Lavendel – I hope your dad is ok. That must be very stressful, along with your workload. I really like the idea of a sexy male assistant, although that might be very distracting.

Maria Lucia – It is great to see you back here! Hopefully all these things you have put in place will start running like clockwork and give you some space to focus on your health. It is great that you have maintained this whole time and that you haven’t been bingeing. That is fantastic!

Zelma – That is so cool that they came back to do another TV spot on you. I hope we can see it once it is done. Hopefully they will have it online like the last one.

Vicki – It is good to see you again. Splitting must be very rough after all that time, even if it is the right thing. There are so few apartments that allow dogs. I hope you are able to find something perfect for you.

Michelle – I am sorry to hear that your biopsies hurt so much.

Kymberyly – I used Welburtrin to help me quit smoking. It really helped me a lot to take the “edge” off. It was still a difficult adjustment. Probably one of the best things to do is replace cigarettes with a water bottle. Always have it with you, it gives you something to hold onto (something to do with your hands) and something to put in your mouth. I used lollipops, but that isn’t a great idea if you are trying to not add calories. I didn’t worry about it at the time.

Melissa – Sorry to hear your prescription is so expensive. I like your new avatar pic. I will try and post some more pics when I get back from vacation. I agree that it is great to see them from as many people as possible. They are so inspiring.

Heather – I am sorry to hear that you are struggling with the sweets. I know that “I’ll relax until x” mentality all too well. In fact it almost happened this morning. I was thinking that since I will be on vacation as of tomorrow I could eat whatever I want today and I had to stop myself. I am not eating just whatever on my vacation, so why would I start now?


I actually bought a box of Kashi GoLean cereal that I will bring with me on the trip. We are staying in a place with a kitchen and will head to the grocery store the first day. I will also get a dozen eggs and boil them, so I figure breakfast will be a small bowl of cereal, a hardboiled egg and maybe a piece of fruit. Then for lunch I will get some deli meat and some whole grain bread, a few veggies and more fruit and that should be good. I am taking some Luna bars as snacks and will make sure we have plenty of water. For dinners we will probably be eating out a good bit, but as long as I am reasonable and don’t order the double fried, cream sauced whatever, I should be ok overall.

Hi, just a quick fly by to say that my Gazelle arrived yesterday!!!! So my plan for the evening will be putting it together.

I'll be back later this evening to catch up on all the posts I have missed.

Happy Friday everyone!

Seattle Girl - WHOOP! WHOOP! on getting into that smaller size!!! Way cool!

HEATHER. Be serioius woman! Everyone here knows YOU can do it!! You CAN do it!!! You can DO IT!!!!!! You've been an incredible rock about sticking with your plan, and LOOK at the success it's earned you. I certainly know how slips, cravings and detours happen, but you can get a grip - and before Thanksgiving! Don't give up what you want the most for what you want at the moment. Hang on to that sexy new bod!

Xena - So, when they send you that new Gazelle, do you get a set of those long, spiral gazelle horns with it? I can just see you sweating away with your cool new horns on!

Miss Zelma, our resident TV star! Your students - your whole school - will be talking about you for the rest of their lives: "MY teacher this and MY teacher that! SHE's a hero!" You know, it's a gift to touch even one life as you have. If I didn't love you so dearly I'd suggest that you're being just a little greedy to touch so many! (...I hope you know that's a just a joke)

VICKI - So sorry about the split. It's a lot of stress no matter how you look at it. I'm facing it myself now, and I only have one Dachsie to keep my feet warm. Kiss all 3 of yours for me, and best of luck finding a place that welcomes them with you. I know it's hard to find.

MISS DOGPAL! ANNIE! WHERE U B? Missin' ya hun!! I sure hope you're feeling better!!! Lots of gentle to you!

MICHELLE - Heavens, you poor thing! All those biopsies! I sure hope you're healing well, too! I hope your DH is pampering you, but I hope you don't need it for very long. I'm glad you're taking care of yourself anyway and having things checked out. I just wish you weren't suffering with it!

HEY! Started the new job today! For as long as I've been out of payroll, I was a little bit scared that I would draw blanks and not remember it, but in fact, it was kinda like coming home. I wish it was a full time job, but I think I'm going to love it anyway.

Haven't been eating well, but tomorrow - no. RIGHT NOW is my kick-it-in-gear, Get-yourself-straight, Walk-the-fine-line moment. (That's easier to say when you've just downed a KFC chicken pot pie for dinner ) I'm BACK! Hopefully tonight I'll even sleep well. I have - for the moment - money in the bank, a job to go to, the likely chance of my Cody-horse coming home, my SIL on my side and ready to kick DH's (or Not-so-D H's) hinny for me, and I've even had an adventure in my recent past (the trauma of which is fading fast.) What could be better??? I know! Getting that last few pounds off to my "riding weight goal" and climbing on my most incredible horse my very own self! OK, so life isn't perfect, but it's pretty darned good... Or at least it's doable.... Yup, still breathing. I must be doin' it.

