Hi again,

Just finished dinner and sitting here watching Biggest Loser. One of the contestants just said, "Do you think she's noticed that we're fat?" because the new trainer was yelling at them and making them run on the beach carrying bags of sand.

I got the laundry all done and stuff unpacked AND finally got all the ironing caught up and hanging in the closet. Woohoo! I did do some girly stuff. I changed over to my new purse and worked on fingernails and toes while watching episodes from the first season of Alias. I bought this stuff call Seacret while at the mall in Nashville. Some guy from a kiosk snagged me and wanted to show me how he could make my nails look better. Mine were embarassing. Dry cuticles, no shine and in need of filing. He used this little thing that sanded out the ridges and smoothed them to a glossy shine. So I bought the kit.

I also reacquainted myself with my calorie-counter program. I also did some walking this afternoon.

Back to work tomorrow. Boo!

I'm going to work on bill stuff now. Have a good evening!

Sounds like a good break, Terri... sorry it's over.

Lilion--Keep doin' what you're doin'... you know it's the right stuff! That scale will come back where it should be in no time.

Long, long day, so I'm just popping in and then back out again.

Hope you all had sweet dreams... that's where I'm off to.

Just a quick check in ladies - I'm behaving really well. You'd be proud of me, but please don't tell my scale! It's drifting downwards, but if it notices how hard I'm working it will shut down and pout for sure!

I'm maing lunch for MIL & DNiece today, so I better get shopping and hopping. I HAVE to get this place cleaned up before they get here, and if the puppy figures that out he'll be as cooperative as the scale.

Dropped off another resume yesterday since I haven't heard back from the Monday interview. Whatever.

Good Morning Ladies!

Yesterday turned into a pretty decent day. I had a Dr appt yesterday – nothing major, I have a pituitary tumor that has to be monitored so they sent me to the endocrinologist who poked me a bit and drew some blood – but the history I had to fill out took forever and made me feel like a sick old lady! Heart problems – check. Vascular problems – check. Vision problems – check. Menstrual problems – check. Digestive problems – check. You get the idea! But, on the up side, I was advised that losing 89 lbs on my own with diet and exercise was amazing! Made me very proud. And I was wearing one of my more slimming outfits, so I know I looked as good as I could too. All in all, a pleasant experience.

Went to WW last night and bought a food scale. I've needed one forever - I've been using my old scale from the 1980's! Surprisingly, when I tried the new one vs the old one, the old wasn't that inaccurate. Still, nice to know when I eat 5 oz of chicken now, I'm actually eating 5 oz of chicken.

We went out to dinner at a new Korean restaurant yesterday. It was very good and I actually attempted to watch what I ate - ordering chicken and steamed rice over the fattening fried stuff. That's quite the NSV for me...I usually overdo at restaurants.

Valerie - Good work! And don't worry, we won't say a word to the scale.

Terri - I had the Seacret stuff demo'd at the mall too! It was neat, but I didn't buy it - I'm such a miser. I laughed at the quote from Biggest Loser. It's exactly what I said the first time I watched that show - "What's the matter with that woman? Doesn't she know they're FAT people?" But I suppose that's the whole point.

Angela, Celery, Mother, Karen, Ruth, Mary, Thin - WHERE ARE YOU???

Time to run- Later ladies!

Hi girls! I'm not sure how much of this I've already said, so please scan til you get to something new.

I've been mostly comatose for the past 10 days. Honey was off on furlough so I did pretty much nothing. Oh ****, let's be honest, I did too much that had to do with doctors!

We got Honey started in cardiac rehab last Tuesday. He had a cardiologist appointment last week. I went with him on both occasions.

We were supposed to go to Shipshawana, but one of my best friends, who was going with us, decided to have heart troubles. He was in ER all day Saturday and they redid a heart cath on him on Tuesday. He just had two more stents put in back in June. Anyway, the doctor claims they don't make the 4mm stents in the coated versions and so it grew scar tissue and he had to open it back up and put a narrower stent INSIDE the first one and now hopefully he'll be fine.

I had to deal with my mom this weekend. I don't know if I told you but she's had diahhrea for 13 weeks now and has lost 38 pounds! Yes, she started at 220 and 182 is still high for a woman that is only 5'1", but still that's a crappy way to lose weight!!! So Tuesday morning she called at 7:30 AM and said she hadn't been able to eat. She gags on everything. So I called the doctor and was my assertive/agressive self and ran her up to his "other" office some distance away. I told him I appreciated him not being real agressive with her at the beginning given her age (85), but enough is enough. Do we need to see someone else, or can we get to the bottom of this. So he scheduled her for a colonoscopy next Monday and added a CAT scan to boot. Also a couple of other blood tests. Maybe she'll finally get stopped up. Poor thing, she is NOT your typical 85 year old. She lives on her own, drives, is gone 4 days a week playing cards at different places and goes twice a month to one of the local casinos with a friend. They have done NOTHING all Summer. I feel so bad for her.

