Melissa,
I hear you loud and clear. My last five years of work situation were completely miserable. I was able to get on top of it because my pension and life insurance, etc. were at stake. Now I am retired and having a wonderful time. I'm sending you : to do the thing that makes the most sense for you. I actually bought a book called something like: How to Get Along With People You Can't Stand. I don't think that's the exact title, but it gave me food for thought. Everyone knew our boss was a total idiot and vindictive to boot. Only difference is some people were able to handle her better than others. Good luck. I hope you find a solution that will be more suitable for you.
Vickie, hope you're feeling a little better today.
I'm off to a good start here. Posted my menu for today, got to my yoga class, got to Ww's for my early morning WI and will go to my meeting tonight.
I know this was brave but necessary for me!
Everyone have a good day, keep focused, and let's do this!
Judy Itry
234.6/207.4 new weight/thinner into onederland

Hey chickies! Just popped in to say Hi

TOM decided to show up today with a vengence ! ! What can't he just go away and never come back. Anyway, still had errands to run and kids to pick up at school, now need to make dinner and run DD to dance. Will be back later to catch up.

Lisa

Lisa, I can't wait for menopause! Sorry you're hurting. It's **** when you still have to get everything else done.

Afternoon chickies! I'm in a good mood because my sister called and she may have found some contract work for me! I was a technical writer for an engineering company here, but took a voluntary lay-off after they told me I had to stop telecommuting. She needs someone to help compile a huge document ...it would mean some extra $$ for us, and maybe some other opportunities down the road too. And I can do the work from home, any time of day I like. The only downer is, I wouldn't be able to play my computer game as much.

I'm back on plan today - yesterday was a bit of trouble, but not too bad. At my weigh-in yesterday, I'd lost 2.4 since the previous week, and I'd like to keep the momentum going. I kind of feel bad that it came off so easily, but I think it was because it was very recent weight gain. I think the stuff that's been around longer is a lot more stubborn.

I'm making a turkey macaroni bake tonight, and it should be mostly Core. I am using the super reduced-fat cream of chicken soup in it though, so I'll have to count points for that. But all in all, it won't be bad.

I hope you find something you like more Melissa. You gals that go to work every day even when you hate it are just amazing to me.

Dd is calling from her bed, "Ma-maaa!" so I'd better go.

Angela

Vickie........It's a New Book.

No...........no changes at this point.....the new CFC and DO books are for 1/06. I don't know the specifics changes too many, but the New CFC has 16,500 Pt value foods listed and 2,500 Core Plan Foods...the older book has 17,500 Pts Value Foods and 1,900 Core Plan Foods...so yes there are some differences but I couldn't really pin point unless I knew specifics.

As for the D.O Book...New Book...111 Restaurants
Old....101 Restaurants


Sandra, corn tortills - not yet....but if and when I hear something I'll let you know!

Vickie keep up the good work, you are truely a CORE girl.
I ask each Leader what the consenses in their meetings are and it Points hands down in most!! They tell us, if you find your self 'tweaking' too much, you should consider Pts as a change over (Turn-a-Round)

Have you all seen the Commercial....the one with Cher singiing....if so, isnt' it awesome. We got a sneak preview when it first came out.....kind of chokes you up....awesome and well done!!

If I can help, let me know...I am in the mix on all angels everyday

Will this day ever end? This group is lasting forever........and I'm supposed to be at practice at church. Oh well. I just want to go home and go to bed!!

Judy, thanks, your old job sounds kind of like my current job. I feel your good vibes.

Angela, that is great news. We'll keep that it works out for you.

Linda, thanks for the info.

Vickie, I so appreciate your encouragement. And I find it so kind that you and Sandra think I'm sweet. I really feel like I am a different person when I am at work. It's like I turn into Jekyll/Hyde kind of thing. I have to go back and read about your tests, but from what I gathered they were normal/negative? I just know that they will have to figure this out soon.

Sandra, thank you for your kind words!

I just love you guys! Now I'm gonna love these clients on out the door....

Saundra, I forgot you asked a while back what I do--I am a case manager at a substance abuse treatment program for pregnant/parenting women. Thanks for inquiring.

Judy, aren't we lucky to be retired. However, I can see that I'm going to have to find a small something after the vacation. Too much down time can be no good either.

Hey Lisa, one of the biggest advantages of my age is no TOM. I can't even remember the anguish, and there was lots. Luckily, it doesn't last too long.

Angela, the job opportunity sounds neat. Maybe I'll luck out with something small when I'm ready. Hope it works out for you.

Melissa, your job sounds like a noble one, but I can only imagine the stress. I have a friend who worked in a woman's shelter for a while. She moved to France and never wanted that kind of work again. BTW, did you see Law & Order SVU, last night? That was the subject matter. I do hope you find something that will be easier to handle, but I bet you do one fine job.

