Good morning ladies,

We had rain last night! Woohoo! It was nice to sit out on the front porch and watch the thunderstorm come through. I am not impressed though that we lost the DirectTV while the storm was going on. I need some allergy medicine this morning. I felt like crap yesterday afternoon and slept for two hours before DH woke me up. Must have been allergy overload from working down at mom's house. Lots of dust on the books.

I've done a half-hearted PUSH workout this morning. I'll have to work in the cardio tonight. I just didn't have the stamina.

I should get up and put some steel cut oats on to cook so I'd have a decent breakfast this morning.

Valerie - I am soo sorry to hear that about Steega. How does that type of injury happen? It is good then that you're home to take care of him. You have a tough week ahead so you'll be in my thoughts.

to everyone. I better go feed the beasts and hit the shower.

Have a good day!

Good Morning Everyone, I am the new kid on the block. I found this web site yesterday and it is just what the doctor ordered. Im over 40 and look forward to the support and encouragement that your groups offer. I hope to be able to help alot of you too. (Im better at that than helping myself)
Any starter hints would be appreciated.

Hello, KEEN! Welcome to the neighborhood! I'm in Clinton, Ohio myself, between Akron & Canton. It's kinda nice to know folks are close, even if they're not close enough to be walking buddies. MTM from Canton was here for a while and I hope she comes back (I believe we were all waiting to hear about the wedding.) As for 'starter hints', find a program that works for YOU, that you can stick to pretty well, because this isn't a 'diet', it's a lifestyle change. And when you fall off plan, it's ok, just try to get back into it, and DON'T runaway and hide. THAT's the time that you most need to share with folks who understand, so stick around and just keep plugging away!

For myself I've found that at least, even when I fall off and stop losing, for the first time in my life I don't just give up and head for the Dairy Queen, I've still been able to maintain and claw my way back. As you can see from my ticker, I have quite a ways to go. But thanks to this list and these ladies, I don't just give up, I keep hanging in there, and they make it a joy to think of the progress I've made and WILL make, instead of an overwhelming guilt trip when I slip.

HARKEYVALLEY & TERRI, my horse's leg isn't broken like the race horse's leg is. Mine tore a tendon, and just like a person can do it stepping off a curb wrong, a horse can do it just playing in the pasture. This is the third such injury he's had, but the first in this leg. The first time he pulled a tendon in his knee he was just clowning around in some deepish mud. The second time, same leg, some girl was riding him hard. This time, who knows? I've been cold hosing it religiously and wrapping it. That's bringing the swelling down nicely, but he's still in pain. I tried to get some 'bute' in him (like aspirin) to bring reduce pain and swelling, but he wouldn't eat it. Time will tell at this point. Since the first injury he will always be limited, but not unusable I hope.

Thanks Valerie,
Im between Akron and Cleveland.I already feel like I have someone to help support my efforts. YOu are doing awsome so far.
Keep up the good work. Hopefully I will be right behind you plugging away..

Good morning ladies!

to those of you who are new!

When I read about the troubles and tragedies many of you are having (to many to catch up on this moment) I feel down right blessed to have a "boring" life at the moment. I have no husband or boyfriend, no kids or aging parents, no money problems or real job drama and i'm off of school for the moment, so all I would like to say is that my thoughts and prayers are with all of you that find yourselves in the midst of challenges. May you be able to find a silver lining and whatever support you have in your lives, may it be strong and plentiful.

Sometimes I don't feel like I have much to write about, so I hope you won't mind if I say that I am happy, content, relaxed and enjoying my journey right now. I'm sure I will have my own challenges at some point, but I have to appreciate how things are going for me.

This week's weigh in was down another 3 pounds.

I finally had my "before" pics taken on Sat. but at a loss of 37 pounds, it's not really "before". I don't think at that point I would have been able to face what I was looking at. We did a set of what some have said would be helpful for medical counsel if I ever decide to have surgery. We also did a set for online progress viewing and a set for my own personal use. I had a lot of fun doing it, actually, which really surprised me since I have hated having my picture taken my entire life.

Well, off to rearrange my bedroom and go through my clothing. Have to get organized to go back to school!

Hoping everyone has a great day!

Good Afternoon Ladies!

Wow! I've missed some newcomers! Yay! (Not Yay! that I missed you - but Yay! We have newcomers! )

to Keen and Norma. I'm sure you'll be happy here in the henhouse!

