Not much to report today. Two days OP. I didn't make it to WW WI last night because I didn't get home from work in time. I'll try to make it another time this week. My exercise yesterday consisted of some pilates in the morning and a good dog walk in the evening. Very humid though. I'll have to add some distance on the nights its cooler and continue to work on jogging more.

For those who are wondering about the airdyne, its a Schwinn fan-driven stationary exercycle with the arms. I call it a beast and hate it but its a great workout. Soooo boring! Its not nearly as fun as the spinner which I have in the other bedroom.

Leanne - Good job!!! Keep exercising because it does make a difference at the scale and for the self-esteem.

Tina - Yikes, that's a lot of work. Come back when you can and get some rest! on your success at the scale!

Thin - You too!! Good to see you back focused and doing well.

Kim - You're more than welcome to come out to see the horses. Let me get them moved to the new place because frankly, the other place has turned into a dump and I'm embarassed to have my horses there. Good job on the walking too! Maybe we can meet at Little Blue Trace trail for a walk sometime.

Barb.G - Yes, you're working for a paycheck but don't forget - you can continue to look for another job. Its easier to find one when you have one. So, keep your chin up and know that you can make a change in the future. You're doing what you need to do for you and ole Alvin. Too bad the friend is such a goofy boss.

Ruth - Enjoy the company!!

Lilion - Good job at the gym. I love the big balls. LOL about the popping. I have thought that and haven't yet!

Judy - Yahoo for three days OP! How the heck can gas go up that much in two days? Ours did the same. Hope your weather breaks soon too!

Gotta run. Busy day at work and I need to get there earlier than I have been.

Ta ta!

Good Morning Ladies!

Happy Wednesday! Hope the week is starting off well for you all! The weather here is beautiful! I'm sure the heat will return, but that rain sure did make things better!

I've been doing pretty good staying OP. There was, of course, the fajitas, but yesterday was perfect and I've tried to keep things where they need to be. I made chicken and penne pasta prima vera yesterday for dinner (and lunch today.) By my calculations about 10 pts for a BIG serving. Chicken, pasta, veggies, lite alfredo sauce and mozzarella cheese. Yummy!!!

I don't think I've lost anything though! I know I shouldn't, but I weighed this morning and naked was about the same as I have been dressed. I'm suspecting the beginning of a plateau. Can't be certain, of course. I just feel fat. PMS is getting to me too! At least I hope it's PMS - it's been 41 days and it's starting to tick me off! Every time I think AF is on her way I'm fooled. This is starting to get old and my TOM problems started when I started losing weight. I suppose I'm going to have to talk to my Dr. and I HATE that. I've never talked to him about female stuff, I have a different Dr. for OBGYN, but that's just for the annual pap. My primary Dr. has to be consulted with any problems before seeing the specialist or ins. won't pay, but this is the first time I've had anything to talk about. Call me crazy...I just like having different Dr.'s for different parts!

Anyway, back to the subject. I didn't get my walk in yesterday because I had a new friend come over that I'm teaching to sew. She knows a bit of sewing basics, but I was teaching her to make basic medieval garb. Made dinner from 5 to 6:30, ate, then she was there from 7 to 9:30, at which time it was too late to walk. I could I suppose, but DH has started school again and I would have had to go alone. We live in the safest, most boring neighborhood in the world, but I have a "thing" about being outside in the dark, at least alone, and my heart would have been racing from anxiety, rather than exercise. My little dog sure isn't any protection! If some monster jumped out of the bushes at me she'd just roll over for a tummy rub! Tonight is the Y though! Guess this time the children will stay home.

Terri: I'm going to have to learn something about pilates. I feel like I should be doing something on those nights I don't get to the Y or walk, but I don't really know what to do. Maybe I'll give yoga another try?

Leanne: on your loss. Looks like you'll nail that 2x2!

DoxieMom: I am very impressed with your 2 to 3 mile walks. I only do a mile and I'm beat, but it is 1/2 uphill...well, one hill and then a slight incline...ah heck, I'm just lazy! Really, though, I'm pretty sure 3 miles would kill me outright!

Ageoldie: You and your mother are most definately in my thoughts and prayers. I lost both of my parent's when still in my early 20's and it was rather sudden. I can't imagine going through what you are. ((hug)) Between that and your work situation, you have so much on your plate right now.