Today was long and I hope tomorrow that I can have for me. We got lots of snow this afternoon, and it is pretty, but the driving is bad out there. Of course, I never got out at all.

I too am looking forward to hearing about the 2006 Core changes. Please let us know as they become available. Maybe I'll get to a meeting one day. Since I'm at goal, at least I don't have to pay.

Oh Melissa, I didn't know about the pregnant/parenting women part! It must be so stressful every day. I KNOW you are a good woman. Good things will happen for both of us soon. I'm praying that it's so. Now go on to Church and get centered again. Have Aaron give you a big old bear hug from all of us who can't give you one in person.

Thanks, Linda! I hoped you might be looking in. I was really hoping they might add some NEW Core foods. I have the old book and the correction sheet they put out. If that's all the new book is then I won't buy it yet. I'm retired you know....gotta save those pennies. It's costing me about $525 a year to go to meetings!

Well, time to go mash my Core potatoes. The roast chicken smells wonderful. I'm trying to ignore that I'm having a flare up today.

I will try this again. I had a post and sent. But it wouldnt go through.
I know I had trouble getting on here. Said server couldnt be found. And then kept telling me I had a invalid password or user name. So dont know.
Here goes again.
The rest of the days eating was awful. 2 pt bar, 2 more slices diet bread, baked deer steak, corn nuts (4pts) veggie soup. A couple more slices of deer sausage with triscuts.
I am so upset with myself. I want to be on track. I want to get to goal. But just seems like I cant get myself back on track. Start out ok. But then it just goes down hill. So dont know. If I dont start and be good. I wont have a loss next week.
For breakfast this morn. When I cooked the deer sausage. I add the oil because there was none coming out. And I needed something so it wouldnt stick. And then I thought the oil would count as what I am suppose to have daily.
I love the WW with Cher singing. I think it is good.
I just glanced real quick at the new books. It looked to me. As if there was some things that were core. Are now not. And some things had lower points and now have higher points. Hopefully one of these days I can get the new books.
Well I will see if this one goes through. And go and try and figure out what I need to do to stay on track. Cause I am really getting frustated.
Have a great night everyone!!
Coco

Saundra, I didn't realize that you are at goal. Congratulations! I've been behind here lately. When is your big trip?

Vickie, thank you, you are so sweet. I wish that we all lived close to each other. Wouldn't that be amazing? What help we could be to each other. It makes me wonder if there are such great people living here!

I actually like working in what most people consider "hard" situations. My favorite job was doing crisis pregnancy counseling (well, outside of being a youth minister, that was the best). I would love to have that job again. Anyway, it isn't the human services field that I am having trouble with. It is stressful, but I like working in those kinds of jobs. I'm going to try to make some more connections with Hospices in other surrounding counties, since I really think I would like to work there as a bereavement counselor.

OK I will stop rambling now. Where's Kathy?

Howdy, girlies! I'm finally home from work and the store, and dinner just got started. I'm making that turkey veggie chili because Judd's getting a cold and he said that was all that sounded good. Of course, it's all Core but I'm not eating it anyway. Not hungry tonight, probably because I feel like I ate all day long! I put what I thought I could eat into FitDay and came up with about 600 calories. Then I kept adding and adding to get up a bit, got it to a little over 1000 but still, I was eating and eating. I just can't for the life of me see how someone could eat as much as they say you're supposed to! I would be sick! So I took out the dinner just now, and it dropped the count back down to 630. I'm wandering around looking for something but don't know if I'll find anything that'll sound good. I might just drink some milk and call it a day.

I'm going to do Flex, like Linda suggested. It seems to keep me more on track if I have more choices, especially since I'm struggling to get enough food in each day. I'm still managing to stay in the high 140s but of course would still like to get to 139 as a final goal. I'm sure I'll get there someday, huh?

Rose Bowl is starting, and since Judd went to Univ. of Texas, I guess I should be respectful and at least go watch the first quarter.

Coco, I know that it's hard, but try to think of this in a bigger picture. I'm not a great one to give advice right now, I must admit. But Vickie always suggests to people to give Core a month. It's going to take you awhile to figure out what is core and what isn't, and what you like and what you don't. It's changing the entire way you eat and think about food! So don't beat yourself up. Think about what you can accomplish this month as opposed to how much you can lose this week. Does that help at all? And don't forget we are all struggling right there along with you. It's hard changing many, many years of habits!

LOL! Here I am!

Kathy I have no concept of how you can eat only 600 calories. That's remarkable. I mean, I realize it's a problem just like eating too many (well maybe not JUST like it ) but it's so foreign to me. Anyway, glad you're home!