Good morning everyone, I don't have much time this morning, but I wanted to come and say hi!

My youngest daughter and children are coming for the weekend. This will be the first time I will see them since the marriage broke up. I don't have to tell you how much I have worried over this and the children in paticular. It will be good to see for myself how they are handling it. I try to keep my opinions to myself...not easy!

I am cooking them a lot of veggies for lunch. I have a feeling they don't get a lot of that at home. My daughter works long hours and a lot of overtime.


Ok, that is it for now, gotta get busy. Later...Ruth

Good morning ladies,

It is going to be a couch-kind of weekend. We are to get anywhere from 3-7 inches of rain before its all over. I guess that's okay since we were so far behind.

Good news! We received an offer on the house yesterday. We were all so stunned, we didn't know what to do. DH had gotten a call at 4:30 on Thursday that there was to be a showing at 5:00. I was on my way home from work and was going to pick him up and head over to Macaroni Grill to meet Richard and Linda. He had to take the dog and go over to MG on his own because I couldn't get there. Which meant I had to trust him to leave the house within my specification. I saw that they didn't take a seller's disclosure so I figured it was another drive-by with no interest. Sherri had tried to get in touch with the realtor on Friday for comments but we got an offer instead. And a offer that we are okay with - within $5k of our original price so HECK YEAH we'll take it given this market. We have to change the closing date because the realtor wrote it up as May 29th (Sunday) of Memorial Day weekend. So if they accept that, we'll be moving out by June 4th. So, this weekend, we are going to go look at a bunch of places. We have Sherri setting up four for this afternoon and we're doing drive-bys on at least five more on our own. In this rain no less. The place we had the contingency on is still available. But we all three say that our house sold one week after releasing the contingency for a reason - tells us to go look for something better. The issue will be getting something found that we want and ready for the horses and that we can close near the June 4th timeframe or else we'll be moving twice. We'll consider moving into a month-to-month duplex if we have to.

2Cute - Garage sale. No wonder you had a million things to do this week. I'll be having one at the end of May. Hate doing them and only now do them when I move. Otherwise, tax donation is my motto! I'm definitely into decluter - especially since I have seen how much extra stuff I had around and moved out to storage two months ago. You'll be exercising as soon as its warm enough for that pool! I am so jealous of that pool.

Ruth - I kind of do the same thing when I sign up for the challenge. However, Dr. Phil would say that its time to rewrite the script and that if we say that we always sabotage ourselves then we're doing failure thinking and therefore, yes we will fail. Come on, let's rewrite our scripts!

Lilion - That sucks about your renter! Have you heard from her since getting fired? Maybe she will find something soon and still be able to live there. How's the shoulder? Take it easy this weekend. for the procedure on Monday.

Sue - Congrats on getting rid of that pound and the inches. Focus on how your body is changing instead of just the number on the stupid scale. Much more positive and motivating than waiting for the damned number to change in the downward direction. You're doing so great for your body with the water aerobics and the occassional walking. Long-term benefits. Keep working at it!

Barb.G - Is your reign as top dog over? Fire anybody? Did you get your tee-shirt?

BJF - DH loves to cook the big portabella mushrooms. So much that he has kind of burned me out on them. I need to remind him about grilling them.

Joanne - You're off to the Miss Indian World by now. I hope that you get to enjoy being with family. How did she do?

Well I better get DH up. We're going to Bob Evans for breakfast and then off on our journey of looking at houses in the rain.

to everyone!

My reign as "top dog" was very short lived, and yes it's over. No, I didn't fire anyone but as of Friday ther were 3 with their heads on the chopping block.

I had a busy week. Sometehing to do every night, and unfortutnately they all included food. I did as well as I could, but didn't not manage to stay OP. BUT yes, I raked up enought points at the health club to win a tee shirt. I'm not sure when I will get it.

Nothting much else to report, but I'll keep checking in though out the day.

Terri, lots of luck on house hunting.

2Cute, just think: pool season is almost here.

Lillion: maybe the Trailer From **** will be okay, maybe your renter will find something else really soon. I'll be keeping you in my prayers for your surgery Monday.

Ruth, when it comes to our kids and grandkids, keeping our opinions to ourselves is sometimes the best way to go. Just enjoy your time with them.

Sue, congrats on the weight loss. I'm jealous!!!

Later

OK, so I’m like 2-3 threads behind, even on the Old Hens list, but I’m gonna TRY to catch up. Please forgive me for the people & things I will inevitably miss. I’m really trying, and I certainly don’t mean to slight anyone! Here goes…

Welcome Michelle – MomOf2! Isn’t Zelma a sweetie?! – (but don’t tell her I said so – HA!) If those are your girls in your avatar (and who else’s would they be?) they’re beautiful and look like sweeties, as well. It looks like I’m too late to ask if they like ponies – looks like the evil BOYS have already entered the scene, and I bet they’re in hot pursuit.