I better go to the barn and work that mangy horse o' mine if I think I'm EVER gonna actaully ride him.
C-YA!

Hey everyone! I am so happy to say that everything is fine with the healing of the biopsy spots. Now hopefully they don't find anything in the Path. lab. But I Am soooooooo happy I don't have an infection! I was so worried about that! It is really clearing up and looking much better. The nurse said it will proably be like this for another possibly 2 weeks...because its on the breast and things just take longer and are harder to heal in that area. So yay I get to go home tommorow! Now...hopefully I Will chill out with the flight anxiety. So far our seats are the same and the flight seems to not be a full flight. So hopefully that will all go well. We should be back home by 10 am tommorow morning! Ok enough of that...I hope you are all doing well. And a few quick personals...

Melissa~Good idea about taking pictures...I will have to make some progress before I can do all of that though! But it would be so inspiring seeing other peoples progress. Also cool avatar pic...did you take that pic?

NAncy~Good luck on your trip! Sounds like you have a great food plan! I keep seeing ads for Kashi stuff...is it good?

Xena~Have fun with the Gazelle! I can't wait to get some exercise equipment.

Valerie~Thanks! I am feeling much better!(thanks God) It was worrisome at first but looks to be doing just fine! I am so happy you are liking your new job! That is so wonderful! Good for you getting back on track! I gotta get my butt in gear when I get home and healed up!

Lori~Hope you are ok hun.

Annie~Thinking of you and hoping you are ok!


Ok well I have not had a chance to go back and get ALL of the personals in. But you all know who you are and I hope you are all doing well!

Just doing a run by post, again. Once I read everything, I am all out of time, lol. My internet was down this morning so that put me even more behind.

I actually found 3 Geocaches today! Of course I looked for 12 and only found 3 but thats ok. I had a lot of fun doing it.

Other good news, I am only 20 mins away from my exercise goal this month! I'll have to set it much higher next month. Maybe I can double it or close anyway by the end of the month! Now if I could do better in the eating dept. I'd be all set.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Nancy and Valerie -- Thanks for your good words. I've been snacking and eating sweets recently and I think sometimes the first day is the hardest. I'm good so far though. Having a good workout helped. Having some great
"before" pics helps!! I may be struggling, but I HAVE come far.

Gotta run... back later

Melissa~OMG...that is so funny! I thought it was mountains some where! What you haven't been to Mars lately?

Hello All,

I am so behind here, it’s not funny Yesterday I had to go with the family for dentist appts. It’s not a local dentist because all the ones close to us have gone private and I’ve had to go further afield to find a dentist that will treat National Health Patients. Anyway we had to go to the dentist then when we were done we went into town for lunch and did some Christmas shopping after that. I DID get up early to work out on my Gazelle, and also worked out when we got home, so I am feeling good about that.

Even better, today I did all my normal exercise PLUS an extra 15 minutes on the Gazelle, making one of the sessions a 45 minute one, and my feet hardly hurt at all I am totally on track with my diet and now my exercise again. I am actually looking forward to getting on the scales on Monday!!

I haven’t had chance to come on here to do posts, but I am here now and it’s time to catch up on some posts before I go to bed.

Sandy (Chiema) - I guess this is probably late coming, but what diet are you doing? If you are on the WW diet you can have that ice-cream that you are craving. I often have ice-cream for my dessert, and I always have dried fruit or biscuits as a snack around 10 pm. If you want ice-cream and you can allow it in your diet, don’t feel guilty, have some and enjoy it.

Jen - I am glad you had a good OP day. That was about two days ago, sorry lol, so I hope since then you have stayed OP too

Sue - you are so right that dried fruit really does help with sweet cravings. I have found small individual packets of dried papaya and pineapple. It’s 2 points per packet and oh my goodness they are sooooooo good!! No chance of ‘accidentally’ eating to much like I ‘might’ if I had a big pack lol.

How’s the Gazelle going?

Erika Leigh - oh my goodness, how do you survive on just 500 cals? That sounds like a celeb diet, I see a lot of those women eat so very little! I am glad you managed 1500 calories the other day, I am sure you will benefit so much from eating better.

Kymberly - I am only a size 5 in flat shoes with a wide toe area like trainers (sneakers) or slippers. If I buy anything else, depending where I get it from it can be anything from a 6 to an 8.

I hope you do get your Gazelle, and don’t worry, if you do end up with lots of questions I will be happy to answer them

Andie - you are doing great finding those geocache things, what exactly did you find?

Raven - on losing 5 lbs altogether now That’s brilliant news

Wow that must have been so scary being under a tsunami warning Thank goodness it didn’t come to anything!

Jilly - yes I did end up getting a Subway sub. I had a Subway Melt on a 6 inch sub, yummy Daren and the kids had the meal option with the cookie, so I was very good not doing the same

Glad you are doing so well OP lately, I think you have earned the treat you are going to have on Saturday when you eat out as the secret customer at an awesome restaurant!

