Good morning! This week's thread is brought to you by the following public service message:

Half-price Easter candy is no bargain!

Unfortunately, I know some of you are going to have to cope with candy at work . Karen has a co-worker with baskets of candy on her desk and Ilene has chocolate problems at work too, right? That's got to be tough to deal with - I'm really lucky that I work in a gym! Members love to bring goodies in to the front desk staff but they rarely make their way upstairs to where the trainers' offices are. Thank goodness!

However, despite my best intentions, I have chocolate Easter candy in the house, courtesy of DS. What's worse is that it's the easy-to-pick-at, little stuff, where you start off with one or two pieces and end up eating a whole bag without realizing it. So I've got to fall back on my mantra of DON'T TAKE THE FIRST BITE!

How'd everyone do with Easter weekend? I made it up to the gym around 2:00 PM yesterday - it was surprisingly crowded - and did a leg workout (and am feeling it today ). Calf raises up the staircase to the track, three laps of track lunges, back downstairs for squats, leg press, stiff-leg dead lifts, and hack squats as a finsher. No record setting weights, but a decent workout. Food was A+ yesterday after a less than stellar Saturday.

I have five clients today and am anxious to hear how they all did with Easter. One woman lost 30 pounds on SBD last year, only to hit Easter, derail, and gain it all back. So we've been brainstorming ways to avoid that scenario this year. Unfortunately, she's still in the 'diet honeymoon' phase when everything seems soooo easy and she's convinced she'll never slip. I'd like to see her mess up and then pick herself up and keep going, crazy as that sounds , because (as we all know too well), this is for life and we're going to slip up for sure. It's what we do AFTER we mess up that makes the difference between a lapse and a relapse and a total collapse.

Looking ahead, we've got April coming up this week and - thankfully - the end of the food holidays for a while. I could use some spring - how about you guys? We don't have anything green or blooming yet at all, except for a few daffodil stems. It seems late this year, but it's been chilly.

So, stop in and say hi, let us know what's new and how your weekend went.

Hello maintainers,

This was a good weekend. I found myself working my way through a bag of cookies on Saturday that I'd picked up at Target. I picked it up because I was having a stupid craving. When I realized what I was doing I took the bag out to the nasty trash and deposited it--I really had only wanted a couple of cookies after all. I'm actually happier about the save than disappointed about the fall. After two problem free weeks with the pregnancy, I was finally able to get off the couch and move a bit. I got in a 1.5 mi walk on Saturday, and an easy swim on Sunday. Very nice! And, DH finally got home from his travels last night, so I'm no longer lonely.

The only downside was the maternity clothes shopping. Using your pre-preggo size is a LIE! I suppose after looking around the mall yesterday that the styles do tend to rund to the skin-tight low-riders that don't even cover the butt crack, but I'm not wearing that on a dare. It was so disheatening and disgusting, brought back way way too many memories of being fat with none of the clothes fitting. I was in tears by the time it was over. So I have no maternity clothes, and I have to figure out what to do. I think I'm just going to size up a couple and go for the stretchy stuff--cheaper anyway.

There will probably be Easter candy at work, and I'm going to try to avoid it. I'm still not so hot on chocolate with the last remnants of the morning sickness hanging around, but I really don't want to eat any of those eggs that taste more like wax than chocolate anyway.

We're having a beautiful wildflower season here after the wet winter. I'm really enjoying it. It's supposed to be in the 70s and 80s this week, so that should be really nice for a walk.

Meg, hope your clients survived and did as well as you did on Sunday.

Anne

Meg you have some excellent quotable quotes in your post this morning....

Keepers for sure!!

I had a good in control weekend and I'm happy with that... I also feel that when I go back to work I'll be A-OK and in control of the chocolate ...

Anne -- on throwing away the rest of the bag of cookies and for walkingéexercising again!! ... I used to cry also trying on mat clothes, it just reminded me of fat clothes... People who say they ENJOY being pregnant, I personally think, are not telling the truth... I did NOT enjoy being pregnant at all and we had tried for 2 years before DS arrived, so it wasn't like he wasn't wanted... All I can say is hang in there, it'll soon be over, it's only 9 months after all ( I do realise that it feels longer though )...

Hi fellow maintainers!