Hi Joanne/NotTheCheat. I’ll see you on the main thread as soon as I get caught up here. Thanks so much for checking up on me!

Sandi D – I LOVE this saying that you put: “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” Isn’t it the truth!!

Thin – EXCELLENT job on the -5.9!! WHOOP WHOOP!!! I wanna check out that 3FC book, too.

Terri – I think I’ve finally got that COMMIT thing going on again. It’s not easy sometimes to “get back on the horse” so to speak. <BG> …HAY! I don’t wanna hear you talking about quitting. Who else will show me the trails of Missouri if you don’t?! Then we’re going to Idaho and Dogpal is gonna show us what REAL Western riding is, up in the mountains. COMMIT. COMMIT! COMMIT!!! This IS what you want most! Plan tomorrow’s food today. *** Waa-HOO!! Congrats on the house selling!!! That’s wonderful! This will be stressful, I’m sure, but it’s another chance for a new start as you seek out and move in to a new place… with more physical labor – HORSE CHORES! Yeah!! Commit now girl!

Barbara – Are they still busting your chops at work!? Goodness, girl. Tell ‘em you’re taking a vacation to Hawaii, and if they’ve got a problem with it, you send ‘em to me. Good job on the new wardrobe addition – the T-shirt that is!

Ruth, Howz your perm looking? I looked like the lion in The Wizard of Oz when I got mine. Haven’t had another in 28 years! Did you decide on a new set of wheels yet? Sounds like those “drug dealers” just put you thru heck, poor girl. *** Have a nice visit with DD & DGC!

Heavens, Lilion! That story hurt just to read about it – OUCH! I hope by now the pain has past or is at least under control, but sounds BAD if you have surgery Monday….and say WHAT?! Your new renter got fired?! How AWFUL! … I hear there’s an opening in one of the prisons in Wyoming – would that help? She could just mail you the rent check. ( I hope a little silliness helps, if only for a moment. Sorry, I can’t out-vote God.)

2Cute – You’re another one of those busy, busy ladies! I hope DH is doing well!! I wish I could get to one of those de-clutter missions. I still have all my stuff in the Basement from before I started truckin’ and then got married. We have so much double stuff, and I can’t seem to even get it out to AmVets.

KristasMom/Sue – Bravo for you for staying on plan and exercising. Now, BE PATIENT… and maybe drink more water? I am absolutely POSITIVE that the WL will come for you. Give it a chance and hang in there! You are doing Great, and inspiring me to follow!! Sounds like those inches are really working for you, so I’m SURE that gaining muscle & toning is an NSV for you.

<< I just had a salad for the first time in a long time, mostly because I just read about one of you who is doing salad for one meal a day as part of her plan.. Today you lead, I followed. Thanx!>>

Joe Anne – Yippee for your niece in the pageant! GOod luck to her! I bet you’re there watching her glow even as I’m writing this. Let us know all about it! Blessings as always on the hearts of your family.

OH NO!!! WYLLENN’s back with that pesky exercise thread reminder, to remind me that I’ve been a useless jump-seat potato this month. (The jump-seat is the passenger seat in the truck.) Yes Wyllenn, I’ll try to get back with the program this month. I think I’ve worked thru the depression that immobilized me for the last couple months. I love that you keep a fire under me Wyllenn – Thanks!!!!!

Hi BJF! Ooooo, BBQ sounds so good – and it can be done OP for almost everybody I bet.

HI MicheleK & everybody else I missed!!

Oh yeah, and about me - I think I'm finally getting it together. I started trying to log my food and eliminate starches & sugars (altho I've had a few small slips there.) I did have one GREAT moment. I was in Dallas Tuesday and weighed myself there. Then I drove 100 miles to Van, TX, and weighed myself again - and I'd LOST 8.5 POUNDS in only 2 hours!!! I figured that if that trip had gone all the way to Miami, that's over 1300 miles - I'd have lost enough weight to get almost to goal!!! Sadly, we delivered in New Orleans & went up to Nashville. By the time I got to Nashville I was up by 9.5 pounds.

Moral of the story... SCALES LIE! THEY ALL LIE!! Dad-gummed things are worse than men!!!

At least we're on our way home now - for all of 20-24 hours - so I can at least get an better weigh in for the 2x2, PLUS, I have an excuse if it doesn't go well, that I'm a day early.

SO. Where are Garnet & DOgpal and Ammi and and and everybody?? Or am I getting my lists confused again?

Hello everyone,

I haven't dropped off the face of the earth but I am back at work on full hours now, I'm managing OK but have been really tired after my 12 hour shifts so it's been early nights for me.