Since we didn't go to Shipshawana, Honey and I worked on photographing and listing more eBay stuff. I had jackets that I got LAST Fall to list on eBay and they were still sitting in the box in the garage. Oyeeeee! Soooo time consuming!

Anyway, I'm sorry I haven't been here to be supportive to the rest of you. My love and prayers go out to all of you with troubles. Congrats to all those who deserve them. Welcome to anyone I may have missed.

Today I'm trying to get caught up. Tomorrow is back to being a "showgirl". Next week I'm back to working round the clock.

I hope to get to talk to you all individually soon. Love ya bunches!!!

Good morning dear hens!

Forgive me for being absent. I have been up to my ears in school work. Essay tests to prepare for, papers on difficult subjects to write, a tough chapter in the ol' math book. Heh, this is exactly what I want to be doing!

Weight-wise, I am still losing but more slowly. Since I never make it to the gym any more I have to eat less than before to continue the weight loss and believe me, I wasn't eating all that much before. I have lost 41 pounds over the summer and I'm pretty happy about that, let me tell you!

Our family has been getting together more often lately because of our new granddaughter, and there is more food around. This stalled my weight loss for a few weeks but I've gotten back on track and have lost a few pounds this week. Once I'm on track I do well, it's getting firmly ON track that takes some doing.

Now that I've said "hi" so you know I'm still alive I'm going to go back and read everyone's posts.

God bless everyone in the henhouse.

Love,
Celery

Well things are in their usually downward slide around here, except for the weight. That is holding steady!

My Mom was finally released from the Hospital, she is still with my sister and will probably be there for awhile. They have home health care going three days a week, therapist three days a week and the nurse once a week. She will have to stay there until we find out what is going on with me. My MRI is finally scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. I suppose surgery is in my very near future, ugh! I am ready to just get it over with if that is what I need.

Had a call a few minutes ago that one of my Aunts was in a car accident and totaled her car. She is in her eighties so she really doesn't need another car. She is lucky that it only hurt her knee. It wasn't her fault, so that is good.

It seems like it is one thing after another lately. I haven't been posting because I haven't really had much to contribute. I am always happy to see all of you doing well. I am not eating very much, but I surely am not losing either. Phooey!

I will check in tomorrow and whine about that dreadful MRI table. LOL! It takes sooooo long. I won't know the results fro awhile I am sure. It took about a week on the last MRI and ct scan.

Take care my little chicks. Ruth

Thin, Celery and Ruth - Thank you my dear Hens for posting! I worry about you when you are away! to you all for your various trials and tribulations! Please forgive the brief and group response to you but I shouldn't be on the internet at all!

Now where are my other missing Hens?

Hey ladies, Well, I'm not making the kind of progress I'd like, but I'm at least managing to make some small changes. Next semester my time will be much more at my disposal, so my plan is to try to continue making small changes in both exercise and eating until Christmas, and then go for a really intensive jump-start in January.

I know I have to make lifestyle changes, but it occurs to me that what I may need to do is to spend some time making lifestyle changes and periodically get more intense, especially about exercise, since my lifestyle changes every 15 weeks or less. Right now I'm mostly in what I think of as a maintenance mode--I lose a pound or two every couple of weeks, if that, but I'm not gaining, and I'm making some small, positive changes. I don't think, realistically, that I can do more than that right now. But in 2 1/2 months, it wouldn't be unrealistic at all for me to be working a lot harder. Does that make sense?

Valerie--Hope that next resume gets you something you want.

Lilion--I'm right here! Thanks for looking! Must have been a nice trip to the doc. I look forward to being able to show them a serious weight loss. I did 50 pounds in 1999 and it was such a tickling experience, but I haven't made it past 20 or so in the last 6 years.

Thin--Good for you for being assertive with the doc. I hope they get to the bottom of your mother's troubles (oops for the pun).

Celery--Hang in there with classes! It really is hard isn't it, the shift from no school to school. I'm fighting myself just to get 12 minutes of exercise in a day.

Ruth--Hope the MRI wasn't as bad as you hoped.

HI ladies,

Just dropping in for a quickie. I have to be at work before 8 am. I think I have to be on these conference calls now that are at 8 am everyday. But not sure how long everyday lasts. That puts a serious crimp in my morning routine.

Yesterday at work was surreal. Too many meetings. And way too much to be done. Plus we are having to move cubicles this afternoon, so I had to begin packing in the middle of it all. Lunch was eaten during a meeting and I made it home just in time to see Survivor last night. Ihad a long discussion with my boss. She has told them that she'll be happy to leave if they will offer her the right package. Given that she's a SVP, female, been there about 36 years - it should be good. Or else they will be jerks and just fire her. She thinks they are offering the package today (Friday) so my boss could be gone by this afternoon. I knew this was coming and off and on over the years, wanted her gone. But with this new opportunity, I needed her guidance at least for a few months longer since she has purposefully given me this opportunity to save my job and give me one last boost before she was out. Cripes, I'll be on my own. Not only that, her big boss from Chicago is coming in on Monday and wants to meet with us all and have individual one-on-one conversations. That really convinces me that she's out the door. She's gave me this list of things to be knowledgable about because I have to shine in front of this guy next week so that next year when more integration happens, I can be the last man standing and run what is left of the department. Talk about pressure after coming off PTO. Double cripes. We've seen him on video conference and they all kiss his butt up in Chicago - totally gross to see the butt kissing. He is a pompous a$$. Think I'll go puke now.