Anne, I heard about all the winter rain early last week. I had promised myself (after hearing about the rains and subsequent wildflower season in 1999? 2000?) I would get to Arizona after the next “wet winter”. So, late last week, I booked myself a plane ticket and accommodations in Tuscon for a week at the end of the coming month. Southeast Arizona is, as I am sure you are aware, ma’am, a birdwatcher’s mecca, too. So I am coming for birds and wildflowers! I’ve wanted to go to Tuscon for as long as I can remember, anyway, and I am finally doing it, courtesy of cheap online bookings and a willingness to drive a few hours to get to a bigger (cheaper) airport.

Other than that, last week was uneven for the maintenance program. It’s PMS time and staying on track is always a struggle during PMS weeks. Anymore it’s not the cravings so much as just losing track (or losing my mind) and eating with some abandon. I haven’t blown all my points yet but it’ll be a close shave not to overrun my points this week.

I did manage to get in a 10K run yesterday in preparation for this Saturday’s 10K race with my sister. <sigh> I am still a little intimidated by the thought, even though I know now I can do the distance.

At least in my department here at work, I think we did all the chocolate and birthday cakes last week. I hope so. I managed to avoid it mostly and I hope it’s over.

Meg, good work getting back on track after a not-so-good Saturday. I am hoping to do the same myself today.

Anne, maternity low-riders? I thought part of the point of maternity clothes was not to have anything tight and binding across the midriff or abdomen. Soft stretchy clothes and gathered empire waistlines were to allow for growth and to prevent binding at the waistline, I thought. Am I out of step with “modern” thinking? Yuck! Low-riders are ugly, anyway.

Spring is blooming all around here lately, Meg! The toads (Southern Toad at the moment but we should be hearing the Narrowmouth Toads in the next month) are really getting cranked up now and can be heard all night. The Mallards on the small pond in front of the house are laying eggs (and the crows are feasting on both loose eggs that the hens drop and eggs in proper nests). The wild plums, redbuds, and yellow jessamine (no, that’s spelled correctly – jasmine is something similar but not the same as jessamine) are blooming now. I heard what might be my all-time favorite singer yesterday, tuning up before he leaves to breed in more northerly climes – a Hermit Thrush sang a few tentative phrases from somewhere in the woods behind the house late yesterday afternoon. The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are due in anytime now. Today, 28 March, is their usual arrival date here in the Midlands of South Carolina.


Hope everyone has a great week and refuses to be derailed in a sneak attack of half-price chocolate easter bunnies!

Hi,

Meg - you are right, the first thing i saw at my desk after returning from vacation were 2 chocolate eggs - happy to say they are still on my desk!

Anne - about pregnancy clothes. I personally ADORED jeans with stretchy belly... You can find one which will fit from about 3-7 month. Make sure you choose a bit wider hips than you have now - it is not that your hips become more fat, it is just with progress of pregnancy they become wider to accomodate baby. I also have 2 overalls - one of them were with string on the belly - you can tighten it at the beginning of the pregnancy and untighten them at the end. I also once used IKEDA jeans overalls - but I guess with your timing around summer at your biggest it will not really work. I personally was a witness on the wedding during my last pregnancy - I bought myself pants with stretchy belly and pink blouse and I looked quite good (very big though). Don't stress about clothes, after all we all know it is not permanent... Also, stretch leggings are a wonder - you can find some with a string on the belly and buttons - I had 2 of those and they are great for exercising at the gym as well as for yoga... I am sure you are just too emotional in the first trimester - hence are your frustration - pregnancy is great, your body looks great, it is little harbour for your baby - how you can not like it ?

Spring is coming here. We just emerged from our winter skiing - 5 days of skiing. My little DD (3 y.o.) decided that only Mommy can hold a "leash" (harness) for her - hence I had great biceps workout every day. On day 5 DD could go small hills all by herself. We also were lucky to have 3 hours/day of "adult-only" skiing with hubby - of course I had to go on all black runs and without stops to keep up with him. I ate absolutely what I wanted - including chocolates - and came home at the same weight I left - which is great! Now it is back to work and readjustment of schedules - soccer is over for kids and we have to figure out what to start now...

Sandy.

Meg, you made me feel better. Thx to my DD I had some chocolate kisses that ended up being consumed unplanned yesterday and I was disappointed in myself but misery loves company so thank you for letting me know I wasn't alone. Today is another day and I jumped on the scale this morning to register any damage and there was none soooo I left a note that the kisses needed to be gone when I got home from work. Just put in her bedroom will work but out of my sight.

