[Terri in MO]

WELCOME !!!!!!

This thread is a sub-set of the 300+ thread.

This group is for those dealing with the challenges of having a significant amount of weight to lose and being fit which becomes harder after age 40. If you're an old or new friend and not over 40 and feel this is the place to post, jump right in.

[Iwillbe]

I am getting lazzzzzyyy! I just got my shower and dressed. I miss my Mom, but it is nice to have some down time now. I don't have the routine to follow, and I will have to adjust. My sister and I take turns keeping my mom and it is a full time job at times. We have to share so that each of us has time to do our Dr. appts etc. We can't leave her alone. I didn't get a chance to do any of my must do things the last year because my sister had to have surgery when it was time for her to come and get Mom.

Thin, you cracked me up about the smilies. You have been helping me and you didn't know those things are down there? You had better keep an eye on us bad girls! LOL!

Terri, new thread and no post? Gee now I don't know what to write about, no one has posted here yet.

OK, lets talk about food. I be bad! It was super hard to get back op. All I wanted to do yesterday was go sit in the fridge and eat. I thought I was going to have to tape my mouth shut to keep from eating everything in sight. As soon as I finish this I am going to clean out all leftovers, including the cheesecake tarts (those things are sooooooo good). I will leave no temptations in there. I don't think I will be munching on celery or lettuce nonstop. Natch! The Dr. told my BIL if it tasted good to spit it out. I guess I will have to try that. Yeah right!

Now keep your fingers crossed that I can throw all of that stuff away without sampling it first....no....I can do this....I know I can. gulp!

See ya later! Ruth

[Lilion]

Good Morning Ladies!

Ruth: Throw it out! Throw it ALL out! If I can do 16 minutes on the I.M. You can throw out some cheesecake. (Mmmmm. Cheesecake!We need a little Homer Simpson Smilie.) Glad you had a good time with your mom. What I'd give to still have mine to visit! Now back OP dear...I'm waiting for you!

Valerie: Some heavy-duty inspirational speach in your last post! WTG! I can tell from your posts you are a strong person and I am quite sure your determination will pay off! on the truck thing. I hate that you hate it so, but it isn't forever! You had me laughing out loud at the thought of your collie with a mohawk! I'd love to see that!

Patti: I don't think you've quite got that yet! I suggest you totally erase the signiture and then re-type it! Hope all is well and you keep up the good work!

Well all, I don't mean to post and run...but I have to post and run. Got work to do and a Chinese lunch buffet to prepare for...Steeling myself to NOT go for the General Tso's!

Have a Happy, Healthy OP day my dearest Ladies!

[ageoldie]

Val, I'm with you on the new month, new start, I did great the first part of this month, but this last week (week that just passed, AND the last week of the month) I went to "**** in a Handbasket" where did THAT expression come from??? But a new month, new beginning, new attitude, and besides there the contest at the health club!!!

[Terri in MO]

Good morning ladies,

Super quick post while I wolf down breakfast and dash off to work. At least wolfing and dashing is energetic and upbeat!!

I got up and did some pilates and then started on housework. I swept the kitchen and mopped the floor and vacuumed in the living room with a chaser of carpet shampooing. I just wanted to get things spiffed up again since the weekend is upon us.

Some yutz scheduled a meeting this afternoon from 3-5 pm. On a FRIDAY! Dumba$$. But they are from the mother ship up north in Schaumburg, IL and they are coming down to figure out how to integrate payroll.

We went down to DSS's last night to see the property and it will be good for the horses. My only concern is Ginger. The big boys are going to love having the room to run. I'd take a half-day PTO today if it wasn't for that meeting and start moving my stuff. But will have to wait for tomorrow. So I guess instead I'll do yard work tonight.

This is why I am insane. My boss has been not pleasant this week plus it is time for our reviews and raises. After something she said in her doom meeting on Monday, we were all thinking we'd get the big ZERO and trashed on our reviews. Plus the anxiety of knowing that she was going to be placing us on a matrix performance and report to the mother ship how we perform. Which we know will be basis for who stays and goes later on, i.e. who is career worthy for the big Z (the name of the mothership which I won't write out). Then I got a couple of nasty-grams on my voicemail from her the next day. So why would I expect anything but the worst? During a discussion with her yesterday, she said that she thinks I have a future in the "new" environment and that I should consider how close I am to retirement vs. being the younger career hopper of our old days. I got her point - do I really want to start over somewhere and no I don't. Then she gave me my raise and it was the average raise which I am totally thrilled with because of expecting zero. And then she rated me very good on the eval with the only negative being something I agree with. You know, I know better than to be second guessing what she really thinks of me. Just a clear example of letting all the stress get a hold of me and run me through the ringer. But I also know enough to not get goo-gooed about her and keep in mind that she may not be there in the future to help me progress. Having positive feedback (finally) did take a load off.

