Starting the topic. I'll be back sometime today to catch up and post.
Judy

Rachel – I’m sure you will do well in the next couple of weeks – in any case, it seems it’s not just your face that is lovely but the whole package, especially in the little sundress! I hope you will not be affected by the tropical storm.

Kelly Jo – WTG on working out again. You are right – beer and what not just happen sometimes. I try to write it down, forget about and just get in a little extra activity – which sounds like what you did! I am trying to move a little bit more too although I am trying to take it slowly and not do too much what with the back issues.

Tanya – it’s good to hear from you – we missed you! Sorry about all the mockups with the house. I hope you hear form the owner soon and get the meeting to straighten things out. Believe me, I’m no stranger to comfort eating. What I try to ask myself when I get into one of those valleys is if the eating is making me feel better (after the first 5 minutes or so when something like peanuts M&M’s taste so good) or does it end up making me feel worse in the end. In any case, please don’t beat yourself up. How about trying to improve one thing – like getting in your water or getting in the fruits and veggies? I’m sure I’m just being ignorant here but does it usually snow in New Zealand (other than in the mountains)?

I had a 0.4 gain this week – not bad though since it was TOM. Of course, it didn’t get me to my 10% but my goal is to get there this month so I still have some time. Yesterday was a bit rough – I had breakfast at home before going out to my grandson’s (we went to see “Cars” yesterday – very cute movie). When I got there, they had bought bagels and doughnuts. Well, between having a bagel, popcorn at the movie and ˝ a doughnut afterwards (and no, I wasn’t hungry) I had VERY few points left for dinner. Luckily we had planned to have flounder and we just baked it with some capers. I decided to try a bit of another workout tape I had been doing before the accident (with a LOT) of modification) and although I was a little sore afterwards, it felt good to work up a bit of a sweat. I had to use some flex points to get through the rest of the day but that’s what they are there for.

Have a great one!
Judy

Judy, you have been doing so well despite your back troubles. I am proud of you!! And we all know how those social situations just muck everything up! Yesterday the girls and I attended a celebratory picnic---the son of my girls' dance instructor won the World Fireknife Championship in Hawaii for the second year in a row, and he is only 16! Here is a link if you are interested:
[URL="http://www.polynesia.com/fireknife/results_2006.html"]
Anyway, there was a LOT of food, most of it unhealthy--potato salad, hot dogs, lots of ethnic noodle dishes, cake, cookies, chips. I ate very light in the morning, plus I went running yesterday am. I had to guestimate some of the points for what I ate, and used some flexpoints, but I feel really good about my choices. Plus my own contribution to the feast was a fruit salad and some turkey wraps!
Kelly Jo, so glad you are back! You are definitely on the right track woman. Do you go swimming with the boys after the lessons? That would be great exercise! This is my daughter's first year doing the swim team, and even though she has to be at the pool by 8am 3 days a week, she loves it and gets in lots of exercise. Today they did butterfly for the whole hour! I could never do it!
Tanya, so good to hear from you!! I imagine you are totally consumed with the stress about the house. Just remember that a lot of what is happening is out of your control--the weather, the owner being on holiday. I would be concerned as you are about them rushing through the rest of the job as well. Here in the states (or at least FL), homes are NEVER finished when originally promised! I have sometimes thought I'd like to build but it just seems to make everybody crazy. Hang in there, you are doing the right thing by taking action, and things will eventually work out! Just take a deep breath, slow down, and wait to hear from the builder. You've done all you can for now.
Have a cup of tea and relax!
We are not doing much today---we made it through swim practice this morning with a few sprinkles, and I went to the gym to get my workout in for the day. It's so gloomy and rainy outside with the tropical storm headed our way, I'm sure we'll be stuck at home. I'm going to try to catch up on my scrapbooking so I'm ready to do the Hawaii pages when we get back!
Of course there's the endless laundry and housework calling too.....

Have a great week everyone! Keep checking in, this place can really help when you're feeling down.....

Hi guys,
Well this past week was a bad week for me. Lots of stress. I ate a little more than usual. Fortunately, it didn't show up on the scale. I didn't gain or lose weight. I'll take it.

Checking in again. Hoping to check in more regularly - hopefully better eating/exercise will follow.

