Morning All. Another 2lbs off this week. My first mile-stone reached: half a stone.
Tejas Your dog story brought back some happy memories. Over twenty years ago we had a little rescue Jack Russell. A couple of nights after we'd had him, we had the grand-daddy of all thunderstorms. Mark (husband) went downstairs to check the dog was OK and when he opened the door, a white flash shot passed him. Tinker (dog) came upstairs, just touching 1 in 3 stairs, took off from the bedroom door and landed on our bed. He burrowed under the sheets and was shaking so much that the bed was going with him. We had him for 14 years and never did find out why he was dumped (tied in a sack and thrown in a skip ( dumpster).
I sold my first article thanks to Tinker. He taught himself, within a year of having him, to pick up when our daughter was going to have an epileptic seizure, nose her to a chair, or away from any danger and then sit in front of her and bark steadily for us. Amazing. He died when he was 14 and we missed him so very much.

I was very well behaved yesterday, didn't eat anything I shouldn't and we had a lovely day. After shopping (I got my plates, just what I wanted) we took a picnic up into the hills. Down in the valley, they were practicing for a Medieval jousting exhibition this weekend and it was ever so interesting to watch. This weekend is a holiday long weekend. You know what it's like... wall to wall traffic jams! Well, I've held you up for long enough with my ramblings, going to peg out the washing now... sure fire cue for a rain shower. Have a good one everyone.

Good work on the 2 pounds, Jojo. What a wonderful story about Tinker. Thanks for telling it. It's a marvel that dogs can detect the onset of seizures and some diseases.

A picnic sounds like a good idea too.

I'm headed out to a see some demonstration gardens put on by our local garden club organization. I'm so sore I should be going to aquafit but I want to see what I can learn about gardening in this climate.

BBL,
Rhonda

Hi Ladies

Just have a few minutes to say HI,I have pretty busy going out. Yesterday to the Harbor and than to a celiac fiddle concert this morning I'm heading with my friend Alice to do some sight-see and shopping in Hyannis area for the day.

W-I to day and I'm out of the 170's don't know how long ,but I'm going to get my carbs under control & down a little.Back to 169

Have a wonderful day and I'll see you guys some time late afternoon or later this evening.

Hubby brought me coffee in bed this morning..

Today is the day I am getting back on track with getting things done and being busy. Last week I did a few things I needed to do but I moped around a lot also.

I am going to start exercising & then reading in bed at night to try to help get my sleeping schedule on track.

Robin has gotten back on his grocery store version of Nutri System and lost
almost 5 pounds this week. I could not do the same type foods he does but he
likes it because everything is portion controlled .

I'm doing good with starting out the day with lots of protein & fiber and staying
around 1200 calories. I ate lunch out twice this week with friends & tried to
stay low in calories.

Sloan..I have been thinking of you ...please don't be too hard on yourself...
You have been through a lot this summer and really had to hit the ground
running after your losses...You have coped like a super-woman so
be forgiving to that appetite...
I would hide away some 100 calorie (shelf stable) snacks at school & in your pocketbook for when your body needs it. They make 100 calorie almond packs.

JoJo, what a wonderful story. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. It sounds like your doggie was a godsend. And congratulations on losing another 2 lbs. You're doing wonderfully.

Rhonda, I'll bet you're Todd's star pupil. Keep up the good work. It's impressive.

Nancy, tell Robin congratulations. Curtis has lost over 10 pounds since his surgery. These men lose fast, don't they?

I'm watering trees today using a watering system attached to the riding mower. It's really sort of fun. Go to go. It's time to reload the water tank.

Hey chickies, I've had a long day. I started out with a training meeting from 7:45 to 1:00; I will be leading a group at my Bible study this year. After the training meeting, I spent the afternoon with my mom helping get goodies baked for a baby shower that my sister is giving tomorrow. I really wanted to get started on more baking/cooking for my freezer today, but I guess that will wait until tomorrow. I have been collecting recipes for core friendly breakfasts and goodies so I can try and stay op for more than one day at a time. Since DH will be going to work in the morning, I guess I'll get up and go to the grocery. I may play hookey from church if I don't get an early enough start.