Ruth: I love having houseguests - it's the only time my house gets cleaned! Try not to stress too much. And you just do the cooking and make them eat healthy too!

QueenB: A big on your loss! You are doing so well! Hope things get back to normal for you soon at work.

Well, I think that gets me caught up since my last post...if someone didn't post while I was writing this monster of a post! I best get to work now and dispense some justice!

Onward and Downward Ladies!

Mornin' Ladies,

It's a lovely day and I'm stuck at work looking out the window.

THIN: When are you moving the equines? Are they all at the old place or are the new ones in the new place already?

LILION/LEANN: I think it was one of you "L" ladies that asked about the pointers. Mine are from show rather than hunting stock so they are taller, cleaner built, than the ones you Dad had, for sure. The younger one has started some field work and we hope to have her ready for Hunt Tests, not Field Trials, this Fall. She also is doing Agility with a friend of mine and I'm getting her ready to show in obedience. We show her in breed but I doubt she'll finish her CH. because her bite is not perfect. The rest of her is lovely though and she can move like she's on air. My older one is a couch potato now. She's a CH and is titled in obedience, agility and tracking. She'll never hunt cause she's a runner and can't find her own way home. She's an excellent tracking dog though. She can follow someone's path that's over a day old and find either them or any object they've dropped. I love the personality of the breed. Of course they are whirlwinds for their 1st 3 or 4 yrs. and all those teeny tiny hairs are the pits butwhen they cuddle up next to you and roll those big dark eyes you know why you love them. Can you tell they're my pseudo-kids?

TINA: you are a Busy Bee ans well as the Queen Bee. Take it easy lady and HUGS on you weight loss success!

Shoot .... Gotta get back to work. I'll try to get back later.
Still OP,

Good morning!

Its raining here again this morning. A lovely little thunderstorm I'd rather sleep through!

Nothing exciting to report. Three days OP though! Last night I had time to do 11 minutes on the airdyne before loading up to go trailing riding with Nicole, the 11 yo. She is such fun. We had quite a good trail ride. Good exercise for the mares. Worth a activity point or two for me too.

This morning I slept through exercise. DH's fault because he had a coughing fit at 4:30 so I didn't want to be awake at 5:30.

We did try Thin's chicken stroganoff recipe on Tuesday. Excellent! We had it with FF cottage cheese, wild rice, and fresh tomatoes. DH loved it. So easy too! Thanks Thin!

Judy - The old horses are still at the original barn. We'll be moving them at the end of the month. The new ones are already at the new place. Two of them anyway. We are renting a small pasture from the guy who sold us our two paint yearling boys back in March and the two baby fillies that we just bought (the ones in the pictures). We have a stud colt that we are buying from somewhere else and will move him to the new place on Friday. I've been trying to get through all the shows before moving the big horses so that I could have the girls who show them, continue to train and do the show grooming. Last weeks show was rained out and its not looking too good for this Saturday either. I'll have to move anyway.

Lilion - I do Winsor pilates. I bought the DVDs from Collagevideo.com. I started with two DVDs. One to strengthen the back and the other for butt and thighs. I had to work up to the ab and uppper body workouts. But I love them and they have made a difference. Do you have the Walk Off the Pounds tapes by Leslie Sansone?? A great alternative for when you can't walk outside. Lots of ladies use them here. There are 1, 2 and 3 mile versions. Buy them at Wal-mart or Sam's Club.

Okay, my battery is about dead so I should go. Work calls anyway. Have a good OP day!

Good Afternoon Ladies!

Just popping in before I go home. I can't be expected to get any work done in the last 10 minutes of the day, after all!

Didn't get my work-out last night. I got home to find DH was not feeling well. We had a quick dinner and went to the Y, but after 10 minutes on the treadmill he was done. So...home we went. On the up-side, I had walked to my car rather than take the shuttle after work, which is a mile. Since gas went up another 5 cents yesterday, I'm seriously considering walking from my house or getting a bike. It's only 2 miles to my house! But we live at the top of this BIG hill and I can't imagine climbing it after a day at work.

DH still feels bad, called in sick today, and I have DS's 5th grade open-house tonight, so I have to get home and quick and will be busy the rest of the night. Hope everyone had a good Thursday!

Howdy! Oh MY, it's been a few days again.

