Good afternoon Lifers! Any lurkers out there who would like to hop on board please feel free to do so! We're a group of LT members who are working at different things in our journey--some of us are at goal, some are working at getting back, and some are here just for support, motivation. In any case, we'd love to have new members!

It's been a cloudy/sunny day here in NE Pennsylvania--temps are hovering in the mid to high 60s. I was able to get outside at noon for a nice 30+ minute walk and it felt good. I woke up "crabby" this morning and the walk helped with my disposition.

I went out yesterday in search of slacks and came away empty-handed yet again. I will find the style/fit I need but so far I'm batting a big, fat Z-E-R-O!

The weekend was busy--DH and I put mulch around our multitude of trees, shrubs and flowers on Saturday morning and I did some weeding as well. I'm still feeling the effects of the squatting & pulling--I have muscles I had forgotten all about! The yard looks good though! It was hard coming into work this morning--we're in the midst of change from the semester to summer mode which means craziness for my office. This time of year is a challenge for me! I'm really working at keeping my journal and being diligent about it--I've gotten away from writing everything down. It's time to buckle down and be honest with what I'm eating.

So how was everyone's weekend? I see from Lala's blog that she's in London again. Hi to Susan, Lisa, Pam, Austingal!

Hi, Melissa. I was gone all last week as you know. Dad had surgery and did well. We had a little scare with some congestive heart failure, but it was cleared up. Now he needs to rest at home (very difficult for him--he's a doer). While I was visiting my dad, DH was in the emergency room with an infected bug bite. We don't know what bit him, but his finger was all puffy and ugly. He's on antibiotics and Bactroban ointment. DH and I did get to play some golf last week which was fun. We played at Celebration which used to be a Disney course (sold 3 years ago).

I was pretty good food-wise last week till Sunday night. I just had to have ice cream, so I had a Blizzard-type concoction. I wish I hadn't. I'm never going to be able to drop these pesky 6 pounds. I need some motivation. I'm exercising regularly, but the food just keeps getting shoveled in.

Hello to all our lifers--hope to hear from you.

Hi ladies,

I'm back at work and things have been very busy. Still trying to catch up from being out 2 weeks. The weather is rainy, gloomy and cold although I'm hearing that things will get much better tomorrow. I shouldn't complain all this rain is really helping the flowers and the grass.
This weekend DH and I went to Barnes and Noble to buy a book on Maui (we're going to vacation there this September). We've both decided that we need to get into shape before leaving, so I picked up a new journal and I'm bound and determined to take off this excess weight. If going to Hawaii isn't a big enough motivator to loose the weight I don't know what will be.

Melissa I'm in the same boat as you regarding pants that fit properly. I'm having no luck at all. The problem is I'm in between sizes..a size 6 is too tight in the rear and an 8 is too baggy. Most pants I try on are always too big in the waist. In addition to loosing weight I really need to "firm up" too! You got a real workout in your yard this weekend!

Lisa glad your Dad's surgery went well. Hope your DH's finger is better, I wonder what bit him??

Susan I didn't realize you were in Cuba, did you vacation their last year too? Hope you had a nice time!

Hi to all the other lifers and lurkers...pop in and say hello.

Pam, good to hear from you. Maui should be great. I know that you can lose the weight (as I know how, but it just won't come off). We think either a spider or a fire ant bit my DH's finger. Fire ants are a pain. How did your daughter's surgery go?

My GF who recently lost a lot of weight has the same problem with pants. They have a gap in the back at the waist and then they're tight in the thighs. She's wearing size 0 at Ann Taylor. Most other stores don't have anything to fit her and she's not considered petite sizes. My problem is always in the length.

Hi everyone.

Got back in town yesterday after spending the weekend with Mom and family in New Brunswick. It was good to see everyone; the cemetery service on Monday was low-key and not as difficult as I expected it to be.

Pam: I think you'll enjoy Mauii. I've spent close to three months there total, over three separate trips. It's a scuba diver's paradise. Re Cuba - I spent a week there with my sister in 2004 - same hotel. I enjoyed it both times.

Melissa: Too bad you have such difficulty finding pants. I guess I'm fairly average because I dont' seem to have any trouble from the looks of my closet.

