Good morning ladies,

Its going to be a gloomy day. I won't complain because we so desperately need the rain. Right now its just a little bitty rain and we need more than that.

I'm going to work on paperwork this morning and watch FoodTV. I've already seen a delicious looking chicken, asparagus and lemon rice recipe that we might try.

Other than that, I'm putzing around the house. We're doing a open house tomorrow so I'll need to spruce it up and make it all shiney. That won't take long and may get up early and do it before church tomorrow. I need to get horse feed and go visit them this afternoon. Tonight, my brother and his spousette (they've been "engaged" forever and at 50 fiance seems weird ) and we're going out for dinner. We're going to an old steakhouse down by where the stockyards used to be years ago. It is one of those horrendously priced places that we've always wanted to go to but never have. This is our once-a-month adventure out into doing something we've meant to do but haven't.

I've been checking recipes out over on the Sonoma diet threads. LindaT has some good looking stuff that I think we'll try. They will fit into my eat for health plan since they are healthy grains and lean proteins.

Barb.G - I have comcast and like it. I do think it is way too expensive on the regular pricing plan. However, I will be sad to lose it when we move to the country. I've already checked availablity of DSL's in that location and NONE. OMG back to dialup.

Valerie - Its good to see you checking in from the road. I used to have to carry Bear when he was a puppy and he was 15 pounds at the time. His little legs were so short. Looking at the horse-dog stretched out on a human sized blanket now its hard to imagine carrying him. I've been going out this week and just getting the boys out and grooming them and it is wonderful to do just that. Three weeks!! I know that yearning to have "home" where the horses, dogs and DH are on one property. I long for that opportunity to drive in the driveway and have the dog run to greet me and and the horses nicker cause mama's home. DH might be somewhere there in the picture. Get to that exercise because you know you can do it and know that you need it!

Ruth - You've done so well lately. Don't let the weekend be an excuse to blow it because its harder to get back on track. And what do you gain by overindulging besides guilt and weight?

Lilion - I tried that "needs to listen without defensiveness" issue one year and got "what do you mean" and the same argument. I keep hoping he decides to go find another job. I do think his job will be affected by the integration. He is an older (56) retired army guy and as DH explains, they don't take negative feedback well and will do exactly what you say but nothing more. That's the military training ingrained in him. Whatever - he's not in Iran anymore! Have a good weekend and happy elipting!

I better get busy on the paper work.

to everyone else!

Good Afternoon Ladies!

Well, the weekend food demons are giving me a fit! Bad enough I had the Chinese muchies on Wednesday, but last night I was dying for a burger and had one after dinner...still only made it to 30 points...but still!

I got NO exercise yesterday...it was a awful day in Lilion's house. The DS has still not gotten his homework done and now is failing Math! This is a child who got 98% on his math on the standardized tests!!! He just hasn't been turning the assignments in! So...more grounding, some hysterics and me leaving the house to get the heck AWAY from him and all in all, it was 9 p.m. before I could have done the eliptical and I just didn't want to do it that late...didn't walk at work because I just never got the time...

Today, I tried homemade hummus. Was okay, but not as good as I had last weekend. Between that, the cappuccino and the baklava I'm at 23 pts for today!

Tomorrow we work a consession at a ball game and then we are going to an indian restaurant for dinner. I'm just not going to eat all day tomorrow!

Hang in there Ruth-I'm doing my best!!!

Must go now...got to get the kid to his homework and then at some point got to get to the eliptical! Later!

Hi everybody!

Valerie - I agree, to get out of the 200s would be bliss. I only got out of the 300s in January, 2006 so I am still happy about that. I hope to be in the 270s this month but I have to get my *** in gear and keep my mouth shut more! I never did learn to say no to much of anything and I just have to get the hang of it now. Almost daily my family gets fast food for my brother and asks me if I want anything. I have been better this month about saying no but I was bad Friday night. We went to Joe's crab shack and I had the 33 shrimp dinner with a side of coleslaw and while I was burying my diet I decided to have strawberry cheesecake too....I bet that shows up at weigh in on Tuesday, dont you?