Lilion - Did you survive the storms okay? It rained in huge sheets of rain and then was over. Looks like the tornadoes went just south of where we are trying to buy a home. Welcome to spring! Fabulous job on doing the 16 minutes. See I knew you could get past the death 12!!

Ruth - Get over it and get away from the fridge!!!

Valerie - Thanks for the peptalk. We need that. I need that.

Okay, now I'm late for work. Have a great day!

In case you're wondering why I don't get raked over the coals for being late all the time, I sit completely where she can't see my comings and goings plus she never gets there before 9:30 anyway. Plus one of the hazard perks we deserve for working for her.

See ya!

[toofatforu]

Lil i think you are right i need to work on that signiture thing lol!:

[toofatforu]

ok all done with exercise for the day... and i am beat1 everyone have a good day!

[ageoldie]

Just a quick update on my crazy office. The man they hired for the call center that started on last Thursday lasted a whole week, He didn't come in Friday morning and called and said he wasn't comming back. So the called the husband of the lab manager who has been unemployed for about 4 years (could that maybe indicate a problem???) who she (the lab manager) has asked for him to get every position that has come open, including mine before I started back in July. (could that mean anyhing considering HOW many openings there have been) So anyway this might be just exactly whatl the call center needs, He is a very anal type person and he might really ease our job in the busineess office. Well see.

Be sure to check back next week for the next installment!!!

[thinthinker]

Hi all! Well, why should this weekend be any busier here than every other. I'm glad everyone finds other things to do on the weekend that sit in a stuffy room and type.

Honey and I went over to the "baby's" house to try and get him up and running. Ahhh, kids! What can I say!!!!! They took the mirrors down in the upstairs bathroom and spackled the walls. We didn't get to the painting part as the spackle didn't dry in time. But we swapped out a wall cabinet from one bathroom and put it in the other. Then we put up a new cabinet in the first bathroom. We got the scarf hung in the front window over the sheers. I did up his dishes, then unloaded the dishwasher when they were done and cleaned his stove.

It absolutely makes me crazy when my mom comes here and picks up a dust cloth or does anything else like housecleaning so I asked the "baby", I said, "ya know, when grandma comes over and does stuff like this at our house it makes me nutts. Is this bothering you, because I'll quit?" He looked at me, chuckled a little and said, "NO, doesn't bother me at all. As a matter of fact, I was waiting for you to come over." OMG!!! I told him not get used to it, because I was NOT going to be coming over to clean HIS house when I don't like cleaning my own. Silly kid!!!!

Tomorrow I have a baby shower to go to with mom. It's her brother's side of the family that we don't see very often. It will be nice to see them all. It's another Nascar Sunday so it won't bother me at all to be gone!

I took mom to Port Huron on Friday to do an investment banker. Then we took the road along the water back down and stopped at the St. Clair Inn for lunch. It was very nice because the dining room overlooks the St. Clair River. As we sat down, a freighter was just going out of sight and we commented to the server that we had ordered one up before we came in. She said she would send up vibes that another freighter would come by before we finished eating. She had no sooner left the table when I spotted one rounding the bend. It was cool being so close.

I dropped mom off and did my "showgirl" jobs late in the afternoon so I didn't have to do them today. That worked out good because I knew we wanted to be at the "baby's" house to work today.

Michelle: Glad you got such a great report on Andrew. Sounds like he's a well-behaved little boy and the teacher really likes him. That's great.

BarbG: OMG, what a saga you've got going on at work! Drama, drama, drama!!! Hope the new guy works out.

Patti: Glad to see you got the treadmill straightened out.

MTM: I'll have to check out the library. I bought the first few Evanovich books in paperback and had once thought about getting the hardcovers to replace them. But I looked for #1 and #2 and they go for a good chunk of change so I decided against it. Now I have to wait until the books are released in paperback to read the new ones. Pain in the pattootie! So maybe the library will be a good idea. I can read them from the library and then just buy the paperback for my collection.

Lilion: OMG! 16 WHOLE MINUTES?!?!?!? For that you get and AMEN and a

Is the Homer smilie you need?