In spite of all that, I have been doing good with cutting back on food. The scale is being kind and I'm back down 3.2 pounds already. Helps to be back to the routine. No exercise of such the last couple of days and none this morning either. I'll get that figured out by Monday because I can't let the job take that away from me.

Great to see others checking in. You have been missed. to you as you deal with either health issues or all the studying. Been there and its hard.

to everyone!

Today was weight in day. I lost 5.5 pounds and am starting to see a change in my profile. My husband even noticed and said something. It made me feel good that he did.

Yes, LILION, Like the doc said – Losing 89 pounds IS amazing. Brilliant even!! You’re only 3500 calories from an even NINE-ZERO!!

My goodness, THIN! I certainly hope your Honey, your friend and your mom are doing better. What challenges! I hope today as a Showgirl is at least entertaining – and perhaps even relaxing. You’re overdo for a bit of that I think!

CELERY, I think that 41 pounds gone over the summer is AWESOME! Especially because you’re much closer to goal than I am. I know it gets hard to lose the closer you get to goal weight. I know what you mean about getting ON track – after a week or so OP, life gets much easier. All that family visiting had to be tough, but WONDERFUL to have that beautiful baby girl. I’m SO jealous! Kiss the angel’s face for me.

RUTH, I’m sure your mom is happy to be out of the hospital. I hope it goes smoothly with her at your sister’s. * Sorry to hear about your aunt. That sort of thing is pretty hard on an older body. Just the bumps and bruises can be very painful. I glad there was nothing even more serious than her knee, although that’s pretty bad. I hope she’s ok with not driving any more. * Please keep us posted on your MRI. I hope that at least they can define what’s going on and give you help. I’ll keep my that surgery isn’t necessary. I hope the weight loss front looks brighter soon, too!!!

ANGELA, I think you have an incredible, positive attitude!!! So many people say “Well, I just can’t do it all – I give up” and here you are taking a hectic schedule and who knows what challenges, and you say “I’m going to make small changes for the better.” I really admire that, and since I know how restrictive my lifestyle on the truck was, I especially appreciate your commitment to doing this one step at a time. I just can’t tell you how much I respect your approach! * Forgive me if I’m repeating myself, but in terms of little things, just one soda a day = 20 pounds or more a year. Our lives are made up of little things. Drinking enough water. Taking the stairs. Saying no to seconds. Taking our meds or supplements. BRAVO for you, my friend!!!

TERRI, Wow, what a lot of pressure at work! You’re handling it so great – even getting your weight down more. That’s tremendous! I don’t know how we’re gonna do it, but we’ve just GOT to ride our ponies out together sometime! Maybe next summer. Who knows? Scratch the new little booger for me – and the big older ones, too!

I was so good today girls, you’d be so proud of me. I worked out at class this morning, and then was feeling so great I just couldn’t go home. I went down to the track and walked over a 1¼ mile. Just couldn’t talk myself out of it, and I only stopped because the tendon in my ankle started to twang like a harp string – minus the music of course. I got 110 minutes of exercise in – before lunch! Of course, I’m going out to dinner tonight, and we know what THAT means, so I’m going to have to be very careful to avoid temptation, and really work to burn off whatever sins I can’t resist. I’m taking my girlfriend out for her birthday to a Murder Mystery Dinner. Neither of us has ever been before. It sounds like great fun!

BARB - Whassup?

Now, I know the rest of you are out there lurking. Please speak up! What do you have to tell us??

I'm here, just checking in! First 2 midterms went well, better than I thought. I have another one on Monday that i'm studying for right now and one on Wednesday.

Oh, I did receive an invitation to a international scholastic honour society. Apparently i'm in the top 15% of my class with a 3.925 GPA. (darn that dang statistics ) I'm planning to apply for an officer position. Need all the help I can get on the resume.

Food is still good. I seem to have fallen into a comfortable place, not fighting it any more. It's now just a habit. Thank goodness. I also posted over in the NSV thread about taking the stairs this week. Because of pain in my ankles and knees, i've been unable to walk down stairs with a normal gait for a number of years. It's been more of hold on for dear life and step with the left follow with the right. This past week i've been able to do my one flight normally and then found myself on the fifth floor of a parking garage with the elevator out. I was able to go down with no stopping or pain! I was so excited.

I'll get to replys after Wednesday. Off to study again.

Have a good weekend!