Patti - 1 lb down is another lb closer to your goal so I am glad the FFM visited you

How are you feeling now? Has that cold actually gone now?

Valerie - I wasn’t around at the time so I couldn’t hit that leave the cornbread alone switch. I am glad Heather and Lilion hit it for you though

Congrats on getting a new job, yes it is much different to trucking, and yes it’s part time, but like you said, it will help with the finances. If nothing else it will tide you over until you find something full time.

Sharon - isn’t it weird how sometimes you can see a doctor and they are real pigs to you and the next time you see them they couldn’t be nicer. My surgeon used to be like that. One day he would visit me in my hospital bed and when he left I would be in tears. The next he would be friendly and helpful. Of course they should leave their moods at home, but I guess they are all only human. I am glad your doctors visit went well and I hope the increase in meds really does it’s job

Nancy - I am sorry you didn’t see a loss especially as you feel as if you have lost. I think with all that you are dealing with now you are doing amazingly not going for the cookie jar and ending up gaining weight

Lavandel - anytime you want a just ask Glad to hear you are feeling a bit more in control now. It’s horrible being hungry all the time. All I can suggest is that you eat some low fat/cal snacks, and keep busy busy busy

Maria Lucia - BACK. How wonderful that you are posting again. Note to self, no more typing in lime green

I was so happy to hear how well you have been doing in the 6 months you have been away from the board, you have really turned your life around

Zelma - wow how cool that you were interviewed by the news crew again, you will have your own chat soon Seriously you ARE an inspiration and you deserve to be featured. We are so lucky to have known you ‘when’

Thanks for being pleased about how excited I am about exercising again. How times have changed

I hope the visit to the Zoo went well and that the rain held off.

Vicki - how wonderful to see you post again and with the excellent news that you are now at 224 lbs. You aren’t far away from Onederland, it’s very exciting.

I am so very sorry to hear that you are separating from you partner after so many years together Kudos to you for not comfort eating, and I really hope you will get through this all ok

Thanks for the congrats on my weight loss. It would have been 90 lbs, but I put some weight on a few weeks ago that I am still trying to lose I am longing to get to my first 100 lbs lost!!! I am determined to do it if not before Christmas then before the New Year, so I better get my exercise shoes on LOL.

Michelle - although I didn’t have time to post yesterday, I did read posts and I was very worried to see that your wounds weren’t healing well and that you were worried that one might be infected! I know all about non healing wounds, and infections, and I know how scary they are! I was so relieved to read a later post from you saying that you haven’t got an infection, that things are healing and that you will get to go home tomorrow. for the flight home, I hope it’s much calmer than the flight over!

Colleen - thank you for letting us know how your niece’s daughter is now, I am so pleased she is expected to make a full recovery!

on the 4 lbs weight loss, you should be really proud of yourself.

Seattlegrrl - I loved what you said about not putting emphasis on weight loss rather than space loss. Just a thought though……if you intend to indulge a little over the holidays, perhaps you could weigh just before then and again on the 1st of the new year. That way you will get a truer idea of what you lost before the holidays.

Missy - I am so sorry that you can’t afford to get your meds, it’s so wrong that there isn’t more help for people to be able to get the meds they are prescribed. I hope you will be ok and that you will be able to get those meds sooner rather than later

As for the hair colouring you mentioned it sounds gorgeous and I think it will really suit you. I say go for it

Kayley- we are in the same boat, trying to shift the last 3 lbs of the weight we had gained. to both of us

Looking forward to seeing all your photos taken with your new camera!

Heather - Kudos to you dear lady, you are struggling with being OP, yet you are determined to be as good as you can right up until you can allow yourself some treats for Thanksgiving. What an inspiration you are. I hope you are managing ok and that urge to eat naughty things is easing up So glad you are looking at your before pics, I KNOW they will help keep you on track because like you said, you HAVE come so far.

Xena - woohoo, so glad the Gazelle has been delivered. Have you got it together yet? I hope you will LOVE working out on it as much as myself and the other Gazelle Girls do!!

Ok well I am ready to get some sleep now. I am sorry if I missed any replies. Take care all and bye for now,

Hugs,

Ammi

Ammi i am so glad you are back OP and exercisng. i bet you see a good loss on Monday. i am feeling much better now especially with a loss on the scales, i feel it would have been a bigger loss but i didnt drink much water as i should have. well i am sleepy now so off to bed i go!

Well, I am heading to bed but I just wanted to pop in and say I will miss you all. I will be gone the whole week and won't have access to a computer. It will be great to unplug actually.

For all the Americans, have a great Thanksgiving. Whatever you eat, don't let yourself be guilty about it. It is just one day! Remember, turkey, stuffing, pie, etc. all exist 365 days of the year so you don't need to eat it just because it is there on Thursday. The important part of Thanksgiving is being thankful for the amazing gifts we have in our lives. I definitely feel that this place is one of those gifts.