Valerie: I'm a mystery shopper and my "subjects" are really the victims of my shopping experience.

Garnet: I'm so sorry to hear about your aunt's passing. My sincere sympathies!!!! That said, STEP AWAY FROM THE COOKIES AND COKES!!! What are you thinking!!!!!! Get back OP now!!!

Ruth: I know, I feel soooo stupid. Geez, you'd think I would have seen them. I mean for goodness sakes, they're all brite colors!

Terri: You poor dear. Here you read the boss as not recognizing good work when she sees it because she's such a witch, and then it seems that she does give credit where credit is due. OMG, it must be hard to live in that environment.

Ok, girls, late dinner tonight so I gotta run. Love ya bunches!

[Terri in MO]

Hey ladies,

Where is everyone? Just Barb and Michelle posting today.

We've been gone all day. We made three trips to move the horses. The first trip was the boys and they loaded into the trailer pretty good considering its been a few months. Got them down there and I walked Phoenix all the way around the pasture with Spanky behind just to get them acquainted. I thought they would run and play but they jumped on that grass and were in heaven. We had a terrible time get the young girls to load. Cheyenne reared up and threw herself over backwards and bent up a gate of Richard's. We finally got her in and after that, they actually rode pretty good. And hopped out pretty calm considering they have only been in a trailer once before. But the boys chased them all around the pasture and Phoenix got a good swift kick a time or two from Peso. They have not been pastured together. When we got back, Marissa had someone there to ride Cocoa (mom's horse) to see about buying her. Ginger was going beserk in the lot. No question about whether she feels better in the front feet. Lots of running and bucking. She is such a buddy horse and did not like the idea of being left alone. The family did buy Cocoa so that is really good, but kind of sad, for mom because it was so much work for her alone. Sad because she loves the horses and she's had Cocoa for five years and sad for her to have to admit that she just can't do as much as before. Got Ginger down there and she quickly established herself as Boss. Lots of stress and and tension just getting everyone loaded and transported safely. I worry so much about someone getting hurt. Richard and I are parting on good terms so we've hugged and everything is okay there.

This evening, I've been in the backyard spreading fertilizer and crabgrass prevention. I am sitting here waiting for DH to get my steak cooked and then I'm headed off to see the sandman.

Michelle - You are a great bargain shopper. Looks like you're ready for success with the food!

Garnet - I am very sorry to see about your aunt's passing. Get rid of those cookies!

Barb - Its a wonder your office is able to even get patients processed. What a mess.

Patti - Great job on the exercise yesterday. How'd you do today?

Thin - Looks like you posted while I was writing this. We've been a little better the last couple of weekends. It actually died in here yesterday with just Patti posting after I did yesterday morning. Good for you for doing so much to help your boys. I cannot let it slide on past.....

I took mom to Port Huron on Friday to do an investment banker.

How was doing the banker?

I'm wiped out so I'm going to post this before I screw up and lose it. I hope to be a little more with it tomorrow.

Happy Saturday night!

[thinthinker]

Michelle, honey, was it something I said? Why'd you delete your posts? You better not just read and not post. You did a great job grocery shopping today. Lots of bargains. I see where our Meijer's has Healthy Choice entrees 10 for $10, get the 11th FREE. That's a pretty good deal. I'll have to dig out my coupons too. I always forget and leave them at home.

Terri: Actually, I did the investment banker on my own while mom shopped at the Super K. Does that clear things up? I guess I'm glad your mom's horse sold. That is too bad for her. Any chance you're going to convince her to move up by you guys? That would be great if she could come and play with your horses. Might make her feel better.

Our baby shower is cancelled for tomorrow. The mom-to-be went into premature labor. Two months until her due date. I'm hoping she and the baby will be ok. I guess the baby's a little over 3 pounds and the Dr.s feel pretty confident that things will be ok. It's rather sad that they're having to cancel the shower. Lots of work down the drain. Guess they don't know about rescheduling. Oh well, we'll see.

I'm hitting the bed. Just a little after midnight, not too bad. See you all later.

[2cute2Bfat]

Hidey Ho ladies. Almost 1:30 in the morning but better late than never.
I just realized.... this is the first year I did not play an April's Fool joke on the group. I am really slipping. I loved the one I wrote last year. OH well.

