Good morning all -

Had a bad start to my work day - just office politics, which I can't stand. Oh well, if it were fun they wouldn't call it work.

Froufy - I posted the recipe for the moussaka in the recipe folder. Boy do I love trying new and exotic recipes! Too bad you live so far away. I'd join you at Starbucks. My favorite is the soymilk decaf latte with sugar free vanilla. And one of their pastries would be good too.

Vickie - PT can be miraculous if you really stick with it. I hope it helps you.

Angela, can I borrow your kid? There's plenty of dusty nooks and crannies in my house and I'll provide the wipes. Anyone else with tidy toddlers I can put to work?

I had the red cabbage with braised pears recipe that was posted as one of the daily recipes. OMG it was good! My dh hates cabbage and he enjoyed multiple servings. We finished the whole thing.

Cher - ya know, when you really wanted to lose and you don't, it feels lousy. Logically in your head you know it could be water retention or muscle mass or your body adapting to the weight you've already lost or any number of perfectly reasonable explanations, but in your heart it just feels bad. Don't let disappointment take you off course. Your body will melt the weight off in its time.

Kat, what kind of dogs do you have? I've got two myself; they're up in age and not diggers (thank goodness). My dobie can still jump short fences, but so far she seems content to stay in the yard.

OK everybody, it's gonna be a good day and we're eat right, right?

Peace.

We're gonna eat right!! Yes indeedy -- because we know what works!

I have a Border Collie, the instigator of all shenanigans. We found her running down a busy street with no collar on; turns out she had heartworms so the vet said someone probably dumped her out. She's about 1-1/2 years old and quite a handful. The other two are Chihuahuas -- the bigger one, Zuki, weighs about 9 pounds and he's a black and tan. He is my DH's "boy", in fact right now they've gone to Home Depot together. We got him from the local pound. The other one is a precious little 4 pounder, solid black, appropriately named Precious. She's around 7 years old and we got her from a breeder in Houston who was getting rid of her because her puppies were too small to live. They knew we had Zuki and asked if we wanted another. She was in pretty bad shape when we picked her up, crunchy ears from bites and practically no teeth. The breeder (stupid puppy mill) took great care of the pups but horrible care of the moms. She has really come alive and acts like half her age, running and playing with the bigger dogs. She wasn't one of the ones who got out though; she never does anything to get in trouble.

Well here I am finishing lunch at my desk - we are having our first day of team building and it's kinda fun - just got these fancy "profiles" which are based on a series of questions we had answered. Mine is pretty close to how I think I am - but it is interesting to read the comments and suggestions!

So now I REALLY have TOM - like I figured after already having it for 2 weeks it would be light or non-existant? FAT CHANCE! - feeling bloated and crappy, and this does explain the cravings and extra couple of lbs on the scale! Need to up the water I think.

Vickie - glad you got a good night's sleep - and yes things always seem easier to deal with when you are well rested. And I do appreciate your concern - we do have EAP here but I am now "using" this for our stepfamily counselling. I do plan to talk to that therapist about how I'm feeling at our next session (dh will also be there), cuz I think she is not quite with it - or maybe I have not been vocal enuf - how can she even think dh and I can "be a team" and make decisions about childrearing etc when we have so many personal problems that prevent us from communicating and sticking together. I think she will be quite surprised at what I have to say!

Hope you get set up quickly with the PT and can avoid surgery! I'm sure it will help along w/icing and not using your arm as much?

Kathy - what wild and crazy dogs you have! Just wanted to let their "rangers" spirit out and frolic in the street. And of course I LOVE the pink baseball cap! Sounds very cute!

Terry - thanks for posting the recipe - I will be checking it out!

Angela - how did the dr's appt go???