Nancy, thanks for thinkin' of me I will take your advice and keep some snacks at my desk. I have a morning break, but I'm okay then. It's the afternoon that gets me. I love that Robin brought your coffee in to you. I would really love that!

Jojo, awesome story about your little dog. Why do we have to love them so?
My friend's mom had a dog that literally "sniffed out" her breast cancer. He kept sniffing at her breast, and since she had heard that could be a warning sign, she went to the doctor. I guess he saved her life!

Rhonda, sounds like you have really become active in your community. You go girl!

Sandra, I could just picture you riding around on your little watering tractor. I'm impressed. I would probably mow down a couple of trees in the process.

Maryann, congrats on the 160's. Maybe this is the start of a new trend!

Hey Vickie!!

I've got to go get some recipes copied, so I can make my grocery list. Have a great night!

Sorry..He is only allowed to bring coffee to me

Nancy Get Robin a tray, he can call on all of us then... mine's white no sugar ta.

I have a few minefields to negotiate in the new week. We have to go to a neighbour’s late summer barbecue and I also have a ‘girls’ (I use the adjective in its loosest sense… not one of us is under 60) night in. I haven’t been to one for a few months so am making an effort for this one.
When I started this diet, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t get fixated on losing weight rapidly. Neither would I shut myself away and live like a hermit. That is the sure way to fall off the wagon. It isn’t a race, and if I don’t lose one week or even gain an odd pound, so what? Put it behind me and look to the next weigh in.

There’s no getting away from it here in the west midlands, autumn is only around the corner. Each morning when I open the curtains, the oak tree across the road has a deeper yellowish tinge to its leaves and the beech tree which, in the hot summer, soothed me to sleep at night with the breeze rustling through its leaves is looking decidedly ready to go to sleep itself.
I think I must have been a squirrel in a past life, because I love this time of year. I have made the Christmas mincemeat, cake and puddings. Also pickled some onions and made the apple chutney. So I’m well ahead provision wise. We have several invitations to spend this Christmas with friends or family, but we wouldn’t be very good company and have decided, this year, to spend it quietly at home.
Have a good one everybody

Mornin' chicks!

Nancy, thanks for the snack ideas on the other thread. I was wondering, if you won't share Robin, could you get him to start a blog for husbands? Sounds like he's got it "goin on".

Jojo, I love reading your posts. What type of articles have you had published? Hope I'm not being too nosey. Also, I understand that we all have to grieve in our own way, and losing a child cannot be compared with losing an elderly parent, but have you considered that your friends and family would love nothing more than to be loving you through the holidays? Just a thought. Uh oh, not only am I being nosey, I'm being organizey

Got lots to do today, so I've got to get started. TTFN

We went over and had dinner with friends last night.
I went "grumbling ' the whole way. It was just supposed to be 4
and then they invited 2 more. If I feel blue I want to be alone.
Well , it turned out to be a nice & low key dinner and I was glad we went.

Good Morning Chicks! I'm so woefully behind in my posts with all of you and I apologize. I plan to be a much better friend soon.

JoJo, I certainly haven't welcomed you properly but you seem like an amazing strong woman. I'm so sorry for your loss. I was especially touched by the story of Tinker. I'm an avid dog lover and think they are just the most amazing creatures. Tinker was meant to be in the life of your daughter. How wonderful that he found his way to her. We have certainly suffered loss here on this board and our friendships have transcended the weight loss efforts that originally brought us together. You may be right about how you'll feel at Christmas, but my feeling is leave a few doors open in case you change your mind. I, too, love Fall but I'm not ready to give up summer yet. I'm 54 living in Chicagoland with my husband whom is also my best friend. We have no children but have an obsession with the Chicago White Sox and Scottish Terriers. I've lost and gained large amounts of weight in my life. More than I truly care to admit. I lost 45 pounds on Core and then lost my best friend to leukemia. She was only 45 years old. I started to eat with a vengeance and gained all the weight back plus some. I'm now down 51 pounds again with 99 to go. I've lost a lot of it on Jenny Craig but I'm already weaning myself back onto Core because that is how I want to eat for the rest of my life. I just had to regain control and learn portion control. I am the classic turtle. It will take me a long time to get there; step by step, day by day. We can go there together!