Donna, good for you on the trip to Tucson. The thing that amazed me when I first moved here was that EVERYTHING blooms. All those different cacti out there and every one of them bloom lovely flowers, of course like roses they all have thorns. Make sure you get to the Desert Museum and give yourself the whole day to go through it, it is wonderful. Also Sabino Canyon is well worth spending some time hiking around in. You can take a tram to the top and then jump on and off it all day long while you get off and explore the different stops. Have you ever seen a roadrunner?

Hey all. Glad to hear that you all survived Easter pretty much intact. I had pre-planned Easter dinner and was successful in sticking to my plan - had very small portions of roast pork, mashed potatoes w/gravy, homemade mac & cheese, green beans and a salad. Skipped the dinner roll and went with a small piece of angel food cake, fresh strawberries and a scoop of fat free cool whip. Used fat free ingredients in the mashed potatoes and mac & cheese with nobody being the wiser. Family and neighbors ate them with gusto and declared them delicious. If only they had known. Managed to avoid the chocolate all together as there was none in the house. In fact, I never even missed it. And the scale has stayed right where it was - no loss, no gain. I just may be getting the hang of this -- now if I can just keep it up. One holiday down, a gazillion to go.

Had an interesting experience last night. My JC counselor loaned me a book about how to avoid the effects of aging written by a doctor from Tuft University. I'm only in Chapter 2 of the book but basically he promotes a healthy diet and lots of cardio/strength training as the key to a long quality of life. It was a fascinating book - one of those you can't put it down books (is that sick or what). I had decided to forego my exercise for the night so that I could keep reading when it dawned on me that I was giving up the healthy exercise to read how how important it was to my health to exercise on a daily basis. I immediately put the book down and did an hour's worth of combined cardio and strength training. I'm so proud of me.

So, it's now a whole new week and we are all back to our regular routine (aren't we . . .?).

Actually, I tried "chocolate aversion therapy" last Friday. All day, until I literally couldn't eat any more. I think it may have worked short term. I don't want any now, but I can envision wanting it again but NEVER in that quantity.

Congratulations to everybody (except me) ! Actually, I ate perfectly Saturday, Sunday and today, but that was because I was so darn sick from my chocolate aversion therapy experiment that started on Thursday and continued through Friday, that the thought of eating off plan made me ill.

Mel

Can't sleep tonight, so I'm up finishing a newsletter I'm formatting for the local high school and thought I'd stop by for confession.

Saturday was great food-wise, after my struggles on Friday. Saturday night I helped DS (or he helped me!) make a bunny cake. Didn't eat any of it or even lick the frosting. But boy did it smell good and I went to bed craving a piece of cake. Sunday we had dinner at Mom's - she made lots of healthy fresh veggies to go with her ham, but after dinner hubby & kids left to go ice skating and my sister, mom & I were left staring at the pies and cake. I dug in and didn't stop til I was almost sick. Ugh.

Yesterday I was back on the wagon, but had a stressful afternoon and ended up going to Mom's and she made us pancakes. Talk about comfort food!! I came home and started eating chocolates. Double ugh!!!!!!!!!! I still feel sick and dizzy from the crap I ate Sun & Mon.

Moral of this story is there will be no bunny cakes next year, only colored easter eggs and homemade cards.

I'm back on track starting right now. I'm going to post my intake only for tomorrow just to keep me honest.

Anne - I never fit into the trendy maternity clothes. Before getting pregnant I was a size 4 & I bought size 10 & 12 maternity clothes...so don't let it get you too frustrated! It is a joke. My advice is go to Sears and buy some of the beautiful stretch panel pants - they will be your best friend for the next several months. It's all about comfort right now.

Meg - I'm going to adopt your mantra, I am starting to learn (after only 15 years of trying) to not take the first bite. It's just not worth it!!

Hi Ilene - Nice work staying in control over the weekend.

Mel - I think the chocolate aversion therapy worked for me. I feel so disgusting, there is just no other word to describe it right now. Now onto the pancake aversion therapy. Just kidding.

Hello to Donna, Elaine, Evangeline, Sandy, Susan and all other maintainers & posters!!

hi maintainers,

I have survived easter (almost wrote eater there!) and my son's birthday party and today the scale showed a 3 pound increase !! One pound was already gone after my cardio, but now the other have to go as well. And I thought i did not great but at least reasonable well over the weekend. To much cake, icecream, and goodies altogether.