Lisa: Ouch - hope your DH (and father) are better. We don't have all those dangerous insects here in Canada. Too cold. I'm thankful for that

I've come down with a nasty cold and am missing another run tonite. The half marathon is less than three weeks away, and I'm not sure I'm ready for it. Think I'll run anyway; what the heck - what's the worse that can happen?

More tomorrow. Dinner beckons.

Susan

Susan, good to hear from you. Oh, go ahead and run the 1/2; you'll be fine. You know that you can run the distance. I just noticed that you're nearly halfway to your weight loss goal--that's great! I wish I could drop these pesky pounds.

DH is doing well--the skin is now pink and not puffy red. My dad returned to work! (He's not supposed to, but he was bored). He's trying to take it easy.

Good morning everyone!

It's been pretty crazy here. We had a student with a medical condition die suddenly on Tuesday in a residence hall and needless to say it has shocked our community. The students in the wing of the residence hall are pretty devastated and to top it off we're in finals week. It's been an emotional week all around.

Pam: Maui sounds wonderful and what an motivational tool to get back on track and in shape! I've been doing good with the exercise--the eating needs a lot of work lately. I ate way too much last evening and felt horrible when I went to bed.

Lisa: I'm glad your dad is recovering nicely--some men have a hard time slowing down and others take full advantage of the recovery process. Glad to hear also that DH is getting better. Those fire ants are pesky little creatures aren't they? I know my GF has told me to be careful when I visit.

Susan: Sounds like the service for your dad went okay and that you had a nice visit with your mom. I hope you're feeling better. I woke up a little stuffy this morning but then all the pollens and stuff are full blown. My new allergy med seems to be working really well though--I'm at least sleeping all night and not waking up coughing! Go for it with the half-marathon! You'd probably only regret not doing it so do the best you can

The campus is quieting down--the last of the freshmen will be leaving today and then we jump into summer mode and craziness. I don't have any student workers for the summer and I'm worried about who I could get. My coordinator is great so that's a bonus. She's leaving next Thursday for a family vacation so we're trying to get a lot done before she leaves.

No major plans for the weekend--tomorrow I've got a clear slate; Sunday will be a little busy but that's okay at least I have one day where I can get some things done. Anyone else have plans?

Hi to Austingal, Lala!

Thanks for your confidence regarding the half. I think I will go for it. It's hard to figure out how long I should run this weekend. The group is doing 20 km. That's much too much for me. I'm thinking maybe 14 or 15, then taper next week.

Evening eating has been bad this week. I know my weight is up but I'm avoiding the scale. Thinking of going back to weekly weigh-ins starting next week. I really want to get another 10 lbs off. If I never get into the 130s, that's okay, but I think another 10, putting me at 142, is reasonable and I shouldn't have to work too hard to stay there.

My sister has lost over 20 lbs on a program called Simply for Life (the family has nicknamed it Simple for Life). She is doing well. Highly motivated because she paid a lot of money up front, and she sees a counsellor every week who weighs her and quizzes her about her eating and exercise. Much too restrictive for me, but it's working for her and I'm glad to see her with more energy. It's provided some motivation for me to get at this last 10.

Plans for the weekend? I'm cleaning the house today in preparation for dinner guests tomorrow nite - another sister and her new boyfriend. Long run Sunday morning, swimming lesson with one of my friend's kids in late afternoon.

The cold isn't really a bad one, but it's making me a tad on the miserable side. I'm gonna have a rest this afternoon before I tackle the downstairs.

Have a good one,

Susan

Melissa, that's awful about that student. I know that it must have been emotional. Yes, men are just different, aren't they?

Susan, that's great about your sister losing weight. Hey, whatever works! my sister has a new boyfriend, too. Well, actually, he has mentioned proposing. So it looks serious. I like him and he has the same first name as DH.

Plans? Tomorrow I have a 2 mile run in our town in conjunction with our annual Founders' Day festival. It's not that big a deal, but for our town, it's something. Then in the afternoon, DH and I are headed to a Derby party (for charity). All the women get dressed up with hats and we bet on the horse races and an auction. We go every year; it's fun. On Sunday, DH has to work, so I'll probably be working around the house and running errands.