Ruth - While the pizza was attacking you, I was overcome by a school of shrimp with a cheesecake chaser...I sympathize with you. At least you got attacked in your own home. I went out into the shrimp's turf and was just asking for it. They got me, they got me good.

Barbara - you are so going to love the cable internet hookup. It totally RULES! Unless, of course, there is an outage in your area. Which happens sometimes. Usually when a new subdivision is being wired in my experience. used to be when it rained but they upgraded and replaced a bunch of equipment and got that solved. Hopefully your ISP is all set up to run peacefully into the night.

Terri - OH NO, say it isnt so...not, not,...not dial up...OMG I could almost cry for you, you poor dear.

Lilion - I feel for you. I had the same problems with my son when he was younger than yours. I never did get to solve them due to the divorce and his living with his dad. He ended up letting him quit high school (like he had done himself). The lack of control is a terrible thing to deal with.

Hey where is everyone?

Quiet weekend.

I'm getting the house ready for an open house. The weater is not great as its cool and wet. Last weekend, the realtor did an open house and no one showed. So I'm not overly optomistic. But I have to make the house sparkly anyway.

I've been working on my menu plan and grocery list for next week. The challenge begins on Monday so I best be prepared.

Garnet - Get right back on plan. Can you ask your family not to tempt you? Maybe you can convince them that fast food isn't healthy for anyone no matter their size.

Lilion - Sorry to see that you're still having issues with your son and the homework. I have no advice but offer a big . Don't let the emotions get the best of you and rev up those bad food cravings. That's one of the side effects of stress.

to everyone else!

Have a good day.

Hi ladies!

I'm not going to stay but a minute as I'm FREEZING!!! I can't hardly work in my office anymore. I think my internal thermostat is broken because I'm freezing all the time. I sit here at the computer and shiver. I know it's this dang quad level home I live in. I can kick up the heat but it never goes down to the family room and office and never goes up to the bedrooms. So as long as I stay in the kitchen and dining room (uh, not the best place for me ) I'm fine.

Today is going to be a lazy day. Honey is already asleep in the chair and I'm going to go upstairs and crawl under the blankies with the cat and see if I can get warm and get rid of this headache.

Hope your day goes well. I'll talk to you soon.

Hi all,

Sorry for not posting for the last few days. I got very very busy with work + we have had flooding around our area which has meant some lecturers haven't been able to get to uni - making it busier for the rest! Add to that some family problems, a sick kid and adopting a new kitten ... and I haven't really had time to just sit and catch up for the last few days.

Bethany's trip to Sydney went well, even though one of the buses she was on had a minor crash while she was there, sideswiped a pole and blew out the tyre ... thank goodness not at speed. Luckily she didn't tell me about it until she got home ... otherwise I would have been more worried.

I have a lot of family stuff going on at the moment and I am going to leave going on SB until next week, because I don't think I could go through the withdrawals from carbs etc and be as clear headed as I need to be for the next few days. So the plan for this week is to eat low fat and keep within calories, so at least I don't do any damage during this time.

Thin, I hope your head is better by now - snuggling with the cat and keeping warm sounds like the best idea ... wish I could do that this morning!

Terri, I had to skip a whole thread so I guess I missed what the challenge is ... but sounds like you are well on track, with meal planning etc .. so good luck!

Garnet, I am so jealous ... I would love to be out of the 300s. I guess the only thing that's stopping me is getting my @$$ in gear!

Lilion, best of luck with your son! I have a son that hates homework too. I have found I have to bribe him ... "no Xbox/computer/tv until your work is done for the day"

I know I have missed a lot of other people from other threads, and I apologise ... life is just crazy at the moment.

I better go get dressed and ready for work, I have to leave in an hour and have four kids to get ready in that time

Terri - Nope, the family is not going to change to suit me. This is very clear. My brother never has had to and never will eat another way as long as someone has money for fast food. He is totally spoiled and I expect I am too in my ways.