My plateau seems to have passed now, I lost 4lb last week and another 2 this week , it feels good to be under 300 I can't remember the last time I was, lol.
I'm not sure if it's just a coincidence but I read an article about boosting your metabolism, tried some of the tips and the weight seems to be moving again. The main focus was to eat more! I've started eating a piece of fruit first thing in the morning before my porridge, apparently this wakes up your metabolism! The article also suggested eating small healthy snacks regularly and NEVER going for more than 3 hours without food, and preferably no longer than 1 hour. I've been having more fruit, especially berries (full of anti-oxidants apparently), the occasional oatcake or low fat cereal bar, low fat hummus and loads of veg cut into crudites - celery, peppers, cucumber, carrot. It also suggested that just before you go to bed eat a small amount of protein, such as a spoonfull of cottage cheese or a small cube of chicken, this is supposed to help your metabolism keep working while you are sleeping. It was strange to be snacking when I wasn't hungry (I seem to be eating all the time) but it seems to be working. This definitely seems to be worth trying if you are stuck on a frustrating plateau.


A big to all our new members, good luck on your weight loss journeys, I'm sure you'll find inspiration and motivation here.

I have loads of catching up to do so I'll be back to do replies when I've had chance to have a good read of the threads. I hope everyone is well and managing to outrun their food demons.

Big hugs to everyone

Good evening, ladies!

Terri - Congratulations on selling the house. That is so utterly wonderful, and I really hope you find exactly what you are looking for. I know what you mean about markets - hardly anybody here in Michigan can sell - it's so weird, you listen to all the reports about the US economy and then you look around here - maybe we're in a different country.

Lilion - we have a guest house with a sleeping loft, and your stories are exactly why my husband refuses to ever consider renting.

Well, I dropped another pound last night - so I've now hit my challenge goal. I feel like that kid in the Disneyworld commercial - I'm too excited to sleep!

Tomorrow is our 18th wedding anniversary - hard to believe. My husband asked me what I wanted to do, and I said, after our workout, right? Every Sunday we go and work out for an hour.
We sort of decided that we don't need anything, and I asked him not to give me flowers. I love to show off lots of roses to the other women at work, but our 401Ks can use the money more than the compost heap in a few weeks.

I know what you mean, Valerie, I thought I was joining this list with these cool women that I had been getting to know from their posts, and bam, they're gone. Hopefully, some will reappear soon. I like them.

Sue

Sue, Congrats on the 18th! You turned down flowers? I don't believe my husband, or any man has ever sent me flowers. I spent 10 years with a jerk who told me it was a waste of money. (Read: I wasn't worth the price of a lousy bunch of weeds.) I love flowers. I spent $75 once on a bouquet for myself when we were home last year. I carried that thing into whatever room I was in. I slept with it just to smell them when I woke up. If I had it to do over again, I'd never date any guy that didn't send me flowers in the first month. But I see your point if you're used to getting them, you don't have the same issue I do.

Good for you, hitting your challenge goal!! BRAVO!

I'm with you on the economy remarks. The division between income levels seems to be getting sharper all the time. We have a couple people on our block moving out of town for work. One of them was previously successfully self-employed. We grossed over $220,000 last year, but by the time you take $60,000 for fuel alone, plus truck payments and repairs, insurance and other stuff, it comes down to running like crazy to break even. I mean tires are $350 a piece, times 10, plus mounting and balancing. A truck wash is about $55, an oil change is close to $200, and the list goes on. No health ins. No retirement. But DH is absolutely convinced he's not a man if he's not self employed. sigh.

Well that was good. I just talked myself into being bent outa shape again. OK. Thinking "horses" again. Thinking "I'm off the truck by Christmas" AGAIN. Perking up... Where'd I leave my bootstraps, anyway?

Good morning ladies,

Looks like we have a break from the rain. Hope its done for a few days. Gloomy, gloomy, gloomy! I didn't get any couch time yesterday. Perfect day for it.

We spent all day looking at houses. Nothing that really tripped our trigger. Several of them were not suitable for horses at all so no point in really looking closely at the house. One was just gorgeous on seven acres but it was more of an estate setting than animal setting. It could be fenced off. The house was decorated in African themes. These people are obviously big hunters. There had to be at least eight wild animal heads mounted on the walls. They had seriously decorated the house with textured walls and all so repainting would be a chore. It reeked of smoke though. But something we'll keep in mind. We drove by the place that we were going to buy and saw that the neighbor is putting up a barn and other structure dead on with this house so that when you walk out or look out the window, there is someone else. Really ruining the appeal of it being back off the road and away from people. Bear would be barking at them all the time. Other than that, we're starting again today.

Wish I could say that food was healthy and that I got lots of exercise yesterday. But food was take-out food eaten on the road and we spent the time driving around.