The weekend was it's usually busy, somewhat annoying and fattening time! Saturday was my best friend's daughter's sweet 16 party. Her parent's rented a small banquet room and had a quite a party. As this is the girl that baby-sits for me - (Sorry - SUPERVISES - not Baby-sits according to my DS!) and who we take camping with us each year - I was obligated as second mom to help out. So Saturday consisted of me running all over and decorating the hall and then going to the party - before and during which I ate poorly. Sunday we cleaned house for about four hours then went out to dinner - bad stuff again - did the Wal-Mart thing (for more cleaning supplies) and then took our dogs to the pool. The last day one of our municipal pools is open for the summer they have dog day - from 6 to 7. There had to be at least 100 dogs there with their owners. And yes - I wore my swimsuit. I didn't get around to buying a wet suit to cover my sagging thighs! It was fun. I discovered my poor little Mac can't swim! Did you ever hear of a dog that can't swim? I plopped him down in the water and his butt swung down like a doggy pendulum! He could only swim if I held his butt up to the surface! I guess he needs a doggy swim noodle! Still, a good time was had by all - except for that unfortunate "accident" someone had in the kiddie pool! No - it wasn't a Baby Ruth! I went home and took two showers with anti-bacterial soap! ICK!

Thin: I'm so happy to hear that your DH is on the mend! I'm thinking of you both! to you and a big GET WELL SOON to your DH!

Terri: Well, it's Monday! I look forward to hearing about the job! My fingers are still crossed for you - and it's darn hard to type that way! I'm sorry you had to sell one of your babies! It must be hard to let them go! Hmmm KC must be better off weather-wise than us. The temp hit 100 yesterday when I was going to dinner at 4 p.m. But luckily it was cooler by pool time. We still haven't had any significant rain and boy does it show!

Angela: I think your calorie reduction idea is sound. Especially that you aren't going too low too fast. Jilly, on the 300+ board does something she calls calorie cycling or something, where she eats more some days and less others. It works a lot like WW with the flex points where you can save them for one meal and eat more some days. Keeps your body from getting too used to the amount and quit losing. Seems to work well.

Siena: Glad to see you posting again! I know exactly what you mean by not being able to stop dieting completely. I have definately eaten poorly - more often than I care to admit - but even when I "don't worry at all" about what I'm eating - I still can't eat like I used to. If I do get the horrible McD's - I get, at worst, a double cheeseburger and small fries. I used to get TWO and a large fries! Sometimes more. More often than not, even at a buffet, I get salad first and eat less of the "bad" stuff. I tend to not go to certain restaurants because "there's nothing there to eat" or to be lite ice cream instead of Ben & Jerrys! The biggest difference in how I eat is now, even if I'm eating something fattening - I'm consciously eating something fattening - not just shoveling it in without thinking about it. Does that make sense?

Valerie: Kicked you off the truck! WOW! I know how you hated it so in a way it must be like getting kicked out of prison - but I still am sorry to hear you are having marital problems. So here's a and I am keeping you in my thoughts. Sorry your one boy is hurt! I hope he gets better quick! And on the new pants! Makes you feel GREAT huh?

Norma: I had a few articles of clothing I couldn't bear to part with and some are now too big! You'll get there!

Keen: I have to second Valerie - find a program you can live with forever! For me it's Weight Watcher's or basically a high fiber, low fat, high carb type diet. Lots of veggies, breads and few fats and lean meats. That's what seems to work. Basically, I eat whatever I want - in moderation - including stuff that you normally wouldn't consider 'diet'. The best tip I have and what was SO eye-opening to me was to go to certian websites - this site has some information and I also liked dietfacts.com - and check out the calories and fats in restaurant and other foods that you eat regularly. Amazing the amount of calories that was going in my body! AND finally, when you fall off the wagon don't just assume you've blown it for the day. If you get Denny's grand slam for breakfast doesn't mean you have to eat an entire cow for supper. Just eat properly the rest of the day and you'll find that you do very little damage - or even none - in the grand scheme of things.

Karen: A happy, content and relaxed life is a blessing! I think it's way better than an exciting life! I like content! Enjoy it! And on those three pounds! That's terrific! I didn't have any "before" photos either - and now I kind of wish I did. But I figure I still have far enough to go my "not-quite-before: photos will do!