I've been really, really busy trying to get a few last jobs in before I take some time off to get my house in order for the big Barbeque a week from Saturday. Did I tell you that we're having all of Honey's department and their families over to the house? Well the house looks like a tornado touched down so a thorough cleaning is in order. I've marked off 4 days next week to get that done. Now if I can just say NO to jobs that come in I'll be doing good.

For any of you that are into praying I would appreciate your prayers for my nephew-in-law. He was in a motorcycle accident on Tuesday evening. His jaw is broken on both sides, his one leg (including kneecap) is shattered, and the bottom of his foot was ripped off with his boot in the crash. He's already had several surgeries on his leg and I'm sure there will be many more to go along with plastic surgery on his face.

If all that wasn't enough, my niece is scheduled for a c-section to birth their second child next Wednesday. She had alot of complications birthing their 3 year old and so the Dr. suggested scheduling this baby to be delivered by section. Not only will my NIL not be there to see the birth of his baby girl, but my niece will have her own surgery to try and recover from and not be able to be at her husband's side for awhile. So if you're into doing some praying, I would appreciate it if you keep them in mind.

My days of food and being OP continue to be good. Susie and I have been sticking with it for 12 days now. We are both feeling empowered and in control for the first time in a vvveeerrryyy long time!

Leanne: I'm so glad that you have the determination to walk and exercise whether you have a buddy to do it with you or not. Sometimes we just can't rely on anyone but ourselves. *Congrats on the nice loss!

Terri: The horse babies are sooooo cute. You are really going to have your hands full. How in the world are you going to find time to work???? * I'm glad to see you re-committed to the exercise. You always say you feel better when you do it, so I'm glad to see you doin' it.

Judy: I'm glad you were able to find yourself a fan. The temps here have been better this week, but I still sit with my little one on me as I'm typing here at the computer. Truth be known though I think it's an age thing with me, but don't tell anybody!

Lilion: I didn't mean to try and play know-it-all with the nutrition info on those fajitas. I hope you didn't take it that way. In the beginning of me doing WW I "pointed" out my favorite dishes at various restaurants and when we were going to eat there I just adjusted what else I did that day or even that week to accommodate it. I love sweet and sour chicken at the Chineese place so I just figured out the points and then would eat light the day before and the day after. The same with Mexican. I know that's not what WW advocates, they'd rather see you make better selections, but I figured if I could work it in and be happy and still lose, what the heck.

Tina: OMG, you have been working your little butt off. You need to take a breath! Congrats on the continued weightloss. Very impressive.

Ruth: I hope you had a wonderful visit with your out of town guests. That's always fun, alot of work, but fun nonetheless.

Kim: "For me, cooking is the key. I truly detest cooking, but in order to make this work for me, I have to do it. " AMEN, sista!!!! That is the key for me too. I have started cooking more and the weight is finally moving.

BarbG: I hope your mom did well after that last radiation. *I'm sorry your friend is being such a butthead boss. Just keep remembering the paycheck. That should keep you going.

Well, girls, I think I'm caught up. If I missed you it was not intentional. Tomorrow I'm having lunch with Susie and get this.......we discussed the best place to get a nice SALAD!!! Yup, we're learning.

See you all later. Love ya bunches!

"Many things which cannot be overcome when they are together, yield themselves up when taken little by little" - Plutarch

Good Morning Ladies.

Now that the pleasant greeting is out of the way...I'M TICKED OFF!!! Angry, Mad, Perturbed, Livid AND Royally Pissed! You guessed it...another week, another nothing, nada, zero, zilch and a big ole' goose egg on the scale front!

Darn it all, today marks my six month mark. And I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wanted to have lost 60 by now and 59 just isn't close enough - not when I've been at 59 for THREE WEEKS. I don't get it. I've been OP and I've even started exercising - really exercising, although not as much as you ladies - which I didn't do for the first 57 lbs. So why am I not losing? I lost when I ate at Outback Steakhouse. I lost when I was cheating a lot more often.

Ah shoot, I knew I was going to plateau sooner or later. I just wanted it to be later, you know? I wanted to see that round number - 60 - SO BAD this week...'cause the 6 months was a milestone, you know? And I am incredibly upset about it now.

I know, rationally, that I've done well. I'm wearing my (tight but not horribly so) size 20 jeans today, with a top that I've only worn once because I thought it was too tight and which is nice and loose now. I wore my size 22 linen pants yesterday, that I bought and NEVER wore because they were way too tight, but which now are almost too big. I know that I could be building muscle from working out and so not showing a true loss. I know I haven't had AF visit in 44 days and that's probably a part of the problem. I know that I should be glad to have maintained instead of gained. And I know that all this b!*@#ing and moaning isn't helping a bit!