Sloan, take a deep breath. You know you can regain control and when you do, the weight will start coming off again.

Nancy, I'm SOOOOO proud of you for going when you didn't want to and happy for you that it ended up being nice and that you could admit it. It's ok for you to have fun and create a life where your Son is not the main feature. It doesn't mean you aren't a great Mom. I'm sure your Son needs to know that you will be ok without him so that he can go on and live his best life too. We should both rejoice in the fact that we have awesome husbands who just want us to be happy. Jim makes me coffee every morning and he doesn't even drink it himself!

Rhonda, I'm so glad that you are enjoying your retirement. You are one busy chick!

You too, Mary Ann. Have fun!

Sandra, I'd love a video of you on the tractor.

Today is a day of rest for us but next week will be busy with Doctors for both of us; me the Gastro and Jim the Ortho. I'm not looking forward to seeing the Gastro. Last time he told me to consider bypass surgery. I hope my 51 pound loss will shut him up a bit. I'm thinking it won't but I did my best. It's been about 2 years since I saw him last. He meant well, I guess.

Off to breakfast! Yum.....oatmeal with fresh blueberries made with a local dairy skim milk.

We sound very alike Vickie my husband is my best friend too, and we will have been married 35 years on Dec. 6th. I've yo yo'd all my life and have lost weight very quickly at times, but always regained it and added a bit.This time it's slow but sure. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend, such a dreadful illness too.
We had a Scottish Terrier and a Yorkshire terrier when our daughter was born. The little Yorkie used to trot along the landing to our bedroom when our baby cried at 2 am, with a 'Isn't someone going to feed this poor child?' look on her face.
When our daughter was sleeping after a seizure , Tinker used to jump on her bed and nose the duvet around her. He was very special.

No ladies, this year we have to get through Christmas in this house. I know friends and family will pop in and of course, the neighbours are wonderful. But we have to do it now or we never will.

I'm just off to a neighbour's now, we are helping put up the pagoda for the barby tomorrow... well Mark will help, he knows what he's doing. I'll just stand there like a spare part!

I'm almost finished doing a silk tapestry (needlepoint) for a Canadian friend for Christmas. It is of a thatched cottage and typical English country garden. It has taken a while, some of the shades are made up of 4 or 5 different strands of silk; so they have to be sorted out in daylight. I think it can go to the framers on Tuesday. I certainly hope so.

Take care everyone.

Jojo, it's good to know you won't be alone. The tapestry sounds stunning. That side of my brain doesn't work. I have little creativity.

Hi there, Chickies. I had another day on the mower. Now our yard and archery range are groomed. I needed to get them done before I get my 2nd epidural tomorrow. I have been stubborn about the mowing. Curtis wanted to hire it done and friends have offered to do it for us, but I wanted to do it. I enjoy riding and thinking.

JoJo, you are a talented lady--doing needlepoint and cooking Christmas goodies. Have a good time with your girls' day out. I'm 63 and have them with my friends, too. (Do ya'll sit and talk about your aches and pains like we do? :lol)

Vickie, it's good to see you back here. I miss you when you aren't here posting. I hope your doctor acknowledges all the good you've done.

Have a good evening, everyone. I'll be back later.

Hey chicks, I don't have much time to chat, but I wanted to say something to Vickie.

Vickie, I hope your doc is impressed with your weight loss, I know I am. Just don't let anyone make you consider something that you don't want. You are in charge!

I've got to get ready for bed. See ya tomorrow!