Judy ~ Water is definitely something I can improve on to make a start. I am very slack with drinking at all and suffer for it. WTG on the small gain at TOM. My youngest son Cameron would be so jealous that your grandson went to see Cars. He's dying to go - it just opened last Thursday. WTG on staying within your points despite the snacking and also getting in some pre-injury exercise and working up a sweat. In Christchurch where I live (middle of the East Coast, South Island) it very rarely snows. Usually a bit further down South gets more regular snowfalls. When I was a kid snow was so exciting as it was incredibly rare. I think I remember 2 times when it snowed. Since a huge snow storm in 1992, it has snowed most years but usually just one small dumping of about 2-4 inches and it's normally almost gone by the next day. This is the most we've ever got and there's still plenty there today.

Rachel ~ WTG at displaying such control at the celebration yesterday. That is always so hard - good for you. And bringing a healthy contribution as well as getting some exercise in. I'm sure a few pounds will be gone in the next couple of weeks so your gorgeous dress is slightly roomier. Thanks for the good advice about the house. Houses always run over schedule here, hence the penalty clause which makes them try harder to stick to a time frame. My next door neighbour is originally from Florida. Have fun with your scrapbooking.

Ivynikki ~ WTG on the maintain.

I need to get some office work done as I'm meeting a friend and her twins at Denny's for their birthday lunch. Don't really feel like going as I have so much to do but it'll probably be a welcome break. Have a great day all.

Heyyyyyde hiddddddy howdyyyyy girls! Well, This was not a good weekend for me...how is it possible to gain three lbs in one day? Its all good. I still worked out yesterday and cleaned for three hours on Saturday so.......O well. I counted my points and am waiting on some stuff from my mom. she bought me a points calculator and the bracelet (she has been doing it for a month now and is loving it...down 12lbs and going to meetings) TOM is right around the corner too. I am planning on a trip to MCdonalds today with the neighbor and kids. I will check in later!
Have a great OP day everyone!

Hi all,

Sorry I went missing! Last week I was a bit under the weather and I don't know what happened to me the week before. I'll have to go back and catch up on posts.

Judy - Sorry to hear about the gain, but it's a blip and I bet it's gone now. I'll echo Rachel - you are doing a marvelous job staying on track despite your back problems. Are you feeling any better? Sounds like you did a good job making up for the pre-movie bagel and 1/2 doughnut as well as the movie popcorn. Movie popcorn - yum. We go to the movies so very rarely these days, that I always indulge.

Rachel - Great job on the picnic! Many different noodle dishes would be my complete undoing. I love noodles so! In fact, now I'm craving a trip to Noodles & Co. My daughter does swim team too - it's her second year. Glad to hear your daughter likes it. It's such great exercise for them.

Ivy - Congrats on the maintain!

Tanya - Sounds like your having a bit of trouble with the new house. I hope it's all resolved for you quickly and to your satisfaction. Hang in there. Did you enjoy your lunch out yesterday? I know that sometimes when I really don't feel like going somewhere, I somehow end up having the best time.

Kelly - Those three pounds are mostly water. Bet they're gone by now. I bet I could put on five in one day if I really put my mind to it. Kudos to your mom - she's doing a great job!

Not much new or noteworthy here. Ana's last day of school was last Tuesday and it was really just a couple of hours. By last Wednesday I was already hearing "Mom, I'm bored." Thankfully she started swim team and summer school this week, so mornings are taken care of. I had to go to the city for a meeting yesterday and did more walking than I've done in awhile. It felt good to be moving. I see my surgeon tomorrow for what I think will be my final checkup and I'll see if he gives me permission to get on the stationary bike. I haven't hopped on the scale for any sneak peeks, so I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring me. Thursday was our anniversary and we went out for Chinese food and that sort of set the tone for the rest of the week. But on the other hand I've had a lot of light dinners, so maybe it will all balance out.

Have a great evening.

Carla

Just back from a school trip to the Art Galley. It was a lot of fun - the kids were great and really enjoyed it. The building company owner made contact this morning - unfortunately I was on the trip so couldn't take the call. He wanted to arrange a meeting for this morning so it'll have to be tomorrow now.

KellyJo ~ Sorry to hear about the 3lb gain, although it sounds like you're pretty unfazed by it though. Enjoy your trip to McDonalds.

Carla ~ Great to hear from you. I've been wondering how your recovery is going. Best of luck with your final appt tomorrow. Happy belated Anniversary. How long are the summer school holidays for? Our longest set of holidays is over Xmas and is approx 6-7 weeks. That's more than enough in one go :-)

Hope you're all having a good day. I've got to pick Cameron up from preschool now.