WOW did this take a long time and I'm sure I missed people! Ruth? Where are you? Sue? But now I better run! My lunch hour ended 1/2 and hour ago!

Hi all. Well I did a “low calorie” day yesterday and today I’m going to do a “medium calorie” day. Also got a lot of walking in yesterday, wholly by accident—went with my friends to a bluegrass jam at a nearby state park and ending up trailing after my 2-year old “niece” a lot of the time, then took a walk around the park. I think it was probably like 2 hours total, but I only counted it as 60 min. of exercise since there was a lot of stopping and starting and grabbing of the child. She’s so funny—she likes these mints I have in my purse, but instead of asking for one, she’ll ask “Do you have something in your purse?”

Celery—Maybe it’s more fun to be a college student than a high school teacher, but after 10 years of graduate school, I don’t ever want to sit in a student desk again or take another exam ☺ So what kind of program will you be in? Your finches sound lovely, any pics?

Valerie—So sorry bout the disturbances on the domestic front. You deserve respect, dear.

Keen—Welcome! I guess my “starter hint” would be if you fall down on the job, make sure you get back up. My mistake in the past has been that when I fall I decide rolling around on the floor sounds like fun. Along with that: Posting here, checking in and keeping in touch, really is a good motivational tool. So if you go off program, KEEP CHECKING IN. You’ll be more likely to get back on program—I really believe that.

Karen—Congrats on this week’s loss!

Lilion—Oh, your poor doggie!

Hi Everyone

Welcome to the newcomers!!

I didn't stay OP this weekend and today's WI showed it. Up a pound and a half, ut mnaybe its just water, hope so. I am looking forward to a new week and will be back to post again tomorrow.

Leah

Oh geez, how could I have missed such a monumental moment of getting into a size 20 jeans?? So sorry!

Valerie.

Okay, I'm headed home and should not be doing this from work!

Hello everyone, Sorry about the lack of posting. My Mom is in the hospital with a blood clot in her leg. She is doing ok, but they are going to keep her until it is dissolved. It is a very long clot going from her left side all the way down her leg. If she hadn't had some kind of weak spell we would have never known it was there. My sister called 911 because it scared her so and that is why they found it at the ER. We have been up there and back now. Just have to wait it out.

I am not doing well in the eats dept., but I am back on program this morning and hope to stay there.

Hello to all the newbies I don't have time to do individual replies this morning, but I know you will like it here. Very nice ladies on this thread.

Hang in there everybody. Later, Ruth

Just letting everyone know I'm still around. I went to the club to work out in the pool yesterday, but the pool was closed because of high chlorine, and I didn't bring clothes to do anything else, so I showered and sat and visited with the "regulars"
Work continues to be one stressful situation after another. This morning the doctors are meeting for a big time meeting. Wonder if anything new will come out of it? I doubt it, but Pam seems to think it will be something big. Wait and see I guess.

Hello to all the newbies Keen and Norma and anyone else I've met.

Ruth was your mother still at your sisters, or had she come back to your house?

Terri: How was your day? What is in your future. I know how stressful waiting on someone else's decisions can be.

Good morning ladies,

No time for a proper post. I overslept this morning (what is else is new these days?)

The weather is fabulous this morning. There is hope yet.

I have heard nothing about the job situation which really ticks me off. She made such a point about how she would know on Friday and even on Friday made this face before going up to her meeting. And then nothing. Maybe she's working out the details? Maybe he said no and she's figuring something else out? I try not to think about it.

I need you all to say a prayer for my mom. She is having health issues again. She went to the doctor yesterday and is having a CT today to see what the swelling is above her heart (in her aorta?). Could be an aneurysm which is what dad died from 3+ years ago. I'm trying not to hyperventilate about that.

Ruth - for your mom. Such a blessing that they found it and can treat it.

Barb.G - We'll be waiting to hear about the big meeting.

I've got to run. Have a great day!

Good morning everyone.
I am down 2lbs this morning YEAH!!
Thanks to all of you for the welcome. I am off from work most of this week so i have no excuse to not excercise. Going to a luncheon today , wish me luck..Im just trying to eat healthier and not look at is so much as a diet. I am just counting calories and also using the my calorie counter web site. Have a good day everyone
robbin

Good Morning Ladies!