Thanks for the thought tho. At least my dad did relocate the chocolate candy for me. Now if they would stop piling the dining table with little debbies and cinnamon buns. oh well, gotta learn to walk past it sometime might as well be now. I wanted an oatmeal pie so bad last night but I read success stories out of a Denise Austin book instead. Unfortunately now I have read them all. Guess I will have to read the other part of the book next.

Thin - All I can say is layer on the clothing and adjust for which level you are on. Maybe you could get some isotoner gloves. you should be able to wear those and type, I would think. Maybe a ski mask...ha ha ha poor little cold thing. I am so glad to find another cat person!

Leanne - Oh boy, two cat people in one day, hurray. I was beginning to think I was the only fat person who is not into dogs...

Just keep on program you will get out of the 300s. Whenever you begin south beach, you will probably lose about 13 - 20 pounds the first two weeks alone if you follow it to the letter. That is what got me into the high 200s. Now to get back on program so I can head for the 270s!

New week, new beginning, how many times have I said that??? Anyway oleAlvin and I decided to try low carbing again. He has just cooked up a bunch of boiled eyes and canadian bacon for breakfasts and my job is to look up dinner receipes. Any good suggestions?

I did do really well this weekend, did not do low carbing, but I did eat healthy and didn't over eat, and didn't eat a lot of things I shouldn't.

Tomorrow I will get up and go to exericse and be on the right track and hopefully this week will show a bigger loss than one pound.

Barb.G - I'm really hoping this is a typo about what Alvin cooked for breakfast.

Dinners -

Roasted chicken
salad
mock potatoes (cauliflower)

salmon
asparagus
wild rice

Look for the SBD cookbook online cheap. Great recipes.

I'm off to bed as my brain just died. Goodnight!

Yup, I had seconds on the spinach and fish (hey, they were small) and plenty of the green beans with almond slivers, and when they brought out the green peas to replace the corn, I helped myself to that. For dessert DH & I had similar choices, he had the cheesecake, and I had the cottage cheese. I left full - of vegitation and protein, and I'm proud of myself!

Actually, I've cheated twice on the SB plan. I finally caved and had an OJ that I was craving all day, and this a.m. I had oatmeal, but certainly not the end of the world. For Lent (no I'm not Catholic, just trying to renew my own commitment) I gave up breads & all baked forms of sugar & flours, and I haven't messed that up. That's more important to me to stick to without any errors, and for a longer period of time, as well as being the hardest because I love the stuff... and it's caused me so much damage

Terri, I have to admit how stupid I was. I was out walking the dogs this morning and there were some horses in a pasture along the road. Obviously I had to pet their sweet faces when they stuck their heads over. After the 6th or 7th time telling Max to sit & stay without any cooperation, my attention was on the dog instead of the 3 heads over the fence. Lemme tell ya, that chestnut was FAST! Nailed me on the right hand with his teeth. I should have been watching closer and known better than to give strange animals such an opportunity, and I fully deserved the bloodshed I suffered. Some horseperson! *** At least the puppy held up amazingly well. That first walk was cut short, but I walked again later for longer, farther & faster, and puppy didn't have a problem. He even had plenty of steam to play when I got back to the motel room! *** I hope this is the last time you have to show your place, because it sold! I am SO ready to have everybody "home" like you said, and I know you are too. *** And as bad as dial-up is, you should try the "air-card" hook-up I use on the road a lot of the time! Is there no satelite hook-up in the area?

Lilion, I'm tellin' ya, a couple weeks on a truck will have that boy's nose in the books! Of course, on truck stop food I might bring him back about 10 pounds heavier. *** Fortunately, cappuccino isn't one of my weaknesses. I can't even stand the smell of flavored creamer or flavored coffee, but I understand that if you like that stuff, you LOVE it. Don't they put, like, 3 weeks calories in every cup? Can't understand why I'm not addicted to the stuff.