So, I'm going to stay OP, I really am, although I REALLY want something deep-fried and greasy. I have a party to go to tomorrow and I'm going to eat whatever I want, but not stuff myself, then I'm going to be OP the rest of the time. I'm going to keep working out. I'm going to measure myself and see if I'm seeing any difference there from the exercise...although I'm going to keep in mind that it's probably too soon to see any...and if Aunt Flo hasn't arrived by Monday I'm going to the Doctor and find out what the heck is wrong!

And I'm not going to bother you ladies with my rants anymore until I have SOMETHING to report!

And THIN, I didn't think that at all! I appreciated the information.

Good morning ladies, The guest have departed and I am pooped! We had a really nice visit and I enjoyed having them very much.

Now on to the bad news...I bad! Lilion forget the greasy fried food....I did that number and believe me it is not worth it! Although at the time I was scarfing down fried fish, hush puppies, and french fries I thought it was heavenly, one look at the scale Thursday changed my mind in a hurry. I can't blame company for my poor judgement, oh heck, my complete lack of self control. Today I am back in control and plan to stay that way.

Thin, I don't know why we work so hard to clean our houses for guest, you can seldom tell for very long that you have done all of that work. I hope you enjoy your guest as much as I enjoyed mine. Congrats on the weight lose! You shine. I will be saying a prayer for your NIL.

J-ann, sorry you are stuck at work looking out the window, no chace to play hooky huh?

Terri, I don't know much about horses, but yours are really pretty, guess looks don't count though? Or do they? My closest encounter with a horse was not a very good one, he would bite! He was a champion Tennessee walker. very pretty, but mean tempered!

Well ladies, I think that is about all for now. I am going to have to get down to the nitty gritty to lose those two lbs for the 2x2 challenge, darn fried fish! See Ya later. Iwillbe....Ruth

Hello! Iwillbe...Ruth

Sorry Ruth ... I've been a bit MIA because I'm pms'ing.
Feeling really bad about myself, craving sweet and salty foods, finding it hard to exercise etc ... and as usual when I'm not doing so well, I stay away from everyone!

Good on you for getting back on plan after your fish&chips blowout - one blowout won't kill a week's good eating - something I am telling myself at the moment!

I have done 23 minutes on the exercise bike today and I will try to do another 10 minutes after picking up my daughter from work (its now 10:15 pm).

Leanne

Hi ladies,

Hey, I thought I posted yesterday. Must have dreamt it. Sorry!

Yes, Ruth, it is much too quiet around here.

We've been busy with horses, what else?! Especially since they are split up between two places. The old barn manager had old, moldy hay delivered on Friday and the new barn manager said I could bring the yearlings early and not charge me. I'd take the olders mares too but he has another fence to put up first. Plus we picked up the third new baby on Friday night. He's a wild thing as he has barely been handled. And we had all the getting ready for a show shampooing and trimming to do only to be rained out during the night on Friday.

I was doing really well with food. However, yesterday was one of those, well the scales not being nice so might as well eat, kind of days. I don't know what's going on.

Lilion, I did want to say that I know how frustrated you must be feeling. My body is doing something very similar too. Occassionally, TOM skips past a month for me and the doctor attributes it to the adjusting hormones as I lose weight. My TOM became almost non-existant at my highest weights and came back as I would lose. However, this is not welcome since I had just rejoined WW and I have been stuck in PMS bloat for about three weeks now. Hence, yesterday's mindset. It makes me want to give up as I feel like I'm wasting money by going to WI's and it certainly does not make me want to go to WI and feel defeated. I've often wondered if it could be psychosomatic because this seems to happen when I've set a goal to lose (which my goal was to lose 15 pounds over the 10 weeks of prepay that I purchased).

on your losses and your NSV! Size 20 jeans are awesome. Good job too for hanging in there six months. That is a great commitment. I hope you're feeling less frustrated and more positive this weekend.

Ruth - Glad to see that you enjoyed your visitors. In July, I worked myself into a frenzy cleaning house so that my siblings and spouses could come over to have a fondue night dinner. It was clean for about the first 15 minutes of their arrival and was totally trashed by the time they left later that night. It took me three weeks to get it all put back together!