The program works as long as you stick to it!!

I am down 2.5lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOO HOOOOO!!!
Getting under 180 has been so hard. But not really because I kept on sabotaging myself going off program. And once I blew it one day, I just kept blowing it for the rest of that week. Then "starting over" the following week only to blow it again. This has been going on for 3 months now!
I keep telling myself I have hit a plateau, but that's not really true. My self-discipline and emotional eating have been holding me back.

This week I made sure to get all my water in, and that really helped me because I was never starving. I also eat frequently, that helps.

I still need to work on getting all my fruits and veggies in. And to keep getting the water in, especially at work.

I'm going to try for a repeat this week---that dress is great motivation!

Tanya---so glad to hear you got things with the house straightened out. It's so strange to hear of snow in June--is it winter now for you? Right now it's 95 degrees with stifling humidity here! I'll trade you!

Carla--welcome back!! I too am dealing with the "I'm bored"'s, and have been since they got out of school May 24. There is only so much I can do to entertain them! I think kids need some time to be bored, it makes them tap into their creative energies (sometimes).

Kelly Jo--keep on truckin' girl! Hope you survived McDonald's. I used to have to battle with it when my family wanted it, but my husband watched Super Size Me and now he won't eat it anymore!I have been meaning to watch but haven't gotten around to it yet.

Well swimming and gym time is over, the girls and I are off to shop for father's day and maybe get their hair cut.

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Tanya – I hope you enjoyed your “break” at Denny’s. “Cars” just opened here too last Friday so it seems the movie opened at the same time around the world. I’m sure Cameron will like it. I’m glad to hear that the building company owner made contact. Good luck with the meeting.

Kelly Jo – It is not possible to gain 3 “real” pounds in one day so what you saw is water retention, I’m sure. Glad to hear that your mom is doing well on WW. I always get a boost when I get new “tools” from WW. Good luck at McDonald’s.

Carla – I hope you are feeling better. We don’t go to the movies all that often and I do love the movie popcorn too so I just factor in the points for it. The back (and now the neck too) are about the same which is a bit frustrating. Then again, patience was never my strong suit! Wow, we don’t finish school until next Friday. When does it begin again? We start right after Labor Day. The swim team sounds like a great activity for the summer – fun, exercise and cool! I hope your check up went well with the surgeon.

I’ve had an OK couple of days. I had a little disappointment at work – nothing drastic – more a “last man on the totem pole” kind of thing but it still let me a little down. Between that and my back being pretty ouchy, I did do some snacking the last few nights but I counted everything and still have 7 Flex Points for the week (which ends today). Not too bad considering we also went out to dinner unexpectedly on Wednesday. This weekend will be a bit of a challenge. We are having my parents over for a bar-b-que for Father’s Day tomorrow and going out to my stepdaughter’s for a bar-b-que for Tony on Sunday. My father requested sausage and we’re having that on Sunday too. Tomorrow will be a bit more manageable in terms of side dishes. I am bringing out a bowl of fresh fruit salad on Sunday so that will help. I guess I’m just going to get in some kind of activity (yoga and walking) both days and just try to drink lots of water and eat low point for the other meals.

Have a great one!
Judy

Rachel ~ Woohoo. WTG you. What great motivation to see such results. Keep up the good work. That sundress will be roomy by the time you need to put it on. Yes it's Winter here. The weather has been appalling. So much rain and then snow. We had a nice day yesterday but apparently more bad weather is coming.

Judy ~ My Mum called a couple of days ago to arrange to take Cameron to cars sometime next week. He's very excited. Over The Hedge looks pretty good too. Sorry to hear you had some disappointment at work - the last man on the totem pole always seems to get the raw end. Hope it worked out okay. WTG onthe controlled snacking - sounds like you are doing really great. Good luck with the two BBQs on the weekend.

All the problems with the house have been sorted out and the owner has gone above and beyond to compensate us for the errors made and to ensure our satisfaction. I just wish the weather would improve so they can actually make some progress. Nothing has happened for over 2 weeks now and apparently there's more bad weather/snow on the way.

Most sport has been cancelled today as the grounds are a mess but hockey will still be on since it's on an all-weather turf. We're meeting with the electrician this morning to discuss our requirements.

hi guys i hope no one minds but im pretty much op on my own til the fall. i lost 5 1/2 ;lbs this week.

Hey andrea,
you didnt tell me that!!!!!
tara