I am happy to announce I got my April Newsletter written and mailed out in time to arrive on April 1st.
I got the address and phone book of our addition updated and written.
I made a new email list for the addition. I am only lacking 7 out of 115.
Being a perfectionist... I was initally disappointed instead of happy for my accomplishments. It certainly wasn't due from lack of trying. LOL I don't want to be arrested for stalking them.

Now I have 5 days to get my own life in order before I head out for MIchigan to visit my daughter . Oil changed in car, haircut, dog groomed, bills paid, food bought for hubby, the list goes on and on.
AND I get to meet up with Thinthinker and our old 3FCer Susie for lunch. It is going to be a quick trip. Only have one week and that includes driving 1,000 miles EACH WAY !!! Thin... I remember well that restaurant you took your mom to. It was NEAT !!!

I spent over an hour catching up on my reading in here. I ended up reading a lot of it twice. I had some thoughts I wanted to share with everyone... but can't remember a thing now. :duh !!!:
I am so sorry for my short memory. ONe good thing about having a short memory... you never have to worry about me telling anyone's secrets here. LOL

I do want to thank those who reminded me....
"A new month, a new beginning !!!
I need a new beginning. And all of your successes here has inspired me to claim my new beginning. THANKS !!!

(Grrrr.. it won't let me post !!! I had to log in again... and now it says I am not logged in AGAIN !!! I had to log in to get this far.... why don't they remember they logged me in an hour ago. ??? Grrrrr. I just know I am going to lose this post and that will make me VERY ANGRY !!!
Okay... I am going to save this and try again. I hope it works this time. )

[Iwillbe]

Hello ladies, First the weather report...It is beautiful spring weather here and my allergies are kicking up a fuss. Runny nose and sneezing. Not a pretty picture!

I threw out all of the goodies...cheesecake and all. I shed a tear or two as the cheesecake slid into the garbage can, but in it went! Getting back op was harder than I thought it would be, but isn't it always the way? Makes me wonder why I ever get off to start with. Just when I have all the sugar out of my system and am not having the hunger issue, I go and put it right back in. NUTTTTTSSSS!

2cute, meeting up with Thin sounds like a good plan. Are you all going to do the spring fling this year? I hope you enjoy your visit with your daughter and Thin.

Thin, I think I got what it was Terri was kidding you about and it wasn't the JOB part of DOING the banker. LOL! Your son is a smart boy! If Mom will come and clean why should he do it?

Terri, Maybe getting the horses settled in a better place will take some of the pressure off to find a new place and sell yours. I sure hope that all works out for you. Sometimes it takes a long time to sell. The right person just has to come along.

Barb, Hon, it is a wonder you have any hair left on your head. I know you must be pulling it out by now. That is some pressure cooker you work in. ARGGH! I feel for you! I hope this new guy is the answer to all of your prayers. Hang in there!

2fat4u, Good going with the exercise! I h a t e exercise! I have to make myself do it and then it is sporadic! I need to get into a daily routine now that my Mom is not here to take care of.

Lilion, I threw it ALL away, now the trick is to stay OP for longer than an hour. ...er day.


Michele, I read your post, but now it is gone??? Anyway it was good to see you checking in. Come back and stay awhile.

Hey,Val, where ever you are! Happy traveling.

garnet fairy!

I think that is about everyone...if not please forgive me.

I am free to go when ever I choose now and that is just what I plan to do, so if I miss a day, just say she is out spending all her money! You will be right! I almost lost this post I am outta here for now. Have a good Sunday friends. Ruth

[toofatforu2]

good morning everyonehad to adjust my avator cuz i forgot my password. lost one more pound for a total of 14 pounds. gonna do even better this week!exercise is going great i havent missed a day yet!

[MTM]

Well Hi Everyone!!

Been a busy couple of days for me (), but reading everyone's post keeps me going. I feel guilty not trying to check in daily, though. I'll try to be better about that!

Ruth~~ You threw out cheesecake? You are my new hero. Honestly. I'd have dunked a finger in for just a little taste, I know I would have!! You know, since this new journey of mine began, for the first time ever in my life I've been able to throw bad things down the disposal. Talk about feeling good!! Have fun out and about with your free time now, and careful with the budget!!

Lilion~~ That's for your 15 minutes on that I.M.!!! I am impressed!!! How do you feel after you get off of that? When I finish the bike, I'm really ready to quit, but force myself to do those stretches and hand weights. (I'm telling you, that red exclamation mark on CK drives me nuts til I get in at least 30 minutes every day!) Do you really think we should do the stretches before starting the exercise? My dd does too, but I figure I don't start upping the resistance until after about 8 minutes or so, so that's kind of my warm-up. How was the Chinese buffet?