Trying hard to stick to some good eating today. Had a BIG breakfast before leaving home (a rarity as I usually eat at work), cuz of our training day (and the fear of someone bringing in donuts or cookies and me eating them). Had 2 eggs and 1/2 bagel w/margarine (olive oil) and small glass of milk. ...then a yogurt at coffee break - I find if I am full I don't tend to "stray" as much. Leftover brown rice, beef stir fry and an apple, and a couple of backup snacks for later if I need them (bowl of fresh strawberries or cut up veggies & dip). But ya - due to TOM and my emotional stresses it is a bit harder to stay focussed on Core and other things tend to wander into my mouth if I don't pay attention!

Froufie

Hang in there, Frouf. I'm glad you're going to be forceful at your next couple session. Therapists needs to know all if she's really going to be able to help. I think your eating sounds pretty darn good with what you are going through right now. Keep at it. 23 pounds is a lot to have lost and soon you will be in onderland!

Kath, how is Zuki? Is he fully recovered?

Kat, I had a border collie named Sandy when I was in college and she was a mischevious pooch. Used to like to tear things up and then look very sweetly and innocently at my labrador (who never did anything, but always looked guilty). Sandy was a good dog, but full of energy and definitely a handful.

OK, now I'm off to the gym since it's raining here and I can't do my half hour walk in the woods. This is my first time at the gym in ...wow, I can't remember the last time.

Frouf, have fun teambuilding. Ahh, corporations and the little exercises they plan for us.

Enjoy.

Thanks for the encouragement, Terry, and everyone. I'm pretty sure it ain't muscle mass, though!

I missed out on my walk this morning because poor dh had to set up for a meeting at 6 a.m. I might be able to squeeze one in later this afternoon, though. I did have a pretty luxurious breakfast: 2 1-point bagels with light cream cheese and smoked salmon. Our WW leader has been reading us these daffy little motivational slogans and one of the ones from Saturday was "Seafood is the Concorde to thin." Can't see it on a T-shirt, but I am having shrimp and salad for lunch.

My doctor's appointment went just fine. He said I was very healthy, and he was impressed with my lifestyle. In fact, he said that if all his patients would take care of themselves like I do, he'd be a much less busy person. So that was very nice to hear. I also got my blood cholesterol tested, but I won't know those results until tomorrow. I'm going to hazard a guess and say they'll be fine.

He also gave me a referral to a podiatrist to get my flat feet looked at. I'm thinking I'll be getting a new set of orthotics (custom-made arch supports) since the ones I have were made when I was 16. I think my feet have probably changed since then!!

Angela

Hi everyone!
I sure missed a lot in the last 24 hrs. Frouf - I'm with you on TOM, he can just go away and never come back. Always- hey......looks like I'm coming, but no, not yet, maybe in a couple of days, or ...........I'm gone, no, wait, I'm back................. Anyway, thought it was coming yesterday, but no. I guess it will wait until WI tomorrow. Thank you!

Trying to drink loads of water and green tea and whatever else is supposed to work. Just stuck at 160 and can't get any lower. I've been eating mostly CORE and tracking my pts., and dug out my old old food exchanges from the Freedom Plan back in 1996 and I'm journaling everything and marking everything in all three plans. I think I need to rev up my exercise. I've basically been doing the same 2 mile walk since January and maybe it's not enough. Might add in another mile on the treadmill or get some ankle weights or something..............of course today I was thinking; maybe I should just eat what I want and see if that boosts my metabolism...............

Yeah Kathy - How is Zuki?

Terry - I have a 5 yr old who loves to dust and he even does windows! ! When do you want him?

Angela - great Dr. Appt! :

I should have gotten here earlier. Didn't know you were all eating right today.

Lisa

Cher, I've been trying to eat fish or seafood at least once a week. This is alot for me since I could go my whole life without eating it ever! I've met my goal for the last two weeks. Tomorrow I'm going to lunch and having a salad that has gulf shrimp in it. I'm kinda scared about gulf shrimp in Chicago but hey, whatever! A waitress that I trust says the salad is fabulous. She says the owner is very fussy. I always make friends with the Servers because they take care of you and steer you away from bad things! Of course, Jim is always rolling his eyes because I talk to strangers everywhere. Yeah...I'm the one talking to you in the grocery line, bookstore, restaurant, etc! Jim says people talk to me because I make eye contact with everyone I see. You'd never know that I worked in downtown Chicago for 30 years. I still act like a friendly little south side girl! How on earth did I get off on that tangent! I guess I'm good and rested.