Going to be a busy day today and I forgot my lunch. I also skipped breakfast, but that was on purpose. Today is snack day at work and I brought poppyseed muffins. I had one - and a Krispy Kreme . But you know, I think I'll be okay. I fully intend to partake in snack day this month. But I'm going to try to make decent choices and not overdo the bad stuff. There is fruit and some sort of sugarfree trifle. I also brought my own banana and cantalope. In the distant past, I lost a bit of weight and kept it off and all the time I did snack day...I just had it for breakfast and lunch and then had a low-fat/cal dinner, like a salad. I'm giving myself permission to do it again. Although I may decide I need more than fruit and muffins and get a turkey sandwich across the street. We'll see if there's any damage at WI.

Speaking of food...I did quite well yesterday. A sensible breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner. I didn't officially add up the points, but I think I was okay! AND I worked on The Infernal Machine! I think I did 10 minutes...but I'm not sure because when I switched on the fan the read-out went blank! I'm hoping the batteries are bad...or I'll be glad I bought that extended service plan. I also did some work with the hand weights and did some crunches. All in all, I was quite proud of myself yesterday.

Just came back from the snack room...which is also where the scale is. Scale is up a pound...but that makes me want snacks less so.... I had a plum.

Tonight is DS open house at middle school. Big school, lockers, home-room, the works. I'm a bit upset that he has the same home room and classes as his best friend - who is a boy I don't particularly like and I'd hoped he'd meet more boys and make more friends. DS just doesn't make friends easily and he's rather immature about social situations. By the same token, DS told me his friends mother is equally upset, because he got bad grades in 5th and she didn't want him in classes with his friends for fear it'll happen again. I told DS that he better help Joe get better grades, because if his own slip there'll be the to pay!

I'll be going to open house alone. DH starts his new shift tonight. I've been sleeping alone and I DON'T LIKE IT! After six years sleeping with someone else I've gotten way too used to someone else in the bed. DH has been trying to stay up all night so he'll be more used to the hours for his new shift. He got to bed at 2:30 Sunday night (Monday morning?) and came to bed at 4:30 this a.m. I told him he should just stay up and cook my breakfast. Sad thing is he'd have done it, bone-tired as he was. I have the best husband...I really don't deserve him as much as a witch as I've been over these new hours. I'm just really worried about what all the time apart will do to us.

These posts take me forever! I started this one at 8:15 and it's now 10:20! Darn hearings getting in the way! I know I had more to say...now I can't think of it!

Robbin: on the 2 lbs down! Keep going!

Darn it! Now I have another hearing to do! Don't you hate it when work get's in the way of your computer time?

Ahhh. Short hearing. I'm back!

Ruth: I'm sorry to hear your mom is in the hospital, but like Terri said, it is so very lucky that it was caught! I'm so surprised she had no sympoms with one so large. The one I had in my 20's was in the main vein that takes blood from the leg and my leg swelled up 6" larger than the other! Thank heavens your mom's was caught before part broke loose. and stay OP!

Terri: Consider your mom prayed for! A dear friend's mother had surgery some time back for an aortic "weakness" and it was a good thing...her brother died from aortic aneurysm - if they find it - they should be able to repair it! At the same time...you keep an eye on your own...these things tend to run in families! Your job situation is a PIA, huh? Not knowing is always the hardest part...In fact, I think you need another hug!

Barbara: Howdy!

Leah: This is a new week! Keep on trying and it'll all work out in the end!

Angela: Sounds like you had a ton of exercise! I don't know that I'd have the energy to trail after a little one again - heck, I didn't have the energy the FIRST time!

Well, it's about 11 a.m. and I think I'll wrap this up and go get that turkey sandwich - I'm already tired of snacks and did pretty good so far. A muffin (mine - 3 pts), a banana and a plum and then the bad stuff - a donut and a tiny peice of cake (were talking 1 1/2 inch square) and this peanutbutter stuff. but I'm pretty much sweeted out! I think I'll do fine this snack day!

Oh, almost forgot - had a little NSV! Yesterday I squeezed into my size 18 jeans - (yay for spandex!) and today I took a link out of my watch band! DH got me a fossil watch several years ago for my b-day because you can order extra links to make the band bigger for large wrists - today I'm extra linkless!

You ladies have a happy, healthy OP day!