Barbara~~Oh that office!! It must drive you nuts--I don't know if I could get any work done with the craziness that's going on in your office!! I bet you really look forward to the weekends!! Looking forward to the next installment!

Terri~~I need to google pilates--I don't know that I've ever seen anyone do them, but really hear about them a lot! Anyway, good for you for doing whatever they are!! Wow, the stress level you're under at your office is up there, isn't it? But so glad you got a raise and a good review--I'm sure that makes you feel better about everything! Isn't it amazing what we can do to ourselves when we let our imagination run wild? I do the same thing and usually everything turns out ok, and I just almost break down from the stress I've put *myself* under. Why do we do that?? I'm sure you're having a very busy weekend with the horses--it sounds like it went pretty well, though. What a relief for you! How was that steak?

Thin~~Any news on the new baby today? I can't imagine the worry for that family. I so hope everything goes great for mom and baby. What did she have--pink or blue? Funny about asking your baby about whether you're bothering him helping clean!! Either one of my boys would love love love if I'd do that, but dd?? NO WAY!! Honestly, she comes here on Saturday (to do her laundry!!) and is constantly doing stuff--yesterday she cleaned out one of my cupboards for me--doesn't matter whether it needs done--she just can't stop herself. Now *that* does drive me crazy!!

Oh--and doing the investment banker?? Well, let's just say, was it fun? You you! I just reserved the new Evanovich that won't be out til June sometime--I'm 43rd on the list!!!! Guess lots of others had the same idea I had. I renewed a new James Patterson and a new Stuart Woods coming out in a couple months, too. Now, if I could just arrange for them to be ready for me the week of vacation...

Valerie~~Hmmmm, I wonder what part of our country you're in this morning? Hoping your trip is going well. Your "peptalk" post really hit me--you are so right. YEARS of overindulging...you hit the nail on the head. And for me, years of hiding my head in the sand and not trying to correct anything until I got a good scare at the doctor's office. Why do we do this to ourselves?? What an inspiration that post is to me. Thank you.

Oh my--the picture of a collie with a mohawk is too funny!! Spike pulled through the surgery like a champ!! They said after he woke up and until I was allowed to get him, he talked nonstop! I've never had a kitty as vocal as this one! And he did stop talking for a couple weeks until I took him to the vet, the poor old boy. They gave him his summer shave down--he gets the "lion" (kind of looks like a poodle!!) cut and clipped his nails while he was under, too. As soon as he walked in the door, he wanted FOOD!! The vet said to wait a day or so because he might be nauseated, but if I didn't feed him, I think he'd have started gnawing on my hand!! He's back to his usual charming self right now--sleeping right beside me, under the quilt, with his head on my knee.

Garnet~~So sorry about your aunt. Now, woman, forget the mistake with the GSC and cokes!! Remember what Scarlet said "After all, tomorrow is anotha' day" and just get right back OP!! I hope you can get someone to give you a ride to the gym, too. How frustrated you must feel sometimes.

Patti~~Good job on that treadmill (both the real treadmill and your little sig treadmill!!). How many minutes do you do total? I really don't like a treadmill--I have this goofy fear of falling and not being able to stop the tread from moving!

Karen~~Where are you girl? Getting your walking in?

BJF, Lesley~~Where ya' been?

2Cute~~Good job on the newsletter, you stalker you!! How long will you be in MI with your dd? 2000 miles and visiting in one week? Wow!! How many miles do you drive in one day? I hope you have a safe and enjoyable trip!

Leanne~~Gee I hope your arm is starting to heal and you're out of pain. I know you'll post when you can. Take care of yourself.

Michelle~~

Well, it's after noon already (hate this time change business) and I have done absolutely nothing this morning but watch the Sunday morning news shows and fool around on this computer. I need to get on that bike and get it over with! It's a beautiful day here so far--51 degrees and sunny. Maybe I'll get in a 10 minute walk this afternoon, too. Tonight is a big big TV night for me--my Cleveland Cavaliers play again (woohoo--go Cavs!!!), my beloved Cleveland Indians open their season tonight at Chicago against those hated White Sox AND there's a new Desperate Housewives AND Grey's Anatomy on!! Of course, my VCR has been eating my tapes, so I don't now what the heck I'm going to do!!

Have a great day everyone!!

Charlotte