Angela, you go girl! You are our poster woman for getting off the weight and exercising.

Lisa, keep up the good work and think about how excited you'll be when you get under that 160 mark! I'm fantasizing about getting below 250 which believe it or not is pre-Jim weight. That's when he gets a new wife but it'll still be me!

Just got off the treadmill. I was running late today for some goofy reason. Thought I'd check in with you guys while I was cooling down and drinking water. Talk with you all later. Is there Idol tonight?

Zuki still has "issues" -- he can now stick his lipstick out, and he's not supposed to be able to. There's a small, VERY red spot on the end of it, and if it's still there at next checkup he'll be the biopsy then. He and DH just left for Taco Bell and Linens 'n Things to buy some new lamps for the bedroom. You'd think he was a child the way he begs to go!

The furniture is here and so now we're trying to figure out the rest of rearranging. We have decided that our bedroom needs to return to just being a bedroom, so the computers are going away. He's taking my desk because it's nicer, and putting it in the living room up front. Mine will go on the desk that now has the sewing machine on it, and it'll go in the first living room upstairs. The Gazelle is going in the second living room as well as the little table by my bed downstairs where the fax machine was because now I have an nightstand and the fax machine won't fit on it too, and the sewing stuff will go in the old dresser that WAS downstairs but now is going up to the guest room ... and so on and so on. It's a mental challenge to get it all placed but we'll do it eventually.

Idol tonight! YES!!

Wow - Kathy - two living rooms and all that furniture to be rearranged - probably good exercise moving it around?? Have fun playing with your new "toys"!

Vickie - good for you for eating fish at least once a week. We have also been trying to incorporate more of it - dh is more scared of it than I am. He usually looks a bit frightened when I put salmon on the table - then eats it and is somewhat surprised that it actually tastes good (and yes he drowns it, and everything else he eats in worcestshire sauce).

Lisa - hang in there - you show that weight that it's not the boss of you - it will eventually come off!

Angela - good for you - sounds like the dr was suitably impressed and I also predict your bloodwork will be excellent!

Terry - I am impressed that you are off to the gym - way to go! I have not exercised in a few days and should really get this body moving - I am so unmotivated

Oh cher - I LOVE smoked salmon and could eat it forever....I am salivating now!

As for my eating - maybe 2 caramels is all the damage done this afternoon...and yes my table won a "prize" for getting the most answers right so we were rewarded with a big bagful of small boxes of smarties and fruit chews - I quickly distributed it around the room and ate my veggies and dip and drank my water......there was also a big bag of red licorice in the room (can you tell I was watching it carefully?) and I really wanted some but knew it would be my downfall so I resisted. Going home and I know dh will NOT have defrosted anything so will try to thaw something and cook it real quick?

DD update - well looks like no therapist appt for at least 2 weeks so it has been suggested that we take dd to the emergency of the children's hospital here to have her assessed by a professional. I am unclear of the urgency, but I guess it beats waiting 2 weeks (altho nothing has changed as far as I can tell?). The only thing I am not looking forward to is sitting in the emergency waiting room for HOURS - which is probably what will happen - need to bring a good book with me! Will probably go tomorrow as dd has dancing tonight!

Frouf

Ugh. I hate hospitals. Definitely bring a good book and some good Core snacks, too. Hospitals never have any healthy food options available. Our Children's Hospital has a restaurant in a lobby right next to the emergency room. A McDonald's. I guess it is partly because McD's funds the Ronald McDonald houses, but still...


Yeah, the salmon was great. I'm always on the lookout for interesting breakfasts, because I'm really just not a cereal fan, and when I do eat cereal, even the heavy duty stuff like oatmeal, I'm ravenous an hour later.