At least yesterdays festive food must have been Ok: we had bouillon fondue. It is a pan of vegetable stock that you have on a heater on the table, and you put pieces of steak or almon or shrimp in the bouillon to cook. The same with vegetables. And this you eat with rice and soy sauce with wasabi and ginger. Maybe to much salt in the soy sauce ???

Anyway it is squeaky clean eats for me for the rest of the week. At least I did my cardio today: 20 mins row, 35 mins jog, 20 mins bike. Lifting day tomorrow.

BTW Anne: I did not even go to a maternity store for my clothes as I did not like the style at all. Passed my pregnancy basically in oversized blouses & T shirts with a stretch legging and I fitted a stretch panel in one of my jeans like Sashenka described. I also wore overalls. What I did get and found very usefull when my belly became big was one of those kind of underpands with short legs and kind of build in panels that are made to support the belly. These are actually worth the money, especially if you have a weak back.
And the second time around I actually remembered to buy a nursing bra before I got the baby. With the first my husband had to go to the shop and get my one, and he was almost thrown out because the salesladies found he was acting suspiciously among the ladies underwear.

have a great day all,
rabbit

Hi Gang:
"chocolate aversion thearpy" put me at the head of the class. I know from experience that it has no longer term success for me since this is not my first time in "thearpy".

I know the difference between a lapse and a relapse and a total collapse because I am in the collapse state.
I am picking my self up and putting bandages on my internal self-inflicted wounds and limping toward recovery. One step at a time.

Hi Gina,

Good to hear from you!! Welcome back on the wagon. Just keep hanging in there, and succes, motivation & the rest of the goodies will follow sometime in due time.

Keep it up gina, you can do it!

rabbit

Thanks for all the advice and support on the whole maternity clothes shopping fiasco. Anne, it was eye-opening to read about how you had to wear 10-12s as a pp size 4! I KNEW they lied, but still, the whole experience was just horrible. I'm going to hold my head up, be strong, and try again next week. And rabbit, I got a good laugh about your husband trying to buy a nursing bra. Maybe that is the solution to the whole issue.

Donna, enjoy your visit to Tucson. I have to second Evangeline's suggestions of the Desert Museum (http://www.desertmuseum.org/) which is a botatical garden and animal park masquerading as a museum; and also Sabino Canyon. But for bird-watching you must go to Madera Canyon, about 45min-1hr south of town in the Santa Rita Mtns--I understand it is world-famous and people come from everywhere to see it. You'll probably miss the peak of the wildflower season, but there should be plenty around, and you should get here right at the peak of the cactus flowers. They should be just beautiful! If you want any more suggestions on things to do, places to eat etc, just drop me a private message--don't want to clutter up the thread with it too much.

I'm so impressed with how you all did over Easter! Even those of you that struggled seemed to pick yourselves up very quickly. I've had several good food days in a row now, and you folks have just been an inspiration.

Anne

Good Mornin' girls

It's been a good weekend but I'm raring to go for a good productive week...

Art -- I am not a full fledge *maintainer* yet either, I come here regularly because I want to be prepared for when the maintaining time comes around... so you are WELCOME here any ole time !! That article is interesting because I have found that this happens to me... When I eat chocolate or desert right after a large meal, I do not want to over eat or have seconds because I am just plain stuffed from the meal, and I am able to stop at a very reasonable amount and be satisfied.... Interesting stuff...

Mel -- On the other hand the "chocolate aversion therapy" works very well for the short term. But I must admit that when I think or convince myself that I will feel downright awful after eating chocolate, or I have somewhere to go right after eating the dreaded chocolate, I have on OCCASION been able to stop myself ... This is only on OCCASION

Donna and Anne -- Tuscon sounds gorgeous... I love flowers although I have NO clue as to the names of them except maybe for roses and tulips, the really, really comon ones...

Gina -- Glad to see you again and dusting yourself off like the rest of us... Life goes on!!

Lessismore -- I so hear you on going to your parents place and reverting to old habits, I do it all the time too... It's a difficult habit to kick!

Hello to everyone else Rabbit, lawshark, Evangeline, Sandy....hope I didn't miss anyone, my apologies if I did!

Let's be careful out there...TTFN...