hostesses


Barbg: Do you make those graphics yourself? I love playing in photoshop, I'm always making annimated
icons and such.

Well that's it for now I suppose. I know I shouldn't , but I REALLY want to take a nap

Quote by Melissa.... I posted since your last post.




Just kidding. I know I didn't say much.

Yeah! Me too!

Lets get her!

(Of course...I missed her in my post! )



Lilion

Hi gang,

Well, I wasn't perfect, but I was more OP than in weeks yesterday. Dinner was fantastic: lamb risotto, with grapes and currants and things in it, and for dessert, baked peaches flavored with anise. Boy were the newbies impressed by how well Chris cooks! I was about 17 calories over for the day, but since my "program" calls for an average for the week, that's no big deal. I managed a *little* exercise, but I need to up that, and I didn't quite make my water total, but I came close. So overall not a bad day. Today's fine so far, except no exercise yet. I really have to figure out how to schedule it in so it happens every day.

Thanks to all for the words of encouragement.

Julee--Good job staying OP. I don't know if I'll ever get to LA, but if I do I'll take you up on your offer.

Leanne--Ditto what everyone else has said. I'm WAY PROUD of you for signing up in spite of her. But she shouldn't behave that way, and you deserve better treatment than that. Boy I'd like to talk to her.

Thin--Good news for DH work-wise! Good job staying OP! Happy days are here again...

I'm sure I've missed some. Hey 2Cute hey Catherine hey anyone I've missed

Just wanted to stop in and say hello! I will be back later tonight or early tomorrow. I have my weigh in tonight. Hopefully I will be able to after the weigh in tonight but who knows

Scoot

Dobré ráno, ladies

That's a loose phonetic translation of good afternoon in Russian. I took an introductory course in Russian, but they didn't offer the upper levels I needed for my degree and there isn't much opportunity to practice Russian in Appalachia. We also didn't learn as much as you normally would in two semesters, since we had to spend so much time initially learning Cyrillic and mastering reading both the print and cursive forms. My regular handwriting is awful, but my Cyrillic handwriting was pretty awesome. I'd do really well as a Russian second-grader, except for part where you have to figure out what the teacher is saying or know the whole alphabet. I've even forgotten most of the Cyrillic letters I spent to much time learning, though I can still sign my name in Russian.

I'm reading pretty regularly, but just don't have time to post. I had a good weekend, I feel really confident and happy with where I am now. Shopping and eating seem pretty second-nature. I usually have a bit of regular dessert with Sunday dinner, and maybe a few things I wouldn't eat under other circumstances, but it's all part of the plan, and I don't go crazy. It's good, it's a nice place to be.

Yesterday, one of our secretaries - who makes dessert for each employee's birthday - brought my favorite cake (an orange layer cake, which is really superdelicious) for my co-worker's birthday. Normally, her stuff is on another floor, so it's easy to avoid, but this was one up here, right under my nose. If it were some random other time, I might have had a small piece, but since we have all the challenges of Easter coming up (lasses - I am making peanut butter eggs for Easter), I skipped it, and persuaded the birthday boy to wrap the remaining 1/4 cake (we're out of the way, or there wouldn't've been any left) and take it home for his wife and kids (which is, in turn, sort of contrary to the fabulous-homemade-b-day-cake etiquette we've developed around here, but perfectly okay with me. He left it out all morning!). So, having skipped BOTH my favorite cake and the pizza at today's lunch meeting: Easter, here I come.

Of course, most of my challenges are of my own making, as in the peanut butter eggs. I'm also planning to make hollandaise for the asparagus at Easter dinner, and homemade mayonnaise (since I have to get pasturized eggs for the hollandaise (too many immuno-compromised folks at Easter dinner), I might as well try making both). Fortunately, I'm not a huge fan of mayonnaise, so that won't be too dangerous. I've just been interested in trying it since I saw the mayo episode of Good Eats, my favorite food show.