Garnet, I think we both broke the 3's at about the same time. Oooo, Shrimp & cheesecake! Unfortunately CC is one of DH's FAVorite things, and consequently I'm developing a taste for it in the last couple years. Shrimp, however, has always been a weakness. I hope you're back on track now!! All we do is move on. We have to eat at fast food places pretty often. I have a mental list of what I can order at each of them. Most commonly we do Wendy's... chili or manderin chicken salad. Good luck facing down those too sugary, grease & chemical filled Little Debbies (I'm trying to make it easier for you - my personal favs are the nasty little holiday cakes.) *** We have 2 cats, and I like 'em too. It's just that they live at home. And you know cats, they aren't there to entertain you, they are there for you to SERVE!

Thin, Thinking warm thoughts for you. If you aren't happy with your house, I hear Terri has a nice place available....

Leanne, You threw me for a minute. I know what the weather is on my entire continant, and I couldn't think of any flooding like you mentioned. Gee! Wrong continant! *** I hope all kids are safe and well now, and hope the new kitten isn't causing as much havoc as my new pup! *** Those first couple days on SB are kinda tough if you're really hooked on baked goods or sweets, I won't lie. But it's SO worth it. This is my second time on Phase I, and I just try to keep in mind how great the success was last time. It's probably a wise thing to wait until you're ready and can commit to making it work the best you can. I hope it goes well for you next week when you jump on. I know that I'd still weigh 330+ if I hadn't started it. You'll be breaking the 00's before you know it!

Barbara, We all do it one week at a time, one pound at a time, and that's more than I lost last month, so don't be dissin' that pound! It's really great that your eating was healthy and you're gonna flex some muscle or do a little sweatin' tomorrow. We'll look forward to hearing of your continued success!

Hey Ruth! I hope your armor held this weekend. Lances up, CHARGE! and I don't mean on plastic!

Have I rambled on long enough? I think so, and then some. Best of health to you ladies!

Hello ladies, How are you this morning? I don't have time for replies this morning, but I wanted to drop in and wish you all a good day with lots of positive actions! Let's not talk about the weekend! Not so good! No need to rehash what I have been saying to myself already. See ya later! Ruth

Good morning,

Gosh, as usual, I'm running late this morning.

This morning begins our Biggest Loser challenge with my sister and mom. I'm hoping to keep us motivated to doing this through an October family reunion. However, I think my mom will not put much effort into it even though she really needs to get some weight off for her health.

I'm getting back to really paying attention to calories. Tonights challenge will be that its Equine Academy night and we usually eat out. I'll have to steer her to Wendy's so I can get a small salad instead of fries. Also, I've got my jeans and shoes so that I can take a walk right after work. Maybe I can go to a trail nearby instead of in the parking lot.

Valerie - I'm leary about letting horses muzzles getting close to me after reading some horror stories over on Cherry Hill's website. And I definitely don't kiss my boys either. I hope the hand heals up quickly.

to everyone else! Let's make this a great OP day!

My weekend was good, but I've already lost out today. I didn't wake up until 7:37 and to get to the health club to exercise, I have to leave at 7:30. So I'll have to get my act together tonight and do something around here for exercise, But after I work all day it's soooo hard. I have been able to make a water aerobics class after work somedays, but Monday is not one of them.

Yes Terri, Typo Queen here!!! Boiled EGGS!!!

Garnet: I have 4 cats, no dogs. And I wouldn't trade any of them.

Valerie, so glad you are able to keep in touch on the road!

Ruth, thanks for checking in.

Everyone else, have a great day!

Good Morning Ladies!

Speedy drive-by post as I have a hearing at 8:30 I haven't even looked at the file for yet!

It was a bad, bad food weekend. As planned, we worked the consession stand on Sunday and there were fries, chips and chicken strips to munch...we were trying not to eat really since we were going out...but I did anyway....Then we went out and had Thai. (The indian place was closed.) Didn't get in as much water as needed and didn't exercise - unless you count the five hours on my feet at the consession stand!

When I got home I spent an additional two or three hours with DS completing an assignment he had due today. HE had spent the entire five or six hours before that working on it at the sitters! I'm hoping that helped him learn his lesson.

The scale is up today. Here's hoping that the culprit is water weight and mega-glasses of water fix that by Wed WI!

Must run...I'll try to get back later today for replies!