Valerie - Great to see you peaking in. Three times. Thanks for the pep talk about COMMIT. You are so right. I'll not be able to ride my boys if I don't get it in gear. Plus I will have a whole host of other health issues if I don't get it in gear.

Sue - Congrats on making your goal and your 18th anniversary. Great too on reminding DH that you're still going to do your workout. I'm not sure what happened to some of our ladies but unfortunately, folks come and go on the boards. But I know two of our old hens are still around but too busy to post regularly like they used to. We are definitely a smaller group than the other 300+ thread.

Leslie - Being under 300 is a big milestone! Keep up the good work!

Oh heck, look at the time. Apparently forgot that I am going to Sunday school this morning. Better hit the shower and get moving.

to everyone!

Hi Ladies!

Doing a quickie post. This is the last time I'll have to check in until I'm up and about - which I'm hoping is Tuesday. We'll see. Have to be at the hosp. at 5:30 a.m. for surgery at 7 so I hope to be home by early afternoon.

Terri - so glad you sold the house! I'm sure you'll find something soon suitable for the horses and then you'll have your babies in your own back yard! That'll be just great!

Lesley - Under 300!!!

Valerie - Laughed out loud at the scale story - maybe you get lighter when you go south? Brazil, here I come!

Sue - Happy Anniversary!

Well, food has been BAD! I just have too much else on my mind I guess. And yet the scale isn't being too unkind. I'm supposed to push the water today, which I haven't yet, so I don't think I've done any damage with the fat stuff. Wonder if I could get them to do a little liposuction while I'm under tomorrow? At least my arm ought to stop aching for a few hours.

Today we planted dozens of flowers. "WE" being my DH while I told him how and where since the right arm is still out of service. That's been kind of a perk. Annoying as it is to not have the use, I haven't had to cook, clean or take the dogs out for a week. I may have to fake this injury again.

Well, must run. I'll be back soon~!

Lilion, good luck tomorrow and I will be thinking about you. Oh yeah, Might as well have some fat sucked out while you are under! If I am going to be put to sleep, I am going to tell the Dr. to take off at least ten lbs somewhere...hips!! Shoot, he could take ten off of each one and you still couldn't tell it. come back soon. Ruth

Happy Sunday everyone. Just peeking in for one of my fly bys.

Want to wish Sue a HAPPY ANNIVERSARY !!!! Flowers are much more than just compose you silly girl.

Terri... Congratulations on your house. Maybe you could extend the final day to complete your sale to give you a little extra time to look for a new home. Of course, then you take a chance of them changing their minds.
Good luck on your search.

Barbg ... we have the pool open and CLEAN. But too cold to swim still.
My daughter bought me water aerobic barbells for Mother's Day. I should get a good workout with them.

Lilion... I will be thinking of you all day Monday. GOOD LUCK !!! Can't wait until you are back and running again. Take advantage of your time off.

Ruth... I can so relate to your worries about your daughter's breakup.
My son and his wife are still seperated... but if my son had any sense he would be running the other direction instead of giving her ANOTHER chance AGAIN. He has his faults... but compared to hers .... he was a saint.


Lesley... Congratulations on being UNDER 300 lbs.
I think your tips are good ones. It is hard to break old habits... but our old way of eating got us this fat. The trick is to keep it small meals and small snacks. For some people that is hard... but worth the extra effort.

Valerie... Love it when you post. You always hit the nail on the head.

I think I hit everyone in this thread. It was not intentional if I missed you.

Just a quickie post before I jump in bed! We had a very busy weekend. Yesterday John got out of work early and we went to a Pig Pickin to celebrate one of the girls in the office who just got married a couple of weeks ago. They were both married before so they had a small ceremony with just their family and did the pig thing this weekend to celebrate! It was about an hour away from us. We came home and rested for a short bit before we took off to take Andrew to his first baseball game. Its a minor leagure, the Carolina Mudcats. THey had the traveling baseball history show there with the big bouncers and giant blow up slides and the boy had the best time of his life! We ate chicken and fries, sweet tea, fat pretzels and cotton candy. That took 5 wipes to get his face and hands clean but he loved it!! Then this morning I read my paper and went to get my hair cut. I actually got it CHOPPED off! It was down below my shoulder blades and now it is not even touching my shoulders but I love it! When I got home I had to start the laundry and clean up quickly because our neighbors came over with dinner. We cooked pork roast on the grill, corn on the cob, carrots, mashed potatoes and creamed onions. They brought over all the food! I had made a rice pie so we had that for dessert. I am exhausted now! I will try and catch up to you all this week.

I have a class to get my notary down here on tuesday and thursday night so its a busy week but I'll at least try and check in!

Have a great night! MichelleK

Okay Inquiring minds need to know! What is a pig picking?