I like RayRay (30 Minute Meals), too, and I think she has improved my everyday cooking more than Alton Brown. I don't make many of her meals - I cook and mostly eat vegetarian - but I use her techniques, and she makes cooking accessible. I feel considerably more confident in the kitchen, in part thanks to my own experimentation, in part thanks to RayRay. Well, RayRay and Alton Brown's yeast sock puppets.

It was a gorgeous day this morning - but the sun was deceptive, the air was frigid. Now it's clouding over. It's supposed to rain, but I hope it doesn't since I'm going shopping this evening after work. I have groceries to pick up, and I'm going to look for a few work-appropriate summer tops at the sales. I also need some new tennis shoes, and a local store has a buy 1 get one 1/2 off sale. I don't know if they'll have a kind I like. If not, I'll hit the mall. I had good news about my bonus for the year (yay!) - but plenty of expenses, too, so I can't really splurge, but buy 1 get 1 1/2 off at a Marshall's-style discounter - that's not really splurging, is it?

I'm pretty stunned at the way some people have been treated at Curves. If you don't get satisfaction somehow from the local franchise, you could always complain to the corporate parent. Screwing over the women who make up their core demographic is not really good PR. There's a local version of Curves around here called "Fit for a Lady." We have a couple of Curves, now, but that place has been here longer than Curves. Has anyone heard of it, or am I right in thinking that it's just a local business?

Okay, I have to get some work done this afternoon to justify my salary so I'll say.. dos vidanya!

2Cute: Aughh!! I'm sorry, friend! I didn't mean to overlook you, I swear I always look for your little dancing elephant Now I'm off to read the article you posted

Lilion: I'm sorry, apparently I missed EVERYONE. I think I also "skipped" over the people who didn't have anything but replies to other people.


Guilty as charged.

Lilion - Yes your hdl (good cholesterol) can be too low. Even if your overall amount is okay, if your hdl is too low, you can experience all the health problems that someone with high cholesterol has. Think about bad cholesterol as mud in your blood system and good cholesterol as the scouring pad that cleans the mud out. If you don't have enough cleaners, then the mud accumulates and causes trouble. Smoking and obesity can drop your hdl numbers. I've never smoked and had this problem even when I was skinny. When I was 28, it hit an all time low of 57 total (50 good, and 7 bad). I think the only reason I haven't had more trouble is that my bad level stays low too. It is hard to raise hdl, only exercise and niacin can help. The doctor thinks it may be genetic.

I've been OP for 8 solid months now. My roommate has been on board with me for 3-4 months. In that time her triglycerides went from 245 to 146. Her cholesterol went from 217 to 138, and her glucose went from 148 to 89. She was steps away from having to go on insulin and was already having kidney issues. Now she's down 30 pounds, and has gotten so used to the diet, that one day when she slipped out for some ice cream, she spent the rest of the evening in the bathroom. Her body can't even digest it anymore. It doesn't matter how long we have abused our bodies with food and inactivity, our body will respond. Even a small weight loss can give great health benefits. Just stick with it, and you will succeed. I was practically Jaba the Hutt (see my photo for proof), if I can get my quarter of a ton *** moving, anyone can.

Catherine

'Evening ladies!

Its freakin' cold here today. It even snowed. WTF! Its spring not winter! It would also figure since the new farrier I met on Saturday was coming to work on Ginger's feet. I about froze. It had turned to a cold rain.

And then its supposed to be 62 tomorrow.

I'm going to bed soon so maybe I can get warmed.

Scooter - I'm keeping for your WI.

Thin - #2 SS and family are now in the city. They got here on Friday but didn't tell us until Saturday night. They are borrowing our van so we have to get it over to them this week. I'll be excited to see the grandsons and how much they've grown. We've not seen the 4 month old yet.

Barb.G - Good to see you poking back in! Hope things settle down for you soon!

Okay, ladies, I'm freezing so I'm headed off to bed to watch TV.