Leanne - I would like someday to finally be able to say that PMS and TOM do not keep me from losing my focus or for gaining at WI. Good job on the exercise, keep working at it!!

I need to hit the shower and off to Sunday school.

Later chicks!

Good Afternoon Ladies!

Feeling much better now. Yes, I was a pig yesterday. No, I don't care. Today I begin anew.

Finally, Aunt Flo has arrived. I never thought I'd be glad...Unlike Terri, I've never had mine quit like this due to weight. I did, however, (and still do) have a tumor on my pituitary gland that puts off prolactin...a pregnancy hormone. In turn, it caused a bit of lactating and lack of periods. For months before it was found I thought I was pregant. Spent a ton on tests. Now it is controlled with meds and after I started taking them I was regular as clockwork again. Now having it stop again kinda freaks me out. Not to mention I'm back to wondering if I'm pregnant again, never know when it'll come and don't know what it is doing to my weight loss efforts. What a pain!

But, back to work and OP today. We'll see next Friday if AF coming has had any effect or if I need to do something else to break the plateau.

Still ticked off I didn't get to 60 though!

Oh! Oh! More news!!! On a whim today I pulled my wedding dress out of it's bag and tried it on...It not only fits - it fits better than it did 5 years and 5 months ago! It was pretty much skin-tight at my wedding. I told my husband I'm not quite the woman he married anymore! So I feel even better. If I don't ever lose again, I'm still back to where I was when we got married - but I fully intend to have that puppy be WAY too big by my next anniversary!

Good morning ladies, I see some of you finally woke up yesterday and posted. Sure was quiet on here over the weekend.

My chances of losing the 2 lbs on the 2x2 challenge seem slim to none right now. I really should not join in on those challenges, it seems I always mess up. I had an off and on weekend....does the word weak willed sound familar to anyone?

Leanne, I don't have the pmsing problem anymore, but I do tremember the cravings at that time, hang in there it all goes away eventually. At least you are exercising! I didn't even do that over the weekend. Honestly, sometimes I think I need a shrink. I completely sabotage MYSELF at times. Call me crazy! (no don't! )

Terri, yep, I do that thing...I haven't lost, might as well eat! See above reply to Leanne, sheesh, You would think that we would realize what a defeatist attitude that is wouldn't you?

Ok Lilion, I am happy for you about the wedding dress, but a little jealous of the fact that you are smaller than five years ago. I think I must be about 75 lbs heavier than five years ago! I just ask myself how the h--- did I let this happen. Just be PROUD of the 59 lbs. If you don't want it, I will be glad to take the loss.

Time to get busy. My kitchen floor needs a good mopping this morning and a whole slew of other things to do. I don't know about your house, but mine always seems to be messy after the weekend, I am sure it has nothing at all to do with DH being here all weekend scattering things around. Well, off to the mop bucket, take care and have an OP day. Iwillbe...Ruth

Morning ladies,

Oy! I could go back to sleep so easily. Wish I could call in sick. With all the rain and humidity, the mold in the air must be thick and its time for ragweed.

Oh look, there's a barf smilie.

I didn't get much done this weekend. The gloomyness and allergies turned me into a slug.

We did move some of the horses this weekend. I now have five at the new place and only two remaining at the old. I just want out of there and not ever have to deal with them again. They have made it a miserable experience. We also spent a great deal of time with the 15 yo's this weekend to get them introduced to the new place and new horses. Plus I think they were bored and wanted to hang around with us. We took them to meet a new trainer that we know since they are dissatisfied with the old and then fed them Mexican for lunch.

Ruth - Yes, you would wonder why we don't figure out how we sabotage ourselves and just stop it. I've been thinking about that since our Sunday school class yesterday. The topic of discussion was how we let strongholds rule our lives and keep us separated from God. We talked about how in times of stress or turmoil, we let food, emotions, reactions rule instead of prayer. Isn't that true with our food??? We let food rule for that instant gratification we must have instead of focusing on what we need to be eating or how we should be handling the stress that makes us want that comfort food. Something I'm going to work on this week.

Lilion - Woohoo for Aunt Flo for you! We had a gal at work go through surgery recently for a pituatary tumor. That is cool about the wedding dress! How fun! Good luck with breaking the plateau.

Okay, everybody else, where are you?

Have a great Monday and make it an OP, activity filled day!