Good for you getting some fish in, Vickie. I grew up near Chicago and I used to love going to places that served lake perch or walleye. Froglegs, too (Yes, I was a weird kid.) It was usually drowned in butter, though, but it could probably be made without it by request. Here is San Diego, fish tacos are a specialty and one of the only fast-food things I can take the kids for that won't totally kill the plan.

Froufy, leave it to you to look for the positive side! I will indeed count all the furniture moving as "weight lifting" exercises. I'm sure I'll be sore tomorrow. The family room downstairs is the only one of the four living areas that isn't getting in on the overhaul. I would love to have a smaller house but I just know it would be that much more crowded. I'm hopeful that the girls will take stuff with them when they move out, and I've called DS to tell him to come get some things too. We seriously need to declutter.

My eating plan went by the wayside this afternoon when DH went lamp shopping. He said he was going to get some lunch and what did I want, so I said Taco Bell. He got me a taco salad fresco style and I ate it but not much of the shell. Just had the lettuce, beans, etc. Hopefully it's not too bad. Now I don't know if I am going to cook dinner or not. I do know that little DD threw a fit on her way to work because there wasn't anything she could just reach in and grab in the fridge. I told her this is neither a convenience store nor a cafeteria, and she should plan ahead (i.e. get up earlier and make a lunch), and then told her to get gone before I got mad and said something I would regret. That girl sure is sweet mostly, but she can tick me off at times. We bought her a new computer and it arrived today but her room is a mess so we're not going to wipe the old one clean and hook this one up until she does some major improvements to that pig pen.

I sure don't want to go back to work tomorrow, but I guess I might as well shut up and go. Does absolutely no good to complain!

Gee...an in home convenience store or cafetaria sounds good to me??? Where do I sign up?

Definitely count and use those AP points Kathy!!! No sense wasting all that "weight lifting".

I am here to confess that my bloated stomach is due to a little pig out on my part! yes it might just be time to get that rolling pin out...and use it on myself!

Of course when i came home there was no food in sight - dd had made mac & cheese and was feeding herself and little ds (eldest at work tonight). Dh was upstairs watching a video that had to be returned today (ya, what a bright idea to start watching a video at 5:30 pm after picking up ds from school!). I have asked dh to at least please defrost something (and maybe try and cook it?) so there will be dinner when I get home!

I was of course hungry and cranky - ate the rest of a container of couscous salald (couscous, veggies, canola oil and lemon juice), then some baked pita chips and salsa. Drove dd to dance class and came back. WAs cleaning up and found that NEARLY empty bag of chips - thank goodness only the crumbs were left - and gone by the time the bag hit the garbage....then a chaser of birthday cake - yes the last piece from the freezer! YUM - lots of water followed that and now I am definitely pretty full.

I feel yucky about the cake - but I know I am feeling stressed, upset, emotional and TOM on top of this - so I am pretending I was at a great party this evening - instead of being upset at how much I ate - I am trying to be pleased at how little I ate - figuring if I actually was at a party of special event and had just a handful of chips and a piece of cake that would not be so bad....in the big picture.

I just feel I need to get on top of this and I am having some trouble....I seem to be okay at work, but things fall apart as soon as I get home (gee...i wonder why??).

Not sure about tomorrow and timing of hospital visit - feel I definitely need to go home, to change and EAT A PROPER DINNER and then go , but I know my ex will want to take dd right after school - I think I might suggest I meet them there but I feel this is somewhat irresponsible of me, and what if they actually get to talk to someone and Im not there yet? Other option is to go from work but pick up a salad or something core-like on the way - yes I agree that the hospital food may not be a good option for me!

Feeling VERY TIRED today after a long busy training day....and I know I am stressed cuz driving home from work I got that most annoying eye twitch/tic that I only get very occasionally when I'm supremely tired or stressed - not a good sign!

Thanks for listening!

Froufie